THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok raised his concerns about human rights in China and the autonomy of Hong Kong during talks Wednesday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Blok said in a statement that their discussions showed that the Netherlands and China want to work together on a serious mutual relationship. He said that arrests in Hong Kong of journalists and lawmakers, the delay by a year of legislative elections and Beijings contentious new national security law are all extremely worrying developments. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam postponed the elections last month, citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak. Earlier Wednesday, Hong Kong police arrested 16 people, including two opposition lawmakers, on charges related to anti-government protests last year. Wangs visit to the Netherlands is part of his five-nation tour of Europe this week that also includes France, Germany and Norway. On Tuesday, he met his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio, who told Wang China needs to preserve the high degree of autonomy and the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to Hong Kong citizens. Chinas national security law for Hong Kong is seen by many as Beijings boldest move yet to break down legal barriers between the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong and the mainlands authoritarian Communist Party system. Blok also raised other human rights issues during the talks in a castle outside The Hague, saying he specifically called attention to the restriction of freedom of religion and belief in China, which affects in particular Muslims, Christians and Tibetan Buddhists. Dutch lawmaker Martijn van Helvert, whose Christian Democrat Appeal party is a member of the current ruling coalition, used the visit to call for tougher action against Beijing. The Dutch government must be clear that there can be no resumption of business as usual with Beijing while the persecution of Uighur Muslims, Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in China continues, he said at a press conference with two Uighur activists. Over the past four years, the Chinese government has detained an estimated 1 million or more members of ethnic Turkic minorities in Xinjiang, holding them in internment camps and prisons where they are subjected to ideological discipline, forced to denounce their religion and language and physically abused. China has long suspected the Uighurs, who are mostly Muslim, of harbouring separatist tendencies because of their distinct culture, language and religion. Blok said he raised his concerns about the plight of Uighurs with Wang. Van Helvert also criticized the national security law, saying that it criminalizes legitimate political activities and severely curtails individual freedoms and violates Hong Kongs autonomy. North Dakota's Supreme Court has issued a ruling blocking a Democratic-NPL nominee for statewide office from the November ballot. The unanimous ruling came Wednesday, restraining Secretary of State Al Jaeger from placing Travisia Martin's name on the ballot. Martin is the Democratic-NPL nominee for state insurance commissioner. North Dakota's Republican Party challenged Martin's residency eligibility for office, asking the Supreme Court to compel her removal from the ballot. Martin, a critical care respiratory specialist in Bismarck, sought to challenge Republican incumbent Jon Godfread, who is seeking a second term. The GOP cited Martin's November 2016 vote in Nevada as evidence of her ineligibility to hold office, based on a five-year residency requirement for executive branch officials. Martin didn't dispute her vote, citing her unfamiliarity with North Dakota voting requirements and "a desire to make sure my voice was heard in the electoral process." Her attorneys argued that North Dakota's constitutional residency requirement affects eligibility to hold office but not to seek election. They also cited the residency requirement as unconstitutional in disenfranchising voters and infringing upon a person's right to seek office. The court after oral arguments earlier this month asked a state district court judge to hold a hearing for findings of fact on Martin's residency. South Central District Judge Thomas Schneider concluded Martin has not lived in North Dakota long enough to hold office. "Martin is not eligible to hold the office of insurance commissioner, and it would be erroneous to place her name on the ballot," justices said in their ruling, also finding the residency requirement is not in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Martin's attorney David Thompson said she was not available for comment on the ruling. Thompson said Martin is considering filing a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of North Dakotas five-year residency requirement. She will be consulting with the party, he said. Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said the party is "deeply disappointed" in the ruling. "Ultimately, it is the voters of North Dakota who are losing out on the opportunity to have a passionate, driven, and knowledgeable health care leader on the ballot for Insurance Commissioner this fall as the NDGOP continues its attack on the Affordable Care Act and protections for preexisting conditions," she said in a statement. "We will be taking the next few days to discuss our options and next steps with our leadership team." The North Dakota GOP called the ruling "a great victory for the rule of law in North Dakota." "Between this decision and this weeks earlier news that Measure 3 would also be thrown off the ballot, we are pleased that out-of-state liberals have been stopped on both counts from coming into our state and making a mockery out of our process," Party Chairman Rick Berg said in a statement. "We look forward to reelecting Jon Godfread and our other great conservative leaders this November. In a statement, Godfread said that without the ruling, "voters may have been duped into voting for an unqualified Democrat candidate." "This ruling is a big win for voters and our states election process," he said. "Im grateful to all the parties involved who argued on the side of the Constitution and pleased to see the Court protect the integrity of our North Dakota ballot." Godfread now runs unopposed. Independent candidates have until Aug. 31 to file petitions to make the Nov. 3 ballot. Jaeger must certify the November ballot for county auditors by Sept. 9. Martin's name "will not be on the ballot," he told the Tribune. Martin received 34,277 votes in the June primary as the sole candidate for the Democratic-NPL nomination. Godfread received 96,112 votes as the sole GOP candidate. Republicans hold all of North Dakota's statewide offices and congressional seats, and control its Legislature. A Democrat last ran the Insurance Department in 2000. The annual salary is $110,582. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 7 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian expresses solidarity with the victims of the gas explosion in one of Yerevan buildings, As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents Office, Sarkissian extended deep condolences to the family of Artur Ghazaryan, who died as a result of the explosion and wished speedy recovery to the injured. President Sarkissian expressed confidence that the consequences of the incident will be eliminated as soon as possible with the efforts of the city authorities and the Government. A partnership between Aston University scientists and industry partners has led to the rapid launch of a range of alcohol-free sanitizer products to combat Covid-19. Midlands-based EcoMotive has been able to develop its Hygiene Pro range of long-lasting hand, surface and vehicle sanitizers with help from Aston University's Smarterials programme. While most sanitizers currently on the market contain alcohol - which evaporates rapidly on contact with the skin - the Hygiene Pro liquid is completely alcohol-free, non-flammable and non-toxic, as well as being kinder to skin. Its formulation means it forms a protective 'shield' on hands for up to six hours and remains effective in killing bacteria and viruses on surfaces for up to 20 hours. EcoMotive had already been working with Aston University before the coronavirus outbreak to develop fuel additives to reduce harmful vehicle emissions. But on seeing problems with the current approach to frequent hand-sanitising and the need for an odourless, alcohol-free alternative that could kill Covid-19, the firm quickly turned its attention to tackling the problem. EcoMotive worked with materials scientists from the Smarterials team, part of the Aston Institute of Materials Research (AIMR), who helped the company by refining the chemical formulations behind the sanitiser and getting it tested and certified to the required standards by a UK laboratory. The company is now marketing the new products and has received orders from big names such as Amazon as well as leading nationwide motor factors, food production firms, doctors' and dentists' surgeries and builders' merchants, among others. Aston University's European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)-funded Smarterials programme helps small to medium sized companies (SMEs) develop and grow their business through partnerships built on research, testing and expertise in materials science. The programme gives SMEs access to some of the leading academic minds in disciplines such as materials science, chemical engineering and chemistry, as well as the use of state-of-the-art labs for testing. EcoMotive has also joined one of Aston's 'Industry Clubs', which allow firms ranging from SMEs to large multinationals to gain access to academic expertise and the University's talent pool of students for placements and longer-term job opportunities. The clubs also enable firms to participate in course curriculums by setting industry-relevant projects for students. Professor Paul Topham, head of the Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry (CEAC) Department and director of the Smarterials programme at Aston University, said: "This is a great example of how our strong partnerships with SMEs result in practical solutions to real-world problems. It's incredibly satisfying to see that our work with EcoMotive has led to safer, longer-lasting sanitisers coming on stream so quickly to better protect people from Covid-19. We are excited to see how much more work we can do with companies to make real differences to our local, national and global communities." Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 By Sam Richards Bay City News Foundation A north Concord-based developer has sued the East Bay Regional Park District, claiming plans for a new regional park on former Concord Naval Weapons Station land would impact the developer's planned Faria residential development in Pittsburg, immediately east of the park. The park district, meanwhile, contends the "last-minute, baseless" lawsuit will delay plans to provide public access to the recently approved Concord Hills Regional Park, on the eastern portion of the former weapons station land abutting Pittsburg. The new regional park is a key element of an ongoing effort to redevelop the weapons station property with 13,000 housing units and millions of square feet of commercial space, along with a college campus and other development. The suit, filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court by developer Albert Seeno III's Discovery Builders company and the Faria Land Investors LLC, claims the new 2,540-acre regional park could cause environmental impacts on and near the site, and would impact their planned Faria residential development in Pittsburg, 1,500 single-family homes on a 606-acre parcel adjacent to the ridgeline of the park. That housing project is nearing an approval vote by the Pittsburg City Council. The Discovery Builders' suit alleges the park district used 10- to 20-year-old data to inform the environmental impact reports supporting the park project, which could harm animals - including Central California tiger salamanders, California red-legged frogs and Alameda whipsnakes - that have called that land home. "The draft environmental impact report fails to sufficiently disclose and analyze impacts to biological resources and greenhouse gas emissions, fails to adequately establish the environmental baseline, and improperly defers mitigation measures," the suit says. James Colopy, an attorney representing Discovery, said the builder "has always had concerns about the conversion of a military weapons facility into a public park," and the potential environmental issues connected to that. "The (park) district shrugged off our concerns," Colopy said. EBRPD spokesman Dave Mason on Tuesday refuted Discovery's contention that it had tried to be involved in the park process early on. "Seeno did not participate in the 20-year acquisition and park planning process, the five-year land use planning process, and the nine-month EIR process," Mason said in an email. "Seeno's comments were submitted after the EIR's comment period had ended. Seeno only submitted his objections at the very last-minute, delaying improvements and costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars (so far) that would otherwise go toward creating the new park." Park district directors in July approved the final land use plan for the Concord Hills Regional Park, which includes a joint visitor center with the National Park Service highlighting the history of the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and the history of the Diablo Valley, as well as miles of recreational trails for hiking, biking and nature viewing. In a statement, park district officials describe the environmental studies for the park project as "thorough." "The Seenos will not block the will of the public on this land project," park district General Manager Robert Doyle said. Seeno companies have, in the past, been on the receiving end of similar allegations of environmental negligence in that same area. In January 2008, the California Department of Fish and Game and city of Pittsburg investigated the reshaping of the hills high atop the western portion of the San Marco subdivision - not far from the Faria project - by Discovery Builders, including possible destruction of a seasonal stream. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office ultimately said there wasn't enough evidence that a stream had been removed. 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. Same Day Rapid COVID-19 Test Clinics Through aggressive testing efforts, we can slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Arizonas largest county, and cast a wider net to capture the data thats required to support the safe reopening of local schools and businesses. With more than 130,000 positive COVID-19 cases in Maricopa County, local health officials are closely tracking infection rates to determine when local schools and businesses can safely reopen. To slow community spread and support safe reopening for local schools and businesses, GMED Global, LLC, today announced the opening of its first rapid COVID-19 testing operation in Maricopa County on Wednesday, August 26. GMEDs Rapid COVID Clinic will operate the newest drive-through testing facility in Old Town Scottsdale at 6940 E Indian School Road. COVID testing is available by appointment or for drop-ins, with results provided the same day. This unique test, manufactured by Quidel, is one of the few rapid antigen tests in the country. It has recently been approved for use by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and has been deployed to allow point-of-care testing in nursing homes in the State of Maryland. The test includes a pain-free nasal swab that can be self-administered - minimizing the exposure between test takers and health care providers. This highly accurate test directly detects the presence of COVID-19 and test results are returned electronically in about one hour. Weve noted that people under the age of 45 years old comprise 63% of all COVID-19 infections in Maricopa County, meaning young and otherwise healthy people are at risk and are often unknowingly exposing others in the community, said Dr. Ramin Ahmadi, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of GMED. By opening this test site in Old Town Scottsdale, were offering the residents of Maricopa County access to fast, anxiety-free, and highly efficient COVID tests. Through aggressive testing efforts, we can slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in Arizonas largest county, and cast a wider net to capture the data thats required to support the safe reopening of local schools and businesses. In addition to confirming the virus in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, negative test results can be used by college students moving back to campus, employees returning to work, and people traveling to restricted areas that require a negative COVID test. GMED also offers on-site COVID-19 screening to area businesses, federal health clinics, and schools. The test does not require a doctors referral. Individuals can schedule an online appointment or drive to the testing site. The cost is $150 per test and is payable on-site. For more information about testing locations, rules, procedures, and hours of operation, or to schedule an appointment visit http://www.rapidcovidclinic.com. #### Phil Mickelson of the United States hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National on in Branson, Mo., Tuesday. / AFP-Yonhap The hole Phil Mickelson considered the most important in the second round of his PGA Tour Champions career was not any of the eight he birdied but rather the only one on which he made bogey. He was 5 under after the front nine Tuesday at Ozarks National when he hit driver at the par-4 10th. The ball wound up in such heavy rough that Mickelson couldn't find it, forcing him to take a penalty stroke. He still wound up making a long putt to salvage bogey, and that gave him some momentum for the rest of the round. ''I was able to get right back to even par on the back side with a birdie on the next hole, and then I made a couple more coming in,'' said Mickelson, whose 7-under 64 left him 17 under. That was good for a four-shot lead over Tim Petrovic and Rod Pampling, who will be his playing partners for the final round. ''I've been putting really well,'' Mickelson said. ''Today I didn't drive it the way I've been driving it. I kind of a hung a few drives, so I'm going to the range and try to work on that now. But when I come out tomorrow I'll try to be a little bit more aggressive with the driver and see if I can make a few more birdies.'' A few more? He's already made 19 of them in his first 36 holes. Playing in the final group and with the shadows getting long, Mickelson picked up right where he left off after his opening-round 61. He made birdie at the third and then rattled off three straight beginning at the par-4 fifth, where he nearly chipped in for eagle. Petrovic tried to make a run at Mickelson, but even one of his career-low rounds only got him so close. His putter went cold down the stretch and a poor approach at the par-4 finishing hole resulted in bogey. Mickelson added a bridie at the ninth, the only hole he bogeyed on Monday, after a pretty flop shot over the bunker. After the lost ball at the 10th, Mickelson responded by adding two more birdies. The second of them at the par-3 12th was a backhanded tap-in. His approach shot barely carried onto the front edge of the green, then nestled up to about an inch from the hole. Mickelson could still squander the lead in the final round Wednesday, when tee times were moved to the early morning because of expected bad weather in the afternoon. But given the quality of his short game through 36 holes, the more pressing question is whether he could break the PGA Tour Champions' 54-hole scoring record of 191 _ shared by Bruce Fleisher, Loren Roberts, Bernhard Langer, David Frost and Rocco Mediate. Mickelson, who decided to make his debut on the over-50 tour to continue his U.S. Open prep after he was eliminated from the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, would need to shoot 65 in his final round Wednesday to move atop the list. Petrovic and Pampling each shot 64-65 over the first two rounds. Rocco Mediate struggled coming in and was at 12 under. K.J. Choi was another shot back, and Steve Stricker and David McKenzie were at 10 under. (AP) SANAA, Yemen (AP) Fighting resumed in southern Yemen between Emirati-backed separatists and the internationally recognized government, officials said Wednesday. The renewed violence comes after the separatists suspended participation in talks to implement a Saudi-brokered peace deal. The secessionist Southern Transitional Council, an umbrella group of militias backed by the UAE, said late Tuesday it informed Saudi Arabia of the suspension, accusing the government of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi of mobilizing forces in the southern province of Abyan. There was no immediate comment from Hadis government, and a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition embroiled in a years-long conflict in Yemen was not available for comment. The separatists announcement could thwart Saudi efforts to close a year-long rift amid a broader war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Government forces allegedly have killed more than 75 separatist fighters in the flashpoint province of Abyan since June 22, when the two sides agreed to a cease-fire after months of infighting, the STC said. The secessionist group also accused the government of not paying salaries and pensions in the southern provinces, particularly for military and security personnel. Hours after the announcement, fighting resumed overnight between the separatists and government forces in Abyan, where Saudi-led coalition deployed troops in June to observe the cease-fire, officials from both sides said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reporters. The secessionist council, comprised of heavily armed and well-financed militias propped up by the UAE since 2015, hopes to restore an independent southern Yemen, which existed from 1967 until unification in 1990. The group declared self-rule over the key port city Aden and other southern provinces in April, before it abandoned its aspirations for self-rule late in July to implement the stalled peace agreement with Hadis government. Story continues The power-sharing deal, signed in the Saudi capital of Riyadh last fall, sets the stage to end a long-running rivalry between the two sides. The agreement was never implemented. Saudi Arabia last month proposed a plan to accelerate the deals implementation, which calls for the creation of a new government within 30 days and the appointment of a new governor and security director for Aden. Tuesdays development likely would abort these efforts and reopen a new front within the broader Yemeni conflict. It came as Yemen struggles to cope with a major coronavirus outbreak and heavy rains and flooding that recently engulfed several parts of the Arab worlds poorest country. The United Nations said Tuesday that some 150 people were killed in the flooding and about 300,000 people are believed to have lost their homes and livelihoods. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric warned that humanitarian groups were running low on emergency shelter and other non-food items in several districts. Dujarric said the U.N. humanitarian response plan is only 24% funded, and he urged donors to pay all outstanding pledges. Donor countries recently cut back on aid to Yemen amid the coronavirus pandemic and also due to concerns that the aid might not be reaching intended recipients in territories controlled by the Houthis. The Yemeni government has reported on a little more than 1,900 confirmed virus cases, including 557 deaths in areas under its control. The Houthis reported only three confirmed cases and one fatality, and they stopped reporting cases for over four months. The number of people dying from symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, however, has dramatically surged across the country. Yemens descent into turmoil started in 2014 when Iranian-backed Houthi rebels overran the capital, Sanaa, and much of the countrys north, driving Hadis government into exile. The Saudi-led coalition, which is backed by the U.S., intervened the following year to try and restore Hadis rule. The stalemated war has killed over 112,000 people and ignited what the United Nations has labeled the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. ___ Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer in New York contributed. Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister Akram Madumarov met Aug. 26 with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Trend reports citing Kabar. The meeting took place as part of Madumarov's working visit to Uzbek capital city of Tashkent. PM Aripov noted the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas. "Intensive dialogue is maintained at all levels. There is a significant increase in bilateral trade turnover, investment cooperation is expanding and Cultural ties are strengthening cultural ties," the head of the Uzbek government said. Akram Madumarov expressed gratitude for hospitality and warm reception. He noted that Kyrgyzstan attaches importance to further development of bilateral cooperation, deepening of bilateral relations in various spheres of interaction. The sides exchanged views on topical issues of bilateral cooperation. They also stressed the importance of conducting fruitful work of government delegations of the two countries on delimitation and demarcation of Kyrgyz-Uzbek state border. Issues of trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian and cross-border cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Good Morning America On the eve of the one-year anniversary of his inauguration, President Joe Biden held a formal news conference at the White House Wednesday, answering reporter questions on his handling of the pandemic, the economy and legislative agenda, characterizing the country as unified -- but not as much as it could be -- and raised eyebrows by saying Russia was likely to invade Ukraine. "It's been a year of challenges, but it's also many years of enormous progress," Biden said to begin, ticking through his administration's successes before fielding questions from reporters. With Biden facing the limits of what he can accomplish with an evenly-divided Senate, unable to get either his signature social spending package or major voting rights reform through Congress in recent weeks, and with the pandemic still raging well into its second, his approval rating in polls has hit an all-time low. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The State government has decided to act tough against the companies that are yet to set up their units in parcels of lands allotted to them. Industries Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday asked the officials not to spare such companies as their number has gone up to about 700. Following his instructions, the officials are getting ready to serve show-cause notices on them, seeking explanation as to why they are not sticking to the time frame promised to set up their units. Rama Rao chaired a series of review meetings, including one at Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (TSIIC) to keep watch on the companies going back on their promises.The Ministers direction is expected to help the government to know if the companies have any genuine reason or they are simply sitting on the land allotted to them. If the reasons are not genuine, the government would issue proceedings for the resumption of the land. Rama Rao also asked the officials to put in place a detailed bluebook with information of industries in a sector-wise manner. He stated that this information will be useful for the government in tweaking the policies whenever necessary. At another review of the works of State Financial Corporation, Rama Rao launched the e-SFC 360 view Digital Platform. He also reviewed the works and instructed the officials to expand their operations. He stated that the government will provide full support to the corporation.The Minister also reviewed the works of Hyderabad Pharma City, where he assured that the City will have zero liquid discharge units, and that arrangements will be made for the centralised treatment of the waste material from the city. PLATTSBURGH Matt Hughey was at work in the North Country when a police officer pulled a gun on him. Hughey, a 29-year-old Black man raised in the Plattsburgh area, was about 19 at the time, working near his company truck and wearing a company uniform. A police officer approached him and asked Hughey for his identification. There was no reason for the request, but Hughey obliged. He was about 300 feet away from his truck, and he told the officer it was in the vehicle. The officer pulled his car next to the company truck, opened his door, pulled out a firearm and pointed it at Hughey. His white coworkers would take the same work route and had never had anything like that happen to them, Hughey said. The encounter ended without any physical harm, but its a moment he will never forget. I feared for my life, Hughey said. The Adirondack Diversity Initiative aims to rewrite future stories like Hugheys. The state-sponsored regional inclusion effort, in partnership with the Adirondack North Country Association, has begun a regional Antiracism Mobilization and Education Campaign. Supporters hope to create a more welcoming environment in the states largest park and its rural communities. Five of the six counties where most Adirondack Park residents live were at least 90 percent white, non-Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2019 population estimates. Franklin County, which includes Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake but extends outside the park to the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, was 82 percent white. The United States was 60 percent white, non-Hispanic; New York, 55 percent. Hughey was one of four Black men to tell some of their stories this summer during the Adirondack Diversity Initiatives second installment of Driving While Black, a webinar series sponsored by the Adirondack Experience museum. There had been more panelists signed up to speak. A bout of racist acts in the North Country, and the communitys reaction to them, caused some to opt out, out of fear of retaliation, said Clifton Harcum, the panels moderator and a diversity coordinator at the State University of New York at Potsdam. This is the part of the reality of being Black that many people dont understand, Harcum said. People have jobs, kids and mortgages. Nicole Hylton-Patterson, director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, has experienced the retaliation firsthand. At the end of June, Hylton-Patterson, who is a Black woman, was on her regular running route when she saw a racist message, Go back to Africa, spray-painted on a bridge in Saranac Lake. Days went by and Hylton-Patterson did not hear a word of outrage from the business community or local government. As one of few Black people in the village, she no longer felt safe and chose to move elsewhere in the region. She remains in her director role, telling the Adirondack Explorer, Im not going anywhere. I had one person tell mesomeone I thought who understood(that) Ive made it worse for Black people in the Adirondacks by speaking out, Hylton-Patterson said. My speaking out was very revealing, very revealing of what people really think. Some Adirondackers rallied around Hylton -Patterson, and many in the community support the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. Village leaders and businesses ultimately voiced their support. Banners calling racism a public health crisis lined downtown sidewalks this summer. But there are racists in the Adirondacks, as well as people who dont believe there are racists in the Adirondacks. The ADI is working on reaching both groups, asking them to lean in. There is a cognitive dissonance, Hylton-Patterson said, or an incredulity about the Black persons experience. All struggles against racism and discrimination in this country have been met with the same line of reasoning, said Donathan Brown, an ADI member and assistant provost and assistant vice president for faculty diversity and recruitment at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Voting rights, civil rights, marriage equality and womens rights, for example, were all viewed by dissenters as unnecessary or otherwise divisive, Brown continued. Ask those same individuals, and they too argued that such issues did not exist, and were not problems at all. With a $250,000 commitment from the state, Hylton-Patterson and the Adirondack Diversity Initiative are working on a plan focused on making the park more inclusive, diverse and equitable in the areas of policy, economics, education and recreation. The work has become more urgent, Hylton-Patterson said, in light of George Floyds grisly killing in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, and the subsequent surge of the Black Lives Matter movement nationwide. The work is just a drop in the bucket, said Aaron Mair, 57th president (and the first Black one) of the national Sierra Club, referring to New Yorks funding of the Adirondack program. Theres a hell of a lot to do in the North Country. Theres a hell of a lot to do in New York State. Part of Hylton-Pattersons work is collecting oral histories on the Black experience in the Adirondacks. When a white person tells her that racism isnt a problem here, Hylton-Patterson can say she has 55 Black people and 34 people of color who disagree. In her collection of histories, whether from a 20-year-old or an 80-year-old, Hylton-Patterson said, none would walk in the wilderness without a white person. The outdoors is precarious, she said, a precarious space for the Black body. Gretchen Sorin, historian and author of the book, Driving While Black, spoke with Hylton-Patterson during a webinar on July 23 about some of her interviews with people of color. One of the people we interviewed said he didnt like being near trees because trees are where Black people got lynched, Sorin said. Some of the lynched were in the middle of the town square, but most of them were lynched in rural, private areas where nobody could see. Besides police officers, Hughey said, he has had four people draw guns on him in the North Country. Like I said, me and my family have lived here most of all my life, Hughey said. Unfortunately, theres still some prejudice out there. Harcum moved to the North Country from the Baltimore area. He took his then 7-year-old son camping. Harcum watched him playing with several white children on a playground. There was an RV nearby, flying a Confederate flag. My son came over and he was in tears, Harcum recalled. He said the little boy said that he doesnt like him because hes Black. My son broke down into tears, and he couldnt understand why someone would say something like that. It was the first time Harcum had to explain racism to his son. It was the first time he had to affirm there was nothing wrong with his skin color. I wanted to cry, Harcum said. Mair has experienced this ugliness in the Adirondacks, too. During a photo shoot with Adirondack Life magazine in 2016, two intoxicated white men on tubes floated down the Schroon River in Newcomb past Mair. They called the female photographer a whore and a slut and they called Mair the N-word. Mair said he was ready to take the men on if they had come near him or the photographer, but, he said, he would have been a dead man. They believe in white supremacy, Mair said. If this is what were seeing, we have a problem. The ADI was created by a group of white people, mostly leaders of nonprofit organizations, who saw the writing on the wall. This park should be welcoming to all. It should be inclusive to all, said Pete Nelson, one of the ADI founders and an environmental advocate in the park. Through New Yorks Environmental Protection Fund, the state Department of Environmental Conservation allocated $250,000 for this fiscal year to the ADI. The DEC said funding needs will be evaluated as part of the 2021-22 budget process. Some of the money went to hiring Hylton-Patterson, but she is a one-person staff. The rest of her support comes from volunteers and nonprofit organizations, and that bothers Mair. Mair thinks its telling that other state agencies focusing on economic development and agriculture dont contribute to the ADI. He also thinks its a problem that nonprofits are leading the cause, and not local chambers of commerce. The drop-in-the-bucket funding right now is an insult, given the day and time that we are in, Mair said. Im not taking away from the ADI, but the burden is not on them. The cause demands leadership from Albany and Washington, he said, including from the governors office and the congressional delegation. The damage is institutional. Brown agreed that more systemic change needs to happen. Where public policy exists, there are also consequences for falling outside of those predefined areas and terms, he said. From my perspective, it looks at recruitment, it looks at retention, it looks at school curricula, access to affordable housing, healthcare, clean air and clean water. Diversifying the workplace As ADI expands its reach, Brown and Hylton-Patterson said, more groups are jumping on the bandwagon. The North Country Chamber of Commerce, for example, has held a number of webinars focused on supporting Black employees and addressing what businesses can do to diversify the workplace. Garry Douglas, president and CEO of the chamber, said his organization has welcomed the invigoration of efforts to reexamine attitudes to root out bigotry and discrimination. James Joyce, chief of police for the Village of Saranac Lake, said under new police reform legislation, the department is participating in training about systemic racial bias and racial justice. Its professional development, Joyce said. Training is good for everybody and professional development is good for everybody, probably especially for this area, which is predominantly white. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Adirondack Council and others are also working with the DEC on changes to the state hiring process. There are few people of color in forest ranger and environmental conservation officer positions in the Adirondacks, the Council has noted. State Sen. Jose Serrano, D-South Bronx, chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks & Recreation. He was an important advocate for the ADI, Hylton-Patterson said. Serrano agreed that a diverse workforce is important in any capacity. It does inspire confidence when youre trying to encourage diverse communities to enjoy the Adirondacks, Serrano said. Council Executive Director Willie Janeway was a regional administrator for the DEC before he headed the environmental group. The civil service system, he said, tends to codify the status quo. About a decade ago during the recession, staff were let go. The staff who had to be let go were the last staff that were hired, and the amount of diversity in the newer staff hired was greater than the staff who had been hired 30 or 40 years ago, Janeway said. He and many others working with lawmakers want to see changes in the system. A spokesperson for DEC wrote that the agency developed a diversity and inclusion plan in 2019 and is actively conducting extensive recruitment of Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and women to encourage qualified candidates to take the written civil service examination. In a statement to Adirondack Explorer, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos commended his current forest rangers and environmental conservation officers. He added that DEC can be a model for other law enforcement agencies, and I will lean on our officers to be a part of our initiative of continuous improvement. Creating a draw Another way the ADI hopes to open up the Adirondacks is by drawing more children and young adults to the park. Its a challenge when theres very little public transportation in the North Country, especially during a pandemic. Hylton-Patterson began the effort, pre-pandemic, through an alternative spring break with SUNY Potsdam. Ten students, many from New York City, spent their spring break traveling around the Adirondacks and staying at the Paul Smiths College dorms. Taliyah Wright, a recent SUNY Potsdam graduate from Brooklyn, said she chose the alternative break because she had never been anywhere around the North Country except Potsdam. Theres not much opportunity for us to get around the Adirondacks unless you have a car, Wright said. Students participating in SUNY Potsdams alternative spring break learn about ice fishing at the Wild Center on March 8 in Tupper Lake. Photo courtesy of Taliyah Wright During one week in March she went ice fishing on Tupper Lake (Ive never even gone fishing), hiked Titus Mountain, learned about the areas role in tuberculosis treatment, and about the regions abolitionist Underground Railroad history. She also enjoyed the views of Lower St. Regis Lake every day. Ive never had an opportunity to do that in all four years of being in Potsdam, Wright said. Serrano, who grew up going to summer camp at Harriman State Park just north of New York City, wants to see more students have that experience. He spoke fondly of being in nature, of meeting diverse friends and getting exercise, all things hed like to see more students experience in the Adirondacks. In the Latino community, in the African American community, one of the things coronavirus has exposed to the world is the issue weve been dealing with a long time, which is health disparities, Serrano added. Finding ways to get our community more active in some of these natural environments I think is a goal that can help bridge the gap. There are multiple programs between the state and schools that bring more students from diverse areas to the Adirondacks, but many have been working piecemeal and many are on hold due to the pandemic. The DEC, for example, runs a First Time Campers program and a Campership Diversity Program. The goal is to encourage more people of color to get outdoors. Adirondack locations include Camp Colby in Saranac Lake and Pack Forest in Warrensburg. When the coronavirus is under control, Hylton-Patterson has plans to bring more than 50 students from New York City to the Adirondacks. A number of local businesses, museums and tourism destinations have agreed to be a part. For the people of color who have experienced hate and racism in the Adirondacks, the drive to bring more people of color to the area, whether students, tourists or residents, seems daunting. ADI is working to change that. Its an important thing to make people feel welcome, Adirondack Council Deputy Director Rocci Aguirre said, but you cant make people feel welcome until people feel safe. This story was first published by the Adirondack Explorer online. Video above: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards urges residents to get out of harm's way of Hurricane Laura A Louisiana sheriff's office is issuing a dire warning to residents choosing to ride out Hurricane Laura, which became a dangerous Category 4 storm Wednesday afternoon. The Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook about a mandatory evacuation for portions of the parish. The sheriff said those choosing to stay behind instead of evacuating should put identifying information on their bodies so the sheriff's office can identify them after the storm. "Those choosing to stay and face this very dangerous storm must understand that rescue efforts cannot and will not begin until after storm and surge has passed and it is safe to do so. Please evacuate, and if you choose to stay and we cant get to you, write your name, address, social security number and next of kin and put it a Ziploc bag in your pocket. Praying that it does not come to this." The National Weather Service also issued a dire warning for residents. Ben Schott with the National Weather Service office in New Orleans described unsurvivable storm surge and winds that will causes miles worth of destruction. Schott said the majority of Cameron Parish will be underwater at some point once landfall happens. According to Schott, Hurricane Laura will most likely be worse than Hurricane Rita. Schott gave a grave warning to those considering to stay ahead of landfall. "I want to double down on this comment about Rita. Many will use this as their baseline," Schott said. "There is no way to be certain that if you lived through Rita and you are hunkering down that you will survive." Hurricane Rita made landfall across western Cameron Parish just east of the Texas and Louisiana border in September of 2005. Rita was the strongest hurricane to strike Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana since Hurricane Audrey on June 27, 1957. Protests continued for a third night in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as demonstrators demanded justice and transparency from a police department that has released scant details including officers names in the wake of a police shooting that has left a black man paralysed. Fences were erected around the citys federal courthouse as police in riot gear descended on the citys downtown on Tuesday, facing another night of demonstrations amid growing national unrest over the state of American policing. The small city in Wisconsin has attracted national scrutiny following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, captured on widely shared video entering a car as officers fired several rounds into his back. Two Kenosha Police Department officers involved in the case have not been identified. In the departments only statement following the shooting, Kenosha police merely described an officer-involved shooting. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has confirmed the officers were placed on administrative leave. But Wisconsin officials have faced growing pressure from residents and criminal justice advocates to name the officers amid national outcry for law enforcement reforms following months of protests against police brutality galvanised by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Mr Blake reportedly had tried to break up a fight on Sunday and was leaving the scene when police arrived. Video filmed by a neighbour across the street shows Mr Blake getting into his SUV as police draw weapons and fire several rounds. Three of his children were reportedly inside the car at the time. None of the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras, a policy that the city has not embraced over budget concerns for its 200 officers. Mr Blakes father, also named Jacob Blake, told reporters on Tuesday that the shooting amounted to senseless attempted murder. They shot my son seven times he said, holding back tears. Seven times. Like he didnt matter, but my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters. Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake in a photograph taken in September 2019 (AP) Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, also representing the family of Mr Floyd, said it would take a miracle for Mr Blake to walk again. Mr Crump said he is struggling to sustain his life and to hopefully become some resemblance of the man he once was. The familys attorney Patrick Salvi said that a bullet may have struck Mr Blakes spinal cord as he detailed his extensive damages from the shooting. He has holes in his stomach, he told reporters. He had to have nearly his entire colon and small intestines removed. He suffered damage to his kidney and liver and was also shot in the arm. A GoFundMe arranged by his mother has collected more than $1m in donations to support medical bills and legal aid, as of Tuesday night. In her calls for prayer and reflection, Mr Blakes mother Julia Jackson addressed the rest of the country, gripped by unrest as it struggled with decades-long violence against black Americans by police, and urged demonstrators to protest peacefully and safely to halt a cycle of violence. As I pray for my sons healing physically, emotionally and spiritually I also have been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country, she said. As I was riding through here, through the city, I noticed a lot of damage, she added. It doesnt reflect my son, or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased. Im really asking and encouraging everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts. Citizens, police officers, firemen, clergy, politicians do Jacob justice on this level and examine your hearts. Law enforcement officers stand behind shields during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin on 25 August. (REUTERS) By Tuesday night, sparks and smoke from fireworks and water bottles tossed by protesters were met with tear gas and rubber bullets, as police blasted sirens and demanded demonstrators adhere to an 8pm curfew. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers also declared a state of emergency and doubled the National Guard presence on Tuesday after growing unrest. We cannot forget the reason why these protests began, and what we have seen play out over the last two nights and many nights this year is the pain, anguish, and exhaustion of being black in our state and country, he said in a statement. As Ill reiterate today, everyone should be able to exercise their fundamental right whether a protester or member of the press peacefully and safely. We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction. Mr Evers has called for Wisconsin lawmakers to hold a special legislative session to take up a series of police reform-related measures on 31 August. New Delhi, Aug 26 : The government is focussed on not only preserving historical monuments but developing circles across India, conserving India's ancient monuments, sites and heritage alike. On Wednesday, the Culture Ministry announced 7 new circles of the Archaeological Survey of India. Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut have been announced as new circles and Hampi Mini Circle has been converted into a full fledged circle. Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel said that the Ministry of Culture has taken this step in accordance with the Prime Minister's call to facilitate and strengthen the process of preservation and registration of archaeological monuments along with the registration of artefacts with self declaration. The Minister informed that new circles have been created in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. In Archaeology, Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international repute hence Hampi Mini Circle has been converted into a full fledged circle, the Minister added. Hampi is a major tourist destination as well, due to its historical importance. Earlier there were 29 ASI circles across the country. Patel stressed Tamil Nadu's rich heritage of temples and glorious memories of the Chola kings while announcing that Trichy has been made a new circle along with the circle of Chennai. Karnataka is an important state in terms of holiness. Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international importance from the point of view of archaeological heritage therefore the Hampi Sub-Circle now has been made a new full fledged circle. In West Bengal, Raiganj has been made a new circle along with Kolkata. This will eliminate geographical inconvenience in a big state like Bengal. In Gujarat too, Rajkot has been announced as a new circle along with Vadodara. The Minister added that Jabalpur has been announced as a new circle along with Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. This will include the monuments from Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions. He also informed that Jhansi in Bundelkhand and Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh have been announced as two new circles along with Lucknow and Agra in Uttar Pradesh. Like the heat ray, many of the presidents ideas including the moat and shooting migrants in the legs were thwarted by his own officials. Other policy proposals have been blocked by federal judges who have ruled that they violated existing laws, administrative rules or the Constitution. But even the presidents fiercest critics concede that on immigration, the president can rightly claim that he did much of what he said he would do. The Trump administration, unilaterally, without passing laws in Congress, has radically reshaped immigration in the United States, said Omar Jadwat, the director of the Immigrants Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. They have effectively shut down the asylum system at the border. Theyve reintroduced religious, racial and national origin discrimination into our immigration system. These are real, radical shifts. Because of the presidents policies, Central American migrants fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries now must wait, often for months, in squalid camps on the Mexico side of the border while the United States considers their requests for asylum. For decades, asylum seekers were allowed to remain in the United States while their cases were decided. Mr. Trump derides that as catch and release, which he says allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to fraudulently claim persecution as a means of entering the United States and then disappearing into the country illegally. He repeatedly said it was his top priority to end the practice. Advocates say he has largely succeeded, aided in part by the coronavirus pandemic. The president has used emergency powers intended for public health crises to turn away all asylum seekers, effectively ending the role of the United States as a place of refuge for those fleeing their homes. Those deeply rooted changes are a bell that can never be unrung, one senior aide said. The NDA government was trying to reduce state governments to the level of municipal corporations when it comes to decision making, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged on Wednesday. Addressing a Telangana Online Public Meeting", he said about 15 crore people lost their jobs and their purchasing capacity during the first three months of the lockdown period, while the rich become richer. Maintaining that the Centre failed to check the spread of the coronavirus, he alleged that the number of tests being done for the killer virus was one of the lowest in the world. On top of that, the government washed its hands off and left the people in the lurch with regard to the pandemic, he said. There is greater responsibility and burden on states in tackling COVID-19 pandemic. (Centre should) support states. States are asking for GST tax dues from the Centre. The Centre says it has no money. On the other hand, our Prime Minister Modi created a private trust fund PM Cares Fund). Where is that money going? Thousands of crores of money. He gave tax exemptions to donations made to PM CARES," Yechury said. You give that money (PM Cares Fund) to the state governments to overcome the crisis (COVID-19 pandemic). (You want) All the powers should be centralised. The present administration is going on by reducing the centre-state relations, by reducing the state to municipal corporation level. They say that you are not state governments, but just municipal corporations and we will decide from the centre," the CPI(M) leader alleged. He said the Modi Government did not give enough time for states to prepare for the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus when it was announced initially in March. Yechury said the Centre merely talks about aatmanirbhar or self-reliant India, but its actions of selling off" PSUs amounted to aatmasamarpan (surrender) of the countrys resources to Indian and foreign capitalists. He further said the government is allegedly in the process of selling off PSUs, including railways and airports. Yechury alleged that the Narendra Modi-led Government completely neglected the coronavirus spread, though the first case was reported in January, as it was busy in toppling some state governments, including in Madhya Pradesh." Yechury claimed that the COVID-19 spread was effectively controlled in socialist countries such as Vietnam and Cuba, while many capitalist nations failed. Study in 38 Michigan hospitals shows need for faster in-hospital testing for coronavirus and other infections, which could reduce overuse of antibiotics that raise risks to patients More than half of patients hospitalized with suspected COVID-19 in Michigan during the state's peak months received antibiotics soon after they arrive, just in case they had a bacterial infection in addition to the virus, a new study shows. But testing soon showed that 96.5% of them only had the coronavirus, which antibiotics don't affect. The 3.5% of patients who arrived at the hospital with both kinds of infection were more likely to die. But the study suggests that faster testing and understanding of infection risk factors could help hospital teams figure out who those patients are - and spare the rest of their COVID-19 patients the risks that come with overuse of antibiotics. The new paper, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases by a team from the University of Michigan, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and St. Joseph Mercy Health Care System, is based on data from more than 1,700 hospitalized patients. The data came from 38 hospitals taking part in a massive statewide effort called Mi-COVID19 that launched within weeks of the first case of COVID-19 being diagnosed in Michigan on March 10. It leverages the power of multiple quality improvement efforts sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. During March and April, Michigan was one of the nation's early hotspot states, and the authors hope the new data will help patient care teams in current and future hotspots. Inpatient COVID-19 treatment guidelines shared by Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center, have been updated based on these results. Variation and change In addition to widespread overuse of antibiotics, the study shows that hospitals varied widely in their use of antibiotics among people newly hospitalized for suspected COVID-19. In some, only a quarter of suspected COVID-19 patients received them within two days of being hospitalized, while in others, nearly all did. As time went on, and COVID-19 test turnaround time shortened, the use of antibiotics dropped - but was still too high, says Valerie Vaughn, M.D., M.Sc., the study's lead author and a hospitalist physician who helped launch Michigan Medicine's COVID-19 intensive care units. "For every patient who eventually tested positive for both SARS-Cov2 and a co-occurring bacterial infection that was present on their arrival, 20 other patients received antibiotics but turned out not to need them," says Vaughn. "These data show the crucial importance of early and appropriate testing, with rapid turnaround, to ensure appropriate use of antibiotics and reduce unneeded harm." In addition to putting patients at risk of opportunistic infections like Clostridium difficile that can worsen their odds of recovery, antibiotics also pose a broader risk of feeding the epidemic of drug-resistant bacteria that already plagues many hospitals and can put patients and staff at risk. Massive data The new study wouldn't have been possible without the Mi-COVID19 registry, which includes detailed data from pre-, post- and in-hospital care on COVID-19 patients treated in hospitals of all sizes and kinds across Michigan. Mi-COVID19 draws on the network of trained data-harvesting nurses and other staff, and physician partners, who before the pandemic focused on studying and improve care for hospitalized patients through a type of organization called a collaborative quality initiative or CQI. The Mi-COVID19 effort is based in a CQI called the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium, working in partnership with 11 other CQIs all sponsored by BCBSM. Additional publications about COVID-19 care are now being prepared that will draw on the data generated by the partnership. Older people, people who had come to the hospital from a nursing home, and people who were admitted straight to intensive care were more likely to turn out to have a bacterial infection in addition to coronavirus. Half of these patient died, compared with 18% of those without bacterial infections. Those who received antibiotics were more likely to be older, to have lower body mass index measurements, to have visible signs of infection on their chest X-ray, and to be in more critical condition when they arrive at the hospital. The importance of rapid and appropriate testing Vaughn, who has studied and worked to improve antibiotic prescribing for hospitalized pneumonia patients, notes that COVID-19 differs in important ways from regular pneumonia, so standard "antibiotic stewardship" techniques may not work. For instance, many suspected COVID-19 patients had their blood tested soon after admission to the hospital to look for a substance called procalcitonin, which is often used as an early indicator of bacterial infection while doctors wait for more definitive test results. Just over half of those who turned out to have a bacterial infection plus COVID-19 had a high procalcitonin reading. But so did 22% of those who didn't have bacterial infections. However, a low procalcitonin reading was almost certain to mean that the person didn't have a bacterial infection. However, elevated white blood cell counts were a good predictor of who had a bacterial infection. The faster patients got their COVID-19 viral test results back, the faster their antibiotics were stopped. Half were stopped within a day of a positive coronavirus test. The turnaround time for such tests decreased over time, with 89% getting their results within a day in May compared with 54% in March. The vast majority of the patients tested for bacterial infections didn't have test that look in the respiratory tract. This may be because these tests require health workers to interact with patients' airways -- which can generate aerosols and risk transmitting coronavirus -- or because they require a sample of coughed-up sputum, which most of the patients didn't have because of the 'dry cough' that typifies COVID-19. "Since their SARS-Cov2 infection explains their symptoms, we should all be more judicious with prescribing antibiotics unless we see signs of a bacterial infection," says Vaughn. "We need better guidance to help clinicians figure out if the cause of a rapid decline in condition is due to cytokine storm or bacterial infection, and better antibiotic stewardship programs to support physicians in determining if they need to order antibiotics and if so, for how long and with what tests for bacterial infection." The study actually undercounts the percentage of patients who received antibiotics, Vaughn notes, because it left out those who received azithromycin. For a time that powerful drug was seen as promising for COVID-19 patients, in combination with hydroxychloroquine, though it has since been shown to be ineffective or even potentially harmful. Patients who were transferred to another hospital as part of their initial COVID-19 stay were also omitted from the analysis. ### In addition to Vaughn, the study's authors are MI-COVID19 leader Scott Flanders, M.D., and members Tejal Gandhi, MD, Lindsay A Petty, MD, Payal K Patel, MD, MPH, Hallie C Prescott, MD, MSc, Anurag N Malani, MD, David Ratz, MS, Elizabeth McLaughlin, MS, RN, and Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc. Vaughn, Flanders, Patel, Prescott and Chopra are members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. The study was funded by BCBSM and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS26530, HS026725) Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images If there's a magic bullet to two-parent families getting by on one salary, especially in these tough economic times, it's controlling cash flow. Couples who succeed at either saving one salary or living on one paycheck are very disciplined about spending. They use several strategies to make living on less work while they pursue a critical goal. They mostly agree that substantial investments in your future require substantial financial adjustments. A key part of success as a single-income family is having a backup plan in case that one paycheck dries up. More from Invest in You: How to build an online business doing what you love best Inadequate emergency funds even skimpier under the pandemic How to buy a home with low or even zero down payment Bethany Serene Wright, 27, who's employed in medical education, has two options in case her company goes under: working at a medical school, where her former manager now works, or returning to funeral home work. The Dallas resident is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Either option would mean a salary cut. Josiah Barlett, 28, who lives in Mount Vernon, Washington, said he's "a fearful thinker, not a risky [type], and we have multiple 'bug-out' plans." For instance, Bartlett says he and his wife would rent out their house and buy an RV if they could no longer afford the monthly costs. "We've talked about moving in with family," he said. "When you talk about no money or no income, you're talking about doing something really hard." A workable one-income life doesn't happen automatically. "It took us six years of our marriage on one income to finally get to having no debt except our mortgage," Bartlett said. Another critical component: mindset. Keeping their costs as minimal as possible helps mitigate the anxiety, Bartlett says. "I used to tell my wife, 'In a pinch, I could work at McDonald's and we could get by.'" Albuquerque, New Mexico, resident Vivek Gulati, 42, and his wife are serious about meditation, a practice he credits with their assurance and open conversations about finance. "Somehow, things always work out if you're doing something life-supporting," he said. Here are ways families today get by on one income. No man is an island Josiah Bartlett, 28, (with his wife Arianne Bartlett and new son Maverick) credits the financial independence movement for helping his family learn to live on the bare minimum. Source: Josiah Bartlett Living on one income prepared his family for the pandemic, Bartlett says. He gives a shout-out to the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement for teaching him to live at a minimum, which allows his wife to be a stay-at-home parent. "A lot of the attitudes and the information people pass around [in financial independence groups] kick-starts you," he said. Most of us live a life of considerable waste, says Bartlett, a media broker. "Once you tug back, you realize this is totally possible." Covid-19 did not have much impact on their budget, since they were already used to making all their own meals and buying very little. If it's not worn out, I don't get rid of it. Josiah Bartlett Media broker The couple employs a grab bag of cost-cutting measures. His wife uses her skills as a licensed cosmetologist to barter for fresh eggs, milk and goat cheese. Bartlett shops on Craigslist for secondhand clothes for their three young children. Kids' clothes can be tantalizingly cute, Bartlett says, but "you have to tell yourself no," he said. "If it's not worn out, I don't get rid of it." Bartlett still has clothes he wore in high school. "We've never been super coupon folks, but have always been pretty frugal," he said. You may have more time and skills than income. In that case, see if you can trade either for cash or goods, Bartlett says. Bartlett has cleared trees and done other odd jobs in his community to supplement his fluctuating salary, which is under $60,000. The best thing you can do, says Bartlett, is to build community. "Every time I needed extra work, I just let our community know and I would suddenly have multiple avenues for making ends meet," Bartlett said. Ability and energy are key, he says. "Invest in other people," Bartlett said. "It's totally possible." Cost control For her part, Wright earns the bulk of her family's income. Her husband, Benjamin, 28, has been a stay-at-home parent for the couple's 5-year-old twin sons since they were born. The coronavirus has cut into the business of Bethany's company. Since surgeons can no longer travel to the facility to train, she is unable to host events. Instead, the firm has begun partnering with a technology company and now uses a live-streaming platform for medical education. She says her salary, about $60,000, is more than enough for their life in Dallas, where they own a three-bedroom home. A family of four in Dallas County would need $72,000 to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living, according to the Economic Policy Institute's family budget calculator. Their mortgage payment, including property tax and homeowner's insurance, is $575. Before they purchased the house for $70,000, they lived with Benjamin's parents and paid $275 each month to rent a room. Communication is key. They have regular relationship check-ins to exchange their thoughts and feelings, and "be sure our feelings are on the same path," Bethany said. Benjamin took a break from work but is now back to producing items for his Etsy shop. He uses the time when the boys are napping to work. "It's a couple of hundred dollars a month," he said. "It pays for the car note." Bethany says she came from a poor family. "I was the youngest of six, and my father was on disability," she said. "It amazes me now: I can buy what I want, when I want it." Still, she is a big believer in living below your means. "We're not very materialistic people," she said. "We don't own a lot." She was highly motivated to get through college and own a home, because she wanted to live differently. "We always knew this was going to be our plan," Bethany said. "We always knew I'm in such a specialized field, my income would be higher." Location, location, location Being able to spend more time with family is priceless. To do that, Gulati works from home as a software engineer while his wife studies Ayurvedic medicine. What made it more possible was moving from the San Francisco Bay Area last fall to Albuquerque, with its much lower cost of living. "We couldn't afford to buy where we were," Gulati said. Albuquerque may not be as rich in tech jobs as the Bay Area, but the veryaffordable cost of living made it a slam dunk. For $460,000, the couple bought a 2,500-square-foot house. A similar home would likely cost over $1 million anywhere near San Francisco. WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Prairie, one of the nation's largest "organic" factory dairies managing over 25,000 animals in Texas, is accused of gross "mistreatment and neglect" of their animals. OrganicEye, the investigative arm of Beyond Pesticides, filed a formal legal complaint with the USDA to re-open an investigation into animal abuse at Natural Prairie and cheating on lack of federal grazing requirements for organic cattle stating, "confining animals in building and stabbing them with screwdrivers is not "organic". "This scandal reflects a historic USDA pattern," said OrganicEye's Mark Kastel. "Victims of this fraud include ethical, hard-working organic farm families who follow both the spirit and letter of the law, and consumers who choose organic dairy products both for the superior safety, health, and nutrition it offers," Kastel added. FOIA documents obtained by OrganicEye reveal that the USDA's past investigation of Natural Prairie relied upon audits from the Texas Department of Agriculture, which has been sanctioned by USDA for systemic malfeasance. USDA also used two other private dairy industry groups with little background in organics to assess Natural Prairie's organic practices. "Instead of depending on experts in organic animal husbandry and organic certification compliance, or even interviewing the initial witnesses, the USDA subcontracted the investigation of serious allegations, " said Kathie Arnold, Policy Chair of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance. "It takes someone who is intimately familiar with organic livestock production and regulations to recognize violations of organic standards." Natural Prairie ships semi-trailers of milk ac ross the country, undercutting local organic farmers. "We need to eliminate the institutional rot at the USDA that allows such cheating," observed Kastel. Natural Prairie is adding a new 4300 cow industrial-scale facility in Newton County, Indiana. But it faces lawsuits from Indiana's Hoosier Environmental Council. They charge that Natural Prairie illegally filled in ditches and wetlands during construction in one of the state's most fragile ecosystems, the Kankakee River basin. "Natural Prairie's conduct is especially concerning given that it decided to build its polluting factory farm in one of the most ecologically sensitive and historically significant areas of Indiana," said staff attorney Kim Ferraro. OrganicEye has additionally filed a legal complaint against organic certifier Oregon Tilth for its role in Indiana. Federal organic law requires organic operations to maintain or improve natural resources, including soil and water quality, according to Kastel. Read the full article: https://organiceye.org/natural-prairie-expose/ Contact: Mark Kastel 608-625-2042 [email protected] SOURCE OrganicEye Related Links https://organiceye.org YEREVAN. The 41-year-old man who was injured in the explosion in Yerevan has burns all over his body and is hooked up to a ventilator. Aren Bablumyan, Director of the "Heratsi" Hospital Complex No. 1, said this in a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am (PHOTOS). "Starting at 7:30am, two patients were admitted to the hospital. The first is a woman born in 1949. Her health condition is assessed as moderate," Bablumyan said, in particular. He added, however, that the condition of the second patient remains critical. "The second patient, a man born in 1979, was transferred around 8:15am. He has burns on the whole surface of his body, he is in critical condition, is hooked up to a ventilator, is at the intensive care unit. At the same time, he has a foreign object under the skin of the lumbar part of his body, which was a result of the explosion. The patient is being prepared for surgical intervention, "Aren Bablumyan noted. She returned from a sun-soaked getaway to St Tropez, France earlier this month, before the UK Government's air bridge with the country was scrapped. And Francesca Allen looked ready for autumn in a black jumper and skin-tight mini skirt as she drove to pick up a coffee in Loughton High Street, Essex on Tuesday, after avoiding a 14 day quarantine. The Love Island star, 24, kept things simple by opting for an all-black ensemble for her afternoon outing with her mum. Cosy: Francesca Allen, 24, looked ready for autumn in a black jumper and skin-tight mini skirt as she drove to pick up a coffee in Loughton High Street, Essex on Tuesday Francesca strolled along in thigh-high boots as she went shopping with a coffee in her hand. The reality star teamed her cropped jumper and stretchy mini skirt with semi-sheer black tights. The raven-haired beauty left her locks to hang down, and enhanced her natural beauty with a bronzed make-up look. Francesca finished her trip to the shops by helping her mum with a food shop and hopped in her car for a lift home. Simple does it: The Love Island star kept things simple by opting for an all-black ensemble for her afternoon outing with her mum Looking good: Francesca strolled along in thigh-high boots as she went shopping with a coffee in her hand Careful: Francesca carefully slid into her. mum's Mercedes after picking up some purchases Aside from her frequent getaways, Francesca was spotted cosying up to a new man during a boozy night out in London last month. She looked to be on cloud nine as she got up close and personal with Edward Crossan, vice chairman of London-based waste management company Powerday. The TV personality, who is family friends with Edward, put on a very affectionate display with the hunk who was previously been linked to TOWIE's Amber Turner. Fashionista: The reality star teamed her cropped jumper and stretchy mini skirt with semi-sheer black tights Beauty: Francesca enhanced her natural beauty with a bronzed make-up look In May last year, Edward was seen enjoying a jaunt on a yacht in Ibiza with TOWIE star Amber, 27, who is currently dating Dan Edgar. The accomplished businessman was named vice chairman of his father's company in January and is featured on the company's website. His working title is described on the website as: 'Edward joined the family business in 2007, starting as a machine driver and has worked in various roles within the company to now being a director overseeing the development of the business.' MailOnline contacted Francesca's representatives for further comment at the time of publication. Home time: Francesca finished her trip to the shops by helping her mum with a food shop and hopped in her car for a lift home TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Energy, Israel's Ministry of Energy and the Israel Innovation Authority recently announced a new Call for Proposals of the U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy, Engineering and Water Technology (U.S.-Israel Energy Center). Commercial companies, research institutes and universities from the U.S. and Israel are encouraged to form consortia of at least two entities from each country and apply for the award in the topic of Cyber Security for Energy Infrastructure, for the development of tools and technology for energy cyber and cyber-physical security for critical infrastructure (for the detailed description of the topic, see www.us-isr-energycenter.org.) The maximum award for the winning consortium is $6M for a period of 3 years, subject to appropriations/funding allocation and performance. A 50 percent cost- share is required from the awardees. The program may be extended for up to 2 additional years (for a total of 5 years, with a maximum total award of $10M). The goal of the Energy Center is to promote energy security and economic development through the research and development of innovative energy technologies, while facilitating cooperation among consortia of U.S. and Israeli companies, research institutes, and universities. The establishment of a joint U.S.-Israel Energy Center was first authorized by Congress in the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014. The U.S. DOE and the Israeli Ministry of Energy signed an Implementation Agreement on June 25, 2018, establishing the Center. In February 2019, DOE announced the BIRD Foundation as the operating agent of the Energy Center. The BIRD Foundation will be hosting an informational webinar to provide an overview of the program guidelines and requirements on September 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. (PST) 12:00 p.m. (EST) 7:00 p.m. (IL). Registration at www.us-isr-energycenter.org. Submission deadline for proposals: October 29, 2020. For more information please contact: In Israel: Ms. Tal Fischelovitch, Tel: +972-3-698-8301, [email protected] In the U.S.: Ms. Andrea Yonah, Tel: +1-609-356-0305, [email protected] SOURCE The BIRD Foundation For refugees and displaced families forced to flee their homes, this winter threatens to be harsher than ever. They will have to face winter struggling to keep their families warm in tents or improvised shelters, while also facing the continued threat of COVID-19. We need to act now, before it's too late. Your donation can help keep refugees and displaced families safe and warm this winter. Help now The growing work-from-home movement amid the coronavirus and its likely continuing challenges has created the need for additional broadband capacity in more places. Mobile telco and other service providers are rallying around 5G wireless as the most promising solution for reliably faster Internet connectivity. But the path to rolling out 5G which is a vague reference to the fifth-generation wireless network technology has been rocky and spotty. It remains to be seen, at least in terms of consumers expectations, how electronics businesses in various sectors can decrease their risk, deliver new products on schedule, and build resiliency into their products. This all takes addressing collaboration challenges and supply chain considerations during the product design phase. 5G networks, now in their early deployment phases, promise to be five times more responsive than todays networks. Download speed of 20 gigabits-per-second means 5G will enable more specialized tasks at the workplace, according to Saheen C. Najeeb, Digital Marketing Analyst at Fingent, an enterprise software development company headquartered in White Plains, N.Y. But like anything new in the electronics world, the innovative higher-speed technology is much more complex when it comes to security concerns, he warned. As per a research study by Purdue University and the University of Iowa, 5G inherits many security policies and subprotocols from its predecessors, which are more error-prone and thus raise privacy and other security concerns, he told TechNewsWorld. That 5G speed bump itself could be worth the heightened security risks to some businesses and consumers if it helps launch a high-speed wireless alternative to wired broadband. Industry reports suggest the pandemic may fast-forward 5G adoption in the U.S. If it does speed up the deployment process, 5G can have a big impact on overcoming 5G supply chain challenges. Meanwhile, the full implications that 5G holds for WFH across the entire electronics value chain are mostly speculative, some industry watchers suggest. 5G and the FUD Factor Every technology upgrade comes with two sides. 5G is no different. Developers sing the praises of the better benefits, speed, and flexibility 5G will bring to business and everyday users. Politicians and broadband proponents paint a darker picture. Some opponents to the technology are painting with broad strokes a picture based on fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Those just switching to remote working are indeed in for some research as they look to improve their home Internet connections, according to Jase Rodley, founder/CEO of Dialed Labs, a marketing firm in Casper, Wyo. The problem with the long-promised and long-awaited 5G, and something that will likely stop it flying off the shelves into the houses of people who need it, is the fact that many politicians and officials have sparked rumors and debates about its safety, he told TechNewsWorld. As a result, more people now are turning to unconfirmed news websites claiming that China will use it to hack into our lives and learn all of our secrets. This could seriously impede just how quickly 5G is taken on by the general public, he suggested. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Other naysayers take issue with some of 5Gs aesthetic and personal challenges. For instance, 5G will enhance location tracking and personal data collection, Fingents Najeeb explained. Since 5G signals are short-range, it requires more cell towers covering a much smaller area. It means they know your exact location, which is a piece of sensitive information, he said. To be clear, however, Najeeb was not stating his personal opposition to 5G. What 5G Does The 5G network offers several key points to improve performance over earlier network technologies to help accelerate business capabilities, according to Najeeb. They are: To connect more devices faster than is done now Reduce the lag time between devices Enable the bulk volume of data transmission from a large number of devices with better responsiveness Provide higher bandwidth and lower latency Make working from home more feasible by providing a higher-speed broadband Internet, video conferencing, and other technologies Having ubiquitous Internet connectivity is great for resiliency and provides functionality that was not available even a few years ago, noted Drew Schmitt, senior consultant at Crypsis Group Crypsis Group, an incident response, risk management, and digital forensics firm with headquarters in McLean, Va. But enterprise deployments should introduce security evaluations and feedback loops into product development, as well as go-to-market strategies. That will add protection against threat actors who evolve tactics against new opportunities, he suggested. 4Gs Needed Retirement It is a non-disputed fact that the national broadband infrastructure is critical to keeping businesses running and remote workforces connected during the lockdown and the continuing WFH mandates of the lingering pandemic, according to Jamie Jefferies, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) vice president at Ciena. His firm provides communications networking equipment, software, and services that power 85 percent of the worlds top 20 service providers. This infrastructure must continue to evolve if our economy is going to bounce back, he told TechNewsWorld. With more and more businesses using distributed workforces located outside of city centers and central office locations strategies, the acceleration of 5G and fiber rollout must come from a nationwide strategy that benefits all areas. In order to expand 5Gs rollout, service providers and the government will need to quickly facilitate new arrangements for digging more fiber into the ground, building radio towers, and developing networks that can intelligently shift Internet capacity to support demand in new locations, Jefferies added. This will pave the way for growth and innovation across the nation, he said of the growing need for a 5G upgrade. Mobile Needs Push Beyond Fixed Broadband When 4G was developed, wireless systems were defined by essentially three major vendors. The standards were not open, and connections were established with fixed cabling. Cellular operators sourced equipment from these major vendors, and 4G became a reality, explained Dr. Lauro Rizzatti, consultant at Rizzatti, an electronic design automation (EDA) marketing and public relations firm in the Pacific Northwest. A D V E R T I S E M E N T With the rise of applications such as connected vehicles think cars, planes, trains, construction equipment farm tractors and so forth and all the other connected devices that comprise IoT, the data volume for cellular networks has exploded. That spawns the need for 5G and, as everyone knows, 5G networks are being brought up by many carriers in all parts of the world right now, he told TechNewsWorld. But there is an important twist in the way the new wireless network is being implemented. This time, cellular operators took control and defined open standards. This allows new companies to build hardware and software required for 5G networks, Rizzatti explained. 5G technology is more challenging to implement than 4G. For example, signal transmission requires an array of up to 64 X 64 multiple-input/multiple-output (MiMo) antennas that can support the beamforming required for 5G signals. While WFH creates the need for more broadband capacity in more places, fast-forwarding 5G adoption will only happen if the chips powering 5G are fully tested, and verification, a huge and potentially underestimated challenge, said Rizzatti. Chipping Away at 5G Challenges New products for the 5G market have at their core a mission-critical system on chip (SoC). It is the verification of those SoCs that is challenging, according to Rizzatti. Pre-silicon verification requires more than the standard chip design verification flow. One challenge is the need to develop robust and reusable tests for these SoCs. This involves solid, deterministic verification suites that can be run before silicon is available on prototypes of the hardware and, after silicon is available, on the real system. In the pre-silicon stage of chip development, hardware emulation is required to run the requisite number of tests at speed. Once silicon is available, the focus moves to verification of the chip in the lab and in the field. When these two technologies come from the same vendor, they can be created so both pre-silicon and post-silicon are mapped accurately to resolve problems at any point during design and deployment. Due to the size of the 5G ecosystem, these verification test suites need to be shared to ensure interoperability, explained Rizzatti. To help alleviate this issue, an alliance of telecom industry companies created the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) standard. Faster Connectivity With a Catch 5G technology promises increased Internet availability and performance with fewer strings attached. Its infrastructure is significantly less than fiber or DSL, according to Crypsis Groups Schmitt. From a business productivity and continuity perspective, this means that businesses are better able to support remote work in a COVID-19 and post-COVID world, where remote work may remain as more of a mainstay business model, he told TechNewsWorld. But it comes with a potential for higher security overhead, he warns. Many businesses are already struggling to keep security prioritized as users require flexible connectivity into business networks from home. Security may have some trouble keeping up. As 5G becomes more prevalent and businesses adjust their strategies to include more, perhaps permanent, remote workers, this means that network defenders must be ready to account for this increased surface area, said Schmitt. Traditional security measures have always been focused on the perimeter. There it could be controlled with users located in physical locations. With 5G technologies, defenders must also consider endpoint-focused strategies that provide protections for systems that may be connected to the organizations network or users home networks at any given time. This becomes even more crucial when we consider IoT devices, he said. - Abidel-Rahman Al-Shanti, an 11-year-old boy, is preaching the message of love and peace despite living in war-torn Gaza - With a huge following on Instagram, the rapper also has big support from rap artistes and DJs across the globe - Abidel-Rahaman said he wants to tell people about the realities of children in Gaza, adding that he will keep improving his music delivery An 11-year-old Palestinian boy, Abidel-Rahman Al-Shanti, living in war-torn Gaza is preaching the message of peace and love in the most creative way possible. The boy is using rap as his outlet to let people know what it is like for children in Gaza. READ ALSO: News anchor Hussein Mohamed spotted in public months after leaving Citizen TV A collage showing the boy rapping. Photo: Al Jazeera Source: UGC READ ALSO: Pastor Migwi advises men against marrying ladies before seeing their makeup-free faces According to Al Jazeera, the boy rhymes about the difficulties of growing up in Gaza. My message talks about peace and I want to convey it to the largest number of people and I want to show how is the life in Gaza to outside. I want to show them how we children (are) supposed to be like the other children from the outside, from America, he said. Known as MCA Abdul on Instagram with over 60,000 followers, he has fans from world artistes to DJs. He was even on airplay in Ireland. He has also been friends with rappers around the world thereby growing his global fan base. The young boy also sings cover songs as he hopes to write more of his own. He said he began rapping in 2018 adding that after he realised he could rap, he started doing constant practice. READ ALSO: Serge Aurier: Brother of Spurs star Christopher shot dead in France READ ALSO: Mwanamke Mkenya afariki dunia baada ya kugonjwa na lori Marekani Abidel-Rahman said he wants to keep improving on his craft so that his rap game can be better as he looks forward to writing more original lyrics. Though his friends do not always understand his fast-paced English rap, they still give him support by featuring in his videos. Waseem Seedi, a friend of his, said though he always asked him to sing for them, he does not understand what he says. He, however, commended the brilliance of his songs and how he delivers them. Some things will never change, some things will stay the same, but when its said and done, Palestine will still remain, the 11-year-old boy rapped. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly. I married a man every woman wanted - Pastor Joan Chege | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Deviating from his own advice and breaking the longstanding precedent of sitting US secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics, has urged Americans to re-elect President if they want to keep the country safe and their freedoms intact. The unconventional address of Pompeo at the second day of the mostly-virtual Republican National Convention on Tuesday created a political uproar, especially from the opposition Democratic Party, which asserted that the Secretary of State should stay away from partisan The decision to speak to the political convention in pre-recorded remarks from Jerusalem breaks with the longstanding precedent of sitting secretaries of state avoiding partisan and appears to violate guidance on political activities that Pompeo himself emphasised in a cable to diplomats just last month. Brushing away the criticism, Pompeo said that his speech from Israel is in his personal capacity. The primary Constitutional function of the national government is ensuring your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, work, learn and worship as they choose. Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this President has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world, Pompeo said in his address. Noting that Americans are more safe, and their freedoms more secure, because Trump has put his America First vision into action, Pompeo asserted that it may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked. In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The President has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world, and he will not rest until justice is done, the Secretary of State said. The US has accused China of spreading the novel coronavirus, which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. More than 5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US so far. There have been more than 170,000 deaths in the country. Pompeo said Trump has ensured that the Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats are jailed or sent back to China. He has "ended ridiculously unfair trade deals with China that punched a hole in the economy. Those jobs are coming back home, he said. In North Korea, the President lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table, Pompeo said. No nuclear tests, no long-range missile tests and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families as did the precious remains of scores of our heroes who fought in Korea, he said. Today, because of President Trump, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has defensive weapons systems and America left a harmful treaty so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression, Pompeo said. According to Pompeo, in the Middle East when Iran threatened, the President approved a strike that killed Iranian terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for the murder and maiming of hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Christians across the Middle East. You will all recall that when the President took office, radical Islamic terrorists had beheaded Americans and ISIS-controlled a territory the size of Great Britain. Today, because of the President's determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out, its evil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, and our brave soldiers are on their way home, he told his countrymen. The President exited the US from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the Ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas, he said. Pompeo said that the President moved the US Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland, he said. And the President brokered a historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, that our grandchildren will read about in their history books, he said. As a soldier, I saw, first hand, people desperate to flee to freedom. The way each of us can best ensure our freedoms is by electing leaders who don't just talk, but deliver, he said. Meanwhile, a House Democrat has opened an investigation into Pompeo's controversial decision to address the Republican National Convention. Rep Joaquin Castro, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, said in a statement on Tuesday that the "American people deserve a full 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.) When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament, he didnt just shut down politically sensitive hearings into the WE Charity contract and Canada-China relations. Side-swiped in that political play was also a House of Commons committee looking into the fate of women in the pandemic hearings examining domestic abuse, employment and the very urgent problem of safe and accessible child care. Two cabinet ministers, a range of experts and many parliamentarians were part of the way through hashing out a plan to better support women dealing with the brutal fallout of isolation and working from home a spike in violence and a disturbing drop in womens participation in the workplace. Its easy to see the cynicism that may have led the federal decision-makers to shut down the WE Charity inquiries, since they were seriously damaging the Liberals. And the Conservatives were the instigators of the Canada-China committee, which the Liberals only agreed to reluctantly. But motherhood and women in the workplace? Its right on brand, not to mention crucial for the business community, a prerequisite for a smooth and sustained economic recovery and essential for the healthy development of children. Theres a crying need for government action at all levels, and the time for that action is right now as the recovery begins to take hold and as taking care of children is in a huge upheaval, with uncertain and ever-changing back-to-school conditions. Just a few months ago, an amazing thing happened. As a country, we set aside political differences and agreed at a moments notice that we would do whatever it takes to get through the pandemic. At that time, whatever it takes meant shutting down the economy, pulling health-care workers out of retirement and providing them equipment and resources, making allowances for foreign workers to quickly move into our health-care system, and spending all the money needed to make sure the health-care system was not overwhelmed. It wasnt perfect, but it mainly worked. Now, whatever it takes is different. By necessity, we are learning to live and work alongside COVID-19, and that requires a different type of government support. Imagine if we collectively decided to treat child care the same way we treated health care last spring. Whatever it takes would be putting billions of dollars into keeping child-care spaces open, giving schools and daycare operators all the space and teachers and extra resources they need to keep kids safe and educated, and even pulling in people from retirement to make it happen. It would be done in the name of easing children back to school and daycare safely, expanding before- and after-school care, allowing parents to fully return to work with confidence even as we are still dealing with the pandemic. In the midst of the parliamentary hearings in July, it looked like we were heading in that direction. We also know that the child-care system in Canada is not yet fully a system, said Maryam Monsef, the minister for women and gender equality. We can't get back to a strong economy if we don't address the labour force attachments that women need. There is a link between gender-based violence, economic security, child care and pay equity. These things are all related. Monsef told the committee that her government was committed to that work. In the House of Commons this month, the NDP won unanimous consent for a motion committing Ottawa to send $2 billion to the provinces for affordable daycare, and funding for a safe return to school. The federal government proceeded to negotiate a $19-billion safe restart agreement with the provinces, which included $625 million for child care support. But that money has yet to be spent. Justin Trudeau told the premiers on Tuesday that Ottawa would transfer another $2 billion for the safe reopening of schools, but its not yet clear how much if any of that will be used for child care support. And now, hope for a holistic all-party plan has been lost to prorogation. Money without a plan is just money. Its not helping anything right now, says independent economist Armine Yalnizyan, who has become a go-to resource for the federal government as it attempts to deal with the effects of the pandemic recession on women. There is no plan. The committee heard from experts that the country needed about $2.5 billion just to maintain the existing daycare spaces, says NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen, who sits on the committee. The MPs also heard from both business interests and child care advocates that maintaining child care is essential for a recovery strategy. For sure, child care and education are provincial responsibilities. But health care is a provincial responsibility too, and that hasnt stopped the federal government from acting during the pandemic. The NDP would go further and have Ottawa adopt a national child care act that would ensure equal standards and accessibility across the country, getting rid of the mishmash that is our system right now, Mathyssen says. Its hard to imagine that kind of intricate negotiation happening during a pandemic. But adequate funding for safe conditions in daycares and schools that are gearing up to reopen in two weeks? Thats a lot more straightforward. Its also urgently needed, and not something that should be unnecessarily delayed by prorogation. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. ANYONE whose child appears unwell should be kept home from school in the first instance, Dr Ronan Glynn, the acting chief medical officer, has said. A GP should be contacted, even if that results in an upsurge in demand at GP surgeries at the return of school, he told the Dail coronavirus committee. The child should not be sent back to school until parents and guardians then had clarity and confidence that they could safely do so, he said. In any case of doubt, they should be kept at home, he said. Read More But Dr Philip Nolan, head of epidemiology at the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) said there was very little evidence of child-to-child transmission. He added: Children are getting it from adults. Dr Glynn said there had been 40 children admitted to hospital in Ireland as a result of infection with Covid-19. Two were admitted to intensive care, but thankfully there were no deaths. Dr Nolan said there were 100 cases of children testing positive in the last week, and it was important that there was not an overreaction when cases are detected in schools, as they will be. Public health teams would intervene in such outbreaks, he said, but it was impossible to describe what the approach would be because it would depend on the circumstances and nature of the case. You dont ask a cardiologist, If I get a heart attack next week, whats the plan? it depends on the type of heart attack and co-morbidities. You cant say whats going to happen in any given setting. You just dont know. To the Editor: Were writing to ask fellow residents of Dearborn/Dearborn Heights to consider taking action to end the suffering of an asylum seeker, Steven Tendo, a 35-year-old Ugandan pastor. According to the worldwide human rights organization, Amnesty International, Pastor Steven spoke up for voting rights and against corruption in the Ugandan government. As a result, he suffered torture, including the amputation of two of his fingers, as well as other severe human rights violations, including death threats and the murder of family members. He is almost certain to be killed if he is returned to Uganda. However, when he requested asylum in the United States, his appeal was refused. Since December 2018, he has been detained at an immigration detention facility in Los Fresnos, Texas. He is at risk of being imminently deported to his death in Uganda; at the same time, his health is deteriorating from inadequate medical care for diabetes amidst a COVID-19 outbreak in the detention facility. Yesterday, we received a reply to a letter we had written him. It is a heartbreaking plea for help to secure what we would all consider basic human rights: to life, to safety, and to health. He is in constant fear and pain, and has lost sight in one eye. We hope that many readers, perhaps immigrants themselves, will sympathize with this young man and that they will appeal to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official in charge of his case, asking that the U.S. government abide by the international law that forbids a country to send an asylum seeker back to a country where there is risk of torture or death. In addition, Pastor Steven should be allowed to wait to appeal his deportation proceedings in a safe place, where he can get the medical attention he desperately needs, away from the dangers of COVID infection. Letters and emails to ICE would be very helpful in drawing attention to his case and helping officials see that ordinary citizens care about how the most vulnerable and invisible members of our population are treated. People can find more details about this case and instructions for taking action on the Amnesty USA website: amnestyusa.org/urgent-actions/urgent-action-free-asylum-seeker-at-risk-of-deportation-usa-ua-112-20. Ken and Geraldine Grunow Amnesty International, Group 78 Dearborn LAS VEGAS: A Russian citizen has been arrested and charged with offering an employee of a Nevada company $1 million to sew malware for an attack to harvest company data for ransom, U.S. authorities said Tuesday. Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, was arrested Saturday after meeting with the employee and then driving overnight from Reno to Los Angeles, where the FBI said he planned to fly out of the country, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Reno. The plot was stopped before any damage occurred, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse in Las Vegas. Kriuchkov made an initial appearance Monday in federal court in Los Angeles on a charge of conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich said. A magistrate judge ordered Kriuchkov to remain in federal custody pending trial, the prosecutor said. A conviction could result in a sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Court records did not immediately reflect the name of an attorney who could speak on Kriuchkovs behalf. He is expected to be transferred in custody to Reno in coming days. We are committed to holding accountable anyone who plots to use malicious cyber tactics to harm American consumers and companies, Trutanich said. Kriuchkov traveled to the United States on his Russian passport and a tourist visa, prosecutors said. The business in Nevada was identified only as Victim Company A in a criminal complaint that alleges Kruichkov spent more than five weeks communicating by an internet chat app and in person with the unnamed employee. Some meetings were monitored and recorded by the FBI. It is not clear in the documents if money changed hands. The employee was expected to install software enabling an entity referred to as the group" initiate a distributed denial of service attack flooding and crashing the company computer system to occupy tech security officials while a second intrusion obtained data. Other suspected co-conspirators are identified in the complaint by nicknames including Kisa and Pasha; a person is identified as Sasha Skarobogatov; and references are made to at least one other failed effort to target another company. 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 Burglary arrest scene in Sonora View Photos Sonora, CA Spotting a flashlight moving about in a nearby apartment, a neighbor foiled a Sonora burglary in progress, resulting in two arrests. The resident of the unit at the Quail Hollow Apartments on Chukar Circle in Sonora was not home at the time but received a text from the witness alerting them to the break-in. The flashlight could still be seen scanning the apartment by arriving Tuolumne County Sheriffs Deputies. Then suddenly 28-year-old Mickey Ringer of Sonora appeared in the doorway and deputies ordered him to leave the apartment. Following behind him was 35-year-old Bonnie Palmer, also from Sonora. Both were handcuffed without incident. A search of the pair turned up items stolen from the apartment, a large amount of methamphetamine and cash separated in several denominations, according to sheriffs officials. The two were arrested for burglary, possession of methamphetamine for sale, and conspiracy to commit a crime with the extra charge of possession of drug paraphernalia tacked onto Palmers crimes. Their bond was set at $50,000 each. The presidents unorthodox approach to international relations has changed how much of the world sees the US. President Donald Trump made some of his flashiest 2016 campaign pledges in foreign policy areas, such as vowing to reevaluate the US relationship with NATO, abandon a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and bring US troops back from forever wars. The Republican president, a former businessman from New York who boasts about his deal-making skills, has delivered on some of his pledges, while partially meeting a few others. Some have ended in failure. If Trump is defeated in the November 3 election by Democratic rival Joe Biden, the new administrations hardest challenge will be to restore the global standing and trustworthiness of the United States, according to analysts and former officials from the US and Europe. Biden, vice president under President Barack Obama, would inherit a scarred transatlantic relationship, deep antagonism with China and sanctions-dominated pressure campaigns against Iran, Syria and Venezuela. Here is a look at some of the key policy priorities of the Trump administration and potential challenges for Biden: China A central theme in Trumps 2016 campaign was to accuse China of ripping off the US while promising to seal a fair trade deal with Beijing that would help American businesses and create US jobs. After almost two years of a tit-for-tat trade war with the worlds second-largest economy, Trump has so far managed a stalled first phase of such an agreement. Meanwhile, Washington and Beijing have slapped tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of each others goods and the global spread of the coronavirus from China has left bilateral ties at their lowest level in decades, raising fears of a new Cold War. Washington has acted against Beijing on multiple fronts: It ended the special status of Hong Kong after China imposed sweeping national security legislation, sanctioned top officials over human rights abuses and sought to ban Chinese technology companies from operating in the US. A Biden administration would have little option but to maintain the hard stance, analysts say, but would probably try to create room for engagement. Iran nuclear deal In 2018, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, saying he could strike a better one. He also launched a maximum pressure campaign to choke off Tehrans sources of income. Despite almost two years of sanctions on everything from oil revenue to minerals and Irans central bank, Washington has yet to get Tehran back to the negotiating table. Instead, escalating tensions have carried the two nations to the brink of war. Biden has said he would deal with Iran through diplomacy and re-enter the agreement, but only if Iran first returned to compliance with the deals restrictions on its nuclear programme. NATO and transatlantic ties Trump has repeatedly complained about the failure of many NATO partners to meet defence spending targets. He has also questioned the continued relevance of the organisation created in 1949 at the start of the Cold War with Russia. His attacks soured ties with several European allies, but more members of the alliance have now increased spending to meet its target of 2 percent of GDP. This year, Trump promised to cut the number of US troops in Germany, accusing Berlin of taking advantage of the US while not meeting its NATO obligations. In July, the Pentagon announced 11,900 troops would leave Germany and the US would move its European military headquarters from Germany to Belgium. Analysts said repairing the transatlantic alliance will take time, but should be one of the easier tasks awaiting a potential Biden administration. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sits in a tank as he talks to US soldiers based in Grafenwoehr, Germany [Reuters] Troop withdrawals Trump promised in his 2016 campaign to stay out of foreign wars and bring home US troops deployed in Afghanistan, the USs longest war, which is now in its nineteenth year. Washington has begun cutting troop numbers in Afghanistan after striking a deal with the Taliban in February that envisaged the withdrawal of all US troops. This depends, however, on talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which have stalled. Trump also ordered a pullout of US troops from Syria. The decision was repeatedly watered down by aides and the military, but numbers have still been reduced by more than half. Climate One of Trumps most controversial decisions was his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, something he had repeatedly promised to do during the 2016 campaign. Trump said the agreement imposed draconian financial and economic burdens on the US and said he would negotiate a better one. A new agreement has not materialised. The Biden campaign said he would recommit to the original Paris deal and lead an effort to get major countries to toughen their domestic targets. Middle East Trump delivered on his 2016 campaign promise to relocate the US embassy in Israel to the divided city of Jerusalem. The move was condemned by most of the Arab world but won praise from the Israeli government and its supporters, as well as evangelical Christians. His wider Middle East Peace plan was rejected by Palestinians as it allowed Israel to maintain control of lillegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, but received some encouraging responses from several Arab states. One, the United Arab Emirates, this month normalised ties with Israel in a deal brokered by the US, a move that many analysts saw as a foreign policy win for Trump at a time when he has been trailing Biden in polls. North Korea Trump surprised the world by entering unprecedented talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Despite the summitry, he made no progress in persuading Kim to give up his nuclear weapons, and talks remain stalled. But some believe his ice-breaking diplomacy could be a building block for a future administration. GALVESTON, Texas: Hurricane Laura was expected to cause catastrophic damage and unsurvivable storm surge" to the Gulf Coast near the Texas and Louisiana border after strengthening on Wednesday to a Category 4 storm, the National Hurricane Center said. Laura, located 200 miles (320 km) south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon, had maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour (220 km per hour) and was expected to pack winds of up to 145 mph (233 kph) before landfall on Wednesday night, the Miami-based forecaster said. Some 620,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders in Louisiana and Texas. The catastrophic storm surge could penetrate up to 30 miles (48 km) inland from the coastline between Sea Rim State Park, Texas, and Intracoastal City, Louisiana and could raise water levels as high as 20 feet (6 m) in parts of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, the NHC said. To think that there would be a wall of water over two stories high coming on shore is very difficult for most to conceive, but that is what is going to happen," said National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Schott at a news conference. Most of Louisianas Cameron Parish would be underwater at some point, Schott added. The word unsurvivable is not one that we like to use, and its one that Ive never used before," Schott said of the storm surge. Temporary housing was being hastily erected outside the storm surge zone for evacuated residents, and emergency teams were being strategically positioned, state and federal emergency management agencies said. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Pete Gaynor posted pictures of portable shelters on Tuesday at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, about 115 miles (185 km) north of the Gulf Coast. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his states National Guard was in place with high-water vehicles and rescue helicopters. While Houston had earlier in the week feared Laura would deliver a direct hit to the fourth-largest U.S. city, the storm has shifted east and Houston, which was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, looked likely to escape the worst of it. Louisiana Governor John Edwards said that the states entire National Guard had been activated for the first time since 2012. MANDATORY EVACUATIONS More than 420,000 Texas residents and another 200,000 people in neighboring Louisiana were under mandatory evacuation orders. Sarah and Brad Cooksey were filling up their RV at a gas station in Katy, Texas along their evacuation route from low-lying Port Arthur to a campground in Columbus. Well see what we come back to," Brad Cooksey said. Nothing we can do about it." Skies were dark, a light rain was falling and the surf was strong on Wednesday morning in the island city of Galveston, which was mostly boarded up. Randall Gilmore, a 48-year-old maintenance worker, was riding his bike along the citys sea wall before he planned to evacuate to nearby Texas City in the afternoon. This storm doesnt look like itll be bad so far, but I feel its better to leave. You never know what to expect with these storms," Gilmore said. The storm was also expected to spawn tornadoes Wednesday night over Louisiana, far southeastern Texas and southwestern Mississippi and drop 5 to 10 inches of rain over the region, the NHC said. It added there would likely be widespread flooding from far eastern Texas across Louisiana and Arkansas from Wednesday to Thursday. Crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been paralyzed as companies batten down operations. Output cuts are nearing 90%, a level not seen since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. LANDFALL DURING PANDEMIC Hidalgo County urged voluntary evacuation in the coastal region surrounding Houston, and shelters were set up in San Antonio, Dallas and Austin. Thousands of evacuees would be sheltered at hotels in Austin, instead of schools, to encourage social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Jared Brown, 39, was heading to a friends house in Austin from his home in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Wednesday. He had decided that would be safer from viral exposure than a hotel, where he normally would have taken shelter. Luckily he didnt mind," Brown said of his friend. Lina Hidalgo, the top executive for Harris County, which encompasses Houston, signed a disaster declaration for the county on Wednesday. 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 Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted in September as scheduled, officials said on Tuesday, amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial tests in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Testing Agency said it has planned several steps to conduct the papers safely which include increasing the number of examination centers, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit. These steps have been introduced to ensure adherence to social distancing norms at the centres in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. Read More: NTA says NEET, JEE Main 2020 exams in September, informs about steps taken for safety of candidates Officials in the Ministry of Education asserted the exams will be conducted as per schedule. While the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is scheduled from September 1-6, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is planned on September 13. The number of examination centers have also been increased from 570 to 660 (for JEE Main) and 2,546 to 3843 (for NEET). While JEE-Mains is a computer-based test, NEET is a pen-paper test, the NTA said in a statement. Additionally, in case of JEE-Mains, the number of shifts has been increased from the earlier 8 to 12, and the number of candidates per shift has been reduced from earlier 1.32 lakh to 85,000 now, it said. In order to ensure proper social distancing inside the examination halls, the candidates will be seated in alternate seats in case of JEE-Mains. In case of NEET, the number of candidates per room has been reduced from 24 to 12, it said. For ensuring social distancing outside the examination hall, the entry and exit of candidates has been staggered, it added. Adequate arrangements have also been made outside the examination centers to enable candidates stand with adequate social distancing, while waiting. Candidates have also been issued advisory guiding them about Dos and Donts for proper social distancing, it added. There have been demands from several quarters to further postpone the entrance exams in view of increasing coronavirus cases. On Tuesday, Swedish teen climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg also threw her weight behind postponing the exams in view of the pandemic. Its deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID, she said in a tweet. Several opposition leaders in India including Congress Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik, DMK President MK Stalin and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia have demanded the exams be postponed. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases, saying precious year of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on. We find that there is absolutely no justification in the prayer made for postponement of the examination in question relating to NEET as well as JEE-Mains, the Supreme Court had said. The NTA has also written to state governments to extend support in local movement of the candidates so that they are able to reach their examination centres on time. While a total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. New Delhi, Aug 26 : A day ahead of the GST Council meet, Amit Mitra, the Finance Minister of West Bengal has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asking the Centre to pay GST compensation and said that the Union government cannot ask states to borrow from the market to meet the financial requirements. The statement comes amid anticipation that the GST Council meeting on Thursday is likely to discuss a market borrowing mechanism to help states leverage recently enhanced borrowing limits to compensate them for revenue shortfalls and debts, to be eventually repaid from the compensation cess fund. "Under no circumstances should states be asked to borrow from the market as it will increase their debt servicing liability. Further, it may lead to cut in state expenditure which is not desirable at this juncture when the economy is witnessing severe recessionary trend," the letter said. Mitra suggested that Centre must pay from the different cesses it collects, as it is not getting devolved to the states. He reminded the Finance Minister that in the 39th GST Council meeting, the Chairperson, Sitharaman herself had said that "the states are entitled to it and there is no question of them asking the Centre for it. It was the solemn commitment to the states. The Centre is duty-bound to give compensation to the states". In the letter, he said: "We are greatly alarmed by the news emanating out of Delhi, especially the recent statement made by the Union Finance Secretary which was widely carried by all national dailies that the Central government is not in a position to pay GST compensation due to dip in collections meant for compensation." Earlier, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal had also suggested to the government that the Council can recommend to the Centre to allow the states to borrow on the strength of the future receipts from the compensation fund. He also said that there is no obligation on the Centre to pay the GST compensation shortfall. There is no way of reaching into his head, Green said in an interview. Either he has nothing to say out of remorse and that presumes humanity for which we see no sign or he believes its his last attempt to control the narrative, because he will not give society the one thing it wants: the answer to Why? 26.08.2020 LISTEN Western propaganda requires acceptance of contradictory dogmas alongside an impressive array of mental gymnastics to reconcile logical fallacies. It teaches us that, censorship is democracy, fake news is truth, submission is freedom. Have a look at the US and Europe. Modern feminist movements are having the wind taken out of their sails by other woke factions who argue that children should be taught boys can have periods, so as not to distress transgender students, or that terms like mother and father should be replaced with parent 1 and parent 2. Even the main UK doctors union sent an internal memo advising its staff to use the term pregnant people rather than expectant mothers to avoid causing offense. Do you agree with it? One could argue that campaigns designed to remove the concept of male and female is a threat to women and their historical struggles. By eliminating the existence of women, it not only airbrushes out womens vast contribution to history but also removes the whole notion of feminism if womanhood does not exist, then the whole idea of misogyny becomes irrelevant. Perhaps one day someone will decide that race is simply a construct and can be changed at will, thus making all debates about racism and oppression irrelevant. Thus future woke cultists might argue themselves into a corner in which racism and thus white privilege does not exist. In the West, you are free to choose any gender or sexuality, transition between these at whim, or perhaps create your own, but you are not supposed to question the foundations of capitalism or liberalism. Likewise, the much lauded concept of human rights and democracy one of the key pillars on which Western cultural superiority rests and from which it sneers at undemocratic and uncivilized African countries is used to justify the destruction, occupation and economic enslavement of its peoples. Whether it is Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and of course most African states we see that non-white lives do not matter when there are no political points to score. Indeed, condemning the slaughter of Africans could be enough to get you labeled racist by those who remain suspiciously silent when real racism rears its ugly head. It is welcome that recent events in the US have highlighted racism faced by African Americans. Yet frequent murders of African Americans by a militarized police force did not suddenly appear when Trump came to power. Many Democratic Party politicians who nowadays make sure everyone knows they unquestioningly support the Black Lives Matter movement had few issues with the status quo before the killing of George Floyd, and will probably regain their apathy if Biden wins the election. Cops in America do not serve and protect people of colour. The nation's prison system, the world's largest by far, attests to its barbarity - mostly filled with poor, disadvantaged Blacks and Latinos. Many are falsely convicted or locked in cages for illicit drug possession offenses too minor to matter. The greatest threat to the world is American exceptionalism. It is the success of the indoctrination of Nazi doctrine of exceptionalism that is the source of the violence in the world today. The problem of American police brutality is that the police are defined as exceptional and unaccountable. They can kill the rest of us without accountability, just as Washington slaughters untold numbers of people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Pakistan. Unexceptional peoples are dispensable. Since the first years of existence, the US has been waging genocidal wars without mercy, conquest and dominance sought at any price. At home, America's native people were virtually exterminated, survivors consigned to concentration camp-like reservations, treated more like animals than people, impoverished, abused and denied their fundamental rights. Abroad, one country after another were raped and destroyed by the US and its allies. The States of progressive West killed tens of millions of uncivilized people following democratic and peace-loving ideals. Cold hard reality exposes horrifying truths Western nations bent on world conquest and colonization. They used to loot resources and exploit people of the other nations. Do you really share those ideals? Eagle-eyed viewers have claimed that a rogue librarian may have been to blame for the choice of books behind Boris Johnson today when he gave his schools speech which appeared to have particularly pointed titles. The PM told a roomful of Year 7 pupils at a Leicestershire school it is politically acceptable to sing Rule Britannia and ruled that Harry Potter is not sexist. He was at Castle Rock school in Coalville today as he told the bemused schoolchildren how important it was they got back into classrooms in September. But Internet wags have spotted books on display behind him with pointed titles and are suggesting a librarian used the moment to 'troll' the beleaguered PM. Lining the bookshelf were novels including Roald Dahl's The Twits, Philip Pullman's The Subtle Knife and Betrayed by PC Cast and Kristin Cast. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 - a dystopian novel about a future American society where books are outlawed - stood prominently behind the PM's shoulder. Did a disgruntled librarian take revenge on Boris Johnson today by displaying books with politically pointed titles behind him during his livestream speech? Lining the bookshelf were novels including Philip Pullman's The Subtle Knife (left), Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 (centre) and Betrayed by PC and Kristin Cast (right) Also on the bookshelt were Gemma Malley's The Resistance (left), Exodus by Julie Bertagna (centre) and Neal Shusterman's The Toll (right) Also displayed were Hero.Com: Crisis Point (left), Glass Houses (centre) and The Twits (right) Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett, a novel about a plot by a secret brotherhood to overthrow a corrupt patrician and install a puppet king, was also in view. Fifth along the bookshelf was Julie Bertagna's Exodus, a story about dispossessed migrants who escape their island due to rising sea levels caused by global warming. 'Never mess with a librarian': Books used to take a pop at Boris during his livestream speech to the nation 1. The Subtle Knife (Philip Pullman) Philip Pullman's 1997 second novel in the His Dark Materials series continues the adventures of Lyra Belacqua as she investigates the mysterious Dust phenomenon. 2. Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury) Fahrenheit 451 is Ray Bradbury's 1953 dystopian novel, presenting a future US society where books are outlawed and 'firemen' burn any that are found. 3. Betrayed (PC and Kristin Cast) Betrayed is the 2007 second novel of the House of Night vampire fantasy series, written by American authors PC and Kristin Cast. 4. The Resistance (Gemma Malley) The Resistance is a children's novel by Gemma Malley, published in 2008. Prior to the events of the novel, the world had become overpopulated due to a drug that lets people live forever. 5. Exodus (Julie Bertagna) Julie Bertagna's Exodus from 2002 is a story about dispossessed migrants who escape their island due to rising sea levels caused by global warming. 6. The Toll (Neal Shusterman) Last year's The Toll by Neal Shusterman is the epic conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Arc of a Scythe series, set against the backdrop of a dictatorship that puts a constitution to the test. 7. Hero.Com: Crisis Point (Andy Briggs) Andy Briggs' Hero.Com: Crisis Point, released in 2011, takes place in a world of superheroes, where the Hero Foundation is a shadow of its former self and supervillain Lord Oeon schemes to tear time apart. 8. Glass Houses (Rachel Caine) 2006's Glass Houses by Rachel Caine is a young adult urban fantasy/vampire novel which revolves around Claire Danvers, a student at Texas Prairie University, and her housemates in the vampire-controlled city of Morganville, Texas. While the mayor of Morganville is human, the town is actually run in cooperation with a group of vampires. 9. The Twits (Roald Dahl) Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake's witty book The Twits, published in 1980, is about a hideous, vindictive, spiteful couple who live together in a brick house without windows. They play nasty practical jokes on each other out of hatred for one another. 10. Guards! Guards! (Terry Pratchett) Terry Pratchett's Guards! Guards!, from 1989, is about a plot by a secret brotherhood to overthrow a corrupt patrician and install a puppet king. 11. The Lord Of The Rings (JRR Tolkien) Tolkien's classic mythology The Lord Of The Rings (1954) follows hobbits sent on a quest to destroy the One Ring and bring the terror posed by the Dark Lord Sauron to a final end. Advertisement Also displayed behind the PM was Hero.Com: Crisis Point, a novel in Andy Briggs' series where 'super powers carry super responsibilities'. Rachel Caine's vampire novel Glass Houses stood second from the right, with some suggesting it could be a reference to the proverb 'those who live in glass houses should not throw stones' - itself a comment on the PM's criticism of Ofqual. And Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist - famous for its line 'Please, sir, I want some more' - may have been placed just to the left of Mr Johnson to remind people of this Government's free school meals U-turn earlier this year. Twitter accounts lined up to praise whoever selected the books - with some believing it was the school librarian - for their 'supreme trolling'. One social media user said: 'Why are politicians so bad at this? You'd think they'd have checked. They appear to be as bad at the small stuff as the big.' 'It has been noted that the Subtle Knife; Glass Houses; The Toll (about a monstrous dictator); and Guards Guards (about a shady villain installing a puppet king) are all there too. It looks like it's been carefully curated!' one posted. Another said 'some top trolling by the school librarian' while one account posted: 'Never mess with a librarian'. 'Whichever librarian managed to get not just the 'The Twits' but also 'Betrayed'; 'Resistance' and 'Fahrenheit 451' in the shot behind Johnson has my admiration', one social media user said. Another commented: 'Got to be the worst politicians Zoom bookshelves ever. Except what's that in the top, right hand corner, 'The Twits'. School librarian has a sense of humour'. 'If the librarian had also managed to find space for The Plague, and Paradise Lost, it would have been a full house', another Twitter account posted. Mr Johnson's rambling remarks came as he attempted to strike a tone of credibility after his government's disastrous handling of the exams fiasco. In an address lasting under seven minutes, the maskless PM apologised for A-Level and GCSE exam results affected by a 'mutant algorithm' that forced an embarrassing U-turn last week. He told the students: 'From now on, from getting back into school, the hours and days and weeks of this new term, you will experience things with an intensity and clarity, believe me, that is seldom repeated in your lives. 'You'll remember these days and weeks and months, you really really will. 'And when you have been struggling with something in the classroom or whatever, some concept that you cannot get, like the supine stem of confetti or nuclear fusion or is Harry Potter sexist? Answer: no, by the way. Is it politically acceptable to sing Rule Britannia? Yes ... 'When you are struggling with complex questions, or something that you are worried about, somebody very probably a teacher, a brilliant teacher, will say something and a light will go on, the clouds will lift and you will never, ever forget that moment. That moment is absolutely irreplaceable. It is invaluable and it can only happen in school.' The PM today thanked pupils for their efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus: 'We have the number of deaths way down, we have the number of hospital admissions way, way down and it's thanks to you and your sacrifice that we have protected the NHS and saved literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives. 'No previous generation of pupils has ever done anything like this.' Now, he said, 'the risk to your health is not from Covid because, after all, statistically speaking, your chances of suffering from that disease are very, very low'. 'The greatest risk you face now is of continuing to be out of school,' he added. Twitter accounts lined up to praise whoever selected the books - with some believing it was the school librarian - for their 'supreme trolling' He was at Castle Rock school in Coalville, an academy school where pupils started back today for 'induction and familiarisation' ahead of lessons starting next week Second head rolls over exams fiasco: Boris Johnson fires education chief Jonathan Slater 24 hours after Ofqual boss Sally Collier 'stepped down' - but cheerful Gavin Williamson stays as PM blames 'mutant algorithm' for cock-up Boris Johnson fired the top civil servant at the Department for Education today saying 'fresh official leadership' was needed after the A-Level and GCSE exam fiasco. Jonathan Slater has been effectively removed from his post and will leave on September 1, it was announced today, 24 hours after Ofqual chief executive Sally Collier resigned from her post in the wake of the grading U-turn. It means that of the people in the top positions overseeing the grading for exams that were not sat because of coronavirus, only Education Secretary Gavin Williamson remains in his post despite numerous calls for him to go. Boris Johnson has resisted pressure to get rid of his bumbling minister, with suggestions that the former chief whip, who worked on his leadership election campaign, 'knows where the bodies are buried'. Advertisement Regarding the recent exam fiasco he added: 'I'm afraid your grades were almost derailed by a mutant algorithm. 'I know how stressful that must have been for pupils up and down the country. I'm very, very glad that it has finally been sorted out.' But Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, accused the Prime Minister of trying to 'shrug away' the A-level and GCSE results. He said: 'It is brazen of the Prime Minister to idly shrug away a disaster that his own Government created. Parents, students, teachers and heads will be horrified to see the leader of this country treat his own exams fiasco like some minor passing fad. 'The public will not easily forget the emotional rollercoaster of this year's results season. It is certain to put a long-lasting dent in the Government's reputation on education.' Teachers have warned the PM his face masks U-turn risks creating chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering. The Government last night announced that face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns. A decision on whether to wear masks in non-lockdown area schools will be left to individual head teachers. The change in policy came after days of ministers and Downing Street insisting there were no plans to change the guidance in England which had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to. But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons. The timing of the U-turn has prompted anger - schools in England are due to reopen next week - with teachers warning the wearing of masks could cause 'mayhem'. 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... Welcome Guest! You Are Here: We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form When Scott Morrison spoke to the first day of the National Youth Commission's virtual "youth futures summit" on Monday, he sought to assure the young people that, difficult as the pandemic and the economy are at the moment, there is another side to it, "where Australia emerges once again, where we actually do go back to the life that we loved". I'm sure that's true. But if past recessions are any guide, most of us will have recovered from the coronacession and be back enjoying the life we love long before most of the present crop of youngsters leaving education have found themselves a decent job. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: If the past is any guide, the government won't do nearly as much as it should to help those youngsters who, "through no fault of their own", as Morrison would say, had the immense misfortune to be born in the wrong year or three. And, quite apart from the pain so many young people will suffer, the money the taxpayer saves from that neglect is likely to be exceeded by all the subsequent cost to the budget in healthcare, unemployment benefits and workers whose reduced incomes mean they don't pay as much tax as they might have. A juvenile was arrested after allegedly shooting three individuals amid riots in Kenosha, Wisc., which began after police shot a black man while attempting to take him into custody. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was charged with first-degree homicide stemming from the Tuesday night incident. Rittenhouse allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators and injured a third, and was arrested in his hometown of Antioch, Ill., about 20 miles from Kenosha. This morning Kenosha County authorities issued an arrest warrant for the individual responsible for the incident, Antioch police said in a statement. The suspect in this incident, a 17-year-old Antioch resident, Kyle Rittenhouse, is currently in custody of the Lake County Judicial System pending an extradition hearing to transfer custody from Illinois to Wisconsin. Rioters in Kenosha have destroyed or damaged dozens of local businesses, and clashes have erupted between rioters and armed citizens attempting to guard local property. Reporters from theA Daily Caller captured footage of the shooting incident on Tuesday, with one reporter attempting to treat a man with a head wound, who later died. In the video, Rittenhouse can be seen standing near the wounded man and can be heard saying, I just killed somebody. A subsequent video captures Rittenhouse running down the street being chased by a group of men before falling to the ground and opening fire on his pursuers, hitting at least two men, one in the chest and another, who was holding a pistol, in the arm. In the wake of the riots, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers on Wednesday authorized the deployment of additional National Guard troops to the city. Evers authorized 500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard to support local law enforcement in Kenosha County this evening, the governors office said in a statement. The governor is continuing to work with other states in facilitating additional National Guard and state patrol support. Story continues President Trump, who had offered federal assistance to contain the riots, wrote on Twitter, My team just got off the phone with Governor Evers who agreed to accept federal assistance (Portland should do the same!). TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER! The riots follow the death of Jacob Blake, who was shot by Kenosha police officers during the attempt to arrest him. At a Wednesday press conference, Kenosha police chief Daniel Miskinis said that a Wisconsin statute mandates that the state Justice Department investigate police shootings, which was why he did not have any details about the probe into Blakes shooting. Wisconsin lawmakers have pleaded for demonstrators to engage in peaceful protests following the shooting. The vandalism, armed militia, gun violence and fatal shootings in Kenosha are not advancing the cause of racial justice in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D., Wisc.) said on Wednesday. More from National Review Liberty Debt Relief Were truly honored and ecstatic to reach this milestone! We are committed to continuing to assist thousands of consumers alleviate unsecured debt throughout the nation. Omar Chouche | CEO Inc. magazine today revealed that Liberty Debt Relief is No. 1118 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12. The companies on this years Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism. The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation. Liberty Debt Relief strives to be the #1 debt relief solution. Liberty Debt Relief has helped thousands of customers struggling with credit card debt, medical debt, private student loans, and other forms of unsecured debt become debt-free. Liberty Debt Relief provides experience and knowledge every step of the way to face any debt challenge. CONTACT: Omar Chouche support@libertydebtrelief.com (800) 756-8447 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/. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 16:31:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOUSTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Some coastal areas in the U.S. state of Texas issued voluntary evaluation orders on Tuesday as intensified Hurricane Laura moved from the Gulf of Mexico towards the coastline. Meanwhile, recovery work started in Cuba's eastern and central provinces where the tropical storm damaged homes and crops, and electrical and telephone networks. Laura strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday morning as it entered the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center projected Laura is expected to intensify on a path to hit the U.S. coastline late Wednesday or early Thursday as a major Category 3 hurricane capable of inflicting "devastating" damage. It will hit the coastline in East Texas or West Louisiana with sustained wind speeds of over 160 km per hour. Although the hurricane will weaken quickly after landfall, a swath of heavy rainfall will likely accompany the core of Laura as it moves north-northeast Thursday night and Friday. As of Tuesday morning, hurricane warnings were issued for parts of the northwestern Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana. Texas' Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a voluntary evacuation effective immediately, saying that "all of us need to be prepared for the very real potential of a direct hit from the storm." Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking people to stay off the roads. "I am asking Houstonians to be off the road by 8:00 p.m. tomorrow if not sooner," he tweeted. "This is a serious event and we should treat it as such." Earlier, in Texas Galveston, an island along the Gulf Coast, officials encouraged people who live without the protection of the seawall to evacuate. Following the passage of Laura, Cuba on Tuesday started recovery efforts. Average Cubans joined in the task, clearing debris and cleaning neighborhoods, as brigades of technicians worked to restore electricity and fixed telephone service after the storm knocked down trees and electrical poles. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has called for prioritizing recovery on the island. The philosophy is to end the damage "so they can be removed immediately, as we did with last year's tornado in Havana," the president emphasized at a meeting of the Economic-Social Organ of the National Defense Council earlier this week. Laura moved on from Cuba on Monday night near Puerto Esperanza in the northern town of Vinales in western Pinar del Rio province, where some areas still saw heavy rain early Tuesday. As Laura passed over the country's southern coast, the storm lashed the region with heavy rain and maximum sustained winds of 100 km per hour. Preliminary reports said more than 1,000 homes sustained damage, mainly to their roofs. About 316,000 people were evacuated in the country, most of whom went to homes of relatives and neighbors, Chief Staff of the National Civil Defense Ramon Pardo Guerra said. Enditem - BoG says it has paid 95% of depositors of the collapsed banks - The governor of the BoG made the revelation when President Akufo-Addo paid a working visit on the central bank - Dr. Ernest Addison said they have put in place measures to prevent a future occurrence of the banking crisis - Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The governor of the central bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, has reiterated the claims by the Receiver of the collapsed banks that he has settled about 95% of the depositors. Dr. Addison noted that monies have been paid to savings and loan companies, microfinance institutions, and finance houses. He was briefing President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Governor of the BoG, Dr. Ernest Addison. Source: Facebook Source: UGC READ ALSO: Ayawaso West Wuogon: Meet the independent candidate who wants to contest Dumelo and Lydia Alhassan President Akufo-Addo visited the BoG and the banking issues came up for discussions. The Governor also told the President that only 5% of customers or depositors havent received their funds. He opined that these are depositors of GN Bank/GN Savings and Loans and First Allied Savings and Loans which were cleared only last three weeks. The governor added that the government had provided a bond worth GH1.7 billion, out of which GH700 million had been monetised, with which the Receiver was also working at clearing the last people that were left in this segment. Dr. Addison also assured the President and Ghanaian that the BoG has put in place measures to prevent a repetition of the banking sector crisis in the future. He said the passing of the new corporate Governance Directive, will ensure that the mess that was in the banking sector is prevented. READ ALSO: 9 Ghanaians who popped up on the Most Influential African Women 2020 list He said because there was a lot of falsification of data submitted to the central bank by the financial institutions, the bank had brought in a new technology that would allow it to get the data directly from the sources to avoid human intervention in data retrieval. He said because many of the banks reported that they had capital when, in fact, they did not, the BoG had reviewed the entire capital verification process of banks. Lastly, Dr. Addison revealed that staff of the Banking Supervision Department of the BoG had received a lot of training with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and some other technical assistant providers. Okada riders in Accra react to Mahama's promise to legalize their operations in Ghana | #Yencomgh Got a story you think we should know about? Get interactive via our Facebook page! Source: YEN.com.gh An engineered created 'AI Clone of Jesus' by feeding artificial intelligence the King James Bible, resulting in interesting and somewhat horrifying scriptures. George Durendal used a natural-language processing system to replicate the ancient words without exactly copying the text. The technology was programmed to write about three topics: the plague, Caesar, and the end of days. The full copy of the AIs scripture is riddled with glitches, half of the nouns used are Lord, but some eerily resemble what is shown in the bible. Scroll down for video An engineered created 'AI Clone of Jesus' by feeding artificial intelligence the King James Bible, resulting in interesting and somewhat horrifying scriptures. George Durendal used a natural-language processing system to replicate the ancient words without exactly copying the text (stock photo) In these days of trials and tribulations many have turned to religion, Durendal shared in a blog post. But what religion is left for those who have averted their gaze from the fables of old to the shiny metal toys of today? I present to you A.I. Jesus. An artificial intelligence of my invention created from the King James Bible and nothing else. AI Jesus has produced approximately 30,000 words in its scriptures as of August. The technology was programmed to write about three topics: the plague, (pictured) Caesar, and the end of days' The full copy of the AIs scripture is riddled with glitches, half of the nouns used are Lord, but some eerily resemble what is shown in the bible. Pictured is text when the AI produced text about 'Caesar' When writing about the plague, the AI began the passage as such, writing: The Plague shall be the fathers in the world; and the same is my people, that he may be more abundant in the mouth of the LORD of hosts. However, the text appears to go off track towards the end where the system begins using Lord a number of times in a single sentence. And the LORD said unto him, Sir, we know that the LORD shall swear by the LORD in the Lord, and we will not bear false witness in the Lord, reads the text. The next set of writings are about the end of days, which in the traditional bible talks about the coming of the Messiah and the world coming to an end. And the AI gave its own take on the topic. And he that was dead, the servant of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto you all that dwell in the wilderness and they shall be saved by the border of the LORD and his priests and his sons, and on the seven lambs, and of the seven places of the beast, and the other on the sabbath days. But again, throughout the text a number of glitches appear such as:And when he was come into the house of God, which said unto the chief captain, and the gates of the brook, and the priests, and the fat that was made priest, and there was given him a wife, and his work was cast into the sea. The next set of writings are about the end of days, which in the traditional bible talks about the coming of the Messiah and the world coming to an end. And the AI gave its own take on this take about the topic The last topic given to the AI was Caesar, who was a Roman emperor during the time of Jesus. The scribes and the children of Israel were gathered together with the Levites and the men of Bethshemesh, which was the son of Josiah king of Judah, and they hanged them through the head of the body of Christ, and hath sent me, the AI wrote. AI Jesus is just one of many systems programmed to write natural language. Researchers have taught computers to produce music and art that is some times unrecognizable from human creations. Alcohol and COVID-19 Don't MixEncourage Additional Caution About Alcohol During the Pandemic Drinking alcohol impairs both physical and mental abilities, and it also decreases inhibitions. Reduced inhibitions from drinking and being intoxicated may affect a young person's ability to take the precautions needed to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus or spreading it to others, such as maintaining appropriate physical distance and wearing a mask. Encourage students to limit how much alcohol they or friends are consuming and remind underage students not to drink any alcohol. Students should also know the steps needed to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 if schools have resumed in-person or hybrid classes or while participating in activities outside of school. This includes following the everyday practices recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus , as well as following all guidelines and procedures that have been established by individual colleges and universities. Rates and Consequences of College Drinking According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 54.9 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month, and 36.9 percent engaged in binge drinking in the past month. NSDUH defines binge drinking as 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men and 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women. (NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration [BAC] to 0.08 percentor 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliteror higher. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks [male], or 4 or more drinks [female], in about 2 hours.) In addition, 9.6 percent engaged in heavy alcohol use (defined by NSDUH as binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month). These binge drinking and heavy alcohol use rates are both higher than for those not attending college. The consequences of harmful and underage drinking by college students are more significant, more destructive, and more costly than many parents realize. And these consequences affect students whether they drink or not. The most recent statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) indicate that drinking by college students ages 18 to 24 contributes to an estimated 1,519 student deaths each year. In addition, there are an estimated 696,000 assaults by students who had been drinking and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year. Early Weeks Are Critical Although some students come to college already having some experience with alcohol, certain aspects of college life, such as unstructured time, the widespread availability of alcohol, inconsistent enforcement of underage drinking laws, and limited interactions with parents and other adults, can intensify the problem. The first 6 weeks of freshman year are a vulnerable time for harmful and underage college drinking and for alcohol-related consequences because of student expectations and social pressures at the start of the academic year. The coronavirus pandemic will create additional stress and uncertainty this fall, so support for students will be critical. Parents Can Help An often overlooked protective factor involves the continuing influence of parents during the college years. Research shows that students who abstain from drinking often do so because their parents discussed alcohol use and its adverse consequences with them. During these crucial early weeks, parents can do a number of things to stay involved. Parents can help by: Talking with students about the dangers of harmful and underage college drinkingsuch as the possible legal and school penalties for underage drinking, and the risks of alcohol overdose, unintentional injuries, violence, unsafe sexual behavior, academic failure, and other adverse consequences. Reaching out periodically and keeping the lines of communication open while staying alert for possible alcohol-related problems. Reminding students to feel free to reach out to them to share information about their daily activities and to ask for help if needed. Learning about the school's alcohol prevention and emergency intervention efforts as well as the school's policies and procedures in place this fall for the coronavirus pandemic. (See "Resources Are Available" below.) Making sure students know the signs of alcohol overdose or an alcohol-related problem, and how to help. Resources Are Available For parents who want to discuss the consequences of drinking with their college students, a variety of helpful resources are available from NIAAA at https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov . These resources include a parents' guide that offers research-based information plus helpful advice on choosing the right college, staying involved during freshman year, and getting assistance if faced with an alcohol-related crisis. The website also provides links to alcohol policies at colleges across the country, an interactive diagram of how alcohol affects the human body, and an interactive alcohol cost calculator. Additionally, NIAAA's CollegeAIMthe College Alcohol Intervention Matrix, available at https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeAIM is a booklet and website that helps schools and parents address harmful and underage student drinking by identifying effective alcohol interventions. For more information, please visit: https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/ SOURCE National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Natural News) This wont be a long article because the point should be obvious by now. America is in a hot civil war, but only one side is fighting and its the anti-America Leftists who seek to burn this nation down while killing as many police officers and patriots as possible. These radical left-wing terrorists, some of whom carry Black Lives Matter signs, are assaulting law enforcement with deadly weapons, deliberately attacking them with eye-burning lasers, confronting law enforcement with rifles, hurling objects at police that cause serious injury (and risk death) and burning down buildings with families inside a combination of arson and premeditated murder. Heres a small taste of whats happening in Kenosha, Wisconsin tonight, as left-wing rioters and terrorists attempt to dish out yet more violence and death across America because they hate America: Guy in Kenosha got his arm turned to Swiss cheese chasing down a dude with an AR-15 pic.twitter.com/cwlHtAoZUA Mike Roagreser (@BTogetherAlone) August 26, 2020 Protesters have begun to try to push over a fence in front of the courthouse in Kenosha. Sheriffs deputies in riot gear have emerged from the courthouse. Some are throwing projectiles at the officers. pic.twitter.com/mkRMuUx3TK Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) August 26, 2020 The American people have now come to realize that these left-wing rioters are not peaceful protesters as the lying media keeps absurdly claiming. They are not engaged in First Amendment activity not that the Left believes in the First Amendment anyway, as Big Tech has banned nearly every pro-Trump, pro-America voice that once had influence. (YouTube has just banned HighImpactFlix by deleting ALL their videos at once destroying 8 years of work in a flash) These left-wing lunatics are terrorists, and they mean to invoke terror, destruction and death in Americas cities. They do not seek compromise, or coexistence, or conversations of any kind. They no longer even recognize logic or reason. Theres only one thing these terrorists recognize: FORCE. Tonight, some elements of law enforcement in Wisconsin began to fight back against the violent terrorists: BREAKING: law enforcement takes an aggressive offensive on #BLM rioters for the first time in 3 days #KenoshaRiot is underway pic.twitter.com/If82jARXO8 ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) August 26, 2020 Firing tear gas is a good start, but its now abundantly clear that the only way these lunatic, America-hating left-wing terrorists are going to be stopped is for law enforcement to be given the green light to engage them with live fire. You cant negotiate with terrorists, and trying to reason with deranged lunatics is a waste of time and resources You cant negotiate with terrorists. You can only eliminate them and clean them out of your cities and communities. America has been under assault by these violent left-wing terrorists for nearly 90 days. We have shown patience and restraint. Now, the time has come to put these terrorists down on the streets where they belong. The time has come for law enforcement to defend this nation against domestic terrorism. If there were ever justification to use lethal force in defense of communities and innocent lives, weve been witnessing it over the last 90 days. Declare violent rioters to be terrorists and shoot them. Arrest and prosecute the survivors. Reclaim Americas streets for law and order and send a powerful message to the other would-be terrorists that their acts of lawlessness, arson and runaway violence will not be tolerated. Because every law-abiding American deserves to live in peace. But the radical Left wont let that happen. Here are some rioters shouting, Kill the police! Other rioters were chanting, Death to America! Young woman outside the Kenosha County Courthouse shouts, Kill the police! while holding an American flag. pic.twitter.com/1LpWFAg1nU Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) August 26, 2020 Black activists are now even accosting white restaurant customers in public places, demanding they raise their fists in obedience to black power or suffer public humiliation and threats from screaming black lunatic scumbags: BLM scumbags demand that diners at restaurant raise their fists for black power. Brave young couple retains dignity, refuses. Be that couple. Dont be the embarrassing mustachioed coward to the right who has forfeited his dignity for all time. pic.twitter.com/9wmyAm7yJl Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) August 25, 2020 Even local businesses that try to escape the arson and property destruction of BLM by posting Black Lives Matter signs end up in flames, as this photo from Kenosha shockingly shows: Truth be told, no one is safe from Black Lives Matter terrorists not even those who claim to support them. BLM stands for Burn, Loot and Murder Its time for law enforcement to engage these lunatic scumbags with force because thats where this is going to end up anyway. The radical Left isnt going to back down. They are incompatible with civil society, and they no longer even recognize any rule of law or legal authority whatsoever. They are violent racist bigots engaged in unrelenting attacks on innocent people all across America. And the minute you back down, they will resume burning, murdering and looting (BLM) to kill as many innocents as they can. There is now only one remaining answer to this lawless violence, and it is responding in defense of the rule of law and the citizens of our communities who must be granted equal protection under the law. To avoid engaging and taking out these terrorists is nothing less than dereliction of duty. If your local government cannot keep you safe at the most basic level, what good is it? If police will not arrest the most violent criminals who are openly burning down Americas cities, whats the point of having police at all? Give the order, Trump. Green light the use of live weapons to take down the terrorists. Clean out the lawless criminal scum that infest Americas streets and reclaim this nation under the rule of reasonable law and order. Those who choose to assault law enforcement because they hate America must come to learn that doing so will evoke a kinetic response. This is the only lesson that Leftists will ever learn, since their minds have been so twisted and indoctrinated by a failed public school system that they no longer function as rational, reasonable human beings. You cannot save these people. You cant re-educate them. And you cant appeal to their humanity, because they have none. They have descended into mindless, emotional animals. You can only end their sad, pathetic existence on this planet and send them back to Hell. Do not let these demonic creatures destroy our communities and cities for one more day. Ventilate them and let Satan decide what to do with them from here forward. America must act now to defend the rule of law, and that means acting against those who have proven they will never honor any civility whatsoever. The Xperia 5-sized hole in Sonys 2020 smartphone line-up may be filled soon - leakster Evan Blass just posted the first image of the phone. The design is essentially a scaled down Xperia 1 II as expected, but there are some differences. Starting with the camera on the back, were glad to see that the ZEISS T* logo is still in place. However, the 3D ToF sensor is missing, on the larger flagship it sits just below the ZEISS logo. That aside, the Xperia 5 II camera should be just as capable as that of the 1 II. Further evidence of that is the shutter key on the right side of the phone, Sony is the only company that still gives you a hardware button for that. But look a little closer theres an extra button on there. Sony Xperia 5 II (leaked image) The original Xperia 5 had an extra button too, which was necessary because the side-mounted fingerprint reader couldnt act as a Power button. This issue was fixed on the Mark II series, even on the mid-range Xperia 10 II. One thing that the Xperia 5 II will have and the original didnt is the 3.5mm headphone jack (you can just about see it on the top side). Unfortunately, Blass didnt give us the display size. The original model had a 6.1 display, a bit too large to be part of the Compact series. However, earlier this year there was a rumor that Sony will step down to a 5.6-5.8 display, which might make the Xperia 5 II the smallest 5G phone yet. Well have to wait for more info to confirm or refute this rumor, however. The original Xperia 5 was announced at IFA 2019 and history might repeat itself this years IFA starts next week on September 3 and would be an excellent venue to unveil the Mark II model. Are you passionate about making a difference? Start planning your future now! Access Online Masters events give you the opportunity to explore graduate school options in your dream field of study now in a safe digital environment. 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Save your spot at these free online events as meeting slots are limited. (Newser) It turns out 2020 hasn't just been hard for humans. The BBC reports on the case of an elephant in Poland who will be given CBD oil by zookeepers who are hoping to learn whether the oil could lessen anxiety in animals. They say that anxiety set in for Fredzia specifically in March following the death of the four-animal herd's 35-year-old leader, Ema. Dr Agnieszka Czujkowska, who heads the Warsaw Zoo's Animal Rehabilitation Department, said Fredzia's grief and depression were apparent after she saw Ema's body, and she has since been showing signs of stress. As the BBC explains, "It can take months or even years for elephants to cope with the loss of an elder and restore a sense of harmony within the herd." And so the zoo will test whether CBD oil might help her and will administer it to the other two elephants if it does, reports Notes From Poland. story continues below The oil is derived from the cannabis plant but is non-psychoactive; it's believed to help with the production of serotonin and dopamine, which can ease depression. As for how the zookeepers will know if it's working, they've already analyzed Fredzia's blood, saliva, and feces to establish her level of cortisol, which rises under stress. They'll administer the CBD and then recheck the cortisol levels. Professor Caitlin O'Connell, an elephant researcher with Stanford, is optimistic about the treatment in comments to the Independent. "[Elephants] do appear to display similar behaviors to our own in the context of loss, and since we share the same hormones, anything that helps reduce anxiety seems worth trying." (Read more CBD stories.) T ory MP Huw Merriman has told ministers to get a grip and warned they must stop hiding behind the science on Covid-19 after the U-turn decision on masks in schools. The Government announced on Tuesday evening that face coverings should now be worn by secondary pupils and staff in communal areas of schools in local lockdown areas of England. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had previously insisted that masks would not be required because of the measures being adopted by schools to limit the spread of coronavirus. As schools across England get set to return next week, Mr Merriman criticised the decision on face coverings for pupils. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday, he expressed frustration at the changing scientific advice being given to politicians. He said: I think the Government needs to get a grip of our scientists. Im sick and tired, and I think many people in the public are sick and tired, the science just changes. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images So thats fine and then we say, were listening to the science, but why was the science saying something completely different beforehand? Its baffling for many people, its causing uncertainty, its causing worry. People dont know what the rules are any more. How can the science change from one day to the next? There comes a point in time where policy-makers have to get a grip on policy, decide what it is, be firm with it, be certain, give reassurance and say this is the way were going to act. Mr Merriman also insisted that young people must be able to get on with their education free of any encumbrance. I dont think its the right decision (to require face coverings to be worn) because I think we need to send the message out that our schools are safe with the measures that theyve been taking and will be taking, he said. Pupils in lockdown areas will have to wear masks in England / Getty Images I just absolutely fundamentally feel that young people just need to be able to get on with their education free of any encumbrance. Anything that sends a message out that its not safe in the corridor means that it cant be safe in the classroom and were on a slippery slope. Mr Merriman added that he is sick and tired of the way that young people are being treated. He said: I think we need the firm smack of government behind this. We need to send a message out that schools are a safe setting. We know that the risks are so low youre sadly more likely to see your child lose their life through getting to school than actually the Covid pandemic. And really we need to send a message out that school is a place where children can be themselves, can learn, can thrive and really take their opportunities and not be scared. Education Secretary Gavin Williams on Sky News (Sky) The worry is that if were saying its unsafe in the corridors, the next thing itll be unsafe in the classroom and that will really prove an impediment on peoples learning. And, quite frankly, as a Conservative MP that came into politics to try and help peoples life chances through school, I am sick and tired of the way that we are treating our young people. I feel its an absolute disgrace and I really feel the Government needs to get a grip and just be certain, get on with it and inspire confidence rather than just completely changing its mind. Meanwhile another Conservative MP, Charles Walker, who is vice chair of the Conservative 1922 committee of backbenchers, told Times Radio that he was disappointed about the change in face coverings policy by the Government. He said: What we are in now are the biggest of policy issues, restricting peoples liberties and freedoms with very little science attached to it lets debate these issues on the floor of the House of Commons. We cannot continue to have government by edict, this has been going on for six months. Mr Walker added: The Government just cannot make this stuff up now on the hoof saying one thing on Monday, changing its mind on Tuesday, something different presented on Wednesday. Its just not acceptable Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Most high-paying tech jobs are usually reserved for those with a college degree. Google is now breaking that barrier to allow more Americans to get back to work. In-mid July 2020, Google launched its comprehensive digital learning jobs program. Demand for medium to high-level digital skills is rising SVP of Global Affairs, Kent Walker said that almost two-thirds of all new jobs created since 2010 require a certain level of digital skill, preferably medium to high-level. That can be a barrier for a lot of job seekers who can't afford to go to college. A study revealed that in 2016, jobs requiring high digital skills increased 23 percent. Meanwhile, the share of those requiring medium digital skills grew to 48 percent. Walker echoed the sentiments of those who are willing but don't that have access to a college education. He stressed that one should not need a college diploma to have economic security. The new initiative expands its "Grow with Google" initiative. The program's aim is to provide the skills to find employment or grow one's business. Thus, the company introduced its suite of Google Career Certificates. The program will allow a person to be job-ready with the potential to earn over $50,000 annually. The courses are entirely developed by Google. Read also: Logically Launches AI- and People-Driven News and Fact Checking App to Bring Validity and Credibility to U.S. Election News and Information The new courses cover the fields of Data Analytics, Project Management, and User Experience (UX) Design. According to Google, the median annual wage for these jobs are as follows: Data Analyst - $66,000 Project Manager - $93,000 UX Designer - $75,000 Fast-tracked digital program Google designed the courses as a fast-tracked way of getting digital skills. One can complete a course in six months' time. In these trying times, when most need to find work soon, fast-track learning can make a whole lot of difference. Google added that 80 percent of those that earned IT Support Specialist certification have either earned a pay raise or landed a new job. Google has no word yet as to how much these new courses will cost. It is likely that they would cost the same as Google's other IT courses. About $49 per month. However, Google currently offers its IT Support certificate for free starting on August 26, 2020. Included in the announcement is the funding of 100,000 need-based scholarships to support the program. Walker also confirmed that the company would treat these new certificates as the equivalent of a four-year degree. Additionally, the company commits $10 million in new grants for digital jobs training. Microsoft launcheda similar initiative last June. The initiative aims to provide digital skills to 25 million people worldwide. Microsofts hopes to accomplish this feat by the end of the year. The program will provide free access to content and learning paths. Also, it offers low-cost certifications and free job-seeking tools. Microsoft said that global unemployment can reach 250 million in 2020. In the United Staes alone, the unemployment rate could see a 12.3 point rise. That equates to over 21 million job losses. Read next: UCL Researchers Achieved Record-Breaking Internet Speed Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in India have overcome several challenges over the last few months to adapt, transform, and pivot their operating models. Before the global crisis, more than 28% of SMB workers in India were mobile but less than 14% of SMBs had a mobility strategy in place. Additionally, over 40% of SMBs in India still use PCs that are four or more years old, making them at least 3.8 times more likely to need repairs. Struck by the crisis, when people and organizations the world over were moving to remote everything, SMBs were faced with a unique set of challenges. Microsoft understands the current challenges of SMBs and the need to stay connected, productive, and secure while working remotely. Underlining its commitment to enable SMBs in the country to recover and reimagine, Microsoft is helping build adaptive and future-proof businesses with modern PCs and Microsoft solutions. In their journey to prepare for the future, businesses are looking to focus on three areas: Empower employees Businesses need technology which provides a positive, shared work experience, and makes teams feel productive and empowered. Compared to traditional working arrangements and offices, the dynamics of remote working is significantly different. As a result, businesses are grappling for ways to easily adopt and adapt to remote working. Create future-flexible workplaces Technology needs of each business will fluctuate as they adjust with this new reality. At the same time, this could expose the security infrastructure of businesses, making them highly susceptible to cyber threats and data breaches. Foster communication and community The ability for teams to communicate and collaborate is a vital ingredient in enabling business continuity, agility, and growth. Collaboration and communication maximise workforce productivity and empower teams to contribute their best ideas. Farhana Haque, Group Director Devices, Microsoft India, said, SMBs have shown immense resilience in their efforts to respond and recover amid the global crisis. We are committed to helping businesses navigate this unprecedented moment. Aided by simple and flexible remote work management, collaborating on Modern PCs using solutions like Microsoft Teams keeps the workforce in SMBs connected, productive and secure anywhere and anytime. A recent report launched by Microsoft reflects a record of 2.7 billion meeting minutes in one day. Further, nearly 71% managers and employees stated the desire for flexibility to work from home, post the pandemic. In such moments when we are all adjusting to the new next, it important for organizations to stay up and running with simple management and configuration of devices and more secure tools. With Windows 10 Pro, Microsoft ensures all personal and organization information is secure and protected. Windows Defender Windows Security repeatedly scans for malware, viruses, and security threats. Updates are downloaded automatically to help keep devices safe and protect them from threats. Windows Defender Antivirus uses the power of the cloud, wide optics, machine learning and behaviour analysis to protect devices from any threats. Sign in fast, secure, and password-free Modern PCs feature Windows Hello, with facial recognition or fingerprint for instant access up to three times faster than a traditional password login. Goodbyes are never easy. Steve Carell said he experienced emotional torture during his final episode of The Office because it was such a roller coaster. Michael Scotts journey at Dunder Mifflin finally ended after seven seasons and the most fitting way to see him off was with a very touching episode titled Goodbye, Michael. Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office | Byron Cohen/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Michael Scott leaves Dunder Mifflin Season 7 episode 22, titled Goodbye, Michael, was a perfect last episode for the character who, despite a cringe-factor that was sometimes through the roof, was loved by The Office fans. Michael finally got the family he so desperately wanted when he fell in love with Holly Flax and they got engaged. The couple planned to move to Colorado together and that meant Michael had to close the chapter with his Dunder Mifflin family. Carell played a big role in the way things played out in Goodbye, Michael, as he explained during the August 25 episode of An Oral History of The Office podcast how he pitched the idea to writer Greg Daniels. Steve knew exactly how he wanted his story to go, host Brian Baumgartner explained. And for his final episode, Goodbye, Michael, he had a plan. Six months before, I talked to Greg about how I wanted Michael to go out, like what I thought sort of a final arc would be, Carell explained. And the idea that I pitched was you know, obviously he and Holly would be together but I said, specifically, on his last day I thought that there should be a party being planned but that he should basically trick people into thinking he was leaving the next day. RELATED: The Office Fans Favorite Thats What She Said Moment Is the Sweetest Jim and Michael Scene The episode was emotional torture for Steve Carell Carells episode idea allowed them to show Michaels growth, as hed pass up having a big party in his honor to instead have some personal moments with each of his co-workers. I just thought that would be the most elegant representation of his growth as a human being, Carell explained. That he because Michael lives to be celebrated, you think thats all he wants, he wants to be the center of attention. But the fact that hed walk away from his big tribute, his big sendoff, and be able to, in a very personal way, say goodbye to each character that to me felt like it would resonate. The idea was brilliant, but the execution was painful for Carell. It was almost more than I bargained for because thats what happened. I had scenes with everyone in the cast and it was emotional torture because imagine saying goodbye for a week, the actor explained. It was just fraught with emotion and joy and sadness and nostalgia. But it was also really beautiful. I treasure it. I treasure just doing that episode because it did allow me to kind of have a finality with everybody, he added. Steve Carell and John Krasinski could barely get through their scene One of those emotional moments was the final goodbye between Carell and John Krasinski, who played Jim Halpert. Krasinski recalled how difficult it was to get through the scene because they were both sobbing. The energy in that room was so thick and palpable, he recalled, and when they said go ahead with the scene, he explained, Steve teared up right away and that was so unlike him. Krasinski continued, Not that he was emotionless, but it was so unlike him to let real life bleed into the moment, right? I think I actually remember the actual number was 17 takes of not even speaking, just dribbling crying, the actor added. Chief Ministers of seven opposition states are planning to jointly move the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the NEET-JEE examinations scheduled to be held in September. Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry decided to move the Supreme Court at a meeting convened by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday. The proposal to move the Supreme Court was mooted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and agreed upon by other chief ministers attending the meeting through video-conferencing. Let us go to the Supreme Court. Let us talk about this matter. This is a mental agony for students. I have not seen so many atrocities in a democracy. The situation is very serious. We have to speak up for the children, Banerjee said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the Opposition has to decide whether it has to live in fear or fight it out. We have to decide darna hai ki ladna hai (whether we live in fear or fight it out). There is no point in holding a mere discussion. It is time for action. There is a lot of power with the common man, Thackeray said. I agree, we should work together, Gandhi said. Chief Ministers Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), Bhupesh Baghel (Chhatisgarh), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) and V Narayanasamy (Puducherry) concurred with Banerjee. Soren suggested meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi or President Ram Nath Kovind before moving the Supreme Court, but Banerjee pointed out that the NEET/JEE examinations were just a week away and it would be prudent to move the apex Court given the urgency of the situation. Amarinder concurred that all the Chief Ministers attending the meeting should jointly move the Supreme Court and file a review petition on the order to hold NEET-JEE examinations. Members of the Congress' youth wing staged a protest near the Shastri Bhawan in Delhi on Wednesday, demanding postponement of the JEE and NEET exams in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Several protesters, who tried to enter the Education ministry, housed at Shastri Bhawan, to submit a memorandum, were detained by the police and taken to Mandir Marg police station, said IYC national media coordinator Rahul Rao. The national president of IYC, Srinivas BV, said that keeping in mind the safety of lakhs of students, the Central government should postpone the exams. "At a time when even Union ministers and chief ministers are getting infected with the coronavirus, it is unthinkable that the Centre is not postponing the JEE and NEET examinations," he said. The IYC demands that the Centre should postpone these examinations in the interest of the students. Holding the exams is a necessary step, but it can not be done by putting the lives of lakhs of students at risk, Srinivas said. There is a need for a logical and comprehensive strategy to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, but the central government is "deliberately" taking the risk instead of maintaining caution, he charged. The demonstration was led by the Youth Congress' Delhi unit in-charge Harish Panwar and co-in charge Khushboo Mangla Sharma. Amid the rising clamour for postponement of the crucial exams in view of rising COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Education (MoE) officials had reiterated on Tuesday that the exams will be conducted as per schedule in September. While the NEET is planned on September 13, engineering entrance exam JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6. Around 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains and 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. Uighur women sexually abused, raped in China: 'This will not stop with just the Uighurs,' activist warns Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Uighur woman has called on the Christian community to condemn the atrocities her community continues to face at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, warning that the tragedy of the Uighur people will be the future of the entire world if this threat is not addressed. Rushan Abbas, founder and executive director of Campaign for Uighurs and a former Uighur service journalist with Radio Free Asia, participated in an Aug. 21 webinar hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission that focused on China's persecution of the Uighur Muslim community in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in China. Abbas shared how her own sister and aunt disappeared and were likely taken to internment camps as a result of her activism. "My story is just one of the millions," she said. "I, like all Uighurs, must remind myself of the truth: that my actions did not cause this, but the political actions of the Chinese Communist regime did this. China, she said, is not just treating Uighurs as a problem to be exterminated, but is also seeking to control the world order and those outside its borders. They are literally declaring the need to rewrite the Bible and the holy Quran to be compatible with communist atheistic ideology, she said. While China is openly conducting genocide, the world is muted as China buys basically the compliance of the business world. ... The tragedy of the Uighur people will be the future of the entire world if this threat is not addressed and if we dont take action. The CCP specifically targets Uighur women, Abbas said, citing a recent report that documented dropping birth rates among Uighurs because of practices such as forced sterilization, abortion, and even the killing of babies born alive. In concentration camps, many women are subject to mental and physical torture, including rape, Abbas said. Additionally, women are forced to take some unknown medications that make them mentally cloudy to stop their reproductive cycles, she revealed. Outside of the camps ... women face constant fear and control over their daily lives, she said, adding that Communist Party cadres will sometimes move into Uighurs' homes to supervise the family and give them social credit scores. If you don't comply with everything that they ask, then these people will be sent to concentration camps, she said. For most of those women, husbands are in those concentration camps or Chinese prisons. This creates an environment where women are vulnerable to sexual abuse. On some occasions, Uighur women are forced into marriages with Han Chinese men as part of the CCPs attempt to assimilate and colonize Uighur communities, Abbas said. According to reports, in 2014 local authorities in Cherchen county of Xinjiang announced Incentive Measures Encouraging Uighur-Chinese Intermarriage. Government-sponsored incentives included a 10,000 yuan ($1,450) cash reward annually for five years to the intermarried couples. Other incentives included preferential treatment toward employment, housing, and free education for the couples, their parents, and offspring. Uighur women are unable to give birth to Uighur babies anymore, and the Uighur children are taken to the state orphanages [where they are] brainwashed and taught to hate their own families, their culture, their religion, she said, adding that such atrocities are happening before the world. We have been crying out about these atrocities for years, but ... when theres money involved, the world is completely silent, she said. Many consciences have been sold, and the values of humanity have been betrayed. How can we allow these things to happen to women and children? Where is the outcry from feminists and the people who are supposed to protect childrens rights? International entities, family organizations, and even Hollywood stars have allowed themselves to be muted by Chinas blood money, Abbas explained. The truth will triumph at the end, she said, but stressed that the atrocities exposed are just the tip of the iceberg. Choosing to remain silent or not to act is to choose a side now, she said. And that's not the right side. Not only is the future of the Uighur people at stake, [but] the future of the free world, the future of democracy is at stake here. The Chinese regime seeks to deny all values of life for all they perceive as dissenting voices. So it's not just about religion, or our ethnicity, it's about humanity, she said. Do not let the knowledge of this genocide become something that causes us grief, but not tangible action. Abbas said that as a Uighur Muslim, she is begging Christians and international leaders to prevent another Holocaust from happening. This will not stop with just the Uighurs, she predicted. I cannot emphasize that enough ... if we dont speak now, the only voice left will be one of regret. Panelists encouraged those in the U.S. to pray for those who are being persecuted; call their elected and appointed officials and ask them to stand up for persecuted people in China; consider starting a local International Religious Freedom Roundtable, and educate others on whats going on in China. "If the type of atrocities being described and shared by victims and survivors, if the fact that China brought back slavery to the modern world, if the fact that they're selling Uighur woman's hair, if the fact that they're publicly advertising Uighur woman for forced marriage if that does not move you, what would move you to get on the right side of history? asked panelist Nury Turkel, a Uighur American attorney born in Xinjiang and member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. This is not about personal politics, he emphasized. This is noncontroversial. Genocide is taking place. It is our moral obligation to stop it. According to Russell Moore, president of the ERLC, the CCP is counting on the fact that the world will be bullied and intimidated into silence because of Chinas power and wealth. He explained that the Chinese government wants to make itself god, which is why it targets religious groups including Christians, Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and any religious minority that would say there is an allegiance higher than the state itself. This attempt to even rewrite the scriptures and holy texts of these various religions in order to see to it that China is ultimate, he said. But as Christians, we of course know that God is ultimate, God is greater than any would-be Caesar. And we know that the image of God does not belong to any would-be Caesar, it belongs to God. Moore also addressed the obligation of Christians to stand up for Uighur Muslims. He contended that authoritarian regimes count on tribalism to keep their system of persecution alive. They're really counting on Christians to say, Well, I'm not a Uighur Muslim, so this is not my problem, he said. And it is a problem. We have to be the people who recognize the image of God in all of humanity. Moore encouraged Christians to pray together and specifically mention Uighur Muslims and other imperiled people by name. Look for the people in your own communities who are invisible, who are intimidated, who are bullied, and stand with them, he said. As a Christian, I believe that the Gospel is the Gospel of life, and the Gospel does not come through bullying and intimidation and power, but through, as the Apostle Paul says, the kindness of God. And so let's reflect that in the people in our own communities who may feel invisible. The live event webinar was hosted by ERLC Vice President for Public Policy Travis Wussow. The panel also included Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom. Customers of Kirti Stores, a small kirana store with a countertop in the posh Pedder Road area in Mumbai, would always pay Amit Chheda, the owner, in cash. That changed in March, when Covid-19 made the grocer shift to accepting digital payments. Almost 100 customers come to my shop daily, I dont want to get exposed to the deadly virus nor put customers at risk. Thats why we decided we will only accept digital payments, said Chheda. He accepts payments via Google Pay, Paytm, UPI and Phone Pe. Another Kirana store owner, Harish Gada of Manish Stores, located at Altamount Road in Mumbai, said: Customers themselves prefer to make payment via digital mode due to safety reasons. Thats why I have downloaded the Paytm and Google Pay apps on my phone. I find it very convenient. There is no hassle of giving change and immediately the money gets transferred into my bank account. Kirana stores, Indias traditional neighbourhood shops, sell everything from groceries to branded consumer goods. There are almost 15 million of them in the country and it has always been a cash-led business. However, in the last five months, they have started to accept payments digitally, especially in urban and semi-urban areas. Its a win-win situation. Customers are keen on contactless transactions for the sake of safety and Kirana stores are now accepting digital payments for the same reason. ALSO READ: COVID-19 pandemic prompts kirana store to go digital, survey reveals What the surveys say According to a report by RedSeer Consulting, kirana stores drove essential retail consumption through the lockdown. And with the focus on safety, the digital payment market share of grocery stores increased from 60 percent to 75 percent during that time, led by mobile-based payments. The countrys digital payment market was worth around Rs 2,162 lakh crore in 2019-20, Redseer Consultancy said. The consulting firm expects the merchant payments segment (P2M) to drive digital payments growth and it is set to grow at a CAGR of more than 50 percent until FY25. According to the report, P2M is fast becoming the preference for retailers; Paytm dominates with 50 percent market share followed by PhonePe and Google Pay. The small merchant will push growth in the payment enabler (EDC & Payment Gateway Aggregator) segment, the report said. From 0.5 crore terminals currently (almost 5x times of FY15), it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27 percent in the next five years to reach 1.7 crore terminals by FY25. New-age digital players such as mSwipe, Pine Labs, Ezetap, Paytm are leading the charge in this segment, the report added. As per a 2019 Assocham-PwC India study, the estimated value of digital payments in India will more than double to $135.2 billion by 2023. A recent report titled Digital Payments India Short to Medium Term Effects of Covid-19, by Nasscom, noted: The use of digital payments for everything from groceries to utility bills to cab fares to fee payments, etc across demographically diverse people, has seen a colossal rise due to the viruss fear. According to an EY survey, the pandemic has also led to a renewed trust in the local kirana store with a surge in new consumers visiting local stores both in metros and non-metros, with 79 percent of respondents in non-metros and 50 percent in metros saying new consumers were coming to their store after the lockdown went into force. In fact, a lot of kirana stores went online and offered home-delivery services. ALSO READ: Coronavirus pandemic | Retailers begin bulk deliveries to RWAs in some cities: Report Driving retail consumption Retail consumption has grown as evident from the profits of FMCG majors such as Hindustan Unilever and ITC in the first quarter of FY21. Hindustan Unilever registered growth of 7.2 percent in net profit compared to the previous quarter, supported by strong double-digit growth in the foods and refreshment segment. Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Mehta had earlier told Moneycontrol that the products that saw the highest demand during the lockdown were coffee, sanitisers, deep cleaning and Kissan brand products. The Branded Packaged Foods Businesses delivered a robust performance during the quarter, driven by atta, noodles, biscuits and fresh dairy. Also read: Digital transactions recover in May after initial COVID-induced fall Fintech firms cashing in With digital transactions for essential goods rising, fintechs are lining up to work with mom-and-pop stores to enable them to transact digitally. Innovative business models have emerged encouraging small retailers to adapt to the infrastructure and important features such as Tap and Pay and Cashless Pay via QR code. The penetration of digital payments is not restricted to the biggest cities but is also being adopted by Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities across the country. In May, digital financial services platform Paytm launched a loyalty programme for Kirana stores across the country. Under this programme, all merchant partners who accept online payments via Paytm wallet, Rupay cards and other UPI-based payments apps will receive reward points. Points collected by the Kirana store merchants can instantly be redeemed for a voucher. They can also be used to purchase merchandise from the Paytm for Business app. The number of reward points will depend directly on the number of transactions done through the Paytm all-in-one QR. Saurabh Sharma, Senior Vice-President, Paytm, said: The loyalty programme will encourage kirana stores to accelerate the growth of digital payments. FreeCharge has also tied up with kirana stores. In partnership with FreeCharge a small business can accept payments through cards, UPI & netbanking, using static & dynamic QR codes or customised payment links. We have signed up a significant number of merchants; small businesses like the local cable service provider, auto service centers and workshops, local kirana stores for home deliveries and gas agencies now use Freecharge payments link for accepting payments which they otherwise collected in cash," Siddharth Mehta, CEO, FreeCharge told Moneycontrol. Worldline India, a transaction facilitator, recently partnered with Mastercard India and Axis Bank Ltd to launch a digital point-of-sale solution, Soft PoS, to help kirana stores accept payments using their smartphones. We have facilitated kirana stores in making everyday processes and transactions easier and much faster. To make it cheaper for the store owners, especially the Kirana store owners, soft POS is playing a major role to promote digital payments and continue to support social distancing, said Vishal Maru Senior, Vice-President Merchant Payment Services, Loyalty and Digital Payment, Worldline India. NEET admit card New Delhi: Admit Card for National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) has been issued. There have been talks for a long time over the conduct of the exam but the government is not ready to consider the option of postponing the exam. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also said in an interview that he was under a lot of pressure from parents and students to conduct the exam. Advertisement Ramesh PokhriyalThis year, more than 1.5 million students have filled up the forms for the NEET exam, which is 4.87 per cent more than last year. Accordingly, more than 74,000 students have registered this year as compared to last year. This time the number of registrations from Jammu and Kashmir was also higher than last year. The government had issued offline forms for the convenience of students and nodal centers were set up. NEETThe highest number of forms was filled from Maharashtra. Social distance will be taken care of to provide security to the students due to the pandemic. For this 3843 centers have been set up. Advertisement There has been a demand for postponing the examination for the last several days. Some students and parents said that taking the exam could endanger their health. A petition was also filed in the Supreme Court in this regard but the court has refused to stay the examination. NEET admit card West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister have also appealed to the Centre to postpone the exam. Advertisement JEE (main) examination will be held from 1st September while NEET examination will start from 13th September. NEET 2020 Admit Cards will be available on the official websites ntaneet.nic.in and nta.ac.in. The Syrian army was ambushed on the Rusafa-Athariya road by the Islamic State, who were able to kill two fighters reports Zaman Al-Wasl. Two regime fighters have been killed in an Islamic State (ISIS) ambush in eastern Raqqa province, according to Zaman Al-Wasls reporter. The attack took place on Sunday evening when ISIS-linked militants attacked an army vehicle on the Rusafa-Athariya road that links the provinces of Aleppo and Raqqa. ISIS fighters still retain a presence in the vast Badia desert stretching across the country through Homs province and eastwards to the Iraqi border, and continue to carry out deadly attacks. For over five months, regime forces and allied fighters have come under a series of ambushes, assassinations and bombings in the vast Badia desert, mostly carried out by ISIS. 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. OTTAWA Lynn Beyak, the Ontario senator who was booted from the Conservative caucus for refusing to remove racist letters from her official website, is now a Peoples Party of Canada donor. After years of reliably contributing to the Conservatives, Beyak gave $1,000 last June to the right-wing splinter party founded by former Quebec MP Maxime Bernier, Elections Canada records show. Beyak was appointed to the Senate by prime minister Stephen Harper in 2013. She currently sits in the upper chamber as a nonaffiliated senator. Beyak did not respond to voice mails and emailed questions from the Star on Wednesday. Peoples Party spokesperson Martin Masse said by email that privacy rules prevent him from saying whether Beyak is now a party member. He noted that Beyak is still nonaffiliated in the upper house and declined to comment on the senators controversial statements and actions in recent years. Bernier was a Quebec MP when he founded the Peoples Party in 2018 after a failed run for the leadership of the federal Conservative party. The Peoples Party styles itself as a right wing populist movement that would impose strict fiscal discipline in Ottawa. It has also called for substantially fewer immigrants and the end of official multiculturalism in Canada. Beyak became a locus of outrage and controversy in 2017, when she claimed that national reckoning with the horrors of government-funded residential schools for Indigenous children overlooked the abundance of good that occurred in the institutions. For more than a century, Indigenous children were taken from their families and home communities to be indoctrinated in the languages and religions of Canadian settler society. In its final report on the government- and church-run schools in 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded the schools represented an attempted cultural genocide. Students were also permanently damaged from sexual and physical abuse. More than 3,200 children died in the schools, where many of them were buried in unmarked graves, the report said. Beyak initially defended the comments and refused to remove a series of supportive letters that she posted on her website, which were widely condemned as racist. In January 2018, Beyak was ejected from the Conservatives caucus of MPs and senators and was subsequently suspended twice from the red chamber after the Senates ethics officer determined she breached its ethics code. Beyak finally apologized last February in an address to the Senate, stating it was wrong to post offensive and hurtful letters to the chambers website. She was reinstated to the Senate in June after completing a four-day educational program with professors from the University of Manitoba that was meant to guide her conduct and understanding in relation to Indigenous matters, according to a report from the ethics committee. She also submitted an apology letter, published in the Senate Journals on June 16. In it, Beyak praises the educational program teachers who taught her new concepts and an essential, further understanding of history. She wrote, My intent was never to hurt anyone. I further acknowledge that posting the letters caused pain and hurt to Indigenous people, and adversely impacted my Senate colleagues and the institution of the Senate. My actions did not have their desired effect, which was to promote open and constructive dialogue to the national conversation on this critical issue. I accept full responsibility for my wrongful conduct. Turkish FM: Armenian representatives invited to diplomatic forum in Antalya Twitter suspends Mexican billionaire's account over offensive behavior Armenian PM says Omicron strain is slowly spreading Azerbaijan says it supports launching border delimitation process with Armenia with no conditions Zakharova speaks on Aliyev's visit to Kyiv Zakharova does not comment on Azerbaijan president's threats against France presidential candidate for her Artsakh visit Cavusoglu: Steps to increase mutual trust will be discussed at next meeting with Armenia US gives go-ahead to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send missiles and other American-made weapons to Ukraine Zakharova: Russia, as OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, supports continuation of work in this format Cyber attack on Red Cross: data of over 515,000 people compromised Pashinyan: UK has been strong partner of newly independent Armenia Israel hopes UN will unanimously condemn Holocaust denial Armenia, Ukraine depositories sign memorandum of cooperation Azerbaijan advises Armenia to correctly assess the new geopolitical realities and draw conclusions Australia, UK to fight back against cyberattacks from China, Russia and Iran Protesting residents of Armenias Parakar community march to territorial administration ministry Armenia government approves protocol on implementation of readmission agreement with Lithuania Iran suspends gas supplies to Turkey MFA: Armenia has no preconditions for border delimitation 621 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Paris to have place named after Hrant Dink Armenias Parakar enlarged community residents protesting outside government building Turkey opposition party MPs petition for parliamentary inquiry into Hrant Dink assassination France, Germany, Italy and Spain call on Israel to halt construction in East Jerusalem Armenia parliament speaker in US, meets with Nancy Pelosi Iranian MFA: Relations between Iran and Russia have moved into a new diverse, intensified direction Biden says invasion of Ukraine will be disaster for Russia Newspaper: Armenia PM Pashinyan plans to hold Presidents office Newspaper: Opposition Armenia bloc, led by ex-President Kocharyan, starting new processes Taliban PM calls on Muslim countries to be first to formally recognize their government Saudi Arabia records lowest temperature in 30 years Erdogan's visit to Ukraine scheduled for February 3 Russian peacekeeping contingent establishes order of passage through Lachin corridor French Senate votes to ban hijab at sporting events Armenian FM: All necessary conditions to be created for Demarcation Commission work Olaf Scholz: Borders in Europe cannot be changed by force Lavrov presents Armenian Ambassador to Russia, with the Order of Friendship Bill Gates warns of pandemics far more serious than COVID-19 FM on mirror withdrawal of troops: Not a single Armenian village will be left without proper protection Macron: EU countries must work together on agreement for stability and security PM Pashinyan assumes accountability for Armenia special representative for negotiations with Turkey Turkey Central banks and UAE sign agreement worth almost $5 billion Blinken: Western countries need unity to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine Iranian President performs evening namaz in Kremlin after talks with Putin Turkish police detain women protesting price hikes in hygiene products Delegation headed by Chief of the Cypriot National Guard General Staff has meetings in Armenia Merkel refuses job in UN structure Greece receives the first batch of French Rafale fighters NEWS.am daily digest: 19.01.22 Azerbaijan hopes Pope to mediate in relations with Armenia Talks between presidents of Russia and Iran start in Kremlin Armenian FM: This is not first time Baku makes nonconstructive statements Armenian Investigative Committee: 3,809 people die in the 44-day war Ombudsman: I urge not to give in to Azerbaijani manipulations, to visit Artsakh Armenian FM: Armenia passes a package of proposals to Azerbaijan France names the main favorite of presidential election Garo Paylan concludes address in Turkey parliament in Armenian Russian Foreign Ministry believes there is no risk of large-scale war in Europe Dollar goes up in Armenia Sharmazanov: Armenia ex-President Sargsyan did not decide to hold press conference, he did not change his mind Blinken: Russia has plans to increase force on Ukraine borders : Azerbaijani military participate in Turkish drills Taliban say all conditions for recognizing legitimacy of government are met Azerbaijan MFA statement distorts events of Armenian massacres in Baku 32 years ago Karabakh ombudsmans office: Azerbaijans anti-Armenian, genocidal policy has clear chronology US official, Barzani are photographed against backdrop of Greater Armenia and Kurdistan map Armenia ex-defense minister, army General Staff chief, some others criminal case court hearing kicks off FM: Most important direction continues to be international recognition of Artsakh Armenia revenue committee chief on opening of Turkey border: Shall we live with closed borders? In fear? US selects Los Angeles to host Summit of the Americas in summer 2022 Karabakh Foreign Minister: Return of refugees can only be like mirror Iranian president arrives on official visit to Moscow All CSTO peacekeepers leaves Kazakhstan Artsakh Foreign Minister: Unacceptable to bracket NKAO and NKR together Karabakh FM: Format of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' visits needs to be restored Media: Air communication between Turkey and Armenia will start on February 2 Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan attack on Karabakh will mean attack on Russia Gold prices hardly change American professor angers Erdogan's son-in-law There's good news for cocoa farmers as Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has announced a package for the Cocoa sector. Speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', he admitted that indeed there are challenges in the cocoa sector. "Cocoa industry has faced some challenges, I think there is no doubt at all that the output is not as high as we have . . . there has been some challenges . . . what we have done is to negotiate with Cote d'Ivoire a living income differential of $400 per metric tonne to every cocoa farmer . . ." he said, adding payments will start from this October, the coming cocoa season. He said this will help inject a lot of energy into the Cocoa Sector and it will be better than it is. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Flower Mound, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - Digital Development Partners, Inc. (OTC PINK: DGDM) (which will become Black Bird Potentials Inc.), manufacturer of Grizzly Creek Naturals products, announced today the introduction of Grizzly Creek Naturals CBD Dog Treats to retail locations in Montana and online. Entry Into Robust Pet Food Market. "We are proud to introduce our CBD Dog Treats, both beef and peanut butter flavors, into the almost $30 billion pet food market," said Fabian Deneault, DGDM's President. "Our CBD Dog Treats contain just a few simple, all-natural ingredients and offer dog owners a healthy snack for their best friend, and, so far, all of our canine taste tasters seem to love them!" Mr. Deneault further expressed the company's pride in producing its new CBD Dog Treats in cooperation with Milwaukee's Eisenhower Center, a non-profit program that provides education and jobs for adults with disabilities. Distribution. "Retailers are now putting our CBD Dog Treats on their shelves, our Montana-based distributor has begun to deliver them to stores and both flavors are available through our GrizzlyCreekNaturals.com website," Mr. Deneault added. https://www.grizzlycreeknaturals.com/pets To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7327/62559_a28fe559741af934_001full.jpg DGDM: Doing Good, Doing More - Eisenhower Center. Eisenhower Center is a Milwaukee, WI-based community vocational training program that provides education and jobs for adults with disabilities. As part of its mission, Eisenhower Center has established a dog treat manufacturing business, which enables it to provide its clients with hope, dignity and work. DGDM furthers its company's mission statement, Doing Good, Doing More, in working with Eisenhower Center, to the benefit of Greater Milwaukee. About DGDM: Through its subsidiary Black Bird Potentials, DGDM manufactures and sells CBD products, including CBD Oils, gummies and pet treats, and CBD-infused personal care products, as well as hand sanitizer gel and spray products. In addition, Black Bird is a licensed grower of industrial hemp under the Montana Hemp Pilot Program. Black Bird is the exclusive distributor in the U. S. and Canada for MiteXstream, a plant-based biopesticide effective in the eradication of spider mites, a pest that destroys crops, especially cannabis, hops, coffee, strawberries and house plants, as well as molds and mildew. EPA approval of MiteXstream is expected in late 2020. Story continues Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipate," or similar expressions. Such forward looking-statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, description of anyone's past success, either financial or strategic, is no guarantee of future success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in the company's filings with the SEC, including its Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, which can be obtained on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Contact: Eric Newlan Vice President enewlan@digitaldevelopmentpartners.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62559 Photo: VicPD As the opioid crisis deepens, so does the number of warnings about uncapped discarded needles in parks. The mother of a Sooke teenager was first angry, then scared, when her 15-year-old son called to say he was on the way to the Royal Jubilee Hospital after being poked by a needle in Rutledge Park. I was like Whats happening? There are so many people getting hurt by these needles, said Jayna Forgie, who wrote about what happened in a Facebook post. Its just scary. My concern is that he would contract something that could be serious. My other concern is that other people are in the park, too. I thought people should be aware. Our kids grew up in that area and played there all the time. I want people to know, if you go out, this happens. Her son had been sitting on the grass with a friend, she said. When he went to lie down, the needle poked him in the back. The needle wasnt placed to intentionally hurt anyone, it was just discarded, said Forgie. Its a pretty decent neighbourhood, so I was pretty surprised. The needle was probably missed in their cleaning routine. Her son was examined at the hospital and had a baseline blood test. He will have to have another blood test in three weeks to see if there are any changes. Thank God, it wasnt a deep puncture, she said. On Tuesday, Victoria police warned people about an uncapped needle that had been taped to a bench in Centennial Square in a way that would have harmed anyone who sat down. The uncapped needle was found by a city worker about 10:50 a.m. And, on Saturday night, Victoria police issued a warning after a man was pricked by an uncapped needle in Beacon Hill Park. The man told police he was walking on the chip trail in Beacon Hill Park, near Douglas Street and Avalon Road, when he stepped off the path and felt a pain in his foot. The nation's highest-paid civil servant has been lashed by a bipartisan parliamentary committee for attempting to avoid scrutiny over the future of Australia Post's service delivery. Christine Holgate, who earned more than $2.5 million in pay and bonuses last financial year as the publicly-owned entity's chief executive, was urged to complete basic training in accountability, along with other staff and officials, so they could meet their responsibilities to the Senate and Australian taxpayers. Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate has been lashed by a Senate committee. Credit:Peter Rae A Senate inquiry into regulatory changes allowing Australia Post to deliver letters every other day in cities and push out delivery times on some routes was scathing over responses from senior management, condemning them for "a lack of understanding of the critical scrutiny role played by the Senate". The inquiry was established in June after Labor and the Greens sought to scrap the changes, fearing it would result in postie job losses. In three decades of failed peace efforts, the Palestinians have never faced a more hostile U.S. administration, a more self-assured Israel or a more ambivalent international community. But even as their hopes for statehood have never seemed so dim, there's no indication their aging leadership will change course. President Mahmoud Abbas remains committed to the same strategy he has pursued for decades, seeking international support to pressure Israel to agree to a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war. President Donald Trump's Mideast plan, which overwhelmingly favors Israel and was rejected by the Palestinians, would remain the cornerstone of U.S. policy for another four years if Trump is reelected. But while the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against them, the Palestinians make up nearly half the population between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Their leaders say Israel still needs their signature if it hopes to resolve the conflict, a source of frustration for Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, the architect of the plan. ``There is an erroneous assumption that the Palestinians are defeated, and they have to accept the facts of their defeat,`` said Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official. ``The Palestinians are willing, generation after generation, to continue their struggle until we get our rights.'' Here's a look at the Palestinians' options going forward: The Diplomatic Route The Palestinians' demand for a state based on the 1967 lines still enjoys broad international support and is enshrined in U.N. resolutions. Palestine was granted ``observer state'' status in 2012, allowing it to join several global forums, including the International Criminal Court. The Palestinians have requested an ICC war crimes investigation of Israel that could eventually see charges filed against political or military leaders. Israel is not a member of the ICC and says there is no legal basis for any investigation, but its citizens could be subject to arrest in other countries if warrants are issued. Those moves have put pressure on Israel, but have not led to any concessions. They also haven't prevented it from cultivating closer ties to Arab and African countries that historically supported the Palestinians. The EU, divided and preoccupied by the coronavirus crisis, also seems unable to offer significant support. Boycotts and International Solidarity In recent years, a Palestinian-led international movement has sought to mobilize grassroots support for a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions. BDS organizers say they are leading a nonviolent campaign for Palestinian rights modeled on the struggle against apartheid South Africa. Israel accuses them of seeking to delegitimize its existence. While BDS has notched some successes, it has had no discernible impact on Israel's economy. Popular among left-wing activists in Western countries, it also has faced setbacks, including anti-BDS legislation in the U.S. and Germany. Tareq Baconi, an analyst for the International Crisis Group, says the growing solidarity between Palestinian and Black Lives Matter activists ``is an example of some of the pressure that can be brought to bear on Israel eventually. But this is, for the moment, too fragmented and not sufficiently powerful enough to have any kind of political leverage.`` A One-State Solution In recent years a growing number of Palestinians and their supporters have suggested abandoning the two-state solution in favor of a single binational state for Jews and Palestinians or some kind of Israeli-Palestinian confederation. The idea gained new attention last month when Peter Beinart, a prominent Jewish-American commentator, came out in favor of the idea. The argument is that Israel's right-wing government and its sprawling West Bank settlements _ now home to more than 500,000 Israelis _ make any partition impossible. There have been no substantive peace talks in more than a decade. One-state proponents say Palestinians should instead seek equal rights, including the vote. While it has gained traction among intellectuals, the idea has little support in Israel or the Palestinian territories. A June poll carried out by the respected Palestinian Center for Survey and Policy Research found that just 37% of Palestinians support the idea, and only 6% would choose it over other options. The Palestinian leadership remains staunchly opposed to a one-state solution, which would entail dismantling the Palestinian Authority and plunging into an uncertain future. Cleaning House Many Palestinians argue that their leadership needs to pursue fundamental reforms. Abbas' popularity has plunged in recent years and the Palestinian Authority is widely seen as corrupt and incompetent. There have been no national elections in nearly 15 years because of the bitter division between Abbas' Fatah movement and the Islamic militant group Hamas, which seized Gaza from his forces in 2007. Fatah and Hamas are united in their rejection of the Trump plan and Arab normalization and in recent weeks have held joint meetings and rallies to project a united front. But several past attempts at a broader reconciliation have all failed. That has left the 85-year-old Abbas entrenched at the head of an aging and inflexible Palestinian leadership. Banking on Biden The election of former Vice President Joe Biden would likely spell the end of the Trump plan. But few Palestinians believe a return to the Obama-era approach of trying to coax the two sides toward a negotiated settlement will succeed. ``It's very difficult to envision anyone doing more damage than Trump,'' Ashrawi said. ``At the same time, I would like to caution against thinking that Biden is a knight in shining armor.'' Biden ``will go back to managing the conflict,'' said Ali Jarbawi, a political science professor at Birzeit University in the West Bank. ``Under the banner of a two-state solution you give money to the Palestinians, you tell the Israelis please don't do this and don't do that, and engage once more in negotiating that will take another 20 years.`` he said. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Two people were killed and a third seriously injured as gunfire erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Kenosha police confirmed the two fatalities on Wednesday morning but said they would release no further details. A torrent of videos posted to social media painted a confusing picture of what appeared to be two separate shooting incidents. One man, wearing a green t-shirt, dark trousers and purple gloves, carrying a satchel and a rifle on a sling, appears in several of them. In one clip, the man and two others can be seen running into the car park of an auto repair shop as gunfire crackles. The man in the green t-shirt then runs away, apparently talking on his phone, as people surround an injured man and try to help him. Another clip also circulated showing a man with a head wound. A further video shows several people chasing a man with a long gun who either falls or is knocked to the ground, before he opens fire on his pursuers. Two people appear to be hit. As the man with the rifle, satchel, and gloves gets up and jogs away towards police vehicles at what appears to be the intersection of 60th Street and Sheridan Road in downtown Kenosha, further shots ring out in the background. Mr Blake, 29, was shot seven times by a police officer on Sunday. It left him paralysed, according to his father and his lawyer. Protests over the incident are now in their third day and have turned violent. Police fired tear gas to disperse people who had gathered outside Kenoshas courthouse on Tuesday night, where some rioters tried to topple a protective fence and threw water bottles and fireworks at officers deployed behind it. Police then used armoured vehicles and riot shields to push back the crowd when protesters ignored warnings to leave a nearby park, many lingering for hours after the citys 8pm curfew. In a statement posted online before the latest round of protests, Mr Beth said he believed they had been soured in part by outside forces. We know that much of the damage is being inflicted by people coming in from outside our community, with the intent to rob and destroy, not to engage in their First Amendment right to demonstrate, he said. American Airlines executives announced Tuesday that without additional government funding through the Payroll Support Program (PSR), included in the CARES Act passed earlier this year, it will proceed with furloughing 19,000 workers on October 1. Thousands may still be laid off regardless of whether Congress hands over more public money to the airline. As part of the bipartisan CARES Act passed at the end of March this year, the major US airlines were bailed out to the tune of $25 billion, with American Airlines receiving a hefty $5.8 billion gratis from the US taxpayer. As part of the terms of the bailout, the airlines were required to use the money to retain workforces through September 30. With the additional layoffs, American will have 40,000 fewer workers than it did before the pandemic. More than 12,500 workers have already been forced to leave through voluntary retirements, buyouts and other schemes. In addition to American, Delta Air Lines announced on Monday that it will furlough over 1,940 pilots unless the Air Line Pilots Association agrees to a minimum 15 percent pay cut. American AIrlines Boeing 777 (Image Credit: Steve Lynes) The mass layoffs in the US airline industry are part of a global restructuring of the airline industry that is destroying the jobs of thousands of airline workers in the UK, Germany, Australia and other countries. It occurs at a time when more than 30 million US workers are officially unemployed, and jobless workers have been without their $600-a-week federal unemployment benefit for nearly a month and many face eviction for nonpayment of rent. All of the major airlines spent billions of dollars in the decade leading up to the pandemic on share buybacks and dividend distributions to stockholders. In a Bloomberg report earlier this year, it was revealed that American, United, Southwest, Delta and Alaska had spent 96 percent of their free cash flow (money remaining after capital expenditures) between 2010 and 2019 buying back their own shares. American Airlines led all domestic carriers, spending $12.97 billion on buybacks during that time, even though the company had a negative free cash flow of over $8 billion during that same period. Delta and Southwest were close behind, spending $11.4 and $10.65 billion on buybacks, respectively. Despite the bailouts, the airlines have continued to pressure workers into accepting buyouts, taking early retirement or acceding to leaves of absence for months on end, in many cases unpaid. Some 17,500 workersmembers of the Allied Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendantsare being targeted for the new involuntary staffing reductions, according to the notice distributed to workers by American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom. The letter included a chart titled Anticipated furloughs by workgroup, which identified 1,600 pilots, 8,100 flight attendants and 2,223 fleet service workers for layoffs, with the remaining spread across dispatch, passenger service, wholly owned carriers and maintenance. An additional 1,500 management and support staff will be terminated by the end of September. The executives blamed lower flight volume and the continuing spread of the pandemic for the layoffs, while urging workers about to be thrown into a tailspin of financial insecurity to take heart that we will get through this together. As CEO for American last year, Parker pocketed over $11 million, and $12 million the year prior, while Isom earned over $7.1 million in 2019, according to salary.com. There is no in this together. The coronavirus has exposed the massive class chasms that exist in US capitalist society. While the rich have never had it better, as their stock portfolios continue to gain value through artificial manipulation of the stock market via injections from the Federal Reserve, workers, the majority of whom own nothing in the Wall Street casino, have been laid off by the millions, with prospects of a quick rehiring looking more remote by the day. A survey reported in the Washington Post and conducted by Gusto, a payroll firm with small business clients in every US state, found that roughly 33 percent of workers furloughed in March were permanently laid off by July, while only 37 percent have been called back to their previous employer. The US Labor Department estimates that 3.7 million unemployed workers permanently lost their job by the end of July, with that number expected to reach between 6.2 million and 8.7 million by the end of this year, according to an analysis from Gabriel Chodorow-Reich of Harvard University and John Coglianese of the Federal Reserve. Small businesses continue to suffer under medically necessary lockdowns, as deadlines to apply for funding provided through the Paycheck Protection Program have long expired, and any funds thousands of small businesses received were long ago exhausted. While much of the money through the program was siphoned off by large businesses, billionaires, politicians, charter schools and the Catholic Church, millions of small businesses were able to temporarily stave off job cuts and closures with the federal aid, which has now dried up. A database maintained by Oxxford Information Technology, which tracks about 32 million businesses, nonprofits, farms and government entities, expects about four million US businesses to close by the end of the year, with only 1.3 million new businesses expected to be established. In the face of the brutal job-cutting of American Airlines workers, the Allied Pilots Association and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA have opposed any strikes or other actions in defense of jobs. In a less than seven-minute Facebook video, Sara Nelson, president of the AFA and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, echoed the airline executives talking points. She repeated the lie that the pandemic was a crisis that no one could have prepared for, adding that no one thought the US would continue to be the center of the coronavirus pandemic months after the passage of the CARES Act. In a crude promotion of Biden and the Democrats, Nelson implored workers not to give up and continue to get even more engaged in fighting to extend the Payroll Support Program. She advised soon-to-be-furloughed workers to keep up the calls to the corporate shills in Congress who are currently on vacation to demand they pass the relief. If airline workers, like autoworkers, Amazon and other logistics workers, nurses and health care workers and teachers are to save their jobs, it will be up to them to organize rank-and-file committees that are independent of the nationalist trade unions and the capitalist Democratic Party. The author also recommends: Share buybacks have been the only net source of money entering the stock market since 2008 [7 April 2020] Congress leaders demanded that states should be compensated for the estimated Rs 6 lakh crore loss in revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday accused the Centre of committing a "sovereign default" by not paying GST compensation to states as mandated under the law and demanded that they be compensated soon. Addressing a joint press conference, party leaders Rajeev Gowda, Manpreet Badal and Krishna Byre Gowda also demanded the states be compensated for the estimated Rs 6 lakh crore loss in revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of the 27 August meeting of the GST Council, the Congress leaders demanded that states be paid on time the compensation of 14 percent as mandated by the GST Compensation Act. "Anything less is a betrayal of the faith of India''s states," they said in a joint statement. Addressing a virtual press conference, Badal, who is Punjabs Finance Minister, said the Centre owes Rs 44,000 crore in pending GST dues to the state which is hampering their governance. He said the Government telling the Parliamentary Committee on Finance that there is no obligation on its part to pay compensation to states amounts to sovereign default". India is not a Banana Republic to say that it is not mandatory, he stated. "I think, there is a breach of Constitution as far as not being able to pay compensation (is concerned)," he said. The BJP government has no respect of the Constitution, the institutions and the people of India". Badal also informed he has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urging her to activate a dispute resolution mechanism on GST-related issues. It can't be your word against my word. There must be, in the case of a dispute or a conflict, a dispute resolution mechanism. The constitution of the GST council provides for that, he said. Once this mechanism is activated, states would have the right to approach the Supreme Court and take a legal recourse in case any grievance, he said. He also said as per the GST law, there should be a Vice-Chairman of the Council which according to political propriety should be from an opposition state, because it is felt that the agenda for GST council meeting is created by the government and its bureaucracy. Rajeev Gowda said the state is at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and they should be compensated by the Centre. "It is shocking to know that instead of taking steps to help states, it is preparing grounds for betrayal. It is replacing cooperative federalism with coercive federalism," Gowda claimed. He said the Centre is about to execute another devastating U-turn as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised during the enactment of the GST that states would be compensated. "Only on this basis, states gave up their constitutional powers of taxation and the GST regime was born. Starving states of funds has been the official policy of this government," he alleged. The Congress leader said any borrowing that needs to be done to help tide over the COVID-19 crisis must be done by the Central government. It can raise resources at a lower cost and can bear the debt burden better than states, Gowda said. He also sought a reduction on the reliance on cesses and share the revenues fairly. "It is high time that the centre-state fund sharing formula from Finance Commissions becomes a reality." Former Karnataka Finance Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the absence of help from the Centre is creating havoc in governance and delivery of essential services. He said the Centre owes Rs 13,000 crore to Karnataka. Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week? local Thailands government isnt backing down in the face of legal threats from one of the worlds largest technology companies. One day after Facebook said it would sue the Thai government over censorship, Puttipong Punnakanta of the Digital Economy and Society Ministry said this morning they were unconcerned with the threat as officials were merely upholding the law by demanding it remove or block a group critical of the monarchy. I dont see where and how Facebook is going to sue us, he said, adding that the government treats all online platforms the same under the law. The ministry he heads, which polices internet content, had threatened to initiate criminal proceedings against the California-based company for not compiling with its original order to remove the Royalist Marketplace, a private group started by Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an academic and monarchy critic living in exile in Japan. When they get a court order, they have to delete or block [offending content] within 15 days or face prosecution under the Computer Crime Act, Puttipong said. He noted that the penalty for violating the law was a THB200,000 fine plus THB5,000 per day the demand went unmet. Facing such a threat, Facebook made the group inaccessible from Thailand but said it would sue Thailand for violating international legal commitments to free expression. The Royalist Marketplace had accrued more than 1 million members before Facebook moved against it on Tuesday. A duplicate group set up in response has already added 700,000 members. Paiboon Amornpinyokiet, a computer law expert, told reporters Facebook is unlikely to prevail because of Thailands sovereignty under the U.N. Cybercrime Convention. Any legal proceedings initiated by Facebook would be decided in a Thai court. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha yesterday responded to Facebooks threat by saying the company must respect Thailands laws. As of Monday, Minister Puttipong said that a Facebook page set up to field complaints against content on the platform had yielded 434 reports this month. Story continues Related Facebook to sue Thai government over demand to block anti-monarchy group This article, Thailand brushes off Facebook threat, say company must comply with its laws, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! Rana married his girlfriend Miheeka Bajaj in a beautiful ceremony held on August 8 at Ramanaidu Studio in Hyderabad. Close friends and family members only attended the wedding ceremony. Due to the governments order on limiting the number of guests for wedding celebrations, Ranas parents could not send out invitations to celebrities. Now, he is sending a box of goodies that consist of a letter seeking blessing for Rana and Miheeka and some savories. A small gift is also included in the box. Suresh Babu signed the letter personally addressing each celebrity in the industry. Letters to the editor, August 26, 2020 Retraction To the editor, The letter I submitted concerning Julie Frye-Mueller's unwitting role in the alleged misuse of funds donated to We Build The Wall organization was based entirely on her column published in the Journal. The column implied to me that her trip to the wall was provided by the organization. Julie told me that she was invited to the wall by the organization but personally paid all expenses of her trip. If true, that makes my letter unwarranted. I accept her word, retract my letter, and apologize for misunderstanding. Mike Trier, Custer Student medical forms To the editor, I cannot understand Representative Frye-Muellers opposition (Commentary 8/21) to schools having full access to student medical records. Surely, with respect to medical information, more is more. Information about allergies, pre-existing conditions, previous injuries and vaccines may be a critical part of keeping a student safe on campus or during sanctioned activities like field trips and sports. Parents already have to sign forms which indicate we understand the risks associated with sports: schools should not be held responsible if participation is medically counter-indicated. Coaches and teachers want children to be safe. Especially in the post-pandemic era, public safety, too, should outweigh political concerns about privacy and parental control. The latter, arguably, is often more of a threat to children than their medical records being available. Schools are also morally and legally responsible for reporting suspected child abuse. Let schools have medical information. Our children have their own rights to safety independent of their parents political beliefs. Naidine Adams, Rapid City The vote is in To the editor, The vote is in. The House of Representatives, in a special session, has voted to ensure our Post Office is solvent and able to handle the volume of election ballots expected in the upcoming general election. Dusty Johnson (T-SD) voted against the bill. Our two senators (T-SD) are currently not in session debating the bill. Im sure that when they reluctantly reconvene in the Senate they will do exactly what the majority leader and the occupant of the oval office tell them to do. The Post Office serves as the Last Mile for most of the major on-line retailers. They deliver needed medicine, subsistence and pension checks and, lately, pleas for money from various and sundry political candidates.The carriers show up and get the job done. Thats what one calls dedication. They serve the Constitution and are pivotal in ensuring that General Welfare mentioned in its Preamble. The position of our lone representative and the silence of our two senators speaks volumes to the status of their beliefs, their knowledge of their constituents needs and the absence of any moral compass that guides their dubious service. The next time you retrieve your mail from your box remember, we deserve better. Brent Cogswell, Rapid City Pandemic becomes personal agenda To the editor, Kristi Noem has used the pandemic as a national marketing campaign. Holding the Sturgis rally in her state is only the latest ploy in her sycophancy towards the Trump administration. Famously touting the notion that South Dakota was not New York City, Noem has spent much of the last few months going on Fox News and other right wing media outlets. She recently made national news when she rejected federal assistance for unemployment. Rather than help the people of South Dakota, she has used this moment to build up her national reputation. In ways that mirror Trumps wall on the border with Mexico, the latest gimmick in Noems sycophancy is her announcement that she would use $400,000 to build a fence around her house. No figures have been released in regards to how much of this money will be coming out of taxpayer funds. Unlike Trumps crumbling border wall, one can only hope that this wall withstands the brutal winds of the South Dakotan plains. If South Dakota wants to come out of the pandemic as a physically healthy and economically strong state, it needs a Governor without a personal agenda for her Washington ambitions. Benjamin Young, Sioux Falls Institutional racism To the editor, In 2003, former governor Bill Janklow committed vehicular manslaughter, ignoring a stop sign, speeding through an intersection, killing a motorcyclist. He received a 100-day sentence. One hundred days for killing another human being. Nick Tilsen, a Lakota activist, led a peaceful protest at Mount Rushmore, on July 3, and is now facing 16 years in prison. Allegedly, he grabbed a badge off the uniform of a National Guardsman. If you want an example of institutional racism, there you have it. Jackie Swanson, Hermosa You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 A QAnon supporter attends a 2018 Trump rally in Pennsylvania. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) As I've watched the Republican National Convention these last two nights, all I could think was: Where is Q? And which of the people on my television screen is a Patriot? Q, for those who dont follow the political fringe, is the man, woman or perhaps group of people whose cryptic internet messages helped create the shadowy, cultish conspiracy theory known as QAnon, which in any reasonable country in any sane era would be dismissed or denounced by rational politicians of all stripes. Patriots are QAnon adherents. What they believe is convoluted, multifarious and hard to describe. But at root, the theory holds that President Trump is trying to save the world by waging a heroic covert war against an international cabal of Satanic pedophiles, Democrats and deep state elites. QAnon has been deemed a fringe political conspiracy theory by the (deep state) FBI, and one that is very likely to motivate domestic extremists to engage in violence or criminal activity. But thats no problem for Republicans! In fact, QAnon and its tens of thousands of internet followers were given a huge vote of support a virtual welcome into the GOP by none less than Trump himself on the eve of this weeks party convention. Trump said hed heard that QAnon supporters like me very much, which I appreciate and that theyre people who love our country. Reminded that they believe he is saving the world from a global conspiracy involving Satanism and cannibalism, he said, apparently with a straight face, I mean, you know, if I can help save the world from problems, Im willing to do it. I can only assume Trumps calculation in cozying up to QAnon is that when you get right down to it, a vote from a deranged QAnon supporter counts for just as much as a vote from a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist and is far more likely to be cast for Trump. But lets take a closer look at just what kind of people hes welcoming into the Republican big tent. Story continues Q himself (or herself or themselves) is believed by his admirers to be a senior-level Trump administration official with high Q level security clearance. Q mostly posts pronouncements, clues and exhortations. People seem to be drawn in because they like trying to unravel the enigmatic messages. Q urges them to Do your own research and Dont be a sheep and Follow the money. The group has many slogans and catchphrases, but the most common is where we go one, we go all or WWG1WGA. Here's a Q drop from a few weeks ago: NOTHING CAN STOP WHAT IS COMING. NOTHING WWG1WGA Q What is coming? Q doesnt say. Thats for thousands of researchers and Patriots to hash out. And no doubt thats kind of fun like a blockbuster video game come to life in which we all have a role to play in saving the world from evil villains. Only this time, its for real. Here are the top few lines of another Q drop: "[infiltration] Only those who could [can] be controlled [via blackmail or like-beliefs] were installed in critical leadership positions across all political and non-political Control and Command Positions [CCP]. CCP [necessary] to ensure protective blanket [insurance]. Traitors everywhere. [D] leadership in joint ops w/ China [CCP] in effort to regain power? It was never about the virus. Sequence of events." What does that mean? Your guess is as good as mine. After Trump spoke about QAnon last week, one Patriot declared: [QAnon] is not a cult and there are no leaders. All Q wants you to do is think for yourself ... Q is what started everything. Q got The People looking at the spying ... looking at the treason, looking at the sedition ... looking at the human trafficking ... looking at the Crimes Against Humanity and the Crimes Against Children ... looking at everything the Deep State and the Mainstream Media refuse to cover. The virus and the rioting isnt the real pandemic. ALL THIS OTHER STUFF IS. The QAnon world is a strange and dark place, and the deeper into it you go, the more difficult it is to untangle. COVID-19 might be fake, or, perhaps, intentionally created and spread by the deep state to harm Trumps reelection chances. JFK Jr. was assassinated, maybe. Ellen DeGeneres and Tom Hanks and the Clintons and Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey are all part of a global conspiracy. Children are in danger. Heres a tweet I saw: This is me at 13, the age I was when @tomhanks purchased me from my father for sex as a disassociated #mindcontrol doll. I wonder how much he paid. It was reposted by another person who wrote Straight from the victim herself. Throw all this fantastical, paranoid stuff up on our hugely powerful social media platforms and amplify the message some more with the help of some Russian sites. Add in some unstable people and ask everyone to interpret it as they see fit. And you have a recipe for trouble. Two scholars, in an article for the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, highlighted five cases of criminal activity motivated by QAnon, including that of a QAnon adherent who was accused of killing a mobster last year and another who came to New York armed and threatening to kill Joe Biden in order to save children. The Anti-Defamation League notes that QAnon adherents have been linked to acts of murder, violence, kidnapping and public disturbance. Coddling QAnon is enormously irresponsible. Any rational politician would have condemned it long ago. But not our president. And its no coincidence that QAnon has grown so quickly in the Trump era. It makes perfect sense that when people dont trust the media, when they dont trust scientists, when they see government as a swamp and are told that some politicians want to destroy their communities and control their minds thats when conspiracy theories can take root. If nothing can be trusted, anything might be true! When he pointedly refuses to criticize QAnon and suggests that yes, indeed, its adherents are patriots, President Trump is playing a dangerous game. @Nick_Goldberg As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Officials initially moved to defer the request to committee as they continue to consider amendments to the community benefits agreement. Lay said the council should not risk losing the development. He said the current CBA likely will be tied in for weeks in committee. Lay said if his amendment is approved, members of the CBA committee would have to be interviewed in committee and selected, a process that takes time. There is also the chance the Mayor Jerome Prince would veto the ordinance. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The prime speaking slots at Republicans' nominating convention Monday served as a reminder that a single state could loom large in the party's future, even though it's not a presidential battleground. Two South Carolina politicians former Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott spoke during the final hour of the Republican National Convention, putting forward an optimistic and diverse vision for their party. And though Haley and Scott spoke on behalf of President Donald Trump, both are seen as possible White House hopefuls themselves in future cycles. Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, served as Trump's first ambassador to the United Nations. Scott, the sole Black Republican in the Senate, has advised the White House on policing and criminal justice issues. And both have tried throughout Trump's tenure to be supportive allies of a president who is wildly popular with his Republican base while maintaining some modicum of independence. Haley used her convention remarks to praise what she characterized as Trump's commitment to telling the world what it needs to hear with a tough foreign policy. But she also focused heavily on her own personal story and record as South Carolina governor, including after the 2015 shooting of nine parishioners at a historic Black church in Charleston. South Carolinians came together Black and white, Democrat and Republican," she said, and together made the hard choices needed to heal. Haley took aim at Democrats, who she says label America as racist: That is a lie. America is not a racist country. Scott also tried to send an optimistic message during a moment of racial strife. He ended the night with a speech on his personal story of struggling financially and in school. But, Scott noted, his family overcame socioeconomic and racial adversity to go from cotton to Congress in one lifetime," adding that he, as a poor, Black kid from a single-parent household, could win in an overwhelmingly white district because of the evolution of the heart. Story continues Haley has long been seen as one of the rising Republican stars who may be positioning herself for a next step. She served at the United Nations until an abrupt departure from her post in late 2018 fueled rumors she might mount a campaign to block Trump from a second White House term. But Haley has voiced steadfast support of Trump, and worked to tamp down unsubstantiated rumors that she might be picked to replace Mike Pence as Trump's running mate. Last year, Haley officially moved back to South Carolina, a Republican bastion, feeding speculation that another political run might be in the offing. In March, she resigned from the board of Boeing Co. because of her opposition to a bailout of the airplane manufacturer that is in the works amid the new coronavirus outbreak. That gave her a chance to draw a distinction from the Trump administration which some strategists have said could be helpful if Haley pursues the White House herself. Scott, the first Black American elected to both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, has become a leading Republican voice in Washington. He has occasionally distanced himself from Trump's comments about race and spoken out about his personal experience with law enforcement. Haley and Scott had some shared history. In 2012, it was Haley who, as governor, picked Scott to replace outgoing Sen. Jim DeMint. At the time, Scott had just been elected to a second U.S. House term in South Carolinas 1st District. In 2016, Haley and Scott served as honorary co-chairs of South Carolinas delegation to the RNC. Back then, Haley gave only reluctant and somewhat lukewarm support to Trump after heavily criticizing him during the primary process. On Monday night, Haley said the country can build on the progress of our past and unlock the promise of our future, a future that will start when the American people reelect President Donald Trump. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP Today Overcast with rain showers at times. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 42F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Tonight Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 25F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 31F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. County Administrator John McLauchlin informed council that the county is looking to construct a recreational facility on property owned by the Calhoun County School District. The property is located on Park Street. McLauchlin said the county is in communication with the school district about acquiring the property. Council approved a motion allowing the John Ford High School Association to place a historical marker at the John Ford Center. Council approved third reading following a public hearing of an ordinance adding property to the joint county industrial park between Calhoun and Lexington counties. Council approved second reading of an ordinance increasing the water and wastewater fees for the Calhoun County Municipal Water and Wastewater Systems. Council approved second reading of an ordinance providing for the abatement of nuisances, for enforcement and to set criminal penalties for failure to comply after notice. Council approved a motion to reschedule all county meetings through fiscal year 2020-2021. Council will meet once a month from September 2020 to July 2021. McLauchlin said that the decision was made due to COVID-19 and safety precautions. (TNS) Tri-County Electric Cooperative plans to have the first customers connected to its broadband services this year.CEO Chad Lowder gave Calhoun County Council an update on the member-owned co-ops $50 million effort to bring broadband services to Tri-County customers.What I can tell you is Tri-County has begun the construction phase of a fiber-to-home project for our coverage area. The goal is a three-year project to be able to provide fiber service to all the membership of Tri-County Electric at this time, Lowder said.It starts in three phases. Right now the first phase has begun, and so as we build each phase out, well notify the members when we get to that area and are able to bring fiber to them and provide that service at that time, Lowder said.Lowder said the co-op hopes to begin connecting customers in November. The co-ops subsidiary TriCo Link will be responsible for the project.Customers will receive direct fiber optics to their home, yielding speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second. The pricing is expected to be comparable or below other broadband service prices.Lowder compared the project to the implementation of electric systems in the 1940s.This is building infrastructure. Its not putting wireless antennas up, this is physical wire being hung on poles, Lowder said.Lowder said the co-op is aware of the urgency of the project, noting that the importance of home Internet access has increased due to remote learning.Its tough right now. I know a lot of schools, a lot of kids, a lot of parents are in dire need of good, reliable, true high-speed Internet service, and they need it now. The problem is we cant get it to them now. Its got to be a phased-in approach, Lowder said.But, I will tell you, its an aggressive project. Three years for this amount of infrastructure is a feat in itself, but our board is committed to that, Lowder said.Lowder said there has been conversation about extending the services to homes that arent served by Tri-County, but those plans wont develop until the initial project is complete.If youre a member of the co-op, just understand that were going to get to you. Were going to get to all our membership, and a three-year timeframe is our goal. Look at our webpage and our Living magazine to get updates, Lowder said.Also during Calhoun County Councils meeting: New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday said that it has arrested four more persons in connection with the ongoing Kerala gold smuggling case probe. Jifsal CV, Aboobacker P, Muhammed A Shameem, and Abdul Hameed PM were arrested on Monday on charges of conspiracy and financing the smuggling of gold through import cargo addressed to the UAE consulate at Thiruvananthapuram. They also allegedly received such smuggled gold and proceeds from the crime. The agency said that it conducted searches at the houses of these four in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts as well as at Malabar Jewellery owned by Aboobacker, Ameen Gold in Malappuram owned by Abdul Hameed, and Ambi Jewellery in Kozhikode owned by Shamsudheen. "Several digital devices and incriminating documents were seized," the official said. So far, the NIA has zeroed in on 25 accused, of which 20 have been arrested. The gold smuggling case was unearthed when Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 when he was facilitating smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to the state capital from Dubai. Things turned murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the Consulate and later employed with the IT Department, surfaced. Later, her links with now-suspended IAS officer M Sivasankar, then posted as Principal secretary to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and also the IT Secretary, came to light. Media company ITV is fighting for its place in the FTSE 100 after a dizzying fall in its share price this year. The Love Island broadcaster's advertising revenue has slumped as companies have slashed marketing budgets to ride out the coronavirus storm. The group's market value has fallen 61 per cent this year and it is in line to be relegated to the mid-cap index in the next quarterly reshuffle in September, according to FTSE Russell, the body that oversees which companies are included in the various London Stock Exchange indexes. It has released indicative data about which companies would have been promoted or demoted in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 based on their closing share prices last Friday. By this metric, ITV down 2.1 per cent, or 1.26p, to 59.38p would be replaced by budget retailer B&M up 0.8 per cent, or 3.9p, to 479p which has thrived during lockdown. The final ruling will be announced next Wednesday, meaning there is still time for companies to change their fortunes and put up a fight for their survival. The confirmed changes come into effect on September 21. According to FTSE Russell, the FTSE 250 might welcome the likes of trading group CMC Markets, which rose 1.5 per cent, or 4.5p, to 314p, and Mr Kipling and Bisto-maker Premier Foods, which fell 0.3 per cent, or 0.3p, to 87.9p. But on the way out as at last Friday would have been groups including Park Plaza hotels' parent company PPHE Hotel Group (down 4.1 per cent, or 45p, to 1065p) and shopping centre owner Hammerson (up 0.8 per cent, or 0.4p, to 48.4p) which just two years ago was in the FTSE 100. Bus operator Go-Ahead is another company potentially in the line of fire. But its shares managed to rev up after it clinched a two-year extension to a contract in Singapore. The deal means Go-Ahead will carry on operating around 450 buses there until September 2023. The shares closed 2.5 per cent higher, up 16.5p, to 666.5p. Elsewhere, Polymetal investors were rewarded with a bumper dividend after a surge in gold and silver prices this year boosted the mining group's coffers. Shareholders will receive 144m from the first-half payout, which works out at about 30p per share and is twice the amount it handed back for the same period of last year. Gold the company sold between January and June fetched 25 per cent more than it did over the same time in 2019, while silver was 10 per cent higher. This pushed revenues 21 per cent higher to 864m and saw profits more than double to 362m. Polymetal sparkled higher, rising 1.4 per cent, or 28p, to 1980p. The FTSE 100 eked out a 0.14 per cent gain, up 8.59 points, to 6045.6, while the FTSE 250 rose by 1 per cent, or 175.68 points, to 17753.57. The Footsie was boosted by software company Aveva, which rallied by another 9.7 per cent, or 450p, to 5096p, after completing the 3.8billion takeover of an American rival on Tuesday. But a lot of the action was on the junior market. Cement and asphalt maker Breedon has been given five days by the Competition and Markets Authority to come up with compromises and solutions to assuage concerns about its deal to buy rival Cemex for 178m. It rose 1.3 per cent, or 1p, to 78p. Shoe Zone, however, was flat at 53.8p after its two top bosses bought shares from a departing non-executive director, deputy chairman Jeremy Sharman. PITTSBURGH, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a way to paint my own nails without assistance after I had my stroke," said an inventor, from Lima, Ohio, "so I created the MEDICURE." The invention provides a hands-free method of painting fingernails. In doing so, it eliminates the need for assistance. As a result, it saves time and effort and it increases precision and convenience when applying nail polish. The invention features a durable and lightweight design that is easy to use so it is ideal for households, individuals with limited mobility and the elderly. Additionally, it is producible in design variations and a prototype is available. The inventor described the invention design. "My design increases independence by allowing the user to easily apply nail color without any help." The original design was submitted to the Hackettstown sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-HTT-7384, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com 2nd Annual AAFCA TV Honors Highlights Frontline Heroes Risking Their Lives in the Battle Against COVID-19 On Saturday, August 22, the 2nd Annual AAFCA TV Honors shined the spotlight on everyday frontline heroes, while recognizing artists for their talent. Hosted by actress and comedian Aida Rodriguez, this was a historical first for the AAFCA as the ceremony was completely virtual. However, the energy of compassion and celebration made it through the distance of the screen, exuding the hope that this year will shift into a better space soon. The African American Film Critics Association standard mission is to focus on the paramount impact of talent within the collective community, but this year was different. There was a split platform; highlighting noted production, but there was acknowledgement of first responders from all over the nation. ADVERTISEMENT The virtual award show emphasized the significant role first responders play in the recovery of social structure. Firefighters, nurses, police, public officials, and staff that support daily operations that keep the infrastructure running and contribute to the safety of others. The AAFCA highlighted those who have put their lives and energy on the line since COVID-19 took root. This viral pandemic unveiled intense truths about society, one of them is that the spirit of humility is still present. The show carried a light and airy atmosphere as Rodriguez navigated the virtual handout of accolades. She showered the honorees with compliments and words of encouragement as each category was presented. This virtual celebration was made possible through the sponsorship of Morgan Stanley. The award categories included: TV Icon, Inclusion Award, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best TV Movie, Breakout Performers, Best YA, Best Animated, Best Documentary, and Best Short film. A range of front-line essential workers joined celebrities including John Legend, Rashida Jones, and William Jackson Harper to hand out 11 awards and two honorary awards. A portion of the proceeds from the event has goes to the National Association of Black Journalists COVID-19 Relief fund. Diverse areas of concern were covered in the event such as equality, justice and transgender rights. All sections of the community are calling for protection as the battle for justice progresses. Visual creator and writer Janet Mock went into more detail about the extensive support every person needs during this time. It is an honor to take part in a celebration that centers our words, our truths, our images, and our stories, said Mock. Winner of the AAFCA ADCOLOR Breakout Creative Award, Mock expressed the significance in her existence in this field as a transwoman and how it affects the entire community. I also know that as we continue to struggle for Black people, we must also include Black trans people, Black queer people, Black disabled people, all of the Black people, my people. The AAFCA Award created a space where art is recognized in all genres, winning Best TV Movie was Lifetimes The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. The acceptance began with musical producer, Donald Lawrence, taking in the title with gratitude, this film was the first film Lawrence did all the music for. He expressed his honor in the celebration; he gave credit to the overall production and the happiness in working with such a A-list team of actors, directors, and film staff. Lawrence was accompanied by Director Christine Swanson and TV Producer Holly Carter. Each of them expressed their honor in receiving such a high recognition for the film. The winner of Best Actress was Viola Davis in ABCs How To Get Away With Murder. Davis accepted the award graciously and had impactful words to share, The word that comes to mind in receiving this award is grateful. I am eternally grateful for the six years that I had on How To Get Away With Murder and created a character that meant so much to so many people, but especially to my people. Davis went on to share her joy in receiving this title. She expressed that she is trying to the best of her ability to be the representation that reflects the elegance of the collective community. Other winners include Sterling K. Brown as Best Actor in NBCs This is Us, Best Comedy was given to HBOs Insecure, and Jeremy Pope and Laura Harrier won Best Breakout Performers in Netflixs Hollywood. There were so many phenomenal projects, the winners for each category had iconic competition. The last accolade on the table was the TV Icon Award. This was given to the Writer of the hit TV Series Blackish, Kenya Barris. Barris joined AAFCA through his screen and sat in shock of winning such a high honor. He stated, So many thoughts and questions come to my mind like how old do these people actually think I am and do they have a different meaning of Icon than I do? Barris shared his view of this moment being amazing, but he acknowledges that the Black community are living through a lot of pain. He went into detail on how healing it is to receive this acknowledgement during this time from AAFCA, that he referred to as family. ADVERTISEMENT Closing remarks came from President/CEO of AAFCA Gil Robertson and TV critic Eric Deggans. Robertson disclosed that this would not have been possible without the talent of Deggans. Robertson described Deggans as a trailblazer and pioneer. The feeling of hope and a bright future was captured through each award selection. Although the big screen talent were uplifted and celebrated, AAFCA made an impactful statement by merging the gratitude for the everyday heroes found on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sheep farmers are now resorting to burning wool after a huge price crash during the coronavirus pandemic has rendered it basically worthless. Dairy farms experienced a similar crisis at the peak of the outbreak in April, when they were forced to pour a million litres of milk down the drain as demand from factories nose-dived. The price paid for wool has plummeted by nearly half from 60p a kilo to 32p this year, with farmers claiming the situation is now so bad that they actually lose money when they sell it. Previously, farmers would shear their livestock and take the remains to British Wool, previously known as the British Wool Marketing Board to sell. But due to the virus, the price offered is now often worth less than the fuel the farmers would use to drive it to the depot. They are dealing with the pile up by either burning the wool or using it for compost. Sheep farmers are now resorting to burning wool after a huge price crash during the coronavirus pandemic has rendered it basically worthless A huge pile up has been created over the last few months, which has led to farmers either burning the wool, pictured, or using it for compost Dairy farms feel the pinch as millions of litres of milk poured down the drain British farmers were forced to pour a million litres of milk down the drain in April as demand from factories nose-dived due to the coronavirus outbreak. The milk was destined for cakes, cheeses, creme fraiche and other products that have seen demand go into reverse gear during the crisis. Sales to cafes and restaurants also dried up as their shutters remained down earlier in the lockdown UK farmers made a 7million loss from sales in April as more than half cut the price of their milk, the study by industry bodies Dairy UK and AHDB said. This means farmers have lost 18 pence on every litre they produce. Advertisement Lawrence Wright, 75, who farms sheep at Middle Campscott Farm near Ilfracombe, Devon, said: 'Wool prices are on the floor this year and I've seen reports of people burning wool. 'It's environmentally unfriendly to burn it. If you are going to do anything with it I've also heard of people composting, which would be better. 'The British Wool Marketing Board didn't sell the whole of last year's yet so that has inevitably driven prices down.' Wool from each year's harvest, or 'clip', is sold a year later by British Wool and this year the market was shut in February. As a result, the board are struggling to clear a nine million kilo backlog, out of an initial 27 million kilos. Mark Weekes, 55, a sheep farmer from Exeter, Devon, said despite the financial difficulties, they still had to shear all the sheep for welfare reasons. He added: 'We have to have them shorn, it's an animal welfare issue not to have them shorn. 'They suffer badly from blowfly strike which causes maggots and that is a horrendous thing for them to have. So we have to shear and that's a direct cost we can't recoup. 'We deliver our wool to the board, but it costs more to take it there than we make out of it. 'I can't bring myself to throw it away. It's low because people aren't using wool, they're more than happy to use plastics and pollute the environment. Wool from each year's harvest, or 'clip', is sold a year later by British Wool and this year the market was shut in February 'It's a shame, but that's how things are. If there was more demand the price would be higher.' British Wool said it hoped to emerge out of the slump in a stronger position, but needed the farmers support to be able to do that. A spokesman said: 'Given the situation we find ourselves in, we have had to place a value on this unsold stock which is at a significant discount to the last prices sold. 'We are asking producers to support us through this very difficult season by bringing their wool into us so that we can preserve the volume use of Ulster wool downstream, further develop our new Ulster wool-rich product ranges and emerge from the Covid-19 slump ready to exploit a strengthening market. 'Without the consolidation of wool into commercial volumes through Ulster Wool and our continuing to market it more and more effectively, the prospect will be for lower prices indefinitely. 'We will emerge stronger from this period, so long as wool producers stay together and continue to back their organisation.' The National Farmers Union said: 'The issue is that the market for wool is quite depressed at the moment for various reasons - mainly to do with the recession provoked by coronavirus and the closure of export markets. 'So farmers are being paid less for it. That means for some it is not worth taking the fleeces to the collection centre as they normally would do, they just dispose of them on farm. 'Wool is collected, graded and auctioned by British Wool and they are trying to find alternative markets for it to increase demand. 'It can be used in things like insulation and acoustic baffles as well as the carpets and clothing traditionally made from it. Dairy farmer, Josette Feddes of JoJosDairy, had to throw away 12,000 litres of milk in April 'The NFU very much supports this campaign, but it is not something that is going to get the price up overnight. 'Sheep have to be sheared for welfare reasons regardless of the price paid for the wool, but as it is generally of very high quality it is a shame to see it go to waste. 'It would be far better if it could be utilised. But for farmers this has to make economic sense.' The National Sheep Association said it was disappointed to see the effect coronavirus has had on wool prices. Chief executive Phil Stocker said: 'It's not fully clear how the reduced value of the remainder of the 2019/2020 clip will affect the overall value of a farmers wool delivered last year, but it would be easy to assume total fleece values might be down by 50 per cent. 'Although there are plenty of sheep farmers who do get real value from their wool most will at least expect it to cover shearing and wool handling costs. 'A fall of 50 per cent of total value would, for most, mean total income not clearing costs. 'The NSA is very disappointed although we understand fully the reasons behind this situation. 'A lot of work has gone into increasing demand and values for wool and this will set things back. 'We are disappointed that British Wool, being treated as a Government Arm's Length Body, has reportedly been unable to access the Government's Covid-19 support schemes and this will have had a big bearing on British Wool's decisions.' Primates receive a lot of research attention and conservation funding compared to other taxonomic groups, owing largely to their anthropological significance and charisma. Yet, we remain unable to conserve them effectively. To date, about 60 percent of primate species are threatened with extinction and 75 percent have declining populations. The authors of the new study ascribe this paradox to the severe lack of evidence for effective conservation of the world's primates. Compiled by a team of 59 primate researchers and practitioners, as well as scientists from the Conservation Evidence Initiative in Cambridge, the study examined roughly 13,000 primate studies. Only 80 of these studies investigated the effectiveness of primate conservation interventions, which is very few compared to other taxa. In addition, only 12 percent of threatened primates and only 14 percent of all primate species recognized today were covered by these intervention studies. Intervention studies focused on large-bodied primates and Old World monkeys, particularly great apes, but left out entire families, such as tarsiers and night monkeys. "Whether a species was threatened or not played no significant role for the scientists in the choice of their studied species," said Dr Jessica Junker from iDiv, MLU and MPI-EVA, who led the research effort together with Dr Silviu Petrovan from the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology. "We therefore lack the evidence-based information necessary to effectively protect and manage many vulnerable species." In addition to the taxonomic biases, the authors also found that studies were biased towards specific geographic regions and interventions. More specifically, less than half (41 percent) of the 162 possible primate conservation interventions identified by primate experts were evaluated quantitatively. Even those studies in which tests on the effectiveness of measures had been carried out failed in most cases (79 percent) to provide evidence of effective protection of primates. This was due to studies lacking quantitative data, difficulties in undertaking post-implementation monitoring of populations or individuals, or implementing several interventions at once. "The fact that so many measures are implemented without knowing whether they will work at all is an absolutely alarming result, considering the vulnerability of this group of species," said Petrovan. "Ideally, studies should identify the most effective interventions for all primate conservationists." The problem of proving the effectiveness of primate protection measures is also due to the animals' survival and reproduction strategies. "Primates tend to occur at low densities, become relatively old and have few offspring, which means that generational changes take a relatively long time. In addition, their preferred habitat in the trees makes them difficult to count. This requires innovative methods and intense monitoring over long periods, specific knowledge and hard-to-obtain long-term funding," said Dr Hjalmar Kuhl from iDiv and MPI EVA), senior author of the study. Another disincentive for primate researchers to conduct evaluations for primate conservation actions is that publishing these can be extremely time- and resource-intensive and difficult to achieve in high-impact science journals, especially when they show that a conservation action was not effective. The authors propose several actions to improve the evidence base for primate conservation, including raising resources for intervention-effectiveness testing and publication, developing guidelines for primate conservation interventions, shifting the research focus on threatened species, understudied regions and seeking long-term collaborations with stakeholders. "The declines of many primate species highlight the urgent need for funding and swift action," said Kuhl. "If we are to prevent imminent extinctions and ensure the survival of viable primate populations in the long term in a cost-effective manner, we need to adopt an evidence-based approach to primate conservation." ### The 8.8-km strategic Rohtang Tunnel, being built at 3,000 metre above sea level between Himachal Pradeshs Manali and Leh in Ladakh, will be opened by September-end. The Rs 3,200-crore tunnel will shorten the 474-km distance between Manali and Leh by 46km, which means the eight-hour journey will be cut by two-and-a-half hours. The tunnel is also called Atal Tunnel after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had announced the project on June 3, 2000. The work was entrusted to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The project has faced geological challenges which have pushed the deadline since digging started in 2011. The project was to be completed in February 2015, but water ingress from Seri Nullah, ban on rock mining and delay in allotment of land needed for quarrying, and loose rock strata in the middle caused the slow progress. Here is everything you need to know about the Atal Tunnel: More than 700 men are working in shifts to complete the work of the tunnel. When the coronavirus pandemic-enforced lockdown was imposed, proactive measures were taken to recommence work in active coordination with the state government. Defence minister Rajnath Singh was to inspect the work at the tunnel last month, but due to the stand-off between India and Chinese troops, this trip was cancelled. Singh is likely to visit the Rohtang tunnel in at the end of this month. The speed limits in the tunnel will be 80km per hour. The tunnel will accelerate troop mobility to strategic frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir, besides providing a road link to Lahaul and Spiti in the winters. The tunnel has the capacity to ply 3,000 vehicles per day under any weather condition. The cost of the project has escalated from Rs 1,700 crore in 2010 to almost its double to Rs 3,200 crore by September 2020. Himachal Pradesh will run Vistadome buses inside Atal tunnel when it is inaugurated next month. Vistadome buses will have a glass rooftop for a panoramic view through the hilly region. ENNIS, Texas - Thousands of Gulf Coast residents fled from rapidly intensifying Hurricane Laura as hotels and shelters filled quickly, exacerbating the struggles of evacuees who lost jobs in the coronavirus pandemic long before the storm ever approached on Wednesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Military personnel wait to receive hurricane evacuees at the Mesquite Reception Center set up for hurricane evacuees in Mesquite, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Thousands of Gulf Coast residents fled inland from an approaching storm deemed unsurvivable by forecasters, heeding warnings from leaders in two states, but leaving some without help as available space in hotels and shelters filled quickly. (Lynda M. Gonzalez/The Dallas Morning News via AP) ENNIS, Texas - Thousands of Gulf Coast residents fled from rapidly intensifying Hurricane Laura as hotels and shelters filled quickly, exacerbating the struggles of evacuees who lost jobs in the coronavirus pandemic long before the storm ever approached on Wednesday. Leaders in Texas and Louisiana urged people in the expected path of what forecasters called an extremely dangerous major hurricane to move inland before it was too late. Forecasters predicted a life-threatening storm surge would pummel a wide stretch of the coast. Evacuees travelled as far as Ennis, Texas, a city south of Dallas several hours from the coast. James and Samantha Bison evacuated from Jasper, Texas ,about 200 miles (320 kilometres) away, and made their way to Ennis after being directed there by a 211 information line. Hoping for shelter there, they ended up sleeping in their car and then were told by another 211 operator to head to San Antonio, about 250 miles (400 kilometres) in another direction. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state had 200,000 hotel rooms for evacuees. But Ennis city leaders said they had no space in hotels and no vouchers to give evacuees. Shalonda Joseph, a teacher who evacuated to Ennis from Port Arthur, Texas, with her sisters, said their family had burned through savings as some of them had already lost their jobs because of the virus. The COVID-19 is just totally wiping us out, said Joseph, 43. Both the Joseph and Bison families eventually headed further north to Richardson, a Dallas suburb, and waited to see if a hotel would give them rooms. Elsewhere, hundreds of residents of 11 southwest Louisiana nursing homes were evacuated, according to state health officials. Most were in Calcasieu Parish, which is expected to receive a direct strike from the hurricane. State Health Department spokeswoman Aly Neel said buses and ambulances moved the residents mainly to other facilities in Louisiana, but also Texas. In the south Louisiana community of Delcambre, a steady stream of customers stopped for last-minute supplies at Shawns Cajun Meats and Grocery. Getting some snacks. Definitely getting some beer. Im pretty sure thats the highest-selling product around here, said Austin Domingues, 26. Domingues said he and his family had been preparing for days for Laura. At his fathers nearby sugar cane farm, weve been moving equipment on the highest ground we have. While Domingues said his wife likely would evacuate to Lafayette, further north and east of Delcambre, he and others in his family planned to stay put. He said he expected to stay at his fathers farm, where the house is 14 feet (4 metres) off the ground. I dont know if its too smart, but were going to stay just in case we need to help people out, he said. But Lexie Creighton, who was rounding up shopping carts outside the grocery store, said she planned to head to Lafayette after ending her shift, rather than ride out Laura. Her home took on water during Hurricane Rita, which ravaged the Gulf Coast just days after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Getting out of the surge, you know? she said. The waters going to come up. Its better safe than sorry. In Lake Charles, Louisiana, the National Guard picked up residents in school buses and took them to a local coliseum. Many of the evacuees were families with small children. The National Weather Service evacuated its office in Lake Charles, transferring its forecasting duties to the services office in Brownsville, Texas. Leaders in both Texas and Louisiana urged residents to flee in the final hours before landfall made it too dangerous to travel. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said the city of Austin had run out of free hotel rooms, forcing officials to send evacuees further away from the coast. Kidd said the convention centre in Austin might be opened to temporarily house evacuees while more hotel rooms are set up for residents. He said hotel rooms are being reserved for evacuees in some nearby counties. Traci Shannon left Galveston for her parents home in north Houston on Tuesday with her husband, two teenagers, and six pets. It would be hard to find a hotel or shelter that accepts all the animals we have, she said. We could hide the rat and the gecko, but my husband is a disabled vet and he has a comfort dog thats about 45 pounds. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Back at the hotel in Richardson, Texas, the sun began to set Wednesday, and the Bisons' prospects of spending another night without a roof loomed. James Bison, though, seemed unperturbed. They had both lost jobs at a restaurant and lumber mill this year, and they were surviving. I have a tent, he said. Moments later, Samantha Bison rushed out of the hotel waving her arms and giving the thumbs up. We got in, she called. ___ Deslatte reported from Delcambre, Louisiana. Associated Press journalists Juan A. Lozano in Houston and Desiree Mathurin in Bay Shore, New York, contributed to this report. Despite the challenges and uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, the outgoing chief executive of the Port of Cork said the company is positioned for significant further growth in the coming decades. Brendan Keating brings his almost 18 years at the helm of the company to a close this month at a time of significant change in Cork Harbour. He has paid tribute to the 155 Port of Cork employees who made significant efforts to keep supply lines open every day this year, most notably during the lockdown. However, Covid-19 has still had a significant impact on operations and finances. "There is no doubt it will have an impact. We expect a reduction in revenue in 2020 of between 22% and 24% it could even go as far as 25%," he told the Irish Examiner. The port has seen the loss of the cruise business this year and there is uncertainty as to when that business will return. The cruise liner MS Serenade of the Seas berthed in Cobh last year. The cruise industry faces an uncertain future due to the impact of Covid-19. Picture Dan Linehan "We think the cruise liners will come back but in a changed format. It's very very difficult in August 2020 to predict what it will look like in August 2021 but it will be changed. It's very doubtful that we will see as many of the United States domiciled vessels in Europe next year. Maybe when there is a vaccine, hopefully, we will see a return of the cruise industry back to a level that we had been able to grow to." The port company is also on the cusp of a historic move that will see operations move from the city quays and Tivoli down to the lower harbour. The move will free up key pieces of land to allow the city to further develop but as Keating makes clear the changes will also position Cork and the wider region for much larger expansion. "The new 86m Cork Container Terminal in Ringaksiddy will be the only facility of its kind in the country when it opens next March. It's a state-of-the-art terminal which can accommodate much larger ships than we could up to now reaching 13.5 metres in depth," he said. The under-construction Cork Container Terminal in Ringaskiddy will be able to accommodate some of the world's largest vessels. Picture: David Creedon The aim is to allow Cork handle much larger cargo ships that cannot be accommodated at Tivoli and Keating said they are already seeing interest in the development pointing to the new weekly ICL service between Cork and the US. "The large ocean-going vessels which we could have never dreamt of accommodating in Tivoli or the Cork city quays will be comfortably handled in Ringaskiddy and will provide further opportunities to grow trade volumes through the port. Keating took up the role in 2002 having served as the City Manager for Limerick and the Assistant City Manager for Cork before that where he worked alongside port officials on major infrastructure projects like the Jack Lynch Tunnel. In the early part of his tenure, the Port of Cork had strong bulk trade because of companies like Irish Steel and IFI. However, competition in roll-on/roll-off ferry traffic, particularly from the east of the country gave them the opportunity to focus on the container lift-on/lift-off traffic. "At the stage, we set out to look for new business and led by the senior executive we secured new customers like Lisheen Mine in Tipperary, we developed the bulk solid business and developed the cruise line terminal in Cobh which attracted 100 visits last year, up from 96 the year before." With port operations moving to the lower harbour the company will also move its headquarters from iconic Custom House to Ringaskiddy. Cork City Council is currently assessing a planning application for a major hotel development on the Custom House site that would see the historic bonded warehouses maintained and refurbished. The move does bring to an end the centuries-old link between the port company and the city but Keating said it is vital that Cork maintains its maritime heritage. "Cork is a port city built around the marshes to accommodate shipping. The history of this port, the merchants who traded in and out of here for so long, The Innisfallen which sailed from the city quays, all of these things are an essential component of the city we are strongly of the view that nothing should be done to compromise that heritage." "The city quays are currently owned by the Port of Cork but in time they will be purchased, I have no doubt by Cork City Council, and that will enable the development of the Docklands area. There are very productive discussions taking place with Cork City Council in that regard." A CGI image from the CMATS plan of the possible LUAS line and bridge between Kent Station and Cork's South Docklands. In relation to maintaining the city's maritime connection, the Port of Cork has concerns about a possible fixed bridge structure between Kent Station and the south docklands that may accommodate a future LUAS-type light rail system for the city. "We are concerned that consideration has been given to a bridge which would not open that's going to prevent smaller cruise vessels coming up into the city and prevent masts coming up and some of the other leisure craft from accessing the city's quays. Such activities enhance a city and anything that would prevent them is a concern." The Cork Container Terminal in Ringaskiddy will also free up close to 160-acres of land at Tivoli that could accommodate up to 4,500 homes and other services. While on course to open next March, the Ringaskiddy terminal has faced setbacks. Most notably when a dispute emerged between the port company and the main contractor Bam Civil who said an arithmetic error meant they omitted 12m in costs. The Port of Cork company took Bam to court to enforce the contract but Keating said despite these difficulties progress is being made. "While there are some issues, it's very satisfying to see Bam working away so well on the site as we speak," he said. "There are mechanisms available to us to resolve the issues which exists between us but these things happen in construction contracts such as this but I am very confident that we will see the project completed and operational by early next year." Other significant changes during Keating's tenure include the merger of the Port of Cork and Bantry Bay something he said has worked out very well. "It was a great opportunity to work in Bantry and the excellent directors there. We have made an investment of about 8.5 million in new facilities and equally by virtue of this investment we have been able to give a better service to the owners of the Whiddy Island oil storage facility which has had a very busy 2020 by virtue of the world market and the need for storage of refined and crude oil products." In 2017 the Port of Cork jointly with Lanber Holdings in Wexford purchased Marino Point and set up Belvelly Marino Development Company. Planning and consultation is currently underway and the site is likely to be used for bulk cargo operations. Developments such as Ringaskiddy and the acquisition of the Marino Point facility can be considered achievements to be proud of but Keating is very quick to pass the praise point to the staff and senior management of the company. Container Ship BG Jade offloading her cargo at Tivoli Docks during the Covid-19 emergency. Picture: David Creedon "I take my hat off to the crews who came into Tivoli and Ringaskiddy to get into the cranes and straddle carriers, who fixed broken-down machinery and made sure that we continued to operate to ensure that the supply lines in and out of the country were maintained. Why wouldn't you be absolutely proud of an organisation of people who do that?" "Equally, in all my work I have been fortunate that we have had very enlightened board of directors. The current chairman, John Mullins a very dynamic man who shows great enthusiasm for everything we do. Before John, we had Dermot O'Mahoney who matched his enthusiasm for the role. "At the Port of Cork, we now have a senior management team that is relatively young and very dynamic I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with them their dedication is unquestionable. Keating's successor is likely to be announced in the coming days and will have to continue to navigate through the Covid global crisis but Keating said it will be a role they should relish. "In a period of over 17 and a half years, there wasn't one day I didn't enjoy coming into work. It is a unique kind of organisation but I've been honoured and privileged to the had the opportunity to be the CEO for such an extended period of time." Bill joined Rinnai America in 2004 when the IT team consisted of one team member and the organization employed less than 50 associates. With the company poised for exponential growth, Bill set upon a mission of growing Rinnai's technology and team to match the pace of the business. In 2008, Bill was promoted to Director of Information Technology, after having directed the expansion of the IT team, choosing and implementing an ERP system, and creating and executing the technology plans for Rinnai's branch office expansion strategies in California, Florida and Texas. In 2018, Bill was promoted to Senior Director of Information Technology, joining the Executive Leadership Team. The projects he led during this time included the technology plans for Rinnai America Manufacturing (RAM) and Rinnai America's new Headquarters, which included, among many upgrades, world-class audio-visual technologies and capabilities. The Rinnai cloud-based technology strategy was also conceived during this time: Any time, any place, any device. In 2019, under Bill's leadership, Rinnai Corporation recognized Rinnai America as the most progressive with regards to IT after a world-wide review of all Rinnai companies. Specifically, Rinnai America was lauded for continually increasing convenience to the staff by advancing technology. "Bill's continuous efforts to leverage advanced technology has been instrumental in facilitating the growth of Rinnai America Corporation," said Frank Windsor, President of Rinnai America Corporation. "Bill has built a team and the infrastructure that will enable our organization to continue to expand in the North American Market." "Rinnai America is a special place to me and my family, and I am fortunate to have been able to contribute, in various ways, to its culture and its exponential growth over the last 16 years," said Sullivan. "I look forward to continuing to help Rinnai America deliver on our promise of Creating a Healthier Way of Living for our associates and their families, our customers, our partners, and our communities." Bill started his career in IT at Cambridge, MA- based Counterpoint Publishing, which pioneered publishing subscription content on CD-ROM and the Internet. Bill also served as Director of IT for Boston-based Molecular, Inc., a digital marketing consulting firm that designed and built Internet-based solutions to help companies increase revenues and decrease operating costs. Bill is an alumnus of Harvard College in Cambridge, MA, where he studied English. He has also completed coursework in Management and Leadership at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and is a certified facilitator in the Partners In Leadership culture management process. Rinnai America Corporation has made significant investments to expand its operations in North America in recent years, including the expansion of its Corporate Headquarters, the opening of a state-of-the-art innovation center, and the opening of its manufacturing facility. The company also recently broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia that is scheduled to open late 2021. To learn more about Rinnai, visit www.rinnai.us. About Rinnai Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and is the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.2 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and Creating A Healthier Way of Living. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us. SOURCE Rinnai America Corporation PARIS: Michel Barnier, the European Unions chief Brexit negotiator, on Wednesday repeated his call for a deal with Britain on future ties by the end of October, after negotiations made little progress last week. If we are to ensure the ratification of a new treaty in a secure way before the end of the year, we need to have an agreement by around Oct. 31," Barnier told a French employers federation conference outside Paris. Barnier and his British counterpart, David Frost, blamed each other for the stalemate last week. London said it believed a deal on post-Brexit relations was still possible. 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 KINGSTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2020 / Delta Resources Limited ("Delta" or "The Company") (TSXV:DLTA)(OTCBB:GOLHF)(Frankfurt:6G01) is pleased to welcome Sara Paquet to its Board of Directors. Frank Candido, Chairman of the Board at Delta commented as follows: "We are thrilled to add Sara Paquet to our Board of Directors. Her international experience and deep knowledge and understanding of the economics of exploration will further enhance our commitment to a well-rounded and independent board and help us to market the exceptional exploration potential at Delta Resources Limited." Ms. Paquet is Global Sales Director at Fordia a division of Epiroc. Epiroc is a leading productivity partner for the mining and infrastructure industries. Epiroc develops and produces equipment, consumables and service for use in surface and underground mining, infrastructure, civil works, and well drilling applications. Previously, her experience included Regional Sales Manager at Hilti, Great Britain which supplies the worldwide construction industry with products, systems and services. Ms. Paquet has global experience in sales, distribution, purchasing, logistics, and human resources with international experience, working in Mexico, France, China and England. Ms. Paquet has a bachelor's degree from UQAM-HEC (Montreal, Canada) in Communications and Management and an MBA from Hult International Business School (Shanghai, Dubai, London). Sara is fluent in English, French & Spanish. The Board of Directors has approved 200,000 incentive stock options exercisable at $0.40 per share to be granted to Ms. Paquet. The options are exercisable for a period of five years in accordance with the terms of Delta's Stock Option Plan and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Delta Resources Limited- AGM 2020 Delta is also pleased to announce that all matters put forward to the shareholders for approval at its 2020 Annual General and Special Meeting ("AGM") held on August 18, 2020 by teleconference were adopted. Story continues At the AGM, the following individuals were elected as the directors of the Company: Frank Candido (Chairman), Andre Tessier (President), Roy Millington and Kevin Heather. The shareholders appointed KPMG as auditors of the Company, re-approved the Company's stock option plan and approved the termination of the Shareholder Rights Plan. About Delta Resources Limited Delta Resources Limited is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on growing shareholder value through the acquisition of high-potential gold and base-metal projects in Canada, exploring these projects with state-of-the-art methods, and potentially developing these projects into mines. Delta is currently exploring its Eureka Gold Discovery in the Thunder Bay area (Delta-1) and its Delta-2 Gold-Polymetallic Property in the Chibougamau Mining District of Quebec. Delta also owns a 100% interest in the Bellechasse-Timmins gold deposit in southeastern Quebec. On July 3rd, 2020, Delta announced the sale of the Bellechasse-Timmins project. The Company continues to focus on building upon its strong portfolio of mineral exploration properties with a high potential for economic discoveries in Canada. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DELTA RESOURCES LIMITED. Andre C. Tessier President, CEO and Director www.deltaresources.ca We seek safe harbor. 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. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein. For Further Information: Delta Resources Limited Andre C. Tessier, CEO and President Tel: 613-328-1581 atessier@deltaresources.ca or Frank Candido, Chairman Tel : 514-969-5530 fcandido@deltaresources.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information Some statements contained in this news release are "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the non-brokered private placement and payment of the debt settlements. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event. SOURCE: Delta Resources Limited View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603237/Delta-Welcomes-Sara-Paquet-to-its-Board-of-Directors Centre plans to acquire land and then give it on lease to miners. In order to ease the coal mining process for the upcoming commercial coal auction, the Centre is mulling to allow land acquisition under the Coal Bearing Areas Act, 1957. This would entail the Centre acquiring land and then giving it on lease to the miners. Speaking at a stakeholders discussion on commercial coal mining held by Ficci, the nominated authority for coal auction said the Centre can only assist, and that it is the miners who need to persuade the state government for land acquisition. "The Centre is thinking on an initiative wherein land acquisition would be allowed under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 and the land could then be given to private miners on lease, said M Nagarau, joint secretary, ministry of coal and nominated authority for commercial coal auction. The Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 provides for the acquisition of land containing, or likely to contain coal deposits and for matters connected therewith. Under the provisions of this Act, the land is acquired for government companies only for coal mining and activities strictly incidental to mining. The Centre had started the coal mine auction for commercial mining and sale by private companies in June. Bidding terms were liberalised to attract foreign players, non-mining entities and large miners. In May, it amended the Coal Mines Special Provisions Act, 2015, to simplify the auction process and attract significant investor interest. Several stakeholders asked the ministry of coal about time duration for getting environment and forest clearance. Secretary, ministry of coal Anil Jain said the blocks have prior environment approval. Environment clearance now takes less time than it used to. "I would like to assure that in the next 6-12 months, time taken to get forest clearance might also get reduced, said Jain. Prabodh Parikh, deputy managing director, SBI however raised several concerns regarding the commercial mining which could prevent lenders in funding the coal mining projects. He said while the Centre has made the terms of commercial auction investor friendly, there are still major questions of the offtake of the coal and thereby the validity of such mining projects. We have seen in large projects like these that forest and environment clearance takes a lot of time. "There have been publicly some concerns on these mines lying in the no-go forest areas, said Parikh. Centre for Science & Environment in its latest report said of the 41 blocks put up for auction, 21 feature in the original No-Go list. The report noted since 2015, of the 49 blocks cleared for coal mining, nine were in No-Go areas. No-Go refers to unfragmented forest landscapes having a gross forest coverage more than 30 per cent and weighted forest coverage more than 10 per cent. Parikh also said as a lender, the biggest concern is regarding the offtake of the coal from these mines. In recent years, there has been a significant push to renewable energy in India. "As a lender I have to be sure that there will be significant long-term demand for coal from these projects, he said. Coal ministry officials said while renewable energy needs to be pushed, demand for coal from several sectors including power, steel and others will continue. Responding to the queries of several investors regarding the final list of coal blocks as some states such as Chhattisgarh are protesting against the auction, the coal ministry officials said the discussion is going on. We are in talks with the Chhattisgarh government regarding the five mines in the state which are part of the commercial auction. We will update the final list soon, said Nagaraju. Several mine bearing states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra have opposed the timing of the commercial coal auction citing the Covid pandemic. The coal ministry earlier dropped one mine from Maharashtra after the state said it falls in tiger-zone. The online auction of coal blocks for commercial mining and sale for private companies will commence in October and final winners declared in November. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters Description GIS 26 August 2020: A United Nations Recovery Fund (UNRF) to the tune of USD 2.5 million was launched, on Monday 24 August 2020, during a ceremony held at the State House, in Reduit. It will support the Government of Mauritius and local communities to minimise the socio-economic and environmental impact following the oil spill which resulted from the grounding of the bulk carrier MV Wakashio at Pointe dEsny. The Recovery Fund was jointly launched by the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun and the 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 UNRF, with seed funds of USD 250,000 from the Regional UN Sustainable Development Group for Eastern and Southern Africa, will gather financial resources as well as technical assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors, private sectors, philanthropists and civil society. These resources will be used to respond to the ecological crisis through a coordinated, coherent and holistic approach. Moreover, it will assist in building local capacities on how to deal with disaster prevention and risk management. It will also aid in backing the livelihoods of the affected communities, amongst other interventions, in order to help the Mauritian Government deal in a timely manner with any similar situation in the future. Government Information Service, Prime Ministers Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: http://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov Workers could lose $300 per week as businesses are offered the power to slash hours in new a huge change proposed to JobKeeper rules, even if they now longer qualify for the scheme. The federal government is looking to continue pandemic-inspired emergency powers and JobKeeper for another six months beyond September 27. Under current rules, workers' wages could not be reduced below the bottom level, which was equivalent to the $1500-a-fortnight wage subsidy. But under rules proposed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Wednesday, these hours could be cut further - even if a company is booted off JobKeeper. 'The measures will provide continued workplace flexibility at a time businesses are still in distress,' Mr Frydenberg said. But unions are concerned that this increased flexibility will mean companies cut workers hours, even if they're no longer on JobKeeper. Workers could be losing $300 per week as businesses have the power to slash hours in new a huge change to JobKeeper laws (pictured, woman wearing a mask in Melbourne on Monday) The federal government is looking to continue pandemic-inspired emergency powers (pictured, shoppers at Carriageworks Farmers Market in Sydney over the weekend) Firms remaining on the scheme will still have the power to change employees' hours, duties or work location. But those booted off JobKeeper will also retain the capacity to change conditions if they prove a ten per cent reduction in turnover compared to the same period last year. The bill extends JobKeeper to March 2021, splits it into a two-tiered system for full-time and part-time workers and outlines what companies can do if they're no longer eligible. Previously, workers could not have their wages dropped to less than $1,500 a fortnight but new changes will drop the figure to $1,200 a fortnight. Under the existing scheme, amendments to the Fair Work Act were introduced in April to assist struggling businesses and help with the implementation of JobKeeper payments. The bill extends JobKeeper to March 2021, splits it into a two-tiered system for full-time and part-time workers and outlines what companies can do if they're no longer eligible Workers could not have their wages dropped to less than $1,500 a fortnight but new changes will drop the figure to $1,200 a fortnight (pictured, women in masks in Melbourne) These changes for employers included the ability to temporarily stand down employees, alter their duties and work locations, and reduce the number of hours worked. If a company can prove its turnover is still down by just ten per cent, they can reduce a workers' hours to 60 per cent of what it was prior to the pandemic. Labor's industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke says workers could therefore lose up to 40 per cent of their wage, which would amount to $300 a week for someone on minimum wage. He wants the government to consider a safety net provision so a worker can't have their hours reduced to the point they're paid below the JobKeeper rate. How are the support payments changing from September? JOBKEEPER * The $1,500 fortnightly wage subsidy will continue until September 27 - covering 3.5million workers * From the end of September to December 31, JobKeeper will be reduced to $1,200 for full-time workers and $750 for people working 20 hours or less - with 1.4million workers eligible * From January to March, the full-time rate will be $1,000 and part-time will reduce to $650 - with the scheme covering 1million workers * Businesses turning over less than $1billion will have to show a 30 per cent drop in revenue in the previous quarter * Businesses with more than $1billion in turnover have to demonstrate a 50 per cent fall JOBSEEKER * The elevated unemployment benefit will remain at $1,100 a fortnight until September 24 * From that date until the end of the year the $550 coronavirus supplement will be cut by $300 to make the overall fortnightly payment $800 * People will be able to earn up to $300 without having their payment reduced * The mutual obligation rules requiring people to search for four jobs a month will restart on August 4 * Penalties for people refusing a job offer will be reintroduced * Job search requirements will increase in September when the assets test will also return Advertisement 'We can't be agreeing to change the industrial relations system to allow people who at this time have been struggling already through the pandemic ... to then face further cuts because the business they work for is doing better,' he told parliament. 'A full-time retail worker, under what's before Parliament right now, could lose $325 a week. Obviously falling well below the current JobKeeper rate,' he said. Extending the program to March takes the total cost of JobKeeper to more than $100 billion. 'The phasing down of the JobKeeper payment will ensure a smooth and gradual transition to economic recovery,' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said as he introduced the bill. Firms remaining on JobKeeper will still have the power to change employees' hours, duties or work location (pictured, a Melbourne Centrelink in March when the pandemic began) Labor's industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke (pictured) says workers could lose up to 40 per cent of their wage, which would amount to $300 a week for someone on minimum wage Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers is worried scores of workers still can't qualify for the scheme, such as casuals and university and aviation staff. The rate of the scheme is up to Mr Frydenberg and Labor hopes he aligns the payments with the current state of the economy. 'We need him to get that right,' Mr Chalmers said. Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said the flexible arrangements had saved hundreds of thousands of jobs during the pandemic. 'The worst possible thing that you can do to a struggling business is to force it to pay staff to do work that doesn't exist because of COVID-19,' he told parliament on Tuesday. Mr Porter said while there were potentially 3.5 million workers covered under the measures, just 667 disputes had been lodged with the Fair Work Commission. He said the system was safeguarded by a test ensuring the employee could not be usefully employed for normal days or hours because of coronavirus-linked issues. Two women shopping at Carriageworks Farmers Market in Sydney over the weekend (pictured) A review of the initial laws found anomalies in the way it operated. Labor will support the legislation even if the party's concerns about employers cutting working hours aren't addressed. The Morrison government plans to cut the wage subsidy from $1,500 to $1,200 a fortnight at the end of September and then to $1,000 from December to March, for full-time workers. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is responsible for setting the rate, meaning that change won't need to be legislated. Labor wants JobKeeper to remain at $1,500 a fortnight for another six months, with Victoria's coronavirus lockdown smashing the national economy. 'We want to make sure that low-paid workers aren't missing out and aren't going to have their already low wages slashed substantially under this legislation,' leader Anthony Albanese told ABC radio. Meanwhile, Tasmanian workers without sick leave will receive access to a $1,500 pandemic leave payment to help them through their 14-day self-isolation. Priceless pieces of Urdu poetry and books on art, literature and history confined to dark corners of private homes and public libraries have found a new home all 1,00,000 of them digitised and ready to access for students, researchers and bibliophiles. The worlds largest repository of Urdu books is the brainchild of Sanjiv Saraf, the man behind Indias first and largest Urdu festival Jashn-e-Rekhta, who took it upon himself to collect and digitise books that were otherwise destined to be lost forever in the ruins of time. Childhood memories of listening to ghazals on vinyl records kindled love for the language. And then, as he grew up, the strong urge to read the masters of Urdu poetry in the original script inspired Saraf to start learning the rasm ul-khat (Urdu script). But to his dismay there were virtually no resources available on the internet, Saraf told PTI. That was eight years ago. The mission that began in 2012 with the love for Urdu poetry culminated in July with the Rekhta Foundation digitising a colossal 1,00,000 books. Saraf, who is based in Delhi and comes from a business family of Rajasthani origin, did all that was expected of an heir-apparent he did his schooling from the Scindia School in Gwalior, graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 1980, joined the family business in 1984, and later established Polyplex Corporation, a multinational business in polyester films. But the old love of listening to ghazals, courtesy his fathers fondness for Urdu shayari, tugged at him. Later, when business got established and was growing well, I stepped back from business to focus on learning Urdu. In the process, I realised there wasnt enough content or resources available on the Internet and what was available was incomplete, non credible and mostly in Urdu script. The younger generation, attracted to the eloquence, beauty and versatility of the language had no easy recourse, Saraf said in an email interview. The initiative began small and soon mushroomed into a massive project that covered not just rare books but also all other forms, including recent books, manuscripts and periodicals that were digitised with the aim of preserving them for posterity. Teams of enthusiastic volunteers were sent to public and private libraries all over the country to look for books and found entire Urdu collections lying forgotten and often neglected. ...as we progressed and as students, scholars and others started benefitting through e-books, whether for study, research or simple reading, we started receiving a welcoming response from the libraries/individuals that we contacted, and they started coming forward to share their holdings, said the businessman-turned-Urdu connoisseur. Terming the initiative extraordinary, Urdu scholar C M Naim said he used the website (www.rekhta.com) almost on a daily basis for one reason or another. I regularly check to see what is new. Im sure the same is done by many enthusiasts of Urdu, in academia or outside, across the world. I have recently been working on crime fiction in Urdu, and was happy to see that the Rekhta archive has managed to find a fair number of these otherwise hard to find books, Naim said. He added that while Rekhta wasnt the first to take up this initiative, it was the one to do it with respect to old books and journals. Naim, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, remembered Carnegie Mellons 2007 Million Book project which also covered Hyderabad and said, Regretfully, it was done in a criminal fashion. ...they freely unbound books in order to scan the pages and then paid little attention to their being rebound properly. The Rekhta project was respectful of the material, and used only the most appropriate ways to achieve their goal. It made their progress slow but they also did not leave behind hundreds of unbound Urdu books lying on the floor as I saw in Hyderabad, Naim recalled. A dedicated team of 53 members works on the ebooks project -- 30 high-end machines in 16 libraries across the country scan and add 2,500 books a month to the digital collection. This unique e-library comprises books on science, arts, religion, history in its different genres, literary journals issued by various institutions and organisations, apart from contemporary books, and classical books that can be searched and sorted by genre, period and author. The collection, running into nearly 19 million pages, includes the lost treasures of Munshi Naval Kishore Press, the complete works of classical poets Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib, all 46 volumes of Persian epic Daastan-e-Amir Hamza, the works of 11th century Persian philosopher Imam Mohammad Ghazali, and 13th century Sufi poet Amir Khusrau as well as the works of obscure poets and scholars. If one wants to read the entire 19 million-page Rekhta stack - without blinking and at a statistical 65 pages an hour rate - it would take 33 years and 36 days! Saraf said. Over 25,000 people visit the e-book section at the Rekhta Foundation website every day, he said. It would be ideal if there could be a public-private coordinated effort and cooperation for digitisation of our literary heritage. However, this is easier said than done. There are a large number of agencies involved and getting everyone on the same page is a herculean effort, he said. In 2015, the Rekhta Foundation started Jashn-e-Rekhta, a festival of the letters and the arts to popularise Urdu. In 2017, it launched Aamozish, an e-learning platform, where over 60,000 people have learnt the language till date. The Rekhta Foundation also launched Sufinama, an online collection of Sufi poetry, in 2019 and Hindwi, a website dedicated to Hindi literature, in July this year. Primarily funded through Polyplex Corporation Ltds CSR commitments and Sarafs personal funds, Rekhta Foundation also receives donations from corporations and friends of Rekhta. However, to be sustainable in the coming years, Rekhta Foundation has been working on models which will make itself self-sustaining through content syndication services, book sales throu gh its marketplace and host of other self-sustaining models without impacting users and their engagement with Rekhta platforms, Saraf added. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, said he has regretted his verbal attack against a Daily Trust reporter, Eyo Charles, in Cross River State. Mr Fani-Kayode, in a Twitter post on Wednesday morning, said, I met with my advisors and I wish to say the following. I hereby withdraw the word stupid which I used in my encounter with a journalist in Calabar. I have many friends in the media who I offended by losing my cool and using such words. I hereby express my regrets for doing so. Mr Fani-Kayode, however, insisted he did not threaten to harm the reporter nor send anyone to threaten him. Anyone that says otherwise is lying and I challenge them to bring the proof, he said. I would never seek to physically harm a journalist. For the last 30 years I have defended and worked with journalists and fought for the right of freedom of expression. I am also very close to many in that profession. I would be the last to seek to disparage those that are honorable and noble within its ranks. I hope that this will assuage the pain and anger of anyone that was hurt or offended by this ugly episode. I have now put this matter behind me and moved on. Now my tour of the South continues. Moving to another state today! Mr Fani-Kayode is captured in a video which has gone viral pouring invective on the Daily Trust reporter, Mr Charles, for asking him a question at a press briefing on Thursday. Mr Fani-Kayode, who was visibly angry, told the reporter he was foolish for asking him who bankrolled his tour of projects in Cross River and other states in the South-south. The briefing, moderated by Governor Ben Ayades spokesperson, Christian Ita, was meant for the former minister to talk to the reporters about his tour. It was attended by reporters from Vanguard, Punch, NAN, AIT, and other media houses. I could see from your face before you got here, how stupid you are. Dont ever talk to me like that, Mr Fani-Kayode kept yelling at the reporter who was still standing and apologising I am sorry, sir. Dont judge me by your own standards, the former minister kept saying. I have been in politics since 1990. I am not one of those politicians that you think will just come. I was taken, I have been locked up how many times by this government. I have been prosecuted, unlike most of these politicians you follow for brown envelopes! Dont ever judge me by that standard. I spend, I dont take and I am not a poor man, I have never been and will never be. Several people and groups, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, have condemned Mr Fani-Kayodes attack on the reporter. The NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo, said in a statement, Tuesday, that Mr Fani-Kayodes attack against Mr Charles was gangster-like. Mr Isiguzo said the reporter was only asking a simple question. For him to have embarked on assessment of projects in some states, even though we are yet to be told under what platform, he is doing so, it is proper for the media to hold him to account for his actions and decisions, Mr Isiguzo said. Mr Isiguzo said the former ministers reaction to the reporters question was against simple decorum and civility and, therefore, unacceptable, dishonourable and reprehensible. He demanded a retraction from him. By delving into politics and holding political office, Fani Kayode is very conversant with the watchdog role of the media. We are more shocked that the same Kayode who had in recent times, used his social media handles to call leaders to account is at the same time attacking a journalist for a simple demand for him to unmask those behind his nationwide tour. He had already visited six states. This is indeed, terribly disappointing, the NUJ president said. Advertisements By denigrating the journalist, Fani Kayode has exposed himself the more as an intolerant and unstable person who will not want his activities closely scrutinised by the media. Daily Trust newspaper issued a statement on Tuesday, condemning the former ministers action. "It was a freak accident, just a freak accident," Carsten Kiefer said. A veteran of other alligator hunts, Kiefer shared a photo of an 11-foot gator he and his friends caught early last week. He never dreamed that while hunting at Lake Jesup in Seminole County, Florida, last Thursday he'd end up in an alligator's jaws. "Every now and then you get gators that are crazy, and we happened to be in a very shallow part of the lake. He was able to get ground and launch himself out of the water and doing that I kind of lost balance, and he came flying up so he could get a hold of my arm," Kiefer said. "It's below the elbow, a partial amputation." A 911 call brought much needed help. "Once I heard the crunching, and I saw the lower part of my arm pretty much get amputated. That scared me, that's it, that's the end of my life as I know it," Kiefer said. Kiefer, who is also a paramedic, says he was lucky he had another paramedic on board. "My friend did everything by the book, tore his belt off, made a tourniquet," Kiefer said. "It was terrifying in the moment. Luckily my buddy who was there did everything right that he could possibly do." Kiefer said he had six hours of surgery Thursday and a follow-up procedure Monday. "I'm very blessed and I've been working with some of the best reconstructive surgeons I can wish for," Kiefer said. "I have movement in all my fingers, and I do have sensation as well." Fish and Wildlife officials hired a trapper to remove the 12-foot gator, but it has not yet been captured. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. In the early afternoon on a particularly scorching day last week, census advocates walked door-to-door in Boyle Heights, distributing hundreds of flyers with information about this year's decennial count. Earlier this month, when the Trump administration suddenly decided to cut the 2020 census short, this sort of in-person outreach took on an extra layer of urgency. Instead of ending Oct. 31 as had been planned, the counting phase of the census is now set to end Sept. 30. "It's like a battle," said Roberto Bustillo, co-director with Proyecto Pastoral, a local community group working on civic engagement and education in Boyle Heights. After a quick check-in at the King Taco on Cesar Chavez Ave. and Soto Street, Bustillo led the group of volunteers from Proyecto Pastoral around the surrounding neighborhood. These community canvassers are completely independent from the Census Bureau, but still feel the pressure of the time crunch. "We had to speed up because we had to ensure that everybody participates," Bustillo said. Prior to the deadline change, Proyecto Pastoral's census awareness campaign was mostly remote, employing text and phone banking, to protect volunteers from potentially catching or spreading COVID-19. Already one of Bustillo's co-workers recently became ill and tested positive. But with less time available, Bustillo believes being visible in the community and preparing residents for a potential visit from a federal enumerator is worth any risk they may face. They go out wearing masks and keep their distance from people they encounter. They can't stop canvassing, he said, because the stakes are too high. CENSUS TRACT 2042 The particular Boyle Heights census tract they were focusing on that afternoon is officially numbered 2042. It has been historically undercounted. Ninety-seven percent of the community there is Latino. Most residents are renters, and few have broadband access. So far this year, only 40% of households in this tract have responded to the census on their own --meaning thousands of dollars for local community clinics and schools could go unclaimed. Census advocates Itzel Flores Castillo Wang and Roberto Bustillo walk down Cesar Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights distributing information about the 2020 count. (Caroline Champlin/LAist) Two weeks ago, official census enumerators also started making door-to-door visits in L.A. County. Kathi Cervantes, another program director with Proyecto Pastoral, said community advocates like her may have an easier time connecting with residents before a federal enumerator shows up at the door. "We look like we're from here, so we look like you can trust us," Cervantes said, who actually is from the neighborhood: While out that day, Cervantes was assigned to canvas in the same apartment building where she grew up. Like Bustillo, Cervantes feels the pressure of the new deadline, describing it as a race against the clock. "That's why we're here, and it's hot, and we're still doing this. Like, the clock is ticking!" Cervantes said. Ideally, she said, she'd like to see the count deadline extended until next year to make up for delays caused by COVID-19. Earlier this year the deadline had been extended to help make up for pandemic-related delays from July 31 to Oct. 31, until it was suddenly changed this month. Some researchers and even census officials have called the current timeline for the count impossible. WHERE L.A. STANDS At this point, it's highly unlikely the deadline for enumeration could be delayed to next year, but the city of Los Angeles is in a legal fight for a more modest extension. A lawsuit filed by L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer and several non-profits earlier this month asks a U.S. district judge in Northern California to force the Census Bureau to return to the previously planned schedule, and end the count on October 31. At a press conference last week, Feuer said half of Angelenos live in neighborhoods labeled "hard to count" by the state, and the shortened time frame will lead to an undercount that disproportionately cuts resources for people in these communities. "We know that the 'rush plan' will fall particularly hard on communities of color," Feuer said. This week, that lawsuit was modified slightly. The plaintiffs are now asking for a preliminary injunction against the Census Bureau's changes. Avianna Uribe, manager of census outreach for the L.A. County's CEO's office and partner with the state's census office, agrees that the recent deadline change is a problem. City and county offices had been publicizing an end date for the count that now abruptly needs to be corrected, she said. And community partners, like Proyecto Pastoral, suddenly needed to ramp up in-person canvassing to reach hard-to-count communities. "So by cutting that period short, we're cutting the opportunity to reach those families," said Uribe, who described the news of the deadline change as "pretty devastating." "I wouldn't be surprised if there's an undercount," she added. Still, Uribe is trying to be optimistic. She said in the past few weeks, there have been some modest increases in census participation across the county. She's hopeful the U.S. Census Bureau will find a way to reach the 45% of households in the city of Los Angeles that haven't responded to the questionnaire yet. But Uribe said she's still unclear on what the agency's strategy is for reaching those residents. "My biggest question, and our concern here is, how is the Census Bureau going to carry that work out?" Uribe said. She said the county office has tried to ask the federal agency which neighborhoods would be prioritized for house visits. "We thought it could be helpful by priming our residents, to tell them what to expect, so they weren't caught off guard," Uribe said. "But they weren't able to tell us the specific areas." LAist reached out to the Census Bureau with the same questions: Which LA neighborhoods are being prioritized? What is the strategy for counting L.A.? The bureau responded in an email without those details, simply stating that according to the U.S. Constitution, all census tracts must be counted. HAVE A CENSUS QUESTION? Officers Wife Dies While Trapped in Rear of Sweltering Police SUV: Police The wife of a Florida police officer died Friday after she was trapped in the backseat of a police-issued vehicle for several hours in sweltering temperatures. Clara Paulino died Friday after she became trapped in the SUV outside Miami Shores. She is the wife of officer Aristides Paulino, said Matthew Reyes, the vice president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, according to local reports. Reyes said the SUV has a cage that separates the back seat from the front seat. It also has bars on the windows. Temperatures on Monday reached above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Horrible, horrible, horrible, imagine someone, that happening to someone, neighbor Daphne Steward said. She loved her family and her children and I believe its just an unfortunate situation. Clara Paulino had climbed into the backseat of the SUV to look for something when the doors closed, triggering a self-locking mechanism, said officials, according to The Associated Press. The case is being investigated by the Miami-Dade Police Department. Its very preliminary, a police spokesman, Lt. Carlos Rosario, told the Tampa Bay Times. Theres still a lot of work to be done. But right now, its an unclassified death. Thats standard option with most law enforcement vehicles so that a detainee cant get out of the back of the vehicle, said Stephen Mitchell, the general services bureau director for the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, according to the paper. You have to lift the handle from the outside. Their son, also named Aristides, told the paper that the family doesnt want to speak about her death. We havent even buried her yet and its a lot [of] pain, he said. Hong Kong residents wishing to escape months of protest-related violence and tear gas, or fleeing potential persecution under China's "national security" crackdown on dissent in the city, are increasingly viewing the U.K. as a safe haven. Once dismissed by many in Hong Kong as not worth the hassle of applying for it, the U.K.'s British National Overseas (BNO) passport -- under a recent change in immigration rules -- now offers some three million Hongkongers a longer visa-free residency and a pathway to eventual citizenship. The U.K. changed the rules in response to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s imposition of a draconian National Security Law for Hong Kong banning words or deeds deemed to be secessionist, subversive, or involving terrorism or collusion with foreign powers. The law, which was imposed by decree, bypassing the city's Legislative Council (LegCo), criminalizes anyone holding a protest banner or speaking out against the loss of Hong Kong's promised freedoms, anywhere in the world. One of the emigrants, identified here only by the letters YM, said she had been on tenterhooks when she left Hong Kong International Airport on Aug. 5, for fear she and her family would be stopped at the border. "We were on a British Airways flight that day, and at the boarding gate we saw several police officers in plain clothes, all wearing police badges, keeping a close eye on the people boarding the plane, and I was worried that we might be stopped from leaving the country," YM told RFA in a recent interview. After waiting in line on arrival in London, they were relieved to receive their six-month residency permits. Several other families and young people from Hong Kong stood in line with them, YM recalled. YM left behind her a good job in marketing, family property, and a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle. But she said witnessing the extent of police violence against mostly unarmed protesters last year had changed her mind about the city she called home, and prompted her to renew her long-expired BNO passport "for a rainy day." That rainy day was soon to arrive in the form of China's national security law, which took effect in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020. Change in the rules Under new immigration rules announced by U.K. foreign secretary Dominic Raab soon afterwards, BNO passport holders and their immediate family were granted the right to extend their residency in the country, previously limited to six months, for the five years necessary to qualify for citizenship. YM and her family are now living in short-term rented accommodation in Liverpool on savings that should last them about a year, and are permitted to work, although she expects to have to take up low-paid jobs at first to make ends meet. But she said the move was worth it to enjoy freedom. "You don't have to worry about being arrested for singing a song, here," YM said. "You don't have to think about that, you don't have anyone trying to control your thoughts; you don't have to be afraid of being arrested just for saying something." Hong Kong resident Si-kei, also a pseudonym, said she is also planning to leave her home city after witnessing violence, including mob attacks on train passengers in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019, by attacks on passengers by riot police at Prince Edward MTR on Aug. 31 that year, and by riot police sieges of the campuses of Polytechnic University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong later in the fall. "I was worried that I would be one step too late and have to stay [in Hong Kong] forever," Si-kei told RFA. "I was also worried about whether I would be able to find a job, whether I would be discriminated against, and many other aspects of emigrating." She eventually settled on the BNO route to British citizenship as her escape route, partly due to cultural familiarity from growing up in colonial-era Hong Kong. She and her family are planning to leave soon, as they are worried that the rules could change and leave them stranded. When they do, they will likely exit the city on their China-issued Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports to avoid trouble at the border. Hundreds of people lined up in Hong Kong to apply for BNO passports ahead of the 1997 handover to Chinese rule, and similar scenes were replayed ahead of the national security law. Still, only 10 percent of the 2.9 million Hong Kong residents eligible for the passport have current passports issued to them, according to government figures. A valuable asset A manager at immigration consultants UK Connect HK surnamed Chan said the BNO has suddenly become a valuable asset in a city where it was once the butt of jokes suggesting its usefulness as a doorstop or table wedge. "It's exactly the same as during the wave of applications for BNO passports [in 1997]," Chan said. "[Except that this time], most of my clients have lost or mislaid their BNO passports." Chan said he has received around 300 people enquiring about BNO renewals in the past month, and has so far successfully renewed the passports of around 80 clients. He says passport renewals are likely to peak next month after the U.K. steps up production to meet demand. As well as the BNO, younger Hong Kong residents are already taking advantage of working holiday visas under the Youth Mobility Scheme. "Sonia," a former reporter with a Hong Kong travel magazine, first headed out to the U.K. in November 2019, taking a job in a backpackers' hostel bar, which fired her for not knowing how to serve drinks correctly. Later, she landed a job in IT, and makes a similar amount to her salary back in Hong Kong, and frequently posts videos to Facebook about her new life in the U.K. Photographer "Kyle" also joined the working holiday scheme, and was struck by a change in his parents' attitude on a trip back home this summer. "[My parents told me] not to say anything stupid while I was out and about," he said, recalling his sharp sense of fear at the sight of plainclothes police officers stationed at the airport, watching everyone who left the city. "Even in Hong Kong, the police were searching the contents of people's mobile phones before they could board a plane," he told RFA. "When I looked at one of the police officers, he started looking at me, but I don't know how much surveillance was going on." Reported by Tam Siu-yin for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. California health officials have required COVID-19 testing of residents and employees at nursing homes, such as this one in Reseda, but have not provided comprehensive testing to their own inspectors who regularly visit the facilities. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) A month after Gov. Gavin Newsom promised an aggressive program to test nursing home inspectors for the deadly coronavirus, at least 60% still have not been tested, state health officials acknowledged. Newsom ordered the testing in late July after a Los Angeles Times investigation found that, since the beginning of the pandemic, state health officials had been sending inspectors from nursing home to nursing home many of which had raging outbreaks without testing those inspectors to make sure they were not spreading the virus themselves. The testing program itself has been sharply criticized by some inspectors, who say it's an informal and disorganized process with little supervision or clear protocols: They're sent for do-it-yourself drive-through testing at Rite Aid. They are not required to quarantine during the long waits for the results. And some inspectors say they haven't shared the results with the department because they don't know how to. Nursing homes, with their concentrated populations of vulnerable people, have suffered a disproportionate share of death and illness as the virus has spread across the country. In California, more than 40,000 nursing home residents and employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 4,000 have died of the disease. Since the start of the pandemic, state health officials have barred friends and family from visiting nursing homes, meaning thousands of residents have died without a final embrace from their loved ones. Since May, nursing home employees have been required to undergo an aggressive testing regime all had to get a baseline test to begin with, and they have to get follow-up tests at least once a month for surveillance. Those drastic measures are designed to prevent someone from picking up the virus outside a home and then inadvertently bringing it in, potentially sparking a lethal outbreak. But while all of that was occurring, state officials failed to test the very inspectors responsible for ensuring infection-control procedures were being followed, even though many of those inspectors are exposed to the virus on a near-daily basis. Story continues For them to send us in without testing or screening is unconscionable, an inspector in Southern California told The Times last month. I think nursing homes shouldnt let us in. As of Monday, a month after Newsom's order, state officials had only received test results from 136 of the approximately 500 inspectors who visit nursing homes across the state. None had tested positive, according to Mark Smith, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health. On Tuesday, Smith said the number had climbed to 200 completed tests with one positive. That one positive test result was received by the department on Aug. 21, and the employee had last visited a state office or health facility on Aug. 12, Smith said. "Additionally, the employee did not come into close contact with any other CDPH staff," Smith said. The deadline to complete the first round of baseline testing for all state inspectors is Aug. 31, Smith said. Officials at the L.A. County Department of Public Health, which has about 180 of its own nursing home inspectors, refused to say how many have been tested. "There's no sense of urgency," said Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood), who has become an outspoken critic of state health officials for what he considers a dangerously lethargic response to the COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes. During a hearing at the state Capitol on Aug. 17, Nazarian accused the state health department's deputy director, Heidi Steinecker, of being "elusive" when legislators pressed for specifics about her agency's handling of the pandemic. "Honestly, I sometimes feel, with your calm and measured responses, not much keeps you up at night," he told her. Nazarian also complained that Steinecker's department had not set up a separate, designated system for testing nursing home inspectors, instead sending them off to seek testing from pharmacies or their own doctors like members of the general public. Inspectors interviewed by The Times in the last week said that is precisely what is happening. After Newsom's vow to provide testing, inspectors said they were instructed to set up their own appointments at Rite Aid. One inspector in the Central Valley, who asked that her name not be used for fear of retaliation, said she got her test in mid-August and waited six days for the result. Instead of being quarantined while she waited, she said she was sent the next day to inspect a home with dozens of known COVID-19 cases. "It was so important to [CDPH administrators] that I get that COVID test so I could be sent out and they could say Id had my test, even though I didn't have the result," the inspector said. Some nursing home officials have objected to being forced to allow untested state inspectors into their facilities. Inspectors are not required to quarantine while awaiting their results as long as they don't have symptoms and wear proper protective equipment while inside nursing homes, Smith said. The inspector and two colleagues spent four days inside the stricken facility, she said, during which time dozens more residents tested positive. Nearly 80% of the residents had COVID-19, she said. "It was a mess," the inspector said. The facility's air conditioning had gone out so, "they had fans blowing dirty air all over the place." On top of everything else, the inspector said, her medical-grade N95 face mask didn't fit properly the whole time she was in the facility. The day she and her colleagues finished the inspection at the stricken facility, the inspector said she got the result from the test she had taken a week earlier. It was negative, but that doesn't mean much anymore, she said. "I did not have [COVID-19] when I got tested. Do I have it now? I dont know," she said. When she asked state health administrators what to do, she said they did not offer to test her again at Rite Aid at the department's expense. Instead, they suggested she go to her primary care physician. Her primary care physician refused to test her because she didn't have symptoms, adding that if she thought she was exposed at work, it was up to her employer to test her. "It's just a big runaround," the inspector said. For the last week, instead of quarantining, the inspector said she and her colleagues have been working from their district office. But all three are scheduled to resume visiting nursing homes in the coming days, without having been retested. Another inspector in Southern California, who also asked that her name not be used for fear of retaliation, said she followed the department's instructions and went to a drive-through testing site at a Rite Aid, which she described as, "pretty much do-it-yourself." The pharmacist handed her a test kit while she sat in her car and then watched her put the swab up her own nose. "He kept saying, 'higher, higher, higher.' I'm like, no, it's already in my brain!" A co-worker told her the pharmacist who handed over her test didn't even bother to watch. The inspector said she has not reported her results to the state health department and has received no instructions on how to do so. Other inspectors said they were instructed to email the results to a department email address set up to receive them. Sending health inspectors out to get tested like the general public, with no clear procedures for reporting the results, is no substitute for setting up a dedicated testing system with more immediate access to results, according to Nazarian. "That doesn't cut it," he said, "Telling state employees to go get tested with the general public, thats not a standard. Thats mediocrity at best." For the first time in 71 years, the Poteet Strawberry Festival has been canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The festival celebrating the bright-red fruit had been postponed from its original dates in April. The plans for it to take place Oct. 30-Nov. 1 were scrapped, becoming one of the many festivals around the world that have been called off. Offer a personal message of sympathy... You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each obituary notice. By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. . From a Guest Book, you may log in with your Google, Facebook, Yahoo or AOL account to leave a message. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that. Otherwise, it's simple to create a new one by clicking on the Create "Sign up" button and following the simple steps on the Sign Up page. Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would make the COVID-19 vaccine as mandatory as possible. He then walked back the statement, but not before creating a furore. With Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews looking to extend his states emergency status, its clear policymakers see the vaccine ending the need for tight restrictions. Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with team member Savannah Alegre, Specialist Team Lead of the Microbiology Laboratory at AstraZeneca Credit:Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images Yet for real life to resume, the vaccine has to go into arms. This underpins the Prime Ministers statement, which was ill-advised because there are many things governments should do before considering mandatory vaccination. A woman sentenced to six months in jail for dodging border control measures to get into Western Australia during the coronavirus lockdown plans to fight the penalty. Asher Faye Vander Sanden, 28, was handed a six month sentence after pleading guilty to breaching the Emergency Management Act. Police spent 10 days trying to track her down after she was granted permission ot enter the state but did not arrive on a plane as planned. Asher Faye Vander Sanden, 28, (pictured) was handed a six month jail sentence after pleading guilty to breaching the Emergency Management Act Instead the 28-year-old had snuck across the border in the back of a truck in order to avoid the mandatory two weeks in quarantine and the resultant $2,500 cost. Vander Sanden's lawyer, John Hammond, told the Perth Magistrates Court the penalty was too severe. He argued while she had a criminal record, it was related to a past 'meth habit' which was no longer an issue. The 28-year-old (pictured right) pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with a direction of the Emergency Management Act and was on Tuesday sentenced to six months behind bars Mr Hammond is preparing legal documentation to appeal the sentence, alongside an application for her immediate release. During the sentencing on Tuesday, magistrate Andrew Matthews told Vander Sanden her actions had the potential to undo 'what this government has done to prevent community spread', The West Australian reported. She crossed the state border in the back of a truck after arranging it with a truck driver she met in Mildura on July 31. The court heard she hid in a car that was being transported by the truck and did not declare herself at Eucla near the border of South and Western Australia. The court heard she hid in a car that was being transported by the truck and did not declare herself at Eucla near the border of South and Western Australia (Pictured: officers conduct patrols at the SA border) When she failed to arrive at Perth Airport as expected on August 11, police immediately commenced an investigation. Police were aware of her arrival into the state but Vander Sanden refused to quarantine as instead she contacted her boyfriend who picked her up from a petrol station in Midland. They went back to his Scarborough home where the 28-year-old claims to have self-quarantined. Police prosecutors told the court they were searching for Vander Sanden but she was deliberately hiding from them. She was eventually arrested at her boyfriend's home on August 11 and has been in custody at Bandyup Prison ever since. The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on a plea by JNU student Sharjeel Imam, seeking to club all FIRs filed against him for his alleged offences of sedition and hate speech during the anti-CAA protests in Delhi. The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on a plea by JNU student Sharjeel Imam, seeking to club all FIRs filed against him for his alleged offences of sedition and hate speech during the anti-CAA protests in Delhi. A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan adjourned the matter for two weeks after Imams counsel sought time to file additional documents in the case. Further developments have happened. We have to inspect court files but due to closure of courts, we have not been able to do that. Chargesheets have been filed in matters that are connected to our case. We need to inspect court files but courts are not allowing us to do so due to lockdown, Imams counsel told the court. Earlier, the top court had sought response from Assam, Manipur, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh on Imams plea. In his plea, Imam has also sought transfer of all criminal cases against him to the national capital and probe by a single agency.The plea said that five FIRs have been registered against him in different states in connection with two speeches given in Delhi and in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. It said FIRs are lodged against Imam in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and he has been booked under sedition charges. ALSO READ : COVID-19: Thawar Chand Gehlot to launch Kiran mental health rehabilitation helpline number Imam has been booked for his alleged role in violence at Jamia Millia Islamia University in the aftermath of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Aside from sedition (section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code) and hate speech (section 153A), Imam was booked under section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a law aimed at punishing those involved in terrorism and activities intended to bring about the secession of any part of the country. Imam, in a speech delivered at Aligarh Muslim University on January 16, had said Assam should be cut off from the rest of the country but he later clarified he was calling for blocking roads leading to Assam as part of protests against CAA. ALSO READ : RBI has confirmed what Ive been warning for months: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi 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 (CPPCC) National Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the 13th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 25, 2020. The National Committee of CPPCC, China's top political advisory body, on Tuesday opened its 13th Standing Committee session on economic and social planning for the next five years. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, on Tuesday opened its 13th Standing Committee session on economic and social planning for the next five years. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening meeting. State Councilor Wang Yong pointed out while delivering a report at the meeting that goals and tasks should be meticulously set for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development. A holistic and coordinated approach should be adopted, with a focus on key areas, weak links and major challenges, he said. Zhang Qingli, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, who presided over the meeting, asked political advisors to pool their wisdom and offer constructive proposals for the plan. During the session, political advisors will hold discussions on a range of topics including high-quality economic growth, rural vitalization, ecological conservation, innovation-driven development, and people's livelihood. RYAN OCONNELL would like you to know that he is tired and pissed off and horny. He is tired of waiting for what he calls our Transparent moment (some of his fellow actors call it, instead, our Pose moment), by which he means a single piece of breakthrough pop culture that makes people aware of a heretofore ignored and stereotyped minority, a prizewinning, noisemaking event that kicks open the door to mainstream omnipresence and ultimately to normalization. He is pissed off that it hasnt happened yet. I think about this a lot, he says. Why, in this woke-ass culture that we live in, where so much attention is given to marginalized populations, do people with disabilities still largely go ignored? The actor, who has cerebral palsy, is also, he says, horny for representation that comes from actual disabled people, because we live in a dark hellscape of a capitalist country. Real power can only be accrued through opportunities, and you need to be given the keys to tell your own story. OConnell is more cheerful well, somewhat more cheerful than that makes him sound. At 33, he is the star of a short-form Netflix series called Special that, when I spoke to him in February, was filming its second season (now halted because of the Covid-19 pandemic). The first garnered four Emmy nominations, including two for OConnell, who is the shows creator as well as its leading man. Special is an alternately gentle, introspective and raunchy comedy series about the personal, social and sexual emergence of a young Angeleno who, like OConnell, is both gay and disabled. When he first started working in writers rooms on other television shows, OConnell, whose visible symptoms are mild, kept his condition quiet; he only came out of the disabled closet five years ago, when he published a memoir, Im Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves, which inspired his series. Episodes of Special run only about 15 minutes; its hard not to think of Chris Rocks Afro-radical 90s-era Saturday Night Live character Nat X, who complained that his late-night series had to be short form cause if the man gave me any more, he would consider that welfare! OConnell, who talks in exuberant bursts punctuated by droll profanity, doesnt want anyones charity. He wants action. Hollywood is super horny for profiting off the stories of marginalized people without giving them actual opportunities, he says. Like all of the performers with disabilities I interviewed for this story, he keeps track, almost without thinking about it, of what he sees: the successes, the milestones and also the blunders to which the abled world is prone. When he watched this years Oscars, he noted the audiences reaction when the 35-year-old actor Zack Gottsagen, who starred in the 2019 indie hit The Peanut Butter Falcon and who has Down syndrome, presented an award. He says a sentence, and people clap as if that should be something revolutionary, like, Yes, good for you, you said four words! Hes a [droll profanity] adult! He can talk! Stop infantilizing him! OConnell takes a breath, slows his tempo and slides one octave down. I dont think that Hollywood is some malicious devil being like, Keep them out! Keep them out! But I want to see the needle move. A white woman is facing felony child abuse charges after police say she slapped an 11-year-old black child and called him a racist slur after his go-kart bumped hers at a Florida amusement park. Cops say Haley Zager, 30, and the boy were driving go-karts at the Boomers amusement park in Boca Raton Saturday night when they accidentally collided. Zager allegedly confronted the child after the ride and, in the presence of three Boomers employees, slapped him in the face, using a racist slur to justify the strike to bystanders. Boca Raton police say they also found a metal Altoids tin full of various pills in her underwear. Haley Zager, 30, is charged with second-degree child abuse and four counts of drug possession for the prescription pills after she allegedly slapped an 11-year-old black boy in the face and called him a racial slur for crashing into the back of her cart following a go-kart race She has been charged with second-degree child abuse and four counts of drug possession for the prescription pills. Court records say Zager admitted to officers that she struck the child, who had a swollen eye, but denied using the slur. She told police she had stopped at the end of the race when another cart rear-ended her 'at full speed'. Zager claimed she went to the child's cart and when he didn't apologize, she 'tapped' him in the face. She told police that she should not have hit the child, according to the Sun Sentinel. The police reports add, however, that after she slapped the boy, she told an employee 'that f****** n**** hit me in the back'. Another boy, also 11, who witnessed the incident said he saw Zager get out of her own cart, slap the boy with an open palm and tell a bystander 'the n***** hit me. The n***** hit me'. The boy's father told police that his son had crashed into the woman because another cart had rammed into a line of them, starting off a chain of collisions. The young boy also said that he was pushed into Zager's cart by another. He told police that he did not remember if she used a racial slur while talking to him. The boy stated he didn't remember what she said as he was still processing that she had slapped him. Police say the boy's left cheek was swollen and Boca Raton Fire-Rescue paramedics gave him an ice pack. The pills were found in Zager's underwear after a female officer searched her. The incident happened at Boomers amusement park on Boca Raton, pictured. The park has now offered the young boy a free day there after the incident Zager was released on her own recognizance Monday. Circuit Judge Ted Booras allowed her to do so during a court appearance Sunday, adding that she must be supervised. According to the Sun Sentinel, she previously faced felony charges in Palm Beach County for an aggravated domestic battery case in 2018 but prosecutors did not pursue the charges. Boomers has invited the young victim back for a free day in the park following the incident. 'At Boomers parks, we value being a family fun center inclusive to guests of all backgrounds. We are saddened that one of our guests did not possess these same values and we do not condone physical or verbal abuse amongst guests,' the park said in a statement to the Palm Beach Post. 'We are appreciative of our staff and the police and fire rescue officers who acted swiftly to diffuse the situation.' Culminating its probe into a fatal terror attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead in South Kashmir last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet here on Tuesday against 19 people including Masood Azhar, the chief of banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, for planning the suicide operation. Giving details of the chargesheet, NIA spokesperson Sonia Narang, who is also serving as Deputy Inspector General in the agency, said the chargesheet marks the culmination of a year-and-a-half long "painstaking and meticulous" investigation with valuable inputs received from other central and state government agencies as well as foreign law-enforcement agencies. "A lot of digital, forensic, documentary and oral evidence establishing a fool-proof case against the accused for this dastardly and barbaric attack has been collected. The charge sheet has brought on record the all-out involvement of Pakistan-based entities to carry out terrorist strikes in India and to incite and provoke Kashmiri youth," she said. The 13,500-page chargesheet names Masood Azhar, his brothers Abdul Rauf and Ammar Alvi, and his nephew Mohammed Umer Farooq who had infiltrated into India in April 2018 and was subsequently killed in one of the encounters in South Kashmir. Besides Azhar's brothers, the NIA named Sameer Dar and Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo, both residents of Pulwama in South Kashmir, and Mohd Ismail, a Pakistani national, as absconders in its chargesheet and secured non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against all six from the special court here. "NBWs have been issued against the absconding accused and further investigation in the case is continued," Narang said. Leading the investigation into the "blind case", as seven accused wanted in it were killed in different encounters in 2019, a team led by joint director of NIA Anil Shukla gathered evidences and statements of terrorists and their sympathisers arrested in different cases in order to expose the conspiracy hatched for executing the audacious attack on the para-military convoy, officials said. According to the chargesheet, the suicide attack was the result of a well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by Pakistan-based leadership of terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad. Terming Masood Azhar's nephew as the main conspirator, the NIA said Farooq visited Afghanistan for explosives training in 2016-17 and infiltrated into India through the International Border at Jammu-Samba Sector in April, 2018. He took over as JeM Commander of Pulwama. Farooq along with his Pakistani compatriots Mohd. Kamran, Mohd. Ismail alias Saifullah and Qari Yasir and local associates Sameer Dar and Adil Ahmad Dar planned and prepared for the attack on security forces using IEDs. The other accused -- Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan, Peer Tariq Ahmad Shah and Bilal Ahmad Kuchey -- provided all logistics and harboured the JeM terrorists in their houses. From December, 2018 onwards, Bashir started doing reconnaissance of the movement and deployment of security forces on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while another accused Mudasir Ahmad Khan started arranging Gelatin sticks and handed them over to him. RDX was brought by the Pakistani terrorists who infiltrated into India. Bashir collected the explosive material like Aluminium powder and Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate and stocked them at his house for making the IED. In January last year, Sajjad Ahmad Bhat purchased a Maruti EECO car, for the purpose of carrying out the IED attack, which was kept in the front-yard of Bashir's house. This case also brings to light the use of e-commerce platforms by the planners in the terror module for purchase of high-end batteries, phones and some chemicals. The chargesheet said Waiz-Ul-Islam, arrested from Srinagar, ordered four kgs of Aluminium powder from his Amazon account on the directions of accused Mohd. Ismail and gave the same to him. The video clip of the suicide bomber Adil Ahmed Dar was finished by January end last year as the terrorists were planning to carry out the attack on security forces in the first week of February but had to shelve it following closure of the national highway due to snow. The vehicle was fitted with two IED containers -- 160 kgs and 40 kgs -- comprising an explosive cocktail of RDX, Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate, Gelatin Sticks and Aluminium powder. On resumption of traffic, Shakir Bashir drove Dar till the National Highway, after which the suicide bomber took charge of the vehicle and drove on, carrying out the suicide attack by ramming the car laden with 200 Kgs of high-grade explosives into a bus of the CRPF convoy, "resulting in 40 CRPF personnel getting martyred and damage to the tune of Rs.32,90,719 to public property." The investigation has revealed that the Pakistan-based JeM leadership consisting of Masood Azhar, Rouf Asgar and Ammar Alvi were continuously giving directions and guidance to the Pakistani JeM terrorists who had infiltrated into India both before and after the attack. They had also planned to carry out another suicide attack which got averted due to Balakot strikes and due to the killing of the main conspirator Mohd. Umar Farooq by the security forces. Further, due to international pressure, Pakistan lied low, the probe agency said. The probe also showed "a well-crafted mechanism by Pakistani establishment to push terrorists into the Indian territory from the launch pads located in Shakargarh (Pakistan) opposite Samba-Kathua Sector in Jammu." In 2016 the LGBTQ community lost a champion and a pioneer when Alexis Arquette, a member of the mythical Arquette clan passed away. Advertisement Transgender pioneer Alexis Arquette passed away in 2016 at the age of 47. and was survived by her famous siblings, Rosanna Arquette, Patricia Arquette, David Arquette, and Richmond Arquette. Alexis was the 4th of the five Arquette siblings, and like her brothers and sisters, inherited the family acting talent and good looks. Alexis started her transition surgeries in 2006 and defined herself as female Alexis Arquette with siblings David Arquette, and Patricia Arquette | Source: Getty Images Advertisement BORN A BOY Alexis was born Robert Arquette, and shared the story of the journey to becoming a woman in the film "Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother." At the time Alexis decided to transition, there were few roles in cinema for transgender actors, other than spoofs but the actress always refused to demean herself or her gender. Advertisement DEBUT IN CINEMA Alexis debuted on the big screen at 17 in "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" starring Richard Dreyfuss, and Nick Nolte as a friend of the family's androgynous teen. He was credited as Alexis, which would be her screen name. Advertisement From the beginning, Alexis was extremely active in the LGBTQ community and grew more concerned as the AIDS epidemic erupted in the 80s. Her prestige as an actress grew thanks to her work in such acclaimed films as "Last Exit to Brooklyn," "Pulp Fiction, "Jumpin at the Boneyard," and "Of Mice and Men." Advertisement Alexis started her transition surgeries in 2006 and defined herself as female, and her decision was fully supported by her family. Alexis was at the forefront of the fight against discrimination against the transgender community, and her openness about her own journey gave many hope for their own lives. Alexis Arquette at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards in 2008 in Hollywood | Source: Getty Images Advertisement GOODBYE TO ALEXIS ARQUETTE Alexis had contracted HIV in 1987 when she was just 16, and in 2016, she passed away from complications arising from her condition. On September 11, 2016, Alexis passed away surrounded by her family. Rosanna said: "Alexis was our hero and it's a huge wound, an open gaping wound, in our family." Advertisement Rosanna revealed that the family had wanted to honor Alexis' massive talent as a painter and had intended to fund an art studio in her honor. Then, a meeting with Dr. Astrid Hager, the head of the Violence Intervention Program at the University of Southern California made them realize they could do more. Advertisement The Arquette family created and funds he Alexis Arquette Family Foundation which provides therapy, medical care and support for LGBTQ youth, many of whom are living on the streets, and are victims of violence, often within their own families who refuse to accept their differences. Advertisement ROSANNA ARQUETTE EMBRACES ACTIVISM Rosanna considers Alexis and her courage her inspiration in her own activism. The actress was one of the first to speak out against the culture of silence that surrounded Harvey Weinstein's decades-long reign of sexual violence. Advertisement Weinstein had been molesting and raping Hollywood actresses for years, shielded by his power and the complicit silence of those around him. The #MeToo movement, of which Rosanna is part ripped away the veil and exposed Weinstein and others like him. Alexis Arquette at the premiere of "Daisy of Love" in Hollywood in 2009 | Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Glenn Francis/ www.PacificProDigital.com Advertisement ALEXIS ARQUETTE'S LEGACY Thanks to Rosanna, and her fellow actresses like Rose McGowan, Lupita Nyong'o, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Eva Green, and so many, many others, Weinstein has been brought to trial. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in the State of New York and will be facing another trial in Los Angeles for crimes committed in the State of California. Thank to Rosanna and the other women's courage, the powerful Miramax producer will probably be spending the rest of his life in jail. Alexis Arquette's legacy is more than the films she made or the paintings she created. She has passed on to those around her, in her family and way beyond a legacy of courage and determination to make a difference in the world. For the first time since pilgrims were allowed to visit Char Dham shrines in the state, a group of foreigners from different countries visited Badrinath shrine this week. They have been living in Rishikesh for the past six months and went for the pilgrimage with the help of a travel company. The group of seven foreigners followed all safety norms and got themselves tested for Covid-19 before visiting the shrine. It was an amazing feeling to have been able to visit Badrinath, amid the pristine mountains and experience the holy vibrations of the shrine, said Carolina, from Lithuania who visited the shrine on Monday. The pilgrims were from Canada, United States of America (USA), Netherlands, among others. This is likely the first shrine out of the Char Dham shrines to welcome foreigners this year. Ravinder Negi, district information officer Chamoli district where Badrinath shrine is situated, said, Over 10,000 pilgrims have visited the shrine since pilgrims were allowed this year, including some foreign visitors. Antigen tests are conducted for everyone entering the district and then at the temple premises thermal screening is carried out after which hands and shoes are sanitised. Even the vehicles in which the pilgrims come, those are also sanitised in the temple premises. Seema Nautiyal, tourism officer for Haridwar district, said that since the nationwide lockdown was imposed in March, 27 foreign tourists were stranded in the district, however, as per the records of July, there are three foreign tourists in the district. Officials from Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board said that around 35,000 e-passes have been issued to pilgrims for visiting the shrines of which over 20,000 have visited the shrines. The response has been good despite the Covid-19 pandemic. On Monday, Ravinath Raman, chief executive officer of Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board, said, It is the effort of the state government that there should be a gradual influx of pilgrims in the four shrines so that tourism and pilgrimage can get momentum. The yatra is getting a good response also, and now people from outside Uttarakhand can also travel by making e-pass for Char Dham Yatra and fulfilling the health related standards. A little boy in Brazil has been hailed as a hero for his actions. A video shows him saving his friend from drowning in a pool after the latter fell inside. The video has been shared as a warning to other parents who have pools in their homes to be more careful. The incident took place in Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro. The clip was shared on Facebook by Poliana Console de Oliveira, the boys mother, on August 17. It has since gone viral. This video serves as an alert for those who have a pool at home and children, she wrote while sharing the video, adding how Arthur, her son, saved his friends life. She explained that the boy, the son of a caretaker of the property they are living in, had snuck out without his parents knowledge. The video shows him and Arthur sitting by the pool trying to get hold of a swim ring. In his attempt, the little boy fell inside the pool and struggled to get out. Thankfully, Arthur managed to reach him and helped him get out the pool. The video of the incident has gone all kinds of viral and people posted a ton of comments praising Arthur calling him a hero. Not only this, Arthur also received a special surprise from police officials who presented him with a basket of chocolates along with a certificate and trophy for his courageous act. How would you praise this courageous kid? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW HAVEN Have you heard of Augusta Lewis Troup? Probably, if you are from or went to school in New Haven. (The Augusta Lewis Troup School, after all, is right there on Edgewood Avenue and she was a teacher here, albeit in a different century) But if you are not from around here, its probably likely other people, such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, would come to mind if you were thinking about leaders of womens suffrage. That is something the New Haven Museum will remedy: professor Kelly Marino of Sacred Heart University will share the remarkable story of a lesser-known, revolutionary leader in the fight for womens suffrage, Augusta Lewis Troup, in a free online program at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10. You can register here. Troup was a journalist who advocated for unions, womens and minority rights, and co-founded the New Haven Union, a newspaper dedicated to these topics, according to program organizers. The program, Augusta Troup and a Different Path to Womens Suffrage, will be held via Zoom. Related: Suffrage anniversary commemorations highlight racial divide According to the museum, Marino notes that Troups story is remarkable because her most significant achievements took place in her teen or young-adult years. She also transcended gender and class norms and had a more forward-thinking ideology about sex equality than other people during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Also according to the museum: Troup was born in New York City in 1848, was orphaned at a young age, adopted by a wealthy businessman and was sent to the elite Brooklyn Heights Seminary and later the Catholic Convent School of the Sacred Heart in Manhattanville to be educated. But, her life of privilege was cut short when her guardian, Isaac Baldwin Gager, lost his fortune. Troup was left to provide for herself, however, using her language skills and cultural knowledge to work her way up in the newspaper industry. Troup married Alexander Troup, a fellow labor activist, and they moved to Connecticut, but he died and she supported herself as a teacher and became involved in many charity and social-reform causes, particularly in advocacy of Italian immigrants in New Haven and other minorities, according to the museum. In addition to being a teacher in the New Haven, she was an outspoken member of the Board of Education who advocated for teachers rights and the importance of education, according to the museum. In 1911, she successfully established the New Haven Teachers League and lobbied the state of Connecticut for the provision of pensions for public school teachers. Troup died on Sept. 14, 1920 the date Connecticut ratified the 19th Amendment. She was memorialized with the naming of the Augusta Lewis Troup School in New Haven in 1926. The Andrews government has agreed to a major backdown on its plans for extended state of emergency powers as the Australian Medical Association calls for a royal commission into Labor's response to the pandemic. The olive branch to the hostile crossbench comes as the peak doctors' group described the Victorian governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as a "slow car crash". The AMA's request went public on Wednesday in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the pandemic, while Health Minister Jenny Mikakos attempted to wrangle a deal with crossbench MPs to extend the state's power to renew the COVID-19 state of emergency beyond September 13. As a compromise, the government offered to accept a six-month extension of its powers, instead of the 12 months it wanted, among other concessions. Authorities in Berlin on Wednesday banned several protests planned for the weekend against coronavirus pandemic measures. The protests have drawn support from the German far right. Officials said that those protesting would likely have breached rules on social distancing designed to stop the spread of the virus. Germany has seen an upswing in infections in recent weeks and the government is considering whether to impose fresh restrictions again. Authorities in the capital cited a rally against Covid-19 restrictions on August 1 during which participants ignored mask-wearing and distancing rules and other conditions imposed on the protest. Berlins top security official, Andreas Geisel, welcomed the decision. We need to weigh the basic right of freedom of assembly against the sanctity of life, he said in a statement. We chose life. Geisel said police would act to stop any large gathering of people and indicated that authorities wouldnt tolerate a tent camp that protesters have erected near the German parliament. Im not prepared to accept that Berlin is abused a second time as a stage for corona deniers ... and right-wing extremists, he said. Numerous leading figures in the countrys far-right scene, including members of the Alternative for Germany party, had announced they would participate in rallies in Berlin on Saturday. The partys leader in the Berlin state assembly, Georg Pazderski, criticized the decision to ban the protests, calling it disproportionate and unjustified. The protest ban can be appealed in court. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian Life) announces today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Avesis, has been awarded the NCQA-Certified HEDIS Compliance Audit seal for the Medicaid and CHIP dental programs offered by Premier Access in the State of Utah. The distinction is awarded to companies who demonstrate high quality and a commitment to delivering optimal care for patients. "As part of the Guardian family of companies, our values, such as holding ourselves to high standards, guide everything we do and ensure we always deliver the best for our customers," said Chris Swanker, Chief Executive Officer of Avesis. "We are thrilled to have NCQA recognize the strength of our HEDIS data and data collection measures in our Utah Medicaid and CHIP dental programs. The rigorous HEDIS certification process reinforces our commitment to quality care." To win the seal, the Utah Medicaid/CHIP team underwent a thorough, external audit of processes and quality checks for reporting dental HEDIS data. Avesis, via Premier Access, manages the CHIP and Medicaid benefits for more than 150,000 Utahans statewide through contracts with the Utah Department of Health. They have held the CHIP contract with the State since 2010 and a Medicaid dental with since 2012.1 This is the second year Avesis has been awarded this distinction. The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the measurement tool used by the nation's health plans to evaluate their performance in terms of clinical quality and customer service. The accuracy of collecting, measuring, and reporting HEDIS is vital to benchmarking and improving quality. Attaining the NCQA seal is widely seen by consumers and providers as a seal of quality. HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA HEDIS Compliance Audit is a trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). About Guardian Every day, Guardian provides Americans the security they deserve through our insurance and wealth management products and services. Since our founding in 1860, our long-term view has helped our customers prepare for whatever life brings whether starting a family, planning for the future or taking care of employees. Today, we're a Fortune 250 mutual company and a leading provider of life, disability, dental, and other benefits for individuals, at the workplace and through government sponsored programs. The Guardian community of over 9,000 employees and our network of over 2,500 financial representatives is committed to serving with expertise when, where and how our clients need us. Our commitments rest on a strong financial foundation, which at year-end 2019 included $9.3 billion in capital and $1.7 billion in operating income. For more information, please visit guardianlife.com or follow us on Facebook , LinkedIn , Twitter and YouTube . About Avesis Avesis began in 1978 as a family-run business vested in protecting the eye health, dental, and hearing health of Americans. In January 2016, Avesis joined the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, a Fortune 250 global financial services and insurance company committed to providing individuals and businesses the financial guidance and insurance they need. As one of the largest mutual life insurers for over 150 years, and a leading provider of employee benefits, Guardian brings the resources Avesis can use to grow and expand their services across the country. Today, Avesis manages hearing, dental, and eye care for more than 7.5 million Medicaid and Medicare Advantage covered lives through contracts with states and health plans. For more information, please visit Avesis' government programs page or follow us on Twitter. For media inquiries, please contact: Brenda Mendoza Guardian Life [email protected] GUARDIAN and the Guardian Logo are registered trademarks of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Copyright 2020 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, N.Y. 2020-107323 (Exp. 8/22) 1 Both contracts are underwritten by our wholly owned subsidiary, Premier Access Insurance Company. SOURCE Guardian Related Links https://www.guardianlife.com/ What is Californias fundamental trouble? Neither socialism nor Trumpian neglect and incompetence, but something more elemental to life in the Golden State: A refusal by many Californians to live sustainably and inclusively, to give up a little bit of their own convenience for the collective good. This is a hobbyhorse of mine, but Im committed to riding it until people in my home state begin to change their ways. Californian suburbia, the ideal of much of American suburbia, was built and sold on the promise of endless excess everyone gets a car, a job, a single-family home and enough water and gasoline and electricity to light up the party. But it is long past obvious that infinitude was a false promise. Traffic, sprawl, homelessness and ballooning housing costs are all consequences of our profligacy with the land and our other resources. In addition to a hotter, drier climate, the fires, too, are fanned by an unsustainable way of life. Many blazes were worsened by Californians moving into areas near forests known as the urban-wildland interface. Once people move near forested land, fires tend to follow either because they deliberately or inadvertently ignite them, or because they need electricity, delivered by electrical wires that can cause sparks that turn into conflagrations. As the fires blazed around us this time last year, I warned of the end of California as we know it that if we didnt begin to radically alter how we live, the climate and the high cost of living would make the state uninhabitable for large numbers of people. Of course, California hasnt yet ended. Through virus and flame, the state has kept lurching along in the same haphazard way it always has, and here we are again to face another burning season. It is my hope, though, that with each year we burn, each new wildfire year that we live through, Californians start to recognize the mistakes that are central to our way of life. And perhaps, this year, the disturbing national political conversation might finally force my fellow Californians to reckon with how they live. In many ways the 2020 election is shaping up to be a fight over the soul of the suburbs their role in Americas future, and who they are for. At the Republican convention this week, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the couple who brandished guns at protesters in St. Louis, asserted that liberals want to abolish the suburbs by ending single-family home zoning. The liberals who live in Californias suburbs may not identify with the McCloskeys, but their ugly spectacle has helped unmask NIMBYism, one of Californias most reckless ideologies, for the racist vision it has long been. Russias authorities seize hair of students Norwegian scientist tried to transport abroad flickr.com/ Andrey Filippov 16:40 26/08/2020 ST. PETERSBURG, August 26 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) Russias authorities have seized hair of 76 female students Norwegian scientist Yngvar Thomassen attempted to transport abroad for carrying out an analysis thereof in Scotland, the United press service of St. Petersburg courts informs RAPSI. The seizure was ruled by the Moscovsky District Court of St. Petersburg saying Thomassen failed to declare the hair he transported in violation of customs regulations requiring declaration of any goods not being personal items. The Norwegian scientist was not present at the hearings; his representative stated that students hair was collected to being analyzed in Scotland in the framework of a Russian megaproject. The respective megagrant amounting to 90 million rubles (about $1.2 million at the current exchange rate) was issued by the Government of the Russian Federation for three years with the aim to implement a joint project in the sphere of Arctic biomonitoring run by the Northern Arctic Federal University and North-Western State Medical University. The project has been headed by Thomassen, who directs research in the department of chemical and biological work at Statens arbeidsmiljinstitutt, Oslo. The general partner of the project, North-West Scientific Center of Hygiene and Public Health, a subordinate structure of Russias consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, is checking why it was necessary to transport the hair abroad for the analysis, as it was envisaged to create a respective laboratory in Russia. As strikes have spread across Belarus, sending shock waves not only through the ruling class in Belarus but across Europe, the government in neighboring Ukraine has rapidly turned against its former ally, Alexander Lukashenko. Prior to the August 9 presidential elections in Belarus, which Lukashenko claims to have won, the government of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky displayedat least publiclya positive attitude toward his government. In 2014, the Lukashenko regime supported the far-right coup in Kiev that was backed by US and German imperialism. Since then, Minsk has served as an intermediary in negotiations between Ukraine, the EU and the Russian government. While meeting with Lukashenko in Ukraine last October, Zelensky commented on the close relationship between himself and Lukashenko. We understand each other, he said. I think our two nations are friendly, mentally close. I am proud, and I am confident that every Ukrainian is also proud that we have such good neighbors. Reflecting the strategic interests of Ukraine in Belarus, earlier in August Ukraines foreign minister invited Belaruss foreign minister to a meeting of the Lublin Triangle group that was set up by Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania to advocate for each others armies within NATO against Russia and deepen military cooperation between the countries. In a sign that the Zelensky government fully expected a continuation of the Lukashenko regime for another five years, on August 5 plans were announced for Zelensky to visit Belarus for the third annual Regions of Belarus and Ukraine Forum after the election. In response to Lukashenkos initial crackdown on protesters after the elections, Zelensky steered away from directly condemning the Belarusian government. Instead, he called for open, albeit complex, dialogue and mutual understanding between all parties. However, as a result of the strike movement within Belarus and Lukashenkos turn to the Kremlin in response to these mass protests, the Kiev government has made a one-eighty turn. The Zelensky government was particularly infuriated over Lukashenkos decision to send 32 Russian mercenaries that had been arrested ahead of the election back to Russia. The Ukrainian government had earlier requested that they be turned over to Ukraine where they would have faced prosecution for supposedly aiding separatist rebels in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine. Reports in the Ukrainian media last week suggested the Wagner mercenaries were, in fact, duped into going to Belarus by agents from Ukraines Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). According to the reports, the aim of the SBU was to further strain relations between Belarus and Russia, and pull the Lukashenko government closer toward an alliance with the other NATO-backed countries of eastern Europe just prior to the elections. Last week, the Ukrainian government recalled its ambassador from Minsk after accusing the Lukashenko government of engaging in conscious provocative behavior for sending the Russian mercenaries back to Russia. Zelensky himself ominously threatened Belarus for failing to hand over the mercenaries, stating, God help the Belarusian authorities not to have another burning blood-shedding Donbas on their territory that all those Wagner troops are able to create. The Ukrainian ruling class has also signaled that it is ready to join the efforts of the European imperialist powers and the EU-backed opposition to stop the strikes and channel the protests against Lukashenko for their own interests. As the strikes escalated, the imperialist powers have stepped up their intervention in the Belarus crisis, seeking to both put the strike movement to an end and advance their own geopolitical interests. Last week, the EU explicitly called upon the Lukashenko regime to initiate discussions with the opposition. This weekend, the US undersecretary of state, Steve Beguin, held discussions with opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Lithuania. The Ukrainian government announced last week that it generally shares the EUs sanctions against Belarusian officials and the call for new elections. Lukashenko, for his part, feeling betrayed by his former friends in Kiev, accused Zelensky of fomenting riots within the country. Revealing its own fears over the strike movement in Belarus, a meeting was held last week between Zelensky and the heads of Ukraines intelligence and police agencies to discuss how the protests in Belarus could pose direct risks to Ukraine and issued a statement that events in Belarus could significantly affect Ukraine. The Ukrainian oligarchy fears, above all, that the strikes taking place across the border could quickly spread to Ukraine where conditions workers face are often even worse than those in Belarus. Especially since the US and EU-backed coup in 2014, the Ukrainian government has enacted massive austerity. The coronavirus pandemic, which has led to a further decline in the living standards of the working population, has only intensified the social crisis, and the oligarchy is well aware that it is sitting on a social powder keg. Earlier in June, the Ukrainian government was forced to pay out wages to over 40,000 miners who were owed back-pay. The payout was a response to a miners protest in Kiev that was attended by miners from both western and eastern Ukraine, regions that are often portrayed by ruling-class media as diametrically opposed to one another due to language and culture. As a result of the protest, Zelensky was forced to intervene directly, telling the miners that he would personally see they are paid. The Donets Coal Fields in eastern Ukraine, in particular, have a history of fervent strikes, and the Ukrainian ruling class is right to fear a growth of working class protests inspired by their own history and the ongoing struggle of Belarusian workers across the border. The working class in both countries has a powerful shared revolutionary history, going back to the revolutions of 1905 and 1917. In the late 1980s, a miners strike across the Soviet Union, which spread to the Ukrainian Donbass and to Soligorsk in what is now Belarus, shook the Stalinist bureaucracy, accelerating its drive toward capitalist restoration. While the initial protests in Belarus have been set off by Lukashenkos blatant trampling of democratic rights, the most threatening protests have come from strikes at Belaruss state-owned industries. The German financial newspaper Handelsblatt reported that the state-owned companies where workers are on strike accounted for $10 billion out of a GDP of less than $60 billion in 2019. Lukashenkos economic adviser has acknowledged that billions of dollars had already been lost to the strikes. The average wage for workers in Belarus is $500 a month, but many only earn $250 or $300 a month. Meanwhile, the average wage of workers in Ukraine is $180 a month. These poverty wages have forced up to 9 million people out of a total population of 42 million to work abroad for some part of the year. Another 3.2 million people are working abroad full-time. The impoverished state of Ukrainian miners has not been lost on Lukashenko who threatened striking Belarusian workers last week with their replacement by Ukrainian workers if they did not cease their strike. Pointing to the Ukrainian miners, he said There is a sea of unemployed people, warning they will come. These blatant attempts by a besieged ruling class to divide workers in eastern Europe must be firmly opposed. The way forward for the working class in Belarus, Ukraine and across Europe must lie in a joint revolutionary struggle for the overthrow of capitalism. Spanish actor Antonio Banderas said that he was "cured" of the coronavirus, which he contracted several weeks ago. The actor said on Twitter he had kept to a "disciplined confinement" for 21 days since learning he was infected. Describing himself as "cured", he added that "my thoughts go to those who weren't as fortunate as me, and to those who suffered more than I did. "I also wish strength to the ones who are in the middle of the fight," Banderas said. He publicly announced he had tested positive on his 60th birthday on August 10. At the time, he said that he had been feeling "relatively well, just a bit more tired than usual". Banderas did not reveal where he had spent his three weeks in quarantine. He has previously suffered a heart attack at a home he owns in Britain, The AFP reported. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The blue surgical face masks commonly used these days have three layers. The outermost is waterproof so it prevents saliva droplets from going in. The middle layer blocks germs and the innermost absorbs saliva droplets emitted by the wearer. In contrast, cotton or cloth face masks are not waterproof and less effective in absorbing droplets. Certainly wearing face masks under the nose or chin is useless, and the worst thing to do is to pull down the mask to sneeze or cough, none of which is uncommon. Five years ago, during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrom epidemic here, one infected outpatient roamed freely through the halls of a university hospital before testing positive. Quarantine officials combed through the hospital's CCTV footage to locate anyone he had come into contact with and closed off affected areas. Doctors feared that infections would spread quickly through the hospital, but not a single infection was reported. Why? Because the patient had been wearing a mask. Even a person he talked to did not catch the virus. Japan's Keio University conducted a test in a room with around 7,400 airborne particles. But inside a loosely-worn face mask they dropped to between 1,500 to 2,500, and when it was worn tightly, the number fell even further to 500. The number of airborne particles emitted by the wearer also declined sharply, demonstrating how effective masks are in blocking out and keeping in airborne particles. Studies of the flow of air around face masks showed exhaled air emerging from the top part of masks. The movement of facial muscles when singing or shouting loosens masks and causes even more exhaled air to emerge. That is why so many COVID-19 infections occur in evangelical churches, where a great deal of singing and hallelujahing goes on. People riding public transport should refrain from speaking or talking on their phones even when they're wearing masks. Health authorities should recommend that commuters abide by this rule. Studies show that the chances of infection when coming into contact with a coronavirus patient are very low at 1.5 percent if both are wearing face masks. But the probability rises to 90 percent if neither side is wearing a mask when they talk, according to the American Dental Association. There is a marked difference in the number of infections in countries where people wear masks and where they do not. Taiwan, which has a population of 24 million people, made it mandatory in April to wear face masks and reported less than 500 cases so far. This proves how essential it is not to come into contact with people who are not wearing face masks. In a recent statement, more than 70 former national security officials and politicians that were involved in Republican administrations dating back to Reagan have announced that they will be voting for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. The statement, headlined, A Statement by Former Republican National Security Officials, was run as a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal. The ad came amid attempts by the Democratic Party to emphasize support they have among Republicans. Joe Biden, Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and his wife,during a swearing-in and welcome ceremony for Hagel at the Pentagon, March 14, 2013. (Image Credit: Department of Defense) The statement includes 10 points outlining their opposition to Trump largely based on his inability to effectively carry out the interests of US imperialism at home and abroad. Those points claiming Trump undermined the rule of law are thoroughly hypocritical coming from a gang of former State Department, CIA, FBI, and NSA agents and directors responsible for war crimes and illegal mass surveillance. A quick look at the careers of many signatories to the statement shows that the Democratic Party has become a pole of attraction for some of the most right-wing and deplorable elements within American society. Charles S. (Steve) Abbot, a retired US Navy admiral, acted as deputy commander-in-chief of the US European Command during NATOs criminal intervention in Kosovo. After retiring from the Navy he became deputy homeland security adviser in the Bush White House from 2001 to 2003. Mary Catherine Andrews, the special assistant to the president and director of the White House office of global communications from 2003 to 2005. Her job was to cover up war crimes and propagate lies associated with the war on terror. Richard Armitage, the US deputy secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. He is perhaps best known for threatening to bomb Pakistan back to the Stone Age, if it did not cooperate with US intervention in Afghanistan. John Bellinger III, a legal adviser for the State Department and National Security Council from 2005 to 2009. He continuously worked to cover up the use of torture in US detention centers such as Abu Ghraib. He publicly lied to the UN and was involved in discussions to illegally destroy videotapes of US officials committing torture. Robert Blackwill, ambassador to India, National Security Council deputy for Iraq from 2003 to 2004 and mentor to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He played a pivotal role in installing CIA asset Iyad Allawi as Iraqs interim prime minister. After leaving the White House, Blackwill continued to support Allawi through the lobbying firm Barbour Griffith & Rogers. Linton Brooks, the administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. He oversaw a program to develop an atomic weapon that could be used as a bunker-buster bomb. Richard Burt, ambassador to Germany in the 1980s and national security adviser to John McCain during his 2000 and 2008 presidential campaigns. In 2000 Burt established Diligence, a risk-assessment and management firm, which has been accused by the Bermuda government of impersonating secret service personnel. Burt was also the top national security adviser to Trumps 2016 campaign. Eliot Cohen, counselor of the Department of State from 2007 to 2009. Cohen is a neoconservative who publicly advocated for war against Iraq and Iran. In a 2016 book Cohen laid-out plans for a third world war, and clarified that the actual use of nuclear weapons by the United States is not a last resort. Joseph Collins, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for stability operations during the George W. Bush administration. Collins was a key planner for the US occupation of Iraq. Heather Conley, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs under Bush. Conley is currently the senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic at an imperialist think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and advocates for US conflict with Russia. Chester Crocker, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs under the Reagan administration. He developed the policy of constructive engagement with governments in southern Africa, including South Africas apartheid regime. Eric Edelman, undersecretary of defense for policy from 2005 to 2009. Edelman opposed even having public discussions about US withdrawal from Iraq. After leaving office he became an open advocate for US military intervention in Syria, and confrontation with Russia and China. Richard Falkenrath, an assistant to the president under George W. Bush, was central in establishing the Department of Homeland Security, which was, from its inception, involved in domestic surveillance and plans for repression of the American population. Aaron Friedberg was the deputy assistant for national security affairs and director of policy planning working under Vice President Dick Cheney. Since leaving office he has advocated greater conflict with China and made extreme xenophobic claims that Chinese students and migrants in the US support Beijings aims. James Glassman was undersecretary of state during the Bush administration. Glassman hailed the devastation of Hurricane Katrina for destroying housing, schools and public work programs that held the city back. Colleen Graffy, deputy assistant secretary of state for public diplomacy under Bush. She claimed that Guantanamo Bay prisoners committed suicide as part of a strategy by Islamic extremists. She later defended the Iraq War claiming it was the catalyst for the Arab Spring. Chuck Hagel, former Republican senator and secretary of defense under Obama. He played a leading role in the US military buildup against China, but crossed paths with the president after Obama refused to green light his plan to bomb Damascus. Michael Hayden, director of the NSA from 1999 to 2005 and CIA director from 2006 to 2009. He oversaw domestic spying and supervised CIA black site torture centers. He has claimed that he effectively bullied Biden not to mention the torture program in negative terms. James Loy, deputy secretary of homeland security from 2003 to 2005. Loy justified militarizing the US border with Mexico by claiming Al Qaeda operatives could try to enter from Mexico. John Negroponte was the US ambassador to Honduras from 1981 to 1985 and oversaw US support for the contras vicious war against Nicaragua. He was ambassador to Iraq from 2004 to 2005 and oversaw the expansion of Americas spying apparatus as director of national intelligence from 2005 to 2007. Robert Tuttle, the director of presidential personnel from 1985 to 1989 and ambassador to Britain from 2005 to 2009. Tuttle lied about US forces using white phosphorus, a chemical weapon, in Iraq. Michael Vickers, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflicts from 2007 to 2011, and undersecretary of defense for intelligence from 2011 to 2015. Vickers had previously worked as a CIA paramilitary operations officer and helped arm the mujahedeen to fight Soviet forces in the 1980s. Under Obama, he remained the most ardent supporter of the agencys expanded paramilitary role. John Warner, a US senator from Virginia from 1979 to 2009 and chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 2003 to 2007. In 2007 Warner drafted a resolution, which was largely supported by Democratic legislators, to continue funding the Iraq War. William Webster, director of the FBI from 1978 to 1987, director of the CIA from 1987 to 1991 and chair of the homeland security advisory council since 2005. Webster demanded that the Obama administration halt an inquiry into CIA agents use of torture. Dov Zakheim, undersecretary of defense from 2001 to 2004. Zakheim was a foreign policy adviser to Bush during the election in 2000. After leaving government, Zakheim became the senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, a consulting firm that aids US intelligence agencies in mass surveillance. Philip Zelikow, a counselor of the Department of State from 2005 to 2007 and executive director of the 9/11 Commission. Zelikow played an essential role whitewashing previous administrations roles in arming and supporting Islamic extremists. That all these former Reagan, Bush I and Bush II officialsand even a few former Trump officialsendorse Biden is an indication of the truly right-wing character of the Democratic administration that might replace Trump as a result of the 2020 election. Elliot Gleave (Example) performs at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot Racecourse on August 11, 2018 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Ascot) Example may be a musician first and foremost but it seems he could also claim to be a matchmaker, albeit an accidental one. On Wednesday morning, the 38-year-old shared a message he'd received from a fan who alleges to have met their wife thanks to one of the Kickstarts hitmaker's gigs. On top of that, they said their child even shares a name with the musician, whose real name is Elliot Gleave. "Hows this for a lovely story ???," the musician wrote as he shared the message screenshots. Read more: Britney Spears' sister Jamie Lynn appointed trustee to her fortune The fan's message read: "Eight years ago today you played on the main stage at Creamfields! You asked all the girls to get on someones shoulder and this is how I met my future wife and best mate. "We now have a five year old who we called Elliott, there wasnt any other names in the mix! His initials are also EG! Hope one day we get to meet you slim chance but you never know! X." In his response, Example suggested a meet up at the same festival next year before questioning which spelling variation of his name they had decided on. Erin McNaught and Example arrive at the 61st Annual TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star Gold Coast on June 30, 2019 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) "All are acceptable but Elliot is the best," he jested. Read more: Chantelle Houghton wants ex Preston at second wedding Example himself is a father to two boys who also share his initials, Evander, five, and Ennio, two, who he shares with his Australia model wife Erin McNaught. They tied the knot in May 2013, six months after their November 2012 engagement. The family currently resides in Brisbane. - Tuskys has an outstanding debt worth KSh 6.2 billion owed to suppliers and creditors - Some had threatened to auction the retailers assets to recover unpaid dues - In the new deal, the board and management will engage all stakeholders to agree on business modalities going forward Tusker Mattresses Ltd, the holding company for Tuskys Supermarket, has signed a deal with a Mauritius based fund for the provision of a financing facility amounting to KSh 2 billion. The funding will help alleviate the current capital constraints that saw the retailer's shelves run empty as creditors threatened to withdraw. READ ALSO: Kenyan family desperately looking for son who moved to the US Tuskys shareholders had agreed to sell a majority stake of the company. Photo: Citizen TV. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: No handshake: Old Luhya tradition that builds respect between men and their mother-in-laws In a statement released on Tuesday, August 25, the retailer said the money will be released subject to fulfilling transaction condition precedents. As previously communicated, we wish to reiterate our commitment to resolve the underlying working capital challenges quickly," said Tuskys chairman Bernard Kahianyu. "This funding will provide the needed impetus to our overall capitalisation journey," he added. READ ALSO: Engo: Branches used by Maragoli community to notify parents of virgin girl she's wanted for marriage He further noted the Tuskys Board and Management will engage all stakeholders in the coming days to agree on business modalities going forward The retailer did not reveal the name of the bailer. This funding will help alleviate our current capital constraints impacted by COVID-19 and further reposition the business for increasing stakeholder's value, said Kahianyu. READ ALSO: Woman laments over son's return from prison after 32 years, asks for prayers The announcement came just weeks after the company notified the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) of the intended capital injection by a strategic investor. In July, Tuskys shareholders agreed to sell a majority stake of the company and have been awaiting the acquisition of an investment suitor. The stability of the retailer is thought to have been rocked after children of the supermarket's owner Joram Kamau started fighting to have control of the company. READ ALSO: Man happy to be alive 2 years after doctors said he Wouldn't make it They include Yusuf Mugweru, Mary Njoki, Sammy Gatei, Stephen Mukuha, John Kago and George Gacwe. The cash-crunch saw the retailer fail to pay suppliers resulting in stockouts and closure of some of its branches. The supermarket was forced to pay KSh 15 million out of KSh 26 million rent arrears for United Mall outlet in Kisumu county after auctioneers raided the premises. READ ALSO: Irish ja Ngo'ndi: Taita Taveta swamp believed to be friendly to visitors but tough on locals In early August 2019, Tuskys revealed it owed suppliers a total of KSh 6.2 billion and agreed to pay 40% of the amount (KSh 2.4 billion) in over two years. The revelation came after the retailer paid suppliers KSh 2.7 billion in June 2019 after the intervention of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK). This saw the retailer placed under CAK's watch list for defaulting on suppliers. 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 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday proposed that all non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- ruled states appeal to the Supreme Court to allow the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) to be postponed. As of now, they are scheduled to be held in September. Banerjee made the statement at a virtual meeting, attended by chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states, that she and the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi jointly convened. The meeting started at 2.30pm. Also Read: 10 things you need to know about NEET-JEE exam controversy The agenda, however, was not restricted to the examinations alone. Gandhi, who opened the discussion, said that state governments were facing a lot of problems because of the Centres policies. She referred to the rise in fuel prices, disinvestment of PSUs, privatisation of airports and other issues. This was the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out that chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states spoke out against Central governments policies on a common platform. Gandhi then let Banerjee conduct the meeting. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy attended the meeting. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan could not attend because of urgent business. The Jharkhand chief minister said, These days, the opposition appears to have become weak. We have to take a stand. Banerjee seconded the statement and said, Yes, we must raise our voice. Otherwise other political parties will not exist. Thackeray also spoke on a number of issues and said the Centre had failed to deliver on many of its promises. Amarinder Singh spoke at length on the lack of Central funds to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and said, We should all go to the Prime Minister with our problems. Gehlot started speaking at 3.30 pm. On Monday and Tuesday, Banerjee had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone the examinations, saying students would be exposed to risk if they travelled during the Covid-19 pandemic. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, is committed to publishing the most robust, evidence-based research and commentary on COVID-19 as they unfold to keep readers up to date and aware of issues relevant to the community and individual health during this continually evolving global outbreak. All articles featured here are freely available. The new computational model finds that a COVID-19 vaccine will have to be at least 80 percent effective to achieve a complete "return to normal" Researchers around the world are racing to find a COVID-19 vaccine to eliminate the need for social distancing, mask wearing, and limits on interpersonal gatherings. In a new study, a computer simulation model found that if 75 percent of the population gets vaccinated, the vaccine has to have an efficacy (ability to protect against infection) of at least 70 percent to prevent an epidemic and at least 80 percent to extinguish an ongoing epidemic. If only 60 percent of the population gets vaccinated, the thresholds are even higher, around 80 percent to prevent an epidemic and 100 percent to extinguish an ongoing epidemic. Some are pushing for a vaccine to come out as quickly as possible so that life can 'return to normal.' However, we have to set appropriate expectations. Just because a vaccine comes out doesn't mean you can go back to life as it was before the pandemic." Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA, Study Lead Investigator, Public Health Informatics, Computational and Operations Research, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, NY, USA "It is important to remember that a vaccine is like many other products - what matters is not just that a product is available, but also how effective it is." The investigators say the results of their study can provide targets for vaccine developers as well as shape expectations for policy makers, business leaders, and the general public. "Vaccine Efficacy Needed for a COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine to Prevent or Stop an Epidemic as the Sole Intervention," by Sarah M. Bartsch, MPH, Kelly J. O'Shea, BSFS, Marie C. Ferguson, MSPH, Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, Patrick T. Wedlock, MSPH, Ulrich Strych, PhD, James A. McKinnell, MD, Sheryl S. Siegmund, MS, Sarah N. Cox, MSPH, Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, and Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA (https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1016/ j. amepre. 2020. 06. 011). Author contact: Bruce Y. Lee at [email protected] Like indoor smoking bans, mask wearing should be considered a fundamental occupational health protection Mask requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are often presented as an infringement on individual rights. In this article, the authors note that bans against indoor smoking were enacted to protect workers' health on the basis that individual rights do not extend to the imposition of risk on others. Similarly, masks should be required to protect workers by limiting the diffusion of particulates that carry COVID-19. Clear and consistent government policies on indoor mask wearing would remove some of the burden from business owners, but in the absence of policy, business owners can also require masks, knowing that healthy workplaces have higher productivity. "Much like stepping outside to smoke, wearing a mask until the pandemic is resolved may feel like a nuisance; however both pose a relatively small inconvenience when compared to workers' rights to a healthy, safe work environment," observes lead author Mike Vuolo, PhD, Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. "COVID-19 Mask Requirements as a Workers' Rights Issue: Parallels to Smoking Bans," by Mike Vuolo, PhD, Brian C. Kelly, PhD, and Vincent Roscigno, PhD Associations between social vulnerabilities and increased COVID-19 infection vary among US counties, suggesting need for different strategies to address the pandemic A new study confirms that social vulnerability is associated with increased prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the United States. However, the specific vulnerability factors most important in predicting infection - minority status and language, household composition and disability, and transportation and housing - vary among regions and counties. For example, in the Pacific Northwest, minority status and language and household composition and disability were more predictive of COVID-19 case counts. In the Gulf Coast states, housing and transportation were more predictive. Lead investigator Ibraheem M. Karaye, MD, DrPH, Epidemiology Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA, explains, "In the US, social vulnerability to COVID-19 is highly 'local,' so while a coordinated Federal response is needed to control COVID-19 nationally, local jurisdictions should, where possible given limited funding and staff, address specific vulnerable groups with interventions designed to mitigate the spread of the pandemic." "The Impact of Social Vulnerability on COVID-19 in the U.S.: An Analysis of Spatially Varying Relationships," by Ibraheem M. Karaye, MD, DrPH, and Jennifer A. Horney, PhD, MPH The study identifies racial and socioeconomic disparities in testing and positive results for COVID-19 in New York City A new study has found that in New York City COVID-19 testing has not been proportional to need. Researchers conducted a statistical analysis on the relationship between race and socioeconomic factors such as household income, gross rent, poverty, education, working class status, and the rate of testing for the virus, and the proportion of positive results. They found that, adjusted for population, the total number of tests performed significantly increased in neighborhoods with more white residents, while the highest proportion of positive tests were recorded in nonwhite neighborhoods and in areas defined by lower socioeconomic status. "COVID-19 testing is a key component of public health efforts to contain the pandemic," says lead investigator Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD, Director, Institute for Translational Epidemiology;, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Center for Disaster Health, Trauma, and Resilience, New York, NY, USA. "Our findings show that in New York City, there is an urgent need for widespread testing and public health outreach for the most vulnerable communities." "Disparities in COVID-19 Testing and Positivity in New York City," by Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, MPH, Stephanie Tuminello, MPH, Raja M. Flores, MD, and Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD Increase in mental distress during the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic associated with greater use of traditional and social media to learn about the disease In a nationally representative sample of US adults surveyed between March 10 and March 31, 2020, researchers found that individuals who reported spending more time on social media and consulting a greater number of traditional media sources to learn about the disease were more likely to report higher levels of mental distress than those with less media exposure. People who responded later in the survey, as a national emergency was declared and schools and businesses closed, reported greater media exposure and mental distress. "A pandemic of this scale in the era of social media is unprecedented. We need to consider how exposure to social media, and other sources of media like television or newspapers, might affect mental health during this time," says first author Kira E. Riehm, MSc, Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. The researchers suggest that engaging with supportive friends and family online and seeking information only from evidence-based sources like the CDC or WHO could support mental health. "Associations Between Media Exposure and Mental Distress Among U.S. Adults at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic," by Kira E. Riehm, MSc, Calliope Holingue, PhD, Luther G. Kalb, PhD, Daniel Bennett, PhD, Arie Kapteyn, PhD, Qin Jiang, MA, Cindy Veldhuis, PhD, Renee M. Johnson, PhD, M. Daniele Fallin, PhD, Frauke Kreuter, PhD, Elizabeth A. Stuart, PhD, and Johannes Thrul, PhD People thought to have COVID-19 can face discrimination, regardless of actual disease status, leading to increased anxiety and depression A national survey asked individuals if they were treated with less courtesy and respect than others; received poorer service at restaurants or stores; found people acted as if they were afraid of them; or felt threatened or harassed because they were suspected of having COVID-19. The rate of perceived discrimination, regardless of actual disease status, increased from March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, to April 2020. Asians and non-Hispanic blacks perceived more discrimination, as did individuals of any race or ethnicity who wore face masks. Perceiving discrimination was associated with increased anxiety and depression. Lead investigator Ying Liu, PhD, Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California; Los Angeles, CA, USA, comments, "COVID-related discrimination is real and serious. It reflects social bias against racial and ethnic minorities and those who wear facemasks, and it disproportionately worsens mental despair in vulnerable populations. It is critical and timely for policy makers and the general public to become aware of this problem." "Perceived Discrimination and Mental Distress amid the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic: Evidence from the Understanding America Study," by Ying Liu, PhD, Brian Karl Finch, PhD, Savannah G. Brenneke, MPH, Kyla Thomas, PhD, and PhuongThao D. Le, PhD, MPH Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Terex Corporation Global Credit Research - 26 Aug 2020 New York, August 26, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Terex Corporation and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review in which Moody's assessed 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, which was followed by 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. The updated key rating considerations and principal methodology(ies) used were explained in Moody's rating action press release dated 24 August 2020. 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It's amazing to Republicans that the pundits of such leftist media giants as CNN, The New Yorker, the Washington Post, CBS News, Esquire, Politico, USA Today, and Vice evidence any knowledge of the Madison Avenue truism "There's no such thing as bad publicity" when they all simultaneously (and at the same time) dig their teeth into Laura Loomer. Laura Loomer is a 27-year-old woman whose primary victory over five other South Florida Republicans will have her face off against Lois Frankel, a tired four-term 72-year-old Democrat incumbent. The district is heavily Democrat, and Loomer's chances of winning the seat were slim because of her political inexperience, youth, and lack of name recognition. But that was until the aforementioned media got into the act by labeling Loomer "Islamophobic," "a conspiracist," "a believer of law and order," "a loyal Trumper," and "a follower of QAnon." Andrew Marantz, in a piece tellingly titled "How a Pro-Trump Islamophobe Who Just Won a Congressional Primary Got Famous on the Internet" in The New Yorker, talks of her eating at Katz's Deli (hinting that's she's old-fashioned Jewish,) that she lives in a "dreary apartment," that she had a "raucous victory party" after her election, and that she was "the most banned woman in America." Put all these descriptions together, and she'd be sentenced in a progressive court of law to at least life imprisonment. Marantz also writes that she's "an unreconstructed guerilla." In attacking a white, conservative, Jewish woman, anything goes and is accepted by the radical left. It's eye-opening to search and find nothing negative from these media pundits about the overt Jew-/Israel-hating rants from such Democrat congressmen as Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Georgia's Hank Johnson. Omar accused American Jews of treason and controlling our government with "Benjamins." Tlaib has doubts about evidence of the Holocaust, and Johnson called Jews termites. "They get into your house and eat it up." He's also the dimwit who claimed that too much construction on the island of Guam might "tip it over and capsize it." But Laura Loomer is a racist, a bigot, and dumb? And what was said about Maxine Waters, a House Committee chair, referring to Republicans as "scumbags"? Different rules for different folks, depending on their political and genetic tinting, I guess. What stimulates the progressive media to go after Loomer? Are there fears that Lois Frankel is vulnerable? That she needs their shoring up since she is rarely seen or involved in the community? A strong incumbent never gives an opponent this kind of publicity. What does Loomer offer District 21 that makes the Dems edgy? She's a young woman, a total political conservative who is fearless and would take on the radical women in the House if elected and they'd come out bruised and bloody. She would not permit the deadly 13% racial quota integration system to be implemented in and destroy communities such as Palm Beach County. She would vote to ban illegal immigration. She would vote to lower taxes. She would vote to keep "God" in our Pledge. She would vote to build up our military. Ditto for our law enforcement personnel. She would vote in support of our nation's keeping Israel as an ally. She would vote against late-term abortion and abortion on demand. In short, she'd be a much needed, forceful, fearless, conservative leader in Congress. And she'll stand strong alongside and fight for President Donald Trump. Unhappy, frustrated voters of all political stripes in Florida District 21 might just topple the incumbent, invisible Lois Frankel, who has accomplished zilch during her four useless terms in office other than to rubber-stamp the lunatic legislation of Nancy Pelosi. Let's hope the media keep beating up on Laura Loomer. We need their help. Image: Laura Loomer for Congress. WASHINGTON - The second day of the Republican National Convention started with a decidedly different, more positive tone, with an emphasis on Americans who say have they benefited from President Donald Trumps policies. Here are some takeaways from the second night. LEVERAGING THE WHITE HOUSE Hail to the Chief. The squeak of a Sharpie. The theatrically lit Rose Garden. Trump sought to leverage the full weight of the presidency behind his reelection effort, as he blended official acts and campaigning. In the conventions first half-hour, the convention aired a video featuring Trump signing a pardon for Jon Ponder, an ex-convict who now runs an acclaimed prisoner reentry program. Later, military aides opened the doors to the White House Cross Hall as Hail to the Chief played before Trump presided over a naturalization ceremony for new Americans. Both events were taped in recent days as Trump and his reelection campaign looked to find ways to airbrush the harsher edges of his actual policies. They will add to criticism that Trump is exploiting the White House for political purposes in ways none of his predecessors have. While Trump is not covered by the federal Hatch Act, which limits the political activities of most federal workers, previous presidents have tended to draw clear distinctions between campaigning and governing. MELANIA TRUMP TALKS VIRUS, RACIAL STRIFE The use of the White House as backdrop continued when First Lady Melania Trump capped off the evening with a speech from the newly renovated Rose Garden. After the deadly toll of the coronavirus pandemic was largely ignored on the second night of the convention, Mrs. Trump began her speech by talking about its devastating impact. I want to acknowledge the fact that since March our lives have changed drastically, she said. The invisible enemy, COVID-19, swept across our beautiful country and impacted all of us. My deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one. Several times she diverged from the party line, as well as from economic adviser Larry Kudlows repeated use, in earlier in the evening, of the past tense to talk about a virus that is still killing an average of about 1,000 Americans a day. While extolling her husbands character and record, she also took on a number of other challenging, sorrowful concerns, including natural disasters, opioid addiction and racial injustice. And the very close-guarded first lady spoke about her own journey, which includes her family benefiting from immigration policies her husbands administration opposes. She said she became an American citizen after 10 years of paperwork and patience and with hard work and determination. It was a speech that stood out for its sense of the genuine on a night with the contrivances were many. REPUBLICANS STAKE OUT POLICY GROUND For technical reasons, Republicans did not vote on a new platform this year, but on Tuesday they tried to make clear what they stand for. The nights program offered snapshots both of how the GOP has changed since Trumps insurgent candidacy took over the party four years ago and what has remained the same. There were longtime standards opposition to abortion and hardline policies on illegal immigration but also Trumps rewiring of the GOPs one-time free market orthodoxy on trade and its interventionist foreign policy. Like Democrats before them, Republicans put forth real people to make Trumps point. John Peterson, who owns a metal fabrication company in Wisconsin, highlighted Trumps efforts to reinvigorate domestic steel manufacturers with tariffs on China. Jason Joyce, a Maine lobster fisherman, credited Trump with helping to save his industry from cheap exports from China. Republicans also showcased Trumps signing of criminal justice reform legislation an issue on which the GOP had resisted moving in prior administrations. The convention then showed the video of Ponders pardon. Trumps reshaping of GOPs foreign policy was also on display with the prominent speaking slot for Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul an outspoken critic of American overseas intervention. Paul highlighted Trumps refusal to leave our blood and treasure in Middle East quagmires and his push to end endless wars. Those efforts by Trump particularly his withdrawal last year of nearly all American troops from Syria led to some of the sharpest criticism from members of his own party in Congress. Now, they are airing in prime time. EMPATHY DEFICIT? The Republicans have an empathy problem. Trump has long struggled with personal connections in times of tragedy, whether due to natural disasters or mass shootings, a shortcoming highlighted by the suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His harsh rhetoric and relentlessly optimistic outlook on the crisis which often flies in the face of the facts has hurt him, according to campaign surveys, which show that voters believe that Democratic Joe Biden relates far better to their hardships. The Republicans this week have tried to highlight Trumps softer side, after Democrats effectively showcased the compassion of Biden. But the attempt to humanize Trump was already in the works, part of a strategy to win back senior and suburban voters who have abandoned him in no small part due to his aggressive rhetoric and lack of obvious empathy during the coronavirus pandemic. Still, none of the trio of adult Trump children who spoke over the for first two days offered a humanizing anecdote about their father, sticking to political talking points and attacks on Biden. WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE Trumps tolerance for conspiracists and fringe voices who back his political ambitions was on stark display Tuesday. His campaign was forced to pull a recorded speech featuring a speaker who shared anti-Semitic and other extreme messages on Twitter just hours before it was to air at the convention. Mary Ann Mendoza had been scheduled to deliver remarks Tuesday night to highlight the presidents fight against illegal immigration. Mendozas son was killed in 2014 in a head-on collision by a man who was under the influence and living in the U.S. illegally. Mendozas speech was pulled after she spread tweets related to the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory, which 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. Earlier Tuesday, a Republican congressional nominee from Georgia who supports the QAnon theory revealed she had been invited to the convention. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a photo of the invitation to her Twitter account Tuesday. She wrote that she was honoured and thrilled to be invited to attend President Trumps acceptance speech Thursday evening at the White House. Trump praised Greene as a future Republican Star after she won her primary earlier this month. He has courted the support of QAnon believers, saying, I heard that these are people that love our country. The RNC did air a speech by anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson. She has previously advocated for something called household voting, saying women should defer to their husbands on making decisions related to politics. WASHINGTON - First lady Melania Trump portrayed her husband as an authentic, uncompromising leader in a Rose Garden address Tuesday night as President Donald Trump turned to family, farmers and the trappings of the presidency to boost his reelection chances on the second night of the scaled-down Republican National Convention. Mrs. Trumps remarks, like much of the nights prime-time program, offered a polished portrait of Trumps presidency at odds at times with the crises, division and unforgiving actions of his tenure in the White House. Showing a more forgiving side with millions of voters watching, the president pardoned a reformed felon and oversaw a naturalization ceremony for several immigrants in the midst of the program, though he frequently states his vigorous opposition to more immigration, legal as well as illegal. In my husband, you have a president who will not stop fighting for you and your families, said Mrs. Trump, an immigrant herself. he will not give up. Mrs. Trump and two of his five children led a diverse collection of supporters, including a convicted bank robber, calling for Trumps reelection on a night that featured a distinctly more positive tone than the night before. The first-term president is labouring to improve his standing in a 2020 presidential race he is currently losing under the weight of the coronavirus and its related economic devastation. Most polls report that Democratic rival Joe Biden has a significant advantage in terms of raw support; the former vice-president also leads on character issues such as trustworthiness and likability. In one of the few emotional moments of the night, Trump showed a video of himself signing a pardon for Jon Ponder, a man from Nevada who has founded an organization that helps prisoners reintegrate into society. We live in a nation of second chances, Ponder said, standing alongside Trump. Jons life is a beautiful testament to the power of redemption, Trump said before he signed the pardon. Tuesdays two-and-a-half-hour lineup also featured a Maine lobsterman, a Wisconsin farmer and a Native American leader. Social conservatives were represented by an anti-abortion activist and Billy Grahams granddaughter. The convention also featured a Kentucky high school student whose interaction last year with Native Americans became a flashpoint in the nations culture wars. With Election Day just 10 weeks off and early voting beginning much sooner, Trump is under increasing pressure to reshape the contours of the campaign. But as he struggles to contain the pandemic and the related economic devastation, Republicans have yet to identify a consistent political message arguing for his reelection. There was little mention of the pandemic throughout the night, although it remains a dominant issue for voters this fall. The COVID-19 death toll surged past 178,000 on Tuesday, by far the highest in the world, and there is no sign of slowing. The nations unemployment rate still exceeds 10%, which is higher than it ever was during the Great Recession. And more than 100,000 businesses are feared closed forever. At the same time, the White House seems to have abandoned efforts to negotiate another federal rescue package with Congress. Convention organizers had promised an uplifting and hopeful message the night before as the convention began, but that was undermined by dark and ominous warnings from the president and his allies about the countrys future if he should lose in November. Tuesday night, there were fierce attacks on Biden throughout, although the lineup generally maintained a more positive tone -- in part due to some last-minute changes. Mary Ann Mendoza, an Arizona woman whose son, a police officer, was killed in 2014 in a car accident involving an immigrant in the country illegally, was pulled from the program minutes before the event began. She had directed her Twitter followers to a series of anti-Semitic, conspiratorial messages. There were also barrier breakers featured like Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the first African American to hold statewide office in Kentucky, and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, first Latina to hold that office in her state. And the convention lineup featured a Democrat for the second night: Robert Vlaisavljevich, the mayor of Eveleth, Minnesota, praised Trumps support for his states mining industry in particular. President Trump is fighting for all of us. He delivered the best economy in our history and he will do it again, Vlaisavljevich said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was addressing the convention and nation during an official overseas trip in Israel. President Trump has put his America First vision into action, Pompeo said. It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but its worked. Pompeos taped appearance breaks with decades of tradition of secretaries of state avoiding the appearance of involving themselves in domestic politics. That his video was filmed in Jerusalem, where he was on an official foreign trip, has raised additional questions of propriety. Mrs. Trump was the intended star of the night. Out of the public view for much of the year, Mrs. Trump was stepping into the spotlight to argue for a second term for her husband while trying to avoid the missteps that marred her introduction to the nation four years ago. At her 2016 convention speech, she included passages similar to what former first lady Michelle Obama had said in her first convention speech. A speechwriter for the Trump Organization later took the blame. Only the second foreign-born first lady in U.S. history, Mrs. Trump, 50, is a native of Slovenia, a former communist country in eastern Europe. She became Trumps third wife in 2005 and gave birth to their now 14-year-old son, Barron, in 2006 the year she became a naturalized U.S. citizen. The first lady spoke from the renovated Rose Garden, despite questions about using the White House for a political convention. She addressed an in-person group of around 50 people, including her husband. ___ Peoples reported from New York. Price reported from Las Vegas. AP writers Kevin Freking and Zeke Miller in Washington and Dave Bauder in New York contributed. The Creative Arts Industry will, in the next term of the Akufo-Addo administration, receive state of the art recording studios. This was revealed in the 2020 manifesto of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) which was launched on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Cape Coast in Central Region. The party used the occasion to solicit the votes of Ghanaian electorates. The Creative Arts Industry comprises a vast array of talented and skilled individuals such as writers, dancers, actors, musicians, fashion designers among others. It is a sector with a high potential for job creation, particularly for the youth and also a driver for tourism and economic growth. As part of the President's entrepreneurial hubs strategy, the government is assuring the Creative Arts players his administration will see to the establishment of recording studios in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi, when given a second term. The creation of the studios is to provide opportunities for recording artists to rent space to do their recordings. In view of this, the Creative Arts Ministry will build a digital platform for the artists to make their products available to the global market. The government will additionally set up a Creative Arts Fund to support artists, complete the theatre in Kumasi and further construct new theatres in Takoradi and Tamale. 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 Greek Navy aircraft and ships have been manoeuvering close to their Turkish opposite numbers Turkey said on Tuesday it was ready for talks with Greece in their growing row over eastern Mediterranean natural gas without any preconditions. But the olive branch came as the two uneasy NATO allies' navies conducted separate exercises close to each other just south of Crete in a mutual show of force. "We are in favour of negotiations for fair sharing but nobody should lay down preconditions. This cannot happen with preconditions laid down by Greece," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said after talks with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Ankara. EU powerhouse Germany is spearheading efforts to avoid an outright military conflict that could imperil Europe's future access to newly-discovered energy reserves. Greece's maritime claims are backed by the entire European Union, but the bloc has so far held back from heavily sanctioning Turkey, fearing possible retaliation from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Maas shuttled between Athens and Ankara on Tuesday in a bid to get the sides to temper the rhetoric and re-enter direct talks. After both visits were over, Maas conceded that the dispute had entered a "very critical" phase. Nevertheless, "no one wants to solve this issue in a militaristic way," Maas said through a translator, "and there is a willingness on both sides for dialogue." Cavusoglu praised the German mediation effort but said Ankara made a good faith gesture by announcing a pause to its exploration activity last month. He argued that Turkey felt it had to resume its work when Greece signed an agreement with Egypt to set up an exclusive economic zone on August 6, violating a general sense of goodwill. "I would like to advise Greece ... to abandon its spoilt (action)," Cavusoglu said. "Act with common sense," he told Athens, warning that Turkey was ready to "do what's necessary without any hesitation." On Sunday, Turkey announced a decision to extend its exploratory ship Oruc Reis's mission by an extra four days to Thursday, which prompted an immediate Greek response to carry out naval exercises nearby. fo/zak/tgb Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the title and employer of Aram Nerguizian. He is a senior associate with the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. BEIRUT Analysts are looking forward to potential cooperation among the defense industries of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, following the Aug. 13 announcement that the two countries are establishing full diplomatic relations in a U.S.-brokered deal. It is monumental for both Israel and the UAE that they are now on an unprecedented path to normalization. How this might or might not affect the UAE defense sector in the short to medium term is far from certain, said Aram Nerguizian, a senior associate with the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. There are certainly areas where industry in both countries will have a desire to collaborate, explore cost, and access sharing tied to research and development, let alone explore opportunities for equity and ownership in leading defense firms in both countries, he added. Click here to see the Defense News Top 100 list. Some of these opportunities to collaborate include cybersecurity and advanced defense systems. Cybersecurity is one of the areas which could witness industrial cooperation between the UAE and Israel, and the latter have a strong edge in this area, also in unmanned autonomous systems, unmanned aircraft, missile defense, electronic systems and system integration. These are all areas where there is potential cooperation, said Riad Kahwaji, a Dubai-based Middle East security and defense analyst who and serves as director of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. Opportunities are also stem from the fact that the two countries use similar platforms, like the F-16 fighter jet and Patriot missiles. And as both nations view Iran as a security threat, that common adversary could drive cooperation, Kahwaji noted. Story continues What about the F-35? Negotiations between the U.S. and the UAE for the latters purchase of the F-35 fighter jet havent significantly advanced since the Israel-UAE announcement, and Nerguizian doesnt expect that to move forward. None of this, however, changes short- to medium-term Israeli and U.S. concerns tied to Israels QME [qualitative military edge] and regional proliferation. Sharing access and ownership to a fifth-generation platform like the F-35 falls into that uncertainty. For now, it is clear that both Israel and the U.S. remain concerned and opposed to the UAE acquiring the F-35, Nerguizian said. Turkish industry prospers, but foreign relations are limiting its potential Certainly, that can change from a U.S. policy perspective if the Trump administration weighs in, if it is reelected for a second term. However, doing so would go against Israels larger concerns that have less to do with the UAE and more to do with concern that if the UAE gets the platform, it will only be a matter of time before Saudi Arabia and eventually Egypt seek to acquire it as well, the analyst added. That is not something Israeli policymakers are all too comfortable with in the here and now. I should caveat that how that dynamic evolves in the medium to long term is far more uncertain. Both Israel and the UAE have reasons to deepen mutual trust and cooperation beyond narrowly balancing or containing Iran. Whether that level of cooperation extends to the F-35 or similar so-called game-changer systems is not something we can clearly predict. A domino effect Kahwaji told Defense News that the Israel-UAE deal which required the Jewish state halt its contentious plan to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the Palestinians could be a sign of improved relations to come among Mideast neighbors, particularly invovling Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. However, any negative moves by Netanyahu, like reviving his plan to annex the West Bank, will be a setback that will definitely sway many countries from following the UAEs path and could definitely impact UAE-Israel relation in a negative way, the military expert said. Whether there will be growth across the entire regions defense industries remains to be seen. Irrespective of administration, regional defense industries in the Arab world will continue to struggle against U.S. congressional limits and rules tied to [the International Traffic in Arms Regulations], Nerguizian said. There is an assumption that a Trump reelection might lead to more executive if not more legislative action, but that assumption still has to be tested, as concerns about [intellectual property] transfers, [qualitative military edge] and proliferation continue to cut across U.S. party lines. Josef Federman, Matthew Lee and Jon Gambrell of The Associated Press contributed to this report. A police car was burned at 11th and Wharton streets in South Philadelphia near the Third District police precinct. Read more An unoccupied Philadelphia Police car was set on fire overnight near Passyunk Square. Part of the vehicle was damaged, police said, but no one was injured. The cruiser could be seen Wednesday morning parked outside the Third District precinct at 11th and Wharton Streets. The area around the front passenger side wheel well appeared to be charred. The fire was set shortly after 3:15 a.m., police said, and it caused damage to the right wheel area and hood. The fire marshal declared it an arson, and police said they are investigating. No arrests had been made as of early Wednesday. NBC10, Fox29, and 6ABC reported that authorities may be looking for a person on a bike who was seen fleeing the scene. It was unclear whether the act was linked to an incident last month in which four unoccupied police cars were burned overnight. In that instance, at least two of the cars were burned from a tire, police said at the time. Going after Alan Jones and Rupert Murdoch is expected. But why has left-wing activist group Mad F------ Witches attempted to cancel two prominent disability activists? Led by Jennie Hill, MFW recently attempted to get two women chucked off the board of People With Disability Australia. At issue were posts board members Samantha Connor and Kelly Cox left on the MFW Facebook page, which the activist organisation claimed were abusive. Given the way MFW carries on across its social media campaigns, this must have been very strong stuff. But rather than merely ban the women from its own forum, MFW decided to campaign to throw them off the board of PWDA. PWDA president David Abello told members of the national disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation it had high expectations for elected board members and fully expect these standards to be met. We make no apology for that. Actions by some board members were in breach of the code of conduct, he said. Firefighters helped rescue 37 people during bad flooding throughout Northern Ireland yesterday. This included one incident in Draperstown in County Derry where 13 people had to be rescued. Heavy rain led to widespread flooding with a number of rivers, including the River Roe in Limavady, bursting their banks. Maghera, Cookstown, Draperstown and Newcastle in County Down were the areas worst affected. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said they responded to 28 flood related incidents as a result of heavy rainfall between midnight on Monday night until 8pm on Tuesday. The spokesperson added: "Working in challenging conditions, firefighters rescued 37 people who were trapped by flood water from their cars or from properties. "NIFRS worked closely with colleagues from the PSNI, Coastguard Agency, Ambulance Service and Volunteer Agencies to provide a multi-agency response to the flood conditions. "This was a very challenging period for our Regional Control Centre Personnel. They deployed Flood Rescue Teams and our Specialist Rescue Team to work alongside local operational crews. "The weather forecast has now improved and NIFRS flood response has now been scaled back. "I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that in the event of serious flooding to phone the NI Flooding Incident Line on 0300 2000 100. If there is a risk to life dial 999 immediately and we will respond." A man walks away from the scene of a shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin: @bgonthescene Former Vice President Joe Biden said he has spoken with the family of Jacob Blake, a black man who was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin in a confrontation caught on video that has since sparked major protests, adding: "I told them justice must and will be done." A 17-year-old Illinois resident was arrested and charged with shooting and killing two people and injuring one other in Kenosha, Wisconsin amid protests sparked by Mr Blake's shooting, with video footage showing a white gunman carrying a semi-automatic rifle and opening fire in the middle of the street. The protests turned violent on Tuesday evening as people gathered in honour of Mr Blake, who was shot by police seven times on Sunday. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth later condemned armed "vigilantes" attempting to deputise for police officers in response to the protests, as local officials called for "additional guns" to be taken off the streets. It was later reported that the shooting suspect was spotted attending a rally held in January by Donald Trump, who meanwhile announced on Wednesday that he would be sending the National Guard to Wisconsin after Governor Tony Evers requested federal assistance. The White House confirmed on Wednesday it had helped Wisconsin in the deployment of almost 1,000 National Guard troops following the protests. Speaking truth to power, Jacob Blakes mother Julia Jackson is calling on everyone to UNITE as human beings. TOGETHER we can create the CHANGE that's needed in this world! pic.twitter.com/RHykhrmsep Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 27, 2020 "We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and demand the officers be held accountable." Sterling Brown and George Hill read a prepared statement from Milwaukee Bucks players after they decided to boycott playoff game to protest shooting of Jacob Blake. https://t.co/2E185MYRWR pic.twitter.com/GUYY6qJR9f ABC News (@ABC) August 27, 2020 If you're an African American, tonight the despair is so hard to hold off. Seeing people stick up for this kid shooting people... it makes me scared for my sons. Too many kids are getting killed. Too many are hurting. There's something wrong in this country. #JacobBlake #BLM pic.twitter.com/w7oWFd92Nj Van Jones (@VanJones68) August 27, 2020 "President Trump condemns violence in all forms and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness," White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement after the Justice Department said separately that it had deployed more than 200 law-enforcement agents to the city. Mr Trump has been pushing Democratic governors to request National Guard and federal law enforcement support to deal with unrest that has followed the killing of a black man in Minneapolis police custody in May. In the Wisconsin case, the state's attorney general said investigators recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of Mr Blake's car. "We have assisted Wisconsin in the deployment of almost 1,000 National Guard and over 200 federal law enforcement personnel, which include FBI and U.S. Marshals," Ms McEnany said. Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec earlier wrote on Twitter that the law enforcement agents deployed to Wisconsin included agents and marshals from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The deployment, she said, aimed to "assist state and local law enforcement in the response to rioting and unrest and will continue to surge Kenosha with federal resources as needed and necessary." Additional reporting by agencies. Check out The Independent's live updates and coverage below: By PTI NEW DELHI: Members of the Congress-affiliated NSUI on Wednesday began an indefinite hunger strike demanding the postponement of the NEET-JEE and fee waiver for six months for students during the pandemic. The president of National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Neeraj Kundan and president of the Delhi wing of the students' body commenced the hunger strike along with eight other members. They are also demanding that varsities should not hold exams during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the NSUI had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and promoting final year students on the basis of past performance. ALSO READ: Reconsider holding JEE, NEET exams now Top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have requested the government to defer the all-India medical and engineering entrance examinations taking into consideration the concerns raised by a section of students and parents amid the coronavirus pandemic. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia too has appealed to the central government to cancel the medical and engineering entrance exams. India's coronavirus tally rose to 32.34 lakh on Wednesday with 67,151 more people testing positive for the infection, while the recoveries have surged to 24,67,758, the Health Ministry said. Bollywood actor and late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty never ever consumed drugs and is ready for any test, her lawyer said on Tuesday after reports that her chats with few people mentioned usage of drugs. The response came after some media channels claimed that her chats showed a drug angle. Satish Maneshinde, in a statement, said: "Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life time. She's ready for a blood test any time." Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate had written to the Narcotics Control Bureau seeking their guidance in the drug angle in the case. The source said that the agency wants to ascertain if there was some drug syndicate angle involved in the case of Sushant, who was found dead at his flat in Mumbai's Bandra on June 14. The ED has registered a case of money laundering on the basis of the Bihar Police FIR filed on the complaint of Sushant's father K.K. Singh. The agency has already recorded the statement of Sushant's father, his sisters Priyanka Singh, and Meetu Singh in connection with the case. It has also recorded the statement of Rhea, her brother Showik, father Indrajit, Sushant's ex-manager Shruti Modi, flatmate Siddharth Pithani, house manager Samuel Miranda, chartered accountant Sandeep Sridhar, Rhea's CA Ritesh Shah and others. Meanwhile, a team of CBI's SIT, which is in Mumbai to probe the death of the actor on Tuesday continued their questioning of Pithani, Sushant's personal staff Neeraj Singh, his CA Sridhar and accountant Rajat Mewati. According to sources, the CBI team has also summoned two Mumbai Police personnel in connection with the case. The CBI team has visited the flat of Sushant twice along with the forensic team and Pithani, Neeraj and Dipesh Sawant. In the last four days, it has also twice visited the Waterstone resort, where Sushant stayed for two months and the Cooper hospital where his autopsy was done. The agency is yet to summon Rhea and her family members. The CBI has also sought help from AIIMS Forensic Department to understand the autopsy report of Sushant. The time of death was missing from the seven page report. The CBI team earlier in the day briefed their superiors in Delhi about the latest developments and findings in the case. The CBI took over the probe after the Supreme Court gave its nod for the federal probe agency to investigate. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 15:40 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40a51e9 1 Entertainment Rich-Brian,88rising,1999,music,hip-hop Free Indonesian rapper Rich Brian has released 1999, a new EP he worked on while in quarantine. The seven-track EP is available on digital platforms and was launched a year after his well-received album The Sailor came out in the summer of 2019. The cover of Rich Brian's EP '1999'. (Courtesy of//88Rising) Along with the EP, Brian also released official music videos for the singles "Love In My Pocket" and "Dont Care". The music video for the trippy, dance-pop Love in My Pocket is a short sci-fi film featuring the rapper and three mutant clones. Directed by Daniel Cloud Campos, the video seems to cater to Indonesian fans back home by featuring a healthy dose of popular instant noodle brand Indomie. This is my favorite music video so far, Rich Brian said in a statement. Read also: Rich Brian releases Indonesian version of 'Bali' music video Brians personal favorite track on the EP, however, is "DOA". One of my favorites is 'DOA', which is basically Dead On Arrival for short. It sounds morbid but its about competing with someone who has zero chance against you in the first place, he said. Brian said he was inspired by Damon Albarns animated musical project, Gorillaz, when writing the melodies for the song. Brian, who often collaborated with many artists in his previous releases, also worked together with artists Jacob Ray, Diamond Pistols and Louis Bell on the song Sins. The EP 1999 and other releases by Rich Brian are released by 88 Rising, a United States-based record label and collective focusing on Asian-American musical talents. In July, the rapper invited his fans to make their own edits to the unfinished version of the "Love In My Pocket" video. The video shows the rapper walking on a treadmill in front of a green screen and fans were welcome to add their personal touches. (gis/wng) Idea Grove has added several tech companies to its roster. For Perpetual Motion, a disinfecting drone distributorship that aims to make arenas and other indoor and outdoor facilities safer during COVID-19, the agency will develop and distribute their first press release, execute a media relations campaign, create the brands social media profiles and launch their website. Idea Grove will serve as agency of record for education tech company Istation, supporting the company with a comprehensive PR program, highlighting its EdTech solutions and securing opportunities for the company to share insights on urgent topics for educators, students, parents and school administrators. Other new clients include tech-drive staffing platform OpenLoop, enterprise webcasting provider ReadyComm, and cloud-based artificial intelligence products company, S5 Stratos. Hemsworth Communications has been engaged by apartment-hotel brand Domio to support the brands position as an alternative lodging leader, driving a development-centric communications strategy showcasing its innovation. Co-founded in 2016 by Bank of America Merrill Lynch alumni Jay Roberts and Adrian Lam, Domio operates properties in such destinations as Miami, Chicago, Nashville and New Orleans. Our partnership with Hemsworth Communications will strengthen our brand position as we expand in the U.S. and beyond, leading the way in the apartment-hotel industry, said Domio chief development officer Brian Quinn. V2 Communications has added CarePort Health, which provides care transitions software, to its client portfolio. V2 is working to leverage CarePorts proprietary data and executive thought leadership and has already secured coverage in business press publications including the New York Times, Bloomberg and the Washington Post. The agency is also cultivating influencers, customers and partners to validate and extend the reach of key messages. CarePort bridges acute and post-acute electronic health record data, providing visibility into the entire patient journey for providers, physicians, payers and accountable care organizations. CarePort joins companies such as DirectPath and Current Health on V2s healthcare client roster. Rubenstein Public Relations has been named agency of record for Q Hydrogen Solutions Corporation, a Park City, UT-based company that has developed a technology for turning water into hydrogen gas for use in energy and electricity production, transportation and industry. The agency will work on crafting corporate messaging and developing brand positioning for the company. Rubenstein Public Relations is well-known in the energy sector for maintaining strong media relationships and creating comprehensive branding and messaging strategies that impact the bottom line, said Q Hydrogen CEO Whitaker Irvin, Jr. People hold up smartphones with QAnon-related messages on display, at a rally in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 21, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) House Lawmakers Launch Bipartisan Bid to Condemn QAnon A bipartisan effort by House lawmakers is underway to condemn QAnon and reject the conspiracy theories it promotes. Reps. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) and Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) introduced a resolution Tuesday (pdf) condemning QAnon, a movement that has often been characterized as a diffuse network of people pushing conspiratorial beliefs, including ones that devil-worshipping pedophiles have infiltrated positions of power and are in league with the far-left. QAnon is arguably no longer simply a fringe conspiracy theory but an ideology that has demonstrated its capacity to radicalize to violence individuals at an alarming speed, the two lawmakers cite in their resolution a report from the Combating Terrorism Center at the West Point Military Academy, adding that the conspiracy theories promoted by QAnon undermine trust in Americas democratic institutions, encourage rejection of objective reality, and deepen our nations political polarization. While opinions vary as to its nature and intent, QAnon is a movement that started on 4chan and 8chan message boards with a trickle of clandestine-sounding posts ostensibly authored by a mysterious figure called Q. The messages are often centered on the theme of big government plots to curb individual liberties and advance so-called deep state and globalist agendas. They sometimes claim that members of the worlds social, economic, and political elites have engaged in such egregious acts as child sex trafficking and cannibalism. Besides calling for QAnon and its claims to be condemned, Riggleman and Malinowski urge federal agencies to crack down on negative manifestations implicitly associated with the movement, saying authorities should continue to strengthen their focus on preventing violence, threats, harassment, and other criminal activity by extremists motivated by fringe political conspiracy theories. The two lawmakers also cite an FBI intelligence bulletin (pdf) from 2019 that references QAnon in context of potential domestic terrorism threats, with the bureau basing its assessment on events in which individuals committed crimes, plotted attacks, or successfully carried out deadly violence, and whoeither before or after their arrestsattributed their actions to their conspiratorial beliefs. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last week denounced the movement after Vice President Mike Pence dismissed it earlier that day. Let me be very clear, McCarthy told Fox News. There is no place for QAnon in the Republican Party. 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) It came after the Trump administration took fire for not appearing unequivocal in its condemnation of QAnon. During an Aug. 19 White House briefing, a reporter asked: Mr. President, at the crux of the theory is this belief that you are secretly saving the world from this satanic cult of pedophiles and cannibals. Does that sound like something you are behind or a believer in? I havent heard that, Trump replied, adding, But is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? I mean, you know, if I can help save the world from problems, Im willing to do it. Im willing to put myself out there. 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 rest of the world would follow. Thats the importance of this country, Trump said. At the same press conference, Trump also said that, Ive heard these are people that love our country, with multiple media outlets later running headlines framing Trumps comments as endorsing or embracing QAnon. Days after the press briefing, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was asked in an interview on Fox News whether Trump disavows the movement, does he condemn QAnon? Well, listen, wewe dont even know what it is. I can tell you youve spent more time talking on it, Chris, than we have in the White House. I find it appalling that the media, when we have all of the important things that are going on, a list of top 20, that the first question at a press briefing would be about QAnon that I had to actually Google to figure out what it is, Meadows said. Its not a central part of what the President is talking about. I dont even know anything about it. I dont even know if its credible, Meadows added. Monroe Police Department / Contributed photo MONROE A town resident was charged with illegally discharging a firearm after officers responded to complaints of gunshots in the area of Route 111 and Spring Hill Road on Sunday, police said. Luis Murillo, 50, of Spring Hill Road, was also charged with second-degree breach of peace in connection with the incident, police said. For twelve days online, you are invited to experience contemplative spiritual direction from an American follower of Hildegard, see new videos that are elegant and divinely inspired from Saint Hildegard Speaks stations along the Hildegard Way in Germany and listen to academic and theological short talks on themes in Hildegards life. This special ecumenical online pilgrimage has been created by pilgrim-filmmaker Michael M. Conti, who took the 85 mile Hildegard Way through the Nahe river region in Rhineland-Palantinate in Germany. It was an inspiration from Dr. Annette Esser, the founder of Scivias Institute for Art and Spirituality. Dr. Esser speaks in character as Hildegard at 10 stations along the trail and gives a small glimpse into the many teachings of Saint Hildegard. The Reverend Doctor Shanon Sterringer will open each daily session at Noon EDT with a ringing of the church bells from the Hildegard Haus, an American Hildegard community in Ohio. Revd Dr. Sterringer will provide spiritual direction and insight to that days video and short talk. After each Hildegard Way station video, an inspiring short talk on different themes of Hildegards life and theology will be given by international Hildegard scholars and theologians, curated by Dr. Beverly Kienzle, recently retired from Harvard Divinity School. The virtual pilgrimage will conclude on Saint Hildegards Feast Day on Sept 17, with a special presentation by Revd Dr. Matthew Fox. The entire series will be presented on Zoom. Complete details and early bird registration information can be found at SaintHildegard.com. Who was the remarkable Hildegard of Bingen (1098 17 September 1179)? A Benedictine nun, she founded two womens monastic communities, wrote visionary treatises and multiple theological works, designed illustrations, interpreted the Bible, composed liturgical songs, and developed works on natural science and medicine. Educated in the monastery and instructed though visions, Hildegard reached a level of literary and artistic production that was achieved by few men in the Middle Ages. She was named a Doctor of the Church in 2012. Hildegard was the only medieval woman who systematically interpreted the Gospels; that is, she explained the multiple meanings of biblical texts methodically and theologically. She achieved a rich, creative, and coherent presentation of Christian theology, from the origins of the world and humankind to the afterlife. She affirmed repeatedly that divine visions taught her the deepest meaning of the Scriptures, Viriditas, or greenness, a unifying capacity of nature, lies at the core of Hildegards natural science, medicine, cosmology, and theology. The life-giving power of the Holy Spirit offers hope, refreshment, and faith in Gods creation, even when human perversion destroys it. For Hildegard, the lives and spirits of all creatures are interdependenta crucial lesson for a world suffering from a pandemic and the destruction of natural life. Her belief in the interconnectedness of all living beings influences the international movements for integrative medicine and for environmental protection. Hildegards influence on healing, creation theology, and womens leadership continues today, as evidenced by the spiritual pilgrimage to her homeland, so beautifully presented in the videos that follow. The Hildegard Way (Hildegardweg) was established with the support from the EU in 2013 and is a 137 km pilgrimage trail through the Nahe river region in Germany. The trail begins in Ida-Oberstein, leading past the monastery ruins of Disibodenburg and Hildegards Rupertsburg Abbey, concluding at the Abbey of Saint Hildegard in Eibingen. 59 information tableaux, designed and written by Dr. Annette Esser, are at stations along the trail, detailing some of the teachings, philosophies, theology of Hildegard, and feature visionary artwork from Hildegards book Liber Scivas. Michael Conti Productions: About Crazy Wisdom Films (CWF): Every generation when finding its own voice also rediscovers the teachers, mystics, geniuses, misfits, rebels, troublemakers from the past. Films in the series to date include The Unruly Mystic: Saint Hildegard and The Unruly Mystic: John Muir." Just when you think things couldn't get even more difficult for Donald Trump, he has now had to accept the resignation of one of his closest advisers, Kellyanne Conway. This time four years ago, all eyes were on the American election campaign. Due to current circumstances - a certain pandemic, domestic political chaos in this country, etc - we seem to have rather taken our eye off the ball when it comes to this year's US election. But that would be a mistake. Apart from the grim hilarity provided by two old white dudes who are both equally guilty of various crimes against common sense and appropriate behaviour, this is an election which will have profound consequences for everyone. But Conway's reluctant resignation is yet another example of how febrile and hysterical American politics has become. In the case of Conway, she wasn't taken down by dodgy dossiers, or people leaking against her. There are no allegations of financial impropriety. There are no suggestions that she was in the pocket of foreign powers. Nope, she was forced to end her political career because her daughter had a temper tantrum. Conway, who already had to cope with the fact that her husband, George, a prominent Washington lawyer, was one of Trump's most vociferous critics, was reportedly "stunned" at the weekend when 15-year-old Claudia posted a series of social media messages expressing her "devastation" at the fact her mother was scheduled to speak at the Republican convention. Not only that, but Claudia then announced she was seeking legal emancipation from her mother due to "years of childhood trauma and abuse". Insisting that from now on there would be "less drama, more mama" in the Conway household, Kellyanne stepped down. We're well used to the hoary old cliche that when political figures resign for some impropriety they'll insist they're merely doing it to spend more time with their family. In this case, it appears to be true but it also exposes a fascinating element of the current political situation - many American families and quite a few Irish ones, for that matter - have been ripped apart by the polarising impact of Donald Trump. In any normal election cycle, Trump would be finished. His handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has been nothing short of atrocious and, it has to be said, unbecoming of an American president. He has praised the conspiracy weirdos who believe in the infamous QAnon claims that the so-called "Deep State" is protecting a high-profile ring of political paedophiles and using Covid-19 as a way of introducing martial law to keep the citizens locked up at home. He has supported the anti-mask protesters. As we all know, he even suggested ingesting certain kinds of bleach could protect people from the virus. His handling of the whole issue has been nothing short of scandalous, so surely Joe Biden will walk home with the kind of victory not seen since 1984 when Ronald Reagan trounced Walter Mondale? Not quite. We tend to have a rather binary approach towards American politics in this country, where we lazily assume that each election is a choice between black and white, and the voters of either side are either good or evil. It's a laughably simplistic approach and anyone who knows any Americans will also know that Biden is a deeply unpopular pick and a sign of a Democratic Party tearing itself apart. Biden was instructed by the DNC leadership to have a woman of colour as his running mate and Kamala Harris ticked those boxes - but her nomination also enraged the younger, more extreme elements of the party. They can't forgive her for her tenure as a chief prosecutor in California who imprisoned many young black men for smoking weed and they despise her for being, in their terms, "a cop". These are strange times in the Divided States of America, and nothing illustrates the current battleground better than the fact the Democrats are turning on each other because one of their candidates is running on a law and order ticket. But there is more to the anti-Kamala brigade than mere resentment that she was a prosecutor. What's really motivating both sides is an obsession with identity politics. The Republicans see little more than box-ticking and respond with derision. The Democrats, however, have become increasingly obsessed with race, gender and sexuality. That may play well with the coastal, metropolitan elites who like to obsess about diversity, but it doesn't play well in the heartland where people are more concerned with how much money they have at the end of the month. On a purely financial level, Trump's tax cuts had a demonstrably beneficial impact on most Americans. That may seem irrelevant to many of the so-called 'Never Trumpers' but it's a big deal for people who feel the current president has simply made their lives easier. By any normal metric, Trump should be an easy opponent - Lord knows, his list of gaffes, exaggerations and outright lies provide more than enough ammunition for even a half-competent rival to beat him. But the Democrats are like the gang that couldn't shoot straight. They have simply failed to learn the lessons of four years ago. Last week's Democratic convention was a perfect illustration of this refusal to evolve. Enlisting a variety of celebrities, such as Eva Longoria and renowned political theorist and 18-year-old pop star Billie Eilish, was embarrassing. After all, Hillary Clinton had the whole weight of Hollywood behind her. Even Bruce Springsteen, an icon for many working-class Trump voters, railed against The Donald. The result? People in the swing states resented the idea of being lectured by celebrities and Springsteen faced boycotts from his former fans. You cannot scold your way into office, yet that Democratic convention was a master class in scolding, hectoring and finger-wagging. Trump's rallies, on the other hand, have been about how great America is and how they are the best people in the world. That may seem rather simplistic to outsiders, but nobody wants a leader who will make the population feel bad about themselves. The Dems have also failed to present a clear and easily digestible message. Just as Boris Johnson had the simple mantra 'Get Brexit Done', Trump ran - and continues to run - on the basic 'Make America Great Again'. What have the Democrats got? Nothing that we can see, at this stage. Maybe Mr Biden should run on a catchy slogan of 'Make America Sane Again'. Either way, the next few months are going to be utterly riveting. We'll know more after the debates. But don't rule out a second term for Agent Orange. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, right, speaks during a policy coordination meeting between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the finance ministry at the National Assembly on Yeouido in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap 'Containment effort the top priority, Level 3 social distancing must be avoided' By Lee Kyung-min The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the government agreed, Wednesday, to maintain an expansionary fiscal policy in 2021, as a precautionary move to ward off a longer-than-feared economic downturn brought on by the continued spread of COVID-19. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said policy priority will be placed first and foremost on containment efforts, among many other measures to combat the pandemic, adding fiscal discretion will function as the "last bastion of support." The government is unlikely to offer an emergency relief package similar to the previous one, whereby up to 1 million won ($840) was offered to all Korean households. The government is instead discussing limiting the recipients to those earning 50 percent or up to 70 percent of the median income, in a more efficient and tailored approach to help the most vulnerable. "The budget for 2021 will be drafted in a way that bolsters key initiatives to the best degree manageable by the government. Next year's budget will be a continuation of this year's expansionary drive," he said during a policy coordination meeting between the DPK and the finance ministry at the National Assembly on Yeouido in Seoul. The government should prioritize containment efforts above all else, he stressed, as a prerequisite for the much-needed economic rebound thwarted repeatedly by continued infections. "The recent flare-up must not become a full-blown second wave of COVID-19 infections nationwide. Heightening the current social distancing measures to Level 3 must be avoided at all costs," he said. The efficacy of next year's budget, the finance minister noted, will be felt more directly by parents of high school students, low-income earners, senior citizens and jobseekers. High school education will become free. Relevant laws will be abolished to expand eligibility, allowing low-income earners with dependents to seek state welfare benefit. The bottom 70 percent of people aged 65 and older will receive 300,000 won every month, an expansion from the bottom 40 percent. Up to 3 million won will be given in allowances to jobseekers who have less than 300 million won in assets and earn less than 50 percent of the median income. Also ensured is 20 trillion won allocated to support the Korean New Deal, a policy initiative set up to identify new sources of sustainable growth including ways to foster digital services. "The government will seek a more inclusive society defined by a strengthened social safety net, a value equally pursued with bringing the momentum for economic recovery. We will speed up efforts to have the objectives more clearly felt and appreciated by the public," he said. The draft of the 2021 budget plan will be submitted to the National Assembly on Sept. 3. COVID-19 has put an added risk of travelling, be it abroad or in India. Particularly in our country, it is really difficult to travel without putting oneself at risk. It is understandable in this situation that certain restrictions and guidelines need to be followed if one is particularly travelling between states or within one state itself. However, if one is planning to go ahead with their travelling plans, a few state-centric guidelines need to be followed. PTI Karnataka lifts 14-day quarantine Karnataka has lifted the 14-day quarantine required for inter-state travellers. Anybody coming from outside had to stay at home for 14 days before being able to venture out. Now that law has been lifted. PTI Bi-weekly lockdowns West Bengal decided to impose lockdowns on 2 days every week till August 31. Holidays were exempted from this rule. This was done to ensure that there were days when nobody barring essential services would be on the streets. PTI Lockdown extensions Bihar, Assam, and Chhattisgarh have extended the lockdown till August 16, 15 and 6 respectively, while Nagaland has done it till the end of the month. This means a regulation of travelling in these states. Tamil Nadu too is locked down till August 31. The same goes for Maharashtra. India continues to combat the pandemic even as cases keep on rising. More than 32 lakh people have been infected while almost 60,000 have died. Worldwide the damage is much more, needless to say. Over 2,4 crore people have been infected while the fatalities exceed 8.2 lakh. COVID has destroyed our way of life and has held us hostage. Normalcy is a distant dream. A WhatsApp exchange between actor Rhea Chakraborty and Sushant Singh Rajputs business manager Shruti Modi has provided more details about the recently uncovered drug angle in Sushants death case. The messages reportedly show that Rhea was trying to get Sushant to quit marijuana. The exchange, accessed by India Today, is from January 2020. In the conversation, an incident where Sushant cried during a meeting is brought up, followed by a message that says the actor would seek treatment immediately. He was to completely stop weed and he said he quit it since yesterday. He has gone off to sleep I am leaving for the day, two messages, from a contact saved as Shruti 2, read. The messages also suggest that despite constant medical care, Sushant was still not healing and that his doctor should be consulted about further treatment. Previous text exchanges between Rhea and Sushants house manager, Samuel Miranda, and a woman named Jaya Saha, hinted at discussions about banned substances such as marijuana and MDMA. Incase we speak about hard drugs, I havent been doing too much. Tried MDMA once, Rhea allegedly messaged a man named Gaurav Arya, asking him, You have MD? The messages were accessed by Times Now. Also Watch | How Sushants door was opened, friend reveals; CBI summons Mumbai cops: Updates Rheas lawyer has dismissed the reports. Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test, he said in a statement. Responding to the messages, Vikas Singh, the lawyer representing Sushants family, said that it was highly illegal for drugs to be administered to the late actor without his knowledge. Sushant died on June 14, and his father has filed an FIR against Rhea and members of her family, accusing them of abetting his suicide and siphoning off his money, among other charges. The drug angle was uncovered after the Enforcement Directorates investigation into the financial aspects of the case. It is being reported that the ED has submitted this prima facie information to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Narcotics Control Bureau for further investigation. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs sister, brother-in-law shocked by drug angle in his death, demand immediate action: This is criminal offence Sushants sister, Shweta Singh Kirti, and brother-in-law Vishal Kirti have also reacted to the development. Shweta, calling it a criminal offence in a tweet, has said that immediate action should be taken by the CBI on the matter. Both Rhea and Shruti Modi have been questioned by the Mumbai Police and the ED. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Stratovolcano 3562 m (11,686 ft)Ecuador, -0.08S / -77.66W(4 out of 5)1541, 1590, 1691, 1748, 1797, 1802, 1843, 1843, 1844, 1856, 1871, 1894, 1898-1906, 1912, 1926, 1929, 1936, 1944, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1972, 1973-74, 1976, 2002 (large eruption), 2004 (Nov) - 2005 (Jan), 2005 (June) - 2006 (March), 2008 (July) - ongoingExplosive and effusive.(5 days expedition to Ecuador to observe volcanic activity from close) If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online: This 17-days adventurous expedition is one of our most exciting volcano tours! Visit Halmahera, North Sulawesi and the Sangihe Islands with some of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, including Dukono, Ibu, Lokon, Soputan and Karangetang. The contrast between unspoiled rain-forest, coconut palm beaches, primitive culture and moon-like landscapes surrounding lava-spitting volcanoes could not be bigger: join us on an expedition to the two most active volcanoes of Vanuatu: Ambrym and Yasur. A selection of our most popular trips, which we have been offering and improving over many years now: Stromboli & Etna, Santorini, Java, Ethiopia, Nyiragongo and more. Have a look! A selection of great books about volcanoes and volcanism, grouped into sections of different reading level interest. The Earth's upper, rigid layer is broken into several plates which are in constant motion to one another. Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur as result of these plate boundaries. Support us - Help us upgrade our services! Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. Improved multilanguage support Tsunami alerts Faster responsiveness Earthquake archive from 1900 onwards Detailed quake stats Additional seismic data sources Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team.If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: Sen. Rand Paul spoke on the second night of the Republican National Convention, saying he is "proud" of the job President Trump has done during his first term. Details: "I dont always agree with him. But our occasional policy differences are far outweighed by our significant agreements. But more important than simple agreement is accomplishment. President Trump gets things done," Paul said. "President Trump is the first President in a generation to seek to end war rather than start one. He intends to end the war in Afghanistan. He is bringing our men and women home." Paul also claimed that Biden voted for this century's Iraq War, "which President Trump has long called the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation." "I fear Biden will choose war again," Paul added. "He supported war in Serbia, Syria, and Libya. Joe Biden will continue to spill our blood and treasure. President Trump will bring our heroes home." Reality check: When Trump was asked in 2002 if he supported invading Iraq, he responded: "Yeah, I guess so. I wish the first time it was done correctly." In his 2000 book, "The America We Deserve," Trump wrote: "[If we decide a strike against Iraq is necessary, it is madness not to carry out the mission to its conclusion." Of note: Paul, who ran against Trump for the Republican nomination in 2016, tried to paint a softer image of the president. "Donald Trump and I met many years ago before he was running for anything. When I first met him, I recall being struck by how down to earth he was. He seemed like just a normal guy. OK, a normal guy with his own plane and helicopter." "I was planning a medical mission to Guatemala to perform charity eye surgeries. We needed money to fund the trip. Donald Trump offered to help, and immediately came through for us and for those kids." Go deeper: How Rand Paul became the Trump whisperer Editor's note: This article has been updated to include President Trump's past comments on the Iraq War. The majority of British civil servants are not expected to return to the office before Christmas, insiders have claimed today. More than 20 of the UK's biggest employers also say they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time. A study found this week that British workers are the most reluctant in Europe to return because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus. Some employers say they are hamstrung by social distancing restrictions they argue prevent them from allowing many of their staff to return. As a result, many are continuing to allow employees to work remotely, with major companies such as JP Morgan now letting staff permanently split their time between home and the office if they wish, with other firms not opening up headquarters until at least next year. The majority of civil servants are also expected to steer clear of the office until at least Christmas, officials and trade unions told the Financial Times today. Dave Penman, head of the FDA union, said the number of civil servants attending the office in most government departments will most likely reach 30 or 40 per cent 'over time.' 'In most departments the numbers are steadily going up but it's not going to be huge numbers, it's not going to be a majority [by the end of the year],' he said. A senior official from another union added many workers would only return to the office on a part-time basis. The source explained this would mean most civil servants would still be at home 'on any given day' as far ahead as Christmas. One Whitehall official also revealed only a handful of his colleagues had returned to the office since the easing of lockdown, and he doesn't anticipate the majority returning before next year. More than 20 of the UK's biggest employers say they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time Senior Tories have urged Boris Johnson to make getting employees back to their desks as much of a priority as getting children back into classrooms, with a lack of feet on the ground leaving shops in town centres and business districts without customers for months to come. Voters admitted recently in a Daily Mail poll that they feared Britain's economic recovery will be hampered if staff continue to stay away from city centres. This has now been followed by a survey of dozens of major businesses, in which 24 of the 50 asked by the BBC admitted not having any plans in place to get back to the office. Economist warns getting things back to normal will be an 'uphill struggle' Business leaders have warned it will be a significant challenge for ministers to convince office workers to get back in traffic, or on crowded public transport, and head back to their company base. Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, told the Telegraph: 'Even when the obstacles are cleared, getting things back to normal will be an uphill struggle. 'For employers and workers, remote working has worked better than expected. Many will be reluctant to return to the daily grind of commuting, not least given the costs involved. 'The pandemic could have a lasting impact on how people think about the office.' Advertisement However, none of these companies were named in the corporation's research. Accounting and consultancy firm PwC said a 'crowd mentality' was seeing staff begin to trickle back to work, but economists have warned a more widescale return is likely to be an 'uphill struggle'. It comes as Business Secretary Alok Sharma said this week he hoped a return to work would help make cities 'vibrant again'. The BBC's research, which questioned big employers from banks to retailers, resulted in many firms claiming they weren't able to accommodate large numbers of employees while still following social distancing regulations. However, a substantial number of companies quizzed said they'd tried to offer choice and flexibility for staff, including 20 who have opened up their offices for those unable to work from home. Announcements have already been made by some firms that returning to the workplace is off the table until late autumn, with social media giant Facebook even pushing such a move back until next summer. Meanwhile, business leaders have warned it will be a significant challenge for ministers to convince office workers to get back in traffic, or on crowded public transport, and head back to their company base. Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, told the Telegraph: 'Even when the obstacles are cleared, getting things back to normal will be an uphill struggle. 'For employers and workers, remote working has worked better than expected. Many will be reluctant to return to the daily grind of commuting, not least given the costs involved. 'The pandemic could have a lasting impact on how people think about the office.' Kevin Ellis, chairman of PwC, admitted he was surprised employees did not return to offices in large numbers when they reopened, and that working from home, for at least part of the week, is likely to continue Similar sentiments were shared by Kevin Ellis, chairman of PwC, who admitted he was surprised employees did not return to offices in large numbers when they reopened, and that working from home, for at least part of the week, is likely to continue. He told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: 'We've got 22,000 people and our average age is 31. 'My initial expectation was just like when we left the offices back in March, that people didn't want to leave, and I thought once we opened the offices we'd be inundated with requests to come in. 'It wasn't like that, for the first few weeks it was in the hundreds. 'We now have about 8,000 people using our offices regularly and it's increasing by about 1,000 each week and I think what's happening is a sort of crowd mentality. 'As more people come back that need to meet others, talk to others and work together means they're encouraging even more people back. 'We're seeing a constant increase of about 1,000 a week to my target of half our people using the offices by the end of September. 'There is definitely a change and a shift and I think that was happening anyway, I think 10% of our people always work flexibly and that number was increasing. British workers are the most reluctant to return to the office because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus, a new study has found 'What's happened with this pandemic is an accelerated number of changes and working from home is one of those. I think a lot of people will work two or three days in the office and a couple of days at home or client site depending on their needs. 'We've never had office space for all our people because people have always worked from home or client site. 'Whether that need will change in the future, time will tell, but I think there will be more opportunity for people to work from home as that trend increases.' British firms' maximum office capacity under social distancing rules Anglo-American - 25 per cent Aviva - 10 per cent HSBC - less than 20 per cent Imperial Brands - 30 per cent Legal & General Group - 20 per cent Source: The Telegraph Advertisement Downing Street this week urged workers who want to return to their workplace to put pressure on their bosses to allow it. No10 said businesses had an obligation to offer staff 'Covid-secure workplaces' if they cannot work from home amid reports many City firms are plotting to retain home working into 2021. However it seems that some offices won't be able to bring all of their workers back because of current social-distancing rules which dictate that there needs to be two metres between each worker - a rarity in modern offices. And last month safety chiefs warned workers will not 'blindly obey' Boris Johnson's calls for a return to the office, as some of the county's biggest firms say fewer than 50 per cent of staff could come back because of social distancing. It comes as a Daily Mail poll recently revealed ministers should be doing more to get workers back into the office, with voters fearing Britain's economic recovery will be hampered if staff continue to stay away from city centres. The survey, conducted by JL Partners, found that 47 per cent want the Government to step up efforts to encourage employees back to their desks compared to 22 per cent who disagreed. More than half 51 per cent believe civil servants should set an example to the rest of the country by returning to their offices in Whitehall, compared to 21 per cent who said they should not. Meanwhile a majority (54 per cent) said getting back to the office was important for the economy. The poll suggests strong public support for ministers to get Britain back to work next month as the summer holidays end and schools return. The Government scrapped official advice to work from home at the beginning of this month. But efforts to stimulate a return to offices appear to have stalled, leaving many city centres looking more like ghost towns, even at rush hour. Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said getting things back to normal will be 'an uphill struggle' Most civil servants will not return to the office 'until after Christmas' The majority of civil servants are expected to continue working from home until at least Christmas, officials and trade unions told the Financial Times today. A senior official from one union said many workers would only return to the office on a part-time basis. The source explained this would mean most civil servants would still be at home 'on any given day' as far ahead as Christmas. One Whitehall official also revealed only a handful of his colleagues had returned to the office since the easing of lockdown, and he doesn't anticipate the majority returning before next year. This is despite the government insisting civil servants should return to the office to set an example for white collar workers. Dave Penman, head of the FDA union, said the number of civil servants attending the office in most government departments is 'steadily going up.' 'In most departments the numbers are steadily going up but it's not going to be huge numbers, it's not going to be a majority [by the end of the year], we'll probably get to 30 or 40 per cent over time,' he added. A government spokesperson said: 'Civil servants have worked throughout the pandemic and have made significant, valuable contributions towards the national effort. 'We are consulting closely with employees on ending the default that civil servants should work from home and have ensured workplaces are Covid-secure so civil servants can return safely.' Advertisement Meanwhile, senior Tories have urged the Prime Minister to speak out on the need for white collar workers to get back to their desks and make a return to the office as much of a priority as getting children back into classrooms. A string of banks and financial institutions this week confirmed they did not expect most staff to return to the office until next year, leaving shops in town centres and business districts without customers for months to come. The back to school push could free up millions of parents to return to work next month. But Downing Street indicated there were no plans for a Government drive to get office workers back to their desks, with a No 10 spokesman saying it was a matter for employers and staff. Former minister Steve Baker cranked up the pressure on Boris Johnson, however, saying: 'If our cities are going to thrive then everyone who can needs to be back in the office.' The BBC study also found some smaller firms are looking to get rid of their offices altogether, with employers spending 647 million every month to ensure a safe workplace for their staff, according to research from healthcare company Huma. Its survey of 5,000 workers and 2,000 employers found bosses have rushed to put plans and procedures in place, with new hygiene protocols, socially distant layouts and staggered work shifts among the changes being introduced. It comes after it emerged this week that routine coronavirus testing could be introduced in offices and factories as part of a new Government drive to get more people back to work. Ministers are talking to businesses about the widescale use of testing in the workplace in order to boost confidence among returning staff. The scheme could also help the Government's test and trace regime identify potential virus outbreaks more quickly, making it easier to nip them in the bud. Firms have been told they could be exempt from future local lockdowns if routine testing shows their workplaces remain virus-free. The plans come amid mounting evidence that the working-from-home culture is causing devastation on the High Street, with a survey by the Confederation of British Industry finding retail employment fell at the fastest rate for more than a decade in the year to August down by 45 per cent. How Britain's biggest firms are responding to the call for workers to return to the office Admiral The insurance company said around 15% of staff had now returned to the office, with all locations following 'stringent distancing measures. A company spokesman told WalesOnline: 'Our plan is to create a flexible workforce with a mix of remote, office and hybrid.' AstraZeneca The pharmaceutical company, which employs 8,300 people in the UK will start bringing staff who have been working from home during the pandemic back into the office in phases next month, according to People Management. Aviva The insurance giant is trialling part-time home working as some of its staff begin returning to offices in September, with social distancing rules meaning its buildings can only operate with 10% capacity. Barclays The bank has had around three times as many employees working from home as it has in offices and branches but bosses say they would like to see a return introduced 'over time', with no firm indication of when that might be. BP The oil giant could nearly half its property portfolio and shift almost 50,000 staff towards working from home or flexible workplace layouts, with up to a 75% reduction in office space on the cards, according to the Guardian. British American Tobacco The cigarette giant insists it will encourage staff to continue working from home 'until it is absolutely safe to', having 'managed the transition...brilliantly', the Telegraph reports. HSBC The Canary Wharf-based bank has only had 'a small number' of staff working in offices and branches and insisted no more of its tens of thousands of employees will return before September, after which they would do so 'on a phased basis', according to City AM. Furthermore, HSBC is limited to 20% capacity in offices due to social distancing rules. IG The financial services giant has said staff won't need to return to the office for the rest of the year. The firm's Cannon Bridge House office will reopen from September 7 but just one of its two floors will be used as many employees are expected to take up the option of continuing to work remotely. JP Morgan The world's biggest investment bank told employees in the City they can permanently split their time between home and the office, meaning remote working will continue on a part-time basis, the Telegraph reports. Lloyds The banking firm currently has around 50,000 of its 65,000 employees working from home, but said it is looking to return to workplaces from September, City AM reports. National Grid Almost all of the 4,000 office-based employees at National Grid will continue to work from home, according to People Management. Natwest The banking firm initially planned to keep staff working from home until the end of September but has since told the 'vast majority' of workers, believed to be around 50,000 people, they can continue doing so until next year. Rio Tinto The miner, which employs around 150 people at its London base, has not asked any of its staff to return to headquarters, which remain closed. RBS Staff for the bank will continue to be out of the office until next year as a result of 'global guidance', the Telegraph reports. Advertisement 'Some days we don't get a single customer': Damning proof that COVID 'cowardice' is killing a nation of shopkeepers Dean Hooke can hardly hide his delight. A tall man dressed in a striped shirt, chinos and straw hat enters his tailor's shop in Bank, central London, at noon. It's his first customer of the day. 'Some days, we don't get anyone coming in,' Dean says. 'At the moment, it's normally one or two. Four is the maximum we've had since reopening.' There has been a tailor's shop at 13 St Swithin's Lane since 1915. It has survived two world wars and 20 prime ministers. But Boris Johnson, the 21st, could be its last. The reason is simple: the City's offices remain empty. Empty: Dean Hooke (pictured) from John W. Hooke & Son in central London says some days he doesn't get a single customer Dean, whose family took over in 1977, says office workers account for at least 80 per cent of the customers at his firm John W. Hooke & Son. It's no coincidence that his takings are down by the same margin on their pre-pandemic levels. 'We've been through at least three recessions,' he says. 'My dad borrowed around 6,000 from a customer to take over the business because, in '77, banks weren't lending much. 'He brought old customers from where he used to work, and now I'm doing their grandkids. We battled through, but there were people around, unlike now.' A report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 48 per cent of people commuted to work the week before last, up from 29 per cent towards the end of May. But the UK still lags behind the rest of Europe, where an average of 68 per cent of workers have returned to their offices, according to U.S. bank Morgan Stanley. It has left family businesses struggling for survival in city centres across Britain. One in ten firms say they are at risk of going under, according to the ONS, while research by the Centre for Cities think tank published last week showed the recovery in footfall since non-essential shops reopened had been weakest in big cities where offices were concentrated. It warned that shops, restaurants and pubs are at risk if office workers continue to stay away. Smaller firms are not being helped by their corporate cousins. City giants PwC and Schroders have already said they will allow staff to work from home beyond the pandemic, while banks NatWest and Virgin Money don't expect staff to return until next year. Dean, 51, says the Government must do more. 'We need them to tell people,' he says. 'They've been too wishy washy. People wanted them to say 'do this, do that', not 'oh, it's up to you'. 'If trade remains at this level, I've got to decide whether it's profitable to keep the shop running.' IF WORKERS DON'T RETURN, WE'RE DONE Whitehall staff have been sluggish, too. Earlier this month, a Mail investigation revealed only a fraction of workers were turning up at ministerial offices. Just 94 employees were seen arriving at the vast Home Office headquarters on August 3. Anna Alam, 28, who has worked at nearby Whistles Dry Cleaners for nine years, says the lack of urgency could be terminal. 'All of these are from before lockdown,' she says, pointing to the suits hanging behind her. 'My customers, mostly from the Home Office, have been telling me they don't have to come back into the office until December and have been asking me not to throw their suits out. For me, that means no new business until next year. 'Around 70 per cent of our customers work for the Government. But its offices are empty. I like my job very much and I want to keep it but, if this carries on, everything my boss has worked hard to establish over 20 years will be lost.' Only one family is in for lunch at Pickles Sandwich Bar, which itself is sandwiched between the National Crime Agency opposite and HM Treasury behind it on Horse Guards Parade. Owner Hegazy Saada, 63, says there is normally a queue halfway out the door. 'We are doing about 20 to 30 per cent of our usual business,' he says. 'If people don't go back to their offices, small businesses are finished.' Empty: Colin Gregory normally has lunch-time queues snaking out of the building 'ONE MONDAY WE TOOK JUST 70' Colin Gregory, co-owner of the food outlet Feast, which has two branches one not far from Sheffield Crown Court and another around the corner from the Crucible Theatre says: 'If people don't come back to work, there's no place for us. These customers are our livelihood.' Mr Gregory, 58, who looks after the branch near the law courts, normally has lunch-time queues snaking out of the building. But trade has been so slow that the Monday before last he took only 70, down from an average of between 500 to 600. He and his business partner both used their houses as collateral for leases on their cafes and face a grim future unless business recovers. Colin says: 'We can't even pay the rent. If we can't pay, they are going to get the money from our homes. 'We've been in business for 13 years and had this unit for about five years. Until the virus, it's never been anything other than a great success. But if the office workers don't come back to work, we're off.' Advertisement Many of them are still in hibernation. Papa Bruno, a cafe opposite the Home Office, remains closed until September 7. Cafe Fresco, across the road from the Department for Work and Pensions where only 33 employees were seen arriving for work on August 3 is still boarded up. So, too, is Cafe Ravioli, opposite the Department for Transport. A Government spokesman says: 'We are consulting closely with employees on ending the default that civil servants should work from home and have ensured workplaces are Covid-secure, so civil servants can return safely.' FEARS CITY CENTRES WILL STAY DESERTED It's not just the capital that is suffering. In Sheffield, South Yorkshire, the city centre is normally teeming with tens of thousands of office workers employed by government departments, major banks including HSBC and RBS, accountants, law firms and technology companies. But when the Mail visited earlier this month, streets remained deserted as few have returned to work and some businesses say trade has fallen by 90 per cent. The Fig Tree, one of Sheffield's oldest cafes dating back to 1975, is struggling as its normal clientele of lawyers and accountants stay away. The situation is compounded by the Eat Out to Help Out offer giving customers up to 50 per cent off food and non-alcoholic drinks, up to a maximum of 10 per person, Monday to Wednesday this month which it cannot join because social distancing means it can only operate as a takeaway. Owner Mark Hindmarsh, 37, says: 'People returning to work in the offices is massively important. When we reopened in the last week of June it was particularly horrendous. We were down to just a quarter of what we were doing pre-lockdown. It's recovered to about half of normal trade now. 'The return to school is a week or so away. A lot hinges on that.' In Manchester, local businesses that normally cater for hordes of workers are trying new ideas rather than waiting forlornly for their return. But others have postponed reopening, closed completely or laid off staff. In the Barton Arcade, an ornate Victorian iron and glass shopping arcade off Deansgate, the coffee shop Pot Kettle Black is bouncing back better than expected due to its mix of shoppers, tourists and workers. But owner Jon Wilkin, 36, says he has had to close another branch, at Spinningfields, a prestige office development near Manchester's main law courts, because office workers are staying away. Shutting down: Jon Wilkin of Pot Kettle Black in Manchester has had to close one of his branches Mr Wilkin, who has played Rugby League for England, adds: 'We were in a building that went from 2,500 people working there each day to 200. We catered for those people. We put 100,000 into it that's gone.' Others fear many workers will never return. George Constantino, 43, owns Katsouris Greek cafe and takeaway on the corner of main thoroughfares Deansgate and John Dalton Street. He believes firms will downsize and do away with big offices. 'Nearby, three or four shops haven't reopened after lockdown,' he adds. 'If you have three or four empty units in a row, the whole area becomes unattractive. This is obviously a huge concern.' Mr Constantino, whose business opened 15 years ago, said trade is currently 50 to 60 per cent of pre-lockdown levels, but he has not had to lay off any staff. He adds: 'At the start of each week, we keep hoping there will be more people. We're trying different things to attract customers. 'I'm working on a new menu and we're going to start opening Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, too. We're hoping to get more residential customers.' WE ONLY HAVE MONTHS LEFT The Government says it is up to individual companies to decide when and how to bring back staff. But senior Tories have urged the Prime Minister to highlight the need for white collar workers to get back to their desks. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith believes the Government 'must stop equivocating'. 'The messaging has to change and it has to be clear,' he adds. 'We should be encouraging people to go to work. It's vital that we get the economy moving now.' 'The offices that are open provide the cash for small businesses and they employ the vast majority of British workers. For goodness' sake, let's get back to work.' Views are split among businesses, too. Alex Astbury, 26, has worked at Sixteen Kitchen near Birmingham New Street train station for two-and-a-half years. Drop: Alex Astbury from Sixteen Kitchen in Birmingham says business is down by around 75 per cent He says business is down by around 75 per cent due to the lack of commuters and he fears small businesses won't last 'if this is the new normal'. But he believes workers shouldn't be cajoled back against their will. 'It's difficult to say whether the Government should enforce people coming into work more,' he adds. 'It's what people feel comfortable doing that is important. Do I like having people coming in? Sure, but I wouldn't want them to feel unsafe.' But time is running out, even for those who cater to the great and the good. Sayed Hashemi has run Top Tailor in Birmingham for seven years and counts mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street as a customer. Sayed says turnover is down by 90 per cent as 'nearly all' his customers are office workers. Sayed, 37, says Mr Street is one of the few visitors he still receives. 'He comes in all the time,' Sayed adds. 'He talks to us and offers his help quite a lot. One of his jackets is in the shop for dry cleaning. 'He tells us he thinks things will be back to normal by October/ November time, but we are sitting here waiting for that to happen. 'If people stay working at home, we will have to close the shop permanently. I would say we have two to three months left.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:42:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHENYANG, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Wednesday issued a Level II emergency response in the wake of Typhoon Bavi barreling toward the region. The alert is the second highest in the four-tier system of emergency responses. Bavi will bring strong winds and downpours in most parts of Liaoning on Wednesday and Thursday, with some areas seeing up to 200 mm of rain, the provincial meteorological bureau said. The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters ordered suspension of classes and businesses, exempting special industries. Vessels in the affected areas were required to return to port. On Wednesday, Shandong provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters activated a Level IV emergency response for the typhoon. Bavi is expected to bring gales and downpours to east Shandong, with some areas experiencing more than 150 mm of rain. A total of 15,000 members from 89 professional flood control teams are on standby. The province directed relevant departments to strengthen safety management of tourist sites and assigned personnel to inspect aquafarms, vessels and ports. All ships were asked to be moored and crew members moved to land. China's national observatory issued a red alert, the highest warning level, for Bavi at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Typhoon Bavi, the eighth this year, was seen around 610 km offshore south of the border of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), at 5 p.m. Wednesday, with a maximum wind-force of 45 meters per second near its eye, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said. The NMC expects the typhoon to move northward at a speed of 30 km per hour before making landfall in coastal areas between Zhuanghe City of Liaoning and North Pyongan province in DPRK Thursday morning. From Wednesday to Thursday, parts of the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong and Jiangsu will experience downpours, the NMC said. Enditem Billionaire investor Sam Zell told CNBC on Wednesday that corporate leaders have a role to play in helping U.S. cities stave off a serious economic decline in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and a summer of social unrest. "It's going to require leadership. It's going to require leaders of all the companies to come back to their offices and lead the people and create the opportunity," Zell said on "Squawk Box." "Hiding out in the Hamptons or hiding out in Vermont or wherever doesn't make any sense and is counter-productive." Zell, chairman of Chicago-based Equity Group Investments, expressed concerns about the upticks in violence in major U.S. cities this summer. He also referred to the damage and vandalism done to businesses on Chicago's Magnificent Mile earlier this month, which the city's mayor, Lori Lightfoot, later described as "straight-up felony criminal conduct." Zell's comments came one day after global investor Barry Sternlicht suggested on CNBC that "hundreds of thousands of people" are now looking for homes in the suburbs. Although there's been debate on how the coronavirus pandemic has influenced a migration from large cities, the Starwood Capital Group founder said he thought it was more recently driven by safety concerns. Zell, who made his fortune buying distressed assets, said Sternlicht is "exactly right." He added, "We're in kind of an early stage of, let's call it, a change. You can see it here in Chicago." However, Zell evinced a more optimistic view on the trajectory of urban places, calling the recent decisions from people to leave big cities a "short-term response." "I think the basic reasons for cities the fact that we're social animals, the fact that urbanization creates both challenges and opportunities isn't about to change. And I don't think we're going to see anything like a repeat back to the bad old days where cities were too dangerous," Zell said. Zell is also chairman of Equity Residential, Equity Lifestyle and Equity Commonwealth, three publicly traded real estate investment trusts. Equity Residential, in particular, has a portfolio that includes apartments in major cities such as New York, Boston and San Francisco. Equity Commonwealth's portfolio consists of commercial offices. The future of offices has come into question due to the pandemic, which prompted a widespread adoption of remote work in order to slow the spread of the virus. Although some companies such as Twitter have given most employees the option to work remotely "forever," tech titans such as Facebook and Amazon have recently advanced plans to add jobs in their New York City operations. tech2 News Staff In September 2019, Apple reportedly conveyed its plans to the Indian government to open up to three brick-and-mortar outlets and an online store in India. Reports last year suggested that Apple's first offline store in India will be open by September 2020, however, with COVID-19 outbreak altering most timelines, this may also be delayed. As for the online store, Apple did announce its plans to launch a company-owned online store in India, however, there is no confirmation on when this will happen. Now, a report by Bloomberg claims that the online store may launch in India as soon as next month. Reportedly, Apple aims to launch the online store ahead of the Diwali-Dussehra festive season. Notably though, in January this year, at the revenue call meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook had already confirmed that the company will launch its online store in India by the end of 2020. tech2 reached out to Apple to confirm the alleged September timeline, however, the company refused to authenticate that. Apple has also not yet made any official announcement regarding this. Apple announced its plans for opening offline and online stores in India last year after the government relaxed FDI norms, offering players more flexibility on local sourcing norms. It also did away a provision that required companies to mandatorily set up a brick-and-mortar store before getting into online retail trading. Earlier this month, Apple became the first US company to boast a market value of $2 trillion. Apple's first offline store in India will be located at Mumbais Maker Maxity mall in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The company will reportedly open its second offline store in Bangalore. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Charles Brian (Charlie) Minter passed away peacefully at his home in Republic, Washington, Sunday, August 16, 2020, at the age of 83. Charlie was born on September 26, 1936, in Stockton, California, and was the first of seven children raised by parents Robert and Frances E. (Dougherty) Minter. Charlie followed in the footsteps of his father for the love of the outdoors and in the profession of carpentry. He spent many years fishing, hunting and enjoying the woods in the Northwest. In the early 1940's the family moved to the Seattle area where Charlie's dad worked in the shipyards during the war. Later in the 1940's the family moved to the Grand Coulee Dam area of eastern Washington. After graduating from Coulee Dam High School in 1955, Charlie joined the US Army in 1957 and served as an Army Photographer through 1959 receiving an honorable discharge. Returning to the Coulee area he met and married Louella Orr of Omak, Washington, in 1960 and they had two children Marty and Michelle. Their marriage ended in 1970. Charlie then worked throughout the Northwest in various carpenter positions. In the 1990's Charlie moved to Hungry Horse, Montana, living there for several years and meeting his last life partner; Susan Foster. Charlie and Susan returned to the area he loved -settling in Republic, Washington, up until his recent passing. Charlie loved to fish and hunt, spending many enjoyable outings with his two brothers Robert Jr. and Roland as well as many friends over the years. Charlie is survived by his son Marty (Jana) Moore of Omak, daughter Shelly (Yogi) Smith of Kettle Falls, granddaughter Holly Smith and grandsons Mike and Ryan Moore. He is also survived by three of his sisters: Lorraine Monet of Spokane, Washington, Yvonne Griffin of Hermiston, Oregon, and Cheryl (Harvey) Moses of Nespelem, Washington, two brothers: Robert Minter Jr. of Cascade, Idaho, and Roland Minter of Elk River, Idaho. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents and a sister; Marilyn (John) Aumick, of Elmer City, Washington, and his companion Susan of Republic, Washington. Charlie made many close friends while residing in Republic and the Grand Coulee area over many years. The family expresses many thanks to all those who called Charlie a friend and for assisting him in his later years, especially Jim and Virginia Patrick of Republic who took Charlie on many fishing and hunting trips and cared for him in his failing health. Charlie will be missed by all his family and the many friends he made over the years. Due to the pandemic, no services are planned at this time but a memorial will be held in the spring when his ashes will be placed near his Mother's grave in the Spring Canyon Cemetery in Grand Coulee. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to a local charity of your choice in Charlie's name. Bergh Funeral Service & Crematory is in care of arrangements. Education is a hot topic this Legislative session. Here's what bills we're watching. Here are some of the hot-button education bills were tracking at the Argus Leader. Check back each day to see where they stand as we update. An air bridge could be set up between London and New York to allow Britons to avoid quarantine - but the rest of the US will remain 'red listed' due to the high number of Covid-19 cases. Anyone arriving in Britain from the US has to quarantine for two weeks, under rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The reopening of the route would help rescue airlines that rely on trans-Atlantic travel. Proposals are at very early stages. But if they get the go-ahead, New York could become the UK's first 'regional travel corridor' destination. This would open the floodgates to winter holidays in America and help thousands of British businesses that rely on US visitors. A source told The Telegraph: 'There are discussions going on at a very senior level around opening up London and New York. They are at a very early stage but it is vital to get business going with a major trading partner especially as we near Brexit.' Today the boss of the trade body Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade, warns 'there is no future for international aviation without a comprehensive testing programme' (pictured, London) In New York (pictured), the cumulative number of cases over seven days, a key statistic closely-watched by Downing Street, is at 7.2 per 100,000 residents, lower than the UK on 11.3 and much lower than the Government's quarantine threshold of 20 This would open the floodgates to winter holidays in America and help thousands of British businesses that rely on US visitors (file photo) 1 in 4 jobs are culled at Gatwick Gatwick cut 600 jobs yesterday one in four of its workforce as part of a major reshaping of the airport's business. It is only operating about a fifth of last year's flights and over 75 per cent of its staff are on the Government's furlough scheme. Elsewhere, Rolls-Royce announced it would close its site in Annesley, Nottinghamshire, weeks after announcing 9,000 aerospace job cuts. Restaurant chain Wahaca is to close ten restaurants and BMW announced the loss of 400 jobs at its Mini car factory in Oxford. Official figures suggest that 730,000 people lost their jobs between March and July. Experts warn this is the tip of the iceberg as many jobs are being propped up by the furlough scheme, which ends in October. Economists have warned the number of people out of work could rise to nearly four million by the end of the year. Advertisement Today the boss of the trade body Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade, warns 'there is no future for international aviation without a comprehensive testing programme'. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has repeatedly played down the idea of airport testing, claiming swab tests would fail to spot almost 90 per cent of asymptomatic cases. But in a growing revolt, more than 80 MPs, including 40 Tories, have warned that failure to endorse airport testing will have a disastrous impact on the travel industry and wider economy. Senior aviation bosses, including Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye, say quarantine measures have hung the 'Closed' sign on Britain and are costing the economy 60million a day in lost foreign visitor spending. As well as airport testing, industry leaders are also eager for ministers to establish 'regional travel corridors' to low-risk destinations. In New York, the cumulative number of cases over seven days, a key statistic closely-watched by Downing Street, is at 7.2 per 100,000 residents, lower than the UK on 11.3 and much lower than the Government's quarantine threshold of 20. Paul Charles, of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: 'My clear understanding is that there are initial talks taking place between the Department for Transport and the US Department of Transportation to create corridors between Heathrow and New York, which is the world's most popular air route. 'However, I understand that US authorities want to see firm testing taking place at Heathrow. The reopening of the route would help rescue airlines that rely on trans-Atlantic travel (pictured, Heathrow Terminal 5) Proposals are at very early stages. But if they get the go-ahead, New York (pictured, JFK Airport) could become the UK's first 'regional travel corridor' destination 'It would send a strong signal if this vital route was to open again, and would build confidence for long-haul travel. It is one of the best things this Government could do for the airline industry.' Virgin Atlantic resumed flights from Britain to New York in July, as well as Los Angeles - running three round trips a week. An airport industry source told The Telegraph: 'New York is the financial centre of the most powerful economic force in the world so we need to be able to fly there.' Earlier this month Heathrow's boss called for quarantine measures to be scrapped and for passengers to be tested on arrival. Just 867,000 people travelling through the west London airport last month, compared with 7.7million in July 2019. Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: 'Tens of thousands of jobs are being lost because Britain remains cut off from critical markets such as the US, Canada and Singapore. 'The Government can save jobs by introducing testing to cut quarantine from higher-risk countries, while keeping the public safe from a second wave of Covid.' It comes amid growing certainty that Switzerland will become the latest country to face quarantine restrictions tonight. The country's cumulative number of cases over seven days hit 21.2 per 100,000 people yesterday. Jamaica and the Czech Republic are also at risk. In full: The countries which are not on the UK's quarantine list The Government has imposed quarantine restrictions on numerous countries in recent weeks. Below is the latest list of nations which are still viewed by the UK as safe to travel: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, the ChannelIslands, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macao, Malaysia, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, St Barthelemy, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre and Miquelon, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Vatican City State, Vietnam. Advertisement Britain can soar once more if ministers back tests at airports, writes Airlines UK boss TIM ALDERSLADE Pictured: Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK To save Britain's aviation industry and wider economy from the fallout of Covid-19 and its aftershocks, it is imperative that Boris Johnson follows the logic understood by our European neighbours and introduces testing for incoming passengers at British airports as a priority. The stark truth is that there can be no future for international aviation without a comprehensive testing programme for travellers from countries deemed to pose a higher risk of Covid. I sense that the Prime Minister and some of his ministers understand this perfectly well. The challenge is how to overcome the instinctive Whitehall inertia that now seems to prevail. 'Air corridors' to low-risk countries brought some temporary relief to the industry over the summer holiday peak at least until the shutters were abruptly pulled down to hit travel from countries such as Spain and France. But as we move out of the holiday season, the key to the industry's survival and to Britain's economic recovery is global travel, particularly from the United States and Canada, South and Central America, and much of Asia. The current regime of forcing those arriving at British airports from 'red countries' those with relatively high levels of infections to quarantine for two weeks effectively wrecks all such travel, be it for leisure or business purposes. As an initial step, our economy cannot hope to recover until we reconnect with our most important trading partner, the US. About one-fifth of our exports by value head across the Atlantic, much of it transported in passenger aircraft alongside the luggage. The US is also the top inbound tourism market for the UK, with Americans making up 11 per cent of visitors, spending lavishly as they enjoy our castles, restaurants, golf courses, pubs and theatres. London's West End cannot hope to thrive again until the Americans return. The stark truth is that there can be no future for international aviation without a comprehensive testing programme for travellers (pictured at Heathrow) from countries deemed to pose a higher risk of Covid And if we continue as we are, tens of thousands of those workers in the service and entertainment industries who have been furloughed will find themselves permanently unemployed. Yet passenger flights between the UK and US remain almost completely grounded. Surely our Prime Minister, US-born and instinctively pro-American to his core, must understand the absurdity of this state of affairs? The most frustrating part of this is that we now have a key part of the solution to hand fast and reliable testing, at scale. Heathrow, our global hub, has the infrastructure ready to go, in partnership with two private operators, Swissport and Collinson. But it needs a decision from the Government that testing is an acceptable alternative to mandatory quarantine. Many countries are already well ahead. Some test once on arrival, others require a negative pre-departure test. I sense that the Prime Minister and some of his ministers understand this perfectly well. The challenge is how to overcome the instinctive Whitehall inertia that now seems to prevail (pictured, Heathrow) Early this month, Germany introduced a free, mandatory single PCR test the most accurate available for arrivals from higher-risk countries into all its major airports. Travellers must isolate until a result is obtained, usually within 24 hours. A negative result frees the traveller from the need to quarantine for 14 days. The German approach applied here would really be a game-changer, and surely that must be our ultimate aim. Ministers have raised concerns that such a single test might fail to capture sufficient numbers of infected individuals who are at an early stage of infection This is a valid concern, but data from live testing programmes support the case that a single test is effective in significantly reducing risk. Certainly, it has proved good enough for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is not known for being reckless. Every step we take away from lockdown comes with some risk. Reopening schools, for example, is not without risk, but keeping children at home is rightly deemed more damaging. The same is true of reopening up to North America and beyond. It is the cornerstone of our post-Brexit future as a truly global and connected Britain. Yet this is now at serious risk and cannot be realised if we remain shut to international travel while our competitors are putting effective solutions into practice. The alternative is to continue bleeding jobs and connectivity, putting visitors under two-week house arrest and watching our competitors recover as we languish in an isolation of our own making. More than 70 people have been killed after flash floods swept through Afghanistan's Parwan province on Wednesday (August 26). The floods struck in the early hours of the morning, washing away men, women and children and destroying 300 homes, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management. At least 90 people were injured. Footage shot by a local resident showed the devastating aftermath - as rescuers dug through the mud in a desperate search for survivors. The force of the water was enough to overturn cars. This man says he tried to move his family to a rooftop when the floods suddenly came and swept them away. Seven members of his family are now missing. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter that his office had instructed authorities to provide emergency disaster relief to survivors. FDC gained 3.83% to Rs 329.65 after the pharmaceutical company launched two variants of of Favipiravir drug - PiFLU and Favenza - which will be used to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in India. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 25 August 2020. FDC has launched two variants of of Favipiravir drug for COVID-19, i.e. PiFLU and Favenza; which will be used to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in India. With the third largest number of cases globally, at close to three million, and a daily increase rate that is on the rise, the Indian economy and populace have both seen major hits over the past two quarters, FDC said. Earlier this year, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved the use of Favipiravir, an off patent, oral anti-viral drug that has been shown to quicken clinical recovery in COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms. It is a broad spectrum anti-viral agent, and selectively inhibits RNA polymerase of influenza and SARCOV-2 virus and prevents viral replication. Commenting on the development, Mayank Tikkha, the spokesperson at FDC, stated the company will be working with the government and healthcare fraternity to make Favenza and Piflu available across the country. FDC's PiFLU and Favenza is currently available across the country. FDC has also increased the production and availability of its brand of balanced electrolyte drink Enerzal and Electral as per ASPEN guidelines, 3 litres of fluid intake in a day (60 to 120 ml in every 30 minutes) helps in speedy recovery of people who are home quarantined. FDC's consolidated net profit jumped 63.1% to Rs 91.72 crore on a 10.3% decline in net sales to Rs 308.18 crore in Q1 June 2020 over Q1 June 2019. FDC is a fully integrated research-oriented pharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of Formulations (Finished Dosage Forms) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The brother of missing Colorado woman Suzanne Morphew is speaking publicly for the first time, pleading with his brother-in-law to co-operate with authorities. Suzanne, 49, hasn't been seen since she set off on a solo bike ride from her home in Maysville on Mother's Day, May 10. At the time, her husband, Barry Morphew, was reportedly 150 miles away in Denver at a training course for volunteer firefighters. He has denied any involvement in his wife's disappearance, and refutes claims that he has refused to take a polygraph test. However, in an interview with Fox News on Monday, Suzanne's brother, Andy Moorman, said Barry should do more to help with the investigation. 'Please, Barry, if you could see this, I would really love it if you would take the time to revisit the authorities and go over everything once again ... Take a voice analysis and a lie detector test and clear yourself,' Andy stated. 'Put my mind at ease and everybody out there's mind at ease if you want to shut the rumors down. That's the way you do it. You need to find your wife. That should be your only goal is to find your wife and whatever you're asked to do by the authorities is what you should. If you're not guilty, step up to the plate.' Andy's interview comes less than a week after Barry spoke with FOX 21, after three months of avoiding the media. Andy Moorman, the brother of missing Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew, has spoken out about her disappearance for the first time. The siblings are pictured together in an old photo Suzanne and her husband Barry are pictured with their daughters, Mallory and Macy, in an old social media snap During his 25-minute call with the news station - which he insisted was not to be recorded - Barry said he wanted to clear up rumors that he had turned down a polygraph test. He claimed that he has not been asked to take one, and has always been co-operative with police. 'There is nothing that I am hiding. I have given three 30 hours of testimony to the FBI and the CBI [Colorado Bureau of Investigation]. I've answered every question. Every single question,' he stated. Barry also accused investigators of 'screwing' up the investigation 'from the beginning', and claimed that cops were now 'trying to cover it up and blame it on me'. During his chat, Barry theorized what may have happened to his wife. He mentioned the possibility she may have been attacked by a wild animal as she cycled in the mountains. However, Suzanne's brother, Andy Moorman, says the way her bike was discovered makes that theory implausible. Suzanne's bicycle was found the day after her disappearance on a trail not far from her home. 'An animal did not attack her because there absolutely was no blood evidence and no tracks on the ground, no scent from an animal,' Andy stated. Suzanne's disappearance sparked an extensive search that included tracking dogs, water rescue teams and tactical mountain rescuers. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI were also called in. There are currently no clues as to her whereabouts Last week, Barry gave his first interview since his wife's disappearance more than three months ago. The couple are pictured in an old social media photo 'I stood there and looked and I realized that nobody rode over the side of that hill. There would have been signs of a struggle or you would have been skinned up. 'I said to Barry 'Hey, I don't think she fell off the hill on that bicycle or rode over the edge.' I said, 'I believe a human being threw this [the bike] down here.' Andy says he has not spoken to Barry since around that time. He has also not spoken to Suzanne and Barry's two daughters - Mallory and Macy. However, he is still holding out hope that more answers will be forthcoming. 'My sister was just the sweetest person ever and anyone would have been happy to be friends or neighbors with her. 'And she has two daughters without answers right now. My father at 87 has cancer and needs answers. And I'm not going to give up. I'm coming back out there to look.' During the phone interview last week, Barry theorized what may have happened to his wife. He mentioned the possibility she may have been attacked by an animal while out riding remote trails One week after Suzanne's disappearance, Barry released a video announcing a $100,000 reward for her safe return. He then retreated from the public eye. One week after Suzanne's disappearance, Barry released a video announcing a $100,000 reward for her safe return. He then retreated from the public eye. On May 21 - 11 days after Suzanne vanished - the FBI commenced a three-day search of a construction site Barry was landscaping at the time in the nearby town of Salida. However, despite an extensive search, investigators found no clues in the search for Suzanne. During his interview with Fox 21, Barry did admit one inconsistency with a story he told investigators regarding a bobcat he used for landscaping. 'It was only because I didn't know the time that I did something, a mechanical thing, to my bobcat,' he stated. 'I was confused and I just found out my wife was missing, and I was a little bit not in my right mind when they were asking me these questions, but I did the best I could and I answered everything. I never once declined any interview.' On May 21, the FBI commenced a three-day search of a construction site Barry was working on around the time of Suzanne's disappearance On May 21, the FBI commenced a three-day search of the construction site where Barry had been working as a landscaper around the time of Suzanne's disappearance Suzanne's disappearance sparked an extensive search that included tracking dogs, water rescue teams and tactical mountain rescuers. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI were also called in. In late May, police took custody of the Morphew family's $1.5 million residence to carry out a search. Cops were seen carrying evidence bags and equipment into the home. A CSI photographer was spotted on the premises, and evidence bags were pictured being brought out and loaded into a van before the house handed it back to the family on May 28. A second search was conducted in July, but police did not say whether or not they had obtained anything of interest. Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze says more that a dozen detectives are still working around the clock. 'The case remains very active, as more than a dozen investigators are aggressively working this case on a daily basis. 'And until we determine what happened to Suzanne, we can't discount any scenario or formally eliminate anyone from suspicion.' The Chaffee County Sheriff's Department is urging anyone with information to call (719) 312-7530. Kendall Stephens stands near her Point Breeze home on Wednesday. Stephens, a transgender woman, said she was beaten inside her home Monday night by a group of women and men who called her transphobic slurs. Read more On Monday night, Kendall Stephens opened the door of her Point Breeze home after hearing a ruckus outside and saw about 25 people standing around watching as a man and woman fought, she said. She told the crowd she was going to call the police and one woman cursed at her, then just charges at me and just starts swinging at me with closed fists, Stephens, a transgender woman, recalled Wednesday. She pushed her way into my home, then men and women started coming in, beating me, said Stephens, 34. During this assault, they were screaming transphobic slurs to me, she said of the group of about nine people who burst into her home. They were calling me a [expletive] tranny. This is a hate crime, said Stephens. For someone to come into your home and hurl transphobic slurs, that shows hateful intent. One of the women in the attack, which started about 10:15 p.m. picked up a square wooden planter in Stephens home and beat her in the head and face with it, Stephens said. Some women also pulled some of her hair out, she said. As she was being beaten, her two goddaughters, 12 and 16, looked on in horror, she recalled. Stephens said she was able to escape into her basement and lock the door. Seconds later, she said, one of her goddaughters told her the group had left. Officer Miguel Torres, a Philadelphia police spokesperson, said Wednesday that detectives with the South Detective Division are investigating the reported assault. Deja Lynn Alvarez, an advocate in the transgender community who serves as a liaison to the police, said Wednesday that the attack on Stephens underscores the lack of protection for LGBTQ people in Pennsylvanias hate-crime law. In 2014, Philadelphia passed legislation that recognizes attacks based on gender identity or sexual orientation as hate crimes. That allows a crime targeting LGBTQ people in Philadelphia to be charged as a summary offense, said Jane Roh, spokesperson for Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. Krasner supports expanding hate-crimes protection to LGBTQ people in state law, and urges the Pennsylvania legislature to do so, said Roh. In Pennsylvania, a person can be charged with ethnic intimidation if an offense was committed with malicious intention toward a person based on race, color, religion, or national origin. Stephens, a Temple University student who transferred from the Community College of Philadelphia, said after the assailants left her house, she went to her front door and saw the first woman who had punched her get into the back of a car. Were coming back to finish the job, Stephens said the woman told her before the car left. Meanwhile, she said the woman who had hit her with a wooden planter was standing outside a home about five doors down from hers laughing after the attack. She was treated at Jefferson Healths Methodist Hospital for various injuries including a broken nose, cuts to her gums, mouth, and lips, and facial swelling. She said she and her goddaughters feel traumatized. I dont understand why this would happen to me, she said. This is very frightening. At the end of July, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the largest teachers union in the state, released a statement pushing back on plans for schools to reopen with in-person learning. Without better COVID safeguards in place, it was too dangerous, the organization argued. Then, literally, when that hit the news that night, our phone started ringing off the hook, said Thomas Carroll, the Archdiocese of Bostons superintendent. The Archdiocese of Boston serves more than 30,000 students in nearly 100 schools and plans to reopen 54 elementary schools and eight high schools for in-person learning in August and September. Many private schools in Massachusetts, including schools in the Archdiocese of Boston and the Dioceses in Worcester and Springfield are offering in-person options this fall the same cities where public schools will begin the year with remote learning. Its unusual to be getting a flurry of applications in the middle of August, Carroll said. He knows this is related to the pandemic. Not all applications will be finalized by the start of school, which was as early as Monday for some of Bostons Catholic schools, requiring some families to enroll mid-year, though thousands of students are estimated to be opting out of public schools. But between cost, communication and trying to decide whats best for their child, this isnt an easy decision for parents. Pope Francis Preparatory School today announced a $2 million gift from an anonymous alumnus. (Republican file photo by Don Treeger) Plenty of space for students Enrollment in Catholic schools across the country were down, with Boston seeing the largest single-year drop in our number of school closures in almost 50 years, Carroll said when it closed 11 schools this past year. In the past decade, the number of students in Catholic schools across the country declined by 18% or 382,044 students, according to the National Catholic Education Association. Thats now in their favor. We have very large facilities for our schools and our enrollments, unfortunately, theyre lower than wed like them to be, said Daniel Baillargeon, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Springfield, We knew that we could accomplish the most difficult of [the states] requirements and it was the social distancing. Even with the uptick of interest, the schools will still have plenty of space. When you are a public school district, you are dealing with a very large volume of students, and a very large volume of facilities. And you have to ensure that you can get the students in and out of those facilities using public transportation and everything else, Baillargeon said. There are a lot of variables that play into it. To figure out a plan with those variables among thousands of children at a public school would be an extraordinarily daunting task at this particular time, he said. Springfield Public Schools serve more than 25,000 students. At Central High School alone, more than 2,000 students were enrolled during the 2019-2020 school year. The Diocese serves less than a fifth the number of Springfield Public School students across more than a dozen schools. Were talking a school with 200 here, a school with maybe 300 there, Baillargeon said. Thats a much different question than when youre getting into the thousands. Then they had to set up a plan, but unlike in the public schools where each district has a plan, the plans were individualized, with each school coming up with its own plan. Everyone has learned that context matters, meaning that no two schools are alike, said David Perda, diocesan superintendent of Worcester Catholic Schools. The layout of the classrooms, size of rooms, common areas and hallways, etc. vary from school to school. Individual plans were developed by each schools leadership utilizing appropriate input and feedback at the school level. Most of the Worcester Catholic Schools are preparing for on-site learning but some will begin with a hybrid model combining part-time in school and part-time at home classes, plans shared with MassLive show. And the plan at any of the schools can change at any time, depending on the needs of the school, its students or the pandemic. ______ East Boston Central Catholic School decides to start remote while most Massachusetts religious schools are returning for in-person learning _____ Some students started in-person learning on Monday in Boston but East Boston Central Catholic School changed its plans to start fully remote. East Boston, where the school is located, has the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Boston at almost 8% -- four times the state average and almost 50% higher than the second-highest neighborhood, according to East Boston Rep. Adrian Madaro. Baillargeon said Springfield Catholic schools have also installed moveable sinks, hand sanitizer stations outside of doorways and invested in additional janitorial staff. Who ever thought wed be excited about portable hand washing sinks all around the school? Its the little things these days... we cant wait to see everyone next week! Posted by St. Mary's Academy on Thursday, August 20, 2020 Through the CARES act, the private schools were also able to get money through their local districts to help support things such as increased technology needs. The schools also secured additional PPE. The Diocese of Worcester said teachers will be wearing a mask during normal teaching but they wanted to provide additional PPE equipment when a child gets ill in case it is COVID-19. And from there its about implementing practices required at businesses and schools all over Massachusetts during the pandemic. When you see videos of students in crowded hallways without masks, it is clear that they are not following the level of detail we are committed to in our individual school plans, said Perda. That is why starting the year with good orientation and agreeing to expectations on everyones part is key to our overall mission to educate these students to the best of our ability. Fusion Academy in Hingham plans to open its doors for the first time during the pandemic. Currently it plans to start in-person but is ready with virtual learning options. Opening for the first time during a pandemic Fusion Academy in Hingham isnt just planning on opening its doors during a pandemic its planning on opening them for the first time. Still, opening its doors doesnt mean itll look like a usual classroom but classrooms at Fusion Academy never look like your typical classroom. The model is based on having one student and one teacher per classroom, customized scheduling including varying start and end times and personalized teaching style. Similar to Catholic schools, the ability to keep classes small has been a big advantage for the school being able to open. We have the good fortune of being a much smaller school, said Peter Ruppert, president and CEO of Fusion Academy. You think about the challenges that traditional public and private schools have to face, especially the larger ones when theyre trying to educate, you know, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 kids virtually in a situation like COVID, its asking a lot and no matter how hard they try, its still going to be a challenge. The schools are middle and high school students and average around 60 pre-teens and teens, with the goal to never serve more than 100. The school is able to provide 10 feet of social distance between student and teacher, additional dividers and giving students their own in-class equipment, such as whiteboards. Because of the model it makes it a lot easier. So, were a great solution for families who are worried about sending their children back to the traditional school with hundreds of kids, said Jacob Weaver, head of school. Fusion Academy in Hingham plans to open its doors for the first time during the pandemic. Jacob Weaver, head of school, said they currently plan to start in-person but is ready with virtual learning options. While traditional schools had difficulties switching to remote learning, something Worcester is still dealing with as there continues to be a lack of reliable, consistent internet access, Fusion Academy schools in other parts of the country were able to seamlessly transition, Weaver said. ____ Verizon partnering with Massachusetts education officials to offer discounted internet plans for students ____ If were forced to open virtually, we know that our program can still provide that high-quality full-day instruction with every class being one to one, Ruppert said. The difference is that the child is still receiving direct instruction from the teacher. Online learning often leaves the child alone with a laptop and little instructional support, Weaver said. While virtual instruction has the teacher present working closely with the child. Kevin Connors, a senior, started in-person at Fusion Academy in Burlington this summer with plans to switch to the new school in Hingham this fall. His family had begun the process to switch schools at the first of the year but when the pandemic started in March, Connors was still enrolled in public school. When the pandemic started our public school system, they were not able to get it together for weeks, Mariann Connors, Kevins mother, said. My daughter goes to a Catholic all-girls school and within two days her classes were on Zoom with her teacher and all her fellow students, and the public school couldnt. So, he struggled those last couple months. Typically, this type of schooling attracts families with athletes, actors, or students with social and emotional challenges. For the Connors family, it was about providing Kevin with a learning environment that fits his needs. He simply doesnt learn the way the public school model requires, his mom said. Now, however, the school said its seeing a lot more interest from families simply wanting their child to receive in-person learning this semester. But it doesnt come cheap. One high-school course costs $4,200 per semester. Thats about $25,000 per semester depending on how many courses the student takes. Tuition at private schools on average is $26,866 a year, CNBC reported. While the average in Massachusetts is about $31,739 per year some top out at more than $50,000. The cost is worth it for some families. One of the classes Kevin is taking is a life skills class, something that wasnt offered in traditional schooling. I think that class is helping my son get through this pandemic, Mariann said. Its also helping him get through high school as a whole, she said. Before switching, Kevin focused on graduating, now hes focused on learning. He even recently called his mom asking if he could add another class to his schedule this semester. Fusion Academy in Hingham plans to open its doors for the first time during the pandemic. Mariann Connors and her son, Kevin, will be among the first families starting at the school. I have had many sleepless nights' Trying to figure out if you should send your child to school and where is a daunting task for many parents this year. Laura Lagaces 11-year-old grandson is enrolled at St. Stanislaus School in Chicopee which offered the option of in-person or remote learning. And although giving caregivers a choice was welcome, it wasnt easy. Homeschooling was rough in the spring and none of us could envision a whole school year of it, Lagace said. But that didnt mean they were completely ready to send him back to in-person learning. I have had many sleepless nights trying to figure out the best thing for my grandson, she said. After a lot of discussion at home, and taking into account what the 11-year-old wanted, they turned to professionals for the final decision. We talked with his therapist and his pediatrician, Lagace said. It was recommended for his education and mental health, it would be better for him to be back in school. This will be the 11-year-olds second year at St. Stanislaus School. The family originally switched schools for a number of reasons, including a move from Westfield to Chicopee and its ability to communicate with the family and accommodate their childs needs. I know many people say if your child has any issues Catholic school cant accommodate them, she said. But St. Stans has gone overboard trying to help my grandson emotionally and educationally. This has continued during the pandemic, she said. With this school year we had concerns about returning to school but the school has been good about letting us know how they are prepared to deal with COVID, Lagace said. With a 4-year-old in pre-kindergarten at St. Joan of Arc School in Chicopee and an 18-year-old in public school at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Karen Giguere has been experiencing both ends of the spectrum. Giguere said if she had a choice both of her sons would be at Catholic school but due to one sons IEP needs, he switched to public school. But now, with remote learning, she feels her 18-year-old isnt getting what he needs from public school. If I had my choice he would be at the Catholic high school, she said. He struggled so hard when the schools shut down. She said she has experienced great help from one teacher and is extremely grateful for that but its not enough. I have to take FMLA for an emergency health crisis for 12 weeks from work so I can stay home to make sure he stays organized and on task, she said. The public school needs to be more accommodating to the kids on IEPs with what they need, like my son who needs help with organization. Other parents expressed to MassLive that if they had the money, theyd also be switching to private schools. Typically, Catholic schools can offer scholarship aid to these families but during the pandemic thats been difficult. Sources of income for the church and its schools are the collection basket, philanthropy and tuition, Carroll said. But all of that has been hit hard since March. But some parents still havent decided what their childs education will look like in the fall even with some schools starting Wednesday. A group of parents told MassLive they have asked Baillargeon for answers regarding sanitation protocol, including how bathrooms will be cleaned, how they will ensure students wash their hands properly, the air quality results, which the school told parents would be available, and why some were given partial refunds to their tuition but not all. Parents, who continued to pay tuition from March through June, including a fee for being unable to complete service hours known as fair share hours during the pandemic, say none of their questions have been answered. Baillargeon told MassLive that they are offering a virtual option for all families. But the parents have said that costs extra, leaving it as not a great alternative. Increase in private school populations impacts public schools Opting out of public school and heading to private school doesnt come without a cost and not just for families wallets. For starters, schools in Boston get resources based on their population, so an increase in more people leaving the public school system means its harder for the public schools to get resources, said Kevin Murray, executive director of Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC). It also means that families with more resources might be leaving a gap in the school. Those families who can pay for private schools oftentimes help advocate for their public school or helping fundraise in ways other families cant, Murray said. Given the chaos around school reopening and the experience of the spring, it is no surprise that families with some resources are opting for private school options, Murray said. I understand that choice, but think that the departure of any family from the system of public education hurts the entire system. The best thing schools can do, he said, is work toward getting kids back in-person. Remote education really doesnt work for large groups of students, Murray said, including students with disabilities, English language learners and children in foster care or who are homeless. If you look at a place like Boston or Worcester, or Springfield, thats a pretty significant part of the population, he said. Now were saying were going to have at least a few more weeks and more likely a few more months of remote education in a lot of places. And I dont think weve learned a lot about how to do it better [than in the spring]. For parents who might not have a choice about their childs fall education the best thing they can do, Murray said, is to stay as close as you can with your kid. Be as connected as you can to their education, he said. And demand engagement, demand connection from your school. Related Content: By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has given an interview to the MGIMO Journal on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the birth of the rector of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Anatoly Torkunov. Trend presents the interview. Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a graduate of MGIMO in 1982, repeated the path of Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov with a difference of 10 years. Whereas the future rector graduated from the Faculty of International Relations and became a graduate student in 1972, the future head of the Azerbaijani state did that in 1982. Both were promising young scientists and teachers, but then their trajectories diverged. However, they always kept each other in sight, and years later, fruitful cooperation arose, translating into the holding in Baku of the first International Forum of MGIMO Alumni in 2013 and other undertakings. President Ilham Aliyev: Moscow State Institute of International Relations is one of the leading universities not only in Russia, but also in the world, with deep and lasting traditions. For many years, it has been headed by Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov who has made great contributions to the formation and development of this institution of higher educational as one of the most authoritative centers for training highly qualified diplomatic personnel. Anatoly Vasilyevich has gone a long way from a teacher to the rector of this prestigious university. As a leader, he not only preserved and augmented the best traditions of MGIMO, but also made a great contribution to the strengthening of its positions and ensuring its competitiveness in the global educational environment. It is largely thanks to his efforts that MGIMO today is a world-class brand. Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov is also a public figure and scientist known not only in Russia but also far beyond its borders. We have met with Anatoly Vasilyevich many times, and I can say that he is a man of deep erudition, broad knowledge, a professional who generates new interesting ideas. About 15 years of my life were associated with MGIMO. This includes studies, then a postgraduate course and then teaching. Those are unforgettable years, years of youth and formation. The knowledge I received at MGIMO helps me in my work to this day. I initiated the first Forum of graduates of our university, which took place in Baku several years ago. I also took part in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of MGIMO. My life path is in many ways similar to that of with Anatoly Vasilyevich: both he and I have graduated from this university, entered a graduate school and taught there. Destiny decreed that I had to leave MGIMO, while Anatoly Vasilyevich linked his entire life with the alma mater. Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov, who headed MGIMO in difficult times, had the mission to carefully preserve all the best that was created by his predecessors, not to let this heritage get lost and, on such a foundation, to form one of the best universities in the world, the largest scientific and educational center. MJ: You are the head of the Azerbaijani state today, and Anatoly Vasilyevich is the rector of our alma mater. But there is something important that is common between you a great mission. You followed in the footsteps of your father, respected Heydar Aliyev, who took over leadership of your country in 1993, saved it and turned Azerbaijan into a modern and dynamic state. Anatoly Vasilyevich in 1993 took over the management of MGIMO, saved the institute from the ulcers of timelessness, revitalized and strengthened its brand, and turned the university into a university with a unique educational quality. Please share your thoughts about this. President Ilham Aliyev: The policy of Heydar Aliyev continues in our country today, thanks to which Azerbaijan has emerged as an independent state, taken a worthy place on the world map, established public and political stability in the country, created a solid foundation for large-scale transformations, attracted billions of foreign investments, identified the main directions of domestic and foreign policy. Azerbaijan is successfully developing in all areas now. I am proud that Azerbaijan has earned great authority in the international arena. This is evidenced by the fact that our country, with the support of 155 states of the world, was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2012-2013. By a unanimous decision of all 120 member-countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan was elected chair of this second largest international structure of the world after the UN. In October last year, a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in Baku. Last fall, our country also assumed chairmanship of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States. As a responsible member of the international community, we do not treat chairmanship of international organizations as a formality, but strive to ensure that it is effective and benefits all member countries. In particular, at a time when the world is faced with the coronavirus pandemic, summits of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking Countries were held on my initiative, discussing issues related to the fight against the dangerous virus. On behalf of the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan initiated the convening of a special session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to COVID-19. This initiative was supported by more than 130 states. During the pandemic, we displayed international solidarity by providing humanitarian and financial assistance to more than 30 countries. We made a voluntary donation of $10 million to the World Health Organization. Azerbaijan today is recognized as one of the world centers of multiculturalism. Our country is a geographical, cultural and political bridge between Europe and Asia. We are one of a handful of countries that are a member of both the Council of Europe and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. In 2008, we invited ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member countries to a meeting of the Council of Europes culture ministers in Baku. Then, in 2009, the ministers of culture of the Council of Europe were invited to a meeting of the ministers of culture of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. This is how our initiative, branded as the Baku Process, came to life on the basis of the principles of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Over the years, the Baku Process has gained a reputation as an effective platform for an exchange of views between people of different nationalities, cultures and religions. The Baku Process is supported by the UN and other leading organizations of the world. MJ: As a teacher, you surely have communicated with Anatoly Vasilyevich when he was the dean of the faculty of International Relations and vice rector. You were, so to speak, a witness to his formation of an extraordinary and talented administrator. Could you tell us a typical story? President Ilham Aliyev: We used to work at the same chair together with Anatoly Vasilyevich, so I have known him for quite some time. Possessing professional qualities of a diplomat, scientist and leader, Anatoly Vasilyevich has always been a very open, benevolent and pleasant person to communicate with, and he remains as such to this day. I know that he enjoys the respect and love of both the team and students. Without this, he could not have led MGIMO for such a long time. I also appreciate Anatoly Vasilyevich for restoring the glorious traditions of our university, which was subjected to slander and moral terror during the period of the so-called perestroika. Unfortunately, in the time interval between Nikolay Ivanovich Lebedev, the rector of the university in my student years and early years of my teaching career whom I have always treated with great respect, and Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov, the people who led our university could not save it from the negative impact of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Taking over leadership of the university in 1992, Anatoly Vasilyevich restored and strengthened the image of MGIMO, making it one of the leading universities in the world today. As for a typical story, I want to say that I had to leave the institute where I studied, completed a graduate school and worked for about 15 years at the very beginning of the 1990s. The reason for this was that my father Heydar Aliyev, who took a principled position against the erroneous domestic and foreign policy of the then leadership of the USSR, was regarded almost as an enemy of the people. He was persecuted, a frenzied campaign of liber and slander personally inspired by the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee was waged against him in the Soviet media. The MGIMO management informed me that Heydar Aliyevs son cannot teach at this university for political reasons. In that difficult time, Anatoly Vasilyevich always provided me with moral support. I am sure that if he had been the rector then, he would not have allowed my departure. My fate could have gone along a different path then. But, as they say, everything that is done is done for the better. MJ: In one of your interviews with our magazine, you said, The MGIMO anniversary is a holiday for our family too, meaning that your daughter Leyla also graduated from our university. Anatoly Vasilyevich, whose daughter Ekaterina has also graduated from MGIMO and works at one of its departments, can say the same. In fact, many alumni of MGIMO can say that! Don't you think that this family-like continuity in a good sense is one of the most important values thanks to which MGIMO approaches each of its anniversaries as an increasingly powerful and dynamic university? President Ilham Aliyev: You have correctly noticed another intersection of our life lines. Yes, my daughter Leyla Aliyeva has also graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations. She was the president of the Azerbaijan MGIMO Club and is the chairperson of the Council of Azerbaijan Alumni. Leyla is also in charge of the Baku magazine being published in Russian in Moscow, introducing readers to the history, culture and traditions of the Azerbaijani people. She is making a tremendous contribution to the strengthening of strategic partnership, friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia. In 2015, in recognition of her contributions to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation, the development of economic ties, the preservation and popularization of the Russian language and culture abroad, by a decree of the President of Russia, Leyla was awarded the Order of Pushkin. The high award was presented to her personally by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. On the initiative and with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, of which Leyla is the Vice-President, a monument to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir was erected in Astrakhan in 2013. For the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in this Russian region, Leyla was awarded the Order of Merit for the Astrakhan Region. In the same 2013, by an order of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, she was also awarded the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga of Third Degree. I know that Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunovs daughter Ekaterina has also graduated from this university and, as you said, is now working at one of its departments. There are probably many such examples in the history of MGIMO when children choose a university their parents once graduated from at the call of their hearts. I think it is great that there is such continuity. MJ: Anatoly Vasilyevich turns 70. MGIMO has recently turned 75. What would you wish him in the context of this major anniversary for all of us? President Ilham Aliyev: I would like to wish him good health, success in all his endeavors and undertakings, inexhaustible energy and family well-being. As for MGIMO, which has recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, I wish it continued achievements. I believe that under the leadership of Anatoly Vasilyevich, it will continue to be a recognized center of fundamental education and a forge of world-class diplomatic personnel. By Trend The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel on Tuesday discussed vistas of military cooperation between the two countries, according to the official WAM news agency, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The discussions took place over a telephone call between UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs Mohammed bin Ahmad Al Bawardi and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The two sides believe that the recent peace deal reached between Israel and the UAE will help achieve peace and stability in the region as it represents a positive step in this direction. Moreover, the UAE and Israeli defense officials express hope to strengthen communication channels and establish solid bilateral relations for the benefit of their countries in particular and the region as a whole. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Foreign policy, the economy, women and family were focal points of second night of the Republican National Convention. The US Republican Party put on a virtual convention programme on Tuesday painting a picture of President Donald Trumps presidency as inclusive of women, family, immigrants, and Black Americans at a time of deep political division within the United States. Under a repeating theme of restoring a promise of a better future for the nations children and grandchildren, Republicans from many walks of life and ethnicities including Hispanics and Native Americans advocated for Trumps re-election. Speakers touched on Trumps positions on a range of issues from foreign policy to war in the Middle East, economics, abortion, the news media, Cuba, socialism, and immigration. First Lady Melania Trump gave a 31-minute speech before a live audience of Republican legislators at the White House, in which she called for unity and civility among Americans who have been divided by race, politics and inequality under her husbands presidency. We must remember that today we are all one community comprised of many races, religions and ethnicities, Mrs Trump said. Our diverse and storied history is what makes our country strong, and yet we still have so much to learn from one another, she said, calling on Americans to take a moment, pause and look at things from all perspectives. The First Ladys speech capped a two-and-a-half hour televised programme consisting of pre-recorded and live speeches staged at a mostly empty hall in Washington, DC, instead of Charlotte, North Carolina, where the convention was to have been held. She also offered sympathy to the thousands of Americans who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. The US is struggling to contain the coronavirus with more cases closing in on six million and deaths some 178,518 than any other country in the world. Two of the presidents children, Tiffany Trump and Eric Trump, offered praise and affection for their father and advocated for his political agenda, even as others decried alleged nepotism against his rival, Joe Biden. Eric Trump delivered a pre-recorded speech touting his fathers accomplishments in the White House to the virtual Republican National Convention broadcast [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] Controversially, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave a short address to the Republican programme in which he outlined a series of claimed foreign policy accomplishments for Trump, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. The president moved the US Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland, Pompeo said. Foreign policy claims US attempts to unilaterally designate Jerusalem as Israels capital have drawn widespread condemnation from across the world including the Arab League, Palestinians and European nations, which have reaffirmed long-standing commitments to a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Pompeo, who was on a diplomatic mission to Israel, addressed the Republican convention from the roof of the King David Hotel overlooking the Old City and Mount Zion. Pompeo cited Trumps approval of a drone attack that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January and claimed credit for the defeat of ISIL (ISIS) in Syria. The president exited the US from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas, said Pompeo, who is thought to be eyeing a run for president in 2024. Pompeos participation in the Republican event breached an American governing tradition that holds US diplomats above politics, and drew widespread criticism. Pompeos speech tethers him and his office to the domestic political interests of the presidents re-election, said Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in a blog post on Tuesday. Trumps secretary of state is the most politicized in modern American history and arguably the worst, Miller said. Senator Rand Paul endorsed Trumps pledge to end the US war in Afghanistan, begun in 2001 under then-President George W Bush after al-Qaeda attacked New York and Washington, DC. Im supporting President Trump because he believes, as I do, that a strong America cannot fight endless wars. We must not continue to leave our blood and treasure in Middle East quagmires, Paul said. Paul recalled accompanying Trump to Dover Air Force Base to honour two soldiers whose remains were coming home from Afghanistan. More than 2,400 US servicemen and women have been killed in the conflict. I will never forget that night. I can tell you the president not only felt the pain of these families but is committed to ending this war, Paul said. The Trump administration has engaged in talks with Taliban leaders and committed in February to the withdrawal of 12,000 US troops from Afghanistan. Economic crisis, racial division Larry Kudlow, the White House economic adviser, sought to position Trumps economic record as one of success until the pandemic forced a shutdown. Its been a tough few months for all of us, Kudlow said in taped remarks from Redding, Connecticut. We were enjoying the greatest economy our country had ever seen, Kudlow said. Then the pandemic hit. It rocked us all back on our heels. But were Americans. Were fighters. And so is our president, he said. In spite of unemployment data showing 30 million Americans still out of work and consumer confidence at a six-year low, Kudlow claimed the US economy is booming and poised for a rebound in the second half of the year. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the first Black person elected to statewide office in the state, spoke to the racial division and Black Lives Matter protests that have reshaped US politics in recent months. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron delivers a live address to the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention from the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] Even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police officers and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognise those who earnestly strive for peace, justice, and equality, Cameron said. Whether you are the family of Breonna Taylor or David Dorn, these are the ideals that will heal our nations wounds, he said. Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old Black woman who was killed by police in her home in Louisville, Kentucky. David Dorn was a 77-year-old retired police officer who was killed by looters during a protest in St Louis, Missouri. Protests and civil unrest have hit more than 200 US cities in 30 states since George Floyd was killed by police who kneeled on his neck while he was handcuffed and held face down in the street in Minneapolis. Trump a has adopted a law and order posture towards the protests which have at times devolved into looting, riots and violent skirmishes with police. The EU member states "must continue to show solidarity with Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean crisis," Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Wednesday in a Twitter message one day before the informal Gymnich meeting of EU diplomats, scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Berlin. "On tensions in #EastMed, tomorrow @ #Gymnich in Berlin I'll reiterate that #EU Member States must continue to show solidarity w/ Greece & Cyprus, while strongly encouraging peaceful dialogue between parties towards #DisputeSettlement & de-escalation, in line w/International Law," wrote Aurescu. According to a press statement by Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE), at the Berlin meeting, ministers will have an exchange of views on EU-Turkey relations amid persistent tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, in order to identify solutions to break the current deadlock, and will reflect on the future of the EU's relations with this strategic partner. Aurescu will reiterate the importance of European solidarity and the need to identify solutions by peaceful means exclusively and to engage the parties in negotiations based on their legitimate interests, in compliance with the international law. AGERPRES . A criminal investigation has been launched into a Melbourne millionaire and his family after the Queensland government revoked a quarantine exemption for their superyacht Lady Pamela. Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski confirmed the investigation would focus on Mark Simonds and others on board the yacht, which left Melbourne earlier this month and docked at the Gold Coast on Monday. The family had originally been granted an exemption by Queensland's chief health officer, Jeannette Young, because she had been told the yacht was being sailed to the state for repairs and would make no stops. "This exemption was given so they could come up directly from Victoria to Queensland, without stopping along the way, to have the repairs done," Dr Young said. Liverpool players are not surprised by the rapid rise of starlet Rhian Brewster, after the 20-year-old started pre-season at electric pace. Brewster has been given two opportunities so far during the Reds training camp, playing just 75 minutes but managing to score three times. Yet Brewster's deadly presence in front of goal is not phasing the senior team, according to midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who says it has now become expected that Brewster is to go on to huge things. Rhian Brewster (centre) has scored three goals in just 75 minutes of play in pre-season Speaking following Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Salzburg, in which Brewster scored both goals in a late comeback, Wijnaldum told the club's official website: 'I'm not "impressed", because I know already which kind of quality he has. 'We trained together for a few years and he showed also in training that his finishing is unbelievable, so I'm not really impressed!' Georginio Wijnaldum admits it is clear to see the youngster's quality in training every day The Dutchman stressed the importance of Liverpool having top quality youngsters chomping at the bit, with the off-season break shorter than ever before and the Reds facing a tough start to the coming campaign. Wijnaldum added: 'Now we have the fixtures we all know it's going to be a really difficult season with a lot of games, so a lot of players will play a lot of games. 'So if you have a lot of players who can bring quality to the pitch, it makes it even better for the team. 'We are really happy that the guys who came in, the young players, made the difference today.' So far during the frantic pre-season Liverpool have beaten Stuttgart and drawn with Salzburg Liverpool return to action on Saturday, when they face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in the curtain-raiser of the Community shield final. The two sides will meet at a closed Wembley stadium, with fans still not permitted to gather together and spectate live events during the coronavirus pandemic. It is expected both Jurgen Klopp and Arteta will field youthful sides for the encounter, handing out opportunities while the senior squads get slowly back up to pace. MOSCOW -- The Kremlin says it does not want the hospitalization of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny to damage relations between Moscow and the West, but is opposed to saying that Navalny was "poisoned" until medical tests confirm finding a specific toxin in his body. Germany, the United States, and other Western countries have called on Moscow to open an investigation into why Navalny collapsed on a Russian commercial flight from Siberia last week. Those calls came after German doctors said their initial medical examination pointed to poisoning. The renowned Charite hospital in Berlin, where Navalny is being treated, said on August 24 that "clinical findings indicate intoxication by a substance from the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors." Cholinesterase inhibitors are a broad range of chemicals that are found in several drugs but also in some pesticides and nerve agents. Charite said the specific substance to which Navalny was exposed isn't yet known but that a further series of comprehensive tests had been started. Despite increasing evidence that Navalny was attacked with poison, the Kremlin insists that the German medical examinations have been inconclusive. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on August 26 that "there is no reason" for the disagreement to damage Russia's relations with the West . "Of course we don't want this to happen," Peskov told reporters. The 44-year-old anticorruption campaigner is a staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin. He was being treated at Berlins Charite hospital where he remained in an induced coma on August 26. But on August 26, Peskov asked journalists rhetorically, "How can we talk about poisoning if there is no poison?" "We are categorically against anyone attempting to do any labeling under the current circumstances, we're against calling this condition -- which has not been definitively confirmed as poisoning -- a case of poisoning," Peskov said. On August 25, Peskov had claimed that German doctors were "rushing" to use the word "poisoning." Navalnys supporters say they think he was poisoned when he drank tea purchased at the Tomsk airport in Siberia before boarding his flight. His rapidly deteriorating condition during the flight forced the plane he was traveling on to make an emergency landing in Omsk, where he spent two days in a hospital before being airlifted to Berlin. According to a Russian newspaper report, Navalny had been under surveillance by Russian federal security agents during his trip to Siberia. Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, says a State Duma committee will investigate whether "foreign states" were behind the incident in an attempt "to fuel tensions inside Russia, as well as to formulate fresh accusations against our country." Kira Yarmysh, Navalnys spokeswoman, responded to Volodin's remarks by saying that Russian officials appear to have a special training manual to "blame foreign interference." "It doesn't matter at all whether it sounds just absurd or completely schizophrenic," she wrote on Twitter. U.S. 'Deeply Concerned' The United States, NATO, and European countries have called on Russia to conduct a swift investigation into the suspected poisoning. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told journalists on August 26 that he backs calls for a transparent Navalny investigation, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also called on August 26 for an independent probe into the case. "We need a full, transparent investigation into what happened. The perpetrators must be held accountable and the U.K. will join international efforts to ensure justice is done," Johnson said. Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell have issued similar pleas. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on August 25 that the United States was "deeply concerned" about preliminary findings that Navalny was poisoned. "If the reports prove accurate, the United States supports the EU's call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort," he said in a statement. In Moscow, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other diplomats on August 25. Biegun expressed deep concern about Navalny's condition, "the impact on Russian civil society of reports of his poisoning, and the importance of transparency and freedom of speech in any democratic society," U.S. Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Ross said. The French Foreign Ministry said that those responsible for "this criminal act" must be identified and brought to justice. Navalny has exposed rampant corruption at the highest levels in Russia. He has suffered physical attacks in the past. He endured chemical burns to one of his eyes in 2017 after he was assaulted with antiseptic dye. In July 2019, Navalny was given a 30-day jail term after calling for unauthorized protests against Putin's government. During that jail sentence, he was taken to a hospital with severe swelling of the face and a rash. He later alleged that he had been poisoned while in jail. He has been jailed several times in recent years for organizing unauthorized public demonstrations and on charges that he and his supporters say have often been politically motivated. As a result of those cases, he has been barred from running for president and had a bid to run for Moscow mayor blocked. A long line of Kremlin opponents have fallen seriously ill or have died from poisoning in Russia and abroad. Infographic: A Timeline Of Russian Poisoning Cases With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and TASS Pranab Mukherjee New Delhi: Former President Pranab Mukherjee continues to be in deep coma and his renal parameters are slightly deranged, the hospital treating him said on Wednesday. Pranab Mukherjee Doctors attending to Mukherjee said he continues to be on ventilator support. Advertisement He was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi Cantonment on August 10, where he was operated for removal of a clot in the brain. Thereafter, he developed a lung infection and is being treated for the same. Pranab Mukherjee The former President had also tested positive for Covid-19 at the time of his admission, the hospital said. Advertisement "Shri Pranab Mukherjee is being treated for lung infection. His renal parameters are slightly deranged since yesterday. He continues to be in deep coma and on ventilator support," a statement from the hospital said. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. WASHINGTON The Trump administration threatened hospitals on Tuesday with revoking their Medicare and Medicaid funding if they did not report coronavirus patient data and test results to the Department of Health and Human Services. The threat was included in new emergency rules, announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that make mandatory what has until now been a voluntary reporting program. Seema Verma, the centers administrator, said the changes represent a dramatic acceleration of our efforts to track and control the spread of Covid-19. The new rules generated an immediate backlash from the American Hospital Association, which said the penalties, if enforced, would put hospitals out of business by effectively expelling them from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Its beyond perplexing why C.M.S. would use a regulatory sledgehammer threatening Medicare participation to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against Covid-19, Richard J. Pollack, the associations president, said in a statement, adding that the rules were issued without any opportunity for feedback and should be reversed immediately. The pooling level at Lake Houston was reduced gradually overnight to reduce the potential for flooding, as Hurricane Laura looms in the Gulf of Mexico. It was lowered 6 inches to 41 feet above mean sea level, Mayor Pro Tem and District E Councilmember Dave Martin announced on Tuesday afternoon. Lake Houston, which sits near the end of the San Jacinto Regional Watershed, is now 18 inches below its normal pooling level. EDUCATION: Humble ISD cancels school on Wednesday, Thursday as Hurricane Laura nears landfall With the expected 2-4 inches of rain over six days in the Lake Houston area from Hurricane Laura and a chance of an isolated six inches of rain, the rainfall amounts go beyond the 3-inch requirement for release. The hurricane is expected to be a category four storm when it makes landfall tonight somewhere near the Texas-Louisiana border. High winds may cause fluctuations in the lowering, according to the press release. (Lake Houston) will be maintained at a level of approximately 41.0 ft while there is an immediate inclement weather threat, Martin said in a statement. Once the inclement weather threat has moved out of our area the lake will be allowed to naturally refill due to runoff from the rain event. Lake Houston area officials and residents are paying attention to the pooling level of Lake Conroe to see if the San Jacinto River Authority, which manages the lake, will release water downstream that will eventually land in Lake Houston. Lake Houston is connected to Lake Conroe through various waterways, such as the San Jacinto River. Although there is limited infrastructure to protect areas downstream from Lake Conroe, such as Kingwood, Humble and East Montgomery County, such as seasonal lowering. On Aug. 1, Lake Conroe is lowered to 200 feet above mean sea level and then starting Sept. 1, it is lowered to 199.5 feet above mean sea level. The city of Houston, which owns two-thirds of the lake, can also initiate a pre-release to 199 feet mean sea level through a written notification if a named storm heads towards the region or the Texas Gulf Coast. As of Aug. 26, Lake Conroe is at 199.71 feet, according to the SJRA interactive mapping system. The entity is not planning any pre-releases. HURRICANE LAURA: Prepare for the worst: Houston area prepares for Hurricane Laura as storms path remains in flux We will stay on top of the weather throughout the week, and we urge the public to follow their local offices of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and to check SJRA social media channels and website for the most up-to-date information, SJRA General Manager Jace Houston said in a notice from the authority. Testing sites have been closed Aug. 26-27 due to Laura and are expected to open on Aug. 28 according to the Houston Health Department. By the evening of Aug. 25, the Houston regions positive COVID-19 cases had increased to 145,698 and reached 2,726 deaths. savannah.mehrtens@chron.com Today America celebrates Womens Equality Day. This day marks the national centennial of passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S. or any state because of sex. This milestone for the womens suffrage movement occurred following ratification by Tennessee, the 36th state required for the three-fourths majority. Aug. 26 is observed as the 100th anniversary of the womens suffrage amendment, which was first introduced in 1878 and certified by the U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby, permitting 26 million women to participate in the 1920 presidential election. Womens contributions to the Great War effort were vital to impress upon male voters and elected officials womens importance to the continued success of our democracy. Each state has its unique suffrage history. Womens right to vote was raised occasionally in the Territory of New Mexico because several Western states pioneered the practice. Thousands of women and men in New Mexico worked together to build support for suffrage between 1911 and 1920. On Feb. 21, 1920, the amendment was ratified in New Mexico in a special legislative session. The rich history of voting rights in New Mexico and nationally is explored in Megan Kamericks four podcasts at www.newmexicopbs.org/new-mexico-and-the-vote-podcast/. Expansion of the right to vote has a long and difficult history and wasnt complete in 1920 or even today. It took much longer for disenfranchised minority groups to gain voting rights only white women were granted the right to vote during 1920, with continuing struggles by Black women and all Native Americans. President Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, permitting Native Americans who were not living on reservations the right to vote. It took Miguel Trujillo Jr., who was denied voting rights after fighting in WWII, to win a N.M. Supreme Court decision recognizing the right of all Native Americans to vote. Most Black womens struggle for the vote was not obtained until the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This racial disparity continues today by voter suppression when there are an inadequate number of polling places in minority communities or restricted polling place hours and limited Postal Service availability for absentee voting. Minorities still seek equality in the American workplace and representative employment in professions providing both recognition and an equal share in the rewards from our national prosperity. This historic milestone marking white womens earning the right to vote only reminds us of the many national challenges we Americans face as this nation progresses toward a more just and inclusive democracy. 2020 also marks the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters, which formed from the National American Womens Suffrage Association in Chicago on Feb. 14, 1920. From its inception, LWV focused on registering the new women electorate to vote and promoting an understanding of governmental policies, and our mission continues to educate voters and protect voting rights for everyone amidst this pandemic. In 2020, LWVNM introduced a more extensive online resource www.Vote411.org enabling voters to access candidate responses for all races in Bernalillo, Torrance, Sandoval and Valencia counties. On Sept. 15, each citizen may view their own personal ballot following entry of their address to access statewide races, discussion of bond issues and judicial candidates in this online voting guide. LWVNM is monitoring any issues which could hamper absentee ballot return or suppress voter participation in the upcoming election and will continue to be vocal when concerns regarding fair elections and voter access warrant. The League of Women Voters of Central N.M. will publish hard copies of the voter guide in the beginning of October. Use your vote. People died for it. Jerry Falwell Jr. will get $10.5M severance from Liberty U in wake of sex scandal Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Since he wasnt formally accused of or admitted to any wrongdoing, former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. said he will walk away with a severance package totaling $10.5 million after his resignation Monday night in the wake of a sex scandal. Falwell, 58, told The Washington Post that hell get $2.5 million over the next 24 months plus another $8 million after that period in retirement benefits per a contract he signed with Liberty University in July 2019. The board was gracious not to challenge that, Falwell explained. There wasnt any cause. I havent done anything. The Board of Trustees of Liberty University, one of the largest evangelical Christian universities in the world, announced Tuesday that they had accepted Falwells resignation effective immediately after he and his wife, Rebecca, were implicated in a sex scandal Monday. The resignation comes after a tumultuous weekend for Falwell, during which it was first revealed on Sunday that his wife had an affair with former pool boy Giancarlo Granda, 29, which began eight years ago. Granda allegedly later attempted to blackmail the couple. Falwell said he was shocked to learn about his wifes affair, but Granda contradicted that claim Monday when he said he had engaged in the affair with Falwells knowledge and provided audio he said is evidence supporting his claim. Becki and I developed an intimate relationship and Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room, Granda told Reuters. He claimed his liaisons with Rebecca Falwell were frequent happening multiple times per year noting that they would meet at hotels in Miami, New York, and the Falwells home in Virginia. In a statement he published on Twitter Tuesday night, Granda further slammed Falwell and his wife as liars, noting that Falwell abused his position of authority at the Christian university and even sent him a photo of a female Liberty University student exposing herself. The Falwells would have you believe that I seduced Becki into an affair without Jerrys knowledge, and then spent the intervening 7 years trying to extort them. Of course, the truth is, they approached me. She invited me to their hotel room. They offered me an equity partnership in a property venture. They brought me on multiple trips and vacations including to their family farm in Virginia. And as recently as last year, participated in video calls where Mrs. Falwell was naked and Jerry was watching, Granda wrote. In this 3-way call from 2018, "Becki [Falwell] complained about Granda describing his relationships with other people: 'Hes like telling me every time he hooks up with people. Like I dont have feelings or something.' Jerry then chimed in: 'Youre going to make her jealous.'" pic.twitter.com/OhhNcqfclP Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 24, 2020 Granda, the son of immigrants from Cuba and Mexico, said he was 20 when he met the Falwells while working as a pool boy at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach. That relationship would eventually result in the Falwells investing in a gay-friendly youth hostel they purchased in 2013 for $4.7 million. The reality is Jerry Falwell is a predator. I know this because he sent me an image of a female Liberty University Student exposing herself at their farm. This is not appropriate conduct for someone who up until this week, has been charged with overseeing the well-being of thousands of vulnerable and impressionable students, Granda said Tuesday. Liberty University has held students to conservative Christian values on sex and sexuality, encouraging them to know and abide by common-sense guidelines, including monogamous relationships involving one man and one woman, according to an Online Student Honor Code. Falwell told The Washington Post that he was not involved in the affair with Granda, a statement his wife also confirmed in the same interview while noting that she was embarrassed and she wished Christians and people in general would forgive her like Christ. I wish Christians, and people, would be as forgiving as Christ was, she said. Serbian state-owned operator Telekom Srbija is looking to finance its debt with a corporate bond sale that it expects to raise around 200 milllion ($236.52 million). According to Reuters, the operator stated its intention of issuing 2.35 million five-year corporate bonds with a nominal value of 10,000 dinars ($100.38), for the purpose [of] financingissuers business needs, including refinancing of existing financial obligations and financing the improvement of business activities. Telekom Srbija is the countrys largest provider of internet and cable TV services. It also controls Montenegros M:Tel and is a majority shareholder in Bosnias second biggest operator, Telekom Srpske. According to Telekom Srbijas managing director Predrag Culibrk, the operators debt stands at 1.1 billion as of 14th August. Its revenue for 2019 was up 7% to 133.7 billion dinars, while operating profit rose 25% to 48.4 billion dinars. A meeting of Telekom Srbija shareholders is scheduled for 15th September; if they approve the issue of corporate bonds, these would yield as much as a three-month BELIBOR (Belgrade Interbank Offered Rate). The Serbian state is the largest shareholder in the operator, holding 58.11%, while the firm itself has a 20% stake. Its employees own 6.94% while the Serbian populace owns 14.95%. In 2015, the government attempted to sell a majority stake in Telekom Srbija during a privatisation drive and received six offers, but declined all of them on the grounds that they had undervalued the holding. The Mexican government has launched an investigation into a high-speed shootout between military troops and a cartel murder squad, after bodycam footage showed one soldier ordering his fellow servicemen to kill a surviving gang member when the battle was over. Mexican newspaper El Universal obtained the unreleased body camera footage of the final moments of a war-like gun battle on a highway in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on July 3. The incident left nine cartel members and three kidnapped civilians dead. The Army said it was monitoring the neighborhood of Fresnos, a 10-mile drive from the JuarezLincoln International Bridge, which connects the United States and Mexico over the Rio Grande, when the troops were met with fire from gang members using military weapons. The convoy of the 16th Motorized Cavalry was attacked by the notorious Tropa del Infierno (Gang from Hell) - a hit squad tied to the Cartel del Noreste (Northeast Cartel). Footage obtained by Mexican newspaper El Universal showed the moment the Mexican military opened fired and killed a member of Tropa del Infierno, a street gang linked to the Cartel del Noreste, on July 3. Several soldiers fired at the pickup truck when a cartel member was seen moving on the flatbed of the vehicle after a military servicemen ordered a cease fire The troops responded with an assault of their own and launched a high-speed pursuit of the gang's pickup truck. Eventually the cartel pickup came to full stop, and footage shows a soldier reloading his rifle and continuing to fire. Four military vehicles arrived at the scene as soldiers continued to shoot despite no response from the cartel. Eventually a soldier orders everyone to stand down, shouting 'Hey, stop. Don't shoot. Don't shoot. Don't shoot.' The body camera later showed at least 10 soldiers surrounding the hit squad's pickup before someone shouts: 'He's alive.' Another soldier standing nearby is then heard yelling 'kill, kill that mother******' before additional shots are fired. Mexican soldiers surround a cartel pickup truck before they opened fired and killed a cartel member who was alive despite orders from a servicemen who shouted at everyone to stop shooting The bodycamera footage is at odds with the initial report filed by the troops involved. According the initial report filed by Secretary of National Defense [SEDENA] after the shooting incident, none of the cartel members and kidnapped civilians were alive when the soldiers approached the vehicle. The three civilians were identified as Arturo Garza 19, and siblings Damian Tercero, 18, and Alejandro Tercero, 16. All had been reported missing by their families. 'I will never see my son again,' Raul Tercero told Noticieros Televisa. 'What I want is justice to be served, for those soldiers to pay.' Pictured: members of the Tropa del Infierno and three civilians who died after the gang, which is linked to the Cartel del Noreste, engaged the Mexican Army in a gun battle July 3. The Mexican government announced Wednesday it will investigate 24 soldiers over the incident Arturo Garza (left) and Damian Tercero (right) were among the three kidnapped civilians who were killed in a shootout between a cartel and the military July 3 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Alejandro Tercero was one of the three kidnapped teen males killed in a shootout between the Tropa del Infierno and members of the Mexican military July 3 More than 200 shots were fired at the pickup truck. Soldiers recovered 12 assault rifles, including two Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifles and eight AR-15 rifles. During President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's daily press briefing Wednesday morning at the National Palace in Mexico City, defense secretary General Luis Cresencio Sandoval said that at least 24 soldiers are being investigated for their role in the incident. The United Nation's Commission for Human Right in Mexico has called for a full blown investigation into the military's operation and called their actions worrisome. 'Images of the use of lethal force by members of [SEDENA] are concerning and reflect conduct that may constitute excessive use of lethal force and other human rights violations,' the agency said. 'These facts show the importance of the deployment of the armed forces occurring in an extraordinary, regulated, supervised, subordinate and complementary manner, as established in the Constitution.' The IT World Awards are industry and peer recognitions from Network Products Guide honoring achievements of the world's best in organizational performance, product and service innovations, hot technologies, executives and management teams, successful deployments, product management and engineering, customer satisfaction, and public relations in information technology and cybersecurity. Judges from a broad spectrum of industry from around the world participated, and their average scores determined the 2020 award winners. Winners will be celebrated and presented their awards during a virtual awards ceremony in November. "It's an honor to be named a winner by IT World Awards for this esteemed industry and peer recognition," said Sanjay Deo. "This further validates our position as a company poised to successfully provide CMMC Readiness services to ensure that appropriate levels of cybersecurity practices and processes are in place for the vendor base of the Department of Defense." In upcoming months, the Department of Defense will require all companies that form its Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to be certified against CMMC standards. In response to increased cybersecurity threats across the defense supply chain, the Department of Defense has established this new security measure to protect sensitive data residing on systems and networks owned by defense contractors. The 24By7Security team is experienced in preparing organizations for cybersecurity audits, regulatory compliance, and certification readiness. Certification readiness and preparation are the most arduous part of the certification process. The company's CMMC readiness assessment will help organizations identify their gaps against CMMC requirements and can guide organizations through the process of readiness leading to certification. For a complete list of the 2020 IT World Award winners announced this week, visit this LINK. About 24By7Security, Inc. 24By7Security provides a robust menu of Cybersecurity and Compliance services, contemplating security and privacy needs in a variety of industries, including those which are regulated such as Healthcare, Financial Services, Education and others. 24By7Security leverages relevant industry standards such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171 and CMMC. To learn more, visit www.24By7Security.com. #DontRiskITSecureIT Press Contact: Rema Deo 844-55-CYBER ext. 708 24By7Security.com SOURCE 24By7Security, Inc. Related Links https://www.24by7security.com/ Pictures showed the extent of flooding in Bantry, Cork The country faces paying out millions of euro in flood damage repairs after Storm Francis dumped near-record amounts of rainfall over towns and villages reeling from Storm Ellen. Almost 70mm of rainfall fell on mountainous areas of Munster, Connacht and south Leinster overnight - with 9mm of rain falling in a single hour at Valentia in Kerry. Met Eireann said Valentia received 53mm of rain in a 12-hour period since 6pm on Monday. Bantry, in west Cork, recorded 25mm of rain in just two hours, as west Cork suffered its third major flood in just 12 days. Flooding from Storm Francis was reported in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Clare and Galway. Major reviews are under way into how Bantry and Bandon suffered such extensive damage - with Bandon the focus of a 16m flood defence scheme. While the 110kmph winds generated by Storm Francis weren't anywhere near as destructive as those of Ellen, the rainfall proved as damaging as Met Eireann feared. While 200,000 homes and businesses were left without power last week in the wake of Storm Ellen, several hundred lost power because of Storm Francis. Power outages were focused on Cork, Galway, Limerick and Tipperary, but flood damage was very severe in some areas. Bantry had more than 50 homes and businesses around the town left flood-damaged. Bantry Business Association official Diarmuid Murphy said the scale of the flooding was overwhelming. "I couldn't believe it - I have a jeep and when I drove around the corner and came to the top of Bantry Square, I didn't think I would get through it. "There was a river running through the middle of the town," he said. Devastating Vodafone store operator Ger Egan said the flooding shocked everyone, but locals had rallied to face the challenge. "Everyone tried to help everyone else - there was great solidarity," he said. Terence Gibbs of The Cosy Cabin said it was the worst flooding in the town for years. "It is devastating, to be honest. It couldn't have come at a worse time for traders, residents, the town and west Cork given the way the pandemic has hit the economy," he said. Such was the water pressure on underground culverts that road surfaces around Bantry 'popped' - leaving the council also facing major road repairs. Cork County Council blamed torrential rainfall falling onto already sodden ground in Bantry, which sits at the foot of several hills. "This appears to be as a result of prolonged intense rainfall in an already saturated ground. A number of roads have been damaged and are currently closed pending assessment," a council spokesperson said. Council crews and Bantry Fire Brigade battled the flood waters throughout the night. Less severe flooding also hit including Connonagh, Clonakilty, Rosscarbery - for the third time in 10 days - and Dunmanway. The N71 Cork-Bantry road was left impassable for a time. Tuesday, Phil Bedient kept checking noaa.gov for the most up-to-date information on Hurricane Laura, which was gathering strength in the 90-degree Gulf of Mexico. The most likely spot for its landfall, federal forecasters said, appeared to be near the Texas-Louisiana border, but Galveston Island remained a possibility. Bedient, director of Rice Universitys storm-studying SSPEED Center, knew maybe better than anyone else in the world precisely how bad a Galveston landfall could be. For the last 15 years or so, Bedients team the acronym stands for Severe Storm Prediction, Education & Evacuation from Disasters has modeled big storms possible effects on Houston. Laura, Bedient saw, was the faster-moving kind of hurricane. Slow storms, like Harvey, inflict most of their pain through flooding. Fast ones, like Ike, deal most of their destruction through wind and storm surge. Of all the risks that hurricanes bring the Houston area, a big storm surge is the rarest and most dangerous. Those models show that if a significant storm made landfall near the southern end of Galveston Island, the effects would be terrifying. The hurricane winds would blow a wall of water out of Galveston Bay, up onto the land. Imagine, Bedient said, that youre aiming a blowdryer at a brownie pan full of water, blowing the water out of the pan: Thats how a hurricane behaves in a body of water. In real life, that wall of water would move incredibly fast 10 to 20 feet per second wiping away almost everything in its path. Beams from the first row of houses to fall would become water-borne battering rams. Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, pushed an 18-foot storm surge across Bolivar Peninsula, wiping most houses clean off their foundations. According to SSPEED Center models, if a small Category 4 storm made landfall at Galvestons southwest tip, the storm surge could be as high as 26 feet. Bedients model shows how that wall of water would blow not only out of the open ocean, but also out of Galveston Bay, which nestles between the island and the mainland. Much of the damage to Galveston would come not as the storm pushes water forward, but hours later, as that debris-laden water comes rushing back toward the ocean. That nightmare scenario, though, doesnt stop with Galveston. The dirty side of the storm the most dangerous part, with the fastest moving wind and highest storm surge would likely affect the Houston Ship Channel, which is lined with enormous chemical storage tanks. Industry, says Bedient, is prepared for a Ship Channel surge of 15 feet. But for that smallish Category 4 storm, his models show a surge of 25 feet. And they show that it could affect thousands of chemical tanks. Those tanks are made of steel. And in the same way that a car will float, a surge can lift a giant, part-empty tank they float like ships, Bedient said breaking its pipes and releasing whatever chemicals it contains. The tanks themselves would then become waterborne wrecking balls. Before a big storm, to lessen the odds of damage, responsible plant operators will fill their tanks to the brim and tie them down. But decades of environmental disasters make it obvious that such measures are unlikely to be universal. Hundreds of those tanks could go, Bedient said grimly. After Hurricane Katrina, he saw the effects of just one tanks rupture. After the New Orleans levees failed, a storm surge somewhere between 6 feet and 18 feet hit the Murphy Oil refinery. A tank was knocked off its moorings and leaked more than 1 million gallons of crude oil. The oil mixed with the floodwaters, and that goo spread over roughly a square mile, contaminating roughly 1,700 homes in nearby neighborhoods. It was Katrinas worst environmental disaster. You could smell the crude from five miles away, Bedient remembered. Just from one tank. A storm surge in the Houston Ship Channel, he said, could create one of the worst environmental disasters ever to befall the coastal U.S. Zero progress Of all the proposals to protect Texas coast from a storm surge, the Ike Dike coastal spine is the best known, and Bill Merrell will forever be remembered as the Ike Dike professor. Tuesday, the marine sciences professor was packing up, preparing to evacuate his office at Texas A&M-Galveston. Hurricane Laura, he said, was exactly the storm the Ike Dike was designed for. After Hurricane Ike hit in 2008, Merrell proposed a coastal spine plan to protect Galveston from future storm surges. The complex would include barriers, levees and two gates, each about the size of the Eiffel Tower, that would close off Galveston Bay from a storm surge. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office are studying the project, but no funding has been approved. Cost estimates range from $10 billion to $32 billion. (By comparison, Hurricane Ike alone is estimated to have caused around $35 billion in damage.) Asked how much progress our area has made with surge protection since Hurricane Ike, Merrell sounded bitter. Weve made none, he said. Zero. Merrell believes his coastal spine would provide all the storm surge protection needed. Bedient and Jim Blackburn, the co-director of the SSPEED Center, recommend layering in other approaches in addition some of which would be cheaper and faster to build, and would have benefits in addition to surge protection. For instance, Blackburn notes, the SSPEED Center recently proposed that for the next 100 years, the silt regularly dredged from the Ship Channel to keep it passable would be used to build a system of barrier islands inside Galveston Bay islands that would not only protect the Ship Channel from a storm surge, but also provide recreational space and wildlife habitat. The proposal recently won the Vision Award from the American Institute of Architects-Houston, and its first phase would cost less than $3 billion. But it, too, has yet to find either political or philanthropic backers. One problem, Blackburn said, is that the scale of surge-protections is often enormous, and the time to complete them is long often on the order of 15 years. Former Houston mayor Annise Parker, Blackburn said, once explained the political difficulty to him: The hardest thing a politician can do is to go to bat for a project that wont be completed during his or her time in office. Merrell, often at odds with the SSPEED Center, concurred on that point: Though storm surges pose an extraordinary threat to Houston, theres no political will to address them. Bedient sounded resigned. I understand the physics, he said. I just dont understand the politics. Physics is straightforward. lisa.gray@chron.com, twitter.com/LisaGray_HouTX New Delhi: The Delhi government has set up camps at 70 schools for registration of construction labourers at all the 70 assembly constituencies, said Employment and Labour Minister Gopal Rai. The mega campaign launched from August 24 to September 11 has been named as "Niraman Mazdoor Registration Abhiyan". Gopal Rai said that construction workers can submit their application online by visiting www.edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. Delhi's Employment and Labour Minister said that to speed up the process, detailed information has been given to all the 70 MLAs, trade unions and agencies so that they can join hands and help the construction workers for registration. The minister said that for registration, the age should be between 18-60, certification of work, photo, local ID proof, bank account number and Aadhaar card is required. He said that the Delhi government has nearly 18 different assistance schemes for the registered construction workers. He said, "The Delhi government has started the registration process of construction labourers. This registration process is completely online and till date, nearly 70,000 construction labourers have registered. The Delhi government is working on the verification procedure of these registrations." "In a bid to expand this whole registration procedure the Delhi government from August 24 to September 11 will hold a mega campaign for the registration of construction labourers named as "Niraman Mazdoor Registration Abhiyan". During this 15-day campaign, the registration process will take place from Monday to Friday," Rai added. He said, "Till date, the process was that the construction labourers were filling the registration forms from the local cyber cafes and then for the verification, they were visiting the Delhi government offices." "Now the Delhi government has decided to set up camps at all the 70 assembly constituencies. Each and every assembly constituency will have one camp for the registration of construction labourers from tomorrow. These camps will be set up at the schools. The construction labourers will have to identify the camp of his or her area and visit there for registration," Rai added. "During the registration process, the physical verification of the construction workers will also be done immediately. This way the construction labourers will not have to worry about visiting the Delhi government offices for physical verification. Both the registration and physical verification will be done together during this 15-day registration camp for the construction labourers. After the successful completion of this 15-day registration camp, the Delhi government will analyse the process and decide the future action plan," said Gopal Rai. Talking about who can apply for the registration, Rai said, "There are some doubts regarding who all can register themselves as construction workers. According to laws, carpenters, worker grinders, construction site guards, the people who work in concrete mixers, crane operator, electrician, comp operator, Mason (Raj Mistry), tiles stone fitters, welders, coolies and others can apply." The minister said, "The Delhi government had launched a website http://www.edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in/ for the new registration and renewal of registration of the construction workers in Delhi. Any person can visit this website and register." According to him, Delhi government has nearly 18 different assistance schemes for the registered construction workers. He said, "During the COVID pandemic, the Delhi government has provided financial assistance of Rs 5000 to all the registered construction workers for two months. The Delhi government also provides various assistance to the construction workers. For the marriage of the son of any construction worker the Delhi government provides Rs 35,000 and for daughter Rs 51,000." "For education, the Delhi government provides Rs 500 per month from nursery to higher classes and for professional education, the Delhi government provides Rs 10,000 per month to the students who are children of construction workers. The Delhi Government provides Rs 30,000 as financial assistance as maternity benefit and old-age pension of Rs 3,000 per month." "The Delhi government also provides Rs 2,00,000 financial assistance for accidental deaths of construction workers and Rs 1,00,000 financial assistant in the cases of natural death. The Delhi government also provides Rs 10,000 financial assistance for the last rites of any construction worker and if any construction worker becomes physically challenged then the Delhi government provides Rs 1,00,000 as financial assistance. In a total, the Delhi government has nearly 18 different assistance schemes for the registered construction workers," Gopal Rai said. "For the registration of the construction labourers, the age should be above 18 years and less than 60 years. For the registration, the workers also are needed to produce a certificate of working for 90 days in 12 months. This certificate can be issued by the employer, the trade union can issue certificates or self-certification is also allowed. If the certification is found to be wrong then the Delhi government can take action against the concerned person. For registration, the construction workers will need a photo, local ID proof, bank account number and Aadhaar card," he said. He said the Delhi government has also written letters to all the 70 MLAs, trade unions and govt agencies to join hands in this campaign. "The Delhi government has also written letters to all the 70 MLAs of Delhi and shared the list of camps. The Delhi government has requested all the MLAs to help the local construction workers to reach these camps for the registration procedure. We have also approached the unions of the labourers regarding this campaign and requested them to join hands. The Delhi government has also requested various agencies like PWD, central PWD, irrigation and flood department, MCD to come forward and send the construction workers who work with them to these camps for registration," Gopal Rai added. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy (Natural News) Big Pharma claims that there is currently no cure for coronavirus (COVID-19). While the pandemic continues to spread across the country, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) forbids the personal use of chlorine dioxide for coronavirus prevention. However, officers at Surquillo police station in Peru effectively use chlorine dioxide to disinfect personnel and non-police personnel. COVID-19 cases in Peru In April, 17 police officers in Peru have died after contracting coronavirus while enforcing a nationwide lockdown. On April 24, Interior Minister Carlos Moran resigned. Moran was previously criticized for not providing officers with masks and medical care. Peru has a population of 32 million. As the pandemic also spread throughout Peru, over 1,000 police officers have been infected by COVID-19. The first case was reported on March 6. Since then, the country has recorded over 594,326 infections and 27,663 deaths. Gaston Rodriguez, the new interior minister, noted that his department had allocated $15 million to purchase protective equipment for police. In April, Peru enforced new and unusual measures to stop the spread of coronavirus by restricting public movement by gender. Men can only leave home on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Meanwhile, women are allowed to go outside on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, no-one is allowed to leave their homes. Panama introduced similar restrictions earlier in April. Perus solution for coronavirus prevention In the video below, viewers can see police officers and non-police personnel at the Surquillo police station being sprayed with chlorine dioxide (ClO2) to protect them from potential COVID-19 transmissions as they continue to work among the public. According to officers, chlorine dioxide safely binds to people. The chemical compound also doesnt make clothing fade, making it a powerful tool in the battle against coronavirus. (Related: Sacramento using chlorine dioxide to kill coronavirus on surfaces, but FDA and FTC say it cant be used for personal protection.) Officers at the Surquillo police station shared that they feel much safer thanks to the use of chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant, particularly since they regularly interact with the public. In Peru, the chemical compound is also used as a disinfectant at different police stations, various municipalities and high-traffic markets to prevent the spread of COVID-19. What is chlorine dioxide? Chlorine dioxide is a chemical compound made up of one chlorine atom and two oxygen atoms. At room temperature, chlorine dioxide is a reddish to yellowish-green gas that dissolves in water. Chlorine dioxide is used for antimicrobial purposes, such as disinfecting drinking water. When added to drinking water, chlorine dioxide helps destroy bacteria, viruses and certain types of parasites that can make you sick, like Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia. Chlorine dioxide can be used to remove unpleasant tastes and odors in water and to eliminate algae and bacteria that produce some bad tastes and odors. The chemical compound is also used in some personal hygiene products, like mouthwashes and dentistry products, as an oxidizing biocide compound to address bad breath. Additionally, chlorine dioxide chemistry is used for different industrial, oil and gas, food and municipal applications. Food and beverage production Chlorine dioxide is used as an antimicrobial agent in water for poultry processing and to wash fruits and vegetables. Chlorine dioxide is used as an antimicrobial agent in water for poultry processing and to wash fruits and vegetables. Paper processing Chlorine dioxide is also used to chemically process wood pulp for paper manufacturing. Chlorine dioxide is also used to chemically process wood pulp for paper manufacturing. Medical applications In hospitals and other healthcare environments, chlorine dioxide gas is used to sterilize medical and laboratory equipment, tools, surfaces and rooms. Scientists have reported that when used at the right concentrations, chlorine dioxide is can safely and effectively help kill Legionella bacteria in hospital environments. Legionella pneumophila bacteria can cause Legionnaires disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Precautions when using chlorine dioxide Chlorine dioxide is used to disinfect drinking water worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that chlorine dioxide is added to drinking water to get rid of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the maximum concentration of chlorine dioxide in drinking water should be less than 0.8 parts per million (ppm) and is safe to use as a drinking water disinfectant. The World Health Organizations (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality has also deemed chlorine dioxide safe for use. Watch: Sources include: Brighteon.com BBC.com 1 Coronavirus.JHU.edu BBC.com 2 ChemicalSafetyfacts.org ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Laura nears landfall along the Gulf Coast, Georgia Power is ready to respond after receiving a request for assistance from Entergy Louisiana. Georgia Power crews and support teams will travel to the state tomorrow. Georgia Power continues monitoring the changing weather around the clock and coordinates with other utilities to field requests for assistance through the mutual assistance network. With each request for assistance, the company ensures that it has sufficient coverage to respond to any potential local service interruptions. The mutual assistance network consists of hundreds of utilities from around the country. As part of this partnership, Georgia Power is able to respond and offer assistance, providing reinforcements when needed to restore power quickly for other utilities. The company is also able to tap into this mutual assistance network if additional resources are needed to help restore power to Georgia Power customers following a major storm. The company requested and received assistance from other utilities during several major storms that impacted Georgia Power customers previously including Hurricanes Michael and Irma. Storm Response Pandemic Preparations Georgia Power teams are prepared to respond to service interruptions that might occur because of severe weather while taking proactive actions including special "distancing" and other precautions to help protect customers and employees from the spread of the virus. In addition, the company's comprehensive pandemic plans help ensure readiness of the critical personnel and facilities necessary to continue providing the safe and reliable energy customers expect and deserve. In the field, the power restoration process includes these key steps: Assessing Conditions Responding crews or in major storms, damage assessment teams work to identify trouble spots and the resources needed to fix them, which could involve coming onto customers' property. Crews will employ appropriate distancing efforts and customers are asked to keep children and pets indoors and maintain safe distances from crew members as well. Responding crews or in major storms, damage assessment teams work to identify trouble spots and the resources needed to fix them, which could involve coming onto customers' property. Crews will employ appropriate distancing efforts and customers are asked to keep children and pets indoors and maintain safe distances from crew members as well. Making Repairs Georgia Power crews focus on repairs that return power to the greatest number of customers in the least amount of time. Ways you can help keep workers safe while they work in the field: If you see utility crews, please stay back a minimum of six feet much more if they are working. Please, no cookies or treats for workers during this time. Give a wave or thumbs up to workers you see. They'll understand your gratitude as they work to keep the lights on. Don't touch utility trucks or equipment. Electric providers are operating under modified conditions to keep workers safe, which includes additional cleaning and sanitation of tools and equipment. About Georgia Power Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power). SOURCE Georgia Power Related Links www.GeorgiaPower.com 2020 on pace to be deadliest on KCMO roads KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Briana Quye will always remember Gabriel Valdez as a kind, young man. They became friends after meeting at William Chrisman High School in Independence. "He always made me happy," Quye said. "He made anybody else happy around him." Another way to die in KCMO emerges . . . Moreover, local streets are even more deadly when authorities factor in the number of pedestrians killed this year.Checkit: The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), says it has approved a 400 million dollars revolving global credit facility agreement for the Export Trading Group (ETG). The group is one of the largest and fastest-growing integrated agricultural conglomerates in Africa. Kanayo Awani, the Managing Director of Afreximbanks Intra-African Trade Initiative, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja. Mr Awani said that the three-year revolving global credit facility would strengthen African agricultural networks and bolster the continents food security. He said that the agreement would also enable the Group to keep playing its vital role in the agri-foods supply chain of efficiently connecting African farmers to markets. It will also expand access to key inputs to boost agricultural productivity in a continent with tremendous but yet unrealised potential. According to Afreximbanks estimates, Africa spent more than 90 billion dollars on food imports in 2019, even though it possesses up to 60 per cent of the worlds remaining arable land. Moreover, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that up to 50 per cent of Africas agricultural production is lost every year from farm-to-market. This is due to problems ranging from sub-optimal use of inputs to improper post-harvest storage, processing and transportation facilities. Mr Awani said that these challenges had been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had disrupted supply chains, heightened price volatility and could further undermine household consumption. Timely fund? He noted that the facility provided by Afreximbank would address key bottlenecks faced by African agricultural exporters, aggregating large values of produce in order to give small and medium-scale enterprises access to regional and international markets. According to him, expanding the groups work in this area will reduce post-harvest losses through better access to yield-enhancing inputs and more robust networks to get output to regional and international markets while helping boost the scale and productivity of African farmers to position Africa as the worlds bread basket. It will also support the vital flow of food supplies across the continent amid the disruption triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. ETG is focused on uplifting farming communities by connecting smallholder farmers with international markets, expanding mechanisation and processing capabilities. It will also increase knowledge around quality inputs, irrigation, post-harvest techniques and yield-enhancing practices, Mr Awani added. (NAN) The government has done a u-turn on face coverings in schools in certain parts of England. (Getty Images) Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Pupils and staff in secondary schools in areas of England with high transmission of coronavirus will now be required to wear face coverings following a u-turn by the government. The Department for Education has confirmed that it will revise its guidance on the use of face coverings in schools in areas of national government intervention - which means in areas where local lockdowns have been imposed. The move comes comes after the Scottish government decided to make face coverings mandatory for high school pupils. Northern Ireland has followed suit, while Wales is considering its guidance. It also follows a change in guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO). In a statement published on 21 August the WHO advised that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a one-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area. Read more: People are loving this button hack to stop glasses steaming up while wearing a face mask Where in the UK will face masks in secondary schools be mandatory? In Scotland, face coverings should be worn by staff and pupils when moving around secondary schools from 31 August. The same rules apply to pupils in Northern Ireland, while Wales is considering its guidance. In England, pupils at secondary schools in areas under local lockdown will also have to wear face coverings in school from 1 September. At the time of writing, these areas include: parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire; Leicester; Luton, and Northampton. But government guidance states that secondary school headteachers in England will also have the flexibility to introduce mask rules in their schools, should they choose to do so. Story continues Outside of local lockdown areas, face coverings wont be required in schools, though schools will have the flexibility to introduce measures if they believe it is right in their specific circumstances, explained education secretary Gavin Williamson. The new guidelines for England, also warn that stricter guidance on face coverings could in the future apply to all schools, if the rate of transmission increases across the whole country. Where do children need to wear masks in school? Children in secondary school in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of England must now wear face coverings when moving around school buildings, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. However, in the new guidance for England, the government has said it will not be necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom, where protective measures already mean the risks are lower, and they may inhibit teaching and learning. The advice also includes teachers and pupils at further education colleges. Read more: Why you should think twice before using a disposable face mask Read more: Doctor shares video explaining how face masks dont reduce your oxygen intake Who is exempt from wearing a face covering at school? This new guidance is only for children in secondary school and above meaning primary school children will not have to wear masks. Pupils who cannot wear masks for medical reasons will also be exempt from having to wear a face covering. Exemptions include those who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability. Masks can also be removed if a person is speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate. The same exemptions will apply in education settings, and we would expect teachers and other staff to be sensitive to those needs, the guidance for England states. How can I check if my child has to wear a face covering at school? If youre unsure whether your child will need to wear a face covering in school, you can check directly with their school to see what guidelines have been put in place for your local area. It is also possible to check if your town or city in England is under local restrictions by looking on the government website. Even if your childs school is in England and is not subject to local lockdown, headteachers have been given the power to ask their pupils to wear face coverings, so it is still worth getting in touch with the school directly to check their face covering policy. What will happen if my child forgets their face covering or it gets damaged? Education Secretary John Swinney has said that Scottish guidance will explicitly state that pupils should not be excluded from school if they do not wish to wear a face covering. The government guidance for England states that schools should take steps to have a small contingency supply of masks available to meet the needs of pupils and staff who are struggling to access a suitable covering. However, the advice adds that no-one should be asked to leave school on the grounds that they are not wearing a face covering. The government has also provided information on how to advise staff and pupils about the correct usage of coverings. It is vital that face coverings are worn correctly and that clear instructions are provided to staff, children and young people on how to put on, remove, store and dispose of face coverings in all of the circumstances above, to avoid inadvertently increasing the risks of transmission, the guidance states. Safe wearing of face coverings requires cleaning of hands before and after touching including to remove or put them on and the safe storage of them in individual, sealable plastic bags between use, the government advice states. Where a face covering becomes damp, it should not be worn and the face covering should be replaced carefully. Read more: The face mask hacks you need to know What about teachers? The new guidance for England also applies to teachers, except in the case of exemption on medical or other grounds. Jon Richards, of Unison, said masks were worn in other workplaces and therefore school staff should be allowed to wear them. He also pointed out the risk of teachers spreading the virus to each other. This acknowledgement of the transmission risk between staff in schools underlines why its vital they should be able to wear face coverings, he added. Where to buy face masks for children 5 Pack Reusable & Adjustable Kids' Face Coverings | 9.50 from Marks and Spencer 5 Pack Reusable & Adjustable Kids' Face Coverings Reusable Kids Face Mask | 7.99 from Mango Reusable homologated facemask Everyone loves downtown Portlands Elk statue, which is why its recent removal from its Main Street perch has led to such consternation. Fear not, the swirling theories about Elk being destroyed by protesters this summer are not true. Local writer Brian Libby, a fan of the statue ever since it made a key appearance in Gus Van Sants 1991 movie My Own Private Idaho, visited the bronze animal at its secret location. He assured everyone, through photos and prose at the Portland Architecture blog, that Elk is in good shape. It was taken down by the Regional Arts and Culture Council as a precaution because its base was damaged after protesters began using it as a nightly gathering spot. More shots from last Friday's visit to the Elk statue in its hidden location... pic.twitter.com/QKny0Esw5i Brian Libby (@brianlibby) August 24, 2020 But while Portlanders today appear to universally embrace Elk, there wasnt always such fondness for it. Upon the 1900 unveiling of the statue, a gift from 1879-82 Portland mayor David P. Thompson, one critic derided Elk as a gargoyle quadruped. The Elks Club refused to take part in the statues dedication, calling it a monstrosity of art. Part of the problem might have been that it didnt quite capture the animal found in Oregons wilds. Portland's "Elk" in storage. (Photo courtesy of Brian Libby) Our Elk isnt an Olympic elk or a Rocky Mountain elk. Its sculptor, Roland Hinton Perry, was known for exaggerating nature for dramatic effect, former Oregonian writer John Terry pointed out in 1998. So its one of a kind -- a Thompson Elk. Then there was the fact that when automobiles became the transportation norm in the early years of the 20th century, that big statue in the middle of a downtown thoroughfare slowed motorists down. One resident wrote to the city council in 1936 asking for a change of address for this fossilized stag, who stands defiantly athwart Main Street traffic. Pledges from Phi Beta Tau Fraternity at Pacific University clean "Elk" in 1959. (The Oregonian) But that was then. Now, after 120 years, Elk is beloved, a symbol of Portland and, yes, the ongoing protests here against police violence and systemic racism. Libby says hes been heartened by the reaction of Portlanders who discovered through his post that the statue is safe and intact. But he did notice, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive, that he also received some comments from former Oregonians now witnessing events digitally from afar who tended to be suspicious about why the statue was removed. A makeshift, temporary elk statue has taken the place of Roland Hinton Perry's iconic 120-year-old work. (Sean Meagher/The Oregonian)Sean Meagher/The Oregonian A vocal minority of people I interacted with couldnt seem to accept that those who lit fires at the base of the Elk statue were not maliciously trying to destroy it, he says. I was shown numerous YouTube clips intended as evidence, but they actually confirmed that the damage seemed to be unintentional and that the Elk was a rallying point. Thats a debate best left to cable news. The important takeaway here is that Elk is safe and comfortable in its temporary shelter, newly buffed and ready for Portlands next 120 years. -- Douglas Perry dperry@oregonian.com @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. PwC Chairman has said that the professional services firm will undertake measures to review how it can better detect frauds after a number of scandals, including Wirecard, rocked the industry. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was the independent auditor of Satyam Computer Services Limited when the news of the scandal surfaced. PwC India was fined $6 million by the SEC (US Securities and Exchange Commission) for not following the code of conduct and auditing standards in the performance of its duties related to the auditing of the accounts of Satyam Computer Services Bob Moritz said that the firm wants to ensure that it is moving forward on the detection of fraud to "ensure the relevance of the profession". The audit industry has drawn widespread criticism after the revelation of a series of high-profile corporate failures and accounting scandals, latest being German payments processor Wirecard in June 2020. Wirecard grew exponentially over the years and became Europes biggest competitor to the Silicon Valley giants. The company, however, was hit by a scandal in June after it said that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) had been missing from its accounts. Also Read: Wirecard crisis | All you need to know about the scandal This led to a 98 percent fall in its share price and the arrest of its former CEO, Markus Braun, on the ground of suspected falsification of accounts and money laundering. "Wirecard is yet another example of the fact we need to look at this and do it aggressively over the next few years," Financial Times quoted Bob Moritz as saying. Satyam scam called into question the role of auditors under whose nose, promoter Ramalinga Raju perpetrated a monumental fraud by forging bank fixed deposit receipts. In 2018, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had barred Price Waterhouse, an arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers India, from auditing any listed companies in India for a period of two years. However, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) in September 2019 overturned SEBI's order. "SEBI has no authority to look into the quality of audit standards and audit services," SAT had said, adding that it can only take remedial and preventive action, and the move to bar the auditor is neither. The Supreme Court on November 18, 2019, stayed the SAT order. The fraud at erstwhile Satyam Computer Services came to light on January 8, 2009, after the company's founder Raju publicly admitted to cooking the books to the tune of Rs 5,004 crore over a period of time, shocking the global corporate community. A SEBI probe had found that the scam was much larger at Rs 7,800 crore. Nearly 94 percent of the reported cash reserve of the company had been fictitious. Raju was arrested by the police in January 2009, along with his younger brother B Rama Raju and got bail from the Supreme Court in 2011, as the CBI failed to file a chargesheet. The market regulator slapped a fine of Rs 1,849 crore on Raju and barred him from the markets for 14 years. In 2015, Raju and nine others were found guilty under various counts of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to seven years in prison by a Hyderabad court. Deviating from his own advice and breaking the longstanding precedent of sitting US secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics, Mike Pompeo has urged Americans to re-elect President Donald Trump if they want to keep the country safe and their freedoms intact. The unconventional address of Pompeo at the second day of the mostly-virtual Republican National Convention on Tuesday created a political uproar, especially from the opposition Democratic Party, which asserted that the Secretary of State should stay away from partisan politics. The decision to speak to the political convention in pre-recorded remarks from Jerusalem breaks with the longstanding precedent of sitting secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics and appears to violate guidance on political activities that Pompeo himself emphasised in a cable to diplomats just last month. Brushing away the criticism, Pompeo said that his speech from Israel is in his personal capacity. "The primary Constitutional function of the national government is ensuring your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, work, learn and worship as they choose. Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this President has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world," Pompeo said in his address. Noting that Americans are more safe, and their freedoms more secure, because Trump has put his America First vision into action, Pompeo asserted that it may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked. Also read: Americans have to 'make this China virus go away' and it's happening: Donald Trump "In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The President has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world, and he will not rest until justice is done," the Secretary of State said. The US has accused China of spreading the novel coronavirus, which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. More than 5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US so far. There have been more than 170,000 deaths in the country. Pompeo said Trump has ensured that the Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats are jailed or sent back to China. He has "ended ridiculously unfair trade deals with China that punched a hole in the economy. "Those jobs are coming back home," he said. In North Korea, the President lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table, Pompeo said. "No nuclear tests, no long-range missile tests and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families as did the precious remains of scores of our heroes who fought in Korea," he said. Also read: US elections: Joe Biden accepts presidential nomination; seeks Democratic, national solidarity in speech "Today, because of President Trump, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has defensive weapons systems and America left a harmful treaty so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression," Pompeo said. According to Pompeo, in the Middle East when Iran threatened, the President approved a strike that killed Iranian terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for the murder and maiming of hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Christians across the Middle East. "You will all recall that when the President took office, radical Islamic terrorists had beheaded Americans and ISIS-controlled a territory the size of Great Britain. Today, because of the President's determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out, its evil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, and our brave soldiers are on their way home," he told his countrymen. Also read: Elected US President because Barack Obama did 'such a bad job': Donald Trump The President exited the US from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the Ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas, he said. Pompeo said that the President moved the US Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland, he said. "And the President brokered a historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, that our grandchildren will read about in their history books," he said. "As a soldier, I saw, first hand, people desperate to flee to freedom. The way each of us can best ensure our freedoms is by electing leaders who don't just talk, but deliver," he said. Meanwhile, a House Democrat has opened an investigation into Pompeo's controversial decision to address the Republican National Convention. Also read: For Trump, presidency means 'watching TV', 'zapping people on social media': Bill Clinton Rep Joaquin Castro, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, said in a statement on Tuesday that the "American people deserve a full investigation." Kenosha: Two people have died and one person was injured as shots were fired late on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) in Kenosha during the third night of unrest in Wisconsin following the shooting of a black man by police. The shooting was reported about 11.45pm, local time, in an area where protests have taken place, Kenosha police said in a news release. The injured person was in serious condition at a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, he said. A protester shouts at police during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse. Credit:AP The shooting was under investigation and no other information was released. The victims have not been identified. Jacob Blake, who was shot multiple times by police in Wisconsin, is paralysed, and it would "take a miracle" for him to walk again, his family's attorney said, while calling for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and others involved to lose their jobs. Britain is helping to train the militaries of over a dozen countries involved in serious breaches of human rights abuses, it has been revealed. Seventeen countries on the Foreign Office's own human rights watch list, defined as states where the UK is particularly concerned about human rights issues received instruction from the British armed forces from 2018-2020. The Independent reported at the weekend that the UK was as recently as March providing training to the armed forces of Belarus, a dictatorship where pro-democracy protesters have faced repression in recent months. But ministers have now admitted that from 2018-2020, the UK armed forces provided training to states on the FCO's own watch list: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Maldives, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe. The UK provided sniper commander courses to soldiers in Bahrain, which cracked down on peaceful dissent in 2018, virtually eliminating all opposition to its government, according to NGO Human Rights Watch. It also trained Saudi Arabian forces in fighter jet and tactical weapons use, while the country was engaged in an aerial bombardment in Yemen that the UN and aid agencies says has created a humanitarian catastrophe. Egyptian forces were given a commando training course, while in 2018-19 the UK helped train China's officer corps. Britain is in fact training the militaries of the majority of countries on its own human rights watch list: 17 out of 30 on the so-called "human rights priority countries" register. Other countries with poor human rights records not on the UK's watch list were also given training, including Oman, Qatar, Turkey, the UAE, and the Philippines. The figures were revealed in response to a written parliamentary question by Labour MP Sam Tarry. The Ministry of Defence says it keeps any training it does with other countries under review. Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said: Many of these armies have appalling human rights records and have been linked to brutal oppression as well as international aggression. 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 "By training and collaborating with despots, dictatorships, and human rights abusers the UK risks making itself complicit in the abuses that are being inflicted. "For far too long, successive UK governments have talked about the importance of human rights and democracy while arming, supporting, and strengthening authoritarian regimes across the world. "There must be an end to the hypocrisy and a full review of which forces the UK has trained and if they have been linked to human rights abuses. Two different interventions both worked to significantly reduce the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions made by physicians in a telemedicine practice, a new study led by Children's National Hospital researchers shows. This finding, published Aug. 26 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, could offer a new way to stem the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, particularly as telemedicine grows due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2.8 million antibiotic resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year. One way to help prevent this problem from growing is to prescribe antibiotics only when they're appropriate. Interventions meant to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing have shown some success at brick-and-mortar medical practices. However, says Rana Hamdy, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.C.E., infectious diseases specialist and director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Children's National, these efforts have largely ignored direct-to-consumer telemedicine practices, even though they're one of the fastest growing health care sectors. "Telemedicine has the potential for even more inappropriate antibiotic prescribing than brick-and-mortar facilities because doctors aren't physically examining patients and may not have the tools to accurately diagnose bacterial infections, such as looking in a patient's ears to diagnose an ear infection, or performing a throat swab to accurately diagnose strep throat," she says. To test whether interventions that have reduced unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in brick-and-mortar facilities might also work for telemedicine practices, Dr. Hamdy and her colleagues worked with Doctor on Demand, a national direct-to-patient video visit medical practice providing primary and mental health care. Patients who use this service are connected online either "on demand" or at a scheduled appointment to an on-shift physician licensed in the state in which the patient is physically located. Each visit is documented in a proprietary electronic health record system. The researchers focused on acute respiratory tract infections, a common reason for telemedicine visits and the most common diagnoses for antibiotic prescriptions in in-person medical facilities. They were specifically interested in four target conditions: bronchitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infections (a non-specific diagnosis that includes the common cold). Dr. Hamdy and her team tracked the prescribing habits of 45 physicians within the practice for these common conditions for patients seen between Jan. 1, 2018 and Nov. 30, 2018. Midway through this period, in April 2018, the physicians were divided into two groups: One received education about appropriate antibiotic prescriptions through a one-hour slides presentation and a continuing medical education course. The other received this education plus feedback on the dashboard they saw when they logged onto their Doctor on Demand physician page. This feedback included their current antibiotic prescribing statistics compared to practice-wide statistics for the same condition. The doctors provided more than 55,000 visits for patients diagnosed with any of the four target conditions during the study period. When the researchers compared antibiotic prescribing rates pre- and post-intervention, they saw decreases in both the education and education-plus-feedback groups. For bronchitis, a condition in which antibiotics should never be prescribed, antibiotic prescription rates fell from about 64% to 32% in the education-plus-feedback group and from about 47% to 35% in the education group. For sinusitis, a condition in which patients need to meet specific criteria to receive antibiotics, prescribing rates fell from about 87% to 77% in the education-plus-feedback and from 84% to 77% in the education group. For pharyngitis, a condition that requires a lab test not available through telemedicine for antibiotic prescribing, rates fell from 75% to 65% in the education-plus-feedback group and 81% to 75% in the education group. And for upper respiratory tract infections, another condition in which antibiotics aren't warranted, rates fell from 15% to 8% in the education-plus-feedback group and 18% to 13% in the education group. Although education-plus-feedback appeared to be slightly more successful than education alone, Dr. Hamdy notes that either intervention significantly reduced inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. These reductions were often minor; however, she adds, even small drops in the percentages of unnecessary prescribing rates can add up to millions of prescriptions per year - a boon to fighting antibiotic resistance. Doctor on Demand considered these interventions so useful, Dr. Hamdy says, that they've continued to include antibiotic prescribing statistics on physicians' dashboards since the study ended. "We hope these results elevate the importance of antibiotic stewardship for quality of care and that all direct-to-consumer companies rise to the occasion to implement effective antibiotic stewardship interventions in their practice," she says. ### Other researchers who contributed to this study include Lily Du Yan of Boston Medical Center; Kristin Dean and James Thompson of Doctor on Demand; Daniel Park and Cindy Liu of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center at the George Washington Milken Institute of Public Health; and Ian Tong of Doctor on Demand and Stanford University School of Medicine. Media contact: Beth Riggs | briggs@childrensnational.org | 301-233-4038 Buffets, those beacons of all-you-can-eat food at reasonable prices, are part of the American restaurant landscape. Now, thanks to a global pandemic, the future of help-yourself smorgasbords is in peril. @yemacalif/ Instagram Police in Tiburon, California demanded a Black-owned clothing store owner prove that he owned his establishment while he was putting out inventory at 1 a.m on Sunday. Video of the incident was posted on Instagram and shows the exchange between Yema Khalif and a Tiburon police supervisor. Khalif told a local news outlet that he felt "racially profiled" by the officer's actions. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A Black clothing store owner in California said he felt "racially profiled" when a police supervisor asked him to show identification and prove he owned his store. On Sunday, Yema Khalif was working late putting out new inventory in the store in Tiburon, California which is about 20 miles north of the San Francisco Bay area when a local police officer knocked on the door asking why Khalif along with his wife and friend were inside at 1 a.m. The confrontation was captured on video, which was posted on the clothing store's Instagram account. According to the Instagram post, the officer called for back up before he approached the store door. A supervisor accompanied by another armed officer showed up to the clothing store minutes later, the post said. Then the supervisor asked the trio to show ID. "I expressed to him that there was no crime going on and we were going about our business," the store's owner said in the post. "Then he insisted that he wanted us to prove who we are and to explain what we were doing at the store that late. I, kindly, explained that we didn't have to prove anything." In the video, Khalif asked, "There's three Black people in the store, what's the problem?" "It's nine o'clock at night and there's never anyone in here," the police supervisor said. "This isn't regular business hours. There's no customers in there. Is it your store that's all we want to know?" Story continues "If I tell you it's my store, then what?" Khalif responded. "Aren't you glad we're looking out for your store?" the supervisor said in the video, adding that Khalif should be "grateful" that the officers are looking over the street. When the supervisor asked him to prove he was the owner of the store, Khalif said, "I do not have to prove anything to you." Khalif didn't respond to Insider's request for comment. He told ABC 7 News that it's normal for him and his wife to put out merchandise during late hours."This particular day we had just received a huge inventory and we just wanted to come out and put the inventory out before Saturday morning," Khalif told the outlet. "I did feel racially profiled," Khalif said to ABC 7 News. In the video, the supervisor asked Khalif to put his key in the door to prove that he was the owner of the store. "Put the key in the door and we're out of here," the supervisor demanded. At the end of the video, a neighbor yelled and confirmed that Khalief was the owner of the store before the officers left. Tiburon Police in a statement to ABC 7 News said "the town is engaging the services of an outside, independent attorney to conduct an investigation" into the incident. Read the original article on Insider HOLYOKE A city man arrested on drug and firearms charges after a four-month investigation has pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield to distributing heroin. Luis Garcia-Figueroa, 20, pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Dec. 22, U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling announced in writing. Garcia-Figueroa was arrested after an investigation conducted by the Holyoke Police Narcotics and Vice Unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Massachusetts State Police, the FBIs Western Mass Gang Task Force, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, Homeland Security and the Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team. During the investigation, undercover agents purchased increasing amounts of heroin on eight occasions between October 2019 and Jan. 15, 2020, Lelling said. Agents with search warrants then raided homes at 97 Hitchcock St. and 108 Westfield Road in Holyoke in January. They found about 2,300 bags of heroin, 20 grams of ecstasy, 1 pound of marijuana, a large amount of cash and a gun, police said at the time of the arrest. Garcia-Figueroa faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million on each count, Lelling said. Related Content: CHICAGO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Cloud System Management Market by component (IT Operations Management (ITOM), IT Service Management (ITSM), and IT Automation and Configuration Management (ITACM)), deployment model, organization size, vertical, and region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Cloud System Management Market size is expected to grow from USD 10.6 billion in 2020 to USD 31.4 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24.1% during the forecast period. The flexibility and agility of cloud-based models would support the IT service needs of enterprises. The leading CSPs/hyperscalersMicrosoft, Alphabet, IBM, and AWSare expected to increase their CAPEX primarily for data center expansion to support the increasing workload for their internal and external stakeholders. The increasing volume of data generation in websites and mobile apps, rising focus on delivering customer-centric applications for driving customer satisfaction, and growing need to control and reduce Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) are a few factors driving the growth of the emerging technologies. The emerging technologies, such as big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) are gaining traction which is ultimately leading to the growth of the Cloud System Management Market, globally. Browse in-depth TOC on "Cloud System Management Market" 255 Tables 55 Figures 241 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=197839352 The sudden shutdown of offices, schools, colleges, and physical retail stores has massively disrupted operations; this has led to an increase in the demand for digital workplace tools and services, such as Zoom, Slack, Blackboard, Lynda, Canvas, Google Classroom, AnyMeeting, and Moodle. AWS, Microsoft, and Google host and manage all applications in a public cloud environment. Increased spend on cloud services by select industries due to COVID-19. Industries, such as IT and ITeS, telecom, online retail/commerce, media, and BFSI, are expected to increase spending on cloud-based services to sustain their business. Highly regulated and cash-rich industries, such as BFSI, are also expected to move selective workloads to public cloud environments. The market is expected to be driven by the functionalities of ITOM, including the availability of a single platform to cater to multiple aspects of service delivery ITOM involves technology infrastructure components and requirements of individual applications, services, storage, networking, and connectivity elements within an enterprise. It is responsible for the smooth functioning of the infrastructure and operational environments that support the application deployment to internal and external customers, including network infrastructure, server and device management, computer operations, IT infrastructure library (ITIL) management, and help desk services to an organization. It mainly represents the tools needed to manage the provisioning, capacity, performance, and availability of the computing, networking, and application environment. Increased security capabilities and customized costing in cloud based solutions is driving the adoption of cloud based deployment Cloud deployment model offers various benefits to enterprises, such as scalability, reliability, flexibility, and remote location access. Cloud is more preferred by enterprises that have less regulatory hurdles and are willing to partially or fully outsource their storage facilities. The major concern with cloud is data security due to which many enterprises are shifting to private and hybrid cloud solutions. The SaaS-based deployment of cloud systems management solutions is expected to gain traction in the coming years due to all the advantages it offers over on-premises deployment. The growth of cloud deployment is expected to be higher as it offers customization of solutions according to business requirements, billing based on usage, rapid implementation, and reduced overhead cost of implementation. Speak to Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=197839352 North America to dominate the global Cloud System Management Market in 2020 North America is expected to have the largest market size among the regions in the Cloud System Management Market as organizations are shifting toward cloud-based solutions and services with the increasing adoption of digital business strategies. This trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. North America is a mature market due to the presence of many players offering cloud system management solutions. Moreover, enterprises are increasing their budgets to accommodate a cloud system management solution, which is favoring the growth of the Cloud System Management Market in North America. The US and Canada are the top countries in North America which contribute to the Cloud System Management Market. The US, being a major economy, holds a significant market share owing to the country's technological advancements and inclination toward innovation and adoption of new technologies. Furthermore, organizations have invested substantially in advanced technologies to gain competitive advantage and increase business productivity. The Cloud System Management Market is expected to grow steadily as enterprises are adopting cloud-based solutions and services at various levels as a part of their strategy to sustain themselves in the market and achieve improved business functioning. Some of the major players catering to the Cloud System Management Market in North America include Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, HPE, and Cisco. Market Players The Cloud System Management Market includes major vendors, such as VMware (US), Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), BMC Software (US), New Relic (US), Splunk (US), ServiceNow (US), Dynatrace (US), Datadog (US), Google (US), Micro Focus (UK), Oracle (US), Broadcom (US), AWS (US), Flexera (US), ScienceLogic (US), Puppet (US), HPE (US), Turbonomic (US), Apptio (US), Chef (US), Densify (US), Riverbed (US). Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting Browse Related Reports: Cloud Applications Market by Application (ERP, CRM, HCM, SCM, Content Management, BI and Analytics), Organization Size, Vertical (BFSI, Manufacturing, Government & Public Sector, and Telecommunications), and Region Global Forecast to 2025 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cloud-applications-market-77759796.html Cloud Infrastructure Services Market by Service Type (Storage as a Service, Compute as a Service, Disaster Recovery and Backup as a Service), Deployment Model, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2024 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cloud-infrastructure-services-market-116511247.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/cloud-system-management-software-market.asp Content Source : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/cloud-system-management-software.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets She has been spending long quarantine days at the beach as of late. And Emily Ratajkowski enjoyed another sunbathing session in her bikini on Sunday. The actress, 29, was spotted at the beach in the Hamptons with her husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard. Life's a beach! Emily Ratajkowski was spotted packing up as she left the beach in the Hamptons with her husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard, on Sunday Emily put her fabulous body on full display as she hit the beach in an extra skimpy bikini. The couple were the picture of relaxation as they traded in the hustle and bustle of city life for a day by the surf. Emily sweetly placed her feet upon her husband's legs as she laid out close by him, deep in a reading session. Sebastian perused through his phone as he relaxed on a beach chair, using a navy blue cap to protect himself from the sunshine. Beach babe! Emily looked fabulous in her skimpy swimsuit, which she covered up with FRAME's Safari Belted Pant Calling it a day: The couple packed up their belongings after a day soaking up the sunshine Eventually, the couple decided to call it a day and return home. Emily climbed back into her regular attire before packing up their belongings. Now Emily wore a white crop top, beige FRAME slacks, and a trendy pair of cat eyed shades. The actress has been making the most of her free time in quarantine lately with day trips to the beach. Lazy Sunday: Emily sweetly placed her feet on her husband's legs as she caught up with her reading Strike a pose: A smiling Emily appeared to be taking a selfie on Tuesday Emily was spotted enjoying another day of sea and sunshine on Tuesday, wearing a black string bikini. The Gone Girl actress looked as happy as can be as she took a selfie on her teal-covered phone. Emily also posted a selfie from her beach day onto Instagram, as she relaxed upon her red beach towel. The star and her husband Sebastian have recently returned to New York after quarantining in California for a period of time. Big Apple babe: Emily and her husband Sebastian have returned to New York after quarantining in California for a period of time The camera loves her: Ratajkowski relaxed upon her red beach towel as she snapped a selfie In an interview with GQ, Emily said it had been 'interesting' self-isolating with Sebastian, and predicted the quarantine may lead to many divorces. 'Its been interesting being in quarantine and married. I feel like a lot of people will end up divorced. But my husband and I are in a good partnership. And I think that Ive learned a lot about myself being married, for sure.' Emily surprised fans back in 2018 after announcing she had tied the knot with Sebastian at a NYC courthouse, with social media sensation Fat Jewish among those in attendance. While the lightning-fast relationship surprised many fans, the couple were actually friends for years prior to becoming romantic. 'Emily has known Sebastian for years,' a source told Us Weekly at the time. 'They were all in a friend group. He wasnt a stranger.' Andrew Robert Walter, 48, of Damascus was driving south on Damascus Road about 8:15 a.m. when his SUV left the road as it approached Annapolis Rock Road and struck a tree, according to police. He died at the scene in the Damascus area. FILE PHOTO: Taiwanese domestically-built Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF) take part in the live-fire, anti-landing Han Kuang military exercise, which simulates an enemy invasion, in Taichung By Ben Blanchard and Yew Lun Tian TAIPEI/BEIJING (Reuters) - Numerous Chinese and U.S. military exercises, Taiwan missiles tracking Chinese fighters and plummeting China-U.S. ties make for a heady cocktail of tension that is raising fears of conflict touched off by a crisis over Taiwan. In the last three weeks, China has announced four separate exercises along its coast, from the Bohai Gulf in the north to the East and Yellow Seas and South China Sea, along with other exercises it said were aimed at "the current security situation across the Taiwan Strait". Meanwhile Taiwan, claimed by China as its "sacred" territory, said its surface-to-air missiles had tracked approaching Chinese fighters - details Taiwan does not normally give - as U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar was visiting the island this month. Addressing the Chinese exercises, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday the closer Chinese jets get to the island the "more actively" Taipei would respond, though it would "not escalate conflict" nor "trigger an incident". The United States sent another warship through the Taiwan Strait this month, a few days after a U.S. carrier group conducted an exercise in the disputed South China Sea, and this week China complained a U.S. spy plane had observed Chinese live-fire exercises. Chinese military expert Ni Lexiong, a retired professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said it was very rare and possibly the first time multiple Chinese exercises were taking place at the same time. "By simultaneously conducting drills in the three seas, it means China is testing its ability to fight enemies coming from three directions at the same time - for example from Taiwan, from Japan and from the U.S. from the south," he said. "Historically, frequent drills are a clear predictor of war." 'DISMAY AND CONCERN' Taiwan-based security and diplomatic sources say the chances of "firing off a shot while polishing the gun" - a Chinese saying for an accidental encounter setting off a broader conflict - are rising mainly because of increased U.S. and Chinese military activity in the region. Story continues "Neither side wants to start a conflict. The fundamentals have not changed much," said a Western diplomat looking into military activities across the Taiwan Strait. "But the frequent activities do increase the chances of an accidental conflict," the diplomat said. China's defence ministry and its Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to requests for comment, and neither did the Pentagon nor U.S. State Department. China's foreign ministry said in statement sent to Reuters: "We have the determination and capability to stop any activities aimed at separating Taiwan from China". A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that China was becoming more assertive and more aggressive in the region and there was concern its military could miscalculate, leading to unexpected consequences. "This is an issue that is broader than Taiwan and broader than just the United States," the official said. "I would argue that there are many like-minded countries in the region that are viewing with dismay and increasing concern the trend lines coming out of Beijing." 'TO THE LAST SOLDIER' The Trump administration has been taking an escalating array of measures against China in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election, adding to the uncertainty. A hypothetical scenario spelled out in a recent essay by James Winnefeld, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Michael Morrell, former acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency, has made the rounds in Taiwan security circles. In their suggested sequence of events, set out in the Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute, a disputed U.S. election gives China the opportunity to move on Taiwan while Washington and the world are distracted. In Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen has responded to the tension with pledges to defend the island. She and her government have denounced as scaremongering and kowtowing to Beijing a campaign this month by former president Ma Ying-jeou, who held a landmark meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015, to warn that Taiwan is courting disaster by needling China and would not last long in a war. Still, Taiwan has been keen to show its teeth. Its defence ministry this month issued two slickly produced videos showing missiles being fired and F-16s in the air to demonstrate their resolve to defend the island. "Dare to fight, and fight to the last soldier," the ministry said in a caption for the latest video, released on Sunday. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yew Lun Tian; Additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Robert Birsel) OTTAWA Newly elected Conservative Leader Erin OToole said he will push the federal Liberals for a plan to temper western anger and get oil to global markets. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Newly elected Conservative Leader Erin OToole said he will push the federal Liberals for a plan to temper western anger and get oil to global markets. "Its about collaboration, not confrontation," OToole told the Free Press at his inaugural Tuesday news conference on Parliament Hill. The Tory leader said western alienation was his first topic of conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in their first call on Monday. The Ontario MP said regional tensions are dangerous for a country facing an unprecedented economic crisis. "It has to do with the ability of any Canadian province to live up to its potential and provide job opportunities for its people. Its about respecting our Constitution and the provincial autonomy," he said. In a month, Trudeau will have Parliament hear a new throne speech, which will set out the Liberals new direction after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their legislative agenda. The minority government has hinted at a massive spending spree, but requires at least one other party to keep the confidence of the House of Commons. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Otherwise, Canadians would be headed to the polls this fall. OToole said the Tories need to see support for the oil patch in the September speech. "If they continue to leave out the ability for our resource sector to get Canadian resources to market, were going to see more western alienation," he said, arguing that the status quo will cause job losses in other regions. The Tory leader would not provide any examples of issues that drive western alienation beyond the resource sector, but accused the Liberals of "an Ottawa-knows-best approach." The NDP has asked the Liberals to promise more child-care funding in the throne speech. The Bloc Quebecois has suggested it might not support the government unless Trudeau resigns over the WE Charity scandal. Dylan Robertson Kremlin Claims German Doctors 'Rushing' To Say Navalny Was Poisoned By RFE/RL August 25, 2020 MOSCOW -- The Kremlin has said that there was no immediate need to open a probe into how Aleksei Navalny fell gravely ill -- claiming that German doctors treating the Russian opposition leader were "rushing" to use the word poisoning. The Charite hospital treating Navalny since he was medically airlifted to Germany at the weekend said on August 24 that its tests indicate he was "poisoned." The Berlin hospital said the anti-corruption campaigner and staunch opponent of President Vladimir Putin is in an intensive-care unit and is still in an induced coma. His health situation "is serious but there is currently no acute danger to his life," the hospital said. Following the German doctors' announcement, Western countries and the European Union called on Russia to investigate Navalny's suspected poisoning and hold the perpetrators accountable. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call on August 24 that the German clinic had not conclusively identified the substance behind Navalny's illness. Peskov said it was unclear to the Kremlin why the German doctors were, in his words, "rushing" to use the word poisoning. "We don't understand why our German colleagues are in such a hurry to use the word 'poisoning,'" he said. "If the substance is identified and if it is determined that it is poisoning, then, of course, this will be a reason for investigation," Peskov said. Navalny's supporters have blamed the Kremlin and Putin personally for the incident. But Peskov said that there was "no way such accusations can be true," calling them "idle talk" and adding, "We have no intention of taking them seriously." Navalny, 44, fell ill on August 20 during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow. The plane made an emergency landing in Omsk, where doctors put him into an induced coma. Navalny was flown via commercial air ambulance from Omsk to Berlin on August 22 after a day of insistence by Russian doctors that he was too ill to fly. Navalny's wife had suggested medical treatment in Germany for her husband -- who had previously been attacked with a chemical that left permanent eye damage and had a bout of suspected poisoning in Russian custody in the past -- would be more reliable, effective, and transparent. On August 24, the Charite hospital issued a statement saying that "clinical findings indicate intoxication by a substance from the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors." Cholinesterase inhibitors, also known as anti-cholinesterase, are a broad range of chemicals that are found in several drugs but also in some pesticides and nerve agents. Russian doctors who treated Navalny contradicted the German colleagues' statement. The head of Moscow's Bureau of Forensic Medicine, Sergei Shigeyev, said on August 25 that Germany did not appear to have enough evidence to claim that Navalny had been poisoned. Shigeyev said it was "premature" to come to that conclusion without identifying a specific poison, according to comments carried by Russian state news agency TASS. "Cholinesterase activity varies significantly among different people, particularly due to certain chronic diseases," Shigeyev said. The management of the Omsk hospital said it will look into why the results of their tests differ from German test results, while denying that medical personnel there had come under outside pressure from authorities. "We treated the patient and we saved him. There was no interference in the treatment of the patient and there could not be any," Aleksandr Murakhovsky, the head doctor at Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1, said on August 24. According to a Russian newspaper report, Navalny had been under surveillance by Russian federal security agents during his recent trip to Siberia that preceding his illness. Colleagues and supporters have said Navalny might have been poisoned when he drank tea purchased at the Tomsk airport. The United States and France on August 25 joined international calls on Russia to conduct a swift investigation into the suspected poisoning. The U.S. ambassador to Moscow, John Sullivan, said the authorities should launch "an immediate, comprehensive, and transparent investigation...that holds the parties behind this act responsible." U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later said that the United States is "deeply concerned" about preliminary findings that Navalny was poisoned. "If the reports prove accurate, the United States supports the EU's call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort," he said in a statement. The French Foreign Ministry said that those responsible for "this criminal act" must be identified and brought to justice." Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell have issued similar pleas. Meanwhile, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, announced that one of its committees will probe whether "foreign states" were behind the alleged poisoning. "The State Duma security committee will be instructed to analyze what happened in order to understand whether this was an attempt on the part of foreign states to harm the health of a Russian citizen to fuel tensions inside Russia, as well as to formulate fresh accusations against our country," Vyacheslav Volodin said in a statement. Navalny, who has exposed rampant corruption at the highest levels in Russia, has suffered physical attacks in the past. He endured chemical burns to one of his eyes in 2017 after he was assaulted with antiseptic dye. In July 2019, Navalny was given a 30-day jail term after calling for unauthorized protests. During that jail sentence, he was taken to a hospital with severe swelling of the face and a rash, and later alleged he was poisoned. He has been jailed several times in recent years, barred from running for president, and had a bid to run for Moscow mayor blocked. Navalny has been put under police guard in Berlin, with Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert saying that "protection is necessary" for the Russian dissident since poisoning was suspected. With reporting by dpa, Interfax, Reuters, TASS, Interfax, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin -says-german-doctors-rushing-to-say- navalny-was-poisoned/30801804.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Sushant Singh Rajput case finally seems to be on the right track and knots are slowly opening after the CBI was handed over the case two months after the actor's demise. Sushant was reportedly found hanging in his Bandra apartment on June 14 and it was said that the actor died due to suicide. However, with several people being questioned, slowly other angles started coming to the fore. A leading news channel broke the news about Rhea Chakraborty's Whatsapp chats with a person who is seen talking about how much drugs he has on him to give her. Today, the Narcotics Control Bureau took charge post this revelation and has filed a case to probe this angle. According to reports, there was a drug conspiracy that was in function with Rhea Chakraborty and a few other people involved. The case has been registered against all of them. The drug circle has been booked under the NDPS act, while a criminal case has been filed against Rhea Chakraborty. Florida has agreed to pay $4.65million as part of a settlement - possibly the largest of its kind in state history - in a lawsuit claiming that a female inmate was savagely beaten by four prison guards last year, leaving her a paraplegic. News of the record-setting payout comes just over a year after Chery Weimer, 51, was attacked by staffers at Lowell Correctional Institution after requesting medical attention for a pain in her hip. According to a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by Weimer and her husband last September, the woman has lost use of her limbs after having her neck and spinal cord broken, and has spent the past year in prison hooked up to a breathing machine, feeding tubes and catheters. Florida inmate Cheryl Weimar will be paid $4.65million as part of a settlement following a brutal attack by four prison guards that left her a paraplegic Two of the four guards accused in the case have been named as Ryan Dionne (left) and Keith Turner (right), pictured above in mugshots stemming from past arrests As Miami Herald first reported, citing documents from the state Department of Finances, the settlement agreement was reached between the two sides back on August 6. On Tuesday, a judge ordered Weimar's aggravated battery case closed. She was initially scheduled to be released next October, but now she is expected to regain her freedom early. In the summer of 2019, Weimar was in the middle of a six-year prison sentence for battery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer with violence. Weimar had a history of physical and mental disabilities, and a hip condition that made it difficult for her to walk and perform manual labor, the lawsuit said. On August 21, 2019, Weimar was cleaning toilets as a prison work assignment at Lowell Correctional Institution when she asked for an accommodation for her physical disability. The guards rejected the request and they began arguing. According to the complaint, the confrontation caused an 'adverse psychological episode' and Weimar requested that medical staff be called for her psychological emergency. Weimar was savagely beaten while on work assignment at Lowell Correctional Institution on August 21, 2019 'Instead, one or more of the [guards] slammed plaintiff Cheryl Weimar to the ground. While down, they brutally beat her with blows to her head, neck, and back,' the lawsuit said. 'At least one John Doe defendant elbowed plaintiff Cheryl Weimar in the back of her neck, causing her to suffer a broken neck.' The guards then dragged Weimar to a wheelchair 'like a rag doll,' allowing her head to hit the floor repeatedly, and took her outside of the compound, where there were no surveillance cameras, 'so they could continue their brutal attack,' the lawsuit said. She was handcuffed throughout the attack. Weimar now has to breathe through a tracheostomy, is being tube-fed and will require round-the-clock medical care for the rest of her life, the lawsuit said. Ryan Andrews, the attorney filed the lawsuit on behalf of Weimar and her husband, told Fox News last year that it was the worst case of prison abuse in Florida he has ever seen. He described his meeting with Weimar as 'one of the most sad' in his career, saying of the disabled woman: 'she couldnt talk I had to write the alphabet out so she could nod and wink and tell me what to do.' Weimar (left) was attacked while serving a sentence for charges of battery and resisting arrest Another attorney involved in the case, John M. Vernaglia, told the outlet she was 'beaten within an inch of her life.' Only two of the four guards who allegedly took part in the beating have been named as Keith Turner and Ryan Dionne. In November, the Miami Herald reported that Turner had previously been accused of trading cigarettes for sex, insubordination, harassing inmates and other actions at a Florida prison, according to a news report. Despite the long history of accusations, Turner had been promoted to lieutenant a few years ago. He was finally fired in November after being arrested on charges of sexual battery and child molestation. Dionne also had a criminal record that included a domestic violence charge, which was ultimately dismissed. He remains employed by the corrections department. United States Continues To Call for Justice and Accountability in Burma Press Statement Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson August 25, 2020 Three years after Burma's security forces launched brutal attacks against hundreds of thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children, the United States reiterates its call for justice for victims and accountability for those responsible. In addition, in the face of escalating fighting in Rakhine State, we urge a cessation of violence, dialogue, renewed efforts to protect local communities, and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance. The United States remains concerned over the killing of members of local communities and displacement of thousands, which undermines prospects for the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons and erodes prospects for peace. We urge authorities in Burma to establish conditions conducive to the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and to deepen efforts to implement recommendations from the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. Since 2017, the United States has provided more than $951 million to ease the humanitarian suffering of all affected by the crisis in Burma and Bangladesh. We deeply appreciate Bangladesh's continued generosity in hosting more than 860,000 Rohingya. We call on other nations to ensure continued humanitarian support to Rohingya and to deepen efforts to resolve the crisis. The United States has taken strong actions to promote justice for victims and accountability for those responsible for atrocities. Those actions include imposing financial sanctions and visa restrictions on top military leaders and units linked to serious human rights abuses, supporting UN investigation mechanisms, and encouraging Burma to participate fully in International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings and to comply with court orders. We appreciate the sustained commitment of the international community to hold the perpetrators of these atrocities to account. Much more remains to be done. The United States will continue to partner with the people of Burma as they work to overcome the legacy of authoritarian rule, expand democracy, and achieve peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With a moratorium on dining indoors going on six months, restaurant owners have had enough. A newly incorporated group dubbed IROAR -- the Independent Restaurant Owners Association Rescue -- is now accepting donations for a lawsuit against the city and New York State. Originally an ad hoc group of proprietors from Staten Island, the organization lobbies to reopen dining rooms immediately in New York City at limited capacity. The website IROARNYC.com has been live since Tuesday. Patiala Even as the Punjab government has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), banning gathering of over five persons, and also ordered complete ban on protests, as ways to tackle the covid-19 pandemic, teachers continued their protest outside Punjabi University vice-chancellor BS Ghumans residence and office on Wednesday. The teachers, under the banner of Punjabi University Teachers Union (PUTA) have been protesting outside the V-Cs residence for over 20 days. Another set of teachers, under the Joint Action Committee, are protesting outside his office over the poor financial condition of the university. The varsity has appealed to teachers to end the protest. In view of the covid-19 situation, the Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on all kinds of social, political and religious gatherings, including protests and demonstrations, said dean academic affairs GS Batra, who along with varsity registrar, Devinderpal Singh Sidhu, visited the protesting teachers. The university has already informed all employees and teachers about government orders on curbing covid-19. Vice-chancellor Ghuman said solutions would be found to meet the protesters demands. Protesters should find out ways for solutions to their problems, through a dialogue process, he added. PUTA secretary Gurnam Singh Virk said they were following guidelines, including social-distancing norms. After government orders of the imposition of Section 144, only four teachers from PUTA went to protest outside the V-C residence, he said. Representative image Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended anti-dumping duty on Choline Chloride imports from China, Malaysia, Vietnam. "DGTR recommends anti-dumping duty of $94/MT to $315/MT on Choline Chloride imports from China, Malaysia, Vietnam," it said. The anti-dumping duty on Choline Chloride has been recommended for five years. Choline Chloride is an organic compound and a quaternary ammonium salt used as an additive in animal feed. Choline Chloride can be produced in various forms, such as corn cob, on silica and in aqueous solutions. The anti-dumping investigation was first initiated on October 1, 2019, after Jubilant Life Sciences had approached DGTR on Chlorine Chloride imports. Jubilant Life Sciences filed an application for the imposition of anti-dumping duty on imports of "Choline Chloride in all its form from the Peoples Republic of China, Malaysia, European Union and Vietnam. The applicant, in its application to the authorities, claimed that it is one of the major producers of the subject goods in India. Jubilant Life Sciences alleged that material injury to the domestic industry is being caused due to dumped imports from China, Malaysia, European Union and Vietnam and requested for the imposition of anti-dumping duty on the imports of "Choline Chloride in all its form". The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) on August 24 recommended a 10 percent safeguard duty on single-mode optical fibre imports. This decision came after Sterlite Technologies and Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics approached the DGTR and said they were unable to compete with imports and regain their market share. The DGTR had in June recommended that provisional anti-dumping duty be imposed on import of Ciprofloxacin HCL from China. As per the complaint, the market share of domestic players for the drug has declined with imports creating a suppressing effect on prices. Production and sales of the domestic industry have also declined and players have suffered financial and cash losses due to imports. The commerce ministry has also initiated a review to see whether there is a need for continuation of the existing anti-dumping duty imposed on the import of certain auto components from China. Two children's toy bikes on the sidewalk in front of Jacob Blake's home in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, two days after a police officer shot him. Aisha I. Jefferson Witnesses who saw a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer shoot Jacob Blake on Sunday told Insider what they saw happen. One man said he thought Blake was going back to the vehicle to check on his three young sons in the back seat. While that man now says he thinks the officer was justified in shooting Blake, several other neighbors who witnessed the shooting disagree and say police used unnecessary force. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Witnesses who saw a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer shoot Jacob Blake on Sunday speculated that the 29-year-old father was checking on his three young sons when he opened the driver's side door of his SUV seconds before getting shot. Video: The real cost of police "Knowing Jacob, that's what he was doing. His kids are his priority. He wanted to make his kids safe," Dan Stone, who lives across the street from Blake and was there when he was shot, told Insider. Stone, 68, said he has known Blake for about five years and referred to him as a "family man" who "took care of his family." "The kids were screaming in the back seat, like any normal little kids would be. They sense that," Stone, who has lived in the neighborhood for 21 years, said. Another longtime resident, Annie Louise Hurst, 80, was sitting in a chair in front of her home when the shooting happened. Her house is diagonal to Blake's, and she said she screamed when she saw an officer shoot him. "He was just walking and opening the car door and trying to get in. He wasn't aggressive or nothing," Hurst told Insider, adding that she didn't know Blake very well but they would greet each other in passing. Hurst, who's lived in her home since 1967, said she believed Blake and his sons were celebrating one of the boy's birthdays on Sunday. A man who said he was Blake's friend told a local news reporter the same. A graphic video circulating on social media shows Blake walking away from police officers and attempting to get in his vehicle when an officer grabs his shirt and shoots him from behind. Seven shots can be heard. Story continues A police officer grabs at Blake's shirt. Twitter Arlene Archilla, who lives two doors down from Hurst, had come home right before the shooting. Afterward, she said, the children were distraught. "I [saw] one of the children laying down in the grass and [having] a panic attack," Archilla, 44, told Insider. The shooting left Blake with a severed spinal cord that has paralyzed him from the waist down, according to civil-rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Blake's family in this case. The Kenosha Police Department said in a statement that it was responding to a "domestic incident," which Blake's neighbors said he was trying to de-escalate. "Jacob was breaking up a fight between two girls," Stone said. When Insider spoke with Stone, a former Chicago police officer, on Tuesday, he said the "police shouldn't have shot" Blake, adding, "They should've brought him down to the ground. Scrapes and cuts are a lot better than getting shot." Dan Stone said he has known Blake for about five years and witnessed the shooting. Aisha I. Jefferson The Kenosha Police Department hasn't released the name of the officer involved in the shooting. Initially, Stone said he thought the officer may have been a "rookie who didn't know what he was doing," suggesting that new police-academy graduates should "wait at least a year" before getting a weapon. But on Wednesday, Stone expressed a different opinion. "Thought he was a rookie, and he wasn't and has been on the force for a long time," Stone said. "He got nervous, that's all. Just like any other cop would get nervous." In the video of the shooting, it's difficult to hear whether the police told Blake to stop before shooting him, but Stone said they did and Blake didn't listen. "If a police officer wants you to stop, stop. They're there to do a job. Don't get rowdy with them. Don't get smart with them. Just stop and listen to what they've got to say. Bottom line. That goes for me also," Stone told Insider on Wednesday. 'They didn't have to shoot' But Hurst and the other witnesses Insider spoke with said they thought the Kenosha police officers responded excessively. "They could've apprehended him better than that. They didn't have to shoot, in my opinion, that little man," she said, suggesting that officers could've tackled him to the ground. Archilla, like Hurst, referenced Blake's small stature, calling him "skinny," and said the officers' response didn't make sense given what was happening. "He didn't have to shoot him seven times. Not even once," Archilla said. Arlene Archilla said she witnessed the shooting. Aisha I. Jefferson They all said they didn't see Blake carrying any type of weapon in his hands during the confrontation. "Jacob didn't have nothing in his hands," Stone said. "He didn't have a knife in his hands. He didn't have a gun in his hands. He had his hands in his hands. And he was just trying to save his kids, probably." Since Blake's shooting, protesters have gathered in Kenosha each night to denounce racism and police brutality. Three people were shot, two fatally, during clashes between protesters and armed civilians late Tuesday night despite the city being under a mandatory 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew. A 17-year-old was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder in those shootings. Several businesses and government buildings have been vandalized, prompting a small group of armed people to defend private and public property around the city. Wisconsin is an open-carry state. "Because these officers made a bad decision, everybody has to pay for it," Archilla said. Read the original article on Insider Ty Sheem Ha Sheem Walters III, is charged with murder in South Carolina A college student and her stepfather have been shot dead in an apparent road rage attack following a minor car crash. Laura Ashley Anderson, 21, and Charles Nicholas Wall, 45, were killed on Monday outside of the home Anderson had just purchased in Georgetown, South Carolina, where Wall was arriving to drop off a spare set of keys. Ty Sheem Ha Sheem Walters III, was arrested and charged with murder after cops said he rear-ended Wall as the stepfather was turning into his daughter's driveway, and then killed Wall, Anderson, and injured one other person in a fit of rage. 'I'm devastated. Heartbroken. Confused. Angry. I don't understand. Who shoots innocent people?' asked Kimberly Wall, wife and mother of the two victims, in a gut-wrenching Facebook post. Laura Ashley Anderson, 21, (left) and Charles Nicholas Wall, 45, (right with her) were killed on Monday outside of the home Anderson had just purchased in Gerogetown, South Carolina Wall was turning into his daughter's driveway near this intersection when police say that Walters rear-ended him, and then opened fire rather than filing a police report According to family members and friends, Anderson had recently purchased a small home near the intersection of Indian Hut Road and Highmarket Street, and was excited to start her new adult life. 'She wanted to be a teacher like her momma. She was getting ready to start school. She was getting everything in order. Everything was starting to fall in place for her,' family friend Lynn Lambert told WPDE-TV. Lambert said that Anderson was just finishing up the process of moving in, and was getting rid of some childhood bunk beds by selling them online, but when she arrived at the home to meet the buyer she realized she'd forgotten her keys. At about 5pm on Monday, Wall was driving over to drop off a set of keys as Anderson waited in the front yard, Lambert said. Wall was turning into his daughter's driveway when someone rear-ended his car. Police say that the other driver, Walters, then opened fire in a shooting rampage rather than exchanging insurance information and filing a simple police report about the minor fender bender. Family friends say that Wall (left) was a devoted and supportive stepfather, and that Anderson (right) was excited to start her new adult life in her first home According to the arrest warrants, Walters fired a gun at Wall and struck him at least twice, in the head and torso, while hitting Anderson at least one time in the head. Both the stepfather and stepdaughter were killed. A third person, Paul McConnell, was struck at least once by gunfire before being bludgeoned in the head by the shooter, but is expected to survive, according to warrants in the case. It wasn't immediately clear whether McConnell was an unconnected bystander or a friend of Anderson or Wall. Perhaps, he was the person who was interested in buying the bunk beds from the college student. According to an incident report, when cops arrived on the scene, one victim had already been transported, another was receiving CPR from paramedics, and a third was walking around dazed with a gunshot wound to his left wrist. Police established a perimeter, and quickly received reports that a person matching the suspect description was spotted fleeing on foot down Georgetown Highway toward Andrews. As cops approached the man, later identified as Walters, he ran into the woods in an attempt to escape. Police deployed K-9 units in a manhunt, and Walters was taken into custody a short time later. Police say that Walters he ran into the woods seen above in an attempt to escape. Police deployed K-9 units in a manhunt, and Walters was taken into custody a short time later. 'I'm having to bury one of my children and my husband. It's such a freak thing. I don't know why this would happen. I just don't understand,' Kimberly Wall told WBMF-TV. 'It's just devastating. I don't know how we're going to go forward.' Lambert expressed her shock at young Anderson's life being cut short: 'She won't get to get to get married, she won't get to have children.' Walters, a resident of Moncks Corner, is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. At a bond hearing on Wednesday morning, he was ordered held without bail. It was not clear whether he had an attorney to speak on his behalf. 'He has taken two of my best friends, three miles from my house,' a sobbing Kimberly Wall told the judge at the hearing by videolink. Walters stood silently in an orange inmate jumpsuit as the mother wept. His next court hearing is scheduled for late September. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Bharat Book Bureau Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in HIV/AIDS under Life Sciences Category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and Market reports. Report Includes: - An overview of the Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In HIV/AIDS-related illnesses - Assessment of various AI tools notably, machine learning, natural language processing, image processing, and speech recognition -- and their practical healthcare applications which include diagnosis, therapy, R&D, and health management in the field of HIV/AIDS - Data corresponding to global AI markets and their employability in HIV/AIDS and main medical issues - Discussion of recent achievements and breakthrough therapies related to HIV/AIDS disease segments - Underlying technological trends and major issues related to the utilization of AI for diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS - Coverage of artificial neural networks and deep learning as primary AI algorithm types and their feasible healthcare applications within this field Request a free sample copy Artificial Intelligence (AI) in HIV/AIDS Market report @ https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2131981 Summary: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term used to identify a scientific field that covers the creation of machines aimed at reproducing wholly or in part the intelligent behavior of human beings. These machines include computers, sensors, robots, and hypersmart devices. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Technology Highlights and Market Outlook Artificial Intelligence Global Market for Artificial Intelligence HIV/AIDS and Main Issues with Existing Therapies Current HIV Therapies and Issues Current and Emerging Applications of AI in HIV/AIDS Diagnosis Therapy Prognosis Health Management Research Types of Complex Algorithms Used in HIV/AIDS Applications Machine Learning Algorithms Natural Language Processing Algorithms Context-Awareness Algorithms Major Issues Related to the Utilization of AI in HIV/AIDS Current and Emerging Trends in AI Related to HIV/AIDS Diffusion of Mobile Phones and Social Media in Underdeveloped and Developing Countries Bioinformatics Artificial Intelligence and Augmented/Virtual Reality Recent Achievements Enhancement of HIV Prevention Interventions Autonomous Chatbot for Providing HIV/AIDS Information Identification of Brain Patterns Specific to HIV Infection Open Source Machine-Learning Algorithm for HIV-1 Genomes Market Outlook for AI in HIV/AIDS Market by Application Market by AI Type Market by Region Analyst's Credentials List of Tables Table 1 : Global Market for Artificial Intelligence, by Application, Through 2025 Table 2 : Global Market for Artificial Intelligence, by Region, Through 2025 Table 3 : Distribution of People with HIV, by Region, 2018 Table 4 : Distribution of People with HIV, by Gender and Age, 2018 Table 5 : Applications of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS Diagnosis Table 6 : Applications of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS Therapy Table 7 : Applications of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS Prognosis Table 8 : Applications of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS Health Management Table 9 : Applications of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS Research Table 10 : Typical Applications of Supervised Learning Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 11 : Typical Applications of Regression Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 12 : Typical Applications of Naive Bayes Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 13 : Typical Applications of Decision Tree Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 14 : Typical Applications of Random Forest Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 15 : Typical Applications of Support Vector Machine Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 16 : Typical Applications of K-nearest Neighbor Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 17 : Typical Applications of Logistic Regression Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 18 : Typical Applications of Clustering Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 19 : Typical Applications of Association Rule Learning Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 20 : Typical Applications of Anomaly Detection Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 21 : Typical Applications of Dimensionality Reduction Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 22 : Typical Applications of Semi-supervised Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 23 : Typical Applications of Reinforcement Learning Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 24 : Typical Applications of Artificial Neural Networks in HIV/AIDS Table 25 : Typical Applications of Convolutional Neural Networks in HIV/AIDS Table 26 : Typical Applications of Recurrent Neural Networks in HIV/AIDS Table 27 : Typical Applications of Deep Neural Networks in HIV/AIDS Table 28 : Typical Applications of Text Mining in HIV/AIDS Table 29 : Typical Applications of NLP and Speech Recognition Algorithms in HIV/AIDS Table 30 : Global Market for Augmented and Virtual Reality, by Type, Through 2025 Table 31 : Global Market for Augmented and Virtual Reality, by Product, Through 2025 Table 32 : Current and Emerging Trends in Artificial Intelligence for HIV/AIDS Table 33 : Global Market for Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS, by Application, Through 2025 Table 34 : Global Market for Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS, by AI Type, Through 2025 Table 35 : Global Market for Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS, by Region, Through 2025 List of Figures Figure 1 : Artificial Intelligence Figure 2 : Global Market Shares of Artificial Intelligence, by Application, 2025 Figure 3 : Global Market Shares of Artificial Intelligence, by Region, 2025 Figure 4 : Global Shares of People with HIV, by Region, 2018 Figure 5 : Global Shares of People with HIV, by Gender and Age, 2018 Figure 6 : Global Market Shares of Augmented and Virtual Reality, by Type, 2025 Figure 7 : Global Market Shares of Augmented and Virtual Reality, by Product, 2025 Figure 8 : Global Market Shares of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS, by Application, 2025 Figure 9 : Global Market Shares of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS, by AI Type, 2025 Figure 10 : Global Market Shares of Artificial Intelligence in HIV/AIDS, by Region, 2025 Browse our full report with Table of Content : https://www.bharatbook.com/marketreports/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-hiv-aids/2131981 About Bharat Book Bureau: Bharat Book is Your One-Stop-Shop with an exhaustive coverage of 4,80,000 reports and insights that includes latest Market Study, Market Trends & Analysis, Forecasts Customized Intelligence, Newsletters and Online Databases. Overall a comprehensive coverage of major industries with a further segmentation of 100+ subsectors. Contact us at: Bharat Book Bureau Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: poonam@bharatbook.com Website: www.bharatbook.com Two people were killed and another wounded during a third night of protests in the US city of Kenosha in Wisconsin after a police officer shot a Black man in the back seven times, paralysing him. Gunfire at the demonstration erupted at about 11:45pm on Tuesday (04:45 GMT Wednesday) with at least three people hit, the Kenosha Police Department said. The third gunshot victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, a statement said. Social media video showed a gun battle among civilians with several people rushing a man with a long gun who apparently had been knocked to the ground. The video shows him firing at the people rushing towards him, one of whom falls to the ground. Several other shots are heard in the background. The New York Times reported police were investigating whether the shooting stemmed from a conflict between self-styled militias guarding a gas station and demonstrators. Earlier, police had fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters angered by the shooting of Jacob Blake Jr, a 29-year-old Black man, who was struck from behind at point-blank range in a hail of bullets fired on Sunday by police who were following him with guns drawn as he walked away from them to his car and opened a door to the vehicle. As tear gas fills the air, police try to push back demonstrators near the Kenosha County Courthouse during unrest [Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP] Police in riot gear skirmished after dark with about 200 demonstrators defying a nighttime curfew outside a court and an adjacent park in the centre of Kenosha, a city of about 100,000 people in southeastern Wisconsin. Several military-style armoured patrol vehicles were seen manoeuvring around the court building, firing tear gas at the crowd, many of whom hurled water bottles, firecrackers and other objects back at police. When police ordered protesters to disperse, the crowd responded by chanting Black lives matter. Police then fired rubber bullets. The disturbances came hours after Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency and promised to deploy additional National Guard troops in a bid to restore order in the town, while the mother of the man who was shot publicly appealed for calm. My son matters A bystander captured the shooting of Blake in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage over the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against Black Americans. Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women, was struck by four of the seven shots fired at him, all by one officer, and there was no indication he was armed, according to civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family. Three of his young sons aged three, five and eight were sitting inside the car and saw their father being shot, Crump said. The police have not explained why Blake was shot. At a news conference earlier on Tuesday, Blakes parents expressed their anguish over the shooting while condemning the looting, vandalism and arson that had occurred over the past two nights, overshadowing peaceful street protests. They shot my son seven times. Seven times! Like he didnt matter, Jacob Blake Sr, his voice crumbling with emotion, told reporters. My son matters. Hes a human being and he matters. Julia Jackson, the mother of Jacob Blake, speaks during a news conference outside the Kenosha County Courthouse [Stephen Maturen/Reuters] Lawyers for the family said one of the policemans bullets shattered Blakes spine and others damaged his stomach, colon, liver and an arm. Its going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again, Crump said, adding that the family intended to bring a lawsuit to hold wrongdoers accountable. Julia Jackson, Blakes mother, said her son has been fighting for his life, but called for unity, saying she was praying for police officers. She also said her son would disapprove of damage done to the city, saying: It doesnt reflect my son or my family. Jacob Blakes sister Letetra Widman added: Im not sad. I dont want your pity. I want change. Damage and destruction Officials, blaming outside agitators for much of the lawlessness surrounding protests, said some three dozen fires were set on Monday night, mostly in a predominantly minority neighbourhood where numerous businesses were burned. Seeking to restrict outside traffic into the city, authorities blocked off all exit ramps leading from Interstate-94 into Kenosha County from the adjacent city of Racine south to the Illinois border along Lake Michigan. Traffic barriers and heavy fencing were also erected on Tuesday around a cluster of public buildings in the city centre, including the courthouse, police department and sheriffs headquarters, in an effort to protect them from possible arson or vandalism. Governor Evers called for calm in a statement. We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue, he said. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction. Family and protesters are demanding that the officers involved in the shooting, who have been placed on administrative leave, be fired and prosecuted. Video captured by a neighbour shows Blake walking towards the drivers side door of his four-wheel-drive car, away from two officers who were pointing guns at his back. After he opens the door and leans into the car, one of the officers is seen pulling on his shirt then shoots him in the back, seven shots ring out. The shooting is under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which has not released any details. Kenosha police have referred all questions to the state investigators. The shooting occurred three months after George Floyds death in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. "Outlier is the future of business intelligence, pioneering the automated business analysis category that goes well-beyond basic BI or anomaly detection tools." - Sean Byrnes, CEO and cofounder of Outlier AI Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market, today announced that Outlier, a leading provider of augmented analytics tools and automated business analysis (ABA), has been selected as the winner of the Best AI-based Solution for Marketing award in the third annual AI Breakthrough Awards program. Outlier utilizes advanced AI-driven analysis to sift through massive amounts of data automatically, elevates critical changes and alerts leadership, marketing and data science teams to unexpected end user behaviors. This unique technology gives companies the ability to quickly see and adjust to changes happening in buyer behavior, supply chain activity, digital channels, business processes and more. With AI, companies can address changes immediately and adjust marketing strategy and tactics to prevent a negative impact or take advantage of positive behavioral trends. In recent years the amount of data an organization collects, stores and analyzes has grown exponentially as businesses leverage basic business intelligence tools to collect, curate and visualize data, said Sean Byrnes, CEO and cofounder of Outlier. Outlier is the future of business intelligence, pioneering the automated business analysis category that goes well-beyond basic BI or anomaly detection tools. Ultimately, our platform delivers rich insights that would typically take weeks to months to uncover, if found at all. Outlier customers include companies in consumer packaged goods, retail, financial services, eCommerce and other verticals. On a daily basis, Outliers AI platform analyzes billions of data points for each customer to uncover problems to fix or opportunities to capitalize on. The mission of the AI Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of AI and machine learning related categories, including AI platforms, Deep Learning, Smart Robotics, Business Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, industry specific AI applications and many more. This years program attracted more than 2,750 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world. The Outlier automated business analysis (ABA) platform uses advanced AI algorithms to discover unexpected changes and patterns in data quickly, daily and with minimal effort, said James Johnson, managing director, AI Breakthrough. AI is the key to analyzing billions of metrics and distilling recommendations down to a core few four to five daily insights, saving managers and data teams countless hours of work. This is the true spirit of innovation within the AI space and we want to recognize Outlier with our Best AI-based Solution for Marketing award. Congratulations to the entire team. Unlike basic business intelligence tools that can take months to years to integrate, organizations can integrate Outlier with existing sources of data within minutes. This helps companies leverage all their critical business data to guide business optimization and strategy. By being alerted to changes in behavior immediately, marketers can quickly address the issue, protecting revenue streams and growing market share. About AI Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including AI Platforms, Robotics, Business Intelligence, AI Hardware, NLP, Vision, Biometrics and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com. About Outlier Outlier, based in sunny Oakland, California, helps global consumer, financial services and various other organizations identify unexpected changes within their critical business data. The Outlier automated business analysis platform uncovers unexpected patterns and relationships using advanced AI and machine learning algorithms. Organizations can integrate Outlier with existing sources of data within minutes, allowing leaders to gather business insights quickly, identify potential opportunities and address the unexpected. Rwanda has issued an international arrest warrant against the former military intelligence chief due to genocide crimes, an official said on Wednesday. Rwanda has investigated Aloys Ntiwiragabo, who had been identified by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) as one of the architects of 1994 Rwandan genocide against Tutsi that claimed over 1 million lives, mainly ethnic Tutsis, hence deciding to issue the warrant, spokesman of the National Public Prosecution Authority Faustin Nkusi told Xinhua in a telephone interview. The central African country is working with a French unit in charge of combating war crimes and crimes against humanity to arrest the suspect, Nkusi said, without divulging details of the charges. Rwanda has over the years issued over 1,000 international warrants and indictments against genocide suspects worldwide, he said. The warrant came after the arrest of a top Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga in May, who had been at large for more than two decades. A French court later ruled that Kabuga should be transferred to UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism) based in Arusha, Tanzania, which started assuming responsibility for the ICTR's residual functions in 2012. Visiting chief prosecutor of Mechanism Serge Brammertz on Tuesday told reporters in Kigali that a team of UN prosecutors and investigators had arrived in Rwanda to gather fresh evidence to update Kabuga's case file. Search Keywords: Short link: ASSOCIATED PRESS Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (KS) each saw a significant decline in handset sales in Canada due to COVID-19, according to new data from Counterpoint Research, but analysts expect sales will pick up in the second half of the year. In Q2 2020, Apple saw a 24 per cent year-over-year decline, while Samsung saw a 41 per cent year-over-year decline. Hanish Bhatia, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, said in an interview that it wasnt surprising to see the decline in handset sales from both manufacturers as most retail stores were closed in Canada due to the global pandemic. The trend in Canada has been that each quarter is bigger than the previous one. Q1 is the smallest and then Q2 performs better and so forth. So in that case Q2 should have been better than Q1, but because of the pandemic it declined the way that it did, he said. Bhatia said the steep decline for Samsung was a result of a low uptick in sales of the manufacturers latest suite of phones the Galaxy S20. Its not only in Canada, but its more of a global phenomenon, the S20 series has not done as per the expectation. In fact, if we compare it with the previous generations like the S10, the S20 performance has been almost half of what S10 achieved, he said. We still see the previous generations, among one of the best selling from Samsung still. Samsung launched its 5G-enabled S20 series in Canada in February and pricing started at $1,319.99, up to $1,849.99. When it launched, Duncan Stewart, director of technology, media and telecommunications research at Deloitte Canada, said the high price tag for a phone hasnt historically been something that stopped Canadians from purchasing one. However, Bhatia indicated that in the case of the S20 series, the high-price tag was a factor for lower handset sales. Basically youre paying the price for using a 5G device, but at the same time you cant have the full 5G experience, he said. Im basically paying for something I cant use [fully]. Story continues Rogers, Bell, and Telus have all launched its initial 5G network, but only in some major cities. A full rollout of the network is not possible until the necessary spectrum is acquired, which likely wont happen until at least 2021. Bhatia added that Samsung also had a lot of hardware feedback and reviews with the latest series. He noted that the companys selling point for the S20 series was the camera however many handsets had issues. Steep declines are bad for a good reason Loup Ventures Managing Partner, Gene Munster, said in an interview that people shouldnt read too much into the decline despite it being steep. We are ahead of what is a major upgrade cycle...what is maybe a different focus and a more appropriate one is what happens in the September and December quarters. And as we start to get in 2021, around those numbers. How do we see those playing out, he said. But a quick take is that its bad, but its bad for a good reason because weve got a pandemic and weve got a major upgrade cycle coming and customers hold off in anticipation of that. Munster added that in the upcoming quarters, we are likely going to see a dramatic turnaround in the numbers. Presumably in 12 months, were going to be in a better place with the pandemic and separately as were going to be starting to enter the 5G cycle, he said. It will take at least a year and a half to see uptick in 5G phones Munster said many Canadians may not buy a 5G-enabled iPhone right away. Apple will announce in October a 5G phone, that doesnt mean a lot of people are going to buy it because theres limited coverage in Canada. Its going to take another year and a half before coverage gets to a point where customers really know about it, he said. Theyll hear about [Apples 5G phone], but theres no real value in it. In line with Bhatia, Munster noted that Samsungs 5G phones were expensive without there being full 5G capabilities in the country. Munster noted that overall the decline in handset sales does not have a major impact on Apple or Samsungs business. When you think about evaluating the businesses, you think about whats going to happen over the next two to 10 years. And whats happening over the last three months and in the next three months its going to be representative of how much were going to need 5G phones, and how important these companies are to our everyday lives. Investors have a superpower of looking through the near term noise to look at the long-term view. And I think that the long-term view for both of these, especially for Apple...I think is as strong as ever. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. It is great to reach a milestone like this and to be recognized for our efforts in the marketing & advertising space. Our teams have worked very hard to put together a product that speaks to our industry and we can't wait for our next rollout phase. Inc. magazine revealed that Agility Digital is No. 266 on its annual Inc. 500 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 500. It is great to reach a milestone like this and to be recognized for our efforts in the marketing & advertising space. Our team has worked very hard to put together a product that speaks to our industry and we can't wait for our next rollout phase. Founded in 2016 by Kenny Payne, lead by Co-Founder Evan Broadhead as CEO this is Agility's first time making the Inc. 500 list. Not only did Agility rank No. 266 they were very competitive within their industry locally, by achieving the number one spot for advertising and marketing in Utah and 22nd in the US. Agility Digital achieved an incredible three-year average growth of 1,682% Percent. Complete results of the Inc. 500, 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. Agility and the other top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 18. The companies on this years Inc. 500 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. 500 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. Agility Digital offers a full funnel programmatic advertising solutions with a self service options. The company has been engrossed in offering truly self-service and ethical geofencing since the first release of their self-service platform in November of 2019. They offer a wide variety of programmatic advertising tactics and cross device targeting. To learn more visit agilityads.com. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter HOUSTON -- For patients with non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) marked by RET gene fusions, the targeted therapy selpercatinib was well tolerated and achieved durable objective responses, or tumor shrinkage, in the majority of participants in the Phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Among previously untreated patients, the objective response rate (ORR) was 85%, and those receiving at least prior platinum-based chemotherapy had an ORR of 64%. For patients with brain metastases, there was a 91% ORR in the brain. Results from LIBRETTO-001, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, led to the approval of selpercatinib in May by the Food and Drug Administration for RET-altered lung and thyroid cancers. "Genome-guided precision oncology has altered the landscape of multiple kinase-driven tumors, with lung cancer being the poster child. However, we previously did not have any drug approved specifically for RET-fusion positive non-small cell lung cancer," said senior author Vivek Subbiah, M.D., associate professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics. "Moving from the first-in-human Phase I trial to FDA approval in less than three years is a testament to the fact that patients benefited a great deal from this treatment and had no effective options." Evaluating selective RET inhibitor to answer significant unmet need RET fusions occur when a portion of the chromosome containing the RET gene breaks and rejoins with another piece of chromosome, creating a fusion protein capable of fueling cancer growth. RET alterations occur in roughly 2% of NSCLC, 10-20% of papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) and the vast majority of medullary thyroid cancers (MTC). Up to half of all RET fusion-positive cancers metastasize to the brain. Several targeted therapies, such as cabozantinib and vandetanib, have ancillary activity against RET alterations, but clinical trials found that NSCLC patients saw only limited benefit from these drugs, explained Subbiah, who is co-principal investigator of the trial. The study reports findings from 144 patients with advanced NSCLC enrolled on the open-label, international trial. The primary endpoint was ORR assessed by an independent review committee, and secondary endpoints included safety, intracranial response, duration of response, and progression-free survival (PFS). Results from investigator assessments were not significantly different from that of independent reviewers. The trial included previously untreated patients (39) and patients having received at least platinum-based chemotherapy (105). Previously treated patients had a median of three prior lines of therapy, including immune checkpoint blockade in more than half. Across both cohorts, trial participants were 57.6% Caucasian, 32.6% Asian, 5.6% Black, 2.8% other and 1.4% unknown. The median age was 61, with women accounting for 58.3% and men 41.7% of participants. Among previously treated patients, 2% had a complete response, 62% had a partial response and 29% had stable disease. The median duration of response was 17.5 months and 63% of responses were ongoing at a median follow-up of 12 months. Median PFS was 16.5 months. In previously untreated patients, 85% had a partial response and 10% had stable disease. At six months, 90% of responses were ongoing, and neither median duration of response nor median PFS has been reached at the time of analysis. On the study, 11 patients had measurable brain metastases. Ten of these patients (91%) saw an objective response in the brain, including three complete responses. The median duration of CNS response was 10.1 months. The most common adverse events of grade 3 or higher were hypertension (14%), increased aminotransferase (13%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (10%), hyponatremia (6%) and lymphopenia (6%). Four patients discontinued selpercatinib treatment due to treatment-related adverse events. Strong response also reported in patients with thyroid cancers In additional cohorts of LIBRETTO-001, selpercatinib also showed activity in RET-altered thyroid cancers, including MTC with RET mutations and papillary/anaplastic thyroid cancers with RET fusions, with a similar safety profile. Among patients with MTC, there was a 73% ORR in previously untreated patients and 69% ORR in those receiving prior targeted therapies. In patients with previously treated papillary/anaplastic thyroid cancer, the ORR was 79%. These data also were published today in New England Journal of Medicine, with Subbiah and Maria Cabanillas, M.D., professor of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, as co-senior authors. "The data show these patients benefit from this treatment and it is safe compared with multi-kinase inhibitors and chemotherapy," said Subbiah. "The continued implementation of a robust molecular screening strategy in frontline lung and thyroid cancers with the ability to detect RET and other gene fusions will be critical for identifying patients who may benefit from specifically targeted therapies like selpercatinib." ### The study was supported by Loxo Oncology, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly. A full list of co-authors and disclosures can be found with the full paper here. About MD Anderson The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution's sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 51 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No.1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" survey. It has ranked as one of the nation's top two hospitals for cancer care since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first 16 times in the last 19 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672). MERIDEN, Conn., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Home Lending, LLC, a national mortgage lender and servicer, announces a partnership with The Farmlink Project, a nonprofit grassroots movement rescuing millions of pounds of fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste but will now go to feed people in need. The Farmlink Project delivers produce that would otherwise go to waste to local food banks feeding hungry people. The Farmlink Project team delivers eggs to a local food bank. The Farmlink Project was started in mid-April by college students and recent graduates who saw a need to connect farmers with surplus crops to food banks in need. Since its start, The Farmlink Project has delivered meals to more than 10 million people, during what is now the largest hunger crisis our country has ever seen. Planet Home Lending's $15,000 contribution will fund The Farmlink Response Team: Impact Tour, a five-week, cross-country journey to identify U.S. communities most in need, deliver food, tell stories that inspire donations, and raise awareness of this critical problem. The Farmlink Response Team will stop in more than a dozen cities, delivering another 1.2 million pounds of food to over 1 million U.S families. "We're committed to helping people in the communities we call home," said Planet Financial Group, LLC, CEO and President Michael Dubeck. "The swift, unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 have left too many people struggling with hunger. We're impressed with the work The FarmLink Project has done to help meet the needs of our neighbors during this challenging time." In July, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated more than 29 million people in the U.S. did not have enough food to eat. Meanwhile, farmers who sold to restaurants now have a surplus of produce. The Farmlink Project links those farmers to local food banks, then covers the cost of harvesting and shipping the food. "We are urgently connecting farms with surplus produce to food banks in need at scale," said Impact Tour Director Jake B. Nelson. "There is so much work to be done. We greatly appreciate Planet Home Lending's support at this critical juncture. With Planet helping us spread the word, we can make hunger one less thing about which Americans need to worry." During the Impact Tour, the Farmlink Project will film a six-episode documentary series highlighting everyday community heroes fighting food insecurity, and the episodes will be available via its social media accounts. The Farmlink Project not only feeds the hungry, it also reduces food waste. Annually, the U.S. wastes 31% of food produced, which could help feed families, but instead goes to landfills. Producing, transporting, preparing, storing and disposing of food also wastes land, water, labor and energy. Diverting produce from landfills prevents 17 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, decreasing the rate of human-caused climate change from our agricultural footprint. "It isn't often that we see a common-sense solution that solves multiple social challenges," added Dubeck. "The Farmlink Project makes a difference for people and the planet, and at Planet Home Lending, that's exactly what we strive to do." About Planet Financial Group, LLC Planet Financial Group, LLC, Tampa, Fla., is the parent of Planet Home Lending, LLC and Planet Management Group, LLC, which also does business under the name Planet Renovation Capital. About Planet Home Lending, LLC Planet Home Lending, LLC, Meriden, Conn., is an approved originator and servicer for FHA, VA and USDA, as well as a Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Seller/Servicer, a full Ginnie Mae Issuer and approved sub-servicer, and a Standard & Poor's-and Fitch-rated special and prime residential servicer. About The Farmlink Project The Farmlink Project is an innovative nonprofit rescuing billions of pounds of fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste in order to feed people in need, reduce carbon emissions and heal the planet. B-Roll (local footage also available) Idaho Selects Egg Shipment Selects Tour Stops: Siskiyou, CA Bainbridge, WA Ashton, ID Billings, MT Rapid City, SD Minneapolis Chicago Detroit New York Baltimore Nashville New Orleans Dallas Navajo Nation, AZ Planet Home Lending, LLC Press Contacts: Dona DeZube Charlyne H. McWilliams Vice President, Communications Media Contact [email protected] [email protected] (410) 263-2832 (301) 933-5567 SOURCE Planet Home Lending, LLC Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence. Maria Montessori Many people know about Montessori schools, or the Montessori method, but not many people know that Maria Montessori was real. Today, were going to talk about Maria Montessori the person! Maria Montessori has been one of the most groundbreaking childhood educators of the 20th century. She gave birth to a pioneering method of childhood education that has survived virtually unchanged in its essential features for over 120 years! On Aug. 31, 1870, Maria Montessori was born into a well-educated middle-class family in Italy. In spite of the old-school values about womens roles in society at the time, Maria enrolled in a boys technical institute when she was 14. She studied her preferred subjects, math and science, and developed an intense interest in biology. Ignoring her fathers protests, Maria started medical school when she was 18 and graduated as Italys first female doctor in 1896. While working at the University of Romes psychiatric clinic, Dr. Montessori became fascinated with the treatment of children with special needs and worked on their behalf. She became the director of a school for children with learning disabilities in 1898, and after working with them for two years, these children, who were previously believed to be unable to learn, took and passed successfully a school examination along with normal students. Maria was regarded as a miracle worker by other educators, and her success lead her to study anthropology and psychology to unravel the potential of normal children. Maria Montessori believed that if her method would work for children with disabilities, then it could be used to benefit other children in a powerful way. In 1907, Maria founded a school that she called Casa dei Bambini (Childrens House), in the slums of Rome. It was a great success and the children thrived. Her unparalleled success with these children was publicized around the world. Maria was invited to visit the United States by Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and others. She spoke at Carnegie Hall in New York City and then attended the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco in 1915. Here, a classroom was set up and, for four months, people watched through a glass wall a group of 21 children, new to the Montessori method, thrive in her prepared environment. Montessori won both of the gold medals awarded for education. Within 10 years, there would be over 1,000 Montessori schools in the United States. Maria continued her educational research, her writings and lectures during the 1920s and early 1930s, but the political situation in Europe forced her to leave for India. Fascist governments could not resolve her emphasis on peaceful human collaboration, and consequently her schools were banned in Italy, Spain and Germany. In India, she introduced her teaching methods and trained teachers to carry on her legacy. Maria also worked on her elementary curriculum, which she called a cosmic education, and she wrote and published her "Education for Peace." Maria Montessori was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Maria spent her final years in the Netherlands. She passed away in 1952 after a lifetime devoted to the study of child development. The Montessori method has shown an amazing degree of resiliency and most believe that it is a powerful tool for education and real learning. With it we can all learn more of ourselves and give our children, who are our greatest treasures, love and respect when it comes to learning. Diane M. Bauso is head of school for Creative Minds Montessori School, 169 Genesee St., Auburn. She can be reached at (315) 406-9495 or auburncmms.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent China sees India as a partner instead of a rival: Chinese envoy India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 26: China's ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, has described the Galwan Valley clash as an "unfortunate incident", and a "brief moment from the perspective of history". Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News "China sees India as a partner instead of a rival, and an opportunity instead of a threat. We hope to put the boundary question at an appropriate place in bilateral relations, properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, and push bilateral relations back on track at an early date," the Ambassador said. Sun made the remarks at a China-India youth webinar organised on August 18, though the transcript of his speech was released by the Chinese embassy only on Tuesday. He also said that they are "working to handle it properly", while referring to the multiple rounds of diplomatic and military-level talks. The trigger for the standoff in eastern Ladakh was China's stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road. The road in the Finger area in Pangong Tso is considered crucial for India to carry out patrols. India has already decided not to stall any border infrastructure projects in eastern Ladakh. India laying new road between Ladakh and Darcha amidst standoff with China India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks in the last two-and-half months but no significant headway has been made in resolution of the border row in eastern Ladakh. The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tensions in the area. However, the process has not moved forward since mid-July. The Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward in Pangong Tso, Depsang and a couple of other areas, sources said. In the five rounds of corps commander-level talks, the Indian side has been insisting on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to April. 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. We are working very closely with our colleagues at the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to ensure that power supply disruptions are minimised to our wheat clusters for us to continue with our project of a much improved season ahead of us. When a Florida sheriffs deputy met an elderly man in downtown Sanford, he knew he had to do anything to help him. The 80-year-old veteran, with a Bible and a suitcase by his side, told the deputy he had been homeless for over two years and was sleeping on a park bench with only a blanket. Just a day after the meeting, the Seminole County Sheriffs Deputy Carl Tipton sought out the veteran with a piece of good news: He had found him a home to call his own. Tipton credits Jesus for orchestrating his first meeting with U.S. Army veteran Richard Pajula on July 24. In an email interview with The Epoch Times, Tipton explained: I finished eating lunch with my family in downtown Sanford. I walked along the old storefronts on my way back to my truck. Thats when I noticed him. He was sitting on top of his walker inside the entryway to a vacant store, Tipton described. I immediately noticed the worn-out Bible next to him. He was a well-dressed and well-groomed elderly gentleman. (Courtesy of Carl Tipton) However, what really caught Tiptons eye that day was Pajulas big red suitcase. It appeared like he was waiting on a bus or a family member to come pick him up, said the deputy, but that was not to be. I was immediately prompted by the Holy Spirit to ask him if he needed help. Pajula was initially distrustful, but after Tipton explained that he was an off-duty sheriffs deputy, the elderly man revealed that he had been homeless for over two years. He slept on a park bench by the Sanford lake with only a blanket to keep him warm. He also revealed that he had served n the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965 in Field Artillery. Pajula receives $1,500 a month from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs but explained that he was only willing to pay $400 a month in rent. As such, he was struggling to find suitable accommodation. Before I walked away, I laid hands on him and prayed, Tipton regaled. As I walked away, I could tell by his response that he did not expect to see me again. Moved by the elderly veterans conundrum, Tipton posted a picture of Pujara on Facebook along with his story and set up a fundraiser so that people could donate money for his rent and security deposit. The fund quickly amassed the $1,000 in an hour. Additionally, Tipton also located an affordable home for Pajula to move into. On July 25, Tipton set out in his pickup truck with his sister to find Pajula and take him to see a trailer managed by Blessing from Jesus Over the Road Ministries Inc., the missionary couple that runs the venture, Tom and Penny Sheipe. They even insisted that they would take care of the veteran as they have done in the past. Pajula, still reticent, agreed to stay one night. The next day on July 26, I picked Richard up for church, Tipton told The Epoch Times. I asked him about his first night, praying inside that he liked it. Richard then stated, I found my home! The communitys outpouring support really blew Tipton away. Among the additional gifts that poured in for the struggling veteran were a new set of dentures and a guitar. Pajula plans to write songs about his life-changing experience. Then Tipton set up another fundraiser, which fast approached a $10,000 goal. (Courtesy of Carl Tipton) The money allowed the deputy, and a team of volunteers, to locate an even newer, bigger travel trailer for the veteran in Kissimmee, Florida. The trailer was being sold by Vietnam veteran Ken Licari, who canceled all other viewings when he heard Pajulas story. [H]e knew in his heart that his RV was meant for Richard, Tipton explained. Pajula, having found his new support network, had the RV moved on Aug. 12 to where the old RV was placed as the veteran had enjoyed the view. On Aug. 14, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, and Pajula was handed the keys to his new RV. In the next few days, people donated Pajula clothing, food, appliances, furniture, and more. We are going to put the red suitcase and his walker next to the state-of-the-art RV with Richard standing in between, and take a picture, said Tipton. A beautiful testimony of what love looks like. A love that took a homeless vet who was sleeping on a park bench with all but a suitcase and a walker to his very own spacious and beautiful home! On Aug. 22, the veteran was admitted to the hospital for an operation to remove a tumor from his intestines. The following day, Tipton visited his new friend in the ICU. Just visited Richard, he posted. Charge nurse said he is doing well. Praise and thanks be to Jesus! During Pajulas momentary health setback, the outpouring of public support continued. Tipton reopened the fundraiser for everyone interested in helping the veterans cause. At the time of writing, Tiptons fund has raised over US$17,500 and counting. Reflecting on the few days and witnessing the overwhelming support from the community, Tipton implored: Do not believe that it is a waste of time to help just one. Because your one kind and loving action can change a person, a community, and a city, he further added. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc The authoritarian left isnt content just to block speech it disagrees with. It also wants to force people into making leftist utterances and gestures. Today, at various restaurants in Washington, D.C, BLM protesters demanded that diners eating outdoors raise their fists in support. Most diners did this is Washington but a few did not. Those who did not were berated. The mob chanted white silence is violence at them. The statement is stupid and obviously false. If the BLM mob wants, nonetheless, to chant it, thats fine. But not in the faces of people who are simply trying to eat dinner. I agree with Bari Weiss, who was recently cancelled by the New York Times because her writings didnt track leftist orthodoxy. She described the BLM mobs behavior as vile and un-American. One of the victims of the mob said she has been protesting for weeks against the police (or whatever), but that it did not feel right to be coerced into raising her fist. Unfortunately, she reportedly was the only person at the restaurant where she was eating to have such quintessentially American qualms or, in any case, to act on them. The pandemic has caused those who frequent restaurants to eat outdoors, even in the horrible D.C. heat. But nothing will stand in the way of mobs coming inside restaurants to harass people when the time comes. Years ago at Dartmouth, a mob of black protesters rampaged through the library demanding aggressively that students who were preparing for final exams join them outside at a rally. The fledgling brown shirts received no meaningful punishment from the college. Colleges have become training grounds for brown shirts. Graduates have taken the authoritarian lessons learned there to the streets and sidewalks of America. The chickens have come home to roost. Tonight at the Republican Convention, Nick Sandmann, who received the equivalent of a berating from an old lefty who banged a drum in his face because he dared to wear a MAGA hat, was one of the speakers. He showed remarkable restraint when he was confronted by the ancient drum banger. The mainstream media demonized Sandmann nonetheless for smirking, and it lied about what had transpired. He fought back with a lawsuit and is now collecting settlement money from various media giants. Unfortunately, there is no obvious remedy for the kind of mob behavior that occurred today in D.C. Nor will law enforcement become involved. Im told that officers stood by passively as diners were harassed. Naturally. If they arent going to lift a finger to prevent looting and arson, we cant expect them to prevent harassment at restaurants. It will take considerable planning and courage to counter leftist authoritarianism. In the meantime, the best way to do it is by voting for candidates who understand the problem and are willing to fight back candidates like President Trump and to vote against candidates who fail to condemn, and even condone, the outrageous behavior of the left. Candidates like just about every Democrat. Here is some video of the vile, howling mob in D.C. today (the seated woman in the pink shirt is the liberal referred to above): Old-growth redwood forests that burned at Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County face a healthy future if a similar fire event and recovery at Humboldt Redwoods is an indicator, say Californias top forest experts. The 2003 Canoe Creek fire, similar in scope to that at Big Basin and also started by dry lightning, rampaged through nearly 14,000 acres of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The old-growth redwoods survived that event and have since thrived, with the forest floor cleared of brush and the forest canopy opened to more sunlight. While many hearts are breaking to hear of the fires at Big Basin and the Santa Cruz Mountains, as is mine, we can take some comfort knowing that very few redwoods are killed by wildfires, said Michael Furniss, a world-renowned hydrologist who spent a career in the Redwood Empire as a forest soil scientist. Within a few years, the average person who hasnt been to Big Basin before wont notice right away that there was a major fire, said John Harvey, a former arborist who is now the administrator of Big Tree Seekers, a 74,000-member association dedicated to documentation and preservation of the worlds largest trees. It could take five years to look good, it could take 10 years, and within 15 years, it should look like Canoe Creek, Harvey said. John Harvey/John Harvey / Special to The Chronicle At Humboldt Redwoods, an area that like Big Basin hadnt burned for generations, the Canoe Creek fire tore through old-growth forests as a searing inferno. That fire burned everything that was on the ground, Harvey said. If there was a fallen tree, brush, branches accumulated, they burned. It burned through old-growth and second-growth redwoods, and burned for weeks. It was very similar to the fire in Big Basin, with areas (the firefighters) just couldnt get to. The Canoe Creek fire burned through the Childrens Forest, a spectacular old-growth grove east of the South Fork Eel River near the Avenue of the Giants. Harvey is one of many who have returned many times to the Childrens Forest to see the state of the recovery. The forest regained its pristine, cathedral-like look within 10 years, he said. On a recent visit, Harvey put together a photo gallery in the once-burned areas of the Childrens Forest. In one photo, a burned park sign is partially covered by vegetation, but otherwise it is difficult to tell that a wildfire occurred. When you live thousands of years and are designed to survive fire, an event like this is just a blip in time for them, said Richard Stenger, a former Yosemite Park ranger who is chief of Redwood Coast Parks. You see many fire scars on redwoods. Theyre like tattoos. Redwoods develop bark that can be a foot thick and has built-in fire retardant that protects and insulates the trees cambium, Stenger said. They are designed for fires, and not just the trees, the entire ecosystem, Stenger said. Redwoods can reproduce from both saplings and seeds, he noted, and after a fire, cleared-out areas exposed to sunlight provide the nursery for redwoods to sprout. 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. Redwoods also can be resistant to death from crowning, where the fires are so hot they jump from treetop to treetop. When the tops of redwoods break off, such as from a windstorm, they sprout new tops as if starting anew, said Furniss, who has rope climbed some of the worlds tallest trees and sat in secondary trunks 250 feet up in the tree. Many old redwoods have multiple tops because the primary one blew off or was burned off, he said. Parks have two elements, Stenger noted: the nature element and the human element. At Big Basin, the historic ranger station, visitor center, museum and amphitheater all burned, he noted. Redwoods have a lot more resiliency, he said. Redwoods arose about 120 million years ago, Furniss said. They are still here. Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicles outdoors writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom Is Gilead, the maker of Remdesivir, waging war on HCQ (hydroxychloroquine)? Attacks on the drug have been continuous ever since Dr. Didier Raoult used this quinine derivative to save the lives of COVID-19 patients last March. The first attempt to discredit HCQ was a hastily compiled Veterans' Administration hospital system study last April. Notably, one of the study's authors had in the past received numerous grants from Gilead, with one grant in 2018 totaling nearly a quarter of a million dollars. After deep flaws in the V.A. study were exposed, Surgisphere came to the rescue in May with a "15,000 patient" megastudy allegedly compiled from hospitals all over the world. This strategy succeeded: following its publication in the Lancet and the NEJM, all outpatient use of HCQ was severely restricted in the U.S., Australia, and most of Europe. When the Surgisphere scam was exposed, both articles were quietly retracted, and the editor-in-chief of the Lancet tried to wash his hands of this embarrassing incident by denouncing Surgisphere's "monumental fraud." However only a few days earlier, Lancet editors played a major role in persuading the WHO to suspend all trials for HCQ. Who put them up to it? The study's main author, Mandeep Mehra, also apologized for his reliance on a third party for the data. He may not have known that the data were fabricated, but the hospital he directed was conducting two trials for Remdesivir. Was he under pressure from his sponsors? These are the stakes: a five-day treatment with Remdesivir costs around $3,000. A five-day supply of generic HCQ costs around $10. Drug companies have every right to recoup their cost of research and development, but lobbying to suppress access to a life-saving treatment that is both cheaper and more effective is a crime against humanity. Progressives mistakenly believe that socialized medicine protects patients from the abuses of big pharma, but the first nation to severely restrict access to HCQ was France. T his policy compelled Dr. Raoult to testify against Gilead's disproportionate leverage over the medical community during a meeting of the French National Assembly last June. Notably in the U.S., a third of the FDA's budget comes from pharmaceutical user fees, and according to the NIH's website, eight out of 55 members of the panel responsible for COVID-19 treatment guidelines are currently affiliated with Gilead. These government ties to Gilead more than triple when you include panel members with past associations. Paradoxically, most opposition to HCQ in the U.S. comes from the left, but conservatives who know the ways of crony capitalism regard this as par for the course. After all, big pharma has given more to Democrats ever since the passage of Obamacare, and up to now, Gilead employees donated three times more to the Biden campaign. Sooner or later, there will be a reckoning for everyone who colluded in this disinformation campaign. If you are among the policymakers or physicians participating in this charade, you may want to dissociate yourself while you can credibly plead ignorance for tens of thousands of preventable deaths. Addendum: Access to HCQ varies by state. If you cannot get this drug from your doctor, America's Frontline Doctors has kindly provided contact information for telemedicine physicians who are HCQ-knowledgeable. You can find these doctors by clicking on any state in their website and scrolling down to the bottom of the description. Antonio Chaves teaches biology at a local community college. His interest in economic and social issues stems from his experience teaching environmental science. His older articles with graphs and images are available here. Image: {{PD-chem}} UN Security Council Declines Action on US-Sought Return of Iran Sanctions By Margaret Besheer August 25, 2020 The president of the U.N. Security Council said Tuesday there is no consensus for restoring international sanctions on Iran in the 15-member council and that he would take no further action on a U.S. demand to re-impose them. "It is clear for me that there is one member, which has a particular position on the issue, while there are significant numbers of members who have contrasting views," said Council President Indonesian Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani. "In my view, there is no consensus in the council. Thus, the president is not in the position to take further action." Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to New York and personally notified the United Nations that the United States was triggering a mechanism under the U.N. Security Council resolution that enshrined the 2015 nuclear deal into international law and would "snapback" sanctions on Iran dating back to 2006. But other deal participants immediately cried foul, saying the U.S. withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018, and therefore gave up its right to initiate the process. Washington rejected their interpretation and said the U.S. can trigger snapback as a named participant in the council resolution. Resolution failed On August 14, the U.S. sought to have the council adopt a resolution to renew an arms embargo on Iran that, under the terms of the JCPOA, will expire on October 18. The move failed, with only one other council member (the Dominican Republic) voting with Washington. The Trump administration then triggered snapback in order to re-impose the embargo, as well a series of other sanctions. "The Trump Administration has no fear in standing in limited company on this matter, in light of the unmistakable truth guiding our actions," said U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft on Tuesday. "I only regret that other members of this council have lost their way and now find themselves standing in the company of terrorists." In the nuclear deal, the original participants Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany agreed with Iran to gradually lift the sanctions in return for limits on Tehran's nuclear activities that would prevent it making a nuclear bomb. If snapback is imposed, diplomats say it would almost certainly collapse the deal, which has been struggling since the U.S. left and Iran responded by resuming some of its prohibited nuclear activities. "We are firmly convinced that protecting the JCPOA is of crucial importance," said Germany's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Gunter Sautter. "The nuclear deal with Iran is not perfect, but it continues to be the international community's best tool to prevent a nuclear arms race in the Middle East." Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he hoped the council president's decision would be the end of the matter and that the U.S. would "refrain from further steps to pursue this path." The remaining JCPOA participants have urged Iran to quickly return to compliance with the deal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address For sometimes now, Nigeria has snowballed into a failing state due to the incapability of the political office holders to uphold human security of the citizens and the geo-territorial integrity of Nigeria. From East to West, North and South, it has been one silly story of excuses and blame games by state officials over their failures to stop the large scale killings of Nigerian citizens or the other even as in the last five years of the President Muhammadu Buharis administration, Nigerians have been regaled with all sorts of cock- and -bull stories by the president and his key security heads who are largely drawn from one section of the country and who share same ethno-religious affiliations with the preponderant percentages of the suspected terrorists, armed bandits and killers unleashing venomous blood cuddling violence on a large scale targeting the citizens. Putting it pure and simple, the government has failed to discharge her primary legal duty to the citizens. The situation of lack of effective human security in Nigeria is deeply complicated going by the fact that armed security forces have been involved in the mindless killings of citizens since the advent of the Federal Administration of Muhammadu Buhari, who was a onetime military despot in the 1980s. Perhaps, Nigeria is the only constitutional democracy in the World whereby the publicly employed security forces intermittently shoot and slaughter large numbers of citizens on the illegal orders of their superiors. From the North, is the sad tales of Unrelenting targeted killings by the police and the military of the members of the Islamic movement of Nigeria. From the South East is the story of the dripping of the blood of the innocents by armed security forces who have gunned down suspected members of the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) in their hundreds as if they (security forces) are butchers in the killing fields. Both groups (IPOB and IMN) have had differences with the Buharis government which controversially declared them as terror organisations just as these aforementioned bodies are already battling these wrongful classification as terror groups by the government of the All Progressive Congress led by retired military General Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani from Daura in Katsina state, North West of Nigeria. The killings by security forces of members of these two groups have continued in Kaduna and Enugu States respectively even as close as two days back. The most brazen act of impunity and state sponsored killings happened in Emene near Enugu this week when the combined teams of armed police, military, and the Department of State services descended on the members of the indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and in the ensuing melee, these armed security forces opened fire with live bullets leading to the death of scores of civilians whose corpses littered the ground all over Emene, a serene settlement near Enugu City. The DSS which seems to have the upper hands in terms of Media Propaganda, hurriedly claimed that two of her operatives were killed in the encounter just as the leadership of IPOB denounced this claim as pure lie and went ahead to claim they lost 21 of their unarmed members to the sporadic shootings by the armed security forces. It must be noted that indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB) is a legally registered body in all of Europe and the United States of America even as their members are normally seen holding meetings in those foreign jurisdictions. In Nigeria, it is known that these people identifying themselves as self determination advocates under the banner of indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) are totally non-violent. This is where we in the organised civil society community are worried about the nature of brutal enforcement of the law against members of these groups to such a violent extent that nearly a thousand of their unarmed members have been killed by armed security forces over the last five years in what is clearly acts of extralegal executions which offends sections 33 (1) of Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution. It is clear that the Federal and State governments in the five south east states from where the bulks of the Memberships of IPOB are drawn from have seriously failed in their duty of care to their citizens to ensure that the element of brute force is not crudely enforced to end the lives of some of their citizens. The South East state governors can then be accused of aiding and abetting genocides of the same people that voted them into their respective temporally political offices. The Igbo governors have demonstrated a gross lack of appreciation of the fundamental function of government just as their collective cowardice in the face of the horrendous killings of their people show that they are totally unsuitable to hold such exalted political offices even for a day. Why a person should parade around as the governor of a given state but cannot speak out against the mindless killings of her citizens by no other but operatives of the federally controlled security forces, can only happen in a banana republic and a totally failed state? Can these Igbo governors tell us what functions as leaders of governments in their states they wete elected and sworn oaths of office to discharge? This interrogatory is critical because the primary duty of government going by section 14(2)(b) of the constitution of Nigeria is to protect the lives of their citizens just as the functions of a government as enumerated by www.legintent.com are to protect the natural rights of the citizens. The primary functions of government are to protect the basic human rights which include rights to life, liberty and to posses properly. Others are: defend against external enemies, managing economic conditions, redistribution of income and resources, provide public or utility goods and to prevent any externality. it can then be concluded that the Igbo state governors by keeping and maitaning shameful grave silence amidst the genocides of their citizens by security forces controlled by Abuja have shown their illegitimacy and absolute unsuitability to hold offices. The above facts were more elaborately espoused in the book HUMAN SECURITY IN AFRICA: PERSPECTIVES ON EDUCATION, HEALTH AND AGRICULTURE co-edited by ersrwhile Nigeria's two times Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo; professor of Geography, Akin Mabojunje and Professor abd erstwhile Chief Executive of Nigerian Universities Commission, Peter Okebukola.. In his classical take on the theme of the aforementioned book, one of the contributing editors- Professor Akin Mabojunje talks about defining the concept of human security and reading through his words tells me that the occupiers of the offices of governors in the South East states of Nigeria are only but agents of external occupying forces. The respected academic states thus: Many organisations, governments and scholars, have offered useful definitions of the concept of human security. Starting from the statement of the United Nations Development Programme in 1994, we have had definitions by the World Bank (1999), the International Commission on Intervention and Sovereignty (2001), the governments of Canada (2000) and Japan (2000) as well as Rothschild (1995), King and Murray(2000) among many others. a definition with which most of these will concur is that human security is concerned with safeguarding the vital core of all human lives from critical pervasive threats in a way that is consistent with long-term human fulfilment. The reputable scholar further averred thus: "There are five critical elements in that definition which in turn needs to be further elaborated. These are: safeguarding, vital core, all human lives, critical and pervasive threat, and long term human fulfilment. Safeguarding-refers to deliberate acts of protection in an institutionalised, responsive and people-centred manner; vital Core- whilst not covering all necessary, important or profound aspect of human lives, refers to rights and freedoms vital for survival, livelihood and basic dignity; All Human Lives- underscores the people-centred nature of human security with emphasis on institutions which focus on individuals and communities rather than the State: critical and pervasive threats- refers to threats of tragic depth which are large scale, recurrent, direct or indirect and maybe deliberately orchestrated or arise inadvertently; long term human fulfilment- ensures that human security must be consistent with the long-term good of the community or society concerned. A perusal of these elaborate preamble to his extended essay on HUMAN security as captured in the work of Professor Akin Mabogunje looked at vis-a-vis with the notorious abandonment of duty of care for the citizens as consistently showed by the governors of the South East of Nigeria States of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi shows that these opportunistic politicians do not have the constitutional legitimacy to remain in their offices and are therefore simply occupying these exalted offices under selfish duress. One thing is as constant as the Northern Stars, and this is the fact that no matter how long it takes, those who kill whilst holding political offices will meet their doom sooner than expected. The atrocities are being compiled and the officials of State who gave orders for these murderous operations by security forces and the murderous operatives who killed these citizens will inevitably be brought to trial sooner than they think. There will be no hiding place for mass killers in government. *Emmanuel Onwubiko is the Head of HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and blogs @ www.huriwanigeria.com , www.thenigerianinsidernews.com . Adversity. That is the foundation of every good entrepreneurs brand story. From the day she was born in 1964 in Oakland, California to her acceptance this week for the Vice Presidential candidacy on the Democratic ticket alongside Joe Biden, Senator Kamala Harris who is of Jamaican and Indian heritage is a living example of Americas opportunity as a melting pot. Although her parents worked extremely hard to earn prestigious careers, Harris had to overcome significant systemic barriers that have prevented so many from creating their intended impact. Her journey, much like those experienced by high-growth entrepreneurs, is one of vision, perseverance, grit, determination and the ability to pivot. Whether the Biden-Harris ticket is successful or not, these five entrepreneurial characteristics are what propelled Harris to make a significant impact on the world, and can motivate us all. Related: Biden Picks Kamala Harris, His Former 2020 Rival, to Be His Vice Presidential Running Mate 1. She is fueled by achieving her purpose The best entrepreneurs are the ones who understand that purpose, not ego, creates motivation that withstands the test of time and creates the ties that bind. Harris was raised in the Civil Rights era by a mother who taught her daughters that it was their job to create true equity in an inequitable world, with a particular interest in women, children and underrepresented populations. In order to do her part to break down systemic bias, Harris realized in elementary school that she wanted to be a lawyer and fight injustice from inside and outside of the system. 2. She employs a disrupter's mindset Harris studied economics and political science at Howard University, giving her the baseline mindset of an entrepreneur: a systems view into power, how things work and distinguishing symptoms from root causes. From this perspective, Harris was able to dismantle inefficient, ineffective and inequitable status quos that no longer serve the world in which they exist. For example, during the first three years as San Francisco District Attorney, the conviction rate grew from 52 percent to 67 percent. Through her program Back on Track, Harris was able to reduce the occurrence of re-offending by offering practical education to people convicted with non-violent and low-level drug trafficking charges in lieu of prison time. The result was staggering; after just two years, only 10 percent of participants re-offended, versus the 53 percent rate held previously. And from an economics perspective, the program saved significant money for the state. 3. She favors progress over perfection While this is common advice for entrepreneurs everywhere, the truth is that underrepresented populations often do not have the luxury of making mistakes. Systemic bias has conditioned each of us to believe that women should be judged based on binary definitions of perfection and imperfection. Further, women are typically hired for their experience while their male peers are hired for their potential. When Harris failed the bar exam the first time, she dusted herself off and took the test again, passing the second time. And while in college, rather than focus on perfecting her path in the legal field, much like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, she tinkered during college by working various entry level positions at the FTC, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the office of former California Senator Alan Cranston. 4. She leverages true inclusion to co-create a better world Harris appears to possess the ability to build relationships that bind regardless of who is in the room. She embraced her Jamaican heritage and felt at home in the predominately African-American, economically-disadvantaged community in which she was raised during, while also growing up to feel fully comfortable with people of influence and power. With frequent trips to India to visit family, she was duly embraced by the South Asian community. Through her sorority at Howard, Alpha Kalpa Alpha, she stood together with her sisters to protest against Apartheid and collaborated to create a program to mentor children from under-privileged communities. As a prosecutor, she became the voice of those underserved communities. She stood up to colleagues who would villainize gang members so that they could see the offenders as human beings and not just criminals who wear certain clothes and came from the wrong side of town. 5. She cultivates a strong personal foundation Harris, like so many startup founders, has chosen a path that is not conducive for the faint of heart. From SoulCycle to watching reality TV during treadmill workouts, Harris understands that she has to refuel her mind, body and spirit in order to face significant barriers. Her love of good food and great company, including her tight-knit family and lifelong friends, give her the support to get through high-risk and high-profile circumstances, while also keeping her focused on what is important: creating the material changes in the world that she wants to make. Related: How the Top Five 2020 Democratic Candidates' Tax Plans May Impact Entrepreneurs Harris has many challenges ahead as she nears the November election and the aftermath of everyones vote. With her entrepreneurial approach to disrupting systems in which the powerful thrive, she will always find a path from which to create the world she wants to live in. And hopefully we all can too. Related: McDonald's Just Announced Plans to Offer a McPlant Burger Woman Goes Viral After She Quits Her Job at Walmart Using the Store Loudspeaker Remember the Endless Taco Bell Chihuahua Lawsuit? Kamala Harris' Husband Won It. Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Police arrested more than 60 people on Tuesday in a protest march in Louisville, Kentucky, organized for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed in March by police officers who burst into her apartment. Sixty-four people were charged with obstruction and disorderly conduct, Louisville Metro Police Department interim chief Robert Schroeder told reporters. The protest was organized by advocacy group Until Freedom, calling for justice for Taylor and her family. Around 300 people came out for the Louisville gathering, according to media reports. Videos posted by the police on social media show that crowds gathered late into the night with police personnel trying to disperse them. Violence or property destruction is unacceptable and will be addressed immediately," Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a briefing on Tuesday prior to the protest. Our hope and our expectation is that protests will be peaceful." Taylor was killed by Louisville police executing a no-knock search warrant who burst into her home. One Louisville police officer was fired and two others were placed on administrative assignment. Taylors death, the May 25 death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American, in police custody, and Sundays shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, have become rallying points for protests against racial injustice in the United States. 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 (This is part of an ongoing series that showcases some of the best food and drinks in Central New York that you probably dont know about. Do you have a hidden gem? Share your favorite by emailing me at cmiller@syracuse.com or texting me at 315-382-1984. I might even buy you lunch. If you want to know my next hidden gem before its published, join my text group for subscribers where I will announce it a day in advance. Thatll allow you to get there before everyone else.) **** Fayetteville, N.Y. The guys in the kitchen at Brick House Billiards handed Brian Holmes a bowl and asked him to try the chicken riggies they had just whipped up. They tasted pretty good, he thought; probably good enough to serve there. Then he asked them if it was the best they could do. After thinking about it for a few seconds, they went back to the kitchen and gave it another go. The next batch got the same response. So did the one after that. After a few more tries, the cooks agreed that it was the best they could do. That was good enough for Brian. Im not a chef, and theres not a chef in the house here, he said. My job is to empower people to be better, to bring the best out in them. I want my employees to be proud of what they serve. The chicken riggies were a hit at the North Syracuse pool hall, and now theyre the star of his latest venture: Green Lakes Lanes, a bowling alley in Fayetteville. These riggies will make you want to go bowling, even if youve never picked up a ball. Well talk more about the riggies in a few paragraphs. First, you should meet the guy behind Green Lakes Lanes. Holmes, 54, grew up on the Near West Side of Syracuse and went to Fowler High School. One of his first jobs was working at a dry cleaning business, earning $4 an hour. He ultimately became the manager of Artel Cleaners and developed his own route that generated $1,000 per week for the store. Hes since bought his own dry cleaning businesses. He still owns Brians One Day Dry Cleaners in Manlius. In 2017, he bought Brick House Billiards in North Syracuse. Thats when he got into the food business. The manager there came up with some recipes, and Brian encouraged them to keep trying to make the food better until it was something they were proud to serve. I eat out seven days a week, he said. I love to eat out. So food has to be really good for me to sell it. We put quality over price. In November 2019, Brian bought Green Lakes Lanes with Craig Nichols after the previous owner died suddenly. A few months later, the state shut all bowling alleys down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Rather than close completely, Brian reinvented his business model to cover at least part of the overhead. He expanded the kitchen and its menu. He also remodeled the building that houses the 12 lanes. The chicken riggies were a product of this revamp. The start of an order of chicken riggies, a burger and quesadilla at Green Lakes Lanes in Fayetteville. Hidden Gems of CNY.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com The guys in the kitchen cut chicken breast into 1-inch-by--inch chunks and marinate them in dry sherry, olive oil, oregano and garlic. The riggie sauce combines onions, green peppers, hot cherry peppers, marinara sauce, heavy cream, cream cheese and parmesan cheese. It also has tomato soup, which adds a touch of sweetness. They dont toss in hot sauce or crushed red peppers, but this recipe has enough cherry peppers to make the sauce spicy on the front end. Mike Brandt of Camillus prepares lunch at Green Lakes Lanes in Fayetteville. Hidden Gems of CNY.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com The cooks combine marinated chicken with the sauce and heat it over a low flame. They then stir 9 ounces of pasta into the skillet. An order of riggies is $14.97. It comes with Italian bread and a side salad. The whole thing weighed more than a pound, most of which went home with me. One thing that made these riggies worth raving about was the consistency. I ate here twice last week, and the riggies were identically top-notch both times. Thats because we time everything, and we measure everything, Brian said. If you eat here next week, the riggies will be just as good. You dont want them one way when one person is working and then a different way when someone else is here. It has to be the same every time. Note: The side salad isnt just iceberg lettuce dressed in vinaigrette. The cook preparing our meal, Mike Brandt of Camillus, made each side salad individually as the entrees cooked. It had greens, tomatoes, onions, peppers and cheese. Chicken riggies at Green Lakes Lanes in Fayetteville. Hidden Gems of CNY.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com You also must try ... Bacon cheeseburger ($14.57): When they realized they needed to start selling food to make it through the bowling alley shutdown, Brian and his crew sampled 35 burgers from area restaurants to give them direction. Then they searched for the best beef. Ultimately they settled on ground black angus from Iowa. It comes fresh (not frozen) in half-pound patties. The meat is so good, Brian says, that it needs no seasoning at all. The juice this beef produces is amazing, he said. We dont have to add seasoning to this beef because its that good. The traditional burger ($11.57) here is 8 ounces of Iowa angus, lettuce and tomato and a bun. Thats a good meal. The bacon cheeseburger adds American cheese and two thick strips of applewood-smoked bacon. Thats a great meal. The smell alone is such a value, Brian said of the bacon that runs him 60 cents per slice. The burger was medium-rare, just as we ordered. After lunch, Brian asked Mike how long it took him to grill the burger to medium-rare. 4, Mike quickly responded. The second he laid the patty on the flattop he hit the timer for 4 minutes. The bacon cheeseburger at Green Lakes Lanes in Fayetteville. Hidden Gems of CNY.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com Quesadilla ($7.97): This is the most popular item on the menu. Remember, were in a bowling alley, and many of the customers are grabbing bites between frames. This is a grilled tortilla stuffed with sauteed peppers and onions, salsa and a shredded cheese blend. We spent the extra $2.57 to add marinated chicken. That made this appetizer a meal. It comes with kettle chips and a side of sour cream and salsa. The quesadilla at Green Lakes Lanes in Fayetteville. Hidden Gems of CNY.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com Bowling alleys were allowed to reopen last Monday, and a few customers have been waiting outside Green Lakes Lanes at 11 a.m. each day. During each of my lunches last week, the sound of crashing rock-maple pins mixed with the 50s music playing on the jukebox. Before we were just a bowling alley that served snacks, Brian said. Now were a bowling alley that serves a good meal. Were starting to come back. The Details The restaurant: Green Lakes Lanes, 7930 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville, 315-637-6000 Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Open until midnight Friday and Saturday. Credit cards? Yes Access to disabled? Yes Inside seating: Plenty. And lots of outdoor seating under a tent. *** UPDATE The last Hidden Gem of CNY, Baghdad Restaurant in Fairmount, is now closed. At the time the story was written, the owner said he was going to close within a month in preparation of moving to downtown Syracuse in the fall. He has since run out of food and closed early. He will reopen when the Salt City Market on South Salina Street opens. MORE ON FOOD Other Hidden Gems of CNY Your guide to a DIY 2020 New York State Fair (video) No State Fair? No worries! How to make Boscos Potatoes ORielly and prime rib sandwich at home No State Fair? No worries! How to make Pizze Fritte at home No State Fair? No worries! How to make Maurices Belgian waffle sundaes at home No State Fair? No worries! How to make wine slushies at home No State Fair? No worries! How to make gyros at home No State Fair? No worries! How to make smoked turkey legs at home No State Fair? No worries! How to make a hot beef sundae at home Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at 315-382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. By Carol R. Katz The Aug. 6 announcement from 150-year old Montclair-based DeCamp Bus Lines that its closing up shop that it cannot afford to operate even reduced service during the pandemic comes while NJ Transit operates a full schedule of largely empty buses. Why? Because NJ Transit is the beneficiary of $1.4 billion in federal relief funds that it refuses to share with private buses responsible for an estimated one-third of scheduled bus service in our state. Thats tough for DeCamp. But its also grossly unfair to DeCamps passengers and to other New Jerseyans whose routes to work, or the doctor, or the grocery store happen to be operated by a private bus carrier instead of NJ Transit. Are those passengers somehow different from NJ Transit riders? Do they pay lower taxes? Do they have bigger paychecks or a spare car? Far from it they pay the same taxes and work as hard to make a living and raise their families as do NJ Transit riders. For most of the individuals served by private bus companies -- whether theyre riding from corner to corner in Newark or Jersey City, commuting into New York from New Brunswick or Paterson, or traveling one of the scores of other private bus routes -- access to reliable and affordable bus transportation is a critical underpinning of successful daily life. But NJ Transit is shrugging its corporate shoulders, sending the message that if you dont ride the state-run bus youre out of luck. You count for less. Youre a second-class citizen. Bus ridership during the pandemic has tumbled for all bus companies public and private. However, while the Federal Transportation Authority (FTA) granted NJ Transit about $200 million more than New Jersey even requested from the federal CARES Act, private operators cries for help over the past four months have been parried at every turn. Assertions by NJ Transit that federal rules prevent them from sharing their recent wealth ring hollow, especially when other states have managed to find a way to help their private companies and the passengers who depend on them. Wait, you may say. I care about those passengers, and the hundreds of employees losing their jobs, but private companies are private after all, so why do they deserve public help? In fact, the current situation is upside down and backward: in the midst of this pandemic, unless things change, the private bus companies and their passengers are effectively bailing out NJ Transit. Thats because the passenger miles and other data from all of New Jerseys commuter bus companies NJ Transit and the private carriers were fed into a National Transportation Database that was used to calculate just how much funding the FTA was to pass along to each state in the nation. NJ Transit doesnt dispute that fact. But it maintains that its simply following federal rules that somehow allow it to collect all of that federal money but forbid sharing it. Tell that to Michigan or New Hampshire, each of which recently spent FTA funding to bring their private bus companies back to life. Or tell it to drivers, mechanics and dispatchers who have lost jobs at private companies. Tell it to the essential workers who depend on the bus now to get to their jobs, or to the thousands of others who will have to find a new way to commute when the economy opens. The private bus companies, their employees and their fare-paying, tax-paying passengers are being left to drown in a roiling economic sea while NJ Transit operates a fleet of half-empty lifeboats funded in part by the very people and companies to whom NJ Transit wont throw even a length of rope. Rather than jealously guard all of New Jerseys FTA funding, NJ Transit should equitably allocate those funds that were generated in the first place by private bus companies and their passengers. And it should make that change quickly, before another bus company is forced out of business. Carol R. Katz is a principal at Katz Government Affairs, LLC, a lobbying firm that represents the Bus Association of New Jersey. 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. Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson has apologised "unreservedly" for remarks she made claiming the Troubles victims' pension would mainly benefit "those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland". The MLA for Foyle said her comments were "clumsy" and were not directed at the "people who suffered serious harm during the conflict". "It was never my intention to cause them any hurt," she said, in a statement on Wednesday morning. "All victims of the conflict deserve acknowledgement of their pain and loss and I support them in their efforts to get their pension." Politicians have criticised Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson for claiming the Troubles victims' pension would mainly benefit "those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland". Her comments came after Justice Minister Naomi Long said that the scheme could cost up to 800m (890m). In now deleted tweets, Ms Anderson said: "800m 4 pensions mainly for those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland. 800m mainly 4 those involved in collusion. "800m mainly 4 British troops like Paras who murdered people on Bloody Sunday and Ballymurphy. 800m mainly to discriminate and criminalise and exclude." The DUP urged the Sinn Fein leadership to sanction the Foyle MLA for her "deeply offensive tweet". This morning, Ms Mary Lou McDonald stated Martina Anderson had apologised. It represents someone publishing a very political commentary on an issue personal to people who recently took a court action, she said. Its wrong, Martina acknowledges it. There is an apology now - I spoke to Martina directly, it wasn't her intention to cause that hurt, she apologised and it's quite right. In a damning High Court ruling last week Sinn Fein was ordered to stop blocking the implementation of the pension scheme. The party claims the criteria discriminate against former republican prisoners. The Justice Minister Naomi Long branded Ms Anderson's tweet "an outrageous, gratuitous insult to all those who will qualify for the pension". Mrs Long said: "Sinn Fein have a right to their view about how the Government has implemented the pension. They have a right to make their case, as has every party. They do not have a right to launch such vitriol at those who will qualify or smear them in this way." SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described Ms Anderson's comments as "unacceptable, disgusting and grossly insulting to hundreds of victims who sustained life-changing physical and psychological injuries". Calling for an apology, he said: "The campaign Sinn Fein has waged against delivering this pension, forcing victims who have endured decades of hardship living with deep physical and emotional scars to go to court to get what they deserve, has been deeply disturbing. "How much more insult can Sinn Fein add to the injury that these victims have sustained? "How much more pain are they willing to inflict on people who have survived the most horrendous atrocities? Martina Anderson is a senior Sinn Fein MLA. Her party president Mary Lou McDonald and joint First Minister Michelle O'Neill should urgently clarify if they believe victims applying for this pension are 'mainly those who fought Britain's dirty war' or were 'involved in collusion'." UUP MLA Doug Beattie said: "Tweets like this confirm the complete lack of integrity from Sinn Fein. "Having spent years denying the rights of innocent victims to a pension, and followed that up by disobeying the law, we now have this piece of deluded nonsense from Martina Anderson." Mr Beattie said the party seemed determined to "slur" IRA victims and was showing it was shameless and had "an appalling lack of humanity". Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton described Ms Anderson's comments as "patent nonsense". He said: "The Sinn Fein leadership must deal with this shocking tweet. "This cannot be allowed to go unchecked. "People who have lived most of their lives with shrapnel from an explosion in their body - or who are haunted with the smell, taste and noise of a bombing - should not be labelled by Martina Anderson." He added that he would be "exploring with the Northern Ireland Assembly authorities whether this statement is in fact a breach of the Members' code of conduct". He said: "In my view it falls well short of decency, never mind the standards expected from an MLA." TUV leader Jim Allister said that Ms Anderson could "always be relied on to lower the tone" but her "outbursts" likely reflected Sinn Fein's actual thinking better than the contributions of "some of its more subtle figures". Asked to comment on Ms Anderson's tweet, Sinn Fein said: "The proposed victims' pension scheme is not the type of scheme envisaged under the Stormont House Agreement and is completely inconsistent with the legal and agreed definition of a victim. "It's our view that this scheme will be exclusionary, discriminatory and divisive. Its policy intent was and remains to create a hierarchy of victims and reinforce the British state narrative around the conflict. "Sinn Fein remain committed to delivering a pension scheme which is based on equality and open to everyone who was seriously physically and psychologically injured during the conflict." Ellen DeGeneres has been getting a fair amount of bad press recently due to ongoing workplace harassment allegations from former employees. This has led many to put DeGeneress past interviews under scrutiny. Back in 2019, SuperM appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show following the release of their debut EP. While the interview is almost a year old, fans revisited a clip of Mark on the show causing it to go viral on Twitter with almost 1 million views. Ten, Baekhyun, Lucas, Taemin, Taeyong, Kai, and Mark of SuperM | Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Capitol Music Group SuperM made their U.S. TV debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show SuperM released their debut EP and the music video for their song Jopping on Oct. 4, 2019. A few days later on Oct. 9, 2019, the Korean band made their U.S. TV debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. DeGeneres interviewed the septet and the members performed I Cant Stand the Rain and Jopping. During the interview, DeGeneres asked Baekhyun, Taemin, Kai, Ten, Taeyong, Lucas, and Mark if they were dating anyone. All right, just real quick, and not for me, but obviously I need to know for the world are you all single? DeGeneres asked. The members replied that they were single, to which DeGeneres asked Youre all single? Wait, why are you always curious about this, though? Mark asked. Its my job, DeGeneres replied. At the end of the interview, SuperM presented DeGeneres with a donation of $50,000 to the Ellen Fund to aid global conservation efforts. Following SuperMs appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, fans praised Marks question to DeGeneres. While some found his remark to be funny, others interpreted it as Mark calling out the medias obsession with celebrities private lives. Marks response went viral In July 2020, Buzzfeed published a report where former employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show accused executive producers of sexual misconduct and harassment. The producers have since been fired, with Variety reporting that DeGeneres apologized to employees about the on-set toxicity that occurred on her watch.' Still, the scandal caused people to question DeGeneres herself, with some calling for the talk show host to be replaced. A few days after the scandal broke, SuperM fans jokingly spread the video of Mark calling DeGeneres out. cannot believe mark lee told ellen to clock out like this on national television, one fan tweeted. RELATED: SuperM Announces Comeback With Their Debut Studio Album Super One What the K-pop group thought about going on The Ellen DeGeneres Show On Dec. 4, 2019, Kai and Baekhyun appeared on the MBC program Radio Star, and Kai commented on how short the interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show actually was. A common complaint among K-pop fans is that interview quality is poor whenever K-pop artists are interviewed outside of South Korea, particularly in the U.S. This is often due to the fact groups are asked poorly-researched and repetitive questions. Like I want to assume the best and that her Kpop interviews are awkward and boring because she doesnt know how to engage with a group where there some language barriers and she obviously isnt well informed the sit downs are awkward and crowded and generic, one Reddit user wrote about SuperMs appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. SuperMs new single Tiger Inside drops on Sept. 1, 2020, and their highly-anticipated studio album Super One will be released on Sept. 25, 2020. India's coronavirus cases have increased to more than 32 lakh with a spike of 67,151 cases on Wednesday, as per the Union Health Ministry data. The first case of COVID-19 in India was reported on 30 January 2020. The total number of recoveries rose to 24,67,759 pushing the recovery rate to 76.2 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed. On the other hand, COVID-19 related fatalities in India have climbed to 59,449 with 1,059 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours. There are 7,07,267 active cases of coronavirus in the country presently which comprise 21.8 per cent of the total caseload in the country. According to the ICMR, 3,76,51,512 samples have been tested up to August 25 with 8,23,992 samples being tested on Tuesday. The health ministry on Tuesday said there has been an exponential decline in the positivity rate in COVID-19 despite an exponential increase in testing. The testing for the disease has been increased from 363 tests per million per day on August 1 to more than 600 tests per million per day at present, Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said. Presenting a mortality analysis on the basis of age and gender, Bhushan said 69 per cent COVID-19 fatalities include male and 31% per cent female. Maharashtra's coronavirus tally has increased to 7 lakh on Wednesday with the addition of 10,425 cases, while 329 fatalities have taken the death toll to 22,794. On the other hand, Delhi has reported 1,544 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 1,64,071 in the 24 hours span. It is the first time in over a month that the number of new infections has crossed 1,500-mark in the national capital. Consequently, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a high-level meeting to discuss the rising number of coronavirus cases in the city. Meanwhile, the coronavirus death toll in West Bengal mounted to 2,909 after 58 more people succumbed to the disease since yesterday. Rajasthan registered 13 new fatalities in 24 hours, which took the death toll to 980. In Telangana, 10 deaths have been reported due to coronavirus on Wednesday. The state's death toll has climbed to 780. In Gujarat 20 COVID-19 patients have died, taking the toll up to 2,930. With 72 new deaths, Uttar Pradesh's COVID-19 related fatalities have mounted to 3,059. Here is the state-wise active coronavirus case tally:- Andaman and Nicobar Islands -677 Andhra Pradesh- 89,932 Arunachal Pradesh -899 Assam- 19,518 Bihar-19,716 Chandigarh-1,456 Chhattisgarh-9,388 Dadra Nagar Haveli-381 Delhi-11,998 Goa-3,149 Gujarat- 14,641 Haryana- 9,489 Himachal Pradesh-1,376 Jammu and Kashmir-7,544 Jharkhand-10,238 Karnataka-82,429 Kerala- 21,296 Ladakh-847 Madhya Pradesh-12,225 Maharashtra-1,66,239 Manipur-1,608 Meghalaya-1,178 Mizoram-503 Nagaland-1,132 Odisha-24,333 Puducherry-3,981 Punjab-14,254 Rajasthan-14,219 Sikkim-418 Tamil Nadu-52,128 Telengana-25,685 Tripura-2,866 Uttar Pradesh-49,575 Uttarakhand-4,600 West Bengal-27,349 Also read: COVID-19: Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani pitches Aadhaar model to vaccinate Indians faster Also read: Loans worth Rs 1.55 lakh cr sanctioned under emergency credit line so far: FinMin Sheila Frees, 59, thought her unemployment was temporary - soon it will be both permanent and long-term. In March, Frees went on furlough as a part of the first wave of pandemic shutdown causalities. She waited patiently to be recalled to her job at a department store until the end of June, when she was abruptly laid off. "They drag this on for so long, and you think you're going back, and then you aren't," Frees said. "You weren't going to come back. And they knew it. If you're going to lay people off, do it quickly." To be sure, the effects of long-term unemployment on the larger economy will be different compared with the last recession. This time, jobless benefits have been higher, at least from April through July, and public-health concerns around the novel coronavirus have effectively barred millions from working. Economists are fearing a surge in long-term unemployment. Credit:Bloomberg "What's clear about this particular crisis, compared to the Great Recession, is it's affecting the least advantaged in society - people who don't have access to other safety nets or family resources," Bertrand said. "It's not clear how these people are going to be getting by." She added that could, paradoxically, also speed the recovery. The less-skilled, less-educated service workers who have been laid off may have an easier time finding an equivalent job in a different industry than the highly specialised workers who spent years after the Great Recession searching fruitlessly for a fit for their skills and education. The fate of the permanent unemployed is key to understanding the political debate that has prevented Congress and the White House from coming to a deal to extend more stimulus for the unemployed and small businesses. This is a period of rapid technological change. We are changing the way business is getting done, we're changing the way we're shopping and the way we're eating - we're changing the way we're having meetings. Columbia Business School economist Laura Veldkamp House Democrats are concerned about the long-term prospects of the unemployed, and they passed a bill in May that would extend the $US600 ($829) in weekly enhanced unemployment benefits through January. Claudia Sahm, who worked at the Federal Reserve from 2007 through 2019, said the current crisis had gone from "unprecedented" to frighteningly similar to the Great Recession. "Initially, the layoffs were largely temporary," said Sahm, who is now director of macroeconomic policy at the Washington Centre for Equitable Growth, a progressive think tank. "In recent months, we have seen the rate of permanent layoffs rise. And we should expect more as the relief expires and more small businesses fail and more families can't go out and spend and more communities have to cut essential services." Yet, Republicans in the Senate, as well as the White House, remain optimistic that most job losses have been and will continue to be temporary. A White House Council of Economic Advisers report out this month estimated 81 per cent of layoffs from February to May were "likely to be temporary rather than permanent," citing labour Department data. That said, the White House report acknowledged the dangers long-term unemployment poses to the economic recovery. "Before the COVID-19 shutdown, the unemployment rate was below 4 per cent, so we still have a long way to go in recovering lost ground. Therefore, it will be important to ensure that the decline in the unemployment rate continues over the next several months and that these temporary layoffs do not result in large permanent job losses," the report said. Yet there are increasing signs that unemployment is becoming permanent. With every week that the pandemic rages, distressed businesses are looking at their balance sheets, and either laying off employees or closing entirely. Americans continue to avoid crowded entertainment, shopping and dining venues, and small-business revenue has slumped. Rent, utility and insurance payments loom, and revenue prospects remain uncertain. Loading About 4 million US businesses are expected to close this year, according to Oxxford Information Technology, which maintains a database of about 32 million businesses, nonprofits, government entities and farms. During that same period, only 1.3 million new businesses will be formed. Both figures are worse than the Great Recession, said Raymond Greenhill, Oxxford's president. In just three months from April to June, the country lost 1.85 million businesses, and Greenhill expects the losses to continue well into 2021 as businesses struggle to obtain financing and to cover expenses while operating at reduced capacity. He saw a similar pattern in the Great Recession, when businesses failures kept piling up well after the recovery had officially started. In late May, a Census Bureau survey showed that only 38 per cent of business owners thought it would take six months or more to recover normal business operations. By mid-August, that number soared to 55 per cent as most business owners lost hope in a speedy recovery. According to Columbia Business School economist Laura Veldkamp, some of these behavioural changes will become permanent. The pandemic, like the Depression and the World Wars, is fundamentally altering people's tastes. Some businesses will be left behind, as consumers get accustomed to videoconferencing instead of commuting, and buying groceries online instead of braving stores, malls and restaurants. "This is a period of rapid technological change," Veldkamp said. "We are changing the way business is getting done, we're changing the way we're shopping and the way we're eating - we're changing the way we're having meetings." Loading As more businesses throw in the towel, more workers lose their connections to the labour market. Those connections - the years of skills, trust and social networks built up at particular employer - are exceedingly expensive and time consuming to rebuild. That's what economists are talking about when they talk about the dangers of "permanent" job loss. "There's going to be such anxiety and such fear. Their self-esteem is impacted," said Jane Oates, president of nonprofit WorkingNation and former a Obama labour Department official. "Obviously, some of them are going to have to retrain and learn new skills, and many of them are going to have to switch sectors." MOSCOW, Aug 26 (Reuters) - A Russian government plane which is used to carry senior government officials, including the head of the FSB security service, landed in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Wednesday, flight tracking data showed. This was its second such flight in just over a week. The same plane had made a quick trip to Belarus and back in the early hours of last Wednesday, tracking data showed last week. The plane's flights to Belarus, a Russian ally, coincide with waves of protests and strikes over what Belarusian demonstrators say was a rigged presidential election on Aug. 9. Reuters could not determine who was aboard the Russian government plane, a Tupolev Tu-214, when it landed in Minsk from Moscow on Wednesday evening. The Kremlin has said the situation in Belarus is an internal matter which should be resolved by Belarusians themselves and that it did not see the need to help Belarus militarily or otherwise for now. Attention is 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 friendly leader was toppled by protests. (Reporting by Andrey Makhovsky in Minsk and Rinat Sagdiev in Moscow; Writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Sujata Rao) The Monterey County Fair may have been cancelled this year, but the Fair will go on virtually, with the first Monterey County Fair 2020 Virtual Celebration, set for Sept. 3-6, 2020. (TRAVPR.COM) CA - August 25th, 2020 - Monterey, CA, August 24, 2020 The Monterey County Fair may have been cancelled this year, but the Fair will go on virtually, with the first Monterey County Fair 2020 Virtual Celebration, set for Sept. 3-6, 2020. The virtual Fair kicks off at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 with a Drive-In Movie screening of the animated comedy Despicable Me, followed at 7:30 p.m. by the classic 1945 film State Fair, starring Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews. Cost is $30 per car per screening. The virtual Fair continues at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 with a Drive-In Movie & Concert featuring the 2012 musical comedy Rock of Ages, and Journey Revisited, a Journey tribute band. Cost is $75 per car. Saturday, Sept. 5 features the Kentucky Derby, Drive-In-style, presented by Tachi Palace, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each vehicle receives a free Kentucky Derby daily program and daily racing form. Machines to place wagers will be available in the arena. Cost is $75 per car. On Saturday night, enjoy the action of Ultimate Bull Fighters streaming from Arcadia, Florida, followed at 6:30 p.m. by the 1994 rodeo movie 8 Seconds. Cost is $75 per car for this performance. The final day of the Virtual Fair, Sunday, Sept. 6, features the 2003 Jack Black-starring comedy School of Rock, at 7:30 p.m., celebrating Samz School of Rock, with 25% of the proceeds to benefit the school. Cost is $40 per car. Admission to drive-in events begin one hour before posted time. To buy tickets, go to the Fairs website at www.montereycountyfair.com. Sponsors of the virtual fair include Tachi Palace, Firestone 805, Aspire Health Plan, Anheuser-Busch, Chevrolet of Watsonville, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner, Boot Barn, Braga Fresh, California Giant Berry Farms, Central Coast Senior Services, Inc., Coastal Tractor, fresh From DVine, Pebble Beach Resorts, Misionero, Nutrien, Culligan Water, Mechanics Bank, and Tanimura & Antle. The El Jefe Tequila bar is conveniently located in the back of the arena for all performances. For information, contact Monterey County Fair & Event Center at (831) 372-5863 or events@montereycountyfair.com About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center The Monterey County Fair & Event Center is a premier event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is a state-owned multi-use facility that features four large banquet rooms, two outdoor concert venues, and a variety of outdoor and indoor cost-effective sites ideal for all types of events. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility. For more information, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or go to www.montereycountyfair.com for more information. Contact: Marci Bracco Cain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA 93905 (831) 747-7455 http://www.montereycountyfair.com ### WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- EcoHealth Alliance, a small non-profit research institute in New York City, has recently found that a multimillion-dollar grant by the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) cannot be used unless the institute meets "absurd" and "politically motivated" demands of the NIH. The grant is allocated to study how coronaviruses move from bats to people, for which EcoHealth cooperates with China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), according to a recent article published on Nature magazine. Early in April, the fund was cancelled by the NIH, the primary medical and public health research center of the U.S. government, after U.S. President Donald Trump told a reporter that the United States would stop funding work at the WIV. The NIH made seven demands of EcoHealth, among which it asks EcoHealth to "obtain a vial of the SARS-CoV-2 sample" used by the WIV to determine the virus' genetic sequence, and to arrange an inspection of the WIV by U.S. federal officials, Nature said. Scientific research shows that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, most likely originated in bats, has the potential to trigger future pandemics. Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth, called the demands "heinous" and "absurd" because it's beyond the reach of the work they do. "The grant isn't used to fund work on SARS-CoV-2. Our organization has not actually published any data on SARS-CoV-2. We work on bat coronaviruses that are out there in the wild and try to predict what the next one is. We don't work on sequencing SARS-CoV-2," Daszak told Nature. "We're not a political organization," he noted. "We're feeling the pressure of a very aggressive administration in the U.S. picking fights with a country where we happen to be collaborating." LOWELL, Mass. - Incumbent Edward Markey has opened up a double-digit lead over challenger U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III one week before the Democratic primary in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll of Massachusetts voters released today. Conducted by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion, the poll of 800 likely Democratic primary voters found that Markey leads the race with 52 percent of respondents supporting him, compared to 40 percent for Kennedy, with 6 percent of voters undecided and 2 percent favoring another candidate. The primary election is Tuesday, Sept. 1. Voters' education factors into their choice and accounts for the largest divide among respondents, poll results show. Voters with a college degree prefer Markey by a 37-point margin, as 65 percent of these respondents would elect him, compared to 28 percent of voters who favor Kennedy. The congressman leads by 15 points among voters without a college degree, with 53 percent favoring him, compared to 38 percent for Markey. Markey also holds double-digit leads over Kennedy among voters in key demographic groups. Among younger likely voters, 59 percent of respondents age 18 to 44 say they would vote for Markey, compared to 32 percent who would elect Kennedy, giving a 27-point lead in that demographic to the senator, who first won the seat in a 2013 special election to replace former U.S. Sen. John Kerry. Among women, Markey leads by 18 points, as 55 percent of respondents said they would vote for him, compared to 37 percent for Kennedy. The senator holds a 24-point lead among voters with a family income of more than $100,000, favored by 57 percent of these respondents, compared to 33 percent for Kennedy. The candidates are tied, each with 46 percent support, among respondents who earn less than $50,000 a year. Markey is also besting Kennedy among white voters, as 55 percent of respondents prefer the senator, who holds a 16-point advantage over Kennedy, with 39 percent support. Among voters of color, Kennedy is up one point, 41 percent to Markey's 40 percent, which is within the margin of error. "Perhaps the most peculiar thing about this race is that the incumbent has been embraced by the outsider wing of the Democratic Party and the challenger has been characterized as an insider. This insider/outsider dynamic comes through clearly in that voters who trust government are much more likely to support Kennedy and those that distrust government are more likely to support Markey. Should Markey hold on to win, his ability to avoid the out-of-touch-establishment-elite label will be the reason he was able to keep his seat," said Joshua Dyck, director of the Center for Public Opinion and UMass Lowell associate professor of political science. The findings released today are a sharp contrast to the results of past polling by the Center for Public Opinion on the race. Survey results issued in May found a close contest, with Kennedy garnering 44 percent of support among likely Democratic voters and 42 percent supporting incumbent Markey, while 10 percent were undecided. At that time, Markey led among likely voters who identify themselves as liberals (54 percent to 39 percent), while Kennedy was ahead among moderates (55 percent to 25 percent). Yet despite Markey's widening lead, 52 percent of voters polled in results released today said their lives are not likely to be any better or worse in six years regardless of which candidate wins the election. "In the final days, voters see this race as low stakes, but that hasn't prevented the race from being high drama. Both candidates have taken the gloves off in this campaign, but it's clear that Markey has Kennedy on the ropes. This bout isn't over, but Markey has the clearest advantage we've seen since Kennedy filed to run," said John Cluverius, associate director of the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion and assistant professor of political science. The poll also surveyed likely Democratic primary voters' views about life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings include: More voters (35 percent), said COVID-19 will prove to be a greater threat to humanity over the next five years than climate change. Thirty-one percent of voters said climate change is the more pressing issue and 36 percent of respondents said the threats were about equal; Asked whether their local schools should reopen for face-to-face instruction in the fall, 84 percent of voters oppose that move, while 16 percent favor it; Without an option to vote early or by mail, 15 percent of respondents said they would opt to stay home and not vote in this election. Further, if they knew voting in person would lead to them contracting COVID-19, 62 percent said they would stay home. "Democratic primary voters have almost no faith in local leaders to safely reopen schools for face-to-face instruction. There's some backlash to President Trump's desire for schools to open in person, but it's clear here that anxiety about reopening schools is rampant among Democratic primary voters, even in a state that has contained the virus much better than others," Cluverius said. Despite voters' COVID-19 concerns, Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker remains extremely popular with Democrats, survey results show. Among poll respondents, Baker has an 89 percent approval rating, with 54 percent of voters who "strongly approve" and 35 percent who "somewhat approve" and only 11 percent who disapprove of how the governor is handling his job. These statistics are virtually unchanged from polling data the Center for Public Opinion released in May, according to Dyck. "Charlie Baker continues to be the most popular Republican among Democrats in Massachusetts - more popular, in fact, than most Democratic politicians. His 89 percent approval rating among Democratic likely voters includes unenrolled voters. But even among just registered Democrats, Baker's approval rating is 90 percent," he said. Detailed poll results - including analysis, topline and methodology - are available at http://www.uml.edu/polls. The independent, nonpartisan poll was conducted by the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Center for Public Opinion using the latest technology and highest standards. The center is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research's Transparency Initiative and presents events and polls on political and social issues that provide unique opportunities for civic engagement, experiential learning and research. The poll also surveyed voters' views on national issues. Here, the survey found the Black Lives Matter movement has the support of a majority of Democrats polled, with a net favorability rating of +71 percent. As may be expected among Democratic primary voters, 67 percent of respondents said they disapprove of President Donald Trump's job performance, while 7 percent approve, and 92 percent of voters polled said they think the country is on the wrong track, compared to 8 percent who said it is on the right track. Findings on the presidential race shows Democratic nominee Joe Biden has a +67 net positive favorability rating, (80 percent favorable, 13 percent unfavorable), while his running mate, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris has a +65 net positive favorability rating (77 percent favorable, 12 percent unfavorable). On the Republican ticket, Trump has a -87 net negative favorability rating (6 percent favorable, 93 percent unfavorable) and Vice President Mike Pence has a -76 net negative favorability rating (9 percent favorable, 85 percent unfavorable). Among other national public figures, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the White House coronavirus task force has a +80 net positive favorability rating (85 percent favorable, 5 percent unfavorable) and White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx has a +6 net favorability rating (27 percent favorable, 21 percent unfavorable). Former President Barack Obama has a +81 net positive favorability rating and presidential adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner is at a -73 net negative rating. Likely Democratic primary voters were also questioned on a range of other topics. Findings include: Markey's campaign decision to draw on his roots as an ice cream man may be paying dividends, as the dessert has a net favorability rating of +91 percent among Democrats polled; Market Basket has a net favorability rating of +68 percent, with Dunkin close behind at +64 percent; Among companies that operate social-media platforms, TikTok is the most disliked, with a -20 net favorability rating, followed by Facebook with a -4 net favorability rating and Snapchat with a -1 net favorability rating. ### More on favorability ratings from the poll is available at http://www.uml.edu/polls. The poll surveyed 800 likely voters in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary. The poll was designed and analyzed by the Center for Public Opinion and fielded by YouGov from Aug. 13 through Aug. 21. The adjusted margin of error is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. Full poll methodology is available at http://www.uml.edu/polls. UMass Lowell is a national research university offering its more than 18,000 students bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. http://www.uml.edu A memorial service was organized Wednesday morning for 24-year-old Tanjim Siam, a convenience store clerk in Boston who died last week after being shot at his place of work in July. Siams Janazah, an Islamic funeral prayer and ritual, was expected to be held at 10 a.m. at 175 Stapes St. in Taunton, according to a Facebook post from the Bangladesh Association of New England (BANE). Those attending the service will be required to wear masks and socially distance due to the coronavirus pandemic. BANE announced Saturday morning that Siam had died after a five-week fight in the hospital. He was being treated at Boston Medical Center after the shooting and given life support. The 24-year-old man was taken off life support last week, an extremely difficult decision for the family, Humayun Morshed, a friend of Siams, said. Doctors anticipated Siam would die within the hour, according to Asif Babu, president of BANE. But our lovely brother proved himself as a fighter and fought for his life, Babu said. I was there at Boston medical with Siam for a couple of hours when the family went to home for lunch. I spoke to the doctors. Siam was suffering rigorous pain. His blood pressure, heartbeat and everything else was fluctuating out of proportion. Then today around 10:30 a.m., Almighty sent our loving brother to heaven. BANE called the 24-year-old man a very joyful young kid. He is remembered by his parents and two younger siblings, one of whom is 6 years old and the other 14 years old, according to the social and cultural organization, which serves the Bangladeshi community in New England. A GoFundMe page was set up by the Boston Convenience Store Association for Siams family. It had raised more than $94,000 as of Wednesday morning. On the page, Morshed, secretary of the BCSA who was close to Siam, described his friend as a kind soul who came to this country to get an education and begin building his life. He is good to everybody, helpful and friendly. He moved to Boston alone, leaving his parents, and siblings behind, with a dream to get an education. But his dreams and hard work have now been shattered, Morshed said. In another post, BANE said, Our heart is severely bleeding for him. Siam was working at the M & R Convenience store on Shawmut Avenue in Roxbury shortly after 9 p.m. on July 14 when a suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Stephon Samuel, entered the store, according to Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins. The Lynn man pretended to be interested in buying something but instead, prosecutors claimed, took out a gun and robbed the store. After Siam turned over the contents of the cash register and other items to Samuel, the suspect allegedly forced the clerk into another area of the store at gunpoint and shot him at close range, according to Rollins. Siam died from his wounds on Aug. 22, the district attorney said. Samuel has since been arrested and was arraigned in the Roxbury Division of Boston Municipal Court on Monday on charges of murder, armed robbery with a firearm, armed assault to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Rollinss office has been in close contact with Siams family members, and the prosecutor has personally spoken with them, according to her. They are devastated, the prosecutor said. Mr. Siam came here for a better life, and his life was violently stolen. We are working to provide this family, and all of our other survivors of homicide, with the resources and assistance that they need during this terrible time. Related Content: E-commerce companies operating in India have time till September 30 to comply with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) order to tag items with 'country of origin' code. The deadline was enhanced by a month on August 1 after retailers rued they were given less time to comply with the rules. E-commerce companies including Flipkart had written to the government seeking at least six months to fully comply with the orders. The DPIIT gave the final deadline only recently but no written communication has been received by e-comm companies, LiveMint reported citing unnamed executives aware of the discussions. Experts believe the September 30 deadline also seems impractical since most of the work -- around 90 per cent -- have to be done by sellers. In the present situation of lockdown, the task does not seem feasible for old listings, they say. All sellers have to mandatorily mention the country of origin while listing new products on the Centre's Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, a platform used by the Centre for public procurement. As per the directive, all e-comm companies will have to mention the country of origin on all products imported from other countries that are offered for sale. Even if a product is shipped via a different country, the country of origin will still remain the nation where it was manufactured. The 'Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020', which were notified on July 25, applies to all electronic retailers in India or abroad but offering goods and services to Indian consumers. The violation of the rules will attract penal action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The rules also require firms to mention the 'expiry date' of goods offered for sale. The step is aimed at enabling the consumer to make an informed decision at the pre-purchase stage. E-commerce players have to also display details about return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, and any other information that may be required by consumers to make informed decisions. They are also not allowed to "manipulate the price" of the goods and services offered on their platforms to gain unreasonable profit and discriminate between consumers or make any arbitrary classification of consumers affecting their rights under the Act. Also read: New e-commerce rules notified; country of origin, expiry date mandatory Tribal behaviour on social media widened the gulf between Remain and Leave voters in the United Kingdom's debate whether to leave the European Union, re-aligned the UK's political landscape, and made people increasingly susceptible to disinformation campaigns, new research from the University of Bath shows. The study focused on use of tribal language on Twitter over three years since the 2016 referendum on membership of the European Union, in particular the usage and frequency of derogatory terms such as 'Remoaner' - an insult hurled at pro-EU voters by Brexiters, who in turn might be labelled 'Brextremists' by Remainers. "Brexit is one of the first examples of political tribalism on social media. UK voters are now divided along a new line - whether they voted Leave or Remain," said Samantha North, researcher at the University of Bath's School of Management. "Tribalism has become a central force in today's political discussion, especially due to online influence campaigns that leverage this kind of division. Our research illustrates how political tribalism unfolds on social media over time. We hope it could provide impetus for new initiatives that aim to bring people together," she said. North said previous studies had shown tribalism was an innate human quality to which no group was immune. But the nature of social media - Twitter in this case - meant humans were increasingly susceptible or vulnerable to disinformation and fake news. "The need to belong to a tribe can have an effect on people's psychological biases, such as confirmation bias, the willingness to believe information that supports the tribe's viewpoint while being overly critical about information that challenges it," she said. The research showed the four keywords - Remainer, Brexiteer, Remoaner and Brextremist - were frequently used to mark group identity. She observed that Brexit voters often accused Remain voters with language related to immaturity or childish behaviour, such as 'whining' or 'throwing the dummy out of the pram' by not supporting the outcome of the vote. They tended to characterise Remainers as arrogant, elitist and traitors. For their part, Remainers tended to characterise the Leave side as racist, uneducated or ignorant of what they were doing. Irony played a part too in language - with some Remainers co-opting Brexit language with the sign-off 'Proud Remoaner'. "Tribe members use information as a way to broadcast their identity as part of the tribe and, in so doing, seek approval from other members - in the form of likes, comments and shares on social media. This has implications for the spread of online disinformation, as the search for approval may encourage people to broadcast content that reflects the views of their tribe, regardless of whether that information is accurate," North said. North said the study showed the tribal behaviour occurred more frequently on the pro-Brexit side, with the Leave side posting a greater number of links to partisan websites, compared with the Remain side. The study also established that real-life events - such as the UK triggering Article 50, and the second People's Vote March - generated spikes in use of the four tribal keywords on Twitter. North observed that the current business model for social media platforms, which rely on engagement to boost their bottom lines, was a challenge for creating a more even-handed discussion. She suggested platforms could change the algorithms that dictate what content shows up on user news feeds to make it more diverse, although she also noted that this was unlikely to happen without regulation and legislation. "Tribalism poses a distinct risk to truth and democracy. We hope our results will help inform the discussion on how to build cohesion between warring political groups," North said. ### Samantha North's website: https://samanthanorth.com/ Media contacts and resources * For further information please contact Tony Roddam on +44 (0)7971 500460 and ar2314@bath.ac.uk or the University of Bath Press Office via press@bath.ac.uk or on +44 (0)1225 386319 University of Bath The University of Bath is one of the UK's leading universities both in terms of research and our reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and graduate prospects. The University is rated Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), the Government's assessment of teaching quality in universities, meaning its teaching is of the highest quality in the UK. In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 research assessment 87 per cent of our research was defined as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'. From developing fuel efficient cars of the future, to identifying infectious diseases more quickly, or working to improve the lives of female farmers in West Africa, research from Bath is making a difference around the world. Find out more: http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/ Well established as a nurturing environment for enterprising minds, Bath is ranked highly in all national league tables. We are ranked 6th in the UK by The Guardian University Guide 2020, 5th for graduate prospects in The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020, and 9th out of 131 UK universities in the Complete University Guide 2021. Why has the UK, the country of Isaac Newton, James Maxwell, Bertrand Russell and Charles Darwin, taken leave of its senses and decided to exit the European Union (EU) by end December 2020? If this were to finally happen, the UK will scramble for free trade agreements not just with the EU but also with others including India. Currently, the UKs major partners for goods trade are Germany, US, China, Netherlands and France. The UK imported $92 billion worth of goods from Germany and exported $65 billion to the US in 2019. These two countries were the UKs top import and export ... 3 1 of 3 Contribued Photo / East Haven Firefighters Local 1205 Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contribued Photo / East Haven Firefighters Local 1205 Show More Show Less 3 of 3 EAST HAVEN Good Samaritans were thrown from the top of a vehicle on the highway while trying to help the victims of a rollover accident that ended with serious injuries, according to fire officials. Early Saturday morning, East Haven firefighters responded to a report of a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95. F ormer Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has joined global investment giant Brookfield Asset Management. The Canadian has joined the Toronto-based company which has around $550 billion under management, to lead its expansion into environmental and social investing. Carney, who left Britains central bank in March, has previously warned on the impact of climate change. In December 2019, Carney was appointed as the United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance and will continue in that role. In January prime minister Boris Johnson made him finance adviser for the flagship COP26 climate change conferences in Glasgow which was delayed by a year due to the Covid crisis. Brookfield plans to develop a group of funds that try to marry positive social and environmental outcomes with strong investment returns. Carney will join Brookfield as vice chairman and steer its environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment strategy. Bruce Flatt, Brookfields chief executive said that Carneys experience and relations with sovereign wealth funds would aid the company. Every time we can bring in someone smarter than us and better than us, its going to be additive to the organization, Flatt said. Based on our fundraising capacity, the operating businesses and background that we have, and Marks relationships and strategic knowledge of this area, I think we can become a category killer in ESG investing, Flatt said. Brookfield will be targeting annual average returns in the mid-teens on the ESG funds. The former Goldman Sachs banker left the Bank after his tenure was extended to ensure a smooth exit for Britain from the European Union. He joined the central bank in 2013 after five years as governor of the Bank of Canada. He was succeeded by ex-Financial Conduct Authority chief Andrew Bailey who immediately had to handle the economic earthquake brought by the coronavirus outbreak. Speculation about Carneys next move went into overdrive earlier this month after Bloomberg reported that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau enlisted him for advice on an economic plan to pull the country out of recession. That led to talk that he might even enter the government as finance minister, but last week Trudeau gave that job to Chrystia Freeland, his deputy prime minister. Temperatures in the Arctic Ocean between Canada, Russia and Europe are warming faster than researchers' climate models have been able to predict. Over the past 40 years, temperatures have risen by one degree every decade, and even more so over the Barents Sea and around Norway's Svalbard archipelago, where they have increased by 1.5 degrees per decade throughout the period. This is the conclusion of a new study published in Nature Climate Change. "Our analyses of Arctic Ocean conditions demonstrate that we have been clearly underestimating the rate of temperature increases in the atmosphere nearest to the sea level, which has ultimately caused sea ice to disappear faster than we had anticipated," explains Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institutet (NBI) and one of the study's researchers. Together with his NBI colleagues and researchers from the Universities of Bergen and Oslo, the Danish Metrological Institute and Australian National University, he compared current temperature changes in the Arctic with climate fluctuations that we know from, for example, Greenland during the ice age between 120,000-11,000 years ago. "The abrupt rise in temperature now being experienced in the Arctic has only been observed during the last ice age. During that time, analyses of ice cores revealed that temperatures over the Greenland Ice Sheet increased several times, between 10 to 12 degrees, over a 40 to 100-year period," explains Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen. He emphasizes that the significance of the steep rise in temperature is yet to be fully appreciated. And, that an increased focus on the Arctic and reduced global warming, more generally, are musts. Climate models ought to take abrupt changes into account Until now, climate models predicted that Arctic temperatures would increase slowly and in a stable manner. However, the researchers' analysis demonstrates that these changes are moving along at a much faster pace than expected. "We have looked at the climate models analysed and assessed by the UN Climate Panel. Only those models based on the worst-case scenario, with the highest carbon dioxide emissions, come close to what our temperature measurements show over the past 40 years, from 1979 to today," says Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen. In the future, there ought to be more of a focus on being able to simulate the impact of abrupt climate change on the Arctic. Doing so will allow us to create better models that can accurately predict temperature increases: "Changes are occurring so rapidly during the summer months that sea ice is likely to disappear faster than most climate models have ever predicted. We must continue to closely monitor temperature changes and incorporate the right climate processes into these models," says Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen. He concludes: "Thus, successfully implementing the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement is essential in order to ensure a sea-ice packed Arctic year-round." ### More than 50 people were arrested across Belarus during protests demanding the resignation of President Lukashenko. Police in Belarus arrested more than 50 people across the country during protests demanding the presidents resignation, officials said on Wednesday. The renewed crackdown on protesters, who have been taking to the streets for more than two weeks, came on Tuesday as authorities cranked up pressure on the opposition, jailing several activists, summoning others for questioning and selectively ordering dozens of demonstrators to appear in court. The interior ministry said 51 protesters were arrested on Tuesday at rallies that spanned several cities. According to the Viasna human rights group, 15 people were arrested in Minsk, the countrys capital, where several thousand people rallied at Independence Square despite heavy rain, pushing for the countrys longtime President Alexander Lukashenko to resign. On Wednesday, the most celebrated Belarusian writer called on Russia to help persuade Lukashenko to negotiate, as she arrived for questioning in a criminal case accusing an opposition body of an illegal attempt to seize power. Now Lukashenko speaks only to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. We need him to speak to the people, Svetlana Alexievich, winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize for literature, told reporters outside the Investigative Committee, where she appeared for questioning. Maybe the world can help us, so that Lukashenko will negotiate with somebody, she said. We need the world to help, and maybe Russia. Alexievich is one of the dozens of public figures who formed the opposition Coordination Council [Misha Friedman/Getty Images] Alexievich emerged after a short time and said she had invoked her right not to testify against herself. She said there was no basis for the investigation, adding: The more we stay together, the stronger we will be, and the greater chance we will have of making the authorities talk to us. Alexievich is one of the dozens of public figures who formed the opposition Coordination Council last week, with the stated aim of negotiating a peaceful transition of power after an election the opposition says was rigged. International tech firms Also on Wednesday, the staff of international IT companies joined mass protests and threatened to quit Belarus. Stories of tortured detainees and the sight of plain-clothes officers grabbing protesters off the street made working life difficult for the Minsk employees of the California-based software-maker PandaDoc, its chief executive Mikita Mikado said. Everyone in the IT community, all Belarusians inside the country and outside the country were shocked. They were shocked by how blatantly the elections were rigged and by how much violence was applied afterwards, said Mikado. An internal survey showed 83 percent of PandaDocs employees in the country want to relocate. If this government stays, there will be no PandaDoc in Belarus, Mikado added. Rome, Aug 26 : China and Italy should build on the good momentum of their joint fight against the Covid-19 pandemic to push for new developments in their bilateral relations, visiting Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. The current European trip is the first overseas tour by a Chinese Foreign Minister since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, and Italy is the first stop, Wang said on Tuesday during a meeting with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio. He said this arrangement shows the importance of China-Italy relations in China's diplomacy, and the great value China attaches to its ties with Europe, Xinhua news agency reported. Noting that the pandemic is a common challenge facing all mankind, Wang said that solidarity and cooperation among all countries are the correct response. In this regard, he added, China and Italy are at the forefront in the world, setting an example for international anti-pandemic cooperation. Wang said his visit is a continuation of China-Italy solidarity in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and marks the beginning of bilateral efforts to deepen cooperation in the post-pandemic era. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, Wang said, adding that the two countries should take advantage of the momentum and push for new progress in bilateral relations. According to Zelensky, after receiving a specific list of steps, it will be clear what needs to be done and how much time is needed for Ukraine's European integration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said European leaders should clearly announce the conditions for Ukraine to become a full member of the European Union. "I believe that a clear European position on Ukraine is very important for Ukrainians. And I have asked many European leaders: 'You should tell Ukrainians what you want Ukrainians to do, step-by-step, to become members of the EU,'" he told Euronews in an interview, according to the president's press service. According to Zelensky, after receiving a specific list of steps, it will be clear what needs to be done and how much time is needed for Ukraine's European integration. "So that everyone understands what we need now both Ukraine and Europe. It seems to me that we just need to make a country that Europe really wants. And the decision should be up to Ukraine," the president said. In his opinion, despite the fact that not all EU countries want to see Ukraine in the EU, the European Union as a whole wants Ukraine to be a partner and a member. Read alsoPoll: nearly 60% of Ukrainians support EU accession, almost 50% joining NATOAt the same time, Zelensky stressed European countries and the European Union support Ukraine and firmly stand on the position of defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. "We see how Europe is acting with sanctions today, how it supports us, losing money through sanctions against the Russian Federation. I am grateful to them for that," he added. Ukraine's European integration Global trade flows collapsed in the spring, marking the largest fall in two decades, as coronavirus lockdowns disrupted air and sea transport and dealt a blow to the demand for many consumer and investment goods. In more recent weeks, signs have emerged of a rebound in the movement of goods across national borders. But the enormous economic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic are expected to reshape global trade in the longer term. Global trade had weakened before the crisis, hobbled by trade tensions and fresh tariffs. Coming on top of those disruptions, the pandemic has raised fresh questions about the resilience of supply chains that stretch across the globe and drive a third of world trade. Now, some governmentsstung by shortages of domestically made medical supplies when the coronavirus hit and worried about a reliance on Chinese-made productsare advocating the erection of trade barriers and are pushing to bring manufacturing home, in what could be a rebalancing of world trade after the global health crisis abates. The CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis on Tuesday said flows of goods across borders were 12.5% lower in the three months through June than in the first quarter of the year. That was the largest drop since records began in 2000, exceeding the hit to trade in the wake of the global financial crisis. China was the first major economy to enter lockdown, and the first to leave it. So its exports rose in the second quarter, by 2.4%, following a 7.7% drop in the first quarter. Since the U.S. and the eurozone were in lockdown for much of the three-month period, their exports fell by 24.8% and 19.2% respectively. As the second quarter drew to a close, some trade flows had bounced back more rapidly than others. According to Germanys statistics agency, sales of goods to China were 15.4% higher in June than a year earlier. However, German sales to the U.S. were 20.7% down on a year earlier, reflecting the fact that the worlds largest economy was just emerging from lockdown, with American consumers still wary of returning to the nations stores and businesses unsure of their investment plans. German imports showed a similar pattern, with purchases from China up 20% compared with June 2019, and purchases from the U.S. down 17.4%. Globally, trade flows rose by 7.6% in June, following a decline of 1.1% in May and 12.3% in April. The rebound in trade as the second quarter drew to a close, together with more-recent indications from seaborne freight volumes and export orders reported by manufacturers, suggests a pickup in trade flows is likely in the third quarter. As a result, the Geneva-based World Trade Organization said trade volumes will likely fall by 13% this year compared with 2019, in line with the more optimistic of the two scenarios it forecast for the year. Earlier, it had warned trade flows could fall by a third, the largest drop since the 1930s. There are some signs that trade flows are rebounding rapidly. On Tuesday, a measure of container traffic compiled by Germanys Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics recorded a sharp rise in July, to a level not far below that seen a year earlier. Container throughput is approaching the level reached before the corona crisis, said Torsten Schmidt, economic director at the Leibniz Institute. The recovery is affecting more and more regions. But there are also signs that the recovery in exports isnt reaching every corner of the global economy. U.S. and German manufacturers responding to a survey of purchasing managers last week reported a jump in export orders in August, with the former seeing the largest rise since September 2014. By contrast, French and Japanese manufacturers reported a drop in new orders. And there are other signs that it will take time for trade flows to return to their pre-pandemic levels. One challenge is capacity. Businesses prefer to send smaller, high-value items by air when they are selling to customers who are far away, while air travel is also essential to make up for shortages as a result of delays in shipping by sea. But many aircraft remain grounded in response to the sharp fall in air travel as restrictions on the movement of people across borders remain in place, and even those who can move freely are reluctant to do so. Xeneta, a company that offers data and a platform for booking freight to large consumer companies, estimates that seagoing capacity is still 10% down on pre-pandemic levels, reflecting still-weak demand. There are still a lot of idle vessels and capacity to be moved around, said Patrik Berglund, Xenetas chief executive officer. When they get orders from customers, they will put those vessels back on the water. A Welland man who sent a mother of three children a series of text messages that met the legal definition of child pornography has been sentenced to 90 days behind bars. Court heard Jason Kimberley began corresponding with the woman in January 2017 through the dating website Plenty of Fish. On Dec. 25, 2017, he sent the woman a sequence of texts suggesting he wanted to institute an everyone naked day, which would include her prepubescent children. He said nakedness was beautiful, and described sexual acts involving the children. Defence lawyer Mark Evans said his client was substantially under the influence of alcohol during the exchanges and does not recall the content of the conversation. Judge Joseph Nadel in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines Wednesday rejected the idea that the mans lack of inhibition was due to alcohol as he was able to exhibit fine motor control at the time due to the fact he was able to text. Evans, who had asked the judge to impose a conditional sentence, said the offences were out of character for his client and that the mans family was shocked by his arrest. Despite their shock, his family offered glowing reviews of him as a parent. In my view a conditional sentence is insufficiently punitive and insufficiently denunciatory, the judge said. Controlling courts have directed that a sentence of actual incarceration is almost invariably required for this kind of offence. The 43-year-old man had no prior criminal record and adamantly denied having any sexually deviant interests. The judge did not accept the offenders self-assessment. The content of his writings belies his denial of any deviant thinking, he said. His claim of self-loathing, however, may be an indication of an awareness of his penchant for perversion. Given his lack of counselling or treatment and the absence of any report from a counsellor or psychologist or psychiatrist that, of course, is simply a speculation on my part. The mother, in a victim impact statement, said the texts had a profound, destructive and continuing impact on her. Kimberley was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of child pornography in early 2018, following a three-month investigation by Niagara Regional Police into the sexual exploitation of children. Rescue workers in Afghanistan searched Wednesday for survivors of flash floods that killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 500 houses in a city north of the capital Kabul, officials said. Afghanistan's disaster management ministry said another 100 people had been injured when torrential overnight rains fuelled floods that ravaged the city of Charikar, north of the capital Kabul. Troops pulled dozens from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Charikar, capital of Parwan province, after it was hit by heavy rain overnight. Officials and witnesses said many children were among the dead. Mohamed Qasim, a 45-year-old farmer from the city, told AFP that 11 members of his family were killed in the floods. Piles of rocks from destroyed buildings were scattered across the city, with roads blocked by mud and debris, and cars flipped on their side. More than 500 houses destroyed Waheeda Shahkar, spokeswoman to the Parwan governor, said that more than 500 houses had been destroyed. In parts of the city, anxious residents gathered to see if any relatives would be pulled from the wreckages by rescue workers using heavy machinery. Many people stood on rooftops as rain continued to lash the city, holding on to their salvaged belongings. Emergency relief ordered "I was alone when the flood hit. I grabbed the window and was holding it for two hours until the neighbours came to rescue me," said 70-year-old Hamida. "I lost everything, my jewellery, money and all my property." Flash floods were also reported in other provinces including Nangarhar, Panjshir, Wardak, Loghar, Paktika and Kapisa but there were no reports of casualties, the ministry of disaster management said. President Ashraf Ghani had ordered emergency relief to be sent to Charikar, the presidential palace said in a statement. Torrential downpours and flash floods kill scores of people annually in Afghanistan. Many poorly built homes, mostly in rural areas, are at risk of collapse during the rains in the impoverished country. Story continues Earlier this month, 16 people, including 15 children, were killed and dozens of houses were destroyed when flash floods ravaged a village in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Heavy monsoon rains have also wrought havoc on neighbouring Pakistan, with authorities in the southern city of Karachi reporting 30 deaths over the past three weeks from flood-related incidents, including injuries from collapsed buildings, drownings and electrocutions. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) (Newser) Californias popular Squaw Valley Ski Resort will change its name because the word "squaw" is a derogatory term for Native American women, officials announced Tuesday. The site was the scene of the 1960 Winter Olympics. The decision was reached after consulting with local Native American groups and extensive research into the etymology and history of the term "squaw," said Ron Cohen, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. The word "squaw," derived from the Algonquin language, may have once simply meant "woman." But over generations, the word morphed into a misogynist and racist term to disparage indigenous women, the AP reports. story continues below "While we love our local history and the memories we all associate with this place as it has been named for so long, we are confronted with the overwhelming evidence that the term squaw' is considered offensive," Cohen said. Work to find a new name will start immediately and is expected to be announced next year, he said. When settlers arrived in the 1850s in the area where the Sierra Nevada resort is now located, they first saw only Native American women working in a meadow. The land near Lake Tahoe was believed to have been given the name Squaw Valley by those early settlers. Regional California tribes have asked for the name of the resort to be changed numerous times over the years, with little success before now. (Read more Squaw Valley stories.) Major companies are now finding themselves in the crossfire of US-China tensions, photo Le Toan Some experts last week expressed quiet confidence that the ongoing United States-China war of words is being toned down, especially on the Chinese side, as leaders have one eye on the US presidential election that will take place in November. President Donald Trump has made somewhat of a target of China as he bids for a second term in the White House, but Chinas recent restraint seems to have been planned to appeal to Trumps challenger at the polls, former vice president Joe Biden, demonstrating to him that China believes problems can be ironed out. There are concerns from Chinese officials that, while Biden is not as volatile as Trump, he could also continue the path of harsh sanctions and other measures against China on trade, technology, and more, according to the New York Times last week. Theres still a possibility that tensions could become even more profound and more severe in the future under a Democratic administration, said Shi Yinhong, director of the Center on American Studies at Renmin University. However, currently, despite the diplomatic chess match, tensions continue to affect issues from defence and trade to monetary policy and the all-encompassing coronavirus pandemic. The US and China delayed the review of their Phase 1 trade deal initially set for just over a week ago, with the reason involving the conflict of schedules as well as the need to allow time for more Chinese purchases of US exports, in order to improve the political optics of the review. Chinas imports of US farm and manufactured goods, energy, and services are well behind the pace said to be required to meet the first-year target of increasing $77 billion over 2017 purchases. But as Chinas economy kicked on from the COVID-19 lockdowns earlier this year, purchases have increased. A fortnight ago, the US Department of Agriculture reported the sale of 126,000 tonnes of soybeans to China, marking the eighth consecutive weekday with large sales to Chinese buyers. US oil traders, shipbrokers, and Chinese importers also told Reuters that Chinese state-owned oil firms have tentatively booked tankers to carry at least 20 million barrels of US crude for the rest of August and September, indicating an increase in energy purchases. No new date for the compliance review between US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He has yet been agreed, Reuters said. Wider ramifications However, postponing the US-China trade deal review may not be a bad thing, an analyst told CNBC last week. I think its in the interest of the two parties to have a little more time, said David Dollar, senior fellow at the US research group Brookings Institution. China does seem to be stepping up their soybean and energy purchases, so if you review right now, objectively its not very good. Give it a little bit more time, itll probably look somewhat better. It is not in Trumps interest to have a review where things are not going well, as he wants this to look like a foreign policy victory, Dollar added. The tit-for-tat quarreling between the two powerful nations is of course continuing to send shockwaves worldwide, causing other countries and their businesses to adapt and seek new solutions, and to protect themselves from whatever the outcome may ultimately entail. The two regions most affected seem to be the European Union and Southeast Asia, with interesting new developments this year leading to a repositioning of countries and regions on the globes power list. While the pandemic has seriously impacted the economies of Southeast Asia, nations like Vietnam have so far been able to avoid the worst and may come out of 2020 in a much better position than others. Thailand in particular has been devastated by the near-eradication of tourism and its media has noted the positives that neighbouring Vietnam can offer to businesses attempting to expand and move away from the US-China debacle. The Bangkok Post last week reported that Vietnam is benefiting from China+1 strategies as rising wages on the mainland and US-China tensions accelerate a trend towards relocation. Multinationals including Apple, Samsung, and Nintendo have moved some capacity from China to Vietnam, while major export clusters for electronic equipment and textiles have emerged in Vietnam to attract global manufacturers, and industrial zones are booming, it said. The report also showed admiration for the advantages Vietnams garment sector can offer to other nations, saying that growing exports of clothing labelled Made in Vietnam could also benefit related factories in Cambodia and Bangladesh the worlds second-largest apparel exporter after China. Asia is still the single largest apparel sourcing base for Western fashion brands. They have diversified sourcing away from China but their orders have largely been filled by other Asian countries mainly to the benefit of Bangladesh, Vietnam, and elsewhere in the ASEAN, the report explained. Expansion shake-up The US-China issues could also see more tie-ins between Southeast Asia and the EU. The region is already the EUs third-largest international trading partner after the US and China, and the new EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement is demonstrating that the Europeans see increased prospects in Southeast Asia. Observers note that the deal also has the potential to be a catalyst for fresh EU-ASEAN talks. Vietnams major challenges, in the meantime, lie in port and transport infrastructure that are still less developed than regional peers, while stable electricity supply is set to be the next growing issue. Also, the Bangkok Post noted, highly-skilled workers are in short supply in Vietnam, though this opens up chances for higher-skilled personnel from nearby countries including Thailand to assist Vietnams industries in moving up the global value chain. Another prominent country that has illustrated lessening reliance in China is Japan. As noted extensively in 2020, a rising number of Japanese investors are expanding business in Southeast Asia and scaling down operations in China due to escalating tensions between this nation and the US, a movement that has roots back in 2019. The Japan External Trade Organization last month published a list of 30 Japanese companies poised to receive subsidies from its government to move production facilities out of China, and 15 of them eye Vietnam as their favoured destination. Even before the pandemic surfaced, the organisation cited that 40 per cent of enterprises surveyed at the end of last year were already considering expansion plans for Vietnam, which was up 5.5 per cent from the previous year. China is also facing pressures from the States in the tech sector. President Trump has ordered the Chinese owner of TikTok, ByteDance, to sell its US assets after a review of the national security dangers posed by the popular music video app. President Trump has been piling pressure on other Chinese-owned companies, and earlier this month made moves to ban WeChat, a well-known social networking and mobile payment app developed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. Meanwhile, just over a week ago, President Trump expressed satisfaction at actions he has taken against Huawei Technologies, including trying to persuade other countries to avoid the Chinese groups products. Asked at a recent conference whether there were other China-owned groups he was considering a ban on, such as Alibaba, President Trump replied, Well, were looking at other things, yes. Inklings at changes proposed by the Trump administration that could trigger the delisting of Chinese companies on US stock exchanges are also keeping markets on edge, as the US moves ever closer to the pivotal 2020 election. Wang Yi kicks off crucial Europe trip Global Times By GT staff reporters Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/25 22:38:40 Last Updated: 2020/8/25 21:23:40 Visit vital for China-Italy ties, expansion of trade: experts Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi kicked off a week-long visit to Europe on Tuesday, his first overseas trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Italy as his first stop. Experts said that the high-level exchange will strengthen bilateral political trust and pave the way for 5G cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio will meet Wang at Villa Madama on Tuesday, and the two will hold a joint press conference after the meeting. Analysts said the timely tour could be vital for both China and Italy, especially when the US' unilateralist approach has become a major barrier to the global economic recovery, and amid an intensified US crackdown on Chinese technology firms such as Huawei and TikTok. The visit of Wang to Italy is very significant and a concrete sign of the importance of relations between China and Italy, Paolo Bazzoni, chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC), told the Global Times on Tuesday. Established in 1991, the CICC had more than 500 members as of 2020, and it is the only business organization representing the Italian business community that is both recognized by the Italian Government and China. "This visit also marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations in a year that saw all forecast events canceled or postponed. The Italian Government and Embassy of Italy in China worked to facilitate and organize this trip at a moment that sees China leading toward a steady recovery," Bazzoni said. Bilateral trade hit a record high of $54.2 billion in 2018. China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, while Italy is China's fifth-largest within the EU, according to a report by the Xinhua News Agency. Bazzoni added that even though bilateral trade faced great difficulty during the lockdown, business never stopped this year. "The discussion is expected to touch on the status of the political relationship between the two countries, and how to improve trade, both imports and exports," Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Issues involving Huawei, which is now a world focus, could be included in the discussions, Ma Jihua, a veteran industry analyst, told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that the visit may not yield any "immediate result" due to the complexity of the issue. Previously, media reports said Italy is considering excluding the Chinese tech giant from the construction of its 5G network. In addition, according to Reuters, Telecom Italia has excluded Huawei from a tender for 5G equipment for core networks it is preparing to build in Italy and Brazil. "From a purely technical point of view, Huawei is superior to other suppliers. This is what my contacts in the telecom industry tell me, with almost no exceptions," Geraci, who is also an economist and former telecom engineer said, adding that this is also empirically confirmed by the current heated debate in Europe. If Nokia or Ericsson were the absolute best, no one in Europe would even consider purchasing Huawei equipment. The dilemma lies between using a supplier that is very good but comes from a foreign country or choosing something of a lower quality but that belongs to the European family, according to Geraci. "Then, of course, there are geopolitical issues between the US and China, which the media portrays as national security issues, but it really is a commercial dispute between a country that is emerging and a country that is losing economic dominance," Geraci noted. However, although the issue of Huawei may not be settled immediately, Wang's visit, which aims to "control damage" and could be viewed as "pushback" after the US intensified its pressure on European countries over their decisions on Huawei, will no doubt pave the way for the Chinese tech giant's operations in the region, Ma said. People familiar with the matter told the Global Times that Huawei's commitment in Italy has not altered - it quietly donated medical supplies and electronic devices to support remote medical diagnosis demands during the pandemic. Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday that issues such as cooperation under the BRI will also be on the agenda. "Italy needs China's investment as its economy is yet to recover from the pandemic, particularly in infrastructure and economic exchanges, and the two are set to push forward the hard-won Belt and Road agenda," Cui said. Italy was the first of the G7 nations to join the China-proposed BRI. Bazzoni said he expected the visit could enhance the conditions of bilateral trade in areas that could develop much faster, such as Italian mechanical engineering and machinery products, pharmaceutical goods, and quality retail items. Wang, who is also the foreign minister, will also visit the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany during his tour. The week-long visit has been welcomed by the relevant countries and demonstrates that both sides attach great importance to China-Europe relations, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a regular press briefing on Monday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Advertisement Residents of New York Citys Upper West Side are threatening to sue the city after thousands of homeless people were placed in luxury hotels in the neighborhood due to the coronavirus crisis. At the moment more than 13,000 homeless people are being housed in 139 hotels across the Big Apple, including three luxury hotels The Belleclaire, The Lucerne and The Belnord on the Upper West Side. But residents of the upscale neighborhood complain that the move-in of the vagrants has brought with it increased crime, random violence, drugs, public urination and open prostitution. Some locals claim sex offenders have also moved into the streets. Residents have hired an attorney to sue the city to transfer the homeless back into shelters where they can get help. Residents of New York Citys Upper West Side are considering suing the city after hordes of homeless people were placed in luxury hotels in the neighborhood due to the coronavirus crisis Residents have hired an attorney to sue the city to transfer the homeless back into shelters where they can get help At the moment more than 13,000 homeless people are being housed in 139 hotels across the Big Apple, including three luxury hotels The Belleclaire, The Lucerne and the Belnord on the Upper West Side. An unlawful encampment pictured on the Upper West Side on Broadway Residents of the upscale neighborhood complain that the move-in of the vagrants has brought with it increased crime, random violence, drugs, public urination and open prostitution A homeless encampment pictured above along Broadway this week This user shared video saying that public urination and defacation has become a new norm for locals on the Upper West Side On Monday a Zoom meeting was held between the community board, residents and homeless advocates about keeping the streets safe. About 1,100 people joined that emergency meeting. 'What the city has to do legally is house this vulnerable population in proper shelters, where they will get support and supervision and social services they will need,' attorney Randy Mastro, who represents the West Side Community Organization, said to ABC7. Mastro is an attorney and former Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff under Rudy Giuliani. Its not clear when the suit against the city and Mayor Bill De Blasio would be filed by Mastro said it would be 'soon', according to Our Town. 'We are calling on the de Blasio administration to clear up this mess of its own making,' Mastro said to the New York Post. DailyMail.com has reached out to the West Side Community Organization for comment on the lawsuit. 'Last night the community came together at the CB7 board meeting to address significant safety concerns to our children and neighborhood. We will not turn a blind eye to what is happening to the UWS or ignore the risk of sexual assault. More news in the coming week,' the group tweeted Tuesday evening. Upper West Side residents threatened to sue Mayor Bill de Blasio if he doesn't move 13,000 homeless people out of the neighborhood On Monday a Zoom meeting was held between community board, residents and homeless advocates about keeping the streets safe. About 1,100 joined that emergency meeting The Guardian Angels perform a night patrol of the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, amid growing concerns about hundreds of homeless recently moved into hotels by the city on August 10 A sign of support is written in chalk on the sidewalk on the Upper West Side in the Manhattan to support the move-in of the homeless population to the neighborhood Local Michelle Benvenisti said she was walking home on the Upper West Side last Saturday night when someone started heckling her. She claimed the man tried to follow her into her home then loitered outside for several hours. 'Completely unnerving that I have purchased a sound alarm for keychain, and I'm signing up for self-defense. Changing the way I do every day activities,' Benvenisti said. Upper West Side resident Alison Morpurgo said a homeless man grabbed her a few weeks ago trying to steal her phone. 'When they're not wearing masks, congregating, sleeping on the street or sharing bottles, it's hard to see how that's helpful. What was the goal of that?' Morpurgo said. Locals have joined social media groups including the Twitter page 'Save the Upper West Side' and Facebook group 'Upper West Siders for Safer Streets', which boasts over 11,000 followers. Local Michelle Benvenisti said she was walking home on the Upper West Side last Saturday night when someone started heckling her. She claimed the man tried to follow her into her home then loitered outside for several hours 'Completely unnerving that I have purchased a sound alarm for keychain, and I'm signing up for self-defense. Changing the way I do every day activities,' Benvenisti said. The man who followed her pictured above On both pages users post stark photos of the homeless population theyve found sleeping in streets and urinating in public, and share their concerns. Still, the city stands by the decision to move homeless New Yorkers to 139 struggling private hotels across the city in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prevent breakouts at shelters. The effort is being mostly paid for by FEMA, but 25 percent of it is coming from the city's shrinking budget. It brings some cash to the struggling hotels which were decimated by the pandemic. Through the program, they take $175 per person, per night which - with more than 13,000 homeless currently being housed in hotels - is more than $2.275million, according to anonymous city sources who have been quoted since May. A man rests on a park bench on the Upper West Side in the Manhattan borough of New York City on August 10 The city stands by the decision to move homeless New Yorkers to 139 struggling private hotels across the city in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prevent breakouts at shelters In early August Mayor Bill De Blasio said moving the homeless wasnt a permanent strategy and the city is planning to purchase buildings to urn them into affordable housing Despite the complaints and the exorbitant bills, the city is standing by the decision. 'We know that by moving into hotels, we were able to save lives,' Erin Drinkwater from the Department of Social Services said. 'New Yorkers experiencing homelessness are our neighbors - and the notion that they are not welcome in some neighborhoods for any reason is an affront to basic decency,' The Department of Homeless Services said in a statement. In early August Mayor Bill De Blasio said moving the homeless wasnt a permanent plan and the city is planning to purchase buildings to urn them into affordable housing. 'We're now starting the process of reducing the reliance on hotels,' de Blasio said at a press conference. 'That's the big plan is make sure we can start to get people out of those hotels, relieve some of the pressure on those communities.' De Blasio offered no details on how quickly the program would be wound down. He had recently said that the program would continue for 'six months-ish.' Taliban stage deadly bomb attack on Afghan commandos, civilians Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 10:31 AM At least three people have been killed and dozens of others injured in a truck bomb attack near a military base in Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh. The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement that 41 people, including civilians, had been injured in the truck bomb explosion, which occurred early on Tuesday morning. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, saying on Twitter they had attacked commando units. According to the ministry, the attack killed two members of the commando force and wounded six others, while the rest of the casualties were civilians. The blast came even as Taliban representatives visited Pakistan to discuss a promise to open talks with the Afghan government. According to Afghan official data, the Taliban have increased their bombings and other assaults by 70 percent since they signed a "peace" deal with the United States in February. Under that agreement, the US will withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, and the Taliban will refrain from attacking international occupying forces. The militants have not been required to make a pledge to avoid attacking Afghan forces and civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In a shocking incident, two brothers committed suicide by hanging on Wednesday inside their jewellery shop in Chandni Chowk area of the national capital. The police recovered a suicide note which states financial difficulties as the reason for taking the extreme step. The deceased has been identified as Ankit Gupta (47) years and Arpit Gupta (42). In the afternoon, the bodies of the two brothers were found hanging from the gutter with the help of a dhoti in their factory on the third floor. The staff created a ruckus when they saw the bodies. The police reached the spot as soon as they were informed. The suicide note, mentions that both were facing worsening economic situation. According to the family, both the brothers had taken a loan of Rs 60-70 lakh from a financier. Both the financier and his bouncer were harassing the brothers and both of them took the extreme step under this pressure. The police have started investigating the case and sent the bodies of both to the mortuary for postmortem. According to the police, Ankit and Arpit lived with the family in Sitaram Bazaar, Hauz Kaji area. Ankit is survived by his wife and two children while one brother lives in Kalkaji area. Arpit was unmarried. Ankit and Arpit's jewellery shop is on the first, second and third floors of Maliwada in Chandni Chowk. There is a shop by the name of Krishna Jewelers. On the first floor, his father Adeshwar also built a property dealing office. His father claimed that in the recent past, both sons had a loss in business, so they took a big loan from a financier of the area at a higher interest. When the lockdown was imposed, their business suffered a loss and meanwhile, the financier started demanding his money from both the brothers. They asked time to return the money but the bouncer of the financier used to threaten them both. Both of them were badly disturbed by this. On Wednesday afternoon, at around three o'clock an employee went up and saw that Ankit and Arpit were hanging from the noose. He immediately reported this to Adeshwar, who was present in his office on the first floor. The news spread like fire in the entire area. A large crowd of businessmen gathered in front of his shop. There was a lot of anger among businessmen regarding the incident. The police took the bodies after completing the formalities. The police is investigating the matter after interrogating the family. EDWARDSVILLE A judge has issued a search warrant for a building at 211 E. Elm St., Alton, which is suspected of containing asbestos. The order from Circuit Judge Christopher P. Threlkeld comes after state officials filed suit to force an owner of a building in Alton to allow an inspection of the premises for asbestos, a hazardous pollutant. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency filed suit against the owner, Jack Cox, claiming Cox and the people who work for him will not allow a state inspector in the building. Exposure to asbestos causes cancers and other diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the lungs that causes painful death. Its only known cause is exposure to asbestos. The IEPA filed suit after an Alton building inspector notified the agency that Cox was conducting renovation work within the building without obtaining the necessary city permits. An IEPA inspector, Peter J. Brusky, states in a court document that he called Cox to arrange for an inspection, according to federal regulations. Brusky asked defendant Cox whether an asbestos inspection had been conducted. Cox refused to answer and stated if inspector Brusky wanted to discuss the renovation work, he would need to come talk face-to-face, according to the document. The state inspector went to the site on Aug. 20 and asked to speak to the owner, Cox. After speaking with defendant Cox and inspector Brusky on a video call, the worker refused inspector Brusky access to the building located at the site, and the workers continued their renovation work inside, the document states. Cox could not be reached for comment. The federal regulations are called The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The judge ordered the inspection according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. The act requires a visual inspection, photographic and video documentation of the property, sampling of materials in the building, review of records and an interview with Cox and the workers. BGR Our Sun isnt quite as old as other stars out there. However, scientists are already trying to pinpoint exactly when the Sun will die. Of course, it isnt as simple as throwing out a date. After all, were working with a massive ball of energy that weve still barely managed to scratch the surface of The post Scientists think they figured out when the Sun will explode and kill us all appeared first on BGR. On Night 1 of the G.O.P. convention, no speaker mentioned Jacob Blake, a Black man who had been shot in the back on Sunday by police officers in Kenosha, Wis., after trying to break up a fight. Nor did anyone mention, say, the countrys gaping racial wealth gap, or the disproportionate impact of pollution on Black communities. Instead, many Republican speakers assailed the protesters fighting racial injustice in cities across the country, portraying them as violent and extreme and arguing that as president, Mr. Biden would encourage them to run amok. Moments after Ms. Haleys address, Donald Trump Jr. took her argument a step further. The other party is attacking the very principles on which our nation was founded, he said, accusing Democrats of trying to cancel the nations founders. He went on to paint a gruesome picture of what a Biden presidency would mean for America, arguing that under a Democratic administration, 911 calls would go to voice mail. That message that Democrats prefer anarchy over order, and that they are a threat to the safety of the country has come to define President Trumps re-election campaign. Its a message rife with racial undertones, and were likely to hear a lot more of it as the Republican convention continues this week. But will it resonate? In an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted just before the D.N.C., voters were asked to name one or two top issues theyd be thinking about when they cast their ballots in the November election. Just 15 percent mentioned crime. They were more likely to name the economy (51 percent), uniting the country (43 percent), strong leadership (34 percent), health care (29 percent) and the coronavirus (27 percent). Haiti - Politic : The Haitian Federation of the Diaspora very satisfied with its meeting with the MHAVE... Tuesday August 25 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Louis Gonzague E. Day Minister of the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) participated in a working meeting by videoconference with the Haitian Federation of the Diaspora and Representatives of organizations that compound. The purpose of this meeting was to define the partnership relations between the MHAVE and the Haitian Federation of the Diaspora. Points discussed : Define the links, contributions and relationships between Haitians living abroad and Haiti Recognize the barriers to integrating Haitians living abroad, even naturalized and / or non-naturalized in the various host countries Recognize the legal and institutional constraints for welcoming Haitians wishing to return to Haiti Determine the actions to be taken to initiate a constructive dialogue between the Haitian State and the diaspora, through its representative bodies and beyond the dialogue relating to the measures / or structures to be created to invite the diaspora in a "Konbit" of recovery and revaluation of the country's resources. Respect the differences and disparities of Haitian groups and communities in Haiti and elsewhere in order to guarantee ideal representativeness, adequately supporting our motto and our desire to regain our strength in union. This friendly meeting and rich in exchanges went well, the participants were satisfied and said that it was in their opinion "a historic meeting to be highlighted in the annals of the Haitian Federation of the Diaspora." At the end of this meeting, Yannick Martin, President of the "Haitian Federation of the Diaspora" said she was satisfied and stressed that the Federation had been waiting for such a moment for 12 years. For her part, Mrs. Myrtha Desulme (Societe Haiti-Jamaica) mentioned that this meeting was similar to the Congress of Arcahaie. A next meeting is scheduled in 15 days, Minister Day has proposed two meetings per month for a better coordination of actions between the Federation and the MHAVE. HL/ HaitiLibre By Devasis Chattopadhyay. Still, when people-at-large i.e. the Public, ask me about my profession - as to what do I do for my living? And I answer that, I am a PR Professional. They mostly look at me quizzically. Not very sure of how to place my profession. You do Advertising? Sales? Marketing? Publicity? They ask back. Even evolved and experienced service-holders or businessmen, mostly, do not comprehend what PR is, and, what impact it could possibly create. In fact, during current pandemic I have come across a huge number of such examples. Also read: How PR will change in the post COVID 19 world : Bhaskar Majumdar Every time I face such situation, I start thinking of what does my profession lack? Marketing and Advertising are perceived by everyone as directly tied to products and services of an organisation - sales, revenue, and profit. The three elements most dear to any management world over. Whereas, PR and Corporate Communications are perceived, in most enterprises, even today, as nice to have - overhead expenses. Perceived to be not directly tied to sales, revenue, and profit. Mostly dispensable while the organisation is going through a rough-patch or cost-cutting drive. That is exactly happening currently. PR budgets are getting slashed and consultancies are put on notice. This is where the aberration starts creeping in. The centre-of-gravity for any organization is 'money'. The departments and functions that have the most impact on monies or Profit are the ones that are important. They are perceived as Profit-Centres. Though, in my opinion, PR plays a very important role within the gambit of money-making or profitability of any organisation but, we as PR Professionals have generally failed to elucidate the effectivity of our profession with demonstrated examples to the top management of the organisations. As a result, we are not perceived as one of the Profit Centres but as a Cost Centre. While Marketing & Advertising with their various business-modelling and case studies have successfully placed themselves at the core of the Brand Building activity of all organisations, we the PR professionals have repeatedly failed to encash, because of the absence of demonstrated ROI business-modelling, feasibility, as well as case-studies, that we contribute to the core element of any organisation - Reputation. We have failed to convey that PR is THE Tool for managing the Reputation which directly impacts the stock price and there by the goodwill of the organisation. What, advertising and marketing professionals have repeatedly done are to measure each and every impact of their creativity - through campaign measurement, audience research, focus-group-studies, soft-launch measurementso on and so forth. And show the ROI they bring in on to the table. We, the PR Professionals, have successfully avoided doing that so far. Advertising folks, wearing their creative hats, claim that they can measure and evaluate results achieved from each of their campaigns. The Board of Directors love them because that brings in the element of certainty. The pandemic has proven, the only way that PR can only claim its rightful space, a seat on the BOARD, is by driving initiatives that are critical to the success of the organization, with demonstrated abilities. With Social and Digital media becoming all encompassing. With the growth of Civil-Society, Citizen-Reporters and, with all pervasive growth of Public Opinion, the time has come for PR / Corporate Communication to drive 'conversations' with the various stakeholders of an organisation, including the consumers, vigorously with demonstrated ability. This is only because PR has the wherewithal which the other tools of Communications do not have. The power of being able to bring in the earned media instead of being paying for the media to convey the message as well as influencing public opinion. We need to demonstrate and document that ability of ours. Given below is an elaborate case study to reinforce that claim. Case Study: Project Z - A Caring Separation / Organisation ABC* Scenario: In the early months of winter, a couple of years ago, ABC decided to operate its leather garments manufacturing factory situated at a small town in one of India's provinces at a reduced capacity and, to close the loss making unit overtime, if the business situation did not improve due to various reasons including continuous deterioration in market conditions, non-supportive government policies, poor infrastructure and reduced export orders. Objective: ABC asked the PR Consultancy to work on containing the negative media sentiment locally (at the place where the factory was situated) along with the states capital and in Mumbai, which is considered to be Indias financial capital and, where the company has its HQ, as a consequence of this decision as explained in the scenario. The basic purpose was to try and achieve a no-negative impact on ABCs share price. Or, at the least to minimise the volatility. The overarching purpose was to project the image of being a Caring organisation. Research: The initial perception audit carried by the PR Consultancy among media (locally and in the states capital), and immediate non-media stakeholders of ABC revealed a latent disenchantment towards the organisation. This negative perception was accentuated as ABC, in the recent past, did not organise any media connect programme. As a result of it, the affiliation of the organisation with the local milieu was weak. Consequently, it was deduced by the PR Consultancy that the decision to operate the unit at a reduced capacity and, to possibly close the loss-making unit overtime, could adversely impact ABCs organisational image and its share price. Basis the findings, the following four-pillar strategy was developed: 1. Identify media & non-media stakeholders In consultation with ABC, the PR Consultancy decided that the very first task at hand was to identify the active media publications where the factory was situated. Along with, identifying the non-media stakeholders like the local polity, labour unions and their political affiliations, local relevant administrative authorities and bureaucrats because the affirmative opinions of these stakeholders, jointly and severally, were important for the success of the entire communications programme and for positively influencing media sentiments. 2. Convey the organisational story Conveying ABCs story to all stakeholders was also key to the communication strategy. It was emphasised on the messaging that despite the economic and business challenges the company supported the factory and its workforce for over 2 decades. 3. Highlight the offer of a compensation package to the affected workers It was decided that it was important for ABC to highlight its efforts of continuously engaging with all stakeholders to arrive at a mutually acceptable compensation package for the affected workforce. 4. To talk persuasively about the reskilling workshops organised for the affected work force It was also decided that ABC should communicate endeavours undertaken for organising reskilling workshops for the affected workforce as a positive rub off on the brand. Execution: Consequently, a calibrated communication strategy was rolled out targeting and connecting with key stakeholder groups. As an immediate step, a crisis and communications advisory core team, available 24x7, comprising senior leadership of ABC and PR consultancy was formed, to monitor the developments at the factory / unit location primarily, and to watch out for any state-level or national crisis fall-out and also to engage with media and non-media stakeholders on a regular basis. The team comprised business and communications strategists, human resource specialists, experts on media relations and public advocacy experts. The main focus was on local and regional media. Together with ABC the PR Consultancy reached out to over 35 media publications in print, online and electronic. Borrowing a phrase from sports, the engagement was - man-to-man marking - tapping every journalist, who wrote on the organization and the brand. The core team conducted a media messaging and media training workshop for the senior management personnel of ABC at the factory location including creating FAQ document, scenario planning, media protocol etc. so that at any given point of time the spokespeople can communicate ABCs story effectively to the media. Furthermore, daily tracking of print, online and electronic media was activated to keep track of and to take appropriate action, if need be, on the views expressed in the media and also to proactively deliver messages when necessary. PR Consultancy representatives set up interactions with all the media editors and non-media stakeholders. The idea was to showcase the economic challenges faced by ABC in keeping the unit operational for nearly over 2 decades, its commitment to support the affected workers and its efforts to arrive at a mutually acceptable compensation package through dialogue with all stakeholders. Periodic press announcements were made to the media to make them aware of the developments proactively. The targeted and focused engagement with media and non-media stakeholders paid off and when the severance / compensation package was announced by ABC it was well-received by the workforce and consequently by other stakeholders including the media. It was effectively communicated that ABC paid the work force a compensation package that was more than what was statutorily stipulated. A structured and calibrated PR programme with all stakeholders lead to the peaceful closure of the factory. It was seen as a caring separation for over 1000 workforce the unit had. As was planned, after the compensation package was disbursed, the affected workers were directed to various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) locally, to receive re-skilling orientation programmes. The interested members of the workers received reskilling training at the cost provided by ABC to the NGOs. The workers benefited from the reskilling workshops. Local media wrote about it, too. In Mumbai or in the states capital, there were no media reports discussing the closure. Locally, at the factory site, though the media was apprehensive about the law and order situation and the economic impact of the separation, but they understood the business compulsion of ABC and respected that. ABCs share price never got impacted negatively, because of this closure and the separations. Devasis Chattopadhyay is a PR professional, a columnist, and an author. In Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) HCM City Ho Chi Minh Citys authorities plan to provide another support package for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at a recent meeting, Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said the city is considering another support package, especially for enterprises that have suspended operations due to the impact of the outbreak. The city will issue specific policies to help enterprises or industries heavily affected such as travel, restaurants, hotels, and transport and tourism-related services, he said. More than 21,000 businesses in the city have suspended operations and laid off a large number of employees, said Phong. In March, HCM City authorities approved a support package targeting poor families and 600,000 workers and teachers at private pre-schools who lost their jobs. By the end of June, HCM City had provided financial support worth a total of 560 billion VND (24.15 million USD) to more than 510,000 out of a total of 542,000 people affected by the pandemic. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had also approved a relief package worth over 62 trillion VND (2.67 billion USD) to benefit around 20 million people nationwide, with a focus on workers who lost jobs and incomes and businesses affected by the pandemic. According to the citys authorities, 90 percent of 8,400 enterprises facing difficulties are eligible for the Governments support package. Ant Group was launched in 2004 as part of Jack Ma's tech business Alibaba. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images Chinas dominant mobile payments firm, Ant Group, has unveiled plans for a dual-listing stock market debut in Hong Kong and on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's Star Market that is on track to become the largest initial public offering (IPO). The financial technology group is seeking to go public in a move that could value it at $225bn (171bn). Ant Group could raise as much as 30bn with the mammoth deal expected to overtake the record 25.6bn raised in Saudi Aramcos IPO in 2019. While, the group has not yet revealed the size of its IPO or a timetable, it has been suggested the listing could take place in October, with the firm seeking up to 15% of a $200bn to $300bn valuation. The group said it would use the funds raised to further pursue its vision to digitalise the service industry, in its stock market filing. The group provided no reason for choosing the Hong Kong and Shanghai's Star board listing, but the announcement comes at a time of rising geopolitical tensions between China and the US amid president Donald Trumps crack down on Chinese firms in America. READ MORE: Alibaba tells Trump it supports American businesses Trump recently increased pressure on Chinese tech firms in the US, with video-sharing app TikTok announcing earlier in the week it would sue the Trump administration over a ban, after the president signed two executive orders to ban TikTok and messaging platform WeChat. In August, Trump issued an executive order that gives TikToks owner ByteDance 90 days to divest the US operation of TikTok; it has until 12 November. The US accused the controversial video-sharing app of sharing data of American users with the Chinese government, TikTok denies handing over US data to the Chinese authorities with Beijing blasting the ban as political. In an interview with Fox News, the president raised the possibility of decoupling from China a major purchaser of US goods stating that the US was not obliged to do business with the country. Story continues Meanwhile, in June US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said that a decoupling could happen if US firms were not allowed to compete on a level playing field in China. To ease trade war tensions, China recently agreed to buy at least $200bn worth of American goods and services between 2020 and 2021. The two-way trade between the countries in 2019 was almost $559bn. READ MORE: Microsoft reveals talks to buy TikTok, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand If the floatation is successful, it could open doors for other tech firms to follow suit, especially as Trumps attacks on Chinese firms rage on. Launched in 2004, Ant was founded by Chinas richest man Jack Ma, who also co-founded e-commerce giant Alibaba (BABA), which owns a 33% share in Ant Group. The firm was spun off in 2014 to run Chinese digital payment service Alipay. According to Bloombergs billionaires index, the 55-year-old is the 21st richest person in the world, with an estimated fortune of $53.5bn. Revenues at Ant rose to $10.5bn in the first half of 2020 up almost 40% from a year earlier reporting a $3.2bn profit in the same period. Headquartered in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, Ants services are used by more than 700 million people a month, with 80 million merchants using the services to buy insurance, pay bills and invest in mutual funds. Alipay, which has around one billion users, overtook American rival PayPal (PYPL) as the worlds largest mobile payments provider six years ago. Last year it acquired UK payment firm World First. Trump has been waging a trade war against China since taking office, attacking Beijing on the coronavirus pandemic as well as on technology, military and economic fronts. Ahead of the 3 November elections, the US president who lags behind Democratic opponent Joe Biden in the polls, is campaigning on a stringent anti-China message. 3 pack Zoom Telephonics, Inc. (Zoom) (OTCQB: ZMTP), a leading manufacturer of cable modems and other communications products, is launching a Motorola Whole Home Mesh WiFi System featuring three product variants: MH7022 (one router and one satellite), MH7023 (one router and two satellites), and the option of additional coverage with the MH7021(one satellite). Flexible and expandable features make this AC2200 Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System the ultimate WiFi solution for customers seeking more protection and control over their home networks. Upholding the performance and quality that you have come to expect from Motorola, these new products are designed to deliver ultra-fast internet speeds and an uninterrupted connection. Internet security is more important than ever now that a majority of people are working from home, said Phil Stanhope, CTO at Zoom Telephonics. Thats why we have decided to include the basic MotoManage app with the purchase of one of our Whole Home Mesh WiFi products, giving everyone access to basic threat protection and security. The app is available on both the app store and Google Play, and gives users easy configuration and network management with the purchase of their Motorola modem, router, or Whole Home WiFi system. Users can also upgrade to the premium app for $5 per month, or $50 for the whole year, to unlock more advanced security features and parental control benefits like content filters, schedule tracker, time limits, and more. We are focused on giving control back to the consumer; its time to own your own networking equipment, get the WiFi connection youre paying for, and know who is on your network, added Marlana Trombley, Interim CMO at Zoom Telephonics. You can do this with the combination of a Whole Home Mesh WiFi System, one of our award-winning cable modems, and access to our MotoManage app for a money-saving bundling option. Dave Carroll, Executive Director of Strategic Brand Partnerships for Motorola, agrees that this product will provide customers with even more ways to use their home networks in a fast and secure way. Motorola strives to deliver meaningful innovation to everyone and we want to transform the way our consumers discover, share and connect with the world, he explained Now, with MotoManage, there is an extra layer of security and a number of innovative services to help people work and play from home. Be part of the exclusive pricing during pre-sales at Shop.MotoManage.com and join us on our interactive social media channels @ShopMotoManage. New social media channels for this launch include: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopMotoManage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopmotomanage/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/motomanage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/motomanage About Zoom Telephonics Zoom Telephonics, Inc. (Zoom) (OTCQB: ZMTP) designs and manufactures innovative Internet access products that dependably connect people to the information they need and the people they love. Founded in 1977 in Boston, MA, the company now delivers cable modems, routers, and other communications products globally under the Motorola brand. For more information about Zoom and Motorola products, please visit http://www.zoom.net and http://www.motorolanetwork.com and http://www.motomanage.com About Motorola Strategic Brand Partnerships For over 90 years the Motorola brand has been known around the world for high quality, innovative and trusted products. Motorolas Strategic Brand Partnership program seeks to leverage the power of this iconic brand by teaming with dynamic companies who offer unique, high quality products that enrich consumers lives. Strategic brand partners work closely with Motorola engineers while developing and manufacturing their products, ensuring that their products meet the exacting safety, quality, and reliability standards that consumers have come to expect from Motorola. To learn more about Motorola strategic brand partnerships, follow us @ShopMotorola MOTOROLA, the Stylized Motorola Logo and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC, and are used under license. Media Contact: Marlana Trombley, Interim CMO Zoom Telephonics Phone: 203-592-9687 Email: Marlana@zoom.net Victoria has recorded 113 new coronavirus cases and 23 deaths, after four men were arrested overnight during an anti-lockdown protest. The new coronavirus infections reported on Thursday mark the fourth day in a row of cases below 150 - with 149 on Wednesday, 148 on Tuesday and 116 on Monday. The new figures are the lowest daily increase in cases since 74 were reported on July 5 - which was also the last time infections were below 100. Thursday also marks the third-highest daily death toll for Australia after Wednesday's 24 and the record 25 on August 5. Of the new deaths, 22 are linked to outbreaks in aged care. The new fatalities take Victoria's death doll to 485 and the national figure to 572. There are currently 532 Victorians in hospital battling COVID-19, with 29 patients fighting for their lives in intensive care and 11 of those on ventilators. The promising decline in infections comes after a protest in Melbourne's outer south-east was broken up as residents rebelled against the city's strict COVID-19 lockdown rules. Victoria recorded 113 new coronavirus cases and 23 deaths on Thursday. Pictured: A man and a woman in face masks walk through a park in Melbourne The new coronavirus infections reported on Thursday mark the fourth day the daily cases have dropped below 150 Footage shared online showed hundreds of residents walking through the streets of Dandenong on Wednesday afternoon. The recurring protest has been taking place at Dandenong's George Andrews Reserve each afternoon in a blatant breach of health directions, Victoria Police confirmed. Police ordered the protesters to move on at about 5.20pm on Wednesday and threatened the group with pepper spray. But residents claim they were simply out for their one-hour of daily exercise. Victoria Police said they issued nine fines and arrested four men, all from Dandenong, during the protest on Wednesday. 'Four men were arrested after failing to provide identification for breaching the Chief Health Officer's directions,' police said. 'Police are continuing to investigate Wednesday evening's protest activity and will consider issuing penalty notices for anyone else found to be in breach of the directions issued by the Chief Health Officer.' Premier Daniel Andrews said there are 3,308 active coronavirus cases across the state, including 391 in healthcare workers and 1,412 in aged care settings. 'In general terms, though, we've seen some stability come to aged care settings. That is a good thing. But we're by no means - it's by no means over,' he said. Premier Daniel Andrews said there are 3,308 active coronavirus cases across Victoria on Thursday VICTORIA'S COVID-19 NUMBERS FOR AUGUST 27 * 113 new cases * 23 more deaths, taking the state toll to 485 and the national figure to 572 * Latest deaths include one man in his 60s, one woman and four men in their 70s, six women and three men in their 80s and five women and three men in their 90s * 22 of the deaths are linked to aged care * 3308 active cases in Victoria, including 198 in regional areas * 4151 'mystery' cases, an increase of 35 * 532 people are in hospital, with 29 in intensive care and 11 of those are on ventilators * 391 active cases among healthcare workers * 1412 active cases in aged care * 48 active cases in disability facility settings WORKSAFE * 5259 visits to workplaces by WorkSafe inspectors in Victoria since the start of the pandemic, 203 notices issued * Since the end of July, 916 visits and 78 notices RESTRICTIONS * Stage four in metropolitan Melbourne, including an 8pm-5am curfew, 5km travel limit from home, one-hour outdoor exercise, widespread workforce shutdowns including child care * Stage three protocols for regional Victoria Advertisement The new deaths reported on Thursday include a man in his 60s, a woman and four men in their 70s, six women and three men in their 80s and five women and three men in their 90s. The premier also addressed family violence during the coronavirus lockdown, advising victims they are allowed to leave their homes to seek safety. 'Despite the fact we have Stage 4 lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne, Stage 3 in regional Victoria, it's always permissible, always appropriate,' he said. 'If you feel like you need to leave home for your safety, if there's a family violence issue, then of course you're able to do it. 'You're not going to get into any trouble for going and getting the care that you need.' Speaking to the decline in coronavirus infections, Mr Andrews said his government hopes to give Melburnians a 'road map' on what coming out of Stage 4 looks like. 'I appreciate, I know and understand, very deeply, how challenging this is. But this strategy is working,' he said. 'These numbers are coming down. Of course, that shouldn't take away from the pain and the loss that those 23 families today are dealing with. 'And sadly, there will be more tomorrow. That's the nature of this wildly infectious virus.' Residents in Dandenong have been going for walks each afternoon as part of a protest against lockdown Pictured: A woman walks her dog through a park in Melbourne on Wednesday during Stage 4 restrictions Mr Andrews is meanwhile being dragged to the negotiating table over a proposed extension to Victoria's State of Emergency legislation, allowing the retention of ongoing coronavirus restrictions. He wants 12 months but without the support of the state opposition, may have to compromise to satisfy at least four crossbench MPs for it to pass. Prominent crossbencher Fiona Patten wants the emergency powers extended by no more than six months and a cross-party committee to oversee the provisions. The current pandemic emergency declaration is due to expire on September 13 after a maximum six extensions. Mr Andrews stressed the proposed extension did not mean stage four restrictions for another year and rules would only remain 'for so long as it is necessary'. On Thursday, the premier said he was having 'productive' conversations with the crossbench. 'When we get an outcome - and I'm very confident that we will - one that both protects public health, acknowledges that we can't go from Stage 4 to Stage 0 and have no rules at all,' he said. 'You want to open up, that's exactly what we want to do, you have to have a framework, a structure.' Mr Andrews added his state could not open up with 100 new coronavirus infections each day. A woman walks through an empty street in Melbourne's CBD during lockdown on Tuesday Pictured: Residents in Dandenong walk together during the week The protest on Wednesday comes after crowds gathered on Monday and Tuesday for a similar event. In a video filmed on Tuesday, police were seen shadowing dozens of people as they walk along a busy street. 'Let the Nazis do their work,' someone is heard shouting as police cars appear around them. Officers then march down the middle of the road and shout at the people to stay off the road. 'You get off the f**king road,' they respond. 'Youse are looking for it. Youse are dogs.' A man is heard commentating as he conducts his hour-long walk within the allowed 5km radius of his home. 'People need to wake up. This is what we're dealing with here,' he says. Victoria Police said they issued nine fines and arrested four men, all from Dandenong, during the protest on Wednesday Residents can be heard booing police as they stop to question sections of the crowd. 'We pay them to follow us walk ... we pay these dogs to follow us walk,' the man says. On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed the decline of coronavirus cases in Victoria. 'Victoria has turned the corner and we will continue to invest our efforts in assisting them to ensure that we can continue to get this outbreak under control and return life in Melbourne and across Victoria, to as normal as you can in a COVID-safe world,' he said. 'The restrictions should be in only for as long as they are absolutely needed and they should only be placed in where they are absolutely needed, based on that medical advice.' Village police station in Wrexham put on market for 230,000 after closure to save money This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 26th, 2020 A village police station in Wrexham has been put on the market for almost 230,000 after it was closed to save money. Gresford station was costing North Wales Police 12,000 a year to run before it was shut in July. It was also being used less frequently by officers following the opening of a new headquarters just over two miles away in Llay. Estate agents Olive Grove said it could be converted into a three-bedroom house after it was placed on the open market. Representatives said: Olivegrove are pleased to offer for sale the former Gresford Police Station. A three bedroom detached property set on a spacious plot, in the popular village of Gresford. This unique property offers you a wide variety of potential uses subject to planning permission. The easiest of which would be to convert it back to a three bedroom, two reception room, family home, having the added bonus of an office/studio with its own private access and two outbuildings at the rear of the property. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, who lives in nearby Gwersyllt, announced in June it had therefore been decided to sell the property to generate funds to be reinvested into the forces estate. In a letter to community representatives, he said it was becoming more common for officers to work remotely. He said: The world of policing has changed dramatically over the last few years. We are now providing officers with internet-enabled devices, which mean they are able to work in public areas, such as cafes and libraries, where they are much more visible and accessible to the communities they serve than they would be if they were based in traditional police stations or office buildings. This increase in the use of technology has the added benefit of ensuring that officers continue to meet the expectations of the public by keeping them safe from harm as a result of the ever-increasing cyber threats. These two benefits alone provide huge benefits in improving community engagement both within our densely populated urban areas, as well as our harder to reach rural communities. Speaking at the time, Gresford councillor Andrew Atkinson said the decision did not come as a surprise to him. However, he asked for some of the proceeds of the sale to go towards delivering speed reduction measures in the village. *Pictures: Olive Grove By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Health and community advocates from around the country held a virtual press event today to send strong messages to the nation's governors that #COVID19 alcohol deregulations are dangerous, place alcohol industry profits above public health and safety, and must not become the new normal. "As Public Health understands, bar openings where people congregate, socialize, often without masks and social distancing, are hot spots for new COVID-19 spreading events, furthering the pandemic," stated Tom K. Greenfield, PhD, Scientific Director, Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute. "We must not make this mistake again by premature re-openings. In addition, the creep of bars into outdoor spaces around the bar such as parking lots and sidewalks brings with it its own public health risks through increased availability. Together with other 'regulatory relief' in the alcohol sector, such as 'cocktails to go' these regulations should not become permanent. We know from numerous rigorous studies that increased availability leads to increased drinking and increased alcohol-related mental health and domestic violence problems, as well as leading to greater access by youth." Alcohol consumption has increased dramatically under COVID as deregulation has made it easier than ever to purchase. This indicates a serious failure by many state governors and top state agencies to acknowledge and address public health and safety concerns by often declaring alcohol sales "essential" during the pandemic. The catastrophic annual alcohol-related harms that already plague the country have for the most part been dismissed along with the rise in those harms being experienced because alcohol was deemed essential. These harms are compounded by the fact that alcohol misuse makes individuals more likely to contract COVID-19, and more likely to have a severe case. Similarly, the impact of COVID on the healthcare system makes people who already overconsume alcohol much more likely to experience severe alcohol-related health consequences. "In California, the buck stops at Governor Gavin Newsom. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Department of Public Health are under his jurisdiction," stated Gilbert Mora, Co-Chair of CAPA, the California Alcohol Policy Alliance. "Our statewide alliance refuses to allow alcohol deregulation to become the new normal. We demand that the regulatory relief measures be taken back, we ask for a temporary closure of alcohol establishments that put lives at risk, and most importantly, we ask for an alcohol COVID-19 response based on science not profits. Alcohol sales are not essential. Lives are essential." Mora went on to note that, according to a new study from the Institute for Public Strategies and Alcohol Justice, alcohol harm under COVID seems to be a greater threat to ethnic and racial minorities, and may be directly tied to state deregulatory policies. "In an attempt to help Michigan alcohol establishments, legislators enacted deregulation policies such as cocktails to go and social districts," stated Barry Schmidt, Co-Chair, Michigan Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and Project Director with the Neighborhood Resource Center of Bay County. "With alcohol deregulation comes increased access and with that increased problems. In cocktails to go some businesses have decided to offer 'Booze in a Bag'. Are cocktails to go the new juice box for adults? We urge our governor and legislators from the great state of Michigan to put public health first and not let not let a temporary fix become a permanent problem." "Illinois has aggressive COVID-19 policies and we have not seen the egregious industry moves for drastic measures to open up alcohol availability as have California and Ohio," said Don Zeigler, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "But Illinois has responded to business pressures with some potentially detrimental policies. All licensed retailers in Illinois, including those with licenses for on-premises alcohol service, are now authorized to conduct packaged sales, 'to go' sales even allowing mixed drinks/cocktails, curbside deliveries, home residential deliveries, and any other similar sales or delivery, albeit intended to promote sales while maintaining social distancing. These are considered 'Temporary Deliveries'. We'll see how temporary they are. We are concerned that what we do to support the economy might lead to further changes in alcohol availability regulations that become permanent and increase consumption and have negative health and social implications in Illinois." In Florida, Jason Wilson, MD, Tampa General Hospital, recounted his experience as an emergency physician with Tampa Bay reopening bars too early: "[A]s soon as we were able to get things under control in the Tampa area, we reopened bars. And what we saw from that was a very quick, accelerated, exponential climb in cases. Of course with all the bars you have every other major risk factor for COVID all taking place at the same time: tight indoor space, people being inebriated, people being disinhibited, getting close together, talking loudly. And what we see from that are superspreader events. So if you go back to May or June in this area, we were getting things under control, we opened up bars early, we saw a number of superspreader events that were directly traced to those bars. If we want to get COVID under control we have to pay attention to what's going on in bars." Warnings from both the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the World Health Organization make it clear that alcohol use both increases risk of COVID-related illness and causes mental health and safety issues. State regulations form the first line of defense against these threats, but community health advocates worry that states are abdicating their roles in advancing public wellbeing. "Pennsylvania is an alcoholic beverage control state with wine and spirits to be sold only in the state-owned stores. But COVID has opened the door for legislative discussions on privatization of alcohol," stated Jeff Hanley, Executive Director, Commonwealth Prevention Alliance. "We need to continue to support the controlled state model and the PA Liquor Control Board with their excellent jobs and benefits. Alcohol consumption can increase during stressful times and may be mistaken as coping. During the pandemic there are added factors of job loss, reduced income, youth education, and easy access to alcohol that is likely intensifying those factors and leading to misuse. The need for Prevention and Public Health is NOW." "In Ohio we are currently facing a series of legislative proposals that would result in massive, long-lasting deregulation of alcohol policies across the board including extending sales hours for alcoholic beverages from 2 to 4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and expand alcohol sales to 24-hours through local elections," said J.P. Dorval, Advocacy and Public Policy Liaison at Prevention Action Alliance. "At the same time, we're seeing a surge of behavioral health issues, overdose deaths, suicides, and texts to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' Crisis Text Line. Considering these struggles, the last thing our state should do is increase access to a substance that is known to be used as a harmful coping mechanism to the uncertainty, pain, and struggle brought on by this pandemic. We understand the financial difficulty our state is facing, but deregulating alcohol will only cause more problems now and down the road. I urge Governor DeWine and our legislature to look at these proposals through a public health lens and to act with the health and safety of Ohio's citizens in their decision-making process. "Like many other states, Minnesota bars and restaurants, and the many servers and sellers they employ, are suffering economically under COVID-19 restrictions and like most states, Minnesota has relaxed regulations to help small businesses," stated Linda Bosma, PhD, Bosma Consulting, LLC. "But reopening has come with some challenges: In July in Minnesota, nearly 1,000 COVID-19 cases were connected to just 14 bars after reopening. We are NOT anti-businessbut we must be sure that addressing economic problems is not done at the cost of increased alcohol abuse and addiction in our communities. Alcohol deregulation cannot be the new normal; we know regulating alcohol service saves lives and reduces alcohol-related harm, so relaxed measures must be temporary; and finally, as businesses reopen, they must have sound COVID prevention plans to prevent the spread and address any positive cases quickly. Bars and restaurants are important parts of our communitiesas part of the community, we all need to be sure they are protecting the community members. Re-open safe, smart, and make decisions informed by public health." In a pre-taped statement, Will Jones III, MPA, Communications and Outreach Associate at SAM in Washington, D.C. stated "special interests are pushing for these regulatory relaxations to become the new normal and this raises serious public health concerns and is not supported by science. Addiction-for-profit industries like alcohol, tobacco and marijuana disproportionately target communities of color with their products and stores. This is something I'm reminded of every day simply by leaving my house and seeing that the first store that I get to in any direction is a liquor store. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, these companies have continued their exploitive practices successfully lobbying to have their stores and products deemed essential. Now more than ever we should work together to hold these industries accountable, and not allow them to continue to harm public health." In many parts of the country, public health and safety have taken a back seat to "economic recovery", and the drivers of this dangerous alcohol deregulation are GUI - Government Under the Influence. Since the beginning of the pandemic shutdown, under the dubious guise of economic relief, states have deregulated and relaxed enforcement to help alcohol licensed establishments continue to operate. These dangerous, revenue-driven policy changes have promoted increased alcohol sales and consumption during the stay-at-home orders. They include allowing home deliveries with ineffective age verification, cocktails-to-go, expanding sales into public spaces, and the normalization of drinking during a public health emergency of massive proportions. "We are using this virtual press briefing today to launch a critical, national CALL to ACTION," stated Bruce Lee Livingston, MPP, Executive Director / CEO at Alcohol Justice. "By simply texting REGULATE to 313131, people in any state can ask their Governor to hit the pause button on alcohol deregulation, re-examine their state's relationship with alcohol businesses, acknowledge that excessive alcohol use is No. 3 on the list of preventable causes of death, and promise that alcohol deregulation will not become the new normal by ending COVID-19 regulatory rollbacks for economic relief as soon as possible. It's time to make public health essential, not public drinking." For complete participant statements and important resource links, go to the virtual press pack. CONTACT: Michael Scippa 415 548-0492 Jorge Castillo 213 840-3336 SOURCE Alcohol Justice Related Links http://www.AlcoholJustice.org French and Lebanese army troops are working around the clock to clean up the debris that was left after the the massive explosion that rocked the port of Beirut on Aug. 4. Around 400 French troops and 150 military vehicles are assisting the Lebanese army in the cleaning operations at the port. Commander of the works regiment at the Lebanese army Colonel Youssef Haidar said that no date could be specified for the end of the operations as they face administrative obstacles with the merchandise at the devastated area. "Anyone who has merchandise here must come and take them, so we can start a major cleaning operation," he said. It has been three weeks since a catastrophic explosion ripped through Beirut, killing nearly 200 people and rendering thousands homeless. Lebanon's government, which is supported by the militant Hezbollah group and its allies, resigned on August 10 and continues to serve in a caretaker capacity. Michael Whitfield is planning to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021, but he is already wondering if he attended class in person for the last time. "I hope I have not taken my last in-person class as a student of the University of North Carolina and am hopeful we will be able to return to a more typical set-up in the spring," Michael Whitfield said. "It seems that such a decision depends on the existence and accessibility of an effective vaccine. One of the main challenges of learning remotely include the diminished, personal interactions with my professors and fellow students." It only took one week of classes and several coronavirus outbreaks for the university to alter its plans, forcing students to scramble to figure out where they would be living and studying for the rest of the semester. His younger brother, Richard Whitfield, is a freshman and will almost assuredly see in person instruction again in Chapel Hill, but his first semester didn't go as planned. "While disappointed I will not be completing my first semester on campus, I understand and appreciate UNCs prompt response to the growing number of cases on campus," Richard Whitfield said. To take on the Mamata Banerjee government in the state assembly polls next year, the BJP will rely on Prime Minister Narendra Modis development agenda as a poll plank, said persons aware of the details. Even though the party has started a concerted campaign to highlight what it alleges is the misrule of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government; the party has opted to proceed with PM Modi as the face of the election. This is not the first time that the BJP has refrained from naming the chief ministerial candidate; though in states where it seeks re-election it usually prefers leading with the incumbent as it did in Madhya Pradesh with Shivraj Singh Chouhan and in Haryana with Manohar Lal Khattar. A senior party functionary in the state said, it is too soon to suggest a CM candidate and the party will leave it to the leadership in Delhi to take a call on the issue. The focus right now is the misrule and the governance failures of the TMC. Party cadres have been instructed to create awareness across the state about the benefits they will stand to gain if the BJP forms government. A scheme like Ayushman Bharat that has changed the healthcare delivery is not allowed in Bengal, there is widespread violence and lack of development, the functionary said. While the BJP is resting its hopes on PM Modis popularity with the masses to help them wade through the choppy waters of electioneering in the state where the party has traditionally found little support, there are concerns about the cohesion in the party unit itself. Differences between state unit leaders have surfaced and the national leadership has had to intervene more than once. More recently, statements made by state in charge Kailash Vijayvargiya that the state unit will contest under the leadership of Modi were perceived as a snub to former governor of Meghalaya Tathagata Roy, who has expressed his desire to re-join the party as a full-time worker. There are many claimants to the CMs post and there are differences between the party unit chief Dilip Ghosh and some of the team members. The central leadership has had to step in to bury differences, said the functionary quoted above. Roy, who had earlier served as the governor of Tripura and the party president of the West Bengal unit, has been vocal about joining the party full time after his gubernatorial term came to an end this month. He however said that while he is eager to serve the party in the state of West Bengal he leaves it to the party high command to choose the role in which he can contribute. It is not for me to decide what role I should have in the party since I am just about to enter the party. It is for the party leadership, the president and the observers to decide. But what I have made plain is that I am prepared to shoulder any responsibility that the party gives me. I will turn 75 next month and if the party holds that I am too old for any kind of active post so be it. If the party decides that I am physically fit then also so be it. Meanwhile, there is enough scope for me to work in the party in different capacities, Roy said. He also brushed aside claims that differences have surfaced in the state unit ever since he expressed his intention to join the party. There is no party in the country which is free from any kind of internal differences and different parties manage them in different ways. For instance, the communists keep it under wraps and you get to know it only when the party splits. The Congress handles it by allowing everyone to say anything at the public forum. You find five different people saying five different things in the media. The Trinamool Congress handles it by throwing bombs at each other. As opposed to that we have internal dissensions too but we handle them well by arguing among ourselves, by talking it through and ultimately by the Central leadership. What we do is the most civilised way of handling internal dissensions, he said. Roy and other state leaders said not announcing a CM candidate will have no adverse impact on the partys performance at the polls to pick a new 249-member assembly Abhay Deshpande, a political commentator, said not naming a CM candidate in states where the party is not seeking re-election is a strategy. They have been strategically consistent in not naming a chief ministerial candidate in states where they are not seeking re-election to avoid infighting in the party and also to rule out trouble with allies. For instance, in 2004 they never projected Devendra Fadnavis as a CM in Maharashtra but when they sought re-election, Fadnavis was the face of the party, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Its unclear why Rittenhouse decided to involve himself in the unrest in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot multiple times in the back at close range on Sunday. In videos posted Tuesday night before the latest shootings, an armed Rittenhouse can be seen hanging out with older men who are carrying weapons and saying that they are protecting a boarded-up gas station. HARARE, Zimbabwe - A young Zimbabwean thrust into anti-government activism while searching for his missing journalist brother has died of colon cancer, just as well-wishers had raised money to get him into surgery. Patson Dzamara, 34, died Wednesday, according to Nelson Chamisa, leader of the MDC Alliance opposition party leader. Chamisa said he is devastated by the death of Dzamara, who was a member of the partys executive. Dzamara came into the public spotlight when he became the leading voice in the search for his brother, Itai, a journalist and activist who relentlessly challenged former president Robert Mugabe at a time when many Zimbabweans were afraid of confronting the ruler, who was toppled from power in 2017 and later died. The journalist, who was abducted from a barbershop in 2015, is still missing. Dzamara famously walked up to Mugabe at an Independence Day event in 2016 holding a placard that said Independent but not free. Where is my brother Itai? Dzamara was whisked away by Mugabes security guards, who allegedly assaulted him. Dzamara embarked on street protests and broadened his activism to include demands for democratic reforms and improved public health care. He was arrested and detained for his protests, which continued into President Emmerson Mnangagwas rule. Mnangagwa succeeded Mugabe in 2019 and his rule has been marked by accusations of human rights abuses similar to those alleged during Mugabes tenure. Dzamaras death highlighted the challenges facing Zimbabwes health care system. Dzamara did not have enough money to pay for urgently needed surgery at a private facility when he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon. Such surgery was not possible in Zimbabwes public health system which is plagued by widespread shortages and frequent strikes by doctors and nurses. More than $14,000 had been raised for Dzamara and he was due for surgery when he died, said Nigel Chanakira, a local businessman who was part of the fundraising effort. "Red Wing heard from safety professionals and skilled laborers all over the U.S. about their wish for a work boot that performed in demanding environments without weighing them down throughout the day. We listened and applied those insights to the new EXOS Lite line," said Kristin Hamilton, senior product merchandising manager at Red Wing Shoe Company. "In order to create our lightest work boot ever, we used new safety materials and innovative manufacturing techniques while still meeting and exceeding safety standards." Designed for indoor and outdoor medium-duty jobs in warehousing, distribution, construction, light manufacturing and service environments, key features of the ASTM- and CSA-compliant EXOS Lite models include: Support : The Switchback Support System is a minimalistic design concept created by Red Wing and built with integrated TPU cord construction to provide ankle and heel support. The SwitchBack Support System requires less material and avoids unnecessary layers of leather found in a traditional work boot. This innovative system greatly reduces the boot's weight without sacrificing support, comfort or durability. : The Switchback Support System is a minimalistic design concept created by and built with integrated TPU cord construction to provide ankle and heel support. The SwitchBack Support System requires less material and avoids unnecessary layers of leather found in a traditional work boot. This innovative system greatly reduces the boot's weight without sacrificing support, comfort or durability. Outsole: The new exclusive EXOS X-Treme Lite sole design features premium performance with Vibram Litebase technology which reduces extra weight while still offering best-in-class slip, oil and abrasion resistance with high durability and performance. The new exclusive EXOS X-Treme Lite sole design features premium performance with Vibram Litebase technology which reduces extra weight while still offering best-in-class slip, oil and abrasion resistance with high durability and performance. Comfort: A lightweight high-rebound cushion in the footbed is purpose-built to provide underfoot comfort all day long on and off the jobsite. A lightweight high-rebound cushion in the footbed is purpose-built to provide underfoot comfort all day long on and off the jobsite. Flexible: Features a Flex Calf Insert at the collar, which helps to widen the opening for easier access and allows for more flexibility in movement throughout the day. Features a Flex Calf Insert at the collar, which helps to widen the opening for easier access and allows for more flexibility in movement throughout the day. Safety: The low-profile safety toe is made from a tough, lightweight aluminum material that protects without looking like a bulky safety-toe boot. The low-profile safety toe is made from a tough, lightweight aluminum material that protects without looking like a bulky safety-toe boot. Style: Available in a modern, low-profile that works for on and off the jobsite, the boot is offered in 6-inch and 8-inch waterproof styles with mocha, onyx or caramel Red Wing leather, with the choice of optional features like the BOA Lacing System and a puncture-resistant insole. The new EXOS Lite styles are available at Red Wing stores and mobile shoe trucks nationwide. To find your nearest retailer, visit www.redwingshoes.com. Safety professionals interested in the EXOS Lite line or any of Red Wing's safety workwear for their employees can easily manage the purchase process by participating in Red Wing for Business, an innovative platform that combines digital and retail experiences. This simplified purchasing process gives workers access to digital vouchers that they can use to purchase more than 250 industry-specific designs at any Red Wing retail store, on-site mobile shoe store or authorized Red Wing retailer. Red Wing for Business reduces administration time, mitigates risks by assuring the right shoe is selected for the job and eliminates costly waste and inaccuracies. For more information about Red Wing Shoe Company, the company's safety footwear programs and its head-to-toe workwear solutions, visit www.redwingsafety.com. About Red Wing Shoe Company Red Wing Shoe Company Inc. is a global leader in the design, production and distribution of work, safety and lifestyle footwear and work apparel. Established in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota, the privately held company's family of brands includes Red Wing, the premium choice for purpose-built work footwear, workwear and accessories. Its brands are distributed to more than 110 countries in an immersive multichannel environment of 500+ Red Wing retail stores, third-party partners and owned e-commerce platforms. The Red Wing Shoe Company employs more than 2,000 employees worldwide and operates two U.S. manufacturing facilities in Red Wing and Potosi, Missouri. For more information, please visit redwingshoes.com or follow @RedWingShoes. Media Contact: Chelsey Knutson [email protected] 612-375-8540 SOURCE Red Wing Shoe Company Related Links http://www.redwingshoes.com India's premier defence research institute has set in motion a long-awaited process to usher in mega reforms aimed at helping it develop futuristic military weapons and support the government's initiative for bolstering the domestic defence production. A committee headed by Prof V Ramagopal Rao, Director of Delhi IIT, has been appointed to suggest measures to improve the efficiency of the laboratories across the country to boost the domestic defence production, government sources said. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has over 50 laboratories across the country which are engaged in developing defence technologies covering disciplines like aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, engineering systems, missiles, advanced computing and naval systems. "The move to enhance the efficiency of the is in sync with the government's focus on boosting the domestic defence industry," said a source, adding several measures have already been taken to improve the functioning of the DRDO laboratories. The sources said DRDO chairman Dr G. Satheesh Reddy will oversee the implementation of the reform initiatives. The government has already outlined its broad roadmap to make India a hub of defence manufacturing and has been taking policy initiatives to promote the domestic industry. On August 9, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced that India will stop the import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles and sonar systems by 2024. The committee headed by Rao includes Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre S Somnath, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh and Director, Instruments Research and Development Establishment of DRDO Benjamin Lionel, the sources said. The committee has been tasked to recommend within the next one-and-half months specific measures to improve the efficiency of the DRDO including on the charter of duties of all laboratories so that they can work on new technologies with a new approach while avoiding any overlap. The DRDO has contributed significantly in developing various key weapons and military platforms for all the three services in the last six decades However, there has been a view in the government that the DRDO should enhance its efficiency further in sync with the government's focus on making India self-reliant in defence manufacturing. The DRDO on Monday identified 108 military systems and subsystems like navigation radars, tank transporters and missile canisters for the domestic industry to design, develop and manufacture. The premier organisation said it will also provide support to industries for design, development and testing of these systems on a requirement basis. It has set a target of next year in developing the 108 systems and subsystems. India is one of the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years. The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support the domestic defence manufacturing. The defence ministry has set a goal of a turnover of USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in defence manufacturing in the next five years that included an export target of USD 5 billion (Rs 35,000 crore) worth of military hardware. (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.) Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov within his official visit to Russia met with Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Ilyas Umakhanov, Trend reports on Aug. 26 referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The sides exchanged the views on various aspects of successfully developing relations between the two countries, as well as stressed the high level of inter-parliamentary cooperation. The sides stressed that the mutual trust between the presidents of the two countries, as well as mutual visits, gave an impetus to further strengthen the bilateral relations. In this regard, the success achieved within the official visit of the Azerbaijani first vice president to the Russian Federation last year was especially stressed. While referring to the legal basis of cooperation between the two countries, in this context, the documents on friendship and strategic cooperation of 1997 and 2008 were especially stressed. Touching upon the issues of cooperation at the international level, the sides exchanged the views on expanding the mutually beneficial ties within the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE, CIS and other organizations. The sides also discussed the issues of cooperation between the two countries in the humanitarian, cultural fields and in the field of education. As more than 70 speakers and thousands of supporters get together this week to officially name President Donald Trump the Republican nominee and boost him for the upcoming November election, the Trump campaign is being dramatically outspent by the Biden campaign in the rivals' ever-growing television advertising wars. The move by the Trump campaign to go conservative with its ad spending during the convention week is a stark turn for a campaign that previously promised to unleash a "Death Star"-level onslaught on its Democratic opponent leading up to Election Day. From Tuesday through next Monday, the Trump campaign has spent just under $1.5 million on television ads -- mostly on national cable -- compared to more than $17 million that the Biden campaign has placed for the week, according to ad-buy data from ad analysis firm CMGA/Kantar media. More national cable buy from Trump is expected this week, but not likely to surpass Bidens placements, according to CMAG. MORE: 5 takeaways from the second night of the Republican National Convention And the week of the Democratic National Convention last week was no different. The Biden campaign had more than $15.3 million on air while the Trump campaign only had about $1.8 million. As it did during last weeks Democratic convention, the Trump campaign has instead invested in digital advertising during the RNC, taking over YouTubes front page banner and flooding Facebook and Google with pro-Trump messaging. Its unclear how much the two campaigns total digital spending is going to be by the end of the week, but the Trump campaign in general has been leading the Biden campaign on the digital front. An outlier in the trend was actually during the DNC, when the Biden campaign spent about $6 million on Facebook ads compared to just under $5 million from the Trump campaign, according to Facebook ad spending data. PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence stand on stage during the first day of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 24, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Mitchell West, an ad data analyst at CMAG, told ABC News that now that the Democratic convention is over, Biden is using this week to go really heavy and get his message out there while Trump is staying relatively quiet on television. Story continues Usually its the other way around, [where] maybe Democrats will stay quiet during the Republican convention, or vice versa, West said. Its hard to tell what Trumps thinking I don't know whether he's trying to keep the focus on the convention. I don't know whether he's retooling his messaging. I just don't know. I do find it kind of strange that he is going relatively quiet during the convention. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to ABC News request for comment for this report. In the past few weeks leading up to the both parties conventions, from late July through the end of August, the Biden campaign has spent about $75 million on broadcast ads, nearly five times the $17 million that the Trump campaign has spent. The Trump campaigns relative skeleton amount placements this week are focused on roughly half-a-million-dollar national cable and $171,000 in local cable in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the Biden campaign has spent seven-figures in some of the key states including Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Arizona and Michigan. When it comes to outside groups like political action committees (PACs), pro-Trump super PACs have been more aggressive than some of the pro-Biden super PACs over the past few weeks. MORE: RNC 2020 Day 3: Mike Pence headlines from battlefield in Maryland, Kellyanne Conway slated to speak This week, the super PAC arm of the National Rifle Association has more than $2 million booked for television spots for this week, and conservative super PAC Club for Growth has about $1.4 million. America First Action, the super PAC that has been endorsed by the president and the campaign, has a little less than $1 million. Pro-Democratic super PACs American Bridge PAC and Priorities USA Action each have $1.2 million and $1 million for TV ads this week, while anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project has $1.7 million booked. American Bridge PAC announced on Monday that its latest ad scheduled to run during the convention this week will feature the presidents former personal attorney and fixer Michael Cohen. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, celebrate with fireworks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 20, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Overall, pro-Biden efforts, including the campaign and outside groups, have spent nearly twice the amount spent by pro-Trump efforts on television ads from late July through the end of August, with a particularly reserved efforts from the Trump campaign countered by an aggressive ad blitz from the Biden campaign. MORE: 5 key takeaways from 3rd night of Democratic National Convention From September and on, however, its expected to be a different picture, with much higher figures involved all around. The Trump campaign has already placed nearly $150 million on TV ads for the last couple months until Election Day, while the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Convention together have about $113 million, according to CMAG data. In total, pro-Trump efforts have booked about $173 million from September through Election Day, while pro-Biden efforts have about $151 million. And the $113 million ad already booked amounts to only part of some $280 million that the Biden campaign said it planned to spend for the fall. The Trump campaign had long promised to use its massive cash-on-had advantage to define whoever the Democratic nominee ended up being. But in recent weeks that financial advantage has all but evaporated, with Biden and the Democratic National Committee ending last month with $294 million in the bank -- only $6 million behind the roughly $300 million the president and the Republican National Committee said they have in their war chest, according to figures released by the two campaigns. Back in July, amid staffing shake up, the Trump campaign briefly pulled its advertising in order to reset on strategy. They would later go back up targeting early voting states. Biden dramatically outspends Trump on TV ads during Republican convention week originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, shown speaking at the White House in March, has twice been stopped by courts from interfering with the flow of coronavirus relief dollars to schools. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been a curiously enduring member of President Trumps Cabinet. Maybe its because hes not all that interested in education he seldom mentions it beyond demanding that all students return to campus full time, no matter what experts on the coronavirus say. But it might have something to do with DeVos masterful ability to accomplish almost nothing for public education, which would fall in line with the presidents priorities. Its not hard by now to predict how DeVos will approach any given issue: She will attempt to remove protections from students, especially when it comes to shielding them from unscrupulous for-profit colleges. And she will attempt to channel money toward private schools instead of public ones, even when that involves public dollars. The courts have repeatedly overruled her efforts to undermine students. So it was no surprise when a federal judge issued a stinging preliminary injunction late last week against DeVos latest scheme: a plan to funnel a hefty dose of federal coronavirus relief money toward affluent private-school students even though it was intended for the education of low-income kids. DeVos attempted to rewrite part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act by requiring school districts to set aside money for private schools based on those schools' entire enrollment, not on their numbers of disadvantaged kids. That would not only be a gross misuse of the money Congress approved for students in need, but it would also take scarce funds away from public schools to benefit private ones. U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein called DeVos attempt remarkably callous, and blind to the realities of this extraordinary pandemic and the very purpose of the CARES Act: to provide emergency relief where it is most needed. The ruling came just a few months after Californias community colleges had successfully challenged another attempt by DeVos to interfere unconscionably with the spending of CARES money. Story continues In that case, DeVos decided on her own that large swaths of community college students, including those covered under the DACA program, did not qualify for the emergency assistance the act provided. The money was meant to help students buy food, basic necessities and computers and other technology so they could attend online classes. Again and again, DeVos has devoted her time in office not to improving learning for the nations students but rather to interfering with their legitimate needs and rights. Not only did she lose in court after improperly collecting student loan payments from those who had been defrauded by now-defunct Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit chain that had repeatedly misled prospective students about their job-placement prospects, but she also was found in contempt of court in late 2019 for ignoring the previous ruling against her. Then she was sued for the same thing in May, well after shed said she was fixing the problem. Earlier in 2019, she ensured that students would continue to default on college debt by rescinding an Obama administration rule that required for-profit trade and technical colleges to show that the students they recruited with rosy projections about job prospects had at least a decent chance of finding employment after graduation. Under the gainful employment rule, students at schools that fell short wouldnt qualify for federally guaranteed loans in the first place. DeVos action, which faces legal challenge, is a bad deal for taxpayers as well. These schools graduates have defaulted on their federal loans at a hugely disproportionate rate, leaving the public with billions of dollars in costs. In other words, DeVos three-plus years in office have been spent undermining real education, not strengthening it. Agree or not with the policies of the past five or so Education secretaries, their aim was to try to improve outcomes for public-school students. DeVos goals have consisted almost solely of helping private enterprise, even when it does wrong. Perhaps her worst moments werent in the things she did but those she didnt. She blew the chance she had this year to rise to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been an educational disaster as well as a health and economic one. To her credit, she gave the OK in the spring to suspend standardized tests for the year, though that was a no-brainer. There was no way to even administer the tests. But public schools have needed guidance, advice, sample curriculums, support as well as urgent pushes to give online students computers and more instructional time. DeVos contribution: Telling public schools, as they were sending students to learn at home with no access in many cases to computers or the internet, that they still had to meet the needs of students with disabilities, with no suggestions on how they might do that. Demanding that all students return to campus full-time this fall without guidance on how to avoid crowded classrooms and protect against disease spread, especially in areas with surging infection rates. Then trying to give away a bunch of their money to private schools. DeVos is running out of time to show that she is more than the clueless nominee who had no grasp at her confirmation hearing of the debate over how to measure school quality and whose most memorable moment was suggesting that a Wyoming school might need guns to protect itself against trespassing bears. The nation is still waiting for a real secretary of Education. Between 1951 and 1992, the U.S. government exploded 928 nuclear bombs in the desert of Nevada, each more powerful than those that leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even when tests were done underground before that was banned in 1992, many of them leaked, spewing towering mushroom clouds into the atmosphere. What most people don't know is that nuclear weapons tests spread radioactive fallout across America, leaving a devastating legacy in their wake. I am a downwinder. Like countless other Americans, I grew up under the clouds of fallout and later developed cancer. How were any of us to know that a silent poison was threading its way through our bodies, when the government repeatedly assured us there was no danger? I carry a small map of the United States in my wallet. It's from Richard Miller's book, "Under the Cloud: the Decades of Nuclear Testing." It shows where the winds carried radioactive fallout from the Nevada Test Site. Utah, my home state, and Nevada are almost completely blotted out, but the ink spreads through the Midwest, where much of our nation's food is grown, and as far east as upstate New York, 2,300 miles from the Nevada Test Site. Radiation did not respect arbitrary lines on a map. It was picked up by the jet stream and carried across the country, where it fell to the ground in rain and snow and worked its way into the food chain. That's how a 1953 test named Simon collided with the worst thunderstorm in 100 years and doused Albany, Troy and Schenectady. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute measured those high levels of radiation. This incident is chronicled in Bill Heller's book, "A Good Day Has No Rain." His "Stolen Lives: Albany High Class of '53, '54" details subsequent clusters of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases later afflicting those who were students and their relatives. What's hard to reconcile is that our government knew the facts about fallout and lied to the American people from the beginning. We were deemed expendable. That's why those of us who survived fallout-related cancer are outraged that this administration, which I doubt knows the staggering human cost of our nuclear past, wants to resume explosive nuclear tests. There is no military purpose. We already possess the most powerful nuclear deterrent in the world. The president's budget for the next year proposes a 19 percent increase for nuclear weapons. The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes $10 million to prepare for an explosive nuclear test. A Defense Department official has said such a test could be conducted within months, if ordered. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Even considering such a test is utterly immoral, given what we know. A March 2019 study published in the Journal of Economic History, for instance, concluded that 500,000 Americans, many of them in central and eastern states, likely died due to fallout-contaminated agriculture. Those in Congress who understand our history have introduced Preserving Leadership Against Nuclear Explosives Testing (PLANET) bills to prohibit the use of funds for new nuclear weapons tests. This is a bipartisan issue. Republicans have always been part of the opposition to nuclear testing. George H.W. Bush halted nuclear testing in 1992 and Ronald Reagan wanted to eliminate nuclear weapons. We are still living with the health effects from past tests. People are still getting sick, their cancers are returning, and other health complications are showing up. In addition, genetic damage can affect new generations. If we learned anything from being the involuntary subjects of atomic testing, it is that we all live downwind. Mary Dickson is a Salt Lake City writer whose works include "Exposed," about the human toll of nuclear testing. She has been recognized by the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility for her lifetime work on behalf of downwinders. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on Wednesday alleging U.S. agents sent by President Donald Trump to protect a federal courthouse targeted by Black Lives Matter protesters illegally used excessive force and illegal detentions to rob protesters of their freedom of speech and assembly. The lawsuit also alleges that the acting director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, did not have the authority to send more than 100 agents to Portland because he was improperly appointed to the role due to a technicality in succession rules. Our clients were protesting in support of Black Lives Matter, but they were met by indiscriminate violence from federal police forces intent on squelching their message and their Constitutional rights, said Jeremy Sacks, one of the attorneys who filed the case. We will hold the federal government and the individual agents accountable for their actions. DHS did not immediately reply to a request for comment Wednesday. The lawsuit names that agency, as well as Wolf and Trump. Plaintiffs include three military veterans, a college professor, several Black Lives Matter protesters and a man who alleges he was snatched off a street blocks from the federal courthouse by unidentified agents. I still havent fully come to terms with what it means that I was kidnapped by my government, Mark Pettibone said in a statement. People need to know what happened to me and the government needs to be held accountable so that what happened to me doesnt happen to someone else. Almost all the plaintiffs allege physical injuries from getting hit by metal tear gas canisters, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other chemical irritants. Some were treated at hospitals, where they got multiple stitches and received CAT scans to check for more serious internal injuries, the lawsuit says. A video of plaintiff and Navy veteran Christopher Davids encounter with U.S. agents outside the Portland courthouse circulated widely on social media. It showed one agent hitting David with a baton and another dousing him in the face with pepper spray. David suffered two broken bones in his hand. The U.S. Department of Justice has said it is conducting an internal review of the incident. Wednesdays lawsuit is the third one filed by ACLU in Portland since nightly protests began after the May 25 death of George Floyd, the Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him by the neck. On Monday, four protesters who were injured by federal agents in demonstrations filed a similar lawsuit alleging the government used excessive force in dealing with crowds. Two previous lawsuits targeted the federal agents actions against members of the press and legal observers and against street medics who treat protesters hurt by tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. --The Associated Press Press Release August 26, 2020 Drilon calls for PhilHealth's top-to-bottom reorganization The minority chief says PhilHealth needs people with zero tolerance for corruption Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon called for a top-to-bottom reorganization of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) even as he welcomed the President's decision to finally let go of PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales amid corruption allegations involving the implementation of the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM). "It is a welcome development. However, as long as the general structure of the corporation remains the same, corruption will continue," Drilon said in a statement on Wednesday. "What PhilHealth needs now is a top-to-bottom cleansing in order to get rid of individuals who used PhilHealth as their personal ATM. Sa gitna ng pandemya, ginawa nilang personal na bangko ang PhilHealth," Drilon said. The minority leader said he proposed to the Committee of the Whole to authorize the President to reorganize PhilHealth. "The long history of corruption within the corporation, across all levels, may be addressed by passing a law that would authorize the President to reorganize PhilHealth. This reorganization must be accompanied by a well-studied reorganization plan," Drilon said. "We need to ensure that only the most competent and honest people are appointed to PhilHealth. Please do not appoint scalawags or people who turn a blind eye to corruption. We need people who have zero tolerance for corruption," he added. Drilon said the government should observe the "fit and proper" rule in appointing officials to PhilHealth. "The fit and proper rule should be strictly applied. The officials must be chosen based on their integrity, experience, education, training and competence, among others," Drilon said. Citing Section 5e of the GOCC Governance Act (RA 10149), Drilon said the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), as the governing body for government corporations, must actively and decisively perform its mandate as a central advisory, monitoring and oversight body of PhilHealth. Drilon said the GCG should identify the necessary skills and qualifications required for appointive directors to the PhilHealth, and consider the suitability and qualifications of the candidates before submitting its recommendations to the President. The minority leader likewise urged PhilHealth to upgrade its system in order to eliminate corruption. "The use of information technology (IT) in the healthcare industry is known to promote efficiency and reliability in the delivery of healthcare services. PhilHealth should simply outsource to a reputable company the provision of its IT services," Drilon said. Outsourcing services, like the development and provision of a reliable electronic health records and analytics system, specifically for membership data information collection and membership service, will enable PhilHealth to focus on expanding its operational reach, improving its benefit packages and accreditation mechanisms, according to Drilon. Another service that must be contracted out, he added, is the processing of PhilHealth's benefits claim to avoid backlogs and massive reimbursement-delays. "This would simplify the reimbursement process, remove red-tape, and address corruption," he said. Drilon had earlier said that the corruption in PhilHealth is a grim reminder that not even a pandemic can stop corrupt practices from taking place, adding that corrupt minds know no limits. He said that the anti-corruption stance of the administration suffered a huge blow due to corruption in PhilHealth, which was unearthed during Senate investigations. "We expect charges to be filed against those who will be proven to have misused public funds allotted for the campaign against Covid-19. The President should make an example of the PhilHealth: jail those who misused public funds through the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) and other schemes," Drilon said. DUBLIN, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Next Generation Cancer Diagnostics: Technologies and Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The scope of this report includes next generation diagnostic technologies, applications, industry subsegments, major funding initiatives, patents and companies. The market sizes for next generation cancer diagnostics are given for 2019, 2020 (estimated) and 2025 (forecasted). This report reviews the main next generation diagnostic technologies, including next generation sequencing (NGS), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiplex conventional, cell or extracellular vesicle capture and arrays/microfluidics. The report also discusses, in-depth, various liquid biopsy platforms and how these compare with tissue-based testing. The report discusses several significant, large-scale research initiatives that contribute to cancer diagnostic development. Key forces driving the market are enumerated. The structures of several important industry subsectors are reviewed, as well as major industry acquisitions and strategic alliances from Jan. 2019 through June 2020. The industry subsectors analyzed include DNA sequencing instruments, long-read DNA sequencing, informatics, PCR, droplet digital PCR, CTC capture and detection and liquid biopsy. The market for next generation cancer diagnostics is analyzed in depth. The market is analyzed by cancer site (bladder, brain, breast, colorectal, cancer of unknown primary, gastric, gynecologic, hematologic, kidney, liver, lung, pan-cancer, pancreatic, prostate, melanoma and thyroid), by test purpose (screening/early detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy guidance), by test platform (arrays/microfluidics, cell/EV capture, multiplex conventional, PCR and NGS) and by geography (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Rest of World). Market data covers 2019, 2020 (estimated) and 2025 (forecasted). There is a special section discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the market for next generation cancer diagnostics. More than 130 companies in the next generation cancer diagnostics industry are profiled in this report. The research provides a summary of the main industry acquisitions and strategic alliances from Jan. 2019 through June 2020, including key alliance trends. The report includes: 22 data tables and 74 additional tables An overview of the global market and technologies for next generation cancer diagnostics Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2019, estimates for 2020, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2025 Analyses of the next generation cancer diagnostics market by cancer site, analysis purpose, analysis platform and region Discussion on arrays and microfluidics (LOAC) technologies, multiplex conventional technologies, next generation sequencing technology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology Evaluation of current market trends, market size, market forecast, pipeline analysis of new products, and regulatory scenarios of the cancer diagnostics market Discussion on factors affecting the market including cancer diagnostics needs, regulatory trends, industry structure, and patent statuses Details of the key initiatives and programs related to the next generation cancer diagnostics market Market share analysis of the key companies of the industry, their strategic profiling, competitive landscape, and their detailed company profiles, including Abbott Laboratories, Illumina Inc., Myriad Genetics Inc., Qiagen NV, Oche Holding AG, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Key Topics Covered Chapter 1 Introduction Study Goals and Objectives Reasons for Doing This Study Scope of Report Information Sources Methodology Geographic Breakdown Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights Chapter 3 Overview Large-Scale Initiatives and Consortia Market Size Liquid Biopsy as a Market Driving Force Key Trends Industry Chapter 4 Technologies Diagnostics Overview Arrays and Microfluidics (LOAC) Technologies DNA Microarrays Protein Microarrays Microfluidics Multiplex Conventional Technologies Next Generation Sequencing Technology Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Technology Chapter 5 Liquid Biopsy Technologies Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers Cancer Genomics Circulating Tumor Cell Technologies CTC Workflow Cell Isolation Technologies CTC Sample Preparation Technologies CTC Downstream Analysis Technologies Comparison of Liquid Biopsy with Conventional Biopsy Cancer Testing Avatar-Driven Diagnostic Approaches Chapter 6 Next Generation Cancer Diagnostics: Key Initiatives and Programs Blood Profiling Atlas Cancer-ID Cancer Moon Shots China Precision Medicine Initiative ClinGen CTC Trap Consortium Early Cancer Detection Consortium EpiFemCare France Genomic Medicine Plan Friends of Cancer Research Project Human Cell Atlas Immunomonitor Consortium Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring Liquid Biopsies and Imaging for Improved Cancer Care Million Veteran Program MedSeq Next-Generation Single-Cell Analysis Program Population Sequencing Projects Precancer Atlas Precision Medicine Initiative Prompt QuIP Project Single-Cell Proteomics and Lipidomics Project TopMed Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative Very Rare Cancer Consortium Worldwide Innovative Networking (WIN) Consortium Single-Cell Research Cambridge Single-Cell Analysis Core Facility Harvard Medical School Single-Cell Core Mayo Medical Genome Facility National Center for Single-Cell Biology Single-Cell Analysis Core UC San Francisco Single-Cell Analysis Center Population Sequencing Programs Chapter 7 Next Generation Cancer Diagnostic Applications by Cancer Site Introduction Bladder Cancer Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Screening Prognosis and Pharmacogenetics Tests Breast Cancer MDx Platforms Status of Next Generation Breast Cancer Tests Breast Cancer Early Detection and Screening Tests Breast Cancer Risk Tests Response to Chemotherapy, Recurrence Probability and Subtyping Gynecologic Cancers Cervical Cancer Ovarian Cancer Colorectal Cancer Conventional Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests Next Generation Colorectal Cancer Diagnostic Tests Cancer Unknown Primary Gastric Cancer Kidney Cancer Hematologic Tests: Leukemia and Myeloma Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Hematologic Tests: Lymphomas Melanoma Pan-Cancer Prostate Cancer Thyroid Cancer Chapter 8 Cancer Diagnostics Industries Sequencing Instruments Industry Long Read Sequencing Industry Sequencing Informatics Industry PCR Industry Droplet Digital PCR Industry CTC Capture and Detection Industry Liquid Biopsy Assay Industry Chapter 9 Industry Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances Acquisitions Strategic Alliances Chapter 10 Cancer Diagnostics Markets Forces Driving Growth COVID-19 Impact on Cancer Diagnostic Markets Cancer Markets Market for Next Generation Cancer Diagnostics by Cancer Site Bladder Cancer Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Gynecologic Cancers Cancer of Unknown Primary Gastric Cancer Hematologic Cancers Kidney Cancer Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Melanoma Pan-Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Thyroid Cancer Market for Next Generation Cancer Diagnostics by Purpose of Analysis Screening/Early Detection Market Diagnosis Market Therapy Guidance Market Monitoring Market Market for Next Generation Cancer Diagnostics by Test Platform PCR Test Platform NGS Test Platform Array/Microfluidics Test Platform Cells and/or EV Capture Test Platform Multiplex Conventional Test Platform Market for Test Platforms by Cancer Site PCR Test Platform NGS Test Platform Market by Diagnostic Segment Screening/Early Detection Market Diagnostics Market Monitoring Market Therapy Guidance Market Breast Cancer Diagnostics Colorectal Cancer Diagnostics Lung Cancer Diagnostics Pan-Cancer Diagnostics Prostate Cancer Diagnostics Regional Market Analysis Chapter 11 Patents Circulating Tumor Cell Patents Exosome Patents Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) Patents Biomarker-Related Patents Patent Considerations: AI in Cancer Diagnostics Chapter 12 Company Profiles 20/20 Gene Systems Abbott Laboratories Adaptive Biotechnologies Inc. Agendia Nv Agilent Technologies Inc. Akadeum Life Sciences Ambry Genetics Amoy Diagnostics Co. Ltd. Angle Plc Apocell Inc. Apostle Inc. Arbor Vita Corp. Archer Dx Arocell Ab Arup Laboratories Aspira Labs Asuragen, Inc. Atila Biosystems Aviva Biosciences Becton, Dickinson And Co. BGI Shenzhen Bio-Techne Corp. Biocartis Nv Biocept Inc. Biodesix Inc. Biofidelity Ltd. Biofluidica Inc. Biolidics Ltd. Biological Dynamics Inc. Bioprognos Sl Biotheranostics Inc. Bluestar Genomics Inc. Cancer Genetics Inc. Caris Life Sciences Castle Biosciences Inc. CC Diagnostics Bv Celcuity Inc. Cell Microsystems Inc. Cellmax Life Cellular Analytics Celsee Diagnostics Chip Diagnostics Chronix Biomedical Circulogene Theranostics Clinical Genomics Technologies Codiak Biosciences Danaher Corp. Decipher Biosciences Dermtech Diacarta Inc. Dnalytics Epic Sciences Inc. Epigenomics Ag Exact Sciences Corp. Fluxion Biosciences Inc. Freenome Inc. Fulgent Genetics Inc. Genecentric Therapeutics Genedx Inc. Geneoscopy Llc Genera Biosystems Geneseq Biosciences Pty Ltd. Genetron Health Technologies Inc. Genexosome Technologies Inc. Grail Inc. Guardant Health Inc. Hologic Inc. HTG Molecular Diagnostics Inc. IDL Biotech Illumina Inc. Immunis Ai Incelldx Inc. Inivata Ltd. Interpace Biosciences Inc. Invitae Inc. Invivoscribe Inc. JBS Science Inc. Laboratory Corp. Of America Inc. Lexent Bio Inc. Lucence Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. Lunglife Ai, Inc. MDNA Life Sciences Inc. Mdxhealth Inc. Medgenome Inc. Menarini Silicon Biosystems Spa MIR Scientific Miradx Mutantdx My Personal Therapeutics Ltd. Myriad Genetics Inc. Neo New Oncology Gmbh Neogenomics Laboratories Nodexus Novigenix Sa Nrich Dx Nucleix Nuprobe Inc. Oncimmune Holdings Plc Oncocyte Corp. Oncodna S.A. Opko Health Oxford Gene Technology Pacific Edge Ltd. Pangaea Laboratory Pangaea Oncology Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. Polymedco, Inc. Predicine Inc. Provista Diagnostics Inc. Qiagen Nv Quantumdx Quest Diagnostics Inc. Rarecyte Inc. Resolution Bioscience Inc. Roche Holding Ag Saga Diagnostics Ab Sanomics Ltd. Sienna Cancer Diagnostics Ltd. Singlera Genomics Inc. Sistemas Genomicos Skylinedx Bv Stage Zero Life Sciences Strand Life Sciences Pvt., Ltd. Sysmex Inostics Gmbh Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Thrive Earlier Detection Corp. Tiziana Life Sciences Plc Veracyte Volitionrx Vortex Biosciences Xing Technologies Llc Yikon Genomics Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uy3sdd 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] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com FONTANA, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of California Steel Industries, Inc. (CSI) is pleased to publicly announce the appointment of Mr. Shinji Tanaka as the organization's new President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Mr. Marcelo Botelho Rodrigues who completed his four-year term on August 1, 2020. Mr. Tanaka joined CSI in January 2020 as the Executive Vice President of Engineering and Continuous Improvement coming from JFE Steel in Japan, one of CSI's two shareholding companies, where he has worked since 1989. Prior to joining CSI, he served as Staff General Manager of the Overseas Business Planning Department at JFE Steel, and prior to that served as General Manager of the Plant Engineering Department in Fukuyama Works. Mr. Tanaka has also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of CSI. From 2001 to 2004, he worked at CSI and served as the Manager of Hot Strip Mill Maintenance. Mr. Tanaka graduated from Osaka University with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. His predecessor, Mr. Botelho Rodrigues, has served as President and CEO of CSI since August 2016. Following the completion of his assignment at CSI, he has returned to Vale S.A. of Brazil to pursue new opportunities. Prior to joining CSI, Mr. Botelho Rodrigues worked at Vale where he served as Controller Global Director. CSI's two shareholders are Vale S.A. (Vale) of Brazil and JFE Steel Corporation (JFE) of Japan. Each shareholder owns 50 percent of the shares of CSI. The announced leadership change is in keeping with historical practices to rotate the position of President and CEO between nominees of CSI's shareholding companies after completion of a four-year term. About California Steel Industries, Inc. California Steel Industries, Inc., located near Fontana, California, is the leading producer of flat rolled steel products in the western United States (the 11 states located west of the Rocky Mountains) based on tonnage billed. The company produces a broad range of products, including hot rolled, pickled and oiled, cold rolled, and galvanized sheet, and electric resistant welded pipe up to 24" diameter. CSI has nearly 900 employees. For more information, please visit our website at www.californiasteel.com. Contact: Fernando Barros Executive Vice President, Finance & Administration California Steel Industries, Inc. (909) 350-6411 [email protected] www.californiasteel.com SOURCE California Steel Industries, Inc. Related Links https://www.californiasteel.com MORRISTOWN, NJThe budget introduced by Gov. Phil Murphy this week includes millions in cuts to county Child Advocacy Centers, who say abuse cases across the state are increasing. "It really is the perfect storm," said Maria Vinci Savettiere, executive director of Deidre's House, a Child Advocacy Center in Morristown whose funding was cut. "Our referrals are going through the roof, and now we have no money from the state." Savettiere said $4.5 million previously designated to be split between the 21 centers in the state has been slashed from the budget. She added that cases are rising in the state because children who were isolating with their abusers now can leave the house and disclose to others. "This is really the worst time to cut services to children," Savettiere said. "I realize the state is in a terrible budget shortfall, but we're talking about a drop in the bucket." Deirdre's House is designated one of 21 Child Advocacy Centers in New Jersey. The facility provides free medical exams, forensic interviewing, clinical counseling, and other services to abused and neglected children in Morris County. Savettiere said the governor's office told her the funding was cut because the money, which was initially set aside by the Christie administration, was intended to go only towards the construction of advocacy centers. Savettiere disagreed, and said the money should have been shifted to paying for services to the community. The governor's office did not return a request for comment on Wednesday. Regardless of the reason, Savettiere said the cuts will cause major problems for Deirdre's House, which saw its federal funding disappear last year. Compounding the issue is the extra costs incurred during the pandemic for telehealth programs. Savettiere said one of her staff will need to be let go, but others could follow. "It's the last thing I want to do," she said, "but I have no choice if this happens." This article originally appeared on the Morristown Patch National Weather Service The predicted track of Hurricane Laura has gone mostly unchanged since this morning, with the storm's center striking the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday. According to the 4 p.m. forecast from the National Hurricane Center, the system is currently slogging across the Gulf about 510 miles southeast of Galveston. Here the key points from the latest advisories: A total of 77% of Covid-19 patients treated with Tocilizumab and Remdesivir the two drugs under trial which are an essential part of the treatment protocol have survived, according to data procured from a major tertiary-care civic-run hospital. However, doctors have recommended further studies to establish the effectiveness of the drugs. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug used for treatment of Ebola which costs 5,000 per vial. It is manufactured by Hyderabad-based Hetero Healthcare and Cipla. Tocilizumab, also known as Atlizumab, was originally designed as an immunosuppressive drug to treat arthritis, and imported by Roche pharma and marketed by Mumbai-based Cipla. Data shared by the health department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) showed that till August 23, 642 patients suffering from Covid-19 were treated with Tocilizumab and Remdesivir at the hospital. Of these, 493 survived, while 149 (23%) succumbed to the infection. At the civic-run hospital, 477 Covid-19 patients were treated with Remdesivir. On the first day, 200mg of dosage was given. In the next four days, 100mg of dosage was provided to the patients. Following which, 385 of them recovered, which makes the recovery rate 80.7%. Ninety-two of them died. At the same hospital, of the 165 patients who were given Tocilizumab, 108 survived (65.5%), while the remaining 57 (34.5%) died. The data also shows there were more deaths among people who were given two doses of Tocilizumab. In the first set of patients, 141 of them were given 400mg of Tocilizumab dosage. Of these, 100 recovered, taking the recovery rate to 71% and 41 (29%) died. In the second set, where 24 patients were given two dosages of Tocilizumab, only 8 (33.3%) survived, while 16 (66.7%) died. Mostly, critical patients with comorbidities are given two doses of Tocilizumab, but as the result shows, it doesnt prove to be fruitful. We have instructed civic-run hospitals to provide only one dose of Tocilizumab to patients, said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner, BMC. A state Covid-19 task force member Dr Rahul Pandit also recommended a single dose of Tocilizumab be given. In July, Roche said their trial didnt find Tocilizumab to be effective when used on Covid-19 patients. Several international studies have shown that Tocilizumab is ineffective in the treatment of novel coronavirus. In my experience, steroids have proved to be more helpful. The survival and mortality rate of patients on Tocilizumab dont hold much importance until it is supported by scientific studies, said Dr Lancelot Pinto, an epidemiologist from Hinduja Hospital. Research has shown that both the drugs (Tocilizumab and Remdesivir) may not be effective in saving lives, but do contribute to faster recovery. It reduces the recovery rate of patients by 2-3 days, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:20:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ANKARA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The declining number of travelers to Turkey's southern golden beaches is a misfortune for the nation's economy, but a relief for the loggerhead sea turtles. Loggerhead turtles are an endangered species which use Turkey's Western Mediterranean coast as one of their main nesting areas, laying their eggs there, before returning to the sea. The shores and the sea are cleaner and safer today as the global health crisis has prevented millions of tourists from traveling to Turkey this year, much to the satisfaction of these marine creatures who are able to lay their eggs in peace on mostly empty beaches. Animal activists are happy that these protected creatures can breed freely, as each year during the hatching season, dozens of animal lovers and activists flock to the nesting grounds to protect the babies from humans. Artificial lights from hotels or other touristic establishments are very dangerous to the hatchlings and may disorient them and ultimately cause their deaths. Hatchlings orient themselves towards the sea by making use of the brightness of the horizon and the reflection of the moon on the water's surface. Ecological Research Association (EKAD) President and Hacettepe University biology instructor Ali Fuat Canbolat said the tourism season opened late this year, in early July, because of the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown restrictions. "As 95 percent of hotels were closed in the southern provinces, the loggerhead sea turtles were not disturbed by artificial lights. They prefer not to lay their eggs where the lights are too bright," he told Xinhua. This year, his association detected some 3,000 nesting grounds, a record number, on the beaches of Belek district of Antalya province, which has dozens of luxurious hotels. "The previous highest number was around 2,600 in 2016, so we can say that the turtles were a bit more comfortable this year," said the specialist, indicating that the turtles lay eggs every three to four years. "They don't lay eggs every year; when they do, they may nest three to four times a season," Canbolat pointed out. The loggerhead sea turtles are migratory and spend the winter not only in the Aegean Sea, but also in other seas, such as the Adriatic. Several associations including EKAD are trying for many years to increase awareness for this endangered species and they have generally succeeded, explained Canbolat. Yet, he insisted, local administrations still have a long way to go as they sometimes consider the presence of the turtles as a "nuisance" to development projects. Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan made an appearance last week on an Antalya beach in Kas district with government ministers to release injured turtles back to the sea. The turtles had received treatment for their injuries inflicted by boat propellers. "The turtles are one of the oldest inhabitants on the earth, unfortunately, they face the danger of extinction. We need to help their survival because they are essential for the ecosystem," she said on the occasion, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported. The turtles were fitted with tracking chips so scientists can monitor their journey and the dangers they encounter. "Only a few out of a thousand hatchlings survive to become an adult and that takes up to 15 years at least, so this animal is a feat of nature that should be protected," she added. Enditem Air travel will not resume to prior levels for the foreseeabIe future, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has said. I dont see a scenario where we will have widespread travel over the coming months, Dr Glynn said. He pointed out that over the past 14 days there had been 69 cases in Ireland that stemmed from foreign travel, and each case had the potential to create new infections here. Twenty cases were imported, and the remaining 49 infections arose from contact with imported cases, he said. Read More Dr Glynn was told by Michael McNamara, Chairman of the Dail coronavirus committee, that the Deputy Chief Scientist for the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) had said that movement between countries did not seem to play a major role in transmissions, and control measures were a matter for individual countries. Dr Glynn said Germany had seen an increase in cases, with 2,000 new reported infections on Saturday, 40pc of which were related to travel abroad. To my mind the numbers speak for themselves, he added. Mr McNamara said 40pc was incredibly high and he would expect Germany to be shortly sealed off in such a scenario. Dr Glynn said the travel message remained the same, adding: I know its not what everyone wants to hear, but it is that everyone should avoid unnecessary travel. Asked about the possibility of Ireland emulating the United States, which has fast-tracked the use of antibody-rich plasma to treat infected cases in hospital, Dr Glynn was cautious. All technologies and interventions or testing and diagnostics, screening and treatments, are kept under review, he said. We're open to all approaches. Were looking at new forms of testing to complement our existing naso-pharyngeal swab and PCR tests, and we'll continue to do that. Sewage water could be analysed for sero-prevalence in Ireland, or a snapshot of infection in the general population he suggested, as has happened in other countries. Were constantly looking to improve our surveillance, whether that's through wastewater surveillance or other methods. So this is an evolving situation, he said. Were learning, but what we don't want to do is rush something through that's not ready, or that in fact will have unintended detrimental consequences in terms of our ability to manage this. So we are absolutely open to learning, changing and evolving, and we need to do that in a considered way. As Hurricane Laura hurtles toward the Gulf Coast, residential centers for vulnerable populations prepare for the worst. In areas with mandatory evacuation orders, directors of assisted-living facilities must negotiate transporting people as quickly as possible while keeping in mind the need for distance during the novel coronavirus pandemic. In counties with optional evacuations, directors must decide: Is it safer to stay or go? We have to think about the impact of relocating all our residents, and all of our patients who are needing 24-hour care, said Charles Solomon, executive director of The Resort at Texas City. When you have patients with several health care concerns, you want to keep them in a safe environment for as long as possible. You simply do not want to disrupt normal care if you dont have to. During Hurricane Harvey, residents in assisted-living facilities suffered as they sheltered in place and endured floodwater and Texas heat without power or were simply abandoned altogether. Hurricane Irma knocked out the power at one Florida nursing home, and 12 residents died in the heat. (The state since mandated that all nursing homes and assisted living facilities have backup generators.) But during 2005s evacuation from Hurricane Rita, 23 patients from a Bellaire nursing home died when their bus caught on fire. The Resort at Texas City has already faced tragedy this year: More than 80 residents tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and 11 died. Solomon said the facility is now COVID-free. If adminstrators do have to evacuate for Laura, he said, theyll send patients to Humble. In Orange, nursing home facilities dont have a choice: The county is under a mandatory evacuation order. Its not easy getting prepared for something like this, said Rachelle Wilson, manager of the Golden Years Assisted Living Facility in Orange. Golden Years is sending its 13 clients to Summit Nursing Home & Rehab of San Augustine, about a two-hour drive north. Summit will provide food; Golden Years is transporting up patients food and clothing. To maintain safety during coronavirus, patients are sitting every other seat on the transport buses and wearing masks. Unlike Orange, Galveston County is under an optional evacuation order, leaving facility directors in charge of what to do. Erika Parrish, administrator of the Bayou Pines Care Center in La Marque, has been prepping for a shelter-in-place. The facility didnt flood during Harvey. The staff purchased headlamps so they wouldnt have to hold flashlights, checked their long-term supply of food and medicine and moved all outdoor furniture inside. Theyve hooked up the residents essential medical equipment to plugs that will go directly to the backup generator in case of a power outage. Its more detrimental to move, she said (although staff printed up identifiers for residents and DNR statuses just in case). We dont want to move to a place where maybe they have COVID and we expose our residents. Parrish and the staff plan on turning the shelter-in-place into a slumber party: Theyve rearranged their offices to accommodate air mattresses and will project a movie for the residents. As Baytowns Bay Area Homeless Shelter does not have a backup generator, staff is getting ready to operate without power, said executive director Bill Eckert. Theyve bought food to cook without electricity and supplies to cook outdoors on barbecues in case they have to go for days without power. The shelter only has 17 people in it about one-third of operating capacity. But theyre already prepping for what happens if people show up unexpectedly. Were gonna have to find a way to shelter them, but we have to keep the COVID down, Eckert said. Its gonna be a challenge, but we are an emergency shelter, and well take folks in as needed but were not a Red Cross shelter where we can handle unlimited capacity. Galvestons ADA Womens Center an addiction rehabilitation center for women saw the storm trending west and decided to send its clients home to their families. Of the 10 women they were treating, one is experiencing homelessness. Director Ellie Hanley called up the Bay Area Recovery Center in Dickinson and got her a place through the storm. Everyone entering ADA Womens Center during hurricane season must fill out an evacuation plan: A lesson, Hanley said, they learned from Hurricane Ike and perfected after Harvey. During Harvey, we took a look at what clients plans were, and we realized many of their families were coming from East Texas, so they wouldve had to drive through very bad weather and potential flooding, she said. We had a meeting with the clients and said, We are prepared to stay open. It was much safer for the clients to stay and not put their families at risk, she said. Before the clients left, ADAs counselor took their phone numbers and asked them to check in with her once or twice a day. Everyone got a list of online 12 step meetings to attend and was given optional assignments from their counselor to work on to maintain their progress during the hiatus. In Ike we got a little bit of water, a hole in the roof and a window blew out, but that took several weeks to get put back right, Hanley said. Hopefully this will not be the same sort of thing. sarah.smith@chron.com Kuwaits Deputy Emir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah has vowed that the Gulf country will not spare any royal family member involved in any wrongdoings including corruption. Sheikh Nawaf, reports say, in a televised address indicated that no offender will escape punishment. The comments are in the background of state crackdown on corruption and the arrest in July of former Prime Minister Hamad Al-Sabah in connection with a money laundry scandal in Malaysia. Hamad, according to investigation, helped former Malaysian leader Najib Razak illegally transfer money from a state-controlled fund into his personal bank accounts. In the latest development into the investigation, the Interior Ministry announced this week that an independent panel was probing recordings leaked from the national security agency. The national security agency, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports, helped Hamads son to cover up his role in the scandal. After rumors swirled this past spring, supermodel Gigi Hadid confirmed that she and her boyfriend Zayn Malik were expecting their first child together. Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Hadid has been spending time in Pennsylvania on her familys farm with Malik, her sister, Bella, and mother Yolanda, among others. Though Hadid confirmed the baby news on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she did not speak about it or discuss it further until July 2020. On an Instagram Live, she finally gave fans a peek at her bump and she explained that shed been keeping the special time close to her heart, especially since there is so much going on in the world. Now, as the 25-year-olds due date approaches, she and Malik have returned to their NYC home base to prepare. Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik are spending their final pre-baby days in NYC After spending a low-key and dreamy summer under the stars in Pennsylvania, Hadid and Malik have returned to the models recently renovated $5.8 million Noho apartment. The stylish apartment was just completed with Hadid sharing photos from the space on her Instagram account. She wrote, spent all of last year designing and curating. My passion project / dream spot. Hadids mom and sister are also with them. Though she did not share the babys nursery with fans, a source has revealed how she and Malik are feeling during this exciting time. The insider told E! News, Zayn and Gigi are really excited and have been loving this experience together. They both are reading parenting books, have had fun planning the nursery and picking out items together. Things are going really smoothly, and they are closer as a couple more than ever. RELATED: Gigi Hadid Shares First Full-Length Photo of Herself Since Pregnancy Reveal and Fans Have Questions Fans are convinced Gigi Hadid is having a boy In celebration of Hadids 25th birthday back in April, she and Bella shared several snaps from their family soiree. Fans are convinced the party also served as gender reveal. In one photo, Hadid held a massive number two balloon with a blue ribbon and a massive number five balloon with a pink ribbon. However, in the photo of herself with Malik, she is just holding the number two balloon with the blue ribbon. Fans are convinced this means the model is having a boy. Hadid nor Malik have confirmed their babys gender, but Hadid did jus share some gorgeous maternity photos on her Instagram account. She wrote, Growin an angel :)cherishing this time. appreciate all the love & well wishes will never forget creating these special images with my friend. thank you. I love you! Gigi Hadids biggest pregnancy craving is a breakfast favorite Though Hadid has kept most of her pregnancy private, she has shared some of her pregnancy cravings and delicious creations including, including cinnamon rolls, sushi, strawberries, and Caprese salad. However, her ultimate craving is bagels. In the morning, my family brought out an everything bagel cake, which already blew my mind because my craving has been everything bagels, Hadid revealed on Fallon regarding her birthday. I eat an everything bagel a day, so I was so excited that my birthday cake was an everything bagel. W&M communitys Songs of Freedom to honor late Rep. John Lewis Songs of Freedom: Using a new online platform, performers from the William & Mary community will unite with various artists from across the country to honor giants of social justice to perform Songs of Freedom: Concert for Civil Rights on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Courtesy photo Photo - of - Hide Caption Using a new online platform, performers from the William & Mary community will unite with various artists from across the country to honor giants of social justice. Songs of Freedom: Concert for Civil Rights will take place on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. on YouTube and Zoom with pay-what-you-can admission. Donations will support arts and education initiatives for Black, Indigenous, people of color and minoritized high school students, according to event organizers. Francis Tanglao Aguas, W&M professor of theatre and Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies, will direct and produce the performance through his online endeavor Aguas Arts Ink with Madison Hauser 19 and Margot Flanders 22 also serving in production roles. Our civil rights heroes were very clear in their message that education is the great equalizer so this is our attempt to realize their dream for the next generation, Aguas said. The diverse cast will offer song, dance and poetry to commemorate key dates in the civil rights struggle that took place on Aug. 28 such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream speech in 1963 and the killing of Emmett Till in 1955, according to Aguas. The performance will be specially dedicated to the memory of the late Rep. John Lewis, who died on July 17. I'm glad to participate in this program that honors John Lewis, said Professor of English and Africana Studies Hermine Pinson. As a child of the civil rights movement, I lived with my family in Nashville and often visited Fisk University's campus during the time John Lewis, Diane Nash, James Bevel and others were participating in nonviolence workshops often held in Jubilee Hall. I wasn't old enough then to understand the significance of their work or the enormity of the task that lay before them. I do now. Perhaps thats the reason, to quote Nina Simone, I want to sing, difficult though it might be in these times, because I know what it means to be free, and I hope the William & Mary community never loses sight of its mission to inspire our students to fight for freedom. Virginia's newly-appointed Poet Laureate Luisa Igloria, the Louis I. Jaffe Endowed Professor and University Professor of English and Creative Writing at Old Dominion University, will deliver the keynote poetry reading. Also starring will be Regie Cabico of HBOs Def Poetry Jam, the Leah Glenn Dance Theatre, YELLXPERIL-Matt Nguyen-Ngo 17 and Brandeis University Assistant Professor of Theater Arts Isaiah Wooden. Among those featured will be W&M faculty members Professor of Dance Leah Glenn, Professor Emerita of English Jacquelyn McLendon, Instructor of Jazz Piano and Harmonica Harris Simon, and Pinson, as well as students Marcus Bengzon 21, Quan Chau 21 and Sumie Yotsukura 22. Alumni among the performers will be Anthony Elopre 09, Ameya Jammi King 12, B.J. Minor, 13, Branden Polk 07, Alana Canty-Samuel 18, Jamar Jones 13, Kristin Hopkins 15, Syreeta Mack 08 and Christopher Michael Richardson 13. I am proud to be part of this important moment when all over the world people are raising their voices in support of equality and justice for all, McLendon said. I hope Songs of Freedom helps to reinforce the work that Rep. John Lewis dedicated his life to at the same time that it pays tribute to a most courageous and honorable man. This moment also gives me a chance to reunite with colleagues and former students and remember our first collaboration at William & Mary [in 2006] To Walk with Giants. Leah Glenn Dance Theatre will present a new solo entitled Letter to the Editor, according to Glenn. This is a solo inspired by my father, John Lewis and the work and values that shaped their careers and lives, Glenn said. It will be performed by Christopher Page-Sanders, who has been a guest artist with my company for the past four years. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is demanding COVID-19 data from the governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan to probe whether rules around testing nursing home patients caused the deaths of thousands of elderly people. The department sent letters to the Democratic governors Wednesday telling them it may investigate whether they violated the civil rights of elderly people through their handling of the pandemic. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan all issued rules at the peak of the pandemic ordering nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients back through their doors. The controversial move has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, especially given that elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions are most vulnerable to the killer virus. In New York - once the virus epicenter of the world - more than 6,600 nursing home residents have died from coronavirus. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is demanding COVID-19 data from the governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan to probe whether rules around testing nursing home patients caused the deaths of thousands of elderly people. Ambulance workers pick up an elderly man from Cobble Hill Health Center in New York in April The DOJ said it will use the COVID-19 data to determine whether the state orders could have led to deaths of nursing home patients. Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband said the DOJ's Civil Rights Division will decide whether to launch investigations under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act CRIPA, which protects the civil rights of people in state-run nursing homes. 'Protecting the rights of some of society's most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our country's most important obligations,' said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband. 'We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk.' Nursing homes, long-term care facilities and assisted-living centers have witnessed some of the deadliest outbreaks nationwide. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has otherwise been widely praised for his handling of the pandemic, has faced blistering criticism over his state directive on nursing homes. On March 25, he issued an order that patients recovering from COVID-19 be sent back to their nursing homes. Cuomo told state facilities they could not refuse to accept recovering COVID-19 patients from hospitals as long as the patients were 'medically stable' and even barred homes from testing such patients to see if they still had the virus. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has otherwise been widely praised for his handling of the pandemic, has faced blistering criticism over his state directive on nursing homes The aim was to help free up hospital beds for the sickest patients as cases surged uncontrollably across the state and hospitals were on the brink of collapse. Over a month later, on April 29, the Health Department clarified that homes should not take any new residents if they were unable to meet their needs, including a checklist of standards for coronavirus care and prevention. On May 10 Cuomo reversed the directive and pushed the blame onto Donald Trump - marking just one of a series of public bust-ups with the president throughout the pandemic. Trump said in March that long-term care facilities could and should accept everyone they normally would as long as they were capable of caring for people properly and could take steps to prevent a virus spread. 'Why did the state do that with COVID patients in nursing homes?' Cuomo said in May. 'It's because the state followed President Trump's CDC guidelines. So they should ask President Trump.' By this point, New York's death toll in care homes had already climbed to among the highest in the nation and relatives, patient advocates and nursing home administrators blamed the directive for spreading the virus among vulnerable residents. Cuomo then faced fresh criticism in July when an internal report agreed with his claims that his order to send COVID-19 patients back to nursing homes did not drive the deadly outbreaks. The state's report concluded that the directive was 'not a significant factor' in the deadly outbreaks and instead a staggering 37,500 infected nursing home staff went to work and unwittingly spread the virus to people in their care. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan all issued rules ordering nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients back through their doors. The COVID-19 data will be used to determine whether the state orders could have led to the deaths of nursing home patients Medical officials help a resident from St. Joseph's nursing home in New Jersey to evacuate after a number of residents tested positive for coronavirus disease in March It also said 80 percent of the 310 nursing homes that admitted coronavirus patients already had a confirmed or suspected case among its residents or staff before the directive was issued. Scientists, health care professionals and officials blasted the report saying it used flawed methodology and handpicked stats to back up his insistence that his policy did not cost thousands of lives. Cuomo continues to deny responsibility for the nursing home deaths which, as of August 24, had reached 6,629. A recent AP investigation found that the state's death toll of nursing home patients could be far higher, estimating that 11,000 is a more realistic sum. New York only counts residents who died on nursing home property and not those who were transported to hospitals and died there. Donald Trump last week touted the 11,000 figure and blasted Cuomo 'crooked' and 'incompetent' in a Twitter rant, in retaliation to the governor calling his administration's COVID-19 response 'dysfunctional and incompetent' during night one of the Democratic National Convention. Overall, New York has recorded 435,931 cases and 32,918 deaths since the virus first started ravaging the state. New Jersey has recorded 6,716 deaths among nursing home residents and 121 among staff - meaning it has the highest death rate for nursing homes of all states nationwide. This makes up around 40 percent of the state's total death toll of 16,071. Total cases now stand at 190,484. At one New Jersey nursing facility, the Andover Subacute and Rehab Center in Sussex County, 17 bodies were found in a makeshift morgue, sparking a state investigation. The state issued a similar directive to its neighboring state on March 31 saying patients could not be denied entry into nursing homes based on a positive COVID-19 test. Governor Phil Murphy has strongly defended the directive, saying it mirrored CDC guidance. And like Cuomo, Murphy also ordered a 'rapid review' into his state's handling of the crisis in June - a review critics also accused of glossing over problems. In Michigan, a total of 2,083 nursing home residents have died from coronavirus - roughly a third of the state's 6,693 total death toll. Michigan officials have said they didn't force any nursing homes to take COVID-19 patients if facilities said they couldn't care for them and that facilities were required to house infected patients away from non-infected patients. In April, Governor Gretchen Whitmer created 21 'hubs' - nursing homes that were meant to have the equipment and capacity to care for COVID-19 patients in separate areas from non-COVID residents. However, in July, an investigation from Detroit News of the 45 nursing homes with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths found nearly half had failed follow infection control, isolation or staffing policies in the last four months. In Pennsylvania, the 2,995 nursing home deaths make up 39 percent of all 7,624 deaths. In some counties, this proportion is far higher, with around residents of long-term care facilities in Lancaster County accounting for around 68 percent of all deaths there. Governor Tom Wolf has accepted some blame for the high death toll after he ordered nursing homes to accept infected patients but said it was a reflection of the desperate time trying to free up hospital beds. 'That was a reflection of how dire the straits we were in,' he said. Nationwide, more than 5.8 million Americans have been infected with the deadly virus and more than 179,000 have been killed. A special needs assistant (SNA) who is receiving dialysis for end-stage renal disease is among a number of school staff with serious health conditions told to return to classrooms, it has been claimed The SNA is very alarmed and very upset, according to Andy Pike, the head of education at Forsa, the union that represents SNAs. She attends dialysis three times a week, and is on a range of medication to keep her on the straight and narrow health-wise, he said. She can attend work under normal circumstances, but her GP and consultant are astounded that she has been told by the occupational health service that she has to attend work. The union is concerned that standard occupational health advice gives insufficient protection against Covid-19 to classroom-based staff with underlying health problems. SNAs cant practise social distancing, and do their job because they work so closely with the students they give personal care to, according to Mr Pike. We now have up to 30 instances where there are staff with quite serious conditions, most of them with consultant opinion that they are at very high risk, all being told they can attend. Today, Forsa is to refer the issue to the Workplace Relations Commission for conciliation, with a view to progressing it to the Labour Court if a resolution is not found. Its not something we are going to let rest, Mr Pike said. Teaching unions have also expressed concerns regarding the arrangements for 'high-risk' teachers. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said it is aware of a number of teachers who have underlying conditions that have been advised to return to school. The union has called on the Government to intervene so that these teachers can appeal decisions in a timely manner, and have the opinion of their treating doctors fully taken into account. The Association of Secondary Teachers' Ireland (ASTI) has also sought the intervention of Stephen Donnelly, the health minister, after its request to meet with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) was declined. The union sought a meeting to discuss a review of the public health advice around schools, according to Kieran Christie, ASTI general secretary. It is concerned over plans for at-risk teachers, but also has a number of questions around measures in schools. There are even simple questions like why did they not recommend perspex for instance, he added. When asked if this is something the union members will take action over, Mr Christie said: We will wait and see. In terms of the HPSC, our objective would be to persuade them to review their guidance. A spokesman for the Department of Education said the safety of students and staff has been paramount during discussions around the return to school. The process adopted for assessing which risk category a staff member is in line with other areas of public sector including the health sector, he added. HSE guidelines say that staff in the higher risk category can attend the workplace with appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures, or with PPE where social distancing is problematic. Where concerns remain about the risk categorisation, the occupational health service will arrange a review by an internal team to ensure the outcome is consistent with public health guidelines, he added. A spokesman for the Department of Education said the safety of students and staff has been paramount during discussions around the return to school. The process adopted for assessing which risk category a staff member is in line with other areas of public sector including the health sector, he added. HSE guidelines say that staff in the higher risk category can attend the workplace with appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures, or with PPE where social distancing is problematic. Where concerns remain about the risk categorisation, the occupational health service will arrange a review by an internal team to ensure the outcome is consistent with public health guidelines, he added. Los Angeles Loses Again in Bid to Halt Indoor Services at Megachurch Los Angeles County has failed for the fourth time during the current pandemic to shut down indoor church services at Grace Community Church of the Valley, a Christian megachurch. The ruling comes as polling suggests Americans remain generally supportive of measures such as social-distancing aimed at mitigating the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. But people are growing tired of certain restrictions. For example, people now regularly flood beaches in California and elsewhere, even where state or local rules forbid it, and there have been many reports of churchgoers across the nation attending religious services in person, even if it means violating public health edicts. The countys request for a temporary restraining order against the church was heard Aug. 24, and the next day, Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff of the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County denied the order, citing the absence of new law or circumstances justifying the granting of the injunction. Beckloff also clarified that an order issued days ago by a state appeals court didnt justify granting a temporary restraining order. The appeals court ruling merely stayed another judges order and gave the county a green light to enforce its own emergency public health order, he found. The court correctly concluded that Los Angeles Countys renewed application for a temporary restraining order was both procedurally and substantively defective, church attorney Paul Jonna said in a statement. The church is represented by the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, a public-interest law firm specializing in religious freedom issues. This was their fourth unsuccessful attempt to obtain a court order prohibiting indoor worship services at Grace Community Church. We look forward to fully vindicating our clients constitutionally protected rights in subsequent proceedings for this important case. Thomas More Society special counsel Jenna Ellis said, This should signal to LA County that California courts will not quickly or easily trample the constitutionally protected rights of churches. We maintain that their health order is unconstitutionally burdening the right of churches to worship, and there exists no rational basis, much less a compelling interest, to try to shut down indoor services at this point, particularly when the county is allowing strip clubs to operate and massive riots to take placeand not seeking restraining orders against them. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 4 in Los Angeles Superior Court. Church pastor John MacArthur said that the legal action against his church was an illegitimate misuse of power that should shock the conscience of every Christian that churches are coming under assault from our own government simply for holding church. Church is essential, the pastor said in a statement. We are very grateful to Judge Beckloff for his reasoned opinion and for taking great care to review this very important matter. In California, many indoor activities were banned in July after rules were relaxed and new infections reportedly rose. Places of worship in the Golden State are now restricted to a maximum of 25 percent of building capacity or 100 attendees indoors, whichever is lower, and singing and chanting are forbidden. Many churches in the stateand outside itare simply ignoring the restrictions, saying its their constitutional right to do so. In a declaration filed with the court, MacArthur said the church, which was founded in 1956, suspended in-person services on March 12, before the county or state issued stay-at-home orders banning large gatherings. Morning and evening worship services, along with regular weekly bible studies, were conducted online. A few days later, when government lockdown orders were issued, the church abided by them, he said. But after not holding in-person services for 19 weeks, church elders voted unanimously at a board meeting July 23 to reopen the church for such services, MacArthur said. Indoor services began July 26 and were followed by a cease-and-desist letter from the county on July 29. Counsel for the county, Jason H. Tokoro and Amnon Z. Siegel of the law firm Miller Barondess, didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. China in Focus (Aug. 25): Chinas Anti-Poverty Campaign on the Line The word China may bring to mind bustling cities like Shanghai and Beijing. But a political campaign has revealed the countrys striking poverty. A TV commercial circulating for weeks says theres an urgent need for 100 beautiful bridesthats Uyghur brides for Chinese men. Those that participate will be rewarded. But whats the motive? Three full pages of a newspaper, taken up with criticism of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Its the strongest ever reaction by the Chinese Communist Party to a Western politician. And a U.S. professor who worked with NASA has been arrested for hiding his ties to China. Each year, the Chinese regime costs the United States $200 to $600 billion dollars in stolen trade secrets, counterfeit goods, and pirated software. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. 78% of consumers are concerned or very concerned about protecting their personal data Privitar, the leading data privacy platform provider, today announced the findings from its 2020 Consumer Trust and Data Privacy Report. Although consumers remain concerned about sharing personal data with companies, the results highlight an opportunity for businesses to take a leadership role and build brand loyalty by protecting their customers. The report found that more than three-quarters of respondents are concerned or very concerned about protecting their personal data, with 42 percent of consumers saying they wouldn't share sensitive data (e.g. name, address, email address, phone number, location information, health information, banking information, social security number) with a business for any reason. As consumers grow increasingly apprehensive when it comes to their data, business success will depend on an organizations' ability to prioritize and successfully execute on privacy initiatives. Key survey findings include: There's a disconnect between consumer sentiment and actions surrounding data protection When it comes to the management of their data, many consumers aren't fully aware of how brands are securing their personal information. According to the survey, almost half of consumers (43 percent) don't know if they've worked with a business that has been impacted by a data breach. When it comes to privacy notices, 28 percent admit to not reading privacy notices at all and 42 percent admitted to only skimming the text. These findings point to a growing sentiment that data privacy should be the responsibility of the business not the customer. With this, businesses have a tremendous opportunity to make data privacy a differentiator and way to build long-term loyalty. The pandemic is creating more data sharing opportunities, but consumers are still wary Despite the growing advancements on the data protection front, more than half of consumers surveyed (51 percent) said they are still not comfortable sharing their personal information. One-third of respondents said they are most concerned about it being stolen in a breach, with another 26 percent worried about it being shared with a third party. In the midst of the growing pandemic, COVID-19 tracking, tracing, containment and research depends on citizens opting in to share their personal data. However, the research shows that consumers are not interested in sharing their information. When specifically asked about sharing healthcare data, only 27 percent would share health data for healthcare advancements and research. Another 21 percent of consumers surveyed would share health data for contact tracing purposes. As data becomes more valuable to combat the pandemic, companies must provide consumers with more background and reasoning as to why they're collecting data and how they plan to protect it. The upcoming U.S. elections and state legislation are driving consumer awareness of data privacy Recently, there's been increased conversation about data privacy and protection legislation across the United States, especially as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is enacted and the Consumer Data Privacy Security Act (CDPSA) awaits its fate in Congress. As the debate grows louder across the nation, 73 percent of consumers think that there should be more government oversight at the federal and/or state/local levels. While legislation can take years to pass, it's important for businesses to overhaul their technology and processes now to quickly address consumers' concerns and keep business running. Businesses must drive data privacy action, using it as a way to build better loyalty with customers Companies rely on brand loyalty to keep their operations up and running. While often referring to affordable costs and personalization as a means to keeping business moving, many overlook the importance of instilling a more personal sense of trust within their customer base. When working with a business, 40 percent of consumers think the brand's trustworthiness is most important when it comes to brand loyalty and 31 percent say it's the brand's commitment to protecting their data. Evenly matched up with the 30 percent of consumers who believe customer service matters most, the results prove that data protection is just as critical to keeping customers coming back for more. However, broken trust and lost responsibility for protecting that data have severe consequences, with nearly a quarter (24 percent) saying they have either stopped doing business or done less business with a company after it was breached. As markets grow increasingly competitive in a fluctuating economy, it's critical for businesses to keep customer loyalty high and as such, be more open and transparent with how they're using personal data. "The global COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of the trust relationship companies and governments need to build with consumers in an increasingly digital world," said Jason du Preez, CEO and co-founder of Privitar. "The results of the survey affirm the growing need for brands to focus on building and maintaining this trust, starting first and foremost with protecting customer data. As more businesses utilize the cloud to enable data driven insights, a firm commitment to data privacy will help to ensure long-term loyalty, consumer satisfaction and shareholder value." About the Survey Dynata, a leading market research tool, conducted this survey of 1,000 individuals (ages 18-65+) from the U.S. on behalf of Privitar. About Privitar Organizations worldwide rely on Privitar to realize the promise of one of their most valuable assets safe, usable data. Privitar empowers organizations to use sensitive data to gain valuable insights, and to support data-driven decisions. By delivering comprehensive data privacy techniques and streamlining data provisioning, Privitar enables enterprises to extract the maximum value from the data they collect, manage and use, while minimizing risk. Founded in 2014, Privitar is headquartered in London, with regional headquarters in Boston and Singapore, a development center in Warsaw, and sales and services locations throughout the US and Europe. For more information, please visit www.privitar.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005140/en/ Contacts: Olivia Savage (for Privitar) 617-502-4300 privitar@pancomm.com Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post via Getty As Fox News scrambled to contain the damage from its discredited reporting on murdered Democratic staffer Seth Rich in 2017, a top editor at the network stuck by the retracted story, going so far as to predict that the baseless coverage of Richs murder would eventually be "vindicated. That revelation comes via newly released emails from FoxNews.coms then-deputy managing editor Greg Wilson, as well as others recently unsealed in litigation between Rich's parents and Fox. Those emails offer a glimpse into the internal fallout from Fox's story, as newsroom figures tried to figure out how groundless claims about the DNC hack that summer had ever made it on air and one source offered a surreptitious office meeting to Fox editors in an attempt to salvage the story. The emails were unsealed this month as part of an order from Federal Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, who ruled that parties in the case had been filing motions and evidence under seal without first getting her approval. The ruling forced both sides of the case to make public some documents, including multiple internal Fox emails about the story, that had previously been under seal. Right-Wing Activists Discussed Wiretapping Seth Richs Family, Three People in the Room Say The story from Fox baselessly claimed that Rich "had leaked thousands of internal emails to WikiLeaks. In this telling, internal Democratic emails had been stolen not by Russian hackers but by Rich himself. While police in Washington, D.C. have blamed Richs death on a botched robbery, conspiracy theorists have claimed without evidence that Rich was murdered on the orders of Hillary Clinton or other top Democrats for providing stolen emails to WikiLeaks. The May 16 Fox online story from reporter Malia Zimmerman would have vindicated those conspiracy-minded Trump supporters. But within hours after it first ran, the item began to fall apart, and even prompted an op-ed from Richs grieving parents begging Fox and hosts like Sean Hannity to stop promoting it. Story continues The network retracted the story on May 23, a week after it first ran. But 17 days later, Wilson, who court records show was involved in the planning of the Fox story, insisted privately that it would still be vindicated. In a June 9, 2017, email to Ed Butowskya wealthy Republican and Fox guest who served as a source for Zimmerman on the Rich storyWilson didnt appear to have been chastened by the retraction. I hope all is well, and am sorry about how things worked out, Wilson wrote. I still believe we will be vindicated. Thank you and I agree, Butowsky replied. Rudy Giuliani Teams Up With a Seth Rich Conspiracy Theorist to Save Trump The idea that Rich leaked Democratic emails to WikiLeaks went on to be refuted by both former Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate Intelligence Committee. But Wilsons stock has not been damaged. He has since been promoted to managing editor of FoxNews.com. Wilson didnt respond to requests for comment. Wilsons email came after weeks of turmoil among some at Fox over what to do with the Seth Rich story. Within hours after its publication, a Fox media relations staffer emailed Jay Wallace, Fox Newss president of news, with more than a dozen other outside media reports disputing the validity of the Rich story. Please let me know when you have a couple minutes to discuss this dotcom report regarding Seth Rich, Fox media relations manager Jessica Jensen wrote in the email, which was among the newly unsealed emails. We have received several inquiries about the validity of this report. The credibility of Foxs story quickly began to unravel as former Washington detective Rod Wheeler, who Butowsky had hired to investigate the case and was key to Foxs article, began disputing the story. Less than a week after it ran, on May 22, Zimmerman emailed Wilson and claimed that Butowsky was coming to New York in an attempt to defend the storys veracity. Ed Butowsky is coming to New York to show you all the text messages with [Rich family spokesman] Brad Bauman and the Rich family and Rod Wheeler, Zimmerman wrote to Wilson. He said the picture is not complete without showing that to you and whoever else should see it. Even after the retraction, Butowsky appears to have kept up his attempts to salvage the story. On June 27, Butowsky wrote to Wilson and Refet Kaplan, now an executive editor at Fox News, and claimed to have information Kaplan would be interested in. But Butowsky appeared reluctant to be seen at Fox with Kaplan, writing that it was best not to appear on your floor. Instead, Butowsky said he could meet Kaplan elsewhere in Foxs New York City headquarters. Refet, I have some information that I know will be very helpful, Butowsky wrote to Kaplan. I am on the 3rd floor in cafeteria near fitness center. I thought it best not to appear on your floor. If you have a moment or any other appropriate person, please visit for 2 mins. I truly believe this will be helpful and it is very time sensitive. Asked whether his email to Kaplan was an attempt to being seen with the Fox bigwig amid the backlash to the Rich story, Butowsky, now a co-defendant in Richs parents lawsuit against Fox and a defendant in another lawsuit from Richs brother, denied he was trying to be surreptitious. At no time was I ever trying to avoid being seen at Fox, Butowsky wrote in a text message to The Daily Beast. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. President Donald Trump issued a pardon on the eve of Day Two of the Republican Convention to Jon Ponder, a convicted bank robber and three-time felon who went on to form a nonprofit to assist prisoners seeking to reintegrate into society. 'Jon we honor your devotion to showing returning citizens that they are not forgotten,' Trump said in a video he released Tuesday announcing the pardon hours before Ponder was expected to appear at the mostly virtual Republican convention. 'I will continue to give all Americans, including former inmates, the best chance to build a new life and achieve their own American dream,' Trump said. President Donald Trump issued a pardon on the eve of Day Two of the Republican Convention to Jon Ponder, a convicted bank robber who went on to form a nonprofit to assist former prisoners 'Today I'm thrilled to welcome him back to the White House,' Trump said referencing the political convention he is hosting there, to the consternation of Democrats who say it is a misuse of the federal building. It was the second time in two days Trump showcased the power of his office while making an appeal to the nation for his reelection. On Monday lined up a surprise for the first day of the convention where he appeared with Americans his administration helped liberate from overseas captivity. 'He has created one of the most successful reentry programs, Hope For Prisoners, in Las Vegas,' Trump said. Ponder was first arrested at age 16, and founded the nonprofit in 2009. Jon Ponder and Richard Beasley, who arrested him Trump hostsed Ponder at the White House in 2018 President Trump signed the pardon in a convention video News of the pardon broke hours before the convention kicked off Trump has previously hosted Ponder at the White House for the national day of prayer and at a Hope for Prisoners graduation ceremony in February. Ponder has already completed his sentence, but the pardon will restore other rights such as voting. Ponder was expected to appear at the convention Tuesday night along with Richard Beasley, the FBI agent who arrested him, Fox News reported. Trump lavished praise on Ponder's non-profit, a day after the convention lined up African American officials and candidates who spoke about economic opportunity and trashed Democrats. Trump granted clemency to longtime informal advisor Roger Stone, who was found guilty of obstruction of Congress and witness tampering Trump continues to get questions about whether he will pardon former campaign chair Paul Manafort, sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison on corruption charges 'Hope for prisoners is a movement that began as a dream, in a tiny prison cell, and is now making a difference in the lives of thousands, truly bringing hope that there is an opportunity and a community that is waiting and willing to offer them a second chance.' One of them, Georgia State Representative Vernon Jones, accused Democrats of running a 'mental plantation.' Trump has already hosted Ponder at the White House for a National Day of Prayer event in 2018, also attended by Beasley, who forged a bond with the man he formerly arrested. 'Your story reminds us that prayer changes hearts and transforms lives. It uplifts the soul, inspires action and unites us all as one nation, under God. So important,' Trump said. State-backed disinformation campaigns are likely to increase in the future because they are so easy to set up and supporting open-source tooling is so prevalent, according to a new research from Cisco Talos. In a report published Aug. 26, the company examined the infrastructure and resources typically leveraged through a number of state-backed influence operations. Nick Biasini, a threat researcher at Cisco Talos and one of the lead authors of the report, told FCW that the low barrier to entry and number of free, open source tools available can make it relatively easy for even non-technical groups to carry out information operations at scale. That includes automation scripts to post and disseminate content, digital libraries that facilitate interaction with social media platforms, virtual private networks to obscure and avoid detection and software that tracks engagement metrics with users. Commercial software like NationBuilder, which is marketed to political campaigns as a way to centralize communication streams with voters, can also be used to track and manage a target audience for information operations. What that really does is level the playing field," said Biasini. "Instead of having to have deep programing knowledge to write the kind of tools necessary to interact [with social media platforms], it's already done for you. With some limited modifications, you're off and running." Foreign-backed disinformation campaigns have many features in common, the report said. Many are based around a provocateur, a central figure who sets strategic goals and organizes activities between independent and state-aligned groups to achieve a common goal. The independent groups often masquerade or moonlight as legitimate marketing companies, such as the Tunisia-based UReputation, British Columbia's AggregateIQ or Israeli firm Archimedes Group. These companies sometimes have traces of discernable links to patron governments, but in general the idea is to maintain a degree of plausible separation. Other entities, like the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) or the group behind Secondary Infektion, tend to have more direct observable ties to their patron governments. These agents often rely on payments or bots from the state that are funneled through a series of shell companies, like Concord Management and Consulting LLC, which was responsible for funding Russian disinformation activities by the IRA and others in 2016. Those resources can then be deployed on social media platforms, real and fake news websites, blogs and other mediums. From there the actors seed their content within targeted groups, use bots and allies to promote it and look for news hooks or cultural sparks that can set off a viral conflagration. Matt Olney, director of threat intelligence and interdiction at Talos, said many state-level voting officials take a monitoring approach to the problem: keeping tabs on certain keywords, watching for bad information related to their state and preparing announcements that can get ahead of a piece of disinformation before it can successfully go viral. While those activities can be part of a successful defense, researchers say there are a number of other actions they and local election administrators can take to be more proactive, including a sustained presence on social media to provide voters with an established, trusted source of information, pushing for verification from social media platforms and, if they're local, ensuring their government has a .gov address that makes it harder to spoof election websites and trick voters. "One of the things you need to do to counter disinformation campaigns is to build the bridges to your voters before the [campaign] comes," Olney said. "So, provide concrete connections back to Secretary of State and county election offices." Even if disinformation campaigns are easy to start, that doesn't mean they are automatically effective at pushing a certain message. Researchers still struggle to quantify the impact that disinformation can have on a target population. While Talos researchers concluded that such operations are likely to become more common in the future, they also told FCW that greater awareness by the public and media, mass takedowns of millions of inauthentic accounts across social media platforms and new policies put in place around disinformation and inauthentic activity has also provided Americans with far more tools of their own to combat the problem. "If you look in comparison to 2016 and where we were then versus now, we are in great shape comparatively we are far better suited today than we were four years to deal with this," said Olney. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) speaks from Washington during the second night of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday. Read more Republican Sen. Rand Paul advocated for President Donald Trumps reelection by portraying him as someone who wants to end wars and casting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as someone who consistently called for more war. Joe Biden voted for the Iraq War, which President Trump has long called the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation, Paul said Aug. 25 during the second night of the Republican National Convention. I fear Biden will choose war again. He supported the war in Serbia, Syria, Libya. Is the senator from Kentucky right about Bidens record? Biden voted for a resolution that paved the way for the Iraq War, and for a nonbinding resolution to authorize military air operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). The conflicts in Syria and Libya happened when Biden was vice president and followed the policies of President Barack Obama. Biden voted for the Iraq War This checks out. In 2002, President George W. Bush argued that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had chemical and biological weapons, sought nuclear weapons, supported terrorism, and threatened peace. In October 2002, then-U.S. Sen. Biden voted in favor of a resolution that authorized Bush to enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iraq and if needed, to use military force against Iraq. In a Senate floor speech before voting for the resolution, Biden said that "failure to overwhelmingly support" the resolution was "likely to enhance the prospects that war will occur." The objective of the resolution was to compel Iraq to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, Biden said. He left open the possibility that Hussein might "miscalculate" and "misjudge" U.S. resolve. In that event, use of military force might be needed, Biden said. The United States invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003, and the war officially ended in late 2011. No weapons of mass destruction were found. In 2005, Biden was asked in an interview if his 2002 vote was a mistake. "It was a mistake," Biden answered. "It was a mistake to assume the president would use the authority we gave him properly. We gave the president the authority to unite the world to isolate Saddam. And the fact of the matter is, we went too soon. We went without sufficient force. And we went without a plan." Biden supported war in Serbia, Syria, Libya Serbia: Biden voted for a 1999 concurrent resolution authorizing President Bill Clinton to conduct military air operations and missile strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), in cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies. (Concurrent resolutions express the sentiment of Congress, but are not signed by the president and do not carry the force of law.) Clinton in March 1999 ordered air strikes in response to Yugoslavias campaign of violence against ethnic Albanians in the province of Kosovo. The Kosovo conflict erupted in the 1990s between two groups within the former Yugoslavia Kosovars, who are primarily ethnic Albanians, and Serbs, who are of Slavic descent. The two groups long disputed the territory known as Kosovo. After greater Yugoslavia fractured in the early 1990s, the dispute over Kosovo became violent, pitting the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army against the Serb-dominated government of what remained of Yugoslavia. Pauls office referenced conflicts in Syria and Libya that started in 2011, when Biden was vice president. Syria: Syrians began protesting their government in early 2011, calling for political and social reforms and the ouster of their president. The protests prompted a violent response from the Syrian government. The conflict escalated as different groups within the country, foreign countries, and terrorists became involved. The United States since 2011 has called for Syrias President Bashar al-Assad to step aside. The Obama administration in 2014 launched air strikes against the Islamic State in Syria and in 2015 deployed troops there to fight the terrorist group. Bidens campaign said the Obama-Biden administration supported the Syrian opposition in a variety of ways, including by deploying U.S. forces to combat ISIS. Libya: The United States, as part of a NATO operation, provided air support in an intervention that resulted in the ouster of the countrys longtime dictator, Moammar Gadhafi. Obama said Gadhafi was launching military actions that were causing civilian deaths and forcing ordinary Libyans to escape to neighboring countries, threatening a humanitarian crisis within Libya and instability for its neighbors, Egypt and Tunisia. The U.S. military spent about $2 billion and several months backing the Libyan uprising against Gadhafi. The uprising part of the Arab Spring toppled Gadhafi in August 2011, and rebel forces killed him that October. Pauls office sent us a 2011 fact-check of Biden as evidence for his support of the U.S. intervention. In that fact-check, we examined Bidens claim that in Libya, America spent $2 billion total and didnt lose a single life. We rated that Mostly True. (The fact-check did not focus on Bidens own position on the issue.) Bidens campaign, however, pointed to a 2016 Politico report that referenced an interview Biden gave to journalist Charlie Rose in which he said intervening in Libya was wrong. The Politico story said Biden told Rose he had argued strongly within the White House against going to Libya. Politico reported that Biden in that interview also said the United States should not use force unless the interests of the country or its allies are directly threatened, it can be done efficaciously and it can be sustained. Our ruling Paul said Biden, "Voted for the Iraq war He supported war in Serbia, Syria, Libya." Biden as a senator voted for resolutions that supported interventions in Iraq and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). As vice president, he followed the policies of the Obama administration, which included interventions in Syria and Libya. Bidens campaign said Biden as vice president supported going into Syria, but pointed to 2016 reporting that said Biden within the White House argued against intervention in Libya. Pauls claim is accurate but needs clarification or additional information. We rate it Mostly True. Our Sources Email interview, Sen. Rand Pauls press office, Aug. 25, 2020 Email interview, Joe Bidens press office, Aug. 25, 2020 Congressional Research Service, Libya: Conflict, Transition, and U.S. Policy, June 26, 2020; U.S. Armed Forces Abroad: Selected Congressional Votes Since 1982, Jan. 9, 2020; Libya: Unrest and U.S. Policy, March 29, 2011 Politico, Biden: I was right about Libya, June 21, 2016; Biden suggests 'military solution' to Syrian conflict, Jan. 23, 2016 Govtrack.us, S.Con.Res. 21 (106th): Kosovo resolution PolitiFact, Why Tulsi Gabbard calls the war in Syria a regime change war, Oct. 16, 2019; Joe Biden falsely claims that he immediately opposed Iraq War, Sept. 5, 2019; Biden calls Libya a job well done, Nov. 3, 2011; Are U.S. actions in Libya subject to the War Powers Resolution? A review of the evidence, June 22, 2011 C-SPAN, User Clip: Biden's Floor Speech on Iraq War PBS.org, A Kosovo Chronology PolitiFact is a nonpartisan, fact-checking website operated by the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin pause before a meeting in Helsinki in 2018. Trump has not been shy about appearing deferential with U.S. enemies like Putin. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images) An arms-extortion scandal with Ukraine; a crash-and-burn peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians; insults to allies while cozying up to adversaries the foreign policy agenda of President Trump has been, pretty literally, all over the map. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden promises significant change: discipline and consistency, as he likely attempts to dismantle many of Trump's efforts. Whether Biden's positions could solve any of the global problems facing the United States is a major unknown. But Biden, through his years as vice president and senator, claims a long history in foreign policy to lean on, while Trump, by his own account, offers policies based largely on gut-level instincts and transaction. "I know a fair amount about American foreign policy, and I have relations all over the world," Biden said in a July news conference in Delaware. "Those who don't like me respect me, and those who do like me respect me. ... I know how to get things done internationally." Trump contends that it is his own hard-knuckle style that gets things done and that Biden is too willing to appease the tough bargainers like China. Biden's approach is anachronistic, Trump maintains. In campaign speeches, Biden says he will restore the United States to a leadership role on the world stage that strengthens ties with allies and stands up to adversaries. That would be a reversal of Trumps America First doctrine that has seen the country retract from many of its global spheres of influence. Trump has not been shy about offending traditional partners such as Germany and appearing deferential with enemies like Russian President Vladimir Putin. Iran Bidens advisors said a large portion of the Democrats foreign policy would be to correct what they see as Trumps mistakes. With great fanfare, Trump pulled out of the historic nuclear deal with Iran a crowning achievement of the Obama-Biden era and pledged to squeeze the Islamic Republic with economic sanctions that would force it to capitulate to tougher negotiations. That did not happen, although Iran's economy is reeling. Story continues The administration failed to persuade European and other signatories to the 2015 deal to join in abandoning it; Iran, with little reason to stick to the agreement, has begun limited centrifuge production, and U.S. efforts now to extend a separate arms embargo at the U.N. Security Council targeting Iran are faltering. Trump argues his government has had "historic achievements" in pressuring Tehran, but his attention to the details appears to have subsided. Biden would attempt to resuscitate the nuclear deal, starting with reaching out to allies and if Tehran returns to compliance, according to a campaign document. But it is not clear how easily all parties could be brought back into talks. Latin America Regime change was also one of the two pillars of Trump's policy for Latin America. He focused on a campaign of financial and diplomatic sanctions hoping to force from power Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cuba's ruling Communist Party. The Obama government also placed sanctions on Maduro, but on Cuba he ended half a century of Cold War hostilities and reopened diplomatic ties. Trump in turn reversed the Cuba overture, in part to lure Florida voters, and Biden says he would revive it. Elsewhere in Latin America, Trump had one priority: forcing Central American countries to cooperate with him on drastic measures to stop migrants and asylum-seekers from crossing into the U.S. over its southern border with Mexico. After he threatened to block aid and slap tariffs on the relatively poor countries, they acquiesced. By contrast, Biden, whom Obama put in charge of the Mexico-Central America portfolio, oversaw a broad "prosperity" program aimed at improving justice and security in those countries so that citizens would not feel the pressure to flee. It remains debatable whether the program achieved significant gains. The Middle East U.S. Vice President Joe Biden greets U.S. service members after a speech at Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory in Baghdad on Jan. 13, 2011. As president, Biden says he would agree with withdrawing troops from several war zones. (Maya Alleruzzo / Associated Press) Another area of policy that has delighted and enthused Trump's core base of supporters, but dismayed much of the world, involves the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump vowed to forge a historic deal that would bring peace to the volatile region and placed his inexperienced son-in-law in charge of it. Then he reversed decades of international policy and tradition by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city also claimed by the Palestinians. He went on to withdraw automatic support of an independent Palestinian state to sit alongside Israel and refused to condemn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to annex much of the West Bank, home to most Palestinians. Netanyahu famously disdained Obama, but he has known and, aides say, gotten along well with Biden for years. Consequently, few expect a return to the stormy Obama years if Biden is elected president. At the same time, he says he continues to support a Palestinian state the two-state solution but will not move the embassy back to Tel Aviv. Biden says he would not kowtow to Saudi Arabia, the way he and other Democrats contend Trump has. Even Republicans in Congress joined their Democratic counterparts to condemn Trump's failure to hold the Saudi de-factor ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable for the slaying of a U.S.-based Saudi journalist and the rampant killing of civilians in the Yemen civil war. Trump says maintaining a robust relationship with Saudi Arabia outweighs other concerns, especially as Washington attempted to build an alliance against Iran, Riyadh's arch enemy, and proceeded with sales of billions of dollars in weapons to the desert kingdom. Those policies are not likely to change in a second Trump term. As he pledges to resume full U.S. participation in world of multilateral organizations, from NATO to the United Nations, Biden also promises to restore human rights to a core role in foreign policy and rebuild a demoralized State Department largely sidelined under Trump. The president and his top diplomat and fierce loyalist, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, have sought to redefine human rights, saying the most important elements are religious freedom and property rights. Although both Trump and Biden initially approved of the U.S.-led war in Iraq that started in 2003, they now agree essentially on withdrawing troops from several war zones, including Afghanistan. Russia and Ukraine On Russia, which American intelligence officials say is once again attempting to interfere in the U.S. presidential election to Trump's benefit, Biden has said he would stand up to Moscow but has offered few specifics beyond renewing the New START nuclear arms control agreement that Trump would scuttle. Trump, whose distortion of Biden's anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine eventually led to the president's impeachment, has at times seemed willing to accept Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. Biden says he would enforce the traditional American and international position of demanding Russia withdraw from Crimea and abandon efforts to seize eastern Ukraine. Biden has denied wrongdoing in Ukraine, where his pressure helped lead to the firing of an allegedly corrupt prosecutor. Trump, noting Biden's son had a high-paying job with a Ukrainian natural gas company, held up delivery of critical weapons to Kyiv while trying to force Ukraine's president to supply dirt on the Bidens. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives and acquitted by the Senate. China Trump started his term in office with friendly overtures toward Chinese President Xi Jinping, but a roller-coaster relationship that included trade warfare is ending on a hostile note as the administration blames China for the COVID-19 pandemic and routinely attacks the Chinese Communist Party for a host of sins. This comes after China mounted an assertive foreign policy and made inroads in many parts of the world, something for which Biden too may share some responsibility for having failed to rein in the economic superpower in the Obama years. It is unclear where either would go next as president, although Bidens team says he will put more emphasis on human rights than Trump did. North Korea President Trump, right, at his summit in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2018. It marked the first between a sitting U.S. president and a ruler from the dictatorial Kim dynasty. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Trumps most headline-grabbing foreign policy moves involved North Korea and his summits with leader Kim Jong Un, the first between a sitting U.S. president and a ruler from the dictatorial Kim dynasty. While Trump contended his meetings were designed to force Pyongyang to get rid of its nuclear arsenal, no progress was made in that area, and, in fact, most Korea experts say Kim has continued to build and test weapons. Biden would likely return to the Obama-era approach of building up alliances against North Korea to tighten sanctions and isolate the country, an isolation that Trump helped weaken. Bidens advisors acknowledge, however, that North Korea will remain an intractable problem and potential threat to U.S. security. Mike Cooney for Montana Governor is our candidate to vote for Nov. 3, 2020. Cooney has released his, "Keep Montana Working Plan" for Montana's future. http://www.cooneyformontana.com/jobs Cooney supports Public Education, unlike his opponent that is for our tax dollars going to private school. Cooney stated at a press conference on July 14, "He would defend Montana's public lands against politicians and powerful interest groups seeking privatization." Cooney will fight for Social Security, Medicare and Healthcare for Montana residents, unlike his opponent that follows the lead of the federal government to cut those earned benefits. Mike Cooney has just released his plan to "Keep Montanans Healthy." http://www.cooneyformontana.com/keep-montana-healthy Cooney will fight for our Constitutional right to have the USPS serving our communities both urban and rural, unlike his opponent that aspires to a federal government that at this moment is making drastic cuts to the USPS. Our state has a balanced budget with funds to fight forest fires in the future. Cooney will follow the lead and insure that our state finances remain stable. Agriculture is of great importance to Montana's economy. Cooney will continue to work with farmers and ranchers to find viable markets for their products. Cooney's opponent has taunted his life long dedication to working for a better life for all Montanans while his opponent has floated from the east coast to Montana, from tech businessman to politician. He failed at his first political attempt then went to Washington, D.C. All the while Cooney has been doing what Mike Cooney does best - WORKING FOR MONTANA! Three Forks, Montana Global Software-as-a-Service Awards Program Announces Category Winners NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The SaaS Awards program, which honors the best software-as-a-service vendors from across the world, has announced the latest winners. The Awards program announced earlier this month it had raised $3,555 for the WHO's COVID-19 Relief Fund, donating proceeds from its new "Communication, collaboration and Conferencing" category. Head of Operations for the SaaS Awards, James Williams, said: "This year's swathe of remarkable submissions has been delivered in an atmosphere of seismic disruption across all industries. "Ultimately, the very success of organizations can hinge on selecting the software vendors which work hardest for them and innovate ruthlessly - all while delivering the best results. "Once again, the SaaS Awards shortlist showcased an astounding weight of promising and proven technologies powering some very smart ideas. The final winners all represent something especially creative, intelligent, or simply successful, which often offer completely transformative solutions to modern business needs." All of the final winners can be seen here: https://www.cloud-awards.com/2020-software-awards-shortlist/ The SaaS Awards is now closed for entries and will reopen for 2021 submissions later in the year. Hundreds of organizations entered, with international entries coming from North America, Canada, Australia, UK, Europe and the Middle East. To view the shortlist and list of winners, please visit: https://www.cloud-awards.com/2020-software-awards-shortlist/ A sister program to the SaaS Awards, The Cloud Awards (https://www.cloud-awards.com/), will soon be accepting submissions for a new 2020-21 program, continuing its recognition of excellence in cloud computing, with a deadline of 23 October. Contact details For the SaaS Awards James Williams - Head of Operations https://www.cloud-awards.com/software-as-a-service-awards/ james@cloud-awards.com About the SaaS Awards The SaaS Awards is a sister program to the Cloud Awards, which was founded in 2011. The SaaS Awards focuses on recognizing excellence and innovation in software solutions. About the Cloud Awards The Cloud Awards is an international program which has been recognizing and honoring industry leaders, innovators and organizational transformation in cloud computing since 2011. The awards are open to large, small, established and start-up organizations from across the entire globe, with an aim to find and celebrate the pioneers who will shape the future of the Cloud. Categories include the Software as a Service award, Most Promising Start-Up, and "Best in Mobile" Cloud Solution. Finalists are selected by a judging panel of international industry experts. For more information about the Cloud Awards and SaaS Awards, please visit https://www.cloud-awards.com/. B oris Johnson has told school pupils it is politically acceptable to sing Rule, Britannia! amid a fierce row over the tunes ties to the British Empire. The Prime Minister doubled down on Wednesday after the BBC said it would play an instrumental version at the Last Night Of The Proms next month, stripped of the lyrics. It was rumoured the song would be dropped altogether, along with Land Of Hope And Glory, because of their perceived association with colonialism and slavery, including the lyric: Britons never, never, never shall be slaves." It comes after Mr Johnson said it was time to end our cringing embarrassment about British history, branding the furore as a bout of self-recrimination and wetness. But the BBC insisted it dropped the lyrics because of coronavirus curbs which cut choir sizes and the usual Union Jack-waving audience that fills the Royal Albert Hall on Last Night of the Proms. Boris Johnson has waded into the Proms row again POOL/AFP via Getty Images) / POOL/AFP via Getty Images In a speech to pupils returning from the summer holidays at Castle Rock School in Coalville, Leicestershire, Mr Johnson cited the debate around Rule, Britannia! as an example of concepts teachers could explore when children return. He also referred to the supine stem of confiteor from Latin study, and touched on the debate around whether Harry Potter is sexist or not. Youll remember these days and weeks and months, you really, really will, the Prime Minister told Year 11 students back in the classroom for the first time in six months. And when youve been struggling with something in the classroom or whatever, some concept that you cant get like the supine stem of confiteor, nuclear fusion or is Harry Potter sexist? Answer No, by the way. Is it politically acceptable to sing Rule, Britannia? Yes. Rule, Britannia is a traditional favourite for flag-waving fans at the Royal Albert Hall / PA When youre struggling with complex questions or something that youre worried about, somebody, very probably a teacher, a brilliant teacher, will say something and a light will go on, the clouds will lift and you will never, ever forget that moment. And that moment is absolutely irreplaceable, its invaluable and it can only happen in school. It came as billionaire composer Andrew Lloyd Webber waded into the row, urging his long-time collaborator Sir Tim Rice to "fix the offending couplet". He wrote in an open letter to The Times: "Sir, Rule, Britannia! is one of those melodies that is made by a lyric. "Played by an orchestra on its own the chorus will sound ordinary at best. There are some great British lyricists around who could fix the offending couplet. "In the 50th anniversary year of Jesus Christ Superstar, the BBC should send for Tim Rice." On his visit to the school, Mr Johnson added: And thats why education is the great equaliser, its the liberator, its the transformer of society, and its the single most important way in which we can unite and level up across this whole country and deliver social justice. And that is why we must, in the next week and the succeeding days, we must have every pupil back in school in the way that youve come back to school. Downing Street faces another major test next week after Mr Johnson stressed all pupils must return to school for the new term, calling it a moral duty to do so. Loading.... Another Government U-turn on Tuesday saw guidance for headteachers changed to make face coverings mandatory in school corridors in local lockdown areas of England, and give heads the choice to introduce them in schools outside these areas. After nationwide Covid-19 lockdown there has been a noticeable growth in radio content consumption among teenagers in four metropolitan cities, according to a press release shared by Association of Radio Operators for India. In Kolkata, there has been a 72 per cent growth in Teen Segment Listenership (TSL) whereas Mumbai has seen a 50 per cent growth in TSL followed by Delhi and Bengaluru, that have seen 35 per cent and 34 per cent increase respectively. It may be noted that research by AZ Research PPL in April 2020 for top 6 metros had indicated that 82 per cent of population (22 per cent increase) had tuned in to FM Radio post covid -19 with a significant increase in listening time ( 23 per cent increase) . The research also positioned FM Radio as the most credible media amongst Print, TV and Radio, the press release said. The growth in TSL has resulted in a higher per centage of advertisement targeted at teenagers. The significant increases have been in publications/books (438 per cent), music albums (319 per cent), education-other courses (313 per cent), cellular phone service (120 per cent), and educational / vocational training institutes (157 per cent). It is not surprising to see that Radio engagement has also grown phenomenally in teen segment, as is has done in all other segments. Teens are the future of India and I am sure that their engagement with Radio will only grow with time, especially as the very active teen segment can listen into radio even while doing most other activities, be it walking, playing, biking or studying. Advertising growth definitely follows growth in listenership and engagement, said Anurradha Prasad , President of Association of Radio Operators, India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 26 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Turkmenistan, Gerhard Sailler is completing his diplomatic mission, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov had a telephone conversation with Ambassador of Austria to Turkmenistan, Gerhard Sailler on August 25, 2020. During the conversation, the minister expressed gratitude to the ambassador for his work and contribution to the development and strengthening of Turkmen-Austrian cooperation. In turn, the Austrian ambassador expressed gratitude to the Turkmen side for its comprehensive support in expanding cooperation between the two countries. The countries cooperate in areas such as inter-parliamentary partnership, trade, and economic, cultural, and humanitarian areas. Along with this, the Austrian-Turkmen society is functioning, and academic contacts between universities of the two countries are also being established. As earlier Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs of Austria told Trend, Austria's main area of interest in Turkmenistan is energy, including renewable sources of energy, environmental technologies such as water and waste management, health technology and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, infrastructure and digitalization (e-government, e-learning), added ministry. As reported, negotiations on establishing business contacts between the Turkmen Rysgal Joint Stock Commercial Bank and Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International were held. The prospects of the country's cooperation with Austria cover the creation of joint innovative facilities in the Turkmen free economic zones, the construction of mineral fertilizer production plants, and cooperation in petrochemical and gas sectors. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva : @JeilaAliyeva New Delhi: The United States, UK, and Germany cornered China at the United Nations Security Council on the issue Uyghur minorities being abused in the restive northwestern province of Xinjiang. The remarks were made at a UN Security Council Briefing on counterterrorism with all 3 countries advising Bejing not to use "counterterrorism" as a pretext to silence political dissent. US permanent representative to the United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft said, "We are deeply concerned by the situation in Xinjiang, where more than one million Uyghurs and other Muslims have been detained under the false guise of counterterrorism." "Counterterrorism and countering violent extremism should never be used as a pretext to silence political dissent or freedom of expression or to violate religious freedom or repress minority groups," Kelly Craft added. UK's envoy to UN James Roscoe echoed the sentiments saying, "We remain deeply concerned about systematic, egregious human rights violations against Uyghurs & other ethnic minorities." "Counter-terrorism measures must never serve as a pretext for human rights violations", Germany said at the meeting. Envoy Gunter Sautter explained, "Regarding Xinjiang, the internment of large parts of the population is, in our view, unjustified. In the long run, it is prone not to reduce but rather to increase the risk emanating of terrorist organizations." Earlier this year, Hong Kong issue was raised at UNSC's closed-door meet for the first time over the new security law irking Bejing. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 00:02:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan attends the opening ceremony of China and Russia's Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation via video link on Aug. 26, 2020. China and Russia launched their Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation on Wednesday. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova also attended the opening ceremony via video link. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia launched their Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation on Wednesday. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova attended the opening ceremony via video link. With concerted efforts from both China and Russia, the number of activities scheduled to be held under the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation has exceeded 1,000, which showed the huge potential of the two sides' cooperation on scientific and technological innovation, Sun noted. Sun called for better cultivation of strategic flagship projects, the utilization of joint labs and research centers, exchanges of personnel, and coordination in entrepreneurship and investment, so as to intensify the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Golikova said Russia and China, both as major countries in science and technology, would benefit from innovation cooperation. The Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation is expected to help better align the Eurasian Economic Union with the Belt and Road construction, and promote bilateral ties, Golikova said. Enditem DALLAS, August 26, 2020 -- Hispanic/Latinx adults who are exposed to smoke from burning wood, vehicle exhaust, pesticides or metals at workplaces are more likely to have abnormalities of the heart structure and function that could lead to cardiovascular disease, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access journal of the American Heart Association. Environmental toxin exposure is a recognized cardiovascular disease risk factor. Researchers have found environmental pollutant exposure is associated with stroke, heart attack, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. "Prior studies have focused on the effects of exposures where people live. And in those studies, people with Hispanic or Latinx backgrounds have been underrepresented," said Jean Claude Uwamungu, M.D., study co-lead author and a cardiology fellow in training at Montefiore Health System/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. "We looked specifically at a population of Hispanic/Latinx adults to assess the relationship between exposures at work and their heart health." Researchers used questionnaires completed by participants to report frequency of exposures and ultrasound to examine the hearts of 782 working adults who were part of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCSL/SOL). The study participants were of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American or South American background and lived in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City; Chicago; Miami; and San Diego, and were average age 52.9 years, half women (52%). Participants reported on their exposures to workplace pollutants, including burning wood; pesticides; metals, such as manganese, lead or mercury; and vehicle exhaust. Exposure to vehicle exhaust at work was the most-reported pollutant compared to any other. The researchers found: Occupational exposure to burning wood or wood smoke was associated with decreased ability (3.1% lower) of the left ventricle of the heart to pump blood. Occupational exposure to vehicle exhaust was associated with decreased right ventricular systolic function and a decreased left ventricular longitudinal strain, both are indicators of the heart's reduced pumping ability. People exposed to burning wood, vehicle exhaust, pesticides and metals who had worked in their jobs for many years (average of 18 years) were more likely to have features of abnormal heart function and structure. Occupational pesticide exposure was associated with an abnormal global left ventricular longitudinal strain, which is a measure of left ventricle's ability to contract. Individuals exposed to metals at work were more likely to have abnormal left ventricular longitudinal strain and increased left ventricular muscle mass, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The relationship they found between wood and vehicle smoke exposures and measures of heart function and structure did not vary notably between smokers and non-smokers, which suggests independent associations between these exposures and heart structure and function. "These findings support the notion that where people live and work affects cardiovascular health. Policies and interventions to protect the environment and safeguard workers' health could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart failure especially among low income occupations that have higher exposure to these harmful pollutants," Uwamungu said. "Health care professionals should routinely ask patients about exposure to pollutants at work to guide prevention, diagnosis and treatment of early stages of heart disease." Limitations of this study include that it was observational, and exposures were self-reported. In addition, it looked at associations and not whether the exposures could cause changes to the heart muscle. "However, the findings of this study have public health relevance given the potential for heart damage with long-term occupational exposure to these pollutants," Uwamungu said. ### Co-authors are Melissa S. Burroughs Pena, M.D., M.S. (co-lead author); Catherine M. Bulka, Ph.D.; Katrina Swett, M.S.; Krista M. Perreira, Ph.D.; Mayank M. Kansal, M.D.; Matthew Shane Loop, Ph.D.; Barry E. Hurwitz, Ph.D.; Martha Daviglus, M.D., Ph.D.; and Carlos J. Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded this study. Additional Resources: Available multimedia is on right column of release link - https://newsroom.heart.org/news/pollution-exposure-at-work-may-be-associated-with-heart-abnormalities-among-latinx-community?preview=5afc46cc30468bfe44d8d524f6e2cabd Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public's health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned Tuesday of the continued danger of COVID-19 as Hurricane Laura bears down on the state. "Remember, just because a hurricane is coming to Texas, does not mean that COVID-19 either has or is going to leave Texas," Abbott said at a news conference in Austin. "COVID-19 is going to be in Texas throughout the course of the hurricane." A mysterious network of white blood cells that can search out and destroy cells infected with the coronavirus has taken on new importance as epidemiologists continue their search for a vaccine amid doubts that antibodies alone can provide lasting immunity. These blood cells, called T cells, are like snipers in a platoon of immune system soldiers as they stalk and kill infection. It is a skill set, on a microscopic scale, that scientists hope to use against SARS-CoV-2, the specific coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The human body, in fact, wages a constant war against invaders, and the production of a vaccine against the coronavirus will require molecular biologists to harness those armaments. That includes B cells, which secrete antibodies that neutralize pathogens, and T cells, which destroy the pathogens and any toxic molecules they produce. T cells have been thrust into the limelight because recent studies indicate the human body may not retain antibodies produced by B cells for very long, raising questions about whether permanent immunity to COVID-19 is possible after people recover. Nadia Roan, an associate professor at UCSF and a T cell expert, said the key to a vaccine may be to figure out how to inspire T cells to target the coronavirus even in the absence of antibodies, the workhorses of the human immune system. Photos by Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Roan and her colleagues found that a robust population of T cells that attack the coronavirus emerge after mild infections, and these cells persist for months and can multiply. The results, which were accepted for publication Aug. 14 in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Reports Medicine, suggest that T cells may play an important role in the battle against the virus. We found a diverse collection of T cells recognizing SARS-CoV-2, each serving their own specialized functions, Roan said. Importantly, these T cells persisted for over two months after recovery from infection, and were capable of markedly expanding in number. The UCSF findings were similar to what researchers at Frances Strasbourg University Hospital found in a preliminary study published recently in medRxiv, an online service that distributes unpublished manuscripts. Both studies found that the T cell response was detectable for at least 69 days in patients recovering from mild cases of COVID-19. A Swedish study published last week in the scientific journal Cell found SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in patients, including asymptomatic individuals, who had no detectable antibodies. The Roan research team plans to monitor T cell responses in patients for six months to see if they are still present. Its kind of encouraging, said Roan, who works in the UCSF urology department and is an investigator for the Gladstone Institutes, an independent biomedical research organization. The studies are an example of the complexities scientists face in their accelerated search for a coronavirus vaccine. Of the 150 potential coronavirus vaccines in various stages of development, at least five elicit both antibody and T cell responses. Those include RNA vaccines developed by the Massachusetts biotechnology company Moderna and New York City firm Pfizer. The ability to stimulate T cell production, or replication, is expected to be a crucial part of whatever vaccine is developed. Roan and her colleagues recently published a separate study showing that a protein called Interleukin-7 boosted the number of T cells. The Interleukin-7 treatment is also undergoing a clinical trial in the United Kingdom. Its good news for us that these cells that can fight SARS-CoV-2 can expand in numbers, she said. Researchers must also figure out how to stimulate T cell growth without causing the immune system to overreact. T cells can, when stimulated too much, attack healthy cells. Physicians say overreactive immune responses, called cytokine storms, have been responsible for many of the most severe cases of COVID-19 and quite a few deaths. Harnessing T cells isnt easy, given that researchers dont completely understand all the ways the virus interacts with the human body. The job requires a deep dive into the diverse collection of cells, amino acids and proteins that make up the human immune system. There are two types of T cells known as CD4 and CD8. CD4 cells are known as helpers because they assist all other cells, including the production of antibodies by B cells. The CD8 cells are the bodys assassins, lying in wait in the bone marrow and lymphoid tissues, where they jump out and attack infected cells, according to microbiologists. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle It is possible to differentiate between the two using technology called mass cytometry, Roan said. In the past, scientists bunched blood cells together and analyzed them all mixed up like a fruit smoothie. Mass cytometry allows each individual T cell to be identified, measured and marked with a kind of ion bar code. Roan and her colleagues used the technology to track the slow increase of CD4 and CD8 T cells in one male COVID-19 patient with lymphopenia, extremely low white blood cell counts common in severely ill coronavirus patients. She noted a large increase in CD4 helper cells after 26 days and only a hint of CD8 attackers. Then, 14 days after that, both types of T cells were found in abundance. The full T cell response, albeit delayed, was so effective that the man was released from the hospital. It does suggest that T cells may play a more beneficial role in helping with recovery, Roan said. But T cells are only part of the complex picture. The attacking virus binds onto the ACE2 receptors of healthy cells, breaks in and replicates. The bodys immune response flags infected cells by placing fragments of protein, or peptides, on their surface, according to the experts. These peptides inspire T cells to break into action, which in turn can help B cells to make antibodies. Then, antibodies can latch onto the virus and prevent them from binding and entering other healthy cells. Antibodies are also designed by B cells to match an invading virus in a very specific manner, allowing them to bind tightly and neutralize viral functions. Typically, the stronger the binding, the more effective the antibody is in preventing the pathogen from entering the cell, according to infectious disease specialists. Viruses, however, are capable of mutating in ways that can take away that perfect match, reducing antibody effectiveness. The influenza virus mutates often, which is why people need a different flu shot every year. And antibody levels can wane over time, leaving too few of them to block all of the virus particles. That may be another reason people need booster shots with some infectious diseases. When human antibodies lose their effectiveness in these ways, it can also hamper the ability of scientists to produce effective vaccines. Thats because vaccines are designed to produce viral proteins, called antigens, that in turn elicit peoples immune systems to respond, including through production of antibodies. Vaccines also can elicit the help of T cells, which recognize infected cells that the antibodies failed to protect. T cells can give protection completely absent of antibodies. They help make a stronger response, said Jason Cyster, a professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at UCSF. T cells specific for the virus proliferate once they are exposed to the virus and then become aggressive and attack the infected cell. A goal of many vaccine developers is to figure out how to harness those unique capabilities. The key to that may be found in the ability of human T cells to develop a kind of memory. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle After most T cells are done fighting an infection, a small population of memory T cells remains behind, according to Roan. The numbers of these cells, and how long they last, can vary, but these cells have the powerful ability to re-emerge when the same virus strikes again. If in the future the person is infected with the same virus, these memory T cells can respond faster and more effectively than the first time around, Roan said. Thats in part how vaccines work, by eliciting memory cells. The phenomenon can also happen with B cells. Dr. Jay Levy, a specialist in immunology and virology and a professor of medicine at UCSF, said cell memory is why the vaccine for smallpox has continued to work for decades even though the antibody response goes down 75% six months after people are inoculated. A recent paper showed that patients who contracted SARS, a coronavirus identified in 2003 in China, had long-lasting T cell immunity at least 17 years after they were infected, Levy said. Immunity does wane with some diseases, he said, which is why booster shots are sometimes needed for, among others, polio. Repeated exposure to some childhood infections, such as chicken pox and mumps, naturally boosts immunity, he said. The original B cell that produces the antibodies stays around, probably in the bone marrow, but probably other places, like the lymph nodes, as memory B cells, Levy said. If the antibody starts waning, it doesnt mean the person cant respond if the agent comes in again. Scientists are focusing on maximizing the effectiveness of these memory cells as they attempt to develop vaccines. But Roan said SARS-CoV-2 is unusual and, for some individuals, the memory response doesnt occur as predicted. We would like to elicit a comprehensive immune response, Roan said. But if the antibody response wanes, perhaps the T cells can play an important role. Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite Stop & Shop is making flu shots available at its 250+ pharmacy locations across New Jersey and other states in the northeastern Unites States, the company said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an annual flu shot for protection, except for babies under 6 months old or those severely allergic to the vaccine. However, the agency warns that getting vaccinated in August is too early, especially for older people, because of the likelihood of reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season. Stop & Shop says it is taking serious health and safety precautions at its pharmacies by securing additional stock of the flu vaccine and bracing for high demand due to the coronavirus. All Stop & Shop pharmacies in New Jersey can administer a flu shot to anyone age 12 or older with no prescription needed, the company stated in a press release. For those ages 7 to 11, a prescription from a doctor is required. Stop & Shop is ready to take care of its communities this flu season, Stop & Shop Pharmacy Director Katie Thornell said. We are well-stocked and offer immunizations without appointments. While prices associated with vaccinations are dependent upon customers insurance plans, most end up being low or no-cost. Stop & Shop aims to make it easy for everyone to get the care they need this fall. Stop & Shop offers several types of flu vaccines, and the company says its licensed and trained pharmacists can help each patient select the type that is best for them to address any concerns about allergies, preservatives or potential adverse effects. The company has additionally retooled its health and safety protocols for vaccinations at its pharmacies. Customers are required to wear a face covering, and pharmacists will have masks, gloves and face shields. The company says its immunization area will have strict disinfecting and sanitization measures in place between each patient. Stop & Shop pharmacies have an ample supply of shingles and pneumonia vaccines available as well. Customers can consult their local Stop & Shop pharmacist on all other immunizations that may be available to them and their families. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Ryan Patti may be reached at rpatti@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. 2Tiffany Trump & Nicholas Sandmann RNC speech "I encourage you to see beyond the facade that so many other politicians employ. They mask themselves in disguises of decency as they try to pressure us to mask our own identities and beliefs. My father is the only person to challenge the establishment, the entrenched bureaucracy, big pharma and media monopolies, to ensure that Americans constitutional freedoms are upheld and that justice and truth prevail. My father does not run away from challenges even in the face of outright hatred, because fighting for America is something he will sacrifice anything for. He dreams big dreams for our country, and he is relentless at achieving them." more details can be found here some user comments can be found here youtube AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American manufacturing company Armbrust American is pleased to announce a $4.5 million contract to supply the State of Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) with high-quality, disposable surgical masks. Armbrust American's Austin,Texas area medical mask production facility. Photo by Alex Smith. From Armbrust American's Austin-TX area medical mask production facility. Photo by Alex Smith. Obtaining safe, reliable medical-grade surgical masks has been a challenge for state and local governments wishing to protect essential workers during the pandemic. While the majority of surgical and N95 masks are manufactured in China, recent Wall Street Journal analysis found that over 60% of these foreign-made masks failed basic FDA quality tests. "Areas of state government such as IDHS are crucial in maintaining the health and safety of its citizens during this pandemic," said Armbrust American founder and CEO Lloyd Armbrust. "Being an American manufacturer means ensuring, with complete certainty, that masks distributed and worn by essential government workers offer protection against COVID-19 infections." To be FDA-registered, surgical masks must meet strict guidelines, including 98% filtration of particulate matter. Rigorous third-party testing has shown Armbrust American surpasses those incredibly high standards, achieving over 99% filtration. This commitment to quality earned the company's masks ASTM Level 2 certification, having passed extensive testing for fluid penetration, bacterial filtration, particle filtration, flammability, and sensitivity. To ensure all of its products continue to exceed this already high bar, the company has invested in equipment to enable regular quality testing from each of its growing number of automated production lines. About Armbrust American Armbrust American's mission is to bring strategic manufacturing back to the U.S. Founded in 2020 by Y-Combinator alumni Lloyd Armbrust, the company currently operates a factory out of Austin, Texas utilizing proprietary mix of materials and manufacturing innovation to provide the highest quality PPE at a competitive cost. Lloyd was previously the founder and CEO of OwnLocal, a company that automates production for 3,500 newspapers worldwide. Introduction Video: About Armbrust American (2-min) For more info, visit: https://www.armbrustusa.com/ Media Contact: Tom Cheredar [email protected] Ph: (512) 831-4409 SOURCE Armbrust American Hanoi man tests positive for Covid-19 after leaving quarantine site A man in Hanoi has tested positive for Covid-19 after being released from a quarantine site. According to Khong Minh Tuan, deputy director of the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control, the 21-year old man who lives on Hoang Quoc Viet Street in Cau Giay District returned to Vietnam from Russia on August 10. A quarantine area for Covid-19 treatment in Vietnam He was quarantined at a military camp in the northern province of Hai Duong. During the isolation, his first Covid-19 test was negative. On August 24, he was provided with a second test. On the morning of August 25, he was allowed to go home although the result of the second test had not yet been announced. In the afternoon, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology announced his test result as positive. He was sent to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for quarantine. Six people, comprising his parents, brother and friends, have been defined to have close contact with him. They are all being medically monitored. Tuan noted that all people who enter Vietnam have to be tested for Covid-19 for at least twice. The first is conducted upon arrival in the country and the second 10-12 days later. They are only released from the quarantine zone if the second test is negative. However, in this case, the young man was permitted to return home despite still waiting for the second tests result. Two people were killed and one was injured as shots rang out during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, just before midnight Tuesday, according to the city's police department, amid anger over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement Wednesday that he authorized 500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard to "support local law enforcement in Kenosha County" Wednesday night. "A senseless tragedy like this cannot happen again," Evers said in a statement about the shooting Tuesday night. "I again ask those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights please do so peacefully and safely, as so many did last night. I also ask the individuals who are not there to exercise those rights to please stay home and let local first responders, law enforcement, and members of the Wisconsin National Guard do their jobs." A curfew will begin in Kenosha County on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. local time. Kenosha police issued a statement early Wednesday morning confirming that two people were dead while another sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries on the third consecutive night of protests. An investigation is underway and the victims' identities have not yet been released, the statement said; no announcement was made of any arrests. Image: Protestors face off with police outside the County Courthouse during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha (Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP - Getty Images) The sound of gunfire was captured shortly before midnight in a video posted by a reporter for NBC affiliate WTMJ. It was not clear what preceded the shots, who fired or how many people were involved or injured. In another video shared on Twitter, which has been verified by NBC News, a man can be seen sitting in the middle of a street aiming a gun at people who were running along the road. One person appeared to attempt to grab the weapon, then a shot was fired and the individual was seen to collapse a few feet from the shooter. At least one other person appeared to be shot before the shooter got up and started walking down the street. Story continues The video did not make it clear what happened in the moments before it began. NBC News has not confirmed whether the incident is the same shooting described by police. One independent journalist, CJ Halliburton, said in a graphic video posted to his Facebook page that he witnessed the attack and rendered aid to a man who had been shot in the arm. "He shot the other guy in the head right there in the road," wrote Halliburton. The shooting in Kenosha follows a familiar call from an armed militia to defend a city during Black Lives Matter-related protests. The Kenosha Guard, a self-described "local militia," set up a Facebook event, Armed Citizens to Protect our Lives and Property" and on its main Facebook page on Tuesday, asked, Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend [our] City tonight from the evil thugs? Nondoubt they are currently planning on the next part of the City to burn tonight! The page listed more than 4,000 interested in the event. It was removed by Wednesday morning, as was the group's Facebook page. Militia and armed anti-government groups have seen a sharp proliferation in the U.S. in the last decade. Pledging to protect property, these armed groups, often dressed in military-style camouflage and bulletproof vests, have been visibly present at recent coronavirus Reopen rallies and Black Lives Matter protests, often with the seeming blessing of local police. Their presence has led to violence at demonstrations in Louisville, Kentucky, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon. The protests were sparked after a video shared on social media showed Blake, 29, being shot at close range by police on Sunday. Blake was shot seven times by an officer and he is now paralyzed from the waist down, family attorney Patrick Salvi said Tuesday. Doctors don't know if the condition is permanent. Blake was "helping to de-escalate a domestic incident" when he was shot from behind after he walked away from officers, co-counsel Benjamin Crump said. Kenosha police have released few details beyond saying that officers were responding to a domestic incident at 5:11 p.m. Sunday that resulted in a shooting. Raysean White, 22, who recorded the video, has said he heard police tell Blake to "drop the knife." White said he did not see Blake with a knife, and it is not clear whether he was carrying one. By early Tuesday evening, protesters had once again taken to the streets of Kenosha, a city of nearly 100,000 about an hour's drive north of Chicago. Demonstrators threw bottles and authorities responded with pepper spray as they faced off outside the Kenosha County Courthouse. Authorities drove armored vehicles through the crowd to disperse people at Civic Center Park near the building. Law enforcement using amplification told protesters they were violating curfew and dispersal orders. "We're asking you to voluntarily comply," a male voice said. "Please don't destroy your community." As demonstrators were driven out of the park and into nearby streets there were confrontations with men carrying assault weapons who said they were defending businesses, including a gas station. A few small fires burned nearby. A protest against police also took place Tuesday night in Atlanta. Image: Flares go off in front of a Kenosha Country Sheriff Vehicle as demonstrators take part in a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha (Brendan McDermid / Reuters) Earlier in the day, Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency and committed to doubling the number of National Guard troops in the city to 250. Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser and Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian said in a statement that more than 100 law enforcement officers from other parts of Wisconsin were also expected Tuesday night. A curfew was in effect from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., and transit service was suspended from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. During Monday night's protests, which spread to other American cities, including New York, Los Angeles and San Diego, Kenosha authorities responded to 37 fires and multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to the fire department. The fires "nearly leveled several city blocks," the fire department said in a statement. The in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May was still resonating throughout the nation when Blake was gunned down Sunday. Floyd's death prompted the firing of four officers the next day, and they have since been charged in the death. In Atlanta, the officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks from behind in a Wendy's parking lot in June was fired, and the chief of police resigned the next day. Two days later the former officer, Garrett Rolfe, was charged with suspicion of murder. In Wisconsin, local, state and federal authorities are investigating the shooting, and the involved officers have been placed on administrative leave. "We ask that you give the system time to run its course," Kenosha police Chief Daniel Miskinis said in a video statement Tuesday. On Tuesday Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, appealed for peace. "If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased," she said. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Orange warning for Delhi; Odisha, Chhattisgarh on alert for extremely heavy rain The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Delhi has issued an orange warning for Delhi today. An orange warning implies that disaster management authorities should be prepared to avert any rain related disasters or flooding. Read more Yogi Adityanath says UP has reduced vector-borne diseases mortality rate by 95% since 2016 Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said here on Tuesday night that better inter-department coordination would make the state health mission more successful. He said an example to prove this was the effectiveness of the state in controlling vector-borne diseases through well-coordinated efforts among various departments. Read more Battle shifting as Covid-19 threat stalks rural India More than half of all Covid-19 cases recorded in August came from 584 districts that are classified as mostly rural or entirely rural, reflecting the spread of the coronavirus disease from the large urban centres into the Indian hinterland where health care challenges, from testing to treatment, are much more significant. Read more Manchester United defender Harry Maguire found guilty of assault Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was found guilty of assault at a trial on Tuesday and handed a 21-month suspended sentence following his arrest after a brawl last week on the island of Mykonos, court officials in Greece said. Read more China protests US spy plane watching live fire military drills China has lodged stern representations with the United States, accusing it of sending a US U-2 reconnaissance plane into a no-fly zone over Chinese live-fire military drills on Tuesday, further ratcheting up tensions between Beijing and Washington. Read more Womens Equality Day 2020: History, significance and all you need to know The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted, giving women the right to vote on this day in 1920. Amendment XIX prohibits any US state and the federal government from denying the right to vote to any American citizens on the basis of sex. Read more Googles mask song is catchy and creative. Heard it yet? Masks are a necessity of the current times and wearing this safety equipment whenever one is going out is something everyone should follow. Time and again, various posts on social media remind people to wear masks whenever one is going out. Read more Watch| Another split in Congress imminent?: Watch Sanjay Jhas response A social media sensation who claims she makes $162,000 per month uploading racy selfies to OnlyFans has been barred from TikTok for X-rated content. Mikaela Testa was mocked online last year when she broke down in front of the camera after finding out that Instagram had stopped showing the number of likes on all her posts. The 20-year-old, who lives on the Gold Coast with her 19-year-old social media manager boyfriend Atis Paul and his sister Anna, said at the time that the move dramatically impacted her income. But on Wednesday Miss Testa told Daily Mail Australia she has been banned from posting videos to her TikTok account for 'multiple community guideline violations'. Mikaela Testa (pictured) lives on the Gold Coast with her 19-year-old social media manager boyfriend Atis Paul and his OnlyFans star sister Anna Miss Testa (pictured) uses video sharing platform Tik Tok to share her details of her lavish life Despite uploading a range of nude selfies for her subscribers on OnlyFans, including private sex videos, the young influencer is adamant she has done nothing wrong on TikTok - which has a number of users under the age of 18. Miss Testa, who uses the platform to share her details of her lavish life, said: 'The most my videos would have had is cleavage through a crop top.' She also claimed the video sharing platform 'constantly delete videos for violating community guidelines that don't even violate the actual community guidelines.' 'Tiktok removes any videos of any girl in a bikini, but they leave up videos of girls that are more on the skinny side, or with less boobs and butt because it's less "revealing".' Miss Testa claimed the video sharing platform 'constantly delete videos for violating community guidelines that don't even violate the actual community guidelines' While Miss Testa's account includes a number of videos showing her derriere in tight leggings, she is fully dressed She added: 'I could be wearing the exact same outfit as another girl and do the exact same video but my video would get deleted and the other girls would stay up simply because she is skinnier.' TikTok's community guidelines state the platform does 'not allow sexually explicit or gratifying content.' The website mandates that users do not post 'content that shows human genitalia, female nipples, or buttocks [or] content that depicts a sexual fetish.' While Miss Testa's account includes a number of videos showing her derriere in tight leggings, she is fully dressed. Daily Mail Australia has contacted TikTok for comment. Pictured: A shot from a video Miss Testa shared on Tik Tok. She claimed she never posts nude photos on the platform Miss Testa's account includes a number of videos showing her derriere in tight leggings (pictured) Miss Testa said trolls accuse her of being 'plastic', despite never having had surgery aside from lip fillers Miss Testa explained she will continue using the platform on new profile, but is concerned about the message the platform is sending to your users. 'I feel like for young creators using TikTok it may send the wrong message and they may experience the same things - their skinnier friends may do the same challenge and the video is allowed up where as theirs is deleted and may affect them mentally.' The influencer shot to fame last year following a dramatic video she posted while upset about Instagram making the number of likes a photo has secret to anyone but the poster. 'If you think this is OK you can f*** off, it's actually a sad day for those who have Instagram as a job,' she said at the time. 'Regardless of what you may think Instagram is a REAL job and those in the industry have worked hard to get where they're at. It's people that aren't even in the industry that think it's a f***ing joke. It's not, it's real damage out here.' The influencer shot to fame last year following a dramatic video she posted while upset (pictured) about Instagram making the number of likes a photo has secret to anyone but the poster Her Instagram account has since gathered a following of more than one million,and is stacked with bikini snaps, topless photos, and one image of her and Atis in a bathtub with bubbles strategically placed for modesty. She celebrated the social media milestone by starring in a photoshoot wearing nothing but a g-string and cream from a cake with the words '1M followers, link in bio'. But Miss Testa said public life has came at a cost. 'My dad's side of the family completely disowned me too after the whole crying thing, and when OnlyFans articles came to light,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'They just dont agree with my social media presence and prefer me to be a more reserved person, which Im not, so I chose to be me.' Trolls often tell her that her father, who has passed away, 'is watching over your OnlyFans', 'is shaking in his grave' and 'will never be proud of you'. Other trolls have leaked sex videos sent to paying OnlyFans subscribers on Google, but Miss Testa maintains a positive attitude: 'Im still being the best me I can be!' Turkeys largest-ever natural gas discovery in the Black Sea could lead to new cooperation with Russia and Iran even as it aims to be a producer and not just a buyer, Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak said on Tuesday. "The countries we have been cooperating with for years are Iran and Russia. This new period for Turkey may lead to new cooperation with these countries," he said in a televised interview on NTV. Albayrak added Moscow did not cut gas supplies "even in our toughest times," Reuters reported. (Natural News) While the establishment media continues to pretend that the ongoing protests in multiple cities run by liberal elected leaders are mostly peaceful, with claims that at night agitators start trouble giving the other protesters a bad reputation, the truth is far darker than that and the media is rapidly losing the ability to spin the increasingly frequent domestic terrorism. (Article by Susan Duclos republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) Recent reports show Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters verbally attacking outdoor diners in Washington, DC, with claims they are targeting white spaces. We see more reports of leftwing protesters also harassing outdoor diners in Charlotte North Carolina with claims that white silence equals violence, as if that is their justification to riot and commit violence on innocent residents. In liberal Chicago, a state with stringent gun control laws, 66 people were shot, five fatally, just over the weekend. Via CBS New York, we see that 45 people were shot since Friday, with eight fatalities. Again, a liberally run state with significant gun control laws. We see Antifa protesters, supportive of BLM protests, rioting for over 85 days straight in Portland, Oregon. Here is an excerpt from the Portland PD, who arrested 23 people during the latest riot, describing the scene: Almost immediately, from behind the shields and elsewhere, individuals began throwing chunks of ceramic, rocks, and glass bottles in the direction of the officers. Green lasers, which are capable of causing permanent eye damage, were shined at officers. At least one balloon filled with feces was thrown at officers on the roof of the building. Due to the criminal activity, at 10:29p.m., the gathering was declared an unlawful assembly. All participants were directed over loudspeaker to leave to the south. Failure to adhere to this direction may subject them to citation, arrest, and/or crowd control agents including, but not limited to, tear gas and impact weapons. Officers stayed far back for the next half hour, giving participants ample time to leave voluntarily. Few took advantage of that opportunity. A commercial grade firework was thrown. The police vehicles were struck by thrown bottles, paint bombs (photo), rocks, and heavy metal screws (photo). Marbles were launched by at least one wrist rocket style slingshot. Officers on the roof of the building were struck by rocks. Paint bombs were thrown. Signs were torn from the ground and thrown (photo). At 11:08p.m., the event was deemed a riot. More direction was given over loudspeaker that the criminal activity has continued and that all persons must leave to the south. Failure to adhere to this direction may subject them to citation, arrest, and/or crowd control agents including, but not limited to, tear gas and impact weapons. As officers were preparing to move the crowd, someone lit a canopy against the building on fire (photo). The fire began to burn to the siding of the building, so officers on the roof got a fire extinguisher to try and put it out. As they were putting out the fire, multiple people pelted the officers with rocks. A lieutenant was struck with a chunk of ceramic, causing a cut to his hand (photo). A second awning was also lit on fire close to a tree (photo). That caused damage before it was extinguished. At about 11:30p.m., due to the extreme threat to life safety and the aggression of the crowd, Portland Police deployed CS gas, then moved the crowd to the south. Arrests were made and crowd control munitions were used. Officers reported commercial grade fireworks were thrown from suspects with press markings. Officers pulled back but within minutes the crowd began to return. At 12:30a.m., officers made another effort to move the riot away. More arrests were made. After officers disengaged again, rioters moved into the street again. A security guard in a car got stuck in the crowd. A car with a red cross taped to the hood, indicating it was an informal protest medic, moved ahead of the security guard and blocked him in. He was eventually allowed to turn around and leave. Those are just the reports, the visuals of Antifa and/or BLM attacking members of a Pro-police rally, brings the point home of what Portland PD has had to deal with for nearly three solid months. As a side note, most of those arrested are not being prosecuted by the state prosecutor, who of course, is also a liberal. Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com Facebook has blocked a discussion group that includes criticism of Thailands monarchy after pressure from the government. Facebook said in a statement it felt compelled to block the group because it contained material the Thai government considers illegal. Thailand has strict laws that prevent open discussion and criticism of the countrys monarchy. Facebook noted the seriousness of its action, saying such government orders have a chilling effect on peoples ability to express themselves. The group is only blocked for Facebook users in Thailand. It is available in all other places. The company said it was preparing a legal challenge to the government request. The Facebook group, called Royalist Marketplace, was created in April by Pavin Chachavalpongpun. He is a self-exiled activist and critic of the monarchy. He now lives in self-exile in Japan. Pavin said the group had reached 1 million members just a few days ago. Pavin criticized Facebook for giving in to government pressure. By accepting the requests, whether you like it or not, you become part of that, you become a part of the support that you gave to the authoritarian government, Pavin told The Associated Press. Pavin was not in Thailand when the countrys current prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, led a military coup in 2014. At the time, Prayuth was the army chief. Following the coup, the ruling government called on critics of the government and monarchy, including Pavin, to come forward. Pavin decided to remain outside the country. He is currently a professor at Kyoto University. Prayuth told reporters on Tuesday the government had asked Facebook to block the page because it violates Thai law. He said the government would push back against any legal challenge to its request. Pavin said that after the Facebook group was blocked he immediately created another one that is mostly the same. That page is called Royalist Marketplace-Talad Luang. The term Talad Luang means Royalist Marketplace. The new group already has more than 500,000 members. Many have moved over from the blocked page. Our group is part of a democratization process, it is a space for freedom of expression, Pavin told Reuters news agency. A growing number of youth-led protests have taken place in Thailand in recent weeks in a movement partly inspired by the Hong Kong protests last year. The protesters oppose the current military-run government. In addition, activists have for the first time openly called for reforms in the monarchy system. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn enjoys extraordinary power because he receives support from the military and the country's billionaire families. Since becoming king, he has taken direct control of the palace's fortune, estimated to be worth up to $60 billion. The protesters are calling for more openness about the royal familys finances and an end to the countrys defamation law related to the king. They also want to see a new parliament elected and a new constitution created. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Facebook Blocks Group Critical of Thai King After Government Pressure Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story monarchy n. a system of government in which a country is ruled by a king and queen whose power is limited by a constitution compel v. to force someone to do something chilling adj. very frightening challenge n. something that is difficult to do authoritarian adj. enforcing or pushing for strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom inspire v. make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it fortune n. a lot of money defamation n. the action of damaging the reputation of a person or group by saying or writing bad things about them that are not true At least two people were shot dead and another wounded in Kenosha, Wisconsin, late Tuesday during a third night of protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Kenosha police said early Wednesday. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said nobody has been apprehended for the shootings, but they have identified at least one suspect and "I feel very confident we'll have him in a very short time." Videos on social media appeared to show a white man with a long gun shoot at least three people, one in the head and another in the chest, in tense confrontations with protesters. After the shootings, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, "the gunman is then seen heading north toward several police tactical vehicles, his arms raised, according to video footage. The tactical vehicles drive by him." Earlier Tuesday night, police in riot gear had pushed Black Lives Matter protesters away from the courthouse and down Kenosha's Sheridan Road, where then they collided with armed men Beth described to the Journal Sentinel as "a militia" and "like a vigilante group" unofficially patrolling Kenosha's streets. The protests Monday night had left property damaged, and some of the armed men told reporters they had heard rumors online that protesters would bring pipe bombs or were urged on Facebook to come and defend the city. There were also people with guns who said they were there to protect the protesters, The Washington Post notes, but no evidence of pipe bombs. "I've had people saying, 'Why don't you deputize citizens?'" Beth told reporters. "This is why you don't deputize citizens with guns to protect Kenosha." More stories from theweek.com Trump's RNC role is a much bigger mistake than Republicans realize The brazen contradictions of the RNC This terrifying animation shows how high Hurricane Laura's storm surge might get Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott. Photo: Rick Rycroft/AP Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has reportedly been lined up to become an international trade czar for the UK post-Brexit. The Sun reports that Abbott will be appointed joint head of the UKs Board of Trade, serving alongside international trade secretary Liz Truss. Bevan Shields, the European correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald, disputed this on Twitter, saying Abbott was likely to join the Board of Trade only in an advisory capacity. Yahoo Finance UK understands no final decision has yet been taken on Abbotts appointment. The Board of Trade and Tony Abbott have all been approached for comment. The Department for International Trade declined to comment. London-born Abbott served as prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015 but lost his seat in Australias parliament last year. Conservative Abbott is said to be close to UK prime minister Boris Johnson, according to The Sun. The Board of Trade aims to champions exports, inward investment and outward direct investment to deliver economic growth and prosperity across the whole of the United Kingdom, according to its website. Members are drawn from the world of both business and politics. READ MORE: Germany extends short-time work support until end of 2021 The bodys was set up in the 1600s but fell dormant before being revived by former international trade secretary Liam Fox in 2017. Abbott, a vocal supporter of Brexit, will help the UK drum up trade and business internationally post-Brexit by acting as an ambassador for British trade abroad, according to The Sun. Abbott recently appeared on a virtual panel alongside UK trade minister Liz Truss discussing how to advance British trade in the Asia-Pacific region. Abbott also retweeted Truss messages about the event. In June, Abbott retweeted a video message from Boris Johnson calling on the UK and Australia to turn out shared history and friendship into and world-leading free trade agreement. The UK began trade talks with Australia and New Zealand two months ago. The Port of San Francisco will forgive rent for more than a third of its 560 commercial and industrial tenants, according to a resolution passed by the commission that oversees it Tuesday. Port staff said the program will provide relief for small businesses who are least able to weather this downturn. Struggling small businesses on the brink of closure are experiencing economic hardships amid the coronavirus pandemic, they noted. In a unanimous vote, the Port Commission approved the rent forgiveness program for 196 tenants, in three categories. The first are those whose leases include a base rent plus a percentage of profit, including retailers, restaurants, maritime excursion firms and parking operators. There are 48 businesses that fall into this category and are eligible for rent relief for up to 14 months from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021 or until sales rebound sufficiently, whichever comes first. For these types of businesses, base rent is waived but the ports cut of a businesses profit remains in effect, port staff said. During the public comments period, Peter Osborne, owner of Mission Rock Resort, a waterfront restaurant, asked the commission to consider revising some of the terms for tenants like him. If you are able to exceed base rent for three consecutive months, you would fall back into the previous lease agreement, he said. He said hell be able to achieve that as long as the weather stays good but come the winter months, when outdoor dining isnt complementary to the weather, he said he might have some challenges and asked the commission to give the three-month criteria more thought. Reporting monthly sales is required by the rent forgiveness program, as is reporting any government-funded financial assistance received during the time period that was stated for rent. That amount will be deducted from the forgiveness amount, port staff said. The rent forgiveness program does not cover other fees paid to the city. For example, restaurants which received permits for sidewalk dining but havent been able to use the feature due to local health orders are still required to pay those fees. A second group eligible for rent relief are maritime tenants such as fishers, crabbers, seafood processors and other support businesses. A total of 121 tenants fall into this category and can have rent forgiven from March 1 to Aug. 31. The move will provide much-needed relief to San Franciscos fishing industry, which was left reeling after a massive warehouse fire on Pier 45 in May. A third group of qualified tenants deemed local business enterprises, including small engineering and construction firms, are also eligible. A total of 27 tenants in this category can apply for rent relief for the period between March 1 and May 31. Some of the ports bigger tenants are not eligible for the program, including the Ferry Building, Pier 39, the Exploratorium and Oracle Park, among others. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes To the extent relief is required, it may be negotiated on an as-needed basis with the tenants, port staff said. The port expects to forgive about $13.5 million in rent. In 2019, most of the ports $122 million in revenue came from property rentals for commercial and industrial businesses. This is the third type of rent forgiveness program the port has initiated this year due to the pandemic, Rebecca Benassini, assistant deputy director for waterfront development projects said at the commission meeting. The port previously offered a rent deferral program that ran between March and July. Beginning Aug. 1, it started an optional rent deferral program that runs through December. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Instagram: @shwanika European leaders must clearly declare the conditions for Ukraine to gain full membership in the European Union, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said. "I believe that an understandable position of Europe towards Ukraine is very important for Ukrainians. I asked a question to many European leaders: You should answer the Ukrainians that you want Ukrainians to take step by step to become the EU members," the head of state said in an interview with the Euronews television channel. According to Zelensky, after receiving a specific list of steps, it will be clear what needs to be done and how long it takes for Ukraine's European integration. "Both Ukraine and Europe should have an understanding of what we need now. It seems to me that we just need to make the kind of country that Europe really wants, but Ukraine must decide," the president said. In his opinion, despite the fact that not all EU countries want to see Ukraine in the EU, the European Union as a whole wants Ukraine to be a partner and have membership. Zelensky said that the countries of Europe and the EU support Ukraine and stand firm in the position of protecting its territorial integrity and sovereignty. "We see how Europe acts with sanctions today, how it supports us, losing money due to sanctions against the Russian Federation. I am grateful to them for that," he said. Houston police chief Art Acevedo didn't mince words when he sent a stern warning about looting ahead of Hurricane Laura's landfall. In a series of tweets, Acevedo wrote "Although you may not see us, we will have eyes on stores, gun stores, pharmacies, etc. We will not tolerate anyone taking advantage of our community and we will move quickly to arrest scofflaws." LAURA'S PATH: Here's what Houstonians can expect now that Laura's path has shifted east Acevedo's warning comes from first-hand experience after Hurricane Harvey's landfall in 2017. Looters stole 109 firearms from Houston stores during Hurricane Harvey, the Houston Chronicle reported. Acevedo underscored that HPD is collaborating with government officials to guard against potential crime ahead of Hurricane Laura. "We are working closely with our Federal, State and local partners and will be fully deployed throughout Houston and prepared to respond to all threats," Acevedo tweeted. Acevedo's not the only official warning locals about crime ahead of Laura. Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman reinforced the message, advising against posting your evacuation plans on social media. "If you evacuate, do not post your plans on social media. Do not invite the criminal element to your property by advertising you'll be gone for a while," Herman posted on Facebook. Two things to consider with the storm potentially affecting our area. 1. If you evacuate, do not post your plans on... Posted by Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Click here for chron.com's hurricane prep guides, coverage of Laura and ongoing updates on its track. Industry Update Appointment 26 August 2020 Trixie Thye Appointed Regional VP - Human Resources At RedDoorz in Singapore, Indonesia As Regional Vice President - Human Resources, Trixie Thye brings almost two decades of experience with notable global corporations such as Accenture. Most recently, she was the Regional HR Vice President and Business Partner with Beijing-headquartered IT consulting and outsourcing company, Pactera. RedDoorz RedDoorz is Southeast Asias largest and fastest growing, technology-driven hotel management company offering affordable accommodations for everyone. With a vision to enable people to travel more and provide an affordable reliable stay in all major cities and destinations across the region, RedDoorz is disrupting the hospitality industry by transforming the fragmented supply inventory into branded, standardised accommodations and leveraging its mobile app and digital channels to drive strong consumer demand. more information Recent Appointments at RedDoorz Liviu Nedef - Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) 26 August 2020 Liviu Nedef will continue to play a key role on RedDoorz's leadership team as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), where he leads the company's marketing, communications, and direct business-to-consumer (B2C) sales efforts. read more Kelvin Teo - COO 26 August 2020 As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kelvin Teo will oversee the business and operations for RedDoorz across the region. Kelvin brings with him 20 years of experience in the tech and online industries. read more On Tuesday, the Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested Imam in connection with the riots under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He was brought back to the capital from Assam two days earlier on a production warrant. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar Sharjeel Imam to four-day police custody in connection with the February Delhi riots case. The Delhi Police had moved an application for five-day remand of Imam. Additional Session Judge Amitabh Rawat allowed an application moved by Imam's counsel for two legal interviews with him in a period of five days, away from the hearing range of police officials. During the court proceedings, Imam's lawyer Surbhi Dhar opposed the five-day custody sought and requested court to grant it for a shorter time. "The accused was in judicial custody for one month before the Delhi riots. Accordingly, there is limited information which can be sought from him; so five days in custody is not required." Imam had come into the limelight for his speech in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens on December 13 last year and subsequently on January 16 at the Aligarh Muslim University, where he allegedly threatened to "cut off" Assam and the rest of the northeast from the country. The Delhi Police had on July 25 filed a charge-sheet against Imam in connection with a case related to his alleged inflammatory speeches during the protests against the CAA at several places. The 600-page charge-sheet was filed under Sections 124A (sedition), 153(A) (promoting enmity), 153 (assertion prejudicial to national integration) (promoting enmity, hatred between different communities, 505 (spreading rumours) of the IPC and Section 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in Delhi's Patiala House court. Australian pet lovers have the opportunity to win free beer on a 'DogKeeper' scheme, just by taking a selfie with their four-legged friends. Craft beer trailblazer BrewDog announced the national 'beer scheme' on Wednesday's National Dog Day, offering free beer to dog-loving Aussies. Celebrating the launch of its first headliner beers brewed in Australia, BrewDog is offering the DogKeeper package to 50 pet-lovers. Craft beer trailblazer BrewDog (pictured) announced the national 'beer scheme' on Wednesday's National Dog Day, offering free beer to dog-loving Aussies Celebrating the launch of its first headliner beers brewed in Australia the DogKeeper package will be given to 50 dog-lovers The package includes the Aussie-brewed range including Punk IPA, Hazy Jane New England IPA, Elvis Juice Grapefruit Infused IPA, a West Coast Classic Pale Ale. It also includes two bottles of a special alcohol-free Subwoofer IPA for the dogs, made out of beef bone broth. BrewDog will be choosing 50 lucky Aussies to qualify for DogKeeper and receive the free beer scheme. The company opened its first ever Australian Brewery and Taproom in Brisbane last year, and is now offering customers locally brewed beer from the Scottish company. BrewDog's Head of Australian Operations Calvin McDonald said he was excited to be brewing 'right here in Australia'. 'This year certainly hasn't been an easy one for anyone, so what better way to celebrate the launch of our site than by acknowledging all those awesome four-legged friends who are helping us through,' he said. The package includes the Aussie-brewed range including Punk IPA, Hazy Jane New England IPA, Elvis Juice Grapefruit Infused IPA, a West Coast Classic Pale Ale - and two bottles of a special alcohol-free Subwoofer IPA for the dogs 'We couldn't be happier with the quality of the beers coming out of Brisbane - the brewery has an excellent kit that is capable of nailing all styles, so we're excited to build this even further with new products and collaborations'. The company is also launching a new e-commerce site as part of its expansion Down Under. To enter the competition dog-lovers have to upload a picture of themselves and their pup to Instagram and explain how their dog has helped them through the pandemic. All entries must be in by September 2 with the tags #BrewDogKeeper and @brewdogau. The much-loved Scottish craft beer brand was launched by two men and a dog 13 years ago and honours friendships with four-legged friends. Studies have shown dogs help their owners keep positive mindset during hard times and decrease stress by providing comfort and joy during the pandemic. Law enforcement officers stand behind shields during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin on 25 August: REUTERS Protests continued for a third night in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as demonstrators demanded justice and transparency from a police department that has released scant details including officers names in the wake of a police shooting that has left a black man paralysed. Fences were erected around the citys federal courthouse as police in riot gear descended on the citys downtown on Tuesday, facing another night of demonstrations amid growing national unrest over the state of American policing. The small city in Wisconsin has attracted national scrutiny following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, captured on widely shared video entering a car as officers fired several rounds into his back. Two Kenosha Police Department officers involved in the case have not been identified. In the departments only statement following the shooting, Kenosha police merely described an officer-involved shooting. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has confirmed the officers were placed on administrative leave. But Wisconsin officials have faced growing pressure from residents and criminal justice advocates to name the officers amid national outcry for law enforcement reforms following months of protests against police brutality galvanised by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Mr Blake reportedly had tried to break up a fight on Sunday and was leaving the scene when police arrived. Video filmed by a neighbour across the street shows Mr Blake getting into his SUV as police draw weapons and fire several rounds. Three of his children were reportedly inside the car at the time. None of the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras, a policy that the city has not embraced over budget concerns for its 200 officers. Mr Blakes father, also named Jacob Blake, told reporters on Tuesday that the shooting amounted to senseless attempted murder. They shot my son seven times he said, holding back tears. Seven times. Like he didnt matter, but my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters. Story continues Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake in a photograph taken in September 2019 (AP) Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, also representing the family of Mr Floyd, said it would take a miracle for Mr Blake to walk again. Mr Crump said he is struggling to sustain his life and to hopefully become some resemblance of the man he once was. The familys attorney Patrick Salvi said that a bullet may have struck Mr Blakes spinal cord as he detailed his extensive damages from the shooting. He has holes in his stomach, he told reporters. He had to have nearly his entire colon and small intestines removed. He suffered damage to his kidney and liver and was also shot in the arm. A GoFundMe arranged by his mother has collected more than $1m in donations to support medical bills and legal aid, as of Tuesday night. In her calls for prayer and reflection, Mr Blakes mother Julia Jackson addressed the rest of the country, gripped by unrest as it struggled with decades-long violence against black Americans by police, and urged demonstrators to protest peacefully and safely to halt a cycle of violence. As I pray for my sons healing physically, emotionally and spiritually I also have been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country, she said. As I was riding through here, through the city, I noticed a lot of damage, she added. It doesnt reflect my son, or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased. Im really asking and encouraging everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts. Citizens, police officers, firemen, clergy, politicians do Jacob justice on this level and examine your hearts. Law enforcement officers stand behind shields during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin on 25 August. (REUTERS) By Tuesday night, sparks and smoke from fireworks and water bottles tossed by protesters were met with tear gas and rubber bullets, as police blasted sirens and demanded demonstrators adhere to an 8pm curfew. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers also declared a state of emergency and doubled the National Guard presence on Tuesday after growing unrest. We cannot forget the reason why these protests began, and what we have seen play out over the last two nights and many nights this year is the pain, anguish, and exhaustion of being black in our state and country, he said in a statement. As Ill reiterate today, everyone should be able to exercise their fundamental right whether a protester or member of the press peacefully and safely. We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction. Mr Evers has called for Wisconsin lawmakers to hold a special legislative session to take up a series of police reform-related measures on 31 August. Read more Jacob Blakes mother reveals he apologised when told about paralysis Jacob Blakes family make emotional call for change following shooting Wisconsin declares state of emergency LeBron James makes powerful statement on shooting of Jacob Blake Man who filmed Jacob Blakes shooting says he is traumatised An advocacy group, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has resuscitated its flagship journal, Democracy and Development: Journal of West African Affairs, after a years-long pause. The journal, which focuses on democracy and development in West Africa, was first launched in the late 1990s when some countries in the region were short-changing between military rule and civilian government. The Director of CDD, Idayat Hassan, in a statement, said the relaunch of the journal was necessitated in order to meet the challenges of a sub-region in the throes of rapid change. While the journal comes in a new format, it maintains its previous commitment to running informed commentaries on democracy and development in West Africa. Democracy and Development is committed to being the hub for sophisticated analyses of issues affecting democratic and developmental evolution in West Africa, and welcomes essays and reviews from scholar-practitioners on issues under this broad rubric, Ms Hassan said. As it focuses on the interaction of democracy and development in West Africa, the journal, the CDD director said, would highlight the practical problems that have inhibited democratic reforms. It seeks to bring attention to reportage and analyses of conflict and peace-building, innovative programmes and activities that drive good governance, capacity building and public policy research in democracy, and security and development in the region. In this way, Democracy and Development reinforces CDDs commitment to framing the discourse and encouraging engagement on socio-political and economic issues that continue to impinge on democracy and development in West Africa, Ms Hassan said. Democracy and Development is edited by US-based sociologist Ebenezer Obadare, with support from a star-studded editorial board, including Wale Adebanwi of the University of Oxford, United Kingdom; gender expert and UN advisor, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi; Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director, WASCI, Ghana; Nic Cheeseman of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; and Carl Levan of the School of International Service, American University, Washington, D.C., United States of America. ALSO READ: Others are Boubacar Ndiaye of Wooster College, United States of America; Matthew Page of Chatham House; Dzodzi Tsikata of the University of Ghana; and Zainab Usman, Public Sector Specialist at the World Bank. While it is now available on a dedicated website (http://democracyanddevelopmentjournal.org/), the journal calls for contributions for its December 2020 edition on the theme of Viral States: Pandemics, Politics, and Policy in West Africa. The deadline for submission of articles is October 15. Entrants are advised to send all enquiries about the journal to the editor at editor@cddwestafrica.org. Israel takes the shooting at our forces by Hezbollah very seriously. We will not tolerate any aggression against our citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the morning of Aug. 26. He was reacting to developments overnight, of shots fired from Lebanese territory at Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops on the Israeli side, near the border fence. Addressing Hezbollah, Netanyahu said that aggression by the group is endangering the state of Lebanon. I suggest that Hezbollah not test Israels crushing force, warned Israels prime minister. Defense Minister Benny Gantz also reacted, tweeting, "Yesterday at 22:40 shots were fired in the Manara sector against our troops, from Lebanese territory. The incident ended without any injuries. The IDF retaliated with combat helicopters and aircraft attacking Hezbollah terror targets. We will not allow [Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan] Nasrallah to hurt either our soldiers or our country. We will react severely to any incident on the border. After the shooting, residents living near the Israel-Lebanon border were instructed to shelter in their homes. The army blocked some roads near the border fence as the IDF reported an ongoing "security incident." It was only several hours later that information came out about fire from the Lebanese side of the fence. Netanyahu, Gantz and the IDF chief of staff convened shortly after the report of the incident, with the IDF instructed to retaliate against Hezbollah positions. According to Israeli media, the bombing appeared to be the first Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon since 2006. Tensions on Israel's border with Lebanon and Syria have flared up in recent weeks, ever since the killing near Damascus of Hezbollah operative Ali Kamel Mohsen Jawad on July 20. Hezbollah vowed to avenge the death of Jawad, raising the level of alert in Israel. On July 27, Netanyahu said Israeli forces thwarted an attempt by a Hezbollah cell to infiltrate across the Lebanon border. Hezbollah should know it is playing with fire, Netanyahu said in a televised address from the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv. After the Aug. 4 explosion in Beiruts port, and ensuing rage in Beirut streets, Israeli experts conjectured that Hezbollah would postpone its plans to avenge the death of Jawad. Gantz and Netanyahu leveraged public anger at Hezbollah to denounce its modus operandi of hiding ammunition and weapons inside private homes, endangering Lebanese citizens. While Nasrallah is our greatest enemy to the north, he is Lebanons biggest problem from within Lebanon. We see the tragedy that happened in Lebanon. Just think about what would happen if that were repeated with Iranian weapons in Lebanese villages, said Gantz. Many within the Israeli security system assess that Hezbollah constitutes the countrys toughest and most immediate threat. According to estimates, the group possesses close to 130,000 rockets and missiles capable of striking virtually anywhere in Israel. Israel has been working with the United States for the renewal and expansion of the mandate for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to enable UNIFIL to act efficiently against Hezbollah presence in the south of Lebanon. The mandate was last extended on Aug. 29, 2019, for a period of one year. Environmental campaigners and analysts are criticizing Norways plan to open new areas for oil drilling in the Arctic, saying that operations could threaten pristine areas and wildlife and potentially strain Norways relations with Russia, which has great ambitions for Arctic development, the Guardian reports. Norways Ministry of Petroleum and Energy proposed in June to offer 136 blocks for oil and gas exploration in the licensing round for less explored areas on its shelf, including 125 blocks in the Arctic Barents Sea that are currently unavailable for drilling. The so-called 25th numbered licensing round expected to be announced in the fall of 2020 after consultation on the proposed areas for oil drilling typically includes frontier parts of the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The ministry proposes nine frontier areas for exploration, including eight areas in the Barents Sea and one area in the Norwegian Sea. The public consultation on the proposal ends on Wednesday, August 26. According to Norways oil ministry, it will be the frontier regions that are most likely to host sizeable new oil discoveries. Critics of the plan, including Greenpeace and Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth), criticized the governments plan to open new areas in the Barents Sea to oil drilling as soon as the proposal was submitted to consultation in June. Although this is not the first time, it is still shocking to see how willing the government is to set aside environmental advice to drill for oil in vulnerable marine areas. Several of the blocks are north of the scholarly definition of the ice edge zone, that is, the area where ice may occur during the year, Nature and Youth leader Therese Hugstmyr Woie said. Given that we dont yet have the technology to clean up spills in an Arctic environment, it really doesnt make any sense to continue with offshore extraction there, Ilan Kelman, a professor of risk, resilience and global health at UCL and Agder University in Norway, told the Guardian. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Vodafone Idea (Representative Image) Telecom regulator TRAI has issued a show-cause notice to Vodafone Idea over the contentious priority plan, saying the offer lacks transparency, is misleading and not in compliance with regulatory principles. In a notice seen by PTI, the regulator has asked Vodafone Idea to "show cause" by August 31, "as to why appropriate action should not be initiated against it for violating the extant regulatory framework by its RedX tariff plan". Bharti Airtel has not been issued a show-cause notice, a source said. Airtel offered to abide by what TRAI says and has also voluntarily modified its platinum offering suitably, and hence TRAI is not proceeding with further investigation on that, the source said. In the show-cause notice sent to VIL, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said it is of the view that the "claim of VIL for providing priority 4G network with faster data speeds is not in compliance with the extant regulatory framework". "The RedX tariff offer lacks transparency and is misleading and not in compliance with regulatory principles of tariff assessment contained under Telecom Tariff Order, 1999, as amended from time to time," TRAI has said in the show-cause notice. It said that the RedX tariff offer is in contravention of specific clauses of the Telecom Tariff Order relating to protection of interests of the consumers. Further, TRAI said that VIL's RedX tariff offer violates the terms of licence agreement and is not consistent with stipulated technical specifications. Over the past weeks, TRAI had been probing Vodafone Idea's priority plan RedX and Bharti Airtel Platinum offering to see if network preference to specific customers leads to deterioration of services for other non-premium subscribers or violates any norms. During its probe, the regulator had shot off questions to the two operators asking them to explain their position on the controversial issue and provide relevant data to substantiate their claims. Responding to questions raised by telecom regulator over its priority plan earlier, Vodafone Idea had argued that a new tariff plan is not a new service. Vodafone Idea had also countered TRAI's contention that the RedX plan that commits higher speeds should have been informed separately so different aspects could have been examined before such service was launched. Vodafone Idea had justified its pay-more-for-priority-experience plan offered to its subscribers, and said that telecom operators faced a double whammy of having to make continuous investments in an era of call and data charges falling way below cost due to cut-throat competition. A Suffolk Superior Court judge denied a request to preliminary block Massachusetts officials from enforcing the eviction moratorium signed into law earlier this year in response to the economic crisis sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 34-page decision, Judge Paul Wilson said the emergency law pausing evictions statewide neither interferes with core judicial powers nor blocks access to the courts as landlords can take other legal action against non-paying tenants, including filing a breach of contract lawsuit for monetary damages. Wilson called access to stable housing a crucial component of containing COVID-19 in Massachusetts. He argued the floodgates would open for evictions, making renters who have lost work and cant afford to make rent during the pandemic move and risk contracting the virus. That economic and health risk to the public and the state, he added, outweighs the financial hit landlords take in the short term during the eviction moratorium. By temporarily keeping people where they currently live, it ensures efficacy of social distancing guidelines, prevents homelessness, and limits housing overcrowding, thereby limiting the spread of the disease, Wilson wrote. The Law also promotes economic health not only for the potentially displaced tenants but also for all residents of Massachusetts, as displacement and increased reliance on the shelter system and emergency services would increase costs to the Commonwealth. Jordana Greenman, one of the attorneys representing the landlords, said she believed Wilsons opinion was too deferential to the state. We disagree with the decision, she said. We intend to appeal it. An appeal would mean the case would go to the state appellate court or potentially the SJC, Greenman said. The state lawsuit garnered attention and input from several civil rights organizations and community groups, including the City Life/Vida Urbana, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Chelsea Collaborative, Greater Boston Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Springfield No One Leaves and Lynn United for Change. We believe todays thoughtful Superior Court order appropriately recognizes that the Moratorium law plays a vital role in Massachusetts ongoing and comprehensive effort to defeat the spread of COVID-19 and should remain in place as long as the emergency persists, the coalition of organizations said in a statement to MassLive. This is especially critical in the communities hardest hit by the disease the communities of color and low-income neighborhoods our client groups represent. The eviction moratorium became law in April after housing advocates argued renters who couldnt afford rent during the coronavirus pandemic, and the states closure of non-essential businesses would end up displaced in the middle of a public health crisis. In July, Gov. Charlie Baker extended the moratorium to Oct. 17, citing the continued spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated last month that more than 300,000 Massachusetts renters had slight or no confidence that they would be able to pay rent in August. Housing court administrators estimated they could be flooded with 20,000 eviction cases if the moratorium expired in August as originally scheduled. Landlords who oppose the eviction moratorium, however, argue that some tenants have taken advantage of the emergency law as an excuse to avoid paying rent. Mitchell Matorin, one of the landlords named in the lawsuit, said tenants in one of his Worcester units repeatedly paid their $1,200 a month rental payment late and after January stopped paying it altogether. Matorin had a 14-day notice to quit for the non-paying tenants, but efforts to evict them were put on pause because of the moratorium. In his decision, Wilson argued that landlords and their tenants have other recourses to obtain money, including seeking financial assistance from the state through one of its COVID-19 funds. He said Matorin and other plaintiffs inability to evict non-paying tenants from one unit of a three-family house does not deny all economically viable use of their property. Lawyers for the landlords, who each reported at least one case of a tenant failing to pay rent before the pandemic, asked the Supreme Judicial Court in June to overturn the moratorium. The SJC sent the case to the Superior Court. Greenman and Richard Vetstein filed a separate suit in Boston federal court challenging the moratorium and removed the federal claims of First Amendment and contract rights violations from the state case. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf rejected the states motion to issue a stay on the case given the state lawsuit. Wolf heard arguments about a motion to issue a preliminary injunction, but he has yet to decide despite previously suggesting a ruling would come Wednesday. Instead, he called for a joint status report by 4 p.m. Monday and, among other things, asked the state to explain how they would proceed if he granted a preliminary injunction. A hearing on the preliminary injunction, and motions to dismiss multiple counts are set to resume at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Related Content: Two persons have tested positive for for the second time in Telangana, according to the Health Ministry on Tuesday. These are the first two such cases in A source in Health Ministry told ANI, "The total number of cases stands at 1,08,670 in the state. Of these two persons have contracted the deadly virus for the second time." "Public should follow COVID-19 guidelines and prevent themselves from getting infected," the source added. According to the Union Health Ministry, India's has reported 31,67,324 cases including 7,04,348 active cases and 24,04,585 cured/discharged/migrated patients as of August 25. (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.) Muslim teen beaten, head shaved by family in France because she 'loved a Christian' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Family members of a teenage Bosnian girl will face abuse charges after they were accused of beating the child and shaving her head when she admitted to having a relationship with a Christian man. Prosecutors are charging the parents, uncle and aunt of the teenage girl after they were accused of assaulting her last Monday in their apartment in the eastern city of Besancon, according to Agence France-Presse. The act was condemned on Twitter by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who wrote on Twitter that he was deeply shocked by the act of torture and claimed the child was beaten and shaved because she loved a Christian. This barbarism calls for the most severe sanctions, Darmanin wrote, according to an English translation of the tweet. As first reported by the French newspaper L'Est Republicain, the 17-year-old girl had fallen in love with a 20-year-old man of Serbian origin. While she is of Muslim faith, he is a Christian. "The two families knew each other and [their relationship] was not a problem, Deputy Prosecutor Margaret Parietti told AFP. But when they started talking about marriage, the girl's parents told her: 'We are Muslims, you cannot marry a Christian. The family arrived in France over two years ago from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The parents initially took away the daughters phone and stopped her from speaking with her boyfriend. This led the young couple to flee for four days before returning to the apartment where the girl lived with her family. "The first blow came from the mother, then there was an outbreak of violence. She was taken to a room and beaten, Parietti explained. She was shaved, according to her testimony, by her uncle her father's brother while being beaten. The parents of the young man were also said to be at the apartment at the time of the beating but dared not intervene. Parietti said the man left to report what had happened to the police. After police arrived, the girl was taken to a hospital, according to LEst Republicain. The child reportedly suffered a broken rib and bruises all over her body. She also lost her hair. In France, head shavings were used to shame women accused of having relationships with Nazi occupiers after World War II. Parietti said the girls parents and her aunt and uncle were detained and will be tried for violating a law banning violence against minors. All four were released under judicial control. However, they are banned from contacting the girl who is now under protection. Marlene Schiappa, minister delegate in charge of citizenship, also condemned the act. Violence, humiliation, torture, and even [shaving]! the minister wrote in a tweet. Shame on those parents, on that vile uncle. These acts must be condemned. Support for this young girl, for her freedom, her integrity, her dignity. And thanks to her boyfriend who helped save her. The French Interior Ministry reports that in 2019, there were 1,052 recorded anti-Christian incidents committed in France. Most of those incidents were attacks on churches and other religious property. The Vienna-based Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe has warned that theres been about a 285% increase in the number of anti-Christian incidents reported in France over the last decade-plus. The French government reported 275, what they call, anti-Christian acts [in 2008]," OIDACE Executive Director Ellen Fantini told The Christian Post in July. If we look at 2018 and 2019, the numbers are little over 1,000 [per year]. So the increase from 275 to a little over 1,000 works out to 285% increase. Fantini said that anti-Christian acts can be anything from targeting a church [or statue] in some way with vandalism or it could be actual assaults against French Christians with an anti-Christian bias." Fantini said that the French government submits data about hate crimes committed with a bias against Christians to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Those numbers, the most recent figures for hate crimes, were nearly 2,000 in 2018, she explained. So when people react with shock when we say that this works out to about three a day, we are taking conservative numbers. When we take even the governments own numbers of hate crimes against Christians, it works out to more than five a day. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Recently, a few news outlets asked, Whats going on in California? That question prompted me to write these articles (you can view the first one here.) With the beach gatherings, along with Pastors Jack Hibbs, Rob McCoys, and John MacArthurs bold stances, we decided to launch a Saturday night service in Lancaster, California, at JetHawk Stadium on July 25th. Its being tagged #TheStadiumRevival. To get you up to speed: Although the event was primarily for our local body as a way to come together, word quickly spread, and approximately 1,000 people show up every Saturday. This move of God simply shows how hungry people are to be encouraged and uplifted and even convicted. But when God is moving, so are opposing forces. Complaints prompted calls to the Los Angeles County Health Department. We were told that we cannot sing, even if we are six feet apart, but that they would consider allowing singing if we double our social distance and wear masks the entire service. Were not sure what will happen on Saturday (will they attempt to shut us down midway through like they suggested?), but you can watch the live feed here Saturday at 7 pm PST to see what happens. We respect our governing authorities and comply when possible (the Bible is clear here), but when mandates begin to hinder efforts to worship God and we see tons of inconsistencies (e.g., protests are not shut down or challenged), then we must take a stand. Others far more gifted than me, such as John MacArthur, have written extensively on this topic, but Id like to share some thoughts. First, I love America I love how God has blessed us. I read the writings of the Founding Fathers and the Puritans often. My heart beats for restoration and renewal. Second, my heart is to honor and obey our elected officials when they are trying to honor God. Third, its important that Christians respond in wisdom rather than react in pride. I dont think it was a First Amendment issue, at least not initially, because the stay-at-home order appeared to be short-term and very specific. I also believe that reacting can damage our witness if decisions are not bathed in prayer and carefully considered. It can demonstrate a spirit of rebellion and send a wrong message across the landscape of America. Civil rights must be viewed in the context of social responsibility, such as Will exercising my right hurt others? But also, Will keeping our church closed hurt others mentally or spiritually . . . from depression to suicide? An interesting dynamic, as well as a transition, is taking place dynamic in that some of our leaders are not truly seeking God, so decisions are made in fear and guided by anxiety. And its crystal clear now that COVID is being used as a political weapon. All kinds of evil are being exposed from pedophila rings to satanic agendas. Anyone who denies this is either naive or on the side of deception. Granted, COVID-19 is a real virus, but when does compliance turn into complacence, and when are mandates overkill? We must seek God wholeheartedly and unconditionally if we truly desire wisdom. We have been very compliant, but as this drags on, we will need to make decisions based on the biased targeting of churches. Maintaining six feet to pray for the sick may be an impossibility. Jesus laid hands on the sick and the leprous. Im not implying that we become rebels and do what we want to do; there is a fine line between presumption and faith, but at some point, the church must be the church. God-given rights must be maintained. My conviction on this day, 8/14/20, is that we continue to support local ordinances when they are realistic and fair across the board. During this time, we must humble ourselves as we fast and pray for direction. Are you doing this? I dont think anyone should speak out until they have first sought the heart of God, and no Christian should incite unbiblical rebellion. Are you reacting in anger or responding in wisdom? As I said in a recent article, in addition to bringing back the economy, we must constantly turn to God and His Word. Psalm 119:67 reminds us of an essential truth: Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. Affliction via difficulties, challenges, and obstacles can lead us back to God. In one fell swoop, COVID-19 has dethroned many of our idols. We are finally realizing what is really important. In this sense, I am incredibly encouraged since this is fertile ground for revival. Revival thrives in brokenness, repentance, humility, and passionate prayer. I am concerned that America is fearful but not repentant, anxious but not surrendered to God, worried but not worshipful, confused but not diligently seeking Him. What will it take to draw us back to God? Like the Israelites in Joels time, we must change course and cry out to Him in repentance with prayer and fasting. God heard His people then, and He will hear us now once again pouring out His Spirit on a dry and thirsty land, for whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:25-32). This is our goal at the Stadium Revival services in Southern California. Would you please keep us in prayer #TheStadiumRevival? It was by accident that the public learned about "Russian staff" who arrived in Belarus to make crazy cash in return for propaganda: a local newsroom chief who got fired for supporting protests managed to find out about the replacement. Unable to quietly deploy their military hardware and troops, Russia has applied another tool their indispensable propagandists As it turned out, a replacement was found in Moscow at the infamous Russia Today. Besides, Lukashenko chose not to hide the fact that he had hired several teams of Kremlin "professionals" so that Belarusian journalists, he said, could follow their example. Apparently, propaganda pundits have not only taken over the Belarus state TV and Radio but also deployed in Lukashenko's Administration. Over the weekend, they were already spotted at a pro-government rally in Grodno, where Lukashenko was speaking. Moreover, it is probable that the Russians were on the other side of the camera filming the complacent "father of the nation" wielding an automatic rifle on board a helicopter. Russia's favorite weapon is propaganda Unable to quietly deploy their military hardware and troops, Russia has applied another tool their indispensable propagandists. That's because the Kremlin knows the price not only of its weapons, but also of the media that are able to "shoot" no worse than an AK. Once fooled with the narratives about mad Maidan rioters and "Banderites", people may this time doubt what they hear that it's Belarusians who are branded this way These journalists are working on the tyrant's image and at the same time ease tensions in the society that until now used to be inert and passive before suddenly waking up. People are not focused right now and they can easily be distracted, thus falling victim to the most outrageous fake news. By the way, it's Russia Today that's since 2015 been working on Putin's image of a "sly FSB guy" and "smooth judoka". However, the narrative of the Kremlin media has not changed since the Euromaidan in Ukraine. And the repetition of fake news, as well as the abuse of trust, is a very dangerous game: once fooled with the narratives about mad Maidan rioters and "Banderites", people may this time doubt what they hear when it's Belarusians who are now being branded this way. Designing an appearance of some external threat, fabricated reports alleging that protests are financed from abroad, etc. are well-known manipulation tools employed by the Russians, although they are traditional versions of classical authoritarian rhetoric. This was already the case in Ukraine back in 2013-2014, and continues today. However, now it's the minds of Belarusians that have fallen victim to the Kremlin's narrative. Propaganda has been out there for a long time. Of course it has. The despot must be supported in the media space: he is put "in a warm bath", he is referred to as an indispensable leader ready to shake an ordinary worker's hand or scold farmers for poorly handled livestock. This is the way Lukashenko's image has been molded since 1994, when he became the only Father, having even replaced the Church. Russian propagandists were brought to Belarus not just for the sake of it. It was not due to the lack of staff as Lukashenko claimed. The Russians were hired because they know how to show events from the "right angle" At the same time, it's a bit weird to see Belarusian journalists, who had been catering to Lukashenko's needs as if being his press service, are now complaining about being replaced by Russians who "are even paid more." Many TV hosts have already resigned when the first blood was shed in Belarus streets. Some even shared insider information about the mechanism behind Lukashenko's ideology. Russian propagandists were brought to Belarus not just for the sake of it. It was not due to the lack of staff as Lukashenko claimed. The Russians were hired because they know how to show events from the "right angle" and specialize in keeping the tyrants afloat in a stormy sea when the system's ship is already sinking. Another option is to shape a completely new image of the Belarusian "Father" holding an automatic rifle instead of a potato, with enemy troops from NATO behind his back. That's because citizens have grown weary of Lukashenko's long-term "farmer's suit". Yana Stavska is an UNIAN news feed editor A Richmond monument situated for decades in a quiet corner near the historic Fort Bend County Courthouse may soon be dismantled and cast aside as an embarrassment to the citys history after officials announced Tuesday a committee would be formed to consider the fate of the Jaybird Monument, a large obelisk statue erected in the citys post-Civil War Reconstruction era. Our City thrives on being a place where hate and racial prejudices will not be tolerated, Richmond City Manager Terri Vela said in an official statement. Our goal is to continue to preserve our history as an educational gateway while being sensitive to all the members of our community of today and tomorrow. The announcement came after Mayor Evelyn Moore and the Richmond City Commission approved the measure following executive session discussions Monday (Aug. 24). Prior to the vote, a handful of Richmond and Fort Bend County residents urged city leaders to destroy or relocate the monument including Samantha Rodgers, who was among those spearheaded efforts to dismantle the monument, which she described as offensive. You are all elected officials, meaning our community members vote you into office to represent us and it is time you start listening to a large part of your community that has felt ignored for a very long time, Rodgers said. These community members are telling you to remove the racist Jaybird monument. Related: These men are not my heroes: controversial Richmond statue covered following petition for removal Rodgers warned continuing to ignore the issue could affect voters opinions in the upcoming November elections. Philip Bartholomew told city leaders he considered the monument to be a symbol of racism. As a concerned citizen and someone who thinks that statue is a blight upon our overall county and our community and something that needs to be relegated to the past because it is not history but the erasure of history, I would encourage you to consider allowing a third-party to take ownership of the monument, he said. In the weeks leading up to the vote, three petitions had circulated calling for the monument to be removed. After city officials questioned who actually owned the monument, Richmond resident Tres Davis announced he was willing to take ownership and would arrange to have it relocated to a museum. Davis repeated his offer to Mayor Moore and the Commissioners and went on to describe the heroes of the Jaybird Monument as racists who passed laws blocking Blacks and Jews from holding office and voting and also denied women the right to vote. All of you have friends in our community that are Black, that are older who lived up under the Jaybirds and know what Jim Crow was like for them, and for you to sit there and look at that monument and know that monument is both racist and misogynist is uncalled for, Davis said. Related: 'Why cant I own it?': Fort Bend resident seeks ownership of Jaybird Monument Barbara Jones said she grew up in Kendleton and learned about the Jaybirds and Woodpeckers from the late Marjorie Adams, who talked to her about her uncle Willie Melton, one of three Richmond residents who fought a legal battle against the Jaybirds that ultimately led to a 1953 U.S. Supreme Court ruling restoring the right to vote to Fort Bend Countys African Americans. Supreme Court Justice Menton referred to the Jaybirds and their process as an unworthy scheme, Jones said, going on to read back portions of the monuments inscription to city leaders. The monument as it stands redefines the word heroes as White Supremacists, male chauvinists, leaders of the Battle of Richmond, friends against friends, relatives against relatives, brothers against brothers, (who) forced African American citizens to leave their homesteads immediately, many without any other place to go because they or their forefathers had been brought here with the Old Three Hundred as slaves, refused to allow African Americans to right to vote simply because of the color of their skin, Confederate soldiers who fought to keep African Americans in slavery. More importantly, they were just flat-out lawless men, Jones said. Although no one spoke in support of the Jaybird Monument, one resident submitted a letter to the commission saying he supported keeping the statue in its current position with modifications. What is the Jaybird Monument? The Jaybird Monument was built to honor H.H. Frost, L.E. Gibson and J.M. Shamblin, members of the Jaybirds, a post-Civil-War faction of the Democratic Party whose all-white members were predominantly wealthy planters and business men who in post Civil-War times lost political power to freed slaves and their white allies, called Woodpeckers. Outnumbering Jaybirds by almost four-to-one as voters, the Woodpeckers held political control for more than two decades before a bloody battle in 1889 ended with the murder of several members of both parties. The Jaybirds then seized back political control via military force and established an all-white election primary system that denied African-Americans the right to vote for over 60 years. On HoustonChronicle.com: Efforts to remove Confederate monuments gain momentum in Houston suburbs Over the summer, the Jaybird Monument was covered and members of the Fort Bend County Historical Commission invited residents to voice their opinion via an online survey as to whether the monument should be dismantled and destroyed, relocated or left standing with or without signage offering further details related to its history. Richmond city leaders reviewed the results of the survey which indicated the majority of the almost 3,000 who responded favored destroying, removing or modifying the monument. Approximately, 43 percent supported destroying the monument and roughly 19 percent wanted to see it removed. Approximately 16 percent favored leaving the monument in place with certain modifications and 24 percent supported other options. The survey results included hundreds of comments from those who supported various modifications and other alternative options. One person commented: Grind it up as gravel for paving. It will be the only useful thing these heroes ever did. Other comments reflected racial overtones. Stay where it is. Stop changing things because blacks say so, one person commented. Leave it as a reminder what happens when parties do not co-operate. Blacks were in the wrong to leave out the whites and this bothers the blacks as they want to cover up what their race did, another person wrote. Others point to the issue as part of the nations cancel culture and argue the countys history shouldnt be erased. Others say it should remain for the lessons the incident can teach future generations. Do not remove this it may not be a proud part of our history but it is still our history and should be left to teach people that violence is never the answer. If we erase all of our monuments we erase our history and then the generations that didnt get taught about it are likely to repeat the same mistakes, one person commented. It should disappear with no mention of the event. Its very embarrassing this ever even took place and should not be remembered in this community, was also among the comments. MORE FROM KRISTI NIX: Richmond hospital battles COVID-19 to save 'sickest of the sick' The historical complexities that surround the Jaybird Monument and the underlying racial tensions mirror issues faced by communities across the county in the wake of protests triggered by the death of former Houston resident George Floyd. The Jaybird Monument is perceived by some as a symbol of racial oppression that should be rejected. The demand that it be destroyed or removed is perceived by others in the community as a hostile takeover of the countys heritage and history. Similar issues have already been decided in other Texas communities. In Dallas, a state of a Texas Ranger that went by the name of One Riot, One Ranger was removed from Love Field Airport in June over new concerns related to historical episodes of police brutality and racism within the agency. In Houston, the Spirit of the Confederacy, a statue that stood at Sam Houston Park for more than 100 years was quietly dismantled last June. Currently, the fate of the Jaybird Monument remains undecided. Mayor Moore and the Richmond City Commission are expected to review the committees recommendations in the coming weeks. knix@hcnonline.com Raises A$10m to Progress Beetaloo Basin Exploration Sydney, Aug 26, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Empire Energy Group Limited ( ASX:EEG ) ( OTCMKTS:EEGUF ) is pleased to announce that gross proceeds of A$10 million at A$0.30 per share has been raised through an unconditional single-tranche placement to institutional and sophisticated investors ("Placement").Morgans Corporate Limited and Blue Ocean Equities Pty Limited were the Joint Lead Managers for the Placement.Use of FundsFunds raised under the Placement will be applied to Empire's Northern Territory exploration and development program including the imminent drilling of the Carpentaria-1 well.Empire has started work in preparation for drilling the Carpentaria-1 well in EP187 including upgrading the access track, construction of the well pad and water bore drilling. These civil works are wholly being conducted by Northern Territory based companies and personnel. After completion of the civil works program, Empire expects to commence drilling the Carpentaria-1 well in mid-September 2020.The balance of the funds raised under the Placement are intended to be used for a planned vertical fracture stimulation of the Velkerri Shale in the Carpentaria-1 well in Q2 2021 (subject to regulatory approvals which are ongoing) as well as working capital.Comments from Managing Director Alex Underwood:"We are pleased with the strong level of support for this capital raising from existing and new sophisticated and institutional shareholders. Empire is now well funded to progress its planned work programs across its extensive holdings in the Beetaloo and McArthur Basins.The Northern Territory election result last weekend demonstrated that there is now bipartisan support for our industry in the Northern Territory Parliament. Empire is proud of its track record of responsible exploration, community engagement and capital investment which is supporting job creation and the broader Northern Territory economy.Empire is playing a key role in unlocking the value of the Northern Territory's emerging Beetaloo and McArthur Basins through measured capital investment in our properties, which we believe can create substantial value for our shareholders, broad and sustainable economic benefits to the people of the Northern Territory, and energy security for Australia and the broader region."Placement Structure and PricingIn light of extremely strong demand for the Placement, the Company elected to accept oversubscriptions of A$3 million over the initial target of A$7 million. The additional A$3 million raised will ensure that the Company is fully funded for the vertical fracture stimulation and flow testing of Carpentaria-1, which is targeted to commence in Q2 2021, subject to regulatory approvals.About Empire Energy Group Ltd Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds over 14.5 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds 80% has very considerable conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo sub-Basin, in which Empire holds a substantial position, has independently assessed world class hydrocarbon volumes in place with a major ramp up in industry activity underway to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators. Empire Energy is an experienced conventional oil and gas producer with operations in the Appalachia region (New York and Pennsylvania). Empire has been successfully developing and producing oil and gas since 2006. Dozens of easyJet passengers have been forced to quarantine for 14 days after they were put into a hotel in Spain when their flight from Gibraltar was delayed. The passengers would have been able to avoid quarantine had the flight gone ahead as planned because the British Overseas Territory is on the UK's 'safe list'. But due to poor weather their flight on Monday was rescheduled and they needed overnight accommodation. But all hotel rooms in Gibraltar were full so they had to find their own hotel room, fend for themselves or accept the airline's offer of hotel rooms in Spain. Dozens of easyJet passengers have been forced to quarantine for 14 days after they were put into a hotel in Spain when their flight from Gibraltar (pictured) was delayed Passengers who had no other option but to accept the airline's offer were then forced to make their own way across the border into Spain - a coronavirus hotspot. That meant they would be forced to quarantine for two weeks when they finally got back to the UK yesterday. One passenger, Charlie Markham, 22, told The Sun: 'EasyJet bussed everyone over to Spain for the night and now they're going to be mixing with people on the flight back who were safe in Gibraltar.' At the end of last week there were only 31 active coronavirus cases in Gibraltar whereas Spain recorded 8,000 new infections on Friday alone. It was removed from the UK's safe travel corridor last month. All hotel rooms in Gibraltar were full so passengers had to accept the airline's offer to find their own hotel room or fend for themselves (stock picture) Basil Pru, of Surrey, was among those taken to Cadiz and told the news site: 'We hear a few are going to keep it hush-hush because they don't want to isolate.' An easyJet spokesman said: 'As a result of low visibility weather conditions in Gibraltar easyJet had to delay flight EZY8906 to Gatwick overnight. 'We tried to provide as many hotel rooms in Gibraltar as possible however, due to a shortage of rooms it was not possible to provide these for all customers so we offered accommodation in Spain for those who wanted it. 'Some customers found accommodation themselves in Gibraltar and easyJet will reimburse the cost to them. 'Whilst the delay was outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused as a result of the weather.' When close to half the companies in New Zealand have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 21x, you may consider Hallenstein Glasson Holdings Limited (NZSE:HLG) as a highly attractive investment with its 9.9x P/E ratio. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's so limited. For example, consider that Hallenstein Glasson Holdings' financial performance has been pretty ordinary lately as earnings growth is non-existent. One possibility is that the P/E is low because investors think this benign earnings growth rate will likely underperform the broader market in the near future. If you like the company, you'd be hoping this isn't the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's out of favour. Check out our latest analysis for Hallenstein Glasson Holdings pe Want the full picture on earnings, revenue and cash flow for the company? Then our free report on Hallenstein Glasson Holdings will help you shine a light on its historical performance. What Are Growth Metrics Telling Us About The Low P/E? Hallenstein Glasson Holdings' P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very poor growth or even falling earnings, and importantly, perform much worse than the market. Taking a look back first, we see that there was hardly any earnings per share growth to speak of for the company over the past year. However, a few strong years before that means that it was still able to grow EPS by an impressive 77% in total over the last three years. So we can start by confirming that the company has done a great job of growing earnings over that time. Comparing that to the market, which is predicted to shrink 2.5% in the next 12 months, the company's positive momentum based on recent medium-term earnings results is a bright spot for the moment. With this information, we find it very odd that Hallenstein Glasson Holdings is trading at a P/E lower than the market. It looks like most investors are not convinced at all that the company can maintain its recent positive growth rate in the face of a shrinking broader market. Story continues The Bottom Line On Hallenstein Glasson Holdings' P/E It's argued the price-to-earnings ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator. We've established that Hallenstein Glasson Holdings currently trades on a much lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year earnings growth is beating forecasts for a struggling market. There could be some major unobserved threats to earnings preventing the P/E ratio from matching this positive performance. Perhaps there is some hesitation about the company's ability to stay its recent course and swim against the current of the broader market turmoil. It appears many are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because this relative performance should normally provide a boost to the share price. There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we've discovered 1 warning sign for Hallenstein Glasson Holdings that you should be aware of. You might be able to find a better investment than Hallenstein Glasson Holdings. If you want a selection of possible candidates, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20x (but have proven they can grow earnings). 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. Last year, during Kayla Richardson's first year teaching, she spent approximately $2,000 on classroom supplies for her students out of her own pocket. "I spent nearly every weekend purchasing classroom supplies from garage sales, thrift stores and clearance sections," Richardson, who teaches 4th grade ESL at Science Hall Elementary in Kyle, Texas, told "Good Morning America." MORE: How Chrissy Teigen found out she was pregnant with baby No. 3 "I even worked on weekends, by choice," she added, "to ensure my students had the best experience and lesson engagement in my classroom." Thanks to Chrissy Teigen and the #ClearTheList movement, though, this year is going to be a little bit easier for Richardson, 24, and others like her. PHOTO: Kayla Richardson, a 4th grade ESL teacher in Texas, poses with children's books she received from Chrissy Teigen. (Courtesy Kayla Richardson) Over the weekend, Teigen took to Twitter to offer a helping hand to teachers amid the global COVID-19 pandemic by offering to pay for teachers' wish lists and the replies started piling up. "If you are a teacher in need of supplies for the upcoming school year, please drop your amazon wishlist here, I will do as many as I can," the 34-year-old cookbook author wrote. Hours later, she updated her 13.1 million followers that she had already cleared 50 wish lists for teachers, promising to do more throughout the week and focus on "struggling districts and special needs." With class in session using virtual and online or socially distanced and in-person teaching, teachers are having to go above and beyond. The viral #ClearTheList movement, which has garnered celebrity support like that from Teigen, seeks to help these educators obtain the supplies they need to do their job -- and do it well -- by purchasing supplies for them. "It's necessary for teachers to feel supported," Angela Rivero, another educator Teigen reached out to, told "GMA" when asked how she reacted upon seeing the model reply to her tweet. "And that's how I felt, supported." Story continues PHOTO: Angela Rivero, an ECSE teacher in Hawaii, poses in her classroom while wearing a face mask. (Courtesy Angela Rivero) Rivero, an ECSE teacher from Pearl Harbor Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii, said these items will provide "support and materials for my students and make sure they have fun" this school year. The 44-year-old, who has been teaching for 15 years, remembers feeling "lost" in her early 20s before deciding to become an educator. Now, she feels good knowing "I am making a difference in the lives of children" and "shaping the future." MORE: Chrissy Teigen gives advice to her younger self (and her kids) Richardson, who received her master's degree in education just weeks ago, said she was inspired to become a teacher because, given her multicultural background as a bilingual person of color, she believes "representation is key." This shows in the types of items she included on her wish list, which "consists of mostly multicultural and social-emotional books." PHOTO: Chrissy Teigen appears on the Today show, Feb. 19, 2020, in New York. (Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images, FILE) Richardson, who also teaches dual-language students, hopes the multicultural books can "help me instill healthy interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, and understanding of cultures" while the social-emotional books can "help students understand how to regulate their emotions and learn about social issues." In addition to helping educators across the country, Teigen has set up an at-home classroom for her two children, 4-year-old Luna and 2-year-old Miles, to learn in this school year given the COVID-19 pandemic. The impressive setup includes desks, cubbies and even a book wall in the shape of a tree. Oh look at the soft rock cozy reading area! Ok just proud and excited pic.twitter.com/VRuwvei8hI chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) August 23, 2020 The Cravings entrepreneur, who is expecting baby No. 3 with husband John Legend, clarified that while she has always wanted to be a teacher, they are "absolutely bringing in a professional" to keep the little ones on track. Meet some of the teachers whose back-to-school wish lists were fulfilled by Chrissy Teigen originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com BOSTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bain & Company announced today the creation of a broad ecosystem and infrastructure aimed at further promoting racial and social equity, both within the firm and its broader communities, as well as three newly appointed leaders to oversee these efforts. This news follows a statement from Mr. Maceda earlier this year, which included seven commitments the firm will take to promote racial equity and social justice. "These leadership appointments are an early step in what will be Bain's ongoing journey in pursuit of a more just and equitable world," said Mr. Maceda. "We've spent the past few months engaging in candid, and at times difficult, conversations with many of our employees and clients. There have been some bright spots, including our dedicated day of learning and reflection on Juneteenth. And we've uncovered opportunities to raise the bar for our business, our clients and our communities. Maria, Julie and Jon bring the right mix of passion and expertise to guide our teams in achieving these bold ambitions." Maria Gordian named head of Bain's Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council Maria Gordian, M.D., a partner in Bain's New York office, will head the firm's new Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Council. Along with Bain's board, the council will steer the firm toward its three-part ambition: 1) raise its game as an employer and business; 2) support its clients' prioritization of DEI within their corporate agendas; and 3) drive change at the community level with a focus on eliminating systemic racism and oppression in all forms. In her new role, Dr. Gordian will lead a passionate, change-oriented group of internal leaders and external partners, focused on setting the global and regional strategy for DEI at Bain and embedding it within the broader firm strategy. Dr. Gordian, a 10-year veteran at Bain, has spent two decades advising healthcare leaders on their biggest challenges. She has extensive experience creating growth strategies and identifying operational improvements, and she is an active member of Bain's Healthcare Private Equity practice. Dr. Gordian has led two important affinity groups for Bain employees, Blacks at Bain (BABs) and Latinos at Bain (LATBA). She will continue to lead BABs and hand over the reins for LATBA to Saber Sherrard, a Partner from the Dallas office. Julie Coffman is the founding leader of Bain's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practice area Mr. Maceda has tapped Julie Coffman, a partner in Bain's Chicago office, to be the founding leader of the firm's new DEI practice. This new practice will underpin Bain's ambition of supporting its clients in prioritizing DEI within their corporate agendas. Ms. Coffman will lead the practice in developing a comprehensive set of offerings and an ecosystem of partnerships to provide unique support to Bain's clients in progressing on their own DEI journeys. The practice team will also work to incorporate DEI into Bain's existing industry and capability practice areas, ensuring a consistent DEI lens throughout the business. In addition to this client-focused initiative, Ms. Coffman will lead the firm's newly formed Transformation Office, along with Darren Jackson, a partner in Los Angeles, and Emily Frasier, an associate partner in Atlanta. The goal of the Transformation Office is to engage, educate and mobilize every Bain employee to embed racial and social equity into the fabric of the companyultimately raising Bain's game as both an employer and a business. This group will create frequent engagement opportunities for interested stakeholders to contribute ideas and feedback. Ms. Coffman, whose tenure at Bain spans three decades, currently leads the firm's global Organization practice. She is also a leader in the firm's Healthcare practice and the founding chair of Bain's Global Women's Leadership Council, which is focused on increasing the number of women in Bain's leadership ranks. She has published several whitepapers on the topic of gender parity in business, and she was recognized as one of the 2011 Women Leaders in Consulting by Consulting magazine. Jon Barfield will head Bain's Racial Equity & Social Justice pillar within the Social Impact practice Jon Barfield, a partner in Bain's New York office, will lead the firm's efforts to drive change in local communities with a focus on supporting organizations that seek to eliminate systemic racism and oppression in all forms. Earlier this year, Bain formally established Racial Equity & Social Justice (RE&SJ) as the fourth pillar of its Social Impact practice, which it will support with a $100 million investment in pro bono work for organizations focused on RE&SJ causes. It will also match up to $1 million in employee donations to relevant organizations. As a part of this work, Mr. Barfield and his team will collaborate with Bain's sister organization Bridgespan to identify opportunities to apply Bain's capabilities in service of leaders and organizations focused on racial equity. Bain's first official RE&SJ client is the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (Restoration), which partners with residents and business to improve the quality of life in Central Brooklyn neighborhoods, such as Bedford Stuyvesantwhere 70 percent of residents identify as black or brown. Bain's work with Restoration focuses on closing the racial wealth gap and increasing the number of black and brown entrepreneurs in Central Brooklyn. The RE&SJ pillar will compliment Bain's other three social impact pillars, focused on Education, Economic Development and Environment. Mr. Barfield, who joined the firm nearly a decade ago, is a leader in Bain's Healthcare and Private Equity practices. He is also a leader within the BABs affinity group. As an additional part of Bain's seven commitments to promoting racial and social equity, the firm's Americas offices closed on Friday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth. Employees engaged in a day of mandatory learning and reflection and discussed the historical plight of African Americans, the impacts of racism in modern day America, and the importance of allyship and anti-racism. Editor's Note : To schedule an interview with. Dr. Gordian, Ms. Coffman or Mr. Barfield, please contact Katie Ware at [email protected] or +1 646-562-8107. About Bain & Company Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future. Across 59 offices in 37 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster and more enduring outcomes. Our 10-year commitment to invest over $1 billion in pro bono services brings our talent, expertise and insight to organizations tackling today's urgent challenges in education, racial equity and social justice, economic development and the environment. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients. We proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry, and our clients have outperformed the stock market 4-to-1. Media Contacts: Katie Ware Bain & Company Tel: +1 646 562 8107 [email protected] SOURCE Bain & Company Related Links http://www.bain.com Like all churches throughout Spain, St George's Church in Malaga is beginning to emerge from lockdown and is welcoming back its congregation. The Anglican church has also recently welcomed its new priest, Father Louis Darrant. The 43-year-old priest was officially received by the Archdeacon of Gibraltar, who said that his appointment was a "symbol of renewal and hope", both for the church and for the English-speaking community of Malaga. Born in Plaistow, East London, Father Louis studied at the University of Aberdeen, a period he remembers with fondness. Following his training at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, he returned to London, where he was ordained at Southwark Cathedral. He served his curacy at St John the Divine, Kennington, before moving to Essex to serve as rector of St Mary's Church in Maldon. The new chaplain is no stranger to Spain, as prior to arriving in Malaga, he served as priest in the town of Vinaros, on the Costa Azahar. Now enjoying the delights that Malaga has to offer, the spirited cleric is learning Spanish and is immensely attracted by Spain's rich cultural and artistic heritage. Father Louis took time out from his busy schedule to talk to SUR in English about how "delighted" he is to have been appointed to serve as chaplain of St George's Church. Can I call you Louis? Absolutely: I always say call me what you feel most comfortable with. The title (father) is about remembering the role I have for the community that I serve. Did you have a strict religious upbringing? No, people find the faith in all sorts of ways. My parents are hugely important to me and have influenced the kind of priest I am without being church people themselves. My parents actually realised I would become a priest before I did. When did you first realise that you wanted to become a priest? I worked as a labourer for my father and I was the worst labourer ever. I just wanted to hang around and chat to people. It's always been that way, I have always chatted to people about their problems. I would mix with people from all walks of life and I found them so interesting. It was this that taught me not to judge people, and I soon realised that I would make a much better priest than a labourer. What appeals to you about working with the English-speaking community of Malaga and the Costa del Sol? My parents lived on the Costa del Sol, so I feel very at home in this part of Spain. I look forward to exploring the life of the city and beyond. My desire is to help the church grow as a place of prayer, hospitality and service for all people in the city and the surrounding region. How are you settling in? I can't tell you how happy I am to come to Malaga: it's a dream job. I love St George's. I am really enjoying getting to know them, they have been some welcoming. What difference do you hope to make at St George's? I think there are tremendous possibilities for developing St George's so it can make a really positive contribution to the local community. Not just the English-speaking community, but further afield, because I feel we can be ambassadors. Will you be making any changes? The best changes are made as part of a team, but I think the reality is that there has been enough change already in getting people back into the church after the lockdown. Any other changes would be done by working as a team. That is how you build trust, energy and goodwill. Has St George's adapted to the 'new normal'? Yes, absolutely. All of us are now getting used to wearing a mask in church and observing the proper protocols to keep everyone safe and healthy. One of the first things I did was to develop our online presence. A number of people have reconnected with the church because of our online services, which we have been broadcasting live on YouTube. Do you intend to have relationships with other local Spanish churches? A big part of my life in Spain is to be an ambassador of the Church of England, as well as, in an unofficial sense, for my country. I feel there is much we can do to deepen the friendship between the C of E and the Catholic Church. Do you think the church has adapted to the 21st century? Well, it's still here and that's one of its great qualities, because you can turn to the church at any point in your life and know that you will be welcomed and supported. The C of E, like all communities, is working out how to change with the times, and how to best support people in whatever situation they find themselves in. Do you support same sex marriage? Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt. LGBT people are very welcome at St George's. As things stand, I am not permitted to marry a same sex couple, but there are many other ways in which I can support and help the couple understand God's blessing for their life together, which is the most important thing. You have been described as a 'vibrant new priest'; is this how you see yourself? (Laughing as he replies) Vibrant, well if that means alive, then yes, very alive. I think it is important how you set the tone, because it's about what kind of atmosphere you create as the priest. It is not about having all the answers or believing the right things. It's about doing the best where you are planted. In Uganda, even though air pollution is a big challenge in parts of the country, there is hardly any air quality monitoring. Engineer Bainomugisha along with other scientists at AirQo, Makerere University has developed a machine that monitors air quality. He explains how it works, and why it's so important. What are the main drivers of air pollution in Kampala and are there any indications of how bad it is? Generally, I would say the main drivers of air pollution in Kampala are transport, industry, burning of wood or charcoal and burning of waste. Kampala is Uganda's political capital and financial district contributing to over 30% of Uganda's GDP. The city hosts more than 32% of the country's manufacturing facilities and so industrial emissions from activity such as metal processing, furniture, textiles and plastics will contribute a significant amount of pollution to the air It's a very busy city, with millions using buses, private vehicles and motorbikes to commute in and out every day. A great deal of pollution therefore comes from vehicle emissions and heavy traffic congestion. To make matters worse, most of the vehicles in Kampala are pre-owned and, until 2018, the average fleet age was more than 15 years. These vehicles have a faster rate of wear and tear leading to a higher environmental footprint. And with just 30% paved road network, dust from unpaved road surfaces and road construction activities will contribute to particulate matter in the air. In addition to this, more than 90% of households in Kampala rely on charcoal and firewood as an energy source for cooking. And because there's poor solid waste disposal, another key contributor of air pollution is the open burning of garbage. You've started to manufacture machines that monitor air quality. How do they do this and who will be using them? Kampala, like many other cities in sub-Saharan Africa, has a critical data gap on the scale and magnitude of air pollution. This challenge inspired my students and I to create AirQo , a low-cost air quality monitoring system which was publicly launched earlier this year. To my knowledge, this is the only locally developed system that's been designed and optimised to help African cities with limited resources and poor infrastructure to measure and track air pollution trends. AirQo devices primarily measure particulate matter a mixture of solid particles in the air which can have adverse effects on our health when we inhale them. The devices continuously take samples of air from a location and use a light scattering method to quantify the concentration of particulate matter. These measurements are transmitted, in near real-time, to the cloud-based AirQo to predict local pollution. AirQo device. Makerere University The devices are locally designed to withstand the environmental conditions of many African cities, such as dust and extreme weather. They also include a wide range of data transmission and power options so they can operate in areas where there is limited access to power or poor internet connectivity. The AirQo device can be deployed at static locations or on mobile platforms, such as motorcycles locally called 'boda-bodas'. Having them on moving objects improves our spatial coverage and resolution. This means that instead of buying one device that only collects data in one area, you have one device that can collect data from multiple data points. This is a new innovation which means that data can be collected from a wider area including, off-road areas that would normally be difficult to install static monitors. Since 2018, for our own research purposes, we have deployed a network of over 80 devices across Uganda with over 45 in Kampala and in other towns. Some of the AirQo monitors are installed in schools or at private premises, such as shops. The users of the data collected include government, public (businesses, individuals, and civil society organisations), and academia. So far, our data (which has been collected since 2018) indicates that the levels of particulate matter peaks in the morning (between 6 and 9am), then flattens in the afternoon and peaks again after 5pm. This is consistent with major cities in other parts of the world. Overall, we've seen that Kampala's particulate matter levels are about five times over World Health Organisation guidelines. Has this technology been used anywhere else and how does it compare to other air quality monitoring systems? Traditional air quality monitoring systems are expensive. They cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to set up and maintain and require specialised expertise which is not available in many places. This means only a few might be installed, resulting in limited readings. Before starting the manufacture of AirQo monitors at Makerere University, we experimented with some lower-cost monitors but these didn't fit the context. For example, a number of monitors assume the availability of constant power supply and WiFi, and are designed for less dusty environments. Unlike these systems, the AirQo takes the considerations and constraints of an African city into the design. How do you hope this data will be used? We hope that the air quality data and information from our network can be used to inform decision-making and actions by city governments and regulators to control, better manage and improve air quality in the Kampala area and beyond. For instance, Uganda is creating new air quality regulations and data from the AirQo network has been useful in informing possible targets. Having this data is useful for policymakers. For instance, we contributed to the World Bank report on the Pollution Management and the Making of Prosperous Cities Program. We also hope our data will raise awareness among citizens about the quality of air. We send out regular monthly air quality calendars to the schools that host AirQo monitors so they can educate the children about air pollution issues. And we have developed an app that people can use to access historical, real-time and forecast air quality data in the areas where they live or work. This can inform decisions that minimise exposure to high levels of air pollution, such as going out during peak pollution hours. Maclina Birungi, Communications lead at AirQo, Makerere University, contributed to the writing of this article. Engineer Bainomugisha is the founder and project lead for AirQo at Makerere University. He is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department Computer Science. He is also a co-founder of Sunbird AI, a not-for-profit organisation that develops practical and open AI systems for societal benefit. AirQo project has received funding and support from Google.org, Sida/Embassy of Sweden Kampala, The WorldBank Group, ESPRC, and NRF. By Engineer Bainomugisha, Associate Professor, Makerere University 'I cannot remember a time in my life when we had such economic strife, such levels of unemployment, a national epidemic and the enemy inside our house and such little interest in these and a focus on Bollywood and temples and such things,' notes Aakar Patel. IMAGE: Patna residents celebrate the Supreme Court's decision to permit the CBI to probe the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Photograph: ANI Photo The Central Bureau of Investigation has deputed five teams to investigate the death of an actor who killed himself. I do not know why the CBI is investigating it nor do I understand why there is such great public interest in this issue. I have been told that this is because of some political reason linked to the election in Bihar. If there is, I am not able to understand what it is. Bihar is the oldest political entity in India going back to the time of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya. Are Biharis so naive as to vote based on this sort of material? Perhaps they are and I will be disappointed to know that this is the case. Bihar is one of the poorest parts of the world. They have been governed by two parties that have been in charge for a decade. Will the voter determine whether or not to vote for them based on a Bollywood event? If so, it is amazing. Two other reasons have been put forward as possible reasons for the pushing of this story. First that it is targeted at the son of the Maharashtra chief minister. Second that it is aimed in some fashion at the Muslim actors of Bollywood. That seems to me to be more reasonable given our times. This government is hostile to Muslims and will use any lie to attack them including this one. But to return to the question of voter interest, it was written this week by my friend Shekhar Gupta that the prime minister would return to power in 2024 unless he inflicted damage on himself. Gupta's argument so far as I have understood it is that the damage inflicted on the voter is not relevant because the voter doesn't care about such things as the collapse in the economy, the record unemployment, the occupation of our land by China and the inability of this government to contain the Covid epidemic. Gupta did not explain in detail how he had come to this conclusion but he said that a survey that had a previously good track record showed that Modi was at the peak of his popularity. IMAGE: A protest in Patna, demanding a CBI inquiry into the case. Photograph: PTI Photo Again, I do not know if this is the case, but it would be quite interesting if this were to be so. Our GDP has been declining since January 2018 for nine successive quarters, based on Modi's own data. Unemployment has been the highest that it has ever been recorded in India, again according to the government's own data. It is unclear who believes Modi when he says that there has been no Chinese intrusion, I hope it is not the prime minister himself because that would be a sign of delusion. We are currently engaged with the Chinese in trying to get them to withdraw from our land and our generals have had half a dozen meetings with them already. Presumably these meetings are being held because what Modi says (or believes) is untrue. There is no reason to negotiate with them if they are not on our property. On Covid the data is clear. We are number three in the world in terms of the number of cases, we are number one in terms of the number of daily cases and we will likely end up with the most infected people in the world. This is not the record of a government and a prime minister who is popular. In another nation this would be signal disaster politically. Is it the case that for all or most Indian voters, their political affiliation is unrelated to their actual life? Could it be that we vote as we do a Facebook like or Twitter forward? Is our political action through voting and support of a party based not on its performance but on its image? Surely this is not true and even if it is true for many, it cannot be true for all. Certainly it is not true for me. But how many people think normally in this way? If there were many, then we would not have the circus that we do on a Bollywood actor's death at a time which is the worst that I can remember, and I am not a young man. I cannot remember a time in my life when we had such economic strife, such levels of unemployment, a national epidemic and the enemy inside our house and such little interest in these and a focus on Bollywood and temples and such things. Is this who we really are as citizens, individuals and voters? I should hope not. I do not think that our young generation of this time certainly or the next will be so unconcerned about their politics. The question is whether the current generations of our time do not care about the nation's security, their health, their employment and their future and whether they are more interested in Bollywood. I do not have the answer to this, but it is an answer that we will know for certain fairly soon. Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer. You can read Aakar's columns here. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is painting a dark picture ahead of this weeks financial update. The Alberta legislature is to convene Thursday for the United Conservative governments release of first-quarter numbers for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Kenney says it will be the biggest deficit in the history of Alberta by a country mile. It will be well north of a $20-billion deficit in large part because of the total collapse of revenues emanating from the coronavirus recession, he said Tuesday. What has made it especially tough in Alberta was the total collapse of energy prices. The Conference Board of Canada is forecasting Alberta will be the most heavily hit province this year with an 11 per cent contraction in its GDP. Kenney said the February budget was based on realistic predictions. It projected a deficit of $6.8 billion. Debt was expected to rise to almost $77 billion by next spring and to almost $88 billion by 2023. The price of West Texas Intermediate oil was expected to average US$58 a barrel. Of course all of that changed in the first week of March, he said. There a great fiscal reckoning on the horizon. Our debt will go up very significantly and, in the future, we will as a province have to deal with that. The Oppositions finance critic said the United Conservative government hasnt delivered on job creation or presented a reasonable, practical plan for economic recovery and growth. As were about to learn with the fiscal update, this was the case before the pandemic. But since the pandemic, the choices we have seen the UCP government make have just made a bad situation worse, said New Democrat Shannon Phillips. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2020 Read more about: The Kremlin has said it does not want the illness of Russias opposition leader, who is in a coma in a German hospital after a suspected poisoning, to affect relations with the West. The statement came two days after doctors at the Berlin hospital where Alexei Navalny is being treated said tests indicated he was poisoned, and minutes before British Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined other Western officials in demanding a transparent investigation into the 44-year-olds condition. The poisoning of (Alexei) Navalny shocked the world, Mr Johnson said in a tweet. He added: The perpetrators must be held accountable, (and) the UK will join international efforts to ensure justice is done. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow categorically disagreed with hasty conclusions that Mr Navalny was a victim of an intentional poisoning, and said it does not want the situation to affect its ties with the West. Mr Peskov told reporters: Of course, we wouldnt want that Secondly, there is no reason whatsoever for it. We are absolutely, no less than others, interested in understanding what led to a coma. Mr Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator who is one of Russian President Vladimir Putins fiercest critics, fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Over the weekend, he was transferred to the Charite hospital in Berlin, where doctors found indications of cholinesterase inhibitors in his system. These act by blocking the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells. Mr Navalny is being treated with the antidote atropine. His allies say the Kremlin is behind the illness of its most prominent critic. Russian officials have denounced the accusations as empty noise. The pressure on Moscow mounted after Charite revealed its findings. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a thorough investigation into Mr Navalnys condition. Officials in France and Norway echoed her sentiment, and the US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the US stands ready to assist with a probe, if reports of a poisoning prove accurate. Mr Pompeos deputy Stephen Biegun met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and other diplomats on Tuesday. According to Russias Foreign Ministry, Mr Biegun warned that if Mr Navalnys poisoning is confirmed, the US could take steps that will exceed Washingtons response to findings of Russias meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. The ministry said Russian diplomats warned Mr Biegun against making unfounded accusations and noted that Russian authorities stand for a thorough and maximally objective investigation of what happened. The Kremlin said there are no grounds for a criminal investigation so far since it has not been fully established what caused the politician to fall into a coma. Mr Peskov said Mr Navalnys condition may have been triggered by other causes. Mrs Merkels spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer, said there is no reason to doubt the German doctors findings. From the side of the German government, there is the fullest trust in the work of the doctors, Mr Demmer said, adding that Germany takes the clinical evidence of a poisoning very seriously. For more than a century, Swarovski has churned out crystals in every imaginable shape and form, from sparkling dolphin figurines to encrusted fountain pens to glittering mobile-phone cases. An affordable indulgence rarely costing more than a few hundred dollars, Swarovski trinkets have invaded every corner of the world, providing a comfortable life for the family behind the empire and for the people of Wattens, the small town in the Austrian Alps where the company is based. But as Swarovski celebrates its 125th anniversary, there's little cause for jubilation. Revenue is set to take a hard hit this year, falling by a third to about $US2.4 billion ($3.3 billion); management has announced 6000 job cuts; and the family risks ceding some control should the new chief executive eventually prevail with his plans for a possible stock-market listing or a strategic partner. Cracks are appearing: The Crystal Dome, an art installation at the corporate museum of Swarovski in Wattens, Austria. Credit:Mattia Balsamini/The New York Times The cracks in the crystal kingdom have exposed a deep rift in the sprawling Swarovski family, consisting of more than 200 individual members, many of whom are spread between Austria and Switzerland. It's from here, on the shores of Lake Zurich, that the company runs its main corporate functions under CEO Robert Buchbauer, himself a member of the clan. For his relatives and the residents of Wattens opposing the radical overhaul, Buchbauer has a tough message: Get on board or risk being swept away by the market forces that Swarovski chose to ignore for too long. CARLISLE A Carlisle magistrate ordered Davone Unique Anderson to stand trial in what police say are the separate, but related, shooting deaths of Sydney Parmelee and Kaylee Lyons in July. Anderson, 25, who had fathered children with each of the women, was bound over for court on homicide and all related charges after a preliminary before District Judge Jon Birbeck Wednesday. During that hearing, Carlisle police detective Christopher Miller testified that Anderson confessed to both shootings during an interview in the Cumberland County Prison. In that prison interview, Miller said Anderson admitted he shot and killed Parmelee, 23, at a home in the 100 block of East Louther Street on July 5 because he believed she was cheating on him. The detective said Anderson then also stated that he shot Lyons, 23, who was six weeks pregnant, at the same home on July 30 because he feared she was going to tell police he had killed Parmelee. Anderson was taken into custody on theft charges on the night of the second shooting, after he was spotted driving Lyons car in downtown Carlisle. Anderson is currently being held in Cumberland County Prison without bail. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office released more details about the killing of a man by deputies Monday afternoon the agencys first fatal shooting of the year. Jayme Fuller, a BCSO spokeswoman, said the man pointed a gun at nearby residents and fired at deputies before at least two fired back, killing him. Fuller did not identify the man killed or say how many shots were fired by him or deputies. She said two deputies are on paid administrative leave. In a statement, Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III said deputies must make split-second decisions to protect the public and themselves when faced with deadly force. While it is extremely unfortunate that a life was lost in this incident, it is completely unacceptable to recklessly discharge a firearm into a residential neighborhood, placing the citizens and deputies lives in immediate danger, he said. The fatal shooting prompted a demonstration against police brutality in Southeast Albuquerque to move to the scene, with protesters crowding behind the yellow tape and speaking to deputies through a loudspeaker. Barron Jones of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico said BCSOs track record of fatal shootings should be alarming to all of us. Doubly alarming is the likelihood we will never get the full story as Sheriff Gonzales has stubbornly refused to equip his deputies with body-worn cameras, said Jones, a senior policy strategist with the ACLU. Jones urged the BCSO to comply with a new state law requiring officers to use body cameras so the community will finally have the transparency and accountability it deserves. This is the second time BCSO deputies have shot someone this year, but the first that was fatal. On March 3, Deputy Christopher Starr shot and wounded Kevin Torgerson, 27, when he allegedly reached for a handgun after crashing his car and causing a disturbance on Interstate 40 near Carnuel. According to a news release sent out by BCSO on Tuesday afternoon: Deputies responded around 4 p.m. to a neighborhood near Louisiana and Alameda NE after a 911 call about a man walking around and pointing a gun in the area. Deputies arrived and saw the man fire a gun before commanding him over a loudspeaker to drop the weapon. Deputies said the man then took a position of advantage by lying down in a grassy area and, at 4:16 p.m., fired multiple shots at deputies. Deputies requested an immediate response from the Mobile Crisis Team Unit which includes a detective and mental health clinician. Less than a minute later, two deputies shot the man as he tried to fire back. The man died at the scene. When asked, Fuller said mobile crisis teams are called in the event a suspect begins to comply and is not an imminent danger. Unfortunately, the suspect did not comply and was actively firing his weapon at deputies, making him an extreme danger to the deputies and surrounding neighborhood, she said. The shooting is being investigated by a multi-agency task force that includes BCSO, the Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Local activist Arthur Bell said he was at a demonstration with the Black New Mexico Movement at Louisiana and Central when a person in the crowd told the others about the shooting. It was kind of ironic and, at the same time, it wasnt something that we couldnt believe happened, due to the fact that APD as well as BCSO are both trigger-happy, he said. Bell said the crowd moved to the scene and tried to speak with deputies but didnt get any response. Its basically just a recurring cycle of police violence and nobody being held accountable, he said. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has defended the centre's move held the all-India exams for engineering and medical courses amid the coronavirus pandemic as a result of "constant pressure from parents and students". The Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for admission to the Indian Institute of Technology and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical courses are scheduled to be held next month. We have been under constant pressure from parents and students, asking why we are not allowing JEE and NEET. The students were very worried. In their minds they were thinking for how long will they continue to study?" the Education Minister told DD News. "Out of 8.58 lakh students who registered for JEE, 7.25 lakh candidates have downloaded their admit cards... We are with students. Their safety comes first, then their education," Mr Nishank said. Sana Shakil By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The links between Pulwama attack and Al-Qaeda have surfaced for the first time in the charge sheet filed by NIA in the deadliest attack on security forces in the last one decade in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA, which filed its charge sheet in the February 14 Pulwama attack case on Tuesday, said that Jaish-e-Mohammed is sending its cadres to the terrorist training camps of Al Qaeda, Taliban, JeM and Haqqani-JeM in Afghanistan for training in explosives and other terrorist tactics. JeM chief Maulana Mashood Azhars nephew Mohammad Umar Farooq, who is described as the main accused of the dastardly attack, was in Afghanistan for explosive training in 2016-17, as per the NIA. Farooq, who was the main assembler of the IED used in the attack, with his know-how made two IEDs in a very few days for the Pulwama attack. The plan execution began with the infiltration of Farooq who entered India through International Border at Jammu-Samba sector in April 2018 and took over as Jaish commander of Pulwama. In the first week of February 2019, Mohd. Umar Farooq, Sameer Ahmad Dar, Adil Ahmad Dar and Shakir Bashir made the IED using RDX, Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate, Gelatin Sticks and Aluminium Powder and assembled it in two containers, one weighing around 160 kg and the second one weighing around 40 kg. The two IED containers were fitted in the car that was used in the attack, the NIA said. The NIA chargesheeted 19 accused, including Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brothers Rauf Azghar and Maulana Mohammed Ammar. While seven accused are in NIA custody, seven are dead, killed in encounters with the security forces and five are absconding. Fewer people sought medical care for strokes during the height of the coronavirus pandemic compared to the same period last year, a new study dhows. Researchers found that hospital admissions fell by almost one-third in March and April of 2020 compared to the matching two months in 2019. Additionally, stroke alerts - defined as stroke team notification of an emergency department patient with stroke-like symptoms - fell by nearly half. The team, from Boston University School of Medicine, says Americans were likely fearful of contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, but that not seeking immediate care for serious health problems could result in severe outcomes, including death. A new study, from Boston University School of Medicine, looked at hospital admissions for strokes from December 2018 to April 2019 and from December 2019 to April 2020 in four cities (file image) Admissions dropped but the biggest decline was seen from March 23 to April 19 2020, which saw a 31% fall compared to the same time period last year (above) 'I'm a practicing neurologist and we were on call during the beginning of the pandemic, and me and a lot of other colleagues noticed that the hospital was eerily quiet,' corresponding author Dr Hugo Aparicio, an assistant professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, told DailyMail.com. 'Of even greater concern was that we weren't having the same volume of stoke patients we would normally have, especially in that time of year.' There are two major types of strokes: ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes. Ischemic strokes occur when blood flow is blocked to the brain whereas hemorrhagic strokes occur when a weakened vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds into the organ. About 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic strokes, according to the American Stroke Association. 'The important thing is that stroke is an emergency and to be treated for stroke really depends on how soon you can present to the hospital with acute stroke,' Aparicio said. 'So obviously it's of a great public health importance to try to understand why there were fewer stroke patients during the pandemic.' Emergency department stroke alerts saw a 46% decline in late March and April, compared with 2019 (above) For the study, published in the journal Stroke and Vascular Neurology, the team looked at patterns in admissions for stroke and mini-strokes (TIAs) and emergency department stroke alerts. They compared total weekly hospital admissions for stroke and TIA between December 2018 and April 2019 and from December 2019 to April 2020. Researchers focused on five US specialist stroke centers in cities with early COVID-19 outbreaks: Boston, New York City, Providence and Seattle. Results showed that stroke and TIA hospital admissions decreased compared with the same period in 2018 to 2019. The greatest decline occurred between March 23 and April 19 when these centers saw 281 total admission compared with 410 over the same period in 2019 - a 31 percent drop. At three of the five centers with stroke alert data, emergency department stroke alerts in late March and April 2020 dropped to 301 from 561 in 2019, a decline of 46 percent. Aparicio said he and his team were surprised by the degree of the drop and the consistency by which it was seen at every center that was part of the study. He adds that it's likely that people who had strokes and didn't seek medical care had severe outcomes. 'There's little to believe that these strokes just didn't happen,' Aparicio said. 'It's probably that people were having strokes and they were staying at home or were maybe contributing to the excess mortality or were among the people who fled the cities during the initial surge.' Aparicio hopes the general public doesn't fear seeking life-saving medical care if they are experiencing an emergency. 'Anecdotally, I still have patients who are very hesitant to come to the hospital or to get diagnostic tests,' he said. 'We are still using a lot of telemedicine, which is sometimes not as good as an in-person to recognize the history of a stroke or signs and symptoms of a stroke. I think that's another issue that has made things more difficult for stroke care is the lack of in-person visits.' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday cautioned COVID-19 patients against using Ivermectin as treatment. Ivermectin is a medication used to treat many types of parasite infestations such as head lice and scabies. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the drug has only been studied in laboratories, adding it has not been tested on animals or humans as a possible COVID-19 treatment. She said using off-label drugs, such as Ivermectin, could cause more harm than good to the patient. "Off-label sya kasi pinroduce sya for another purpose," she said. "Hindi po dapat tayo sumusubok ng ganito na wala pang approval ng FDA at ng ethics review board." [Translation: It is off-label because it was produced for a different purpose. You shouldn't use medicines that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and ethics review board.] The DOH also issued a similar warning to doctors who will prescribe the drug as remedy for COVID-19. "I am just warning those doctors who are doing this without undergoing the regulatory process dahil ito ay maaring makasama sa mga binibigyan natin [This can be harmful to those who will receive it]," Vergeire added. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of the West, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, today announced it has been recognized on Forbes' annual list of America's Best Employers for Women 2020 and Forbes' List of America's Best-in-State Employers 2020. Bank of the West was also named one of Forbes' Best Employers for Diversity in January. "To me, banking is a noble profession, a people business, and maintaining a diverse and inclusive culture is good for our people and for business, period. I am committed to creating an environment where women are empowered to bring their authentic selves to work and to succeed," said Nandita Bakhshi, President and CEO at Bank of the West. "This recognition is a powerful validation of our strategy and efforts to create a great place to work." From its CEO to investment in female entrepreneurs, Bank of the West leads with and empowers diversity. Its executive leadership team is 30 percent women, nearly one-third people of color, and speaks 10 different languages. Bank of the West benefits include 14 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Additionally, full benefits are offered to part-time employees. Earlier this year, Bank of the West was named one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality, receiving a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2020 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality across the United States. This is the second year in a row that Bank of the West has earned a perfect score. Learn more about Bank of the West's commitment to diversity and inclusion here. Forbes Best Employers for Women Methodology Over 75,000 U.S. employees45,000 of which are womenparticipated in the independent survey focused around issues relevant to women in the workplace and was designed to shed light on their experiences. The participants assessed their companies according to the following: 'Discrimination,' 'Family Support,' 'Flexibility,' 'Parental Leave,' 'Pay Equity,' and 'Representation & Career.' Additionally, participants were asked to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stand out either positively or negatively with regards to gender issues, from which only the recommendations of women were considered. Forbes' Best-in-State Employers Methodology Forbes and Statista selected America's Best-in-State Employers based on an independent survey of approximately 80,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 500 people in their U.S. operations. The surveys were administered using a series of online panels and provide a representative sample of the U.S. workforce. Direct and indirect employee recommendations were evaluated on a state level. The study assessed each company according to Atmosphere & Development, Company Image, Working Conditions, Salaries & Wages, and Diversity. About Bank of the West At Bank of the West, we know money deposited in a bank has the power to finance positive change. So we are taking action to ensure our activities help protect the planet, improve people's lives, and strengthen communities. We are redefining banking for a better future by focusing on areas where we believe we can have a real impact: supporting energy transition, helping enable women entrepreneurs, and financing innovative start-ups. As the bank for a changing world, Bank of the West is committed to sustainable finance along with our parent company BNP Paribas. Through Digital Channels and offices across the U.S., Bank of the West provides financial tools and resources to more than 2 million individuals, families and businesses. 2020 Bank of the West. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Doing business in South Dakota as Bank of the West California. Connect with us SOURCE Bank of the West 'The tensions and instability in the eastern Mediterranean have heightened disputes on issues concerning maritime space' Greece said it will launch military exercises Wednesday with France, Italy and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, the focus of escalating tensions between Athens and Ankara. The joint exercises south of Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete will last three days, the defence ministry said. Tensions ratched up when Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel accompanied by warships to disputed waters on August 10. "Cyprus, Greece, France and Italy have agreed to deploy a joint presence in the eastern Mediterranean as part of the quadripartite cooperation initiative," the defence ministry said in a statement. "The tensions and instability in the eastern Mediterranean have heightened disputes on issues concerning maritime space." Turkey said on Tuesday it is ready for talks with Greece without preconditions over the row. The olive branch came ahead of an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting in Berlin on Thursday and Friday at which Greece is expected to press the bloc to slap biting sanctions on its historic regional rival. But EU nations would prefer to avoid irritating Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas shuttled between Athens and Ankara in a bid to temper the rhetoric and get talks back on track. Maas, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told the two countries to defuse the row or risk sparking a "catastrophe". *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Jeyhun Alakbarov - Trend: A billboard with information about the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan has been placed on one of the main highways in Brazil, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Brazil Elkhan Polukhov said, Trend reports. According to Polukhov, this is one of the most frequently used roads in the country. "The panel reflects "Armenia, stop aggression against Azerbaijan!" appeal. The billboard is installed on the side of the road from the direction of capital's airport and seen by everyone visiting the capital of Brazil, Brasilia," he stressed. 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. Jerry Falwell Jr., His Wife and the Pool Boy: Everything To Know About Their Alleged Relationship Jerry Falwell Jr. Claims Fatal Attraction Plot After Pool Boy Details Alleged Relationship with Couple In response to Falwell, Giancarlo Granda said: "The WHOLE truth will come out" Giancarlo Granda, a onetime Miami pool attendant, was thrust into the spotlight this week when he claimed to have been sexually involved with prominent evangelical Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki Falwell for years something the newly resigned Liberty University leader has disputed. In an explosive report with Reuters on Monday, Granda, 29, said he "developed an intimate relationship" with Becki, 53, after meeting at a Miami Beach hotel in March 2012. Over the next six years, Granda claimed he joined the Falwells "multiple times per year" at hotels in Miami and New York as well as their home in Virginia, and would have sex with Becki while "Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room." Eventually, things between Granda and the couple ended, "in part because he wanted to dissolve his ties with the couple and fell into a business dispute with them," Reuters reported. Facebook Giancarlo Granda Jerry, however, denied this account and claimed in his own statement to The Washington Examiner on Sunday just one day before Granda's story was published that he had no part in the sexual relationship. Jerry, 58, did not name Granda but he referred to a hotel employee exactly like him and described the claim as an extortion plot. The allegations, combined with an Instagram photo scandal that put Jerry on an "indefinite leave of absence" in early August from his roles as president and chancellor of Liberty University, have since resulted in his official resignation. Jerry Falwell Jr./Instagram The since-deleted Instagram photo that led to Falwell Jr.'s initial leave of absence from Liberty University in August. The Liberty University Board of Trustees acted today to accept the resignation of Jerry Falwell, Jr. as its president and chancellor and also accepted his resignation from its Board of Directors," a spokesperson for Liberty University said in a statement on Tuesday. "All were effective immediately . . . Falwell, through an attorney, sent the resignation letter late last night to members of the Boards Executive Committee pursuant to the terms of his contract of employment. Story continues So who is the man entangled in the alleged drama with Falwells? Here's everything to know about Granda. Shannon Finney/Getty Jerry Falwell Jr. and Becki Falwell He met the Falwells while working as a pool boy Granda said he was a 20-year-old pool attendant when he met the Falwells at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel. In Jerry's statement to the Examiner, he noted that he and his wife were impressed with Granda's work ethic. "During a vacation over eight years ago, Becki and I met an ambitious young man who was working at our hotel and was saving up his money to go to school," Jerry said. "We encouraged him to pursue an education and a career and we were impressed by his initiative in suggesting a local real estate opportunity." According to Granda's Facebook, he has since earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Florida International University and his Master's in Real Estate Finance and Development from Georgetown University. RELATED: Jerry Falwell Jr. Claims Fatal Attraction Plot After Pool Boy Details Alleged Relationship with Couple He was a business partner with the Falwells Falwell said he and his family became close with Granda and "eventually made an investment in a local property," in which they "included him in the deal because [Granda] could play an active role in managing it." That property ultimately turned out to be a Miami Beach youth hostel, which the Falwells purchased in 2013 and offered Granda a share in, Buzzfeed News reported. Both Granda and Becki Falwell were listed as partners along with Jerry and Becki's son Jerry "Trey" Falwell III, BuzzFeed reported. Jerry Jr. had provided the money for the down payment on the loan. In his interview Monday, Granda claimed that the falling out between him and the Falwells was due in part to his desire to end things with them. Rather than seeking payment for his silence, Granda wanted to "negotiate a buyout from a business arrangement he says he had with the couple," but it ultimately resulted in "a business dispute," Reuters wrote. He once considered himself "best friends" with Becki Granda defended his affair claims by providing Reuters with screenshots from a FaceTime conversation with Becki and text messages where she allegedly said, "Right now I am just missing you like crazy... Have you had this effect on all of your lady friends?" Audio from 2018 that seems to capture the Falwells speaking with Granda was also obtained by the outlet. In a clip from a call published by Reuters, Becki is apparently heard talking about how she had "feelings" for Granda and complained that he had relationships with other people, while Jerry said to Granda, "Youre going to make her jealous." The audio captures Granda saying on that call, "You don't care about me anymore." But then he is heard calling Becki his "best friend." This summer, however, his tone was much sharper, writing in a text to Jerry in June: "Since youre okay with ruining my life, I am going to take the kamikaze route. It really is a shame because I wanted to reach a peaceful resolution and just move on with our lives but if conflict is what you want, then so be it." He denies extorting money from the Falwells According to Jerry's statement, Granda eventually "became increasingly angry and aggressive" and "began threatening to publicly reveal this secret relationship with Becki ... unless we agreed to pay him substantial monies." "It was like living on a roller coaster," Jerry told the Examiner. Reached for comment by the paper, Granda denied the allegation of blackmail and said "the WHOLE truth will come out." "The Falwells' attempt to sandbag me, and the Examiner, with a last-minute story without providing the Examiner clear evidence that this was not simply an affair with concocted allegations of extortion reeks [of] desperation," Granda said. Reflecting on his alleged relationship with the Falwells, Granda told Reuters, "Whether it was immaturity, naivete, instability or a combination thereof, it was this mindset that the Falwells likely detected in deciding that I was the ideal target for their sexual escapades." New Delhi: Four persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged gangrape of a US national in a five-star hotel in New Delhi earlier this year. The four accused arrested include the tour guide, driver, cleaner and a hotel staff, said a senior police officer. The officer, however, refused to reveal the names of the arrested persons as police will be conduct an test identification parade. The US national arrived here a few days ago to join the probe and recorded her statement in front of a judicial magistrate where she reiterated the charges she had made in her complaint. Earlier, she had said that she was not satisfied with the probe and was ready to come to India to identify the accused. On December 8, the tourist guide, accused of raping the woman, along with his accomplices, was questioned by police after his arrival from Nepal. Police had identified the man and had contacted him while he was in Nepal. The tour guide had denied his involvement in the matter and told police that the victim had given him a positive feedback in the forms. The woman had alleged that she was raped by the men for two days. They also threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the matter to anybody. She had also stated that the accused had made a video of the act and had threatened to make it public if she reported the matter to anyone. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Laura is expected to bring an unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves to parts of the US Gulf coast late Wednesday or early Thursday, officials warned, as half a million people were ordered to evacuate. The storm was roaring across the ocean on Wednesday afternoon and is predicted to hit Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday evening, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Laura was on the verge of becoming a category 4 storm, NHC said, with winds that could exceed 110mph. The National Hurricane Center warned of the potentially deadly surge penetrating up to 30 miles inland in parts of western Louisiana, including New Orleans, and eastern Texas. Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. #Laura pic.twitter.com/bV4jzT3Chd National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 26, 2020 As the hurricane barreled towards the US Gulf coast, healthcare workers in Texas and the south-west Louisiana region, areas which have struggled to control the coronavirus, were braced for the potential effects of a natural disaster during the pandemic. A satellite image shows Hurricane Laura moving north-west in the Gulf of Mexico towards Louisiana on Wednesday. Photograph: RAMMB/Noaa/NESDIS/AFP/Getty Images Laura was 300 miles off the US coast on Wednesday morning, and moving north-west at a speed of 15mph, the NHC said. Laura should approach the Upper Texas and south-west Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland near those areas tonight or Thursday morning, the NHC said in a statement. Laura is forecast to become a category 4 hurricane today, and is expected to be a major hurricane at landfall. Related: Tropical Storm Laura heads to Texas and Louisiana after killing 11 in the Caribbean Story continues At least nine local jurisdictions have issued mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, meaning hundreds of thousands of people could be displaced by storm preparation during the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated Texas and Louisiana. Hospitals throughout the region were moving to discharge as many patients as possible who were well enough to return home and urged hurricane preparedness to prevent a potential surge in patients. In Houston, the biggest city under threat from Laura, doctors at the largest medical system in the region told local news hospitals were ready for a potential influx as the number of Covid-19 patients continued to decline. All of our facilities are ready for floods and high winds so I think were in as good shape as we can be when these things come close to the coast, Dr David Callender, Memorial Hermann System president and CEO, told ABC 8 News. With reference to the pandemic, Callender added: Were in much better shape now than we were then, and that gives us a little more freedom and flexibility in terms of how we respond to storms. A man walks along the beach Wednesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura moves toward the Gulf coast. Photograph: David J Phillip/AP In Harris county, the jurisdiction that incorporates most of Houston, masks, hand sanitizer and sanitary wipes have been added to the list of essential items residents have been urged to procure in order to ride out the storm. In Port Arthur, a small city north of Houston under a mandatory evacuation order, residents are being told they must bring a mask if they evacuate to one of the citys hurricane shelters. Harris county remains a Covid-19 hotspot although the county has seen a decline in positive tests in recent weeks it still lists over 25,000 active cases as of Tuesday morning. At least 200 people have died from the virus a day in Texas for the past three weeks, according to the Texas Tribune. The NHC said a storm surge of up to 15ft in parts of south-east Texas and south-west Louisiana, and could inundate certain areas of the coast with warnings that such a rise could lead to substantial inland flooding. There were also concerns of up to 15in of rainwater in certain areas of Louisiana, which could lead to flash flooding. 29 August marks the 15th anniversary of the devastating effects of hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and other coastal cities in the region that led to an official death toll in Louisiana of 1,833. Louisianas governor, John Bel Edwards, said Laura could cause major damage to certain parts of the state. Every storm is unique. Were only going to dodge the bullet so many times, he told reporters. The governor said Louisiana would remain in phase two of coronavirus reopening, meaning most businesses will stay at 50% capacity with mandatory mask wearing throughout the state. On Sunday Louisiana recorded 1,223 new coronavirus cases over a two-day period, with a decline in hospitalizations. After previously encouraging people without Covid-19 symptoms to get tested if they have been exposed to someone diagnosed with the virus, US health authorities have abruptly reversed their position without a clear explanation. The changes in guidance were quietly made to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website on Monday amid US media reports of political interference from the White House. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the US should do less testing, and blamed testing for making it appear as though the country is doing poorly against the pandemic. This is not true: though the US is testing at a high level, that is because its outbreak is worse than any other country in the world, with more than 5.8 million confirmed cases and almost 180,000 deaths. The CDC's site previously said: "Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection. "Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested." The site now says: "If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes but do not have symptoms, you do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one." - Fauci critical - In a call with reporters, senior health department official Brett Giroir said, "The new guidelines are a CDC action. As always, guidelines received appropriate attention, consultation and input from (coronavirus) Task Force experts." Giroir did not elaborate on what new evidence had led to the guidance. But he said that the documents had been seen by other senior officials including the widely respected Anthony Fauci, who leads the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. Story continues Fauci later denied this, telling CNN: "I was under general anesthesia in the operating room and was not part of any discussion or deliberation regarding the new testing recommendations. "I am concerned about the interpretation of these recommendations and worried it will give people the incorrect assumption that asymptomatic spread is not of great concern. In fact, it is," he added. Fauci had surgery last Thursday to remove a vocal cord polyp. The CDC has previously emphasized that between 40-50 percent of people with Covid-19 are asymptomatic, and therefore getting tested is important to stop the spread of the virus. Many other health experts also reacted with dismay. "I still can't make sense of @CDCgov change in guidance," tweeted Leana Wen, a professor at George Washington University and former health commissioner of Baltimore. "An estimated 40-50% of people with #covid19 are asymptomatic. Those exposed to the virus need to know to protect their family members & the public. One has to wonder: is this change because we don't have enough tests?" Both The New York Times and CNN quote officials saying that the CDC was instructed to change its guidelines following pressure from the president. The Trump administration has previously been accused of pressuring the CDC to change its guidance on reopening schools, weighting its recommendations heavily in favor of in-person learning. The political neutrality of the Food and Drug Administration was also questioned this week when its chief, Stephen Hahn, joined Trump in misrepresenting a key statistic about the effectiveness of blood plasma. He later apologized. ia/to AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its long-standing tradition of assisting other electric companies during large-scale power outages, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utilities have sent more than 525 line workers, forestry crews and support personnel to Beaumont, Texas, to help Entergy with restoration efforts following Hurricane Laura. Crews began leaving for Texas Wednesday morning, with all expected to arrive by early Friday. Current forecasts call for Hurricane Laura to make landfall in Texas and Louisiana this evening. The category 4 hurricane is expected to bring extreme winds, storm surge and flash flooding along the northwest Gulf Coast. Personnel will be deployed to the most damaged areas when it's safe to do so after the storm moves through. Eight of FirstEnergy's utilities are part of the mutual assistance effort, which includes crews from The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison in Ohio; Penelec, West Penn Power and Met-Ed in Pennsylvania; Mon Power in West Virginia; Potomac Edison in West Virginia and Maryland; and Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) in New Jersey. Support personnel from FirstEnergy's corporate offices also are included in the company's contingent. "FirstEnergy employees are committed to assisting what is likely to be a massive power restoration effort in Texas," said John Skory, vice president of utility operations for FirstEnergy. "While it's not expected that Hurricane Laura will impact any FirstEnergy service territories, we have carefully assessed conditions and are confident we have the personnel in place to maintain reliable operations for our customers." FirstEnergy is a member of multiple electric utility mutual-assistance groups that work cooperatively to restore service to customers when a natural disaster causes large-scale power outages. Mutual assistance allows utilities to pool their resources to help restore power to customers faster. Earlier this month, more than 8,000 utility personnel from 17 states, including crews from Entergy, helped restore power to approximately 788,000 JCP&L customers following Tropical Storm Isaias. In the past, FirstEnergy and its employees have been honored by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) with its "Emergency Assistance Award" for the mutual assistance the company has provided during winter and summer storms. FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp. SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Related Links http://www.firstenergycorp.com Tertiary institutions in the country have started the process to admit fresh students for the 2020-2021 academic year. Adjusting to the disruptions caused to the academic year by COVID-19, many of the institutions have extended their application deadline from June-July to the end of September to provide windows of opportunity for applicants who missed out initially. Some of the tertiary institutions are the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the Accra Technical University (ATU), the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and the University of Ghana, Legon. Others include the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), and private ones such as Central University and Ashesi University. In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic, the institutions said all the necessary arrangements had been put in place to begin the admissions process. Situation However, for the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-2021 academic year would have begun for most of the institutions by now but reopening has been put on hold as schools remain closed as the governments intervention to halt the spread of the virus. The situation has compelled most institutions to complete the 2019-2020 academic year with online lectures and examinations while special dispensation was also given to some group of final-year students to report to school to complete their programmes towards graduation. This also affected first-year admissions as the rescheduling of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) from May-June to August-September affected the first-year admission timelines. KNUST The University Relations Officer of the KNUST, Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, said: "Admissions are ongoing for both postgraduate and undergraduate students and we have even extended the deadline to September 30, 2020, because of the uncertainty in the country as a result of the COVID-19. "In fact, for those who are writing the WASSCE, we told them long ago that they could apply with only their index numbers. When the results are out, we would pick the details from the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and then consider and offer admission," he said. Online Asked whether or not the fresh students would study online as was happening in other institutions, he said: This would depend on the decision of the government regarding the holding of academic activities by universities in the country. "However, we have the best infrastructure in terms of online learning in this country, and successfully held academic activities online when others had not started. It will, therefore, pose no problem if we have to go online, the challenge will be for some of the students who may have challenges with the Internet," Dr Bekoe indicated. UCC The Director of Public Affairs of the UCC, Major Kofi Baah-Bentum (retd), said the admissions were also ongoing for the commencement of the 2020-2021 academic year. The UCC, he said, advertised long ago for prospective students to apply for admissions, and that most of them had responded. When asked about the mode of learning that would take place, he said "as to how we are going to teach, that decision has not been taken yet as far as I know." ATU The PRO of the Accra Technical University, Ms Fausta Ganah, told the Daily Graphic that the university had already started issuing admission letters which indicate that reopening is October, 2020 and the deadline for applications had been extended to the end of August. She indicated that it was also possible the deadline would be extended further to the following months. "Reopening is October and were preparing for reopening, and with deadline for applications extended to the end of August, interested applicants could still apply," Ms Ganah explained. UEW The Public Relations Officer of the University of Education, Winneba, Mr Ernest Azutigah, said the university had extended the deadline to which people could apply for admissions. According to him, the deadline was extended from July 31 to August 31 as a result of COVID-19. In the meantime, he said admission letters that had been received were being processed. Asked how teaching was going to be done, he said the university was considering both face-to-face and online teaching, and that two of the three credit hours would be used for online and then the remaining one, used for face-to-face. Mr Azutigah said all the safety protocols regarding COVID-19 were being put in place to ensure safety on the campus. 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 Fans can now rejoice as Vijay Deverakonda is all set to foray into the digital space. As per the latest reports, Vijay, along with his brother Anand Deverakonda, is set to join hands with Arjun Reddy director Sandeep Vanga for a yet-to-be-titled web series. This is going to be interesting. The cast and crew The News Minute report suggests that the upcoming web series will be written by Sandeep Vanga and helmed by KVR Mahendra, who directed Anands debut film Dorasaani. Interestingly, the much-anticipated show will be produced by Vijay for a leading OTT player. In fact, recent reports suggest that the 31-year-old actor has already pitched the idea to Aha, the new streaming platform for Geetha Arts. We are totally excited about this. What about you? Besides the web series, Vijay will be next seen in Puri Jagannadhs highly anticipated Telugu-Hindi bilingual actioner Fighter. In the film, the Arjun Reddy actor plays a fighter with a stutter. Did you know Vijay underwent mixed martial arts classes in Thailand in preparation for his character? Interestingly, Karan Johar has come on board to release the film in Hindi. Vijay said in an interview, the film will be shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi, and will be dubbed into other regional languages as well. Besides Telugu, I am planning to dub my lines in Hindi as well. The Tollywood actor is also expected to sport six-pack abs for this project, which is eyeing a 2020 release. Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta will distribute the film in Hindi. Moreover, his schedule is completely packed as he also has a yet-untitled Telugu project with filmmaker Indraganti Mohan Krishna in the pipeline. The film, which will take off after the release of Fighter, will be produced by Dil Raju. He was last seen in a Telugu film called World Famous Lover, in which he played a writer. The film, which also starred Raashi Khanna, Aishwarya Rajesh and Catherine Tresa in key roles, bombed at the box-office. deepblue4you/iStockBy HALEY YAMADA, ABC News (PORTLAND) -- A helicopter pilot died Monday while battling the White River Fire in Mount Hood National Forest, officials said Tuesday. About 20 miles east of Portland, Oregon, the pilot was flying a Type 1 Kmax and conducting bucket drops in rough terrain at the time of the crash, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Suzanne Flory said in a statement. The identity of the pilot has yet to be released. "The firefighting community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic loss and our condolences go out to the pilot's family, friends and co-workers," Flory added. The Wasco County Sheriff's Office and USDA Forest Service air and ground resources responded immediately to the crash site, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is currently underway, according to Flory. Caused by lightning on Aug. 17, The White River Fire has burned more than 1,200 acres and is 15% contained. Currently, more than 300 people are battling the inferno, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The White River Fire and other Oregon wildfires are burning alongside the state's massive Indian Creek Fire, which was human-caused on Aug. 16, and has burned nearly 50,000 acres, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Fire season is picking up & we have #firefighters working hard to protect local communities & natural resources. Be especially careful when driving around fire activity or vehicles. Were watching out for you so please watch out for us! pic.twitter.com/JuYgtUGuNZ Forest Service NW (@ForestServiceNW) August 22, 2020 The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has extended an air quality advisory for potions of southern, central and easter Oregon because of wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke can irritate lungs, cause inflammation, affect immune system & make you more prone to lung infections, including the virus that cause #COVID19. Know how #wildfire smoke can affect you & your family & what you can do to protect yourselves. https://t.co/mIm6uIGFy4 pic.twitter.com/G58yJ3AATI Forest Service NW (@ForestServiceNW) August 24, 2020 Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The tweet no longer appears on Labour MP Neil Coyle's Twitter account. (PA) An expletive-laden tweet sent from a Labour MPs account, sent after senior Conservatives waded in on the Last Night of the Proms row, has been deleted. Following confirmation that Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory would be performed without lyrics amid perceived links to slavery and colonialism, Boris Johnson said it was time to stop the general bout of self-recrimination and wetness. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, backed the prime ministers response, but Labours Neil Coyle launched a furious response in a tweet late on Tuesday. Neil Coyle's tweet, removed by Wednesday afternoon. (Twitter) Containing phrases including fat old racists, absolute s***bag and w******, the tweet later appeared to have been deleted, though no explanation was offered as to what happened. Yahoo News UK has contacted the constituency office of Coyle to ask why the tweet was deleted but a reply has not been received yet. Rees-Mogg and Johnsons offices were also contacted for a response to Coyle. Labour MP Dawn Butler branded the prime minister as a racist during hustings in Manchester back in February. Top politicians have defended the PM from accusations of racism previously, with home secretary Priti Patel branding rapper Daves description of Johnson as racist, made the same month as Butlers, as utter nonsense. Hes (Johnson) not a racist at all and I just think those comments are highly inappropriate, she said. It was unclear whether Coyle was referring to the prime minister and Rees-Mogg or other people. Brexiters have been derided as holding racist views but many supporters will say there are multiple reasons they back leaving the EU, and reject claims that it is an automatically racist endeavour. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Panaji, Aug 26 : Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar was admitted to the Goa Medical College hospital here on Wednesday, though the reason for the same was not known. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that Patnekar visited the top government hospital in the state for examination on Wednesday. "He had gone to the GMC for a check-up, but was asked to get admitted," Sawant told reporters outside his official residence in Panaji. Over the last few weeks, four legislators have tested positive for Covid-19. Former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao and former Deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar were admitted to a private hospital near Panaji after testing positive. Two other MLAs, namely former CM Ravi Naik and BJP's Nilkanth Halarnkar, had also tested positive earlier, and are currently in home isolation. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_b55.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_b55 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_b55.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_b55.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_b55.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Justice I.M Sami of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced two oil thieves to one year imprisonment each for illegal dealing in petroleum products. The convicts, Friday David and Ikechukwu Utobo, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourts zonal office on August 18,2020 on one-count separate charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products. One of charge read: that you Ikechukwu Utobo being the driver on board Mark Tanker with registration number KPR 667 XA on or about the 3rd of March , 2020 at Iwofe, Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without appropriate licence, deal in petroleum product to wit: illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit/Automotive Gas Oil and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federal of Nigeria), 2007 and punishable under Section 1 917) of the same Act. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_542.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_542 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_542.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_542.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_542.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } The convicts pleaded guilty to their separate charges. In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, M.T. Iko called a witness, Assistant Detective Inspector Isaac Kazzar who is a staff of the commission, to review the facts of the case and tender Exhibits. Iko urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged. Justice Sani convicted and sentenced David and Utobo to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400,000.00) each. He also ordered that the product on board the Trucks be sold by the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court and the proceeds paid into the Treasury Single Account (TSA). The United States agency responsible for granting immigrant visas and green card residency permits said on Tuesday that it would avoid a planned furlough of 13,000 employees in two weeks but warned of long wait times for applications. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the US Department of Homeland Security, has seen a 50 percent drop in revenue from immigration applications because of President Donald Trumps restriction of immigration to the US and the coronavirus. In a statement, USCIS announced it was undertaking aggressive budget cuts that will allow it to continue to operate through the end of the US fiscal year on September 31. However, averting this furlough comes at a severe operational cost that will increase backlogs and wait times across the board, with no guarantee we can avoid future furloughs, USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow said in the statement. A return to normal operating procedures requires congressional intervention to sustain the agency through fiscal year 2021, Edlow said. USCIS, part of the Department of Homeland Security, had warned earlier it would be forced to temporarily layoff large numbers of employees without USD $1.2bn in emergency funding from the US Congress. A citizen candidate sits socially distanced and wearing a protective face mask, amid the outbreak of COVID-19, during a USCIS naturalisation ceremony in New York City, on July 22, 2020. [File: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters] USCIS is in charge of issuing work permits, so-called green cards, and other visas that allow specialised workers like technicians, doctors and nurses to come to the US for jobs. Leading Democrats wrote to the agency heads last week urging them not to furlough federal workers which would undermine ongoing efforts and cause severe, possibly irreparable harm to USCIS. As our nation struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, the services that USCIS provides are critical and must be maintained, Representatives Bennie Thomson and Kathleen Rice, who chair the agencys oversight committees, wrote in an August 21 letter. Struggling businesses are relying on temporary workers, overburdened hospitals are depending on medical professionals, and USCIS is the essential component that makes this activity possible, the legislators said. The agency said naturalisation ceremonies for new US citizens would continue although contracted support for USCIS adjudicators would be reduced, resulting in longer processing times for pending applications and cases. Tehran and the UN's nuclear watchdog said Wednesday that they had reached an agreement to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency the access it has requested to two sites in Iran. "Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA," the two sides said in a joint statement, adding they had agreed on dates for the access and the verification activities there. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi travelled to Tehran this week in the Argentine's first visit there since taking on the top post at the agency last year. On Tuesday, Iran's nuclear body said it held "constructive" talks with Grossi at a time of increased tensions over a US bid to reimpose UN sanctions. In the statement issued by the IAEA, the two sides said the agreement followed "intensive bilateral consultations" and that the IAEA had no further access requests. "Based on analysis of available information to the IAEA, the IAEA does not have further questions to Iran and further requests for access to locations," it said. "Both sides recognise the independence, impartiality and professionalism of the IAEA continue to be essential in the fulfilment of its verification activities." The IAEA monitors Iranian atomic activities on the ground with a 2015 landmark accord curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. The agreement has been faltering since US President Donald Trump pulled out of it in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions with remaining participants -- China, Britain, France, Germany and Russia -- struggling to save it. Access to the two disputed sites had been blocked for months, prompting a diplomatic row. Iran had argued that the IAEA's access requests are based on allegations from the country's arch-enemy Israel and have no legal basis. After meeting Grossi, head of Iran's atomic agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, said a "new chapter" had started. (AFP) Greg Goodman walks through downtown Portland every morning, picking a different route each day. Those walks have become increasingly frustrating for him over the last several months. He sees trash bags and litter left out on the sidewalks, glass from broken car windows in the streets, buildings and benches covered with graffiti and small businesses with boarded-up windows. Goodman, co-owner of Portland real estate giant Downtown Development Group, worries that those small businesses, and downtown Portland as a whole, will not recover without immediate intervention from the city. You are willfully neglecting your duties as elected officials to keep our city safe and clean, wrote Goodman in a letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler and his fellow City Council members last Friday. What outreach have you had to small businesses and retailers to tell them that you have their backs and are going to help them? Goodman wrote in the letter, first reported by Willamette Week. Business owners have been expressing growing alarm about the state of downtown for many weeks, calling on city leaders to act. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has been largely quiet in response, though the city is in the early stages of developing a plan to address the issues. Businesses and neighborhood groups say action isnt coming nearly fast enough and are increasingly vocal about the threat to their organizations and communities. One major downtown employer, The Standard, has temporarily relocated some employees to the suburbs and suggested those workers will only return downtown after the pandemic if conditions improve. Downtowns crisis extends far beyond the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic catastrophe, according to Goodman and other critics of the citys response. Nightly protests downtown have given Portland a reputation for upheaval. But Goodman said he felt the issues downtown were not a consequence of the Black Lives Matter movement and protests, which he said he supports. He instead faulted the city for tolerating vandalism and lawlessness downtown and failing to keep streets clean and safe. Meanwhile, the number of tents around downtown has grown as the city has limited cleanups of homeless camps during the pandemic. In a letter to city officials on Aug. 14, Helen Ying, the chair of the Old Town Community Association, said that there are currently over 100 tents in Old Town and that there has been an increase in assaults, drug activity, human waste and people experiencing mental illness within the neighborhood. She called on the city to address the situation. Through all of our efforts, aside from a temporary added police foot patrol, we have seen no government assistance to help relocate people to safer alternatives, no mental health interventions which is so essential for many of the unsheltered, no additional sanitation facilities, and now, no assistance with regard to community safety, Ying wrote. We have a humanitarian crisis and we are responding with united efforts as volunteers. Old Town needs you, our government to do the same. WAITING FOR THE CITY TO RESPOND The mayors office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. But earlier this month, Wheeler circulated a plan to revive downtown and help downtown businesses. The three-page document focused on five target areas: Promoting public safety, addressing issues around homelessness and graffiti, cleaning up trash and developing a downtown retail strategy. The document said the city was still identifying funding for certain areas of the plan, including increased trash pickup. Wheeler responded to Goodmans letter last Friday by saying that he was working with city officials on an enhanced livability program and would have more details after Labor Day. After 10 days, Ying received a response to her letter Monday when a representative from Wheelers office called to inform her that the Mayor was taking her concerns seriously and was working on a plan to address the issues in Old Town. She said the staffer told her the city will have more details within a couple weeks and that the mayors office would be back in touch with her later this week. Wheeler met with the Portland Business Alliance at the end of July to lay out his plan to help downtown, but the organization says little has happened since. Were just not seeing the action we need from our elected leaders at all levels of government, said Andrew Hoan, CEO for the Portland Business Alliance, the citys chamber of commerce. Commitments were made several weeks ago and theres been a failure to fully act on that plan and put in action toward long-term commitments such as toilets and cleaning stations for those in need and proactive graffiti cleanup and repairs after each night of damage. DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES REMAIN CLOSED Goodman says he has heard from tenants who have been disappointed with the lack of outreach from the city and are looking to leave downtown. Other businesses have stayed closed since the start of the pandemic or shut their doors for a second time due to the issues plaguing downtown. Apple has reopened its two stores in suburban malls around Portland but hasnt reopened its downtown store since it was looted May 30 after a riot broke out following a peaceful protest in the wake of George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Two family-owned stores, Kassab Jewelers and the Mercantile, were among those ransacked that same night. The downtown stores have been closed ever since, although Kassab Jewelers reopened its Washington Square Mall and Lake Oswego stores. Old Town Pizza & Brewing owner Adam Milne closed his downtown brewery in July, while Adorn owner Nicole Whitesell has not reopened her downtown boutique since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Both business owners have reopened their other locations. Portland-based insurance company The Standard, which employs more than 2,100 people in Oregon, has required the majority of its workforce to work from home since March due to the pandemic. But a segment of its workforce had been working in its downtown office until recently, when The Standard decided to relocate many of those employees to its Hillsboro campus due to safety concerns and property damage downtown. Bob Speltz, a spokesman for The Standard, said the companys building has sustained significant and repeated damage over the last three months and that several employees and security contractors were assaulted near the downtown office, which contributed to the decision to relocate employees. While he said The Standard is deeply supportive of a renewed focus on racial justice, he said the company is concerned about continued criminal activity from opportunists not associated with the legitimate protests. The safety of our employees is our primary concern, Speltz said. The pandemic and the protests have temporarily shifted the way we work, but we intend to return to downtown Portland assuming conditions improve. Earlier this week, a federal employee was allegedly assaulted while walking to work at the Hatfield Federal Courthouse. Oregon's U.S. Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that a Portland resident has been charged in the case. COMMUNITY EFFORTS As they wait for the city to act, some members of the downtown business community are working on their own to address the issues plaguing their community. The Old Town Community Association started a GoFundMe earlier this month to raise money to help unsheltered people by adding toilets and cleaning stations and working with those that want to relocate to safer alternatives. Maureen Fisher, executive director of Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, a nonprofit and affiliate partner of the Portland Business Alliance, has increased its pickup of trash and needles and cleanup of biohazards and graffiti by roughly 12% this summer. We are doing what we can to positively impact the citys center, and our teams with Central City Concern have been quietly working around the clock these past five months, in the middle of a pandemic, providing basic cleaning services to the downtown district, said Fisher in a statement. Its difficult but essential work and brings positivity to the heart of our city. I dont even want to imagine what downtown Portland would look like without these efforts. Ying said the city did respond to requests for help from the Old Town Community Association in April by temporarily adding more foot patrol to the area. Prosper Portland, the citys economic development agency, has also been working with the community association to form a COVID-19 response team in an effort to safely reopen Old Town. Hoan, too, said that he noticed several days of heavy cleanup activity in downtown earlier this summer. But stakeholders say immediate, targeted and long-term action is needed to turn things around in downtown. Its just a matter of taking care of your city, showing pride in what you have, Goodman said. Right now, it isnt the case in how were maintaining our downtown and showing love to the small businesses that make Portland what it is. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The Lemoine Co. has acquired a financial interest in DCMC Partners, a disaster recovery firm, a move that it says will help create a large-scale construction and disaster response organization. The price was not disclosed. Lenny Lemoine, chief executive officer of The Lemoine Co., said it was a significant investment, similar to a deal Bernhard Capital Partners Management made in May 2019 when it bought a stake in his general contracting business. This puts them at a scale to grow at a much more rapid pace, he said. DCMC, based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 2015 by Barry Scanlon, Mark Merritt and Andrew Sachs. Lemoine said hes known the founders since Hurricane Katrina, when they were all working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For several years both companies thought about joining with each other to take on emergency management issues. DCMC does what The Lemoine Co. hoped to one day do and thats be in the forefront of disaster planning, Lemoine said. They help business owners have the right plans predisaster. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up DCMC helps businesses set themselves up so when they get disaster relief payments from FEMA, the money is spent properly. The services they provide are more valuable than construction services; they help on the funding side of things, he said. Thats job one of any disaster. In a statement, DCMCs Scanlon said the partnership with Lemoine will help fuel growth and provide even greater integrated support and services to the communities we serve." The company has recently been serving as the lead disaster recovery adviser to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The two companies have a combined workforce of nearly 650 employees across the U.S. DCMC's leadership team will remain in place and will work with Lemoine to serve its customers and identify additional growth opportunities. The Lemoine Co. was founded in 1935 as The Cottonport Lumber Co. in Avoyelles Parish. A construction division was spun off in 1979 and the company moved to Lafayette and changed its name in 1983. The Congress unit in Uttar Pradeshs Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday passed a resolution, criticising senior party leader Jitin Prasada and demanding action against him for being one of the 20-odd signatories to the letter that a group of senior party leaders had written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had discussed the letter on Monday and its after-effects are still being felt in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. The District Congress Committee (DCC) demands that disciplinary action should be taken against all those who signed the letter and they should be expelled from the party, said the resolution passed by Lakhimpur Kheri district Congress committee on Wednesday. All over UP there is only one leader, former minister Jitin Prasada, who has signed the letter. His family has been against the Gandhi family. His father the late Jitendra Prasad had contested the election against Sonia Gandhi. Despite this, Sonia Gandhi gave him a Lok Sabha ticket and he was made a minister. His act is gross indiscipline and action should be taken against him, said the resolution. A group of Congress workers also raised slogans against Prasada, who said the issue had been discussed before the Congress president. Mumbai: Maharashtra on Wednesday (August 26) reported 14,888 new COVID-19 cases and 295 deaths. The total count of coronavirus cases in the state now stands at 7,18,711, including 5,22,427 recoveries and 1,72,873 active cases, according to the state Health Department. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed that Mumbai reported 1,854 new COVID-19 cases, 776 recoveries, and 28 deaths in the last 24 hours. "The total number of positive cases increases to 1,39,532 in Mumbai, including 18,977 active cases, 1,12,743 recovered cases, and 7,502 deaths," said BMC. Pune district, however, reported 3,244 new coronavirus cases since previous evening which took its case count to 1,53,141, a health official said, adding that the death toll reached 3,804 with 62 patients succumbing to the infection. "Of the 3,244 cases, 1,617 are in Pune Municipal Corporation limits, which has recorded 87,317 cases so far. "However, 1,369 patients were also discharged from the hospitals," he said, adding "With 1,031 new cases in Pimpri Chinchwad, the case count there is 44,405." The Thane division, which includes Mumbai city, reported 4,585 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the total to 3,17,358, while 12,438 people have died in the region so far. Nashik division has reported 85,461 cases and 2,090 deaths so far. Kolhapur division has reported 33,803 cases and 1,019 deaths. Aurangabad division has reported 29,315 cases and 858 deaths, while Latur division has reported 22,449 cases and 655 deaths. Akola division has reported 15,433 cases and 422 deaths, and Nagpur division 27,215 cases and 643 deaths. India`s COVID-19 count crossed 32-lakh mark on Wednesday with 67,151 new cases. The country also reported 1,059 deaths in the last 24 hours. The Health Ministry said that total coronavirus case count reached 32,34,475 including 7,07,267 active cases, 24,67,759 cured/discharged/migrated patients and 59,449 deaths. Phase II human trial of Oxford vaccine in Pune The Phase II clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, being manufactured by the city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), began at a medical college and hospital in Pune today. Two male volunteers were administered the vaccine at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital, a senior office-bearer of the hospital told PTI. The trial began around 1 pm, he said. "Doctors at the hospital administered the first shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine to a 32-year-old man after his reports of COVID-19 and antibodies tests came out negative," Medical Director of Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr Sanjay Lalwani, said. Another 48-year-old male volunteer was also given the vaccine, he added. While the 32-year-old volunteer works for a private company, the other one is associated with the healthcare sector, he said. He said, "Before administering the vaccine, doctors checked their temperature, blood pressure and heartbeats," adding that five volunteers had enrolled themselves for the trial after the doses were received from the SII on Tuesday. "The COVID-19 and antibodies tests were conducted on all the five volunteers. Of them, the reports of three volunteers' antibodies test came out positive. So they became ineligible for the trial," Dr Lalwani said, adding "The two other volunteers, who were administered the vaccines are being monitored." According to Dr Lalwani, in all, 25 candidates will be given the vaccine in the next seven days. SII, the world's largest vaccine maker, has signed an agreement to manufacture the potential vaccine developed by the Jenner Institute of Oxford University in collaboration with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca. (With Agency Inputs) To End Kenosha, Democrats Must Stop Infantilizing Black People Commentary One of the key explanations, perhaps the key explanation, for why U.S. cities are falling apart is that the Democratic Party has been infantilizing black people for decades. For a variety of reasons, from what Shelby Steele described so clearly in White Guilt to Lyndon Baines Johnsons Great Society that he famously said would keep the n-words voting for us (the Democrats) for decades, the Democrats have ignited a culture of victimhood and excessive welfare reliance among African Americans that led to the literal decimation of the black family to 25 percent two-parent homes today from 75 percent in 1965. There were actually more two-parent homes among blacks than whites before this all started. If you dont see the causal connection between this familial decline and whats going on in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and dozens of other placeshow many of the rioters grew up with fathers in the home?you are, in Andrew McCarthys words, willfully blind. (In the case of Kenosha, its possible that rioters were actually bused in.) The patriarchal instinct behind all this is, in essence, racist. I know because I participated in it myself during the civil rights movement when I was an ardent Democrat. Doing voter registration of black field workers, many of whom were illiterate, I registered them in the Democratic Party without asking their preference or even explaining the alternatives. This was still the era of the Dixiecrats, and a greater percentage of Republicans than Democrats had voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but I, the Northerner, knew better. I was actually infantilizing them. (I was also breaking the law.) We all saw this infantilization in action recently when Joe Biden made the idiotic statement that if you werent voting for him, you werent black. (Heavily criticized, he eventually walked this back.) Even well-intentioned ideas such as affirmative action have more than slight overtones of infantilization, reparations yet more so. Imagine, for example, Armenians arriving in the United States circa 1920 to escape the massive genocide of their people, having to pay for events that occurred 75 years before their arrival. Its absurd. The Democrats are outraged, not surprisingly, by any suggestion that their reactionary identity politics is anything but progressive. (Few of them realize that the former Soviet Union practiced identity politics to the nth degree, with required internal passports identifying every one of its citizens as Tatars, Kazakhs, Abkhazians, Jews, and so forth.) The extreme divisiveness emanating from this identitarian bias is obvious and, in turn, helps create Kenosha. Which leads us to one of the great mysteries of our time. Why hasnt Biden himself strongly disassociated himself from the violence in our streets? Other than going through a spokesperson, the candidates own statements have been, at best, mealy-mouthed. A true Sister Souljah moment, at least, would seem to be in order, but, no Bill Clinton, he just doesnt seem to be capable of that so far. Perhaps its because to do so would tacitly be admitting that the Dems approach to racial justice has been wrong. A whole elaborate, and financially lucrative, complex would be under threat. (Well, if not under threat, under question.) As H.L. Mencken reminds us, Its about the money. Or perhaps something psychological is going on, a kind of mass personality disorder. The Democrats have convinced themselves for years that theyre doing good for minorities, but nothing much has changed for these same minoritiesWatts remained Wattsuntil the dreaded Trump came along and black and Hispanic unemployment went down to all-time lows. How to explain it, other than that Trumponomics, as its called by Arthur Laffer and Steve Moore in their book, actually worked? Meanwhile, many Democrats were all exercised about the frequent appearances of black people during the Republican convention, including, of course, Sen. Tim Scott who, with Trump, has been putting into action the old Jack Kemp opportunity zones idea, and the national debut of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a certain future star of the Republican Party, if he isnt already, who, in his eloquent speech, made short work of identity politics. How this will play out at the ballot box, we will soon see. But a significant black vote for Trump may force the Dems to reevaluate infantilizing African Americans. Or not. Roger L. Simon is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, and co-founder of PJ Media. He is now a columnist for The Epoch Times. Find him on Parler and Twitter @rogerlsimon. Find his books on Amazon. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Chelsea Cains new comic book series is the trip you didnt know youd been waiting for. In Spy Island: A Bermuda Island Mystery, a four-issue miniseries co-produced by Milwaukie-based Dark Horse Comics and The Ministry of Trouble, the Portland author and comic writer whisks us to the Bermuda Triangle, where the 70s and 80s think The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, one-piece sleeveless pantsuits, drinks with names like Pink Orgasm, Sea-Monkeys never went out with historys tide. The first issue of Spy Island, originally scheduled for April 1, but then delayed because of the pandemic, comes out Sept. 2, with subsequent issues being released monthly. The volume the full collection is scheduled to come out at the end of March. The setup, in a coconut shell: Nora Freud, a whip-smart, glamorous expert in espionage, works on an isolated island (no internet, no cell phone service) where every fundraiser features a half-dozen secret agents in evening wear and where every Monday a ship disgorges tourists eager to collect mermaid teeth on the beach. On the Monday that Spy Island is interested in, Noras sister, a marine cryptozoologist, unexpectedly strolls off the boat and into Noras next adventure. (Everywhere she goes, people die.) Here are eight more things to know about Spy Island: It's no accident that "Spy Island" has the look of a 1970s paperback. (Dark Horse Comics) 1. Its unapologetically retro. It is like this kind of more innocent time, Cain said of the Bermuda Triangle obsession years that inspired the comic. The conspiracy theories were about vacation spots that you could really avoid if you wanted to, but if you didnt, you could have great adventures. 2. Its not a typical comic. We break a lot of rules about what a comic is supposed to be, Cain said. For instance, Spy Island includes stock photos that have been manipulated. That helps create a different layer of narrative, Cain said. 3. Its tone deliberately departs from the traditional big editorial voice of Stan Lee telling a story. That voice favors a certain kind of character, Cain said. I was interested in telling another characters point of view. And that character is a highly unreliable narrator, another departure from tradition because of how important canon is to a big contingent of comic book fans, Cain said. 4. Its funny. As in laugh-out-loud funny. We go through these comics page by page by page and we crack each other up, Cain said of the Spy Island team, which included Portland designer and illustrator Lia Miternique, Pacific Northwest artist Elise McCall, colorist Rachelle Rosenberg and letterer Joe Caramagna. (The same team worked on Cains Man-eaters series, an issue of which appears in Spy Island.) Cain credited the collaborative process with honing the series humor: As art came in, an expression or gesture would provide an opportunity to tell an entirely different joke, a joke that I would never come up with by myself. 5. It centers a feminist protagonist. Cain described Nora Freud as a character who doesnt apologize for who she is and who doesnt second-guess herself. 6. Its an escapist adventure. In Cains words: Its like a zipline with chardonnay. 7. Its meant to be read more than once. One of my goals, comics-wise, is re-readability, Cain said. I want you to read one of my comics and love it, and then I want you to put it on the back of the toilet and forget about it and then pick it up later and read it again, and find all kinds of amusements/references/easter eggs that you missed the first time. At $3.99 an issue, she added, if you cant read it more than twice then youre not getting your moneys worth. 8. Its headed to a screen near you. Were working on a television show, Cain said, adding that she couldnt elaborate. The comics release was intended to get the intellectual property in the world. And given that TV was the intellectual parent of the series, putting Spy Island on TV makes for a neat circle or triangle, Cain joked. Cain admitted slight regret that Spy Island has only four issues. Initially, she thought that was perfect, as it allowed for a single-story arc. By the time we were on Issue 3, she said, she thought, Why did I say only four? awang@oregonian.com; Twitter: @ORAmyW Subscribe to our free Bookmarks newsletter. Fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi on Wednesday approached the Delhi high court against streaming platform Netflixs upcoming web series Bad Boy Billionaires. Choksis lawyer Vijay Aggarwal says that he is not seeking a stay on the documentary but he is seeking that he be shown the preview. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, who appeared for Netflix, said that the documentary has a two-minute piece on Nirav Modi where Choksi has been mentioned. He also said that that there is no regulation of content on the OTT platform. The court then adjourned the matter till Friday. The petition filed by lawyer Naman Joshi cited precedents where the courts had protected the accused from media trials including by restraining release of certified motion pictures to ensure that the accuseds right to a free and fair trial and presumption of innocence is not rendered naught before the court considers the accuseds defense and his ultimate innocence or guilt. The poster released by Netflix shows Choksis nephew and fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, Subrata Roy (of the Sahara Group), now defunct Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya and Ramalinga Raju (former chairman and CEO of Satyam Computer Services). This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud and corruption that built up - and ultimately brought down - Indias most infamous tycoons, Netflix has described the series. Choksi, along with Nirav Modi and his wife Ami, have fled from India. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has charged Ami Modi for conspiring and money laundering with her husband Nirav Modi apart from Choksi and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Interpol global issued a red notice against Ami on Tuesday. Nirav Modi (49), is currently lodged in a UK jail after being arrested in London in March, 2019 and is currently fighting extradition to India. He has been declared a fugitive economic offender by a Mumbai court early this year and the court had also ordered confiscation of his assets. The ED has already confiscated about Rs 329 crore of his linked properties. The businessman, Choksi and others are being probed by the ED on money laundering charges in connection with an over US $2 billion alleged bank fraud at a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Mumbai. The Centre on Tuesday said that PNB has informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs that it has received US $3.25 million (Rs 24.33 crore) as the first tranche of recoveries in fugitive Nirav Modi case from the USA. The Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigations Division is seeking the publics assistance to identify individuals related to the vandalism of the Edward Carmack Statue atop of the state Capitol Motlow Tunnel entrance in Nashville on May 30. During the protest, approximately three individuals can be seen toppling the statue, authorities said. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender(s). If you have any information that will aid investigators in identifying the individual(s) involved with the vandalism of the Edward Carmack Statue, contact the THP Criminal Investigations Division at 615 251-5185 with attention to Sgt. Andrew Naylor. Glenn and Jo Poshard established a scholarship endowment for the SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. Through their selfless giving, the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior will be able to better support our students academic needs. Former Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard, PhD, and his wife, Jo, have donated $100,000 to establish the Glenn and Jo Poshard Scholarship Endowment for the SIUE School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB). Scholarship awards will be dedicated to community college transfer students majoring in education or teaching with demonstrated financial need and with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. It was a great privilege for Jo and me to serve the SIU System and to see SIUEs success in the higher education community of Illinois, Glenn Poshard said. We hope to continue our efforts to provide additional scholarship assistance to SIUE students in the future. We are ecstatic and extremely grateful for the generous gift from Glenn and Jo Poshard, said SEHHB Dean Robin Hughes, PhD. Through their selfless giving, the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior will be able to better support our students academic needs. There are no words too great to describe our gratitude and appreciation for their generosity. We look forward to awarding our most deserving students in addition to thanking the Poshards in-person. Glenn Poshard served as SIU System president from 2006-2014 after being appointed to the SIU board of trustees in 2004. During his presidency, SIUE became the fastest growing public institution in the state. He is a former Illinois state senator (1984-88) and U.S. congressman (1989-99). He also was a gubernatorial candidate in 1998. The Poshards established The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children in 1999. Dedicated to healing abused children physically and emotionally and to stop child abuse, the foundation has created many rewarding relationships with individuals, agencies and organizations in southern Illinois, as well as statewide, by providing funding for children in crisis when other funds are not available. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose to shape a changing world. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi Rivers rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of more than 13,000. H arry Maguire is set for a retrial after an appeal was granted against his assault and attempted bribery conviction in Greece. The Manchester United captain, 27, was found guilty on Tuesday of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery following an incident in Mykonos last Thursday. He was handed a suspended 21-month prison sentence, which he immediately vowed to appeal. On Wednesday, a spokesman for his club said his appeal had been granted and would lead to a "full retrial". Harry Maguire given suspended sentence after being found guilty of assault in Greece The United spokesman said: An appeal against yesterdays verdict was lodged this morning by Harrys legal team. "In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing of an appeal extinguishes the initial court verdict and nullifies the conviction. The appeal has been accepted and will lead to a full retrial in a more senior court. "This means that Harry has no criminal record and is once again presumed innocent until proven guilty. "Accordingly, he is not subject to any international travel restrictions. It is understood no date has yet been fixed, and while the club would like the matter dealt with as soon as possible, they recognise it could be a number of months before the appeal is heard. News of the retrial came after the England defender's younger brother said there was "no change" he would apologise to the Greek police officers involved in the case. Laurence Maguire, 23, spoke out on social media after a lawyer for two of the police officers said it was shocking neither Maguire nor his co-defendants had apologised. The 23-year-old who plays for Chesterfield, tweeted: Absolute no chance Harry will be apologising. Daisy (Maguires sister) and no one in the group was interviewed by the police. The latter part of the tweet referenced a comment made by prosecution lawyer Yoannis Paradissis. Mr Paradissis said it was strange that part of Maguires defence had been that Daisy had been injected with an unknown substance prior to the incident which led to his arrest. He said she had made no mention of it when interviewed by police. The lawyer told BBC Radio Fours Today Programme on Wednesday: (The police officers) told me they are still waiting for an apology and they havent had any. This is what I find quite shocking and quite unsporting. Fair play means when Ive done something wrong I apologise or at least I say I am sorry for what happened to the other person. In Pictures | Harry Maguire joins Man Utd | 05/08/2019 1 /6 In Pictures | Harry Maguire joins Man Utd | 05/08/2019 Manchester United via Getty Imag Manchester United via Getty Imag Manchester United via Getty Imag Manchester United via Getty Imag Manchester United via Getty Imag England manager Gareth Southgate withdrew Maguire from the squad for the Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark next month after the verdict was announced, having initially selected him. Asked about Maguires claim in a statement on Tuesday that he was the victim, Mr Paradissis said: We dont have the same definition of what a victim is then, because how can you be a victim and the policemen have been assaulted, hit, that were just doing their jobs? They went home on the day with injuries. How can they not be a victim? Mr Paradissis said there was no way that Maguire and his co-defendants, brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman, could not have known that they were dealing with police officers. Of course, because thats the first thing they said, he added. The police officers were there for other duties and they heard a brawl. So they heard some people fighting and went there to break up a fight. Loading.... "They said, Were police, stop fighting. They were not in uniform but they showed their professional IDs. Since its inception in 2002 the African Union has been under pressure to resolve the extensive peace and security challenges facing the continent. In particular, its tried to address the limitations faced by its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unitys (OAU), in this area. The biggest change has been the shift away from the OAUs so-called non-interference stance to the AUs more interventionist approach. This is most explicitly found in Article 4 of the AU Constitutive Act. The AUs African Peace and Security Architecture was established when the organisation adopted the Protocol on the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council in July 2002. It is guided by the AUs mandate and its interventionist approach. The architecture, which has five pillars composed of AU organs and bodies, drives the AUs peace and security work. Its aim is to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts by working collaboratively with the Regional Economic Communities and Mechanisms. Therefore, the peace and security architecture has a role to play from the early warning and conflict prevention stages to that of post-conflict development. The five pillars are: the Peace and Security Council, the Panel of the Wise; the Continental Early Warning System; the Standby Force, and the Peace Fund. While not all pillars function as intended, there have nevertheless been a number of success stories in which the architecture was instrumental. Peace and Security Council The Peace and Security Council is the main decision-making body of the peace and security architecture and can take decisions on a number of fronts. These include: implementing the AUs common defence policy, performing peace making and building functions, authorising and overseeing peace support missions, recommending Article 4(h) interventions for situations of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, and impose sanctions for unconstitutional changes of government, to name a few. As such, it has issued a plethora of decisions since its inception with varying degrees of success. Most recently, it suspended Mali from the African Union after the coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. #AUPSC suspends #Mali from @_AfricanUnion until restoration of constitutional order and demands release of President @IBK_PRMALI, the Prime Minister & other government officials forcibly detained by the army. Chaired by @AmbMedIdriss, PSC was briefed by @AU_Chergui & @AmbSamate pic.twitter.com/kFLrObejkL African Union Peace (@AU_PSD) August 19, 2020 Yet, the Council does not always respond, or is sometimes slow to respond, to developing situations and conflicts. Cameroon, has proved to be one such situation where the Council has remained largely quiet on over the years. There are a number of reasons for these shortcomings. First, despite only requiring a majority vote, it is subject to political constraints that hamper its decisions. This is despite the provision that disallows countries that are being discussed from participating in Council meetings concerning them. Such countries are only allowed to make a statement. There are also financial and personnel constraints. For example, mustering enough troops to fulfil a mandate can be a challenge. And then theres the question of financing, training and equipping them. This is a common problem for the AUs mission in Somalia. In addition, there has been external influence and undermining of the Councils attempts at conflict resolution. A case in point was NATOs intervention in Libya, which was parallel to the AUs mediation efforts. Panel of the Wise The Panel of the Wise acts as the advisory body to the Peace and Security Council. It has a mediation and preventative diplomacy role. The panels five elders are chosen based on their contributions to peace, security and development. They work either at the request of the Peace and Security Council, or on the panels own initiative. The panel has successfully undertaken various roles, including when theres been need for a neutral, respected diplomatic intervention. Examples of their work includes interventions in Kenyas post-election violence in 2008, and their reports regarding the Arab spring. Continental Early Warning System The mandate of the Continental Early Warning System is conflict prevention and anticipating events. Both are notoriously difficult. Prevention and anticipation rely on accurate data and political will to act, yet the Peace and Security Council tends to react more to conflicts rather than preempt them. Reports from the early warning system inform the Council and remain one of the ways it is prompted to meet. To be more effective, the early warning system needs to work more collaboratively with nongovernmental and international organisations, academic institutions and research centres. While this system continues to suffer from staff and funding shortages, building capacity is ongoing. African Standby Force Composed of contingents from the five regions, the African Standby Forces job is to implement decisions made by the Peace and Security Council. This includes authorised interventions, conflict and dispute prevention, observation, monitoring and any type of peace support mission, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding. But there were delays in getting it off the ground. Mobilising a standby force from across the 55 states was never going to be easy because the appetite for involvement in peace support operations differs. Second is the diverse states of readiness and capabilities of military, police and civilians across countries and regions. Advertisements Despite the 2003 decision to establish the force, it was only in 2016 that the force was officially considered to have obtained full operational capacity. Since then, it has yet be deployed. Peace Fund The Peace Fund is tasked with the mammoth role of ensuring availability of funds. The vast majority of AU members struggle to meet their membership dues, and self-financing of the AU has yet to prove possible. This means that the fund struggles to secure support from African states. The fund is financed from the AUs budget, fundraising and voluntary contributions from AU Members, individuals, civil society, international partners, and the private sector. While $164 million has been raised to date, it is well below the target of $400 million. Overall, the success of the African Peace and Security Architecture is paramount for Africas development and human security. Its value in the continents peace and security agenda should not be underestimated. Dominique Mystris, Senior Researcher, SA SDG Hub, University of Pretoria This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The conversation The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has seen a significant increase in food insecurity within the region, serving more than 900,000 residents a month three times more than before the pandemic began. Today's donation will help put food on the table for thousands of local families and neighbors in need. "We truly appreciate the generous donation from Farmer John to help those who have been impacted by the pandemic and need food assistance," said Roger Castle, chief development officer of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. "We also thank them for providing lunch to the Food Bank employees and volunteers, who have been integral in our response to provide nutritious food to our community." "Farmer John is proud to provide this donation to give back to its local community and deliver this much-needed protein to an organization that is doing great work every day, especially during this difficult time," said Michael Merritt, senior director of brand marketing for Farmer John at Smithfield Foods. "We're honored to be able to serve lunch to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank employees who are coming into work every day to keep their network running, as its distribution is crucial for families and individuals." "It has been a privilege to join Farmer John to recognize and give thanks to some of Los Angeles' finest essential workers," said Bretos. "The work these food banks do is so important now more than ever with so many people turning to them for help. I'm humbled to be here today and help directly impact our great community that I'm proud to call home." For more information and to see where the Farmer John Thank You Tour goes next, follow us on Facebook (@FarmerJohn), Instagram (@FarmerJohnLA) or Twitter (@FarmerJohnLA). Farmer John is a brand of Smithfield Foods. About Farmer John Based in California since 1931, Farmer John has pioneered a revolution in the supply of local flavorful meats. The journey began with Irish-American brothers Francis and Bernard Clougherty curing and selling pork bellies and smoked hams to local grocery stores, and continues today with staples like breakfast sausage and hot dogs. This longstanding Southern California brand remains committed to crafting the highest quality meats full of freshness and flavor. For more information on our products and recipe inspiration, please visit www.farmerjohn.com or follow us on Facebook (@FarmerJohn), Instagram (@FarmerJohnLA) or Twitter (@FarmerJohnLA). About Smithfield Foods Headquartered in Smithfield, Va., since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Our 40,000 U.S. employees are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." and have made us one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including many industry firsts, such as our ambitious commitment to cut our carbon impact by 25 percent by 2025. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our neighbors in need. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich, and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. About Los Angeles Regional Food Bank The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been mobilizing resources to fight hunger in Los Angeles County since 1973. To support the Food Bank's vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County, food and grocery products are distributed through a network of 600 partner agencies and directly to families, seniors and children through direct distribution programs. The Food Bank has distributed more than 1.5 billion pounds of food, the equivalent of 1.2 billion meals since 1973. In response to the Coronavirus crisis, the Food Bank has increased food distribution by more than 114 percent reaching more than 900,000 people every month. The Food Bank is a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator. For more information, visit LAFoodBank.org. SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc. Related Links www.smithfieldfoods.com The semiconductors market in Vietnam is forecast to grow by $6.16 billion during 2020-2024, according to global technology research and advisory firm Technavio. Vietnam's semiconductors market is forecast to accelerate tremendously with IoT adoption The growth in the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the major drivers for the growth of the semiconductors market in Vietnam as it allows the transfer of data over a network without requiring human-to-computer or human-to-human interaction. Moreover, smart devices and connected devices are embedded with software, electronic components, and sensors with computer network connection capability, which enable them to collect and transmit data. IoT devices require ultra-low-power processors which increases their performance. Therefore, the increase in power efficiency enhances the battery life of devices, which is important for mobile computing devices such as notebooks, ultra-portables, and wearables. Additionally, IoT devices also require ICs which ensures that the microprocessor or microcontrollers start in the same condition, which protects the device. Hence, the increasing use of IoT in Vietnam will lead to the growth of the semiconductors market in the country during the forecast period. The growing demand for high processing power for mobile and other computing devices also contributes to the growth of the semiconductors market in the consumer electronics segment. The demand for consumer electronics is high due to the availability of low-cost labour and favourable investment incentives. In general, Vietnam's semiconductors market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will remain the same during the forecast period. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SK Hynix Inc., STMicroelectronics NV, Texas Instruments Inc., and Toshiba Corp. are some of the major market participants. Although the growing use of IoT will offer immense growth opportunities, the cyclic nature of the semiconductor industry will challenge the growth of the market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. VIR Thanh Van UPPER DARBY Police issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for a Philadelphia man they say fatally stabbed a 32-year-old man at the 69th Street station early Monday morning. Christopher Damian Campbell, 29, of the 1100 block of South 51st Street, is charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first and third degree and possessing instruments of crime, according to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest written by Detective Leo Hanshaw. Officers were called to the 69th Street transportation center about 2:34 a.m. Monday for a report of a stabbing, according to the affidavit. Patrol Sergeant Robert Bennett was first on location, followed by Officer Edwin Dubek. The officers found a Black man lying face-up on the ground with a large penetrating chest wound and blood surrounding him, according to the affidavit. Dubek began to render medical aid until Delaware County Memorial Hospital paramedics arrived. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful and the victim, identified as Christopher Brockenbrough, 32, was pronounced dead at the scene by medics at 2:43 a.m., according to the affidavit. Officers interviewed witnesses in the area, including a woman who said she knew Brockenbrough and Campbell, and had witnessed the stabbing. That woman told police Chris had confronted Brockenbrough because he did not want the victim selling drugs on the SEPTA platform, according to the affidavit. Chris stated to the victim that, I will kill you tonight or Ill go to jail tonight,' the affidavit says. The victim then began swinging two socks, which had rocks in them, at Chris. Chris then pulled out two knives, and he started to chase the victim. Chris then caught up to the victim and stabbed him in the chest. Chris stated, Im a kill you (and) Youre gonna die tonight, while chasing the victim. The victim yelled, Dont kill me.' The woman allegedly told police that Campbell left the area after the stabbing because his friends were telling him to go change his clothes. She said she later saw Campbell wearing an Enforcement Security polo shirt, which someone gave him, and that he had discarded a multicolored shirt he originally had on. She said she last saw Campbell walking on Market Street towards West Chester Pike. The woman was able to immediately identify Campbell as the killer from a photo array of eight men, according to the affidavit. Investigators spoke with her again concerning an earlier altercation in which Campbell and two other people allegedly chased Brockenbrough on the platform towards Market Street earlier in the night, but she reported that she did not know the other men. Another witness interviewed by Detective Thomas Thompson gave a similar account of the stabbing, according to the affidavit, saying Campbell had a knife in each hand and that Brockenbrough had a sock in each hand filled with rocks. Chris ran past Witness #2 with two knives in his hands while Witness #2 was waiting for a bus, the affidavit says. Chris and the victim had words and walked down to the end of the platform, where a SEPTA bus was parked and the operator was standing near the bus. Witness # 2 explained the two of them fight, or so the witness thought, and Chris came running back down the platform wiping the knife off. Chris then said, I told yall Im not playing with him, or something. The second witness also described seeing Campbell and three or four Black males chase Brockenbrough up Market Street about two hours before the stabbing, according to the affidavit, and also immediately positively identified Campbell as the man who stabbed the victim. Hanshaw obtained video footage from a SEPTA bus parked near the stabbing, which allegedly showed Campbell walk over to the bus platform to confront the victim. The video shows Campbell following Brockenbrough away from the terminal towards the bus, according to the affidavit, while the victim turns around several times looking back at Campbell. Campbell stops towards the end of the platform and drops his bag and then walks towards the victim with both his arms extended in a low position, the affidavit says. As they walk closer to the bus the victim has socks in his hands, and Campbell has what appears to be at least one knife in his right hand. The two men go in and out of view of the camera after reaching the end of the platform, according to the affidavit, but Campbell can be seen with both his hands up in front of him, moving around in a fighting stance. After going out of frame a final time, Campbell can be seen walking back toward the main terminal, according to the affidavit. Brockenbrough takes a couple of steps in that direction before turning around and heading toward the end of the platform. As the victim is walking towards the end of the platform, he appears to become unsteady on his feet, the affidavit says. Although not seen on camera, this is where the victim is found later by police and paramedics. A review of additional video in the terminal area showed Brockenbrough was involved in another altercation with another person around 10:48 p.m. Sunday night, during which he was knocked to the ground, according to the affidavit. In that video, other people in a group at the terminal approach the victim and appear to be arguing and or upset with him, the affidavit says, but Brockenbrough was able to leave the area by himself after the altercation. Video surveillance allegedly shows Campbell walking across the 6800 block of Market Street from a convenience store to the bus platform at 2:19 a.m. Monday. He allegedly confronts the victim and it appears that there is an argument. Brockenbrough walks away from Campbell toward the end of the bus platform and Campbell walks back over to the convenience store, where he is seen on video purchasing two folding lock-blade knives at approximately 2:24 a.m., the affidavit says. Campbell returns to the bus platform with the knives and the fatal confrontation begins, according to the affidavit. After the stabbing, Campbell allegedly returns to the store, changes his shirt and discards the knives and his old shirt in a box of trash in front of the store. Those items were later recovered by police, according to the affidavit. Campbells current location is unknown, but acting Police Superintendent Tim Bernhardt said Tuesday he is hoping he will surrender peacefully to police. A wanted poster indicates officers should use caution when approaching the suspect, but notes the knives allegedly used in the murder have been recovered. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact Upper Darby detectives at 610-734-7684. Melbournes Burnet Institute is working on a quick test that could reveal if you have been infected with and cleared of COVID-19, potentially allowing people to return to work. The project is headed by Associate Professor David Anderson, who led a similar effort to develop a finger-prick blood test to monitor immune cells in patients with HIV. An electron microscope image of the virus that causes COVID-19. Credit:NIAID-RML via AP The institute declined to comment on Wednesday, but The Age understands a major announcement is in the works, potentially within the next month. The state government has invested $1 million in the project as part of $14.7 million invested across 17 research programs. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, August 27 2020 Indonesias largest oil and gas company, state-owned Pertamina, booked a US$767.92 million net loss in the first half of this year amid weak energy demand and prices. The company's latest financial report shows that the performance in the January-June period of this year makes a reversal from $659.96 million in profit booked in the same period last year. Pertamina was hit by a triple shock, company spokeswoman Fajriyah Usman told The Jakarta Post on Monday. She was referring to low global crude oil prices, weak domestic demand and a weak rupiah-to-dollar exchange rate amid the ongoing health crises. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login The Houston Chronicles Live Updates blog documents the latest updates regarding Hurricane Laura, as the storm nears Houston and Southeast Texas. The Houston Chronicles ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work. Resources on storms and Texas weather: With our powerful Texas Flood Map and Tracker, you can follow rainfall location and intensity, as well as real-time, continuously updated flooding alerts and street closures as storms sweep through the area. We also have the latest weather forecast maps, as well as a complete list of closures and cancellations around Houston. You can see the latest stories, as well as forecasts for the next few hours and week on our Weather in Houston page. Latest updates from today 10:15 p.m. The National Hurricane Center's 10 p.m. update kept the maximum wind speed of Hurricane Laura at 150 mph as it closes in on the Texas-Louisiana coast. According to Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist with the Harris County Flood Control District, the storm is about 50 miles offshore and will be making landfall within the next two to three hours. 10 p.m. Wind speeds and water levels are rising along the upper Texas and Louisiana coast as Hurricane Laura approaches. Harris County Flood Control District Meteorologist Jeff Lindner said at 10 p.m. that wind speeds near Cameron, Louisiana, were measured at 57 mph. The water level in that area was nearing 6 feet above normal. 9:30 p.m. The National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has evacuated its office, according to Greg Diamond, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel. A storm surge of at least 9 feet could inundate their office, according to The Weather Channel. The weather service's Brownsville office will back up their operations. 8:40 p.m. With sustained winds at 150 mph, Laura likely will be the strongest hurricane on record to strike the southwest portion of the Louisiana coast, according to Space City Weather. It is expected to make landfall near midnight, bringing catastrophic winds and storm surges. 7:45 p.m. Montgomery County emergency officials opened a Hurricane Laura call center. Officials said residents should only call 911 for life-threatening emergency. The call center can be reached at 936-523-3918. 7 p.m. Hurricane Laura wind speeds have increased to 150 mph as it approaches the Texas-Louisiana coast. It is currently 120 miles southeast of Port Arthur. 6:30 p.m. Wind speeds and water levels are currently rising along the northwest Gulf coast. Sustained winds of 39 mph were reported at 6 p.m. along the southern-most edge of the Louisiana coast, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains also are beginning to spread onshore. 5:45 p.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo urged residents to be off the roads by 8 p.m. Wednesday evening before Hurricane Laura makes landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, reports Zach Despart. The National Weather Service predicts the Category 4 storm will have little impact on Harris County, but Hidalgo said residents should take precautions just in case. We will avoid a direct hit, but that doesnt mean we will avoid potential consequences, Hidalgo said at a 5:15 p.m. news conference. We still do anticipate tropical storm force winds in our county, particularly on the east side of the county, which could cause significant damage. She said power outages are possible, and crews are on standby to clean up debris and repair utility lines. Hidalgo signed a disaster declaration Wednesday morning, which allows the county government to have flexibility to access any response or recovery resources after the storm strikes. It also activates the countys emergency management plan. Since March, the county has been under a separate disaster declaration related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hidalgo issued a voluntary evacuation order Tuesday for some coastal areas of Harris County. 5:08 p.m. HCA Houston Healthcare will temporarily suspend two emergency room locations at 8 p.m. The Fairmont location at 6002 Fairmont Pkwy. in Pasadena and the North Channel location at 6191 E. Sam Houston Pkwy. are expected to open again at 7 p.m. Thursday. 5:05 p.m. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is urging city residents to remain vigilant as Hurricane Laura approaches the Gulf coast, even as its worst effects are expected to mostly skirt Houston, reports Dylan McGuinness. The mayor asked residents to expect rain and wind, get off city streets by 8 p.m. and remain weather alert. Houstons Office of Emergency Management is activated and will remain so until the storm has passed. Police have staged more than 20 rescue boats in case there is a need for rescues. The city will not collect garbage tonight, but it expects to resume service Thursday morning. "Tomorrow, people may say, 'Mayor, this wasn't bad at all and you all made too much of a fuss. Well let me tell you, these storms rapidly intensify, and you have to be ready, Turner said. If this storm had just come 40 miles to the west, it would be very disastrous for the fourth largest city in the United States of America. City officials asked residents to call 311 to report downed trees, power lines and traffic signals. The mayor said Houston stands ready to help the communities in East Texas that are more endangered by the storm. 5 p.m. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is preparing to deploy air monitoring vans and a mobile command post to respond to Hurricane Laura, reports Erin Douglas. The TCEQ's emergency responders will deploy Friday at 8 a.m. to provide support to affected areas, and the agency is prepared to enact emergency response plans for air quality monitoring, safe drinking water, critical water infrastructure, wastewater and sewage, and flood water if necessary. 4:30 p.m. Harris County emergency officials urged people to finish any traveling before 8 p.m. when they should hunker down until Thursday morning once Hurricane Laura's expected winds subside. Harris County Flood Control District meteorologist Jeff Lindner said the storm continued to intensify and was expected to make landfall early Thursday, potentially with 150 mile-per-hour winds, in the area of Sabine Pass. "This will be an absolutely devastating hurricane event for those areas," Lindner said during an afternoon news conference. Although the worst of the storm may spare Houston, Lindner said people who planned to evacuate or travel should do so by 8 p.m. Francisco Sanchez, a spokesman for the county's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, seconded Lindner and encouraged people to collect any loose debris and items -- and to stay put until Thursday morning. Individuals in the southeast portion of the county and coastal communities heeding to voluntary evacuations should head west, not north to avoid impact from the powerful hurricane, he said. "For those of you that are not in an evacuation zone, and that was the vast majority of people in Harris County, the best thing you can do to stay safe moving forward is by 8 o'clock tonight, please shelter in place where it is that you intend to ride out the storm," Sanchez said, warning people of some minor damage that they should avoid like affected power lines and fallen tree limbs. "Definitely tonight, if you feel the wind has gone down, do not go out. It's going to be dark, you can't see some of those hazards out there." 4:10 p.m. Nearly 500 flights have been canceled at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports ahead of Hurricane Laura's potential impact in the region, according to Houston Airport System. At George Bush Intercontinental, 414 flights had been canceled by 2:30 p.m. while 66 flights had been canceled at William P. Hobby. Airport officials said travelers should directly contact airlines for the most recent flight information. 3:50 p.m. Storms embedded within Hurricane Laura's outer rain bands are continuing to push inland, which may produce heavy winds and downpours, the National Weather Service in Houston said in its latest update. A gust of 38 miles per hour was observed by NWS at 3:36 p.m. at the Conroe- North Houston Regional Airport. 3:23 p.m. Water is beginning to rise along the coast of Texas, according to the National Weather Service's latest update. A National Ocean Service water level station at Sabine Pass, TX reported 2.3 feet of inundation above ground level. 3:10 p.m. A tornado watch has been issued in counties to the east of Houston, according to NOAA. The city and Harris County are not among areas at risk of seeing tornados, but still may see strong gusts and storms from the outer rain band of Laura. 2:39 p.m. With Galveston expected to be spared from the worst of Hurricane Lauras impacts, some island residents have decided to ride out the storm rather than evacuate, drawing on years of experiences with storms that were both near-misses and direct hits. The stiff winds from Laura had already begun to swell the Gulf of Mexico surf on Wednesday morning, crashing violently over jetties and blanketing what was left of the visible beach. Sunlight struggled to pierce through the shale-gray clouds that shrouded the horizon. And yet Gerard Coleman and his wife strolled the seawall together as if it were a normal weekday morning. The Colemans live just behind the seawall, which they say usually protects them from major flooding, and estimated that 60 percent of their neighbors had decided not to evacuate. Coleman said they wouldnt be leaving the island unless Lauras path veered off its expected path toward the Texas-Louisiana border. -Reporter Nick Powell 2:16 p.m. As Laura approaches land, pressure is dropping and bands of rain are beginning to come inland, reports Nicole Hensley. Waters are rising in areas of coastal Louisiana. 1:22 p.m. With food, water and beer, some people in Chambers County plan to ride Laura out, reports Emily Foxhall. Around noon Tuesday near High Island, an area under a mandatory evacuation order, 33-year-old Mark Allums said he wasn't leaving the area. He said he had actually driven from northeast Texas to stay at his beach house for the storm with his 19-year-old brother. Were gonna ride this one out, Allums said. Im fired up about it. 1:17 p.m. It feels like a lifetime ago, but remember when the week began with twin threats Marco and Laura forecast to wreak havoc along the Gulf coast? The Chronicle's Anna Bauman broke down what happened to Marco, the storm that fizzled out in a blessing for the region. 1:05 p.m. Orange residents are making last-minute moves in the hours leading up to Hurricane Laura's landfall, reports the Chronicle's Dug Begley. Were going to get out all we can, Jerry Redwine, 38, said as he helped his father and others load heavy equipment from Redwine Trucking, a few hundred feet from a low-lying area crossed by Cow Bayou in southern Orange County. Its going to flood right here, it is only a question of how much. 12:50 p.m. Laura has become a Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Weather Service. Its maximum sustained wind speed is now 140 miles per hour. 12:45 p.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a disaster declaration for the county Wednesday, citing an imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property from Hurricane Laura. Reporter Zach Despart details what that means for the county. 12:30 p.m. Water is already beginning to cross Highway 87 on Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said in an update Wednesday afternoon. Winds up to 80 miles per hour are forecast at High Island. 12:27 p.m. Even Hurricane Laura forecast to make landfall east of Houston near the Texas/Louisiana border, people in Houston rushed this week to get prescription medication before the storm made landfall, reports the Chronicle's Gwendolyn Wu. 12:20 p.m. Texas Southern University will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday and will reopen and resume classes Friday. 11:46 a.m. A crash involving a vehicle carrying hazardous material in the Spring area briefly caused a traffic jam on northbound Interstate 45 -- an evacuation route ahead of Hurricane Laura -- as all lanes were closed. The highway was shut down for at least a half hour at Spring Cypress Road around 11 a.m. and authorities said one of the vehicles was carrying a soil density meter, a Harris County Fire Marshal's Office spokesperson. Two lanes later reopened, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a tweet. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, such equipment uses a radioactive source which emits gamma radiation into soil and a sensor measures the density of the soil. The tool can be used in civil engineering projects and construction. The fire marshal's office disputed that radiative material had spilled onto the highway. The outside case for the meter was damaged, but not the meter. "The company that owns the equipment is en route to assist with the removal," the official said. The northbound lanes have been designated as an evacuation route for Harris County residents in zip zones A and B ahead of Laura. They have been reopened. -Reporter Nicole Hensley 11:28 a.m. The University of Texas McGovern Medical School will shutter its flood gates at 1 p.m. in anticipation of Hurricane Laura. The $20 million flood protection system, which was installed after Tropical Storm Allison flooded the Texas Medical Center in 2001, include 23 doors, an outer barrier with water collection pits and pumps and a wall designed to withstand the pressure of floodwaters, said Amy Laukka, a UT Health spokesperson. -Reporter Gwendolyn Wu 11 a.m. Powerful Hurricane Laura is expected to gain strength before coming ashore near the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday with catastrophic winds and unsurvivable storm surge. Forecasters have very high confidence the hurricane will make landfall near southwest Louisiana, meaning Houston would avoid the brunt of the devastating storm, Brian Kamman, a meteorologist with National Weather Service Houston, said Wednesday morning. Regions directly in Hurricane Lauras path and east of the storm face catastrophic consequences. Hurricane warnings remain in effect from San Luis Pass to Intracoastal City, La. and storm surge warnings are in place for Freeport to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Around 10 a.m., Laura was marching northwest with Category 3 125 mph sustained winds roughly 235 miles southeast of Galveston. Forecasters expect the storm to turn north toward southwest Louisiana before making landfall as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane. -Reporter Anna Bauman 10:47 a.m. The City of Austin is now turning away Hurricane Laura evacuees, reports NPR's Austin affiliate. City spokesperson Bryce Bencivengo said evacuees are now being told to travel to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Ennis, Texas, according to the report. 10:43 a.m. Reporter Brittany Britto has compiled a full list of closures of college campuses in the Houston region due to the hurricane. Britto notes that today is the third day of school for many Houston college students. Campuses had just reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 10:26 a.m. Hundreds of dogs and cats are in need of fostering as Hurricane Laura approaches, reports the Chronicle's Joy Sewing. Hundreds of animals are expected to be displaced by the hurricane in Galveston and Houston. 9:58 a.m. Laura is continuing to rapidly strengthen and is still expected to become a Category 4 Hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest update. The hurricane's maximum sustain wind speed is now 125 miles per hour. It is forecast to reach 145 miles per hour by the time it reaches land. Catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding are still expected along the northwest Gulf Coast Wednesday night. 9:54 a.m. Due to the threat of Hurricane Laura, the Texans are closing their stadium Wednesday afternoon, reports Aaron Wilson. The team will close NRG Stadium at 2:30 p.m. as a precautionary measure. It is currently scheduled to hold a Thursday night scrimmage. 9:51 a.m. The City of Houston will close all parks Thursday due to the possibility of damage from the hurricane. 9:48 a.m. The Houston Health Department has closed all COVID-19 testing sites Wednesday and Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Laura. 9:45 a.m. Houston-area scientists are fearful of what could happen if the hurricane brings with it the worst-case scenario for Houston, reports the Chronicle's Lisa Gray. Models show that if a significant storm made landfall near the southern end of Galveston Island, the effects would be terrifying. The hurricane winds would blow a wall of water out of Galveston Bay, up onto the land. It would be like aiming a blowdryer at a brownie pan full of water, blowing the water out of the pan, said Phil Bedient director of Rice Universitys storm-studying SSPEED Center. In real life, that wall of water would move incredibly fast 10 to 20 feet per second wiping away almost everything in its path. 9:30 a.m. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner still is asking residents to get off the city's streets by 8 p.m. Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Laura. Turner also is sending nonessential city workers home at 2 p.m. "I'm sticking to that," Turner said at City Hall. "Better to be safe than sorry." Forecasters are increasingly confident that Houston will escape the worst of the storm, which is expected to make landfall near the Louisiana border as a catastrophic Category 4 storm. The mayor said the city will resume normal operations Thursday morning if the forecasts are correct and Houston escapes the brunt of the hurricane. -Reporter Dylan McGuinness 9:16 a.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo declared a disaster Wednesday morning ahead of the "immanent threat" of damage due to Hurricane Laura. The declaration activates the county's emergency management plan. 9 a.m. Starting at 4 p.m., METRO will suspend operations of all transit services ahead of Hurricane Laura. http://lnks.gd/2/LNL92Z 8:45 a.m. Preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Laura kicked into high gear Tuesday, reports Jacob Carpenter. 8:30 a.m. As Hurricane Laura hurtles toward the Gulf Coast, residential centers for vulnerable populations prepare for the worst, reports the Chronicle's Sarah Smith. In areas with mandatory evacuation orders, directors of assisted-living facilities must negotiate transporting people as quickly as possible while keeping in mind the need for distance during the novel coronavirus pandemic. In counties with optional evacuations, directors must decide: Is it safer to stay or go? 8:15 a.m. Multiple colleges in the Houston region canceled classes Wednesday and Thursday due to the hurricane warning. Lone Star College has canceled all classes and will close its facilities starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The community college will resume normal operations Monday, Aug. 31. Rice University canceled all classes and events starting 5 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday. Students who are scheduled to take in-person classes Wednesday can do so remotely. All academic buildings, venues and labs will also be closed to all but essential employees. Gated entrances to campus, with the exception of its entrances 8 and 20, will also be closed. COVID-19 testing scheduled for Thursday must also be canceled and rescheduled. Sam Houston State University, which began conducting classes in a hybrid mode, will close its campus at noon Wednesday through Thursday. Campus will open Friday. Houston Community College has closed campus and canceled classes and events through Thursday. University of Houston, UH-Katy and UH-Sugar Land will close their campuses and will shift courses online through Friday. UH-Victorias instructional site in Katy will close and move online through Friday. UH-Downtown has closed campus and canceled all classes and events through Friday. As a result, its also extended the deadline to drop and add a course to Sept. 1. -Reporter Brittany Britto 7:59 a.m. For many Houston-area residents, Hurrican Lauras approach may bring flashbacks of Hurricane Harvey, a dayslong storm in 2017 that inundated the area with rain and led to catastrophic flooding, reports Diane Cowen. But for longtime Bay-area residents, the memories remain vivid of Hurricane Ike, a 2008 storm that unleashed a 22-foot storm surge and 110 mph winds, causing so much damage in Galveston that it left the island nearly uninhabitable. Like Ike, Laura is expected to bring fierce winds and a life-threatening storm surge. 7:26 a.m. Expect devastating wind damage, widespread tree damage and power outages near where Laura makes landfall in Southeast Texas, the National Hurricane Center warns. 6:46 a.m. To keep track of all the latest closures and cancellations around Houston, we've created a searchable database of schools, businesses, organizations and events that have been shut down by the storm. Check back regularly as this database will be frequently updated with the latest information. 6:35 a.m. Wednesday morning's forecast track for Laura projects landfall between the Bolivar Peninsula and Cameron Parish. Laura is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 storm with 130mph winds today and then weaken slightly to 120 mph, a Category 3 hurricane, at landfall. You can track the storm's path with the most recent forecast maps here. 6:31 a.m. With the threat of Laura looming, nervous shoppers around the Houston area stocked up on generators flashlights, canned goods and more, the Chronicle's Amanda Drane reports. To head off surging demand, Home Depot shipped 170 truckloads of hurricane supplies to stores in Texas and Louisiana, said Melanie Payne, the companys regional director of operations. Those shipments included other popular items such as batteries and plywood. "When a storm is approaching, our focus is to get the products in the stores and to stay open as long as its safe," she said. "We definitely have seen an uptick in business in some key areas where the community is working hard to prepare." 6:21 a.m. Hurricane Laura is now expected to intensify into a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall along the northwest Gulf coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday where it could cause catastrophic damage, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday morning. Eric Berger of Space City Weather tweeted Tuesday night that there is growing consensus the center of the storm will strike near or east of the Louisiana Texas border, meaning the Houston area would be spared from the worst of the impact. The National Hurricane Center made no changes to Hurricane Lauras predicted path early Wednesday, and the storm's center is still predicted to make landfall along the Texas-Louisiana border. - Anna Bauman President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Gov. Tony Evers has agreed to accept federal policing assistance in Kenosha as the city braces for a fourth day of racial unrest. Evers issued a statement about a half hour later announcing he is doubling the number of National Guard members in Kenosha for the second day in a row, for a total of 500. Evers said Guard members would only be used "to provide support to local law enforcement and to protect critical infrastructure and cultural institutions necessary for the well-being of the community, and to provide support to first responders such as the Kenosha Fire Department. The Wisconsin National Guard may not be used to impede the ability of people to peacefully protest or impede the ability of the media to report on this situation." The announcement came after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos blamed the killing of two people in Kenosha late Tuesday night by what appeared to be a vigilante gunman on Evers not deploying enough National Guard members to address protests spurred by the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, Illinois, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree homicide by Antioch police on Wednesday. The city is about 15 miles from Kenosha. "That is entirely on Gov. Evers' shoulders because he refused to do what the locals asked for," Vos said Wednesday in an interview on WISN radio. In a statement Wednesday, Evers said "we should not tolerate violence against any person," adding he was "grateful there has already been swift action to arrest one person involved. The individual or individuals whose actions resulted in this tragic loss of life must be held accountable." "A senseless tragedy like this cannot happen again," Evers said. "I again ask those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights please do so peacefully and safely, as so many did last night." Just after noon President Donald Trump tweeted that he had spoken with Evers and that the governor would be accepting federal assistance. "We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets," Trump tweeted. "My team just got off the phone with Governor Evers who agreed to accept federal assistance (Portland should do the same!)... ...TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!" Evers spokeswoman Britt Cudaback said Wednesday afternoon the governor has been working with several state partners to get additional National Guard and state patrol support. She said Evers spoke with Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows and that the federal government is planning to assist in facilitating conversations with other state partners and provide FBI support to our state response. Protests over the death of Blake, who was shot multiple times in the back by police responding to a domestic incident on Sunday, turned violent in downtown Kenosha for the third straight night Tuesday. Evers initially called up 125 Wisconsin National Guard members to assist local law enforcement on Monday, and then doubled that number for Tuesday after more than 30 businesses were damaged or destroyed. But Evers on Tuesday turned down an offer from Meadows to provide additional support from the Department of Homeland Security, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. DHS raised alarm among civil liberty advocates last month for arresting protesters using unmarked vehicles. Kenosha Police said at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday that a shooting in the area of 63rd Street and Sheridan Road resulted in two fatalities and a third gunshot victim who was transported to a hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. No further details were released. A video of the incident shared widely on social media shows a white man with a long gun running through the streets amid protesters and then falling to the ground, at which point he opens fire. The man then gets up and runs toward a line of police vehicles with his hands up as bystanders shout that he was the shooter. Video shows people running in the street and people falling to the ground as shots ring out. In another video, the man is seen running, holding his rifle and talking on his phone he can be heard saying I just killed somebody as he ran. Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said in a letter to Evers Wednesday the two deaths could have been prevented. He said the Kenosha County Board on Tuesday night asked for 1,500 National Guard members to assist Wednesday, and implored Evers to reconsider Trump's offer. "Without massive resources, violence will only escalate," Wanggaard wrote. Wanggaard also criticized Evers for not accepting the offer of federal assistance, calling "disgusting and insulting." "Asking for resources for COVID, but refusing assistance for Kenosha is unconscionable and a slap in the face to every resident of Kenosha," he wrote. "When your house is on fire, you do not refuse your neighbors hose to help douse the flames because you are also hungry. Two people are dead tonight in Kenosha because of Wisconsins inability to control the riots." Republicans have widely condemned Evers for not calling for calm on Sunday night in the immediate aftermath of the Blake shooting. Instead his message focused on justice for Blake. He has since called for protests to remain peaceful. Vos said the episode is "an example of how picking the right leader for the right time really matters." "We have a feckless governor who does almost nothing, even at the request of local elected officials who are by and large Democrats," Vos said. "He ignores them and now people are literally dead because people had to take to themselves to protect their own property." The Democratic Party of Wisconsin issued a statement Wednesday afternoon turning the political blame on Trump. This is Trumps America," state Democratic Party chairman Ben Wikler said. "Last nights violence is the inevitable result of President Trumps racist, disturbing rhetoric that has defined his time in office. Yesterday, an emboldened Kenosha militia issued a call to 'take up arms.' Last night, an out-of-state gunman, Kyle Rittenhouse, did exactly that. Two human beings now lay dead." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Advertisement Protesters in Portland smashed windows at City Hall and pelted officers with projectiles Tuesday night on the 90th consecutive night of demonstrations in the Oregon city that saw 23 arrested. A crowd of around 150 demonstrators assembled downtown at Shemanski Park yesterday evening, marching toward City Hall at 9pm - exactly three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Demonstrators threw bottles and eggs at police, and put metal bars in the street to try to damage police vehicles. Members of the crowd also vandalized the lobby of City Hall, smashing windows and marring the outside of the building with graffiti. The Portland Police Department said officers used 'crowd control munitions' in response to the protest, which was later deemed a riot, but did not specify what kind. Protesters in Portland smashed windows at City Hall and pelted officers with projectiles Tuesday night, the 90th consecutive day of demonstrations Portland police walk past the shattered glass of a bus stop while dispersing a crowd of about 150 people Portland police officers clear the lobby of Portland City Hall after protesters vandalized the buildings lobby In total, 23 adults were arrested and two youths were detained The statement said officers used 'crowd control munitions' in response to the protest, which was later deemed a riot, but did not specify what kind The chaos erupted within 15 minutes of the crowd arriving, police said, where the activists graffitied the building's rotunda, smashed a door switch and shattered three glass doors. A number of the demonstrators forced their way into City Hall, where security features - such as the surveillance camera - were smashed. The protest was quickly deemed an unlawful assembly by police. A line of officers were seen approaching the crowd and attempting to force them away from City Hall. Members of the crowd continued to shatter windows of the building, while one protester ignited an aerosol can while spraying it towards the building, Oregon Live reported. As tensions escalated, police eventually deemed the gathering a riot at 11:20pm, citing 'extreme life safety concerns' of security guards working inside City Hall. Officers moved in to disperse the crowd more forcefully and began arresting more people. Police were struck by an array of projectiles such as eggs and bottles as they moved in on the crowd. Someone reportedly shined a powerful laser into an officer's eyes three times, police said. A bus stop was also reportedly shattered amid the unrest. The shattered front window of Portland City Hall is seen here after protesters vandalized the buildings lobby The chaos erupted within 15 minutes of the crowd arriving, police said, where the activists graffitied the building's rotunda, smashed a door switch and shattered three glass doors As tensions escalated, police eventually deemed the gather a riot, citing 'extreme life safety concerns' of security guards working inside City Hall Officers moved in to disperse the crowd more forcefully and began arresting more people Portland has been gripped by nightly protests for nearly three months since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis The crowd continued to march around the area, with police again converging on City Hall around midnight to remind protesters of the riot declaration and encourage them to move away from the building. Officers arrested several more people. In total, 23 adults were arrested and two youths were temporarily detained. The violence came a day after protesters Monday night repeatedly set fire to a police union headquarters building and were repelled by officers spraying tear gas, officials said. Twenty five people were arrested amid clashes that stretched into Tuesday morning. Portland has been gripped by nightly protests for three months since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Demonstrations, often violent, have targeted police buildings and federal buildings. Some protesters have called for reductions in police budgets while the city's mayor and some in the Black community have decried the violence, saying it is counterproductive. : A Portland police officer collects discarded shields left by protesters after the crowd was successfully dispersed early Tuesday A protester and a Multnomah County Sheriffs deputy talk in between dispersal pushes early in the morning Demonstrations, often violent, have targeted police buildings and federal buildings. Some protesters have called for reductions in police budgets while the city's mayor and some in the Black community have decried the violence, saying it is counterproductive Police were struck by an array of projectiles such as eggs and bottles as they moved in on the crowd On Tuesday, President Donald Trump renewed calls to have Gov. Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler call in the states National Guard. 'They must stop calling these anarchists and agitators "peaceful protesters". Come back into the real world! The Federal Government is ready to end this problem immediately upon your request,' Trump wrote on Twitter. Brown responded on Twitter to Trump's demand, calling it 'political theater.' In July the federal government sent agents to protect federal property in downtown Portland. Crowds grew into the thousands and agents repeatedly clashed with people over a two-week period, deployed tear gas and arrested people they said were hurling objects and trying to hurt agents and damage property. The agents pulled back from a visible presence downtown, but its unclear how many remained in Portland, under an agreement in which the Oregon State Police would be deployed to downtown. The State Police left after the agreed upon two-week monitoring period. Tsikhanouskaya Calls For Belarusian Dialogue As Clampdown, Protests Continue By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 25, 2020 MINSK -- Authorities in Belarus handed down jail sentences against opposition leaders and tightened their clampdown against weeks of unprecedented protests on August 25, but demonstrations continued and the exiled challenger in this month's disputed election vowed that the country's pro-democracy movement "will not be broken." Around 5,000 people gathered on Independence Square in Minsk for an evening rally in the capital to mark the country's 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union -- a former Belarusian holiday that was abolished by five-term President Alyaksandr Lukashenka after he came to power 26 years ago. Many shouted "Freedom for political prisoners!" and "Lukashenka, resign!" while others waved banned red-and-white flags that have long been a symbol of opposition to his regime. After the protest dispersed, police in paddy wagons detained several people off the streets, apparently for showing red-and-white symbols. Presidential challenger Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya told European lawmakers via video link earlier on August 25 that Belarusians will continue their pursuit of democracy. "Belarusians have shown over the past two weeks that they will not give up" despite repression, intimidation by physical force, and threats of imprisonment, Tsikhanouskaya told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. She was speaking from Lithuania, where she fled following the August 9 presidential election amid reports that she and her family were threatened. Later on August 25, Belarus's Supreme Court rejected Tsikhanouskaya's challenge against the official results of the vote, which showed 80 percent support for a sixth term for Lukashenka. The 65-year-old Belarusian leader, who has ruled the country since 1994, has shown his determination to stay in power despite more than two weeks of demonstrations against his officially declared reelection and increasing international condemnation. Two members of Tsikhanouskaya's Coordination Council presidium were sentenced to 10-day jail terms on August 25 after their arrests the previous day for organizing unsanctioned protests. Syarhey Dyleuski, a strike organizer and a member of the council's presidium, was sentenced for organizing an unauthorized protest rally at the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ). Volha Kovalkova, Tsikhanouskaya's main representative in Belarus, was later sentenced on a similar charge. Lukashenka has said the Coordination Council, set up last week with the stated aim of opening negotiations with the government, is an illegal attempt to seize power. Authorities have stepped up detentions and prosecutions of prominent members of the council since a criminal case was launched against it on August 21. Another council member, theater director and former Culture Minister Paval Latushka, was questioned by the Investigative Committee on August 25 but not detained. He vowed to continue his work for the opposition council, which he said was doing nothing illegal. "They are sending [a message of] demotivation," Latushka told reporters. "They don't want us to be active in our line to have dialogue between society and the government and authorities. It's demotivation." A small crowd of opposition supporters gathered outside the Investigative Committee offices. "Many of our rights and freedoms are violated," said Tamara Svetogor, one of those in the crowd. "If we disagree with something in our opinions, criminal cases are opened against us. We have also violence in our country. That's why I believe that the Coordination Council is totally legitimate. The criminal case that was opened has no foundations." Seventy-two-year-old ailing Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich, who was said to be participating in the council's activities remotely, has been summoned for questioning on August 26. Hundreds of people also gathered outside the Education Ministry earlier on August 25 in a picket in support of schoolteachers threatened with dismissal over their criticism of the government. The peaceful protest occurred as lines of military vehicles drove in front of the teachers in an apparent bid to intimidate them. Proclaiming that at least six Belarusian protesters have been killed in the crackdown and that dozens have gone missing in police custody, Tsikhanouskaya in her comments to European lawmakers demanded "respect of our political rights," the freeing of "all political prisoners" in Belarus, and an end to "violence and intimidation" by Belarusian authorities. "Belarus has woken up. We are not the opposition anymore. We are the majority now," Tsikhanouskaya said, declaring that more than 200,000 people took to the streets of Minsk on August 23 for the largest protest there yet. She also reiterated the readiness of her movement to enter into dialogue with authorities in Minsk to resolve the political crisis over the country's disputed August 9 presidential election results. Tsikhanouskaya also called on "all of the countries of the world" to support the quest of the Belarusian people to achieve a "free and fair" election result, while also respecting "Belarusian sovereignty" and "territorial integrity." "The will of the people will not be broken," she said. "I declare our intention to achieve free and fair elections through dialogue." Tsikhanouskaya also rejected claims by the Belarusian authorities that anti-government protesters had been violent. "A peaceful revolution has taken place," she said, stressing that demonstrations across the country were not a "geopolitical revolution." "It is neither a pro-Russian nor an anti-Russian revolution. It is neither an anti-European Union nor a pro-European Union revolution. It is a democratic revolution -- the striving of the people to freely and fairly elect" their own leaders for their own destiny, she said. Lukashenka has ordered the Belarusian military into full combat readiness, raising the prospect that the army may unleash a much-feared bloody crackdown to suppress the unprecedented wave of street protests across the country. He has also expressed confidence that the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization would support him in any confrontation that he has with protest organizers in Belarus. The chief of the Belarusian Armed Forces General Staff, Alyaksandr Volfovich, said on August 25 that the country's military was prepared to ensure the security of "the state, society, and every citizen who wants to live and work peacefully in Belarus." The United States and the European Union have dismissed the Belarusian election as neither free nor fair and urged the country's authorities to engage in dialogue with Tsikhanouskaya's team. An unnamed senior EU official told AFP that the bloc's foreign ministers will look to target "between 15 and 20" individuals with asset freezes and travel bans over the Belarusian crackdown when they meet in Berlin for informal talks on August 26. Neighboring Russia, a historical ally that wields some influence over Minsk through financial and political levers, on August 25 warned the European Union and the United States against imposing sanctions on Belarus or interfering in Belarusian affairs. In Moscow, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Washington condemns "the use of violence against the Belarusian people." The U.S. Embassy in Moscow says Biegun "expressed support for Belarus' sovereignty and the people's right to self-determination" during his talks with Lavrov. With reporting by Current Time, Reuters, AP, TASS, Interfax, dpa, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus- moblizes-reservists-as-police-round-up -opposition/30801298.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three Monaghan brothers and another man have appeared before the Special Criminal Court this yesterday afternoon charged with involvement in the attempted theft of ATMs in Cavan and Monaghan last year. Gerard Duffy (29) and Ciaran Duffy (26) of Greagh, Loughnamore, Co Monaghan; and Stephen Duffy (34) of Coose, Tullynahinera, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, all appeared in the court accused of offences relating to investigations into the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August of last year and into the attempted theft of another ATM in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in April, 2019. The men, including Niall Finnegan (38) of Cherrygrove, Cullyhana, Co Armagh, who also appeared in court, are charged with offences under Section 72 and Section 73 of the Offences Against the State Act, alleging involvement in a criminal organisation. Mr Finnegan and Stephen Duffy are accused of participating or contributing to the movement of cash in a 2007 Toyota Avensis at Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath,on August 20, 2019, intending to facilitate the commission by a criminal organisation or any of its members of a serious offences, with the knowledge of the existence of the organisation under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. The two are also accused of possession of stolen cash for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organisation on the same date and location. Ciaran Duffy is charged with both participating in the movement of and the possession of cash for the facilitation of a criminal organisation on the same date and location and also with an attempt to commit the theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel and Bar, Main Street, Virginia, Co Cavan, on August 14, 2019. Mr Duffy is also charged with an attempt to commit the theft of an ATM and criminal damage at Main Street, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, on April 3, 2019 - the latter three charges being for the benefit of, association with, or at the direction of a criminal organisation. He is charged, along with Gerard Duffy, of participating, or contributing, to the possession of cash intending to facilitate the commission by a criminal organisation or any of its members of a serious offence on August 14, 2019, at a shed in Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath. Gerard Duffy is further charged with attempted ATM theft at the Riverfront Hotel and Bar, Virginia on August 14, 2019; of possession of cash with the intent to facilitate the commission of an offence by a criminal organisation on August 20, 2019, in Moynalty; of the attempted theft of an ATM from Main Street, Castleblayney on April 3, 2019; and of criminal damage at the wall of the AIB in Castleblayney on the same date. Detective Sergeant Kieran Regan, Detective Vincent O'Boyle, Detective Lisa Gaughan and Detective Mark Looby all gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. The three brothers, through solicitor Ms Catherine Taaffe, Mr James McCullough BL and Mr Conor Fegan BL, told the court that bail sureties were available. Solicitor Mr Michael O'Donovan, for the State, said that gardai would need time to verify the provenance of the sureties before dealing with any bail application. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt was told by counsel representing the accused parties that each man would be seeking bail and free legal aid. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned all matters to August 31 to allow time for the inspection of the sureties and said that if legal aid was to be granted, it would be backdated to today's date. Here are some of todays top headlines. Live updates: Jacob Blake shooting sparks protests By Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN Updated 10:17 a.m. ET, August 25, 2020 From CNNs Sara Sidner Jacob Blake is suffering paralysis from the waist down after being shot several times by a Kenosha police officer according to his father. Kim Jong Uns sister may have taken over a key North Korean post Kim Jong Uns sister Kim Yo Jong is effectively running one of the most important political bodies in North Korea, officials in Seoul believe, according to South Koreas defense minister. Black people in America are scared, says LeBron James after Jacob Blake shooting LeBron James said his emotions are all over the place after the shooting of Jacob Blake. Man who recorded Jacob Blakes shooting says hes traumatized and cannot sleep Raysean White lives in the neighborhood where Jacob Blake was shot by police. White saw Blake and his children on Sunday, when he recorded Blake being shot multiple times by police while Blakes three children were in the car. McLaren is betting on hybrids for its supercar future McLaren is staking its future on hybrid supercars. KFC suspends its finger lickin good slogan because of coronavirus Kentucky Fried Chicken has decided to pause using its finger lickin good slogan because well, thats probably not the best idea right now. BTS video Dynamite breaks YouTube record for most views in 24 hours Korean pop stars BTS have made history after the groups new single Dynamite became the best-ever 24-hour debut of a music video on YouTube with more than 100 million views. Covid outbreak hits nudists at Frances Naked City The worlds Paris, France (CNN) largest nudist resort is at the center of a Covid-19 outbreak with nearly 150 people testing positive after staying at or visiting the clothing-optional beach destination in southern France. Africa to be declared free of polio Africa is to be declared free from wild polio by the independent body, the Africa Regional Certification Commission. Polio usually affects children under five, sometimes leading to irreversible paralysis. Death can occur when breathing muscles are affected. Twenty-five years ago thousands of children in Africa were paralysed by the virus. Chinese phones with built-in malware sold in Africa Malware which signed users up to subscription services without their permission has been found on thousands of mobiles sold in Africa. Anti-fraud firm Upstream found the malicious code on 53,000 Tecno handsets, sold in Ethiopia, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana and South Africa. Manufacturer Transsion told Buzzfeed it was installed in the supply chain without its knowledge. Why a Somali-born fighter is being honoured in Rome In our series of letters from African journalists, Ismail Einashe looks at how some Italians are revaluating their colonial past in Africa. Romes city council voted earlier this month to name a future metro station in the Italian capital in honour of Giorgio Marincola, an Italian-Somali who was a member of the Italian resistance. KFC drops Finger Lickin Good tag amid coronavirus Global fast food giant KFC says it is halting its Finger Lickin Good slogan given the current hygiene advice because of the coronavirus pandemic. We find ourselves in a unique situation having an iconic slogan that doesnt quite fit in the current environment, the company said. Carmakers urge regulators to fight Qualcomm ruling A group of carmakers and tech firms is urging US regulators to take further action against chipmaker Qualcomm over its sales practices. Tesla, Ford, Honda, Daimler, Intel and MediaTek have asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to fight a recent court ruling in favour of Qualcomm. Netflixs Enola Holmes trailer introduces Sherlocks spunky sister All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Millie Bobby Browns Enola Holmes is not your typical Victorian lady in the first trailer for the YA-oriented Sherlock Holmes spinoff film based on Nancy Springers popular book series. Apples floating store in Singapore is something else Apples new retail store in Singapore is very different from every other Apple store in the world. Its an orb that floats on water in front of the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel, adding flavor to Singapores impressive skyline (well, waterline). What is QAnon? Trevor Noah breaks it down in this wild explainer. If youre not across QAnon, but keep hearing it pop up more and more in news stories and conversations online, Trevor Noah is here to help enlighten you. The Daily Show host unpacked the swampiest fringe internet origins and wildly unfounded beliefs of the extremely strange far-right, pro-Trump conspiracy theory in his explainer segment, If You Dont Know, Now You Know. Online snow day? Zoom goes down as school year starts. UPDATE: Aug. 24, 2020, 12:39 p.m. EDT: The issue is now fixed, according to Zoom. Users can once again start and join Zoom Meetings and Webinars. Zoom has become essential for schools and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. So its a pretty big deal when the video conferencing service goes down like it did Monday morning. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 09:21:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Paraguay international forward Lorenzo Melgarejo has joined Racing Club after almost a decade in Europe, the Argentinian side said on Tuesday. The 30-year-old arrives on a free transfer after his contract with Spartak Moscow expired in June. In a statement on their official website, Racing said Melgarejo agreed to a deal that runs until the end of 2022. "His arrival in Argentina is scheduled for the next few days but, when that happens, he must comply with health protocols," the statement said, alluding to an obligatory 14-day quarantine period for travellers arriving from abroad. Capped twice for Paraguay's national team, Melgarejo had spells with Portuguese top flight clubs Benfica and Pacos Ferreira before moving to Russia in 2013. After almost three years with Kuban Krasnodar, he joined their domestic rivals Spartak Moscow in 2016, scoring 11 goals in 65 appearances for the latter. Enditem OTTAWA Erin OToole pitched himself as someone who can win in Ontario and the GTA, but voter data from his partys leadership contest suggests the new Conservative leader has some work to do in the electorally crucial region. Peter MacKay dominated in the 905 in the first round of balloting, winning 26 of 30 suburban and exurban ridings. MacKay was also strong in downtown Toronto progressive enclaves, which the party has little chance of winning in a general election but which had an equal say in determining who would become the next Conservative leader. Across Ontario, MacKay had more support than OToole in 79 of 121 ridings, including 62 ridings that are held by Liberal MPs. OToole found his first-ballot support in Conservative strongholds and, crucially, in Quebec where party membership rolls are shorter, and just a handful of votes can make the difference for a leadership candidate. It was an ultimately successful strategy for the OToole campaign, with the Durham MP convincingly defeating MacKay on the third ballot. But a closer look at OTooles support gives some clues where he will need to shore up support before the next federal election. First, a caveat: A Conservative leadership race is not the same as a general election. The strategy that OTooles team employed in the leadership race will not be the same one it uses if the Liberal minority government falls and Canadians go back to the polls. OToole cant count on the Conservatives dominating Quebec, for instance, in the same way he did in the leadership race because the Conservatives will be making their pitch to the general electorate, not just to members of their party. But in close ridings, particularly in the GTA, strong organization and committed grassroots members behind the leader can make a big difference. For example, MacKay won first-ballot support in King-Vaughan, where the Conservatives very narrowly lost to Liberal Deb Schulte in both 2015 and 2019. Richmond Hill, where the Conservative candidate lost by only a few hundred votes in 2019, also supported MacKay. Listen to The Star's Alex Boutilier discuss Erin O'Toole's win To form the next government, the Conservatives will need to win in ridings they dont currently hold and the data suggests MacKay was much stronger among Conservative voters in those ridings. I think the Conservative Party obviously needs to address winning in Ontario. Thats a weakness of the party, period, said Conservative commentator Jamie Ellerton in an interview Wednesday. To split hairs over leadership performance misses the plot of just how much work the party has to do in the (GTA) and urban areas across the country more broadly. The Stars analysis of first-ballot support in the leadership race shows found MacKay had the support of the majority of party members in 160 ridings to OTooles 128. But 117 of the ridings that MacKay won are currently represented by Liberals in the House of Commons, mostly in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Only 34 ridings that supported MacKay on the first ballot are now represented by Conservative MPs. OToole was much more balanced in his first-ballot support finishing first in 47 Conservative ridings, 34 Liberal ridings and 30 ridings held by the Bloc Quebecois. As those numbers suggest, OToole finished strongly in Alberta and Quebec on the first ballot. Leslyn Lewis, a Toronto lawyer who mounted a serious outsider bid in the leadership contest, won first-ballot support almost entirely in Conservative-held ridings, finishing first in Saskatchewan. Derek Sloan, a socially conservative MP, finished first in just four ridings. Jenni Byrne, a former senior operative within Stephen Harpers governments and an expert in political ground games, said the data tells her that neither OToole nor MacKay made getting out the vote in Ontario enough of a priority. It appears from looking at the results that neither of the front-runner campaigns had a focus on (getting out the vote) in the province of Ontario, and if they did, it wasnt as successful, Byrne said in an interview Wednesday. You had both front-runner campaigns that came in third and forth in a significant number of ridings. But Byrne said she doesnt believe the leadership results are indicative of a larger problem for OToole in a general election, where the Conservatives will be focused on identifying target ridings in the GTA. I dont think its going to have any effect in terms of the campaign going forward, Byrne said. Conservatives need to win (in the 905) and get those votes out. Read more about: SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SecuLetter, a member company of the Born2Global Centre, recently has signed a partnership agreement with South African IT security company Afriko on the supply of SecuLetter's products. Seculetter has been an active member of the Born2Global Centre since 2017. Afriko is a midsize IT company headquartered in South Africa. It provides IT solution consulting and security products to customers such as national government agencies, finance, healthcare and enterprises in Africa. Afriko is also carrying out large IT projects such as Smart city platform and Data integration which is related to Big data and IoT. Through this partnership, Afriko will supply SecuLetter's email security solution 'SecuLetter Email Security' to the African market. Afriko CEO Kenny Mziza said, "Last year, City Power, a power supply organization in Johannesburg, the capital city, was heavily damaged by ransomware attacks. As a result, power outages occurred in most areas of the city, and administrative processing such as access to the City Power website as well as various electricity-related taxes was paralyzed. It was found that the ransomware attack occurred through email attachments including malicious code. We were looking for a solution to defend against these attacks and we made sure that the SecuLetter product fit perfectly into the market requirements, so we chose." In addition, Kenny said, "In South Africa, there is a growing awareness of unknown malware attacks such as ransomware, spear phishing and malicious macros. We expect that SecuLetter solution that accurately detects, analyzes and blocks those attacks through reverse engineering will effectively defend it." SecuLetter is a security company that develops and supplies products which detect, diagnose, analyze and block Malicious code attacks and Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) coming through digital document files (e.g. MS Office, HWP, PDF, etc.) in various network environments such as e-mail section, Air-gap and Network-bridge, Document centralization and Web bulletin board. SecuLetter products are characterized by accurate diagnostic rates and diagnostic performance. SecuLetter CEO Lim, Chasung said, "This partnership agreement is an example of how SecuLetter's technology works in the global market. Recently, our products have been well received by partners in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia, and we plan to sign partnerships with them this year." SecuLetter is preparing to enter the Middle East and US markets as well. Through KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency), they were introduced to a cyber security company in the US, and through collaboration with them, they are pursuing globalization of their products and entering the global market. SecuLetter's products, 'SecuLetter Email Security' and 'SecuLetter File Security', are being actively used by major national institutions, financial institutions, and companies, including KEPCO E&C, Korea Post Information Center, KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency), BNK Busan Bank, KAMCO (Korea Asset Management Corporation), KSD (Korea Securities Depository), and KTCU (Korean Teachers' Credit Union). For more detailed information on SecuLetter, visit https://www.seculetter.com/content/en/. Media Contact SecuLetter: [email protected] Born2Global Centre: [email protected] Photo: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1spfHfnGf66iNcl-PF1BSUa5BrRVTyDP1 SOURCE Born2Global Centre Related Links http://www.born2global.com/ Libya's UN-backed government has announced an immediate "total curfew" in an effort to stop the coronavirus spreading. It will last for four days, and there will then be a partial curfew. The measures will only apply in areas of western Libya that are under the government's control. The rest of the country is in the hands of other forces. Analysts say there will be some suspicion that the lockdown is at least in part intended to stifle a wave of anti-government protests. Demonstrators angry at corruption and dire living conditions have been taking to the streets of the capital, Tripoli, in recent days. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have inaugurated new projects in Baku's Khazar district, Azertag reported on August 26. They attended the inauguration of the seven-storied dormitory in Buzovna settlement in Khazar district. President and First Lady familiarized themselves with the conditions of the dormitory. The dormitory consists of 99 apartments, and each of them are either one-, two- or three- rooms apartments. The new dormitory building was built on the site of five-storeyed dormitory of Bakgazmash plant of Azerigaz CJSC. Additionally, all apartments in the building have been repaired and provided with necessary equipment upon Heydar Aliyev Foundations initiative. Afterwards, the President and the First Lady inaugurated a new general education school No.216, opened in Gala settlement. President and First Lady familiarized themselves with the conditions created in school. The school is designed for 624 pupils, and has 24 classrooms, chemical, biological and physical laboratories, labor, military training and computer science rooms, sports and assembly halls, as well as library and a canteen. In addition, the school has a video surveillance system and internet connection. Extensive improvement works have been carried out in the yard of the school. Afterwards, the President and the First Lady also attended the opening ceremony of Sattar Bahlulzade Culture House in Surakhani settlement in the same district. The Head of State and the First Lady were informed that the building constructed in 1926 had been essentially repaired on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The four-storied building with total area of 8,662 square meters will operate a dance ensemble and a vocal and instrumental group. Moreover, a concert and auditorium with 612 seats and a universal stage, a hall for rehearsals of the dance ensemble and orchestra, a room for rehearsals and a make-up room for soloists, a multimedia center, a recording studio, an exhibition hall, rooms for workshops, technical and auxiliary rooms have been created here. On the territory adjacent to the House of Culture with an area of 2 hectares, landscaping work was carried out, and outdoor recreation areas were created. Grossi: IAEA won't let third parties influence Iran ties Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 10:25 AM Visiting Tehran, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Orgzniation Rafael Grossi says the UN nuclear watchdog will not allow any third party to influence its relations with Iran. Speaking on Tuesday at a joint presser in Tehran with Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi, Grossi assured that the watchdog was not pursuing a politically-motivated approach in dealing with the Islamic Republic. "There are issues that need to be addressed, but this does not mean a political approach towards Iran," the IAEA chief said. "The IAEA will not let third countries impact its relations with any other country. All reports of the Agency are issued systematically and with special care," he added. "I guarantee that there is no [political] influence on the Agency, but there is pressure," said Grossi, giving assurance that the organization will not give in to such pressure tactics. Grossi also expressed delight at being able to visit Iran as the UN nuclear agency's chief as opposed to a previous visit in his capacity as assistant director-general. He noted that Iran and the IAEA had an "extensive agenda" at hand, saying bilateral talks mainly revolve around the peaceful application of the nuclear energy. "We are moving forward and are hopeful of the future. There are definitely some issues at hand that will be resolved in due fashion," he added. The IAEA director-general, meanwhile, brushed off speculations regarding a change in the agency's policy on Iran under his watch. "There are some, who might want to use the agency for their own purposes. However, those who work at the agency act neutrally. I will not allow some to use the agency towards their own objectives during my tenure," he said. The IAEA chief arrived in the capital at the head of a delegation on Monday for talks with senior Iranian officials. He is to rejoin negotiations with Salehi later in the day, and is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani as well. Salehi hails 'new chapter' in Iran-IAEA ties In turn, Salehi described his talks with Grossi so far as "very constructive," adding, "A new chapter has opened [in the relations] between Iran and the IAEA." "With this trip, our joint cooperation will expand further," the Iranian official said. He hoped that the trip will bring along "gratifying results for both sides" in a way that IAEA will respect its statute as it deals with Iran, while Tehran keeps reciprocally honoring the Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol. The Safeguards Agreement between Iran and the IAEA ensures non-diversion of nuclear material declared by the Islamic Republic. The Additional Protocol has also been allowing the agency's inspectors to carry out more intrusive and unannounced inspections of the country's nuclear program. During his talks with Grossi, it was agreed for the UN body to act independently and professionally concerning the Islamic Republic, which would likewise stay true to its obligations, Salehi said. He noted that such an attitude on the part of each side would guarantee that each one's performance would fit well within the standing regulations. 'Iran doesn't bow down to illegal demands' Salehi, meanwhile, pointed to the pressure that has been built up against Iran at the agency over the past years. The IAEA closed a so-called possible military dimensions (PMD) case concerning Iran's nuclear program in December 2015, in a move that showed the Islamic Republic had never diverted its nuclear work. The case, which had been chiefly pushed by the United States and Israel, was closed after conclusion of a historic nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world countries earlier that year. The US, however, left the deal in 2018, mainly under Israeli pressure. Ever since, it has been pressuring the agency together with Tel Aviv and others into finding an excuse for opening the case again. In June, the IAEA's Board of Governors passed a resolution put forward by Britain, France and Germany to push for intrusive inspections of two Iranian nuclear sites that the trio claims may have been used for undeclared nuclear activities in the early 2000s. It was the Israeli regime's spy service that first came up with the allegations of such activity at the two sites. Iran has, however, strictly rejected both the allegations and access to the sites, while reminding the agency that it should not be swayed by any third party for that matter. "Over the past years that a fabricated case has been built against Iran at the IAEA, the Islamic Republic has not succumbed to demands that exceed legal frameworks, and will not do so in the future either," Salehi likewise said. "We act in line with our sovereignty and national interests. Our negotiations and performance now will stay within the framework of regulations and obligations, too," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Favorite recipes are like old friends. You trust them and theyre always there for you. Seasonal favorites are extra-special because the windows for enjoying them open quickly and close much too soon. Not that many years ago, while I was working on my cookbook, Souffles (Gibbs Smith, 2014), I came up with this corn souffle that really woke up my taste buds. I had taken my basic cheese souffle recipe and added some briefly cooked fresh corn, red bell pepper, a little jalapeno, and garlic to the sauce base, and wham! the birth of an instant favorite. Because local corn is here right now, you should try your hand at this recipe. If youve not made a souffle before, please dont worry. All youre doing is whipping up egg whites in a grease-free metal bowl until theyre light and fluffy and thick enough to hold their shape without falling out of the beating bowl when you turn the bowl upside down yes, thats the surest way of knowing youve beaten the whites properly. At that point theyre ready to become friends with the warm sauce base. Be sure to beat the whites until they reach this stage and no further. Souffles rise so magnificently because of the air in the egg whites. The yolks go into the base to make it silky smooth and creamy. You fold incorporate the beaten whites into the sauce in stages with a large silicone spatula to get as much air as possible into the souffle. Once youve folded in the corn and peppers, into the baking pan goes the batter, and then into the preheated oven. While in the oven no peeking, please the souffle expands and rises to about double its height, and in 30 minutes your beautifully risen and browned creation will be ready to serve. Use that time while the souffle bakes to clean up. Youll have a skillet and a saucepan or two, and a few small bowls and other utensils that need washing. Once thats all done, put a salad together, and youll be all set to dine. A little Sauvignon Blanc would be perfect with this souffle. Bon appetit! Fresh Corn Souffle (Adapted from Souffles by Greg Patent, Gibbs Smith publishers, 2014) Serves 6 This is one of the best souffles I know. It has a sublime flavor and the texture of the creamy souffle makes a wonderful contrast with the partially cooked corn kernels, red bell and jalapeno peppers, and the crunchy cheesy sides and bottom. Serve with a green salad or a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers. 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish 6 ounces Gruyere or Comte cheese, finely grated 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 cups fresh corn kernels cut off the cob (3 to 4 ears) 3/4 cup diced (1/4-inch) red bell pepper 1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeno chile Salt and freshly ground black pepper 5 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole milk 3/4 cup half and half 6 large eggs, separated 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar or 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1. Butter a 2-quart round or oval baking dish (such as a 10-x-2-inch round) and coat with 2 ounces of the Gruyere or Comte. The cheese will not cover the inside of the baking dish completely. There will be gaps. For beating the egg whites, you can use a stand mixer, an electric hand mixer, or a manual rotary egg-beater. Wash the metal bowl and beater in hot soapy water; rinse well and dry. Bowl and beater must be grease-free. 2. Adjust an oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 3. Put 4 tablespoons of the butter into a large skillet (12-inch) over medium heat. When hot, add the garlic and cook about 15 seconds, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the corn, red bell pepper and jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers and corn are partly tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. 4. Combine the milk and half and half in a medium heavy saucepan (3-quart) and bring to the boil over medium heat. Watch carefully so the liquid doesnt overflow the pan. Keep liquid hot on low heat. (Or, just heat the milk and half and half in a 2-cup heatproof measure such as Pyrex with pouring spout for 2 minutes in a microwave oven). 5. In another medium saucepan (3-quart), melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 2 minutes. Take the pan off the heat, wait a few seconds for the bubbling to subside, and pour in the hot liquid all at once. Whisk vigorously to make a smooth bechamel sauce. Return the pan to medium heat and bring to the boil, whisking constantly. Cook at the boil for 2 minutes until very thick. Off heat, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Whisk the egg yolks in one or two at a time. 6. Transfer the souffle base to a large bowl. Stir it occasionally with a heatproof flexible spatula until tepid. The base must not be hot when you fold in the beaten egg whites and cheese. 7. For the egg whites. Start beating on medium speed, and beat until the whites are frothy, about 1 minute. Add the cream of tartar or lemon juice the acid stabilizes the whites and continue beating until the whites form moist-looking peaks that stand up straight or curl just a tiny bit at their tips. Slowly tilt the bowl to make sure the whites are staying put. If they slide around, beat a few seconds longer. As soon as you can turn the bowl upside-down with the whites staying put, theyre beaten just right. Do not overbeat or the whites will be too stiff. 8. Whisk about 1/4 of the whites into the tepid souffle base just to lighten it. Gently fold in the remaining whites in two additions, followed by the cooled corn and peppers and the remaining 4 ounces of Gruyere or Comte. Be gentle to maintain as much air in the whites as possible. 9. Scrape the souffle batter into the prepared dish it will be almost full and place it in the oven. Bake 30 minutes, until the souffle has puffed up to double its volume and is well-browned on the top and sides. A wooden skewer plunged into the center of the souffle should come out clean. 10. Serve as soon as you can. But do not worry. The souffle will not collapse. It will just settle a bit. Refrigerate leftovers. To reheat, cut the cold souffle into slices and reheat each serving on a plate for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes in a microwave oven. Delicious! Greg Patent is a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author for Baking in America, a food journalist, blogger, and radio co-host for The Food Guys on Montana Public Radio. Please visit his blog, www.thebakingwizard.com, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mike Pompeo was angry. The US secretary of state stood in the UN headquarters in New York on August 20 and proclaimed a new axis of evil between former American allies the UK, France and Germany and the Islamic Republic of Iran. They chose to side with ayatollahs. Their actions endanger the people of Iraq, of Yemen, of Lebanon, of Syria and indeed, their own citizens as well. Pompeos outburst was prompted by a very bad week for the US in the UN security council. On August 14, only the Dominican Republic supported the Trump Administrations resolution for an extension of the UN arms embargo on Iran, which is due to expire in October. Russia and China voted no. The other 11 members, including the Europeans singled out by Pompeo, abstained. Then the following week, 13 of the 15 members of the security council objected to the US attempt to invoke snapback sanctions on Tehran. The snapback provision was built into Resolution 2231, which underpinned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal. If any of the parties believes another had violated the terms, then a dispute resolution mechanism can be activated. If there is still no resolution, then UN sanctions on Iran dating from 2010 can be reimposed. Pompeo claimed that Iran was in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal it had agreed with the 5+1 Powers (US, UK, France, Germany, China and Russia). But everyone else except for the representative of the Dominican Republic, who said nothing countered that because the Trump administration withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 it had no standing to demand UN sanctions. On August 25, Indonesia, which currently holds the presidency of the UN security council, said no further action would be taken to impose snapback sanctions, drawing further ire from the US. Hoisted by their hard line When the US withdrew in May 2018 and then imposed unilateral, comprehensive sanctions in November that year, Iran was in compliance with the deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported at quarterly intervals that Tehran remained within the agreed limits for production of low-grade uranium. Story continues The Rouhani government, citing the US sanctions and failure to establish a European economic link to bypass them, suspended adherence to some provisions from June 2019. In June, the IAEA confirmed that the Iranians are increasing uranium enrichment to 4.5%, breaking the 3.67% limit set in the 2015 deal. However, Tehran has not returned to its pre-2015 production of 20% uranium. The Trump administration has no wish to return to what Donald Trump called the worst deal ever negotiated in American history. Instead, its strategy of maximum pressure on Tehran sought to condemn Irans regional operations in the Persian Gulf and in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon. Then, in early January 2020, a US drone strike assassinated Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force responsible for Iranian military operations outside the country. Read more: What next for Iran's proxy network after killing of Qassem Soleimani Russia, China, the European powers, and almost all other security council members have reached a different conclusion on Iran. They concurred that the deal has to be maintained to prevent further confrontation throughout the Middle East and central Asia. In June, the UK, German and French foreign ministers were blunt in their message to the Trump administration: snapback sanctions would have serious adverse consequences in the security council and they could not support it. Why go it alone? But this leaves the immediate question: why, given the inevitability of defeat on both the arms embargo and the snapback sanctions, did the Trump administration push so hard and so vociferously and continue to do so? A miscalculation of arrogance by Pompeo cant be ruled out. And, of course, there is Trumps relative ignorance of US-Iranian relations and the region even as his camp were shaking a fist of fury, he was talking about the possibility of a high-profile meeting with an Iranian leader. But career staff in Washington will know that these are fantasies. There is no chance of Trump shaking hands with Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, or of the security council agreeing to impose snapback sanctions. Trumps circle, having shredded the diplomatic work of the Obama administration, want to box in a future Biden presidency. Their rhetoric about Iranian duplicity, menace and support of terrorism seeks to raise the domestic political bar for any resumption of talks, let alone a revised nuclear agreement. After November Although its not being said openly, almost everyone except Trumps inner circle is awaiting his departure in January 2021 and the arrival of a Biden administration. That will not bring a simple return to the status quo before the 2015 deal. A Democratic administration, both because of domestic pressure and concerns over Iranian military plans, will want some revision of terms; so will the Europeans, including over Tehrans missile programs. Tehran will seek assurances against another unilateral US withdrawal from a deal and for the removal of comprehensive sanctions. But a return to acceptance of mutual interest in a deal, and of discussions of regional matters, will shift the priority to negotiations rather than confrontation. Still, a second Trump term cannot be ruled out. If Trump is reelected in November, then his administration is likely to pile on more pressure with additional unilateral sanctions, attacks on Iranian infrastructure, and threats to knock out more of Tehrans commanders. The message will be clear: concede or we will break you. Tehran is likely to reply: try it. Even as the Trump administration pursues its quest in isolation, that will turn the regional kaleidoscope into more collision and fragmentation, and force Iranians to endure more sacrifice for their leaders resistance to the US. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Scott Lucas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Police have charged the man they believe shot and killed two people Tuesday morning in New Braunfels. San Antonio police arrested 32-year-old Sacramento Martinez of Austin in connection with the death of 33-year-old Marisol Martinez and 45-year-old Daniel Sieger of Mission in the Rio Grande Valley. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox According to a news release from the New Braunfels police department, officials believe Martinez first shot and killed Marisol around 2:15 a.m. near the 3900 block of Interstate 35 in New Braunfels, but did not say why. The investigation revealed that Marisol had a protective order against Sacramento from a domestic violence incident that occurred in March 2019, police said. Sacramento allegedly left Marisol's body inside a black Ford Expedition on the side of the highway before fleeing on foot toward a TA truck stop a few blocks away. Police said he then shot and killed Sieger and took the victim's 18-wheeler with his body still inside. Martinez then drove the 18-wheeler to San Antonio, where a motorist saw the truck driving erratically around 3::15 a.m. and called 911. Martinez crashed the 18-wheeler, rolling it, near Austin Street, located just east of Interstate 35 north of the downtown area. Martinez fled the scene on foot. READ ALSO: Police ID man arrested after two people found dead in separate vehicles near I-35 When officers arrived, they found Sieger dead inside the cab of the vehicle. San Antonio police later located and arrested Martinez on a separate warrant. On Wednesday, he was formally charged with capital murder, New Braunfels police said. Martinez is in the Bexar County Jail but is awaiting a transfer to the Comal County Jail. He is being held without bond, police said. Additional charges may still be pending. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Daisy Edgar-Jones has said that becoming an overnight star during the lockdown thanks to Normal People was a "wild" experience. The actress - whose mother Wendy hails from Northern Ireland - told Grazia that the experience felt like a "surreal other world that all happened in a corner of my bedroom". She added: "I wonder how I'll remember it. I'm still slightly in it, only just starting to come out." Read More Social media was her "whole experience of people watching it", the 22-year-old said. Edgar-Jones plays Marianne in the BBC series. Normal People focuses on the on-again off-again relationship between Irish teenagers Marianne and Connell, beginning in their school days through to their time at university. Edgar-Jones also discussed seeing her Normal People co-star Paul Mescal at the Bafta TV Awards, saying it was the first time they had "done an event together, because everything else we've done has been over a laptop camera". Expand Close (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Dominic Lipinski/PA) "It was so lovely to see Paul from two metres away," she added. "We had a quick drink afterwards, but we are still desperate to properly celebrate with the whole crew," she said. The actress said she was "initially disappointed" not to be nominated herself, but added that she is "only 22, I've still got to earn my stripes". She also said that her career picked up when she changed her hairstyle, adding: "I feel like I owe everything to my fringe. "I kept not getting roles and has having a crisis of, 'Should I have gone to uni? Should I have gone to drama school? I'm never going to work again'. "So I got a fringe. Then the week after, I auditioned for War Of The Worlds and I got it, and Normal People was my next audition. "My fringe is everything." Read the full interview in Grazia, which is on sale now. Ants IPO Is Set to Make Group of Elite Insiders Very Rich (Bloomberg) -- Its the hottest fintech in the world and its poised to go public in the coming months, unlocking vast riches for early investors and employees. Ant Group, the online payment provider backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. filed the prospectus for its initial public offering Tuesday, unveiling some of the people who stand to win big from the listing. The obvious one is Jack Ma, whose stake in Ant will be worth $25 billion if it achieves the $225 billion valuation people familiar with the matter have said its targeting. That could catapult him to among the worlds 10 richest people. Ant Chairman Eric Jings fortune will swell to $2.9 billion, and another 17 current and former Alibaba and Ant executives will join the ranks of billionaires, based on the ownership structure described in the prospectus. An Ant representative declined to comment on the calculations. Most of the billionaires, whose combined stake is valued at $57.9 billion, are part of the Alibaba Partnership, an elite 36-person group set up a decade ago to encourage collaboration within the e-commerce giant, override bureaucracy and, crucially, determine the annual cash bonuses for all members of management. It now comprises Alibaba and Ant management members, including Ma, Alibaba Chairman Daniel Zhang and Lucy Peng Lei, a director at Ant. The 19 winners own their stake through entities known as Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership and Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership, two limited partnerships registered in Hangzhou that together hold about half of Ant. Alibaba itself is the largest holder of the financial-services firm, with a 33% stake. The remaining portion belongs to 29 other shareholders, including those that have invested in Ant over the years. Ma is the ultimate controller of the group, according to the prospectus. With a 30% holding in Ant, Junhans stake is valued at $67.2 billion, while Junaos 21% ownership is worth $46.5 billion. Ma, Jing, Ant Chief Executive Officer Simon Hu and non-executive director Jiang Fang own shares in the two entities through a general partnership vehicle called Hangzhou Yunbo Investment Consultancy Co. Story continues The limited partnership structure allows the general partner -- in this case, Yunbo, which Ma controls -- to exercise the entire voting power, regardless of the number of limited partners, according to Stephen Chan, a partner at Dechert LLP, an international law firm in Hong Kong that specializes in corporate finance. Ma, however, has pledged to donate the economic interests of 611 million underlying Ant shares to charitable organizations and will lower his ownership to no more than 8.8%, as per the IPO prospectus and previous Alibaba filings. Many tech startups lure employees with stock incentives that become lucrative when the company successfully completes an IPO. The Ant prospectus showed Junhan has granted share-based awards tied to Ants valuation to employees since March 2014, including to some new recruits and to reward performance of top performers. Attract Talent Share-based incentives are fairly common for tech companies, Decherts Chan said. Equity could be used instead of cash to incentivize and attract the necessary talent. Back in 2015, at least 12 Junao shareholders became billionaires, including former Alibaba Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Lu and former Chief Risk Officer Shao Xiaofeng, now the companys secretary general. The entitys ownership structure has since changed amid various Ant funding rounds. While some questions remain around Ants ownership, one things for sure: More Alibaba and Ant employees will become what could be characterized as financially free. Heres the list of the 19 billionaires uncovered in the IPO prospectus, based on the $225 billion targeted valuation and the current ownership structure: (Updates to add details about Alibaba Partnership in sixth paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A man holds a sign with photographs of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained in China since December, 2018, as people gather for a rally in support of Hong Kong democracy, in Vancouver on Aug. 16, 2020. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) Prospects Dim for Imprisoned Canadians After Ministerial Meeting Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor denied consular visits in move Canadian foreign ministry calls violation of Vienna Convention Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne met with Chinas State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Rome on Tuesday, raising hopes for the release of two imprisoned Canadians that were quickly dashed by a statement from Beijing. Champagne reiterated that the immediate release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor remains a top priority for the Government of Canada. Beijing has prevented Canadian officials from seeing the two men. China is in violation of the Vienna Convention of Consular Relations by not granting both men consular access, the Canadian foreign ministry said in a news release, after Champagne and Yi met in a hotel for 90 minutes. Hopes that the meeting would contribute to the release of the two Michaels seemed dim after the regime blamed Canada for problems in Canada-China relations the next day. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Canada was to blame for tensions in bilateral relations, saying Canada was well aware of the crux of the problem, during a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Kovrig and Spavor were arrested in December 2018 in a move widely read as retaliation for Canadian police detaining Meng Wanzhou, the Chief Financial Officer for Huawei, on a U.S. extradition order. Both Michaels were charged with spying on June 19. Spavor was charged in Dandong city on suspicion of spying for a foreign entity and for providing state secrets. Kovig was charged in Beijing with spying for state secrets and intelligence. Huawei is seen by many analysts as a key tool in the Chinese regimes foreign intelligence effort. The company provides infrastructure for cellular networks at reduced prices thanks to the support of the Chinese regime. Meanwhile, Canada continues to call on the regime to grant clemency to all Canadians facing the death penalty in China. With files from the Canadian Press The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to reduce global macroeconomic resilience by about 20% in 2020 from 2019 levels as stimulus packages deplete countries fiscal and monetary buffers around the world. At the same time, the combined global protection gap for key perils is reaching a new high. According to the latest annual Swiss Re Institute resilience indices, the UK, Japan and the U.S. will experience the greatest falls in resilience among major economies. Switzerland, Finland and Canada remain the worlds three most resilient countries, reflecting their comprehensive economic strength against future crises. Global economic resilience held up in 2019 compared with 2018, but the world entered the COVID-19 crisis with less shock-absorbing capacity than before the global financial crisis of 2008-09, the last major economic downturn. The Swiss Re Institute Macroeconomic Resilience Index (E-RI) for the world stood at 0.62 in 2019, against 0.61 in 2018. Key findings: COVID-19 is expected to weaken world economic resilience by nearly 20% in 2020 as countries fiscal and monetary headroom is depleted Chinas economic resilience score is relatively unchanged, primarily because a swift response enabled it to reopen its economy earlier than many others Switzerland, Finland and Canada remain the worlds three most resilient economies, reflecting their comprehensive economic strength against future crises Among major economies, resilience in the UK, Japan and the U.S. may be hardest hit, but they should still rank higher than many European countries The combined insurance protection gap for mortality, health and natural disaster risks is calculated as reaching a new high of USD 1.24 trillion Swiss Re expects COVID-19 to put health resilience in the spotlight in 2020 Government responses to COVID-19 are expected to significantly lower global economic resilience this year. The world index value drops to 0.5 in the initial estimate for 2020, which aims to capture the impact of the fiscal and monetary stimulus in response to COVID-19 on economic resilience. While such stimulus packages have cushioned the blow to the global economy, they have run down many countries fiscal and monetary reserves, causing their resilience scores to fall, including drops of more than half in some economies, the E-RI found. The research finds that monetary policy buffers will be largely exhausted in most advanced economies, leaving fiscal headroom as the major determinant of resilience. Of the countries in the top half of the 2019 resilience rankings, the UK, Japan and the U.S. are expected to see their fiscal buffers depleted most and their index scores decline furthest. Chinas resilience will likely remain relatively unchanged, primarily because a swift response enabled it to reopen its economy earlier than many others. In contrast, Switzerland, Finland and Canada are anticipated to remain the worlds three most resilient economies. The fiscal and monetary stimulus response to COVID-19 was key to cushioning the economic impact of government-ordered lockdowns, Jerome Jean Haegeli, group chief economist at Swiss Re, said. However, the reality of wartime-like spending is that it leaves much less room for future policy manoeuvre. He said the key economic policy risk is that these temporary government measures become permanent, leaving economies dependent on ongoing stimulus. A focus on replenishing resilience by reinstating fiscal and monetary buffers, through structural reforms to improve long-term growth prospects, will be critical, he added. Insurance Resilience Insurance resilience against three major risks mortality, health spending and natural catastrophes weakened in 2019, the indices show. The combined global protection gap for the three perils is calculated as reaching a new high of USD 1.24 trillion. Globally, mortality resilience declined the most, driven by a widening of the mortality protection gap in the Asia-Pacific region, where Chinas protection gap expanded due to rapidly growing household debt. Health resilience was stable despite some deterioration in emerging markets. The global health protection gap widened by more than 5% to USD 588 billion. Natural catastrophe resilience was lowest of the three risk areas. Swiss Re Institute expects that health and mortality protection gaps will widen as households grapple with lower incomes, higher healthcare costs and the financial consequences of losing a breadwinner as a result of the pandemic. The widening global protection gap is a huge opportunity for insurers to fulfill their mandate as risk absorbers and improve societal resilience, Haegeli said. In times of crisis, households need risk protection. Insurance is a key tool to help households reduce their financial vulnerability in disruptive environments. Swiss Re Institute launched its Macroeconomic Resilience Index last year, ranking countries with respect to a broad spectrum of variables to offer a much more holistic assessment of economic health than gross domestic product alone. The institute also developed Insurance Resilience Indices to assess how insurance helps individuals, households and organisations to withstand shock scenarios in three key areas: natural catastrophes, mortality and healthcare. Download the electronic version of the sigma resilience index 2020 report. View an interactive table of the macroeconomic resilience index scores at Swiss Res sigma explorer site. Topics COVID-19 USA China Canada Swiss Re Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 12:06:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (1st R) meets with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne (1st L) at the latter's request in Rome, Italy, Aug. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting) ROME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday urged Canada to remove the main obstacles in bilateral relations during his visit to Italy. During his meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne in Rome, Wang said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Canada relations. Fifty years ago, Canadian leaders got rid of external interferences, withstood pressures from all sides and established diplomatic relations with China, which is a step in the right direction, he noted. Wang said there is no historical dispute between China and Canada, neither is there any actual conflict of interest, but Canada's detention of Chinese citizen for no reason has caused serious difficulties in bilateral ties. Whoever started the trouble should end it, which the Canadian side should have a correct understanding, Wang noted, expressing his hope that Canada should act as an independent country and resolve the matter as soon as possible. Champagne, for his part, said that the past 50 years have witnessed significant development of China-Canada relations, adding that the Canadian side is willing to work with China, in the spirit of mutual respect, to seek a way to solve problems in order to boost bilateral relations. Wang is on his five-nation European tour, which will also take him the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany. Enditem A pram-pushing rail passenger who is suspected of knocking a commuter unconscious is a 35-year-old father-of-one. Adam Seymour, 35, has been arrested in relation to an attack which sent John Adam flying after hitting him, leaving the victim with blood pouring out of his head at Clapham Junction Railway station. Mr Adam, 45, spent 24 hours in hospital being treated for severe laceration, a severely cut lip. The 45-year-old had been arguing with staff about not wearing masks when he was attacked. British Transport Police confirmed a 35-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of assault after the incident. He has been released on bail while enquiries continue. His mother Denise has said she is 'devastated' by the shocking footage. She told The Sun: 'I can't believe he would do anything unprovoked.' In the footage Mr Adam had been arguing with South Western Railway staff by the ticket barrier because one member was not wearing a mask. Adam Seymour, 35, (pictured) is said to have sent John Adam flying after hitting him, leaving him with blood pouring out of his head at Clapham Junction Railway station John Adam (pictured) was knocked unconscious by a pram-pushing rail passenger as he argued with station staff over face masks at Clapham Junction Railway station The attacker, in a grey hoodie, comes into the clip pushing a pram past the heated exchange. He had a child with him and was also not wearing a mask. Mr John is heard saying 'you're not wearing one either', which he said was not directed at the man. In response, the man in the hoody turns around and walks away from his pram shouting 'don't f****** start on me'. The individual quickly leaves the area with his pram and child, while Mr Adam is seen bleeding on the ground. Reliving the attack earlier this week, Mr Adam, 43 told MailOnline: 'I was very angry that some of the staff at Clapham were not wearing masks, particularly one woman. She just told me to mind my own business and that just made me angrier. Mr Adam spent 24 hours in hospital being treated for severe laceration, a severely cut lip and given stitches for a head wound after being knocked to the floor at the station (left and right) 'This man had nothing to do with it. He decided to interfere in something that was none of his business. 'I could see this large lump from corner of my eye. He then suddenly appeared right in front of me and then whack, my head just shook inside, I could hear this ringing noise and then everything went black.' He said: 'I had a mask on and so did most of the other passengers, so I wanted to know why the same rules did not apply to station workers?' He added: 'I did get a worked up and accused the staff of spreading coronavirus. I think this man mistakenly thought that I was talking about him. The next thing I know is that he walks in my direction and then everything went black.' Mr Adam, who is a travel agent, from London, revealed that since the attack he has been suffering from headaches, double vision and has been suffering from nightmares. Speaking outside the station where the attack took place, he said: 'I've got to go back for more tests and am very worried that there could be long term implications to my injuries. It was an incredibly hard punch, my head wobbled, and I hit the floor really hard.' The 43-year-old (pictured having returned to the station) has since launched a scathing attack on South Western Railway who informed him that they would not share any details of their investigation into the conduct of their staff Mr Adam, who is currently off work because of injuries sustained in the attack South Western Railway said the member of staff who was not wearing a mask had a medical exemption. Pictured: Mr Adam returning to speak to staff at Clapham Station Mr Adam revealed that the incident took place on Sunday night as he was returning from an Italian restaurant in South London with his friend Peter Caldecott-Gabriel, who filmed the attack. Visibly shaking as he recalled the events of the night, Mr Adam revealed that he is now going to have a coronavirus test because of the proximity of some of the station staff to him during the altercation. South Western Railway said the member of staff who was not wearing a mask had a medical exemption. It said the assault was an altercation between members of the public and staff had assisted with first aid and alerted the police. A spokesperson for South Western Railway, said: 'Our staff reported this incident to the British Transport Police who are now investigating this. 'We will cooperate in this investigation fully, but as it is ongoing it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.' PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever shed some light when asked about the second Ministerial Decree that was made for the Kim Sha vendors that must close their businesses by 10 pm. Minister de Weever said the businesses at Kim Sha beach were not covered in the first Ministerial Decree since they were established on special conditions therefore the second MB was needed and had to be backdated. De Weever said that should businesses resume back to normal as of August 31st a second MB will also have to be made. The Minister said that she has been championing the reopening of business since the COVID-19 outbreak on St. Maarten and will not do anything that will hurt businesses at this time. The Minister of Economic Affairs said that even though the COVID-19 cases are climbing higher government may allow businesses to reopen to regular business hours especially knowing that St. Maarten will be in the slowest months of the year. Asked if a definite decision has been taken for August 31st the Minister said that the government is actually waiting on the report from medical professionals before a decision is taken. De Weever said the Council of Ministers will be meeting on Thursday where a decision will be taken and hopefully she will be able to fully inform the business community on the plans on moving forward. In the meantime, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said that even though she has been receiving lots of messages with advice to shut down the island as the COVID-19 cases increase, she said that shutting down the island is not necessary and is not even recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Jacobs said when St. Maarten shut down in March 2020 there was not enough information on COVOD-19 and the island did not have enough material such as hospital beds back then. The Prime Minister said the situation has changed now whereby there are more beds at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) while there is more information on how to deal with COVID-19. Jacobs explained that while more people are being infected with COVID-19, she said more people are also recovering from the virus. However, the people of St. Maarten have to apply themselves when it comes to social distancing, using face masks in public spaces and hand sanitizing. Jacobs said that there is a new norm since COVID-19 and there are measures in place and if everyone applies those measures then the curve on COVID-19 will be flattened for a second time. St. Maartens Prime Minister also made clear that the virus is spreading island-wide, both French and Dutch and residents just have to stop the socializing even at their homes or on private property. Commerce Ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended anti-dumping duty for 5 years on Choline Chloride imports from China, Malaysia and Vietnam, following complaints by domestic manufacturers. Jubilant Life Sciences had approached the directorate on the issue of Choline Chloride imports from these countries. "Having initiated and conducted the investigation into dumping, injury and causal link in terms of the provisions laid down under the Rules and having established positive dumping margin as well as material injury to the domestic industry caused by such dumped imports, the Authority is of the view that imposition of definitive anti-dumping duty is required to offset dumping and injury," DGTR said on Tuesday. A couple of weeks back, DGTR had recommended duty of up to $200.66 per tonne after conducting a probe on alleged dumping of 'Polyethylene Terephthalate' (PET resin) by Chinese companies. Dhunseri Petrochem Industries and Reliance Industries had then filed an application for initiation of the anti-dumping investigations. In international trade parlance, dumping happens when a country or a firm exports an item at a price lower than the price of that product in its domestic market. Dumping impacts the price of that product in the importing country, hitting margins and profits of domestic manufacturing firms. According to global trade norms, a country is allowed to impose tariffs on such dumped products to provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers. The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as DGTR in India. Over 45,000 households and organizations in the country have installed rooftop solar panels, whose prices have been falling rapidly in recent years. Le Anh Tuan, lecturer at Can Tho University in southern Can Tho City, spent VND130 million ($5,600) to install a 3.9 kWp rooftop solar power system in his home four years ago and is now enjoying the fruits of his investment. Tuan was able to save up to VND1.2 million each month compared to using normal electricity, twice the amount of monthly deposit interests. Thai Minh Bao, a representative of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in central Thua Thien Hue Province, said his office paid VND155 million to install a 5.2 kWp rooftop solar system in 2017. The amount of money the office was able to save each month came to around VND1 million ($43). These two are among thousands of households and organizations in Vietnam that have installed rooftop solar in recent years. As of August 23, nearly 45,300 rooftop systems were operating nationwide with a total capacity of 1,029MW, according to power utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN). These figures come amid a surging demand for power in one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia. The government has been encouraging renewable energy as the countrys hydropower potential is almost fully exploited and oil and gas reserves are running low. Industry insiders say rooftop solar installation prices have dropped by half in the last three years to VND14-18 million per kWp now and this has sparked increasing demand. The governments buying price at an incentive rate of 8.38 U.S. cents per kWh also contributed to the rising popularity of this type of power and many domestic and foreign investors have stepped into this area. Rooftop solar panel manufacturers estimate that it will take five to seven years for users to recoup their investment. But Nguy Thi Khanh, director of the Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID), estimated that the installed capacity could go up to 48,000 MW, or 48 times the current capacity. But a lack of a national technical standard daunts potential users. Tran Viet Nguyen, deputy head of sales at EVN, said there are currently no specific regulations on what kind of solar equipment is allowed, and this makes people hesitant. Installation prices, though decreasing, remain a concern for buyers, and the government should provide initial financial support to encourage more people to buy, he added. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has regularly been adding hand sanitizers to the list of products that consumers should not use. The current list has 165 entries of hand sanitizers that have been found to contain methanol, contain 1-propanol, contain less than effective amounts of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol or have labels that are false or misleading. There also has been an increase in cases of poisoning when people drank hand sanitizer - either for its alcohol content or because, in the case of children, it looked like a colorful drink. The CDC reported in early August that four people died after drinking hand sanitizer. From May 1 through June 30, 2020, 15 cases of methanol poisoning were reported in Arizona and New Mexico, associated with swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Four patients died, and three were discharged with visual impairment. Since the onset of the new coronavirus pandemic, the market has been flooded with hand sanitizers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that people wash their hands regularly with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. In the absence of soap and water, you can use hand sanitizer but it should be alcohol-based with at least 60 percent ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol). The FDA urges caution - It is impossible to know from looking at the hand sanitizer if it is contaminated with a very toxic type of alcohol. Consumers also should be aware that no hand sanitizer: Has been proven to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Will protect you from viruses or bacteria for a certain period of time, such as 24 hours And, No consumer hand sanitizer is FDA-approved, so any product that makes this claim is not trustworthy. You can find the entire do-not-use list here. Each entry contains the name of the manufacturer, the name of the hand sanitizer, NDC numbers if available and information on why you should not use it. The list also contains the name of products that the FDA was able to stop from being released into the U.S. market. Some of the newest hand sanitizers added to the list include: Grupo Asimex de Mexico AA De CV (Mexico) Florance Morris body Care Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer (contains methanol) Nanomateriales SA de CV (Mexico) Zanilast + Gel (contains 1-propanol) Volu-Sol Inc. (Utah) Volu-Sol Handrub sanitizing solution (product labeled to contain methanol) READ MORE Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Despite a broad denunciation by France and Western allies, the Kremlin brushed off allegations on Tuesday that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was the victim of an intentional poisoning orchestrated by authorities, stating there are no grounds for a criminal investigation. France has condemned as a criminal act the apparent poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. In a statement released Tuesday, the French foreign ministry demanded that the Russian authorities undertake a quick and transparent investigation those responsible for this act must be identified and brought to justice. The previous evening, doctors who are treating Navalny in Berlin concluded that the opposition leader had been poisoned by a substance belonging to the group of cholinesterase inhibitors, but were unable to immediately specify which one. These inhibitors are occasionally used in small doses to treat Alzheimer's disease, but depending on the dosage, can be extremely dangerous and produce potent neurotoxin, such as the Novichok nerve agent. The insistence by the Russian government that Navalny wasn't necessarily poisoned comments amplified by Russian doctors and pro-Kremlin media came a day after doctors at the German hospital where the 44-year-old is being treated said tests indicated he was poisoned. Moscow will not take the charges seriously Moscow's dismissals elicited outrage from Navalny's allies, who say the Kremlin was behind the illness of its most prominent critic. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the accusations against the government absolutely cannot be true and are rather an empty noise. We do not intend to take it seriously," Peskov said. Peskov said he saw no grounds for launching a criminal investigation at this stage, saying that Navalny's condition could have been triggered by a variety of causes and determining what it was should come before such a proble. If a substance (that caused the condition) is found, and if it is determined that it is poisoning, then there will be a reason for an investigation, Peskov said. Treatment in Berlin Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator who is one of Putin's fiercest critics, fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in the city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Over the weekend, he was transferred to the Charite hospital in Berlin, where doctors on Monday said they have found indications of the cholinesterase inhibitors in his system. These act by blocking the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells. Navalny is being treated with the antidote atropine. Parliament speaker claims Western Plot Chancellor Angela Merkel personally offered Germany's help in treating Navalny and has called for a full Russian investigation a sentiment echoed Tuesday by officials from the United States, France and Norway. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that if reports about Navalny's poisoning prove accurate, the United States supports the EU's call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort. In response to statements from European officials, the speaker of the State Duma, Russia's lower parliament house, charged Tuesday that Navalny's condition could have resulted from a Western plot. Doctors in Omsk said they tested the politician for cholinesterase inhibitors and didn't find any. Western experts have cautioned that it is far too early to draw any conclusions about how the agent may have entered Navalny's system, but note that Novichok, the Soviet-era nerve agent used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK in 2018, was a cholinesterase inhibitor. B oris Johnson has blamed a "mutant algorithm" for the exam results fiasco, after previously insisting the grading system was "robust". Both the Prime Minister and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had previously defended the exams system, which saw almost 40 per cent of A-level grades reduced from teachers predictions. Following criticism from students, headteachers and a backlash by Tory MPs, the Government announced A-level and GCSE grades would be based on teachers assessments rather than the controversial algorithm devised by regulator Ofqual. The announcement on August 17, just days before GCSE results were due to come out, followed an earlier vow from Mr Williamson that there would be "no U-turn, no change". During a visit to a school in the East Midlands, Mr Johnson told pupils: "Im afraid your grades were almost derailed by a mutant algorithm. "I know how stressful that must have been for pupils up and down the country. "Im very, very glad that it has finally been sorted out." Boris Johnson spoke to pupils at Castle Rock School in Coalville / AP Mr Johnson thanked pupils at Castle Rock School in Coalville for their efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. "We have the number of deaths way down, we have the number of hospital admissions way, way down and its thanks to you and your sacrifice that we have protected the NHS and saved literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives," he said. "No previous generation of pupils has ever done anything like this." He told pupils: "Your chances of suffering from that disease are very, very low. The greatest risk you face now is of continuing to be out of school." The Prime Minister said pupils had "lost too much time" from their learning as a result of the pandemic and encouraged all youngsters to return to their classrooms when schools reopen for the autumn term. The Prime Minister encouraged students to return to classrooms in the autumn term / PA "School is safe, it is exciting, it is the place to learn, it is the place where people are going to be absorbing in the next few days and weeks, young people are going to be absorbing things they will never forget," he said. "This is an absolutely invaluable time for them they must get back into school. "They have lost too much time out of school and I hope they will (return), and Im sure they will." But Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, accused the Prime Minister of trying to "shrug away" the results chaos by blaming a "mutant algorithm". He said: "It is brazen of the Prime Minister to idly shrug away a disaster that his own Government created. Boris Johnson suggested the decision on face coverings was influenced by the experience of pupils in Scotland (AP) / Jack Hill/Pool/AP "Parents, students, teachers and heads will be horrified to see the leader of this country treat his own exams fiasco like some minor passing fad. "The public will not easily forget the emotional rollercoaster of this years results season. It is certain to put a long-lasting dent in the Governments reputation on education. "Sally Collier fell on her sword yesterday, but the disaster of this years exams model has its origins in a decade of Conservative education policy. "Kenneth Baker and Justine Greening both agree the current system is not fit for purpose, and the NEU goes further. It needs ripping up, and for students entering exams next summer we need quick and decisive action." It comes after a Government decision to make face coverings in secondary schools mandatory in corridors and communal areas in some parts of the country. Huw Merriman tells ministers to get a grip as he slams U-turn on schools Mr Johnson suggested the decision was influenced by the experience of pupils in Scotland, who have already begun returning to classrooms. "On the issue of face coverings, what youve got is the WHO (World Health Organisation) saying face coverings should be used by over-12s," the Prime Minister said during his visit. "What were saying is if youre in a school where there is a hot spot then it probably does make sense in confined areas outside the classroom to use a face coverings in the corridor and elsewhere." He added: "As they discovered in Scotland, where theyve had the kids in for at least a couple of weeks now, what they found was that it was raining outside, people were coming in and they were congregating in the corridors and the move to face coverings they thought was sensible. "What we are doing, following what the WHO have said, is we are saying, if you are in a hot spot area where there is a higher risk of transmission then face coverings in those types of areas outside the classroom. "But not in the classrooms because that is clearly nonsensical you cant teach with face coverings, you cant expect people to learn with face coverings." The European Union on Wednesday suspended its training missions in Mali a week after a military coup ousted President Ibrahim Keita, Reuters reports. When Mali was struggling to regain control from a rebellious lot known as the Tuaregs in 2012, the EU sent 600 soldiers from 28 member-states and non-member-states, to train and fight along with Malis army against the terrorists. The EU military mission (EUTM Mali) was followed by a civilian mission to give advice and train Malis internal security forcesthe police, Gendarmerie and National Guard to further stabilise the country, in 2014. Following the military coup that has been widely condemned, the two missions have been frozen because they were designed to support the legitimate national authorities, one EU official told Reuters. Suspension is temporary EU defence ministers meeting in Berlin on Wednesday will discuss the situation in Mali, the officials said. The suspension comes after the United States had withdrawn its military cooperation in Mali in the wake of the military takeover. Since the coup, Mali has been under pressure from the international community that is pressing for a quick return to civilian rule. Sanctions have been dashed out on the West African state that is also battling insurgency. Just a day after the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Mali from its membership and halted financial inflows into the country. The move followed several mediation efforts by the regional bloc led by Nigerias former president Goodluck Jonathan, to stop the unrest that began earlier this year when the opposition held protests against the ousted President for what they called an inept rule. Again, the regional bloc has held unsuccessful talks with the military junta as part of efforts to make it agree to immediately return the country to civilian rule. The military junta pledged to oversee a transition via elections in a reasonable amount of time. It remains unclear how soon it will be. Axed In another development, Mali has been suspended from a global body of French-speaking countries as a response to the coup. The 88-member International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) on Tuesday decided on the suspension after holding an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Mali, an official statement said. The statement by the groups secretary general, Louise Mushikiwabo, said OIF would send a high-level delegation to Malis capital, Bamako, in the coming days to evaluate the situation. It pledged to continue cooperation that directly benefits the civilian population and called for the release of Mr Keita and other officials arrested by the coup leaders. The group also called for the immediate creation of a civilian-run transitional government. Major Wall Street indices set records once again on Wednesday, shrugging off worries about a major hurricane approaching a key US oil-producing region and renewed coronavirus fears that had stymied indices elsewhere. Hurricane Laura's imminent impact on the US Gulf Coast region sent oil prices climbing again and testing five-month highs. Around three million barrels a day of refining capacity have been closed after US authorities said the hurricane could bring "potentially catastrophic storm surges, extreme winds and flash flooding." Futures prices for US benchmark West Texas Intermediate spiked at mid-session to break above $43.75 before slipping back slightly though still holding near a five-month high. But the hurricane uncertainty did not deter traders elsewhere in New York, who pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to yet another record high close while the Dow finished up 0.3 percent despite weak opening momentum. Apple gained 1.4 percent ahead of its four-to-one stock split, while Salesforce.com, which will join the Dow index on Monday in place of global oil giant Exxon Mobil, leapt 26 percent after a strong earnings report. Traders have been looking ahead to Thursday, when Fed Chair Jerome Powell will preview how the central bank signals the trajectory of interest rates in the coming months. "Some of the stock market being up is a little bit of hopeful trading regarding this speech," JJ Kinahan of TD Ameritrade told AFP, suggesting observers might be disappointed. - Coronavirus rears anew - Earlier in the day, London and Paris made only the most meagre of gains, not least over concern at the lingering presence of the coronavirus, although Frankfurt added 1.0 percent. "Second wave fears are becoming more real in Europe as a number of countries, particularly tourist destinations such as Spain and France, are seeing a strong rise in COVID-19 cases," City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta said. Story continues "Governments... are showing reluctance to slap nationwide lockdowns into place just yet but investor concerns are growing." While there are signs that COVID-19 is leveling off in the US, other countries are fighting to subdue new flare-ups, with Spain notably saying Tuesday it would call in the army and South Korea again closing schools and kindergartens in the greater Seoul region. Observers warned the upcoming winter could see more infections as people are forced to stay indoors. "The situation is still far better than it was in the spring," AxiCorp analyst Stephen Innes said. "However, recent momentum and outbreaks around the world are worrying, as second- and third-wave coronavirus outbreaks still pose the most significant threat to the economic recovery." - Key figures around 2115 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 28,331.92 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 1.0 percent at 3,478.73 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.7 percent at 11,665.06 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 6,045.60 points (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.0 percent at 13,190.15 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.8 percent at 5,048.43 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.8 percent at 3,356.76 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 23,290.86 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: FLAT at 25,491.79 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.3 percent at 3,329.74 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1831 from $1.1835 at 2100 GMT on Tuesday Dollar/yen: DOWN at 105.97 yen from 106.39 yen Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3203 from $1.3152 Euro/pound: DOWN at 89.54 pence from 89.99 pence Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.2 percent at $45.78 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $43.41 dan-rfj/cdw/tgb/cs/hs A Delhi court has ordered the trial of the 36 foreigners for attending Tablighi Jamaat congregation by being negligent and disobeying the government guidelines issued in wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The Saket District Court accepted the charge sheet of the Delhi Police and agreed that the allegations against them are correct. The trial of these foreign nationals will take place under sections of the National Disaster Management Act. Advocating on behalf of the Tablighi deposits, senior advocate Rebecca John called them innocent and demanded the charge sheet be dismissed. At the same time, lawyer Atul Srivastava, on behalf of the Delhi Police, while arguing, appealed for permission to start the case against them. After hearing both the sides, the court admitted that those 36 foreign deposits deliberately disobeyed the orders of the government and violated many laws of the country. A Delhi court on August 24 had framed charges against the 36 foreigners from 14 countries. While framing charges to start a trial against 36 foreigners, the court said the statements of the witnesses, especially the health officials prima facie, showed that there was no social distancing being followed. "It has been further been mentioned in the charge sheet that around 1300 devotees from various states and foreign countries were found residing at the Markaz premises without maintaining any social distancing or using a face mask, hand sanitizers etc, even though there was the invocation of an order under Section 144 (power to issue an order in urgent cases of the nuisance of apprehended danger) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) in that area whereby, a curfew had been imposed and of the nationwide lockdown commencing from March 25," the court had said in its order. Foreigners coming for the spread of any religion have to apply for a visa in the 'Missionary' category by giving reasons for their arrival. But in India, visas are not easily available in this category and so foreign missionaries, including Christian missionaries, enter the country as tourists. This time too, on the invitation of Nizamuddin Markaz, hundreds of tourists from nearly three dozen countries reached India on a visa. Incidentally, at the same time, due to coronavirus infection, the Delhi government banned any social activity and announced the immediate evacuation of all public premises. But hundreds stayed in Nizamuddin Markaz and did not leave the premises. Another group violated the government's rules and went for campaigning in other parts of the country. After this, the police and Delhi administration carried out an operation of evacuating the premises and testing the Jamaatis, of whom many were infected. After this, a case was registered. In this case, most of the domestic Jamaatis have got bail. At the same time, the Saket court has ordered the trial of the 36 foreign Jamaatis caught in the case. " " Dionysus enthroned between a bacchant and a faun in a 1924 fresco by Antonio Maria Morera in the Great Hall of the Enological School, Conegliano, Veneto, Italy. DEA/V. GIANNELLA/De Agostini/Getty Images If a Google search for "Dionysus" brought you here rather than to information on the hit song from South Korean K-Pop megastars BTS, first of all, apologies. Second of all, welcome let's find out why the god of fertility and wine has inspired artists (including the most famous current boy band in the world) to sing his praises. "Dionysus is a complex god," Richard P. Martin, Antony and Isabelle Raubitschek professor in classics at Stanford University, says via email. "He has the power to transport his worshippers into ecstasy, and to drive his opponents mad. He seems to come from outside and to invade the consciousness. Of course, that's probably primarily due to his connection with wine and its effects, from the very first mild and pleasant buzz it gives you to the wretched morning-afters when you have too much." Here are some more facts about the grape-loving Greek god: Advertisement 1. He Symbolizes Wine and All Things Wine-related Dionysus was originally considered the god of fertility and wine, later tied to being the patron god of the arts. But mostly, he's all about the vino. "Dionysus is credited with introducing viticulture to Greece," Martin says. "Ancient Greeks knew about, wrote about, and did innumerable vase paintings of all of those situations. In fact, we still have pots of the sort used in drinking parties ('symposia') that show wild dancing, energetic celebration, and even young guys vomiting as someone holds their head. The Greeks were keenly conscious of how you should keep control and what can happen when you don't in wine-drinking occasions (which were frequent). They had a number of myths relating to wild creatures like satyrs and centaurs who crave wine but can't always handle it. These semi-human creatures go nuts and try to steal brides at weddings or start huge fights and so forth. The message in these myths is: Be human, not semi-human, when it comes to drinking (a good message still)." Advertisement 2. He Has Two Sides. On One Hand, He's a Ton of Fun ... Dionysus is known for having something of a dual personality: He brings joy, ecstasy and merriment, but also delivers "brutal and blinding rage." So, in a sense, he represents all the possible side effects of overindulgence. "He's more than a symbol, which implies a kind of bloodless or over-intellectual pigeonholing; instead, he was a deeply-felt personal and social reality for the ancient Greeks," Martin says. "He's associated with joy and terror, at once, which is why he always appeals to artists, philosophers and poets who are interested in the boundaries of consciousness and how emotions work. Friedrich Nietzsche in his final months of madness would occasionally sign letters 'Dionysos'." Advertisement 3. ... On the Other Hand, He's Totally Terrifying There's also the "terror side" of Dionysus. "The scariest stories are about what happens to people who resist Dionysus and his ecstatic bands of worshippers usually female, called Bacchae or Bacchants, after one of his many names, Bacchus when they come to town spreading the god's special ritual practices. The Athenian dramatist Euripides wrote the most compelling depiction, a tragic play produced in the late 5th century B.C.E. In the drama, the young king of Thebes (named Pentheus) in Greece feels threatened by a mysterious visitor Dionysus in disguise who has come back to his own birthplace. He thinks the stranger is up to no good, seducing women. But at the same time he's fascinated by the new worship and spies on the ecstatic women as they celebrate the god, dancing and drinking up on the mountain. All of a sudden, he is caught the women are driven to a frenzy, and they turn from tearing apart small animals to actually hunting Pentheus. They tear him limb from limb and his mother in a Dionysus-induced madness carries his head off, thinking she has slain a lion. So Pentheus and the Theban are punished for having resisted the idea that the local boy was really a powerful god." Advertisement 4. He Was Born Twice Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele, a daughter of Cadmus, the king of Thebes. Just one problem: Zeus was married to someone else besides Semele, and her name was Hera. "Hera, always jealous of his many affairs, visited Semele in disguise and convinced her to put Zeus to the test (implying that her lover was really just an ordinary man in disguise the same motif as later crops up in this story)," Martin says. "So Semele begged Zeus to come to her showing himself as he really was and he did, in the form of a lightning bolt. Semele was incinerated on the spot. However, Zeus not wanting to lose his semi-divine son, snatched Dionysus from her womb he was a real 'preemie' and completed the growth process by sewing the baby Dionysus into his own thigh. "When the baby was fully formed he was 'born' again taken from his father's thigh thus, 'twice-born,'" Martin says. "There are all sorts of theories as to how this odd detail fits with the whole concept of the god. It may have to do with half-forgotten initiation rites, in which young men on the verge of puberty are represented as being 'born again' after they formally leave a mother's protection and join a tribe's menfolk." Advertisement 5. He Was Also the God of Theater "The most important to my mind is that he was the god of theater," Martin says. "You can still walk through the ancient Theater of Dionysus, built right next to an old shrine of his, on the southern slopes of the Acropolis in Athens. How are drama (which the Greeks after all invented both comedy and tragedy) related to the god of wine? It seems to have to do with masking and disguise, and of going out of your own self whether by drinking or dressing up into a fictional otherworld. It is not an accident that 'ecstasy' comes from Greek ekstasis 'standing outside' and that the ultimate and wild 'outsider' god can cause it in those who worship him." Now That's Interesting Great Dionysia, also known as City Dionysia, was an ancient dramatic festival that's said to be the origin site for tragedy, comedy and satyric drama. The festival was held every March in Athens in honor of Dionysus. ONE can taste luxury and decadence right at the comfort of his own home as Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casinos dessert line is now available for orders. The hotels executive chef Tristan Encarnacion, together with his talented culinary team, has carefully curated Indulgence by Waterfront Mactan. This magnificent line includes elevated dessert items which were previously made exclusively for special occasions. Currently, there are five items on the menu available for order including Brazo de Crema y Yema and Avocado Pie, which are quickly becoming the guests favorites. As customers always come first, the dessert line will be evolving as Chef Tristan will be adding more and more items, which will be attuned to the customers preferences and taste. These sweet little treats are available at UNO which is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for all Lapu-Lapu City residents. And just as the Best Airport Hotel in Asia adapts to the new normal, these treats are available for pick-up and delivery through foodpanda. One may also order by sending a message to Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casinos Facebook page, or calling the property at (032) 340-4888 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Customers must note the schedule for pick-up after placing their orders. They may then drive up to the hotel lobby at their scheduled pick-up time and have their order brought out to them. Meticulously prepared food using the highest standards of preparation and packaging is that easy to order now. For updates on the hotels latest events and offerings, visit www.facebook.com/WaterfrontMactan, @WaterfrontMactan on Instagram and @Waterfront_Mac on Twitter. For inquiries and reservations, one may call (032) 340-4888 or email wahc@waterfronthotels.net. Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino is conveniently located across the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. At the center of the Historic Resort City, Lapu-Lapu, the hotel is just a few minutes away from the island's famous beaches and resorts and a 30-minute drive to Cebu's financial and shopping district. The hotel is a subsidiary of Waterfront Philippines Inc., a pioneer in promoting a distinctly Filipino brand of leisure and hospitality. SPONSORED CONTENT While the U.S. border remains closed, Joe Bidens election slogan has found its way into Canada. Build back better is what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now promising as Canada rebuilds from the coronavirus pandemic. For Toronto, building back better starts with changing the TTC for the better. Toronto needs a safe and reliable public transit system to fuel our economic recovery. The first step is to build trust so more riders are comfortable returning to public transit. TTC ridership dropped by 85 per cent at the height of the pandemic. Putting themselves and their loved ones at risk, TTC workers were on the frontlines of the pandemic, getting essential workers to long-term-care centres, hospitals, grocery stores and all the other places that were so important in our time of need. It has not been easy. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents 12,000 TTC workers, had to fight hard for months to secure what is now considered standard protections on the TTC: the option for workers to wear face masks, mandatory face coverings for TTC riders, passenger limits to encourage physical distancing and stronger measures to protect TTC workers in divisions that had outbreaks. Back in April, the TTC cut service, leading to 450 frontline workers getting laid off. These service cuts had a disproportionate effect on TTC bus routes that serve marginalized communities. Day after day, images surfaced online of overcrowded buses, as essential workers continued to rely on the TTC. TTC ridership began to rebound from its 85 per cent decline as more businesses and places reopened this summer. Ridership is set to increase further as more employees return to workplaces this fall and some students soon return to classrooms. Despite increased ridership, many Torontonians will remain concerned about overcrowding and feel uneasy about taking the TTC. For the TTC and our economy to rebound, people must trust the TTC is doing everything it can to handle increased ridership while providing as much physical distancing as possible. We need to ensure Torontonians work to flatten the curve wasnt for nothing. That is why the TTC needs to bring back all 450 laid off frontline TTC workers and restore full service. Restoring full TTC service is possible as the Ontario government just earmarked $404 million for the City of Toronto to cover the TTCs operational costs and budget shortfalls as part of the first phase of the federal and provincial governments emergency funding commitment. While Torontonians appreciate the emergency funding from the province and federal government, the pandemic highlighted the underlying issue with our public transit system: the TTC relies on fare revenue more than any other city in North America. To build a better transit system of the future, we must change the way we fund TTC operations. With stable operational funding from senior levels of government, Toronto wont need to keep returning to Queens Park and Parliament Hill with its hand out for cash. Better funding means Toronto can operate and maintain a world-class system that will get people out of cars and onto public transit. The second phase of emergency transit funding, expected in 2021, comes with strings attached. The agreement from Premier Doug Ford forces the City of Toronto to consider replacing certain TTC bus routes with privatized service, such as Uber or Lyft, as a condition of emergency funding. Selling off public transit to line the pockets of big ride-share corporations headquartered in San Francisco is not the answer. Premier Ford made two announcements last week to show his government is moving ahead with new rapid transit projects in Toronto. Building more transit is critical for improving the TTC. However, the pandemic has shown that public services need to remain in public hands. When it comes to public transit, we must prioritize people over profits. We must keep transit public, including all TTC bus routes and new rapid transit lines. If we are going to build back better, as Prime Minister Trudeau says, then we must restore full TTC service so more people trust taking transit as ridership increases, we must transform the way we fund daily transit operations so we are less reliant on the farebox, and we must push back against Premier Fords privatization of transit in all its forms. After all, this window of opportunity to change transit for the better wont be open for long. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 14:43:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least six persons died and 12 injured when two buses collided head on in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday morning, confirmed a local cop to Xinhua over phone. The two buses belonging to Uttar Pradesh's state transport department collided on the Lucknow-Hardoi road. Among the dead was the driver of one of the buses. The injured were admitted to a nearby government hospital. State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the mishap, and directed the local officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured. The two buses were coming from opposite directions in high speed when they rammed into each other. While one bus was coming to state capital Lucknow from Hardoi town, the other was moving in the opposite direction. Enditem Vietnam recently said it had registered to buy millions of COVID-19 vaccine from Russia after that countrys surprising announcement that it had approved one. The Russian announcement came less than two months after the start of human testing of the vaccine. The vaccine only completed its Phase 2 trials. A Phase 3 trial involving tens of thousands of people is normally required before a vaccine can be approved. After Russia said it had approved a vaccine, the United States, an important partner of Vietnam, expressed disbelief that Russia could have developed a vaccine so quickly. And the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the country to make sure it followed international guidelines in its effort. The WHO says more than 150 programs are currently researching possible vaccines around the world, including those in China, Australia, Britain and the United States. Russias international relations have suffered elsewhere, from interference in the U.S. presidential election, to its seizure of Ukrainian territory which led to European Union sanctions. But Vietnams long history with Russia might help explain their vaccine deal. Vietnam is one of the last remaining communist nations, which had strong ties to the old Soviet Union. Vietnams founder Ho Chi Minh was a student of the ideas of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin. Ho and other influential young people from the former French colony of Indochina, now Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, spent formative years in Russia. Looking at other vaccines Vietnam was doing its own vaccine research before the Russia announcement. However, the first workable vaccine is likely to come from a nation with many resources. This has led developing nations like Vietnam, Indonesia and India to look for help elsewhere. The state-run newspaper Tuoi Tre reported that Vietnam could buy 50 million to 150 million doses of the Russian vaccine by 2021. And Vietnams health ministry said it has also registered to buy possible vaccines being developed by Britain and the U.S. A vaccine that has been used in a foreign country may not require any more tests when it's imported to Vietnam, said Dr. Tran Dac Phu, a top advisor to the Vietnam Ministry of Healths Public Health Emergency Operations Center. He spoke on the national VTV station. However, he added, "its trials must still be applied on humans to test its safety and effectiveness. Vietnam has dealt with COVID-19 more aggressively than some of its neighbors. The country intensified the battle against the disease in July when it reported its first COVID death. Still people need to keep taking safety measures and not put all their hopes on a vaccine, said Vu Duc Dam, the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam who has been leading the pandemic efforts. Because we controlled the disease well for a long time, people have become more negligent, he said this month. Its time to remind ourselves that the pandemic is still going on and the vaccine will only be available to everyone in at least one year. We must strengthen measures to safely live together with the disease. Im Caty Weaver. VOA News reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story sanction n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. usually plural dose n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time apply v. to use (an idea, method, law, etc.) in a particular situation pandemic n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world negligent adj. failing to take proper or normal care of something or someone We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_595.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_595 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_595.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_595.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_595.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Further evidence of how Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, the former acting chairman of the Economics and Financial Crimes Comission, EFCC, illegally demanded for money has been uncovered by DENISAURUS News. The Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered that the EFCC led at the time by Mr Magu, 58, to unfreeze the account of DAMJAY INTEGRATED SERVICES LTD, but instead of obeying the law, the suspended anti-graft boss, refused and a request of 75 million Naira was made for the court judgement be adhered to. The 58-year-old former Acting Chairman, who is being investigated for fraud, diversion of asserts and billions of aira, asked Donald Wokoma, the CEO of DAMJAY INTEGRATED SERVICES LTD who is referred as our Client, to pay the money in three tranches into three accounts associated to officials working with him known as the Magu Boys. DENISAURUS News, the only media to have exclusively reported how Mr Magu was using a prophet to siphon money, was able to obtain communication held on WhatsApp with instructions of the said payment. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_5ef.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_5ef .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_5ef.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_5ef.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_5ef.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Victor Giwa, a barrister who negotiated the movement of the money to Mr Magus proxies, has now been arrested by security operatives. Two recordings of Mr Giwa passing instructions to his client on the process of payment to Mr Magu has been obtained by DENISAURUS News. Mr Magu, the only person to have been rejected as chairman of the EFCC, was described as a perennial offender, and a liability to the corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Department of State Service, DSS, who wrote the indicting report against Mr Magu, which led to his rejection by the NASS Senate, also noted that he used fronts and proxies and he was living beyond his means. Source: https://denisaurus.com/2020/08/21/update-documentary-proof-on-how-erstwhile-efccs-magu-requested-for-bribe-to-unfreeze-suspect-account/ Even if one does take place, a TikTok sale which has become a referendum on the U.S.-China relationship may still be disrupted if Beijing or Mr. Trump weigh in. Mr. Trump has been highly involved, including talking to Microsofts chief executive, Satya Nadella, and saying that Oracle could handle buying TikTok. In an Aug. 6 executive order, he imposed a deadline for TikToks U.S. operations to be sold by Sept. 15. On Monday, TikTok sued the U.S. government, arguing that the executive order had deprived it of due process. The suit could give TikTok more time to operate in the United States if the courts order it, a stalling tactic that may help the app wait it out past the Nov. 3 election. Steven Davidoff Solomon, a law professor at the University of California in Berkeley, who contributes to The New York Times, said the United States forcing such a huge company to sell itself was really unprecedented. He added, This is a forced sale, and ByteDance is trying to keep it from being as much of a fire sale as possible. This account of TikToks deal discussions was based on interviews with more than a dozen people who were involved in or were briefed on the situation. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Representatives from TikTok and ByteDance, Microsoft, Netflix, Twitter, Oracle and the White House declined to comment. A spokesman for Chinas Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, called Mr. Trumps executive order a naked act of bullying, and added that the U.S. government would eventually reap what it sows. TikTok, which ByteDance created partly out of a $1 billion purchase of the lip-syncing app Musical.ly in 2017, has become a phenomenon in the United States and elsewhere. More than 100 million Americans regularly use the app, the company has said, especially teenagers and twentysomethings. Seven years after athleisure began to trend, relaxed attire is more popular than ever. As Americans across the country have been quarantining at home for the last six months, sportswear brands and luxury designers alike have responded to the demand for comfy clothes. Now that businesses are slowly starting to reopen, FEMAIL rounds up the collections to have on your radar for when pants are no longer optional. It girls Kendall and Kylie Jenner have made comfy clothes a part of their everyday uniform, both on and off duty Kendall, 24, smiled pretty in a revealing white crop top and coordinating sweatpants while promoting a teeth whitening product Kylie, 23, took to Instagram to show off her toned tummy and launch two pieces of Sami Miro Vintage's new collection. It girls Kendall and Kylie Jenner have made comfy clothes a part of their everyday uniform, both on and off duty. Kylie, 23, took to Instagram to show off her toned tummy and launch two pieces of Sami Miro Vintage's new collection. The beauty mogul gave her 192 million followers a first look at the Los Angeles-based brand's V Cut hoodie and sweats made from up-cycled French Terry. Kendall, 24, smiled pretty in a revealing white crop top and coordinating sweatpants while promoting a teeth whitening product on social media. Hailey Bieber, 23, is a pro at making sweatshirts (both high end and fast fashion) look fabulous. Mrs. Bieber can't get enough of LA-based streetwear brand Joah Brown Joah Brown's latest offerings consists of cozy sweat shorts and joggers, chic camis and tanks Hailey Bieber, 23, is a pro at making sweatshirts (both high end and fast fashion) look fabulous. The supermodel stepped out recently in Alexander Wang and Chanel styles. Mrs. Bieber, along with Ariana Grande, Emily Ratajkowski, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Shay Mitchell and Olivia Culpo, can't get enough of LA-based streetwear brand Joah Brown. From cozy sweat shorts and joggers to chic camis and tanks, Hailey styles her Joah Brown pieces in a multitude of ways all year round. Hailey styles Joah Brown pieces in a multitude of ways all year round Ariana Grande, Emily Ratajkowski, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Shay Mitchell and Olivia Culpo, also can't get enough of LA-based streetwear brand Joah Brown In his latest collaboration with Adidas, Pharrell Williams takes comfort to the next level In his latest collaboration with Adidas, Pharrell Williams takes comfort to the next level. The gender neutral collection consists of all the everyday essentials, including sweatshirts, shorts, sweatpants, with an inclusive design and fit made of a French Terry fabric. The clean and simple silhouettes allow your personality to shine through, while the luxe fabrications offer laidback weekend vibes. They say the true feeling of luxury is comfort, and the brand compares the touch of its latest offerings to super soft hotel robes. Now that's high living! The gender neutral collection consists of all the everyday essentials, including sweatshirts, shorts, sweatpants, with an inclusive design and fit made of a French Terry fabric Filoro's 95% cotton/5% cashmere collection is perfect in early fall during transitional weather. On those days in September or October when it's too warm for winter clothes but a little too cool for summer pieces, light layers are key. Filoro offers everything from lightweight pullovers and scoop neck t-shirts to joggers at an affordable price point. The range starts at $50 for a t-shirt, $85 for joggers and $115 for a pullover. Filoro's 95% cotton/5% cashmere collection is perfect for transitional weather The range starts at $50 for a t-shirt, $85 for joggers and $115 for a pullover Founder of accessory brand Quay Australia launched a sustainable collection of short and long sleeved bodysuits and swimwear for lifestyle brand Dream Bandits. The range is made from 86% recycled plastic and 14% spandex. Slip on a bodysuit under sweatpants, jeans or slacks and you'll look pulled together and polished for anything on your post COVID agenda. Accessorize the look with MM6 Maison Margiela's chunky lace-up sneakers featuring the label's flare heel and an all-over glitter finish. Made in Italy, the gleaming sneaker is made complete with a thick rubber sole and is available in metallic silver and black. The touch of sparkle will cost you $595. Founder of accessory brand Quay Australia launched a sustainable collection of short and long sleeved bodysuits and swimwear in a variety of colors for Dream Bandits The range is made from 86% recycled plastic and 14% spandex A Colorado Springs man experiencing an acute psychotic episode died after he was tased and held down by five officers after he brandished a knife and threatened his neighbors in a gated community near The Broadmoor, according to his autopsy released last month. Chad Burnett, 49, died May 24 as a result of the struggle, the El Paso County Coroners Office stated, as well as injuries from the Taser, bipolar disorder and cardiac hypertrophy, or an abnormally enlarged heart. The 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office has not ruled whether the officers involved were justified in their use of force, but mental health experts argue Burnetts death highlights an alarming gap in resources for those experiencing mental health crises in Colorado Springs. Some say he could still be alive if a different strategy one geared toward helping those experiencing mental health crises were used. When police, who are untrained to manage mental health response, respond, bad things happen, said Vincent Atchity, president of Mental Health Colorado, a nonprofit that promotes equitable access to mental health resources for people across the state. And this is a classic case of what happens when police are responding to a mental health crisis and dont know what they are doing. Given the overwhelming percentage of calls police receive that involve some kind of mental health crisis, Atchity called the lack of training among all officers unconscionable. A CSPD spokesman declined to say whether the responding officers were trained in crisis intervention. While de-escalation methods aren't always effective, the ability to recognize Burnetts mental illness, and communicate in a way geared toward helping those in crisis states, could have drastically altered the situation, experts said after watching the body-worn camera footage of the incident. Terri Hurst, policy coordinator for Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, called Burnetts death a failure in the mental health care system, and one that shows the stigma around mental health disorders and the challenge in accessing mental health care in Colorado. In the two weeks prior to Burnett's fatal encounter with police, the citys mental health response team was called twice to his home, according to a history of 911 call responses made to his address. Its unclear if Burnett was connected with mental health care or if a follow-up with the mental health response team was scheduled. It seemed like there was information but, yet, nobody was there, Hurst said. Or given the adrenaline of the situation, nobody stopped to tie those pieces together and say, Huh, something is clearly going on, maybe we need a clinician here to help us. If that doesnt happen, if thats not commonplace, I think thats something that needs to be fixed immediately, Hurst said. Effective tools When the Crisis Intervention Team program first came to Colorado in 2002, it was among three states in the country that aimed to implement a statewide training program to help law enforcement officers recognize signs of mental illness, enhance their verbal crisis de-escalation skills and provide a more streamlined access to community-based mental health services, said Sgt. Attila Denes with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. Denes, a founding member of the CIT Association of Colorado, trains law enforcement officers in crisis intervention across the state. Over the years, more than half of the states 14,000 peace officers have received the training, Denes said. I think as a state, weve done remarkably well, he said. Even so, Colorado still ranks among the worst in the nation for its prevalence of mental and substance abuse disorders. Law enforcement, by default, has become the first point of contact for many people experiencing a mental health crisis. Because of that, it is critically important that law enforcement officers be trained in the recognition of crisis states particularly when mental health disorders are part of the crisis, Denes said. Though Denes declined to speak specifically on the May 24 incident, citing the open investigation into the case, he said as a general rule, he teaches officers to keep distance between themselves and the person and to take their time. The more distance we have between ourselves and the person experiencing a crisis, the less pressure they feel and also, the greater reactionary gap we have in the event that there is some anticipated attack, it gives us more time to move or get out of harms way, he said. Communication strategies vary depending on the situation, but through crisis intervention training, officers are taught to recognize the behaviors that are indicative of one type of mental health disorder versus another. If someone is experiencing an acute psychotic episode and they are having trouble focusing on the instructions of a responding officer because of their hallucinations or delusions then (use) short, simple, directive commands that arent threatening, but are clearly directive, Denes said. Getting a mental health clinician on scene as soon as possible is also among the best practices when responding to mental health calls, he said. But verbal de-escalation doesnt always resolve an issue, Denes said. If the situation turns on a dime, in a dangerous direction, we may have to break from that preferred model of time and distance. Atchity, who watched the body camera footage of the incident, argued police could have waited outside for a mental health professional to arrive as Burnett wasnt threatening anyone when they arrived. The heightened situation" that the neighbors called about had eased, Atchity said. They could have left him in peace in his own home. They could have come back with a clinical partner and talked to him. If they were worried about the neighbors, they could have sat there in the car all afternoon and evening and no one would have had to die, he said. In the body-camera footage, released nearly two months after Burnetts death, Sgt. Michael Inazu and Officer Matthew Fleming are seen talking to Burnett through the front window of his home. Can you come talk to us, Chad? Inazu is heard in the footage. Can you come out? Fleming asked. Yeah, thats a big knife. Leave that there. Can you open the door? Inazu said. Burnett appears to be talking to the officers, though he is inaudible in the body camera footage. I want to help you, Inazu said. Would you open the door, please? We wont hurt you Were here to help you." Minutes later, Burnett called 911 to report fake police," telling the dispatcher he has just arrived from Japan and parked his jet at the Colorado Springs airport. This incident does present a challenge because he did threaten someone, but he was clearly suffering from an episode, Hurst said. The departments mental health response team, which consists of a paramedic from the Colorado Springs Fire Department, a CSPD officer and a behavioral-health clinician from AspenPointe, was not called because the call was made in regard to a violent felony, said Lt. Jim Sokolik, a police spokesman. More than an hour after police arrived, Burnett exited his home and three officers charged toward him and pushed him to the floor inside his house. For somebody who is in a psychosis, having a cop run at you, is certainly not going to de-escalate the situation, Hurst said. Officer Caroline Barth yelled on the ground and seconds later, deployed a Taser, striking Burnett in the stomach. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground. The officers tried to place him in handcuffs, telling Burnett to stop resisting. Burnett continued to struggle with the officers while on the ground. Its terrifying for any of us, but its exponential for anyone (with mental health issues)," said Lori Jarvis-Steinwert, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Colorado Springs. The chances of them being compliant when they are that terrified are not good. A mental health professional on the scene may have approached him in a manner in which Burnett felt understood, and he could have been transported to a psychiatric facility to be evaluated, she said. Any kind of aggression is going to escalate the situation, she said. You stay calm, you dont overreact if anything you under-react when you realize you are dealing with a mental health situation. ... They are under the influence of their own illness. To the extent you can, you agree with them, you align yourself." A history of mental illness Burnett, an avid cyclist and well-liked former bike shop owner, was always professional and easy to talk to, said longtime friend Brett Lindstrom. He said Burnett always seemed to be in good spirits, but the death of his parents in 2019 upset him. Lindstrom said Burnett occasionally talked about himself getting mad and confronting others. But, in Burnett's telling, he usually found a reasonable way out of such disputes, Lindstrom said. Though Lindstrom moved to California seven years ago, he kept in touch with Burnett. He said he wasnt aware Burnett was taking medication for his mental health until after his death. After watching the body camera footage, Lindstrom said he thought Burnett was having an episode and a mental health professional could have reasoned with him. I also don't think Chad was posing a threat to them," Lindstrom said. In the weeks before his death, Burnetts behavior had become a concern for his neighbors in the gated community. In mid-May, Mark Sather and Pauline Sisson, who are identified in court documents as Burnetts cousins, sought restraining orders against Burnett, alleging threatening behavior, and Sather is listed as a victim in a May 7 incident in which Burnett allegedly barged into his family home on Lake Avenue. Neighbors reported his suspicious behavior, including a time when he was seen walking near his blue Corvette carrying an aluminum bat, said Sather and Sissons attorney, Danny Kay, reading from a report prepared by Broadmoor security. The day Burnett died, a neighbor reported him to police for holding a knife up to another neighbor in the community. She called him absolutely looney and said that police have been to his house before. But weve been so concerned about him, the woman told the dispatcher on the recorded 911 audio. A system worth strengthening It is situations like Burnetts death that Jarvis-Steinwert said she often tells families who are are concerned about a loved one's mental health not to call 911 without stressing there is mental health emergency. With a lack of training and or information about someones history of mental illness, officers arent fully equipped to handle the situation, she said. When you talk to people in law enforcement, fully half of their calls have a mental health component. Theres a different way to deal with someone who is delusional and psychotic. They should know how to do that, she said. It is a liability when we have law enforcement on the streets responding to calls who are not well informed about the signs and symptoms of mental illness. Co-responder units, made up of a law enforcement officer and a mental health clinician, are successfully helping those in crisis and avoiding arrests, Jarvis-Steinwert said, citing the El Paso County Sheriffs Office's Behavioral Health Connect Unit. In its first two years, the unit's two teams have responded to 784 911 calls for service and diverted 99% of its calls from jail , recent data shows. While Colorado law enforcement agencies have come a long way in their response to those in mental health crises, Jarvis-Steinwert thinks all law enforcement should become CIT trained. Its not fair that we are not equipping law enforcement to deal appropriately with circumstances that they walk into over and over again, she said. The Chad Burnett stories are out there still, they certainly arent as frequent as they were five or 10 years ago, but theyre still out there, Jarvis-Steinwert said. And we know better. We know there is a different model. Theres a different model for intervention. Urban Cowboy and the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa are both synonymous with the Bayou City. The 1980s film starring John Travolta, Debra Winger and Gilleys, a Texas-sized honky tonk, personifies love and loss in cowboy country. The Houstonian part members-only club, part hidden resort is a green-space destination for locals and out-of-towners alike. So when the 40th anniversaries of the cult classic and popular destination overlapped this summer, the Houstonian toasted the dueling milestones with a Gilleys-themed celebration, Dinner & A Movie Date Night: Urban Cowboy. Tickets to the four-course dinner with wine pairings sold out fast. Some 75 guests arrived dressed in their western-wear finest, and in light of COVID-19, were presented with the option to self-parking or valet. Before entering the socially distanced shindig, each attendee completed a health form and had their temperature taken. Then were they granted admittance into the hotels ballroom er, Gilleys. To help paint an authentic scene, the legendary bars co-owner and namesake, Mickey Gilley, loaned his a mechanical bull from the films central storyline, El Toro, for the festivities. There were other cinematic touches, too. Gilley who has a blink-or-youll-miss-it cameo in the film phoned-in to welcome the crowd before opening credits rolled. Dew Westbrook, the inspiration for Travoltas character, joined real-life Gilleys regulars-turned-cast members Jessie Mapes, Norman Tucker and Gator Conley in the audience. Manor House Chef Roland Soza whet appetites with garlic butter shrimp on skewers though #sorrynotsorry, theyre off-menu. Houston-centric TV commercials featuring a young Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale and Astros players in retro uniforms streamed overheard before executive chef Neal Cox and sommelier Dat Le introduced their themed feast. The culinary duo shared the inspiration behind each dish. For the first course, bacon-wrapped Bandera quail with jalapeno jack cheese and a mezcal glaze was a nod character to Wes Hightowers well-known line, If you eat the worm, youre gonna see visions. In addition to a 2014 Bergstrom Sigrid Chardonnay, diners also received a mezcal shot and worm timed with Hightowers own swig from the bottle onscreen. Because legend has it that Travoltas favorite Tex-Mex dish during filming was a seafood enchilada at Ninfas, it was paired with a 2015 Graci Etna Bianco. The main course, a Bullriders Special with Fixins, was pulled straight from the original Gilleys menu: a Post Oak-grilled Texas strip with late-night potato hash and 2013 B Cellars Blend 25. Slices of wedding cake made the rounds for dessert, as did Pol Roger Brut Reserve Champagne NV. Later, two-steppers slipped back into their masks and danced to the Allen Brothers Band. Proceeds from the Houstonians silent auction offerings, including spa packages and a hotel stay, raised $7,500 for the Houston Police Officers Union Assist the Officer program. Event-goers went home with a small carton of dry run from the restaurant Tribute at the Houstonian in their swag bags. Due to high demand, organizers repeated the entire evening the next day. It was quite the shindig, and, as the movie line goes, all that that implies. amber.elliott@chron.com Oregon man caught in Lyon County with $760,000 of marijuana France joined Greece, Cyprus and Italy for navy exercises in the eastern Mediterranean on Wednesday, against the background of a dispute with Turkey over gas resources, a row which has forced the European Union and its member states to juggle a number of priorities. France's government said Wednesday three Rafale fighter jets and one frigate equipped with a helicopter would be part of Cypriot, Italian and Greek joint exercises in an area of the Mediterranean whose strategic importance has grown with the discovery of gas deposits. Our message is simple: priority for dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy so that the eastern Mediterranean becomes an area of stability and respect for international law, French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Twitter. It is a shared asset that should not be a playground for the ambitions of some, the minister added in an apparent reference to Nato-member Turkey, which has sent a warship-protected prospecting mission to the waters around Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete. Also on Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reversed his previous day's offer of dialogue with Greece with tough words on Ankara's intentions. Turkey will take what is its right in the Mediterranean, in the Aegean and in the Black Sea, Erdogan said. Just as we have no eyes over anyone's territory, sovereignty and interests, we will never compromise on what belongs to us. Mixed priorities among EU members The military manouvres come as European Union foreign ministers are set to hold informal talks on Thursday and Friday. Greece is expected to push for sanctions, but its fellow EU member states have a mixed set of priorities in the standoff. Franco-Turkish tensions have already been rising over Ankara's role in Libya, and French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the EU to show solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. Germany meanwhile has emphasised a need for dialogue between Ankara and Athens, with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas calling on each side to defuse the row and avoid a catastrophe. The idea that there are massive resources in the eastern Mediterranean that can be exploited economically is far from certain, so this seems very much at this moment a symbolic battle that under no circumstances should escalate, says Gerald Knaus, co-founder of the think tank European Stability Initiative. France is sending a signal that it stands with Greece, which is useful as long as the other goals, to prevent escalation and to gain time for negotiations, are not lost sight of. Possibilities for EU-Turkish cooperation In Turkey, it has been very easy for the government to stir up emotions and get wide public support for its very aggressive rhetoric and actions, Knaus says. Turkey presents itself, and I think a lot of Turks feel this way, as having been reacting to provocations from others. Since this position clearly does not correspond to how Greece and Cyprus view an area that they consider to be within their territorial waters, EU ministers are essentially faced with a choice of escalating tensions or seeking other solutions. Knaus suggests diplomacy would be fruitful if it focusses on renewing EU-Turkish cooperation on migration or aligning environmental objectives with other means of energy production and cooperation. We are talking about exploration of gas in the eastern Mediterranean at a time that western Mediterranean countries like France, Spain and Italy have given up looking for fossil fuels, at a moment there is huge pressure to make a transition to other forms of energy, he says. We have a dispute that seems very early-twentieth-century at a time we have a wide growing understanding that fossil fuels need to remain in the ground. So it should be possible with creative diplomacy to find a solution where perhaps nobody is looking for gas in the eastern Mediterranean and the EU uses its leverage to offer support for development of alternative energies in Cyprus, Turkey and Greece. Her split with Carlin Sterritt after 10-months together made headlines last month. And on Wednesday, Angie Kent took some time out of her busy schedule to rest and relax. The 30-year-old shared several photos of herself taking in the fresh country air at the Elysia Wellness Retreat in New South Wales Hunter Valley. Country getaway: Former Bachelorette Angie Kent looked radiant in a selfie she took on Wednesday during a trip to the New South Wales Hunter Valley In one photo, the blonde beauty looked radiant as she donned a pair of chic sunglasses. She also posted a picture of herself posing on a balcony looking out onto the stunning countryside, dressed in a peach skirt with a vest and a striped top. The former Bachelorette wrote in the caption: 'Bit of countryside goodness to fuel the soul.' Tranquility: The 30-year-old also posted a picture of herself posing on a balcony looking out onto the stunning countryside, dressed in a peach skirt with a vest and a striped top Angie's trip to the countryside comes after her ex Carlin denied he was faking his relationship with the former Googlebox star. The 30-year-old personal trainer recently spoke to the Secret Weapon podcast where he furiously denied rumours he wasn't genuine. 'If I was to go on that show and pretend to be someone I wasn't, it just wouldn't be sustainable. Angie is a real person and a good judge of character,' he said. The real thing: Angie's trip to the countryside comes after her ex Carlin (pictured) denied he was faking his relationship with the former Googlebox star He explained that they dated for 10 months after filming the show - which is an awfully long time for two people 'faking' a relationship. 'So for people to even say what they had said, that he is faking it and stuff... well, no,' he said. 'You can't go that long faking who you are as a person. Some people might be able to. But I don't have that capacity.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, August 27 2020 Cross-strait neighbors Indonesia and Singapore have initiated talks on opening a "travel corridor" ahead of the annual leaders retreat, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi arrived in the island city-state on Monday for a bilateral meeting the following day with her Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan. Retno also paid a courtesy call to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong regarding the upcoming leaders' retreat. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login A northern beaches high school has proposed ending the school day at 2pm, saying a European model of earlier start and finish times would make students more independent and give teachers more time for one-on-one feedback. But some parents are worried the move would not suit junior school students, who are less independent learners, while the timetable would challenge working parents relying on 3pm public transport. Pittwater High School would start at 8.25am and finish at 2pm under the proposed new timetable. Credit:Louise Kennerley Pittwater High School principal Jane Ferris said compressed timetables introduced during the COVID-19 lockdown had made her reflect on "the European model", where schools such as Sweden and Germany start around 8am and finish after lunchtime. The school found many students enjoyed having blocks of time to catch up on work or prepare for assignments, while teachers had greater opportunities to give students feedback and engage parents. Unlike most collector auctions, we created a no risk, low cost selling option that gives high end collector vehicles national and global exposure, said Bill Melvin, CEO of Liquid Asset Partners. As a local sale, it saves sellers costs to deliver and list their items compared to going Monterey." Liquid Asset Partners of Grand Rapids, Michigan, will be hosting its first annual Michigan Collector Car & Motorcycle online auction in September. The auction features Indian, Vincent and Honda motorcycles, an original 1966 Corvette C2, Ferrari Testarossa, an original 1969 Porsche 911E, McLaren 570s, and original memorabilia owned by actor Steve McQueen. The event is a first of its kind for West Michigan and provides residents an easy option to test the market for selling their collector cars or motorcycles. The online auction is being held on September 26, 2020 and lots begin ending at 11:00AM EST with an in-person preview scheduled for September 23 September 25 from 9:00AM 4:00PM by appointment. Local and global bidders are welcome, and the auction is open to the public. Those looking to register to bid can visit LiquidAP.com for more information. Liquid Asset Partners is now accepting consignment cars & motorcycles for this auction. Liquid Asset Partners will be welcoming other consignments of quality motorcycles, cars, or memorabilia. Please call 616-719-5917 for consignment information. About Liquid Asset Partners: Since 1974, Liquid Asset Partners, based in Grand Rapids, MI, is an acquisition and disposition leader in motorsports, retail and wholesale industries across North America. Liquid Asset Partners specializes in creative ways to assist companies in unlocking value from underperforming assets. Some notable projects include Assets of John Parhams (owner of National Motorcycle Museum), Skip Barber Racing School, Erik Buell Racing (motorcycles), BarcLounger, Circuit City, the Indian Motorcycle Company, and more. For more information, visit http://www.LiquidAP.com or call (616) 719-5917. New Delhi, Aug 26 : A 36 year old woman allegedly jumped from the 11th floor of the Palika Kendra NDMC building at Connaught Place on Wednesday morning. She was immediately rushed to the RML hospital by the NDMC staff where she was declared brought dead. The police said that no suicide note has been recovered from her possession. The Connaught place police station in Delhi received a PCR call at 10.40 a.m. about a woman who had fallen from the 11th floor of Palika Kendra, NDMC Building, New Delhi. On reaching the spot, the police team found that she had already been taken to RML Hospital by the NDMC staff. She was declared brought dead in the hospital. "The woman has been identified as Krishna, a resident of Janta Colony, Welcome, Delhi aged 36 years. She was Beldar on a muster roll and was attached to the office of Architect, 11th floor, NDMC building," DCP New Delhi Eish Singhal said. According to police she came to the office at 9.45 a.m. on Wednesday and opened it after receiving the keys from the counter. She went to the room (No. 1104), kept her bag on the side table, removed her sandals and jumped off from the window. She fell on the ground and received multiple injuries. She got married in the year 2000 and had a son and a daughter. "No suicide note has been recovered. No foul play has been suspected. She was under treatment at IHBAS for mental illness as told by her family members. This fact is being verified," the officer said. The body has been preserved in the mortuary. Proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC have been initiated. From quarantine at a cottage off Lake Simcoe, Yannick Gingras joined the Tuesday (Aug. 25) edition of COSA TV live to talk about the Pepsi North America Cup and his drive on morning-line favourite Tall Dark Stranger. Gingras, a Canadian native living in the United States, is the only driver stationed south of the 49th parallel in competition at Woodbine Mohawk Park due to ongoing sanctions in place to manage the coronavirus pandemic which started in mid-March. Though, despite the added protocols in place limiting travel between borders, Gingras said that his opportunity to race in the North America Cup made him go the extra kilometer. Of course Im going to be here for six more weeks so its not the only race, but it is the race why I came, said Gingras, who plans to race at Woodbine Mohawk Park through the Mohawk Million and Metro Pace at the end of September. If it wasnt for Tall Dark Stranger, theres no doubt Id still be in the U.S. right now. Its been two or three months in the coming, Gingras also said. The minute COVID startedand maybe a month after thatI started to make phonecalls to Jessica Buckley, Bill McClinchey, Mr. Lawson theyre probably annoyed with me, but I went months trying to figure out what they wanted from me and what they needed me to do. I was in contact with immigration, with border patrol... I did my homework, and I know there are a lot of people who are not happy. And really the last couple of days its gotten to me. It didnt bother meI dont care, Im Canadian and I knew I could come herebut its bothering me the way the people have been complaining and stuff like that. I think Ive done everything thats been asked of me and more. I know in my heart I did what I had to do and I didnt put anybody at risk. Starting Saturday, Gingras quarantine lifts, meaning that he can interact with the horsemen at Woodbine Mohawk Park while still abiding by social distancing standards. Previously, Gingrasincluding on the night of the eliminationshad to sequester away from the paddock, by himself. Gingras also said that the criticism he has received for making the move to Mohawk for the event will not hang over his head. Once I get on the racetrack it has nothing to do with it, Gingras said. Realistically [on] Saturday Ill be good to goits more the people [bothering me] than the racing part of it. I cant wait to get on the racetrack and be able to go and race horses and be done with the side part of it. Because after Saturday, Im one of themIm like both of youand I can go in the paddock and do whatever I want. Its going to be a nice relief on Saturday to be able to race horses and not worry about anything else. Along with the limits on travel created as a result of the coronavirus, Woodbine Mohawk Park will also limit only a handful of people to attend the night of races Saturday (Aug. 29)a sight which remains an anomaly even after large harness racing days including the Meadowlands Pace and Hambletonian Day. It definitely takes away from the highs and the crowd and the cheering and stuff like that, Gingras said. We all thrive to be in it and be a part of it. Thats the fun part of racing horses, but also I think we all understandI do anywaythat it is what it is now. Thats the best we can do about it, and I think WEG has done a tremendous job like last weekend. Everything is organized, and [they] were ready for it. It was the same thing at the MeadowlandsI think Hambo Day was really well done and I think people are happy with the results. I think everyone is doing the best job they can in the world were living in right now. Gingras nonetheless heads into the North America Cup for the first time driving a favourite in an attempt to grab his first victory in the event. The Nancy Takter-trained millionaire by Bettors Delight enters off a narrow win in his elimination, a finish made tighteras Gingras said after the racedue to the earplugs failing to pull. Gingras said that the finish surely makes the connections of the other finalists much more confident they can topple the current giant of the glamour boy division, but Yannick remains as confident in the Meadowlands Pace champ as ever. Im not one bit worried about it, Gingras said. Part of it was him being off a weekI think hes better if he races back to back. Part of it I think was my fault too. I raced him last week like a 1-9 shot thinking that he cant get beatleft him loafing in the post parade and let him relax. You can only go so much with these horses and push them at 100 per cent every time, so in the post parade I was letting him be. If you watch the replay, he was flatfooted leaving the gate and he was kind of just half rolling and not paying attention. It took me all the way to the three-eighths to clear[being wide] to a :26.1 quarter. Believe me hes going to be on his go Saturday night, the same way he was in the Meadowlands Pace and the Cane Pace. Im sure Nancy will train him a little bit harder this week and the horse is going to be ready, theres no doubt in my mind. Last week goes to show you how great of a horse he ishe was beat on both sides but he refused to lose. Tall Dark Stranger won his elimination by a diminishing head over Capt Midnight with Odds On Osiris just a quarter-length behind in third and Captain Barbossa weaving home in a :25.3 final quarter for fourthone length behind the elimination winner. Gingras, admitting overconfidence in his horse, clarified that he did not underestimate the competition. I think Capt Midnight is a tremendous horse, so is Odds On Osiris. Obviously those two Ontario bredsIve heard great things about them, Gingras said. Its just that I felt my horse is so good and so sharp right now that some times I can let him loaf a little bit and hes going to get the job done any way. But at the end of the day it is a horse race and Im not going to make that mistake againIm going to make sure hes ready on Saturday night. If my horse was one dimensional I might worry a bit, but he can do any which way I want. So if they go a quarter in :24, hell be racing from second or third over. If they go slow, Ill be moving. If they dont go off the gate, Ill be going forward. I can do whatever I wantand thats whats great with Tall Dark Stranger: theres no certain trip he needs. His first start of the year he came from second over off bad cover and came :25 at the end of it. For Gingrasa driver sitting atop the ranks for the last few years with wins in nearly every top race in the sport including an unprecedented string of victories in the Hambletonian Oaksfinally winning one of the two million-dollar races which have eluded him would mean a lot, especially during a global pandemic. All the sacrifices, all the changes that Ive had to do and that my familys had to do itd mean that much more, Gingras said. The COSA TV broadcast also featured a handicapping segment with hosts Greg Blanchard and Mark McKelvie joined by Robert Reid Jr., author of the Horseplayer's Journal at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Garnet Barnsdale, Woodbine Mohawk Park handicapper for the Daily Racing Form. New Delhi, Aug 26 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday disposed of a plea seeking timely payment of salary to doctors and healthcare workers, citing that the Delhi High Court was already on the matter. A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah said the Delhi High Court has already taken up suo moto proceedings based on multiple media reports highlighting the issues connected with non-payment of salaries to the medical professionals. The top court observed that the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has already started paying salaries to doctors. The observation came on a petition by a private doctor, who questioned the Centre's decision on May 15 that 14-day quarantine period is not mandatory for doctors. The bench added that it will depose the plea with liberty to petitioner to raise issues, if any, before the high court. Senior Advocate K.V. Viswanathan, representing the petitioner, informed the bench that there is an issue still remaining, the ASHA Workers who have not been paid salaries so far. The top court noted that this issue does not fall in the purview of the petition taken up for hearing. The petitioner had also informed the top court that the medical professional, doctors and healthcare workers, involved in the treatment of Covid-19 are not being paid timely, and their wages were cut for the quarantine period. Breast cancer is more commonly associated with women than with men, affecting approximately one in eight women during their life. However, men can still be diagnosed with breast cancer, albeit in far rarer circumstances. While boys do not develop breasts like girls do during puberty, they still have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipples where breast cancer can develop, Macmillan Cancer Support explains. Recommended Six most common cancers for women and the symptoms to look out for Until puberty, breast tissue in boys and girls is the same. Both have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipple and areola (the darker area of skin around the nipple), the charity states. This is made up of a few tiny tubes (ducts) surrounded by fatty tissue, connective tissue, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. So how common is it for a man to be diagnosed with breast cancer, what are the signs that men should look out for and how can it be treated? Heres everything you need to know: How common is male breast cancer? Around 390 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK in comparison to 54,800 women, according to Cancer Research UK. Men who are between the ages of 60 and 70 are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease. Furthermore, men who have particularly high oestrogen levels also have more risk of developing the cancer. As with women, if a man has family members who have had breast cancer in the past, then his chances of also developing the cancer will increase. Around three in 100 breast cancers diagnosed in women are thought to be due directly to an inherited faulty gene (around three per cent). In men this might be more common, Cancer Research UK explains. Doctors think that between 10 and 20 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in men are due to inherited faulty genes (10 to 20 per cent). What are the symptoms? The most common symptom for breast cancer that men need to look out for is a lump in the breast tissue that can be felt close to the nipple. Lumps that require medical assessment may also be found further away from the nipple. Additional signs of breast cancer can include symptoms such as liquid discharge being emitted from the nipple; a nipple thats inverted or feels sensitive; swelling in the chest area; ulcers in the chest or nipple area; or lymph nodes in the armpit area, as outlined by Breast Cancer Care. The charity recommends visiting your GP as soon as you notice any changes to your chest area that could correspond to the aforementioned symptoms. How can a man check for breast cancer symptoms? His Breast Cancer, an organisation that raises awareness about male breast cancer, explains how men can carry out a self-exam. First, stand topless in front of a mirror, placing your arms on your hips. Look closely at your chest area, noting any changes to your nipples such as swelling or inversion. Then, raise your arms above your head and inspect the areas around your chest and your armpits. The next step is to feel your chest for any potential lumps, which can be done by moving your fingertips in a circular motion around the breast area. "You can perform this in either an up and down method, a circular or a wedge pattern, but try to be consistent using the same method each time," His Breast Cancer states. "In addition, check the nipple area for any discharge. Complete on both breasts." You can also inspect the chest area by lying down, placing a pillow under your right shoulder and placing your right arm over your head. Using the fingertips on your left hand, press down on the chest and armpit areas, before repeating the process on the other side. How can it be treated? The majority of men diagnosed with breast cancer may have to undergo a mastectomy, explains Breast Health UK. This procedure would then be followed by radiotherapy treatment targeted at the chest area in order to kill any remaining cancer cells. It can take between four to six weeks to recover from a mastectomy, as outlined by the NHS, with the operation lasting approximately 90 minutes. A man whos undergone a mastectomy may have to have chemotherapy and hormone therapy afterwards. This can depend on a number of factors, such as the size of the breast cancer tumour and whether or not the cancerous cells have spread. As with female breast cancer, if the cancer is caught in the early stages, a cure may be possible, Breast Health UK states. This is why early detection is important as once the cancer becomes more advanced, the prognosis and survival will be worse and long-term cure may not be possible." Missouri reopened its economy in mid-June and has seen a big surge in confirmed coronavirus cases this month so much so that a new federal report lists Missouri as among 21 states in the red zone for the outbreak. Those states are reporting more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people. Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu (L) calls on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi The appointment of former lieutenant governor of Jammu & Kashmir G.C. Murmu as Indias Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has not been welcomed by the Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS) officers. It is being seen as yet another instance of the dominance of the IAS cadre over other all-India services. Not that its been known to make any difference to this Sarkar, once its made up its mind! Sources say that in becoming CAG, Murmu who is from the 1985-batch Gujarat cadre of the IAS, has superseded at least six IAS officers. But he is not the first IAS officer to become the nations top auditor. Murmus immediate predecessor, Rajiv Mehrishi, was from the 1978 IAS cadre, and he too had followed Shashikant Sharma, who belonged to the 1976 batch. Many would also remember CAG Vinod Rai, a 1972-batch IAS officer. Apparently, the last IA&AS officer to become CAG was A. Baksi whose tenure ended back in 1978. Since then, CAGs have been from the tribe of the heaven-born, but clearly the IA&AS officers who have lost the race to become CAG are unwilling to accept the IAS outsiders. Will the current resentment subside naturally or will Murmu face rough weather? Well have to wait and see. Asthana is new BSF chief Two years after his highly publicized ouster from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), its former special director Rakesh Asthana has been named director general of the Border Security Force (BSF). Interestingly, he continues to hold additional charge of director general, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Checking narcotics smuggling remains a big concern and in the BSF, which patrols the borders, Asthana as DG is back in a position where he can play a more active role. Asthana has served both in the state government and at the Centre, where he served twice in the CBI. The 1984-batch IPS officer from the Gujarat cadre also did a low-profile stint at the Bureau of Civil Aviation and Security. At the CBI, he was involved in investigating many high-profile cases. During his first stint in the agency, he investigated the fodder scam, which resulted in the conviction of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Yadav. He also achieved signal success in building a water-tight case for the extradition of escaped liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the UK. He led CBIs case in the UK courts. In Gujarat, he served in crucial posts such as Vadodaras police commissioner under then chief minister Narendra Modi. Tell-all tales The arrival of tell-all books by Viral Acharya and Urjit Patel has whetted the curiosity of many who are looking to find some skeletons tumble out. Both economists did stints at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and left in more or less similar circumstances before the end of their terms. While Patel was RBI Governor, Acharya is a former deputy governor of RBI, who quit six months before his tenure ended in 2019. According to Acharya, Patel quit because of several attempts to undermine the autonomy of the bank by the government. It was something that was widely discussed in the media at the time. However, Patel had claimed that he had resigned for personal reasons, although it was widely speculated that one reason he disagreed with the government was on the issue of parting with the central banks reserves. However, he seems to have mended fences now as he has been appointed as Chairman of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. Acharya, too, quit after a series of spats with government officials. His book was published close on the heels of Patels own book which provides a glance into how India's bankruptcy code was weakened by several stakeholders within the broader banking system. Acharya has argued that numerous policies "regressed" the economic climate in the country while he was deputy governor between early January 2017 and mid-July 2019. Share a babu experience! Follow dilipthecherian@Twitter.com. Lets multiply the effect. Jaipur, Aug 26 : Sachin Pilot loyalist and former Rajasthan Minister Vishvendra Singh on Wednesday announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus. Sharing the information on Twitter, he said that he has isolated himself. "After getting the initial symptoms, I got tested and resulted in #COVID19 positive along with my family. I am asymptomatic and have isolated myself as per the protocol & guidelines. I request everyone who have come in contact since the last few days to get tested. "I will be available via social media and telephone at all times. Bring on the netflix recommendations!" he said in a series of tweets. A member of the Pilot faction during the recent political crisis and in Delhi with him, he was along, with Pilot, dropped from the Ashok Gehlot ministry. Vishvendra Singh, the MLA from Deeg-Kumher, returned to Jaipur on August 11 along with Pilot and the rest of the MLAs, bringing an end to political crisis. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The states new permit requirements for using animal waste as cropland fertilizer go too far, according to a new lawsuit filed by livestock producers and the Michigan Farm Bureau. If you like to locally source your milk, bacon, eggs, chicken, beef and a wide variety of other foods from Michigan family farms, you should watch this case carefully, said Michael Pattwell, an attorney on the case. Local councillor Denis Hynes has backed calls for the Minister for Education to appear before the special Covid committee to address concerns over predictive Leaving Certificate grades. The Labour Party councillor said students in Ireland need certainty over how they will be awarded grades for their Leaving Cert exams this year. The Labour Party is against school profiling and we want it scrapped from the predictive calculated grades model that is being used, says Cllr Hynes. I am backing the calls for the Minister for Education to appear before the special Oireachtas Covid committee to address concerns about the model that will be used, and we need more information about how the Department plan to avoid the problems weve seen in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We need to hear from the Minister instead of relying on press releases issued late on a Friday evening. Cllr Hynes said his party was extremely concerned that the use of school profiling in the predictive grading process will unfairly and negatively impact hard working students from disadvantaged schools. In light of the chaos experienced by students in the UK, I am calling on the Minister to compel her officials to remove any potential for school profiling from this years arrangements and to make sure students are assessed on merit and not by postcode, he said. She also must now publicly address the concerns being raised. TWO Limerick councillors have expressed their fears over a large group travelling from the Czech Republic to Rathkeale over the coming days. Cllrs Emmett OBrien and Adam Teskey say they have both been made aware of dozens of people making their way to Ireland. Cllr OBrien said: "The town of Rathkeale and surrounding communities, of which Im a county councillor, are facing an impending and immediate threat from Covid from over 50 people, some of whom are infected, travelling from Prague." The practising barrister said it is "high time to recall the Dail and pass emergency legislation to stop a likely huge Covid outbreak in Rathkeale and a potential lockdown of County Limerick". It is understood the people in question are from Rathkeale, left during the summer for the continent and are now returning home. Cllr OBrien said if the infected people are unwilling to self isolate then the "appropriate action must be taken with immediate effect to ensure they self-isolate or alternatively stop them in port when they arrive by sea from France". "No one wants another lockdown. Will we only take action when we have people here in Rathkeale testing positive? It will be too late then. If immediate action isnt taken God knows what the consequences will be when all the people coming from Prague arrive in Rathkeale," said Cllr OBrien, who adds that the Public Health verbal response to him on Monday was that they "can't do anything until we have people here in Rathkeale testing positive". By then it will be too late, said the Independent councillor. "It will be a classic case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. If this is allowed to happen we will have many unnecessary Covid casualties. We cannot simply sit back and wait for the onslaught we know is coming. "We are hugely concerned that Rathkeale will become the Lombardy of Ireland and that the easiest option for Public Health here is to let it happen and deal with it then. That is too late for us. We feel like sitting ducks, said Cllr OBrien, who also asked, Where are our two government ministers?" Cllr Teskey said he is aware of peoples concerns in relation to this (those coming from the Czech Republic). "I have exhausted all avenues available to me in bringing this issue to the notice of the relevant departments and bodies - An Garda Siochana, ministerial level, council at executive level and the HSE. "This is not going to be confined just to Rathkeale. This is going to be a problem that will affect many communities in County Limerick. The government needs to take prudent and proper action and demonstrate proper leadership when it comes to safeguarding local people," said Cllr Teskey. The councillor said the "government has failed and are continuing to fail regarding people coming though our ports and airports - are they being tested?" In relation to those returning to Limerick, Cllr Teskey said he would like to see them being tested when they arrive on these shores. "We have field hospitals, we have sites put in place like City West. We have been arranging this for quite some time since the outbreak began. Are these facilities being fully utilised - if not why not? "There has to be a public buy-in, in particular, to the people who are travelling from abroad and more importantly that are knowingly travelling with Covid," said Cllr Teskey. The Fine Gael councillor said he knows first hand from the town of Rathkeale, which he represents, that all businesses are doing their very level best at implementing social distancing and sanitising measures upon entry and exit of their premises. Following a query from the Limerick Leader, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said under the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981, any person who has concerns about a case or a suspected case of an infectious disease such as Covid-19 should bring this to the attention of the local Department of Public Health in the HSE, contact details available at https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/publichealth/publichealthdepts/ "The Department does not comment on individual statements but can clarify the public health measures applying to international travel. The governments full advice on travel in the context of Covid-19 is published at https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/75d92-covid-19-travel-advice/ "Passengers arriving to Ireland from overseas are legally required to complete a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form. The form may be used for the purpose of contact tracing in the event that there is a suspected or confirmed case on board a flight or ferry. "On August 26, a new version of the form was launched which will support the targeting of key public health messages to passengers arriving from overseas. Included in our messaging to passengers is information on how to access medical assistance in Ireland if you experience symptoms of COVID-19," said the spokesperson. "Separately, the public health advice for passengers arriving to Ireland from locations that have not been included on the 'green list' is to restrict movements for 14 days," they concluded. Planned Parenthood agrees to install ultrasound equipment, drops case against Ind. abortion law Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment After years of legal battles, abortion giant Planned Parenthood has agreed to drop its lawsuit against an Indiana law that requires women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound 18 hours before an abortion. A court filing on Aug. 19 states that Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky reached an agreement with the state and agreed to drop its three-year lawsuit against the 2016 law it claimed would hinder women's access to abortion. The Planned Parenthood affiliate had been granted a court injunction in 2017 after it argued that the law requiring abortion clinics to perform an ultrasound on patients was unconstitutional. Last week, however, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky agreed to install ultrasound equipment in its Fort Wayne clinic and train staff on how to use it. Both parties in the litigation the state of Indiana and Planned Parenthood also asked the court to dismiss the case. Due to events that have occurred in the more than three years since this court entered the preliminary injunction including, Plaintiffs addition of a new ultrasound machine at a new clinic in Fort Wayne the parties have conferred and agree that, on January 1, 2021, the preliminary injunction should be vacated and this case should be dismissed, the court filing states in part. Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill reacted favorably to the news. Im pleased that Planned Parenthood saw the likelihood that this very reasonable law ultimately would be upheld, he said. To their credit, they recognized the merits of avoiding further legal wrangling over this matter. The legal battle Hill referred to began after then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed House Bill 1337 into law four years ago. The bill includes several pro-life measures, including a requirement mandating that abortion providers perform an ultrasound at least 18 hours before an abortion is performed. Almost immediately following its passage, the bill began to face legal challenges from pro-abortion groups, including Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. A federal judge struck down the law less than 24 hours before it was set to take effect. A decision by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower courts ruling blocking the law. Eventually, the battle over House Bill 1337 reached the United States Supreme Court. Last month, the high court threw out the Seventh Circuits ruling, ordering the lower court to reconsider the case in light of its decision in June Medical Services, L.L.C. v. Russo. While that Supreme Court's decision invalidated a Louisiana law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, Chief Justice John Roberts indicated in his concurring opinion that states still had wiggle room to enact abortion restrictions in some cases. In the past, members of the judicial branch have upheld state laws mandating that women be shown ultrasounds before an abortion. Last December, the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from pro-abortion groups seeking to strike down a Kentucky law requiring mothers to view an ultrasound and listen to their childs heartbeat before they confirmed they wanted to have an abortion. The Supreme Courts decision not to hear the case enabled the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upholding the Kentucky law to remain in place. Two weeks ago, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals gave the state of Arkansas the green light to implement laws banning dismemberment abortions and sex-selective abortions. Last October, a federal judge upheld a Virginia law requiring ultrasounds and waiting periods for women seeking abortions. That law was overruled by the Reproductive Health Protection Act, signed into law by Gov. Ralph Northam this past April. However, not every judicial ruling on abortion that has taken place in the past year has resulted in a favorable outcome for the pro-life movement. In addition to the Supreme Courts ruling on the Louisiana law, a federal judge in Iowa blocked a law requiring a 24-hour waiting period for abortions from going into effect there. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Australia's summer of festivals is all but over with Falls the latest major music event to be culled by the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers pulled the pin on Falls Festival, which runs from New Year's Eve until early January in Lorne, Marion Bay, Byron Bay and Fremantle, after losing faith that social distancing and border restrictions would be lifted in time to allow the popular event to proceed. Falls Festival has been cancelled this year. Falls is the latest in a string of festivals to be dumped. CMC Rocks, BluesFest, Splendour in the Grass, Woodford and Port Fairy folk festivals, Strawberry Fields, Listen Out, the Gympie Music Muster, Groovin The Moo and Day on the Lawn have all called it quits for 2020. Meredith Music Festival, which is held in Victoria in mid-December, is yet to officially announce its plans, but the state's second wave of coronavirus and international and local border restrictions have thrown dark clouds over its future. Paul Piticco and Jessica Ducrou, who run Falls and Splendour in the Grass, optimistically announced in May that the summer music staple would proceed in December and January with an all-Australian line-up, but said that would no longer be possible due to social distancing requirements and state border restrictions. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 08:31 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c407eafc 1 Editorial vaccine,#Editorial,COVID-19,pandemic,economic-slowdown,economic-crisis,health-protocol Free It is admirable how the government has gone the extra mile to secure a COVID-19 vaccine amid a tight race among nations in their efforts to protect their citizens from the pandemic. The overseas trip of State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi to China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently gave Indonesia a supply of 300 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine along with other economic and research partnerships until the end of next year. Retno said 20 million to 30 million doses of the potential vaccine would be sent by the end of this year, with 80 million to 130 million doses coming in the first quarter of next year and 210 million doses for the remainder of 2021. On top of those figures, Indonesian pharmaceutical giant Bio Farma hopes to produce at least 150 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine from Chinas Sinovac Biotech in the first quarter of 2021, depending on the success of the phase III tests now underway in Bandung, West Java. Indonesia, like other nations across the world, is desperately seeking a vaccine to protect millions of its people from the life-threatening disease and save its economy from calamity. The impact of the pandemic on the economy is proven to be more devastating than the 1997-1998 financial crisis, as evident in the 5.3 percent contraction of the countrys gross domestic product in the second quarter of this year, just a few months since the first infection case was announced early in March. If the economic doldrums continue, unemployment is predicted to hit 12.7 million next year, according to National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas) estimates. Millions of others will fall into poverty. The fact that the government is doing what it takes to secure a potential vaccine is, therefore, a noble effort. But this is not a reason to put our minds at ease. The vaccines are still in clinical trials or in the form of commitments. People cannot rely on them as questions are still raised about their effectiveness. China, Russia and other countries have openly skipped steps in clinical trials to be able to start production. The United States government plans to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine under special emergency use guidelines sometime before the election on Nov. 3, apparently for political motives. With many parts of the scientific process compromised, we can only doubt the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. Prominent infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has warned of risks in rushing out a vaccine despite the urgent need. "One of the potential dangers if you prematurely let a vaccine out is that it would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the other vaccines to enroll people in their trial," Fauci told Reuters. The few months before the vaccines are expected to arrive will be crucial. The government should not forget that a major part of slowing down the pandemic is prevention, which involves the strict implementation of health protocols. It cannot continue to promote economic recovery while hoping that everything will get better when a vaccine is finally available. ZAMBOANGA CITY Eight villages in the southern Philippine province of Sulu are now free from the influence of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf... We are almost four years into the Trump presidency. That means we are only a few dozen days from another federal election. And unlike the media conversation that swirled around the 2016 contest by that fallaround Hillary Clintons emails, James Comeys investigations, and Donald Trumps made-for-TV diversionsits clear that this time, we are much more aware of the stakes. The upcoming election will raise a host of existential questions that go far beyond who will win. Instead this election is about the future of the American experiment with democracy itself: Will the vote be free and fair? What might a weaponized Justice Department do to affect and even undermine the election? Can the Republican-led Senate affirmatively work to sabotage the Democratic candidate? Will foreign interference be both tolerated and effective? And yet we in the press are still struggling not only with key questions about the very future of the American democratic experience, but also with whether and how to ask these questions publicly in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. We should know better by now. It is abundantly clear that a lot of us in media failed to anticipate or even ask questions of this sort in the run-up to the 2016 election. In fairness, how could we have known what was to come? But also, weve now spent four years marinating in this soup. It is perfectly apparent that those who fretted early and often about the prospect of creeping authoritarianism and tyrannythe Tim Snyders and the Masha Gessens and the Sarah Kendziorswere tut-tutted as hysterics for a long time, right up until the things they predicted actually began to come true. Somehow, even as it becomes manifest that the media may have underreacted to the threats Trump and Trumpism posed to the basic guardrails of democracy in 2016his ongoing threats to the courts, a free press, the right to protest, to separation of powers and to an independent Justice Departmentthe impulse is to err on the side of underreaction yet again. This is partly a function of an inherently conservative press corps, yes, but it is also considered a rational strategy: Why would we draw attention to low-probability disaster scenarios that would have the effect of panicking readers or undermining their trust in the institutions that protect democracy, especially if its clear that so many of Trumps most unhinged ideaslike arming poll watchers or canceling the election altogetherare simply attempts to distract from the fact that he is losing and knows it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result is that whenever a potential catastrophic idea is spoken aloud, there is a strange counterreaction that holds that the imperative is to stop spreading it, reporting on it, or discussing it, for fear of making it real. This makes the Trump disaster planning debate a distant cousin to the yearslong Trump distraction debate. Because rather than dealing directly with the matter at hand, it has us triangulating against the good of the polity, fighting among ourselves yet again about what the press should be covering, and how, and why. Whatever ultimately happens, this predictable intramural argument allows us to blame the media for doing something that was always, in fact, just called journalism. We keep shooting the messengers in an attempt to choke off the message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump, president of the United States, continues to stymie the rational mind. One version of the current election disaster-gaming that is looming ever larger: What happens if Donald Trump loses in November but refuses to leave office? That is, what if, by any reasonable standard, Trump loses the election, once all the votes that should be counted have been counted and once any court challenges that might be brought have been decided, but then he simply claims that he didnt really lose, or that the votes cant be trusted, or that the process was fraudulent, and so he wont go? My friend Joshua Geltzer floated this scenario over a year ago on CNN. I asked him how people responded at the time. One big reaction to my article was the same one thats come to define the Trump era: He wouldnt really do that, would he? Geltzer said. But then Id start ticking off all of the times many of us had said that about Trump before, only to see him do the unthinkable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I interviewed Geltzer about that same article last fall, when it was still seen as akin to science fiction, and also a reckless topic of speculation. Yet this summer, stories speculating about Trump refusing to accept defeat appear almost daily. That means that one of two things had happened in the interim: Either Geltzer floating the idea in 2019 caused it to take hold in the public imagination, or an idea that seemed off the wall and implausible in 2019 was in fact perfectly plausible, then and now, and we just failed to reckon with it because we were afraid of it. It turns out that theres something even harder than providing answers to terrifying and destabilizing election-related questionsand there are answers, even if there are no guarantees, as my colleague Jeremy Stahl has laid out in a recent piece. But whats proving far harder is not necessarily answering these questions in print, but figuring out how to ask them in the first place. Because the questions themselves are terrifying and destabilizing, just like Trumps initial victory was. Because Donald Trump, president of the United States, continues to stymie the rational mind. He continues to suggest, or sometimes even promise, that hell do something outrageouseven unfathomable. And then were trapped. Do we explain why he cant do it, shouldnt do it, legally couldnt do it, even if he means to do it anyway? Or do we refuse to dignify his crackpot suggestion, thus normalizing his crackpot suggestion? And if we choose that latter course, what happens when he goes ahead and does it? Because sometimes he really does the crazy thing nobody believed he might do, until he does them. And no, floating those ideas in the media does not cause them to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These scenarios have plagued us for years, but they get much more complicated when they become lashed to the outcomes of the election itself. And today the question we in the media must confront isnt precisely what if Trump wont leave? What we must confront is how do we ask the question now that informs readers of the remote but increasing possibility that he wont leave, while also not doing anything to make his refusal to leave more likely? And in my own career in media, nothing has prepared me for the mental taffy-pull that sort of question raises. Because we are not being asked to report or analyze the disaster scenarios, but rather to massage them enough to cause a perfectly calibrated forward-looking ratio of public alarm to public awareness. Advertisement Perhaps we can agree here that the operative fear isnt that when the media discusses a terrifying possibility, it gives Donald Trump ideas. I think we can stipulate that whatever crazy chaos he disgorges up onto the world doesnt emerge from any rational calculus about what progressive journalists or disaster gamers are fretting about. Perhaps we might also agree that had the media done a little more disaster planning in the 2016 election contest, the Trump campaign might have been taken as a more serious, existential threat to democratic norms and protections. Advertisement Advertisement But the question remains: Does reporting on all the terrible scenarios that might play out lead people to either check out, panic, normalize, or disbelieve the press? And if it does, how else do we prepare our readers for what may come? On the first day of the Republican National Convention, Trump, promising the crowd that Democrats were rigging the election, had them chanting four more years. Delighted, he urged attendees instead to cheer for 12 more years. Which is either a joke, a promise, a threat, or a trial balloon, but the question remains: Should it be reported, and how? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One possibility is to remind readers that Trump can hollow out and corrupt institutions without destroying them altogether, and that while Attorney General Bill Barr or Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin may be burning the midnight oil in their efforts to break the Justice Department or the post office, those institutions contain career employees who are faithful to the mission to this day. Which means we can worry about institutional damage without giving up on institutions themselves. We can also remind our readers that the country has been through destructive cycles before and survived them. History can be a useful guide to remember that not everything that shocks us today is without precedent. Finally, we can use journalism to remind our readers of things that are being done, that can be done, that are done daily, in the weeks between now and the election, to stave off any sense of hopelessness or fatalism. (Thats actually what Geltzer was doing with his 2019 argument in the first place.) Advertisement Advertisement The media cannot avoid frightening, unconstitutional, or disempowering ideas this election cycle. It is our job to do quite the opposite: to help clarify what may come, even if it strikes us as unlikely or disturbing, and even if its later dismissed as a joke. Just as we have explored Trumps worst fanciful suggestionsabout physically abusing criminal defendants, changing the legal protections for journalists, or doing away with birthright citizenshipwe should also explore the dark and scary ones, about refusing to accept defeat or encouraging supporters to reject the election results. Does it make us all complicit in the daily mayhem of Schrodingers chaos election? Of course it does. But is it smarter than covering our eyes and ears and hoping none of it is coming, as too many of us did in covering the 2016 contest? Um, yes. Because wishing that away didnt keep it from coming true. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:01:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong has urged Indian youth to build a bridge of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and India. Speaking at a recent China-India youth webinar, the Chinese ambassador said friendly cooperation is the mainstream of bilateral relations in the long history of China-India exchanges. "The exchange between China and India is like an age-old, heavy book worth reading for a lifetime," he said. "The exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Indian civilizations have made important contributions to the development of the two civilizations and the world at large." The ambassador noted that China and India, as two ancient civilizations, should respect and learn from each other, treat each other as equals, and seek common ground while reserving differences. "There are no two identical civilizations in the world. We should respect the diversity of the world and treat each other's differences in a mature and rational manner," he said. "We need mutual respect and appreciation, be open and inclusive, so that we can trust each other and live in harmony." Sun stressed that as two rising major neighbors, China and India should abandon the old mindset of drawing lines by ideology, and get rid of the old game of "One's gain is another's loss" and "zero-sum game". "As two neighbors and emerging major countries with a population of over 1 billion respectively, the growth of China-India relations will not only benefit our two countries and peoples, but also add stability and positive energy to peace and prosperity of the region and the world at large," he said. The Chinese envoy said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India 70 years ago, bilateral relations have withstood tests and become more resilient, and it should not be disturbed by one thing at a time. Describing the "unfortunate incident happened in the border areas" as "a brief moment from the perspective of history," he said bilateral relations should continue to move forward instead of backward. "We need to see that friendly cooperation between China and India is the mainstream and the general trend," he said. "Only by seeing this can we maintain objective and rational judgment and correctly handle the differences between the two sides." The ambassador reiterated that China's basic foreign policy towards India remains unchanged. "China sees India as a partner instead of a rival, and an opportunity instead of a threat," he said. "We hope to put the boundary question at an appropriate place in bilateral relations, properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, and push bilateral relations back on track at an early date." Sun stressed that people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and India need to be inherited and carried forward from generation to generation. Sun expressed his hope that Indian youth will strengthen communication, make good use of the exchange platform for learning various languages, and cooperate with Chinese colleges and universities to further enhance the understanding of China and India, build a bridge between the two peoples, and contribute to the healthy development of bilateral relations. Enditem AKRON, Ohio -- The Summit County Medical Examiners Office on Wednesday identified the victim in Tuesdays fiery crash on Ohio 8 in Akron as Jared Marcum, 18, of North Canton. Marcum was driving a car involved in a collision with a tanker truck around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday on Ohio 8 between Tallmadge and Howe avenues, according to police. The crash remains under investigation. The driver of the tanker was not hurt, police said. The Akron Fire Department reported that gasoline from the tankers fuel tank and an unidentified flammable liquid carried by the tanker contributed to a fire that was visible for miles, and engulfed Marcums car. Some of the liquids spread onto the roadway and into a nearby stream that flows into the Cuyahoga River near Gorge Metro Park. The fire department confirmed there was hot runoff in the sewer system, with some soot found near the sewer grates, and that the fire was quickly extinguished. Summit Metro Parks temporarily closed Gorge Metro Park due to a sewer fire related to the crash on Ohio 8, and has banned fishing in the area until Saturday. The tanker company is paying for an emergency remediation company to perform additional work in the area, including placing absorbent booms, which restrict access to the affected area along the river, according to an Akron spokeswoman. Firefighters ordered people within a half-mile radius of the crash to evacuate the area, which forced residents to leave homes and businesses, including parts of Summa Healths campus, Akrons North High School and Harris Jackson CLC Elementary School. There were no students at the schools, since Akron schools began the year remotely. People who evacuated were allowed to return Tuesday afternoon. Ohio 8 was closed in both directions for several hours following the crash. The southbound lanes reopened Tuesday afternoon, while northbound traffic was confined to one lane from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Tuesday as crews repaired parts of the pavement. Marcum had just started classes at the University of Akron. UAs Vice President for Student Affairs John A. Messina released the following statement: The entire University of Akron community is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of student, Jared Marcum, in a traffic accident on August 25. Our thoughts and condolences are with Jareds family, loved ones and friends during this very difficult time. Support services are available for members of the campus community. "The Accomplice," by Joseph Kanon Kanon's ninth novel takes place nearly two decades after World War II, when an aging Nazi hunter asks his nephew to track down a vicious doctor who escaped to Buenos Aires after the war. - - - "Barnum: An American Life," by Robert Wilson Wilson's vivid biography describes the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum, who, even as a child in the 1820s, was already coming up with ways to separate people from their hard-earned money. - - - "Cemetery Road," by Greg Iles Yet another of Iles's massive tomes, this one concerns a journalist returning to his small Southern hometown to revive a struggling newspaper, but he ends up investigating a murder instead. - - - "Dominicana," by Angie Cruz Shortlisted for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction, Cruz's novel follows a Dominican teenager who agrees to a loveless marriage for the sake of her family, but finds herself falling for her husband's free-spirited brother. - - - "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead," by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones In this cerebral whodunit, by the winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize for literature, a reclusive astrologist thinks she knows why local hunters keep turning up dead. - - - "Find Me," by Andre Aciman The follow-up to "Call Me By Your Name" checks in with former flames Elio and Oliver years after the summer they spent falling in love. - - - "Is There Still Sex in the City?," by Candace Bushnell After various forays into fiction, Bushnell returns to her roots with another examination of dating, this time from the perspective of a woman over 50. - - - "Know My Name," by Chanel Miller Miller - whose personal statement under the name Emily Doe went viral in 2016 following the sentencing of Brock Turner - gives voice to the pain and horror of enduring a sexual assault and its aftermath. - - - "Silver, Sword and Stone," by Marie Arana Arana, a former Washington Post Book World editor, weaves a gripping account of Latin America's conquest and exploitation over 500 years. - - - "The Starless Sea," by Erin Morgenstern The author of "The Night Circus" unfurls another magical plot as a graduate student encounters a strange library book that leads him to the portal of another world. - - - "Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl," by Jeannie Vanasco Vanasco's memoir recounts her process of trying to find closure after being raped 14 years earlier - a process that involves reaching out to the man who committed the crime. - - - "Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For," by Susan Rice She may not be on the Biden ticket, but Rice's memoir is still worth reading as she looks back at her Washington upbringing and the work she did within the Obama administration. - - - "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself," by Jill Biden The former second lady recalls meeting and falling in love with Joe Biden and his sons, as well as the heartbreak of losing Beau in 2015. - - - "The World Doesn't Require You," by Rion Amilcar Scott Scott's electrifying and genre-spanning story collection is held together by its fictional setting, a Maryland town founded by members of the only successful slave rebellion in America. Bunnings has released a festive collection of Christmas lights to brighten the mood amid COVID-19. The range - exclusively available in select stores - includes pink reindeer, fibre optic trees and giant Nutcracker soldiers that stand over a metre high. An employee from the Craigieburn outlet, 25 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, announced the launch with a Facebook photo that's gone viral since it was posted on Tuesday night. 'After the year we've had, bushfires and a pandemic (and our metro Melbourne folk still getting through), looking forward to seeing lots of seasonal lighting,' she wrote in the caption. Scroll down for video Christmas come early: Bunnings has launched a collection of Christmas decorations, exclusively available in select stores, to brighten the mood amid COVID-19 It's not clear which other stores are stocking the festive collection, which does not appear on the brand's website because they are promotional items. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bunnings for clarification. While hundreds of Victorians replied to the post saying she had 'made their day', others living under Melbourne's strict stage four lockdown bemoaned that they'd be waiting at least another few weeks to get their hands on the decorations. Bunnings outlets inside the metropolitan Melbourne area have been closed to everyone but tradespeople since midnight on August 7 under orders from the Victorian government. But customers can still order online and pick up at the store provided it falls within a five kilometre radius of your house, in accordance with lockdown restrictions. From suburban Victorians, the excitement was evident. 'Eekkk! That makes me happy! Especially as we are hosting family Christmas this year and I wanted to get a head start!! Thank you!' one person said. Another added: 'We need something cheerful, that's for sure! I think I need to get into the festive spirit this year.' But some felt the launch was premature, even against the backdrop of the pandemic. 'Gosh Christmas stuff already, it's not even September yet,' one woman said. A second said: 'Christmas decs (sic) already.. Oh my god, yes I love Christmas but why can't they wait until October at least?' A third was more outspoken in her criticism. 'No!!! Halloween needs to come first. Hate b****y Christmas. Worst time of year,' she said. 'People turn into monsters and become so greedy - completely missing the whole point. Anyway, that's my whinge.' Solar party lights (left and right) are the only festive decorations currently available on Bunnings website, as the Christmas collection is a promotional offer How Melburnians under stage four lockdown can shop at Bunnings Drive and Collect: For Drive & Collect orders, customers order their products online and when their order is ready to collect, they select a convenient pick up time online. On arrival at our carpark, customers park in their designated Drive & Collect parking bays and call the store with their order number. A Team Member will bring the order out and load it into the customer's vehicle without the customer having to leave their vehicle. Drive & Collect is available at all Melbourne stores excluding Brunswick and Werribee. Click and Deliver: Bunnings also offers a Click and Delivery service where products purchased online are delivered to customers. The service includes key stocked items and our online store indicates items that can be delivered. D.I.Y. Hotline: The Bunnings D.I.Y. Hotline (1800 560 771) is managed by Bunnings team members that customers can call for expert advice on a range of topics. Customers can also call to order the materials they need and have them delivered to their front door. The D.I.Y Hotline is free to call. Source: Bunnings Australia Advertisement Others felt Christmas during coronavirus would be a dreary celebration for those separated from loved ones by the Australian border closure. 'I don't even want to think about Christmas with all these border closures, so many families wondering if they will get to see each other,' one woman said. Bunnings National Buyer Rebecca Hevey told Daily Mail Australia the 2020 festive range will feature over 200 items which will be available in store and online from early September. 'Bunnings is the destination for all your festive lighting needs, from Halloween to Diwali, Christmas and New Years,' Ms Hevey said. 'We have something for everyone, including stunning festoon style lights, new inflatables such as a dancing Santa and Santa on a shark, plus fun silhouettes and statues.' STAMFORD A city man will spend eight years in federal prison after an investigation revealed he was in possession of thousands of images and videos showing the sexual abuse of children, according to authorities. A federal judge sentenced Alexander Oliveira, 32, to 96 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. An undercover FBI special agent exchanged messages with Oliveira on an online message board and through email, during which Oliveira expressed an interest in child pornography, federal authorities said. In one message, Oliveira told the undercover agent he had tons of pictures and videos of children between the ages of 4 and 12, authorities said. Oliveira then sent multiple pornographic images of children in that age range to the undercover agent, authorities said. Oliveira said he would give the undercover agent his entire collection of child sexual abuse images in exchange for in-person access to a child, authorities said. Investigators arrested Oliveira on March 5, 2019. When investigators searched Oliveiras computer at the time of his arrest, they said they found about 2,000 images and videos showing the sexual abuse of children, including more than 600 images of children who investigators said have been identified during this and several other child pornography investigations. Investigators also learned that in 2016, Oliveira enticed a 16-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photos of herself. Authorities said he also went to New York, where the age of consent is 17, several times to sexually assault the girl. Oliveira pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography on Oct. 2, 2019. He was released on a $100,000 bond. He was ordered to report to prison on Sept. 24. Visit www.cybertipline.com to report cases of child exploitation. The Navy lacks the shipbuilding and repair capacity to meet the demands of peacetime, much less war, a top Navy official said Tuesday. "We don't have enough capacity in peacetime, we can't get ships delivered on time with the predictability we need today," said Rear Adm. Eric Ver Hage, the Navy Regional Maintenance Center commander and director of surface ship maintenance and modernization. Read Next: Coast Guard Watch Opens Fire After 8-Foot Shark Crashes Swim Call "Think how long it took the Fitzgerald and [John S.] McCain to get back in operation," Ver Hage said, citing as examples the lengthy repairs of the two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers involved in deadly collisions two months apart in 2017. The Fitzgerald collided with a container ship off the coast of Japan on June 17, 2017, killing seven sailors who were trapped below decks in flooded compartments. The destroyer went back to sea on Feb. 3 of this year. The McCain collided with a tanker off Singapore on Aug. 21, 2017, killing 10 sailors, and was declared operational in June. Ver Hage also cited the catastrophic July 12 fire dockside in San Diego aboard the "big deck" Wasp-class amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard to illustrate the difficulties the Navy has in quick turnarounds on repairs. The Navy has yet to decide whether to scrap or repair the Bonhomme Richard. "We'll see what we'll do with the Bonhomme Richard, but that will be a massive effort to repair her," Ver Hage said. "I'm talking years, most likely." Ver Hage spoke with Rear Adm. Tom J. Anderson, the Navy's Program Executive Officer for Ships, at a Navy League webinar on the status of Navy shipbuilding. The final question put to them concerned the dire warnings from Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger about the U.S. ability to fight and win at sea in the event of war with a major adversary such as China. In the draft of a doctrine statement first reported by Breaking Defense in June, Berger wrote that "Large ships offer superior endurance and flexibility for forward presence but are lucrative targets ... Replacing ships lost in combat will be problematic, inasmuch as our industrial base has shrunk while peer adversaries have expanded their shipbuilding capacity." In response to Berger's warnings, Anderson said that he was part of a group that met two years ago on war planning and the capacity of the defense industrial base to meet the challenge with James Geurts, Assistant Navy Secretary for Research, Development & Acquisition. Anderson said the questions considered included how prepared the Navy was to enter a fight; what authorities are needed from Congress; how the Navy could get ships closed to delivery out of the yard; and what repair capabilities would need to be leveraged. "That calculus exists" for answers to all those questions, Anderson said, but the capacity to meet the challenge of war with a major adversary "goes beyond what we're currently doing." Numerous government and think tank reports over the years have noted the persistent and prolonged delays in getting Navy ships into the yards for repairs and maintenance and getting them back to sea. In May, the Government Accountability Office reported that delays were continuing at the three main Regional Maintenance Centers, although costs were coming down under new contracting procedures. Between 2015 and 2019, only three of 24 ships in for repairs at the Norfolk, Virginia, maintenance center were finished on schedule, the GAO said. The GAO pointed to "the extra time it often takes to coordinate funding for additional repairs that may have been expected but could not be quantified when the contract began." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Navy's Top Admiral Won't Say Yet If Bonhomme Richard Will Be Repaired After Fire In this screenshot from the RNCs livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, John Peterson, owner and chief executive of metal fabricator Schuette Metals, addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 25, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) Small-Business Owners Front and Center at 2nd Night of Republican Convention A lobster fisherman, a dairy farmer, and a metal fabricator delivered speeches during the Republican National Convention on Aug. 25, lauding President Donald Trumps economic policies, including tax cuts and deregulation. Jason Joyce, and an eighth-generation lobster fisherman from Maine, said he didnt support Trump during the 2016 election, but has since changed his mind after the president followed through on his campaign promises. He lamented an ObamaBiden administration move to order thousands of miles of ocean off-limits to commercial fishermen. President Trump reversed that decision, reinstating the rules that allow stakeholder input, and he supports a process that seeks and respects fishermens views, Joyce said. In this screenshot from the RNCs livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, Maine lobsterman Jason Joyce addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 25, 2020. (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) As long as Trump is president, fishing families like mine will have a voice. But if Biden wins, hell be controlled by the environmental extremists who want to circumvent longstanding rules and impose radical changes that hurt our coastal communities. Joyce and other speakers at the convention delivered addresses either in front of an empty hall or remotely due to concerns about the spread of the CCP virus, commonly known as the coronavirus. The Democratic National Convention, which was conducted in a similar format last week, featured a number of people who voted for Trump in 2016 but have since switched to supporting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. At the Republican National Convention, Cris Peterson, owner of a 1,000-cow dairy farm in Wisconsin, said that business was horrible in 2016, with many generational farms across the nation going out of business. Things turned from bad to worse in 2017 after Petersons 120-year-old barn and milking center burned to the ground. Despite the hardships, her company has recovered and built a new state-of-the-art robotic milking facility. In this screenshot from the RNCs livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, Wisconsin dairy farmer Cris Peterson addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 25, 2020. (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images) At about the same time, President Trumps economic boom began helping dairy farmers across the nation, Peterson said. More than any president, he has acknowledged the importance of farmers and agriculture. That support and focus on negotiating new trade deals gave us the confidence to rebuild our barn and dairy operation. When business came to a screeching halt amid the lockdowns related to the CCP virus pandemic, the president took the necessary action knowing that agriculture is our backbone and strength, critical to our national security, she added. John Peterson, owner of a metal fabrication business, blamed the ObamaBiden administration for putting his business into a tailspin. We scrapped and clawed and hung on with everything we had for two years. And then everything changed, Peterson said. Because Donald Trump was elected president. He knew what it was like to build a company and to create jobs for American workers. And he got right to work. Peterson praised the president for cutting regulations and putting an end to draconian banking regulations that made it difficult for his business to borrow money. The Biden campaign didnt respond to a request for comment. Throughout the spring and much of the summer, COVID-19 case counts ticked up one or two at a time in Floyd County, reaching 33 by Aug. 1. But midway through the month, they began to pile up and over the course of a couple of days and spiked to 109 before slowing to a trickle. Another surge came in reporting data Wednesday when the Virginia Department of Health reported 14 more cases, bringing the countys total to 139. There isnt a way to look at the days numbers and know whether there are outbreaks in places or clusters in families and friends, or if there is wider transmission occurring in the rural mountainous county. Nor is there a way to know when the infections occurred. Dr. Noelle Bissell, director of the New River Health District, offered no details during a Tuesday news conference. We had some outbreaks in Floyd that were well contained and well controlled, Bissell said. She said there was no reason to discuss them further. We didnt feel they presented a risk to public health, she said. By the time those numbers hit the dashboard, they had been investigated. Weve already done our risk assessment and implemented containment and mitigation strategies. Bissell said watching the Virginia Department of Healths dashboard is helpful for spotting trends, but people dont realize that if they see 20 cases added in one day, the infections might have been discovered over four or five days and not just the previous 24-hour reporting period. The states system has variables that the local health districts cant control. Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Molly ODell has tried to get data corrected for the Roanoke and Alleghany health districts, where she is leading the pandemic response. There have been issues surrounding reporting by one large lab that had not been putting in addresses for patients, and even when addresses are entered by ZIP code, a case can end up assigned to the wrong locality and later have to be corrected on the dashboard. ODell said theyve also run into a technology glitch. She thinks most of the problems have been figured out, but as of Tuesday, her case count for Roanoke was nearly 200 higher than the states dashboard. Roanoke Countys actual case count is about 100 higher than the state shows, and Salems is about 50 lower. ODell holds a weekly news briefing to talk not just about the numbers but about the trends she sees in how the disease is spreading. Over 20-plus weeks, shes chronicled how the virus went from affecting mostly elderly residents of long-term care facilities, to hitting construction sites and restaurants, to disproportionately affecting Latinos, to coming home with Myrtle Beach vacationers, and now arriving with college students. Shes talked about investigations, contact tracing, testing, helping schools plan and businesses contain the virus. And shes repeated the take-home message: Wear face coverings, keep your distance, wash your hands. This week, Bissell joined ODells media call to discuss what is happening in the New River Valley. She said that her department is attempting to engage everyone in the community with its Be Committed Be Well campaign, and that it isnt as important to talk about case counts and outbreaks and daily reports. Theres a lot of uncertainty, which can generate a lot of fear. People feel they need to know where those cases are, who those cases are. When in fact, its here and we know its here, Bissell said. We know how it spreads and we know the measures that are protective of everyone else. We need to focus on that message. Bissell said she cringes when she hears of people making decisions or assumptions about the daily numbers. What is more important, she said, is for those who engage in riskier behavior to keep away from those who do not, especially those who are vulnerable to becoming very ill or dying from the disease. The cases in Floyd have caused two deaths and six hospitalizations. Radford, too, has seen a surge in cases this month as students returned to the Radford University campus, and on Wednesday another 35 were added to the citys total, bringing the cumulative count to 223. Bissell said most of the people have had mild illnesses. There have been three hospitalizations and no deaths among the Radford cases. Bissell could not say what percentage of the Radford cases were in students. I dont have the numbers, and I dont think we need to disclose the numbers because it doesnt change the messaging. It doesnt change the public health measures we need to address. 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. Cairo was among the first countries to welcome the ceasefire declarations by the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) Aguila Saleh, and the Chairman of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez Al-Sarraj. The declarations are in line with Egypts peace-making efforts as epitomised in the Cairo Declaration of 5 July 2020, and subsequent developments, most notably President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisis delineation of a red line from Sirte to Jufra. According to Egyptian officials, Cairos approach has focused on containing the warring parties in Libya as a means to pull the rug out from under Turkey and Qatar. Both states have been taking advantage of the conflict in Libya in order to establish a foothold there, using extremist and terrorist elements as part of a larger scheme to rehabilitate, promote and reposition Islamist forces across the region. Cairo was instrumental in promoting the ceasefire and its efforts have intersected with those of other regional and international powers keen to steer Libya back to stability, a government source told Al-Ahram Weekly. Cairo believes the progress achieved so far is the beginning of the road to recovering stability in Libya, the source said. Cairo will not let anyone derail it or bargain it away. Egypt will remain on the alert, prepared to promote and safeguard everything that serves the interests of the Libyan people and joint Egyptian-Libyan interests. It remains determined to confront any party that attempts to divert this course. Egypts policy on Libya, said the source, is predicated on a set of clear priorities related to Libyas importance to Egypts national security and the dangers that arise when the situation there is manipulated. Egypt, he added, was ready to handle all scenarios and will have no truck with any attempts to reposition terrorists or impose militias on the scene. Although combined, the statements released by Saleh and Al-Sarraj form a turning point in the Libyan conflict, they nevertheless reflect different outlooks and principles related to the ceasefire. For example, Al-Sarraj linked the ceasefire to the creation of a demilitarised zone in Sirte and Jufra and the resumption of oil production and export, the revenues from which should be transferred to an account of the Libyan Central Bank abroad controlled by the GNA. He insisted the National Oil Corporation (NOC) should be the only agency with the authority to make decisions pertaining to the production and export processes and that foreign forces and mercenaries, which he did not identify, should be removed from the area. The statement called for presidential and legislative elections in March. According to the source, Cairo opposes the creation of a demilitarised zone in Sirte and Jufra, fearing it will lead to acrimony over the nature of the force that would fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Libyan National Army (LNA) from the area, and could herald the partition of Libya. Certainly, the motives of some outside powers that promote the notion of a demilitarised zone are questionable. Turkey, for example, wants the LNA to withdraw not just from Sirte but also from Jufra, as Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has made explicit. On Al-Sarrajs position regarding oil, a member of the Libyan House of Representatives told the Weekly that the insistence that NOC monopolise decisions on oil production and exports is designed to side-line the HoR, the only elected body in Libya. He warned that excluding HoR from decision making and oversight will work to entrench the current situation in which oil revenues are funnelled into servicing GNA defence and security contracts with Turkey and Qatar. The MP added that the head of NOC is affiliated with the GNA and has been in post for seven years. Another source believes there is a connection between the visit undertaken by the head of Egyptian Military Intelligence Major General Khaled Megawer to Al-Rajma, the headquarters of the LNA General Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar outside Benghazi, and a subsequent announcement by the LNA regarding the restart of oil production. Other sources in Cairo neither confirm nor deny a link, though observers believe the scenario fits with Cairos determination to break the stalemate in Libya within the framework of understandings between Egypt and other powers, most notably the US. One of the most significant differences between the two sides is embodied by Aguila Salehs proposal for an interim phase in which Sirte serves as the temporary capital. He argued that using the centrally located city as an interim capital would overcome the east-west rift, providing the space necessary for the two sides to reach a political accord. Al-Sarrajs call for elections within six months clearly rules out an interim period. He obviously envisions remaining in power during the interval, which he and his allies would use as a carte blanche to continue to manage the government without checks or balances, and with nothing to restrain them from concluding agreements with outside powers that could be detrimental to the Libyan people. In Cairos opinion there is a mechanism for dealing with disputes of this nature: dialogue within the framework of the Berlin process. It was precisely within this framework that the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) hosted a dialogue meeting between a delegation from the speaker of the HoR and another from the head of the GNA in the hope of overcoming obstacles to the resumption of the political process. According to a source familiar with the track two sessions have already been concluded and another should be held in the coming weeks. He added that some positive progress has been made towards the resumption of the political process, and he believes that the points of difference between Salehs and Al-Sarrajs statements will also be discussed by the participants in the dialogue. The Libyan National Army (LNA), meanwhile, has shown a degree of resistance to last weeks developments. Its criticisms have focused on Al-Sarrajs statement which LNA Spokesman Major General Ahmed Al- Mismari described as dictated from abroad, a reference to Ankara. Pointing to the ongoing influx of Turkish supplies of military hardware and mercenaries to the GNA, Al- Mismari accused Ankara of preparing for the next round of fighting in Sirte. A series of events last week illustrates the pressures facing the GNA. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday to protest the fall in living standards and rampant corruption in the Libyan capital. Some protesters chanted slogans against both Al-Sarraj and Haftar. A source in Tripoli said that poor services, especially power outages and water cut-offs, have generated mounting frustration. People were also angered by the governments indifference to the Covid-19 pandemic, even as infections have soared in the country. Officials in Tripoli are too preoccupied with their political rivalries and the race to win Ankaras approval, he said, to care about the health of Libyans. Reports of oil revenues flowing into Turkish hands have also fuelled outrage. A Libyan political source in Cairo told the Weekly that it was likely divisions within the GNA are in part determining developments in the capital. Perhaps, he said, one of the rival GNA factions is plotting to oust Al-Sarraj and restructure the political process. Cairo, for its part, has not made its position clear with regard to developments in Tripoli. Perhaps it is waiting to see how the situation unfolds. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: WASHINGTON - Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration on Tuesday issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries. To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines. The move comes months after the White House first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms. Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move heavy-handed and raising the spectre of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day. Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project. The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the governments pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that cases have been rising and facilities still face shortages of supplies like masks. Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April, said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. Whats different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying. Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that theyre infected. Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%. The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administrations campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September. The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements. Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still cant get timely results on COVID-19 tests. CMS must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality, Parkinson said in a statement. Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value. The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case. The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns. The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as required. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded. Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting, Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data. Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system. Its beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer threatening Medicare participation to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic. IT services major HCL Technologies said it will organise a virtual mega recruitment drive in Nagpur on August 29 and 30. "This year, we are offering over 800 job opportunities for experienced professionals at HCL Technologies campus in MIHAN, Nagpur. It will be a great opportunity for working professionals with the desired skills and experience to apply for the virtual mega recruitment drive," HCL Technologies said in a statement. The programme also seeks to invite those from Nagpur who are working elsewhere to return to their hometown and continue their career with HCL Technologies, it added. Candidates will have to apply online for this recruitment drive. Post receipt of applications, HCL's recruitment team will screen the profiles, and eligible candidates will be provided details of a virtual drive session that will be organised on August 29 and 30, the statement said. The opportunities are for IT infrastructure services, application services, engineering and research services and digital process outsourcing positions, and for people with 3-15 years of experience. "After receiving an overwhelming response last year, we are again conducting HCL's Mega Recruitment Drive in Nagpur to bring in global career opportunities for the experienced IT professionals of the region," HCL Technologies Corporate Vice President Sanjay Gupta said. He, however, added that in the current situation keeping in mind the safety and well-being of the candidates, the company has chosen a virtual platform for conducting this drive. Nagpur has always been a strategic development centre for HCL Technologies and the company has always endeavoured to reach out to the best talent across the country, he added. Also read: COVID-19 lockdown hit work-life balance; WFH leaves no time for family Also read: US court says punitive damages of $280 mn in Epic Systems case 'constitutionally excessive': TCS 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 smartphones come pre-instaleld with xHelper and Triada that use up data and subscribe the user to paid subscriptions without their knowledge. Chinese-made smartphones are known to offer good specs at affordable prices. There are brands like Xiaomi and Realme that cater to such needs especially in the budget range. Turns out one Chinese brand which offered even cheaper smartphones was actually stealing data and even money from users. The brand in question is Tecno that is offered by the company Transsion Holdings. The company has two more brands (Itel and Infinix) through which it offers entry-level budget phones. Tecno and Infinix are quite popular in India but another market where its hugely popular is Africa. And this is where the whole incident took place according to an investigation by Secure-D, a mobile security service and BuzzFeed. It was discovered that in one particular Tecno W2 phone there were two malware, xHelper and Triada. This led to apps being downloaded on the phone without the users knowledge that also tried to subscribe to paid services. The user found that his prepaid data was consumed and he also received messages about paid subscriptions which he never signed up for. Transsion did confirm the existence of Triada and xHelper malware on some Tecno W2 phones. But the company put the blame on a vendor in the supply chain, Buzzfeed reported. Transsion also said that it did not get any profit from the malware. It also declined to say how many of its phones were infected with the malware. According to Secure-D, its security system blocked a total of 844,000 fraudulent transactions that took place due to pre installed malware on Transsion phones between March and December last year. Secure-D had also discovered Alcatel smartphones offered by TCL Communication that came with pre-installed malware. The same was found in its phones sold in Brazil and Myanmar that used malware for fraudulent transactions. Alcatel is not available in India, but like Infinix and Tecno it offers some crazy specs at entry-level prices. A: He was extremely involved in this movement, so [at first] I just went for love for my husband. Step by step, I got another sense when I understood that people were standing in long lines just to put their signatures. I continued only because I couldnt betray all those people who believed in my husband and in me. I didnt expect it would go so far. I was sure that the Central Election Commission would not register me, or maybe the authorities would find reasons not to let me go further. But they did not, and so I couldnt stop. Fueled by passion and frustration, dozens of area residents united at Riverside Park to peacefully protest against police brutality against minorities Tuesday evening. The attendees called for justice after yet another Black person was harmed when being taken into custody, this time in Kenosha, Wis., where Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police. Signs were held high as people chanted and speakers shared their stories about how racism has impacted their lives, while sitting next to the river in high temperatures. Diariana Herron, a Black local resident who moved to the community from Chicago, said to the crowd that she never truly experienced racism until she moved to La Crosse. She shared with attendees that while she was young, she did go along with many jokes that people made to her about her race and simply brushed them off. Today, she regrets that decision, because it taught her peers that racist jokes were OK. She remembers, while in middle school, a mother claimed that Herron intimidated her classmates, even though Herron does not recall any reason that would be true based on her actions. She also recalls an officer in a La Crosse school responding to this complaint and confronting her about it. While she claims to have stayed calm, the officer accused her of becoming angry and seemingly a threat. Herron claims the officer then ended up pinning her against a wall, followed by holding her down with a knee on her back. Herron said she did not fight back, because she learned even while living in Chicago that it was not correct for her to fight back against an officer. She recalls her younger brothers also experiencing similar hate and targeting during the school day. I just want everyone to realize and tell other people that this stuff is real. It's not fake. We're not just making up the story. We're not just protesting for no reason, Herron said. Brandon Sydnor, a Black La Crosse resident who also originates from Chicago, shared that he also experienced more racism in this community than he ever did in the large city. He shared that once, while out in public, strangers came up to him saying harsh insults with no background reasoning and then poured coffee on him. Sydnor also remembers being pushed away from joining the Boy Scouts because of the color of his skin. One of the biggest things that I have to say that really surprised me about this place was the amount of racism I received. It was a complete 180 degrees from where I was living. And then I came up here and it was the first time in my entire life where I have met this kind of hatred on this kind of level, Sydnor said. Additionally, allies spoke of how they have witnessed racism in the community, along with how they view their role in the fight against racism and police violence. One ally, Alissa Riebe, explained that she sees racism in the way that police treat her while shes driving versus how they treat her boyfriend, who is black. She says that they watch her boyfriend much more closely than they ever have her. Riebe also remembers seeing racism in school, when those who are white are spoken about most during classes, while those who are Black have a few chapters about them and the students who are that race are pushed to read when those topics come up. She said additionally, advertised products around her are also focused on white people, such as makeup and even bandaids. Riebe, speaking to her fellow protesters, said, Do not try to overpower black voices. As allies, we are passionate, possibly even enraged. We should be. We are. Use your voice. But more so to set a platform for those oppressed to share their experiences, thoughts and feelings. It's OK to just listen. She said it is not people of colors role to teach white people about oppression and racism, but instead its the interested persons role to teach themselves. Xavier Randall, an attendee at the event, shared that he attended the protest because he saw the video of the shooting of Blake and thought that it was not justified. He said that when he learned about the shooting, I was tired. I was really tired. It was also just a slow burning anger almost that this issue still happened. Chaya Davis, another attendee, shared that she hopes people realize that they are taking time out in extreme heat to try to limit more people dying and being harmed in the future. Another protester Brianna Washington said that the recent shooting shows cops are so comfortable with the system that has been in place in America, that they're OK with shooting a man in front of his children. She said that she knows that the countrys system sets it up so Black people are seen as lower than white people. Washington said that she was happy to see community members come together for the protest and to have allies support her and her peers. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday with chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and their counterparts of West Bengal, Maharashtra and Jharkhand on the issues related to Goods and Services Tax dues of states and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) (Main) and The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exams. The Goods and Services Tax revenue collections in July totalled Rs 87,422 crore, 14 per cent less than in the past year as economic activities slowed down due to COVID-19 countrywide lockdown, the Union finance ministry said on August 1. The National Testing Agency announced that the JEE (Main) will be held from September 1 to 6 and NEET (UG) on September 13 after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking the postponement of the NEET and JEE. Many ministers have been opposing the Centre's decision to conduct the exams. Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Central government to consider filing a review petition in the Supreme Court over the dates of NEET and JEE examinations. "I would request you to kindly appreciate the sensitivity of the matter and consider taking necessary action for postponing these examinations until the public health situation becomes conducive again," Banerjee said. She referred to her letter written earlier. "I had requested you to kindly postpone NEET and JEE Examinations in September 2020. I have explained in the letter that the examinations will pose grave health risks to the examinees," she said. Banerjee said she had also requested for postponement all terminal examinations in universities/colleges across the country. "I have been consistently arguing that the current pandemic situation is an unprecedented crisis in the country and we should not put any life in jeopardy during this pandemic period by taking such decisions. Today our government has received a letter from the National Testing Agency for conducting the JEE/NEET examinations starting from September 1, 2020. We are really worried and concerned," she added. Banerjee said the Supreme Court has given a verdict on the holding of JEE/NEET examinations and the central government has been issuing instructions to go ahead with it accordingly. "However, I would like to request for your intervention and to consider the central government making an appeal to the apex court to review its decision in the interest of the student community, so that they are free from mental agony and mental disaster," she said. "Such intervention is very much essential in the larger interest of students to facilitate creating a situation whereby the students will neither be subjected to grave health risk nor they will be facing a career risk," she added. A AionS model of Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor's (GAC) went up in flames in China. The vehicle was equipped with CATL's NCM811, which experts believe to be the cause of the fire. / Yonhap As a native with a family member in a Buffalo area assisted living facility, I worry about the high rate of infection among residents during this pandemic. While highly regulated family visitations are now allowed, it takes just one suspected or detected case of Covid-19 among the staff or residents to place the entire building under quarantine. Residents already live in small apartments, many of only one or two rooms. A lockdown means their dining halls, meeting rooms, exercise facilities, hair and nail salons, and recreation areas are closed and all visits cancelled. Think about it. One new case and youre stuck in your room for at least two weeks. Theres nowhere to go and nothing to do. The only people you see all day are the overworked and underpaid staff members who make unscheduled and sometimes embarrassing visits to keep up with their increased workload. Your temperature is taken daily, but building-wide rates of infections or deaths arent shared due to privacy concerns. Meals from a reduced menu must be delivered to and retrieved from your room. Theres no opportunity to socialize or exchange news with fellow residents, and your entire day may be spent sitting in front of the TV. Title of Notes CUSIP Number Original Issuer Acceptance Priority Level(1) Early Tender Payment(2) Principal Amount Outstanding Principal Amount Tendered Principal Amount Expected to be Accepted for Purchase 4.000% Senior Notes due 2023 126650 CC2 CVS Health 1 $30 $1,250,000,000 $722,809,000 $722,809,000 3.700% Senior Notes due 2023 126650 CV0 CVS Health 2 $30 $6,000,000,000 $4,008,643,000 $2,277,191,000(3) 2.800% Senior Notes due 2023 00817Y AV0 Aetna Inc. 3 $30 $1,300,000,000 $942,532,000 $0 The 2025 Notes Tender Offers Title of Notes CUSIP Number Original Issuer Acceptance Priority Level(1) Early Tender Payment(2) Principal Amount Outstanding Principal Amount Tendered Principal Amount Expected to be Accepted for Purchase 4.100% Senior Notes due 2025 126650 CW8 CVS Health 1 $30 $5,000,000,000 $3,951,753,000 $ 2,999,994,000(3) 3.875% Senior Notes due 2025 126650 CL2 CVS Health 2 $30 $2,828,067,000 $1,434,282,000 $0 (1) Subject to the Aggregate Maximum Amount, the Maximum Amounts and proration, the principal amount of each series of Notes that is purchased in each of the Tender Offers will be determined in accordance with the applicable acceptance priority level (in numerical priority order) specified in this column. (2) Per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase. (3) After application of proration. The consideration to be paid in the Tender Offers for each series of Notes validly tendered and expected to be accepted for purchase as described in the Offer to Purchase (the "Total Consideration") will be determined at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 26, 2020. As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 25, 2020 (the "Early Tender Date"), as reported by D.F. King & Co., Inc., the Tender and Information Agent for the Tender Offers, the principal amounts of the Notes listed in the tables above have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn. The Withdrawal Deadline of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 25, 2020 has passed and, accordingly, Notes validly tendered in the Tender Offers may no longer be withdrawn. CVS Health expects to accept for purchase and make payment for Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date on August 27, 2020 (the "Early Settlement Date"), subject to the acceptance priority levels applicable to the relevant series as described in the Offer to Purchase and, in the case of the 3.700% Senior Notes due 2023 for the 2023 Notes Tender Offers and in the case of the 4.100% Senior Notes due 2025 for the 2025 Notes Tender Offers, to proration as described below. Because the aggregate principal amount of 2023 Notes validly tendered would exceed the 2023 Notes Maximum Amount, CVS Health expects that it will accept validly tendered 3.700% Senior Notes due 2023 on a prorated basis in accordance with the Offer to Purchase and none of the validly tendered 2.800% Senior Notes due 2023. Because the aggregate principal amount of 2025 Notes validly tendered would exceed the 2025 Notes Maximum Amount, CVS Health expects that it will accept validly tendered 4.100% Senior Notes due 2025 on a prorated basis in accordance with the Offer to Purchase and none of the 3.875% Senior Notes due 2025. Because CVS Health expects to accept for purchase the Maximum Aggregate Amount of Notes, no additional Notes will be purchased pursuant to the Tender Offers after the Early Settlement Date. As described in the Offer to Purchase, Notes tendered and not accepted for purchase will be promptly returned to the tendering Holder's account. Holders of all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase are eligible to receive the applicable Total Consideration, which includes the applicable Early Tender Payment of $30 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date (the "Early Tender Payment"). In addition to the applicable Total Consideration, Holders of Notes accepted for purchase will receive accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date ("Accrued Interest"). CVS Health expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law, to terminate the Tender Offers at any time prior to the Expiration Date. The Tender Offers are not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Notes being tendered but the Tender Offers are subject to certain conditions as described in the Offer to Purchase. Each Tender Offer is a separate offer. The Capped Tender Offers are not conditioned on each other. Each Tender Offer may be individually amended, extended or terminated by CVS Health. CVS Health has retained Barclays Capital Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to act as Dealer Managers for the Tender Offers. D.F. King & Co., Inc. has been retained to act as the Tender and Information Agent for the Tender Offers. Requests for assistance relating to the procedures for tendering Notes may be directed to the Tender and Information Agent either by email at [email protected], or by phone (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers only) or (800) 714-3305 (for all others toll free). Requests for assistance relating to the terms and conditions of the Tender Offers may be directed to Barclays Capital Inc. at (800) 438-3242 (toll free) or (212) 528-7581 (collect), Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC at (800) 828-3182 (toll free) or (212) 902-6351 (collect) or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at (866) 834-4666 (toll free) or (212) 834-8553 (collect). Beneficial owners may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders with respect to, the Notes. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offers are being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase made available to Holders of the Notes. None of CVS Health, the Dealer Managers, Tender and Information Agent or the trustees with respect to the Notes, or any of their respective affiliates, is making any recommendation as to whether or not Holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Notes in response to the Tender Offers. Holders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer to Purchase, consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender Notes in the Tender Offers, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. About CVS Health CVS Health employees are united around a common goal of becoming the most consumer-centric health company. We're evolving based on changing consumer needs and meeting people where they are, whether that's in the community at one of our nearly 10,000 local touchpoints, in the home, or in the palm of their hand. Our newest offerings from HealthHUB locations that are redefining what a pharmacy can be, to innovative programs that help manage chronic conditions are designed to create a higher-quality, simpler and more affordable experience. Learn more about how we're transforming health at www.cvshealth.com. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of CVS Health Corporation. By their nature, all forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and/or quantify. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the geographies impacted and the severity and duration of the pandemic, the pandemic's impact on the U.S. and global economies and consumer behavior and health care utilization patterns, and the timing, scope and impact of stimulus legislation and other federal, state and local governmental responses to the pandemic, as well as the risks and uncertainties described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section and under the heading "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020 and our recently filed Current Reports on Form 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on CVS Health's forward looking statements. CVS Health's 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. CVS Health does not assume any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, uncertainties or otherwise. SOURCE CVS Health Corporation Related Links http://www.cvshealth.com President Donald Trump staged a norm-busting show on the second night of the Republican National Convention, pardoning a convicted bank robber, hosting a naturalization ceremony, and providing a primetime platform to Americans with a history of incendiary social media posts. Trump also blurred the line between the presidency and electoral politics. First lady Melania Trump delivered her speech from the Rose Garden, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered a taped message from Jerusalem, an unusually partisan move for the nations top diplomat. Here are key moments from the second night of the convention. Convention speaker bumped after retweeting anti-Semitic rant President Donald Trump listens as Mary Ann Mendoza, who lost her son when he was killed by a drunk driver that was an undocumented immigrant, speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in March 2019. An RNC speaker retweeted an anti-Semitic screed on Tuesday morning, the same day she was slated to take the stage to praise President Donald Trumps hard-line immigration policies. A person familiar with the matter confirmed to POLITICO on Tuesday evening that Mary Ann Mendoza was no longer speaking at the RNC. Mendoza, who was teed up to talk about her police officer son who was killed in a car crash, shared the Twitter messages, writing, Do yourself a favor and read this thread. The thread portrays a Jewish cabal set on taking over American government. It includes a link to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an infamous fabrication from Tsarist Russia that was popular in Nazi Germany. On Tuesday evening, an hour before the televised portion of the convention was to begin, the tweet disappeared from Mendozas Twitter account. She later wrote on Twitter that she retweeted the thread without reading "every post within the thread." "My apologies for not paying attention to the intent of the whole message," she wrote. "That does not reflect my feelings or personal thoughts whatsoever." Trump opens second night of RNC by pardoning bank robber Trump opened the second night of the Republican National Convention by pardoning Jon Ponder, a bank robber who founded a non-profit organization upon his release from prison focused on preparing former inmates to reenter the workforce. Story continues We believe that each person is made by God for a purpose, Trump said in a prerecorded video filmed inside the White House. I will continue to give all Americans, including former inmates, the best chance to build a new life and achieve their own American dream. And a great American dream it is. In an unusual bit of staging, the president then invited Ponder and Richard Beasley the FBI agent who arrested Ponder 15 years ago to stand alongside him as the three men stared directly into the camera. Ponder described himself as a proud American citizen who has been given a second chance, while Beasley echoed Trumps defenses of police officers and other law enforcement. There is nothing worse than knowing youre being second-guessed when you're doing your job, he said. Ponders wife then joined the group as Trump sat at a desk to sign the pardon document with his signature oversized black Sharpie. Rand Paul: Trumps a 'down-to-earth' guy Sen. Rand Paul lauded Trump as a philanthropic, anti-war president during the RNC, presenting him as a peaceful contrast to Joe Biden. If you hate war like I hate war, Paul said, you need to support President Trump for another term! Paul has famously protested against American intervention is foreign conflicts and called on voters to pull out of nation-building projects and focus on developing the United States. He portrayed Trump as a down-to-earth person who seemed like just a normal guy willing to help with humanitarian missions. Paul said Trump supported his medical mission to Guatemala and a mission trip to Haiti where he performed hundreds of surgeries. Paul practiced as an ophthalmologist. Paul, meanwhile, portrayed Biden as a candidate bent on expanding military conflicts abroad, citing his support for intervention in Serbia, Syria and Libya. Joe Biden will continue to spill our blood and treasure, Paul said. Kudlow: Economy will return to 'dark days' under Biden Trump will be able to turn around the severe economic downturn driven by the coronavirus pandemic, White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow promised on the second night of the convention. Everyone was better off. A rising tide lifted all boats, Kudlow said of the economy before the coronavirus swept across the U.S. early this year. Then came a once-in-100-year pandemic. It was awful. Hardship and heartbreak were everywhere. But presidential leadership came swiftly and effectively. Kudlow also slammed Bidens plans to raise taxes on the highest-earning households by about $4 trillion over 10 years. Coming out of the deep pandemic, who in their right mind would pick the pockets of taxpayers and drain money from their wallets and purses? Kudlow asked. Our economic choice is very clear. Do you want economic health, prosperity, opportunity and optimism? Or do you want to turn back to the dark days of stagnation, recession and pessimism? Kudlow said. I believe there can't be better economic policies than we've had in recent years. So I say, stay with him. Billy Graham's granddaughter calls Trump a 'fierce advocate' of faith Cissie Graham Lynch, American evangelist Billy Grahams granddaughter, accused Democrats of forcing faith and adoption organizations to violate their deeply held beliefs and pressuring schools to allow boys to compete in girls' sports and use girls' locker rooms. The Biden/Harris vision for America leaves no room for people of faith. Whether you're a baker, a florist or a football coach, they will force the choice between being obedient to God or to Caesar, because the radical left's God is government power, Lynch said. Instead, Lynch said Trump was the fierce advocate in the White House that people of faith needed. He appointed judges who respect the First Amendment. He supported religious beliefs in court. He ensured religious ministries would not be forced to violate their beliefs. He withdrew the policies that placed our little girls at risk, Lynch said. RNC airs remarks from controversial anti-abortion activist In the first hour of their Tuesday night convention programming, Republicans featured graphic remarks from a former Planned Parenthood employee who previously compared abortion to the Holocaust. Abby Johnson, founder of the anti-abortion group And Then There Were None, made explosive claims about her time working at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas and cast the November election as a choice between two radical anti-life activists and the most pro-life president we have ever had. Johnson has generated controversy for her past statements and social media posts. In 2017, she tweeted that she had a hard time understanding how people cant see the connection between abortion and the Jewish holocaust, adding that [b]oth occurred because of the systemic dehumanization of an entire group of people. And in the hours before her convention address Tuesday, Vice reported Johnson said in a June video posted to YouTube that it would be smart for police to racially profile her son. Statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons, she reportedly said. Covington Catholic student slams media in convention speech No one has been treated more unfairly by the media than Trump, according to Nicholas Sandmann, the Covington Catholic High School student who had a confrontation with protesters near the Lincoln Memorial. Sandmann was at the March for Life rally in January 2019 when he came face-to-face with a Native American elder, Nathan Phillips. Pictures of the encounter originally made it seem as if Sandmann was antagonizing the elder, but video revealed that Phillips had actually approached Sandmann and other students. Sandmann filed a lawsuit against major media outlets, who he said never asked for his side of the story, and won. The truth was not important, Sandmann said on Tuesday. Advancing their anti-Christian, anti-conservative, anti-Donald Trump narrative was all that mattered. If advancing their narrative ruined the reputation of a teenager from Kentucky, so be it. I look forward to the day that the media returns to providing balanced, responsible and accountable news coverage. I know President Trump hopes for that too, he continued. I know you'll agree with me when I say no one in this country has been a victim of unfair media coverage more than President Donald Trump. Pam Bondi, center of donation controversy, pushes Biden nepotism claims Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi pushed a number of accusations that Trump has levied against the Biden family as corrupt and nepotistic story lines that are likely to become common lines of attack as the two candidates face off ahead of Election Day. Bondi touted a number of accusations against the Biden children of abusing their fathers vice presidency to land advantageous business deals. In particular, she went after Hunter Biden, who has become a common Republican punching bag. Hunter Biden was featured in a Trump ad campaign that portrayed him as corrupt and his father as cozy with China. The Biden family has repeatedly denied the allegations of corruption levied against them. Bondi was at the center of her own controversy before Trump took office after Trump violated campaign finance law with a donation from his foundation to Bondis election committee in 2013. Bondi later opted not to pursue an investigation into the failed Trump University, prompting accusations that Trump had bought off Bondi. Bondi has denied any wrongdoing in the donation controversy. Pence gets personal with everyday Americans at Lincolns home Vice President Mike Pence listened to everyday Americans talk about how they benefited from Trump policies in a cinematic bit that compared the president to Abraham Lincoln. Pence spoke with a range of people, including the mother of a child who used school vouchers to attend a specialized school and an Ohio truck driver who praised Trump as caring for everyday Americans needs. They spoke of how policies such as the paycheck protection program helped them weather the coronavirus economic crisis and how they saw Trumps trade wars as fighting for American workers. The anecdotes illustrated the nights theme of Trump as protector of the American dream. With golden-hour lighting and nostalgic orchestral music, Pence stood at Lincolns childhood home and said a young man would grow up to be the first Republican president of the United States. And today, another Republican president is fighting to preserve that same noble legacy of freedom. Trumps female aides call him a champion for women A collection of Trumps top female aides cast him as a champion for women in a video segment. The video highlighted Trumps selection of Kellyanne Conway to head up his 2016 White House bid an appointment that resulted in Conways becoming the first female manager of a winning presidential campaign. And Katrina Pierson, Trumps 2016 national spokesperson, said her hiring more than four years ago made her the first Black woman to represent a Republican presidential campaign, winning presidential campaign, in United States history. The video also focused on the fact that the presidents three most recent press secretaries Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany are all mothers. With these capable women placed in positions of powerful, influence and authority, a voiceover said, President Trump has proven that when the stakes are highest, he is proud to entrust many of our nations most crucial jobs to women. After the conclusion of the video, Trumps younger daughter, Tiffany, addressed the convention, remarking that her father has demonstrated his faith in his uncompromising heart and actions. Trump holds surprise naturalization ceremony in the White House At the top of the second hour of the conventions televised portion, five people stood in the White House and recited the naturalization oath of allegiance to the United States of America under the lead of acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, with Trump looking on. Today, America rejoices as we welcome five absolutely incredible people into our great American family, ]Trump said after the ceremony. You are now fellow citizens of the greatest nation on the face of Gods Earth. Congratulations. Great going. You followed the rules, you obeyed the laws. You learned your history, embraced our values and proved yourselves to be men and women of the highest integrity. Trump read short bios of the immigrants from Bolivia, Lebanon, India, Sudan and Ghana, who spoke multiple languages and held various academic degrees. With the rights and freedoms that you each enjoy, theres no dream beyond your wildest reach because Americans can do anything, Trump said. Eric Trump to his father: I love you very much Eric Trump hailed his fathers efforts to Make America Great Again in a convention speech that sought at times to humanize the president. Eric, the Trump Organizations executive vice president, said his father launched his 2016 White House bid not because he needed the job, but because he knew hard-working people across this great country were being left behind. As a result, our family lost friends, he said. But it only pushed us to fight harder. Eric closed his primetime address with a series of remarks directed at his father. I miss working alongside you every single day, but Im damn proud to be on the front lines of this fight, he said, adding that he was proud to show my children what their grandfather is fighting for. Eric also referenced the death earlier this month of Trumps brother Robert, whom the president held a White House funeral for last Friday. Dad, lets make Uncle Robert very proud this week, he said. Lets go get another four years. I love you very much. Pompeo pumps up Trump's America First message Trumps America First policy has had a positive benefit around the world, from holding China accountable for its role in the coronavirus pandemic to defeating the Islamic State, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed in a taped address. Pompeo, who delivered his speech against the backdrop of Jerusalems Old City, highlighted several of Trumps notable efforts, including strengthening NATO, providing defensive weapons to Ukraine, killing top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike, and trying to defeat the Islamic State. Trumps America First policy may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but its worked, Pompeo said. His presence in Jerusalem also called attention to Trumps decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Pompeos decision to deliver remarks at the convention drew criticism from diplomats and Democrats in Congress, who announced ahead of the speech that they will investigate if the appearance at a political event is legal. Melania Trump goes where other Republicans won't First Lady Melania Trump was willing to broach topics others at the Republican National Convention didn't the coronavirus' death toll, her own lengthy immigration story, and racial unrest. Delivering the keynote address at the second night of the convention, Melania Trump reflected on a number of her own experiences as first lady, thanked front line workers of coronavirus and acknowledged the racial unrest that has rocked the country for the past few months. She made a call for civility and peace both at home and abroad, evoking her childhood dreams of America in communist Yugoslav Slovenia. It wasn't until deep into her speech, however, that Melania Trump spoke about her husband. She briefly touched on Trump's investment in historically Black colleges and universities and his administration's prioritization of religious freedom. But the majority of her address was both an appeal to the country's morality and her own experience as first lady. She spoke aspirationally about her own next four years as first lady if her husband is reelected. It was a stark contrast from the bombastic and adulating addresses by other members of the Trump family who spoke at the convention. And a divergence from the strong, supporting roles that speakers and Biden family members played at the Democratic National Convention. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.) with President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Wildwood on Jan. 28. Read more President Donald Trump isnt done rewarding Jeff Van Drew for leaving the Democratic Party. The New Jersey congressman is getting a prime-time speaking slot Thursday during the Republican National Convention a nationally televised platform enjoyed by some of Trumps most loyal and well-known supporters. Its the latest boost for Van Drew since the longtime Democrat voted against Trumps impeachment last December, switched parties, and pledged the president his undying support. And Trumps continued backing could be crucial to Van Drews chances for reelection in the battleground South Jersey 2nd Congressional District. What we see with Jeff Van Drew is truly historic, and this is a recognition of his loyalty and the courage he had in changing parties, said State Sen. Mike Testa, who cochairs Trumps campaign in New Jersey. The campaign of Amy Kennedy, the Democratic nominee against Van Drew, dismissed Van Drews coming RNC appearance as another political payoff. READ MORE: Amy Kennedy won a battle against George Norcross and the South Jersey Democratic machine. But the war isnt over. What have the people of South Jersey gotten from his party switch? asked Josh Roesch, Kennedys campaign manager. We have been abandoned and left without a champion during [the coronavirus] crisis. Jeff Van Drew joined a party that is trying to take health care away from children and families. He has vigorously defended Trumps response to the pandemic, which has cost millions of jobs and hundreds of thousands of lives, and he has no plan for helping South Jerseys economy recover. Van Drew aides did not return requests for comment. The new spotlight for Van Drew comes as he continues to walk something of a political tightrope after his high-profile party switch. The 2nd District encompasses the Philadelphia suburbs in Gloucester County south to Cape May, and runs from north of Atlantic City into Burlington County. Trump carried it by five percentage points in 2016, but Barack Obama twice won more than 50% of the vote. A state lawmaker for more than 15 years before he was elected to Congress in 2018, Van Drew was long seen as a conservative Democrat. He voted with Trump about 7% of the time before switching parties, and that has only increased to about 12% since then, according to a tally by the website FiveThirtyEight. READ MORE: Fighting for you: Melania Trump makes the case for her husband at the RNC He was one of about two dozen Republicans who crossed party lines over the weekend to vote in favor of an emergency funding bill for the United States Postal Service, which Democrats accuse the Trump administration of undermining in a bid to hobble voting by mail across the country. And as the Trump campaign sues New Jersey over Gov. Phil Murphys decision to conduct the states November election mostly by mail, Van Drew said he spent a week visiting 20 post offices across South Jersey. But his statement, released before the vote Saturday, made no mention of concerns over mail voting. I visited the hard-working women and men of the USPS this week, and it only galvanized my resolve to ensure they are not used as political pawns, Van Drew said. We must ensure that they have the resources to deliver during these times to help all Americans receive their mail, which could include medicines or necessary goods. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which tracks federal elections, earlier this month shifted its rating on the 2nd District from leans Republicans to toss-up. Independents still make up the districts largest voting bloc, but their numbers declined by 11,000 in the last year, while Democrats picked up more voters than Republicans, according to an analysis by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. Van Drews defection initially led to a surge in campaign contributions, as well as a large rally with Trump in Wildwood in January. There, the president praised Van Drew for having the guts to defy the left-wing fanatics in his own party. READ MORE: 2 very different South Jersey counties show why Andy Kim has one of the toughest races in the country He supports lower taxes not bad, Trump said then. He loves our military, he loves our vets and police. ... He loves your Second Amendment, which is under siege by the Democrats. The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the Centre saying the government is putting the health and safety of nearly 25 lakh students in jeopardy by conducting Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in September. Partys national spokesperson Randeep Surjewalas tweets came hours after an opposition meeting convened by Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi decided to move the Supreme Court to review its decision rejecting the plea to postpone the engineering and medical entrance tests in the country. In a series of tweets, Surjewala accused the obstinate Modi Govt of refusing to listen to students grievances and thereafter coming up with a universally acceptable solution. Also read: At Sonia Gandhis oppn meet, Mamata and Amarinder call for moving SC over NEET, JEE Health & safety of 25 lakh students is being jeopardised in the ensuing #JEE_NEET exams. Students are protesting across the country.Why is an obstinate Modi Govt even refusing to listen to their grievances, deliberate upon them and find a solution acceptable to all?, he wrote on the microblogging site. Health & safety of 25 lakh students is being jeopardised in the ensuing #JEE_NEET exams. Students are protesting across the country. Why is an obstinate Modi Govt even refusing to listen to their grievances, deliberate upon them and find a solution acceptable to all? 1/3 Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 26, 2020 He also pointed towards the plight of students who have been holding virtual protests seeking postponement of the two exams amid the coronavirus outbreak. Members of the Congress-affiliated NSUI on Wednesday began an indefinite hunger strike demanding the deferment of exams and a fee waiver for six months during the pandemic. At a time when there are over 3.23 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 in India, Surjewala questioned the government if it was ready to guarantee that the candidates appearing for exams and the faculty at the exam centre will not get infected with the virus. Also read| Sonia Gandhi holds meet with 7 state CMs on JEE, NEET and GST collection: Who said what On the safety protocols put in place to prevent the spread of the disease, he asked the Centre as to who was going to oversee if the guidelines were actually being practised and not remained a formality on paper. Will Modi Govt guarantee that no student of #JEE_NEET or faculty will catch COVID infection during the exam? What safety precautions & protocols have been put in place? Who will oversee that the guidelines & protocols do not remain an empty paper formality?, he tweeted. 2/4 Will Modi Govt guarantee that no student of #JEE_NEET or faculty will catch COVID infection during the exam? What safety precautions & protocols have been put in place? Who will oversee that the guidelines & protocols do not remain an empty paper formality? Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 26, 2020 Surjewala also brought to the Centres notice that the candidates may face trouble in commuting given the travel restrictions in place and enquired if any special arrangements were made for those in the flood affected states like Bihar and Assam. Due to #COVID__19, transportation across the country has either not started or normalised. How will #JEENEET students arrive at the destination with absolute safety & return? What arrangements have been made for their stay etc.? Has Modi Govt left the students in the lurch? he said. What are the spl arrangements for students of flood affected #Bihar & #Assam ? Are there only 2 centres set up in the State of Bihar for NEET examination? Does it not mean a virtual denial of opportunity to students from Bihar?, he added. 3/4 What are the spl arrangements for students of flood affected #Bihar & #Assam ? Are there only 2 centres set up in the State of Bihar for NEET examination? Does it not mean a virtual denial of opportunity to students from Bihar? Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 26, 2020 4/4 Due to #COVID__19, transportation across the country has either not started or normalised. How will #JEENEET students arrive at the destination with absolute safety & return? What arrangements have been made for their stay etc.? Has Modi Govt left the students in the lurch? Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 26, 2020 The Opposition meeting earlier in the day and Surjewalas sharp remarks came after the National Testing Agency (NTA) also on Tuesday refused to defer the exam schedule citing the apex court order stating a crucial year of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on. Nearly 8.58 lakh and 15.97 lakh candidates have registered for the JEE (Main) and NEET examinations respectively. Hartford Police photo HARTFORD A 53-year-old Hartford man suspected of stealing 13 bottles of booze, is also a person of interest in several burglaries in the city, police said. Officers were dispatched to the Han Restaurant on Prospect Avenue on an activated silent alarm around 11 p.m. Monday. (Natural News) A NASA researcher and professor at Texas A&M University was arrested on Sunday and charged with accepting federal grant money while concealing work that he was performing for a university set up by the Chinese government. In addition, he allegedly hid his affiliation with Chinese-owned companies. 53-year-old Zhengdong Cheng is now facing charges of conspiracy, false statements and wire fraud, according to the Justice Departments criminal complaint. Prosecutors are accusing Cheng of covering up his work for China while receiving $750,000 in grants for space research. NASA is barred from using funds for collaborations with China, Chinese-owned companies and Chinese institutions. Cheng violated these rules by maintaining several secret associations with China. For example, he served as the director of a soft matter institute in a Guangdong technology university set up by the Chinese Ministry of Education. He also jointly formed a tech company devoted to designing microfluidic chips, the Justice Department alleges. The DOJ said that he enjoyed increased access to unique NASA resources, such as the International Space Station. In addition, he took part in talent recruitment programs that were linked to the Chinese government aimed at enticing professors at American universities to steal research for China. Cheng was hired by Texas A&M University in 2004 as an engineering professor. Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp said that the university worked with the FBI on the case and that they take security very seriously. U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick, the Southern District of Texass top federal prosecutor, said in a statement: China is building economic and academic institutions with bricks stolen from others all around the world. Widespread DOJ crackdown on Chinese spies in American universities The Justice Department has been cracking down on researchers at American universities who are hiding their professional relationships with Chinese institutions. Of particular concern are professors who can exploit their ties to China and their talent recruitment program participation in order to steal intellectual property that could benefit the CCP. Chinas Thousand Talents plan has been described by the Department of Justice as a Chinese Communist Party tool to attract, recruit, and cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of Chinas scientific development, economic prosperity and national security. They add that the Chinese government often rewards people for stealing propriety information through the program. Two months ago, the Department of Justice announced an indictment against Harvard University professor Charles Lieber, who they say made false statements to federal authorities relating to his work for a Chinese university. Lieber, the former chairman of the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department at the university, had a contract to participate in Chinas Thousand Talents plan for more than three years. Meanwhile, a University of Arkansas professor was recently indicted on 42 counts of wire fraud and two counts of passport fraud related to his secret ties to China. Professor Simon Saw-Teong Ang failed to disclose financial and other ties to institutions in China to the university and American government agencies despite being obligated to do so. He began working for the university in 1988 but was recently suspended when the charges came to light. According to American intelligence, he received benefits and money from China and enjoys close ties with several Chinese companies while receiving project grants from government agencies. He repeatedly failed to disclose these conflicts of interest on mandatory disclosures. The Justice Department is currently carrying out a crackdown known as the China Initiative aimed at trade secret theft, economic espionage, and hacking on behalf of Beijing as well as those who threaten American infrastructure via foreign investment and compromises to the supply chain. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com CampusReform.org APNews.com CampusReform.org Organizers of the Regional Education and Economic Development (REED) Summit believe the show must go on despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting all areas of life. That's why the third annual REED Summit hosted by the University of North Georgia (UNG) will be held virtually on Sept. 23. Registration will start Sept. 1 on the REED Summit website. As the "Growing North Georgia" event focuses on agribusiness, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black will serve as the keynote speaker. His talk is set for 9 a.m. that day. According to Georgia Farm Bureau statistics, 1 in 7 Georgians work in agriculture, forestry or related fields. Agribusiness is Georgia's leading industry with more than $75 billion in economic impact every year. Biotechnology, drones, telematics, yield monitoring, and other precision agriculture technologies are rapidly changing how Georgia grows. Participants may watch Black speak and attend breakout sessions that fit their schedules through the online Zoom format. Sessions will be available for a period of time after the summit. Registration is free for high school and college students, professionals and community members. Northeast Georgia Health System is the presenting sponsor for the summit. "We are thankful to be able to provide students an opportunity to learn about high-demand and rewarding career opportunities in agribusiness, a sector that drives our regional economy," President Bonita Jacobs said. "I appreciate the creativity and hard work of our staff in making this event available online for students, educators and other community members." The 10 a.m. session will highlight the poultry industry. Mike Giles, president of the Georgia Poultry Federation, and John Wright, vice president and director of operations for Fieldale Farms, are the panelists who will discuss the poultry industry's impact on the local and global economies. "The poultry industry has a lot of career opportunities students may not think about," said Bobbi Larson, director of economic development and community engagement at UNG. Two sessions will be held at noon. One will address the way education increases the earning power of individuals and thereby increases a community's economic prosperity. Diane Hopkins, vice president of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, will be the presenter. The other noon session about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and the American workforce will feature presenter Rachel Kerestes, executive director of the nonprofit Science is US. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit promotes science and evidence-based decision making in public policy while building federal support for research. The 1 p.m. session will address the state's life sciences industry, which includes companies in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedical technologies, life systems technologies, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, food processing, environmental services, and biomedical devices. Maria Thacker-Goethe, president and CEO of Georgia Bio, will speak as part of the life sciences industry session. Georgia Bio works to improve access to innovative technologies and grow Georgia's life sciences economy. At 2 p.m., the final session will discuss how educational pathways in middle and high schools lead to good jobs through skill development. Panelists will include Dr. Chaudron Gille, UNG provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, and two other speakers. UNG began the REED initiative to help address important workforce needs in its rapidly growing region. The REED Summit brings together students, professionals and community stakeholders to learn about and discuss industry trends, educational pathways, career opportunities, and anticipated challenges businesses face in north Georgia. Georgia Power and Rochester & Associates are executive sponsors for the REED Summit. Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Lanier Federal Credit Union and Windstream Kinetic are supporting sponsors. India Gold October futures rose on August 26 after falling by about 0.5 percent in the previous trading session. Experts are of the view that the volatility is likely to continue, and the crucial support is placed at Rs 50,500-50,800 per 10 gm. International Gold prices were mostly unchanged on August 26 as worries over the global economic outlook from rising COVID-19 cases offset an uptick in risk sentiment driven by signs of progress in US-China trade negotiations, said a Reuters report. On the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), October gold contracts were trading higher by 0.5 percent at Rs 51,183 per 10 gram at 0920 hours. September silver futures were trading at Rs 64,302 per kg, up 0.4 percent. Gold and silver plunged again on August 25 amid better than expected US new home sales and Richmond manufacturing data. Gold slipped by around 1 percent and settled at $1923.10 per troy ounce and Silver also slipped more than 1 percent and settled at $26.27 per troy ounce. At MCX, Gold slipped below 51000 during the session and settled around 51000 with a loss of around 0.50 percent and silver settled around 64100 with a loss of around 2 percent. Gold & Silver Rates Gold Rate in Mumbai 10g of 24K gold in Mumbai 10g of 22K gold in Mumbai View more Silver Rate in Mumbai 10g silver in Mumbai 1kg silver in Mumbai View more Show Better than expected US data, gains in US bond yields, the hope of virus treatment, and the possible trade deal between the US and China pushed precious metals lower. Ahead of US Federal Reserve chairman speech at Jackson Hole on Thursday precious metals remain volatile, Manoj Jain, Director (Head-Commodity & Currency Research) at Prithvi Finmart told Moneycontrol. Gold has support at $1910 per troy ounce and resistance is placed at $1933-1945 per troy ounce. At MCX, gold is having support at 50500 on a closing basis and resistance at 51330-51450 levels, he said. Track live gold price here Trading Strategy Expert: Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities International gold and silver ended in the red on Tuesday as growing optimism over U.S.-China trade relations dented the metal's safe-haven appeal, while investors awaited a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell this week. Downside remained capped as data showed U.S. consumer confidence fell in August to a more than six-year low, as households worried about the labour market and incomes. Domestic bullion could trade in a range this Wednesday, tracking a subdued start in the overseas prices. Technically, MCX Gold October traded in a range of levels 50820-51533 where it ended with more than 1 percent losses. A trade below 51200 level will continue downside movement. In addition, volatility can keep prices in a range of 50300-51200 levels. Resistance holds at 51300-51500 level and Support is at 50800-50300 levels. Expert: Ravindra Rao, VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities COMEX gold trades 0.6% higher near $1935/oz after a 0.8% decline yesterday. Gold trades higher supported by concerns about the US economy amid mixed economic data and worries about the economic impact of a major hurricane heading towards the US Gulf Coast. However, weighing on gold price is ETF outflows, weaker consumer demand and US-China commitment towards the trade deal. Gold may consolidate ahead of Fed Chairman's comments but general bias may be on the upside amid persisting challenges to the global economy. : 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. They recently returned from a summer break earlier this month. And Ant McPartlin, 44, was in fits of giggles as he bundled his beloved pooch Hurley into the back of his Range Rover, on Tuesday, with girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett helping with their Maltipoos. The presenter and his girlfriend were spotted gathering their canines together just days after Ant's ex Lisa Armstrong, 43, appeared to confirm her new romance with James Green, 37. Loving life: Ant McPartlin, 44, was in fits of giggles as he bundled his beloved pooch Hurley into the back of his Range Rover, on Tuesday, with girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett helping out Ant kept things casual in slouchy black jeans which he teamed with a similarly hued hoodie, while adding a pop of colour with white and red trainers. Anne-Marie ensured she was comfortable in a pair of cropped jeans and a light pink fluffy jumper worn over a white shirt. Her blonde locks were tied into a messy knot at the nape of her neck and she sported a full face of make-up. While Ant was attempting to get Hurley into the car, Anne-Marie held on to the one of the couple's treasured Maltipoos. Heave ho: The presenter and his girlfriend were spotted gathering their canines together just days after Ant's ex Lisa Armstrong, 43, appeared to confirm her new romance with James Green, 37 Casual: Anne-Marie ensured she was comfortable in a pair of cropped jeans and a light pink fluffy jumper worn over a white shirt Doing her bit: While Ant was attempting to get Hurley into the car, Anne-Marie held on to the one of the couple's treasured Maltipoos The TV host was seen chasing the other Maltipoo around, and after much 'toing and froing', all dogs were finally safe in the car and the couple went on their way. In April, Ant's divorce from Lisa was finalised although the pair still share custody of their dog Hurley. The former couple have previously been transferring the dog between homes during lockdown. Low-key: Ant kept things casual in slouchy black jeans which he teamed with a similarly hued hoodie, while adding a pop of colour with white and red trainers Heave ho: After being amused by Hurley's attempt to climb into the boot, Ant bent down to give his pet pooch a helping hand So cute! Hurley tried to climb into the car's boot on his own, leaving Ant in hysterics Lisa has now viewed homes with her new boyfriend as she prepares to move out of the property she shared with her ex, it has been claimed. According to The Sun, the makeup artist was accompanied by new lover James and her beloved pooch Hurley as she perused prospective abodes. A source told the publication of Lisa, who got a 6million west London mansion in her divorce settlement from Ant: 'Lisa wants to start again in her own home.' On Saturday morning, Lisa appeared to confirm her romance, after fans reached out to her on Twitter to congratulate her on the happy news. Teamwork: Anne-Marie pasted the Maltipoo over to Ant to put in the boot of their car Sweet: Anne-Marie petted Hurley on the head as the sweet pooch struggled Her new relationship with James comes three years after her split from TV personality Ant was announced. Lisa looked to be happier than ever as she was seen enjoying an outdoor date with her rumoured new boyfriend James in London earlier this month. And, the makeup artist appeared to confirm their romance after a fan got in touch on social media. Her follower tweeted: 'Just love the fact that, A. Your Career continues to soar. B. You have a handsome good man who clearly cares for you (Finally). 'I wish you...... Love, life and magic in all you do.' Quick! Ant was seen chasing the other Maltipoo around Done! After much 'toing and froing', all of the dogs were finally safe in the car and the couple went on their way Rather than denying the relationship rumours, Lisa retweeted the message for her followers to see, adding three kiss-blowing emojis, and added: 'Thank-you Kathy xx.' The blonde is said to have met James before lockdown but started seeing him properly once restrictions started to ease. An onlooker who spotted the pair together earlier this month, told The Sun: 'She and James both looked really happy. 'They were very lovey-dovey as you are in the early stages of romance. They were chatting intently, holding hands, and she was laughing a lot. 'They made no effort to disguise their feelings. After the pictures of the couple emerged, a fan wrote to Lisa on Twitter: 'Yes Lisa! He is fit! So chuffed for you, get in!!!' Ex: In April, Ant's divorce from Lisa was finalised although the pair still share custody of their dog Hurley (Pictured on Instagram) Confirmation? The make-up artist appeared to confirm her new romance after a fan got in touch on social media The head of make-up and hair for Strictly Come Dancing retweeted the message with her 142,000 followers and added three smiley face emojis. 'She also liked another tweet from a fan that told her: 'You f***ing Queen.' Ant and Lisa met at a roadshow in Newcastle in the mid-1990s while Lisa was an aspiring pop star in Deuce. He had often spoken of their struggle to have children. Their union legally came to an end during a 30-second hearing in October 2018, finalising over a decade of marriage. He can now marry his 'rock' Anne-Marie. A four-vehicle crash just prior to a construction zone sent eight people to the hospital and shut Route 22 East for nearly two hours on Tuesday night, Pennsylvania State Police report. A 2012 Freightliner truck driving in the right lane just after 8:50 p.m. struck the rear of a vehicle in the right lane, moved into the left lane and hit another vehicle and went back into the right lane and crashed into a third vehicle, Trooper Nathan Branosky said Wednesday afternoon. A four-vehicle crash shut Route 22 East the night of Aug. 25, 2020, just west of the Route 33 interchange in Bethlehem Township.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com The truck, which wasnt hauling a trailer, had front-end damage and stopped on the right shoulder of the highway. The other vehicles showed significant rear-end damage. Two of the other vehicles, one of which flipped, ended up off the highway. The third stopped near the center jersey barrier. Roadwork on US 22 eastbound between PA 191/Nazareth Pk and PA 248/South 25th St. There is a lane restriction. 511PA Allentown (@511PAAllentown) August 26, 2020 Crash on US 22 eastbound between PA 191/Nazareth Pk and PA 33 South/To I-78. All lanes closed. 511PA Allentown (@511PAAllentown) August 26, 2020 A tweet from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation indicated a lane was shut eastbound from Route 191 in Bethlehem Township to Route 248 in Palmer Township for road work. But Branosky said a trooper at the scene told him that the work zone, as of just before 9 p.m., didnt begin until just east of the crash. The wreck happened just west of Route 33 at mile marker 330.9. The injuries were not severe, Branosky said. The injured were driven to St. Lukes University Hospital in Fountain Hill, he added. A four-vehicle crash shut Route 22 East the night of Aug. 25, 2020, just west of the Route 33 interchange in Bethlehem Township.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com A four-vehicle crash shut Route 22 East the night of Aug. 25, 2020, just west of the Route 33 interchange in Bethlehem Township.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Bethlehem Township firefighters and emergency medical personnel assisted at the scene, police said. The crash was cleared by 10:45 p.m., a Northampton County emergency dispatch supervisor said. The cause of the crash remained under investigation. Editors note: This post was updated at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 26, 2020, after police provided more information. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.26 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Austria imported 149,443 tons of oil and petroleum products from Azerbaijan from January through April 2020, as compared to 516,000 tons for the same period of 2019, Eurostat told Trend. The country imported 42,852 tons in January, 54,012 tons in February and 52,579 tons in April 2020. This is while in 2019, Austria imported 264,000 tons in January, 144,000 tons in February, 10,000 tons in March, 98,000 tons in April, 31,000 tons in May, 91,000 tons in June, 71,000 tons in July, 128,000 tons in August, 35,000 tons in September, 103,000 tons in October and 11,372 tons in November. Azerbaijan exported 19.5 million tons of oil from January through July 2020, which is 0.02 percent more compared to the same period of 2019, according to the statistical report of the State Customs Committee (SCC). According to the report, the total volume of exports of petroleum products in the reporting period amounted to $6.3 billion, showing an annual decrease of 48.6 percent. During seven months of 2020, the volume of exports of petroleum products amounted to almost 705,797 tons, which is 15.4 percent more compared to the same period of last year. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn A reported UFO in the Congo turned out to be a Loon Balloon, floated 20km up to provide cellular internet out in the sticks. The operators neglected to tell the relevant authorities what they were doing; two UFO hunters ended up in jail while Loon, a subsidiary of Google holding company Alphabet, smoothed things out. Images shared on social media showed people inspecting a large silver-coloured contraption fitted with solar panels and wires, which had landed in the tropical forest of Bas-Uele province in the northern Democratic Republic of Congo, trailing a large deflated balloon. Locals alerted the security services after the object fell to earth He said police had detained two people, a Congolese and a Pakistani national, who had arrived in Buta with the purpose of searching for the device. The mystery was solved on Tuesday afternoon when Loon, a subsidiary of Alphabet, claimed the object. As for the judiciary, Eric Posner writes in The Times that Mr. Trump would probably seek to appoint an even farther-right Supreme Court justice if a vacancy opened up. And on foreign policy, he might finally follow through on withdrawing from NATO. Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Matthew Continetti writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Michelle Cottle examines two primary contests that will shake the parties well beyond the states in play. At the same time, Mr. Posner writes, it seems likely that Mr. Trump would continue to come up against opposition from the lower courts and Congress. In Washington Monthly, Paul Gastris raises the possibility of Democrats taking back the Senate, which would further hamstring Republican lawmakers. While much of Mr. Trumps base may continue to back him, Mr. Gastris predicts that his numbers would eventually start to slip. This, he says, is what happened to George W. Bush after his re-election: In the wake of his failed attempt to privatize Social Security and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, his approval rating among Republicans plummeted 22 points. Fox News drew more viewers during the 2004 Republican National Convention than any other TV network, he writes. In the end, it could not save Bush from the real-world consequences of his own actions. If Trump loses re-election In the event of a Biden victory in November, the Times columnist Bret Stephens argues that the future of the Republican Party would depend on Mr. Trumps margin of defeat. If he loses narrowly, the Trump family will do what it can to retain control of the party. As Adam Harris writes in The Atlantic, it is Donald Trump Jr., not Nikki Haley or Tim Scott, who currently seems the presidents most natural political heir. But if Mr. Trump loses overwhelmingly, Mr. Stephens predicts a more profound schism will emerge within the Republican Party a cage match between Marco Rubio and Tucker Carlson for the soul of the G.O.P. In Mr. Stephenss view, one wing will seek a fresh, more sophisticated champion for the politics of Trumpism, while a more moderate wing will try to revert to a version of what the party was when Paul Ryan was leading it. But others think that such a reversion is doubtful, at least for now. The basic Trump worldview on immigration, trade, foreign policy, etc. will shape the G.O.P. for decades, the way the basic Reagan worldview did for decades, the Times columnist David Brooks writes. A thousand smarter conservatives will be building a new party after 2020, but one that builds from the framework Trump established. When Microsoft began talking this summer with the popular video app TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, no one had any intentions of pursuing a blockbuster deal. With tensions swirling between the United States and China, along with the complexities of running a social media company, any large acquisition appeared too treacherous to navigate. So Microsoft discussed taking a small stake in TikTok and becoming one of the apps minority investors, said four people briefed on the conversations. Even a small deal would be a win-win, the thinking went. For ... 'God is calling us to true joy': Levi Lusko on COVID-19, racism, church reopening Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a year defined by racial tension and pandemic hysteria, Pastor Levi Lusko believes God is calling His people to abandon their idols and experience true joy. Lusko, lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, a multi-site church in Montana and Utah, told The Christian Post that he, like millions of other Americans, has found 2020 to be an incredibly difficult year. But amid the pain, anxiety, and uncertainty, Lusko, who recently released his latest book, Take Back Your Life: A 40 Day Interactive Journey to Thinking Right So You Can Live Right, believes God is calling His people to true joy. God is calling us to try joy. I believe thats the predominant thing He's trying to stir in our hearts this year, he said. In the very early days of March, April, and May, I felt God really calling me to true joy. Sometimes, we have to have those counterfeit sources of joy stripped away from us to experience true joy. Lusko admitted that his biggest go-to idol is control. But I'm out of control, he said. None of us can control this pandemic. By having that idol torn from my heart I feel like God has been calling me to true joy in Him, and in seeking His face. The pastor pointed to the example of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, who learned to trust God in obscurity and isolation. Elijah had to remove himself from the busyness to hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, he said. It took him getting away to work through depression and issues that were clearly in his heart. He thought he was the only one struggling; he had kind of a victim mentality. He needed God to work on him. But when he heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him in the cave, he knew what he needed to do. Lusko argued that in todays oversaturated, in-debt, overwhelmed society, it's easy to miss that still, small voice calling us to true joy. "We need to practice self-control, and that begins with the renewing of our minds," he stressed. The pandemic has given many people the time and space to grapple with issues below the surface the pastor said, such as racism and inequality. Maybe we never would have had space and bandwidth to listen had it not been for the pandemic, he posited. Weve had the opportunity to hear the voices rising up, saying, Theres inequality, theres injustice. Scripture just overwhelmingly, from beginning to end, shows that God detests any religion that does not involve justice. We in the Church need to raise our voices for the oppressed. Its just part of following Christ. While Fresh Life Church continues to broadcast sermons and hold small groups online, theyre remaining on the slow side of physically reopening in the wake of the pandemic. We're not open in the sense that we're having our normal, traditional gathering worship experiences, Lusko said. We just have tried to kind of be on the safe side of that. We're trying to serve our cities. One of our big things at Fresh Life is, we want to serve the peace of the city. Businesses, restaurants, car dealerships have to open because if they dont, theyll go bankrupt. But the church can't be broken. If we can lay aside our preference, which would be to gather, to serve the peace of the city, then we know well benefit from the flourishing of the whole city. Well let those that need to make money reopen. In the meantime, we'll just gather online and be on the back burner. When the time's right, when its safe and healthy, well reopen. According to Lusko, waiting to reopen is an act toward evangelism. He pointed out that the only people clamoring for us to reopen our church are Christians. I've not had one non-Christian go, Why arent you open? when I say, Were trying to serve the city by being on the slow side, he said. I've never had one non-Christian be like, That's terrible. They say, Wow, I really respect that. I feel like it's an act towards evangelism and that is driving our desire to be on the slow side. Still, the bestselling author admitted that deciding to remain closed has been tough. I seesaw back and forth. Ive had a tornado of emotions, but the biggest thing I've heard from the Holy Spirit is that its an act of evangelism to take this approach. The St. George, Utah, area along the border between Utah and Arizona was inundated with flash floods after a torrential downpour on Sunday. A large thunderstorm rained down more than an inch of water throughout the area. St. George Police Officer Tiffany Atkin told residents to stay inside and away from the flooded streets. Homes throughout the region reported flooding and some student housing around Dixie State University had to be evacuated, The Spectrum reported. Officials believe a large sinkhole outside a hotel swallowed a car. Cars traveling along Interstate 15 sank nearly to their windows from the flooding. A downed power line shut off power in some places. Due to the volume of residences flooding and vehicles stranded due to impassable roadways, most tow services are tied up, the department reported on Twitter shortly after 10 p.m. The 911 call center is receiving a large number of 911 and other calls for assistance. Please only call 911 or the dispatch line if there is a life safety issue. The area hadnt received any significant precipitation the entire summer. By 10:30 p.m., the eye of the storm had passed, but flooding was still being reported in some areas. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Only one in 10 people plan to return to living exactly how they did before Covid-19 when the pandemic eventually ends, researchers have found. Just half of people in the ongoing social study by University College London (UCL) said they were more likely to revert back to life pre-coronavirus. The rest sat on a spectrum of how much they wanted to adjust, with two per cent of people saying they will 'entirely' change how they live. Supporting local businesses, saving more money and spending more time working from home were among the changes people wanted to make. But there was a lack of enthusiasm for travelling on public transport and holidaying abroad in a post-Covid world. People who lived alone, those on lower household incomes and those without children are the least likely to want to change their lifestyle. Only one in 10 people plan to return to living exactly as they did before Covid-19 after the pandemic ends, researchers have found (bottom row) More than a fifth of people plan to work from home more often, a blow to efforts to try and get Britain back into the workplace Around 16 per cent of people aged over 60 said they would return to living exactly as they had before (the darkest colour). That was more than double (7 per cent) compared to the population below that age Lead author Dr Daisy Fancourt said: 'Our study shows that during lockdown many peoples' priorities have changed, with a substantial number of people expressing a desire to change parts of their life and routine once the pandemic is over. 'This is likely down to the upheaval of lockdown breaking many habits and leading to people reassessing what they feel is important or worthwhile, be that spending time with their family, supporting their community, or saving money, to name some of the more popular responses.' Economist warns getting things back to normal will be an 'uphill struggle' as more than 20 of Britain's biggest firms have no plans for ANY employees to come back to the office Business leaders have warned it will be a significant challenge for ministers to convince office workers to get back in traffic, or on crowded public transport, and head back to their company base. Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, told the Telegraph: 'Even when the obstacles are cleared, getting things back to normal will be an uphill struggle. 'For employers and workers, remote working has worked better than expected. Many will be reluctant to return to the daily grind of commuting, not least given the costs involved. 'The pandemic could have a lasting impact on how people think about the office.' His comments come as it's revealed more 24 of Britain's 50 biggest firms have no plans for any employees to come back to the office. The BBC investigation, which did not name any of the companies, found a substantial number of companies quizzed said they'd tried to offer choice and flexibility for staff, including 20 who have opened up their offices for those unable to work from home. Kevin Ellis, chairman of PwC, who admitted he was surprised employees did not return to offices in large numbers when they reopened, and that working from home, for at least part of the week, is likely to continue. He told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: 'We've got 22,000 people and our average age is 31. 'We now have about 8,000 people using our offices regularly and it's increasing by about 1,000 each week and I think what's happening is a sort of crowd mentality. 'What's happened with this pandemic is an accelerated number of changes and working from home is one of those. I think a lot of people will work two or three days in the office and a couple of days at home or client site depending on their needs.' Advertisement The study by UCL was launched in the week before lockdown began to capture how adults are feeling about the impact of Covid-19 on their own lives. More than 70,000 people have participated in the study, answering questions on their mental health and wellbeing and adherence to government guidance. Respondents have been asked whether they feel they will change the way they live their lives once the pandemic is over compared to their lives before Covid-19. They rated their feelings on a scale from one to seven, with seven being: 'I will entirely change the way I lived compared to before Covid-19'. Findings published today reveal that a fifth (22 per cent) of respondents felt they were more likely to change their lifestyle after Covid-19. This rose to around a quarter for those aged 30-59 (25 per cent) and those with a diagnosed mental illness (26 per cent). Around 16 per cent of people aged over 60 said they would return to living exactly as they had before, more than double (7 per cent) compared to the population below that age. One factor that people were most likely to change was increasing their support for local businesses (40 per cent), with around a third of people also saying they would save more money (33 per cent), exercise more (35 per cent) or make more use of online shopping (33 per cent). A quarter of adults planned to work from home more, which increased to 29 per cent for 18-29 year-olds and 32 per cent for those aged between 30-59. It comes after a study found this week that British workers are the most reluctant in Europe to return because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus. It's feared that with less people going into work, shops in town centres and business districts will be left without customers for months to come. UCL researchers also found 26 per cent of people across all age groups wanted to spend more time with family outside of their homes or holiday more in the UK. Just under a fifth (18 per cent) of people aged 18-29 expressed a desire to find a new romantic relationship once the pandemic is over. People with a diagnosed mental illness were more likely to report that they would make changes to their lives after Covid-19. Graphs show that those least likely to report lifestyle changes were those who lived alone, are on lower household incomes, and are without children. Cheryl Lloyd, education programme head at the Nuffield Foundation, which is funding the study, said the findings raised important questions about how feasible it is for people on lower incomes to make lifestyle changes. They were 'more likely to be in precarious employment and have less disposable income', which could affect whether they could change their circumstances. Ms Lloyd said: 'To be effective, policies should be targeted, and designed in consultation with at-risk groups, to ensure they do not exacerbate existing health and social inequalities.' The study team has received support from research charity Wellcome to launch an international network of studies called Covid-Minds, which will see dozens of scientists and clinicians collate and compare results from mental health studies from around the world. SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - Hundreds of flights were cancelled in South Korea while North Koreas leader expressed concern about a possible loss of lives and crops as the countries braced for a fast-approaching typhoon forecast as one of the strongest to hit their peninsula this year. Packing a maximum wind speed of 155 kilometres (96 miles) per hour, Typhoon Bavi was already lashing South Koreas southern resort island of Jeju on Wednesday afternoon, flooding roads, toppling trees, ripping off signboards and knocking down lampposts as it passed over waters off the islands western shores. There were no immediate reports of casualties. South Koreas weather agency said the typhoon would begin affecting the mainland at night before making landfall in western North Korea early Thursday. The agency warned of possible severe damage caused by very strong winds and heavy rainfall. In Jeju, strong winds and rain knocked out power to hundreds of homes and damaged buildings, trees, streetlamps, telephone poles, road barriers and signboards, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said. More than 480 domestic flights in and out of Jeju and the southern mainland city of Busan were cancelled as of Wednesday evening. South Korean authorities also shut public parks and sea bridges and moved hundreds of fishing boats and other vessels, the ministry said. In the capital, Seoul, and other cities, health workers dismantled at least 75 makeshift coronavirus testing stations over worries that the tents and booths might not withstand strong winds. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said that during a ruling party meeting on Tuesday, the countrys leader, Kim Jong Un, called for thorough preparations to minimize casualties and damage from the typhoon. The storm comes weeks after torrential rains caused flooding and massive damage to homes and crops in North Korea, inflicting further pain to an economy ravaged by pandemic-linked border closures and U.S.-led sanctions over the Norths nuclear program. KCNA said earlier that a typhoon warning was issued in most areas of the country, with officials moving fishing boats and applying protective measures to buildings, farms and railroads. In China, authorities suspended ferry services across the Yellow Sea from the northern port of Dalian to the cities of Weihai and Yantai on the Shandong Peninsula as the typhoon closed in on the region. The government of Dalian, a city of 7 million people, urged people to stay indoors as much as possible on Wednesday and Thursday. ___ AP researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report. By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov and the visiting Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu have discussed the military cooperation and the military-political situation in the region, namely, Armenian military provocation last month that killed 12 soldiers and a civilian. The meeting was held in Baku on August 25 on the same day Shoigu and the Russian military delegation was received by President Ilham Aliyev. Touching upon the military-political situation in the region, the Azerbaijani defence minister emphasized that Armenia's aggressive policy is a serious threat to peace, stability, and security not only in Azerbaijan but also throughout the region. Referring to the recent provocations committed by the Armenian side in the direction of the Tovuz region, Hasanov pointed out that they were aimed at undermining relations between Azerbaijan and the CIS countries. Emphasizing Russias role in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Hasanov also stressed that Russia, like all international organizations, recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and respects the independence and sovereignty of the country. Hasanov stressed that friendly relations between the heads of the states determine the dynamic development of relations between the two countries in all spheres. In turn, the Russian defence minister expressed deep condolences to the families of Azerbaijani servicemen killed in the recent clashes on the border with Armenia. Speaking about the recent media reports on the transportation of weapons from Russia to Armenia by aircraft, Shoigu noted that this transportation was not intended for the supply of weapons and military equipment, including military-type property to Armenia, but for the delivery of construction materials used in large-scale construction work carried out at the 102nd Russian military base in this country, as well as with the aim of rotating military personnel serving at this military base. Shoigu especially emphasized that until today Russia has not taken any steps directed against Azerbaijan and would not take such steps in the future. Furthermore, the sides also held discussions on issues of international and regional security, the current state of military cooperation and prospects for the development of relations, as well as exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest in the field of military-technical cooperation. It should be noted that Shoigu and Hasanov also attended the opening ceremony of the Sea Cup completion on August 25 that is part of the annual Army Games organized by the Russian Defence Ministry. This year, the competitions are held in five countries, including in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani media recently revealed that over 400 tonnes of military cargo have been transported from Russia to Armenia through the air spaces of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. According to the reports, the military cargo was transported to Armenia during and after the military provocation committed by Armenia in the direction of Tovuz district of the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border last month. The reports revealed that nine flights were made from Russia to Armenia since last month. Two of these flights were made in the midst of the clashes on July 17. One flight per day was made on 18, 20, 27, 29 July and 4 August, while two flights were made on August 6. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Bert Newton wasn't wearing a mandatory face mask as he stepped out in Melbourne on Tuesday. The Australian media personality was spotted arriving to his daughter Lauren's home without a face covering on. The 82-year-old wore black pants, a buttoned shirt and blue jumper as he visited his daughter, one day after she returned home from hospital with her newborn son Alby. Mask-free: Bert Newton wasn't wearing a mandatory face mask when he visited his daughter Lauren in coronavirus-stricken Melbourne on Tuesday He completed his ensemble with a pair of black shoes and wore glasses. Daily Mail does not suggest Bert is acting in breach of the mandatory rules as he is likely to have a medical exemption. Bert Newton has been contacted for comment. Last month, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made face masks mandatory in public spaces across Melbourne and Mitchell Shire in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19. The mask rule was enforced across the state of Victoria on Monday, August 3. Visiting: The Australian media personality was spotted arriving at his daughter Lauren's home without a face covering on Comfortable: The 82-year-old wore black pants, a buttoned shirt and blue jumper as he visited his daughter People who do not wear masks in public face fines of $200, unless they have been granted an exemption. A face covering is not required under some circumstances including a person who is affected by a medical condition, person for whom wearing a face mask would create a risk to their health and when doing any activity where you are out of breath. Melburnian's also cannot have visitors unless it is to deliver care and essential services. Exemption: It's possible Bert has a medical exemption which means he does not have to wear a mask in public at all times Meanwhile, Lauren finally returned home from hospital after 80 nights on Tuesday, after suffering complications during her sixth pregnancy. 'So wonderful to be home after 80 nights in hospital,' Lauren wrote on Instagram. 'Hard to leave Alby but he is in wonderful hands. Thanks to the special care nursery and his amazing pediatrician. We love you Alby,' she finished. Lauren and Matt welcomed their son Alby last Thursday and announced the happy news on Friday. "John Wick" director Chad Stahelski issued a worrying statement about the future of Keanu Reeves' flick. For years, Keanu has been one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood. In fact, his fans might have noticed how his name had been included on a list of potential actors to play a character in a movie even though he still has a project to do. However, Stahelski has concerns about the "John Wick" franchise and revealed that the fifth installment of the film would only happen if "he is happy with the fourth" one. Furthermore, MovieWeb reported that "John Wick 4" must have a concrete story before the director could give the go signal for another film. "The way Keanu and I approach it with our writing team is, 'Look, we have ideas, but it's not like I'm working with two sets of writers on two movies,'" the filmmaker said. "We're going to write a really good number four. If a really good number four feels solid to Keanu and I, we'll make that one." Instead of stretching the movie to produce more installments, Stahelski insisted on having a solid story for each "John Wick" movie. Despite such troubling news, it is worth noting that a failed movie is nearly impossible if Keanu is the lead star. For instance, his "John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum" became the film franchise's highest-grossing film just 10 days after its release. With that said, the future of the "John Wick" franchise is still bright and guaranteed. "John Wick" Franchise Is Forever Sought-After Before talks for "John Wick 5" begin, Keanu Reeves has already ironed out plans for a female-led spin-off for the franchise. The decision to create a female John Wick spin-off film was first announced in 2017. According to Variety, the current action script by Shay Hatten, who is the same writer behind the previous John Wick film, is being compared to the 1990's flick "La Femme Nikita." In the same year, Hatten handed the "Ballerina" script to Lionsgate. But three years since it happened, there is no update yet on when the production and shooting of the film will begin. However, six months after "John Wick Chapter 3" was released, Lionsgate unveiled some details about the spin-off. They confirmed that it would be directed by "Underworld" and "Live Free or Die Hard" director Len Wiseman. Keanu will reportedly be the executive producer of the new film, with Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Stahelski as co-producers. The movie, titled "Ballerina," is set as a new action film about a ballerina who also grew up to be an assassin. Unity Phelan played the character of a ballet soloist based in New York City in the previous John Wick film. The said character is looking for revenge after the murder of her family. She is a product of the same academy where fans met John Wick for the first time. The character's training hub was already showed during "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum," but that is only what the viewers know so far. READ MORE: Bill and Ted Face the Music: Keanu Reeves Makes Massive Return! China has claimed illogical paranoia, outdated stereotypes and political distortion have betrayed Australia's relationship with Beijing, as it moves to ease diplomatic tensions after months of escalating hostility. In a set speech that revealed for the first time the reasons behind China's sharp response to Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus, China's deputy head of mission Wang Xining said Beijing was insulted by Australia not consulting it before announcing it would lobby for an independent inquiry. Wang Xining, deputy head of mission from the Chinese embassy in Australia Credit:Alex Ellinghausen He said China felt targeted by ministers' claims that the virus originated in Wuhan and about blame apportioned to China for failing to control the spread of the disease. "All of a sudden, there was this shocking proposal from Australia, supposed to be a good friend of China ... the intensity of emotion of our people, how much indignation, anger and frustration they expressed," said Mr Wang. Rating Action: Moody's affirms Timken's Baa3 senior unsecured rating; outlook remains positive Global Credit Research - 25 Aug 2020 New York, August 25, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") affirmed its ratings for The Timken Company ("Timken"), including the company's Baa3 senior unsecured debt rating. The ratings outlook remains positive. "While Timken has performed well relative to industrial firms to this point in the COVID-related downturn, the ongoing challenges that the pandemic presents will nonetheless slow the company's operating improvement trends," says David Berge, Moody's Senior Vice President and lead analyst for the company. "However, assuming strong if only partial recovery in business conditions in 2021, Timken remains on track towards achieving deleveraging goals that would likely support a higher rating." The rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the deteriorating global economic outlook, low and volatile oil prices, and asset price declines are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many sectors, regions and markets. The combined credit effects of these developments are unprecedented. The industrial goods industry sub-sector has been one of the most significantly affected given its sensitivity to consumer demand and sentiment. Timken's exposure to automotive and truck manufacturing end markets, in particular, render the company vulnerable to shifts in market sentiment and operational disruptions in these unprecedented times, and the company subsequently remains vulnerable to the lingering adverse effects of the outbreak. Moody's regards the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under its ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. RATINGS RATIONALE Timken's ratings are broadly supported by a long-established leadership position in the roller bearings market, upon which the company has been able to gradually grow and diversify its revenue base through a well-managed program of acquisitions. The company's business model focuses on specialized products sold to industrial and transportation related customers that provide the best profit potential, rather than seeking size or overall market leadership. While it remains relatively modest in size compared to other industrial companies, Moody's believes that this approach has strengthened Timken's resilience throughout volatile cycles in industries that it serves, the current COVID-related downturn in particular. This business model allows the company to sustain relatively strong margin and free cash flow generation notwithstanding the short-term weakening in demand. Timken reported EBITA margins in excess of 16% for the first six months of 2020, despite a nearly 13% decline in sales from the same period in 2019. This reflects prompt and effective cost-cutting measures that Timken instituted in response to the pandemic which, along with working capital recapture in the second quarter, contributed to free cash flow generation of $200 million in the first half of 2020, versus normal annual free cash flow of approximately $300 million. Story continues Moody's expects weaker demand conditions to continue through the second half of 2020, especially in the company's Mobile Industries segment, which serves among others automotive and truck manufacturing end markets (combined 21% of 2019 revenue) that have been especially hard-hit by the pandemic (segment revenue declined 18% in the first half of 2020 versus the same period in 2019) and will likely remain weak throughout 2020 before resuming only slow growth. As such, Moody's expects EBITA margins to be in the low teens percentage range in the second half of this year, before gradually resuming to the 15% to 16% range in 2021 and thereafter. Likewise, the weak conditions persisting through the remainder of 2020 are expected to slow cash flow generation, although Moody's believes free cash flow will be close to $300 million for the year. The maintenance of strong cash flow generation, along with cash balances that exceeded $400 million as of 30 June 2020 and the suspension of share repurchase activity for 2020, will be important to allow the company to repay debt through the year. With a modestly reduced debt balance along with likely earnings improvement in 2021, Moody's expects debt-to-EBITDA will fall closer to the 2.5x level by the end of 2021, down from a peak of close to 3x in 2020 and thereby continuing to support the positive ratings outlook. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS Timken's ratings could be upgraded if Moody's expects that the company can sustain EBITA margins in the mid-teens range in 2021 and generate strong free cash flow through 2020 and 2021, with debt-to-EBITDA reduced to close to 2.5x by the end of that period. As business conditions improve, Moody's expects that Timken will undertake modestly sized acquisitions, but the ability to sustain margins and cash flows without a material increase in leverage would be important to support a higher rating. Ratings could be downgraded if Timken meaningfully increases debt levels to fund an accelerated pace of acquisitions or shareholder returns, or if the decline in earnings due to COVID deepens or lingers past 2020, resulting in debt-to-EBITDA that is sustained above 3x. As well, ratings could be downgraded if the company encounters negative or breakeven free cash flows, or if EBITA margins were to approach 10% or EBITA-to-interest falls below 5x. The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR), headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, is a global manufacturer of bearings and assemblies, power transmission systems, gearboxes and related products and services. Timken operates under two reportable segments: Mobile Industries and Process Industries, both contributing about 50% of sales in 2019. Timken generated approximately $3.5 billion of revenue in last 12 months that ended on 30 June 2020. The following is a summary of Moody's ratings and today's rating actions: Affirmations: ..Issuer: Timken Company (The) ....Senior Unsecured Shelf, Affirmed (P)Baa3 ....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa3 Outlook Actions: ..Issuer: Timken Company (The) ....Outlook, Remains Positive The principal methodology used in these ratings was Manufacturing Methodology published in March 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1206079. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology. REGULATORY DISCLOSURES For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004. For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com. For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity. The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure. These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com. Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review. Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569. The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com. Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating. Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating. David Berge, CFA Senior Vice President Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Russell Solomon Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. 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New Delhi, Aug 26 : The Phase II clinical trial of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, began on Wednesday. The first dose was given to two males, aged 28 and 48, in Pune's Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital. "Two volunteers were given 0.5 ml of the vaccine, observed for half an hour to see if they get any local site reaction or systemic reaction. After half an hour, they were sent home and given an emergency helpline number. They will be observed for seven days," Medical Director of the medical college Dr Sanjay Lalwani told IANS. "We received the vaccine yesterday and got clearance from the Serum Institute to start enrolling the volunteers. Five volunteers were called, and a RT-PCR test was performed to screen for antibodies. Three tested antibody positive with no history of Covid-19. They might have been asymptomatic carriers," he added. Twenty five volunteers will be given the dosage in the coming days. A total of 100 volunteers will be enrolled throughout India. "If the data of all the 100 shows fine, the government will give clearance for phase III on 1,500. It will see the immunogenicity to see how good antibodies are produced and safety of the vaccine. Once the data is compiled by DGCI, the vaccine will get clearance," said Lalwani. The vaccine has been developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca. The Serum Institute of India has tied up with AstraZeneca to produce doses of the vaccine in India. The trials will be conducted on 1,600 participants across the country. ByteDance is being forced to sell TikTok's U.S. business by the Trump administration, which says the app's current ties to China make it a national security threat. An executive order signed by Trump on Aug. 6 means a sale must go through before Sept. 15. However, TikTok sued the U.S. government on Monday, alleging it was deprived of due process. The lawsuit could delay the ban, giving TikTok more time to get a better deal for the sale. Microsoft 's acquisition talks with TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance "ballooned" this summer after President Donald Trump intervened, according to a report from The New York Times , citing people familiar with the situation. When the deal talks began, Microsoft is said to have been reluctant to do any kind of large TikTok acquisition, due in part to the rising tensions between the U.S. and China, according to the Times report. However, a minority stake in the wildly popular video sharing app was viewed positively as it may lead to TikTok ditching Google Cloud, which it currently uses, and signing up to Microsoft Azure, instantly making it one of Microsoft's largest cloud customers. TikTok could also be integrated with Microsoft's $7 billion advertising business. Microsoft issued a statement on Aug. 2 about its pursuit to buy TikTok's U.S. business. However, on Aug, 3, Trump said he'd rather Microsoft, valued at $1.6 trillion, purchase the app that is used by 100 million Americans in its entirety. "I think buying 30% is complicated," Trump told reporters in the Cabinet Room at the White House. There are now several other bidders competing with Microsoft, with the main one being enterprise software firm Oracle. Netflix and Twitter have also been contacted by bankers and investors, but it's not clear if they're interested, according to the Times. In any case, deal talks between the parties have "morphed into a big, messy, political soap opera," according to the report. As for the price of TikTok, that's anyone's guess, but estimates range from $20 billion to $50 billion, depending on which bits of the company are sold. CNBC's David Faber reported earlier this month that Microsoft was discussing a range of $10 billion to $30 billion to buy TikTok. A deal with Microsoft could boost the valuation of TikTok's business outside China to up to $80 billion, according to sources cited by The Times. It's worth noting that any deal that is agreed upon could easily be derailed by Washington or Beijing. Microsoft and TikTok declined to comment when contacted by CNBC. Read the full story in The New York Times here. Quigleys office says in the statement: Members of the Trump administration have flagrantly violated this statue throughout the past three years, with senior Administration officials even being reprimanded by the Office of Special Counsel, yet all have continued in their roles without consequence. The RNC Act would ensure that any current or future occupants of the White House face actual repercussions for violation of the Hatch Act. Read the text of the bill, which is co-sponsored by a handful of Dems including Illinois U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a North Side and suburban Democrat, here. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been anecdotal reports of COVID-19 patients becoming reinfected with SARS-CoV-2. Until this week, there was no concrete evidence demonstrating that SARS-CoV-2 reinfection could occur. A man who previously recovered from COVID-19 in March tested positive at an airport screening site this month while returning to his home in Hong Kong. According to a paper from researchers at Hong Kong University, viral genome sequencing showed that he was infected with two different genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 and was therefore authentically reinfected, although the authors have not presented data to rule out contamination, which can readily occur in labs that process many clinical samples that may all contain different variants of the virus. (The paper was recently accepted for publication in Clinical Infectious Diseases.) Since then, two more cases of reinfection have been reported in the Netherlands and Belgium, although no data has been made available to confirm these findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this is not cause for alarm. You cannot tell whether something is going to have a major impact on the pandemic by looking at a solitary case, or even a handful of cases. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the emerging viruses unit at the World Health Organization, emphasized that this needs to be studied at the population level before making any broader conclusions. Currently theres very little evidence to suggest that reinfection is common. So what can we learn about reinfection from these case reports and the relatively scant data they provide? Not much. But now we can begin to see how it aligns with other evidence about reinfection and immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and develop hypotheses that can then be tested in more rigorous clinical studies or in experimental models. Advertisement Advertisement Before we get into the details of the study, we need to go over some basics. (Bear with me.) Antibodies are proteins that bind specific antigens, or viral proteins that are recognized by the immune system. When an antibody binds its antigen and renders the virus noninfectious, it is referred to as a neutralizing antibody. There are several different types of antibodies, but those that are most likely to be neutralizing are called IgG, so these are most commonly measured to see if someone has developed neutralizing antibody responses. Serum is the liquid component of blood that contains circulating antibodies. The concentration of antibodies in the blood is referred to as the titer. Advertisement Most commonly, a PCR test is used to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection, which specifically detects and amplifies a small piece of the viral genome directly. But antibody tests, which are whats most relevant here, quantify antibody titers. Some can also determine how many neutralizing antibodies in a serum sample can inactivate either authentic SARS-CoV-2 or a surrogate virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that the immunology lesson is out of the way, we can look at several interesting observations in the Hong Kong case. One was that the patient did not have detectable serum IgG antibodies 10 days after symptom onset. This suggests that the first infection, in which the patient reported mild COVID-19 symptoms, did not trigger a particularly robust neutralizing antibody response. This is consistent with reports that antibody titers correlate with disease severitythe bigger the viral load, the sicker the patient and the bigger the antibody responseand may suggest that either the patient didnt mount an immune response at all, or at least mounted weak antibody responses below the detection threshold for the test that was used. The absence of detectable serum antibodies does not necessarily demonstrate absence of functional immune memory, as antibodies are not the sole indicator of immunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This leads to a second interesting observation: The patient was completely asymptomatic throughout the course of the second infection, and afterward, he had detectable IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. This could be explained by the presence of immunological memory, or immune cells that remember the virus from the first infection, even if antibody titers were too low to detect using a lab test. In this scenario, the immune memory wasnt robust enough to provide sterilizing protection and completely block infection, but it was sufficient to reduce disease pathology. This is consistent with what we know about how the immune system works: After recovery from an initial infection, antibody titers normally decrease to a baseline level, which may be too low to detect, although the memory B cells that make antibodies are likely still present. Akiko Iwasaki, a virologist and immunologist at Yale who studies SARS-CoV-2, called it a textbook example of a functional immune system responding to reexposure of a prior pathogen. Even if preexisting immunity doesnt completely protect against infection, it is still thought to reduce disease severity. Advertisement Advertisement This type of nonsterilizing immune protection against disease has been observed in all of the studies testing vaccines in rhesus macaques: Not all the vaccinated animals were protected against infection, but they were much less sick, at least in terms of their clinical presentation, laboratory values, respiratory rates, and tissue pathology, compared with control animals. None of this is surprising, nor does it suggest that reinfection is going to be a huge problem for public health, at least by being frequently associated with severe COVID-19. In fact, it doesnt tell us much at all because you cant definitively investigate what happened in a single case study in a rigorous or controlled way. Advertisement The most important question for reinfection, with the most serious implications for controlling the pandemic, is whether reinfected people can transmit the virus to others. The Hong Kong study did not measure infectious virus shed after reinfection, so its not possible to determine whether the patient might be capable of spreading the virus to others based on these data. The patient was isolated after testing positive, so theres no epidemiological evidence to suggest that this patient transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to anyone else during his secondary asymptomatic infection. If reinfected patients can spread the virus, it could increase community transmission if those cases are not detected through testing. The ability to detect those cases is likely going to further decline due to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance that people should not seek testing unless they are symptomatic, even if they have a known exposure to a confirmed case. Thats why its crucial to make a more informed estimate of the prevalence of reinfection. If reinfection is a rare event, then it is likely to have less of an impact on transmission within communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not observing reinfection prior to this point may mean that either it is rare or it is rarely detected. There have been multiple reports of reinfection throughout the pandemic, but these have been either anecdotal or inconclusive. By February, there were multiple reports of repositive patients who tested negative after recovering from COVID-19 and then subsequently tested positive again. Most of these repositive cases were thought to be the result of residual viral RNA, the SARS-CoV-2 genetic material that is detected by the test but does not always correspond to the presence of infectious virus and can persist for weeks after recovery. This was confirmed by a study conducted by the South Korean CDC in May on more than 200 repositive cases, which demonstrated that repositive patients were not associated with new transmission clusters, nor were they shedding infectious virus, and were therefore likely not infected at all despite testing positive. In the Hong Kong case, reinfection was confirmed by sequencing the full viral genome rather than detecting a small piece of genetic material using the diagnostic test, and observing that the genome sequences in their entirety were distinct during each episode of infection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are far fewer reports of people testing positive more than four months past recovery, although that may be because people who have recovered from COVID-19 are less likely to seek testing months after their symptoms resolve or they test negative, or if they have had an antibody test and are seropositive. However, if reinfection commonly causes severe COVID-19, no evidence of that has been found to date. With more than 24 million SARS-CoV-2 cases worldwide, its likely that reinfection is probably rare if it hasnt been observed until now. We also cant exclude the possibility that this sample may be a false positive resulting from contamination of either sample, in which case we are still waiting for a confirmed report of bona fide reinfection. Advertisement Advertisement Going forward, if we are to understand anything about the implications of reinfection for transmission and immunity, we must design studies that can address these questions. We need to understand how common it is and whether reinfected patients develop severe COVID-19, we need to determine the relationship of reinfection to immunity, and we need to assess whether these patients are capable of shedding infectious virus and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to others. That information cant be obtained from a single case. Until we have evidence that reinfection is something to worry about, we should instead focus on reducing the transmission risk for everyone in the communityregardless of whether they have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. The resolution is valid from 00:00 Kyiv time on August 29 to 00:00 on September 28. Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution to temporarily ban foreigners from entering Ukraine until September 28, except for certain categories of citizens. Read alsoPoland bans flights from 43 countries, Ukraine also at risk mediaThe document was made at a government meeting on August 26, according to an UNIAN correspondent. "In order to prevent the spread of the second wave of COVID-19 in Ukraine... This is to temporarily ban the entry of foreigners and stateless persons into Ukraine for the duration of the quarantine, except for certain categories of persons," Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said when presenting the resolution. Who will be allowed to enter Ukraine According to Avakov, the entry amid the quarantine is prohibited for foreign citizens, except for persons who: Enter the territory of Ukraine in transit and have documents confirming their departure within two days; Study in Ukraine; Undergo military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Permanently reside on the territory of Ukraine and have an appropriate resident card; Are recognized as refugees or persons in need of additional protection; and Are employees of diplomatic missions and consular posts of foreign states, representatives of official international missions, organizations accredited in Ukraine and members of their families or those who are staying at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The resolution is valid from 00:00 Kyiv time on August 29 to 00:00 on September 28. Quarantine in Ukraine MP Musters Support for Inquiry into Beijings Influence at Australian Universities Queensland MP Bob Katter wants Australians to urge their MPs to support a parliamentary inquiry into Chinese Communist Partys influence at universities before it goes to a vote in the House of Representatives. The motion I will move on August 31 calls on the Government to undertake a comprehensive study of the efforts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to exert influence over Australias universities and means by which it seeks to do so, Katter said in a media release. The member for Kennedy cited revelations in a report by News Corps The Australian about three academics from the University of Queensland who were, or had been, allegedly involved in the Chinese regimes Thousand Talents recruitment program. The Australian reported the university was unaware of the links to the recruitment program. Katter said: The allegations that these Australian-based scientists are potentially being recruited for research with a military application and even to develop weapons, is of the highest concern, and there needs to be a complete cleanout of the university sector. Beijings talent program was rolled out in 2008 to recruit promising science and tech researchers from foreign countries to work in Chinafor the ultimate goal of fulfilling its ambition for global tech dominance. Those efforts are sometimes described by official sources as building nests to attract phoenixes, writes Alex Joske in a report for the Australian Strategic Policy Insitute. The problem, he writes, is the lack of transparency around the Chinese regimes recruitment efforts and the level of misconduct which includes intellectual property theft or espionage; how it feeds into the Peoples Liberation Armys modernisation; and how it facilitates human rights abuses. Joske writes: Much of the misconduct associated with talent-recruitment programs breaches existing laws, contracts and institutional policies. The fact that it nonetheless occurs at high levels points to a failure of compliance and enforcement mechanisms across research institutions and relevant government agencies. Australias national spy agency, ASIO, reportedly made universities aware of the risks of foreign recruitment programs, including tech transfer, and urged them to strengthen their disclosure regimes, according to The Australian. Australia ties second with Germany, after the United States, in the ASPIs list of the top 10 countries hosting identified talent recruitment stations. Watch Next How Beijing Infiltrates the West A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the title of Mr. Katter. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Danderyd 26 August 2020 PRESS RELEASE The shareholders of Copperstone Resources AB (publ) (Copperstone or the Company) are hereby given notice of the extraordinary general meeting on 29 September 2020 at 15:00, at the offices of Hannes Snellman Attorneys, Kungstradgardsgatan 20, SE-111 47 Stockholm. The registration opens at 14:30. Notice of attendance etc. Shareholders who wish to participate in the general meeting must be recorded in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as of 21 September 2020, and give notice of intent to participate by post to the Company no later than on 24 September 2020 at 12:00 to Svardvagen 21, SE-182 33 Danderyd, or by e-mail: info@copperstone.se, with attention to extraordinary general meeting. When giving notice of attendance, the shareholders name, personal or registration number, address, telephone number, shareholdings as well as specification of any advisors (maximum two) shall be stated. If shareholders attendance and right at the meeting will be exercised by proxy, we would be grateful if such is provided in connection with the notification of attendance. The proxy may not be older than one year, although the proxy may be older than one year if it is stated that it is valid for a longer period, however no longer than five years. A proxy form is available to shareholders upon request and is available at the Company and at the Companys website, www.copperstone.se. Anyone representing a legal entity is asked to provide a copy of certificate of registration or equivalent documentary authority which evidences authorised signatory. To be entitled to attend the meeting, holders of nominee registered shares must instruct the nominee to have the shares registered in the shareholders own name, so that the shareholder is entered in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as of 21 September 2020. Such registration may be temporarily. Information about potential collection of proxies by the Company and mail voting, pursuant to the act on temporary exceptions to facilitate meetings in companies and associations, will be made available on the Companys website no later than a week before the meeting. Story continues Information regarding Covid-19 Copperstone carefully monitors the development of the situation regarding Covid-19, the corona virus. As a safety and risk minimizing measure for its shareholders, Copperstone will take certain measures in connection with the extraordinary general meeting, such as limiting the length of the meeting, the serving of food and other refreshments as well as the participation of its senior executives. Further information related hereto will be published and updated on the Companys website. Shareholders who are ill or belong to a risk group should not attend but may vote through proxy. A proxy form will be made avaliable well in advance of the meeting on Copperstones website www.copperstone.se. The Company further intends to enable mail voting pursuant to the new interim legislation hereto. Information and the applicable form will in such case be available on the Companys website well in advance of the meeting. Proposed agenda 1. Opening of the meeting and election of chairman of the meeting. 2. Preparation and approval of the voting list. 3. Election of one of two persons to verify the minutes. 4. Determination as to whether the extraordinary general meeting has been duly convened. 5. Approval of the agenda. 6. Resolution regarding the boards proposal for amendments to the articles of association: (a) Registered office, (b) Share capital, share class and the number of issued shares, (c) Notice, (d) Voting by post, collection of proxy forms and possibilities to follow a general meeting. 7. Resolution regarding the number of the board of directors and election of board of directors. 8. Resolution regarding the boards proposal for issue authorisation. 9. Resolution regarding amendments to the terms regarding Warrant program 2019-2022. 10. Resolution regarding amendments to the terms regarding Warrant program 2020-2023. 11. Closing of the meeting. Proposals for decision Resolution regarding amendments to the articles of association: Registered office (Item 6a) The Board of Directors of Copperstone Resources AB (publ) proposes that the extraordinary general meeting resolves to amend 2 of the articles of association as follows: The Board of Directors shall have its registered office in Kiruna municipality in Norrbotten county. The Board of Directors, or the person appointed by the Board of Directors, shall have the right to make the minor adjustments in this resolution that may be necessary in connection with registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. Resolution regarding amendments to the articles of association: Share capital, share class and the number of issued shares (Item 6b) The Board of Directors of Copperstone Resources AB (publ) proposes that the extraordinary general meeting resolves to amend 4 of the articles of association as follows: The share capital shall be at least SEK 50,000,000 and maximum SEK 200,000,000. The number of issued shares shall be at least 500,000,000 and maximum 2,000,000,000. The proposal regarding the amendment on 4 means that the Company should only be able to have one class of shares, and thus the possibility of issuing Class A shares is abolished and the current 11 (preferential rights in issues) and 12 (conversion) are deleted from the articles of association The Board of Directors, or the person appointed by the Board of Directors, shall have the right to make the minor adjustments in this resolution that may be necessary in connection with registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. Resolution regarding amendments to the articles of association: Notice (Item 6c) The Board of Directors of Copperstone Resources AB (publ) proposes that the extraordinary general meeting resolves to amend 7 of the articles of association as follows: Notice of General Meeting shall be made no earlier than 6 weeks and no later than 4 weeks before the General Meeting, however, that notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting where no change in the articles of association is to be considered may take place no earlier than 6 weeks and no later than 3 weeks before the Meeting. Notice shall be published in Post- och Inrikes Tidningar and the notice shall be made available on the Companys website. At the time of notice, an announcement that notice has been publish shall be announced in Dagens Industri. Shareholders who wish to participate in the negotiations at a General Meeting shall, in addition to the provisions regarding the record date and otherwise for participation stated in the Swedish Companies Act, notify their participation in the meeting to the Company in the manner specified in the notice convening the General Meeting. The latter day may not fall on a Sunday, another public holiday, Saturday, Midsummers Eve, Christmas Eve or New Years Eve, nor may it fall earlier than the fifth weekday prior to the General Meeting. The Board of Directors, or the person appointed by the Board of Directors, shall have the right to make the minor adjustments in this resolution that may be necessary in connection with registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. Resolution regarding amendments to the articles of association: Voting by post, collection of proxy forms and possibilities to follow a general meeting (Item 6d) The Board of Directors of Copperstone Resources AB (publ) proposes that the extraordinary general meeting resolves that 11 of the current articles of association be deleted and replaced by the following 11: The Board of Directors may collect proxies at the Company's expense in accordance with the procedure specified in the Swedish Companies Act. The Board may also, before a General Meeting, decide that the shareholders shall have the opportunity to exercise their voting rights by post in accordance with the procedure specified in the Swedish Companies Act. The Board of Directors can, inter alia facilitate shareholders' attendance digitally or remotely at the General Meeting, decide that shareholders in the Company or others invited in accordance with the Board of Director's decision, shall, under the conditions resolved upon by the Board of Directors, have the right to attend or otherwise follow the negotiations in accordance with the Swedish Companies Act at the General Meeting. The General Meeting can be held in Kiruna or in Stockholm Municipality. The Board of Directors, or the person appointed by the Board of Directors, shall have the right to make the minor adjustments in this resolution that may be necessary in connection with registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. A resolution regarding items 6 a-d shall be valid only where supported by shareholders holding at least a two-thirds majority of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the General Meeting. Resolution regarding the number of the board of directors and election of board of directors (Item 7) The proposal will be disclosed when it have been received by the Company and in good time before the general meeting. Resolution regarding the boards proposal for issue authorisation (Item 8) The Board of Directors of Copperstone Resources AB (publ), Reg. No. 556704-4168, (Company) proposes that the extraordinary general meeting resolves to authorise the board for the period until the next Annual General Meeting, at one or several occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders preferential rights, against payment in cash or through set-off or in kind, or otherwise with conditions, to resolve on an issue of new shares, warrants and/or convertibles. The total number of issued shares, or the number of shares that may be issued upon conversion of convertibles or through exercise of warrants, may not exceed 20 per cent of the registered number of shares in the company at the time of the General Meetings resolution. The number of shares which may be issued upon conversion of convertibles or through exercise of warrants refers to the number of shares before a potential recalculation. The purpose of the authorisation, and the reason for the possibility to deviate from the shareholders preferential rights, is to enable the company to, in a promptly and cost-effective manner, procure capital, carry out acquisitions or make use of other strategic opportunities. The value transferred to the company through issues by virtue of the authorisation, shall be made on market terms and may include a market based issue discount. The aforementioned proposal further entails that the issue authorisation resolved on by the Annual General Meeting on 20 May 2020 will be replaced as of the registration of the aforementioned authorisation. The Board of Directors, or the person the board appoints, shall have the right to make such minor adjustments to this resolution that may be necessary in connection with registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. In order for a valid resolution, made by the General Meeting in accordance with The Board of Directors proposal, the resolution must be supported by shareholders holding no less than two thirds of both the votes cast as well as of the shares represented at the General Meeting. Resolution regarding amendments to the terms regarding Warrant program 2019-2022 (Item 9) Copperstone Resources AB (publ) (the Company) have on the annual general meeting on 14 May 2019 resolved to issue 6,000,000 warrants within the framework of the Warrant program 2019-2022, whereby warrants have been subscribed for by the subsidiary Argo AB (the Subsidiary) prior to intended allocation and resale to key personnel etc. The Board of Directors of the Company proposes that the extraordinary general meeting resolves to amend the terms regarding the 1,000,000 warrants within the framework of the Warrant program 2019-2022, which are subscribed for by the Subsidiary, and resold to Ian Holman and Jari Juurela. This is done in order to achieve better conformity between agreed (and disclosed) terms by the Subsidiary and the registered terms of the warrants. The terms of the amended warrants will continue to be the same as for the terms of the Warrant program 20192022 as resolved by the annual general meeting on 14 May 2019, except for the subscription price, term and exercise period, which will be amended as follows: The subscription price for exercising shall be SEK 0.75 The term for the warrant program and the exercise period shall last up and until 12 December 2022 for Ian Holman The term for the warrant program and the exercise period shall last up and until 14 January 2023 for Jari Juurela. The 5,000,000 warrants that were allocated to key personnel shortly after the annual general meeting on 14 May 2019 shall thus continue with unchanged terms and will continue to be referred to as Warrant program 20192022. The warrants with adjusted terms as above are called Warrant program 20192022 bis. A resolution shall be valid only where supported by shareholders holding at least a nine-tenths majority of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting. Resolution regarding amendments to the terms regarding Warrant program 2020-2023 (Item 10) Copperstone Resources AB (publ) (the Company) have on the annual general meeting on 20 May 2020 resolved to issue 16,250,000 warrants within the framework of the Warrant program 2020-2023, whereby warrants have been subscribed for by the subsidiary Argo AB (the Subsidiary) prior to intended allocation and resale to key personnel etc. The Board of Directors of the Company proposes that the extraordinary general meeting resolves to amend the terms regarding the 6,350,000 warrants within the framework of the Warrant program 2020-2023, which are still in the possession of the Subsidiary, of which 750,000 are allocated to Anna Tyni (while the remaining 5,600,000 of the warrants are not allocated or reserved for any key personnel yet). This is done in order to achieve better conformity between agreed (and disclosed) terms by the Subsidiary and the registered terms of the warrants. The terms of the amended warrants will continue to be the same as for the terms of the Warrant program 20202023 as resolved by the annual general meeting on 20 May 2020, except for the subscription price, term and exercise period, which will be amended as follows: The subscription price for exercising shall be SEK 1.33 The term for the warrant program and the exercise period shall last up and until 24 July 2023 The 9,900,000 warrants that were allocated to key personnel shortly after the annual general meeting on 20 May 2020 shall thus continue with unchanged terms and will continue to be referred to as Warrant program 20202023. The warrants with adjusted terms as above are called Warrant program 20202023 bis. A resolution shall be valid only where supported by shareholders holding at least a nine-tenths majority of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the meeting. Duty to provide information The Board and the Chief Executive Officer shall, if any shareholder so requests and the Board believes that it can be done without harm to the Company, at the extraordinary general meeting provide information regarding circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda and circumstances that may affect the assessment of the Companys or subsidiaries economic situation and the Companys relationship to another group entity. Documents for the meeting The complete proposals as stated above will be available at the Companys website,, www.copperstone.se, and will be available at Copperstone Resources AB (publ), Svardvagen 21, SE-182 33 Danderyd, no later than three weeks before the general meeting and will be sent to those shareholders who so request and state their postal address. Shares and votes The Companys shares are issued in series A and series B. The number of shares and votes in the Company totals 641 275 703 respectively, all series B shares. Each share in the Company thus entails one vote at the meeting. The Company does not hold any own shares. Danderyd in August 2020 Copperstone Resources AB (publ) The Board of Directors For further information: Michael Mattsson, CEO Tel: +46 705 739 777 E-mail: michael.mattsson@copperstone.se or info@copperstone.se About Copperstone Copperstone is a public company trading as COPP B on NASDAQ First North Growh Market (Stockholm). The Certified Adviser is Augment Partners AB, info@augment.se, +46 8 505 65 172. The Company is focused on base and precious metal exploration in the vicinity of the internationally recognized mining districts of Kiruna and the Skellefte-field in northern Sweden. In addition, the Company also has interests in the Bergslagen mining region, in central Sweden. At least six people were killed by Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and search teams may find more victims, but the governor said Thursday that the most powerful storm to make landfall in the US state in living memory did not cause the "catastrophic" damage that had been feared. "We have a lot to be thankful for," Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at a press conference. "It is clear that we did not sustain and suffer the absolute catastrophic damage that we thought was likely based on the forecast we had last night," Edwards said. "But we have sustained a tremendous amount of damage," he said, and thousands of residents of the southern state have had their "lives turned upside down." Hurricane Laura struck the coast of Louisiana early Thursday as a Category 4 storm -- the second-highest on the wind scale. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. Hurricane Katrina, which left 1,800 people dead in 2005, was a Category 3 storm when it made landfall. Only one storm has made landfall in Louisiana with wind speeds as high as Laura -- the Last Island hurricane of 1856, which left hundreds dead. The Louisiana health department reported there had been six storm-related deaths. According to Edwards, four of them were "related to trees falling on residences." Of the other two deaths, health authorities said, one man died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator in his house, and another man drowned when the boat he was in sank during the storm. "I'm concerned that as we continue to go out and do primary and secondary search and rescue, we're going to find more fatalities," Edwards said. "I hope not and pray not." He said there were about 600,000 power outages across the state and water services had also suffered some damage. "We have a lot of work to do," he said. Edwards also said residents living near a chemical plant near Lake Charles where there was a chlorine gas fire had been told to shelter in place. Story continues - 'We thought we were safe' - The governor said storm surge "did not materialize to the degree that it had been forecasted" -- although it may have reached as high as 15 feet in some places. The National Hurricane Center had warned of "unsurvivable" storm surge of up to 20 feet, and evacuation orders had been issued for hundreds of thousands of Louisiana and Texas residents. In Lake Charles, most of the windows of the Capitol One Bank Tower skyscraper were blown out by ferocious gusts that also uprooted trees, power pylons and road signs. Emergency responders, as well as the National Guard and state wildlife law enforcement officers were helping to evacuate people who had been in Laura's path. "Last night was terrifying because we heard a lot of banging, and the apartment was shaking left and right, and we just heard basically loud noises everywhere," Lake Charles resident Caleb Davis told AFP. He was sitting on the ground in a parking lot after being evacuated. Wildlife enforcement sergeant Mason Spillman expressed relief, however, that the damage was not as bad as forecast. "I do not want to downplay it at all, it's a terrible storm, a lot of people have lost a lot of things," he said. "But we are thankful that it didn't flood, and we're not making water rescues, swift water rescues or things of that nature." President Donald Trump -- who said he considered delaying his Republican presidential nomination acceptance speech over the storm -- promised to visit the Gulf Coast "very shortly." "It turned out we got a little bit lucky," Trump said. "It was very big. It was very powerful but it passed quickly." Satellite images revealed the immense size of the hurricane as it made landfall as a Category 4 storm overnight near the town of Cameron, close to the border with Texas, packing sustained winds of 150 miles (240 kilometers) an hour. Laura was expected to dump four to eight inches of rainfall, with some isolated areas of Louisiana receiving 18 inches. By Thursday afternoon, Laura was a tropical storm and moving towards Arkansas. Laura earlier caused flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, killing at least 25 people. The Atlantic storm season, which runs through November, could be one of the busiest ever this year, with the NHC predicting as many as 25 named storms. Laura is the 12th so far. cl-to/ec Different schools are now starting the year through remote or hybrid learning plans and several Latino families said they are facing difficulties when it comes to teaching their children. Latino resource centers like Adelante said community members struggle in helping their children learn because of language barriers and education. One mother said that the current situation shows many difficulties that she would rather choose her kids to go back to in-school learning than see the children fall behind. Rita, a mother of six Toledo Public School students, said she could only speak Spanish and understands a little of the English language. "For me, the biggest worry is for them to do their classes at home because I don't speak much English. I understand some but not enough to help my children," Rita said in Spanish. Rita, a Latino single mother, said she has a fear of teaching her children through a virtual learning environment to that of contracting COVID-19. Sabina Serratos, the executive director for Adelante, said that Rita is not the only parent worried about the new setup for learning. One of the most significant barriers in remote learning includes language differences and communication between the student, parent, and the schools. "We're also looking at access to technology, the education piece, the unemployment rate... We'll speak to a lot of folks that don't have the education. You know, they didn't finish," Serratos said. Rita also told WTOLL11 that she already had issues even when her kids were not yet in remote learning due to her language. Rita would like for each school to have an interpreter at each location. "There are many other things that we, as Latinos, go through with the schools because of the language. And we go, but they don't give us attention," she added. Serratos noted that Rita has been in communication with the schools. The executive director believed that they are doing what their facility can do for now. However, Adelante aims to develop a plan in the next few weeks after knowing the needs of every family. Serratos said if families are more interested and can bring their students to the facility, they can provide a format for them to learn in person. Adelante would be supplementing what the students would learn from their teachers and home schools. The alternative option would be meeting students virtually every week if needed, as per Serratos. Meanwhile, Rita hoped that her children can get back to regular classes soon, even with the fear of coronavirus pandemic. She said she's the only one who can help her six children now that her oldest daughter will go back to study. She noted that her daughter can no longer take over the responsibilities for her younger siblings. Officials of Toledo Public Schools (TPS) reiterated that they are working on translating and delivering all the information needed to non-English speakers. They are asking people to reach out if they need help. The number to call for assistance from TPS is 419-671-0001. If you want to ask regarding translations or support in Spanish, you can also call Adelante at 419-244-8440. Check these out: IRS to Send Out 50,000 Stimulus Checks Next Month Segregated Parks Contribute to COVID-19 Spread of Black and Latino Communities Trump Jr. Warns of a Nation in Decline If Father Loses the Election In talks with US Secretary of State Pompeo, King Hamad says Bahrain is committed to the creation of a Palestinian state. Bahrains king has told visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the Gulf state is committed to the creation of a Palestinian state, according to state media, in an implicit rejection of Washingtons push for Arab countries to swiftly normalise ties with Israel. The top US diplomat was in Manama on Wednesday as part of a Middle East tour aimed at forging more links between Israel and the Arab world on the back of a US-brokered deal with the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. The agreement which makes the UAE the third Arab country to agree to establish relations with Israel after Egypt and Jordan was slammed by the Palestinians. Before Bahrain, Pompeo was in Sudan where Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said on Tuesday his transitional government has no mandate to take the step of establishing relations with Israel. And on Wednesday, Bahrain echoed the sentiments of its ally and regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia that accord with Israel would not materialise without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. According to the official Bahrain News Agency, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa told Pompeo his country remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative which calls for Israels complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied after 1967, in exchange for peace and the full normalisation of relations. The king stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict according to the two-state solution to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the agency reported. Pompeo said in a Twitter post that he discussed with Bahrains royal rulers only the importance of building regional peace and stability and countering Irans malign influence. Met today with Crown Prince of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. We discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of Gulf unity and countering Irans malign influence in the region. Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 26, 2020 Manama, whose contacts with Israel date back to the 1990s, was the first Gulf country to welcome the UAE rapprochement and was considered by some observers a frontrunner to follow in its footsteps. Like most Gulf countries, Bahrain shares with Israel a common enemy in Iran, which Manama accuses of instigating protests by the nations Shia Muslim community against the ruling Sunni Al Khalifa dynasty. But the UAEs controversial step has been met with criticism from some parts of the Arab world, with the Palestinian leadership condemning it as a stab in the back and even US allies in the region have been cautious in their response. Pompeo in the UAE Saudi Arabia, while not condemning the UAE-Israel deal, has refused to normalise ties until Israel signs an internationally recognised peace accord with the Palestinians. Other Gulf states including Oman, Qatar and Kuwait also face barriers to warming ties with Israel, said Cinzia Bianco, a research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She said in these countries popular opposition towards normalisation is still quite high, despite colder sentiment towards the Palestinian cause among some quarters of the youth, especially in Saudi Arabia. After Bahrain, Pompeo headed to the UAE, the last stop of his tour. Met UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan to congratulate them on the Abraham Accords and discuss building regional peace and stability, including supporting a ceasefire in Libya and Gulf unity, he tweeted on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he spoke by phone with Abu Dhabis Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is seen as the driving force behind the agreement with Israel, which still awaits negotiations on a number of details before it is officially signed. The two discussed the deal and the prospects for strengthening it in a way that serves the foundations of peace and stability in the region, the official Emirati news agency WAM said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports that the UAE deal hinges on the sale of US F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Emirates, saying he opposes a move that could reduce Israels strategic edge in the region. The shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday in Kenosha apparently in the back, while three of his children looked on was captured on mobile phone video and ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities. It comes just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police triggered a wider reckoning on race in the US and beyond. The Blake familys lawyer Ben Crump called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and others involved to lose their jobs. Some demonstrations devolved into unrest, including for a third night in Kenosha, where multiple gunshots could be heard in social media posts from at least one area where residents and people carrying guns and other weapons remained in the streets hours after the citys 8pm curfew. Advertisement Kenosha Police are investigating after videos appeared to show at least two people with gunshot wounds, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Blakes father, Jacob Blake Snr, spoke alongside other family members and lawyers, telling reporters that police shot his son seven times, seven times, like he didnt matter. But my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters, he said. Mr Crump said the 29-year-old was in surgery on Tuesday, adding that the bullets severed Mr Blakes spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Another lawyer said there was also severe damage to organs. Its going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again, Mr Crump said. The legal team plans to file a civil lawsuit against the police department over the shooting. Police have said little about what happened, other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. The officers involved have not been named. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating. Police fired tear gas for a third night on Tuesday to disperse protesters who had gathered outside Kenoshas courthouse, where some shook a protective fence and threw water bottles and fireworks at officers lined up behind it. Advertisement Police then used armoured vehicles and officers with shields pushed back the crowd when protesters ignored warnings to leave a nearby park. Wisconsin governor Tony Evers had called for calm on Tuesday, while also declaring a state of emergency under which he doubled the National Guard deployment in Kenosha from 125 to 250. The night before, crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires in the city centre. Mr Evers, who is facing mounting pressure from Republicans over his handling of the unrest, said: We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction. Mr Blakes mother, Julia Jackson, said the damage in Kenosha does not reflect what her family wants and that, if her son could see it, he would be very unpleased. She said the first thing her son said to her when she saw him was that he was sorry. He said: I dont want to be a burden on you guys,' Ms Jackson said. I want to be with my children, and I dont think Ill walk again.' Three of the younger Blakes sons aged three, five and eight were in the car at the time of the shooting, Mr Crump said. It was the eight-year-olds birthday, he added. Advertisement The man who said he made the video of the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Mr Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them shout: Drop the knife! Drop the knife! before the gunfire erupted. He said he did not see a knife in Mr Blakes hands. In the footage, Mr Blake walks from the pavement around the front of his SUV to his driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns drawn and shout at him. As Mr Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire. Seven shots can be heard, though it is not clear how many struck Mr Blake or how many officers fired. Mr Blakes father told the Chicago Sun-Times that his son had eight wounds in his body. Anger over the shooting has spilled into the streets of Kenosha and other cities, including Los Angeles, Wisconsins capital of Madison and in Minneapolis, the epicentre of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer following Mr Floyds death. Hundreds of people again defied curfew on Tuesday in Kenosha, where destruction marred protests the previous night as fires were set and businesses vandalised. There were 34 fires associated with that unrest, with 30 businesses destroyed or damaged along with an unknown number of residences, Kenosha fire chief Charles Leipzig told the Kenosha News. Mr Blakes family has joined widespread calls for calm. I really ask you and encourage everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts, Mr Blakes mother said. Do Jacob justice on this level and examine your hearts As I pray for my sons healing physically, emotionally and spiritually, I also have been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country. Indian stocks won't return to their pre-COVID-19 levels this year despite a rally in recent months because companies face further difficulties and a market correction is likely, a Reuters poll of equity strategists found. The benchmark BSE Sensex Index has rallied over 50% from a record low hit on March 24, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a strict nationwide lockdown, which ended at the start of June, to try to control the pandemic. The index is still down around 6% so far this year and is about 8% below its life-high of 42,273.87 on Jan 20. Nearly two-thirds, or 30 of 46 equity strategists polled, said a significant correction in Indian equities was either likely or very likely over the next three months. "I expect a correction of 10% plus in the current calendar year at some point," said Bharat Arora, equity strategist at B&K Securities in Mumbai, citing expectations for poor corporate earnings and economic performance in the previous and the current quarter. The BSE Sensex was forecast to end 2020 at 39,000, near Tuesday's close of 38,843.88, the latest Reuters poll taken Aug. 13-25 found. That would be a 5.5% loss for 2020, marking its worst calendar year performance since 2011. It was predicted to rise to 40,500 by mid-2021, which would still be more than 4% below the pre-pandemic high of 42,273.87. Asked what would likely drive stocks for the rest of the year, most of those questioned said economic data and corporate earnings rather than the direct impact of the spread of the novel coronavirus. The virus has infected nearly 3.2 million people in India, where cases are accelerating at the fastest pace in the world. Asia's third-largest economy was forecast in the previous quarter to have shrunk 20.0% - the first double-digit contraction since official quarterly data began in the mid-1990s - and no growth for the rest of the year, a separate Reuters poll of economists found. With business activity and consumer sentiment restrained, Indian companies have reported their most disappointing numbers in the previous quarter in at least three years, with a quick rebound not expected soon. "There is a lot of demand destruction and after the recent and nascent pent-up demand gets exhausted, there will again be a slowdown. To come back to a pre-COVID-19 scenario the economy will have to tackle lot of issues," said Neeraj Dhawan, director at Quantum Securities in New Delhi. The latest poll findings also resonate with widespread criticism of New Delhi's $266 billion economic rescue package, which does not contain new spending, tax breaks or cash support to revive demand and prevent firms from collapsing. "Although the government has provided some support to the economy by announcing a fiscal stimulus package, we believe more would be needed to get the economy back on track," said Ajit Mishra, vice-president of research at Religare Broking Ltd in New Delhi. (Reporting by Indradip Ghosh; Polling by Shaloo Shrivastava, Tushar Goenka and Md Manzer Hussain; Editing by Ross Finley and Barbara Lewis) Sonora, CA Tuolumne County Public Health reports two new COVID-19 cases today, both are in isolation. The Roadmap to Recovery Metric is now at 30.6 per 100,000 population and needs to stay below 100 per 100,000 or not go above that for three consecutive days to remain off the States monitoring list. According to Public Health officials, there are many open appointment times available for coronavirus testing at the state testing site at Frogtown in Angels Camp (the Calaveras Fairgrounds) and Tuolumne County Public Health encourages anyone concerned about possible exposure to go get tested stating; Local COVID-19 testing sites have been processing and reporting their results more expediently lately. Known Tuolumne tests: 9,537, positive 179 (90 females and 89 males), hospitalized 1, active cases 11, total recovered 166. Tuolumne County Public Health reports local COVID-19 testing sites have been processing and reporting their results in two to three days lately. Stating This represents a significantly reduced wait time for results. They also state there are many open appointments available at the state testing site at Frogtown in Angels Camp. Anyone concerned about possible exposure is encouraged to go get tested. Contact information appears below the charts. The images of charts show the active cases as we have reported each day. San Joaquins positive case count jumped by 923 since yesterday but 414 are reported as new cases today and 509 are from previous days. Their department of health states True prevalence of this disease may not be known as most cases are likely not diagnosed or reported. A patient is counted only once if they have multiple positive tests. San Joaquin also updated their definition for what recovered means in their reports noting a standardized definition does not exist and is based on a person not being in the hospital least 14 days after their symptoms first appeared or, if they do not show symptoms for least 14 days since their first positive COVID-19 test. San Joaquin has a 1.8 percent mortality rate, 46.1 percent of the deaths had diabetes, 41 percent had cardiovascular disease, 19.2 percent had chronic lung disease (some had combinations of those) 14.1 percent had no known contributing factor unless they were over 65 accounting for 66 percent or 196 of the deaths. Daily COVID-19 Cases County Active Date New Today Hospital/ ICU Alpine 0 8/20 0 0 Amador 15 8/25 2 3 Calaveras 35 8/25 26 5 Mariposa 2 8/25 0 1 Madera 678 8/25 25 14 Merced 1,588 8/25 262 78 Mono 2 8/25 0 0 San Joaquin 1,521 8/25 414 133/39 Stanislaus 563 8/25 38 157/53 Tuolumne 11 8/25 2 1 Totals (Cumulative) COVID-19 Cases County Recovered (increase) Total Positives Deaths Alpine 2 (+0) 2 0 Amador 197(+3) 226 14 Calaveras 186(+18) 223 2 Mariposa 65 (+0) 69 2 Madera 2,780(+161) 3,509 51 Merced 5,992(+362) 7,428 110 Mono 158(+13) 162 2 San Joaquin 14,727 (+328) 16,545 297 Stanislaus 12,721 (+257) 13,521 237 Tuolumne 166(+1) 179 2 If you are having COVID-like symptoms, self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider or the Adventist Health Triage Line at 209-536-5166 Mon-Fri, or 209-536-5000 after hours. If you need immediate medical attention, please call ahead and go to Rapid Care or the Emergency Department. You can also visit www.valleycovidhelp.com for more information. The no-cost state testing site is open at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds Tuesday Saturday 7am to 7pm. Appointments can be scheduled ahead of time at: https://lhi.care/covidtesting Appointments are strongly recommended as walk-ins are extremely limited. The site now offers testing for children ages 3 and older (accompanied by a parent or guardian). It is important that people continue to follow prevention guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including: Practice physical distancing at all times. Keep 6 feet space between yourself and others who are not part of your household. Stay in your household bubble! Wear a face covering in public. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Avoid gatherings of any size with people who are not part of your household. Stay home if you are sick. Avoid unnecessary travel, and limit your outings to essential tasks. LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION & RESOURCES Community Resources Portal: https://bit.ly/TCcovidPortal Tuolumne County Public Health Website: www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/publichealth Public Health COVID-19 Call Center: (209) 533-7440 California COVID-19 website: www.covid19.ca.gov State Testing Site info and Appointments: https://lhi.care/covidtesting Tuolumne County Business: www.tcdisasterassistance.com CDC COVID-19 website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Thank you for your support and efforts to protect the safety and health of our community KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE:KAR) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 26% in the last month. But that doesn't help the fact that the three year return is less impressive. After all, the share price is down 60% in the last three years, significantly under-performing the market. See our latest analysis for KAR Auction Services There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. KAR Auction Services saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 56% per year, over the last three years. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 26% compound annual share price fall. This suggests that the market retains some optimism around long term earnings stability, despite past EPS declines. With a P/E ratio of 128.03, it's fair to say the market sees a brighter future for the business. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of KAR Auction Services' earnings, revenue and cash flow. What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)? We've already covered KAR Auction Services' share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. KAR Auction Services' TSR of 14% for the 3 years exceeded its share price return, because it has paid dividends. Story continues A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 24% in the last year, KAR Auction Services shareholders lost 28%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 8.0% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand KAR Auction Services better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with KAR Auction Services (including 1 which is is a bit concerning) . There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Students and staff at the PS 25 Annex, which serves special education students, will have a new home come September at the former St. Rita School in Meiers Corners. Borough President James Oddo announced the students will move from their current location at the Staten Island Mental Health Society (SIMHS) building in West Brighton to St. Rita School, which closed the school building and merged with St. Teresa School in Castleton Corners to form the St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy. Pursuant upon a petition filed by Hindu Baridars, whose forefathers had the control over the Vaishno Devi Shrine, the high court on Wednesday issued notices to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Justice Javed Iqbal Wani issued notices to the UT of J&K and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to reply within four weeks. The petition has been filed by Baridar Sangharsh Committee through its president Sham Singh and 54 others. The notices have been issued to secretary law department of J&K administration and CEO Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine Board, advocate Ankur Sharma said. The petitioners through the writ petition challenged the constitutional validity of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Act, 1988, which took away the control of the shrine from the hands of Hindus (Baridars) and vested it in the hands of the government. Apart from this they have also sought a complete handover of the management, administration and governance of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and its endowments and all other properties to the Hindus (Baridars), in true letter and spirit of Article 26 of the Constitution of India, he added. Alleging mismanagement by the government controlled shrine board, the petitioners have also sought conduct of external audit of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine funds since 1986 through a reputed audit firm or an audit institution which should be constitutional or statutory in nature. The petitioners via their counsel stressed upon enforcement of fundamental rights as guaranteed under Article 25 (2)(a), 26, 29, 14 and 31 A (b) of the Constitution of India. Advocate Sharma stressed that in all these decades, Hindu religious institutions in Jammu and Kashmir have been under the control of state and the ability of the Hindu community to administer its own institutions has been systematically clipped and pared down. The state in brazen violation of Article 14 has exercised its authority only against Hindu temples, he said. The holy shrine of Vaishno Devi was discovered and established by Baridars under the spiritual guidance of Pandit Shridhar Ji in 10th Century A.D. Pandit Shridhar used to live in village Hansali at the foothill of the Trikuta Mountains. This village is in close proximity to the present town of Katra. The discovery of the Shrine dates back to the age of Mahabharata. There is sufficient anecdotal evidence available in public domain validating the veracity of this fact, he added. The management, administration and governance of the holy cave shrine including right of offerings always remained with the Baridars before it was taken over by the state in 1986. The temple administration was taken over by the government allegedly on the grounds of mismanagement and maladministration. Citing other reasons of the petitioners, advocate Sharma said the state must maintain the same degree of distance from Hindu religious institutions as it does with Muslim and Christian institutions. There is no sanction in the Constitution for the states imposition on Hindu religious institutions alone, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Anti-government activist Ammon Bundy was arrested for the second time in two days Wednesday as cops dragged him from the Idaho Statehouse for defying a year-long ban on entering the building. Idaho State Police put Bundy, 44, in a wheelchair and removed him from the Senate gallery. He did not appear injured but didn't respond to questions as he was wheeled from the Statehouse and through underground tunnels to a police vehicle. Authorities arrested Bundy just a day earlier for trespassing after he refused to leave a meeting room where a few hours earlier angry protesters forced out lawmakers. After this arrest, a decision was made to prohibit him from coming to the Statehouse for one year, following consultation with Republican Governor Brad Little, as well as leaders in the House and Senate. Scroll down for video Ammon Bundy is dragged and then carried from the Idaho Senate Chambers gallery Wednesday. It was his second arrest for trespassing on the building in two days. He had received a year-long ban from legislators following the first arrest which he defied Wednesday Bundy was initially dragged out by police who placed him in a wheelchair to remove him Video footage showed Bundy being wheeled along the sidewalk to a patrol car Tuesday 'We have a certain expectation of members of the Senate that they act in a way that is courteous and act in a way that is productive, and I think it's also proper to ask that of the public who participates as well,' Republican Sen. Kelly Anthon said. Lawmakers are meeting in a special session called by Little because of the coronavirus, and Wednesday resumed work after two chaotic days. On Tuesday, Bundy was wheeled from a meeting room into an elevator in a chair he apparently refused to get out of at around 5pm and charged with trespassing and resisting and obstructing officers. At least a dozen Idaho State Police were forced to form a shield between legislators and a crowd of more than 100 protesters after the room became disruptive. The protest was organized in opposition to a proposed liability law intended to shield schools, businesses and government entities from lawsuits from people who get COVID-19. Some lawmakers also oppose the legislation they say will remove accountability. 'The Idaho people are more than capable of keeping themselves safe... We, the people, are tired,' Bundy told lawmakers Monday. 'We are tired of government force, and we will only take it for so long. I recommend you act wisely, because we will not live in fear.' Lawmakers on a House committee on Wednesday approved the liability legislation, which will be taken up by the full House and, if approved, considered by the Senate. Two others were arrested alongside Bundy after police cleared the room, and they also refused to follow police commands to leave. They were named by Idaho News 6 as Aaron Von Schmidt, 42, and Jill Watts, 38. They are charged with trespassing. Another person was taken into custody earlier in the same room where protesters shouted down lawmakers. He was named by the Idaho Press as 33-year-old Bryan Bowermaster. The incident follows another on Monday when angry protesters forced their way into the Idaho House gallery that had limited seating because of the coronavirus pandemic. The window of a glass door getting shattered as protesters jostled with police. Protesters were ultimately let in when Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke stepped in, seeking to avoid violence. Lawmakers were meeting in a special session called by Republican Gov. Brad Little because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tuesday's unrest started when the committee chairman, Republican Rep. Greg Chaney, directed two people sitting in an area reserved for credentialed members of the media to leave those seats. Press credentials are controlled by the Capitol Correspondents Association. Anti-government activist Ammon Bundy is wheeled from the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday following his second arrest for trespassing in two days This image taken from video shows anti-government activist Ammon Bundy being wheeled into an elevator in a chair just a day beforehandm following his first arrest at the statehouse Idaho State troopers take Ammon Bundy, in an office chair, toward a waiting patrol car after he was arrested for trespassing at a special legislative session being held in regard to the coronavirus pandemic at the Idaho State Capital in Tuesday Idaho State troopers place Aamon Bundy in a waiting patrol car after he was arrested Tuesday. Three others were arrested alongside Bundy as they demonstrated in opposition to a proposed liability law intended to shield schools, businesses and government entities from lawsuits from people who get COVID-19 during a special session at the statehouse 'I'm not sure precisely what their goal is, but I'm absolutely sure that the two individuals whom I asked to leave were intending to create a scene,' he said. 'At times in the last 24 to 36 hours, this building has descended into complete chaos, and the only way to make sure that all citizens feel comfortable coming here to be heard is to make sure that we don't allow rule deviations in general.' The committee considering that legislation left the meeting room as the Idaho State Police arrived to hold back the crowd. Bundy, who led the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, took one of the credentialed media seats after lawmakers left the room. He said police and lawmakers were itching to exert their authority after Monday's incident. He said he hadn't instructed anyone to disrupt the meeting, and he challenged those who qualified as a credentialed member of the media. 'What does credentialed mean? Who is the freedom of the press for? Those who have credentials? No, it's not,' he told The Associated Press. 'The freedom of the press is a protection for the people. Your credentials are great, and I think you guys do a much better job at it than we do, but the fact is the government is not supposed to say this person has the freedom of the press and has a right to be in a certain place and these people don't.' Idaho News 6 reports that there were about 18 people left in the room after lawmakers left and all but three, including Bundy, left voluntarily. The committee convened later in the day in a different room with heavy security and approved a public hearing for the liability legislation. Idaho State Police form a row in a committee meeting room in the Idaho Statehouse in Boise on Tuesday. One person was taken into custody and lawmakers abandoned the room after spectators at a House committee meeting at the Idaho Statehouse became disruptive Spectators in the gallery on Tuesday in Boise, Idaho, silently indicate their approval for speakers who supported a resolution as the House debated a concurrent resolution that would end the coronavirus emergency declaration that Gov. Brad Little signed in March Ammon Bundy was among those who pushed their way into the House chambers on Monday Ammon Bundy, center, who led the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation, stands on the Idaho Statehouse steps in Boise, Idaho, on Monday. He was among those attending a special session of the Idaho Legislature called due to the coronavirus pandemic Meanwhile, another committee earlier in the day killed legislation intended to allow greater opportunity for in-person voting for the November 3 general election amid the coronavirus pandemic. The House State Affairs Committee voted 10-5 to kill the legislation that was a primary reason Republican Gov. Brad Little called the part-time Legislature back for a special session. The legislation would have allowed counties to create voting centers where residents from different precincts could vote. Elections officials say they are facing a shortage of poll workers and potentially polling sites in November because of the pandemic. 'This is the people's house and it belongs to all Idahoans, including our constituents and future generations, who have put their trust in us to be here in this Special Session and conduct the people's business,' Speaker of the House Scott Bedke said in a statement following the incident. 'The events that have taken place over the past couple of days are unacceptable. It is important to protect the rights of all to participate in the process, not simply those who are the most aggressive and have the loudest voices. 'Unfortunately, a small group of individuals have disrupted what should be a deliberate and fair process. The end result has been chaotic and unproductive,' he added. All steps taken by the House of Representatives were done in an attempt to return to a normal process and create an efficient and effective Special Session, rather than wasting taxpayers time and dollars. It is our hope that moving forward we can do the work we came from all over Idaho to do without further distractions.' Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Wednesday morning quickly approved legislation to smooth the counting of what is expected to be a surge of absentee ballots for the November election. That bill has already been approved by the Senate and now heads to the governor. Bundy is best known for his part in the occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 2016. He and his brother, Ryan Bundy, were eventually acquitted of federal weapons and conspiracy charges for their role in leading the occupation. Bundy, his three brothers and father were also arrested in 2014 for an armed standoff with authorities at the family's ranch in Nevada. He has been a vocal opponent of restrictions and stay-at-home measures being imposed to stop the spread of coronavirus. In April, he led a protest outside the home of an Idaho cop who arrested a mother-of-four for defying stay-at-home orders when she was in a playground. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) The Sandiganbayan found a former Davao del Norte lawmaker guilty of graft for an anomalous land deal with the Bureau of Corrections. A 23-page decision released on Wednesday said Antonio Floirendo Jr. was guilty of violating Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practces Act, particularly Section 3(h) which states the following practice is unlawful: "Directly or indirectly having financing or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity, or in which he is prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest." The decision said the prosecution proved that Floirendo had indirect financial interest in a 2003 joint venture agreement between the Tagum Agricultural Development Co. Inc., or TADECO, and the BuCor as he owned 75,000 shares in TADECO stock even after he was elected congressman of the 2nd District of Davao del Norte. The Sandiganbayan added that Section 14, Article VI of the Constitution states that members of the House of Representatives are prohibited from having direct or indirect financial interest in contracts with the government. "The accused never denied that he had indirect financial interest in said 2003 JVA. He merely insists that such interest does not fall within the prohibition under Sec. 14, Art. VI of the Constitution," the decision read. The court said Floirendo contended he never participated in the negotiation or transaction of the JVA, that his shares in Tadeco were insubstantial, and that he was only required to divest of shareholdings when there was a conflict of interest. The Sandiganbayan said this was unjustifiable and prosecution proved Floirendo guilty, giving him a sentence of imprisonment of six years and one month to eight years, along with perpetual disqualification from holding public office. The decision was signed by Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez (chairman), Karl B. Miranda, Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, Ronald B. Moreno, and Kevin Narce B. Vivero. However, Vivero gave a dissenting opinion that argued there was no conflict of interest, and Floirendo did not exert effort to influence the JVA. In 2017, then House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez filed graft charges against Floirendo for the Davao del Norte solon's alleged unlawful business interest in a government deal. Alvarez said TADECO leased more than 5,000 hectares of land from the BuCor in 1969 for the banana plantation. The joint venture agreement of the land lease was renewed for another 25 years in 2003, when Floirendo was an incumbent congressman. The Ombudsman indicted Floirendo for graft in September 2017 and denied the solon's plea for reconsideration in January 2018. In 2018, the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against Floirendo over the deal but he posted a P30,000 bail for his provisional liberty. In 2017, Floirendo denied any hand the ouster plot against Alvarez, and said there was no rift between them. Back then, Floirendo the biggest donor to the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte admitted feeling hurt by the graft charges filed against him by Alvarez and believed politics was behind Alvarez' actions. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Paresh Dave (Reuters) Oakland, California, United States Wed, August 26, 2020 19:07 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40b4a2c 2 Science & Tech Fitbit,Google,stress,smartwatch Free Fitbit Inc on Tuesday unveiled a fitness tracker and two smartwatches, including one that purports to help monitor users' stress levels, as the company's pending sale to Alphabet Inc's Google remains mired in antitrust reviews globally. The Fitbit Sense, priced at $329, replaces the Ionic as the 13-year-old company's most expensive smartwatch, excluding a limited edition model. It also is the first to measure electrodermal activity, or how well skin conducts electricity, which varies with sweating and can indicate stress. The feature is pending approval from health regulators. Fitbit research scientist Samy Abdel-Ghaffar said a new stress score would help users decide whether to take on a fresh project or instead take a break, sleep early or meditate. The company also announced the Versa 3 smartwatch, priced at $229 and upgraded from its predecessor to include a GPS sensor and phone-calling functionality; and the Inspire 2 activity tracker, running $100 with a tweaked design. The devices ship in late September, with pre-orders available immediately. The company has lost wearables market share to Apple Inc and others since going public five years ago. Fitbit announced last week that a new content subscription to stoke revenue growth has 500,000 paying users, but shares barely moved. Read also: Smartwatch for internet addicts: Students look for tech cure to digital age affliction About 5 percent of wearables shipped last year globally came from Fitbit, behind leader Apple's 32 percent share, according to tracker IDC. Aiming to challenge Apple together, Google agreed to buy Fitbit for $2.1 billion last November. But competition regulators in the UK, United States and many other jurisdictions are weighing whether the acquisition would unfairly deepen Google's data about users' habits. Fitbit said the reviews may delay closing the deal to 2021. Meanwhile, Google and Fitbit are partnering. Sense and Versa 3 by late this year will allow users to communicate with the Google Assistant helper, similar to Fitbit's existing integration with Amazon.com Inc's Alexa. Topics : Fitbit Google stress smartwatch She's known for her sensational curves and luscious long locks. And on Wednesday night, Juliette Herrera turned heads in a shimmering green frock that accentuated her eye-popping assets, and left little to the imagination. Understandably, the 34-year-old stylist's look sent Twitter into a meltdown, with one viewer writing: 'Juliette's boobs are the only thing that deserve a rose tonight.' Showstopper! On Wednesday night, The Bachelor's Juliette Herrera (pictured) left viewers unsure of where to look as she flaunted her eye-popping assets in a cleavage-baring frock 'Didn't Juliette say she wasn't a dress up type of girl? A dress like that doesn't scream "I don't normally wear dresses" to me,' another fan pointed out. 'I think The Rock and Vin Diesel are hiding in Juliette's dress,' joked a third viewer. Meanwhile, a fourth tweeted: 'Wardrobe, please find a dress for Juliette that fits,' while another added: 'Don't know where to look re Juliette's dress.' On display: Her shimmering green frock featured a deep neckline that accentuated her ample assets at the cocktail party. Pictured with Areeba Emmanuel (right) Stunned audiences: Audiences flocked to Twitter to comment on Juliette's eye-popping display, including one who said: 'Juliette's boobs are the only thing that deserve a rose tonight' 'The hero of tonight's #TheBachelorAU is the tape holding Juliette's breasts within her dress,' wrote another fashion-savvy viewer. While another viewer added: 'On the upside Juliette's plastic surgeon is getting free advertising tonight.' During the episode, Juliette found herself at the centre of the drama at the cocktail party after Roxi Kenny accused her of spreading rumours about her in the mansion. Attention grabbing: 'The hero of tonight's #TheBachelorAU is the tape holding Juliette's breasts within her dress,' wrote one viewer Roxi claimed that Juliette and her friends - Areeba Emmanuel, Kristina Abramoff and Kaitlyn Hoppe - were spreading 'little lies' and planning schemes to create drama. But Areeba denied they were doing anything wrong. 'Everyone thinks that me and my girls, we're starting sh**, but I just want to talk to Locky,' she said in response. The Bachelor continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel 10 She is the Australian Instagram sensation who leveraged her 11.5 million followers into a multimillion-dollar fitness empire. And on Tuesday, Tammy Hembrow declared that her activewear business, Saski Collection, was 'thriving' despite the coronavirus recession. Her Gold Coast-based clothing company is bucking the trend of retailers shutting down across the country in response to the economic downturn. Show me the money! On Tuesday, Tammy Hembrow (pictured) declared that her activewear business, Saski Collection, was 'thriving' despite the coronavirus recession Despite her success, the 26-year-old said on her Hanging with the Hembrows podcast that 'life is non-stop work' at the moment. 'I've been working heaps... Yeah, it's crazy,' she told her sisters Amy and Emilee. 'I'm lucky my businesses are going well and I have lots of things happening.' Tammy launched Saski Collection in 2017, and her designs are now sold in more than 190 countries. Booming: Tammy's Gold Coast-based clothing company is bucking the trend of retailers shutting down across the country in response to the economic downturn 'Saski Collection has been going really well and we have heaps of new collections coming,' she explained. In addition to her fashion line, she also owns TammyFit, an online health and fitness app, which is booming as more people exercise at home during lockdown. Last month, Tammy purchased a five-bedroom waterfront home on the Gold Coast for $2.88million. Icing on the cake: In addition to her fashion line, she also owns TammyFit, an online health and fitness app, which is booming as more people exercise at home during lockdown Tammy has an estimated net worth of $2million and, as one of the most-followed Australians on Instagram, earns up to $33,000 for a single sponsored post She is also a doting mother to her two children, five-year-old son Wolf and four-year-old daughter Saskia, whom she shares with her ex-partner Reece Hawkins. The news comes after fashion retailer Mosaic Brands announced it was closing up to 500 stores across Australia after being 'utterly derailed' by the COVID-19 pandemic. Family: Tammy is also a doting mother to her two children, five-year-old son Wolf (right) and four-year-old daughter Saskia (left), whom she shares with her ex-partner Reece Hawkins The company, which owns brands such as Noni B, Rivers, Millers and Katies, made the announcement to shareholders while delivering its full-year results on Tuesday. Mosaic has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic because it has an older customer base, making them less likely to shop online. While all retailers have felt the brunt of the pandemic, those with a younger demographic have seen their online sales increase. Hard hit: The news comes after fashion retailer Mosaic Brands, which owns brands such as Noni B, Rivers, Millers and Katies, announced it was closing up to 500 stores across Australia after being 'utterly derailed' by the COVID-19 pandemic Mosaic's online sales grew by just 14.7 per cent over the past 12 months, while others more than doubled. Chief executive Scott Evans said the company had reported a statutory loss before tax of $212.1 million - a 1,900 per cent decline on 2019's statutory profit of $11 million. The company, which has 1,333 stores across the country, will close between 300 and 500 stores over the next two years, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. End of the road: Mosaic has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic because it has an older customer base, making them less likely to shop online Mr Evans said almost half of their leases were on holdover, and 81 per cent would expire in the next two years. 'There is no road map to navigate these circumstances, but our operational priorities have been ensuring team and customer safety, reducing inventory and maintaining a strong cash position,' Mr Evans said. 'This has allowed us to reshape Mosaic to take advantage of the fundamental changes happening in retail.' On Thursday, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of State Health Services released data on confirmed COVID-19 cases at the public school district level for the first time. Public schools are required to report positive COVID-19 cases on school campuses. The data is updated each week on the DSHS website. READ ALSO: Coronavirus updates: 155 new cases, no new COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County Since Aug. 2 through the week ending Sept. 20, DSHS and TEA reported 3,445 cumulative positive student cases and 2,850 positive staff cases statewide. In San Antonio, three of the largest school districts reported more than 80 COVID-19 cases combined for students and staff. In Bexar County, public schools were allowed to return to in-person instruction starting Sept. 8. However, virtual learning is still an option. Scroll below for a breakdown of the COVID-19 cases for all the major San Antonio-area public schools. Districts are listed in alphabetical order. There was no data on Brooks Academy of Science & Engineering, Lackland ISD and School of Science & Technology Discover. Geojit's report on Agri Picks India should increase duties on import of edible oil to safeguard the interests of domestic growers, according to Thomas Mielke, chief executive officer of Germany-based Oil World, one of the world's leading publishers of edible oil research and price forecasts. Recent floods in Telangana have submerged around 141,640 ha farm land, an official with the state agriculture department told Cogencis. The data was based on a preliminary report and final figure with the extent of losses would be released in due course of time, according to the official. India received 6.9 mm rainfall yesterday, 9% below normal, the India Meteorological Department said. The union food secretary has written to chief secretaries of all states and union territories to ensure all eligible disabled persons are provided benefits under the National Food Security Act, a release from the food ministry said. Field officers of sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh will prepare and implement a micro plan for replacing seeds in areas affected by red rot disease, said Sanjay R. Bhoosreddy, cane and sugar commissioner of the state. Global coffee demand may slightly rise by 0.6% to 167.2 mln bags (1 bag = 60 kg) during Oct-Sep (2019-2020) and about 2.2% to 170.9 mln bags in 2020-2021, London-based brokerage Marex Spectron said in a report. The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange will impose additional surveillance margin of 5% on turmeric contracts from Thursday till Sep 16, the bourse said in a circular. For all commodities 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. Read More A world-renowned historian in Belfast believes there is "some merit" in reassessing the life of the Co Down founder of the British Museum after his bust was removed from the institution due to his links with the slave trade. However, Queen's University's expert Professor Leon Litvack, who specialises in Victorian Studies, said it must be done in a way that allows the full story of his life to be told. Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum, stated that the bust of Sir Hans Sloane, who was born in Killyleagh, has been placed in a secure cabinet alongside artefacts explaining his work in the context of the British Empire. He will be described as "a collector and slave owner" on signage. The museum's curators said the decision was influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement, sparked by the killing of George Floyd in the USA in May. Sir Hans was born in 1660 and was a physician and natural scientist who married a wealthy heiress of Jamaican sugar plantations worked on by slaves. He was also credited with creating drinking chocolate. His collection of artefacts was the starting point of what became the British Museum. Shorty before his death in 1753, he bequeathed many of his belongings to the nation, and 71,000 of them formed much of what would stock the British Museum. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Fischer said: "We have pushed him off the pedestal. We must not hide anything. Healing is knowledge." Professor Litvack stated that Sir Hans' wife was associated with the slave trade but that is "not all that he is". "The worrying thing for me about Black Lives Matter and other movements like that is they are movements of a moment," he said. "They are very emotive and they have caused a response in the public arena that sometimes is not as considered as it normally would be. There's a lot of knee jerk reactions that emerged when Black Lives Matter first came to light. "I think it's important, especially for museums, to hang back and think what does this mean in the larger context of who we are and what we do?" Sir Hans is also honoured by a number of place names, including London's Sloane Square. The de-platforming of the Sir Hans bust is one part of a raft of changes being made to the British Museum, which will involve prominently acknowledging its links to the slave trade and the imperialist actions from which the museum profited. Mumbai, Aug 26 : Comedian-actor Vir Das says the idea of helping people through his craft of comedy always lets him be in a win-win situation. Vir Das has released his latest fundraiser show "Inside Out" on his YouTube channel. He says the effort has given him an opportunity to reach out to frontline workers who risk their lives to fight Covid, as well as people who are often marginalised -- like the aged. "I think when you are doing something for charity, there is nothing to lose. I never intended to do the show in a proper show format. The whole show has developed very organically, from the basic question, 'what will you do the first thing once the lockdown is over?' It is a charity special in which we are bringing people together to contribute a minimum of Rs 30. It will amount to something good, will help some people! It is a win-win!" he told IANS. The show that released on August 21, is billed as unique and unscripted. "While scripting the final of it, I was feeling free as the content is honest and it comes from the audience. The fun is coming from the answers of the audience when they are asked what will they do. People were candid, some were vulnerable while others were just opening up while talking to me. That way, it is real," said the comedian. So, was there any weird or mad answers? Vir promptly replied: "Yes bro! I have to tell you, every five minutes I would get one of those crazy answers! Like, people would say they want to have sex, meet their partners, want to do drugs, they want to make-out, get married! Some would also say that they want to meet their parents, but overall I think this lockdown affected all of us. Their answers were a reflection of that! I would say that it was a privilege to let into people's lives that way!" "I genuinely believe that privilege is something that I should pass on. You should share privilege. During the lockdown, I was privileged enough to stay safe, but not everyone was. That was the basic thought behind the charity show," he further added. Why did he opt for YouTube rather than an OTT platform, as he did for his earlier shows? "It is more inclusive when it is released on YouTube. A section of the population may or may not have subscription to OTT, but they would have access to a free platform like YouTube and the heart to donate thirty rupees," he reasoned. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text President Donald Trump accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman (L) and Trump's White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, speaks in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Aug. 12, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo) First Commercial Flight From Israel to UAE Set for Next Week WASHINGTONSenior U.S. and Israeli officials will take the first commercial flight between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next week, flying from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi in a symbolic and substantive demonstration of improved ties since the countries historic agreement this month to normalize relations. The flight, likely on an Israeli El-Al airliner emblazoned with the Jewish states national colors of blue and white and the Star of David, will be the first known direct trip by the flag-carrier to a Gulf Arab country and an important sign of progress in implementing the Aug. 13 agreement between Israel and the UAE, officials said Tuesday. U.S. officials said the U.S. delegation on board will be headed by President Donald Trumps senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and will include national security adviser Robert OBrien, Mideast envoy Avi Berkowitz, and envoy for Iran Brian Hook, administration officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, announced that his national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat, would lead Israels delegation. A number of Israeli government ministries will also send representatives, including the directors of the foreign and defense ministries and the national aviation authority, he said. Netanyahu said the talks would advance peace and normalization with the UAE and would focus on flights and tourism, trade, business, energy, security and health, including the coronavirus pandemic. This is a historic agreement, Netanayahu said. It will spur growth. It will help bring general economic growth, especially during the coronavirus era. I hope that other countries in our region will join the circle of peace. The flight also would indicate Saudi support for the deal. Saudi Arabia has voiced lukewarm support and until now has not said whether they would allow the two countries to use its airspace for direct flights. Without Saudi acquiescence, flights would likely have to take a roundabout and potentially risky route around Yemen and through the Persian Gulf. U.S. officials said the flight and the subsequent meetings between Israeli and UAE officials would be a centerpiece of Kushners next trip to the Middle East, which is set to begin this weekend. In addition to Israel and the UAE, Kushners team is expected to visit Bahrain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar on what will be the second of two high-profile trips to the region by senior Trump administration officials. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is currently in Bahrain on the third leg of a Mideast tour that began in Israel and Sudan. The flurry of activity comes as the Trump administration presses ahead with ambitious plans to promote Arab-Israeli rapprochement even in the absence of a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which had long been seen as a prerequisite for the Jewish state to reach peace deals with all of its Arab neighbors. Trump has made the matter a priority and his efforts have picked up steam in the months before Novembers presidential election, in which he is counting on support from conservative American Jews and the evangelical Christian community. The UAE is just the third Arab country to agree to official relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan. Israeli and American officials have expressed hope that other Gulf Arab countries will soon follow suit, with relations based on mutual commercial and security interests, and their shared enmity toward Iran. By Matthew Lee The New York Times put prestigious specialty home-video distributor The Criterion Collection under a microscope late last week, and the headline said it all: How the Criterion Collection Crops Out African-American Directors. The report looked at all 22 years and more than 1,000 titles in the Criterions revered selection of Blu-rays and DVDs of films, finding that only four African Americans are represented: Oscar Micheaux (Body and Soul); William Greaves (Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One, and Symbiopsychotaxiplasm Take 2); Charles Burnett (To Sleep With Anger); and Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing and Bamboozled). Its a glaring omission for a company that prides itself on licensing and releasing what it describes as important classic and contemporary films, but also reflective of an industry-wide practice of shutting out Black filmmakers (annual academic reports like the Inclusion in the Directors Chair study published by The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, show modest progress on this front). Despite Americas changing demographics, the industrys most powerful leaders have been slow to respond to a demand for films that reflect cultural and racial shifts that have long been underway. This is due in large part to the lack of diversity among their ranks the executives who ultimately determine which films should be seen. It confirms what has long been condemned as an insular industry run by primarily white men, even as its becoming increasingly difficult and unsustainable for them to continue to ignore the seismic demographic shift. As Julie Dash, whose acclaimed debut was rejected by Criterion almost 30 years ago, put it: Its more than They dont get it. It has to do with worldview. They dont care to get it. Theyre not interested. Story continues There are potential solutions here, such a specialty label exclusively dedicated to releasing significant work by Black directors. It could be a logical extension of the efforts underway by Ava DuVernays ARRAY a company that has been carving out a niche market for itself, by acquiring and releasing primarily feature film debuts by filmmakers of color and women, including idiosyncratic titles from Black filmmakers like Andrew Dosunmus Restless City, Phillip Youmans Burning Cane and Sam Blitz Bazawules The Burial of Kojo. Additionally, the work that other similar specialty distribution companies are doing for iconoclastic Black filmmakers should be recognized, like Kino (Bill Gunns Ganja & Hess, and Personal Problems); Milestone Films (Charles Burnetts Killer of Sheep and Billy Woodberrys Bless Their Little Hearts); and Cohen Media Group (Daughters of the Dust) each releasing state-of-the-art restored versions of noteworthy classic films, with substantial supplementary material. The New York Times article includes a supplement asking readers to fill out a form and recommend titles that the Criterion Collection should add. Well, here are 10 possibilities all trailblazers, listed in chronological order (some are already available from other distributors and may not be so easy for Criterion to acquire; nevertheless, they are worthy of inclusion in any definitive library featuring essential American cinema). Within Our Gates, Oscar Micheaux (1920) The oldest known surviving film made by an African-American director, Oscar Micheauxs silent film Within Our Gates, was a noteworthy response to Griffiths racist The Birth of a Nation. Micheauxs landmark film provided a rebuttal to Griffiths depiction of Black violence and corruption, with a story of the injustices faced by African Americans. While Griffith represented Black male offensives on white female purity, Micheauxs film sets the historical record straight with its depiction of the attempted rape of a Black woman by a white man. Its a searing account of the U.S. racial situation of the early twentieth century, including the years of Jim Crow, the revival of the Ku Klux Klan, and the Great Migration of Southern Black people to Northern cities. In 1992, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. Within Our Gates is included in Kinos Pioneers of African American Cinema five-disc Blu-ray set of at least a dozen feature-length race films from the early half of the 20th century. Ganja and Hess, Bill Gunn (1973) Pioneering filmmaker Bill Gunns 1973 iconoclastic Ganja & Hess revolutionized the vampire genre and was effectively suppressed in the U.S. because it wasnt the Hollywood horror movie that its producers had commissioned the artist to make. Gunn made a film unlike anything that came before it (and arguably even after), at a time when Black films werent allowed to be much more than empty sensation. It comes with a mythical backstory that should inspire all filmmakers, but especially young Black directors. The movie follows wealthy anthropologist Hess Green, whos stabbed with an ancient ceremonial dagger, endowing him with the blessing of immortality and the curse of an unquenchable thirst for blood. When his assailants wife Ganja comes searching for her vanished husband, she and Hess form an unexpected partnership. Its an intriguing meditation on what it means to live and die as a Black man in America. A restored Ganja & Hess is available on Blu-ray with bonus features via Kino Classics. Killer of Sheep, Charles Burnett (1978) Charles Burnetts slice-of-life family drama examines Black life in Watts in the mid-1970s, through the eyes of sensitive slaughterhouse worker named Stan, whose long hours on the job have failed to deliver the American dream. Frustrated by money problems, he finds respite in moments of simple beauty: the warmth of a coffee cup against his cheek or slow dancing with his wife in the living room. The film offers no solutions; it merely presents life sometimes bleak, sometimes filled with joy and humor. Stan represents the many Black Americans whove been disproportionately left behind by an expanding gap between rich and poor, in one of the worlds richest countries. The Library of Congress declared Killer of Sheep a national treasure as one of the first 50 on the National Film Registry. A restored Killer of Sheep is available on DVD with bonus features via Milestone Films. Losing Ground, Kathleen Collins (1982) Barely released in 1982 and all but unseen for over three decades, Kathleen Collins Losing Ground follows philosophy professor Sara Rogers and her bohemian artist husband Victor, who rent a summer country house to celebrate his museum sale. But what was to be an idyll summer (shes researching ecstatic experiences, and hes living them) is challenged where their conflicting intellectual and orgiastic pursuits collide. Chaos and confusion disrupt her carefully ordered life, when her painter husband possibly experiencing a midlife crisis of his own takes interest in one of his young subjects. Sara gradually drifts even further into herself, if only to escape the realities of a crumbling marriage. That Losing Ground still feels fresh, over three decades later, is not only a testament to its timelessness its a sad indicator of how scarce complex depictions of the inner lives of Black women in contemporary American cinema remain to this day. A restored Losing Ground is available on DVD and Blu-ray with bonus features via Milestone Films. Cane River, Horace B. Jenkins (1982) Cane River was an independent-film curio: a race and colorism-themed love story with an all-Black cast, written and directed by a Black filmmaker, and financed by wealthy Black backers. A charming Romeo & Juliet love story, Cane River is set in Louisiana, in one of the first free communities of color. The young couple confront class and color divisions in a lyrical, visionary film that lays bare the tensions between two groups both descended from slaves but of disparate opportunity: the light-skinned, property-owning Creoles, and the darker-skinned, more disenfranchised families of the area. Cane River was championed by Richard Pryor, but disappeared for decades after Jenkins died of a heart attack at the age of 42, just a few months after the film premiered. It was mostly unknown until 2013, when the Academy Film Archive selected the films original negative as part of a large group of materials brought from the vault of DuArt Film & Video. Oscilloscope re-released the restoration of Cane River in theaters and VOD in February of this year, and its now on DVD/Blu-ray. Hollywood Shuffle, Robert Townsend (1987) Robert Townsend and Keenan Ivory Wayans struck a chord in 1987 with Hollywood Shuffle, a biting satire about the dearth of roles for Black actors in Hollywood. The loosely autobiographical film follows aspiring actor and hot-dog stand worker Bobby Taylor, who catches the wrath of his grandmother when he auditions for a role in the regrettably-titled exploitation film Jivetime Jimmys Revenge. When Tinseltown Studios casts Taylor in the title role, he has a series of conflicted dreams satirizing African-American stereotypes in Hollywood, and must reconcile his career goals with his desire to remain a positive role model for his younger brother. The film may be outmoded, but the issues it raises still exist. It remains an essential piece of Black Hollywood history that still has something to say about the industry today. Tongues Untied, Marlon Riggs (1989) Marlon Riggs landmark essay film gave voice to gay Black men, documenting their perspectives on the world as they confronted racism, homophobia, and marginalization. It broke new artistic ground by mixing poetry, music, performance with Riggs autobiographical revelations. The film was embraced by Black gay audiences for its authentic representation of style and culture, as well its fierce response to oppression. It opened up opportunities for dialogue across communities, while being lauded by critics for its bold vision. For those same reasons, it was vilified by homophobic audiences who used it to rebuke government funding of the arts. Nevertheless, the film earned its place in film history. Riggs rallying cry, which could conjure a life into being, declares: Black men loving Black men is the revolutionary act. The film still speaks to some of the most basic cultural struggles of the present. Chameleon Street, Wendell B. Harris Jr. (1990) Winner of the Jury Prize at Sundance in 1990, Chameleon Street is based on the incredible true story of Black con artist William Douglas Street, Jr. a man of high intelligence but little formal education. Its a scrappy and brilliant adventure in filmmaking: The genius con man snuck into Yale, pretended to be a French foreign-exchange student, landed a job with Time, worked as a lawyer, and even performed a stunning number of operations as a surgeon, before he eventually was caught. The film tells a witty and sardonic tale of a master impersonator with invigorating and humorous results. Wendell B. Harris Jr. served as writer, director, sarcastic narrator and star. Sadly, he hasnt made a film since. Daughters of the Dust, Julie Dash (1991) Julie Dashs groundbreaking 1991 historical drama is arguably one of the most significant films in the last 30 years. The first U.S. feature film written and directed by an African American woman to receive a wide theatrical release, the story, which is set in the early 1900s, paints a vivid portrait of Gullah Geechee culture communities descended from enslaved Africans who settled along the coast and Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. The film captures the last gathering of the Peazant family as the younger generation prepares to leave the island and their matriarch, Nana Peazant (Cora Lee Day), for the promise of the mainland. Shot in stunning color cinematography by Arthur Jafa, the restored Daughter, which continues to inspire Black creatives (including Beyonces Lemonade) was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 2004. A restored Daughters of the Dust was distributed by Cohen Media for its 25th anniversary. Shorts films from Zora Neale Hurston, Madeline Anderson, Julie Dash, and others The short films of trailblazing Black women filmmakers like Zora Neale Hurston, Madeline Anderson and Julie Dash are all worthwhile and could benefit from a special box set. Zora Neale Hurstons ethnographic films of the late 1920s were part of her effort to collect folklore of Black communities in the rural south, and provide a rare glimpse of African American life in central and southern Florida, at a time when few were documenting these communities. Anderson is often credited with being the first Black woman to produce and direct a televised documentary film. Her most recognized works include her first film, Integration Report 1, a 1960 examination of the struggle for Black equality; and I Am Somebody, a document of a 1969 struggle for labor rights in Charleston, SC, led by 400 Black women hospital workers, featuring a rousing speech from Coretta Scott King. And Dash, one of the members of the L.A. Rebellion film movement of the late 1970s, produced several short films before making her feature debut with Daughters of the Dust. They include Four Women (1975), a dance film set to the music of Nina Simone; Illusions (1982), which explores African American representation in 1940s Hollywood via the story of a Black studio executive passing as white; and The Diary of a Country Nun (1977), adapted from a short story by Alice Walker, which follows a nun who is torn between her beliefs in Christ, the Catholic church, and her vows, versus her own corporeal desires. Now, tell us: What films would you like to see added to the Criterion Collections library? More from IndieWire Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:36:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three Taliban bomb experts were arrested and a Taliban's attack tunnel was destroyed by Afghan army during past 24 hours, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. The army personnel arrested Zahidulla and confiscated four sticky bombs and a sedan-type car early Wednesday morning in Paghman district, Kabul province, on western outskirts of the country's capital, Kabul, the ministry said in a statement. Two Taliban bomb making experts were arrested during a special operation in western Farah province late on Tuesday, according to the statement. The arrestees were involved in many cases of mine plantation, with a recent motorbike bomb attack that seriously wounded a civilian in the provincial capital Farah city, the statement added. The army personnel also destroyed a Taliban attack tunnel in Dehak village, on outskirts of Farah city on Tuesday. The Taliban militants have not responded to the report so far. Enditem Recent guest columnist John Vespucci makes an interesting theoretical case for cops having degrees (To get a better cop, we need to start with a college graduate) but a few real world issues may complicate the picture. First, the proliferation of guns in civil society means that almost every instance involving an emotionally disturbed person, a domestic dispute or, of course shots fired has the potential for loss of life, in which case a foundational knowledge of psychology and sociology as well as the attributes of humanistic values and cultural sensitivity take a back seat to staying alive. Second, Vespucci proposes that, like other professions, police applicants should bear the cost of a college education. Are we really willing to saddle professionals in a high-pressure job with the added pressure of crippling student debt? Third, the more police officers are charged with murder during the course of duty no matter how justified the accusation the more prospective applicants may have second thoughts about the amount of legal exposure the job entails. Finally, the tools we provide police for dealing with emergencies guns are a primitive technology that dates back to 14th century Europe. Until we can devise a more scientific and humane way to subdue malefactors we can only expect more bad press for the police, and thats hardly an inducement to recruitment. Robert Schwartz, Clifton Pigs fly! Mulshines right about borrowing Hell has frozen over! Pigs are flying! Paul Mulshine has finally written something I agree with. Our governors plan to borrow $4 billion $2.1 billion more than needed to balance the budget and add the remainder to the surplus is wrong. Thats assuming its true; you never know nowadays when a conservative states something as fact. It is obvious why Gov. Phil Murphy would do this. He wants to take the whole pot now, not knowing what political climate will exist next year when the state will again inevitably need more money than our generated revenue. I only wonder if Mulshine would object to this idea if it had come from a Republican. William Haley, Florham Park Trump thinks hes above the law I can see from a recent Star-Ledger article that the New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association cited many factors in determining their endorsement for Donald Trumps second term. I think these factors all pale when you look at the bottom line. They are throwing their support to a candidate who claims he is above the law. I believe they should reconsider their decision. One of the foundations on which this country is based is that no man is above the law. That applies to our wannabe king. Jeffrey R. Mark, Chatham Whitman a hypocrite regarding BLM In response to former Gov. Christie Whitmans comments supporting protests against police in the Star-Ledgers recent Making Black lives matter opinion roundup: Has Whitman forgotten that she herself, in 1996, while on a raid with the State Police, frisked a Black man whose arms are splayed against a wall? A photograph of this was taken by a state trooper and appeared in numerous newspapers four years later. Descriptions said the man was under suspicion, but was not charged with a crime. What a hypocrite! Helga Cummins, East Hanover Ridiculous to forbid indoor dining In reference to the Lakeside Dinner in Lacey that is defying the governor by serving customers inside: I would like to go and have dinner at the Lakeside Dinner if I could. It is ridiculous what our knucklehead governor is doing, keeping all diners in the state closed for inside dining. Giovanni Carli, East Hanover Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Assemblies of God head warns church on election season: Don't let division seep in Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a pastoral letter, Doug Clay, the head of Assemblies of God, urged the leaders of the denominations 13,000 congregations in the United States to be extremely cautious as the upcoming election season will certainly be divisive. While maintaining spiritual unity, he said, they should advocate for biblical justice and liberty. Polarization and politics naturally go together, wrote Clay, the general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, USA. Its the Spirit who brings unity. Polarization in 2020 has risen to a higher level and has trickled down to even mundane decisions, the AG leader acknowledged. We should be extremely cautious that we do not allow division to seep into Christs Church that will inevitably lead to self-destruction. Clay called on the church leaders to focus on the denominations mission, which is evangelism, worship, discipleship, and compassion, and not on politics. He noted that its becoming more and more difficult to be salt and light in our culture, as the changing realities of politics arent helping us to fulfill our mission. His comments come as a Pew survey shows that a growing percentage of Americans (currently 91%) believe conflicts between Republicans and Democrats are strong. The Pew Research Center said in October 2019 that "the level of division and animosity including negative sentiments among partisans toward the members of the opposing party has only deepened." Amid such division in the country, Clay urged, While others may be focused on endless debates and the things that divide society, the Church should be known for sharing the hope of the gospel. Dont let the news make you bitter against those who lack faith in Christ. Let it motivate you to be all the more committed to evangelism. Talking about the importance of worship, he wrote, Of all people, Gods people should know that our answers are not in politicians, but in the power of Christ. Like Nehemiah, may our hearts grieve for our nation and may we intercede in fasting and prayer. Nothing is too hard for God! The denominations members and adherents need a biblical understanding of the issues we are facing in our society in order to make informed decisions in the voting booth, he said. While he didnt make any specific references to issues America is currently dealing with, from responses to the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing demonstrations for racial justice, Clay listed five key long-term issues: biblical justice, religious liberty, sanctity of life, marriage and family, and court appointments. Advocating for the poor and the downtrodden in society is Gods work, he pointed out. For the Church, the chief tool in this advocacy is the gospel itself. Religious freedom, Clay continued, is far more than just freedom to worship in a church setting. It means that people should not have to go against their beliefs to conform to the government. Religious freedom protects the right to speak and live according to our beliefs, peacefully and publicly. On sanctity of life, he noted that nearly one in five new lives in the country is snuffed out before their first breath, quoting stats by pro-choice organization the Guttmacher Institute. Clay called the family "Gods original building block of society, its the foundation for every dimension of human life. But opponents of marriage seem to be relentless at removing this foundation of civilization. On court appointments, he noted that its easy to focus on the executive and legislative branches of government, but its becoming increasingly common for judicial interpretations and rulings to have a profound impact on moral aspects of our society. He stressed that each decision should be based on its impact on the Kingdom of God and on our neighbors. "In doing so, we make sure our priorities are His priorities and that we are others-centered rather than self-centered," he said. A campus coalition at Canadas largest university is urging the school to listen to its own expert research on COVID-19 and roll back its plan to reopen doors to students and staff in the fall. In an online panel held earlier this week, the University of Toronto Faculty Association discussed what it described as the administrations refusal to address health and safety concerns raised by staff and students despite the schools high-profile health-care advocacy work during the global pandemic. Association President Terezia Zoric said she disagrees with the administrations decision to hold in-person classes, arguing the move carries unnecessary risks for the entire university community. It is a complete lost opportunity for the universitys senior administration not to consult with their own in-house experts who are also being consulted by the World Health Organization and federal provincial governments, Zoric said. They have developed a plan with very little input from the most expert people who work for them. It is beyond disappointing. Heather Boon, vice-provost of faculty and academic life, rejected the Associations contention. We are following the public health guidelines which are in fact being informed by a wide variety of experts from many universities, including our own, she said. We are taking our own advice and are really proud that our scientists are a big part of that process. Faculty members also raised the issue of classroom ventilation, saying inadequate measures on that front risk turning faculty buildings into new breeding grounds for the virus. What will happen when the weather gets too cold to open windows? Does the ventilation in the room exchange the air or not? You can be in a very large room with poor ventilation and it could be very dangerous as the virus hangs in the air for hours, Zoric said. Boon said the University of Toronto is following guidelines for ventilation and will determine what activities will transpire in each room to limit the spread on school grounds. The ventilation system is designed to have far more people in the room than what we are putting in and they will be wearing masks while being physically distanced, she said. A petition launched last month by CUPE 3902, a union representing some of the universitys faculty members, previously called on the school to rethink its plans for on-campus classes. Academic workers, library staff, graduate assistants and administrative employees were among the more than 6,600 people who had signed the petition as of Wednesday morning. CUPE 3902 Chair Amy Conwell said her organization wants to see the return to school done right and in good faith. We want to see resumed academic activity in the fall that considers the safety of everyone, she said. Conwell said her union believes the reason the school is insisting on in-person learning is because it will be hard to justify full tuition fees while delivering classes primarily online. We have raised so many safety concerns with them its hard to understand that this is anything other than profit over people. Boon contends this is not the case. There are reasons to bring people to campus, Boon said. There are some things that can only be taught in-person and we also have students that dont have access to reliable internet or a suitable place to study. We are very conscious of the inequity that can be created if we only have online classes. Surgeon discussing images to treat heart rhythm disorders Philips KODEX EPD monitor view in the lab August 26, 2020 New release combines faster, higher resolution imaging for Medtronic cryoablation procedures KODEX-EPD system now installed at 40 sites worldwide with over 1500 patients treated Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced new imaging and workflow enhancements for its novel KODEX-EPD cardiac imaging and mapping system. The system is now being used to treat patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm disorder, at 40 sites worldwide with over 1500 patients treated. The latest release includes improvements in imaging and mapping performance, as well as enhanced features to support cryoablation procedures. Unlike traditional methods to image the heart during AF procedures such as CT and X-ray fluoroscopy, the KODEX-EPD system uses a combination of sensors attached to the body and catheters inside the heart to image the anatomy and properties of the heart, using innovative dielectric sensing technology. As a result, electrophysiologists can create detailed 3D views of the heart of a patient in as little as three minutes and navigate to the target location more easily and efficiently, with the required precision and without using radiation. The new release of the KODEX-EPD system represents a significant step forward in terms of image quality and workflow efficiency for AF procedures, as we continue to work towards our longer term goal of providing real-time therapy assessment, said Marlou Janssen, General Manager Philips EPD Solutions. By partnering with Medtronic and developing unique capabilities for cryoablation, we can give more physicians access to this truly innovative cardiac imaging and mapping system, and contribute to delivering efficient workflows with Medtronics best-in-class cryoablation therapy. Advances in the new release include faster, high-resolution imaging, improvements in mapping functionality and point density, as well as new visualization options such as multi-chamber view to help understand the relative positions of adjacent chambers and glass view, which provides physicians with an improved perception of 3D catheter location and orientation within the heart. For cryoablation procedures, the KODEX-EPD system offers enhanced Occlusion assessment functionality with high accuracy and a simplified workflow [1]. Story continues Using the KODEX-EPD imaging systems ability to provide high resolution imaging, revealing specific pulmonary vein morphologies, has allowed me to personalize my ablation approach in Medtronic cryoballoon procedures, said Marcin Kowalski MD, Director of Electrophysiology at Staten Island University Hospital , US. Using the two innovative technologies together has significant benefits for our patients. Combining the short procedure times of cryoablation with the real-time imaging capabilities of the KODEX-EPD system, we have been able to further improve our efficient lab workflow said Professor Lukas Dekker, Electrophysiologist at Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Moreover, fluoroless imaging with the KODEX-EPD system may reduce the dependency on fluoroscopy and pre-procedural CTs and thus help to reduce X-ray exposure to patients and staff, which is important to us. The KODEX-EPD cardiac imaging and mapping system is commercially available in the US, Europe, and China. It is part of Philips unique portfolio of systems, smart devices, software and services in image-guided therapy, which combine to provide healthcare providers with sophisticated, procedure-oriented solutions. More information is available at www.philips.com/epd . [1] While using KODEX-EPD occlusion functionality, physicians should always refer to the applicable cryoballoon technical manual, published literature, and exercise their discretion to guide confirmation of pulmonary vein occlusion. For further information, please contact: Steve Klink Philips Group Press Office Tel: +31 610 888 824 Email: steve.klink@philips.com Fabienne van der Feer Philips Image Guided Therapy Tel: +31 622 698 001 Email: fabienne.van.der.feer@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 81,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Attachments Anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson, who has said she doesnt believe in women voting and has suggested that police should racially profile her own son, endorsed President Trump for re-election on the second night of the Republican National Convention. I support President Trump because hes done more for the unborn than any other president, Johnson said, adding, This election is a choice between two radical, anti-life activists, and the most pro-life president weve ever had. Thats something that should compel you to action. Johnson became an anti-abortion activist after working at Planned Parenthood. Last year, Unplanned, a movie based on her story, was a box-office success despite questions about some of the details of the story. In the day leading up to her speech, reports surfaced of recent two controversial statements by Johnson. In a YouTube video posted earlier this year in the wake of the protests that followed George Floyds death, Johnson noted that her adopted biracial son would likely face discrimination from police that her white sons wouldnt. To Johnson, who is white, this made sense. Statistically, I look at our prison population and I see that there is a disproportionately high number of African-American males in our prison population for crimes, particularly for violent crimes, said Johnson. A Brookings Institute study found that in 2011, only 6 percent of the arrests of Black men were for violent crimes. Abby Johnson speaks at the virtual Republican National Convention on Aug. 25, 2020. (via Reuters TV) So statistically, when a police officer sees a brown man like my Jude walking down the road as opposed to my white nerdy kids, my white nerdy men walking down the road because of the statistics that he knows in his head, that these police officers know in their head, theyre going to know that statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons, Johnson continued. So the fact that in his head, he would be more careful around my brown son than my white son, that doesnt actually make me angry. That makes that police officer smart, because of statistics. Story continues Johnson also supports the policy of one vote per household, according to a report from The 19th, a feminist organization. Adopting a head-of-household policy would in effect disenfranchise millions of married women by returning to the status quo before the ratification of the 19th Amendment. What is the most controversial thing you believe? Johnson asked on Twitter in early May, replying to her own tweet, I would support bringing back household voting. How anti-feminist of me. When asked What happens when the husband is a Republican and the wife is a Democrat or vice versa? Johnson replied, Then they would have to decide on one vote. In a godly household, the husband would get the final say. In the minutes leading up to her speech, Johnson was still expressing her support for that position. Another planned speaker for Tuesday nights convention, Mary Ann Mendoza, was pulled from her speaking slot after promoting a QAnon-related conspiracy theory earlier in the day that Jews are intent on enslaving the world. Mendoza is a member of Trump campaigns advisory board. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Tuesday that it will cancel their planned furlough of 13,000 workers. The immigration agency was scheduled to have the furlough on Sunday, but they had sustained pressure from both sides of the Congress to drop this. USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow spoke on behalf of the immigration agency. He said dropping the furlough now comes with "severe operational cost". Edlow added that the agency will witness an increase in backlogs and wait times across the board. Under Homeland Security, the USCIS is in charge of applications for visas, asylum, and citizenship. They are largely funded by fees. They announced a potential furlough in May after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the country, noted The Hill. A furlough was first announced to take place on late July, but cost-cutting measures and an increase in income improved the agency's situation. The furlough was first delayed before it was cancelled. The agency was first projected to see a $571 million deficit due to the lockdown. Operational Changes with Furlough It warned that they would have been forced to furlough roughly 70% of their workers if it did not get $1.2 billion emergency funding from Congress. The drastic worker decrease would cause big changes in the agency's operations. Edlow said USCIS went through some cost saving measures. A Fox News report details these efforts. One was reducing federal contracts that assist the agency with a range of duties, including large amounts of paperwork. There were also cuts made on nonessential travel, said a report from AP News. The move let the agency avoid furloughs but it is also the reason people will have to wait longer for their services to be fulfilled. USCIS said that lawmakers were not encouraging such operational changes. But the Congress did not grant them the $1.2 billion they needed for operations, reported Federal Times. The effects of these operational changes are still not clear at this time, but the new changes give the agency a $230 million surplus. The surplus lets them put off furloughs until the end of the year. The agency is also expected to remain solved at least through November. By that point, it is expected that new funding is already in place for USCIS. USCIS in Better Financial Situation "The USCIS financial situation has improved considerably since the agency first made Congress aware of a potential need for emergency appropriated funds," they wrote in a joint letter earlier this week. They added that as they are on a better financial situation, and there are efforts in Congress to ensure they remain up and working, they were allowed to further delay furloughs and contract reductions. The agency has roughly $.8 billion in budget, which comes almost entirely from fees. The fees are for people to live or work in the country. Immigration restrictions due to the pandemic made this income source drop. The agency had to close for more than two months. They said COVID-19 caused the USCIS's revenue to decline by half. Feeds will increase by roughly 20% starting October 2. They will also scrap fee waivers, including for asylum seekers. Check these out! Southeast Texas Residents Forced to Evacuate As Hurricane Laura Strengthens Social Security Funds will Suffer from Payroll Tax Cut, Chief Actuary Warns Trump Pardons Bank Robber-Turned Activist Jon Ponder Ordway platform achieves SOC 2 Keeping our customers data safe and secure is our highest priority, said Dax Abraham, CTO at Ordway Ordway, the next-generation billing and revenue automation platform for scaling companies, today announced that it has completed its SOC 2 audit. This attestation provides evidence that Ordway has a strong commitment to deliver enterprise-quality software to its clients by demonstrating the necessary internal controls and processes. Ordways platform is the first truly integrated software to manage ever-changing order-to-revenue needs for businesses across the globe. The platform bridges the gap between the CRM and general ledger. In doing so, it offers operational flexibility in between, where legacy systems fall flat. The system automates activating subscriptions and contracts, invoicing, collecting payments, generating revenue schedules, and producing insights to protect and grow a business all without bolt-on modules, costly consultants, or administrators. The SOC 2 attestation report achieved by Ordway was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). SOC 2 is widely recognized as a gold standard for data security and requires companies to establish and follow strict information security policies and procedures. Through the SOC 2 report, Aprio, LLP, a nationally recognized, CPA-led business advisory firm, has validated the design of Ordways controls as per AICPA criteria relevant to security, availability, and processing integrity. Ordway has demonstrated the commitment to data security through practices and procedures it follows for protecting against unauthorized access, maintaining the availability of its service, and ensuring error-free order-to-revenue automations for its customers. Keeping our customers data safe and secure is our highest priority, said Dax Abraham, CTO at Ordway. Our aim is to provide an end-to-end platform that is trusted to automate order-to-revenue operations, and our recent certification shows our ongoing commitment to protect our systems and customers' data. We are excited to continue our audit relationship with Ordway as they complete their 2020 SOC 2 audit, said Dan Schroeder, Partner-in-Charge, Information Assurance Services at Aprio. The Ordway team has demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement in their information system related controls; taking their responsibility for maintaining a well-controlled and secured environment seriously. Contact: Eren Koont eren@ordwaylabs.com 240-468-7402 About Ordway Ordway is the only billing and revenue automation platform for scaling businesses that answers your evolving order-to-revenue needs. Built by a team that helped design much of the world's cloud-based financial billing and ERP systems, the platform bridges the gap between the CRM and general ledger. It offers next-generation operational flexibility in between, where legacy systems fall flat. It automates activating subscriptions and contracts, invoicing, collecting payments, generating revenue schedules, and producing insights to protect and grow your business all without bolt-on modules, costly consultants, or administrators. Explore the platform at http://www.ordwaylabs.com. About Aprio Aprio is a premier full-service, CPA-led business advisory firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, that advises clients and associates on how to achieve whats next. Aprios associates work as integrated teams across advisory, assurance, tax, outsourced accounting solutions and private client services, bringing the best thinking and personal commitment to each client. Across practices, Aprio brings together proven expertise, deep understanding and strategic foresight for industries including Manufacturing and Distribution; Non-Profit and Education; Professional Services; Real Estate and Construction; Retail, Franchise and Hospitality; and Technology and Blockchain. In 65 years, Aprio has grown to over 475 employees and nearly 80 partners. To serve clients wherever life or business may take them, Aprios teams speak more than 30 languages and work with clients in over 40 countries. In addition to its Atlanta headquarters, Aprio also operates in Birmingham, Ala. and Sarasota, Fla. and across the Carolinas. For more, visit https://www.aprio.com. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Sepehr Sarshar, a founder and former board member of Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., with insider trading ahead of Teva Pharmaceuticals' acquisition of Auspex in 2015. According to the SEC's complaint, in early 2015, Sarshar, then an Auspex board member, learned that Teva was interested in acquiring Auspex through a tender offer. The complaint alleges that, after Auspex's board and management had taken active steps to facilitate the sale of the company, Sarshar communicated material non-public information regarding the highly confidential tender offer process to numerous friends and family and caused them to trade in Auspex stock ahead of the tender offer announcement. As alleged in the SEC's complaint, as a result of Sarshar's actions, his friends and family realized ill-gotten gains of at least $300,000. The SEC's complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges Sarshar with violating the tender offer provisions of Section 14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 14e-3 thereunder and seeks permanent injunctive relief and a civil penalty. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York today announced criminal charges against Sarshar. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Megan Ryan and supervised by Scott A. Thompson and Kelly L. Gibson, of the SEC's Philadelphia Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Mark R. Sylvester and Jennifer C. Barry. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A woman who was infected with H.I.V. in 1992 may be the first person cured of the virus without a risky bone-marrow transplant or even medications, researchers reported on Wednesday. In an additional 63 people in their study who controlled the infection without drugs, H.I.V. apparently was sequestered in the body in such a way that it could not reproduce, the scientists also reported. The finding suggested that these people may have achieved a functional cure. The research, published in the journal Nature, outlines a new mechanism by which the body may suppress H.I.V., visible only now because of advances in genetics. The study also offers hope that some small number of infected people who have taken antiretroviral therapy for many years may similarly be able to suppress the virus and stop taking the drugs, which can exact a toll on the body. It does suggest that treatment itself can cure people, which goes against all the dogma, said Dr. Steve Deeks, an AIDS expert at the University of California, San Francisco, and an author of the new study. CAIRO - Egypts election commission said Wednesday it would refer to prosecutors about 54 million people who did not vote in elections earlier this month for two-thirds of the Senate, the upper and mainly powerless chamber of the countrys Parliament. The development is unlikely to lead to actual trials as Egypts judiciary does not have the financial means needed to prosecute such a large majority of the voters. Some 63 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots to choose 200 of the 300 Senate seats, but only 8.99 million, or 14.23%, took part in the Aug. 11-12 vote, according to the National Elections Authority. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will choose the remaining 100 seats. The balloting was held amid the coronavirus pandemic, but the commission said it took all necessary measures so voters could cast their ballots. Lasheen Ibrahim, the commissions chairman, had vowed to enforce a law penalizing any boycotter with a fine of up to 500 Egyptian pounds ($32). However, little attention was paid to his warning as similar have been issued in previous elections, apparently meant to boost turnout and with no real enforcement. Many took to social media to criticize the decision, arguing that its impossible to prosecute around 53 million people. Others said it only shows the government wants to collect money by any means. Writer Gamal Taha wrote on Facebook the threat could incite public anger since the Senate has only an advisory role and no legislative powers, unlike the House of Representatives, the lower chamber. El-Sissis administration has championed the restoration of the Senate, approved part of constitutional amendments in a referendum last year to replaces the Shura Council, which was eliminated from the countrys 2014 constitution. Read more about: Post from MilitaryByOwner If there's one thing military families know how to do, it's move. Am I right? The average person moves 11 times in their lifetime, but military families like to take things up a notch and move every two to three years. But we aren't moving to the other side of town like many of our civilian counterparts; we're usually moving hundreds or even thousands of miles -- road tripping across the country or flying over the ocean. So long-distance moves are simply a part of life. But house hunting long distance? That never seems to get any easier. Sure, we know the pattern and the logistics by now, but feeling at peace about committing to a property located in a different time zone rarely leaves us with the warm fuzzies. But whether you're stuck in limbo due to the recent hold on PCS moves or you're on the move again after a delayed move, long distance house hunting has become the norm! Common Long Distance House Hunting Mistakes How many times have you heard of someone buying a home long distance, only to arrive and realize that it's subpar? The property is immaculate, but there's construction all around or the area is on the downhill slope to depreciation. How did this happen? Mistake #1 -- The homebuyer/renter put the location on the back burner. They focused more on the property and overlooked the bigger picture. Remember, you can update, repair, and remodel a home, but you can't rebuild a neighborhood. Mistake #2 -- Failing to interview real estate agents. Agents aren't one-size-fits-all. A personality that works well for some may not work for others. Look for agents who come recommended by other military families in the area and have years of experience. Mistake #3 -- Breaking the budget. Getting distracted by shiny and new things is the most common reason we bust the budget when house hunting, but there's another budgeting obstacle when you're working from a distance -- miscalculating the budget entirely. Your budget goes beyond your Basic Housing Allowance (BAH). To make sure that you find a house that you can afford, take a step back and look at the big picture. Not only do you need to account for mortgage payments or rent, but you need to consider the cost of utilities, groceries, your children's schooling, debt, and investments. It often takes a couple of months to settle into a new budget and realize how much you need to spend to maintain your specific lifestyle. So calculating an appropriate budget from afar can sometimes be challenging. Related: Check your VA loan eligibility Tips for Successful Long-distance House Hunting 1. Embrace technology. The numbers tell us that most people start their house hunt online. But now, more than ever, it's essential to utilize the internet. You can research a new duty station, learn where other military families choose to live, figure out how much it costs to live there, and most importantly, look at homes. Professional photos and virtual home tours are becoming common, and it's fantastic for those who don't have the opportunity to make it to open houses. 2. Connect with local experts. Realtors and real estate agents in the local area can be your best friends. They know more about the area, new developments, and neighborhoods than you can find online. Not only can they save you from paying too much on a property located in a declining neighborhood, but they should also be able to match your personality with an area suited for you. Plus, they're already there. With an agent's help, you can start the process long before you reach the area. Ask them to send videos, conduct a walkthrough, and show you the neighborhood. 3. Don't rely solely on your agent. While their knowledge is often invaluable, unless they're also a veteran or military spouse, an agent might not have all the answers. It's best to couple their guidance with those from the local military community. 4. Get organized. You're not the only one who finds it hard to keep potential properties straight! When you're living and breathing house hunting, the homes start to run together. Create folders of specific neighborhoods (including the pros and cons of the area), then file the potential properties so that when you've chosen the right community to call home, you can get right down to business. 5. Set a budget. You can't begin an earnest house hunt until you set a budget. And more than likely, it's going to look different than your current one. Start with your Basic Housing Allowance (BAH). Figure out how much you're allotted for housing each month, then take a look at the average home price at your new duty station. Find BAH rates for any duty station. Determine what you need. How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Are you prioritizing a pool? How close do you need to be to the base? Which school district do you want your kids to attend? Pinpointing your priorities can help you figure out just how much you need to spend to have them. Then, decide whether you'll buy or rent with your current expenses (other mortgage payments, investments, debt, savings) and calculate a number you can put toward housing. Don't forget to consider utilities on top of the basic rent or mortgage amount! 6. Use that house hunting leave! If you can, use house hunting leave to visit your new duty station. Nothing will make you feel better about picking a new home than driving around and getting familiar with the area in person. If you feel overwhelmed by your long-distance house hunt, don't worry -- you're not alone. There's room for error and the process is daunting. Ready to get started? Look for homes for sale and houses for rent near your next duty station on MilitaryByOwner! Get the Latest Financial Tips Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox. An unidentified flying object parachuted into dense Congo jungle to the confusion of local authorities, who detained two people for questioning until a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet confirmed the device was an internet balloon. Images shared on social media showed people inspecting a large silver-coloured contraption fitted with solar panels and wires, which had landed in the tropical forest of Bas-Uele province in the northern Democratic Republic of Congo, trailing a large deflated balloon. Locals alerted the security services after the object fell to earth around 1 p.m. local time on Monday, Bas-Uele Governor Valentin Senga told Reuters after visiting the site around 10 km (6 miles) south of the provincial capital Buta. Im not able to say exactly what kind of device I observed," he said by phone on Tuesday. What intrigues us is that neither the intelligence services nor the local aviation authorities claim to have any information on the overflight of Congolese air space by this aircraft." He said police had detained two people, a Congolese and a Pakistani national, who had arrived in Buta with the purpose of searching for the device. The mystery was solved on Tuesday afternoon when Loon, a subsidiary of Alphabet, claimed the object. I can confirm that Loon executed a controlled landing of one of our stratospheric balloons in this region," a Loon spokesman said in a statement. Loons balloons travel 20 km (12 miles) above the earths surface on the edge of space, acting as floating cell towers, to deliver internet services to people in remote areas around the world. Loon said the landing was coordinated with local air traffic control officials and approved by the civil aviation authority. In July, Kenyas Telkom launched mobile internet services via Loon technology. Flight-tracking software showed the HBAL166 balloon circling central Africa in recent months, with its last known location in northern Congo. \ Norwegian Support Ensures Successful Sustained U.S. Operations in High North US Navy From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs and USS Roosevelt Public Affairs 25 August 2020 U.S. ships operating in the High North have received steadfast support from Norway, ensuring successful sustained operations in the region. Troms serves as a refueling and resupply port for U.S. vessels operating in the North Sea. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) successfully completed its fourth brief stop for fuel and a brief stop for weather in Troms, Norway, and completed a 50-day patrol in the High North, Aug. 17, 2020. "Norway's support illustrates how much we depend on our NATO allies to conduct at-sea operations throughout the European theater," said Capt. Joseph Gagliano, commander, Task Force (CTF) 65. "Roosevelt's presence in the Norwegian Sea demonstrates our commitment to their security, and Troms's support to Roosevelt demonstrates Norway's commitment to us." In addition to the U.S. surface assets operating in the High North with the assistance of allies like Norway, submarines conduct operations throughout the region, and P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft routinely operate out of Iceland. These combined operations create a holistic scope of sustained U.S. operations in the High North. Roosevelt recently executed multiple passing exercises with Norwegian Royal Navy counterparts in the Norwegian Sea to include the Skjold-class corvettes HNoMS Storm (P961) and HNoMS Gnist (P965). The destroyer also joined naval forces from Canada, France, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom in July to participate in NATO Allied Maritime Command-led anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2020, which enhanced ASW capabilities and increased theater ASW capacity among the participating navies through use of real-world training. "These achievements would not have been possible without the steadfast support of our regional NATO allies and partners," said Cmdr. Ryan R. Kendall, commanding officer of Roosevelt. "We honed our ship handling abilities during replenishments-at-sea with the [British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship] RFA Tideforce, experienced incredible hospitality during brief stops for fuel in Troms, Norway, and increased interoperability with a host of partner nations during our time in the High North. Each of these interactions has furthered our professional relationships and warfighting prowess as a NATO Alliance." The destroyer also executed several operational missions during its time in the Arctic, which highlighted the crew's progress in training in communications, tactics, and command and control. "Roosevelt has executed a robust and detailed schedule in the High North, marking a number of significant milestones for our ship and the Surface Navy," said Kendall. Sailors assigned to Roosevelt during this period were awarded the Naval Arctic Service Ribbon, which is presented to Navy personnel who perform 28 days of service (consecutive or non-consecutive) above the Arctic Circle. "This ribbon symbolizes Roosevelt's exceptional maritime operations in the High North and a sustained U.S. naval presence in Arctic waters," said Kendall. Roosevelt's position in the waters of the High North also allowed the crew to become "Blue Noses" during a rare Navy rite of passage. A Sailor earns the title of "Blue Nose" and is initiated into the "Royal Order of the Blue Nose" by completing a special ceremony upon crossing into the Arctic Circle. Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jacob Dick Sempra LNG has evacuated workers at Port Arthur LNG in Sabine Pass and is prepping Cameron LNG in Louisiana for Hurricane Lauras arrival. In an email to the Enterprise, representatives for the company said all equipment at the Port Arthur LNG construction had been moved to higher ground and personnel have been evacuated. R ecently someone on Twitter claimed that more pasta restaurants were reviewed in the UK this year than Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese East + West African and Caribbean restaurants combined. This seemed surprising to me and when about to review a pasta restaurant my first in over a year it occurs to me that customers of all kinds probably embrace the comfort of pasta and its cohort pizza rather more readily than, say, Eritrean. I have never reviewed here the homemade pasta-led Padella, Pastaio, Flour & Grape, Officina 00, Manteca, Lina Stores or Bancone although I have enjoyed most of them so the arrival at newly opened Tavolino of chef Louis Korovilas, formerly head chef of Bancone and whose Godfather, says the publicity, is Giorgio Locatelli, seems like an opportunity not to be missed. More London, a development south-west of Tower Bridge encompassing City Hall and owned by the Kuwaiti sovereign wealth fund, rattles with chains. Tavolino, with its large terrace adjacent to playful fountains where on a sunny evening children splosh and splash, was previously a Strada. The premises plus outside seating are huge, which seems to put a strain on the booking system. Saving grace? 'Orzotto' with sweetcorn and confit chicken wing / Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Ltd At both visits no trace of the reservations can be found and my companions and I locate each other via texting. Some of the staff make up in enthusiasm what they seem to lack in experience There are some Italian words on the menu said one. Can I help? Provenance and integrity of ingredients is stressed We searched Italy and the UK for months says the menu and to put it to the test we try that stalwart salad Caprese, based on DOP (protected designation of origin) buffalo mozzarella and sliced finocchiona DOP Tuscan fennel salami. Rival restaurateurs might like to know where the machine was found that can slice salumi so tissue paper-thin. The salad needs olive oil, seasoning and something more than a few basil leaves draped on peeled Datterini tomatoes. Silk handkerchief pasta, aka fazzoletti, could be flimsier; bucatini with Sicilian red prawns less sinewy; but orzotto with sweetcorn and confit chicken wing I can recommend. Also the pizza Margherita with its thin sourdough base. Add on ice-creams or sorbets emerging from a notable pastry kitchen and just lose yourself in the historic sweeping view of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, HMS Belfast and the skyscraper follies of the City. And have a Negroni. That is done well. Fay's Favourites - At Tower Bridge The Coal Shed Meat, fish, fire; all you need. One Tower Bridge SE1. coalshed-restaurant.co.uk Temakinho Japanese-Brazilian fusion using sustainable fish. 3 Potters Field Park SE1. temakinho.com Le Pont de la Tour Secure the terrace - and the set menus. 36D Shad Thames SE1. lepontdelatour.co.uk WINSTED Making sure the renovation of Mary P. Hinsdale Elementary School has a minimal effect on neighbors and that flooding issues are resolved were among the topics discussed during a public hearing Monday before the Planning & Zoning Commission. The Hinsdale renovation project is moving forward with local land use boards, including the P&Z, zoning and inland wetlands. Monday night on Zoom, engineer Donald Smith Jr. and architect Paul Jorgensen from Silver Petrucelli Architects detailed the renovation plans, using maps of the property, the existing school building and its proposed addition. Superintendent of Schools Melony Brady-Shanley also attended to answer questions, and landscape architect Stephen Wing presented a plan to add trees and other plantings around the building. Voters approved the school renovation project in September 2018 by a vote of 780-669. Winsted has applied for funding and grants to pay for the $17.43 million project, and the town still is waiting for legislative and State Bond Commission approval for that funding. A few residents who live next door or adjacent to the school, which has been closed for several years, also attended the hearing. In his project overview, Smith explained that the two-story addition to Hinsdale, added in the 1950s, will be demolished and replaced by a one-story addition. The current 11,000-square-foot addition has been affected over the years by the Gilbert Home Brook that runs beneath it. The watercourse, Smith said, is contained in a boxed culvert thats part of the old buildings foundation. There have been flooding and moisture issues associated with the brook, both in the school and on the property. Thats one of the reasons weve proposed demolishing that end of the school, to resolve the moisture issues relating to the brook, Smith said. The brook and culvert were studied in 2018 when Winchester Public Schools was evaluating the cost to renovate the building. At that time, officials said the school has flooded because of the deteriorating condition of the pipe and culvert. The existing stone box culvert, a 30-foot-long section with a 60-inch pipe, dates back to that part of the buildings construction, Smith said. Its seen better days, he said. Well replace it with a cast iron culvert, with better capacity. Smith said an existing paved play area is being replaced with new parking spaces, and future plans include constructing a maintenance building and a carport. The eastern side of the buildings parking lot will be repaved, and there are future plans for a car charging station in that area, Smith said. A new 7,000-square-foot playscape for students ages 5-12 will replace an old swingset and other aging playground equipment, and a new 4,000-square-foot play area for pre-K and kindergarten children, with fencing and a gate, is part of the project, Smith said. All pavement on the school property will be removed and replaced. The proposed site has 1,000 square feet less impervious surfaces, he said. Renovations to the 1989 portion of Hinsdale were presented by Jorgensen. The one-story building will get 7,800 additional square feet, making it just the right size for the districts needs, Jorgensen said. After removing the two-story building, about 16,000 square feet, what will remain is about 33,000 square feet, he said. The buildings new main entrance will have bulletproof glass and steel reinforcements, he said. with buzzers for visitors to gain entry to the school. The main entrance leads to the main office, a family resource center and other office spaces. The main entrance also will lead to pre-K classrooms. Existing bathrooms will be renovated. Additional renovations include second-grade classrooms, a media center, a student resource enter, a new teachers lounge, a nurses office, the principals office and a multi-purpose room, which can serve as a small gym for younger children. A new cafeteria will have its own designated delivery entrance, walk-in cooler and freezer, Jorgensen said. All classrooms will get new cabinets and flooring. The buildings plumbing system also is being replaced. The new area of the school will have more pre-K and kindergarten classrooms and a second entrance for student drop-off. Traffic at the beginning and end of the school day has been a problem in the past, and members agreed the new entrance and drop-off areas would help. P&Z Chairman George Closson asked about shielding rooftop equipment somehow, to make the one-story school less invasive visually. Wed be remiss not suggesting, at least in my opinion ... to do something to shield these things, he said. Jorgensen said he would look at shielding the units. Closson also asked about setback areas around the school. During a discussion, members determined that some setbacks are less than 35 feet, which is required by the towns zoning regulations. The commission decided that while the setbacks were a problem, it would be up to the Zoning Board of Appeals to grant a variance for the project. If I was on ZBA, Id grant approval on a variance, Closson said. So the question is, should we waive our own regulation, or should the plan go to the ZBA? We cant really legally waive our own regulations. If we do, were going down a slippery slope, Closson said. We all agree that its a good project plan. Youre actually improving the situation with the parking lot and the cars. For timings sake, were not adverse to scheduling special meeting to talk about this project, shortly after you get ZBA approval. The commission voted to continue the public hearing to Sept. 14. - Packed with every feature possible to recreate offline events virtually, the platform is priced aggressively to support UK businesses as they look to rebound after the COVID-induced slump. - Its platform has already been used to host the reputed World Forum Disrupt in the UK. LONDON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hubilo, among the fastest growing virtual events platform players globally, today announced the availability of its one of a kind experiential, cloud-based virtual exhibitor platform in the UK market. The platform with its AI-driven real-time data analytics allows brands and event organisers to go beyond just virtual events and leverage it as an interactive marketing tool. Hubilo comes packed with every conceivable feature from real-time networking, virtual booths, speaker lounges, live and on demand sessions, automated registration/ticket processes and 24/7 customer care services to the Hubilo mobile app that helps synchronize an event with additional tools. Keeping in mind covid-19, the platform has been aggressively priced (at 30% less than any comparable platform packing in more features than most of them) to encourage more businesses to embrace virtual events and keep their marketing and sales effort moving. Hubilo has since conducted over 1,000 events across 150 countries engaging with approximately 1.50 million visitors. In UK alone, it has conducted major large scale events, including notable ones like World Forum Disrupt, HubXchange and Radar One Media. Commenting on the UK launch, Vaibhav Jain, Founder, Hubilo, said, "We chose UK as the first market to introduce our platform in the region as we knew it was a mature market that is known to adapt newer technology and related solutions more openly than other European markets. Plus, we already had traction in the market with many clients successfully conducting major events on the platform. We offer a truly compelling value proposition to not just organizations and brand owners but also event organizers. We look forward to them benefiting from the availability of our platform in the market." "Most organizations are reluctant to invest money in marketing and branding right now due to lack of visibility of what lies ahead. However, events are the lifeblood of many businesses, particularly the SMEs. We believe that offering a one of its kind experiential virtual event platform with multiple functionalities at really attractive pricing we are really supporting them in their efforts to rebound post the COVID-19 slump," he further added. According to a research, the Event Management Software Market is projected to grow from USD 5.7 billion in 2019 to USD 11.4 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 15% from 2019 to 2024. However, as per FMI study, virtual event platforms will grow at a CAGR exceeding 20% from 2020-2030. About Hubilo: Hubilo is a virtual event platform that is uniquely designed to empower exhibition organizers and exhibitors. Since its inception in 2015, the Hubilo team has transformed the way events are orchestrated using AI and cloud based technology. Hubilo has powered 1,000+ events across 150 countries and catered to 1.50 million visitors. Hubilo today is a universal customizable platform for events of any type, including conferences, seminars, workshops, exhibitions and corporate off-sites. The platform instantly sets up buy-in and demos, captures visitors' analytics, and sets them up in cold, warm and hot leads for marketers to follow up. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, India and with operations in Newark, US, Hubilo has 50+ professionals engaged in planning and executing events of the highest standards across the globe. For free demo and more, visit https://hubilo.com/ (File) Support has grown for Most Rev. Robert Ndlovu (c), the Archbishop of Harare Archdiocese; flanked here by two other Bishops In a show of solidarity, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) has expressed support for the countrys Catholic Bishops in the wake of a Pastoral Letter that has angered the Government. Vatican News English Africa Service - Vatican City We stand with the truth that the Catholic Bishops so ably articulated, reads a statement issued by the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe President, Bishop Never Muparutsa -the Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assembly of Zimbabwe. Bishop Muparutsa referred to a multi-layered crisis of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption, and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. With all these happening, EFZ stands with the Catholic Bishops, Muparutsa explained. We stand with the truth that the Government is focused on things other than national democratic priorities, said the EFZ head. We pledged not to allow politicians to divide us Speaking in an interview with Jayson Casper, of Christianity Today, Bishop Never Muparutsa said the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe had decided to side with the Catholic Bishops because Churches in Zimbabwe have in the past discussed ecumenical cooperation and unity. The Churches have pledged not to allow themselves be divided by politicians. We realised that when we are divided, politicians take advantage. We have not eradicated this completely; politicians still divide us for particular agendas. But we have all agreed that in national matters we must be united, in order to move society in a positive direction. The Church must be nonpartisan, but at the same time, be concerned about the well-being of the general population. We must be the voice of the weak and the voiceless. We must hold our government accountable when it comes to looking after the vulnerable. Sometimes this makes us look like we are pro-Opposition. But we have nothing to do with the Opposition because they are not in power. Our interactions instead are with those in power, because they bear the responsibility, Bishop Muparutsa told Christianity Today. Pastoral Letter condemned Government crackdown on dissent The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) on 15 August issued a strong Pastoral Letter that criticised the countrys heavy-handed clampdown on dissent. Many activists, political actors and journalists are still being held in prison after the 31 July protests. The Pastoral Letter also condemned corruption, widespread human rights abuses, and the Governments handling of an economy in free fall. Governments attacks on Catholic Bishops Zimbabwes Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, responded to the Pastoral Letter with a personal attack on the Archbishop of Harare, Robert Christopher Ndlovu. The Government called the Archbishop evil minded and went on to cast aspersions on his integrity and that of the countrys Catholic Bishops as a whole. While it comes naturally for Catholics and some civil society organisations to come to the defence of the Catholic Bishops, the voice of Zimbabwes Evangelical Churches speaks to a history of ecumenical unity. We stand with Catholics because an insult to one is an insult to all Bishop Muparutsa explained that the Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter meant well. The Catholic (Bishops Pastoral) Letter was trying to provoke discussion, not give an insult. It pointed out problems like all of us were doing. But it received such a strong (Government) backlash. We felt that given the situation in the country if we just stand by and watch, we dont know what will happen. We have journalists and activists in prison. There have been abductions with perpetrators unidentified, making us all vulnerable. So, this prompted us to stand with the Catholics, because an insult to one is an insult to all, said Muparutsa. Widespread disillusionment in Zimbabwe Muparutsa also spoke of the disillusionment many Zimbabweans now find themselves in. When President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed office in 2017, many were encouraged by his talk of the dawn of a new era. The former President (Rober Mugabe) left us with a system of mis-governance, human rights issues, and international sanctions. We were all very happy when (President Mnangagwa) was elected, hearing that he would turn over a new leaf. There was so much hope. Having been part of the system, we expected he would learn the lessons of the past and bring us back into the family of nations. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, problems began to multiply. We were already suffering, and our health situation became dire. The majority of our people live hand-to-mouth. But as workplaces closed due to the lockdown, there was civic upheaval because people were hungry, said Bishop Muparutsa. During the lockdown implemented by the Government to try and limit the spread of Covid-19, our Government, out of humanitarian concern, tried to distribute free food to some of the inhabitants of the urban centres. If the initial distribution went well (so it was hoped) the Government would distribute more to help those who were prevented by the lockdown from working and earning a decent living.. Well, very early on, those in charge of the exercise came face to face with crowd psychology. Even though it was clear that the Government was acting out of altruistic motives, some people thought they would be robbed of their share unless they forced their way to the front of the queues! Ghanaian style. So bad was the situation that eventually, the food distribution scheme was scrapped. It may well have been the case that some of the people in the queues were not just ordinary people trying to get food for themselves and their families, but people with a political agenda. For it was easy for some people to perceive the scheme as a means whereby the NPP Government wanted to win more votes by demonstrating that: WE GAVE YOU FOOD WHEN YOU NEEDED IT MOST! This interpretation of events is supported by the fact that unlike what happened during the food distribution process, millions of people did wait patiently at registration centres when they were asked to do so in order to be registered as voters. The reason, you see, is that crowd psychology needs to be stirred up before it can work well. It was realised that if the registration exercise were seriously undermined, all political parties would be the losers as their chances of victory would be adversely affected by the end-result of non-registration. The propagandists were realistic enough to perceive that they had to be careful not to wreck the whole train on which everyone would be travelling to election day! But with food distribution, on the other hand, if an agent-provocateur was handed say, ten cedis, and to go and cause trouble at a distribution centre by creating a difficult or impossible situation, he or she could use the ten cedis to satisfy personal needs, while leaving the would-be beneficiaries of Government handouts to go hungry. Believe me, political parties have money for such purposes. The reason why I am bringing the phenomenon of crowd psychology to readers is that I want to warn my fellow countrymen and women that if they continue to engage in galamsey, they will end up sleepwalking into a situation whereby they will actually destroy the very country in which they hope to enjoy the riches they get from galamsey. Certainly, one can make a lot of money out of galamsey and thus be able to expend huge sums of money in campaigning to win power. But what happens if, whilst trying to use that power to govern, one is faced with crowd psychology? Don't mind him! He's galamsey man! He has destroyed our drinking water! The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, must have had envisioned such a scenario when he touched on the question of galamsey once again during his recent electioneering tour of Ghana's rural areas. (Other politicians both on the NPP side and the NDC side have chosen to keep rather mute about galamsey/ Why? It's because there ARE people in politics who are making a very good living for themselves out of galamsey. These people ARE able to win voters and electioneering agents on to their campaign trains because they have enough money to make such a trip worthwhile. But what they ignore, though, is this: What will be the point of it all if one uses galamsey money to win the election, but one then finds it necessary to lock oneself behind impregnable gates, because one's fellow countrymen and women want one's blood? What is every rich and powerful person comes under suspicion of having become rich through galamsey operations that are responsible for ruining the nation's water sources? If you go to Nigeria, you will see some magnificent mansions with enormously strong security gates. The occupants don't go out often for fear of kidnappers. For the popular belief in the country is that you can't become filthily rich without being an oil thief! Do the Ghanaian ruling class desire to be similarly tagged en masse? Do they want the people to believe that they deliberately caused a situation to arise in which the people neither have water to drink, nor to wash, or cook with? It does not require one to be a very deep thinker to understand that this would be a most worrying scenario. But it will come to pass if galamsey continues, for I tell you, if you are used to village life and you see a galamsey site for the first time you may weep, whether you like it or not. You will find that excavators are used in such a brutally haphazard fashion on farmlands and riverbanks that it is impossible to even find a pathway into a farm in which one could once walk blindfolded! I don't exaggerate the situation on the ground in many places calls for deep lamentation bordering on suicide. I have written an article about the total disbelief with which I once observed the destruction on such a farm. (Please Google Galamsey+blow+gut) I tell you such a sight is capable of turning one into a near-misanthrope. I was therefore extremely pleased when I heard that President Akufo-Addo had-- in spite of the election campaign in which he wants everyone's support not refrained from pointing an accusing finger at some DCEs, MCEs, politicians and chiefs who, he said, are involved in illegal galamsey activities. According to the President, the excuse given by these galamsey perpetrators is that the activity gives employment to the youth. However (he cautioned) it would be prudent for them to put an end to their galamsey operations. The President said: "As for the galamsey, it is not only the youth who are doing it. MCEs, DCEs, Ministers are involved..Even some of you (chiefs) are involved. Indeed, the activity generates lots of money..[But] galamsey money is evil, so let us all come together to reduce it. The President said this while inaugurating a Community Mining Programme to create jobs for over 2,000 trained youth in the Nzema East Municipality. He urged the chiefs to employ the youth to join the Community Mining Programme and to get them trained to practise safe mining. "I know people are saying that [galamsey] is what is feeding the youth...[But] we have to think of a new job opportunity for the youth," the President emphasised. The President also inaugurated similar Community Mining Schemes at Aboso, Gwira Egila/Gwira, and Akango/Duale. The Schemes are expected to create ten thousand (10,000) jobs at Aboso and two thousand additional jobs at Egila/Gwira and Akamgo/Duale. President Akufo-Addo explained that the Community Mining Scheme is an initiative meant to encourage responsible small-scale mining, in communities across the country, in line with the Minerals and Mining Law, 2015, Act 703. Recounting the menace wreaked by galamsey across the country, prior to his assumption of office in January 2017, the President stated that the phenomenon led to the pollution of waters, the degradation of lands, the non-reclamation of degraded land, and the use of dangerous chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide, on the environment. I was of the view, a view shared happily by the majority of Ghanaians, that, if we allowed it to continue, we would be jeopardising both our present and our future. Our responsibility, to this end, was clear, he said. He specified that one of the measures instituted by Government to deal with the menace of galamsey, is the Community Mining Scheme. The President Akufo-Addo added: We believe that participation by the host communities in mining will set us, as a nation, on the journey to boost the rural economy, help rural infrastructure development, and improve livelihoods, through shared wealth. I t will also enable Ghanaians develop the capacity to take over, eventually, the operations of the minerals sector. These are the carrot element in the Government's anti-galamsey programme, and no person of goodwill can find fault with that aspect of the programme. What people are worried about is whether the stick element using the newly enacted amendments to the Minerals Laws to bring galamseyers and their collaborators to book will be strongly applied by the Government, when the need arises. With regard to that, the President has laid down the yardstick himself: if he knows people in the Government who are making evil money through galamsey, then he is duty-bound to get rid of them. The buck does stop with the President (as Harry S Truman used to remind his visitors of this fact through a sign with that phrase on his desk in the Oval Office in the White House!) -- www.cameronduodu.com EU Calls For Independent Russian Investigation Into Navalny's Condition Sputnik News 03:17 GMT 25.08.2020 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union is calling for an independent Russian investigation into the condition of Alexey Navalny, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said in a statement. "The preliminary test results from the Charite Universitatsmedizin hospital in Berlin indicate that the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned during his stay in Siberia. It is imperative that the Russian authorities initiate an independent and transparent investigation on the poisoning of Mr Navalny without delay," Borrell said on Monday. Earlier on Monday, the doctors treating Navalny in the Berlin-based Charite hospital claimed they had found traces of intoxication with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors in his body. Omsk Chief Toxicologist Alexander Sabayev said on Monday that upon his admission to the Omsk hospital, Navalny was tested on a wide range of narcotics, synthetic substances, psychodiletics and medicinal substances, including cholinesterase inhibitors, but all tests came back negative. According to Sabayev, Navalny did not have any symptoms specific to the poisoning with cholinesterase inhibitors. Last Thursday, Navalny suffered an acute health condition and went into a coma during a domestic Russian flight. Following an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Omsk, he was hospitalized with suspected poisoning as one of the possible reasons behind his condition. Russian doctors subsequently found no poison traces in his samples and opined that the deterioration was caused by an abrupt drop of glucose in Navalny's blood due to a metabolic disbalance. On Saturday, Navalny was flown to Berlin for further treatment. According to a statement from Aleksandr Murakhovsky, the lead doctor of the Omsk hospital, German doctors said in a letter that Navalny's condition remained steadily grave and thanked the Russian colleagues for saving his life. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Close consultation with auditing companies required for corporate audits COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The standards and regulations body has made arrangements to respond to the changed conditions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It has focused its attentions on the following questions: Under what conditions can corporate audits and certifications take place? How is it possible to minimize personal contact between the auditor and the employees of the company and make interactions safe? Companies in the automotive industry whose quality management systems have been IATF 16949-certified are also pondering the same questions. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, a different set of rules than normal currently apply to companies with an IATF 16949 certificate to ensure that they can maintain their certification irrespective of any potential COVID-19 restrictions. In its revision document dated July 17, 2020, the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) has provided further clarification on the conditions and rules enabling company audits to take place in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. The new rules primarily concern timing requirements as to when companies can arrange for obligatory surveillance and recertification audits to be performed. IATF extended the validity of all certificates issued before March 27, 2020, by six months as a global measure. IATF is also permitting special monitoring specifically for companies that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. IATF 16949 Relies on Extensions and Monitoring Due to the coronavirus pandemic, for some ISO standards, remote audits can be conducted instead of on-site audits under certain circumstances. "On the other hand, the IATF 16949 standard is increasingly prescribing extended deadlines and risk assessments based on monitoring," explains Daniela Huch, Automotive Industry Quality Management Expert at TUV Rheinland. This gives companies extra time if they need to arrange an annual surveillance audit during their certification cycle. This means that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, a company whose surveillance audit would have been due on or before April 1 will be granted two 90-day extensions. During the second 90-day extension, the certificate is suspended but still valid. Monitoring Requirements and Procedure Within the total extension period of 180 days, companies can arrange for a regular surveillance audit to be performed by their inspection companies or instead make a monitoring request. Monitoring is a form of risk analysis with fixed criteria, and is performed remotely rather than on-site. However, this analysis is tied to certain conditions: The company must currently produce automotive parts or products for customers, and its business must be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic such that it would not be possible to conduct an on-site audit. Monitoring can take place no earlier than 30 days prior to the end of the 180-day extension period and no later than 60 days after this period. It takes at least one day to complete, and more time may be requested depending on the size of the company. Monitoring is now being used as an alternative to the regular annual surveillance audit. Companies having to arrange a recertification audit after a period of three years are not eligible for monitoring. They will be granted a six-month extension instead. This only applies to companies where an on-site audit would not be possible due to COVID-19. "TUV Rheinland is ready to conduct monitoring. But so far, many automotive companies are opting to have their surveillance audits completed by the due date or, where possible, within the first 90-day extension period but no later than within the second 90-day extension period. They are still not taking advantage of monitoring at the moment," Daniela Huch has observed. TUV Rheinland has developed special guidelines on how to conduct corporate audits while taking maximum safety precautions to ensure that it is able to perform surveillance audits, including on-site inspections, smoothly and safely. Protecting customers and employees is the top priority. "But close communication between TUV Rheinland and the company being audited is just as important. Good organization and clear arrangements also help to minimize risk," sums up Daniela Huch. T his week the Liberal Democrats will finally chose their next leader. I left the party recently, after five years as a member, having become increasingly frustrated at their direction. They missed a golden opportunity at last years General Election with the hubristic revoke Brexit strategy. Added to this, has been their focus on fringe issues like debating gender-neutral toilets at the forthcoming annual conference. Unless the next leader focuses squarely on the key concerns of voters namely Covid-19, social care, getting a good Brexit deal and handling Eighties levels of unemployment the Lib Dems may be given a do not resuscitate notice by the electorate. This would be a tragedy for our democracy. Chris Key Editor's reply Dear Chris Your former party paid dearly for joining the Coalition. It seems ironic you stuck with them in the bleak aftermath, yet gave up partly over their 2019 position on Europe. Big decisions await the new leader, likely to be Ed Davey. The lazy way back would be to occupy a comfort zone to the Left of Keir Starmer, pray for a Labour win then scoop up its Left-wingers when they cry betrayal. The hard road is to challenge all sides with brave and imaginative ideas. Do they have it in them? Time will tell. Joe Murphy, Political Editor Curb C-charge to help West End I was fascinated to hear the Mayor entreating the Government for help for central London after the decline in tourists and office workers. Our stores are down about 75 per cent on last year which means they are losing a lot of money. The prospects this side of Christmas are not good. So why doesnt the Mayor do something about a cost that he controls the congestion charge? It is a massive deterrent to customers. Sadiq, if you want to help, suspend the C-charge at weekends. Daniel Rubin CEO, The Dune Group MINSK, Belarus - When Belarusians filled the streets to protest what they called a fraudulent election that kept authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in power, the blunt repressions came first. Police used tear gas, flash grenades and beatings on the crowds in the capital of Minsk and elsewhere. They detained thousands, with hundreds injured and at least three deaths. But the heavy-handed measures in the days after the Aug. 9 election seemed to produce the opposite effect, emboldening more protesters, triggering strikes at state-run factories and forcing authorities to back off. With the protests now in their third week including rallies that brought out an estimated 200,000 people in Minsk on the last two Sundays the 65-year-old president is shifting tactics. He is moving to squelch the demonstrations gradually with vague promises of reforms mixed with threats, court summonses and the selective jailing of leading activists. Observers say the moves by Lukashenko to buy some time likely will see him holding onto power for now, although he almost certainly will face more challenges amid a worsening economy and simmering public anger. Lukashenko has enough resources to control the situation. He is predictably stifling the protests, but the picture is changing, said Valery Karbalevich, an independent political analyst. The economy is becoming Lukashenkos main enemy. His regime is running out of funds. Throughout his 26-year rule, the former state farm director has maintained Soviet-style controls over the economy and relied on cheap energy and other subsidies from Russia, which has a union agreement with the nation of 9.5 million. Public weariness with Lukashenkos iron-fisted rule, augmented by his cavalier dismissal of the coronavirus pandemic as a psychosis and the bruising economic fallout from the outbreak, has fomented broad discontent. The official result of the election that said Lukashenko won a sixth term with 80% of the vote triggered the largest protests Belarus has seen, along with unprecedented strikes by blue-collar workers who were his loyal base of support. Opposition figures sought a political solution by forming a Coordination Council to engineer a transition of power and new elections. Police and other security forces, who have stood aside after the initial crackdown and allowed rallies by tens of thousands, are slowly starting to detain demonstrators again, but without the dramatic violence. On Monday, officers handed court summonses to more than 40 protesters on charges of holding unsanctioned rallies and disobeying authorities, and the next day the Interior Ministry reported 51 detentions. Prosecutors opened criminal inquiries against activists who set up the Coordination Council. Two of its leading members received 10-day jail terms Tuesday for organizing unsanctioned protests, and several others were summoned for questioning over their roles in the council. Authorities also have moved to intimidate factory workers involved in the strikes. Lukashenko has warned participants that they could lose their jobs and the plants could be closed temporarily, hurting those who didnt take part. Hundreds of officers of the domestic security agency, which still goes by its Soviet-era name of KGB, have inundated the plants to warn workers they could be fired or face criminal charges. The KGB agents have flooded the factory, and they have managed to intimidate many, said 43-year-old Vladimir Ogarevich, who works at the Minsk Tow Truck Plant, whose workers heckled Lukashenko when he visited. But our wages are shrinking, life is getting harder and we cant subsist on fear. We will keep striking. Several strike leaders, including Sergei Dylevsky, who joined the Coordination Council, have been detained on charges of organizing unsanctioned protests. Other activists also face such threats. Pavel Latushko, a former culture minister and ambassador to France who joined the protesters, had his house splashed with red paint and received threats. The authorities scenario is clear: They are trying to stem the wave of protests by using force, slowing the processes and demotivating the leaders, he said. Still, the daily rallies by undeterred protesters are continuing. There is no more fear, said 20-year-old student Ruslan Dubko, who showed bruises on his back and his arms that he said came from police striking him repeatedly during his detention earlier this month. My parents were being afraid and patient throughout their lives. But Im going to resist after they stole my first election. Aside from the threats, court orders and selective arrests, there have been darker, more violent episodes. The bodies of two opposition supporters were found hanged in forests. Although the police declared the deaths to be suicides, the opposition has contested the conclusion. Lukashenko is following a simple and primitive scenario to hang on to power at any cost, said Alexander Klaskousky, an independent Minsk-based analyst. He will have to change course only if political protest widens and more factory workers join the labour action. In a bid to stymie demands for a new election, Lukashenko suggested a constitutional reform process that would lead to a new vote down the road. Lukashenko is a seasoned demagogue who can imitate a dialogue in order to shift focus, Klaskousky said. It allows the authorities to win time, try to drown the protests in chatter and channel the process in a desired direction. When thousands of demonstrators marched toward his official residence on Sunday, the presidential office released a video showing Lukashenko landing in a helicopter nearby and brandishing a Kalashnikov rifle. He called the protesters rats as he inspected riot police guarding the residence. His youngest son, 15-year-old Nikolai, walked nearby, also carrying a rifle. It was supposed to show the strength of a fearless Lukashenko, but it had an opposite effect, and most people saw it as a reflection of fear of a weakening and erratic leader, Klaskousky said. While Lukashenko may succeed in clinging to power for now, Klaskousky predicted that the president will see his authority weaken dramatically as more challenges arise over the failing economy. Even if they manage to temporarily stifle the protests by factory workers with repressions, they will flare up anew in a half year or a year, Klaskousky said. He noted that neighbouring Russia, which sees Belarus as a bulwark against Western expansion and an important conduit for its energy exports to Europe, prefers a weakened Lukashenko to advance its long-term goal to merge the two countries. Moscow is interested in having a weakened and exhausted Lukashenko, who would accept any plan of integration and unification, Klaskousky said. But in parallel to that, the Kremlin is starting to look for an alternative candidate who would guarantee union ties and replace the unpopular leader who is trying to scare the world and his own people with an assault rifle and barbed wire. He predicted the Kremlin could instigate a palace coup if protests and strikes grow. Further erratic moves by Lukashenko could also prompt Moscow to look for other options, Karbalevich said. The Kremlin has already cut subsidies to Minsk and may ponder alternative scenarios if Lukashenko continues to make mistakes and lose control over the situation, he said. - Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed. UNSC Head Says 'Not in Position to Take Further Action' on US Move to Trigger Sanctions on Iran Sputnik News 16:05 GMT 25.08.2020(updated 16:41 GMT 25.08.2020) Last week, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, stated that Washington will not succeed in its attempt to renew sanctions against Tehran through the mechanism launched at the United Nations. UN Security Council President Dian Triansyah Djani said on Tuesday that he is not in a position to take further action on the attempt by the United States to re-impose all United Nations sanctions on Iran. "There is no consensus in the Council. Thus, the president is not in the position to take further action," Djani said. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a letter to the UN Security Council requesting that it invokes the 2015 nuclear agreement snapback sanctions mechanism under Resolution 2231, citing Iran's non-compliance with the accord. Washington has announced plans to trigger the snapback mechanism to reimpose all the UN sanctions against Iran previously lifted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after failing to get the UN Security Council to pass a resolution aiming to indefinitely extend the arms UN embargo on Iran. The arms embargo is set to expire in October under the terms of the nuclear agreement. Zarif has said that Washington's move to trigger snapback sanctions linked to the JCPOA was "illegal." Majority of the UN Security Council members said they would not support the United States' move to snapback sanctions since the United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. If the threat of Islamism in India is to be tackled, then charities such as Muslim Aid, Helping Hand for Relief and Development must be proscribed Indian security services, politicians and media have recently paid particularly close attention to the danger of Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan and Kashmir, and their branches and proxies links to terrorist plots against Indian troops and civilians. But radical Islamism makes use of international networks of support, and relies on infrastructure closely intertwined with civil society. Today, western Islamist charities, funded by western governments and linked to international Islamist movements such as Jamaat-e-Islami, operate throughout India. These charities have long histories of subsidising terrorism and enabling extremism. One of the most egregious examples is Muslim Aid. Radical management Founded in London in 1985, Muslim Aid has grown into one of the largest Islamic charities in the world, boasting revenue of tens of millions of pounds each year. Outside of its headquarters in the UK, it operates branches, offices and various affiliate entities in a dozen countries across Africa and Asia, with prominent fundraising offices in Sweden and the United States as well. From the beginning, Muslim Aids officials have been tied closely to Jamaat-e-Islami (JI). In 2013, a Bangladeshi war crimes tribunal sentenced to death in absentia one of the charitys early leaders, Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, for his role leading a JI killing squad that abducted and murdered 18 people during the countrys 1971 Liberation War. Muslim Aid board chairmen have included Manazir Ahsan, a leading British Islamist who helped to coordinate Islamist riots in the UK against novelist Salman Rushdie over his book, The Satanic Verses; and Iqbal Sacranie, another infamous British Islamist who said of Rushdie: Death, perhaps, is a bit too easy for him. Other Muslim Aid officials have included Manzair Ahsan, who is also closely involved with the Islamic Foundation, JIs UK-based thinktank. His colleagues there have included former Muslim Aid official Farooq Murad, the son of Khurram Murad, who has led both the Bangladeshi and Pakistani branches of JI. In 2003, The Times reported that two Islamic Foundation trustees were on the UN sanctions list of people associated with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Terror ties With this violence-tied management, it comes as little surprise that Muslim Aid has repeatedly been found involved with a number of terror networks. In 2010, following investigative work by British media and an inquiry by Britains charity regulator, Muslim Aid was found (and admitted) to have been funding a number of front organizations for the terrorist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Muslim Aids terror links are not limited just to the Palestinian territories. Counter-terrorism analyst Chris Blackburn notes that Muslim Aids Australian branch has supported jihadist-funding organizations in Indonesia; government agencies in Bangladesh included Muslim Aid in a list of ten Islamic charities supporting Islamist terrorism; and Spanish police have declared that Muslim Aid financed jihadists in Bosnia in the 1990s. In the United States, documents acquired by the Middle East Forum show that in 2015, the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Asset Control (which is tasked with stopping the flow of monies to terrorist groups) looked into Muslim Aid as a potential terror financer. In Pakistan, meanwhile, both the UK and Pakistani branches of Muslim Aid partner openly with Al Khidmat, the charitable arm of Jamaat-e-Islamis Pakistani arm. Al Khidmat publicly works with Hizbul Mujahideen, the Kashmiri militant wing of Jamaat-e-Islami and a designated terrorist group in both India and the United States. This Pakistan branch is particularly shadowy. In 2009, it appointed a senior official of Pakistans infamous, terror-connected Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as chairman of its board of trustees. Other terrorist operatives have made use of Muslim Aids infrastructure. In 2012, three terrorist operatives used Muslim Aid identities to raise money for a series of suicide bombings. Although Muslim Aid was apparently unaware of this scheme, Britains charity regulator later censured the organization for having insufficient measures in place to monitor its spending and activities, leading British officials to fear, among other things, that it might be inadvertently funding a proscribed terrorist organisation. Concerns over the charitys management have continued to surface over the past few years. Muslim Aid India Despite this extraordinary array of terror links and overt extremism, Muslim Aid is active on both sides of the Line of Control in Kashmir, and well as throughout India. Although it claims to have operated a field office in the country since 2005, this was not its first appearance: a British Islamist publication from 1992 features a call for donations to Muslim Aid India in the wake of the notorious destruction of the Babri Mosque in Uttar Pradesh. Today, Muslim Aid India appears to operate primarily out of Hyderabad. But management of the charity is not exactly local. Its two leading officials, Mirza Feroz Baig and Jafer Hussain Qureshi, are involved with a string of companies and charities registered in the United Kingdom. Several of these organizations have declared addresses on incorporation paperwork registered to a single house in the English city of Birmingham, which property records obtained by the Middle East Forum show to be owned by Qureshi. Muslim Aids Qureshi, it seems, has been helping for years to manage the affairs of the terror-connected international Islamist operative Zakir Naik. One of the companies previously registered to Qureshis address is Universal Broadcasting Corporation Limited, a key component of Zakir Naiks network, and which serves as the umbrella organisation for Naiks infamous Peace TV media outlets and various companies. Perhaps the most famous radical preacher in the world, Naik lives in exile in Malaysia, where he is currently the target of an extradition request by Indian authorities on charges of money laundering and allegations of terrorism links. Law enforcement blame Naiks preaching for the radicalization of hundreds of jihadist recruits. Because of his extremism, he is banned from entering a number of other countries, including the UK and Canada. And yet it is in the UK where Naik operates his most significant network of companies outside India, all with the help of a senior Muslim Aid official. Along with Qureshi, both Zakir Naik and his wife, Farhat, have been listed in company registration documentation as directors of the Universal Broadcasting Corporation, with Farhats address listed as Qureshis house. Farhat, along with a number of Naiks other companies, are believed to be part of Naiks extensive money laundering effort. Moreover, documents gathered by the Middle East Forum reveal that this enterprising trio, along with other trustees from Qureshis other companies, are also listed as trustees of the UK office of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), which India banned in 2016. In fact, Muslim Aid Indias Qureshi has been a director of almost all of Naiks UK businesses and charities. In May, Britains media watchdog issued a 300,000 fine against Peace TV and its various parent companies (with which Qureshi has also been involved) for inciting murder and broadcasting hate speech. The outlet shut down its UK broadcasting in November just before regulators were expected to rescind its license. Britains Charity Commission, meanwhile, recently opened an investigation into IRF, citing concerns over its close links to Peace TV. Qureshi, who has also served as a trustee of Muslim Aids UK headquarters as well as Muslim Aid Sweden, is involved with a number of other prominent Islamist charities. He runs the Zakat Foundation of India, where his colleagues include Syed Zafar Mahmood, who in 2018, on behalf of the Zakat Foundation, publicly denounced the ban of the terror-tied Popular Front of India (PFI). Qureshi has also served of chairman of the Al Fouz Trust, a British charity that operates in South Asia. Emma Webb, in a report for the Henry Jackson Society, notes that Al Fouz Trust has previously reported sponsoring the programs on Zakir Naiks Peace TV of Abdurraheem Green, a prominent Salafi hate preacher and former jihadist. Finally, Qureshi is a trustee of the Al-Khair Foundation, a charity that runs that radical television station IQRA TV. Al-Khair has often partnered with Muslim Aid, while also maintaining close ties to Zakir Naik and his network (in fact, it appears to have been an invitation to an Al-Khair Foundation conference that prompted Zakir Naiks ban from entering the United Kingdom). Within India, Jamaat-e-Islami and Zakir Naik (who belongs to the Ahl-e-Hadith sect of Islam) may represent two separate, dangerous threat; while outside India, it appears, its advocates are working closely together. Muslim Aid India, just as with other Muslim Aid branches, appears to be controlled by a close-knit cell of prominent Islamists with international connections to notorious terror-tied extremists. This Birmingham-Hyderabadi network deserves extensive investigation by both Indian and western law enforcement. An uphill battle Despite all this evidence of extremism, however, the Muslim Aid franchise has enjoyed significant support from Western governments. The group received more than $1.5 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2013, handed over just three years after the charity admitted to funding proxies for the designated terrorist organisation, Hamas. The European Union has given millions to the Islamist charity 600,000 Euros in 2017 alone. There is some evidence, however, that Muslim Aids luck is running out. British government support for Muslim Aid, meanwhile, has drastically diminished over the past decade, with documents published on British government websites now openly naming Muslim Aid as Jamaat-e-Islami-connected. Britains Charity Commission, meanwhile, has conducted repeated investigations into Muslim Aids management. Muslim Aid is not, of course, the only western Jamaati charity active in India. Helping Hand for Relief and Development the international aid arm of the Jamaat-e-Islamis branch in the United States also operates on both sides of the LoC in Kashmir. In 2018, the Middle East Forum revealed that Helping Hand had been openly working with Lashkar-e-Taiba, the terror group responsible for the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks. In the past, Helping Hands parent organisation, the JI-founded Islamic Circle of North America, has run events with known ISI agents. Its time for the Indian government and its law enforcement agencies to focus closely on these radical groups and counteract their influence. Where exactly in Kashmir is the money raised by Western Islamist charities ending up? Are these Islamist charities linked to the ISI? Do they continue to work with other South Asian jihadists? Over the past few years, the Indian government has taken some bold steps in the battle against domestic extremist groups. However, while India has woken up to the threat of Islamisms local violent cheerleaders, the government and security services risk overlooking Islamist movements quieter, international underpinnings a pernicious global network providing financial, logistical and ideological support, led by registered charities from the West using programs of benevolence as a fig leaf for terror and extremism. Ultimately, if the threat of Islamism in India is to be tackled, then charities such as Muslim Aid, Helping Hand for Relief and Development must be proscribed. The author is director of Islamist Watch, a project of the Middle East Forum By Victor Ing, Special to The Post Canadas Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced a new temporary policy on Monday, August 24, 2020, that will allow visitors currently in Canada to apply for employer-specific work permits without having to leave the country. This temporary policy takes effect immediately until further notice and is intended to get visitors with job offers working as soon as possible for the Canadian employers who need them. Although it is not common knowledge, there are many types of immigration permits that cannot be issued to a person who applies for it while they are inside Canada. Among these are open working holiday permits and even closed, employer-specific work permits if the applicant is in Canada as a visitor. Under normal circumstances, these applicants would be able to apply for work permits while they were inside Canada, but they would only be issued the work permit after leaving Canada and returning to a Canadian port of entry. Alternatively, many applicants choose to flagpole, which is immigration jargon that refers to a person who crosses the Canada-US border only to turn around immediately to apply for a permit. However, due to COVID, this common immigration strategy is no longer viable. COVID-19 has turned the immigration world on its head. Between the Canada-US border closure, the imposition of travel restrictions on incoming air travellers, and the cancellation of numerous international flights, many visitors have been stranded in Canada and had to unexpectedly extend their stays. Furthermore, many foreign workers have lost their worker status and have had to switch to visitor status. Over the past few months, as an immigration lawyer, I have heard many stories from former workers who lost their ability to work because they were expecting to qualify for permanent residence before their work permits expired or were expecting their employers to obtain Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) to get new work permits. However, layoffs and well-documented delays in immigration processing have derailed those plans. Regardless of the reasons for their extended stays in Canada, these visitors have found themselves in a dilemma: it is unsafe to travel during a global pandemic and it is uncertain if and when they could return to Canada due to international travel restrictions, but they also cannot remain indefinitely in Canada without the legal right to work. The Ministers announcement is a game-changer that will allow visitors with qualifying job offers from Canadian employers to apply for work permits without having to leave the country or attempt to flagpole during this uncertain period. This will benefit both workers and employers who are struggling to recover from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. To take advantage of the new temporary public policy, in-Canada applicants must have arrived in Canada before August 24, 2020, and must hold valid visitor status. In addition, they must possess a qualifying job offer, which means that the employer making the job offer must have obtained an LMIA or qualify for an exemption from needing one. Visitors who previously held work permits within the past 12 months will benefit significantly from the new temporary public policy because they will also be allowed to begin working after submitting their new work permit applications. However, these applicants must write directly to the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to request authorization to work before receiving their permits, and it will take approximately six weeks for that authorization to be granted. As an immigration lawyer, it is extremely encouraging to see that the Minister is responding to the challenges of the day and creating new temporary public policies to address them. However, these announcements will only be meaningful if there are sufficient resources available to process these applications in a timely fashion it will be a small consolation to visitors to be granted the right to apply for work permits while inside Canada if it will take four months or longer to process the applications, which was the standard processing time for work permits even before COVID-19. Victor Ing is a lawyer of Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre. He provides a full range of immigration services. For more information go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email [email protected]. Bhubaneswar, Aug 26 : The Odisha government on Wednesday asked its officials concerned to keep a close watch on possible flood situation as several rivers were swollen due to incessant rain in the last two days in the state. The water levels were rising in rivers like Budhabalang, Jalaka, Baitarani, Kani, and Kharasrota, said Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, who held a review meeting on Wednesday on the flood situation in the state. Departments concerned and Collectors of 12 districts participated in the meeting through videoconference. They were directed to work to ensure minimal loss of life and property due to the inclement weather. Tripathy said that the officials have been asked to initiate patrols on river embankments and evacuate people from low-lying villages. He said the control room of the Water Resource Department has been asked to function round the clock to monitor the situation. The Jalaka and Baitarani rivers are flowing above the danger mark at Mathani in Balasore and Anandapur in Keonjhar district respectively, said sources. The India Meteorological Department has predicted more rain in the next 24 hours in several parts of the state. The government has decided to engage Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force, and fire services for search and rescue operations. Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena said the officials have been directed to restore communication at the earliest, provide health support, particularly stock anti-snake venom at all hospitals, provide food to evacuated people, and provide polythene sheets and other support to the affected as per the norm. "Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears. - - - In this episode: Mary Jordan discusses the first lady's reputation before Melania Trump's headlining speech at the second night of the Republican National Convention. Sarah Kaplan explains how genetic analysis of the coronavirus could help map and control its spread. And Isabelle Khurshudyan reports on the mass demonstrations that have erupted in Belarus after a presidential election. Timesha Beauchamp was dead. The paramedics said so on Sunday, after 30 minutes of CPR failed to revive her. An emergency room doctor in Southfield, Mich., confirmed the prognosis. So employees at a local funeral home were more than slightly shaken hours later when they watched her chest rising and falling with breath, the Detroit Free Press reported. Beauchamp, it turned out, was quite alive. HURRICANE LAURA: Voluntary evacuation ordered for parts of Harris County Now the 20-year-old is in critical condition at a hospital, Southfield officials are scrambling to learn what went wrong, and Beauchamp's outraged family has hired an attorney known for making national headlines. "They were about to embalm her which is most frightening had she not had her eyes open. They would have begun draining her blood to be very, very frank about it," attorney Geoffrey Fieger, known for successfully defending "suicide doctor" Jack Kevorkian, told WXYZ. For Beauchamp's family, the experience has been a heart-wrenching roller coaster from thinking their loved one was dead, to learning she wasn't, to watching her fight for her life in the hospital. "Somebody pronounced my child dead and she's not even dead," Erica Lattimore, Beauchamp's mother, told WDIV. On HoustonChronicle.com: Hurricane Laura expected to strike as Cat 4, cause 'catastrophic' damage Paramedics with the Southfield Fire Department first came to Beauchamp's house early on Sunday morning after she had a heart attack, the department told the Free Press. When the CPR failed, the medics contacted the ER doctor, who pronounced her dead. Fire officials said in a statement that they notified the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office of Beauchamp's death. Soon afterward, Lattimore said she got a phone call. "They said, 'Ma'am, she's gone,'" she told WDIV. "I told them, 'Are you absolutely, 100% sure that she's gone?' They said, 'Yes, ma'am, she's gone.'" Beauchamp's body was taken to the James H. Cole Funeral Home in Detroit. More than an hour later, "our staff confirmed she was breathing," the funeral home told the Associated Press. As Beauchamp was rushed to the hospital, the funeral home called her grieving mother. "They said, 'Ma'am, your daughter is on her way to [the hospital]. She is breathing. She is alive,'" Lattimore told WDIV. "This devastated my life ... I said, 'What do you mean? What do you mean she's breathing?' She said, 'Ma'am, she's in the hospital.'" As of Monday evening, Beauchamp was in critical condition at Detroit Medical Center, the AP reported. Fieger, the attorney, said the hours she spent without medical care may have seriously damaged her chance of recovering. "What did this delay do in terms of Timesha's health for the rest of her life?" he told WXYZ. The Southfield Fire Department said the city and the Oakland County Medical Control Authority had launched an investigation into how Beauchamp was declared dead on Sunday. In a statement, the department insisted that it "followed all appropriate city, county and state protocols and procedures in this case." But Fieger said that doesn't square with his client's horrific experience. "It's one of people's worst nightmares to imagine having an ambulance called and instead, sending you off to a funeral home in a body bag. The funeral home unzipping the body bag, literally, that's what happened to Timesha, and seeing her alive with her eyes open," Fieger told the TV station. It's not unheard of for patients to be erroneously declared dead but it's quite rare. In South Africa in 2018, a car crash victim was covered in a silver sheet and taken to a morgue, where a forensic officer noticed they were still breathing. Earlier that same year, a Spanish prisoner was certified dead by three doctors before waking up in a mortuary. In a letter, Dubey said that the panel should not deliberate on the issue as it will be disregarding an advisory by Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla which stated that the panel may not take up those issues for examination which are pending in courts BJP MP and member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday appealed to the panel's chairman and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor to cancel a meeting on suspension of Internet services in various states and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir. Dubey's letter came a day after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla issued an advisory to chairmen of all parliamentary panels asking them to strictly adhere to rules and regulations while conducting committee meetings. Birla issued the advisory following a political slugfest between BJP and opposition members of the parliamentary panel on information technology over taking up the issue of suspension of Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir and summoning Facebook before the committee in its next meeting. "Since this issue is presently pending before the Supreme Court of India, any further deliberations on this would again be a violation of the relevant rules/directions as well as disregarding the recently issued advisory of the Lok Sabha Speaker," Dubey wrote in his letter to Tharoor. Tharoor has been under attack from BJP MPs who have demanded his removal as the chairman of the panel. Referring to the Lok Sabha speaker's instructions, Dubey said the advisory has clearly stated that the proceedings of the committee shall be treated as confidential and the panel may not take up those issues for examination which are pending in courts. "Therefore, (I) appeal to your good-self that the sitting of the committee on information technology convened for the aforementioned purpose may be immediately revoked," the BJP MP said. He also requested Tharoor to not take up those issues for deliberation in the committee which are of national importance as otherwise, the panel would again be showing discourtesy to the desire of the Speaker. Underlining that conducting the affairs of parliamentary panels' meeting lie on the shoulder of the chairman, the BJP MP said that not just he, but other members of the IT panel too has experienced that the "agenda of our meetings are being decided in front of media and camera glare/bite." The subjects which were selected by the panel after intensive deliberations have been put on the back burner while "small issues, which may hit the news headlines for a while" are being taken up in the committee deliberations, Dubey said. "This gives an impression that the platform of the Committee on Information Technology is being used for gaining political mileage and raising baseless controversies, one after the other," he said. Video above Attorney: Man shot by police is paralyzed Kenosha police say two people were killed and one person injured in a triple shooting during protests following Sunday's police shooting of Jacob Blake. Police responded to the area of 63rd Street and Sheridan Road around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday for reports of shots fired and multiple gunshot victims. This is an area where protests have taken place in recent nights. Police say two of the victims died. The third victim is in serious condition at a local hospital but is expected to survive. The shooting was under investigation and no other information was released. The Milwaukee Journal Sentiniel reported that police were searching for a man armed with a long gun. The Kenosha Common Council passed a resolution Tuesday afternoon declaring a state of emergency amid protests after the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The state of emergency will be in place until Friday. Council members also voiced concern with a lack of communication about protests from the mayor and police, saying they were hearing from residents who wanted answers about the protest response. Police fired tear gas for a third night Tuesday to disperse protesters who had gathered outside Kenosha's courthouse, where some shook a protective fence and threw water bottles and fireworks at officers lined up behind it. Police then used armored vehicles and officers with shields pushed back the crowd when protesters ignored warnings to leave a nearby park. Kenosha, a southeastern Wisconsin city, became the nation's latest flashpoint in a summer of racial unrest. Cellphone footage of police shooting Blake in the back as he leaned into his SUV while his three children sat in the vehicle circulated widely on social media Sunday. The 29-year-old was hospitalized in serious condition. Blake's father says his son was left paralyzed from the waist down. Kenosha Area Transit suspended service at 4 p.m. The announcement was made 20 minutes before buses stopped running. All city offices are closed to walk-in visits through Friday, and set to reopen, tentatively, next Monday. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers also signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency. After requests from Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser and Mayor John Antaramian, Evers ordered more Wisconsin National Guard troops to deploy to Kenosha. On Monday, Evers ordered 125 troops to protect public infrastructure and safety. It's not clear how many additional troops will be deployed. "People who are destroying property and stealing need to be arrested and jailed," Kreuser said. "We will continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement in holding those criminals who are destroying our city responsible," Antaramian said. Evers called for protesters to be peaceful. Crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires on Monday night. "We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue," said Evers, who is facing mounting pressure from Republicans over his handling of the unrest that has followed the shooting. "We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction." "We are working alongside members of the Kenosha Police Department and law enforcement departments from across Wisconsin, as well as state and federal authorities and the Wisconsin National Guard, in a concerted attempt to minimize the spread of the destructive behavior that has plagued us since Sunday night," Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said. "People are frustrated, I get it. And theyre scared. I certainly get that, too. Rumors abound on social media and elsewhere, with widely varying levels of truth to them. We know that much of the damage is being inflicted by people coming in from outside our community, with the intent to rob and destroy, not to engage in their First Amendment right to demonstrate." Republican lawmakers were calling for federal troops to be called into Kenosha to restore order, as well as President Donald Trump. The Wisconsin Department of Justice has not released any new information on the police shooting investigation. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Proud to be Latinx: Why some Latinos are embracing a new identity Nation Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. Born on August 26, 1910 to a family of ethnic Albanians in Skopje, Mother Teresa left her home for Irelandss Rathfarnham at the age of 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto. She wanted to learn English in the hopes of becoming a missionary, and English was the language of instruction for the Sisters of Loreto in India. Mother Teresa came to India in 1929, and after a period of teaching at St. Teresas School in Darjeeling, she took her first religious vows on 24 May 1931.She later went on to teach at a school in Kolkata, where she served for almost two decades. However, serving the poor and needy was Mother Teresas true calling and in 1948 she began her journey of serving the poor and the needy. In 1950 she founded the Roman Catholic religious congregation which later went on to be known as Missionaries of Charity. During her life Mother Teresa set up many homes for the poor, needy, those dying from AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis all over India, and according to 2013 reports Missionaries of Charity has expanded to 700 missions in 130 countries, providing aid and support to the needy and diseased. Mother Teresa was such a generous soul that when she won the Nobel Peace Prize for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace in 1979, she refused the prize money of $192,000 and asked for it to be donated to the poor in India. In 2017, she was posthumously canonized as a Patron Saint by the Vatican Pope for her service to the needy and poor. On her birth anniversary, let us read some inspiring quotes by the Saint and hope we can imbibe some of her values. Read on: I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, How many good things have you done in your life? rather he will ask, How much love did you put into what you did? I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. Love cannot remain by itself it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you judge people, you have no time to love them. The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are investigating reports of a car theft on Hylan Boulevard in Grasmere and a burglary in Midland Beach on Wednesday morning. A male caller reported around 6:20 a.m. that his car was stolen on the 1100 block of Hylan Boulevard near Norway Avenue. The vehicle is described as a black, four-door Lexus, according to preliminary information from a spokesman for the NYPD. Police were seen responding outside a store on the 1100 block of Hylan. Meanwhile, officers were canvassing around 3:45 a.m. for a suspect after a burglary was reported at Hylan and Slater boulevards in Midland Beach, the NYPD spokesman said, again citing preliminary information. No arrests have been made. The police spokesman was unable to provide more information about either incident. By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijans Deposit Insurance Fund has paid AZN 479.6 million ($282.1M) to the 20,360 depositors of four banks that were liquidated in the past few months, local media reported with the reference to the fund. According to the report, the International Bank of Azerbaijan has paid over AZN 160.4 million ($94.3M) to depositors of AGBank and NBCBank as a compensation in the process of liquidation. The payment of compensations to these banks, and were paid in non-cash form in 20 branches through debit cards of the International Bank of Azerbaijan in the period between June 16 and August 24. As of August 24, AZN 57.5 million ($33.8M) was paid to 3,222 depositors of AGBank and AZN 102.8 million ($60.4M) to 3,469 depositors of NBCBank. Moreover, Kapital Bank has paid AZN 319.2 million ($187.7M) to depositors of Amrahbank and Atabank as compensation in the process of liquidation. The compensations to these banks were paid from June 1 to August 24 in non-cash form in 35 branches through Kapital Bank debit cards and Khazri fast money transfer system. During this period, AZN 126.9 million ($74.6M) was paid to 5,270 depositors of Amrahbank and AZN 192.2 million ($113.0M) to 8,399 depositors of Atabank. According to Article 28.3 of the law "On Insurance of Deposits", the Deposit Insurance Fund accepts applications from depositors within one year from the date of first publication of the notice on compensation. The licenses of Azerbaijans AtaBank OJSC and Amrahbank OJSC were canceled on April 28 upon the decision of the Board of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA). On May 12, the licenses of AGBank OJSC and NBC Bank OJSC were canceled and the bankruptcy process was launched. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Conflicting reports on the fitness of a man facing first-degree murder charges has the state seeking another evaluation. Dustin A. Finlaw, 20, of Meredosia was found unfit for trial in October 2018, but was found fit in October 2019 by the Illinois Department of Human Service. Finlaws attorney, Tom Piper, since has said he believes after having several conversations with his client that Finlaw remains unfit. A psychiatrist hired through Piper evaluated Finlaw and found that he remains unfit. Now the state is awaiting another evaluation before proceeding with trial. While the state previously stipulated to the contents of the departments report, too much time has passed, Morgan County States Attorney Gray Noll said, noting that they felt it necessary to have him reevaluated. The state was in the position to stipulate to the contents of the DHS report; however, Mr. Piper was not, Noll said. He felt there was a doubt as to the defendants fitness. Weve asked for the case to be continued so he can be reevaluated by another expert. Noll has been in contact with a psychiatrist and is attempting to schedule an evaluation, he said. Once the evaluation is complete, several things could happen, Noll said. Both parties could stipulate to the contents of one of the reports, either finding Finlaw fit or unfit. If there is a disagreement as to his fitness, the case could go to a fitness hearing, during which the judge would evaluate the reports and listen to testimony to determine fitness, Noll said. If Finlaw is found unfit at that time, he would be returned to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services. If he is found fit, the case would proceed. Finlaw faces first-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of Robert L. Utter, 42, of Rushville, who was found May 24, 2018, in a car in Meredosia. Finlaw also is facing charges of aggravated assault on two police officers, resisting arrest and obstructing justice/destroying evidence. The case was continued for a status hearing at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 29. The nine men include seven who have fled the country and are on an airport watchlist, authorities say. Egypts public prosecution is seeking the arrest of nine suspects accused of gang-raping a woman, including seven who have fled the country. The rape allegedly took place six years ago at a luxury hotel in the capital, Cairo, but the allegations emerged online in July only. The public prosecution is taking legal steps to arrest the fugitives who are accused of assaulting a young woman at the Fairmont Nile City Hotel in 2014, a statement said. The police informed the prosecution that seven of the accused who face an arrest warrant have flown out of the country, it added. The prosecution said it was also trying to track down two other suspects in the case, one of whom had allegedly been accused in a similar [rape] case. It did not identify the suspects. A statement on Monday had said the suspects were on an airport watchlist. The prosecution also warned against sharing evidence that may jeopardise the investigation, local media reported. Lack of action over the 2014 incident, that was reported to have involved six men from powerful families, caused an uproar online after being disclosed in July by Assault Police, an Instagram account with more than 180,000 followers that aims to expose sex attackers and push for justice for rape and sexual assault survivors. In early August, the prosecution launched a probe after receiving a letter from a national womens association, which included a complaint from a young woman who claimed she had been gang-raped at the Fairmont in 2014. The hotel has said it had conducted an internal investigation but found that at no time were any reports of the incident filed to the hotel, nor to the hotels tourism police, according to AFP news agency. Egyptian women often face threats of retaliation for exposing sexual misconduct. According to Assault Polices page, the victim had been threatened by various social media users and was told that her identity will be released for the public to shame her. The latest accusations come amid a resurgence in the #Metoo movement which seeks to hold sexual predators in the deeply conservative country accountable for their actions. A 2013 study by UN Women found that 99 percent of women in Egypt had at some point in their lives been sexually harassed, either verbally or physically. The Latin American member firms of Andersen Global will now operate under the brand Andersen, reinforcing the organizations position as a one-stop shop for tax and legal services globally. The announcement comes less than two months after the adoption of the Andersen brand by the European member firms of Andersen Global. The member firms of Andersen Global in Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico and Uruguay, which previously operated under the brands Andersen Tax and Andersen Tax & Legal, will now feature Andersen as their brand along with the new member firms, MODO Law and GSRC in Argentina, who became member firms of the organization earlier this year. Andersen Global continues to view expansion of both its footprint in Latin America and its newly established platform in the Caribbean as high priorities. In Latin America, the global organization also has a presence in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru through its collaborating firms and has added collaborating firms in 11 countries in the Caribbean region over the last six months. Our expansion is driven by client service, and our objective isnt to be the biggest firm; rather, our focus is about our commitment to building one firm where clients are afforded best-in-class tax and legal services in a seamless fashion across the globe, Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO Mark Vorsatz said. Our organization is dedicated not only to our clients, but also to investing in our people and the next generation. We all share the same values and vision regardless of borders and it is only fitting that this is also reflected in our common name. The organizations journey began in 2002, when 23 former Arthur Andersen partners created the tax-only firm WTAS. In 2014, the U.S. member firm proceeded to adopt the brand Andersen Tax, and most recently transitioned to the Andersen brand in 2019. The global organization has grown exponentially since the establishment of Andersen Global (formerly WTAS Global) by founding U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC in 2013. After launching its global platform in Europe, Andersen Global debuted in Latin America in 2015. The region has since expanded to more than 34 locations, 1,000 tax and legal professionals, and 90 partners today. Leonardo Mesquita, Regional Managing Director for Latin America added, Our organizations foundation is based on our common vision to remain independent and provide seamless, synergistic services to our clients globally. Were eager to have a brand that reflects what we already know we are one firm. Over the course of the next year, member firms globally will continue to adopt the Andersen brand, while Andersen Global will continue its expansion efforts in critical markets, including the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 6,000 professionals worldwide and presence in over 191 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200825005347/en/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with the new commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Major General Hryhoriy Halahan. Zelensky signed a decree to appoint Halahan on August 25, dismissing Ihor Luniov from the position by another decree, the Ukrainian presidential press service said in a statement on Tuesday. Zelensky said that the tasks assigned to Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) changed in the period of truce, which is continuing in Donbas. "There will be more provocations from pro-Russian militants and therefore, the JFO commandment and personnel should be working more so as to prevent them from happening," Zelensky's press service quoted him as saying at the meeting with Halahan. Some more aggressive measures need to be introduced in counteracting new challenges, and there is the need to adequately react to the adversary's provocative actions, Zelensky said. Zelensky also drew attention to the need to introduce more aggressive measures to counter the challenges that arise, to adequately respond to provocative actions by the enemy. Among the measures that the new commander still has to take, Zelensky called the continuation of the development of all components of the Special Operations Forces. Halahan assured the president of the high-quality fulfillment of the assigned tasks in various conditions, the continuation of work aimed at the development of the naval and aviation components of the Special Operations Forces. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has reportedly seized local crypto exchange Coinbit for allegedly inflating trading volumes. South Korea's oldest newspaper, the Seoul Shinmun, reported the news on Wednesday, saying that Coinbit's offices have been raided for the alleged fraud. The exchange is accused of using multiple "ghost accounts" to inflate trading volumes. About 99% of Coinbit's trading volume is said to have been manipulated in recent months, which resulted in "unfair profits" of at least 100 billion won (about $84 million) for the exchange and its team. Coinbit's accounting practices are also poor, per the report. Coinbit has now reportedly halted operations amid an ongoing investigation by the police. In light of the Coinbit situation, Doo Wan Nam, MakerDAO's business development associate in the Asia-Pacific region, suggested users to trade via decentralized exchanges. South Korean crypto exchanges and firms are set to face stricter rules from next year as the country recently amended a law that will officially bring cryptocurrencies under its legal system. 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. A Winnipeg hospital executive, criticized for failing to self-isolate after arriving in the city from her Montreal home earlier this month, is now in quarantine and plans to spend more time in the Manitoba capital. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg hospital executive, criticized for failing to self-isolate after arriving in the city from her Montreal home earlier this month, is now in quarantine and plans to spend more time in the Manitoba capital. St. Boniface Hospital confirmed Wednesday that its president and CEO, Martine Bouchard, has been self-isolating in Winnipeg since Aug. 17. She was the subject of sharp criticism when it was learned that she had returned to the hospital Aug. 10, after an absence of more than three months, without self-isolating. She had been doing her job from Montreal, which has been hard hit by COVID-19. Persons travelling to Manitoba from eastern Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days. Micheline St-Hilaire, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said Bouchard has been "working virtually" from her home in Winnipeg and plans to spend more time in the city. Since she was hired in April 2018, she's commuted to her home in Montreal most weekends. "Regarding future travel, her intent is to make every effort to extend her stays in Winnipeg, as often as possible, especially as she and our Executive continue to monitor and respond to the unfolding pandemic," St-Hilaire said in an email Wednesday to the Free Press. While frontline health care workers and other essential workers are exempt from self-isolation upon return from COVID-19 hotspots, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has said hospital executives "are not automatically exempted," while the province's chief public health officer says there are no exceptions to the rules for any individual. Bouchard's decision to return to her hospital office earlier this month without self-isolating caused a furore. A former head of the Public Health Agency of Canada, commenting on the situation, said it could be "a career-limiting move." Bouchard's decision not to plant down roots in Winnipeg after taking on the big hospital administration job had already ruffled feathers in Manitoba. In 2019, she was paid $283,481. On Wednesday, both the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Health Minister Cameron Friesen declined to comment on Bouchard's decision to self-isolate and to travel less frequently to her Montreal home. After Bouchard returned to the hospital on Aug. 10 without self-isolating, the WRHA said that she was "adhering to all physical distancing and infection prevention and control precautions, including wearing a mask." It noted that while her contract allowed her to travel to her home in Eastern Canada on a weekly basis, Bouchard would "determine her travel frequency based on the situation here and at home." Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, said in a statement Wednesday that it is "encouraging" that the CEO of the province's second largest hospital has been self-isolating in Winnipeg and plans to spend more time here going forward. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Nurses expect health officials to lead by example and follow the same rules they prescribe to Manitobans," Jackson said. "Although we appreciate the challenges with remote work, we all have to make adjustments to our routines in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In this instance, it is advisable to minimize travel as much as possible, and follow all public health protocols, including the two week self-isolation policy when arriving from non-exempt jurisdictions such as Quebec." Neil McArthur, head of the philosophy department at the University of Manitoba and formerly the director of the university's Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, said he's glad to see that Bouchard "has decided she is not exempt from public health regulations." "It would be nice to see an explicit affirmation from (health officials) that they will require all employees to abide under all circumstances with the governments public health orders," McArthur said. "This should never have been considered a matter of individual discretion in the first place." Meanwhile, in a late-day statement sent through her hospital's communications department, Bouchard did not admit to breaking any rules earlier in the month when she arrived in Manitoba and went directly to her office. "As President & CEO of St. Boniface Hospital, I am firmly committed to the patients and staff at St. Boniface Hospital and I feel it is paramount to go the extra mile beyond public health advice I received related to self-isolation," she said. "This decision is an important one as we prepare for what may come next during the COVID-19 pandemic." larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Shocking footage has captured the moment an Uber passenger demanded to be let out of the car because his driver was Jewish. The passenger on Tuesday filmed himself ordering the driver to pull over at the side of the road after finding out his religion mid-way through a ride in Melbourne. 'So you're Jewish?' the passenger asked the driver from the backseat before waiting a few seconds to unleash the racist rant. 'Just stop here - please just stop here on the left,' he said. 'I don't like Jews. I'm not going to ride with a Jew.' The driver seemed remarkably unfazed by the comments, agreeing to stop the car and telling the man to 'enjoy himself'. 'F***ing scumbag,' the man responded. 'See you later you scumbag. F***ing Jewish dog. Get out of here man.' As the driver pulled away, the passenger continue to abuse him further. 'I'd rather walk - f***ing dog,' he said. The driver has since reported the incident to the Anti-Defamation Commission - which said in a statement he would file a complaint with Victoria Police on Wednesday. 'The incident was reported to Uber headquarters immediately after the passenger left,' ADC chairman Dvir Abramovich said in a statement. An Uber passenger has demanded to be let out of the car because his driver was Jewish 'An explosive outburst such as this one not only traumatises the victim but deeply scars the entire community and leave them scared and vulnerable. 'Australians of all faiths should feel secure, without the fear of being targeted for vilification and abuse because of their appearance or religion.' Social media users jumped to the driver's defence and praised him for dealing with the abuse so calmly after footage of the abuse was uploaded to social media. 'That Uber driver handled it amazingly. Respect,' one person wrote. Social media users jumped to the driver's defence and praised him for dealing with the abuse so calmly 'That wasn't nice. Doesn't matter what skin colour, religion or country you're from,' another added. 'At the end of the day we all bleed the same.' Uber said in a statement 'there was no place for racism' on its platform. 'Discriminatory or abusive behaviour is a clear breach of Ubers Community Guidelines,' a spokeswoman for the ride-sharing service said. 'We would encourage any driver, or rider, who experiences this kind of appalling behaviour to report it to us so we look into the matter and take appropriate action.' New Delhi, Aug 26 : Home-grown regional language social media app ShareChat on Wednesday said it has entered into an agreement with T-Series to license its music catalogue on the platforms. The collaboration aims to provide an enhanced experience on ShareChat and short video platform Moj, a TikTok rival. "Music brings out the best of emotions and nostalgia to our users as they share their creativity on our platform," Berges Malu, Director - ShareChat, said in a statement. With this agreement, users on ShareChat and Moj would now be able to explore hundreds and thousands of songs from the T-Series music library, and add to their own videos. "We are delighted to partner with ShareChat, and this association sets a fresh beginning between us and the social media platforms," said Bhushan Kumar, Managing Director, T-Series. ShareChat which has has over 130 million monthly active users, and available across 15 Indic languages. Earlier this week, ShareChat announced it has acquired Circle Internet, a hyperlocal information platform, for an undisclosed sum. There were reports earlier this month that Microsoft is all set to invest about $100 million in the home-grown regional language social media app. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text COASTAL TEXAS Seventeen-year-old Anna Cao and her mom began packing up pictures and clothes in their Oak Island home Tuesday morning. Watching Hurricane Laura updates worried them; Hurricane Ike in 2008 reduced their previous home here to rubble. By the time Chambers County officials issued a mandatory evacuation for theirs and other low-lying areas later that day, they were relieved for the chance to say to Caos dad, a fisherman: We have to go. Im glad were evacuating, said Cao, standing in the driveway in front of their new home while her sister hauled out blankets. Im pretty sure the house is going to get blown away again. All along the southeast Texas coastline Tuesday as Hurricane Laura neared, people wrestled with the same decision of whether to stay or go. But in at least five east Texas counties under mandatory evacuations, plus portions of two more, many settled on go. AREA CLOSURES: Stay on top of what's open and what's closed in our database From Galveston, south of Houston, to Orange on the Louisiana border, people Tuesday hurried to make final preparations and get out of town. They shut their businesses or left work early. They picked up around their homes and packed. They gassed up or boarded government-sponsored buses that joined the traffic headed elsewhere. Fred Collins, 61, hung plywood over the windows of the Donut Palace in Orange, then intended to high-tail it to Dallas. They said Leave, Collins said. so Im leaving. Store-owner Maggie Mao was leaving too unnerved by the eerie sense of a storm bearing down and planning to head to Houston. Last time we got the end part of it, Mao said of the last strong storm, Imelda, that routed the east Texas Gulf coast in 2019. But now, this time, who knows? Better to leave. Now Playing: Galveston Island Humane Society needed to evacuate their pets with the threat of a hurricane hitting the Texas Coast. They asked for help from the Houston SPCA who aided in the evacuation and load pets onto a Wings of Rescue plane to the Dallas / Forth Worth region Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Houston. The flight carried 57-cats, 20 dogs, 3-rabbits and a 3-legged tripawd mouse. Video: Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle For many in these areas, concern centered on what may be Hurricane Lauras Category-3 strength winds and a significant storm surge. Officials issuing mandatory evacuations in place Tuesday in Orange, Jefferson, Hardin, Newton and Jasper counties stressed it meant that those who stayed did so at their own risk. Were giving you the best information that we have, said Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, who issued a mandatory evacuation for Bolivar Peninsula. You are most likely going to be cut off, you are most likely going to lose power, you are most likely going to be very uncomfortable hopefully thats as bad as it gets. Voluntary evacuations were also issued throughout the region, including in Harris County communities of Deer Park, Friendswood and League City. All of us need to be prepared for the very real potential of a direct hit from this storm, County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. In a storm-weary region where residents have experienced the gamut of hurricanes, from catastrophic hits to sigh-of-relief misses, many needed no more encouragement to get out than memories of Hurricane Ike, which tore through homes in Bolivar and Chambers County with winds and surge like those discussed now with Laura. Others felt even more motivation to leave because they had children or struggled to get around themselves or just plain didnt want to deal with it. Sharon Johnson, 66, didnt want to leave Orange but felt she couldnt risk staying because she cannot drive and requires a walker most of the time. Ive got no one to check on me, Johnson said, hugging a large shopping bag of belongings she grabbed to take with her. Its just not safe for me to stay. For Ethel Henderson, who waited to board a bus in the city of Galveston and remembered sharing a home with 25 others because of Ike, it was more straightforward. I aint playing with this, she said. At Broadway Discount Furniture, where Gabriel Medellin and two friends filled bags with sand and stacked them at the stores entrance, a faded water line served as a reminder of the storm that left dozens dead and caused billions in damage. Were in a low level in Galveston, anything can just come over the seawall and just knock us out of place, said Medellin, who grew up there and delivers furniture for the store. Its all about just being prepared and everyone working together, being civilized about it and working together to get us out of here. In Oak Island, where homes are now rebuilt high up on stilts, 57-year-old Billie Jean Hisler recalled returning after Hurricane Ike to find the home where she grew up destroyed and the area littered with debris. She could still remember the smell of decay. She left then and on Tuesday she found herself resigned to packing up again. But she wasnt leaving just yet, she said. Ive got a lot to do before I leave, she said. Kaitlin Bain and Zach Despart contributed reporting Press Release 26 August 2020 MUMBAI, Ginger Hotels announces the signing of three new hotels -two in Chennai and one in Patna -designed around the brand's lean luxe philosophy of offering a vibrant, contemporary and seamless hospitality experience to its guests. The two Chennai properties will take the total number of Ginger hotels in the city to five, while the Patna property will be the brand's second hotel in the city. Advertisements Commenting on the signings, Ms. Deepika Rao, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Ginger Hotels said, "Ginger Hotels recorded unprecedented growth in FY 2019-2020 with the addition of 1,250 rooms to its portfolio across India - the highest any single brand in the country has signed in the year. These three new signings carry this momentum further." The 99-room Ginger located in Sirusari, Chennai is a management contract with M/s KVSN Properties Pvt. Ltd. Ginger Pallavaram, Chennai, which will feature 108 rooms, is a management contract with Ravin Hotels Pvt. Ltd. Ginger Bailey Road, Patna with 95 rooms, is strategically located, connecting Danapur and Patna city. This hotel will be a fully fitted lease agreement with PSVS Enterprises LLP. As state capitals, Chennai and Patna are both high demand markets. With the addition of these hotels in different micro-markets, the Ginger brand deepens its market penetration in cities that are important commercial hubs of India. Two European patients are confirmed to have been re-infected with the coronavirus, raising concerns about people's immunity to the virus as the world struggles to tame the pandemic. The cases, in Belgium and the Netherlands, follow a report this week by researchers in Hong Kong about a man there who had been re-infected with a different strain of the virus four and a half months after being declared recovered - the first such re-infection to be documented. That has fuelled fears about the effectiveness of potential vaccines against the virus, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, though experts say there would need to be many more cases of re-infection for these to be justified. Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst said the Belgian case was a woman who had contracted COVID-19 for the first time in March and then again with a different coronavirus strain in June. Further cases of re-infection were likely to surface, he said. Van Ranst told Reuters TV the woman in her 50s had very few antibodies after the first infection, although they might have limited the sickness. Re-infection cases were probably limited exceptions, he said, although it was too soon to tell and many were likely to surface in coming weeks. 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 He added that the new coronavirus appeared more stable than the influenza virus, but it was changing. "Viruses mutate and that means that a potential vaccine is not going to be a vaccine that will last forever, for 10 years, probably not even five years. Just as for flu, this will have to be redesigned quite regularly," he said. Van Ranst, who sits on some Belgian COVID-19 committees, said vaccine designers would not be surprised. "We would have loved the virus to be more stable than it is, but you can't force nature," he said. GENETIC TESTING The National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands said it had also observed a Dutch case of re-infection. Virologist Marion Koopmans was quoted by Dutch broadcaster NOS as saying the patient was an older person with a weakened immune system. She said cases where people had been sick with the virus a long time and it then flared up again were better known. But a true re-infection, as in the Dutch, Belgian and Hong Kong cases, required genetic testing of the virus in both the first and second infection to see whether the two instances of the virus differed slightly. Van Ranst said such testing showed the Belgian patient had caught different strains of the virus. WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a UN briefing in Geneva regarding the Hong Kong case that, while anecdotal reports of re-infections had surfaced now and then, it was important to have clear documentation. Some experts say it is likely that such cases are starting to emerge because of greater testing worldwide, rather than because the virus may be spreading differently. Still, Dr David Strain, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Exeter and chair of the British Medical Association's medical academic staff committee, said the cases were worrying for several reasons. "The first is that it suggests that previous infection is not protective," he said. "The second is that it raises the possibility that vaccinations may not provide the hope that we have been waiting for." ALBANY The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday requested COVID-19 data from the Democratic governors of four states, including New York, that the agency said had issued orders "which may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents." The Justice Department's request identified New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan as states which "required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients to their vulnerable populations, often without adequate testing." At least 12 other states issued similar orders, with many governors contending they were following guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department will review the records as it determines whether to initiate investigations under the federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which the department said protects the civil rights of persons in state-run nursing homes. Nearly all of New York's nursing homes are privately operated but regulated by the state. The controversial March 25 order issued by the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, which was later rescinded, required that "no resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to (a nursing home) solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. [Nursing homes] are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission." Cuomo has characterized the calls for an independent investigation of the state's nursing home crisis as "political." He also has cited a report compiled by the state Health Department that determined the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes was largely due to infected staff members bringing it there, not residents who were being returned from hospitals while still positive for the virus. The governor's administration has also noted that the state directed that any nursing home facilities that could not safely handle those patients should not have that person resume residency while positive for the virus. Still, critics have said the order resulted in nursing home residents spreading the virus to other residents, including on wings where multiple people were subsequently infected. The Justice Department's announcement came the same day that Cuomo blasted the CDC for changing its guidance on COVID-19, including no longer recommending that someone be tested for coronavirus if they may have been exposed unless the test is recommended by a health official or doctor. Protecting the rights of some of societys most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our countrys most important obligations, said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband. We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Cuomo and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a joint statement Wednesday afternoon calling the federal examination "nothing more than a transparent politicization of the Department of Justice in the middle of the Republican National Convention." "Its no coincidence the moment the Trump administration is caught weakening the CDCs COVID-19 testing guidelines to artificially lower the number of positive cases, they launched this nakedly partisan deflection," the statement reads. "At least 14 states including Kentucky, Utah and Arizona have issued similar nursing guidance all based on federal guidelines and yet the four states listed in the DOJs request have a Democratic governor. DOJ should send a letter to CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and CDC since the states advisories were modeled after their guidance. The Justice Department's news release announcing the review noted that New York has had the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the United State 32,592 victims with the death rate by population the second highest in the country 1,680 deaths per million people. New Jerseys death rate by population is 1,733 deaths per million people the highest in the nation, the agency said. The release also provided information on two states that were criticized for reopening too soon and as a new wave of COVID-19 cases emerged, Texas and Florida. In those states, according to the CDC's data, the death rate by population in Texas is 380 deaths per million people and Floridas COVID-19 death rate is 480 deaths per million people although it has a higher population than New York. On March 3, the Justice Department established the National Nursing Home Initiative, which the department said would be a "comprehensive effort by the department, led by the Elder Justice Initiative and in strong partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that uses every available tool to pursue nursing homes that provide substandard care to their residents." The construction watchdog has filed a court claim against the CFMMEU arguing one of its delegates stopped work on an $11 billion project because he thought a first aid bed was too high. A court filing from the Australian Building and Construction Commission alleges the delegate, Steven Parker, told workers not to work for three hours in July last year because "the bed in the first aid room was too high, asserting (wrongly) that the bed was not compliant with Australian Standards." Construction stopped at the Metro Tunnel project in central Melbourne for three hours last year, the ABBC says. Credit:Joe Armao WorkSafe Victoria confirmed the bed did not pose a health and safety risk when its inspectors arrived at the City Square Metro Tunnel site in Melbourne after the three-hour stoppage on the morning of July 11 last year, the ABCC alleges. The stoush is one of several legal claims the ABCC has running against the CFMMEU and comes as an industry fund backed by the union begins a new lobbying push, arguing another piece of the Morrison government's industrial agenda will stop it giving COVID tests to construction workers. A Chinese coastguard ship sails along the area of a joint search and rescue exercise between Philippine and US coastguards near Scarborough shoal in the South China Sea on May 14, 2019. (TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images) US Sanctions Chinese Companies, Individuals Involved in Militarizing South China Sea The United States on Aug. 26 took action against 24 Chinese state-owned companies, as well individuals involved in Beijings military aggression in the disputed South China Sea, as the Trump administration escalates its responses to threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. The Commerce Department said in a statement that it added two dozen Chinese companies to a trade blacklist for helping the Chinese military construct and militarize the internationally condemned artificial islands in the South China Sea. The designation prohibits American firms from doing business with these companies unless they obtain a special license. The State Department also announced it will impose visa restrictions on Chinese citizens responsible for, or complicit in building or militarizing these artificial islands or Beijings use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources. The individuals will be denied entry into the United States, it stated, adding that this may also apply to the individuals family members. The actions come a month after the United States formally rejected Beijings unlawful territorial claims in the South China Sea and condemned its campaign of bullying in the region. The Trump administration has also imposed sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials, citing their participation in rights abuses in the regions of Xinjiang and Hong Kong, respectively. Beijing has territorial claims over most of the waterways covering the South China Sea, which were ruled as unlawful in a 2016 decision by an international tribunal. Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have competing claims in the waterways. Home to rich fishing grounds and potentially valuable natural resources, the South China Sea is also one of the worlds major shipping routes. The regime has in recent years sought to bolster its claims in the strategic waterway by building military outposts on artificial islands and reefs. In addition, it has deployed coast guard ships and Chinese fishing boats to intimidate foreign vessels, block access to waterways, and seize shoals and reefs. This week, Beijing began six days of military drills in waters near the Paracel Islands, where Vietnam has competing claimsthe second set of exercises in the area by Beijing in two months. The regime launched two medium-range missiles into the South China Sea on Aug. 26, the South China Morning Post reported. The move came a day after Beijing protested a flyover by a U.S. spy plane during a Chinese live-fire naval drill in the Bohai Sea off the countrys north coast. Beijing used state-owned companies to dredge and construct more than 3,000 acres of artificial features in the South China Sea, which include air defense and anti-ship missile installations, the Commerce Department stated. Among the companies added on the Commerce Departments entity list are five subsidiaries of Chinese state-owned construction giant China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that CCCC has led the dredging of outposts, and is also one of the lead contractors used by Beijing in its Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure investment project aimed to expand the regimes influence worldwide. Washington has criticized the project as a debt trap for developing countries that may be saddled with heavy debt burdens they cant repay. CCCC and its subsidiaries have engaged in corruption, predatory financing, environmental destruction, and other abuses across the world, Pompeo said. The PRC [Peoples Republic of China] must not be allowed to use CCCC and other state-owned enterprises as weapons to impose an expansionist agenda. A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the number of CCCC subsidiaries that were placed on the entity list. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Zapata County has recorded two more deaths along with more than 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the last week, officials said. Those who died were a man in his 80s and another man in his 70s, according to County Judge Joe Rathmell. He added that the individuals health provider verified the passing. Christopher Nolan is one of our last true visionaries. Its a term thats been diluted in recent years, with movie trailers heralding the alleged visions of any two-bit Russo Brother. Nolan, however, is of a different sort. With even Martin Scorsese struggling to get his expensive epics financed and something like Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood considered a risky venture for a skittish studio system, Nolan is a veritable last man standing. Thanks to his Batman trilogy, and the continued success of Inception which turned 10 last month and Dunkirk, hes able to get big, original and vaguely subversive extravaganzas green-lit on his name alone, his budgets remaining sky high. Its also why Tenet, his new time-bending head-spinner, has become such an important movie for the coronavirus era. It now exists almost as a litmus test a film that is potentially the salvation not just of cinemas but cinema as a lucrative medium. If people are too frightened to show up for it, what hope is there for anything else? It has finally been released in some countries, having already been delayed twice, but many others will have to wait a while (find our verdict on the film below). To celebrate its UK release, weve surveyed his back catalogue, ranking all 11 of his films from best to worst with the caveat that even the worst of the Nolan oeuvre is uniquely compelling in one way or another. 11. Following (1998) Its doubtful that Following was many peoples introduction to Nolan, but its the film where it all began. On display in his black-and-white independent debut, about a young writer who finds himself dragged into a criminal underworld, is the tenacity and dedication that has gone on to shape his career it even hides a Batman logo in plain sight. Yet it feels like a film he would baulk at making today: the shoestring budget (6,000) and minimal use of professional equipment is worlds away from The Dark Knights Batpod sequence or the rotating corridor of Inception. JS 10. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Nolan reportedly had to be strong-armed into finishing his Dark Knight trilogy, unsure that he could successfully follow up its immediate predecessor. That uncertainty is visible on screen. This is a decent closer, with a number of strong elements (its arguably the best-looking Batman movie, while franchise newbies Anne Hathaway and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are brilliant), but its also a bloated jumble of ideas and extraneous plot detours. The Occupy Wall Street-inspired narrative never hangs together, while Nolan deserves some kind of medal for being the only director to coax a bad performance out of Marion Cotillard. AW 9. Insomnia (2002) Insomnia is the Christopher Nolan movie that doesnt look, feel or sound like a Christopher Nolan movie. Mirroring David Lynchs regretful adaptation of Dune, Insomnia found Nolan embodying the role of a fresh indie-film wunderkind wooed by a major studio and an enormous budget even if the film he was tasked with directing wasnt particularly in his wheelhouse. Unlike Dune, Insomnia isnt a disaster, just a little forgettable. Al Pacino and Robin Williams, as an LAPD detective and his murder suspect, are marvellous, and the film itself has atmosphere for days, but its otherwise a bit of an ill-fitting suit. AW 8. Dunkirk (2017) Dunkirk is unlike any other war film. Instead of simply showing the evacuation of Second World War troops from the French commune, Nolan concurrently tells the story from three perspectives land, air and sea that all play out across different lengths of time. You can feel the director right there with his actors as they run for cover, dogfight and escape sinking warships in scenes with little-to-no dialogue. Look beyond the impressive bravado, too, and there are small horrors to unearth. A scene in which the young British privates silently watch as a fellow soldier walks out to sea is easily Nolans most chilling moment. JS 7. Tenet (2020) Before Tenet was released, Christopher Nolan, in typical Nolan style, said the film was not about time travel but time inversion. Quite what that means might remain a mystery to those hoping to dip their toe in a frothy summer blockbuster. For Nolan fans, though, its their introduction to what is evidently the directors most complex film to date. Nolan is interested in grand ideas, and with Tenet, he somehow weaves them into a head-spinning thriller thats surprisingly taut for its 150 minutes. Its concept is so high that you might suffer from altitude sickness, but should you go along with it, youll be bowled over by the cleverness on display. JS Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up 6. The Prestige (2006) You dont really want to know the secret; you want to be fooled. So goes the gambit of The Prestige, Nolans riveting drama about rival magicians in the late 19th century that pits Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale on a fatal battle of one-upmanship. Its elusively told story, tied together by unforeseen twists and turns, make this a satisfyingly sturdy slice of cinema and the last of Nolans films to cost less than $100m (it cost just $40m). It scores points for David Bowies cameo as the fastidious Nikola Tesla, too. JS Christopher Nolan directs Christian Bale on the set of The Prestige (Rex/Shutterstock) (Francois Duhamel/Touchstone/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock) 5. Interstellar (2014) With Interstellar, Nolan somehow made a sci-fi spectacle featuring tidal waves the size of skyscrapers feel like an understated family drama. The film, following a space crews search for a new habitable planet, is anchored by a rapturous performance from Matthew McConaughey; if its not his best role, its one of them. Interstellar is blockbuster filmmaking at its most ambitious, and wears its influences on the sleeve of its spacesuit (2001: A Space Odyssey, The Right Stuff). JS 4. Batman Begins (2005) This was perhaps the first film to prove Nolans staying power. Hiring him to relaunch Batman in a fresh franchise was an inspired choice by Warner Bros, and one that reworked the blueprint for a new era of superhero films. The studios willingness to sit back and let this burgeoning talent place his imprint on Gotham City paved the way for a thrilling and sophisticated origin story. Batman Begins can be cruelly overlooked as mere set-up for what came next. In actuality, its just as good. Well, almost. JS 3. Memento (2000) Nolans directorial trajectory hasnt been one of enormous leaps, but of gently honing the same handful of ideas. Memento, his first proper movie after his low-budget debut Following, features many of the same tropes he would return to later on. This is a puzzle box of a film, one that plays with narrative and structure as an amnesiac Guy Pearce attempts to piece together his wifes murder. Smartly, it demands your attention but is never smug with its mystery, its structure inventive but never gimmicky. AW Guy Pearce in Christopher Nolans Memento (Rex) 2. Inception (2010) Inception is a masterpiece, but also the Nolan film that most overtly exposes his problem areas. Like many of his movies, women waft through Inception to deliver exposition or be pined over; theres also a noticeable chilliness that helps make his work more admirable than cosy. It also reflects his own disposition the upper-class Brit who doesnt like people sitting down on his sets and is resolutely, almost supernaturally humourless. Still (and the heavy lifting that still is doing depends on your own Nolan views), Inception is stunning. Its arguably the film Nolan was always building up to, one that steals elements from so much of his past work and properly runs riot with them. Theres his fascination with time, dreams and grief, the cinematic power of pure spectacle, and his child-like excitement over grown men flinging themselves through zero gravity. Everything coalesces here, from every one of composer Hans Zimmers dramatic Braaams to the teasing, gasping ambiguity of that final shot. AW 1. The Dark Knight (2008) So much of what made The Dark Knight a phenomenon wasnt related to The Dark Knight itself. There was the death of Heath Ledger; the cultural baggage surrounding The Joker as a character; the galvanising divisions between rich and poor in 2008s presidential election; and how the film seemed to reflect them back at us. In the years that followed, Ledgers dialogue became a meme; The Joker himself became a tool for exhausting actors to go method for Oscar attention; there were mass shootings and online harassment done in its name. Its easy to forget there was an actual movie there, too. But sit and actually watch the thing again, and youre likely to be floored anew. Building on Batman Begins, The Dark Knight grips with a powerful intensity, Nolan landing somewhere between Michael Mann and Frank Miller. So many of the films many imitators additionally seem to confuse its darkness for plodding angst. In truth, The Dark Knight is about chaos how fear can grip a populace, what happens when all hope seems to be lost, and how close we all are to the edge. It captured a cultural mood and offered an unsightly glimpse into the future. It may not be Nolans greatest bit of storytelling, some of its plot detours baggy, but its undeniably his most important film, along with one of the most ground-shaking films in recent memory. You cant really imagine modern cinema without it. AW "The official global announcement that Peru is joining the Johnson & Johnson vaccine project has secured a significant percentage of the doses for the country," he said in remarks to RPP radio and TV station. According to the government official, the fact that clinical trials are being conducted in Peru proves that the country is going to get the vaccines and they will come early next year. "I would like you to have the complete certainty that we are ensuring the number of vaccine doses that we need, so as to cover 70% of the population at first and up to 92% as the final goal," he explained. Mr. Lopez noted that in recent weeks the Executive Branch had highly developed negotiations at the bilateral level with both laboratories and governments. For more than a month, Johnson & Johnson has been evaluating potential venues for its trial, considering criteria such as the epidemiological profiles of countries, the conditions of their research infrastructure and the regulatory approval process. By engaging in coordination with the company , Peru complied with the established requirements, proving its commitment to contributing to a solution to the pandemic. (END) RGP/RMB/MVB Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Shoon Naing (Reuters) Yangon, Myanmar Wed, August 26, 2020 13:45 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c409cb42 2 SE Asia Myanmar,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Myanmar reported 70 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the Southeast Asian nation's biggest daily rise, amid a recent resurgence of the virus after weeks without confirmed domestic transmission. Myanmar's outbreaks has been relatively small compared with other countries in the region after it found its first case in March, with only six deaths and 574 infections reported so far. Health authorities say detected among recent infections was a mutation now being reported in Malaysia, which has been found in Europe, North America and parts of Asia, and is thought to be more infectious. The health ministry did not say where the 70 new cases were found. Most recent infections have been in Sittwe, the capital of conflict-torn Rakhine state, where authorities have imposed a lockdown, stay-at-home order and a curfew. Sittwe is also home to camps where about 100,000 Rohingya Muslims have been confined since an outbreak of violence in 2012. Rohingya are mostly denied citizenship and face strict curbs on freedom of movement and access to healthcare. Myanmar has curbed internet access in swathes of the region, citing security grounds, but humanitarian workers have urged authorities to restore high-speed internet access to ensure reliable information is available to help tackle rising infections. In a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Myanmar has since late March closed its borders to all but returning citizens, who are required to undergo quarantine. NGOs accuse the AIIB of not respecting its social and environmental pledges. In India and Bangladesh, entire communities have been forcibly relocated to build new infrastructures. The European Union calls for respect for international standards. Manila (AsiaNews) The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) violates human rights and does not respect the environment, this according to human rights groups meeting at a Manila-based NGO forum on Asian development banks China set up the AIIB in 2016 as an alternative to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, dominated by the United States and Japan. The brainchild of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the development bank, which has 103-member, is designed to promote his Belt and Road Initiative, the large investment plan that seeks to revive the ancient Silk Roads between China and Europe, and make Beijing the hub of world trade. Opposed by the US, the AIIB has so far approved almost US billion in loans in about 20 countries. However, some 25 case studies indicate that the Beijing-headquartered bank has not lived up to its pledge of funding only socially and environmentally sustainable projects. Several AIIB-funded projects have led to the forced removal of entire communities, with hundreds of people losing their livelihoods. In some cases, people received little or no compensation, after they were forced off their land to build a road in India and a power plant in Bangladesh. In one case last June, 103 families in Bengaluru (Karnataka, India) were moved into makeshift accommodations because of the construction of the local metro rail. This was done after many residents had lost their jobs because of the coronavirus outbreak. AIIB-funded projects have also damaged the environment. In the case of the Bhola power plant in southern Bangladesh, construction caused flooding in the surrounding area, and resulted in the death of two workers. Accusations from environmentalists and human rights groups are nothing new for AIIB, and they are not alone. The European Union has on several occasions expressed doubts about its actions, this despite the fact that some of its members have joined the institution. To make this point, at a hearing of the European Parliament in May 2019, the EU European Commissioner for the Economy Pierre Moscovici said that the AIIB should comply with internationally-recognised financial, social and environmental standards. Turkey will take ''what is ours'' in the Aegean, Black and Mediterranean seas, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. He went on to warn Greece to avoid mistakes that would lead to ruin. The newspaper Sabah quoted Erdogan as saying that the country does not intend to take territory, sovereignty or the interests of others for itself but that it will not compromise on what is Turkey's. Myriad studies show New Mexico has an internet connectivity problem the only real debate is how to finally fix it. U.S. Census Bureau data released two years ago determined 73.7% of New Mexico households had broadband connections, just ahead of Arkansas and Mississippi. BroadbandNow ranks New Mexico 49th, with only 66.5% of New Mexicans having access to wired broadband and rural parts of the state really suffering just 2.1% of Hidalgo County, 5.7% of Socorro County, 10.2% of Colfax County and 14.6% of Catron County residents had broadband coverage. And New Mexicos Legislative Finance Committee found this month that none of the states nine broadband goals of 2014 have been completely achieved despite the investment of hundreds of millions of public dollars. Lest anyone think this lack of logging on is simply depriving residents of trending TikTok and cat videos, the COVID-era has laid serious inequities bare. From remote learning to telemedicine, never has internet connectivity been more important, or more missed, than when it comes to providing basic services. Around 76,000 New Mexico students dont have internet service at home, according to the state Public Schools Facilities Authority. So Sen. Michael Padillas proposal to coordinate efforts to expand broadband internet service in New Mexico is a good idea, long overdue. But with just 2 million residents in our sparsely populated state, do we really need to grow government exponentially to do it? Padilla, D-Albuquerque, said last week he hopes to introduce a bill next year that would create a new state office the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion to coordinate broadband efforts that are now scattered across multiple state agencies. Padilla says he is weighing whether the new office should report to the governor or to the Cabinet secretary of information technology. How about simply consolidating efforts under the IT umbrella and following the LFC recommendations of: Beefing up IT staffing Coordinating all statewide and intergovernmental broadband policies and initiatives Defining unserved and underserved areas Identifying and coordinating sources of funding Navigating regulatory and permitting issues Focusing on getting the most cost-effective solutions, because the idea of wiring every home is simply not economically feasible Setting targets for broadband deployment and performance And reporting regularly on progress in meeting outcomes? And instead of funding a brand new government agency with any savings from bulk price agreements, federal funding and private investment, using that money to get more folks online with affordable plans? While were at it, how about requiring those IT folks to report back with our return on investment? LFC analysts say the state and federal governments have funded about $325 million in broadband projects in New Mexico over a recent four-year period, but its hard to track the money and ensure accountability. And that is more frustrating than watching your computer screen buffer for hours on end. Under Padillas proposal, the state could step in and fill middle mile and last mile connectivity gaps, providing access in communities desperate for economic development, helping schools and libraries get enough qualified administrators to improve and use their new broadband networks, and ensuring more households have internet access so they can log on to classes and doctor appointments. Yes, New Mexico has too many areas unserved or underserved by broadband internet. The question is what are they, and what is the most efficient way to extend connectivity to them be they native New Mexicans or future high-tech transplants? There are still a lot of questions. A comprehensive study showing the specific needs and the mechanisms to meet them would provide a road map for whomever leads the charge. But the senator is correct. This needs to be a priority with specific benchmarks and intensive oversight. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. As many as 50 Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses could be helped and up to 100 jobs preserved through a funding program announced Tuesday, according to the federal government. That $500,000 commitment and a second promise of $400,000 to help the Shaw Festival was announced by Melanie Joly, minister of economic development. Our tourism industry and the 1.8 million Canadians it employs have been hard hit by COVID-19 Joly, who is also the minister responsible for the FedDev Ontario program, said in a news release. This funding from FedDev Ontario will help Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Shaw Festival continue welcoming visitors, adapt to the new reality and keep supporting the regions visitor economy. Niagaras hard-hit tourism sector composed largely of workers in information, culture, recreation, accommodations and food sectors employed only 18,800 people in July, compared to 33,900 in July 2019, according to Statistics Canada. The $500,000 investment will allow the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake to provide local small- and medium-sized tourism businesses funding up to $20,000 to help them offset the costs of reopening during COVID-19. It is also expected to help them cover expenses incurred adapting their sites to provide better health protections during the pandemic. Joly said as many as 50 businesses could be helped through that funding. She also offered up to $400,000 to help the Shaw Festival stage outdoor performances and attract more visitors as Ontario continues to move through economic recovery during the pandemic. Lord Mayor Betty Disero said the federal funding will help to reduce the impacts of COVID-19, and in some cases act as a life preserver for local businesses, especially heading into the (tourism industrys) shoulder season. Shaw Festival executive director Tim Jennings said the theatre would use these funds to provide free and low-cost outdoor performance activities and purchase equipment to ensure the safest possible experience for everyone. Due to COVID-19, Shaw cancelled most of its 2020 season, though it hopes some productions scheduled for after Sept. 15 Charleys Aunt, Flush and A Christmas Carol might still be able to go ahead with fall and Christmas season dates. Normally, the Shaw attracts about 250,000 theatregoers annually. According to the federal government, roughly one-quarter of Niagara-on-the-Lakes working residents are employed in the tourism industry. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:25:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian police have foiled a smuggling of hundreds of kilograms of marijuana in West Sumatra province and nabbed two couriers of the illicit goods, a police officer said. The marijuana was put in seven sacks and transported aboard a truck which was stopped by the police personnel in Solok district, said Commissioner Ronaldo Maradona Siregar, chief of the anti-narcotic crime unit of the West Jakarta police. According to the police officer, the two persons were the truck driver and the driver's assistant, local media reported on Wednesday. The crackdown was carried out after the police developed the previous case, Siregar said. Earlier this month, the Indonesian National Counter-narcotic Agency or locally known as BNN foiled a smuggling of nearly a half ton of marijuana in an outskirt city of the country's capital of Jakarta. Indonesia has declared a war against drugs as the country has been in a drug emergency due to rampant drug abuses. Dozens of drug offenders had faced firing squad for illegally spreading illicit drugs in the country. Enditem According to reports about Unlock 4.0, the Centre is unlikely to allow the reopening of schools. Covid-19 has had a catastrophic effect on the education systems across the world. According to a United Nations (UN) report, the closure of schools has affected 94% of the worlds student population and up to 99% students in low and lower-middle-income countries. The pandemic has exacerbated the existing challenge for India of weak learning outcomes, especially in government and low-fee private schools. There is, however, some good news. To ensure learning continuity during the pandemic, many government school teachers have come up with innovative and low-cost ideas. In Jharkhand, a teacher has put up loudspeakers so that children can learn sitting outside their homes. In rural Sikkim, a teacher visits her students one by one and takes impromptu classes. In Karnataka, many teachers are using community and open spaces for teaching. In Chhattisgarh, they are using loudspeakers to teach English through Halbi, the tribal language. Government schools teachers who are often asked to do several non-teaching jobs and dont get adequate in-service training (leave alone online training) are censured for being ineffective and apathetic. But Covid-19 shows that some are just the opposite; they can innovate. The efforts of these teachers should be acknowledged and shared among their peer groups, innovative steps fine-tuned, formalised, and scaled-up as both responses to sudden disruptions and as an alternative to online learning till the digital divide is truly bridged. LONDON Burberry is ramping up its accessories strategy with its first bag campaign, spotlighting the brands new signature Pocket bag and a naked Bella Hadid. For the campaign, Riccardo Tisci, the labels chief creative officer, brought together some of his longest-standing collaborators, for what ended up being one of their last pre-lockdown projects. They include Hadid, who is appearing in a Burberry campaign for the second time; makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench; stylist Katy England, and photography duo Inez Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. The creative team produced a series of imagery inspired by the brands animal kingdom concept, featuring Hadid posing with the statue of a panther in a series of animal-like poses, wearing a catsuit or at times nothing other the crossbody bag in canvas and bright orange leather trims. The idea was to evoke a feline femininity and pay homage to Thomas Burberry, who was the first to introduce the animal kingdom concept by choosing an emblem of a knight on a horse as his brands logo. The bag is also a nod to the labels heritage, referencing an archival style discovered by Tisci and reworked by adding leather details and a large front pocket. A lot of my creative concepts come from discovering old house codes and then creating new ones. I have always loved going into the archives and that is where I found the inspiration for this Pocket bag, said Tisci, adding that he wanted to add a sense of modernity to the bag style and the animal kingdom concept, with this campaign. Animals have always been a creative obsession and signature of mine and it was so amazing to see Bella Hadid bring this to life as the panther. Burberry has also delivered targeted leather goods campaigns in mainland China and South Korea earlier this summer, helping sales bounce back in the regions. The campaign included an exclusive collaboration on the Pocket Bag with Chinese influencer Tao Liang, professionally known as Mr. Bags. The label is also planning its return to the runway this September, with an outdoors spring 2021 show to be held in London on Sept. 17 and livestreamed for all to watch. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. President Milo Djukanovic alleged that a media and political war is being waged against him and his Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) ahead of Sundays election, to put Montenegro under the umbrella of Belgrade and Moscow and prevent it from joining the European Union, the party quoted him as saying. Armed men abducted six, wounded others in Libya rally: Amnesty Libyans protested for a third consecutive day on Tuesday against poor public services in the capital Tripoli, before a unity government ordered a lockdown on Wednesday Armed men have abducted at least six peaceful protesters in Libya's capital and used live fire to disperse a demonstration wounding others, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. The protest was one of several that took place Sunday against poor public services and living conditions, with other rallies erupting in the country's third-largest city Misrata and Al-Zawyia west of the capital Tripoli. "At least six peaceful protesters were abducted and several others were wounded after armed men fired live ammunition including from heavy machine-guns to disperse a demonstration in Tripoli," Amnesty said in a statement. The London-based rights group said Sunday's attack took place in a district controlled by a militia aligned to Tripoli's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). It was carried out by "unidentified armed men wearing military-style camouflage clothes (who) opened fire," Amnesty said, citing video evidence, photos and witnesses. Witnesses said that no warning was given before the live rounds were fired and gave "stong indications" that the militia was responsible, the watchdog said. "Videos also show assailants using a heavy machine-gun mounted on a pick-up truck to fire live rounds into the air to disperse the protesters," Amnesty added. On Wednesday, GNA leader Fayez al-Sarraj chaired a security meeting that discussed "the clashes" in Tripoli and what triggered them. A statement by the GNA on Facebook added that the meeting underscored the need to "implement measures to ensure the safety of citizens". It also called for a probe into "violations" committed against the protesters, including anyone who sustained injuries, and ordered the release of those not involved in acts of "vandalism", it added. After the meeting, a separate GNA statement announced that Tripoli and its suburbs would be placed under total lockdown from 6:00pm (1600 GMT) Wednesday until 6:00am (0400 GMT) on Monday morning. Story continues It said the temporary lockdown was imposed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus and includes a travel ban between cities in GNA controlled areas - Calls for probe - Protests had also taken place on Monday and Tuesday in Tripoli. GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha described those responsible for Sunday's violence as "outlaws who infiltrated the security forces". And Sarraj on Monday tried to appease the demonstrators by pledging to carry out a cabinet reshuffle. Sarraj said he backed Libyans' "legitimate rights" to protest, but criticised the demonstrators, saying they had failed to secure necessary approvals to rally. On Monday, the UN mission in Libya, UNSMIL, called for an "immediate and thorough investigation into the excessive use of force by pro-GNA security personnel". Amnesty echoed the appeal, calling for a "thorough, impartial, independent and transparent investigation into the unjustified use of force against protesters". It said those responsible must be held accountable and the whereabouts of those abducted must be revealed. Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi. The country's main military fault-line is between forces that back the GNA and eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar, who runs a rival administration. The war-weary country is plagued by water shortages and power blackouts that snuff out air-conditioners in the searing summer heat. The situation has been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, which has depressed global oil prices and spread in the hydrocarbon-rich country despite social distancing measures. The protests began days after the country's warring rival administrations announced separately that they would cease all hostilities and hold nationwide elections. bur/gk/dwo/hkb Actor Rana Daggubati got married to Miheeka Bajaj on August 8 in an intimate affair in Hyderabad. The couple tied the knot at the Ramanaidu Studios in the presence of only 30 guests which included close friends and family members. Rana Daggubati and Miheeka Bajaj's wedding was indeed a special moment for their fans, as the actor made his marriage ceremony grand and memorable amid COVID-19 crisis. Now, after Rana and Miheeka's marriage, fans are wondering where the newly-wed couple will go for their Honeymoon. But stop wondering, the Baahubali star himself revealed his Honeymoon destination and it's the beautiful Amsterdam. For the unversed, Rana Daggubati will soon be appearing in Neha Dhupia's talk show, No Filter Neha Season 5. The actress recently shared a promo on her Twitter handle, in which the Tollywood star can be seen revealing his honeymoon location. Watch the video here: In the promo, Neha Dhupia asked Rana Daggubati about his plan for the honeymoon once the lockdown opens up. To which, Rana quickly said, "If there is no Coronavirus, I will be in Amsterdam." Rana also said that he loves art, hence, he would love to go to Amsterdam with wife Miheeka Bajaj. Well, it is indeed a great place to spend time with your love. Isn't it? Due to the restrictions on international travel, Rana and Miheeka can't go now for their honeymoon, and will have to wait longer until the situation gets better. Also Read : Rana Daggubati & Miheeka Bajaj's Candid Wedding Pictures Take The Internet By Storm On the professional front, Rana Daggubati will next be seen in trilingual film Aranya (Telugu), Kaadan (Tamil) and Haathi Mere Saathi (Hindi). Directed by Prabhu Solomon, the film also stars Pulkit Samrat, Vishnu Vishal, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Zoya Hussain in key roles. It has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Also Read : Rana Daggubati & Miheeka Bajaj Receive Sweet Surprise From Amul Post Wedding PHOENIX, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Easy Ice , the national leader in the full-service ice machine subscription industry, is pleased to welcome Zachary Craver as Branch Manager of its Orlando branch. With over 22 years in the ice machine and refrigeration industry, Craver brings a wealth of experience, technical expertise, and a reputation of integrity to his new role. Along with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, New York, Craver has been factory trained and certified by every top manufacturer in the ice machine industry, including Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, Scotsman, and Ice-O-Matic. He also received his HVAC-R Teaching Certificate and has taught at multiple local technical schools in Orange County, Florida. "Zack's 22 years of focused experience with ice machines makes him uniquely qualified to deliver the level of service excellence that Easy Ice customers expect.," said Easy Co-Founder, John Mahlmeister. "We've taken on a lot more paid service work for customers that own their ice machines, and with Zack we are in a great position to handle that explosive growth." The growth of the Orlando branch is the most recent development in a series of strategic growth initiatives within the Easy Ice organization. Over the past two years the company has expanded into various markets across the country, and in June announced a joint initiative with Hoshizaki America, Ice Makers by the Month. "Easy Ice is a national leader in this industry that understands the importance of providing the best possible service to their clients and I'm excited to join their rapidly growing company," Craver said. Since its founding in 2009, the Easy Ice has quickly grown its ice machines under management to 25,000 units across 47 states. Easy Ice's commercial ice machine subscription programs include installation, cleaning, preventive maintenance, repairs, backup ice and peak demand ice. For more information About Easy Ice and its services offered, please visit www.easyice.com. About Easy Ice Easy Ice, co-headquartered in Phoenix, AZ and Marquette, MI, is the national leader in the full-service ice machine subscription industry with warehouse and distribution facilities in Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City and Orlando. Since its founding in 2009, the Company has rapidly grown its ice machines under management to 25,000 units across 47 states. Easy Ice's commercial ice machine subscription programs include installation, cleaning, preventive maintenance, repairs, backup ice, and peak demand ice. The Company operates under three brands: Ice Masters in Kansas and Missouri; Automatic Icemakers in Chicago; and Easy Ice in all other cities and states. For more information, please visit www.easyice.com. SOURCE Easy Ice Related Links https://www.easyice.com The notoriously secretive tech firm founded by former Trump supporter Peter Thiel registered on Tuesday to list on Wall Street, as the company's CEO railed against Silicon Valley in a letter to his investors. Palantir Technologies works with governments, law enforcement agencies and the defense establishment to organize and analyze huge volumes of data. The technology can be used to disrupt terrorist networks or battle human trafficking. Most recently, it was used by the White House to track coronavirus infections. Last year, Palantir won Army contracts potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But the company has stirred controversy for upgrading Immigration and Customs Enforcement software used to track subjects for deportation. That led to on-campus campaigns to discourage recruitment and the picketing of CEO Alex Karp's home. Peter Thiel, 52, made his fortune with PayPal and then in 2003 founded Palantir Technologies Thiel, at Trump Tower in December 2016, was unusual among tech execs for his MAGA values The Wall Street listing had been expected for some time, but the registration documents for the public stock listing on the New York Stock Exchange provide one of the first comprehensive looks at the company's inner financial workings. Palantir, like Spotify and Slack before it, is opting for a direct listing route. A direct listing would allow the company's current shareholders, including investors and employees, to sell stock on the first day of trading, without the lockup period of an IPO. Unlike an IPO, however, the company would not issue new shares for the offering - but the method avoids the hefty fees charged by underwriters in an IPO. No capital will be raised through Palantir's listing. Palantir's prospectus reveals 2019 revenues of $742.6 million, up 25 per cent from the prior year, and net losses of $579.6 million. That loss has already shrunk to $167.6 million in the first half of 2020, the company said. As recently as April, the company expected to hit $1 billion in revenue this year, Bloomberg reported. Palantir Technologies, a software firm that aids government agencies, may hit $1bn in revenue The prospectus, obtained by Business Insider, paints a rosy prospect for the 17-year-old firm. 'The broader momentum of our business is the result of the strength of our software platforms and the need for software that works has never been greater,' the company say. The prospectus also reveals high compensation for Palantir's three executives. Co-founder and CEO Alexander Karp took home more than $12 million in salary and stock options last year, while President Steve Cohen and COO Shyam Sankar received roughly $16 million and $26 million, respectively. A special multi-class stock structure means that Palantir's founders will keep a tight grip on the firm, with at least 49.99999 per cent of the voting power so long as they maintain a certain level of ownership in the company. In July, Palantir confirmed it had confidentially filed the paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission to begin the listing process. The company also moved its headquarters from Palo Alto, California to Denver, Colorado ahead of the listing. CEO Alexander Karp took home more than $12 million in salary and stock options last year Palantir is leaving its Palo Alto HQ, pictured, and moving to Denver, Colorado Karp, in a letter accompanying Tuesday's filing, kicked Silicon Valley on his way out. 'Our company was founded in Silicon Valley, but we seem to share fewer and fewer of the technology sector's values and commitments,' he wrote. He accused the elites of Palo Alto of being out of touch with the real world, and of having warped priorities. 'The engineering elite of Silicon Valley may know more than most about building software. But they do not know more about how society should be organized or what justice requires,' he wrote. Karp said that many of Palantir's neighbors in the tech hub were skeptical about helping their government when asked for data, yet happy to sell the same data to advertisers. He said Palantir has 'repeatedly turned down opportunities to sell, collect, or mine data,' contrasting it with consumer companies 'built on advertising dollars.' 'Software projects with our nation's defense and intelligence agencies, whose missions are to keep us safe, have become controversial, while companies built on advertising dollars are commonplace,' he wrote. 'For many consumer internet companies, our thoughts and inclinations, behaviors and browsing habits, are the product for sale. 'The slogans and marketing of many of the Valley's largest technology firms attempt to obscure this simple fact.' Karp said Palantir no longer shared 'the technology sector's values and commitments' Cofounded in 2003 by Facebook board member Peter Thiel, Palantir has grown into one of the most valuable startups in the country, with $2.75 billion in venture capital raised and valuations as high as $20 billion. Karp, Thiel's Stanford Law School classmate, has served as chief executive since 2004. The company's clients include US government agencies like the FBI, CIA, and Department of Defense, as well as law enforcement agencies around the world. Many of those connections, including dealings with ICE, have come under intense scrutiny in recent years. Thiel, a venture capitalist who made his fortune as co-founder of PayPal, was one of the few tech leaders to publicly back Trump in 2016, donating $1.25million to his campaign and describing him as the man who could rebuild America during the Republican National Convention. Despite publicly stating in 2018 that he supports Trump's bid for another term in the White House, Thiel has remained largely silent throughout the current election cycle, without donating a single cent to the president's campaign. It's now emerged that Thiel has expressed concerns over Trump's re-election prospects in conversations with friends and associates at his oceanfront home in Hawaii in recent weeks. Sources told the Wall Street Journal that Thiel believes the US economy will likely be stuck in deep recession with double-digit unemployment when the election rolls around in November - one that would put any sitting president at a dire disadvantage to a challenger. Yet that has not detracted from Palantir's courting of government business. Those government contracts, along with commercial clients, make up a total addressable market of $119 billion, Palantir said. 'The challenges that we face, and the crises that we have and will continue to confront, expose the systemic weaknesses of the institutions on which we depend,' Palantir said. 'Our industrial infrastructure and manufacturing supply chains were conceived of and constructed in a different century. Government agencies have faltered in fulfilling their mandates and serving the public. Some institutions will struggle to survive. Others will collapse.' Palantir gets its name from J.R.R. Tollkien's Lord of the Rings saga. A palantir is a magical artifact in Middle-earth that is used for communication and to see events in the past and future. Pompeo had been dinged for addressing the convention at all, but this criticism has been overblown: Secretaries of state often contribute to presidential reelection politics. In any event, his short speech was hardly a full-throated political roar. He was in Jerusalem on a Middle East tour that, in addition to Israel, included Bahrain and Oman, the two Arab nations most likely to follow the United Arab Emirates in normalizing relations with the Jewish state. Any progress on that front or in drawing Saudi Arabia toward a symbolic handshake would be the biggest political gift Pompeo could deliver to the president. Renovation 26 August 2020 Auckland's most luxurious destination, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, will reopen in spring after an extensive makeover that embraces its French luxury and art-de-vivre heritage with contemporary elegance. Overlooking the shimmering Waitemata Harbour, the hotel is the preferred destination for high profile celebrities, politicians and guests since 2012. The hotel's makeover program is testament to its commitment to uncompromising service and elegance. The refurbishment of all facets of Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, including lobby, reception, bar, cafe, restaurant and Sofitel Spa; is currently underway. A streetscape cafe gives a nod to a French cafe in the heart of Lighter Quay; the perfect place to sit and watch the water and people with coffee or cocktail in hand. The new restaurant and bar is set to capture the mood; be it a celebration, engagement or a rendezvous. Popular with guests and locals, the new look Sofitel Spa is the perfect escape from a busy day for pampering and tranquillity. New to the hotel will be the addition of Sofitel's Club Millesime, comprising an elevated range of privileges, services and rituals for the discerning traveller, including a lounge retreat. Accor NZ Senior Vice President Operations Gillian Millar welcomes the enhancements and commitment to the property. Home Search ICH Thanks, Obama: You Lie By Paul Street Record-Setting Absurdity and Mendacity August 25, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The malignant fascist sociopath Donald Trump lies so voluminously and absurdly that many Americans will believe he said or Tweeted almost anything, no matter how offensive and ridiculous. Every few months for the last three years Ive been making up off-the-wall Trump statements and sending them out on so-called social media to see if people will take them as genuine. Many readers do indeed see them as bona fide Trump comments. Here a recent example, a spoof I put up on Mindfuck three days ago: Trump is tweeting that Joe Biden faked the death of Beau Biden for sympathy and that Beau is alive and working with the Chinese to spread a new coronavirus through the radical Left Marxist organization Black Lives Antifa. Trump says the Bull Durham Report will show the not-dead Chinese agent Beau Obiden to have been behind the Beirut explosion and the anarchist craziness in the Russian state of Belarus. Trump suggested also that Jill Biden was involved in 9/11, had an affair with John Lewis, and has been paying bounties to Mexican murderers for every border agent they kill. Numerous folks believed that Trump wrote what I made up. Who can blame them? Trump says and Tweets stuff nearly as ridiculous as this on a regular basis. He misstates reality 16 times a day. He says and Tweets that COVID-19 will magically disappear, that Joe Biden is a tool of the Radical Left, that socialist Kamala Harris cant legally be Vice President, that the world looks to the United States as the leader in the struggle with the coronavirus, that a beautiful wall is being built on the southern border (and paid for by Mexico), that children dont get COVID-19, andthe examples are endless. But heres the thing about Trumps epic mendacity: its transparent to most serious adults. Almost everyone knows that Trump lies and says crazy stuff. Hes the all-time Dear Leader of two plus two equals five. If Trump ever says that two plus two equals four, people check the multiplication tables to make sure its true. Trumps serial un- and anti-reality is disturbing, of course. It is a nonstop assault, aided and abetted by the corporate media (and that includes you, Joy Reid), on the citizenrys capacity to grasp objective truth. But also dangerous is the more elegantly stated and expertly cloaked serial deception conducted by the Inauthentic Opposition Party of Fake Resistance the dismal Democrats. Listen, for example, to this statement on Trump from Barack Obama in his much-ballyhooed online Democratic National Convention speech last Wednesday night: Im in Philadelphia, where our Constitution was drafted and signedThe 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. We should 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. What Democracy? Okay, so thats 319 sophisticated and stylishly delivered words containing no small measure of mendacious falsehood from the silver-tonged Harvard Law graduate and former president Barack Obama. Hes not wrong on the terribleness of the tangerine Antichrist, of course. Trump does have to go, one way or another. Still, the former constitutional law professor Obama knows damn well that the President of the United States is NOT elected by all the people. Thanks to the openly undemocratic Electoral College system, the winner of the national presidential popular vote has failed to win five U.S. presidential elections so far, including the last one. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter And to what democracy is Obama referring? The United States is a corporate and financial oligarchy. This is an open secret understood very well (in private) by the onetime record corporate fundraiser Obama. Even some conservative elites like the veteran federal jurist and economist Richard Posner concede this basic reality. As the distinguished liberal political scientists Benjamin Page (Northwestern) and Marin Gilens (Princeton) showed in their expertly researched book Democracy in America? (written and researched during the highly instructive years of Obamas Citigroup presidency): the best evidence indicates that the wishes of ordinary Americans actually have had little or no impact on the making of federal government policy. Wealthy individuals and organized interest groups especially business corporations have had much more political clout. When they are taken into account, it becomes apparent that the general public has been virtually powerlessThe will of majorities is often thwarted by the affluent and the well-organized, who block popular policy proposals and enact special favors for themselvesMajorities of Americans favorprograms to help provide jobs, increase wages, help the unemployed, provide universal medical insurance, ensure decent retirement pensions, and pay for such programs with progressive taxes. Most Americans also want to cut corporate welfare. Yet the wealthy, business groups, and structural gridlock have mostly blocked such new policies [and programs] (emphasis added). By Gilens and Pages findings, based on exhaustive inquiry into hundreds of bills and policies enacted and blocked since the 1980s, the basic same rule concentrated wealth wins, the populace loses holds regardless of which major party or party configuration holds or distributes nominal power in in Washington. The hope and change Obama administration, loaded with agents of high finance, was a case in point. It gave Americans a blunt object lesson on who really owns and runs the country, helping thereby to spark the Occupy Wall Street rebellion, which Obamas Department of Homeland Security helped crush (along with hundreds of Democratic city governments from coast to coast). Seven in the ten Americans currently support Medicare for All a desperately needed policy that the current pretend-progressive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden suggests he would veto if it came to his desk as president! Obama Hoped for Decency from a Fascist? Obama expected Trump to develop reverence for the [supposed] democracy that had been placed in his care? Really? We know from the documentary film Hillary that Obama said this about Trump to the corporate imperialist presidential candidate Hillary Clintons amazingly uninspiring and dismal centrist vice-presidential running Tim Kaine in October of 2016: Tim, this is no time to be a purist. Youve got to keep a fascist out of the White House. Read that again: youve got to keep a fascist out of the White House. That was an all-too accurate characterization of Donald Trump. Obama is a lot of nasty things, but stupid and ill-informed is not one of them. He had read enough history and political science, and had also personally experienced enough vicious racist, Birtherist, and nativist targeting by Trump, to know very well that the next president and most of his allies and backers had no respect for the rule of law, democracy, and the common good. Speaking to New Yorker editor David Remnick on a campaign trip to North Carolina four days before the election, Obama said Weve seen this coming. Donald Trump is not an outlier; he is a culmination, a logical conclusion of the [authoritarian and racist] rhetoric and tactics of the Republican Party for the past ten, fifteen, twenty yearsweve seen it for eight years, even with reasonable people like John Boehner, who, when push came to shove, wouldnt push back against these currents. But that was the private and candid Obama, someone rather different from public and dissembling Obama. The public Obama would never and can still not speak the truth that Trump is a fascist arch-authoritarian in line with far-right currents developing well before his ascendency to the worlds most powerful office. Heres some of what Obama told the American people the day after Trump was collegiately selected: Now, everybody is sad when their side loses an election. But the day after, we have to remember that were actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. Were not Democrats first. Were not Republicans first. We are Americans first. Were patriots first. We all want whats best for this country. Thats what I heard in Mr. Trumps remarks last night. Thats what I heard when I spoke to him directly. And I was heartened by that. Thats what the country needsa sense of unity; a sense of inclusion; a respect for our institutions, our way of life, rule of law; and a respect for each other. I hope that he maintains that spirit throughout this transition, and I certainly hope thats how his presidency has a chance to begin.A lot of our fellow Americans are exultant today. A lot of Americans are less so. But thats the nature of campaigns. Thats the nature of democracy. America[ns] First! Again, what democracy, Obama? Trump Doesnt Take the Presidency Seriously? Is the problem with Trump really that he doesnt take the presidency seriously? The Trump presidency, in line with Obamas unspoken presentiment of it as fascist, has been as serious as a heart attack. Trump and his shift cast of henchmen., including authoritarian white supremacists like the (newly indicted) Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, and Attorney General William Barr have waged an unrelenting top-down blitzkrieg-like assault on social justice, environmental sanity, the rule of law, civilized norms, human decency, constitutional principles, and whats left of democracy in the United States. Trump and his team have taken the awesome power of the imperial U.S. presidency quite seriously indeed, as one would expect arch-authoritarian white nationalists to do. Just watch how expertly these vicious bastards use the presidency to attack the normal operation of the bourgeois electoral process this late summer and fall. And Trumps [un]reality television show is part of the far-right operation. No Empathy Joe Which brings me to, well, yes, sleepy (not everything Trump says is wrong or a lie) Joe Biden, whose worrisome presence on the center stage of history in this precarious moment is owed to Obama no less than Sarah Palin owed her Trump-anticipating moment to John McCain. Last Wednesday night in Philadelphia, Obama tried to sell the fading, cognitively challenged 77-year old man he would like to make the nations oldest newly elected president as a shining model of human empathy with the ability to lead this country out of these dark times and build it back better. Less than two years ago, Mr. Empathy, corporate blue collar Joe Biden said that he had no empathy for Millennials struggle to get by in the savagely unequal and insecure precariat economy he helped create over his many years of abject service to the Lords of Capital. The younger generation now tells me how tough things aregive me a break, said Biden, while speaking to Patt Morrison of the Los Angeles Times two years ago. No, no, I have no empathy for it, give me a break. Read that a second time: No, no, I have no empathy for it, give me a break. So what if Millennials face a significant diminution of opportunity, wealth, income and security compared to the Baby Boomers with whom Biden identifies? Who cares if lunch bucket Joe helped shrink the American Dream for young people with the neoliberal policies and politics he advanced as a long time pro-corporate center-right imperialist U.S. Senator and Vice President? The Man to Lead Us Out of the Darkness? Obama is not being truthful when he says he thinks Biden is the man for the worlds most powerful job in its current moment of true crisis. A recent POLITICO report is titled The President Was Not Encouraging: What Obama Really Thought About Biden. It shows that President Obama and his top operatives viewed his doddering vice president as a slow-witted relic who was less-than-ready for prime time when the time came to choose his successor in 2015 and 2016 (and yes, we know how the Hillary pick worked out). Bidens long-winded, generally off-point interjections and stories were tolerated but not taken seriously by Obama and his top administration players. The Reason Im Here Not everything Trump says is complete horseshit. The reason Im here, Trump opines, is because of President Obama. Thats true on different levels. Obamas technically Black identity predictably helped spark an ugly white-supremacist reaction a racist backlash that was ironic given Obamas nasty habit of blaming Black folks for their disproportionate poverty and incarceration and Obamas failure to undertake any specific federal programs to tackle the nations stark racial disparities. At the same time, Obamas service to wealthy elites during his militantly neoliberal class-rule presidency helped feed mass cynicism about the effectiveness of voting and Americas supposed grand electoral democracy. It combined with the complimentary neoliberal awfulness of Hillary to help de-mobilize the Democratic Partys majority progressive base so that Trump was able to squeak by with help from racist and partisan voter suppression and the ridiculous, democracy-flunking, right-leaning Electoral College. Trump didnt win the 2016 election. The neoliberal Goldman Sachs and Pentagon Dems lost it. Thanks Obama. Ironically intensified by the awfulness of the Trumpenstein the Obama helped hatch, ObamaLust is a deadly and dysfunctional virus that works against popular resistance. Luckily the antidote is now available over-the-CounterPunch: Hollow Resistance: Obama, Trump, and the Politics of Appeasement. Paul Streets next book is The Passive Resistance: Obama, Trump, and Politics of Appeasement. It will be released later this summer. - " Source " - The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Post your comment below See also The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Search Information Clearing House === The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. UK military considering ditching tanks and armored vehicles Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 3:58 PM In an extraordinary development it is being reported that British military chiefs have drawn up plans to mothball Britain's entire tank and armored fighting vehicle fleets. According to the Times (August 25), the potential move is informed by a strategic shift in defense thinking with a desire to prioritize "other" military assets over heavy armor. This paradigmatic shift, as demonstrated by the willingness to completely give up on heavy armor in the battlefield, is part of the government's integrated foreign policy, defense and security review, which is set to be completed in November. The Times reports that the government is examining the "controversial idea" of ditching armor altogether as the cost of upgrading the UK's ageing fleet of 227 Challenger 2 tanks and 388 Warrior armored fighting vehicles has "soared". The Ministry of Defense is reportedly partial to the idea of heavier investment in cyber warfare, space and artificial intelligence capabilities at the expense of the ageing fleet of Challenger 2 tanks and Warrior armored fighting vehicles which have been branded as "obsolete". But the proposed paradigmatic shift in British defense planning has predictably divided the British defense and security community. Defending the radical overhaul, General Sir Richard Barrons, former commander of Joint Forces Command, told the Times: "The future is about manned/unmanned autonomous things [personnel remotely controlling or deploying unmanned equipment]". Barrons added that spending more money "on a small number of manned platforms", such as tanks and other armored vehicles, would put the UK "another generation behind". By contrast, critics of the plan argue that the UK will divest itself of geopolitical capital if it relinquishes heavy armor altogether. The Times quotes a "high-ranked defense source" as claiming: "We [UK] simply will not be viewed as a credible leading NATO nation if we cannot field close-combat capabilities". "It places us behind countries such as France, Germany, Poland and Hungary", the defense source added. Meanwhile, a former chief of the defense staff has warned that the armed forces must not be "eviscerated" as part of the government's scramble to recover from the financial fallout of the Covid-19 crisis. Speaking to the Times (August 25), Air Chief Marshal Lord Stirrup said the armed forces must not be seen as an "easy option" for government cuts in the context of the current economic crisis which has taken the national debt above 2 trillion for the first time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Even as opposition parties continue to allege the fire that gutted important files and furniture at the Kerala secretariat on Tuesday was deliberate, the state witnessed a series of protests on Wednesday over the incident as protestors clashed with police injuring many. While the opposition parties allege fire was deliberate attempt to destroy key evidences in the sensational gold smuggling case, the ruling party claim it was a mere accident. Even though the first information report (FIR) says many files were destroyed, but government and senior officers maintain that none of the important files were lost and the incident had nothing to do with the smuggling case. The general administration department (GAD), where the protocol office falls, said gutted files were related to government guest house bookings and ministers swearing-in details. However, nobody is willing to believe GAD secretary P Hanis claims. A section of the employees however allege that it was a well planned and executed fire and important files dealing with the exemption certificates in UAE consular office, tour itinerary and travel history of some controversial bureaucrats and ministers were destroyed. They say the room in which the fire originated was closed for last two days after one of the employees tested Covid-19 positive. They also allege that the secretariat has a small fire unit but it was not put into action, instead officials waited for reinforcement to arrive from outside. They also question suspicious movement of some government trade union leaders on the premises. According to the FIR, the fire started from a fan after overheating and its remains fell on curtains and later spread to an almirah where files were kept. The opposition also said that Chief Secretary Viswas Mehtas role in the incident was mysterious as he was in a hurry to drive out the media and politicians from the scene. When asked about the incident, Mehta refused to comment saying investigation was on. The government also plans to book BJP state president K Surendran, who was among the first to reach the spot, for breach of security. Two inquires are going on separately, one led by police and other by the disaster management secretary. Many IAS officers names also cropped up during the investigation. You dont need an in-depth inquiry to find out it was an orchestrated one. There are chances for more such manmade fires. We want the NIA to take custody of remaining important files, said N K Premachandran, RSP MP from Kollam. After meeting Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Tuesday UDF leaders sent another written submission seeking his intervention on Wednesday. Some officials say video clippings of smuggling accused Swapna Suresh and Sandip Nair with some officials of the GAD department were doing rounds in social media for last few days. There are reports that Suresh was a frequent visitor to the GAD department and she religiously invited officials for important functions at the consulate and after every foreign trip she allegedly gifted them with latest mobile phones and other gadgets. When CCTV visuals were sought the government said they were destroyed in lightening. Later it said some of them can be retrieved. CMs office knew everything about Swapna and Co. Now they are desperately destroying evidences. We hope NIA will question them soon, said opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said both Congress and BJP have aligned to derail a democratically-elected government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON There is no chance Harry Maguire will apologise to the Greek police officers involved in his assault case, according to his brother. Laurence Maguire, the younger sibling of the Manchester United and England defender, spoke out on social media after the lawyer for two police officers said it was shocking neither Maguire nor his co-defendants had apologised. Maguire was found guilty on Tuesday of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery at a court on the Greek island of Syros, following an incident on the neighbouring island of Mykonos last week. Absolute no chance Harry will be apologising. Daisy and no one in the group was interviewed by the police pic.twitter.com/Ju8YIOyk1W Laurence Maguire (@_lozmaguire) August 26, 2020 Harry Maguire, who was handed a suspended 21-month prison sentence, has already indicated his intention to appeal, while all the noises coming from United indicate he will remain as club captain. Prosecution lawyer Yoannis Paradissis told BBC Radio Fours Today Programme on Wednesday that an apology could lead to a different outcome in any appeal, but Chesterfield defender Laurence Maguire says his brother has no intention of doing so. Absolute no chance Harry will be apologising. Daisy and no one in the group was interviewed by the police, he posted on Twitter. The latter reference followed comments from Paradissis that Daisy Maguire, Harry and Laurences sister, had not mentioned anything about an injection she had been given when interviewed by police. Maguires defence referred to the injection incident in the hearing on Tuesday. Paradissis said: (The police officers) told me they are still waiting for an apology and they havent had any. This is what I find quite shocking and quite unsporting. Story continues Fair play means when Ive done something wrong I apologise or at least I say I am sorry for what happened to the other person. The impact of Maguires conviction is already being felt, with England manager Gareth Southgate withdrawing him from the squad for the Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark next month, having initially selected him. Gareth Southgate, right, was forced into a selection U-turn on Maguire (Mike Egerton/PA) United have shown their support for the player and have said they will back his bid to secure an appeal. They mentioned in Tuesdays statement that defence lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis and his team had been given minimal time to consider the charges and that a request to adjourn the trial had been denied. Asked about Maguires claim in a statement on Tuesday that he was the victim, Paradissis said: We dont have the same definition of what a victim is then, because how can you be a victim and the policemen have been assaulted, hit, that were just doing their jobs? They went home on the day with injuries. How can they not be a victim? Asked whether Maguire and his co-defendants would have known the officers were police, Paradissis said: Of course, because thats the first thing they said. The police officers were there for other duties and they heard a brawl. So they heard some people fighting and went there to break up a fight. They said, Were police, stop fighting. They were not in uniform but they showed their professional IDs. Maguire signed a boot deal with Puma worth a reported 700,000 a year last year. The sportswear manufacturer declined to comment on whether Maguires conviction would have any impact on the deal when contacted by the PA news agency on Wednesday morning. NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor has directly intervened to have quarantined travellers moved from the Travelodge in Surry Hills after a desperate plea from a young woman inside the hotel. Mrs Taylor's office lobbied for Lauren Farmer, who had returned from Britain, to be moved from the hotel after a distraught Ms Farmer contacted the minister. Quarantined travellers were moved from the Travelodge in Surry Hills after a flood of complaints. Credit:James Brickwood Ms Farmer, who is now at the Amora Hotel Jamison, was the first of 366 travellers quarantining at the hotel to be relocated on Monday, with the remainder moving on Tuesday evening. The others were moved to a Novotel. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said health officials and police had received an increasing number of complaints about the hotel before it was removed from the quarantine program. The Minnesota Harness Racing community is mourning the loss of trotter Banker Volo, who passed away suddenly on Tuesday, August 25. Banker Volo was a fan favourite at Running Aces since he stormed onto the scene in Minnesota in 2016 and immediately began winning races and setting records. Over his five years on the Minnesota track, he set or re-wrote track records six times, and still holds the record for aged horses. Banker Volo won 25 of his 52 races at Running Aces and was on the board after 40 of those 52 trips to the 'Aces' starting gate. He earned $191,452 at the Minnesota track. Overall, the son of Yankee Glide made 148 starts with 43 wins, 31 seconds and 15 thirds while bankrolling $489,272. He was owned since 2015 by Jeralene and Daniel Roland, of Grinnell, Iowa. In recent years he was trained by Angie Coleman when at Hawthorne, by Adam Short, Krista Harmon and Mel Owens when at Dayton, by Rick Magee when at the Meadows, and most recently by Jenni King when in Minnesota. His primary drivers at Running Aces have been Nick Roland, Luke Plano and Rick Magee. Banker Volo with his majestic stride, while recently warming up to race at Running Aces. Daniel Roland in the bike. Banker Volo with his majestic stride, while recently warming up to race at Running Aces. Daniel Roland in the bike. He was bred by Kentuckiana Farms and Jorgen Jahre Jr., and as a youngster was a part of the Erv Miller stable. He was unraced at two and took a sophomore mark of 1:52.3f at Pocono, which remained as his overall career mark. At age five he suffered an injury that required rehabilitation and he was sold at the Harrisburg sale and wound up in the barn of Marcus Meander who subsequently sold him to Dan and Jeri Roland. Banker Volo has served double duty at stud and on the track since 2016. He stood his first year in Iowa and then switched to Minnesota in 2017, standing at Jenni King's farm. His first Minnesota crops of two and three-year-olds are now racing, and winning at Running Aces. His legacy on the racetrack will not be forgotten, and his offspring will now carry his legacy far into the future. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Banker Volo. (Minnesota Harness Racing) At long last, Africa is now free of Wild Polio Virus(WPV). Nigeria was the last house harbouring the virus on the continent until it was given a clean bill of health by the World Health Organisation(WHO) on Tuesday. A journey that started 25 years ago, Africas race to polio eradication was quite a slow, bumpy, tortuous and lengthy one. There were setbacks and challenges here and there mostly occasioned by insurgency, superstition, mutual suspicion and lack of financial and political will. However, it was worth the wait. Success was achieved at last. On Tuesday, following approval from the Independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC), the continent was certified polio-free. The milestone was achieved after Nigeria, which accounted for more than half of all global cases less than a decade ago, received its polio-free certificate from the World Health Organisation (WHO). In a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, ARCC Chairperson, Rose Gana, said the decision to declare the region polio-free comes after meeting the certification criteria. Today is a historic day for Africa. The African Regional Certification Commission for Polio eradication (ARCC) is pleased to announce that the Region has successfully met the certification criteria for wild polio eradication, with no cases of the wild poliovirus reported in the Region for four years. The ARCCs decision comes after an exhaustive, decades-long process of documentation and analysis of polio surveillance, immunisation and laboratory capacity of the regions 47 member states, which included conducting field verification visits to each country, she said. The poliovirus, which causes paralysis by attacking the nervous system, is spread from person to person mostly through contaminated water. Polio Eradication Disease eradication, according to Devex, means the total stopping of the transmission of infectious disease, reducing the prevalence of the disease to zero. To date, only one disease smallpox has been successfully eradicated in 1980. With Africas eradication of polio, the world is now inching closer to ending yet another viral disease as only Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries yet to be certified polio-free. Global efforts to eradicate the poliovirus date back to 1988, when the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to eradicate the disease globally by the year 2000 and launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Since then, polio eradication has enjoyed remarkable success which brought about the reduction of scourge by over 99 per cent since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases then, to 33 reported cases in 2018, according to WHO data. The first breakthrough came in 1994 when the American continent was declared polio-free. Eight years later, the whole of Europe received a clean bill of health in 2002, when all 53 countries in the WHOs designated European region were declared free of the virus. India, one of the major strongholds of the contagion, eradicated the virus in 2014 after a massive polio campaign that kicked off in 1997. Africas Long Road In Africa, the race to defeat polio dates back to 1996. Then, every country on the continent was affected by polio. More than 75,000 children became paralysed each year, and health efforts on the continent were focused elsewhere, the WHO fact sheet showed. It was not until the late renowned South African leader, Nelson Mandela, launched the Kick Polio Out of Africa campaign same year that efforts of governments, health workers, and international funders were brought under one roof the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). PREMIUM TIMES had reported on Tuesday that the task of eradicating polio meant overcoming immense logistical challenges. GPEI, a public-private partnership launched in 1988 with a goal of ending polio worldwide, was most pivotal in bridging funding and technical gaps in the continent. It was driven by five partners the WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Billions of dollars were invested with the support of donors and partners including the Dangote Foundation, European Union, Rotary, GAVI, JICA, the World Bank and the Governments of Canada, Germany, Japan, among others. In 2000, the first synchronised campaigns began in 17 countries, with 76 million children being vaccinated by tens of thousands of volunteers. The radical campaign was followed by a heavy push from 2008 to 2010, when an outbreak in 24 countries in western and central Africa was met by a large-scale, multi-national vaccination of 85 million children. Setbacks Despite its intensity, the campaign was met with drawbacks which dragged polio eradication in Africa to nearly 25 years. A vast sprawl of hard-to-reach village populations; long distances to urban hospitals, poor infrastructure such as inadequate roads and unreliable cold chainsrefrigerated transport networks to keep vaccines viablewas always going to present special challenges. Many countries on the continent had little cold storage for vaccines with many remote communities having high levels of illiteracy and lack of awareness. Advertisements Chief among the challenges was violence and insurgency. The most afflicted regions are those where the governments reach is weakest and the presence of Islamic militants is strongest as earlier reported by PREMIUM TIMES. Just as Nigeria has contended with the Boko-haram insurgency for more than a decade, the remaining two countries battling the contagion Pakistan and Afghanistan are also at war with terrorist groups. Nigeria would have been certified polio-free in July 2017 and subsequently removed from the list of polio-endemic countries if not for the cases involving two children in Jejere and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State in August 2016. At the time, it was a frustrating set-back as the country had made huge progress and had gone two years without any cases being identified. Asides Nigeria, the last time infections were found on the continent was in 2014 in Somalia, a crisis-prone region. Nigeria has been embroiled in a huge humanitarian emergency occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency, the fallout of which called for the biggest crisis management operations since the civil war of over fifty years ago, says the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria(HURIWA), a development that, no doubt, slowed down polio eradication program in the country. The United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) estimated that violent attacks by non-state armed groups in parts of the North-East have displaced over two million Nigerians, with Borno State being the most affected. It was the resilience of a network of nearly 20 000 UNICEF-trained community mobilisers, influencers and communication experts deployed across 14 northern high risk that heralded the final push to end polio in the last three years, PREMIUM TIMES had reported. These community mobilisers, mostly women, managed to navigate areas of conflict like Lake Chad by boat and deliver vaccines to remote communities. Widespread rumours and misinformation about the vaccine also slowed down immunisation efforts. Despite billions of foreign aid pumped into polio eradication, bridging the barrier of suspicion and acceptance of immunisation programs, especially in rural Northern Nigeria was a major problem. In 2003, Kano, Zamfara, and Kaduna States halted immunisations following reports by Muslim religious leaders that the vaccine was contaminated with an anti-fertility agent as part of the Western plot to make Muslim women infertile. Laboratory tests by Nigerian scientists dismissed the accusations but then, the boycott, which lasted for 13 months, was a major setback to polio eradication in Nigeria, with long-lasting repercussions in and outside the country. Since then, anything that has to do with western medicine and vaccination is often treated with suspicion in those parts. Advocacy, however, found success with the aforementioned 20, 000 mediators. They were able to penetrate because they were mostly from the communities. They served as the link between interventions and the people. Caution While commending efforts that helped to eradicate polio in Africa, Nigerias president Muhammadu Buhari in a press statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday as reported by PREMIUM TIMES, assured the global community that Nigeria will sustain the momentum and leverage on the lessons learnt from polio eradication to strengthen her health system, especially primary health care, and prioritise health security. He said Nigeria used data systems, community engagement and innovative technology to monitor and predict the occurrence of polio outbreaks, adding that these same skills and tools are being used to fight COVID-19 and the multi-country outbreaks of Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Viruses. But while the trumpets of jubilation are still being blown, health experts are urging countries on the continent to tread with caution as all strains of the contagion are yet to be fully eliminated. Two out of the three strains of wild poliovirus have been eradicated worldwide and on Tuesday, Africa became free of the last remaining strain wild poliovirus. But vaccine-derived poliovirus still exists in Africa with 177 cases being identified this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. This is a rare form of the virus that mutates from the oral polio vaccine and can then spread to under-immunised communities. WHO identified a number of these cases in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Angola. Hummelstown Borough police are looking for a man believed to have pulled down a U.S. flag and its pole Monday night. Police said the man, pictured above from surveillance camera footage, desecrated the flag around 11:14 p.m. while walking west on East Main Street. Pennsylvania law says third-degree misdemeanor charges can be filed if someone publicly or privately mutilates, defaces, defiles, or tramples upon, or casts contempt in any manner upon any flag. Anyone with information can contact authorities at 717-558-6900, or submit a tip through CrimeWatch. READ MORE: Man flipped shopping cart with child inside: Harrisburg police Susquenita School District shuts down after positive COVID-19 cases Wolf calls for legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Pa., but GOP lawmakers say its a pipe dream The COVID-19 crisis is expected to hit Sydney's central business district with a $10 billion blow as workers continue to stay home, causing significant downturn in the hospitality, arts and retail industries. The CBD's sputtering economic hub was on track to generate more than $142 billion in 2020 but the pandemic will slash that to $132 billion, a new forecast shows. This has led to calls for mandatory masks to be worn on public transport to encourage workers to return to their offices and breathe new life into the city's businesses. A quiet George Street in Sydney's CBD. Credit:James Brickwood SGS Economics and Planning economist Terry Rawnsley predicted the direct cost of pandemic restrictions, which forced employees to work from home, will cost the CBD $7 billion. Much of that will be felt by hospitality services, the arts and retail. By Jun Ji-hye Kim Yoon-jae, a Seoul resident and freelance lecturer on money management topics, downloaded a Norwegian weather forecast app earlier this month, after he heard from his friends that the information offered by the Scandinavian country was more accurate than that provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Since then, the 34-year-old has frequently checked the Yr app, the joint online weather service from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp., for weather forecasts for his city as well as for other regions he is planning to visit. "I often go camping with my wife on weekends. Whenever we plan to go camping, we check the Yr app in advance, because I cannot trust the weather reports issued by the KMA," Kim said. An increasing number of people here, like Kim, are seeking to obtain weather information from the overseas websites or mobile applications run by the weather agencies or broadcasting centers in Finland, the United Kingdom and Norway, among others, amid deepening public distrust of the state-run weather agency. The distrust has arisen as the KMA's weather reports have appeared to be consistently inaccurate. For example, in May, the KMA forecast the country would receive similar precipitation as last year and suffer a record heat wave between the end of July and the beginning of August. Contrary to the KMA's prediction, the nation was hit by massive downpours that caused deadly floods, landslides and casualties during that period. The forecast for the rainfall amount appeared to be inaccurate as well, with some regions, in which heavy rain warnings were issued, experiencing just light drizzle. This year's rainy season began June 24 and continued for 54 days in the nation's central region, marking the longest monsoon season since 2013 when it lasted for 49 days. The incorrect weather predictions led the KMA to be ridiculed by many online commentators who asked why the agency kept issuing inaccurate forecasts despite the fact that tens of billions of won have been spent on improving its prediction system. The agency implemented the Korean Integrated Model (KIM) weather forecasting system in April, after years of development and at a cost of about 80 billion won ($67 million). At the time, the agency stressed that the KIM, which reflects Korea's topographic and weather characteristics, would increase the precision of weather forecasts. The agency also possesses two supercomputers that cost 17 billion won and 52 billion won, respectively. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun raised the need for the state-run weather agency to improve its shortcomings, Aug. 9, during a visit to Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, which had been hit particularly hard by the torrential rain. "The KMA, together with the Ministry of Environment, will need to consider ways of raising the accuracy level of the country's weather forecasting system," Chung said. Regarding the criticism, a KMA official said it has become more difficult to forecast the weather precisely due to global climate change, which is making weather systems increasingly unpredictable. "The speed of technology development has not been able to catch up with the speed of climate change," a KMA official said. "There are too many variables in nature, and modern science cannot figure them all out. Errors can occur because of those variables." Some weather and environment experts agreed with the KMA. Kim Seung-bae, the director of the Korea Meteorological Industry Association, explained that this year's unusually long rainy season came as abnormally high temperatures continued at the North Pole. "Nobody could precisely forecast this kind of abnormality," Kim said, noting that the limitations of atmospheric science study so far should be recognized. Kim Hae-dong, a global environment professor at Keimyung University, also wrote in a column that the various types of climate change cannot be fully understood with today's climatological knowledge. "Weather agencies in Japan and China have faced similar situations," he wrote. However, Oh Jae-ho, a professor of the department of environmental atmospheric sciences at Pukyong National University, said, "The most important thing is that consumers are not happy with the weather information offered by the KMA. Thus, the agency will need to come up with measures to resolve that dissatisfaction, rather than talking about science." Secretary of State Mike Pompeos speech for the Republican National Convention was as improper, deceptive, and self-serving as many expected when it showed up on the schedule. The impropriety has already been widely noted. No secretary of state has ever spoken at a party convention. The Hatch Act forbids federal employees from taking part in political campaigns. Pompeo also violated his own guidance, sent to his underlings on Feb. 18 of this year. A boldfaced sentence in that memo read: Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event. Advertisement And yet there he was, in the conventions primetime hour Tuesday night, delivering a pre-taped speech in Jerusalem, on the rooftop of the King David Hotel, looking out on the Old City, endorsing President Donald Trumps reelection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Pompeos public affairs office released a statement, saying he was speaking in his personal capacity and did not involve government resourceswhich, of course, is absurd. He flew to Israel on a government plane; he was no doubt escorted to the roof by government security; his assessment of Trumps foreign policy would mean nothing if he were not secretary of state. Finally, at the end of his speech, Pompeo turned unabashed political spokesman. Once his appearance was announced, diplomats past and present expressed outrage at his partisan exploitation of his officeand of an allied nation. Advertisement But what Pompeo said was only slightly less objectionable than where and how he was saying it. For instance, he boasted that Trump has ended the ridiculous unfair trade arrangements with Chinawhen, in fact, only the first phase of a trade deal has been completed, with no additional phases on the horizon. The jobs lost to China over the decades, he added, are coming back home. In fact, not so much. On North Korea, he said Trump lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got the North Koreans to the table. Yes, but once at the table, the North Koreans did nothing and, in fact, continued to build ballistic missiles and enrich uranium. True, they have conducted no missile tests, no nuclear testsbut, as Kim Jong-un has said, thats only because they had already conducted enough tests, many of them during Trumps tenure, to give them confidence in their nuclear arsenal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of President Trump, Pompeo claimed, NATO is strongerwhen, in fact, he has done more to foster doubt about the U.S. commitment to NATO than any president since the treatys signing after World War II. He said Trump gave Ukraine defensive weapons systemsreferring to the antitank missiles that Trump tried to withhold if Volodymyr Zelensky did not help him smear his then-likely Democratic opponent, Joe Biden. But Pompeo failed to note that, even after Trump let the missiles go, the Department of Defense insisted that the weapons be stored in western Ukraine, far from the battlefield in the east. Advertisement Advertisement Pompeo credited Trump with wiping out the Islamic States caliphatethough several military officers have acknowledged that anti-ISIS forces had taken back half of the territory when Barack Obama was president and that the strategy that took back the rest was a slightly accelerated version of the strategy Obama approved. Advertisement Advertisement The secretary of state celebrated, as he has many times, that Trump exited from the disastrous nuclear deal with Irannot mentioning that, since that withdrawal (which all of Trumps advisers at the time opposed), Iran has moved closer to a nuclear weapon and hasnt softened its policies in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement He said Trump brokered the historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. In fact, it wasnt a peace deal (those two countries were never at war and had been cooperating, behind the scenes, for some time), and Trumps only role in this deal was pledging to sell advanced F-35 jet fighters to the UAEand the UAEs leaders canceled a meeting with Israeli and U.S. diplomats because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed opposition to that sale. Advertisement Finally, at the end of his speech, Pompeo turned unabashed political spokesman, saying that giving Trump another four years was the best way to ensure our freedoms. It is well known that Pompeo, 56, a former Republican congressman from Kansas, wants to run for president in 2024an ambition shared by Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador who told her own share of howlers in her RNC speech Monday night. (Joe Biden is good for Iran and ISIS, she claimed, and hes a godsend to everyone who wants to apologize, abstain, and abandon our values.) To that end, Pompeo has brandished his standing as an evangelical at every opportunityat this one, using the Old City of Jerusalem as the backdrop for a partisan speech, another unprecedented exploitation of an allys territory and a holy landscape that might be called a sacrilege or chutzpah or, on this night of this convention, which painted Trump as a champion of immigrants and a selfless public servant, normal business. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:08:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed 3,837 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 215,784. The ministry also reported 72 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 6,668 in the country. It also said that 3,454 people recovered during the day, bringing the total recoveries from the disease to 157,215. The new cases were recorded after 20,359 testing kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, and a total of 1,502,546 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the ministry's statement. Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Hazim al-Jumaili told the official Iraqi News Agency that there is an increase in the number of recoveries which came as the result of better treatment in hospitals, "in terms of the availability of oxygen and ventilators, as well as all medicines that the patients need." Iraq has been taking a series of measures to contain the pandemic since February when the first coronavirus case appeared in the country. 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 The Ryan's Daughter village of Kirrary may have disappeared from the landscape of West Kerry, but it can still be found in the shed beside the late Vincent Gromail's house in Cathair Scoilbin. In fact there are two Kirrarys in the shed - both painstaking crafted in stone by Vincent who took up model-making as a hobby after retiring from his lifetime's work as a stonemason. Yet more of Vincent's mini Kirrary villages have found their way around the world - one of them as a feature in New York's Dead Rabbit Irish pub, which was named one of the world's 50 best bars in 2019. Vincent, who died in January 2019, worked on the construction of the original Ryan's Daughter village in Caheroo in the late 1960s so he knew the layout well before he ever set himself the task of recreating it. "He used to work all day and all night making models in the shed. Then he'd stop for a couple of weeks and start back at it again," Vincent's daughter Cliona told The Kerryman. " I've long admired Jim for his deep understanding of the power of design and brand," said PCH CEO Liam Casey. "Jim has brought innovative category-defining products to market globally and has transformed the consumer experience. Jim will be invaluable to PCH as we continue to help brands bring premium products to market with speed, end-to-end visibility, sustainability and a great consumer experience." "Jim has tremendous insight into the market dynamics that brands face today. His experience in building a direct-to-consumer business will be a great support to our customers who are competing in a world where consumer expectations are rising, brand power is essential, and supply chains must be flexible, responsive and intelligent," said Mike McNamara, PCH chairman. "I've followed the PCH story for many years. I'm impressed by PCH's unique product development and supply chain platform that returns value to brands," said Jim Rowan. "PCH's asset-light business model has been ahead of its time and is leading the industry with the most flexible, responsive and transparent product development and supply chain services. Brands require this agility and intelligence to deliver unique experiences that consumers expect. I look forward to working with Liam, Mike and the PCH team," said Rowan. About Jim Rowan Jim Rowan was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Dyson in 2017 after five years as Chief Operating Officer at the company. He implemented the strategy and investments that allowed the company to "pivot to digital" quickly building this into a substantial channel for the company. He drove product and service innovation to the next level allowing Dyson to successfully enter new markets and geographies. He spearheaded Dyson's complex transition into a digitally enabled global technology organization. Prior to joining Dyson, Jim was Chief Operating Officer of Research in Motion, (BlackBerry), Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations for Celestica and Vice President of Operations for the Flextronics European region. Jim founded two successful start-ups which were acquired, after which he took positions within the expanded organizations. About PCH Our customers are passionate about design, brand and the consumer experience and come from a variety of sectors. PCH takes products from the initial concept phase of product development, to the delivery of products direct to consumer and retail. PCH provides end-to-end visibility and intelligence across the entire product journey, allowing our customers to better operate their business and delivery unique consumer experiences and services. With a unique business model, PCH is an "asset light" company that works with a network of over 1000 supplier partners. PCH operates its own product development, strategic sourcing, personalization, customization, fulfillment and global logistics services, which are highly differentiated in the industry and provide value to brands. Founded in 1996 by Irish entrepreneur Liam Casey, PCH is a privately held global company with core operations in Cork, Ireland, San Francisco and Shenzhen, China. https://www.pchintl.com/ Facebook @PCHInternational Twitter @pch_intl Instagram @pch_intl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pch-international @LiamCasey #productdesign #bringexperience #supplychain #engineering #productdevelopment #consumerexperience #newproductintroduction #innovation SOURCE PCH International President Trump has long resisted criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey despite the authoritarian leaders detention of American citizens and diplomatic employees, offensive against U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria and crackdown on protesters in Washington. And hours after the Republican convention aired an interview on Monday in which Mr. Trump called Mr. Erdogan very good, the State Department issued a statement denouncing Mr. Erdogans recent meeting with leaders of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, highlighting the disconnect between Mr. Trump and the rest of his administrations policy toward Turkey. The statement, from the State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, said the United States strongly objects to a meeting that Mr. Erdogan hosted with two Hamas leaders in Istanbul on Saturday. The U.S. has designated Hamas a terrorist organization, and Ms. Ortagus said the leaders Mr. Erdogan met have been specifically designated global terrorists. President Erdogans continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza, Ms. Ortagus wrote. She said it was the second time that Mr. Erdogan had invited Hamas leaders to Turkey this year. Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the U.S. Forest Service from cutting down trees in the Frazier Park as a way of reducing the The "Satellite Bus Market Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The satellite bus market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of more than 7% during the forecast period. The increasing demand for satellite applications for various purposes, such as communication, navigation, space exploration, and scientific purposes, earth observation and experiments, is anticipated to generate demand for new satellites, which will subsequently generate demand for satellite buses during the forecast period. The global demand for the adoption of new and advanced satellites with compact size, weight, power, and cost buses is anticipated to propel the growth of the market in the coming future. Companies Mentioned Thales Group Lockheed Martin Corporation Northrop Grumman Corporation Airbus SE OHB SE Israel Aerospace Industries Honeywell International Inc. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Ball Corporation Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems/Loral, LLC NEC Corp Key Market Trends Small Satellite segment will Grow with the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period During the period of 2012-2018, the number of small satellites deployed increased due to their advantage to have similar capabilities to the conventional satellites, at a relatively smaller cost of manufacturing. Revolutionary technological advancements have facilitated the miniaturization of electronics, which has pushed the invention of smart materials, in turn, reducing the satellite size and mass over time for manufacturers. Due to this, numerous space startups are being started currently, creating a market for small satellites and mini rockets, owing to the increasing pace of deployment of small satellites in the earth and celestial observation, space research, and communication applications. For instance, companies like OneWeb, Amazon, Telesat, and SpaceX among others plan to launch more than 40,000 small satellites in the coming decade. Similarly, many new programs are in pipeline for the production and launch of small satellites for defense purposes. With growing investments into the launch of satellite constellations, the small satellite segment is anticipated to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific Region is Expected to Generate the Highest Demand During the Forecast Period Countries like China, India, and Japan among others are accounting for the majority of the demand for satellite buses with regional companies like China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), Indian Space Research Organization, and Mitsubishi Electric among others taking the majority share of the market in their respective countries. The increasing private and government investments in the space industry is one of the major growth factors for the market in the region. For instance, China's GalaxySpace announced to invest about USD 700 million to launch a constellation of LEO satellites to provide global 5G communications. Also, China plans to launch three state-owned constellations with test satellites by the end of 2020. Similarly, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is actively working with other companies and rapidly enhancing its footprint in the space industry. In 2018, the government announced that it plans to double the country's space industry by more than USD 11 billion and provide a fund of USD 940 million to space start-ups in the form of investments and loans over the next five years. Similar initiatives of governments across the Asia-Pacific region are anticipated to drive the growth of the market. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Assumptions 1.2 Scope of the Study 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Market Drivers 4.3 Market Restraints 4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products 4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 Subsystem 5.1.1 Structures 5.1.2 Thermal 5.1.3 Electric Power System (EPS) 5.1.4 Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) 5.1.5 Command and Data Handling (C&DH) 5.1.6 Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) 5.1.7 Propulsion 5.2 Satellite Size 5.2.1 Small Satellites (upto 500 kgs) 5.2.2 Large Satellites (above 500 kgs) 5.3 Geography 5.3.1 North America 5.3.1.1 United States 5.3.1.2 Canada 5.3.2 Europe 5.3.2.1 United Kingdom 5.3.2.2 Germany 5.3.2.3 France 5.3.2.4 Russia 5.3.2.5 Rest of Europe 5.3.3 Asia-Pacific 5.3.3.1 China 5.3.3.2 Japan 5.3.3.3 India 5.3.3.4 Rest of Asia-Pacific 5.3.4 Rest of the World 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Vendor Market Share 6.2 Company Profiles 7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/srjvrk View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005412/en/ Contacts: 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 A Queensland man was caught trying to cross the border wearing an ammunition belt and in possession of a shortened firearm and meth, police allege. The Southport man was stopped by officers at the Bilinga border checkpoint, south of the Gold Coast, on August 18 and questioned before they allegedly discovered he was wearing an ammo belt with shotgun shells. They immediately detained the 31-year-old man and conducted a routine search of the blue Audi sedan. During the search it's alleged police found a shortened, and loaded, firearm in a bag on the passenger seat. A 31-year-old Southport man (pictured, allegedly showing ammo belt) was charged by police after trying to cross the Queensland border allegedly in possession of a shortened firearm The Queensland man was charged with a string of offences including possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon It's also being alleged a quantity of methylamphetamine was found inside the vehicle. The man was charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon. He was also charged with one count each of authority required to possess explosives, possess utensils or pipes and contravene requirement of community-based orders. Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia the man does not have to self-isolate for coronavirus because he didn't leave the border bubble. He is due to appear before the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, September 15. New Delhi Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday constituted a five-member committee to formulate the partys stance on key ordinances promulgated by the central government. A press release by party general secretary in charge of organisation KC Venugopal said Rajya Sabha members and former Union ministers P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh, Lok Sabha members Amar Singh and Gaurav Gogoi will be the five members of the panel. Ramesh will be the convener of the committee, the release said. The government is planning to bring in 11 ordinances in the 18-day monsoon session of Parliament beginning September 14. If any ordinance lapses, the government can re-promulgate it. In another decision, Sonia Gandhi named former general secretary in charge of Rajasthan Avinash Pande as chairman of the partys screening committee for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Pandes removal from Rajasthan was a key demand of party rebel legislators led by former state deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. Pande will be assisted in shortlisting party candidates for the Bihar polls by two young leaders, Devender Yadav and Qazi Nizamuddin. The decisions came two days after a stormy Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting that asked Sonia Gandhi to stay on as party chief until a new president is elected. The CWC members also came down heavily on 23 dissenters who in a letter written to Gandhi had, among other things, sought a complete overhaul of the organisation, a full-time and active president, and a parliamentary board. Sonia Gandhi and former party president Rahul Gandhi spoke to some of the dissenters after the CWC meet in a bid to bring about peace. On Wednesday, Sonia Gandhi chaired a meeting of opposition chief ministers, including Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra) and Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), on the issues of goods and services tax compensation, and the NEET and JEE exams. At the meeting, Thackeray congratulated Sonia Gandhi for once again assuming the reins of the Congress party. New Delhi: Passengers taking international flights from India need not apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and can directly book their tickets with the airlines, said an official statement on Wednesday. A standard operating protocol issued by the Home Ministry on August 22 stated that persons who are eligible to travel on outbound flights "will apply to MoCA or an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure & arrival". The MoCA said on Twitter on Wednesday that it "has designated all the airlines operating under Vande Bharat Mission & air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose". "Passengers may book tickets directly with the airlines concerned. They need not apply/register with the Ministry of Civil Aviation," it added. While scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, special international flights have been operating under Vande Bharat Mission and bilateral air bubble arrangements. Since July this year, India has signed separate bilateral air bubble arrangements with various countries like the US, the UK, the UAE, Germany, France and Qatar. Under a bilateral bubble pact, airlines of both the countries can operate special international passenger flights with certain restrictions. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics By Steven Andreasen As long as China and North Korea are potential U.S. nuclear adversaries, the United States will plan for the possible use of nuclear weapons against both. Presumably the same is true for China and North Korea. While the U.S.-Asia nuclear dynamic is perhaps still years away from achieving co-equal status with the U.S.-Russia dynamic, it could evolve to where China in particular becomes much more important. The result may not be "stable deterrence" but rather both sides dug in more precariously on the nuclear ledge, with increasing risks of an accident, mistake, or miscalculation precipitating a dangerous fall into the precipice. The forces driving increased tensions in the Asia-Pacific region are considerable, perhaps unlikely to be ameliorated for decades. China's substantial military and nuclear modernization program and assertive military posture in the East and South China Seas alarm Washington. Recent missile tests suggest North Korea is striving to improve its capability to strike targets in the region, and may be able to fit a nuclear device on short- to intercontinental-range ballistic missiles. On the U.S. side, the Trump administration's Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) expands the purpose of nuclear weapons to include a broader range of non-nuclear scenarios, including cyberattacks. The Trump NPR supports new nuclear capabilities, including a low-yield Trident submarine-launched nuclear warhead and a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, to deal in part with China's "modernizing and expanding" nuclear forces and "assertive military initiatives." An Asian nuclear competition with few guardrails or constraints fueled by actions in Beijing, Pyongyang and Washington is a real risk. While there appear to be no easy wins with respect to nuclear threat reduction in Asia, there are concrete steps that should be taken to shape the strategic terrain in ways that would moderate or even mitigate a Cold War nuclear revival between the U.S. and China in Asia. These steps would also allow scarce post-pandemic defense resources in the U.S. to be devoted to other priorities to strengthen Washington's capacity to deter China at all levels of conflict. First, preferably with but even in the absence of the extension of the U.S.-Russia New START Treaty, as a voluntary confidence-building measure, China should provide data consistent with certain specific data exchanged between the United States and Russia under New START ("shadow" declarations). The United States and Russia should also provide certain specific data they exchange under New START to China. China should also consider broader declarations with respect to future plans for their nuclear forces. Including China in a data exchange on strategic forces would be an important step toward building increased transparency, cooperation, and trust among all nuclear-weapon states in the Asia-Pacific region. Second, the U.S. and China should make clear their commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty's (CTBT) ban on nuclear explosive testing, discuss ways to build confidence that such tests are not happening, move together to ratify the CTBT, and work together to secure signature and ratification of three key CTBT holdouts India, Pakistan, and North Korea. The continuation of the testing moratorium would continue an important nuclear constraint between the U.S. and China, and joint work by Washington and Beijing to bring CTBT into force would strengthen the global nonproliferation regime, as well as improve the regional-nuclear dynamic between CTBT holdouts. Third, the U.S. and China should adopt a bilateral "No First Use" policy, and work to broaden its application to all nuclear weapon states. Such a policy would then be written into U.S. presidential guidance on nuclear weapons employment policy. As was the case with Clinton-era presidential guidance which reaffirmed that deterrence could be maintained at roughly 25 percent of deployed strategic nuclear warheads maintained in the Reagan-era, this could be a significant factor (with other steps relating to nuclear threat reduction) in reducing the requirements for and scope of U.S. nuclear deployments in Asia and globally. Fourth, as a voluntary confidence building measure, the United States should commit not to deploy intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. China should reciprocate by capping (and eventually reducing) its current force. While commitments relating to these systems would, for different reasons, be a stretch for Washington and Beijing, this would address a capability that is of primary concerns to both countries. With these steps, the U.S.-China nuclear dynamic in particular and U.S. nuclear policy and posture in the region would unfold in ways that help reduce rather than accentuate nuclear risks. Yet even if all four steps are implemented, there will be wild cards, including both the scope of China's nuclear modernization and further evolution of North Korea's nuclear program. In the United States, one could expect President Trump to continue with the nuclear policies unfurled in his first term. A new president, however, will have the opportunity to look anew at U.S. nuclear policy, and the forces driving that policy, including nuclear arms control. Steven Andreasen, the director for defense policy and arms control on the White House National Security Council staff from 1993 to 2001, is a national security consultant who teaches at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. A longer version of this article will appear as a policy brief of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (www.apln.network). Angela Martin helps to clean up a department of corrections building Tuesday in Kenosha, Wis. The building was burned during protests sparked by the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police officers. A transwoman and her husband were booked by Pimpri-Chinchwad police for driving another transgender to suicide. The deceased was identified Asavdhut Mohod (30). He was found dead in a house in Koyali area of Khed on August 6 around 12:30pm, according to the police. The booked duo was identified as Sanchita Jitendra Patil alias Sandeep Girhe, and Jitendra Patil, both residents of Shirur. Mohod left a suicide note that allegedly named the two accused in it. The police claim that Mohod accuses the two of mentally and physically torturing him. He had 3-4 partners who worked with him. In the note he has mentioned that the accused kept demanding money from him. The claims in the letter will be investigated, said sub inspector Sachin Chavan of Alandi police station who is investigating the case. Harihar Suresh Mohod (32), the deceaseds brother and resident of Bhatukali in Amravati, lodged the police complaint. A case under Sections 306 (abetment to suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code was registered at Alandi police station. A protester tosses an object toward police during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late Tuesday. (David Goldman / Associated Press) Two people were killed and one injured amid gunfire overnight in Kenosha, Wis. It was the third night of angry protests in the small Midwestern city over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Blake, who was apparently shot from behind as his children watched, is now paralyzed. Police on Wednesday arrested a juvenile in the slayings of two people during the protests. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was charged in Antioch, Ill., with first degree intentional homicide. The city is 21 miles from Kenosha, across the state line. An injured protester. (David Goldman / Associated Press ) A protester lights a cigarette on a garbage truck that was set on fire. (Morry Gash / Associated Press) A protester stands in front of an armored vehicle trying to clear a park of demonstrators. (David Goldman / Associated Press) Members of the media cover the protests. (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency) A protester kicks a smoke canister. (Morry Gash / Associated Press) An explosive device detonates as a protester pushes an armored vehicle. (David Goldman / Associated Press) Police attempt to push back protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late Monday. (David Goldman / Associated Press) Protesters take cover. (David Goldman / Associated Press) A man was shot in the chest during clashes between protesters and armed civilians in Kenosha. (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency) A protester takes cover. (David Goldman / Associated Press) A building burns in Kenosha. (Morry Gash / Associated Press) A flag flies over a burning building. (Morry Gash / Associated Press) Protesters take cover from tear gas fired by police. (David Goldman / Associated Press) Protesters attempt to topple a fence outside the Kenosha County Courthouse. (David Goldman / Associated Press) There are a number of republicans who particularly irk unionists. Martina Anderson is one of them (and I'm pretty sure she would regard that as a badge of honour, by the way). Many believe that she goes out of her way to offend them and Tuesday's tweet was a prime example: "800m for pensions mainly for those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland ... for those involved in collusion ... for British troops like Paras who murdered people on Bloody Sunday ... 800m mainly to discriminate and criminalise and exclude." Read More It's hard to believe that the MLA didn't know what she was doing. She knew that it would cause a problem for Sinn Fein. She knew she would probably have to delete the tweet - maybe even issue an apology. She knew it would enrage all sections of unionism. She knew it would offend and deeply hurt many of those entitled to the payment. Yet, knowing all of that, she still clicked the 'send' button on her phone. Her roots in the IRA go back 40 years. She was born in the Bogside in April 1962 into a well-known republican family. Speaking to BBC Talkback last year, she said: "I am an Irish republican. I was born into a sectarian state, a city that was gerrymandered. "I was born into a town that had Bloody Sunday and internment. I was born into a time when people made choices about righting the wrong that was done." Her choice was to join the Provisional IRA in the late 1970s, when she was a teenager. Shortly afterwards, she was arrested leaving a furniture store in Derry and charged with possession of a firearm and causing an explosion. After two months on remand in Armagh women's prison, she was released on bail and fled across the border to Buncrana, an area frequently used by on-the-run members of the IRA, primarily because it was close to Derry. Not much is known about what she did next, but in June 1985 she was arrested in Glasgow with four other IRA members, including Brighton bomber Patrick Magee. All five were convicted of conspiring to cause explosions in England (although her conviction didn't include the Brighton bombing) and she was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 1986 - after which she gained a first-class honours degree in social science from the Open University. She was released in November 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement and soon gained prominence within Sinn Fein. In March 2007, she was elected an MLA for Foyle and became one of the first Sinn Fein members to join the Policing Board. She also served as a junior minister from May 2011 until June 2012, when she replaced Bairbre de Brun as Sinn Fein's MEP. When the role ended - after Brexit - she was co-opted back to the Assembly in February 2020. Ironically, given how unionists view her, Sinn Fein appointed her as director of their Unionist outreach project in 2006/07, causing most to believe that the party wasn't actually serious the scheme. The key thing to know about Anderson is that she is rated by Sinn Fein's leadership, key players and grassroots. She was regarded as one of Martin McGuinness's proteges and would probably have made it to the Executive as a full minister had it not been for the fact that it was believed she would be more useful in Brussels, where, in fairness, she developed a much higher profile than her predecessor. While what she tweeted may have been particularly blunt, it's also true that many probably share her view. Sinn Fein is unhappy at having been forced, as they would see it, to give the imprimatur to designating a lead department and progressing the victims' payments scheme. Anderson's anger will be welcomed at many levels of the party, which means she's not going to be disciplined, let alone forced to stand down. The party, for reasons best known to itself, still counts her as an asset. It wasn't her first 'losing it' moment - and it won't be her last. Primary school pupils around the country are being challenged to get creative in how they learn and think about Europe through the Blue Star Programme, coordinated by European Movement Ireland. Also read: Longford gardai arrest driver for drug driving and having no licence or insurance The Blue Star Programme teaches primary school children about Europe through creative activities and projects that complement the national primary curriculum. Each participating class carries out projects on history, geography, the Institutions of the EU, culture and creativity with a European twist. Teachers and their classes have flexibility to be creative and tailor their projects towards their own individual needs and interests. Conscious of the added challenges facing pupils, teachers and schools this school year following school closures and Department of Education and Skills guidelines for the re-opening of schools, the Blue Star Programme team will be close to hand to support participating schools and will continue to provide a full-flexible, curriculum-friendly programme with more online elements than ever before. Among the variety of Blue Star Programme activities of recent months, pupils took part in online quizzes and a Virtual Handshake for Europe on Europe Day; others baked European dishes at home and built Lego structures of famous European landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower! Also read: Tiny kittens abandoned in a plastic bag near Rathcline cemetery, Longford, now safe in ISPCA care Teachers, parents, carers and the whole school are encouraged to get involved in Blue Star Programme projects creating an awareness of the EU that reaches far beyond the school walls and out into the wider community. Speaking about the opening of registration for the Programme, Noelle O Connell, CEO of European Movement Ireland, commented: While it has been an understandably unusual and challenging year for pupils and teachers around Ireland, we were particularly encouraged to see the enthusiasm and creativity of pupils and teachers who participated in the Blue Star Programme during the last school year, largely from home when schools were closed. We were delighted to see a great number of participating schools complete the programme from home, finding new and innovative ways of completing project work. We look forward to another year of the Blue Star Programme as we are constantly greatly impressed by the imagination and innovation of both the participating teachers and their pupils. Since 2011, we have seen almost 1,100 school registrations in the Programme, and we would love to see these great levels of engagement continue for 2020 - 2021. The Programme offers a great opportunity for pupils to recognise the solidarity that exists among European citizens and to celebrate the diversity in the Irish classroom today. Solidarity with our neighbours across Europe was key in recent months as we faced the outbreak of Covid-19 together and it is vital that this solidarity continues and that our young people recognise the importance of co-operation and solidarity across Europe in challenging times. Also read: Longford's St Mel's College set to meet challenge of Covid-19 "The Programme complements the curriculum without adding any additional work for teachers, rather teachers have found support from the Programme as we have begun to provide more resources for teachers to use while teaching online or providing resources to pupils to work independently at home, such as online quizzes and worksheets. We strongly encourage teachers to consider partaking in the Blue Star Programme this year. Since its first year in 2011-2012, Longford has had 16 primary schools participate, of the 1,100 schools that have registered nationwide, with every county represented to date. Also read: Longford milliner and CAFRE student Luke Norton to feature in new BBC TV series Primary schools interested in taking part in the Blue Star Programme 2020-2021 can register here now until October 7, 2020. To complete the Programme, schools are asked to take part in online quizzes and/or submit a Blue Star Programme Report outlining how each of the key elements were explored, at the end of the year. Schools are also encouraged to host an event for Europe Day on May 9, in school or online. Further information about the programme can be found at www.bluestarprogramme.ie Harrowing footage captured the moment a looter knocked out an elderly shop worker as he tried to defend his store amid the on-going Kenosha riots. And in another incident, a pizza store employee was filmed elsewhere in the city pleading with rioters to stop, asking Are you trying to get Trump re-elected? Businesses and other institutions in the Wisconsin city have been left damaged and destroyed following three consecutive nights of rioting and looting spurred by the Sunday police shooting of unarmed black man, Jacob Blake, who has been left paralyzed. On Monday night, an elderly worker of Sue and Keiths Magical Mattress Store, identified as Mr. Robert who is in his 70s, was filmed being callously knocked-out cold by one protester as he attempted to stop a fire in the store that was started by looters. The following evening, on Tuesday, a worker at a Papa Johns Pizza chain in the city center was seen remonstrating with protesters through a shattered window of the eatery, urging them to stop the vandalism because Ive got kids to feed. Scroll down for video On Monday night, an elderly worker of Sue and Keiths Magical Mattress Store, identified as Mr. Robert, was filmed being callously knocked-out cold by one protester as he attempted to stop a fire in the store that was started by looters. The following evening, on Tuesday, a worker at a Papa Johns Pizza chain in the city center was seen remonstrating with protesters through a shattered window of the eatery, urging them to stop the looting because Ive got kids to feed In footage of the first of the two incidents, Robert is seen emerging from the smoke-filled store front in pursuit of a group of rioters with a fire extinguisher in his hand. He begins blasting the extinguisher at the looters as they exit another entrance of the store, one of whom launches a glass bottle towards the elderly worker. Robert continues spraying foam in the direction of the door to douse looters as they run out from the store, when suddenly a man, dressed in all black, runs into frame and sucker punches Robert in the face as hes looking in the other direction. Robert is immediately knocked from his feet, crashing back into the door frame before landing face first on the ground. A woman recording the footage can be heard desperately screaming no as she, and a number of other bystanders, race to his aid. Motionless on the floor, Robert suffered a laceration to his face from the sickening blow, and is seen bleeding profusely from just underneath his right eye and nose The footage the cuts to Robert sitting upright and conscious as a group of bystanders rally around him, propping him up and applying pressure to his nose. While Robert remains silent and appears to be dazed, the woman recording can be heard pleading with protesters that this is wrong. In footage of the first of the two incidents, Robert is seen emerging from the smoke-filled store front in pursuit of a group of rioters with a fire extinguisher in his hand He begins blasting the extinguisher at the looters as they exit another entrance of the store, one of whom launches a glass bottle towards the elderly worker. Robert continues spraying foam in the direction of the door to douse looters as they run out from the store, when suddenly a man, dressed in all black, runs into frame and sucker punches Robert in the face as hes looking in the other direction Robert was taken to hospital shortly after the video concluded. Owners of the mattress store, Pamela Moniz and her husband, Keith McCoy revealed to FOX6 that Robert suffered a broken as well as lacerations to his head This is going to happen to every single one of you when this goes nationwide, she says, the emotion palpable in her voice. I dont think you realize this. Please [stop] guys. The gathered protesters respond to the womens cries that they are scared for their own lives, as black people in America today. Robert was taken to hospital shortly after the video concluded. Owners of the mattress store, Pamela Moniz and her husband, Keith McCoy revealed to FOX6 that Robert suffered a broken jaw as well as lacerations to his head. The couple say Robert will need further surgeries to treat his injuries. The store, meanwhile, was completely destroyed alongside all of its inventory. In a GoFundMe page set up to help the owners open a new branch elsewhere in the city, organizer Yvonne Rich wrote of the owners and Robert: I have seen these three folks help neighborhood people for years with money, food, mattresses when no one could afford to pay. They have served the Kenosha community selflessly and so didnt deserve this horrible attack. I can't wrap my head around the scene right now, said Pamela Moniz said. I don't think anyone from Kenosha was responsible for this. The store, meanwhile, was completely destroyed alongside all of its inventory The following evening elsewhere in the city, a worker of a Papa Johns Pizza chain on University Avenue was filmed by resident Dylan Brogan remonstrating with protesters through a shattered window of the restaurants shop-front. Are you trying to get Trump re-elected, seriously? he shouts out into the street of the ongoing vandalism and looting in the city. Ive got a family to support. Ive got f***ing kids to feed, he continues passionately. One protester attempts to assure the man that the looters dont represent the true intentions of the Black Lives Matter movement. Well, Im sorry, he responds, but theyre with you. Several other business were destroyed or vandalized in the city on Tuesday night, as tensions boiled over between rioters and police for a third consecutive night. Much of the destruction happened along 60th Street, close to the Department of Corrections building on 13th Avenue. The DOC building itself was set ablaze Monday, with crew working to demolish the remains of the building the following morning. Neighboring business also caught fire, including the B&L Furniture store, which was targeted by rioters on Monday night, TMJ4 reported. It's just all gone, Linda Carpenter, whose family have owned the store for more than four decades, told the network as she cried into the arms of her son, Scott. My next job is to clean this up and then after that, I don't have a job, Carpenters son added. Several car dealerships were destroyed in the area and local businesses were broken into, cleaned out and vandalized. A worker of a Papa Johns Pizza chain on University Avenue was filmed by resident Dylan Brogan remonstrating against protesters through a shattered window of the restaurants shop-front. Across Tuesday night and into early Wednesday, two people were killed and a third was wounded, when a gunman opened fire on protesters amid a clash with a militia who were guarding a gas station. One victim was shot in the head and another was shot in the chest at about 11.45pm, according to Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth. Footage from the scene showed another man was shot in the arm and police later said his injuries were not believed to be life threatening. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois and charged with first degree intentional homicide. Court records say the teenager 'fled the state of Wisconsin with the intent to avoid prosecution for that offense'. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha. The teenager's arrest came hours after video footage emerged showing Rittenhouse walking up to police with his hands in the air and his semi-automatic rifle slung across his body just moments after the shooting. He was apparently allowed to walk by despite members of the crowd yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people, according to witness accounts and video footage. Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois and charged with first degree intentional homicide over the shooting death of two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin last night One pursuer took a flying kick at the armed man after he fell to the ground following a pursuit in the streets of Kenosha It is not yet clear what happened in the lead up to the shooting. Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages: The gunman first shot someone at a car lot, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him. Police apparently then let the young man walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder with his hands in the air. As for why the gunman was allowed to leave, Sheriff David Beth on Wednesday portrayed a chaotic, high-stress scene, with screaming, chanting, nonstop radio traffic and 'people running all over the place' - conditions that can cause 'tunnel vision' among law officers. Rittenhouse, identified in court papers as a lifeguard at a YMCA in Lindenhurst, Illinois, was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing on Friday on his transfer to Wisconsin. The videos showed the gunman running away in the moments after the gunshots rang out and he could be heard saying: 'I've just killed somebody'. The man, who still had his gun slung across him, put up his hands and walked toward the squad cars as someone yelled at police that the man just shot someone Onlookers were filmed desperately trying to put pressure on the injured man's head wound with a t-shirt as they yelled: 'We've got to keep him alive'. 'Put pressure, put pressure,' one person said, while another yelled: 'You've got to keep him alive.' Elsewhere, a protester was seen pointing a gun at a reporter during an interview as a crowd marched through the streets. Elijah Schaffer said he was interviewing the unidentified man when he pulled out a pistol from his waistband and pointed it at his camera, showing him what he would do if cops rolled up on us right now. Its been a while since I had a gun pointed at me, even if it was just to make a point, Schaffer tweeted. The US military aircrafts intrusion into Chinese airspace during live-fire military exercises was blatant provocation and could lead to misjudgments and accidents, China has said even as a second US reconnaissance aircraft is said to have flown over the South China Sea on Wednesday. A day after an US U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft flew into Chinese air space during live-fire exercises by the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) northern theatre command, an US RC-135S reconnaissance aircraft on Wednesday flew near a separate and ongoing PLA drill in the South China Sea. The US aircraft crossed the Bashi Channel from the east, headed southwest into the South China Sea, and returned on the same route, the Beijing-based think tank, South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI), said on Wednesday. It came near an ongoing PLA exercise in waters off Hainan Islands southeast coast, Chinese state media reported, quoting the SCSPI. Both the Chinese foreign and defence ministries have lashed out at the US for sending spy planes into mainland airspace during military drills; the foreign ministry has lodged a formal protest. Wu Qian, a defence ministry spokesperson, said the trespass severely affected Chinas normal military exercises and training activities. It violated the rules of behaviour for air and maritime safety between China and the US, as well as relevant international practices, Wu said. The US action could easily have resulted in misjudgments and even accidents, Wu said, adding it was a blatant act of provocation. Chinese state media reported that the PLA has shot down at least five U-2 aircraft in the past as they trespassed into mainland airspace. The Chinese PLA is currently conducting separate military exercises in three different seas, in itself a rare case of simultaneous drills. By simultaneously conducting drills in the three seas, it means China is testing its ability to fight enemies coming from three directions at the same time - for example from Taiwan, from Japan and from the US from the south, Chinese military expert Ni Lexiong, a retired professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told Reuters. In late July, an US anti-submarine warplane had come within 100 km from Shanghai in eastern China in the backdrop of the tit-for-tat closure of consulates carried out the week before. The latest round of military tension adds to the deteriorating bilateral ties between the two countries with Beijing and Washington already at loggerheads over related South China Sea disputes and arms sales to Taiwan besides the Hong Kong security bill, the condition of minorities in Xinjiang, and the origin of the coronavirus and the ongoing trade war. Crowdz, a Campbell, CA-based invoice financing marketplace, closed a $2m Series A+ funding round. The round wss led by Bold Capital Partners, with participation from Augment Ventures and TFX Capital. The company has raised to-date $9.1M in funding, building on $6.1m led by Barclays bank & Bold last year. The company will use the funding to bolster its product roadmap and launch globally, with the UK in its immediate sights. Led by CEO and founder Payson Johnston, Crowdz provides a marketplace for businesses to sell unpaid invoices to investors in exchange for cash. The companys product roadmap will be tailored towards supporting SME growth, as well as delivering value to the enterprise and investors, with new offerings. This will include Crowdz proprietary SMART Score, a real-time risk assessment, with a number of inputs such as Edward Altmans famed Z-Score* and Probability of Default, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reputational risk. The product will be available in 2021 as a standalone offering to enable funders, banks, and enterprises to track the risk of buying receivables and monitor real-time risk in supply chains. The company is further expanding its offering to support alternative revenue streams, including its whitelabel offering Supply Chain Finance as a Service (SCFaaS). Crowdz will also continue to grow its in-house finance facility, which it launched during the pandemic to make a return on invoices within its marketplace, by fully funding, or part-funding alongside other investors on the platform. The announcement follows Crowdz latest partnerships which include integrations with Inuit Quickbooks, Zoho Books and Xero. The company has also been admitted as a member of the COVID-19 Fintech Taskforce, responding to the urgent need for financial support from UK SMEs impacted by the pandemic, as well as a participant in the UKs FCA Sandbox testing. FinSMEs 26/08/2020 WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to reinstate a rule requiring women seeking medication abortions to visit doctor's offices or clinics, a requirement a Maryland federal judge lifted because of the coronavirus pandemic. Most women take the pills that end a pregnancy in its early stages at home, and U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ruled in July that requiring an in-person visit to obtain the medications during the pandemic was unduly burdensome. At the request of abortion providers and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Chuang imposed a nationwide injunction against the Food and Drug Administration requirement. After a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit refused to put Chuang's order on hold, acting solicitor general Jeffrey Wall went to the Supreme Court. "The FDA has made, and continuously adhered to, the judgment that these requirements mitigate serious health risks associated with the drug, which can increase if the patient delays taking the drug or fails to receive proper counseling about possible complications," Wall wrote. Seeking to stay a district-court ruling before an appeals court reviews the merits of the decision used to be uncommon. But the Trump administration has not hesitated to take such cases to the more conservative Supreme Court - far more than previous administrations - and most often has been rewarded. The abortion rights supporters who brought the case said there is no need for the Supreme Court to intervene. "With COVID-19 raging across the nation - and despite being rebuffed twice in the courts - the Trump administration refuses to end its crusade to subject abortion patients and their families to entirely unnecessary exposure risks," Julia Kaye, staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project, said in a statement. "Forcing patients to travel during a pandemic just to pick up a pill is irrational and dangerous, which is why the medical community uniformly opposes this senseless rule. We hope the Supreme Court will deny the Trump administration's cruel attempt to score political points by putting people seeking essential reproductive health care at needless risk." Medication abortions require taking two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. They have been in use since 2000, and in 2016 the FDA eliminated the requirement that the first drug be administered in a hospital, clinic or doctor's office. FDA experts said it was just as safe for a woman to take the medications at home. But the FDA did not relax the requirement that the woman pick up the pills in person and sign for them. The challengers say that mifepristone is the only drug that the FDA requires be dispensed in a clinical setting, though patients may self-administer it at home. They said in filings in lower courts that the increased use of telemedicine, especially during the pandemic, made a visit unnecessary. "Because of the [FDA] requirements, patients who have already been evaluated, counseled, and prescribed mifepristone by a certified clinician using telemedicine or at a prior in-person visit cannot avoid COVID-19 risks by obtaining mifepristone by mail, but are forced to travel to a clinical setting solely to pick up a pill and sign a form," Kaye wrote. She noted that the FDA had relaxed the rules for other drugs during the pandemic, including some opioids. But the administration told the Supreme Court that Chuang was substituting his own judgment for that of the experts at the FDA. "The court failed to appreciate questions that it should have left for the FDA to resolve, such as whether counseling at the time of dispensing might be more effective because it might be closer in time to when the patient takes the drug or more effective at communicating risks," the government's petition states. The court has faced a string of emergency requests spawned by the pandemic, involving accommodations for voting and restrictions on gatherings such as worship services, for instance. It has almost always deferred to government officials who made the rules, rather than with judges granting relief to challengers. The current case is Food and Drug Administration v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This Friday, Aug. 28, advocates from across the US will gather with Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) for the "Commitment: Get your Knee Off our Necks" March on Washington. A grassroots Colorado movement calling for new "Floyd Rights" laws that protect human dignity during detainment and arrest will add its voice to a chorus calling for more aggressive police reform. "The physical act of taking a suspect into custody is a moment of extreme vulnerability, fear and uncertainty for many people in America," says Floyd Rights co-founder Dr. Stuart Lord. "Floyd Rights curtail the use of force by police and substantially limit when the police may ever use excessive or lethal force." "The codification of Floyd Rights will reframe the way police interact with the public," says Floyd Rights co-founder Douglas Katich, "and, in turn, how the public perceive the police from serve and protect to serve and respect." The Floyd Rights movement advocates changing the legal standard when police may use force to conform to the European Convention on Human Rights, which allows police use of force (any force) only when it is "absolutely necessary" and the means of force used must be proportionate to the lawful police objective pursued. In contrast, the U.S. minimum constraint on the use of police force is the inherently vague "reasonableness standard." The reasonableness standard perpetuates racial disparity because the law defers to an officer's subjective perceptions of threat, which are influenced by implicit and explicit bias and racial stereotypes. According to Douglas Katich, "quite simply, many acts of police brutality and police killings justified under America's standard are unlawful under Europe's standard." The Floyd Rights movement also advocates that police orally provide a detained suspect with a declaration of rights at the moment of detainment, akin to our Miranda Rights: "You have the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and without injury at all times. It is my duty to ensure you are not harmed. I will not use force unless it is absolutely necessary. If the use of force is necessary, only the very minimum force will be used, and excessive force will never be used." "Police must observe and respect our fundamental rights. If our rights are clearly defined, articulated and easily understood, this ensures their protection," states Dr. Lord. According to Mr. Katich, "policing from a human rights-based approach will help naturally de-escalate and reduce the use of force by the police and this also promotes police legitimacy." The senseless killing of George Floyd and the absurd shooting of Jacob Blake spotlight the scourge of police brutality and police killings of unarmed people of color in America. Public demand for police reform has been elevated in recent years by the Black Lives Matter movement and also by current civilian protests happening throughout the country. Still, a long legacy of racist policing has led to a death rate for Black men at the hands of the police that is three to four times higher than for White men, says the American Journal of Public Health. (https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304559) About Floyd Rights: Floyd Rights is a non-profit organization established in Boulder, Colorado. Floyd Rights' mission is to effectuate substantive legal change at the federal, state and municipal levels through scholarship, research and legislative lobbying efforts designed to achieve a human-rights-first policing framework that promotes human dignity and the sanctity of life, while, at the same time, rebuilding the public's trust in the police. See www.floydrights.org for more information about Floyd Rights. To understand why newly enacted police reform laws and pending legislation do not go far enough to safeguard against police brutality, see https://www.floydrights.org/be-empowered For more about Rev Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN), see: https://nationalactionnetwork.net/about For more about the "Commitment: Get your Knee Off our Necks" March, see https://nationalactionnetwork.net/?fbclid=IwAR0IaJZvEu40M7VFYS4Lh6sEXpHGFcZse3vERS-oSXmYsvtRF3By0uUM4eo Press Contact: Kip Hubbard, [email protected] or 303-704-0471 Related Files Floyd Rights Statement.docx Related Images floyd-rights.png Floyd Rights Related Links Website Facebook SOURCE Floyd Rights Related Links http://www.floydrights.org Melania Trump grumbled to her close friend that Ivanka didn't show her respect as First Lady, was constantly trying to steal the spotlight and behaved like she was starring on The Apprentice again, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. Melania's former friend and staffer Stephanie Winston Wolkoff is set to release her book Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady next Tuesday. It was revealed on Monday by media reporter Yashar Ali that Wolkoff has tapes of Melania making disparaging remarks about Donald Trump and his children. A source connected to the book has revealed to DailyMail.com that the 50-year-old's particular gripe was with Ivanka, explaining Melania's issues with her eldest step daughter kicked off when Trump was elected President. The insider said: 'Melania complained that Ivanka was always competing with her for his attention, as if she knew better and was more capable of being the First Lady. 'Melania spoke out against Ivanka's incessant need to involve herself in just about everything in the White House, even if it didn't concern her. She would always find some way to meddle, someway to make her point be heard.' Melania Trump grumbled to her close friend that Ivanka didn't show her respect as First Lady, was constantly trying to steal the spotlight and behaved like she was starring on The Apprentice again, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal A source connected to an upcoming book told DailyMail.com: 'Melania said Ivanka has not shown her the respect a First Lady deserves and is constantly trying to steal the spotlight by overstepping her boundaries and behaving like her father's most trusted confidant a la The Apprentice.' Pictured: Ivanka and her father Donald Trump on The Apprentice in 2007 Melania's former friend and staffer Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (pictured together) is set to release her book Melania and Me on Tuesday. It was revealed on Monday she has tapes of the First Lady making disparaging remarks about the Trump and his children, particularly Ivanka Melania and her relationship with Ivanka has long been reported as tense. Previous reports claim Melania had been heard referring to Ivanka as 'The Princess', while a younger Ivanka called her step mother 'The Portrait' because she rarely spoke. However, this will be the first time the extent of the frostiness between the two will be laid bare in perhaps Melania's own words. The source added to DailyMail.com: 'There's no warmth between those two.' The crux of the issue is that Melania feels that Ivanka has 'overstepped' her boundaries in her role at the White House. When Trump took office in January 2017, Ivanka moved with her husband Jared Kushner to Washington D.C. She was named as Senior Advisor to the President - an unusual position for a child of the President's. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff's book 'Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady' will be released on September 1 Ivanka has drawn criticism several times for being at her father's side at important political meetings and trips, such as the G20 summit in 2019. The source said: 'Melania said Ivanka has not shown her the respect a First Lady deserves and is constantly trying to steal the spotlight by overstepping her boundaries and behaving like her father's most trusted confidant a la The Apprentice. 'Behind Ivanka's back, Melania would often grumble to her inner circle that there's only one First Lady and that her husband was the person elected, not his entire family, referring to his kids.' In response to the initial reports that Wolkoff's book included details that Melania trashed the Trump children, Melania's closet aide Stephanie Grisham said she's never heard her make such remarks. 'No. I've never heard Mrs. Trump say anything disparaging about the family,' Grisham, who serves as the first lady's chief of staff, said on Tuesday. She added: 'They're a close-knit family. She's talked about them many times publicly. 'I've heard a little bit about this book. I don't know much about it. It sounds like it's just another one of those books that unfortunately people are writing.' Grisham also noted if Melania was recorded without her knowledge it was 'unfortunate' that she would be taken advantage of by a friend. 'If there were any recordings taken it's really unfortunate to take advantage of somebody's trust like that while being a friend, but I don't know much about the book. We're focused on the work we're doing,' she said. Melania and her relationship with her elder step daughter has long been reported as tense, but this will be the first time the extent of the frostiness will be laid bare in perhaps Melania's own words. Pictured: Melania addressing the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night The insider said: 'Melania complained that Ivanka was always competing with her for his attention, as if she knew better and was more capable of being the First Lady.' Pictured: Ivanka, Melania and President Trump with Pope Francis in 2017 Wolkoff, the former director of special events at Vogue who headed nine Met galas, met Melania Knauss in 2003 and 'had a front row seat to the transformation of Donald Trump's then girlfriend from a rough-cut gem to a precious diamond,' the book's description reads. Wolkoff served as an informal, unpaid adviser to Melania in the East Wing of the White House until February 2018 when she left the position amid controversy. She was in the news at the time after reports showed that her firm, WIS Media Partners, received a $26 million payment for its work on the inaugural, with her personal take home was reported to be $1.62 million although later reports showed she received about $500,000 personally while the rest went to other producers working on the event. Melania dismissed her from the East Wing with an email. 'I am sorry that the professional part of our relationship has come to an end, but I am comforted in the fact that our [friendship] far outweigh[s] politics,' the first lady wrote. 'Thank you Again! Much love.' But the source told DailyMail.com that their friendship did not survive, explaining: 'Melania doesn't really have any close friends who have her best interests at heart.' 'Stephanie was one of those types of friends. When others backed off, she offered her undivided attention and support to Melania. 'Unfortunately this type of loyalty and trust was not reciprocated and in the end Stephanie was made the scapegoat. 'This is a person who risked everything, her friends, her reputation, her career to do good by Melania. She always had her back professionally and personally. 'Stephanie's integrity and work ethic speaks for itself. She's not looking to make a buck off her book. This isn't about money, it's about exposing the truth.' The book will address some of the most controversial and infamous moments involving Melania Trump, including Stormy Daniels' claim she had an affair with Trump, which he has denied, and that infamous jacket she wore: 'I really don't care, do u?' (pictured in 2018) The book will address some of the most controversial and infamous moments involving Melania Trump, including Stormy Daniels' claim she had an affair with Trump, which he has denied, and that infamous jacket she wore: 'I really don't care, do u?' The pre-order blurb for the book hints at a string of revelations. 'How did Melania react to the Access Hollywood tape and her husband's affair with Stormy Daniels? Does she get along well with Ivanka? Why did she wear that jacket with 'I really don't care, do u?' printed on the back? Is Melania happy being First Lady? And what really happened with the inauguration's funding of $107 million? Wolkoff has some ideas,' the description says. 'What Melania wants, Melania gets' - reads the tagline in the book's description on Amazon.com. Wolkoff's book is the latest in a spate of books about President Donald Trump, the first lady and the administration, following a tell-all by Mary Trump, the president's niece, and from former National Security Adviser John Bolton. It's also the second book about the notoriously private first lady to come out this fall. Mary Jordan's 'The Art of Her Deal' provided an in-depth biography of Melania and included details about how she renegotiated her prenup after Donald Trump won the 2016 election, addressed the plastic surgery rumors, and detailed Melania's relationship with Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's eldest daughter. Recently I came to know that the Division Forest Officer in Morang and his assistant tested positive for coronavirus on August 5. The officer, who did not have any apparent travel history to the Covid-19-hit zone, had tested negative for the virus just five days before that. Therefore, he and his near ones were shocked to know his report. Later, it was found that he had gone to Letang and Pathibhara of the district on August 1 for monitoring of a programme related to the scientific forest management programme. Although it is not confirmed, the investigators believe he might have contracted the virus during the visit. More than 100 people related to the forestry sector including members of community forest user group were present in a briefing after the completion of monitoring. This is just a representative incident that we came to know about. There might be a lot of other cases which are unknown and out of media coverage. Although foresters are aware of the risk of Covid-19 at the workplace, they are working continuously from the very beginning of this pandemic regardless of their health concerns. Being sensitive to the virus, we all are aware that the government of Nepal imposed a four-month-long lockdown from March 24 to July 21. During that period, the government decided to shut all offices, industries, transportation including national and international flights, schools, colleges, and universities. Only essential services like health, security, food supply, water supply, dairy, electricity, telecommunication, news and information, customs, quarantine, waste management were requested to make functional fulfilling the WHO health safety criteria. For other offices, the government made a provision to open only with limited essential staff, or if the office in-charge needs them urgently. All others were requested to stay home. The government nowhere mentioned the forestry services would stay open. In order to motivate frontline workers during this Covid-19 pandemic, the government of Nepal has announced a fund worth Rs five million which would compensate members of the families of the frontline workers who die of Covid-19. The frontline workers include health workers, security personnel, ambulance drivers, employees of local units and other individuals deployed to fight Covid-19. The forestry sector and people working in the sector are mentioned nowhere. Since more than 44% of our land is covered by forests and about 90% of the rural populations livelihood depends upon forests and forest-based productions, this is unfair. As soon as the government announced the lockdown, peoples dependence on forests increased exponentially. Those who were using LPG or alternative fuel also began using firewood due to the fear of shortage and black marketing of LPG. They began to store LPG cylinders for future use. The demand for forest-based products shifted back to the condition it was two decades ago; the need of forest user groups is once again shifted to firewood collection than timber today. Thus, it resulted in the illegal felling and harvesting of trees. In order to control such activities, forest workers are required to constantly be around the locals, risking their health. They kept their services in the first place and their own health at the second by continuing their services. A lot of youth working abroad have come back to Nepal as soon as the government announced the lockdown. They are likely to spend their time in recreational activities that might include pleasure hunting, ultimately leading towards increased illegal poaching and hunting of animals. Due to increased illegal harvesting of trees and poaching of wildlife, the responsible forest employees all over Nepal have stayed active to work voluntarily in order to conserve the forests and wildlife without waiting for government order. Therefore, they should be treated respectfully. Forestry involves semi-military jobs also. They should also work closely with the communities. They have to go to the contact of local people every single day. This justifies forestry employees were at high risk of Covid-19. Forest plays a vital role in overcoming rural livelihood challenges. Thus, the government of Nepal should think about dutiful and responsible forest officers, conservation officers and others who are engaged in forest and biodiversity conservation, patrolling to reduce illegal harvesting, hunting and poaching rather than focusing only on health workers, security personnel, ambulance drivers, employees of local units and other individuals deployed to fight Covid-19. It will boost the confidence and efficiency of the forestry sector employees to work during this pandemic situation. It is also essential to test all forestry sector employees who are in direct contact with the communities for coronavirus. Neupane is a biodiversity conservation and wildlife management researcher. Advertisement Russia has released previously-unseen top secret footage of the largest nuclear explosion ever to take place - caused when the country detonated its Tsar Bomba device over the Barents Sea in 1961. Soviet photographers struggled to capture the scale of the blast caused by the 50 megaton thermonuclear bomb, which exploded with the force of 50million tons of conventional explosives, or 3,333 times the force of the bomb that levelled Hiroshima. Cameras positioned hundreds of miles from the blast and set up for low-light conditions so as not to be blinded by the flash, captured a fireball rising into the sky for a full 40 seconds before it dissipated into a mushroom cloud. More footage from an aircraft that was 100 miles from the blast then captured the mushroom cloud rising into the atmosphere. At its peak, the cloud rose 213,000ft into the air - or six times the cruising altitude of a passenger jet. Russia's state nuclear energy agency has released never-before-seen footage of the Tsar Bomba test - the largest man-made explosion in human history, caused when the country detonated a 50 megaton thermonuclear bomb in 1961 The bomb was detonated 13,000ft above an island in the Arctic Circle, exploding with 3,333 times the power of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima as Soviet cameramen filmed from hundreds of miles away (pictured, the resulting fireball) A blinding flash that was seen as far away as Norway gave way to a 40-second fireball and then a mushroom cloud that extended 213,000ft into the atmosphere - six times the height of a passenger plane's cruising altitude The bomb was the most powerful nuclear device ever created - after America's 15 megaton Castle Bravo bomb that was detonated in 1954 - and was housed inside a huge bomb case (pictured above) The footage, which has been kept secret by the Kremlin for almost six decades, was released on August 20 by Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear agency, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the agency's founding. The Tsar Bomba, officially designated RDS-220 by the Russian military, was the largest nuclear bomb ever created, and was developed at the height of the Cold War to compete with thermonuclear devices produced by the USA. In 1954, America had detonated its largest thermonuclear device - designed to be far more powerful than earlier atomic bombs - which was named Castle Bravo and exploded in the Marshall Islands with 15 megatons of force. The Soviet military quickly set about trying to top it, and by 1961 had constructed a much larger bomb - which would set a record the largest nuclear device ever built. Placed inside an aircraft bomb case, the nuclear device was taken by train to the Olenya airbase where it was loaded into the belly of a Tu-95 long-range bomber. On October 30, the bomber flew 600 miles to Severny Island - deep inside the Arctic Circle - where the bomb was dropped while attached to a parachute, giving the aircraft enough time to escape the blast radius. When the bomb had reached 13,000ft above the ground it was detonated, generating the most powerful man-made explosion in history. A specially-engineered Tu-95 bomber carried the Tsar Bomba some 600 miles from an airfield in northern Russia to the site of the test - an outcrop of the remote Severny Island The bomb was attached to a parachute for the drop, slowing its descent so the pilot of the bomber could get outside of the blast radius before the device was detonated Footage from inside the cockpit of the bomber shows how bright the flash from the device was. The aircraft lost 1,000ft of altitude as the shockwave from the blast hit, but still managed to land safely The shockwave from the blast caused an earthquake that measured 5.0 on the Richter scale, with radioactive fallout recorded across Scandinavia. Partly as a result of the blast, Russia and the USA agreed to ban open-air nuclear testing in 1963 For context, if dropped in the centre of London, the bomb and resulting shockwave would wipe the city off the map - causing third-degree burns to people as far away as Reading. The blast was also big enough to register as a 5.0 earthquake on the Richter scale, and was picked up by seismological centres around the world. The flash from the blast could be seen in Norway, while radioactive fallout ended up distributing itself widely across Scandinavia, prompting international condemnation of the test. In 1963, partly as a result of the fallout from the Tsar Bomba test, the United States and Russia signed a treaty banning all atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons - meaning they had to be tested underground. Instead of building a bigger device than the Tsar Bomba, the US decided it would be impractical for use in conflict and instead raced to miniturize the bombs so they could be fitted on missiles. A subsequent treaty in 1990 banned all nuclear testing. In 2017, 84 nations singed the UN's Nuclear Ban Treaty, forbidding signatories from developing, testing, building or stockpiling nuclear arms. However, not a single nuclear-armed nation agreed to sign the pact. By Susan Heavey, Lawrence White and Anne Marie Roantree WASHINGTON/LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday renewed criticism of British bank HSBC for its reported treatment of customers linked with the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, saying China was "bullying" the United Kingdom. Pompeo cited reports of Hong Kong-based executives at Next Media being unable to access their HSBC bank accounts and said the bank was "maintaining accounts for individuals who have been sanctioned for denying freedom for Hong Kongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom." "Free nations must ensure that corporate interests are not suborned by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to aid its political repression," Pompeo said in a statement. Next Media is the previous name of Next Digital <0282.HK>, publisher of the Apple Daily newspaper and part-owned by democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who was arrested Aug. 10 under Hong Kong's new security law. While Next Digital's business account remains open, HSBC has frozen Lai's personal and private business accounts, as well as the personal and credit card accounts of senior executive Mark Simon, Simon told Reuters. The bank is still taking loan and credit card payments from the accounts despite the block, Simon said. A spokeswoman for London-based HSBC declined to comment on Pompeo's remarks or the allegations made by Next Digital. A spokesman for Britain's Foreign & Commonwealth Office said: "We are in close contact with a wide range of businesses in Hong Kong and are working with them on the impact of the national security legislation and related developments." China's Foreign Affairs Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. HSBC has in recent months faced mounting pressure on both sides of the Atlantic as it attempts to balance its need to maintain access to the Chinese market with appeasing lawmakers in the United States and Britain critical of Beijing's handling of the democracy movement in Hong Kong. Story continues Senior British and U.S. politicians have criticized HSBC and Standard Chartered after the banks backed China's national security law for the territory. Last month, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reprimanded HSBC and other banks for supporting the new law, saying the rights of the people of Hong Kong should not be sacrificed for bankers' bonuses. Global banks have been examining whether their clients in Hong Kong have ties to the city's pro-democracy movement, in an attempt to avoid getting caught in the crosshairs of the security law, Reuters reported last month. (Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington, Lawrence White and Sinead Cruise in London, and Anne Marie Roantree in Hong Kong; additional reporting by Beijing bureau and Juby Babu in Bengaluru; editing by Steve Orlofsky and Rosalba O'Brien) This is by no means a phenomenon unique to the U.S. In South Korea, investors have crowded into whats known locally as the seven princesses: two biotechs, two electric-vehicle battery makers and three internet companies. On average, they have rallied about 90% this year, outperforming FAANG stocks (Facebook Inc., Apple Inc., Amazon Inc., Netflix Inc. and Google parent, Alphabet Inc.). Together, the princesses account for more than 18% of the Kospi Index, promising to overtake the ultimate blue chip, Samsung Electronics Co. as the dominant market mover. Mesa Brown, 10, cleans her heifer, Rosa. Mesa and her sisters have presented their livestock at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. But the event, which runs Jan. 9-16, will be virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more ALBANY TOWNSHIP, Pa. Manure wont pack the same punch when the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show goes online this January. The odors one of the first things that visitors, particularly city dwellers and suburbanites, notice when entering the labyrinthine exhibition complex in Harrisburg, along with bleating sheep and squealing pigs, the collective din of thousands of animals from every corner of the state. But for the people who show those animals at competitions there, the children who raise them from birth to slaughter, the Farm Show is a rite of passage, equal parts work and vacation, an event that hits every sense, not just the nose. Thats why last weeks news that the 2021 show was going virtual, while not a surprise, was still a bummer. The first thing anyone ever asks me is if they can pet it, Mesa Brown, 10, said last week in a barn full of dark heifers at her familys farm in this rural Berks County township. Brown and her sister Savannah, 15, are two of six children and both are 4-H members, part of the Schuylkill County chapter,as their two older siblings were before them. Both had planned to show about a half-dozen heifers in Harrisburg and are now awaiting the details on how exactly the virtual show, running Jan. 9-16, will work. The Farm Show would be the third time Savannah and Mesa presented livestock. Michele Brown, their mother, said some judging competitions have already taken place online, where children set up a phone or laptop camera and simply present their animals to judges or panels. Its just one-dimensional, though. If your goal for Farm Show or any other competition is to win a banner, virtual is for you, she said. The parts that are missing from virtual are why we do what we do. Going to Farm Show is like a sensory overload extravaganza. Its one thing to see it on TV, but your perspective is limited and compartmentalized. READ MORE: Commuting rabbis and kosher chickens: A rural Pa. poultry processors unique challenge in keeping COVID-19 at bay Kayla Fusselman, program assistant for Carbon Countys 4-H program, said the virtual showings may look like a negative, but she believes the pandemic has prompted the 118-year-old organization to think outside the box. Our residential summer camps turned into Camp in a Box kits that were mailed out with virtual fireside meetings to keep the traditions alive, Fusselman said. The Farm Shows decision to go virtual is also a major blow to vendors and organizations that depend on the eight-day event for the bulk of their yearly fund-raising. Pennsylvanias show, which began in 1917, is the largest indoor agricultural event held in the United States. Nearly 6,000 animals compete in 10,000 judging events and exhibits. For the 500,000 visitors, that means no famous milkshakes served up by the nonprofit Pennsylvania Dairymens Association. We sell thousands of them, and in 2019, we had enough revenue to give over $400,000 in the form of scholarships, youth development programs, and promotions, back into agriculture. Thats significant, said Dave Smith, executive director of the Dairymens Association. Like everyone, were going to need to make the best of it and find alternatives. In a news conference last week, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reiterated that the show is not canceled. The virtual event may still even have a butter sculpture, which is crafted by a different artist every year. It has required us to sort of rethink everything we are doing in terms of the Farm Show and what had been sort of institutionalized, of just people stepping [inside], Redding said. Many Republican lawmakers in the state were critical of the decision to cancel the in-person show. Rep. Mark Keller (R., Perry/Cumberland), chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said that doing so would be devastating to the children and teens showing animals. Keller pointed out Pennsylvanias notoriously slow rural internet as one of the major drawbacks to a virtual show. At the Brown farm in Berks County, things wont change much for Savannah and Mesa. Theyll still get up at 7 a.m. to brush, feed, and wash their steers and heifers. Daily work generally takes them about an hour. Their muck boots, covered in fresh manure and hay, never step foot in the house. As the girls talked one day last week, their little sister, Maddie, 7, splashed around in the heifers trough. Cattle, like people, arent all the same, they said. Most are docile. Others are cranky. These guys can get up to 500 pounds and heavier quick, and the other animals, you can move them around a lot easier, Savannah said. Sometimes, if they have a bad day, these might knock you over. READ MORE: Grad student visited every Pennsylvania state park 121 of them in 303 days. Give that guy a bandanna. They also get jealous if one heifer is getting her coat brushed a bit too long. Not all of them do, but some of them do, Mesa added. Both girls are interested in careers in agriculture like their oldest sister, Sierra, who is studying to be a large-animal veterinarian at Kansas State University. Savannah, a sophomore at Kempton New Church School, is interested in being a veterinary technician. Mesa wants to get married and live on a farm, her mother said. The girls said the virtual show wont be able to replace the social component, seeing friends from across the state who have mutual interests. Theyll also lose the chance to educate adults unaccustomed to farm life on the ins-and-outs of livestock. Some people never get to a farm and they have false ideas about them and I enjoy giving them the facts and stuff, Savannah said. They dont get to go into a barn every day like we do. Calif. church fined $10,000 for singing, meeting inside; pastor vows to 'take a stand' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The pastor of a California church fined $10,000 for holding indoor worship services despite adhering to social distancing guidelines has begged Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow churches to reopen, warning that ignoring the spiritual health of the community will result in chaos. Last Friday, North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara was fined $5,000 for holding a morning service and $5,000 for the evening service in violation of orders from Gov. Newsom, who has mandated that churches in some counties refrain from indoor services amid the pandemic. The church was also served a written citation for singing in each worship service although social distancing was practiced in the auditorium that seats 3,000 people, according to a statement sent to The Christian Post. The four-page letter posted on the front door of the church accused North Valley Baptist of failing to prevent those attending, performing and speaking at North Valley Baptists services from singing. In the letter, county officials revealed they had been sending agents into the church to spy on the congregation during worship services. This activity is unlawful, the notice stated. The county understands that singing is an intimate and meaningful component of religious worship. However, public health experts have also determined that singing together in close proximity and without face coverings transmits virus particles further in the air than breathing or speaking quietly. The county demanded that North Valley Baptist immediately cease their activities, warning that failure to do so will result in enforcement action by the county. In a video message posted on the churchs Facebook page, Senior Pastor Jack Trieber called the countys decision to punish North Valley Baptist for worshiping out of bounds. We're good neighbors, he said. We're trying to do everything possible. We're trying to help poor people. We're trying to help the needy. We're trying to help people that are sick. So we have a situation here where the county health director said now, I'm in charge of the health. And God bless you. You're not elected, but God bless. We appreciate you. But I'm in charge of the spiritual health of the people in this city and in this area. I've been trying to do it for 45 years. Though health is [of the] utmost importance, spiritual health is supreme. Because we've been locked out in this county of churches, suicide is up, domestic violence, addiction is up, homelessness is up, alcoholism is up. We need to get back to worshiping God. I am commanded to worship God. Trieber said that while he wants to obey authority, in this situation, authorities have overstepped boundaries. I plead with you, back off, he said. Open up the spiritual environment of this valley immediately because we're going to see chaos. Im not threatening that were going to create chaos ... but I am willing to take a stand. Yes, let's be safe. Let's be careful. But this area needs the church, he concluded. Earlier in his message, Pastor Trieber revealed that for months, the church closed its doors, school, bus service, and jail ministry in compliance with Gov. Newsoms orders. But after it became evident the church was no longer in a hotspot, they decided to reopen while adhering to social distancing guidelines. For 24 weeks, we have tried to obey authority. We were told that thousands were going to die. There are 2.1 million people in our valley. We obeyed to the letter. Now we have found out not thousands have perished but 224 people, 90 plus were in rest homes. God bless them. But this is America. To think that a person can say you cannot sing at church, you cannot preach without a mask on, you cannot communicate with people. They said, Pastor, you can meet with 60 people outside, but we cannot sing, said Trieber. "You can't have any law against assembling in God's house. None. I know we have a Constitutional right to worship, but we have a Higher Power that we answer to. I have a biblical mandate. We have obeyed authority in this church. We've always obeyed authority. But when local authority begins to disregard this authority, we go with this book right here," he added, while holding a Bible. Liberty Counsel, which defends religious freedom, pointed out that Newsoms orders prohibit all indoor worship services, including home Bible studies and fellowship, while encouraging mass gatherings of protesters throughout the state. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver argued, The same governor who encourages mass protests, bans all worship and is now fining churches for their right to assemble and worship. The same governor who says the church can meet for secular services, bans the church from having religious worship. This unconstitutional hostility against religious worship must end. In recent weeks, churches across the state have found themselves embroiled in legal battles due to state closure and reopening orders. Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks was found to be in contempt of court last Friday for violating the state's COVID-19 health orders. Additionally, authorities in Sun Valley recently attempted for the fourth time to obtain a court order that will close Pastor John MacArthur's Grace Community Church. Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health threatened MacArthur with repercussions such as fines and even possible arrest if his church doesnt comply with state orders. Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled this week that the countys attempt to obtain a restraining order did not meet statutory requirements. A 32-year-old man was struck by a Fairhaven police cruiser late Tuesday night near a 7-Eleven on Route 6 in Fairhaven, the Bristol District Attorneys office said on Wednesday. Massachusetts State Police are investigating the incident that occurred around 11 p.m. on Tuesday night. Authorities said the man was in the roadway just west of the convenience store when the 2014 Ford Explorer struck him. The victims last known address was in South Weymouth, authorities said. The officer driving the cruiser provided aid to the man after the collision, authorities said. The victim was taken to St. Lukes Hospital in New Bedford before being transferred to Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, authorities said. He is in critical condition, the district attorneys office said. No further information was released about the victim or the officer. The investigation is being conducted by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorneys office. The accident reconstruction is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. ALBANY More than five years after being charged with bribery and corruption, former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver reported to a federal prison in Otisville, Orange County, on Wednesday afternoon to begin serving a term of more than six years. Silver's hard-fought legal battle with the U.S. Justice Department, including two appeals of his convictions by trial juries, ended on July 23 when a federal judge sentenced him to 78 months in prison and fined him $1 million. His conviction and sentencing were the culmination of a series of prosecutions by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan that rocked state government and brought down some of its most powerful and storied figures during a years-long crusade by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara that also led to the conviction and imprisonment of former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. Silver, 76, who lives in lower Manhattan, had seized on the state's skeletal financial disclosure rules to enrich himself in an intricate money laundering and bribery scheme using the power of his office and the notoriety of his position as one of New York's three most power figures. Prosecutors, in a sentencing memorandum, cited a probation report that concluded Silver was simply motivated by greed. "Silver is an example of why the public has lost faith in their elected officials," they wrote. Previously: Ex-Speaker Silver, 76, gets 6 1/2 years in prison Editorial: Silver's sentence is a message Sheldon Silver appeal bid fails Although an appeals court had vacated three of the seven counts on which Silver was convicted at his second trial, they declined to pursue a third trial and asked the judge to sentence Silver on the four counts that were affirmed by the appellate decision, including a money-laundering charge. The government had requested a sentence of 84 months. Silver had remained free on $200,000 bond since his arrest on Jan. 22, 2015. He appealed both of his convictions to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals: his first conviction was vacated; his second appeal focused on the judge's instructions to the jury that had convicted him a second time. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. He was convicted of two counts each of honest services mail fraud, honest services wire fraud and Hobbs Act extortion, and one count of money laundering. The jury found Silver had accepted nearly $4 million in fees in exchange for taking actions as a legislator that benefited a cancer researcher and real estate developers. Silver was convicted of engaging in a two-pronged corruption scheme that padded his bank account with what prosecutors characterized as bribes and kickbacks disguised as legal fees. Silver's appeals were based in large part on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that whittled away at the federal honest services fraud statutes that had long been among the Justice Department's favored weapons in white-collar and political corruption cases. Silver was of counsel for the Manhattan law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg and accused of helping steer state grants to a doctor who funneled mesothelioma patients to the law firm. The three counts overturned by the federal circuit court related to that work. Silver also did legal work for another Manhattan firm, Goldberg & Iryami, that handled property tax assessment appeals, and was similarly accused of receiving legal fees through that firm from real estate developers that had extensive business before the Legislature. Silver's attorneys argued that the definition of an official act was "the exercise of actual governmental power, the threat to exercise such power or pressure imposed on others to exercise actual government power." Federal prosecutors, whom U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni ultimately agreed with, said an official act includes "any action taken or to be taken under color of official authority." Technavio has been monitoring the oilfield crown block market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.1 mn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 6% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005167/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Oilfield Crown Block Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report of 2020-2024 The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. American Block Inc., CHENGDU ZHONGHANG MACHINERY CO., LTD, MHWirth, Puyang Sida Petroleum Machinery Co., Ltd, and The Crosby Group are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The increasing number of active rig counts have been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Oilfield Crown Block Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Oilfield Crown Block Market is segmented as below: Application Onshore Offshore Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31038 Oilfield Crown Block Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our oilfield crown block market report covers the following areas: Oilfield Crown Block Market size Oilfield Crown Block Market trends Oilfield Crown Block Market industry analysis This study identifies advances in oilfield crown block-associated technologies as one of the prime reasons driving the oilfield crown block market growth during the next few years. Oilfield Crown Block Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the oilfield crown block market, including some of the vendors such as American Block Inc., CHENGDU ZHONGHANG MACHINERY CO., LTD, MHWirth, Puyang Sida Petroleum Machinery Co., Ltd, and The Crosby Group. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the oilfield crown block market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Oilfield Crown Block Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist oilfield crown block market growth during the next five years Estimation of the oilfield crown block market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the oilfield crown block market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of oilfield crown block market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION Market segmentation by application Comparison by application Onshore Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Offshore Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by application PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Increase in upstream deepwater and ultra-deepwater projects Advances in oilfield crown block-associated technologies Declining cost of raw materials PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors American Block Inc. CHENGDU ZHONGHANG MACHINERY CO., LTD MHWirth Puyang Sida Petroleum Machinery Co., Ltd The Crosby Group PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005167/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Thalapathy Vijay's next Master has been constantly getting delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Lokesh Kanagaraj's directorial venture was earlier scheduled to be released on April 9, but after the Tamil Nadu government announced to close the theatres in the state, the makers had to postpone the Vijay-starrer. Master has already created a solid buzz amongst the masses. Vijay's fans can't keep calm to witness Thalapathy's magic on the big screen. However, they will now have to wait for a long time to see the film in theatres. As we all know that Master makers have already decided to release the film in theatres, and since then, fans are eagerly waiting for state government's decision to reopen cinema halls. But recently, Tamil Nadu Information and Broadcasting Minister Kadambur Raju informed media that they will not open the theatres in the state until the situations get better. In an interaction with media, the Minister said that it is not possible to re-open theatres in Tamil Nadu as it could increase the COVID-19 spread because of large gatherings. He also confirmed that theatres are likely to reopen only after situation returns back to normal. The I&B minister of Tamil Nadu also shared his opinion on OTT releases. He feels releasing films directly on OTT is not healthy for the film industry. Well, this decision has broken the hearts of Vijay's fans as they were hoping for some positive news from the state government. Apart from Master, Dhanush-starrer Jagame Thandhiram and Vikram's Cobra might also get delayed, as the makers of those films have also decided to release it in theatres. On the other hand, Suriya also preferred to release his next Soorarai Pottru on OTT platform. However, the distributors are disappointed with his decision. Also Read : Master Co-Producer Rubbishes Rumours Of Vijay Starrer Getting An OTT Release! Coming back to Master, Vijay's next also features Vijay Sethupathi, Malavika Mohanan and Andrea Jeremiah in key roles. Now, after the TN government's decision, fans are waiting for the reaction of Master's makers. Also Read : Dhanush Fans Request Makers To Release Jagame Thandhiram In Theatres; Trend #WeWantJTOnTheatres Chandigarh: With just days to go for the NEET and JEE exams for admission to medical and engineering colleges being conducted amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed state advocate general Atul Nanda to coordinate with his counterparts in other opposition-ruled states for filing a collective review petition in the Supreme Court, seeking deferment of the exams. Amarinder gave the direction after a virtual meeting convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi with the chief ministers of seven opposition-ruled states to discuss this and other issues of common concern, including delay in GST compensation release and the farm ordinances by the Centre, according to an official release. There is no time to seek time from the Prime Minister to discuss the issue. Let us all get together to move the Supreme Court for postponement of the exams, which are threatening the lives of lakhs of students, he said in response to a suggestion in this regard. Pointing out that world over, exams were being held online, the Punjab chief minister suggested that JEE/NEET and other professional exams could also be held online and there was no need to put the students at risk. STATES NOT CONSULTED ON NEP: CAPT Referring to the New Education Policy, Amarinder said that it was thrust on the states without consultation. He said his government would be setting up a committee soon to assess the impact of the New Education Policy on the states education system and finances. Every state has its own system, which the Government of India failed to take into account before announcing the policy, he said. On the issue of mandatory final term exams for colleges/universities, he said the University Grants Commission (UGC) had failed to take cognisance of his governments concerns. How can we have exams with Covid projected to peak in the state in September? he said, adding that I also want students to take exams and pass too, but how can I do this in the midst of the crisis? Many Bryan-College Station hotels were full late Tuesday as mandatory evacuations for coastal cities ahead of Hurricane Laura pushed closer led many South Texans to seek refuge locally. I have been reaching out to hotels all day today, and finding no rooms at this time for Wednesday, Experience Bryan-College Station President Kindra Fry wrote in an email Tuesday. There are very few Thursday-Saturday [openings] that I have found, and by now those may be gone as well. I have not heard back from every hotel at this point, but definitely [got] a good sampling. According to an AirBnB search for Brazos County, AirBnB hosts were at 25% capacity for time blocks beginning with today, as of Tuesday night. While Hurricane Laura was not forecast as of Tuesday night to directly affect Brazos County, local officials stood ready to help the community and surrounding areas. Were working with the emergency management really on a daily basis right now and getting prepared to respond to the needs of our community and the Brazos Valley, so not necessarily evacuees, said AJ Renold, executive director of the Heart of Texas chapter of the American Red Cross. SCA to Invest in Pulp Production, to Discontinue Production of Publication Paper at Ortviken Mill Currently, SCA produces coated and uncoated publication paper on three paper machines at Ortviken paper mill in Sundsvall, Sweden. Aug. 26, 2020 (Press Release) - SCA intends to invest SEK 1,45bn in the production of chemically pre-treated thermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP) at the Ortviken paper mill in Sundsvall (Sweden). In parallel, SCA is initiating consultations with trade unions and employee representatives to discontinue the production of publication paper at the mill. SCA intends to invest to achieve an annual production volume of 300,000 tonnes of CTMP pulp at Ortviken, using the existing infrastructure. The investment is expected to give a positive EBITDA-effect of approximately SEK 0.3bn per annum. Expected start of production in the new mill is the beginning of 2023. SCA today has a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of CTMP pulp at the Ostrand pulp mill. This production will be phased out when the new line starts up, which will allow a future increase in the production of kraft pulp at Ostrand Pulp mill. "Our pulp customers want us to grow with them in product segments such as packaging board and hygiene products, segments with healthy growth," says Ulf Larsson, SCA's CEO. "In line with our strategy, we have gradually reduced our exposure to publication paper. We now initiate negotiations to leave this product segment completely." Currently, SCA produces coated and uncoated publication paper on three paper machines at Ortviken paper mill with annual sales of approximately SEK 4bn. Demand for publication paper in Western Europe has declined by approximately 5% per year since 2008. During the coronavirus pandemic, demand for publication paper decreased by a further 30-40% and production at Ortviken paper mill has been adapted to the weak order level. This low demand, combined with a weak price development, results in a negative profitability for the operation. The closure of publication paper manufacturing at Ortviken paper mill proposed by SCA will affect about 800 employees, primarily at Ortviken paper mill, but also in other parts of SCA's operations. The closure would result in non-recurrent costs with cashflow effects which are estimated not to exceed SEK 0.9bn and an impairment of about SEK 1.1bn. "Through today's proposals, we intend to continue to develop a strong, sustainable and profitable industry based on our renewable forest raw materials", says Ulf Larsson. "This will have a significant impact on many people and we will in a responsible way seek the best possible solutions for those affected." Negotiations under the Co-determination at Work Act (MBL) with trade unions will now begin regarding the plans to discontinue paper production at Ortviken paper mill, the investment in CTMP production at Ortviken and the impact on other SCA operations. In other jurisdictions affexcted employees and their representatives will be informed and consulted in line with the legal framework. With headquarters in Sundsvall, Sweden, SCA offers paper for packaging and print, pulp, wood products, renewable energy, services for forest owners and efficient transport solutions. In 2019 SCA had approximately 4,000 employees and sales amounted to approximately SEK 19.6 bn (EUR 1.9 bn. For further information, visit: www.sca.com . SOURCE: SCA Editor's note: SCA's website lists the Ortviken paper mill's production capacity at 756,000 tonnes per year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to prevent further ceasefire violations, saying that is essential for kick-starting the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Lavrov expressed Russias readiness to help create the necessary atmosphere for resuming Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations during a meeting with his visiting Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov. He also discussed the Karabakh conflict in a phone call with Armenias Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian. I understand that our common intent is to continue the negotiation process, Lavrov told a joint news conference with Bayramov held after the talks. In this regard, it is important to ensure the necessary atmosphere for setting up a steady negotiating process. We will do our best to foster the creation of such conditions both in the national capacity and as one of the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, he said. Lavrov said that he specifically discussed with Bayramov the Russian, U.S. and French mediators plans to visit the conflict zone and organize talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers. He stressed that the plans are contingent on preventing the kind of deadly ceasefire violations that broke out on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on July 12. We very much hope that what happened in July will not be repeated, added the chief Russian diplomat. The weeklong border clashes involving artillery and attack drones left at least 17 soldiers from both sides dead. Lavrov said last week that active Russian mediation helped to stop them. Speaking at the news conference in Moscow, Bayramov, who was appointed as Azerbaijans foreign minister on July 16, blamed Armenia for the flare-up of violence and accused it of obstructing a Karabakh settlement. He also said that the talks planned by the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the Minsk Group must be substantive. It was not immediately clear whether Lavrovs phone conversation with Mnatsakanian took place just before or after his meeting with Bayramov. The Armenian Foreign Ministry released no details of the conversation. Immediately after the border fighting Yerevan called on Baku to agree to confidence-building measures that would bolster the ceasefire regime. It referred to concrete agreements to that effect that had been reached by Azerbaijani President Aliyev and his former Armenian counterpart President Serzh Sarkisian in 2016. The agreements called for the deployment of more OSCE field observers in the conflict zone and international investigations of armed incidents occurring there. Baku subsequently refused to implement them, saying that they would cement the status quo. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images Jon Ponder Donald Trump pardoned activist Jon Ponder during the Republican National Convention's second night on Tuesday, an evening which was designed to promote the president's campaign theme highlighting the United States as the "land of opportunity." Ponder was arrested in 2005 for an armed bank robbery that landed him in federal prison. Since his release, the Nevada native started working with other prisoners to help them re-enter society with an organization he founded, Hope for Prisoners. "You've done incredible work," Trump, 74, told Ponder in a pre-recorded pardoning ceremony that aired during the second night of the RNC. "Every place in this country is proud of you." Trump, 74, has used criminal justice reform as one of his main campaign pitches to Black voters ahead of the 2020 election between himself and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. CBS News nationwide Battleground Tracker poll fielded just before last weeks Democratic Convention showed that 90 percent of Black likely voters nationwide plan to cast their ballot for Biden. Ponder said in a speech alongside Trump and FBI agent Richard Beasley who arrested him in 2004 that he is "filled with hope" and said he was proud to have "been given a second chance." My hope for America is that formerly incarcerated people will be afforded the opportunity to take advantage of the fact that we live in a nation of second chances, Ponder, 54, said. Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images Jon Ponder (left) and President Donald Trump The White House said Tuesday night that Ponder is "a source of inspiration for former inmates who desire to rebuild their lives when they leave prison." RELATED: Kellyanne Conway Says She's Leaving White House Role to Focus on Her Kids: 'Less Drama, More Mama' Story continues Ponder founded Hope for Prisoners in 2010 a year after he was released from prison, according to The New York Times. The activist was initially arrested in 2005 for a pair of bank robberies in which he slipped notes to tellers saying that he had a gun, the Times reports. Ponder was pardoned of the criminal charges at the state level earlier this year, according to the Las Vegas Journal Review. "Who you are is who you are today, Judge Lidia Stiglich told Ponder upon pardoning him, the Journal Review reported then. And I think youve distinguished yourself both in your own rehabilitation and your service to your community in trying to make that right. RELATED: Trump Praises Turkish President to Man Once Held Captive in Country for 2 Years Ponder's organization provides an 18-month program that includes job training, as well as counseling, and mentorships. Trump first met Ponder in 2018 during the White House's ceremonies for the National Day of Prayer, according to The Hill. The president and Ponder crossed paths again earlier this year, while Trump was delivering remarks at the organization's graduation ceremony in February. In the middle of his speech, Trump pointed Ponder out in the crowd and saying that the White House was considering giving him a pardon, according to The Nevada Independent. Ponder said later that he had "no words" and was in shock that he was being considered for a presidential pardon. The NAACP will replace all leadership of its Philadelphia chapter including its president, Minister Rodney Muhammad, seen here speaking at a news conference in July of 2017. Read more The NAACP will replace all leadership of its Philadelphia chapter including its president, Minister Rodney Muhammad after Muhammad posted an anti-Semitic image on his Facebook page last month, prompting widespread outcry and calls for his resignation. First reported by the Philadelphia Tribune, the local NAACP chapters executive committee voted last week to dissolve itself and relinquish full leadership to the national office, which will appoint new leadership of the Philadelphia chapter next month, a spokesperson for the national NAACP said. The national organization will appoint an administrator for the Philadelphia branch to assume overall responsibility for the operation of the branch, its committees and staff, as well as shepherd a transparent transition to new leadership, the organization said in a statement. Moving forward, it is our continued priority to work with community leaders and faith leaders across Philadelphia and the country to strengthen the long-standing relationship between our communities. READ MORE: Jewish groups call for ouster of local NAACP head over anti-Semitic Facebook post The national takeover will end Muhammads term as chapter president, a position he has held since 2014, and comes after a month of backlash from politicians and Jewish organizations over the social media post. Muhammad, who worked as a paid political consultant for Mayor Jim Kenney until earlier this year, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. He initially told The Inquirer he didnt realize the image which included a caricature of a hook-nosed, yarmulke-wearing figure on the sleeve of an unseen person who is crushing a mass of people with a ring-bedecked hand was offensive. Kenney was critical of the post and called on Muhammad to apologize. Muhammad issued a statement July 27 saying that the NAACP strongly condemns any offensive language or imagery and stands against all forms of hate speech and anti-Semitism. Critics noted that it didnt include an apology and called for his resignation or removal. Muhammad issued a second statement July 30, this time apologizing for the hurt this has caused. I regret the insult, pain, and offense it brought to all, particularly those of the Jewish community. The local chapters executive board confronted Muhammad at a meeting in late July. He came out explaining it and trying to justify it, Bishop J. Louis Felton, the local chapters first vice president, said this month. You do not justify anti-Semitism. Shira Goodman, regional director of the Philadelphia Anti-Defamation League, applauded the NAACPs removal of Muhammad and move to appoint new leadership, saying the actions honor the organizations storied history and mission. While the last few weeks have certainly been challenging, we have been inspired by the support of our friends and allies of all backgrounds and beliefs who came together to condemn hate, Goodman wrote in a statement. We thank the elected officials, faith leaders, civil rights partners and community members who demonstrated moral leadership and courage in rejecting Mr. Muhammads antisemitic post. This has been a painful period in the long-standing and exceptional relationship between the Black and Jewish communities, said Steve Rosenberg, COO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. The NAACP is a preeminent civil rights organization, and we are grateful to both the local branch and national office for taking steps to address this situation and promote healing. We look forward to working with the NAACP to forge closer bonds with our two communities to address systemic racism and bigotry of all kinds. The announcement came after local Black and Jewish leaders held a virtual meeting Tuesday without Muhammads presence to discuss tensions and their future after fallout from the Facebook post. This is the second time in six years that the national NAACP stepped in to make leadership changes in the Philadelphia chapter. J. Whyatt Mondesire, the chapters longtime president, was removed in April 2014, along with board members Sid Booker, Donald Ducky Birts, and the Rev. Elisha Morris. The four had been longtime friends and allies before a very public falling-out evolved into legal action about how Mondesire handled the chapters finances. Mondesire died in 2015. On This Day The Day Suu Kyi Made Her First Public Address in Myanmar Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (at microphone) addresses the rally at the western gate of Shwedagon Pagoda on Aug. 26, 1988. / Htein Win Multiple wildfires are burning in the greater North Bay. Cal Fire is referring to them collectively as the LNU Lightning Complex. LNU stands for Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, and you can find the latest evacuation info here. A map of the fire is available here. The biggest fires are: Hennessey Fire (merged with Gamble, Green, Aetna, Markley, Morgan, Spanish and Round): Napa County, 299,763 acres, 33% contained Walbridge Fire (merged with Stewarts): Sonoma County, west of Healdsburg, 54,923 acres, 17% contained Meyers Fire: Sonoma County, north of Jenner, 2,360 acres, 97% contained --- LATEST Aug. 26, 7:21 p.m. An evacuation order and warnings were issued Wednesday evening for the following areas: In Yolo County, zone 2 is under an immediate order to evacuate. In Lake County, warnings were issued for east of Old Long Valley Road/New Long Valley Road, extending north to the Lake/Colusa County line. An evacuation warning was also issued in Yolo County for zone 3. For a Yolo County evacuation zone map, go here. Aug 26, 3:55 p.m. A handful of evacuations in Napa County have been reduced to evacuation warnings. The areas between Rosedale Road, South to Deer Park Road are now under a warning, which means residents can return to homes at their own risk. Evacuation orders remain in place for nearby Crystal Springs Road, Glass Mountain Road and Deer Creek road. Aug. 26, 11:30 a.m. Cal Fire said at its Wednesday morning press briefing on the LNU Lightning Complex that crews are focused today on containing a section of the Hennessey Fire south of Middletown in Lake County. "The last real significant piece of line construction" is in this area," said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Chris Waters. The Walbridge Fire in Sonoma County continues to also be a challenge as it encompasses both hard-to-access, rugged terrain and residential areas. Officials discussed repopulation efforts in areas where the fire is well-contained and you can learn more about these by watching the full briefing here. Aug. 26, 7:50 a.m. The LNU Lightning Complex in California's Wine Country saw minimal spread overnight, growing from 356,326 acres to 357,046 acres, according to Cal Fire's Wednesday morning status report. Before nightfall, containment stood at 27%. This morning it is at 33%. The LNU Complex started as a group of blazes sparked by lightning strikes more than a week ago. As fires merged, it grew into a monstrous inferno, leveling California's parched landscape and incinerating homes. The third-largest fire in California history, the LNU Complex is spread across five counties: Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Solano and Yolo. Crews were focused on increased fire activity outside the town of Middletown in Lake County overnight. Crews are setting backfires and using bulldozers and hand crews to solidify containment lines. "If you look at that whole northern portion of the fire that's going into Lake County is where we've been putting our efforts to wrap around it," Cal Fire public information officer Chris Bridger said Tuesday night. "You have Calistoga down below it and Middletown above it. There are a lot of residences in there. That portion of the fire was our priority today, and we're working to get lines wrapped around that area." KTVU reported that aircraft were unable to take off from the Cal Fire heliport in Lake County on Tuesday due to active fires and thick smoke. "Firefighters performed what is called a backfiring operation," KTVU reported. "Backfiring operations are fires deliberately set so that the fire burns up the hill instead of down the hill where it has an open field run toward Middletown." "This is the last, most difficult part of the fire," Chris Waters, the Cal Fire operations section chief, said at a Tuesday press briefing. With good weather conditions over the next few days, he's hopeful crews will make progress by the end of the week. The number of homes destroyed continues to grow as ground crews conduct investigations in burn areas. The latest count is more than 978 structures destroyed, 256 damaged and 30,500 threatened. Crews have gained containment of the fire in recent days with cooler temperatures, humid conditions and stable winds suppressing fire activity and allowing firefighters to build containment lines. A huge win came on Monday when the North Bay dodged thunderstorms moving across Northern California; the lightning and erratic winds in the forecast never materialized. The fire has taken five lives and injured four civilians. Cal Fire has reduced some evacuation orders to warnings, and many evacuated zones are expected to be repopulated in the coming days, Cal Fire officials said Tuesday. For full evacuation orders and changes, visit here. FEMA and the California Office of Emergency Services announced survivors of the numerous wildfires across Northern California may now register for financial assistance from the federal government. Funds will go toward home repair and replacement, rent, and other miscellaneous expenses. Visit DisasterAssistance.gov/ for more information. Find more evacuation details below: Sonoma County: Find latest evacuation information at SoCo Emergency. Napa County: Find evacuation information at Napa County Office of Emergency Services. Lake County: Sign up for evacuation information with Lake County here. Solano County: Evacuation information on the Solano County website. Yolo County: Evacuation information on the Solano County website. For updates on the complex, check the Cal Fire website. MORE WILDFIRE COVERAGE: Map: See where wildfires are burning in Bay Area Crews attack 'the last, most difficult part' of the LNU Complex fires SCU Lightning Complex, 25% contained, now second-largest fire in Calif. history Crews to use fire to fight CZU Complex in Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Cruz County posts 'damage map' with homes destroyed in CZU Complex What to do to keep wildfire smoke out of your house Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. The National Students Union of India (NSUI) unit of Goa has urged the government to postpone the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) to the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. Earlier on Tuesday, the National Testing Agency (NTA) reiterated that JEE (Main) and (UG) will be held on the dates announced earlier. It had announced that the JEE (Main) will be held from September 1 to 6 and (UG) on September 13, after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking the postponement of the and JEE scheduled to be held in September 2020. "At a time when the cases of COVID-19 are increasing daily, classes are taking place online and there is a medical emergency in our country during a pandemic, the government cannot expect the students to answer by going to the exam centre which can indeed lead to multiplying of cases," NSUI Goa said. It pointed out that organising the examination would be wastage of time as many students are already suffering from the pandemic. "Hundreds of students are already suffering from COVID-19 and cannot answer their Organising these exams would lead to their wasting of one year. Time and again we have requested the government to cancel all exams, NEET and JEE aspirants are generally below 18 years of age and are the future of the country. Asking them to answer exams would be putting the entire country at a health risk and putting their future at stake," 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.) India and Vietnam on Tuesday agreed to strengthen their economic, defence engagement & enhance cooperation in civil nuclear energy, space and discuss ASEAN matters. Both sides have agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral forums including the UN Security Council. The virtual meeting between India and Vietnam was co-chaired by S Jaishankar and counterpart Pham Binh. India-Vietnam virtual meeting In the virtual meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological cooperation decided to strengthen ties in various emerging areas including civil energy, space, marine sciences and new technologies. Both countries have decided to enhance their bilateral cooperation in line. READ | Indians Joined By Vietnamese, Tibetans In Anti-China Protests At Capitol Hill India's Foreign Ministry said, "Both sides agreed to add new momentum to the economic and defence engagement between the two countries and to explore closer cooperation in emerging areas such as civil nuclear energy, space, marine sciences and new technologies." READ | India's Exports To China Surge By 31% In April-July, Despite Tensions At LAC The South China sea situation is also believed to have been discussed in the India-Vietnam meeting. Vietnam along with few other nations are in disagreement with China concerning the South China sea. China is claiming its authority over most of the South China sea which is a huge reservoir of minerals and hydrocarbons. But, members of ASEAN (Association of Southwest Asian Nation) countries including Vietnam, Philippines and Brunie oppose the Chinese claims. In regards to this matter, Vietnamese ambassador, Pham Sanh Chau discussed the rising tensions with Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla in the meeting. READ | Vietnam's Capital Faces Shortage Of Testing Kits As COVID-19 Cases Rise India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on 25 August said that both nations have decided to cooperate together at various multilateral forums such as the UN Security Council because of their shared views on many regional and global issues. The Ministry also reported that Indian and Vietnam have agreed to coordinate for the ASEAN framework. Other international issues were also discussed between the foreign ministers including the spread of COVID-19. Jaishankar also took to Twitter to thank Deputy PM and FM for co-chairing the India-Vietnam meeting. Concluded the 17th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting. Thank Deputy PM and FM @FMPhamBinhMinh for co-chairing. Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership keeps growing. Ensures peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/Cm2EJGiz58 Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 25, 2020 S Jaishankar praised Vietnam's leadership amid the pandemic and said that India will support the nation in its chairmanship of ASEAN. The Indian statement said,"India and Vietnam also agreed to enhance their bilateral cooperation in line with India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN's Outlook on Indo-Pacific to achieve shared security, prosperity and growth for all in the region." READ | COVID-19: India's Mortality Rate Is One Of The Lowest In The World, Says Health Ministry READ | India Exposes Pakistan's '5 Big Lies' At UN; 'biggest Sponsor Of Cross-border Terrorism' The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new guidance for retail and service workers who may be subjected to violence and threats while trying to get customers to follow COVID-19 policies. In the guidance, the CDC listed some dos and don'ts for employees to prevent workplace violence since they often find themselves asking shoppers to wear masks, keep six feet apart or wait their turn before entering a capacity-limited store. 'Dont argue with a customer if they make threats or become violent,' the outline reads, while listing 'hitting, slapping, kicking, pushing, choking, grabbing' as potential physical attacks on employees trying to enforce COVID-19 rules. The CDC also said that workers should not 'attempt to force anyone who appears upset or violent to follow COVID-19 prevention policies or other policies or practices related to COVID-19'. Scroll down for video The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new guidance for retail and service workers who may be subjected to violence and threats while trying to get customers to follow COVID-19 policies 'Dont argue with a customer if they make threats or become violent,' the outline reads, while listing' hitting, slapping, kicking, pushing, choking, grabbing' as potential physical attacks on employees trying to enforce COVID-19 rules (a mask required sign is seen in New York) The CDC also said that workers should not 'attempt to force anyone who appears upset or violent to follow COVID-19 prevention policies or other policies or practices related to COVID-19'. A mask required sign is seen in Brooklyn According to the CDC, employees should use a nonviolent response to address potentially violent situations. 'This technique involves remaining calm, giving a person space, making sure other people are in the area, and not touching the person or trying to forcibly remove them.' The CDC also lists some actions that companies can take to protect workers, which include: installing panic buttons and having staff enforcing mask-wearing operate in teams of two. The guidance comes just days after the agency changed its guidelines on coronavirus testing, now saying that people who have been exposed to a known case but do not show symptoms don't necessarily need to get tested. According to the new guidelines, if a person has been exposed but doesn't have symptoms, 'you do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual' or a doctor advises it. Previously, the guidance read: 'Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested.' The change comes amid fears that asymptomatic carriers, particularly young people who often show no symptoms, could be driving much of the transmission, leading some experts to fret that the less aggressive testing guidance could allow cases to go undetected. The guidance comes just days after the agency changed its guidelines on coronavirus testing, now saying that people who have been exposed to a known case but do not show symptoms don't necessarily need to get tested. CDC Director Robert Redfield (pictured in July) The CDC guidelines define 'close contact' as spending more than 15 minutes less than six feet away from a person with a COVID-19 infection. 'Not everyone needs to be tested,' the agency's website says. 'If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.' The CDC did not explain the reason for the change, and referred media inquiries to the Department of Health and Human Services. Some experts were baffled by the change in guidelines, given that the CDC estimates that 40 per cent of cases are asymptomatic, and that 50 per cent of transmission occurs before symptoms appear. 'I'm concerned that these recommendations suggest someone who has had substantial exposure to a person with COVID-19 now doesn't need to get tested,' Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, told CNN. 'This is key to contact tracing, especially given that up to 50 percent of all transmission is due to people who do not have symptoms. One wonders why these guidelines were changed -- is it to justify continued deficit of testing?' The CDC has continuously updated its policies with one of its most recent changes made last Friday when the agency lifted its advice that people should self-quarantine after traveling from international locations or from areas that are experiencing high numbers of coronavirus cases. Instead, the public health institution now just says that travelers should 'follow state, territorial, tribal and local recommendations or requirements after travel'. The CDC does note that 'travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19' and says that 'staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19'. Just two weeks ago, CDC Director Robert Redfield issued a warning that the US was approaching what could be the worst fall in public health fall in history if people fail to follow guidelines on slowing the spread of the coronavirus. There are more than 5.7 million cases of the coronavirus in the US with at least 178,578 deaths Redfield said that if the CDC's guidelines are not followed, this could be 'the worst fall, from a public health perspective, we've ever had' as the coronavirus pandemic is compounded with flu season. But despite concerns from teacher unions across the country, Redfield said last week that teachers are 'critical workers' just like doctors and need to continue showing up to schools even after possible exposure to COVID-19. In a telebriefing on Friday, Redfield stressed the importance of educators as classrooms across the country reopen for in-person learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. 'I would just underscore how important our teachers are. I mean, their vocation is extremely important,' the top doctor stated. He added: 'You know they didn't need to be formally recognized as critical infrastructure workers, because I think we all know they are.' According to Yahoo, Redfield then 'drew a parallel to being a physician, a vocation in which individuals have had to "stay in the arena" implying that teachers may need to do the same as well.' Teacher's unions have blasted the move to reopen schools for in-person instruction. In a statement, the National Education Association told Yahoo: 'If the Trump administration truly valued educators, it would have listened to their concerns months ago about safety and it wouldn't be blocking another desperately needed coronavirus relief package that could provide schools with what they need to safely and equitably continue educating students during this pandemic'. 'Instead, this administration is trying to extort educators into a [reckless] reopening that risks lives.' Schools in several states have already been forced to close just days after reopening because students and faculty tested positive to COVID-19. There are more than 5.7 million cases of the coronavirus in the US with at least 178,000 deaths. STOCKHOLM - Sweden is stepping up its defence activities in the Baltic Sea region due to what a high-ranking official called a deteriorating security situation as Russia and NATO conduct military operations in the area. The Swedish armed forces said Tuesday that they initiated a high-readiness action in the southeastern and southern Baltic Sea due to the current, extensive military activity in the region. Sweden is not a member of NATO. The armed forces gave no details about the deployment but said the goal is to strengthen maritime surveillance in the Baltic Sea at sea and from the air. The Baltic News Service reported Tuesday that four Russian naval ships were detected near Latvian territorial waters. Two frigates from a multinational NATO maritime force were to visit the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, the news service reported Monday. Extensive military operations are underway in the Baltic Sea region, both from Russia and the West, in a way that in some parts has not been experienced since the days of the Cold War, Chief of Joint Operations Vice Adm. Jan Thornqvist said. In a statement, he said it was the Swedish armed forces assessment that the risk of a military attack on Sweden is currently low, but the unpredictable security situation in our immediate area places high demands on our accessibility and preparedness. We follow, we adapt, and we choose methods in our way of meeting the world around us, Thornqvist said. The corona pandemic has also led to increased global concern and uncertainty. Overall, the situation is more unstable, more conflict-ridden and more difficult to predict. The current developments in Belarus remind us of this, he added. The military deployment is a way of sending the signal, both to our partners and to the Russian side, that we stand up for Swedish integrity and sovereignty, Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedens news agency TT. Swedens external military intelligence service said in March that the security policy situation in the region has deteriorated over time, meaning there is an increased risk of military incidents and confrontation that can, in the worst case, lead to a situation escalating. The Military Intelligence and Security Service, known by its Swedish acronym MUST, said the dynamics between the United States, China, Russia and the European Union (...) affects the security policy situation in the Baltic Sea region. In December 2017, Sweden decided to establish the nations first new military regiment since World War II a unit of 350 soldiers based on the strategically important Baltic Sea island of Gotland. The permanent unit was deployed during 2018 to the islands main town, Visby. The infantry regiment there was dismantled in 2005. Across the Baltic Sea, Estonias foreign intelligence agency has said that the likelihood of a military attack from neighbouring Russia remains low. ____ Jari Tanner in Helsinki, Finland, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report. Advertisement These jaw-dropping aerial and internal shots show a top-secret Soviet military craft bigger than a jumbo jet lying abandoned on a beach where it will be converted into a museum. The futuristic-looking MD-160 Lun-class ekranoplan was towed by tug across the Caspian Sea last month as part of a 14-hour journey from Kaspiysk naval base to Derbent, Dagestan. The non-operational ground-effect vehicle, which was designed by Rostislav Evgenievich Alexeyev in 1975, used a cushion of air beneath its wings to speed above the sea's surface at 13ft making it difficult for enemy forces to detect. It had been sitting unused at the naval base since it was retired in the late 1990s but it has now been beached amid plans to turn it into an ocean-side tourist attraction. The futuristic-looking MD-160 Lun-class ekranoplan was towed by tug across the Caspian Sea last month as part of a 14-hour journey from Kaspiysk naval base to Derbent, Dagestan The non-operational ground-effect vehicle, which was designed by Rostislav Evgenievich Alexeyev in 1975, had been sitting unused at the naval base since it was retired in the late 1990s The MD-160 was built as part of the Soviet WIG programme and has now been beached as amid plans to turn it into an oceanside tourist attraction It was the only Lun-class ekranoplan model to be completed before the Soviet WIG programme was shut down due to lack of funding (one of the vehicle's control rooms pictured) The military craft used a cushion of air beneath its wings to speed above the sea's surface at 13ft making it difficult for enemy forces to detect (pictured in use) The MD-160, also known as an Utka, is bigger than a 747 jet and was built as part of the Soviet WIG programme, which dates back to the Cold War 1960s. It is the only Lun-class ekranoplan model to be completed and was equipped with carrier-killing supersonic missiles. The vehicle, which had a crew of six officers and nine enlisted, was designed for sustained flight over a level surface (usually over the sea) by making use of 'ground effect' - the aerodynamic interaction between the wings and the surface. The vehicle was designed for sustained flight over a level surface (usually over the sea) by making use of 'ground effect' - the aerodynamic interaction between the wings and the surface The cushion of air between the wings and the surface reduced drag allowing the WIG to carry significant payload over long distances at speed whilst keeping low to the ground. This made a WIG equipped with missiles difficult for opposition forces to detect and thus posed a significant threat to any enemy warship Six missile launchers were mounted in pairs on the dorsal surface of the Lun's fuselage with advanced tracking systems mounted within the plan's nose and tail The Soviet ground-effect vehicle, built in 1987, has a total height of 19.2 metres (63 feet) and boasts an internal capacity of 137 tonnes The MD-160, also known as an Utka, (pictured shortly after it was built) is bigger than a 747 jet and was built as part of the Soviet WIG programme The top-secret Soviet military craft, which was bigger than a jumbo jet, was able to carry significant load over long distances at speed whilst keeping relatively low to the ground - around four metres (13 feet) Six missile launchers were mounted in pairs on the dorsal surface of the Lun's fuselage with advanced tracking systems mounted in the craft's nose and tail (pictured firing missiles) How does the MD-160 Lun-class ekranoplan measure up? Capacity: 137 tonnes Length: 73.8 metres (242.2 feet) Wingspan: 44 metres (144.4 feet) Height: 19.2 metres (63 feet) Wing area: 550 square metres (5,900 square ft) The MD-160 Lun-class ekranoplan was powered with eight Kuznetsov NK-87 turbofans which were mounted on forward canards. Each produced 127.4 kilonewtons of thrust and was equipped for anti-surface warfare. It had P-270 Moskit (Mosquito) guided missiles on board which had a range between 10 and 100 kilometers. Six missile launchers were mounted in pairs on the dorsal surface of the Lun's fuselage with advanced tracking systems mounted in the craft's nose and tail. A three-ship formation of MD-160 could launch 18 missiles at a target simultaneously. It had a maximum cruising speed of 550 kilometres per hour (340 mph). Source: The Aviationist Advertisement The cushion of air created reduced drag allowing the WIG to carry significant load over long distances at speed whilst keeping relatively low to the ground - around four metres (13 feet). This made a WIG equipped with missiles difficult for opposition forces to detect and thus posed a significant threat to any enemy warship. U.S. intelligence officials had previously uncovered a secret document which detailed the roles of the WIGS. They noted that the crafts would 'add a new dimension to naval surface warfare when they become operational'. It added they were 'designed to fly at speeds of 200 to 250 knots at about 5 to 10 meters above the water's surface'. C.I.A. staffers added: 'The Utka class WIG is a tactical strike and coastal defence vehicle for the Soviet Navy. 'It carries six supersonic SS-N-22 anti-ship cruise missiles. 'The Utka, can engage enemy ships out to its radar horizon (about 35 kilometers/22 miles) but can fire the SS-N-22 out to the missile's 100-kilometer (62-mile) range with over-the-horizon targeting data. 'The Utka is larger than a US Boeing 747 jet airplane and flies at about 250 knots. One Utka has been built.' 'We believe that an Utka strike force or coastal defense force would give the Soviets a quick-reaction capability against surface combatants. 'However, unless the Utka can pop up out of ground effect to extend its radar horizon, it will require external sources of targeting information'. American security chiefs were convinced the ekranoplan, built in 1987, could be used for laying mines, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue operations. The MD-160 (pictured on the shore of Derbent, Dagestan) has a total length of 73.8 metres (242.2 feet) and a wingspan of 44 metres (144.4 feet) The gigantic 1980s Soviet vehicle MD-160 that dwarfs a Boeing 747 has made its final journey to the beach in Derbent, Dagestan, in Russia's North Caucasus region The MD-160 Lun-class ekranoplan was powered with eight Kuznetsov NK-87 turbofans which were mounted on forward canards. Each produced 127.4 kilonewtons of thrust and was equipped for anti-surface warfare The MD-160, also known as an Utka, is bigger than a 747 jet and was built as part of the Soviet WIG programme, which dates back to the Cold War 1960s They also uncovered details of another planned Lun, allegedly earmarked for future use as a floating hospital, and nicknamed the Spasatel (Rescuer). But the Soviet WIG project proved to be incredibly expensive and only the first vehicle, model MD-160, was completed. The programme was shut down over the lack of funds despite the new model being 90 per cent finished. The Soviet ground-effect vehicle, which had a maximum cruising speed of 550 kilometres per hour (340 mph), was manned by a crew of 15 consisting of six officers and nine enlisted (cockpit pictured) The futuristic-looking MD-160 Lun-class ekranoplan (internal store pictured) had an internal capacity of 137 tonnes with an empty weight of 286,000 kg (630,522 lb) It had P-270 Moskit (Mosquito) guided missiles on board which had a range between 10 and 100 kilometers (interior of the vehicle pictured) A three-ship formation of MD-160 could launch 18 missiles at a target simultaneously (central control board for the ground-effect vehicle pictured) The Soviet WIG project proved to be incredibly expensive and only the first vehicle, model MD-160, was completed (interior of the MD-160 pictured) U.S. intelligence officials had previously uncovered a secret document which detailed the roles of the WIGS, noting they would 'add a new dimension to naval surface warfare when they become operational' (one of the vehicle's control rooms pictured) American security chiefs were convinced the ekranoplan, built in 1987, could be used for laying mines, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue operations (interior of the vehicle pictured) Turkey says it will hold talks with Greece without preconditions over their intensifying dispute in the oil-rich eastern Mediterranean, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday, as the two NATO allies held rival naval drills in the contested waters. We are open to talks without preconditions, Cavusoglu said during a press conference with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Ankara. "We are in favor of negotiations for fair sharing, but nobody should lay down preconditions. Germany has tried to defuse tensions between Ankara and Athens, which both claim maritime rights to a part of the Mediterranean Sea, home to potential offshore gas reserves. Maas, who visited with his counterparts in both Turkey and Greece in separate meetings Tuesday, called for direct dialogue instead of new provocations that risked direct military confrontations. Germany and the whole European Union stand by Greece in firm solidarity," he said. The other equally important message is that what we now need absolutely and immediately are signals of de-escalation and a readiness for dialogue.'' The longstanding territorial dispute escalated after Turkey inked a maritime border agreement in November with the internationally recognized government in Libya that declared Turkey had economic rights to a large portion of the eastern Mediterranean where Cyprus, Greece and Egypt also claim jurisdiction. After a brief pause, Turkey resumed its drilling activity this month when Greece and Egypt signed a deal establishing an exclusive economic zone in the same part of the Mediterranean that Ankara claims as its own. Tensions flared again when two Greek and Turkish warships lightly collided in the disputed waters in mid-August. Fellow NATO member France, which backs Turkeys rival in Libya, deployed warships and jet fighters to the region in a show of support for Greece. On Sunday, Turkey announced it would be extending the exploratory mission of its survey ship, Oruc Reis, in a move that prompted Greece to schedule nearby naval exercises off the island of Crete. Turkey also announced its own military drills in the same area. Separately, Turkey is carrying out exploratory work in the Black Sea. On Friday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Turkeys biggest-ever natural gas find he said would help reduce the countrys reliance on foreign energy supplies. SAGINAW, MI A Saginaw man has been charged with 14 counts related to two incidents in which he is accused of kidnapping a woman, causing two traffic crashes and leaving a stolen handgun in a party stores candy aisle. The first incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 2, when prosecutors allege Artneil L. Lucky Smith, 28, broke down the door of a house on Hess Avenue within the city. Smith proceeded to strike a 29-year-old woman who lived in the house, then dragged her outside and into his vehicle, prosecutors allege. Smith drove around with the woman in his vehicle and made numerous threats against her, prosecutors allege. The woman managed to talk Smith down and he eventually left her at a friends house, where she called 911. Responding police were not able to locate Smith. The second incident occurred on July 11 and involved a 22-year-old woman claiming Smith took her .40-caliber handgun from her house on Brookwood Lane North without her permission. Around 7:30 p.m., a 64-year-old woman was driving north on North Mason Street when prosecutors allege Smith ran a stop sign at the intersection of Van Buren Street and crashed into her vehicle. Smith fled the scene in his vehicle and about 10 minutes later careened onto a curb and struck a vehicle parked in a driveway on North Bond Street, prosecutors contend. Inside the parked vehicle Smith struck were two sisters, ages 28 and 30, the older of whom suffered broken bones in her foot due to the collision. Smith then exited his vehicle and fled the scene. He entered the Genesee Market at 1115 W. Genesee Ave. and left the handgun hed taken earlier in the day. An employee of the business called 911 after finding the gun in the candy aisle, prosecutors allege. Responding police were again unable to find Smith. Authorities on July 10 issued a warrant for Smith related to the first incident and on Aug. 13 issued another warrant stemming from the second matter. The Michigan State Police Third District Fugitive Team located and arrested Smith on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The next morning, he appeared via Zoom from the Saginaw County Jail before Saginaw County District Judge Elian E.H. Fichtner for arraignment on the following 14 counts: Felony firearm, four counts First-degree home invasion Unlawful imprisonment Second-offense domestic violence Larceny of a firearm Receiving and concealing a stolen firearm Felon in possession of a firearm Carrying a concealed weapon Reckless driving causing serious bodily impairment Failing to stop at the scene of a personal injury accident Failing to stop at a property damage accident At Smiths arraignment, defense attorney Eldor Herrmann Jr. said Smith is a lifelong Saginaw County resident and though hes unemployed, he supports four children. Saginaw County Assistant Prosecutor Aaron Majorana asked no bond be set for Smith, saying he is currently on parole. Records of the Michigan Department of Corrections state Smith in December 2017 was sentenced to two to five years in prison on a conviction of attempted assault with intent to cause great bodily harm less than murder, plus 20 months to six years on a drug conviction. The MDOC listed Smith as a parole absconder as of July 13 of this year. Judge Fichtner denied granting Smith bond. Smiths next court date is pending. Read more: Woman found slain in Bay County was stay-at-home mother of 5 Small dogs rescued from hoarding-type situation in Saginaw County up for adoption in Bay County Alex Sargent, left, signs in to vote, with volunteer Melanie Wilson, right, on primary election day at the Free Library Falls of Schuykill Branch in Philadelphia on June 2. Read more Philadelphia elections officials are set to receive a huge influx of money to run the November election. As part of a $10 million grant, they plan to open at least 800 polling places across the city, set up 15 neighborhood elections offices for in-person early voting using mail ballots, install at least 15 mail ballot drop boxes across the city, give poll workers coronavirus hazard pay of an additional $100, and buy equipment to dramatically increase the processing of mail ballots. Thats according to a grant agreement that the Philadelphia city commissioners, the three officials who run elections, will vote on Thursday. The $10 million would be a massive jolt for an office operating on a $12.3 million budget. The money would come from the nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life, which is also giving $2.2 million in election funding to Delaware County and millions more to other jurisdictions. It would be spread among various needs, according to the agreement posted online Wednesday, including $5.5 million for mail ballot processing equipment and $2.3 million to set up and staff 15 satellite offices. The City of Philadelphia faces significant challenges in executing the November 3, 2020 general election, deputy commissioner Nick Custodio, who works under commissioners chair Lisa Deeley, wrote in the citys funding request to the nonprofit group earlier this month. As the June 2 primary revealed, in November the city will essentially have to run two elections, at the same time, on an unprecedented scale: one via absentee and mail-in ballots; and a second at in-person polling places. For voters, the most visible changes will be the satellite elections offices and drop boxes. They are extensions of the commissioners two main offices (one is in City Hall) and would allow voters to cast ballots in person in the weeks ahead of Election Day by requesting, receiving, filling out, and submitting a mail ballot in one visit. People would also be able to register to vote in the offices, or to update their registration information. READ MORE: Philly and the suburbs want to set up extra election offices for a new kind of early voting The drop boxes would allow voters to hand-deliver their mail ballots, bypassing the U.S. Postal Service and any mail delivery concerns. The drop boxes would be available 24 hours a day, monitored by video surveillance, and emptied regularly. Pennsylvania officials have struggled this year to implement major elections changes this is the first year any voter can vote by mail while responding to a series of challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. Elections offices in Philadelphia and elsewhere were overwhelmed by a deluge of mail ballot requests, and had to call on other government offices for staffing help as they took days to process applications and mail out ballots. In-person voting was also difficult to pull off, with poll workers dropping out due to COVID-19 exposure fears and locations declining to serve as polling places. In the end, Philadelphia had 77% fewer polling places in the primary than in the previous election. Counting votes also took longer than many had expected, with the city at one point pausing the count for several days to check data and prevent double-voting. Altogether, the primary was a stress test that showed several areas for improvement, officials, advocates, and experts said. READ MORE: Pennsylvanias nightmare 2020 voting scenario and how to prevent it Thats where the $10 million comes in, along with some existing federal coronavirus relief money. The bulk of it will go to buying new ballot processing equipment that will be critical to efficiently and accurately manage hundreds of thousands of ballot envelopes and ballots before Election Day and help report results faster afterward, according to the citys request. Officials also plan to buy various machines to automatically sort ballots to make things easier for the beleaguered U.S. Postal Service, organize them by precinct when they are returned, update voter histories, open and remove ballots to be counted, and scan them to tally their votes. If purchased, that equipment would allow Philadelphia elections officials to more quickly send ballots out once voters request them and to count them, helping reduce the chances of a nightmare scenario where the city is the target of false claims of election interference and legal battles as it slowly counts ballots. READ MORE: Want to know who won the presidential race on election night? Get ready to wait. One of the biggest benefits of receiving grant funding is that it allows elections officials to move forward with plans that would otherwise be on hold due to significant uncertainty around the rules of the election. There are several lawsuits over how votes can be cast and counted, along with ongoing legislative negotiations to change election law. Because Im not using taxpayer dollars for a lot of these initiatives, I can be more aggressive than maybe some of the other counties can, said Delaware County Councilwoman Christine Reuther. The countys $2.2 million grant will go toward setting up satellite elections offices and pop up voting sites, hazard pay for poll workers, drop boxes, and mail ballot processing equipment. I do not want people to be disenfranchised because we hesitated, Reuther said of the uncertainty around drop boxes and other elements of the election. If we have to change directions because the law changes or because of a court order, we will do that. But I do not want to make assumptions that would have the consequence of making it harder for people to vote safely. Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning! We've got complete coverage of President Trump's visit to Mills River on Monday plus a photo page and much more. We've got the scoop on greenways in Henderson County, including a recommendation from the French Broad MPO to fund $7 million worth of construction in Henderson County and the unveiling of a proposed 150-mile network of paved bike-ped paths across five counties. In addition, we've got coverage of the county Planning Board's decision on the East Flat Rock asphalt plant rezoning request, the approval by the Board of Commissioners of the 699-unit Tap Root dairy development and more. Here's where you can get a copy: Lightning Office, 1111 Asheville Highway Pop's Diner, Five Points Pat's Dance -- North Main Alykat -- Asheville Hwy Ingles -- U.S. 25 North Mountain Home Post Office Fletcher Post Office Ingles, Mills River Triangle Stop, Mills River Joey's Bagels, Haywood Road Economy Drugs, Fifth Avenue West Fifth Avenue Shell Energy Mart -- Brevard Road Dixie Diner -- Brevard Road Joseph Laughter -- Laurel Park Village Rite Aid -- Laurel Park Village YMCA, U.S. 64 at Oak Street First Citizens Bank, Main Street Mikes on Main, Main Street Citgo, South Washington Street Norm's Minit Mart Shell - Kanuga Road Whitley Drug -- Greeville Highway Hairstyles by Charlene -- Joel Wright Dr Ingles -- Spartanburg Hwy McDonalds -- Spartanburg Hwy Norm's Minit Mart Shell - Spartanburg Highway Hendersonville Co-op -- Spartanburg Highway Burger King/BP -- Spartanburg Highway Ingles -- Spartanburg Hwy at Highland Lake Rd East Flat Rock Post Office, West Blue Ridge Road Flat Rock Post Office -- Greenville Highway Zirconia Post Office -- Greenville Highway Rosco's Grocery -- Green River Road Saluda Post Office Triangle Stop, Upward Road Energy Mart, Upward Road at I 26 Dana Post Office Norm's Minit Mart Shell -- Dana Road Henderson Crossing Shopping Center Energy Mart -- Four Seasons Triangle Stop Chimney Rock Road Mr Pete's Citgo -- Chimney Rock Road Ingles -- Howard Gap Road Edneyville Post Office Griffin's Store -- Chimney Rock Road Highland Square Shopping Center, near Great Clips McDonalds -- Four Seasons Boulevard GO Grocery -- Four Seasons Boulevard Triangle Stop -- Main Street Mr. Pete's Citgo -- Etowah Etowah Shopping Center Blue Ridge Pizza -- Etowah Horse Shoe Post Office Triangle Stop --Asheville Hwy One-Stop Exxon -- Haywood Road Mr. Pete's Citgo -- Kanuga Hot Dog World -- inside stand Hot Dog World -- outside box Publix, Greenville Highway One man poised as a drug buyer and two accomplices then tied a mans hands behind his back and robbed him of cash and drugs at gunpoint in his Kearny home, authorities said. The three assailants, all from Kearny, have been charged in the July 18 incident, according to criminal complaints. Mark Eager and Marc Zarnowski, both 29, were arrested in the days following the armed robbery, while Mathias Torres, 27, eluded capture for nearly a month before being arrested on Aug. 18, the criminal complaints said. Police searching Zarnowskis home after his arrest found a 10-pound marijuana plant he was growing in his bedroom, as well as heroin and prescription drugs. At a virtual detention hearing Tuesday before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale, Torres was ordered detained through the prosecution of his case. Eager and Zarnowski were not detained, but were given home confinement. According to police reports and criminal complaints, on July 18, Eager entered the Pine Street apartment of a man on the pretense of buying drugs, but instead he relayed information to Zarnowski and Torres that the victim was alone in the apartment. Zarnowski and Torres, armed with a handgun and expandable baton, kicked in the apartment door and used zip-ties to restrain both Eager and the victim and then demanded cash and drugs. Police were led to the three Kearny men after identifying the vehicle used in the armed robbery, the criminal complaint said. Eager gave a statement to police as a victim of the crime, but he was arrested when police located surveillance camera footage that showed he had been dropped off at the apartment by Zarnowski. Torres and Zarnowski were charged with armed robbery, conspiracy, kidnapping and weapons offenses. Zarnowski was additionally charged with multiple drug offenses, while Eager was charged with robbery, conspiracy and filing a false report. DENVER, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberis, an international fintech that provides funding to small businesses, announced that its Funding Platform will be made available to a broader set of SaaS companies, empowering their product teams to easily embed financial services into their offerings. Liberis operates globally in the US, UK, and Europe through partnerships with large payment processors and SaaS companies. The fintech delivers white-labeled funding solutions to small businesses through its Funding Platform. The platform's targeting algorithm helps determine the optimal messaging, timing, and channel to offer small businesses a range of products including loans, revenue-based funding, equipment financing, and government-backed loans.1 Liberis partners with multiple lenders and credit providers including the UK Government's British Business Bank. "Liberis' API handles getting the right type of funding to small businesses in an integrated user journey, removing friction and increasing customer loyalty for our partners. Small businesses get the funding they need quickly, and our partners create deeper relationships by using our solutions under their brand. It also turns on a new profit stream for partners in just a few weeks," explained Rob Straathof, CEO of Liberis SaaS companies can get in contact with Liberis regarding the Funding Platform here. Select SaaS companies will be able to access the Liberis sandbox and work with the product team to embed financial services into their product and marketing propositions. "Embedded finance is becoming a mega-trend. More and more SaaS companies like Shopify and Toast are moving to add payments and lending to their offerings because they're not just helping their customers, they're also increasing revenue per customer significantly." About Liberis Liberis is reshaping small business finance for good. Founded in 2007, the fintech uses its API platform to enable partners to provide flexible and fair finance to their small business customers. Headquartered in the UK, Liberis is a global operation with offices in the UK (London and Nottingham), US (Denver), and Nordics. For more information about Liberis, please visit: www.liberis.com 1 Liberis offers Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans and the Business Cash Advance in the UK. Liberis partners with Funding Circle LLC who provide Paycheck Protection Program loans in the US. Liberis offers a Merchant Cash Advance and Revolving Revenue Line and does not currently originate loans directly in the US SOURCE Liberis Related Links www.liberis.com Africa is free of polio after years of trying to eradicate the virus, the World Health Organization has declared. The landmark achievement comes after decades of campaigning and vaccination programmes across the continent. No cases of polio have been diagnosed in Africa in four years the threshold to certify eradication of the crippling virus. The last case was detected in 2016 in Nigeria, where vaccination efforts had been hampered by Boko Haram jihadists. Professor Rose Gana Fomban Leke, chair of the African Regional Certification Commission for Polio eradication, called it a 'historic day' for the continent. Poliomyelitis - the medical term for polio - is a contagious virus which attacks the spinal cord and causes irreversible paralysis in children, sometimes within hours. It paralysed 75,000 children a year in Africa in the 90s, when efforts to eradicate the virus were stepped up. A working life-long vaccine wiped out the disease in developed countries like the US and UK but the illness has carried on for years in poorer parts of the world. Polio now joins smallpox in the list of viruses that have been wiped out in Africa 'one of the greatest achievements in public health history', the WHO said. It now only exists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are, however, still rare cases of polio among Africans who haven't had the vaccine because virus fragments in the jab can pass in the faeces of someone who has been vaccinated then mutate and eventually infect unprotected people. In other promising developments, the WHO claims Africa's Covid-19 outbreak may have finally passed its peak. More than one million cases and 28,000 deaths have been recorded across the continent since the pandemic began. The last remnants of poliovirus in Africa were wiped out thanks to a massive vaccination effort in northern Nigeria, where Boko Haram jihadists had opposed immunisation (Pictured: A child receives a vaccine) The battle against polio Poliovirus is typically spread in the faeces of an infected person and is picked up through contaminated water or food. While there is no cure, the disease can be prevented through the administration of a simple and effective vaccine. Vaccinating people to prevent them from becoming infected thus breaks the cycle of transmission and eventually eradicates the virus in the wild. It was endemic meaning it circulated constantly in the population around the world until a vaccine was found in the 1950s. But this remained out of reach for many poorer countries in Asia and Africa. WHAT IS POLIO? Polio is a serious viral infection that used to be common all over the world. Most sufferers do not have symptoms and are unaware they have the infection. For up to one in 100 people, the virus causes temporary or permanent paralysis, which can be life-threatening if it affects their breathing muscles. Polio incidences fell dramatically when routine vaccination was introduced in the mid-1950s, with no cases being caught in the UK since the mid-90s. Infection rates are still high in some parts of the world. Of those who develop symptoms, these tend to appear three-to-21 days after infection and include: High temperature Sore throat Headache Abdominal pain Aching muscles Nausea and vomiting These usually pass within a week, however, in less than one per cent of cases the virus attacks the nerves in the spine and base of the brain, which can lead to paralysis. People can catch polio via droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or if they come into contacted with the faeces of an infected person. There is no cure for polio. Treatment focuses on easing symptoms. In the UK, jabs are available as five separate doses as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement In 1996, African leaders committed to eradicate polio during the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Organization of African Unity in Yaounde, Cameroon. At the time, polio was paralyzing an estimated 75,000 children, annually, on the continent. Since then, eradication efforts have prevented up to 1.8million children from crippling life-long paralysis and saved 180,000 lives, the WHO says. The last case of polio in Africa was detected in 2016 in Nigeria, where vaccination efforts had been hampered by Boko Haram jihadists. More than 20 workers involved in the campaign lost their lives. The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication officially declared that Africa is free of wild poliovirus, following the eradication of smallpox 40 years ago. It comes after an exhaustive, decades-long process of documentation and analysis of polio surveillance and immunisation programmes across 47 countries. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa, said: 'This is a momentous milestone for Africa. Now future generations of African children can live free of wild polio. 'This historic achievement was only possible thanks to the leadership and commitment of governments, communities, global polio eradication partners and philanthropists. 'I pay special tribute to the frontline health workers and vaccinators, some of whom lost their lives, for this noble cause.' 'This is one of the greatest achievements in public health history,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus co-wrote in an article in Al Jazeera. 'Delivering polio vaccines to every child in the African region and wiping out the wild virus is no small feat, and the human resources, skills and experience gained in the process leave behind a legacy in how to tackle diseases and reach the poorest and most marginalised communities with lifesaving services,' said Dr Tedros and Holger Knaack, president of Rotary International. They said as recently as 2012, half of all globally recorded cases of wild polio virus were in Nigeria the last country in the region to rid itself of the virus. THE WORLD'S HISTORY WITH POLIO 1789: The disease was given its first clinical description by the British physician Michael Underwood. Late 19th century: Poliomyelitis became a major public health issue in late Victorian times with major epidemics in Europe and the US. 1916: New York experienced the first large epidemic with more than 9,000 cases and 2,343 deaths. Major outbreaks became more frequent during the 20th century. 1953: Dr Jonas Salk, recruited by the University of Pittsburgh, and his associates develop a potentially safe, inactivated (killed), injected polio vaccine. 1962: The Salk vaccine replaced by the Sabin vaccine for most purposes because it is easier to administer and less expensive. This is the oral polio vaccine (OPV). In 1962, Britain switched to Sabin's OPV vaccine, in line with most countries in the developed world. There have been no domestically acquired cases of the disease in the UK since 1982. 1979: The last case of polio caused by 'wild' virus in US. 1988: Polio had disappeared from the US, UK, Australia and much of Europe but remained prevalent in more than 125 countries. The same year, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to eradicate the disease completely by the year 2000. The 'Global Polio Eradication Initiative' (GPEI) was founded in 1988. 1994: The WHO Americas region was certified polio free. 2002: The WHO certified the European region polio-free. 2012: Polio remained officially endemic in four countries - Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and India. 2016: The last case of polio in the African continent is recorded in Nigeria. 2020: Africa is declared polio free by The African Regional Certification Commission for Polio eradication (ARCC). Polio remains endemic in only two countries - Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sources: the WHO, OurWorldInData Advertisement While the eradication of wild poliovirus from the WHO African Region is a major achievement, 16 countries in the region are currently experiencing circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) outbreaks. At least 177 people have been diagnosed with vaccine-derived polio this year, the BBC reported. This form of the disease can spread among people who have not had the jab but live close to people who have. The polio vaccine uses a damaged form of the virus to trigger an immune response in people who get the jab, and those damaged viruses are eventually passed out of the body in faeces. In some rare cases it is possible for the viruses to mutate and become infectious again, and they can then trigger illness in people who are not vaccinated and come into contact with the faeces or contaminated water or food. This cannot happen if everyone is vaccinated, but coverage is around 95 per cent in Africa meaning many people remain unprotected. It is among those unprotected people, living close to others who have had the vaccine, that the vaccine-derived polio cases occur. But Africa has now eliminated all strains of 'wild' polio, which means there are no naturally-occuring strains of the virus circulating in people. The vaccine-derived infections are significantly less common than wild ones would be if there was no vaccine. Because of global efforts to wipe out the disease efforts costing some $19 billion over 30 years only two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) have recorded cases of wild polio this year. Between them, 87 cases have been diagnosed. Dr Tedros said: 'A surge of resources and effort is needed to ensure that the world uses this critical window of opportunity to protect all children in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the upcoming low season, during which there is a natural decline in cases of the polio virus.' He said vaccination programmes had been paused in those countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. It comes as WHO chiefs claim Africa may have passed the peak of its Covid-19 outbreak. WHO Africa regional director Dr Moeti told a conference of African health ministers yesterday that numbers of new cases were declining, but warned against complacency to avoid a second wave. 'We are seeing that we have had what seems to have been a peak, and now we have the daily numbers of cases being reported overall in the region going down,' she said during an online meeting. But there are still a few countries, such as Namibia, experiencing increases in daily cases. Africa has recorded nearly 1.2million cases and at least 28,000 deaths since the virus arrived on the continent on February 14. South Africa has more than half of those infections and is the fifth worst-hit country in the world. While numbers of cases and deaths are also declining, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize cautioned that 'our biggest worry is whether in fact this is the first surge and there might be another one'. 'We have gone past our apex, our surge, but if you look at Spain it started showing a surge after a long lull,' he told the same meeting. Dr Moeti lauded African leaders for taking 'extremely courageous, difficult decisions' to 'avert the catastrophe foretold in early projections of how this virus would affect the African region'. There had been fears that Africa's poor health systems would collapse under the weight of the pandemic. But the situation continues 'to be very grave', Dr Moeti warned. Many governments are starting to lift the lockdown rules imposed to limit the spread of the virus which means 'increase vigilance is required'. The recent decline in Hong Kong trade worsened in July, with exports falling 3 per cent from a year earlier, exacerbated by a combination of the coronavirus pandemic and snowballing US-China tensions. Exports shrank to HK$328.5 billion (US$45. 9 billion) following a 1.3 per cent decline in June, while imports dropped 3.4 per cent year on year to HK$358.3 billion in July, the Census and Statistics Department revealed on Wednesday. That left a trade deficit of HK$29.8 billion, equivalent to 8.3 per cent of the value of imports in July. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. A government spokesman said exports remained weak in July, particularly to the United States, European Union and major Asian markets such as the Philippines, India, South Korea, Thailand and Japan. The threat of Covid-19 will remain until an effective vaccine or treatment is widely available, he said. The weak global economy, together with the tense China-US relations, will continue to cloud the outlook for Hong Kongs merchandise exports in the near term. The best performing market for Hong Kong in July was mainland China the citys No 1 export destination which saw a 5.2 per cent jump. Iris Pang, ING banks chief economist for Greater China, said the performance of markets was reflected in how well the Covid-19 pandemic was being contained. Unless the pandemic in the US and EU comes under control, it is hard to see Hong Kongs exports rebounding, she said. Social-distancing rules overseas curb demand for goods. In the US, the coronavirus has infected 5.77 million people, accounting for about a quarter of the worlds total number of cases as of Wednesday. China had more than 84,000 cases. Hong Kongs third wave of infections showed signs of easing, with 24 new cases on Wednesday taking the citys tally to 4,734, with 78 related deaths. Story continues In the first seven months, the citys exports shrank 6.3 per cent and imports contracted 8.5 per cent from the same period last year, which resulted in a HK$205.3 billion trade deficit. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council forecast full-year exports would drop 10 per cent from last year, the worst since a decrease of 12.6 per cent in 2009, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Exports have recently faced escalating headwinds, with the US suspending a reciprocal tax exemption arrangement for shipping companies with the city and forcing made-in-Hong Kong products to be relabelled Made in China after November 9, following a delay in enforcement from September 25. Analysts said the suspension of the bilateral tax treaty would jack up the cost of trade while the relabelling requirement would take a toll on the citys brand development. Steve Lamar, president and CEO of American Apparel and Footwear Association an advocacy group representing more than 1,000 major industry brands in the United States said the label change appeared to be small, but it came suddenly to a system that had been in place for decades. Such changes need ample transition time certainly longer than the few months that have been provided to learn and implement new rules and prevent confusion or compliance headaches down the road, he said. The US was Hong Kongs No 2 trading partner after mainland China last year, with bilateral trade worth HK$517 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. This article Hong Kong trade woes worsen with exports falling 3 per cent as coronavirus and US-China tensions continue to take toll first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. A multi-party committee of Indian Parliament has asked the Narendra Modi government to impose 1% tax on cigarettes help tobacco farmers and allow 100% FDI in tobacco production and cigarette manufacturing, to boost one of Indias major cash crops. The parliamentary committee on commerce, however, also listed conditions for such FDI in a submitted to Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday. The tobacco produced by FDI would be marketed through auction platforms. Also, FDI may be permitted in cigarette manufacturing wherein the value addition of such products is done only in SEZs for export purpose with no domestic sale, it said. India occupies third position globally in terms of production of tobacco and in exports, after Brazil and China. In the last financial year, tobacco and tobacco products contributed about Rs.22,737crore in excise revenue to the union exchequer. They also earned around Rs.5870 crore through foreign exchange. The panel, headed by V Vijayasai Reddy, argued that as per the 2017 FDI policy, 100% FDI is allowed in tea, coffee, rubber and cardamom plantation and cultivations under automatic entry route. The Committee is of the opinion that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in tobacco sector albeit in a regulated manner would stimulate the production and processing of Indian tobacco thereby boosting its export, the report added. The panel has asked the commerce ministry to undertake a study to analyse the prospects of opening FDI investments in the tobacco sector at the earliest. The commerce committee of Parliament maintained that tobacco farmers, at times, are forced to sell their tobacco at prices less than their cost of cultivation. Therefore, 1% of tax on the sale of cigarettes may be imposed and the amount thus accumulated should be utilized as Market Stabilization Fund for tobacco. The additional special levies on sale of cigarettes may be expended on starting market intervention in the interest of the welfare of tobacco growers, it recommended. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. service members were injured after a Russian vehicle rammed into a U.S. convoy in northeast Syria earlier this week, the White House's National Security Council confirmed Wednesday afternoon. Citing an internal draft document from the Pentagon, Politico first reported Wednesday that four troops suffered mild concussion-like symptoms after the incident. Read Next: Army Moves to Kick Out 3 Unit Leaders After Deadly Bradley Accident Multiple videos that surfaced on social media show U.S. and Russian vehicles in close proximity, each group trying to convince the other convoy to disperse. A video from the Russian troops -- posted via RusVesna.Su, a Russian website, and then re-posted on Twitter -- shows U.S. forces attempting to block the Russian forces' path until they veer off into a field. Then, a U.S. Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) appears to collide with a Russian vehicle as Russian helicopters fly overhead. In the internal document, U.S. Central Command said the Russian vehicles unsafely pursued the U.S. convoy, according to the Politico report. White House National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot confirmed in a statement that the Aug. 25 incident occurred in the region at 10 a.m. local time. "During this interaction, a Russian vehicle struck a Coalition Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) causing injuries to the vehicle's crew," Ullyot said. The defeat-ISIS security coalition patrol departed the area, he said, "to de-escalate the situation." Ullyot added, "Unsafe and unprofessional actions like this represent a breach of de-confliction protocols, committed to by the United States and Russia in December 2019. The Coalition and the United States do not seek escalation with any national military forces, but U.S. forces always retain the inherent right and obligation to defend themselves from hostile acts." The report comes a month after the deputy commander of the joint force tasked with defeating the Islamic State, Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, downplayed reports of hostile encounters between U.S. and Russian troops in Syria. "What you might call harassment, which is, you know, less than absolute professional conduct between the Russians and the U.S., occurs on rare occasions," Ekman told reporters during a Pentagon briefing in July. "By and large, what we find is that the Russians abide by the protocols that we put in place. They abide by the rules of the road, if you will, that occur at the tactical level between our convoys. And it's very rare that a misunderstanding triggers some higher emotions or some sort of harassment between the two sets of forces." There have been a number of close calls since Russia deployed forces and aircraft to Syria in 2015, changing the dynamic among U.S. and coalition troops who began their air campaign against ISIS a year earlier. In 2017, two U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighters intercepted two Russian Su-25 fighter jets over Syria. The American aircraft fired warning flares and, in one instance, had to maneuver aggressively to avoid a collision with the Russian planes. A Russian Su-35 multi-role fighter was also involved. Then, in Feb. 2018, a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone took out a Soviet-made T-72 tank in eastern Syria in a "self-defense" strike after pro-regime forces fired on U.S. advisers and allied Syrian fighters. That same month, U.S. fighter jets fired on hundreds of alleged Russian mercenaries -- fighting on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad -- who were believed to have attacked U.S.-backed Syrian Defense Forces in Deir el-Zour Province. Russia's foreign ministry at the time said some of its citizens died in the strike, but would not confirm they were contractors operating on behalf of the state. This story has been updated with confirmation of the incident. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: General: US Pilots Made the Call to Shoot Down Syrian Aircraft The University of California, Davis, has been awarded $20 million as part of a multi-institutional collaboration to establish a new institute focused on enabling the next generation food system through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The award is part of a larger investment announced Aug. 26 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with several federal agencies -- distributing a total of $140 million to fund seven complimentary AI research institutes across the nation. The AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS) aims to meet growing demands in our food supply by increasing efficiencies using AI and bioinformatics spanning the entire system -- from growing crops through consumption. This includes optimizing plant traits for yield, crop quality and disease resistance through advances in molecular breeding, in addition to minimizing resource consumption and waste through development of agriculture-specific AI applications, sensing platforms, and robotics. The team's plan also intends to benefit consumers through enhancements to food safety and development of new tools to provide real-time assessment of meals that can guide personalized health decisions. "The food system is ripe for disruption, with many advances over the past decade paving the way to a transformation," said Ilias Tagkopoulos, professor in the UC Davis Department of Computer Science and Genome Center, and director of the new institute. "AI will serve as both the enabling technology and the connective tissue that brings together these elements and catalyzes this transformation to a safer, fairer and more efficient food system for the next generation." Other principal investigators from UC Davis include Nitin Nitin, professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Mason Earles, assistant professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, and Xin Liu, professor in the Department of Computer Science. The institute has been designed to be inclusive, fostering collaborations to develop open-source AI solutions across the food system. Given food's fundamental role in human health and well-being, coupled with its far-reaching impacts on the national economy and environment, the institute will bring together over 40 researchers from six institutions: UC Davis; UC Berkeley; Cornell University; University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign; UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. In addition to the scientific and technical objectives, the institute's charter includes a significant focus on education, outreach and collaboration. "Our success won't only come from breakthroughs and innovation of new technologies and systems, but also a ready workforce, an engaged public and collaboration with industry partners to solve real challenges," said Gabriel Youtsey, Chief Innovation Officer at UCANR. Education and engagement The institute's plan includes programs specific for K-16 education, college internships and fellowships, curriculum enrichment, broadening participation and diversity, corporate engagement and knowledge transfer. These programs will be bolstered by leveraging existing platforms such as UC Davis' Innovation Institute for Food and Health, CITRIS Banatao Institute and UCANR's Verde Innovation Network for Entrepreneurship (VINE). Additional efforts are planned in alignment with NSF's call to ensure AI systems are secure, safe, ethical and fair through design, accountability and transparency. Development of the proposal for the award was facilitated by the Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic Initiatives division of the Office of Research at UC Davis. The institute is designated as a Special Research Program under the administration of the Office of Research. "As with many of our world's greatest challenges, addressing the critical needs in our food supply requires extensive collaboration between experts from different disciplines," said Prasant Mohapatra, vice chancellor for research at UC Davis. "The collection of expertise assembled for this new institute brings much hope for transformative advancements to be realized." Funding for the institute is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture as part of a larger initiative led by the U.S. National Science Foundation to establish new artificial intelligence institutes to accelerate research, expand America's workforce and transform society in the decades to come. The NSF AI institutes will collaborate with industry and government to advance the frontiers of AI as well as a range of science and engineering disciplines and societal sectors that stand to benefit from AI innovation. "Recognizing the critical role of AI, NSF is investing in collaborative research and education hubs, such as the USDA-NIFA AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems anchored at UC Davis, which will bring together academia, industry, and government to unearth profound discoveries and develop new capabilities advancing American competitiveness for decades to come," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "Just as prior NSF investments enabled the breakthroughs that have given rise to today's AI revolution, the awards being announced today will drive discovery and innovation that will sustain American leadership and competitiveness in AI for decades to come." ### Description GIS 26 August 2020: A preliminary enquiry will soon be concluded and its findings will determine a comprehensive set of terms of reference which would be presented before a Court of investigation. This Court of investigation, with at its helm an Official of the judiciary, will shed light on the circumstances that led to the grounding of MV Wakashio at Pointe dEsny. This statement was made, yesterday, by the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, during a press conference held at the New Treasury Building, in Port Louis. The Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Georges Pierre Lesjongard, and the Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development, Mr Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram, were present. The Attorney General highlighted that Governments priority is to set up the Court of investigation at the earliest. Consultations are ongoing to designate the judicial Officer at this stage, he indicated. Speaking about claims to be made to the bulk carriers insurer, Mr Gobin underscored that Government will seek assistance of two experts. An environmental and social assessment of the oil spill will be carried out by one expert, while the other one will deal with the legal claims, he pointed out. The terms of reference are being worked out for the appointment of these experts, he added. Furthermore, the Attorney General underlined that Government will consult other Small Island Developing States to request exemptions or special provisions in international laws with regards to maritime safety. These exemptions and special provisions will help in further protecting the territorial waters of Mauritius, he stated. For his part, Minister Lesjongard, expressed confidence that the enquiry will help to determine the causes that led to the grounding of MV Wakashio. He also reassured that necessary measures will be implemented to effectively deal with the ecological disaster that resulted from the wrecking. As for Minister Hurreeram, he recalled that those people who have suffered losses and have been adversely affected by the grounding of the bulk carrier have been requested to submit their claims and the registration process is currently ongoing. Government will do its utmost best to assist all those who are affected by this ecological catastrophe, he emphasised. Government Information Service, Prime Ministers Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: http://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov Bahrain said Wednesday it was committed to the creation of a Palestinian state in talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, implicitly rejecting his push for Arab countries to swiftly normalise ties with Israel. Pompeo was in Manama as part of a Middle East trip aimed at forging more links between Israel and the Arab world after a landmark US-brokered deal with the United Arab Emirates. The US chief diplomat has said he is hopeful other nations will follow the UAE, which earlier this month became only the third Arab country to agree to establish relations with the Jewish state. "Hopeful we will build on this momentum towards regional peace," Pompeo tweeted as he landed in Abu Dhabi, the latest stop on the tour which has taken in Israel, Sudan and Bahrain. However, Sudan's transitional government on Tuesday dashed hopes for a speedy breakthrough, saying it has "no mandate" to take such a weighty step. And Bahrain echoed the sentiments of its ally, regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, that an accord with Israel would not materialise without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa said he told Pompeo that his country remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative -- which calls for Israel's complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied after 1967, in exchange for peace and the full normalisation of relations. "The king stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict according to the two-state solution... to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital," the official Bahrain News Agency reported. Pompeo said in a tweet only that he discussed with Bahrain's royal rulers the "importance of building regional peace and stability" and "countering Iran's malign influence". Manama, whose contacts with Israel date back to the 1990s, was the first Gulf country to welcome the UAE rapprochement and was considered a front-runner to follow in its footsteps. Story continues - Eyes on Saudi - Like most Gulf countries, Bahrain shares with the Jewish state a common enemy in Iran, which Manama accuses of instigating protests by the nation's Shiite Muslim community against the ruling Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty. But the UAE's controversial step has been met with criticism from some parts of the Arab world, with the Palestinian leadership condemning it as a "stab in the back", and even US allies in the region have been cautious in their response. Not only would a formal recognition of Israel be seen by Palestinians and their supporters as a betrayal of their cause, it could also hurt the kingdom's image as the leader of the Islamic world. Gulf states including Oman, Qatar and Kuwait face barriers to warming ties with Israel, said Cinzia Bianco, a research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She said that in these countries "popular opposition towards normalisation is still quite high", despite colder sentiment towards the Palestinian cause in some quarters including among the youth, especially in Saudi Arabia. During his visit to the UAE, Pompeo held talks with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and National Security Advisory Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and congratulated them "on the monumental achievement" of the Israel deal. They also discussed "a lasting ceasefire in Libya, Gulf unity, and countering Iran's malign influence in the region", according to a US statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports that the UAE deal hinges on the sale of US F-35 stealth fighter-jets to the Emirates, saying he opposes a move that could reduce Israel's strategic edge in the region. US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told the official Emirati news agency WAM on Wednesday there are "a tonne of incredibly positive conversations going on" between the US, UAE and Israel. "As it relates to the F-35 or any military hardware or infrastructure... the UAE and US military and security relationship is a robust one," Ortagus added. "This is not the first instance when the United States has sold military aircraft or hardware, F-16s, (or) others to the UAE." Pompeo's trip to the Emirates lasted less than two hours before he headed back to Manama. He is expected to then travel on to Oman. bur-dm/dwo A rioter runs through the vandalized lobby of City Hall in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Oregon Governor Says No National Guard Help for Portland Before Another Riot Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said Tuesday she would not send the National Guard to help deal with continued unrest in Portland. Hours later, another riot took place. A group of about 150, many wearing helmets, gas masks, and body armor and carrying shields, descended on City Hall after 9:30 p.m. Some smashed windows and entered the building, including people marked as press, while others lit a fire outside. Police officers began warning the mob to leave the area. Most ignored the warnings, so police used force to disperse them, according to a nightly incident summary from the Portland Police Bureau. Police disengaged to try to reduce the intensity of the situation but the mob soon returned to the area, shining lasers in the eyes of officers and trying to break more windows. Just after 11 p.m., a man ignited an aerosol can while spraying it toward the city building, where security guards were inside. Because of the threat to life, officers again dispersed the crowd. Rioters hurled eggs and bottles at them and continued shining lasers. Clashes continued into the early hours of Wednesday. Twenty-three people were arrested for charges including disorderly conduct, harassment, and resisting arrest. Under a new policy from Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, most charges will likely be dropped. Portland police officers clear the lobby of City Hall in Portland, Ore., late Aug. 25, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Portland police officers arrest a man amid rioting Portland, Ore., late Aug. 25, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Brown, the governor, said before the latest riot that she wouldnt send help for police officers. Republican President Donald Trump wrote in a statement that his administration wants Brown and Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, to call up the National Guard like should have been done 3 months ago. Unrest has continued in Portland since May 28. They must stop calling these anarchists and agitators peaceful protesters. Come back into the real world! The Federal Government is ready to end this problem immediately upon your request, Trump added. In what appeared to be her first statement responding to similar calls, Brown said her state isnt interested in a role in your political theater. Guardsmen are focused on fighting wildfires, distributing PPE & helping with unemployment calls, she said, adding, Id love to discuss what we actually need: financial resources, N-95 masks & testing supplies. In a separate statement, Brown said: Its time for the violence and vandalism to end so Portland can focus on the important work to be done to achieve real change for racial justice. Those who have committed acts of violence will be held accountable. Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said earlier this week that Brown should do one of three things: deploy National Guard members, send Oregon State Police (OSP) back to Portland, or request assistance from the Trump administration. Portland law enforcement is doing what they can but need help to proactively address violence, he said. Oregon Army National Guard soldiers help set up a medical station amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on March 19, 2020. (Sgt. 1st Class Zachary Holden/U.S. Army National Guard via Getty Images) Security video from inside a Portland Police Association office shows unidentified people tossing flaming debris inside during a riot in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 8. 2020. (Courtesy of Portland Police Association) Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, on Monday ordered National Guard troops to Kenosha just hours after a single day of rioting. He escalated the number of forces on Tuesday after riots broke out again. The situation in Portland has attracted nationwide attention, particularly when federal officers and rioters clashed repeatedly last month. A shift came when Brown agreed to send state troopers to help keep the peace, but the troopers withdrew 2 weeks later, citing Schmidts new policy. Shootings have spiked in Oregons largest city this year and police officials have stressed the inability to respond in a timely manner to 911 calls because of the manpower needed to quell riots. At one point on Saturday, there were only four available police cars to respond to emergency calls for service, the bureau said. Around 30 officers were trying to manage a demonstration that turned violent but even that number couldnt properly police the groups. During rioting Sunday night, dozens of officers were pulled from precincts to respond, leading to a backlog of between 120 and 140 calls, including shots fired, assaults, and suspicious circumstances. Weve had calls holding upwards of 20 something hours, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell told reporters this week. Asked if police need help from the guard, Lovell said: I think from time to time we need our partner agencies, I think the help of OSP has been huge, Multnomah County Sheriffs Office has been a big help. I think right now, were in a place where I feel like we can handle the crowd control with our partners. But if that decisions made down the road, then you know, thats thats a decision that gets made above my head. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is not afraid of direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said in his interview for Euronews. "I am not afraid of a direct dialogue with the President of Russia. I think that would be a right thing. If we have an opportunity to talk, and the results of these talks can bring closer the end of the war, then it must be done, regardless of how different people or different regions react to that. If we have no dialogue, then we will have no result," Zelensky said. According to Zelensky, he spoke with his Russian counterpart before the declaration of ceasefire on July 27, 2020. "We have discussed complicated issues of ceasefire regime compliance. So far, this dialogue brought results and we see that," TASS cited the Ukrainian president as saying. The Army's 1st Cavalry Division has ordered changes to its driver training program and is kicking two company-level officers and a staff sergeant out of the Army as the result of an investigation into a deadly Bradley fighting vehicle accident in Korea last year. Spc. Nicholas Panipinto was killed when the right-hand side tread of the M2A3 Bradley came off and caused the massive vehicle to roll over during a Nov. 6, 2019 road test at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. Before the road test, Panipinto had received only six hours of hands-on driver training and no classroom instruction. Read Next: Their Sons Died in Accidents at Fort Hood. Now They're Joining Forces to Call for Change Current Army regulations require three days of classroom instruction and two days of hands-on driving experience, with an instructor, before military personnel are given licenses to drive Bradleys. "He never should have been behind the wheel," Kimberly Weaver said she was told during an investigation brief meeting with Col. Kevin Capra, the commander of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). As result, all 37 companies in the 3rd ABCT were "ordered to reassess their driver's training programs and to back brief battalion commanders on the status of the programs, ensuring that all driver training programs ... are enforced to Army standard," according to a briefing slide from the meeting. There were also malfunctions of the vehicle's communication systems, defective or broken equipment, a lack of medical services on base, and significant delays in medical response to the scene of the accident that day. Camp Humphreys did not have an on-campus hospital or even a military ambulance available to quickly transport Panipinto for emergency treatment, Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, wrote in a June letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper. A civilian ambulance responded to the accident scene, but it did not have a sufficient oxygen supply. Its suction equipment also had stopped functioning and it didn't have a blood transfusion supply and the instruments needed to treat Panipinto were unavailable, Buchanan wrote. The medical response was further delayed when the first on-base medical evacuation helicopter dispatched to the accident scene initially got lost, and a second medevac helicopter suffered from mechanical problems, the letter adds. Eventually, the first medevac helicopter arrived at the site 80 minutes after the accident, according to the letter. Buchannan has since called on the House Armed Services Committee to hold a public hearing on the increase in military training vehicle accidents. The investigation resulted in stiff punishments for Panipinto's immediate chain of command. "The company commander, platoon leader and Bradley commander received letters of reprimand and were initiated for involuntary separation," from the Army, according to the briefing slide. The staff sergeant serving as the Bradley commander also "received non-judicial punishment and was reduced in rank." Capra would only say that the investigation "resulted in non-judicial punishment for those found at fault for actions that contributed to the incident," according to a written statement to Military.com. Capra described Panipinto's death as a "terrible tragedy" but said he was confident that the outcome of the investigation would help to prevent future accidents. "The unit increased their focus on driver's training; improving the quality, frequency, and record keeping for the driver's training program to ensure all those operating combat vehicles were trained and licensed properly," Capra said in the statement. Weaver said she couldn't help but feel sorry for the three junior leaders who were blamed for the accident and wondered why no higher-ranking leaders were disciplined. "They are just kids; somebody should have been watching all of them," Weaver said, adding that she couldn't stop being frustrated over the number of mistakes that were made. "It's just the amount of them -- no medical facility, the medevac getting lost, the other one not even starting and the not sufficient medical supplies." U.S. Forces-Korea also ordered an examination into the emergency medical care offered across all military bases throughout the Korean peninsula, according to the briefing document. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: Lawmaker Calls for Public Hearing on 'Disturbing Rise' in Deadly Military Training Accidents For many of us our socio-economic class is one of the key points of our identity. The values are often derived at least partially from it and often look to be secure based in it. Our identity shapes our actions as a whole as well as the situations and people that feel comfortable to us. However, this can be problematic for the church and for Christians. There is a problem for people if they place their identity in their social or economic class. Firstly, for a general problem applicable Christians and non-Christians is the insecurity of class. Classes change and their natures change. Many examples of this occurred in nineteenth century in Europe. The abolition of serfdom and the new, industrial and increasingly urban proletariat show that class is not stable. People had to change the ways they lived and many had to forge new identities, this was not always good and rarely easy. More problematic, and more specifically a problem for Christians however, is the dividing nature of class. While the upper-classes may have seen themselves as protectors of human welfare since Plato's the Republic, by the nineteenth century most of the middle-classes despised them for their all too common corruption and then by the middle of the century more and more of the working-classes viewed the middle-classes as oppressors. As such to hold yourself as one class is to divide yourself from other people. The very idea of classes can be dividing. In many of our churches today, there is too often a link between who feels welcome and which socio-economic class they seem to match. I say this because there is nothing which makes one class or another greater in the eyes of the Lord, rather it is the person's relationship with Jesus Christ that will be judged. In fact, if we limit the people we accept as a church because of their socio-economic class, we will be denying the nature of salvation in Jesus Christ. Exhortations This appears to be what was happening in the church in Corinth when Paul sent the letter of 1 Corinthians. Paul writes strongly of this error in chapter eleven: "Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not." (Verse 22b, English Standard Version) The poorer members of their church had been treated as outcasts but, as a church, we are to show the unity we have because we all share in one salvation and one Holy Spirit. We should not reflect the culture of our surroundings in which people are divided. Jesus reached out to both the privileged and the outsiders of society and we should seek to do so as well. In Mark chapter five, Jesus healed a bleeding woman who was shunned as unclean by her society, then immediately went, and healed from death the daughter of a ruler of the synagogue. (Verse 25-43) Furthermore Jesus' death on the cross was for "Whoever believes in him..."(John 3 verse 18a ESV). How then might we emulate this? The early church in Acts supported each other, "...they were selling their belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." (2 verse 45 ESV) This, along with their other actions of meeting, praying and eating together, helped to ensure that they included all their fellow believers. We should also continue to meet together and look to each other's interests rather than our own selfish ambitions because of the love and humility that Jesus calls us to (Philippians 2 verses 2-5). Do not leave people unwelcomed when they visit you or your church and make effort to ensure that you do not exclude people from any conferences and camps because of the financial burden. In conclusion, the concept of social and economic class is not a secure identity for anyone. We as Christians should not allow our identity to be founded on class because we do not want to divide people, especially in the church context because we all share in the same faith. If we do divide in this way, we are not reflecting the unity God calls us to and nor are we following the examples given to us in the Bible. So make effort to address the needs of others even though it can be uncomfortable. Four men have been charged after police seized nearly $13million worth of cannabis in Sydney's southwest. Police have busted a criminal syndicate involved in large-scale cannabis cultivation and money laundering in hydro houses at several properties across the city. Detectives raided a property in Kemps Creek on Tuesday and found 31 greenhouses on the property, four of which contained equipment for cultivating cannabis. In the four large-scale grow houses, investigators seized 4,297 cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of $12.89 million. Four men were arrested (two of the arrested men pictured) by Strike Force Riche detectives on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation into cannabis cultivation and money laundering Strike Force Riche officers raided a property in Kemps Creek in Sydney (pictured) on Tuesday Police seized 4,297 cannabis plants (pictured) with an estimated street value of $12.89 million Detectives from Strike Force Riche also seized $3,690 cash. Four men, aged 19, 23, 26 and 41, were arrested at the property and charged with cultivating prohibited a plant (large commercial quantity) and participating in a criminal group. Police will allege the men were involved in the large-scale cultivation of cannabis in Sydneys west. Detectives say the 19-year-old was also involved in the large-scale cultivation of cannabis at a property in Gibberagee, where nearly $22million worth of cannabis was seized in June. The men were refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 26. Strike Force Roche was established by the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission in July 2019 to investigate a criminal syndicate involved in cannabis cultivation and money laundering. Police have charged 12 people so far, who remain before the courts. Fairport Harbor legislators and administrators will be studying and discussing a new report that focuses on proposed permitted uses for some of the villages zoning districts. The report, unveiled at the Aug. 18 Village Council meeting, also proposes the creation of purpose statements for districts ranging from C-1 Neighborhood Business to I-2 Heavy Industrial. This information was prepared for village government leaders by David Radachy, the communitys assistant zoning inspector. He serves in this capacity through a contract between the village and Lake County Office of Planning and Community Development. Radachy also is director of that county office. While council initially requested that Radachy provide a list of proposed, permitted uses for land zoned industrial in the village, he opted to issues recommendations for an expanded variety of zoning categories. Districts covered in his analysis are C-1, Neighborhood Business; C-2, Downtown; C-3, Regional Business; I-1, Light Industrial; I-2, Heavy Industrial; M-I, Marine Industrial; and M-R, Marine Recreational. Radachy also created a table in his study, where anyone looking at the page can scroll down and see the proposed, permitted uses in each zoning category. Uses are listed under headings such as Retail and Personal Service; Automotive and Transportation; Manufacturing; and Marine Uses. A combination of existing and proposed permitted purposes appear on the list, village Administrator Amy Cossick said on Aug. 25. Radachy, during the Aug. 18 meeting, said the proposed purpose statements he created for the district give a sense of direction of where each district will take (the village). For example, the purpose statement for the I-1, Light Industrial is intended to provide a district that offers a variety of light industrial uses, automotive services, trade business, warehousing and wholesale uses which operate in a clean, quiet manner. Councilman Tony Bertone commended Radachy for compiling a well-organized analysis that was easy to navigate. (His table of zoning categories and uses) lines up with how the Ohio Revised Building Code is set up, Bertone said. Its very easy to read and he did a fantastic job. Radachy said his report is only the first step of many in getting this approved by council. I would recommend that you send this to a committee or (the village) Planning Commission to work out the different uses and decide what uses you want for each district and see if this is the way you really want to go, he said. Mayor Timothy Manross suggested that the village Planning Commission and councils Planning Committee do a more in-depth review of the report. What we may want to do is combine those two groups to go over this at that time, Manross said. We could probably eliminate a meeting or two doing it that way. Council decided last month to take a closer look at permitted use in zoning districts when it approved the rezoning of a 2-acre parcel on Saint Clair Street Extension for industrial use. Dean Tsengas, who is managing partner of Senk Properties, had asked the village to rezone the parcel at 1185 Saint Clair Street Extension to industrial from marine recreational. While Bertone voted in favor of the rezoning, he also expressed concerns about changing the lands zoning classification to industrial without knowing what a future tenant or buyer might do with the property. Without a development plan or deed restrictions, there is a liability to the village, of course, Bertone said. I think thats something for all the council to consider. In response to discussion about requiring deed restrictions or a development plan for the Saint Clair Street Extension property, Radachy said Fairport Harbor instead needed to take a broader look at permitted uses in its zoning districts to truly protect the village. In exchange, the International Atomic Energy Agency says it will pursue no further questions regarding issue. Iran has agreed to allow inspectors by the United Nations nuclear watchdog to access two suspected former secret nuclear sites, after a months-long standoff between the two sides. The agreement reached on Wednesday came during a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi to Tehran for high-level talks. Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA, Grossi and the head of Irans nuclear agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, said in a joint statement. Dates for the IAEA access and the verification activities have been agreed. In exchange, the agency said it would pursue no further questions regarding this issue. Both sides recognise the independence, impartiality and professionalism of the IAEA continue to be essential in the fulfilment of its verification activities, the statement said. The IAEA had for months sought access to the sites in Tehran and Isfahan where Iran is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material. In June, the IAEA stepped up pressure on Iran when its Board of Governors passed a resolution calling it to let inspectors into the sites and cooperate with the agency. Until Wednesday, however, Tehran had refused to grant access arguing that the UNs nuclear watchdogs requests were based on allegations from Israel and had no legal basis. Iran, like before, is ready to cooperate with the IAEA, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told Grossi on Wednesday, according to state media. He called the agreement favourable and said it can help finally settle issues. Rouhani also called on Grossi to consider that Iran has sworn enemies with nuclear weapons who do not cooperate with the IAEA and are always seeking to cause issues for Tehran. Grossis trip took place shortly before a September 1 meeting of the joint commission on a landmark nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Tehran and world powers. Under the accord, known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran scaled back its uranium enrichment programme and promised not to pursue nuclear weapons. In exchange, international sanctions were lifted, allowing Tehran to sell its oil and gas worldwide. But the JCPOA has been in jeopardy since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from it in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran, leading Tehran to start scaling back compliance with the deal. On Thursday, the US attempted to invoke a punitive measure included in the JCPOA by declaring that Iran was, in fact, in violation of the agreement. The JCPOAs European signatories France, Germany and the United Kingdom rejected the move, saying the US had no such right since it was no longer a party to the deal. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 16:42:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's food safety authority decided on Wednesday to suspend the import of poultry products from Omskaya Oblast in Russia due to the bird flu outbreaks there. The Center for Food Safety (CFS) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said that in view of notifications from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Omskaya Oblast in Russia, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. A CFS spokesman said Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Russia for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department of the HKSAR government, Hong Kong imported about 140 tons of frozen poultry meat from Russia in the first six months this year. "The CFS has contacted the Russian authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said. Enditem By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/26/2020 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Elizabeth Potthast 's sister Jennifer "Jenn" Davis is defending her behavior in which she trashed the food Andrei Castravet 's family greeted her with in Moldova and called it "disgusting."On Sunday night's episode of : Happily Ever After?'s fifth season, Jenn was shown criticizing the feast Andrei's mother had prepared for Elizabeth's family when they arrived in Moldova in order to attend Elizabeth and Andrei's second wedding.It was Jenn's first morning in Moldova with her mother Pamela and stepfather Walter, who reunited with Jenn's father Chuck and brother Charlie after the men had traveled days earlier.Jenn received backlash from viewers for calling the food display -- or "scraps," as she put it -- disgusting "sh-t," but Jenn apparently stands by everything she said.Jenn posted a video on her Instagram Stories after the episode aired on TLC that has since been reposted by many different fan accounts."Okay, so, you guys gotta understand something. Literally just getting off a long-ass flight, coming in, meeting a million people for the first time, film crew in your face, you haven't eaten anything normal -- normal to me, anyway," Jenn said.The Florida native continued with attitude, "I'm sorry if I'm offending people, but going in and just being mentally mind-facked and then having food in your face that you've never seen before in terms of, like, a piece of pig fat on a cracker -- raw pig fat -- [I am] just not used to that.""[I] didn't feel like eating it. I'm sorry," Jenn said.Although Jenn repeatedly said, "I'm sorry," her tone indicated her apologies weren't sincere and she was being sarcastic."And you guys are just going bonkers about it," she added. "Like, chill. Chill. Because if you were in that situation, you wouldn't eat it either. So stop."In addition, Jenn attempted to provoke some of her "haters" on social media."Hi hater, enjoy watching me on your TV though. I'll be in your living room next Sunday too. I know you can't wait!" Jenn wrote on Instagram Stories.Jenn also shared a selfie of herself and wrote across the image, "I'm watching the show with you guys. I know. I sound like a pretentious bitch. Just sit back. Relax. And enjoy the show." Sunday night's episode featured Jenn waking up in Moldova after a long travel day."I woke up completely jetlagged and I haven't eaten in, like, a day-and-a-half. The food so far is just not what I'm used to. Can a girl get some eggs and bacon around here? And not, like, raw bacon?" Jenn asked the cameras with a laugh.Jenn was then shown sitting down at a table with her family, where she complained about how she'd probably lose weight during her stay in Moldova."This food, I can't eat any of it," Jenn said, although she was sitting next to croissants and a wide array of fruit options.The food item Jenn was particularly disturbed by was pig fat served on crackers.Jenn called the pig fat "disgusting" and said she wonders if people in Moldova eat it because it's "cheap" to buy, like "scraps" of food.Chuck pointed out, "They're eating peasant food," and then Jenn added, "I'm sorry, I'm open to trying stuff, but not some sh-t like that."When Jenn first arrived in Moldova, she also immediately vented about how sad and gloomy the place looked.Andrei admitted Jenn liked to push his buttons, but he tried to keep his cool since he had just gotten into an argument with Chuck and Charlie and upset Elizabeth.Although Andrei and Elizabeth's family were at odds, Pamela and Jenn helped Elizabeth shop for a traditional Moldovan wedding dress. Andrei's sister-in-law Ina also went to the boutique with the girls.Ina admitted she had problems with the "impulsive" Andrei in the past and they hadn't seen each other in two years. Ina asked Elizabeth's relatives, "What impressed [Elizabeth]?"Jenn laughed and said, "Same," and then Ina added of Elizabeth, "How does she live with him?!""Same! I don't know either," Jenn replied.Elizabeth overheard the conversation from inside the dressing room and was frustrated with Jenn trying to "talk sh-t" behind her back to Ina, while using the stylist as a translator.Jenn said she was just hurt that Andrei had disrespected her dad and brother, but Elizabeth said the fight didn't involve her and so she shouldn't worry about it.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! A bitter legal dispute involving tradies who dug up almost $500,000 worth of cash buried on a construction site has finally drawn to a close. Three parties who staked claim over the old bank notes, which were dug up on a property in Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast, have come to a confidential agreement about the best way to divide the money. Excavation operator Warren Bruggy and his labourer Daniel Boyd hoped an archaic 'finders keepers' law would support their bid to keep $388,850 in old bank notes and a further $100,000 in destroyed notes they found while on the tools. They were digging up land on the construction site owned by Morrison Construction Services last October when they found the loot. The duo immediately turned the cash over to police - much to the dismay of their employer Shane Grimwood who reportedly sacked them on the spot when he learned of the money. Queensland law states those who hand in property to police can request to have it returned to them if the owner can't be found. A bitter legal fight erupted over almost $500,000 in old bank notes (some pictured) found by two tradies Excavator operator Warren Bruggy (pictured) and labourer Daniel Boyd found the cash on a Gold Coast property they were demolishing on October 31 But Scott Morrison, who owns Morrison Construction, said the money rightfully belonged to him given it was found on land he owned and was in the process of developing. The tradesmen's defense was that their contract was to demolish the property and take everything away, therefore the developer had 'disclaimed possession of those items removed during excavation'. The third party walking away with a slice of the money is Raymond Ma, a restaurant owner who claimed his late father - who once lived on the property - buried the money to avoid paying tax on it. After a drawn-out legal stoush which could've seen the money whittled away in legal fees, Brisbane Supreme Court heard on Wednesday that all parties settled privately. The exact figure each person received will remain strictly confidential. Justice David Boddice heard the dispute was resolved two days earlier on Monday August 23 and that each party had agreed to cover the cost of their own legal fees. 'The owner of the property has the best claim... as the owner of the land they have a better claim than the finder,' the court heard on Wednesday. 'Those who found it did so because they were granted entitlement to be on the property.' Excavation operator Warren Bruggy and his labourer Daniel Boyd hoped an archaic finders keepers law would support their bid to keep $388,850 in old bank notes and a further $100,000 in destroyed notes they found while on the tools (construction site pictured) Scott Morrison (pictured with his wife), the developer, filed a claim to keep the whole pile of cash for himself as he owned the land. He has since settled on a figure David Topp (pictured), who represented Mr Morrison in court on Wednesday told Daily Mail Australia his client was 'happy the matter was finalised in court today' David Topp, who represented Mr Morrison in court on Wednesday told Daily Mail Australia his client was 'happy the matter was finalised in court today'. 'The matter was mediated in strict confidence on Monday, and the applicant is happy with the outcome.' Mr Topp said the parties would not be making further comments on the confidential settlement. Similarly, Dr Anthony Marinac, who represented both tradesmen, said the pair were happy with the final settlement. 'The boys are very happy, as they have been, all the way along. They did the right thing and took the money to police,' Dr Marinac said. 'They are very happy with the outcome.' Six parties in total were at one stage before the courts over the dispute. Shane Grimwood, co-director of DIG Earthworks and the employer of both tradies who found the cash, initially staked a claim in the money too. In an affidavit, developer Scott Morrison claimed Mr Grimwood called him saying he 'couldn't believe his guys had handed the money in'. Mr Grimwood, a Harley Davidson enthusiast with a teenage daughter, allegedly tried to cut a deal with Mr Morrison that would cut out his now-former employees. 'I'm not greedy so we should just split it 50/50 and we could both be on a yacht eating oysters and drinking champagne,' he said, according to Mr Morrison. Shane Grimwood (pictured) the boss of the two tradesmen who found the cash, initially said he thought he should get a cut of the money but later withdrew his claim The Reserve Bank confirmed the total value of the cash was around $476,600 Mr Topp said the parties would not be making further comments on the confidential settlement Who wanted to claim the cash? The tradies: Excavator operator Warren Bruggy and labourer Daniel Boyd used an archaic finders keepers law to back up their claim that they were the rightful owners of the cash. The duo found the buried money in a plastic tub and immediately turned it over to authorities. Early in the saga, Justice Martin Daubney said 'finders keepers' was a reasonable claim and had some 'ancient authority' to support the legal argument. Lawyers for the pair on Monday said the tradesmen were 'very happy' with the outcome of a private settlement outside of court. The developer: Scott Morrison, the owner of Morrison Construction Services, argued the money was rightfully his given it was dug up on land that he owned. Mr Morrison filed a claim to keep the cash for himself in the Supreme Court on October 10. The father-of-two agreed to settle outside of court for a confidential amount on Monday, August 24. The Brisbane Supreme Court heard Mr Morrison had 'the best claim... as the owner of the land they have a better claim than the finder'. The tradies' boss: DIG Earthworks, co-owned by Shane Grimwood, was hired to demolish the house so apartments could be built on the the land. He called developer Scott Morrison saying he 'couldn't believe his guys had handed the money in', Mr Morrison claimed in an affidavit. The document filed with the Supreme Court claimed Mr Grimwood said he was headed to the site 'to fire them straight away'. Mr Grimwood, a Harley Davidson fan with a teenage daughter, allegedly tried to cut a deal with Mr Morrison that would cut out his now-former employees, but later withdrew his claim. The son of a former land owner: Police contacted former owners of the property, including Peter Chan when trying to find the rightful owner of the cash. Mr Chan said his late brother-in-law Stephen Ma, a travelling chef, may have hidden the money on his property to avoid paying tax. Mr Ma's son Raymond Ma, who owns Mandarin Court Chinese restaurant on the Gold Coast, launched a claim on behalf of his father. His lawyer told the court his client believed Mr Ma buried the cash in 1993 after showing Mr Chan a bag full of money, which he refused to take. However, he admitted he never actually saw Mr Ma bury the cash. The Ma claim was bolstered by the cash being found wrapped in Chinese newspapers Raymond Ma claimed his father often read. Lawyers for Raymond Ma reached a confidential settlement agreement at mediation. A former land owner from 40 years ago: David Timson initially suggested he would appear in court to claim the money, but later withdrew. Mr Timson - who claims he lived on the Runaway Bay property about 40 years ago, said he may have buried the cash, and wants to 'put it towards a place and me health as well (sic)'. The lawyers for the other parties requested to have Mr Timson's claim removed from contention early in the legal process. Advertisement Mr Grimwood eventually withdrew his claim for the sum of money. Two other claimants dropped out of the race for the money, while a man whose father once owned the land insisted the cash should belong to him. Police contacted former owners of the property, including Peter Chan, while trying to find the true owner of the money. Mr Chan said his late brother-in-law Stephen Ma, a travelling chef, may have hidden the money on his property to avoid paying tax. Mr Ma's son Raymond Ma, who owns Mandarin Court Chinese restaurant on the Gold Coast, has since launched a claim on behalf of his father. His lawyer told the court his client believed Mr Ma buried the cash in 1993 after showing Mr Chan a bag full of money, which he refused to take. However, he admitted he never actually saw Mr Ma bury the cash. The Ma claim was bolstered by the cash being found wrapped in Chinese newspapers Raymond Ma claimed his father often read. Restaurant owner Raymond Ma (left) tried to claim the cash on behalf of his deceased father Stephen (right), who he claims buried the money to avoid paying tax The two tradies were demolishing a property (pictured) on the Gold Coast, when they lifted the old notes out of the ground However, Mr Morrison countered that the money couldn't be Stephen Ma's as he 'lacked the capacity and ability to have earned an amount of money as large'. Mr Morrison's lawyer argued even if the story was true, Stephen Ma had 'abandoned' the money and therefore had no claim to it. Regardless, Mr Ma was involved in the settlement and reportedly did not walk away empty-handed. Legal experts previously warned the court battle could have been a costly misadventure as the judge could have decided no one was entitled to the money. Inheritance lawyer Christine Smyth previously told Nine News in that case the Queensland Government or the Federal Government would have gotten to keep it. The ATO could also have taken a large piece if the story about Stephen Ma burying the cash to avoid paying tax turned out to be true. 'If it's found this money was earned through income one of the questions that might be asked is well, was there tax paid on that?' Ms Smyth said. Police never recovered any fingerprints to link the cash to any individual. A rise in rural numbers, a fall in overall numbers and a commanding lead for Reliance Jio are some of the takeaways from mobile market share figures for May published by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). After a (relatively) short time in the market, highlighted by some aggressive pricing, Reliance Jio has clearly made its presence felt with a market share estimated at 34.33 per cent, although its not yet clear how much of this figure is made up of active subscribers. Local news reports indicate that Bharti Airtel is now at 27.78 per cent, and the once dominant Vodafone Idea is at 27.09 per cent as of 31 May. Still, with nearly 90 per cent of the wireless subscriber market between them, the three private communications giants are way ahead of state-owned BSNL and MTNL, whose market share is only 10.79 per cent. However, the market is contracting albeit minimally. The number of mobile users in the country as a whole has fallen to 1,143.91 million from 1,149.52 million at the end of April, a fall of about one half of a percent. On a more positive note, the mobile subscriber base in rural India has increased from 520.08 million at the end of April to 523.70 million at the end of May, compared to a sharp decrease from 629.44 million to 620.21 million in urban areas. What this means in terms of trends is hard to say. Certainly rural growth is likely to continue as smartphone costs fall and connectivity improves in remote areas. However, better connectivity will require investment and Vodafone Idea in particular may prefer to put money into competing in its core markets after a steep decline in its numbers. At the time of the merger that created Vodafone Idea in August 2018 it was the runaway market leader with 408 million subscribers. Today its subscriber numbers are estimated in some quarters to be under 300 million. Brenda Salter McNeil remembers the moment when everything changed. An active leader in reconciliation circles, especially within the church, she recalls feelings of uncertainty about her involvement in the Ferguson protest movement nearly six years ago. Certain that a younger generation of activists would take the lead, she traveled to Missouri not as an active participant but as someone who was there to learn, listen, advise and consult. But when the young activists asked whether she and other church leaders were actually going to join in protests later that day, Salter McNeil found she could only utter a single word in response: Yes. Even if her response felt reluctant at best, the celebrated theologian, author, and pastor later felt she was compelled to take a stand against the persistent forces that continued to deny the humanity of black and brown bodies, as evidenced by the ongoing slaughter of our sons and daughters by the police. Little did Dr. Brenda, as students and parishioners know her, realize how this particular moment would upend the specific type of reconciliation work she had been engaged in for nearly three decades. In her anticipated new release, Becoming Brave: Finding the Courage to Pursue Racial Justice Now, Salter McNeil invites readers not only to learn from her as a teacher and a guide but to gird up the courage to join her in the fight against racism and systemic injustice. In a book that is both necessary and propheticcomposed of equal parts history, biblical commentary, and personal narrativeSalter McNeil offers a distinctly pastoral approach. Her book is an exhortation to storm the gates, an admonition beyond heart and into the realm of action. Its an invitation to unlikely leaders and unlikely activists sensing the call of God on their lives, to believers who are willing to become undone as they work to undo archaic systems of whiteness and white supremacy for the sake of the gospel. But before Salter McNeil could issue this invitation, she had to become undone herself. Rethinking Reconciliation Perhaps its just me, but I often recognize the mark of a strong leader in ones willingness to admit a mistake. Whether inside or outside the church, when leaders cultivate compassion and humility more than they seek admiration and success, I cant help but lean into what they might have to teach me. Salter McNeil is no exception to this rule, especially when it comes to recognizing that her critics had been right: She hadnt gone far enough in specifically addressing issues of systemic and structural injustice that affect people of color, the poor, and the marginalized in our society. As Salter McNeil writes in Becoming Brave, for too long she had bought into a model of reconciliation based on friendship, diversity, and inclusiona model that, at its heart, ultimately sought to make the conversation palatable for a dominant white culture. By failing to insist on justice, this approach gave insufficient weight to both the historic and current realities that continue to create, feed, and amplify systems in our country that benefit some but not all. And in shrinking back from acknowledging the myriad roots of injustice, Salter McNeil writes, the prevailing reconciliation model never truly identified the specific work that different groups must to do repair the divide. In one of many moments of deep authenticity, Salter McNeil recollects the illicit prize she chased after as a woman of color catering to mostly white spaces. Explaining her thinking at the time, she writes, [I]f I could convince evangelical Christians that reconciliation was not some politically motivated agenda but a biblical calling rooted in Scripture, they would pursue racial justice. For years I tried to be biblical enough, nonthreatening enough, patient enough, persuasive enough, theologically rigorous enough, so that no one would say I had a hidden agenda. Certainly, as a white woman, I can see how her words might be hard for readers in white evangelical churches to swallowbut this is the entire point. For too long, the reconciliation movement sought to dilute the brutal realities of racism and white supremacy so that white people would be comfortable discussing them. But this only served to ignore the real root of the problem. Article continues below Turning toward the bolder, justice-oriented approach she now embraces, Salter McNeil begins to ask (and answer) the kinds of questions that matter: How will the belief in Gods reconciling work in the world practically impact impoverished people and those discriminated against based on their race, gender, sexuality, class or social status? How does our belief in the reconciling power of the Resurrection enable us to speak truth against the powers of injustice that are at work in the world? If we cant answer those questions, then we are not relevant, and our message of reconciliation is shallow. By boldly speaking truth to power, Salter McNeil dares her readers to consider how we as Gods people have allowed injustice to fester like an insidious, infected wound in our country today. In tailoring its message to white ears, Salter McNeil writes, the reconciliation movement was ignoring the prophetic voices of the non-white (and non-male) protesters, teachers, journalists, artists, [and] preachers [who] come to get our attention and inform us about the reality of whats going on in peoples lives. In tuning our ears to these neglected voices, we allow the Holy Spirit to whisper new truths, including truths that can make some of us feel rather raw and exposed in our comfort. And we come to see, all the clearer, how these voices must be re-centered if real change is going to occur. Lessons from Esther In reality, this message is nothing new, for Salter McNeil takes it straight from the book of Esther. Chapter by chapter, she reveals her fiery preachers soul as she walks readers though this Old Testament story of faithfulness under trying circumstances. Salter McNeil offers a thorough understanding of the customs, culture, and significance of ancient Persian society, all while providing biblical insight into central characters like Xerxes and Hadassah (Esthers Jewish name) or Haman and Mordecai. And she draws powerful personal parallels between Esthers time and our own. In the opening chapter of Esther, Queen Vashti decides to stick up for herself by refusing to attend the extravagant party her husband is throwing, which infuriates the king and leads to her losing the throne. Salter McNeil uses Vashtis example of principled defiance to remind readers that we must not compromise our dignity, self-esteem and self-worth in an attempt to please others, to maintain a relationship, or to keep the peace. In another pivotal moment, Mordecai refuses to wear the clean clothes the newly minted Queen Esther has sent him, continuing instead to clothe himself in sackcloth and ashes for the Jewish people. From this, Salter McNeil draws valuable lessons about the role of biblical and historical lament. By sending back the clothes, she writes, he is making a prophetic and political statement. She imagines Mordecai thinking, I will not let you silence me. I will not let you placate me. I will not go away quietly. Article continues below Connecting the dots between Esthers life and her own reconciliation work, Salter McNeil exhorts her readers to partner in efforts to bring real change to broken systems of inequality, even though they are certain to face fierce resistance. Esther, she writes, decided to join in Gods reparative work in the world, knowing full well that there were no promises that everything would turn out okay. By telling uncomfortable truths, both about herself and her audience, Salter McNeil compels her readers to wrestle with the limitations that keep them from fully engaging in this work. But in the end, her invitation is pastoral at heart. Like a good shepherd caring for her flock, she leads us into the deep work of reconciliation with compassion and grace. In so doing, she helps usin the words of her books subtitlefind the courage to pursue racial justice now. Cara Meredith is a writer and speaker living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of The Color of Life: A Journey Toward Love and Racial Justice (Zondervan). Bella Hadid is the star of the new Burberry campaign. The 23-year-old supermodel sister of Gigi Hadid posed seemingly nude in one photo from the shoot, which promotes the iconic British brand's pocket bags. A series of pictures showed Bella posing with the little pocket bags as well as a large plaster cat. Looking fab: Bella Hadid got shrunk down to miniature in a string of sizzling new snapshots for a new Burberry campaign The star could be seen straddling a ceramic panther in four pictures she took for the new campaign. One showed her in a nude dress that emphasized her hourglass figure while another had her decked out in head-to-toe black leather. In still another picture she was every inch the smoldering sensation in skintight leather trousers and an animal print blouse. Tricks of the trade: A series of pictures showed the mini Bella posing with the little pocket bags, which held up against her seemed gigantic Animal instinct: The little sister of Gigi Hadid could be seen straddling a ceramic panther in four pictures she took for the new campaign What a look: One showed her in a nude dress that emphasized her hourglass figure while another had her decked out in head-to-toe black leather 'I absolutely loved shooting this campaign, letting my inner animal spirit run free! We had so much fun on set, the mood was really sultry and playful, I felt we were really capturing that feline energy and power,' said Bella. 'This is my second campaign for Burberry and it is always such an exciting experience working with Riccardo - he has such amazing creative ideas and ways of interpreting a collection,' added the social media maven. 'For me, a lot of my creative concepts come from discovering old house codes and then creating new ones,' Burberry's top designer Riccardo Tisci dished. 'I have always loved going into the archives and that is where I found the inspiration for this Pocket Bag,' he explained in a press release. The pictures were taken by the successful Dutch fashion photography duo of Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, known as jointly as Inez And Vinoodh. 'For Burberrys first ever bag campaign, I knew that I needed to give the Pocket Bag a powerful modern energy and so together with Katy, Inez and Vinoodh we developed an exciting campaign inspired by Burberrys Animal Kingdom,' said Riccardo. 'Sultry: 'This is my second campaign for Burberry and it is always such an exciting experience' Had fun: 'I absolutely loved shooting this campaign, letting my inner animal spirit run free!' she said. 'We had so much fun on set, the mood was really sultry and playful' Cat vibes: 'I felt we were really capturing that feline energy and power,' said Bella 'Animals have always been a creative obsession and signature of mine, and it was so amazing to see Bella Hadid bring this to life as the panther.' He gushed about the face of his campaign: 'She has this fierce power and raw femininity that perfectly embodies the animal spirit.' Earlier in the pandemic Bella was hunkering down with her sister Gigi Hadid and mother Yolanda Hadid on the family farm in Pennsylvania. Gigi is currently pregnant by her on-again boyfriend Zayn Malik of One Direction fame and he joined the group in self-isolation. Part of the process: 'For me, a lot of my creative concepts come from discovering old house codes and then creating new ones,' Burberry's top designer Riccardo Tisci dished Behind the scenes: 'I have always loved going into the archives and that is where I found the inspiration for this Pocket Bag,' he explained in a press release Bella appears to have returned to New York recently, and Gigi arrived there last week in the run-up to delivering her firstborn child. Yolanda and her younger two children all suffer from Lyme disease and Bella, who was diagnosed in 2012, wrote about the illness on Insta Stories this Tuesday. She listed a series of symptoms she experiences including irregular heartbeat, mood disorders, joint pain, sweats, nausea, difficulty with breathing and exercising, insomnia, headaches, brain fog, anxiety and confusion. Bella noted: 'Everyday I feel at least 10 of these attributes without fail ... since I was probably 14, but more aggressively when I turned 18.' The "reprehensible" steps taken by the Minsk government "cannot remain without an adequate response from the EU," Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said before attending the informal Gymnich meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union, which will take place on Thursday and Friday in Berlin. He said, according to a Foreign Ministry (MAE) release sent to AGERPRES, that he would support "sanctioning those guilty of the abuses committed in the electoral and post-electoral context" in Belarus. "The situation in Belarus continues to be of the utmost concern, and here I am also considering also the recent decisions by the authorities to detain members of the Opposition's Coordinating Council and other representatives of the protest movement yesterday. These reprehensible steps of the power in Mink cannot be left without an adequate response from the EU. I will reiterate in the discussions with my European colleagues in Berlin the support for sanctioning those guilty of abuses committed in the electoral and post-electoral context," the Romanian official stated, according to the MAE. He added that the meeting would discuss "the best ways to support concretely civil society, the free press and the people of Belarus." "Thus, I will inform my counterparts that I have started the procedure for allocating a voluntary financial contribution of 100,000 euros from the budget for development assistance and humanitarian assistance for 2020, managed by the MAE and the International Development Cooperation Agency (RoAid), in order to support independent journalism and civil society in Belarus," said the head of the Romanian diplomacy. The agenda of the talks is broad, focusing on important EU foreign policy issues and also on recent developments in the Union's neighborhood. Thus, the working sessions will address the situation in Belarus, EU-Turkey relations, including in the context of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and EU-Russia relations. The ministers will also discuss the geopolitical impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the EU's international role. According to the release, the developments in Belarus have triggered a rapid reaction at EU level, and the discussions by European foreign ministers in Gymnich format will ensure the continuation of debates at the special meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 August 2020 and the extraordinary European Council meeting on 19 August 2020. Ministers will focus in particular on EU measures to support civil society and Belarusian citizens, including the imposition of sanctions, the Romanian Foreign Ministry said. The ministers will also have an exchange of views on EU-Turkey relations, in the context of maintaining tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, to identify solutions to overcome the current deadlock and to reflect on the future of EU relations with this strategic partner. Minister Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate the importance of European solidarity and the need to identify solutions by exclusively peaceful means and to engage the parties in negotiations based on their legitimate interests, in compliance with international law. At the same time, the EU-Russia relations will be discussed from the perspective of the objectives of the European Union, as well as the way in which Russia respects its international commitments. The European External Action Service (EEAS) together with the EU member states will evaluate, to this end, the results of the EU's actions so far, as well as ways to improve them in the future. Regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministers will try, together with the EEAS, to identify geopolitical challenges for the coming years, given that the pandemic has had the effect of provoking and accelerating global trends, with an impact on multilateralism and other parameters of international relations. Emphasis will be placed on how the EU can protect and strengthen its interests and influence beyond its borders. According to the MAE, Minister Bogdan Aurescu will emphasize the importance of accurately measuring the impact of these trends on the EU's global role and position, identifying those that are favorable and contrary to the Union's interests and objectives, in order to establish concrete measures that the EU must take to defend its interests and achieve its objectives in the neighborhood and globally. Ahead of the Gymnich meeting, there will be a luncheon, whose guest will be Israeli Foreign Minister Gabriel Ashkenazi to discuss the latest developments in the region, the prospects for the Middle East Peace Process and the EU-Israel relations. Minister Bogdan Aurescu will reiterate Romania's position according to which the only viable option for the Peace Process is the solution of the two states, which the parties can achieve only by engaging in direct negotiations, in compliance with international law, and will support the strengthening of the EU-Israel relationship and dialogue. AGERPRES . Iron ore / Cover Story: Stalled Guinea project highlights Chinas struggle to reforge iron ore supply chain Simandou, a 110-kilometer range of hills deep in the hinterland of Guinea in Western Africa, boasts the worlds largest untapped iron ore reserves. They could reshape the global supply chain of the critical ingredient of steel, the worlds second-most traded commodity behind crude oil. The rich assets have lured global investors, especially from ore-thirsty China, but pulling the mineral out of the ground has turned out to be a thorny challenge with entangled interests and risks stemming from technical, capital and political uncertainties. It is considered the worlds largest, highest-quality iron ore deposit. Some industry experts project it could produce as much as 150 million tons of iron ore a year, equivalent to 7% of global production in 2019. Developing the deposits could save China, the worlds largest steelmaking country, billions of dollars a year. FINANCE & ECONOMICS Trade / Positive signs after China-U.S. phone call on phase one trade deal Chinese Vice Premier Liu He spoke with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin by phone Monday in a six-month review of the two countries' phase one trade deal signed in January that effectively put on pause the protracted trade war between the worlds two largest economies. In the phone call, previously scheduled for Aug. 15, the two countries top trade negotiators made positive signs that both sides see progress and are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the success of the agreement, according to a statement released by the office of the USTR. The two sides conducted a constructive dialogue on such issues as strengthening bilateral coordination of macroeconomic policies and the implementation of the China-U.S. phase-one economic and trade agreement, Chinas Commerce Ministry said in a statement. IPO / Ant files for blockbuster listings in Shanghai and Hong Kong Ant Group Co., the Chinese financial-technology giant controlled by billionaire Jack Ma, Tuesday filed for its long-expected initial public offerings in Hong Kong and Shanghai that could raise more than $20 billion. Hangzhou-based Ant said it will issue new shares accounting for at least 10% of total shares following the concurrent IPOs. The company didnt provide a share price range or the amount it intends to raise in the IPO. But based on analysts estimates of a market valuation of more than $200 billion, the deals could raise more than $20 billion, making it one of the largest listings in recent years. The operator of popular payment service platform Alipay filed for the listings separately with the Shanghai and Hong Kong bourses. The documents for the first time disclosed financial details of Ant's gigantic business size and robust growth. Ant had revenues of 72.5 billion yuan ($10.5 billion) for the six months through June 2020, with net profit rising more than ten-fold to 21.2 billion yuan, according to the filings. Exclusive: Ant Group loses two key executives as IPO looms, sources say New consumer lending arm gives Ant Group license to lend a lot more Banking / Exclusive: Regulators step up efforts to recapitalize cash-strapped small, midsize banks Chinas financial regulators are considering expanding the types of instruments struggling small and midsized banks can sell to local governments to raise capital, making it easier and quicker for them to strengthen their balance sheets and expand lending to businesses, sources familiar with the issue told Caixin. In July, the State Council, Chinas cabinet, said it would allow 18 provincial-level governments to use as much as 200 billion yuan ($28.9 billion) from this years 3.75 trillion yuan quota of special-purpose bonds (SPBs) to inject funds into banks in their jurisdictions that need support. At the time, the government specified only one channel for investment convertible bonds, which banks can use to replenish their core tier-one capital. But financial authorities have now come up with more ways for banks to get the money. These include selling bonds, usually subordinated debt, to replenish whats known as Tier-2 capital, the second layer of a banks capital requirements thats less secure than the top Tier-1 capital. Hiring / Chinas banks hire tens of thousands in latest rescue mission Chinas mega banks are ramping up their recruitment of fresh graduates as a record number enter the labor market, joining other state-owned enterprises in boosting employment even as lenders deal with plunging earnings and ballooning bad debt. The four biggest state banks, led by Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., kicked off their autumn campus hiring this month instead of in November as in previous years. China Construction Bank Corp. plans to add 16,000 graduates this year, up from 13,000 last year. Bank of China Co. will increase its hiring by 15% to more than 10,000, according to their advertisements. Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. hired 4,500 people during the spring round. Chinas largest banks are under pressure from Beijing to help prop up the economy. Quick hits / Another state-owned firm joins Bank of Gansu bailout BUSINESS & TECH HSMCs founders had big hopes for the company when they set it up late 2017, aiming to take advantage of billions of dollars being made available by central and local governments to build up the countrys chip industry. Semiconductors / Chinas $18.5 billion chip champ hopeful fights for survival An $18.5 billion company that aimed to become one of Chinas leading high-tech electronic chip makers faces the risk of never getting off the ground because of a major cash shortfall, a local government authority close to the project has determined. A collapse of the startup known as Wuhan Hongxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (HSMC) would be a major setback for Chinas aspirations to become more self-sufficient in producing the high-tech chips that power most modern gadgets and devices. It would also spotlight the difficulties of building such complex companies from scratch. HSMCs large funding shortage was raised in a July 30 government report on the progress of investments in the Dongxihu district of the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the project is located. The report said the cash shortfall raised the risk that the project could come to a halt at any time. M&A / Dairy giant Mengniu quits Australia acquisition after government says it wasnt in national interest Mengniu Dairy Co. Ltd. pulled out of a deal to buy an Australia-based dairy producer from Japan's Kirin Holdings Co., after Australias Federal Treasurer told the Inner Mongolian dairy giant the purchase was not in the national interest. All three companies made statements Tuesday saying the acquisition deal had been terminated, nine months after it was first agreed. Kirin said it decided to terminate the agreement because approval from Australias Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), a condition of the purchase agreement, had not been secured and was unlikely to be forthcoming at this time. The business in question, Lion Dairy, said it was disappointed, while Mengniu said only that the conditions of the agreement had not been met. Food security / Four things to know about Chinas food security amid Covid-19 Food security has made headlines in China since President Xi Jinping called for an end to shameful waste earlier this month, after widespread flooding in southern China and disruption to global supply chains from Covid-19 raised the specter of food shortages. While the likelihood of a food crisis remains remote, Xi was quoted by state media as saying that the country should maintain a sense of crisis regarding food security, especially amid the fallout of the Covid-19 epidemic, despite the fact that China has scored consecutive bumper harvests. Here are four things to know about Chinas food security amid the ongoing disruption to global supply. Beverage / China bottled water giant seeks $1.1 billion in one of years biggest food and beverage IPOs China bottled water giant Nongfu Spring Co. is seeking to raise as much as HK$8.35 billion ($1.1 billion) in what could be the worlds second-biggest initial public offering by a food and beverage company this year. The Hangzhou-based company is offering 388.2 million shares at HK$19.5 to HK$21.5 each in its Hong Kong share sale, according to a prospectus on the Hong Kong stock exchange website Tuesday. The offering attracted five cornerstone investors that will purchase a combined $320 million of the offering, based on top end of the range. The company plans to price the offering Aug. 28 and to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange Sept. 8. China International Capital Corp. and Morgan Stanley are the joint sponsors. Quick hits / Taco Bell starts tolling in Beijing Chinas self-driving vehicle ambitions hit roadblocks Tesla starts taking orders for Shanghai-built Model Y SUVs Thanks for reading. If you haven't already, click here to subscribe. The Covid-19 crisis is requiring everyone to do something that former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss built a career on: make tough, stressful decisions. "I like action, I hate inaction and inertia, and with the pandemic, it is requiring us to make decisions," said Voss, who now runs his own consulting firm, Black Swan Group. That is not a bad thing, the way Voss sees the world. Stressful times are an opportunity to reassess relationships, and that includes the business world. Right now, many small businesses across the country are facing the same financial struggles as many American individuals: income that has disappeared while bills, from rent to debt creditors, are not going away. Eviction is not only a looming threat for millions of residents, but for Main Street businesses as well. States around the country have included small commercial tenants in eviction moratoriums, but Voss said no business owner should take comfort in that because in a crisis, there is nothing that will not come up for negotiation at some point. "Everything is being renegotiated now and if someone you are doing business with hasn't called you yet to renegotiate, they are going to," Voss said, speaking at the recent CNBC Small Business Playbook virtual summit. Voss provided 10 tips to prepare for negotiations that may not be the life-and-death decisions he dealt with at the FBI and National Security Council, but can make-or-break a business's chances of survival. 1. The first question to ask: Do you want to be in business with this person? Voss said any time there is a renegotiation, whether rent or otherwise, to be undertaken, the first step is to consider whether the counterparty is someone with whom you want to continue to be in a relationship. On the other side of the pandemic, that will only be more important, he said. If you can answer that question in the affirmative, then you start by knowing this is someone you want to collaborate with in the future, not someone with whom you feel forced to collaborate. "How productive has the collaboration been with this lanyard? Have they treated me well?" Voss said. He cautioned about making up your mind too quickly, but ultimately, you do need to determine if a counterparty like a landlord has your best interests in mind, too. 2. Listen first, don't talk Voss's "Black swan" method starts by hearing out the other side, not making your case. He said it is important to learn whether a counterparty really has their backs up against the wall, is really under extreme pressure, and the only way to learn that information is by focusing on what they are saying. Some counterparties are renegotiating to take advantage, and you can learn that by listening. But, "lots of people are under pressure. Landlords are under pressure. Their bills haven't gone away because yours haven't," Voss said. You need to focus on the specifics. For example, right now a restaurant business is under serious pressure because it is difficult for them to duplicate what they do, unlike a business that can shift online. Understanding the specifics of the other party's view is critical. He said slowing down and listening becomes even more important in a world where negotiations are taking place on the phone or Zoom due to the pandemic. "It is has to be over the phone, slow down a little bit and focus a little more on making sure you heard the other side out. Being in person has a certain special feel and you can make up for it by slowing down," he said. "The Negotiation" episode of "The Office" which aired in 2007, with Melora Hardin as Jan Levinson and Steve Carell as Michael Scott. Chris Haston | NBCUniversal | Getty Images 3. When you talk, feed their concerns back to them Another way to think about it is empathy, and in Voss's "mercenary" definition of empathy, it means understanding the pressure another party is under. And it means checking your own ego before the negotiation starts and identifying what the other side needs. When you start articulating your argument, it should be focused on what you've learned from their experience: "'Wow, it sounds like you are really backed into a corner right now.' That is simple empathy statement," Voss said. One of his favorite negotiation skills is called "mirroring," which means repeating the last one to three words, or selected words of what someone just said, and it is the simplest skill of all. Negotiators who get good at mirroring know it saves them from ever going down the rabbit hole of negotiating with themselves. "Get good at mirrors, and sprinkle them into conversation, and you will find 90% of the time, the other side is talking." 4. Don't ask "Why?" Negotiators need to be very careful with the word "why" because it causes people to be defensive. For example, "Why are you raising my rent?" is not a way to start a negotiation. If you must use "why," understand there is a way to use it properly, "Why do you want to stay in business with me?" Or, "Why would you want to be in business with me after the pandemic?" But not, "Why are you renegotiating?" Voss says when you ask a "why" question seeking the cause of something you don't like such as over rent the negotiation is not likely to go well. In his days as a hostage negotiator, Voss learned that by asking a kidnapper why they want to deal with you, he was able to learn more than just whether the hostage was still alive. He could gauge whether the enemy is the type of mercenary who wants to cut your throat, or someone who wants to be in business, and that applies to the actual business world as well. When framing questions, Voss says don't make the mistake of looking for a "yes." In negotiations is it best to change "yes" questions to "no" questions, for example, "Is now a bad time to talk?" And not, "Is now a good time?" Not, "Do you agree?" but rather, "Do you disagree?" Giving the counterparty a chance to say "No" makes them feel safer and feel like there is more of a collaboration. "It sounds crazy, but everyone who does this loves the impact it has on their lives.," Voss said. 5. What face masks confrontation teach us about negotiation If you have found yourself angry at someone for not wearing a mask in a public place, or you are a business owner who has to deal with the confrontations that may occur between you, and your staff, and patrons, there's a key lesson available about the art of negotiation playing out every day in America and it comes back to empathy as the foundation for reaching an agreement. "What's causing someone to not want to wear a mask? We know why. They feel like it is infringing on their freedom and rights, and wearing a mask is a political statement. The definition of empathy is to know where the other side is coming from," Voss said. "So if somebody comes in without a mask say, 'it looks like freedom is important to you, you don't want to be constrained, you feel backed into a corner by this mess.' ... That will catch them off guard," Voss said. 6. Face masks and 'focused comparisons' If a store owner or employee is successful in the empathetic approach, the question then becomes, "How can we feel comfortable with each other if I think a mask is important and you don't?" "You want to leave decision-making in the other person's court, so to speak, but frame it in a way where they need to make a choice between options," Voss said. That is the definition of confrontation known as "focused comparison." In this case, safety versus freedom and in a business, leaning towards safety because it wants to be with customers for a long time. 7. Don't confuse price and value A landlord may want to argue over price, but the best case for a tenant to make is focused on value. That's because like any business, a landlord values a client, in this case a tenant, that keeps a place clean, doesn't bust up a residence and pays rent on time, Voss said, and he knows: "I've been a landlord," he said. "I would have been happy to not raise rent on a tenant that paid on time, kept the place clean and didn't bang holes in the wall," he added. That's why Voss said if a landlord is trying to renegotiate rent, the tenant should be focused on making the case that "it sounds like something is not valuable" to the landlord. It helps when the words land softly and not like a slap in the face. "I always pay rent on time and it sounds like that doesnt have value," Voss said, mimicking what a tenant could say, though he cautioned that the tone matters. "It sounds to me like it didn't matter to you that I always paid on time?" can be said with a tone of curiosity or accusation. "It helps when the words land softly and not like a slap in the face," he said. Voss also said to be aware that if someone starts talking price and terms immediately, there's a good chance, close to 75% chance in his experience, they are playing you off another offer. "You are the rabbit or competing bid, or they are looking for free consulting," he said. It makes sense if your gut tells you this is what is occurring to revert back to the techniques of arguing their position and mirroring, rather than offering up your own information: "It sounds like you are still gathering info on this ..." "That's an observation they will respond to with more information, and then mirror whatever they say to you back. ... they will talk more," Voss said. What you are trying to learn is if they are just shopping prices and wasting your time. 8. If a woman is available, maybe let her do the talking At the elite level of negotiation, gender makes no difference, but for those still learning to master the practice, "Women pick up our method faster than men," Voss said. While he said this is a finding from his experience that is closer to anecdotal than scientific, negotiation is ultimately about long-term relationships and long-term success, and "maybe women are more encouraged to focus on relationship," Voss said. "I don't know, but they do pick up this style of negotiating faster than men do." 9. Emotions are not bad. Negative emotions are bad. Trying to negotiate with a narcissist is a frustration experience because their offensiveness sets off our own negative emotions and Voss says he has learned that negative emotions are bad for negotiations. "When negative emotions are triggered, you are dumber," he said. "When you are in a positive mindset, you are 31% smarter. That's a huge tactical advantage." 10. Not making your case at all can work Of the total 1,11,688 coronavirus cases in the state, Telangana Health Minister Etala Rajender on Tuesday confirmed that two people have been reinfected with the deadly virus, raising fears about a second wave. However, the Director of Public Health DR G Srinivasa Rao said that the suspected patients are asymptomatic. They are re-examining the samples and ascertaining whether the patients got reinfected after getting exposed to a new strain of virus. Rao also expressed optimism over the Covid-19 situation in the state and claimed that the curve is expected to plateau September end, owing to a massive dip in daily infections in areas falling under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and other districts. But he cautioned that they cannot let their guard down and added that there is a need to exercise more caution. His statement comes as the government gears up to announce a slew of relaxations under Unlock 4.0 Telangana registered its biggest single day spike with 3,018 new cases. The total death toll has climbed to 780, including 10 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. Males account for more than 64% of the infected people, a majority of them falling under 31-40 age group. Despite the heavy numbers, the states fatality rate stands at 0.69%, lower than the national average of 1.84%. According to figures, 1,060 people recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total recoveries to 85,223. The recovery rate stands at 76%, slightly higher than the national average of 75.9%. GHMC officials have attributed this development to multiple factors including aggressive testing, tracking and treatment of Covid-19 patients. The state government set a new record by conducting 61,040 tests in a single day. In the wake of incessant rains and flooding in several parts of the state, the Telangana government has also alerted people that vector borne-diseases are expected to rise and the symptoms for such ailments are akin to tha of Covid-19. They urged people with symptoms to immediately visit healthcare facilities. She's been making the most of bars and restaurants reopening in recent weeks following lockdown. And Megan Barton Hanson put on a stylish display as she headed out for dinner at Soho Wala in London on Tuesday night. The former Love Island beauty, 26, wowed in a red silk midi dress with white spots as she stepped out. Gorgeous: Megan Barton Hanson put on a stylish display as she headed out for dinner at Soho Wala in London on Tuesday night The blonde bombshell flashed her toned and tanned legs in the number which featured a daring thigh-high slit. She accessorised the pretty dress with chunky white Lacoste trainers and a black leather over-the-shoulder bag as she left the restaurant. Megan upped the glamour with a slick of red lipstick and wore her trademark blonde tresses in a cropped do. Radiant: The former Love Island beauty, 26, wowed in a red silk midi dress with white spots as she stepped out Pretty: The blonde bombshell flashed her toned and tanned legs in the number which featured a daring thigh-high slit Megan's outing comes after she recently jetted to Turkey to get a new set of veneers fitted in at the Dental Centre Turkey. The reality star showed off a glimpse of her new set of pearly whites as she took to Instagram from the sun-soaked location last week. She smiled before pulling her lips down so that fans could get a good glimpse of the veneers as she made her way to her final check-up. Megan wore a bright smile as she gave a 'sneak peek' at her new set of teeth, before gushing that she was 'beyond happy' with the dental centre's work. Beaming: Megan upped the glamour with a slick of red lipstick and wore her trademark blonde tresses in a cropped do Stepping out: She accessorised the pretty dress with chunky white Lacoste trainers and a black leather over-the-shoulder bag as she left the restaurant Over a video where she showed off her teeth, Megan joked: 'There will be a lot more teeth videos.. sorry... I've not even brushed my hair yet and I'm doing the most on route for my final checkup (sic)' After her session had finished, Megan then returned to her hotel where she enjoyed a plate of fresh fruit and a glass of champagne. Megan previously revealed that she had opted to fly abroad to get her teeth looked at. In a video, the star wrote: '@DENTAL_CENTRE_TURKEY we're coming'. Night out: Megan's outing comes after she recently jetted to Turkey to get a new set of veneers fitted in at the Dental Centre Turkey The practice offers veneers, crows and dental implants. Getting more work done on her veneers is the latest in a list of procedures that Megan has been candid about. The reality star has admitted to also having had her ears pinned back, two boob jobs, a nose job and lip fillers. Megan previously revealed that she had received death threats over her decision to get cosmetic surgery after it was revealed she'd been under the knife. Delighted: Megan showed fans a glimpse of her new veneers and gushed she was 'beyond happy' with the results of her dental procedure last week (pictured left in July) Speaking to Kathy Burke during a segment on her documentary All Woman last year, Megan spoke about the backlash she received after appearing on Love Island. She revealed: 'I got so much stick for it in the island. 'I thought yeah they would mention the fact that I slept with two boys, yeah they would mention I was a stripper and I'd done glamour modelling. But I didn't think there would be that much stick for getting surgery. 'There would be comments that I was fake and plastic. I was getting death threats at one point. I think people just love to hate.' Megan added: 'Whether you edit yourself on these apps or in real life you get so much stick. These platforms are out here and these adverts are targeted at girls my age. They encourage it and when you do it you get vilified.' The disastrous situation that began unfolding on college and university classes across the US earlier this month has continued unabated, with several universities reporting spikes in new COVID-19 cases where face-to-face learning is taking place. On Monday, the University of Alabama (UA) system reported 566 new cases of COVID-19 since classes reopened last Wednesday, 531 of which occurred at its Tuscaloosa campus. This number is in addition to approximately 310 positive cases reported during the re-entry phase of returning students to campus, bringing the total of new cases this month close to 900, about three percent of universitys nearly 30,000 student population. The UA system previously announced that re-entry testing for students yielded less than a one percent positivity rate, but its dashboard pegs the positive test rate at 1.04 percent for its Tuscaloosa campus, which has the largest number of students. These percentages do not yet include the 566 new cases reported over the past week. The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill has also seen a massive increase in new cases despite the fact that the university shut down the campus for face-to-face learning last week. The school reported Monday that 31.3 percent of students tested for COVID-19 last week returned positive results. There have been 835 cases since February, and 646 of those were reported after the first day of in-person classes on August 10. UNC reported a total of 10 clusters at its Chapel Hill campus, each of which represents five or more cases in close proximity. Across the UNC system, more than 1,500 students have tested positive for COVID-19 since the spring. While many universities are experiencing a similar explosion in new cases as they reopen their campuses for face-to-face learning, the case of UA is especially significant, since Alabama has used its students as test subjects for a wider national reopening of universities and schools. Just last week, the president of UA in Birmingham, Dr. Ray L. Watts, was bragging about the states new federally-funded GuideSafe program, which he said gives us confidence [that] if theres a flare-up we can find it early and we can quarantine, treat and reduce the exposure to others. Objective events have exposed the role that Watts and other school administrators are playing: reopening universities and sacrificing the lives of students, faculty and staff. Programs like GuideSafe are put in place not to protect students, but to allow administrators and lawmakers to wash their hands of the consequences of reopening. While many university administrators have begun blaming students for increases in new cases at universities, UA President Stuart Bell has insisted on the opposite. He said, Our challenge is not the students. Our challenge is the virus, and theres a difference, folks Its how do we have protocols so that we make it to where our students can be successful, and we can minimize the impact of the virus. The protocols that Bell discussed included setting up isolation spaces and disciplining violations of COVID-19 mandates. What is not included is the closing of UA campuses and moving to remote forms of learning. The UA system dashboard, which does not reflect the giant increase in cases over the past week, shows that about 20 percent of the isolation space was already occupied at the Tuscaloosa campus prior to this new upsurge in cases. Dr. Ricky Friend, dean of the UA College of Community Health Sciences, told reporters that while isolation and quarantine spaces were not yet at capacity, we are concerned that each day that goes by, there might be new cases. Friend reported that UA was working on getting additional space on top of the 450 beds that are already in place to isolate and quarantine students, a number which is only about half of the 900 cases reported overall this month by UA. Despite Bells supposed defense of students at UA, his general response to the increase in new cases has consisted in targeting students rather than installing more protections and safer infrastructure. The 566 new COVID-19 cases were reported just a few hours after the City of Tuscaloosa announced that it will be closing bars for the next two weeks and that bar service at restaurants must cease. Bell wrote in a letter to students that university police and the Tuscaloosa Police Department would monitor bars, restaurants and off-campus residences to enforce university guidelines. On Friday, UA announced a 14-day moratorium on all in-person student events outside of classroom instruction. Other universities across the US are following suit. Ohio State University announced recently that it had issued 228 interim suspensions for individuals and student organizations that had attended or hosted large parties and gatherings in the university district. Boston College also recently announced that it will utilize the Boston police to watch and break up parties in and around its campus. Alabama has recorded more than 117,000 cases of COVID-19 and has a death toll of 2,024, placing it fourteenth among US states. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey praised both the mayor of Tuscaloosa and university officials for acting swiftly. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, a Democrat, stated at a press conference, My hope is that this will be just a brief pause on their plans to reopen and that we can get this in our rearview mirror sooner, rather than later. Other universities around the US that have experienced increases in COVID-19 cases include the University of South Carolina (USC), which recently placed two buildings in its Greek Village under quarantine. The university currently reports that there are 44 active student cases and two active faculty cases. Since August 10, when testing at USC began, a total of 90 students and 10 faculty have tested positive for the virus. The University of Southern California is also reporting an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among students. It identified 43 cases and has placed more than 100 students in a 14-day quarantine due to exposures. The university resumed instruction almost entirely online beginning August 17 and is limiting access to campus, but many students remain in private apartments and houses off campus, where they are still susceptible to the virus. Towson University in Baltimore County, Maryland decided to temporarily move to online classes after 55 people tested positive for COVID-19 on campus over two days last week. Princeton University, the University of South California and the University of Notre Dame all either postponed or cancelled face-to-face instruction last week. While university administrators and lawmakers have continued to keep campuses open in many cases, students, faculty and other staff have continued to protest the reopening measures. Students and faculty at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania protested the first day of fall semester classes on Monday. One student told reporters, This last weekend was really honestly terrifying, and we dont know what the rest of the school year is going to look like, but if its any predictor, its going to be bad. A group of graduate students at Ohio State University protested the return to campus Tuesday, bringing a car caravan to circle the campus in Columbus followed by a socially distanced rally around Bricker Hall. The graduate students issued demands, including the right to opt out of all in-person activities during the pandemic, the reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments and a meeting with administrators to discuss their demands. More than 300 University of Georgia (UGA) faculty members signed a column published by the student newspaper last week criticizing the universitys plans for reopening. A model created by John Drake, director of the UGA Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, predicts that hundreds of students were already infected with COVID-19 prior to their arrival on campus and that these will spread the virus to tens of thousands of other students, faculty and staff within the next two months. Drake wrote: The resumption of in-person instruction at the University of Georgia is unwise. It is not grounded in evidence nor in the recent experience of other peer universities. Regardless of the precautions taken by the University on campus, both projections and experience suggest that a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 is inevitable unless there is an immediate change in plans for the fall semester. University of Michigan (UM) professors are similarly opposing the August 31 reopening of their campus in Ann Arbor. A few dozen professors and community members gathered outside of the Fleming Administration Building last Wednesday to protest. Kento Toyama, a professor at UMs School of Information, who organized the protest, told reporters: We just dont understand the underlying, true motivation for the decision to reopen. I dont think anybody other than the university administrationand even then, probably not most peoplefully understand the reasons. The underlying motivation, which the World Socialist Web Site has outlined numerous times this year, is that the reopening of schools is the official policy of the American government and both big business parties, Democrats and Republicans. The policy of the ruling class, which university administrators and state lawmakers are carrying out, is to fully open the economy, which requires the opening of schools. The inevitable surge of COVID-19 infections and deaths is already underway. I dont support resolutions that are vague to the public because it is not clear whether or not defunding police means we just start hacking away at officers out of some kind of blame or revenge, which I think is improper, Boutet said. I would support any initiatives that further support our community policing model. I believe it is polarizing to say Take from this and give to that instead of thinking how these partnerships can work together for the betterment of the whole entire community. I think we all in this community want the best overall police department. President Staffer, Mr Charles Bissue has urged residents of Cape Coast in the Central Region who are craving for jobs instead of airport to look at the bright side of the construction of Cape Coast Airport. Residents in the Central Region, especially Cape Coast say they prefer the creation of jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the area and not the building of an airport as promised by the Akufo Addo goverment. Speaking at the launch of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) 2020 Manifesto in Cape Coast on Saturday Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia promised that the Akufo Addo government during its second term will build a harbour and an airport in the coastal town. The residents in an interview with Kasapa FM News Yaw Boagyan stated that building an airport in Cape Coast is a misplaced priority. Instead the need construction of factories to reduce the high unemployment rate in the area. There are a lot of people unemplyed in this area and we need work to do so we can feed ourselves and other dependants. For us, building an airport here is not necessary. Well be happy if more industries are built, Ato Hayford said. But reacting to the demand of the residents in Cape Coast, Mr Charles Bissue on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show indicated that the construction alone will provide jobs for the teaming youth in Cape Coast. He mentioned that the Akufo-Addo government has created jobs in the formal sector for the youth in the Central Region and thus, the construction of the airport in Cape Coast will further offer employment for some of the youth. The Western Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) maintained that the additional jobs will spring up in the touristic places in Cape Coast and Central Region at large as hotels businesses will increase thereby translating into job creation in the region. He suggested the youth in Cape Coast to start some courses towards the construction of the Cape Coast Airport as they will stand the chance of gaining employment first when the airport begins to operate. He again encourages the residents of Cape Coast rather hope and push for the construction of the airport as it will become an avenue for individuals to create their own delivery companies to hotels which will spring up as a result of the airport which will boost tourism in the region. If I were a young person, I will start doing some courses towards that and pray and push that the airport will be constructed in the region because if you live there, you can open delivery company to deliver items to the hotels and that is a good business for a young person to do it, he suggested. The young people especially those in Central Region who want to invest should look into our manifesto and see the areas in the Cape Coast Airport construction which will help them in the future. My brothers in the Central Region should be patience and pray for the construction of the Cape Coast Airport as it will create more jobs for all of us in the region, he encouraged. He mentioned that the Akufo-Addo government has already created 2 million jobs; adding that the NPP government has really served the youth, taking into account the number of student who benefited from President Kufuors free maternal health care and now enjoying free SHS Policy . If you check our manifesto, we have served the youth. Look at the number of students who benefited from the free-maternity care under President Kufuor are not benefiting from the Free SHS Policy. The same youth, our manifesto is saying that if they get to the universities, they will not need guarantors to access loans but with their Ghana Cards, the can access loans and when they start work after universities, they can now pay back the loans, he said. This means that we are being consistent in taking care of the future of the youth and the next generation. In the same manifesto, it says that the new born babies will be given unique numbers on their Ghana Card as it is being done abroad so that in the future, there will be no risky borrowers in the country, he added. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Libyan ceasefire initiative announced last week drew the attention of the international community to the importance of combating mercenaries in the Middle East. Syria is being used as a platform to move terrorist militias across the borders to change the outcome of conflicts in other countries. This was the case when Turkey moved more than 17,000 mercenaries from Syria to Libya to tip the scales in favour of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), an ally of Islamist groups, on top of which is the Muslim Brotherhood. Analysts have observed the international community is increasingly worried Libya and neighbouring African countries will become a hub for terrorist organisations, particularly Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Moreover, a military confrontation in Libya is a threat to stability, not only in Libya, but in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Sahel and Sahara region as well. Despite the declaration of the ceasefire initiative, the international welcome it received, and the efforts made to effect it, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hasnt stopped the recruitment of Syrian mercenaries loyal to Ankara to send them to fight in Libya. Erdogan ignored the ceasefire declaration by the GNA, which he supports militarily, and its call for elections. The latest report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a new batch of mercenaries were dispatched from Turkey to Libya for training in camps. They were recruited in Syrias Aleppo and Idlib and it is expected Libya is their final destination. The move begs the question about the seriousness of the GNA to commit to a ceasefire at a time Turkey is still recruiting Syrian mercenaries. The Syrian Observatory statistics show 17,420 Syrian recruits were dispatched to Libya, including 350 children below the age of 18. The observatory confirmed that since the security and military agreement signed between GNA head Fayez Al-Sarraj and Erdogan in November 2019, operations to move Turkish fighters and Syrian mercenaries to Libya have not seized despite international calls to support the ceasefire and Turkish pledges to commit to it at the Berlin Conference in January. Turkey is still hoping to maintain its military presence in Libya through mercenaries and the military bases it established in Misrata and Watiya. This is the reason Ankara is still sending more mercenaries to support Al-Sarrajs government. Its moves are now confused, however, particularly after Egypt had announced its support of the ceasefire and refusal of the presence of foreign forces in Libya, its western neighbour. For instance, if general elections will be held in Libya in March, new national blocs will emerge and they will not allow the presence of mercenaries and foreign military bases on their land. Turkey needs to rearrange its moves based on the new reality on the ground in Libya. Its political, economic and military calculations became inaccurate, especially after the maritime demarcation agreement signed between Egypt and Greece. The maritime agreement is a deafening blow to Turkey and has doomed to failure maritime demarcation plans between Turkey and the GNA. The success of a Libyan settlement is based on the regional and international will to reach a peaceful national accord. The Libyan crisis is primarily the result of the exacerbation of foreign interventions and the arms control exercised by terrorist militias and organisations that have also imposed hegemony over state institutions. These factors have resulted in the collapse of the Libyans living conditions, the spread of crime and chaos, and the systematic plunder of state resources. The Egyptian initiative to solve the Libyan crisis, announced a few months ago, prioritised the expulsion of mercenaries, halting the blatant Turkish interference in Libyas affairs, and the disbanding of militias. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Ariana Grande is one of the most followed people on Instagram, and she ensures never to disappoint her fans and followers. While human connection seems like something that will have to wait a little bit longer amid the Covid-19 pandemic, social media is keeping people closer. Ariana is known by her signature high ponytail that she wears for all her public appearances, concerts and red carpet fashion alike. While her hair hues might vary, she has kept her high ponytail as part of her easily-recognisable features. However, this did make her fans curious and Ariana explained why she always chose the high ponytail. I wear it in a ponytail because my actual hair is so broken that it looks absolutely ratchet and absurd when I let it down, Grande told BBC a few years ago. The reason: Ariana Grande played Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeons series Victorious, which needed her character to sport red hair, which meant that Grande was constantly colouring and bleaching her hair. Yesterday the popstar shared two posts with pictures of her wearing a diamante mask that she matched with her unicorn-like eye shadow. Ariana is known to experiment with her eye makeup quite often. She especially goes big on the volume mascara that adds volume to her long lashes. In the picture she shared, Grande can be seen wearing athleisure along with the diamante mask and uber-cool eye makeup. This time though, she wore her hair differently - in pigtails, in an ombre shade that flows into blonde highlights at the bottom. Who said work-from-home dress code had to be dull and boring? We also dig a previous picture Ariana shared where she can be seen wearing oversized sunglasses along with a white cotton mask. Is that an indication for a beach vacation coming up while keeping Covid-19 rules in mind? We wonder. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LONDON, Aug.26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 26, Huobi University shared an opinion piece made by Leon Li, CEO of Huobi Group in a keynote speech titled "Blockchain Industry and Its Outlook" at the opening session of Global Blockchain Leadership Programme. Speaking at a lecture held by Huobi University, Huobi founder Leon Li outlined the current blockchain industry and shared his outlook. "We sit at an important juncture in the growth and evolution of blockchain technology. Much has been accomplished since Bitcoin was created some 11 years ago, but the advancement of the technology has really ramped up in the last few years. Not only has blockchain been purporting its potential and outlining the possibilities, it has started reaching some of those goals and proving its value in our modern, digital world. The outlook for the next few years is filled with even more promise and potential, but it all goes back to the original thoughts in the Satoshi Nakamoto white paper on Bitcoin. The path that Bitcoin and blockchain has tried to get here is just as important as its outlook as the world has changed dramatically in the last 10 years and Blockchain technology has been offering solutions that were not even that well-conceived of back then, but still well needed today. " 'The industry is growing' "The topic I am sharing today is "Blockchain Industry and Its Outlook". This industry has been growing for 11 years, in this 11-year process, I have been involved for 7 years, the previous 4 years I did not participate, and I was clueless to this industry like everyone else," Explained Li. Huobi was founded in 2013 by Li, an alumnus of Tsinghua University. He was a computer engineer at Oracle before founding Huobi and entering into the blockchain space. Li's belief in the technology is predicated around the fact that it is revolutionary and has the potential to change the world. "I will lead you to review the actual development of the industry, about how this industry was originated from a paper, a sole personal idea to a business that has profound global impact," he added. "Secondly, I will give you a thought, the future of this industry, and Huobi's role in the future. We can't jump over Bitcoin to talk about blockchain." 'A new system' "In Satoshi Nakamoto's paper, he talk about to create a system, a new financial system with following features: "To create a system that doesn't require intermediaries. Traditional financial institutions have created a lot of problems with revenue through constant credit expansion." "To create something with great freedom, say that money made in Japan cannot be spent in the U.S. directly. We should create a free financial world for the people who can truly own the asset they own." "2013 is an important year. A European country called Cyprus went into credit bankruptcy. Due to the bad credit, we have seen many countries experiencing credit crises. The fiat can be devalued by half over one night. Bitcoin at that time was seen as a supranational and super sovereign currency." "Bitcoin achieved global attention due to the Cyprus credit crisis. People seemed to reach consensus. As a direct result of this event at the beginning of the first half of 2013, Bitcoin was suddenly and all of a sudden expected to be a major player. Everyone believed that Bitcoin would become a global currency in the future." "At the beginning of 2013, everyone took the case of the country of Cyprus, because it was a very big event. A lot of media reported that a lot of Cypriot nationals had exchanged their fiat currency to Bitcoin, saying that it was both freely convertible and fair and reasonably safe. The media reported it every day, so the public started to understand it." "It has also attracted people from the financial world, people from the media, etc. Huobi went alive under this background. We launched Huobi in September 2013. There were also some technology-based explorations, using Bitcoin technology to virtualize email, which is to protect the information in your email." "The most powerful push of the industry is that people realize how profitable it is to invest in Bitcoin. It was on November 19, 2013, I could never forget, I was sitting in front of my laptop and realized that Bitcoin has gained 10 folds over one month. A lot of well-known and successful companies were established in 2013." "In 2013, people anticipate that Bitcoin will become the future world currency. However, only 10% of merchants were willing to accept it, that is, to make payments directly in Bitcoin, the other 90% were not accepting it. The vast majority of those 10% of merchants have high margins and can tolerate volatility." "Bitcoin didn't find its way out for payments. So where would Bitcoin lead the industry? At the beginning of 2014, when Bitcoin was only around $600 USD, countries around the world have come up with their regulation policy on Bitcoin, including China, United States, and Japan. Mt.Gox went bankrupt in 2014. At this point Bitcoin was under very great pressure, being challenged about asset security." "The global acceleration is now divided into several major categories, countries and regions like Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and in fact the United States, have recently proposed some regulatory frameworks." "As of now, it's been two years since the countries around the world have made it official to consider crypto legislation. We've seen the crypto law proposals in Russia. Countries that are open to foreign exchange are more welcoming, countries that are regulated are less welcoming. Probably that's the pattern." 'Future of the Industry' "Government are building up third party intermediaries like data center to increase governance efficiency, like contract signing, authentications, issue invoices, etc. Although governments can't completely hand this over to a third party, since there are so many departments of government transactions, in every region and every city. And people don't hand this over to industry associations or to state agencies." "This is a top-down huge project. The government develops products, and now we are able to do it with more efficient blockchain technology." SOURCE Huobi University HARTFORD A city drug trafficker, who authorities say used his familys business as a front to sell drugs, will serve more than 10 years in federal prison after an investigation into fentanyl sales in and around Hartford. A judge sentenced 28-year-old Danny Castillo to 128 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, according to federal authorities. Castillos charges stemmed from an investigation that started back in August 2018. The FBIs Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Hartford police got information that Castillo and an associate identified by authorities as Pascual Ivan Medina were distributing large amounts of fentanyl in and around Hartford. Authorities said Castillo used his family business, the Albany Grocery Store at 1160 Albany Ave. in Hartford, to do drug sales. From October 2018 through January 2019, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Castillo, sometimes with Medinas help, authorities said. These buys were done at the Albany Grocery Store and Castillos Woodland Street apartment. On Jan. 25, 2019, investigators saw Alexis Velez drive up to Castillos apartment, go into Castillos apartment briefly, then leave in his car. Authorities said Hartford police pulled Velez over and found him in possession of cocaine and crack cocaine. In a bag, police found 102 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, 46 grams of cocaine, 15 grams of crack, two ounces of marijuana and $4,060 in cash. Law enforcement arrested Castillo shortly after at his apartment. When investigators searched Castillos apartment, they found 436 grams of fentanyl, 229 grams of heroin, 231 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, 543 grams of a mixture of tramadol and methamphetamine, numerous items used to process and package narcotics for distribution, a loaded short-barrel shotgun and a loaded revolver, authorities said. A third gun was found later at Castillos home. He has been detained since his arrest. On Feb. 11, Castillo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of an unregistered short-barrel shotgun. Medina and Velez pleaded guilty to related charges. Medina was sentenced in January to 30 months in prison. Velez awaits sentencing. U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham said in a statement the quantity of fentanyl and heroin seized during this investigation would have produced at least 35,000 dose bags of the drugs. Fears have escalated that bubonic plague could spread into China after 17 provinces in its neighbouring country Mongolia are at risk of the infectious disease. Three new suspected cases of bubonic plague were reported Wednesday in the central Mongolian province of Uvurkhangai by officials. It comes as China's Inner Mongolia region, near the Chinese border with Mongolia, has seen two deaths from the plague since August, prompting the authorities to impose lockdowns and quarantine residents. Fears have escalated that bubonic plague could spread into China after 17 provinces in its neighbouring country Mongolia are now at risk of the infectious disease. The file picture shows people wearing face masks as they walk across a street at a shopping area in Beijing Tuesday In July, the northern Chinese region issued an early epidemic warning after a herdsman contracted bubonic plague in the city of Bayan Nur. The confirmed plague cases have sparked fears of a new wave of virus outbreak erupting in China while the country is still battling the coronavirus. Mongolias health ministry recorded three more suspected cases of the disease today, bringing the total number of reported cases this year to 16. Three suspected cases of the plague are now under isolation at a local hospital. They are members of the same family or mother and her two children, Dorj Narangerel, head of public relations and surveillance department of the health ministry, told a press conference. The patients were said to have contracted the disease after consuming marmot meat. Plague cases are not uncommon in China, but outbreaks have become increasingly rare. From 2009 to 2018, China reported 26 cases and 11 deaths. Pictured shows a Mongolian marmot China's Inner Mongolia region has seen two deaths, one reported in Baotou and the other in Bayan Nur from the plague since August as officials have issued level-three epidemic warnings The new cases come after Mongolian authorities have declared 17 out of all 21 provinces in the country are at risk of bubonic plague. A total of 137 soums (administrative subdivisions) of 17 provinces in the country are now risk areas of bubonic plague or natural homes of the zoonotic disease, Bandikhuu Amgalanbayar, deputy director of the NCZD, told Chinese state news agency Xinhua in an interview. Especially, western provinces such as Bayan-Ulgii, Govi-Altai, Khovd and Uvs have been regarded as high-risk areas of the plague. China's Inner Mongolia region has seen two deaths from the plague since August as officials have issued level-three epidemic warnings. On August 6, the Baotou city health commission confirmed a resident died of a different form of the disease four days earlier. A second victim died from multiple organ failure in a case of the bubonic plague, the Bayan Nur health commission of Inner Mongolia said on the following day. The file picture taken on December 1, 2018 shows people taking part in a race in Wulatehou Banner, Bayan Nur The city of Baotou, in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the victim had contracted the enteric plague. A second victim died from multiple organ failure in a case of the bubonic plague, the Bayan Nur health commission of Inner Mongolia said on the following day. Baotou officials ordered the city to enter a precautionary warning period, which is set to last until the end of the year. The government admitted that the city was facing a potential epidemic of plague among humans. The bubonic plague, one of the four forms of the disease, is one of the most devastating diseases in history. Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is carried by fleas and transmitted between animals. The picture above is a 3D illustration of the bacterium The enteric plague, also known as the pharyngeal plague, attacks a person's digestive system and can arise as a result of exposure to infectious aerosols or by ingestion of infected meat. The other forms of the disease are the pneumonic plague, a severe lung infection, and the septicemic plague, which affects a person's blood systems. China has largely eradicated the plague, but occasional cases are still reported. The last major known outbreak of the disease was in 2009, when several people died in the town of Ziketan in Qinghai province on the Tibetan Plateau. The governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said states will not be involved in the funding of the recently inaugurated community police of the federal government. The governor made the assertion while featuring on Channels Television programme, Sunshine Daily on Wednesday. Mr Akeredolu said the idea of states funding the outfit would not work. The governor is the Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, which has established a community security network, named Amotekun. He also formally launched Amotekun in the state in response to the clamour for home-grown security to tackle the challenges of violent crimes and kidnapping in the region. Mr Akeredolu is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the October 10 governorship election in the state. He, however, said that his colleagues, under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum, would table the issue of funding before President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention. The burden of states will keep increasing. We will be the one that will fund community police. Where is the money going to come from? he said. Except we devolve more money to the states, how will the states fund community police? I dont think it is going to work. I am sure that they are taking this thing too far (that) governors will have to pay. We have argued this. They started by saying it will be voluntary, they are not going to pay. They now shift the burden on the state governors again. Are you increasing their allocation? Which state governor will accept that? I dont know if other states will pay but we will not pay. Let us be fair to ourselves, we are running a federal system. We will sit down and discuss this because we have a President that has a listening ear. Mr Akeredolu called on the Federal Government to equip the police providing more funding for the agency. He added that the Amotekun Corps was designed to support the existing security framework in the state. The federal government had approved N13.3 billion for the take-off of community policing in the country. The Inspector General Police, Mohammed Adamu, recently explained that the funds would be spent on sensitisation, training and purchase of equipment. The money is for the implementation of the project. It is a process. We have started it in terms of we are going to do town hall sensitization, Mr Adamu said. We are also doing training for community police officers. We are going to buy all the equipment that is needed and then the process goes on this year, next year until everything is established. Conservative Party of Canada Leader Erin O'Toole speaks after winning the 2020 leadership race, in Ottawa on Aug. 23, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Can OToole Beat Trudeau in an Election? Pundits Weigh In Erin OToole reached out to all supporters of the Conservative Party to win the leadership race. The unanswered question is whether he can lead his party to electoral victory against the Trudeau Liberals. The 47-year-old MP seemed unlikely to win just a month ago for those looking at polls for an indication, when a Maru/Blue poll suggested that former defence minister Peter MacKay was the favoured choice of 55 percent of Conservative Party voters and that OToole was the choice of just 23 percent of voters. MacKay skipped debates in July in Vancouver and Toronto as the campaigns of OToole and Leslyn Lewis continued to gain momentum. Then there was his comment last fall, when he said that questions around abortion and same-sex marriage on the 2019 campaign trail hung around [Conservative leader] Andrew Scheers neck like a stinking albatross. The big story here is the role of social conservatives in picking OToole for the top because clearly MacKay wasnt their person, Nelson Wiseman, a University of Toronto political science professor, told The Epoch Times. OToole campaigned as a true blue Conservative who would take back Canada. On the third ballot, he won with 57 percent support and was the favoured choice in every province except New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In his acceptance speech in Ottawa during the wee hours of Aug. 24, OToole vowed to hold Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to account, unite the Conservative Party of Canada, and champion conservative principles. Canadians were able to see an individual who is both intelligent and empathetic and connected to provinces, communities, and the people, Joseph Garcea, a professor of political science at the University of Saskatchewan, says of OTooles acceptance speech. Mr. OToole knows which side his bread is buttered on and he will be somewhat responsive to the demands that are being made by the western premiers. And then hell have to figure out what to do with the Maritimes, with Quebec, and with Ontario. Wiseman says OToole is reasonably positioned to lead the Conservatives to victory, should Canadians want that. Because weve always had only Liberals and Conservatives in this country. And when theyre fed up with one, theyll vote for the other, he says. The Conservatives are behind now, but now theyre getting all this media attention and thisll boost their numbers. Despite losing the last federal election, the Conservatives won 34 percent of the popular vote and the Liberals 33 percent. A poll published Aug. 21 by Abacus Data placed Liberal support at 36 percent and the Conservatives at 30 percent. Daniel Bernier of Earnscliffe Strategy Group says the same provinces that were central to OTooles leadership win will also be important for a Conservative win should a federal election be called. Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec support was important for OToole and will be key for an election, he says. Garcea says that despite OTooles experience as an MP, hell be on a learning curve whether he becomes Canadas next prime minister or stays as the leader of the Opposition. Its a little bit different to deal with issues from the benches than from the speakers chair, he says. Where you stand is a function of where you sit, and how you perform is similarly a function of where youre sitting. And so hes going to be sitting in a different seat, and the context is right. Now he just has to perform. By Ben Armbruster August 25, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo failed miserably in his efforts on Thursday to force the United Nations to reimpose its pre-JCPOA sanctions on Iran. To briefly summarize, the Trump administration and its allies in Washington have been pushing to pile even more sanctions on Iran, and to do that, it hatched a plan to try to get the U.N. to snapback its pre-JCPOA sanctions for purportedly violating the nuclear deals terms. Of course there are two big problems with this approach, the first of which is that while yes, Iran has violated some of the JCPOAs terms, it has done so only after Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement and reimposed crushing sanctions. And second, in order to trigger the snapback mechanism built into the agreement, you have to be a participant in the agreement, which of course, the U.S. ceased to be when Trump exited it in 2018. So the U.N. Security Council has snuffed out this bad faith effort for what it is, as its permanent members have already said they will reject it. Whats more is that Pompeo himself inadvertently revealed the folly of this whole exercise during a press conference on Thursday after notifying the Security Council of the U.S.s request for snapback. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter After a reporter wondered how the U.S. can snapback U.N. sanctions while no longer being part of the deal, an exasperated Pompeo responded, This look, just, its important to emphasize this, he said, adding that the U.N. Security Council Resolution endorsing the JCPOA gave every one of the participant states the right to execute snapback unconditionally. And hes right. U.N. Resolution 2231 states that the Security Council, within 30 days of receiving a notification by a JCPOA participant State of an issue that the JCPOA participant State believes constitutes significant non-performance of commitments under the JCPOA, shall vote on a draft resolution to continue in effect the terminations of the provisions of previous Security Council resolutions. But of course, the United States is no longer a JCPOA participant state, a fact that Pompeo himself said back in May, 2018 (emphasis added): Two weeks ago, President Trump terminated the United States participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. Of course none of these bad faith efforts on Iran and shameless lying should be a surprise. But the question now is how the U.N. will ultimately deal with the U.S. snapback request in an official capacity. Indeed, the International Crisis Group has a suggestion for those at the U.N. who want to preserve the JCPOA: ignore the U.S. drive to restore terminated sanctions on Iran. And if thats indeed the path they take, it may mark the first time in history that the U.N. Security Council has ghosted the U.S. Given all the turbulence created by Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi's unexpected tirade against Saudi Arabia it, is likely to be business as usual between the two countries, albeit with a bit of caution on the part of both, observes Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd). IMAGE: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan is welcomed by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, September 19, 2019. Photograph: Bandar Algaloud/Reuters Very early in its existence, Pakistan identified both Saudi Arabia and Iran as two core Islamic nations whose geostrategic location and geopolitical strength at various times could work to its advantage. An evaluation of the Pakistan-Saudi-Iran triangle makes an interesting study in Islamic geopolitics especially in these challenging times which are witnessing rapid and unpredictable change in the world order based upon emerging dynamics and a new balance of power. This analysis examines the Pakistan-Saudi relationship which has been an enduring one and highly beneficial to both, but now seems to be having an attack of hiccups. Currently, there appears a crisis in Pakistan-Saudi relations. Paradoxically, it has arisen because of the long existing special relationship between the two nations leading to all kinds of mutual expectations. Pakistan expected a committed and energetic Saudi backing to its efforts to rally the Islamic world against India in the wake of the Indian decision on August 5, 2019 to fully integrate Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating all special provisions for J&K which existed in the Indian Constitution. Commonly referred as Articles 370 and 35A, these were a kind of lifeline Pakistan exploited to promote separatism and anti-India sentiment with intent of J&K's eventual secession. Given the exponential improvement in India-Saudi ties since 2014 and an emerging altered approach to its foreign policy, Saudi Arabia has been reluctant to treat India-Pakistan relations with a binary approach. The Indian decision on J&K proved to be an occasion when the Saudis exercised prudence instead of blind support for Pakistan based upon Islamic ties. It chose to term India's decision as an internal affair and refused to convene an OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) meeting to discuss the issue, much to the chagrin of Pakistan. Saudi Arabia's change of stance has been based upon realist pragmatism nudged by the US-Israel combine to view future potential conflicts in West Asia where Iran could be the common nemesis. The Saudis are aware of India's proximity to the US-Israel combine and also view India as an important customer for energy besides the non-partisan Indian expatriate community which makes up a large part of its working population. Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the heir to the throne and virtual controller of Saudi Arabia's destiny, has larger designs to see his nation emerge from its obscurantist make up to a modern state even at the cost of contestation against the clergy. In his quest, he is supported by the US which too does not favour Pakistan's obsessive pursuit of its J&K agenda. Pakistan's agenda which was threatening to get relegated due to the Saudi response led it to first agree to join Turkey, Iran and Malaysia in attending an Islamic summit at Kuala Lumpur outside the aegis of the Saudi-controlled OIC in December 2019. The summit with an agenda to discuss increasing international Islamophobia was an obvious attempt to dilute the Saudi hold over the international Islamic fraternity. Among the nations competing for leadership role of the Islamic fraternity is Turkey. It seeks eventual restoration of primacy for itself almost akin to a recall of the Ottoman times by overturning Kemal Ata Turk's cultivated secularism. Iran being Saudi Arabia's sectarian nemesis was on board too, as was Malaysia seeking its own primacy perceiving its economic strength as a passport to a potentially greater role within the Islamic fraternity. Pakistan had no reason to attend this other than to raise the issue of J&K. However, under deep obligation to the Saudis for the financial bail-out packages of 2018 Prime Minister Imran Khan had little option than to withdraw from the Kuala Lumpur summit under prodding from Saudi Arabia. As a facesaver, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that the Saudis had accepted the holding of an OIC foreign ministers's meet in Islamabad in April 2020; the Saudis had no such intent and April 2020 passed with the COVID-19 pandemic at its height. The signs of divisiveness within the Islamic nations were therefore manifest even before the pandemic. IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, September 19, 2019. Photograph: Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Reuters On the first anniversary of the Indian decision to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A and reorganise the J&K administrative set up Pakistan was under internal pressure for the relative lack of meaningful action on J&K which was progressively leading to better Indian integration of the territory. Earlier, in late 2018, with the Pakistan economy in shambles and a severe balance of payments crisis looming it was Saudi Arabia which had provided Pakistan two economic packages. First was a loan cum aid of $3 billion and the second a $3.2 billion line of energy credit. These helped Pakistan stay afloat until the IMF agreed to provide a $6 billion loan after much US scrutiny. Although deeply indebted to the Saudis, Pakistan's leadership lost its balance when in the wake of the first anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi bitterly complained of the alleged Saudi lack of sensitivity towards J&K. He also threatened to recommend to Prime Minister Imran Khan to convene a meeting of Islamic countries that are ready to stand with Pakistan on the issue of J&K. With Pakistan's options severely curtailed after August 5, 2019 and little traction in its international campaign, Qureshi's uncharacteristic complaint took many by surprise. There were reports of Pakistan being forced to return the Saudi loans with commensurate borrowing from China. However, the importance of the Saudi-Pak relationship may have been underestimated. Pakistan made ardent efforts to neuter Qureshi's insensitive comment especially in the light of an article by Dr Ali Awwad Asseri, a former Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, in the Arab News of August 17 2020. Dr Asseri, largely known for his promotion of the Saudi-Pak relationship, expressed surprise at Qureshi's obstinacy. Pakistan army chief General Qamar Bajwa rushed to Riyadh along with ISI Director-General Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, but was denied an audience with Prince Mohammad bin Salman, further confirming that the Pak-Saudi relationship was under threat but not necessarily dead and buried. Qureshi has since denied any effect on the relationship and return of loan or stoppage of the energy deficit. IMAGE: Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa with Saudi Arabia's Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh, August 19, 2020. Photograph: Handout via Reuters The Saudi-Pak relationship in the past has been transformational in many ways. Saudi Arabia always considered Pakistan's large Muslim population base suitable for the propagation of its obscurantist Wahabi form of Sunni Islam. A less educated populace, with poverty and a feudal society was always tailor made for this. With changing dynamics Prince Mohammad bin Salman is under pressure from the US-Israel combine to alter this course. He is probably confident that Shia Iran and Sunni dominated Pakistan cannot have an enduring strategic relationship; at best a relationship of convenience. The US-Saudi strategy therefore possibly looks at diluting Pakistan's drift towards obscurantist ideology which has helped Pakistan's deep state survive and become the international core centre of extremist violence. Yet, given the hold Saudi Arabia has had over Pakistan's survival and the depth of the political-military-diplomatic relationship it is unlikely to see a complete cleavage with Pakistan due to abiding alignment of interests. Pakistan had provided Saudi Arabia with as many as 15,000 troops for almost 25 years, including a palace guard. That is an option Saudi Arabia may yet wish to return to in the future given its comfort with the Pakistan army. Till recently former Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif occupied the high profile post of head of the 39-nation Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition created by Saudi Arabia. The one other event which appears to dictate the dynamics of West Asia was the Israel-UAE deal brokered by Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law. Saudi Arabia is now under pressure to similarly recognise Israel and give greater substance to their informal relationship. It's a tricky one involving sentiments which drive leadership issues in the Islamic fraternity. It puts the Saudis in a bit of a spot and under pressure. It affects the Saudi-Pakistan relationship too given the fact that Pakistan has refused to recognise Israel, but too maintains an informal relationship. IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Rashtrapati Bhavan, February 20, 2019. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo Thus, given all the turbulence created by Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi's unexpected tirade against Saudi Arabia, it is likely to be business as usual between the two countries, albeit with a bit of caution on the part of both. The US-Saudi combine itself would not like to take such radical steps that are bound to push Pakistan into the emerging 'other axis' of North Korea-China-Iran-Turkey. The Saudis momentarily put Pakistan on notice, but played the situation out diplomatically. China continues to leverage its economic might and outreach to look at potential strategic tie ups; in all of them Pakistan plays a significant role. By virtue of its crucial geostrategic location at the centre of multiple civilisations Pakistan still remains an important nation sought after by all important powers. That is something well realized by India and factored into all its diplomatic-strategic dealings. The Modi government's investment of energy, time and goodwill with the West Asian nations, particularly those of the Gulf, is standing it in good stead. It must continue to play as pragmatically as hitherto fore, but outreach to Iran must also form a part of its policy especially if a change of leadership occurs in Washington in another 10 weeks' time. Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM is one of India's most respected commentators on national security. The general commanded the Indian Army's 15 Army Corps in Kashmir and was known as the 'People's General' in the Kashmir Valley. General Hasnain is a frequent contributor to Rediff.com. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com A woman who travelled to Jerusalem and four relatives are the first local cases due to a flaw in the territorys monitoring and quarantine that had hitherto prevented the virus from spreading. Gaza authorities have imposed a strict lockdown, confined residents to their homes and closed beaches. Water shortages and a health system already crippled by the embargo are a source of concern. Gaza City (AsiaNews) So far the Gaza Strip has been miraculously spared from the COVID-19 pandemic thanks in part to the authorities "intelligent approach" to the fight against the coronavirus. Hopefully, the virus will not spread despite "overcrowding and the way people live. Should this be the case, it will be "another miracle," said Fr Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentine-born parish priest of the Incarnate Word in Gaza. Speaking to AsiaNews, a hopeful, cautiously optimistic, yet somewhat fearful clergyman notes that difficult times lie ahead, especially for the weakest, this following the lockdown recently imposed in the Palestinian territory. We are fine for the moment," he explained. The latest case does not involve outsiders. Due to a monitoring failure, the person in question, a woman, is said to have accompanied a sick person across the border for a very short time but that was enough. A few days ago, she realised she was infected. Hamas, which controls Gaza, reacted promptly, imposing a strict lockdown two days ago, which will likely be extended for the next few days, Fr Romanelli said. However, the possibility that the virus might spread across the Strip is worrisome given its conditions. Often referred to as an "open-air prison", its health system is substandard and it lacks state-of-the-art equipment. Now schools, churches, mosques, offices, businesses, even the beaches, are off-limits. Given the blockade and isolation imposed on Gaza, beaches are a precious outlet". So far, the blockade of the borders with Israel and Egypt have kept the coronavirus at bay, with the odd case coming from the outside and contained thanks to strict quarantine measures, like three weeks of isolation in special centres set up by the local authorities. This held up until a few days ago, when a woman who travelled to Jerusalem for medical reasons and four relatives, who live in one of the most crowded refugee camps in the Strip, tested positive. A Hamas spokesperson acknowledged that the situation was serious, compounded by the lack of medical supplies and sufficient testing kits. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Gaza hospitals have a capacity of 350 beds for COVID-19 patients for a population of 2.2 million. Until recently "we have not had a rigid lockdown, Fr Romanelli said. Between March and May, people could go out. We from the parish could even visit families following all the necessary health measures, including masks, gel, sanitiser, and social distance to avoid contagion. Between June and August "we were able to restart some activities. Schools too reopened to offer remedial courses and lessons to complete the school programme. No summer camps were held. On average, they attract at least 300 young people and children every year, but we sponsored trips and initiatives for groups of 50, 60 people. We had no cases of infection in schools. Fr Romanelli said. Above all, Students welcomed the reopening. After months of closures, people had a hard time getting along. The lockdown had a negative human, psychological and spiritual impact. Getting back together in class and playing were also a way of having fun. The first few days, the children seemed disoriented, partly because of a lack of mental stimulus, then the situation improved. Now "the third stage has arrived, where one cannot even leave home. This is a serious problem, especially in overcrowded families. Still, people are used to lockdown and isolation and can put up with four hours of electricity". The situation is different for water, which continues to be in short supply. This is "long-standing problem. Likewise, stocks of medical drugs could prove insufficient if the virus starts to spread. Our health system was already weak before, Fr Romanelli noted. The authorities have been good at strengthening it since COVID-19 began, but I don't know how long it can hold up. We continue to follow the instructions and take all necessary precautions, but we are in God's hands. Hopefully, the virus does not do too much damage. MOSCOW -- When Aleksei Navalny arrived in Novosibirsk earlier this month to meet with local opposition activists, security services in the Siberian city were already tracking his moves. After he and three colleagues left on August 18 to drive 250 kilometers south to Tomsk, a group of plainclothes officers trailed him. In Tomsk itself, every detail of his two-day visit -- including the location of his rented apartment and the names of people he met -- was recorded. "Law enforcement noted no suspicious contacts that could be linked to a poisoning," read an article by the Moskovsky komsomolets tabloid that detailed the depth of this surveillance and cited anonymous officials in Russia's security services. The article was published on August 21, the day after Navalny collapsed on board a plane flying to Moscow and was hospitalized after an emergency landing in Omsk. Navalny now lies comatose in a Berlin hospital, where German doctors say he appears to have been poisoned with a potentially dangerous chemical. The Kremlin has rebuffed Western calls for an immediate investigation. The fact that details of Navalny's movements were recorded and leaked to a pro-government newspaper wasn't wholly surprising. But the leaks conspicuously omitted the fact that despite the blanket surveillance, security agencies, implausibly, failed to detect the moment when the toxin may have been ingested. For Dmitry Belousov, who formerly worked for a state-controlled TV channel, access by Moskovsky komsomolets and other pro-Kremlin media to sensitive information about opposition activists is part of a broader system of leaks and favors. That system underpins the government's sprawling monitoring apparatus, which targets all opposition activists but first and foremost Navalny, the most prominent critic of state corruption. It's a system reliant not only on covert and open surveillance, but also the collaboration of freelancers who trail Navalny's every move to produce so-called "kompromat," or compromising material that can be shared with friendly media and aired to the population at large, driving the narrative that the opposition itself is venal. According to Belousov, who previously worked as a scriptwriter for REN-TV, it's an operation financed directly or indirectly by the administration of President Vladimir Putin. It's an operation, he said, that often owes its success to the freelance bit-players working on the ground and feeding footage to the press and TV outlets that traffic in pro-government propaganda. "Seminars, meetings, campaign tours: they work at every opposition event, and they do it for money," Belousov told RFE/RL in a phone interview from the Netherlands, where he is seeking asylum. "And their footage then makes it onto REN-TV and other channels. They're [a form of] outsourcing for the big channels." Until 2017, Belousov worked on an investigative program that regularly targeted opposition activists, including by using compromising video footage obtained from the Federal Security Service (FSB). Belousov, who first shared his story with Proekt, a Russian investigative outlet, said the FSB gets paid orders to gather such information on opposition activists in the major cities and far-flung regions. "The FSB fulfills requests of handlers in the presidential administration," he said. "It's not that they want to do it themselves. They're like a store that anyone with access can use to get the information they need. But obviously the president's administration is prioritized." Navalny's Probes For almost a decade, Navalny has been the Kremlin's most vocal critic. He's amassed a vast online following through exposes of top-level corruption among the Russian elite and his successful coordination of large opposition protests throughout the country. His corruption probes have targeted not only government officials but also businessmen with close alleged ties to President Vladimir Putin. That includes Yevgeny Prigozhin, the catering magnate whom Western intelligence services accuse of running the "troll farm" that sowed disinformation ahead of the 2016 U.S. election. Prigozhin also runs the Vagner private military company, which has sent mercenaries to Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and elsewhere. The Kremlin has rejected Western calls for an immediate investigation into Navalny's incapacitation, and tried to refute the German findings, saying that until doctors could pinpoint the specific substance used against him, it's wrong to assert that he was poisoned. "We are categorically against anyone attempting to do any labeling under the current circumstances, we're against calling this condition -- which has not been definitively confirmed as poisoning -- a case of poisoning," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on August 26. He also claimed German doctors were "rushing" to use the word "poisoning." The Russian doctors who initially treated Navalny issued contradictory statements about his health and the presence of toxins in his body. According to Navalny's spokeswoman, his wife, and his private doctor, they actively opposed his transfer to Germany under pressure from police officers and unidentified men who kept watch over the Omsk ward during Navalny's treatment there. The Kremlin has denied surveilling Navalny or working with pro-government channels. But Mikhail Rubin, the author of the Proekt investigation, said the notion that the Kremlin would be clueless as to how he fell ill did not stand up to scrutiny. "With that amount of surveillance, with such a large number of resources focused on Navalny, they should at least have some idea of what happened to him," Rubin told the Meduza news site. "We can state that with certainty." G atwick has announced plans for a major restructure across its business, in a move that could see up to 600 jobs lost. The airport will enter into a formal consultation process with impacted employees, approximately 24% of the current number of staff. The UKs second-largest airport said the restructure is designed to reduce operating and staff costs in light of the virus crisis drastically impacting customer numbers. Airlines and airports have seen passenger demand hit by lockdowns, travel restrictions, quarantine concerns and worries about Covid-19. In August, usually one of the airports busiest months, passenger numbers are over 80% down when compared with the numbers of passengers Gatwick saw that month in 2019. It added that current traffic and passenger volumes are such that Gatwick is currently operating from just its North Terminal. Compared to this time last year, the airport is operating at around 20% of its capacity and therefore still has over three quarters of its staff on the UK Governments Job Retention Scheme, which is due to end in October. The company said it took rapid action to protect the airport back in March, when the lockdown started, to preserve as many jobs as it could by reducing costs, managing cash outflows, and securing a 300 million bank loan. Gatwick Airports chief executive Stewart Wingate today said:If anyone is in any doubt about the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the aviation and travel industry then todays news we have shared with our staff, regarding the proposed job losses, is a stark reminder. We are in ongoing talks with Government to see what sector specific support can be put in place for the industry at this time, alongside mechanisms which will give our passengers greater certainty on where and when they can safely travel abroad. This support will not only help Gatwick but the wider regional economy which relies on the airport." Wingate added: I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff, those who have worked tirelessly to keep Gatwick open throughout the pandemic and those who have had to remain on furlough, for their dedicated tenacity, professionalism and team spirit. We will continue to do all we can to preserve as many jobs as possible." Loading.... He said the airport will recover from the pandemic and the company will "emerge from the restructuring we are proposing a fitter and stronger organisation which is best placed to offer our passengers and our airlines a modern and innovative airport, ready for growth". SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Netlify, pioneer of the modern Jamstack web architecture, today announced the Netlify Agency Partner program , enabling digital agencies to build better web experiences and grow their practice with modern Jamstack tools and workflows. Dozens of global agencies have already teamed up with Netlify to deliver transformative digital experiences to their customers, including AKQA, Appnovation, Bejamas, Deloitte Digital, Fostr, Matter Supply, Mediacurrent, Proximity, Therefore and We Make Websites. Having the expertise to deliver performant, scalable and secure web projects using modern technologies is critical for agencies to retain and grow their digital business. Agencies, consultancies and system integrators rely on Netlifyas the leader in the rapidly emerging Jamstack web ecosystemto support the full lifecycle of their client engagements. Netlify's platform helps them achieve greater development productivity from the start through its seamless workflows, to be agile and responsive to change throughout the project, and to deliver performant, dynamic digital experiences on its multi-cloud edge network. Agency Partners have already enabled their clients to accelerate time to market and save money at scale by moving critical web properties to the Jamstack. Proximity led Klepierre, a European leader in shopping centers, to deploy 98 sites in 6 months, while minimizing infrastructure costs and maximizing performance. Partners benefit from working with Netlify in the following ways: Generate new business opportunities : Gain exposure and expertise in the growing Jamstack ecosystem by working alongside Netlify, the company at the center of the modern web with more than one million developers and businesses that have joined Netlify's platform so far. Netlify collaborates directly with client-facing teams to provide resources and support during new business meetings and client engagements. : Gain exposure and expertise in the growing Jamstack ecosystem by working alongside Netlify, the company at the center of the modern web with more than one million developers and businesses that have joined Netlify's platform so far. Netlify collaborates directly with client-facing teams to provide resources and support during new business meetings and client engagements. Increase development velocity and gain efficiencies : Simplify web development and complete projects faster, while using tools and frameworks developers enjoy. Netlify removes the need to manage infrastructure for agencies and their clients, and agencies can manage multiple clients in one account. : Simplify web development and complete projects faster, while using tools and frameworks developers enjoy. Netlify removes the need to manage infrastructure for agencies and their clients, and agencies can manage multiple clients in one account. Exceed client expectations: Set new standards for performance, uptime, and cost-savings in every project by embracing the Jamstack web architecture and adopting the latest development best practices. Depending on the engagement model, Agency Partners are eligible to receive dedicated account managers and access to the partner team, co-selling support, promotional opportunities, early access to new features, exclusive access to the Partner Hub and Slack, technical workshops, webinars, and more. To join the Netlify Agency Partner program , agencies must apply and demonstrate understanding of the Jamstack architecture and Netlify's platform. Clients looking for an agency with Jamstack expertise can contact Netlify . Supporting Quotes Chris Bach, president, Netlify "Our agency partners have a critical role in clients' web strategies and business, whether to support a modernized transformation or scaling to respond to rising demands and changing markets. Netlify has brought one million developers to our platform already, with dozens of partners at our side. We look forward to continuing and expanding the work alongside our partners to help bring the simplicity and speed of the Jamstack to more customers, so they can realize the benefits and possibilities of the modern, faster web." Alicia Samuel, vice president of Information Technology, Longo's "As a high-end grocery company in Canada with customers that expect a first-class experience, we prioritized modern technology that could support our web-digital transformation goals. We worked with Therefore as our agency and Netlify's Jamstack technology to deliver a better performing website and mobile experience. Running on Netlify, our website is more flexible and reliable, and performs three times faster than before." Mark Stewart, chief technology officer, Fostr "Victoria Beckham Beauty, a luxury clean beauty brand, engaged with us to create their online store. We wanted to create a high-performing site that offered us flexibility. We adopted a Jamstack approach with a decoupled architecture on Netlify, integrated with Contentful and services like Shopify Plus. With Netlify, our speed of development increased, and we were able to iterate more quickly and collaborate much more closely with our clients at Victoria Beckham Beauty." Jonathan Bobo, chief technology officer, Proximity "We worked with our client, Klepierre, to build and scale their architecture across 98 sites. We decided to deliver a Jamstack model on Netlify as a means to better manage costs and mitigate risk on significant licensing from more traditional models. Our client is pleased that their sites load fast, and we were able to cut their costs significantly." Additional Resources Connect with Netlify About Netlify Netlify is the fastest way to build the fastest sites. Used by more than 1,000,000 web developers and businesses, the Netlify platform provides modern build workflows, serverless functions and a global multi-cloud Edge network to deliver the most performant, secure and scalable websites and applications. Netlify originated the Jamstack category, a modern web architecture that marries the best practices of pre-built sites with the API economy and serverless functions, to deliver the faster load times and dynamic content, without worrying about web servers. Founded in 2014, Netlify is a venture-backed software company headquartered in San Francisco with a global team. For more information, visit www.netlify.com and follow @Netlify on Twitter. Media contact: Kelly Tenn, [email protected] SOURCE Netlify Related Links https://www.netlify.com/ ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday blasted the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reversing guidance that previously advised people to be tested for the coronavirus if they come in contact with someone who is infected. "I've spoken to health experts around the globe, none of them will say this makes any sense from a health point of view," the governor said during a conference call with reporters. "The only plausible rationale is they want fewer people taking tests because, as the president said, if we don't take tests you won't know who is COVID-positive and the number of COVID-positive people will come down." In recent weeks, the CDC quietly revised its coronavirus guidance recommending that people who have been exposed to COVID-19 but show no symptoms of the virus not be tested unless a physician or other health official recommends it or the person is a "vulnerable individual". They also proposed eliminating the 14-day quarantine requirement for people returning to the United States from COVID-19 hotspots. Public and private health officials criticized the revisions, and Cuomo as well as state health department Commissioner Howard Zucker allege that President Donald J. Trump is using the federal entity to further his political agenda and boost his campaign for reelection. Zucker said he's spoken to scientists at the CDC who say the changes the center made regarding COVID-19 guidance are political. "This is indefensible from a public health point of view," he said. "I have to say, it makes absolutely no sense." Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump's critics contend he has downplayed the seriousness of the disease and provided guidance to Americans that run counter to public and private health officials recommendations. Trump has also blamed the countrys high number of COVID-19 cases on the act of testing itself, stating if the United States tested fewer people there would be fewer cases. Admiral Brett P. Giroir, who is leading COVID-19 diagnostic testing efforts across the country and is the assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dismissed any allegations that the Trump administration had influence over the revisions. He insisted the changes were prompted and approved by scientists and physicians at the CDC and members of the federal governments coronavirus task force. Giroir said the changes aimed to make the testing process and the results clearer for the public and give more authority to local public health officials. This was really meant to be based on the best evidence to provide people guidance on who should be tested, what a test means and special circumstances (for testing), he said. It tries to put tests in context a negative test on day two doesnt mean your negative. It also explicitly says we do need to do asymptomatic testing, the degree of which should not be determined by how someone feels in the morning. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. During a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Giroir expressed concern for people who test negative and take that as an all-clear for visiting family and friends. Giroir said the national approach taken - requiring people wear face masks, socially distance and avoid large indoor gatherings - is working, noting that the majority of U.S. states and territories have seen declines in cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks. Coronavirus control efforts should focus on testing symptomatic individuals and continuing contact tracing and regular surveillance of infection rates, he said. Were trying to get appropriate testing, not less testing," Giroir said. There will be more asymptomatic testing in areas where it's needed. Cuomo said the CDC also reversed guidance on quarantine protocols, removing the requirement for people to quarantine after international travel in nation's with high rates of infections. "Why would you reverse yourself on the quarantine order?" Cuomo said. "Because they don't want publicity that there is a COVID problem because the president's politics is COVID isn't a problem, we're passed COVID, it's all about the economy and the economy is doing great." PHILIPSBURG:--- The government of St. Maarten has engaged SOAB to begin evaluating all government-owned companies in order for the government to have a better insight on the value of each company so that shares can be sold to raise funds to sustain the country. SMN News has learned that one such company where shares will be sold is the TELEM Group of Companies. SMN News learned that the government of St. Maarten is looking at every possible way to raise funds that will be used to assist during the COVID-19 outbreak and any other possible disaster that the country might face. Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion confirmed that the council of ministers have taken a decision to evaluate government-owned companies with the possibility of selling shares. Irion said that the government has to find ways to gather funds and while no decision was taken on which company shares will be sold the process has begun. In the meantime, the Minister said there is no plan B or C in the event the Dutch government does not continue with the liquidity support for the SSRP. He said the discussions with the Dutch government continues even though the process might be a bit longer than it took for the other countries within the Kingdom. Irion said besides the discussions with the Dutch government, he as Minister of Finance on St. Maarten are busy cleaning up dead bodies within the government that will save money. The Minister of Finance said that some decisions that he has to take are not likable and may even cost him at the polls for the next election. Irion said that the former governments never implemented the phone policy that was in place and by just implementing that policy he managed to save Naf.81,000.00 further to that the Minister said that there are persons that are not even holding management positions but had phone bills of over Naf.6,000.00 for government to pay. The Minister further explained that the government will now move over to a prepaid policy for phones that government officials and civil servants are using. He said that way no one will be able to go over their limit and more money will be saved. Apart from the phone bills government is also looking at the gasoline policy for government workers. Irion said his government does not need the Dutch government to tell them how to save money, as there are many ways on how to cut costs with government expenditures. He made clear that right now the government just has to execute the cost-cutting policies that will assist them during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. No Ukrainian army casualties were reported over the past day. Ukraine has reported one enemy provocation on Tuesday, August 25, as Russia's hybrid military forces violated the newly-agreed truce in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. "Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military recorded one ceasefire violation by the Russian Federation's armed formations," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Command said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on August 26, 2020. In particular, the enemy opened fire from an automatic grenade launcher near the village of Khutir Vilny. Read alsoZelensky hopes to make Donbas war end as early as this yearThe provocation posed no threat to life and health, so the Ukrainian military did not return fire. The Joint Forces were abiding by the ceasefire, being ready to adequately respond to possible attacks by the adversary, it said. No Ukrainian army casualties were reported over the past day. Since Wednesday 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. Background Charlottesville City Council appointed a city employee to the Police Civilian Review Board in violation of the oversight panels bylaws and ordinance. The council unanimously appointed LaTita Talbert on Tuesday night after a closed session to interview applicants for the CRB and the Planning Commission and to discuss other legal matters. In Talberts application, she lists her occupation as a city transit driver and her employer as the city of Charlottesville. She is included on a July 1 city salary list as a relief transit operator. Talbert is also a former member of the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority board of commissioners. The ordinance that establishes the CRB says No Police Civilian Review Board voting member shall be a current City of Charlottesville employee. Board member Phillip Seay is a city employee, but is a nonvoting member. Councilor Heather Hill said Wednesday that the appointment was truly an oversight. Im really sorry for this oversight, she said. Its clearly not what we want to do. Hill said the council will meet soon to rescind the appointment. A closed session is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday. Talbert would have filled the seat of Gwendolyn Allen, who resigned before the board started meeting. The move comes across as another misstep in the contentious, two-year process to get the panel off the ground. The board, which started meeting earlier this summer, came about in the fallout of the 2017 Unite the Right rally. The city tasked an initial panel with creating an ordinance and bylaws for the permanent board and the two sides were continuously mired in controversy. Talbert was also the only one of three applicants who hadnt publicly sparred with the City Council, particularly Mayor Nikuyah Walker. Walker has been at the center of recent controversies with the board and is taking a step back to try to repair the relationship. The other applicants were activist Rosia Parker, who was on the initial CRB and Bellamy Brown, a financial advisor and former City Council candidate. Parker was a vocal proponent of the board and critical of Police Chief RaShall Brackney during the initial CRB process. Walker attacked Brown online during the 2019 campaign, calling him the worst kind of toxic shit. Hill said the council hasnt decided whether it will seek new applicants or fill the seat with Brown or Parker. Board member Stuart Evans said Wednesday that he wants to keep trying to make a difference, but at this point it seems like nothing with the board is working. Im not surprised and it seems par for the course, he said. It just doesnt seem like its destined to succeed. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. City leaders had a discussion Tuesday about the local regulation of the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption. A motion is likely to appear before the Midland City Council that states those businesses that serve alcohol both bars and restaurants will be regulated by Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission rules. The topic brought up most is the time when alcohol can be served. Currently, when a business comes before the city, it proposes hours when it will serve alcohol as part of the specific-use-permit process. Those hours are then approved by city leaders and sometimes amended. An example is that city leaders require that on Sundays, alcohol can be served beginning at 11 a.m. TABC allows alcoholic beverages to be sold on Sunday from noon to midnight, but establishments that serve food can begin selling alcohol at 10 a.m. Also, if an establishment is in a city or county where it is legal for late hours, and the business has a late-hours permit, it can sell alcohol for on-premise consumption until 2 a.m. any night of the week. If it is earlier on Sunday, we are going to get calls on it, Councilman Spencer Robnett said during the briefing session that preceded the council meeting. It will be the movie theater thing all over again. The legal hours of sale/service of alcoholic beverages are 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday. Again, if an establishment is in a city or county where it is legal for late hours, and the business has a late-hours permit, it can sell alcohol for on-premise consumption until 2 a.m. any night of the week. The city will retain rules and regulations where an establishment serving alcohol can be located. It was stated during the briefing session that the city deals with about 40 special-use permits a year that allow for the service of alcohol. City officials said there will be a pro-business impact to making this change, including that using TABC regulations would keep the zoning process moving, reduce restrictions Midland has, eliminate expenses and eliminate public hearings. City officials also stated that Midlands current ordinance doesnt refer to hours of operation, thus leaving the city open to operators that could challenge it. Before bringing any changes before the council, city officials will attempt to make sure that any repeal of current special-use permits are done globally. To the Editor: Re Trump Takes Aim at Middle, Using Tools of Office (front page, Aug. 26): If a bell rang every time a lie was told or an important fact was omitted by a speaker at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, or every time President Trump inappropriately used the convention to perform an official presidential function, I wonder how much of the proceedings we actually would have heard. I hope Americans will examine objective fact-checking that occurred during the convention; there were so many obvious and blatant lies. In addition, we must remember that the White House is a national symbol. It is the Peoples House, paid for by all Americans; it does not belong to political candidate Donald Trump. Moreover, a convention is a partisan event and thus not the place to use presidential powers to pardon someone or preside over a naturalization ceremony. Worse yet, it is inappropriate, shameful and unprecedented for Mike Pompeo, in his role as secretary of state doing official U.S. business, to deliver a partisan speech from Israel about Mr. Trumps foreign policy successes. Regardless of your political preferences or whether you thought the Republican convention has been well produced, this was and will remain a shameful moment for America one that historians will rebuke for yours. Great and admired Republican and Democratic presidents are rolling over in their graves. A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that a Virginia school boards transgender bathroom ban is unconstitutional and discriminated against a transgender male student who was barred from using the boys bathrooms in his high school. The ruling is a victory for transgender rights advocates and Gavin Grimm, a former student at Gloucester High School who was required to use restrooms that corresponded with his biological sex female or private bathrooms. A three-judge panel of the Richmond-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Gloucester County School Board violated Grimms constitutional rights when it banned him from using the boys bathrooms. The panel upheld a decision from a federal judge in Norfolk who ruled last year that Grimms rights were violated under the US Constitutions equal protection clause as well as under Title IX, a federal civil rights law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Grimms lawsuit became a federal test case when it was supported by the administration of then-President Barack Obama. It was scheduled to go before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2017, but the high court hearing was canceled after President Donald Trump rescinded an Obama-era directive that students can choose bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity. During arguments before the 4th Circuit in May, Grimms lawyer said the board treated Grimm differently than other students when it required him to use separate but unequal facilities either bathrooms that corresponded with his biological sex female or private bathrooms. They were stigmatizing and humiliating, said Joshua Block, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. Grimm began transitioning from female to male while he was a student at Gloucester High School, located in a mostly rural area about 60 miles (95 kilometers) east of Richmond. He had chest reconstruction surgery and hormone therapy. In 2016, when he was in 12th grade, he obtained a Virginia court order and Virginia birth certificate declaring his sex as male. David Corrigan, a lawyer for the school board, argued that the law protects against discrimination based on sex, not gender identity. Grimm, now 21, graduated in 2017. He now lives in California and is an activist for transgender rights. China's food reserve authority recently released two draft plans on strengthening reserves through technology and talent support, aiming to make significant improvements within the next three to five years to help guarantee the nation's food security. According to the plans by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, a series of innovations for the strategic food reserve will be promoted by 2025, and a special group working on technological innovation will be created. New technologies, such as big data, artificial intelligence, 5G technology and cloud computing will be fully adopted by the food reserve industry, from granary security to emergency management. Moreover, the plans set a five-year goal to build at least five technology platforms with collaboration between enterprises, universities and research institutes, instilling new vitality to the reserve industry. By 2025, China will have a large talent pool that is knowledgeable about food reserves and has a higher education background, according to the plans. "Experienced employees with excellent professional skills will take a share of at least 28 percent of the country's total number of workers in the industry," according to the plans. In addition, professional education and training systems on food reserves will be promoted at all levels nationwide by 2025, and a reward mechanism will be established to boost innovation in the industry. According to the administration, the two drafts are now soliciting public opinions from research institutes and related departments at all levels through Sept 10. "Innovation is the driving force behind the development. We should build a sustainable and high-quality food reserve system with support from both new technology and talent, further contributing to the country's food security," said Zhang Wufeng, head of the administration. At a conference on Tuesday, Zhang said related departments also should expand more channels to introduce high-quality talent from overseas while making stronger efforts to develop the country's own food security talent. Currently, China has about 1.92 million workers in the food and strategic reserve industry, with about 35 percent having a college education, said Jia Qian, deputy head of the administration. Technological innovations have laid a solid foundation for the country's strategic reserves in recent years to guarantee the nation's food security, said Zhang Zhongjie, a researcher from the Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration. Of those innovations, a newly designed granary developed by research teams from the academy has played a crucial role in reducing grain reserve costs while making humidity and temperature control much easier, according to Zhang. As of last year, the new granary has been used by 97 grain enterprises in 24 provincial areas, with total grain storage of at least 3 million metric tons. Between 2014 and 2018, the new granary cut food storage costs by 50 million yuan ($7.1 million). However, Zhang said the country's food reserve industry is now facing a new challenge-aging employees. "Workers at the production line are aged 50 on average," he said. Zhang called for more financial and policy support to encourage young people to join the industry and suggested that food security education be enhanced for the younger generation. "China's grain inventory has been kept at a high level. The stockpile of rice and wheat, two staple grains of the country, can feed the whole population for more than one year," Zhang said. "Although China has no problem feeding its people, we still need to treasure food, beginning during childhood." (diamonds.net) - Just as the sun emerged from behind the clouds and diamond demand began to recover from a glut in the manufacturing sector, the coronavirus pandemic hit. Its rapid spread forced many miners to shut down temporarily and prevented them from selling their rough. This left several companies on extended care-and-maintenance plans for the foreseeable future, and led some heavyweights to announce that they could no longer support their operations due to the burden of their debt. Dominion Diamond Mines, which owns the Ekati deposit in Canada as well as 40% of the Diavik mine, agreed to a sale of its assets in May in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. Last month, Petra Diamonds announced it was considering all options available under its mounting debt, including selling the company. Meanwhile, Firestone Diamonds has decided to keep its Liqhobong mine in Lesotho shut for a minimum of one year, and Lucapa Diamond Company mothballed its Mothae mine also in Lesotho in April so it could focus on its higher-yielding Lulo deposit in Angola. Given any other scenario, most miners would jump at the chance to purchase some of Petras assets. Its Cullinan and Finsch mines in South Africa are world-class resources, according to analysts. However, the same weak market thats forcing some miners into selling their operations will likely prevent others from buying. NEW YORK: A man who ambushed a New York City police officer in June stabbing him in the neck and stealing his gun to shoot other officers had an interest in violent Islamic extremism and punctuated the attack with screams of Allahu Akbar, prosecutors alleged in court papers filed with his indictment Thursday on state and federal charges. Days later, according to prosecutors, suspect Dzenan Camovic told a hospital worker: My religion made me do it." Camovic, a 21-year-old Bosnian immigrant living illegally in the U.S., faces state charges including attempted aggravated murder and federal charges including theft and unlawful possession of a firearm. Officer Yayonfrant Jean Pierre and the other wounded officers survived their injuries. Camovics lawyer said arraignments could be scheduled within a few weeks. Camovics lawyer, Robert Stahl, refuted the governments assertion that his client showed support for the Islamic State or other terrorist groups. Camovic is a troubled young man in a number of respects, as opposed to having any terrorist or Islamic leanings," Stahl said in a telephone interview. Federal prosecutors and the Brooklyn district attorneys office announced the indictments within minutes of each other Thursday, just as the police department was releasing surveillance and body camera footage that captured the chaotic scene just before midnight on June 3. The video, some of which was previously made public, shows Camovic walking up and stabbing Jean Pierre in the neck as the officer stood on a street corner while assigned to an anti-looting patrol. The bloodshed happened hours after an 8 p.m. curfew that was intended to quell days of at-times violent protests over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Federal prosecutors said Camovic cased the area first, walking past the area and crouching nearby for several minutes before attacking. After the stabbing, Camovic is seen chasing another officer, Randy Ramnarine, before rushing back toward Jean Pierre. Ramnarine fired two shots at Camovic and Jean Pierre fired six times. Camovic then wrestled Jean Pierres gun away from him and fired six shots wounding Ramnarine and another officer in the hand. Ramnarine and a responding sergeant returned fire. Camovic was hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the face, legs and torso before being moved to the citys Rikers Island jail complex. His injuries, including a shattered wrist and elbow, have required several surgeries and he is still receiving physical therapy, Stahl said. Last month, a judge ordered Camovic to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. While recovering days after the attack, federal prosecutors said, Camovic mistakenly told a worker at Kings County Hospital that he had killed two police officers and explained that my religion made me do it." According to federal prosecutors, Camovic texted a friend Ill be a while just before attacking Jean Pierre. Camovics phone contained deleted images of Arabic writing referencing the Islamic State and the name of a magazine it has used to radicalize and recruit followers, federal prosecutors said. Camovic had CDs and a thumb drive in his Brooklyn bedroom containing audio and video files of lectures and sermons by Anwar al-Awlaki, a deceased Islamic cleric and reputed al-Qaeda leader, federal prosecutors said. About a year before the attack, Camovic started expressing interest in Islamic State and other Syrian-based terrorist groups and asked about the permissibility of killing civilians, federal prosecutors said, citing information provided by an unidentified person interviewed during the investigation. Camovic did not hold extreme religious beliefs, the person said, according to federal prosecutors. In a statement, Attorney General William Barr said Camovic used the cover of chaos" of the Floyd protests to commit a premeditated and cowardly attack. Barr said Camovics alleged use of encrypted messaging and the hidden part of the internet known as the dark web prevented investigators from learning more about his plans and who else may have been involved. If not for the heroism and bravery of the responding NYPD officers who returned fire and took the assailant down early in the attack, untold additional officers and innocents could have been killed or injured, Barr said. Camovic has no criminal record and immigrated to the U.S. as a young child because of turmoil in his homeland, Stahl said. Federal prosecutors said he was born in Germany, has Bosnian citizenship and no legal immigration status in the U.S. Federal prosecutors lodged an immigration detainer against him and filed paperwork requesting that he be kept in jail pending the outcome of his case, arguing that he has no incentive to stay in the U.S. while facing certain deportation. Stahl said they would not oppose continued detention. Its not like he snuck into the country or something, but his immigration status is perilous because hes stateless, Stahl said. ___ Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak 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 (Natural News) A strange, dimming star may not be alone after a scientist discovered more stars that are possibly displaying unusual light fluctuations. Some of the stars are dimming rapidly while some are dimming at slower rates, which is similar to Boyajians star a star that dips in brightness for days or weeks at a to,e before regaining its previous luminosity. Discovered in 2015, this behavior is unusual for a star that is slightly larger than the Sun. While the cause of the dimming is still unclear, Edward Schmidt of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said that there may be nearly two dozen counterparts to Boyajians. He published his findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. More stars are mysteriously dimming Schmidt searched for stars similar to Boyajians through software that detected unusual dimming events from about 14 million space objects. These objects were drawn from the Northern Sky Variable Survey from April 1999 to March 2000. Then, Schmidt sifted through a crop of promising candidates by examining their long-term behavior using information from the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae. This way, he was able to rule out stars whose dimming is explained by conventional mechanisms such as an intrinsic variability in brightness and an eclipsing companion star. Results show that 21 stars displayed unusual dimming behavior. Schmidt categorized them into two distinct classes: 15 slow dippers that dimmed at rates similar to Boyajians and six rapid dippers that exhibited more extreme rates of light fluctuations. The thing that surprised me the most were these stars that had so many dips, the ones I called rapid dippers. I expected more occasional dips like Boyajians star, said Schmidt. After further analyzing data from the European Space Agencys Gaia space observatory, Schmidt discovered that the potential dippers tended to be either conventional main-sequence stars with about the same mass as the Sun or red giant stars that are twice bigger than the Sun. These stars are classified based on the stellar life cycle. A main-sequence star is powered by the fusion of hydrogen into helium, which occurs during the majority of a stars lifetime. When a low- or medium-size star enters the later stages of its life, it runs out of hydrogen and now burns up helium, transforming into a red giant. The slow and rapid dippers are seen in both types of stars. Thus, Schmidt suspected that the light fluctuations are caused by the same mechanism which occurs in varying degrees depending on the type of the star. However, its still unclear what that mechanism is. Scientists previously raised the possibility that Boyajians dimming is caused by intelligent extraterrestrial life. According to this hypothesis, a megastructure called Dyson sphere was built around the star to capture as much light as possible and support an advanced civilization. (Related: Has the second alien megastructure been found?) Other scientists, however, favor a more mundane explanation where the dimming is caused by an occluding cloud of dust or fragments of a comet. Schmidt plans to further study the dimming stars, especially the rapid dippers. He is interested in what happened to these stars in the past, which may provide insights into the mechanisms behind the light fluctuations. One thing I noticed about them is that at least one seemed to be slowing way down in its dipping rate over the five years of coverage we have of it. He added that finding more analogs of Boyajians is important to unravel the mystery behind the unusual dimming. He noted that the Northern Sky Variable Survey did not contain records of Boyajians darkening during the year the data was recorded in the catalog. This illustrates that astronomers may overlook stars that display unusual dimming if they only look at catalogs that monitor stars across a short period of time. Schmidt recommended further research that will comb through more catalogs of stellar activity. Cosmic.news has more on stars exhibiting strange behavior recently. Sources include: LiveScience.com NinePlanets.org Space.com JPL.NASA.gov - Shatta Wale has warned that no political party should use him for campaign - He said that his photos, his name, and his brand should not be used at all on any campaign platform - Shatta Wale said he will only support and corporate with who Ghanaians elect as president - He had earlier announced his support for President Akufo-Addo Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Ghanas biggest musician Shatta Wale has cautioned political parties against the use of his photos, brand, and anything Shatta Wale on all campaign platforms. In a new post sighted by YEN.com.gh on his Facebook page, Shatta Wale indicated that he was not supporting any particular presidential candidate. However, whoever is elected by the Ghanaian majority is the one he, together with his loyal fans, will support and corporate with. Shatta Wale. Photo credit: @shattawalenima. Source: Instagram Source: Instagram READ ALSO: Video showing face of Nadia Buaris 3rd daughter finally drops; she looks like her Shatta Wale further stated the contact number of his secretariat for interested persons who would want an explanation on his point. He wrote: Moving forward...No one should use my picture or my brand on any political campaign or platforms . Myself and my loyal fans will support and coperate with any person who Ghanaians elect as their president.. Anyone who wishes to seek any further clarifications/explanations should contact my office (The secretariat) on 054 466 2230." READ ALSO: Sweet love: Lil Wins girlfriend flaunts promissory ring in new video Shatta Wales post is sure to surprise many as he had already publicly announced his desire to support the NPP and vote for President Akufo-Addo. His fans have reacted massively to his comment with some saying they agree with him: Fan's comments on Shatta Wale's post. Photo credit: Charles Nii Armah Mensah. Source: Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: New soldier in town: McBrown dazzles in navy outfit in new photo; fans hail her Fans' comment on Shatta Wale's post. Photo credit: Charles Nii Armah Mensah, Source: Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Latest photo shows Joselyn Dumas has lost massive weight without her curves Meanwhile, Shatta Wale trended massively in the media following the release of the Black is King video with Beyonce. He was also in the news for disclosing that his new relationship is going to last long and be filled with love. Shatta Wale has officially opened his office which he calls SM secretariat for business. Star Gist: Edem shares the inspiration behind his new EP; Moodswings | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Video of Mahamas daughter Farida partying hard with Sharaf drops online; fans react Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Donald Trumps family presented a united front on the second night of the Republican National Convention, seeking to soften a president intent on appearing tough to voters ahead of the November election, and glossing over damaging recordings and reports of infighting. The trio of prime-time speeches on Tuesday by first lady Melania Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump followed the long tradition of politicians loved ones humanizing them before a national audience. But the remarks from the presidents wife and children also came as Trump faces fresh feuds within his own family all while working to stave off attacks from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens campaign, which is leading in virtually all public polling less than three months before Election Day. Following an evening of programming dominated by warnings of cancel culture and the radical left, the first lady used her keynote address from the Rose Garden to offer a gentler testimonial to Trumps character. The president is an authentic person who loves this country and its people and wants to continue to make it better, Melania Trump said, calling him a husband who supports me in all that I do. Eric Trump, the presidents middle son and the Trump Organizations executive vice president, spoke directly to his father in the final moments of his speech. While I miss working alongside you every single day, he told his father, I am proud to show my children what their grandfather is fighting for. Even Tiffany Trump, the presidents low-profile youngest daughter, helped promote her fathers reelection effort in a seven-minute set of remarks. He has demonstrated his faith in his uncompromising heart and actions. My father has made me believe that America can truly be great again, she said. The public shows of support followed a fraught few days for the Trump family. Over the weekend, The Washington Post published excerpts of recordings of the presidents sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, condemning his lying while in office and arguing he had no principles. The report came only a week after the death of the presidents sole surviving brother Robert, whom Trump memorialized in a White House funeral last Friday. Story continues Compounding the family drama, journalist Yashar Ali reported Monday that Melanias friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who worked in the White House as a special adviser to the first lady, taped her making disparaging comments about Trump and his adult children. Melania did not address the report in her speech Tuesday, but she did lament that, so often, the headlines are filled with gossip. No matter the amount of negative or false media headlines or attacks from the other side, Donald Trump has not and will not lose focus on you, she said. He loves this country and knows how to get things done. As you have learned over the past five years, he is not a traditional politician. Melania made a similar pitch to Republicans at the partys convention in Cleveland four years ago. In a speech accused of plagiarizing former first lady Michelle Obama, she characterized her then-candidate husband as intensely loyal and noted that while Trump is tough when he has to be he is also kind and fair and caring. Wealthy investor Tom Barrack also attempted to humanize Trump in a 2016 convention speech recounting their more-than-40-year friendship. The relationship between the two men has since fractured as a result of Barracks role as chairman of the presidents inauguration fund, which came under investigation by federal prosecutors. Appeals from candidates families are a long-standing component of modern major-party conventions. While most featured speakers attest in some way to the strength of leadership exhibited by presidential and vice presidential nominees, the task of softening the top of the ticket usually falls to wives, husbands, daughters and sons. At last weeks Democratic National Convention, Bidens adult children Hunter and Ashley introduced their father in a video segment aired just before his acceptance speech. And the partys four nights of prime-time programming made repeated reference to Bidens late son Beau, who died in 2015 of brain cancer. Bidens wife, Jill, delivered the keynote address on the second day of the Democrats convention, speaking candidly about the former vice presidents passion for his children, as well as her own journey becoming a stepmother to the widowed Bidens two young sons. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris family also introduced her at the partys convention last week with sister Maya, niece Meena and stepdaughter Ella Emhoff alternately describing her as my very first friend, my role model and Momala, the world's greatest stepmom. Playing a related part for the president were Eric and Tiffany, Trumps two adult children least affiliated with his administrations policymaking or his political operation. Trumps eldest daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, both work in the White House as advisers to the president. She is scheduled to speak at the convention Thursday night. And Trumps eldest son Donald Jr., who is active in Republican Party politics and often appears at his fathers rallies, addressed the convention Monday in a fiery campaign-style speech that made little mention of the presidents paternal attributes. Eric, meanwhile, took a decidedly more personal approach Tuesday night, even invoking the death of the presidents brother. Dad, lets make Uncle Robert very proud this week. Lets go get another four years. I love you very much, he said. New Delhi [India], Aug 26 (ANI): In a significant development related to the COVID-19 vaccine, has expressed its willingness to the Indian government for collaboration in the manufacturing of Sputnik V vaccine (COVID-19 vaccine), a government official said on Tuesday. It is pertinent to note that claims to have developed the first COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, a human adenoviral vector vaccine that fights against disease. It is developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Last week, Russian researchers informed that presently the vaccine in phase 3 clinical trial. "As far as Sputnik V vaccine (COVID-19 vaccine developed in Russia) is concerned, both and are in communication. Some initial information has been shared while some detailed information is awaited," Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary said on Tuesday responding to a question on whether the Russian government has placed any formal request for the manufacturing of its Sputnik V vaccine in "The Vaccine and Research and Development Taskforce co-chaired by Dr Vinod Paul (Member of the Niti Aayog and Professor Vijayraghavan who is Principal Scientific Advisor) will examine the suggestions for potential collaborations on vaccine development. The committee, with inputs from members, particularly the Department of Biotechnology and the ICMR, will examine the information on the matter and will link potential collaborators where robust and value-added collaborations are feasible and meaningful," said a government official. "More than 40,000 people in 45 medical centres are participating in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical study of the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine in Russia, simultaneously with the vaccination of volunteers from risk groups," Russian researchers had said during an online press briefing last week. When asked about any plans for a joint venture with Indian pharma companies, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said: "Yes, production of the vaccine is an important issue, we look to Indian drug producers to co-partner as we believe is capable of producing Gamaleya Institute vaccine and it is important to say that these partnerships should produce a vaccine that enables us to cover the demand that we have received." Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of the vaccine have been completed on August 1. "All the volunteers are feeling well, no unforeseen or unwanted side effects were observed. The vaccine-induced strong antibody and cellular immune response. Not a single participant of the current clinical trials got infected with COVID-19 after being administered with the vaccine," said researchers from Gamaleya National Institute. "The high efficacy of the vaccine was confirmed by high precision tests for antibodies in the blood serum of volunteers (including analysis for antibodies that neutralize the coronavirus), as well as the ability of the immune cells of the volunteers to activate in response to the spike S protein of the coronavirus, which indicates the formation of both antibody and cellular immune vaccine response," Russian researchers said. Phase 3 clinical trial involving more than 2,000 people in Russia, a number of Middle Eastern (UAE and Saudi Arabia), and Latin American countries (Brazil and Mexico) started on August 12. The vaccine has received a registration certificate from the Russian Ministry of Health on August 11 and under emergency rules adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic can be used to vaccinate the population in Russia. Mass production of the vaccine is expected to start in September 2020, they said. Globally, there have been 23,491,520 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 809,970 deaths, reported to WHO. According to the India health ministry, India's COVID19 case tally crossed 31 lakh mark with 60,975 fresh cases and 848 deaths in the last 24 hours. The COVID19 case tally in the country rises to 31,67,324 including 7,04,348 active cases, 24,04,585 discharged, and 58,390 deaths due to the virus. (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.) GE has been awarded a new contract from Thailands District Cooling System and Power Plant (DCAP) for services support for two existing aeroderivative gas turbines that provide power and chilled water to Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi International airport. The service agreement will help DCAP improve performance efficiency of the 110 megawatt plant, assure stability and reliability of the international airports power production and cooling system, while reducing overall cost of ownership to the 110 megawatt plant. As the OEM of the gas turbine, GE aims to bring improved availability and performance to the plant while performing all of the plants major maintenance needs over the next five years. At DCAP, we are committed to ensuring a steady supply of electricity to the nations international Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailands leading transportation hub that accommodates about 64 million passengers and 1.3 million tons of cargo a year, said Suthep Ruangpornwisuth, Director Acting General Manager at DCAP. Being the OEM provider for our current fleet, we selected GE as the service provider to help us increase the full potential of our plant assets. We know that GE has a proven track record of providing high-quality technology and services, and with this service agreement, we trust in the company's technical expertise and its regional capabilities in engineering and technical support." This project builds on our strong relationship with DCAP which dates back to when GE first supplied its Frame 5 gas turbines when the facility began operations in 2004 said Rachata Sankhavanija, Regional General Manager Commercial Asia Pacific. The plant today has been powered by two GE LM6000PD aeroderivative gas turbines since November 2011 and March 2012, and we are confident that DCAP will benefit from the improved reliability and in-region support that the GE team will provide under the service agreement for the district power plant. Thailand is powered by a GE aeroderivative fleet of over 40 turbines. More than half of the units today, are under a contract service agreement with GE which positions the company currently as the No 1 service provider for GE aeroderivative technology in Thailand. TradeArabia News Service The Shibuya Scramble, the massive intersection just outside Shibuya Station, has become a must-see attraction. As the nexus of pedestrian traffic in one of Tokyoas busiest and most fashion-conscious neighborhoods, itas a great place for people watching and trend spotting. However, on the night of August 24, people with their eyes on the Shibuya Scramble noticed something much more startling than avant-garde attire or a bold new shade of dyed hair, as a man attempted to set himself on fire part-way across the intersection, as seen in the latter half of the footage here. The incident occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. With most pedestrians completing crossing as the light changed and vehicle traffic resuming, one man stopped in the middle of the crosswalk and laid down what appeared to be a backpack of some sort. The item then burst into flames and the man lay down on top of it, in a seeming attempt to set himself on fire as well. Thankfully, police and firefighters arrived on scene before the manas body was fully engulfed in flames, though he did sustain minor burn injuries which required medical treatment. No one else suffered injuries, nor did the fire cause any significant property damage. Police in Belarus dispersed protesters who gathered on the capital's central square Wednesday, detaining dozens in an effort to end weeks of demonstrations challenging the re-election of the country's authoritarian ruler. The crackdown in Independence Square on Wednesday came on the 18th straight day of protests pushing for the resignation of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian leader who has ruled the nation of 9.5 million for 26 years has dismissed the protesters as Western puppets and refused to engage in dialogue with the opposition contesting his Aug. 9 re-election to a sixth term. After a brutal crackdown on demonstrators in the first days of post-election protests, which caused international outrage and helped swell protesters' numbers, the authorities changed tactics and let daily demonstrations go unhindered for nearly two weeks. The government, meanwhile, has maintained pressure on the opposition with threats and selective jailing of its leaders. Wednesday's police action marks the return to force, albeit on a much smaller scale compared to the post-election crackdown, when nearly 7,000 people were detained, hundreds were injured and at least three protesters died. Shortly after several hundred protesters gathered on the Independence Square for an evening protest that has become a daily occurrence, waving their red-and-white flags and chanting ``Go away!'' to push for Lukashenko's resignation, police trucks pulled in. Officers grabbed demonstrators and dragged them into trucks, tearing away their flags and placards. Several dozen protesters found refuge in a Catholic church facing the square, and police blocked its doors to keep them inside while they moved to disperse the demonstration. Minsk Bishop Jury Kasabucki condemned the police action as a violation of freedom of conscience and religion and an insult to believers. ``It's a clear act of intimidation,'' said Valiantsin Stefanovich of the Viasna rights center. ``The authorities have stopped beatings, but fear and threats remain their main weapon.'' He said that police on Wednesday also detained protesters in another district of Minsk and in the city of Brest on the border with Poland. As part of a multi-pronged effort to stifle protest, Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature, was summoned for questioning earlier Wednesday over her role in an opposition council created to facilitate talks on a transition of power. Prosecutors have opened a criminal probe against the Coordinating Council members, accusing them of undermining the country's security. Alexievich insisted that she and other council members have done nothing wrong. ``Our goal is to unite society and help overcome a political crisis,'' she told reporters. ``We must win with our spirit and the strength of our beliefs.'' On Tuesday, two other council members were handed 10-day jail terms for organizing unsanctioned protests, and several others were called for questioning. The United States and the European Union have criticized the Belarusian vote as neither free nor fair and urged Lukashenko's government to engage in a dialogue with the opposition. Ahead of a two-day EU foreign ministers' meeting starting Thursday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that ``it's absolutely unacceptable that members of the Coordinating Council are arrested, interrogated and intimidated.'' ``With the daily increasing repression against peaceful protesters the leadership in Minsk is increasingly sidelining itself,'' said Maas, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 27-nation bloc. ``We won't let serious human rights abuses and breaches of fundamental democratic principles go unanswered.'' Lukashenko, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, has dismissed protesters as Western puppets and rejected offers of mediation from the EU. In a show of defiance on Sunday, the 65-year-old embattled leader toted an assault rifle as he arrived at his residence by helicopter, while protesters rallied nearby. After a sweeping crackdown in the first days after the vote, Lukashenko has switched tactics and sought to quell the unrest gradually, with vague promises of reforms mixed with threats, court summonses and selective arrests. Starting Monday, police began rounding up dozens of demonstrators each day across the country, but Wednesday's crackdown on Independence Square marked a clear escalation, signaling the authorities' determination to see an end to the demonstrations. Earlier Wednesday, hundreds of demonstrators formed ``chains of solidarity'' in Minsk to push for a new election. ``Lukashenko has switched his tactics, he thinks that selective repression will weaken the protest,'' said 45-year-old IT expert Natalya Pustovol, who joined the protest. ``But the public mood has changed and people want his resignation and changes.'' A wave of strikes at industrial plants across the country has posed an unprecedented challenge to Lukashenko who had relied on blue-collar workers as his core support base in the past. The authorities have tried to end the strikes by pressuring workers and detaining the organizers. Alexander Lavrinovich, the head of the strike organizing committee at the Minsk Wheeled Tow Truck Plant, was handed a 10-day jail sentence Wednesday on charges of organizing an unsanctioned protest. In Zhodino, a city about 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) northeast of Minsk, several hundred striking workers from another major unit, the Belarusian Automobile Plant that manufactures heavy trucks, rallied to demand Lukashenko's resignation and a new election. ``They are blackmailing workers with layoffs and repression, they are using dirty methods in a bid to stifle the protest,'' said Alexander Yaroshuk, a union leader. In a bid to secure support from Russia, which has a union agreement with Belarus and sees it as a key bulwark against Western expansion, Lukashenko has accused NATO of harboring aggressive plans and beefing up its forces in neighboring Poland and Lithuania. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg dismissed Lukashenko's claims as an excuse to suppress protests. ``We see attempts to use NATO as a kind of excuse for cracking down on demonstrators ... in Belarus, which is absolutely wrong because there is no military build-up by NATO in the region,'' Stoltenberg told reporters in Berlin. Amid the Western criticism, Russia and China have stood by Lukashenko and warned against foreign interference. ``We believe that under the leadership of President Lukashenko, Belarus will restore political stability and social peace,'' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, adding that Beijing ``firmly opposes interference in Belarus' internal affairs by external forces.'' Search Keywords: Short link: Twenty-one people have been charged with sexually exploiting children online, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Wednesday as he and other authorities announced their arrests and urged parents to actively monitor their childrens cellphone, gaming, and internet activities. Nineteen men, one woman, and a 15-year-old boy were arrested in Operation Screen Capture, a statewide effort launched in March at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in response to an alarming increase in potential threats to children from online predators, authorities said. Homebound children are spending more time on their devices, both for virtual learning and for recreation, Grewal said during a virtual news conference. And at the same time, predators are also spending more time online, taking advantage of this situation. Apps and gaming systems continue to be prime hunting grounds for child predators seeking victims, he said. Three of the defendants Aaron Craiger, 34, of Oklahoma, who authorities say traveled to an Atlantic City motel to meet two men who offered him access to underage girls for sex; Jason Berry, 40, of Monmouth County; and Alize Tejada, 21, a babysitter in Newark were charged with attempted sexual assault or sexual assault and child-pornography offenses. The 18 other defendants were charged with endangering the welfare of children for possession or distribution of child sexual-abuse materials, including, in many cases, videos of sex acts involving children, authorities said. They include Kevin Carrierri, 34, of Toms River; Christopher Crispino, 45, of Bellmawr; Shawn Daily, 45, of Browns Mills; Roy Dantz, 71, of Mount Laurel; Brett Warfield, 21, of Carneys Point; Henry Ziolkowski, 66, of Toms River; and a 15-year-old boy from Gloucester County. With many schools beginning virtually this fall, Grewal urged parents to teach children that the people they encounter online might not be who they seem to be; to familiarize themselves with the apps and games their children are playing; to check the security settings on their cellphones and other devices; to remind children not to share their personal information or take inappropriate photos or videos of themselves. He also said parents should be wary if their children are being secretive. The New Jersey State Police, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and county prosecutors worked with the Attorney Generals Office on the case. Authorities asked anyone suspecting child sexual exploitation to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 800-843-5678 or online at report.cybertip.org. RESTON, Va., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OVHcloud, a global cloud leader and the largest European cloud provider, today announced that it has acquired the technology of EXTEN Technologies, Inc., a US-based storage software company specializing in NVMe over Fabrics. With the acquisition of EXTEN's technology and team, OVHcloud aims to build and offer to its customers the best performance/price block storage solution in the industry. Based in Austin, Texas, EXTEN is a technology developer leader and has been a pioneer in NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) storage software with over 20 filed patents. EXTEN offers an outstanding disaggregated storage platform that replaces local NVMe drives with flexible shared pools of fault tolerant capacity, without any tradeoff on performance. This allows high availability deployments for performance critical workloads, such as databases, video processing and data analytics. OVHcloud is committed to enhancing its leadership position in the industry both organically and through unique acquisition opportunities capable of boosting growth and catalyzing differentiation in critical areas of development. With the recently announced acquisition of OpenIO, a leader of Object Storage software technology, OVHcloud has demonstrated its ambition to create for its customers the best and most versatile storage offering available on the market. EXTEN's cutting-edge technologies match with this mission notably addressing the increasing demand for performance focused workloads. EXTEN's workforce, recognized in the ecosystem for their distinguished technical skills, will work closely with OVHcloud's existing team of experts in the United States and in the rest of the world. About OVHcloud US OVHcloud US is a subsidiary of OVHcloud, a global cloud hosting provider that specializes in delivering industry-leading performance and cost-effective solutions to better manage, secure, and scale data. OVHcloud provides a smarter solution for bare metal servers, hosted private cloud, hybrid and public cloud solutions. The group manages 30 data centers across 12 sites on 4 continents, manufacturing its own servers, building its own data centers and deploying its own fiber-optic global network to achieve maximum efficiency. Through the OVHcloud spirit of challenging the status quo, the company brings freedom, security and innovation to solve data challenges today and tomorrow. With a 20-year heritage, OVHcloud is committed to developing responsible technology, as the group strives to be the driving force behind the next cloud evolution. https://us.ovhcloud.com Media Contact Karen Kokiko OVHcloud US (703) 554-5342 (m) [email protected] https://us.ovhcloud.com SOURCE OVHcloud A challenge turned into fashion how the coronavirus pandemic provided textile designers with an opportunity to make millions of masks every day. The outbreak of COVID-19 is challenging creative industries around the world. In Indonesia, many artisans have had to adapt to keep their businesses viable. Textile designers are now helping combat the pandemic by making millions of masks a day. Al Jazeeras Jessica Washington reports from Jakarta. The Montgomery County Fire Marshals Office issued a countywide burn ban Tuesday. Despite approaching Hurricane Laura, Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams told commissioners the storm wasnt expected to bring heavy rains. However, the wind could be the concerns as residents begin any cleanup after the storm passes. Lets be proactive and put it on, he said. If we have to take it down it means we got an adequate amount of rainfall. According to the burn ban order, drought conditions exist in Montgomery County. It prohibits all outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of the county for 30 days. A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. Additionally, the commissioners agreed to give Williams the authority to lift the ban when necessary. cdominguez@hcnonline.com 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. Home Search ICH The Back And Forth About Navalny's 'Poisoning' By Moon Of Alabama August 25, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The case of the alleged 'poisoning' of the Russian rabble rouser Alexey Navalny is becoming more curious. Navalny fell ill on August 20 during a flight from Tomsk in Siberia to Moscow. The plane made an emergency landing in Omsk where he was transferred to a hospital. Navalny fell into a coma. The doctors diagnosed a sharp drop in his blood sugar. Navalny has diabetes and his symptoms as described were consistent with a diabetic shock. We therefore (somewhat prematurely) concluded that Navalny was not poisoned. After a day and a half in the Omsk hospital the patient stabilized. On request of his family he was flown to Berlin and admitted to the Charite hospital. The Charite is a very large (14,000 employees) state run university clinic that is leading in many medical fields. Its laboratories found effects consistent with the ingestion of, or contact with, a cholinesterase inhibitor: Following his admission, Mr. Navalny underwent extensive examination by a team of Charite physicians. Clinical findings indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors. The specific substance involved remains unknown, and a further series of comprehensive testing has been initiated. The effect of the poison namely, the inhibition of cholinesterase in the body was confirmed by multiple tests in independent laboratories. As a result of this diagnosis, the patient is now being treated with the antidote atropine. Cholinesterase is needed in the human nerve system to break down acetylcholine which is a signaling substance between synapses. Inhibitors of cholinesterase are used in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, anxiety disorder and other illnesses. Cholinesterase inhibitors can be found in certain plant extracts or synthesized. There are two types of cholinesterase inhibitors, carbamates and organophosphates. Both types are also widely used as pesticides. During World War II organophosphates were developed as chemical weapons (tabun, sarin, soman) but not widely used. The wording of the Charite statement seems to imply that the laboratory results point to the potential effects of a cholinesterase inhibitors, not to a specific substance itself. This is consistent with a statement by the clinic in Omsk which insists that no cholinesterase inhibitors, i.e a 'poison', were found: When Alexey Navalny was admitted to the in-patient clinic, he was examined for a wide range of narcotics, synthetic substances, psychedelic drugs and medical substances, including cholinesterase inhibitors. The result was negative, said Sabayev, chief of the acute poisoning unit at the Omsk emergency care hospital where Navalny was treated before being airlifted to Germany. Besides, he did not have a clinical picture, specific for poisoning with substances from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors, Sabayev, who is also the top toxicologist in the Omsk Region and the Siberian Federal District, added. We can be quite sure that a trained toxicologist would recognize a Cholinergic crisis. There is however a documented case from India in which an organophosphate poisoning was falsely interpreted as diabetic ketoacidosis (hat tip Bernd Neuner): We present a 15-year-old girl who was initially treated for diabetic ketoacidosis with further worsening of her general condition. This delayed recovery, coupled with focused investigations, finally led us to a diagnosis and the appropriate management of an intentional overdose with organophosphorous (OP) pesticide, presenting as diabetic ketoacidosis. But according to Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov the Russian doctors made the right diagnosis and applied the correct therapy (machine translation): The statement by German doctors on the diagnosis of FBK founder Alexei Navalny is nothing new for Russian specialists, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President, told reporters. We have not yet learned anything new from this statement. We specifically contacted our doctors and asked how, from a professional point of view, we can relate to what was written. The fact is that the fact of this lowered cholinesterase was established in the first hours by our doctors in a hospital in Omsk. And the atropine, which the Germans are talking about and which is now being given to the patient, began to be administered during the first hour of the patient's stay in intensive care, said Peskov. The presidential spokesman stressed that the level of cholinesterase may decrease for a variety of reasons, including from taking a number of medications. At the same time, German doctors did not identify a toxic substance in Navalny's analyzes. Therefore, it is very important here to find out what caused the decrease in cholinesterase levels. And neither our doctors, nor the Germans have yet been able to establish the cause. At least, this follows from the statement of our German doctors' colleagues. There is no substance, unfortunately, it cannot be established, analyzes do not show it, Peskov explained. He stressed that the analytical data of Russian and German doctors are the same, but the conclusions are different. We do not understand why our German colleagues are in such a hurry, using the word poisoning. You know, this version was among the first that our doctors considered, but I repeat once again: the substance has not yet been established. Maybe the Germans have some data, said Peskov, noting that Russian doctors are ready to provide samples of the first tests. If Navalny was poisoned - which is not established - the next question must be how Navalny came into contact with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Was the contact caused by himself or by someone else? Was it intentionally or unintentionally? Navalny's spokeswomen has insisted that the only substance Navalny ingested that morning was a tea from an airport bar. A CCTV video from the airport shows that the tea was brought from the bar by a person that then sits down with Navalny. They presumably traveled together. How would the airport barkeeper, if he supposedly poisoned Navalny, knew for whom the tea was? As 'western' media continue with their "Putin poisoned Navalny" nonsense it is important to again point out that other people have more reason to harm Navalny than the Kremlin does: During the last years Navalny has made some enemies by uncovering corruption cases. His latest one was about the local governor of Tomsk. It was also the reason why he had flown there. Should Navaly become the victim of a crime the suspects should be sought there. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Post your comment below See also The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Search Information Clearing House === The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. Anyone whos ever been to a county fair knows the goodness of a hot, powdered sugar-covered funnel cake thats only available once a year. But in Decatur, Alabama, a new business is thriving by offering funnel cakes every day and these sublime creations can be topped with ice cream, fresh fruit, bits of candy or cereal, with syrup drizzled atop a cloud of whipped cream. Its no wonder customers drive from all over to sit in a long line at the Funnel Cake Queen drive-thru. And they say its worth the wait a serious wait, often from 45 minutes to an hour, with cars lined up for nearly a mile every Saturday. It might seem amazing that this new business has flourished during a pandemic. But these decadent funnel cakes give customers something to look forward to, something to indulge in, something to feed their spirits. And the fair-inspired confections arent the sweetest things about Funnel Cake Queen. The queen herself, Kenya Congress, is quietly funneling her profits right back to her customers and her community. Nothing special about me at all, she insists. Its all God! Recently, she posed a question on the businesss Facebook page: What bill you worried about? Immediately, people responded: rent payments, car payments, utility bills, student loans. Come see me tomorrow, Kenya wrote. The next day, she gave away almost $2,000. This is a perfect example that there is still so much good in this world! one person wrote in the thread. One single mom sent her a message saying she was two months behind on her mortgage payments, and she sent the statements to prove it. She had missed work because she was taking care of her children, who had COVID-19. Kenya couldnt stop thinking about her. A couple of days later, she gave her the money to catch up on her payments. We were so busy the next day, I didnt even miss it, she says. Helping people is my heart. To be in a place where I can give back, it does something to my heart. Ive been there. What most people dont know is that bubbly, friendly Kenya, whos always flashing her megawatt smile, has had her share of struggles in life. She grew up in nearby Courtland, where her house had no running water. Later, she remembers scrounging for change to buy Hamburger Helper to feed her three children. She has struggled to pay the rent, and her car was once repossessed. She even sold drugs at one point. And then, 10 years ago, she spent three months in Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women after she gave the wrong person a ride for $10 in gas money. It happened that he had just robbed someone, so she was charged as an accessory to the crime, she says. She remembers how desperately she missed her children while she was incarcerated. I thank God for that time, she says. I needed that time so God could sit me down and show me who I really was. I dont take those three months lightly at all. God protected me. Want to read more good news about Alabama? Sign up for the This is Alabama newsletter here. Becoming a queen Kenyas life has been blessed in the years since. She met Anthony, her husband, while working 16 hours a day as the manager of a fast-food restaurant. He told her she didnt have to work anymore. He took care of us, he says, and she was able to spend more time with her children, who are now 21, 20 and 15. While doing some volunteer work, she met a homeless woman who had nowhere to go with her child. The woman stayed on her mind for a year until, in early 2018, she opened Home of Grace, a temporary shelter for homeless women and children. She felt that she was making a real difference there, but funding was always an issue. She started making funnel cakes, which she cooked in a cast-iron skillet on a stovetop eye and sold in a shopping center parking lot to pay the utilities at the home. While the funnel cakes were a big hit, she just couldnt manage to keep Home of Grace open. When it closed, she was devastated. But God reassured me Id done what I needed to do, and I had a sense of peace, she says. She kept thinking about those funnel cakes and how people would ask about them. She dreamed of selling them in a food truck, but then she received another blessing when she met Connie Teague, who owns Joes Deli on Danville Road. Connie offered to share her space and even her fryer. She let me come in there with no money, says Kenya, who opened Funnel Cake Queen inside Joes Deli in February three weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic closed the dining room. By June, she had outgrown the deli and leased her own space in a shopping center on the Beltline. Customers drive up to the window and place their orders to go. The most popular toppings for the funnel cakes, which come in three sizes contessa (three inches), princess (six inches) and queen (eight inches) are fresh strawberries and strawberry cheesecake. Shes proud to say that her oldest son works as a welder, and her daughter is in nursing school. Both help their mother in the shop. And the light of Kenyas life is her eight-month-old grandson. She never imagined Funnel Cake Queen would become so popular, but shes already planning to open a second location in Huntsville this fall. And sometime in September, her food truck will finally start rolling for special events. But no matter how much her business grows, she knows shell continue to give more than she receives. Its in her DNA. Gods going to give it back to me, she says. Giving to others brings me such a joy, she says. I absolutely love it. Funnel Cake Queen is located at 1614 Beltline Road, Decatur. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. for takeout only. The phone number is (256) 822-2205. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Mike DeWine unveiled a new coronavirus travel advisory map Wednesday evening, showing Idaho, Texas, Mississippi and South Carolina as states from which people arriving in Ohio are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days. The four states have testing positivity rates above 15%, which is considered relatively high, and likely an indicator of high rates of infection among the general population. This advisory is for both leisure and business travel, and should be heeded by both Ohioans and out-of-state travelers, a statement from DeWine says. Ohios positivity rate as of Monday, the day for which the most recent information is available, was 4.1%, making the state one of just 21 states, plus Washington, D.C., with rates under 5% over the last two weeks. The following are the positivity rates of the four states, based on a seven-day rolling average: -Idaho: 16.1% -Texas: 16.3% -South Carolina: 21.1% -Mississippi: 27.4% The last travel advisory map, released Aug. 11, had six states: Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Other coverage: Ohio coronavirus deaths exceed 4,000: Wednesday update Workers cant claim invasion of privacy if employers have them watched during urine drug tests: Ohio Supreme Court As repairs to vandalized Ohio Supreme Court are completed, Chief Justice Maureen OConnor pushes for reforms 2.2% of Ohioans who have been tested by American Red Cross have coronavirus antibodies, far from herd immunity The two-day meeting comes as Turkey and Greece, which are both members of the NATO military alliance, rattle sabers with warships and war games in the area, and as their leaders swap barbs over which of them is in the right and how far they would be willing to go to defend their interests. Amazon bans book outlining 'health hazards of homosexuality' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Retail giant Amazon has removed a book outlining the medical and psychological dangers associated with same-sex sexual acts from its website. Some say it is further evidence of a larger censorship trend. The book, Health Hazards of Homosexuality: What the Medical and Psychological Research Reveals, a 600-page book assembled by activist organization Mass Resistance, had been allowed to be sold on the platform for approximately three and a half years with no issue until recently when the online retailer notified the group that it would no longer be allowed to be sold or printed on its site. The company also reportedly blocked Mass Resistance from accessing its account records. The book compiles data taken from major medical professional groups, the Centers for Disease Control, and other sources, including LGBT medical and advocacy organizations, and makes the case that the normalization of specific sexual activities has come at great cost to society and the acts are proven to be harmful to the human body and psyche. "On July 17, we were notified that they have determined that the book violates their 'content guidelines' and they have thus taken it down completely. They closed our account and will not allow us to open another account," Mass Resistance explained in a Saturday blog post. The group reportedly inquired how it had specifically violated Amazon's content guidelines since it was a compilation of medical information from mainstream sources. The retail giant said in reply that the book contains "content that is considered offensive" and did not offer any further explanation as to why it was removed. Mass Resistance went on to note that the retailer has a near-total monopoly on book-selling online yet seems to have no issue with other books sold on the site, which include pornographic titles that involve sexual violence and accessories like sex toys and compression binders for young women who identify as the opposite sex. The book is among the latest titles from a particular perspective that Amazon has disallowed from being sold on its platform. In August of last year, at the apparent behest of a gay activist, Amazon discontinued selling the books of a few authors who once identified as gay or lesbian and told their stories of leaving that life in exchange for following Christ. Among the titles that were removed was Joe Dallas' Desires in Conflict, Anne Paulk's Restoring Sexual Identity, and Catholic attorney David A. Robinson's Orientation and Choice: One Man's Sexual Journey. As recently happened with the Mass Resistance compilation book, when Robinson asked Amazon why his book was taken down, a company representative informed him it was in "violation of our content guidelines" but did not specifically explain what warranted the removal. Earlier this summer, journalist Abigail Shrier's publisher, Regnery Publishing, was disallowed by Amazon from purchasing ads to promote her book Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, an investigative work that scrutinizes the steep rise in young women and teenaged girls who now identify as transgender, many of whom have taken testosterone and undergone radical surgeries in order to appear more male. While Houston no longer appears to be in the path of Hurricane Laura, now a catastrophic storm projected to hit the Port Arthur area, Texas Medical Center institutions are bracing for the possibility of flooding by activating flood control systems, including flood gates. At the University of Texas McGovern Medical School, staff slammed shut the flood gates Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of the storm. The schools $20 million flood protection system was installed after Tropical Storm Allison flooded the Texas Medical Center in 2001. It includes nearly two dozen 16-foot-high metal doors, a berm (a hill that serves as an outer barrier) with water collection pits and pumps and a hydrostatic wall designed to withstand the pressure of floodwaters, said Amy Laukka, a spokesperson for UTHealth, the school's parent organization. Allison, which caused $83 million in damage to the medical school, provided a tough lesson on storm preparation, said Robert Emery, a vice president who oversees risk management at UTHealth. The storm caused power outages, destroyed medical research and forced patient evacuations in the medical center. Its better to be prudent, Emery said. As of early Wednesday afternoon, Houston was expected to avoid most of the storm surge and extreme wind that could slam the coast. Flash flooding is not expected to be a serious concern in Houston, which may see up to four inches of rain during the storm. In previous hurricanes where dangerous flooding submerged Houstons streets, the submarine doors at major hospitals have sealed shut lower floors, preventing water from entering the buildings. Nowadays, the lower floors are filled with classrooms and conference rooms. Generators and other important equipment are located on higher floors. Very little water, if any at all, will make it past the flood gate's watertight seal, Emery said. Ride out teams, extra staff who volunteer to stay through the duration of a storm in case other doctors and nurses can't get into the building due to a flood or road closures, keep an eye on the flood gates, as does a computer monitoring system. Ninety percent is not an A, Emery said. All of these things have to work. If just one doesnt work, then you have a bunch of water coming in. Other Texas Medical Center institutions are also debating whether to activate their flood control systems. Work was underway to seal off the lower floors of MD Anderson Cancer Center by Wednesday afternoon, said Clayton Boldt, a MD Anderson spokesperson. At Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, staff were prepared to close the flood gates, but had not as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, said Stefanie Asin, a Houston Methodist spokesperson. Texas Children's Hospital said it was monitoring the forecast, but had no plans to close flood gates as of Wednesday afternoon. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com twitter.com/gwendolynawu Sara took to her Instagram story today and shared a picture from the sets. She posted a picture of a camera and tagged it as her first love.Along with the picture she wrote, Finally back to the first love of my life followed by a heart and camera emoji. The actress didnt reveal about what she is shooting for. After a break from filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan on Wednesday has returned to the shooting sets to face the camera all over again. On her return to the shooting space, the actor took it to the social media platform to express her excitement. She hopped to the Instagram stories and posted a picture of a camera. The 25-year-old actor wrote alongside: Finally back to the first love of my life followed by a heart emoticon. However, it is not yet clear what was she shooting for.Khan was last seen in Imtiaz Ali s Love Aaj Kal where she is paired opposite to Kartik Aaryan. The upcoming projects of the Kedarnath star include Coolie No 1, a remake of Govinda and Karisma Kapoor starrer of the same name. Khan will be seen opposite Varun Dhawan. Besides, she has also been roped in for Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L. Rais next project Atrangi Re.The forthcoming movie marks the first film in which the trio of Sara Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Dhanush will be seen sharing the screen space. ALSO READ : Anupam Khers 35th anniversary message for Kirron Kher : I am and will always be there for you ALSO READ : Saif Ali Khan announces autobiography: Heres what we can expect (Reuters) - The UK and U.S. governments are in talks to introduce an "air bridge" between London and New York to enable travellers to sidestep quarantine, The Telegraph newspaper reported on Wednesday. Ministers are studying plans for regional air bridges that would enable business and other travellers to come to Britain from "low-risk" areas such as New York City within countries that are "red listed" because of their continued overall high coronavirus rates, the report said. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler) Princess Cruises Announces Early 2021 World Cruise Cancellations SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (August 25, 2020) - Due to restrictions and limitations with border and port access determined by government and health authorities and the continued uncertainty of airline travel, Princess Cruises is canceling its early 2021 World Cruises and Circle South America cruises on two ships: Island Princess 2021 World Cruise sailing from North America , including associated segments and remaining voyages sailing immediately prior , including associated segments and remaining voyages sailing immediately prior Pacific Princess 2021 Circle South America sailing from Australia , including associated positioning cruises "We share in the disappointment of this cancellation for guests of our world cruises because it's a pinnacle cruise vacation experience, booked by some of our most loyal guests," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president." Guests currently booked on these cancelled voyages will receive a refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 25% of the cruise fare paid. To receive the above FCCs, no action is required by the guest or their travel advisor. Alternatively, guests can forfeit the bonus FCC offer and request a refund for all money paid on their booking by using this online form. Guests have until September 30, 2020 to elect a refund, or they will automatically receive the default offer listed above. Princess will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full, in recognition of the critical role they play in the cruise line's business and success. The most current information and instructions for booked guests affected by these cancellations, and more information on FCCs and refunds, can be found online at Information on Impacted & Cancelled Cruises. # # # About Princess Cruises : One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is an the fastest growing international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 18 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries." In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the OceanMedallion, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to a hassle-free, personalized vacation giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK). Media Contacts : media@princesscruises.com Tel: +1 661-753-1530 Negin Kamali nkamali@princesscruises.com 27 August 2020: Prioritizing patients for liver transplantation using the Model for End-stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) score, instead of the more commonly used MELD score, could increase the chances of high-risk patients receiving a transplant and reduce the risk of dying while on the waiting list, according the results of a large study using data from the Eurotransplant network. Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands evaluated more than 5,000 patients with chronic liver disease who had been allocated to the Eurotransplant liver waiting list using the MELD score, and found that more than one-quarter of those who died within 3 months of being listed might have received a transplant if the MELD-Na score had been used instead. The MELD score, which estimates mortality risk for patients with end-stage liver disease using laboratory variables, has been used to prioritize patients on liver transplant lists for almost 20 years. Although MELD has been very successful in prioritizing patients, it does not accurately reflect the risk of death in patients with hyponatremia (low sodium levels), which is an important predictor of mortality in patients on liver transplant lists. The MELD-Na score, which includes serum sodium in the risk calculation, was adopted in the United States in 2016 for liver transplant prioritization, but is not yet used routinely across Europe. To test whether the use of the MELD-Na score in the Eurotransplant region (which includes Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Slovenia) could improve outcomes, the Leiden team evaluated 5,223 patients who were allocated onto the Eurotransplant liver transplant waiting list between 2007 and 2018 using their MELD scores. These patients were followed from their first listing to the time of delisting or until 90 days after listing. As part of the study, each patient was reclassified retrospectively based on their MELD-Na score, allowing an estimation of the number of lives saved if MELD-Na allocation had been used. According to Dr Ben Goudsmit from Leiden University Medical Center, who presented the study results at this year's Digital International Liver Congress, a large proportion (40%) of patients on the transplant waiting list had hyponatremia, and these patients had a three-fold increased risk of dying within 90 days of being listed. 'We also found that, if the MELD-Na score had been used to prioritize patients instead of the MELD score, 26.3% of those who died within 90 days would have had a significantly higher chance of receiving a liver transplant', he said. 'This equates to a 4.9% reduction in 90-day waiting-list mortality'. The research team believes that, since there is a shortage of liver grafts and the prevalence of cirrhosis is increasing globally, better prediction of mortality and improved prioritization for liver transplantation are becoming increasingly important. 'We believe that MELD-Na-based allocation would help to prioritize patients on European liver transplant waiting lists and reduce the number of patients who die before they get the chance of receiving this life-saving treatment'. 'The MELD score was a breakthrough in the field of liver transplantation, as it ensured equity in patients assessed and listed for a transplant. Over the years, it became apparent that the addition of Na to the original equation improved the classification of patients, and the MELD-Na was subsequently adopted in the US in 2016', explained Professor Emmanuel Tsochatzis of the Royal Free Hospital and University College London, UK, and an EASL Governing Board member. 'This study is an important step in introducing MELD-Na in the European liver transplant programs, as it demonstrated an almost 5% improvement in 90-day waiting list mortality'. ### About The International Liver Congress This annual congress is EASL's flagship event, attracting scientific and medical experts from around the world to learn about the latest in liver research and exchange clinical experience. Attending specialists present, share, debate and conclude on the latest science and research in hepatology, working to enhance the treatment and management of liver disease in clinical practice. This year, the congress is being held entirely digitally due to the global health situation. The Digital International Liver Congress 2020 will take place from 27-29 August 2020. For more information on attendance and registration, please visit https://ilc-congress.eu/. About The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Since its foundation in 1966, this not-for-profit organization has grown to over 4,500 members from all over the world, including many of the leading hepatologists in Europe and beyond. EASL is the leading liver association in Europe, having evolved into a major European association with international influence, and with an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease, supporting wider education, and promoting changes in European liver policy. Contact For more information or to speak to an expert, please contact Sean Deans in the ILC Press Office at: * Email: press@easloffice.eu * Telephone: +44 (0) 1444 811099 Session details Session title: General session I Date and time of session: Thursday 27 August 2020, 14.15-14.30 Presenter: Ben Goudsmit Abstract: Validation of the model for end-stage liver disease sodium score for the Eurotransplant region (GS05) Author disclosures Ben Goudsmit and the study authors have no relevant disclosures. References 1. Brock GN, et al. Use of rapid Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) increases for liver transplant registrant prioritization after MELD-Na and Share 35, an evaluation using data from the United Network for Organ Sharing. PLoS One. 2019;14(10):e0223053. 2. Cholongitas E, Burroughs AK. The evolution in the prioritization for liver transplantation. Ann Gastroenterol. 2012;25(1):6-13. 3. Biggins SW, et al. Serum sodium predicts mortality in patients listed for liver transplantation. Hepatology. 2005;41(1):32-9. 4. Kim WR, et al. Hyponatremia and mortality among patients on the liver-transplant waiting list. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(10):1018-26. 5. United Network for Organ Sharing. OPTN/UNOS Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee. Report to the board of directors. Richmond, Virginia. 2014 Jun. Available from: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/media/1834/liver_boardreport_20140702.pdf. Accessed 17 February 2020. ORANGE Allen Ashby was cool with staying put in northern Bridge City, he just needed ice and a few more hours to plan. Ive left too many times and there is too much to stay for, Ashby, 56, said as he piled 80 pounds of ice from a roadside automated stand into a cooler chest in the back of his truck. My parents are older and Ive got dogs, so Ill tough it out. He isnt deceiving himself into thinking it will be easy, however. Ashby has seen plenty of storms and knows how serious they can be, a fact that sent most of his neighbors on the Jefferson County and Orange County border packing. Am I worried, sure, Ashby said. This can get bad, but they said it was the storm surge that would be the worst and I am at 17 feet at my house. Id rather stay and keep an eye on my place. TRACK FLOODING: Our Texas Flood Map shows if your neighborhood is at risk Officials and residents Wednesday said the surge was the big threat for a calamitous landing for Laura. Forecasters have speculated the wall of water coming could reach 11 feet. That, along with the fear that the rain might stick around, sent many in low-lying areas using the last few hours hunkering down or moving out. Were going to get out all we can, Jerry Redwine, 38, said as he helped his father and others load heavy equipment from Redwine Trucking, a few hundred feet from a low-lying area crossed by Cow Bayou in southern Orange County. Its going to flood right here, it is only a question of how much. Towing companies were sending flatbed trailers to Redwines lot most of the day, trying to get tractors and dozers loaded and headed inland. Once the storm blows through, Jerry Redwine said the equipment will come back. Well be back to help out how we can, he said. Thats the reality settling in even as most of the county was deserted: The water and wind will come, people are just not sure how much or how fast and what itll leave them to clean up. Many were using other storms as markers of what to prepare for. Will they we washed by Harveys waters, or will crews be clearing felled trees from Ike-like winds? I feel like I have seen it all, but some of it I never want to see again, said Bill Johnson, 76, who said hes ridden out at least a dozen big storms. Hes only let once. STORM FORECASTS: See the latest NWS forecast track and rainfall estimates Texas Department of Public Safety officials were marshaling resources south of Interstate 10 between Vidor and Orange while county and city officials were massed closer to the Sabine River. The river is a major cog in the local economy but also a source of worry, officials said, because any surge could quickly inundate neighborhoods. Oranges other major business element - the railroad tracks that snake through downtown - also pose a problem. During Harvey, fire officials said, the elevated berm the tracks run on formed a dam across the flat city, sparing the west side of town but flooding the east. Speculating about what will happen, Terry Graves said, is pointless. You just gotta wait and see, Graves, 56, said as he fueled up before heading to his home north of Orange. Nothing is going to stop it from happening. dug.begley@chron.com Turkey has banned some social activities, including henna nights and engagement ceremonies, in 14 provinces as of Aug. 26, an Interior Ministry circular confirmed Tuesday, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. The directive, which explains some new measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic, was sent to provincial governorships. The provinces include capital Ankara, northwestern Bursa province, central Turkey's Corum, Kayseri, Konya and Yozgat, the southern province of Adana, southeastern Diyarbakr, Gaziantep, Mardin, Sanurfa, Van provinces along with Agr and Erzurum in the countrys east. In the 14 provinces, weddings will be limited to just an hour and the chairs in wedding halls will be rearranged per social distancing rules. The dance floors will be closed. All kinds of food and beverage service and catering, except packaged water service, will be prohibited, including meals at weddings. Citizens aged 65 and over and children under the age of 15 who are not first- or second-degree relatives of the bride and groom will be prohibited from attending weddings and related ceremonies. At least one public officer like municipal police will be attending wedding ceremonies to inspect the measures. Turkey reported 887 more recoveries from coronavirus on Tuesday, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. Meanwhile, 24 new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours along with 1,502 new cases. In a statement on Twitter, Koca said Turkey has conducted over 6.5 million coronavirus tests to date. The number of recovered patients topped 238,795 as of Tuesday, while a total of 6,163 people have died so far due to the virus. EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the next installment in a monthly series that will pose a question or topic chosen by managing editor Michelle Graves, with responses presented by members of the Benzie County Democratic and Republican parties. The author is chosen by the respective party and may change from month to month. This month's topic deals with students returning to school. Michigan students have not been in the classroom since mid-March. Northern Michigan has not been hit as hard by the coronavirus as some other areas in the state. Do you think students in Benzie County should return to the classroom? If so, what precautions should be taken to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers? How can the community support school districts in whatever decisions they make? Question: Do you think students in Benzie County should return to the classroom? As is being done throughout Europe, we should go back to the traditional school environment for most of the students and teachers, and, for those parents and teachers uncomfortable with the traditional setting, offer the virtual option. For those who rely on the opinions of the Centers for Disease Control for reassurance, below is from their July 23, 2020, website posting on the matter: The best available evidence from countries that have opened schools indicates that COVID-19 poses low risks to school-aged children, at least in areas with low community transmission, and suggests that children are unlikely to be major drivers of the spread of the virus. It is important to remember that parents are the customers of the school districts. Some Benzie County parents want face-to-face classroom instruction to resume for their children; some want 100% virtual learning to continue; some want a combination. As of this Aug. 16 writing, both school districts plan to open classrooms this fall with a full year calendar in place. However, further orders from the governors office or adjustments at the district level could occur at any time. As for virtual options, Benzie Central has developed Northern Michigan Virtual, and Frankfort-Elberta is utilizing Edgenuity software for its older students and Pathblazer for elementary pupils. I applaud Benzie Central and Frankfort-Elberta school personnel for working diligently with parents to develop choices that parents want, which will allow each family to choose what option is best for their unique circumstances. Question: If so, what precautions should be taken to ensure the health and safety of students and teachers? Management teams within the Benzie Central and the Frankfort-Elberta School Districts have been working hard for months to ensure that not only will the school environment, including its transportation component, be kept as non-conducive to COVID exposure as reasonably possible, but also that parents have been and will continue to be the ultimate decision makers for their own child. Additionally, it is my hope that schools can encourage childrens healthy personal hygiene habits without escalating fear of any specific disease. Healthy habits -- which are not unique to COVID will serve them well throughout their life including staying home when you are feeling ill, diligent hand washing (no nose picking!), coughing into an elbow, sneezing into a tissue, etc. Question: How can the community support school districts in whatever decisions they make? Every member of our community has been affected in some way from all the changes over the past five months. Things will likely continue to evolve as we move forward and there are bound to be hiccups along the way. If we can all do our personal best to be patient with each other as we navigate these challenging times, we will be setting a great example for our children to develop the ability to adapt to changing situations with a positive attitude. Extending that same patience toward our school districts as they navigate this new territory will no doubt make it easier for them to accomplish their mission of educating our children. Bottom line: Students gain more than just academic skills by attending school, particularly in person they also experience friendship, leadership, mentorship and so much more. The school closures this spring were very difficult for many children, mine included. They genuinely miss their friends, teachers and coaches! Government shutdowns may halt many businesses and activities, but it doesnt pause the clock on our childrens precious childhood. I believe our school districts have the ability and determination to safely bring our children back to school this fall. The sooner we can get to as close to normal as possible, the better! Alicia McNeil is an environmental engineer with three children in the Benzie Central School District and a long-standing member of the Benzie County Republican Party. She can be reached at gopinfo@BenzieCountyRepublicans.org. and should build on the good momentum of their joint fight against the Covid-19 pandemic to push for new developments in their bilateral relations, visiting Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. The current European trip is the first overseas tour by a Chinese Foreign Minister since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, and is the first stop, Wang said on Tuesday during a meeting with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio. He said this arrangement shows the importance of China- relations in China's diplomacy, and the great value attaches to its ties with Europe, Xinhua news agency reported. Noting that the pandemic is a common challenge facing all mankind, Wang said that solidarity and cooperation among all countries are the correct response. In this regard, he added, and Italy are at the forefront in the world, setting an example for anti-pandemic cooperation. Wang said his visit is a continuation of China-Italy solidarity in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and marks the beginning of bilateral efforts to deepen cooperation in the post-pandemic era. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, Wang said, adding that the two countries should take advantage of the momentum and push for new progress in bilateral relations. --IANS sdr/bg (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.) It may feel like little has happened in Melbourne this year besides the pandemic, but CBD can report that one of the oldest institutions in the state is quietly investigating some nefarious activity. The exclusive, gentlemen-only Melbourne Club, established in 1838, is reeling from a shocking heist akin to the notorious Melbourne Cup theft back in the 1980s, when someone absconded with two winning cups on display in the dining room after gaining access through an unlocked womens toilet. The strange case of the book-loving thief. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare This year, sometime between the two lockdowns, a treasured copy of the historical memoir of the Melbourne Club, one of only 650 ever printed, went missing from the club library. Its the sort of thing that would have members choking on their port. New Delhi Aug 26 : Three persons, including two cash van custodians, have been arrested on the charge of embezzlement of around Rs 20 lakh from six bank ATMs where they used to fill cash as employees of a private company, Delhi Police said on Wednesday. Even as Rs 6.69 lakh of the embezzled money has been recovered, four more accused are on the run, police added. Police said arrested accused Anurag Singh Rajawat and Virendra Singh decided to embezzle money after losing money in gambling. Their accomplice Rohit Agarawal, in whose bank account Rs 3.5 lakh was transferred, was also arrested. A case was registered after a complaint at the Okhla Industrial Area police station that a shortage of Rs 20,07,300 was detected in six ATMs of ICICI Bank during an audit. "During investigation, the duty rosters and company records of SIS Cash Service Private Limited were checked. It was found that staff Anurag and Virendra were on duty whenever cash was filled in these six ATMs. On August 20, both were arrested from their rented room in Tehkhand village in Delhi. They confessed to misappropriation of around Rs 20 lakh while filling cash in ATMs of ICICI Bank in the last month," said RP Meena, DCP, South-East Delhi. Police said Rs 2.34 lakh was seized from Anurag's bank account and Rs 66,000 from Virendra's account. "They planned the crime to earn easy money and live a lavish lifestyle. They had lost money in gambling also. In the last one month, they misappropriated around Rs 20 lakh from 6 ATMs. They distributed the amount equally," the officer said. The accused gambled at their hometown Bhind in Madhya Pradesh, losing huge amounts in the process. They allegedly transferred money in multiple bank accounts of winners such as Rohit Agarwal, Ravi Prajapati, Surya Prakash, and Satender Singh Bhadoriya, police said. Anurag had transferred Rs 3.50 lakh in the bank account of Rohit of Chhota Bazaar in Datia in Madhya Pradesh. Anurag had also transferred Rs. 9.90 lakh to Ravi Prajapati of Gwalior. His account details revealed that he had withdrawn Rs 1 lakh on the same day. "Thereafter, Ravi transferred Rs 8.80 lakh to his employer Amrish Sharma's account. He further transferred Rs 8.80 lakh in another account. Amrish is a political activist in Bhind," Meena said. "During the probe in Bhind and other places in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 3.69 lakh was seized. So far, Rs 6.69 lakh has been seized in the case. Ravi Prajapati, Vinay Jha, Amrish Sharma, and Satender Singh Bhadoriya are on the run," the DCP said. In an election dominated by concerns about the coronavirus, the economic recession and racial justice, the candidates arent talking much about Americas longest war. But with former acting intelligence chief Richard Grenell and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, scheduled to speak Wednesday at the Republican National Convention, Americas nearly 19-year conflict in Afghanistan may get some fleeting attention. The policy differences between President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are stark, with one notable exception: Trumps Afghanistan policy looks a lot like the one Biden has always wanted. As vice president in 2009, Biden put up strong but ultimately futile resistance as senior military leaders urged President Barack Obama to deploy tens of thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan. The military brass won that debate, and by August 2010 there were 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan engaged in an ambitious counterinsurgency and nation-building mission. Vice President Joe Biden speaks to troops at Fort Campbell, Ky., Friday, May 6, 2011. President Barack Obama and Biden came to Fort Campbell to address soldiers who have recently returned from Afghanistan. (Mark Humphrey/AP) Biden had argued instead for a small counterterrorist force focused on preventing al-Qaida from regaining its foothold in Afghanistan. That option became known in national security circles as CT-lite. Now, 11 years and about 1,500 casualties later, Trump is reducing the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan to a force of fewer than 5,000 troops, consisting largely of a special operations counterterrorist force plus some military advisers whose mission has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Having failed to defeat the Taliban insurgency, the U.S. government has negotiated a peace deal with the militants and is now waiting for talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government to begin. To judge from his campaign website, Bidens approach to Afghanistan has changed little since he argued for the CT-lite option in 2009. Biden will end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East, which have cost us untold blood and treasure, reads the brief reference to Afghanistan on the website. As he has long argued, Biden will bring the vast majority of our troops home from Afghanistan and narrowly focus our mission on Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Story continues Trump says much the same thing. We are ending the era of endless wars, he told cadets graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in June. It is not the duty of U.S. troops to solve ancient conflicts in faraway lands that many people have never even heard of. Trump reportedly pressed the Pentagon to pull out as many U.S. troops as possible before Election Day in November, before settling for a figure of about 4,000. A damaged car after a rocket attack earlier this month in Kabul. (Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Given the small size of that force, it would be fair to say that if Biden wins the election, Trump will essentially bequeath to him the basis of a CT-lite strategy, said Seth Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. There are a lot of similarities. That Biden and his closest national security advisers have stayed consistent regarding Afghanistan should come as no surprise, according to a former senior defense official. Its hard to imagine that they would have changed from that position, given the ensuing failures of the last 12 years, he said. A Biden administrations Afghanistan policy is likely to reflect two realities: first, that since the former vice president first argued for CT-lite, the war there has become the longest conflict in U.S. history with no battlefield victory in sight; second, that Afghanistan is no longer the foreign policy priority for the United States that it was in 2009. Because the former vice president is so associated with a very narrow definition of U.S. interests in Afghanistan, its also unclear how hard a Biden administration would be willing to fight for some of the United States secondary causes, such as womens rights, in that country. If a President Biden comes in Afghanistan is not going to be a very high priority to begin with, said Larry Goodson, an Afghanistan expert at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. Goodson cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic collapse and the nationwide protests of police violence against Black people, as well as the threats posed by major world powers like China and Russia, as topics likely to command a greater degree of the new presidents attention. Based on the former vice presidents previous statements and policy positions, a Biden administration would likely conclude that it would be a mistake to completely withdraw from Afghanistan, according to Jones. Instead, a Biden team might look closely at a heavy focus on diplomatic negotiations and a relatively small military presence that is geared toward counterterrorism operations, Jones said. Afghan security personnel at the site of a suicide truck bombing in Balkh province on Tuesday. (AP Photo) The rare overlap between the Trump and Biden policies on Afghanistan is partly the result of what Jonathan Schroden, director of the Center for Stability and Development at research and analysis organization CNA, described as an increasing recognition across all corners of the foreign policy establishment that the return on investment that the U.S. is getting from the security perspective from the Afghanistan mission is just not worth it anymore relative to challenges like China, climate change [and] global pandemics. Meanwhile, even with U.S. troops still fighting and dying in Afghanistan, the American public has largely tuned the war out, meaning that the political costs associated with a withdrawal even one that resulted in more Taliban depredations would be small, according to Schroden, who has made more than a dozen trips to the country. Lets face it, Americans dont care whats happening in Afghanistan, he said. Most Americans dont even know that we have any troops there. Theyve completely stopped paying attention. It takes something extraordinary, such as the recent stories that Russian intelligence operatives were offering the Taliban bounties to attack U.S. soldiers, to move Afghanistan even briefly to the top of the news. (The Russian government has denied the allegations.) The remaining political risk for either Trump or Biden of a near or total withdrawal would be twofold, according to Schroden. The longer-term risk is that if you get out of Afghanistan and you dont do it in a really delicate and careful way, you are increasing the risk of a potential homeland attack, Schroden said. While the chance of such an attack would be low, it will be greater than zero, he added, and so if that were to ever happen, then the historians trace that back to your decision, then thats a major blemish on your legacy as president. The shorter-term risk would be the opposition that might be expected from influential foreign policy establishment elites who have sunk costs with respect to Afghanistan, Schroden said. Some part of their career has been made or dedicated to those problems, and so they feel some pride of ownership associated with it, and as a result they view Afghanistan as being probably more valuable than it really is. Joe Biden speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) One member of Washingtons foreign policy establishment who is often mentioned as a likely Biden defense secretary is Michele Flournoy, who served as undersecretary of defense for policy from 2009 to 2012. Speaking Aug. 6 to the annual Aspen Security Forum, Flournoy struck a balance between emphasizing the United States national interest in the counterterrorism mission and ensuring that other U.S. goals are not sacrificed. We have to be very careful in terms of, first of all, remembering what our core objective still is, which is to prevent Afghanistan from being a haven for terrorist strikes against the United States, and so there is a counterterrorist force that is very important to keep there until we have a true peace, Flournoy said. She added that while she didnt think we want to be there forever, with the Afghan government and the Taliban on the verge of negotiations, now is not the time to do anything precipitous. However, she said, any withdrawal before a peace deal is solidified would also be a mistake because wed basically be pulling the carpet out from under Afghan government partners, and Afghan women, Afghan civil society, that weve fought so hard to help achieve a place at the table. Its unclear whether Flournoys views will hold sway when so many in Washington want the United States to wash its hands of Afghanistan as soon as possible. Trumps attitude toward Afghanistan has been Get this off my plate, Goodson said, adding that the president likely would have been happy to fully withdraw from the country, but Pentagon resistance meant a small force of about 4,000 troops remains. Those troops are divided between a train, advise and assist mission to improve the Afghan security forces and a counterterrorism mission to ensure that al-Qaida does not return to Afghanistan and to keep the Islamic States Afghanistan branch on the back foot. While a complete abandonment of the train, advise and assist mission is unlikely, the reason to still be there is the counterterrorism [mission], Goodson said. In any case, Afghanistan policy will likely stay the same, at least for a year, while the president focuses on bigger issues like COVID-19, he said. Whether a Biden administration would choose to stick with Trumps policy or to tweak it, the new president would be able to pursue that policy starting in January with a more energetic staff because theyre at the front end of their service, Goodson said. With the Trump administration having gutted the State Department, according to Goodson, an incoming Biden administration would also bring with it a return of high-level personnel that are really capable. Combined with what Goodson said his contacts had suggested would be a better-functioning and more professional National Security Council, having a more effective group of personnel would mean Biden could implement a policy that might be similar to Trumps policy, but better than Trump could, he said. An Afghan soldier takes position earlier this month, when gunmen attacked a jail in the eastern city of Jalalabad. (Noorullah Shirzada/AFP via Getty Images) Of course, much will depend on the timing and direction of the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, according to most observers. Those talks are part of the peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban, and a successful completion of them would commit Washington to withdraw all military forces from Afghanistan. However, those talks have been repeatedly delayed, which in turn is stalling the departure of U.S. forces. An incoming Biden administration would likely experience frustration with the pace of the peace talks, said Jones. The negotiations are going to be much more difficult than people will want them to be, he said. The Talibans obstinacy, combined with its battlefield gains in recent years, mean it is unlikely to settle for anything less than a dominant role in a future Afghan government. They still want to be in charge, Schroden said. We should not kid ourselves about that. Whether the negotiators for the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani would agree to allow the Taliban to achieve such a degree of domination depends greatly on how much pressure the U.S. is willing to put on them, Schroden said. Left to their own devices, they will absolutely not accept that. The Ghani government appears to be counting on Trump losing the election, as demonstrated by its stalling of some prisoner releases called for in the U.S.-Taliban peace deal, Schroden said. Its all quite obviously designed to drag this out past the [U.S.] election, he said. They appear to have put a lot of eggs in the basket of Maybe a Biden policy will look different than the Trump policy. But those hopes are likely to be misplaced, Schroden said, because they are missing the point that the United States has one primary national interest in Afghanistan, and its counterterrorism, which the peace deal ostensibly protects by committing the Taliban to not allow Afghanistan to be used as a base for terrorist attacks on the United States and its allies. The U.S. has so many bigger fish to fry at this point than Afghanistan, he said. The government there still thinks that they are more important to us than we are to them, and I dont think they appreciate that that calculus shifted some time ago. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: /* custom css */ .tdi_75_2e6.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_2e6 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_2e6.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_2e6.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_2e6.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement PRESS RELEASE .Says worry less about rail stations naming, join forces to save the Eastern railway corridor proposal .Supports Osais recall for exposing himself as a true enemy of the Eastern Nigeria /* custom css */ .tdi_74_996.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_996 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_996.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_996.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_996.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } .Commends Buhari, Amaechi, for naming rail stations after illustrious Nigerians .Describes Amaechi as catalyst for national unity, development. Some concerned political strategists are wondering why any outsider seeking to destroy any emerging political leader from the Niger Delta would sit back and easily find willing Niger Deltans to do the job. Now, the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a media consultant and political strategist, has appealed to the PANDEF (pan Niger Delta Elders Forum) leader and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Kiagbado Clark, to jettison the call on the Federal Government to reverse the naming of the Agbor Railway Station Complex after Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Eze stressed that the ex-President is satisfied and has already expressed gratitude to President Mohammadu Buhari and the Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, for the honour done him. In a statement made available to media houses, Eze said, if icons like Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Alex Ekweme and other great leaders could be named after some of the railway stations, then ex President Dr. Jonathan, a pride of the Eastern region, is eminently qualified and entitled for the honour and it will be unfair to attempt to discredit it for any reason whatsoever. Eze wondered why it is only Dr Jonathan whose naming is generating furore whereas it is same Dr Jonathan that started the railways revolution dream and actually started the project with the structure we have today. He reminded the critics that great scientists name virus and germs after themselves just because they discovered them. He further pointed out that in currency naming, it is faces on small bills that are regarded as more important because most people would touch and see it daily than the higher denominations. He noted that the number of people that would see Jonathans name per day at a railways station would be far more than those that would see it at an international airport or international hotel. Eze also reminded the later-day towncriers for Dr Jonathan that same Jonathan presented himself as a lover of the common people by creating a campaign brand of the boy from Otueke without a shoe, the son of a canoe man. He thus wondered what is belittling to such a boy ending up with his name inscribed in one of the key Railway Stations in Nigeria. He argued that naming him after a train station would not stop him from getting more honours as President Muhammadu Buhari has been sending him on special missions abroad, thereby ingratiating Dr Jonathans name in the minds of international community more than any former President of Nigeria. The party chieftain therefore called on Chief Clark to pay a detailed attention to more critical issues of common concern and channel his energies to mobilise stakeholders to raise a voice against the artful scheme to satanically deprive the Eastern region the divine opportunity of linking her to other parts of the country through modern rail. He said events have clearly revealed the existence of a cabal, a group of unconscious and conscienceless mortals, with a sworn mandate to scuttle every effort of the federal government at developing the South-South and South East regions and with a term of reference to frustrate the Eastern rail line project which he said will meaningfully impact the lives and livelihoods of the people and significantly add to the economies of states. He wants Clark to think about why eastern ports remained dead over the decades and decide if such was a mere accident or a design by a group to ensure that the economy of the eastern region remained dead and continue to feed from another region. The strategic reminded people of former eastern region to know that politics is another form of war with same results. Using Niger Deltans against Niger Delta Eze lamented that more sickening is the very disturbing fact that Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, the lawmaker representing the good people of Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency of Delta State and Chairman, House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, has been conscripted to do the bidding against his own people. He called on stakeholders of South South and South East to rise up, lend their voices against the common adversaries and react with the timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people. Recall that the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi had expressed shock that Ossai could be hounded on a project that would be of immense benefit to him and his constituents thus: It was apparent that the Chairman of the Committee investigating the Loan from China, Hon. Nicholas Osai, was determined to deny the people of the South-South and the South East the opportunity to be connected by rail. Chief Eze said the moronic carriage of Hon. Ossai in recent times reflected in the expression of the Minister is good proof that the Delta-born lawmaker and his snooping paymasters are hellbent on impeding the efforts of the administration of President Buhari to fulfil his campaign pledge of giving the country a durable and modern rail system. Eze said it is wasteful venture for Hon. Osai of the PDP and his band of misguided elements to think that halting the loan and stopping the rail project would undermine the political future of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, whom he said has served the country meritoriously with astonishing results. He called on the group sponsoring Ossai to be cautious of their actions, stressing that the grand conspiracy to make nonsense of Amaechis towering and intimidating political records, by faltering his thoughtful infrastructural programmes in the rail sector, will definitely meet its waterloo. He wondered why there was no noise when the PDP and Dr Jonathan initiated loans for rails years back even when the APC was in virile opposition. Why would it be now that the APC is dutifully implementing and expanding it that the same APC with their PDP cohorts are mad against a railway programme? To demonstrate Ossais lopsided gait in his Committees investigation, he had to embarrass members by disallowing them from making contributions as he was severally seen cutting them off, insisting that he was in charge. You are co-opted member. You cannot guide me, Ossai had shouted down on a member. Eze said attempts by Wole Oke to guide the process to ensure a rancour-free exercise was rebuffed by Ossai who ruled him out of order. The party chief expressed concern that if Osai and his co-travellers are not called to order, they may succeed in frustrating both the Port Harcourt Enugu Maiduguri Rail line, including the Lagos/Calabar rail project because the probe, according to him, passes a wrong signal and erodes the confidence of the lending sovereign in the seriousness of Nigeria in the loan deal. Eze expressed shock that a parliament with the All Progressives Congress in the majority could allow few members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to continue to frustrate and embarrass the APC-led federal government for frivolous and mean reasons. We know what most of us suffered and risked to get this government on board and we cant continue to watch very few misguided elements to frustrate the good intentions and policies of the administration of President Buhari to right the wrongs of PDP just because they want to achieve a diabolical and evil agenda. Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, must call his men to order, Eze said. The party Chief urged the constituents of Hon. Osai to, as a matter of urgency, set in motion the necessary processes needed to recall the erring lawmaker for compromising and selling out his people, describing his actions as disgraceful to the people of Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency of Delta State, on whose mandate he rode to a saboteur at the detriment of his legislative assignment. Buhari, Great Indeed In a separate development, following the approval of President Mohammadu Buhari to name some of the newly-built railway stations after some notable Nigerians; a gesture described by many as rare within the traits of political elites, Chief Eze, has joined people of goodwill to commend the Nigerian leader for his display of exceptional magnanimity, benevolent interest and deep concern in the unity and development of the Nigerian state. The APC stalwart said President Buhari has continued to awe Nigerians and flaw naysayers, especially, critiques of the APC-led federal government in his pragmatic approach in administering the concerns of the nation with tremendous results. Commending the President for his goodwill, Eze described the Transportation Minister as not only an elixir to the very many infrastructural deficits and severe dearths in the critical sectors of the nations economy, but also a patriot and prominent integrator whose rare leadership mien is a panacea for trans-regional cooperation and national unity. The party stalwart said the stations at Apapa, Ebute Metta, Agege, Agbado, Kajola, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Olodo, Amio-Adio, Ibadan and the Operations Control etc, were named after former Lagos Governor, Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Obafemi Awolowo, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Alex Ekwueme, Segun Osoba, Ladoka Akintola, Lateef Jakande, Babatunde Fashola and others. Recall that a similar gesture was earlier extended to former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, when the President okayed the naming of one of the major railway stations after him. This was confirmed by the former Nigerian President during a chat with Journalists after a brief meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, August, where he commended the President and the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi for the honour done him. Felicitating with the Nigerian Patriots after whom the modern railway stations were named, the party chief appealed to them to see the gesture as a call to unity and national development, stressing that the country can achieve even greater when leaders place the interest of a greater number of citizens beyond self. Amaechi, a Born Achiever Evenly, Eze expressed satisfaction over the record of achievements of the Transportation Minister in other key components of the transportation sector especially, Ports and Maritime sub-sectors where remarkable achievements have been made in securing the nations territorial waters and enhancing economic activities through trans-national trade and commerce which has added significantly to the national economy. Chief Eze encouraged Rt. Hon. Amaechi to remain committed in delivering outstanding results for the common good, maintaining that Nigerians hold him on high esteem and will continue to relish his unique pace-setting leadership standards to bring succour to national concerns. The party chief called on Nigerians to continue to support President Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government and especially, the Transportation Minister, whose drive to provide the basic and critical elements needed for a proper functioning of a modern society is unwavering and contagious. He assured that the President Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government is vastly composed of very competent and result-oriented patriots and nationalists whose desire for an all-sphere transformed Nigeria is yielding results through real work. Chief Eze regretted the habit of party men attempting to pull their best eleven down just for personal interest that would perish the moment the party crashes. He however made it clear that great are men who succeed despite the gang-up of many of those around them. He pointed to Amaechi as a born example of such brand of greatness; those born to defy all odds to make a change. The losers are those who try to destroy such men; whether they succeeded or not because prosperity would stand judgment against such men as it is happening in Rivers State today. Ends Signed Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze APC Chieftain & former National Publicity Secretary, nPDP 26 08 20 Anita Kiki Gebe, deputy joint special representative of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), awards UN peace medal to a soldier of the 2nd China Medium Utility Helicopter Unit (CMUHU02) in El-Fashir, Sudan, July 17, 2019. (Xinhua) BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday slammed U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper's recent allegations about the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in an article published on a U.S. media outlet. "Esper's allegations are totally groundless," spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a daily press briefing in response, adding large numbers of facts and statistics are more than enough to debunk and shatter such lies and fallacies about the so-called "China threat." Zhao said since 1990, the Chinese military has taken part in more than 20 United Nations peacekeeping missions, and sent 40,000-plus military personnel, making China the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the five permanent members of the Security Council. Meanwhile, in the 240-plus years since its founding, the United States has only seen 16 war-free years, said Zhao, adding its military budget for 2019 exceeded 716 billion U.S. dollars, equivalent to the combined military spending of the nine countries trailing the United States. While noting China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, Zhao said that both the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the Constitution of the People's Republic of China clearly stipulate that China adheres to the path of peaceful development and opposes hegemony. "I wonder if the United States can make such policy announcements," said Zhao. "Which country possesses hundreds of military bases around the world, illegally waged war and military operations against countries such as Iraq, Libya and Syria, and sent ships to and planes over far-flung waters to flex their muscles?" Zhao asked. "Which country, obsessed with a Cold War mentality, quitted treaties and multilateral organizations and wielded sticks and fists like crazy, and arbitrarily disrupted global rules?" "We can get the right answer as long as some U.S. politicians respect the facts," added the spokesperson. New rules say asylum seekers wont be able to work for at least one year, without assistance from the US government. Broad regulatory changes go into effect on Tuesday, restricting and delaying some asylum seekers from legally working in the US in what refugee advocates have said is an attempt to make the lives of persecuted people more difficult, in keeping with the anti-immigrant strategy of the administration of US President Donald Trump. A series of broad rules issued by the US government that began taking effect on August 21 and finished Tuesday change procedures on obtaining employment authorization documents (EAD) necessary for legal employment in the US are irrational, Mariko Hirose, a lawyer with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), told Al Jazeera. The new rules, which allow greater discretionary power to decline work authorisation to asylum seekers while placing them in a tough financial situation, serve no purpose other than to make things more difficult for people who leave their countries under circumstances of severe persecution, Hirose continued. Hirose is one of IRAPs lawyers working on a lawsuit (PDF) joined by four other refugee advocate groups challenging the rule. Financial concerns EADs are such an important part of making sure asylum seekers can provide for themselves and their families. Theres no federal assistance, and asylum seekers are fleeing persecution from their countries, so they arent coming here with money to support themselves, Hirose said. Previously, asylum seekers could receive work authorisation within 180 days of applying for asylum. Under the new rules, asylum seekers must wait 365 calendar days before they apply and there is no timeframe for a court to reach a decision on their EAD. Danilo Zak, a policy and advocacy associate with the National Immigration Forum, told Al Jazeera its a really long time if youre an asylum seeker, trying hire a lawyer or provide for children. The new rules also mean that if an applicant causes a delay in the application process, including a change of address or applying to submit further evidence to support the claim, the employment authorisation will be denied. The rules also make issuing EADs discretionary rather than mandatory, Zak continued. That means asylum seekers can do everything correctly, but still not receive work authorisation. A draft of the rules was made public for a comment period in November, Zak said. When respondents raised concerns about the financial restraints the rules would cause, including homelessness, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) replied, Asylum seekers who are concerned about homelessness should become familiar with the homelessness resources provided by the state where they intend to reside. Legal questions The lawsuit challenging the new rules alleges they disregard established legal precedents. For example, the rules make it possible for EADs not to be issued to those who will be successful in their asylum claims, such as those who entered the US between ports of entry where authorities can check documents, the lawyer, Hirose explained. Its perfectly legal for asylum seekers to seek asylum, regardless of how they crossed into the US, Hirose said. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf has presided during a time when the agency is making it more difficult for asylum seekers to get work authorisation [Toni Sandys/The Washington Post via AP/ Pool] The lawsuit also claims the head of DHS, Acting Director Chad Wolf, does not have the legal authority to issue the rules, as he has not been confirmed by Senate. Wolf was made acting director in November 2019. DHS violated the laws here by failing to have anyone whos Senate-confirmed for that position for a historically long period, Hirose claimed. Trump nominated Wolf for the position the same day the changes took effect. There is a court hearing scheduled for next week. Hirose hopes to get a decision from the court as soon as possible that will hopefully vacate these rules, she concluded. Zak, for his part, believes the US should recognise these people have legitimate reasons to fear returning home, as well as the human dignity of asylum seekers. As it stands now, these rules work to strip away the human dignity of those seeking asylum at the border, Zak concluded. During Hurricane Alicia in 1983, the roof of a nearby garage flew off and landed in the street right in front of Benavidess home. He wanted to evacuate before Hurricane Ike hit the island more than a decade ago, but he was working and missed the last bus out of town. Instead, he walked to nearby Ball High School and stayed at the shelter there for days with no running water or electricity. After about four days, the people at the shelter were taken to San Antonio, where they were finally able to bathe. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 13:42:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XI'AN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A historic bell tower in northwest China's Shaanxi Province reopened to the public on Wednesday after renovation. The Xi'an Bell Tower, located in the provincial capital Xi'an, was built in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Due to prolonged exposure to wind, sunlight, rain and dust, the 600-year-old tower had decayed, with its roof leaking and some decorations peeling off, said Wang Lei, curator of Xi'an Bell and Drum Towers Museum. It was the sixth renovation of the bell tower since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Enditem Press Release August 26, 2020 VP Robredo, Angel Aquino, Ebe Dencel, bishops to grace online community jamming marking De Lima's 61st birthday Over 70 musicians, artists, leaders, religious and progressive groups, and ordinary Filipinos will partake in the online community jamming for freedom of thought and expression to celebrate the 61st birthday of Senator Leila M. de Lima on Aug. 27. Dubbed as "Leilaya! Tinig at Musika para sa Diwang Malaya," the e-jamming organized by the Free Leila Movement (FLM) will feature performances from different artists such as Ebe Dancel, Bayang Barrios, Bituin Escalante, Ria Atayde, Miko Morales, Juan Miguel Severo, Angel Aquino, Michael de Mesa, and other high-caliber musicians and actors. The artists will be joined by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Kiko Pangilinan, several religious leaders, including Archbishop Soc Villegas, Bishop Broderick Pabillo and Bishop Ambo David, and human rights lawyers Chel Diokno and Erin Tanada, who are all expected to give their greetings and solidarity messages. There will be a special participation by Vice President Leni Robredo who will be delivering her message in support of the event and its message, which is slated from 8 pm to 11 pm. In a statement, De Lima said she is thankful for the personalities who are expressing their support for her fight for freedom by joining the online jamming. "This event is not about me but about our shared desire to fight for freedom under this vindictive regime. Despite my unjust detention, I keep a grateful spirit knowing that so many are in solidarity with my causes, believing in my innocence. Together, we can overcome the oppression," she said. The online community jamming will be broadcasted via FM Station 87.9 in Radyo Katipunan and will be available for audience viewing through Facebook livestreaming of Free Leila Movement, the official Leila de Lima and Free Leila Committee FB pages. The livestreaming will be crossposted by many partner organizations. This will be the fourth time that De Lima, the first and most prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, will celebrate her birthday inside her detention at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame. Last year, De Lima marked her birthday in an intimate gathering with family members, close friends and staff members, highlighted by a Holy Mass. New Delhi, Aug 26 : Janus-faced Pakistan, always in denial, on Wednesday rejected India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet in the Pulwama attack of 2019. "Pakistan categorically rejects the so-called 'chargesheet' by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), which mischievously attempts to implicate Pakistan in the Pulwama attack," said a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. "The fabrications in the reported 'chargesheet' are patently designed to further the BJP's anti-Pakistan rhetoric and its narrow domestic political interests," Pakistan has alleged. Relying on prevarications, Pakistan sought to whitewash the charges levelled against it after an exhaustive investigation. The statement read that at the outset, Pakistan had rejected India's baseless allegations and expressed readiness to extend cooperation on the basis of any actionable information. "India failed to provide any credible evidence for its invective and has instead been using the attack for its malicious propaganda campaign against Pakistan," it said. Pakistan said the timing of the Pulwama attack, just two months before the Lok Sabha elections in India, and the fact that the key accused in the attack have already been killed by Indian forces, raise too many questions. "The world knows well as to who benefited the most from the Pulwama attack and drew electoral dividends," Pakistan alleged. Islamabad said it would be recalled that Indian military aircraft engaged in belligerent action against Pakistan on February 26, 2019. "The Indian misadventure was effectively countered by the Pakistan Air Force, which resulted in the downing of two Indian warplanes and capture of an Indian pilot. Despite India's provocations, the Indian pilot was released by Pakistan as a peace gesture," it said. "In response to a paper shared by the Indian Government following the Pulwama attack, Pakistan constituted a high-level investigation team to examine its contents. As the information provided by India was incomplete, patchy and unsubstantiated, Pakistan shared two Aides-memoire, seeking further information and supporting evidence from India. India has been unable to provide any corroboration of its unfounded allegations," Pakistan said. "Pakistan has been forewarning the international community about India's use of 'false flag' operation and possible ill-conceived misadventure. With the approaching state elections in India, the RSS-BJP ploy of raising the Pakistan bogey again for making electoral gains is palpable. We warn the world community again to be cognizant of its dangerous consequences for peace and security in the region," Pakistan said. As per the NIA chargesheet, the chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, Maulana Masood Azhar, along with his brothers Abdul Rauf Asghar and Ammar Alvi, was continuously giving directions and guidance to the Pakistani JeM militants who had infiltrated into India and were using Pakistani SIM cards, both before and after the 2019 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF troopers were killed. The Pakistani SIM cards were even active after the attack. The NIA charge sheet also alleged that the JeM had initially planned the attack for February 6, 2019, but due to heavy snowfall and closure of the highway, the attack was deferred to February 14. These revelations were made in the 13,800-page charge sheet filed in a special NIA court in Jammu on Tuesday against 19 people, including the attack mastermind - the slain Mohammad Umar Farooq, son of IC 814 hijacking conspirator Ibrahim Athar. Nicolas Audier, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) The EVFTA, now in effect, is opening government procurement to EU businesses. What preparations have you seen among members of EuroCham members to tap into the opportunities in this field? Vietnam has one of the worlds highest ratios of public investment-to-GDP. Since the mid-1990s, major infrastructure projects from hospitals and roads to IT equipment and public utilities have driven average annual growth of almost 40 per cent in government procurement. However, Vietnam had never agreed to its government procurement being subject to the World Trade Organizations Government Procurement Agreement until negotiations on the EVFTA and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Now that the EVFTA has entered into force, it opens up important opportunities for European enterprises. First among these is the fact that EU companies will now be considered to be on an equal footing with Vietnamese bidders when the government purchases goods or services over a specific threshold. Like the tariff lines in the EVFTA, this threshold will also see a gradual reduction from the point the agreement entered into force throughout its implementation period. Central government procurement will be covered if it is over 1.5 million special drawing rights (or SDRs) equivalent to about $2.3 million after the EVFTA has entered into force. This will fall to SDR130,000 ($191,000) after 15 years. Vietnam has also committed to follow the National Treatment and non-discrimination principles. In practice, this means that it will be publish online and in the public procurement newspaper information on intended procurement. The government will also allow enough time for bidders to prepare and submit their bids, and will assess these bids based on fair and objective principles and on the criteria published in notices and tender documentation. Meanwhile, a new regime should help to better settle complaints and disputes. In other words, the EVFTA will help to ensure fair and transparent government procurement bidding processes for EU investors in Vietnam, similar to other countries with which the EU has an FTA. Of course, the current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted investment plans of companies around the world, including in Europe where we continue to see countries across the continent affected. This is reflected in EuroChams Business Climate Index our quarterly survey of business leaders which shows that European companies remain cautious about investment plans in the next quarter. Nevertheless, Vietnams large and growing public procurement offers significant opportunities to EU investors, not least because Vietnam is one of the few countries predicted to see strong economic growth in the near future. Which are the sectors attracting EU investors most in government procurement, and what possible future trends do you foresee? Now that the EVFTA is in force, EU companies are able to bid for public procurement contracts on the same terms as Vietnamese enterprises with a range of state organisations. This includes all central-level Vietnamese ministries, where public procurement projects could include new infrastructure such as roads or ports. EU companies will also be able to bid for contracts at 34 hospitals under the control of the Ministry of Health, two major universities, and two major research institutes. Goods procurement is also covered under the EVFTA, with exceptions for some agricultural products and some low-value manufactured goods. Meanwhile, for services procurement, Vietnam has offered a range of sectors such as construction, dredging, and computer-related services which will be attractive to EU enterprises. The Ministry of Planning and Investment is completing documents guiding implementation of the countrys EVFTA commitments in government procurement. What benefits can EU firms expect, and what may be the barriers in regards to this? European companies look forward to benefiting from the government procurement provisions of Chapter 9 of the EVFTA. From a legal perspective, some aspects of the provisions are provided for in Vietnamese law, while others such as the use of electronic means remain to be regulated in domestic legislation. In general, the Law on Bidding covers the main issues outlined in Chapter 9, and Vietnam has not permitted foreign tenders to participate in government procurement projects using the state budget that fall outside the scope of this law. The World Bank, in its recent and comprehensive report on the EVFTA, while noting that the Law on Bidding covers the main issues in Chapter 9, also highlighted that there could be some differences between Vietnams legal framework and the EVFTA. The World Bank recommended that Vietnam issues a guiding document to address this, and I am sure investors and enterprises would appreciate such a move. Stacker counts down the most intelligent pups based on research published by Stanley Coren in his 2006 "The Intelligence of Dogs." Melania Trump's chief of staff said she has not discussed the far-right online conspiracy cult QAnon with the First Lady, whose "Be Best" public awareness campaign has drawn attention to online safety. Asked whether her boss would disavow QAnon, Stephanie Grisham who previously served as White House press secretary said she hasn't "talked to her about that specifically". The First Lady has been criticised for condemning online bullying while Donald Trump has repeatedly used social media to denigrate his opponents and others. "I think there's constantly this misperception that it's about online bullying, which of course gets tied to the president," Ms Grisham told MSNBC on Tuesday. "It's about online safety, and it's about teaching children that there are predators out there online and that they need to really watch out who they're talking to online and what they're doing." Asked again whether she should disavow the conspiracy, Ms Grishman said: "I would never say what I think she should or shouldn't do, but I think it would be safe to say if there's anything that would be harmful to children online, she's going to be against that." The FBI has labelled QAnon a domestic extremist organisation tied to threats and violence, as well as to racist and antisemitic tropes. Twitter and Facebook have purged dozens of pages, groups and accounts that promote the conspiracy. Reluctant to turn against a base of support, Donald Trump has refused to denounce the conspiracy, a part of which believes the president is working against a "deep state" cabal of paedophiles and cannibals. He has also endorsed Republican congressional candidates that have embraced the movement, which has moved from an online fringe into the party's mainstream, with the president's sons and other prominent Republicans as well as right-wing media invoking QAnon imagery and language. Asked directly for the first time this month what he thinks of QAnon, the president claimed he didn't know much about it other than they "like me very much, which I appreciate" and calling its supporters "patriots who love our country". He said he was willing to put himself "out there" to help. "Well I haven't heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?" he said. "You know, if I can help save the world from some problems, I'm willing to do it, I'm willing to put myself out there." 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." But several other prominent Republicans have denounced the conspiracy. Following the president's remarks, Vice President Mike Pence said this month that he dismisses the conspiracy "out of hand". "I don't know anything about QAnon, and I dismiss it out of hand," he said. Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney called the cult "dangerous lunacy that should have no place in American politics." ReSource Pro has been named to Inc. magazines Inc. 5000 list, a prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies, for the 12th consecutive year. Its an honor to be recognized, said ReSource Pro CEO Dan Epstein. Our continued growth is a result of our unwavering focus on anticipating and meeting the needs and challenges of our clients in this rapidly evolving environment. Specifically, our investments in technology, including automation and AI, enable us to increase productivity and profitability for our clients. 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 more than 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. ReSource Pro has been a leader in insurance operations efficiency and business process solutions in the insurance industry since its launch in 2003. The company currently supports a global operations network of more than 4,500 employees. About ReSource Pro ReSource Pro brings to the insurance industry tools, technology and strategic services that enable profitable growth through operations excellence. Headquartered in New York, ReSource Pro's global service centers address client operational needs around the clock. Recognized as an industry thought leader, the company is renowned for its focus on innovation, service excellence and trusted partnerships, and its unique productivity platform for insurance operations and sales. More than 4,500 ReSource Pro employees provide dedicated support to hundreds of insurance organizations, consistently achieving a +97% client retention rate for more than a decade. resourcepro.com. 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. Advertisement A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged over the shootings in Kenosha, Wisconsin that left two protesters dead and another injured in a possible vigilante attack during the third night of unrest in the city. Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois and charged with first degree intentional homicide. Court records say the teenager 'fled the state of Wisconsin with the intent to avoid prosecution for that offense'. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha. Two people were shot dead just before midnight on Tuesday - one in the head and one in the chest. One of the slain men has since been identified as Anthony Huber. A third man, a 36-year-old from West Allis, Wisconsin, was shot in the arm but his wounds were not believed to life-threatening. The teenager's arrest came hours after video footage emerged showing Rittenhouse walking up to police with his hands in the air and his semi-automatic rifle slung across his body just moments after the shooting. He was apparently allowed to walk by despite members of the crowd yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people, according to witness accounts and video footage. Footage from earlier in the night appeared to show the teen guarding a local car shop with a group of armed militia members. Another video showed police thanking an armed group, of which the teenager appeared to be part of, and offering them water. Rittenhouse was among the volunteers spotted earlier on Tuesday cleaning graffiti from a high school following another night of unrest in the city. Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter - the movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle in several photos. He once participated in a youth public safety cadet program and a photo from that time showed him dressed in what appears to be a blue law enforcement uniform. News of Rittenhouse's arrest came as President Trump said Wisconsin officials had accepted federal law enforcement support following several days of unrest across the city in the wake of the police shooting of black man Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois and charged with first degree intentional homicide over the shooting death of two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin last night. He will be extradited for a hearing on Friday in Wisconsin - where anyone 17 and over is treated as an adult The teenager's arrest came hours after video footage emerged showing Rittenhouse walking up to police with his hands in the air and his semi-automatic rifle slung across his body just moments after the shooting. He was apparently allowed to walk by despite members of the crowd yelling for him to be arrested Rittenhouse was among the volunteers spotted earlier on Tuesday cleaning graffiti from a high school near the Kenosha County Courthouse following another night of unrest in the city Anthony Huber has been identified as one of the men who was shot dead during the protests on Tuesday night Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages: The gunman first shot someone at a car lot, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him. Police apparently then let the young man walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder with his hands in the air. As for why the gunman was allowed to leave, Sheriff David Beth on Wednesday portrayed a chaotic, high-stress scene, with screaming, chanting, nonstop radio traffic and 'people running all over the place' - conditions that can cause 'tunnel vision' among law officers. Rittenhouse, identified in court papers as a lifeguard at a YMCA in Lindenhurst, Illinois, was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing on Friday upon his extradition to Wisconsin. Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. Cellphone video showed the ordeal unfolded after a man was shot in the head outside a nearby auto garage. The videos showed the armed man running away in the moments after the gunshots rang out and he could be heard saying: 'I've just killed somebody'. Onlookers were filmed desperately trying to put pressure on the injured man's head wound with a t-shirt as they yelled: 'We've got to keep him alive' and 'put pressure, put pressure.' It is not yet clear what happened in the lead up to the initial shooting but police fear it may have stemmed from a conflict at a gas station between 'self-styled militias' defending local businesses from looters. Separate videos that captured the other two shootings showed a group of protesters tailing the gunman as he ran down the middle of the street. Someone in the crowd can be heard asking 'What did he do?' and another responds that the man had shot someone. The videos show the gunman stumbling and falling in the street before one pursuer took a flying kick at him, while another appeared to strike him with a skateboard. The gunman fired three of four shots from a seated position, hitting at least two people, including one who fell over clutching his chest and another who stumbled away putting pressure on his arm, according to the videos. As the crowd scattered, the shooter stood up and continued walking down the street as police cars arrived. Cellphone videos from the scene in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday night show a white man brandishing a semi-automatic rifle in a confrontation with demonstrators following a shooting just moments earlier where a man was shot in the head. Protesters chased the gunman down the street before one kicked him to the ground Another man could be seen hitting the gunman over the head with a skateboard before struggling with the gunman as gunshots rang out and people fled from the scene The gunman appeared to fire a shot at the man brandishing the skateboard while he was still lying on the ground. The man who initially kicked the gunman to the ground can be seen running (right) as the gunshots broke out The man with the skateboard stumbled away from the gunman clutching his chest (right) as another man appeared to put his hands up in front of the shooter The man who put his hands up can be seen above attempting to cover himself as the gunman fired off his rifle That same man was subsequently shot in the arm by the gunman (above). The man who was initially shot in the chest can be seen collapsed on the ground behind him The armed man got back to his feet while the man who was shot in the chest laid on the ground and bystanders screamed and ran in terror The man, who still had his gun slung across him, put up his hands and walked toward the squad cars as someone yelled at police that the man just shot someone. Several police cars drove past him toward the people who had been shot. Police said they fear that the shooting stemmed from a conflict between 'self-styled militias' defending local businesses from looters amid the ongoing unrest over the shooting of Jacob Blake. Blake remains in hospital after being shot multiple times by a white Kenosha officer on Sunday, prompting a wave of protests that continued despite a curfew. Several civilians were carrying weapons during the protests on Tuesday night and the gunman was believed to have been guarding a local car shop at some point prior to the shootings, according to videos posted online. The so-called militias have had weapons slung over their shoulders or at the ready while standing guard outside businesses to protect them from looters or arsonists. The sheriff told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that armed vigilantes had been patrolling Kenosha's streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. However, video taken before the shooting shows police tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle to what appear to be armed civilians walking the streets. One of them appears to be Rittenhouse. 'We appreciate you being here,' an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. The sheriff later defended officers by saying, 'Our deputies would toss water to anybody.' Cellphone video posted online shows that the ordeal unfolded after one man was shot in the head outside a nearby auto garage. The victim is pictured on the ground on the left while the gunman stands nearby. The videos showed the gunman running away (right) in the moments after the gunshots rang out and he could be heard saying: 'I've just killed somebody' The same man was seen walking the streets of Kenosha carrying his gun. This image is believed to have been taken earlier in the evening prior to the shootings. Police said they fear that the shooting stemmed from a conflict between 'self-styled militias' defending local businesses but they have not officially confirmed if the gunman was part of the militia group Several civilians were carrying weapons during the protests on Tuesday night and the gunman (far left and right) was believed to have been guarding a local car shop at some point prior to the shootings, according to videos posted online. At one point, police drove by and offered the group water Several civilians were carrying weapons during the protests on Tuesday night and the gunman was believed to have been guarding a local car shop at some point prior to the shootings, according to videos posted online Witness Sam Dirks, 22, from Milwaukee, said he had seen the suspected gunman earlier in the evening and he was yelling at some of the protesters. 'He was definitely very agitated. He was pacing around, just pointing his gun in general. Not necessarily at anyone specifically,' Dirks said. Another witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled and fell, 'two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him.' 'The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired,' Rosas said. Another protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune that he witnessed the initial shooting and helped provide aid to the victim shot in the head. 'We were all chanting 'Black lives matter' at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, thats not fireworks,' the 19-year-old said. 'And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, 'He shot someone! He shot someone!' And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again.' Scott said he rushed to help the injured man, saying: 'I was cradling him in my arms. I was trying to keep this kid alive and he wasn't moving or nothing. He was just laying there. 'I didn't know what to do and then this woman starts performing CPR. There was no pulse. I dont think he made it.' In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized 500 members of the National Guard to support local law enforcement around Kenosha, doubling the number of troops sent in. The governor's office said he working other states to bring in additional National Guard troops and law officers. Cellphone video posted online shows that the ordeal unfolded after one man was shot in the head outside an auto garage. It is not yet clear what happened in the lead up to the initial shooting. Onlookers were filmed desperately trying to put pressure on the injured man's head wound with a t-shirt as they yelled: 'We've got to keep him alive' Footage from the scene showed this man after being shot in the arm. Police later said his injuries were not believed to be life threatening and that he was treated in hospital This man appeared to suffer a gunshot wound to the arm during the ordeal. Police say he was treated in hospital for his injuries The man shot in the chest is pictured above being dragged by two demonstrators before onlookers started giving him CPR Before the gunfire erupted, police in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang rounds to push back demonstrators who defied a dawn-to-dusk curfew and gathered outside a courthouse and adjacent park. About 300 demonstrators defied the city's 8pm curfew again after Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency earlier following a night of violence and destruction that saw rioters set fire to businesses and vehicles across the city. The shooting of Blake comes three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis which sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department also deployed at least four armored patrol vehicles fitted with roof turrets from which deputies fired tear gas canisters into the crowd, many of whom hurled water bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects back at police. But there was no immediate sign of buildings or cars being set ablaze, as happened on Monday night. Demonstrators, some of whom were wearing helmets and equipped with makeshift protective gear, were seen trying to storm a black iron fence that had been installed earlier to protect the court from rioters. Meanwhile, officers dressed in riot gear stood guard behind the barrier, holding up shields as protesters shouted expletives and hurled bottles at them. Footage from the scene also showed people throwing fireworks in the direction of cops as they ignored their orders to disperse. In one video shared by a journalist on Twitter, one man was seen trying to set fire to an American flag before being deterred by pepperballs fired by police. A crowd of protesters continue their demonstrations in Wisconsin last night after the governor declared a state of emergency Armed civilians stand in the streets of Kenosha to protect the area against the arson during third day of protests over the shooting of a black man Jacob Blake by police officer in Wisconsin, United States this morning Police in riot gear clear a park during clashes with protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis Protesters were seen hurling water bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects back at police as they fired rubber bullets and tears gas towards the crowds Law enforcement pleaded with people to leave the area through loud speakers on armored vehicles while delivering a constant barrage of less lethal munitions and tear gas against a hostile crowd which kept up a return fire of lasers, debris, rocks, bottles and explosive devices as the cops moved to push the crowd People, including members of the press, were seen running away as police fired tear gas towards the crowds Chaos rocks Kenosha for a third night: Protests defied curfew and gathered outside the county courthouse on Tuesday night, clashing with police Demonstrators were seen trying to topple over a black fence that was installed around the court earlier as officials braced for another night of destruction Protesters gathered outside wearing helmets and masks, and some held makeshift shields as they prepared to face off with police A man stood in front of law enforcement officers as they braced for a clash against protesters A woman was seen shouting and flipping off police during the protest outside the courthouse on Tuesday Kenosha County sheriffs deputies warned crowds over loud speaker that they were participating in an unlawful gathering while urging them to leave the area. The crowd responded by chanting 'black lives matter', prompting police to fire rubber bullets. Several military-style armored patrol vehicles were also called in and were seen maneuvering around the county courthouse, firing tear gas at the crowd. About three hours after declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, authorities had managed to push Tuesday night's crowd out of the downtown park, with demonstrators scattering down streets. The disturbances came hours after Governor Evers vowed to deploy additional National Guard troops in a bid to restore order in the town, while Blake's mother publicly appealed for calm during a press conference held outside the court. On Tuesday, President Trump, who has consistently denounced the BLM protests that have rocked the country in recent months, urged Wisconsin officials to call in the National Guard to quell the unrest, despite troops already being on the ground. 'Governor should call in the National Guard in Wisconsin. It is ready, willing, and more than able. End problem FAST!' Trump tweeted. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows later revealed Governor Evers had turned down Trump's offer for federal assistance, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. A spokeswoman for Evers told the paper: 'The governor informed them that we would be increasing Wisconsin National Guard support in Kenosha and therefore would not need federal assistance in response to protests but would welcome additional federal support and resources for our state's response to COVID-19.' A protester is seen tossing an object toward police as cops deployed tear gas and other crowd control munitions Protesters took cover behind a trash bin as police fired tear gas and armored vehicles moved to the outside of the iron fence in front of the court People were seen using umbrellas and plastic shields to protect themselves from tear gas and rubber bullets A protester shielded himself with an umbrella and took cover behind a dumpster during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse Members of the crowd came armed with makeshift protective gear ahead of Tuesday's night skirmish A law enforcement officer was seen emerging from the hatch of an armored vehicle to fire rubber bullets at protesters after they ignored orders to clear the area Flares are seen near a Kenosha County Sheriff vehicle during the protests on Tuesday night An explosive device detonates as a protester pushes back on an armored vehicle clearing the nearby park where crowds had gathered Blake, 29, a father of six, was struck from behind at point-blank range in a hail of bullets fired on Sunday by police who were following him with guns drawn as he walked away from officers to his car and opened a door to the vehicle. Three of his young sons inside the automobile - aged three, five and eight - witnessed their father being gunned down, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family. A bystander captured the encounter in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage over the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against African Americans. Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women, was struck by multiple gunshots fired at him, all by one officer. Crump also revealed Blake was undergoing surgery for his injuries, adding that the bullets severed his spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Another attorney said there was also severe damage to organs. 'It's going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again,' Crump said. Protesters have begun to try to push over a fence in front of the courthouse in Kenosha. Sheriffs deputies in riot gear have emerged from the courthouse. Some are throwing projectiles at the officers. pic.twitter.com/mkRMuUx3TK Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) August 26, 2020 An armored vehicle moves to the outside of the iron fence in front of the County Court House as police fired teargas towards protesters after they failed to clear the area About three hours after declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, authorities had managed to push Tuesday night's crowd out of the downtown park, with demonstrators scattering down streets Kenosha County sheriff deputies eventually moved to the streets to clear a park of protesters after they ignored police orders to disperse Protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday began started off peacefully before descending into chaos as protesters defied curfew and targeted police Protesters burn a small American flag during a third night of unrest in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers, in Kenosha The legal team plans to file a civil lawsuit against the police department over the shooting. Police have not explained why Blake was shot. At a news conference earlier in the day, Blake's parents expressed anguish over the shooting while decrying two previous nights of looting, vandalism and arson that overshadowed peaceful street protests. 'They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter,' Jacobv Blake Sr said tearfully as he spoke to reporters alongside other family members and lawyers. 'But my son matters. He's a human being and he matters.' Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, said the damage in Kenosha does not reflect what her family wants and that, if her son could see it, he would be 'very unpleased.' After a night during which protests devolved into unrest, Gov. Evers had called for calm Tuesday saying: 'We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue.' 'We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction.' The night before crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires in the southeastern Wisconsin city's downtown. On Monday, heavily armed residents were also seen standing guard outside buildings and local shops in case they were targeted by rioters. In footage shared online, a group of men were seen carrying rifles and wearing combat gear as they protect local shops. They denied they are part of a militia. Blake, who is a father of six, is now in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing surgery Jacob Blake was shot in the back by Wisconsin police on Sunday as his three young sons watched on. He is now paralyzed from the waist down after his body was riddled with bullets, his father says. Blake is pictured above being treated just moments after the shooting NEW DELHI: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has arrested a suspicious person from Delhi's Vijay Chowk, sources said on Wednesday (August 26, 2020). According to reports, the man, who claims to be a resident of Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, was caught roaming around the Parliament House. He was nabbed by the CRPF personnel on duty over his suspicious activity. During his initial interrogation, the man gave misleading information to the CRPF men about himself. A document, which was recovered from him, contains some information in codewords. Two identity cards one Aadhar card and a driving license - have been also been recovered from his possession. Both the IDs have different names. While the driving license is in the name of one Firdaus, the name mentioned in the Aadhaar Card is Manzoor Ahmed Ahanger. The man hails from Rathsoon Beerwah in Budgam district of J&K. A bag has also been found from him. According to the CRPF officials, the arrested person has been changing his statements which aroused further suspicion about him. First, he said that he had come to Delhi in 2016. Then he said that he had come to the national capital during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. He told the CRPF officials that he has been staying in Delhi since then. The man, whose identity is not clear yet, said that he first stayed in Jamia locality, then near the Jama Masjid area in Nizamuddin. He has now been handed over to the Delhi Police, which is questioning him at the Parliament House Police Station. Information about him is also being shared with various other agencies. In September last year, a 25-year-old man was arrested for trying to enter Parliament allegedly with a knife. The man was identified as Sagar Insa, a resident of Laxmi Nagar in Delhi. With the trade deadline less than a week away, the Yankees front office has been hard at work searching for improvements. I know theyre certainly doing their due diligence and going through the process and having conference calls Zoom calls, and definitely exploring a lot of different options, manager Aaron Boone said on a video call with reporters before Tuesdays game against the Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta. What comes from that just remains to be seen. Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers Boone said that he hasnt had substantive conversations with general manager Brian Cashman about what the team may be seeking in terms of upgrades. Pitching would be the obvious weakness on the Yankees roster, but theyre also down several key position players with second baseman DJ LeMahieu (thumb), designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) and shortstop Gleyber Torres (hamstring, quad) each on the injured list. Right fielder Aaron Judge (calf) returned from the IL on Tuesday. Theyre putting a lot of time into at least exploring different options, Boone said. The Yankees have been connected in rumors to Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger and Mariners pitcher Tiajuan Walker. The Yankees woke up Tuesday a half-game behind the Rays in the American League East at 16-9. In a 60-game season, a lot could change in just a few days. It will play itself out over the next several days and eventually thats thats more of a question for Brian and them to where theyre really diving in, Boone said, and you never know where the process leads may lead. It may lead to nothing, may lead somewhere you didnt necessarily expect. I know theyre always looking to try and, obviously, find some value and get a little bit better all the time. Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Capt Amarinder Singh Chandigarh: With just days to go for the NEET/JEE exams being conducted amid the Covid pandemic, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed State Advocate General Atul Nanda to coordinate with his counterparts in other Opposition ruled states for filing a collective review petition in the Supreme Court seeking deferment of the examinations. Capt Amarinder Singh Advertisement The directive followed a Video Conference of the meeting convened by Congress President Sonia Gandhi with the chief ministers of seven Opposition-ruled states to discuss this and other issues of common concern, including delay in GST compensation release and the farm Ordinances by the Government of India, as well as the New Education Policy, which Captain Amarinder said was thrust on the states without consultation. There was no time to seek time from the Prime Minister to discuss the issue, said Captain Amarinder in response to a suggestion to this effect. Let us all get together to move the Supreme Court for postponement of the exams, which are threatening the lives of lakhs of students, he said. Advertisement Capt Amarinder SinghPointing out that world over, exams were being held online, he suggested that the JEE/NEET and other professional exams like Medical and Law could also be held online and there was no need to put the students at risk. Noting that what the states were seeking was not the moon but their own dues, the Chief Minister also suggested that a delegation of all the Opposition ruled chief ministers should meet the Prime Minister to press for release of GST compensation and financial assistance to fight Covid. We have given all the powers of taxation to him through the GST, and now they say they may not be able to pay. So how do we run our states? he said, calling upon the Opposition-ruled states to work together and fight together for their rights. Advertisement The Chief Minister also disclosed that his government would be setting up a committee soon to assess the impact of the New Education Policy on the states education system and finances. Every state has its own system, which the Government of India failed to take into account before announcing the policy, he said. Capt Amarinder Singh Pointing out that as of today, two days before the scheduled Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, 23 Ministers/MLAs were Covid positive, Captain Amarinder said if this was the state of the legislators and ministers, one can only image how grave the situation on the ground was. The scenario was not conducive to holding physical examinations, he said. The Punjab Chief Minister told the meeting that even on the issue of the mandatory final term exams for colleges/universities, despite repeated pleas and reminders, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had failed to take cognisance of his governments concerns. Advertisement Citing the importance laid by his government on education, he said that while in schools his government had already decided to promote the students based on their earlier performance, the final term college exams issue remained a matter of concern. How can we have exams with Covid projected to peak in the state in September? he asked, adding that I also want students to take exams and pass too, but how can I do this in the midst of the crisis? NEETCaptain Amarinder also raised the issue of the Centres decision to suspend the post-matric scholarship scheme for SC students, whose number in the state is a whopping 3.17 lakh. The Centre had no business cutting down on these scholarships for the poor SC students, he said, adding that he wanted all students in his state, including the poor, to be educated. Given the acute fiscal crisis in the state, with no money even to pay salaries and fulfill other existing commitments, how they expect us to pay for these scholarships too, he asked. Elaborating on the financial crisis faced by the state, the Chief Minister said the Centres failure to release GST compensation after March 31, 2020, which is to the tune of nearly Rs 7000 crore, had put Punjab in a difficult situation amid the spiralling Covid cases, which had crossed 44000, with 1178 deaths. If the Government of India does not give us our GST compensation how do they expect us to function, said Captain Amarinder, adding that states cannot manage on their own and the Centre needs to support. Capt Amarinder Singh Punjab had received Rs 102 crore in 2 installments from Health Ministry for Covid and Rs 31 crore 3rd installment was due, he said. The state needs money to fight the pandemic, which was now moving from the cities to the villages too, he stressed, citing the 21% revenue loss in the first quarter with anticipated loss during the remaining nine months of the current fiscal at 28.9%. The Government of India had allowed no Revenue Deficit Grant on account of revenue loss due to Covid, he lamented, adding that the Centre did not seem at all interested in the problems faced by the states. Earlier, in her introductory remarks, Sonia Gandhi pointed to the concerns already raised by Captain Amarinder on the anti-farmer and anti-federal agriculture ordinances of the Government of India. The day after the storm, the president called to assure me that we had the full backing of the federal government. Later that week, Vice President Pence came to Iowa to again assure us that the President and his administration were behind us. With the help of the Trump Administration, we quickly received a major disaster declaration that will help Iowans get back on their feet. The President cut through the bureaucracy to do what needed to be done, and to do it quickly. Pence was in Iowa to launch a Farmers & Ranchers for Trump coalition at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. He pledged federal support for the state as it recovers, but offered no specifics, and did not tour areas with storm damage. Trump's declaration covered only a portion of governor's request. It did not include individual assistance for people in 27 counties whose homes were destroyed or had major damage, nor did it cover damage to farms, grain bins and ag buildings. On Aug. 20, he approved individual assistance for Linn County, among the hardest hit areas, but Reynolds' office said other requests remained under review. Just as California appeared to be turning a corner in its fight against the coronavirus, raging wildfires threaten to worsen the outbreak. Blazes that rank among the largest in state history have sent thousands of residents fleeing to evacuation centers or hotels, while smoky air blanketing the San Francisco Bay Area is endangering people with respiratory trouble. Thats deepening a public-health crisis as California struggles with the most Covid-19 cases in the nation. This is a recipe for spreading the virus all over, said John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeleys School of Public Health. We dont want to bring people from disparate areas together and congregate them, he said, but thats what we have to do to fight these fires. The sudden onslaught of fire season represents a new setback for a state that was lauded for its early efforts at containing the virus, only to see cases and deaths spike over the summer. In recent weeks, the outbreak showed signs of stabilizing, with hospitalizations down 38% from a July peak. Now, the added crisis of blazes signals even more challenges in the months ahead, with the states wildfire season typically at its worst in the fall. Some 136,000 Californians are now under evacuation orders, Mark Ghaly, the states health and human services secretary, said at a news briefing Tuesday, when the case count reached 673,000. While officials have been preparing for months for the convergence of Covid and fire season, he said he wouldnt be surprised to see new infections arise due to the evacuations. Weve made a lot of gains in the past weeks as a state, and we knew wildfires would stretch us and test us again, he said. Beyond the congregation of people escaping flames to evacuation centers, hotels or the homes of friends or family, thousands of firefighters are gathering to fight the infernos. First responders have arrived from other states while Governor Gavin Newsom has also requested help from Canada and Australia, which has led Swartzberg to worry virus spread wont be contained to California. Then there are the other ways the fires complicate the outbreak like how to keep testing sites open when its only safe to have them outdoors, but the air quality is so low that its dangerous to be outside. While smoke may keep people from large gatherings outside, theres a risk antsy Californians will just start to mingle indoors. Theres also the question of what effect smoky air will have on a respiratory virus. This is especially difficult for people with substantial underlying respiratory conditions, said Bela Matyas, public health officer of Solano County, where thousands of residents have had to flee their homes from the LNU Lightning Complex inferno, Californias second-biggest on record. If you were to get Covid, you would have a high risk of a bad outcome. On top of it all, public health officers and county emergency task forces are stretched thin after months of fighting the pandemic. We really feel like weve been sprinting every day just for Covid, said Matt Willis, public health officer for Marin County, north of San Francisco. I think everyones just feeling like, Really?' Forgetting Covid In the emergency of a fire, avoiding the virus is no longer the first priority. Claire Burdett, 70, and her husband have been careful about keeping Covid at bay, but a mandatory evacuation forced them out of their Healdsburg home last week and into their friends place nearby. While they feltsafe there, the blazes have had a psychological impact on their awareness of the pandemic, she said. This fire is so immediate and terrorizing that weve forgotten about Covid, Burdett said. Just today we had to pick up something at a hardware store and I was 10 steps into the store before I remembered that I had to have a mask on. For people without another place to stay, California has taken steps including leasing hotel rooms to prevent the viruss spread. So far, 1,480 evacuees are waiting out the blazes in 31 hotels, Newsom said in a briefing Monday. Officials also set up 17 mass shelters, scattered across seven counties. But they operate far differently and hold far fewer people than before. Some have tents pitched indoors so that families can stay together, while staying away from everyone else. All of them screen evacuees and visitors alike, said Newsom, who recounted his recent visit to an evacuation shelter in Santa Cruz. Nothings perfect, everybodys human, trying to do their absolute best, he said. But what I saw, I was very impressed. Vacations Halted The fires bring one positive side for the virus fight: Many of Californias favorite summer recreation spots are now either menaced by flames or flooded with smoke, making beach parties and other outdoor gatherings impossible. The Santa Cruz beach, a popular getaway for Silicon Valley, now lies just outside a raging fire. Lake Tahoes air quality was deemed unhealthy for most of last week. And Lake Berryessa, a Northern California reservoir mobbed with picnicking families just a few weeks ago, is now almost surrounded by flames and scorched hills. Mobile-device data tracked by the analysis firm Orbital Insight found that Tahoe-area activity dropped more than 10% last weekend compared with a week earlier, before the fires began. It plunged 78% at the Santa Cruz beach and 86% at Lake Berryessa. The fires may lead to more spread because more people will be coughing more; they may lead to more spread because of the firefighters, Berkeleys Swartzberg said. On the other hand, people are remaining in their houses now. Staying isolated poses a different type of challenge for people like Burdett. While her home is safe from being destroyed, four of her friends houses were lost. The neighbors have been communicating with each other, keeping spirits up, but its discouraging that, because of the virus, they wont be able to see each other after they return. Once we survive this, we cant celebrate, Burdett said. We cant get together, and thats part of healing after something like this fire, you know? Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. NEW YORK - A class-action lawsuit alleging a Canadian fashion mogul sexually assaulted dozens of women has been put on pause. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Nygard headquarters is shown in Winnipeg Wednesday, February 26, 2020. A class-action lawsuit alleging a Canadian fashion mogul sexually assaulted dozens of women has been put on pause. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods NEW YORK - A class-action lawsuit alleging a Canadian fashion mogul sexually assaulted dozens of women has been put on pause. Fifty-seven women including 18 Canadians have joined the lawsuit, which alleges that Peter Nygard used violence, intimidation, bribery and company employees to lure victims and avoid accountability for decades. Last Friday, the judge presiding over the case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York stayed court proceedings until further notice. Court records show the judge's order was sealed and access to information about why there was a stay has been restricted. The sealing order prevents lawyers from commenting on why the case was stayed. However, before the order was sealed, the court docket said the stay resulted from a government motion and named three federal prosecutors. It also said the government would be required to inform the court when its proceedings were complete so the stay could be lifted. People hold signs at the Time's Up Nygard protest against Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Geraldine Malone The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York did not respond to a request for comment. Nygard has denied all allegations and blames a conspiracy caused by a feud with his billionaire neighbour in the Bahamas. He stepped down as chairman of his company after the FBI and police in New York City raided his offices in February. In court filings last month, Nygard argued the New York court does not have jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit. The original lawsuit against Nygard, 79, included allegations from 10 women who accused him of enticing them to his estate in the Bahamas. In the following months, more women from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have continued to add their names to the lawsuit. The women, who are not named, have shared stories in court documents about being brought to Nygard's offices and properties with promises of modelling or other career opportunities. Some allege they were given alcohol spiked with drugs before they were sexually assaulted. Two women allege they were as young as 14. The women are asking for a trial by jury and are seeking yet-to-be determined damages. Two of Nygard's sons filed a separate lawsuit against their father earlier this month claiming they were statutorily raped at his direction when they were teenagers. The sons say Nygard arranged for a woman to have sex with them. Nygard has said through his lawyer that he was shocked by the allegations and categorically denied them. That lawsuit alleges Nygard's sexual predation is an "open secret" at Nygard's companies. Speakers at a protest outside the fashion giant's flagship Winnipeg store on Wednesday evening said many people have heard rumours about Nygard over the years and say justice is long overdue. None of the speakers at the #TimesUpNygard rally were associated with the allegations against the fashion mogul. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Julie Guard, a history and labour studies professor at the University of Manitoba, said it's important for women to support each other to stop misogyny and predatory behaviour by rich and powerful men. "Women are mustering up their courage and standing together to call out these people who have preyed on them," said Guard. Jennifer Chen, who attended the rally, said it's particularly important to empower immigrants and women of colour. "Sometimes it's hard for us to speak up if we face sexual harassment at the workplace," she said. "Now is the time to join the movement and to say 'Time's up,' and ... to address the root cause of the issue and address gender equity." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2020 By Kelly Geraldine Malone in Winnipeg Nicholas Sandmann, a teenager wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat, center left, went viral in a 2019 video as he stared at a Native American activist. (Survival Media Agency ) On the ballot, President Trump is running for reelection against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. But at the Republican National Convention, the GOP is acting as if the mainstream media had joined Biden on the opposing ticket. At Tuesday night's event, former Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann of Kentucky, who has become a conservative symbol of liberal media excess, praised Trump for his antiabortion position and told the convention that the president was voters' best chance for a return to "objective journalism." "I fought back hard to expose the media for what they did to me, and I won a personal victory," Sandmann said in a video in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. "While much more must be done, I look forward to the day that the media returns to providing balanced, responsible and accountable news coverage. I know President Trump hopes for that too." Trump has maintained a contentious relationship with the media, calling factual but unflattering reports "fake news" and labeling reporters "the enemy of the people," to the objection of most press freedom advocates. Sandmann became a national figure by accident during a school trip to Washington, D.C., for the antiabortion March for Life in 2019, when his group encountered other protesters nearby the Lincoln Memorial. In social media posts that went viral at the time, and in some media commentary that immediately followed, some liberals criticized Sandmann, then 16, who was wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat when he encountered Omaha Nation elder Nathan Phillips, who had approached him while singing and playing a drum. Sandmann later said he was not mocking Phillips. His family and many conservatives felt that Sandmann had been defamed or otherwise treated unfairly by media coverage, which led to them filing lawsuits against news outlets saying that he had been targeted and bullied" by the media. He reached settlements with CNN and the Washington Post. "In November, I believe this country must unite around a president who calls the media out and refuses to allow them to create a narrative instead of reporting the facts," Sandmann said. "I believe we must join a president who will challenge the media to return to objective journalism." On his Twitter account, Sandmann identifies himself as the communications director of the Transylvania University College Republicans. NEBRASKA Despite burning over 1,000 miles away, smoke from the California wildfires has been contributing to a haze which has hung over Nebraska for the past several days. There is no one single fire, but hundreds which were started by lightning strikes across northern California. The blazes have already consumed 1 million acres of land. Several of the fires are among the largest in in the states history, according to Cal Fire. Already the wildfires this year have caused more death and destruction than 2019. Last year wildfires burned over 260,000 acres and killed three people. This year at least seven have been killed, according to Cal Fire. The National Weather Service in Des Moines reported on Sunday smoke from the fires, as it entered the upper atmosphere, would wrap around a clockwise spinning high pressure system, lodged over the southwest of the United States. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Heavy smoke tracked from Idaho through Montana and into the Dakotas. Nebraska was either under heavy to medium smoke and haze. NWS Des Moines said if the smoke was thick enough it could lower temperatures a degree or two and this would likely lead to air quality concerns. Positions for engineers, data scientists and financial analysts are among the tech and non-tech roles that Paytm is looking to fill. New Delhi: Fintech major Paytm on Wednesday said it is in the process of hiring over 1,000 people across various roles over the next few months as it expands its operations, including segments like financial and wealth management services, in the country. Paytm is in the process of hiring over 1,000 engineers, data scientists, financial analysts among other positions for tech and non-tech roles, a statement said. The company has ramped up recruitment as it is heading for a rapid expansion of its financial and wealth management services, it added. Paytm and its group businesses such as lending, insurance, wealth management and offline payments have been expanding operations, thereby creating the need to bring in more tech and non-tech employees, it said. This team expansion would play an essential role in launching innovative financial services and technology to fuel its growth journey, it added. Other than tech and non-tech hires to fill positions across its operations in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru, Paytm is also bringing in over 50 senior-level executives in vice president roles and above to bolster its senior leadership. In April, the Noida-based company had announced plans to hire over 500 people. Asked if Paytm has completed that process, the company said it has hired close to 700 employees during the last four months. The 1,000 people is additional manpower in tech and non-tech roles that we need and the hiring process is on for that, it said in an e-mailed response. In its statement, Paytm said it held interviews and inductions of new joinees even during the lockdown. In response to reports of layoffs and exit of senior leaders, the company said, We have not laid off any employees or resorted to any salary cuts. From April 2019 to date...while around 20 senior executives exited Paytm, over 140 have been hired for leadership roles in vice-president and above positions, the statement said. Recently, the company also announced setting up of its largest campus in Noida, Uttar Pradesh to accommodate its expanding team. The 5,000-seater office is spread across 5.5 lakh square feet of space. This year, we are aiming at adding additional 1,000 colleagues to our different business verticals to build and scale innovative products, Paytm Vice President Narender Yadav said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. A Clackamas County man, sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for molesting his adopted son, his adopted sons child and another boy, died in custody this week, the Oregon Department of Corrections said Wednesday. Douglas Burnham, 80, was serving his sentence at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, but he died at an outside facility Monday, officials said. Burnham adopted an emotionally troubled 9-year-old boy through Oregons child welfare agency in the 1970s and molested the child for years. Burnham also abused the child of a man he had adopted earlier in his life and the grandson of his girlfriend. When convicted in 2011, Burnhams lawyer asked the judge for a lesser sentence, arguing his client was in poor health, spent most of his time in the Clackamas County Jails medical ward and had been on suicide watch. Judge Douglas Van Dyk was unswayed. He lived his life as a predator, and children have suffered in extraordinary ways as a result, Van Dyk said at the time. Burnham picked victims who were vulnerable and easily manipulated, the judge said. Burnham would have been eligible for release in April 2022. His cause of death has not been determined. -- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. DECATUR Many businesses are open and ready for their customers. The annual Lets Keep Decatur Bee-utiful contest is an opportunity for shops, agencies, stores and other companies to show how important the community is to the businesses. The contest could be seen as a way to get people out and visiting the businesses that have been shut down, said Jill Davis, co-chair of Lets Keep Decatur Bee-utiful contest. And it could get people thinking about the business. Macon County businesses can register for free from Sept. 1 through 30 on the Beautify Decatur Coalition website or Facebook page. Categories include best use of flowers, best landscape, best signage and most litter-free. All contestants will be entered into the most popular category, which is determined by the publics online vote. Its a lighter contest, more fun, getting the public more involved through voting on the one they think is the most beautiful business, Davis said. The businesses register online for their favorite theme and submit photos. Judging will take place the first week of October with prizes and awards distributed the following week. Sponsors contributing to the prizes include Striglos, Lowes, Papa Murphys, Connies Country Greenhouse, Advance Disposal and Speed Lube. This year marks the tenth year for the competition. In the past, businesses competed in the spring. Weve moved it to the fall this year, due to COVID, Davis said. Organizers hoped the later season may also benefit the contestants. Some of the businesses were just coming back in June, said co-chair Susan Avery. They might have the opportunity to get into sprucing up and do things to their exterior. The autumn weather provides different foliage and decorations. Everybody can still rally around that, Davis said. Even though COVID continues. Brass Horn Too won for Best Use of Flowers during the 2019 competition. Since the store, located at 108 E. Prairie Ave., has opened again to the public, George Streckfuss, co-owner of the Brass Horn, said the flowers, as well as other decorations, have given the clothing stores curb appeal. The sidewalk entrance is shared with Coney McKanes restaurant. They now have chairs and seats in front of our windows, he said. The clothing stores have had large flower pots displayed near the Prairie Avenue entrance, helping the store win the Lets Keep Decatur Bee-utiful contest. So it really does look nice out there, Streckfuss said about the full area. Weve enjoyed this outdoor seating arrangement. We just have our flowers as part of the deal. The decor is meant to draw attention to the store front; however, the owners understand their responsibility to the community. If we do our part, and it influences anybody else to do their part, then you have a beautiful downtown, Streckfuss said. In May, organizers had already heard from the companies anxious to get ready for the contest. Davis and Avery made sure the community didnt forget the Lets Keep Decatur Bee-utiful contest through social media. We are still alive and well, Davis said. We moved the dates as a courtesy to the businesses that are revamping up and coming out of Phase 2 (of Restore Illinois). Suggestions include adding seasonal details and removing litter and dead plants. You dont have to put a lot of time, effort or cost into this to keep your business tidy, neat, well taken care of, just pleasing to the eye, Davis said. Were not asking businesses to go above and beyond. According to the co-chairs, a simple pot of flowers can make a difference. It lifts the spirits of everyone, Davis said. Just a splash of color will really brighten the curb appeal. Organizers hope the contest will return to the spring in 2021. Because thats when everybody gets excited about plants and stuff, Davis said. But (this year) people can experiment with a pumpkin display. Flowers bloom in Decatur's Central Park Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Make your house a home For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas sign up now! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. by Vladimir Rozanskij Metropolitan Pavel is replaced by Venjamin. In recent weeks, Pavel had first congratulated Lukashenko, then corrected himself, then supported the Catholics requests of the government. The Orthodox Church has prohibited the faithful from participating in public demonstrations and meddling in politics. Kirill fears a conclusion similar to the Ukrainian one. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow has made a shocking decision: in the days of the great mass protests in Belarus, the Patriarchal Exarch in Minsk, head of the Orthodox in Belarus, has been replaced. Metropolitan Pavel (Ponomarev, see photo), has been ousted and replaced by Metropolitan Venjamin (Tupeko, photo 2), former bishop of Borisov, in the province of Minsk. Venjamin, 52, a bishop for a decade, is at the helm of the publishing and catechetical sector of the Belarusian exarchate, and is also the first bishop of Belarusian nationality to occupy the Minsk See, where bishops from Russia have so far been sent, as was Pavel. In the press release from the spokesman of the Russian patriarchate, Vladimir Legojda, we read that "the Synod accepted Metropolitan Pavel's request to be relieved of his post, and thanks him for his commitment over the years". Pavel, former bishop of Ryazan in central Russia, was appointed in 2013, after the resignation due to advanced age of the historian Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeev), one of the most important Orthodox hierarchs of the Soviet period, a great theologian and proponent of the renewal of ecclesiastical life. The exarch is the "patriarchal lieutenant", autonomous guide of the local Church, but subject to the authority of the patriarch of Moscow, and participates in the patriarchal synod as a permanent member. The decision to replace Pavel with Venjamin is linked to the events of the past few days, where the former head of the local Orthodox appeared very confused: at first he congratulated Lukashenko on his electoral victory; then he withdrew his congratulations, further correcting his statements several times. Pavel then partially aligned himself with the line of the Catholic Archbishop Msgr. Kondrusiewicz, appealing to the president to stop the violence against the demonstrators, and to the citizens to pursue moderation and wisdom; the metropolitan had also visited some wounded in a hospital. Later, a statement from the Belarusian Orthodox Church banned its faithful from participating in any public demonstration, and urged them not to meddle in the country's political life, as President Lukashenko himself clamoured in a rally on August 23. The replacement of Pavel indicates a distancing of the Orthodox from the activism of the Catholics, in order to support President Lukashenko. The memory of the dramatic Ukrainian events, which led to the establishment of the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, with the rupture between Moscow and Constantinople, plays in the memory of Patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev). There are currently no claims of autonomy from Moscow in Belarus, but the appointment of a local metropolitan loyal to the established order aims to prevent future surprises. With Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny lying in an induced coma just minutes from Angela Merkel's office in Berlin, the German chancellor is at a loss over what to do about Vladimir Putin. The German leader -- a key conduit to the West for the Russian president -- is frustrated that Putin has shown no flexibility on the case, according to two officials familiar with her thinking who asked not to be identified discussing internal deliberations. While Merkel tends to choose her language carefully, her tone toward Russia has hardened. Less than two hours after doctors in Berlin determined that Navalny, a prominent Putin critic, had likely been poisoned, Merkel demanded Putin "fully investigate this act as a matter of urgency" and identify those involved. The speed with which she responded, according to the officials, was meant to send the signal to the Kremlin how seriously Merkel takes the matter. It tops a list of grievances that includes a murder in broad daylight in a Berlin park last summer and a 2015 cyberattack on the Bundestag, Germany's lower house. A Russian speaker who grew up in East Germany, Merkel has sought to leverage her position to open a channel with Putin, who served as a KGB lieutenant in Dresden in the years before the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989. The issue is that whatever sway she might have had appears to have largely faded. All the condemnation over Russia's annexation of Crimea did not change the facts on the ground even though Putin was excluded from the Group of Eight. And with President Donald Trump mired in a re-election campaign and Merkel's long tenure in power coming to an end next year, Putin may well feel emboldened to act without fear of retribution. His chief spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, continued to brush off her calls for an investigation Wednesday, calling assertions Navalny was poisoned "hasty." "How can we talk about a poisoning when there's no poison" yet identified, he asked on a conference call. The opposition leader was flown to Berlin on Saturday after he'd fallen ill on a flight to Moscow on Thursday. The speaker of the lower house of Russia's parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, suggested the whole episode may be "a provocation by Germany and other members of the EU aimed at creating more allegations against our country." A medical team at Berlin's Charite hospital said on Monday that they had found traces of a cholinesterase inhibitor, a possible nerve agent, even if the specific substance hadn't yet been identified. At least one lawmaker in Merkel's party, Michael Brand, called on the European Union and Germany to take "tougher measures to stop the increased number of state-sponsored killings." Other officials in Berlin said it was too early to talk about sanctions. The U.S. threatened tough countermeasures if the poisoning is confirmed, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also called for a "full, transparent investigation." Peskov said there was "no reason at all" for a worsening of relations with the West as a result of the case. Asked about Merkel's frustration with Putin, he said the Kremlin relies on official statements from Germany on ties. Others in Moscow aren't so sanguine. "Of course this is very bad for Russia's relations with Germany and Europe," said Andrey Kortunov, director of the Kremlin-founded Russian International Affairs Council. Anti-Kremlin protests in Russia's Far East and a popular uprising against Belarus's Putin-backed leader, Alexander Lukashenko, could prompt the West to see the poisoning of a prominent opposition figure "as a sign that Putin is losing control of the situation," he said. Should frictions reach a peak, projects such as the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, which Merkel's government has defended in the face of forceful criticism from the U.S. and EU member states, could be at risk. "This could tilt the balance within the EU, and the Germans might be forced to make concessions," he said. In Russia, there was no sign of easing of pressure on Navalny's organization. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a powerful businessman known as "Putin's chef," vowed to strip the activist and his allies "naked" as he seeks to enforce an 88 million-ruble ($1.1 million) court ruling against them that he won in a libel case. Trust between Merkel and Putin is at an all-time low and the relationship has continued to sour since Putin's seizure of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and his support for Ukrainian separatists in the eastern Donbas region. In May, Merkel called Russia's alleged involvement in a 2015 cyberattack on the Bundestag's computer network "outrageous." Meanwhile, German prosecutors have issued criminal charges for the murder of a Georgian man in broad daylight in the Tiergarten park last August. Russian state actors are behind it, they say. That gangland-style execution was the focus of Merkel's last meeting with Putin, at a December summit about Ukraine in Paris. At the time Merkel repeated her demand for Russian legal assistance, and Putin agreed. But as German officials point out, no such help has been forthcoming nor is now expected. Are we witnessing the death throes of Huawei? A week ago, the Bureau of Industrial Security in the United States Department of Commerce issued a notification further restricting access by Huawei and its non-US affiliates on the Entity List to items produced domestically and abroad by using US technology and software. Another 38 Huawei affiliates were added to the Entity List which requires a licence for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The aim of the new measures was to prevent Huawei from circumventing US export controls. In May, the US had amended its own foreign direct product (FDP) rule to prevent Huawei accessing semiconductors that are produced with US software and technology anywhere. The amendment last week, refined the FDP rule further by making it applicable to transactions where US software or technology is the basis for a foreign-produced component or item that could be purchased by Huawei or its affiliates. In essence, the aim is to block Huawei from using third parties to access US technologies. With the temporary general license for export also having expired last week, the tap to Huawei has now been turned off. Japans Nikkei cites lawyer Kavin Wolf to say that every foreign-made semiconductor of any type anywhere in the world is now subject to US license requirements, if a Huawei company is in any way involved, directly or indirectly. In May 2019, the US had placed Huawei and many of its affiliates in its Entity List requiring US firms to get a license to export domestically-produced chips and software. In May 2020, the US expanded these rules to require chip-makers using US semiconductor equipment and technology to get its approval before producing chips designed by Huawei and HiSilicon. US companies have almost 50 percent of the annual global market share in semiconductors. Chinas share is just 5 percent. However, the US industry is symbiotically linked to the Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea) region in terms of design, production, testing and consumption. China uses 61 percent of the worlds chips in products for domestic consumption and exports, importing some $ 310 billion-worth of semiconductors in 2018. Sixty-six percent of Qualcomm revenue, amounting to $15 billion comes from China. In the first quarter of 2020, Apple revenues from China were $ 13.58 billion, which is some 15 percent of the companys total revenues. The US is also the leader in R&D, design and manufacturing process technology. Almost all the worlds key chip developers depend on US chip design and chipmaking tools made by Cadence Design Systems and Synopsus, Applied Materials, Lam Research and others to make semiconductors. While there has been little political reaction to these moves in the US, industry bodies have been critical. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in the US, such broad restrictions will bring significant disruption to the US semiconductor industry. In other words, besides hitting at Huawei, the Trump administration moves would hit US majors. Expressing surprise at the move, they said that sales of non-sensitive, commercial products actually drive semiconductor research and innovation here in the US. The SIA represents some 95 percent of the US semiconductor industry. The Trump administration officials meanwhile are continuing their campaign to push friends and allies to cut off links with Huawei, and they have been meeting more success in recent months, with the United Kingdom and Israel agreeing to the ban on Huawei. They maintain their stand is based on US national security and foreign policy interests. The administration has been trotting out moral and legalistic reasons for blocking Huawei, whereas it would appear to be more of a need to ensure that China does not take the lead in a key technology area. From the realpolitik American point of view that makes sense, but it does not mean we should accept or work along its rationale. The problem is that the US is barring a technology which it does not itself possess, and is strong-arming others not to go for it, though 5G technology could provide a major boost to the global economy when it desperately needs one. The charge on national security grounds is questionable. Till now the US has yet to provide any evidence to suggest that Huawei equipment is, or can be, misused. The companys products have been used in more than 150 countries, and surely some evidence of its misuse should have surfaced by now. Indeed, the record shows it was Huawei itself which was penetrated by the US intelligence agency. Perhaps the most intense forensic investigation of Huawei equipment has been going on in the UK for the past 10 years. The Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC), funded by the company, was set up in 2014 to check its electronic boards and software. Since 2014, the work of the security-cleared British nationals there was monitored by the GCHQ, UKs premier electronic intelligence agency, the Home Office and the Cabinet Office. These official entities were constituted into a Huawei Oversight Board. This was chaired by the head of the GCHQs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Till now, they have not come up with any evidence that Huawei equipment will compromise their networks. The British decision to ban Huawei was taken on political grounds, following pressure by a wing of the ruling Conservative Party. In 2012, a US House of Representatives Committee also investigated US national security issues in relation to Huawei and ZTE. They, too, did not come up with any specific evidence that these companies were involved in espionage. The bulk of the criticism in the reports related to the nature of the relationship between the companies and the Chinese State, which, as we know, is very different from those prevailing in the US. However, some professionals such as former Google head Eric Schmidt insist that Huawei has engaged in some practices that are not acceptable in national security without providing any specifics. Schmidt, who is currently chairman of the Pentagons Defence Innovation Board, has however said that instead of disengaging, the US should respond by outcompeting China and its technologies. In his view segregating platforms into Chinese and American systems could be positively dangerous. There are many voices urging caution. Besides industry which is clearly going to be affected, there are people such as US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin who have not been too happy over the administrations reliance on sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy. His stand is based on a longer term view of US primacy. Experts such as James A Lewis of the CSIS say that the US needs a better targeted policy, one that can slow down the Chinese industry, but not harm American companies. The focus, he says, should be on semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME), rather than the semiconductors themselves. Another CSIS hand, Scott Kennedy is more pointed in his criticism, arguing that this effort could seriously harm the United States economy and national security. He cites studies by the Boston Consulting Group saying that a full decoupling would reduce the sectors revenue by 37 percent and lower its global market share to 30 percent. In contrast, Chinas market share could actually rise from three to 31 percent. Indeed, he argues that full decoupling could actually affect US national security negatively. So, what does the future hold? As the US moves towards elections in November, we could see more moves against China. Soon it may become clearer that the US actions are not just about Huawei, but a wider multi-front conflict. The FDP is capable of wider application and we could see it being applied in other technology areas as well in the coming months. The Trump administration has been coming up with a number of counter-initiatives. In May 2019, it had gathered officials from more than 30 countries to discuss the national security and commercial considerations in evaluating 5G vendors. It came up with a set of Prague Proposals that cautioned countries not to use Chinese vendors, though China was not actually named in the conference draft. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also pursued a Clean Network programme aimed at breaking the links with Chinese vendors allegedly to protect data of US citizens. As part of this, the US is targeting Chinese telecom companies, apps, cloud companies and undersea cables. However, the protections here are limited to US citizens. Third country professionals know, or should know, better than to accept any claims that the US is different from China when it comes to snooping on data. The coronavirus pandemic has no doubt accelerated trends of restructuring some supply chains. Many countries ranging from the US to Japan and India have been embarrassed by their dependence on China for medical supplies and drugs during the pandemic. Whatever the fates will yield in November, it is clear that US-China relations are not going to go back to what they were before 2018. The issue really is about strategy and tactics. Leave aside the crude manner in which the Trump administration is seeking to use the issue for its electoral purposes, there are two strands of argument we can detect. One is that decoupling is the best way in which the US can safeguard its national security. However, there are also those like Kennedy argue that principled interdependence, especially one worked with friends and allies, can provide better leverage to control, and even coerce the Chinese towards better behaviour. A China with its present capacities cutting loose from the global system could move in unpredictable, dangerous trajectories. (This article first appeared in the ORF) ROME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Tuesday that his Europe trip has four main purposes, namely to continue the fight against COVID-19 with Europe, support Europe's unity and development, promote China-Europe relations and boost world peace and development. Addressing a press conference together with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio, Wang said that this visit aims to enhance the China-Europe joint fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Since the beginning of this year, facing the spread of the raging pandemic, China and Europe have helped each other and become paragons of international anti-pandemic cooperation, Wang said. China is a country that advocates reciprocity and the Chinese nation has a tradition of helping those in distress, Wang said, stressing China will never forget Europe's help when it was hit hard by COVID-19 and would never just look on when Europe faces the same plight. Noting that the outbreak in China is now effectively under control, Wang said China, as a member of the global village, stands ready to share anti-pandemic knowledge and experience, and provide necessary support so as to help Europe defeat the pandemic at an early date. Wang said his visit aims to continue supporting Europe's unity and development. He said a united, stable and prosperous Europe benefits not only Europe but also the world, which is a consistent and clear stance as well as a strategic judgement of China's. At present, under the impact of the pandemic, Europe's development faces new challenges, he said, adding that China will faithfully support the European integration process through practical actions, and remain a trustworthy strategic partner as Europe strives for unity and development, he said. Wang said his visit also aims to continue promoting China-Europe relations. Facts have shown that the development of China-Europe relations not only benefits people on both sides, but also makes important contributions to world development, said Wang. He said that currently the momentum of China-Europe relations is good in general, but is also suffering various instigations and even sabotage by external forces. For their common interests, both sides should firm up confidence, dispel disturbances and overcome the difficulties to maintain a healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations. Wang said his visit also aims to further enhance world peace and development. At present, countries across the world are not only being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also facing the threats and challenges of unilateralism, protectionism and the resurgence of Cold War mentality. As the world's two great civilizations and major forces, China wishes to strengthen communication and cooperation with Europe, hoping that both sides can jointly safeguard, by availing themselves of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the current international system based on multilateralism and make due contributions to help human history develop in the right direction, Wang said. Italy is the first leg of Wang's European tour, which will also take him to the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany. 'Infosys Cognitive Email Workbench' leverages Blue Prism's Digital Workforce to drive Intelligent Automation BENGALURU, India, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the launch of AI-driven 'Cognitive Email Workbench' solution that gives enterprises the ability to augment query management and scale their helpdesk operations, significantly enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction. To develop this solution, Infosys leveraged its partnership with Blue Prism, a leading Robotic Process Automation (RPA) provider and a strategic partner. Infosys and Blue Prism joined hands in 2017 to help enterprises drive intelligent automation capabilities across multiple industries. Infosys Cognitive Email Workbench is an AI-based assisted automation solution that allows clients to eliminate manual resolution and build near-touchless contact centers. It combines the intelligence of AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP), with Blue Prism's intelligent automation platform and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities. It also adds skills critical for enabling assisted and unassisted email responses, thereby giving customer helpdesks the flexibility to focus on requests actually requiring manual intervention. Integrating seamlessly with enterprises' existing IT, the solution: Senses and proactively addresses customer and partner queries received over email through highly personalized responses Understands customer intent by extracting attributes from emails and triggers necessary actions Suggests personalized offers through customer analytics, helps with auto-responses, amplifies helpdesk effectiveness and improves customer satisfaction Balakrishna D R, SVP, Service Offering Head - ECS, AI and Automation, Infosys, said, "Working with our clients, we are noticing two dominant trends the need for them to be resilient to effectively address real world problems; and accelerated intelligent automation adoption to leverage actionable insights. Together with Blue Prism, we are launching a solution that addresses both these imperatives while enabling enterprises to proactively and efficiently address their customer and partner queries. This is a validation of our partnership with Blue Prism and together, we will continue to launch industry relevant intelligent automation solutions." "Our partnership with Infosys is an illustration of how we are enabling our global clients to scale and drive an enterprise wide AI vision," says Linda Dotts, Chief Partner Strategy Officer for Blue Prism. "Together, a Blue Prism Digital Workforce and the 'Infosys Cognitive Email Workbench' will transform helpdesk operations, bring in new efficiencies and play an impactful role in driving 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 News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Sleek M.2 gumstick SSDs with the NVMe interface might get most of the headlines these days, but good ol SATA III 2.5-inch SSDs still deliver a fantastic experience for most peopleespecially when theyre on sale. And right now, Amazon is selling two versions of the fantastic Samsung SSD 860 EVO at their lowest prices of 2020. The Samsung 860 EVO is one of our all-time favorite 2.5-inch SSDs. For several years it was our top pick as the best SSD for most people, and its still the runner up. We reviewed the Samsung 860 EVO way back in early 2018, giving it 4 out of 5 stars for its solid performance and affordability. In our tests, the Samsungs drive supports sequential read speeds around 492 megabytes per second and read speeds around 519 MB/s. Its a huge step up over traditional spinning-platter hard drives, and Samsung backs up the hardware with an excellent warranty and software. Amazon is selling the 250GB version of the Samsung 860 EVO for $50, just 56 cents higher than the all-time low. The 500GB version is also available at just $70. Thats not the all-time low, but its nearly the best price weve seen this yearthe best price for 2020 before this sale was $66.90. The Samsung 860 EVO is an excellent SSD at full cost. Amazons sale prices make it even more appealing. Hop on this deal if youve been looking to bolster your PCs storage. [Todays deal: 500GB Samsung 860 EVO for $70 and the 250GB version for $50 at Amazon. ] CAMBRIDGE Voters in Ward 7 will finally head to the polls on Oct. 5 to cast ballots in a byelection that was postponed due to the pandemic. It was originally going to take place in March to fill a seat left vacant after Coun. Frank Monteiros death last fall. The city clerk says safety precautions will be in place including capacity limits, single-use pens, Plexiglas barriers and enhanced cleaning. Curbside voting and proxy voting will also be available. Voters will be allowed to send another person to vote in their place. Curbside voting will be set up around city hall for residents to fill out ballots in their vehicle and drop their ballot in a curbside ballot box. Voters who cast advance ballots in March will have their votes counted in the rescheduled byelection. Any voters who will be self-isolating due to symptoms or close contact, or anyone who is waiting for test results, will be asked to use the proxy voting option. New advanced polling dates are set for Sept. 26, Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at Cambridge City Hall. Nine candidates are vying for the vacant seat. In the 2018 municipal election, Ward 7 saw 2,227 ballots cast out of 8,491 eligible voters. It is too early to talk about the next political era after Japan`s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe because his term runs until next year, a top spokesman said on Wednesday, amid worries about Abe`s ability to continue as premier after two hospital visits. Abe has been to hospital twice in the last two weeks, including one visit of 7-1/2 hours. He has not detailed what the visits were for, instead saying he wanted to take care of his health and do his utmost at his job. Abe plans to hold a news conference on Friday, several sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. He is expected to provide an explanation about his health and talk about the government`s handling of the coronavirus, local media said. "It`s premature to talk about `post-Abe` as he still has over a year left in his term," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, seen as one of major contenders for Abe`s job should he resign, told a regular news conference. Abe`s close ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ally, Akira Amari, sought to dispel qualms over Abe`s health on Tuesday, telling Reuters he looked better than in mid-August and would likely fulfil his tenure until September next year. His remarks were echoed on Wednesday by the Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura who said Abe looked a "bit tired" over the last two weeks, but seemed "very well" on Tuesday and "gave us various instructions in the usual manner." "We want him to continue to look after his health and show us his leadership," Kyodo news quoted Nishimura as saying during a parliamentary committee meeting. Abe, the country`s longest serving prime minister, has been in the role since 2012. He resigned abruptly from an earlier term in 2007 because of struggles with ulcerative colitis, a disease he has kept in check with medicine that was not previously available. Criticised for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak and some scandals, Abe has suffered a slide in voter support to one of the lowest levels since returning to office with promises to revive the economy and bolster defence. Vietnams success in attracting foreign investors increases the pinch of land scarcity, pushing up prices Photo: Le Toan A representative from a property consultancy told VIR that he has spent several months trying to find a suitable land plot in the southern economic zone to become the manufacturing base for a new tenant from the United States who is planning to manufacture medical masks at a five-hectare facility. With investment capital of $100 million, the investor plans to create 20 manufacturing systems with the total capacity of 30,000 products per hour. While the land plot is not large, in reality, most industrial zones (IZs) with strong facilities in the southern provinces are full, with farther ones lacking the infrastructure required to supply 10,000 cubic metres of fresh water and deal with a waste drainage flow of 8,000 cu.m a day. Moreover, the investor is also demanding a high ceiling of around 20m for the building, a requirement that few landlords can currently meet. The limited space is also pushing up rental prices. A representative from Saigon Rubber Group explained that rents in southern provinces have been increasing, especially in the IZs of Le Minh Xuan, Loc An-Binh Son (Dong Nai), and Phuoc Dong (Tay Ninh). According to figures from JLL Vietnam, despite difficulties caused by the pandemic this year, rents average $106 per square metre per lease term in the southern region, up 9.7 per cent on-year. Paul Tonkes, director of logistics and industrial services at Cushman & Wakefield, said if looking at the 261 operational IZs with around 76 per cent occupancy, it is normal for developers to increase land lease but may still be considered strange in these times. Land lease increases at operational IZs with land available to offset the diminishing land use right term, said Tonkes. IZs under planning incur more costs in compensation, which could drive up the price likely in the areas where urbanisation puts more pressure on land banks. He added that there are now two distinct types of tenants. The first are tenants who have leased land and are not likely to experience price hikes. They only see increases in raw land rental fees in some cases a government non-agricultural tax that is sometimes doubled but is still low for the bottom line. The second type involves tenants who lease ready-built factories that could have a better position to negotiate, as the supply of facilities keeps increasing and more options are made available. What was once a landlord-dominated market starts to become more tenant-favourable. Supported by professionally-renowned international and even local developers entering the marketplace, there are attractive marketing strategies to increase lease-up velocity, Tonkes added. Tenant solutions The limited supply, increasing demand, and rental hikes have pressed some tenants to abandon their rental properties not only in the cities but also in IZs to look for greener pastures, leaving landlords desperately looking for new tenants. In Thang Long Industrial Park II in the northern province of Hung Yen, which was developed by Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation, some Japanese investors have decided to leave after only a couple of years. A representative of the Japanese company said that it cannot suffer the high price of the IZ in addition to the significant impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. Rents in Thang Long Industrial Park II have risen to $6.50 per sq.m a month, while it was $6 three years ago and only $3.50-4 in VSIP and other IZs, the Japanese manager explained. A few weeks after the decision was made, the company chose a new location for the factory in Viglacera Yen My IZ, only 2km from its previous location but with much lower rent. The rent in other IZs operated by Vietnamese developers is quite affordable, around VND50,000-70,000 ($2.20-3) per sq.m a month, only about 40 per cent of what Thang Long Industrial Park II charges and 60 per cent of VSIP, he said. The pandemic has put a halt to most operations, so most companies have to save costs as much as possible to survive. I believe that this is the best decision at this time. In a similar situation, another Japanese company has rented 5ha of land in Que Vo I Industrial Park, in the northern province of Bac Ninh. This group built on 2ha only before COVID-19 checked their plan to expand to the remaining land, so they decided to rent it out instead. If no-one wants to rent this land, we will consider moving the factory to a more affordable location, a company representative said. Discussing with VIR, Tran Quang Hoi, director of consultants Ecobuy, said that the number of businesses moving their factories particularly those from Japan has multiplied, especially after the pandemic. At this time, they prefer affordable IZs like Dai Dong in Bac Ninh, Quang Minh in Hanoi, Dong Van 2 in Ha Nam province, or some locations next to big IZs where the price is in their budget, location is suitable, and they are near their partners factory, Hoi said. Meanwhile, Tonkes from Cushman & Wakefield commented that it was normal for the occupancy rate in such zones of Tier 1 regions to be high and supply-limited. However, there are alternatives in Tier 2 regions that are well linked by infrastructure planning, starting to show up as highly competitive and fast-growing regions with good opportunities to reduce the growing cost of land and labour, especially when enjoying additional tax incentives granted to special economic zones. In Tier 1, more specialised zones like high-tech, and eco- and agro-tech should attract more value-added businesses in IT and research and development, as well as advanced manufacturing that are less price-conscious, Tonkes said. It will likely start with a wave of data centre development in the coming period, driven by the move to digitalisation. New investors on way Although the coronavirus is causing temporary difficulties in long-term investment strategies, industrial properties in Vietnam remain significantly desirable for investors. A media representative from Sydney-based LOGOS recently confirmed with VIR that the group is mobilising around $350 million to invest in logistics, e-commerce, food, and a cold storage system in Vietnam. LOGOS is a growing logistics specialist with operations across the Asia-Pacific. LOGOSs shareholders include ARA Asset Management, a real assets fund manager with more than S$88 billion ($64.5 billion) in gross assets under management globally. LOGOS has so far over 6 million sq.m of property owned and under development with a completed value of Australia $10 billion ($7.27 billion) across 20 ventures worldwide. Previously, GLP Group a global investment manager in logistics and related technology investment and SEA Logistic Partners launched a new joint venture in Vietnam to invest in and develop logistics real estate. Despite refusing to reveal more on the deal as yet, a spokesperson from GLP Group suggested that the venture would initially focus on the two largest markets in the country, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The venture set up an office in Ho Chi Minh City at the beginning of the year and is now actively preparing for operation in the near future. GLP Group manages $89 billion assets and 62 million sq.m of property portfolio with 2,000 completed properties across 630 logistics parks globally. In its annual ranking of the most suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific, Cushman & Wakefield assessed that Vietnam is the second-most competitive manufacturing hub in the world after China, in operating conditions and cost competitiveness perspectives. Vietnam jumped to second position in 2020 from fourth last year. Congratulations, the COVID-19 numbers are looking encouraging now that people are wearing masks, bars are closed, and most people recognize the threat. Our public health system, admittedly, still struggles to test as broadly as needed, and the positivity rate remains higher than we want. But infections, hospitalizations and deaths have declined since mid-July, and for that, we should be grateful. But can we keep it that way, and in so doing, protect our pocketbooks? Striking the right balance between revving the economy and protecting the public is at the root of our current national divide. TOMLINSONS TAKE: 5 months of COVID failure with 10 months to go The toll of Aprils shutdown prompted President Donald Trump and many state and local leaders to prematurely reopen businesses. The death toll popped, but a CBS/YouGov poll this week found that while 90 percent of Democrats say the fatalities from COVID-19 are too high, 57 percent of Republicans think its been acceptable. Current projections predict 300,000 Americans will die by December, and the disease will become the third leading cause of death for 2020 after heart disease and cancer. Whether Republican acceptance of the death rate will decline as the body count doubles is an interesting question. One certainty, though, is that shutting down the economy a second time is off the table. Former Vice President Joe Bidens suggestion that he would lock down the country if scientists made the recommendation is a fantasy intended to appease Democratic Party worrywarts. Polls show most Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of the coronavirus, but no one is marching in the streets demanding a different approach. Any new shutdown would almost certainly trigger conservatives to stage widespread, armed protests like those we saw earlier this summer. Many small businesses would likely remain open, daring authorities to shut them down, like the Dallas salon owner who defied Gov. Greg Abbotts order in May. Experts also are questioning whether such one-size-fits-all closures do more harm than good, according to an insightful piece by Wall Street Journal columnist Greg Ip. A scalpel is always more precise and efficient than a machete if you know where and how to cut. The world has learned a lot about the coronavirus since it emerged in December, and through often painful experimentation, we have made some critical conclusions. With a little vigilance, we can strike a more reasonable path in addressing the disease and supporting the economy. We now know crowded, enclosed spaces are where the virus spreads the fastest. Whether it is a multigenerational apartment in Wuhan, a dance club in Seoul, a cafe in Italy or a bar in Houston, these are the places where the virus can literally go from one person to 24 in a few hours. We now know 40 percent of the infected show no symptoms yet spread the disease like wildfire. Because most asymptomatic people do not know they are carriers, we ask people to wear masks when they enter public spaces to push their viral particles down and away from other peoples noses. We are also learning that when we let our guard down, the coronavirus bounces back quickly. U.S. cases spiked in early April and receded thanks to the lockdown. But when Americans went out for Memorial Day celebrations, infections spread with a vengeance, peaking in late July. For a hint of what will happen as people move indoors, return to work, start school and resume normal activities this fall, Spain offers a cautionary tale. COVID-19 devastated the Iberian Peninsula in March, and the government ordered one of the most draconian lockdowns ever seen in a democracy. The strategy worked, and new cases dropped to an all-time low of 279 a week in June. This week, Spain is averaging 6,622 new cases. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Coronavirus killed the free market. The Federal Reserve has taken charge. Maintaining vigilance is hard. Sustaining unpopular restrictions requires courage. Slowing the spread of COVID-19 is costly. Some people will suffer more than others. Texas bar owners desperately need to reopen to save their businesses from bankruptcy. Hotels need to resume their convention businesses to pay off mortgages. Movie theaters need people to sit together with strangers for 90 minutes at a time. Their employees need their jobs back. I want to attend a conference, eat popcorn in a theater and drink in a bar. But I know the virus is still out there. If we reopen too quickly, the death rate will go up. If we dont reopen, the bankruptcy rate will. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. The best thing we can do for the economy and each other is to act responsibly, stay healthy and help businesses that must remain closed. The virus is not giving us many choices, other than how many people and which businesses we are willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com Chennai: Unaccounted cash to the tune of Rs 36 lakh in the denomination of Rs 2,000 notes were seized from a car in nearby Tirupur district, early on Tuesday and five persons taken into custody in this connection, police said. During a routine vehicle check, the car sped away without stopping at the checkpost but police managed to chase and intercept it at Perumanallur, some 10 KM from Tirupur, they said. They searched and found cash Rs 36 lakh in the denomination of Rs 2,000 notes in the vehicle, police said adding five persons from here were taken into custody for interrogation. Police have informed the Income Tax Department. " " John Wilkes Booth went down in history as the killer of President Abraham Lincoln, but the plot that ended Lincoln's life was a vast conspiracy that went far beyond Booth himself. Library of Congress/HowStuffWorks On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln attended a performance of the comedy "Our American Cousin," accompanied by his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, in addition to a young U.S. Army officer, Maj. Henry R. Rathbone and his fiancee Clara Harris. It seemed like a perfect night for the president to relax. Just five days before, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee had surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, and two days after that, Lincoln had given a speech to a crowd of ex-slaves to celebrate the Union victory in the Civil War. Union forces had occupied Fort Sumpter, the site where the hostilities began in 1861, and houses and public buildings in Washington were illuminated with candles in celebration. But instead, the night turned into a national tragedy. Sometime after 10 p.m., a 26-year-old Maryland-born actor named John Wilkes Booth whom Lincoln had once seen perform in another play at Ford's managed to slip into the president's box and point a Derringer pistol at the back of Lincoln's head. Booth fired a single shot that mortally wounded Lincoln, though he didn't die until the next morning. Booth then dropped the pistol, stabbed Maj. Rathbone in the arm, and then jumped over the box's railing to the stage, breaking his leg in the process, as this account of the killing from the FBI website details. Booth, who shouted the Latin phrase "Sic semper tyrannis" "thus always to tyrants" the motto of Virginia, to the shocked audience, managed to escape from the theater, despite his injury. But 12 days later, he was cornered in a barn in Port Royal, Virginia, by a force of Union soldiers, who lit the structure on fire in an attempt to force Booth out and capture him. But instead, the assassin was shot by a Union Sergeant named Boston Corbett, who explained to frustrated government investigators that God had told him to do it. Booth died seven hours later. But Booth hadn't acted alone. Instead, the actor had been joined in the plot by a group of Confederate sympathizers, whose intention was to somehow stave off the demise of the Confederacy and slavery by killing the Union's leadership. Four of Booth's fellow plotters George Atzerodt, David Herold, Mary Surratt and Lewis Powell were put on trial and executed. Several others were sentenced to prison for their roles in the event. Advertisement Who Were the Plotters? Booth and his co-conspirators originally didn't intend to assassinate Lincoln. Instead, their original goal was to kidnap and hold him hostage. In March 1865, when Booth got a tip that Lincoln would be visiting a military hospital, the group hastily planned to stop his carriage on the way back, overpower the president and his driver, and spirit them away to a hiding place in southern Maryland. But after the Union captured Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, in early April, the plotters' intentions became murderous. Here are the four main members of the plot, who were executed in 1865: " " Mary Surratt owned the boarding house where the conspiracy was hatched. Wikipedia Advertisement Mary Surratt The offspring of a Maryland slave-owning family, Surratt owned a boarding house in Washington where the conspirators met to plan. "Mother, widow, businesswoman and a deeply pious Catholic, Mary Surratt seemed an unlikely assassin's accomplice," as Kate Clifford Larson wrote in a 2011 biography of Surratt. But as a Confederate sympathizer, she turned her boarding house into a safehouse for Confederate secret agents including her son, John, who worked as a courier for the rebels, and helped recruit men to join in Booth's cabal. She was arrested soon after Lincoln's shooting. Her role in the plot remains murky, but the Military Commission that tried the plotters found her guilty of conspiracy and sentenced her to death. On July 7, 1865, she was hanged, and became the first woman to be executed by the U.S. government. Advertisement Lewis Powell " " Lewis Thornton Powell viciously attacked Secretary of State William Seward on the night of the assassination. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty A native of Alabama, Powell joined the Confederate army and was captured by Union forces after being wounded at the battle of Gettysburg in 1863. He escaped from a military hospital and went back to the South to fight some more, before coming back north in January 1865, ostensibly as a deserter. After signing a loyalty oath to the Union, he lived in Baltimore for a while, before he met John Surratt though another Confederate operative and was recruited to join Booth. When the plot evolved from kidnapping to assassination, Powell was assigned to kill Secretary of State William Seward. On the same night that Lincoln was shot, Powell showed up at Seward's home, pretending to be a courier delivering medicine to him, and tried to stab him to death before he was pulled away by Seward's bodyguard. Powell was arrested at Surratt's boarding home, and tried alongside the other conspirators, and hanged July 7, 1865, according to his profile on the UMKC law school's Famous Trials website. Advertisement David Herold The son of a clerk at the Navy store in Washington, he was private school classmate of John Surratt, who introduced him to Booth. On the night of the Lincoln assassination, Herold assisted the injured Booth in escaping, eventually guiding him to the home of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who treated Booth for his broken leg. He travelled with Booth throughout the countyside after the assassination, dodging searchers until the night in late April when he was cornered by Union forces. But unlike Booth, Herold surrendered. At trial, his lawyer tried to convince the military commission that he was a simple-minded man who had been manipulated by Booth. But they didn't buy it, and he was executed alongside the others July 7, 1865, according to his profile on the UMKC law school's Famous Trials website. Advertisement George Atzerodt A native of Germany, Azterodt was a boatman who smuggled Confederate spies into southern Maryland. After being recruited by Booth, he was assigned to kill vice president Andrew Johnson. But as this profile from PBS.org describes, Azterodt lost his nerve and instead went drinking at a hotel bar. " " George A. Atzerodt spent the night of the assassination in a bar. Library of Congress Nevertheless, he was tried as a conspirator and executed July 7, 1865, along with the other three. Atzerodt uttered his last words as the trap door dropped, "May we all meet in the other world. God take me now." Advertisement Other Key Figures Several others accused of roles in the conspiracy were also sentenced to prison, one of the most well known being Dr. Samuel Mudd, the doctor who had treated Booth's leg as he fled through the countryside after the assassination. Mudd was pardoned in 1869 after he used his medical skills to save the lives of prison guards and other convicts suffering from yellow fever at Fort Jefferson, off the island of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, where he had been sent to serve out his sentence. Mudd was only 49 years old when he died of pneumonia Jan. 10, 1883. Another key figure in the conspiracy, John Surratt, who was the son of conspirator Mary Surratt, fled to Canada to avoid capture, and eventually made his way across the ocean to Alexandria, Egypt, where he was arrested by U.S. authorities in November 1866. But after he was returned to the U.S. his trial in a civilian court resulted in a hung jury. He died in 1916 at age 72, according to this profile on the University of Richmond website. Advertisement Was There an Even Bigger Conspiracy? Rumors Persist In the more than 150 years since Lincoln's assassination, many have found it hard to believe that Booth acting in concert with few fellow Confederate sympathizers could have pulled off the monstrous crime of killing the hero who saved the Union. Instead, almost immediately after the news broke of Lincoln's death, rumors began swirling of a more far-reaching plot that possibly included culprits ranging from high-ranking officials in the Confederate government and European bankers to Lincoln's own vice president, Andrew Johnson. "No President had been assassinated up to that point and the idea that an actor and his ragtag co-conspirators could pull it off seemed unlikely to many," explains David Goldfield via email. He's the Robert Lee Bailey professor of history at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, and author of the 2011 book "America Aflame: How the Civil War Created a Nation." "A major crime required a major plot." Some suspected that the plot had to be the work of full-fledged agents of the Confederacy's Secret Service Bureau, operating at the behest of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. But Goldfield, who wrote an article on Lincoln conspiracy theories for the Ford's Theatre website describes another, darker conspiracy theory with anti-Semitic overtones. It revolved around the Rothschilds, a German banking family who had provided large loans to the Confederacy, and Judah P. Benjamin, the Confederate Secretary of State, who happened to be Jewish. Next to Davis and Gen. Robert E. Lee, Benjamin was "probably the most influential person in the Confederate States of America," says Goldfield. " " The crowd of onlookers at the Old Arsenal penitentiary departs after the hanging of the four convicted Lincoln conspirators, July 7, 1865. Buyenlarge/Getty Images The idea of an international Jewish conspiracy against Lincoln resonated among some in the early Republican Party, which included some who'd been involved in the Know Nothing Party, a movent that opposed immigration, particularly of Roman Catholics and Jews, according to Goldfield. "Add to the mix the fact that Edwin Stanton had allegedly made several anti-Semitic remarks and that he was among the leading figures in the post-assassination investigation," Goldfield says. As a result, "It seemed to some that Lincoln's assassination was a Jewish conspiracy and, more particularly, an effort to derail the Union war effort so the Rothschilds could get their money back. Of course, if that was the case, then Booth and company waited too long, because Lee had already surrendered by the time Lincoln was assassinated." Additionally, if some foreign conspirators really had been involved, there were more logical suspects. "The British and the French had motivation to weaken the U.S., a potential rival," Goldfield says. While there aren't any serious questions about who actually killed Lincoln, Goldfield says, there are enough loose ends to continue to intrigue the conspiracy-minded. "There has always been speculation as to where Lincoln's guard was that night at Ford's Theatre," he explains. "Had they been at their posts, they certainly would have stopped Booth from opening the door to Lincoln's box. But historians generally attribute that to dereliction of duty rather than the soldiers being accomplices." Now That's Interesting In the late 1990s, the FBI conducted an exhaustive forensic examination of the Derringer believed to have been used by Booth, after a story arose that it had been stolen from Ford's Theatre by a burglary ring in the 1960s and replaced with a replica. According to this article on the FBI website, investigators eventually determined that the pistol on display matched photos from the 1930s. The body of a missing soldier is believed to have been found 30 miles from the army base at which he was stationed, police have said. Police said in a statement that identification found on the body indicates it is that of Sergeant Elder Fernandes, who went missing from Fort Hood in Texas on 19 August. Forensic confirmation is pending. Temple police said they received a call saying a male had been seen near some railroad tracks, and when officers arrived they determined the man was dead. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fernandes family during this challenging time, Temple Police Chief Shawn Reynolds said. Fernandes had transferred units after reporting sexual abuse, Fort Hood public affairs officer Lieutenant Colonel Chris Brautigam previously said in a statement. The unit sexual assault response coordinator has been working closely with Sgt Fernandes, ensuring he was aware of all his reporting, care, and victim advocacy options, Lt Col Brautigam said. Lt Col Brautigam said Fernandes had been transferred to ensure he received the proper care and ensure there were no opportunities for reprisals. The soldier was last seen on 17 August when officials said a superior dropped him off at his house. Army police reportedly told family members they had discovered the body late on Tuesday, according to Natalie Khawam, the Fernandes familys representation. She said the body was found hanging in a tree. Police have said they do not suspect foul play was involved in the death, but that an investigation is ongoing and an autopsy has been ordered. Fort Hood officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by the Associated Press on Tuesday. Fernandes is the third soldier from the base to go missing in the past year. In April Fort Hood solider Vanessa Guillen went missing on 20 April from a car park at the military base. An attorney for her family said in July that Guillen was bludgeoned to death at the base where she was due to make a complaint about harassment. Agent Damon Phelps said there was no credible information that Guillen had been sexually harassed or assaulted. Additional reporting by the Associated Press. JAKARTA, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Mining operations at Indonesia's Grasberg gold and copper mine have been disrupted as protests by workers over coronavirus restrictions extended into a third day at the mine operated by a unit of Freeport-McMoran Inc. Workers have been blocking access to the world's second-largest copper mine in the easternmost region of Papua since Monday, demanding to be allowed to return to their families who live in a different town for the first time since March and seeking a bonus for working amid a pandemic. "Operations at the mine are carried out on a limited basis, prioritising mining maintenance jobs. We're still assessing the condition," Riza Pratama, a spokesman at PT Freeport Indonesia, said on Wednesday, adding that the company hoped to reach a quick solution to the protest. A protester who declined to be named due to fear of repercussions said nearly all miners had joined the protest and said there had been no production at Grasberg since Tuesday. Freeport employs 13,000 people in Tembagapura, the closest town to the Grasberg mine. Out of these, 389 had tested positive for the coronavirus, with 361 of them now recovered, Pratama said in a text message. On Monday, Pratama said Freeport Indonesia was working on a new working schedule that adhered to "new normal" protocols. Yonpis Tabuni, a workers representative, told Reuters protesters were in a meeting with the management of Freeport Indonesia and government officials to discuss a solution. Workers and the company had yet to agree on how many people are allowed to leave per day, said the protester who declined to be named. "We will follow health protocols like wearing masks and social distancing," he said. Operations at Grasberg are currently shifting from open pit to all-underground mining. The mine is expected to produce 110,000 tonnes of ore per day in 2020. (Reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo Editing by Ed Davies) Actress and Bigg Boss Tamil 3 Fame Vanitha Vijaykumar recently made it to the headlines for her wedding with filmmaker Peter Paul. Well now, as per reports, Peter has been admitted to Chennai's Ramchandra Hospital after complaining of chest pain. Though the actress didn't reveal the illness or the incident that took place, she tweeted, "Lots to say...nothing I can..god is great..believe..everything happens for a reason...life is tough..face it..when u do..trust me..everything will be ok...get tough..hit back...show the world you can.." Lots to say...nothing I can..god is great..believe..everything happens for a reason...life is tough ..face it..when u do..trust me ..everything will be ok...get tough..hit back...show the world you can.. Vanitha Vijaykumar (@vanithavijayku1) August 25, 2020 Earlier in the day, she tweeted that no Corona or haters can pull the duo apart, and said that God had given a challenge to them to test the strength of their love for each other. She wrote, "Yesterday was a very important day we would never forget..god gave us a challenge to face together..to test the strength of our love for each other..we passed with flying colors...I believe in miracles...he is mine and I am his...I always believe god has a plan..now I know why." Yesterday was a very important day we would never forget..god gave us a challenge to face together..to test the strength of our love for each other..we passed with flying colors...I believe in miracles...he is mine and I am his...I always believe god has a plan..now I know why Vanitha Vijaykumar (@vanithavijayku1) August 25, 2020 Vanitha Vijaykumar, who is usually seen sharing glimpses from her life on social media, further thanked her fans and followers for supporting her and Peter during the tough time. She tweeted, "Thanking you lovely souls who sent us messages and cared about us..it means the world to us..life is very short and unpredictable Live and let live." Thanking you lovely souls who sent us messages and cared about us ..it means the world to us..life is very short and unpredictable Live and let live..#spreadthelove #ignorenegativity #LoveInTheTimeOfCorona #COVID19 #vanithavijaykumar #peterpaul Vanitha Vijaykumar (@vanithavijayku1) August 25, 2020 It is to be noted that her recent wedding with Peter became the talk of the town when his first wife, Elizabeth Helen filed a case against the director for marrying the actress without divorcing her. Soon after the incident, several people including netizens and a few celebrities slammed the Bigg Boss Tamil 3 fame for taking such a step. For those who are unaware, Vanitha's recent wedlock marks her third wedding. She was earlier married to actor Akash in the year 2000, which lasted for five years. The actress got remarried to a businessman Anand Jay Rajan, but went on to part ways after four years of marriage. Did Vanitha Vijaykumar Take An Indirect Dig At Meera Mitun's Degrading Remarks On Popular Actors? Vanitha Vijaykumar Demands Rs 2.5 Crore From Lakshmy Ramakrishnan For Defaming Her! The Smart Way to Profit off the Internet of Things By Justin Spittler : Google (GOOG) just made a statement. On August 3, Google announced that its investing $450 million in home security company ADT (ADT). The investment will give Google a 6.6% stake in the company. You might be wondering why the tech giant wants anything to do with ADT. Simple. Googles asserting its dominance in one of todays biggest megatrends . Investors who see where this is headed stand to make a fortune. But only if they know how to play it. And its not Google. The two stocks Ill share with you today offer much more explosive upside. But lets first look at why Google is investing hundreds of millions into ADT. Google, as you know, operates the worlds most popular search engine, and the #1 most trafficked website. But its far from a one-trick pony. Google also owns YouTubethe worlds #1 video platform and the second most-visited website. It owns Androidthe #1 smartphone operating system. And it owns Waymo, the #1 self-driving car tech company. Google Is also a Major Player in the Booming Internet of Things (IoT) Market IoT refers to a world where connected devices talk to each other. Not long ago, IoT was just a buzzword. It was a trend that was always on the horizon but never quite arrived. Not anymore. These days, roughly one in four US adults have an Amazon (AMZN) Alexa, Google Home, or other voice-enabled digital assistant inside their home. The market for smart lightbulbs, thermostats, and home appliance is also exploding. And today, about 21% of Americans own a smartwatch or fitness tracker. Google is at the forefront of the smart home revolution . Thats why last November, Google bought Fitbit, which makes one of the worlds most popular smartwatches, for $2.1 billion. Google also owns Nestone of the worlds most popular smart thermostats and one of the first IoT products to truly go mainstream. Googles new partnership with ADT will only further cement its dominance in this space. The partnership will make Google Nest devices the cornerstone of ADTs smart home offering. ADT will utilize its professional sales and installation network to get Googles smart devices into more peoples hands. ADT will also use Googles artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to provide enhanced security. ADT customers will be able to track whos coming in and out of their homes. ADT surged 57% on the news. Its now trading at its highest price since its 2018 IPO. The deal also lifted the entire IoT market. The Global X Internet of Things ETF (SNSR), a fund that invests in companies benefiting from the IoT craze, is now trading at record highs. But dont worry if you missed out on these big moves. IoT stocks should be top performers for many years to come. The Number of Connected Devices Is Set to Explode According to Statista, there were 23 billion connected devices in 2018. By 2025, there will be more than 75 billion. Thats a three-fold spike in just seven years! But IoT isnt just revolutionizing how we interact with devices in our homes or helping us catch potential burglars. Its also radically changing how goods are produced. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, 35% of US manufacturers have already adopted IoT technology. Use of IoT technologies will only accelerate as connectivity improves (think 5G and edge computing ). Investors can profit off this megatrend by buying SNSR. Its a one-click way to get exposure to IoT. But if you want to make bigger profits, I suggest focusing on the best stocks. And theres one corner of this market that should offer the most explosive gains: connected medical devices. A connected medical device generates, collects, analyzes, and transmits health data. Many provide real-time insights to healthcare providers. Take the pacemaker, for example. These heart tracking devices have been around for decades. Before, if there were any issues, youd have to go see your doctor. Now that theyre connected to the internet, doctors can adjust settings without requiring an invasive procedure or even a visit to the office! Thats just one example. Connected insulin pumps, glucose monitoring devices, and nerve stimulators are also transforming healthcare. All told, about 48% of medical devices were connected in 2018. By 2023, 68% of medical devices will be. Eventually, practically every medical device will be connected! That spells huge opportunity. Healthcare is an enormous market. The US industry alone is worth $3.5 trillion. The sheer size of healthcare, an aging US population, and huge cost savings are driving rapid adoption of connected devices. In fact, mHealthIntelligence estimates that 88% of healthcare providers are already investing in remote patient monitoring solutions. According to investment bank Goldman Sachs (GS), these devices will save the healthcare industry $300 billion annually in the coming years. Connected devices are becoming so big that the space is known as the internet of medical things (IoMT). In 2018, the global IoMT market was valued at just under $45 billion. By 2026, its projected to be a $254 billion market. Thats nearly a six-fold increase in under a decade. Buying the Right IoMT Stocks Can Make You a Fortune For example, subscribers to our premium advisory IPO Insider are already up 328% on Livongo Health (LVGO) in just six months. And its likely headed much higher as it merges with telemedicine giant Teladoc (TDOC). But there will be many more Livongos in the months and years to come. Thanks to COVID-19, demand for contactless care is soaring through the roof. Plus, a bill was introduced in June by two US senators to expand essential access to remote monitoring across rural America and on tribal lands. So, this megatrend has support from Washington. Two of my favorite IoMT stocks are DexCom (DXCM) and Tandem Diabetes Care (TNDM). The Great Disruptors: 3 Breakthrough Stocks Set to Double Your Money" Get our latest report where we reveal our three favorite stocks that will hand you 100% gains as they disrupt whole industries. Get your free copy here. By Justin Spittler Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. John Mauldin Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan is Italy's largest trade partner in the South Caucasus region. Azerbaijan increased oil export to Italy by 5.2 percent in the first half of 2020, local media reported on August 26. According to the report, during the reporting period Azerbaijan exported 5.9 million tons of oil, worth $2.4 billion, to Italy. Moreover, Italy accounted for 38.8 percent of Azerbaijans oil exports in January-June 2020. The number of large buyers of Azerbaijani oil in the reporting period also included China with 1.3 million tons worth $217.9 million, Croatia with 852,657 tons worth $242.9 million, Israel with 809,101 tons worth $324.7 million, India with 773,700 tons worth $282.9 million, Ukraine with 764,528 tons worth $202.1 million, Greece with 609,361 tons worth $233.2 million and Vietnam with 518,7 tons worth $132.7 million. Italy is one of Azerbaijans main trade partner and some 113 Italian companies, operating in various fields, are registered in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is one of Italys three main energy resources suppliers and the implementation of the Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline project will raise cooperation between two countries. Last year, Azerbaijan was the largest supplier of crude oil to Italy. Azerbaijan accounts for 17 percent of crude oil consumption in Italy. The mutual trade turnover amounted to $7 billion in 2019. It should be noted that the volume of Azerbaijans foreign trade turnover amounted to $15 billion in the period between January and July 2020. During the reporting period, export amounted to $9.1 billion, which is 61.46 percent of the total volume of foreign trade. Exports volume amounted to $1.2 billion for European countries, $1.5 billion for CIS countries, and $3.1 billion for other countries. Top five countries in terms of export during the reporting period were Italy with $1.8 billion, Turkey with $351 million, Israel with $254 million, Greece with $188 million, and India with $170 million. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said an Israeli delegation and top aides to United States President Donald Trump will visit the United Arab Emirates together on August 31. This meeting is meant to talk on the deal which will fix the relationship between two middle east countries. This will be the first-ever visit of commercial flight between the two countries. This important development would be the first high-level meeting between three parties since United States President Donald Trump announced organized accord to settle ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on August 13. Read: Donald Trump Warns Of 'rigged Election', Says 'This Is The Only Way' Democrats Can Win Pursuant to his declaration regarding the historic peace agreement between Israel and the UAE, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed National Security Adviser and NSC Head Ben-Shabbat to lead a professional Israeli delegation to Abu Dhabihttps://t.co/ThtwJY6gem pic.twitter.com/omkAZ40hWW PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 25, 2020 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that, from the United States, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, national security adviser Robert OBrien, Unites States Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz and other US officials will travel together with an Israeli delegation, which will be led by national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat. Read: Donald Trump's Sister Describes Him As 'cruel' & 'liar' On Secret Recordings: Report Prime Minister Netanyahu: "I have directed NSC head Meir Ben-Shabbat to lead a professional Israeli delegation for talks in the UAE next week. This delegation will work with a US team and a team from the UAE to advance the peace and normalization between Israel and the UAE. PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 25, 2020 This is a historic agreement. It will bring engines of growth. It can help bring about an economic flourishing in general and during the corona era in particular. I hope that other countries in our region will join the circle of peace. PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 25, 2020 PM Netanyahu: "I also hope that you, citizens of Israel will also be able to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi soon. There is much to see there." PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 25, 2020 The deal between two middle eastern countries still anticipate negotiations on details such as opening embassies, trade, and travel links before it is officially signed. On the other hand, the all-weather enemy of Israel, Philistine quoted this deal as Betrayal by the United Arab Emirates. Read: US Officials: 1st Israel-UAE Commercial Flight Next Week An Israeli airplane will take United States officials and Israeli delegation direct from Tel Aviv airport to Abu Dhabi and according to media reports, this would be the first-ever commercial flight between Israel and Unites Arab Emirates. Talks will focus on ways to promote Israeli-UAE cooperation in sectors such as aviation and tourism, trade, finance, health, energy, and security, Netanyahu said. The third country to agree The UAE is just the third Arab country to agree to official relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan. Israeli and American officials have expressed hope that other Gulf Arab countries will soon follow suit, with relations based on mutual commercial and security interests, and their shared enmity toward Iran. (Image Credit-AP) Read: US FDA 'will Revoke Authorization' Of Plasma To Treat COVID 'if Needed', Says Chief Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kelly McNamara (Agence France-Presse) London Wed, August 26, 2020 10:00 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4085aab 2 Environment rainforest,birds Free Songbirds in tropical rainforests curtail their reproduction to help them survive droughts, according to a study Monday. Species with longer lifespans were better able to cope with this environmental volatility than previously thought, researchers found. With more record hot spells gripping parts of the planet and biodiversity threatened by human encroachment on habitats, a crucial question is whether species can adapt to these ever-harsher conditions. Droughts -- expected to become more common because of climate change -- confront birds with a trade-off between reproduction and their own survival, researchers said, because producing eggs and feeding chicks requires additional energy even as food becomes scarcer. But the study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that instead of trying to juggle the demands of new offspring and harsh environmental conditions, most of the songbird species studied opted to reduce their reproduction during drought. The research used data on 38 species in Venezuela and Malaysia from 17 years of fieldwork, including a period of drought in each country. It found that reproduction was reduced by an average of 36 percent in the 20 Malaysian species and 52 percent in the 18 Venezuelan species. Birds with a longer lifespan had the biggest slowdown in breeding during dry spells. "In general, species that greatly decreased breeding during the drought (that is, longer-lived species) experienced increased adult survival," co-author James Mouton, of the University of Montana, told AFP. "This was surprising as we were expecting droughts to reduce survival to some degree in all species." Read also: Search for birds of paradise in Indonesia, and youll find so much more Birds with shorter lifespans -- which could less easily afford to curtail reproduction -- either kept breeding or only made minor cut backs. But they were also less likely to survive. The authors then modeled how certain species might fare under three different climate change scenarios. They estimated that, while an increase in the frequency of droughts would reduce all bird populations studied, the longer-lived species were more resilient. Mouton said the research suggests that "populations of longer-lived species of tropical songbirds may be better able to mitigate the effects of droughts than previously thought". But he cautioned drought was only one aspect of climate change that would be a potential threat to bird populations, and that these act alongside other risks, particularly the degrading or fragmentation of habitats. In a commentary on the study also published in Nature, Goncalo Ferraz, of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, said species ability to adapt may not be enough to ensure their survival. He said the study "offers an exciting contribution to understanding the dynamics of animal populations under environmental stress, but it does not change the central importance of habitat availability for species survival." Topics : rainforest birds CHICAGO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tim Clue is a learning challenged youth who became known as The Unlikely Teacher and a top motivational speaker and advocate for educators across the country. Clue is bringing a reimagined online experience to school districts unable to gather for traditional in-person training. The Unlikely Teacher Tim Clue entertains educators. Clue is now offering his one of kind experience as a virtual presentation. Visit www.funnyeducator.com for details. "As an untraditional learner or as I like to say, left-handed dyslexic ADHD rug rat," Clue states, "I've been fortunate to bring my humor and approach to our nation's educators and schools. But when things suddenly changed, I was challenged to play a part in this next turn and address the stress and burden of distant learning. But the creative challenge was how to maintain the same degree of interaction, humor and vibrant content in a remote setting." Recharge & Repair was the result, a virtual seminar designed to prepare educators for an unpredictable school year. Live interactive polling, paired with funny, artful images and video create a one of kind theatrical webinar that provides laughter and relieves stress. A partnership with the innovative tech design company, SlidePro Solutions, was a vital step for Clue and his business partner, Spike Manton, to elevate the experience. Manton elaborates, "The interactive elements and the creative use of multi-media allows us to provide a relief from the same old online experience and the crushing screen fatigue that results." "Look, I was a bad student, then an okay teacher, and then a great teacher," Clue explains. "My life has been all about education and improving the process of learning. Developing and presenting Recharge & Repair is a chance to acknowledge and reward other educators who are engaged in that process on a daily basis." Manton adds, "It's simply a fun, relevant way to provide a little catharsis, laughter, and a path forward in uncertain times." Educational author Carol Dweck's foundational work on "Fixed versus Growth mindset" will undergo a historical stress test with kids, teachers and parents as we all lean hard on our best practices and untested processes and yes, probably pray a bit, for the best outcomes. Clue and Manton both sigh and nod, "Yep, that's it. Yep." Contact: Spike Manton, Owner, EIO LLC 773-501-7755 [email protected] funnyeducator.com SOURCE Tim Clue Related Links https://www.funnyeducator.com Barcelona fans gather at the Camp Nou to demand Bartomeu's resignation FC Barcelona - La Liga Dozens at the stadium Dozens of Barcelona fans have gathered outside the Camp Nou to protest after reports emerged on Tuesday over Lionel Messi's decision to leave the club. The Argentine has sent a fax to the Blaugrana asking to be released this summer with a year left in his contract. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu's management was the main subject of the protesters' chants. "Bartomeu, resign," shouted the fans, some wearing shirts with Messi's name on the back. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Finix, the payments infrastructure company, has raised additional funding to help vertical Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers and fintech companies build better payments experiences for their merchants, bringing Finix's total funding to $96 million to date. This latest financing is an extension of Finix's $45 million Series B round announced in March 2020 and comes on the heels of a 4.5x increase in payments volume from Q2 2019 to Q2 2020 . Lightspeed Venture Partners led the extension with American Express Ventures' participation. "Businesses everywhere are turning to digital payments and SaaS tools to manage the challenges and changes brought on by the pandemic. We're proud of the role we've played in helping our customers respond to new demands ," said Richie Serna, CEO and Co-founder of Finix. "As we look to bring the power of embedded payments to more companies, we're excited to have Lightspeed and American Express Ventures as investors who intimately know the software and small business worlds. The new capital allows us to bring in top-tier talent and more quickly pursue our goal of turning all software companies into payments companies." Payments is a massive and fast-growing industry$2 trillion growing at 6% per annum. Recent months have seen private and public market activity underscore the significant growth of the payments industry worldwide. The pandemic has also turned many businesses towards cloud infrastructure and platform services like Finix provides. In Q2 2020, cloud spending rose to $30.5 billion , $7.5 billion more than the same quarter of last year. Both the cloud and digital payments transformations are in their early stages. As the trends grow and merge, SaaS enterprises are increasingly looking to manage payments infrastructure the way they do web services. "Finix brings together three of our main areas of interestenterprise software, eCommerce, and fintechto empower software companies to design payments deeply and thoughtfully into their user experience while also improving their bottom line. The pandemic has made it clear that seamless digital payments experiences are more critical to success than ever before. Massive enterprises and startups alike should take advantage of Finix and its spot at the intersection of the cloud and payments," said Will Kohler, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners. Finix's growing and diverse customer base includes mobility management platform, Passport Labs , private club management software platform, Clubessential , retail point-of-sale company, Lightspeed POS , and more. SaaS companies and fintechs like these are using Finix APIs to build and manage business-critical payments experiences for the same reasons they use cloud services: to reduce cost, increase flexibility, and accelerate time to market. And just like with cloud, as digital payments are adopted, the beneficiaries are increasingly small businesses using SaaS tools. "Traditionally, companies who have wanted to operate their own payments infrastructure either had to build payments capabilities in-house, which is costly and time-consuming, or outsource to a third-party provider, which can also be expensive. Finix provides a solution that enables companies to own, manage and monetize their entire payments experience," said Lindsay Fitzgerald, Managing Director at American Express Ventures. "Finix and American Express share a dedication to helping businesses simplify operations and grow their business. We are excited to support Finix's continued growth as they deliver tools for eCommerce innovators." About Finix Finix is the smartest way for businesses to own, manage, and monetize payments. Built by payments experts from Klarna, PayPal, and Worldpay, Finix is trusted by companies like Lightspeed POS Inc., Passport, and Clubessential to build and scale their payments infrastructure. Headquartered in San Francisco, with an additional office in Cincinnati, Ohio, Finix is a privately held company funded by American Express Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Homebrew, Inspired Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, Visa, and others. To learn more, visit www.finixpayments.com . Media Contact Carolyn Reynolds [email protected] SOURCE Finix Related Links https://www.finixpayments.com Education Minister Peter Weir is recommending that school children should wear face coverings in corridors Drink-only pubs, theatres and private members' clubs in Northern Ireland will not be permitted to reopen on Tuesday as planned. The Executive Office said the previous indicative dates have been postponed due to the spread of the virus. "With the increased transmission rate of the virus in the community and the R number at around 1.3, the Executive agreed that no further restrictions will be lifted at this time," an Executive Office spokesman said. "The indicative date of September 1 for the opening of wet pubs, private members' clubs and audiences returning to theatres has not been ratified by the Executive. "Officials have engaged with the different stakeholder bodies and no new indicative dates have been set." It comes after there were no further deaths and 72 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Northern Ireland on Wednesday. The total number of positive cases is now 6,895. The death toll remains at 559. So far 277,575 people have been tested for the virus. There are currently 17 Covid-19 patients in hospital, one of these patients is in intensive care. There are 12 active outbreaks of coronavirus in care homes. Earlier today, Education Minister Peter Weir has said there "will be bumps along the road" after a primary school in Belfast recorded a positive Covid-19 test. Cairnshill Primary School in Belfast has shut part of its building and some pupils and staff will have to self-isolate for 14 days. "I've indicated from the start, in relation to this, there will be bumps along the road, there will at time need to be interventions," Weir told Good Morning Ulster. "There will be times when the PHA says an individual student needs to isolate, or a group of students, or indeed a school will need to. "Nobody has tried to hide that or pretend otherwise, but the important thing is that we're getting our young people back into education." Read More Here's how Wednesday unfolded: COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 4Stop ("FourStop GmbH") a leading global provider for KYB/KYC, compliance and fraud prevention technology, partners with global payment service provider emerchantpay to offer even more secure online payments for their merchants across the globe. Global PSP emerchantpay partners with 4Stop's KYC and Anti-Fraud to maximise fraud defence agility. emerchantpay empowers businesses around the world to accept seamless payments with sophisticated payment technology, coupled with popular global payment methods and a wide range of acquiring services. Since 2002, emerchantpay connects businesses with their customers in more than 80 countries on a mission to make payments easy. Leveraging the latest technology and providing secure payment experiences for their customers is at the heart of emerchantpay's operations. As an early adopter of data orchestration hubs to manage risk mitigation requirements efficiently back in 2018, emerchantpay acknowledges the clear benefits towards optimised business performance. With a single API integration back in January 2019 to 4Stop's KYB/KYC data and anti-fraud orchestration hub, emerchantpay further enhanced their robust infrastructure and offered even greater security to their merchants. During this strategic partnership, emerchantpay has successfully verified thousands of customers, achieving more than a 67% authorisation approval rate. On top of that, implementing 4Stop's solution enabled emerchantpay to minimise their development hours, manual resources and strenuous costs. These advantages became more relevant during the pandemic and surge in e-commerce as people shift their spending habits online. According to an Adobe report, online spending hit $82.5 billion in May, up 77% year-over-year. (1) In parallel, cybercrime is rapidly rising as sophisticated fraudsters capitalise on the vulnerability of online users and businesses that haven't leveraged enhanced risk mitigation protocols to manage KYC and anti-fraud for the increased registration and transaction volumes. Furthermore, many localised regions have expanded regulation mandates in conjunction with the continuous updates into AML and payment regulations - such as the PSD2 regulation in effect as of Dec 31, 2020, which will require Strong Customer Authentication. 4Stop's powerful orchestration hub enables emerchantpay to easily manage their registration security measures, overall risk mitigation needs and worldwide regulatory requirements for their merchants. emerchantpay activated 4Stop's KYC onboarding suite, enhanced with real-time document identity verifications and dynamic anti-fraud technology encompassing dynamic decision-making frameworks, customised workflows, cascading rules logic along with real-time analysis, and intelligent monitoring. emerchantpay's Head of Risk, Mr. George Ralchev, commented: "The powerful KYC compliance aggregator allows emerchantpay to maintain compliance in different aspects of the business. The sanctions list screening part of the KYC compliance tool of 4Stop gives significant value not only to the core PSP and acquiring business of emerchantpay group but also to the recently launched e-wallet and pre-paid card operations," he said. 4Stop's data-driven business underwriting solution provides access to hundreds of global KYB data services and a paramount of anti-fraud. At any point, emerchantpay can easily activate additional data services or fraud prevention capabilities in real-time with a one-click activation process. To learn more, visit emerchantpay or 4Stop's website or contact [email protected]. Related Images 4stop-and-emerchantpay.jpg 4Stop and emerchantpay Global PSP emerchantpay partners with 4Stop's KYC and Anti-Fraud to maximise fraud defence agility. Related Links 4Stop emerchantpay SOURCE FourStop GmbH Related Links https://4stop.com ORANGE, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles San Diego San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service, continues to lead improvement efforts in partnership with Amtrak to keep riders safe onboard all Pacific Surfliner trains. At key locations onboard, passengers can now access a variety of cleaning products including alcohol-based hand sanitizer and antibacterial surface wipes. Packaged cleansing towelettes, which were available previously, are also on hand in the Market Cafe (located in Car 3). Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Adds Sanitizing Stations Onboard to Keep Southern California Moving Safely "As we do our part to help keep Southern California moving, our priority continues to be ensuring a safe environment for our passengers and crews," said LOSSAN Agency Chairman Al Murray. "These additional resources are one way we are helping riders feel more confident when they travel by train." Crews are also completing the installation of plexiglass barriers in the Market Cafe on all trains, which provide added protection for customers purchasing food and beverages. While the Pacific Surfliner is operating on a reduced daily schedule, normal train lengths are being maintained to allow plenty of room for social distancing onboard. A number of other safety and cleaning measures have also been implemented since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The LOSSAN Agency worked with Amtrak's public health and safety team, which has a full-time medical director, on the following procedures and guidelines for Pacific Surfliner trains: Enhanced cleaning protocols: Amtrak has increased the frequency of cleaning service, including the use of disinfectants to wipe down seats, handrails, doorknobs, and other high-touch surfaces. Amtrak has increased the frequency of cleaning service, including the use of disinfectants to wipe down seats, handrails, doorknobs, and other high-touch surfaces. Physical distancing: Signage has been displayed at stations and onboard trains to indicate safe distances in high-traffic areas. Signage has been displayed at stations and onboard trains to indicate safe distances in high-traffic areas. Facial coverings: In accordance with State guidelines, passengers and crews must wear face masks while inside the stations, on the platforms, and aboard the trains and Thruway buses. In accordance with State guidelines, passengers and crews must wear face masks while inside the stations, on the platforms, and aboard the trains and Thruway buses. Contact-free booking options : Book, board, and check train status through PacificSurfliner.com, Amtrak.com, or the Amtrak app and board with eTickets, which conductors scan from a mobile device. : Book, board, and check train status through PacificSurfliner.com, Amtrak.com, or the Amtrak app and board with eTickets, which conductors scan from a mobile device. Cashless payments: Amtrak is accepting cashless payments only, including at stations and the onboard Market Cafe. Amtrak is accepting cashless payments only, including at stations and the onboard Market Cafe. Disinfectants onboard for travelers: Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are available for passengers at stations and onboard trains. Travelers are encouraged to check and adhere to local public health orders in effect for the areas in which they start and end their trip. Customers are encouraged to monitor their health and reschedule their travel in the event they are not feeling well, taking advantage of Pacific Surfliner's flexible ticketing options. Visit the Pacific Surfliner website for additional health and safety information and to plan a trip. SOURCE Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Related Links https://www.pacificsurfliner.com Shocking advertisements have appeared online promising to sell tiger, white lion and cheetah cubs to Australians. The advertisements were found on classified sites and social media before being reported to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water. Sellers promise to send the exotic animals to Australia from countries such as Turkey and Cameroon. Donalea Patman, founder of animal charity For The Love Of Wild, was alerted to the advertisements on August 10. Shocking advertisements have appeared online promising to sell tiger, white lion and cheetah cubs to Australians The advertisements offer the big cats 'for sale to any loving and caring homes' She immediately contacted one seller, who said they had sent cubs to Melbourne in 2012 and would be able to do the same for her. 'We know all the importation requirements of Australia,' the seller said in an WhatsApp message to Ms Patman. 'If you are a private zoo owner, it makes it even more easier to import white lion cubs. 'All we need are your names and delivery address so that we can document and ship to you.' The seller said they microchip and vaccinate the animals and provide the proper documentation. White lion cubs were being sold for $1,000 each and white tiger cubs for $1,050. The seller even offered to declaw cheetah cubs and assured Ms Patman she would not have any trouble with customs, Yahoo Australia reported. Ms Patsman took to social media on Tuesday to slam scammers who advertise the sale of exotic animals in Australia. 'The sale of exotic pets on these sites drives the desire to own these animals - we're in lockdown and people are trolling through these platforms thinking that it is OK to buy and own exotic pets,' she wrote on Facebook. 'One seller stating that all their big cats are declawed! Ms Patsman took to social media on Tuesday to slam sellers who advertise the sale of exotic animals in Australia - only for seller to discover the sales person is from overseas IMPORTING LIVE AND EXOTIC ANIMALS INTO AUSTRALIA Bringing certain types of animals into Australia can have a devastating impact on the environment. Only dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and some birds can be imported into Australia as pets. And even then, the importation must meet strict conditions. Reptiles such as turtles, tortoises, snakes and lizards can be imported for zoos but not as pets. Insects can not be imported for any reason. Source: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water Advertisement 'Whilst we focus on wet markets in China, the biggest issue is the global LEGAL trade in endangered species. Worth a staggering US$320billion a year and yet the system that facilitates and manages that trade hasn't been updated since the 70s.' The advertisements have been reported to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water who in turn referred them to the ACCC's Scamwatch department. 'The Department of Agriculture has informed Scamwatch of these ads, however to date we have not received any reports regarding these websites or scams involving similar exotic animals,' an ACCC spokesperson told Yahoo. 'We are and will continue to monitor Scamwatch reports.' The maximum penalty for wildlife trade offences in Australia is ten years in jail or a fine of $210,000. Chinese fishing boat repelled for illegally operating in Vietnamese waters Vietnamese authorities drove away a Chinese-flagged fishing boat that illegally entered the countrys waters. The case was detected by the force of Con Co Border Post in the central province of Quang Tri on Tuesday. The boat coded 05086 with four on board was found fishing in the area some seven nautical miles from Con Co Islands Southeast. The Chinese boat with four on board was found fishing illegally in the area some seven nautical miles from Con Co Islands Southeast The case was then reported to the provincial Border Guard Command for the solution. At around 2:20 pm on the same day, Vietnamese authorities got access to the Chinese boat and drove it away. In March last year, Chinese vessel numbered 44101 rammed and sank a Vietnamese fishing boat while it was operating in the Da Loi (Discovery) Reef off Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, the National Committee for Incident, Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue reported. After the case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed a diplomatic note to representatives from the Chinese embassy in Hanoi to oppose the Chinese vessels action and demanded compensation for Vietnamese fishermen. The Kremlin has said it does not want the illness of Russias opposition leader, who is in a coma in a German hospital after a suspected poisoning, to affect relations with the West. The statement came two days after doctors at the Berlin hospital where Alexei Navalny is being treated said tests indicated he was poisoned, and minutes before before Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined other Western officials in demanding a transparent investigation into the 44-year-olds condition. The poisoning of (Alexei) Navalny shocked the world, Mr Johnson said in a tweet. He added: The perpetrators must be held accountable, (and) the UK will join international efforts to ensure justice is done. The poisoning of Alexey @Navalny shocked the world. The UK stands in solidarity with him & his family. We need a full, transparent investigation into what happened. The perpetrators must be held accountable & the UK will join international efforts to ensure justice is done. Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 26, 2020 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow categorically disagreed with hasty conclusions that Mr Navalny was a victim of an intentional poisoning, and said it does not want the situation to affect its ties with the West. Mr Peskov told reporters: Of course, we wouldnt want that Secondly, there is no reason whatsoever for it. We are absolutely, no less than others, interested in understanding what led to a coma. Mr Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator who is one of Russian President Vladimir Putins fiercest critics, fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Expand Close Alexei Navalny is being treated in Germany (AP/Pavel Golovkin, File) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Alexei Navalny is being treated in Germany (AP/Pavel Golovkin, File) Over the weekend, he was transferred to the Charite hospital in Berlin, where doctors found indications of cholinesterase inhibitors in his system. These act by blocking the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells. Mr Navalny is being treated with the antidote atropine. His allies say the Kremlin is behind the illness of its most prominent critic. Russian officials have denounced the accusations as empty noise. The pressure on Moscow mounted after Charite revealed its findings. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a thorough investigation into Mr Navalnys condition. Officials in France and Norway echoed her sentiment, and the US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the US stands ready to assist with a probe, if reports of a poisoning prove accurate. Expand Close Mr Navalnys wife, Julia, arrives at the Charite hospital in Berlin where her husband is being treated (Christoph Soeder/dpa via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Navalnys wife, Julia, arrives at the Charite hospital in Berlin where her husband is being treated (Christoph Soeder/dpa via AP) Mr Pompeos deputy Stephen Biegun met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and other diplomats on Tuesday. According to Russias Foreign Ministry, Mr Biegun warned that if Mr Navalnys poisoning is confirmed, the US could take steps that will exceed Washingtons response to findings of Russias meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. The ministry said Russian diplomats warned Mr Biegun against making unfounded accusations and noted that Russian authorities stand for a thorough and maximally objective investigation of what happened. The Kremlin said there are no grounds for a criminal investigation so far since it has not been fully established what caused the politician to fall into a coma. Mr Peskov said Mr Navalnys condition may have been triggered by other causes. Mrs Merkels spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer, said there is no reason to doubt the German doctors findings. From the side of the German government, there is the fullest trust in the work of the doctors, Mr Demmer said, adding that Germany takes the clinical evidence of a poisoning very seriously. South Korea reported 441 new coronavirus cases, the highest since March, as the country's health ministry flagged risks from new clusters at call centers and logistics warehouses. Turmoil over the recent move by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise its testing guidance for people without symptoms escalated Wednesday as the governors of New York and California both said they would not be following the new guidance. The CDC now says people who came into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 "do not necessarily need a test," a declaration that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized as "political propaganda." Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir, who leads the Trump administration's testing effort, denied that there was any push from the Trump administration to make the change. Here are some of today's biggest developments: Following the shooting of Jacob Blake, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Wisconsin released a statement calling for community-controlled policing oversight and federal funding to create a civilian corps of unarmed first responders. AFSCME Wisconsin rebukes the shooting of Jacob Blake at the hands of the Kenosha Police, the organization said. Amid a renewed call to honor and protect Black life, officers from the Kenosha Police Department terrorized the families they swore to protect, AFSCME Wisconsin Executive Director Patrick Wycoff said in a release issued Tuesday. Shooting a Black man in the back in the presence of his children was not just reckless, it is an abuse of power. AFSCME Wisconsin said in a press release that the organization demands the implementation of community-controlled policing oversight; robust community services; investment in behavioral health, social services, education and housing; and an end to federally supported militarized police presence in communities. Without these measures in place, trust cannot be built and repaired with the community and those who the police force swears to protect, the organization stated. In solidarity with national efforts, AFSCME Wisconsin advocates for federal funding to create a civilian corps of unarmed first responders such as social workers, EMTs and health professionals who are trained to handle nonviolent emergencies and specialize in de-escalation. Moreover, AFSCME Wisconsin lends its support to the creation of a national database to prevent officers who have been removed from employment or resigned in the face of misconduct, from being reemployed by another law enforcement agency. As public employees, we spend our lives and labor investing in our communities, Wycoff said. Disregard for the lives of our neighbors of color destroys the trust we have worked so hard to build. We cannot heal the wounds of white supremacy and brutality against the working class while this senseless violence persists. The safety of one means the safety of all. We cannot let up until each community member feels safe. We stand in solidarity with the family of Jacob Blake and reiterate that Black lives matter. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As a wellness entrepreneur myself, I cant help but be intrigued by this competition, and I cant wait to see what the future of wellness looks like through these young entrepreneurs eyes. The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy, today announced the three finalists in its annual Shark Tank of Wellness competition. The three students were chosen from a global pool of 121 submissions, spanning 36 countries. The Shark Tank of Wellness competition furthers the Summits mission to support and encourage future wellness leaders worldwide. 2020 has been a remarkable year for our always popular student competition. We launched the call for submissions just as the pandemic was taking hold in the world and as wellness and self-care became a rallying cry across the globe, said Nancy Davis, chief creative officer and executive director of the GWS. I think GWS delegates will be incredibly interested in learning how the next generation of wellness thought leaders and entrepreneurs are resetting and reimagining wellness. Finalists include Balazs Csatlos from Hungarys University of Pannonia for the Sleeping Beauty sleep mask, a new high-tech solution for getting a good nights sleep; Krysta Mendes Silva from Atlanta, GAs Savannah College of Art and Design for Samii, a set of utensils that detects and alerts users of allergenic proteins in food; and Liam James Campbell also from Atlanta, GAs Savannah College of Art and Design for Melo, a multi-functional pregnancy pillow to enhance sleep/rest. The finalists will be grilled on-stage, shark-tank style, in front of delegates at the GWS conference being held November 811, 2020, at The Breakers Palm Beach. This years Wellness Sharks are investors and executives from an array of wellness industries: Karen Campbell, business development consultant at Chiva-Som (Thailand), a pioneer in health and wellness resorts Julia Sutton, COO, Exhale Enterprises, which operates as the boutique fitness and spa brand Exhale Spa, a wellness business that was acquired by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Frank Pitsikalis, founder and CEO of ResortSuite (Canada), software for managing guest information and streamlining operations in spas, clubs, hotels and resorts As a wellness entrepreneur myself, I cant help but be intrigued by this competition, and I cant wait to see what the future of wellness looks like through these young entrepreneurs eyes, said Julia Sutton, chief operating officer of Exhale Enterprises, who is representing both Exhale and its parent company, Hyatt Hotels, as a 2020 Wellness Shark. The theme of the 2020 GWS is a global call to action: Resetting the World with Wellness. The 2020 conference is a historic opportunity for wellness business leaders, government and policymakers, and the medical and technology worlds to come together to explore how more comprehensive and inclusive wellness concepts can remake the world post-pandemic. Every aspect of the Summit will be curated to deliver a safe, hygienic way for people to meet again. Dr. Richard Carmona, former US Surgeon General, is serving as medical advisor and working closely with the GWS and The Breakers team, along with local and federal government agencies, to ensure that the GWS exceeds all standards for a safe gathering. The Breakers, the site of the successful 2017 GWS, is a sprawling beachfront property that will enable appropriate physical distancing and generous use of outdoor space. To learn more about the Summit or to register, click here. About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an invitation-only international gathering that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Held in a different location each year, Summits have taken place in the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. The 14th annual Summit will take place at The Breakers Palm Beach, FL, from November 811, 2020. The 2021 GWS will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 1518. Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea cast ballots to elect its new chairman and five Supreme Council members through an online voting system at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Due to a resurgence of COVID-19, the party will hold its convention online, Saturday, where the result of the poll will be announced. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun Judge denies motion for 3 Ore. Christian schools to reopen in-person classes Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge in Oregon has ruled against three Christian schools seeking to re-open for in-person learning this fall, arguing that the states restrictions on in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic are constitutional. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman ruled in favor of Gov. Kate Browns June executive order last Thursday and denied a motion by Horizon Christian School, McMinnville Christian Academy and Life Christian School. In my view the religious institutions here in K-through-12 arent being treated in any way differently than public K-through-12 institutions, U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman ruled, according to Oregon Live. John Kaempf, an attorney representing the three schools, argued that the schools want to be treated the same as universities and daycare centers, which are allowed to open for in-person instruction. The lawsuit claims that Browns order violates the First Amendment rights of the institutions. Zoom learning is not what Christian learning is about, Kaempf contended in court, according to the Associated Press. My clients are called to communal in person faith-based learning. Oregon attorney Marc Abrams argued that the restrictions in place were necessary due to the risk to public health caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Browns executive order initially allowed in-person learning at public and private K-12 schools with the condition that they follow guidance by the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education. But under Browns extended order, a county must have 10 or fewer COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and have 5% or fewer positive tests per week to reopen for in-person instruction. Also, the state must have 5% or fewer positives tests. According to a report from The Oregonian last week, 5.4% of tests statewide are coming back positive while the statewide infection rate was 50 per 100,000 residents. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been nearly 25,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Oregon since the pandemic began. The schools argued that their institutions will be irreparably harmed and could be forced to close entirely if they are not allowed to hold in-person classes. Religious schools serve as an essential service, the schools legal filing reads. The educational, psychosocial, and emotional wellbeing of plaintiffs students must take precedence. Not only is plaintiffs students wellbeing on the line during the pandemic, but so is plaintiffs viability as religious organizations. However, Mosman, a George W. Bush appointee, argued that the states interest in mitigating that spread of the virus outweighs the interests of the schools. The harm the state is trying to prevent is death and not just death as in a few, but the possibility of a widespread pandemic killing our most vulnerable citizens, Mosman was quoted as saying. Other private schools in Oregon are also looking to open for in-person classes this fall. Two schools in Deschutes County sent a letter to Brown on Aug. 10 asking her to re-examine the states metrics for school reopening to provide more lenient guidelines, according to The Redmond Spokesman. Brown stated last week at a press conference that the infection rate in the state is still too high to get our kids safely back into the classrooms in most of our schools this fall. To keep students, teachers and staff safe in our schools across the state, we need to see a much more rapid decline in case numbers, and we need to see it quickly, she said, according to The Chronicle. Private Christian schools across the nation are facing similar struggles. In Texas, a Christian school announced last week it 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 its 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 to Cameron County Chief Legal Counsel Juan Gonzalez about the matter on Aug. 18. [P]rivate, 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, Dys argued in the letter, citing earlier guidance from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stating that private schools are exempt from closing in-person instruction. In California, religious schools are suing Gov. Gavin Newsom over his order prohibiting in-person instruction at public and private schools during the pandemic. Chetan Kumar has been away from the movies for a while now. The actor who was last seen on screen in 2017s Athiratha has mostly been busy with his social work these past few years. And now, he has now signed his next big movie which is an action thriller titled Maarga (The Path). The film is being directed by debutant director Mohan and will also star Kushi and Reeshma Nanaiah as the female leads. Speaking about his new venture, Chetan told Times of India, "Although this is director Mohan's first film, I have worked with him earlier on other projects that he was associated with and have known him for about seven years. He came to me about six months ago and gave me a basic narration of what he intended to work on, which intrigued me. He worked on it over the last six months and what drew me to the film was characterisation and use of technology in the story." He went on to add, I tend to judge the progress of an industry or a film in particular by the portrayal of women. Films that are high on toxic masculinity, I have consistently rejected. Maarga, has two strong female characters, who are playful but without undermining them. They also play a major part of in how the narrative unfolds." The actor also took to his social media accounts to thank power star Puneeth Rajkumar for launching the film. Chetan shared a picture and wrote, Appu Sir, thank you for attending our 'Maarga' film launch yesterday & supporting our team. Check out the post below: ALSO READ: Did Chetan Kumar Take A Dig At Dhruva Sarja And His Song Karabuu From Pogaru? ALSO READ: Yuva Rajkumar's Debut Movie Will Decode 400 Year Old History Says Director Puneeth Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) The Philippines may finally flatten the coronavirus infection curve next month, but this trend must be sustained for several months to manage the pandemic, a member of the research team that monitors and evaluates COVID-19 trends in the country said Wednesday. Professor Guido David of the University of the Philippines OCTA Research pointed out that the country is close to flattening COVID-19 curve because its reproductive number or R0 a statistic used to measure the rate of virus transmission is on a downward trajectory. A lower reproduction number means a decrease in new infections passed on by people afflicted with the disease, David explained during a briefing. The UP OCTA fellow said that the current reproduction number is between 1 and 1.1. This is lower than the 1.7 to 1.8 level recorded about three weeks ago. He said the reproduction rate is seen to go down further to 1 soon. But the expert warned that this trend can always reverse anytime, too. Recent gains should not make the public and the government complacent, he said, adding the country must continue its collective efforts for the spread of coronavirus to stop. This is just the start of recovery process iyong pag flatten ng (the flattening of) curve. This does not mean that the pandemic is over, he said. Assistant Professor Ranjit Rye, also member of the UP-OCTA research team, earlier said that the modified enhanced community quarantine reimposed in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal for two weeks could reduce the countrys reproduction number. These four areas reverted back to general community quarantine on August 19. The country now has 202,361 COVID-19 cases, with 133,460 recoveries and 3,038 deaths. Earlier, the UP OCTA said the total number of infections in the Philippines could hit more than 200,000 by the end of the month. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government over the state of the economy. Citing the latest annual report by the Reserve bank of India, Gandhi said, "RBI has now confirmed what I have been warning for months". The 50-year-old Congress leader asked the union government to, "to give money to the poor, not tax cuts to industrialists. Restart economy by consumption". Gandhi said "distractions" through media won't help the poor or make the "economic disaster disappear". Yesterday, the RBI in its annual report said that an assessment of aggregate demand during the year suggested that the shock to consumption was severe. RBI also said that "deep-seats and wide-ranging" reforms were needed to regain losses and return to the path of sustainable economic growth. Private consumption has lost its discretionary elements across the board, it said, adding transport services, hospitality, recreation, and cultural activities were particularly affected in the economy, where consumption accounts for some 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). On the country's struggling financial sector, the RBI said banks need to be liberated from the risk aversion that is impeding the flow of loans to productive sectors and undermining lenders' role in the economy. Banks were dealing with a high pile of bad debt even before the pandemic, making bankers very cautious about giving out new loans. "Against this backdrop, a recapitalisation plan for public and private sector banks assumes critical importance," RBI added. Also read: Gold price rises for 2nd session; silver rates at Rs 63,700 Also read: E-comm firms told to comply with 'country of origin' rule by Sept 30 Near the end of July, one of the most important recent developments in U.S. foreign policy was quietly disclosed during a U.S. Senate hearing. Not surprisingly, hardly anybody talked about it and most are still completely unaware that it happened. Answering questions from Senator Lindsey Graham, Secretary of State Pompeo confirmed that the State Department had awarded an American company, Delta Crescent Energy, with a contract to begin extracting oil in northeast Syria. The area is nominally controlled by the Kurds, yet their military force, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was formed under U.S. auspices and relies on an American military presence to secure its territory. That military presence will now be charged with protecting an American firm from the government of the country that it is operating within. Pompeo confirmed that the plans for implanting the firm into the U.S.-held territory are now in implementation and that they could potentially be very powerful. This is quite a momentous event given its nature as a blatant example of neocolonial extraction, or, as Stephen Kinzer puts it writing for the Boston Globe, This is a vivid throwback to earlier imperial eras, when conquerors felt free to loot the resources of any territory they could capture and subdue. Indeed, the history of how the U.S. came to be in a position to capture and subdue these resources is a sordid, yet informative tale that by itself arguably even rivals other such colonial adventures. To capture and subdue When a legitimate protest movement developed organically in Syria in early 2011, the U.S. saw an opportunity to destabilize, and potentially overthrow, the government of a country that had long pushed back against its efforts for greater control in the region. Syria had maintained itself outside of the orbit of U.S. influence and had frustratingly prevented American corporations from penetrating its economy to access its markets and resources. As the foremost academic expert on Middle East affairs, Christopher Davidson, wrote in his seminal work, Shadow Wars, The Secret Struggle for the Middle East, discussing both Syria and Libyas strategic importance, the fact remained that these two regimes, sitting astride vast natural resources and in command of key ports, rivers, and borders, were still significant obstacles that had long frustrated the ambitions of Western governments and their constituent corporations to gain greater access. With Syria, Davidson wrote, having long proven antagonistic to Western interests a golden opportunity had presented itself in 2011 to oust [this] administration once and for all under the pretext of humanitarian and even democratic causes. The U.S., therefore, began organizing and overseeing a militarization of the uprising early on, and soon co-opted the movement along with allied states Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Writing at the end of 2011, Columbia Universitys Joseph Massad explained how there was no longer any doubt that the Syrian popular struggle for democracy [has] already been hijacked, given that the Arab League and imperial powers have taken over and assumed the leadership of their struggle. Soon, through the sponsoring of extremist elements, the insurgency was dominated by Salafists of the al-Qaeda variety. According to the DIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by 2013 there was no viable moderate opposition to Assad and the U.S. was arming extremists. Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed that although many in the American intelligence community were aware that the Syrian opposition was dominated by extremists, still the CIA-sponsored weapons kept coming. When ISIS split off from al-Qaeda and formed its own Caliphate, the U.S. continued pumping money and weapons into the insurgency, even though it was known that this aid was going into the hands of ISIS and other jihadists. U.S. allies directly supported ISIS. U.S. officials admitted that they saw the rise of ISIS as a beneficial development that could help pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give in to Americas demands. Leaked audio of then-Secretary of State John Kerry revealed that we were watching and we know that this [ISIS] was growing We saw that Daesh was growing in strength, and we thought Assad was threatened. We thought, however, we could probably manage that Assad would then negotiate. As ISIS was bearing down on the capital city of Damascus, the U.S. was pressing Assad to step down to a U.S.-approved government. Then, however, Russia intervened with its air force to prevent an ISIS takeover of the country and shifted the balance of forces against the jihadist group. ISIS viability as a tool to pressure the government was spent. The arsonist and the firefighter So, a new strategy was implemented: instead of allowing Russia and Syria to take back the territories that ISIS captured throughout the war, the U.S. would use the ISIS threat as an excuse to take those territories before they were able to. Like an arsonist who comes to put out the fire, the U.S. would now charge itself with the task of stamping out the Islamist scourge and thereby legitimize its own seizure of Syrian land. The U.S. partnered with the Kurdish militias who acted as their boots on the ground in this endeavor and supported them with airstrikes. The strategy of how these areas were taken was very specific. It was designed primarily to allow ISIS to escape and redirect itself back into the fight against Syria and Russia. This was done through leaving an escape route for militants or through deals that were made where ISIS voluntarily agreed to cede its territory. The militants were then able to escape and go wreak havoc against Americas enemies in Syria. Interestingly, in terms of the oil fields now being handed off to an American corporation, the U.S. barely even fought ISIS to gain control over them; ISIS simply handed them over. Syria and Russia were quickly closing in on the then-ISIS controlled oilfields, so the U.S. oversaw a deal between the Kurds and ISIS to give up control of the city. According to veteran Middle East war correspondent Elijah Magnier, U.S.-backed forces advanced in north-eastern areas under ISIS control, with little or no military engagement: ISIS pulled out from more than 28 villages and oil and gas fields east of the Euphrates River, surrendering these to the Kurdish-U.S. forces following an understanding these reached with the terrorist group. Sources quoted by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that ISIS preferred seeing the fields in the hands of the U.S. and the Kurds rather than the Syrian government. The rationale behind this occupation was best described by Syria expert Joshua Landis, who wrote that the areas of northern Syria under control of the Kurds are the U.S. main instrument in gaining leverage over the government. By denying Damascus access to North Syria and controlling half of Syrias energy resources the U.S. will be able to keep Syria poor and under-resources. So, by promoting Kurdish nationalism in Syria the U.S. hopes to deny Iran and Russia the fruits of their victory, while keeping Damascus weak and divided, this serving no purpose other than to stop trade and to beggar Assad and keep Syria divided, weak and poor. Or, in the words of Jim Jeffrey, the Trump administrations special representative for Syria who is charged with overseeing U.S. policy, the intent is to make life as miserable as possible for that flopping cadaver of a regime and let the Russians and Iranians, who made this mess, get out of it. Anchoring American troops in Syria This is the history by which an American firm was able to secure a contract to extract oil in Syria. And while the actual resources gained will not be of much value (Syria has only 0.1% of the worlds oil reserves), the presence of an American company will likely serve as a justification to maintain a U.S. military presence in the region. It is a fiendishly clever maneuver aimed at anchoring American troops in Syria for a long time, Stephen Kinzer explains, one that will aid the policymakers who hold the view that the United States must remain militarily dominant in the Middle East. This analysis corroborates the extensive scholarship of people like Mason Gaffney, professor of economics emeritus at the University of California, who, writing in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology, sums up his thesis that throughout its history U.S. military spending has been largely devoted to protecting the overseas assets of multinational corporations that are based in the United States The U.S. military provides its services by supporting compliant political leaders in developing countries and by punishing or deposing regimes that threaten the interests of U.S.-based corporations. In essence, by protecting this global sprawl of extractive companies the U.S. Department of Defense provides a giant subsidy to companies operating overseas, one that is paid for by the taxpayer, not the corporate beneficiaries. It is hard to estimate the exact amount of money the U.S. has invested into the Syria effort, though it likely is near the trillion dollar figure. The U.S. taxpayer doesnt get anything out of that, but companies that are awarded oil contracts do. What is perhaps most important about this lesson however is that this is just a singular example of a common occurrence that happens all over the world. A primary function of U.S. foreign policy is to make the world safe for American businesses, and the upwards of a thousand military bases the U.S. has stationed across the globe are set up to help protect those corporate investments. While this history is unique to Syria, similar kinds of histories are responsible for U.S. corporations extractive activities in other global arenas. So, next time you see headlines about Exxon being in some kind of legal dispute with, say, Venezuela, ask yourself how was it that those companies became involved with the resources of that part of the world? More often than not, the answer will be similar to how this U.S. company got involved in Syria. Given all of this, it perhaps might seem to be too mild of a critique to simply say that this Syria enterprise harkens back to older imperial eras where conquerors simply took what they wished: the sophistication of colonialism has indeed improved by leaps and bounds since then. Feature photo | A US military convoy drives the he town of Qamishli, north Syria, by a poster showing Syrain President Bashar Aassad, Oct. 26. 2019.Baderkhan Ahmad | AP Steven Chovanec is an independent journalist based in Chicago, IL. His writings have appeared in outlets such as The Hill, teleSUR, Truthout, MintPress News, Insurge-Intelligence, and others. Follow him on Twitter @stevechovanec Houstons energy facilities from ports to power plants to the nations largest refinery on Tuesday prepared for Hurricane Laura, which could bring dangerous storm surges and powerful winds to the area this week. As the hurricane intensified and moved toward the Texas-Louisiana border, the nations largest refinery and others along the coast were being shut down, the Port of Houston planned to suspend all public terminal operations Tuesday evening, and chemical and power plants also prepared for the storms effects. Laura is expected to come ashore as a Category 3 hurricane near Lake Charles, La., on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. On Tuesday afternoon, the storm was about 500 miles southeast of Galveston with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Plants halt operations Gulf Coast refineries, which process about half of the nations fuel and natural gas, and chemical plants are particularly susceptible to hurricanes devastating effects. When refineries and chemical facilities must shut down and restart, the plants release air pollutants. However, if plants wait too long to cease operations during a storm, other problems, such as power outages, can cause even more risks to public and environmental health. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 51 inches of rain in the Houston area, flooding the citys petrochemical corridor and releasing dozens of known carcinogens, including benzene, vinyl chloride and butadiene, into local neighborhoods. In one case, an Arkema chemical plant in Crosby exploded after the plants backup generators flooded and lost power, releasing hazardous gases from organic peroxides into the surrounding area. Several Houston-area refineries and chemical companies detailed plans Tuesday to partially or completely shut down operations ahead of Hurricane Laura. Motiva Enterprises is temporarily shutting down its Port Arthur refinery, the nations largest. The Houston independent refiner on Tuesday said it will halt operations at its refinery and petrochemical plant in Port Arthur to protect its personnel and facilities from the hurricane. Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. began to shut down its Pasadena plastics plant Tuesday, according to an environmental notice filed with the state. The company told the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that it expects the plant, located along Buffalo Bayou, to be closed through Thursday. Emissions related to the shutdown could include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and isobutane, the company warned, adding that it would follow procedures to minimize flaring. We have established protocols for responsibly and safely securing and shutting down facilities when the situation warrants, public affairs manager Bryce Hallowell said in a statement. These plans are designed to minimize environmental concerns. LyondellBasell, a Netherlands-based plastics, chemicals and refining company, said it would halt some operations in southeast Texas. The companys polymers business in Bayport began to shut down Tuesday. The company also was shutting down its Lake Charles polypropylene operations, leaving a small crew on site for the duration of the storm to ensure the safety of the plant. Its plant in Alvin was closing, the company said, because a plant with which it shares a site is closing. The plant shares a site with the INEOS complex about 45 miles south of Houston makes olefins and polypropylene. INEOS declined to comment on the shutdown. San Antonio-based refiner Valero is shutting down its Port Arthur refinery. The company's other Gulf Coast facilities in Texas are securing equipment and ensuring that adequate supplies are available. We are monitoring the storms path and will make other refinery operation decisions as appropriate, spokeswoman Lillian Riojas said. The health and safety of our employees, their families, and surrounding community is our top priority as we prepare for Hurricane Laura. Houston petrochemical and polymer company Westlake Chemical has activated its hurricane plans and had begun to shut down some units of its Lake Charles, La., facility, spokesman Chip Swearngan said. Total, the Paris-based oil major, had also reduced operations in Port Arthur, according to data compiled by S&P Global. Keeping power on Power companies also prepared facilities for the effects of Hurricane Laura. NRG, one of the biggest generators of electricity in Texas, had employees walk around its plants and secure anything that could become a flying object in high winds. The company also is reviewing staffing plans in anticipation of flooding that could limit access to it plants. NRGs plans for workers also include sleeping arrangements and meal breaks that will be more complicated because of social distancing requirements amid the coronavirus pandemic. The primary concern right now is getting the plants cleaned up and latched down, and ensuring NRG has enough supplies to last several days, according to spokeswoman Pat Hammond. Once the company knows more about the strength of the hurricane, it will determine if plant evacuations could be necessary. Securing ports Along area waterways, the Coast Guard ordered large vessels in ports at Houston, Galveston, Freeport and Texas City to be ready to depart or be safely secured during the storm. Smaller vessels will have to be sheltered outside of deep-draft shipping channels. Further restrictions on ship movement could be implemented if the hurricane brings winds greater than about 40 mph. The Port of Houston, after suspending terminal operations Tuesday evening, said it may keep its eight public facilities closed through Thursday. Barbours Cut and the Bayport Container terminals in the Port of Houston closed Tuesday evening. The gates at Cargo Bay Road and Ramp Road Six will likely remain open Wednesday and Thursday. There are more than 200 private facilities in the Port of Houston and each is responsible for its own emergency response plan, spokeswoman Lisa Ashley said. Port Houston has a trained Emergency Management team and we are monitoring weather conditions and are making preparations, Ashley said. erin.douglas@chron.com Twitter.com/erinmdouglas23 Kate Winslet has spoken with pride about her sex scenes with Saoirse Ronan in their new romantic drama Ammonite. The pair play lovers in the forthcoming film, with Winslet starring as the real-life palaeontologist Mary Anning, and Ronan as the married geologist she becomes romantically involved with. Winslet has revealed that she and Ronan choreographed their sex scenes themselves, rather than director Francis Lee, with the Oscar winner revealing that she had never felt prouder. Its definitely not like eating a sandwich, Winslet told The Hollywood Reporter. I just think Saoirse and I, we just felt really safe. Francis was naturally very nervous. And I just said to him, Listen, let us work it out. And we did. Well start here. Well do this with the kissing, boobs, you go down there, then you do this, then you climb up here. I mean, we marked out the beats of the scene so that we were anchored in something that just supported the narrative. I felt the proudest Ive ever felt doing a love scene on Ammonite. And I felt by far the least self-conscious. Winslet also revealed that she eschewed a body double for the scenes, determining that it was important to show a natural, post-motherhood physique. Im nearly 45, and Saoirse is almost half my age, she explained. And to have an opportunity to be my real 40-something self, post-children, you know? Women arent really having the courage to do that. I was just excited to say, This is what it is, peeps. This is how I am now, and its very much not the body I had 20 years ago. While Winslet is already drawing Oscar buzz for her performance, the film has encountered controversy over its depiction of Anning. Some of Annings living relatives have disputed the films portrayal of her relationship with Murchison, arguing that Annings sexuality was unconfirmed. Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet in Ammonite (Neon) Lee, however, defended the storyline on social media last year, writing: After seeing queer history be routinely straightened throughout culture, and given a historical figure where there is no evidence whatsoever of a heterosexual relationship, is it not permissible to view that person within another context...? Ammonites UK release date has yet to be announced, but it will close the 64th BFI London Film Festival on 17 October, with tickets on sale from 21 September. Youd like to think that our nations postmaster general would be fairly well-versed in the operations, and the ins and outs, of the United States Postal Service. But for Louis DeJoy, the man who currently holds the job, theres much that remains a big mystery. DeJoy, a Republican Party fundraiser and former logistics company executive, appeared on Monday before the House Oversight Committee to answer questions about post office slowdowns and the USPSs ability to handle the high volume of mail-in ballots expected as this years elections near. At one point, though, when asked about a few specifics -- the price to mail a post card, for one -- he didn't make the grade. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., inquired about the price of a first-class postage stamp. DeJoy had that answer at the ready: 55 cents. But it was all downhill from there. He didn't know how much it costs to mail a post card, couldn't state the starting price of priority mail, and was unable to estimate how many people voted by mail in the presidential election four years back. Because mail-in voting has been quite the hot topic of late, and because of the myriad tales of postal system slowdowns and backlogs, DeJoy has had to make a few promises about whats ahead, at least over the near term. He said hed stop, until after the election, the removal of mail-processing machines and collection boxes that had been ongoing. But hed not commit to restoring the machines that have already been removed. On Saturday, in a rare weekend session in August, the House, which had been called back by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, passed a bill to provide the post office with fully $25 billion to help it meet the demands of the expected increase in volume due to the election. Though that was the right step, it will mean exactly nothing if the Senate doesn't take up a USPS rescue bill of its own, and there's been no indication that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, has any intention of doing that. And so here we are, with President Donald Trump whining about nonexistent mail fraud, House Democrats trying to fix what's broken, the Senate sitting on its hands, and a postmaster general who may well be in deeply over his head. Doesnt exactly inspire confidence, does it? Related: ITHACA Stewarts Dairy in Saratoga Springs creamed the competition in New Yorks annual fluid milk competition, as judged by Cornell Universitys Milk Quality Improvement Program. Stewarts also won for best-tasting chocolate milk, besting a field of 21 dairies from across the state. The Cornell program, which announced the results Tuesday, serves as New Yorks official judging group on behalf of the Department of Agriculture & Markets. Congratulations to our dairy processors and our dairy farmers behind these fantastic products, Ag & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball said in a statement. We know New York produces some of the best milk there is, and I am honored to join Cornell in sharing these stories of success with all New Yorkers. The awards are usually given out at Dairy Day at the New York State Fair, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year's honors were conferred virtually. The annual milk competition assesses the overall quality of fluid milk products throughout the entire time the product is on the market by assessing "various characteristics, including most importantly milk flavor, said Kathryn Boor, dean of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Lori Van Buren Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Capital Region tends to clean up in the awards: Stewarts has won the competition five times, most recently in 2017, and has finished second twice; Garelick Farms of Rensselaer was the runner-up in the overall fluid milk category. The dairy won last year and in 2015. Established in the early 1970s, Cornells Milk Quality Improvement Program is funded by state dairy producers through the Dairy Promotion Order Advisory Board, a group selected by the commissioner of Ag & Markets. New York has nearly 4,000 dairy farms that produce nearly 15 billion pounds of milk annually, making it the nations fourth-largest dairy state, according to the state agency. The dairy industry is the states largest agricultural sector, contributing nearly half of its total agricultural receipts. Pastor Levi Lusko on living out God-given purpose, managing anxiety in a year of 'testing' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. CHICAGO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- China and Hong Kong data center market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 3% during the period 20192025. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Over $25 billion will be invested in China & Hong Kong data center space during 2020-2025. In 2019, China and Hong Kong witnessed investments in over 35 data centers, where China contributed to around 80% of the overall data center investments. Cloud, big data, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and quantum computing are driving the market growth, leading to investments in multiple hyperscale data center campuses arcoss China & Hong Kong . GDS Services, ChinData, Shanghai Athub, 21Vianet, and Tenglong Holdings are among the leading investors in new data centers across China . With the shortage of land hinders construction of greenfield data center facilities, brownfield development to contribute to market growth. Over 600 MW of power capacity will be added through data center developments in Hong Kong between 2020-2025. New entrants namely, Chayora, Princeton Digital Group, AirTrunk, and BDx China are investing in hyperscale facilities. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20192025 Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, tier standards, and geography Competitive Landscape 9 IT infrastructure providers, 11 construction service providers, 15 support infrastructure providers, and 14 data center investors Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/china-and-hong-kong-data-center-market-size-analysis China and Hong Kong Data Center Market Segmentation The server market in China and Hong Kong will witness significant growth in the next few years due to investments from major cloud service providers. Apple, Alibaba, Tencent , Baidu, and China Telecom are the major cloud service providers operators investing in the region. and will witness significant growth in the next few years due to investments from major cloud service providers. Apple, Alibaba, , Baidu, and China Telecom are the major cloud service providers operators investing in the region. Mega data center projects in China are designed to be of Tier III and Tier IV standards, with the increased deployment of 2N redundant UPS systems. The construction of data centers of over 20 MW power capacity will increase the demand for high-capacity infrastructure over 1 MW. Most facilities support rack power density of 510 kW; however, it is expected that new facilities will support a capacity of 20 kW during the forecast period. are designed to be of Tier III and Tier IV standards, with the increased deployment of 2N redundant UPS systems. The construction of data centers of over 20 MW power capacity will increase the demand for high-capacity infrastructure over 1 MW. Most facilities support rack power density of 510 kW; however, it is expected that new facilities will support a capacity of 20 kW during the forecast period. In China , a majority of data centers offer colocation services to adopt air as well as water-based cooling techniques. Some facilities are built to support free cooling techniques. Several service providers use energy-efficient free cooling techniques with redundant units to keep the data center operational. The adoption of CRAC units and chillers will continue to grow to cool the facility in the China data center market. China and Hong Kong Data Center Market by IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Network China and Hong Kong Data Center Market by Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure China and Hong Kong Data Center Market by Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers & Dry Coolers Economizers & Evaporative Coolers Other Units Racks Other Mechanical Infrastructure China and Hong Kong Data Center Market by General Construction Building Development Installation & Commissioning Services Building Designs Physical Security DCIM China and Hong Kong Data Center Market by Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV China and Hong Kong Data Center Market Dynamics China is the second leading market for data centers after the US. The investments in the China market is growing significantly, guided by the digital transformation initiatives carried out by Chinese enterprises and government authorities. China dominates the world in terms of the number of internet users and high penetration among social media and other digital platforms. This is leading to strong demand for technologies such as cloud, big data, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Growing Demand for Colocation & Hyperscale Data Centers Big Data & IoT Spending to Drive Data Center Investment Renewable Energy to Reduce Power Cost Implementation of 5G & Smart City Initiatives to Drive Edge Data Centers China and Hong Kong Data Center Market Geography China is a prominent market for data center operations in the APAC region. The continuous boom in internet users, gaming, the e-commerce industry, and investments in the digitalization of enterprises has increased demand in the Chinese data center market. Tier-1 cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou are the major data center markets in the country. In China, data center investment is led by internet, cloud, and telecommunication service providers such as Alibaba, China Unicom, China Telecom, ChinaCache, Dr.Peng Group, Wangsu Technology, Tencent, Sinnet Technology, 21Vianet, and China Mobile. Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/china-and-hong-kong-data-center-market-size-analysis China and Hong Kong Data Center Market by Geography China Hong Kong Prominent IT Infrastructure Vendors HPE (H3C) Cisco Dell Technologies Hitachi Vantara Huawei IBM Inspur Group Lenovo Quanta Cloud Technology (Quanta Computer) Prominent Construction Contractors Arup Group Aurecon Construction AWP Architects BYME Engineering Chung Hing Engineers Group DSCO Group Faithful+Gould Gammon Construction ISG Studio One Design Limited NTT FACILITIES Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Vertiv Caterpillar Cummins Delta Group Eaton Schneider Electric Fuji Electric Hitec Power Protection Mitsubishi Electric Legrand Group Rittal MTU On Site Energy AIRSYS Kstar New Energy Prominent Data Center Investors Apple Chayora Holdings China Unicom ChinData Group Equinix GDS Holdings Global Switch PT Telekomunikasi Group Shanghai Athub Shanghai Qnet Network Technology SUNeVison Tencent Holdings Holdings Tenglong Holdings Group (Tamron) Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry. 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Mail: [email protected] Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1-302-469-0707 SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 00:33:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the German capital have banned several protests against anti-coronavirus measures planned there this weekend. Andreas Geisel, senator of the interior of Berlin, welcomed the ban but stressed that "this is not a decision against freedom of assembly but a decision for infection protection." Citing the rising infection numbers in Germany, the authorities had "chosen life" over the fundamental right to freedom of assembly, Geisel stressed. On Saturday, Germany's federal agency for disease control and prevention, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), registered more than 2,000 new daily COVID-19 infections for the first time since April. The scheduled protests in the German capital were expected by the authorities to "violate the current infection protection ordinance," according to a statement by the city of Berlin on Wednesday. The Stuttgart-based "Querdenken 711" (Lateral Thinking 711) initiative had registered a protest in Berlin with an expected 22,000 participants for this Saturday. Michael Ballweg, founder of the initiative, criticized the ban and said they would take legal action at the Federal Constitutional Court. Berlin officials, however, argued that previous protests in August had shown that the participants had "deliberately ignored existing hygiene rules and corresponding requirements," the statement read. Enditem Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Global initiative seeks to ensure equal access when supplies are available The World Health Organization said on Monday it hopes to deliver by the end of next year at least 2 billion doses of safe, effective vaccines through its vaccine initiative. As of Monday, 172 countries were engaging with the initiative, which is known as the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility. At present, nine potential vaccines are part of the dynamic portfolio, which is constantly being reviewed and optimized to ensure access to the best possible range of products. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said discussions are ongoing with four additional producers, and a further nine vaccines are currently under evaluation for the longer term. "The facility is the critical mechanism for joint procurement and pooling risk across multiple vaccines so that whichever vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, all countries within the facility will be able to access them," he said during a virtual news briefing from Geneva. He emphasized that the most important thing is that the mechanism enables a globally coordinated rollout. The WHO is working with vaccine manufacturers to provide all countries that join the effort with timely and equitable access to all approved vaccines. "This doesn't just pool risk, it also means that prices will be kept as low as possible," Tedros said. He warned that it would lead to a prolonged pandemic if only a small number of countries got most of the supply. "Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus," he said. And he emphasized that the world has so far invested $12 trillion in keeping economies moving, but that investing in the COVAX Facility is the fastest way to end the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure a sustainable economic recovery. "The success of the COVAX Facility hinges not only on countries signing up to it, but also filling key funding gaps for both the research and development work and to support lower-income economies within the facility," Tedros said. Binding commitments He emphasized that, in order to be able to secure enough doses to roll out vaccines, the next step for the partnership will be for countries to make binding commitments in support of the COVAX Facility. He added that the COVAX Facility offers a huge return on investment. According to the WHO, there are more than 170 candidate vaccines, with seven in the final phase 3 of large-scale efficacy trials. None has been approved for general use so far. Vaccines normally require years of testing and additional time to produce at scale, but scientists are hoping to develop a COVID-19 vaccine within 12 to 18 months. Russia said on Saturday it has produced its first batch of a COVID-19 vaccine, after President Vladimir Putin announced the nation was the first to approve a vaccine, the Moscow Times reported on Monday. Mexico will receive at least 2,000 doses of Russia's vaccine as part of its phase 3 clinical trials. The European Union announced on Monday that it had concluded exploratory talks with US firm Moderna to purchase a potential vaccine after a similar talk last week with Germany-based CureVac. It follows the EU securing COVID-19 potential vaccines from Sanofi-GSK on July 31 and from Johnson& Johnson on Aug 13 as well as an advanced purchase agreement with AstraZeneca on Aug 14. ENNIS, Texas - Thousands of Gulf Coast residents fled from rapidly intensifying Hurricane Laura as hotels and shelters filled quickly, exacerbating the struggles of evacuees who lost jobs in the coronavirus pandemic long before the storm ever approached on Wednesday. Leaders in Texas and Louisiana urged people in the expected path of what forecasters called an extremely dangerous major hurricane to move inland before it was too late. Forecasters predicted a life-threatening storm surge would pummel a wide stretch of the coast. Evacuees travelled as far as Ennis, Texas, a city south of Dallas several hours from the coast. James and Samantha Bison evacuated from Jasper, Texas ,about 200 miles (320 kilometres) away, and made their way to Ennis after being directed there by a 211 information line. Hoping for shelter there, they ended up sleeping in their car and then were told by another 211 operator to head to San Antonio, about 250 miles (400 kilometres) in another direction. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state had 200,000 hotel rooms for evacuees. But Ennis city leaders said they had no space in hotels and no vouchers to give evacuees. Shalonda Joseph, a teacher who evacuated to Ennis from Port Arthur, Texas, with her sisters, said their family had burned through savings as some of them had already lost their jobs because of the virus. The COVID-19 is just totally wiping us out, said Joseph, 43. Both the Joseph and Bison families eventually headed further north to Richardson, a Dallas suburb, and waited to see if a hotel would give them rooms. Elsewhere, hundreds of residents of 11 southwest Louisiana nursing homes were evacuated, according to state health officials. Most were in Calcasieu Parish, which is expected to receive a direct strike from the hurricane. State Health Department spokeswoman Aly Neel said buses and ambulances moved the residents mainly to other facilities in Louisiana, but also Texas. In the south Louisiana community of Delcambre, a steady stream of customers stopped for last-minute supplies at Shawns Cajun Meats and Grocery. Getting some snacks. Definitely getting some beer. Im pretty sure thats the highest-selling product around here, said Austin Domingues, 26. Domingues said he and his family had been preparing for days for Laura. At his fathers nearby sugar cane farm, weve been moving equipment on the highest ground we have. While Domingues said his wife likely would evacuate to Lafayette, further north and east of Delcambre, he and others in his family planned to stay put. He said he expected to stay at his fathers farm, where the house is 14 feet (4 metres) off the ground. I dont know if its too smart, but were going to stay just in case we need to help people out, he said. But Lexie Creighton, who was rounding up shopping carts outside the grocery store, said she planned to head to Lafayette after ending her shift, rather than ride out Laura. Her home took on water during Hurricane Rita, which ravaged the Gulf Coast just days after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Getting out of the surge, you know? she said. The waters going to come up. Its better safe than sorry. In Lake Charles, Louisiana, the National Guard picked up residents in school buses and took them to a local coliseum. Many of the evacuees were families with small children. The National Weather Service evacuated its office in Lake Charles, transferring its forecasting duties to the services office in Brownsville, Texas. Leaders in both Texas and Louisiana urged residents to flee in the final hours before landfall made it too dangerous to travel. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said the city of Austin had run out of free hotel rooms, forcing officials to send evacuees further away from the coast. Kidd said the convention centre in Austin might be opened to temporarily house evacuees while more hotel rooms are set up for residents. He said hotel rooms are being reserved for evacuees in some nearby counties. Traci Shannon left Galveston for her parents home in north Houston on Tuesday with her husband, two teenagers, and six pets. It would be hard to find a hotel or shelter that accepts all the animals we have, she said. We could hide the rat and the gecko, but my husband is a disabled vet and he has a comfort dog thats about 45 pounds. Back at the hotel in Richardson, Texas, the sun began to set Wednesday, and the Bisons prospects of spending another night without a roof loomed. James Bison, though, seemed unperturbed. They had both lost jobs at a restaurant and lumber mill this year, and they were surviving. I have a tent, he said. Moments later, Samantha Bison rushed out of the hotel waving her arms and giving the thumbs up. We got in, she called. ___ Deslatte reported from Delcambre, Louisiana. Associated Press journalists Juan A. Lozano in Houston and Desiree Mathurin in Bay Shore, New York, contributed to this report. Congress flag falls off while being hoisted by interim president Sonia Gandhi [Video] Divisive ideologies anchored in hate causing havoc on secular fabric of our society: Sonia Gandhi Nothing short of betrayal: Sonia Gandhi on Centre not clearing GST dues India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 26: Chief Ministers belonging to various opposition parties on Wednesday got together and discussed the issue of GST compensation to states, with Congress president Sonia Gandhi saying the Centre's refusal to reimburse the states was nothing short of betrayal of the people by the Modi government. Gandhi convened a virtual meeting of Chief Ministers of opposition-ruled states to discuss the key issues confronting them. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and chief ministers of Congress-ruled states Amarinder Singh, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and V Narayanasamy attended the meeting. In her introductory remarks, Sonia Gandhi said she agreed with Banerjee and Thackeray that all opposition-ruled states should together fight the Centre for their rights. "We have to work together and fight together against the Central government," Gandhi said at the meeting while endorsing Banerjee and Thackeray. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News Sonia Gandhi holds Opposition meet on JEE, NEET, says problems of students being dealt uncaringly "We should decide whether we have to fight or fear," Thackeray said at the meeting. Banerjee earlier said the situation was "very serious" and opposition-ruled states should fight unitedly. Gandhi termed the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation as "anti-democratic" and alleged that the laws to protect the environment and public health are being weakened by the Modi government. She said announcements like the National Education Policy should worry the opposition as they are a setback for secular and scientific values and reveal the "insensitivity" of the government. On students' problems and the issue of exams arising out of the pandemic situation, she said it is being dealt with uncaringly by the Centre. Banerjee urges all chief ministers to together move the Supreme Court for postponing the NEET and JEE exams as students are not prepared. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said the ruling party was using agencies against the opposition and was undermining the federal structure. with PTI inputs Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines said that with immediate effect all fares, including the lowest light fare without checked baggage, can be rebooked several times free of charge until the end of December 2020. In response to the pandemic, Lufthansa Group Airlines had already made a one-off free of charge rebooking possible in spring. The new regulation applies worldwide to all new bookings on short, medium and long-haul routes. However, customers may incur additional costs if, for example, the original booking class is no longer available when rebooking to a different date or destination. Any difference will be compensated for by means of additional payment. The Lufthansa Group network airlines are also responding to the special needs of customers during the corona crisis and continue to offer a return flight promise on all European routes and, together with AXA Partners, a travel insurance policy for protection in the country of travel. On-site cover applies in the event of a travel warning or a significant spread of the pandemic. Travellers will be flown back to Germany, Austria or Switzerland with Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines. The Economy Classic, Business Saver, Economy Flex and Business Flex fares include an "all-inclusive carefree package" that covers, among other things, the costs of quarantine, travel interruption, a telephone consultation before and during the trip or medical repatriation. In the "Bring me Home NOW" fare, customers are carried on the next bookable Lufthansa Group flight if desired. These fare extensions are free of charge and have now been extended until the end of September. TradeArabia News Service YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Davit Tonoyan held a telephone conversation with Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk, ARMENPRESS reports MoD spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan wrote on her Facebook page. Shushanyan noted that during the conversation the Defense Minister drew the attention of Ambassador Kasprzyk on the two footages released by the Azerbaijani media outlets today and earlier with the participation of Armenian officer Gurgen Alaverdyan. Tonoyan emphasized that the footages are a gross violation of international laws, including humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions guarantee the protection of the rights of war prisoners, respect for their honor and dignity, which must preclude any form of degrading treatment, regardless of the circumstances in which the person is placed under the jurisdiction of the other party. Serviceman Gurgen Alaverdyan is obviously forced to read the text in imperfect Armenian, Stepanyan wrote. Gurgen Alaverdyan appeared in the Azerbaijani territory on August 24. The Defense Ministry of Armenia announced that according to preliminary data, he has been disoriented due to bad weather conditions. Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan I n my life, Ive experienced vastly different cultures: the one I grew up with, and the one I fled to when war stole my homeland. This has taught me that everything has a narrative. The same story can be told in multiple ways. As we grow up, we learn to question the stories were told. As a Syrian refugee living in London, Ive found one narrative to be the most creative of all: the refugee crisis. What I know to be the harrowing journey of desperate souls has been painted as an invading mission. What I know to be dinghies sinking under terrified children has been twisted into a force to rival Britains Navy. Journalists help us to decipher fact from fiction by presenting all sides of the story. But one side is conspicuously missing from coverage of refugees: that of refugees themselves. How many of the articles on Channel crossings quoted an actual refugee? Journalists in the age of social media are expected to deliver instantaneous news and have little time to seek out grassroots perspectives from ostracised communities. But there is also a sinister side to this bias: our administration is pursuing a pro-nationalist, anti-free movement policy built on a narrative of taking back control. They have good reason to spin the arrival of refugees (who make up 0.26 per cent of the UKs population) into a crisis of biblical proportions. Priti Patel is repeatedly quoted saying this is exactly what [British people] mean when they say they want to take back control of our borders. To someone who grew up with state-controlled media, this feels agenda-driven, if not infantilising of the British people. I used to watch Assad on state TV, telling Syrians to take back control from the terrorists challenging his dictatorship. One day, someone will tell the story of a Sudanese child who drowned in his own dreams of safe haven while Britains Home Secretary inspected border troops on the coastline. This is not the story of Britain a country that has always welcomed those who drew a cruelly short straw in life. What does Mr Johnson know about the choices available to a refugee: Mine kept me alive Obviously politicians politicise. Thats their job. But it is journalists job to let people reply. Refugees are rarely given this chance. Are we so alien, we dont even qualify for right of reply? Priti Patel, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak can never tell you much about displacement because they have not experienced it. When I read Rishi Sunak saying, France is obviously a safe country, I wonder how much does Mr Sunak know about being a refugee in France? It is not a walk down the Champs-Elysees. The brutality we face from French police warrants an article of its own. When I see headlines quoting Boris Johnson calling Channel crossings stupid, dangerous, and criminal, I wonder what does Mr Johnson know about the choices available to a refugee? Does his life experience really authorise him to tell me my choices were stupid, when they kept me alive? Mr Johnson seems to be curiously ill-briefed. Legally, it isnt criminal. Its a human right, enshrined in the same law that underpins the Wests narrative of its own moral fibre. Reading these quotes when you are a refugee feels like having someone explain your profession to you. Its the ultimate mansplaining. But it also leads to the deportation of people who are suffering immensely. If you support this, at least get both sides of the story. There is a way. Refugee Media Centre is a digital network of displaced people volunteering quick responses to journalists. This is us taking back control of our story, even if weve lost it over our lives. Steve Ali is a writer and silversmith from Damascus, Syria www.refugeemediacentre.org Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:59:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUJUMBURA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A group of armed people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) killed 11 citizens on Monday in Rumonge province, southwest Burundi, a local official said on Wednesday. Speaking to the Burundian national radio, Rumonge Governor Consolateur Nitunga said the killers left DRC and entered Rumonge between Sunday night and Monday. The gunmen, whose goal was to steal citizens' belongings and disrupt security, took hostage 11 people, whom they killed later when they were pursued by security forces, said Nitunga, adding that they moved in the direction of the Rumonge natural reserve. Security forces are still chasing them, according to the governor. Enditem (Photo : Ryan McAweeney Seeks To Change The Marketing And Business World) Ryan McAweeney is one of the leading marketing executives in the California region who seeks to bring change to marketing and business firms in the area. He has been organizing seminars to teach business owners how to push their products to get more sales. He insists that companies are producing quality products, which, if marketed well, can bring millions of profit to them. Still, it seems they usually fail because these companies do not push them enough. Therefore they stay relevant in the market for a few months but lose their value once a new product comes in line. He has become quite successful because of the marketing strategies he created to push products for companies that hire him. Because of this great work, he has grown quite a following within California and its surrounding regions. It is for this reason that he started an initiative to comment on advertising agencies in public forums to increase transparency and more accessibility to consumers and advertisers. He claims that most of the time, the problem does start from the top, the management. They invest a lot of money in building the product but not enough money to advertise it. The advice he gives to companies Ryan McAweeney advises companies to consider investing money in advertising their products. That way, they won't have to risk the product becoming irrelevant to its consumers. Once they have released the product, they should also give the same energy, resources, and time to ensure that it is known out there. He discourages companies from having the "if you build they will come" model of business. This model means that the company invests money in building the product and perfecting it, but don't expose it enough for people to buy it. Most companies have had to do away with products because it wasn't on-demand by most clients. He advises that major company products need more advertising. It should be considered a big project so that they can expose it to as many people as possible. Getting people to know about your product will mean more money in sales. Take, for example, a company like Apple with a product like iPhones. This is a product that you can sell without much exposure, but the company has invested very much in advertising it. Putting money into sophisticated and sleek marketing campaigns that have been around for so many years, which has brought them millions of dollars in sales every year. He has helped many companies improve their advertising campaigns. Through the talks and seminars he has been organizing, he has been able to improve their perception of investing in marketing campaigns. He is proud to have helped several start-up companies get to advertise their products and, in turn, increase their sales widely. Ryan McAweeney has been able to change the perception of many companies about hiring marketing firms. For so many years, companies have thought marketing firms are evil and manipulative. This has been a problem because of mediocre firms that utilize unholy ways to advertise products, but he begs to change the narrative by advising companies on good firms that stay true and honest in the work they do. He advises companies to invest money in advertising their products by either coming up with an internal marketing team or hiring an outside firm to handle all their advertising. Ryan McAweeney's story is one that inspires all who listen to him. He started in a small firm handling minor projects and worked his way to being an executive at his own firm, which turns out to be the leading firm in the California region. If the pandemic does end in two years, as WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus predicts, it will leave behind a ramshackle India Workers at a flyover construction site during reimposed weekend lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Jammu. AP Photo India Post has just delivered two bank statements posted in late May. This is not the only instance of delay and/or damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Its devastation recalls Rabindranath Tagores deathbed despair about British rule in India: When the stream of their centuries administration runs dry at last, what a waste of mud and filth they will leave behind! If the pandemic does end in two years, as World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus predicts, it will leave behind a ramshackle India. This weeks suicide of a five-member Madhya Pradesh family is another tragedy highlighting the despondency that grips much of India. Most social and welfare institutions were already creaking on March 25 when India ground to a halt. Everything has deteriorated since then, with the government too busy scoring points against China and Pakistan to bother with ordinary folk. Covid-19 is no respecter of rank, but as Raghuram Rajan, the Reserve Banks former governor, says, it is an anti-Robin Hood that hits the poor even harder on every front. The first charge on the government is to improve a scandalously decrepit healthcare system. Better infrastructure would have mitigated the worst effects of the pandemic. Instead, the suspicion is that the facts have been brushed under the carpet to conceal the derelict state of rural hospitals, the acute shortage of doctors, enlistment of ayahs as nurses and sweepers and bearers as paramedics. Medicines and equipment are in short supply. No wonder Microsofts Bill Gates bluntly rejected the official figure for Indian (and African) fatalities, saying: The true number is probably much higher. He expects millions more in India and Africa to die and thinks more than 90 per cent of those deaths will be caused by the knock-on effects. The reason is that people are expendable for our political masters. They will spend money for the greater glory of what they see as India but not for the ordinary run of Indians. Outsize statues, massive temples, ostentatious religious rituals, state-of-the-art fighters and luxury aircraft for VIPs matter more than the millions of impoverished Indians. Few, if any, good schools are run by the government. The best of them are either Christian missionary institutions or private enterprises. Understandably, spending on healthcare was low in colonial times; but the colonial norm becomes criminal negligence when governance is by a supposedly nationalistic Bharatiya Janata Party whose leader swears by Atma Nirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India. Within the abysmally small pie of medicare spending, the governments share is a shameful 26 per cent, 74 per cent being provided by private investors who are in it for what they can get out of it. The charges have gone up in a once-smart, expensive and superbly professional foreign-managed nursing home that is now Indian-owned while the food, cleanliness and staff care have deteriorated. Amenities like toilet paper and towels are no longer provided. The owners themselves fly to Switzerland or the United States for treatment. Since much of the investment in healthcare is left to market dynamics, private medical facilities proliferate only where people can pay. State expenditure is confined largely to areas where it can benefit the rich and influential or impress foreigners. The need for a healthcare delivery system that is available, accessible and affordable to all is ignored. So are the need for healthcare infrastructure, healthcare education, manpower, workforce, health insurance and medical equipment. Indias bed density is under one while China, with its much larger population, provides more than three beds per thousand. Despite the highest number of medical colleges, India has the lowest number of doctors per thousand of population and is in the middle -- fifth out of seven -- in the number of nurses per 1,000 people. India also has the lowest number of care providers -- 1.9 per thousand. Medical equipment is another problem that the pandemic has exposed and highlighted. Personal protective equipment is sometimes charged for without being provided. The governments claim of adequate imports supplemented by a spurt in the domestic manufacture of nearly 4.5 lakh PPE kits per day does not seem to meet the needs of all frontline workers, while nearly one-third of respondents in a recent survey reported that N-95 masks were not available. One of the surprising and important findings is the lack of formal training on PPEs, a leading doctor is quoted as saying. Over half these workers had not received any training at all, while a fifth reported that they had taught themselves. Of course, many other aspects of decline deserve attention. India has slipped to 150th place in the health and survival list, to 149th in terms of economic participation and opportunity, and to 112th place for educational attainment. It has also fallen four places to 112th in terms of the gender gap, now grovelling among the bottom five in terms of female participation in economic life. Underlying it all is an erosion of confidence; confidence in the self (atma-vishwas), and confidence in the elected governments ability to deliver. A survey shows that 62 per cent of parents will not send their children to schools even if they were to reopen next week. The survey also found that only six per cent of respondents would visit a theatre. There is obviously little faith in the governments ability to check infection in schools and theatres. The challenges are on a variety of fronts. A beginning can be made with healthcare for that bears closely on the peril that still threatens to decimate the nation. But there can be no cure without official recognition of all that is wrong, of the extent to which policy has fallen short of public expectations. Alas, our leaders remain blissfully complacent that they have not failed the country because the colonial-style culture of governance does not say that the rulers owe anything to the ruled. NORTHAMPTON Three men are facing charges related to cockfighting more than two years after law enforcement raided a small farm in the Florence section of the city and found more than 420 roosters and hens and evidence they had been abused and neglected. Miguel Rodriguez, Salvador Cruz and John Mercado are all being charged with owning, possessing or training fighting animals and animal cruelty, according to Northampton District Court records. Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 23, Cruz is to be arraigned on Sept. 24 and Mercado is to be arraigned on Sept. 25, court records said. The charges come after an animal control officer found hundreds of roosters in three coops, some of which had padlocks and covered windows, during an inspection of Ravenwold Greenhouses on Florence Road on May 23, 2018. The coops had been rented to the three men, the owner told police. During the inspection, Officer Justine Rule noticed some of the birds appeared to be in poor health and had been disfigured in ways that are typical to prepare a bird for cockfighting. She also found other items used for cockfighting, including a blood-spattered area that was believed to be a training ring, court records said. The animal control officer left after seeing some of the evidence, but consulted with her supervisor and city police and applied for and received a search warrant. Law enforcement raided the farm on May 24 and 25, with 11 city police officers and 15 animal control officers from multiple towns and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, court records said. The vast majority of birds located were underweight. They were also found with many injuries such as missing toes, missing feet, sections of their beaks missing, fractured beaks, Northampton Animal Control Officer Shyla R. Howe said in court records. A hen, also located in the southern coop, was found with its legs cut off completely. Based on the totality of this hens injuries, it is believed that she was a bait bird for the purpose of training for cockfighting. In the raid, police also found a rooster missing half its scalp and an eye. The rooster, initially believed to be dead, survived after receiving months of veterinary care, Howe said in court records. Other roosters were found with missing feathers, which owners will shave to keep the animal cooler during a fight, and other mutilations such as cut-off wattles, combs and earlobes, which is commonly done to birds used for cockfighting. A number of dead and decaying birds were found in the coops, Howe said in court records. Based on the results of this investigation, I believed that birds in the northern, southern and open coop were abused and neglected, she said. Based on my training and experience I believe that these birds were being bred, housed and trained for the purpose of cockfighting. There was also an unusually large number of roosters being kept. Typically in a chicken farm there are far more hens than roosters, but in one coop there were 105 roosters and 33 hens. Officers found 127 roosters, 105 hens and 54 chicks, of which the gender was not immediately determined, in a second coop, court records said. Most of the birds were brought to the Nevins Farm Facility run by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The owners later agreed to surrender the birds. Most of the roosters were euthanized because they were too aggressive to rehabilitate. Homes were found for the remaining animals, court records said. In later interviews with police, the three men denied keeping the birds for cockfighting. Rodriguez, who had been arrested in 2006 at an active cockfighting event in Connecticut and charged with cruelty to animals, said he had been raising the animals to sell for meat. He said he did not know the other men involved, court records said. He said that it had been a long time since he had seen a cockfight. He would further explain that any injuries seen on his birds were from when people would let them loose and they would fight. He explained that is why he kept them locked, Northampton Police Detective Adam J. Van Buskirk said in court records. Mercado also denied any allegations of being involved with cockfighting and said he was raising his birds for shows and for meat, Van Buskirk said. Cruz said he was not raising chickens at all and only rented space at the farm to work on cars, court records said. Police determined the owner of the farm was not aware of the operation and rented the coops to the defendants, receiving monthly cash payments of between $50 and $100. The arrangement had been set up by his brother, who managed the farm until he died about 18 months before the raid, court records said. Related Content: More than 1880 hectares will be transformed into prime koala habitat to protect one of the state's healthiest populations of the native marsupial. The New South Wales government has unveiled a draft plan to protect critical biodiversity assets and an important koala population in the Campbelltown and Wollondilly region in Sydney's south-west. The draft plan includes a new koala reserve to ensure Sydney's chlamydia-free koala population is protected. The proposal comes after up to one third of the koala population was wiped out by the devastating bushfires along Australia's east coast last summer. More than 1880 hectares will be transformed into a new koala resereve to protect the beloved marsupial. Pictured is Purkunas the koala recovering at Taronga Zoo earlier this year after he was rescued from out of control bushfires in the Blue Mountains The government will inject $84million into the project over the next five years, including the planting of 100,000 trees and install 120 kilometres of fencing to protect the much-loved marsupials. 'The Georges River Koala Reserve will protect up to 1885 hectares of existing koala habitat and enhance the connectivity of fragmented patches of important habitat, including protecting the important north-south koala corridor so this iconic species can move about safely,' environment minister Matt Kean said in a statement. Planning minister Rob Stokes added: 'Too often the environment has been an afterthought in urban planning. 'This approach secures environmental conservation but with the certainty needed to support the strategic delivery of infrastructure, housing and jobs for western Sydney.' The draft plan spans eight local government areas, including Hawkesbury, Penrith and Blacktown to Fairfield, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly. The NSW government proposal will protect the koala population in Sydney's south-west Pictured is a koala in a local backyard The plan could be bad news for Lendlease's 1,700-home Mount Gilead development on Campbelltown's outskirts, which may have to be downsized for the koalas' protection. Mr Kean issued an ominous warning to the developer. 'Let me be very clear to Lendlease, I will not be signing off on the biodiversity certificate unless your development meets all the recommendations of the chief scientist's,' the minister told the ABC. 'Campbelltown is koala town and that's why we need to pull out all stops to protect them.' NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who chaired a parliamentary inquiry into koala populations and their habitat, said the draft plan was a good start to ensuring koalas were protected. But she had concerns over the proposed timeline. 'Koalas can't wait that long, so I urge the government to protect the entire 1885 hectares immediately,' she said 'It's also disappointing that only one of the vital corridors which koalas use between the Georges and Nepean Rivers is included in this reserve.' The 2019-20 bushfires took a devastating toll on Australia's koala population. Pictured is koala rescued from Queanbeyan in the NSW southern tablelands Conservation group Total Environment Centre says the draft plan is the last chance to protect the remaining koala habitat before it's 'engulfed' by urban development. Director Jeff Angel says it should be completed in the next five years - not by 2040 as is expected under the plan. 'The Macarthur koala colony is the largest recovering colony in NSW; chlamydia free; and expanding north, south and west - of special importance in view of the mega bushfires that burnt the Blue Mountains,' he said. 'Faster protection of the Georges River Koala park area is needed with east west corridors over Mt Gilead and clear conservation for remaining bushland before the area is engulfed in urban development.' The Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown group accused Mr Kean of not consulting the community prior to Wednesday's announcement. The draft Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan will be on public exhibition until September 25. The arrested include members of parliament Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui Chi-fung. The allegations are linked to the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long incidents last year. Two weeks ago, the authorities arrested Jimmy Lai and Agnes Chow. Democratic Front: Law enforcement officers used as a weapon of repression. Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Police arrested 16 people this morning for their role in last year's anti-government demonstrations. They include Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui Chi-fung, two members of parliament from the democratic opposition. The two representatives of the Democratic Party are accused of " conspiracy with others to destroy property " in front of the Tuen Mun police station and of "obstructing justice". The fact dates back to July 6 last year, but according to various press reports, Lam and Hui actually intervened to mediate between the police and 400 pro-democratic demonstrators who asked the authorities to free the local city park from the continuous presence of noisy musical entertainers. Lam, along with 12 other people, is also accused of having participated last year in the "riots" of Yuen Long, which took place in the midst of demonstrations against the extradition law. On July 21, 2019, a group of thugs attacked anti-extradition demonstrators and unsuspecting passengers at the local metro (Mtr) station. Dressed in white T-shirts (to distinguish themselves from the black ones of the protesters), armed with iron bars, sticks and other offensive weapons, the triad thugs violently attacked unwitting passers-by, leaving 50 injured. The Democratic politician has repeatedly explained that he arrived in Yuen Long after the violence had already broken out, pointing out that he himself was a victim of the attack. This mornings arrests follow those made by the police on 11 August; 10 people linked to the democratic camp - including communications tycoon Jimmy Lai and activist Agnes Chow - were detained under Beijing's new national security law. For the Democratic Party, and for the other opposition forces, the city authorities - backed by the Chinese regime - are using the police to suppress dissent. NEW LONDON A man will serve four years in federal prison for his involvement in street-level cocaine trafficking while he was on supervised release for a previous cocaine trafficking conviction, according to authorities. A judge sentenced 37-year-old Juan Hernandez, of New London, to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham said. The charges against Hernandez stemmed from an investigation into drugs and illegal guns in southeastern Connecticut. During the investigation, law enforcement seized heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and guns, authorities said. Investigators learned that Hernandez was supplied cocaine from a leader of a drug trafficking ring, and then distributed the drug to his own customers and other street-level dealers, according to authorities. On Jan. 17, 2019, New London police arrested Hernandez after they pulled him over and found him with about 100 grams of cocaine, authorities said. When he was arrested, and during his criminal activity linked to this case, officials said, Hernandez was on federal supervised release. On Feb. 26, 2016, a judge sentenced Hernandez to 48 months in prison and four years of supervised release for his participation in another southeastern Connecticut cocaine trafficking conspiracy, authorities said. A grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment on March 5, 2019, that charged Hernandez and 23 other individuals with various offenses. Hernandez pleaded guilty Dec. 9, 2019, to conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the cocaine distribution offense and another 18 months in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release. He has been detained since his Jan. 17, 2019, arrest. After lying awake most of the night, Michelle Goldberg, a Times Opinion columnist, gave up on sleep and started writing about the anxiety and despair of being a New York City parent with school-age children. When I lie in bed struggling to figure out how to balance physical risk, economic sustainability and emotional well-being, I cant make the equation work, she wrote. And if I cant do it, Im not sure how parents with far fewer resources are doing it either. New York City by far the biggest school system in the United States has the virus sufficiently under control to at least partly reopen schools this year, according to public health experts. After a horrible spring, when the city became the worlds coronavirus epicenter, its statistics now compare favorably to places like Germany or Scandinavia. And yet: Political, bureaucratic and logistical struggles have hindered the citys reopening plans. Many parents still dont know which days their children will attend class or learn remotely. Its total confusion, and it makes it extremely difficult to do any sort of contingency planning, Michelle said. Teachers unions are threatening an illegal strike over safety concerns, and principals are calling on the city to push back its Sept. 10 reopening date. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, when asked if schools could be ready on time, replied: Fingers crossed on all of this. There has been no effort to come up with creative solutions. Nobody is treating this like an emergency, Michelle told us. They came up with field hospitals, so why not field schools? Its been a mediocre summer for sweet corn but the lack of rain has yielded a bumper crop of outdoor dining in the coronavirus crisis at some restaurants, that is. Crowds pack the Washington Street sidewalks in South Norwalk, for example, where places such as Match bring the neighborhood to life. But what about the restaurants themselves, as businesses with indoor seating cut in half at best, their bars closed and large parties still not allowed? Many continue to struggle and wont make it. All of them face the looming end of patio season soon. And so theyre pressing Gov. Ned Lamont to ease the Phase 2 pandemic limits that started on June 17 including a maximum of 50 percent of seating capacity indoors and a limit of 25 people, counting servers, at any indoor party. Even weddings. Even in giant restaurants and banquet halls. The industry, in fact, has spent the summer pushing for looser limits. Lamont, for his part, has held firm against launching Phase 3 with the nation still in danger and, on Friday, a small outbreak in Danbury. The latest: Everyone will reassess after Labor Day. Nevertheless he persisted Give Scott Dolch, president of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, credit. Lamont and David Lehman, the state economic and community development commissioner and COVID reopening major general, have given him little reason for hope, publicly at least. Nevertheless, he persisted. And he persists to this day, joining Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and some high-profile restaurateurs at Wood-n-Tap on the Farmington River Tuesday. Murphy is calling for a new federal backstop, beyond the partly successful Paycheck Protection Program, to help restaurants and other businesses with no hope of making up revenues and lots of non-employee expenses. We cant survive as an economy if we dont have a healthy restaurant industry, a healthy hospitality industry. And this is an existential crisis for the restaurant industry, Murphy said. With Dolch looking on, the senator declined to second-guess Lamont. I think the governor has made all the right choices for Connecticut and the stats back that up. Dolch looks at those same numbers and says we can do more for restaurants and their customers, safely in overall seating limits and in private parties. Our big ask in the restaurants right now is to eliminate the 50 percent capacity and look to allow as much seating as you can get as long as youre following the 6-foot spacing or you have barriers between booths, he said. We all live in New England, we know the weather can turn on a dime and we know in the fall, we want it to be great like its been this summer. We need to be able to allow all these restaurants to be able to function and do well with inside dining. That means a restaurant with a normal limit, of, say, 250 people could bring in, say, 175 instead of a limit of 125 as long as the tables were spaced correctly. That would help some places and not others, depending on their floor plans. At Match in South Norwalk, for example, ending the 50 percent limit wouldnt help much, owner and celebrated executive chef Matt Storch said. But it could help him at his Match Burger Lobster location in Westport. And it would mean he could get by with a smaller than planned heated tent in the winter. (Look for those everywhere starting around Columbus Day or whatever we call it now.) Killing caterers The bigger issue for Storch is the party size limit 25 inside, 100 outside, regardless of the size of a facility. The party size limits need to increase, period, he said in an email. If 40 people wanted to rent the inside of Match for a socially distanced private party I would have to turn the business away, like I have about 15 times over the last few months. Following restaurant guidelines with masks and social distancing I dont see why 25 inside and 100 outside would need to be the max. Makes no sense. Private party revenues is what we count on to boost our revenues to cover our costs. The party limits are killing caterers and banquet facilities. We need to look to increase that significantly and our ask right now for mid-September, end of September, we would like to have our event venues go at 50 percent capacity, capped at 100 people. That means, for example, that if the Waterview in Monroe could hold hundreds of people for a banquet such as the Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces awards dinner, its limit for indoor events would be 100, not 25. Earlier in the summer, Dolch pushed for Lamont and Lehman to raise the 100-person outdoor events limit to 150. You can talk to every single business and they can name how much revenue loss, how many events theyve had to cancel, Dolch said. Its very, very difficult and our ask of the governor right now is realistically a reasonable ask to try to help these businesses survive. He makes the old realpolitik argument: People are going to do what theyre going to do, in this case, have unprotected, big parties at home. A lot of rogue things are happening. Weve all see restaurants break the rules and when that happens, Dolch tells me, he doesnt hesitate to tell them to knock it off whether theyre members of the association or not. As we spoke on Tuesday, a decent lunch crowd ate under two tents by the river at Wood-n-Tap, with owner Phil Barnett hosting Murphy, Richard Rosenthal and Steven Abrams of the Max Restaurant Group and others on a second-floor terrace. I just think its premature Across the state in Danbury, Lamont talked about restaurant expansion with my colleague Ken Dixon, where the governor managed a coronavirus outbreak shutdown. Talk about bad timing. I just think its premature. I know the frustration, Lamont said. But here we are in Danbury, saying it went from one percent to seven percent in a short period of time. Lets err on the side of caution a little bit longer. Those numbers are the percentage of tests coming with positive results for COVID-19. Much of the nation has been at or near 10 percent this summer, leading to travel quarantines. Connecticut has posted a 0.77 percent figure in August. The bottom line: Weve averaged 2.5 new cases a day per 100,000 people, compared with 15 a day for the United States as a whole in that time. Danburys outbreak has been about at the national average, not a huge spike. All of that leads Dolch to say its time to adjust the limits. He and Lehman have spent a lot of time on the phone this summer, with some results. Live music and dancing are now allowed, under strict rules no singing yet but comedy is okay and buffets with servers are back. Were asking for a little bit more, he said. Lehman makes the point that every suffering industry, from gyms to nail salons, wants looser rules. Everyone says they can do it safely but then you get into behavior, he said earlier in the summer. Its not unanimous even in the restaurant industry. I happen to be in favor of the limits, said Abrams, a partner in the upscale Max Restaurant Group. Surrounding states offer little guidance. At least three New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have tightened rules after loosening. All of them are stricter in some areas, easier in others. In Connecticut, the industry is acting reasonably for the most part. Heres how the deal could go down after Labor Day: Restaurants and banquet halls gain a bit more leeway as long as the COVID numbers stay low. And to balance that, the state and municipalities need to bring down the hammer much harder on violators by asking the public to report abuses. dhaar@hearstmediact.com First China-Europe freight train from Shenzhen departs China via Alataw Pass The first China-Europe freight train from Shenzhen, in south Chinas Guangdong province, left the country through Alataw Pass, a major rail port in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, for Duisburg in Germany on Aug. 23. (Photo/CCTV NEWS App) The train marks a new international trade channel in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Passing through European cities including Moscow, Minsk, Malaszewicze, Warsaw, and Hamburg, it is scheduled to arrive at its destination in 14 days, covering a total distance of 13,438 km. The train is carrying 49 TEUs of electronic products, electromechanical products, textiles, and other light industrial goods with a total value of about 23 million yuan (over $3 million). Given the impeded international logistics caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the China-Europe freight service has become a major logistics channel between the two places. In the first six months this year, the China-Europe freight service has made 5,122 trips, transporting 460,000 TEUs, up 36 percent and 41 percent, respectively, promoting cooperation on COVID-19 response among China, Europe and countries along the freight routes. Women Strike For Equality Women marching at the Women's Strike for Equality, New York, N.Y., Aug. 26, 1970. Credit - John OlsonThe LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images The centennial of the day the 19th Amendment took effect is not the only historic occasion to be marked this August 26, which was designated as Womens Equality Day by the U.S. Congress in 1973. It was on that day in 1970 that over 100,000 womenand some mentook to the streets across the nation in a Womens Strike for Equality, using the 50th anniversary of womens suffrage to bring renewed attention to womens rights. This march was the biggest womens mobilization in U.S. history until the Womens March in 2017 shattered that recordand, like the more recent example, was both a significant catalyst for change and a spark that awakened opposition. The Womens Strike for Equality caught Americans off guard in 1970, highlighting discontent about womens status in America that had been brewing since pioneering Rosie the Riveters were fired from their jobs and told to go home to make way for the boys returning after World War II. The organizers sought to draw a continuous line between their actions and those of earlier womens suffrage advocates, but they also wanted to make clear that voting rights had not led to gender equality or equal political power. Fifty years after womens suffrage was inscribed into the U.S. Constitution, the work was unfinished. Today, 50 more years have passed and the same truth remains. For many Americans, watching local and national coverage of the Womens Strike for Equality on the evening news was the first time they saw feminism on display. Viewers witnessed a movement that cut across all identity and partisan lines, with women marching in over 90 cities across the country. The largest gathering in New York City stretched across Fifth Avenue, 50,000-people deep. There were radical Weatherwomen and [more moderate] League of Women Voters members black women, suburban housewives, professionals, office workers, women of the peace movement, Black Panthers and religious orders, reported one journalist on the scene in Washington, D.C., where over 1,000 attendees carried a banner asserting, We Demand Equality. Story continues The original idea was a dramatic union-styled work stoppage. Dont Iron While the Strike is Hot, became the strikes leading slogan. Dont Cook Dinner, Starve a Rat Today, went another. Madison Avenue became Dolly Madison Avenue after a determined woman scaled the street sign to make this correction. Femininity was on notice, just as herstory was being written. Sisterhood Is Powerful and Unite Women were prominently featured slogans that signaled the coalescence of a mass womens movement weaving together a kaleidoscope of diverse interests. Were your sisters, we need your help, challenged a member of the Radical Lesbians, who spoke at a culminating rally at Bryant Park in New York City. And Frances Beale, leader of the Third World Womens Alliance, challenged white women from less radical feminist groups like National Organization for Women to be more attunedin their policy prescriptions and organizing tacticsto the double jeopardy women of color experienced because of their gender and race. From this wide range of feminist groups across the political spectrum, organizers promoted three straightforward policy goals: universal childcare, free abortion on demand and equal opportunity in workplaces. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter In some ways, they were successful. Strikers capitalized on media attention to pressure the U.S. Congress and Nixon Administration for change. In the immediate aftermath of the strike, feminists convinced (overwhelmingly male) legislators to pass transformative laws that changed the landscape for women in school, at work and at homethe passage of Title IX of the Higher Educational Amendments Act in 1972 and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974 are two highlights. But the Womens Strike for Equality was also an early crystalizing moment for conservative women and their allies. By the mid-1970s, feminists would be routinely squaring off against opponents over issues such as federally subsidized childcare, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the merits of legalized abortion at the federal level following the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. The march in 1970 previewed the opposition that was to come as issues of women, gender and the familywhat conservatives would eventually dub the family values agendamoved to the center of national debate. One enterprising housewife, Helen Andelin of Santa Barbara, Calif., told reporters in 1970 that rather than strike for womens equality on August 26, she planned to hold Celebration of Womanhood Day instead. A 50-year-old mother of six, she urged like-minded women to wear their most frilly, feminine dress and bring their husband a delicious breakfast with a smile in bed that day. Only women, she believed, could challenge womens liberation, which she feared, was destroying our femininity that men love so much. But popularizing the catchphrase the personal is political proved easier for feminists than changing the fundamental structural underpinnings of sexism in all areas of business, politics and everyday American life. The bipartisan support for feminism that had made sweeping legislation possible earlier in the 1970s soon faded. In recent years, participants in the #MeToo, #TimesUp and #SayHerName movements have underscored the unfinished business of the women who went on strike in 1970. Today, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the strikers demand for universal childcare is particularly urgent. At this 50th anniversary of the marchas we also mark the suffrage centennial at a moment of incredible financial hardship and strain on families, especially those headed by single mothersit is time to shift this course and finally realize the goal of womens equality. In honor of Womens Equality Day, TIMEs 100 Women of the Year covers are now on a poster available for purchase with a special promotion through 8/26. Find it here. JHU Press Stacie Taranto and Leandra Zarnow are the editors of Suffrage at 100: Women in American Politics since 1920, available from Johns Hopkins University Press. "But my car started creeping a little and I felt it. So when the tree came down I saw a red light on and because my car was creeping I wasn't positive if it was for me or him. Then I looked up and I saw our win light on, up on the scoreboard, so I knew, alright, we got this." In a final-round clash of world champions, Sean Bellemeur maintained his perfect record Aug. 16, by scoring a second-in-as-many-tries Top Alcohol Funny Car win with the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service (MWDRS). Bellemeur, the two-time and reigning NHRA TAFC champion, defeated first-time Funny Car pilot and defending NHRA Pro Mod world champ "Stevie Fast" Jackson for the Domino's Summer Speed Spectacular title at World Wide Technology Raceway, near St. Louis. "Stevie and his team, they're proven champions, so it didn't surprise me at all they made it to the final," Bellemeur said. "He's a great driver, makes waves wherever he goes and likes doing it, so it was a fun weekend. And I'm especially glad the outcome turned out the way it did." Also on the St. Louis eighth mile, class veteran Tommy Cunningham scored his first official MWDRS Pro Mod event title, Marty Blair prevailed over 20 entries in the Pat Musi Racing Engines Top Sportsman class, and Tim Paap won over a packed field of 27 entries in the Race Star Wheels Top Dragster class. In the American Logo and Sign Jr. Dragster ranks, Brianna Chancey of Bixby, OK, got the better of Sam Stewart in Friday night's Pro Jr. Dragster final, but Stewart rebounded on Saturday with a win of his own over Lauren Chamberlain in an all-Missouri final. Keeping it in the family, Stewart's sister, Sarah, also won Friday's Sportsman Jr. Dragster final over Tyler Wells, then posted an equally impressive victory over Rylee Clocker in Saturday's final to sweep the weekend. Originally scheduled to wrap up on Saturday, just the opening round of racing was completed before a late-afternoon storm postponed all remaining eliminations to the next day. "I have to give all the credit to all my Mid-West Series crew: Jimmy Boles, Randy Hancock, Lonnie Grim, Misty Hayes, Ellen Eshenbacher, as well as everyone at World Wide Technology Raceway for not skipping a beat," MWDRS founder and owner Keith Haney said. "They reorganized everything and got the track back in perfect shape for Sunday's racing. We wrapped everything up in about four-and-a-half hours time and sent everyone home happy." All eyes were on the recently added Top Alcohol Funny Cars in St. Louis as Jackson made his class debut in a car owned by Jim and Annie Whiteley and prepared by crew chief Mike Strasburg. Meanwhile, Jim Whiteley strapped into "The Shadow," Jackson's screw-blown 2016 Camaro that usually competes on radial tires, to race on slicks in the MWDRS Pro Mod class at St. Louis. A quick learner, Jackson qualified third among seven entries with a 3.68 at 207.24 mph, behind only Kyle Smith and Bellemeur on top with a 3.64 at 211.69 combination in his Steve Boggs-tuned ride. Fourth through seventh included Bryan Brown, Bob McCosh Jr., Shane Westerfield and Robbie Massey. Bellemeur opened with a 3.61-seconds bye run on Saturday, then posted another 3.61 to get past McCosh and set low E.T. for the meet, while Jackson ran 3.68 to beat Westerfield and improved to a 3.62 to oust Smith from the semis. Unfortunately, despite the showdown everyone anticipated all weekend long, the TA/FC final was over right at the starting line. Jackson turned on the dreaded red bulb by two-thousandths of a second, signifying a false start and negating a solid 3.64 at 211.03-mph effort while Bellemeur left with a .012 light, then charged to a 3.63 win at 214.11 mph that also set top speed for the weekend. "I knew that he had a fast hot rod. And when you go up there knowing you got to get it on the tree and push it, sometimes you push too far," Jackson admitted later. "So yeah, it was two-thousandths away from being a spectacular finish." Meanwhile, Bellemeur felt he may have staged a little too quickly, allowing his car's clutch to heat up a little while Jackson followed to the start line in his convertor-equipped ride. "I'm not saying he hung me out or anything and I'm definitely not complaining," Bellemeur stressed. "But my car started creeping a little and I felt it. So when the tree came down I saw a red light on and because my car was creeping I wasn't positive if it was for me or him. Then I looked up and I saw our win light on, up on the scoreboard, so I knew, alright, we got this." Bellemeur added that his entire Tony Bartone-owned Hussey Performance team also was racing in memory of longtime shop manager, crewman and team driver Charlie Kominski, who just last week succumbed to leukemia after successfully fighting through a recent Covid-19 infection. "Charlie had a huge role and worked for Tony for a long time, so it was hard for all of us," Bellemeur said. "It was kind of good and bad all at the same time that we had a race so soon after. We knew how difficult it was going to be our first race without Charlie, so I'm glad we were able to get it out of the way and get the win for him." The Pro Mod class also saw a debut driver make it all the way to the final round as Joey Oksas made his first laps in the twin-turbocharged '67 Mustang usually driven by his father, Scott. After running a best of 3.81 at 211.03 in qualifying, Oksas actually missed the 16-car cut by just one-thousandth of a second, but was reinserted into 11th place after Todd Moyer's car broke and was unable to continue. On top of the field, after 20 entries made qualifying attempts, was John Camp at 3.68 and 202.94 mph, followed by defending class champion Aaron Wells, Khalid al Balooshi, and eventual race winner Cunningham at 3.74 and 198.93 mph. Round one of racing saw Oksas score a big holeshot win over sixth-place starter Whiteley in Jackson's Camaro. He then eked out a two-thousandths advantage at the finish of round two courtesy of a second holeshot over Jim Widener and advanced to meet Cunningham after Wells went red against him in the semis. On the opposite side of the ladder, Cunningham overpowered Jeff Rudolf in the opener before notching his own holeshot win over Todd Martin, then outlasted Jon Stouffer after both encountered troubles. For the final, Oksas again left first with a .015 reaction time, his best in eliminations, but a 3.74 at 214.48 wasn't quite enough, as Cunningham countered with his quickest run of the weekend at 3.71 seconds and 200.53 mph to put the young Oksas on the losing end of a two-thousandths difference. He credited his dad and crew chief, Larry Cunningham, for the winning tune-up and thanked his mother, Susan, and wife, Anita, as his only additional crew members. "I also have to thank everyone back at Stroud Safety for running the shop and keeping things going while we're out here racing," Cunningham added. "I knew he (Oksas) got out on me, but it was so close at the end I told Dad I drove it a little further out than what I normally do. I waited 'til I heard him get out of it before I got out of it, just in case," he explained. "I didn't really have much of a clue once we got to the finish line, so it was great when I learned we'd actually won. It's our first win in the big show. We've won the second-chance Slammers race twice before, but this is our first main-event win with the Mid-West Series, so it feels really good." In the Pro Mod Slammers class, long-time supporter Kurt Riffel took the win. This is Kurts first win with the MWDRS. Popular with the crowd, Kurts wife Shelly Riffel fired up the Pro Mod and drove it back to the pits after the photos. Leaving St. Louis, Clint Satterfield holds the MWDRS Pro Mod points lead, followed by Wells, Cunningham, Jim Sackuvich and Martin in the top five. Of course, with two wins after two races, Bellemeur leads the J&A Service Top Alcohol Funny Car ranks, with McCosh, Smith and Bryan Brown following, and the top spot in Pat Musi Racing Engines Top Sportsman belongs to Blair, with Bob Henry leading the Race Star Wheels Top Dragster crowd. In the American Logo & Sign Juniors classes, Brianna Chancey leads in Pro Junior while Tyler Wells leads in Sportsman Junior. The Summit Mid-West Drag Racing Series--featuring Pro Modified, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster--will return to action Sept. 11-12, at U.S.131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI, where the Tulsa-based series will stage a unique double-points event for all classes prior to the MWDRS World Finals at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park in October. ABOUT THE SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MID-WEST DRAG RACING SERIES: The Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series is an all-eighth-mile, no-profit organization funded entirely through marketing partnerships and passed along to benefit MWDRS host tracks (typically about $10,000). The Mid-West Drag Racing Series also provides trackside sponsor banners to be displayed at each event, on-site PA sponsor announcements, and links to each company on the MWDRS website (http://www.MidWestProModSeries.com), plus an extensive social-media presence, texts and e-mail blasts, and commercials during all events. Complete class rules are posted on the MWDRS website. Judges debate benefits Defendant delays Trial challenges Wayne County moves (TNS) Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Michigan Supreme Court had licensed Zoom for nearly 200 courthouses across the state to conduct remote hearings.The internet video conferencing technology came in handy when the spread of the virus into Michigan in March forced judges to suddenly shut down courthouses and shift proceedings online.While the new virtual world has forced the postponement of some trials and sentencings, conducting some legal business online has worked so well that the states highest court is studying ways for lower courts to continue using Zoom for routine hearings in civil and misdemeanor cases even after the virus is subdued.The technology eases scheduling conflicts for attorneys and other participants and allows hearings to be conducted faster, helping reduce case backlogs, Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack said."There are litigants who don't have to leave their job to be able to appear for a court hearing," she said."We moved to this format because we had to keep people safe in the middle of a pandemic," the chief justice said. "We moved quickly because we didn't have much of a a choice, and now we're seeing all these benefits that we'll be able to take with us when we're past this pandemic."''There is no doubt" that Zoom hearings will become permanent in some cases, McCormack said."It's not appropriate for every single hearing or every type of hearing, but it will absolutely be part of what we do from now on," she said. "We've undergone more change in the last four months than in the last two decades. ... It wasn't the disruption that we wanted, but I think was the disruption we needed."Critics contend the online technology is an imperfect substitute for face-to-face proceedings, where defendants can face their accusers while jurors and lawyers can get a better feel for the character of witnesses and presentation of evidence in person."When someone is testifying, you want to be able to observe their demeanor that gives you a good clue whether they are telling the truth," said Chief Judge John Chmura of Warren's 37th District Court.More than 750,000 hours of hearings have been conducted using the technology since the end of March. State courts officials said 1,000 judges and other court officers are licensed to conduct proceedings via Zoom at a cost of $200,000 to the state.The state courts licensed Zoom more than a year ago for remote hearings in an effort to save money and offer alternative procedures for lesser-offense cases.The Michigan Supreme Court has put together a Virtual Courtroom Directory that allows users to click on a map and access live proceedings that are streamed on YouTube. To date, the courthouses have about 23,000 subscribers statewide and generate hundreds of thousands of views, according to state court officials.Virtual "breakout" rooms, where parties can break off from Zoom into private sessions, have replaced physical courthouse meeting rooms, where attorneys and clients are able to confer. Jury trials are now being held, in some cases, in school auditoriums or on Zoom to make sure there is safe distancing for jurors.Most of Michigan's courts have begun increasing operations in the past few months. They operate under the Supreme Court's four-phase program for returning to full operations with a variety of restrictions depending on the severity of cases in a region and other factors.No courts have moved into Phase Four, which is operating with no COVID-19 restrictions.Chief Judge William McConico of Detroit's 36th District Court said his court's experience with Zoom proceedings has been mostly positive, especially for residents who normally would have to appear in person."I think people are embracing it because you don't have to find a babysitter ... you don't have to have someone to watch your elderly parent ... you don't have to worry about leaving kids (at home) or having to get back to pick someone up at school," McConico said. "You can do it from your kitchen table. You can do it from your family room. People are getting comfortable with this."But not everyone is completely comfortable with the sudden shift to virtual hearings.The use of online video technology "really changes the dynamic of the whole case...," Warren's Chmura said. "... It impacts the way we hear cases greatly."He said "it's more bad than good," but concedes the use of virtual proceedings has allowed the court to move quickly on cases."Using Zoom is better than having a defendant sit in jail and not have a case heard, but it's not ideal," Chmura said. "You're better off adjudicating cases when people are in court and you can see them face to face."It's easier to get defendants to pay their fines and court costs if they are in the courtroom, he added.For some defendants, the move to remote hearings has resulted in lengthy delays.Shawn Patrick Smith, a Birmingham-based defense attorney, represents a murder defendant whose trial has been pushed back five months. Trials in Wayne County Circuit Court have been delayed since mid-March due to the highly contagious COVID-19."(The delay) has got to be the most painful thing (a defendant) has ever experienced," Smith said, though he added he would rather wait than rush into a trial that could be affected by a court system impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic and where mistakes are possible."We have the best (court) system," said Smith. "It's almost perfect. The imperfection is this pandemic, (and) what it has thrown us is not good. It's not good for justice."On the positive side, Smith said, Zoom technology allows attorneys a lot of flexibility for some defense attorneys, allowing them to be able to participate the same day in court hearings that are miles apart.Smith said he was able to handle a felony case in the Upper Peninsula. He said normally he would have to fly to Iron Mountain, facing the threat of of being delayed by fog or being redirected to Green Bay sometimes for a brief hearing that would require him to block out two days for the court appearance.Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the changes forced on the court system are "frightfully enormous and must be prepared for fiscally, mentally and physically.The problems Worthy's office cites include a backlog of cases at the larger courthouses and "multiple" adjournments where "lawyers on both sides may wait on Zoom for hours for their cases to be called, only to be informed its been adjourned."Despite the "difficult and unprecedented times," Worthy said, the Wayne County Prosecutor's office continues to alert the courts about "the issues that victims, witnesses and my assistant prosecutors have experienced. We will continue to gather information to present to (judges and court officials).""While the pandemic is ongoing we will have to do all we can to ensure the safety of people, and to make sure the fair administration of justice takes place in our courtrooms during the many challenges we face," she added. "But we must also be mindful that because of some of the necessary delays we must keep everyone safe."Jury trials pose a greater challenge on Zoom than other proceedings, McCormack said. Some courts, such as one in Oceana County and another in Traverse City, have had to conduct jury selection in a high school auditorium to ensure safe distancing measures.Judge Thomas Power of the 13th Circuit Court in Traverse City said he and fellow Judge Kevin Elsenheimer weren't about to let area citizens "not have their day in court" so they began working on plans in April to ensure the proceedings continued.When the Supreme Court lifted the court trial ban on June 22, Power and Elsenheimer presided over jury selection in the most unlikely place: the auditorium of Traverse City Central High School. A day later on June 23, the 50 prospective jurors were spread more than 6 feet apart for a morning session of jury selection.When a jury was picked, jurors headed over to the courthouse a mile away to hear a civil case involving an automobile accident, but they were spread around the courtroom instead of being seated in a traditional jury box. The public was not allowed to attend but could watch the trial on YouTube.Jurors wore masks, and not one complained about having to do so, Power said. The changes were small inconveniences to protect the guaranteed right to a fair trial, he said."It's a small price to pay, otherwise people can't get their day in court, and we can't have that," he said.In Wayne County Circuit Court, Chief Judge Timothy Kenny and his staff are preparing to resume jury trials in mid-September after a six-month hiatus. They began last week to send summons to prospective jurors.Safety protocols will be in place, court officials said. Potential jurors will get a bag containing items such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.Trials will be limited to two courtrooms, which won't be open to the public. Proceedings will be broadcast on YouTube."Court staff, judges and the clerk's office have done a remarkable job in adapting to the Zoom technology and working remotely and conducting as much business as they possibly can," Kenny said."When the pandemic passes, there are any number of things that we have learned by the use of technology that we will carry forward as permanent parts of how we do business," he said. Magomedov brothers detention in embezzlement case extended till winter RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 10:53 26/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has extended detention of Summa Group owner Ziyavudin Magomedov and his brother Magomed in a case over embezzlement of 2.5 billion rubles (over $33 million at the current exchange rate) until November 30, RAPSI has learnt from the courts press office. The brothers are charged with creation of a criminal group, embezzlement of 2.5 billion rubles from the state budget and withdrawal of some of these assets abroad, investigators claim. Magomed Magomedov is also accused of illegal weapon possession. In November 2018, it was discovered that Ziyavudin Magomedov and his brother had been additionally charged with stealing 300 million rubles ($4 million) during the construction of a highway in South Siberia in September 2014. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Moreover, according to investigators, French authorities have opened a tax evasion case against ex-wife of Ziyavudin Magomedov Olga, who owns several restaurants in France. No other details have been disclosed. COVID Infections Delay Syria Constitution Talks By Lisa Schlein August 25, 2020 UN sponsored talks to draft a new constitution for war-torn Syria have been suspended one day after they began, after four representatives of the 45-member constitutional committee tested positive for COVID-19. The talks resumed Monday after a nine-month break due to disagreements over the agenda and then restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Spokeswoman for the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Jenifer Fenton says all necessary measures were put in place to ensure the safety of constitutional committee members attending the talks. "Committee members tested before traveling and were termed negative. The test that took place in Geneva was, of course, an additional precaution," said Fenton. "Full mitigation measures were in place during the meetingThe third session is currently on hold and the special envoy is consulting regarding the next steps and how the process can move forward from here." In advance of the talks, U.N. Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said he was hopeful the meeting could help to build trust and confidence between Syria's warring parties and open the door to a broader political process. A draft constitution is seen as key to holding U.N. sponsored elections for a post-conflict government in Syria. Fenton says the U.N. immediately informed the Swiss government that committee members had tested positive. She says measures have been taken to mitigate any risks, and tracing of anyone who may have been in close contact with those infected is under way. "The envoy observed all the recommended safety measures during his interactions with Committee members and other interlocuters," said Fenton. "He has not been advised that he needs to quarantineThose persons who tested positive are in quarantine and have committed to quarantine." Officials say all members are in quarantine in their hotel rooms for a period ranging from two to 10 days. During this period, they are to communicate virtually with each other and the U.N. Special Envoy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ZHUHAI, China, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- China first started implementing Special Economic Zones(SEZ) in the year 1980 in southeastern coastal area, with Zhuhai being one of them. As a pilot area in reform and opening-up, beyond tax incentives to foreign investors, SEZs enjoy simplified customs procedures and fewer regulatory constraints. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Zhuhai SEZ. According to the Information Office of Zhuhai Municipality, "In 40 years, Zhuhai has become one of the cities with the widest development space, the best development environment and policies in the Pearl River Delta." Opening-up has made Zhuhai more attractive and unlocked its potential for development. Many foreign-funded companies have come to the city where quality enterprises experience fast growth. Print Rite Group, the Hong Kong-funded enterprise, has seized the opportunities of SEZ and set up its Print Rite printer ribbon manufacturing plant in Zhuhai. He Liangmei, chairman of the board of directors of Print Rite Holdings Co., Ltd., said, "Close to Hong Kong and Macao, Zhuhai has a low cost for land and labor. The government has supported companies in innovation and transformation and upgrading." Now, the company has exported products to more than 120 countries and regions globally. It is the efficient regulatory mechanisms and convenient customs clearance that have made Zhuhai a popular destination for multinational companies. In the first quarter of this year, Zhuhai has already signed more than 30 new key projects ranging from equipment manufacturing, new materials, information technology to pharmaceuticals, the value of which exceeds 5.8 billion USD. To retain capital in the long run, the city must continuously maintain its comparative edge by refining and expanding the benefits it offers investors. To this end, Zhuhai has identified its next strategic advantage: strengthening cooperation with Macao and Shenzhen to build a hub for the efficient allocation of resources such as human capital, technology and funding. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has connected Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao more closely. With the Bridge, the trip from Zhuhai to Hong Kong has been drastically shortened from 4.5 hour drive to within an hour. After the opening of the Bridge, many multinational consumer goods companies are looking to set up warehouses in Zhuhai. Enterprises enjoy low fixed costs and efficient service here, as well as the ability to easily access managerial talents. Ding Liqiang is intimately familiar with the seismic shift that this infrastructure has brought to Zhuhai. Ding came to Zhuhai to set up a company specializing in cross-border e-commerce business, which has charted an annual sales growth rate of over 50% for the past three years. Ding believes that Zhuhai can become a logistics hub, a highland for modern services, and a new gateway connecting Chinese and overseas markets. Guo Yonghang, secretary of the Zhuhai Municipal Party Committee, stated that to strengthen cooperation with Macao, Zhuhai has not only provided policy support and expanded cooperation fields, but also made greater efforts to develop emerging industries, planning to build an in-depth cooperation zone between Guangdong and Macao. As a key area for cooperation between Macao and Zhuhai, the Hengqin Free Trade Zone of Zhuhai, has accumulated more than 440 achievements in system innovation in ten years' development. The Zone's GDP now grows at an average annual rate of 64%. Now, cooperation with Shenzhen further boosts Zhuhai's growth. "Zhuhai takes initiative to undertake the industrial transfer resources of Shenzhen, promote the flow of high-end factors, to build a modern industrial system with international competitiveness," said Guo. SOURCE The Information Office of Zhuhai Municipality Lucknow: With schools closed for more than five months now and online classes becoming the new normal, more and more children are now showing symptoms of mobile addiction that is causing behavioural problems. A senior psychiatrist at the King George`s Medical University (KGMU) said that he had been getting cases where children were getting irritable, losing appetite and also complaining of headaches and eye problems. "Since the pandemic is continuing, I am unable to hold counselling sessions with such children and I am only advising parents on dealing with the situation," he said. Psychiatrists at the Moti Lal Nehru hospital in Prayagraj have also noticed an increase in the number of parents bringing their children with problems of mobile addiction and behavioural changes. Ishanya Raj, the clinical psychologist at MLN hospital, said, "After meeting so many patients and doing counselling, we have observed some factors influencing the family dynamics during the lockdown. There is less interaction with children, poor parenting practices, lack of communication and supervision." Raj said that in most cases, every family member was busy in the virtual world during the pandemic. "Due to the current nuclear family structure, children do not have the opportunity to play and involve in other recreational activities. Schools are closed and children are relying on mobile phones to play games or watch other programmes. Some children have been found to be using mobile phones for more than 12 hours in a day or more due to the absence of interaction among family members. This is leading to behavioural issues and making the child irritable," the psychologist said. Suman Rawat, a young homemaker admitted that her two children -- a son and a daughter -- had shown definite behavioural changes. "They were well-behaved children but now they have started answering back. If I scold them, they start throwing things around and even misbehave with their grandparents. They want to go out and play but I cannot send them because of the Corona scare," she said. Rakesh Paswan, consultant psychiatrist in the same hospital said, "Through detailed analysis of the parenting style, the deficit areas need to be identified, and with the use of psychological interventions these kinds of issues can be tackled." The doctors said that parents were being advised to increase interaction with children even if they are on a work-from-home mode. The problem is more severe if the family has a single child who, therefore, cannot interact with others in his or her age group. "We are asking them to allow physical activity for the child from within the home and spend more time interacting with them. The child should be made to take regular breaks from the mobile phones," he said. O.P. Rai, an ophthalmologist in Agra, said that cases of children suffering from redness and watering of eyes, blurred vision and even pain around the eyes have increased substantially in the past three months. Job Title: Electrical Supervisor Organisation: Kikagati Power Company Limited (KPCL) Duty Station: Kikagati, Isingiro District, Site Based position, Uganda Reports to: KPCL Project Manager and E&M Manager About US: Kikagati Power Company Limited (KPCL) is set to construct a 14MW hydropower plant on the Kagera river that marks the border between the Republic of Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania. The project is located within Nyakayojo village, Kikagati Town Council, Isingiro district in Uganda and Murongo village, Murongo ward, Kyerwa District in Kagera region. Key Duties and Responsibilities: The role will include, but not be limited to, the following activities and responsibilities: Harmonise Project technical compliance with relevant local authorities. Inspect, supervise, and monitor EPC contractor/subcontractor quality and performance. Maintain records of materials and equipment certifications, inspection reports. Monitor daily progress of the work and submit monitoring Report. Oversee performance of subcontractors during construction and installation and provide direction with approval from Project/Line manager and or E&M Manager. Sign acceptance of the various completed Electrical work components (Generators, Transformers, Switchyard HV equipment, Control monitoring and protection system and all other electrical balance of plants and electrical activities of Hydraulic steel structure works, processes and installations on behalf of the Project Manager. Review proposed materials, designs, manuals, schedules, and work plans. Responsible for Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality performance of contractors and the project for the Electromechanical department generally. Review and approve quality documents, MS (method statements), ITP, FQP and QCR if found appropriate and fit for purpose. Attend Inspection/tests upon completion of Mechanical and Hydromechanical installations and assembly of works according to the requirements of the contract. Notify non-conforming works to the contractor thereby to issue a relevant NCR (non-conformity report) and submit the treatment method to mitigate. Evaluate and comment Commissioning and O&M Manuals. Participate on Dry & Wet commissioning of sub-systems and systems. Revise and comment on the supply of Mechanical, workshop and store equipment delivered following the requirement of the contract. Support other projects developed by Berkeley Energy in Uganda in the same capacity of Electrical Supervisor as deemed necessary by the Company. And attend any other project related assignments may be required by the company from time to time. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Essential: The ideal candidate must hold a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from a reputable institution. At least five years of professional experience in a related field. Fluency in English (written and oral) Preferable: Previous experience in Hydro Power or other Generation field. How to Apply: Applications should be emailed to Procurement@berkeley-energy.ug, addressed to the The Project Manager, include the application letter and updated CV (in pdf format) with at least 2 references. Only candidates who meet the required specifications will be contacted. Deadline: Friday 4th September 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 EDMONTONAlberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced a limited reset of his cabinet to accommodate a renamed portfolio for jobs, the economy and innovation. But Kenney rebuffed calls by both doctors and the Opposition to move Health Minister Tyler Shandro, who has been in a months long bitter feud with the Alberta Medical Association over physician pay. Doug Schweitzer, who was justice minister, will head the rebranded Jobs, Economy and Innovation department. This effectively takes the Economic Development, Trade and Tourism portfolio (and) renames it, Kenney said. Additional functions will be added to the ministry over the weeks and months that come. This is a broadened and expanded ministry. Tanya Fir, who headed the original portfolio, has been moved to the backbenches. Kenney said Schweitzer will work to implement Albertas recently launched plan to rejuvenate its faltering economy. Alberta is being hit especially hard with the double whammy of the global coronavirus recession, on top of that the collapse of energy prices which has clobbered our largest industry oil and gas, Kenney said in front of Government House in Edmonton. The Conference Board of Canada on Tuesday released a report forecasting Alberta will be the most heavily hit province economically this year with an 11 per contraction in its GDP. Kaycee Madu, a lawyer who was born in Nigeria, takes over from Schweitzer. Kenney said Madu is the first Black justice minister in Canada and will oversee a crackdown on crime, particularly offences against property; review the Police Act; and introduce legislation this fall that would allow citizen-initiated referendums. Alberta NDP Finance critic Shannon Phillips said the economy was struggling before COVID-19 hit and the Kenney government has done little to jump-start it. Putting Schweitzer in place isnt going to fix anything, she said. What we see here is maybe a refurbishing. The economic development ministry, perhaps putting a new salesman in charge, Phillips said. Lets be clear. This is not about a sales pitch. This is not about public relations. This is about the real conditions of peoples lives and the real struggles that Albertans are facing right now. Backbencher Tracy Allard, a businesswoman and member of the legislature for Grande Prairie, enters cabinet as Madus replacement at municipal affairs. Kenney said she personifies the entrepreneurial culture of Alberta. He said it will be her job to help municipalities get through the COVID crisis and to stop them from raising taxes at a time when every aspect of the economy has been hard hit. He is also tasking her with developing fiscal report cards for municipalities to gauge how they are doing and to compare them with other municipalities across the country. Shandro has been in an open battle with doctors after he government tore up their original fee agreement in February. Many doctors, particularly in rural areas, said they could no longer afford to both work in hospitals and keep up their practices. The medical association said earlier this year that its members had lost confidence in the minister. But Kenney said Shandro has the premiers full support. Kenney said the cabinet shuffle ensures that we have the right people in the right place as we ensure a strong recovery from the COVID recession. Phillips said its not a surprise that Shandro wasnt moved. It is the goal of the premiers office and the government to create chaos within the public health-care system and so in that respect Mr. Shandro is doing exactly the job that the premier has set out for him, she said. Read more about: The HSE's chief executive says the country's health service faces 'a very difficult period' ahead and that eliminating Covid-19 from Ireland is not realistic and must be lived along with. Paul Reid will also tell today's Oireachtas coronavirus committee that over 750,000 Covid-19 tests have taken place in Ireland so far and that 5,000 contact tracing calls took place last week. Mr Reid will also express concern at the 'large number' of outbreaks in private households, along with sporting and social clubs. Dr Denis McCauley, the chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation's GP committee, is calling for the public to take action to prevent a crisis in the healthcare system in the coming months. "We have to ensure that the vast majority of the population get a flu vaccine to lessen the burden on the actual health services," said Dr McCauley. "I think as well that there is a worrying stigmatisation of people who are A, going for a test and B, who are actually positive. "We're all in this together, we should just all work together to try and minimise the spread of this highly infectious disease," said Dr McCauley. Dr McCauley also does not believe it is possible to eliminate Covid-19 entirely from the country. "I think practically it is nearly impossible to do this because we are an open economy, open Ireland, we have a land border with another nation. "The fact of trying to get a negative Covid Ireland, it sounds idealistic, it sounds good, but I really don't think it's possible practically in the real world," he said. HAMILTON, Bermuda and PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH), the majority stockholder of the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) and parent holding company of the MIAX Exchange Group, today announced that the BSX has listed Senior Notes totaling principal amount of US$1.35 billion for the Government of Bermuda. The new listings are as follows: Government of Bermuda US$382,105,000 2.375% 144A Senior Notes due August 20, 2030; Government of Bermuda US$391,596,000 3.375% 144A Senior Notes due August 20, 2050; Government of Bermuda US$292,895,000 2.375% Reg S Senior Notes due August 20, 2030; Government of Bermuda US$283,404,000 3.375% Reg S Senior Notes due August 20, 2050; BSX President and CEO Greg Wojciechowski commented, "The team at the BSX is pleased to once again support the Government of Bermuda with its debt capital raise requirements through the listing of its recent debt issuance on the BSX. The BSX is experiencing increasing interest from the issuers of international debt securities and debt capital markets which is driving momentum in our listing support services. This is in large part due to our international reputation as a recognized stock exchange supported by a well-regulated financial center located in a convenient time zone with proximity to Europe and North, South and Latin America." Ocorian Securities (Bermuda) Limited acted as BSX listing sponsor for the notes. Alison Dyer, Managing Director of Ocorian commented, "We are pleased to be involved in this very important transaction for the Government of Bermuda, and congratulate the BSX on attracting another significant commercial deal. This listing is further proof of the efficacy of the BSX as a world class alternative destination for listings. Ocorian is committed to continuing and strengthening its partnership with the BSX, as the exchange continues to expand its global reach." Thomas P. Gallagher, BSX Chairman and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MIH, stated, "We are delighted to see the BSX continue to establish its place as a global leader among debt- and insurance-related securities. The growing recognition of the BSX is due in large part to its strength as Bermuda's domestic securities exchange market and its innovative and commercial approach to transactions requiring a dedicated listing and trading facility for specialist products of the Bermuda and international financial industry." The BSX has seen an increase in interest from the global capital markets for an alternative, internationally recognized exchange platform for the listing of international debt instruments. As of Q2 2020, the BSX had over 1000 listed securities, including investment funds, debt and insurance related securities, as well as small to medium enterprise companies. The BSX is also the world's leading exchange for the listing of Insurance Linked Securities (ILS) with approximately 500 listed issuers and $40 billion market capital outstanding representing over 90% market share of global ILS. For further information regarding the BSX, please visit www.bsx.com. Corporate Communications Contact: MIH Natalie Kay, Karma Agency [email protected] BSX Jacintha Hughes [email protected] About the BSX Established in 1971 the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) is now the leading electronic offshore securities market. The BSX specializes in listing and trading of capital market instruments such as equities, debt issues, funds, hedge funds, derivative warrants and insurance linked securities (ILS). The BSX, recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as a Designated Offshore Securities Market, is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges, an associate member of IOSCO and is located in an O.E.C.D. member nation. The BSX has Approved Stock Exchange status under Australia's Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) taxation rules; Designated Investment Exchange status by the UK's Financial Services Authority; Recognized Stock Exchange by the UK HM Revenue and Customs; Designated Exchange status under Canada's Income Tax Act and is a member of America's Central Securities Depository Association. About MIH and the MIAX Exchange Group Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH) is the parent holding company of Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX PEARL, LLC (MIAX PEARL) and MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald and together with MIAX and MIAX PEARL, the MIAX Exchange Group), three options trading exchanges. MIH also owns a controlling interest in the Bermuda Stock Exchange. MIAX, MIAX PEARL and MIAX Emerald options exchanges leverage the MIAX Exchange Group's industry-leading technology and infrastructure to provide their member firms with traditional pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX), maker-taker pricing and price-time allocation (MIAX PEARL) market structures, and a hybrid market structure with maker-taker pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX Emerald). MIAX Options serves as the exclusive exchange venue for cash-settled options on the SPIKES Volatility Index (Ticker: SPIKE), a measure of the expected 30-day volatility in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The MIAX Exchange Group's executive offices and National Operations Center are located in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices located in Miami, FL. To learn more about MIH and the MIAX Exchange Group visit www.MIAXOptions.com. Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company) or the Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX), and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All third-party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by the Company or the BSX remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, the Company's or the BSX's use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between the owners of these trademarks and the Company or the BSX. Any references by the Company or the BSX to third-party trademarks is to identify the corresponding third-party goods and/or services and shall be considered nominative fair use under the trademark law. SOURCE Miami International Holdings, Inc. Jadhav was reportedly upset that the APMC market in Jintur city of the Parbani district didn't have a Shiv Sena-led administrative body Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Jadhav "abruptly" tendered his resignation on Wednesday, in a letter addressed to party chief and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, reports said. The Lok Sabha MP from Parbhani reportedly claimed that the Shiv Sena "was being sidelined in his home constituency," News18 reported. "I have been a worker of the Shiv Sena under Balasaheb (Thackeray)... if I cannot for people, what is the point in remaining an MP," reports quoted the letter as saying. The report added that the party hasn't replied to the letter yet. Jadhav also reportedly claimed "that party activists were being systematically sidelined" by members of the Shiv Sena's ally in the Maharashtra government, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the News18 report added. Reportedly, Jadhav was upset over that the APMC market in Jintur, a city in Parbani district, didn't have a Shiv Sena-led administrative body. In his letter, Jadhav also noted that members of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee's administration had been appointed from the NCP, despite there being no NCP or Congress leaders in the constituency, The Free Press Journal reported. Before being elected to the Lok Sabha, he was a legislator in the Maharashtra Assembly from the Parbhani seat. The maximum school suspension would be cut from 20 to 10 days, and students from kindergarten to year 2 could only be sent home for serious physical violence under proposed changes to discipline policy for NSW public schools. Principals would be given more discretion over suspensions and would have a new team of behaviour experts to help them. They would have the option of in-school suspension and be required to provide work for, and check on, students sent home. Maximum school suspension will be cut from 20 to 10 days under a proposed new discipline strategy. Credit:Janie Barrett A draft behaviour strategy by the NSW Department of Education is the first major review of school discipline policies in 14 years, and comes amid increasing concern that vulnerable students, particularly those with disabilities, are over-represented in suspension statistics. As the Herald has revealed, seven out of 10 kindergarten suspensions involve students with a disability. In 2018, there were 1252 suspensions of 626 kindergarten children, including 150 long suspensions of up to 20 days for violence or persistent, serious misbehaviour. Hryvnia weakens to UAH 27.44 to U.S. dollar on Aug 26 09:50, 26.08.20 16795 The country's national currency weakened by five kopiykas. The government will sell up to 15 per cent stake in Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) through an offer for sale (OFS), which could fetch about Rs 5,000 crore to the exchequer. The floor price for the offer has been fixed at Rs 1,001 per equity share of the company. The price is at 15 per cent discount to Wednesday's closing price of Rs 1,177.75. The OFS will take place on August 27-28 on a separate window of the stock exchanges, HAL said in a regulatory filing. In an OFS, promoters of a company offload their stake in the company by selling their shares on an exchange platform. The government proposes to sell 3,34,38,750 equity shares, constituting 10 per cent paid-up share capital of the company, with an option to sell an additional 5 per cent stake or 1,67,19,375 equity shares (oversubscription option). The government owns 89.97 per cent stake in state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics, which was listed on the stock exchanges in March 2018. The company said in the regulatory filing that 20 per cent of the offer size will be reserved for retail investors and 25 per cent for mutual funds. Retail investors will be allocated offer shares at a discount of 5 per cent to the cut-off price in accordance with the OFS guidelines. IDBI Capital Markets & Securities, SBICAP and YES Securities (India) will be acting as the settlement broker for the offer. Ahead of the announcement, shares of HAL ended day's trade at Rs 1,177.75 apiece, up 0.5 per cent, against previous closing price of Rs 1,171.85 on the Bombay Stock Exchange. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Sensex ends 230 points higher, Nifty at 11,549; banks, auto stocks rally Also Read: Future Group shares rise up to 42% on reports Reliance Industries set to buy retail business Jeanette Epps KF5QNU joins Starliner mission to ISS Astronaut and radio amateur Jeanette Epps KF5QNU has joined the Boeing CST-100 Starliner-1 crew for a mission to the International Space Station She joins fellow crew members Sunita Williams KD5PLB and Josh Cassada KI5CRH on the first operational crewed flight of Starliner. The six-month expedition is planned to launch to the ISS in 2021 following NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts. NASA press release https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-astronaut-jeanette-epps-joins-first-operational-boeing-crew-mission-to-space What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio Free online amateur radio training course https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 26 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Iran intends to resume gas imports from Turkmenistan, said Head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Hassan Montazer Torbati, Trend reports with reference to the Business Turkmenistan information portal. According to the plans to increase gas production and develop the gas network in Iran, the country welcomes the new agreements with Turkmenistan. A 25-year contract between the National Iranian Gas Company and the Turkmengaz company was signed in 1997. Under the contract, Turkmengaz was to annually export 8-10 billion cubic meters of gas a year to Iran. It suspended gas exports to Iran in 2016 because NIGC did not pay for the gas supply. According to the decision of the Stockholm International Arbitration Court, the National Iranian Gas Company must pay a debt of $2 billion to the Turkmengaz company. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva Colombia stopped aerial spraying of illegal coca planatations in 2015 following a report by the World Health Organization on its dangers Colombia's government said on Monday it will resume the controversial practice of aerial spraying of coca plantations following a spike in gang-related violence. Colombia's is the world's biggest producer of cocaine, the raw material of which is coca leaves. It stopped aerial spraying in 2015 over health concerns but has long come under pressure from the United States -- the largest importer of Colombian cocaine -- to take measures to curb coca production. "Restarting aerial spraying is absolutely indispensable," Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said at a press conference alongside the armed forces high command. Former president Juan Manuel Santos ended the practice of aerial spraying using the herbicide glyphosate in 2015 after the World Health Organization said it was "probably carcinogenic." But two years ago, at the end of his term in office, Santos announced Colombia would resume the practice after three years of manual destruction of illegal coca plantations. Authorities, though, have set a condition that the spraying can only recommence once an official plan has been designed to minimize the adverse effects of the chemical substances. Local people oppose aerial spraying as it affects their ability to legally grow coca leaf, which is used throughout the Andes as an infusion or to chew. Environmentalists and farmers also oppose the practice due to its impact on traditional crops and water sources. Farmers also claim the spraying has killed their livestock and made them ill. The government claims its the only effective method against illegal drug plantations. Holmes Trujillo said authorities expect to meet the requirements within a few weeks. The government of President Ivan Duque -- who was elected in 2018 on a promise to be tough on crime -- has been under pressure following a surge in violence around the country, which it blames on drug-traffickers. On Friday and Saturday alone, 17 people were killed in three massacres. Authorities say 36 people have been killed in related gang violence since August 11. Story continues As well as drug-traffickers, various armed groups competing for power, territory and influence are financed by illegal mining. Colombia has 154,000 hectares of crop plantations used to produce cocaine, the United Nations said in 2019. Illegal coca plantations have been reduced since Duque came to power from a high of 171,000 hectares in 2017, but cocaine production has remained stable. dl/vel/rsr/bc/dw Your browser does not support the audio element. James Chor Hang Chow, a Canadian businessman who was wrongfully imprisoned for over two and a half years in Vietnam, passed away before reclaiming his confiscated property and successfully petitioning for compensation. But despite his death, his lawyers are still looking to the government to make things right. After being cleared of his conviction, Chow spent nearly two decades petitioning various Vietnamese judicial bodies to restore his seized properties, including money Khanh Hoa authorities appropriated through the sale of his ship, the Duong Thuy 1. Upon his release from prison, Chow found himself in limbo. He had little money and no family in Vietnam, but was unable to return to Canada as he was still embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim his property and protest for a payout. The two decades he spent attempting to recuperate his losses was financed by several of his friends and acquaintances in Ho Chi Minh City. Repeated mistreatment Court documents highlight several times Chow was mistreated during legal proceedings. One such instance occurred in his case against Khanh Hoa Transport Service Co. (KHTS). KHTS filed a lawsuit with the Vietnam International Arbitration Center against Chow in late 1991, during which arbitrators declared that Chow would be responsible for a US$213,000 payout to KHTS. Unsatisfied with the judgment, Chow filed an appeal but unable to attend the hearing as he was charged with and arrested for abuse of trust to appropriate Socialist property in August 1992. His companys ship, the Duong Thuy 1, was subsequently transferred to KHTS while the Canadian awaited his hearing, despite the fact that no official verdict had been made. The Peoples Court of Ho Chi Minh City officially sentenced Chow to two years, six months, and five days in prison on February 18, 1995. As he had served the term in detention, he was released upon the ruling. In light of this decision, KHTS promptly claimed full ownership of the Duong Thuy I, just four days before an appeal hearing for the case was meant to begin. Though that appeal ended with Chows acquittal, it was just the beginning of a new journey for him, one that would have him spend the next two decades of his life unsuccessfully seeking the return of his lost property and would end in his death. Chows first step was to file for the return of the Duong Thuy I, but his request was complicated by the fact that KHTS had been dissolved by Khanh Hoas provincial leaders in July 1996 and the cargo liner had been sold for VND595 million ($25,700). In March 1997, Chow wrote a letter to the Peoples Court of Ho Chi Minh City to request restoration of his properties, including $7,960 and the Duong Thuy I. The request had then brought to Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement but was stalled in 1997 because of KHTS's disbandment. Wheres the money? According to the judgment enforcement agency, the Peoples Committee of Khanh Hoa Province is responsible for Chows payout now that KHTS has been dissolved. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement stated in an official dispatch on September 18, 1997 that the sale of Duong Thuy I by KHTS, though authorized by the Peoples Committee of Khanh Hoa, was unlawful as an official judgment had not been made in the case. This means the Peoples Committee of Khanh Hoa is required to transfer the VND595 million made from the sale of the Duong Thuy I to Chow. The committee, on the other hand, says that Chows unfulfilled payment to the now-defunct KHTS serves as grounds for withholding the money. On May 14, 1998, the judgment enforcement agency leveraged a coercive judgment enforcement against the Peoples Committee of Khanh Hoa by requiring VND595 million from the provincial budget be transferred to the agency. Khanh Hoas State Treasury, nevertheless, refused to adhere to the decision and withheld the transfer. To this date, there has been no further progress made in the restoration of Chows assets. Suffering unjustly till death Chow was kept in a state of limbo for over 20 years, completely unsure of whether or not he would ever be offered his payout from the Khanh Hoa Peoples Committee, compensation for his wrongful imprisonment, or merely an apology. After his conviction was quashed, Chow set his sights on reclaiming his seized properties, unaware of the compensation he deserved in accordance with Vietnamese law. The first-instance judgment, a requisite document for the Canadian man to claim the compensation, was not provided to him in the trial. In 2007, Chow was instructed by a pro bono lawyer to write a request soliciting the first-instance judgment from the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court, which turned out to be successful. He then filed an application to claim a VND27.4 billion ($1.18 million) payout for his unjust suffering, which comprises his mental suffering and material damage inflicted by the wrongful imprisonment, as well as its impact on his business, his loss of income and job, and other damages. He never heard back from the court. Shortly after, he fell ill and was unable to continue petitioning judicial agencies for his compensation. His worsening condition also obstructed his work with his lawyer to reclaim his assets and payout. Chows long-time friend and business partner recently introduced him to lawyer Phan Trung Hoai, who wrote to the Peoples Court asking for affirmation on the Canadians unjust sentence and the whereabouts of his payout. The court never responded. In the end, Chow was unable to outlive their radio silence and he passed away on June 30, 2020 without receiving a dime of his due compensation. In conversation with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, lawyer Phan Trung Hoai divulged that the court has yet to offer an official response to Chows payout request, leaving him unable to quantitate the damage inflicted. Hoai said he is still waiting for information from the court before he makes his next moves. James had passed away, but his next of kin live in Canada and Hong Kong. Hence, the compensation process shall not be halted but rather continue in favor of his heirs," the lawyer said. Chows relatives are not able to come to Vietnam due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but after the inheritance procedure is completed, they will be able to authorize a lawyer to continue the process." Vietnamese lawyer Phan Trung Hoai, the pro bono lawyer representing Canadian man James Chow, is seen in a provided photo. A pro bono lawyer James was introduced to me after his discharge from prison. He was seeking legal assistance to reclaim his seized properties. After reading the appeal judgment, I agreed to represent him, Hoai recounted. I became the focal point of correspondence with the authority, keeping tabs on all responding documents throughout the years. I continued to do it even during a period when James and I lost contact." Hoai and Chow met again after several years, during which time the Canadian man once again asked for help. When Chow landed in the hospital, Hoai, alongside Long Chows long-time friend helped with the Canadian mans hospital bills as well as the VND30 million ($1,300) fine for his expired visa before renewing it. James came to our country to do business but was entangled in the legal fiasco to the point of bankruptcy, so I helped him to the best of my ability, Hoai said. Back when he was healthy, James sent me a message saying that he would reimburse me once he got his properties back. He repeatedly asked to involve me in a reward contract, but I saw that he was too anguished already, so I turned him down." Some of Canadian James Chow's hospital bills. Photo: H.D. / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A woman who tried to burn down a friend's flat after she falsely accused her of 'stealing' her boyfriend has been jailed for 21 months. Hannah Ridgley, 30, told her neighbour Margaret Russell she was going to 'f****** stab' her, adding, 'I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else.' Miss Russell, who lived on the floor below Ridgley in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, tried to calm her but was told: 'I'm gonna stab every girl who took my boyfriend, including you.' Shortly afterwards while the victim was out, Ridgley set fire to the flat and caused 1,000 worth of damage including damage to the sofa, carpet and curtain which had partly melted. Hannah Ridgley, 30, (pictured) told her neighbour Margaret Russell she was going to 'f****** stab' her, adding, 'I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else' The fire service and police were called and no one living in the three-storey block of flats in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, was injured. In a statement Miss Russell told police: 'I feel numb. I am not perfect but I have done nothing to deserve this. I have helped Hannah a few times in the past when she had trouble and this is how she treats me. 'I feel angry and frustrated, but I am not sure exactly how I feel about it. I have not felt safe in my own home and have been staying with my mother, which I should not have had to do. Ridgley (pictured) has now been sentenced to 21 months in prison 'I stayed with her for two weeks and slept on the sofa as there is no room for another resident. I have not lived with my mother for a very long time.' At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Ridgley, of Prestwich, Bury, admitted arson. Prosecutor Rachel Widdecombe said: 'Margaret Russell lived in the same three-storey block of flats as the defendant. The victim lived on the top floor and the perpetrator on the floor below. 'Before this incident they got on well. The victim helped her when she fell out with her partner and they had occasionally had drinks together. 'On May 4 this year the victim was in her flat getting ready to visit her mother when she heard a loud bang at the front door. She opened it and the defendant barged into her flat carrying a blue carrier bag with leaves in it. 'The defendant appeared to have taken something and was slurring her words with her eyes rolling. She stated staggering about and she shouted that she was pulling leaves from the bushes. 'The defendant offered her victim a cigarette which was refused and said she didn't want the defendant in her flat. 'The defendant shouted ''what are you shaking for?'' and then exploded. 'She shouted ''I'm going to stab every girl that took my boyfriend, especially you.'' 'She carried on shouting saying she was going to stab her victim and everyone else. Sentencing Judge Tina Landale told Ridgley at Minshull Street Crown Court (pictured): 'Your behaviour put many people at risk. You had a friendship with your victim which you abused when you drunkenly set fire to her flat 'She shouted ''I am going to f****** stab you, I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else.'' 'At the time the victim didn't think much of the threats and asked the defendant if she needed help but was told, ''f*** off I want to be on my own.'' 'The victim bolted her door and finished getting ready. She left after 10 minutes and went downstairs where she heard more banging. Miss Russell, who lived on the floor below Ridgley (pictured) in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, tried to calm her but was told: 'I'm gonna stab every girl who took my boyfriend, including you' 'She thought it would be the defendant and looked outside. She asked the defendant if she had lost her keys and was told ''he has been at yours before, I'm not a noodle.'' 'The victim continued walking and the defendant kept on shouting that she was going to burn her. Another resident saw the defendant and said she appeared drunk. She told the resident she could not get into the flat and was locked out. 'He heard the defendant shout ''I will burn the place down Maggie is not a friend of mine''. A fire alarm then sounded and the fire service and police were called. 'The victim had been gone for about half an hour and heard the fire alarm when she got to the front door. The defendant was coming out of the flat with another resident, an elderly woman shouting ''fire, fire''. She then went upstairs and found it was her flat on fire. 'Police arrived and concluded after an investigation which found it had not been an accidental fire. The corner of the lounge between the sofa, window and kitchen was damaged- as was the carpet and side of the sofa. Part of the curtain had melted and material had fallen to the floor. 'No ignitable fluid was found but the fire was started deliberately by a naked flame being used on combustible materials. It is estimated the damage will cost around 1,000 to replace.' Shortly afterwards while the victim was out, Ridgley (pictured) set fire to the flat and caused 1,000 worth of damage including damage to the sofa, carpet and curtain which had partly melted Ridgley gave no comment in police interview. Her lawyer Gwen Henshaw said: 'She intended only to cause drama not hurt and was shocked the fire escalated so quickly. 'She recognises this was a mean and potentially very, very dangerous offence.' Sentencing Judge Tina Landale told Ridgley: 'Your behaviour put many people at risk. You had a friendship with your victim which you abused when you drunkenly set fire to her flat. Thankfully no one was injured but that was not due to you but the prompt attendance of the fire service and police. 'I accept you had a difficult upbringing and have mental health problems, but you pose a high risk of serious harm to the general public. 'I am sure only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified because of the risk you pose which is high. 'You cannot be managed in the community because even now you are still drinking significantly despite what happened at that flat when you set fire to it.' 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Dr. Alina Sholar is particularly excited by the latest trends in aesthetic medicine and the latest technological innovations in non-invasive, non-surgical skin and body rejuvenation. "In my office, we understand the science behind the tech and the biology beneath the skin to really make our patients' results far beyond what your average medspa could ever offer," says Dr. Alina Sholar. She notes that by offering the latest services, she and her team are able to see the amazing transformations among patients. "This is just as fulfilling for our staff, too. That excitement from the patient drives them to learn more and perform better every day," says Dr. Sholar. For more information, please visit https://www.skinsciencesoul.com/. About Dr. Alina Sholar Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Alina Sholar has made a name for herself as a respected plastic surgeon, female entrepreneur, and mentor. She attended Texas A&M University on a full-tuition merit scholarship and earned a B.S. degree in Biomedical Science with Magna Cum Laude honors in 1994. In 1999, she earned her MD degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she was also awarded the prestigious Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Award and Achievement Citation for Women in Medicine. She then completed a full five-year residency in General Surgery at the University of Louisville, where she was awarded Best Resident Instructor and Mentor by the students of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She also completed an additional residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Tennessee, serving as Chief Resident in 2006. She received multiple awards and publications in research areas such as the efficacy of treatment at Tertiary Care Wound Centers and the advanced reconstructive techniques required after major facial trauma and infections. She was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 2008. Dr. Sholar currently owns Skin Science Soul by Dr. Sholar, her plastic surgery and medical aesthetic practice. She is also the owner and CEO of Serenity Medical Centers and Sage Practice Solutions. Dr. Sholar also provides pro bono business consulting for women entrepreneurs in need. Further, she mentors young female physicians and non-physician entrepreneurs. Dr. Sholar is also a philanthropist and regularly gives back to her local communities, supporting women-owned businesses and organizations that benefit women and children. Contact: Dr. Alina Sholar 512-712-6117 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alina-sholar-md-379b0422/ SOURCE: Dr. Alina Sholar View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603450/Dr-Alina-Sholar-Highlights-New-Services-Offered-by-Skin-Science-Soul Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday directed police and administration officials to take all necessary security measures for upcoming festivals such as Ganesh Utsav, Anant Chaturdashi and Muharram. He said that religious and cultural events and programs are not allowed in public places in view of the COVID-19. "If anyone is found violating protocol, strict action should be taken against them," the CM said, emphasising on strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol. During a video conference meeting with senior police and administrative officials, the chief minister reviewed the security arrangements in view of the upcoming festivals. The CM asked them to remain vigilant and keep a watch on social media and take strict action against those spreading rumors. According to a statement issued here, he said the state government has a "policy of zero tolerance towards crime and criminals". Also read: Coronavirus tests per million reach 26,685 in India; positivity rate down to 8.60% The CM said that action should be taken against the criminals in the list of top 10 in districts and also at police station level. "Beat system should be strengthened. Patrolling should be done continuously. Action should be taken against anti-social and anti-national elements and those having links with criminals," he said. Prompt action should also be taken against cow-smuggling, illicit liquor trade, crime against the weaker sections of society, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe women and girls, he added. He said that anti-Romeo squad should work with full alertness. The Chief Minister also gave necessary guidelines for flood control and ongoing rescue and relief work. He said that availability of urea should be ensured and its black-marketing and artificial scarcity checked. Also read: Greta Thunberg comes out in support of Indian students; calls for postponement of NEET, JEE exams Victoria's draconian lockdowns are exacerbating the unemployment crisis with Melbourne making up more than half of Australia's worst-hit postcodes for job losses. Since August 2, dine-in cafes and restaurants have been banned as an 8pm to 5am curfew was imposed on the Victorian capital. Melbourne residents were also banned from travelling more than 5km from their home for exercise. Labor Premier Daniel Andrews' measures are also destroying the labour market, with Melbourne home to eight of Australia's 15 worst areas for job losses. Victoria's number increased to ten when the Mornington Peninsula on the south-eastern edge of Port Phillip Bay and the state's north west, along the Murray River, were included. Melbourne's inner-city area(Federation Square pictured) suffered a 10.3 per cent plunge in the number of jobs between the start of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March and the first week of August, Australian Bureau of Statistics payrolls data showed Melbourne's inner-city area suffered a 10.3 per cent plunge in the number of jobs between the start of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March and the first week of August, Australian Bureau of Statistics payrolls data showed. Poorer suburbs with more COVID-19 cases have also been hit economically, with job numbers in Melbourne's north-west falling by 8.2 per cent as employment in the city's west dropped by 8.1 per cent. Job losses were steep right across Melbourne from the inner south (down 8.2 per cent) to the more affluent suburbs in the inner-east and south east, where payroll numbers both fell by 7.6 per cent. Sydney's inner-city area had Australia's second-worst plunge of 8.5 per cent during that five-month period, as white collar professionals continued working from home and no longer needed a cappuccino from a cafe near the office. Sydney's inner-city area (Opera Hous pictured) had Australia's second-worst plunge of 8.5 per cent during that five-month period, as white collar professionals continued working from home and no longer needed a cappuccino from a cafe near the office Labor Premier Daniel Andrews' authoritarian measures are also wrecking the labour market, with Melbourne home to eight of Australia's 15 worst areas for job losses between March 14 and August 8 New South Wales, which unwound COVID-19 travel restrictions in May, had four areas on the unemployment hot spot list. Sydney's upmarket eastern suburbs suffered a seven per cent jobs decline, compared with a 6.8 per cent fall in the city's inner south-west. The Richmond-Tweed area of northern NSW, taking in tourist hot spot Byron Bay, suffered a 6.5 per cent decline, as Queensland closed its borders to NSW - potentially depriving the coastal towns of visitors from Brisbane. CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said Melbourne's coronavirus crisis was holding back Australia's economic recovery. 'The sooner that COVID cases are contained in that state, the sooner its economy can open up, encouraging more of the broader Australian economy to open up and borders to come down,' he said. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expecting the national jobless rate to soar from a 22-year high of 7.5 per cent, in July, to 10.5 per cent by the end of 2020 - a level unseen since early 1994. The Richmond-Tweed area of northern NSW, taking in tourist hot spot Byron Bay (picture), suffered a 6.5 per cent decline, as Queensland closed its borders to NSW - potentially depriving the coastal towns of visitors from Brisbane The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday filed a charge sheet before Delhi court against Pakistan-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and 11 others for allegedly laundering money for financing terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The agency said the charge sheet is also related to blasts carried out by the terror group in Jammu and Kashmir in 2011 in alleged connivance with the Pakistani government and its spying arm ISI. The prosecution complaint, EDs equivalent to charge sheet, has urged the court for confiscating attached assets totalling to ? 1.22 crores in the case, besides other punishment under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case is likely to be taken up by the court soon. The central probe agency had filed a criminal case of money laundering after taking cognisance of a National Investigating Agency (NIA) charge sheet filed against Salahuddin, Mohammad Shafi Shah and others under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code. The ED charge sheet filed before a special court under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) named Mohammad Shafi Shah alias Doctor/Dawood/Nisar, Talib Lali alias Talib Hussain Lali/Waseem/Abu Umer, Mohd Yusuf Shah alias Syed Salahuddin, Gulam Nabi Khan alias Amir Khan, Umer Farooq Shera alias Mehboob-ul-Haq, Manzoor Ahmed Dar alias Masroor Dar, Zaffar Hussain Bhat alias Khursheed, Nazir Ahmad Dar alias Shabir Ellahi/Khalid, Abdul Majeed Sofi alias Majeed Bisati/Shaheen, Mubarak Shah, Muzaffar Ahmad Dar/Gaznavi/Mohd Ali and Mushtaq Ahmad Lone alias Mushtaq Aalam. The agency said it took over probe in the case after taking congnisance of a 2011 FIR of the NIA in which Mohammad Shafi Shah and his associates were alleged to be involved in execution of sensational blasts in Jammu and Kashmir and huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered from them. The ED said its money laundering investigation found that Hizbul Mujahideen- the most active terror outfit in Kashmir, has been responsible for funding terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir headed by Syed Salahuddin- its self-styled commander based out of Rawalpindi in Pakistan." The funding of terrorism activities on Indian soil had been organised by a trust called JKART (Jammu & Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust) which was operating in connivance with the government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the ISI," the ED said. It is also revealed, the ED said, that the terror funds were sent to India through the hawala channel, barter traders and human carriers." The funds were further distributed through hawala, human carriers and banking channels to the next of kin of active as well as dead Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists," the agency said. The master minds" behind the distribution of these funds, allegedly used for financing of terrorist activities in the Kashmir valley, were Mohammad Shafi and Talib Lali, residents of Bandipora in JK, Muzaffar Ahmed Dar of Budgam and Mushtaq Ahmed Lone of Anantnag. The agency said it has earlier attached 13 properties, worth Rs 1.22 crore, belonging" to seven terrorists as part of this investigation. ALBANY Albany County will soon be able to conduct point-of-care testing for coronavirus at its nursing home thanks to a federal initiative that is providing the county with new testing equipment and kits, County Executive Dan McCoy said Wednesday. McCoy said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notified the county Tuesday that it was one of two or three facilities statewide selected to receive the equipment, which is designed to deliver results in as few as 15 minutes. Thats compared to the approximately six to 10 days it currently takes to get results at the county-run Shaker Place nursing home, he said. The county, which has been spending roughly $16,000 a week to comply with a state order requiring once-a-week testing of nursing home employees, should see a savings of over $10,000 a week as a result of the testing change, McCoy said. Thats a big savings and its big news, he said. And it also means when we have patients who have to go out for care we can get them tested before they go out and have that result before they get to the hospital and when people are coming back and we need to get them tested before we put them out into open areas with other people. So its going to protect our residents that were caring for and its going to protect our workers. New York was requiring long-term care facilities to test employees twice a week in an effort to keep the virus away from vulnerable populations, but reduced that requirement to once a week in June. While Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo cited declining infection rates as the reason, many pointed out that the requirement had strained laboratories and created long turnaround times that were effectively rendering the tests useless. On Tuesday, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced they would also be mandating once-a-week testing of nursing home employees. In order to facilitate that testing and reduce strain on national laboratories, the federal government is distributing test kits and point-of-care testing machines to select nursing homes nationwide before eventually distributing them to all facilities, McCoy said Wednesday. New York nursing homes have complained that the cost of weekly employee testing isnt sustainable in the long run, and have asked for state or other assistance to help meet the mandate. Counties that operate their own nursing homes have also felt the cost, McCoy said Wednesday. At Shaker Place, the cost to test roughly 225 employees for just one week is over $16,000, he said. Its been a huge financial drain not just on our nursing home, but also on hospitals and their nursing homes and their staff, McCoy said. County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen said she anticipates point-of-care testing for coronavirus will become more common as the pandemic wears on, but expressed concern that the array of new testing possibilities on the horizon could create reporting issues. One of the concerns I have with these methods is that they do not necessarily go into an electronic lab reporting system like the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing that is currently widespread, she said. So as we roll out these technologies and this includes the technology at the nursing home its going to be very important that we ensure that that reporting piece to the local health department is implemented, which will have to be them manually letting us know about positive cases. News of Shaker Place's new testing regiment came as the county announced 16 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. Of the new cases, seven had close contact with positive cases, two were healthcare workers or residents of private congregate settings, one had reported out-of-state travel and six did not have a clear source of infection. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Active cases in the county rose from 22 on Tuesday to 31 on Wednesday. The number of residents hospitalized with the virus is now nine, up one from the day before. Saratoga County on Wednesday advised anyone who recently visited two local eateries to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after the facilities' each had an employee test positive for the virus. The employees worked at the McDonald's at 1517 Crescent Vischer Ferry Road in Halfmoon and the Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels shop in Clifton Park. Any exposure to the public would have been low risk, the county said, as the employees wore masks at all times on their shifts. The potential exposures at McDonald's would have occurred: Friday, Aug. 21 from 5 p.m. 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 from 4:00 p.m. 12:30 a.m. The exposures at Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels would have occurred: Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 7 a.m. 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23 from 1 p.m. 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24 from 1 p.m. 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 1 p.m. 7 p.m. Nation's reform efforts in steel industry bear fruit From:ChinaDaily | 2020-08-26 09:23 Thanks to the implementation of supply-side reforms, the pattern of supply and demand in the steel sector in China has improved since 2016, with steel companies' operational and financial situations improving and the sector entering a new stage of development, a recently released report said. The profitability and debt levels of most steel companies in China have improved significantly compared with the situation before the supply-side reforms, said a credit analysis of steel sector issuers released by S&P Global (China) Ratings. The report was based on a sample of 24 steel companies since the implementation of the supply-side reforms. While significant differences still exist between companies in terms of leverage, steel enterprises in China have looked to enhance their position and market share by continuously increasing scale and capacity in the past decade, it said. China is currently the world's largest steel producer, with crude steel production boosted by a resilient property market and robust demand, climbing to record 990 million metric tons in 2019, representing more than half of global output. The iron and steel enterprises joining the China Iron and Steel Industry Association recorded sales revenue of 2.09 trillion yuan ($302 billion) during the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 1.18 percent, data of the General Administration of Customs showed. Steel imports also increased significantly during the same period, with China importing 7.343 million tons of steel, up 26.1 percent year-on-year. The output of iron and steel has increased steadily. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed the national output of pig iron, crude steel and steel was 432.68 million tons, 499.01 million tons and 605.84 million tons, respectively, or up 2.2 percent, 1.4 percent and 2.7 percent year-on-year. An industry insider believes China's demand recovery in downstream sectors such as real estate, construction, automobiles, and shipping in the second quarter from the first three months since COVID-19 was brought under control has driven up steel output. "Output of crude steel increased 1.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of this year. But high iron ore costs squeezed steel mills' profitability and may continue to weigh on margins," said Zhu Yi, a senior analyst for metals and mining at Bloomberg Intelligence. "China's supply-side reform has reduced overcapacity in the steel industry by closing down those with issues of pollution and outdated capacity while controlling new capacity construction, and helped reduce steelmakers' debt levels. But we expect the government will continue to fortify the results of the supply-side reform and focus more on upgrading the steel industry." China's steel industry is still oversupplied with low-end commodity-grade steel products, but is in a supply deficit for high-end products such as high strength steel. By producing more high value-added products, steel mills can increase revenue and widen margins, she said. Although China's steel output is large, most products are ordinary steel, with the proportion of special steel in crude steel output still accounting for a small percentage. With profit margins being squeezed by iron ore prices, many Chinese mills have been forced to change their steel products sales structure this year to higher-end products. S&P Global (China) Ratings said expanding scale will help enterprises achieve economies of scale, reduce energy consumption per unit, depreciation and costs, and support their bargaining power with upstream and downstream industries, it said. As the country has been promoting supply-side reforms, speeding up mergers and acquisitions and trimming excess capacity for the healthy development of the Chinese steel industry, the country's top steel-maker China Baowu Steel Group said on Aug 22 it would take a controlling stake in Shanxi-based stainless steel giant Taiyuan Iron & Steel (Group) Co, to facilitate the giant's goal of producing 100 million metric tons of steel every year. A one-day summit in Amman, Jordan, on Aug. 25 between Iraq, Jordan and Egypt discussed further economic cooperation and joint security efforts as the countries face growing attacks by extremist groups and economies battered by the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting brought together Jordanian King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi for the first time. The region does not need wars, but real stability, Kadhimi told the gathered leaders and delegates. The summit was the third such event between the countries since a March 2019 meeting in Cairo. Previous meetings have largely focused on trade, infrastructure and security against extremist groups. The meeting in Amman was also the first for Kadhimi, who was appointed Iraq's prime minister in April. Iraq has presented a different representative at each of the three summits. Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi represented the country in March 2019 and spoke of the importance of combating terrorism in all its forms. The meeting came shortly after attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. President Barham Salih attended the September 2019 meeting in New York, where leaders pledged their support for Iraqs reconstruction efforts and the repatriation of internally displaced people to areas liberated from the Islamic State. The three leaders also asserted their support for the Palestinian cause and concluded by signing an agreement to counter all external interventions aimed at destablizing the Arab world. Why it matters: The Aug. 25 meeting had a similar tone as leaders reemphasized the importance of the Palestinian cause and the king stressed that Jordan continues to call for a two-state solution. The meeting came as security concerns grip Iraqs city of Basra. A string of attacks against anti-corruption activists in the city forced Kadhimi to fire the Basra police chief and other security officials last week and led to federal investigations into the deaths. Fears of the coronavirus also threatened to stall the summit. Kadhimi was accompanied to Amman by a delegation of Iraqi officials, including oil and trade ministers. But the summit was nearly postponed upon news that Iraqs telecommunications minister had tested positive for the coronavirus. The minister, Arkan al-Shaybani, and other officials were tested upon landing in Amman on Friday. The entire Iraq delegation was placed in confinement after Shaybani tested positive, according to a statement by Jordans information minister Amjad al-Adayla. The summit still took place but the size of the delegations and meeting times were limited as a precautionary measure. Combined, the countries have over 310,000 confirmed cases of the virus and nearly 12,000 deaths. Economic cooperation through the coronavirus pandemic was a talking point for the leaders. Jordan was the first country in the region to impose a strict lockdown to confront the pandemic; however the restrictions severely hampered the countrys economy, Most businesses reopened in June but employee wages were greatly reduced. Finance Minister Mohamad al-Ississ said the impact of the virus on the local economy was "profound. Whats next: The leaders assigned foreign ministers to set a future summit date and follow up on their working dialogue. And to raise economic cooperation, each country agreed to hold a business forum on the sidelines of the upcoming meeting involving trade and industry ministries. Developments involving the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and water security for Egypt were an important part of the national security conversation. The king also stressed that food security will be the regions biggest challenge in 2021. Know more: The Al-Monitor staff reviews how a spike in the number of coronavirus cases led to an overnight curfew as Jordan braces for a second wave of the virus. All over the Western world ever since 9/11 there have been incremental steps towards what many liberty advocates would call a police state; a system in which governments are no longer restricted by the boundaries of civil liberties and are given the power to do just about anything they want in the name of public safety. The use of the law as a tool for injecting tyranny into a culture is the first tactic of all totalitarians. The idea is that by simply writing government criminality into the law books, that criminality somehow becomes justified by virtue of legal recognition. It's all very circular. Whenever government abuse of the people is initiated, it's always initiated in the name of what's best for society as a whole. To save society, the individuals that make up a society must be sublimated or destroyed. This mentality is the complete opposite of what the Founding Fathers in America fought and died for, but as Thomas Jefferson once said: Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add within the limits of the law because law is often but the tyrants will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. In countries like Australia, which claim to value Western democratic principles of liberty and rule by the people, the perception is that civil rights are codified into the legal framework just as they are in the US. However, there are some glaring differences and issues; specifically, Australian citizens (like many European citizens) have absolutely no means to compel their government or the elites that influence their government to limit themselves. It is these nations, in which the populations have been mostly disarmed and pacified, that any agenda for tyranny will first be established. But we will get to that in a moment... Make no mistake, there is a very OPEN and easily identifiable agenda on the part of globalists to establish a heavily centralized police state system in every country they are able. This is not conspiracy theory, this is conspiracy fact. For many years now there have been numerous analysts, economists and geopolitical experts in the alternative media that have predicted and warned the public about the globalist strategy of order out of chaos. In other words, the ultra-wealthy power brokers that hold influence over most governments on Earth seek to reshape the existing social order through the creation of crisis and disaster. By engineering public desperation, they hope to lure us into accepting restrictions on our freedoms that we would have never considered otherwise. The goal of a single global economy and government has been spoken of by elites time and time again, yet it is still to this day called conspiracy theory or paranoid delusion. I could quote these elites and their organizations all day long, but I'll cite a few choice statements to make my point. As former Deputy Secretary of State under Clinton and Council on Foreign Relations member Strobe Talbot wrote in an article for Time Magazine in 1992 titled 'America Abroad: The Birth Of The Global Nation': In the next century, nations as we know it will be obsolete; all states will recognize a single, global authority. National sovereignty wasnt such a great idea after all. As elitist and Fabian Socialist HG Wells outlines in his non-fiction treatise titled 'The New World Order': "...When the struggle seems to be drifting definitely towards a world social democracy, there may still be very great delays and disappointments before it becomes an efficient and beneficent world system. Countless people ... will hate the new world order ... and will die protesting against it. When we attempt to evaluate its promise, we have to bear in mind the distress of a generation or so of malcontents, many of them quite gallant and graceful-looking people. And how about one of my favorite revealing quotes from Trilateral Commission member Richard N. Gardner, former deputy assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations under Kennedy and Johnson? He wrote in the April, 1974 issue of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) journal Foreign Affairs (pg. 558) in an article titled 'The Hard Road To World Order': In short, the house of world order will have to be built from the bottom up rather than from the top down. It will look like a great booming, buzzing confusion, to use William James famous description of reality, but an end run around national sovereignty, eroding it piece by piece, will accomplish much more than the old-fashioned frontal assault. Members of globalist foundations and think-tanks like the CFR have inhabited nearly every US government office and presidential cabinet for the past several decades. This includes the two dozen or so CFR members in Donald Trump's cabinet. Draining the swamp? Not going to happen. As Harpers Magazine candidly revealed in a 1958 expose titled 'School For Statesmen': The most powerful clique in these (CFR) groups have one objective in common, they want to bring about the surrender of the sovereignty and the national independence of the U.S. They want to end national boundaries and racial and ethnic loyalties supposedly to increase business and ensure world peace. What they strive for would inevitably lead to dictatorship and loss of freedoms by the people. The CFR was founded for the purpose of promoting disarmament and submergence of U.S. sovereignty and national independence into an all powerful one world government. The easiest method for the globalists to get what they openly say they want is to either conjure a crisis or exploit an existing crisis in order to erode sovereignty. The current pandemic fits this plan perfectly, but before sovereignty can be eliminated on a national level they need to undermine sovereignty on an individual level first. Actions within the US and nations allied to the US suggest an accelerated attack on personal liberties is at hand. There are sister foundations to the CFR in many other countries. For example, in Australia they have the highly embedded and influential Strategic Policy Institute, which has been consistently advocating for complete centralization of government power in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Their stated plan is to concentrate policy administration in the hands of a new commission or department made up of the brightest minds. This commission would not be tasked with getting Australia back to normal, but convincing the public to ACCEPT the new normal beyond the pandemic. The ASPI enthusiastically heralds the idea in an article titled 'Coronavirus Response A Chance To Reimagine Future For Australia': The agenda of such a department now is not about getting Australia back to normal after the pandemic. Its about re-imagining what Australia can be and how we can thrive and prosper in our future beyond the coronavirus and in light of drought, bushfires and climate change. Think about the kind of new economy we can have after the forced, rapid adoption of dispersed home working and schooling through digital means. We can be the leading digital economy the prime minister desired before the pandemic, not by 2030 but much earlier. This reminds me immediately of the post 9/11 push to rapidly remove constitutional protections while the public was blinded by fear and confusion. As US globalist Rahm Emanuel would say: You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before. The ASPI reveals the true agenda, which is the complete federalization and unilateral implementation of law without public approval. The plan is to do this by exploiting the pandemic event to its full potential and then applying the rapid societal changes in government structure. This will then be carried on long after the coronavirus disappears in the name of the economy, welfare programs and so-called global warming. The pandemic response is just a means to an end, and the end game is total dominance of the population. I focus on Australia and the surrounding regions in particular because this seems to be the place where globalists are enforcing technocratic policies first. Or at the very least, they are test-running their strategy and using Australians as guinea pigs. When the ASPI says they plan to keep the pandemic changes in place well after the virus is gone, they aren't just talking about shifting into a digital economy. Right now, Australia and New Zealand are slamming citizens with perhaps the most draconian measures yet in the Western world. These are policies that the elites want to introduce everywhere, but they are going full bore in Australia, and it just keeps getting worse. In various areas of Australia Level 4 response measures have been enforced for at least the next six weeks, including curfews, strict mask policies including people being forced to wear masks OUTSIDE (contrary to everything science and virology has to say about low possibility of transmission in sunlight and open air), residents are not allowed to travel more than 3 miles from their homes and only one person from a household is allowed to leave at any given time. Citizens violating these rules are subject to $10,000 fines or arrest. And yes, people are being arrested simply for not wearing mask or being too far from home. In New Zealand, the situation has become exceedingly grim and I think it should be treated as a warning to Americans specifically as to our potential future is we allow the narrative of public health security to be turned into a vehicle for tyranny. While Australia has been using quarantine facilities to force people considered high risk to isolate, NZ quarantine camps are now fully under the control of the military, and ALL citizens that test positive or are suspected to have Covid can be separated from their families and placed in the camps, which are hotels converted into prisons. It is the complete erasure if personal liberties all because of an increase in cases which has amounted to a mere 525 deaths in Australia and 22 deaths in New Zealand. I believe the reason Australia and New Zealand have been targeted with this level of restrictions first is because they have been almost fully disarmed and have no means to defend themselves from government overstep. That said, I see signs that similar measures will be attempted in the US as well. In states like New York, there are low key programs to set up Covid checkpoints stopping and checking vehicles coming into the state. This is where heavier restrictions start. First, checkpoints will be established in the name of keeping infected people out of a state or city. Then, those same checkpoints will be used to keep people from leaving a state or city. Then, checkpoints will be set up at random to test people for fever or symptoms of illness. If allowed to continue, the natural progression of checkpoints is to terrify the population into not traveling anywhere for any reason. Like in Australia and NZ, people will effectively be imprisoned in their homes. At this stage, bringing in laws or executive orders punishing people for leaving home will be easier; they will have already acclimated to being trapped at home anyway. Furthermore, elites and globalists within the US are calling for hard lockdowns for at least six weeks, just like the Level 4 lockdowns in Australia. Federal Reserve member Neel Kashkari recently asserted that Americans are saving more, thus they should be subjected to hard lockdowns because they can afford it. Virginia is planning mandatory Covid vaccinations, even though vaccines for SARS like viruses have proven impossible to develop in the past, and rushed vaccines have a history of harming or killing people rather than protecting them. Set aside the issue that giving government the power to force citizens to inject anything into their bodies is immoral. What's next? Covid camps? Well, yes, unless Americans make a hard stand. Mainstream media outlets have been suggesting this strategy for months. The Washington Post applauded the use of forced isolation camps in other nations and asks why the US has not yet used them beyond ports for foreign travelers? The reason is this: Many Americans will not go along with such measures, and will use force in-kind against anyone trying to lock them up because of a virus that is a moderate threat at most to a small percentage of the population. That said, don't assume that the establishment will not eventually try it here. They will. Be ready when they do so. Look to the actions in places like Australia and NZ and ask yourself, am I willing to go along with that? And if so, for how long? Because the globalists intend for these restrictions to become the new normal. They intend for this nightmare to last forever. If you would like to support the work that Alt-Market does while also receiving content on advanced tactics for defeating the globalist agenda, subscribe to our exclusive newsletter The Wild Bunch Dispatch. Learn more about it HERE. With global tensions spiking, thousands of Americans are moving their IRA or 401(k) into an IRA backed by physical gold. Now, thanks to a little-known IRS Tax Law, you can too. Learn how with a free info kit on gold from Birch Gold Group. It reveals how physical precious metals can protect your savings, and how to open a Gold IRA. Click here to get your free Info Kit on Gold. You can contact Brandon Smith at: brandon@alt-market.com Or, follow me at Parler by searching: @Altmarket Ho Chi Minh City will receive funding from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for technical assistance to fundamentally transform the ways the southern metropolis manages its daily operations through advanced data analytics. The USTDA said in a press release on Tuesday, quoting its chief operating officer and head of agency Todd Abrajano, that Ho Chi Minh City has an ambitious smart cities agenda, and USTDA is an ideal partner to support its goals. Our partnership will help the city deploy cutting-edge ICT technologies and advanced data analytics that innovative U.S. companies are ready to supply, Abrajano said. USTDAs funding will help the city develop implementation plans for an intelligent operations center, a smart cities priority that will aggregate real-time urban data onto an intuitive dashboard platform that can be leveraged by local leaders, the USTDA said. Through the use of these smart technologies and the application of advanced data analytics, Ho Chi Minh City can enhance service delivery to its rapidly growing population and advance new economic development. This is a watershed moment for Vietnam and U.S. businesses to drive new partnerships, expand new business opportunities, and engage in all critical sectors in Vietnam, said Daniel Kritenbrink, United States Ambassador to Vietnam. A monitor shows Daniel Kritenbrink, United States Ambassador to Vietnam, speaking at the signing ceremony of the grant funding for a smart cities project between the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Ho Chi Minh City, August 25, 2020. Photo: The American Center in Ho Chi Minh City With the United States as a partner, Vietnam has the potential to leapfrog into a modern, digitally enabled economy, advancing beyond other countries in the region, Kritenbrink added. The technical assistance to develop the intelligent operations center for Ho Chi Minh City is the second cooperation project between the municipal Department of Information and Communications and the USTDA, following the success of the technical assistance to develop the integrated emergency communications system for the city in 2018-19, said Le Quoc Cuong, deputy director of the department. The signing of the grant agreement is the most concrete evidence of the strong development of the comprehensive partnership in smart cities between Ho Chi Minh City and the United States on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States, Cuong added. The USTDA helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. The agency links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! ChartHop, a NYC-based organizational management platform for companies to plan for the future, raised $14m in Series A financing. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) with participation from new and existing investors including more than 40 C-level executives as well as Abstract Ventures, Basement Fund, CoFound Partners, Company Ventures, Cowboy Ventures, the a16z Cultural Leadership Fund, Flybridge Capital, Ride Ventures, the Todd and Rahul Angel Fund, Tokyo Black, SemperVirens, Shrug Capital and Work Life Ventures. The company will use the latest funding to expand its platform and its business reach. Led by Ian White, founder, CEO and CTO, ChartHop provides a platform that centralizes and visualizes the people data leaders need to manage their organization, such as location, gender, salary, stock grants, job history and more, through integrations with existing people systems. At the same time, the system gives every employee visibility into how they fit into the organizations goals making cross-functional collaboration, and provides leaders with a platform to collaborate and iterate on plans for their future. In addition to the latest financing, the company also announced its new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) offering, which enables organizations to build diverse teams and make equitable organizational decisions. With DE&I, companies can build a strong foundation rooted in equality by visualizing team composition, compensation, new hires, performance reviews, and more, across any dimension, such as gender, race/ethnicity, veteran status and sexual orientation. ChartHop offers this as part of ChartHop Build, its base package, in conjunction with their org chart. Companies like BetterCloud, Better.com, Lightspeed, MongoDB, Starburst, Thrasio and InVision use it to manage their organizations. FinSMEs 26/08/2020 Tims eCamp is empowered by Tribe The ability to customize the Tribe Platform to meet our campers and program needs has been critical as we have quickly pivoted our programs. Tim Hortons Foundation Camps is the non-profit, charity of Tim Hortons, dedicated to social and emotional development in youth between the ages of 12 to 16 from low-income families. Through a multi-year, camp-based program, kids learn skills like leadership, resilience, and responsibility, empowering them to believe in their own potential and change their stories for the better. For the past 45 summers, Tim Hortons Foundation Camps have proudly served youth from Tim Hortons communities with life-changing camp experiences. With the health and well-being of campers and staff as the number one priority, Tims Camps were unable to safely plan and prepare for their traditional in-person, overnight camp programs this summer due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, supporting youth is all the more critical during these challenging times. The isolation and the uncertainty caused by the pandemic could take a toll on the wellbeing and mental health of kids. Hence, the team at Tim Hortons Foundation Camps wanted to find a way to bring the elements of camp to youth, in a virtual format. The plan was to create an online community with the camping theme to deliver the same social and emotional skills, the sense of belonging, the connection with peers, and camp counsellors. Tribe, a customizable community platform, was selected by Tim Hortons Foundation Camps as the community partner to create this virtual camp program - Tims eCamp. The camp community was launched within a month from scratch with campers who were registered to participate in the regular Summer Program. This involved the required customization and technical configuration based on the agreed timeline. The ability to customize the Tribe Platform to meet our campers and program needs has been critical as we have quickly pivoted our programs. Using this technology, along with the support of the Tribe team, has enabled us to continue to show up for our campers and provide a safe space where they can be themselves, build community and create lasting friendships - at a time when they need us the most, said Kathleen Wheatley, Chief Youth Development Officer at Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. Tims eCamp features eCabins for campers managed by experienced and trained counsellors. These eCabins are comprised of campers based on age and timezone with 3-5 hours of content per day. The focus is on supporting youth emotionally and developmentally while encouraging them to have fun, learn important life skills, and foster positive relationships in a safe online space. It is a great privilege to serve the Time Hortons Foundation, a leader in youth development, and play a small part with a community platform that acts as an enabler to support vulnerable youths, said Mo Malayeri, co-founder of Tribe. At Tribe, were creating a platform that supports the digital manifestation of real-life communities and the social glue that binds people. Were truly honored to support innovative new camp programming for kids from disadvantaged circumstances and help them connect during these challenging times. About Tribe Technologies, Inc.: Tribe is a community solutions company dedicated to empowering organizations and creators to build branded online communities with a collection of social media best practices. Founded in 2018, Tribe now powers communities run by some of the biggest names such as IBM, Pipedrive and Decathlon in a vertical agnostic manner. For more information about Tribe Community Platform, please visit tribe.so. About Tim Hortons Foundation Camps: Tim Hortons Foundation Camps is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1974 helping kids to change their stories for the better. A leader in youth development programming, Tims Camps support youth from low-income homes between the ages of 12 to 16 an important developmental time that helps shape who they will become as adults. With seven camps in North America that run year-round Summer and School Programs, youth are supported to thrive when they return home, to excel in post-secondary education, to succeed at work, and to contribute positively to their communities. The Foundations funding comes from Tim Hortons Camp Day, fundraising activities, special events, and year-round public donations collected through counter and drive-thru coin boxes, as well as other donations. For more information about Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, please visit timscamps.com. Khaliphani Phugeni (Khupes spokesperson) was very angry about this because what should have happened before the letter was written to these people was to bring the names recommended by the party structures to the national standing committee to go through them one by one, while also justifying why they should be recalled. The Jamesville-DeWitt Board of Education has voted to eliminate its school resource officer position for at least the fall of the upcoming school year. The board voted 6 to 3 Monday night to cut the school resource officer (SR0) position. The contract expired at the end of June. J-D Superintendent Peter Smith said the board is setting up a task force, led by two administrators, which will include representatives from the board, administration, teachers, staff, students, parents and community. That task force will take a deep dive into the data to determine if the SRO meets the districts goals, and also get more opinions from stakeholders. Smith said the task force will make a recommendation by December. The earliest the SRO could return to the district is January. The decision on whether the district needs an SRO has been controversial among parents, staff and the community. Some have wanted the position eliminated, arguing the money can be better spent on counselors. Others believe an SRO is critical to school safety. Cutting the position saves the district about $100,000 a year. J-D added the position two years ago. Calls to eliminate the SRO position at J-D and some other school districts nationwide started after the May 25 death of George Floyd, who was killed during an arrest in Minnesota that was captured on video and sparked protests across the country. Nationally, the arguments for removing officers from schools are complex and involve deep-rooted issues of race and criminal justice. Some efforts to remove the officers have been going on for years. In some districts, there have been high-profile cases of violence among students in recent years, as well as cases of extreme force by officers. Some argue that police working in schools are ineffective and the money can be better spent on counseling and other programs to deal with underlying issues that lead to problems in schools. Some J-D community members began asking J-D to reallocate the money planned for the 2020-21 SRO contract on more counselors to support students mental health. Those who support SROs believe they give students a role model, a positive authority figure and a chance to know police in a non-confrontational setting, plus act as a deterrent to crime. J-D board members asked in mid-July for data about the SRO programs effectiveness and value to the district. Wendy Rhodes, board president, said at the time the board wanted to ensure the district and its schools are safe and welcoming, and wondered if having a uniformed police officer is the best way to achieve that goal. At a July board meeting, board member Christine Woodcock Dettor said the data appears to be subjective, and said shed heard overwhelming support for the SRO post from staff and parents at the high school. In July, the DeWitt Police Benevolent Association sent a letter to the district expressing its opposition to removing the SRO post, while J-D Families for Equity and Raha Syracuse supported the move. The SRO at J-D was based at the high school but also supported staff and students in the districts other four buildings as needed. The SRO is designed to provide additional security at the high school while building positive relationships with students and staff, officials said. The SRO debate is raging at other schools in Onondaga County as well. The Syracuse City School District is debating whether to keep its SROs or not. The city schools have 10 officers assigned to schools, and three supervisors. The city district is holding a public hearing at 4 p.m. today on the topic. The Fayetteville-Manlius school district appears to be headed in a different direction. The district is looking to possibly add two more SROS to the district, bringing the total to five. The town of Manlius is holding a public hearing on that issue at 6:35 p.m. today. Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com. (Natural News) Last week, Netflix received public backlash for its planned premiere of the French film Cuties. The promotional poster for the film showed underage girls posing seductively in risque outfits. (Article by Elise Ehrhard republished from NewsBusters.org) Netflixs description of the film read, Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her familys traditions. The actress playing the role of Amy is a real 11-year-old child. The movie received a Netflix rating of MA (Mature Audiences) while its theatrical release earned an NC-17 rating. The public rightly wanted to know how a movie about twerking 11-year-olds was made for adult audiences. #Netflixpedophilia soon began trending on twitter. Netflix has altered their promotional materials for the film since the outcry, removing the original sexed-up poster and changing the film description from twerking to a free-spirited dance crew. This does not change the fact that the film is inherently troubling. Netflix tried to cover for its planned release by pointing out that Cuties won an award at the Sundance Film Festival. But dont forget, Sundance was founded by a man charged with molesting a 10-year-old girl multiple times. Netflix has had a problem with pedophiliac programming for years. Back in 2018, Netflix premiered an Argentinian film called Desire that included a scene of child pornography involving girls under the age of 10. At the time, the news site PJ Media reported the film to the FBI and Department of Justice. The film included a depiction of a child masturbating. Later that same year, Netflix streamed the Italian movie Baby glorifying 15-year-old prostitutes in Rome. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) xxdecried the premiere, stating in a letter to Netflix: This show glamorizes sexual abuse and trivializes the experience of countless underage women and men who have suffered through sex trafficking. But it is not just the international films Netflix streams that are problematic. Its original programming sexualizes minors, grooms children, places underage actors in inappropriate sexual scenarios, and shows animated child porn. Take, for example, the RuPaul dramedy AJ and the Queen which premiered in January of 2020. The show involves ten-year-old A.J. (Izzy G.), a girl dressed like a boy, who accompanies RuPaul to drag shows all over the country. One of the queens refers to little AJ as a top, a sexual term in LGBT culture. In one episode, A.J. puts on RuPauls giant fake breasts and lays on her back in the pool as RuPaul watches. In front of the girl, adults discuss someone being slipped a roofie. The offensive sexual content involving the child actor in this show is too much to list. Luckily, AJ and the Queen was canceled after just one season. And what about Big Mouth? It is a Netflix cartoon that depicts and promotes sexual exploitation among pre-teens. Big Mouth is so blatant in its exploitation that dialogue in the first season between the Hormone Monster and the child characters actually says the quiet part out loud. As Newsbusters reported in 2017: The Hormone Monster says, Maybe one day youll look back on this time fondly. And perhaps even make something beautiful out of it. Andrew replies, What? Like a show about a bunch of kids masturbating? Nick chimes in, Isnt that basically just like child pornography? The Monster responds, Holy shit. I hope not. I mean, maybe if its animated, we can get away with it. Then he turns to the camera and says, Right?' Only three seasons have aired and yet Netflix has already renewed Big Mouth through season 6. Netflix flaunts the fact that it gets around child protection laws through animation. As Newsbusters wrote of the Netflix cartoon F is for Family in 2018, Ideally, the show should be titled F is for FBI since its creators should be investigated for their graphic depiction of animated child porn. Its beyond disturbing to watch a depiction of an extremely young child excitedly moaning and masturbating to his favorite cartoon (complete with disgusting sound effects), as well as a pre-pubescent boy getting an erection in a swimming pool as he stares at his equally young love interest who later tells him to, suck my tongue.' The series, created by comedian Bill Burr, has run 4 seasons with no word yet about a fifth. If you havent yet noticed, somebody in the Netflix suites has a sick interest in watching children masturbate. And, of course, Netflix routinely sexualizes minors through the trans and LGBT agenda. I have not even covered the graphic scene of a boy being sodomized with a broom handle in 13 Reasons Why, a show marketed to a high school audience, or Netflixs more recent series Teenage Bounty Hunters. Originally titled Slutty Teenage Bounty Hunters, the teen dramedy begins with a scene of a 16-year-old character losing her virginity while quoting Scripture. It also includes a scene where the middle-aged male bounty hunter takes the 16-year-old characters to a strip club. The girls are impressed by the strippers and happily imitate their moves. Netflix consistently pushes troubling content that sexualizes minors. Cuties only got public attention because the streaming service was brazen enough to display the pedophilia in their promotional materials. That only shows how much the company believes they do not have to worry about consequences. No doubt Netflix hopes this latest controversy will blow over and everybody will forget about the poster. But the problem is not one poster. It is a persistent culture of corporate pedophilia. Why doesnt anybody ask the Obamas or prominent Democrats on the board of Netflix why they do not speak out against this culture? It is long past time for Netflix to face consequences for its consistently disturbing content that sexualizes minors. Keep the pressure going and tell anyone you know to cancel Netflix. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.26 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries have exported over 358.4 million kg of wheat worth $73.6 million to Azerbaijan in 1H2020, which is 34.4 percent less in value than in 1H2019, Trend reports with reference to the Eurasian Economic Commission. Some 97.9 percent of the total volume of wheat exports EAEU to Azerbaijan accounted for Russia ($72.05 million), whereas 2.1 percent accounted for Kazakhstan ($1.5 million). In turn, the volume of barley export to Azerbaijani from EAEU amounted to 12.1 million kg worth $2.03 million, of which 99 percent accounted for Russia ($2.01 million), whereas 1 percent accounted for Kazakhstan ($20,344). Kazakhstan and Russia have also exported 41.8 million kg of corn worth $7.29 million to Azerbaijan in 1H2020. Russia has exported corn worth $7.27 million, whereas Kazakhstan has exported corn worth $14,500. The Eurasian Economic Commission said that Kazakhstan and Russia have jointly exported over 7.3 million kg of rice worth $3.6 million to Azerbaijan, which is 54.2 percent more than in 1H2019. Thus, Kazakhstan exported rice worth $1.4 million to Azerbaijan, whereas Russia export rice worth $2.1 million during 1H2020. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh 2 | Next crop of COVID-19 vaccine developers take more traditional route: The handful of drugmakers dominating the global coronavirus vaccine race are pushing the boundaries of vaccine technology. The next crop under development feature more conventional, proven designs. The world will need several different vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, given the sheer size of global need, variations in effects on different populations, and possible limits of effectiveness in the first crop. Many leading candidates now in final-stage testing are based on new, largely unproven technology platforms designed to produce vaccines at speed. China has been administering experimental COVID-19 vaccines to groups facing high infection risks since July, a health official told the state media. No vaccine has yet passed final, large-scale trials to prove it is safe and effective enough to protect people from contracting the virus that has led to almost 800,000 deaths worldwide. The aim is to boost the immunity of specific groups of people, including medical workers and those who work at food markets and in the transportation and service sectors, Zheng Zhongwei, a National Health Commission official, told state TV in an interview aired late on August 22. Authorities could consider modestly expanding the emergency use programme to try to prevent possible outbreaks during the autumn and winter, added Zheng, who heads the Chinese government-led team that coordinates state resources for COVID-19 vaccine development. The guidelines for emergency use of potential COVID-19 vaccines, approved on June 24 according to Zheng, have not been made public. 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 State media Global Times reported in June that China had been offering candidate COVID-19 vaccines to employees at state-owned firms travelling overseas. Some countries are sceptical about Chinas use of experimental vaccines. Papua New Guinea has denied entry to Chinese nationals who participated in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, according to the Australian newspaper. Chinas COVID-19 vaccines will be priced close to cost, Zheng said. It does not mean that companies cannot make profits, Zheng said. Companies should decide on moderate profits, or reasonable profits based on costs. A potential COVID-19 vaccine being developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) could cost no more than 1,000 yuan ($144) for two shots, Sinopharm chairman Liu Jingzhen told state media last week. [The price] will definitely be lower than what Liu said, Zheng said. James Fisher and Sons is paying a 4m dividend despite asking the taxpayer to shell out almost 2m to furloughed staff. The FTSE 250 company, which provides products and services to the marine, oil and gas industry worldwide, will pay investors 8p a share for the first half of the year. Raising eyebrows: James Fisher and Sons provides products and services to the marine, oil and gas industry worldwide It came despite a 59 per cent slump in profits to 7.1m in the six months to the end of June in what chief executive Eoghan O'Lionaird described as 'one of the most demanding periods the company has faced'. The payout also raised eyebrows given James Fisher furloughed 400 of its 3,000 staff, costing the public purse 1.9m. Critic John O'Connell, at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'Employers who are in a position to repay furlough money should do so.' James Fisher said the 400 furloughed staff returned to work in July. It cancelled its final dividend for 2019, costing shareholders 12m. REUTERS The National Guard will be deployed to Kenosha after Wisconsin agreed to federal help in quelling three nights of looting, arson and violence, Donald Trump announced on Wednesday. The president said in a tweet that federal law enforcement would be sent to the city after the states governor, Tony Evers, requested federal assistance from the White House. We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets. My team just got off the phone with Governor Evers who agreed to accept federal assistance (Portland should do the same!)... Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. ...TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2020 It comes after Mr Evers previously turned down an offer of federal help to end the outbreak of violence following the shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday, according to the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows. We have a National Guard standing by that if the general for the National Guard needs additional help, were there to do it ... But today, that request was denied by the governor, Mr Meadows said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night. The governor informed [Mr Trump and Mr Meadows] wed be increasing Wisconsin National Guard support in Kenosha and therefore would not need federal assistance in response to protests. On Tuesday, the governor declared a state of emergency and doubled the deployment of the states National Guard soldiers to 250. The acceptance of the federal National Guard comes after two people were shot dead, and one injured, on the third night of violent riots in Kenosha. Video from the scene showed a man brandishing a rifle before firing multiple shots, with Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth saying to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier on Wednesday that a vigilante group had been patrolling the streets in response to the looting, burning and damage. A 17-year-old Illinois resident, Kyle Rittenhouse, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting the two people in Wisconsin on Tuesday night. [The suspect] fled the state of Wisconsin with the intent to avoid prosecution for that offence, Antioch Police Department said in a criminal complaint, according to Lake County Clerk of Courts public records first obtained by The Daily Dot. The military suspects that the twin attack is the work of the Abu Sayaf jihadist group, linked to the Islamic State. Last year a suicide bomber blew himself up in the city's cathedral. Southern Philippines wracked by clashes between the Security Forces and separatist rebels, some of which are jihadist. Msgr. Charlie Inzon: "End the violence". Manila (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A twin bomb attack yesterday shook the southern island of Jolo, killing 15 people (eight soldiers and seven civilians, including an attacker) and wounding 75. First, a homemade bomb mounted on a motorcycle exploded; an hour later, a woman blew herself up near the area of the first blast. So far there has been no claim, but the military suspects that both bombings are the work of Abu Sayaf, the Islamic extremist group originally linked to al-Qaeda and then to the Islamic State. It is also responsible for the suicide bombing of the Jolo Cathedral in January 2019, causing 20 deaths and more than 100 injured. The Southern Philippines is mostly inhabited by Muslims, a minority in a majority Catholic country. For decades it has been the scene of clashes between the Security Forces and separatist rebels, some of which are of jihadist origin. Abu Sayaf is known in the news for brutality and for kidnappings for ransom, often of Western tourists. According to some analysts, the terrorist act could be a retaliation for the arrest at the beginning of the month of a leader from Abu Sayaf on the island of Mindanao. Bishop of Jolo, Msgr Charlie Inzon, condemned the incident, asking for prayers for the victims. He also launched an appeal to put an end to the violence in the country, which is already struggling with the tragedy of the pandemic, and urged the population to remain calm and alert. MBABANE - The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Council of Ministers failure to regularly meet to approve essential documents is said to be derailing many policies and programmes. SACU brings together Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa and its mandate includes ensuring smooth movement of goods and services through a common external and excise tariff. SACU Executive Secretary Paulina Elago was quoted saying that delays in approvals of recommendations meant delays in implementation of resolutions and stifling of operations in general. Adopted The executive secretary said the electronically transmitted round-robin approval process adopted because officials cannot physically meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic was proving to be inefficient. The delays in approving reports in said to have resulted in delays in implementing SACUs most vital project, the work programme. SACUs work programme is to focus on key areas that include the review and development of a suitable architecture for tariff settings and constant revision of the revenue sharing formula to ensure no member State is short-changed. All customs and excise collected in the common customs area are paid into South Africas National Revenue Fund and subsequently shared among members according to a revenue-sharing formula. South Africa is the custodian of this pool. According to the SACU Agreement of 2002, the revenue-sharing formula uses three components to calculate revenue shares for member States. These are a customs component, an excise component and a development component. Share Using the customs component, revenue is allocated on the basis of the share of each country in intra-SACU imports, while the excise element allocates the funds on the basis of each countrys share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Revenue allocations using the development component are fixed at 15 per cent of total excise revenue and distributed according to the inverse of per capita GDP of each country. Under the present arrangement, South Africa is the custodian of CRP and all customs and excise duties collected in the common customs area are paid into the South African National Revenue Fund. The revenue is then shared among SACU member States according to the revenue-sharing formula as described in the agreement. Calculated Only the shares for the BLNS (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini) countries are calculated, with South Africa receiving the remainder. The BLNS countries have complained over the years that the revenue sharing formula does not fully compensate them and that there is a lack of consultation by South Africa of its SACU partners. Another complaint is that the countries allege that there are various non-tariff barriers preventing their access into the South African market. Even though Hurricane Laura is forecast to make landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border, people in Houston rushed this week to get prescription medication before the powerful storm raced ashore from the Gulf of Mexico. The pandemic posed new challenges for people seeking to prepare for the worst. At some pharmacies, staff have asked patients to wait in their cars for curbside drug pickup rather than inside the pharmacy. Every time a pharmacist approaches the car with a bag of medicine, theyre clothed head-to-toe in personal protective gear. Many of those in harms way, or simply worried about a major storm, are ordering extra supplies of antibiotics and insulin in case theyre unable to get back to their pharmacy when the prescription runs out. Its not unusual to see a rush on pharmacies in the days before a hurricane, said Debbie Garza, chief executive of the Texas Pharmacy Association. Patients may have had an easier time filling prescriptions in advance, too. Emergency guidelines issued during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy allowed pharmacists to do 30-day prescription refills without getting a doctors approval, Garza said. CVS Health, one of the nations largest retail drugstore chains, reached out to its customers in Lauras path to refill prescriptions ahead of time, said Monica Prinzing, a CVS Health spokeswoman. The company has activated a process that allows it to provide one-time emergency refills of a 10-day supply of medication for plan members in impacted areas, she said. CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE: Hidalgo issues disaster declaration for Harris County ahead of Hurricane Laura At San Jose Clinic in Midtown, the community health centers pharmacy has spent all week preparing 60- and 90-day refills of drugs for people worried that theyll have to evacuate. Many of its patients come from outside the city of Houston, including Brazoria and Liberty counties. Between Monday and Wednesday, San Jose Clinics pharmacy in Houstons Midtown neighborhood received requests to fill just over 300 prescriptions. While thats not a substantial increase from how many they usually fill in a day, Wednesday was particularly busy because the clinics building shut down at 2 p.m. in anticipation of the storm. (On Monday), we started prioritizing our patients who are in need of medicine, specifically insulin, said Maureen Sanders, San Jose Clinics CEO. Insulin, the drug used to treat diabetes, was a particularly tricky prescription one to fill because it has to be stored in a refrigerator. For some clients worried about reliable refrigeration during the storm, the clinic offered to partially fill their prescription. The rest of the backup insulin will be stowed at the Villa de Matel Convent in Galena Park, Sanders said, which has backup generators to power their refrigerators in case the city loses power. Some pharmacies may be back up and running quickly after Laura, the brunt of which is projected to miss Houston. But in previous storms, many were caught off-guard without medication after evacuating to shelters. During Hurricane Harvey, dozens of evacuees with serious mental illness went without for days at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Houstons Office of Emergency Management has advised people to keep a document with prescription information in a safe place and prepare at least 14 days of medication in a hurricane kit. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com twitter.com/gwendolynawu FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with the Huawei and 5G network logo is seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada is the only member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network that has not formally blocked Huawei from 5G networks, but it has effectively done just that, delaying a decision long enough to force telecom companies to exclude the Chinese gear maker. The strategy allows Canada to keep on the right side of both China and the United States as they tussle over Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, say six well-placed sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Canada and its Five Eyes allies -- the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia -- are under pressure from fellow member the United States to squeeze out Huawei on security grounds. 5G networks offer data speeds up to 50 or 100 times faster than 4G networks and are expected to power everything from telemedicine and remote surgery to self-driving cars. Canada has been mulling whether to disbar the firm's next-generation equipment for the better part of two years, brushing off increasing signs of industry impatience. In June, Bell Canada and rival Telus Corp - two of the biggest wireless providers - teamed with Sweden's Ericsson and Finland's Nokia Oyj to build fifth-generation (5G) telecoms networks, ditching Huawei for the project despite using Huawei 4G gear. "The absence of a solution will eventually settle all problems," said a source directly familiar with the approach taken by the Liberal government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Rogers Communications Inc , Canada's other large wireless operator, announced in 2018 it was using Ericsson 5G equipment. Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would further tighten U.S. restrictions on Huawei, aimed at cracking down on its access to commercially available chips. Operators in Canada feel the U.S. curbs mean they have no choice but to sideline Huawei in 5G networks, at least for now, say the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation. Story continues "They've done the political calculus and said 'The best thing for us is to do nothing and if we do nothing we don't upset the Chinese, we don't upset the Americans'," said a source familiar with what government officials are saying. Staying on the right side of China has become an important consideration. Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou is fighting extradition to the United States since Canadian police detained her in December 2018. In response, Beijing arrested Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, charging them with espionage. Canada says gaining their freedom is a top priority. "If it weren't for the two Michaels, Canada would have already said it would not be using Huawei 5G technology," a diplomatic source said. Government officials deny the fate of the two men is linked to 5G. In 2018, both Australia and New Zealand blocked service providers from using Huawei 5G equipment. To be sure, Canada will one day make a decision. Two other people who have consulted with Canadian officials say they think it is only a matter of time before Ottawa unveils a ban. But a source directly familiar with government thinking stressed that Ottawa had not yet come to a firm conclusion and would not be rushed, adding that officials were taking their time to avoid Britain's predicament. The British government said last month it would ban Huawei from 5G networks by ordering companies to remove the equipment by 2027. In January, it had initially said Huawei could have a limited 5G role. "That underscores why you need to get this right and why you only get one chance ... we don't want to find ourselves in a situation like the Brits where we're having to go back and put the toothpaste back in the tube," said the source. The office of Canada Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains - who is formally charged with making a decision on Huawei and 5G - said in a statement that it could not comment on a particular company. It did not say when an announcement would be made. A Bell spokesman noted that in May, Chief Executive Officer Mirko Bibic said he had no insights into government thinking on Huawei and 5G. Telus did not respond to a request for comment. Huawei said in a statement that it believed Ottawa "when it says it is taking the time to make a considered decision". (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Additional reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Amran Abocar, Steve Scherer and Lisa Shumaker) The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted, giving women the right to vote on this day in 1920. Amendment XIX prohibits any US state and the federal government from denying the right to vote to any American citizens on the basis of sex. Womens Equality Day commemorates the passage of womens suffrage and reminds us of all the hurdles heroic women have overcome despite facing violence and discrimination in order to propel the womens movement. American women in the early 19th century, couldnt inherit property and earned half a mans wages in any available job. This led to a demand for requisite political rights and representation for women. By early 20th century, other countries including Finland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom had legalised voting for women as this movement swept across the world. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was first introduced in 1878 in the US but failed to gain traction at the time. It was only after womens involvement in World War I effort that their contributions truly came to light and the womens suffrage movement began gaining support. Womens rights groups also pointed out the discrepancy in the rules as on one hand, a fight for democracy in Europe was taking place, while rights were being denied to women on the other side of the world, in US. A Constitutional amendment requires an approval from two-thirds of the states, hence 36 of them had to ratify the 19th amendment before its passage. The deciding vote came from Harry T. Burn in the Tennessee legislature, whose mothers plea to support the amendment became a deciding factor. On the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment in the Constitution, the National Organisation for Women (NOW) had organised a nationwide strike for equality. Congresswoman Bella Abzug, also known as Batteling Bella, had then designated August 26 as Womens Equality Day, following this strike. The day was first celebrated in 1973, after Congress approved H.J. Res. 52. It stated, the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation in commemoration of that day in 1920 on which the women in America were first guaranteed the right to vote. Womens Equality Day serves as a reminder to do something meaningful for the women in our lives and around us. While its a great day to brush up on womens history and notice how far weve come, it also throws light on all that still needs to change in order to ensure a safe world for women, at homes, at workplaces and everywhere theyre headed. On Womens Equality Day 2020, here are some inspirational quotes: Im a feminist. Ive been a female for a long time now. Itd be stupid not to be on my own side. -- Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. -- Audre Lorde, civil rights activist and writer When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous. -- Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the U.S. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. -- Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize laureate and female education activist We must reject not only the stereotypes that others hold of us, but also the stereotypes that we hold of ourselves. -- Shirley Chisholm, first Black woman elected to Congress I know that many men and even women are afraid and angry when women do speak, because in this barbaric society, when women speak truly they speak subversively - they cant help it: if youre underneath, if youre kept down, you break out, you subvert. We are volcanoes. When we women offer our experience as our truth, as human truth, all the maps change. There are new mountains. Thats what I want - to hear you erupting. You young Mount St. Helenses who dont know the power in you - I want to hear you. -- Ursula K. Le Guin, author Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Sensex, Nifty Highlights on August 26: Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Extending gains for the fourth straight session, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 230 points higher at 39,073. The Nifty 50 index ended 77 points higher at 11,549. Meanwhile, April-June quarterly earnings announcements by Indraprastha Gas, Gillette India, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Dolat Investments, NACL Industries and Sharda Motor Industries will also set the tone for the stock market today. Yesterday, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 44 points higher at 38,843. The Nifty 50 index closed mere 5 points higher at 11,472. Here's a look at the updates of the market action on BSE and NSE today 3. 44 PM: Closing session Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Extending gains for the third straight session, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 230 points higher at 39,073. The Nifty 50 index ended 77 points higher at 11,549. 3. 39 PM: Nifty technical outlook Commenting on Nifty's technical outlook, Rohit Singre, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said, "Nifty has shifted its support to 11500-11450 zone as index traded decisively above 11500 zone so existing longs can be hold with 11500 trailing stop out and resistance is coming near 11600-11650 zone which will be immediate profit booking levels. On Nifty Bank, he added,"Nifty bank closed a day at 23434 with gains of 1.48 percent and formed a bullish candle on daily chart, supports are coming near23230-23000 zone and resistance is coming near 23600-23850 zone". 3. 20 PM: TCS shares fall 1% Shares of TCS were trading lower in Wednesday's opening trade after S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook for the IT major to stable from positive given the subdued global IT spending estimates. "We are revising our outlook on TCS to stable from positive. At the same time, we affirmed our 'A' long-term issuer credit rating on the company," S&P Global Ratings said. TCS share price slips 1% after S&P revises outlook to stable from positive 3. 10 PM: PNB shares gains 1% Share price of Punjab National Bank gained 1.5% in Wednesday's trade after the lender informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) that it received Rs 24.33 crore ($3.25 million) as the first tranche of recoveries related to the Nirav Modi case. "Punjab National Bank has informed the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA), which spearheaded the corporate governance litigation in a foreign jurisdictional court, that it has received $3.25 million (the equivalent of Rs 24.33 crore) as the first tranche of recoveries. Upon liquidation of the debtors' assets by the US Chapter 11 Trustee, a sum of $11.04 million (the equivalent of Rs 82.66 crore) is available for distribution to unsecured creditors, including PNB," MCA said in a release. PNB share rises 1.5% as bank receives $3.25 mn in recoveries 2. 55 PM: Market outlook Commenting on the current market outlook, Yash Gupta, Equity Research Associate, Angel Broking said," The rally on the Sensex is led by S&P BSE AUTO (Up 1.6%), S&P BSE BANKEX (Up .66%), while S&P BSE Telecom (down .2.04%) S&P BSE Basic Materials (Down 0.16%) and S&P BSE Healthcare (Down 0.14%) are witnessing some pressure. Rally in Auto stock led by Tata Motors and Hero motocorp in hope of GST rate reduction.The market is range bound as mix clues from global market. We expect the broader markets to be in range bound and may see some pressure due to sector specific profit booking." 2. 41 PM: Market rises further Extending gains for the third straight session, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Tthe S&P BSE Sensex gained 200 points higher at 39,050. The Nifty 50 index gained 67 points higher at 11,540. 2. 13 PM: Market rises further Extending gains for the third straight session, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Tthe S&P BSE Sensex gained 110 points higher at 38,954. The Nifty 50 index gained 45 points higher at 11,518. 1. 53 PM: Global markets Asian markets were trading mixed taking cues from movements in US markets overnight. US markets closed mostly higher as investors cheered the progress in trade talks between US and China. Also data showed 36% rise in sales of newly built homes in US last month. European markets were trading mixed today after giving up early gains as investors focused on US-China trade talks and economic data. 1. 48 PM: Top gainers and losers Bajaj Auto, followed by Bajaj Finserv, IndusInd Bank, M&M, PowerGrid, Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank and ICICI Bank were among the top gainers today. On the other hand, Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints, HCL Tech, HDFC and TCS were among the laggards. 1. 36 PM: Market Update Benchmark indices erased early gains and traded flat with a positive bias by Wednesday's afternoon session, amid mixed global equities. The S&P BSE Sensex was trading 5 points higher at 38,835. The Nifty 50 index, on the other hand, gained 11 points to 11,484. 1. 28 PM: Federal Bank update Commenting on Federal Bank, Ajit Kumar Kabi, Banking Research Analyst at LKP Securities said," Despite substantial improvement in all major operating matrix, profitability may remain under pressure in FY21 led by the higher provision for LuM. We have incorporated higher provision requirement along with steady growth in balance sheet and thus expect it to deliver RoA/ RoE of ~1%/~13% by FY22E. In our view, maximum negatives are in the price and thus we recommend BUY with a TP of Rs 71 (based on 0.8x FY22E Adj. BVPS); a potential upside of 27%." 1. 17 PM: Birla Tyres stock rises 5% Birla Tyres share hit upper circuit of 5% in early trade today after the firm said its board would meet on August 28 (Friday) to consider capital raising option. The tyre manufacturer plans to raise an amount aggregating up to Rs 1,100 crore by way of equity or debt instruments, including non-convertible debentures, among others. Buoyed by the fund raising plan, share price of Birla Tyres rose up to 4.94% to Rs 23.35 intra day on BSE. The share opened with a gain of 4.49% at Rs 23.25 against previous close of Rs 22.25. Birla Tyres stock rises 5% as firm plans to raise Rs 1,100 crore 12. 53 PM: Nifty Bank outlook Commenting on Bank Nifty, Sameet Chavan (Chief Analyst-Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking said," Banking space has gained some strength in last 3-4 days and it is clearly not letting the market fall. It has now reached it's recent crucial high around 23200-23250. Now going ahead, it would be interesting to see whether BankNifty still holds Nifty higher or a failure to surpass 23250 triggers some correction. Apart from this, some profit taking was seen in the broader market and hence, one needs to be watchful there as well." 12.39 PM: Rupee gains 7 paise to 74.33 per dollar The rupee appreciated 7 paise to 74.26 per dollar in early trade on Wednesday's opening trade, supported by foreign fund inflows and optimism surrounding trade the deal between the US and China. The local unit opened at 74.34 per dollar and gained ground to touch 74.26, up 7 paise over its previous close, of 74.33 against the US currency, even as the domestic equity market was trading in the negative territory. Rupee surges 7 paise to 74.26 per dollar amid foreign fund inflows 12.22 PM: Real estate sector update Speaking on outlook for real estate sector, Arjun Aggarwal, Managing Director, Bhartiya Urban said,"With the businesses across verticals gradually coming back on track, the real estate industry too is witnessing some positive signs of revival. However, amidst this revival, the industry is also undergoing rapid transformations. What we see now is a decisive leaning towards home ownership rather than paying heavy rentals thereby leading towards the growth of the residential real estate market. This shift which is gaining momentum during the pandemic is based on numerous reasons including the financial rationale for suburban homeownership backed by the need for safety and hygiene in the current situation and a drop in home loan interest rates. " 12. 19 PM: Nifty technical indicators Expressing views on Nifty's near term technical insights, Sameet Chavan (Chief Analyst-Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking said," Going ahead, a sustainable move below 11420 should be considered as an exit opportunity for existing longs and aggressive traders can opt to short as well. Below this, 11350-11300 are the next levels to watch out for. On the upside, 11500-11525 remains to be an immediate hurdle and in case if it extends further, we will still avoid participating in it. 12.05 PM: Two-wheeler shares gain today Shares of Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor gained up to 7% in early trade after FM Nirmala Sitharaman said GST Council would consider the proposal to reduce tax on two-wheelers. Currently, goods and services tax (GST) rate on motorcycles and scooters stands at 28 per cent. Manufacturers have been urging the government to lower GST rate on motorcycles and scooters arguing that it was not a luxury good. Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor shares rise up to 7% after FM Sitharaman hints at GST rate revision 11. 49 PM: Market Update Erasing early gains, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty turned volatile on Wednesday, amid mixed global equities. The S&P BSE Sensex was trading 34 points lower at 38,809. The Nifty 50 index, on the other hand, gained mere 1points to 11,474. 11. 32 AM: Dollar index today The dollar index held muted against a basket of major Asian currencies, as investors awaited US central bank speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, scheduled on Thursday. 11. 28 AM: Market outlook As per Geojit Financial, negative divergence seen in daily charts is yet to manifest in shorter periodicities, and towards this end, the upsides continue to be in play aiming 11800. There is a clear slow down that is evolving, but another range expansion is likely to play out in the next few days, which makes it important to continue having the downside marker placed near 11400. 11.14 AM: Coronavirus toll In India, the death toll touched 59,612 and total coronavirus cases reaching 32.34 lakh as of Tuesday. Worldwide, there were 240 lakh confirmed cases and 8.23 lakh deaths from COVID-19 outbreak. 11. 03 AM: MCX Gold On the Multi-Commodity Exchange, gold September Futures traded 0.31% or Rs 156 higher at Rs 51,080, after hitting an intraday high of Rs 51,184 against the previous close of Rs 51,165 per 10 gm. MCX gold futures currently trade almost Rs 5,026 lower than the lifetime high of Rs 56,191 per 10 gm, hit on August 7. Gold price rises for 2nd session; silver rates at Rs 63,700 10. 56 AM: Gold outlook As per Geojit Financial Services, the immediate support range of $1880-1900 levels seems to be hold and hence expect a recovery uptick for the day. However, it needs to close above $1960 to strengthen the momentum. A direct drop below $1880 is a signal of weakness. 10. 30 AM: FDC drug launch update Commenting on new drug launches by FDC Ltd which will be used for treatment of Covid-19, Mr. Yash Gupta, Equity Research Associate, Angel Broking said,"FDC Limited announces the launches Two variant's of Favipiravir Drug for Covid-19, PiFLU and Favenza- which will be used to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in India. Favipiravir has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 disease. FDC's PiFLU and Favenza are currently available across the country. This will be a very positive development for the FDC." 10. 12 AM: Gold outlook Commenting on gold outlook, Anuj Gupta, DVP- Commodities and Currencies Research, Angel Broking said,"As expected yesterday Gold prices fell by 0.67% and closed at Rs 50,924 levels. Silver also fell by 2.38% and closed at 64,007 levels. In international market Gold is trading at $1927 levels and silver is trading at $26.36 levels. Today gold prices are expected to trade on a negative note on the back of strength in Dollar. Global equity market is trading higher as investors cheered signs of progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations and following a fresh Wall Street rally and also positive cues in front of vaccine of covid-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's move to allow the blood plasma treatment was hailed by President Donald Trump. As of today, traders can go for sell in gold at Rs 51,400 levels with the stop loss of Rs 51,950 levels for the target of 50,600 levels. They can also go for sell in Silver at Rs 65,200 levels, with the stop loss of 66,800 levels and for the target of 63,000 levels. Traders can use sell on rise strategy in Gold and Silver. In the Bullion index Bulldex traders can also go for sell at 16050 with the stop loss of 16150 and for the target of 15880." 10. 07 AM: GST rate cut Commenting on the proposed GST rate cuts on two-wheelers, Jyoti Roy, DVP- Equity Strategy, Angel Broking said," There is an increasing likelihood that the GST council may take up the issues of cutting GSt rate on two wheelers from 28%. The finance minister in a CII meeting acknowledged the fact that two wheelers is neither a sin good nor a luxury good. Given that the 28% GST bracket has specifically been created for luxury and sin goods there is likelihood that the Government may take up the issue in the next GST council meeting which will have to take the decision. If the GST rate cut on the two wheeler industry is approved by the GST council then it will be positive for the industry. We expect two wheeler stocks to react positively to the news today. We continue to maintain our positive stance on the two wheeler sector with Hero Motocorp as our top pick in the sector.For MCX Gold August, resistance is placed at 51,580 and support is at 49,960. For MCX Silver August futures, the resistance is at 69,150 and the support is placed at 66,150." 10. 47 AM: Procter & Gamble Hygiene Q1 update "For 4QCY20 (June closing), Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (P&G)s top-line growth was flat yoy to Rs635cr (better than expected). Top-line was negatively impacted mainly due COVID-19 lockdown. On the operating front, the company reported improvement in margins, up 722bps yoy at 17.4%. Operating margin was up mainly due to better product mix. On the bottom-line front, P&G reported growth of 14% yoy to Rs69cr due better operating performance. Going forward we expect demand for hygiene products to remain intact (despite a slowdown in economy). Hence, we are positive on stock." 9. 57 AM: Stocks to watch today on August 26 TCS, SBI, PNB, JMC Projects, Procter & Gamble Hygiene among others are the top stocks to watch out for in Wednesday's trading session Stocks in news: TCS, SBI, PNB, JMC Projects, Procter & Gamble Hygiene 9. 46 AM:BSE Sensex derivatives hits new high BSE, the country's largest stock exchange, has registered a new all-time single day trading turnover record of Rs 1,07,673 crore on August 24, 2020, on its equity derivatives segment, Sensex 50 contracts. This happens to be the fourth consecutive session when the daily turnover has crossed 1 lakh crore. The previous high was Rs 1,03,117 crore recorded on August 21, 2020. "The Sensex 50 contracts has achieved market share of 16.52 per cent against comparable index derivatives traded in India," the BSE said. BSE Sensex derivatives hits new high, registers highest turnover of Rs 1,07,673 crore 9. 34 AM: Global markets Overseas, Asian stocks are trading mixed on Wednesday as markets cheered signs of progress in US-Sino trade negotiations but remained cautious about the broader economic outlook. Top US and Chinese officials reportedly reaffirmed their commitment to a trade deal that had appeared on shaky ground because of worsening bilateral ties following weeks of escalating tensions between the world's two largest economies. Wall street also closed mixed, taking cues from positive developments in U.S-China trade and fresh progress in the medical battle against the coronavirus pandemic. 9. 26 AM: Opening session Extending gains for the third straight session, Sensex and Nifty opened on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Tthe S&P BSE Sensex gained 85 points higher at 38,927. The Nifty 50 index gained 29 points higher at 11,501. 9. 13 AM: Nifty outlook As per Reliance Securities, NSE-NIFTY ended on a flat to positive note post a st tbrong start for the week. The index rose to almost six month high on back of strength in the PSU banking sector and frontline majors. Due to further rise in the index, its key technical indicators on the near-term timeframe chart remained in favaour of bulls. This could lead the index towards 11,537 and 11,614 levels in the near-term. In case of decline, the index will initially find support at 11,252 level and then at 11,111 mark, which coincides with its 20-day EMA and recent swing low, respectively. As for the day, support is placed at around 11,422 and then at 11,371 levels, while resistance is observed at 11,524 and then at 11,576 levels. 9.09 AM: Earnings Today Indraprastha Gas, Gillette India, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Dolat Investments, NACL Industries and Sharda Motor Industries are among companies which will disclose their Aptil-June quarter results today. 8. 55 AM: Technical Insights Nifty50 - the benchmark index traded above the crucial support level of 11350 but resistance was observed at 11,406 and 11,440 levels. On the near term outlook for market indices, Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking said, "The recent buoyancy in the banking space is helping the index to inch higher while other index heavyweights are seeing a pause. We reiterate our bullish view on markets and suggest continuing with the 'buy on dips' approach." 8. 50 AM: FII/ DII action Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,481.20 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net sellers to the tune of Rs 172.97 crore in the Indian equity market on 25 August, provisional data showed. 8. 40 AM: Rupee closing Amid volatility in the equity market, Indian rupee that opened 15 paise higher gave up gains and ended flat at 74.32 per dollar, as against yesterday's close of 74.31, after hitting day's low of 74.51 per US dollar. 8. 45 AM: Market outlook Commenting on markets closing today, Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst, Deen Dayal Investments said," The market was in a see-saw mood all of today. We travelled in a narrow range of 50-70 points throughout the day but the bias remained positive until closing time. We are still aiming at reaching the 11,700 mark during the course of the next couple of weeks and 11,300 continues to remain the support for the Nifty." 8. 30 AM: Closing Domestic benchmarks erased early gains on account of mixed global cues and ended tad higher on Tuesday, amid heavy buying in banking and financials. Extending gains for the third straight session, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 44 points higher at 38,843. The Nifty 50 index closed mere 5 points higher at 11,472. Sensex ends 44 points higher, Nifty at 11,472; IndusInd Bank, SBI top gainers The CIS Executive Committee (Minsk) hosted a regular meeting of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiaries of the CIS Member States, discussing the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality among other issues on the agenda. The Permanent Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the statutory and other bodies of the CIS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Belarus Nazarkuly Shakulyev briefed his colleagues on the implementation of the resolution of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan on holding the year 2020 under the motto Turkmenistan - Homeland of Neutrality which was adopted at the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in connection with the 25th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Resolution On the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan. The first deputy of the CIS Executive Committee Viktor Guminsky, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan and Moldova to Belarus also spoke at the meeting. The meeting participants congratulated Turkmenistan on the anniversary of Turkmenistans neutrality and wished the Turkmen people further success, peace and prosperity. A short video film on Turkmenistans neutrality was demonstrated to the meeting participants. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 Senior Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji on Wednesday called on the UN to make efforts to resolve the situation in Yemen in a realistic and unbiased way, Trend reports citing IRNA. He made the remarks in a meeting with UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths, calling for defending the rights of Yemen's people, putting an end to killing innocent people, as well as lifting the imposed sanctions in the pandemic era. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on observing the ceasefire and peace process in Yemen. The diplomat, meantime, voiced Iran's support for the political settlement of the crisis in Yemen, Tehran's constructive measures to establish the ceasefire, complete elimination of the blockade, as well as advance the peace process in the country. Griffiths, for his part, elaborated on the recent UN actions on drafting a joint statement, praising Irans constructive role in the political process of Yemen. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has asked e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Flipkart if their sellers will be able to update the country of origin of their products in marketplaces by September 30. However in the wake of the pandemic, the government is going slow and has not implemented any deadline. In a meeting held on August 22, the government asked whether marketplaces can help the sellers comply by September 30, an industry executive privy to the development told Moneycontrol. The response was that the marketplaces are working with sellers and that's where the communication ended, the person added. So far the government has not given anything in writing. The idea behind displaying the country of origin on the product is to ensure that consumers make an informed choice at a time when nationalism is ruling the roost in the wake of anti-China sentiments following the Galwan Valley clash. ALSO READ: Amazon makes 'country of origin' display must for sellers Livelihoods at stake According to the stakeholders, the idea is to act sensibly for the welfare of small and medium enterprises as any immediate deadline will be a knee-jerk move and is likely to impact the livelihood of lakhs of sellers already reeling under the pressure of the pandemic. The optics of Country of Origin seem to have come down to six on a scale of 10 as compared to a couple of months ago when it was 10 on 10. The government also knows that any move in haste will actually impact the business of sellers in India, said another person privy to the development. ALSO READ: E-commerce firms get till October 1 to display 'country of origin' for existing products, August 1 for new products: Report The challenge: millions of old listings As of now, while sellers have started updating the country of origin for new products they list on marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart, the same hasn't commenced for existing listings. Marketplaces have millions of products on their sites and it will take a long time to revise the data for every single item. Meanwhile, multiple sourcing of products is also making it difficult for sellers to categorise the name of the country as they face issues in ascertaining the exact origin of the product. ALSO READ: After Amazon, Flipkart asks sellers to display country of origin of products Getting nationalistic However, even as this happens, Amazon has started wearing nationalism on its sleeve. In the case of products from India, Amazon plays up Made in India in the title of the product itself, likely with the aim of promoting locally sourced products. Flipkart mentions the country detail in a section called Manufacturing, Packaging and Import Info, under the Specifications section of a listing. For some products such as select mobile phones, it also has the details of the importer and packers besides the manufacturer. The companies have been directing their sellers to display the country of origin while making new listings as well as in existing product listings, in accordance with the Legal Metrology Act of 2009. Amazon and Flipkart did not respond to queries on the matter from Moneycontrol. The marketplaces had sprung into action after multiple meetings with the government during the last couple of months in the wake of anti-China sentiments. In addition to complaints about sexism, the House Democrats letter details new concerns that Vindman raised to superiors about government-funded trips that OBrien and his wife took to Utah and California. On one of the trips, to Brigham Young University, OBrien gave a speech before an Air Force ROTC unit in which his daughter was a member. According to the Democrats letter, Vindman was subsequently told that future ethics reviews involving Mr. OBriens engagements with private entities would be removed from his portfolio and instead vetted through the White House Counsels Office. Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Wednesday'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 Indraprastha Gas, Gillette India, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Dolat Investments. Share Market News Live: Sensex rises 85 points, Nifty at 11,472; SBI, Eicher Motors top gainers Bajaj Auto, Hero Motocorp, Eicher Motors, TVS Motors: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council would look into the auto industry's demand for lowering the tax rate on two-wheelers, which are now taxed at the highest slab rate of 28%. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook on the IT major to stable from positive given the subdued global IT spending estimates. State Bank of India (SBI): Moody's Investors Service has downgraded lender's baseline credit assessment (BCA) by one notch from ba1 to ba2 citing an expected deterioration in asset quality and profitability. Punjab National Bank: The lender has received over Rs 24 crore as the first tranche of recoveries from bankruptcy proceedings of three Nirav Modi-promoted companies in the US, as per Ministry of Corporate Affairs. JMC Projects: The engineering firm has secured new orders worth Rs 554 crore. Jammu & Kashmir Bank: The Board of Directors of the state-owned lender will meet on August 28, as the company plans to raise up to Rs 4,500 crore in the current fiscal. Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (P&G): The company reported a 13.85% rise in its net profit at Rs 69.21 crore for the quarter ended June, as against a net profit of Rs 60.79 crore in the year-ago quarter. Birla Tyres: The company's board will meet on August 28 (Friday) to consider capital raising options for an amount aggregating up to Rs 1,100 crore by way of equity or debt instruments, including non-convertible debentures, among others. Ircon International: The State-owned engineering and construction firm reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 34.46 crore for the quarter ended June, as against Rs 144.66 crore in the corresponding period a year ago. Tata Motors: Company's chairman N Chandrasekaran said on Tuesday that the auto major will significantly reduce its group automotive debt of Rs 48,000 crore to near zero levels over the next three years. Earnings Today: Indraprastha Gas, Gillette India, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Dolat Investments, NACL Industries and Sharda Motor Industries are among companies which will disclose their Aptil-June quarter results today. This unique collaboration aligns perfectly with Gallaudets bilingual mission and will serve a critical role in advancing both ASL vibrancy and greater equity for our community. Apple and Gallaudet University, the worlds premier university for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind students, today announced a multifaceted collaboration to make learning more accessible and expand both academic and career opportunities for Gallaudet students. Beginning this fall, Gallaudet University will provide all students and faculty with an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and SmartFolio for iPad Pro to support their learning and teaching. Students and teachers at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudets federal demonstration programs for students in grades K-12, will also participate in this new initiative. Reflecting Apple and Gallaudets shared goal of greater inclusion, the collaboration also will include participation in a new Apple scholarship program for students of color with disabilities, and employment and career opportunities for Gallaudet students. Furthering the universitys unique bilingual mission, the initiative with Apple will provide Gallaudet students with the opportunity to design bilingual apps in American Sign Language (ASL) and English. On behalf of the Gallaudet University family, I want to extend my thanks and deep appreciation to everyone at Apple, said Gallaudet University President Roberta J. Cordano. This unique collaboration aligns perfectly with Gallaudets bilingual mission and will serve a critical role in advancing both ASL vibrancy and greater equity for our community. We very much look forward to working with Apple and I have no doubt that our students will benefit from this collaboration far beyond their college years. Gallaudet has been at the forefront of advancing education and acceptance of Deaf culture in this country for more than 150 years, said Lisa Jackson, Apples vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. We are honored to work together with this incredible institution to create even more opportunities for Gallaudet students and for all underserved and underrepresented communities. Part of a broader Gallaudet initiative, Connected Gallaudet, the iPad Pro integration is aimed at rethinking the learning environment both physically and virtually. The university's bilingual missioneducation delivered in both English and American Sign Languagewill be further enhanced through Apples industry-leading accessibility technology and design, as well as video and digital content. The benefits to Gallaudet of having the Apple technology include increased personalized learning capabilities, greater digital fluency, an increase in student performance and engagement, quicker turnaround time for assessments, improved record-keeping of students progress, and instant communication between peers and teachers. It also presents new opportunities for innovative learning and teaching strategies. Since its launch in 2010, iPad has become the most accessible education device ever, transforming the way learners learn and teachers teach. iPad and iPad Pro enable opportunities for tens of millions of students with disabilities all over the world, and make learning more inclusive for all types of learners. Apple Scholarship Support for Gallaudet Students Apple will begin offering scholarship support for students of color with disabilities to include talented Gallaudet students pursuing degrees and coursework in information technology, computer science and other science, technology, and mathematics fields. Gallaudet students will also have the opportunity to take part in the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The event is held annually and brings together innovators and entrepreneurs to connect, share, and create. Students will get to join more than 5,000 developers attending the events engineering sessions, forums, laboratories, and keynote presentations to learn about the latest app and software innovation available through Apple platforms. Employment and Career Opportunities Apple also has established a recruitment program with Gallaudet through Apple Carnegie Library. Located on Mount Vernon Square in Northwest Washington, the store employs more than 30 team members who identify as members of the deaf or hard of hearing community. Many of these employees are Gallaudet students or alumni. The store has worked with both Gallaudet and Clerc Center to develop customized training, sessions, and programming for students, faculty, staff, and K-12 teachers. In addition, other Apple Stores in the Washington metropolitan area have team members from the Deaf community and can provide a customer experience in ASL. Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. The university enrolls over 1,600 students in more than 40 undergraduate majors, as well as many graduate programs at the masters and doctoral level. It also conducts much research in a variety of fields, including brain imaging, educational neuroscience, education, linguistics, psychology, Deaf history and culture, and Black Deaf history and culture. Media Contacts: The Durkin Agency alanacowan5@gmail.com Gallaudet University robert.weinstock@gallaudet.edu Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 series has been on the market for about a week now and we have gotten our hands on the flagship Note 20 Ultra model. It is fitted with the "optimized" Exynos 990, which came as a shock when first learned that the Note 20 Ultra model in the US, China and Korea would be fitted with the considerably more powerful Snapdragon 865+. Read on for thoughts on the subject. 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 Intro: Lets just cut straight to the chase - Samsung has stiffed international customers by reusing the already controversial Exynos 990 from the Galaxy S20 series in its latest flagship. The Exynos 990 was already demonstrably inferior to the Snapdragon 865 SoC in the Galaxy S20 series and now Samsung is rubbing salt into the wounds of its international customers by using the upgraded Snapdragon 865+ SoC in the US, Chinese, and Korean variants of the Galaxy Note 20/Ultra models. This puts the Exynos 990 variants at a completely unacceptable performance disadvantage and undoubtedly sours the experience of owning one - particularly at the price Samsung is charging. For this amount of money, you want to know youve got the best of everything and you are arguably getting the third-best chipset available for the handset behind the Snapdragon 865+ and the Snapdragon 865. Design and build quality: From a design and build perspective, the Ultra is everything that you would expect from Samsung. It is a refinement of last years Galaxy Note 10 design with even thinner top and bottom bezels situated in an aluminum frame and wrapped in the new Gorilla Glass Victus front and back - the first smartphone to feature the new glass technology. It sets itself apart from Gorilla Glass 5 and 6 by combining their respective scratch resistance and drop resistance into one all-conquering glass. Our model is the Mystic Black variant as it is the only color option for the 12 GB/512 GB configuration in Australia. It has a stunning reflective finish that looks totally high-end. Audio-Visual Experience: In terms of its display, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra features the most advanced panel that Samsung has yet to put in a smartphone. It is a whopping 6.9 inches in size with a Quad HD+ (3088x1440) Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O panel with HDR10+ certification and Samsungs all-new Adaptive Frequency technology. This means it can adjust its refresh rate from anywhere as low as 10 Hz when viewing a photo, for example, through to 60 Hz for watching a video and up to 120 Hz when playing a supported game. The aim is to help conserve battery life and optimize the viewing experience at the same time. In practice, it is sumptuous to behold and is easily the best display we have yet to lay our eyes on. Its audio experience is delivered through a front-firing speaker at the top of the display (which also doubles as the earpiece for calls) which is joined by its stereo companion that fires out of the bottom of the device. The tone and power of these speakers is a clear step up from previous Note models and was a pleasant surprise. Combined with the Ultras support for Dolby Atmos, viewing movies through this combined audio-visual experience is a top-shelf pastime. The only downside we noted is that with Atmos enabled, the audio spread with the down-firing speaker creates a slightly imbalanced sound as the sound stage is wider on the right-hand side when in landscape mode. Cameras: Another key area for a flagship smartphone like this is its camera optics. The large rear camera housing on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G incorporates three cameras. These include a 12 MP ultra-wide camera at the top, a 108 MP wide-angle camera in the middle, and a 12 MP telephoto camera at the bottom. Accompanying these is a laser autofocus sensor, with Samsung ditching the 3D ToF sensor it used on the rear of the S20 Ultra that had some issues with focus. While some of the Chinese makers are really pushing the envelope with camera technology and trickery, Samsung has focused on ensuring the optimal user experience for traditional smartphone photography. There is no astrophotography mode or light trail capture mode, but these types of shots can still be achieved in the Pro mode with manual settings. Regardless, it be great see Samsung bring these modes to its devices. Unlike the 100x Space Zoom found on the Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung has also dialed this back to 50x zoom on the Note 20 Ultra. These tweaks show that Samsung listened to the criticism leveled at the S20 Ultra and the changes seen in the Note 20 Ultra are designed to ensure that the quality of its images is paramount. The Galaxy S20 Ultra sits at eighth position on DxOMarks charts and we anticipate that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will certainly beat it. However, we suspect that while it might make it into the top 5, it will probably still lag slightly behind the likes of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and the Huawei P40 Pro. You can see some sample photos in a range of different lighting situations below - on the whole, they are impressive. S-Pen The S-Pen is the signature feature of the Galaxy Note line. With each iteration, Samsung has sought to add new features to the S-Pen, to its credit. Some of the new Air gesture features could be viewed as gimmicks, but there is nothing gimmicky about the lag being reduced to 9 ms. This brings it into the same ballpark as Apples Pencil line. Apple calls this level of lag imperceptible and the S-Pen now delivers the same level of responsiveness. Having this functionality in a smartphone is great, and it is worth taking the time to learn the various features the S-Pen offers to get full value for your money. Battery Life and Charging: While the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra picks up a 4,500-mAh battery, it is only adequate in practice. It will get you through a day of consistent use but even with a display set to draw at Full HD+ and not its native resolution, it still chews up your battery. Good thing the display features a variable refresh rate but it doesnt completely offset the massive size of its 6.9-inch panel, which is still responsible for draining your charge. There are four different power-mode settings that you can choose from to extend your battery life as well as an adaptive power-saving setting that is by default turned off. It is definitely worth trying these out to maximize your mileage. Less forgivable is Samsungs strange decision to step back down to 25 W fast-charging from the 45 W fast-charging found on last years Note 10 line. With the Chinese competition pushing out devices with 120 W fast charging, it is really odd to see Samsung failing to stay properly competitive in this regard. Performance: Weve already covered Samsungs appalling decision to use the in-house Exynos 990 in international variants of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G when it is shipping the same device in the US, China, and Korea with the far superior Snapdragon 865+. On the plus side, the Exynos 990, while clearly an underperformer, is certainly up to the task of keeping things hustling along well enough. There is no noticeable system lag and we havent noticed any issues with the chip overheating, and it is entirely capable of delivering on all the new photography and video features that Samsung advertises. Where you will see shortfalls against the Snapdragon 865+ variants are in sustained performance tasks like video-editing and rendering and certainly in intense gaming sessions. In most instances it wont matter that you have an Exynos 990 variant, but it is a bitter pill to have to swallow nonetheless. Conclusion: Despite feeling short-changed by the use of the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G international variant, in everyday use, there is still a lot to like. Its design, form factor and overall usability are very much what you would expect for a device in this class. It is very much in a class of its own when it comes to its S-Pen - even though there are other devices that support stylus input, none can compete head-to-head with the functionality and integration of the way it comes together on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G. Its audio-visual experience is second-to-none and its cameras are excellent. It ticks almost all the right boxes, but one has to ask, is that really enough for an ultra-premium device? Keep an eye out for usual highly-detailed and in-depth review coming soon. Buy Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra now on Amazon [Photo/Sipa] Editor's Note: With China-US tensions continuing to rise, many speculate that China may leverage rare earths to countermand the United States' moves. Will the China-US rare earth supply chain be disrupted, if not broken? Two experts share their views with China Daily's Pan Yixuan on the issue. Excerpts follow: Export for rare earths needs stricter regulations Having identified China as a major strategic rival, the US has not only intensified its attacks against China, but also tried to stigmatize it by calling the novel coronavirus the "Chinese virus". Given the US' provocative moves and the severe security environment in the international community, China needs an export control mechanism for "strategic resources" including rare earths, which it can use as a countermeasure against the US. Rare earths such as yttrium, scandium, neodymium and samarium are critical elements and "strategic resources" used in high-tech devicesfrom consumer products like mobile phones and computer hard drives to sophisticated military equipment. China could control the export of the strategic resources based on civilian and military use, which means it should have two sets of export regulationsone for export of rare earths for civil use, and the other for military use. Regulations for the export of rare earths for civilian use should follow the rules of free trade, but they should be accompanied by a verification system for the use of resources to ensure they are actually meant for civilian use. And those parties that import rare earths from China for civilian use and yet use them in the military sector should be held accountable. On the other hand, we should have our own annual reports to evaluate different countries' security risks to China, and the export of rare earths for military use should be made based on the security risks the importing countries pose to China. To countries and regions that are rated as high risk, China can reduce or cut off exports of rare earths, in accordance with the World Trade Organization national security exception rule. Moreover, there should be interdisciplinary coordination in working out a specific rare earth export policy. For instance, experts from different fields should work together to prepare an annual global security report and, accordingly, determine the strategic resources' export policy. Strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration will also improve China's strategic resource management and export supervision, which can curb the smuggling of rare earths, and help devise regulations for rare earth mining, which is environmentally-costly. In stark contrast to some powers resorting to unilateralism, China can strengthen regulation on rare earth fully in line with international rules. Jin Baisong, an economist with expertise on the rare earth industry China values its role as a reliable supplier Rare earths are international merchandise. As a country with 30 percent of the world's rare earth reserves and accounting for two-thirds of global supply, China has been a trustworthy supplier. And in the same spirit of win-win cooperation, it is further improving its business environment to attract more global investment. Yet there have been rumors that China has sharply reduced the supply of rare earths to certain countries. In response, the Ministry of Commerce said the plunge in the export of the critical minerals in the past seven months is due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, not because China has reduced supply to the US. Unlike the US that threatens to impose sanctions and ban the export of many items, China values its international image and plays by the rules of the global marketand it will take countermeasures only when another country interferes in China's internal affairs. Therefore, countries should cooperate with China to make the international trade environment stable, safer and predictable, instead of creating troubles for China, and thereby disturbing the entire global supply chain. Thanks to its advanced separation and purification technique for rare earths, China has a cost advantage in rare earth mining and processing. As such, without achieving technological breakthroughs, any country trying to establish a rare earth production chain to bypass or isolate China in the rare earths sector is likely to suffer huge losses. This is not to say that other countries should not develop production chains for rare earths or achieve breakthroughs in their separation and purification. China has always believed in cooperation and common development, and that's why even at a time when the world is politically and economically turbulent, it remains committed to keeping the world order stable and secure. Mei Xinyu, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation These are the personal views of the experts and don't necessarily reflect those of their institutions or China Daily. KYODO NEWS - Aug 26, 2020 - 15:21 | All, Japan The Tokyo District Court on Wednesday denied bail requests from former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his lawmaker wife Anri, who have been indicted on charges of vote buying during the latter's campaign to be elected to Japan's upper house last summer. Kawai, a House of Representatives member, and his wife filed their third requests to be released on bail on Tuesday after pleading not guilty at the first hearing of their trial at the district court. They have been held at the Tokyo Detention House since their June 18 arrests. Their previous two requests were also rejected. Related coverage: Ex-justice minister, lawmaker wife plead not guilty to vote buying Ex-Japan justice minister, lawmaker wife charged over vote buying Arrested ex-justice minister admits cash handout, denies vote buying Katsuyuki Kawai has been indicted on charges of violating the election law by handing out cash to politicians and supporters in Hiroshima Prefecture to reward them for votes secured in the campaign to get his wife elected in July 2019. Anri is accused of conspiring with him over some of the payments. While the Public Offices Election Law urges courts to swiftly deliver rulings on election-related allegations, typically within 100 days from the indictment, the trial is expected to take longer due to the large number of witnesses that are set to be called. The lawyer for a Black man who was shot by police says he is now paralysed from the waist down. The shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, on Sunday in Kenosha, in the US state of Wisconsin, was captured on video and ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities. It came just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police touched off a wider reckoning on race. Jacob Blakes father, who is also named Jacob Blake, said his son was shot seven times. Jacob Blake with his second cousin Adria-Joi Watkins last year. Source: AAP They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didnt matter, he said. But my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters. His lawyer, Ben Crump, said the bullets severed Mr Blakes spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Its going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again, Mr Crump said. Three of the younger Mr Blakes sons aged 3, 5 and 8 were in the car at the time of the shooting, Mr Crump said. He added it was the eight-year-olds birthday. Another Blake family lawyer said they would be filing a civil lawsuit against the police department over the shooting. Police have said little about what happened, other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating. The man who said he made the video of the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Mr Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, Drop the knife! Drop the knife! before the gunfire erupted. He said he didnt see a knife in Mr Blakes hands. A video still of the incident when Jacob Blake is shot by police. Source: Twitter In the footage, Mr Blake walks from the sidewalk around the front of his SUV to his driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns drawn and shout at him. As Mr Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire while Mr Blake has his back turned. Seven shots can be heard, though it isnt clear how many struck Mr Blake or how many officers fired. Since the shooting, anger has spilled onto the streets of Kenosha and other cities, including Los Angeles, Wisconsins capital of Madison and in Minneapolis, the epicentre of the Black Lives Matter movement following Mr Floyds death. Story continues After a night during which protests devolved into unrest, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers called for calm, while also saying the National Guard presence would be doubled from 125 to 250 in Kenosha. Crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires on Monday night. Hundreds of protesters defied an 8pm curfew on Monday night, massing in downtown Kenosha, where they were met by a wall of law enforcement officers, including 125 members of the Wisconsin National Guard. A man looks over caution tape as Kenosha burns during riots. Source: Getty Images Some clashed with officers and vandalised businesses. There were 34 fires associated with the unrest, with 30 businesses destroyed or damaged along with an unknown number of residences, Kenosha Fire Chief Charles Leipzig told the Kenosha News. One of the buildings destroyed was the Wisconsin Department of Corrections probation and parole office. Most staff had already transitioned to working remotely, and all essential operations are continuing, said department spokeswoman Anna Neal. A city block was cordoned off on Tuesday so officials could survey damage. Smoke filled the air and visibility was low as firefighters used water cannons on still smouldering buildings. Mr Blakes mother Julia Jackson said the damage in Kenosha did not reflect the feelings of her family and if her son could see it, he would be very unpleased. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether Swiss bank Credit Suisse helped some 2,650 Belgians hide their accounts from tax authorities. The investigation by federal prosecutors is at the information-gathering stage and no charges have been brought, a spokesman for the prosecutors said on Monday. The inquiry concerns accounts held between 2003 and 2014 on which Belgian prosecutors received information last year from French authorities, who have also conducted their own investigations into the bank and French customers. The spokesman said the case concerned up to 2,650 Belgian clients, although some may have already declared their funds to the tax authorities. "We strictly comply with all the applicable laws, rules and regulations in the markets in which we operate," Credit Suisse said in an emailed response to a request for comment on the investigation. The bank wishes to conduct business with clients who have paid their taxes and fully declared their assets, it said. Swiss banks have faced similar probes in several countries over the past decade after the country was forced to give up its cherished tradition of banking secrecy. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Paul Arnold in Zurich; Editing by John Chalmers and Jan Harvey) (Natural News) In May 2020, celebrities, comedians, social media influencers and music artists got together to put on a virtual One World Together at Home concert that was full of messages and directives provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). The virtual event was indeed organized and funded by the WHO. The global health authority tried to use celebrity influence to manipulate the behavior of Americans en masse and raise money to further their agenda. The WHO is, more or less, a global vaccine distributor, primarily funded by computer mogul Bill Gates. American taxpayers were funding the entity for years until President Donald Trump cut all ties with the WHO in April. The WHO paid $135,000 to a PR firm named Hill and Knowlton Strategies to seek out influencers in the United States so they could be used as puppets to further the WHOs fearful pandemic message and to further their control over the publics minds and livelihood. Hill and Knowlton Strategies is the same PR company used to generate public support for the war in Iraq. This firm was also instrumental in getting the public to believe that cigarettes were healthy and non-addictive in the 1950s. WHO uses influencers to push Bill Gates agendas In May 2020, just a month after President Trump cut ties with the WHO for misleading the US about covid-19, many celebrities and social media influencers came forward with a message promoting subservience to a one world government and blind obedience to global health authorities. Celebrity social media accounts began to send out messages to convince the public to stay at home, comply with orders and trust public health officials with their own health. This stunt continued as the WHO refused to acknowledge scientific progress and success stories of patient recovery using therapeutics like hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, ivermectin, chlorine dioxide, artemisinin, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. Instead, the public was to accept the WHOs fearful wait-for-a-vaccine doctrine, and everyone was told to remain completely clueless to the variety of over-the-counter medicines, herbal extracts, super foods, and supplements that can boost the immune response for healthy recovery of any coronavirus infection. This use of soft power to influence the American public was discussed in great detail back in October 2019 at Event 201. This pandemic preparedness seminar, hosted by the John Hopkins Center for Health Security, the World Economic Forum, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, discussed strategies to counter misinformation and how to manipulate the public into compliance using celebrities and social media influencers. In May, many celebrities agreed to pass the mic by allowing the WHO to use their social media accounts to indoctrinate the public with their directives. According to documents filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the WHO earmarked $30,000 for influencer identification, $65,000 for message testing and $40,000 for a campaign plan framework. Hill and Knowlton strategically identified celebrities with large social media followings and utilized individuals with engaged followers. The crooked PR firm also called to action certain social media influencers who can shape and guide conversations. The manipulation failed to work on a grander scale as millions of hard working Americans (who lost their jobs and livelihoods) criticized the celebrities for being out of touch; broadcasting their shutdown message from their multi-million dollar mansions. It turns out that celebrities have less influence than previously imagined. This hasnt stopped the WHO from merging with Facebook to restrict the free speech of Americans and to censor dissenting organizations. Facebook dutifully uses fact checkers to remove and de-platform anyone who presents a view that is different from the WHO and the CDC. Sources include: Articles.Mercola.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com People shouldnt be alarmed if they see people in military uniforms around Welland International Flatwater Centre Saturday. A release from the city said Canadian Armed Forces members will be conducting physical fitness training activities on Wellands Recreation Corridor on Aug. 29 and Sept. 13 and 19. Soldiers, in full camouflage attire, carrying gear, and moving canoes, will be in the area of the flatwater centre and training from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on those days. The city said there will be a military presence will be on-site during the exercises. MANZINI Scores of pupils and workers commuting between Mbabane and Manzini were left stranded yesterday morning as kombi drivers and conductors refused to work. The drivers and their conductors gathered at the exit point of the Manzini Bus Rank and barricaded the entrance, refusing any vehicle servicing the Mbabane and Manzini route to leave the terminal point. This was as early as 6:30am. Public transport vehicles that were seeking to gain entry into the bus rank to offload passengers, were ordered to park at the section of the bus rank usually used by cross-border kombis. Controlling this was a group of over 40 conductors and drivers. The rowdy crowd sang songs and whistled each time they saw a vehicle servicing the aforementioned route and pointed it to where the other vehicles were already stationed. Baffled The behaviour of the crowd left many people baffled while others hastened to walk past them. As the disorder was ongoing, the conductors permitted other vehicles to service their routes. This was after they removed rocks that had been used to block the road leading into and out of the Manzini Bus Rank. The rocks had been stacked across the road by the kombi workers, blocking any vehicle from gaining entry into the bus terminal. While the protest was ongoing, a high number of passengers who sought to travel to Mbabane from the bus rank were left stranded. Some noted that the entrance of the bus rank was barricaded and opted to use bus stops like the one at Green Valley towards Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre to get transport. While this was happening, some members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), under the Traffic Department, were drawn to the crowd. They maintained order and allowed vehicles from other routes to operate freely. Agreement According to impeccable sources, the feud that culminated in the protest followed that the Manzini and Mbabane branches of the Swaziland Local Transport Association (SLTA) had not reached an agreement in the manner in which to operate. It was gathered that kombi operators that are registered under Manzini demanded that all their vehicles should be allowed to operate while those in Mbabane were of the view that only 50 per cent of the total number of kombis servicing the route should work. It was gathered that about 130 kombis service this route. Ever since the country was said to be in a state of national emergency, a rotational schedule for the loading of public service vehicles was introduced. The schedule permits half the number of vehicles to service their routes on a rotational basis, for four days apiece. This resulted in some kombi operators complaining that the rotational schedule exposed them to litigation as there was a high probability that their vehicles would be repossessed due to failure to honour their credit facility commitments with financiers. The Secretary General of the Manzini Branch of SLTA, Sabelo Dlamini, confirmed that the kombi drivers and conductors in Manzini downed tools in the morning yesterday. He said: The challenge is that some of the kombi owners are not seeing eye-to-eye on the logistics of operations. Some of the owners want 50 per cent of the vehicles to operate while others seek that all of them should resume operating in the normal way. Dlamini explained that the challenge was that operating through the use of the schedule was no longer functional given the fact that the economy had been opened up and all sectors were operating. Under normal circumstances, all kombis operated through a list that was deemed fair to all. Schedule Dlamini said due to the rotational schedule introduced when the country went on partial lockdown, there were fewer people who were travelling as masses were encouraged to stay at home. However, now that the economy was fully operational, Dlamini said kombi operators claimed that working four days on rotational basis destabilised their operations as the money tendered by the kombi drivers was hard to justify. The kombi operators feel that being regulated to operate on a schedule does not help them as there is no compensation. On the other hand, the protest was thwarted through the intervention of the police and the National Executive of SLTA. This was around 9:30am. ANN ARBOR, MI The Ann Arbor parks department has announced tubing in the Argo Cascades will be prohibited beginning Friday, Aug. 28. The popular attraction along the Huron River, featuring a series of drop pools that typically draw crowds in the summer, will be off limits to tubers in the interest of public health amid the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said. The decision is in line with emergency orders enacted by the Washtenaw County Health Department and City Council to limit the size of outdoor gatherings to 25 people, officials said. City Council approved its emergency ordinance this week with University of Michigan students returning to Ann Arbor. It ends when the governors emergency declaration is lifted. Citing concerns about UM student gatherings, Ann Arbor enacts emergency ordinance In a news release, Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Deputy Manager Josh Landefeld said the tubing restriction at Argo Cascades will be strictly enforced. Parks staff will be working closely with the Ann Arbor Police Department and violations are a civil infraction with a penalty fine up to $250. Throughout the pandemic, the liveries have attempted to reduce the number of people on the river through operational means, including limiting the number of reservations and not renting tubes this year, Landefeld said. But individuals with their own tubes continue to use the Argo Cascades creating crowds that are not consistent with the current orders. The citys liveries at Argo and Gallup parks are expected to remain open and continue taking canoe and kayak reservations for people interested in being on the river. Reservations can be done online or by contacting the liveries. For more information, visit www.a2gov.org/canoe. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Students shown partying in photo were following proper guidelines, University of Michigan officials say Wisconsin police shooting victim Jacob Blake has Ann Arbor family roots 5-story hotel proposed on west edge of downtown Ann Arbor Accusations fly during heated council debate over Ann Arbor city administrator search 19-story high-rise behind Michigan Theater delayed until 2021 amid pandemic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, and Republican challenger John James disagree about which television stations should air debates between the two candidates. Peters, who is seeking a second six-year term in the Senate, accepted invitations last month to participate in debates hosted by WGVU-TV in Grand Rapids and Detroit Public Television. James, a Farmington Hills businessman, announced Tuesday that he agreed to join different debates hosted by WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids and WDIV in Detroit. The situation has created a debate about the debates, as neither campaign committed to participate in the same events. The campaigns said all four stations extended invitations to both candidates. Peters campaign said invitations from WOOD-TV and WDIV came after the senator already agreed to join debates hosted by WGVU-TV and DPTV. Peters committed to participating in two debates, and a spokesperson said the campaign is holding to that. A spokesperson for Peters noted WGVU-TV has a history of hosting debates between Senate candidates reaching back to 1996. Peters campaign said it intends the debates to reach a wide audience and said other stations can carry the public television broadcast. Its unfortunate John James has still yet to respond to invitations sent out over a month ago, and instead is desperately trying to create distractions to avoid answering tough questions from voters and the media, Peters campaign said in a statement. James challenged Peters to a series of four debates in a video posted to social media in July. James suggested two events could be hosted by television stations in Michigan and Grand Rapids, with two others hosted by national networks like Fox News or CNN. James issued a scathing statement Tuesday after announcing he would participate in two debates on commercial television networks. He accused Peters of choosing to run and hide, and said Peters should be a man and debate him at the venues James picked. Sen. Peters, as our sitting Senator, has an obligation to answer for his record in the largest-possible forums in the state, not hide from voters in the shadows, James said in a statement. James campaign said it is still considering invitations from the other television stations Peters agreed to join. Disagreements about how many debates should be held and who should host them are nothing new in Michigan Senate elections. James asked for six televised debates during his 2018 challenge to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing. The candidates agreed to two debates, one broadcast by WGVU-TV in Grand Rapids and another at the Detroit Economic Club. Peters sought five debates against his Republican opponent during his first campaign for U.S. Senate in 2014. His opponent agreed to one debate, but the two campaigns couldnt agree on the format of the event and none were held. Candidates in Michigans 2012 Senate race couldnt agree on any debates either. Stabenow and her Republican opponent failed to reach an agreement on the details after Stabenow agreed to join two debates. One debate was televised in Michigans 2008 Senate election, broadcast by WGVU-TV. A second debate was hosted by the Detroit Economic Club. Read more on MLive: Michigans U.S. Senate candidates evade primary challenge, setting up Peters, James matchup in November Gary Peters looks forward to debate after challenge from John James in Michigan Senate race How Michigans U.S. Senate candidates are fighting to earn the votes of their fellow military veterans The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to reinstate restrictions on an abortion medication as it appeals a federal judge's ruling that temporarily suspended those limits nationwide due to the coronavirus pandemic. The administration's request, if granted, would again bar women from getting the drug, known as mifepristone or RU486, unless they visit a hospital, clinic or medical office, and also acknowledge in writing that they have been advised of the drug's risks. The Justice Department, in its application to the Supreme Court, argued that "any burdens" of forcing women to comply with those restrictions "with a one-time clinic visit" are outweighed by the risks of them suffering serious side effects of the pill. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2000 had imposed the restrictions on the drug, which when used in conjunction with another medication, misoprostol, causes a woman's pregnancy to end. The FDA says the restrictions are necessary to mitigate what it characterizes as serious health risks associated with mifepristone, such as excessive bleeding. But in May, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, along with other organizations, sued the FDA and the Health and Human Services Department, seeking to overturn the rule. In response to that suit, Maryland federal district court Judge Theodore Chuang on July 13 barred the FDA from enforcing the rule during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the restrictions were an undue burden and "substantial obstacle" on women's access to abortion services. Chuang cited a 1992 Supreme Court decision in an abortion case for his ruling. "By causing certain patients to decide between forgoing or substantially delaying abortion care, or risking exposure to COVID-19 for themselves, their children, and family members, the In-Person Requirements present a serious burden to many abortion patients," Chuang wrote in his decision. As Manitobas countryside becomes one of Canadas COVID-19 hotspots, experts in rural health say the pandemic will test officials trust with local communities, including Hutterite colonies. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. As Manitobas countryside becomes one of Canadas COVID-19 hotspots, experts in rural health say the pandemic will test officials trust with local communities, including Hutterite colonies. "The answer is simple in a way, you just have to keep everyone six feet away from everyone else. But it's complicated, because how in practice can you do that?" asked Dr. Margaret Tromp, the recent head of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada. "Most remote communities are just locking down, and most have been successful. But if a case gets in, it's very bad," said Tromp, in a call from Moose Factory, Ont. Thats because many rural people work in jobs that require close contact with others, like farm work and machinery repair. Communities across Canada have implemented social-distancing measures in shops, but not all of them can provide delivery services or curbside pick-up. Spotty Internet service can prevent people from working and socializing at home, noted Paul Peters, a Carleton University health-science professor. He noted that other countries have seen outbreaks linked to long school-bus trips for students in rural areas. "One might expect there would be, at some point, outbreak in rural communities, with lots of community transition," he said. "Those of us who do rural health arent very surprised." Physical distancing itself can be particular hard in what the province calls "communal-living communities", which includes many Hutterite colonies. Calls to several of those communities went unreturned Tuesday afternoon. Dont stigmatize Hutterites: prof A University of Winnipeg professor who has long researched Hutterite settlements urged people not to vilify their fellow Manitobans. click to read more A University of Winnipeg professor who has long researched Hutterite settlements urged people not to vilify their fellow Manitobans. Retired professor Jock Lehr said colonies are like other communities; most people follow physical-distancing rules, but not every single person. "Theyre just people like you and me, they just happens to live communally," he said. He suspects the colonies are uncomfortable under the public's gaze during this pandemic, and public-health officials have warned that stigmatizing any community dealing with COVID-19 will only make it harder to trace. Most Hutterite families arrived in Canada after persecution in the United States in the First World War, when members of the pacifist religion refused military drafts and war bonds. They were stigmatized in the Second World War for speaking German and faced restrictions in owning land until the 1970s. "They're very sensitive about the fact that the outside world can get some crazy opinions about them." Dylan Robertson Close Jock Lehr, a retired University of Winnipeg geography professor, has researched Hutterite settlements extensively. He said physical distancing within a colony would be extremely difficult. "It would be a lot easier for a Hutterite colony to physically isolate itself as a whole, than it would be for a settlement of similar population in a small town in Manitoba," "But within the communities it's very difficult, because previously everything was done communally: you eat with the other, you work together, you worship together." A typical colony has 60 to 170 people and about six to 12 families, with housing and furniture owned or paid for by the colony, Lehr said. Many Hutterite homes might have a microwave or toaster oven, but often lack stoves because all three meals are generally eaten in a communal hall. Workers might be paid a few dollars a month for personal expenses, but otherwise share their possessions. Many people are working the fields together in the late summer. Some colony workers interact with agricultural retailers to sell the colony's hogs and vegetables, but generally socialize with other Hutterites. The outbreak in some colonies in the Prairies has been linked to guests returning from a funeral at a colony in Alberta. Peters said that doctors across the Prairies have long tried to form trust with remote areas, particularly religious minorities and First Nations reserves. In part, its because they know some communities have limited access to medical supplies, mental-health supports and even clean drinking water. "Public health has worked long to develop those relationships, and I do think they have good relationships, overall, within those communities that are traditionally a little more isolated." Canadas Chief Public Health Officer cited the importance of those relationship for rural areas, given that they often have lower incomes and less access to health care, and some struggle with drugs like opioids. "Responding to COVID-19 is quite complex," Dr. Theresa Tam told the Free Press. "You actually have to understand the community, the culture and be able to leverage the on-the-ground leadership to get buy-in and trust, in order for a lot of the public health measures to work." Tam said an uptick in cases can be a positive indication that needed testing is now underway. She noted that numerous Indigenous communities have accessed funding and come up with their own plans to keep COVID-19 at bay. "As long as theyre empowered to do what is needed to protect the communities, that can be done, and theyve shown that to be the case," said Tam. "Some communities live in a very congregate manner as their everyday life. And so, having those kinds of changes is a big deal and requires a lot of buy-in." It can also require money. 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. Tromp noted that Alberta and Ontario outbreaks have been linked to meat-packing plants with crowded, wet working conditions where the virus thrives. Cramped migrant farmworkers bunkhouses have been vectors for COVID-19. Wealthier small towns instead had a few cases, but had the space and resources to resolve them quickly. Meanwhile, Tromp said a spring outbreak in northern Saskatchewan was only mitigated when the community got access to isolation trailers, and a delivery service for people with an alcohol dependence who otherwise could not stay home. "Most rural communities know what the answers are, and what will work best in their community but can't always put it into place, because of funding issues," Tromp said. "Often we need support from urban centres, not to tell us what to do but to assist us to put things into place." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca BBC director-general Tony Hall considered quitting when the Government offloaded the responsibility for free TV licences for the over-75s, he revealed yesterday. In his final interview before he leaves next month, Lord Hall also admitted the BBC responded too slowly in the equal pay row sparked by Carrie Gracie. The deal with the Government which saw the corporation taking on responsibility for free licences for over-75s is regarded by many as Lord Halls biggest blunder during his time in charge. Speaking on Radio 4s The Media Show, he described the attempts by Government to get the BBC to handle the issue as nuclear, as he was forced to choose between charging pensioners the licence fee and making huge cuts to services. In his final interview before he leaves next month, Lord Hall also admitted the BBC responded too slowly in the equal pay row sparked by Carrie Gracie I thought about resigning, but at that moment I thought youve got to get in there and try to stop this or ameliorate what they are proposing to do, he told the BBCs media editor Amol Rajan. While it became clear there was no possibility of stopping the move, there were concessions and the BBC had secured its charter for 11 years. Only over-75s who receive pension credit are now exempt from the annual 157.50 fee. Lord Hall admitted to mistakes over the equal pay row, which began when then China editor Miss Gracie who announced on Tuesday she has left the BBC after 33 years pressed for a salary increase to bring her in line with male colleagues doing comparable jobs. I think the organisation responded too slowly, he said. We ended up in the right place. He was also questioned about his handling of the row over the use of the N-word in a news report. He denied he apologised for the use of the word only after board members lobbied him to do so because of potential mass resignations from ethnic minority staff members. People wait in front of the Galveston Housing Authority offices to board charter buses that will evacuate them from Galveston Island to Austin in anticipation of impact from Hurricane Laura, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Galveston. Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP Nearly 600,000 people were ordered to flee US cities along the Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Laura, which is forecasted to make landfall in the region by Thursday. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasted that Hurricane Laura could become a Category 3 or higher with winds at about 115 mph due to the warmer waters at the Gulf Coast, according to the Associated Press. Laura's sibling, Tropical Storm Marco, made landfall in Louisiana Monday evening. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Hundreds of thousands of people were told to evacuate US cities along the Gulf Coast in preparation for Hurricane Laura making landfall later this week. Nearly 600,000 people were ordered to evacuate ahead of the hurricane, which is forecasted to hit the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday. More than 385,000 residents were issued evacuation orders across Beaumont, Galveston, and Port Arthur, Texas, according to the Associated Press. Residents of Harris County, Texas, were issued a voluntary evacuation order on Tuesday, impacting county residents along the coast on Galveston Bay, not including South Houston, The New York Times reported. An additional 200,000 people in Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana were also ordered to evacuate. Certain parts of the Jefferson, Lafourche, and Plaquemines parishes were also told to evacuate, according to The Times. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told residents that they should be prepared to shelter in place by Wednesday at noon. Edwards told residents Monday to anticipate "a significant storm," according to a report from NBC News. Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (@ReadyHarris) August 25, 2020 The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office announced that more than 900 inmates in the parish will be dispersed to other facilities in Louisiana ahead of the hurricane. Story continues "The Sheriff's Office will be increasing manpower on patrol and will do everything we can to keep you and your property safe, but at some point it will be too hazardous for deputies to respond and for that time frame you need to ensure your own personal safety if you choose to stay," Sheriff Tony Mancuso said in a Facebook post. NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) August 25, 2020 The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasted that Hurricane Laura could become a Category 3 or "even higher" due to the warmer waters at the Gulf Coast, with winds at about 115 mph, according to the AP. The evacuation area could expand depending on the direction the storm takes as it nears the coast, Craig Fugate, former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told the AP. Both Govs. Abbot and Edwards have issued states of emergency. Laura's sibling, Tropical Storm Marco, made landfall in Louisiana Monday evening. The Tuesday evacuation marks the largest mass evacuation amid the coronavirus pandemic. Officials recommended residents stay with family or at hotels and adhere to proper health safety guidelines, the AP reported. Buses for residents were also stocked with personal protective equipment and disinfectant, according to the AP report. The hurricane evacuations have put an extra strain on locals. Whitney Frazier, a resident of Beaumont, Texas, told AP she was struggling to find transportation to buses designated for evacuation, all while being mindful of health safety with the ongoing pandemic. "Especially with everything with COVID going on already on top of a mandatory evacuation, it's very stressful," Frazier said. Read the original article on Insider Heart failure is a medical condition that results when the heart muscle is not strong enough to effectively circulate blood. A variety of treatments exist to address this disease, yet it continues to carry a poor prognosis. A new study from University Hospitals showed that a person's address can help predict their chance of mortality from heart disease. The study found that the variability in heart failure mortality in the United States is at least partially explained by measures of wealth and socioeconomic status. In the United States, counties that have high rates of poverty and other measures of social deprivation also have higher rates of death from heart failure. Socioeconomic status may play an important role in heart failure because access to expensive medications and other therapies can be more available in affluent communities. Furthermore, areas with higher poverty levels may have reduced access to quality healthcare in general. The study analyzed 1,254,991 heart failure deaths across 3,048 counties between 1999 and 2018. The investigators used multiple indicators of employment, poverty, income, housing and education to determine a person's level of socioeconomic deprivation. This study highlights the importance of addressing socioeconomic factors to improve heart failure outcomes nationally. "Analysis of trends in heart failure mortality shows that these disparities have persisted throughout the last two decades" said Graham Bevan, MD, a resident physician at University Hospitals and the first author of the study. Living in a particular county should not mean you're more likely to die from heart failure. University Hospitals has a history of addressing health care disparities in underserved communities and armed with the information from this study, we can thoughtfully create solutions to better serve these populations." Sadeer G. Al-Kindi, MD, cardiologist with UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute (TNS) Windham, Conn., leaders are pondering adding a 21st century utility to Willimantic, one those addicted to their electronic devices stand to appreciate.Windham staff and elected officials are reviewing the possibility of public access wireless internet, something that might be necessary during the pandemic.The Windham Town Council discussed the issue during its meeting last week.Some towns and cities in Connecticut are looking to provide townwide internet access, especially during the pandemic, Windham Councilor Randall Prose said.It supports people working virtually and many of the students that possibly cannot afford internet access.Prose said the school district is issuing hot-spot packs to students without steady internet access.However, townwide WiFi could be beneficial. It supports people working virtually and many of the students that possibly cannot afford internet access, especially if the coronavirus worsens again and all students are learning from home fulltime.Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers said this project is not a new idea.For a few months now weve been talking about it at town hall, Rivers said. Ive had a number of conversations with (IT Director) Bryan Hathaway. Ive done some reading myself.Rivers said town-wide WiFi access is typically only done in cities where there is a population density that makes it worthwhile.The signal would be broadcasted by hotspot devices that have a range of 150 or 200 feet.It would be difficult, however, to carry the utility into the rural parts of the Windham villages. Its essentially a new utility, Rivers said. It can be done. It is done in some of the larger cities.Rivers said the project could be pricey.In Hartford, for example, city leaders have pledged $ 3.8 million to set up public internet access in low- income neighborhoods.In addition, upkeep for those devices is estimated to be about $ 100,000 annually.Councilor Rose Reyes said this project could address some of the housing complexes, like Windham Heights, Village Heights and Memorial Drive.Its something that I think a lot of us would like to start working toward, said Councilor Dawn Niles. Currently, the Windham Town Hall, Willimantic Public Library and Windham Public Schools have WiFi access.The council decided to forward the issue to the town council public safety, public works, environment, culture and recreation subcommittee. The committee meets next on Sept. 8. WASHINGTON In his speech at the Republican National Convention on Monday, Rep. Matt Gaetz said a Joe Biden victory would be like a horror movie. A different genre may have been on some minds, as his speech and much of the rest of the convention so far sounded like it was taking place in a parallel universe out of speculative fiction. One in which, for instance, the response to the coronavirus which has so far killed more than 170,000 Americans and continues to kill almost 1,000 Americans per day is a great success story for President Donald Trump. One in which Trump is known as a great unifier and racial equality champion, while Biden is a raging socialist (many Sanders supporters wish it were so). Fact checkers from major American media outlets have been kept busy That was a parade of dishonesty, CNNs Daniel Dale said correcting all the misleading or dishonest points presented about foreign policy, economics, the Democratic platform and Trumps record. But the most persistent theme in the Republicans alternate timeline has been how they portray one of the years defining crises. As they tell it, the mass demonstrations against police violence and racism are a story about rampaging dystopian crime. And they place the blame for it, somehow, on Joe Biden. Democrats wont let you go to church, but let you protest. Democrats wont let you go to work, but let you riot. Democrats wont let you go to school, but theyll let you go loot, Rep. Jim Jordan said. There was more. The protesters were called a vengeful mob that was spreading violence and chaos in our communities. Democrats would destroy your families, your lives, and your future. Donald Trump Jr. said the election campaign is shaping up to be church, work and school versus rioting, looting and vandalism or, in the words of Biden and the Democrats, peaceful protesting. There have been many high-profile incidents of vandalism, and some episodes of violence many by police and some by protesters. But for months there have been many more peaceful protests in virtually every city in the country. Polls show overwhelming support for the protesters: one June poll showed a majority supporting Black Lives Matter by a 28-point margin. But Trump has portrayed its members as domestic terrorists and sent federal agents into some cities to clash with them. He has associated them with violent crime in cities, and portrayed both as an out-of-control problem. (Violent crime itself, on the whole, is down, even as murders have spiked in some cities.) And though he has been president throughout, he portrays himself now as the solution to this problem. And a good deal of his supporters see it his way. Last week in rural Wisconsin, I asked Trump supporter Ralinda Howard what this election was about. Trump wants to bring safety back, she said. Hes going to get rid of the thugs and the people that are just destroying inner cities. Shes not alone. A Pew Research poll released this month showed violent crime ranked as the fifth most important issue going into this election. Digging into the numbers, the idea of parallel universes re-emerges: 74 per cent of Trump supporters said violent crime was very important to their vote more than felt that way about coronavirus, more than any issue besides the economy. (By contrast, fewer than half of Biden supporters thought it was very important and they ranked it 10th of 12 issues in importance.) Even when polling support for the protests objectives was very strong, a majority of Americans supported sending in the military to quell violent protests, according to an ABC/Ipsos poll. Interestingly, two University of Washington researchers recently wrote that Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see a description of the same protest as violent if it involved anti-police sentiment. Its likely that in addition to the presidents rhetoric, the images of vandalism and clashes with police, especially as they are prominently portrayed in some news outlets, are feeding this sentiment. And just as the Republicans are portraying protesters as violent mobs, another flashpoint in the summer of demonstrations has erupted: on Sunday evening, a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin shot a reportedly unarmed Black man in the back in front of his three children. The shooting was caught on video. Protests have filled the streets of Kenosha and Madison, Wisconsin in the days since, erupting late at night into violent clashes with police that include burning buildings and looting. As the protests over the shooting spread to other cities hundreds of protesters marched in Washington on Monday night as the Republican convention was taking place images of cars and buildings on fire led the news from Wisconsin on Tuesday morning. Another apparent example of racial injustice that has occupied the national stage all summer. Another set of protests demanding an end to it. It will be interpreted by many voters as more evidence of the need for fundamental reform in policing, and in society. But the polls, and the speakers at the Republican National Convention, show its likely theres a universe of voters who will think it is another reason to vote for Trump. Read more about: Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Major Players: Key players leading the Global Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market include The Dow Chemical Company (US), 3M (US), Meguiars (US), Malco Products Inc (US), Permatex (US), Terra Silikon Teknolojileri ve Kimya (Turkey), General Chemical Corp (US), Nuvite Chemical Compounds (US), and Blue Ribbon Inc (US) among others. Industry/Innovation/Related News April 2, 2019 Gold Eagle Co. (the US), maker of 303 Products, that is a premium line of auto detailing products designed to clean, shine, protect, and prolong the time in between waxes, or ceramic coatings announced its partnership with OReilly Auto Parts (the US), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry for the nationwide retailing of new 303 Touchless Sealant. Gold Eagles new touchless Sealant is a water-activated wax alternative with hydrophobic technology that lasts up to two times longer than traditional wax and doesnt require wiping or buffing. It takes more time to apply as compared to the lengthy traditional process of vehicle waxing, offering immediate results, as water beads on the paint to indicate the vehicles paint is protected. Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market Segmentation For ease of understanding, the market is segmented into three key dynamics: By Product Type: Protectors, Sealants, Polishes & Waxes, and Glass & Wheel Care among others. By Vehicle Type: Passenger Cars, Light Commercial Vehicles, and Heavy Commercial Vehicles among others. By Regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest-of-the-World. Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market Competitive Analysis Fiercely competitive, the Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market appears to be fragmented due to the presence of numerous matured & small-scale players. These players incorporate strategic initiatives such as partnership, acquisition, expansion, product & technology launch, and collaboration to gain an edge over their competitors. These players are developing their product portfolio focusing on advanced technologies. The recent trend of developing customized these enhancing solutions is expected to drive the growth of the market, driving the competition further. Manufacturers developing tailor-made aesthetic products are expected to gain an edge over their rivals. Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7077 Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market Regional Analysis The European region, heading with the presence of a significant number of automotive manufacturers accounts for the dominating market in the Global Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market. Factors such as the huge uptake of these products in its flourishing automotive sector predominantly drive the growth of the market.Furthermore, factors such as the implementation of new regulations proposed by the government to follow lightweight and biocompatible resins in the automotive industry are acting as major tailwind propelling the growth of the regional market. Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market in Italy, Germany, France, and the UK led by the growing innovation and technological advancement majorly contribute to the growth of the regional market. The Asia Pacific Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market accounts for the second-largest market, globally. Factors such as the rapidly augmenting demand especially in China, Japan, and India due to the burgeoning automotive industry in these countries drive the growth of the regional market. The APAC has been witnessing robust growth in terms of production and sale of the passenger cars and commercial vehicles which as a result is fuelling the demand for Automotive Appearance Chemicals. Continuing with the same growth trends the APAC region is expected to register a phenomenal growth throughout the forecast period. The North America Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market is rapidly emerging as a profitable market, globally. Factors such as the increase in sales of luxury cars and the rise in spending of the individuals for car care are propelling the growth of the regional market. Continuing with the same growth trends the Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market in the North American region would account for a substantial share in the global market. Market Overview: Automotive Appearance Chemicals are the substances that protect, maintain, and enhance aesthetics of vehicles, improving the gloss and durability of vehicles. Over the last decade, the Global Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market is growing continually, mainly due to the burgeoning automotive sector that is witnessing increasing unit sale. Moreover, factors such as the increasing demand for these chemicals in the manufacturing of passenger cars are escalating the market on global height. Acknowledging the spurting growth of the market, Market Research Future (MRFR) in its recently published study report asserts that the Global Automotive Appearance Chemicals Market will garner exponential accruals by 2023 registering phenomenal CAGR throughout the review period (2018 to 2023). Evolving coating technology, overwhelming innovations, and the increasing adoption of this technology is a key driving force behind the growth of the market. Additional factors that are boosting the growth of the market include the increasing popularity of the Automotive Appearance Chemicals for the aftermarket applications to prolong aesthetic appeals and high life expectancy of vehicles is fostering the market growth. Furthermore, the increase in the use of large volumes of these products by the automotive companies to distinguish their brand by improving shine and durability and also modifying sheeting effect, water beading potential, and feel is also driving the growth of the market. Conversely, the volatility of prices and demand & supply gap in the raw materials required for the production of these substances are expected to impede the growth of the market. Nevertheless, efforts that key players operating in the market are investing in strengthening their supply chain would, in turn, support the market growth, tackling the raw materials scarcity situations. COVID-19 Study in Detail: COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Market @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-pvc-market COVID-19 Impact on 3D Printing Materials Market @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-3d-printing-materials-market COVID-19 Outbreak Impact on Carbon Black Market @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/report/covid-19-impact-carbon-black-market NOTE: Our teams of researchers are studying COVID-19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering COVID-19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details. About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. Contact: Market Research Future +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com An Iowa man who police say drove his car into a crowd of Black Livers Matter protesters is said to have told officers the victims needed 'an attitude adjustment'. Michael Stepanek, 45, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury, both felonies, Iowa City police said. Footage shows as a car, believed to have been driven by Stepanek, ploughed into protesters at the march organised by the Iowa Freedom Riders in Iowa City on Friday. Stepanek is said to have turned off his car lights before driving into the crowd. No one was seriously hurt but one victim landed on the hood of the car. Police did not initially receive a report about the incident but it gained attention when video of the incident was posted to social media on Saturday. Scroll down for video Michael Stepanek, 45, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury, both felonies, Iowa City police said A person who was struck later came forward to give a statement, leading to Stepanek's arrest, police said. According to a criminal complaint, Stepanek's Toyota Camry was one of several stopped by the protest at a city intersection. He honked his horn and drove around the block before shutting off his car lights and speeding toward the crowd, KCRG reported. Footage shows as a car, believed to have been driven by Stepanek, ploughed into protesters at the march organised by the Iowa Freedom Riders on Friday Stepanek is said to have turned off his car lights before driving into the crowd. No one was seriously hurt but one victim lands on the hood of the car Officers did not see the protesters being struck but observed Stepanek speeding away from the scene. Iowa Freedom Riders organizer Raneem Hamad told The Press-Citizen: 'I saw it hit two people.' Black Liberation Movement organizer Jaylen Cavil added: 'A person got lifted on to the hood of the car.' Stepanek told officers the protesters needed 'an attitude adjustment,' according to the criminal complaint. Stepanek is being held at the Johnson County Jail. (L to R) Ablet Bekri, Abduqeyim Hajim, and Obulqasim Hajim pose for a photo after meeting with staff from the Dutch Ministry of Justice in The Hague to submit formal complaints over Chinese intimidation, Aug. 24, 2020. The Dutch government has formally accepted complaints from nearly five dozen ethnic Uyghur Dutch nationals living in the Netherlands detailing what they say are direct threats and intimidation by representatives of the Chinese police and Beijing, according to members of the group. Three representatives of the 58 Uyghurs met with staff from the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security in The Hague for nearly an hour on Monday, during which the latter accepted the complaints that were initially made beginning in May last year, East Turkestan Union in the Netherlands secretary Ablet Bekri, who attended the meeting, told RFAs Uyghur Service. The complaints detail calls from Chinese state security threatening Uyghursthought to number around 1,500 in the Netherlandswith the detention of family members back home in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) unless they end their activism abroad, he said. Authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a network of internment camps in the region since April 2017, and the Uyghur diaspora has rallied to call attention to the abuses. According to Bekri, the Justice Ministry staff assured the Uyghur representatives that threats made by China to any Dutch citizen are in violation of Dutch law and pledged to investigate the claims. He said they had since forwarded the complaints on to Dutch diplomats with the recommendation that they hold formal talks with Chinese counterparts over the allegations. They said that the Dutch government absolutely cannot accept it and that its a serious violation of Dutch law that cannot take place on Dutch soil, so they are going to take it very seriously, he said. They already submitted a report to the Foreign Ministry and will also use diplomatic means from here on out to urge the Chinese government not to threaten Dutch Uyghurs. The meeting between Uyghur activists and the Justice Ministry came days before talks between Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday in The Hague. Blok said ahead of his meeting with Wang that he would also discuss concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs in the XUAR, according to a report by the Associated Press. Dutch lawmaker Martijn van Helvert said at a press conference with two Uyghur activists on Wednesday that the Dutch government must be clear that there can be no resumption of business as usual with Beijing while the persecution of Uyghur Muslims, Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in China continues, the report said. Dutch Justice Ministry and Foreign Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment on the discussion of Mondays meeting, while RFA was unable to contact Chinese Foreign Ministry officials about Dutch Uyghur claims of intimidation. Threatening phone calls Obulqasim Hajim, president of the East Turkestan Union in the Netherlands, was also among the three who met with Justice Ministry officials on Monday. He told RFA that he had submitted his own complaint about Chinese intimidation, recounting that in 2015, Chinese authorities had tried to contact him by phone through his family members. [The authorities] were putting pressure on my family to get me to speak with them, and so my family called me, he said. In the end, I told my family that I wasnt going to talk with [the authorities], even if they tried to force me. I told them [the authorities] should call me themselves. They called me, and because I responded very angrily and rudely to them, they detained my dad. Hajim said his father, who was 60 years old at the time, later died in detention. Over the next year or two, through various means, I heard that three of my younger brothers were all in jail, he said. According to Hajim, it took more than a year to compile and submit all 58 complaints, in part because group members did not fully understand the extent of the situation in the XUAR and why Chinese authorities were threatening them. Additionally, he said, some members also faced a language barrier and other issues. However, with a substantial number of reports now archived in official records, he recommended that anyone who receives threats should file a complaint. If they simply identify themselves as Uyghur, [the Dutch authorities] will process it immediately, he said. Theyll accept the complaint if [the Uyghurs] just describe what has happened. Global precedent Asiye Uyghur, a Uyghur advocate and Dutch citizen who said she has also faced threats from Chinese authorities, told RFA that she and others had regularly organized trips to police stations to report on instances of intimidation in the lead up to Mondays meeting. She suggested that the complaints as well as the Justice Ministry report on the allegations could set an important precedent for members of the global Uyghur diaspora, many of whom say they too have been subjected to threats by Chinese government representatives looking to silence activists campaigning for the ethnic group abroad. This is the first step in Europe toward Uyghurs protecting their own rights, no matter their citizenship and it needs to become more widespread, she said. Were living abroad, in foreign countries, and many of us are not Chinese citizens anymore. We have foreign citizenship. Whatever country were living in, all of us have rights as citizens bestowed by the laws of those countries. Uyghur said she and others have a duty to expose efforts by China to repress the Uyghur community outside of its borders. For the Chinese government extending its black arm abroad, threatening, intimidating, and interfering in the lives of Uyghurs living in the free world, is a frightening and unacceptable offense, she said. This must be exposed to the world. By exposing it, we are exposing Chinas shameful behavior and trampling of human rights. Reported by Mihray Abdilim for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. A biotech company conference held in Boston and attended by leaders from around the world may have led to 20,000 Covid-19 infections across the US, a new study has claimed. Top managers at the Massachusetts-based drug company Biogen met at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel in late February for a strategy a meeting, which has since become a known source of coronavirus spread. Health experts initially estimated that the conference was responsible for around 90 infections. But a study published on the medrxiv.org portal on Tuesday ahead of peer review puts that figure closer at around 20,000. Researchers from several research centres including the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found that the virus at the heart of the outbreak was a strain of coronavirus with a specific genetic mutation, which is thought to have come from western Europe. The conference was attended by around 175 of the companys most senior employees from 26-27 February. Many factors made the conference an unfortunate perfect storm as a superspreading event, Bronwyn MacInnis, a researcher at the Broad Institute who worked on the study, told CNN on Tuesday. That the virus was introduced at the conference at all was unlucky. The researchers analysed viral genomes from 772 patients in Massachusetts, nearly all of whom tested positive for Covid-19 the disease caused by the virus within the first week of the outbreak. They studied mutations in the genetic code of the virus and discovered 80 distinct genomes that were introduced into the state on a separate occasion from late January to early May. Most of these, according to the study, came from other US states and western Europe, but did not lead to widespread illness. However, one of the genomes had a unique mutation that infected 289 more than one-third of the patients examined. Researchers then traced this mutation back to the Biogen meeting, including 28 people known to have attended, worked at the hotel or were close contacts. In April, this sub-strain would hit at least two Boston homeless shelters, infecting 122 residents and staffers It would go on to infect around 20,000 people, the researchers said. Were not trying to point fingers [at Biogen], MacInnis told The Boston Globe. Some [viral] introductions fizzle out, others light fires. The circumstances of this event the fact that it happened so early in the epidemic and the timing of where we were with Covid in the public consciousness meant it had a disproportionate effect. MacInnis and her colleagues said the strategy meeting an annual event for Biogen, which has an estimated 7,500 employees around the world and earns about $12 bn (10.1 bn) in revenue created the ideal effects for a super-spreader event. February 2020 was nearly a half year ago, and was a period when general knowledge about the coronavirus was limited, Biogen said in a written statement to CNN on Tuesday. We were adhering closely to the prevailing official guidelines. We never would have knowingly put anyone at risk. When we learned a number of our colleagues were ill, we did not know the cause was COVID-19, but we immediately notified public health authorities and took steps to limit the spread. T he opening of a childrens hospital was delayed after a mistake in a spreadsheet was not amended, a report has found. The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh was due to open in July 2019, but Scotlands Health Secretary Jeane Freeman halted the move from the existing hospital site after final compliance checks revealed the ventilation system within the critical care department of the new building did not meet the necessary standards. A review commissioned by NHS Lothian found that an "environmental matrix" spreadsheet in 2012 wrongly stated the air change rate in critical care rooms should be four changes per hour, rather than 10. It said this appears to be "human error in copying across the four-bedded room generic ventilation criteria into the critical care room detail". The error was not corrected over the years and the report said the settlement signed by NHS Lothian in February 2019 "cemented the error contractually". Conservative health spokesman Donald Cameron said the error was "both astonishing and appalling in equal measure". The report, by auditors Grant Thornton, stated: "Based on our review of the comments across each version of the matrix, no explicit concern was noted on the environmental matrix recording that what was set out in the matrix for critical care was incorrect. "This remained the case throughout the entire project." In its overall conclusion, the review said: "Our review identified a collective failure from the parties involved. The hospital was scheduled to open in July last year / PA "It is not possible to identify one single event which resulted in the errors as there were several contributing events. "Additionally, there were a series of factors external to NHS Lothian which influenced and shaped the project which were not within the direct control of NHS Lothian. These factors contributed to the complexity." The report said a determining factor in the project was the decision, taken in 2010, to have twenty, four-bedded rooms. It said three of these rooms were designed within critical care and therefore required different ventilation to achieve 10 air changes per hour but "this was missed from the outset of the project and remained unidentified until June 2019". Mr Cameron told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme: "Its a staggering revelation that a mistake on a spreadsheet sparked a chain of events that results in the delayed opening of this major hospital. "It is both astonishing and appalling in equal measure. It must be one of the most costly errors in the history of the NHS in Scotland. "And it is one thing for someone to have made this mistake in the first place but it is all the more shocking that it wasnt spotted for so long, it took independent auditors to discover this early last year and it raises lots of questions. "We need the answer to several questions who was running these numbers? Who was checking these numbers? Why did no-one realise the error sooner? Who was monitoring the project? What Government oversight was there?" Calum Campbell, chief executive of NHS Lothian, said: "We would like to acknowledge the extent of analysis that the chief internal auditor has undertaken, particularly the review of complex and significant documentation which relates to the project and spans 12 years. "Recommendations in relation to decision-making, clarity, clinical engagement and involvement of external advisers have been made. "Some areas identified have already been addressed and others will be implemented within the agreed time frames to ensure that future capital projects will benefit. "The department of clinical neurosciences and childrens outpatient services have already settled into their new home and we are looking forward to the full opening as soon as possible." A Scottish Government spokeswoman said a public inquiry is under way to "help us understand the issues". "The safety and wellbeing of all patients and their families is our top priority and should be the primary consideration in all NHS construction projects," she said. "A public inquiry is under way to help us understand the issues that affected both the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus site in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences site in Edinburgh. "It will also make recommendations to ensure that any past mistakes are not repeated in future NHS infrastructure projects." Three Californians have been charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and forgery for allegedly filing fraudulent insurance claims on a former employees policy and intercepting insurance checks to receive undeserved payouts. The California Department of Insurance reported that Luis Manuel Burgos, 47, of Fresno, self-surrendered on Aug. 24 after being charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud and forgery for allegedly filing fraudulent insurance claims on a former employees policy and intercepting insurance checks to receive undeserved payouts. Two of Burgos former employees were also charged for their involvement in what investigators called an organized ring. The CDI alleges that Burgos, the owner of B&R Private Security, arranged an informal sub-lease agreement for a 2016 Lexus with his former employee. Burgos filed several claims, or had several claims filed on his behalf, for the Lexus and his personal vehicle, a BMW, on his former employees insurance policy without that former employees knowledge. A CDI investigators say Burgos allegedly directed, conspired with, and/or aided another former employee, Steven Anthony Rogers, 47, who was also charged, to commit several criminal violations including intercepting insurance checks by impersonating the policyholder and forging the policyholders signature. Another B&R Private Security former employee, Darlina Gutierrez Diaz, 37, of Clovis, was also charged for filing an injury claim after being a passenger in a collision. According to CDI, Diaz claimed she missed work at B&R Private Security as a result of her injuries. Her boss, Burgos, provided further documentation to support Diaz was off work due to injury. The department says its investigation revealed that the documents allegedly produced by Diazs treating physician to grant her time off work were forged. When confronted with this information, Diaz claimed Burgos forged the documents to get Diaz additional paid time off work. Burgos self-surrendered to the Fresno County Jail. Burgos bail was set at $62,000 and his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 28. Rogers was arrested on Aug. 21. His bail was set at $49,000 and his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 27. Diaz self-surrendered on Aug. 25 to the Fresno County Jail. Diazs bail was set at $30,000 and her arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 28. The Fresno County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting this case. Source: California Department of Insurance Topics California Auto Fraud Abuse Molestation Everything you need to know about skiing the Northeast this winter Whether you want to stay close to home or head north, here's everything you need to know about skiing or snowboarding in the Northeast and New York this season. A total of 16 Native Americans have been executed by eight states since 1976, groups tracking capital punishment say. The United States is set to execute Lezmond Mitchell, a convicted murderer and the only Native American on federal death row, on Wednesday, despite opposition from the Navajo Nation, which says the government is infringing tribal sovereignty. Mitchell, a Navajo, is set to be killed with lethal injections of pentobarbital, a powerful barbiturate, at 6pm (20:00 GMT) in the Department of Justices execution chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana. His lawyers and Jonathan Nez, the Navajo Nation president, have asked US President Donald Trump for clemency, and Mitchell has asked the US District Court in Washington, DC to delay the execution while this is considered. On Tuesday night, the US Supreme Court rejected his bid for a stay based on his lawyers argument that racial bias may have tainted the jury at his trial. Absent intervention, Mitchell, 38, will become the fourth man to be executed by the US government this summer after an informal 17-year hiatus, which was caused in part by legal challenges to lethal injection protocols and difficulties obtaining deadly drugs. The Death Penalty Information Center, which tracks capital punishment in the US, says a total of 16 Native Americans have been executed by eight states since 1976. Mitchell and an accomplice, Johnny Oslinger, were convicted of murdering a nine-year-old Navajo girl, Tiffany Lee, and her grandmother Alyce Slim in 2001 on the tribes territory, which spans four states in the US Southwest. The Navajo Nation President, @NNPrezNez, has asked the U.S. Pardon Attorney to grant clemency to #LezmondMitchell, who is scheduled for execution by the federal government on August 26th. Mr. Mitchell is the sole Native American on federal death row. https://t.co/XHWDayHLak Catholic Mobilizing Network (@CMNEndtheDP) August 11, 2020 According to prosecutors, the men stabbed Slim more than 30 times, put the body in the backseat of her car alongside the granddaughter as they drove elsewhere before killing the girl later and decapitating both bodies. Mitchell was sentenced to death in an Arizona federal court over the objection of Navajo officials, who said the tribes cultural values prohibited taking human life for vengeance. At least 13 other tribes joined the Navajo Nation in urging Trump this month to commute Mitchells sentence to life in prison. Oslinger was a teenager at the time and ineligible for the death sentence. Under the Major Crimes Act, the federal government has jurisdiction over certain major crimes occurring on indigenous country, including murder but usually cannot pursue capital punishment for a Native American for a crime on tribal land without the tribes consent. Navajo officials, along with other leaders of other tribes, have opposed the death penalty, including in Mitchells case. But John Ashcroft, attorney general under then-President George W Bush, overrode federal prosecutors in Arizona who said they would defer to the tribes position against pursuing a capital case. In what Mitchells lawyers deride as a legal loophole, federal prosecutors successfully pursued a capital case against Mitchell for carjacking, a capital crime that is not among those listed in the Major Crimes Act. Primary school pupils around the country are being challenged to get creative in how they learn and think about Europe through the Blue Star Programme, coordinated by European Movement Ireland. The Blue Star Programme teaches primary school children about Europe through creative activities and projects that complement the national primary curriculum. Each participating class carries out projects on history, geography, the Institutions of the EU, culture and creativity with a European twist. Teachers and their classes have flexibility to be creative and tailor their projects towards their own individual needs and interests. Conscious of the added challenges facing pupils, teachers and schools this school year following school closures and Department of Education and Skills guidelines for the re-opening of schools, the Blue Star Programme team will be close to hand to support participating schools and will continue to provide a full-flexible, curriculum-friendly programme with more online elements than ever before. Among the variety of Blue Star Programme activities of recent months, pupils took part in online quizzes and a Virtual Handshake for Europe on Europe Day; others baked European dishes at home and built Lego structures of famous European landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower! Teachers, parents, carers and the whole school are encouraged to get involved in Blue Star Programme projects creating an awareness of the EU that reaches far beyond the school walls and out into the wider community. Speaking about the opening of registration for the Programme, Noelle O Connell, CEO of European Movement Ireland, commented: While it has been an understandably unusual and challenging year for pupils and teachers around Ireland, we were particularly encouraged to see the enthusiasm and creativity of pupils and teachers who participated in the Blue Star Programme during the last school year, largely from home when schools were closed. We were delighted to see a great number of participating schools complete the programme from home, finding new and innovative ways of completing project work. We look forward to another year of the Blue Star Programme as we are constantly greatly impressed by the imagination and innovation of both the participating teachers and their pupils. Since 2011, we have seen almost 1,100 school registrations in the Programme, and we would love to see these great levels of engagement continue for 2020 - 2021. The Programme offers a great opportunity for pupils to recognise the solidarity that exists among European citizens and to celebrate the diversity in the Irish classroom today. Solidarity with our neighbours across Europe was key in recent months as we faced the outbreak of Covid-19 together and it is vital that this solidarity continues and that our young people recognise the importance of co-operation and solidarity across Europe in challenging times. "The Programme complements the curriculum without adding any additional work for teachers, rather teachers have found support from the Programme as we have begun to provide more resources for teachers to use while teaching online or providing resources to pupils to work independently at home, such as online quizzes and worksheets. We strongly encourage teachers to consider partaking in the Blue Star Programme this year. Since its first year in 2011-2012, Offaly has had 15 primary schools participate, of the 1,100 schools that have registered nationwide, with every county represented to date. Primary schools interested in taking part in the Blue Star Programme 2020-2021 can register here now until October 7, 2020. To complete the Programme, schools are asked to take part in online quizzes and/or submit a Blue Star Programme Report outlining how each of the key elements were explored, at the end of the year. Schools are also encouraged to host an event for Europe Day on May 9, in school or online. Further information about the programme can be found at www.bluestarprogramme.ie NEW YORK - The Justice Department on Wednesday sent letters to the governors of New York and three other Democratic-led states, seeking data on whether they violated federal law by ordering public nursing homes to accept recovering COVID-19 patients from hospitals actions that have been criticized for potentially fueling the spread of the virus. Prosecutors said the fact-finding letters also sent to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan were aimed at determining whether the orders may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents. We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband said. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said his office was reviewing the request. Spokespeople for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the fact that all the states are led by Democrats and the timing of the move in the midst of the Republican National Convention spoke volumes about the political nature of the inquiry. Americans would all be better served if the Trump administration stopped the partisan games and focused on delivering a real plan to defeat COVID-19, said Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown. The governors actions at the height of the pandemic were designed to ensure hospitals had enough bed space for the most serious COVID cases, but were almost immediately criticized by nursing homes and relatives for potentially putting frail, elderly care home residents at risk. The New York order issued March 25, for example, specifically told homes they could not refuse to accept recovering COVID-19 patients from hospitals as long as the patients were medically stable. The order barred homes from even testing such patients to see if they still had the virus. Some homes said they feared they would lose their licenses if they didnt comply. Cuomo, who said the state was following guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reversed the order under pressure May 10, long after New Yorks death toll in care homes had climbed to among the nations highest. Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project. In its statement announcing its request for data, the Justice Department said that hospital patients were sent often without adequate testing to ensure they would not spread the virus to residents. It also cited federal data showing New York, with nearly 32,600 dead, leads the nation in COVID-19 deaths, and is second only to New Jersey in the number of deaths per population. The Justice Departments civil rights division said it is evaluating whether to initiate investigations under a federal law called the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act that protects the rights of people in nursing homes and other facilities. The law applies only to nursing homes owned or run by the states. Most nursing homes are privately owned. The news was welcomed by Republican lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who is pursuing a congressional inquiry into Cuomos handling of nursing homes. Scalise called Wednesdays announcement the right step toward holding Gov. Cuomo and other Democratic governors accountable for issuing deadly must admit orders at nursing homes. These orders resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of nursing home patients, he said. Our nations seniors and their loved ones deserve better. The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, known as AMDA, warned at the time that Cuomos March 25 order posed a clear and present danger. Our concern was we were making decisions in a very hasty way when the hospitals were overcapacity, Alex Bardakh, the groups director of public policy and advocacy, said Wednesday. Decisions were being made so quickly that they werent considering ramifications. ___ Associated Press reporters Michael Balsamo in Washington; Jim Mustian in New York; Marina Villeneuve in Albany, New York; David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, and Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report. This is the moment a Deliveroo driver and rival delivery driver began fighting in the middle of a busy street following a crash in Newcastle city centre. Footage captured by a driver who witnessed the two motorcyclists collide shows them throwing punches at each other in front of passers-by. The rival delivery drivers continue to scuffle as angry drivers sound their horns in an attempt to break them up on Gallowgate at around 6.50pm on August 24. The Deliveroo and rival delivery worker fight in the middle of a busy street following a crash in Newcastle city centre on August 24 The two workers try and wrestle each other as they fight in the middle of Gallowgate in front of passers-by During the clip, the Deliveroo driver, wearing a helmet, throws a punch at his rival driver before the other worker attempts to wrestle him to the floor. The two workers hold each other near the neck as passers-by call on them to break up the fight and the driver filming the scenes shouts: 'Stop it now!' Frustrated drivers beep their horns in an attempt to break up the fight as traffic is held up at the busy junction. With their motorcycles laying in the road, the Deliveroo driver throws another punch at the other worker. Police said no arrests have been made in relation to the incident but said inquiries were ongoing. A Northumbria Police spokesman said: 'At about 6.50pm on Monday police received a report of a collision between two motorcycles on the junction of Newgate Street and Percy Street in Newcastle city centre. The two workers continue to fight following a motorcycle collision on the junction of Newgate Street and Percy Street in Newcastle city centre The rival worker holds the Deliveroo worker as he attempts to throw another punch 'Nobody was seriously injured and traffic was not affected in the area. 'Officers are aware of footage being circulated on social media that shows the two drivers of the motorcycles involved having an altercation following the collision. 'Nobody has been arrested but enquiries into the incident are ongoing.' The scenes come after four rival delivery drivers were caught on camera fighting outside a Subway store near Paddington train station in London, earlier this year. The footage, which was was originally shared to a Facebook group, saw a group of four delivery drivers share heated words with each other before a scuffle ensued. The dispute reportedly began after several drivers showed up for the same order. A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) wrote to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to look into the drug angle in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, the NCB registered a case on the basis of the ED communique on Wednesday. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday filed a criminal case against Rhea Chakraborty and others for their alleged dealings in banned drugs, officials said. They said various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) have been pressed in the complaint filed by the federal anti-drugs agency on an official reference received from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). These charges are illegal possession, buying and transportation of banned drugs. The alleged narcotics dealing links are connected to the criminal probe being conducted in the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, who was found hanging at his duplex flat in Mumbais Bandra area on June 14. The NCB is now the third federal investigative agency probing this case apart from the ED and the CBI. The ED, which is probing a money laundering angle into the death of Rajput, has questioned Rhea Chakraborty, and has obtained deleted WhatsApp messages" allegedly indicating dealings in banned drugs from her phone. Rhea has been questioned by the ED about these suspect drug deals and her statement on these allegations has been recorded by it under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said. Her lawyer Satish Manehsinde had vehemently denied the allegations made against the 28-year-old actor. Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test," Maneshinde had said. She is the prime accused in this case and has stated in her petition before the Supreme Court that she was in a live-in relationship with the actor. The ED had shared these alleged drug links with the CBI too. (With inputs from agencies) NEW YORK: A man who was among those charged in the notorious 1989 killing of Yusuf Hawkins, a Black teen set upon by a white mob and shot, was fired from a New York hip-hop radio station after a new documentary brought the murder case renewed attention. WQHT-FM, known as Hot 97, announced over the weekend that Pasquale Raucci who had worked at the station since 1994 in mostly behind-the-scenes roles and was known under the name Paddy Duke was fired following an uproar from viewers of the documentary Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn. The film was directed by MutaAli and premiered on HBO earlier this month. HOT97 was shocked and took swift action. Paddy Duke is no longer employed by HOT97. The march for social justice continues," the station said on Twitter. Hawkins, 16, had gone to the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn with some friends to look at a car when he was attacked by a group of white youths, one of whom shot him. Several young men were charged, including Joseph Fama, who was accused of being the gunman and was convicted of murder. Raucci was the last to go through trial, and was acquitted in 1991 of the most serious charges against him. The New York Times reported he was ultimately sentenced to probation and community service for having a bat as a weapon. In comments during Ebro in the Morning" on Monday, Ebro Darden and his co-hosts addressed the criticism, saying that many at the station had no idea of Rauccis involvement in the Hawkins case, especially since the beginning of his employment predated many of their arrivals. Corporate started to go to work to figure out who knew what when Paddy was hired and what was going to be the response," Darden said. Because this wasnt just going to be allowed to fly. The Times reported Raucci declined to comment on the situation. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 15:41:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close URUMQI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Products from south China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have another export channel to Europe thanks to a new cargo train route. The new China-Europe freight train line, which links south China's economic hub Shenzhen with Germany's Duisburg, is now in operation. The first train, with electronics, machinery and textile products, departed from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on August 18 and left China on August 23 via the Alataw Pass, a major rail port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is expected to arrive in Duisburg around September 6. The 13,438-km-long route, among the longest China-Europe freight train lines, will be used by one train every week. China-Europe freight trains, designed to boost land connectivity between China and the continent, have bucked the transport trend amid the COVID-19 epidemic thanks to their cost-effectiveness and reliability. By August 18, the number of freight trains passing through the Alataw Pass rose more than 41 percent year on year, local customs data showed. Enditem Press Release 26 August 2020 The Oxford Economics report, The Economic Impact of Airbnb in APAC, explored the total economic impact of Airbnb across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region between 2015 and 2019. The landmark report, commissioned by Airbnb, utilized both Airbnb aggregated data and the Oxford Economics Global Economic Impact Model to generate detailed economic modeling. Advertisements The Airbnb community supported more than 920,000 jobs in the Asia-Pacific region in 2019 and could play a critical role in tourism's recovery, according to a new report released today. According to the report, Airbnb guests spent a total of $70.5 billion in Asia-Pacific between 2015 and 2019. Airbnb guests spent more than $20.7 billion in 2019 - a fourfold increase in real terms since 2015. The report found the vast majority of Airbnb guest spending is on things like shopping, food and transport. In 2019 alone, the Airbnb community contributed more than $22.7 billion to the Asia-Pacific's economy and supported more than 925,600 jobs, including 161,000 jobs in the Philippines, 113,000 jobs in Thailand and 82,000 jobs in Vietnam. For every 100 Airbnb listings in Asia-Pacific, 101 jobs were supported in 2019. The growth of the Airbnb community is also spreading the benefits of tourism across the entire region. The growth in guests staying on Airbnb was fastest in the ASEAN-6 countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. Photo: Airbnb "Airbnb is well-placed to play an important role in bringing tourists, and their spending, back to destination economies, and in supporting the earlier recovery of domestic travel by helping households, particularly those who seek to substitute an international trip with a domestic one, discover new areas in their own country to visit." - James Lambert, Oxford Economics' Director of Economic Consulting in Asia. "While this report looks back at the recent past, we believe it offers timely insights for the future. The report confirms that Airbnb is a proven and powerful engine of economic growth and job creation in APAC," said Mike Orgill, APAC Director of Public Policy at Airbnb." "The local, authentic and sustainable travel experiences offered by our community could be a valuable tool for governments looking to kickstart the tourism industry's recovery. We want to work hand in hand with local governments, businesses and communities to help tourism recover as quickly and strongly as possible." Airbnb also recently launched Go Near,a new campaign to support domestic travel, that aims to help restore travel in a responsible way that benefits local families, businesses and communities. As part of the initiative, Airbnb is working closely with governments and destination marketing organizations sharing travel trends and local data, providing marketing support, and leveraging Airbnb Experiences to create new, unique ways for guests to explore destinations. Julia Jackson (second from R), the mother of Jacob Blake, prepares to speak during a news conference with attorney Benjamin Crump (R) in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Jacob Blakes Mother Denounces Violence and Destruction The mother of the man who was shot by police over the weekend in a Wisconsin city forcefully denounced the rioting thats taken place in the wake of the shooting. My family and I are very hurt and quite frankly disgusted, Julia Jackson, the mother of Jacob Blake, said Tuesday. And as his mother, please dont burn up property and cause havoc and tear your own homes down in my sons name. You shouldnt do it. People shouldnt do it anyway, but to use my child or any other mother or fathers child, our tragedy, to react in that manner is just not acceptable. And its not helping Jacob. Its not helping Jacob or any other of the men or women who has suffered in these areas, she added. Jackson was speaking during an appearance on CNN Tonight. In a press briefing to give an update on Blakes condition, Jackson said she saw the damage inflicted by rioters while riding through Kenosha. It doesnt reflect my son or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goesthe violence and the destructionhe would be very unpleased, she said. Volunteers clean up the Kenosha County Department of Corrections building after it was burned to the ground during rioting in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 25, 2020. (Morry Gash/AP Photo) Jackson called for people to pray and everyone to examine their hearts. She said she has been praying for the healing of the country. We are the United States, have we been united? You understand whats going to happen when we fall because a house that is against each other cannot stand, she told reporters. To all of the police officers Im praying for you and your families. To all of the citizens, my black and brown sisters and brothers, Im praying for you. I believe that you are an intelligent being just like the rest of us, everybody. Lets use our hearts, our love, and our intelligence to work together, to show the rest of the world how humans are supposed to treat each other. America is great when we behave greatly. Blake was shot in Kenosha, a city some 40 miles south of Milwaukee. Police officers responded to a domestic incident on Sunday afternoon. According to police scanner audio, a woman called 911 to report Blake being at her home when he wasnt supposed to be, and said he had taken her keys and wouldnt give them back. A dispatcher alerted officers to an arrest warrant for sexual assault that had been issued for Blake in July. Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake in Evanston, Ill., in Sept. 2019. (Adria-Joi Watkins via AP) Video footage from the scene showed Blake struggling with officers before escaping them and walking to a vehicle that had three children inside. When he went to the drivers side door and began reaching inside, officers shot him. Blake was rushed to the hospital. Family members said he is currently paralyzed from the waist down. It is going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr. to ever walk again, attorney Benjamin Crump told reporters at the briefing. Because of the gunshot wounds, Blake required the removal of nearly his entire colon and his small intestines. He suffered kidney and liver damage and has already undergone multiple surgeries. Attorneys for the Blake family plan on bringing a civil lawsuit in the case. The officers involved were placed on leave and the state Department of Justice is probing the matter. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during his speech at the Republican National Convention Tuesday evening that he believes President Trump "has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world" that have kept the U.S. safe. The big picture: Pompeo's decision to deliver his speech from Jerusalem breaks from the precedent of America's top diplomats staying out of partisan battles which has spurred an investigation for a possible violation of the Hatch Act. What he's saying: "The primary Constitutional function of the national government is ensuring your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, work, learn and worship as they choose," Pompeo said. "Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this president has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world." "The president has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world, and he will not rest until justice is done." "You will all recall that when the President took office, radical Islamic terrorists had beheaded Americans and ISIS-controlled a territory the size of Great Britain. Today, because of the Presidents determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out, its evil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead." Of note: Pompeo claimed that Trump "lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table. No nuclear tests, no long-range missile tests and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families as did the precious remains of scores of our heroes who fought in Korea." However, the Trump administration, like previous administrations, has not fully dismantled North Koreas nuclear-weapons program. Pompeo said that, "Because of President Trump, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has defensive weapons systems and America left a harmful treaty, so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression." But he did not acknowledge that the president has in the past called the trans-Atlantic alliance "obsolete," and frequently attacked other member states for failing to pay their fair share. Pompeo added that Trump "exited the U.S. from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the Ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas." However, he did not address that by pulling out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. damaged its ability to reimpose sanctions lifted under the pact. The cellphone footage shows cops on Sunday grabbing Blake, and one officer shooting him in the back as he attempts to get behind the wheel of his SUV as his kids sit in it. Surprisingly, the former Evanston, Ill., resident and security guard survives, but reportedly is paralyzed from the waist down. Nigeria's very own Billy Elliot, who wowed the world with a video of him dancing earlier this month, has admitted he's been 'overwhelmed' by the offer of scholarships from all over the world. Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, Anthony Mmesoma Madu, and his dance teacher Daniel Ajala Owoseni, said they were still weighing up where the talented youngster should go, following multiple offers from prestigious dance academies around the world. The 11-year-old, from Lagos, went viral when millions of people watched a video of him dancing ballet barefoot in the rain - and was even offered the chance of a place at the American Ballet Theatre. Scroll down for video Appearing on Good Morning Britain today, Anthony Mmesoma Madu and his dance teacher Daniel Ajala Owoseni, right, admitted they've been 'overwhelmed' by the overseas offers from dance academies after a video of the 11-year-old went viral earlier this month Online fame: Anthony Mmesoma Madu went viral this summer when millions of people watched a video of him dancing ballet barefoot in the rain However, speaking alongside his teacher, who founded the Leap of Dance Academy in 2017, the young dancer admitted he's not sure where he'll end up. Dance teacher Daniel explained: 'This is my dream, to see that Nigeria is on the map, when it comes to ballet dancing. There's lots of scholarships and so many opportunities for Anthony but we're still trying to work out where Anthony is going to go, it's such an overwhelming experience. 'Being 11-years-old, we have to be really careful about the decision we make. It's futuristic, not just for now, it's for his future and we are trying our best to make sure he goes to the best place.' Anthony added he wanted to see ballet grow in Nigeria and to represent his country worldwide in the dance. Also appearing on the show was former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips, who told GMB presenter, Ranvi Singh, that she was among the first to receive the video of Anthony's routine. She said of his skills: 'It isn't only about how brilliant he is dancing in the rain but he's on a concrete floor with an uneven surface, everything that is the hardest thing for anyone to dance on. 'I was crying at the beauty and the brilliance and the beauty of this boy and to think that one day he will go to a school with sprung floors.' Phillips advised the family and Daniel to 'choose very carefully' about where to send Anthony. Daniel admitted that he was sad at the prospect of losing his star student during the appearance on Good Morning Britain Wow! Ballet is difficult even in a proper environment with the right footwear, but Anthony showed in the viral video that he can pull of a beautiful pirouette anywhere, at any time Impressive: The 11-year-old Nigerian boy said: 'Ballet is my life. When I am dancing, I feel as if I am on top of the world' Mastering ballet is difficult even in a proper environment with the right footwear, but Anthony showed in the viral video that he can pull of a beautiful pirouette anywhere, at any time. In the clip, he is seen outside his dance studio, Leap of Dance Academy, practicing on muddy pavement that is wet from rain. He's barefoot, in shorts and a tank top, but dances masterfully, spinning, leaping, and doing arabesques. 'Ballet is my life. When I am dancing, I feel as if I am on top of the world,' he told Reuters. 'Any time my mom sends me on an errand, I dance ballet before I go to that place and it makes me feel very, very happy. I so much love ballet.' Social media users were impressed, with Cynthia Erivo singing his praises. 'They're in Nigeria. I happen to be Nigerian as well. And I was like, this felt like a kismet moment,' the actress, who reached out and connected with him, told NBC News. 'I think it's extremely important because I think boys are not encouraged to do this incredibly hard craft that actually encourages strength and stamina and beauty.' He said: 'Any time my mom sends me on an errand, I dance ballet before I go to that place and it makes me feel very, very happy. I so much love ballet' Score! One person who saw the clip was Cynthia Harvey, the artistic director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance in New York, who arranged a scholarship Dance, dance! Harvey helped Anthony get a full scholarship to ABT's virtual three-week Young Dancer Summer Workshop, as well as internet access so he can attend remotely 'Reminds me of the beauty of my people,' Viola Davis added on Twitter. 'We create, soar, can imagine, have unleashed passion, and love....despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in front of us! Our people can fly!!!' One person who saw the clip was Cynthia Harvey, the artistic director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance in New York. 'A friend who lives in the UK sent me the video,' she told the Cincinnati Enquirer. 'Within a day, I was trying to find him.' She managed to track him down through his teacher, 29-year-old Daniel Ajala Owoseni who founded the Leap of Dance Academy in 2017. Harvey helped Anthony get a full scholarship to ABT's virtual three-week Young Dancer Summer Workshop, as well as internet access so he can attend remotely. Then, next year, he'll travel to the US to train further with a scholarship from Ballet Beyond Borders. Exciting! Next year, he'll travel to the US to train further with a scholarship from Ballet Beyond Borders Support: His mother, Ifeoma Madu, told BBC News that she has 'joy' when she sees him dance, and advises other parents to 'give their full support' to their talented children 'When my friends see me dancing, they feel like, what is this boy doing, is he doing a foreign dance?' he told Reuters. 'Now I have won a grand prize to go to the U.S.' Star power: Viola Davis was one of several celebrities to rave about Anthony's skills 'When my friends see me dancing, they feel like, what is this boy doing, is he doing a foreign dance?' he told Reuters. 'Now I have won a grand prize to go to the U.S. in the year 2021. I am very, very happy about that. I will be in the plane and this is what I am waiting for, and ballet has done it for me.' Anthony's parents wanted him to become a priest, but they're supportive of his dance dreams. His mother, Ifeoma Madu, told BBC News that she has 'joy' when she sees him dance, and advises other parents to 'give their full support' to their talented children so they can 'go far.' Anthony's school and teacher have also benefited from the attention. Owoseni, his instructor, will participate in a National Training Curriculum, which teaches instructors. He is also getting donations, which helps because he teaches his 12 students for free and doesn't actually have a dedicated class space. Love to learn: Anthony is one of 12 students who are taught for free at Leap of Dance Academy Earning attention: Ballet isn't particularly popular in Nigeria Practice makes perfect: Anthony is pictured dancing during class with other students Viral: Anthony's school and teacher have also benefited from the attention. Owoseni, his instructor, will participate in a National Training Curriculum, which teaches instructors Self-taught: Owoseni learned how to dance from YouTube videos after watching Save the Last Dance Owoseni wasn't able to learn to dance in a ballet school like his students. After watching Save the Last Dance when he was 13, he wanted to learn but couldn't attend the few pricey schools in Lagos, so he taught himself from YouTube videos. Now, he wants to bring the skills he's learned to others and promote ballet in the region. 'I saw the need to bring a form of art that shows discipline, dedication and commitment,' he told Reuters. 'Students who are able to learn all of these can ... transfer (them) into other spheres of their lives. 'People say that you can never do ballet the way it is done abroad because ballet is not an African dance, but for me it's about making the art form our own,' he told Vogue. 'Theres a saying here that nothing makes a teacher happier than a student who wants to learn.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Kyodo News) Wed, August 26, 2020 13:34 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c409bbac 2 Lifestyle student,Japan,Education Free Women accounted for a record 45.5 percent of students enrolled in university courses in Japan as of May 1, the provisional results of a recent government study showed Tuesday. The annual education ministry survey showed the number of students had increased by 14,752 from a year earlier to 2.62 million, marking an all-time high for the sixth year in a row. Female university students totaled a record 1.19 million, maintaining a rising trend since 1981. "The need for higher education has increased among both men and women," an official of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said. But those in the "others" category, including working adults who were nonregular students or completing designated courses, fell by 16,350 to 32,996. Read also: UGM is Indonesia's best university of 2020, says uniRank The drop was likely due to universities suspending classes and downsizing their acceptance of such students due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The response deadline for the study, which tallies educational institutions and enrolled students, was extended by around a month this year due to the pandemic. Only a portion of the data has been released so far, with additional information, such as the rates of university enrollment and employment following graduation, to become available around December. Meanwhile, the number of elementary school students stood at 6.31 million, and those in junior high school at 3.21 million, both the lowest on record amid a declining birth rate. The number of high school students fell by 76,018 to 3.09 million. But students attending high school through distance learning increased to 206,994, topping 200,000 for the first time. The growth highlights demand for diversified ways of learning that are not reliant on physical attendance, the education ministry said. Topics : student Japan Education LONDON - British authorities can share information with U.S. prosecutors about two members of a suspected Islamic State militant cell in Syria known as The Beatles, after a U.K. Supreme Court ruling that may lead to the men being tried in America. The decision released Wednesday comes a week after U.S. Attorney General William Barr informed British authorities that his prosecutors wouldnt seek the death penalty for El Shafee ElSheikh and Alexanda Kotey. Both men grew up in Britain but had their citizenship removed after they travelled abroad to fight with the IS group. The Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted a stay that barred the Home Office, the government department in charge of law enforcement, from sharing information about the men with U.S. prosecutors. The court ordered that the application of the appellant for a continuation of the stay be refused, and the stay be lifted. The court had issued the stay after ElSheikhs mother challenged the governments decision to share the information. She argued that doing so was illegal because the evidence could be used to seek the death penalty, in violation of British and European law. While the court agreed that data protection laws barred the government from helping a foreign government pursue the death penalty, the U.S. has now taken capital punishment off the table. Both British and U.S. authorities allege ElSheikh and Kotey were part of a kidnapping and torture squad responsible for the murder of several Western hostages in Syria. The group became known as The Beatles because all four of its members spoke with British accents. ElSheikh and Kotey were captured by Syrian rebel forces in January 2018 and later turned over to U.S. authorities. They are being held by the military overseas. The U.S. initially asked Britain to prosecute them but decided to pursue the case itself after U.K. authorities declined. The Home Office declined to comment on Wednesdays ruling. However, Home Secretary Priti Patel has made it clear in the past that she supports co-operating with the U.S. to prosecute terrorists. Patel and Barr last year signed an agreement making it easier for authorities investigating serious crimes in the U.S. and Britain to seek electronic data directly from tech companies. This is just one example of the enduring security partnership we have with the U.S., and I look forward to continuing to work with them and global partners to tackle these heinous crimes, she said at the time. (Alliance News) - Emmerson PLC on Wednesday said a report on its Khemisset potash project in Morocco may create over 2,300 jobs and boost the local economy by roughly USD180 million per year. The project, located in the city of Khemisset, is the first potash project in Africa. A socio-economic report found the project will boost the local economy's gross domestic product per capita by 40%, about USD180 million per year. Emmerson added that 2,385 jobs will be created, directly or indirectly. "When operational, the mine will directly employ over 760 people whilst a total of 1,500 roles will be created by the effect of the employment multiplier," Emmerson added. "The company has a policy to source, where skills are available, 90% of all employees from the local area including the city of Khemisset and its surrounding communes." Total investment is tipped to be USD2.5 billion during the asset's life of mine, which is projected to be 19 years, though Emmerson added this timeframe may be extended based on the resources already in place. Shares in the company were 5.4% higher at 4.69 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Today, Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) will host a Michigan rountable to launch a nationwide voter engagement program for Black women. The virtual Sister to Sister: Mobilizing in Action Roundtable will also feature Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield), who will serve as moderator, DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins, and Chairwoman of Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote Melanie Campbell. Joe Biden selects California Sen. Kamala Harris as running mate The conversation, which is open to the public, will also feature a small business owner, a mental health expert, and an environmental justice advocate, will focus on how a Biden-Harris agenda would work for Black women, and on what Black women across the state can do in the next ten weeks to unite around the ticket. If youre interested in viewing the 3 p.m. roundtable, you must RSVP at https://joebiden.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6f4f7ad525ac07764c71a3e37&id=74265cbad3&e=3a6f8c40ee. Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden selected Harris as his running mate on Tuesday, Aug. 11 after months of vetting different candidates. During the Democratic National Convention, Harris, a daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, accepted the partys nomination. Shes the first black woman to be a major partys vice presidential nominee. Kamala Harris seizes historic moment in accepting VP nomination Fact check: Harris meets constitutional requirements Joe Biden vows to defeat Trump, end US season of darkness Takeaways from the final night of the Democratic convention Harris is the vice presidential pick Trump and the GOP most fears UPDATED story Aug 29: On Friday evening, The Original Ninfas Uptown announced that the restaurant will reopen Saturday, Aug. 29. at 10 a.m. and resume regular business hours. Original story Aug. 25: The Original Ninfas Uptown announced on Tuesday that it has been locked out of its BLVD Place location at 1700 Post Oak Blvd. due to failed lease negotiations. "We had 65 workers show up for work today with no warning. It was disheartening," said Rachel Austin, a representative for the restaurant. Niel Morgan, who owns Legacy Restaurants, the group behind Ninfa's, said talks with the landlord of its Galleria/Uptown locale, Whitestone REIT, fell through unexpectedly. This came as a bit of a shock," Morgan said in the release. "We have been negotiating in good faith for some time, and Ninfas was not requesting any rent forgiveness. On Friday, we were informed that our proposed deferral and payment plan was acceptable subject to resolving one remaining issue, so we believed we were making progress." OPENING IN THE HEIGHTS: Burger Joint owners to open The Taco Stand restaurant The CEO of Whitestone REIT, Jim Mastandrea, said in an email that extensive discussions were held but his company was unable to reach a mutual agreement with the restaurant. Moreover, an undisclosed rent amount has gone unpaid. Ninfas has not paid rent since March despite being open and operating throughout the pandemic," Mastandrea said in the email. "Whitestone REIT has contributed significant investment and resources to Ninfas and we have a vested stake in their success. Ninfas refusal to make any payment toward rent or property expenses has left us with no choice. It is unfortunate Ninfas is not honoring its commitments as we also have responsibilities to our stakeholders, debt holders and shareholders." Lance Gilliam, a partner at The Waterman Steele Group real estate advisors which represents Ninfa's Uptown, said it's standard practice for his firm to advise its clients not to pay rent until negotiations have been finalized. "To be fair, we have not paid rent. We don't advise our clients to pay until we have an agreement in place, because what can happen is that the landlord takes the rent and then the negotiations fall through anyway," Gilliam told the Houston Chronicle. Gilliam said restaurant rent negations are not uncommon amid the coronavirus pandemic as the industry struggles to survive. "Our firm has been on the phone with landlords since March trying to work through how restaurants can get through to the other side of COVID-19. We've had great success in most cases." COMING TO THE EAST END: Street to Kitchen will serve authentic Thai street food When negotiations fell through regarding Ninfa's lease, Gilliam said it was very unexpected. "In this case, the landlord had essentially agreed but wanted Morgan to increase his personal risk," said Gilliam. "This is the only landlord we have dealt with that has wanted to gain during the pandemic." Morgan echoed Gilliam's sentiments. I really dont understand this tactic. Its quite disappointing to see a landlord seek to improve its position instead of sharing the burden during a very difficult time for the restaurant industry." But Mastandrea said Whitestone REIT has supported all of its clients, offering payment plans and financial assistance programs throughout the coronavirus crisis. "This has been a huge undertaking to serve each of our tenants and to support the communities they serve," Mastandrea said via email. "We remain open to resolving our contract issues with Ninfas and Mr. Morgan. This is been stressful for all of us, tenants and landlords, alike and we are committed to working directly with them on a mutually agreeable solution. Whitestone REIT acquired the 216,944-square-foot urban mixed-use center in 2017. The Original Ninfas Uptown opened on June 10, 2019. The Original Ninfa's at 2704 Navigation Blvd. remains open. Find preparation tips, alerts to follow, and more storm news in Chron.com's Hurricane Guide. MIDDLETOWN Local legislators have intervened on behalf of a dozen residents of a 55-and-older apartment complex on South Main Street after they received non-renewal notices they perceived as evictions. Many of those who live at Stonegate Apartments at 1160 S. Main St. have lived there between 10 and 20 years, according to state Rep. Quentin Phipps, D-Middletown, whose constituents reside at the housing community. Phipps spearheaded efforts in conjunction with state Sens. Mary Abrams, D-Meriden, and Matt Lesser, D-Middletown; state Rep. Joseph Serra, D-Middletown; and Mayor Ben Florsheim, all of whom met with the affected individuals Aug. 25. Tenants pay rent to Up Realty of East Hartford, which purchased the complex earlier this year. Many tenants told the lawmakers they were confused about whom to address their checks to, and were unable to find assistance online, Phipps said. In late winter or early spring, many of those seniors were looking for lease renewals in the mail. They were told they were coming. They were surprised and shocked when they received letters of non-renewal, Phipps said. Everyone was told, hold tight, hold tight, and they were bamboozled, he said. Stonegate Apartments was built around 1970, Up Realty manager Daysha James said. It is in need of several updates and upgrades, including changing leaking windows to triple-pane, energy-efficient ones, repairing the roof and adding insulation, enhancing the common areas, and upgrading public and exterior lighting to high-efficiency LED lighting. Many of the units are in need of a face-lift as well, James said. During a meeting last week, residents were offered the option to move into other upgraded units there. Some have chosen to voluntarily relocate elsewhere, and some have chosen to remain in their current unit, as stipulated by CT law, James said. Phipps disagreed. Some seniors told him they were notified of rent increases, or the fact that they could downgrade from a two- to a one-bedroom unit at the same cost, he said. Older residents were rightly confused, Phipps said. Theyre inspiring feelings of terror and fear in residents in this crisis its immoral. To treat our seniors like this is irresponsible and just mean. State statute states tenants 62 or older cannot be evicted without good cause, lawmakers said in an Aug. 14 letter to Stonegate, Up Realty and Kosel Equity of East Hartford, a company with interest in the property. Connecticut General Assembly designed this law to protect tenants from out-of-state corporations taking advantage of residents, disrupting families, and displacing community members, it reads. James said Tuesday afternoon she had not seen the communication. We are shocked and surprised at this letter, she said in an email, explaining Phipps was at the meeting the owners held with residents. We clearly explained that this is not an eviction or a demand-to-leave letter by any means. ... We clearly stated our intent and made it very clear we will work with each and every tenant, James said. This is inaccurate at best, said Phipps, who said the owners have not done a good enough job explaining to residents what will happen. Im not saying what she did wasnt technically legal, but our position was we want people to know what their rights are, Lesser said. During the pandemic, more than ever before, the aged and disabled need support, Phipps said. This is not in the spirit of the Middletown way or being a good neighbor. Despite the notices, James said, the residents could have stayed. Were very much aware of the law. We never sent legal or eviction notices. We offered them the opportunity to transfer during renovations. She called the situation misconstrued. Several residents have subsequently moved to other apartments in the building and others to nearby elderly complexes, James said. Residents were constituents of Lessers prior to his election to the state Senate. They can dance around however they like, but when youre telling a senior citizen theyve got to be out Sept. 1, a lot of people dont know that is their request, he said. The idea that every senior citizen that is living there is an expert in Connecticut housing law is laughable. This is an out-of-state company that was trying to make a buck by scaring a bunch of Middletown seniors. Sen. Abrams and Rep. Phipps and I wont stand for it, he said. Before the current ownership, Lesser used to live in the other area of the complex, where residents are of all ages. He told inhabitants they can tear up the notices if they like. I want them to knock it off, he said of the landlord. I dont represent that area of town anymore. People called me because they were in a panic. They got these notices and didnt know what to make of them. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, it is ill-advised for anyone to move out of their home unless it is unavoidable, the lawmaker said. We want them to stop scaring people. Its wrong specifically right now, in the middle of a pandemic that has decimated Connecticut. Its really impacted seniors, Lesser said. Meanwhile, Phipps pledged to continue the fight. This is putting profits over people in the middle of a global crisis, the representative said. Those with questions about tenant rights may contact the Connecticut Fair Housing Authority, which works to ensure all people have equal access to the housing of their choice, free from discrimination. For information, visit ctfairhousing.org or call 888-247-4401. Why would cybercriminals target schools? Why did they chose Haywood County Schools? (TNS) The ransomware attack targeting Haywood County Schools is a case of bad luck in a growing problem faced by school districts across the country.Those targeted often think It must be us, it must be something we did wrong. But it could have happened to anyone, said Doug Levin, a cybersecurity expert of EdTech Strategies. It is not a question of if incidents like this will happen, but when.Hackers hitting school systems was on the uptick even before COVID, with 348 publicly-disclosed school cyberincidents in 2019 triple the previous year. Here in the mountains, Burke County Schools was targeted in early March."The technology team worked nonstop, including weekends, to restore service," said Cheryl Shuffle, spokesperson for Burke County Schools.Burke was hit a week before schools closed due to COVID, and the school system had to delay the start of remote learning for two weeks as a result."After the governor closed schools, we had some breathing room," Shuffle said. "The cyberthreat created inconveniences and the loss of some documents and data, but no sensitive information was compromised."Louisiana had so many schools get hit last year, the governor issued a state of emergency.With schools resuming the year under remote learning models, their reliance on digital technology makes them even lower hanging fruit primarily because they cant afford to have computer systems down.They would feel under a lot of pressure to get them back up, so theres a temptation to pay the ransom to get it fixed easily, Levin said.The FBI even issued a warning this summer for school systems to be on guard.Cyberactors are likely to increase targeting of K-12 schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FBI warning state in June.The Mountaineer asked Levin to describe how ransomware attacks targeting school systems work and how they typically play out.This is a particularly tough time of year. There is very little tolerance for not having your system running. I think they know the school year is starting so theres more pressure," Levin said.We started to see cases where the governments and school districts were paying the extortionists to get back to business again. When criminals find a scheme that works for them, they repeat it against other targets that might fall for the same scam.The hackers arent out to get Haywood County in particular.They just want to get paid," he said.Hackers are simply searching for servers that are a match for their particular exploit, or it could have originated with a corrupted email inadvertently opened by an employee. Theres a good chance the hackers are international. They seek payments the form of untraceable crypto currency.The odds of law enforcement being able to get them are low.When does it make sense to pay the ransom, versus try to recover by rebuilding your system?Noone in law enforcement will suggest you should pay. Thats because these are criminals. They will probably do really bad things with the money, and it will encourage them to go after others."Are you guarented to get your servers and data back if you pay, or could the cyberattackers just walk with the money?Ransomware typically encrypts or scrambles files on your server making them unusable.What you are negotiating is the price for the key to unscramble it. When people pay, they tend to get access back to their systems. But sometimes the key doesnt work. So you are definitely taking a chance.Can you better off trying to get rid of the ransomware and recover on your own?The issue is making sure the ransomware is gone," Levin said.Some entities that didn't paid and tried rebuilding on their own have ended up infected again.Either their backups were infected, or they didnt really clean up the infection in the first place, and it reattached to the network and just started up again. They really need to figure out where it target and how it spread. Otherwise you can get in a cycle of all this work to restore it and get infected again.Doug Levin is the President and Founder of EdTech Strategies, a consulting and advocacy firm for cybersecurity issues facing educational institutions. He hosts the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center online at k12cybersecure.com , including a map of cyberattacks against school systems. TEL AVIV: The Israeli military struck what it said were posts belonging to Lebanons Shiite Hezbollah group on Wednesday after shots were fired at troops in Israel, in a flareup that added to already high tensions along the frontier. Lebanons Supreme Defence Council denounced what it called an Israeli assault" and said a complaint would be filed to the United Nations. The Israeli military said a Hezbollah squad in southern Lebanon fired at Israeli forces late on Tuesday, causing no casualties, and accused the group of deliberately operating near a U.N. peacekeeping post and putting personnel inside at risk. In response, overnight, IDF attack helicopters and aircraft struck observation posts belonging to the Hezbollah terror organisation in the border area," the military said in a statement, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. The Lebanese army said on its Twitter account that Israeli helicopters had fired missiles at centres of a local environmental group. No casualties were reported on either side of the frontier. On Wednesday morning, the Israeli military told Israelis living near the border, who had been initially instructed to remain indoors, that they could resume normal activities. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said what happened in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, an apparent reference to the Israeli strikes, was an important and sensitive" matter. Speaking in a televised speech on Al-Manar TV on Wednesday, Nasrallah said he had nothing further to say on the incident, but planned to comment later, without giving further details. Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah last fought a war in 2006, and border tensions have been running high in recent weeks. Last month, Israel said Hezbollah had carried out an infiltration attempt, which the group denied. The killing of a Hezbollah fighter in an Israeli air strike in July in Syria, where it operates in support of President Bashar al-Assad, has raised Israeli concern about retaliation. Briefing reporters on the latest flareup, Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, said: It is our assessment that the choice of location by Hezbollah (for the sniping attack) was not accidental probably in order to (draw) Israeli retaliation towards a U.N. position or near it." Witnesses in south Lebanon said Israel had fired scores of flares at border villages during the night-time incident. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 16:19:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 8,800 people have been displaced by floods following rising water levels in Ugandan lakes as a result of torrential rains. Julius Mucunguzi, communications advisor to the prime minister of Uganda, told Xinhua by telephone on Tuesday that the rising water levels on Lake Albert and Kyoga have displaced 8,780 people and destroyed property in the districts of Amolatar, Buliisa and Nakasongola. Mucunguzi said Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda on Monday made a trip to assess the extent of the damage caused by floods in the three affected districts. Rugunda tweeted late on Monday that the impact of the floods on the population is immense. Enditem Manchester United said Maguire's legal team filed the appeal against the verdict on Wednesday and that it has been accepted. Manchester: Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has filed an appeal against his conviction for assault and attempted bribery of a police officer, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. Maguire was handed a 21-month suspended sentence on Tuesday following his arrest after a brawl last week on the Greek island of Mykonos. United said Maguire's legal team filed the appeal against the verdict on Wednesday and that it has been accepted. Maguire, who is the worlds most expensive defender and plays for Englands national team, was not present at the trial on the nearby island of Syros on Tuesday, when he was also found guilty of swearing in public. Two other defendants including Maguires brother, Joe were also found guilty on similar charges and handed 13-month sentences. The sentences for all three defendants were suspended for three years. Organizers walk to front entrance of the Comcast Center in Center City with signed petitions for affordable internet on Monday, August 3, 2020. Advocates, parents, teachers, community members and students attempted to deliver over 2500 letters to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, demanding he open up the residential hotspots students need to get online and improve Internet Essentials beyond the slow speeds and spotty service it currently provides. Read more Nearly four months after Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. suggested Philly students wander in parking lots and outside of local businesses for public WiFi to access their virtual education, city officials finally released their plan to get every student internet access ahead of the coming school year, which will begin entirely online. The plan is a direct response to community outcry and pressure from City Council, demanding the city take immediate action to close the digital divide, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. While Comcast earns record-breaking profits during the pandemic on its broadband offerings, Philly has the second-worst internet access of any big city in the United States, according to a 2018 report. Additionally, 30% of Philadelphia households with school=aged children lack internet access, according to census data; 58% of households making under $70,000 do not have access. And there are racial disparities 50% of Black households have internet access, while 74% of white households do. PHLConnectED, the citys plan to get kids and eventually all Philadelphians online, is a meaningful one. Unfortunately, the plan wont get every student online and relies on Comcast sending a bill to the Philadelphia School District to cover the cost of bulk Internet Essentials accounts. Despite the fact that Comcast made a big show of the small $7 million donation its making to the partnership, city officials estimate they will spend $7.2 million over the two years on wired internet access, $5.1 million on hot spots, and $1.7 million on the digital navigator program. READ MORE: Protesters demand that Comcast provide internet access to all Philly kids The plan is a meaningful step and the product of a concerted effort from city officials and Philly leaders. But it is not all that we need to get our kids connected. Unless we push Comcast to do far more, thousands of kids will remain offline while Comcast continues to exploit the pandemic for financial gain. Given how much Comcast saves by not paying its fair share of taxes in Philly, school districts shouldnt have to pay a dime to get families online. In the weeks following the stay-at-home order, officials asked Comcast to open their hot spots a move that would vastly expand internet access for thousands of people struggling to get online. Comcast executives refused, claiming that it would negatively affect their customers service and that their network was not designed for public use. But the Internet Essentials Partnership Program profits from legislation that industry lobbyists fought to pass in Harrisburg 15 years ago, which preempts municipalities from building their own affordable broadband networks for public use by facilitating the use of the same network in exchange for a large payout from the school district, with a grant from Comcast. Lets remember: Comcast isnt promising to subsidize internet access for families in need forever. When the current IEPP plans expire in two years, officials will be forced to negotiate with Comcast again. At our organization, Movement Alliance Project, weve met with dozens of families who couldnt get Comcast service because of back bills or old names on accounts. That meant that more than 1,000 kids were completely unaccounted for during the spring semester at the district. And even families that did get online couldnt have more than one kid in video classes because of speed limitations. If Comcast does not improve Internet Essentials speeds before the fall, online education will be out of arms reach for thousands of households with multiple students. Thousands of teachers, their aides, and paraprofessionals, who are underpaid and need broadband access to do their jobs, are excluded from this plan. Comcast could easily fix this oversight by making Internet Essentials free for everyone until two months after in-person education has resumed to ensure everyone can access broadband through the duration of the pandemic. READ MORE: Free internet coming for 35,000 Philly families: city, schools, Comcast to spend $17M on digital equity plan Comcasts greed wreaks havoc on Black, brown, and poor communities nationwide. In Baltimore, Detroit, and Oakland, advocates and organizers have been demanding more from Comcast but have gotten the same facade of altruism while their school districts shell out millions to Comcast as a participant of the Internet Essentials Partnership Program, which they characterize as enabling cities, schools and nonprofits to collaborate to help fund and connect large numbers of K-12 students with broadband internet service and devices like laptops and tablets. These are meaningful additions. But by refusing to agree to the core community demands necessary to face the real challenges of this epidemic, the program is a thinly veiled attempt to transform a global disaster into a multiyear stream of revenue. Comcast must open its residential hot spots, increase Internet Essentials speeds, and make Internet Essentials completely free for everyone until two months after the pandemic has subsided. Devren Washington is a senior policy organizer at Media Mobilizing Project. This article has been updated to correct a statement that the district received money from Comcast Foundation. The district received a grant from Comcast Corporation. A woman is dead after being stabbed at a downtown convenience store Wednesday morning, Toronto police said. Just after 10 a.m., police received reports that a woman was armed with a knife at a convenience store near Sherbourne Street and Dundas Street East and had stabbed another woman. After arriving, they located a woman with stab wounds. Emergency crews rushed the victim to hospital with serious injuries. At 12:40 p.m., police tweeted that the victim had died and that homicide officers were investigating. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them. David Venn is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @davidvenn_ Protesters gather near the site of where Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis. (Associated Press) To the editor: The shooting by police of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., in response to a domestic violence call, offers prima facie evidence why cops are ill equipped to intervene and to handle this type of occurrence. Instead of de-escalating the threat, police ended up firing at least seven shots at close range into Blake's back as he leaned into his car, leaving him paralyzed, while his traumatized children sat inside looking on and screaming. This is another example of why a social worker, family therapist or psychologist would be more effective in dealing with such a situation. This type of outcome gives reason to divert some police department funding to other professionals who are more qualified to handle these types of stressful situations. Richard Z. Fond, Sherman Oaks .. To the editor: In 1992, a Simi Valley jury all but disregarded video of Los Angeles Police Department officers bludgeoning Rodney King and acquitted them. In 2015, a South Carolina jury saw video of Officer Michael Slager shoot and kill a fleeing Walter Scott. The result: a mistrial. Later, Slager pleaded guilty in federal court. Video evidence does not guarantee justice, but it's unconscionable that the city of Kenosha has stonewalled on purchasing body cameras since 2017. Agencies that employ body cameras must draft policies that hold officers accountable. Officers who violate the policy once should be suspended. Officers who violate the policy twice should be fired and decertified. Law professors Ben Grunwald and John Rappaport co-authored a 2020 report for the Yale Law Journal on "wandering officers." Florida employed 1,100 full-time officers who'd been fired by other agencies. These recycled officers imperil citizens lives. Marc D. Greenwood, Camp Hill, Ala. .. To the editor: This shooting and others of a similar nature are largely due to the proliferation of firearms in America. When someone refuses a police order to stop and instead walks or runs away or attempts to enter an automobile, an officer should not have to bet his life that person is not reaching for a gun. This is not a black or a white problem so much as it is a gun problem. We are determined to "protect" ourselves even if it kills us. Don Tonty, Los Angeles You are here: World Flash Six people, including an assailant, were killed and 32 people wounded after a Taliban militants' suicide truck bomb blast took place outside a special forces' camp in northern Afghanistan's Balkh province on Tuesday, an army source confirmed. The incident occurred in Balkh district in central part of Balkh province roughly at 8:45 a.m. local time, and the casualties were shifted to military and civilian hospitals by ambulances and army vehicles, Hanif Rezai, spokesman of army Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region, told Xinhua. Those killed included two army soldiers, three civilians and the attacker, and 26 civilians and six army soldiers wounded. The blast occurred after army soldiers manning the camp identified and intercepted the bomber when approaching the camp but the attacker detonated the vehicle in front of a veterinary clinic, destroying and damaging dozens of houses. The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the incident. Since the signing of a Taliban and United States peace agreement in late February, Afghan leaders, including President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, have frequently demanded the Taliban to reduce violence. The militants, however, have intensified attacks, launching hit-and-run attacks and ambushes against security forces besides conducting suicide car bombings and roadside bomb attacks. Medic Therapeutics offers a comprehensive line of meticulously researched and expertly designed products aimed for staying and living healthy with an emphasis on bringing high quality standards and high quality products to market in record time. Medic Therapeutics was established just in time to meet the demand for PPE brought on by the COVID-19 crisis, and to assist all those affected by or suffering from the widespread and deleterious effects of this pandemic. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Medic Therapeutics immediately started to research, design, and produce hand sanitizers, face masks, and face shields. Medic Therapeutics was able to make these items available to the public by the end of April, and deliver to market goods sought and desperately needed by consumers. As the pandemic continued and demand increased, Medic Therapeutics expanded its offerings to include UVC sterilization equipment, digital thermometers, and finger-tip oximeters. In total, Medic Therapeutics has been able to deliver over 17 million face masks to customers, as well as 1.2 million face shields, 200,000 UVC sterilizing wands and boxes, and 360,000 bottles of hand sanitizer. With a focus on a top-tiered R&D team, cutting edge technology, and global capabilities, Medic Therapeutics was able to quickly develop the highest quality UVC sterilization equipment, finger-tip oximeters, and digital thermometers with innovations and technology not previously available for daily consumers. These products are sold to consumers through on-air television marketing and live television programming. Television marketing is uniquely situated to provide the best method to market these products and offers a new and highly beneficial path for consumers to obtain and fully understand the advantages of Medic Therapeutics products. This format allows for educating the consumer through live demonstrations and proper use of the equipment, tools and products. Consumers are able to see the product function and simultaneously review the product information online for a complete understanding of the features and benefits. This method of consumer interaction has proven successful with all Medic Therapeutics products, leading to the current expansion and growth. Medic Therapeutics will continue to supply this necessary PPE long-term, while also building its core business line that covers all health and wellness products. Medic Therapeutics is headquartered in Hollywood, FL. SOURCE Medic Therapeutics The Ministry of Health held a ceremony in Hanoi on August 25 to present the For peoples health insignia to three foreign experts in recognition of their contributions to the Vietnamese health sector. At the ceremony (Photo: VNA) The honoured experts were Marie-Odile Emond, Country Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Vietnam; John Michael Blandford, Country Director of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) in Vietnam; and Paula Morgan, Deputy Director of the US CDC in Vietnam. Marie-Odile Emond, who has worked as UNAIDS Country Director in Vietnam since 2017, has helped strengthen national coordination in mobilising and optimising the use of resources for the countrys HIV/AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention and control. She also called for assistance to Vietnam in building legal documents and policies in the field. Meanwhile, John Michael Blandford initiated and led the U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) campaign, or K=K in Vietnamese, making the US CDC in Vietnam the pioneer in implementing the US President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the globe. Together with the US CDC Country Director, Paula Morgan directed the building of four PEPFAR Vietnam Country Operational Plans (COPs) in the 2016-2020 period to ensure sponsorship for the countrys HIV programmes through the setting up of priorities in science and technology as well as the review and re-forming of annual goals for the seeking and treatment of people living with HIV. Addressing the ceremony, Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long highly valued the contributions and support of the foreign experts, especially in the coordination of resources, policy support and consultations to Government agencies to draw out HIVAIDS strategies. He underlined that the Vietnamese health sector hopes for stronger international cooperation and more assistance from the international community and organisations in the field of HIV/AIDS control. He noted that the Prime Minister has approved a National Strategy on ending AIDS in 2030. So far, Vietnam is a bright spot in the world in the HIV/AIDS fight, with the number of infections and deaths falling consecutively since 2008. Vietnam is also one of the four countries in the world with highest ratio of treatment compliance./.VNA DUBLIN, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Grocery Stores (GLOBAL) - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Grocery Stores Analysis provides a detailed overview of the market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 480 companies, including Albertson Companies Inc., Publix Super Markets Inc. and Dollar Tree Inc. This report covers activities such as food, supermarket, grocery, fruit, food and includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over the past four years. The Global Grocery Stores analysis is ideal for anyone wanting to: See the market leaders Identify companies heading for failure Seek out the most attractive acquisition Analyse industry trends Benchmark their own financial performance Using exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Global Grocery Stores report will tell you that 113 companies have a declining financial rating, while 69 have shown good sales growth. Each of the largest 480 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data. Every business is examined on the following features: A graphical assessment of a company's financial performance Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet A written summary highlighting key performance issues Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Global Grocery Stores market. This section includes: Best Trading Partners Sales Growth Analysis Profit Analysis Market Size Rankings For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vjbb2z About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. 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] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Key defense witness in actor Efremov case to testify in court on August 31 lawyer RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 18:02 26/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) Andrey Gayev, the key defense witness in a case against actor Mikhail Efremov who believes that the defendant has not driven his Jeep, will testify in Moscows Presnensky District Court on August 31, attorney Elman Pashayev has told RAPSI. Law enforcement bodies search for Gayev everywhere and promise a 100,000-ruble award for information about him, Pashayev said on Wednesday. However, the witness is securely hidden and will be questioned through videolink, the defense lawyer added. The lawyer also complained that another defense witness who had been earlier questioned was also under pressure in order the man changed his testimony. On the evening of June 8, Efremov driving his car crossed into the oncoming lane in central Moscow and collided with a delivery service vehicle. He was arrested on the scene. Alcohol and drugs were reportedly found in his blood. Victim Sergey Zakharov was taken to hospital where he died early in the morning of June 9. On June 9, Moscows Tagansky District Court ordered Efremov to be put under house arrest; the measure is still in force. In particular, he was banned from communicating with other case parties, using mobile phone and Internet. The famous actor stands charged with committing a traffic offense in a drunken state that led to a victims death. He could face from 5 to 12 years behind bars if convicted. A NSW Coroner has called for young Indigenous men to be diverted away from the criminal justice system to reduce the number of deaths in custody, after ruling in an inquest that a man who died in custody three years ago took his own life. Tane Chatfield, 22, was found unresponsive in his cell at Tamworth Correctional Centre by another inmate on the morning of September 20, 2017. He died in hospital two days later. In July this year, during an inquest at Lidcombe Coroners Court, Mr Chatfield's family said he was killed by the prison system, "no matter what happened in that cell". "The constant pressure, the violence, being away from the family he loved, we saw him change after the time he spent inside. He was pushed to breaking point," the family said in a statement. "We say that the prison system itself is destructive and the bars must come down. There is no rehabilitation, there is no making society any safer. People go in and just get an education in how to be a better criminal. They have their mental health destroyed." What will be the role of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi after Mondays Congress working Committee meeting? Will he continue to be a de facto president or adopt a low profile role? There was so much speculation about the frank letter written by 23 dissident Congress leaders to the party president Sonia Gandhi which was discussed in the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy making body of the party on Monday. Though the meeting addressed some of the issues raised by the dissidents, it ended with the CWC passing a unanimous decision to request Sonia to continue as the president. Sonia Gandhi on her part stressed the need for unity and adopted forget and forgive attitude towards the dissidents. For the past one year Rahul has been the de facto boss of the party and took almost all the decisions. This time Rahul kept his cards close to his chest and kept quiet when the chorus for Rahul lao, Congress bachao was full throated in the CWC meet. It is clear that he has kept his options open. Though the dynasty triumphed with Sonia continuing, the CWC decided to have an AICC as demanded by the dissidents. It will also have a new full time president after the AICC session president. No doubt Rahul will be persuaded to contest elections and he will have no challengers. Even Sonia Gandhi faced challengers, as Jitendra Prasada contested against her for the post of the president and lost. Rahul is fully backed his mother Sonia Gandhi. It is normal for any mother to expect her son to succeed her and Indira Gandhi made no secret of it. She had groomed her younger son Sanjay Gandhi but after his untimely death, she began to depend on Rajiv Gandhi who had not shown any inclination to come to politics. Similarly Sonia Gandhi wants her son to succeed but the son wants to be powerful in the party without responsibility. So it is a big question mark what will Rahul Gandhi do in the coming months? The indications are that he might contest and become the party president. Until the AICC session, he might play his behind-the-scene role advising his mother. The press conference held after the CWC clearly indicated this as the chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala ended his press meet by saying that the entire party wanted Rahul to head the party, indicating that the options were still kept open. No doubt if he takes over as the elected president he will be strengthened within the party and he can pick his team with moral authority instead of his dynastic strength. He can reform the party if he wants. The only thing is that he should choose the right man for the right job. The team Rahul he built so far has become fragile after his close aides like Jyotiraditya Scindia left the party to join the BJP and Sachin Pilot almost did. His handpicked men like Jitin Prasada, Milind Deora and others are discontented and looking for greener pastures. In fact, instead of the disgruntled old guard, it was Team Rahul, which broke. Rahul should learn a thing or two from his mother if he wants to be successful in his second stint. For instance, when she came to politics in 1998, she was inexperienced, not fluent in Hindi. She adopted herself to the needs of the party and with hard work she went on to become the first Leader of Opposition. In 2004, she went from leader to leader to form the UPA, which came to power in 2004. She was a status quoist and took decisions after consulting the senior leaders in her coterie. Rahul Gandhi on the other hand is seen as arrogant, temperamental and has the least regard to the senior leaders. Left to himself, he would wish them away. No one in the party forgets his famous act of tearing a bill in front of the media men and humiliating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He has insulted many other senior leaders and did not believe in consulting the old guard who felt left out of most decisions. In retaliation, the old guard blocked Rahul a free hand. The result was the letter written by the dissidents. The CWC could not ignore the sentiments expressed by them. They have shown that the party needs to change and should address many issues they had raised. Rahul Gandhi might have to be more polite to the senior leaders and curb his coterie also to do so. In fact, he must dump his present team and choose a new team with some roots and knows about the electoral politics. Even a foolish king can succeed if he has wise advisers. Part of Indira Gandhis success was because she had wise advisers like Haksar. The Gandhi family certainly had a jolt after the dissidents wrote the letter, which was a direct attack on Rahul and his team. We have to see whether he continues to be de facto president or changes his style of functioning. The party cannot dump the Gandhis and Sonia will not dump Rahul. Haiti - News : Zapping... France : Message from the Haitian Consulate to the diaspora Due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 in France, all consular procedures are now only done by appointment. Make an appointment online at www.consulathaitiparis.com . 2 free telephone lines are available to users for any information : 01 42 12 70 50 and 08 20 10 90 15 Operation "Bouche Twou" Operation "Bouche Twou" launched in mid-August by the Ministry of Public Works is continuing. This operation aims to repair potholes and other imperfections of the public road to facilitate a more fluid movement of vehicles and improve public transport. For now, technicians are hard at work in Lalue. Follow-up of the FASCH rehabilitation works 16 months after the launch of the rehabilitation and strengthening works of the Faculty of Human Sciences (FASCH), the students of this entity of the State University of Haiti (UEH, are ready to follow the courses in the main building of the faculty, seriously damaged during the earthquake of January 2010. Friday August 21, Fils Aime Ignace Saint Fleur, Director General of the Office for the Monetization of Development Assistance Programs (BMPAD) and the representative of the Japanese Ambassador Taissei Inoue carried out a field visit to see the progress of the work carried out by the Haitian architecture and civil engineering company Exaco SA and announced the inauguration of the building soon. USA urges Moise to issue fewer decrees Tuesday in a tweet the American Embassy in Port-au-Prince, urges President Jovenel Moise to focus on the presidential, legislative and municipal elections, as a priority and publish fewer decrees Laura : Message from EDH The EDH informs that since Monday August 24, several teams have been deployed in the field to repair the various damage caused on the circuits by the passage of tropical storm Laura. The electoral train will advance very soon "Our partners in the international community, in particular the United States, share the position of the President of the Republic on the need to have elections in the country as soon as possible. The electoral train will advance very soon. As soon as the organizations solicited have sent their representative to form the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), the decree will be published, a timetable will be clearly established so that 2021 is an election year," Chancellor Claude Jospeh tweeted HL/ HaitiLibre A 20-year-old Lincoln Park man was chased down and arrested by Wyandotte police, but not before he took an officer on a high-speed chase, crashed his car and then fought the officer. The wild chain of events began at about 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, in the 2700 block of Biddle. According to a police report, an officer was waiting at a red light headed north on Biddle at Chestnut when he saw a vehicle in front of him continuously revving his engine. Once the light turned green, the driver squealed his tires and accelerated at a high rate of speed. The officer activated his emergency lights and tried to catch up to him. Police said the suspect turned east onto Vinewood, failing to signal, and increasing his speed. The man then turned south onto Van Alstyne, running a stop sign and again accelerating with the officer in pursuit. As he raced down Van Alstyne toward Oak, police said the man was driving about 52 mph failing to stop or slow down at the stop sign at Superior. According to the report, the suspect turned onto Oak, swerving around a black Explorer and nearly crashing into another vehicle. As the chase continued, the suspect ran a red light at the intersection of Oak and Biddle and the officer noticed a large number of pedestrians in the outdoor eating area at Whiskeys On the Water as the fleeing vehicle passed. By the time he reached Captains bar he was traveling about 50 mph crossing the intersection of Oak and Second Street and ran straight through a red light there, as well as lights at Third and Fourth streets, too, police said. At that point, police said the suspect was driving about 100 mph and approaching the railroad crossing. The officer said he slowed down so he could cross the tracks safely and notified a dispatcher that the suspect was going to be crashing. The suspect was able to remain in control and continued to excel headed west on Oak, but the brakes on the vehicle locked up after the suspect tried to make a sharp turn headed north into a parking lot. The officer pulled up to the vehicle as it eventually crashed into a curb. Once stopped, the suspect fled his vehicle headed north on 12th Street and a foot chase ensued. The officer chased down the suspect and ordered him to the ground. He refused to comply, the report said, resulting in the officer taking him to the ground. He was able to alert dispatch that he was fighting the suspect. Another officer arrived as the officer and suspect were on the ground fighting. He assisted with gaining control of the man and the suspect was placed in handcuffs. The suspects drivers license was restricted, his license plate improper and the vehicle identification number indicated the car was not registered. . The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service. Follow this story and more by signing up for national breaking news email alerts. That Gun! Lukashenka Chooses Weapon Favored By Osama Bin Laden, Islamic State Leader By Amos Chapple August 25, 2020 After besieged Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka strode from his helicopter gripping an assault rifle on August 23, some watching may have felt a flash of deja vu. It was the same distinctive model of gun Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was frequently photographed with and the favored weapon of Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The weapon Lukashenka brandished was a Soviet-made AKS-74U, a lighter, stubbier variant of the AK-74 assault rifle in use by military forces around the world. The specialized AKS-74U was first made in 1979 and is less powerful and less accurate than the AK-74, due to its short barrel. The "S" and "U" in the name of the AKS-74U -- standing for "skladnoi" (folding) and "ukorochenny" (shortened) in Russian -- hint at the prime design motivation. The AKS-74U is around half the length of the AK-74 and was made as a personal self-defense weapon, especially for armored-vehicle crews who needed a gun with more penetration power than a pistol and something small enough to be maneuvered inside the cramped quarters of a tank or armored personnel carrier. The appeal of the AKS-74U for bin Laden is believed to be largely in the symbolic value of the weapon. During the jihadist insurgency against the 1979-89 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the super-modern gun was initially impossible to buy on the black market, therefore its ownership by jihadis was seen as a kind of "scalp" indicating victory over a Soviet soldier. A practical advantage for fugitive terrorist leaders such as bin Laden and Baghdadi is that the gun is relatively easy to conceal when compared to other, nearly meter-long, Soviet assault-rifle designs. But with ample space, an obvious eagerness to show off his weapon, and an entire modern arsenal at his disposal, why did Lukashenka pick up a decades-old weapon known for limited range and accuracy? The answer may be found in Lukashenka's military history. In the early 1980s Lukashenka served as the deputy commander of a Soviet motorized infantry company and was probably issued an AKS-74U. It's possible the Belarusian president's weapon of choice is a personal keepsake from the Soviet Union. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30801778.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A laboratory technician working on samples from people to be tested for the new coronavirus at a laboratory in Wuhan in China's central Hubei Province, on Feb. 6, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Faulty Chinese Testing Kits Result in Thousands of Virus False Positives in Sweden More than 3,700 Swedes were erroneously told they had the CCP virus due to defects in testing kits made in China, Swedens Public Health Agency announced on Aug. 25. The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing kits, manufactured by Shenzhen-based genome sequencing company BGI Genomics, were unable to distinguish between very low and no viral genetic material, Swedish health authorities said in a statement. The supplier must adjust the performance that is required for this test to be used, said Karin Tegmark Wisell, head of the agencys microbiology department. The findings, she said, illustrated again the importance of having quality control tests to detect such errors. The incorrect results affected nine regions in the country in the 5-month span between March and mid-August, during which people who had mild or no symptoms at all received false positive outcomes. The same kind of testing kits have been shipped to many countries other than Sweden, the agency said, adding that it has informed corresponding authorities in Europe and the World Health Organization. The officials did not elaborate on how many tests were conducted using such testing kits, but said they are removing the false positive cases from their national virus tally and reaching out to the impacted individuals, who will be offered a free antibody test. The false results only marginally impacted the countrys virus statistics and did not change their overall assessment during the summer, the authorities said. All statistics after Aug. 15 remain accurate, the statement noted. Sweden has reported a total of 86,891 infections and 5,814 deaths. Samples from people to be tested for the new coronavirus at Fire Eye laboratory in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei Province, on Feb. 6, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Two BGI group subsidiaries, Xinjiang Silk Road BGI and Beijing Liuhe BGI, came under U.S. Commerce Department sanctions on July 20 for allegedly conducting genetic analyses to further human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslim minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region. The blacklist restricts the companies access to U.S. commodities and technologies. In a statement on Aug. 26, BGI Genomics said that its testing kits are relatively more sensitive and have received positive clinical evaluations to date. BGI distributes COVID-19 testing kits to more than 80 countries in the world, with a production capacity of around 2 million, according to its website. Defective medical supplies from China, such as masks and testing kits, have previously drawn backlash from countries that received them, including Finland, Britain, Ireland, Canada, and Spain. Chief ministers of several Opposition-ruled states on Wednesday decided to challenge the Centre over concerns of their rights being undermined, even as demands surfaced at a virtual meet that they collectively move the Supreme Court against the Union governments plan to hold the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical colleges and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering colleges in September. At the virtual meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the issues of NEET and JEE, and Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation in the midst of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, chief ministers of West Bengal (Mamata Banerjee), Maharashtra (Uddhav Thackeray), Jharkhand (Hemant Soren), Punjab (Captain Amarinder Singh), Rajasthan (Ashok Gehlot), Chhattisgarh (Bhupesh Baghel) and Puducherry (V Narayanasamy) stressed the need to protect federalism, saying that all powers were now concentrated in just one place. Problems of students and examinations are being dealt with very uncaringly, the Congress chief said at the meeting. The West Bengal chief minister urged all CMs to together move the Supreme Court for postponing the NEET and JEE as she said students were not prepared to take the tests. Separately, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia reiterated his demand that the exams be postponed and the central government work on alternative methods for selecting students. They (Centre) are saying protocols will be followed. Following the same protocols that the Centre wants 28 lakh students to follow, lakhs of Indians have tested positive, he said. The Congress did not invite the chief ministers of Odisha (Naveen Patnaik), Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal), Andhra Pradesh (YS Jaganmohan Reddy) and Telangana (K Chandrashekhar Rao). Amid a growing chorus for postponing the JEE and NEET in view of the pandemic, the Centre has maintained that the tests will be conducted in September as scheduled. While JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6, NEET is planned on September 13. The Supreme Court last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams, saying a precious academic year of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on. There have been demands by students and parents bodies to postpone the entrance exams in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said NEET and JEE aspirants were worried about their health and future. Even as pressure piled on the Centre over the plan to go ahead with the exams, the Union education ministry and the National Testing Agency (NTA) continued working towards what would be the biggest entrance tests to be conducted during the pandemic, which has infected 3,305,177 people across India. More than 400,000 students downloaded the admit cards for the NEET exam from the NTA portal within three hours after the agency began to issue them on Wednesday. The figure rose to 515,000 in four hours. At least 950,000 students are expected to take the JEE (Main) at 660 centres from September 1 to 6, while nearly 1.6 million NEET candidates are likely to appear for the test at 3,842 centres on September 13. I have always reiterated that safety first and then exams. But conducting these exams any time later might lead to a situation where the entire year could be lost, therefore conducting these exams in now with due precautions is a middle path, education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank told HT in an interview. The minister said that there was a silent majority of students and parents who wanted the exams to be held as scheduled. The parents and students say that they are under stress and preparing for exams for the last two to three years and that they dont want a zero academic year. According to a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the education ministry is keen that the exams are held because it will help keep the academic year on track and not keep students in perpetual uncertainty. The official said there was no alternative to these exams. NTA has emphasised that it will hold the exams safely and a detailed protocol has been put in place to ensure the safety of students. Experts say NTA needs support from states to conduct the exams successfully in terms of logistics. During Wednesdays meeting, Thackeray said the Opposition-ruled states have to first decide whether they want to fight or fear the Narendra Modi-led government. Opposition-ruled states should speak louder as the Centre is trying to suppress our voices. But we are together, we will be together and we will fight together, he said. Thackeray received support from Banerjee, who said the situation was very serious and the Opposition-ruled states should launch a united fight against the Centre. Gandhi ageed with Thackeray and Banerjee. We have to work together and fight together, she said. Soren alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was using law enforcement agencies against the Opposition and undermining the federal structure. Earlier, in her introductory remarks, Gandhi said the Centres refusal to pay GST compensation to states is nothing short of betrayal. GST compensation being paid to states on time, according to the laws passed by Parliament, is crucial and I know this is not happening. Dues have accumulated. The finances of all states have been affected badly, she added. Banerjee alleged that states were being bulldozed by the Centre, which was not giving money to them. The situation today is dangerous. We cannot speak freely. From Facebook to everywhere, there is fake and distorted news to destroy the Opposition, she said. Banerjee said she had raised her concerns about the NEET and JEE exams with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The exams are in September. Why should the lives of students be put at risk? We have written to the Prime Minister, but there has been no response. If the Prime Minister does not listen to us, then we all collectively should approach the Supreme Court, she said. Thackeray said the time had come to revisit the GST model and see if it was helping or not. The old tax collection model was good? If there are lacunas in the GST, those need to be addressed so that states dont suffer, he said. The Punjab chief minister said the Covid-19 situation was getting worse and his state could face a deficit of ~25,000 crore this year due to the pandemic. I agree with Mamata ji that we should collectively meet the Prime Minister and apprise him of the revenue situation. And all of us should go to the Supreme Court on the issue of NEET and JEE exams, he added. IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao said in a social media post that he was in favour of conducting the examinations by taking all precautions and following social distancing norms. Lockdown is not a solution to COVID. Lockdown was needed to prepare ourselves better. We cannot be perpetually in lockdown mode. COVID is not going to go away for another 6 months to one year. We all need to get used to this new normal. The earlier we realize that, the better it is for all of us. The last postponement of exams definitely helped us prepare well now, Rao said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan increased to 39,790, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health. To date, 35,983 patients have fully recovered in the country, while 289 have died. Under the instructions of President of Uzbekistan, unlimited movement of vehicles, as well as local air and rail travel in Uzbekistan, was resumed since August 15, 2020. Also, from August 17, 2020, Tashkent resumed public transportation. Citizens are required to wear masks when entering the bus, otherwise, passengers will not be allowed to enter. Moreover, from August 20, 2020, clothing and building material markets, large shops, gyms, fitness clubs, and swimming pools resumed 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 fishing 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 Susquehanna Service Dog Dilly has been assigned a full-time post at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia to help children facing medical issues. Dillys assignment is courtesy of a grant from the Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundations Dogs for Joy program that works to place therapy dogs in childrens hospitals across the nation. The announcement was made today, Aug. 26, in honor of National Dog Day. According to Dunkin', Dilly will be the hospitals first, full-time trained facility dog who will help ease anxiety and reduce stress for young patients and their families. Dilly, a two-year-old yellow Labrador, is one of over 15 full-time Foundation granted pediatric service dogs in over a dozen childrens hospitals across the country. Dilly is trained to keep children calm during medical procedures and can teach kids how to take a pill, or model how to put on a hospital gown. Dilly can also help lower anxiety and stress for pediatric patients and encourage them to complete their healthcare goals. The dogs calming presence not only aids with patients but will also provide support to family members. Lisa Serad, program coordinator for the Gerald B. Shreiber Pet Therapy Program at CHOP said Dilly will be a wonderful tool in the toolbox for our Child Life team. There are so many times we knock on a patients door, and the patient simply glows when they see a dog. It makes it so much easier to build rapport and motivate many of our patients with a furry four-legged partner! Kari McHugh, executive director of the Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation, said service dogs have an important role by bringing joy to pediatric patients. The Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation is always seeking ways to help kids feel like kids, even on their most difficult days. Nothing brings joy more than four paws, a wet nose, and a wagging tail, McHugh said. To celebrate Dillys arrival, Dunkin is selling Dunkin'-themed dogs toys in their own Munchkins-type box at participating restaurants in the Philadelphia area while supplies last. The toys were created in collaboration with BARK, the company that sells BarkBox. A grant from the Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundations Dogs for Joy program has allowed Susquehanna Service Dog Dilly to become a full-time trained facility dog at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (Provided by Dunkin') READ MORE Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. A 22-year-old Allentown man faces gun charges tied to the investigation of a shooting Aug. 15 in the city hours after a motorcycle cruise blocked traffic in the 600 block of North Seventh Street, police report. Jamie Diaz, of the 100 block of West Linden Street, was held without bail after arraignment Monday before District Judge Wayne Maura on charges of possession of a firearm without a license (two counts, one from Aug. 15 and the other from Monday), possession of a firearm when prohibited (two counts) and recklessly endangering another person, records show. Bail was denied due to a probation violation and being considered a danger to the public, records show. He is not charged with shooting three people about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 15 after a gathering of motorcycle riders about 11:30 the night before blocked traffic, police said. Patrol officers responded to the motorcycle incident, but the group dispersed, police said. Officers were called back three hours later to a report of shots fired at the same location, police said. The wounds were not life-threatening and the victims were treated at area hospitals, police said. Diaz was arrested Monday in the 1000 block of Turner Street, police said. He was carrying a firearm at the time, police said. Diazs preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 1:45 p.m. Sept. 2 before District Judge Rashid Santiago, records show. Diaz is being represented by the Lehigh County Public Defenders Office, but a specific attorney was not listed in court papers. He pleaded guilty March 3 to a 2019 possession of a controlled substance charge and a possession with intent to deliver count was withdrawn in that deal, records show. He was sentenced to one year of probation, records show. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. The National Weather has upgraded the storm to an "extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane," noting that the storm surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland. "Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana," the service wrote Wednesday. READ MORE: Hurricane Laura evacuees are starting to arrive in San Antonio. Heres what happens next. More than half a million people have been ordered to evacuate their homes near the Texas-Louisiana state line, including the cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur. Live cameras along the Texas Coast reveal high waves and dark clouds as the storm approaches. Here are several beach cams in the Galveston area: Crystal Beach Bluewater Beach Cam Stingaree Bay Cam Galveston Babes Beach Cam Beach Cam East Beach Video Cam Murdochs Cam Pleasure Pier Cam Seawall Cam Surf Cam Houston Live Tower Cam Pasadena Strawberry Water Park Pakistani Kashmir Residents Fear Power Project Will Destroy Economy, Livelihood By Roshan Mughal August 25, 2020 Shoukat Nawaz remembers the days when he could enjoy the fresh cold air on his balcony in a three-story house along a riverbank in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Today, a stench greets him as he goes outside. "Now it stinks here. The smell is really bad, and the temperature has also changed because the water level has dropped so much," said Nawaz, a 46-year-old bookseller. Nawaz was one of hundreds of locals including members of political parties and trade unions, students, and activists who joined a torch-bearing rally Monday evening in Muzaffarabad against the diversion of two rivers flowing through the city. The Save the Rivers Campaign that organized Monday's protest blames the changes in river flow on a hydropower project, the Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project, that diverted one of the two rivers that flow through the city to a tunnel to generate electricity. A second initiative in the pipeline, the Kohala Hydroelectric Power Project, plans to similarly divert the other river. The 1,100-megawatt project is being built by a Chinese company, the China Three Gorges, at a cost of $2.4 billion. It is expected to come online in 2026. It is facing intense opposition from campaigners who say they have seen the negative impact of the first project and fear the collective effect of the two would completely destroy the river's ecology, the surrounding city's environment, and the tourism industry that supports the livelihood of many locals. The head of Pakistani Kashmir's environmental protection agency, Adnan Khurshaid, said environmental impact studies had been done and standards and safeguards identified before allowing the project to go forward. The two rivers, Neelum and Jhelum, flow through the mountainous city together. Their water, glacial melt, used to be ice cold in summer, maintaining the city's temperature and making it a thriving tourist destination. They also served as a natural waste management system for the city's untreated sewerage. The Pakistan government body, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), responsible for the Neelum-Jhelum project, promised to build several sewage treatment plants and three artificial lakes to maintain temperature, and to retain a certain water level in the river at all times. Residents said while the project came online in 2018, none of the three promises has yet to be fulfilled, leading to not just environmental damage but a negative impact on the health of the local community. Cases of hepatitis, malaria and typhoid have increased after the diversion of the first river, according to Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, a community health and child specialist in Muzaffarabad. Ahmed said he has observed less rain and higher temperatures in the city since the change in water flow. "We are facing severe issues due to the diversion of one river. We cannot afford the diversion of the other," he said. The prime minister of Pakistani Kashmir, who earlier in the year agreed with the campaigners and promised that he would help address their concerns, seems to have changed his position and is now in favor of the project. His government pointed out that the project will create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars as water usage charges. "Initially, Kohala will fetch in 10,000 jobs for locals and electricity and taxes for the government," said Dr. Mustafa Bashir, a minister in Pakistani Kashmir's government. He said the Kohala project included five artificial lakes as well as schools and parks to provide education and jobs for locals. "This project's life is 100 years and it will be handed over to us free of cost after 30 years," allowing the Kashmiri government to earn millions in taxes on electricity produced in future, he said. WAPDA only paid the Kashmiri government water usage charges for the earlier Neelum-Jhelum project. Some residents who hoped to sell their land for a good price for this project also support it. "The project will lift the economy of the area due to provision of jobs to locals," said Naheed Abbasi, a contractor whose land and fuel pump are expected be acquired for the Kohala project. The Kashmiri EPA promises to enforce the implementation of mitigation measures. Save the Rivers campaigners say the past record of the agency does not bode well for the future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HONG KONG, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Tuesday completed the 23rd rotation since it began garrisoning Hong Kong in 1997. Approved by the Central Military Commission, the move is a normal routine annual rotation in line with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Garrisoning the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The officers and soldiers leaving Hong Kong on rotation had successfully completed all tasks during their garrison in Hong Kong. On their departure, through the garrison's information office, they thanked all sectors of the Hong Kong society and the general public for their support during their stay in Hong Kong. The new personnel have been trained and carried out studies in bases in the mainland to master military skills to fulfill the defence duty of Hong Kong's defense before arriving at the garrison barracks. They pledged to resolutely obey the command of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, strictly abide by the Basic Law of the HKSAR, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Garrisoning the HKSAR and other HKSAR laws and effectively perform the defense duty of Hong Kong so as to make new and greater contributions to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests and maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. In fact, it was General Dwight Eisenhower, a future Republican president, who said: Democracy is a system that recognizes the equality of humans before the law. Whether you are the family of Breonna Taylor or David Dorn, these are the ideals that will heal our nations wounds. Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts, but neither will we accept this all-out assault on western civilization. My values were shaped by my faith, and by my parents. I worked at their small coffee shop, meeting people from all walks of life. And I realized something: everyone needs a cup of coffee. That lesson has stuck with me because, despite our difference, we all want the same things: For our children to have more opportunities than we did; to feel the dignity of work; and to believe that if you play by the rules, you can make a good life for yourself and your family. So the question is: will we choose the path that gives us the best chance to meet those universal desires? Or will we go backward, to a time when people were treated like political commodities who cant be trusted to think for themselves? I think often about my ancestors who struggled for freedom. And as I think of those giants and their broad shoulders, I also think about Joe Biden, who says, if you arent voting for me, you aint black. Who argued that Republicans would put us back in chains. Who says there is no diversity of thought in the Black community. Mr. Vice President look at me, I am Black. We are not all the same, sir. I am not in chains. My mind is my own. And you cant tell me how to vote because of the color of my skin. Myanmar disqualifies Rohingya politicians from contesting elections Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 5:57 PM Authorities in Myanmar have disqualified six Rohingya politicians from contesting the upcoming general elections for the lack of ID documents in Rakhine State, where the Muslim community has faced state-sponsored violence and apartheid-like conditions. At least a dozen Rohingya with Myanmarese citizenship had applied to run in the November 8 general elections. At least six of them were rejected after officials said they failed to prove their parents were citizens at the time of their birth, a requirement under the election law. "We have all these documents that the government issued, and they don't accept the fact that my parents are citizens. I feel bad about that and concerned," one of the rejected Rohingya candidates, Abdul Rasheed, said. Aye Win, a Rohingya candidate who has been approved to stand in the elections, said there was little hope of victory unless many more Rohingya were granted citizenship before the vote. While voter lists have been posted across the country, none has appeared at the camps outside Sittwe, the capital of the country's Rakhine State. About 130,000 Rohingya Muslims live in what rights group Amnesty International has described as "apartheid" conditions in camps around Sittwe. Successive governments in Myanmar have stripped the Rohingya of their identity documents. "Everyone in Myanmar, regardless of their ethnicity or religion, must have the same opportunity to contest in elections," said Tun Khin, the head of the Burma Rohingya Organization UK, urging international donors to halt funding to Myanmar. Rakhine, home to the persecuted Rohingya Muslims, came to global attention in 2017 when more than 750,000 Rohingya, mostly women and children, fled to neighboring Bangladesh to escape a military crackdown that UN investigators have said was carried out with "genocidal intent." Bangladesh was already hosting some 200,000 Rohingya when the exodus began. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims remain in Myanmar, confined to camps and villages and denied access to healthcare and education. The Rohingya have inhabited Rakhine for centuries, but the state denies them citizenship. Bangladesh refuses to grant them citizenship, too. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 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... Two UW Students Receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Hannah Rodgers, a first-year Ph.D. candidate, was one of two UW students to receive an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. She will use her fellowship to study sustainable agriculture and soil science, with a focus on soil microbiology. (Hannah Rodgers Photo) Theodora Zastrocky will research supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies, while Hannah Rodgers will look at things a little closer to Earth, specifically examining soil microbiology. The two University of Wyoming graduate students are recipients of National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is among the nations most highly competitive awards for graduate studies. Fellowships provide each student with a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees -- paid to the institution -- as well as access to opportunities for professional development available to NSF-supported graduate students. Fellowships may only be used for an eligible graduate degree program at an academic institution accredited in and having a campus located in the U.S., its territories, possessions or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I will study sustainable agriculture and soil science, with a focus on soil microbiology in the labs of Jay Norton and Linda van Diepen, says Rodgers, a first-year Ph.D. student from St. Louis, Mo., who is studying soil science. Specifically, I want to see how agricultural management decisions -- crop rotation, fertilization and tillage -- affect soil microbes, and how soil microbiology can be used to monitor soil health and inform sustainability efforts in agriculture. Norton is a professor in the UW Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, and van Diepen is an assistant professor in the department. Eventually, I want to be part of an effort to support farmers in transitioning to sustainable practices as part of a nonprofit or government group, such as the Soil Health Institute, extension or the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, Rodgers says. Theodora Zastrocky, a first-year Ph.D. student at UW, will use her NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to study supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies. (Theodora Zastrocky Photo) Zastrocky, a first-year Ph.D. student from Durango, Colo., majoring in astronomy, will work with Mike Brotherton, a professor in the UW Department of Physics and Astronomy, on the Monitoring AGNs (active galactic nuclei) with Hbeta Asymmetry project. This fellowship allows me to get started in research right away rather than needing to be a TA (teaching assistant) my first year, Zastrocky explains. It also gives me flexibility in what projects I choose to work on. NSF Fellows are knowledgeable experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society. About the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Launched in 1952 shortly after Congress established the NSF, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program represents the nation's oldest continuous investment in the U.S. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce. The Graduate Research Fellowship Program is a vital part of NSF efforts to foster and promote excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics by recognizing talent broadly from across the nation and U.S. territories. The awards are provided to individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements. Since the programs inception, NSF has funded over 50,000 Graduate Research Fellowships out of more than 500,000 applicants. Currently, 42 fellows have gone on to become Nobel laureates, and more than 450 have become members of the National Academy of Sciences. Additionally, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program has a high rate of doctorate degree completion, with more than 70 percent of students completing their doctorates within 11 years. Generators started flying off the shelves on Tuesday as meteorologists predicted Hurricane Laura could strengthen, veer west and bring damaging winds to Houston. With the city reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, this new tropical foe stirred fear of widespread power outages at a time when many are stuck at home. Lest they be caught off guard by what is shaping up to be a serious storm, masked shoppers shouldered their way through aisles looking for battery packs, flashlights, canned goods and more. Anything that might make a spell without power more tolerable. On HoustonChronicle.com: Hidalgo orders voluntary evacuation for coastal Harris County residents amid Hurricane Laura Customers also readied to bolster their windows and homes to withstand hurricane-force winds. Dwayne Myers, store manager at C & D Hardware in the Heights, said people came in droves on Tuesday to buy things such as weather stripping, gas cans, charcoal, duct tape and rope. Were actually doing, like, Saturday numbers right now, he said, staring down a long line of customers at the register. At the Lowes in Spring Branch on Tuesday morning, shoppers claimed remaining generators by sitting on them. As word spread that more were coming, a line of anxious customers grew. To head off surging demand, Home Depot shipped 170 truckloads of hurricane supplies to stores in Texas and Louisiana, said Melanie Payne, the companys regional director of operations. Those shipments included popular items such as generators, batteries and plywood. When a storm is approaching, our focus is to get the products in the stores and to stay open as long as its safe, she said. As more people board up windows to stave off damage, Payne said the demand for plywood extended beyond coastal stores. We have seen heavy demands for plywood, she said. Obviously that demand was driven by the coastal stores but it has trickled into the Houston market. Both Home Depot and Walmart were preparing hurricane command posts on Tuesday to monitor areas impacted by the coming storm and to see where more supplies might be needed. On HoustonChronicle.com: Hurricane Laura: The latest forecasts for Houston, SE Texas We definitely have seen an uptick in business in some key areas where the community is working hard to prepare, Payne said. Sales on items such as toilet paper, bottled water and batteries are on the rise at area Walmart stores, said Robert Arrieta, a spokesman for the retailer. We stay closely connected to our operators in the field to help ensure were stocking the appropriate items, Arrieta, said, keeping track of shipments and moving product to areas where we anticipate there will be the greatest need before and after a storm. Major grocery chains are ordering hundreds of cases of apples, potatoes and other staples, said Brent Erenwert, chief executive of produce distributor Brothers Produce. Everyones scrambling in panic because theyre going to be stuck in their houses. H-E-B is working with vendors to restock shelves to meet increased customer demand, said Lisa Helfman, director of Public affairs for H-E-B in Houston. Staple items include water, bread, batteries, nonperishable foods, baby formula and ice. She said hurricane preparations happen year-round at H-E-B, where generators stand ready in the event of outages. The retailer also has hurricane-specific inventory in several warehouses across the state for use after the storm. Nancy Sarnoff and Rebecca Schuetz contributed reporting. amanda.drane@chron.com YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. Some 51 people were detained during protests in Belarus on August 25, which were attended by 4,800 citizens, TASS reports citing the republics Interior Ministry. The biggest number of protesters were in Minsk, Brest and Molodechno, the ministry said. Some 16,750 people took part in the pro-Lukashenko events in support of peace, security and calm in Belarus. The most active events took place in the Brest and Grodno regions as well as in the capital and in the Minsk Region. Belarus has been hit by mass protests after the August 9 presidential election. The protesters challenged the outcome of the vote. According to the final data of the Central Election Commission, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80.10% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was considered as his key rival, garnered 10.12% of the ballot. During the first days of riots, the protesters clashed with police. Over 6,000 people were detained while dozens of police officers and protesters were injured. Midland ISD students will start the phase-in process on Monday. The district announced Tuesday that in the first phase, pre-K students and self-contained students, according to their (individualized education programs) for all grades will be back on campus daily, beginning on Monday. The second phase is set for Sept. 8, when kindergarteners through second-graders and Midland Alternative program students return to campus Monday through Friday. On that day, sixth- and seventh-grade students at Young Womens Leadership Academy and San Jacinto Junior High School return for blended instruction. That model allows students to be divided into two groups (A and B) -- one group is on campus while the other remains at home for online instruction. Seventh-grade students at Abell, Alamo, and Goddard junior high schools also start blended instruction that day. The remaining students in third through 12th grade return for blended instruction on Sept. 15, which is the third phase. Midland ISD also reported Tuesday that all students enrolled in the Midland ISD Online Academy will continue with fully virtual learning. The phase-in process will be gradual, as we move from fully at-home instruction to blended learning instruction, according to the district in a press release. Families of students returning to blended instruction will receive additional information from their home campuses. This is in line with plans that the district previously announced regarding the variety of instructional models made available depending on the spread of COVID-19. The decision to return to the classroom is a reflection of reduced spread of COVID in our community in recent weeks. For more information, visit midlandisd.net/fall2020. Phase 1: Monday On campus Monday through Friday --Pre-K students --Self-contained students according to their IEP for all grades Phase 2: Sept. 8 On campus Monday through Friday --Pre-K second-grade students --Self-contained students according to their IEP for all grades --MAP (DDAEP) students A/B schedule, blended-instruction model --sixth- through seventh graders at YWLA and San Jacinto Junior High --seventh-graders at Abell, Alamo and Goddard junior high schools Phase 3: Sept. 15 On campus Monday through Friday --Pre-K through second-grade students --Self-contained students according to their IEP for all grades --MAP (DDAEP) students A/B schedule, blended-instruction model: --All third- through sixth-grade students --All seventh- through eighth-grade students --All ninth- through 12th-grade students South Sudans state-controlled Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet) has started preparations to take over the management of some oilfields in the country by 2027, when it will let the contract with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) as operator expire, Nilepets managing director Chol Deng Thon Abel told Bloomberg in an interview published on Wednesday. CNPC leads one of the two main operating consortia in the country, Dar Petroleum Operating Company. The other members of the Dar Petroleum consortium Malaysias Petronas, Chinas Sinopec, and privately owned Tri-Ocean Energy are also set to leave the blocks in 2027, Nilepets top executive told Bloomberg. The consortium operates in two blocks in the Upper Nile. South Sudan, reeling from years of civil war, the previous oil price crash, and the latest coronavirus crisis, now aims to boost the states participation in the oil industry as it needs more oil revenues. South Sudan broke from Sudan in 2011 and took with it around 350,000 bpd in oil production. After South Sudans secession from Sudan, the two countries have been mutually dependent on oil revenues because the south has 75 percent of the oil reserves, while the north has the only current transport route for the oil to international markets. But then civil war in South Sudan broke out in 2013, which further complicated oil production. The oil price crash the following year additionally affected oil income for the ravaged economies of both countries. Currently, South Sudan pumps around 170,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), and it aims to grow its production in the future. However, the country has struggled to increase oil production due to the crash in demand with the coronavirus crisis. Fears of the pandemic spreading have also delayed the commissioning of South Sudans first refinery in Sabinat, which at a mere 8,000-bpd capacity could substantially improve oil products availability. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The festival will take place 1-11 September, presided over by Alaa Abdel Aziz Suleiman In its 27th edition, the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre (CIFET) will invite audiences to performances held across Egyptian theatres, in addition to several online shows. The festival will consist of two new segments: Filmed Performances and Lockdown Performances, with each consisting of nine Arab and international plays that will be screened online, through the festival's YouTube channel. The festival will also present live performances in the Live Theatre segment, presenting 13 plays by Egyptian theatre makers to be staged across Cairo's theatres. According to the festival's management, over 600 plays have been submitted for committee review. The opening of the festival will take place at the Cairo National Theatre grounds on 1 September. During the opening, eight renowned theatre figures from Egypt, the Arab world and international scene will be honoured for their contributions to theatre. In addition, a special ceremony celebrating Egypt's National Theatre Day, on 5 September, will be held, also honouring theatre makers. The festival's 27th edition is headed by Alaa Abdel Aziz Suleiman who has introduced numerous changes to the event. One of the fundamental decisions taken by Suleiman is bringing back the festival's original name the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre which it held from its founding in 1988 until 2010. The festival's continuity was interrupted by the January 2011 Revolution and the many changes that took place in Egypt's artistic scene in the following years. After a five-year hiatus, the festival returned in 2016 with its 23rd edition and a new name: the Cairo International Festival for Experimental and Contemporary Theatre (CIFCET). Suleiman also decided to bring back the festival's competitive character, one that characterised the event between 1988 and 2010. Suleiman also announced that Fawzi Fahmy will be the festival's honorary president. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:11:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam speaks in the opening ceremony of Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point, on Aug. 26, 2020. With a new checkpoint linking Shenzhen opening on Wednesday, Hong Kong will be able to tap more opportunities in the enormous markets of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point started opening to cargo trucks at 4:00 p.m. local time Wednesday, the seventh land-based port at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary. The new checkpoint also came as the first with direct access facilities for both passengers and vehicles. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) HONG KONG, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- With a new checkpoint linking Shenzhen opening on Wednesday, Hong Kong will be able to tap more opportunities in the enormous markets of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point started opening to cargo trucks at 4:00 p.m. local time Wednesday, the seventh land-based port at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary. The new checkpoint also came as the first with direct access facilities for both passengers and vehicles. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has said it will relieve the freight traffic pressure on cross-boundary checkpoints and facilitate the smooth and efficient logistics operation. In the past, cargo vehicles headed for eastern Guangdong province had to pass through busy districts before crossing the boundary. "The new crossing can ease the traffic at land-based ports...and improve the clearance and services of Hong Kong ports in general," said Lu Pei-yu, senior engineer of the Civil Engineering and Development Department of the HKSAR government. The government expects the new port to handle 17,850 vehicle trips and 30,000 passenger trips a day. Chan Dik-sau, chairman of the Container Transportation Employees General Union, said the transport sector welcomes the operation of the new port. While the clearance for trucks requires complicated procedures and costs more time due to the epidemic, the new checkpoint put into use will help mitigate the situation, he said. About four decades ago, there were only two land-based checkpoints at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary, Lo Wu and Man Kam To. With increasingly closer ties between Hong Kong and the mainland, more have been built to speed up goods transport and passenger travels. Tang Chi-wai was among the first batch of drivers passing the new checkpoint on Wednesday afternoon. The man who has driven cargo trucks for 30 years said he was excited to witness the historical moment. Decades ago, crossing the boundary for truck drivers was no easy job. But now not only there are multiple checkpoints to choose but the procedures of clearance have also become easier and faster. As for Tang, checkpoints are also the evidence of coordinated development of Hong Kong and the mainland. Back in the 1990s, there used to be wasteland at the Shenzhen side of the Man Kam To port but now high-rise buildings are quite common in the city, he said. The new land port, located in the area planned for innovation and technology sectors, will offer fresh opportunities for high-tech cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Liang Haiming, a Hong Kong-based economist said. Liang believes that more convenient boundary-crossing travels will provide Hong Kong tech firms with a broader development room. In the opening ceremony of the new port, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said in her speech that multiple major cross-boundary projects have been built in recent years, including a high-speed railway and a gigantic sea crossing, and more are still in the pipeline. Those projects have shortened the distance between Hong Kong and the mainland, pushed forward the "one-hour living circle," and laid a solid foundation for the development of the Greater Bay Area, Lam said. Analysts believe that Hong Kong, by further integrating into the Greater Bay Area development, can make full use of its advantages in education and professional services and make greater progress, which in return will bolster the Greater Bay Area as a robust growth point of the whole country. Chinese authorities in February 2019 unveiled the development outline for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, aiming to build the region into a role model of high-quality development. The Greater Bay Area consists of Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities of Guangdong province. Enditem Sebastian Stan and girlfriend Alejandra Onieva have kept their romance fairly private since they started dating earlier this year. And the Captain America: The Winter Soldier actor, 38, and Spanish beauty, 28, looked happy to be together while spotted out and about in the Manhattan borough of New York on Tuesday. Stan was inconspicuous in a grey tee shirt and jeans while his other half turned heads in an ab-baring ensemble. Casual outing: Sebastian Stan and his girlfriend Alejandra Onieva took a stroll around New York's Manhattan borough on Tuesday Sebastian didn't particularly stand out in his basic look. But it was hard to ignore his actress love, who flaunted her abs wearing a tight, white baby tee with matching trousers slung low and her hips and secured with a classic Louis Vuitton belt. She let her golden blonde locks flow down her back, shiny and smooth while tossing a simple leather satchel over her shoulder. Neither actors appeared to be worried about wearing masks. Sebastian pulled a disposable medical mask under his chin while his new flame had hers hanging off to the side on one ear. White hot: Stan was inconspicuous in a grey tee shirt and jeans but his other half turned heads in an ab-baring ensemble Sebastian and Alejandra were first linked after they were seen smooching on a yacht in Ibiza back in July. Since, they've returned to New York City, which Romanian/American actor Stan previously called 'home.' 'This is where my home is. I dont have a place somewhere else to run off to,' he told The Cut in May, during the height of the Big Apple's pandemic. 'People that dont live here, they just picture it to be this very lonely place. And it can be lonely, but its really not. I just feel a tremendous amount of pride being here, because its where I live.' Exes: Stan has previously been linked romantically to Leighton Meester (above together in 2009) as well as Dianna Agron and Jennifer Morrison In spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Sebastian meanwhile remains an in-demand and busy actor. The Gossip Girl star has a total of six projects in some form of development, including a high-profile spy thriller called 355 opposite Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong'o, Edgar Ramirez and Bingbing Fan. Stan, who has previously been linked romantically to Leighton Meester as well as Dianna Agron and Jennifer Morrison, will also be reprising his MCU role of Bucky Barnes in at least two new projects. The regulatory and quality of care violations outlined and alleged in these state documents are gravely serious, and extremely concerning, said Joseph DeMattos, president and chief executive of the Health Facilities Association of Maryland. Some of the violations are related to covid-19 and some are not. And while these centers have the right to appeal, we all have a sacred obligation to work with federal, state leaders and others to ensure the quality and safe care of our loved ones. ASUS has been taking a cautious approach to its new phones, at a time when rivals continue to churn out a mix of flagship and midrange devices. Take the ROG Phone 3: its basically just an updated ROG Phone II. The same goes for the ZenFone 7 series announced today, with both models being (pretty much) scaled-up, 5G-capable versions of the ZenFone 6. Apparently people really liked the flip camera on the ZenFone 6, so much that ASUS decided to keep this feature for its 2020 flagship. It means you can use the main cameras for better selfies, instead of making do with a weaker punch-hole camera. This new flip camera comes with three cameras instead of two. The ZenFone 7 series consists of two models: the ZenFone 7 Pro and the near-identical ZenFone 7. Ill be focusing on the Pro here, since thats the one Ive been playing with. ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro In addition to the 64-megapixel f/1.8 main camera and the 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, the ZenFone 7 Pros flip camera module has gained an 8-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera, which offers 3x fixed optical zoom (and up to 12x digital zoom). As a bonus, both the main camera and the telephoto camera come with 4-axis OIS (optical image stabilization). ASUS claims that the cameras here perform significantly better than last years model. The main camera is powered by Sonys IMX686 imaging sensor, which can apparently capture four times the brightness than before in low-light conditions. The sensor is also capable of recording video at up to 8K at 30fps or 4K slow motion at 120fps, making the phone a versatile video camera. For the ultra-wide camera, ASUS decided to go with the new IMX363 sensor, which has its pros and cons: it features a slightly lower resolution and field of view than last years camera module, but in return, it packs larger 1.4um pixels for better light sensitivity, along with dual pixel autofocus and macro mode (down to 4cm). This is a wise decision for improving both landscape photography and group selfies, especially when lighting isnt ideal. The new sensor can also handle 4K capture at up to 60fps, along with HyperSteady electronic stabilization and real-time distortion correction. Story continues ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro All these camera benefits apply to both front and rear capture. Or at any angle, for that matter -- just press and hold the flip button in the camera app or use the volume keys to manually adjust the angle. This is particularly handy if your subject is placed at an awkward height or position. There are also three customizable angle buttons -- you can press and hold to save a new angle. Sadly, the unit I received wasnt carrying the finished camera software, so ASUS told me the image quality wasnt representative of the product. Ill update this article with some sample shots once my phone gets the final update. Another major, but less obvious, update to the flip camera is its moving mechanism. According to ASUS, the ZenFone 7 series stepper motor is 40-percent smaller than before, yet its capable of 2.2 times more torque to handle the heavier module with a faster rotation. Its redesigned gearbox and a new angle sensor also allow more precise movements, going from the old 2-degree steps to smaller 0.5-degree steps. Even the level of durability has been doubled to 200,000 continuous flips, according to ASUS. This equates to over five years of usage if you flipped the camera 100 times per day (which is, of course, rather excessive). Like before, if you drop the phone while attempting a selfie, the camera will automatically retract during the fall. That said, the ZenFone 7 series isnt waterproof due to the nature of the flip camera design, so youll want to keep the phone away from liquids. ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro The new flip camera supports improved auto panorama and motion tracking video recording, with the former now compatible with the ultra-wide camera for some wider panorama shots. The more demanding users will also enjoy new features like independent focus point and exposure point controls, along with the Pro Video mode which lets you tinker with the ISO, shutter speed, white balance and more. Its worth mentioning that the ZenFone 7 series comes with not two but three microphones for better noise cancellation. These add the ability to focus on the sound coming from a subject, and you can even pick the audio direction (front, back or all directions) when recording in Pro Video mode. ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro Another physical feature worthy of a mention is the new Smart Key. Its actually just the power button with an integrated fingerprint reader, but it also doubles as a multi-function key. This is a cunning approach, as this all-in-one Smart Key can be customized to instantly unlock and toggle an app or action in one go; or you can leave it as-is for summoning Google Assistant. In terms of core specs, the ZenFone 7 Pro shares the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor as the ROG Phone 3. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, microSD expansion (up to 2TB) and dual SIM slots. Nothing surprising here for a flagship, of course, so its really all about that flip camera. And if it werent for the third camera and the relocated fingerprint reader, youd easily mistake the ZenFone 7 Pro for the ZenFone 6. When placed side by side, though, youll see the new device is much larger. Despite carrying the same generous 5,000mAh battery, the ZenFone 7 Pro is also a lot heavier, weighing 230g (about 8.1 ounces) compared to its 190g (about 6.7 ounces) predecessor; though this shouldnt be a problem for those who are accustomed to the iPhone 11 Pro Max. ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro The ZenFone 7 Pro has a 6.67-inch Samsung AMOLED panel, which features a slick 90Hz refresh rate and 200Hz touch sampling rate, along with a longer aspect ratio (2,400 x 1,080) and a maximum outdoor brightness of 700 nits -- about the same as what youd get on the latest flagships from Samsung and Apple. You also get HDR10+ support, which already works with Netflix; just too bad about the lack of front-facing stereo speakers here. ASUS threw in a 30W adapter which supports Quick Charge 4.0 protocol, and this can get the 5,000mAh battery up to 60-percent charge in 34 minutes, or 100-percent charge in 93 minutes. Also included in the box are two protection cases: a hard transparent case and a more rugged black Active Case -- the latter has a latch to lock the flip camera in place for better protection. If you were looking for something a little cheaper, the lesser ZenFone 7 is almost identical to its Pro counterpart, except it packs the less powerful Snapdragon 865 processor along with both 6GB and 8GB RAM options, a smaller 128GB storage and cameras sans OIS. ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro The ZenFone 7 series will launch in Taiwan first, with pre-orders starting today. The ZenFone 7 Pro will start from NT$27,990 (about US$950) with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, whereas the more affordable ZenFone 7 is priced starting at NT$21,999 (about US$750) with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Alas, ASUS has confirmed to Engadget that the ZenFone 7 series wont be heading to North America, mainly due to the lack of most US 5G bands on the devices. Folks in Europe, however, can look out for a local launch as early as September 1st. The Dutch royal family have released stunning new portraits of Queen Maxima's lookalike daughters at Noordeinde Palace. Princess Catharina-Amalia, 16, Princess Alexia, 15, and Princess Ariane, 13, posed in elegant summer frocks in the six images, taken in July. Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander's eldest daughter Amalia opted for a pale blue belted dress, teamed with delicate gold necklaces. The Dutch royal family have released stunning new portraits of Queen Maxima's lookalike daughters at Noordeinde Palace. Pictured: Princess Catharina-Amalia Princess Alexia (pictured left), 15, and Princess Ariane (pictured right), 13, posed in elegant summer frocks in the six images, taken in July The Princess of Orange, who will one day become the Queen of the Netherlands, bore a striking resemblance to her mother, with the pair sharing the same long blonde locks. Her sister Alexia appeared just as stylish in a white, long-sleeved gown featuring bronze button detailing, which she paired with plenty of vibrant bracelets and necklaces. Matching her sibling, Princess Ariane sported a white summer dress with pretty puff detail on the arms. Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander's eldest daughter Catharina-Amalia opted for a pale blue belted dress, teamed with delicate gold necklaces (pictured) Princess Ariane sported a white summer dress with pretty puff detail on the arms (pictured) Her sister Alexia appeared just as stylish in a white, long-sleeved gown featuring bronze button detailing, which she paired with plenty of vibrant bracelets and necklaces (pictured) Queen Maxima's three daughters looked strikingly similar with their long loosely-curled hair. Three of the six images were posted on the royal family's Instagram account, showing the sisters standing in one of the palace's lavish rooms. The caption read: 'Today, new photos of Princesses Amalia, Alexia and Ariane have been posted on the Royal Household website. The photos were taken in July in Noordeinde Palace.' It comes following Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander's public apology after failing to practice social distancing while posing for a photo with a restaurant worker during their Greek holiday. It comes following Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander's public apology after failing to practice social distancing while posing for a photo (pictured) with a restaurant worker during their Greek holiday The Dutch royals took to Twitter (above) to apologise for not practicing the 1.5 metres apart guideline imposed by The Netherlands, in addition to not wearing face masks The Dutch couple who visited the Greek island of Milos with their daughters this summer were criticised for not practising guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus during their trip. A photo uploaded on social media shows Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander posing alongside an unidentified restaurant employee, less than one metre apart. They took to Twitter to apologise for not practicing the 1.5 metres apart guideline imposed by The Netherlands, in addition to not wearing face masks. Three Miles College students were taken to the hospital Tuesday night after a fire broke out in a dorm room. The blaze erupted about 8:45 p.m. in a room on the third floor of Murchison Hall, which is a mens dormitory. The initial reports called in to 911 were that people were trapped on the top floor and at least one male had jumped from the top floor. Ashley Sutton, the director of public relations for Miles College, said they had not yet confirmed those reports. The fire, she said, was isolated to a single room. The three students transported to area hospitals had minor injuries. One of those students injuries were related to the fire and the other two were from unrelated medical issues. Murchison Hall was evacuated but officials did not yet know the cause of the blaze, the extent of the damage, or how many residents would be able to return to their rooms. School officials, Sutton said, had a plan in place to house any students who were displaced by the blaze. Multiple first responder agencies were dispatched to the campus including Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, Fairfield Fire, Midfield Fire and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. Last month, Olympus unveiled an app that transformed its OM-D cameras into webcams on Windows, but a Mac version was nowhere to be found. Now, the company has rectified that with a beta webcam version for macOS. As with the Windows version, the Webcam Beta Software only works with five Olympus OM-D models: the E-M1X, E-M1, E-M1 Mark II, E-M1 Mark III and the E-M5 Mark II. As before, you install the software, connect the camera to your Mac and fire up your favorite video conferencing app. It has been tested to work with OBS, Google Chrome and Zoom through Google Chrome, Olympus said, though it could work with other apps as well. Olympus recently sold off its camera division to the company that purchased Sonys Vaio, but so far it doesnt seem to have affected its product releases. Olympus just unveiled the $700 E-M10 Mark IV with a new sensor and flip-down screen, with the camera joining the recently released E-M1 III high-end and E-M5 Mark II mid-range model. As it stands now, only Canon, Fujifilm and Olympus have official webcam apps that work on both Mac and PC, while Sony, Nikon and Panasonic have Windows versions, for now. You can grab Olympus beta macOS here, and for more on connecting your camera as a webcam, check out our guide. Police attempt to push back protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, late Monday in Kenosha, Wis. (David Goldman / Associated Press) The tragedy unfolding in Kenosha, Wis., worsened overnight in ways that are at once shocking but also seemingly inevitable. Two people were shot dead and another wounded as protesters and self-styled militiamen faced off during a third night of street demonstrations after police on Sunday shot and gravely wounded yet another apparently unarmed Black man, Jacob Blake. Details of the latest violence remain sketchy Wednesday morning, but videos and photographs show verbal confrontations between protesters and heavily armed volunteers who said they were trying to protect a gas station in the area racked by vandalism, theft and arson the previous night. Theyre a militia, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters. Theyre like a vigilante group. In one of the videos, a young white man carrying a military-style rifle can be seen running down a street pursued by a small group of people as one person yells, "He shot someone!" One man knocks the gunman to the ground, and in the scuffle the gunman opens fire, appearing to hit two people at close range. He then gets back onto his feet and walks calmly down the road toward emergency vehicles. Police later reported the arrest of Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, in Lake County, Ill., in connection with the deaths. So why does this escalation of violence seem inevitable? Because of the guns. Protests have roiled the nation for three months now following the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police and the shooting death of Breonna Taylor during a police raid in Louisville, Ky. Those protests have at times turned destructive and violent, which is bad enough. But there's been a lethal element too the slayings in Kenosha add to at least a dozen others connected with protests across more than 100 cities this summer, an emotional outpouring of frustration over the nation's inability to counter anti-Black racism. Self-styled militias have also shown up at sites of peaceful protests in organized and unwelcome displays of firepower, ostensibly to protect life and property but in reality just ratcheting up tension with their overt attempts at intimidation. The militias aren't the cause of all or even most of the violence, of course, but their presence is an unnecessary infusion of yet more volatility. Story continues In Albuquerque, a 31-year-old man, part of a group intending to stop demonstrators from harming a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate, was arrested in June after allegedly shooting and wounding one of the protesters. The same month, police here in California charged an Air Force sergeant affiliated with the boogaloo movement right-wing provocateurs intent on fomenting civil war in the shooting deaths of a federal security guard in Oakland and a Santa Cruz sheriffs deputy. Meanwhile, the restrictions imposed by state and local governments to slow the spread of COVID-19 fueled their own strain of frustration and tension, prompting a separate set of anti-government demonstrations. In several places, protests have included the open display of firearms by people (nearly all men), most notoriously in the halls of the Michigan State Capitol. This is democracy in action: Peaceful protests against institutional racism and the deaths of unarmed Black people at the hands of police. Peaceful protests against statues erected to venerate the nation's white supremacist roots. Peaceful protests against public health orders. And counterprotests against all those other protests. Voices raised together to demand change, to defend the status quo, to complain about government actions or to make whatever other point they might want in the free exercise of their 1st Amendment rights. But then, violence. There is, of course, plenty of blame to go around. Protesters shouldnt resort to vandalism at least 34 fires have been set in Kenosha since Blake was shot on Sunday and opposing sides in a public debate shouldnt start pushing, shoving and swinging signs at each other. But they do. And the introduction of firearms into such scenes makes it almost inevitable that a gun will eventually get used. The details will, of course, frame our understanding of what happened in Kenosha. But what is already clear is that self-styled militia, or civilian patrols, or whatever they want to call themselves, have no business assigning themselves the armed defenders of the public peace. As we've seen over and over again, as a society we have yet to properly balance the role of the trained police in maintaining public safety in this country. Adding armed vigilantes to the mix just elevates tensions and increases the likelihood that violence will spin off in ever wider and consuming circles. By Ana Mano SAO PAULO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Brazil has asked Chinese authorities to provide results of laboratory tests that detected traces of the novel coronavirus on chicken wings exported by the South American country, according to a statement sent to Reuters by Brazil's Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday. The request was made during a meeting in the city of Shenzhen, in Guangdong province, where Brazilian agriculture attaches met local health and trade officials on Tuesday, the statement said. In response, according to the statement, the Chinese participants said the results are being kept by health authorities of Guangdong, who did not participate in the meeting. The Brazilians said they would continue to liaise with China's municipal, provincial and central government's to obtain the lab reports as well as other relevant information pertaining to the case. The contamination claim concerns chicken wings produced at a Brazilian poultry plant registered under SIF number 601, the statement said. Aurora, the company which operates that facility in Southern Brazil, voluntarily suspended poultry exports to China effective Aug. 20 pending more clarifications regarding the alleged contamination. According to the Brazilian government, Chinese officials at the meeting said three samples had tested positive for the novel coronavius: one taken from the chicken wings, and two from the packaging of products coming from Aurora's plant in the town of Xaxim. "The health authorities in Shenzhen were unable to say whether the findings concerned only the detection of the virus' genetic material or the active virus, nor were they able to provide further information about the alleged finding," the statement said. The alleged contamination led the Philippines to impose a temporary ban on poultry meat imports from Brazil while Hong Kong halted chicken imports from Aurora's Xaxim facility. (Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by David Gregorio) President Trump, in a recent press event, strongly alluded to the real and deadly electoral threat. It is not merely the potential fraud of mail-in ballots. It is the built-in incentive for unmotivated Biden-supporters, who would otherwise sit out the election, to vote. As the president said, all of the enthusiasm is with the Republicans. A huge number of would-be Democrat voters will have other things to do on Election Day. They will not bother to go to the polls, to vote for a guy who does not excite them. However, if all they have to do is to check a box on a form that was mailed to them free of charge, and requires not even a postage stamp to send it in, many otherwise non-voters will exert themselves to do that much. As for those who will not do even that, tens of thousands of vote-harvesters will knock on their doors and offer to "help" them complete and send in their ballots. Republicans will in all likelihood decline the "assistance." They will go to the polls on November 3. The Democrat tactic is all but guaranteed to swell the vote totals for Biden. In the so-called battle-ground states, Democrats could swing the election, putting Biden in the Oval Office. Undoubtedly, the Democrats need vast numbers of additional votes to overcome Republican turn-out in the election. Their one and only hope is to be able to commit fraud, and to do it on an enormous scale. Once the polls are closed and the counting begins, Democrat monitors will then try to overwhelm the system. They will meticulously challenge each and every ballot that goes against them. If nothing else, they can delay the final tally. In states where Democrats control the certification of vote totals, they will be given every reason to claim that Biden won in their state. Moreover, as the recent New York primary election shows, any uncertainty in the totals will be resolved arbitrarily in blue states, and in favor of the Democrat establishment. In red states, the Democrats will launch what they call lawfare," which is warfare by legislative and judicial means. They will loudly proclaim Republican fraud. The leftist media will proclaim right along with them. If everything they try fails, the last resort of the left will be physical violence. Leftists may not even wait that long. They may disrupt voting in selected precincts by means of riots. Certainly, they will use at least the threat of violence to attempt to intimidate election officials. Democrats would have used these tactics in 2016, but they did not think them necessary. They thought Hillary Clinton would be crowned the winner without resorting to extreme measures. Only after the election did they realize their mistake. They then turned over every stone, even seeking to openly bribe electors. Now that they know better, they recognize that only the most extreme measures will give them what they seek. They have learned their lesson and will apply it brutally. If the Democrat tactics are to be defeated, it will require, as a beginning, that every Republican go in person to the polls and vote. That alone will not be enough to overcome the massive fraud the Democrats are relying upon to steal the election. The Republican Party must anticipate, and counter, the dirty tricks. They must challenge in court every state that seeks to mail out ballots to millions of people. Every instance of fraud that is encountered must be promptly prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Every mail-in ballot must be scrupulously inspected, especially for signatures, and especially in states where signatures are not verified. The United States must avoid becoming another Venezuela. If the Democrats pull this off, we will never get another chance to make things right. They will see to that. Image: Ninian Reid via Flickr licensed under the Creative Commons 2.0 license (cropped). SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kong Inc. , the leading cloud connectivity company, today announced the general availability of a major new release of Kong Enterprise that enables DevOps-driven automation for running APIs and microservices across multiple clouds and data centers. The industry's only cloud native, full lifecycle API platform, Kong Enterprise 2.1 provides flexible, multi-cloud, multi-region deployment options with native service mesh support via the newly released Kong Mesh to streamline underlying infrastructure and reduce operational costs. Kong introduced a new 'Hybrid Mode' deployment option that enables customers to use declarative configuration to deploy cloud native Kong Gateway data planes across multiple clouds and data centers, and manage them through a central control plane. This release provides numerous improvements and enhanced integrations across the entire Kong Enterprise service connectivity platform to allow organizations of all sizes to accelerate adoption of modern architectures. With this release, Kong Enterprise 2.1 is the only full lifecycle solution that provides the scale, performance and end-to-end simplicity needed to efficiently manage multi-cloud and multi-data center deployments. By 2022, IDC predicts more than 90 percent of enterprises worldwide will be relying on a mix of on-premises/dedicated private clouds, multiple public clouds and legacy platforms to meet their infrastructure needs. Organizations across industries are transitioning to hybrid cloud architectures and service-driven applications to gain greater flexibility and scalability. In addition, cloud native deployments are growing fast and getting larger. A recent survey by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) revealed the vast majority (78 percent) of respondents now use Kubernetes in production environments, up from 58 percent the prior year. The enhanced Kong Enterprise provides a cohesive platform for end-to-end automation of APIs to lower the barrier for companies to start using microservices, while simplifying ongoing management of more complex architectural patterns. It also helps decrease costs by limiting footprint and reduces the potential modes of failure that could cause downtime. "Moving to the Cloud continues to be a priority for FactSet," said Demetry Zilberg, SVP and Senior Director of Global Infrastructure, FactSet. "Our team is excited about Kong Enterprise 2.1's new Hybrid Mode as it will help us deploy our API endpoints across several cloud providers, in addition to on-prem, with centralized orchestration. This ability will provide the multi-cloud and multi-region flexibility we need to scale effectively and provide a more seamless experience for clients." Key features of Kong Enterprise 2.1 include: Hybrid Mode: Customers can now run Kong data plane instances across multiple data centers, clouds and geographies without needing to run a Cassandra deployment that also spans the data planes. This eliminates an expensive and time-consuming dependency to provide greater deployment flexibility and lower operational costs. Customers can now run Kong data plane instances across multiple data centers, clouds and geographies without needing to run a Cassandra deployment that also spans the data planes. This eliminates an expensive and time-consuming dependency to provide greater deployment flexibility and lower operational costs. End-to-End API DevOps : Kong Enterprise 2.1 can be combined with the latest Kong Studio plugins included in Insomnia to further automate the API lifecycle. Users can declaratively configure their runtimes to dynamically adapt to evolving traffic conditions across hybrid environments. Kong Enterprise 2.1 can be combined with the latest plugins included in to further automate the API lifecycle. Users can declaratively configure their runtimes to dynamically adapt to evolving traffic conditions across hybrid environments. Expanded Plugin Ecosystem With Go: Kong plugins can now be built entirely in the popular Golang programming language, opening up Kong's ecosystem to vastly more developers and making onboarding to Kong Enterprise easier. Kong plugins can now be built entirely in the popular Golang programming language, opening up Kong's ecosystem to vastly more developers and making onboarding to Kong Enterprise easier. Superior App Registration : Support for any OIDC-compliant IdP in the Developer Portal app registration process means it's even easier to fit Kong into a customer's technology stack. With Kong Enterprise 2.1, app registration becomes fully supported so API consumers can self-serve their access to APIs in the Developer Portal for a better consumer experience. : Support for any OIDC-compliant IdP in the app registration process means it's even easier to fit Kong into a customer's technology stack. With Kong Enterprise 2.1, app registration becomes fully supported so API consumers can self-serve their access to APIs in the Developer Portal for a better consumer experience. Increased Visibility and Reporting : A new Kong Vitals interface in Kong Manager lets operators view usage dashboards as well as generate and export reports, giving easier access to all metrics collected by Kong Vitals over a greater period of time. : A new interface in Kong Manager lets operators view usage dashboards as well as generate and export reports, giving easier access to all metrics collected by Kong Vitals over a greater period of time. Native Service Mesh Connectivity: Kong Enterprise can be used as a service mesh ingress and egress with a native data plane integration with Kong Mesh Kong's enterprise service mesh built on top of CNCF's Kuma and Envoy on both Kubernetes and VMs and across multiple clouds. "We are thrilled to release the second generation of Kong Enterprise, which we created to support the hybrid workloads that are critical for companies of all sizes," said Marco Palladino, CTO and co-founder of Kong Inc. "As technology teams build services and applications on Kubernetes and other platforms that span multiple availability zones, data centers and clouds, they need to ensure that service connectivity is reliable and performant. Kong Enterprise is the only enterprise-grade platform providing an API gateway, Kubernetes Ingress Controller and service mesh, with the ability to run data planes decoupled from their control planes. This allows customers to more rapidly adopt and scale microservices without the cost and pain of needing to scale and maintain lots of dependencies." Availability Kong Enterprise 2.1 is available now; to access a free trial and to secure more information, please visit https://konghq.com/get-started/#free-trial . About Kong Enterprise Built on Kong's core open source technology, Kong Enterprise is a cloud native, end-to-end API and service connectivity platform that enables organizations to secure, connect and orchestrate their APIs and services. Designed for the modern era of software development including microservices, service mesh, serverless and other emerging architectures, Kong's service control platform acts as the nervous system of the cloud intelligently connecting all of a company's APIs and microservices across cloud-native, hybrid and on-prem environments to make it easy for developer teams to create scalable, microservice-driven applications that drive business growth. About Kong Inc. Kong creates software that connects APIs and microservices natively across and within clouds, Kubernetes, data centers and more using intelligent automation. Built on an open source core, Kong's solutions enable digital innovation by allowing organizations to reliably and securely manage the full lifecycle of APIs and services for modern architectures including microservices, serverless and service mesh. By providing developer teams with unprecedented architectural freedom, Kong accelerates innovation cycles, increases productivity, and seamlessly bridges legacy and modern systems and applications. For more information about Kong, please visit konghq.com or follow @thekonginc on Twitter. Media Contacts: Pauline Louie, Kong, 4157549283 Jill Reed, Sift Communications for Kong, [email protected] SOURCE Kong, Inc. Related Links http://konghq.com JUNEAU, Alaska - Additional unemployment benefits approved by the federal government are expected to reach Alaska residents in six to eight weeks, officials said. The temporary payments that will increase unemployment assistance by $300 weekly will not be available to all of the states unemployed residents. A previous federal program providing an additional $600 per week for unemployed workers expired July 25 after Congress failed to approve legislation extending the payments. Without the federal boost, the states maximum unemployment payment is $370 per week, plus a stipend for parents. State governments were given an option to provide an additional $100 per week above what the federal government is funding. Alaska independent business owners who are part of the so-called gig economy of short-term jobs, such as Uber drivers, will not receive the benefits because states were required to contribute for those workers to receive the additional federal funding. Alaska had three options for the match and Republic Gov. Mike Dunleavy chose to use the states existing unemployment benefits. The extension does not cover gig workers since 100% of the funding made available for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program is federally derived, said Cathy Munoz, deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor. If the state had contributed an extra $100 million to $160 million, gig workers would have been covered. I was not going to refuse money because certain sectors may not be covered as well as others, Dunleavy said. State Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika Ledbetter said eligible Alaska residents can expect payments dating back to July. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the states funding request and most of the delay is the result of the requirements of starting a new program, Ledbetter said. The governor said he could not advise Alaska residents how to meet expenses while waiting for the additional funds. Theres no doubt its going to be difficult for people, Dunleavy said. This whole thing has been difficult. Were going to do all we can to get the money moving. 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. 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. Wedel meant to visit his wife and children in Vietnam after months of separation, but a Covid-19 travel ban scuppered his plans. "It was 3 a.m., I kept staring at the phone and waiting for the call. When it rang, my two sleeping daughters woke up and shouted: Dad! When will you come home?" Pham Thi Thu Trang, 38, recalled talking to her partner Eric Wedel, captain of a fishing vessel in Alaska, the U.S. It took the Vietnamese mother two weeks before she could reunite with her partner via phone since Wedel's job at sea makes connectivity difficult. The American can only call Trang, his two daughters and two-year-old son when in dock, relying mostly on texts in the interim. "I am anxious since my partner and children are all F2 (those who have had close contact with those in close contact with an infected patient) of "Patient 842" in Vietnam," Wedel, residing in Homer Alaska, told VnExpress, adding he would have no idea what to do with his children should Trang get infected by the novel coronavirus. "That thought has tortured me for days." Wedel and Trang say their goodbyes before he returned to the U.S. on March 24, 2020. Photo courtesy of Trang. Born into a family closely associated with the military and medical industry, Eric Wedel had joined the army before becoming a sailor. Previously, apart from six months at sea per annum, Wedel traveled, which is how he met Trang. On the second day of Lunar New Year in 2017, while sitting at a coffee shop in the central ancient town of Hoi An, he spotted a Vietnamese mother accompanied by her two daughters. Later, Ha My, Ha Nhi, and their mother asked Wedel's permission to join his table with no other seats available. Eight-year-old My subsequently started conversing in English with the American, with Trang and Nhi listening attentively. The captain told them about his job, and the fish he had captured. In the next few days, they traveled to central Da Nang City together. Three weeks later, learning Trang was a single mom, Wedel proposed to her daughters: "I want to become your father, is it okay?" Though both little girls agreed with excitement, Trang rejected his offer. Walking out of her marriage during her second pregnancy, Trang was afraid of commitment and thought Wedel could simply help her daughter practice English, "having no idea he liked me." Only when he returned home did her resistance crumble. Two weeks after setting foot in the U.S. on March 6, 2017, Wedel returned to Vietnam. "I thought he went home to tell his parents about me, but instead he prepared for our marriage," Trang recalled. Trang's eldest daughter encouraged her mom to get married, but speaking little English and knowing next-to-nothing about Wedel, she remained wary. "My biggest concern is my children. I do not know what to do with them if I got married," she said. Understanding Trang's concerns, Wedel reassured with future plans. "I will retire in 2022 and stay in Vietnam to be with our elder daughter until she graduates from secondary school. I want to take our little daughter to school every day, and take care of your parents," he told her. Trang and Wedel had son after getting hitched. Photo courtesy of Trang. The couple tied the knot on April 10. Wedel returned to the U.S. the following day, after writing 27 letters and telling their daughter to send them to Trang weekly along with a bunch of flowers. Since then, the family spends six months per year living in longing. Wedel always texts his wife and sends her his location when at sea, in case of emergency. This year, he returned to America on March 24, one day before Vietnam shut its borders by suspending all international flights to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. On August 9, Trang and her three children discovered they were F2 of "Patient 842", an eight-year-old boy in Hoi An, and decided to quarantine themselves at home. With the children coughing and nursing runny noses, she could not sleep at night, worried they could become feverish, a common Covid-19 symptom. Wedel grew increasingly agitated knowing another Covid-19 patient resided 500 meters from Trang's house. Wedel, My (R) and Nhi get to know each other. Photo courtesy of Trang. Trang and Wedel, running a guest villa in Hoi An, a coffee shop in central Tam Ky Town and a mask-producing company in the U.S., have a lot of future plans, including a leg operation for Wedel in Da Nang in October to treat an old wound. Trang and the three children have all tested negative for the novel coronavirus and are waiting for the test results from the person who had direct contact with the infected patients (F1). During self-isolation, My plays piano and sings to her sister and brother, while Trang grows flowers and vegetables for her husband. In the U.S., every week, Wedel sends a letter to the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington D.C. "I am not a tourist. I live in Vietnam, own a company and have a family. Could you indicate if reunification is possible yet? I am willing to pay for Covid-19 tests and quarantine as long as I can return home," he wrote. I was going to take a break from writing columns, especially when I realized how long I have been writing them, perhaps enough to insulate my office walls. Many years ago, with a new graduate degree in philosophy and no job in sight, I turned to working for a newspaper. I got the job with no newspaper experience but only because the publisher graduated from the same college I had done. I loved to write but knew nothing about newspapers. But I thought I knew from my studies what the philosopher Kierkegaard wrote about the dangers of newspaper work: But if I had a son who became a journalist and continued to be one for five years, I would give him up. Not actually a ringing endorsement for the profession I was about to enter. My managing editor showed no mercy on my fancy degree but threw me out to see if I could survive as an editor and later special assignment reporter. In those early days, there was one big table around which gathered a motley crew of editors who went to war each day getting out a paper to meet the deadline. I can still envision them all, some smoking cigars or cigarettes (being a philosophy graduate, I smoked a pipe), and drinking far too much coffee. Strange, but I remember those days fondly. After the paper was put to bed, we relaxed, told stories, smoked, and got ready for the next day. We literally built a community dependent on one another to survive a deadline, pitching in to help each other, and laughing a great deal. I think I learned more about life there than in any school I attended. When I paid a visit a few years ago to my old newspaper, I realized the wisdom that you cant go home again. There was no big table in the room, no clicking typewriters, or editors screaming at reporters to get stories in before deadline. It was very quiet, more like a tomb than a newsroom. But as I looked around the room the memories of editors and reporters scurrying around, the click of typewriter keys, the phones ringing, and the smoke from cigars and cigarettes floating above gave me pause to wonder about time itself, what was past and present and future. It was the same lesson I learned later in teaching that online classes may be needed from time to time but nothing beats in-person relationships formed in the classroom. Marcel Proust, a French novelist who wrote among other books, Remembrance of Things Past, wrote these words that return to me as tokens of truth: the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. I cannot return to days of old which are long ago because I am not the same person I once was. Or, as I often thought, life is not what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you. And I choose to remember those early days fondly, with good memories of friends and stories told of defeat and courage and kindnesses. So much for the break from writing columns. But these memories of things and people past remain within, where the only time is the eternal now. John C. Morgan is a teacher and writer who began as a newspaper editor. His weekly columns appear here at and in other publications. Gov. Tom Wolf says he does not have the legal power to extend Pennsylvanias eviction and foreclosure moratorium past Aug. 31. Its a determination that housing advocates fear will lead to a spike in homelessness, and one that state Republicans say is a dubious attempt by Wolf to avoid responsibility. In a letter sent to both of Pennsylvanias legislative chambers on Tuesday, Wolf, a Democrat, indicated he would not attempt to extend his executive order on housing past its current Aug. 31 expiration date. Unfortunately, given my authority under the Emergency Services Management Code, an executive order further extending protections from foreclosure and eviction is not a viable option, Wolf wrote. Any further relief must be a product of the Legislature. But Republicans questioned Wolfs interpretation of his own authority, given that the statutory timelines do not add up. In his letter, Wolf states that his initial executive order on May 7 was issued under Title 35, Section 7302 of the Pennsylvania Code, which grants the governor the emergency powers that Wolf has used to set policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the statutory language of Section 7302(a) contains a narrow limitation on the amount of time that suspensions may be exercised related to temporary housing, preventing me from further extending the moratorium beyond the end of this month, Wolf wrote. But that time limitation found in Section 7302(a) is 60 days, a limit that Wolfs directive has already far exceeded. Wolfs May 7 executive order went into effect May 11 and lasted 60 days, ending July 10. That order explicitly referenced the 60-day statute under Section 7302(a). In July, Wolf issued another executive order extending his stay on eviction and foreclosure processes, but that order made no reference to the time limitation. Republicans accused Wolf of flipping his interpretation in order to avoid the responsibility of a decision that will adversely impact either homeowners and tenants, or mortgage holders and landlords. Rather than make the decision to extend the eviction moratorium unilaterally as he has done in the past, the governor is passing the buck to the Legislature to once again bail him out of his poor prior planning, said Jason Gottesman, spokesman for the state House GOP Caucus. Sen. Jake Corman, the majority leader in the Pennsylvania Senate, likewise accused Wolf of an about-face in a series of Twitter posts. Trying to figure out how, on one hand, the Gov. says he has the authority to limit the number of patrons in a restaurant. On the other all of a sudden he no longer has the authority to continue his eviction moratorium policy he enacted in May and has adjusted twice since then, Corman wrote. Wolfs office did not respond to requests for comment as of press time. Wolfs orders, both the May and July directives, are not predicated exclusively on his powers under Section 7302(a). The orders also cite the governors power to control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area and the movement of persons within it and the occupancy of premises therein under Title 35 Section 7301(f). That power does not enumerate a time constraint, and Wolfs ability to use it with broad discretion was upheld in April by the state Supreme Court, which found that Wolfs use of the Section 7301 authorities are sound so long as the means chosen to meet the emergency are reasonably necessary for the purpose of combating the ravages of COVID-19. The dispute stands to have significant ramifications for housing in the Midstate and across Pennsylvania. Absent action from Wolf, advocates doubt that the GOP-controlled Legislature will take up a blanket stay on evictions and foreclosures. I have no indication that theyre interested in it, said Phyllis Chamberlain, executive director of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. The eviction moratorium was really important, but it always was a temporary fix, because people still owe rent, Chamberlain said. With that no longer on the table, we would really like to see changes made to the rental assistance program. Those changes were also mentioned by Wolf in his letters to the Legislature on Tuesday. As part of PA Act 24 of 2020, an omnibus COVID-19 relief bill, the state allocated $150 million toward a rental and mortgage relief program administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The language of that program has flaws, namely a cap of $750 monthly for rental assistance and a requirement that landlords cannot receive reimbursement until rental income is at least 30 days past due. Eligible lessees and mortgagors also have to be unemployed or have lost 30% or more of their annual household income due to the impact of COVID-19, and cannot make more than the median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These restrictions have severely limited participation, with many needy households not being eligible for one reason or another, advocates said. As of Aug. 14, 150 applications for rent relief based on unemployment claims had been received in Cumberland County, according to Housing Finance Agency data, plus another 18 applications for mortgage assistance. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, 8,313 Cumberland County residents had continuing unemployment claims for the work week ending Aug. 15, and another 359 filed new claims. The countys unemployment rate for June was 9.7%, preliminarily, according to Labor and Industry data, down from a peak of 12.3% in April but greatly elevated from 3.6% in February. June preliminary data also shows the countys labor force shrinking by about 7,000 people relative to pre-pandemic levels, a possible indicator that some unemployed workers have stopped looking for work. Email Zack at zhoopes@cumberlink.com. 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. Dallas American Airlines said Tuesday it will cut more than 40,000 jobs, including 19,000 through furloughs and layoffs, in October as it struggles with a sharp downturn in travel because of the pandemic. American executives said the furloughs can only be avoided if the federal government gives airlines another $25 billion to help them cover labor costs for six more months. The airline said 23,500 employees have accepted buyouts, retired early or taken long-term leaves of absence, but that was not enough to avoid involuntary cuts. The furloughs of union workers and layoffs of management staff announced Tuesday will fall heaviest on flight attendants, with 8,100 being terminated in October. American began the year with about 140,000 employees but expects fewer than 100,000 to remain in October. Representatives of American's labor unions reacted with alarm but not much surprise. "Today is a devastating day for the hardworking, front-line employees at American Airlines," said Julie Hedrick, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. "We knew this day was coming" without more federal money for airline payrolls, said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association. "We see the dark consequences." U.S. air travel plunged 95 percent by April, a few weeks after the first significant coronavirus outbreaks in the United States. Passenger traffic has recovered slightly since then but remains down 70 percent from a year ago. American's announcement comes one day after Delta Air Lines said it will furlough 1,941 pilots in October unless it reaches a cost-cutting deal with the pilots' union. In March, passenger airlines got $25 billion from the government to save jobs for six months, and American was the biggest beneficiary, receiving $5.8 billion. The money, and an accompanying ban on furloughs, expire after Sept. 30, although airlines and their labor unions are lobbying Congress for another $25 billion and a six-month reprieve from job cuts. When the federal relief was approved, "it was assumed that by Sept. 30, the virus would be under control and demand for air travel would have returned. That is obviously not the case," American CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said in a letter to employees Tuesday. "The one possibility of avoiding these involuntary reductions on Oct. 1 is a clean extension" of the payroll relief, they said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. American will shrink because it plans to fly less than half its usual schedule in the fourth quarter. The airline, based in Fort Worth, Texas, announced last week that it will pull out of 15 smaller U.S. cities in October. Airlines were the only industry to get special treatment in a $2.2 trillion virus-relief measure approved in March. There is broad support in Congress for extending airline aid, but it is stalled by a breakdown in negotiations between the White House and congressional Democrats over a new, large aid package. American's cuts include jobs at affiliates that operate American Eagle regional flights. The number of furloughs of union employees with rehiring rights and layoffs of management and support staff is less than the 25,000 who got warnings in July. American said they will be paid through September to comply with terms of the federal aid. United Airlines warned 36,000 employees in July that they could lose their jobs in October. The airline has not updated that figure. Southwest Airlines has said it doesn't expect to impose furloughs this year, although like others, Southwest is encouraging employees to take buyouts or early retirement. Spirit Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association said Tuesday that they agreed on contract changes that will avoid the need for pilot furloughs. The airline said it expects to carry out "a small fraction" of the 2,500 furloughs companywide that it announced weeks ago. Delta plans to furlough all pilots with less than about three years of service at the Atlanta-based airline. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.26 Trend: Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs is holding a meeting with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Trend reports on August 26. The meeting, which has begun in a tet-a-tete format, will be followed with the participation of delegations. WEST NORRITON The superintendents report summarized much of what can be expected in the 2020-21 school year at Mondays Norristown School Board meeting. Though it will look and feel different, we look forward to the opportunities to tell our story, build our community of learning, and promote literacy for life, noted Christopher Dormer, superintendent of Norristown Area School District. We launch into a whole new world of teaching and learning on the first student day next Monday, Aug. 31, he said. We are excited to officially launch NASD Virtual, which will have our NASD curriculum delivered by our outstanding NASD teachers. We are proud that we are able to provide a Chromebook to every student that will allow the delivery of synchronous, live lessons daily. Many thanks to Dr. Williams, our entire Curriculum and Instruction team, all of our building principals and assistant principals, and all the teachers who helped align our curriculum to this new mode of learning. To help prepare for the upcoming year, the staff has prepared a series of parent information nights, Dormer noted. Last week, we held individual nights for elementary, middle school, and high school regarding our academic plans. This week, we will have a session for our Spanish speaking families on Tuesday and a session on Special Education, Pupil Services, and other student and family supports on Wednesday. We hope these sessions will help parents best prepare their children for how the school year will unfold, both synchronously and asynchronously. I cannot say enough about Mr. Long and his entire team for their efforts to get Chromebooks distributed to all students. For the past two weeks, they have organized and facilitated daily drive-through service to ensure everyone has a device in time for the upcoming year. For those that havent picked up their Chromebooks yet, please look for ConnectEd communication directed to you on how to get your device. Those who already have their Chromebooks are encouraged to test their devices to ensure they are able to connect to the internet and log in. For families that will have multiple children connected at the same time, we recommend you try to stream video on all devices simultaneously this week to avoid issues when we go live on Monday, Dormer added. For families that need assistance with home internet, we have a supply of hotspots that we are able to provide families on a first come, first served basis. We are working with the Sprint Foundation and Comcast to try to develop a comprehensive solution for the entire community. While we had to delay or postpone most of our capital projects due to the pandemic, we are excited to announce the near completion of three important projects. The front of Marshall Street Elementary School has a fresh look with paving of the traffic loop and the installation of new sideways. Parents can expect a much improved drop off and pick up process when we open for in-person instruction with the addition of a new bus loading and unloading spot out on Marshall Street. A new, wider driveway that will be used for car drop offs has been added to the front of Hancock Elementary School. This new driveway will allow the separation of parent traffic from bus traffic. Additionally, you now have a clear view of our beautiful school from Arch Street. Finally, we are excited to open our brand new Family Support Center at Roosevelt. This facility will centralize just about anything families would need to support parents and students. The site will house registration, Pupil Services, Home and School, English Language services, social workers and mental health counselors, as well as school climate and social-emotional learning support, Dormer explained. With a location right on Markley Street in the heart of Norristown, we are proud to provide services that are conveniently in walking distance for a large number of families, with centralized accessibility for all. We look forward to announcing on-site, in-person operations in the very near future, he said. Last week, we welcomed our new professional staff members with a three day induction program. In addition to providing information to assist with readiness for the start of the school year, a great deal of emphasis was placed on being a member of the Norristown Area School District community. Though the program was done all virtually, we gave them a sufficient dose of blue and white to ensure they are Eagles right from the start. Today, our returning professional and support staff returned for a four day work week of preparation. A virtual opening ceremony had been held before teachers embarked on professional development sessions designed to ensure their preparedness to deliver excellent distance learning experiences, Dormer noted. The first day for all students will be next Monday, August 31. This will be a full day of school for all students. All families will be receiving their back to school information and separate technology support information. He asked that everyone mark certain dates in their calendars: Aug. 28, when schools and offices would be closed, as well as Sept. 4 and 7, when schools and offices would be closed in observance of Labor Day. The first meal distribution event of the new school year will be Wednesday, Sept. 9. We will have morning distribution at Gotwals and afternoon distribution at NAHS. Additional information will be shared with the families in the near future, Dormer said. Schools and offices will be closed, Monday, Sept. 28, in observance of Rosh Hashanah. Finally, we are pleased to announce that Back to School nights will take place during September. We recognize this is an important night to partner with parents and families in the educational process. We are committed to making this as informational and impactful as possible, Dormer said, adding that dates and additional details will be shared in the near future. It was further pointed out that a common misconception in the community still persists, that virtual learning doesnt cost the district anything, when in fact operational costs are ongoing despite the schools being physically closed. Elsewhere, the board approved Special Education Director Casey Molitors recommendation of payment to facilities for certain educational services to students in need of behavioral health services, including Belmont Behavioral Hospital, Kids Peace, MCIU Classroom Compensation Plan for NASD students placed in programs in other school districts. The board also gave approval to an agreement with the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to provide access to electronic medical records for students in Norristown Area School District Schools for the 2020-2021 school year, at no cost to the school district. The board further approved an agreement with the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to provide telehealth services to all 12 Norristown Area School District Schools for the 2020-2021 school year at no cost to the school district. The board unanimously gave the nod to a resolution supporting the development of an anti-racism policy by the Board of School Directors of the Norristown Area School District He shot to fame on the 2018 series of Love Island where he sparked up a brief romance with Kaz Crossley. And Josh Denzel appears to have a new lady in his life as he put on an affectionate display with a mystery woman on a lads holiday to Ibiza with fellow villa alumni Jack Fowler on Tuesday. The presenter, 29, looked happier than ever as he wrapped an arm around the bikini-clad beauty - who bore a striking resemblance to his ex Kaz - before planting a sweet kiss on her head. Who's that? Josh Denzel appears to have a new lady in his life as he put on an affectionate display with a mystery woman on a lads holiday to Ibiza on Tuesday Loved-up: Jack Fowler, 24, also put on a loved-up display with his new girlfriend, Joanne Baban Morales, who he went Instagram-official with in May The beauty, who displayed her ample cleavage and pert derriere in a skimpy nude thong bikini, embraced Josh as they took in the scenic views. Josh, who recently unveiled his incredible six-week body transformation, displayed his hunky frame and muscular arms in a pair of blue and white patterned swimming trunks. Jack, 24, also put on a loved-up display with his new girlfriend, Joanne Baban Morales, who he went Instagram-official with in May. Joanna showcased her toned curves in a lime green bikini as Jack put on a hunky display in coral shorts. PDA: Josh couldn't keep his hands off his apparent new girlfriend as he planted a kiss on her Cheeky: Josh's new love interest wowed in a skimpy nude thong bikini Affection: The Love Island star looked smitten with the brunette beauty Loved-up: Josh looked happier than ever with the glamorous bikini-clad beauty Chat: Josh displayed his hunky frame as he chatted with friends in Ibiza Josh recently returned home from a lavish trip to Geneva with close pal and Love Island co-star Wes Nelson. The LADbible star rose to fame on the 2018 edition of the ITV2 dating series, where he forged romances with Georgia Steel and Kaz Crozzley. He dated make-up artist Kaz, 26, from summer of that year until January 2019, with the influencer moving on with her now-ex Theo Campbell. Fun in the sun: Jack cracked a happy smile as he spent time with his girlfriend Gathering: The group looked in good spirits as they chatted in the sun Laugh out loud: Josh cracked up with laughter as he bantered with his pals Smile: Jack enjoyed a refreshing drink as he drove a dune buggy around the island Group: Jack showed off his hunky frame as he chatted with his friends However, despite their amicable split, things went downhill months later after she hit back at the hunk with a scathing social media post after he hinted that she had moved on just three weeks after they had broken up. On Jack's new romance, a representative told MailOnline in May: 'Jack has been dating her since last year, however, theyve become more serious since the start of the year. They've been spending lockdown together and Jack's very happy. Jack originally dated Laura Crane after they met in the Love Island villa, but split just weeks after the show ended. The hunk then tried his luck once again on Celebs Go Dating last year, and despite a few steamy smooches was left single. BFFs: Jack and Josh first made friends on the 2018 series of Love Island Off we go: Josh joined a host of glamorous pals as they headed for the sea Pose: Josh and Jack joined their handsome friends for a fun group shot Speeding along: Josh and his new love interest looked happy as they drove a dune buggy Happier times: He dated make-up artist Kaz Crossley, 26, from summer 2018 until January 2019, with the influencer moving on with her now-ex Theo Campbell (pictured August 2018) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Two Filipinos who allegedly carried out the twin blasts in Jolo, Sulu earlier this week were the same alleged suicide bombers being tracked by four military intelligence officers killed by police officers two months ago, the chief of the Philippine Army said Wednesday. The four slain soldiers were said to be on an official intelligence mission when they were gunned down by cops based in Jolo. Nine cops are facing four counts of murder and one count of planting of evidence over the incident. Police Senior Master Sergeant Abdelzhimar Padjiri, one of the accused, denied they planted a rifle by the left arm of one of the victims, late Major Marvin Indammog. READ: Jolo cops 'unsure' who fired first, deny planting evidence at shooting scene The two female suicide bombers are the same targets being tracked by the group of Major Indammog before they were killed in June, Philippine Army chief Cirilito Sobejana said in a statement. Officials identified the two suspects supposedly behind the twin attacks on Monday, which killed eight soldiers, one police officer and six civilians, and wounded 74 other people. The first suicide bomber was identified as Inda Nhay, widow of ISIS-trained bomb expert Abu Talha who was killed by the military last year, Joint Task Force Sulu Commander William Gonzales told CNN Philippines in a text message. Inda Nhay resided in Tawi-Tawi, Sobejana said. Authorities earlier theorized that the first blast came from an improvised bomb placed in a motorcycle parked in front of the Paradise grocery store in Barangay Walled City. But a CCTV footage police have retrieved showed otherwise. The explosion looks like a suicide attack, as indicated by a blast crater between two military vehicles where body parts were found, Gonzales previously said, citing a bomb expert. He added that the suicide bombing theory was also supported by eyewitness accounts. The second attacker was said to be a certain Nanah, who was the widow of Abu Sayyaf Group member Norman Lasuca. Gonzales said Lasuca was the first-ever known Filipino suicide bomber. He blew himself up outside a military base in Indanan, Sulu last June 2019. Authorities are convinced about the suspects identities, citing eyewitness accounts and intelligence sources. Ito yung minomonitor pa nung June-July na mag suicide bombing... Hindi madaling mag recruit ng volunteer suicide bomber so most likely sila pa rin to, Gonzales said. [Translation: They are the suspected suicide bombers being monitored in June and July. It's not easy to recruit volunteer suicide bombers so they are most likely the ones who carried out the attack.] Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the remains will still go through DNA testing. CNN Philippines' David Santos and Eimor Santos contributed to this report This picture taken on Feb. 16, 2016 shows a shop window displaying tins of baby milk formula in Sydney. (Saeed Khan/Getty Images) Former Director of Baby Formula Maker Bellamys Faces Lengthy Hearing Millionaire businesswoman Jan Cameron is likely to face a lengthy court hearing next year over criminal charges laid against her by the corporate regulator. The former director of baby formula maker Bellamys is accused of failing to lawfully disclose 14 million shares she owned in the company through herself and an entity titled The Black Prince Foundation. Hobart Magistrates Court heard on Aug. 25 at least five witnesses, including three from Victoria, would be called to give evidence at a hearing that could last up to six weeks. Magistrate Glenn Hay said it would likely be held sometime in April or June. Cameron, who founded hiking retail giant Kathmandu, listened to proceedings via audio link. Her lawyer James OShannessey complained about delays in the case, including a lack of clarity provided from the prosecution about witness lists. Ms Cameron deserves the opportunity to resolve this, he said. Hay ordered for the full witness list to be disclosed within 14 days and adjourned the matter until October 12. Cameron has previously pleaded not guilty to one charge of making a false or misleading statement and another of failing to give information about substantial holdings. She faces a penalty of up to five years jail. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission alleges Cameron owned shares in Bellamys via Curacao-domiciled firm The Black Prince Foundation when Bellamys went public in August 2014. Her alleged holding represented a 14.74 percent stake in the company, almost triple the five percent Corporations Act threshold that dictates when a person must lodge a substantial holder notice. She is also accused of failing to properly disclose her true and complete relationship with the foundation, and the basis upon which she held her interest in the Bellamys shares. Ethan James in Hobart The segment, reported by Scott McCartney, travel editor and "The Middle Seat" columnist for The Wall Street Journal, explores the importance of secondary airports and ONT's rise as a preferred regional airport in the metropolitan Los Angeles region since its transfer from the City of Los Angeles to local control under the Ontario International Airport Authority. "Ours is a powerful story of perseverance and resurgence since the ownership change less than four years ago," said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. "Ontario Airport's comeback as an international aviation gateway for Southern California is a testament to all who believed it could again be an attractive low-cost alternative for airlines and an economic engine for the Inland Empire, while delivering a first-rate, hassle-free experience for customers. Thorpe noted that although the episode was produced in the weeks leading up to the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic, it is particularly timely given the recent resumption of commercial air service from ONT to popular destinations including Atlanta, Chicago and Houston along with the forthcoming launch of new international service to Mexico City. As such, the Travel Detective episode notes, it can serve as a case study for other second airports across the U.S. Greenberg, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and host of the program, is the CBS News Travel Editor. He appears regularly on CBS programs including "CBS This Morning" and the "CBS Evening News." His website is a leading travel news resource for consumers and industry insiders alike. Ontario was the fastest-growing airport in 2019, the second straight year it achieved the honor, with more than 5.5 million airline passengers. About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which, before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). OIAA Media Contact: Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected] SOURCE Ontario International Airport Related Links http://www.flyontario.com U.S. crude oil exports to China grew by 139 percent on the year in July thanks to bargain hunting among Chinese buyers, making the U.S. the fifth-largest supplier of oil to the critical Chinese market. Reuters reports that the United States exported a daily average of over 866,000 barrels daily, based on a conversion factor of 7.33 barrels per 1 metric ton of crude. This increase boosted the total U.S. imports to China over the first seven months of the year by 31.5 percent on the respective period of 2019 to 4.8 million tons, or a monthly average of some 5 million barrels. Chinas top supplier of crude in July was Russia, which shipped 7.38 tons of crude to China in July, up by 30.1 percent on the year. Iraq came second, replacing Saudi Arabia and sending 5.788 tons of crude to China in July, a 35.7-percent annual increase. Saudi Arabias shipments of crude to the key market, however, fell by more than 23 percent last month, to 5.36 million tons. The top five list was rounded out by Brazil, Chinas fourth-largest oil supplier in July, with some 4.59 million tons, up by 27.4 percent on the year. U.S. oil exports to China are likely to see a further boost. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Chinese state energy companies had chartered tankers that can carry as much as 37 million barrels of crude for September shipments. This would be a record-high for China, despite the latest escalation between the two, and in accordance with its obligations under the trade deal closed last year. China committed to buying some $18.5 billion in additional energy supplies from the United States this year and another $33.9 billion next year. The supplies range from crude oil and LNG to coal and oil products. However, the pandemic has shattered the demand that would have helped soak up these supplies, making it a lot harder than before for Beijing to stick to its commitment. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States Wed, August 26, 2020 12:06 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4093d51 2 Entertainment West-Wing,series,Michelle-Obama Free The cast of acclaimed political TV drama "The West Wing" will reunite for a special episode in aid of Michelle Obama's voter turnout drive, HBO Max announced Tuesday. Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and Allison Janney will reprise their roles as members of a fictional Democratic administration, in support of the "When We All Vote" campaign ahead of November's election. The special -- to air this fall -- will be filmed on a Los Angeles theater stage, and will re-enact the "Hartsfield's Landing" episode from season three of the multiple Emmy-winning NBC drama. It will be the first time the original, surviving cast and creator Aaron Sorkin have reunited in 17 years, a statement from streaming platform HBO Max said. "We had such a unique and wonderful experience that we don't want to go back and have a lesser version of it," Bradley Whitford, who played razor-sharp White House deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman, told NBC's Today Show. Read also: 10 comedy series to watch during quarantine and where to stream them "This was a way to use us getting back together... to make a statement about getting people out to vote." The show ran from 1999-2006, collecting 26 Emmys including four consecutive best drama prizes. It depicted the inner workings of the White House, focusing on the relationships between staffers against a backdrop of Washington intrigue, domestic elections and geopolitics. "The West Wing" developed an almost cult following and gripped audiences around the world, but ended after its seventh season amid declining audiences and the death of co-star John Spencer. The show's portrayal of a fiercely intellectual and morally virtuous Democratic president (Sheen) was criticized by some on the political right who dubbed it "The Left Wing." The "Hartsfield's Landing" episode saw Whitford's character scheme to win over voters in a remote, fictional New Hampshire town of the same name where ballots are counted immediately and always predict the winner of that state's primary. When We All Vote is an outreach group co-chaired by Obama, who was first lady from 2009-17, actor Tom Hanks and others to increase participation at the polls. Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - Citation Growth Corp. (CSE: CGRO) (OTCQX: CGOTF) ("Citation" or the "Company"), a licensed multi-state cannabis cultivator, producer and retailer, is pleased to announce an update on its Las Vegas operations. In March 2020, Citation realized the first effects of the global pandemic when it saw the cannabis industry shut down due to government regulations, resulting in a large decline in demand and sales. The company made the decision to remain operational and focus on efficiencies and build the foundation for growth strategies. As the global economy adapted to new business processes, Citation experienced large delays in the product supply chains where normal business processes took days rather than hours. Being a nimble organization, Citation not only adjusted quickly to the new vendor supply chain environment, but also solidified new and synergistic relationships that have greatly enhanced its operational efficiencies and overall quality of input materials. After a stringent due diligence process, Citation was successful in obtaining a new banking facility by partnering with a Cannabis Compliant Intermediary, who facilitates access to cannabis friendly banking solutions. This opportunity has increased compliance and allowed for access to more traditional lending. Through this Intermediary, Citation has secured an equipment financing loan of $95,585 USD for a period of 12 months with a total interest on repayment amount of 22.5%. The proceeds were dedicated to the purchase of the remaining Fluence Bioengineering VYPR 2P lights required to complete our grow room changeover. The new brand of LED lighting will not only reduce power consumption, but also greatly increase production output, meaning Citation will be able to harvest more of its award-winning Fiore flower while maintaining top-shelf quality of organic cannabis. With these partnerships created, Citation is also finalizing the implementation of its enhanced growing methodologies, which includes deploying a new organic soil mixture and nutrients. Citation currently has crops growing under these new technologies and organic grow methods with harvests commencing in September 2020 and sales initiatives in place to distribute its products to Nevada dispensaries immediately after packaging. The company has installed time lapse cameras in the grow facility to capture the life cycle of the plants and production to share with stakeholders. Story continues In July 2020, the State of Nevada appointed a Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) to oversee and administer the Cannabis Division in Nevada, previously under the control of The Department of Taxation. The CCB lifted the license moratorium that has been in effect since 2019. This important decision, aimed at improving compliance in cannabis business transactions, allows for licenses to be transferred and sold, which is important for Citation, who owns an extra medical and recreational cultivation license that now may be sold in the Nevada market. As such, Citation is actively looking to purchase a Dispensary License or partner with an existing license holder; an initiative incorporated into the Companys Growth Strategy released at the April 2020 AGM. I am extremely proud of our team, commented CEO Erik Anderson. Everyone is working long hours and we have not been deterred by the global pandemic resulting from the COVID-19 virus. Although Nevada retail dispensaries were hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions, we have continued to harvest cannabis and we currently have over 300 pounds of fresh frozen inventory that has been stockpiled throughout the pandemic. We plan to sell the entire lot to a local processor in order to bring our own production facility back online once all the new grow lights are installed. Our team has worked tirelessly to maintain our downstream sales channels in Nevada and we are laser-focused on ensuring that our brands Fiore flower and Diamante concentrates continue to be in high demand by cannabis connoisseurs. We have turned the corner as a company and are ahead of schedule to deliver cashflow positive results in our 2021 fiscal year. About Citation Growth Corp. Citation Growth Corp. (CSE: CGRO) (OTCQX: CGOTF) is a publicly traded company that has been investing in the development of medical and recreational cannabis products since 2014. Citation has expanded its operating portfolio to include cultivation, production and retail offerings in our key North American legal jurisdictions Nevada, California, Washington and British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.citationgrowth.com. For Further Information: Erik Anderson, President and CEO 1-877-438-5448 Ext. 713 eanderson@citationgrowth.com Cannabis Industry Involvement: The Company owns marijuana licenses in California and Nevada. Marijuana is legal in each state; however, marijuana remains illegal under United States federal law and the approach to enforcement of U.S. federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that federal enforcement actions could adversely affect their investments and that the Companys ability to support continuing U.S.-based operations and its access private and public capital could be materially adversely affected. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements or information that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. These statements relate to future events or future performance. Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, outlook, expectations or intentions regarding the future including words or phrases such as anticipate, objective, may, will, might, should, could, can, intend, expect, believe, estimate, predict, potential, plan, is designed to, project, continue, or similar expressions suggest future outcomes or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements may also include, among other things, statements about the future business strategy; expectations of obtaining licenses and permits; expectations regarding expenses, sales and operations; future customer concentration; anticipated cash needs and estimates regarding capital requirements and the need for additional financing; total processing capacity; the ability to anticipate the future needs of customers; plans for future products and enhancements of existing products; future growth strategy and growth rate; future intellectual property; changes in laws and regulations; regulatory approvals and other matters; and anticipated trends and challenges in the markets in which the Company may operate. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62558 Bradley Whitford was on The Handmaids Tales Canadian set in mid-March, getting ready to shoot a scene for Season 4, when he realized that the coronavirus might just be a bigger deal than everyone was thinking. We were kind of joking about it, he recalls. Im sitting, reading my cell phone, and I open an article where Im reading for the first time, Whatever you do, dont touch your face. And while I was reading it, [a costume staffer] came and tweaked my scarf. [A makeup staffer] came by. Somebody brushed the hair off my forehead. He chuckles wryly. Pretty quickly, it became clear. The Hulu series shut down production soon after, just a few episodes into Season 4. But, praise be, theres been a development. On an August afternoon, just before Whitford called TVLine from his home in California, hed been on the phone with all the Handmaids people, because were going back. Ahead of his return to Toronto, we chatted with the Emmy winner who won in 2019 for his work as Commander Joseph Lawrence, and whos nominated again this year about what fate may await the Mayday-sympathetic commander when we all head back to Gilead. But dont be surprised if politics, Canadian accents and Margaret Atwoods sequel novel pop up in the conversation as well as the staging of a certain West Wing episode slated for HBO Max later this year. TVLINE | So youre heading back? Yeah, hardcore quarantine of two weeks. Like, youre really not to allowed to leave your room for two weeks. So, somehow, I live in a world where I am getting more house arrest time than Roger Stone. [Laughs] TVLINE | I dont know if youve been working on that one since the beginning of this call or if it just came into your mind, but its a good line. I would definitely use it again. [Laughs] Ill use it again. Ill put in the quiver. Story continues TVLINE | Elisabeth Moss told us things had just gotten going when you had to pull back. Yeah. I was sitting right where I am now, and I had just been talking theres a guy who shows up a lot whos a public health expert called Andy Slavitt who, very bizarrely, used to before I lived in the house I live now, lived in the house next door to me. But hes somebody I know through Obama healthcare initiatives, and I was talking to him. It was March 1, and he was saying, You need to take this very seriously. I had mentioned that I was about to get on a plane to go to Canada, and he said, I dont think youre going to be working very long, because I think theyre going to shut down. That was March 1, and I called my agents. We all had different moments where we started taking this seriously. They, understandably, were like, No, everybodys working. The CDC hasnt banned any travel. So I went up, and we shot for a couple of days I was so excited because Lizzy [Moss] is directing for the first time. TVLINE | Im very interested to see that episode. I dont have to blow smoke up her a because, apparently, I have the job. [Laughs] She is the most impressive, creative collaborator, you know, honestly, that Ivein an ongoing way that Ive ever been able to work with. She is involved in every draft, every cut. Ive never seen a producer/director be that involved and just become the creative center of her project in every way all the while giving what I think is the performance of a generation. I always joke with her that its like shes doing Sophies Choice: The Series. [Laughs] TVLINE | Which is why you cannot binge the show. Everybody says that. The most surprising thing would be, and one thing I really appreciate about the set, is its very loose, very kind, and that comes from [executive producers] Bruce [Miller] and Warren [Littlefield], but especially from Lizzy. Whats so funny is, you know, were shooting in Canada, where they are stereotypically, genetically the sweetest human beings on the planet. And were shooting maybe one of the darkest shows ever. So the contrast Like, the [assistant director] will wander in and go, [in Canadian accent] OK, I dont want to rush you, but I think we should get the nooses on the girls. You know what I mean? Its just like, oh my God. [Takes up accent again] Oh, no, no, Im sorry, youve got to spread your legs or we cant see the commander. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. [Laughs] the-west-wing-reunion-bradley-whitford-interview-the-handmaids-tale-season-4 TVLINE | Youve talked a lot about how former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara is one of your inspirations for the Lawrence character. McNamara ultimately came to believe that the war he helped create was futile, and it messed with him on a psychological level. Do you think Lawrence is headed that way? No. I think its possible that he could end up at that sort of pathetic, late-life stage of self-knowledge and self-reflection. But no, I certainly do not think hes there On a crappier show, a character like Lawrence is doing something quite horrible, has an epiphany, and becomes an unmitigated ally and champion of moving toward the light. And whats great about the writing on this show [is] its sort of an unwritten mission statement of the show: Theres no brutality in the show that human beings havent experienced, and Bruce wants to do justice to that, and Bruce wants to do justice to the complexity of the obstacle that June is up against, and it makes everybody much harder to read, you know? Lawrence is clearly conflicted, and the reason hes able to be conflicted I think is because of Eleanor, his wife and Julie Dretzin, by the way, was just, like, absolutely perfect I really dont know where hes going to land. I honestly dont. Im not trying to be cute, and I have a sense that Bruce isnt sure either, and that just makes it more terrifying for June. You see it in Serenas character. You see it in every character. There are these crosscurrents, which I realize just the older I get as an actor, it just creates a phenomenal performance possibility. I remember realizing, like, the fun of Get Out was, up until the end, there are simultaneously two things going on the entire time, and thats really kind of luscious acting meat. TVLINE | Do you think well get a flashback to Lawrences pre-Gilead life this season? I would love that. I love seeing Aunt Lydia back in the day, and I find those flashbacks really moving and kind of often the most terrifying and relatable, unfortunately, part of the show. You know, when you see the moment where June isnt allowed to have a credit card, where theres a lot of social unrest out there and things are getting weird. My God, again, I mean, Im really worried about whether the president of the United States has pushed policies that weve reflected on the show you know, people in cages. Were actually talking about whether or not hes going to accept the results of the election. Its just unbelievable. Youre sort of choking on a firehose cascade of insanity that is a Trojan horse for the darkest agenda, and that was true in the Gilead world. Currently, we have a fascistic president who is enabled by, of all things, the religious right, and we have cowardly politicians who are vulnerable to intimidation. Its unfortunate. [The Handmaids Tale author Margaret Atwood] was imagining this back in the 80s when she wrote this. TVLINE | Have you read the sequel, The Testaments? Im reading it right now. I just started it. I actually have to interview her, which will be fun. TVLINE | Im jealous. What would you want to ask her? TVLINE | Oh my goodness, so many things. But I dont want to ruin it for you. Do you know what happens in the book? No, I dont. TVLINE | I dont want to ruin the book for you. But this does tie into The Testaments: As Season 4 begins, do you think Gilead is in a place where it can rebuild from the hits its taken? Or are we seeing the beginning of the end? I think part of the thing that is allowing [Lawrences] humanity to peek out a little bit is the sense that this is not sustainable. I would argue its at this particular moment at the beginning of this season I think it is vulnerable, which gives me, as an audience member, hope. But its obviously very difficult to take down that structure. the-west-wing-reunion-bradley-whitford-interview-the-handmaids-tale-season-4 TVLINE | Youll also reprise your West Wing role for a staged production of a Season 3 episode this fall. In Hartsfields Landing, Josh is very worried about the outcome of a specific election. How do you feel about playing that now, decades later and in a much different political context than the one in which the episode was written? The urgency in this episode seems quaint now, in an election when the future of our democracy itself is on the line, not just a partisan argument about how we should all function within a democratic framework. We have a President who thinks the rule of law is for chumps, that any American who disagrees with him is the enemy, and has never met a murderous dictator he didnt fall in love with. When I make sure Donna doesnt make a campaign related call from the White House, its important because the White House is The Peoples House, not a partisan clubhouse. Donald Trump is about to accept his nomination on the White House lawn, desecrating yet another democratic norm. The greatest threat to our national security is living in the White House as I speak. Josh could not imagine the stakes of this election. His head would explode. Launch Gallery: Memories From the Set: Bradley Whitford Talks Stints on West Wing, ER, Frasier and More More from TVLine Best of TVLine Unrest: Flames rise into the night sky behind an American flag during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. PHOTO: STEPHEN MATUREN/REUTERS The father of a black man who was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, says his son has been left paralysed from the waist down. Jacob Blake's father said he was told his son was shot eight times during the confrontation with police on Sunday. Footage of the shooting was captured on a mobile phone and has led to two nights of unrest in the city, which is situated between Milwaukee and Chicago. The father, also named Jacob Blake, said his son now has "eight holes" in his body and is paralysed from the waist down. Doctors do not know if Mr Blake's paralysis will be permanent. Anger over the shooting spilled onto the streets of Kenosha for a second night on Monday. Police again fired tear gas at hundreds of protesters who defied a curfew, threw bottles and shot fireworks at law enforcement officers who were guarding the courthouse. The Wisconsin city has become the latest flashpoint in a summer of racial unrest after mobile phone footage of police shooting Mr Blake (29) as he leaned into his vehicle - apparently while three of his children were sitting in it - circulated widely on social media. The shooting drew condemnation from Democratic governor Tony Evers, who also called on the services of 125 members of the National Guard after protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear the previous night. Police fired tear gas about 30 minutes after the 8pm curfew took effect to disperse protesters who chanted, "No justice, no peace". Officers wore protective gear and stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the entrance to the courthouse while protesters lit fires, including setting a lorry ablaze close to the courthouse. Arsonists also set buildings on fire and torched much of the business district in the city. Mr Blake remained in intensive care following surgery and will require more operations, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family, told ABC News yesterday. Mr Blake had been attempting to break up a fight between two women when it is reported he was struck by four of the seven shots which were all fired by one officer, in front of his sons aged three, five and eight, Mr Crump said. "You can only imagine the psychological problems these babies are going to have for the rest of their life," he said. Video captured by a neighbour shows Mr Blake walking toward the driver's side of his SUV, away from two officers who were pointing guns at his back. After he opens the door, seven shots ring out with one of the officers tugging at his shirt. It remains unknown what the officers may have seen inside Mr Blake's car. (TNS) Harris County, Texas, voters this November will have more time and more than a hundred additional places to cast ballots in the presidential election, including drive-through locations and one day of 24-hour voting, under an expansive plan approved by Commissioners Court Tuesday.With the additional polling locations, an extra week of early voting and up to 12,000 election workers, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins is pledging a smooth November election.On a 3-2 vote, the court agreed to spend an additional $17.1 million all but about $1 million to come from federal CARES Act dollars to fund Hollinss ambitious election plan. The money is on top of the $12 million the court approved earlier this year to expand mail-in voting amid fears that in-person balloting could spread the coronavirus during the ongoing pandemic.The clerks plan includes extended early balloting hours, including multiple nights to 10 p.m. and one 24-hour voting session, drive-through options, as well as new equipment to process an expected record number of mail ballots. The County Clerks office has made it our top priority to ensure a safe, secure, accessible, fair and efficient election for the voters of Harris County this November, Hollins told court members. And to ensure this outcome, our office has executed a robust set of 24 initiatives, many of which were piloted in the July primary runoff election.Hollinss plan is among the boldest unveiled by a Texas elections administrator to improve a voters experience and increase turnout in a state with historically low participation, said University of Houston political science Professor Brandon Rottinghaus.These changes would rocket Harris County to the top of the list as the most progressive approach to voting, Rottinghaus said.Rice University political science Professor Mark Jones said the plan could inadvertently undermine a push by Democrats to expand mail voting for voters under 65 during the COVID-19 pandemic.Hollins is making sure that voting in person is safer than going to the grocery store, Jones said. To the extent to which other county clerks follow his lead, its more and more difficult to make the case that voting in person represents a risk to someones health.In previous elections, Harris County operated about 40 early voting and 750 Election Day sites. The additional funding, Hollins said, will allow the county to operate 120 early voting and 808 Election Day locations.He estimated 1.7 million voters may turn out, a record in any Harris County election and in increase of 361,000 since the 2016 presidential contest.A spokeswoman for Hollins did not respond to a request for the total estimated cost of the 2020 election.The Democratic majority on Commissioners Court approved the new funding on a party line vote, with the two Republican members opposed. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle noted the county clerk plans to spend far more money on this election than in past presidential years, including $3.2 million in 2012 and $4.1 million 2016.Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack pointed out that the heavily Democratic Precinct 1 is slated to host at least 20 percent more Election Day voting locations than other precincts.I find these numbers to be disturbing to be weighted the way it is, Radack said.Lillie Schecter, the Harris County Democratic Party chairwoman, praised the clerks office for making voting as accessible as possible.Harris County Republican Party Chairman Keith Nielsen did not respond to a request for comment.Hollins said his office clustered voting sites near where residents work and attend school, placing a disproportionate number inside Precinct 1, which includes much of the city of Houston. Since last year, county residents have been able to vote at any location, rather than their assigned precinct, former county clerk Diane Trautmans signature initiative.County clerks of both political parties have struggled to run hiccup-free elections, owing to Harris Countys size and status as the third-most-populous in the United States.This fall brings additional challenges, namely the COVID-19 pandemic that has upended daily life and required people to avoid unnecessary contact with others.Texans also no longer have the option to vote straight tickets, which the Legislature abolished after the 2018 general election. Seventy-six percent of Harris County voters punched a straight ticket that year, a far quicker method than individually choosing a candidate in each race.This change, along with the need to enforce social distancing at polling sites, could cause long lines without a significant increase in locations to cast ballots, Hollins said.Securing funding for polling locations and staff is one obstacle; finding sites to host them is another. Hollins said the county caught a break when Houston Independent School District decided to hold classes virtually, allowing the clerks office to reserve classrooms and gymnasiums.If all districts that touch Harris County are able to do that, wed have much better access for voting on Election Day, Hollins said.The clerks office plans to open a massive voting center at NRG Arena, and also will move its vote-counting headquarters there. Hollins said the Toyota Center also has volunteered its cavernous facility for voting, a well-known location he hoped would prove popular.Hollins, who was appointed to the job in May, has never run an election of this size, though he successfully administered the low-turnout July primary runoff. He is keen to avoid the blunders of his predecessors, including delayed results during last years mayoral election and hours-long voting lines in the March primaries.This years presidential election is the last contest that will be the responsibility of the Harris County Clerk. Commissioners Court last month created an independent elections administration office to take over the role, a move most major Texas counties have already made.The first day of early voting is Oct. 13. Advertisement High-tech designs of the new state-of-the-art secondary being built next door to Prince George and Princess Charlotte's 19,000-a-year prep school have been revealed. Thomas's Battersea snapped up the neighbouring Royal Academy of Dance building for its planned 13 to 18 school, which is already being dubbed 'South London's Eton'. The CGI images in a new prospectus offer a look at the contemporary designs, showing a school which almost resembles flats - featuring a stunning glass entrance hall and classrooms surrounding a spacious courtyard. Thomas's made the decision to become an all-through school, which would be housed at the site at 36 Battersea Square, after parents expressed a keen desire to keep their children within the popular independent school group. While it's expected Prince George, seven, will attend Eton, as his father and Prince Harry did, the new school could now see Princess Charlotte, five, stay - since children are currently only catered for until they reach 13. High-tech designs of the new state-of-the-art secondary being built next door to Prince George and Princess Charlotte's 19,000-a-year prep school have been revealed (pictured) Thomas's Battersea snapped up the neighbouring Royal Academy of Dance building for its planned 13 to 18 school, which is already being dubbed 'South London's Eton'. Pictured: A CGI image of the library with areas for study, sofas for more relaxed reading and even its own cafe While it's expected Prince George, seven, will attend Eton, as his father and Prince Harry did, the new school could now see Princess Charlotte (pictured together in their school uniform), five, stay - since children are currently only catered for until they reach 13 Both the siblings are believed to enjoy the school, which has the motto 'be kind'. The new prospectus has revealed the royals could study subjects such as mindfulness, citizenship and inspiring living at the secondary school. The entire site is 40,000 square feet, and will be refurbished to provide 28 classrooms, including science laboratories, break-out spaces and a study centre. The site will also house an assembly and performance hall, a cafeteria and a school dining hall. It will have an additional woodland campus in Putney Vale - which will be used to teach sciences and the natural world. That will be the only site in use for the first year in 2021, with Thomas's revealing the prospectus for the new school to encourage applications. Thomas's made the decision to become an all-through school, which would be housed at the site at 36 Battersea Square, after parents expressed a keen desire to keep their children within the popular independent school group. Pictured, plans for the senior school The new prospectus has revealed the royals could study subjects such as mindfulness, citizenship and inspiring living at the secondary school. Pictured, an artist's impression of what the school, set to be open by 2021, could look like Pupils who wish to attend Year 7 and Year 9 in 2021 can now apply. The prospectus reads: 'Thomas's Battersea Square is a co-educational school for students aged 11 to 18. It offers a world-class, progressive education which is forward-thinking and outward-looking, with values at its heart. 'Our aim is to prepare students superbly not only for the next phase of their education, but also for their lives which lie beyond. 'Restlessly innovative, we strive to equip our students with the knowledge, the skills, the character and the self-understanding which will empower them not merely to survive, but to flourish and to thrive as the adults of tomorrow.' Thomass Battersea (above) has been open since 1990, with Prince George starting in 2017 and Princess Charlotte joining her older brother two years later in September 2019 Prince George, seven, and Princess Charlotte, five, are believed to enjoy the school, which has the motto 'be kind'. The Cambridges pictured on Charlotte's first day at the school On its syllabus it adds: 'At the heart of our curriculum is the concept of an "enquiry mindset", designed to develop our students' powers of creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. 'In their first three years students at Thomas's Battersea Square learn through academically rigorous, project-based learning expeditions, case studies, projects, fieldwork, and service learning, meticulously planned to inspire them to think and work as professionals, contributing high-quality work to authentic audiences beyond the classroom.' In sixth form, pupils are expected to take residential trips abroad to conduct further studies in their schoolwork. South London's answer to Eton? Pictured, an artist's impression of what the school, set to be open by 2021, could look like Twinkling fairy lights and a classic car in the car park: images released by South London developer Avanton, who has agreed terms to sell the historic Royal Academy of Dance headquarters, show a school that looks more like luxury apartments Priority will go to current Thomas's schoolchildren, such as Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Other prospective pupils will undergo a rigorous assessment process, including taking an online test, providing a confidential report from their current school and their headteacher confirming their 'values'. There will be 24 pupils in each form, and the school will admit three forms per year. South London developer Avanton has agreed terms to sell the historic Royal Academy of Dance headquarters, publishing images of what the Battersea Square academic centre could look like on its website. The dance company will relocate to a 260million 70,000 sqft headquarters at Coda on York Road, designed by architects Patel Taylor. Thomass Battersea has been open since 1990, with Prince George starting in 2017 and Princess Charlotte joining her older brother two years later in September 2019. Former Thomas pupils include celebrities Cara Delevingne, Florence Welch and Celine Buckens. The Belarusian Supreme Court has rejected an appeal lodged by opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya to annul the results of the disputed August 9 presidential election, the Tass news agency reported. Veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko declared a landslide win at the vote, sparking mass protests and allegations of election rigging. Authorities in Belarus yesterday steadily cranked up the pressure on protesters pushing for the resignation of the country's authoritarian leader, jailing several opposition activists, summoning others for questioning and selectively ordering dozens of demonstrators to appear in court. Courts in Minsk were considering charges against two members of a council that opposition activists established last week to negotiate a transition of power following Mr Lukashenko's victory of an election that critics contend was rigged. Mr Lukashenko has firmly rebuffed offers of dialogue from the Co-ordination Council, which rejects the official results of the vote that extended his 26-year rule. Yesterday, Sergei Dylevsky, a council member who led the strike-organising committee at the Minsk Tractor Plant, was handed a 10-day jail sentence. Another council member detained on Monday, Olga Kovalkova, is also facing court hearings. Pavel Latushko, a former culture minister and diplomat who joined the opposition council, was summoned for questioning over his role in the opposition body. "They are trying to push me out of the country," Mr Latushko said. Belarus's most famous writer, Svetlana Alexievich, who won the 2015 Nobel Prize for literature, received a summons after joining the council. Protests in Belarus erupted after official results handed Mr Lukashenko a landslide victory with 80pc of the vote. In a brutal crackdown in the initial days after the election, police detained nearly 7,000 people. Hundreds were injured when officers fiercely dispersed peaceful protesters with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least three people died. The bodies of two other opposition supporters were found hanged in forests. Ms Tsikhanouskaya reaffirmed her push for a new presidential election in a speech to the EU delivered via video-link from Lithuania. Ms Tsikhanouskaya said she was ready for dialogue with Mr Lukashenko's government. "The intimidation will not work," she said. "We will not relent. We demand to respect our basic rights. We demand all political prisoners freed." Businesses are collecting massive amounts of data annually, but do they really know how to make good use of it? A recent study from NewVantage Partners finds the answer is: not really. Nearly three-quarters of organizations in the study (73%) say business adoption of big data and artificial intelligence initiative is a challenge. And just 38% say theyve created a data-driven organization. What are the roadblocks to making better use out of all of the data were collecting? We asked our IDG Influencer community of experts about the biggest challenges to extracting business value from data, and how organizations are using cloud analytics to overcome those issues. Heres a summary of their insights. Data complexity can be daunting With organizations collecting and hoarding so much data, the sheer complexity of finding value is the biggest challenge, according to Gene De Libero (@GeneDeLibero), Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Consulting with GeekHive. Theres way too much data and not enough time to create business-critical insights, he said. Add to that the challenge of surfacing the right data and tools for the job, and you have a scalability and agility problem. Further adding to the challenge are the variety of data types and the lack of integration among different data silos across the organization. Large enterprises have many disparate data sources, and its difficult to see how all the moving parts of an organization are working together if theyre in different places, said Jo Peterson (@digitalcloudgal), VP of the Cloud Services Practice at Clarify360. The scale and complexity of the data often make it hard for IT leaders simply to get a clear picture of what data is available to use to advance business objectives. One challenge I see in many organizations is the presence of dark data, said Jason James (@itlinchpin), CIO at Net Health. That is to say, data that lives in the proverbial shadows and is seemingly stored but unused or underutilized. In fact, they may not understand what is truly being captured or stored. If data is the new oil, then many organizations may be sitting on large, untapped reserves. These underutilized data reserves make it critical for organizations to invest in the tools to normalize data across disparate sources, said Isaac Sacolick (@nyike), President of StarCIO and author of Driving Digital. Databases and data lakes are more like data vaults, he said. Business people know theres value in the vault and often make deposits, but they dont have adequate tools to know when, where, and how to get insights from it. Scott Schober (@ScottBVS), President and CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems, agrees that making data accessible is an important step toward deriving value from it. Since most large enterprises have many differing data sources, it can be challenging even for internal divisions to leverage various resources and personnel to work together throughout the organization, he said. Integration challenges extend beyond technical issues to data governance, said Frank Cutitta (@fcutitta), CEO of HealthTech Decisions Lab. Some of the greatest battles in the enterprise are related to who owns the data, and more importantly who controls the messaging derived from the insights, he said. Quality data, quality insights Beyond complexity, data quality is also a challenge. Business value extraction is only as good as the data provided, according to Dave Evans (@DaveTheFuturist), CIO & VP of Technology at The Computer History Museum. Quality data depends upon the sources of the data, he said. Garbage in, garbage out is apropos here. With a data deluge, how can organizations ensure the data is quality data? More work is now needed to extract real value, which points to the quality and capability of the tools. But even with the right data, many organizations still struggle to use the data to truly capture business value. Many dont first clearly understand the business problem they are solving for, said Tim Crawford (@tcrawford), CIO Strategic Advisor with AVOA. Thats where the skills gap comes into play. Data science skillsets are in significant demand, but limited supply. The biggest challenge to extracting business value from data is having the professional ability to decipher its true impact, said Jeff Cutler (@JeffCutler), a technology journalist. If youre not sure what data says about your operations, profitability, or even your reach with specific audiences, youre working with fewer tools than your competitors. That need reflects another skills gap: the translation layer connecting raw data with business objectives and outcomes. Its a challenge to work with subject matter experts that understand the context, said Mark Sangster (@mbsangster), VP and Industry Security Advocate at eSentire. In this case, its a matter of commitment and providing resources. Pairing data scientists and business users is critical to identifying what Cutitta calls actionable data input. The exercise must start with what data you need to have for competitive advantage rather than trying to find an unknown needle in the haystack, he said. Business objectives should always be the starting point when devising an analytics plan, said Peterson. Real value from data is derived by defining specific business questions that need answers and then creating a strategy to identify the correct data set that can provide those answers, she said. Cloud analytics deliver clarity To address challenges around storing, analyzing, and extracting insights from ever-larger volumes of data, more organizations are turning to the cloud. Analytics is the perfect workload for the cloud, said Herain Oberoi (@herain), Director of Product Marketing, Databases, Analytics, and Blockchain at Amazon Web Services (AWS). You need lots of data, so you need storage. You need to process that data, so you need compute. And you need the ability to spin up and spin down resources to run your analytics on an as-needed basis. At its essence, cloud is about low-cost storage, compute, and elasticity. Moving data to the cloud is an important step toward integrating disparate sources of data. Our clients are using cloud analytics to break down data silos across the enterprise and foster more effective collaboration and more agile outcomes, said De Libero. A centralized, cloud-based data lake also will help organizations make data accessible to everyone across the business. Self-service cloud analytics can help overcome these challenges by democratizing data analytics for business users, said Will Kelly (@willkelly), a technical writer. Democratizing data can unlock new opportunities for innovation across all parts of the business. Cloud analytics can also enable new business initiatives by taking advantage of previously unused data to gain new business insights, said Peterson. For example, Big data has grown not just in the scale but also in depth, allowing sales teams to better understand and even predict customer needs, said Schober. Cloud-based analytics can also help security teams find signals in the noise, said Kayne McGladrey (@kaynemcgladrey), Cybersecurity Strategist at Ascent Solutions. Where cloud analytics shine is in detecting a repeated series of risky actions by an individual user account [that signal] a business email compromise followed by a ransomware attack, he said. Cloud analytics allow organizations to detect and prevent these and other attacks not only at scale but also faster than traditional investigative techniques. Those are just a few examples of how a modern, cloud-based data infrastructure can increase the pace of insights and innovation. By allowing technology to do the heavy lifting, said Cutler, you can examine data quickly and respond to business challenges in time to actually make a difference. Learn more about ways to reinvent your business with data. Another case of COVID-19 linked to Brisbanes latest cluster has been confirmed in the past 24-hour reporting period. One person returned a positive result after 20,000 people were tested across Queensland on Tuesday. More than 20,000 people were tested for coronavirus in Queensland on Tuesday. Credit:AP Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new case, a Forest Lake resident, was a known contact of another COVID-19 patient. So we don't have any real concerns there, she said. Subscriber content preview POINT ROBERTS (AP) The border closure between Canada and the United States has severely impacted Point Roberts, Washington, which is landlocked from the rest of the country. The extended coronavirus-induced border closure shut down two border crossings for the town of about 1,300 people, who must commute 25 miles through Canada to get to the rest of Washington state. . . . MARYLAND HEIGHTS The head of Hollywood Casino warned Tuesday that the troubled Howard Bend Levee District, whose debt was downgraded to junk status this month, could end up in bankruptcy. Michael Jerlecki, Hollywood Casino vice president and general manager, made the statement during the levee districts annual property owners meeting. He said the district was making failed business decisions. Absent new leadership, I fear the district may end up in bankruptcy or receivership sooner rather than later, Jerlecki said in a written statement. The levee board, at the same meeting, told landowners that it might have to start charging 20% more in levee assessments to make up for payments the casino is refusing to pay. Since 2019, the casino has been in litigation with the levee district, arguing the district was mismanaging money. Annual debt payments need to be made on some $22 million in outstanding bonds. To cover those, the levee district says it will have to raise rates, and the credit agency Fitch Ratings Inc. said the district has indicated some property owners could see increases of as much as 70%. The financial uncertainty surrounding the levee district is the latest twist in the future of the low-lying land along the Missouri River, eyed for years by developers but left mostly untouched because of a lack of pump stations and stormwater infrastructure. In January, the area was the subject of a spat between the city of Maryland Heights and St. Louis County after County Executive Sam Page blocked the creation of a tax increment financing district city officials and the levee board said would finance the pump stations needed to spur development. Maryland Heights has sued the county to try and overturn the decision. Meanwhile, the levee districts litigation with the casino prompted Fitchs Aug. 14 downgrade from the low-end of investment grade bonds to debt considered highly speculative. The levee district collected about $2.4 million in property assessments during 2019, and the casino made up about 31% of that. Many of the districts top payers are public entities such as St. Louis County, the state of Missouri, Maryland Heights, and the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. Maryland Heights, which represents about 4% of the districts revenue, has also sued the levee district to retain its payments. Both the city and the casino have accused the levee district of paying unnecessary administrative costs rather than focusing on paying down more of the debt, pointing specifically to Husch Blackwell attorney David Human, who manages the levee district. David Human and this board are now spending tens of thousands of dollars and more with (levee district engineer) Horner Shifrin and others recreating expense ledgers, land surveys, costs apportionments and reverse engineering documents attempting to justify where bond proceeds and all the other money went, Jerlecki, the casino manager, said in his statement. Human declined comment. Levee district President Warren Stemme countered that the district has paid down $12.2 million of the $34 million in bonds issued since 2005 to finance a 500-year levee protecting the area. However, if it hopes to raise the value of the land to keep covering the debt, the district now needs millions more to pay for a pump station to get stormwater out of the area when it floods after heavy rains. John Torbitzky, a lawyer with Behr, McCarter & Potter representing the levee in its lawsuit with the casino, said settlement discussions with the casino have been unproductive. The district has denied the allegations in the suits, but Torbitzky said the district is unlikely to receive any payments from Hollywood or Maryland Heights until the litigation is resolved. The coronavirus shutdown of the courts means civil trials wont be scheduled through at least the end of this year. Realistically wed be lucky to get this matter set for trial by the end of next year, he said. Editor's note: The name of St. Louis-based engineering firm Horner & Shifrin was misspelled in an earlier version of this story. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. There is nothing remotely salacious about the texts, he wrote. There were, according to The Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica, at least 18 written text messages from Mr. Clarkson asking the decades-younger woman to visit his home. In his resignation letter, he said he extended the invitations to the womans children, which she politely declined. Mr. Clarkson sent one text message inviting the woman over to his home and included a smiley face and wine glass emoji. She laughingly declined (Haha) and noted a doctors recommendation to stay 6ft apart, apparently referring to the coronavirus pandemic. Later, Mr. Clarkson texted to say And Im virus free fingers crossed and included an emoji of the hand gesture. He followed up with another message: I mean cross my heart which included an emoji of a red heart, haha. In another exchange, Mr. Clarkson invited the woman to join him, texting, Come on over and join me haha followed by two emojis of bare feet. The woman replied, I wish!!!! Haha, to which he responded, Just say the AG told me too haha. Thatll go far and a smiley face emoji. When the woman declined again, saying, Haha with several exclamation points, No waay! I love my job, Mr. Clarkson pressed ahead: You can come work at Law haha. Mr. Clarkson also sought to explain his repeated encouragements for physical contact with the woman as a byproduct of their workplace rapport. In our texts, he wrote, we exchanged innocent mutual endearments between us in words and emojis. On several occasions, this person initiated a friendly hug when I came to her work place, and I reflexively gave her a tiny peck of a kiss on top of her head. Mr. Clarkson acknowledged that the messages were wrong to send due to the disparity in our workplace rank and that he should have maintained a more distanced and professional relationship. Dublin, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market By Application (Lead based and Patch Based), By End User (Hospitals, Cardiac centers and Other End-user), By Region, Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2020-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market is expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2026, rising at a market growth of 11.3% CAGR during the forecast period. In the cases of earlier types of monitoring, the patient is expected to wear a device that is expected to log all of their records, either return it to the doctor or give it to the doctor for review. This presents an apparent problem - a time gap between the presentation of the question and the doctor seeing it. MCT monitoring is remarkable as the system automatically identifies and transmits ECG rhythm to a remote diagnostic testing laboratory without any intervention of the patient. The diagnostic laboratory that receives abnormal ECG activity consists of certified and trained personnel under the general supervision of a physician. Cardiac monitoring is continuous monitoring of the activity of the heart using electrocardiography techniques to understand the rhythm of the heart and to detect anomalies in the functioning of the heart. Cardiac monitoring is a critical part of the diagnosis of health care, as several functions of the body can be understood by carefully analyzing the rhythm of the heart. Remote cardiac telemetry is one of the newest developments in cardiac monitoring that enables direct control of patients situated at a distance from physicians. The major strategies followed by the market participants are Partnerships and Product Launches. Based on the Analysis presented in the Cardinal matrix; ScottCare Corporation is the major forerunner in the Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market. Companies such as BioTelemetry, Inc., Asahi Kasei Corporation, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Applied Cardiac Systems, Inc., Medicomp, Inc., G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd., Preventice Solutions, Inc., and Biotricity, Inc. are some of the key innovators in the market. The market research report covers the analysis of key stakeholders of the market. Key companies profiled in the report include Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (Welch Allyn), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Zoll Medical Corporation), ScottCare Corporation (Berkshire Hathway, Inc.), iRhythm Technologies, Inc., Biotricity, Inc., G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd. (Telerhythmics LLC), BioTelemetry, Inc., Applied Cardiac Systems, Inc., Medicomp, Inc., and Preventice Solutions, Inc. Strategies Deployed in 2020 Jul-2020: Biotricity signed partnership agreement with Verizon for developing EMS solutions for First Responders by integrating its Bioflux solution. Bioflux is a high-precision, single-unit mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) device that provides real-time monitoring and transmission of patients' ECG information. Combining the Bioflux solution into Verizon's EMS platform fulfill an unmet need for First Responders, enabling them to access critical, potentially life-saving data in real-time and respond immediately in a crisis. Apr-2020: Medicomp, Inc. partnered with New York based Lenox Hill Hospital, part of the Northwell Health system. Following the partnership, Lenox Hill Hospital will be using Medicomp's TelePatch mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) monitor for measuring the heart's electrical conduction for abnormalities in patients that have been prescribed certain medications in the treatment of COVID-19. Apr-2020: G Medical Innovations Holdings got FDA approval for its Prizma medical smartphone case. Prizma has been allowing consumers to turn their smartphone into a mobile medical monitor to measure a range of vital signs including temperature, heart rate, stress levels and blood oxygen saturation which can be used to detect symptoms associated with infection and chronic illness. Key Topics Covered Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology 1.1 Market Definition 1.2 Objectives 1.3 Market Scope 1.4 Segmentation 1.4.1 Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market, by Application 1.4.2 Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market, by End User 1.4.3 Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market, by Geography 1.5 Methodology for the Research Chapter 2. Market Overview 2.1 Introduction 2.1.1 Overview 2.1.2 Market Composition and Scenario 2.2 Key Factors Impacting the Market 2.2.1 Market Drivers 2.2.2 Market Restraints Chapter 3. Competition Analysis - Global 3.1 Cardinal Matrix 3.2 Recent Industry Wide Strategic Developments 3.2.1 Partnerships, Collaborations and Agreements 3.2.2 Product Launches and Product Expansions 3.2.3 Approvals 3.2.4 Mergers & Acquisitions 3.3 Top Winning Strategies 3.3.1 Key Leading Strategies: Percentage Distribution (2016-2020) 3.3.2 Key Strategic Move: (Acquisition and Mergers: 2017, Feb - 2019, Aug) Leading Players Chapter 4. Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market by Application 4.1 Global Lead based Market by Region 4.2 Global Patch Based Market by Region Chapter 5. Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market by End-user 5.1 Global Hospitals Market by Region 5.2 Global Cardiac centers Market by Region 5.3 Global Other End-user Market by Region Chapter 6. Global Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market by Region 6.1 North America Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market 6.2 Europe Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market 6.3 Asia-Pacific Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market 6.4 LAMEA Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market Chapter 7. Company Profiles 7.1 Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (Welch Allyn) 7.2 Asahi Kasei Corporation (Zoll Medical Corporation) 7.3 ScottCare Corporation (Berkshire Hathway, Inc.) 7.4 iRhythm Technologies, Inc. 7.5 Biotricity, Inc. 7.6 G Medical Innovations Holdings Ltd. (Telerhythmics LLC) 7.7 BioTelemetry, Inc. 7.8 Applied Cardiac Systems, Inc. 7.9 Medicomp, Inc. 7.10 Preventice Solutions, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/n5rmuu Story continues Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 KEY FACTS 5 p.m.: Toronto reports 33 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday 2 p.m.: Ottawa earmarks $381 million for Ontario back-to-school plan 1:20 p.m.: Ontario releases new guidance to parents, educators 10:15 a.m.: Cases in the Philippines surge past 200,000 Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, provides an update of the current situation and City response to COVID-19 in Toronto. The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Wednesday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available. 5 p.m.: As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Ontarios regional health units are reporting another 119 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, according to the Stars latest count. As has been the case in recent days, the vast majority of new cases in the province were reported in the GTA and Ottawa. Among Ontarios 34 health units, just Toronto, with 33 new infections, Peel Region, with 29, and Ottawa, with 16, reported in the double digits Wednesday. The three units were also the only ones to report more than 10 cases Tuesday. The seven-day average for daily case reports in Ontario has been rising in recent days. On Wednesday, it jumped to an average of 110 cases daily over the last week. Even with the recent increases, the rate of infection remains well below the worst of the pandemic; Ontario saw the same average reach a mid-April peak of nearly 600 cases daily. Another three fatal cases were reported Wednesday, two in Peel and one in Toronto. The province has now seen a total of 43,796 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,840 deaths. The vast majority of the provinces COVID-19 patients have since recovered; the province lists slightly more than 1,000 active cases of the disease. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test. The province cautions its separate data, published daily at 10:30 a.m., may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. 3 p.m.: The Manitoba government is expanding its wage subsidy for companies that bring back employees or hire new ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidy covers half of a worker's wages until the end of October to a maximum of $5,000 each and employers were able to use the funding for up to 10 employees. Premier Brian Pallister says the program is being changed so that companies can use the money for up to 20 workers. Recent figures from Statistics Canada said Manitoba had recovered to 95 per cent of pre-pandemic employment levels by July. Manitoba health officials are reporting 25 new COVID-19 cases, including one at the Bethesda Place nursing home in Steinbach, where a woman in her 90s recently died. Health officials say many of the new cases stem from targeted testing in known clusters. 2:30 p.m.: The City of Torontos overall COVID-19 status has moved back to yellow from green, as have virus spread and containment indicators. The city reported 33 new cases today. Asked why she sounds more concerned today, Toronto medical officer of health Eileen de Villa notes that new Toronto infections had been in the low double-digit range, and that as kids go back to school there will be more COVID-19 spread. Seeing in Canada and abroad a certain sense that were back to normal and we arent yet. 2 p.m.: Ontarios controversial back-to-school plan received a fresh infusion of cash from the federal government Tuesday, with at least $381 million being added to the funds Premier Doug Ford has already earmarked for the upcoming return to class. The additional money comes as part of a package Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in Toronto, pledging to provide as much as $2 billion to all provinces and territories to support their efforts to help students resume their studies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ontario government immediately laid out plans for $381 million in additional spending, while the feds said their funding plan which will be rolled out in two instalments could eventually see the province receive as much as $763.3 million Ontario said it planned to spend more than a quarter of the federal cash on bolstering public health protocols in its back-to-school plan, which has drawn widespread criticism from educators, school boards and some parents since being unveiled last month. The province said $100 million would go toward hiring more custodial staff, improving ventilation in schools and supporting online learning. It said it planned to spend $70 million to hire more educators and $30 million on additional personal protective equipment. An additional $70 million will be spent on student transportation, the province said, noting $25.5 million of that sum earmarked for helping to reduce the number of pupils on school buses. The government will spend $12.5 million each on supports for special education and additional public health nurses,. It also announced $36 million of the federal money will go towards ensuring every school board offering virtual learning has a dedicated principal and administrative support for both its secondary and elementary virtual schools. An additional $50 million will be set aside to cover unanticipated future costs, the province said. Funding plans for the second instalment of federal aid will be announced in December, it added. The provinces back-to-school plan, which initially pledged $309 million in new money for school boards, was described as underfunded and unsafe shortly after its release in late July. 1:49 p.m.: Quebec health authorities are reviewing dozens of positive COVID-19 test results after they say some lab samples from the Montreal area became contaminated. The Health Department reported 142 new cases of COVID-19 today, including the 40 that are being investigated. Quebec reported one additional death attributed to the novel coronavirus, bringing the total to 5,747. Hospitalizations declined by eight to 110, while the number of people in intensive care remained stable at 12. The total number of cases reported in Quebec now stands at 61,945, but authorities say that could change following the investigation into the contaminated samples. The spike in new cases comes the day before many children in the Montreal area head back to class for the first day of school 1:25 p.m. (updated): Ontario has dropped below 100 new cases of COVID-19 for the first time in six days. There were 88 more people infected with the highly contagious virus, down from 100 the previous day, the Ministry of Health reported Wednesday. The additional cases were concentrated in Toronto with 23, another 22 in Peel and 16 in Ottawa, accounting for 61 people or 69 per cent of the daily total based on reports from public health units at 4 p.m. Tuesday. . Peel continued to have the highest number of active cases in the province with 239, followed by Toronto at 226 and Ottawa with 166. The Stars Rob Ferguson has the story. 1:20 p.m.: Ontario has released new guidance to parents and educators to help prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in schools. The province says parents must screen children daily and they should not attend class if they have any symptoms of the virus. Teachers and principals will be asked to isolate any child that develops symptoms at school and send the child home when a parent can pick them up. A child must be symptom free for 24 hours before they are allowed to return to school. Students with symptoms are recommended, but not required, to get a COVID-19 test to return to class. Schools will be required to advise parents of any positive tests while not identifying the student. The Stars Rob Ferguson has the story. 12:22 p.m.: Ontario will gets an extra $381 million in federal money for safe schools re-opening on top of the $900 million previously earmarked by Premier Doug Fords government, the Stars Rob Ferguson reports. 12 p.m.: Nova Scotia is reporting one new COVID-19 infection, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to five. Health officials said today the new case is located in the provinces northern health zone and is related to a previously reported case. To date, Nova Scotia has had 1,081 positive COVID-19 cases and 65 deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus. No one is currently in hospital being treated for the illness. Officials say 1,011 cases are now considered resolved. The province has registered 72,532 negative test results. 11:50 a.m.: The federal government is providing up to $2 billion in additional funding to help provinces and territories ensure that kids can safely return to class this fall. The money is on top of $19 billion Ottawa has already promised provinces and territories to help them cope with the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their economies and health-care systems. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says children must be safe in their classrooms and parents shouldnt be losing sleep over this. The money will flow through a new fund specifically for school reopenings and there will also be $112 million to help schools in First Nations communities. Trudeau says provinces and territories, which have sole jurisdiction over education, will have flexibility to spend the money as they see fit to bolster their efforts to ensure schools can reopen this fall as safely as possible. Schools have been shut down across the country since COVID-19 started sweeping across Canada in mid-March. 11:20 a.m. (updated): Ontario is reporting 88 new cases of COVID-19 and two new deaths related to the coronavirus. The total number of cases now stands at 41,695, which includes 2,802 deaths and 37,863 cases marked as resolved. There were 115 cases newly marked as resolved in todays report. Health Minister Christine Elliott says 29 of Ontarios 34 health regions are reporting fewer than five new cases. She says 20 of those reported no new cases at all. The province was able to complete 21,960 tests in the previous day. 10:20 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 88 COVID-19 cases as the province processed nearly 22,000 tests, Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted. Locally, 29 of Ontarios 34 public health units are reporting five or fewer cases, with 20 reporting no new cases. There are 115 more resolved cases today. 10:15 a.m.: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Philippines surged past 200,000 Wednesday. The country has the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia. The Department of Health reported a daily tally of 5,277 recent infections, the majority in Manila. That brings the countrys confirmed total to 202,361 and 3,137 deaths. President Rodrigo Duterte has faced growing criticisms over the alarming spread of infections. Vice-President Leni Robredo said in televised remarks on Monday: Its as if no one is at the helm, no direction, no clear horizon as to when and how this pandemic will be addressed. Duterte said Robredo didnt back up her allegations of government shortcomings with evidence, and her criticisms came amid public desperation. He said, Please do not add fuel to the fire. You will just destroy the government. 9:45 a.m.: A campus coalition at Canadas largest university is urging the school to listen to its own expert research on COVID-19 and roll back its plan to reopen doors to students and staff in the fall. In an online panel held earlier this week, the University of Toronto Faculty Association discussed what it described as the administrations refusal to address health and safety concerns raised by staff and students despite the schools high-profile health-care advocacy work during the global pandemic. 8:50 a.m.: Germany will end mandatory coronavirus tests for travellers returning from high-risk areas abroad and again focus its testing strategy on people with symptoms or possible exposure to COVID-19 patients, the countrys health minister said Wednesday. Health Minister Jens Spahn said that over the summer vacation period the number of virus tests performed in Germany nearly doubled to 900,000 per week, in part to identify people who caught the virus during trips abroad. People coming home from coronavirus risk areas were offered free tests at airports, train stations and highway stops, allowing them to cut short the required two-week quarantine if their result came back negative. Travellers returning from high-risk areas, which include most countries outside the European Union and some regions inside the bloc, will in the future be required to go into mandatory quarantines for at least five days before taking a test, which may no longer be free unless ordered by a doctor. 8:28 a.m.: Egypts prime minister is warning about an increase in confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Arab worlds most populous country. Mustafa Madbouly says his government will keep tightening its preventive measures to avoid a new wave of the pandemic, according to the state-run MENA news agency. Health Minister Hala Zayed is concerned people arent wearing face masks or observing social distancing. She called for police to activate penalties for those not wearing masks on public transportation. The government in July allowed the reopening of mosques, cafes and restraints, and lifted the nighttime curfew. It also reopened selected tourist destinations to international charter flights. Egypt reported more than 97,600 infections and nearly 5,300 confirmed deaths. However, the actual numbers of infections and deaths from coronavirus, like elsewhere in the world, are likely far higher due to limited testing and reporting. 8:21 a.m.: The city of Urumqi in Chinas northwest resumed large-scale virus testing of residents Wednesday to stop a coronavirus outbreak, the government announced. The Xinjiang region has recorded 826 confirmed virus cases from mid-July through Tuesday in the outbreak, the government reported. It says 124 still were hospitalized. The announcement says testing would cover key communities but gave no indication how many people would be involved. 7:45 a.m.: Frances prime minister is urging his compatriots to wear masks more but insisted Wednesday that rising coronavirus infections across the country are nothing to panic about and that its time for people to get back to work and school and to cultivating themselves. France is now reporting more than 25 positive virus tests per 100,000 people, up from five per 100,000 a month ago. Neighbouring countries are requiring quarantines for visitors from parts or all of France. There has also been a small but steady uptick in the number of COVID-19 in intensive care, though the situation is far from the crisis levels facing French hospitals in March and April. We are not letting down our guard. The virus is still there, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on France-Inter radio Wednesday. While he acknowledged that wearing a mask all the time is a little annoying, Castex urged people protesting mask requirements to think of others, hospital workers, medical workers, vulnerable people. ...Its not because you feel invincible that you can go contaminate others. Despite confirmed virus cases rising, the prime minister insisted that France needs to return to work and school and avoid falling into an economic and social crisis that would be much more dangerous than the health crisis. 7:17 a.m.: As many as 40 local television outlets and up to 200 Canadian radio stations could be forced to close in the next three years as the pandemic adds to financial pressures media companies were facing before COVID-19, according to a new study from a media advocacy group. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters issued a report today warning of potential closures and widespread job cuts as TV and radio broadcasters face a cumulative projected revenue shortfall of up to $1.06 billion by the end of 2022. The report says the most vulnerable are the countrys AM radio stations, as well as other independent private radio and TV operations in smaller markets across the country. The study, titled The Crisis in Canadian Media and the Future of Local Broadcasting, was commissioned by the CAB and conducted by Winnipeg-based independent media economics consultancy Communications Management Inc. The CAB is calling on the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to take swift action by establishing a more fair and sustainable future for local media, and the federal government to provide emergency regulatory relief as well as greater support. The organization says its concerned about the fallout from an erosion in advertising revenues, which could leave national and international media to provide Canadians with most of their news. 7:10 a.m.: National Bank of Canadas third-quarter profit topped expectations even as it increased its provisions for bad loans compared with a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank says it earned $602 million or $1.66 per diluted share for the quarter ended July 31 compared with a profit of $608 million or $1.66 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Revenue totalled $2.02 billion, down from $2.04 billion. Provisions for credit losses amounted to $143 million, up from $86 million a year ago. Excluding specified items, National Bank says it earned $1.66 per diluted share, the same as a year ago. Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of $1.30 per share, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv. Since the gradual reopening of the economy, many indicators have improved, but the situation remains uncertain, especially given the potential for a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, National Bank chief executive Louis Vachon said in a statement. While its still too early to predict how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the economy in the long term, the bank is in a strong position with a solid balance sheet, defensive positioning, quality credit portfolios, and a prudent approach to provisioning. 6:41 a.m.: Gaza health officials have reported the first death from COVID-19 since authorities detected community transmission of the coronavirus earlier this week. A wider outbreak in the blockaded territory, which is home to 2 million Palestinians, could be catastrophic. The health infrastructure has been strained by years of conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. The Health Ministry says the deceased was a 61-year-old man who had been put on life support and died during his transfer to a special isolation centre. The ministry said nine new local cases were detected Wednesday, raising the total to 15. Authorities have reported more than 100 cases and a fatality since March, but until this week they were all linked to quarantine centres for returning travellers. 6:16 a.m.: Parents and advocates of students with special needs say Ontarios back-to-school plan treats them as an afterthought. Like many parents, Lindsay Ahmed still has so many questions and shes frustrated with the lack of information. How will physical distancing requirements affect her daughters support person? What happens if theres another shutdown and she is forced to return to online learning, which, if its run as it was in the spring, will be mostly inaccessible to her? Read the full story from the Stars Brendan Kennedy here. 6:10 a.m.: Australias hard-hit Victoria state on Wednesday recorded one of its deadliest days of the pandemic despite new COVID-19 infections continuing to trend down. The 24 fatalities in the latest 24-hour period is the largest death toll apart from the all-time daily record of 25 set on Aug. 17. Victorias Health Department reported 149 news cases on Wednesday following 148 infections on Tuesday. Wednesdays count brought the weekly average to 175 new cases a day, down from 279 in the previous week. 6:10 a.m.: Hawaiis most populous island is returning to a stay-at-home order while officials strive to conduct 70,000 COVID-19 tests in two weeks. Oahu has seen a surge in daily positive cases. The federal government will help officials test 5,000 people daily for two weeks. During that time, Oahu will be under a stay-at-home order where gyms and dine-in restaurants will be closed. Religious services may continue. The spike also has included an outbreak at the states largest jail. State Sen. Clarence Nishihara is criticizing Gov. David Iges administration for failing to widely test inmates swiftly enough. 6:10 a.m.: Mexican officials are expressing concern that the country may have entered a plateau of coronavirus infections after about three weeks of slight declines. The Health Department said Tuesday there were 4,916 newly confirmed cases, bringing Mexicos total to 568,621. There were 650 newly confirmed deaths, bring the countrys total to 61,450, the third highest in the world. The Health Departments epidemiology director, Jose Luis Alomia, said the trend is moving toward what could be a plateau. 6:08 a.m.: Health officials in South Korea called on thousands of striking doctors to return to work as the country counted its 13th straight day of triple-digit jumps in coronavirus cases. Health Minister Park Neung-hoo cited the growing virus crisis while issuing back-to-work orders for doctors in Seoul area who had joined physicians in other parts of the country for a three-day strike starting Wednesday to protest government plans to boost the number of medical students. Doctors groups say such measures would worsen whats already a cutthroat market. South Koreas Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reported 320 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 237 from the densely populated Seoul region, which has been the centre of a viral resurgence in recent weeks. Health workers have struggled to stem transmissions linked to various places and groups, including churches, schools, restaurants and door-to-door salespeople. 6:07 a.m.: India has reported more than 67,000 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, raising the countrys number of reported infections to 3.2 million with 1.5 million reported infections coming this month alone. The Health Ministry on Wednesday also reported 1,059 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities from the pandemic to 59,449. India has been recording more than 60,000 new infections per day for the last two weeks, reaching a peak of 69,652 cases on Aug. 19. New reported infections dropped to around 61,000 on Monday and Tuesday, but picked up again in the past 24 hours. The ministry said Indias recovery rate was now around 76 per cent with a fatality rate of 1.84 per cent. Even though the country of nearly 1.4 billion people has been slowly opening up to heal the economy, areas identified as most affected by the virus continue to remain under lockdown. 6:06 a.m.: Winter is ending in the Southern Hemisphere and country after country South Africa, Australia, Argentina had a surprise: Their steps against COVID-19 also apparently blocked the flu. But theres no guarantee the Northern Hemisphere will avoid twin epidemics as its own flu season looms while the coronavirus still rages. This could be one of the worst seasons weve had from a public health perspective with COVID and flu coming together. But it also could be one of the best flu seasons weve had, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press. U.S. health officials are pushing Americans to get vaccinated against the flu in record numbers this fall, so hospitals arent overwhelmed with a dueling twindemic. Its also becoming clear that wearing masks, avoiding crowds and keeping your distance are protections that are not specific for COVID. Theyre going to work for any respiratory virus, Redfield said. 6 a.m. A network of childrens hospitals is launching a Canada-wide initiative to improve early access to mental health care for young people. Canadas Childrens Hospital Foundations on Wednesday announced the multimillion-dollar project, which will fund mental health programs at 13 pediatric hospitals around the country. Dr. Ronald Cohn, president and CEO of Torontos Hospital for Sick Children, said the initiative couldnt come at a more critical time as the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated long-standing gaps in Canadas mental health system. Unfortunately, the vast majority of children and youth in Canada cant access mental health services until the point when theyve already escalated into a crisis situation, Cohn said by phone. This need (for early intervention) has been amplified now more than ever. In recent weeks, Cohn said, SickKids has seen a spike in visits to its emergency department and outpatient clinics related to psychological issues. While the hospital is looking into the cause of the uptick, Cohn said, some clinicians worry that the isolation of life under lockdown may be intensifying mental health struggles for many young Canadians. 5:56 a.m.: A campus coalition at Canadas largest university is urging the school to listen to its own expert research on COVID-19 and roll back its plan to reopen doors to students and staff in the fall. In an online panel held earlier this week, the University of Toronto Faculty Association discussed what it described as the administrations refusal to address health and safety concerns raised by staff and students despite the schools high-profile health-care advocacy work during the global pandemic. Association President Terezia Zoric said she disagrees with the administrations decision to hold in-person classes, arguing the move carries unnecessary risks for the entire university community. It is a complete lost opportunity for the universitys senior administration not to consult with their own in-house experts who are also being consulted by the World Health Organization and federal provincial governments, Zoric said. They have developed a plan with very little input from the most expert people who work for them. It is beyond disappointing. Wednesday 5:55 a.m.: Justin Trudeau will visit a school in Toronto today to announce $2 billion in additional funding to help provinces and territories ensure that kids can safely return to class this fall. The money is on top of the $19 billion the prime minister has already promised provinces and territories to help them cope with the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their economies and health-care systems. He informed premiers of the new funding during a conference call Tuesday afternoon. The funding is expected to be allocated based on each province and territorys number of students. Federal officials say provinces and territories, which have sole jurisdiction over education, will have plenty of flexibility in deciding how best to spend the money. Theyll be able to spend it as they see fit to bolster their efforts to ensure schools can reopen this fall as safely as possible. Schools have been shut down across the country since COVID-19 started sweeping across the country in mid-March. Click here for the story from the Stars Tonda MacCharles. 6 p.m. Tuesday As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, Ontarios regional health units are reporting a total of 43,677 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,837 deaths, up another 80 cases in 24 hours, according to the Stars latest count. As has been the case in recent days, the vast majority of new cases in the province were reported in the GTA and Ottawa. Among Ontarios 34 health units, just Toronto, with 25 new infections, Peel Region, with 23, and Ottawa, with 16, reported in the double digits on Tuesday. York Region also added another six to its tally. None of the other 30 units reported more than a pair of new cases Tuesday. The seven-day average for daily case reports in Ontario has been rising steadily in recent days, but fell slightly Tuesday to 105 cases a day. Even with the recent increases, the rate of infection remains well below the worst of the pandemic; Ontario saw the same average reach a mid-April peak of nearly 600 cases daily. Three new fatal cases were reported Tuesday: Two in Peel Region and one in Toronto. The vast majority of the provinces COVID-19 patients have since recovered; the province lists slightly more than 1,000 active cases of the disease. The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test. The province cautions its separate data, published daily at 10:30 a.m., may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. Read Tuesdays developments from the Star here. Whats a parent to think? According to Premier Doug Ford, Ontario already has the best possible plan for reopening schools. We have spared absolutely no expense, he says, on the safest, most cautious reopening plan in the entire country. How could you improve on that? And yet when the federal government unexpectedly coughed up $2 billion (including hundreds of millions more for Ontario) on Wednesday to make school reopening across the country safer, naturally the premier said thanks very much and vowed to make the provinces already perfect plan even more excellent. Governments, indeed, keep insisting that everythings just fine for reopening schools and then announcing plans to do better. After two or three cycles like this, parents and educators naturally wonder how far short the latest version falls. Time is now about to run out, with the new school year around the corner. The new federal money is surely welcome, and responds to fears that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Liberal MPs are hearing from parents across Canada. In that sense it amounts to a criticism of how well the provinces have prepared for the single most important step in the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic getting kids safely back in school. But education being a provincial responsibility, Ottawa cant dictate to the provinces how to spend money from the new Safe Return to Class Fund. All it can do is turn over the cash and hope for the best. And in the case of Ontario, the signs on that front are worrisome. The province will get $760 million from Ottawa, starting with $381 million this fall. A lot of money, but the Ford government seems determined to spread it around so thinly that it may not have the desired effect of calming fears among parents and inspiring trust in the reopening plan. As outlined by Education Minister Stephen Lecce, Ontario plans to use the federal gift to funnel additional money to school boards in a wide range of areas. Therell be $30 million more for PPE, $75 million for cleaning, $50 million to prepare for a possible second wave or flu pandemic, $44 million on retaining school bus drivers, $12.5 million on mental health, and so on down a long list. All this is undoubtedly useful. But all that spending doesnt directly address the one thing that has dominated the concerns of teachers, parents and others class sizes and physical distancing in schools. Parents naturally wonder how we can insist on keeping two metres apart everywhere else, but not make it the highest priority when kids return to school. Certainly, thats expensive and takes a lot of work and planning. It would involve finding extra space in schools, possibly building temporary structures if that isnt possible, and most of all hiring extra teachers. The government has set aside millions for boards to hire more educators. But if it was truly dedicated to having the best possible plan and sparing absolutely no expense, surely it would have focused even more on that from the start. Instead, it has dragged its heels on mandating smaller classes across the province, insisting that an array of other measures (masks, cleaning, testing, a staggered start to the school year, and so on) will do the job. In that, to be fair, it has had the support of medical experts like Dr. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer of health, and other public health officials. But no matter how much their support is cited, and how many other extra measures the government announces, parents seem to be getting more, not less, worried. Confidence is key. And so theres a real danger here that Ontario will end up squandering the gift offered up by the federal government in the form of hundreds of millions of new dollars. Will parents really be impressed by a more robust plan to retain bus drivers? Or will they ignore that and still be disappointed that class sizes arent being reduced right across the province? All provinces, Ontario included, need to get this right. Theyre almost out of time, but with Ottawas help they now have substantially more money. It should not be wasted. Sushant Singh Rajputs tragic demise has broken and shattered hearts. Who would have imagined a rising star will go this way? His fans, friends, and family are fighting for justice for the actor as they are clueless about what happened to the star who was and still is an inspiration to a million others. Like the shadow I am and I am not... ~ Jalaluddin Rumi pic.twitter.com/Ejj1X6LSyV Sushant Singh Rajput (@itsSSR) October 26, 2019 After his demise, a lot of writers started to narrate Sushants life through their lens and wrote books on him. Some celebrated him and some outrightly discussed the conspiracy theories about his tragic demise. Here are the five books that are written on Sushant Singh Rajput post his demise. The Legend Sushant Singh Rajput: The Heist Of National Treasure Amazon This was written by Delhi-based author Pradeep Sharma, whose pen name is Willking. If you read the description of the book available online, the author felt traumatized after his death and wanted to tell the entire world how hollow the world is without his presence. The author wanted to give him a tribute by writing a book that talks about his life, celebrating his success as an actor, his inclination towards science, and his lust for intelligence. He wanted to focus on the humanitarian aspect of his life. The author told IANS, I didn't know SSR personally, nor did I ever meet him. But, when I heard about the news of his death, I was not able to accept it and faced severe anxiety, and I thought I would write a blog or an article and post it on social media. But later it occurred to me that I can write a book on him, as a tribute. Sushant Singh Rajput: Mystery Goodreads This book by Harsh Vardhan Chauhan seems like a desperate attempt at solving the case. Just a month to his death, this book was made available in the stores. We wonder what the author was thinking while writing this book when the CBI has just taken over the case. Sushant's Depression Story: Possible Reasons Behind Sushant's Depression Kindle Yes, thats the name of the book. The case is still under investigation but Khushal Chawla has already penned a book on the possibility of Sushants depression which is not yet proved. The author describes it as "a short book that tells you stories on Sushant's depression. I write this book because I feel that his depression story needs to be told to the world. The book has an important message at the end which I feel will change the way people see Indian cinema." Book Under The Tree: Sushant Amazon This genuinely seemed like an attempt to celebrate the man behind the starry glitter. As the author Avani Jain describes it as, a literary fiction dedicated to the wonderful life of Sushant Singh Rajput. Sushant was an actor, dancer, intellectual, poet, and explorer who had a compendium of beautiful stories, life lessons, and ideas to pass on. Remembering: Sushant Singh Rajput Kindle Parikshita Garud has already decided in her head that its suicide even before CBI shared their findings of the investigation which is still undergoing. The authors description of the book reads, This book is related to the legendary Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. I am going to publish some important points of his life in series. This is the first series where I have introduced Sushant Singh Rajput and depression. Nowadays depression and suicide are the most sensitive topics. I'm just trying to motivate people out there with the help of remembering Sushant Singh Rajput. We wonder if all of this is just monetizing someone's death. What do you think about these books? Women fleeing abusive relationships are getting caught up in protracted and costly legal disputes because there still isn't a way for the tax office to easily share superannuation information with courts, nearly two years after it was promised. The delay also puts more than $56 million spent on government-funded pilot programs to streamline Family Court proceedings at risk. Dragging out Family Court battles over assets can leave a lawyer's bill bigger than any eventual payout. Credit:Erwin Wodicka The government announced in its November 2018 women's economic security statement it would make it easier and faster to identify superannuation assets during family law proceedings. Ministers are now working on an updated women's economic statement. Superannuation is often a significant portion of the asset pool that is split when a relationship breaks down but it can be very difficult to identify where the money is held or how much there is if one partner won't give the information. A British man who was worshipping inside a mosque in New Zealand when it was attacked by a white supremacist terrorist has told of how he cradled the body of a three-year-old victim in the aftermath of the shooting. Nathan Smith, who lived in Dorset before moving to New Zealand in 2005, was inside the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch on March 15 last year when it was attacked by Australian Brenton Tarrant, who opened fire with automatic weapons. Smith spoke of his ordeal at a sentencing hearing for Tarrant, who has pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder, and one of terrorism. Nathan Smith, who lived in Britain before moving to New Zealand in 2005 where he was targeted in the Christchurch terror attack, faced attacker Brenton Tarrant in court Coming face-to-face with Tarrant at Christchurch's High Court, Smith said: 'After you left Mosque Al Noor, I was surrounded by the dying, the injured and the dead. 'I held a three-year-old boy in my arms, praying he was still alive. He was not. You took him away. He was three.' 'You have changed my life forever, and I will never forgive you. For us, life will go on with sadness in our hearts. 'But those of us who died are the lucky ones. They have gone straight to heaven, which I will try for the rest of my life to achieve.' Smith was referring to three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim, who was shot twice by Tarrant as he clung to his father's leg at the mosque. Aden Ibrahim Diriye, the boy's father, had a statement read to the court, in which he recalled how his son loved to run around the mosque pretending to be a policeman. Smith told how he was left 'among the dying, injured and dead' after the attack, and cradled the body of three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim (pictured), who was shot twice and died Tarrant sat emotionless throughout much of the testimony, though smirked when Smith told him that he would be getting plenty of spare time in jail Smith told Tarrant 'you have changed my life forever' and 'I will never forgive you' as he spoke at the terrorist killer's sentencing hearing on Wednesday 'Know that true justice is waiting for you in the next life and that will be far more severe. I will never forgive you for what you have done,' he said. Speaking of the impact on his own life since the attack, Smith added: 'Because of you my faith is stronger and I want to learn more about Islam, so thank you. 'When you get a free minute, which you will have plenty of - funny, yeah, very funny - maybe you should try to read the Koran. It's beautiful,' he said, reacting to a smirk from Tarrant. 'I have nothing else to say to you, but you will be judged. You will be judged.' Smith spoke alongside 90 victims of the mosque attack and their family members, almost all of whom asked the judge to impose the maximum penalty on Tarrant - life in jail without possibility of parole. Smith also thanked Tarrant for making his faith in Islam stronger, and told him to 'read the Koran' during his spare time in prison Tarrant has sat emotionless throughout most of the hearing, separated from the main courtroom by a sheet of perspex glass. Gone is the bravado that saw him throw a white power symbol during an earlier court appearance. In its place are slight nods with the testimony of victims, or smirks at jokes made at his expense. Tarrant sacked his defence team earlier in the trial, granting himself the opportunity to make a closing statement on his own behalf when he is jailed - due to take place on Thursday. But his court-appointed lawyer told the judge on Wednesday that he would wave that right, and instead a written statement would be read on his behalf. The Medio Fire burning in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains north of Santa Fe had consumed about 2,722 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest and was 21% contained by late Tuesday afternoon, according to fire officials. That represents a growth of just 20 acres from the previous day. The weather has helped us out the last couple of days, Carl Schwope, the incident commander for the fire, said during a community meeting held online Tuesday night. Officials say that firefighters made substantial progress this week on the fire first reported Aug. 17. Burning in steep, rugged terrain about 5 miles north of the Santa Fe ski basin, no residences are at risk. But a structure protection group is working with homeowners in Lower Pacheco Canyon and the community of Rio en Medio to set up sprinkler systems, water tanks and hoses as defense against the fire should it shift direction. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Meanwhile, the Caja Fire continues to burn on the Caja del Rio Plateau west of Santa Fe. About 30 firefighters are working that blaze. They were aided by rain on Monday and were hoping for more, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. Presumed to have been ignited by a lightning strike on Sunday, the Caja Fire was reported to be 600 acres and 10% contained. The Bench asked the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to come up with a road map to tackle the spread of COVID-19 by 28 Aug, which is the next date of hearing Taking a serious note of the spurt in COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday proposed that a stringent 15-day lockdown may be the only way to curb the virus, while observing that the measures being taken by the government are not sufficient. A bench of justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar made the critical observation against the government's efforts to contain the crisis after softening its remarks, saying it does not doubt "the government's will" to curb it. "We do not doubt government's will but we are equally conscious that measures being taken are not enough and needed to be made more severe and stringent but of course, workable too at the same time," the bench observed. While issuing various directions to the state government, the bench, in one of its observations, also said, "When we have to balance between bread and butter and life, the latter has to prevail." "Food is for life to survive and not vice-versa. We do not think that a lockdown for a fortnight will bring the economy of the state to such a halt that people would die of hunger," the bench observed, apparently suggesting the government to impose another lockdown for a fortnight. The bench directed Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to tell it if there was any plan of action to contain the infection when the economy was reopened after the nationwide lockdown and if it was ever implemented. The court also asked the chief secretary if any action had been taken against district authorities who had not followed the plans, if there was any. The bench was hearing a public interest lawsuit seeking better facilities at quarantine centres. It also asked the chief secretary to come up with a road map to tackle the spread of infection from now onwards by the next date of hearing. After giving its directions to the government, the bench slated the matter for next hearing on 28 August. The court on several occasions during the hearing of the matter in past too had issued various directions to the government to check the spread of coronavirus in the state. Brexit Negotiations at Impasse as Deadline Looms BRUSSELSTrade talks between Britain and the European Union are on the verge of breaking down after they hit a brick wall, senior figures in Brussels fear. Negotiators on both sides say they have reached an impasse, with neither camp prepared to back down from their opening demands as the end-of-year deadline looms ever larger on the horizon. However, officials and diplomats hope a high-profile rupture could in fact focus minds in London and European capitals and provide the political impetus for a breakthrough in October. The latest round of talks ended in deadlock last week with the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier warning that at this stage, an agreement seems unlikely, and talks are even going backwards as valuable time is wasted. His British counterpart David Frost was also downbeat, warning that a deal wont be easy to achieve and accusing Brussels of making it unnecessarily difficult to make progress. During a briefing to European capitals, officials on Barniers team said Britain, which has publicly pushed for fast progress, now appears to have switched tactics and is stringing out the talks to build time pressure. They believe Frost will try at the last minute to trade off access to the UKs lucrative fishing waters, on which many coastal communities in Northern Europe depend, for complete freedom from EU laws after Brexit. The talks look likely to collapse, because thats how the British side wants to choreograph things. Theyre preparing the ground for it, said one European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. In truth, a row is needed. Its only if theres a total breakdown that London can move the debate domestically beyond the hard Brexiteers, and equally that EU leaders can show some leg as well. The diplomat said the trade-offs the two sides need to make are glaringly obvious, and if they agree how to prevent unfair competition, a deal will fall into place quickly. However, the source cautioned against the British side relying heavily on fisheries access as a bargaining chip, insisting that noncoastal states wont allow Barnier to give away too much in return. An EU official warned that if the UK leaves it too late to compromise, there may not be enough time for Brussels to complete its internal processes for ratifying the deal before the end of the year. As we see it, the British are now preparing the ground for things taking a nasty turn in September. The general feeling is things are getting worse rather than staying static as expected, said the official, who also wished to remain anonymous. Outsiders dont realize how pessimistic weve become. We expect the mood to start switching quite rapidly to contingency planning, in full expectation the UK will throw itself into the blame game rather than the end game. David McAllister, the European Parliaments point man on Brexit, said the solid deadline for an agreement has to be the end of October if lawmakers are to have enough time to scrutinize it and vote on it. Losing precious time now in the hope of getting a better deal in a last-minute poker game is not helpful, and potentially very detrimental for both sides, he said in a statement. However, UK officials said its a truism that the most difficult aspects of any negotiation are settled at the end, when both sides have generated enough momentum and good feeling to crack them. Negotiators are expected to speak on the phone this week, with the next round of talks scheduled to take place in London starting on Sept. 7. The EU is engaging constructively and in good faith, said a European Commission spokesman. We are working hard with the UK to overcome the significant divergences that remain between us. Public Health England (PHE) had to be pushed into making its coronavirus guidance clearer following the death of a vulnerable Brit who was visited by carers who were not wearing PPE. Official guidance about when to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) were 'confusing' and 'not visible' during the peak of the UK's outbreak, investigators say. Independent watchdog the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has published a report revealing how it told PHE to make its advice clearer. A member of the public complained to the HSIB after seeing someone who was shielding in April during the depth of Britain's crisis die after they were visited by carers who didn't wear protective equipment. It emerged that the carers had not been told to wear PPE and Government guidance was so unclear at the time that they had been told they didn't need to. The report implies the patient got coronavirus from one of the carers, emphasising that they were not ill before the visit, but says 'there is no way of knowing how the patient contracted Covid-19'. The HSIB said there were multiple versions of advice about PPE online at the same time and PHE hadn't made it clear enough which one to follow. After being told about the patient's death, PHE later changed its online advice to make it clearer which was the latest version. Both PPE and PHE's handling of the coronavirus crisis have been heavily scrutinised in recent months, with the Government slammed for not making protective equipment available for carers and PHE under fire for stopping swab tests in March. Public Health England guidance now makes it clear that all carers should wear surgical masks, gloves and aprons every time they visit someone who is shielding, but this was not clear during the peak of the UK's coronavirus outbreak, according to an investigation 'Guidance that protects frontline workers and vulnerable patients needs to be as clear and accessible as possible and this is even more important in times of crisis,' said Dr Kevin Stewart, medical director at the HSIB. 'However, there are multiple guidelines for different care sectors and it is easy to see where confusion can occur as new updates overlap with older versions.' PHE has come under scrutiny in this investigation for not having clear enough rules on what protective equipment carers should wear when around vulnerable people. It now has a 28-page document on the gov.uk website outlining how home carers can protect themselves and their patients from coronavirus. Public Health England has a 28-page document on its website, titled 'How to work safely in domiciliary care in England', instructing carers on what PPE they should wear when they visit people's homes But in April, when the virus was killing hundreds of people per day, there were two versions of the guidance, the HSIB said. And one of them, published on April 6, did not spell out what protective equipment should be worn when treating extremely vulnerable people who were shielding. An update from April 27 says that carers should wear 'a fluid repellent surgical mask, gloves and an apron' in this scenario. The previous version of the guidance did not offer specific advice, and the carers who visited the patient in the report did not wear PPE because they didn't know they should. Both versions were online at the same time and the older one did not contain a note to say it had been updated. CARE BOSSES HIT OUT AT 'SHAMBOLIC' PPE SUPPLIES IN LEAKED LETTER A letter sent from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) to the Department of Health in April saw the care chiefs accuse a senior figure at the Department of overseeing a 'shambolic response'. It raised concerns about testing in care homes, funding for the sector, and inadequate amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, the BBC reported. Adass said it was facing 'confusion' and additional work as a result of mixed messaging put out by the Government. It said the situation around PPE, which is now mandatory for all healthcare workers, was 'shambolic' and that deliveries had been 'paltry' or 'haphazard'. The care sector, which looks after around 400,000 of Britain's most vulnerable people, was being overlooked while officials focused on the NHS, Adass said as they raised fears of a 'significant imbalance'. The bosses added that they welcomed coronavirus swab testing for people working in social care but said it looked as it if it would be 'rolled out without being given thought to who is going to be tested and what we are going to do with the result'. Advertisement The HSIB report said: 'There was no straightforward way of navigating the gov.uk website. The guidance was not visible.' As a result of this, the HSIB said, healthcare workers did not know what they should have been doing. 'In the reported case,' it said, 'district nurses used PPE when delivering homecare. 'However, other care workers did not use PPE and had been told this was not necessary. 'The patient later died, and their death was confirmed as being Covid-19 related. The care visits occurred when the patient and other household member were not showing any Covid-19 symptoms.' After the HSIB told Public Health England its guidance was confusing the government body took down the April 6 link. Protective equipment for care staff was a contentious issue for months at the start of, and through the peak of, Britain's coronavirus crisis. Obsessed with protecting the NHS, Government officials were accused of overlooking the care sector and leaving it in the lurch while the virus spread wildly through homes and killed thousands of vulnerable elderly people. A letter sent from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) to the Department of Health in April saw the care chiefs accuse a senior figure at the Department of overseeing a 'shambolic response'. It raised concerns about testing in care homes, funding for the sector, and inadequate amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, the BBC reported at the time. Adass said it was facing 'confusion' and having to do extra work as a result of mixed messaging put out by the Government. It said the situation around PPE, which was by then mandatory for all healthcare workers, was 'shambolic' and that deliveries had been 'paltry' or 'haphazard'. The care sector, which looks after around 400,000 of Britain's most vulnerable people, was being overlooked while officials focused on the NHS, Adass said. They raised fears of a 'significant imbalance' between hospital patients and people relying on care in nursing homes or their own houses. The bosses added that they welcomed coronavirus swab testing for people working in social care but said it looked as it if it would be 'rolled out without being given thought to who is going to be tested and what we are going to do with the result'. Dr Eamonn OMoore, chief of adult social care at Public Health England, said: 'We were very sorry to hear of what happened and lessons have been learnt. 'We updated the links to the guidance clarifying the right one to use. 'We continue to update and revise UK guidance informed by the evolving evidence, as well as listening to feedback from the health and care sectors on its appropriateness and accessibility.' Reality TV stars Porsha Williams and Yandy Smith traveled to Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, which lead to their arrest. The 39-year-old Williams, star of Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta and 40-year-old Smith of VH1's Love & Hip-Hop, were among 68 people arrested on Tuesday. They were protesting the March death of Breonna Taylor, a Louisville EMT who was fatally shot in her own home after three officers executed a no-knock warrant. Arrest: Reality TV stars Porsha Williams and Yandy Smith traveled to Louisville, Kentucky on Tuesday to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, which lead to their arrest Mug shot: The 39-year-old Williams, star of Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta (above) and 40-year-old Smith of VH1's Love & Hip-Hop, were among 68 people arrested on Tuesday The protest followed BreonnaCon, an event that spanned several days focused on bringing the community together to get justice for Breonna Taylor, according to Louisville's WHAS. The protesters marched from South Central Park to the Louisville Metro Police Department Training Academy, though police blocked protesters from going past the Denny Crum Overpass. Police claimed that the 68 people who were taken into custody were arrested for and charged with obstructing the roadway and disorderly conduct. Protest: The protest followed BreonnaCon, an event that spanned several days focused on bringing the community together to get justice for Breonna Taylor, according to Louisville's WHAS Both Williams and Smith were also arrested following a July protest in Louisville, which took place at the home of Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Williams shared a photo of her and Smith (both wearing bright yellow shirt and black face masks) sitting in the street with their fists raised in front of a line of cops. 'SAY HER NAME' Williams said in the brief caption of her photo, along with the hashtag #BreonnaTaylor. Say her name: Williams shared a photo of her and Smith (both wearing bright yellow shirt and black face masks) sitting in the street with their fists raised in front of a line of cops Smith shared a similar photo, which she captioned, 'Now this but the murders are still free,' adding the hashtag #justiceforbreonnataylor. She also shared a brief video of her standing up and raising her fist, while another protester told cops through a megaphone that they are the criminals. 'Matter fact you aint gonna take me sitting down. Im standing my ground' she said in the caption. Smith: Smith shared a similar photo, which she captioned, 'Now this but the murders are still free,' adding the hashtag #justiceforbreonnataylor Standing: 'Matter fact you aint gonna take me sitting down. Im standing my ground' she said in the caption Smith also shared another video of her being taken into custody, as a fan can be heard yelling in the background, 'We love you Yandy! Yandy!' It has been over five months since Breonna Taylor was killed by three Louisville police officers. None of the officers have yet to be arrested, with one of the three fired for use of deadly force in June. But now a new experiment is underway: Teachers and students have been summoned back to classes, testing whether the new vigilance is enough. Social distancing and face masks are mandatory on most school grounds, but rarely inside classrooms, despite recent advice from the World Health Organization that children 12 and over wear masks when distancing is impossible. If students had to wear masks for several hours a day, the argument in Germany goes, their ability to learn would suffer. Instead, schools aim to better ventilate classrooms and keep classes separate so that each student has contact with only a few dozen others, and outbreaks can be contained. Germanys departure from the more cautious, part-time reopening strategy is rooted partly in resource constraints: Like most countries, it has too few teachers to split students into smaller classes and allow for social distancing. But several weeks into returning to school, educators and even virologists who were skeptical about reopening say that early results look hopeful. Despite individual infections popping up in dozens of schools, there have been no serious outbreaks and no lasting closures. Berlin is a case in point: By the end of last week, 49 infections had been recorded among teachers and students across the city. But thanks to fast testing and targeted quarantines, no more than 600 students out of some 366,000 have had to stay home on any given day. Of 803 schools, only 39 have been affected. Its messy and imperfect and I would have liked to see more precautions, but the main takeaway so far is: Its working, said Sandra Ciesek, a virologist at the University Hospital of Frankfurt who signed a statement by leading German virologists supporting the reopenings. Local politicians from Kenosha, Wisc., pleaded with Governor Tony Evers to send additional National Guard service members to the city, following three consecutive nights of rioting over the shooting of Jacob Blake. Rioters have burned local businesses to the ground and committed other acts of vandalism, while apparent clashes between rioters and citizens protecting businesses led to two shooting deaths. There are currently 250 national guardsmen deployed to Kenosha but a White House staffer claimed that Governor Evers resisted an offer from the federal government to send 500 additional troops. The entire Kenosha County Board signed off on a letter to Evers requesting that 1,500 guardsmen be deployed to the city immediately. Our county is under attack. Our businesses are under attack. Our homes are under attack. Our local law enforcement agencies need additional support to help bring civility back to our community, the letter states. We are formally asking for 1,500 National Guard members with police powers to be sent to Kenosha County immediately.We encourage you to visit Kenosha County and see firsthand the destruction that has been inflicted on our community. U.S. Representative Bryan Steil (R., Wisc.), whose district includes Kenosha, also called on Governor Evers to expand the National Guard presence. Yesterday, Governor Evers sent 250 National Guards to Kenosha. This was woefully insufficient, Steil said in a statement. I call on the Governor to accept [President Trumps] offer of assistance, supported by Kenosha officials, which includes National Guard from other states and federal law enforcement officers. Democratic state senator Bob Wirch also condemned the violence. I am devastated by the events that have taken place in Kenosha. I was born and raised here, and I love my community and our people. This is not who we are, Wirch said. I will always support the rights of people to peacefully protest, but this violence and destruction is indefensible and must stop. Our community is being torn apart, and we cant begin to heal until the chaos ends. More from National Review The Respectful Workplace According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there were nearly 73,000 charges of workplace discrimination during 2019. The charges involved retaliation, disability, race, sex, age, national origin, color, and religion. These allegations can have a serious impact on the company. A new anti-discrimination resource center has launched to help businesses provide proper training to their employees. Businesses hire people and train them on their specific job, but they forget how important it is to train them regarding discrimination, explains Myron Curry, founder of Business Training Media. Every employee needs anti-discrimination training so that you have a respectful workplace, and you are protecting your company. Its crucial that businesses provide anti-discrimination training for their employees. This helps to create a better workplace, as well as avoid possible legal issues if discrimination charges arise. Business Training Media has launched a new anti-discrimination resource center that helps to teach people about harassment, diversity and inclusion, workplace bullying, gender differences, and sexual harassment, among other important issues. The resource center includes a collection of training materials, including videos, online courses, movies, informational booklets, and more. There are some courses that are also specific to geographic areas, such as California, Connecticut, and Canada. Some of the training materials in the resource center include: Preventing Workplace Discrimination for Managers and Supervisors Practice Respect Anti-Discrimination, Diversity & Inclusion Online Course Preventing Workplace Discrimination for Managers and Supervisors Meeting Kit Teen Guidance Overcoming Prejudice & Discrimination Harassment & Diversity: Respecting Differences Understanding the New ADA Video Defeating Unconscious Bias Drop By Drop - Subtle Discrimination It's Still Not Just About Sex Anymore: Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace Our comprehensive anti-discrimination resource center has everything organizations need to offer proper training to their management and staff, added Curry. We cover all types of discrimination and offer a variety of ways to access the information, so there is something for everyone. To access the anti-discrimination resource center, visit the site at: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com/discrimination.php Business Training Media offers over 6,500 training products, including online courses in management, cybersecurity, customer service, sexual harassment, COVID-19 resources, and more. The company has provided training for such companies as Bank of America, FedEx, Verizon, Google, Yahoo, and more. To learn more or register for the course, visit the site: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com About Business Training Media Founded in 1998, Business Training Media offers thousands of training products for corporations. Based in Encino, Calif., it provides business training solutions for companies worldwide. It has had over 26,000 customers, including many Fortune 500 companies. Its training tools are available in multiple delivery options, including online, video streaming, DVD, USB, webinars, books, games, and more. To learn more, visit the site: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com # # # Source: US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. EEOC Releases Fiscal Year 2019 Enforcement and Litigation Data. https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-releases-fiscal-year-2019-enforcement-and-litigation-data Thirty tertiary education establishments in Vietnam and ASEAN have been ranked and rated with stars in accordance with the UPM (University Performance Metrics) system by a research team from the Hanoi National University. This is a product of the National Science and Technology Program for Educational Science chaired by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). Prof Nguyen Huu Duc, the founder of the UPM research team According to Prof Nguyen Huu Duc, the founder of the UPM research team, there are many university rankings in the world, but they only focus on research-oriented universities and the worlds 1,000 leading universities, which means that only 3 percent of universities are ranked. As such, the remaining 97 percent, or 28,000 schools, remain uncared for, and their contributions to socio-economic development cannot be measured and recognized. Therefore, UPM is designed with an aim to access the majority of universities. What UPM strives for is not the ranking, but a tool for universities to compare standards. According to Duc, in modern times, universities are not only establishments which provide human resources, teach students and produce graduates who work at companies, but also creative entrepreneurs who create jobs for society. Universities, which in the past only served as creative centers and knowledge transfer centers, have become places for both creation and implementation and exploitation of knowledge. Universities, which in the past only served as creative centers and knowledge transfer centers, have become places for both creation and implementation and exploitation of knowledge. Unlike the other university rankings which rank schools once every year, UPM serves as a quality accreditation tool. UPM has software to manage criteria and indicators for schools to manage and compare themselves, Duc explained. If schools want, UPM will give support, consultancy and assessment, and publish the results. However, they must provide sufficient figures and proof, he said. The Hanoi University of Pharmacy (HUP) was one of the 30 universities first assessed with the UPM system and it got 4 stars. HUPs Vice Rector Dinh Thi Thanh Hai said the rating is like an accreditation which helps the school detect its weak and strong points. I think the criteria set by UPM are really practical, Hai said. We are referring the standards and criteria that UPM sets to build the development strategy of the school." Dr Vo Sy Manh from the Hanoi Foreign Trade University said shortcomings always exist in every ranking, but it is undeniable that UPM can bring specific value. UPM is a fairly close evaluation system that not only includes basic elements like the ones in existing ranking systems, but also attaches importance to future trends such as innovation, startup ecosystems and digital transformation, he said. Le Truong Tung, president of FPT University, suggested that the research team should set up a legal entity so that the rating has a higher legal level. Thuy Nga Vietnams agro-forestry faculty first appears on world university rankings The agro-forestry faculty of Can Tho University was ranked first in Vietnam and in the 251-300 group of the QS World University Rankings by Subject. As Hurricane Laura lurches toward southeast Texas, first responders in east Montgomery County are closing ranks ahead of likely emergencies and are asking residents to either evacuate or buckle down. Considering 911 incidents during rainfall events have largely been avoidable in the past, the Porter and East Montgomery County fire departments are encouraging people be as self-sufficient as possible to avoid eating into much-needed resources. Theres a limited number of us and we need to concentrate on the true emergencies, said Porter Fire Chief Carter Johnson. STAY IN THE KNOW: Hurricane Laura: The latest on storms impact on Houston The fire crews spent much of Monday and Tuesday ensuring they have plenty of fuel and supplies at the ready. Between both fire departments there are seven boats, six high-water vehicles and around 40 floodwater rescue technicians available. They are scheduling an extra shift of firefighters as Laura descends on the area. And officials throughout east county will be taking the helm in 12-hour stretches and from different command posts such as fire stations, according to East Montgomery County Fire Department Chief Howard Rinewalt. Still, residents should evacuate if they have flooded in the past and need to stock up on food, water and medicine for themselves and for pets and livestock for at least the next three days if staying in, Johnson advised. If youve got a rotting tree over the top of your house, you might be thinking about moving some place else temporarily during the storm, Johnson said. By all of us working together, we can deliver that (emergency) service more efficiently and quicker. On HoustonChronicle.com: Our Texas Flood Map Tracker reveals if your neighborhood is at risk On Monday morning, Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth Rowdy Hayden gathered east county leadership for a conference table meetup to discuss consolidating resources during the hurricane, according to agency spokesman Lt. Jim Slack. In attendance were higher ups at Haydens office, as well as officials from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office and the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioners Office. Also present was leadership from the Patton Village, Roman Forest and Splendora police departments. Johnson and Rinewalt were part of discussions as well. Precinct 4 constables deputies have four boats, including two inflatables, a personal watercraft, three Hummers and two high water rescue trucks available, according to Slack. Officials are looking for how much landfall Laura will make, determining whether it will be more of a wind or a rain force event. MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox As of Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service expected the Category 3 hurricane carrying 15 mph winds to strike between Galveston Island and southern Louisiana, according to the Houston Chronicle. If it becomes more of a windfall event with power outages, Precinct 4 deputies will be out doing extra patrolling to shield against looting, Slack noted. When the power goes out, everything gets dark. People go to those dark areas and try to take things that dont belong to them, Slack said, adding residents will leave their property behind when evacuating to places where power is still available. Patton Village residents were preyed upon after Tropical Storm Imelda hit the area last year, prompting curfews, Police Chief Shannon Sharp said at the time. The same occurred during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, he added. Looters, Slack explained, can be charged for multiple offenses including theft, trespassing, burglary of habitation, building or vehicle. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has justified his actions after calling a journalist, Eyo Charles, stupid during a press conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. KanyiDaily had shared a video showing the moment Fani-Kayode was raining insults at Eyo Charles, a journalist with Daily Trust newspaper, for asking him a stupid question. Charles had asked Fani-Kayode who bankrolled his recent tour of some southern states. But the former minister, who was infuriated by the question, said the journalist was stupid. The development triggered outrageous responses among many Nigerians, with many faulting the former ministers action. But reacting via a statement, Fani-Kayode said he had no apology to offer, insisting that he was insulted by the journalist whom he attacked at the press conference. During my tour of the South and after a long and successful press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers state, a journalist put up his hand for the last question and said: Well we do not know who is bankrolling you, he said. Below is my response and I have no apology to offer for it This is not a question but an assertion and an insult. And if this insulting assertion were made before (Donald) Trump or OBJ (Olusegun Obasanjo), I know how they would have reacted. The young man apologised to me during the press conference and sent his apologies to me after the conference. I have accepted his apologies in good faith and moved on. I have always had respect for journalists and I always will. Those of them that know me or have worked with or for me over the last 30 years can attest to that. Fani-Kayode added that there is a difference between asking a question and offering a gratuitous insult. This is all the more so when it is clear that the assertion was sponsored and engineered by my political enemies who wanted to use the young man to insult and embarrass me and question my integrity. Well they got more than they bargained for, he said. I repeat this was not a question but an assertion and an insult and I will not accept that from any man born of woman. Thank you. This is coming barely 24 hours after Fani-Kayode attacked President Buharis government over the killing of IPOB members by security operatives in Enugu. 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 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The report "Feed Yeast Market by Type (Yeast Derivatives, Probiotic Yeast, Brewers Yeast, and Specialty Yeast), Livestock (Ruminants, Swine, Poultry, Aquatic Animals, Pets and Equine), Genus , and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", size is projected to reach USD 2.3 billion by 2025, which was estimated at USD 1.8 billion in 2020; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2020. The market is driven by factors such as ban on the use of antibiotics in feed as a growth promoter and increasing use of yeast as a nutritional supplement for livestock. Also, rising concern regarding animal health and feed quality has been driving the growth of this market. Report Objectives: Determining and projecting the size of the market with respect to type, livestock, genus, and region over a five-year period from 2020 to 2025 Identifying attractive opportunities in the market by determining the largest and fastest-growing segments across regions Analyzing the demand-side factors on the basis of the following: Impact of macro- and microeconomic factors on the market Shifts in demand patterns across different subsegments and regions Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=108142106 Driver: Increasing nutritional benefits from yeast-based feed products Ample quantity of yeast is present in the environment. Some yeasts are isolated from natural products such as honey, fruits, soil, water, flowers, leaves, and stems. Feed ingredients such as grains, silage, and hay also have yeasts present in them. Most of the yeast species have no impact on animals and humans, while some have negative or positive effects. It has been observed that yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Candida utilis have a positive impact on animal health; they provide nutrition to animals and thus are used as feed additives. Besides application in animal feed, there are many commercial applications of different yeast genera in various industries such as brewing, bakery, food and flavoring, pharmaceutical, and bioethanol fuel production. Restraint: Competition for basic raw materials The global supply of raw materials for yeast production can have a significant impact on the production of feed yeast and its extracts. The important source of yeast production is based on a sugar by-product, molasses. The shortage of molasses is a major concern for the global yeast market due to the high competition for these raw materials from different industries such as food, pharmaceutical, feed, and others. Such a shortage has arisen due to many reasonspoor sugarcane and sugar beet yield being the major one. Therefore, this is expected to limit its supply in the production of yeast ingredients. With high demand for brewers yeast used in bakery and alcohol industries, much more deficit in the availability of raw materials for the manufacturing of feed yeast can further affect the final product price. This would eventually affect the demand for yeast products among feed manufacturers and livestock growers. Make an Inquiry: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=108142106 With the introduction of stringent regulations, Europe is estimated to be the second largest market during the forecast period. The feed yeast market in Europe is driven by the introduction of stringent regulations pertaining to the use of antibiotics in feed. Increasing awareness about the benefits of feed yeast is projected to contribute to the market growth. The high demand for quality and nutrient-rich feed in the European countries has led to the high demand for feed yeast among farmers. Moreover, the European legislators are also concerned about food and animal safety and thus have implemented many safety laws for the same. With high concerns related to animal health, the EU government has put a ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in feed due to its negative impact on animal health as well as on the health of human consumers. For the replacement of those antibiotics, naturally-sourced feed ingredients that have antibiotic properties such as feed yeast were developed by manufacturers. This report includes a study of the development strategies of leading companies. The scope of this report includes a detailed study of feed yeast manufacturers such as Associated British Foods PLC. (UK), Archer Daniels Midland Company (US), Alltech Inc. (US), Cargill (US), Lesaffre (France), Angel Yeast Co. Ltd. (China), and Lallemand Inc. (Canada). Recent Developments: (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh has served a privilege notice against eight Superintendent of Police rank officials of Uttar Pradesh Police and wants them to be summoned in front of the Privileges Committee of Parliament. In a letter sent to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, Sanjay Singh has said that the eight senior police officials of the Uttar Pradesh Police had registered FIRs against him with a malafide intention and were trying to prevent him from discharging his political duties. The complaint by the AAP MP comes in response to nine FIRs registered against him in Uttar Pradesh. Singh in his letter has asked the eight police officials be summoned in front of the Privileges Committee of Parliament for harassing a Member of Parliament and has further sought action against them. The Rajya Sabha MP has also raised objections to the same line of language used in the FIRs against him. While all eight police officials are of the Superintendent rank, they are from the districts where FIRs have been registered against Singh for allegedly inciting communal disharmony. The AAP MP had in a press conference on August 12 accused the Yogi Adityanath government of being 'pro-Thakur' and insulting Dalits by not inviting President Ram Nath Kovind to the Ram Mandir's 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony in Ayodhya which took place earlier this month. In his letter, he has alleged that while he was trying to raise his voice against caste discrimination and in support of the poor in Uttar Pradesh, the FIRs are an attempt to silence his voice. Since then, nine FIRs have been registered against him, although he has maintained that these are a part of a bigger conspiracy to portray him as a wanted criminal in Uttar Pradesh. The Superintendent rank officials against whom Singh is seeking an action are from Lucknow, Basti, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur and Aligarh. --IANS amita/dpb (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.) Sonora, CA What Police are calling a violent assault at a Sonora hotel put a Georgia man behind bars on a $500,000 bond for attempted murder. A call came into Sonora Police dispatch just before 1 a.m. Tuesday morning from a woman who claimed she had been assaulted, sending officers rushing to the scene. Once at the Gold Lodge in the 400 block of Stockton Street, investigators questioned 50-year-old Jeffrey K. Howard of Covington, Georgia who was acquainted with and sharing a room with the victim. Investigators relay that the two got into an argument that turned physical with Howard allegedly punching the woman in the face and attempting to suffocate her twice. In his first try, he wrapped a plastic bag over her head, and when that did not work, he held her down while pushing a pillow into her face. Police did not indicate what the two were arguing about. Howard was arrested without incident. He was booked into the Tuolumne County Jail and charged with attempted murder. SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - A suburban Detroit fire chief said Wednesday that he still cant explain why a 20-year-old woman declared dead at her home was discovered alive hours later at a funeral home. An emergency medical crew did not detect signs of life, despite immediately attempting to revive Timesha Beauchamp and twice more returning to her room when relatives said she appeared to be breathing or had a heartbeat, Southfield Chief Johnny Menifee said. We, too, share in their anguish, Menifee said of Beauchamps family. We know that they want answers. Were trying to provide those answers but it takes time. We want to get it right, and we want to do it right. Menifee took questions from reporters for the first time since the bizarre events Sunday. Beauchamp, meanwhile, remained in critical condition at a hospital. Staff at a Detroit funeral home discovered she was alive just before she was to be embalmed, said Geoffrey Fieger, an attorney for Beauchamps family. Beauchamp was born with cerebral palsy and has always needed constant medical care, Fieger said. Menifee suggested it might be a case of Lazarus syndrome, a reference to people who come back to life without assistance after attempts to resuscitate have failed. These things have happened in the past, Menifee said. Beauchamps family called 911 because she was unconscious and not breathing. Two Southfield firefighters who are parademics and two more firefighters who are emergency medical technicians responded. The emergency crew later called a doctor at a hospital who declared Beauchamp dead based on information provided at the scene. Asked why Beauchamp was never taken to a hospital, Menifee said thats all under investigation. The firefighters are on paid leave while the case is investigated by the city. They feel terrible, Menifee said. These are good firefighters. I know the familys hurting. These firefighters are hurting also, the chief said. We want to have these answers, and we plan to get these answers. Three police officers were also at the scene, although direct medical care was the responsibility of the fire department crew, police Chief Elvin Barren said. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez Photo: The Canadian Press Labour Minister Harry Bains A review of services offered to injured workers in British Columbia makes more than 100 recommendations to improve communication, care and individual services at the Workers' Compensation Board. Labour Minister Harry Bains released a report Wednesday by retired labour lawyer Janet Patterson, who was commissioned by the government to review the workers' compensation system and make recommendations for improvements. Patterson's 517-page review calls for an organizational shift to a worker-centric delivery system that treats all injured workers with dignity. Her report, New Directions: Report of the Workers' Compensation Board Review, 2019, calls on the government to amend the Workers Compensation Act to make a cultural shift back to supporting all injured workers as an organizational goal. Bains says Patterson consulted widely and heard from more than 2,000 people and organizations. He says the government is making the report public while it considers Patterson's recommendations. "There are over 100 recommendations, of which about 60 are for operational and process changes within WorkSafeBC," Bains says in a news release. "It contains substantial information and recommendations that will take some significant time to carefully review." (Newser) A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that a Virginia school board's transgender bathroom ban is unconstitutional and discriminated against a transgender male student who was barred from using the boys bathrooms in his high school, the AP reports. The ruling is a victory for transgender rights advocates and Gavin Grimm, a former student at Gloucester High School who was required to use restrooms that corresponded with his biological sexfemaleor private bathrooms. A three-judge panel of the Richmond-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Gloucester County School Board violated Grimm's constitutional rights when it banned him from using the boys' bathrooms. story continues below The appeals court wrote that the school board sent Grimm "to special bathrooms that might as well have said 'Gavin' on the sign." The ruling stated that "Grimm was treated worse than students with whom he was similarly situated because he alone could not use the restroom corresponding with his gender. Unlike the other boys, he had to use either the girls' restroom or a single-stall option." An attorney for the Gloucester County school board said the board is reviewing the court's decision. Grimm, who was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, released a statement through the organization that said the court's decision "is an incredible affirmation for not just me, but for trans youth around the country." (Read more transgender stories.) A 5-year-old girl was rescued Tuesday afternoon off a beach in Northeastern Massachusetts after she was carried out to sea, police said. The girl, identified as Cecilia, was on a small raft when a gust of wind blew her 300 to 400 yards from Preston Beach in Swampscott around 2:50 p.m., the towns police department said in a Facebook post. Cecilias father tried to save her but was in a dangerous position due to the strong winds and current, according to the post. Both individuals had to be rescued. Cecilia held onto the floatation device tightly until first responders got her out of the water, the department said. Police called her one lucky little girl. She was very brave and hung on until help arrived, the Swampscott Police Department said. Great outcome today. Swampscott and Marblehead police officers and firefighters assisted with the rescue, the department noted. Police offered a warning to beachgoers, reminding them that a small breeze can quickly push a small flotation device far out to sea. Gearing up for the polls, BJP president JP Nadda has called a meeting of all the party MPs from the state on Saturday to finalise its poll strategy, sources said on Wednesday. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the party is actively working to prepare itself for the Bihar polls, expected to be held around October-November, and using virtual platforms to reach out to people and stay in touch with its cadre on the ground. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Nadda, has addressed people in Bihar via virtual rallies. Nadda has called a meeting of all the BJP MPs from Bihar on August 29 to deliberate on the coming Assembly polls in the state, sources in the party said. Besides the MPs, BJP general secretary and the party's Bihar election in-charge Bhupender Yadav will also attend the meet, they added. The BJP has involved former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in its preparations for the Bihar polls, whereas former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das has held virtual meetings with party workers from the extremely backward classes (EBCs). Addressing a virtual rally, Nadda recently said all the three NDA constituents in Bihar -- JD(U), LJP and BJP -- will fight the state Assembly polls together, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the face of the alliance, and expressed confidence that they will emerge victorious. His remarks came at a virtual meet of the Bihar BJP, amid a bitter war of words between Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). The BJP has been maintaining that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is intact in Bihar and has stuck to Kumar's projection as its chief ministerial face in the coming polls. Nadda also claimed that the opposition in Bihar as well as elsewhere has become a "spent force" and asserted that the BJP is the only party, which is being looked at by people with hope. (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.) Indian-origin lawyer Rama Tiwari has been appointed Singapore Academy of Laws deputy chief executive and designated to take full charge from next February. Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) is a promotion and development agency for Singapores legal industry. Tiwari, 48, who was appointed on August 1, takes over as SALs chief executive from February 7, 2021. He will succeed Serene Wee who retires after helming and building up SAL over the last 27 years, it said in a statement on Tuesday. Tiwari, who studied law at Queen Mary University of London, also holds an MSc in Information Technology. He was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of Singapores Supreme Court in 1999, after which he joined private practice, specialising in IT and intellectual property issues. Tiwari brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the private sector, where he held senior positions as vice-president in a bank and as a global sales lead for a US technology company. He joined SAL in July 2019 as its Chief Digital Officer and was tasked to lead its digital transformation. He is also the Executive Director of SAL Ventures, a subsidiary responsible for the development of a legal tech ecosystem. SAL President and Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said: Having spent time in practice and in-house, Rama possesses an invaluable understanding of the profession. This, coupled with his extensive regional and global experience in the technology industry, will put him in good stead to lead SAL and assist the profession at a time when the legal profession is increasingly being internationalised and impacted by technology. I have a deep respect for the work of SAL, having been closely involved in the development of the Electronic Filing System and LawNet since 1999. SAL continues to play a pivotal role in lifting standards and helping members adapt to change, Tiwari said. The Duchess of Sussex is praising Prince Harry as a feminist role model and a loving and nurturing dad to baby Archie. The former Meghan Markle sat down with Gloria Steinem ahead of a new documentary coming out all about the activist's life called "The Glorias." During a conversation that revolved mostly around the power that voters have at the polls, they also discussed how feminism intersects with the ideas of femininity and masculinity. "As Ive gotten older Ive been able to understand that its not mutually exclusive to be a feminist and be feminine," the duchess, 39, shared. "And to own that and harness your femininity and your identification as a woman in all of the different layers." Steinem, 86, replied, "Well, you can be a feminist and be masculine and a guy." "Like my husband!" Meghan said. "I love that when he just came in he said, 'You know that Im a feminist too, right, Gloria?! It's really important to me that you know that.'" The duchess also spoke about how Prince Harry will be a positive influence on baby Archie, who turned 1 in May. Official Photographs From The Christening Of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor (Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal / Getty Images) "I look at our son and what a beautiful example that he gets to grow up with a father who is so comfortable owning that as part of his own self-identification," she said. "That theres no shame in being someone who advocates for fundamental human rights for everyone, which of course includes women." Steinem added, "And also that he is a nurturing father. Because then your son will grow up knowing it's OK to be loving and nurturing." "Well said," Meghan responded. "I know itll mean a lot to him when I share that." This wasn't the first time Meghan has acknowledged Prince Harry's feminism. Last year, she recalled her feminist awakening as a pre-teen and outlined her global vision of feminism while speaking at a panel at King's College London put on by the Queen's Commonwealth Trust for International Women's Day. She also noted that her vision includes the support of men. "We must be global feminists and include men and boys,'' she said. "I hope men are part of the conversation. My husband certainly is." Immigration Reform Advocate Mary Ann Mendoza speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a veto signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, March 15, 2019. One of President Donald Trump's supporters set to speak at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday was cut from the lineup after she promoted anti-Semitic and QAnon conspiracy theories on Twitter. The conspiracies, contained in a Twitter thread dozens of tweets long, were shared earlier Tuesday by Mary Ann Mendoza, an "angel mom" and advocate for stricter immigration policies who has previously appeared alongside Trump. Mendoza was set to appear in a video to praise Trump's efforts on immigration policy and criticize the record of Democratic nominee Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama. But Mendoza's RNC appearance was axed hours after she shared the long thread of conspiracy theories, urging her 40,000-plus Twitter followers in a tweet to "do yourself a favor and read this thread." Her tweet appears to have been removed. "We have removed the scheduled video from the convention lineup and it will no longer run this week," Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement to CNBC when asked why Mendoza had been removed from the schedule. He did not cite a reason for removing the video. The thread, which began in May from the unverified account @WarNuse, claimed "'The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion' Is Not A Fabrication. And, It Certainly Is Not Anti-Semetic [sic] To Point Out This Fact." One of the tweets in the thread also includes the hashtag #QAnon a reference to the baseless pro-Trump internet conspiracy that imagines the president as being locked in clandestine battle against "deep state" factions of powerful Satanic pedophiles who are plotting against him and his supporters. Trump, asked about QAnon at the White House last week, said he doesn't know much about the theory or its followers, but added, "I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate." The thread also claimed there are "Unanswered Questions In Regards To The Sinking Of The Titanic" and the 1937 crash of the Hindenburg airship. Before the RNC speeches began Tuesday evening, Mendoza tweeted, "I retweeted a very long thread earlier without reading every post within the thread. My apologies for not paying attention to the intent of the whole message. That does not reflect my feelings or personal thoughts whatsoever." Mendoza TWEET The big picture: School is starting back up across the US with various in-classroom and remote solutions being pushed to adapt to the unique challenges of this school year. To meet the need of their students in a world with COVID-19, many school districts have run into problems finding enough laptops needed for distance learning. The three largest laptop producers, Lenovo, HP and Dell, have told school districts they have a shortage of nearly 5 million laptops. Exacerbated by multiple supply side issues, the companies are struggling to satisfy demand. Low-cost options, such as Chromebooks, are the most commonly sought after for school districts dealing with low budgets and are precisely the type of models that are most impacted by supply side disruptions. According to Associated Press, the Trump Administration's Commerce Department, "imposed sanctions on 11 Chinese companies, including the manufacturer of multiple models of Lenovo laptops." The announcement stated the sanctions were targeted to companies that were implicated in forced labor or other human rights abuses against a Muslim minority population, the Uighurs. In a letter to the Denver Public School district, which ordered 12,500 Chromebooks in May and June, Lenovo indicated these "trade controls" were adding to the delays in shipments and listed 23 models manufactured by Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. Ltd. to shift production sites as a result of the sanctions. With the pandemic pushing educational institutions to adapt quickly, educators find themselves in a frustrating place to be in. This is going to be like asking an artist to paint a picture without paint. You cant have a kid do distance learning without a computer, said Tom Baumgarten, superintendent of the Morongo Unified School District in Californias Mojave Desert. Tom Baumgarten's order of 5,000 HP laptops was originally promised before the first day of school, but was pushed back to September and then October, leaving the district with half as many laptops as needed. Many districts are starting up this week despite not having adequate resources and currently, the shortage has no end in sight. Image credit: Juliya Shangarey Increased tensions in the South China Sea has prompted Malaysia as one of the claimants to acquire drones and manned patrol craft in their arsenal. Equipment like these will be for surveillance of their home waters. Malaysia has confirmed that it will go ahead with its old plan to uptick its current inventory with brand new acquisitions. The purpose is to improve the overall security of Malaysian waters from the Chinese. The ASEAN member will be dispensing distinct proposals for interested parties to supply the Malaysian Navy for its needs with this specific type of equipment, reported Defense News. By extending its capabilities to drone or remote craft, the Malaysia Navy will be one of many navies to use these of equipment. Drones are getting more advanced and can remain aloft longer than manned aircraft. It was announced on August 25, after a Chinese coastguard member had shot an unarmed Vietnamese fisherman on the Malaysian coast. Just recently, the Chinese and Malaysians were involved in a standoff that was over oil exploration. The disputed area in the South China Sea is where the problem lies, each nation claiming it. But Beijing's claims have been rebuked by many nations in the Indo-Pacific, which is led by the Americans. The equipment needed by Malaysia are two maritime patrol aircraft, another is three mid-altitude with longer endurance aerial drones. It will be an upgrade in its current roster of equipment. Selected embassies were sent the announcement with publishing in two Malaysian national papers, and the government portals for the public to access. Further details by the government will be published on September 3 with advice that all proposals submitted should be in by November 26. Also read: US Air Force Sends Spy Drones as Eyes Over South China Sea Notice of the announcement has verified reports about Malaysian specifications that will half it for the maritime patrol aircraft and UAS unmanned systems. The proposals will be coming in the first tranche that will be part of the Malaysian 2021-2025 five-year spending plan. Procurement of these systems will be crucial in keeping home waters secured once all the tranches are provided. This will be crucial for the Malaysian military to keep pace with the ensuing ambitions of the PLAN. One branch of the Malaysian military is the Royal Malaysian Air Force, under the moniker the Capability 55 plan. They will need four patrol aircraft and an added six more UAS increased monitoring of the SCS. Possible options for the Malaysian Air Force are the Leonardo's ATR 72MP, PTDI's CN-235, Airbus' C-295, Boeing's P-8A Poseidon or the Kawasaki Heavy Industries' P-1. Both the P-8A or P-1 are used by most Navies with money to spare, and more capable thought the others are as capable too. Expected entrants to the UAS will be the General Atomics and its MQ-9 Reaper, next is the cheaper Wing Loong family from China, and the Leonardo with Falco UAV. Last is the Anka from Turkish Aerospace Industries that might be in the running as UAS the provider. Malaysia up spending for defensive or offensive drones or UAS, and manned Patrol Aircraft is a gut reaction to Chinese activities in the South China Sea. Related article: U.S. Navy's Weapons: F-35 Lightning and Super Hornet Adds Tactical Layers to Win @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron stands on stage in an empty Mellon Auditorium while addressing the Republican National Convention in Washington on Aug. 25, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron Criticizes Bidens Comments on Race Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameronthe first African American elected to a standalone office in the states historyrefuted statements made by Democratic nominee Joe Biden on black voters during night two of the Republican national convention (RNC). Cameron, who is also the first Republican elected to the states Attorney Generals office since 1948, sought to cast Biden as a captive to the radical left which he said was committed to cancel culture and the destruction of public discourse. He castigated the Democratic Partys platform for pushing the notion that your skin color must dictate your politics. I think often about my ancestors who struggled for freedom, he said on Tuesday. And as I think of those giants and their broad shoulders, I also think about Joe Biden, who says, if you arent voting for me, you aint black.' Cameron also made reference to Bidens previous comments where he said there was no diversity of thought in the Black community. Biden later walked back his comments saying that he did not mean to suggest the African American community is a monolith. Seen as a rising star in the Republican party, Cameron previously worked as legal counsel to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). At one point in his remarks, the 34-year-old directly addressed Biden. Mr. Vice President look at me, I am Black. We are not all the same, sir. I am not in chains, he said. My mind is my own. And you cant tell me how to vote because of the color of my skin. Cameron often went after Biden and his history in politics, describing him as a backwards thinker in a world craving forward-looking leadership and that there was no wisdom in the Democrat nominees plans, just a trail of discredited ideas and offensive statements. Former Vice President Joe Biden accepts the Democratic presidential nomination during a speech delivered for the largely virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 20, 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Camerons speech comes after Democrats spent much of their national convention last week trying to convince independent and even lifelong Republican voters that nominee Joe Biden would be an acceptable choice. The Democratic National Convention also featured a number of people who voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but have since switched to supporting Biden. The attorney general also criticized the violent riots happening in some cities across the United States. At the same time, he said he supports peaceful protestors. But even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognize those who work in good faith towards peace, justice, and equality, Cameron said. On night two of the RNC convention, small business owners were given a key voice. Among them, a lobster fisherman, a milk farmer, and a metal fabricator. The business owners collectively lauded Trumps economic policies, including tax cuts and deregulation. Jason Joyce, and an eighth-generation lobster fisherman from Maine, said he didnt support Trump during the 2016 election, but has since changed his mind after the president followed through on his campaign promises. He lamented an Obama-Biden administration move to order thousands of miles of ocean off-limits to commercial fishermen. President Trump reversed that decision, reinstating the rules that allow stakeholder input, and he supports a process that seeks and respects fishermens views, Joyce said. Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. Mike DeWine Mike DeWine Getty Images Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is among the Republican governors who has been applauded by medical experts for his response to the coronavirus pandemic and implementing social distancing measures in his state. But some Republicans in Ohio's state legislature believe that DeWine committed an unforgivable sin by trying to slow down the spread of COVID-19 in his state and are calling for his impeachment. Leading the anti-DeWine effort in the Ohio House of Representatives is Rep. John Becker, who has drawn up ten articles of impeachment against DeWine and created a website called "Impeach Mike DeWine" which offers updates on efforts to impeach the conservative Republican governor. The articles, announced on August 24, slam DeWine for, among other things, issuing a stay-at-home order earlier this year and encouraging Ohio residents to wear protective face masks. In one of his articles of impeachment, Becker even makes the claim that face masks promote the spread of COVID-19; that article states, "WHEREAS, Healthcare professionals have stated that, for the general population, wearing face coverings, people are more likely to infect themselves with COVID-19 because they will touch their face more often to adjust the covering, and that face coverings retain moisture, bacteria, and other viruses, in addition to re-breathing carbon dioxide, making them potentially dangerous for the general public to wear." That article also reads, "WHEREAS, Richard Michael DeWine's face covering mandate promotes fear, turns neighbors against neighbors, and contracts the economy by making people fearful to leave their homes, to the detriment of every Ohioan." The Republican co-sponsors for Becker's ten articles of impeachment, according to the Impeach Mike DeWine website, include Rep. Candice Keller, Rep. Paul Zeltwanger and Rep. A. Nino Vitale. The website lists all of the Ohio representatives who have co-sponsored the articles, and as of August 25, the vast majority of Ohio House of Representatives members had not signed on as co-sponsors. Story continues Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, a Republican, has come out against impeaching DeWine. Cupp, in an official statement, declared, "Having now had time to read and consider the draft resolution to impeach the governor announced by a couple of members, it is clear to me that it is an imprudent attempt to escalate important policy disagreements with the governor into a state constitutional crisis. Even serious policy disagreements do not rise to the level of impeachment under our constitution." Ohio-based journalist John Conway, in an article for the conservative website The Bulwark, is vehemently critical of Becker and the Ohio House Republicans who have embraced his Impeach Mike DeWine effort which, Conway stresses, is "likely to go nowhere." But Conway also notes that Becker's campaign "raises a sadly common question: how did Ohio get here, and what does this mean for the future of the Republican Party?" "Any rational person operating outside of pure nihilistic self-interest can see that Gov. DeWine's actions do not warrant impeachment, but rather, praise," Conway writes. "But to be fair, these state Republicans learned it from higher-ups in their party. Many GOP elites, including Governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Brian Kemp of Georgia, have continued to downplay the seriousness of COVID-19 to appeal to their constituencies. And beyond just the current pandemic, the last four years have shown that the GOP establishment with rare exceptions like Mitt Romney will let Donald Trump get away with anything and everything out of fear of electoral consequence." Conway laments that even if former Vice President Joe Biden, the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, does defeat Trump in November, the GOP will still be plagued with anti-science extremists like Becker. "A Biden victory does not automatically remedy the problems of governance that the coronavirus has exposed or the problems of political judgment that this cynical Ohio impeachment ploy exposes," Conway writes. "Even after removing Trump from the equation, there will still be state representatives like John Becker who either have no understanding of science or are willing to ignore it for political gain. The GOP has been exposed as rotten to its core." Related Articles The patients at Dr. Eric Daar's hospital are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19, and he's determined to make sure they're part of the effort to fight the disease. He also hopes they can protect themselves in the process. When Daar and his colleagues at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday announce the start of enrollment for a trial to test a COVID-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, they will also unveil the hospital's community-based recruitment strategy. Harbor-UCLA wants to recruit most, if not all, of the trial's 500 participants from among the high-risk patients it already treats: people over 65, those with chronic illnesses and members of underserved racial and ethnic groups. Hospital officials also expect that the recruitment task will not be easy. "It's a priority and obligation to make sure our community is well represented in these trials," said Daar, chief of HIV medicine at Harbor-UCLA and a researcher at the UCLA-affiliated Lundquist Institute, who dropped his other research projects last spring to focus on a COVID-19 vaccine. The safety-net hospital in Torrance, California, serves patients in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County who are predominantly Black, Latino and Pacific Islander. Many live in crowded homes and do "essential" work that requires them to expose themselves to the virus to make a living: They're orderlies and cooks and house cleaners, day laborers and bus drivers and sanitation workers. The area has high rates of heart disease and stroke. "If you don't have a community represented in the trial, it's hard to extrapolate your results to the community," said Dr. Katya Corado, one of Daar's colleagues. "We want to find something to protect our patients and loved ones." Latinos and Blacks in the United States are nearly three times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly five times more likely to be hospitalized with the disease. In Los Angeles County, Latinos in particular have been disproportionately stricken by the virus. Eight of 10 COVID-19 deaths nationwide occur among people 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Historically, Blacks and Latinos have been less likely to be included in clinical trials for disease treatment, despite federal guidelines that urge minority and elder participation. The National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration have urged infectious disease researchers to focus on these vulnerable populations in the large phase 3 trials that will test how well vaccines prevent COVID-19. Harbor-UCLA, a public teaching hospital owned and operated by Los Angeles County, is one of roughly 100 sites nationwide testing the AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, which was developed in collaboration with Oxford University in Britain. Phase 3 trials of about the same size for vaccine candidates produced by Moderna and Pfizer are already underway. Each of the three companies seeks to recruit 30,000 people, 20,000 of whom will get the vaccine and 10,000 a placebo, or harmless saline solution, to test whether the vaccine prevents coronavirus disease. Recruitment at Harbor-UCLA will include patients with well-controlled chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and people with HIV who've kept the virus under control with medication, Daar said. According to the AstraZeneca trial protocol, patients will get up to $100 for each of 15 to 20 visits during the two-year trial. The Harbor-UCLA team will also offer car services to bring people to the hospital through L.A. traffic. To reach its targeted recruits, the hospital will distribute leaflets to clinics and community organizations and create targeted social media campaigns, in addition to taking any free publicity it can get, Daar said. Recruitment of high-risk patients in other COVID-19 trials so far has been mixed. Moderna, which began the first phase 3 trial of the experimental vaccines on July 27, announced Friday that 18% of its 13,000-plus enrollees so far were Black, Latino or Native American a high percentage as clinical trials go, but only about one-third of the goal set by NIH officials. Other AstraZeneca trial sites have also publicized their efforts to reach those most at risk from the virus. The University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine placed one of its AstraZeneca recruitment sites in Vernon, south of downtown Los Angeles in an area with many factories and meatpacking plants, which have experienced high COVID-19 infection rates. Clinicians suspect that the higher rates of disease and hospitalization in minority groups are due both to health conditions such as undertreated diabetes and heart disease and to higher exposure to the virus in workplaces and crowded housing. Environmental factors like polluted neighborhoods may also have an impact. While there's little evidence that vaccines affect Blacks or Latinos differently than white people, the subject hasn't really been studied, said Dr. Akilah Jefferson Shah, an allergist/immunologist and bioethicist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. That's another reason for making sure these groups are well represented in trials, she said. "We know now there are subgroup responses to drugs by sex, but no one figured it out until they started including women in these studies," Jefferson Shah said. "Race is not genetic. It's a social construct. But there are genetic variants more prevalent in certain populations. We won't know until we look." Perhaps most important, diversity in the research will be needed to build trust and uptake of the vaccine, Corado said. In a May poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, just 25% of Blacks and 37% of Hispanics said they would definitely seek vaccination against the coronavirus, compared with 56% of whites. In July, the Harbor-UCLA vaccine team began holding weekly Zoom meetings with about 25 activists and clergy members to learn what their communities were saying about the vaccine and get tips on how to design educational materials for the trial. What they've heard suggests they'll have an uphill recruitment battle. One member of the community council, HIV activist Donta Morrison, noted that people frequently say on social media that the vaccine is designed to give them COVID-19 as part of a plot to get rid of Black voters. (None of the vaccines contains infectious COVID virus.) "It may seem far-fetched, but those are the conversations because we have an administration that has not shown itself to be trustworthy," Morrison said. He noted that the first challenge UCLA researchers face is to convince community leaders, particularly clergy members, of the vaccine's safety. Church leaders worry they'll be blamed for supporting the trial if the vaccine ends up making their congregants sick, he said. If done right, the trial could build trust in medical science while helping minorities help themselves and the rest of us find a way out of the current mess, Morrison said. Dr. Raphael Landovitz, another UCLA scientist working on the trial, agreed. "We're hoping that people understand this is a chance if we succeed to take back some power and control in this situation that has made so many of us feel so powerless," he said. This KHN story first published on California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. Smaller aged care facilities and those owned by government are much more likely to offer the highest quality care, according to Australian research to be released on Thursday. Only 11 per cent of Australia's 2700 aged care facilities were rated as providing a high quality of care, the research commissioned by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety found. Kiama's council-run nursing home, Blue Haven, has fewer residents than most, with residents clustered around a central hub. Photo shows Dr Louisa Smith from the University of Wollongong who has been leading a project to help aged care workers connect with residents at Blue Haven Care including (L-R) Mavis Cummins and Margaret Murphy. Credit:Janie Barrett It estimated that providing the highest quality of care that's found in homes with fewer residents to all 200,000 residents in facilities would cost an estimated $3.2 billion more than the $18 billion spent by the federal government on aged care in 2018. A less expensive option would be to improve quality within the existing structures, which would cost $620 million more a year. Researchers from the University of Queensland found that as aged care facilities increased in size, quality declined. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov within an official visit to Russia on August 26, 2020 met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend on Aug. 26. After the one-on-one meeting of the ministers, an expanded meeting was held with the participation of delegations. The sides discussed the prospects for the development of cooperation in many spheres of the bilateral agenda, including political, economic, trade, humanitarian, cultural, educational and other spheres. The close contacts and mutual visits of the presidents of both countries have made a great contribution to the development of bilateral relations. The sides stressed the importance of roadmaps for the development of cooperation between the two countries in various fields. The sides expressed hope that a new roadmap in the field of innovations, put forward during the official visit of Azerbaijani First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva to Russia last November, will be approved soon. During the meeting, support was expressed for the full commissioning of the North-South international transport corridor, which is of particular importance for the development of trade and economic relations and the strengthening of regional cooperation. The sides also stressed that the commissioning of a new border bridge across the Samur River will give a new impetus to the mutual trade and contacts between people. The views on cooperation and mutual support within the international organizations were exchanged. The sides agreed to strengthen the cooperation within the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The sides stressed that Russia supported the initiative to convene a special session of the General Assembly dedicated to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministers exchanged the views on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Touching upon the recent military provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, Bayramov stressed that the incident, as well as statements made by the Armenian leadership that contributed to the aggravation of tension in the region, impede the settlement of the conflict through the negotiations. The importance of holding substantive negotiations in accordance with the requirements of the UN Security Councils resolutions on the settlement of the conflict was emphasized. In turn, Lavrov stressed the importance of continuing the negotiations to resolve the conflict. Touching upon the current global situation, the ministers stressed the importance of international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. Bayramov stressed Russia's assistance to Azerbaijan, including sending the Russian specialists to Azerbaijan. New Delhi, Aug 26 : Away from the spotlight, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is slowly inching towards its goal - a two-thirds majority in the Rajya Sabha while 'present and voting, as required for any Constitutional amendments. With the bye-election in Uttar Pradesh next month and the one scheduled to take place in November, the NDA hopes to bolster its arithmetic towards that long-term goal. The Election Commission has already issued the notification for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Uttar Pradesh after Amar Singh recently died in Singapore battling kidney disease. That Samajwadi Party seat is likely to go to the ruling BJP with changed political numbers in the UP Assembly. Moreover, there are 10 more seats that will be up for grabs in the state as the tenures of 10 members of the upper house elected from Uttar Pradesh are set to expire by November 25. The BJP has 305 members in the 17th Assembly of Uttar Pradesh, according to a document on its website. When the 10 seats go for polls, predictably in November, the BJP is sure to get 8 members of its wish elected, on its own strength. Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which fought alongside BJP in the 2017 election, had bagged 4 seats. But later it parted ways with the BJP. However, the BJP still has another existing ally - Apna Dal (Sonelal) - which got 9 seats. These 9 seats may help BJP aim for the ninth seat as well, in the November election for the upper house. As of today, the saffron party has 86 members in the Rajya Sabha. With other NDA constituents like LJP, SAD among others, the NDA numbers stand at 113. If all goes well, the BJP is certain of taking the NDA number to 122 or even 123. The 'holy grail' of the two-thirds mark in the Rajya Sabha stands at 164. Meanwhile, the majority remains at an achievable 123. The BJP won 11 of the 24 seats in the not-so-long-ago Rajya Sabha polls in 10 states, in which the likes of Jyotiraditya Scindia won. The reason a two-thirds majority is a 'holy grail' for any ruling alliance is because of Constitutional amendments. "Every government has its vision and Constitutional amendments are required for that or even due to court orders. But for that to happen it should have a majority in both houses as well as be passed by each house of Parliament by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the House 'present and voting'," explained P.D.T. Achary, a former top official in the Parliament of India. That makes the NDA's job a tad easier than attaining a strict two-thirds majority in the upper house. The BJP had 303 members of its own in the Lok Sabha election in 2019, with the NDA at 353. It also has a lot of 'friendly' parties like BJD and TRS that have traditionally helped the NDA in Parliament to pass legislations when needed. (Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at anindya.b@ians.in) QUEBEC CITY, QC / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / OpSens Inc. ("OpSens" or the "Company")(TSX:OPS)(OTCQX:OPSSF), a Company focusing mainly on physiological measurements in interventional cardiology, today announced it will be presenting at the LD 500 investor conference on Tuesday, September 1st at 10:20 AM Eastern Time (7:20 AM Pacific Time). Louis Laflamme, President and Chief Executive of the Company will be presenting to a live virtual audience and host meetings with investors on the four days the event will be held, from September 1st through the 4th. Investors wishing to schedule a meeting with Louis Laflamme should contact Marie-Claude Poitras at marie-claude.poitras@opsens.com. You may register to attend by following this link: Full schedule or directly OpSens Presentation "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 OpSens's profile here: https://www.ldmicro.com/profile/OPS.TO. About OpSens Inc. (www.OpSens.com or www.OpSensmedical.com) OpSens focuses mainly on coronary physiology products in interventional cardiology. OpSens offers an advanced optical-based pressure guidewire that aims at improving the clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease. Its flagship product, the OptoWire, is a second-generation fiber optic pressure guidewire designed to provide the lowest drift in the industry and excellent lesions access. The OptoWire has been used in the diagnosis and treatment of over 100,000 patients in more than 30 countries. It is approved for sale in the United States, European Union, Japan, and Canada. OpSens is also involved in industrial activities in developing, manufacturing, and installing innovative fiber optic sensing solutions for critical applications. For further information, please contact: Louis Laflamme, CPA, CA, Chief Executive Officer or Robin Villeneuve, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer at 418.781.0333 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. Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of Accesswire SOURCE: OpSens via LD Micro View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603346/OpSens-to-Present-at-the-LD-500-Virtual-Conference Leaked memo says Labour lost Wrexham seat after failing to adopt defensive strategy despite warning from senior Welsh party figure This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 26th, 2020 A leaked report has shown how Labour lost hold of its seat in Wrexham for the first time since 1935 after failing to adopt a defensive strategy. The constituency was one of a number of so-called Red Wall seats which fell to the Conservatives at last Decembers general election. The confidential memo, which was made public on Monday by a Sunday Times reporter (below) highlights how the UK party ploughed a large amount of resources into ambitious target seats in north Wales, which included Plaid Cymru-held Arfon in Gwynedd. It came despite a warning from Welsh Labours General Secretary that officials had got their campaign strategy wrong by not recognising the need to protect former strongholds such as Wrexham from switching to the Tories. Private polling figures included in the document, which was first shared internally in September 2019, also predicted the seat would turn blue, but at that stage the party chose not to change tact. It states: The Welsh General Secretary expressed her concern about the absence of any defensive seats on the list in Wales. She thought all of Gower, Vale of Clwyd, Wrexham, Ynys Mon, and Cardiff North were potentially in need of resourcing, above all given recent Welsh polling. Although she understood the rationale and supported the objective, she did wonder whether a slightly more defensive posture might be appropriate given that we had a Welsh Labour government and therefore our campaign in Wales could not have the insurgent character of an election campaign in England. Her observations later proved mostly accurate as the three north Wales seats mentioned in her list were won by the Conservatives. Wrexham elected a Tory MP for the first time in history as former social worker Sarah Atherton won the seat by 2,131 votes. Its understood both local and national Welsh Labour officials, including the partys candidate Mary Wimbury, warned beforehand that more focus was needed on the area. An e-mail received by Wrexham.com shows it did make a late attempt to rally support. The message sent to party members a week before the election was due to be held was titled We cant let Wrexham fall. It said: We need as many people as possible out this weekend in Wrexham. From car-pooling, to knocking on doors, to making teas in campaign centres, and so much more in between we need all hands on deck, now. It really is now or never. An election postmortem report was published in June, which said that Labours failure to understand issues surrounding devolution and its lack of communication with the Welsh branch of the party played a key role in its losses. Among those who contributed to the Labour Together Election Review was Ms Wimbury, who was selected as the partys candidate for Wrexham little over a month before the polling date. She said she agreed with the Welsh Labours General Secretary warning and that officials should have put more focus on the area. Ms Wimbury, who is a senior policy adviser for Care Forum Wales, said: We knew on the ground we were fighting a really tough fight in Wrexham and every vote counted and other seats in north east Wale felt the same. Given all the Welsh and national polling, actually resources shouldve been more concentrated in north Wales and we shouldve given up on more ambitious targets given what was happening. There was a hope the polling would turn round in the way it had in 2017, but once it was clear that wasnt happening, resources should have been redirected. She added: Voters were telling us on the doorstep that they didnt like the direction of the party during the general election. They werent saying they would never come back, but youve got to put the work in as a party to earn that trust back once voters have moved away and you cant take them for granted. Ms Wimbury is now aiming to become Labours number one candidate on the north Wales regional list at next years Senedd elections. A spokesman for the Wrexham Constituency Labour Party (CLP) said: CLPs in Wales primarily look towards Welsh Labour for their support mechanisms with regards to elections. In the 2019 general election Wrexham CLP was well supported by Welsh Labour in terms of resources and strategy. Support was also forthcoming from the UK Labour Party when required. As Wrexham was a Labour seat when the election was called then naturally a defensive strategy was taken during the campaign. Welsh Labour was approached but declined to comment. A similar issue took place in 2015 when the Conservatives labeled Wrexham as a non target, and then candidate Andrew Atkinson as a non target candidate. 2019-09-18_Key_seats_strate by 014041 By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter / Wrexham.com Top picture: Election count night with the winner being declared for Wrexham. The sound of a human voice reading the weather has been on the air waves in Canada for about 50 years. That could soon turn to silence in Cape Breton, if the federal government decommissions its VHF radio transmitter on the island. Ken Macdonald, executive director of national programs for the Meteorological Service of Canada, said Environment Canada's website and mobile phone app make accessing weather information easier than ever. "There's just so many more ways of communicating today that we're evaluating the extent that weather radio is still a relevant service to our users," he said. The federal government's Weatheradio service is supported by about 220 transmitters across the country, said Macdonald, and up to 48 of those may be shut down if users don't speak out. Macdonald said the network was built in the 1970s, but Environment Canada's website contains a lot of weather information and its new mobile phone app has been available since last year. Environment Canada How many people are actually using the radio service for weather information is difficult to determine, though, he said. "Unlike our website where we know exactly how many people are using it, we don't know how many people are using the radio," Macdonald said. Environment Canada is initially targeting areas that have good internet and cell coverage to review radio usage, he said. The meteorological service has begun reaching out to the community to gauge opinions and plans to begin broadcasting a message soon that will ask listeners for feedback. Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke tweeted out his opposition this week, saying internet and cell service are "spotty at best" and radio "remains a lifeline" for many area residents. He also said websites and apps can be "rendered useless" in the event of storms. Macdonald said Environment Canada is aware there are dead zones where internet coverage is not available in Cape Breton, but he said the radio transmitter is located on a cell tower, so radio coverage is dependent on the location of that tower. Story continues Radio service 'not reliable' The programming is also affected by storms, Macdonald said. "There may be power to the transmitter, but we won't be getting information onto it, because we rely on internet to get it there, so it isn't a reliable source of information when those services go down." Macdonald also said cost is a factor in whether some transmitters will be shut down. The costs vary depending on the remoteness of the location, he said, but on average, each transmitter costs about $12,000 a year. Tom Ayers/CBC Reg Bonner, a member of the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club who has been boating for about 60 years, said he has a cellphone and GPS unit on board his boat, but said he still likes the human touch. "Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I like to hear that VHF," Bonner said. Kevin Squires, president of the Maritime Fishermen's Union Local 6 in Cape Breton, said many in the industry have computers and cellphones, but the radio is more user friendly. "Environment Canada has been the go-to for a lot of us and we're an older population so we tend to rely on the older methods quite often, so VHF radio remains pretty important to people," he said. "The VHF radio, we can turn over to the weather forecast and listen to it while we're going about our daily fishing activities." Kevin Squires Squires also said he wonders why Environment Canada has designed a radio broadcasting system that relies on internet technology with no backup. "I had always expected that the broadcasts would take place out of radio stations that we have come to depend upon for a long time," he said. "We'd feel a lot more confident if we knew that the service was based on a technology that was found useful and workable over the years." Jordan MacDougall, president of the Inverness South Fishermen's Association, agreed, saying VHF radio is important on the water, because the signal reaches areas where websites and mobile apps don't. "You're getting the information, even though you don't have internet service," MacDougall said. Seeking feedback Macdonald said Environment Canada wants to hear from users before making a final decision on the Cape Breton transmitter later this year. If no one objects, a transmitter can be decommissioned fairly quickly, he said, but in areas where people speak up, Environment Canada will do more consultation before a decision is made. Weatheradio is available on four VHF frequencies around Nova Scotia. Macdonald said anyone with comments or concerns about the transmitter or program in Cape Breton should call 1-877-789-7733 or email ec.radio.ec@canada.ca. Weather information is also available at weather.gc.ca or from the WeatherCAN mobile app. MORE TOP STORIES /* custom css */ .tdi_75_ff6.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_ff6 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_ff6.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_ff6.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_ff6.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The Anambra State House of Assembly on Wednesday directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to arrest two businessmen over their alleged refusal to honour the summons of the legislature The lawmakers had summoned Messers Osita Agina and Kenneth Okigbo of Oyitraco Limited and M & E Enterprise respectively to appear before its committee over their alleged involvement in illegal excavation and mining in the state. The resolution for the CP to execute a warrant of arrest on the businessmen followed a motion raised by Mr Lawrence Ezeudu (Dunukofia), under matters of urgent public importance at plenary, on Wednesday. Ezeudu said that on June 2, the House set up a Special Taskforce Committee with the aim of checkmating unauthorised excavation and illegal mining within the state. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_655.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_655 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_655.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_655.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_655.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } He said that the taskforce discovered that Messers Osita Agina and Kenneth Okigbo of Oyitraco Limited and M & E Enterprise respectively, were behind the unauthorised excavation of laterite, sharp sand and stones as well as illegal mining within the state. According to him, the unauthorised excavation and illegal mining were being carried out in Anambra South, Anambra Central and Anambra North Senatorial Zones. Ezeudu, who is also the Chairman of the Special Taskforce Committee, said the two individuals refused to honour the invitation to appear before the committee and explain their roles. We were shocked at the utter disregard to the five different invitations and refusal by the above mentioned persons to appear before the committee. These persons did not even show any reasonable cause to excuse their absence as provided by Section 129 (1) d of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), he said. Ezeudu said that the provisions of Section 129 (1) and (2) of the Constitution empowered the State House of Assembly to issue a warrant of arrest to be executed by the Police to compel the attendance of any person before the House or any of its committee. I am convinced that the issuance of an arrest warrant will secure the presence of these persons before the taskforce to checkmate the continued unauthorised excavation and illegal mining going on throughout the length and breadth of the state. This will also ensure the improvement and protection of our environment as envisaged by Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution, Ezeudu said. Contributing to the debate, Dr Tim Ifedioranma (Njikoka I), described the actions of the two individuals as disrespectful to the governments institution. Their activities in the state is why we are experiencing erosion and environmental degradation. They must be made to appear and account for their actions, he said. Also speaking, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze (Ogbaru I) said the persons involved in the unauthorised excavation and illegal mining were not working in the interest of the state. These men do not love this state because they are causing problems for residents and making the government spend so much in addressing the environmental problems such as erosion. We have a role to play to protect residents and the future of our state. I therefore, support the arrest of these persons, he said. Also, Mr Smart Okafor (Nnewi North) called for a regulation to check any form of excavation and mining in the state. The Speaker of the House, Mr Uche Okafor, while appreciating the taskforce committee for their efforts, said the Assembly has the power to investigate atrocities as well as to summon any individual or group to appear before it. This is the first time this House will be exercising this right because we have no other choice after several invitation. Anambra is losing it land mass to erosion and these are man-made erosion causing harm to residents, we can not allow this act to continue. The police must ensure these persons appear before the House on Tuesday, Sept.1, he said. Okafor directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Pius Udo, to ensure the resolution gets to the Commissioner of Police before the close of business for the day. Meghan Markle has said she is proud of the beautiful feminist example her husband Prince Harry is setting to their son, Archie. Meghan, 39, was speaking to lifetime feminist campaigner and journalist Gloria Steinem in an informal garden chat for Makers, which promotes womens empowerment through real stories. The pair discussed feminism, and in response to Steinem saying you can be feminist and be a guy, Meghan replied: Like my husband! I love that when he just came in he said, You know that Im a feminist too, right Gloria?! Its really important to me that you know that. She added: And I look at our son and what a beautiful example that he gets to grow up with a father who is so comfortable owning that as part of his own self-identification. That theres no shame in being someone who advocates for fundamental human rights for everyone, which of course includes women. Meghan Markle interviews Gloria Steinem at home in California. (Photo by Matt Sayles; copyright The Duke and Duchess of Sussex) Steinem, 86, praised the princes nurturing style of fatherhood, saying Archie will grow up knowing its okay to be loving and nurturing. Read more: Meghan Markle tells Gloria Steinem she's glad to be in LA 'for so many reasons' The Duchess of Sussex met Steinem, who she called her friend during the interview, to discuss the importance of voting ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Its one of several recent statements the duchess has made encouraging people to use their vote, including one where she said if youre not voting, youre complicit. Meghan wrote for Yahoo: 'If you dont vote, you dont exist.' (Photo by Matt Sayles; copyright The Duke and Duchess of Sussex) Reflecting on the filmed Makers conversation, Meghan wrote for Yahoo: If you dont vote, you dont exist. These words from Gloria have stuck with me since she first spoke them during this conversation. Since weve become friends, weve spoken of our shared beliefs surrounding womens rights, the need for representation, and the very timely conversation surrounding voting. I firmly believe that we vote to honour those who came before us and to protect those who come after us. Ms Steinem, my friend Gloria, is one of the women I honour when I vote. Story continues I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did, and that it allows you to reflect on who inspires you to vote as we approach this upcoming election. Your voice matters. Please use it. Gloria Steinem, here in New York in February, has been a feminist campaigner for decades. (Getty Images) Meghan has mostly made zoom appearances, like this one earlier this year with the Queen's Commonwealth Trust, since returning to California. (QCT) Read more: Meghan Markle's history of campaigning against racism from her early acting days to royal court cases While the events Meghan has associated herself with have been non-partisan, Steinem has previously been associated with Democratic presidential candidates, and endorsed Hillary Clinton at the 2016 election. Steinem mentioned the Democrats during the conversation, saying: Really, weve been rescued by women of colour in all of our recent elections because of a vote of conscience and compassion. The heart of the Democratic party has been Black women, actually, and now there is a potential Vice President who is Black and thats exciting. Meghan responded: Im so excited to see that kind of representation. You know, for me, being biracial growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity. As many of us believe, you can only be what you can see. And in the absence of that, how can you aspire to something greater than what you see in your own world? I think maybe now were starting to break through in a different way. The pair also shared concerns around voting suppression, with Meghan referencing a conversation she had with Democratic politician Stacey Abrams about how to prevent it. Its not uncommon to see queues at polling booths on voting days in the US, with some people waiting in line for hours in order to cast their vote. Meghan said: If youre a person of colour and youre in line, for potentially hours on end, and during that time someone tries to intimidate you to tell you that you should get out of line because you might be under surveillance or any number of intimidation tactics that are so scary. And then you think, You know, its not worth it. You decide to step out of line and relinquish your right to vote. Thats bad enough, but then theres a ripple effect because whoever is in the back of the line says, Whatever they did to themI dont want that to happen to me. That, I think, is so frightening. But I wonder how we circumvent that and how we get people to feel empowered. Meghan, here with Harry on their South Africa tour in 2019, has previously said her husband is a feminist. (Getty Images) Read more: The Royal Family's most feminist moments The two women also discussed a motto which is inscribed on a bracelet given to Meghan by Steinem, of linked not ranked. Meghan said: It means everything to me on every level; we are linked not ranked. Meghan closed the conversation by thanking Steinem for her wisdom and inspiration. Before Meghan married Harry, she had called Donald Trump, the Republican president of the US divisive and misogynistic. While Royal Family members tend not to vote, they are not expressly banned from doing so, but avoid it in order to stay political neutral. Meghan is likely to continue with events which encourage people to vote, but its been reported they are not a warm up to her being associated with any specific candidate. There were calls for her to be stripped of her royal title because of her comments about voting, but she is not the first member of the Royal Family to encourage people to participate in democracy. Even the Queen has spoken about voting, following the low turnout at the 2003 Welsh Assembly elections. In a speech to Welsh Assembly members, she said: It is vital to the health both of the United Kingdom and of Wales that our democratic institutions flourish and adapt. "Elections are the fundamental means by which everyone can participate in the business of government. "I share your concerns that we must encourage all our people to exercise their right to vote. This is a real challenge now before us all. The Makers conversation between Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and Gloria Steinem is available to watch now. The colossal cost of care in Britain has left two-thirds of homeowners over 50 worried about how they will pay their way in later life. In a damning indictment of the spiralling costs faced by many, nearly half of people aged over 50 with their own home think they will have to sell their property in order to be able to pay for their own care. Over 50s in the West Midlands and the North East of England are most concerned about the prospect of having to sell their home to pay for care in later life, while Londoners are the least worried, Nationwide's latest research suggests. The cost of residential care has risen to around 33,000 a year and in the last 20 years over 330,000 people have had to sell their home to ensure they can keep up with the payments. Worrying: Nearly half of homeowners over 50 think they may to sell their home to pay for care In July, economist Sir Andrew Dilnot called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to channel his hero Winston Churchill by bringing in a lifetime cap of 45,000 on the care bills that people have to pay. The Tories pledged to implement a cap in the 2015 election, but have since gone back on their word. On 24 July last year, when Johnson became Prime Minister, he said: 'My job is to protect you or your parents or grandparents from the fear of having to sell your home to pay for the costs of care. 'So I am announcing now on the steps of Downing Street that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared to give every older person the dignity and security they deserve.' Social care is means-tested, which means only the poorest get state help towards their costs. Currently anyone with assets of over 23,250 has to pay the full cost of their care. The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the strains being endured by the care system and those needing its services. Only 2 per cent of over 2,000 homeowners over 50 surveyed by Nationwide said they would choose to move into a care home in later life. Nearly a quarter said they would prefer to move into a bungalow to avoid the need to go upstairs if it meant they could continue living independently for longer, and not go into a care home. Over half said they would prefer to continue living alone with external help from a daily carer that lives elsewhere, while a further 23 per cent claimed they would prefer to continue living alone, but with a family member close by for help. Meanwhile, over 80 per cent of homeowners over 50 believe they will have to dip into their savings to pay for any 'age-proofing renovations' such as walk-in baths or stair-lifts, Nationwide said. But, only a fifth think these renovations would boost the value of their home. Regional variations: Care cost concerns among over 50s by region Jason Hurwood, Nationwide's director of home propositions, said: 'As life expectancy has steadily increased, so too has the challenge of funding later life care for many.' He added: 'If someone is looking to raise additional funding to pay for care, there are a number of options. 'One is to downsize or move to a cheaper area; alternatively, you could make changes to your current home that can support you as you grow older. 'Depending on your individual circumstances, releasing equity in your home is another option that many choose. 'However, this is a major financial decision and we'd always strongly recommend seeking independent financial advice to understand all of your options before progressing.' Poll Are you worried about being able to pay for your future care costs? Yes No Are you worried about being able to pay for your future care costs? Yes 316 votes No 85 votes Now share your opinion Worries over care costs vary by region up and down the country, according to Nationwide's latest findings. Over 50s in the West Midlands, the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber are the most concerned about future care costs, with those in London, Scotland the South West of England are less concerned. However, it should be noted that even at the lower end of the spectrum, at least 60 per cent of more have concerns over care costs. Speaking to This is Money, Colin Angel, policy director at United Kingdom Homecare Association, said: 'Few people plan for the cost of social care, because the balance of responsibility between the individual and the State is not understood. There are few incentives or financial products to encourage people to do so. 'The Government must make a decision on how to fund care in the future, considering the needs of people who do not have property assets and those who do. 'How to do this fairly is a political question, but tax relief would help people pay for their own care and changing the VAT status of essential welfare services from exempt to zero rated would enable social care providers to reclaim the VAT they pay on goods and services, with a minimal loss of revenue to the Treasury, enabling savings to be passed on to people who buy their own care.' Meanwhile, Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, told This is Money: 'Successive governments have failed to address how we fund long-term care, and this has created a great deal of concern amongst older citizens. 'We need the Government to develop a long-term and sustainable funding plan for care, which clearly identifies what contribution the Government will make to the funding of care, and what the citizen has to pay for.' Anyone worried about potentially having to sell their home to pay for care costs should get proper financial advice before making any such major financial decisions. The Age UK charity also has a helpline at 0800 055 6112 where people can get advice if they are concerned about future care costs and want to know what their options are. With Erin OToole, Alberta may have its man in Ottawa. The newly minted leader of the Conservative Party put Western alienation at the forefront of his campaign, even making it the first issue he raised during a phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after winning the race this week. Its a high priority for OToole, even amid a global pandemic and a shaky minority government situation on Parliament Hill. But now the question hangs over him of how he moves from talking about Western issues Alberta being the heartland of conservatism and home to much of the partys base to strong advocacy and action. Albertas resource-based economy has been torpedoed by the COVID-19 pandemic and free-falling oil prices, leaving a wave of separatist angst to wash over the province. People openly opine about Alberta leaving Canada and separatist-minded political parties, both provincial and federal, have begun to mobilize in the West. Arundeep Singh Sandhu, a regional organizer for OTooles campaign in Alberta, knew when the Durham MP came to the province earlier this year that he had to bring him to hot spots for Western alienation and separatist support. We had a rally in Nisku (before the pandemic) where a fellow veteran of nearly three decades said that he wasnt sure if Alberta had a place in Confederation anymore, said Sandhu. Western alienation featured in many stump speeches the former Air Force officer gave across the country thereafter, he said. Erin is one of the last and best hopes we have for keeping this country together for another generation. Listen to The Star's Alex Boutilier discuss Erin O'Toole's win Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has demanded a fair deal from Ottawa, including less restriction on oil tanker traffic off the B.C. coast, easier regulatory approvals for pipeline projects and a reworking of the equalization formula. Kenney, who endorsed OToole during the race, faces a growing separatist movement in Alberta but is adamant that the provinces place should be in Canada. On Tuesday, Kenney praised him as a long-time leader on issues like pipelines, oil and gas, and the economy. During speeches, OToole has made sure to highlight the time he spent inspecting TransCanada pipelines before going to college. OTooles platform now boasts a section dealing specifically with Alberta and the West. In it, he lays out plans for reworking equalization payments a complex formula for transferring federal money to provinces scrapping laws around tanker traffic and energy projects, and passing a bill that would make it easier to build pipelines. Theyre planning a throne speech and an economic rebuilding plan, OToole said Tuesday of the Liberal government. If they continue to leave out the ability for our resource sector to get Canadian resources to market, were going to see more Western alienation. But when it comes to a general election, itll be a balancing act for OToole, said Lisa Young, a political science professor at the University of Calgary. OToole will need to find a way to talk about Western alienation to show the Conservative Partys base that hes representing it, Young said, without alienating potential supporters in Ontario, where the party fell short in the last election. As he approaches an election, he needs to think about the issues that matter to those voters particularly in Ontario, she said. Do they care about Western alienation? Not so much. But you can usually appeal to somebody in Ontario by saying, Hey, we believe in keeping the country together, the Westerners are upset, theyre alienated. Lets give them a hug. There are also more immediate concerns. OToole finds himself leading the Official Opposition to a minority government; an election could be called as early as the fall, leaving little time for him to mobilize. He will also have to decide what, if anything, to do to maintain the support of social conservatives, who were instrumental in his leadership victory. Many observers believe his predecessor, Andrew Scheer, alienated crucial constituencies during the last federal election that by flirting with that wing of the party. However, the power of social conservatives, particularly in the West, was on clear display in the leadership race, where underdog and relative newcomer Leslyn Lewis placed surprisingly well, easily winning in Saskatchewan and finishing a close second to OToole in Alberta. Lewis supports limits on coerced and sex-selective abortions, and opposes the federally proposed conversion therapy ban put. She was backed in the race by anti-abortion advocacy groups like RightNow. Sandhu said it was no surprise to Conservatives that Lewis did so well given her interesting message that challenged some of the assumptions media, especially Toronto-centred media, have about Western Canadians. OToole, meanwhile, has explicitly stated that hes pro-choice on abortion and that he stands up for LGBTQ rights, but Sandhu noted that he is also interested in party unity and maintaining a diversity of opinions within the party. For some people, that means he himself is an out and out social conservative, in a stereotypical sense. Read more about: Police were called to the motel on North Green Bay Road, north of the Washington Street, about 4:30 a.m. after receiving reports of gunfire. At the motel, they found a man with an apparent gunshot wound. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 14:43:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo taken on April 1, 2020 shows a researcher working at a lab of University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia. An Australian-developed COVID-19 vaccine has shown promising results in pre-clinical testing, raising hopes for its potential effectiveness and manufacturability. UQ released detailed results of animal trials of its vaccine candidate on Tuesday to the International Society for Vaccines. It's "Molecular Clamp" vaccine works by locking on to the normally unstable, perfusion proteins on the surface of the virus, allowing the body's immune system to respond more effectively. (University of Queensland/Handout via Xinhua) SYDNEY, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- An Australian-developed COVID-19 vaccine has shown promising results in pre-clinical testing, raising hopes for its potential effectiveness and manufacturability. The University of Queensland (UQ) released detailed results of animal trials of its vaccine candidate on Tuesday to the International Society for Vaccines. UQ's "Molecular Clamp" vaccine works by locking on to the normally unstable, perfusion proteins on the surface of the virus, allowing the body's immune system to respond more effectively. "The neutralizing immune response created by our molecular clamp vaccine in animal models was better than the average level of antibodies found in patients who have recovered from COVID-19," Project co-leader Associate Professor Keith Chappell said. Phase 1 human trials for the drug commenced in Australia in July, prior to the current pre-clinical trial results being made public. Chappell said if everything proceeded as planned, large-scale manufacturing efficacy assessments could move ahead before the end of the year. "One of the big challenges in the development of vaccines is the ability to produce them at sufficient scale for widespread use," Chappell explained. In June, UQ revealed an agreement with Australian biotechnology giant CSL to locally manufacture millions of doses of the vaccine should it continue to prove viable throughout the rest of the trial process. Queensland Innovation Minister Kate Jones said a vaccine was vital for putting an end to the pandemic and the team from UQ were committed to sharing their data and comparing it to the international reference standard. "From the outset we've been clear that we are racing against the virus and not against other projects, and now more than ever it is important for the scientific world to work together," Jones said. Enditem One of the ads in the new United Methodist campaign. "These ads invite people into a relationship with God and with each other." - Jennifer Rodia, United Methodist Communications A new advertising campaign from The United Methodist Church urges people to find hope together amid the challenges posed by this years COVID-19 pandemic and heightened racial tensions. It's been a year like no other. You're not the only one trying to make sense of it all. The people of The United Methodist Church believe that when we turn to God's love, we can find peace, joy and hope. Let's find hope together, the ads proclaim, directing viewers to the website http://www.UMC.org/Hope. The advertisements address a number of pressing needs in our world today. The messages speak out to those that may be feeling lonely, anxious, struggling economically or just trying to stay afloat in a coronavirus world amid unemployment, fear and disharmony, said Poonam Patodia, Chief Marketing Officer for United Methodist Communications, We want them to see that The United Methodist Church can provide community and support as they go through this journey. The campaign aims to create awareness of The United Methodist Church among those who may be looking for community with others and to encourage them to connect with a local church or with the denomination online. The target audience includes those who identify themselves as spiritual, socially conscious and seeking meaning in their lives, but who are not affiliated with a church. United Methodist Communications will launch advertising efforts through digital media and video, including social media, websites, search engines and advanced television. Ads will begin to roll out this week in 25 markets across the nation. The United Methodist Church is also continuing its efforts to reach out to Hispanic/Latino communities. These ads invite people into a relationship with God and with each other. Its all about creating a connection, said Jennifer Rodia, United Methodist Communications Chief Communications Officer. We assist and equip local United Methodist churches to support people when they reach out in reaction to the messages. We aim to embolden leaders and members of our denomination to be the hands and feet of Christ to those who need to experience his great love, hope and grace. ### About United Methodist Communications As the communications agency for The United Methodist Church, United Methodist Communications seeks to increase awareness and visibility of the denomination in communities and nations around the globe. United Methodist Communications also offers services, tools and resources for communications ministry. Find them online at http://www.ResourceUMC.org/UMCom. New Delhi, Aug 26 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday that the agro sector in the Northeast region is crucial for the post Covid economy of India. Interacting with North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) officials and groups of farmers through video conference, Singh said that many business houses are looking at the Northeastern region to exploit its vast agro-farming resources and "we should not miss this opportunity". He said that lucrative offers for setting up industries like fruit concentrates and fruit juice plants have been received and the same can be executed at the earliest. The minister asked NERAMAC to become a profitable enterprise in the post Covid era by identifying unique products and through their branding and sale in markets outside the Northeastern region to the rest of India. He also asked NERAMAC to come out with a roadmap for the same within a week. Singh said that supporting the farmers at this crucial junction will be a win-win arrangement for NERAMAC, farmers' organisations, Northeastern region and the whole of India. He said the Centre is forthcoming, the society is ready, the country is yearning for change and business houses are keen to invest in the Northeastern agro farming sector in a big way. The Minister expects that it will certainly help in the post Covid economic recovery of India. Referring to the abundance of fresh and exotic fruits, spices and other unique agro products like black rice, the minister said that NERAMAC should become a hub of the agri-horti sector in the region and help farmers enhance their income. He praised NERAMAC for helping the farmers through procurement during the lockdown period and thus avoiding distress sales, but asked the organisation to scale up their operations. Singh also noted with optimism that the turnover of NERAMAC has increased from Rs 2 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 20 Crore in 2019-20 and asked it to achieve a target of Rs 200 crore in the next five years. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Harris County voters this November will have more time and more than a hundred additional places to cast ballots in the presidential election, including drive-through locations and one day of 24-hour voting, under an expansive plan approved by Commissioners Court Tuesday. With the additional polling locations, an extra week of early voting and up to 12,000 election workers, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins is pledging a smooth November election. On a 3-2 vote, the court agreed to spend an additional $17.1 million all but about $1 million to come from federal CARES Act dollars to fund Hollinss ambitious election plan. The money is on top of the $12 million the court approved earlier this year to expand mail-in voting amid fears that in-person balloting could spread the coronavirus during the ongoing pandemic. The clerks plan includes extended early balloting hours, including multiple nights to 10 p.m. and one 24-hour voting session, drive-through options, as well as new equipment to process an expected record number of mail ballots. The County Clerks office has made it our top priority to ensure a safe, secure, accessible, fair and efficient election for the voters of Harris County this November, Hollins told court members. And to ensure this outcome, our office has executed a robust set of 24 initiatives, many of which were piloted in the July primary runoff election. Hollins plan is among the boldest unveiled by a Texas elections administrator to improve a voters experience and increase turnout in a state with historically low participation, said University of Houston political science Professor Brandon Rottinghaus. These changes would rocket Harris County to the top of the list as the most progressive approach to voting, Rottinghaus said. Rice University political science professor Mark Jones said the plan could inadvertently undermine a push by Democrats to expand mail voting for voters under 65 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hollins is making sure that voting in person is safer than going to the grocery store, Jones said. To the extent to which other county clerks follow his lead, its more and more difficult to make the case that voting in person represents a risk to someones health. In previous elections, Harris County operated about 40 early voting and 750 Election Day sites. The additional funding, Hollins said, will allow the county to operate 120 early voting and 808 Election Day locations. He estimated 1.7 million voters may turn out, a record in any Harris County election and an increase of 361,000 since the 2016 presidential contest. A spokeswoman for Hollins did not respond to a request for the total estimated cost of the 2020 election. The Democratic majority on Commissioners Court approved the new funding on a party line vote, with the two Republican members opposed. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle noted the county clerk plans to spend far more money on this election than in past presidential years, including $3.2 million in 2012 and $4.1 million in 2016. Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack pointed out that the heavily Democratic Precinct 1 is slated to host at least 20 percent more Election Day voting locations than other precincts. I find these numbers to be disturbing to be weighted the way it is, Radack said. Lillie Schecter, the Harris County Democratic Party chairwoman, praised the clerks office for making voting as accessible as possible. Harris County Republican Party Chairman Keith Nielsen said the CARES Act funding would have been better spent on direct aid to businesses and residents harmed by the pandemic. He also said it was unwise for Hollins, an inexperienced clerk, to try to implement so many new initiatives in such an important election. In the midst of all that we have to cope with, it just seems like were making a worse situation, as far as what voters understand and how they understand where to go vote, Nielsen said. Hollins said his office clustered voting sites near where residents work and attend school, placing a disproportionate number inside Precinct 1, which includes much of the city of Houston. Since last year, county residents have been able to vote at any location, rather than their assigned precinct, former county clerk Diane Trautmans signature initiative. County clerks of both political parties have struggled to run hiccup-free elections, owing to Harris Countys size and status as the third-most populous in the United States. This fall brings additional challenges, namely the COVID-19 pandemic that has upended daily life and required people to avoid unnecessary contact with others. Texans also no longer have the option to vote straight tickets, which the Legislature abolished after the 2018 general election. Seventy-six percent of Harris County voters punched a straight ticket that year, a far quicker method than individually choosing a candidate in each race. This change, along with the need to enforce social distancing at polling sites, could cause long lines without a significant increase in locations to cast ballots, Hollins said. Securing funding for polling locations and staff is one obstacle; finding sites to host them is another. Hollins said the county caught a break when Houston Independent School District decided to hold classes virtually, allowing the clerks office to reserve classrooms and gymnasiums. If all districts that touch Harris County are able to do that, wed have much better access for voting on Election Day, Hollins said. The clerks office plans to open a massive voting center at NRG Arena, and also will move its vote-counting headquarters there. Hollins said the Toyota Center also has volunteered its cavernous facility for voting, a well-known location he hoped would prove popular. Hollins, who was appointed to the job in May, has never run an election of this size, though he successfully administered the low-turnout July primary runoff. He is keen to avoid the blunders of his predecessors, including delayed results during last years mayoral election and hourslong voting lines in the March primaries. This years presidential election is the last contest that will be the responsibility of the Harris County clerk. Commissioners Court last month created an independent elections administration office to take over the role, a move most major Texas counties have already made. The first day of early voting is Oct. 13. zach.despart@chron.com We are proud to support teachers as they prepare for a new school year. For almost 30 years, Firstmark Credit Union has been designing, printing and distributing free academic planners to educators across San Antonio. The planners have become so popular with teachers that Firstmark starts receiving requests for them weeks before the start of the school year. To meet teacher requests, Firstmark will hold a curbside pick-up event on Friday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. 2 p.m., at its corporate headquarters to distribute this years academic planners. This year, back-to-school looks different, and so does Firstmarks academic planner. The planner includes a new cover design that highlights teachers unique role in shaping all professions. Firstmark also added a list of virtual training resources and field trips to support professional development and curriculum enrichment. The popular sticker sheets will not be placed inside this years planner but instead will be available at upcoming back-to-school events like Firstmarks Teacher Fest. Look for event details on Firstmarks Facebook page: facebook.com/FirstmarkCU/. This past spring, Firstmark donated more than 100,000 bags to local schools for classroom assignments and student packaged meals. Because of the high demand for additional bags, Firstmark will donate an additional 100,000 meal bags at Fridays curbside event. Teachers have shown tremendous resolve to stay connected to the students and families they serve, and we are inspired by their dedication, said Nathanael Tarwasokono, president and CEO of Firstmark Credit Union. We are proud to support teachers as they prepare for a new school year. Since 1932, Firstmark has championed the education community. The credit union offers educator discounts and grants, scholarships for students and a back-to-school, zero percent classroom loan. To learn more about Firstmarks efforts, visit firstmarkcu.org. About Firstmark Credit Union Firstmark Credit Union has been helping people for more than 88 years. The Firstmark story began in 1932 at Fox Tech High School where ten teachers signed a charter to form the San Antonio Teachers Credit Union. Firstmark has grown the ten teachers original $475 investment to almost 100,000 members and over $1 billion in assets. Firstmark is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution focused on helping people to better their lives. For more information, visit http://firstmarkcu.org or call 210.342.8484. New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday reiterated his demand that medical and engineering entrance exams NEET and JEE be postponed and the Central government work on alternative methods for selecting students. "They (Centre) are saying protocols will be followed. Following the same protocols that the Centre wants 28 lakh students to follow, lakhs of Indians have tested positive," Sisodia told reporters. He said the Union Home Minister tested positive for coronavirus despite staying in a very safe environment, and that many other leaders including Delhi Health Minister have also contracted the contagious disease. "So many top leaders have got infected with COVID-19 despite taking all precautions. So, how can we take the risk of sending 28 lakh students to exam centre and be assured that they will not be infected," Sisodia asked. He said the Central government should immediately postpone the exams and work on "alternative methods" of admission. "I appeal to the government to not be adamant on admission only through these exams. We are not at all saying that the year be declared as a zero academic year. We are not in favour of admitting students just like that as we will need quality doctors and engineers but banking upon only a three hour exam and expecting it to work like a magic wand in identifying talent, is a very conservative thought," he added. The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted in September as scheduled, the Ministry of Education officials had said on Tuesday, amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial tests in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Swedish teen climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg also threw her weight behind postponing the exams in view of the pandemic. "It's deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID," she said in a tweet. Several opposition leaders in India including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and DMK President MK Stalin have demanded the exams be postponed. Sisodia had on Saturday also appealed the Centre to postpone or cancel the exams. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid a spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases, saying a "precious" academic year of students "cannot be wasted" and life has to go on. While a total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. Increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit are among the steps the National Testing Agency will take for safely conducting NEET and JEE in September. Bengalurus efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak was lauded as a model, but after lockdown eased cases shot up. On June 9, a minister in southern Karnataka state posted an infographic on Twitter showing the number of recorded COVID-19 infections in the city of Bengaluru were half that recorded in New Zealand, a country celebrated for getting the spread of the disease under control early on in the pandemic. At the time, only about 450 cases of the novel coronavirus had been recorded among Bengalurus 12.5 million people, compared with about 1,150 among New Zealands 4.88 million population. The city which has more than double the population of New Zealand stumps the Kiwis, said the caption to the image posted by Minister for Medical Education of Karnataka Sudhakar K. His tweet was liked and retweeted by thousands. But the celebration was short-lived. Thanks partly to a high-tech testing and tracing system monitored by masked officials on giant screens in a city war room, Bengaluru had contained the outbreak better than cities like Mumbai, which tallied more than 100 times as many cases. People wearing masks to protect against the coronavirus walk down in busiest avenue road area in Bengaluru [File: Jagadeesh NV/EPA] Two and a half months on, Bengaluru, dubbed Indias Silicon Valley for its technology firms and startups, has reported more than 110,000 cases. Where its infections in early June rose by approximately 25 a day, the daily infection rate is now more than 2,500. In New Zealand, the total caseload stood at 1,339 as of August 25. Sudhakar did not respond to requests for comment, but his tweet remains online. Bengalurus early response was lauded by Indias government as a model for its use of health surveys combined with efforts to tap technology expertise and cutting-edge software in order to analyse the spread of the disease. But after India eased a nationwide lockdown in early June, epidemiologists and government officials involved in the citys response to the pandemic said they realised they had not planned enough. The experience shows the extent of the challenge faced by large cities around the world, showing how rapidly an outbreak can snowball out of control. The city had three to four months to plan for a surge in cases, but the city did not plan for the future. They mostly assumed that the lockdown implementation was sufficient, said Giridhara Babu, an epidemiologist advising the state of Karnataka. Curfew and contact-tracing In late March, India enforced one of the worlds strictest lockdowns. Karnataka state was ahead of that with its own measures. It collaborated with the NASSCOM trade association to mobilise 150 employees from half a dozen IT firms to feed 20,000 international traveller records into a central system every day. Health workers holds swab samples of suspected people for coronavirus COVID-19 Rapid Antigen detection testing in Bengaluru [File: Jagadeesh NV/EPA] Karnataka conducted a mammoth health survey. More than 40,000 government health workers roamed the state in pink uniforms and masks, surveying nearly 16 million households. Residents were subject to a curfew that emptied parks, malls and the citys notoriously clogged roads, and officials tapped companies such as Intel, Alphabets Google and Mumbai-based Fractal Analytics for expertise and tools to help trace, predict and control the spread. Many gave up their personal information for these purposes. At thousands of drugstores, officials collected contact details for people who bought drugs like paracetamol, to keep tabs on their health. A federal government study shows Karnataka on average tested 47.4 contacts of every COVID-19-infected person between January 22 and April 30, compared with the national average of six contacts per infected individual. That many people But in June, when lockdown restrictions eased, people flocked back to markets that sell fresh produce and flowers. Besides locals, officials say tens of thousands of travellers streamed in from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, many unwittingly bringing the virus with them. The neighbouring states have been the two worst hit by COVID-19 in India. We were sandwiched between these two states which already had a very high viral load so we were bound to get affected, said Pankaj Pandey, the health commissioner for Karnataka. An estimated 45,000 people from Maharashtra and another 20,000 from Tamil Nadus capital, Chennai, streamed into Bengaluru in June, he added. In the initial phase, the case numbers in Bangalore [currently named Bengaluru] were so few, that people all over the country felt Bangalore is the safest. That may also have caused people to reverse-migrate back to Bangalore, said one official involved in Bengalurus response. We didnt look at the inbound travellers as a major source of infections, the official said. We never anticipated that many people would come. Officials from Bengalurus municipal body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), did not respond to queries on whether it failed to address gaps in its modelling systems. But Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, a bureaucrat running the Bengaluru war room said easing the lockdown complicated the citys efforts. Since late June, Bengaluru has been sealing areas where cases jump, said Korlapati, noting this involves placing barricades at entry and exit points in effect quarantining entire neighbourhoods. Aggressive testing of contacts and home isolation is the way to contain the spread, she said. That is being taken very seriously and is being done right now. New Delhi, Aug 26 : A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed an application seeking registration of an FIR against Union Minister Anurag Thakur and BJP Delhi MP Parvesh Verma for allegedly making hate speeches. CPI-M leaders Brinda Karat and K.M. Tiwari had filed the application seeking direction to the Parliament Street Police Station to file an FIR against the two for promoting enmity, acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and criminal intimidation. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja dismissed the application, filed under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure for lack of previous sanction. "There is no previous sanction obtained by the complainants from the competent authority (Central government) to prosecute the respondents for the offences alleged in the complaint. Hence, in view of the settled position of law, the complaint deserves to be dismissed being not tenable in the eyes of law," the court noted. The application was filed after an inflammatory slogan "desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro s*** ko" (Shoot the traitors) was raised at a public rally addressed by Thakur on January 27 in Delhi. Parvesh Verma had also allegedly passed inflammatory remarks. Aug 25 (Reuters) - Carnival Corp's Princess Cruises said on Monday it would cancel early 2021 cruises on two ships, citing travel, border and port restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruise lines, hammered by a crisis that has seen some ships turn into infection hotspots, had earlier said they were expecting solid 2021 bookings, mainly as repeat cruisers were eager to book their trips. The two ships, Island Princess and Pacific Princess, were set to sail from North America and Australia, respectively. Guests that had booked trips on these ships would receive a refundable credit for future trips for the fare they paid, and an additional non-refundable future cruise credit equal to 25% of the fare paid, the company said. Earlier in the day, Carnival's Cunard also paused operations from November to up to May 16, 2021. Guests whose trips have been canceled would receive enhanced future credits. At least three Princess Cruises ships turned into hotbeds for coronavirus infections. One of them, the Ruby Princess, became part of a homicide investigation in Australia, being the source of the country's deadliest virus infection. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi) New York: Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has slammed President Donald Trump for presiding over a naturalisation ceremony during the Republican National Convention, saying it was like watching a fox bless a henhouse. Trump presided over a rare naturalisation ceremony at the White House where five immigrants, including a software developer from India, were sworn in as American citizens, as the US leader welcomed them to the magnificent nation" that is comprised of every race, religion and colour. Trump has spent his entire political career demonising immigrants. Hes caged migrant babies at the border. Hes used fear of caravans as a political prop. Watching him preside over a naturalisation ceremony last night was like watching a fox bless a henhouse, Clinton tweeted Wednesday. The pre-taped White House ceremony was played during the second night of the Republican National Convention. Indian immigrant Sudha Sundari Narayanan, an IT software developer, was among the five immigrants who were administered the Oath of Allegiance by Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, while Trump looked on. Immigrants from Bolivia, Lebanon, Sudan and Ghana were also sworn-in as US citizens. Trump said Narayanan is a phenomenal success", born in India, who came to the United States 13 years ago. Sudha is a talented software developer and she and her husband are raising two beautiful, wonderful children the apples of your life. Thank you very much and congratulations. Fantastic job. Trump handed Narayanan, who was wearing a bright coral pink sari, her Certificate of Citizenship. However, the naturalisation ceremony was criticised, with experts slamming Trump for using immigrants he has so far vilified as election props". Opinion columnist Frank Bruni wrote in a piece in The New York Times that Trump emceed a naturalisation ceremony on live television of five immigrants who belong to the sorts of ethnic groups or come from the kinds of places that he has routinely caricatured and vilified. This didnt honour them. It reduced them to re-election props. New York-based immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta tweeted Trump and illegally appointed Wolf conduct a naturalisation ceremony during a political convention to hypocritically pander to immigrants they have otherwise banned, abused and caged. Immigration has been a very critical agenda of the Trump campaign and his presidency, with Trump asserting throughout that as the American President he will ensure job security and safety for American citizens first. As job losses mounted and the American economy suffered due to the COVID19 pandemic, Trump ordered some stringent immigration restrictions, including suspending the H1B visas, which is popular among Indian IT professionals, along with other foreign work visas for the rest of the year. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sammy Ketz (Agence France-Presse) Jabal Maragha, Sudan Wed, August 26, 2020 09:07 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4081eb3 2 Art & Culture Sudan,Jabal-Maragha Free When a team of archaeologists deep in the deserts of Sudan arrived at the ancient site of Jabal Maragha last month, they thought they were lost. The site had vanished. But they hadn't made a mistake. In fact, gold-hunters with giant diggers had destroyed almost all sign of the two millenia-old site. "They had only one goal in digging here -- to find gold," said shocked archaeologist Habab Idriss Ahmed, who had painstakingly excavated the historic location in 1999. "They did something crazy; to save time, they used heavy machinery." In the baking-hot desert of Bayouda, some 270 kilometres (170 miles) north of the capital Khartoum, the team discovered two mechanical diggers and five men at work. They had dug a vast trench 17 metres (55 feet) deep, and 20 meters long. The rust-colored sand was scarred with tyre tracks, some cut deep into the ground, from the trucks that transported the equipment. The site, dating from the Meroitic period between 350 BC and 350 AD, was either a small settlement or a checkpoint. Since the diggers came, hardly anything remains. "They had completely excavated it, because the ground is composed of layers of sandstone and pyrite," said Hatem al-Nour, Sudan's director of antiquities and museums. "And as this rock is metallic their detector would start ringing. So they thought there was gold." Escape justice Next to the huge gash in the ground, the diggers had piled up ancient cylindrical stones on top of each other to prop up a roof for their dining room. The archaeologists were accompanied by a police escort, who took the treasure-hunters to a police station -- but they were freed within hours. "They should have been put in jail and their machines confiscated. There are laws," said Mahmoud al-Tayeb, a former expert from Sudan's antiquities department. Instead, the men left without charge, and their diggers were released too. "It is the saddest thing," said Tayeb, who is also a professor of archaeology at the University of Warsaw. Tayeb believes that the real culprit is the workers' employer, someone who can pull strings and circumvent justice. Sudan's archaeologists warn that this was not a unique case, but part of a systematic looting of ancient sites. At Sai, a 12-kilometer-long river island in the Nile, hundreds of graves have been ransacked and destroyed by looters. Some of them date back to the times of the pharaohs. Sudan's ancient civilizations built more pyramids than the Egyptians, but many are still unexplored. Now, in hundreds of remote places ranging from cemeteries to temples, desperate diggers are hunting for anything to improve their daily lives. Read also: Women hail victory as Sudan moves to ban genital cutting Gold fever Sudan is Africa's third largest producer of gold, after South Africa and Ghana, with commercial mining bringing in $1.22 billion to the government last year. In the past, people also tried their luck by panning for gold at the city of Omdurman, across the river from Khartoum, where the waters of the White and Blue Niles meet. "We used to see older people with small sieves like the ones women use for sifting flour at home," Tayeb said, recalling times when he was a boy. "They used them to look for gold." But the gold they found was in tiny quantities. Then in the late 1990s, people saw archaeologists using metal detectors for their scientific research. "When people saw archaeologists digging and finding things, they were convinced there was gold." 'Reason for pride' Even worse, local authorities have encouraged the young and unemployed to hunt for treasures while wealthy businessmen bring in mechanical diggers alongside. "Out of a thousand more or less well-known sites in Sudan, at least a hundred have been destroyed or damaged," said Nour. "There is one policeman for 30 sites... and he has no communication equipment or adequate means of transport." For Tayeb, the root problem is not a lack of security, but rather the government's priorities. "It's not a question of policemen," he said. "It is a serious matter of how do you treat your history, your heritage? This is the main problem. But heritage is not a high priority for the government, so what can one do?" The destruction of the sites is an extra tragedy for a country long riven by civil war between rival ethnic groups, destroying a common cultural identity of a nation. "This heritage is vital for the unity of the Sudanese," Nour said. "Their history gives them a reason for pride." City lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has disclosed why he charges top dollar for his legal services, saying he learnt the modus operandi from the late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo, who was his lecturer at the Kenya School of Law in the early 1990s. Speaking Sunday on The Hot Seat YouTube show hosted by Jacque Maribe, the Grand Mullah said he learnt from Mutula Kilonzo that it is human nature for service-seekers to love expensive things in life. One of the guys I admired a lot when I was a student at the Kenya School of Law was Mutula Kilonzo. He taught us a course called Professional Ethics. Mutula was at the peak of his career in 1991/1992; he was the presidents lawyer, very flamboyant, very good and was well-connected, said Abdullahi. One thing that I remember him telling us, was: the more you charge the client, the more he or she loves you. Mutula said when he started practicing law in Machakos, he would charge normal rates. However, when he relocated to Nairobi, he raised his fees by ten or 15 times against what lawyers in the capital city were charging at the time. He further revealed that when he started charging expensively, more and more people started seeking his services regularly, recounted Ahmednasir. He expounded further, saying: I think it is human nature for people to love expensive things. When I was the LSK chairman, and disappointed clients would complain to me that they had sought services of lawyers who failed to listen to their briefs hence the reason their cases failed, I would tell them: lawyers are like brands. If you buy a Toyota Corolla, do not expect it to work like a Mercedes Benz. If you buy a shirt for Ksh50, you get value for Ksh50, and if you buy a shirt for Ksh1,000, you get value equivalent to Ksh1,000. For instance, there is work that one lawyer would charge you Ksh100,000 and another would charge you Ksh10 million. When a client is in a position to afford both, most likely he or she would go for the one who charges Ksh10 million; it is psychological. When a client pays a lawyer Ksh10 million, he or she walks around proud. He would tell people: my lawyer is an expensive lawyer; he charges me Ksh10 million, added Ahmednasir. The flamboyant lawyer who was recently awarded Ksh750K over windscreen damage to his Bentley Bentayga, however, noted that he some times offers free legal services. We do a lot of pro bono work. But, I tell guys, when I do work for someone at no cost, there is someone somewhere who is paying for it, he said. The senior counsel said he has been practicing law for 26 years now, having joined the profession accidentally after a then-academic staff at his alma mater, Nairobi School, canceled his (Abdullahis) choice for a degree course. I had chosen Bachelor of Government [Management] as the course I would love to pursue in university after my Form Six exams, said the University of Nairobi alumnus. However, our housemaster canceled my choice and replaced it with Bachelor of Law, which I pursued at UoN. That is how I ended up being a lawyer. Abdullahi told Maribe that throughout his law practice, he has never worked for anyone or any law firm besides his. He said after completing university education, he talked to a friend who gave him a room near his (friends) law firm, where Abdullahi started a consultancy company. In my first two months of practice, I managed to earn more money than my classmates, who had been employed by other peoples law firms. After four years of practice] I entered into a partnership with Abdikadir Hussein, the former Mandera Central MP, said Abdullahi. The Grand Mullah has a wife and five children. His firstborn, a son, is a second-year student at Georgetown University in Washington, USA. The remaining four children are daughters, with the last two being identical twins. Sometimes, I cannot tell the difference between my twin daughters; I, therefore, end mixing up their names, he said. YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. According to the specialists of the UN e-government development survey, Armenia will soon appear in the list of very high digitized governed countries, Minister of High Technological Industry Hakob Arshakyan said during a press conference today. According to the survey results Armenia is in the list of countries with very highly developed human capital. According to the forecasts of the research specialists Armenia will soon change its group from high EDGI to the very high EDGI group, the minister said. The minister said according to the survey in 2020 Armenia has improved its positions by 19 points compared to 2018 and recorded the highest progress in the Asian region, capturing the 68th place against the previous 87th. Minister Arshakyan informed that Armenias 2020-2025 draft digitization strategy has been developed. The digitization processes and the process of developing cyber-security standards are underway. Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan The college agreed to build a facility for domestic and international students and grow grapes for the Chinese palate, among other things. Edward River Council has since admitted to an oversight body that a tender may not have taken place, despite taking expressions of interest for the site. Edward River Council internal documents claim it went through the required public competitive process before leasing this land, despite the fact Ausway College says it never responded to a tender. The council could not find any records in relation to the tender. The Chinese government later pulled its investment and Department of Industry consent was withheld after an objection from a member of the community, but the failed deal has raised alarms about foreign investment in Australian infrastructure. Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who is outspoken against Chinese influence in Australia, said the activities of the United Front Work Department in Australia were now under closer inspection than they were previously. "Its involvement in a rural project in Deniliquin highlights the extent and reach of its insidious work in Australia," Senator Fierravanti-Wells said. Cr Hall was the region's administrator at the time following the amalgamation of Deniliquin and Conargo councils, but is now an Edward River councillor. He said the Ausway College project would have injected a significant amount of money into the region. Murray Valley Industry Park, where Ausway College proposed to set up a China-funded research facility. Credit:Kate Geraghty "We could see the benefit to both sides," Cr Hall said. "They were coming out to try and train some of their students and, of course, we get a pretty good economic stimulus into an area which we're looking for diversity and basically investment." This coincided with a separate plan at the time to transform Deniliquin airport into a China-bound freight hub. Cr Hall said the council was comfortable at the time with proceeding with the project, but "I don't think we'd be doing it now, that's for sure". According to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, local councils that want to lease Crown land under their management are expected to undertake a public competitive expression of interest process. The Edward River Council municipal office. Credit:Kate Geraghty Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show the agreement was purportedly struck as a result of the tender process, but, as the result of a separate freedom of information search, the council claimed it held no records whatsoever in relation to the tender. The council admitted to the Information and Privacy Commission officer reviewing the FOI request that the tender process "may not have gone ahead". A Department of Industry file note, dated January 2018, of a phone conversation between a Crown Lands official and a council officer recorded that the proposal was a result of the tender process. But Ausway College director Patrick Lay told the Herald his company never entered a tender, nor had he ever heard about one. "We worked quite closely with the council there, so they offered this opportunity to us and we approached our investors in China," he said. Mr Lay said the Melbourne-based company Australian Education Society, which has connections to Ghuizhou, helped link him with investors. The AES also helped organise a China trip for Deniliquin High School students in July 2017, which Cr Hall attended as the then-administrator. The council resolution submitted for ministerial approval had also been altered to say that Ausway had presented details about developing an aviation academy at Deniliquin airport, despite that never being included in the original report. Mr Lay said he only had preliminary discussions with the council regarding the flying school: "We didn't promise them anything and they knew that." Deniliquin resident Ian Wall, who raised the objection and conducted searches regarding the process, said he became suspicious after discovering the tender wasn't advertised anywhere locally only on the NSW government's eTender website and under a severely limited timeframe. Deniliquin resident Ian Wall at the site of the failed agricultural research centre. Credit:Kate Geraghty "The indications are the tender process was a sham, a piece of theatre," Mr Wall said. "There was a requirement for Edward River Council to run a fair, open and competitive tender process in regards to leasing Crown land for which they were the legal trustee. They did no such thing." Following a list of questions from the Herald regarding the legitimacy of the deal, the council issued a brief statement in which it committed to an internal review of the process: "If necessary, council will seek probity advice to ensure transparency into the review." Loading The call for expressions of interest - which ended in November 2016 but has no known start date nor records of advertisement - occurred while the council was still in administration. The agreement with Ausway, which included a 400-megalitre irrigation water licence, was announced with the arrival of the first of multiple overseas delegations in February 2017. In October 2017 the recently elected council resolved to grant Ausway a 20-year lease of the land, with the option of a further 20 years, with a valuation of the land only being completed that month. 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. Russian Military Perform Victory Day Parade Runthrough A vehicle transports a RS-24 Yars strategic nuclear missile along a street during a Victory Day rehearsal in Moscow, Russia, on June 17, 2020. Credit - Andrey RudakovBloomberg/Getty Images After three years tuning out, turning off, and dropping out of every arms control and trade treaty within reach, the Trump Administration is now seeking a path toward the most sweeping nuclear arms control agreement in history, one that would include all long-, medium-, and short-range weapons. The Administration took one small step in that direction last week when U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea met with his Russian counterpart in Vienna to discuss extending the 2010 New START agreement, which limits both nations arsenals of long-range weapons and expires in February. Billingslea told Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov that the U.S. wants to extend New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) as a first step toward limiting both nations entire nuclear arsenals, a move backed by rare bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill that a broader nuclear arms deal between the worlds two largest nuclear powers is both necessary and overdue. Though he told reporters in a press briefing following the meeting that the two sides remain far apart on a number of key issues, Billingslea had quietly shelved a key U.S. pre-condition for the deal that any extension of the treaty must include China in an earlier interview as an apparent olive branch before the talks. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the daily D.C. Brief newsletter. Current and former defense officials argue the existing agreement allows both nations to field more nuclear weapons because it discounts those carried by strategic bombers. These officials also say New STARTs verification and compliance requirements need to be tightened, citing Russias violations of the Reagan-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which expired last August. The Trump Administration abandoned the treaty on Oct. 20, 2018, 10 months before it expired, because Russia had violated it by deploying medium-range cruise missiles within range of U.S. NATO allies. Story continues Any new agreement must include giving both sides real-time access to one anothers telemetry data, U.S. defense officials argue, which would allow the parties to track any missile flights and provide on-site inspectors faster access to test sites. Defense officials and diplomats who favor negotiating a broader agreement say Russia has gained an advantage over the U.S. by keeping its missile production lines open and developing a new generation of nuclear delivery systems, including road-mobile medium-range missiles, a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Avangard hypersonic missile, a long-range nuclear-capable torpedo, and so-called battlefield short-range missiles. The U.S., for its part, is only beginning to modernize its nuclear arsenal, which still includes the B-52 strategic bomber first flown in 1952 and last produced a decade later. The silo-based Minuteman III ICBM entered service in 1970, and isnt scheduled to be replaced by a new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent until 2027. A new nuclear arms control agreement, proponents argue, would allow both the U.S. and Russia to focus their resources on other more urgent priorities like fighting a global pandemic. Both countries have better things to spend their money on than weapons that would cause mutual assured destruction, says one U.S. defense official, who requested anonymity to speak without authorization. One major stumbling block toward reaching a broad new agreement remains, however: China, which has a much smaller nuclear arsenal than the U.S. or Russia. U.S. intelligence officials have said Beijing plans to at least double that over the next decade and abandon its minimum deterrence strategy as it seeks global parity with the U.S. So far, Beijing has refused to participate in negotiations with the U.S. and Russia, which Beijing blames on Washington. I can assure you, if the U.S. says that they are ready to come down to the Chinese level, China would be happy to participate the next day. But actually we know thats not going to happen, Fu Cong, the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministrys arms control department, said last month. Chinas stonewalling has left a split in the Trump Administration between China hardliners, such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and other officials who think that Chinas aspirations for great power status will in time convince President Xi Jinping to join the U.S. and Russia onstage. If the U.S. and Russia do hammer out some kind of new framework agreement without China, there are divisions in the Administration about how, when, where, and by whom such a deal should be announced, multiple officials tell Time. In one camp are some of Trumps political advisers, who would like to see the President and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet before Election Day in Austria or another third country to make the announcement. Making the first step toward a deal no one has ever been able to negotiate would leave Obama and Biden in the dust, says one Administration official. It would highlight the presidents dealmaking skills, they argue, as well as demonstrate that his controversial relationship with Putin is paying dividends and provide the pre-election political bounce they hoped for but did not get from Trumps announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates had agreed on a path toward full diplomatic relations. We need something too big for the media to ignore, says the official of the Mideast deal, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Others in the Administration, however, fear that another Putin-Trump meeting would rekindle the controversy over their relationship, and that with Trump trailing Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the polls, any U.S. eagerness for such a meeting would give Russia added leverage in negotiations. Thats true, says a U.S. intelligence official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity. But if Putin wants to see the President re-elected, which the intelligence clearly indicates he would, a meeting might be good for him, too. New chairman appointed at Ukrzaliznytsia railway operator's board 18:35, 26.08.20 1315 Since 2019, he has chaired the Supervisory Board at Boryspil International Airport. CALGARY - The Alberta government says it will support a proposal to build a hyperloop transport system capable of whisking passengers in an elevated tube between Edmonton and Calgary at 1,000 kilometres per hour. But the memorandum of understanding signed with project proponent TransPod doesnt involve any financial commitment or endorsements by the province, and the system is still years away from being tested and built. The companys decision to develop the technology in Alberta is a great reflection on the provinces record of innovation, said Premier Jason Kenney on Tuesday. This is as-yet unproven technology in terms of a large commercial application but were happy that the proponents have come to us and asked to do the research here in Alberta and were excited to co-operate with them on that hyperloop research, he said. It just means the use of some Crown land. Theres no cost to the taxpayer and were not in the business of writing blank cheques for as-yet unproven technology but we hope that if their research pans out here in Alberta that maybe we will see further investments in this type of important innovation in transportation technology. The Toronto-based company, which first announced it would seek Alberta provincial backing in 2017 when the NDP was in power, said the agreement will allow it to attract private investment for what would be a multibillion-dollar infrastructure project. It aims to conduct a feasibility study over the next two years, move into a research and development phase until 2024, then build a test track and conduct tests until 2027 before completing the full 300-kilometre line between Edmonton and Calgary. The company envisions low-pressure sealed tubes suspended above ground on concrete posts allowing magnetically levitated pods within to transport passengers and cargo between Calgary and Edmonton in about 30 minutes. The province will provide information contributing to the research, development, testing and eventual construction of the TransPod line, said Alberta Transportation Minister Ric McIver. We look forward to seeing this work put Alberta on the forefront of the movement of goods and people, he said. TransPod says its system is being examined by governments and organizations for several projects around the world and it is currently in the design and development phase for a testing facility in France. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2020. Read more about: Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. The Lufthansa Group has announced it will allow passengers with health conditions to fly without wearing a mask - so long as they prove they're free of coronavirus. The German-based company, which includes the carriers Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines, says the new tighter rules will come into force on September 1. Those who are unable to wear a mask due to a medical condition will have to provide a certificate signed by a doctor confirming they can't wear one and present proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken no longer than 48 hours before departure. The Lufthansa Group has announced it will allow passengers with certain health conditions to fly without wearing a mask - so long as they prove they're free of coronavirus The Lufthansa Group made face masks compulsory on board all flights at the beginning of May. Exceptions to this rule were previously allowed by presenting a medical certificate. The Lufthansa Group said in a statement: 'The new rules on the compulsory wearing of masks now ensure even better protection for all passengers. 'Passengers will be informed about the new requirements via the airlines' websites and social media channels, as well as via e-mail and SMS. This will allow customers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new measures in good time. The Lufthansa Group made face masks on board all flights compulsory at the beginning of May. Pictured is an Austrian Airlines flight 'The airlines in the Lufthansa Group have introduced extensive hygiene measures onboard and on the ground. 'The Lufthansa Group is also in regular communications with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and national authorities to promote the ongoing development and harmonisation of health standards in air transport during the corona pandemic. 'The risk of contracting the virus on board of an aircraft is very low. The cabins are equipped with filters that clean the air of contaminants such as dust, bacteria and viruses.' Meanwhile, earlier this week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) appealed to all air travellers to wear a face covering for the duration of their journeys to 'protect the safety of other passengers and crew during the pandemic'. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appealed to all air travellers to wear a face covering for the duration of their journeys to protect the safety of other passengers and crew during the pandemic It said it was emphasising the need for passengers to comply with the rules 'following recent reports of travellers refusing to wear face coverings during flights'. The organisation added: 'While this is confined to a very small number of individuals, some onboard incidents have become violent, resulting in costly and extremely inconvenient diversions to offload these passengers.' Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO, said: 'This is a call for common sense and taking responsibility. The vast majority of travellers understand the importance of face coverings both for themselves as well as for their fellow passengers, and airlines appreciate this collective effort. 'But a small minority create problems. Safety is at the core of aviation, and compliance with crew safety instructions is the law. Failure to comply can jeopardise a flights safety, disrupt the travel experience of other passengers and impact the work environment for crew.' BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The World Economic Forum on Wednesday announced that it is postponing its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, to 'early next summer'. The annual meeting held in an Alpine resort draws a large number of world leaders, businessmen, central bankers and activists from different fields. The meeting was originally planned for January, 2021. 'The decision was not taken easily, since the need for global leaders to come together to design a common recovery path and shape the 'Great Reset' in the post-COVID-19 era is so urgent,' Adrian Monck, managing director of public engagement at WEF, said in a statement. 'However, the advice from experts is that the Forum cannot do so safely in January.' Monck said the WEF will digitally convene high-level 'Davos Dialogues', during the week of January 25, where key global leaders will share their views on the state of the world in 2021. 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. While the entire world has been grappling with Coronavirus and its related issues, the fear of nuclear war looms at large. The reason behind the same is the growing tension between the US and China, the West Asian region is still highly fraught and the relations between Russia and the other western nations are still pugnacious. According to the Federation of American Scientists, about nine countries at present have almost 13,410 nuclear warheads, and it has been assumed that 1800 nuclear weapons at present are available for use immediately, which can destroy the planet several times. Read | COVID-19: Nepal decides to extend lockdown in the valley for another week Read | Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's tally crosses 32-lakh mark; Bengal lockdown till Sep 20 To lessen, if not reduce the threat of a nuclear war over the planet completely, the government of Kazakhstan has decided to advocate for nuclear disarmament for a planet that shall be totally free from nuclear weapons. The reason behind why the government has been taking initiatives over the same is because no other country has suffered more than them when it comes to nuclear testing. The country was also one of the signatories to the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1993 and the consecutive Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in the year 1996, and ratified it in the year 2001. What are these treaties all about ? The treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was an agreement which aimed at preventing the nuclear weapons from spreading and further advocating the usage of nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes. The treaty came into force in the year 1970 and in the year 1995, the treaty was extended indefinitely. The treaty has occupied an important place in the global non-proliferation and has been the guiding force for nuclear disarmament. Read | IAEA chief meets Iran's top nuclear official The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, is an agreement which was brokered by the United Nations, and had come into existence on 24 September 1996. The pact, aimed at banning all kinds of nuclear explosions on the entire planet. The agreement also aimed at curbing the development of nuclear weapons and improves the design of the nuclear weapons that are already in existence. The treaty also aims to reduce the suffering of human beings and any damage that might cause to the environment because of the same. Advocacy activities taken by the government of Kazakhstan earlier In the year 2009, the nations and their neighbors had created a zone in the Central Asian region that would be free of nuclear weapons and has constantly urged to create a similar space in West Asia as well. Subsequently, in the year 2012, the government of Kazakhstan had launched Abolish Testing Our Mission(ATOM), wherein the nation would be motivating other nations against the testing of nuclear weapons. Recently, in 2015, an agreement was signed between the government of Kazakhstan and International Atomic Energy Association(IAEA). The treaty aimed at creating a Uranium bank, which would be solving the problem of supplying the fuel to all the nations for civil purposes. Nursultan Nazarbayev,the first President of Kazakhstan, said that the nation is committed to make a world free of any nuclear weapons by the year 2045. Read | French, Lebanon troops clean up Beirut blast debris (With Agency Inputs) Los Angeles: The NBA has postponed all Wednesday (Thursday AEST) playoff games after the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their playoff series against Orlando Magic in protest over racial injustice. The action comes on the heels of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. "Myself and our players and our organisation are very disturbed by what's happening in Kenosha," Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said earlier on Wednesday. An empty court and bench where the Bucks and Magic were scheduled to play at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Credit:Getty "It's a great challenge to have an appreciation and a desire for change and to want something different and better in Kenosha and Milwaukee and Wisconsin and then go out and play a game." Though the second wave of COVID-19 dashed hopes for quick tourism recovery in 2020, real estate services firm CBRE Vietnam believed the industrys long-term outlook remains positive. Hotel InterContinental Hanoi Westlake. (Photo: Bnews) In a recent hotel insights report, CBRE Vietnam said the outlook for Vietnams hotel sector remains positive in the long run thanks to expected improvements in infrastructure, favourable visa policies and the political will to turn tourism into a key industry. According to the consulting firm, Vietnam has been praised by the international community for its decisive and effective efforts in the containment of the coronavirus, which would help the country to enhance its image on the global tourism scene as one of the safest travel destinations once the pandemic is over. Regarding the investment landscape, there are some opportunistic investors looking for distressed assets at a big discount. However, the market so far hasnt seen many distressed assets in the 4-and 5-star segment. There will be more opportunities in the lower segments though, as well as from hotel chain owners seeking to divest some assets that are considered less strategic. After enjoying impressive tourist growth in previous years, in the first half of 2020, Vietnam has recorded drops of 56 percent and 50 percent year-on-year for international arrivals and domestic-travelers trips, respectively. As the Vietnamese government has suspended all international flights to the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19 since the end of March, foreign arrivals tumbled by 99 percent year-on-year in the second quarter alone. The pandemic has disrupted numerous travel plans worldwide, resulting in weaker hotel performance across the country. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Vietnam went down significantly by 55 percent year-on-year during the first six months of the year. Occupancy rates reached the lowest point in April, when nationwide social distancing order was imposed, then slowly recovered in May and June when local tourists started to hit the road again. However, as HCM City and Hanois four and five-star hotel markets strongly rely on foreign guests, occupancy rates improved just by small amount of 11.5 percentage points each month. Domestic tourism will lead the recovery and compensate for the losses from international tourists in 2020. After going nearly 100 straight days without community infections, the country confronted a resurgence from a fresh cluster originated from Da Nang hospitals since late July. In the face of more complex developments, tourism demand may be significantly dampened and domestic tourists certainly become more hesitant to travel than ever. Demand from international tourists will also take longer to return, from both the continuing of flights suspension as well as reluctance to travel when the virus is not fully contained in foreign countries. The sectors performance in the third quarter of this year will not see much improvement from the previous quarter, as Vietnam has faced a second wave of COVID-19 and some parts of the country have already practiced social distancing to prevent the spread. Nguyen Trong Thuc, Associate Director of CBRE Hotels Vietnam, said the hotel industry in 2020-2021 is expected to be in defensive mode with intermittent fluctuations in performance until a vaccine or widely available treatment for COVID-19 can be produced./.VNA Analysts: High-end hotels hold appeal among investors Analysts from real estate consultant Jones Lang LaSalle have said domestic and foreign investors alike are actively seeking to purchase high-end hotels in downtown areas, mostly due to limited land supply. Bill Gates and other philanthropists from the US have granted the Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute a $1.5 million grant to put to the test their new technology for Alzheimer's disease. The neurologists chose 24 Alzheimer's disease patients in their early stages to participate in the therapy. Experts have high hopes for this trial after dozens of dementia drugs have failed tests. Sending Electrical Currents Deep in the Brain To Treat Dementia Neurologists from Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute received a $1.5 million grant from Bill Gates and other US philanthropists to start treating Alzheimer's disease by sending electrical currents deep in the brain. The technology is called the temporal interference brain stimulation, which will be participated by 24 patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Electrodes will be attached to their scalp during the trial that will last for two weeks with daily hour-long sessions. The electrodes will be sending two harmless-high-frequency electric currents, 2,000 Hz and 2,005 Hz, into the brain. When these two slightly different frequencies meet, they create a third current that is a low-frequency wave of 5 Hz. Neurologists are hoping that this third electric current will make a difference in the treatment of dementia. The frequency will be triggered in an area deep in the brain responsible for new memories, called the hippocampus. Hopefully, the process would revive the mitochondria in that area of the brain. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of a cell that becomes damaged when a person has Alzheimer's disease. Unlike the two original beams, the third frequency is not too high a frequency to interfere with the healthy brain tissue. It will only have a similar rate at which the brain cells fire that allows them to spark the affected neurons back to life. The researchers also tested their new technology on healthy patients. They found an increased blood flow in the brain and improved facial-recognition results. But it will be the first time to test the new technology on patients with Alzheimer's disease that is scheduled in January next year. Read Also: No to Dementia: Drink Red Wine, Eat Dark Chocolates and Other Flavonoid-Rich Foods Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease The new technology which aims to treat Alzheimer's disease will target the mitochondria that are damaged by the disease. According to researcher Dr. Nir Grossman, more and more evidence has come to light that mitochondrial dysfunction has a vital role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. He added that this is an essential milestone in their research after years of studying and working on breakthrough technology. An estimated 850,000 people in the United Kingdom have dementia, and among these numbers around 500,000 have Alzheimer's disease. Bill Gates, Mikey Hoag, and the US Alzheimer's Association have given 16 grants to different institutions including this new trial, with a total of $60 million as part of their Cloud Program. Gates said that finding a treatment for dementia needs increased and continued research after witnessing first-hand what dementia could do to people. Read More: Living Alone in Your 50s and 60s? Dementia Found to Be 30% More Likely: Study Check out more news and information on Alzheimer's Disease in Science Times. PHILIPSBURG:---The House of Parliament will sit in a Plenary Public Session on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. The Public meeting is scheduled for 11.00 hrs. and will be held in a virtual setting. The Minister of General Affairs will be in attendance. The agenda point is: Discussion on Constitutional Affairs in connection with written questions to the Prime Minister on the decolonization process of the Dutch islands (IS/929/ 2019-2020 dated June 8, 2020 and IS/1099/2019-2020 dated August 5, 2020) This meeting was requested by MP G.S. Heyliger-Marten, MP O.E.C. Ottley and MP S.M. Bijlani Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building. The parliamentary session will be held virtually and will be carried out live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten ### PRESS RELEASE OV 20 Cont. (URGENT) Continuation urgent Plenary Public session of Parliament regarding a status update on the SSRP, the assistance programs of the SSRP and the Covid-19 liquidity assistance from the Netherlands and the conditions tied to this assistance PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten - The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent Plenary Public Session on August 26, 2020. The Public meeting which was adjourned on June 24, 2020, will now take place on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 15.00 hrs and will be held in a virtual setting. The Minister of General Affairs and the Minister of Finance will be in attendance. The agenda point is: Status update on the SSRP and the assistance programs of the SSRP and Covid-19 liquidity assistance from the Netherlands and the conditions tied to this assistance (IS/946/2019-2020 dated June 16, 2020) This meeting was requested by MP S.A. Wescot-Williams, MP M.D. Gumbs, and MP C.A.Buncamper Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building. The parliamentary session will be held virtually and will be carried out live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans recently-appointed Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov has said that the negotiations over the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be substantive rather than an imitation of the negotiation process. Bayramov made the remarks on August 26 during his first visit to Russia the country Foreign Minister. Addressing the presser following his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Bayramov said that Azerbaijan's position on the settlement of the conflict is based on the norms and principles of international law, as well as documents adopted by international organizations, primarily the resolutions of the UN Security Council. I would like to emphasize Azerbaijan's constructive position in the process of negotiations on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. For almost 30 years, despite the occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, Azerbaijan continues to participate in the negotiation process, he noted. The minister stressed that Azerbaijan supports a political solution to the conflict. There is a sufficient legal basis for resolving the conflict. Negotiations should be conducted in accordance with the documents adopted by international organizations, first of all, four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and a number of documents adopted by other international organizations in recent years, Bayramov added. The ministry also said that Azerbaijan pins special hopes on the active role of Russia in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. With regret, I would like to note that there has been no progress in the settlement of the conflict. Armenia continues to hold 20 per cent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory under occupation, Bayramov said. The minister said that Russia is the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the largest regional power with long-standing close ties with the South Caucasus region. Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Bayramov pointed out that the regions Azerbaijani population have been expelled from their homes and Armenia is currently illegally settling in the occupied territories ethnic Armenians from abroad, including from the Middle East, which in turn is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, primarily the Geneva Conventions. The ministry noted that Armenia continues to undermine the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE. He reminded Armenias military provocation on the border on July 12-16 that killed Azerbaijani servicemen and a 76-year-old resident of an Azerbaijani village. The minister underlined that Armenia made an attempt to seize Azerbaijani territories during the attack on the border Tovuz district. Furhtermore, Bayramov emphasized that all actions and statements that harm the negotiation process must be condemned by the international community, especially the co-chairs of the Minsk Group. In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that it is important to provide the necessary atmosphere for a sustainable negotiation process to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our common attitude, as I understand it, is to continue the settlement process. And in this sense, it is important to provide the necessary atmosphere in order to establish a stable, sustainable negotiation process. Negotiations are not for the sake of negotiations, but of course, aimed at achieving a peaceful solution to the Karabakh issue, Lavrov noted. For our part, both in our national capacity and as one of the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, we will do our best to help create such conditions, the Russian minister added. August 26, 2020 The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry will remain a major pillar of the Philippine economy even as the nation enters a protracted war against the COVID-19 pandemic. While COVID-19 had and continues to have a significant negative impact on outsourcing to the Philippines, theres no doubt that the industry will bounce back. It might not be the quick, V-shaped recovery that we all hoped for, but the industry is best positioned for a bounce-back in the long-term, said Ralf Ellspermann, CEO of PITON-Global, a leading mid-sized BPO provider in the Philippines that has helped the country achieve two decades worth of expertise in the field of outsourcing. Some analysts believe the countrys economy is destined for a U-shaped path, or at worst an L-shaped one, which means recovery after a recession will take a much longer time to achieve. But its the same story that is set to hound many countries besides the Philippines. It can be expected that Fortune 2000 corporations will refrain from moving large number of seats to the Philippines for as long as theres no cure or FDA-approved vaccine on the market. Outsourcing executives are very likely not going to put their jobs on the line by moving hundreds of seats offshore. The risk of another lockdown is just too high for as long as COVID-19 is around, Ellspermann added. As it is, the government is bent on pursuing a growth track that will, for sure, include BPO as one of the main economic drivers. The value proposition of the Philippine BPO industry has not changed. The need for companies to reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies is, of course, also still there. And the best way of achieving these business objectives is by outsourcing core and non-core business processes to the Philippines, Ellspermann said. As a leading BPO provider in the country, PITON-Global was witness to how outsourcing companies in the Philippines endured throughout the years and became a top source of employment for many Filipinos. The Philippines stood out as the best choice, thanks to the proficiency of Filipinos in the English language and the nations cultural affinity to the West. It also helped that the country has a 94-percent literacy rate, which is the second highest in Asia. By the start of the new decade, outsourcing companies in the Philippines were already employing 1.3 million Filipinos. The industry also contributes 7 percent to the countrys gross domestic product, which is roughly US$26 billion in annual revenues. When the government imposed a lockdown in mid-March, considered one of the stringest in the world, outsourcing companies in the Philippines remained open for business. The downturn in demand from abroad as operations ground to a halt may have crimped operations of BPOs, but its services also proved vital as customers called in to cancel their planned trips. The Philippines Department of Labor and Employment sees a resurgence of the BPO industry as the global recession forces countries in the West to offshore more jobs in order to cut down on expenses. Labor cost in the Philippines is much lower by 60 percent compared to the United States, and by 70 percent compared to Australia and United Kingdom. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are more likely to move faster and will continue to outsource their BPO requirements as soon as the dust settles. And we are here to support them, Ellspermann said. In the long run, BPO companies in the Philippines will continue to flourish as companies all over the world start to pick up the pieces. A recovery will also mean a big heave to an economy burdened by the impact of COVID-19. The Republican Convention aired a surprise naturalization ceremony at the White House on Tuesday evening. President Donald Trump oversaw the naturalization ceremony. It was the Republican Convention's way of stressing how vital it is to gain legal immigration to the United States. The five new U.S. citizens granted naturalization during the event were from Bolivia, Lebanon, India, Sudan, and Ghana, said a report from The Hill. In the event, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf read the naturalization oath to the new citizens as Trump looked on. After this part of the Republican Convention, Trump took the podium to praise the five people. "You followed the rules, you obeyed the laws, you learned our history, embraced our values, and proved yourselves to be men and women of the highest integrity," he said. Trump recognized the hard process that the five people went through and thanked them for being in the event. No Higher Honor The President stressed how honorable it is to be a legal American citizen. He also said he was honored to be the President of the five people, said a Washington Examiner report. According to a Fox News report, he called American citizenship "the most prized, treasured, cherished, and priceless possession anywhere in the world." Trump welcomed all the new U.S. citizens by saying there are now stewards of the country. He also boasts of the country's diverse "family," which features different races, colors, religions, and creeds. The event was mixed with other speakers in the convention. It includes two of Trump's children, Tiffany and Eric, and his wife, Melania. Promoting Legal Immigration The goal of the ceremony is consistent with Trump's goals in his stay in the White House. For the past years, he has sought to curb both legal and illegal immigration. He vowed for years to build a wall that would run across the U.S.-Mexico border. The ceremony also comes as Trump and other GOP members seek to cast a more positive view of Trump's stay in the White House. They are hoping to get good results as the campaign enters its final 10 weeks. In the NBC News' coverage of the Republican Convention, they noted that Trump had made such movements against legal immigrants, despite the event. Attempts to blow off legal immigration include Trump's ban on Muslim majority countries, various visa limits, a limit on refugees, drastic changes to the asylum system, and others. Acting as President The event with the five new American citizens was the second time on Tuesday that Trump acted in his official power as President. These kinds of ceremonies are also not common in these kinds of political party conventions. It was also rare for such events to take place in the White House. Earlier that evening, they also aired a clip of Trump's pardon of a convicted bank robber. The person he pardoned now runs a nonprofit that serves prisoners. Trump and other members of his party are now on the second day of the GOP convention. Check these out! Trump Pardons Bank Robber-Turned Activist Jon Ponder US Immigration Agency Drops Furlough for 13,000 Workers Social Security Funds will Suffer from Payroll Tax Cut, Chief Actuary Warns The Treasurer is busy phoning journalists. We in the Kooyong electorate do receive regular email updates telling us of his largesse (with our money) and of his appearances in the media. But nothing about the people our leaders consider voiceless. The closing comment hits the nail on the head: The bottom line is even his colleagues arent quite sure what he stands for. As grandmothers who are elders in our community, we know that knowing what you stand for is every humans greatest challenge. Our hope is that Mr Frydenberg will discover what he stands for, and that he will be assisted in this by listening to those in our community who are deliberately silenced or preferably unheard. Mary Williams, Camberwell Pressing matters In early April, I wrote to our local member Michael Sukkars office seeking guidance about consular assistance for our daughter who was stranded in Guatemala. We are yet to receive an acknowledgement from his office. I now understand that he and his staff have been awfully busy attending to other pressing matters. Gloria Bower, Mitcham Same, same Nick OMalley (Chief Scientist Alan Finkel fires back after criticism on gas, 26/8) reports that Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel wrote that greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning coal gas to generate electricity were lower than that created by burning coal. I can assure both OMalley and Dr Finkel that an atom of carbon, whether in the form of coal, or in the form of coal gas derived from coal, will end up as carbon dioxide when burned. In other words, based on carbon content, the emissions of both sources are equivalent. Assoc. Prof. Maurie Trewhella, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University Show us the numbers Having some of the nations leading climate change scientists at loggerheads with the Chief Scientist is not a good look. The sooner some ballpark figures for energy generation between now and 2050 are put into the public domain for debate the better. This needs to show how the transition from fossil to renewable energy is expected to track. Once we have an initial pathway outlined, the speed, extent and cost of change can be debated and refined. This might show Dr Finkel and the climate scientists are not too far apart in their thinking. It will also hopefully force a response (and action) from an obstructionist government and vacillating opposition. Peter Thomson, Brunswick Many lives saved As a GP I am grateful that we have had stage four lockdown. It is the fastest way to reduce deaths and get the economy back to health. Aiming for zero transmission as has happened in other states needs emergency powers, given how many people give themselves exceptions to masks etc. It is unlikely we will have a vaccinated population before September next year. Fighting coronavirus is a marathon, not a sprint. Despite mistakes, clear leadership based on medical evidence has saved many lives. Dr Margaret Beavis, Brighton Adopt Finnish system I suggest to David Zyngier (Letters, 26/8) that the best way for Australia to reduce social segregation in schooling is to join Finland in fully funding non-government schools and not permitting them to charge fees, or New Zealand which almost fully funds those that charge very low fees. The problem in Australia is not the fact of funding but the use of the socially stratifying Howard/Gonski socio-economic status funding model, the one that ignores school fees. Chris Curtis, Hurstbridge Hewson insightful What an insightful column from former leader of the Liberal Party John Hewson (Cancerous branch stacking demands leadership, 26/8), regarding the practice of branch stacking. While Labor leaders acted decisively, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has once again been shown up as weak; hand washing and buck passing while he kowtows to the religious right of his party. Gillian Unicomb, Sandford Power imbalance The fact that Indigenous Australians hold the rights to only a fraction of available surface water in the Murray-Darling basin is another example of the structural inequality that exists in this country (Basin agency warns on water, 26/8). This is no different to the powerlessness of Aboriginal communities to stop the destruction of sacred sites. Only when First Nations Australians are treated as equals while decisions are being made about natural resource development will there be true progress towards reconciliation. Colin Smith, Mount Waverley Neglect long exposed The Prime Ministers attempt to deflect responsibility for the COVID-19-related disasters in Victorian aged care by pointing to other failures or mismanagement in the control of the pandemic, or by suggesting that Australias record of nursing home deaths is better than other countries, is disgraceful. The neglect and brutality in aged care facilities has been exposed numerous times, including via a royal commission, long before the pandemic. Despite these disclosures, nothing has been done. I wonder how the families who lost loved ones feel, as their relatives deaths are reduced to political point scoring. If our leaders cant take responsibility for their failures, surely they can at least show some compassion. Cheryl Day, Beaumaris Yearning for dignity Apologising for his governments failure in aged care, Morrison said: On those days when our efforts fall short, none are more sorry than I as Prime Minister. The PMs apology might be genuine, heartfelt even, but families of the residents who have died prematurely in aged care homes, often in the most distressing of circumstances, might see the apology as inefficacious. The Morrison governments lamentable failure in aged care has denied those dying the one thing they might have wished for a basic level of dignity. Neil Hudson, East Melbourne Sukkar loses my vote Whether or not Michael Sukkar survives the allegations against him, I will not be voting Liberal in Deakin as long as he is the partys candidate. I respect that his socially conservative views are different from mine. As a consequence, I reluctantly put aside his decision to renege on a promise to his electorate that he would vote for the same-sex marriage legislation in December 2017 in accordance with the majority view of Australians. But what I am not prepared to go along with is someone who refuses to appreciate that the party he serves is a broad church and what is worse someone who is actively plotting against Victorian Liberal MPs who do hold views more aligned with mine. Its time to go, Mr Sukkar. Ivan Glynn, Vermont Urgent scrutiny needed There has been much criticism of Daniel Andrews request to extend emergency powers in Victoria. The fact that other states already have these powers has been omitted from much of the discussion. Yet there has been little scrutiny of the national cabinet, which does not include the Opposition Leader and operates in secrecy. In addition, there is a National COVID-19 Commission stacked with fossil fuel executives who are allegedly making plans to revive our economy without developing renewable energy. This commission also operates in secret and is not required to release details of their meetings. Scrutiny of these bodies is urgently needed. Jen Hooper, Box Hill Return to the 1950s When will Mr Morrison give women a fair go? His home builder grants disproportionately favour men and he provides little or no JobKeeper support for mostly female-dominated industries such as councils, universities and childcare. Now we see the Defence Force getting $1 billion to increase overall personnel numbers. When you consider that women are also picking up much of the home schooling, it seems the COVID-19 response comes straight from the back-to-the-50s playbook. Donna Wyatt, Wyndham Vale Tough enough for Defence At a time when the costs of COVID-19 are escalating daily, a $1billion boost in defence spending seems ill considered ($1b defence cash splash, 26/8). When the going gets tough, governments can almost be relied upon to increase defence spending. The notion of building our sovereign industrial capacities exposes the hollow nature of a government which is not prepared to deal properly and meaningfully with the complex problems which face all of us at present, especially the young who, as Ross Gittins points out, have been hardest hit by this pandemic. Helen Scheller, Benalla Lower voting age Every day, we hear of young people with talent, intelligence and enterprise. Yet they are not entitled to vote. Lets face it, we grown ups have made a mess of the planet. In many places, including Argentina and Scotland, people from the age of 16 are optionally entitled to vote. We should do the same. Young people are the ones who are going to have to put up with the mess weve made. Peter Seligman, Brunswick West Virus compensation Will Victorian Liberal senator Sarah Henderson (Victorians urged to claim lockdown compensation, 26/8) also support compensation claims against the federal government given they failed to prevent the first arrival of the virus? Steve Melzer, Hughesdale AND ANOTHER THING ... Credit: Politics Its Time: Both Michael Sukkar and Kevin Andrews should be sacked from Parliament. Don Vincent, North Warrandyte Michael Sukkar, another minister behaving badly with impunity. Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick Hey Scomo, dont take us for suckers time to ditch Sukkar. John Lippmann, Canterbury The PM and AFL umpires have something in common; inconsistency and incompetency, blame anyone but yourself for a wrong decision and then deny any decision or criticism. Bruce Dudon, Woodend The PM is pointing the finger of blame at the Premier. Three other fingers are pointing back at him and the thumb is a rude remnant from his bushfire debacle. Greg Curtin, Blackburn South Coronavirus After moaning to a client in the US about being stuck in stage four restrictions, she casually commented: I wish someone would look after us like that. Enough said. Claire Collins, Flemington Id far prefer to run with the approach of the epidemiologist, Catherine Bennett (25/8) than I would that of the law graduate, James Moutsias. Merv Wilson, Mitcham Travellers tales are no longer filling up my Facebook feed. Whats exciting now is parcel tracking. Rilke Muir, Kensington Gas debate Re Chief Scientist Alan Finkel fires back after criticism on gas (26/8). All gas but no hydrogen. Why? Sally Dammery, Malvern East Like the debate about climate change, the debate about gas as a transition fuel is over. You cannot fix the problems caused through burning fossil fuels by burning more fossil fuels. Helen Moss, Croydon Finally Lets hope the Qantas workers about to lose their jobs own millions of Qantas shares so they can take advantage of the share price rise. Tony OBrien, South Melbourne We are pleased to recognize Dr. Geoffrey White as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment, said Dave Amerson NeoTract, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX) focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of urology, today announced that Geoffrey White, M.D., Pinehurst Surgical Clinic in Pinehurst, NC, has been designated as a UroLift Center of Excellence. The designation recognizes that Dr. White has achieved a high level of training and experience with the UroLift System and demonstrated a commitment to exemplary care for men suffering from symptoms associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. Recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines, the FDA-cleared Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH. The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue. The UroLift Center of Excellence program is designed to highlight urologists who are committed to educating their patients on BPH and the UroLift System as a treatment option and consistently seek to deliver excellent patient outcomes and experiences. We are pleased to recognize Dr. Geoffrey White as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment, said Dave Amerson, president of the Teleflex Interventional Urology business unit. This achievement has helped many patients experience durable, long- term relief from the burdensome symptoms of BPH while preserving sexual function*1,2. Over 40 million men in the United States are affected by BPH, a condition that occurs when the prostate gland that surrounds the male urethra becomes enlarged with advancing age and begins to obstruct the urinary system. Symptoms of BPH often include interrupted sleep and urinary problems and can cause loss of productivity, depression and decreased quality of life. Medication is often the first-line therapy for enlarged prostate, but relief can be inadequate and temporary. Side effects of medication treatment can include sexual dysfunction, dizziness and headaches, prompting many patients to quit using the drugs. For these patients, the classic alternative is surgery that cuts, heats or removes prostate tissue to open the blocked urethra. While current surgical options can be very effective in relieving symptoms, they can also leave patients with permanent side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and retrograde ejaculation. About the UroLift System The FDA-cleared UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a minimally invasive transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue. Clinical data from a pivotal 206-patient randomized controlled study showed that patients with enlarged prostate receiving UroLift implants reported rapid and durable symptomatic and urinary flow rate improvement without compromising sexual function*1,2. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life. Over 100,000 men have been treated with the UroLift System in the U.S. Most common adverse events reported include hematuria, dysuria, micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge incontinence. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure. The Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines. The UroLift System is available in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico and South Korea. Learn more at http://www.UroLift.com. About NeoTract | Teleflex Interventional Urology A wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated, the Interventional Urology Business Unit is dedicated to developing innovative, minimally invasive and clinically effective devices that address unmet needs in the field of urology. Our initial focus is on improving the standard of care for patients with BPH using the UroLift System, a minimally invasive permanent implant system that treats symptoms while preserving normal sexual function*1,2. Learn more at http://www.NeoTract.com. About Teleflex Incorporated Teleflex is a global provider of medical technologies designed to improve the health and quality of peoples lives. We apply purpose driven innovation a relentless pursuit of identifying unmet clinical needs to benefit patients and healthcare providers. Our portfolio is diverse, with solutions in the fields of vascular and interventional access, surgical, anesthesia, cardiac care, urology, emergency medicine and respiratory care. Teleflex employees worldwide are united in the understanding that what we do every day makes a difference. For more information, please visit http://www.teleflex.com. Teleflex is the home of Arrow, Deknatel, Hudson RCI, LMA, Pilling, Rusch, UroLift and Weck trusted brands united by a common sense of purpose # # # For Teleflex Incorporated: Jake Elguicze, 610.948.2836 Treasurer and Vice President, Investor Relations Media: Nicole Osmer, 650.454.0504 nicole@healthandcommerce.com *No instances of new, sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction 1. Roehrborn, J Urology 2013 LIFT Study 2. McVary, J Sex Med 2016 MAC00968-01 Rev A Khartoum, Aug 26 : Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan urged the United States to remove Sudan from its list of states sponsoring terrorism. Al-Burhan issued the call while receiving US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is on an one-day visit to Sudan, the sovereign council said in a statement on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. The Sudanese leader expressed delight over the progress in the Sudan-US relations after more than 23 years, while Pompeo reiterated that the US supports Sudan's integration into the regional and international surrounding, according to the statement. Pompeo arrived in Khartoum from Jerusalem on Tuesday as part of a regional tour starting with his visit to Israel, which recently reached a deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to normalize their ties. The UAE has become the third Arab country to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan. Amid reports that Pompeo's visit to Sudan aims to push the country to follow suit by normalizing ties with Israel, Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said on Tuesday that the current Sudanese government has no mandate to normalize ties with Israel. Hamdok made the remarks during his meeting with Pompeo. He explained that the transitional period in Sudan is led by a broad alliance with a specific agenda to complete the transition process and achieve peace and stability in the country prior to holding fair elections. The prime minister also urged the US to separate between the process of removing Sudan from the terror list and the issue of normalization with Israel. Pompeo is the first US secretary of state to visit the African country since the 2005 visit by Condoleezza Rice. Since the ouster of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, the pace of rapprochement between Khartoum and Washington has been accelerating despite many outstanding issues. The US listed Sudan as one of the countries sponsoring terrorism in 1993 and started imposing economic sanctions on Sudan in 1997. The US decided in 2017 to lift its economic sanctions on Sudan, but it has refused to remove Sudan from the terror list so far. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Irans stated determination to expand its nuclear program; its launch of ballistic missiles; its continuing support for terrorist proxies and the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad; and its reported negotiations with its totalitarian ally, China, to forge a 25-year strategic partnership have raised alarms around the world. But what also must be remembered in the list of concerns over the Iranian regimes malign activities is the suffering the government is inflicting on the Iranian people. The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported recently that prominent womens and student rights activist Bahareh Hedayat has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison. She was charged with the spurious crimes of assembly and collusion against national security and propaganda against the state after participating in a peaceful protest in Tehran following the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, in January 2020. In a tweet, Ms. Hedayat compared the deaths of the 176 people killed in the crash to the hundreds of Iranians killed by state security forces when anti-government protests broke out throughout the country in November 2019. Ms. Hedayat, who has already spent more than six years in prison for peaceful civil rights activities, is not alone in facing punishment by the regime for protesting the downing of the Ukrainian aircraft, a tragedy for which no one has been held criminally responsible. Dozens of other Iranians have also received prison sentences and, in some cases, lashes, for daring to raise their voices against the role played by the IRGC in the tragedy. The United States has not forgotten the suffering of the Iranian people, including Bahareh Hedayat and other protesters, as they attempt to exercise their fundamental human rights. The United States continues to call out the regime on its rights violations; it continues to sanction government officials, including ministers, judges, law enforcement and military leaders who repress dissent. And it continues its campaign of maximum pressure to deprive the regime of resources to pursue its malevolent behavior outside - and inside -- Iran. As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said, We make it clear that the world is watching, and as the regime continues to make its own people the longest-suffering victims, we will not stand silent...The United Stateswill support the long-ignored voice of the Iranian people. Tamil Nadu: Treat fisheries as essential service like agriculture: Study by Sushmitha Ramakrishnan August 26,2020 | Source: The New Indian Express In wake of the pandemic and its impact on fisheries, researchers from Madras Institute of Developmental Studies have pointed that resilience can be built in the sector, if it is treated as important as agriculture. The State government, imposed a total ban on fisheries when India went into lockdown from March 24. Fisheries, unlike agriculture, was not considered an essential service. Until mid-April, fishermen did not venture into the sea. The study by Ajit Menon and Maarten Bavinck looked into the cumulative impact of the pandemic and has proposed remedial and rehabilitation measures. After repeated complaints from fishers and fish workers, the Government of India relaxed restrictions and issued model Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on April 10, to include marine fisheries and aquaculture, movement of fish and movement of workers along the fishery value chain and subsequently inland fisheries from April 15. Despite these measures, the fisheries economy suffered as the trawl fishing ban was put into place from April 15- June 14.The governments relief package did not compensate for the average earnings of fishers and fish workers. Moreover, the usual support given by the Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Board excluded the most vulnerable groups, such as women fish vendors, the study pointed. In order to build long term resilience, the Fisheries Department should set a minimum floor price for all species for the small-scale fisheries, based on market data, similar to the minimum support price for major crops, the study suggested adding that they can also provide collective support such as micro-credit, cold storage and building safe market infrastructure. Confirmation of Reports on the Poisoning of Aleksey Navalny Press Statement Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State August 25, 2020 The United States is deeply concerned by reported preliminary conclusions from German medical experts that Russian opposition activist Aleksey Navalny was poisoned. If the reports prove accurate, the United States supports the EU's call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort. Mr. Navalny's family and the Russian people deserve to see a full and transparent investigation carried out, and for those involved to be held accountable. Our thoughts are with Mr. Navalny's family and we hope for his full recovery. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Passengers taking international flights from India can now directly book their tickets with the airlines, an official statement was quoted as saying. There is now no need to apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for the purpose, said an Indian Express report. The MoCA said on Twitter on Wednesday that it has designated all the airlines operating under Vande Bharat Mission & air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose. Passengers may book tickets directly with the airlines concerned. They need not apply/register with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, it added. While scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, special international flights have been operating under Vande Bharat Mission and bilateral air bubble arrangements. India has signed separate bilateral air bubble arrangements with various countries like the US, the UK, the UAE, Germany, France and Qatar. Under the deal, airlines of both the countries can operate special international passenger flights with certain restrictions. by P. Adriano Pelosin* This is an "historic event" that created in everyone the sense of the Church, the bride of Christ. Eleven Thai bishops, Nuncio Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, Buddhist leaders, hundreds of priests, and 10,000 people attended the ceremony. Friendship pervades the mission. Tha Rae (AsiaNews) This historic event created in all of us the sense of the Church, the bride of Christ on her way to the heavenly homeland, led by the Shepherd Christ, represented on earth by the bishop, said Fr Adriano Pelosin, as he described the ordination of Mgr Anthony Weradet Chaiseri, the new Archbishop of Thare and Nongseng, in north-eastern Thailand. The ceremony took place on 15 August, the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. The new bishop, 57, was born in Tha Rae and studied in Thailand, the Philippines and Rome. Before serving as the archdioceses episcopal vicar, he was parish priest, teacher (including Laos), in charge of youth missionary education. He is a member of the Focolare movement. According to the Pontifical Yearbook, the Archdiocese of Thare and Nongseng has 54,990 members living in 80 parishes. On 15 August Fr Anthony Weradet Chaiseri was ordained bishop in the new cathedral of Tha Rae (north-eastern Thailand). He succeeds Mgr Louis Chamnian Santisukniran. As this video shows, Thailands 11 bishops were present in the presbytery, led by Archbishop Card Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij of Bangkok, who also heads the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand (CBCT). The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, a Korean, and his secretary, from Colombia, represented the Pope and the universal Church. The invited guests included six Buddhist monks, heads of local districts in Sakornakon province, sitting in the first row. The provinces Buddhist religious leader, the Chao Khun, gave a jasmine crown to the new bishop, who reciprocated. The provincial governor, who sat in the second row on the right, looking at the presbytery, also gave and received a jasmine crown. Other government and high-ranking police officials were also present. About 300 priests from Thailands dioceses and scores of religious from various congregations filled the two rows in the central part, plus countless numbers of of nuns and lay people; about 10,000 people in all, this despite COVID-19 restrictions. The ceremony went off smoothly, with live commentary and large screens outside the cathedral, broadcast around the world via Facebook and YouTube. Coming together as brothers and sisters was a great joy: the beauty of the cathedral, the splendour of the vestments, the depth of the ritual of the episcopal consecration, the anointing of the sacred chrism, the handing over of ring, the crosier, the mitre and the pallium, the solemn melody of the songs ... Everything conveyed the peace and tranquillity of a great people who participated in this historic event in a joyful and pious way, creating in all of us the sense of the Church, the bride of Christ, on the way to the heavenly homeland led by the Shepherd Christ represented on earth by the bishop. The liturgical celebration was followed by a bountiful meal, amid artists performing traditional dances from north-eastern Thailand. Upon arrival the previous day, the bishops and priests were booked in local hotels where they enjoyed a good dinner whilst watching a video of the new archbishop. Some wealthy Catholic families paid for almost all of their expenses. Please, allow me to use this page to send my best wishes of good apostolate to the new Archbishop of Thare and Nongseng, Anthony Weradet Chaiseri. My thanks also go to his predecessor, Mgr Luis Chamniern Santisuknriran, a dear friend of mine, who was for many years the CBCT representative in the Thai Missionary Society, the local missionary institute with which I have worked for more than 30 years. * Superior of the Thai Missionary Society Nicola Sturgeon's government has published figures showing Scotland's notional deficit has increased again - PA Nicola Sturgeon's economic case for separation has received a "hammer blow" after her chief economist published figures showing Scotland's "dividend" from being part of the UK has surged to almost 2,000 per person. The General Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) figures for 2019/20 showed each Scot received 1,633 more than the UK average in public spending thanks to the Barnett Formula. This is the equivalent of 9.2 per cent of UK total spending. But tax revenue north of the Border was 308 less than the UK average, including a geographic share of North Sea oil, accounting for only 8 per cent of the UK total. The Scottish Tories said that together this meant the "Union dividend" per person has increased to 1,941, up from 1,805 the previous year, and separation would require spending cuts equivalent to the entire NHS budget. Scotland's notional deficit - the difference between spending and tax revenue - surged by 2 billion to 15.1 billion last year. This was the equivalent of 8.6 per cent of GDP - more than treble the UK figure of 2.5 per cent and nearly three times the 3 per cent required for EU membership. @murdo_fraser Its beyond dispute that the case for independence has never been weaker. Separating would cost Scotland 15 billion a year that we need for our schools and hospitals. pic.twitter.com/TkB6W7rYlr Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) August 26, 2020 But the figures only included the early days of lockdown and the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank predicted Scotland's deficit could surge to between 26 and 28 per cent of GDP this year. In an analysis of the report, the IFS predicted it would still exceed 11 per cent of GDP in 2024/25, the highest level since the Second World War apart from the current financial year. Story continues David Phillips, the think tank's associate director, concluded "the need for tax rises or spending cuts would be starker" under independence and spending restraint would likely be more "stringent and / or long lasting". Kate Forbes, the SNP's Finance Secretary, denied the figures demonstrated the fantastic deal Scots get from the Union and insisted they showed the "status quo" could not continue. She blamed Brexit and an "unprecedented health and economic crisis" on the ballooning deficit and noted a separate Scotland could make different economic choices from the UK Government. But, when repeatedly pressed on what she would do differently, she cited higher growth without stating how this would be achieved and more borrowing. But Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, said: "The Scottish Governments own figures show clearly how much Scotland benefits from being part of a strong United Kingdom, with the pooling and sharing of resources that brings. "People in Scotland, year after year, benefit from levels of public spending substantially above the United Kingdom average, with a Union dividend of 1,941 per person in Scotland. That has never been more important than it is right now. In the face of a global pandemic, the strength and experience of the UK Treasury is helping people in Scotland and across the rest of the United Kingdom." Countries around the world are running significant (real) deficits - don't see any of them reconsidering their independence. The difference is they have the levers to do something about it and aren't dependent on another government's policy choices. /2 Kate Forbes MSP (@KateForbesMSP) August 26, 2020 Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Tories' Shadow Finance Secretary, said: "The SNP and Nicola Sturgeon herself used to hail Gers figures as all the evidence Scotland needed to separate from the UK. Now, nationalists will spend the day denying facts from their own government. "This doesnt even take into account the blockbuster support from the UK Government throughout the pandemic, including one of the largest and most generous job-saving schemes in the world. This is a hammer blow to the SNP and a massive setback for separation. Nicola Sturgeon would have to throw away Scotlands entire NHS, every nurse and doctor, just to come close to balancing the budget in her separate state." The Gers report found Scotland's tax revenues increased by 436 million last year to almost 65.9 billion, although the amount provided by North Sea oil and gas halved from 1.4 billion to 0.7 billion. But spending rose over the same period by more than 2.4 billion to 81 billion. This meant Scotland's notional deficit increased from 7.4 per cent of GDP to 8.6 per cent. Across the UK, the figure rose from 1.9 per cent to 2.5 per cent. Only two of the EU's 27 member states had a deficit of 3 per cent or more last year and Scotland's figure is twice that of the worst performing country, Romania (4.3 per cent). Latest official figures show a Union dividend of 1,941 for every person in Scotland: https://t.co/WxoVW3WCyy #GERS pic.twitter.com/FvMuzzTWtz Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland (@ScotSecofState) August 26, 2020 Ms Forbes said: "Countries across the world, including the UK, have increased borrowing to record levels and, as we emerge from the pandemic, high fiscal deficits will inevitably be one of the consequences. "The current situation, with the looming withdrawal of furlough support by the UK Government, means it is now more urgent than ever that we gain those powers." But Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, said: "With billions draining from the Scottish economy in the event of separation, Scotland would be thrust into years of savage and unrelenting austerity." Tracy Black, the CBI Scotland director, said: "An increase in tax revenues, including onshore, is clearly welcome however Scotland still lags some way behind the whole of the UK when you look at the deficit as a percentage of GDP. "Even without considering the impact of coronavirus its clear that Scotland continues to spend significantly more than it raises in tax." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 20:33:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, confers the police flag on China's police force during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Wednesday conferred the police flag on China's police force, ordering them to be loyal to the Party, serve the people and be impartial in law enforcement and strict in discipline. Xi stressed that the Chinese police must work wholeheartedly to strengthen people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, and be determined to fulfill the missions and tasks entrusted to them by the Party and the people. At the ceremony held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi presented Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi and Minister of State Security Chen Wenqing with the flag. Over 300 police officers present saluted the flag. Addressing the ceremony, Xi lauded the major contributions made by the Chinese police to safeguarding national security, social stability and people's interests, calling them a mighty force that can be fully trusted by the Party and the people. Xi called on the police force to uphold the Party's absolute leadership. The police force must uphold a people-centered philosophy and remain committed to serving the people and relying on the people in all endeavors, Xi said. He stressed efforts to strengthen the credibility of law enforcement and the administration of justice and efforts to ensure fairness and justice in handling all cases and matters. Underlining the importance of strict discipline, Xi also demanded the police force forge iron-like discipline and conduct. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, read the CPC Central Committee's decision on conferring the flag. Vice Premier Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the ceremony. About a month before he became president, Donald J. Trump met with the leaders of the countrys top technology companies at Trump Tower in Manhattan. The meeting included the chief executives of Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft and other household names like Tesla and Oracle. And then there was Alex Karp, chief executive of a company, called Palantir Technologies, that few outside Silicon Valley and government circles had heard of. Palantir, the only privately held company represented in the room, had become a major player among government contractors. And, indicative of its growing prominence, one of its founders, the venture capitalist Peter Thiel, had supported Mr. Trump during the 2016 election and had helped set up the meeting. Now, as Palantir prepares to go public in what could be the largest stock market listing of a tech start-up since Uber last year, many are wondering: What exactly does this influential but little-known company do? Other than Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the only major player from the drama who appeared during the convention was Marie L. Yovanovitch, the ambassador to Ukraine who was removed from her post on Mr. Trumps orders because she was painted as an obstacle to the presidents efforts to get what he wanted from the Kyiv government. Even then, Ms. Yovanovitch, who has retired from the career Foreign Service and was making something of a political debut last week, said nothing about the Ukraine matter but instead was simply shown in a video praising former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic nominee. He is experienced, she said. He has made the tough calls. A casual viewer would have no idea who she was and what role she had in the events that led to the impeachment. Likewise, the Republican roster of speakers this week includes few of the impeachment figures. The only Republican who has uttered the word impeachment in the first two nights was Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, one of the presidents most stalwart defenders during the House proceedings, and he cited it only in passing to hail Mr. Trumps tenacity. Hes taken on the swamp, all of the swamp, the Democrats, the press and the Never Trumpers, Mr. Jordan said in his speech on Monday night. And when you take on the swamp, the swamp fights back. They tried the Russia hoax, the Mueller investigation and the fake impeachment. But in spite of this unbelievable opposition, this president has done what he said he would do. In an interview on Tuesday, Mr. Jordan said it was understandable that impeachment was not highlighted more given the virus and the set-in-concrete views about the affair. Theres been some other big issues that have come along in the last year that are obviously critically important, so thats just a practical issue, he said. But I also think so many Americans saw it for what it was, particularly independent-leaning Americans and Republicans. They saw it as the sham that it was. Smart Seasoning Weve replaced salt with a better salt! James Beard-nominated chef Lucas Manteca has launched Smart Seasoning: A vibrant blend of crunchy sea salt with superfood ingredients that add protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals with every shake and sprinkle. This nationwide launch follows a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $15,000 in less than 30 days. Smart Seasoning Yellow Blend can now be purchased online with free shipping throughout the U.S. Smart Seasoning is natural, vegan, gluten-free, and has no additives, preservatives, MSG, GMO, or sugar. The Yellow Blend is a workhorse for everyday use that can easily replace table salt and salt used in cooking dishes like chicken, eggs, vegetables, and avocado toast. Each serving comes with fiber, protein, thiamin, vitamin b12, potassium, iodine, iron, manganese, and antioxidants. Yellow Blend Ingredients: Maldon Sea Salt: All-natural, crunchy flakes from a 135-year-old family-owned English salt works that adds just the right amount of saltiness to food. Turmeric: A golden yellow spice, used to make bright dishes, that contains a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory called curcumin. Nutritional Yeast: A vegan cooking staple that contains protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help lower cholesterol and boost immunity. Dulse Seaweed Flakes: Rich in calcium, potassium, and antioxidants, dulse helps to lower blood pressure, improve eyesight, and enhance the health of the thyroid gland. Black Pepper: Helps the body's absorption of curcumin, the active compound in turmeric. Argentina-native Lucas Manteca is a celebrated chef who has cooked around the world including at Blue Hill at Stone Barns (New York), Martin Berasategui (Spain), and Fat Duck (UK) and has made appearances on Food Network. Manteca and his wife Deanna Ebner own and operate four restaurants in New Jersey, including The Red Store in Cape May Point. Manteca and Ebner initially created Smart Seasoning to boost the nutritional value of their young daughters meals. Their friends and family loved it and the health-conscious couple began using it at their restaurants. When the pandemic forced their restaurants to close, they pivoted to release Smart Seasoning a product perfect for home cooking to the public. As a chef, I know that salt can make or break even the simplest dishes, said Lucas Manteca, Founder of Smart Seasoning. Deanna and I love that Smart Seasoning is good for us while making our food delicious. Weve replaced salt with a better salt and cant wait to share our creation with home cooks everywhere! Smart Seasoning is made in small batches in Mantecas test kitchen at The Red Store in Cape May. As environmentalists, Manteca and Ebner have committed to using sustainable packaging materials for Smart Seasoning, including a 5-ounce glass jar and 8-ounce fully biodegradable refill pouches made out of rice paper. In September, Manteca will release the Black Blend. With hints of mushrooms, organic coffee, cayenne, and seaweed, this blend is meant to season grilled, roasted, and pan-seared proteins and vegetables. Two more new blends will be released in the coming months. Smart Seasoning can be purchased online at http://www.smartseasoning.com and can also be found at The Red Store. Recipes These recipes, created by Chef Mantecas team, may be used in coverage: Salted Tahini Berry Smoothie Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing Smart Seasoning Onion Rings ABOUT LUCAS MANTECA Born in Argentina, Lucas studied hospitality management in Buenos Aires before his love of surfing drew him to Costa Rica. There, he opened his first restaurant at the age of 21, and he met his wife Deanna Ebner, a New Jersey native. The couple settled in New York City where Lucas attended the French Culinary Institute. Lucas has spent time in some of the most acclaimed kitchens in the world, including Blue Hill (New York), Martin Berasategui (Spain), and Fat Duck (UK). Besides his 2014 James Beard nomination, he has been named Local Food Hero by Edible Jersey (2018) and was named to Atlantic City Weeklys Forty Under 40, among many other accolades. His four South Jersey restaurants form Bread+Butter Restaurant Group. In his free time, Lucas is an avid surfer, and loves spending time at the beach with his wife, daughter, and two chihuahuas. No matter the breed, dogs are considered man's best friend. But the canines we know and love today have a storied history that varies breed to breed and extends back tens of thousands of years. We've taken a doggone journey around the world to see where today's most popular breeds really came from. Hong Kong police arrested 16 people, including two opposition lawmakers, on Wednesday on charges related to anti-government protests last year. The arrests of pro-democracy legislators Ted Hui and Lam Cheuk-ting were announced via social media posts. A post on Huis Facebook page said he was arrested on charges of perverting the course of justice, accessing a computer with criminal and dishonest intent, and criminal damage in relation to a protest in July last year. He conveyed a message via his lawyer that he had only been at the scene to mediate. Posts on Lams Twitter account said he had been arrested on charges of conspiring with others to damage property and obstructing justice during the same protest on July 6, 2019. The tweets said he was also accused of rioting on July 21, 2019. That was the day a group of more than 100 men clad in white attacked protesters and passengers with steel rods and rattan canes in a subway station. Lam, who was present, was injured during the attack and hospitalized. Protesters and many from the opposition camp have accused the police of colluding with the attackers, since they arrived late at the scene and did not make arrests that night. Police said at a news conference on Wednesday that the July 21 incident was not an indiscriminate attack by the men in white, and accused media of one-sided coverage. Senior superintendent of police Chan Tin-chu denied accusations of collusion and said Lam contributed to the escalating events by live-streaming the incident. The pro-democracy camp criticized the statements by police and accused them of trying to change the narrative of what actually happened. (Theyre saying that) if we think you are a criminal, well arrest you and we dont need any particularly good reason at all ... we can say what we want to say because we are the law, pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo said at another news conference. The chairman of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong, Wu Chi-wai, called the arrests of Lam and Hui ridiculous and said it was revenge for lawsuits the two had brought against the police force. Lawmaker James To said the arrests amounted to political persecution. The two were arrested along with 14 others in relation to protests last year, according to a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media before an official statement was released. The semi-autonomous Chinese city experienced months of protests after the government announced plans to pass an extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to the mainland for trial. Anger over the bill, seen as an infringement on the former British colonys freedoms, sparked huge demonstrations that at times descended into violence between police and protesters, and rallies continued even after the bill was shelved. China later passed a sweeping national security law which has been viewed as an attack on the one country, two systems framework under which the city has been governed since its return to China in 1997. Since the start of the protests in June 2019, Hong Kong police have made more than 9,000 arrests. Prominent pro-democracy figures who have been arrested include activists Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow, as well as media tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken advocate for democracy. Read more about: A $3.30 pack of toilet paper has been crowned the best on the market in Australia after consumer experts CHOICE put popular brands to the test. Sorbent Gold 3 Ply Skin Comfort with Vitamin E (4-pack) came out on top, receiving the highest overall score of 80 per cent. The top-performing variety stood out from the pack for scoring a stellar 90 per cent for softness and 80 per cent in the disintegration test so it won't clog your pipes. The experts rated the essential items based on softness, strength and quality, value for money and whether it can resist puncturing or disintegrate quickly. Sorbent Gold 3 Ply Skin Comfort with Vitamin E (4-pack) came out on top, receiving the highest overall score of 80 per cent Revealed: The top 10 toilet papers 1. Sorbent Gold 3 Ply Skin Comfort With Vitamin E 4 Rolls ($3.30): 80% 2. Quilton Gold 4 Ply Softness White 12 Rolls ($5.50): 79% 3. Sorbent Gold Silky Soft 3 Ply King Size Sheets 4 Rolls ($3.30): 79% 4. Coles So Soft Thick & Strong Double Length Embossed 3 Ply 4 Rolls ($3.70): 77% 5. Coles So Soft Thick & Strong Embossed 3 Ply 8 Rolls ($3.70) - 77% 6. Aldi Confidence Hypoallergenic Toilet Tissue 4 Ply Quilted Softness 8 Rolls ($3.99): 76% 7. Emporia Skin Sense 3 Ply Unscented White Embossed Ultra Soft Touch Of Lotion ($5): 76% 8. Sorbent Gold 3 Ply Ultra Soft 4 Rolls ($3.30): 76% 9. Who Gives a C**p 100% Recycled Double Length 24 Rolls ($30): 76% 10. Woolworths Essentials Toilet Tissue 2 Ply 12 Rolls ($3.65): 76% Advertisement The expert testers found there wasn't much difference among the top five toilet papers, with all of them scoring between 77 per cent and 80 per cent. But Sorbent was praised for its cheap price tag. 'So if you're on a budget you can comfortably opt for the cheaper option while still getting excellent performance,' the CHOICE expert testers said. Despite finishing tenth, the experts named Woolworths Essentials Toilet Tissue 2 Ply 12 Rolls ($3.65) as the 'best budget buy'. The experts found the supermarket-owned variety 'fared surprisingly well' in the test, with Woolworths come in two percentage points ahead of Coles' 2 ply basic offering ($5.50 for 18 rolls). Both supermarket-owned labels beat Aldi's Confidence Hypoallergenic product ($3.65 for 12 rolls) - but the German retailer scored higher for softness than the Coles and Woolworths basics. Despite finishing tenth, the experts named Woolworths Essentials Toilet Tissue 2 Ply 12 Rolls ($3.65) as the 'best budget buy' The experts found Who Gives A C**p 100% Recycled Double Length 24 rolls ($32) are the 'softest' of all the recycled products they tested Coles 100% Recycled Toilet Tissue 2 Ply 12 rolls ($5.50) got the lowest points out of the 48 products tested, recieving an overall score of just 44 per cent The 'worst' performing toilet papers Coles 100% Recycled Toilet Tissue 2 Ply ($5.50): 44% Kleenex Double Length 4 Rolls ($5): 50% Kleenex Complete Clean 4 Rolls ($3.30): 50% Advertisement The experts found Who Gives A C**p 100% Recycled Double Length 24 rolls ($32) are the 'softest' of all the recycled products they tested. The recycled rolls impressed the experts in the softness (80 per cent) and disintegration (87 per cent) categories. Coles 100% Recycled Toilet Tissue 2 Ply 12 rolls ($5.50) got the lowest points out of the 48 products tested, receiving an overall score of just 44 per cent. 'The Coles product scored a scratchy 55 per cent for softness, and none of them fared well in the puncture test - which is less than ideal,' the experts said. Despite receiving an overall score of 50 per cent, the experts gave Kleenex's two varieties - Double Length ($5) and Complete Clean ($3.30) an 'abominable' zero per cent in the disintegration test. 'If you have a sensitive sewage system at home, you'll probably want to give these a miss,' they claimed. A construction tycoon whose family escaped Victoria's lockdown on a superyacht is now also being investigated by police in New South Wales after making a series of stops on the way to Queensland. Mark Simonds, 61, the executive director of Simonds Homes, his wife Cheryl, their son Vallence and his girlfriend Hannah Fox - the daughter of LinFox heir Peter Fox - left behind COVID-19 addled Melbourne for Queensland on August 9. The Simondses made the trip onboard their 30-metre superyacht, Lady Pamela. The luxury boat, which has its own uniformed staff and is fitted out in a royal fashion, stopped once in Victoria and five times in NSW coast on its travels to the Gold Coast. At the Queensland border the Simonds family were met by authorities after being granted an exemption. But video taken by A Current Affair showed members of the family leaving the yacht on multiple occasions along the NSW coast. After the alleged breach was flagged Queensland Police forced the family off the boat and into hotel quarantine, leading NSW Police to begin their own investigation. Multimillionaire property tycoon Mark Simonds and wife Cheryl (pictured together) have been forced into hotel quarantine after escaping COVID-19 addled Victoria for the Gold Coast on a luxury superyacht, Lady Pamela Their son Vallence (left) and his girlfriend Hannah Fox (right), the daughter of LinFox heir Peter Fox, were also onboard with the yacht's personal crew The lavish 30-metre yacht features a personalised fit out that includes the Lady Pamela's 'LP' logo 'The NSW Police Forces Marine Area Command is investigating the movements of the vessel while in NSW waters,' police said in a statement. 'This includes inquiries into the activities of the occupants where the vessel may have docked along the NSW coast and whether there are breaches of Public Health Orders.' The luxury boat stopped at six docks along the coast from August 9, before arriving at its final destination at Gold Coast Marina on Monday morning. Melburnians are under strict stage four lockdown and are banned from leaving a five kilometre radius of their home, except for essential reasons. The Simonds' family live in a sprawling mansion on the banks of the Yarra River in the exclusive Melbourne suburb of Toorak, which is subject to Stage Four lockdown. But to avoid the restrictions they went to Queensland. And so they did so onboard Lady Pamela which costs $13,000-a-night to rent and has an open bar, an outdoor bbq, a private tender boat and a slide from the top roof. Regularly hired for events on Sydney Harbour, it is promoted as being similarly ideal for 'intimate functions, corporate charters, family cruises and team building events'. The Simonds' journey began on August 9 and ended on August 24, when they arrived on the Gold Coast. They had stopped six times along the way, once in Victoria and five times in NSW Regularly hired for events on Sydney Harbour, Lady Pamela is promoted as being similarly ideal for 'intimate functions, corporate charters, family cruises and team building events' The Lady Pamela costs $2000-an-hour to rent and has an open bar, an outdoor bbq, a private tender boat and a slide from the top roof NSW Police are now investigating whether the ship breached COVID-19 restrictions Mark Simonds is the son of Simonds Home founder Gary, and has worked alongside his dad at the company for 40 years. When Simonds Group was listed on the ASX in 2014 his father made an instant $150 million. Police stormed the family's yacht on Tuesday evening and forced them into 14 days of quarantine at a government-approved hotel, at their own expense. 'Attempting to bypass or manipulate Queensland's border direction is unacceptable,' a Queensland Health spokesperson said. A Current Affair reported that everyone on board the boat was tested for COVID-19 by a team of mobile health professionals before being bused off to their hotel. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the investigation on Tuesday and said Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young would look in to whether the yacht was entitled to an exemption. 'If they have been to a hotspot they have to go into quarantine just like everyone else,' Ms Palaszczuk said. State Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski maintained the wealthy travellers were not given special treatment. 'There is a very clear process for getting exemptions to come into this state, we apply that equally to whoever that person may be,' Mr Gollschewski said. The luxury boat, which has its own uniformed staff, carried Simonds' (right) wife Cheryl (left), his youngest son Vallence (centre), and Hannah Fox, daughter of Linfox executive chairman Peter Fox Lady Pamela spent five days docked in a Yamba inlet where the Simonds family were reportedly spotted swimming in the river and drinking on board as they waited for approval to enter Queensland waters. It's understood Queensland Police has been tracking the progress of the yacht since it departed Victoria and are now investigating any potential border restriction breaches. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services reiterated the public health advice for Melburnians. 'You should not be travelling interstate unless it is for a permitted reason and you must comply with the rules that your destination state or territory has in place,' they told The Age. 'Regardless of the mode of transport, metropolitan Melbourne stage four restrictions apply to all metropolitan Melbourne residents.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Simonds Group, Queensland Health and Victorian Health for comment. "No one though is proposing that video cameras are a panacea," said UW-Madison law professor Keith Findley. A day after Gov. Phil Murphy introduced a revised, nine-month state budget that calls for $1 billion in tax increases, New Jerseys two highest-ranking state lawmakers suggested that while all options are on the table, theyre still wary about hiking taxes. Murphy, undeterred from two failed attempts to raise the millionaires tax, is trying again. He would also make permanent a temporary corporation business surtax and increase a tax paid by HMOs from 3% to 5%, as well as imposing a sales tax on things like limousine services and reversing a 2015 tax break on high-end boat sales in New Jersey. His fellow Democrats who lead the state Senate and Assembly have fought Murphy on tax hikes the last two years. They have not outright rejected or accepted the governors new proposals. Instead, theyve stressed they will vet everything thoroughly. Many families all across this state have struggled with unprecedented hardship, from both a health and a financial perspective, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said in a statement to NJ Advance Media, adding lawmakers must ensure that we address the extraordinary challenges that COVID-19 has created. During this difficult time, we must take a hard look at the need for any taxes that could add to the burden of New Jerseys families, Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney locked arms with the speaker and, while not ruling out tax hikes, pumped the brakes on throwing his support behind them. I completely agree with the speaker. I said nothings off the table. And I think he said the same thing, Sweeney, D-Gloucester, told NJ Advance Media in a Wednesday morning phone interview. This all has to be looked at big picture. We have to be very serious about tax increases. Were talking about adding burden to people If were gonna be raising taxes, weve got to be very judicious about it. Arguing the state is already over-taxed, Coughlin and Sweeney successfully blocked Murphys push for a millionaires tax in the governors first two budget proposals. On Tuesday, Murphy proposed the tax hikes to help fill a $5.6 billion budget gap due to cratered tax revenue from the coronavirus pandemic. He also wants to borrow $4 billion, as well as cut $1.25 billion in spending. We have made deep cuts and found necessary economies where we needed to, Murphy said Tuesday during his address. But we are also making down payments on investments that will make our state stronger and fairer for generations to come. Its now up to the Democratic-controlled state Legislature to approve Murphys budget or make changes and pass their own. Lawmakers and Murphy have until Oct. 1 to enact a spending plan. The next five weeks will likely feature tense negotiation over what it will include. If they reach a stalemate, that could spark a state government shutdown. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Georgie Wileman/Getty Images Airbnb employees will be able to work remotely until at least the end of August 2021, the company announced on Wednesday, as the coronavirus pandemic persists in the United States. It's the longest such work-from-home policy enacted by a major tech company; Facebook employees are able to work remotely until at least July 2021. Google recently extended employee work-from-home through June 2021. Airbnb employees will also get a $300 stipend "for home office equipment," the company said, "with an additional $200 to cover ergonomic equipment." They will continue to get a $500 quarterly credit to use on Airbnb's rental platform. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Airbnb is letting employees work remotely until at least the end of August 2021, the company said on Wednesday. It's the longest work from home period of any of the major tech players, besting Facebook's July 2021 policy by a month, as the coronavirus pandemic persists in the United States. Moreover, Airbnb is offering employees a $500 stipend to their normal paychecks. The stipend is intended for "home office equipment" and "ergonomic equipment." And that's on top of the quarterly $500 credit Airbnb gives employees for use on the site itself. "While we don't know when the pandemic will end, we want to provide our employees with flexibility and choice to make decisions about the next year," the company said in the blog post. "We are offering this remote working extension to give employees the ability to plan further ahead and make the choices they need around school calendars, being closer to family, caring for vulnerable family members, and other personal decisions." The move also comes amid a confidentially filed IPO the latest development in Airbnb's plans to go public this year. As the coronavirus pandemic ended travel for millions, Airbnb pivoted business away from experience-centric vacations. The company enacted new health and safety requirements for hosts, and offered an "extenuating circumstance" policy to the service's users that allowed them to cancel rentals due to pandemic-related concerns. Story continues It also laid off a substantial portion of its staff: About 25% of Airbnb employees were cut in May. In July, after travel restrictions and shelter-in-place orders began lifting, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said the company's business bounced back. "We were down, but we're not out," Chesky said in an email to employees shared with Business Insider. "We're not committing to going public this year, but we're not ruling it out. When the market is ready, we will be ready." Got a tip? Contact Business Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@businessinsider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please. Read the original article on Business Insider Italy, France, Greece and Cyprus take part in Med exercises Starting Wed south of Cyprus in zone seeing tension with Turkey (ANSAmed) - ROME, 26 AGO - Joint military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean dubbed ''Eunomia'' began Wednesday south of Cyprus, an area experiencing heightened tension with Turkey. Taking part are Greece, Cyprus, France and Italy, the Greek media quoted the defense ministry as saying. The exercises will end on August 28 and are part of the Quartet Cooperation Initiative (QUAD). They will include air and surfaces well as search and rescue operations. Italy, according to the website in.gr, is taking part with a Durand de la Penne missile destroyer. (ANSAmed). HBOs new series Lovecraft Country is a fantastical sci-fi drama full of history, timely cultural metaphors, symbolism, and detail-oriented period interiors. Based on Matt Ruffs 2016 book of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the work of early 20th-century author H. P. Lovecraft, the tale begins with three Chicagoans embarking on a nightmarish road trip. Theres Korean War vet and pulp fiction fan Atticus Freeman (played by Jonathan Majors), photographer Leticia Leti Dandridge (Jurnee Smollett), and Atticuss Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance), the publisher of the Safe Negro Travel Guide, a fictionalized version of the real-life Negro Motorist Green Book, a resource for Black Americans traveling during the Jim Crow era. The trio is in search of Freemans missing father, and viewers see them encounter numerous evils during their tripboth supernatural and very, very real. Set in the 1950s, the 10-episode series features connecting stories highlighting the indignities of the racial caste system of the time. The characters face being chased out of whites-only restaurants, bigoted cops in sundown towns, and the occasional menacing land-burrowing monstersan apt metaphor for racism, and as big a threat. In episode two, after their journey from Chicago to New England, the trio lands at Ardham Lodge, the Massachusetts estate of Samuel Braithwaite (played by Tony Goldwyn). As the head of security for the Aryan society Sons of Adam, the family patriarch turned scientist and occultist lures Freeman into a ceremony that will ensure societal order as well as immortal life for Braithwaite. Courtesy of HBO Production designer Kalina Ivanovs first edict to the scouting crew was a tall order: a Biltmore-type estate outside of Atlanta, where the series is filmed. Since there are few architectural-styled estates of that period there that resemble eastern Massachusetts, Ivanovs goal was to marry Henry VIII Tudor with the American baron style of the Biltmore. The crew found this in an old mansion an hour outside of the city. Since the estate did not have the scale needed nor the requisite glass ceiling dome, they filmed the staircase and grounds on location, while the rest of the interiors were constructed on a soundstage. Story continues Courtesy of HBO Ivanov designed the interiors with a special eye to detail, offering clues about each of the characters. As the travelers arrive at the lodge, they gleefully find well-appointed rooms and fully stocked closets. Each set was built for the characters dream environment, notes the designer. For Leti, I wanted a 1930s movie star Hollywood set that was circular so we could shoot at a 360-degree angle as she dances around the room (to the tune of the Jeffersons television theme song Movin On Up.) A French style gilt-accented wardrobe cabinet and a risque stained glass design complete the interior, along with a hand-painted Tree of Lifestyle mural on the walls. And since space was at a minimum, the room was employed twice, once for Atticuss simple needs and again for Uncle Georges antique-filled bedroom, with a dream library and fireplace. Atlanta-based set decorator Summer Eubanks and her resourceful team of buyers scoured the city and its environs for period pieces. Since there are no prop houses in Atlanta, Summer had to rely on the monthly market and antique fairs, says Ivanov. Courtesy of HBO Controversial writer H.P. Lovecraft introduced protoplasmic beasts known as shoggoths in his 30s sci-fi novels At the Mountains of Madness and Funghi From Yoggoth, and Ruffs pouncing pit-bull-like monsters are far more terrifying. (Lovecrafts racist beliefs are well documented, and Ruffs modern book seeks to turn his world on its head, using monsters inspired by Lovecrafts in a story that highlights the darkness of the Jim Crow South.) Ivanov used these creatures symbolically in the interiors. We had so much fun designing the corridors to make them feel menacing, and created arches that specifically resemble the teeth of the shoggoths, she says. The arches look masculine and gorgeous, and when you see their teeth, you feel a sense of danger. The estate also boasts a stylish laboratory that doubles as a dining room and the setting for the Order of the Sons ceremony. She created an entire visual language of symbols for the design, with the hand-painted circular floor pattern reflecting the glass ceiling dome and the black-and-white designs serving as a symbol for racial struggle. The patterns are very specific and related to the Order of the Sons and the magic of the ceremony, notes the designer, who channeled the inventor Nikola Tesla for the scenes electrical show. The main symbol for the order is a half sun, which is painted on the floor. I wanted to create a very masculine graphic, as the order doesnt allow women. For inspiration, she went back in time to Babylonian, also known as Assyrian, script. I love the letters sharp edges that are strong and almost modern, and wanted to have a sense of danger and menace as to continue the theme of sharp teeth, she adds. Courtesy of HBO The laboratory/dining rooms handmade light fixtures are also of note, as the designer focuses on every last detail. If you pay attention to the way the dome ends, there is a metal fixture with two snakes holding it; they are like little gold pieces, and every arch ends with a snake. Filming the mansion scenes in candlelight added to the aesthetic. Candlelight can be both seductive and frightening, Ivanov explains. It also reinforces the idea we are in a mythical place that only those who are invited can find. For me, this episode was Frankenstein meets Eyes Wide Shut. There's tons to unpack in this series, so be sure to tune in with a sharp eye. Lovecraft Country airs Sunday nights on HBO at 9 p.m. Lovecraft Country Is Packed With Supernatural Symbolism Courtesy of HBO Courtesy of HBO Courtesy of HBO Courtesy of HBO Courtesy of HBO Courtesy of HBO Courtesy of HBO Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest (Newser) There's a lot going on in the world right now, but Bloomberg has just come out and asked the question we've all had simmering in the back of our minds for some time: "What's going on with Kim Jong Un?" In April, the North Korean leader fell off the map for a few weeks amid speculation he was gravely ill. He reappeared in May as if nothing had happened, and the whispers about his health soon dissipated. Then, earlier this week, the rumor mill started back up again after a South Korean diplomat told the British tabloid the Sun that Kim has actually been in a coma all these months, any recent appearances have been faked, and Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has been handling things and will ultimately take over. story continues below Now, more confusion. Per the New York Post, North Korea's state news agency has released pics of an "apparently healthy-looking" Kim attending a Tuesday Workers' Party meeting about steps to fight the pandemic and an approaching typhoon. The BBC reports Kim is seen in the photos smoking a cigarette. The Post notes the pictures couldn't be independently confirmed, and that outside journalists weren't allowed at the meeting. The perplexing situation has left experts on North Korea scratching their heads. "We need to check our assumptions about the leadership," a Rand Corp. policy analyst tells Bloomberg. "Perhaps we are imposing our own expectations and habitual knowledge about the North Korean regime on the current situation. And if these expectations are false, then we risk drawing faulty or erroneous conclusions about the regime." (Read more Kim Jong Un stories.) Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Despite being removed from a list of speakers, Jack Brewer, a former NFL player who spent one season with the Eagles, delivered a speech Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. Brewers omission came after NPR reported on insider trading charges that were filed against him earlier this month. He also wasnt mentioned in a Wednesday news briefing about the convention. During his speech, Brewer praised President Donald Trump for his attempts to end mass incarceration and accused former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, of locking up countless Black men for nonviolent crimes. He also falsely claimed the media twisted Trumps words when he said there were very fine people, on both sides following a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017. Brewer, a member of Black Voices for Trump, is facing federal charges of insider trading by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The civil charges were filed Aug. 6. According to court documents, Brewer is alleged to have sold 100,000 shares in a penny stock after receiving inside information about a likely drop in the share price for the company, COPsync Inc. The SEC says Brewer sold his stock at prices ranging from $1.01 to $1.16, netting about $104,000. Days later, the market price of the stock had dropped to $0.69 per share. During an interview on Minneapolis talk radio Wednesday, Brewer said he was in Washington and ready to deliver his speech. The charges didnt come up during the interview. For me its a huge honor. Ive tried to live a life of service, and Im just really excited to tell a part of my story today, and hopefully it resonates with the American people, Brewer told WWCO News Talk 830 host David Lee. Brewer spent six seasons in the NFL. In addition to the Eagles, Brewer spent time on the rosters of the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals before retiring in 2006. Following his career, he founded Brewer Group Inc., which describes itself as a consulting firm. He isnt the first speaker to cause a bit of a headache for Republican organizers. Tuesday night, just minutes before the start of the second night of the convention, Republicans announced a video featuring Mary Ann Mendoza whose son was killed in 2014 in a car accident with an immigrant who was in the country illegally would no longer air after she promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories on Twitter. - Governor Obado and his four children surrendered to EACC offices along Kilgoris road in Kisii on Wednesday, August 26 - The DPP on Tuesday, August 25, issued an arrest order against 10 people linked to the loss of up to KSh 73.4 million in Migori county - Obado allegedly used companies registered under his children's' names and other relatives to swindle county money - According to investigations, the companies wired money to the governor's children who stayed in the UK, Scotland and Australia - The cash was used to pay school fees and upkeep while other funds were used to buy a house in Loresho and two Toyota V8 Migori governor Okoth Obado has presented himself to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) offices in Kisii. Obado surrendered to the anti-graft sleuths early on Wednesday, August 26, following the Tuesday, August 25, arrest order issued against him by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji. READ ALSO: Kenyan newspapers review for August 26: William Ruto recruits ex-Uhuru, Raila bosom friends in his 2022 assault team Migori governor Okoth Obado (l). Photo: Lisa Wema. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Wokovu kando: Babu Owino akataa kulishwa chobo ya Miguna, amjibu kuhusu sakata za jiji The DPP in a statement said the county boss had a case to answer concerning embezzlement of up to KSh 73.4 million from county coffers. The arrest order was also extended to his four children and six other associates. READ ALSO: 9 photos of actor Tyler Mbaya, bae serving couple goals TUKO.coke confirmed that the governor was accompanied by his four children; Dan Okoth, Jerry Okoth, Susan Okoth and Adhiambo Everlyn when he surrendered to the antigraft agency. According to the EACC, the suspects would later be transferred to Nairobi to face graft related charges. Other suspects in the case are businessmen and women Jared Kwanga, his wife Christine Akinyi, Joram Otieno and Petroba Otieno. Kwanga's mother Peninah Otago and his sister-in-law Carolyne Ochola were also included in the list. READ ALSO: Football fans hilariously photoshop Lionel Messi in their clubs kits after star asked to leave Barcelona Obado and his family during a past press conference. Photo: Okoth Obado. Source: Original About 12 companies including Misoft Company Ltd, Tarchdg Printers Limited, Joyus Business and Atinus Servies were listed as business entities the suspects used to illegally benefit from the county. "The governor indirectly and in conflict of interest received the benefits totalling to KSh 73.4 million from companies and businesses that traded with Migori county. Investigations further revealed that the directors and proprietors of the companies were proxies of the governor including three who are brothers and his sister-in-law. The audit trail of the money reveal that the companies wired KSh 38.94 million to the governor's children's account which was used to pay their school fees upkeep maintenance and medical bills in Australia, Scotland and United kingdom. Some of the said money was also used to buy two motor vehicles of make Toyota Land cruiser V8 and a KSh 34.53 million house in Loresho Ridge whose beneficial owner is the governor's daughter Everlyn Adhiambo, the DPP said. READ ALSO: Ezekiel Mutua withdraws KSh 50k donation to jobless Kenyan youth for using Arap Mashamba pseudonym If precedence set by other graft cases involving county chiefs is anything to go by, Obado is likely to be barred from accessing his office as the case is for Nairobi's Mike Sonko, Samburu's Moses Lenlokulal and ex-Kiambu county boss Ferdinand Waititu who was later impeached and sent home. Another governor that has found himself on a collision course with the EACC is Busia's Sospeter Ojaamong. 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. I am willing to go back to prison if it's for God's glory - Jowie Irungu | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:56:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- China will work to ensure that business opening will be entirely processed online before the end of the year, as part of effort to further transform government functions with a view to preserving and reinvigorating the market entities, the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday. Li stressed the need to advance business system reform to remove the institutional hurdles to entrepreneurship and innovation, further spur market vitality and expand employment. Figures from the State Administration for Market Regulation show that in 2019, as many as 20,000 new businesses were registered in China on an average day. By the end of July this year, 132 million market entities were registered nationwide, up 6.7 percent compared to the number at the end of last year. "The reform of transforming government functions and delivering the fiscal and financial relief policies must be progressed in parallel," Li said. "So far, the special transfer payment mechanism that directly channels the funding support to primary-level governments has played a crucial role. In the meantime, we must continue to lower the market threshold to stimulate market vitality and public creativity," he said. It was decided at the Wednesday meeting that business opening will be entirely processed online before the end of the year. Separate registration of corporate domicile and business premise will be piloted and a company may register more than one business premise. "We need to do everything we can to help market entities survive and thrive. If the one hundred million-plus businesses could keep running, we will be able to meet the goal of creating nine million new urban jobs this year," Li said. To facilitate business operation, expand opening-up and support agriculture and rural development, administrative licensing over 49 items with overlapping permitting requirements will be canceled, and the approval authority over four items will be delegated to the provincial level. Where law revision is needed, these new measures will be implemented after the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress approves the proposed law revisions. "The government departments concerned must put the larger picture before departmental interests. More needs to be done to trim the approval requirements, stepping up oversight alongside proper deregulation. While canceling the approval requirements or delegating approval authority, responsible departments must ensure sound compliance oversight," Li said. "It takes more than monetary inputs for the Chinese economy to grow. The reform of government functions could further bring out the ingenuity and industry of the Chinese people, and enhance the efficacy of government oversight and services. This is a reform that could lead to greater fairness and efficiency." Enditem UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The "snapback" mechanism on UN sanctions against Iran shall not be deemed as invoked despite a purported U.S. notification to the Security Council, said a Chinese envoy on Tuesday. The United States is no longer a participant of the Iran nuclear deal. Participants of the deal and the overwhelming majority of Security Council members believe that the U.S. demand for restoring UN sanctions on Iran has no legal ground and goes against common views, and the snapback mechanism shall not be deemed as invoked, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. China resolutely opposes the U.S. demand and holds the view that the U.S. letter submitted on Thursday should not be identified as "notification" specified in Security Council Resolution 2231, he told a Security Council meeting. Under Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Iran nuclear deal, any participant state to the deal can notify the Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. The United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, thus losing its status as a participant state to the agreement. Zhang asked the president of the Security Council not to take any action on the U.S. demand. "The council should fully respect views of the international community and the overwhelming majority of council members, uphold its credibility and authority, and fulfill its responsibility of maintaining international peace and security." China attaches great importance to the Iran nuclear issue. It is committed to upholding multilateralism, safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, said Zhang. "We stand ready to work with other parties to push forward the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue." Its not entirely clear who is to blame for the standoff between the incumbent Colombian operators Claro and Tigo and new arrival Partners, but tension, especially between Claro and Partners, has been ramping up, according to local press reports. The argument of Chris Bannister, the CEO of Partners, is that both Claro and Tigo have refused to sign interconnection agreements with his company, leaving Movistar as the only operator willing to agree terms. However, according to TeleGeography's CommsUpdate, Partners may have upset its rivals by using its 700MHz spectrum allocation (it has also successfully bid on 2500MHz band spectrum) to bolster the networks of its recently acquired mobile subsidiary, Avantel. The 700MHz spectrum has now apparently been withdrawn, pending an investigation. The regulator has tried to mediate but this has so far had no result, partly, it seems, because Claro claimed that its lawyer was otherwise engaged and unable to attend the talks. Much of this argument is being played out in the Colombian press, with Bannister arguing that Claro is trying to hinder Partners entry into the country and Claro suggesting that Partners is being unhelpful and that it does not feel further meetings are worthwhile until the regulator offers guidance on the next steps. Partners is part of the portfolio of Icelandic investment group Novator Partners. In July 2020 Novator Partners acquired an unspecified majority stake in Colombian mobile operator Avantel and launched a restructuring of the business. Claro Colombia has about 30 million subscribers to its voice and data services and is a subsidiary of Latin American giant America Movil. Chris Bannister who is the former CEO of Novators Chilean subsidiary, WOM has been quoted as saying he is targeting 25 per cent of the Colombian market within five years. St. Petersburg metro petition to recognize its brand commonly known in Russia dismissed flickr.com/ Ninara 12:47 26/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) Russias Intellectual Property Court (IP Court) has upheld a decision of the Russian Federal Agency for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks (Rospatent) refusing to recognize the corporate logo of the St. Petersburg metropolitan as a trademark brand commonly known in Russia, according to the court materials. The applicant challenged a decision of the Chamber for Patent Disputes of May 20, 2019. The Chamber found no evidence that as on January 1, 2018, the trademark was famous across the territory of the Russian Federation. In April 2018, Rospatent dismissed the respective application of the St. Petersburg metro. Nevertheless, in February 2019 the IP Court revoked the Rospatent decision saying the body was to review the application. The Court found that the evidence presented by the applicant, in particular presenting tourist capital of Russia status of St. Petersburg, what it believed resulted in common knowledge of the brand of its metropolitan in this country and in the world, as its main argument was not enough to grant its petition. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 19:14:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NUR-SULTAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan and Russia have signed an agreement on the procurement of a Russian-made vaccine against COVID-19, the office of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan said in a statement Wednesday. The deal, signed between Kazakh state pharmaceutical distributor SK-Pharmacy and the Russian Direct Investment Fund, guarantees that Russia's Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology will produce a certain volume of the "Sputnik V" vaccine specifically for the Central Asian nation. According to the statement, the vaccine would be available to at-risk Kazakh citizens on a free and voluntary basis and only after the vaccine has passed all stages of clinical trials. The agreement was signed when a Kazakh governmental delegation paid a working visit to Moscow, during which Kazakh Health Minister Alexey Tsoi and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Murashko discussed cooperation on the fight against the coronavirus. Russia announced the registration of the world's first COVID-19 vaccine, dubbed "Sputnik V" on Aug.11. Its phase 3 trial, which involves 2,000 volunteers, is underway. Kazakhstan recorded 105,075 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, with 93,990 recoveries and 1,544 deaths. In August, the country also registered 23,543 COVID-19 cases and 268 related deaths. Enditem Governor Bill Lee has named Chattanooga-area commercial real estate developer Matt McGauley to serve on the Tennessee Housing Development Agency board of directors. Mr. McGauley, 41, is the fourth-generation president and CEO of Fidelity Trust Company. The company manages and owns a portfolio of commercial properties in Chattanooga and features development, brokerage and management divisions. Through his work with Fidelity, Mr. McGauley focuses on developing "innovative and sustainable" projects within the Chattanooga area, including Hamilton Countys first LEED-certified building. I am honored to join the THDA board of directors, and Im grateful to the governor for appointing me, Mr. McGauley said I spoke to Governor Lee when he took office and told him if he needed me I would be willing to help in any way possible. I hope to bring my experience in real estate and finance to the board and look forward to serving the state of Tennessee. We are pleased to welcome Mr. McGauley to the THDA Board of Directors, THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey said. Through his work, Matt has shown how development can be done sustainably and successfully and we look forward to having his perspective on the Board. In 2018, Mr. McGauley was recognized as one of the Chattanooga business communitys 20 under 40 by the Chattanooga Times-Free Press. He was also the recipient of the Sophia Long Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation from Cornerstones, Inc. Mr. McGauley also serves on the boards of First Volunteer Bank, the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance and Crabtree Farms. A Chattanooga native, Mr. McGauley attended Bright School and Baylor School before earning a degree in economics from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Emily, have two daughters, Catherine (five) and Claire (three). THDA was created by the State Legislature in 1973 to provide loans, grants, tax credits and other financing opportunities to encourage the construction, repair and preservation of affordable housing and to help ensure the housing market meets the needs of every Tennessean, regardless of income, disability or age. More than 15million patients are currently waiting for treatment on the NHS's 'hidden waiting list' - nearly four times higher than the official 3.9million, a report claimed today. Freedom of Information requests to NHS trusts have put the total number of people awaiting follow-up hospital appointments at 15.3million. Bahman Nedjat-Shokouhi, the chief executive of healthcare tech company Medefer, which calculated the new data, called the official list 'the tip of the iceberg'. It follows reports of patients unable to get key appointments during the pandemic, with thousands having had NHS care postponed or cancelled this year as the health service became almost wholly committed to treating Covid patients. Recent government figures revealed that the lockdown killed two people for every three that died of the coronavirus between March 23 and May 1, with 16,000 dying because they didn't get medical care while 25,000 died of the virus. Freedom of Information requests to NHS trusts have put the total number of people yet to have their first hospital appointment after a GP referral at 15.3million (stock) Speaking to The Times, Mr Nedjat-Shokouhi said: 'Almost four times the number of patients need appointments, as the official figures capture only the new referrals and not the patients who require ongoing care. 'We need a plan to deal with both groups to avoid patients coming to harm.' The official waiting list shows the number of patients yet to have their first hospital appointment after a GP referral. It stands at 3.9million and has remained stable during the pandemic. But long waits have increased, with the number of patients waiting more than a year standing at 50,536 in June, compared with 1,643 in January, before the pandemic hit. Bahman Nedjat-Shokouhi - the chief executive of healthcare tech company Medefer, which calculated the new data - called the official list 'the tip of the iceberg' However, the total number of patients who are on hospital books in England and need a follow-up appointment for health problems is not accumulated centrally. This is the so-called 'hidden' waiting list. The Times reported the 15.3million figure was calculated by asking NHS trusts how many patients who needed a follow-up appointment - but were not captured in the official waiting lists known as the 'referral to treatment pathway' - were on their lists. They added there is no suggestion all 15.3million are overdue an appointment. One in seven trusts replied, and analysts extrapolated the national figure by weighting those trusts figures according to the proportion of national GP referrals they received. Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said: 'It's certainly a concern that many treatments had to be delayed at the height of the pandemic, and trust leaders are keenly aware of how disruptive and distressing this has been for patients. 'We also know that some patients chose, for a variety of reasons, not to come forward to seek treatment or advice during lockdown in particular, and referrals to trusts have dropped for a number of conditions. Thousands of clinical trials to find life-saving drugs and therapies for cancer and heart disease have been stopped because of Covid-19, scientists warn Thousands of trials to find new treatments for diseases including cancer and heart disease have been halted because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Seven in 10 NHS research projects have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, an analysis by Southampton University found. One in 10 a total of 1,500 including clinical trials of new medicines as well as lab research have been stopped entirely because of the virus. Dr Michael Head, study author, said all areas of health had been impacted and many had taken a backseat while research into Covid-19 steamed ahead. Charities working on cures and therapies for cancer and heart disease are likely to have been hard-hit by a fall in funding for research. But Dr Head warned that the smaller charities fuelling research for rare diseases that already have few treatments will find it hard to carry on at all. Advertisement 'Trusts and frontline staff are working flat out to restore and extend routine services, and we're seeing encouraging signs that many are making good progress. It's really important people seek help when they need it.' Dr Nedjat-Shokouhi, who is also an NHS consultant, said those needing follow-up appointments might become less of a priority. He described them as 'the most easy group to delay care for' because there are not target wait times in place for them. A spokesman for the NHS said: 'This flawed and self-serving analysis from an organisation trying to advertise its own services says nothing about whether or not the appointments it refers to are actually "overdue". 'Now that hospitals have managed the first wave of coronavirus, treating more than 108,000 people for Covid-19, local health services are continuing to expand their services for routine care, alongside substantially enhanced capacity being contracted from the independent sector.' Waiting lists for routine operations have also soared to record levels during the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of thousands of non-urgent operations being cancelled. Data revealed last month shows around 1.85million people have waited more than 18 weeks for routine treatment in England the most since records began more than a decade ago. Under the health service's own rulebook, patients should be treated within 18 weeks of a GP referral. Medical imaging and cancer screening appointments have also slumped during the pandemic, which is expected to have a knock-on effect. Experts fear 10million people may be waiting for treatment by Christmas as hospitals grapple with the resume of non-urgent care while maintaining social distancing. A potential second wave will cause even more chaos in the NHS. Prime Minister Boris Johnson this month committed an extra 300million to upgrade A&E facilities at 117 NHS trusts, on top of 3billion to prepare the NHS for winter. But Dr Nick Scriven, of the Society for Acute Medicine which represents hospital doctors, said 'it will take more than a token cash injection to make up for years of neglect'. MailOnline previously reported that the number of NHS patients forced to wait longer than a year for routine treatment in London had become 20 times the figure for the whole of England in 2019. Leaked performance data showed 19,775 patients in the capital were waiting longer than 12 months for procedures such as hip or knee ops by July 19. In contrast, only 1,032 people across the entire country had not started treatment within a year of being referred in July 2019. The shocking figures lay bare how Covid-19 has devastated the NHS, with warnings that the health service faces an 'enormous' challenge if it wants to catch-up. MailOnline previously reported that the number of NHS patients forced to wait longer than a year for routine treatment in London had become 20 times the figure for the whole of England in 2019 Health bosses fear it could take up to four years to clear the growing backlog of patients needing treatment. Doctors said the NHS is facing 'worrying times' in the wake of the pandemic and that 'performance remains poor' in hospitals around the country. The overall waiting list at a record-high of 4.4million before the pandemic struck was described as ticking time bomb. Top medics have since warned it has detonated, with the decision to postpone tens of thousands of operations during the crisis causing backlog to grow. In response to the growing waiting times, Professor Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said in July: 'We have been concerned since the start of this pandemic that suspending elective surgery for a period of months placed a time bomb under what was already a crisis in NHS waiting times. 'That time bomb has now detonated, with the numbers of those waiting more than a year for treatment spiralling out of control to the worst levels since September 2009. 'And the supposed legal right for patients to be treated within 18 weeks looks more like a vague aspiration, with two in five now waiting longer.' It comes amid concerns about delays to cancer care caused by coronavirus, which has led medics to warn survival rates will plummet. Cancer treatment waiting times in England have soared to another record high. Only 93.7 per cent of patients in June were treated within a month of being told they needed drugs, surgery or radiotherapy. Separate data showed only 12.9 per cent of patients diagnosed with cancer after a screening appointment got treated within the target time of two months. For comparison, the rate was 85.8 per cent last June, and the target is 90 per cent. It is believed the NHS is preparing to spend up to 10billion outsourcing work to private hospitals who will take on some of the workload that has built up over the past few months. The 10billion figure, over a four-year contract, emerged in a contract notice seen by the specialist publication Health Service Journal. Number of NHS patients admitted for routine ops drops 82 per cent in a year: The number of patients admitted plummeted to 54,550 in May this year, the lowest ever one record and a drop from 295,881 in May 2019 NHS figures show that 106,535 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in May 2020, 47 per cent down from 200,599 in May 2019 5,000 HEART ATTACK SUFFERERS 'MISSED OUT ON LIFE-SAVING CARE BECAUSE OF COVID-19' Five-thousands heart attack sufferers in England missed out on life-saving hospital treatment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a study claimed. Researchers analysed NHS hospital data to show that around the peak of the crisis, in late March, admissions were 35 per cent lower than usual. Up to a quarter of people who suffered the most severe heart attack a complete blockage of an artery did not seek help, figures suggest. Admissions are now picking back up again because the coronavirus is fizzling out, according to researchers at the University of Oxford. But patient confidence is nowhere near pre-Covid levels as Brits still fear catching the coronavirus if they go to hospital. Experts warned the risk of death from delaying heart attack treatment is higher than picking up Covid-19 at hospital. Advertisement My hospital has become a medical Mary Celeste: As NHS waiting lists rocket while appointments are limited, one doctor tells of his frustration By Dr Rod Hughes for the Daily Mail Last week I was sitting in glorious isolation in my consulting room at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, in what felt like a ghost town. There was a deserted waiting room, and outside was a virtually empty car park. My only contact with patients was via the telephone on my desk. Along the corridor, the dermatology, ophthalmology and other outpatient consulting rooms also stood empty. Normally, our joint waiting rooms are bustling with around 100 patients at any one time waiting to see doctors, nurses, or a phlebotomist to take blood. Now there are no patients and just a handful of staff. My only contact with patients was via the telephone on my desk. Along the corridor, the dermatology, ophthalmology and other outpatient consulting rooms also stood empty [File photo] There have been just a few patients with Covid in the hospital in the last few weeks, compared with 20 in intensive care and 100 on the wards at the peak of the pandemic. But we are at a near standstill when it comes to seeing outpatients on site. Much to my frustration, only one of my six NHS rheumatology clinics is conducted face-to-face each week. It is still deemed too risky for patients to attend hospital. While phone consultations work for most patients, particularly those with stable conditions whom I've looked after for years, some people do need to be seen. They include new patients who need examinations and a diagnosis, and those who need injections to manage existing conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Last week I was sitting in glorious isolation in my consulting room at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, in what felt like a ghost town. There was a deserted waiting room, and outside was a virtually empty car park. My only contact with patients was via the telephone on my desk. The hospital is seen above I now only see eight patients in a Friday afternoon roughly one every 30 minutes instead of the usual 14. This is because the risk of infection from Covid patients meant we had to move from our large clinic in the main hospital to a 'cold' site (one free of Covid patients), which is under pressure as all specialities are using it. I see fewer patients not because of the strict hygiene rules (people must have a temperature check before they enter the building, sit two metres apart in the waiting rooms, and wear a mask at all times and I wear a mask, gloves and an apron when doing procedures), but because I have to prioritise seeing those who need procedures. Their appointments take longer. When lockdown began, the other two consultants and two registrars had to halt their clinics to go on to the Covid rota for three months. There is therefore now a backlog of 800 or so rheumatology patients waiting for follow-up appointments and 300 needing new-patient appointments. Some new patients urgently need to be seen in person. For example, there is a 12-week window for treating rheumatoid arthritis patients most effectively. We used to see them in four to six weeks, but now it's 12 to 14. Meanwhile, our large outpatient clinic in the main hospital is empty, even though most consultants redeployed to Covid wards have now returned. I heard there are more than 15,000 people on the ophthalmology waiting list alone. People waiting for operations in orthopaedics and general surgery are now looking at a 26-week wait instead of the pre-Covid 16, too. During lockdown, I accepted all restrictions on seeing patients as necessary. But now I think it's time to try to get back to normal. I understand that management has to be wary about bringing large numbers back into hospital. But I do feel we could now see more outpatients and start getting back to running normal clinics. Much to my frustration, only one of my six NHS rheumatology clinics is conducted face-to-face each week. It is still deemed too risky for patients to attend hospital [File photo] Of course, some patients are worried about coming back to hospital. But there comes a point where we have to balance the risks of not being treated for a long time against the risk of Covid. We're caught in limbo, while more people suffer as their conditions worsen. There doesn't seem to be a master plan or encouragement from the Department of Health to get clinics up and running again this is needed urgently. The Government wants people to go back to work and eat out, so it makes no sense that they can't also see their doctor in a setting with strict infection control. I agree with the Royal College of Surgeons, which said earlier this month that if a second coronavirus wave hits, the NHS can't go back to being a Covid-only service. Telemedicine has worked well, but most people will eventually want to see their doctor face-to-face, and many will need to. I wish I wasn't working in a medical version of the Mary Celeste. Dr Rod Hughes is a consultant rheumatologist at St Peter's Hospital in Surrey. As told to JO WATERS (Photo : Kimberly White/Getty Images) MILL VALLEY, CA - OCTOBER 05: Robert Pattinson appears at the 42nd Mill Valley Film Festival - Special Screenings Of "The Lighthouse" And "Harriet" on October 5, 2019 in Mill Valley, California. (Photo : Arielle/Twitter) A man with tastes The Batman 2021 star Robert Pattinson revealed in an interview that Final Fantasy 7 made him cry. "Probably one of thee only times I've cried in my life is when Aeris dies," Pattinson told Gamespot adding that the character was his "first love." Pattinson refers to one of the most surprising plot twists in video game history, making Aeris an eternally admired character in the video game. According to CNET, Final Fantasy 7 spent the entire first half establishing Aeris as the only key to Sephiroth's apocalyptic spell. However, the villain descended from the sky and stuck Aeris with his long masamune sword. Final Fantasy is created by Japanese video game holding company, Square Enix, which is known for other role-playing video games like Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts. Tenet and The Batman star Robert Pattinson tells us which Final Fantasy is his favorite of all time pic.twitter.com/M1qNAyfsX6 Check out the full interview: https://t.co/DpK3XGjeuW GameSpot (@GameSpot) August 25, 2020 Well it seems the new Batman is just one of thousands who are highly affected by Aeris as numerous fans shared the actor's fondness of the character and game. One Twitter user said: "This does make me really happy lol she's my all time fav character ever since I was child." "Whelp, this seals it. After The Lighthouse, Batman Trailer, and now this, he's officially my new favorite actor now. Probably will be forever," Matman said in his reply to Gamespot's tweet. Whelp, this seals it. After The Lighthouse, Batman Trailer, and now this, he's officially my new favorite actor now. Probably will be forever. Matman (@mtnaz927) August 25, 2020 Tyler Walker agreed as he noted that celebrities "are not ethereal beings" who are just like us. Meanwhile, Twitter user @Krolliox said that "FF7 is so memorable" because of Aerith/Aeris's death. He then suggested that the iconic scene should also be included in the remake. "It's the essences of FF7, taking that death away it's taking what made it special," he said. Read also: DC FanDome: The Suicide Squad's All-Star Cast is Here! Meet Idris Elba's Bloodsport, John Cena's Peacemaker, and MORE! Final Fantasy 7 Remake Update A remake of the 1997 role-playing game was released in March, which triggered throwback on the hype 15 years ago. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake recently launched is just the first part, which ends just before the iconic scene of Aeris' death. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 1 ended remarkably while the main heroes including Aerith Gainsborough, Barret Wallace, Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, and Red XII escaped from Midgar to Gaia. However, it is yet to see whether Aeris will die again in the remake's second part. This has built huge anticipation for the second installment of the Final Fantasy VII Remake. Fans speculate on how Square Enix will adapt the open-world travel of the original FF7, the open-world journey in Final Fantasy XV, or will it develop an entirely new form. Christopher Nolan's sci-fi movie, Tenet Pattinson did not comment on the remake during the interview, which transpired while he was on a promotional tour for the movie, Christopher Nolan's Tenet. Pattinson plays the lead role in the sci-fi film that was initially released in July in Argentina, but it is scheduled for release on August 26 in select cities in the United States, a week before the September 3 Labor Day weekend. However, it is still unclear what parts of the country will show the movie. Warner Bros. also announced on August 24 that the movie will be released as well in 70 countries by the end of August, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Korea, Japan, and Russia. Read also: How to Complete Fortnite 'Apres Ski Dance': These Apple Locations Will Help You Win On PS4 or Xbox This is owned by Tech Times. Written by CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Russia accuses West of plotting 'provocations' in Ukraine AP - 2 minutes ago MOSCOW (AP) Russia accused the West on Thursday of plotting provocations and disguising its alleged intentions by fomenting concerns about Moscow planning aggressive military action in the neighboring... $SPX : 4,532.76 (-0.97%) $DOWI : 35,028.65 (-0.96%) $IUXX : 15,047.84 (-1.07%) Sri Lanka settles sovereign bond payment as reserves dwindle AP - 31 minutes ago COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka has paid $500 million due on sovereign bonds from its badly depleted foreign reserves despite calls by experts to defer the payment and use the sum to import essential... $SPX : 4,532.76 (-0.97%) $DOWI : 35,028.65 (-0.96%) $IUXX : 15,047.84 (-1.07%) Cardano and Chainlink look for recovery: Elliott Wave Analysis EW-Forecast.com - 53 minutes ago Crypto market is still slow, but looks like it's finishing intraday pullback, so there's a chance for new intraday rally up to 2.17T resistance area before bears show up again. ^ADAUSDT : 1.342036 (+0.70%) ^LINKUSD : 22.1444 (+2.16%) Press Conference Overshadows Markets Market Tea Leaves - 1 hour ago Yesterday the markets dropped on geopolitical grounds. Will the markets rebound today? Content Marketing Institute announces category winners in 2020 Content Marketing Awards 2020 Content Marketing Award Category Winners Revealed Content Marketing Institute (CMI) just announced the 81 category winners for the prestigious 2020 Content Marketing Awards, the largest and longest-running international content marketing awards program in the world. Content Marketing Institute (CMI) just announced the 81 category winners for the prestigious 2020 Content Marketing Awards, the largest and longest-running international content marketing awards program in the world. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Content Marketing Institute (CMI) just announced the 81 category winners for the prestigious 2020 Content Marketing Awards, the largest and longest-running international content marketing awards program in the world. You can see a full list of the 2020 Content Marketing Award category winners here: http://cmi.media/winners20 This years panel of all-star judges reviewed hundreds of entries to determine the best of the best in content marketing excellence. The 80+ categories recognizes all aspects of content marketing, including the best in strategy, automation, research, social media, video, editorial, illustration, design and much more, across many different industries from healthcare to manufacturing. One of the favorite parts of my job is getting to review some of the most innovative, inspiring, successful content marketing programs in the world each year for the Content Marketing Awards, shares Stephanie Stahl, general manager, Content Marketing Institute. The quality of work weve seen with this years contenders is just off the charts. The industry has come a long way over the last 10 plus years and its gratifying to see companies and businesses not only embracing what weve been preaching but that they are seeing so much success with their content marketing efforts. The category winners now have the chance of being nominated for one of the top seven Content Marketing Award prizes including Project of the Year, Agencies of the Year, Content Marketers of the Year, and Branded Content Campaigns of the Year. Those finalists will be revealed on September 9, 2020. Then the winners of those top seven awards will be revealed during the Content Marketing Awards program livestreamed on October 14, 2020 as part of Content Marketing World 2020. Story continues Content Marketing World 2020 is completely online as a one-of-a-kind digital event, October 13-16, 2020. To learn more about #CMWorld 2020 and to register, go to: https://www.contentmarketingworld.com/ About Content Marketing Institute Content Marketing Institute is the leading global content marketing education and training organization, teaching enterprise brands how to attract and retain customers through compelling, multichannel storytelling. CMIs Content Marketing World event, the largest content marketing-focused event, is held every fall in Cleveland, Ohio, and ContentTECH Summit event is held every spring in San Diego, California. CMI publishes Chief Content Officer for executives and provides strategic consulting and content marketing research for some of the best-known brands in the world. Content Marketing Institute is organized by Informa Connect. About Informa Connect Informa Connect 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 Marketing, Global Finance, Life Sciences and Pharma, Construction & Real Estate, and in a number of other specialist markets and connect communities online year-round. Press Contact: Amanda Subler, Amanda.Subler@informa.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c3cf6ad0-aceb-47af-8a4e-89629f30c702 by Fady Noun The bishops take sides in defence of Card Rai, attacked by the daily al-Akhbar. At the center of the controversy his Sunday homily and the attack on weapons and explosives depots in residential areas. Prelates say the real enemies are those who foment tension. The goal of "active neutrality". Suspicions of tampering with the scene of the explosions are growing, along the lines of the Hariri murder. Beirut (AsiaNews) Following an unprecedented paid and planned attack on Patriarch Rai, carried in the newspaper al-Akhbar, the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications has stated that information on "hidden weapons and explosives in residential areas and among civilians" revealed in his Sunday Homily are "without any doubt". Instead of abusively accusing the patriarch, whose sources of information leave no doubts of any kind, we advise this newspaper to verify and investigate the statements that reveal that weapons and explosives are being hidden and stored in residential areas and among civilians. Otherwise affirm the bishops - in reality, the enemy is hiding, among them. In his homily, considered the first direct attack on Hezbollahs military strategy, Patriarch Rai had asked the leaders to "consider the explosion at the port of Beirut as a warning signal". The Cardinal called on authorities "to search all the weapons depots illegally located in the heart of residential districts, in cities and villages". The head of the Maronite Church added that certain Lebanese regions have become minefields, which could blow up at any moment. The presence of these hidden weapons depots represents a real threat to the life of the Lebanese, which does not belong to anyone, any party or any organization . "It is time - concluded the cardinal - to unearth these weapons and these explosives, so that citizens can truly feel safe". Furthermore, the patriarch, who has been promoting and relaunching the principle of Lebanon's "active neutrality" for several weeks, stressed: "Today, Lebanon needs peace more than ever to recover its strength, We have had enough of wars, of fighting and conflicts that, moreover, none of us had ever wanted. The al-Akhbar newspaper interpreted this desire for peace as a way to "promote peace with the Israeli enemy". It maintains that the warnings against secret weapons and explosives depots are "an adhesion to Israeli propaganda, against the resistance". The Episcopal Commission for Social Communications says it is "stunned by fears and panic over any international investigation [on the August 4 explosion in the port of Beirut, ed], as if we were hiding something, indirectly confirming the suspicions relating to a manipulation of the crime scene, exactly as happened after the assassination of the then Prime Minister, the martyr Rafic Hariri. In fact, [the commission] urged the security forces to do their job "without regard to people, under any circumstances, because human life is more precious than all the regional equations that have led to nothing but destruction and economic, financial and social crises in Lebanon". Finally, it denounced the efforts made by al-Akhbar "to denigrate the courageous proposals of the patriarch on positive neutrality and the need to free power from this hold". We are proud that 30% of our community comes to us having never run a node before, but we know there is more we can do. Coda Protocol, a lightweight framework for the Web 3.0, announces its intention to onboard hundreds of new founding members into its Genesis Token Program by pairing those new to node operation with its Technical Ambassadors. Coda's Genesis Token Program prepares participants to be block producers for mainnet. By making it easy for anyone to run a node, Coda aims to ensure high decentralization upon mainnet launch. "We are proud that 30% of our community comes to us having never run a node before, but we know there is more we can do," said Evan Shapiro, CEO and Co-Founder of O(1) Labs, the team behind Coda Protocol. "The number-one thing people new to crypto need is a safe zone where they can ask questions and where being a beginner is encouraged." To support those new to node operation, Coda is launching a novel Mentor Nodes Program that pairs aspiring node operators with its Technical Ambassadors. The Mentor Nodes Program will be the gateway to receiving a Genesis grant, one of the industries most generous tokens grants with 66K tokens available to each eligible member. The greater goal of this initiative is to expand the overall crypto ecosystem, foster gender and racial diversity of node participants, and make node operation more accessible to beginners. Coda's Technical Ambassadors hail from 15+ countries, including China, United States, Russia, Korea, India, Indonesia, France, and Turkey. At least ten languages are represented with Technical Ambassadors speaking Chinese, English, Russian, Hindi, Kannada, Turkish, Korean, Spanish, German, and Bahasa Indonesian, among others. This breadth of languages and countries will support Codas efforts to continue to build a global, decentralized pool of node operators and community members. Coda makes node participation easy and accessible to anyone through choices made in the design of the protocol itself. Deployment of recursive zk-SNARKs ensures the blockchain always stays the same sizeabout 20 kilobytes (the size of a few tweets). This unique application of zero knowledge proofs enables Coda to remain lightweight and easy for anyone to participate as a node. Additionally, Coda's consensus mechanism allows for unlimited validator slots, and the documentation and tooling makes it easy for people who are new to crypto to get started. Participants in Coda's Mentor Nodes program will receive step-by-step support throughout upcoming testnet releases, where users can complete challenges, rank on the leaderboard, and become eligible for a Genesis grant of 66,000 tokens. Apply to the Genesis Mentor Nodes program: bit.ly/coda-genesis Apply to the Technical Ambassadors program: https://github.com/CodaProtocol/coda-grants For media inquiries, please contact Kili Wall at (310) 260-7901 or Kili(at)MelrosePR(dot)com About Coda Protocol Coda Protocol is being incubated by O(1) Labs, the leader in zk-SNARKs and verifiable computation. Coda Protocol, the worlds lightest blockchain, provides a foundation for the decentralized digital economy (Web 3.0), by affording all participants fully P2P, permissionless access to the chain, from any device. By utilizing recursive zk-SNARKs, the Coda blockchain always stays the same sizeabout 20 kilobytes (the size of a few tweets). Recursive zk-SNARKs allow nodes to rapidly share and update proof of the correct blockchain state across the network. This breakthrough application of zk-SNARKs solves the issues of scalability and high barrier to entry for nodes that have plagued legacy blockchains to-date. By making it easier for nodes to participate, Coda improves decentralization and therefore security of the network. The Coda blockchain can be easily accessed from any device, including phones and browsers, and can be seamlessly integrated into new decentralized applications (dapps). Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register August 26, 2020 Most industrial businesses have a variety of assigned tasks that must be repeated on a regular basis. Monthly, weekly, or daily checklists offer a simple, but effective way of keeping track of important duties. Many facilities use clipboards and paper checklists, spreadsheets, or other localized means to facilitate various checklists. Manual checklists have shortcomings, however. Clipboards can be misplaced, and hard drives can crash, causing your team to lose all their progress. As the supply chain goes increasingly digital, warehouses and distribution centers are putting more functions into the cloud. Cloud-based software and apps offer convenience and improved effectiveness over outdated manual processes, allowing facilities to increase efficiency and mitigate the risk of human error. At Phoenix Logistics, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pushing checklists online allowed us to respond more quickly to issues across our facilities. With an extensive portfolio of food and cold chain clients, Phoenix has comprehensive sanitation checklists that must be completed and tracked to remain compliant with industry regulations. Rather than relying on clipboards or spreadsheets, Phoenix developed an app for its daily sanitation safety log. Here are some of the features of the sanitation app: Convenience. Easily shared and updates in the cloud, ensuring that anyone who accesses it will see the most updated version of the checklist. Easily shared and updates in the cloud, ensuring that anyone who accesses it will see the most updated version of the checklist. Accountability. As employees finish items on the list, they complete them with a digital signature, allowing management to track which employee completed the task. As employees finish items on the list, they complete them with a digital signature, allowing management to track which employee completed the task. Reminders. If a completed list is not submitted by 12:00 p.m. on any given day, an automated email is sent to the site team leaders informing them which items still need to be completed. Phoenix Logistics also implemented an online checklist solution for its pre-shift equipment log. Each day, employees must inspect equipment and enter it into the log. Supervisors receive an automated daily email that reports if inspections are not completed. Some of the primary features of the pre-shift equipment online checklist include: Damage. Users report any equipment damage they discover at the beginning of their shifts, helping to maintain an overall list of asset conditions and repair needs. Users report any equipment damage they discover at the beginning of their shifts, helping to maintain an overall list of asset conditions and repair needs. Exceptions. Employees have the option to enter exceptions into the app as they perform their pre-shift equipment checks, ensuring that even unusual or unique circumstances still get digitally reported. Employees have the option to enter exceptions into the app as they perform their pre-shift equipment checks, ensuring that even unusual or unique circumstances still get digitally reported. Follow-up. The checklist pushes follow-ups to ensure that previously reported issues have been properly addressed. The checklist pushes follow-ups to ensure that previously reported issues have been properly addressed. Reminders. Employees receive scheduled reminders for additional tasksfor example, maintenance that needs to be performed monthly. Both checklists feature a versatile skyscraper functionality, allowing users to continue adding items to the list as additional responsibilities arise. All activity in the checklists is logged and can be tracked by users and management to identify areas for improvement. About Phoenix Investors & Phoenix Logistics Founded in 1994, Phoenix Investors and its affiliates (collectively Phoenix) are a leader in the acquisition, development, renovation, and repositioning of industrial facilities throughout the United States. Utilizing a disciplined investment approach and successful partnerships with institutional capital sources, corporations, and public stakeholders, Phoenix has developed a proven track record of generating superior risk-adjusted returns, while providing cost-efficient lease rates for its growing portfolio of national tenants. Its efforts inspire and drive the transformation and reinvigoration of the economic engines in the communities it serves, currently encompassing over 30 million square feet. Phoenix continues to be defined by thoughtful relationships, sophisticated investment tools, cost-efficient solutions, and a reputation for success. As an affiliate of giant industrial real estate firm Phoenix Investors, Phoenix Logistics quickly secures real estate solutions across its portfolio of over 30 million square feet or leverages its market and financial strength to quickly source and acquire real estate to meet our clients needs. At Phoenix Logistics, we provide specialized support in locating and attaining the correct logistics solutions for every client we serve. Edited by Erik Linask The Supreme Court of India (SC), which is hearing the students' plea against the University Grants Commission or UGC's Guidelines for final year exam 2020, is yet to announce a date for when it would pronounce its final judgement. The petitioner's advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava however said the judgement is likely to be out today (August 26). Advocate Srivastava tweeted that since the concerned Bench of the Supreme Court is not sitting tomorrow, i.e. on August 25, the decision is likely to come on August 26 and added that they are "trying to send our request to Honble Court for early Order." Ahead of the possible decision today, here's all you need to know about the case so far: > On July 7, UGC said the final year examination for students would have to be mandatorily held by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen & paper), online or blended mode. > Ever since the UGC guidelines 2020 were announced, students have been opposing the decision to conduct final year exams citing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The students have argued that since the number of COVID-19 cases in India is rising every day, appearing for examinations will be unsafe for students. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show > The students have demanded that the final year exams should be cancelled and students should be promoted on the basis of internal assessment. Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here > A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan is hearing the matter. > On July 30, UGC had informed the SC that if students are unable to appear for the examinations by September 30, he/she will be given an opportunity to appear at a specially conducted exam at a later date. > Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for UGC on July 27 said that many universities have conducted their examinations already. He pointed out that out of 818 universities in India, 209 have already completed the examinations while 394 are in the process of completing the examinations. He added that 35 universities have not reached final year exams. > Senior advocate KV Vishwanathan appearing for the Delhi government said that there is a divide between rich and poor students and that the latter may not have access to technology to write online exams. > The 31 lead petitioners in the SC case refused to accept the UGC's reply and said the UGC's response does not take into consideration the hassles faced by students if exams keep getting postponed. The petitioners had also said job prospects and future admission opportunities for students will be hampered. > The SC on August 18 asked all the parties to give a note on their submissions within the next three days. > Odisha government said in the hearing that considering the COVID-19 situation, it will be impossible to hold exams right now. > Similarly, Kishore Datta, Advocate General of West Bengal argued that these are exceptional circumstances and that the situation in every state is different. > In his submissions on behalf of Maharashtra government, senior advocate Arvind Datar said that there are practical difficulties in conducting the exams in the state, especially since it is the worst-affected by COVID-19. > On August 13, UGC in its reply to the affidavits filed by the Delhi and Maharashtra governments said the cancellation of final year exams is not in students' interests and that this would 'irreparably' damage the future of these students. > Further, the ministry of home affairs also said in its affidavit that exams were permitted for final year students taking into account the academic interests of these candidates. Iran President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the countrys revenue has been reduced by 900 trillion rials (roughly equivalent to $214 billion) since the United States re-imposed sanctions on Iran in May 2018, maintaining that despite that loss, Iran is "still standing on its feet. Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday President Rouhani praised the Iranian nation for "resisting and enduring hardships, and said if it had not been for their resistance, "the enemy would have brought [the U.N. sanctions resolutions on Iran] back in the same year and brings it down to its knees. President Rouhani also said the United States wanted to lead Iran to the point of collapse. "Given the numbers they were right [to think so], he said. The enemy thought a nation cannot resist if it lost $50 billion of its revenues. "Those who criticize [the government] unfairly should know that our revenues have decreased by 9,000 billion rials but we are still standing on our feet and our commodity market is even better than in Europe," he added. Iranian officials have provided various different estimates of the loss of revenue caused by the U.S. sanctions. In December 2019, President Rouhani said that the sanctions reduced Iran's revenues by $200 billion, while Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri said in June that Iran's oil revenues dropped from $100 billion to $8 billion in the previous Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, 2020. In a recent exclusive interview with Radio Farda, Brian Hook, the United States Special Representative for Iran, cited the $200 billion impact that the sanctions have cost Iran as proof of the effectiveness of the U.S. administration's maximum pressure policy on the country. We dont have definitive proof, but the logical explanation is what theyre doing to try to control the spread of (the coronavirus) is actually doing a really, really good job against the flu as well, said Richard Webby of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, who is part of a WHO committee that tracks flu evolution. RICHMOND, BC, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nature's Path the leading family-owned organic breakfast and snack food company is significantly expanding its annual Eat Well Do Good food donation campaign to address childhood hunger and food insecurity, which according U.S. Census data, has more than quadrupled since the global pandemic began in March 2020. The company is launching its efforts by donating one million bowls worth or 250,000 boxes of their nutritious, and organic breakfast cereals, granolas and snacks to 10 organizations in the U.S. and Canada, including: Feed the Children (US), Second Harvest Canada (Canada), Blessings in a Backpack (US), Daily Bread Food Bank (Canada), Ruby's Pantry (US), Greater Vancouver Food Bank (Canada), Second Harvest Orange County (US), Richmond Food Bank Society (Canada), Ferndale Community Family Fund (US), Open Hands Calvary Creekside (US). In addition, Nature's Path will also match every dollar donated to any of its partner organizations with an additional five dollars worth of healthy, organic food. "Access to food is the most basic and urgent priority, especially for children," said Nature's Path VP of Mission and Strategy, Jyoti Stephens. "We know our products don't just feed, they nourish, which is why we want to get donated items out to as many food bank partners as we can. These non-profits are on the frontlines of caring for our most vulnerable populations. It's critical they get the resources and spotlight they deserve." Nature's Path will use their social platforms and influencer relationships to spotlight food bank organizations who are making a difference in their communities. Nature's Path has also commissioned noted ceramics artist Earth and Element to create a commemorative bowl, which will be sent to active supporters of the campaign and sold online with a portion of sales going to food banks partners. Since 2009, Nature's Path has held annual Eat Well Do Good events and "foodraisers," inviting the local communities to put their compassion into action with their generous donations of clean food and funds for those in need. Since its inception, Eat Well Do Good has donated more than $2 million worth of food to local food banks and elementary schools. "Feed the Children is proud to have partnered with Nature's Path to address the important issue of childhood hunger for the past 20 years. The problem cannot be tackled alone. We know that when we combine our efforts, we will have a greater impact on the lives of families who need us most around the world," said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children president and CEO. To learn more, visit NaturesPath.com or follow on them on Twitter @NaturesPath and Instagram @NaturesPathOrganic . More on Eat Well Do Good here. ABOUT NATURE'S PATH FOODS Nature's Path Organic Foods is North America's largest organic breakfast and snack food company and produces USDA and Canadian Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified breakfast and snack foods sold in grocery and natural food stores in over 50 countries around the world. Committed to the triple bottom line socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and financially viable, Nature's Path works diligently to support communities and champion the cause of people and planet. Brands include Nature's Path, Love Crunch, Qi'a, Que Pasa, Flax Plus, and EnviroKidz. Founded in 1985, Nature's Path is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia and employs hundreds of valued team members at its four facilities in Canada and the United States. Media Contact Matt Kovacs [email protected] 310-395-5050 SOURCE Natures Path Where Todays Business Legal Challenges Meet Seasoned Legal Talent Best Lawyers recognizes approximately five percent of lawyers in private practice in the U.S. Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP is pleased to announce that ten Tannenbaum Helpern lawyers have been selected for inclusion in the 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers and three attorneys to its inaugural Ones to Watch. Each year, Best Lawyers recognizes approximately five percent of lawyers in private practice in the U.S. Tannenbaum Helpern attorneys selected for the Best Lawyers list practice in the fields of commercial litigation, construction law, copyright law, criminal defense, distribution and franchise law, real estate, private funds/hedge fund law, and trusts and estates Best Lawyers: Kenneth M. Block - Construction Law Robert E. Helpern - Real Estate Law Andre R. Jaglom - Distribution and Franchise Law Yolanda Kanes - Litigation Trusts & Estates Joel A. Klarreich - Franchise Law L. Donald Prutzman - Copyright Law Paul D. Sarkozi - Commercial Litigation Eric S. Schoenfeld - Real Estate Law Vincent J. Syracuse - Commercial Litigation Michael G. Tannenbaum - Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch: Adam M. Felsenstein - Criminal Defense Amanda Leone - Commercial Litigation Brandon P. Reiner - Construction Law Best Lawyers is purely based on a peer-review evaluation; therefore, attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America were recognized by peers for their professional excellence in their area of legal practice. For the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, over 9.4 million votes were analyzed. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is the newest award initiative and recognizes attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence. About Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP Since 1978, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP has combined a powerful mix of insight, creativity, industry knowledge, senior talent and transaction know-how to successfully guide clients through periods of challenge and opportunity. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality legal services in a practical and efficient manner, bringing to bear the judgment, common sense and expertise of well trained, business minded lawyers. Through our commitment to service and successful results, Tannenbaum Helpern continues to earn the loyalty of our clients and a reputation for excellence. For more information, visit http://www.thsh.com or follow us on Twitter: @THSHLAW. Media contact: Nancy Wu Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP 212-702-3147 wu@thsh.com Were standing in defense against govt overreach, Pastor Rob McCoy says after court ruling Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment After a court held Pastor Rob McCoy and his California church, Godspeak Calvary Chapel, in contempt for failing to obey a COVID-19-related restraining order prohibiting indoor worship services, the pastor said it was a small price to pay to stand in defense of a governments overreach. Were standing in defense of a governments overreach and a government that would call the church nonessential. Its a small price to pay and Im good with it, McCoy said. On Friday, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Vincent ONeill Jr. issued the ruling, fining the chapel $3,000, which includes $500 for every violation. County officials had recommended $6,000 in fines against the church for holding six indoor services over the past two Sundays. I didnt want this but I am a pastor. We live in a nation that allows us to worship and thats why were doing what were doing, the pastor said, as he spoke to journalists outside the court. In a YouTube live video on Saturday, Pastor McCoy said, This is not an issue of religious liberty or the church being singled out. This is an issue of all Americans being adversely affected. He said it was a small price to pay for liberty. McCoy said the coronavirus cases were drastically dropping and the continued restrictions didnt make sense. He rebuked the media on Sunday, saying that out of the 102 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Ventura County, "two of them died from COVID" while "the other 100 died with COVID." "Report the truth and quit keeping us enslaved to the deception of this," he said in comments directed to the media. He noted that his church has been open since May 31 and that no one from his congregation has reported contracting the coronavirus during worship services. During his live video on Saturday, McCoy interviewed a Christian couple that owns The Peoples Gym. The county had secured a restraining order against them for reopening the fitness center two months after it remained closed. McCoys church presented a $15,000 check to the couple. The pastor insisted that it was not a political issue. "Were watching as our neighbors are being devastated, their businesses are being shuttered, their lives are being just absolutely crushed by these draconian measures," McCoy said. "This is what were up against. Its tyranny. And we will live free ... It is our right and duty to push back." McCoy also spoke with former mayor of Californias Nevada city, Reinette Senum, who describes herself as a progressive lesbian. She recently stepped down from her City Council position after decrying California Gov. Gavin Newsoms COVID-19 restrictions as illegitimate and unenforceable. The economic, physiological, psychological and emotional damage were enduring completely outweighs any benefits were seeing, she said at the time, according to The Union. She said the city also received a letter from the governor warning noncompliance with the mandate would jeopardize its eligibility for state funding. Im deeply disturbed that our governor continues to hold us all over a barrel, she said. Her term as mayor expired at the end of June, but she had been elected in March to continue as a City Council member for the next four years. She told McCoy she had lost 90% of her friends because of her stand against the governors mask orders. McCoy said officials are using the new coronavirus data to frighten us and pitting us against each other. Last week, a prosecutor warned Pastor Che Ahn of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena that he, church staff and attendees could face jail time if they continued to defy government COVID-19 orders by holding and attending in-person worship services. Pastor Ahn was sent a letter from Chief Pasadena Assistant Prosecutor Michael P. Dowd, warning him of the consequences if his church continued to defy Newsoms orders prohibiting in-person worship in counties on the states watchlist. The governors order provides added restrictions on in-person gatherings in as many as 42 counties throughout the state that are included in the states COVID-19 monitoring list. According to Liberty Counsel, the added restrictions apply to about 80% of the states population. In counties not included on the states coronavirus monitoring list, limited in-person worship is allowed but with no singing or chanting. At least three churches have filed a lawsuit against the statewide ban on singing in church. Houston is bracing for an unprecedented first preparing for a potentially intense hit from a hurricane during a pandemic. The track for Hurricane Laura has placed landfall late Wednesday to early Thursday near the Texas-Louisiana state line, with Houston still inside the cone, according to the National Hurricane Center. As area hospitals ramp up to get supplies in place, Houston's Memorial Hermann has activated its emergency plan, assigning separate teams, Team A and B, to help divide the workload during Hurricane Laura. 'I WILL NEVER FORGET THESE WEEKS': Houston ICU doc describes what it's like on COVID-19 frontlines The hospital's overriding objective is to serve the community by having a plan to shelter-in-place and providing ongoing care for patients for up to 96 hours if needed, according to Memorial Hermann's VP of Trauma Line and System Integration Tom Flanagan. In an interview with Chron.com on Tuesday, Flanagan outlined what the hospital system is doing differently this year at its 14 campuses to prepare for hurricane season in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Question: Could you give me an overview of how you're approaching hurricane planning this year? Flanagan: We do disaster drills pertaining to hurricane season every year. We'll have two teams when it comes to hurricanes Team B is the prep team and Team A is the ride-out team. About 48 or 72 hours prior to landfall, Team B comes in to do the prep work and help prepare the agency for impending weather conditions. Once Team B finishes their prep work, then Team A heads into the hospital. They come in about 24 hours before landfall and must shelter-in-place for the entire storm. Team A must shelter in place for up to 96 hours. Then, Team B returns. Question: What preparations have you made for Hurricane Laura in the last 24 hours? Flanagan: Basically in the preparation phase, we're responsible to prepare for 96 hours of being sheltered in place. What we've been doing for the last couple of days is securing and procuring all the provisions needed to run the campus for the next 96 hours. That's food, water, pharmaceutical and medical supplies and of course we have to make sure that all our generators topped off with fuel so that we don't have to switch to emergency power. That's all been done in preparation of Hurricane Laura. Question: What's the biggest challenge when it comes to caring for patients during the coronavirus pandemic? Flanagan: The challenge that is different this time is that we're dealing with the pandemic. Although the hurricane is coming, we still need to manage masking and social distancing during the pandemic. The challenge that comes in occurs when we provide sleeping arrangements for physicians, nurses and support staff. So we prepare our sleeping arrangements so that they are socially distant. Each time when they are socially distant, they will have to wear their mask while they are sleeping. If they're sharing any kind of sleeping quarters, they have to be masked. Question: What's your message to Houstonians to better protect them ahead of the storm? Flanagan: This is the biggest message I would share: Don't let the storm detour all the progress we've made in the community through social distancing and masking everyone. We've seen in Houston how our practices of masking and social distancing have assisted us in bringing our numbers down. Question: If power goes out and the hospital has a large number of patients on ventilators, will there be enough backup generators that can handle it? Flanagan: Yes, you are required by regulations that all of our emergency equipment must be on emergency power at all times. If we lose our regular operating power, it automatically flips over to generator emergency power. Question: Are you more optimistic now that numbers have improved for Houston regarding coronavirus spread? Flanagan: The numbers have come down across the city since July. We're in a much better situation today with our hospitals, as far as our level of care. The goal is that when we are able to shelter people in place for up to 96 hours, at the max. If we have flooding and power lines down, it will be difficult to get supplies inside the hospital. If suppliers can't get in, do we have enough supplies to sustain us? That's why we prepare ahead for 96 hours. Question: What can Houstonians expect in terms of level of care during the busiest times, as the storm moves through the Houston area? Flanagan: We have an obligation to our patients who we serve and we have an obligation to our staff. Houstonians need to be very appreciative and honestly feel very confident that our hospitals are well-versed to handle this emergency--and we're better for that. Typically you'll see in emergency departments, once the storm makes landfall, that's when the emergency departments get inundated with patients. There's a rationale to that. People are trying to assess property damage and repair things. They fall, they get hit with a tree limb. So that's when the emergency department gets extremely busy. Question: What's your message to the Houston community about the health care providers who've been fighting on the COVID-19 frontlines? Especially now that they are facing the challenge of Hurricane Laura as well? Flanagan: Keep the healthcare providers in your thoughts and prayers. They have really had a tough year this year. They had to step up to the plate for COVID-19. And yet, now they're all preparing to ride out Hurricane Laura. That really speaks volumes to the professionalism and the pride that our healthcare providers have. alison.medley@chron.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Over the decades, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer all over the world. This is strengthening the focus of pharmaceutical manufacturers all over the world to develop more effective medicine and treatment methods for the same. Increasing demand for biotechnological and biopharmaceuticals products using various cell culture lines is gaining importance. This increasing demand for cell culture will boost the growth of the cell culture media market over the coming years. Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/31338 Company Profiles Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Merck KGaA GE Healthcare Loin Corning Incorporated Irvine Scientific STEMCELL Technologies Inc. PAN Biotech MP Biomedicals, LLC PromoCell GmbH Becton, Dickinson and Company Hi-Media Laboratories As such, the global cell culture media market was valued at US$ 2.4 Bn in 2018, and is expected to witness a healthy CAGR of 7% over the forecast period (20192029). Key Takeaways of Cell Culture Media Market Study Serum-free media contributed maximum share to the cell culture media market in 2018 , due to high product availability and increasing adoption of the same. , due to high product availability and increasing adoption of the same. Cancer research accounted for a prominent share in the global cell culture media market in 2018 , attributable to the rising prevalence of cancer and increased cancer research funding. , attributable to the rising prevalence of cancer and increased cancer research funding. The biopharmaceutical companies segment is the most lucrative segment, due to increased usage of cell culture media in biopharmaceutical production. Increase in the number of pharmaceutical manufacturers has contributed to the dominance of North America in the global cell culture media market. Attributed to growing awareness regarding various diseases such as cancer and its rising prevalence, East Asia is expected to offer notable growth opportunities for the cell culture media market through 2029. Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/31338 Cell culture media not only helps in drug development but also collects extensive data that is valuable for future research. Rising demand for serum-free culture media will offer significant growth opportunities for the cell culture media market in the coming years, says a PMR analyst. Trends in Cell Culture Media Technologies There are many research and pipeline products that have the ability to treat chronic diseases. This is attributed to the current state of technology and more funding by government toward research & development activities. Also, rising awareness about cell culture-based vaccines and increasing demand for biopharmaceutical products will boost the growth of the cell culture media market. Increasing collaborations between contract manufacturing organizations and key players will surge market growth further. Serum-free cell culture media, among other cell culture media, has the potential to grow at a relatively faster rate over the forecast period. Access Full Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/31338 More Valuable Insights on Cell culture media Market Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the cell culture media market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment of 20142018 and projections for 20192029 , on the basis of product (serum containing media, serum-free media , protein-free media, and chemically defined media), application (cancer research, biopharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine & tissue engineering, stem cell technologies, and others), and end user (biopharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations, and academic research centers), across six regions. At one point, Myle Dargan, 6, wearing pink pants and a purple shirt with a cat on it, led the crowd in chants of No justice, no peace as they marched around the block. She finished with a round of Black Lives Matter chants as the crowd made its way back to the rally spot at the end of the march. Applause broke out and the young girl asked her mom why so many people were taking pictures of her. (Bloomberg) -- Box Inc. projected quarterly and annual sales that narrowly topped analysts estimates, signaling that businesses are looking for solutions to collaborate and share information remotely in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The software maker raised its annual revenue forecast to as much as $770 million. Analysts, on average, expected $765 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Sales in the period that ends Oct. 31 will be $193 million to $195 million, the Redwood City, California-based company said Wednesday in a statement. Analysts had projected $193 million. The shares rose about 8.5% in extended trading after closing at $19.29. The stock has climbed 15% this year. Chief Executive Officer Aaron Levie has been under shareholder pressure to goose the companys sales growth and profitability. The software maker reached an agreement with activist investor Starboard Value LP to add more independent directors to the companys board. Levie has tried to sell new products to Boxs large user base, including a security program called Box Shield that the company recently updated with new features. Box also announced an expanded partnership with Alphabet Inc.s Google Cloud Platform. We stabilized the growth rate, which, for this environment, we feel pretty good about, Levie said in an interview. There are a lot of existing customers expanding to more use cases and employees. In the period ended July 31, Box reported an adjusted profit of 18 cents a share, compared with break-even profitability in the same period a year earlier. Revenue in the fiscal second quarter was $192 million, up 11% from a year earlier. Demand is still mixed, Levie said, with large enterprises procuring Box software suites while small and mid-sized businesses pull back. The company has also seen softness in international markets, he said. Box projected a profit, excluding some items, of 56 cents to 60 cents a share this fiscal year, higher than analysts expectations and the companys forecast in May. In the current period, adjusted profit will be 13 cents to 15 cents a share, while Wall Street had expected 13 cents. Levie has tried to reduce Boxs sales and marketing costs, as well as other expenses, to improve the companys operating margin -- a key goal of Starboard. Story continues (Updates with share gain in second paragraph.) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Three fellow dissidents whom Ive known personally have been murdered (Boris Nemtsov, Anastasia Baburova, Stanislav Markelov) and two beaten almost to death (Mikhail Beketov and Oleg Kashin). I myself was sent to prison for two years just for singing a song, and many, many activists in my country have been sentenced to more time and suffered far worse fates. This is the reality I live with day to day, that we in Russia and my friends in Belarus are living with day to day. You learn to live with it, to fight it as you can, deal with it how you can, but it becomes your life. And of course its not just activists who are targeted by Mr. Putins authoritarianism: The greed and corruption of this president and a handful of families that are close to him affects everyone, every day. Inequality is skyrocketing in Russia. Unrest is growing. Many Russians are tired of backward-looking, post-imperial, oppressive, Cold War-style politics and ready to become a forward-looking country focused on building infrastructure, better schools and health care. Since the 2018 election, Mr. Putins popularity has been on the decline, hitting an all-time low of 59 percent in May. Our president has only just recently had the law changed so that he can stay in power until 2036, but his program of repression didnt start out this blatantly. These things happen in pieces, bit by bit, small acts. And each one may even seem relatively benign at first, perhaps bad, but not fatal. You get angry, maybe you speak out, but you get on with your life. The promise of our democracy was chipped away in pieces, one by one: corrupt cronies appointed, presidential orders issued, actions taken, laws passed, votes rigged. It happens slowly, intermittently; sometimes we couldnt see how steadily. Autocracy crept in, like the coward it is. Nadya Tolokonnikova is an artist and activist and a founder of the band Pussy Riot. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 26 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: More than 311,000 tons of products worth 79 million were exported to various countries through the customs of the Mazandaran Province (northern Iran) within the first five months of the current Iranian year (March 20-August 21, 2020), director-general of Mazandaran Province Customs Office, Ali Yousefimanesh said, Trend reports citing Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration. Yousefimanesh emphasized that the products were exported to 26 countries, including Iraq, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the UAE, through Noshahr, Amirabad, Amol, Sari and Fereidoonkenar customs of Mazandaran Province during this period. He added that the exported products were mainly milk and dairy products, various food products, rubber products, and paper. "Due to the spread of the coronavirus in Iran, the product exports decreased to some extent in terms of volume over the past five months. However, there has been an increase in exports of some goods, including mining materials, fruit juices, and agricultural products," he said. The director-general noted that 994,000 tons of products worth $217 million were exported through Iran's Mazandaran Province in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019, to March 20, 2020). According to Yousefimanesh, 41,000 tons of products worth more than $337 million were imported through Iran's Mazandaran Province during the first five months of the current Iranian year. The director-general said that the products were imported from some 20 countries, including Russia, the UAE, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, via three customs (Noshahr, Amirabad, and Fereidoonkenar) of Mazandaran Province. "The imported products were mainly barley, corn feed, oilseeds, wood, agricultural equipment," he said. The official stressed that $1.31 billion worth of products were imported through Iran's Mazandaran Province in the last Iranian year. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, borders with many countries have been closed, therefore, Iran's trade turnover with other countries reduced to a minimum. Iran has begun to increase trade with other countries with the gradual opening of border checkpoints since the end of June. Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 363,300 people have been infected, and 20,901 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 313,000 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fishing 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. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / Elev8 New Media, a media and public relations firm specializing in securing media and press coverage for its client companies in both the traditional and modern media, today announced its participation as a sponsor of The LD 500 virtual institutional investor conference being held on September 1-4, 2020. "With over 300 companies and more than 20,000 attendees, we look forward to participating in The LD 500 as a sponsor," commented Ms. Jessica Starman, CEO and Co-Founder of Elev8 New Media. "The pandemic has brought forth new business segments and growth opportunities for several of LD 500's presenting companies. As such, we anticipate a great event with several of our clients presenting exclusively online this year." Elev8 New Media provides public and media relations services to companies across several industries. By elevating client media visibility through digital and social marketing, the team is consistently developing, implementing, managing, and monitoring client coverage across various platforms. The firm is results-focused and driven by creative and strategic planning. The Company will be available to virtually speak with those interested in obtaining media coverage during the event. 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 can be accessed by anyone. For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at or visit for more information. About Elev8 New Media Elev8 New Media is a boutique media relations firm specializing in increasing awareness for companies through traditional and modern media. We utilize the media to make these companies and their teams' key leaders and experts in their perspective fields. Elev8 New Media captures media coverage and maintains valuable relationships with journalists, editors, analysts, and outlets giving our clients the best exposure. Getting the coverage and exposure you're looking for is more than just talking to reporters and having on-air time-it's about creating lasting relationships that will generate ongoing chatter and excitement around your company. We elevate the bar by making meaningful connections in the industry across TV, social, print, and digital media. We don't settle to just raising the bar, we elevate it. For more information, please visit www.elev8newmedia.com Contact Information Elev8 New Media, LLC. Info@elev8newmedia.com 888-461-2233 SOURCE: Elev8 New Media View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603364/Elev8-New-Media-to-Sponsor-The-LD-500-Virtual-Investor-Conference Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui held under new security law over participation in last years protests. Police arrested two opposition members of Hong Kongs Legislative Council on Wednesday in relation to anti-government protests in July last year, with one accused of rioting, the Democratic Party said. Police confirmed Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting and his colleague Ted Hui were among at least 10 people arrested, but did not provide further details. Hong Kong-based media said as many as 16 people were detained in the sweep in Chinas self-governing territory. Lam was arrested on suspicion of rioting on July 21 last year, when pro-democracy protests erupted across the city, according to his partys Facebook page. It was on that day a mob of more than 100 men wielding sticks and poles attacked pro-democracy protesters and bystanders at the train station of Yuen Long district near the mainland border. Lam ended up in hospital after being wounded in the face as he livestreamed the attack on his Facebook page. So far, police arrested 44 people believed to have taken part in the mob attack, seven of whom have been charged with rioting. It was unclear what caused police to suspect Lam of rioting on that night. Persecution of dissidents Hui, who is a lawyer as well as a member of Hong Kongs Legislative Council, was also detained. He and Lam were also accused of being involved in a protest on July 6 in the Tuen Mun district, where protesters marched against the noise pollution caused by middle-aged women singing and dancing to pop songs in Mandarin, the language spoken in mainland China. Hong Kong people speak mainly Cantonese. Lam and Hui were elected to the Legislative Council in 2016. Hong Kong Legislative Council security guards carry Hui, centre, out of the chamber during a scuffle with pro-Beijing lawmakers last May [Jerome Favre/EPA] In a statement, Amnesty International in Hong Kong said the latest round of arrests under the national security legislation imposed by Beijing on June 30 was the latest example of how the Hong Kong government is weaponising the law to persecute dissidents. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a one country, two systems agreement with Britain, the former colonial power, that promised to preserve wide-ranging freedoms in the territory for at least 50 years. The protests last year were fuelled by perceptions that Communist-ruled Beijing was undermining those freedoms, an accusation authorities have denied. A fresh round of mass arrest of pro-democracy activists today is the latest example of how the Hong Kong government is weaponizing the law to persecute dissidents. Thread Amnesty International Hong Kong (@amnestyHK) August 26, 2020 They began with peaceful mass marches against a since-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, but evolved into a call for greater democracy. Some protests ended in violent clashes between police and protesters. Critics say the newly imposed national security law has pushed the city onto a more authoritarian path, while its supporters say it will bring stability after a year of unrest. The law allows for anything China considers to be secessionist, subversive, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces to be punished with up to life in prison. There have been more protests this year, but they have been more limited than they were in the second half of last year. Restrictions on crowd sizes because of the coronavirus pandemic have also helped limit demonstrations. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since their company first began, Pure NZ bottled water has been making headlines in their home market in New Zealand for their luxury quality bottled spring water. Bottled directly at the source, Pure NZ's bottling facility is the largest, fastest, and most efficient in the country, capable of production of an incredible 30,000 bottles of spring water per hour. Bottling at the water source has been an effective way for Pure NZ to maximize their control over their water quality and shipment as they expand their business internationally. But what are the benefits of drinking pure, natural spring water, and what makes Pure NZ's products so successful? Water is important for every living creature on Earth. The human body is mostly made of water, and the brain needs to be well-hydrated in order to function. Natural spring water has in some instances been found to contain slightly more oxygen than other water sources, and drinking that spring water can help carry oxygen to cells in the body. Remaining well-hydrated can support every aspect of health, from cognitive function to increased metabolism; human beings need to stay hydrated. Pure NZ isn't just concerned with the health and satisfaction of their customers, but also the health of the planet. This is why as one of New Zealand's largest purveyors of bottled spring water, Pure NZ knows that they have a responsibility to work towards environmental sustainability. Pure NZ helps offset their environmental impact first by bottling on-site so there is less moving, trucking, and transport of their goods, cutting back on carbon emissions. Pure NZ also prides themselves on using 100% recycled plastic (rPET) in their best-selling products, reducing the creation of new plastic across the industry. "While we know that making new plastic products is not environmentally friendly," says Pure NZ founder Tony Vesper, "We are trying to cut back on our use of virgin plastics, so we wanted to make our Pure NZ Still water bottles with only recycled material." Through product quality, sustainability, and a wealth of industry knowledge, Pure NZ has been a leader in natural spring water for the past ten years. Now, their expansion into the United States retail market has fueled a year of growth for Pure NZ. Online ordering has been extremely popular for the bottled water industry as more people are trying to get all of their essentials from home. Pure NZ spring water is currently available online through major retail sites, including Amazon.com Please direct inquiries to: Tobias Quelch (954) 569-2257 [email protected] SOURCE Pure NZ In the midst of a US election campaign in which Donald Trump's aggression towards China is a key plank of the Republican's platform, Trump administration officials have had a nice friendly chat with China about trade. Wall Street cheered the development. It might appear incongruous that, with a backdrop of the sharp escalation in US hostilities towards China that includes Trump's threat of a complete "decoupling" of the US economy from China's, the two parties could have what Chinese officials described as a "constructive dialogue" over the trade deal they struck at the start of the year. Contrary to Trump's assertions, numerous studies have concluded that US companies and consumers have paid for the tariffs on more than $US500 billion of China's exports. Credit:AP The administration has, of course, taken actions that threaten to destroy China's technology flagship Huawei; that are forcing the sale of its social media giant TikTok; that have banned US dealings with Tencent and its WeChat app; that have imposed sanction on Chinese individuals in relation to national security laws in Hong Kong an China's treatment of the Uighurs and that threaten to force Chinese companies listed in the US to delist. Among other measures. Trump himself consistently blames China for the spread of the "China virus" in the US and the 5.8 million infections and 178,000 or so US deaths attributed to the coronavirus. A meeting on trade scheduled for August 15 was called off, with Trump saying he had cancelled it because "I don't want to talk to China right now." Encompass Health Corporation EHC recently formed a joint venture (JV) with Charleston-based MUSC Health, which is the only integrated and academic health sciences center offering improved healthcare services through education, research and patient care across South Carolina. The JV will be responsible for operating the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Charleston situated in North Charleston, which is part of the vast hospital network of Encompass Health. The facility, containing 49 beds, will change its name to MUSC Health Rehabilitation Hospital. The JV, which is subject to customary approval, will offer the opportunity to provide enhanced rehabilitation services across South Carolina, where people are often grappling with chronic health disorders. This, in turn, is likely to enable Encompass Health and MUSC Health in expanding services designed for faster patient recoveries and resolving health issues of South Carolina residents more efficiently. In fact, MUSC Health fits the bill perfectly as Encompass Healths partner in jointly operating the North Charleston facility. The primary reason behind this suitability is superior-quality patient care services offered by MUSC Health in eight hospitals across the state. It is to be noted that MUSC Health, which till now facilitates inpatient rehabilitation services in Florence and Lancaster markets, can now provide similar services in Charleston via the JV. Moreover, the abovementioned JV will not only enable both the healthcare providers to offer enhanced rehabilitation services but will also offer ample educational opportunities for healthcare professionals of both Encompass Health and MUSC Health. With the training programs, health professionals will be able to inculcate a wide variety of clinical skills. We believe the JV formed with the intention of primarily offering specialized rehabilitation services is a well-timed one as the entire United States is grappling with health woes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current scenario definitely calls for greater access to healthcare services, which positions Encompass Health well for growth in the long term. Story continues Notably, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) healthcare provider have gained 5.5% in a year compared with the industrys growth of 10.3%. Other JVs This is not the first time that Encompass Health has entered into a JV with an established healthcare system. Last month, the healthcare provider formed a JV with Knoxville-based Covenant Health, which is a healthcare system offering diverse range of healthcare services in Tennessee. Through this alliance, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals will be developed that will aid patients in recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries. This, in turn, is likely to enable Encompass Health in resolving health issues of Knoxville residents more efficiently. One month prior to the JV with Covenant Health, the University of Iowa Health Network Rehabilitation Hospital a JV between Encompass Health and University of Iowa Health Systems announced in January this year started operating. All these initiatives underline the companys efforts to offer improved healthcare services across the United States, where it boasts of a nationwide presence and strong portfolio of 136 hospitals, 245 home health hubs, and 83 hospice centers in 39 states and Puerto Rico. Stocks to Consider Some better-ranked stocks in the medical space include Select Medical Holdings Corporation SEM, Emergent BioSolutions Inc. EBS and The Ensign Group, Inc. ENSG, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Select Medical, Emergent BioSolutions and Ensign Group have a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 212.61%, 127.41% and 17.08%, on average, respectively. Zacks Single Best Pick to Double From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each picked their favorite to gain +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. With users in 180 countries and soaring revenues, its set to thrive on remote working long after the pandemic ends. No wonder it recently offered a stunning $600 million stock buy-back plan. The skys the limit for this emerging tech giant. And the earlier you get in, the greater your potential gain. Click Here, See It Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (EBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research British dog owners are hooked on flat-faced breeds such as pugs and bulldogs - even though they are at higher risk of developing severe health problems. More than nine out of 10 owners (93 per cent) said they would opt for the same kind of pet again, and two-thirds (66%) would recommend their breed to others. Owners said one of the reasons they liked so-called brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs is because they are 'lazy' and need little exercise or space, making them suitable for busy lifestyles and city living. They also highly rate their 'loving' personalities and affectionate, happy natures, making them suitable for households with children. This is despite dogs with flat faces suffering from many severe and often lifelong health issues including eye ulcers, dermatitis, spinal disease, heat stroke and pneumonia, due to their body shape. Vets describe the findings as 'concerning', because owners are accepting and normalising the 'shocking' health issues these animals suffer from. Scroll down for video Owners of flat-faced dogs such as pugs and bulldogs rate their 'loving' personalities and affectionate, happy natures. Pictured: Rescue French bulldog and pug snoozing in basket Pros and cons of owning a flat-faced dog Key reasons for owners recommending their breed The perception that these dogs were loving and affectionate, loyal, comical, 'clown-like' and playful A belief that they were suitable for households with children A perception that flat-faced breeds are 'lazy' and require little exercise, so are suited to sedentary lifestyles with limited space Aspects of their breed that owners would not recommend High maintenance requirements Impacts on owner lifestyle including excessive hair shedding and loud snoring Health problems being common and high vet bills Behavioural traits including stubbornness, neediness, and aggression Advertisement 'With a multitude of stakeholders trying to tackle the current brachycephalic boom in the UK, our results are of real concern to these efforts,' said study leader Dr Rowena Packer, of the Royal Veterinary College in London. 'Understanding how breed loyalty develops towards brachycephalic breeds, and whether it can be changed once established, is key to reducing the popularity of short-muzzled breeds.' The number of brachycephalic dogs has boomed dramatically across the world in the last decade, due in part to their popularity with celebrities including Brad Pitt, Jessica Alba, Gerard Butler and Miley Cyrus. Previous research by the same team has found that owners are initially attracted by their distinctive appearance. But the poll of over 2,000 owners of Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs found they are most loved for their 'behaviour traits'. Essentially, owners come for the looks, but stay for the personality, explained the researchers. Owners of all three breeds were very confident they would own their breed again in the future. Key reasons for owners recommending their breed included positive behavioural attributes for a companion dog, breed suitability for a sedentary lifestyle with limited space, and suitability for households with children. But they recommended against their breed due to the high prevalence of health problems, expense of ownership, ethical and welfare issues associated with breeding brachycephalic dogs, negative effects upon owner lifestyle and negative behavioural attributes. Some veterinarians consider the welfare of bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs is too compromised to continue breeding. The lifespan of flat-faced dogs is reduced by on average four years compared to dogs with longer muzzles. They can also be bad for humans. Owners of pets with chronic illnesses report greater psychological distress and a lower quality of life. The number of brachycephalic dogs has boomed dramatically across the world in the last decade, due in part to their popularity with celebrities including Jessica Alba and Gerard Butler 'If first time owners of flat-faced dogs choose these breeds for the rest of their lives, then the current crisis could continue for decades,' said Dr Packer. 'Although strong focus has been placed upon dissuading new puppy buyers from purchasing brachycephalic breeds, as they are now some of the most popular breeds in the UK, attention should also be turned to current owners. FRENCH BULLDOG TOPS THE LIST OF DOG BREEDS IN THE UK French Bulldog Labrador Retriever Cocker Spaniel Bulldog Dachsund Golden Retriever German Shepherd Pug English Springer Spaniel Staffordshire Bull Terrier SOURCE: Kennel Club top ten registered breeds from January to March 2020 Advertisement 'Priority should be given to developing evidence-based strategies to help these owners consider lower risk, healthier breeds when acquiring future dogs. 'Our novel findings start this process by highlighting the key behavioural characteristics that this owner group value.' The study published in PLOS ONE is the first to explore the desire to reacquire or recommend flat-faced dogs in the UK. Owners of all three breeds were very confident they would own their breed again in the future. First-time dog owners and those that had a very close relationship with their current flat-faced dog were most likely to want to own their breed again. But recognising their current dog had severe breathing problems or were experiencing behaviour worse than they expected reduced this desire. Only a small number of owners cited concerns over ethical and welfare issues associated with breeding flat-faced dogs, such as irresponsible breeding practices and suffering associated with their body shape, as a reason that they would not recommend them. Dr Packer said the results can be used to inform interventions that highlight undesirable traits of brachycephalic dogs and desirable traits of other breeds to control the population boom in brachycephalic breeds in the long term. She added: 'Although dog breed popularity often follows a boom and bust pattern, our results are of real concern as they indicate that this 'brachy boom' is here to stay. 'Owners are becoming hooked on the loving personalities of these sweet dogs, but also accepting and normalising their shocking health issues.' The research was led by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Nottingham Trent University. The project had three goals: estimate the prevalence of symptoms of traumatic stress among the students she was working with, assess the current capacity of school-based mental health services, and increase the visibility of and enrollment in the school-based health center. For her project, Wetterer used the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children, a validated screening tool containing several clinical scales that asked participants about symptoms of traumatic stress, along with a supplemental questionnaire that obtained basic demographic information. Participants completed assessments in the clinic, and then were debriefed by Wetterer, a resident or a pediatrician at the health center, with follow-up visits scheduled as necessary. One of the most important data points Wetterer noted was that half of the surveyed students felt they needed more support for their emotions. "To me, this is what matters most because students know themselves best and I think among the adolescent population there's a tendency to underreport the need for help," Wetterer said. "This may be a lowball, but it shows us that out of the 80 students we surveyed, 40 of them felt that they need more help and that if this was expanded more broadly it shows that there are a lot of people in this school who need more support." The data gathered from Wetterer's project has had an immediate impact, as a position for a full-time social worker at the health center has been funded and posted. Wetterer said the project has also identified needs for psychiatric support and more culturally competent staff, and has raised awareness about mental health concerns among school staff. Wetterer said she learned several lessons from the project. Chief among them: Be ready for feedback and be open to change. "I presented this at a conference in the fall with my preliminary data and got some feedback about not acknowledging that I was a white woman working in this Latinx community," said Wetterer. "That was hard to hear in a public sphere, but incredibly important and really kickstarted some of my reflections on that." Wetterer advised prospective scholars to expand their teams, which will allow leaders to step back and review important details while ensuring that projects do not get bogged down or behind schedule. In addition, she said scholars should focus on their projects' goals rather than trying to make a great project. "I think a lot of the time there's pressure to think about how you're showing leadership or what the end project will be or how you're going to present it," Wetterer said. "Really just focus on a mission or something that's important to you and stick with that, and I think that it will lead to a great year." Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia Shushan Stepanyan today posted the following on her Facebook page: Minister of Defense of Armenia Davit Tonoyan today had a telephone conversation with Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzik. During the conversation, Tonoyan drew Kasprziks attention to the video message of officer of the Armenian army Gurgen Alaverdyan disseminated by Azerbajiani media outlets today and the previously posted video, emphasizing that these videos are a gross violation of internationally enshrined rights, including international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions guarantee protection of the rights of prisoners of war, their right to respect for their honor and dignity which must rule out any type of degrading treatment, regardless of the conditions and location in which the person is, under the jurisdiction of the opposite side. P.S.: Serviceman Gurgen Alaverdyan is clearly reading the text in bad Armenian which was developed for him and which he was forced to read. A doctor holds a sign during a protest against the government's medical workforce reform plans, including one to increase admission quotas at medical schools, in front of Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap Daily new virus cases bounce back to over 300 By Jun Ji-hye The government ordered doctors, especially those in the Seoul metropolitan area, to return to work, Wednesday, as tens of thousands of doctors across the country pushed ahead with their three-day strike in protest against the government's decision to increase admission quotas at medical schools. Government officials said doctors who do not comply with the order could have their licenses revoked and even face criminal charges. This is raising tension between a doctors' association and the government amid growing fears over of a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The doctors including interns and resident doctors at general hospitals and practitioners at local clinics have proceeded with their second collective action, as the Korea Medical Association (KMA) and the government failed to narrow differences during their negotiations that continued until early Wednesday morning. The latest walkout came after doctors staged their first nationwide strike, Aug. 14. The medical sector has opposed the government's plans to increase admission quotas at medical schools, establish a new public medical school, extend national health insurance coverage to traditional herbal medicine and introduce remote medical services. Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a media briefing, "At 8 a.m., the government ordered trainee doctors and fellows working at training hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon to return to work immediately." After the Food and Drug Administration offered shaky data to justify its approval of blood plasma to treat COVID-19, some scientists are worried the agency could bow to pressure to approve a coronavirus vaccine before it's fully tested. Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for blood plasma. The president, the Health and Human Services secretary and the head of the FDA said the treatment reduced deaths in COVID-19 patients by 35%. It did not, and scientists questioned the FDAs claims about the data. You saw FDA be bullied by the president of the United States into approving something that they didnt want to approve earlier, because he wanted them to do that, said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, in an online interview Monday with the editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The data showed a lower death rate in a small fraction of those who received blood plasma, an antibody-rich liquid derived from the blood of COVID-19 survivors. Specifically, it helped people under 80 who were not on ventilators and who received the plasma within three days of being diagnosed. Without a control group of patients who didn't get blood plasma, it's impossible to know whether the plasma actually saved lives. The Infectious Disease Society of America was concerned enough that it published a statement saying that although there were "some positive signals" that the plasma helped, it shouldn't be authorized for wider use before randomized, controlled studies are performed. 'We'll be ready': Feds want a COVID-19 vaccine distribution system ready by Nov. 1. Freezer farms and UPS are part of the plan 'I'm a scientist, not a politician': Health officials answer senators on COVID-19 vaccine According to an unpublished study, about 9% of patients those who were younger, got plasma early and received high doses of antibodies died after receiving the treatment, compared with 12% of those who got it later and in lower amounts. Story continues That is roughly a 35% difference for that group, but it does not mean the therapy reduced COVID-19 deaths that much overall. The overstatement, and the fact that the FDA would approve emergency use of a COVID-19 treatment based on flawed analysis of a therapy that was already available, worries scientists and researchers focused on vaccines. They're concerned the FDA might cave to pressure from the White House to issue an Emergency Use Authorization, or EUA, for a coronavirus vaccine to boost the president's chances of reelection. FDA faces high stakes for COVID-19 vaccine Trump said he expects a vaccine "very soon." He has floated the possibility that a supposed "deep state" conspiracy at the FDA might delay it until after the presidential election Nov. 3. Last week, Dr. Peter Marks, who heads the FDAs vaccine group, told Reuters he has faced no political pressure to release a vaccine without sufficient data on safety and effectiveness. He said he would resign if that happened. Offit said Trump is trying to now bully FDA into approving, possibly through an Emergency Use Authorization, a vaccine or vaccines before theyve been adequately tested. That is a major mistake." Treatment is given to people who are sick; vaccines are given to healthy people. "Vaccines can be given to millions of people, hundreds of millions of people around the world, even billions," said Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. "How are we going to trust this man and our FDA in the months ahead regarding a vaccine Emergency Use Authorization? Were in the middle of a pandemic; the stakes are really high. They couldnt be higher." 'I can just hear the vaccine skeptic groups rising up' It may make sense to grant emergency use for a COVID-19 vaccine if full data from a final clinical trial showed excellent safety and clear evidence in reducing disease, and all that remained were certain technical or administrative issues or steps, said Dr. Jesse Goodman, director of the Center on Medical Product Access, Safety and Stewardship at Georgetown University. If the agency made that decision, the vaccine should be used only for people at high risk of COVID-19 exposure or illness, he said. It would be critical that recipients understand clearly that the product is not FDA-approved and why and what is known and not known about the product's safety and effectiveness," he said. More people may be protected if the FDA goes through the full licensing process for a coronavirus vaccine rather than approving it on an emergency basis, said Daniel Salmon, the director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. That would require more time, but it might have more impact because if people understand that the process was the normal, proven process it wasnt expedited more people would be likely to get vaccinated, he said. Pushing a vaccine through without rigorous review could affect the publics trust in vaccines for years to come, said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor in the division of preventive medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. I can just hear the vaccine skeptic groups rising up and castigating the entire vaccine assessment system," he said. "It would be a profoundly bad thing for public health." A rush to approval could affect enrollment in studies of vaccines to protect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, because the public might lose faith in the process. One of the potential dangers if you prematurely let a vaccine out is that it would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the other vaccines to enroll people in their trial, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Reuters on Monday. The one thing that you would not want to see with a vaccine is getting an EUA before you have a signal of efficacy." FDA's credibility in question Barry Bloom, an immunologist and vaccine expert who is a professor of public health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said he has enormous faith in the FDA's technical staff. But this is the third time during the pandemic that the FDA has made decisions driven more by politics than data, he said. The first was issuing an Emergency Use Authorization for hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, then withdrawing it. The second was the FDA's decision to let companies market antibody tests without being approved first. And now, emergency approval of blood plasma treatment on shaky scientific ground. The plasma of people who recovered from a disease contains antibodies that may help people fighting that disease. The treatment has been used for more than a century against different diseases, from diphtheria in the 1890s to Ebola in 2014 and 2015. Every disease is different, and plasma can sometimes do more harm than good. That's why careful research is needed, Bloom said. "I would hope the leadership of the FDA would stand firm on a scientific basis," he said Tuesday. "Otherwise, the trust in the whole scientific enterprise becomes compromised." Vaccine licensing takes time The FDA licenses every vaccine used in the USA. In the final stage of testing, called a Phase 3 clinical trial, the vaccine is given to thousands of people to make sure it's safe and effective. When that's over, the data is compiled in an application that is reviewed by an FDA team that includes doctors, microbiologists, chemists, biostatisticians and others. Its a back-and-forth process between the FDA and the company, with lots of communication, said Norman Baylor, CEO of Biologics Consulting and the former director of FDAs Office of Vaccines Research and Review. The reviewers are very thorough. They have to be; theyre the gold standard." Officials hinted they may speed up the process for a COVID-19 vaccine to get it to the public sooner and save lives. The FDA's Marks and Commissioner Stephen Hahn said no corners would be cut. Schaffner worries theyve left some wiggle room. He said the FDA might look at data from a large, Phase 3 clinical trial before it was completed and decide that based on the results at that point, a vaccine looked safe enough and effective enough to go on the market. The Phase 3 trials for each SARS-CoV-2 vaccine include 30,000 people, 15,000 of whom get the vaccine and 15,000 who get a placebo. It would not do well to start using the vaccine in the public if we stopped halfway through if we only have 7,500 people whod gotten the vaccine, Schaffner said. It takes time to see whether safety issues arise among thousands of volunteers and to judge whether they are protected from infection, Topol said. Despite Trump's repeated statements that a vaccine is coming soon, there simply hasn't been time for that data to become available. "There is no way there will be any meaningful data this year, period," Topol said. Anything that comes that quickly is "a hoax." Inside a lab for COVID-19 vaccine study on Aug. 13, 2020, in Hollywood, Florida. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could FDA be 'bullied' into approving a coronavirus vaccine too early? The 24,000-square-foot City of North Port Safety Building being built at the corner of Tamiami Trail and Preto Boulevard will include Fire Station 86 and house a fire engine, ladder truck, two ambulances and 11 personnel in the four-bay building. The new facility will also help the city uphold its end on mutual aid agreements with the safety services of other municipalities. Additionally, the city's new safety building will house a police annex for the North Port Police Department, as well as a fire prevention bureau/plans examiner's office in the heart of growing Wellen Park. "They'll be the primary fire plans reviewer (inspector) serving Wellen Park as it continues to grow, so it will give better access and provide a place where they can have meetings with the developer, contractors, or anything like that," explains Scott Titus, fire chief of the City of North Port Fire Rescue. In the early years of development, Sarasota County handled the emergency call volume for the Wellen Park section of North Port through a mutual aid agreement. "It was primarily ranch land, so there was very little impact," Chief Titus says about the previous arrangement. "As development has taken off, so have the emergency calls and the need for the city to have its own up-to-date fire station onsite in Wellen Park." North Port's fire department needs the new station to provide swift emergency services to the growing population of city residents west of the Myakka River and to reduce the load on the county fire station at the State College of Florida campus. "We commissioned a study by the respected Emergency Services Consulting International firm that showed not only what the current needs are for emergency services but what the future anticipated needs would be as the community continues to grow," says Rick Severance, President of Wellen Park. "The study clearly showed the need for and recommended an enhanced station to be built to serve the community. We folded this into the strategic plan to provide coverage now and in the future as the incorporated area of Wellen Park continues to grow." The new public safety building will also be a place for the fire department to do public outreach and for people in the community to visit. It will include a 1946 Seagrave fire truck housed within a glassy display room, "evoking the rich history of the fire service and of North Port Fire Rescue; glowing at night like a lantern for the community," according to a press release from designer Plunkett Raysich Architects of Sarasota. North Port Fire Rescue Responded to 379 alarms in Wellen Park from 1/1/19- 6/23/20 North Port Police Department Total calls for service in the Wellen Park Area = 3,169 from 1/1/2019 to 7/8/2020 . . Nearly 1,900 interactions with the public during that time. Average response time for priority 1 calls = 2:21. Overall calls = 7:21 Traffic Enforcement Agreement with West Villages Improvement District (WVID). Assigned officer to the West Villages Improvement District 24 hours a day. Mattamy Homes, North America's largest privately owned homebuilder, is the developer and majority owner of Wellen Park. For more information about living at Wellen Park, call 941-960-7805 or visit wellenpark.com. SOURCE Wellen Park By Mohamed Junayd MALE (Reuters) - The former president of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said he had tested positive for COVID-19, as the tourist-dependent island nation reports a pick-up in cases since re-opening its borders last month. "I have tested positive for COVID-19. May Almighty Allah bless me and all other sick people with a speedy recovery and good health," Gayoom said in a tweet on Tuesday night. The 81-year-old former president was one of Asia's longest serving leaders, having ruled the Maldives for 30 years. According to a family source, the former autocrat was tested for COVID-19 following a medical consultation on Tuesday morning, after he developed a fever on Monday night. The source said Gayoom is doing well and is expected to be admitted to the newly built Dharumavantha Hospital in the capital, Male. Heavily reliant on foreign tourism, the Indian Ocean archipelago lifted a lockdown in the capital in June and opened up its borders for tourists in July. Since the end of the lockdown in June, the number of COVID-19 cases in the Maldives has tripled, while deaths have risen from five to 28. The Maldives Health Protection Agency has confirmed a total of 7,047 COVID-19 cases in the country, out of which 2,580 cases are currently active. Just over 5,000 tourists visited the Maldives in the month to August 15, according to Maldives Immigration, a fraction of last year's monthly average of more than 100,000. (Reporting by Mohamed Junayd in Male, editing by Alasdair Pal and Lincoln Feast) Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26 : The Congress led UDF and the BJP - the two principal opposition political fronts in Kerala, on Wednesday demanded a NIA probe into the fire that broke out at the state Secretariat, in the general administration department (GAD) political wing, here on Tuesday. The local police have registered a case and the FIR mentions that few files pertaining to bookings made at various state run guest houses have been damaged. The cause of the fire has now been attributed to a fan where a plastic part got burned and it fell on a curtain. Across the state, angry activists of these political fronts took to the streets and clashed with police as they were demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, presently caught in various scams and allegations of corruption levelled against him in and outside of the Assembly. State Congress president Mullapally Ramachandran said the fire in the Secretariat is suspicious as crucial files pertaining to the travel of Vijayan and his key confidantes are all kept there. "The fire conspiracy is baffling and mysterious and for the truth to come out, only a NIA probe will bring out the truth as they already are probing the gold smuggling case. The CBI also should be roped in as a joint probe would bring out the truth. Do not know why Vijayan is silent. He is fearing something," said Ramachandran. "Everything is suspicious and fail to understand why the Chief Secretary wore the cap of a security officer when the fire took place," added Ramachandran. Senior Lok Sabha member N.K. Premachandran said that he has written to the Prime Minister and others in Delhi for effective intervention in investigating the truth in the fire episode. State BJP president K. Surendran, who was one of the first to reach the Secretariat after hearing of the fire was forcefully taken into custody by the police, said that last month the GAD had come out with a circular to be careful of fire and that is exactly what followed. "A chief secretary led probe has been announced by the government, but none wants such a probe. We demand the NIA should probe this as deals in Life Mission and the gold smuggling have a link and so does the fire," said Surendran. "It was surprising to hear a State Minister E.P. Jayarajan saying how I reached the spot of fire so quickly. It's hilarious to ask such a question because it's been asked by those who protested when a fire broke out in the Amazon forests. Moreover, when a fire broke out in a fraud 'godman's' place here, the first to reach there was Vijayan, but, he did not turn up at the spot of the fire in the Secretariat," added Surendran. Meanwhile the Kerala Police has registered a case against Surendran and eight other BJP workers for criminal trespass into the Secretariat. Vijayan however has gone silent and has been ducking the media and his customary Covid review press meets have also stopped, ever since he was faced with uncomfortable questions over the gold smuggling case and Life Mission project. The gold smuggling case was unearthed when Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 while allegedly facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold from Dubai. Things turned murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the Consulate, and employed with the IT Department, surfaced. Later, her links with now-suspended IAS officer M. Sivasankar, then posted as Principal secretary to Vijayan and also the IT Secretary, came to light. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has fired Professor Kwamena Ahwoi saying the impression he (Ahwoi) created in his book that without him (Ahwoi) the Rawlings-led PNDC military junta would not have achieved anything is the figment of an infected mind. The impression that if Mr Kwamena Ahwoi had not been born or had died the PNDC would have ceased to exist upon his demise may be the product of a figment of an infected mind and everybody knows that nobody is indispensable in this world. The world would move on without any of us, high or low, Mr Amidu said. He also revealed how a cabal of PNDC colleagues took advantage of the then President John Evans Atta Mills's infirmity and generosity to do all sorts of things during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regime. Controversial Book Prof. Ahwoi's controversial book has made some damning allegations against the NDC founder, former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, his wife Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and some other bigwigs in the NDC, and it appears to be causing uneasy calm in the opposition party. Mr. Amidu, who served in the NDC government under both Presidents Rawlings and John Evans Atta Mills, is one of the latest personalities mentioned who has come out to debunk Prof. Ahwoi's claims. In his latest response, Mr. Amidu made it clear that Prof. Ahwoi cannot hold himself as The alter ego of the achievements of the PNDC or NDC1 & 2 governments. False Presentation Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi's 'Working with Rawlings' book falsely presents the author as the alter ego of the PNDC government and the NDC1 and NDC2 governments. The author has ingeniously appropriated PNDC policies and achievements as though the PNDC could not have functioned and achieved any reasonable success for ushering Ghana into a true democracy and decentralization without him, he fired. He said I have not read any of Kwamena Ahwoi's previous works. Kwamena Ahwoi's 'Working with Rawlings' book, however, contains several inexcusable witting misstatements, factual errors, and conclusions. The fact that no finger had been raised against his uncontested previous scholarly works does not mean that no finger can be raised against his 'Working with Rawlings'. Kwamena Ahwoi baited me with his 'Working with Rawlings' with the rumours about me he turned into shameless fact. I have swallowed the bait. I have raised my finger in protest against his internalized penchant for reaping where he has not sown. I am challenging the accuracy of his historical knowledge and conclusions as a matter of fair comment and in the public interest. I have shown in the foregoing disclosures that I am qualified to challenge and critique Kwamena Ahwoi's 'Working with Rawlings'. Stay with me! I shall be back; Ghana First. Mills Regime Mr. Amidu said the PNDC cabal made every effort to destroy the cordial relationship he had with President Mills. I also served in the Fifth Government of the Fourth Republic from 2009 to January 2012. I was appointed the Presidential Advisor on Legal Affairs with the mutual understanding that I will never be a Minister of State. Nonetheless, I was moved to the Ministry of the Interior as Minister of the Interior, and after more than three objections to move to the Attorney General's Department I succumbed in January 2011, moved to be the Attorney General and left the Government on 19th January 2012 after a principled disagreement. He said, This was because my colleagues from the PNDC era who had appropriated the gentle and sick Professor even from his family were uncomfortable with my closeness to President Mills who had been my personal friend since he taught me commercial law in my third year at the University of Ghana in the mid-1970s in addition to my being his running mate for the 2000 elections. While President Mills could not resist the pressure from the cabal between the periods from June 2009 to 12th January 2012, I continued to be a frequent invitee to the President's office for consultations on several matters, adding Sir Bebeako-Mensah, the then Secretary to the President, may confirm how often the President invited me for consultations. Mills Misused He said, I saw at close quarters how the infirm President Mills was misused and abused by the predators of his generosity to the detriment of his failing health as will subsequently be narrated by his brother in 2017 in a published interview. Was the President Emeritus, Flt. Lt. Rawlings, one of the predators who prevented the status of President Mills's failing health from being made public to enable them to selfishly and greedily misuse, abuse, and bleed him to death? he queried, adding I am now a public officer serving in the capacity of the Special Prosecutor under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and gagged from active politics. ---Daily Guide Add CoolSocial badge. Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Clickcommerce.com scored 41 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 This CoolSocial report was updated on 4 Jun 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Add a widget like this on your site: click here This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the clickcommerce homepage on Twitter + the total number of clickcommerce followers (if clickcommerce has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the clickcommerce homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the clickcommerce homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the clickcommerce homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if clickcommerce has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the clickcommerce homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Huron Consulting Group | Click Commerce - Solutions for the business of research (SM) DESCRIPTION Click Commerce provides collaborative software for research administration and compliance to leading research organizations in North America. 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The worldwide corona crisis also clouds the business of German industrial valve manufacturers in the first half of the year. Nevertheless, the industry has so far been able to hold its own in a difficult environment. While export business has been very subdued in the wake of the effects of the pandemic, domestic business has advanced to become the industry's driving force. The long-term project business in particular has so far had a positive effect on sales. Against the backdrop of a very weak first half of 2019, domestic sales in the first half of 2020 even increased by 20%. Foreign business proved much more difficult in 2020, but was still 3% higher than in the previous year due to a successful start to the year. "With sales growth of 9% in the first half of the year, German manufacturers of industrial valves can be very satisfied in view of the weakness of the global economy," comments Wolfgang Burchard, Managing Director of the VDMA German Valve Manufacturers Association, on the current situation. Although delivery bottlenecks have occurred here and there and orders have been cancelled, there has hardly been any need to resort to short-time working. "The companies have adapted their business processes to corona conditions and taken comprehensive protective measures. For the time being, they are operating on sight," adds the Managing Director of VDMA Valves. Business in all three product groups was encouraging in the first six months of the year. Nevertheless, there were varying degrees of development. The strongest growth was recorded in control valves, which increased by 15%, followed by safety and monitoring valves, which increased by 10%, and shut-off valves, which increased by 6%. However, the outlook differs more widely. While the order situation for control valves indicates a significant decline, the signs for shut-off valves are currently stagnating, and the order book for safety and monitoring valves is still fairly full. EXPORTS FALL In the first half of the year, German industrial valve manufacturers exported goods worth 2.0 billion euros abroad. This corresponds to a decline of 8.6% compared to the same period last year. Export business with most trading partners was severely hampered by the numerous lockdowns in the wake of the pandemic. In the case of China, the most important trading partner, business has since picked up again after a sharp dip at the beginning of the year and is now slightly up (plus 1.3%). In total, valves worth 264.1 million euros ($312 million) were delivered to the People's Republic. Also to Switzerland (7th place for exports), with 75.0 million euros, 8.2% more goods were exported than in the same period last year. However, deliveries to the second most important customer country, the US, fell by 16.9% to 179.6 million euros. There were also significantly fewer valves shipped to France than in the previous year (minus 10.7%). The country nevertheless maintained its third place among the most important sales markets with a sales volume of 110.6 million euros. STAGNATION FORECAST The recent somewhat weaker trend in the order situation suggests that the economic downturn will also make itself felt in the industrial valves sector with some delay. Important customer industries such as oil and gas and chemicals, but also shipbuilding, are gradually feeling the effects of the economic downturn. Larger investment projects are being postponed or cancelled. "In the second half of the year, we therefore expect to see stronger declines. Against this background, we currently only expect stagnation in 2020," predicts Burchard. -- Tradearabia News Service The Greater Accra Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) has expressed doubt about the words of former President John Dramani Mahama to fulfil his promise to pay assembly members monthly salary if he wins the December 7 elections. Addressing the media in Accra, the General Secretary for the group, Alfred Adjei, argued that while the former president and the NDC made the same promise in its 2012 manifesto, John Mahama abandoned it during his tenure. We find his will to fulfil his promise not credible and his mode of approach not sustainable because his track record as vice president and president respectfully shows that he abandoned assembly members. He left assembly members in a state of hopelessness and took us for granted. As a head of state who has had the opportunity to serve in the capacity of an assembly member, most of us believed in his promise of paying assembly members and presiding members as stated in page 93 of the NDC manifesto in 2012. This was stated black and white and we believed he could [fulfil] his promise because he has been in our position before and should have better understood the plight of the assembly members but he surprisingly abandoned us. We are surprised that this same John Mahama is again making a promise to ensure the payment of monthly salaries to assembly members if he is given the chance to come to power again. He failed to do so when he was in power, he added. He further courted the support of his colleagues in throwing their weight behind Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP ahead of the 2020 general elections. ---with files from citinewsroom The Australian Labor Party confirmed yesterday that it will back legislation, drawn up in backroom talks by the federal government and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), to reduce JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments and allow employers to keep cutting workers hours and wages. Labors parliamentary caucus agreed to vote for the Liberal-National governments bill, ensuring it will pass through parliament during the current fortnight sitting, after its provisions were finalised during negotiations between ACTU secretary Sally McManus and Workplace Relations Minister Christian Porter. In its assault on workers, the ACTU-designed deal goes far beyond the initial JobKeeper package drafted by McManus and Porter in April-May. After that agreement was reached Porter called McManus his BFF (best friend forever) and Prime Minister Scott Morrison phoned McManus to thank her for the ACTUs constructive role. The JobKeeper 2.0 measures will throw about five million workers onto poverty-line payments from next month amid the worst unemployment since the 1930s Great Depression. At the same time, it will allow companies to continue slashing wages and conditions even if they no longer qualify for JobKeeper wage subsidies. The clear purpose of these measures is to give workers no choice but to accept the gutting of their conditions and push them into unsafe workplaces, regardless of the danger of infection, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The ACTU-Labor-government deal is a centrepiece of the drive to reopen the economy and exploit the pandemic to further restructure workplace relations at the expense of the working class. The bill extends employers powers to reduce workers hours and adjust their duties and location of work. This is both for businesses still claiming wage subsidies and for legacy employers who no longer qualify for the subsidies but claim to be suffering just a 10 percent decline in revenue due to COVID-19. The main limit is that workers hours and wages cannot be cut by more than 40 percent. Also, they cannot be called in to work fewer than two hours on a single day. In other words, the bill is another green light for the casualisation and impoverishment of millions of workers. When the ACTU and the government struck their initial deal on the JobKeeper legislation, which Labor helped pass in May, the unions claimed that this was only a temporary measure, confined to employers that qualified for wage subsidies. This pretence has now been abandoned. The 3.5 million or so workers currently receiving a bare minimum wage of $750 a week, via JobKeeper subsidies handed to their employers, will have their incomes reduced to just $500 a week by the end of the year, and to only $325 a week for part-time or casual workers. These amounts are not enough to live on. The approximately 1.6 million jobless workers now receiving JobSeeker unemployment allowances of $550 a week will have these pittances cut by $150 a week to just over $400. That is just above the starvation level of $280 a week for the pre-COVID Newstart jobless payment. And the government has foreshadowed cutting this level further after December 31. After yesterdays caucus meeting, Labors leaders said they would back the bill even if the government rejects any Labor amendments to adjust the pace of slashing these payments. Labor is trying to posture as having some concerns about workers bearing the burden of the pandemic-triggered economic crisis, while pledging its support for the bill to satisfy the demands of the corporate elite. Another pretence by the government, Labor and the unionsthat JobKeeper is for the benefit of workerswas shattered last week. Annual profit reports by companies confirmed that the JobKeeper wage subsidies are propping up and inflating the profits of large companies, even as they axe thousands of jobs. At the top of the list was Qantas, the former government-owned airline. It obtained $267 million from JobKeeper by June 30, plus as much again in direct government subsidies, while standing down 20,000 workers. Yesterday it announced the dismissal of 2,500 ground crew members, on top of 4,000 retrenchments last week. By last week, companies listed on the stock exchange had reported receiving at least $625 million in JobKeeper payments, often while reporting increased profits based almost entirely on these subsidies. The true level of the corporate handouts remains hidden because the government refuses to provide a list of all the companies and the amounts they are receiving. While the ACTU and its affiliates feigned opposition to Qantass job destruction, they are working night and day to block any struggles by workers against it or any other attack on jobs and conditions. At the same time, they are collaborating behind closed doors with the government and the major employers in five working groups on how to impose more industrial relations reforms. These round table groups are due to report next month. McManus told a recent Griffith University online event that making industrial awards simpler and less complex was an area for potential agreement. She denied media reports that the process had produced impasses, saying agreement could be reached with some employer groups. Her comments were a reminder of her interview on the Australian Broadcasting Corporations flagship Insiders television show in April, when she told employers: You can get everything you want through co-operation. McManus boasted that she and the unions had worked to make changes to industrial awards and agreements affecting 2.5 million restaurant, hospitality and clerical workers in about a week. In one typical changemade without any consultation with these millions of workersthe Australian Services Union allowed employers to force 1.3 million clerical workers to work any hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, and 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays without overtime rates. It also permitted casuals to be allocated shifts as short as two hours. This weeks proceedings in parliament again demonstrate how much the ruling class depends on the Labor Party and the unions to quash unrest in the working class over the mass unemployment, cuts to wages and conditions, and exposure to unsafe conditions in workplaces, including schools, hospitals and aged care facilities, amid the pandemic. After months of recess, parliament has been recalled for a fortnight just to rush through this bill and other legislation to hike university students fees. Parliament will not meet again until October 6, when another brief session will be organised to rubber stamp an austerity budget. The country remains governed by a de facto coalition with the Labor Party via a self-proclaimed national cabinet, which sanctions emergency decrees issued by the federal, state and territory government leaders. This collaboration takes to a new level the partnership forged for decades between the unions, employers and government to suppress the opposition of workers to the endless attacks of the financial elite. These have produced a soaring gulf between the super-rich and the working class, especially since the union-employer-government Accords reached by the ACTU and the Hawke-Keating Labor governments in the 1980s and 1990s. Todays government-corporate-union offensive underscores the necessity for workers to break from Labor and the unions, and to turn to an alternative socialist perspective: The fight for a workers government that would place the banks and corporations under public ownership and democratic workers control to reorganise production for human need and health, not private profit. The author also recommends: Australian national cabinet exploits pandemic for economic restructuring [22 August 2020] Australias rising COVID-19 death toll: A ruling class crime [18 August 2020] Victorias COVID-19 catastrophe: An indictment of Australian governments and capitalism [5 August 2020] JAKARTA, Aug 26, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - The premium domain marketplace from Indonesia, called domain.id, has been introduced to the public as the first Domain marketplace in Indonesia. The marketplace officially saw the soft launch on August 25, which was held during the annual Indonesian Internet Domain Name Registry (PANDI) event, PANDI Meeting 11.Domain.id is a marketplace that focuses on selling, buying and auctioning domains, this marketplace offers competing and competitive domain name prices, and the ease of buying and selling domains. Not only that it is super easy to set up by the registration form, it is also very convenient to the buyers.Another strenghth is that in domain.id marketplace, the domain name options are widely ranged in languages with unique words and premium limited character options. .id could be ideas, identitiy, ideology, it could perfectly match any business, organization, or even for any user very own personal website. With all of that advantages, they targeted not only the domestic, but also International market.PANDI Chief Registry Operator, Muhammad Shidiq Purnama said, that using a domain is the most important element for a website. "Domain is closely related to website. The key to the success of a website is in the selection (wording) in the domain itself, so that it is easier for others to say and remember," said Shidiq.Furthermore, Shidiq said that the domain.id marketplace activities are around selling, buying and being the middleman in the domain industry."The presence of the domain.id marketplace expected to be a meeting place between sellers, buyers and middlemans in domain marketing so that the digital ecosystem can run well. We also only focus on selling premium domains, because the branding will greatly increase the exposure of the premium domain user brand itself," he said.Shidiq said that for the first stage, the target of domain.id will be focused on the domestic market, as well as expansion to several countries in Asia, Europe and America. In the future, domain.id hoped to continue famed to various parts of the world, so that it can compete with similar marketplaces made by other countries.The advantage of the domain.id marketplace compared to other marketplaces is in the domains it sells, where domain.id sells premium domain names with "beautiful" names. In addition, there are still high avaibility of domain name options, so that the user can freely choose premium domain names as they wish.Shidiq hopes that domain.id be the main choice in the domain name industry, and that it can compete with the existing domain industry-based marketplaces that exist today. "We hope that domain.id be the first choice of users in buying domains, so that they can become a reference and compete with other marketplaces around the world," Shidiq concluded.The Domain.id Marketplace is one of PANDI's products. Besides Domain.id, which you can access at www.domain.id, PANDI has other exciting products, such as https://s.id/, a link shortener to shorten your links, as well as a Single Sign On product, which is linked to an Indonesian goverment site at www.u.id.Contact:Ratih AyuBusiness Development+62 8118885159Busdev@domain.idSource: Indonesian Domain Name RegistryCopyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. - Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Basic and Secondary Education has revealed that the GES has been tasked to review their policies on the use of mobile phones and other devices IN SHS - Dr. Yaw Adutwum said it will help make room for the president promise of SHS getting free WiFi - According to him, the time is now for society to embrace the positives of technology in schools Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Gone are the days when students were not allowed to use any form of technology in Secondary schools aside from the calculator. When spotted with any device like the popular 'yam' phones or even the very trendy smartphones, the student found guilty were punished severely or in some institutions, the student would be expelled from the boarding house. Since President Akufo-Addo decided to announce that WiFi would be provided to all secondary schools across the country, what seemed to be normal is being critically considered. Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, has revealed that the Ghana Education Service (GES) has been tasked to review their policies on the use of mobile phones and other devices to make room for the president promise. Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum Source: Graphic.com.gh Source: UGC READ ALSO: Students of St. Cyprian's Anglican JHS 'A' reject hot meal; say the food is not sweet GES [Ghana Education Service] has been asked to review their policies and they are going to have to review it [the ban on smart devices]. We are in the 21st century, he said. Speaking on CitiFM's Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News, Dr. Adutwum said concerns were not enough to hold back arguments against the use of gadgets with internet access in schools without adult supervision. According to him, the time is now for society to embrace the positives of technology in schools. In the 21st century, you have to leverage technology to improve learning outcomes. It is something that has to happen and ought to happen, he noted READ ALSO: We want money instead of the hot meals JHS teachers to Akufo-Addo In other news, students of St. Cyprian's Anglican JHS 'A' in Kumasi , rejected President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's free hot meal served them. According to the student, the food that was served was not tasty and was saltless as well. In a report filed by Class News, the students were reported saying they were not prisoners to be served such a meal. READ ALSO: Election 2020: 3 promises Mahama gave Ghanaians after NPP's manifesto launch Thousands line up in Takoradi to welcome President Akufo-Addo | #Yencomgh Got a story you think we should know about? Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 08:02 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c407cc97 4 National gravediggers,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-death-toll,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Gravediggers working at two public cemeteries designated for COVID-19 victims in Surabaya, East Java, have reportedly buried some 1,500 bodies since the pandemic started. Munaji, a gravedigger at the Keputih Public Cemetery, said he had helped at approximately 800 burials at the cemetery. Combined with those at the Babat Jerawat Cemetery, he said, the number of burials in Surabaya had reached around 1,500. Its real. The number of COVID-19 burials, from the beginning of the pandemic until now, is around 1,500, Munaji said on Monday, as quoted by KompasTV. Munaji said in the beginning of the outbreak, he helped bury some 35 bodies per day and worked around the clock. Although his worry about contracting the virus persisted, he said it was his call to continue to work in good faith. Munaji urged people to comply with health protocols to stop the transmission and reduce the number of victims. When will this end? We are tired, we are depressed, he said. Read also: 'COVID-19 is real': Virus ravages family in Indonesia's second-largest city East Java has been among the worst-hit provinces in Indonesia, with most of its cases being reported in Surabaya. As of Tuesday, East Java had confirmed 30,998 cases, with 24,301 recoveries and 2,222 deaths. Surabaya has contributed 11,628 cases, with 8,968 recoveries and 900 deaths. The number of burials at the cemeteries in Surabaya are higher than the confirmed deaths, as the government excludes the deaths of suspected cases from the official data but requires them to be buried under COVID-19 protocols. This also means more work and more personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for gravediggers across the country. Separately, a gravedigger in Gandus Hill Cemetery in Palembang, South Sumatra, Herman, also shared his struggles. For fear of transmitting the virus to his wife and children, the 55-year-old only goes home once in a while to change clothes, as do his four colleagues. Read also: COVID-19 in East Java: A crisis of awareness Herman admitted that he wore ordinary clothes and worked with only a spade, with no special protective gear. Herman said that he and his colleagues were paid a total of Rp 750,000 (US$51.30) per burial, which was divided evenly among them. There is no tip, thats all. Sometimes were given vitamins. But we remain sincere, because this is all we can do to help during this pandemic, Herman said on Sunday. If no one wanted to do it, who would help with the burials? I only pray for Gods protection while working. This is all for humanity, he added. (syk) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Delhi has issued an orange warning for Delhi today. An orange warning implies that disaster management authorities should be prepared to avert any rain related disasters or flooding. RMC has said light to moderate thundershowers are likely in Delhi towards evening or night. There is likely to be minor traffic disruption and water accumulation in low lying areas, RMC said in its impact-based bulletin for Delhi on Tuesday evening. Heavy to very heavy rains are likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and over Uttar Pradesh also from August 26 to 28. Odisha has already started recording extremely heavy rain. The highest values are being recorded at Champua (Keonjhargarh) - 21 cm, Boudh - 20.8 cm, Marshaghai (Kendrapada) - 23.4 cm, since yesterday. The monsoon trough (line of low pressure) is active and is very likely to remain active during next 2-3 days. In addition, there is a convergence of strong lower level southwesterly winds from Arabian Sea over northwest India till August 28. A well-marked low pressure area is also lying over North Bay of Bengal which is moving west-northwestwards across Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, north Chhattisgarh and later towards Uttar Pradesh in the next five days. Also Read: IMD forecasts moderate to heavy rain in Delhi starting today Due to these favourable conditions, widespread to very heavy rain is very likely over Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand till August 28; over Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and West Rajasthan during August 26 to 28 and over east Rajasthan on August 28 and 29. Extremely heavy rain (over 20 cm) is likely over Chhattisgarh on August 27. IMD has said localised flooding of roads, water logging in low lying areas and closure of underpasses mainly in urban areas of the above region, disruption of traffic, mudslides are likely in parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh during the period. Also Read: Mumbai got highest August rain since 1983, says IMD Widespread and heavy rain is also very likely over northwest India till August 28, IMDs Tuesday evening bulletin said. Monsoon rain over the country since June 1 is 7% excess with 4% excess over east and northeast India; 14% deficiency over northwest India; 15% excess over central India; and 24% excess over south peninsula. In August the entire country has recorded 22.6% excess rain; 5.2% deficiency over northwest India; 18% deficiency over east and northeast India; 50% excess over central India and 51.5% excess over south Peninsula according to data with India Meteorological Department. Celebrities will do anything to stay in the spotlight. The more surprising their stunt is, the longer they will be talked about. Some celebrities believe that even negative publicity is still publicity, and they don't mind criticism from the public as long as they can get their name out there. However, there are certain stunts that could have consequences, and it could damage their career instead of helping its kick-off. Here are some celebrities who did the craziest stunts just to get attention. Jussie Smollett Jussie Smollett is known as one of the lead stars of the hit show "Empire," and his career is going well. However, the actor wanted more and used his orientation and his race as a way to garner sympathy from the public. In January 2019, Smollett began his stunt by telling the bosses at Fox that he is getting threatening letters. On January 29, 2019, Smollett was allegedly attacked by two masked assailants who called him homophobic slurs, threw bleach on him, beat him up, and tried to lynch him. Also Read: Celebrities Who Turned Down Major Movie Roles On February 16, the suspects were identified by the police, and both are of Nigerian descent. That was when the authorities were able to put the pieces together. Smollett staged the whole event, hired the two suspects, and pretended to be a victim, all because he wanted to get a raise from the show that he was in. Unfortunately, Smollett did not get what he wanted. He was fired from the last season of the show, and he was arrested by the authorities for staging the attack, as reported by ABC News. DJ Khalid In 2013, DJ Khalid shocked the public when he publicly proposed to rapper Nicki Minaj on television. The whole thing was romantic, with sweet words accompanied by a massive diamond ring. The public thought he was serious about his declaration of love. However, it turned out that it was just a publicity stunt, and Minaj did not know that DJ Khalid would even do it. In her interview with Business Standard, she said that she just laughed it off, and the whole stunt was just a promotion for their then collaboration. Steve Rannazzisi The 9/11 attacks changed the lives of a lot of people forever, and one of them is that of comedian Steve Rannazzisi. In his 2009 interview with Marc Maron, he said that we were working as an account manager at Merrill Lynch in the South Tower when the first tower was hit. The comedian explained that he was already in the streets before the second tower was hit and collapsed. He added that the incident inspired him to live his dream of becoming a comedian, as he realized how short life is. However, an article from The New York Times exposed Rannazzisi when Merrill Lynch stated that the comedian never worked for them. There were also inconsistencies with his story, and that was when the public started doubting the authenticity of it. Rannazzisi later admitted that he made everything up and apologized. Although he was still able to keep some of his gigs, his ad for Buffalo Wild Wings was pulled out. Related Article: Celebrities Who Are Famous for No Reason @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Imran Khan lashes out at opposition for defeating two FATF-related bills in Senate Islamabad, Aug 25(UNI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday lambasted his country's opposition for defeating two bills related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in the Senate, accusing them of trying to sabotage his efforts to help Pakistan exit from the watchdog's 'grey list' for personal political interests. Khan tweeted this after the opposition-dominated Senate rejected the Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Waqf Properties Bill, both of which were passed by the National Assembly just a day earlier, Dawn News reported. He accused the opposition of becoming desperate to save their skin and their ill gotten money in the wake of the tightening of the accountability noose around them and said they (the opposition) was trying to bring down his government unless given the NRO. 08/26/2020 LOWELL, Mass. Incumbent Edward Markey has opened up a double-digit lead over challenger U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III one week before the Democratic primary in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll of Massachusetts voters released today. Conducted by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion , the poll of 800 likely Democratic primary voters found that Markey leads the race with 52 percent of respondents supporting him, compared to 40 percent for Kennedy, with 6 percent of voters undecided and 2 percent favoring another candidate. The primary election is Tuesday, Sept. 1. Voters education factors into their choice and accounts for the largest divide among respondents, poll results show. Voters with a college degree prefer Markey by a 37-point margin, as 65 percent of these respondents would elect him, compared to 28 percent of voters who favor Kennedy. The congressman leads by 15 points among voters without a college degree, with 53 percent favoring him, compared to 38 percent for Markey. Markey also holds double-digit leads over Kennedy among voters in key demographic groups. Among younger likely voters, 59 percent of respondents age 18 to 44 say they would vote for Markey, compared to 32 percent who would elect Kennedy, giving a 27-point lead in that demographic to the senator, who first won the seat in a 2013 special election to replace former U.S. Sen. John Kerry. Among women, Markey leads by 18 points, as 55 percent of respondents said they would vote for him, compared to 37 percent for Kennedy. The senator holds a 24-point lead among voters with a family income of more than $100,000, favored by 57 percent of these respondents, compared to 33 percent for Kennedy. The candidates are tied, each with 46 percent support, among respondents who earn less than $50,000 a year. Markey is also besting Kennedy among white voters, as 55 percent of respondents prefer the senator, who holds a 16-point advantage over Kennedy, with 39 percent support. Among voters of color, Kennedy is up one point, 41 percent to Markeys 40 percent, which is within the margin of error. Perhaps the most peculiar thing about this race is that the incumbent has been embraced by the outsider wing of the Democratic Party and the challenger has been characterized as an insider. This insider/outsider dynamic comes through clearly in that voters who trust government are much more likely to support Kennedy and those that distrust government are more likely to support Markey. Should Markey hold on to win, his ability to avoid the out-of-touch-establishment-elite label will be the reason he was able to keep his seat, said Joshua Dyck, director of the Center for Public Opinion and UMass Lowell associate professor of political science. The findings released today are a sharp contrast to the results of past polling by the Center for Public Opinion on the race. Survey results issued in May found a close contest, with Kennedy garnering 44 percent of support among likely Democratic voters and 42 percent supporting incumbent Markey, while 10 percent were undecided. At that time, Markey led among likely voters who identify themselves as liberals (54 percent to 39 percent), while Kennedy was ahead among moderates (55 percent to 25 percent). Yet despite Markeys widening lead, 52 percent of voters polled in results released today said their lives are not likely to be any better or worse in six years regardless of which candidate wins the election. In the final days, voters see this race as low stakes, but that hasnt prevented the race from being high drama. Both candidates have taken the gloves off in this campaign, but its clear that Markey has Kennedy on the ropes. This bout isnt over, but Markey has the clearest advantage weve seen since Kennedy filed to run, said John Cluverius, associate director of the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion and assistant professor of political science. The poll also surveyed likely Democratic primary voters views about life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings include: More voters (35 percent), said COVID-19 will prove to be a greater threat to humanity over the next five years than climate change. Thirty-one percent of voters said climate change is the more pressing issue and 36 percent of respondents said the threats were about equal; Asked whether their local schools should reopen for face-to-face instruction in the fall, 84 percent of voters oppose that move, while 16 percent favor it; Without an option to vote early or by mail, 15 percent of respondents said they would opt to stay home and not vote in this election. Further, if they knew voting in person would lead to them contracting COVID-19, 62 percent said they would stay home. Democratic primary voters have almost no faith in local leaders to safely reopen schools for face-to-face instruction. Theres some backlash to President Trumps desire for schools to open in person, but its clear here that anxiety about reopening schools is rampant among Democratic primary voters, even in a state that has contained the virus much better than others, Cluverius said. Despite voters COVID-19 concerns, Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker remains extremely popular with Democrats, survey results show. Among poll respondents, Baker has an 89 percent approval rating, with 54 percent of voters who strongly approve and 35 percent who somewhat approve and only 11 percent who disapprove of how the governor is handling his job. These statistics are virtually unchanged from polling data the Center for Public Opinion released in May, according to Dyck. Charlie Baker continues to be the most popular Republican among Democrats in Massachusetts more popular, in fact, than most Democratic politicians. His 89 percent approval rating among Democratic likely voters includes unenrolled voters. But even among just registered Democrats, Bakers approval rating is 90 percent, he said. Detailed poll results including analysis, topline and methodology are available at www.uml.edu/polls . The independent, nonpartisan poll was conducted by the University of Massachusetts Lowells Center for Public Opinion using the latest technology and highest standards. The center is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Researchs Transparency Initiative and presents events and polls on political and social issues that provide unique opportunities for civic engagement, experiential learning and research. The poll also surveyed voters views on national issues. Here, the survey found the Black Lives Matter movement has the support of a majority of Democrats polled, with a net favorability rating of +71 percent. As may be expected among Democratic primary voters, 67 percent of respondents said they disapprove of President Donald Trumps job performance, while 7 percent approve, and 92 percent of voters polled said they think the country is on the wrong track, compared to 8 percent who said it is on the right track. Findings on the presidential race shows Democratic nominee Joe Biden has a +67 net positive favorability rating, (80 percent favorable, 13 percent unfavorable), while his running mate, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris has a +65 net positive favorability rating (77 percent favorable, 12 percent unfavorable). On the Republican ticket, Trump has a -87 net negative favorability rating (6 percent favorable, 93 percent unfavorable) and Vice President Mike Pence has a -76 net negative favorability rating (9 percent favorable, 85 percent unfavorable). Among other national public figures, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the White House coronavirus task force has a +80 net positive favorability rating (85 percent favorable, 5 percent unfavorable) and White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx has a +6 net favorability rating (27 percent favorable, 21 percent unfavorable). Former President Barack Obama has a +81 net positive favorability rating and presidential adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner is at a -73 net negative rating. Likely Democratic primary voters were also questioned on a range of other topics. Findings include: Markeys campaign decision to draw on his roots as an ice cream man may be paying dividends, as the dessert has a net favorability rating of +91 percent among Democrats polled; Market Basket has a net favorability rating of +68 percent, with Dunkin close behind at +64 percent; Among companies that operate social-media platforms, TikTok is the most disliked, with a -20 net favorability rating, followed by Facebook with a -4 net favorability rating and Snapchat with a -1 net favorability rating. More on favorability ratings from the poll is available at www.uml.edu/polls The poll surveyed 800 likely voters in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary. The poll was designed and analyzed by the Center for Public Opinion and fielded by YouGov from Aug. 13 through Aug. 21. The adjusted margin of error is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. Full poll methodology is available at www.uml.edu/polls. UMass Lowell is a national research university offering its more than 18,000 students bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu Over the course of six minutes on Tuesday night, former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi was supposed to prosecute an airtight case against former vice president Joe Biden. Instead, she merely rehashed long-debunked assertions that President Donald Trump's team made during his impeachment trial and reintroduced a number of other problems for Trump that were otherwise lying dormant. Bondi began by trying to relitigate claims that Biden had improperly intervened in Ukraine to protect his son Hunter. The details of these assertions will be familiar to anyone who'd paid attention in late 2019 and early 2020, when Trump was impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate. Trump had tried, without success, to pressure the president of Ukraine to announce an investigation that would impugn Biden. That's probably in part because the case Trump - and, on Tuesday, Bondi - made was false, involving both misrepresentations of what happened and a reliance on dishonest assertions from a former Ukrainian official. She then made similar claims, also ones promoted by Trump as he sought to defend himself from being removed from office, alleging improper behavior by Hunter Biden in relation to China. (That included disparaging alleged interactions with "communist bankers," something of an oxymoron.) Those claims about China were also broadly false. Notice that we can't discuss these claims from Bondi without repeatedly mentioning that Donald Trump was the third president in history to be impeached after the House found that he abused his power in an effort to do precisely what Bondi was doing: use Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine as a campaign gambit against his father. This was probably not the goal of Bondi's speech. But she wasn't done. She criticized Biden based on "numerous press reports that have shown other close Biden family members benefited from Joe's 47-year political career." It's an ironic charge to make in general, but specifically from that stage on that night. As she spoke, CNN displayed a ticker of the speakers to come: As she spoke, CNN displayed a ticker of the speakers to come: Tiffany Trump. Then Eric Trump. After Bondi was done speaking, the convention showed a video featuring women and mothers who work in the White House - including Ivanka Trump, now a government employee, alongside her husband. By speaking during the convention, though, Bondi sent messages that weren't included in her script. Her presence, for example, served as a reminder of the time that she declined to investigate Trump University, despite it being accused of fraud, after receiving a campaign contribution from Donald Trump. A bribery complaint based on that interaction was eventually dismissed for a lack of evidence. That political donation, though, was issued by Trump's personal foundation, which is a violation of the law. Shortly before the 2016 election, the foundation had to pay a fine as a result. Which brings up the foundation. A number of incidents in which the foundation illegally spent money to benefit Trump prompted the president to have to pay a $2 million fine in 2019. He'd already agreed to shut the foundation down after it was ordered to stop accepting contributions by the state of New York. There's one last irony. Bondi took the stage Tuesday to criticize Hunter Biden for taking foreign money, even as she actively serves as a registered lobbyist for Qatar. That employment comes despite Trump's promise that executive branch officials would be barred from lobbying on behalf of a foreign government, prohibition which would seemingly apply to Bondi given that the White House hired her to help prosecute its impeachment case. In other words, Bondi has already tried to help Trump to win a vote by making false assertions about Joe Biden - and has already lost. THE HAGUE, Netherlands - A defiant Ratko Mladic dismissed the U.N. court hearing his appeal against convictions for crimes including genocide as a child of the Western powers, as a two-day hearing wrapped up Wednesday with the former Bosnian Serb military chief jabbing his finger at the courtroom and saying his indictment had gone down the drain. Mladic was given 10 minutes at the end of the hearing to make a personal statement before judges retired to decide whether to uphold or overturn his 2017 convictions and life sentence for masterminding atrocities throughout the 1992-95 Bosnian War. Their decision in the case of one of the highest profile suspects will go a long way to deciding the legacy of a U.N. tribunal that convicted dozens of war criminals from the bloody conflict. Mladic, 77, stood up and used his time to lay out some of his recollections of the war that left 100,000 dead and to disparage one of the U.N. prosecution lawyers who earlier urged judges to uphold his convictions and sentence as this blonde lady who has been showering me with satanic, snaky, devilish words. I am none of the things that you call me, he added, his words translated into English by a courtroom translator. He said he wasnt speaking to defend himself, but insisted that the trial judges who convicted him were wrong. Earlier, prosecution lawyer Barbara Goy called Mladic one of the worst war criminals who has ever faced justice at an international tribunal. Goy said that for Mladic, life imprisonment is the only conceivable sentence. Nothing less than the maximum sentence is appropriate. Mladics defence lawyers called on judges on Tuesday to overturn his 2017 convictions for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, saying the trial panels final judgment was riddled with legal and factual errors. Among their arguments, the lawyers said that busing Bosnian Muslims out of Srebrenica 25 years ago was a humanitarian mission, not a forcible transfer of civilians. At a hearing conducted at the U.N. International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, and held partly by video conference because of coronavirus restrictions, prosecution lawyer Laurel Baig rejected that characterization of the events. There was nothing humanitarian about this operation. On the contrary, it was barbaric, Baig said. Mladic and his political master, Radovan Karadzic, were both convicted by a U.N. war crimes tribunal of genocide and other offences for their roles in the forcible removal of Bosnian Muslims civilians and the massacre of more than 8,000 men and boys from Srebrenica. Karadzics convictions were upheld on appeal last year. Mladic was key to the success of this operation, Baig said. Not only was he present, giving orders supervising and directing, he also played a critical and high level role in keeping the international community from stopping these massacres. He also was convicted of involvement in crimes including the deadly siege of Sarajevo, and brutal campaigns to drive Bosnian Muslims and Croats out of territory claimed by Bosnian Serbs. Prosecutors called on the appeals judges to overturn Mladics acquittal on a genocide charge linked to the ethnic cleansing campaigns. Mladic called himself a lifetime professional soldier who worked according to the laws of his own country, which he referred to as the SFRY, or Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the country established after World War II that crumbled in the devastating Balkan wars of the 1990s. Fate put me in a position to defend my country, the SFRY, that you Western powers had devastated with the help of the Vatican, and the Western mafia, he added, also blaming former US President George H.W. Bush and former German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. As the presiding judge cut him off, Mladic added, Im very sorry that you have interrupted me. My time is only just coming. People will hear what Ratko Mladic has to say. I am alive and I will live as long as our tribe and our people live. Thank you. And this indictment of yours has gone down the drain. More and more COVID vaccines are entering phase three of clinical trials. Several Chinese pharmaceuticals are among those developing vaccines, and Indonesia has decided to partner with them. But researchers in Indonesia are also looking to develop their own homegrown vaccine. VOA's Rendy Wicaksana looks at efforts to test vaccines in (the province of) West Java and the capital, Jakarta. VOA Khmer's Choeung Pochin narrates. BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of rare documents left by two Chinese academic and revolutionary pioneers opened Tuesday in Beijing. Manuscripts of Chen Duxiu, a founding member of the Communist Party of China, and Hu Shi, a renowned academic and educator, were on display. Both Chen and Hu were prominent figures in the New Culture Movement in China during the 1910s and 1920s. Among the manuscripts of Hu is a 500,000-character diary that he kept while studying overseas, along with more than 450 photos, an amount of newspaper clippings, and letters. The exhibition will be held in Beijing until Aug. 31 before it continues on a nationwide tour to cities including Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. 143 Shares Share An excerpt from Scope Forward: The Future of Gastroenterology Is Now in Your Hands. Over a decade ago, many of us still used landline phones, watched cable TV, rented DVDs, called for taxis, took photos using cameras, and drove over to Borders to browse and buy books. During the past 10 years, we watched each of these fields permanently getting altered. Today, we stream movies on Netflix, call Uber to get somewhere, and we keep buying new phones to take better photos. We cant think of what not to use Amazon for. Its trueour life has turned digital. Most of us are so hooked to a device that to disconnect digitally is considered being mindful now. Whether we realize it or not, we are living in exponential times. We are part of a grander, digital game. How does a field become digitized? By finding a way to convert itself into zeros and ones, the basic language of computers. When music became digitized, we could more easily transmit a song as zeros and ones through the internet. When photography became digitized, we could convert pixels into zeros and ones. When books became digitized, we could access it via Amazon Kindle, a digital device. Industries and companies failing to recognize that shift are inevitably disrupted. With $16 billion in annual revenues, Kodaks leadership position was unquestionable in 1996. Maybe thats why its executives didnt see (or didnt want to see) the wave of digital photography. When photography became digital, it moved from a physical setup of bulky cameras with film rolls to a more virtual environmenta smartphone in your pocket. Moving to digital, photography became cheaper and cheaper to the point where it became virtually free. You could distribute your photos infinitely. Companies like Instagram built apps that made average people take cool photographs. Meanwhile, Kodak went bankrupt in less than 20 years from its peak in mid-1990s. Stool DNA tests and self-driving cars Back in 2012, I sat in a very different-looking Lexusit was one of Googles early self-driving cars. Wires ran from a laptop to the steering wheel and into the mechanics of the vehicle. A gray-looking device called the LIDAR scanner sat on top of the car. It rotated all the time and scanned the entire environment. The LIDAR served as the eyes of the self-driving car. From what I gathered, it cost $200,000 to convert the Lexus into a self-driving unit. The LIDAR itself cost $75,000. The automotive industry dismissed Googles effort as a research project. Well, it was one. The Google Self Driving Car Project started in 2009. A decade later, Googles self-driving car, called Waymo, is a Chrysler Pacifica minivan. On their website, the company says that they are building the Worlds Most Experienced Driver. They can make that claim because when one Waymo car drives a mile, the entire Waymo system learns. We can clearly see that exponential technologies are disrupting cars and phones. So why wouldnt these technologies find their way into health care and gastroenterology? What do stool tests have to do with self-driving cars? Well soon find out. But lets first go back to the discussion we had earlier on the shift to digital. Screening for cancer through colonoscopy, while a gold standard, reminds me of a field thats at the crossroads of disruptionmuch like music or photography was before iTunes or smartphones. If you consider the argument for a moment, a colonoscopy is largely limited to one doctor and one patient at a time. When a doctor performs a colonoscopy, he or she cant scale beyond the procedure. With each procedure, the learning happens within the capacity of that one doctor. To put that into context, only a very small percentage of doctors become endoscopists. And an even smaller percentage achieve mastery in endoscopy. Statistically speaking, we are talking of a very few highly qualified individuals who can reliably screen for cancer using sophisticated methods. Ask yourself what could make the field of cancer screening go digital? Something that can accelerate cancer screening and give control to the nonexperts. Im sure you might have arrived at DNA testing or artificial intelligence. Now ask yourself these five questions: Can stool DNA testing be ultimately represented in zeros and ones, the language of computers? iTunes allows musicians to reach millions of people. With DNA testing, is it technically possible to screen millions of people for colon cancer? The more Googles self-driving car drives, the more it learns as a system. Could it be technically feasible to reduce screening error rates with more screening data? Smartphones made the average user into a photographer. Could a DNA testing kit (backed by a sophisticated lab) simplify screening to a point where the patient has more control? Amazon made it easier for people to buy books. Could DNA testing make cancer screening dramatically more convenient? By going digital, we would take a physical environment (endoscopy room to detect cancer) and convert it into a virtual, information-enabled, machine-driven environment (DNA testing to detect cancer). Looking at it differently, the demand for early cancer screening will continue to rise. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring cancer in men and the second most in women. Its an expanding need. By taking advantage of exponential tools, gastroenterologists can screen more patients than they have in the past. We must find ways to ride and harness this digital wave to scope forward. Not fight or escape it. Praveen Suthrum is president and co-founder, NextServices and blogs at redo | healthcare. Image credit: Shutterstock.com The proprietor of a popular Council Bluffs gift store is closing shop to focus her attention on caring for her elderly mother and advocating for families to have more rights to monitor their loved ones living in long-term care facilities. For nearly 16 years, Savannah Filmore gift boutique, 19257 Conifer Lane, has provided area shoppers with a wide variety of artwork, jewelry, home decor and holiday selections. Store owner Diane Hathaway said store liquidation will continue through the rest of the year. COVID-19 is certainly a business concern, but a greater concern is the welfare of my 95-year-old mother residing in a nursing home in southern Iowa, Hathaway said. I need flexibility to be able to be available to her and pursue my new passion securing a familys right to install a camera in their loved ones nursing home room. Hathaway recently broke the news to about 1,000 customers through mailed postcards highlighting the rationale behind her decision. While those receiving news of the closure were sad, Hathaway said most were far more interested in discussing how they could help regarding the senior citizen issue. Its an issue, Hathaway said, that came to light when she attempted to install camera equipment in her mothers room in March. Her mother, whom Hathaway said is dealing with a serious health condition, wants the surveillance equipment installed. But Hathaway said her request was shot down by nursing home officials, who reportedly said the installation could potentially violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which was created and designed to protect sensitive patient information from being disclosed without a patients explicit consent or knowledge. One of the prime issues surrounding Iowas stance on families installing surveillance equipment is the overall ambiguity. According to information provided by the Iowa Health Care Association, no federal or state law specifically prohibits or authorizes the use of surveillance cameras in residents rooms. Based on information cited in the associations Guidance regarding prohibiting use of surveillance cameras in resident rooms in Iowa nursing facilities published in June 2019, current state law allows facilities to implement policies that prohibit the installment of this type of equipment. Even if a patient as in Hathaways mothers case initially consents to the installation, the association said there still may be a violation of residents right to privacy. The issue of capacity to consent to the use of surveillance cameras is a serious issue, the report states. With a significant number of nursing facility residents suffering from dementia, including Alzheimers disease as well as other cognitive limitations, there is a serious concern as to whether a nursing facility resident can provide legally binding consent to use of a surveillance camera being placed in his or her room. Hathaway and other proponents of nursing home surveillance say that its one of their responsibilities to monitor their loved ones as closely as possible to ensure their needs are being met. Currently, Hathaway said there are at least 13 states that have enacted legislation providing families with the power to install surveillance equipment. I dont care if a place even has a reputation for being stellar and impeccable a perfect nursing home, I still have the right to a camera, she said. That (any patient) is a vulnerable individual, and my mother wants a camera, my 95-year-old mother wants a camera. After running into road blocks, Hathaway said she phoned Iowas Department of Inspection and Appeals. A representative reportedly contacted her mothers care facility and unsuccessfully attempted to persuade it to allow camera installation. Since, Hathaway said shes contacted an attorney who has expressed interest in her case and has also started writing representatives of the Iowa Legislature and AARP. My mother is 95 years old, and the legislative process is going to take way too long, Hathaway said. But we have to get there, we need to start shaking the trees here. Since mailing postcards to her clients, Hathaway said shes heard a lot of chatter from others whove experienced similar roadblocks and are concerned about the well-being of their loved ones. And she made it clear that the purpose of camera installation isnt to micromanage care facility staff or produce negative gotcha moments. Im not trying to capture unprofessional behavior thats not my focus, Hathaway said. But, I want to deter and prevent problems and provide peace of mind to these residents and their families. I know there are many caring and kind and hardworking professionals in long-term care facilities I know many of them. To tackle the issue with the needed fervor, Hathaway was forced to make a decision regarding Savannah Filmore. After more than a decade of being in business, coming to terms with her decision wasnt as difficult as one might think. The closure may not feel ideal, but she said she has no doubt shes making the right choice. My mom has been there for me every day of my life, she said. Now, I have to be there for her, whatever it takes. And if that means closing a business? Hell yes, in a heartbeat, done. The online registration and helicopter booking for the holy pilgrimage (yatra) to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir started from Wednesday and will continue till September 5. Vaishno Devi online yatra registration and helicopter booking is available from August 26 to September 5, 2020, Ramesh Kumar Jangid, Chief Executing Officer of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Jammu and Kashmir told news agency ANI. The Mata Vaishno Devi yatra resumed on August 16, nearly five months after it was suspended due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Jangid said that devotees will not be allowed to enter the temple without a Covid-19 negative test report. He said that people above 60 years of age, children below 10, pregnant women and persons with co-morbidity will not be given permission to visit the shrine as a precautionary measure in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Jangid said that at present 2,000 devotees are allowed to visit the shrine out of which 1,900 are residents are of Jammu and Kashmir and 100 from outside the union territory. Last week, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had paid obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and inspected the facilities for pilgrims. He also directed to continue precautionary measures for the safety of pilgrims. The shrine board said it is abiding with all central health norms to contain the spread of coronavirus outbreak. (with inputs from agencies) Erin O'Toole won the leadership of the Conservative Party convincingly, beating runner-up Peter MacKay by over 27,000 votes. Had it not been for a few hundred votes cast in Quebec, however, it might have been a lot closer. That's because there weren't many members in Quebec to be swayed. The Conservative leadership vote was decided using a points system that awarded each riding equal weight regardless of how many members cast ballots in it. On points, O'Toole defeated MacKay by a margin of 57 to 43 per cent. But in the raw vote, O'Toole's margin was even wider, at 59 to 41 per cent, thanks in large part to his 67 per cent vote share in Alberta, where there are lots of members. In the end, the points system cost O'Toole only a little bit and not nearly enough to risk denying him the leadership. It would not have taken much to flip the outcome, however. An analysis of the riding-by-riding results suggests that as few as 1,210 votes decided the outcome between O'Toole and MacKay. A small number of party members voted in 36 ridings in Quebec, two in Newfoundland and Labrador and the single riding in Nunavut. If MacKay had run the table in these 39 ridings, pulling those 1,210 members away from O'Toole and to himself, he would have won the leadership narrowly. That narrow margin would not be as thin as it was in 2017, when (theoretically) 66 ballots were all that separated Andrew Scheer and Maxime Bernier in the last round of voting. But does show how the points system could have had unpredictable results. Flipping those 1,210 votes which amounted to just 0.8 per cent of all ballots still active in the third round would have given the win to MacKay on points, despite a theoretical 58 to 42 per cent popular vote loss. Quebec punches above its weight, again It was obvious before the results were finally announced that Quebec would punch above its weight in the leadership vote, just as it did in 2017. It would have been absolutely decisive in any scenario ending with a MacKay victory. Story continues Along with the second- and third-choice support of social conservative members who initially voted for Derek Sloan and Leslyn Lewis, Quebec was an important part of O'Toole's path to victory. The votes of Sloan and Lewis supporters mattered in Quebec, too. About one quarter of Sloan's supporters in Quebec ranked O'Toole as their second choice. More than half of the ballots liberated when Lewis was eliminated after the second round went to O'Toole as well (MacKay got only 18 per cent of those ballots, while the rest didn't have O'Toole or MacKay ranked). But just 4,166 Quebec members of the party voted for O'Toole in the last round, representing only 4.6 per cent of O'Toole's support across the country. By comparison, 26 per cent of O'Toole's 90,635 votes came from Alberta. That's roughly twice the province's share of the national population. Sean Kilpatrick / Canadian Press On average, 98 members voted in each of Quebec's 78 ridings the lowest number of votes per riding nationwide in the Conservative leadership race. An average of 333 voters cast ballots in each riding in Atlantic Canada, 457 in ridings in Manitoba, 574 in British Columbia, 632 in Ontario and 651 in Saskatchewan. Alberta had the highest average participation per riding, at 1,161. That means the average vote in Alberta was worth 0.08 points. In Quebec, the average vote was worth 1.02 points nearly 12 times as much. The disparity was widest between the Montreal riding of Bourassa and the Alberta riding of Foothills, south of Calgary. By the last round, just 23 ballots were still in play in Bourassa, compared to 1,866 in Foothills. Each ballot in Bourassa was worth about 81 times as much as a vote in Foothills. But because he received 65 per cent of the vote in both ridings, the two ridings were each worth 65 points to O'Toole. Conservative membership in Quebec down from 2017 This points system is not unique to the Conservative Party. The Liberals, among other parties, also use this system. It partially reflects how general elections are run (seats, not the total vote count, decide the outcome) and ensures that regions get a say. For defenders of the system (which have included MacKay), these are features, not bugs. But its distortions highlight an ongoing problem for the Conservatives. The party successfully used this leadership race to grow its active membership. The number of members who cast ballots increased to 174,000 from 141,000 three years ago. It went up in every province except Quebec. In Western Canada, the number of members who voted increased to 79,088 from 60,511, a jump of 31 per cent. The number of ballots cast grew by about 11,600 to 76,419 in Ontario, an increase of 18 per cent. In Atlantic Canada, votes soared by 70 per cent to 10,664. This was in large part due to MacKay, who is from the region. Nova Scotia saw the biggest spike. In Quebec, however, the number of members who voted in this leadership race dropped to 7,647 from 9,669 in 2017. That's a decrease of 21 per cent, dropping Quebec's total share of the vote to 4.4 per cent from 6.8 per cent three years ago, which was already well below its 23 per cent share of the Canadian population. Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press The last leadership race had two candidates from Quebec (Bernier and Steven Blaney), which might explain some of the decrease. But Saskatchewan also had two candidates in 2017 (Scheer and Brad Trost). It saw its number of votes increase to 9,111 from 7,404, leap-frogging Quebec. The lack of a hometown hero this time did not affect Saskatchewan's membership numbers, which increased at the same rate as the country as a whole. The Conservatives have long struggled to appeal to French-speaking Quebecers, something we see reflected in the membership numbers in Quebec itself. Quebec ridings where francophones are not a majority make up 17 per cent of the province's population, but provided 24 per cent of the party's voting members. Though O'Toole was able to win the province's shrinking number of members, it remains to be seen how successful he will be in getting support among the broader population. He didn't get much help from the Quebec caucus during the leadership race. He received only one endorsement from the party's 10 Quebec MPs and did not win any of the ridings represented by the seven Quebec Conservatives who endorsed MacKay. The party hasn't had much success in Quebec since the days of Brian Mulroney, so gaining ground in the province was always going to be a challenge no matter who the leader was. But it will be hard for O'Toole to make progress without a solid Conservative base in Quebec. His win there doesn't really change that. HitGen Inc. (688222.SH) announced that the company has achieved a milestone in their strategic collaboration with Almirall to develop a novel class of drugs. The licensed compounds were identified using HitGen's leading technology platform, which involved screening large DNA encoded libraries, containing more than 500 billion of small molecules with drug-like properties synthesized on chemically diverse scaffolds. A number of novel small molecule leads for an undisclosed target nominated by Almirall were the subject of this achievement. Under the terms of collaborative agreement, HitGen will grant exclusive rights to Almirall for further development and commercialization, and be eligible for preclinical and clinical milestone payments from Almirall as the project progresses, in addition to upfront license fee. "We are delighted to announce this key achievement in our strategic collaboration with Almirall, a leading medical dermatology focused global pharmaceutical company, in such a short time. The successful identification of these licensed compounds has further demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of our DEL platform to discover novel small molecules against a variety of targets. We look forward to seeing the further progress made by Almirall for their innovative research programs to address unmet medical needs," said Dr. Jin Li, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of HitGen. Bhushan Hardas, M.D., MBA, Chief Scientific Officer of Almirallcommented that "We are thrilled to have achieved success at a fast pace in this strategic collaboration with HitGen's platform to discover novel small molecules in a challenging target. Patients suffering with several unmet medical needs will be able to benefit from Almirall R&D investment". About Almirall Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patient's needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: "Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life". We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients in need. The company, founded in 1943 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publically traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange and is a member of the IBEX35 (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 77-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Currently, Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, through 13 subsidiaries, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2019 were 908.4 million euros. For more information, please visit almirall.com About HitGen Inc. HitGen is a rapidly growing biotech company with headquarters based in Chengdu, China, with a subsidiary in the USA. HitGen has established an industry-leading platform for early-stage drug discovery research centred on DNA encoded chemical libraries (DELs). HitGen's DELs include encoded syntheses for hundreds of billions of novel, diverse, drug-like small molecule and macrocycle compounds. These compounds are members of DELs synthesised from many hundreds of distinct chemical scaffolds, designed and assembled with tractable chemistry based on proven results for identifying drug-like leads against biological targets from known and novel classes. HitGen is working with multiple pharmaceutical and biotech companies, foundations and research institutes in North America, Europe and Asia to discover and develop novel therapeutics of the future. For more information, please call +86-28-85197385 or visit www.hitgen.com. For media inquiries: media@hitgen.com For investor inquiries: investors@hitgen.com For business development: bd@hitgen.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200825005013/en/ Contacts: Shelly He zq.he@hitgen.com Manchester United captain Harry Maguire plans to appeal the suspended sentence he was given for a brawl involving cops in Greece last week. On Tuesday, a Greek court in Syros gave the 27-year-old soccer star, who also plays for Englands national team, a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days, Reuters reports. Maguire did not appear at the trial. Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing, the defender said in a statement, noting hell remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter if anything myself, family and friends are the victims. Maguire, his brother Joe, and friend Christopher Sharman were arrested Thursday in Mykonos following an altercation in which two cops were allegedly assaulted. San Luis Potos: But Rubi's "quinceanera" party could take the phenomenon to a whole new level after the invite became an off beat internet sensation. Rubi, a small-town Mexican teen, is expecting more than a million guests at her15th birthday party Monday after her parents' video invitation to the milestone event went viral online. Girls' 15th birthday parties are often a huge deal in Latin America, where families traditionally pull out all the stops to welcome them to womanhood. "Hi, how's it going? We would like to invite you this December 26 to our daughter Rubi Ibarra Garcia's 15th birthday party in La Joya," her dad, Crescencio, says in the video. Dressed in a cowboy hat typical of northern Mexico, he ticks off the names of the bands that will play at the party and announces a horse race with a 10,000-peso prize (about$500), as his wife and the now-famous Rubi stand at his side. "Everyone" is invited, he says. Now it is time for the family to deliver: 1.3 million Facebook users have replied they will attend. It promises to be a massive affair for La Joya, a village of 200 people near the city of San Luis Potosi. "This all got out of control," Crescencio said in one of the many media interviews he has since been asked to give. "That doesn't mean we didn't want to invite everyone, of course, but here our parties are regional... This is something we weren't expecting." Rubi has fielded numerous interview requests herself, becoming something of a national sensation with her dark hair, cute smile and braces. An airline has meanwhile turned the commotion into free publicity, offering discount tickets to get to the party. And a video game has emerged in which a teenage girl runs down and carpet, tossing invitations to all and sundry. The family say they were originally expecting around 800 people for the party. Local authorities have since decided to move it to a large open field and send a security detail for what Mexican media are calling "the party of the year." Not everyone in Mexico finds it amusing, though. "This has taken on completely scandalous proportions," said Mercedes Poire, head of the Center for Public Opinion at the Universidad Del Valle de Mexico. "We face the gigantic risk of falling into a society of the absurd." For all the Latest Viral News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Utah University Pays Half Million Dollar Ransom Demand In a 'data security incident' notification posted the University of Utah has disclosed they were successfully attacked with ransomware on July 19 and the University has now revealed that it paid cyber criminals $457,000 in order to avoid having hackers leak student information online. The stolen data contained student and employee information and the university management decided to pay the ransom to prevent it from being leaked. The university states that their cyber insurance policy paid a ransom of $457,059.24 USD and that no "tuition, grant, donation, state or taxpayer funds were used to pay the ransom." The incident is the latest in a long string of ransomware attacks where criminal groups steal sensitive files from the hacked companies before encrypting their files as part of an extortion scheme. In a statement posted on the University website, it said that it had actively dodged a major ransomware incident and that the hackers managed to encrypt only 0.02% of the data stored on its servers. The university said its staff restored from backups; however, the ransomware gang threatened to release student-related data online, which, in turn, made university management change their approach towards not paying the attackers. "After careful consideration, the university decided to work with its cyber insurance provider to pay a fee to the ransomware attacker," the university said. In an attempt to put additional pressure on hacked companies to pay ransom demands, several ransomware groups have also begun stealing data from their networks before encrypting it. If the victim, usually a large company, refuses to pay, the ransomware gangs threaten to leak the information online, on so-called "leak sites" and then tip journalists about the company's security incident. Because more organisations are now better prepared to recover from a ransomware attack by using backups to regain access to data that was encrypted, attackers are also exfiltrating data and threatening to leak it if a ransom is not paid. Ransomware operators typically keep their side of the bargain and do not disclose the information stolen during these attacks if a ransom had been paid. The University of Utah is not alone in recently paying ransom payments. In June UC San Francisco paid $1.14 million ransom to receive a decryptor and recover their files. The attacks on hospitals and healthcare organisations arent about to stop soon, and its not just a challenge in the United States. Recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said China has been hacking hospitals and health care providers throughout the pandemic and has for the first time applied sanctions against various named attackers, including two Chinese citizens. When it comes to data breaches, healthcare organisations have a somewhat different mix of threat actors they face. According to the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), the majority of data breaches in healthcare involve internal actors, or trusted insiders. The DBIR found that 59% of data breaches in healthcare involved someone on the inside, and 4% trusted partners. British And Canadian Colleges Also Attacked In the UK a higher education college suffered "a significant malicious cyber-attack" which meant the students could not access their GCSE and other exam results online.Myerscough College, in Lancashire that specialises in sports, equine studies and agriculture, said it meant staff had to email each student individually with their grades. Data from the Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada was leaked on the Dark Web recently, after the institution was targeted by a cyber security attack in early July this year, while the British University of Lancaster reported to separate incidents last year, where student records were breached. ZDNet: Global News: BBC: BankInfoSecurity: Security Boulevard: Bleeping Computer: The Cyberwire: ZDNet: You Might Also Read: Universities That Teach Cyber Security At Risk: Track all the ships in the world. What they're carrying, where they're loading, where they're unloading. Create a near-real-time map of how all commodities and goods flow across the globe. This is the holy grail of ocean shipping data one that companies such as Cargometrics, VesselsValue, Kpler, IHS Markit, Ltd. (NYSE: INFO) and others have pursued for years. This data is more valuable than ever in the age of coronavirus and now there's a new source. One that's actually free. The new offering developed by International Monetary Fund (IMF) economists Diego Cerdeiro and Andras Komaromi and IMF data scientists Yang Liu and Mammon Saeed was announced in May and is now fully available to the public and updated weekly. The IMF staff's "nowcasting" research offers a 30,000-foot view of how COVID-19 has reshaped trade flows. If it works as intended, it will offer an early warning system to governments, and by extension, companies and investors. Measuring fallout The platform utilizes automatic identification system (AIS) shipping-position data collected by MarineTraffic. It assesses import and export vessel capacity measured in deadweight tons (DWT) by country and ship type. It then uses machine-learning algorithms to estimate metric tons of cargo carried. The updated capacity and cargo tonnage numbers are available for download via UN Comtrade (see link for access). To gauge coronavirus fallout, FreightWaves downloaded the year-to-date (YTD) export data for 2020 and the comparable period last year for tankers, dry bulk, containers and the overall global fleet. Cargo volumes are highly seasonal, so FreightWaves looked at the numbers two ways: first, the change in daily volume versus the same day in 2019; and second, the change in YTD volume versus the same period the year before. Global export effects Global exports show two "valleys." In the first quarter, a supply-side shock stemming from the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, coinciding with seasonal dry bulk weakness. In the second quarter, a slide coinciding with the demand-side shock of consumer lockdowns in Europe and the U.S. Story continues shipping data The year began on a positive note, with volume up by the mid-single digits. The post-Wuhan-lockdown bounce-back was strong. It was the Western lockdowns that hurt the most, bringing daily global exports down by the low double digits at the June nadir. Daily export volumes recovered and were up 3% year-on-year as of the first week of August. The change in YTD total volume may be a better indicator of performance for ship operators and ports. For the period Jan. 1-Aug. 5, total global exports were essentially flat versus the same period last year, down 1%. The YTD total has stopped falling, has stabilized and is edging in a positive direction. Rebounding exports driven by the reopening of Western economies are on the verge of bringing the YTD total back into the black. Tanker effects Exports of crude, products and chemicals represent 21% of seaborne volumes YTD (through Aug. 5), according to the research dataset. Of all shipping categories, the tanker segment gets the most attention from investors. The data shows a jump in exports in March, when talks between Saudi Arabia and Russia collapsed and producers opened their spigots. This is followed by a sharp fall in global tanker exports in the second quarter, as the OPEC+ coalition agreed to cut production, falling prices pared production among non-coalition nations and earlier export volumes remained tied up in floating storage. The data then shows a sharp rebound in exports in July and early August, bringing year-on-year comparisons into positive territory as of this month (although the year-on-year percentage may be inflated by "easy comparables" versus seasonal weakness in 2019). From a YTD perspective, total volumes were still down 1.4% as of Aug. 5. shipping data Container-shipping effects Exports of containerized goods and general cargo represented 29% of estimated volumes through early August. Cornavirus has affected container exports even more heavily than tanker exports. The IMF team's data shows a more pronounced double-valley pattern for container exports than for any of the primary volume categories. Container exports fell by almost 10% globally over the course of February as the virus shut down Chinese outbound cargoes. Volumes snapped back in March but slid all the way back down again through April and early May as import regions locked down and carriers canceled sailings (volume effects were felt in U.S. import ports later, in May and June, due to ocean transit times). Global containerized export volumes had bounced back to January levels by late July and early August, but were still down 1.4% year-on-year as of Aug. 5 and down 3.8% YTD versus the same period in 2019. US container strength Container lines report depressed demand in South America but resurgent flows to other markets, particularly the Asia-U.S. West Coast market. The IMF team's data confirms the strength of U.S.-China volumes. Container volumes are difficult to judge year-on-year. First, the timing of Lunar New Year (LNY) varies. Second, U.S. tariffs affected 2018-19 numbers. To address these issues, the IMF staffers indexed 2020 daily volumes to the 2017-19 average, adjusted for Lunar New Year (see link to data here, including all of the raw data for the entire project; see easy-to-use UN Comtrade dashboard here). This perspective shows a plunge of more than 25% in Chinese containerized exports in the wake of the Wuhan outbreak, but a drop in U.S. imports of only 10% (with a lag effect due to ocean transit times). American-bound boxes rebounded from that initial shock, then fell to 15% below average by June due to consumer lockdowns. Trend lines for Chinese exports and U.S. imports have closely followed each other since early July. As of Aug. 5, U.S. box imports were 10% above average and Chinese exports 4% above average. Dry bulk volumes Dry bulk shipping led by iron ore, coal and grains is by far the world's largest freight market by volume. It accounted for 44% of volumes in the IMF team's YTD data. Dry bulk exports rose off first-quarter lows in April, then sank, then came back up in recent months. More so than other sectors, dry bulk exports have been affected by seasonal and other non-coronavirus issues. The ebb and flow in the data is roughly in the same direction as spot rate trends. The data shows YTD cargo volume are essentially flat (up less than 1%). Still experimental' The caveat to the new free product from the IMF team is that it is openly described as "experimental." (See link for methodology.) There are ongoing refinements and all estimates are subject to change. The authors' disclaimer: "These estimates are not official IMF statistics and were not endorsed by the IMF or its executive board. These estimates were produced by staff in the context of [a] research project and should be interpreted accordingly." Indeed, industry insiders may look at the curve of the recent dry bulk and tanker volume gains in the datasets and deem them too steep in light of freight rates. The tanker data loses quite a bit of its value due to its mixing of crude and product carriers into one category. And on the container side, use of AIS data is inherently questionable for cargo estimates: Unlike with laden bulk ships, it is very difficult to estimate how much cargo is aboard a container ship, while algorithms based on past utilization rates break down during one-off events like pandemics. But despite its shortcomings, the new shipping data offering so new it doesn't even have a brand name stands out. Never before has this much ship-positioning data been available to the general public, amalgamated by ship type and country and easily downloadable ... without a price tag attached. Click for more FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Greg Miller MORE ON OCEAN SHIPPING DATA: Using ship-tracking data to shine a light on clandestine crude shipping: see story here. Using container-ship blank sailing' data as an early warning system on global trade: see story here. An exclusive interview with Scott Borgerson on Cargometrics: see story here. See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. MANILA, Philippines (AP) Abu Sayyaf militants may have staged suicide bombings that killed 14 people to avenge the death of a Filipino leader of the Islamic State group in the southern Philippines following a clash with troops last month, the army chief said Tuesday. Army commanding general Cirilito Sobejana said Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan was wounded in a July 6 gunbattle in a jungle near Patikul town in Sulu province and most likely died a few days later. Troops have been searching for his buried remains, he said. Two Islamic militants blew themselves up in suicide attacks Monday that killed at least 14 people, including soldiers, and injured 75 others in Jolo town in Sulu, in the countrys worst extremist attack this year. Military officials accused Sawadjaans nephew, Mudzrimar Mundi Sawadjaan, of plotting the midday bombings. They wanted to avenge his death, Sobejana told The Associated Press. Its also a very desperate move because they have lost strength and wanted to create an impression that they still exist. Sobejana said he is 90% sure that Sawadjaan is gone. Were reserving the 10% until we find his body as concrete evidence. Recently captured Abu Sayyaf militants provided information about his death, including how he was wounded and eventually died and was buried by a group of militants. His followers have launched an effort to pick a replacement, Sobejana said. An earlier U.S. Department of Defense report to Congress said without elaborating that it believed Sawadjaan was the acting emir, or leader, in the Philippines of the Islamic State group. Most of the victims of Mondays bombings, including children, were caught in the first blast, near two parked army trucks in front of a grocery store and computer shop in a downtown plaza where the town cathedral is located, military officials said. In the second blast, the attacker blew herself up near a group of soldiers and police, killing one soldier and one police commando and wounding several others, a military report said. Story continues The military is trying to determine if the two suicide bombers were the widows of Abu Sayyaf militants. The largely Roman Catholic nations southern region has been the scene of decades of Muslim separatist unrest. The Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent group, has been listed by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings. A few of its armed factions, including the largest one led by the Sawadjaans, are aligned with the Islamic State group. The twin bombings were the latest suicide attacks in the predominantly Muslim province of Jolo, including a deadly January 2019 bombing of a Roman Catholic cathedral believed to have been carried out by an Indonesian couple. Largely confined to Jolos poverty-wracked mountain settlements all his life, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan was born to a peasant family in Jolo and likely only finished grade school. Poverty drove him to work as a lumberjack in the jungles off Patikul town, where he married a woman from Tanum, the mountain village where he would base his Abu Sayyaf faction years later, according to a military officer who has closely monitored the Abu Sayyaf and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the nature of his work. A list of 164 provincial parks and recreation areas that are slated to be removed from Albertas parks system can no longer be found on the Government of Alberta website, leading some to believe it was intentionally removed to avoid further public scrutiny. The list has been publicly available since Feb. 29, but was removed sometime within the past month. One member of the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) believes the government has now made it more difficult for Albertans to know if certain areas will still be part of the provincial parks system when they plan their next visit. It was something we noticed maybe over a month ago, and so it did take us a little bit of time to spread the news about this. It could be some deliberate misguiding so that folks have a harder time engaging with this decision, they have a harder time finding out information about it. And so there may be less of an opportunity for them to push back on these parks closures. Now, obviously, thats just speculation, said Grace Wark, a conservation specialist with AWA. The move to remove certain parks has been heavily criticized for the lack of consultations with the public. Whats important is that the government isnt being as transparent as possible in this process. They havent offered any public consultation and to do their due diligence on a public resource, like our provincial parks and recreation areas then they need to get that list back on their website, as well as start providing more information backing up this decision, Wark said. Various parks and campgrounds surrounding Swan Hills are at risk, including Chrystina Lake, Trapper Leas Cabin, Edith Lake, and Freeman River. The AWA and other partners are encouraging people to write to the minister and their MLA and copy it to the NDP environment shadow critic Marlin Schmidt with their stories and memories surrounding the use of the areas. What weve heard from our members, from our friends, from the public is that many of these lakes are actually very important to them. Theyve been telling us stories about, We spent my kids first birthday here, We go here every long weekend. And so, its telling a very different story than the one that were hearing out of this government proposal where theyre saying, Oh, were shutting down these lakes because theres no use, she said. Read more about: THE ISSUE: A scathing comptroller's report says New York recklessly spent on economic development projects. THE STAKES: The investments failed to deliver the jobs upstate New York so desperately needs. Under Gov. Andrew Cuomo, state government has invested billions of dollars in high-technology projects across upstate New York. The stated goal of the spending is laudable: creating jobs in a region that has been lagging economically for decades and is losing population as a result. Certainly, upstate needed the help and still does. But a stinging audit from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found that investments made by Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, were often reckless, lacked proper oversight and did not deliver the jobs they promised. The audit focuses on $2.2 billion the state spent through SUNY Polytechnic Institute, which was run by Alain Kaloyeros until he was charged and ultimately convicted in a federal bid-rigging case, which left him facing years in prison. Before the corruption scandal, SUNY Poly was considered an Albany high-tech success story for its ability to spin public investments into private jobs. That led Mr. Cuomo to push the school to replicate its model in Rochester, Buffalo and elsewhere. The effort has not succeeded, Mr. DiNapoli's brutally honest report found. It takes particular aim at the decision by SUNY Poly and ESD to invest nearly $800 million in a solar-panel factory built in Buffalo for Tesla, the electric car company owned by eccentric billionaire Elon Musk. The massive investment was made despite Mr. Musk openly conceding that his company had "limited experience" in solar-panel manufacturing. Unsurprisingly, the Tesla project fell well short of the promised return The failure was part of a pattern. Mr. DiNapoli's review of four major projects that attracted ESD investment, including new facilities for IBM and Albany Molecular Research, met only 40 percent of their goal of 2,710 jobs. The audit concluded that a "lack of due diligence" at ESD provided "no real scrutiny" of its investments. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The effort, then, seems more about generating positive headlines than the hard work of creating the jobs that upstate New York so desperately needs. Also lacking, the audit said, was transparency, with ESD often dragging its feet on the release of job updates and other data. Such secrecy, we're sorry to say, has been the norm under Mr. Cuomo. ESD contested the findings, describing the report as unfair and saying reforms instituted after Mr. Kaloyeros' 2016 ouster "have yielded increased transparency, oversight and accountability." Perhaps. But it's difficult to argue with the numbers in Mr. DiNapoli's detailed audit or its conclusions. The unavoidable truth is that New York spent billions of dollars on economic development and has too little to show for it. What a missed opportunity for upstate New York. And what a reminder of how so much of the $4 billion, give or take, that the state throws at economic development is wasted. It leaves much for the governor and lawmakers to consider as they ponder, with the state facing years of multi-billion dollar deficits, where New York might save some serious money. The Madhya Pradesh government will use drones to assess impact of natural disasters and the implementation of developmental works across the state, a senior minister said. At a virtual meeting on Tuesday evening, the state cabinet discussed the use of drones which is a part of suggestions by a ministerial group, At the same time, the state government will also work on creating a unified web portal which will be a single source for providing all information related to different departments and provide all kinds of certificates to people. The ministerial group on good governance submitted its suggestions to the cabinet. The suggestions include short term and long term goals. Use of drones for assessment of natural disasters impact and implementation of development schemes is a part of the suggestions, home minister Narottam Mishra said. He said, As per suggestions a unified data portal will have all the information and documents related to various services so that people dont have to approach different departments for their work. The same facility will be available through a mobile phone App too. Developing the App is a part of long term goals but most of the suggestions are targeted to be completed in the next three years. Mishra said all these suggestions would be presented before NITI Ayog. He said as per suggestions the CM Helpline service which is used to receive complaints from public would be known as CM Citizen Care and it would be connected to a Mobile phone App also through which people would be able to track the progress on their complaints, get permission for various facilities and get no dues certificates inter alia. Mishra said the government would also consider if a gun licence could be granted to people for entire life instead of renewing it every year and if permits for certain services too could be granted in the same manner. He said other suggestions included providing filtered water to every home by 2024, enhancing irrigation facilities from present 40 lakh hectare to 53 lakh hectare, eradication of tuberculosis from Madhya Pradesh by 2025, development of 75,000 acre land in Chambal region, laying of massive road network to connect each and every tourist centre and setting up of Deendayal kitchen at every pilgrimage spot. The ministerial group also suggested the setting up metro rail services in Bhopal and Indore at the earliest, of 4,400 MW solar plant, multi-model logistics hub in the state and broadening scope of Ayushman scheme. At the cabinet meeting, a decision was taken to exempt police recruitment from the provision of reserving 20% posts for contractual officers and employees, Mishra said.. Many people who protested against the results of the Belarusian presidential election on August 9 have come forward to tell horrific tales of abuse and torture at the hands of the countrys security forces. Here is a timeline of reports on postelection torture cases in Belarus published by RFE/RL's Belarus Service and Current Time. August 13, 2020 August 18, 2020 August 20, 2020 August 21, 2020 August 25, 2020 August 27, 2020 September 3, 2020 September 09, 2020 September 10, 2020 September 11, 2020 September 12, 2020 September 18, 2020 September 22, 2020 The Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Party will not contest the 2020 General Election, Mr Francis Lokko, the National Communications Director of the Party, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He said, though the Party had priority areas that it intended to work on for the country if voted into power, the Party lacked funding to contest the 2020 polls. Mr Lokko said, the Party still had the welfare of the nation at heart and would not hesitate to devise mechanisms to develop the agricultural sector should it get the opportunity in future. He said that was because the Party believed that when the agricultural sector was boosted, it could generate funding to develop other sectors. Ghana is an agricultural country. So we would have loved to tackle agriculture vigorously if we were going to be given the opportunity and boost areas such as fishpond management, poultry production, cocoa production, and animal husbandry. Other areas we will tirelessly work to improve will be productivity, agro-based activities, education, waste management, corruption, and the healthcare system, Mr Lokko said. The EGLE Party, with a symbol connoting a 'coot landing in the colours of blue, red and white', formerly obtained its final certificate to operate as a Political Party in August 13, 1992. It was formerly called the Eagle Club 1 and 2. The name, Eagle, had to be changed as it coincided with that of the nation's Coat of Arms. It was, therefore, later changed to 'EGLE', thus Every Accountable Ghanaian Living Everywhere and subsequently re-changed to Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere. Founding fathers of the Party are Emmanuel Owuraku Amofah, Danny Ofori-Attah, Michael Agbotui Sousoudis, Nana Yaw Boakye, and Captain Okine among others. Mr Amofah served as the Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa Central Constituency on the ticket of his Party from 1992 to 1996. The ideology of the Party is centred on Probity, Accountability and Development. The EGLE Party believes that religion and morals could help shape the behaviours of people, especially leaders and deter them from nation-wrecking actions like corruption. The Executive-member structure of the Party is currently made up of the Chairman, Vice-Chairperson, Organizer, Director of Communications, Treasurer, Women Organizer, and her Deputy, Youth Organizer and Deputy. ---GNA Chinese participants attend the opening ceremony of the "Open Water" contest. (Photo by Pan Zhen) By Pan Zhen and Liu Yangting MOSCOW, Aug. 26 -- On August 25, local time, the opening ceremony of the "Open Water" contest of the International Army Games 2020 (IAG-2020) was held on the Oka River in Vladimir Oblast, Russia. The ceremony characterized with unique features of the pontoon bridge troops and strong combat atmosphere has left a deep impression on the participants. The opening ceremony began with the play of the Chinese and Russian national anthems, with the national flags of both countries rising progressively on the Oka River. As the host, the Russian team took the lead to get on stage. Following the Russian pontoon bridge unit and the Chinese pontoon bridge unit passing through the viewing stand in turn, pontoon bridge equipment of diverse categories lined up and arrived at the assembly place crossing the river. It is learned that based on the existing equipment of the pontoon bridge troops, the opening ceremony mainly focused on embodying the pontoon bridge troops professional characteristics of building bridges when blocked by a river. It has fully exhibited the content of the contest, highlighted the high morale of the participating troops, and tested the ability of participating troops in operating pontoon bridge equipment such as rubber boats, pontoon bridges, and motorboats in succession. Hong Kong police address year-old subway attack As Beijing has tightened its grip to end dissent in the territory, law enforcement has faced criticism. On Wednesday, Hong Kongs police moved to shift the narrative around a particularly contentious episode from more than a year ago, when men in white T-shirts wielded sticks and metal bars against unarmed commuters and protesters at the Yuen Long subway station, with the police nowhere in sight. We have to restore the truth, Chan Tin-chu, a senior police official, said at a news conference in which he announced 16 arrests, including that of a lawmaker, Lam Cheuk-ting, who filmed the attack and was beaten in it. Mr. Chan also said the episode was a clash and that video footage had given the wrong impression. And he said the police had responded within 18 minutes not the 39 minutes initially reported. Pipeline 26 August 2020 Thailand-based Dusit International, one of Asia's fastest-growing hospitality companies, has announced its expansion into India with a plan to open at least two Dusit-branded hotels per year from 2021 onwards in Tier I and Tier II cities - such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore - as well as key leisure destinations throughout the country. Alongside the signing of Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata, under a franchise agreementwith the Jain Group, a leading Real Estate, Hospitality and Finance organisation based in Kolkata, Dusit is already in talks with other potential owners and is on course to conclude at least four more signings within the next 12 months. Following a strategy to focus on quality hotel products that help owners maximise the value of their assets, Dusit's planned expansion includes exquisite palace conversions where the company aims to uniquely combine its distinctive brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality with local customs and traditions to create luxury hotel experiences that deliver sustainable value for the wider community. Dusit is already well-known in India for its rich hospitality heritage, and India is one of the top seven source markets for Dusit Hotels and Resorts worldwide. As an Asian brand with more than 70 years of experience managing hotels and resorts throughout the region, and with a comprehensive guest loyalty programme that enriches every visit, Dusit's service offering is well suited to the needs of discerning Indian travellers. India and Thailand share many similarities in terms of culture and traditions, and Dusit believes this not only makes its brands a popular choice for Indian guests and customers, but also an attractive proposition for Indian hotel owners seeking to work with a company that truly understands their needs while linking them with a large pool of engaged customers. With India's fast-growing middle class expected to reach 583 million people - or 41% of India's projected population - by 2025, Dusit also sees huge potential for its upscale and midscale brands in this burgeoning market. "While COVID-19 has brought immense challenges for tourism and hospitality worldwide, we remain confident that our resilient industry can and will bounce back, and we expect India to be a key player in international and domestic tourism in the brighter days ahead," said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. "We are delighted and honoured that the Jain Group has selected our Dusit Princess brand for their property in Kolkata, and we now look forward to bringing more quality products to the market to generate long-term value for all our stakeholders." Slated to open in Q2 2022 as part of Jain Group's high-end residential development project, Dream One, Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata will occupy a prime location near the green expanse of Eco Park, only five minutes by car from both the city centre and the airport, and just one minute from Kalakshetra Metro Station. Comprising 42 three-bedroom units, the new property will provide an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers seeking extended stays. A swimming pool, an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, and a fitness and wellness centre will be among the recreational facilities. Banqueting and meeting facilities will also be available for small and midscale events. Mr Shrayans Jain, Vice President, Jain Group, said, "In the new normal following COVID-19, Indian travellers will be increasingly seeking brands they can trust to deliver the high levels of safety, comfort and convenience they deserve. Dusit has more than seven decades of experience delivering exceptional guest and customer experiences in key destinations worldwide, and the company already has a strong reputation in India for the quality of its offerings. Our companies' shared values to deliver quality in all aspects will ensure Dusit Princess Serviced Suites Kolkata is perfectly placed to exceed guest and customer expectations, and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with Dusit." Dusit International's property portfolio now comprises more than 300 properties operating under six brands across 13 countries. The company also has a strong background in hospitality education, operating internationally-accredited hospitality colleges in Thailand and the Philippines, as well as Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School in Bangkok, Thailand, in partnership with the renowned Paris-based institute. Wellness is another area in which Dusit has rich experience. The company's award-winning Devarana Spa concept delivers a wide range of holistic therapies, adding even greater value to Dusit's luxury and upper-upscale stay experiences. The company is represented in India by Ms Deepika Arora, who is part of the core team responsible for Dusit's market growth and expansion in South Asia and Africa. She is based at Dusit's offices in Delhi. (Alliance News) - Thousands more holidaymakers could have to self-isolate on their return to the UK as new figures indicate coronavirus cases are rising in the Czech Republic. A seven-day rate of 20 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people is the threshold above which the UK Government considers triggering quarantine conditions. The Czech Republic is currently recording a seven-day rate of 19.4 cases per 100,000, up from 16 a week ago. The capital Prague is a popular city break destination for UK travellers, and is a common location for stag parties. More than 300,000 British nationals visit the Czech Republic every year, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Switzerland is also over the threshold, with a seven-day rate of 21.2. Last week, Scotland took Switzerland off its list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate on arrival. The rest of the UK could follow later this week. Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said Switzerland is "sadly likely to be added" to the list of countries from which people must self-isolate for 14 days. He told the PA news agency: "It's been above the government's own criteria for several days now. "The Czech Republic and Jamaica are both going to be closely watched and potentially added. "At bank holiday time lots more Britons travel and Prague is a popular weekend break destination so if they're added to the list it will affect several thousand people." Two countries that seem likely to remain on the list for the time being are Greece and Italy. While the rate has ticked upwards in both countries, neither of them are near the threshold. In Greece, the latest seven-day rate is 14.1 cases per 100,000 a roughly the same as a week ago (14.3), but up from where it was two weeks ago (10.1). Italy is currently recording a seven-day rate of 10.8, up from 5.6. Charles said these destinations are "still very much in the green zone" and have not suffered from "the surge that has affected other European countries". He added: "I think there'll be a sigh of relief by many British travellers that they can continue their bank holiday trips." Figures have been calculated by the PA news agency based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. In Ireland, the seven-day rate is currently 14.8, while in the UK it is 11.1. By Neil Lancefield and Ian Jones, PA source: PA Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Your browser does not support the video tag. Relations between Washington and Beijing are slipping dangerously with growing risk of a military confrontation and potentially dire implications for the global order unless both sides take a step back and learn to better coexist, says a former World Bank president. The United States needs to do a better job dealing with China as it is rather than how Washington would like it to be, said Robert Zoellick, who also held senior positions at the White House, State and Treasury departments and in the Office of the US Trade Representative before joining Harvard as a senior fellow. "The relationship right now is in free fall. It's quite dangerous," Zoellick said on Monday at an event sponsored by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "People need to be aware that miscalculations can happen, and issues with Taiwan and others can move to a danger zone." "I hope people don't take for granted some of the things that have been accomplished with China," he added. Deteriorating relations between the two economic giants have spurred accusations and mutual distrust in areas ranging from trade and espionage to technology, education and the pandemic. Beijing this week accused the US of sending a U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone over Chinese live-fire military drills. "The US is entirely and solely responsible for the current difficulties in China-US relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday. The Trump administration has in turn repeatedly demonised Beijing, with strong salvoes expected to continue at this week's Republican National Convention, which formally launches President Donald Trump's re-election bid. "The problem lies with the Chinese Communist Party," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - who has been called Trump's China attack dog - said in a CNBC interview last week, decrying the CCP's "predatory economic activities". Story continues "We're not going to let it happen on our watch," Pompeo added. Zoellick, author of the new book America in the World: A History of US Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, said the nations' troubled relationship is coloured by a long-standing US view that China would ultimately join the Western liberal order. "US hostility almost seems sharper because there's a sense of rejection," he said. "It's always useful to recognise China as it is rather than how we might want it to be." Rather than "throwing global bombs", slamming its allies and looking for simple solutions, as the Trump administration has done, the US should work with allies and lead by example, he said. Instead of sanctioning Hong Kong's leaders, he said, this could include granting visas to the city's residents facing President Xi Jinping's empowered Communist Party and the new security law, as Britain has done. "Let some of those people come to America," Zoellick said. "That's the way to show the difference between a free society and an authoritarian system." Zoellick said the Trump administration's transactional and personality-based policies have been ineffective, counterproductive and often driven by pointedly doing the opposite of what president Barack Obama did. China has generally adhered better to global trade rules than other developing nations, but has been deficient in vaguely defined areas such as intellectual property protection and forced technology transfer, the former trade negotiator said. China's intellectual property courts have increasingly sided with foreign companies, but fallen short with inadequate penalties, he said. A more effective approach would be to join with other frustrated allies and local interest groups in pushing Beijing for tougher enforcement. And rather than venting their anger, allies might pressure Beijing to end its joint-venture requirements, a vehicle for forced technology transfers to Chinese partners, he said. "There can be common ground," he said. "For those who don't believe so, I guess I'd ask in a very pragmatic way, what do you think confrontation will produce?" US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pictured in Jerusalem on Monday, has been called President Donald Trump's China attack dog. Photo: AP alt=US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pictured in Jerusalem on Monday, has been called President Donald Trump's China attack dog. Photo: AP But some analysts questioned Zoellick's policy recommendations, adding that Western trading partners have wrestled with Beijing for decades over intellectual property and technology transfer with limited results. "It strikes me, with all due respect to Zoellick, as a day late and a dollar short," said Andrew Coflan, an analyst with Eurasia Group. China could also engender less resentment if it stopped claiming that all of its actions are above reproach and that it bears no responsibility for problems in the relationship, Coflan added. "It's absurd to think the US is the only one at fault," he said. "Moving away from that would create so much more room for dialogue and for corporates to feel that they aren't just becoming punching bags." Zack Cooper, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, added that Zoellick's argument - that Washington needs to take China and the Communist Party as is - seems a bit rich given his iconic speech in 2005. That year, as US deputy secretary of state under president George W. Bush, he called on China to be a "responsible stakeholder" and become more democratic and like the West. "It's an interesting argument coming from Bob Zoellick," Cooper said. "The whole strategy then was predicated on changing China and not accepting that China would continue as a non-democratic Communist Party, one-party state." "Maybe his views have changed and he thinks it's not possible to change China in the ways he suggested," he added. "But he was, more than anyone, on the record on that." 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. Washington, Aug 26, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi ABB Power Grids is joining with Fortress Information Security (Fortress) as a participant in its Asset to Vendor Network (A2V), which will enable the company to quickly and seamlessly share information about its cybersecurity preparedness with United States and Canada-based power utilities. Leading companies such as American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (Southern) are already participants in the A2V Network.Hitachi ABB Power Grids is leveraging its world-class power systems capabilities together with advanced digital technologies from Hitachi and its proven track record of innovation to build on its position as the partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid. The company plays a critical role as a supplier of grid infrastructure, operations and control systems for power utilities throughout the U.S., helping to ensure the delivery of reliable energy to millions of consumers. Power grid operators in the U.S. and Canada rely on Hitachi ABB Power Grids to deliver solutions capable of withstanding cyber threats from multiple threat actors.Through its collaboration with Fortress, Hitachi ABB Power Grids will share responses to cybersecurity assessment requests from the company with members of the A2V Network, such as AEP and Southern. This will help to simplify the process of information gathering and confirmation of compliance with key cybersecurity standards and protocols.David Goddard, Head of Digital at Hitachi ABB Power Grids, said, "Utilities are required to conduct cybersecurity assessments of many of their vendors to remain in compliance with regulatory requirements. By sharing information through the Asset to Vendor Network, Hitachi ABB Power Grids is simplifying the process for utilities and reducing the amount of effort and cost involved in completing multiple, similar assessments. This in turn frees up resources for all concerned, enabling them to focus on their core businesses, maintaining strong, reliable and resilient grids.""Hitachi ABB Power Grids is making a huge statement that transparency and trust is core to their business," said Alex Santos, CEO and co-founder of Fortress. "This action will make the grid safer. Because of Hitachi ABB Power Grids' participation, utility companies will be better positioned to take fast action to protect their customers and physical assets from cyber threats."Hitachi ABB Power Grids' David Goddard added, "We are delighted to be among the first companies to participate in this industry-wide effort to provide utilities with a simpler way to access the information they need to meet their security and compliance obligations. We look forward to working with Fortress and its utility partners to make A2V a success."With information from multiple vendors in a single location, A2V member utilities can access standardized assessments that will lower their risk and expedite their compliance with Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). A2V is also helping utilities comply with The White House's new Executive Order 13920 on the acquisition and installation of bulk power system (BPS) equipment sourced from foreign adversaries.About Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd.Hitachi ABB Power Grids is global technology leader with a combined heritage of almost 250 years, employing around 36,000 people in 90 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, the business serves utility, industry and infrastructure customers across the value chain, and emerging areas like sustainable mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers. With a proven track record, global footprint and unparalleled installed base, Hitachi ABB Power Grids balances social, environmental and economic values. It is committed to powering good for a sustainable energy future, with pioneering and digital technologies, as the partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid. https://www.hitachiabb-powergrids.comHitachi ABB Power Grids' North American headquarters are in Raleigh, North Carolina.About the Asset to Vendor Network and Fortress Information SecurityThe Asset to Vendor Network is a collaborative network of utilities that share cybersecurity information to secure the North American power grid. Fortress Information Security, based in Orlando, FL, specializes in securing the supply chain and industrial assets of North American critical infrastructure.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. First lady Melania Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo led an array of Americans making the case at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday for re-electing President Donald Trump over Democrat Joe Biden in November. Here are quotes from the days events, delivered both live and pre-recorded due to the coronavirus epidemic. TIFFANY TRUMP, DAUGHTER OF DONALD TRUMP: Make America Great Again is not a slogan for my father, it is what drives him to keep his promise of doing what is right for American citizens." LARRY KUDLOW, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: Look, our economic choice is very clear. Do you want economic health, prosperity opportunity and optimism, or do you want to turn back to the dark days of stagnation, recession and pessimism? I believe, there cant be better economic policies than weve had in recent years. So I say stay with him." FLORIDA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JEANETTE NUNEZ: Fellow Americans, the fabric of our nation is in peril. Daily, the radical left systematically chisels away at the freedoms we cherish. They peddle dangerous ideologies, cower to global progressives, and normalize socialism to dismantle our Constitution. IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS: A storm called a derecho, with hurricane-force winds of up to 140 miles per hour, wiped out millions of acres of crops, left thousands without power. Destroyed homes. Wrecked lives, and left devastation in its wake. It was the worst storm in our states history. And Iowans did what you expect Iowans to do. They helped each other. They took care of each other. And they still are. But someone else had our back: our president." U.S. SENATOR RAND PAUL OF KENTUCKY: Im supporting President Trump because he believes as I do that a strong America cannot fight endless wars. We must not continue to leave our blood and treasure in Middle East quagmires." ? Joe Biden voted for the Iraq War, which President Trump has long called the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation. I fear Biden will choose war again. He supported war in Serbia, Syria and Libya. Joe Biden will continue to spill our blood and treasure. President Trump will bring our heroes home." JOHN PETERSON, WISCONSIN BUSINESS OWNER: We scrapped and clawed and hung on with everything we had for two years. And then everything changed. Because Donald Trump was elected president. He knew what it was like to build a company and to create jobs for American workers." JASON JOYCE, MAINE LOBSTERMAN: As long as Trump is president, fishing families like mine will have a voice." CRIS PETERSON, WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMER: As a businessman, President Trump understands that farming is a complicated, capital-intensive and risky business. More than any president, he has acknowledged the importance of farmers and agriculture." MYRON LIZER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION: We for years fought congressional battles with past congressmen and senators that were part of a broken system that ignored us. That is, until President Trump took office." Whenever we meet with President Trump, he has always made it a priority to repair the relationship with our federal family. RYAN HOLETS, NEW MEXICO POLICE OFFICER: I hold a special place in my heart for those facing opioid addiction. And thats why Im enormously grateful to the president for his leadership in fighting this deadly enemy. Through his efforts, we are turning the tide on the crisis of addiction. ABBY JOHNSON, ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVIST: This election is a choice between two radical, anti-life activists, and the most pro-life president weve ever had. Thats something that should compel you to action. (Compiled by Sonya Hepinstall; Editing by Peter Cooney) Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor New Delhi, Aug 26 : Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi will speak to the Chief Ministers of the Congress ruled states and also the Chief Ministers of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday to discuss the pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) share, and the NEET and JEE examination issue. According to Congress sources, the meeting will be chaired by Sonia Gandhi through video conferencing, in which Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Puducherry CM V. Narayanasamy along with the West Bengal and Maharashtra Chief Ministers will be present. The meeting comes a day ahead of the meeting of the GST Council on Thursday. According to Congress sources the opposition Chief Ministers are expected to discuss a joint effort to pressurise the government to postpone the exams at a time when the country is battling a surge in Covid-19 cases. The source said the agenda of the meeting also includes compensation to states who have reported a loss of revenue because of the GST in the time of the pandemic. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Greg Oropeza stands outside the Milpitas Library, which is acting as a resource center for wildfire evacuees, in Milpitas, Calif., on Aug. 24, 2020. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) CZU Fire Evacuees Worried About Whats Lost, But Optimistic MILIPITAS, Calif.Greg Oropeza climbed out of his white pickup in front of an evacuation resource center in Milipitas, California, on Aug. 24. The trucks door says Hwy 9 Plumbing. But there wont be any plumbing jobs on Oropezas usual stretch of Highway 9 for some time, since it runs through the area evacuated amid the CZU Lightning Complex fires. Im here because I heard they have some vouchers, Oropeza told The Epoch Times. Some evacuees are receiving vouchers to help cover hotel costs. The Motel 6 in Watsonville we were at raised the rates to $257 a night. Were at the Hyatt which is really nice. Its much cheaper but still. He could use the help with costs. The CZU Lightning Complex fire at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, north of Santa Cruz, is one of the three largest wildfires in Northern California. It has displaced about 77,000 people, consumed almost 80,000 acres, and was 19 percent contained as of Aug. 26. Oropeza evacuated his family of five, along with three pets, from their home in Boulder Creek on Aug. 20. He was not able to take most of his valuables with himWeve owned that house for 20 years. How much can you take? But he believes their home will be safe. Im more optimistic today. Im really sad for my friends that lost their houses though, he said. Another evacuee at the Milpitas Library evacuation center, Scott Derbonne, had tears in his eyes as he told The Epoch Times about one irreplaceable objects he had to leave behind. My wife died three years ago. I have her urn and her ashes; I didnt get any of that, he said. The lightning sparked fires so suddenly near his Felton home on Aug. 20 that he left immediately. I literally got out of the house with my two cats and grabbed a thing of clotheswhich I thought was clean; it ended up being dirtyand thats all I got out. I didnt get my shaving kit, or anything, Derbonne said. He hopes to find his home still intact. And if it is intact, he hopes it hasnt been looted. Local law enforcement has reported that some evacuated homes have been looted. Cal Fire officials have also said a firefighters wallet was stolen while he was fighting the blaze, and his bank account was drained by the thief. Derbonne is currently staying in a tiny one-bedroom apartment with his sister, his 80-year-old mother, his two cats, and his sisters dog. Were all on top of each other. Its crazy, he said. He went to the evacuation resource center to get information for a room he can rent to have a good nights rest and recuperate. The Milpitas Library evacuation center in Milpitas, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2020. (David Lam/The Epoch Times) A sign outside the Milpitas Library directs evacuees to a resource center within, in Milpitas, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2020. (David Lam/The Epoch Times) Kanda Whaley also evacuated from Felton on Aug. 20. She is worried about her home, which she has lived in for 36 years. But shes also worried about the history of the region being lost. Though experts have said the ancient redwoods in the area will largely survive the fires, at least one man-made historical site has been destroyed: the century-old Alba Schoolhouse in Ben Lomond. Those are the kinds of things that are breaking our hearts, Whaley said. Whaley is a volunteer rapid response chaplain who helps provide emotional and spiritual care as part of disaster relief efforts. She will be one of the first evacuees from her community to return, likely walking through the ashes clad in a hazmat suit. Shes awaiting the green light to go back and check on her own home and on her community. Tina Greenlaw evacuated her home in Boulder Creek with her son on Aug. 17. She said she has been told it may be a month or more before she can return. We were just able to grab valuable paperwork, some pictures, memoir-type stuff from the family. Everything else, we left behind. We got some clothes and that was it, Greenlaw told The Epoch Times outside the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino on Aug. 24. Were doing OK, considering everything thats going on, she said. Its kind of hard not knowing if you have a home or not. But well find that out soon enough. You can always rebuild. Its not the end of the world. Selbyville, Delaware, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to MarketStudyReport LLC, Global pet food ingredients market generated revenues worth USD 36.2 billion in the year 2019 and to reach USD 60.4 billion with growth rate of 6.6% between 2020 and 2027. The growth is primarily attributed to escalating expenditure on pet care and shifting focus towards adopting organic pet food ingredients. For those uninitiated, pet food is animal or plant-based products which contains of fats, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and some preservatives. Pet food ingredients comprise of meat, grains, vegetables, and others, which offer nutrition and enrichment to the animal body. Increasing popularity of insect-based proteins and oils among pet owners is stimulating the industry outlook. Technological advancements and strategic collaborations among the leading players is also facilitating the business scenario. In January 2020, for instance, Darling Ingredients Inc. acquired America-based EnvrionFlight LLC in a bid to develop high quality and sustainable proteins for companion and agriculture animals. Impact of COVID-19 outbreak The unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 has compelled worldwide governments to impose temporary lockdowns in order to flatten the curve, resulting in disruption in manufacturing as well as supply chain and distribution processes, which in turn could negatively impact the growth of pet food ingredients market. Additional factors such as lack of standard regulations for pet food, price fluctuations and limited availability of the required ingredients may restrain the overall market growth over the forecast period. Request Sample copy of this Report @ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/2815919/ Market segmentations: Worldwide pet food ingredients market is divided into various segments on the basis of pet type, ingredients scope, source terrain, and form type. Speaking of pet type, the market is classified into cat, dog, fish, and others. In terms of ingredients scope, the industry is split into fats, meat & meat products, vegetable & fruits, additives, and cereals. Moving on to source type, the market is categorized into plant-based, animal-based and synthetic. By form, pet food ingredients are available as dry and wet. A gist of the regional scope Global pet food ingredients industry is bifurcated into Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and Rest of the World while primarily focusing on Brazil, Mexico, India, China, Australia, Japan, rest of Asia-Pacific, Spain, Italy, France, UK, Germany, rest of Europe, U.S. and Canada among others. Report cites that Latin America accounts for substantial market share currently and is expected to generate modest revenues in the ensuing years. Various economies in Latin America are providing lucrative growth opportunities for the expansion of pet food industry. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific pet food ingredients market is reckoned to witness healthy CAGR through 2027. To access a sample copy or view this report in detail along with the table of contents, please click the link below: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-pet-food-ingredients-market-size-research An overview of the competitive landscape Major companies that formulate the competitive terrain of worldwide pet food ingredients market are Roquette Freres SA, Chr. Hansen A/S, DowDuPont Inc., Cargill Inc., Archer Daniels Midland Co., Omega Protein Corp., Ingredion Inc., Darling Ingredients Inc., Bluestar Adisseo Co. and BASF SE among others. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Pet Type (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017-2027) Fish Cat Dog Others Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Ingredients Type (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017-2027) Meat & Meat Products Fats Vegetable & Fruits Cereals Additives Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Source Type (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017-2027) Animal-based Plant-based Synthetic Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Form Type (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017-2027) Wet Dry Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Regional Analysis (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017-2027) North America Canada U.S. Europe Germany UK Spain France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific South Korea Australia Japan India China Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Mexico Brazil Rest of the World Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Competitive Arena (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017-2027) Roquette Freres SA Chr. Hansen A/S DowDuPont Inc. Cargill Inc. Archer Daniels Midland Company Omega Protein Corporation Ingredion Incorporated Darling Ingredients Inc. Bluestar Adisseo Company BASF SE Table of Content: Chapter 1. Executive Summary 1.1. Market Snapshot 1.2. Global & Segmental Market Estimates & Forecasts, 2018-2027 (USD Billion) 1.3. Key Trends 1.4. Estimation Methodology 1.5. Research Assumption Chapter 2. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Definition and Scope 2.1. Objective of the Study 2.2. Market Definition & Scope 2.3. Years Considered for the Study 2.4. Currency Conversion Rates Chapter 3. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Dynamics 3.1. Pet Food Ingredients Market Impact Analysis (2018-2027) 3.1.1. Market Drivers 3.1.2. Market Challenges 3.1.3. Market Opportunities Chapter 4. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Industry Analysis 4.1. Porters five Force Model 4.2. PEST Analysis 4.3. Investment Adoption Model 4.4. Analyst Recommendation & Conclusion Chapter 5. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market, by Pet 5.1. Market Snapshot 5.2. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Pet, Performance - Potential Analysis 5.3. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Estimates & Forecasts by Pet 2017-2027 (USD Billion) 5.4. Pet Food Ingredients Market, Sub Segment Analysis 5.4.1. Dog 5.4.2. Cat 5.4.3. Fish Chapter 6. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market, by Ingredients 6.1. Market Snapshot 6.2. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Ingredients, Performance - Potential Analysis 6.3. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Estimates & Forecasts by Ingredients 2017-2027 (USD Billion) 6.4. Pet Food Ingredients Market, Sub Segment Analysis 6.4.1. Cereals 6.4.2. Vegetable & Fruits 6.4.3. Fats 6.4.4. Meat & Meat Products 6.4.5. Additives Chapter 7. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market, by Source 7.1. Market Snapshot 7.2. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Source, Performance - Potential Analysis 7.3. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Estimates & Forecasts by Source 2017-2027 (USD Billion) 7.4. Pet Food Ingredients Market, Sub Segment Analysis 7.4.1. Synthetic 7.4.2. Plant-based 7.4.3. Animal-based Chapter 8. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market, by Form 8.1. Market Snapshot 8.2. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market by Form, Performance - Potential Analysis 8.3. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market Estimates & Forecasts by Form 2017-2027 (USD Billion) 8.4. Pet Food Ingredients Market, Sub Segment Analysis 8.4.1. Dry 8.4.2. Wet Chapter 9. Global Pet Food Ingredients Market, Regional Analysis Related Report: Animal Feed Protein Ingredients Market Size, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2020 2026 Animal Feed Protein Ingredients market size estimated to register more than 6.0% CAGR between 2020 and 2026, as per new research report. Increasing investments along with supportive government initiatives to promote agribusiness will foster product demand. From a geographical frame of reference, North America animal feed protein ingredients market is set to witness a CAGR of over 3% owing to rising consumption of non-vegetarian food products. The Middle East & Africa market will also witness a CAGR of over 3.5% during the projected timeframe. Aquaculture is likely to exhibit a CAGR of around 5% CAGR owing to rising fish consumption globally. Pet food registered a market share of over 2.5% in 2019 due to increasing pet adoption trends. About US: Market Study Report, LLC. is a hub for market intelligence products and services. We streamline the purchase of your market research reports and services through a single integrated platform by bringing all the major publishers and their services at one place. Our customers partner with Market Study Report, LLC. to ease their search and evaluation of market intelligence products and services and in turn focus on their company's core activities. If you are looking for research reports on global or regional markets, competitive information, emerging markets and trends or just looking to stay on top of the curve then Market Study Report, LLC. is the platform that can help you in achieving any of these objectives. LAHORE, Pakistan, August 25, 2020 (Morning Star News) A church pastor in Karachi has languished in jail since May on a baseless charge of extortion leveled against him in retaliation for taking a stand against alleged land-grabbers who demolished homes of poor Christians there, family members said. Falsely accusing pastor Sohail Latif Sandhu of extortion, the alleged land-grabbers told his wife they would get him freed if she had sex with them, and then tried to rape her when she refused, said Pastor Sandhus wife, Kanwal Sohail. My husband has been falsely accused of demanding a 500,000-rupee (US$2,955) extortion from a Muslim man named Jibran, but the fact is that the complainant is a part of the land mafia that has been eyeing the homes of poor Christians for a long time, she said. Founder and chairman of River of Life Ministries, Pastor Sandhu is a father of five who leads a church in Surjani Town, a neighborhood in the northern Karachi borough of Gadap Town. Our troubles started in March when the land mafia demolished the homes of our four congregation members with the intention of taking possession of the plots, Kanwal Sohail said. My husband led the families to the police, but we didnt know that they were working hand-in-glove with the land-grabbers. On March 10 she was in the hospital, where she had given birth three days prior, when police detained her husband, accusing him of organizing a violent protest against those who had demolished the Christians homes, she said. Her father managed to obtain his release on bail 13 days later. The land mafia again targeted the homes of our congregation members in the start of May, thinking that no one would dare to oppose them now, Kanwal Sohail said. Despite the ordeal that he had suffered just two months prior, my husband refused to back down and again organized demonstrations against the land-grabbers and police officials patronizing them. Police used excessive force against their peaceful protests, and several of their congregation members were injured, she said. In a late-night raid on their home on May 21, Surjani Town police took Pastor Sandhu into custody. Angered by Pastor Sohails continued activism for his people, the police registered a false case of extortion against him on May 17 and arrested him on the night of May 21 as our minor children looked on, Kanwal Sohail said. The investigating officer repeatedly delayed preparing charges against the pastor, which prevented any attempt to obtain bail, she said. After the family made several requests, the officer finally submitted a charge sheet to the courts, but neither he nor the complainant appeared at hearings, which were adjourned without bail decisions, she said. Kanwal Sohail said that on May 22, hours after police arrested her husband, Jibran and another man identified only as Arshad came to her house and offered to withdraw the case against the pastor if she would agree to their demands. They wanted to sleep with me in return for my husbands freedom, she told Morning Star News. Upon my refusal, both men pounced on me, twisted my arms and tore my clothes. They wanted to rape me, but my screams attracted attention in the neighborhood, and both men fled. The family filed an application for a case against the two men, and nearly a month passed before police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under pressure from rights organizations, she said, adding that officers pressured her to withdraw the case. Recently the senior superintendent of police of Surjani Town asked me to meet him in private, she said. I told my father about this, and he told the senior police official that I will only record my statement in the presence of my family and elders of the community. Kept in Karachi Central Jail where family members visit him once a week, Pastor Sandhu is a diabetic who is in poor health due to high blood pressure and a foot injury, she said. The case has been transferred to an anti-terrorism court due to the extortion charge. A hearing was scheduled for last Thursday (Aug. 20), but the concerned police officer and the complainant failed to appear, and there were no witnesses, she said. A judge scheduled a bail hearing for Thursday (Aug. 27) and has directed the senior superintendent of police to appear in court, Kanwal Sohail said. Since the day of my husbands arrest, our congregation members and my family have been supporting us financially and providing for our needs, she said. Her father, Javaid Kernail, said an army officer recently contacted them, saying authorities in Islamabad had directed him to investigate. We told the army officer that the case against Pastor Sohail is clearly concocted, Kernail told Morning Star News. The complainant has accused my son-in-law of hurling death threats and demanding extortion for vacating a plot but, interestingly, no local witness has been named in the FIR. There are about 60-70 Christian families living in the neighborhood, while all others are Muslims. If such an incident did occur in broad daylight, why hasnt the police investigated the locals? In fact, no investigation has been undertaken in the case. Kernail said the land-grabbers are supported by an ethnic, Karachi-based political party, the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP). Its highly likely Pastor Sohail will be involved in more fake cases after he is released on bail in this case because of the involvement of PSP leaders in land-grabbing in Surjani Town, he said. Police Response The investigating officer in the case, Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Tariq, said complainant Jibran has accused Pastor Sandhu and others of illegally grabbing his plot. According to the complainant, when he demanded his land from Sohail and others, they demanded 500,000 rupees from him in return, Tariq told Morning Star News. We arrested the accused and produced him in the court of a judicial magistrate, but he sent the matter to the anti-terrorism court. Tariq said the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) owns the land in Surjani Town, but that several land grabbers are active in the area. They prepare forged documents and sell plots to innocent citizens, sometimes selling the same plot to multiple buyers, he said. In this case, the complainant Jibran had the original file, but his plot was in the possession of Sohail and his accomplices. Asked whether police had any evidence incriminating Pastor Sandu in land-grabbing, such as forged documents or weapons, Tariq acknowledged that there was no such evidence. We arrested him on extortion charges on the basis of the statements given by the complainant and the witnesses, he said. Tariq denied that the Surjani Town police were colluding with land-grabbers, saying officers only acted on complaints. Most of the state land is encroached upon in Karachi, and we face stiff resistance from the encroachers when we go on eviction drives, he said. The case registered against Sohail in March was also related to violent resistance to the anti-encroachment action. Pakistan ranked fifth on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, and on Nov. 28, 2018, the United States added Pakistan to its blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Cofkocof New Delhi, Aug 26 : The slowing pace of economic recovery suggests that the recovery in some sectors may plateau much before pre-pandemic levels are reached. "We also find that the sequential pace of normalisation is moderating, suggesting that some sectors may plateau much before they reach their pre-pandemic levels," foreign brokerage Nomura said in a report. As per the Nomura India Normalization Index (NINI), normalisation indices across sectors continued to inch higher in July, suggesting the post-lockdown recovery progressed in early Q3. However, the recovery remains uneven with a faster rise in supply (vs demand), rural consumption (vs urban) and industrial sector (vs services). "Overall, we estimate aggregate demand stood at 67 per cent of its pre-pandemic level in July, lower than aggregate supply (at 82 per cent). "Our weekly tracker of the pace of activity normalization flat-lined at 73.4 for the week ending 23 August, still above July's levels, but underlining the slower pickup once post-lockdown euphoria eases," it said. The report noted that sequential pace of recovery is tapering off. Although economic indicators are showing signs of recovery, the pace has moderated over the past few months. The sequential pace of month on month normalisation in consumption in July was lower than the pickup in June. Similar trends are seen in investment and industrial indicators, with the external sector being the only exception - the latter registered a faster pace in July due to the delayed recovery in import growth. "Although a slower sequential pace is not entirely surprising as the fastest pickup is bound to occur right after lockdown relaxations, the slowing pace suggests the recovery in some sectors may plateau much before pre-pandemic levels are reached," the report said. Additionally, with aggregate supply getting close to its pre-pandemic normal, its next phase of recovery will need to be driven by higher demand, instead of normalization and pent-up demand thus far, it said. "Consistent with evidence in other economies such as China, we find that aggregate supply is recovering faster than aggregate demand," Nomura said. Demand has likely taken a larger hit from higher precautionary savings by consumers amid rising income uncertainty; the classic 'paradox of thrift'. By contrast, the supply side has been largely constrained by lockdown rules and the availability of factors of production (such as labour, electricity and logistical support), which are more responsive to the ending of restrictions. In July, the aggregate demand NINI picked up to 67.2 per cent of potential from 56.1 per cent in June, while the more buoyant supply side recovered to 82 per cent of the potential in July vs 79 per cent in June. In a report, Morgan Stanley said that economic indicators for July and August have continued to improve, indicating a gradual normalisation in activity. "With continued easing of restrictions, we expect economic activity to gradually normalise," the report said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The sounds of gunshots in neighborhoods across Staten Islands North Shore have quieted down in recent weeks, following a surge of violence earlier this summer. During a consecutive, four-week span ending Aug. 23, police assigned to the borough responded to just a pair of shooting incidents, compared to three during the same time period last year, according to the NYPDs CompStat figures. The Australian share market finished session lower on Wednesday, 26 August 2020, as risk sentiment was hit after Victoria reported a surge in the coronavirus daily death toll. However, market losses capped on hopes for additional stimulus and hopes for a local vaccine. At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index declined 44.99 points, or 0.73%, to 6,116.40. The broader All Ordinaries dropped 37.52 points, or 0.59%, to 6,294.50. Investors' sentiments spooked by the Victoria government's intention to extend a state of emergency by another year to combat the spread of the virus. Victoria, the country's second-most populous state, saw 24 deaths on Wednesday, compared with the record 25 reported last week. Investors shrugged off optimism around US-Sino trade negotiations and fresh progress in the medical battle against Covid-19 that helped lift Wall Street indexes to record highs overnight. Financial stocks led the retreat with big four banks - ANZ Banking, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac - were lower in a range of 1.3% to 2.5%. Gold miners declined after safe-haven gold prices extended losses overnight. Newcrest Mining was lower by more than 1% and Evolution Mining fell almost 1%. The major miners were mostly weak. Rio Tinto was lower by more than 1% and BHP Group was down almost 1%, while Fortescue Metals added almost 1%. Meanwhile, oil stocks were mostly higher as crude oil prices rose overnight. Oil Search rose more than 2% and Woodside Petroleum added 0.5%, while Santos was lower by almost 2%. APA Group shares fell as the country's biggest gas pipeline operator forecast a weaker fiscal 2021, while Whitehaven Coal slid to its lowest in over four years after the country's largest independent coal producer reported a 95% plunge in full-year underlying profit. Shares of Qantas Airways lost more than 3% after announced another 2400 jobs cuts, on top of the 6000 job cuts announced by the airline earlier in June to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. ECONOMIC NEWS: Australia Construction Work Done Eases 0.7% In June Quarter - Australia's total construction work done decreased 0.7% sequentially in the June quarter, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday. The construction work was valued at A$50.128 billion. Total building work done was down 3.9%, while engineering work done rose 3.8%. Data showed that both residential and non-residential work done decreased 5.5% and 1.5%, respectively. On a yearly basis, construction work done fell 2.2% in the second quarter. CURRENCY NEWS: The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7192, in a trading week that has seen in mostly trading between $0.716 and $0.72. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Palantir Technologies Inc. sent a warning to investors Tuesday in its application to publicly list on the New York Stock Exchange, stating that the overarching complexity of privacy and data laws from country to country pose major compliance challenges for the data company. Privacy, data protection, and information security, subject to nascent and disparate laws and regulations still evolving around the globe, are critical competitive factors in the companys industry, the company said in its S-1. The challenges are also front and center for Big Tech data collectors such as Alphabets Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple, as well as for smaller startup firms. Outside of the United States, virtually every jurisdiction in which we operate has established its own legal framework relating to privacy, data protection, and information security matters with which we and/or our customers must comply, Palantir said. The shifting nature of such laws, Palantir said, could manifest in costs, damages, or liability for the company if it fails to implement and follow proper programmatic controls, or experiences malicious or inadvertent breaches of privacy and data protection requirements. In addition to the fines, lawsuits, and other claims that could arise based on non-compliance, the company stated that new and overhauled laws could require Palantir to fundamentally change or modify its business. In a letter contained in the filing, Palantirs CEO Alexander Karp separated the companys data collection end game to create software for national defense and intelligence agencies, as well as for state, local and foreign governments from its fellow Silicon Valley-born startups focused on advertising models. From the start, we have repeatedly turned down opportunities to sell, collect, or mine data. Other technology companies, including some of the largest in the world, have built their entire businesses on doing just that, Karp wrote. Software projects with our nations defense and intelligence agencies, whose missions are to keep us safe, have become controversial, while companies built on advertising dollars are commonplace. For many consumer internet companies, our thoughts and inclinations, behaviors and browsing habits, are the product for sale. The slogans and marketing of many of the Valleys largest technology firms attempt to obscure this simple fact. Story continues The logo of U.S. software company Palantir Technologies is seen in Davos, Switzerland Januar 22, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Business model aside, Palantirs disclosures highlight challenges faced by companies that collect and handle personal data, as international, national, state, local, and even private rules shift. These U.S. federal and state and foreign laws and regulations, which, depending on the regime, may be enforced by private parties or government entities, are constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change, and they are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, the company said. Uncertainty, Palantir said exists, even where legal requirements have been formally adopted. Californias Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) that became effective in 2020, and the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that became effective in 2018, both lay out standards for processing, moving and disclosing personal data, yet according to the company have not existed long enough to evaluate the impact of compliance violations. Added uncertainty in California comes from a ballot measure, Proposition 24, slated for November that would add restrictions to CCPA, requiring companies to minimize data personal data retention, ad targeting, and sharing. Complying with the GDPR or other data protection laws and regulations as they emerge may cause us to incur substantial operational costs or require us to modify our data handling practices on an ongoing basis, Palantir stated. The company emphasized one penalty under GDPR that has been made clear: non-compliance can entitle authorities to 4% of a companys worldwide annual revenue, or 20,000,000 Euro ($23,636,000), whichever is greater. In 2019, Palantir lost $580 million. During the first half of 2020, the company pared losses to $165 million. Its revenue for the first half of the year totaled $481million, an 49% increase over 2019. According to Tuesdays SEC filing, the company plans to list under the ticker symbol PLTR. - Alexis Keenan is a reporter for Yahoo Finance and former litigation attorney. Follow Alexis Keenan on Twitter @alexiskweed. Find live stock market quotes and the latest business and finance news For tutorials and information on investing and trading stocks, check out Cashay Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and reddit. How climate change could expose new epidemics As global warming melts permafrost such as the Alaskan tundra, what new threats will be unfrozen? Long-dormant viruses brought back to life; the resurgence of deadly and disfiguring smallpox; a dengue or zika "season" in Europe. These could be disaster movie storylines, but they are also serious and increasingly plausible scenarios of epidemics unleashed by global warming, scientists say. The COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the globe and claimed over 760,000 lives so far almost certainly came from a wild bat, highlighting the danger of humanity's constant encroachment on the planet's dwindling wild spaces. But the expanding ecological footprint of our species could trigger epidemics in other ways too. Climate change -- already wreaking havoc with one degree Celsius of warming -- is also emerging as a driver of infectious disease, whether by expanding the footprint of malaria- and dengue-carrying mosquitos, or defrosting prehistoric pathogens from the Siberian permafrost. - 'Ignorance is our enemy' - "In my darkest moments, I see a really horrible future for Homo sapiens because we are an animal, and when we extend our borders things will happen to us," said Birgitta Evengard, a researcher in clinical microbiology at Umea University in Sweden. "Our biggest enemy is our own ignorance," she added. "Nature is full of microorganisms." Think of permafrost, a climate change time bomb spread across Russia, Canada and Alaska that contains three times the carbon that has been emitted since the start of industrialisation. Even if humanity manages to cap global warming at under two degrees Celsius, the cornerstone goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the permafrost area will decrease by a quarter by 2100, according to the UN's climate science panel, the IPCC. And then there are the permafrost's hidden treasures. "Microorganisms can survive in frozen space for a long, long time," said Vladimir Romanovsky, a professor of geophysics at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. Story continues - An Anthrax comeback? - As ground thaws, once-frozen soil particles, organic material and microorganisms that had been locked away for millennia are carried toward the surface by water flows, he explained. "That's how thawing can spread these microorganisms into present day environments." There are already examples of ancient, long-frozen bugs coming to life. "When you put a seed into soil that is then frozen for thousands of years, nothing happens," said Jean-Michel Claverie, an emeritus professor of genomics at the School of Medicine of Aix-Marseille University in France. "But when you warm the earth, the seed will be able to germinate," he added. "That is similar to what happens with a virus." Claverie's lab has successfully revived Siberian viruses that are at least 30,000 years old. These reanimated bugs only attack amoebas, but tens of thousands of years ago there were certainly others that aimed higher up the food chain. "Neanderthals, mammoths, woolly rhinos all got sick, and many died," said Claverie. "Some of the viruses that caused their sicknesses are probably still in the soil." The number of bacteria and viruses lurking in the permafrost is incalculable, but the more important question is how dangerous they are. And here, scientists disagree. "Anthrax shows that bacteria can be resting in permafrost for hundreds of years and be revived," said Evengard. In 2016, a child in Siberia died from the disease, which had disappeared from the region at least 75 years earlier. - Two-million-year-old pathogens - This case has been attributed to the thawing of a long-buried carcass, but some experts counter that the animal remains in question may have been in shallow dirt and thus subject to periodic thawing. Other pathogens -- such as smallpox or the influenza strain that killed tens of millions in 1917 and 1918 -- may also be present in the sub-Arctic region. But they "have probably been inactivated", Romanovsky concluded in a study published earlier this year. For Claverie, however, the return of smallpox -- officially declared eradicated 50 years ago -- cannot be excluded. 18th- and 19th-century victims of the disease "buried in cemetaries in Siberia are totally preserved by the cold," he noted. In the unlikely event of a local epidemic, a vaccine is available. The real danger, he added, lies in deeper strata where unknown pathogens that have not seen daylight for two million years or more may be exposed by global warming. If there were no hosts for the bugs to infect there would not be a problem, but climate change -- indirectly -- has intervened here as well. "With the industrial exploitation of the Arctic, all the risk factors are there -- pathogens and the people to carry them," Claverie said. The revival of ancient bacteria or viruses remains speculative, but climate change has already boosted the spread of diseases that kill about half a million people every year: malaria, dengue, chikungunya, zika. "Mosquitoes moving their range north are now able to overwinter in some temperate regions," said Jeanne Fair, deputy group leader for biosecurity and public health at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. "They also have longer breeding periods." - 'Climate change aperitif' - Native to southeast Asia, the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) -- which carries dengue and chikungunya -- arrived in southern Europe in the first decade of this century and has been moving rapidly north ever since, to Paris and beyond. Meanwhile, another dengue-bearing mosquito, Aedes aegypti, has also appeared in Europe. Whichever species may be the culprit, the Europe Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has registered 40 cases of local transmission of dengue between 2010 and 2019. "An increase in mean temperature could result in seasonal dengue transmission in southern Europe if A. aegypti infected with virus were to be established," according to the Europe Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. As for malaria -- a disease that once blighted southern Europe and the southern United States and for which an effective treatment exists -- the risk of exposure depends in large part on social-economic conditions. More than five billion people could be living in malaria-affected regions by 2050 if climate change continues unabated, but strong economic growth and social development could reduce that number to less than two billion, according to a study cited by the IPCC. "Recent experience in southern Europe demonstrates how rapidly the disease may reappear if health services falter," the IPCC said in 2013, alluding to a resurgence of cases in Greece in 2008. In Africa -- which saw 228 million cases of malaria in 2018, 94 percent of the world's total -- the disease vector is moving into new regions, notably the high-altitude plains of Ethiopia and Kenya. For the moment, the signals for communicable tropical diseases "are worrying in terms of expanding vectors, not necessarily transmission," said Cyril Caminade, an epidemiologist working on climate change at the Institute of Infection and Global Health at the University of Liverpool. "That said, we're only tasting the aperitif of climate change so far," he added. adb/mh/dl/txw Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 00:58:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The annual wildebeest migration from Tanzania's Serengeti national park to Kenya's world-famous Maasai Mara wildlife sanctuary is being threatened by raging waters at the swollen Mara River, officials said on Wednesday. James Sindiyo, Mara Wildlife Reserve's chief warden, said that heavy rains that started in September 2019 have raised the water levels in Mara River making it difficult for the animals to identify the shallow crossing points. "The wildebeest cross safely when the river has shallow water. And that is when there is low rain for three consecutive years," Sindiyo told Xinhua in a telephone interview. "But the river is now swollen because of the long rains and the wildebeest are usually carried away when the current is strong," he added. Sindiyo said that 300 of nearly 2.4 million wildebeest that have crossed into Mara from Serengeti drowned on Aug. 23 when they attempted to jump over a swollen section of Mara River. He said the crossing point was steep and challenging for the animals to swim over due to the raging waters. "There is however nothing alarming about drowning of the 300 wildebeests. It is a natural process and there are times they die over 1,000 or more," said Sindiyo. He said a negligible number of wildebeests is lost during the migration process since 99.9 percent of them cross the Mara River safely. "Wildebeests are good swimmers and they really fight their way out of the high waters and strong current," said Sindiyo. He said that domestic tourists are visiting Mara wildlife reserve to enjoy the spectacle of the wildebeests grazing around the plains or crisscrossing the Mara River. The chief warder said that in the past seven weeks since President Uhuru Kenyatta lifted a ban on cross-county movements, locals and diplomats have been making their way into the wildlife sanctuary. Enditem The Vietnamese Ministry of Health confirmed the death of three COVID-19 patients on Wednesday, alongside five imported cases. One of the victims had tested negative for the novel coronavirus three times, on August 19, 21, and 23. This case is not counted in Vietnams death toll, which has risen to 29. All three patients, aged 36, 56, and 66, had suffered serious pre-existing conditions, including end-stage chronic kidney failure, hypertension, heart failure, and stroke. A separate patient died on August 12 after having tested negative for the pathogen four times. The health ministry did not include this fatality in the death toll either. The health ministry recorded five imported COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. Three of them are Vietnamese who landed at Can Tho International Airport in the namesake city, located in the Mekong Delta, from the UAE on August 9. They were sent to a quarantine center upon arrival, as per regulations. They tested positive for the virus on August 8 and 25. The other three cases are also Vietnamese who returned from Russia on August 11. They were quarantined upon arrival at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh Province. The trio tested negative on August 13 before retesting positive on Tuesday. Vietnam has registered a total of 1,034 COVID-19 patients since January 23, when the virus first hit the country. Six hundred and thirty-two patients have recovered from the disease, including 40 recoveries on Wednesday. Vietnam has confirmed 547 local infections since July 25, when Da Nang, beach city on the central coast, recorded the first domestically-transmitted case after the nation had spent 99 days without any community transmission. Most of such domestic cases have been associated with the beach city. Vietnam is quarantining 69,429 people who had direct contact with infected patients or entered the country from outbreak-stricken areas. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Most white Christians say killings of black men by police are isolated incidents: poll Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Most white U.S. Christians across denominational lines believe that police killings of African-American men are isolated incidents, according to the findings of a recently released survey. The Public Religion Research Institute released a report last Friday which found that majorities of white evangelicals (72%), white Catholics (56%), and white mainline Protestants (53%) viewed police killings of black men to be isolated incidents. The percentage of white evangelical respondents expressing this opinion was basically unchanged when compared to polls taken in October 2018 (71%) and October 2015 (72%). By contrast, both white Catholics and white mainline Protestants saw a considerable decline in the percentage of respondents who believed that the killings are isolated incidents. In October 2015, 71% of white Catholics and 73% of white mainline Protestants felt that the killings were isolated incidents. White respondents who identified as religiously unaffiliated were far less likely to agree, with 30% surveyed in June saying they were isolated incidents. Overall, 42% of Americans said they were isolated incidents, down from 53% in 2015. For the June 2020 data, PRRI drew from an online survey conducted June 26-29 of 1,016 U.S. adults from all 50 states, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. Down from 58% in 2015, 49% of Americans today disagree that generations of slavery and discrimination have created conditions that make it difficult for black Americans to work their way out of the lower class. White evangelicals (72%) are more likely to disagree compared to other religious groups. Other findings included 59% of respondents saying that Confederate monuments are symbols of Southern pride rather than racism, 64% of Republican respondents saying they believe that discrimination against whites had become just as big a problem as discrimination against minorities, and 19% of Democrats saying they believe that police killings of black men are isolated incidents. Over the past several months, the nation has erupted with protests and debates over race relations in America following the killing of African-American George Floyd by a white Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officer. Many have argued that American institutions, especially the criminal justice system, are influenced by systemic racism that results in disparate treatment for blacks and whites. On Sunday, an African-American man named Jacob Blake was seriously injured after being shot reportedly seven times by police responding to a domestic incident in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Graphic video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking local protests that included a fire being started and another officer being attacked, according to CBS News. The short video clip shows the man going around the front of his car as officers follow him, with at least one officer holding a gun. After the man opens the car door and reaches in, he is shot. According to the family's attorney, Ben Crump, Blake was shot in front of his children, who were in the car. The Wisconsin Department of Justice announced that they will investigate the shooting, with the police officers who were present being put on administrative leave. While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country, said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, in a statement reported by CBS News. As Christopher Nolans Tenet opens, the stakes for film are high. Nolan has been touted as cinemas potential saviour, the man who insisted on opening his movie in theatres, and may succeed in tempting wary punters back into them. Which makes Tenet the film all cinephiles want to love. But that doesnt necessarily mean we will. Describing the plot of a Christopher Nolan film is always a trial, for reader and writer, so Ill make this as brief as possible. At a Kiev opera house, the protagonist (John David Washington) is among a CIA swat team that swoops in to avert a terror attack. In the messy aftermath hes taken prisoner by a deeply unpleasant Ukrainian gentleman, who proceeds to extract his teeth. He wants information but the protagonist (who annoyingly, is never named) wont talk, and ingests a hidden cyanide pill. He wakes to be told hes passed what turned out to be a rather extreme loyalty test, and is now part of an elite secret organisation combatting an existential threat to mankind. A futuristic technology has somehow been accessed that allows people and objects to move back and forth in time: by way of demonstration, hes shown a bullet that returns to the gun its fired from. Read More With the help of a rather fastidious English agent called Neil (Robert Pattinson), he discovers that the source of this futuristic technology is Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh), a Russian oligarch with nihilistic tendencies. By means I wont go into (partly because I dont f***ing understand them), Sator has found a way of communing with the future, and has hatched a terrible plan which, once sufficient plutonium has been gathered, will result in the obliteration of everything. To prevent this, the protagonist cosies up to Sators epically unhappy wife Kat (Elizabeth Debicki). By gaining her confidence, the agent hopes to discover the fine details of Sators plan, and scupper them. But this will involve skill, sleight of hand and a labyrinthine journey back and forth through time. Actually that wasnt so brief, was it. But this, believe me, is the condensed version of a plot that would make Einstein dizzy. Video of the Day Christopher Nolan is a marvellously gifted filmmaker, a master of editing, framing, light, action, the compelling synthesis of vision and sound. But for me hes always been better when he has a concrete subject murders, a war, a Batman to focus on. And the simpler that subject, the better: in Dunkirk, he used real planes, boats and people to brilliantly recreate the rescue of the British Expeditionary Force from a Norman beach. When the canvas is wide open, however, Mr Nolans interests in maths theory and astrophysics tend to dominate, to dramas detriment. It was true in the interesting but ponderous Inception, truer still in the profound but profoundly boring Interstellar, and in Tenet the wispy spy plot is far too thin to support the clunky overarching scientific frame. Is it good science? I am, sadly, not in a position to comment, but I do know that while time flitting may be theoretically possible, their actualisation on screen is not easy to take seriously. This being a Christopher Nolan film, there are of course magnificent set pieces, including that opera house siege, some funny business aboard a luxury yacht and a spectacular car chase in which vehicles reverse terrifyingly through time. All of this furious action, though, exists in a curiously tension-free vacuum. Why? Because too much effort has been expended on the minutiae of time distortion, too little on drama, or character. We dont care about any of these people, from John David Washingtons personality-free protagonist to Elizabeth Debickis elegantly miserable wife and Kenneth Branaghs frowning oligarch, a panto villain who chews his vowels but seems to draw no pleasure at all from being evil, which I would have thought was the whole point of it. Worst of all, Tenet is po-faced, a major problem if youre setting yourself up as a high concept Bond film. Worth watching then? Yes. Infuriating? Most definitely. Hadi al-Bahra has highlighted the importance of the Constitutional Committee and insisted that the work will continue, despite the recent positive coronavirus test results. The following statement by Hadi al-Bahra was published on his Facebook page. With the launch of the third session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee today, we are working hard, carrying in our hearts and minds the hopes and aspirations of millions of tired Syrians, a heavy burden that their continuous suffering of nearly ten years has created. More than half of our countrys infrastructure has been destroyed, its economy is on the brink of collapse, state institutions are falling behind, while the remaining limited resources are at the mercy of corruption. No Syrian can imagine further victories at the expense of what is left of our homeland, which we all loved and sacrificed for. Half of our people are displaced from their country, and more than half a million Syrians, most of them civilians, have been killed and wounded without any mercy. In the midst of the negotiations, tens of thousands of Syrians are still detained or forcibly disappeared, which forces us to raise our voice loudly to save them from this hell, which should be a top priority for us all. The release of the detainees today would enhance the confidence of everyone and contribute to the healing of the wounds of their families, all the while enabling us to turn this painful page, and move forward in our quest to achieve comprehensive justice for all Syrians. Most Syrians, including the international diaspora, are convinced that a bloody military solution is not viable, and that salvation must be through a political solution that implements Security Council Resolution 2254, which established a solution that was agreed upon by all parties in the Constitutional Committee, by virtue of their participation in the constitutional process. Despite the delay caused by the spread of the coronavirus the world over, we have continued to work positively towards the constitutional process as a whole, and we strive to shorten the lead-up in order to end the suffering of our people. The decision lies in the hands of the Syrians, and they are the only ones who are able to put an end to the bloodshed and stop the suffering. We will continue to work without interruption in Geneva to fulfil our collective mission and fulfil the promise we made to the Syrian people to achieve a transition to peace and justice. Protecting the rights of the Syrian people is a national duty, and we take the Constitutional Committee seriously as it is the only way to ensure their protection. We consider this new constitution to be the gateway to a new Syria, where all citizens enjoy equal rights and duties, regardless of any other consideration. We are fully committed to the success of this noble and necessary mission for the sake of the salvation of our people, as it is the only key to a solution to the Syrian tragedy. Our people have been waiting impatiently for salvation, deliverance from their pain, and the fulfillment of their aspirations for a free, dignified and affluent life. Unfortunately, it was revealed that four members of the committee tested positive for the coronavirus, according to todays test results, which required us to suspend the committees meetings and place all members under quarantine for a period ranging between two to 10 days, according to the instructions of the medical services in Geneva. During this period, we will continue our work with representatives of the negotiating body in the committee through virtual means. We will also discuss with the special envoy possible options to pursue work at the earliest moment, as allowed by the health authorities in Geneva. Our prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery are with all those affected. 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. BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardeo Education Solutions is celebrating its second year in a row as an honoree on Inc. 5000's list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Ardeo is a mission-driven public benefit company that helps colleges and universities increase enrollment and college access by taking the worry out of student and parent loans with Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs). Ardeo was also named in 2020 to the Center for Companies that Care Honor Roll and among the Best Places to Work in Bloomington, Ind. for the third year in a row. For the second year in a row, Ardeo Education Solutions has been named to the Inc. 5000 List of fastest-growing private companies in America. "We are proud of how effectively our team has worked this year to serve colleges and universities as well as their students, especially during COVID-19," said Peter Samuelson, Ardeo Education Solutions President. "It's been a challenging year for everyone, and I'm so grateful to the wonderful team we've assembled for their unwavering dedication to our mission." Samuelson, who founded Ardeo in 2008, was the beneficiary of a first-of-its-kind loan repayment assistance program as a Yale University law student in the late 1980s. Realizing the program could benefit undergraduate students, he founded Ardeo (formerly LRAP Association) to offer LRAPs. "We know cost is top of mind when students are considering what college they want to attend," Samuelson said. "Fear of debt is a big obstacle to enrollment and the life-changing impact of higher education. The loan repayment assistance program Yale offered me allowed me to attend my dream school and work for a nonprofit after graduation without worrying about how I would repay my loans. I wanted to make it possible for undergraduate students to have the same opportunity that changed my life." LRAPs help students and families repay federal student, parent PLUS and private alternative loans if a student's income after graduation is modest, often $45,000 per year. In addition to administering assistance to students, Ardeo offers marketing support, a call team that educates prospective students and families about the program, and on-campus or virtual trainings. More than 150 colleges and universities across the country have used Ardeo's LRAPs to impact enrollment decisions such as Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire and Seattle Pacific University in Washington. Franklin Pierce University offers a private label LRAP, The Pierce Pledge, to all incoming freshmen, while Seattle Pacific University offers LRAP to students based on family income. Ardeo allows institutions to customize their usage to fit their needs. Approximately one in four students enrolled said they would not have attended without LRAP, according to third-party research conducted by Credo, a higher education consulting firm. About Ardeo Education Solutions Ardeo Education Solutions is a mission-driven public benefit company that partners with higher education institutions to provide Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs). Ardeo is passionate about the life-changing impact of higher education and works to eliminate barriers to help make college more financially accessible to students. Media Contact: [email protected] Related Images ardeo-education-solutions-named-to.png Ardeo Education Solutions named to Inc. 5000 For the second year in a row, Ardeo Education Solutions has been named to the Inc. 5000 List of fastest-growing private companies in America. SOURCE Ardeo Education Solutions Related Links https://ardeoeducation.org A wrong turn on the Queen Elizabeth Way proved costly for a carload of Canadians who inadvertently found themselves at the Peace Bridge. On Saturday, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection, border agents searched a car after it crossed the bridge into Buffalo, N.Y. The occupants, described as four Canadians in their 20s, told officials they made a wrong turn onto the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie and had no intention of entering the U.S. During the course of an inspection, a loaded Glock .45 was discovered in a bag behind the front passengers seat. CBP officers determined the firearm had been reported stolen. Also, one of the occupants, a 26-year-old, was found to be in possession of more than 11 grams of cocaine. This latest seizure is just another example of the outstanding work our front line officers continue to do, said CBP port director Jennifer De La O. Their remarkable efforts have once again proven their commitment to keeping the communities we live in safe. The four individuals were turned over to the Buffalo police department. As an economist, I have written extensively about the Swiss debt brake as a potential solution to the U.S. debt crisis. The United States is experiencing debt fatigue and must enact new fiscal rules to restore sustainable debt levels at both the national and subnational levels. The Swiss debt brake has proven to be the most effective set of fiscal rules in accomplishing this objective, cutting debt burdens in that country by half. The Swiss debt brake has been the model for more effective fiscal rules, adopted by European nations and the European Union. The Swiss debt brake, which assures a balanced budget over the long term, has been effective in large part because it was enacted through initiative and referendum at the cantonal and national levels. An initiative incorporated the debt brake into the Swiss Constitution. Swiss citizens approved the debt brake overwhelmingly; about 85 percent expressed their support. Referenda and initiatives are direct-democratic institutions, which give Swiss citizens the power to vote on most important tax and expenditure decisions. Although there are no provisions for a referendum at the federal level in the United States, there is a precedent for using direct democracy at the state level to control fiscal decision-making. In Colorado, for example, voters enacted the tax and expenditure limit through an initiative and incorporated it into the state's constitution. Changes at the federal level can be made only by federal law, which can easily be reversed, or through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which can be created by Congress or by an Article V amendments convention of the states. In either case, three fourths of states must ratify the amendment for it to become law. The United States is now far behind the learning curve in enacting more effective fiscal rules to address the debt crisis. A major stumbling block has been reluctance to rely on direct democracy when it comes to fiscal decisions. In this sense, the United States is like Germany, which has imposed strict limits on direct democracy, virtually precluding German citizens voting on fiscal issues. The fear is that allowing citizens to vote on tax and expenditure decisions will result in unconstrained growth in government spending. However, evidence shows that the opposite is true. Matsusaka and Feld found that in both the United States and Switzerland, reliance on direct democracy significantly reduces the growth in government spending. Further, a good argument can be made that relying on politicians to use their discretion in taxing and spending decisions without the presence of constraints imposed by direct democracy or a constitutional requirement is why we have failed to address the debt crisis. It is not surprising that politicians in the United States, Germany, and other countries oppose reliance on direct democracy in fiscal decision-making. Politicians do not want to lose control of the fiscal commons, which is the source of rent-seeking and the currency of political exchange. As a result of politicians' unwillingness to constrain their spending powers, many citizens in countries without fiscal controls have rightfully grown to distrust politicians and the rent-seeking games that now dominate public policy. This antipathy between citizens and political elites is on full display in the United States this election year. Candidates in both political parties can't wait to incur the debt required to fulfill their unique vision of the nanny state. It is time for Americans to look to the Swiss, not only for effective fiscal rules, but also for political institutions that would restore trust, respect, and confidence in citizens such as permitting direct democracy on fiscal issues. Additionally, wouldn't it be great to get rid of the cult of personality that now dominates our presidential elections? Like the Swiss, we could create a federal council, with the presidency rotating among councilors on a yearly basis. Many Swiss citizens cannot name the councilor who happens to be president in any given year. Without the cult of personality in American politics, citizens could begin to build dynamic credence capital in their political institutions, as the Swiss have. Whatever changes are made, one thing is clear: significant alterations to the current system are necessary if Americans are to enjoy a more effective, efficient, and fiscally responsible government. Barry Poulson (think@heartland.org) is emeritus professor of economics at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Image: Pixabay New Delhi: India has put on record with the United Nations Pakistan's claim of making a statement at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which turned out to be fake. A note was sent by Indian mission to the UN headquarters over the development and Pakistani action. This is not for the first time Pakistan has made a fake claim at the UN as it has made a fake statement in the past as well. In 2017, Pakistan's then envoy to UN Maleeha Lodhi made a fake claim at UN General Assembly by displaying a picture from Gaza claiming it to be from Jammu and Kashmir. On August 24, Pakistani mission to UN tweeted a statement of Pakistani envoy to UN Munir Akram claiming that it was presented at the UNSC. The claim was fake, given the Security council's session was not open to non-members of the body and Pakistan is not a member of UNSC and thus can't make the statement. The Pakistani Mission to United Nations in a tweet said Pakistani envoy to UN Munir Akram made the statement at the open debate of the Security Council on the report of the Secretary-General on the "threats to international peace and security posed by terrorism actions". The statement largely was focused on raking up Kashmir and blaming India for "terror" incidents in the country. Indian mission in the UN was quick to point out that no such statement has been delivered. In a tweet it said, "We have seen a statement put out by the Pakistani mission to the UN, claiming that these remarks were made by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the UNSC." The mission asked, "We failed to comprehend where exactly did the permanent representative of Pakistan make his statement since the Security Council session today was not open to non-members of the security council." In fact, the German mission to the Security Council had put out a picture of the meet and Pakistani envoy was absent at the meet. German is a non-permanent member of the UNSC. India gave a point by point reply to Pakistani statement, and highlighted how Pakistan is the "biggest sponsor of cross border terrorism against India" and now "masquerade itself as a victim of terrorism by India!" Describing himself as a centre-left thinking person, BJP MP Varun Gandhi says in a new book that he is not a rightwing person by nature and his writings are evidence of his consistently progressive liberal record. In the recently launched "India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders", Varun Gandhi also terms Britain's Jeremy Corbyn and US' Bernie Sanders, both known for advocating left economic and social policies, his political inspirations. The book gives readers a snapshot of contemporary Indian politics through interviews of 20 of the country's most prominent next-generation politicians. "My sense is, if one were to look at it in terms of ideology or policy, then I am a centre-left thinking person. I am not a right-wing person by nature. If you have read all my writings, for the last 10 years I have had a consistently progressive liberal record. As a person, I have grown into this voice which is what's inside me," Varun Gandhi says in an interview to the authors, Pradeep Chhibber and Harsh Shah. The Gandhi-Nehru scion he's the son of the late Sanjay Gandhi and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi -- joined the BJP in 2004. He fought and won his first election in 2009 from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, the same seat he represents right now, with a margin of nearly three lakh votes. The Pilibhit MP also brings up issues such as economic inequality, environment justice, disadvantaged communities in the interview to buttress his point of being a staunch progressive liberal. "... I have always taken stands that are symptomatic of some desire for progressive change. The kind of support and love that I get from a variety of audiences, I get about 10 times more support from the liberals than I get from the right-wingers. In fact, I get knocked by the right- wingers many times but I never get knocked by the liberals ever," he says. Varun Gandhi adds that communists always joke with him and say he is a "communist in the BJP". The 40-year-old politician dissociates himself from terms such as "firebrand" or strident, a perception that many people had of him after the alleged hate speech controversy in 2009 for which he was later acquitted by the courts. While campaigning as a BJP candidate from Pilibhit in 2009, he attracted controversy and ire over his alleged hate speeches. He was booked under various sections of the IPC and the People's Representation Act for promoting enmity and acts prejudicial against communal harmony. He was acquitted in 2013 because of lack of any substantial evidence against him. Varun Gandhi, who writes a syndicated column and has authored several books, including two volumes of poetry, says it has been a very long time since the infamous incident and there have been a hundred things he has done since then. He also points out in the interview that he was the "only MP in Parliament" to sit at Anna Hazare's dharna and support the Lokpal Bill. "I don't think, to be honest, that anybody thinks any more that I am a firebrand person or a strident person. If you look at any of the public platforms, I don't think anybody would mention that. The thing is it was a very bizarre thing, the so-called speech, because when I fought my case and won, they apologized to me," he adds. Asked what draws someone with progressive liberal views, being centre-left to the BJP, why he is sticking with it and why he is not moving to a party more in line with his values and outlook on so many issues, Varun Gandhi says he has been in the BJP for 15 years. " I have built relationships within it, I have got friends here. I feel that in the medium-to-long-term, the workers of the BJP, I feel, are very committed, hard working, middle class, humble, salt of earth people who mean well for this country. I am not a huge votary of party politics, to be honest, so that's not what I think about at all," he explains. Varun Gandhi also speaks about what he really likes in BJP -- "decentralization of power" and "tolerance of different intellectual disciplines within the larger political framework". He admits to strident rightwing voices within the party, but gives the example of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who for the large part of his life talked about "Gandhian socialism". "When I joined the BJP, after a few years I realized one very good thing about it was that there was a decentralization of power. I think centralized power in any form is never a great thing. "So I felt here was a party where even if you fell out with one leader you could survive and succeed because there would be four other people to see goodness and talent and worth in you. That is one thing that encouraged me as a young person." Varun Gandhi's syndicated column reaches a subscriber base of over 200 million through 17 newspapers, covering many different languages. In late 2018, he authored a book on rural distress, "Rural Manifesto: Realizing India's Future Through Her Villages". He is a poet too and has written two volumes -- "The Otherness of Self" (2000) and Stillness: Poems (2015). Discussing his column, he says, "And I write solely on policy. I don't write on politics in an adversarial manner. A lot of them are solution-oriented and the syntax is not meant to be polemical, it is not meant to be an us versus them, me versus you, because in policy terms there is no me and you, there is only us." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:04:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong police said on Wednesday that they had arrested 16 people, including two opposition lawmakers Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui Chi-fung, over two cases related to last year's social unrest. The police arrested three males and one female, including Lam and Hui, members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in an incident happened on July 6, 2019 outside Tuen Mun police station, Chan Tin Chu, Senior Superintendent of police, told a media briefing. They were suspected of attempting to pervert the course of public justice, accessing to computer with criminal or dishonest intent, criminal damage and illegal gathering, according to Chan. Lam was also suspected of participating in a riot on July 21, 2019 in Yuen Long. He and 12 other male suspects were arrested by the police over the incident, Senior Superintendent Chan said, adding that the accusation of so-called collusion between the police and the triads in the Yuen Long incident was untrue. The police strongly condemn any act of violence, Chan said, stressing that the police will not tolerate crimes and will enforce the law impartially. Enditem And New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called the change indefensible in a phone call with reporters, CNBC reported. Were not going to follow the CDC guidance, he said. I consider it political propaganda. On a conference call with reporters, Giroir said he and Redfield discussed the idea with all the physicians on the White Houses coronavirus task force, including Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Scott Atlas, a new member influential with Trump from his appearances on Fox News who is a fellow at Stanford Universitys conservative Hoover Institution. Atlas has said fewer people need tests for the virus, which has led to more than 5.7 million cases in the United States and more than 176,000 deaths. He is not an infectious-disease specialist. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE An on-duty call changed Albuquerque police officer Ryan Holets life in 2017 and led to him landing on the national political stage Tuesday. Holets, a nine-year APD veteran, spoke remotely to the Republican National Convention about how he and his wife adopted the baby of a pregnant woman with a heroin addiction he met while responding to a call about drug use. The baby, Hope, was born with heroin and crystal meth in her system and had to endure detox for about two weeks, suffering withdrawal symptoms. In a roughly four-minute speech, Holets said that the baby is now a thriving 2-year old and that the girls biological mother is approaching three years of recovery. I hold a special place in my heart for those facing opioid addiction, Holets said, while describing the biological mother as a close friend and inspiration. In his speech, Holets touted President Donald Trumps actions in addressing the opioid crisis, citing a public health emergency the president declared in 2017 and an infusion of federal funding. However, after drug overdose deaths decreased nationwide in 2018, they increased by about 6.6% in 2019, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Holets, who said Trump was the right president at the right time, spoke to the RNC remotely and informed Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier of his plans for the Tuesday speech in advance. He will not be in uniform and will be representing himself and his familys story of adoption, APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos told the Journal this week. Holets was also a guest of President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the presidents 2018 State of the Union address. Meanwhile, the Albuquerque police detective is the latest in a string of New Mexicans to speak at the national political conventions that are taking place in the run-up to the November general election. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., both delivered remote prime-time speeches to the Democratic National Convention last week. In addition, two top Navajo Nation officials took part in the conventions. Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer spoke Tuesday to the RNC from Shiprock, and Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez addressed the DNC last week. The Republican National Convention runs through Thursday. Rioters cheer as the Third Police Precinct burns behind them in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 28, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Four Men Indicted for Burning of Minneapolis Third Precinct Four men have been indicted on arson charges in connection to the burning of the Minneapolis Police Departments Third Precinct, the building where the four officers charged in the death of George Floyd had worked, U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald said on Aug. 25. Minnesota residents Dylan Robinson, 22, Davon Turner, 24, Bryce Williams, 26, and Branden Wolfe, 23, are each charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit arson over the burning and destruction of the citys Third Precinct on the night of May 28. The four men, along with unidentified other co-conspirators, breached the fence and entered the Third Precinct building, the Justice Department said in a news release. The complaint states that on the night of May 28, a crowd of hundreds of demonstrators had gathered near the building to protest the Floyds in-custody death on May 25. All four, along with other unidentified co-conspirators, breached and tore down a fence that was designed to keep trespassers out of the Third Precinct building. Protesters gather in front of the burning 3rd Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department in Minn., on May 28, 2020. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) Williams, Turner and Robinson are accused in the indictment of using explosive devices to attempt to set the building on fire. Robinson and an unidentified person allegedly lit an incendiary device, which was then hurled into the precinct by another individual. It was thrown with the intent that it would start a fire or fuel an existing fire. According to the indictment, Williams and Turner lit a Molotov cocktail, while Wolfe allegedly pushed a barrel into a fire at the entrance of the building to accelerate an existing fire. The Justice Department said that Robinson and Wolfe were previously charged via federal criminal complaint with aiding and abetting arson, while Williams was previously charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit arson. Read More Man Arrested in Arson of Minneapolis Police Precinct After Posting Videos on TikTok A view of a destroyed under-construction apartment complex near the Third Police Precinct Station in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 21, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) The four men will be arraigned at a later date. Their indictments come after two Minneapolis brothers, Rory and Trevor Amsler, were charged in June with breaking into the same building after it was set ablaze. The brothers, according to investigators, livestreamed the incident on Facebook after the building was abandoned by police. The each face one count of second-degree burglary, and face a prison sentence of up to 10 years. According to cost estimates released by Hennepin County last month, the precinct will cost around $10 million to rebuild. The city estimates it will also need an additional $289,000 to replace the Third Precincts 911 equipment. LONDON: Oil rose towards $46 a barrel on Wednesday, near the highest since March, lifted by U.S. producers shutting most of their offshore Gulf of Mexico output ahead of Hurricane Laura and a report showing a drop in U.S. crude inventories. Renewed worries over the COVID-19 pandemic, which has squeezed demand and sent prices to record lows in April, capped gains after reports this week of patients being re-infected, raising concerns about future immunity. Brent crude rose 2 cents to $45.88 a barrel by 0815 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 3 cents to $43.32. Both benchmarks settled at a five-month high on Tuesday. Oil traders will be preoccupied with the hurricane today," said Tamas Varga of broker PVM. Once the danger passes, demand considerations will come into focus again." The U.S. energy industry was preparing on Tuesday for a major hurricane strike. Producers shut 1.56 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude output, representing 84% of the Gulf of Mexicos offshore production and close to the 90% outage that Hurricane Katrina brought 15 years ago. We do see some support on the back of hurricane activity," Dutch bank ABN AMRO said in a report. The threat of being infected by the COVID-19 virus threatens a further recovery in oil demand." Oil was also boosted on Tuesday by U.S. and Chinese officials reaffirming their commitment to a Phase 1 trade deal. Further support came from American Petroleum Institute figures showing U.S. crude stocks fell more than expected. A record oil output cut by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia has helped to lift Brent from Aprils 21-year low below $16. The U.S. governments Energy Information Administration report at 1430 GMT will be in focus to see if it confirms the API figures. (Additional reporting by Jessica Jaganathan; Editing by David Goodman) 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 govt official said on Tuesday that Russia has expressed its willingness to the Indian government for collaboration in the manufacturing of Sputnik V vaccine (COVID-19 vaccine). In a significant development related to the COVID-19 vaccine, Russia has expressed its willingness to the Indian government for collaboration in the manufacturing of Sputnik V vaccine (COVID-19 vaccine), a government official said on Tuesday. It is pertinent to note that Russia claims to have developed the first COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, a human adenoviral vector vaccine that fights against coronavirus disease. It is developed by the Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Last week, Russian researchers informed that presently the vaccine in phase 3 clinical trial. Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary said on Tuesday responding to a question on whether the Russian government has placed any formal request for the manufacturing of its Sputnik V vaccine in India. He said that as far as Sputnik V vaccine (COVID-19 vaccine developed in Russia) was concerned, both India and Russia were in communication, some initial information had been shared while some detailed information was awaited. Also read: Deeply unfair for Indian students to sit in national exams during COVID-19: Greta Thunberg Also read: Imran Khan allows China to set up offices in Pakistan A govt official said that the Vaccine and Research and Development Taskforce co-chaired by Dr Vinod Paul (Member of the Niti Aayog and Professor Vijayraghavan who was Principal Scientific Advisor) would examine the suggestions for potential collaborations on vaccine development, the committee, with inputs from members, particularly the Department of Biotechnology and the ICMR, would examine the information on the matter and will link potential collaborators where robust and value-added collaborations are feasible and meaningful. Russian researchers had said during an online press briefing last week that more than 40,000 people in 45 medical centres were participating in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical study of the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of the Sputnik V vaccine in Russia, simultaneously with the vaccination of volunteers from risk groups. When asked about any plans for a joint venture with Indian pharma companies, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said: Yes, production of the vaccine is an important issue, we look to Indian drug producers to co-partner as we believe India is capable of producing Gamaleya Institute vaccine and it is important to say that these partnerships should produce a vaccine that enables us to cover the demand that we have received. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of the vaccine have been completed on August 1. All the volunteers are feeling well, no unforeseen or unwanted side effects were observed. The vaccine-induced strong antibody and cellular immune response. Not a single participant of the current clinical trials got infected with COVID-19 after being administered with the vaccine, said researchers from Gamaleya National Institute. The high efficacy of the vaccine was confirmed by high precision tests for antibodies in the blood serum of volunteers (including analysis for antibodies that neutralize the coronavirus), as well as the ability of the immune cells of the volunteers to activate in response to the spike S protein of the coronavirus, which indicates the formation of both antibody and cellular immune vaccine response, Russian researchers said. Phase 3 clinical trial involving more than 2,000 people in Russia, a number of Middle Eastern (UAE and Saudi Arabia), and Latin American countries (Brazil and Mexico) started on August 12. The vaccine has received a registration certificate from the Russian Ministry of Health on August 11 and under emergency rules adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic can be used to vaccinate the population in Russia. Mass production of the vaccine is expected to start in September 2020, they said. Globally, there have been 23,491,520 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 809,970 deaths, reported to WHO. According to the India health ministry, Indias COVID19 case tally crossed 31 lakh mark with 60,975 fresh cases and 848 deaths in the last 24 hours. The COVID19 case tally in the country rises to 31,67,324 including 7,04,348 active cases, 24,04,585 discharged, and 58,390 deaths due to the virus. Also read: Japans GDP expected to recover to pre-pandemic level by end of FY 2021 , New Delhi: Markets ended in green for the fourth consecutive session on Wednesday amidst persistent foreign fund inflows. The BSE Sensex ended 230.04 points or 0.59 per cent higher at 39,073.92 while the NSE Nifty finished higher by 77.35 points or 0.67 per cent to 11,549.60. Major gainers in the Sensex pack were IndusInd Bank, RIL, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank, Bajaj Auto, HCL Tech, Infosys, ONGC, SBI, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserve and M&M, rising upto 5.93. Major losers were Bharti Airtel, Ultrachem, Asian Paint, Maruti, LT, NTPC, HDFC, Tech Mahindra, Nestle, ITC, Titan and HDFC Bank, falling upto 2.66 percent. The rupee pared some of its early gains and settled 3 paise higher at 74.30 (provisional) against the US dollar. Foreign institutional investors bought equities worth a net Rs 1,481.20 crore on Tuesday, exchange data showed. Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.13 per cent higher at USD 46.23 per barrel. In the previous session, the Sensex closed 44.80 points or 0.12 per cent higher at 38,843.88, and Nifty inched up 5.80 points or 0.05 per cent to close at 11,472.25. Nguyen Thi Thom, 52, of Chinh Gian Ward, Da Nang Citys Thanh Khe District, got milk, vegetables, eggs, hand sanitiser and a mask for free at a mobile supermarket last weekend. A volunteer in protective clothes helps a woman to take vegetables in the mobile supermarket in Da Nang Citys Thanh Khe District last weekend. Photo nhandan.com.vn Thom, whose husband is on dialysis, lost her job as a domestic helper due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel very thankful because of the model of the supermarket," she said. I have lost my job for several months. Life becomes harder because I am the breadwinner in my family, she added. Not only Thom but also hundreds of other struggling people benefited from the mobile supermarket last weekend, Nhan Dan (People) online newspaper reported. Cao Thi My Trang, 42, of Xuan Ha Ward, who received two full bags of food and essentials from the mobile supermarket, said the model helped share difficulties with the poor during the pandemic. Thanks to the free food, my family will not worry about how to have enough food for this week, she said. Trang, a lottery ticket seller, said she had to work very hard to bring up her two children. However, after the pandemic hit the city, she lost her job. The single mother did not know what to do to earn money to raise her children, she said. The mobile supermarket opened in Huynh Thuc Khang Secondary School, at No 154 Ha Huy Tap Street, last weekend to give the bare essentials to local poor and disadvantaged people suffering from the pandemic. The supermarket provided items like vermicelli, noodles, rice, milk, vegetables, eggs, milk, hand sanitiser and masks. Truong Thi Nhu Hoa, 50, head of Da Nang Social Working Group, which runs the mobile supermarket, said it was the first time the group launched the mobile supermarket in the city. The group planned to alternately open the supermarket in seven districts of the city every weekend, she said. Although it is just a little bit, we want to share the burden with the poor during the pandemic, she added. Hoa said food and other essentials were donated by local businesses and kind-hearted people. It costs about VND70 million (US$3,000) to run the mobile supermarket each weekend, she said. Before the supermarket opened, the group conducted a survey and gave 200 free shopping vouchers of the supermarket to the poor and disadvantaged people in the district. Each voucher was worth VND300,000 350,000 ($13-15). Hoa also said to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, each person was told to wash their hands correctly with hand sanitiser, check their temperature with a thermometer and wear rubber gloves in the supermarket. Only two people were allowed to go shopping at the same time. Phan Nhat Nam, an employee of a local security system company had donated a mask ATM for the supermarket, Hoa said. People just had to look at the camera in front of the mask ATM to confirm their face and press the button to get 10 free masks, she said. There are 10 volunteers running the mobile supermarket with Hoa. Another mobile supermarket will be operated in Hai Chau District this weekend, Hoa said. We do it because we want every poor person of the city to receive necessary help from kind-hearted people, she said. VNS VND0 supermarket for needy people in Da Nang A VND0 supermarket has opened in the central city of Da Nang, the epicenter of the countrys current COVID-19 outbreak, to help poor residents overcome difficulties caused by the disease. VND0 Happy Supermarket provides support to underprivileged people Hanoi has welcomed the opening of a VND0 Happy Supermarket which provides essential goods to people from less well-off backgrounds to help them overcome the challenges they face in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. Kremlin-connected Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin says he intends to collect a debt from comatose Aleksei Navalny and his shuttered Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) if the opposition activist survives what European doctors say was a poisoning. Prigozhin, who has been the subject of hard-hitting FBK corruption investigations, announced on August 25 that he bought up the debt owed by Navalny and his company relating to a lawsuit settlement won by a Moscow school-catering company. Navalny is currently in an induced coma in a German hospital after a suspected poisoning in Tomsk, Siberia, where he had been conducting his latest corruption investigation. "If Navalny lives, he must answer to the fullest extent of Russian law," Prigozhin said in a statement issued through Concord, his catering company. He said he would make an exception if the 44-year-old Kremlin critic did not survive. "Of course, if Comrade Navalny gives his soul to God, then personally I do not intend to persecute him in this world. I will postpone this [debt settlement] indefinitely." A Moscow court in October ordered Navalny, FBK and the organization's lawyer, Lyubov Sobol, to pay a total of 87.6 million rubles ($1.15 million) split evenly among them to the catering company, Moscow Schoolchild, for defamation. Moscow Schoolchild, since renamed Wilmap LLC, had sued the three defendants over an investigative video produced by FBK alleging that the company did not comply with sanitary standards, forged documents, and supplied poor-quality food to kindergartens and schools. The FBK had also said that the caterer was owned by Prigozhin. A Current Time investigation noted that Prigozhin himself had long denied any affiliation with the catering company. However, the investigation found that half of Moscow Schoolchild was owned by a former policeman who identified himself as the head of security for Concord, Prigozhin's main asset. The court sided with the plaintiff, ruling that Moscow Schoolchild's reputation had been damaged by the investigative video and it had lost a contract as a result. As part of the settlement, FBK was also ordered to remove the video and refute the allegations. Navalny announced in July that the lawsuit - which he said Prigozhin was behind -- had forced him to liquidate the FBK. "We will move to another legal entity, let Putin and Prigozhin choke on this," Navalny announced at the time, describing the numerous raids and harassment by authorities that the FBK had encountered in its nine years of existence. "Until the end of Putin's power, we will have to live with blocked accounts and bailiffs confiscating our property in favor of Putin's Chef." Prigozhin is often referred to by the nickname "Putin's Chef" because he once personally catered an event for the president and subsequently rose to become a key Kremlin insider. In February 2018, Prigozhin was indicted in the United States for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and both he and his companies have been put under sanctions by the Treasury Department. Navalny said Prigozhin's attempts to stop his investigations had only backfired. The activist reported last month the number of people making monthly contributions to help fund his investigations had more than doubled from 7,600 to 15,600 following FBK's demise. Over the past nine years, FBK has produced dozens of detailed investigations exposing corruption by government officials, executives of state companies, and tycoons close to the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin. FBK's 2016 expose on Prigozhin, which discussed his criminal past, has more than 4.3 million views. Prigozhins August 25 statement is his latest attempt at trolling Navalny and his supporters. Shortly after Navalny announced the liquidation of FBK, and the formation of a new legal entity named the Rights Protection Fund, Prigozhin donated 1 million rubles ($13,200) to the FBK. The anti-corruption organization declined the donation and returned it to Prigozhin. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a PIL opposing the decision of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to transfer Rs 15 crore to the PM CARES fund, saying it appeared to be a "motivated" plea against the president of the institution. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan asked the lawyer appearing for the petitioner, Navneet Chaturvedi, to either withdraw the matter or face dismissal with costs. The counsel for the petitioner then sought permission to withdraw the plea and the court dismissed it as withdrawn. During the hearing via video conference, the bench asked the petitioner, who according to his lawyer is a journalist and a social worker, how a PIL can be filed when the members of ICAI were not aggrieved by the transfer of funds. "If the members of ICAI are happy to contribute, then what are the grounds for a PIL," the court asked and added, "this appears to be a motivated petition against the president of the institution". Besides transferring Rs 15 crore to the PM CARES fund in April, ICAI also pledged an additional Rs 6 crore via contributions from its members. According to the petitioner, the decision was taken by the institution on a request made by the then Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Continental Funeral Home driver Manuel Aguilar handles one of the COVID-19 victims kept in a mobile refrigerator outside the facility. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) The novel coronavirus has ravaged Californias Latino communities, with many people who are front-line workers catching COVID-19 and then spreading the disease to family and neighbors. This grim cycle of illness and death ends at places like Continental Funeral Home. Mortuaries that serve Latino communities have been overwhelmed by families in need of help since March, with bodies in some cases stacking up as operators tried to improvise funerals that previously might have drawn extended family and mourners from far and wide. Its been so difficult for the families, said Magda Maldonado, director of Continental Funeral Home. They have been unable to express their condolences properly or participate in service. Continental Funeral Home Director Magda Maldonado with caskets that have bodies inside. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) In California, Latinos make up 39% of the states population but account for 59% of COVID-19 infections and 47% of deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health. Immigrants have been particularly hard-hit economically amid the pandemic, with many losing their jobs and facing financial collapse. Maldonado sees these hardships at her funeral home. Most of her clients are immigrants from Mexico and Central America, and 60% of her business is devoted to transporting bodies to their homelands because its less expensive to bury loved ones there. When the coronavirus outbreak hit, a flood of bodies was sent to Maldonados funeral home. The cold storage could hold only up to 25 at a time. We were dealing with 35 to 40 bodies at one point in the month of March, she said. Continental Funeral Home driver Manuel Aguilar locks a mobile refrigerator used to store COVID-19 victims. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) To handle the overflow, she rented a small refrigerated storage container for $1,900 a month, which increased the funeral homes capacity to about 55 bodies. It also helped separate the bodies of people who died of complications from COVID-19 from those who died of other causes. She said capacity problems had more to do with the shutdowns. Required paperwork from state and county offices that once took a few days was taking weeks. The process to send a body back to Mexico stretched from 10 days to two months. Cremations that once took a day now had to be made by appointment. Story continues It really caught us all off guard, Maldonado said. Local governments didnt know how to really manage this kind of emergency, and I dont think anyone thought about all these other funeral problems wed have. Caskets with bodies inside fill a break room at Continental Funeral Home. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) The pandemic has increased operating costs for Maldonado, which in turn hurts the families shes been trying to serve. The cost of transporting a body to Michoacan, Mexico, for example could grow to $4,200; in the past she could shave off about $1,500 if the family could not pay the full amount. But now, she has reserved those discounts for only the neediest of families or consulates that are assisting people. But the biggest challenge facing funeral homes is basic: How to give families a chance to mourn loved ones while keeping those who attend the funerals from getting sick. Bodies are stored, awaiting processing at Continental Funeral Home. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Continental Funeral Home driver Manuel Aguilar handles one of the COVID-19 victims held in a mobile refrigerator outside the facility. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Clutch released a report on the top performing accounting firms in New York . The top companies are ranked based on client feedback, services offered, work quality, and market presence and mapped in a Leaders Matrix to see how they compare. The following 8 firms are recognized as market leaders in New York for business accounting, payroll, and outsourced bookkeeping services. Top Accounting Firms in New York in 2020 1. George Dimov, CPA 2. Burton & Co., CPAs 3. Crowe LLP 4. Portney & Company 5. Greyson Tax & Consulting 6. Sternbach & Rose, CPAs 7. Dubnik & Associates, LLC 8. Stetz, Belgiovine, Manwarren and Wallis, P.C. "Accounting, payroll, and bookkeeping are critical functions for organizations of all sizes. As evidenced by the popularity of the search term, 'accountants near me' in Google searches, buyers seem to prefer working with local firms," said David Goosenberg, business development analyst at Clutch. "These New York-based firms have excelled at delivering top-notch financial services to B2B clients in a wide range of industries." Research identifying the leading accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll service providers is ongoing, and firms interested in marketing their services are encouraged to apply to be included in Clutch's research. Upcoming press releases will highlight leading accounting firms in Chicago and San Francisco. The results are a snapshot of Clutch's Leaders Matrix on August 26, 2020. Rankings are dynamic and may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Clutch's website. The full research can be found at: https://clutch.co/accounting/new-york https://clutch.co/accounting/new-york/leaders-matrix About Clutch Clutch is the leading ratings and reviews platform for IT, marketing, and business service providers. Each month, over half a million buyers and sellers of services use the Clutch platform, and the user base is growing over 50% a year. Clutch has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the U.S. and has been listed as a top 50 startup by LinkedIn. Contact David Goosenberg (202) 840-6685 [email protected] SOURCE Clutch CINNAMINSON, NJ The Planet Fitness in Cinnaminson is among gyms statewide that will be permitted to open after Gov. Phil Murphy announced gyms can finally reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. Murphy said gyms will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity, and customers have to wear masks, beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Read more here: Gov. Murphy: NJ Gyms To Reopen In Coronavirus Crisis: Heres When Planet Fitness has 64 locations in New Jersey, including one at 141 Route 130 South in Cinnaminson. New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Fitness centers are critical to the mental, physical and financial health for New Jerseyans, and we are grateful that Governor Murphy has announced that we can reopen with safety protocols in place, said Craig Benson, who operates 18 Planet Fitness locations in the state. Throughout the reopening process, we will continue to collaborate with local, county and state health officials to ensure that our members can work out again in a safe, clean, and welcoming environment, and our staff can get back to work. William Olson also operates 18 Planet Fitness gyms in New Jersey. The health and safety of our members, our staff, and the local communities we serve is inherent to our mission and values, Olson said. We want to thank Governor Murphy for working with us so that we can safely reopen with strict guidelines in place, which will empower us to help our members improve their physical and mental health during these challenging times. Investing in the health and safety of our communities is the most important role we play, and we will always treat that with the seriousness it deserves. According to Planet Fitness representatives, there are nearly 491,000 members and more than 3,000 people employed by Planet Fitness in the state. Planet Fitness gyms in New Jersey will implement the following health and safety protocols: Story continues Murphy is expected to provide more detail about the announcement during a 1 p.m. news conference. Read more: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Phil Murphy Issues NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Update It's still not clear when Murphy may reopen indoor dining. He's recently met with leaders in the restaurant industry, but he's still resistant to reopening, citing the same concerns he has for gyms. Read more: Gov. Murphy Nixes NJ Regional Reopen, Gym, Indoor Dining Restart See related: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know This article originally appeared on the Cinnaminson Patch A nurse wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as she cares for a coronavirus COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit (I.C.U.) at Regional Medical Center on May 21, 2020 in San Jose, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images It's been almost eight months since Chinese scientists identified the coronavirus and doctors are still discovering new symptoms that can ravage the body and leave lasting damage months after recovery. While more than 813,000 people have died from the disease, most of the more than 23.6 million people with confirmed infections have recovered. But it hasn't affected all of them the same. Once thought of as just a respiratory illness, Covid-19 is marked as much by the variety of potentially perilous ways it harms the body as it is for the signature pneumonia it often causes, alarming doctors and public health officials. Because the coronavirus attacks a variety of cells in the body, there isn't one thing that connects every symptom or one treatment that seems to help every case. Doctors know Covid-19 can be unpredictable, stressing virtually every system in the body, including the heart, kidneys and brain. Some patients may suffer long-lasting nerve damage that impacts their ability to walk or smell, while others have continuous coughing fits and struggle to breathe, scientists and health officials say. "We have to come to grips that Covid might kill me, but it could also debilitate you over a significant period of time. And therefore we have to take it seriously," Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's health emergencies program, said during a Q&A on July 29. "We have to take protecting ourselves and protecting others seriously. At some level, we have the right to potentially risk harm to ourselves. We have no right to risk harm to others." Below is a look at what we know the coronavirus does to the body: Common symptoms Researchers say symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the disease. According to an early estimate from the WHO, about 80% of Covid-19 cases are either mild or asymptomatic, meaning the person never develops symptoms. The most common symptoms among people who are not hospitalized with Covid-19 are dry cough, tiredness and fever, according to the WHO. Some patients may have muscle or body aches, a headache, nasal congestion, runny nose or sore throat, the agency said. Many people also experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, sometimes prior to developing a fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumonia Because the virus attacks the lungs, people can experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Some people with Covid-19 have even left hospitals healthy, only to experience coughing fits and problems breathing 10 or 15 weeks later, Ryan has said. In severe cases, patients may catch pneumonia, a serious illness that kills about 50,000 people in the United States each year, according to the CDC. People with pneumonia may also have acute respiratory distress syndrome, a life-threatening injury that causes fluid to fill the lungs, restricting air. The percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza rose sharply earlier in the year, increasing to 8.2%, according to a CDC report in April. The surge likely reflects deaths associated with Covid-19, the agency said. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, is a rare inflammatory condition found in kids with Covid-19 that's similar to Kawasaki syndrome. In April, the WHO said it was investigating the mysterious disease after hearing about several reports of kids, many of whom had tested positive for Covid-19, being hospitalized with fever and swollen arteries. Some had died. Health officials are still learning what connection Covid-19 has with the condition, which can inflame different parts of the body including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes and gastrointestinal organs, according to the CDC. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, a rash, bloodshot eyes and fatigue, according to the CDC. Severe complications like cardiac dysfunction, shock and injury to the kidneys can occur in some cases, according to the CDC. It can appear in children at any time, often occurring one to six weeks following infection, according to University of Buffalo researchers. Reported cases show that Black, Hispanic and Asian children might be disproportionately affected, according to a paper in the Lancet. Taste and smell loss In April, the CDC added a sudden loss of taste or smell to its list of common indicators of coronavirus infection. But long before the CDC's disclosure, doctors had been warning that some patients infected with the virus were reporting problems. People often experience the symptoms during the early stages of the disease, according to the WHO. A research team at King's College London in April identified a loss of taste and smell as one of the best ways to detect whether someone has Covid-19 after analyzing responses of more than 400,000 people who had one or more suspected symptoms of the disease. The results said that 59% of those who tested positive for the virus reported a loss of taste and smell. The symptoms are not uncommon with other viral infections. Researchers say many viruses, such as ones that cause the common cold or flu, can cause taste and smell loss because of congestion. However, researchers in Britain noted the symptoms may be more severe in people who have Covid-19. That may be due to the way the coronavirus impacts the brain and nervous system, they said, adding it may impact different mechanisms in the body responsible for taste and smell. Rashes and hives A coronavirus infection may also trigger rashes or hives, according to dermatologists in a study published Aug. 5 in JAMA Dermatology. Researchers in New York looked at four patients who were admitted to the hospital with severe forms of Covid-19 from March 13 to April 3. They found skin was discolored and had retiform purpura, a type of lesion. The researchers said the findings could be a sign of blood clots. "The findings suggest that clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19 should be aware of livedoid and purpuric rashes as potential manifestations of an underlying hypercoagulable state," the researchers wrote in the paper. "If these skin findings are identified, a skin biopsy should be considered because the result may guide anticoagulation management." Brain fog Some patients who have long recovered from coronavirus infection say they now have difficulty concentrating and are sometimes confused, according to a study of 60 patients. The study, published in the medical journal Lancet earlier this month, compared MRIs of Covid-19 patients with those who did not have the infection. It found the patients with Covid-19 had structural changes in the brain that correlated with memory loss three months after testing positive. "This requires attention since even if the patients recover well from the pneumonia condition, the neurological changes may cause a great burden," the researchers said. Heart complications Doctors have found that Covid-19 can cause damage to the heart, sometimes leading to heart failure. A study published in JAMA Cardiology in March looked at 416 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 between Jan. 20 and Feb. 10 and found 19.7% showed signs of cardiac injury. Patients with cardiac injury in the study were often elderly and had preexisting conditions, including hypertension. A separate study published in JAMA Cardiology in July examined MRIs from 100 people who recovered from Covid-19. They found 78 of them had heart abnormalities and 60 had signs of inflammation. Researchers say the coronavirus appears to be capable of attacking the heart's muscle tissue as well as the receptors that help protect heart cells. The virus can put stress on the body, impacting the body's ability to pump blood effectively or carry oxygen. The body's own immune response from the virus may also cause damage to the heart. Blood clots and strokes Covid-19 patients, including young people who were otherwise healthy, may be at risk of blood clots and stroke, according to an observational study published in Neurosurgery in June. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, in collaboration with NYU Langone Medical Center, analyzed 14 patients who had strokes and tested positive for Covid-19 from March 20 until April 10. They said 42% of the patients studied were under age 50 even though most strokes in the U.S. occur in people over age 65. "We were seeing patients in their 30s, 40s and 50s with massive strokes, the kind that we typically see in patients in their 70s and 80s," said Dr. Pascal Jabbour, a neurosurgeon at Jefferson's Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience. "Stroke is occurring in people who don't know they have COVID-19, as well as those who feel sick from their infections." While the observational study was preliminary, Jabbour speculated the virus could be interfering with a receptor in the body that controls blood flow to the brain. Kidney damage Covid-19 can also cause long-term kidney damage, including kidney failure and death, according to the WHO. The American Society of Nephrology, a U.S.organization focused on kidney disease, reported that 20% to 30% of patients hospitalized with a coronavirus infection develop kidney failure that requires dialysis. The kidney damage may be a result of tiny clots that form in the bloodstream as a result of Covid-19, Dr. John Sperati, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, wrote in a post. Like the heart, the virus may also be infecting the cells of the kidney and damage the tissue, he said. Low oxygen levels as a result of pneumonia may also be an issue. Happy hypoxia Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden departs after speaking about his plans to combat racial inequality at a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware, July 28, 2020. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said he has spoken with the family of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot in the back by police in Wisconsin over the weekend. In a video posted Wednesday on social media, Biden said he empathized with the family of Blake, who is reportedly paralyzed from the waist down. Biden also unequivocally condemned the "needless violence" stemming from the demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in response to the shooting and called for healing and unity. "What I saw on that video makes me sick," Biden said in a 92-second video, referring to Blake's shooting. "Once again a Black man, Jacob Blake, has been shot by the police in broad daylight, with the whole world watching." "You know, I spoke to Jacob's mom and dad, sister and other members of the family just a little bit earlier. And I told them, justice must and will be done," Biden said. "Put yourself in the shoes of every Black father and Black mother in this country and ask: Is this what we want America to be? Is this the country we should be?" Biden TWEET Video footage of the shooting of 29-year-old Blake quickly launched another wave of outrage toward law enforcement in a summer that has been defined by massive protests against police brutality and systemic racism. Like in other cities, the recent demonstrations in Kenosha turned violent, with news outlets reporting protesters throwing projectiles at police and officers firing tear gas into crowds. Authorities there said two people had been fatally shot Tuesday night, NBC News reported. "You know, as I said after George Floyd's murder, protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary. But burning down communities is not protest, it's needless violence," Biden said in the video. "Violence that endangers lives. Violence that guts businesses and shutters businesses that serve the community. That's wrong." The remarks from Biden, who was vice president to Barack Obama, came days after the Democratic National Convention and during the thick of the Republican National Convention. Conservatives and Republicans heavily criticized the Democrats' nominating event, accusing them of ignoring the ongoing unrest in cities with Democratic political leadership. President Donald Trump has called for the federal government to intervene in Kenosha to clamp down on the disorder. Trump has not tweeted or commented publicly about Blake's shooting itself. Earlier Wednesday, the president tweeted that members of the National Guard would be sent to the city "to restore LAW and ORDER!" TRUMP TWEET Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh in a statement to CNBC called the video of the shooting "extremely disturbing." "But it's inexplicable that it took Joe Biden this long to condemn the further violence and destruction that has followed," Murtaugh added. "The entirety of his Democratic National Convention passed without a word about the violence in our cities that Americans have seen for weeks on end." About 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 18, officers stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation in the 2100 block of W. Meadowview Road, police said in a news release. The people in the vehicle were believed to be involved in drug activity in the area, according to police. During the stop, a passenger police identified as Theotis Kindell, 34, of Florida, reportedly fled on foot. Officers chased Kindell before losing sight of him near Meadowview Road, police said. They heard a gunshot and police said they found Kindell suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The weapon, along with a second handgun, cash, drugs and drug paraphernalia, were located at the scene, police said. Police rendered aid before Kindell was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Police said their investigation determined that all officers involved in this incident had clearly identified themselves as police officers and no officer fired a weapon. The hot and humid weather will continue across northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas as we move into the end of the week. Conditions this week will be above normal temperatures wise for the region. Highs will be in the mid-to-upper 80s and lower 90s. A dry forecast for much of the area except for a few chances during the end of the week. LIVE: Interactive Radar CLOSINGS: School & Business Closings & Delays LOCAL: WeatherCall TRAVEL: Traffic & Road Conditions Map YOUR LOCAL WEATHER AUTHORITY: Extended Forecast DOWNLOAD OUR WEATHER APPS: iOS | Android More than 30 of the Fawkner homes 120 residents have died after a coronavirus outbreak, which has now infected 195 residents and staff, swept through St Basils last month. The home faces two investigations by the Victorian coroner and a federal probe and is being monitored by the Aged Care Quality Commissioner. Twenty-five families have signed up to a class action against St Basil's, saying it neglected residents while receiving federal government subsidies to be used for their care. St Basils sits on three hectares of land overlooking the Merri Creek, purchased by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia for $525,000 in 1993. A charity that counts on its board the Melbourne bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church has run an aged care home on the site ever since. Clinton Baxter is state director of agents Savills, which has been involved in the sale of several aged care homes in recent years, as well as sales of major residential sites like St Basils. He said St Basils, which has a licence for 150 beds (only 120 of these were occupied at the time the pandemic ravaged the home) would usually command a rental in the vicinity of $1.4 million per annum, equating to approximately $180 per week per bed. He said that before the coronavirus hit the aged care sector, that sort of lease would have indicated a likely sale value of about $24 million. The underlying land value would be something quite similar to that, given its suitability for residential subdivision as an alternate future use, he said. The Age attempted to contact the Sydney-based owner of the site, the Greek Archdiocese of Australia, to ask why it charged rent at such levels when the aged care centre was owned by one of its entities. The archdiocese asked for queries to be emailed, but did not respond to those questions. The churchs Melbourne bishop, Ezekiel Kefalas, has been one of two directors to sign off on St Basils financial returns for at least the past six years. He could not be reached, but his office referred queries to Kon Kontis, the other St Basils director to sign off on its financial accounts. Mr Kontis, a property developer and builder, declined to be interviewed but said in a statement that the money paid by St Basils to the church went towards providing better care. All funds paid by St Basils Homes to the Greek Orthodox Church are reserved for reinvesting in aged care, he said. This includes contributing to long-standing plans by the Greek Orthodox Church to construct a new 120-bed aged care facility in Clayton. Significant funds have already been spent on that project. Asked why rent paid to the church averaged more than $2.5 million a year, Mr Kontis declined to explain, but noted there are 16 independent living units on site and it is a large acreage. Spiros Dimitriou at his father Johns grave, at the Northern Memorial Park in Glenroy. John died after acquiring a coronavirus infection at St Basil's after living there for almost three years. Credit:Joe Armao Spiros Dimitrious 73-year-old father, John, lived at St Basils for almost three years, but died in hospital this month after acquiring coronavirus at the home. He said St Basils had been well enough maintained, but its not the millions they are getting. Where is the money going? The facility itself isnt brand new, and they bought the land for nothing. Mr Dimitriou welcomed scrutiny of the Greek Orthodox Church and the operators of St Basils. The spotlight has been on the federal and state governments, but at the end of the day, there are 33 or 34 deaths in this facility. They should be held to account. A photo of John Dimitriou at his grave, along with his late wife Voula, at the Northern Memorial Park in Glenroy. Credit:Joe Armao Aged care operators in the Greek community have attracted a steady flow of new residents to their homes, as the wave of migrants that came to Australia from the 1950s onwards enter their 70s and 80s and need more intensive care. Joseph Ibrahim, head of Monash Universitys Health Law and Ageing Research Unit, said it was appropriate to ask what the home was doing with funds from the federal government. He said that given the coronavirus outbreaks, transparency was even more crucial. Often the charitable and faith-based aged care homes dont get asked questions, because families tend to trust them, he said. He said St Basils at least had some transparency, because as a charity it was compelled to submit annual reports to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Professor Ibrahim said the pandemic had exposed the lack of transparency over how aged care homes spent the millions handed to them by Canberra. People understand the worth of a dollar, but because there is no transparency no one knows where the money is going is it going to the care of the resident or somewhere else? he said. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said no residents would return to St Basils until the commission was satisfied the facility is capable and ready to provide safe, quality care and services to residents. Daniel Andrews has sensationally backed down on his plans to extend Victoria's state of emergency by 12 months, after top doctors branded his government's handling of the coronavirus crisis a 'slow car crash'. A state of emergency - which gives police extraordinary powers to search, arrest and detain - was first declared in Victoria on March 16 and is due to expire on September 13 after several extensions. Mr Andrews wanted to change legislation so it could be extended for a further 12 months, but was met with furious backlash from the public, civil rights groups and his political friends and foes. As a compromise with upper house independents and minor parties, who vowed to vote with the Coalition next week and oppose his plan, Mr Andrews has now offered to accept a six-month extension instead of 12. As a compromise with with upper house independents and minor parties, Mr Andrews has offered to extend the state of emergency for six months instead of 12 A state of emergency, which gives police extraordinary powers to search, arrest and detain, was first declared in Victoria on March 16 and is due to expire on September 13 after several extensions The premier is also willing to compromise on the terms of the extension and the powers the state of emergency would give police and health authorities, according to The Age. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday directly asked Mr Andrews to reconsider his 12-month extension proposal and urged him to seek monthly or quarterly prolongments instead. The prime minister said it was 'important to dispel any uncertainty and get clarity'. 'People are concerned that lockdowns would extend for another 12 months,' Mr Morrison said in Canberra. Victoria suffered a sharp rise in deaths with 24 new fatalities, taking the state toll to 462 and national figure to 549 Victoria registered 149 new cases of the virus on Wednesday, the third straight day of infections below 150 'I know that the announcement that was made by the premier the other day about that extension of the additional 12 months. I've raised our concerns with the premier about that. I did that directly. I know others have. I know Labor figures have.' Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association made a scathing submission to the state parliamentary inquiry into the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 'The situation in Victoria has deteriorated dramatically. One senior AMA Victoria figure recently stated that it has been like witnessing a "slow car crash",' AMA state president Professor Julian Rait wrote. He said the decision to allow the Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne in March was a 'misstep' by the Victorian Government. '[But] by far the largest problem in the past few months has been Victorias mismanagement of its hotel quarantine system,' Prof Rait wrote. 'It appears that flaws in Victorias hotel quarantine system may be the main driver of the high number of cases of community transmission currently occurring in Victoria.' Prof Rait wrote 'a culture of blame and finger pointing is unhelpful' but said a royal commission into Victoria's response is necessary. 'This type of inquiry will be necessary in order to learn and apply lessons learned from this pandemic and build a sustainable and resilient workforce and health system for the future,' Dr Rait wrote in his submission. Mr Morrison has publicly called out the Andrews government's hotel quarantine failures. 'There have been significant failures there. And that has contributed significantly, overwhelmingly - almost entirely, I'd have to say - to the community outbreak we've seen,' he said. 'I have no doubt that the Victorian government feels as strongly about this as I do in terms of the impact it has had on the people of Victoria. 'They are now subject to the most horrendous restrictions that are regrettably necessary, as I said at the time. But we can't ignore what has occurred. AMA state president Professor Julian Rait (right) said the decision to allow the Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne in March was a 'misstep' by the Victorian Government Mr Andrews stressed the proposed extension did not mean stage four restrictions - due to end on September 13 - would be in place for another year The pandemic sparked a state of emergency on March 16, but that is due to expire on September 13 after a maximum six extensions. Before bowing to pressure to amend his bid for a 12-month extension, Mr Andrews said any ongoing rules would be applied with 'the lightest touch possible, only what's necessary and only for so long as it is necessary'. He said an extended state of emergency allows chief health officer Brett Sutton to issue 'common-sense' directions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. These included rules on face masks, mass gatherings and quarantine as well as density limits for businesses and workplaces. He stressed the proposed extension did not mean stage four restrictions - due to end on September 13 - would be in place for another year. Former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten said he had received 'a deluge of emails from concerned constituents' over Mr Andrews' plan. 'It would be handy if he cleared it up because I think that figure of the 12 months had everyone freaking out,' he said. 'I think the explanation is a lot more benign, but probably time for Dan the man to put his explaining skills on display today and just calm the farm.' Australian Industry Group chief Innes Willox said extending the state of emergency would spell the end for thousands of Victorian businesses. Victoria recorded 149 new cases of the virus on Wednesday, the third straight day of infections below 150. It comes as the state suffered a sharp rise in deaths with 24 new fatalities, taking the state toll to 462 and national figure to 549. Of Wednesday's deaths, 21 are related to aged care. Temporarily out of use British Airlines, easyJet and TUI aircraft at London Gatwick Airport on June 9, 2020. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) London Gatwick Airport to Cut 600 Jobs, a Quarter of Its Workforce London Gatwick Airport, the UKs second largest airport, announced on Wednesday it will cut up to 600 jobs, nearly a quarter of its workforce, as a result of the impact of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. The company plans to carry out a significant restructure across its business designed to further reduce operating and staff costs in light of the dramatic impact COVID-19 has had on its passenger and air traffic numbers, it said in a press release. The changes could result in 600 jobs being axed across the business, which is approximately 24 percent of the whole workforce, it said. An airline passenger lies on a table inside the South Terminal at London Gatwick Airport on June 9, 2020. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) The company will now enter into a formal consultation process with employees. In August, usually one of the airports busiest months, passenger numbers are over 80 percent down from a year ago. The airport said it is operating at around 20 percent of its capacity and over 75 percent of its staff are still on the UK governments Job Retention Scheme, which is due to end in October. If anyone is in any doubt about the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on the aviation and travel industry then todays news we have shared with our staff, regarding the proposed job losses, is a stark reminder, said Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport. The CCP virus pandemic has hit the global travel industry hard. Earlier this month, Heathrow, Britains biggest airport, reported an 88 percent plunge in passenger numbers from last year. Last week, British low cost airline easyJet confirmed that three of its bases, at London Stansted, London Southend, and Newcastle, will stop operating on Aug. 31. British travel association ABTA on Monday asked the government for tailored support to help the travel industry survive, as one in five jobs in the sector are estimated to have been lost or placed at risk since the start of the pandemic. Lily Zhou contributed to this report. If the IGB does not issue the licenses within that time period, the statute requires the IGB to submit a written explanation to the applicant explaining why the IGB has not reached a determination and when it reasonably expects to do so, the gaming board said. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Organic Dairy Market by Segment (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese), Milk Type (Whole, Reduced & Low Fat, Flavored), Packaging, Distribution Channel, Company Analysis Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05953920/?utm_source=PRN United States organic dairy industry is projected to show good growth during 2020-2026. In United States, milk is related to the vast majority of organic dairy purchases, which are followed by butter and yogurt. Organic dairy items are made from organic milk, which is collected from cattle reared through organic farming methods. organic dairy industry is experiencing good growth in the United States as they are free from preservatives, antibiotics, synthetic chemicals, etc. According to the report, United States Organic Dairy Market is expected to be USD 18.9 Billion by the year 2026. Benefits of Organic Milk over Conventional Milk There are many benefits such that customers should switch from conventional milk to organic milk, including concerns about antibiotic and hormone use, animal health, farming's environmental effects. The U.S. federal government is promoting organic farming practices among traditional farmers by initiating educational programs and offering both technical and monetary assistance. Besides, enhancing the delivery and supply chain of organic dairy products in confluence with the emerging online food retail market is increasing the accessibility of organic dairy products throughout the United States. However, technical developments in the production of novel goods with low fat and reduced sodium and sugar levels are expected to fuel demand in the coming years. Other than this, organic dairy offer health benefits such as boosting metabolism, strengthening immune system, lowering the risk of cancer, and heart diseases and reducing muscle and joint pain. The report titled "United States Organic Dairy Market by Segment (Organic Milk, Organic Yogurt, Organic Cheese), Type (Whole Milk, Reduced Fat Milk (2%), Low Fat Milk (1%), Fat-Free Milk -Skim, Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk), by Fluid Beverage Milk (Whole Milk Sales, Fat Reduced Milk (Reduced Fat Milk (2%), Low Fat Milk (1%), Fat-Free Milk (Skim), Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk), Packaging (Cups, Tubs, Drinks, Tubes), Distribution Channel (Grocery Stores, Walmart, Club, Mass Merchandisers, and Military Stores, Convenience Stores, Drug Store), Cheese Volume, Company Analysis (Nestle USA, Inc, Dean Foods Company, Danone S. A., Dairy Farmers of America, The Kraft Heinz Company)" provides a complete analysis of united states organic dairy industry. Segment - United States organic dairy market has been studied from 3 segments Organic Milk Organic Yogurt Organic Cheese Milk Types & Sub-types Market & Volume The milk types market and volume have been divided into two types and it has been further sub-divided into 4 sub-types 1. Whole Milk Sales 2. Fat Reduced Milk a. Reduced Fat Milk (2%) b. Low Fat Milk (1%) c. Fat-Free Milk (Skim) d. Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk Packaging Type Volume Report provides Organic Yogurt Packing Volume in 4 Types 1. Cups 2. Tubs 3. Drinks 4. Tubes Channel Distribution Report covers Organic Yogurt Volume by Distribution 1. Grocery Stores 2. Walmart, Club, Mass Merchandisers, and Military Stores 3. Convenience Store 4. Drug Store All the 5 Companies have been sstudied from three points Overview Recent Developments & Strategy Sales Analysis Companies Covered 1. Nestle USA, Inc 2. Dean Foods Company 3. Danone S. A. 4. Dairy Farmers of America 5. The Kraft Heinz Company Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05953920/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Haftar had been vowing for years to take Tripoli, after a failed coup attempt in 2014 forced him to set up base in the east. The UN, U.S. and other powers had hoped to stave off a Tripoli offensive by negotiating a political agreement between Haftar and the internationally recognized government. Haftars advisers said they didnt trust Sarraj to abide by a power-sharing deal that would lead to elections, and accused him of being beholden to militias and extremists. They complained that oil revenue was distributed unfairly, to the disadvantage of the historically marginalized east. Sarrajs government has responded to the extremism charge by pointing to its cooperation against terrorism with the U.S. and other Western countries, and to the success of forces loyal to the government in driving Islamic State from Sirte in 2016. It accuses Haftar of seeking to restore military dictatorship. Elizabeth Hayes, Infinity Federal Credit Union (FCU) President and CEO, shown with the second-place Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award and the first-place Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award. Elizabeth Hayes, Infinity Federal Credit Union (FCU) President and CEO, shown with the second-place Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award and the first-place Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award. Westbrook, Maine, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Infinity Federal Credit Union (FCU) was named the second-place recipient of the state Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award and the first-place recipient of the state Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award. The Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award honors credit unions for internal programs that benefit membership. Infinity FCU received the award for savings its members $8,995,135 on loans and raising its members FICO credit scores by an average of 35 points through its credit score education program in 2019. This is the credit unions fourth consecutive year receiving the state Louise Herring Award. Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award honors credit unions for programs that strengthen the structure of a community. Infinity FCU received the award for its Supporting Immigrant Tenants (SIT) Program in partnership with ProsperityME, which provides interest-free notes to help asylum seekers secure their first apartments. Since its inception in 2018, the program has helped 32 asylum-seeking families obtain housing. Infinity FCU has pledged a rolling $100,000 for the on-going administration of the program, guaranteed by a fund from ProsperityME. This is the credit unions second consecutive year receiving the first-place state Louise Herring Award. At Infinity FCU, we make supporting our community a top priority. says President/CEO, Elizabeth Hayes, Partnering with ProsperityME and assisting individuals who are seeking asylum to secure their first home is a privilege. The SIT program gives Infinity FCU the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people at a time when they need us most. Story continues The Awards were presented by the Maine Credit Union League. First-place state winners will compete in the national awards competition, coordinated by the Credit Union National Association, in the fall. About Infinity Federal Credit Union As Maines first credit union, Infinity Federal Credit Union has been serving its members since 1921, initially as the Telephone Workers Credit Union of Maine, then as Telco of New England FCU. Infinity FCU is now community-based, available to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Cumberland and York counties and the city of Bangor, Maine. Infinity FCU is a not-for-profit cooperative organization owned by its members and guided by the vision We do banking differently to keep you a step ahead in life. For more information about Infinity FCU, please visit www.infinityfcu.com. Attachment CONTACT: Kathy Guillory Infinity Federal Credit Union (207) 854-6000 kguillory@infinityfcu.com Welcome back to Tech Chronicle. If youre in the marketplace of ideas, this fine newsletter can get it for you wholesale. When is a retailer a retailer, and when is it a marketplace? A California bill, AB3262, would rid us of that riddle, at least when it comes to liability for defective products sold online. Online marketplaces like have mostly evaded product-liability lawsuits, arguing that they arent the retailer or manufacturer and that their true business is providing technology services to sellers. (If this sounds a lot like Uber and Lyft arguing that theyre software companies, not transportation companies, well, read on.) Amazon.com, which recently lost a case in San Diego where it attempted to argue it was a marketplace, not a retailer, at least with respect to a defective battery it sold a customer, recently signaled it would support AB3262, provided that its sponsors make clear that it applies equally to all online marketplaces. Thats when Etsy cried foul. With Amazons lobbying, AB3262 has become an increasingly complicated piece of legislation that is going to be expensive for any small or mid-sized business to try to comply with, Etsy CEO Josh Silverman wrote on Medium. Mary Altaffer / Associated Press 2019 Im not sure I quite buy everything Silverman is selling here. For example, he claims that Amazon has quietly signed up in support of AB3262, when the Seattle retail giant published a post by U.S. policy head Brian Huseman on Friday that clearly outlines Amazons willingness to support the bill. Sure enough, recent amendments broadened the bill to include websites that facilitate the placement of products into the stream of commerce, rather than just placing products in said stream. (This metaphor gets watery fast. An Amazon spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Etsys characterization of its lobbying.) Etsy is not acting with the cleanest of hands. In 2019, a Southern California woman sued Etsy after her son was choked to death by a teething necklace purchased on the site. Her lawyers argued that a liability waiver Etsy buyers agree to did not apply, because the mother received it as a gift.) Etsy called the death a great tragedy but said the day care center operator where the child died or the seller of the necklace, reportedly in Lithuania, should bear responsibility. It also noted that the seller in question was no longer on its site. I suspect this bill, like AB5, the gig-work reform law that took effect this year, will get loaded up with amendments and exceptions. The current text confusingly exempts handmade items, which make up much of whats sold on Etsy, and then says that handmade items should not be exempt. The argument for the bill is simple: How are ordinary customers expected to pursue product-liability lawsuits against a seller in Lithuania, as Etsy suggested in the necklase case, or in China, or wherever? By making the company that the customer engages most directly with liable, it puts the onus on a party that could most reasonably be expected to make them whole. Theres a reasonable middle ground here, which is to put some upper limit on product-liability damage awards, such that insuring against them is economically feasible but consumers harmed by them can get some recompense. Marketplaces could then make such insurance a standard offer in the services they provide sellers and add it to their fees. (It might even become a slightly profitable side business.) But this is California, and the bill is in Sacramento. If theres a marketplace where you can buy a map from those places to reasonable middle ground, I havent found it yet. The Dorsey Chronicles The charitable initatives of Beyonce and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey team up on coronavirus relief. A Beyonce fan account posts photos on Twitter showing Beyonce, Dorsey and others hanging out without maintaining physical distancing or wearing masks. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Owen Thomas, othomas@sfchronicle.com Quote of the week Were in an all-digital world with the work digitally, were living digitally, were educating digitally. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, on a conference call with analysts to discuss the companys strong quarterly earnings Coming up Zoom announces earnings next Tuesday. Expect ritualistic apologies for Mondays outage and insanely boffo user-growth numbers. What Im reading Issie Lapowsky on YouTubes rising number of video takedowns. (Protocol) Carolyn Said explains why Uber and Lyft were threatening to stop offering rides in California. (San Francisco Chronicle) Russell Brandom, Sean Hollister, and Jay Peters report on the split decision in Apple and Epics court battle over Fortnite payments. (The Verge) Tech Chronicle is a weekly newsletter from Owen Thomas, The Chronicles business editor, and the rest of the tech team. Follow along on Twitter: @techchronicle and Instagram: @techchronicle Jakarta, Aug 26 : Five persons have died after drinking home-brewed liquor in Indonesia's Banten province, officials said on Wednesday. Police has arrested the brew supplier. The incident took place over the weekend when four men and a woman consumed the liquor along with 15 other people in Curug sub-district of Tanggerang district and they moved to Panongan sub-district after a resident forced them to leave, chief of the Panongan sub-district police Rahmad Supriyanto disclosed. "Suddenly on Monday, two residents of this sub-district (Panongan) and three residents of Curug sub-district died," he was quoted by local media as saying. Chief of the Curug sub-district police HM Panjaitan said that the supplier of the liquor has been arrested, Xinhua news agency reported. "We have nabbed the supplier at his hideout yesterday (Tuesday)," he said. According to the police officer, the supplier mixed the alcoholic drink with other beverages. HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318) is pleased to announce that Ping An Smart Healthcare, the Group's healthcare arm, has developed an automated system with artificial intelligence (AI) that can accurately identify diseases of the retina and make urgent referrals for specialist consultation. The effectiveness of the system is shown in a study published in the August issue of Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST)[1], a respected peer-reviewed international ophthalmology journal. Diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and pathologic myopia, are major causes of visual impairment and blindness, particularly among elderly populations. Although most diseases can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment, many retinal pathologic cases are not identified in time due to the lack of ophthalmology specialists in some communities and rural areas. Ping An's intelligent system uses feature pyramid network-based deep learning, a type of machine learning, to automatically identify retinal disease and make urgent referrals to specialists. To test the system, the study, published in TVST, obtained 28,664 optical coherence tomography (OCT) images from 2,254 patients at the Eye and Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University (EENT Hospital) and the Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital (TENTH Hospital). The system detected 15 categories of retinal pathologies from OCT images as common signs of various retinal diseases. In a second step, the pathologies detected in the OCT images and measurements that indicated changes in retinal thickness were combined and categorized using a random forest decision making tool. Cases were classified as urgent referral (within one week); routine (within three months) and observation (normal). The result showed that the system produced significant results (see table). Dataset Sensitivity (%)/Image Specificity (%)/Image Accuracy (%)/Image EENT-Test 96.39 98.91 97.91 TENTH-Test 94.89 98.76 97.46 Since the beginning of 2020, the model has been used to screen more than 13,000 patients in China via AskBob Doctor, Ping An's AI-based diagnosis and treatment assistant tool. Nearly 4,000 patients were diagnosed with eye diseases of varying degrees, and 1,300 required immediate treatment to prevent vision loss. Dr. Xie Guotong, Ping An Group Chief Healthcare Scientist, said, "Early diagnosis and treatment help to prevent vision loss. However, a shortage of eye care resources, especially in rural areas, reduces the possibility of a timely response. We developed this novel intelligence system in the hope we could help improve the capability of primary medical institutions and offer a solution to communities that lack ophthalmic resources. The accuracy and efficiency of the AI model was achieved with the support of the expert team led by EENT and TENTH hospitals and their high-quality ophthalmic data. The study shows that this intelligent system has a great value and practicality in communities that are shortage of ophthalmologists." Introducing new technologies to healthcare to serve online and offline patients, providers and payers, is an integral part of Ping An's "finance + ecosystem" strategy. As of July 2020, Ping An Smart Healthcare supported a network of nearly 17,000 medical institutions across 90 cities in China. AskBob Doctor has been used 33 million times by 430,000 doctors for medical decision support, patient follow-up and patient education since its launch in June 2019. 1. An Intelligent Optical Coherence Tomography-based System for Pathological Retinal Cases Identification and Urgent Referrals, Translational Vision Science & Technology, Special Issue (Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier), Vol 9, No.2, Article 46, August 2020. About Ping An Group Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") is a world-leading technology-powered retail financial services group. With over 204 million retail customers and 534 million Internet users, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Ping An has two over-arching strategies, "pan financial assets" and "pan health care", which focus on the provision of financial and healthcare services through our integrated financial services platform and our five ecosystems of financial services, health care, auto services, real estate services and smart city services. Our "finance + technology" and "finance + ecosystem" strategies aim to provide customers and internet users with innovative and simple products and services using technology. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An Group is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Company is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. In 2020, Ping An ranked 7th in the Forbes Global 2000 list and ranked 21st in the Fortune Global 500 list. Ping An also ranked 38th in the 2020 WPP Kantar Millward Brown BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list. For more information, please visit www.pingan.cn. SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. Related Links www.pingan.cn The Federal Government has said there will be no more subsidies, either of set top boxes or signal carriage as it plans to resume the rollout of Digital Switch Over (DSO), a transition from analogue to digital television broadcasting. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a Digiteam meeting to foster dialogue among the various stakeholders in the DSO architecture. Mr Mohammed said that while the government is looking for money to pay outstanding debts and restart the DSO roll out, the process will be fully private sector driven and self sustaining. On our part, we have made tremendous progress in our efforts to get the much-needed funds for the DSO process, in particular to pay outstanding debts that will ginger stakeholders to resume the rollout and bring the massive benefits of the DSO to Nigerians. As I speak, we are putting finishing touches to a memo we plan to send to the Federal Executive Council as part of our relentless efforts to secure the funds to re-start the process, and we are very optimistic that our efforts will pay off soon. The Analogue to Digital Switch Over must not be delayed any longer than absolutely necessary, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that following the successful launch of the DSO in April 2016 in Jos, Plateau state, the federal government announced the reduction of price of set top boxes from the official N10,000 to N1,500 in order to get it across to all Nigerians. About 200,000 boxes were also given out for the pilot phase free of charge. Similarly, the Plateau State Government also announced subsidy plans for its citizens and promised to distribute 300,000 boxes to them. Mr Mohammed noted that moving ahead with the DSO was critical to the post-Covid prosperity of the Creative Industry and that was why the government has taken it as a priority. He recalled the enthusiasm that greeted the launch of the DSO in Jos, noting that the process was stalled due to many factors but mainly lack of funds. After the launch of the pilot phase in Jos, the launch train moved fairly quickly to Abuja on December 22, 2016, then to Ilorin, Kwara State, on December 20, 2017, Kaduna two days later on December 22, 2017. We then proceeded to Enugu on February 12, 2018 and finally to Osogbo, Osun State, on February 23, 2018. Over two years later, we have not launched the DSO in any state, even when we have 31 more states to cover!, he said. To complement the DSO roll out resumption processes, the minister said the government has started the process of implementing Audience Measurement, which will go a long way in driving advertising spend to the platform. Mr Mohammed charged concerned parties at the meeting to come up with a strategic plan for a resumed rollout, with an expressed commitment to continue with the process until every state has been covered. The bottom line is that we need to think out of the box if we are to complete this process. Nigerians have waited far too long to enjoy the benefits of digital television. At this meeting, we will listen to all stakeholders on their challenges and prospects, and together come up with a realistic timeline for the resumption of the rollout, he said. NAN reports the meeting was attended by representatives of National Broadcasting Commission, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Set Top Boxes Manufacturers, broadcast stations, among others. (NAN) (Natural News) Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) delivered a fiery rebuke of the Democrats at the Republican National Convention on Monday, accusing the party of refusing to denounce the mob. (Article by Haris Alic republished from Breitbart.com) Democrats wont let you go to church, but theyll let you protest. Democrats wont let you go to work, but theyll let you riot, Jim Jordan told the convention. Democrats wont let you go to school, but theyll let you loot. The congressmans remarks came one day after rioting broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after local police shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black American man, several times in the back. According to local media reports, police were called to respond to a domestic incident at the site of the shooting. Several witnesses have claimed that Blake was attempting to break up a fight between two women when police arrived. Video from the scene, which went viral on social media, shows Blake walking away from police as the officers have their weapons drawn. In the video, Blake is seen opening the door of an SUV as a police officer attempts to stop him before firing at least seven shots into Blakes back. After the video of the shooting appeared on social media, protests erupted on the streets of Kenosha. Those protests quickly turned violent on Sunday night, forcing the Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) to order in the states National Guard. Read more at: Breitbart.com and VoteDemocrat.news. Subscriber content preview By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press About 10,000 state prison inmates in Pennsylvania fraudulently applied for unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic, prosecutors said in announcing charges Tuesday against 33 people. These 33 defendants represent, truly, the tip of the iceberg, and we are seeing unemployment fraud on an unprecedented scale, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said at a news conference in Pittsburgh. . . . It may take a few months for evictions to ramp up. Filings actually slowed in many places during the first few months of the pandemic. Many courts were closed and a patchwork of federal, state and local moratoriums prevented evictions in many cases. The federal moratorium expired on July 24, and landlords had 30 days to notify tenants if they wanted to evict them, meaning Aug. 24 was the earliest date at which the floodgates could open. As of the end of July, 30 states lacked state-level protections against eviction during the pandemic. But even in states where there are bans, they do little to clear peoples debts. Many now owe so much in back rent that they wont be able to catch up, pushing landlords to evict them when restrictions lift. Mr. Judd said that Mr. Trump has hired L.G.B.T.Q. people across the government, mentioning Mr. Grenell again, cited the presidents commitment at last years State of the Union address to ending H.I.V. transmissions in the country by 2030, and saying the president launched a global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality, standing in solidarity with all L.G.B.T. people who live in dozens of counties around the globe that punish, imprison and even execute individuals based on their sexual orientation. Theres no evidence that Mr. Trumps campaign to decriminalize homosexuality has had any impact, or that its been substantially different than what Mr. Obama had attempted. For instance, White House officials declined to say whether Mr. Trump had raised the brutal anti-gay purges by the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, with whom hes spoken several times in recent months. His H.I.V. pledge was similarly met with skepticism. Mr. Trump is famously transactional, and the support he has given L.G.B.T.Q. people has usually been in connection with celebrity or support they have given him. Mr. Trump allowed gay members into his Florida club Mar-a-Lago as long as they could pay the exorbitant membership fee; he broadcast donations to groups like the Gay Mens Health Crisis when the AIDS epidemic became a celebrity cause; and he publicly embraced the civil union between the singer Elton John, someone whose music and fame Mr. Trump admires, and Mr. Johns longtime partner, David Furnish. In 2015, when Mr. Trump was just a few months into the Republican primary contest, some of his advisers discussed a plan for exiting the campaign if his poll numbers dropped. The plan, according to one person with direct knowledge of the discussions, was for Mr. Trump to say that the party did not agree with him on a number of issues, including gay marriage, even though hed never publicly supported it. But after Mr. Trump won the New Hampshire primary, his advisers knew he needed the support of evangelical voters. So in an interview with the former Fox News host Bill OReilly in 2016, Mr. Trump said, I take a lot of heat because I come from New York. You know, from New York, its like, how you can be against gay marriage? But Im opposed to gay marriage. Christine Quinn, the first openly gay speaker of the New York City Council, said Mr. Trumps New York business background makes his actions as president worse because he knows better. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:00:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Marwa Yahya QENA, Egypt, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- "High temperature and concerns about the spread of COVID-19 ... haven't hindered my work in feeding silkworms to produce silk," said Sherry Roshdy, a 22-year-old university graduate. Located in the desert of Naqada city in Qena province in southern Cairo with 20 feddans (about 84,000 square meters), a sericulture farm was established as the first of its kind in Upper Egypt. Employing 890 females, the farm is funded by Egypt Foundation for Integrated Development, a charity association, and run by several civil organizations in partnership with Qena province that provided the project with the land. "I breed the silkworms and watch them grow for a month. The cocoon-spinning process takes about three days and then, the threads are dissolved in certain reels," Roshdy told Xinhua. Wearing a face mask, she noted that most of the reels in the farm are operated manually, adding that the project is expanded and more automatic ones will be installed soon. "Separating the silk from the cocoon and extracting raw silk is a very sensitive process which I enjoy a lot," she explained, saying that it is the first time in Upper Egypt to produce pure silk. "I earn a reasonable sum of money after the farm sells cocoons to the silk producers," said 30-year-old Aziza Gad, another worker, in the farm. She highlighted that "three boxes of cocoons make 1 kg of raw silk which is sold for 40 U.S. dollars." Working for nine hours per day, Gad, a mother of two, started in 2019 her work on the farm by chopping the mulberry leaves, feeding the worms, and reeling the silk. Now, the young mother has promoted to the department of using the extracted silk in making scarves, carpets, and some clothes at the same farm. Ashraf al-Dawidy, governor of Qena, said that "the farm produces natural silk threads that are used in making silk textile and carpets." He highlighted "the farm is an untraditional project" as it depends on advanced methods in irrigation and plantation as well as new types of only one-meter high berry trees that produce large quantities of leaves. The farm also depends completely on the solar energy for pumping the groundwater, he said, noting that two 60-meter-deep wells were dug. The first phase of the farm started in November 2019 by cultivating three feddans of mulberry bushes, al-Dawidy said, adding each feddan produces 13 tons of berry leaves. He added that the project provides work and training for almost 1,000 females in feeding the silkworms, reeling the silk and producing silk products. He hopes more young entrepreneurs will join the same field to meet the local market's growing demand for silk goods. Egypt consumes more than 350 tons of natural silk annually, with only 1 ton is produced domestically, according to official statistics. The Egyptian Ministry of Finance announced in October last year lifting customs duties on the imports of silkworm eggs to revive the silk production industry in Egypt. Boosting the silk industry in Egypt is part of the government's moves to develop the small- and medium-sized projects that provide more job opportunities especially for females and increase the country's exports, according to a statement by the Ministry of Finance. Enditem KENOSHA Pat Oertle sobbed Monday as she stood behind the broken glass of her storefront in Uptown Kenosha, her head in her hands, her body shaking. Why did they do this? cried Oertle, who has owned and operated Computer Adventure sales and service with her husband, Eric, for 30 years. The stretch of 22nd Avenue from Roosevelt Road north to 61st Street took a body blow Monday night when rioters smashed through storefront windows, looted businesses and set fire to buildings. Some business owners took it upon themselves to try and protect their property. Robert Cobb, a member of the Danish Brotherhood Lodge, which is a complete loss, was reportedly assaulted while trying to defend the lodge and neighboring mattress shop. The area smoldered in ruin Tuesday, with firefighters on the scene throughout the day fighting the still active fires. In addition to the lodge, Rodes Camera Shop, Furniture Warehouse, La Estrella Supermarket, Uptown Beauty and other businesses on the west side of 22nd Street look to be a total loss. Destructive element ... from outside our community The number of Wisconsin National Guard troops in Kenosha County will increase, Executive Jim Kreuser and Mayor John Antaramian announced Tuesday under a commitment they obtained from Gov. Tony Evers, who declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin on Tuesday afternoon. Kreuser and Antaramian requested additional guard assistance after a second night of rioting, looting and arson in the city on Monday. These additional troops will supplement the 125 guard troops who were deployed to Kenosha on Monday. Additionally, more than 100 law enforcement officers from other communities in Wisconsin are continuing to assist in local efforts to quell violence and destruction in the aftermath of the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. It is clear to us that this is no longer just a demonstration in reaction to Sundays tragic events, said Kreuser. A destructive element is coming in from outside our community to fuel destruction and chaos, to loot and to destroy. We absolutely want to know the truth about what happened with Jacob Blake, but we have to let the investigatory process work. Destroying our city will not make that process go any faster. Historic building, records all lost I feel like Ive just lost my whole family, Rob Nelson, president of the Danish Brotherhood, said, looking at the remains of the historic building that contained the now lost register of those who have been a part of the brotherhood from its beginning 127 years ago. We ask the community to keep him in your prayers as he recuperates, Robert Nelson II, also of the Danish Brotherhood said. Nelson said the loss of the brotherhoods historical documents is tragic. The irreparable damage done to our building pales in comparison to the loss of the heritage and history contained within, Robbie said, adding the lodge look to rebuild. We hope the community can come together as a whole and heal itself despite the chaos that has been unfolding around us. Di Michalski, whose husband Jan is the alderman of the Uptown district, took to the street early Tuesday with a shovel and a garbage can to help scoop broken glass off the sidewalks. Ive got a couple people here willing to help, she said. Ive picked up a few volunteers along the way. Jan Michalski said he is disheartened by the destruction. There are no words to describe how heartsick I am, Michalski said. People of all colors have worked so hard to improve the Uptown area. This is just a body blow. Its not our community doing it Joshua Ferguson, a business leader in the Uptown area who has been working with the Uptown Brass Village Neighborhood Association to improve the area, said it is senseless. Its a downer, Ferguson, owner of the Sugar Boxx ice cream shop, said. Its really sad to see it. He described Uptown as one of the most multicultural communities of business owners. It goes to show its not our community doing it, Ferguson said. (If you live here) you know Uptown. You know that this parking lot just two week ago (is where they were) giving out free food to the whole community as part of a drive-through food drive. Its not our people doing it. Thats what really sucks. Many in the Uptown area Tuesday said they watched as cars with their license plates blacked out came to Kenosha, attempted to access the downtown area and, when blocked, found their way to Uptown. Courtney Davis, 40, who lives just off of 22nd Avenue, said Kenoshas own would not hit the people and businesses of the Uptown area who are already barely making it. In addition to local residents who came forward to help with cleanup, members from a Chicago-based group called Mr. Dads Fathers Club came to offer their assistance. When you see communities being destroyed and see your people hurting, you want to help, Joseph Williams, of the group, said. It is the second time in recent weeks that fire devastated the Uptown area. A historic building that housed eight businesses and multiple apartments was destroyed by fire Aug. 11. Uptown is one of several older neighborhoods targeted for major redevelopment under a plan created by Mayor John Antaramian. The $5.1 million Uptown Neighborhood Streetscape Design Project, planned along the 22nd Avenue corridor between 60th Street and 64th Street, was expected to begin in 2021. The plan is to create 38 additional parking spaces, a landscaped median (similar to 56th Street in HarborPark), upgraded LED lighting, entry columns, pavement designs and improved pedestrian walkways in the Uptown area. Ferguson and others who were working to revitalize the Uptown area acknowledged this is a huge setback, but said they are confident the area will recover. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 JANUARY As Covid-19 begins to spread across the world, the British Government holds its first Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) meeting to discuss the impending pandemic on January 22. Minutes from the meeting show no mention of face coverings or masks, despite them already being commonplace elsewhere around the world. In certain areas of Asia, members of the public have long worn face coverings. The 2003 Sars virus outbreak, which killed thousands across the region, and heavy air pollution in cities means coverings are part of everyday life. Donald Low, a behavioural economist and professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, says that for Asians putting on a mask every day before you go out is like a ritual, like putting on a uniform. On January 29, the first coronavirus cases on British soil are recorded, after two Chinese nationals from the same family fall ill at a hotel in York. The Government raises the Covid-19 threat level from low to moderate. FEBRUARY The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group on February 3 suggests those with symptoms should be encouraged to wear a surgical face mask in public providing that it can be tolerated. MARCH Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries says wearing a covering or mask is not a good idea on March 12. You can actually trap the virus in the mask and start breathing it in, she says. Donald Trump wearing a face mask / REUTERS As the number of cases begin to spiral, Boris Johnson announces UK lockdown on March 23. Johnson calls for a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus. Wearing face masks or coverings is not mentioned in his address. Days later, George Gao, head of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, tells sciencemag.org: The big mistake in the US and Europe, in my opinion, is that people arent wearing masks. By the end of March, Venezuela becomes one of the first places outside Asia to make coverings mandatory on public transport and in public. Elsewhere in South America, Brazils Right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro causes outrage by rubbishing efforts by local authorities in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to contain the virus with partial lockdown measures. APRIL On the second day in April, the Robert Koch Institute, Germanys public health institute, changes its previous recommendation that only people with symptoms should wear masks in public to include people without. Angela Merkel wearing a face mask / REUTERS Meanwhile, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the UKs deputy chief medical officer, reiterates on April 4 that wearing of face masks by those who are not sick is not recommended by the British Government. He says there is no evidence that general wearing of face masks by the public who are well affects the spread of the disease in our society. In early April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national public health institute in the USA, recommends face coverings in public places. On April 8, New Jersey becomes the first state to require customers and employees to wear face coverings at essential businesses and construction sites. The states of Maryland, Connecticut and New York then follow suit. President Donald Trump is unconvinced. I dont think Im going to be doing it, he said. Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens I just dont see it. Meanwhile, Bill Keevil, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Southampton, says non-medical grade coverings will not protect you from infection. He calls the CDCs ruling on coverings knee jerk. What the US government has done is say, People should wear masks. But if people are wearing inappropriate face masks, it is creating a false sense of security. Joe Biden wearing a mask / REUTERS With countries such as Cuba, Austria, Argentina, Poland and the UAE all making face coverings mandatory, pressure mounts on the UK Government. Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty says: The evidence i s weak, but the evidence of a small effect is there under certain circumstances. On April 17, Mayor Sadiq Khan tweets: Governments and mayors around the world are advising people to wear non-medical face coverings in public to help stop the spread of #COVID19. In circumstances where its not possible to keep our social distance, I think its time we did the same. These would NOT be medical masks. It is time to act. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says evidence about the effectiveness of coverings remains quite mixed. On April 24, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says: On masks, as more information comes through, the science is constantly evolving and we always bear in mind that science and then take the decision. As of today, the government position is unchanged. On April 30, Johnson, who has recovered from the virus, uses the term face covering for the first time. MAY Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, tells MPs on May 5: The situation with masks... is that the data, and the evidence, are not straightforward. He says Sage thinks the evidence of masks preventing the spread of infection is marginal but positive. Andrew Cuomo wearing a mask / REUTERS Days later, on May 10, Johnson urges the UK to begin easing out of lockdown in a vague public address. A 60-page document detailing ways to curb the spread of Covid-19 says Britons should: Wear a face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet, for example on public transport or in some shops. Google Trends data shows searches for face coverings had a 3,911 per cent rise since December. In America where protests about lockdown measures were common a month before the backlash begins. Ohios Republican governor Mike DeWine U-turned on an order for residents to wear masks in public as businesses reopened, calling the measure a bridge too far. In New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says: You can kill someone because you did not want to wear a mask. How cruel and irresponsible would that be? JUNE On June 4, Mr Shapps announces that coverings will be mandatory on public transport from June 15. He says: Wearing a face covering can play a role in helping us to protect each other. The following day, June 5, the World Health Organisation changes its official advice on face coverings. Its director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says: In light of evolving evidence, the WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments. Until this point, the WHO had not advocated the wearing of masks because of limited evidence. Meanwhile, Brazils President Bolsonaro is ordered by a judge to rectify his at best disrespectful behaviour by wearing a mask in public in the capital, Brasilia. Coverings have been mandatory across the country since April. In mid-June, Brazil overtook the UK to have the second largest death toll. JULY In early July, Bolsonaro approves a law for wearing masks in public but vetoes clauses that would have required them in churches, schools, shops and factories. The President confirms he has Covid-19 on July 8. Meanwhile, President Trump who previously mocked Joe Biden for wearing a mask begins to buckle to pressure. Im all for masks, he said. On Sunday, as he left the White House wearing a mask for the first time in public, he said: Ive never been against masks but I do believe they have a time and a place. On July 12, the PM says the UK needs to be stricter in insisting people wear face coverings in confined spaces. Michael Gove says two days later that he thinks it is better to trust the public and wearing a mask was a matter of good manners. On July 14, the Government announces that masks would be compulsory in shops from July 24. AUGUST On August 25, the UK Government makes its latest U-turn of the pandemic and begins advising that face coverings should be worn by secondary pupils and staff in some areas of England. The Department for Education says the measures should be taken in areas under local lockdown, and that face coverings should be at the discretion of schools across the rest of the country. The move comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had earlier insisted measures being adopted by schools to limit the spread of coronavirus meant masks were not required and a day after a Number 10 spokesman said there were no plans to review the guidance. Similar directions had already been in Scotland, where Deputy First Minister John Swinney had said face coverings would be obligatory from August 31 in corridors and on school transport. There is increasing evidence that face coverings can provide some protection for the wearer as well as those around them," he said. Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak hopes that the postponed meeting of the leaders of the Normandy Four states will take place before September 10. "Mr. Bonn [Adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonn] called me a few days ago and asked to postpone the meeting due to his business trip. Today the dates are being discussed, these are the first days of September. I think that this meeting will take place before September 10," he said at a briefing with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday in Dnipropetrovsk region. As reported, the meeting of advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format member states, which was supposed to take place on August 28 in Paris, was postponed due to the mission of French President adviser Emmanuel Bonn. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is likely to discuss at a meeting on Thursday a market borrowing mechanism to help states leverage recently enhanced borrowing limits to compensate them for revenue shortfalls and debts thus raised to be eventually repaid from the compensation cess fund, two officials said. Other options like levying cess on more items, increasing cess rates on existing products or raising overall GST rates to raise revenue appears difficult at a time when demand is subdued and the economy is badly hit by Covid-19 pandemic, the officials added requesting anonymity. The special GST Council meeting has been convened to discuss how to compensate states for their revenue shortfalls when the economy is facing headwinds and the compensation cess kitty for 2020-21 is almost empty, the officials said. The pandemic and a 68-day nationwide lockdown to check its spread from March 25 hit the countrys economic growth, which had already slowed. Indias Gross Domestic Product (GDP) slowed to 4.2% in fiscal 2019-20, the lowest in 11 years. The GST law assures states a 14% increase in their annual revenue for five years from July 1, 2020. It also guarantees them that their revenue shortfall, if any, would be addressed through the compensation cess levied on luxury goods and sin products like liquor, cigarettes, aerated water, automobiles, coal and tobacco products. As cess collection fell sharply due to subdued business activities, states could not be paid compensation on time. According to official data, the last tranche of the GST compensation worth 13,806 crore for 2019-20 was paid towards the end of July. So far, states have been paid 1,65,302 crore GST compensation for 2019-20 against 95,444 crore cess collection. With promised 14% year-on-year revenue growth, the gap is expected to be unmanageable this financial year without borrowing from the market, one of the officials said. The compensation requirement for 2020-21 is expected to exceed 1.88 lakh crore even if the GST collection in 2020-21 remains at the same level as last financial year, he said. Some states have a misconception that it is the commitment of the Centre to compensate states and therefore it should borrow the money to pay to states and union territories, the officials said. In fact, paying compensation is the collective commitment of both the Union and state governments, and the GST Council is the apex body to take a decision on this matter, they added. The GST law is clear that states will be compensated for their revenue shortfall only from the compensation cess fund. There is no legal provision that the compensation money will come either from the Consolidated Fund of India or the Union government will borrow from the market. Therefore, this matter will be resolved at the GST Council on the principle of collective responsibility. Ideally, states should leverage their enhanced borrowing limits, a second official said. To give fiscal space to states in this time of crisis, the Centre raised their borrowing limits. Announcing the last tranche of 20 lakh crore Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India campaign) on May 17, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre had accepted the demand of states to raise their borrowing limit from 3% of their respective gross state domestic product to 5%. She said it would give them additional resources of 4.28 lakh crore during the crisis. Experts say the shortfall in compensation cess collection is mainly because of unforeseen circumstances as the architects of the GST regime could not foresee a pandemic-like Covid-19 that would batter the economy. India is expected to report its April-June GDP numbers by the end of this month. Economists expect its economy to contract by at least 5% this year especially because of the hard lockdown for two months of the quarter--April and May. Archit Gupta, founder and chief executive officer of the financial technology platform ClearTax, said: Increasing state borrowing seems to be an option to fund the revenue shortfall for states. The other option suggested was to allow the GST Council to borrow, and repay from cess collection in future years. He said these measures are short term. ...states need to become more fiscally responsible, reduce their debt and make attempts to become fiscally self-reliant to a large extent. Pratik Jain, partner and leader of the indirect tax practice at PwC India, said it is evident that cess collected is not enough to compensate the states, particularly in current economic slowdown due to the pandemic. However, at this point, neither increasing the rate of cess nor the ambit look like feasible options. Jain said the Centre will need to negotiate the quantum of compensation, possibly by reducing the 14% annual increment and increasing the period of compensation beyond five years as initially envisaged. In the long term, we will have to find ways for the states to be more economically independent and enhance the tax base. By Jarrett Banks, IPO Edge Cannabis zeitgeist High Times, owner of the 45-year old eponymous magazine, is growing its footprint in dispensaries with the purchase of two Northern California locations. The acquisition, through Hightimes Holding Corp., comes as the company also plans to expand into deliveries later this month. The stores, Synergy and 530 Cannabis, will bolster its portfolio in an industry that could generate $75 billion in sales by 2030, according to investment bank Cowen & Co. As we continue to develop an impressive presence in the worlds largest cannabis market, these two strong additions to our portfolio greatly increase both our reach and revenue within the Northern California territory, Peter Horvath, Chief Executive Officer of High Times, said in a statement. We are looking forward to including the Synergy and 530 teams and merging their long-standing relationships with and in their communities into the High Times team. The delivery service will be designed to accommodate the need for social distancing that has accelerated the shift to e-commerce across the retail sector. High Times recently acquired 13 existing and planned California dispensaries which can be configured as distribution centers. With about 40 employees in New York and Los Angeles, the magazines advertisers include Advanced Nutrients, Kush Bottles and Pop Chips. It has 250,000 readers, with 75 percent of its online audience being men between 18 and 34. High Times is on the cusp of listing its shares on a national stock exchange. The company has over 27,000 investors who have subscribed to an offering of up to $50 million which remains open. Some of the shares sold have generated cash that wont appear on the companys balance sheet until the stock begins to trade. Jarrett Banks Editor-at-Large IPO Edge www.IPO-Edge.com Editor@IPO-Edge.com Twitter: @IPOEdge Instagram: @IPOEdge West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that opposition ruled states such as Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal, Jharkhand should collectively approach the Supreme Court for deferring NEET, JEE Main exams to be held next month. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that opposition ruled states such as Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal, Jharkhand should collectively approach the Supreme Court for deferring NEET, JEE Main exams to be held next month. Taking part in a discussion through video conferencing with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and chief ministers of some opposition ruled states, Banerjee said she had raised her concerns with the Prime Minister. The exams are in September. Why should the lives of students be put at risk? We have written to the PM, but there has been no response. If the Prime Minister does not listen to us, then we all (states) collectively should approach the Supreme Court, she said. Sonia Gandhi raised the issues concerning GST dues of states, the draft Environment Impact Assessment notification and National Education Policy. Banerjee said that apart from the movement of trains being hampered, the COVID-19 pandemic has also had a negative impact on the mental health of the students. I request the state governments, let us do it together. Lets go to the Supreme Court and request it to postpone it for the time being (till) the situation is right. We stand by our students, whatever help they require, we are willing to do it, she said. ALSO READ : Refusal of GST compensation to States betrayal on part of Centre: Sonia Gandhi Banerjee also talked about pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues of West Bengal. We had to get Rs 4,100 crore in May, June, but we have not received it. So how do we run the government? The pandemic is ongoing, and we are not getting a single paisa I can tell our state stands to get Rs 53,000 crore from the Centre, Banerjee said. She said that the state governments have to provide free of cost treatment, medicines, ventilators, ambulances to the people but claimed they were not getting anything from the Centre. We are trying our best, but it has become very difficult to pay the salaries to workers. No funds are available, the unorganised sector, MSMEs, farmers are suffering a lot, she said, adding that in India there is an acute crisis and we cannot speak about it freely, the media also cannot speak. ALSO READ : We demand Bharat Ratna for PV Narasimha Rao: KCRs daughter Kavitha (Ex MP) A Gulfstream G550 jet similar to the one recently acquired by Falcon Landing LLC. Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Elon Musk now has another private jet in his arsenal, FAA records show. Falcon Landing, an LLC connected to SpaceX and Tesla, registered a second Gulfstream plane in August. Musk has been putting plenty of miles on the first plane jetting between California and SpaceX's Texas launch site. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Elon Musk is known to put plenty of miles on jets, and now he's got another in his arsenal. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO now has access to a second lavish Gulfstream aircraft for jetting between car factories, rocket launch sites, and everywhere in between. Falcon Landing LLC, a shell company with ties to SpaceX's Hawthorne, California headquarters, recently registered a new Gulfstream G550 jet alongside its larger G650. According to its broker listing, the new jet has space for 17 passengers that can be re-configured into a sleeping configuration. The registration was first spotted by Protocol, which pegs the jet's price around $14 million. Business Insider was unable to confirm this number. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. The new jet doesn't appear to have made any Tesla or SpaceX-related flights yet, though the previous G650 frequently flies between California and the Texas coast where the company has eyes on building a private village complete with hotel rooms, recreation options, and parties and is buying out current residents to make it happen. According to the Washington Post, Musk put more than 150,000 miles on the plane in 2018, including pet projects and vacation in addition to running the two companies. Now, with Tesla building a new car factory in Texas, it's likely that Musk will be travelling even more. Read the original article on Business Insider STOCKHOLM, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SCA intends to invest SEK 1,45bn in the production of chemically pre-treated thermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP) at the Ortviken paper mill in Sundsvall. In parallel, SCA is initiating consultations with trade unions and employee representatives to discontinue the production of publication paper at the mill. SCA intends to invest to achieve an annual production volume of 300,000 tonnes of CTMP pulp at Ortviken, using the existing infrastructure. The investment is expected to give a positive EBITDA-effect of approximately SEK 0.3bn per annum. Expected start of production in the new mill is the beginning of 2023. SCA today has a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of CTMP pulp at the Ostrand pulp mill. This production will be phased out when the new line starts up, which will allow a future increase in the production of kraft pulp at Ostrand Pulp mill. "Our pulp customers want us to grow with them in product segments such as packaging board and hygiene products, segments with healthy growth," says Ulf Larsson, SCA's CEO. "In line with our strategy, we have gradually reduced our exposure to publication paper. We now initiate negotiations to leave this product segment completely." Currently, SCA produces coated and uncoated publication paper on three paper machines at Ortviken paper mill with annual sales of approximately SEK 4bn. Demand for publication paper in Western Europe has declined by approximately 5% per year since 2008. During the coronavirus pandemic, demand for publication paper decreased by a further 30-40% and production at Ortviken paper mill has been adapted to the weak order level. This low demand, combined with a weak price development, results in a negative profitability for the operation. The closure of publication paper manufacturing at Ortviken paper mill proposed by SCA will affect about 800 employees, primarily at Ortviken paper mill, but also in other parts of SCA's operations. The closure would result in non-recurrent costs with cashflow effects which are estimated not to exceed SEK 0.9bn and an impairment of about SEK 1.1bn. "Through today's proposals, we intend to continue to develop a strong, sustainable and profitable industry based on our renewable forest raw materials", says Ulf Larsson. "This will have a significant impact on many people and we will in a responsible way seek the best possible solutions for those affected." Negotiations under the Co-determination at Work Act (MBL) with trade unions will now begin regarding the plans to discontinue paper production at Ortviken paper mill, the investment in CTMP production at Ortviken and the impact on other SCA operations. In other jurisdictions affexcted employees and their representatives will be informed and consulted in line with the legal framework. INVITATION TO PRESS CONFERENCE The press conference can be followed via webcast or telephone. The President and CEO, Ulf Larsson, and CFO, Toby Lawton, will present the background to the intended investment and the proposal to discontinue publication paper production, and answer any questions. Time: Wednesday August 26, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. The press conference will be webcast live at www.sca.com. It is also possible to participate by telephone by calling: Sweden: +46 (0)8 5069 2180 UK: +44 (0)2071 928000 US: +1 631 510 7495 State "SCA" or the conference ID: 1249139. For further information, please contact Bjorn Lyngfelt; SVP Communications. +46 (0)60 19 34 98 Please note: This is information that SCA is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on August 26, 2020 at 08:00 a.m. CET. Bjorn Lyngfelt, Vice President, Communications, +46 (0)60 19 34 98 The core of SCA's business is the forest, Europe's largest private forest holding. Around this unique resource, we have built a well-developed value chain based on renewable raw material from our own and others' forests. We offer paper for packaging and print, pulp, wood products, renewable energy, services for forest owners and efficient transport solutions. In 2019, the forest products company SCA had approximately 4,000 employees and sales amounted to approximately SEK 19.6bn (EUR 1.9bn). SCA was founded in 1929 and has its headquarters in Sundsvall, Sweden. For more information, visit www.sca.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/sca/r/sca-intends-to-invest-in-pulp-production-and-initiates-consultations-to-discontinue-publication-pape,c3181365 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/600/3181365/1297437.pdf Press release (PDF) SOURCE SCA The comical footage was captured in Aarat, in the state of Victoria, Australia This is the comical moment an eight-week-old lamb showcases its distinctive bleat as it walks among its flock in Australia. The footage filmed in Aarat, in the state of Victoria, shows the small animal look past the fence of its enclosure before walking over to the other lambs and sheep. In an attempt to replicate their bleats, the lamb utters a high-pitched two-note 'baa' - that sounds nothing like the rest of its flock. The eight-week-old lamb showcases a distinctive bleat in Aarat, in the state of Victoria, Australia During the clip, which was filmed on August 17, the animal walks around its pen as the other sheep and lambs bleat in unison in the background. The creature then opens its mouth and produces its bellow-like 'baa' sound. In 2017, research conducted by University College Dublin found that the vibrating sounds used by sheep are an effective way to carry acoustic signals of the animals' identity to the listener. During their study, scientists asked a group of human volunteers to listen to synthetic calls to see if they could detect subtle differences. They found the vibrato used by animals such as sheep helped listeners detect patterns. Speaking to The Land, research fellow and study author Benjamin Charlton said: 'Our results suggest that vibrato-like pitch modulation has evolved because it improves the perception of formants, key acoustic components of animal calls that encode important information about the caller's size and identity.' The lamb listens to the sounds of the other sheep and lambs as it walks around its pen Lambs are born around 145 days after the ewe falls pregnant and are dependent on their mothers for the first four to six months of their lives. They can walk just minutes after they are born and will often reach maturity by the age of one. Mira / Alamy Stock Photo Their encounter with fraudsters began that morning when the wife answered the phone and a young man, posing as their teenage grandson, said he was in jail because he'd been arrested for a traffic accident while driving drunk. He said his cellphone had been taken away before he was locked up which sounded plausible and asked his grandmother to keep what he said real private, she recalls. The grandson said he needed bail money and gave the name of his fake public defender, Richard Benson and a toll-free number to reach him. Next, a second fraudster entered the picture. A mature-sounding woman answered the phone at the phony public defenders office. She put the call through to a man who masqueraded as Richard Benson, the supposed public defender. He explained the plight of their grandson and said the courts were closed because of the pandemic. Then he instructed the couple to put $2,500 into an ATM at a local Wells Fargo bank, where he asserted the courts had an account. Benson gave her an eight-digit access number and four-digit PIN to effectuate the deposit. The couple got the cash from a drive-through lane at their credit union to make the first ATM deposit. Greedy fraudsters come back for more After that, the fraudsters weren't finished. In a follow-up call, Richard Benson said the grandson's car insurance had lapsed, so $2,300 was needed to secure his release. The couple went back to the credit union's drive-through and back to the ATM. This time Richard Benson gave the couple a different access number and the same PIN. "The second (deposit) was crazy, the woman says now. I felt in my heart that it probably was not right, but we did it anyway." Immediately afterward they tracked down their grandson by phone; he said he'd been at work since 7 a.m. that day. The accident, the arrest, the need for cash all lies. The truth quickly emerged. We got ripped off big-time, says the husband, a retired customer-service worker and a Vietnam-era Army veteran who was drafted and served stateside as a map compiler from 1968-1970. That afternoon, the couple called Wells Fargo to try to retrieve their lost funds (without success, initially) and filed a complaint with the local police, who categorized the case as a theft by deception." Later the couple called Wells Fargo again, without satisfaction, and set up an appointment to visit their credit union; an appointment was required because of the pandemic. The credit union wouldn't return the money, either. Sad scam has happy ending After the couple's plight was conveyed to Wells Fargo officials and a copy of the police report was provided, Wells Fargo agreed on Aug. 21 to refund the couple $4,800. In a statement to AARP, a Wells Fargo spokeswoman said: These credit union customers made multiple cash withdrawals from their credit union account and deposited those funds into a Wells Fargo account. The credit union has elected not to reimburse their customers. Wells Fargo has elected to do what their credit union did not refund the $4,800 and work with law enforcement to recover the money. As we combat fraud, we understand the frustration and anger of those who are victims of fraud." A local police detective told AARP on Aug. 24 that he is pursuing new leads just provided by Wells Fargo. The husband and wife want other older Americans to avoid the nightmare they endured, so are sharing their story. How foolish can you be to put cash in the machine twice and not get a receipt? We got scammed, the husband says now. But they are so professional, so smooth, that they could have fooled anybody." To be sure, they insist they will never use an ATM again. We hadn't used it before that day and will never use it again, the husband says. Never. Ever. The state health department is abandoning a proposed rule that would have banned the sale of flavored vaping products in Montana. The contentious rule was supported by health care advocates and others who cited studies showing that flavored vaping products enticed young adults and led to a lifetime of tobacco use. Vape shop owners opposed the rule, saying that it would harm their business. The move came Friday, two days after a legislative interim committee issued a poll to the full Legislature asking them to weigh in on whether the proposed rule from the Department of Public Heath and Human Services followed legislative intent. In October 2019, Gov. Steve Bullock told the health department to implement emergency rules to temporarily ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Bullock cited the "alarming rate" of vaping among young adults and a national outbreak of lung injury and death associated with vaping. In September and October of that year, Montana reported its first vaping-related illnesses and the death of a teen tied to vaping. After the temporary rule expired, the health department proposed an administrative rule that would have created a permanent ban. Earlier this year, a state legislative interim committee that does not have oversight powers over health department rules voted to make a formal objection to the proposed ban. However, the health-focused committee that actually had the power to object did not. But 20 lawmakers wrote to the health committee asking for a poll of lawmakers, which was to be sent out soon. Polls cannot stop proposed rules from being adopted, but could be used in court challenges. In a press release Friday announcing it was dropping the proposed rule, the health department said "it is apparent that more education and collaboration is necessary." The anticipated polling of the legislature revealed that additional education and collaboration is necessary to protect Montanas next generation, in spite of the latest study which came out this week showing that teens and young adults who vape are five times more likely to become infected with coronavirus than those who dont," said director Sheila Hogan. "DPHHS will continue to work with partners, including the legislature, to protect the health of Montanas greatest asset its kids. Love 10 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 4 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Isle of Palms moved ahead with plans to eliminate all free beach season parking for non-residents starting in 2021, and would charge more for parking than many beach communities in South Carolina. Pending final approval by City Council, the rules would convert the city's remaining 383 free parking spots to paid parking seven days a week from March 1 to Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Councilman John Moye cast the lone vote against the plan at Tuesday's meeting. He said the city's parking restrictions have soured relations with other local governments Charleston County in particular and he suggested the paid parking rules should only be in place on weekends, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Details of Isle of Palms' regulations could change as an ordinance is developed the expected parking ordinance would need two votes of City Council but the current plan received an 8-1 vote Tuesday, indicating strong support. Councilman Randy Bell pointed out that money from new paid parking areas is already anticipated in the city's adopted budget for the 12 months that began July 1. This plan wouldnt take place until March," he said. "Theres plenty of time for more discussion with the county. Council members had previously been told by City Administrator Desiree Fragoso that a decision was needed this month to give the city staff enough time to prepare for paid parking next year. Tuesday's vote directed the staff to move forward with those preparations. Beach parking is already lucrative for Isle of Palms. The city collected $818,458 in 2019 from its Front Beach parking kiosks and city lots, which combined have 563 paid parking spaces, according to the city's parking study. The city's budget says the annual cost of "beach visitor support" has averaged less than $500,000 over the most recent three years; that's parking management, beach service officers, beach cleanup, public restrooms and related capital costs. During the summer beach season, which Isle of Palms considers to be seven months of the year, monthly calls to the police department and fire department increase by roughly 50 percent, according to the city. The cost of staffing those departments appropriately is not counted in the city's beach visitor support costs. On top of the parking revenue recorded in 2019, the city raised its parking rates this year. That's expected to add $235,830 to the town's budget, pushing parking revenue from existing kiosks and parking lots above $1 million. Converting the currently free parking areas to paid spaces would bring in still more money, some of which the city is already counting upon, as Bell noted. City Council has been considering several plans for paid parking that, depending on what areas were included and if paid parking would run all week or just on weekends, were projected to raise between $180,968 and $485,966 annually, on top of the money the city already collects. The current plan would be worth an estimated $331,774, the city estimates, because some of the free parking areas were previously eliminated entirely. Add it all up, and Isle of Palms would expect to collect at least a half-million-dollars more annually than before the rate increase and paid parking changes made this year. Isle of Palms now charges $2.50 hourly at city kiosks, while Folly Beach and other barrier islands charge $2, a city presentation noted. Isle of Palms city parking lots charge $15 daily on weekends. Neighboring Sullivan's Island and Mount Pleasant don't charge for parking anywhere, although Sullivan's Island has considered charging non-residents. Folly Beach has both paid and free parking areas, and in July eliminated about 80 percent of the free spots for the rest of the 2020 beach season. Isle of Palms' paid parking plan was in the works before the new coronavirus pandemic, and is not directly related to the city's decision to prohibit non-resident from using most of the island's parking spots for a month this summer. At a July 15 meeting, City Council decided to temporarily eliminate all but 10 of the citys estimated 562 free parking spots, and hundreds of paid parking spots. A lawsuit, which is still pending, was filed in response by members of the Charleston Area Public Beach Access & Parking Group, a Facebook page that now has about 8,500 member. Only Isle of Palms residents were allowed to park in those many hundreds of beach spaces until Aug. 16, when the temporary rule expired. But not all of the free parking returned; the city eliminated 178 free spots on the land side of Palm Boulevard between 21st and 40th avenues, leaving 383 free parking spaces. Most of the parking spots are along the beach side of Palm Boulevard, where visitors can park in the state-owned right-of-way along the road and walk to a beach access path without crossing any streets. Other free spaces are on the land side of Palm Boulevard above 42nd Avenue, and at the north end of the island along 3rd through 9th avenues, or in a small parking lot at Breach Inlet. Mumbai, Aug 26 : Shares of two-wheeler majors Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company soared on Wednesday after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's comment that the GST Council will consider the proposal to cut the Goods and Services Tax on two-wheelers. Addressing a CII conference on Tuesday, she said that the suggestion to lower tax on two-wheelers is a good one as this category is "neither a luxury nor a sin good" and hence merits a rate revision. Consequently, this will be taken up with the GST Council, she added. Around 10.48 a.m., shares of Hero MotoCorp were trading at Rs 3,095.40, higher by Rs 124.35 or 4.19 per cent from its previous close. It touched its 52-week high of Rs 3,124.95 per share during the initial trade. Shares of Bajaj Auto were trading at Rs 3,106.85, higher by Rs 96.85 or 3.22 per cent from its previous close. Similarly, TVS Motor Company's shares were trading 4.51 per cent higher at Rs 465.90 per share. Two-wheelers currently attract 28 per cent GST and the industry has for long demanded for the rate to be lowered. En estos momentos, el presidente @MartinVizcarraC, junto al titular de la PCM, @WalterMartosR, encabeza la sesion del Consejo de Ministros en Palacio de Gobierno, en la que se articulan las acciones de los diversos ministerios frente a la situacion sanitaria y economica del pais. pic.twitter.com/cn3rvYcFgn We along with others have campaigned vociferously for the implementation of the pension as per the contents of the legislation agreed in law at Westminster, back in January. We have been insistent that there be no fudging of the eligibility issue and we continue to insist that this be the case. The recent High Court ruling by Judge McAlinden is a first step redressing this wrong and many more steps are needed over the coming months and years. The judge's finding was scathing of the deputy First Minister's behaviour and that of Sinn Fein, he found that the blocking of the implementation of the scheme was politically motivated and unlawful. The nonsense needs to end from Sinn Fein, stop the lie that ex-prisoners are being discriminated against. These convicted terrorists have access to a National Health Service, to welfare benefits and to many other services courtesy of the United Kingdom nation like every other citizen, law abiding and otherwise. The pension introduced into law is intended as an acknowledgement for those innocents within society who did not seek to bring about harm to others and whose lives were forever and permanently changed - they are the people who have been discriminated against and who have had to endure 25 years of appeasement of terrorism and its political annexes. Enough is enough. Support must get to those who have waited so long to be acknowledged for what they have gone through and the implications that has had upon their lives and that of their families and carers. We welcome confirmation that the Justice Department will administer the scheme, it is the most appropriate option that was available. The Justice Minister's claims that the scheme could cost up to 800 million is a significantly higher projection than the 130-150 million which has been suggested throughout the campaign for recognition and since. It is important that immediate work is done in resolving why the disparity? We also have repeatedly made the case that the threshold for psychological injury eligibility must be higher than the 14% threshold for physical injury, otherwise the floodgates could open and the intentions of a scheme that was to support those with life-changing injuries would be severely compromised. Indeed 14% psychological injury relates to mild mental health difficulties. This said, the UK Government must be constructive in discussions around the budget which must happen promptly. We have stated our view that they should centrally provide finance for the historical payments due to victims/survivors from the period of Stormont House, 2014, to the point the Executive was restored, with Stormont then picking up the tab on an annual basis thereafter. The UK Government should also factor into the block grant the need for a top up to facilitate the paying of pensions to British citizens living outside the immediate reaches of the NI Executive, namely those living in other parts of the UK, mainland Europe and further afield. We acknowledge the efforts of Jennifer McNern and the broader Injured Group in bringing forth the recent High Court case and for their efforts over the last decade. We commend their courage along with many other seriously injured innocent victims/survivors who have spoken up and pressed the need for change. A Limerick woman has been named the Irish Venture Capital Association's new chairperson in a historic appointment for the organisation. Gillian Buckley, from Ballingarry, Co. Limerick, is the first woman to hold the position in the associations' 35-year history. A business studies graduate of the University of Limerick, Buckley set up the Western Development Commission (WDC) investment fund where she is currently an investment manager. Headquartered in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, WDC is a statutory body established to promote social and economic development in the western region. It operates a seed and venture capital fund focused on the counties of Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. Commenting on her election to the representative organisation for venture capital and private equity firms in Ireland, Ms Buckley said: Its an honour to be elected the first woman to chair the Irish Venture Capital Association. It should be noted that the four most senior roles in the association of chairperson, director general, vice chair and manager are now held by women. Ms Buckley said the Programme for Government recognised the strategic role that venture capital has to play in the Irish economy "in these challenging times and post-Brexit." "The Irish Venture Capital Association looks forward to working in partnership with Government to further develop the sector to support more world-class start-up and scaling Irish companies," she concluded. An independent report from DCU in January found Irish venture capital and private equity firms have invested 5bn in Irish SMEs since 2003 and through syndication, have attracted a further 3bn in funding from international firms. India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu held a virtual meeting with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday on the multi-faceted India-Massachusetts relationship. Their discussion covered areas of economic significance for both countries, including finance, higher education, healthcare, technology and innovation, the Indian Embassy here said in a statement. During the virtual meeting, Sandhu shared the recent policy developments in the education and technology landscape in India with Baker. He highlighted the potential of mutually rewarding India-US collaborations in the post-Covid-19 phase. India and Massachusetts share a strong trade and investment partnership with historical roots dating back to the 18th century. Total merchandise trade between India and Massachusetts has grown to $729 million in 2019. Also, in recent years, about $873 million worth of Indian investments have created over 1,350 jobs in Massachusetts. Prominent Indian companies present in Massachusetts are Datamatics, HCL, Infosys, TCS, Sun Pharma, among others. Similarly, a number of Massachusetts origin companies in energy, financial services, defense and technology sectors are present in India. Some notable names are General Electric, Raytheon Technologies, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, among others. During their discussion, Sandhu and Baker underscored the importance of the vibrant Indian diaspora in the India-Massachusetts relationship. Sandhu shared that a large number of Indian professionals, academicians and students have made Massachusetts their home. He said that they form a key part of Massachusetts's STEM workforce and contribute to the state's innovation economy. Sandhu and Baker agreed to further build upon the synergies in the India-Massachusetts relationship for mutual growth and prosperity, the Indian Embassy said in the statement. A team led by Steven L. Miller Chair professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Illinois, Huimin Zhao, was awarded a five-year $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the NSF Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute for Molecular Discovery, Synthetic Strategy and Manufacturing (Molecule Maker Lab Institute or MMLI). The multi-institutional team consists of researchers and collaborators from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University Laboratory High School, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Northwestern University, Penn State, and Rochester Institute of Technology. The MMLI focuses on development of new AI-enabled tools, such as AlphaSynthesis, to accelerate automated chemical synthesis and advance the discovery and manufacture of novel materials and bioactive compounds. Researchers use the data generated from the analysis of these molecules to guide further development of synthesis planning and catalyst design tools using AI and machine learning. The institute also serves as a training ground for the next generation of scientists with combined expertise in AI, chemistry, and bioengineering. "The MMLI is a first-of-its-kind research infrastructure that will have a powerful impact on the U.S. research community," said Zhao, a member of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. "This proposed infrastructure will respond to high-priority needs of communities seeking to 1) discover and optimize a wide range of molecular functions (Molecules), 2) harness the power of data to advance the science of molecular synthesis (Data), and 3) inspire a broad audience of scientists, teachers, students, and citizen scientists to participate in the process of molecular innovation (Open Door). The MMLI will revolutionize the way chemistry is taught and capture the imagination of a new generation of molecule makers." The NSF is establishing five new AI institutes to accelerate research, expand America's workforce, and transform society in the decades to come. Enabled by sustained federal investment and channeled toward issues of national importance, continued advancement in AI research holds the potential for further economic impact and improvements in quality of life. With an investment of over $100 million over the next five years, NSF's AI Institutes represent the nation's most significant federal investment in AI research and workforce development to date. The $20 million investment in each of five NSF AI institutes is just the beginning, with more institute announcements anticipated in the coming years. "Recognizing the critical role of AI, NSF is investing in collaborative research and education hubs, such as the NSF MMLI anchored at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which will bring together academia, industry, and government to unearth profound discoveries and develop new capabilities advancing American competitiveness for decades to come," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "Just as prior NSF investments enabled the breakthroughs that have given rise to today's AI revolution, the awards being announced today will drive discovery and innovation that will sustain American leadership and competitiveness in AI for decades to come." "Over the past decade there have been major advances in both AI and automated chemical and biochemical synthesis, making the timing for the launch of the MMLI both judicious and urgent," said Zhao. "Synergistically integrating these powerful disciplines now has the potential to dramatically accelerate and advance the manufacturing and discovery of molecules with important functions that address major unsolved problems in society. Not doing so would result in a major missed opportunity for the U.S. research community." ### Deviating from his own advice and breaking the longstanding precedent of sitting United States secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics, Mike Pompeo has urged Americans to re-elect President Donald Trump if they want to keep the country safe and their freedoms intact. IMAGE: US secretary of state Mike Pompeo speaks at the 2020 Republican National Conventio from Jerusalem. Photograph: Republican National Convention The unconventional address of Pompeo at the second day of the mostly-virtual Republican National Convention on Tuesday created a political uproar, especially from the opposition Democratic Party, which asserted that the Secretary of State should stay away from partisan politics. The decision to speak to the political convention in pre-recorded remarks from Jerusalem breaks with the longstanding precedent of sitting secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics and appears to violate guidance on political activities that Pompeo himself emphasised in a cable to diplomats just last month. Brushing away the criticism, Pompeo said that his speech from Israel is in his personal capacity. The primary Constitutional function of the national government is ensuring your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, work, learn and worship as they choose. Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this President has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world, Pompeo said in his address. Noting that Americans are more safe, and their freedoms more secure, because Trump has put his America First vision into action, Pompeo asserted that it may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked. In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The President has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world, and he will not rest until justice is done, the Secretary of State said. The US has accused China of spreading the novel coronavirus, which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. More than 5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US so far. There have been more than 170,000 deaths in the country. Pompeo said Trump has ensured that the Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats are jailed or sent back to China. He has "ended ridiculously unfair trade deals with China that punched a hole in the economy. Those jobs are coming back home, he said. In North Korea, the President lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table, Pompeo said. No nuclear tests, no long-range missile tests and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families as did the precious remains of scores of our heroes who fought in Korea, he said. Today, because of President Trump, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has defensive weapons systems and America left a harmful treaty so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression, Pompeo said. According to Pompeo, in the Middle East when Iran threatened, the President approved a strike that killed Iranian terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for the murder and maiming of hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Christians across the Middle East. You will all recall that when the President took office, radical Islamic terrorists had beheaded Americans and ISIS-controlled a territory the size of Great Britain. Today, because of the President's determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out, its evil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, and our brave soldiers are on their way home, he told his countrymen. The President exited the US from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the Ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas, he said. Pompeo said that the President moved the US Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland, he said. And the President brokered a historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, that our grandchildren will read about in their history books, he said. As a soldier, I saw, first hand, people desperate to flee to freedom. The way each of us can best ensure our freedoms is by electing leaders who don't just talk, but deliver, he said. Meanwhile, a House Democrat has opened an investigation into Pompeo's controversial decision to address the Republican National Convention. Rep Joaquin Castro, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, said in a statement on Tuesday that the "American people deserve a full investigation." The second-degree murder trial of the man accused of killing 29-year-old Holly Hamilton has been postponed. Justin Dumpfrey is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in January 2018. He has pleaded not guilty. The trial had been scheduled for four weeks in September, but has been postponed after the defence requested an adjournment. The delay comes after a mistrial was declared on the first day of trial last January. The mistrial was declared by the judge after the first witness, but the reasons for the mistrial cannot be reported because of a publication ban. The postponement is devastating for Hamiltons family, said her mom Angie Hamilton, who was informed of the adjournment by the prosecution on Tuesday. Dumpfrey is the father of Hamiltons daughter, who was four when her mother was killed. Angie has been raising her granddaughter since her daughters death. I just want justice served and closure to this nightmare for me, my family and mostly Hollys daughter, she said. My granddaughter shouldnt not have to keep reliving this over and over. Hamiltons stabbed body was found in the trunk of her car days after she had been reported missing. Family reported her missing after her daughter was abruptly dropped off alone at the home of Hamiltons parents. Friends and family had been getting ready for a search of the last place where Hamilton was seen near Dumpfreys apartment when news of the discovery of her body was announced. There was a history of domestic violence in the relationship. Hamiltons death sparked a community call to end domestic violence. No new trial dates have been set, but the case is expected to postponed until next year. By Naomi Sharang/Abuja The Nigerian Senate may call for a forensic audit of the joint venture between the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Chinese cable company, StarTimes. The senate is bewildered that 12 years after the agreement in 2008, there is no profit to show. Chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning, Sen. Solomon Adeola, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, during an interactive session with some revenue generating agencies of government. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the upper chamber had, on Monday, queried the management of NTA, why the venture is not turning profit after 12 years. The Senate asked that the management should appear before the committee along with the Managing Director, NTA TV Enterprises, Mr Maxwell Loko. The joint venture agreement was that whatever accrued at the end of every financial year, 70 per cent, goes to StarTimes and 30 per cent to Nigeria. Adeola also queried why some of the accounts of StarTimes were in dollars and naira. If this business is truly owned and it is owned in Nigeria as you profess, this account should only be in naira value. Why you have structured it to be in dollars and naira, is for easy movement of dollars outside the country. In 2019, the total revenue from subscription was $36.1 million and in naira terms, it is over N11 billion. On this note, we are going to set up a special investigative panel to look into this record before us, audited account from the few lines l am able to open and look into, there is a lot of issues, he said The chairman further called for the stepping aside of the Managing Director, NTA TV Enterprises, chief executive officer of StarTimes and the director of tax, for an independent investigation. Also speaking, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Olubunmi Adetumbi, called for a forensic audit of the process. He said an independent forensic audit of this exercise is needed so that we can open up where the issues are, if NTA needs to renegotiate its agreement, so be it. Adetumbi said that the situation and transaction were highly complex and beyond the public hearing to unravel, given the time and the nature of transactions. I will like to suggest to this committee and NTA that it is in order to open these books to ensure that Nigeria is having a fair deal from this relationship. We want to be sure that NTA is not taken for a ride and definitely the investment of Federal Government in NTA is also not being abused. Between 2008 and now, nothing in terms of return except that NTA was borrowing from StarTimes, its partners. No wonder and we are not surprised that you have not been able to declare anything, he said. A member of the committee, Sen. Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) said: Whatever way we look at it, this thing is actually a messy situation. NTA signed agreement with this people, which is a venture to form Star TV and then to be overlooked by TV enterprises. However, if you look at the shareholding, the 30 per cent is not TV enterprises. NTA has 30 per cent and not TV enterprises. Whatever way you look at it, this thing is muddled up. That is why this venture could not generate income for the country. All what you are doing is that you are working for StarTimes, pure and simple. All of you are working for StarTimes. It is very clear why no kobo has come to Nigeria. I am sorry to say this and my language may be harsh, I dont see patriotism in you working for the Nigerian people. Responding, Loko, the managing director, NTA TV Enterprises said I dont work for them, I dont manage the company. We have a chief executive officer, I do not manage StarTimes, that is the truth. I do not manage StarTimes, I do not work for them. It will interest the committee to know that, it was indeed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that introduced StarTimes communication of China to NTA. Loko explained that NBC granted the company licence from August 2011 to 2016 in the first instance. We were expected to have paid N500 million as licence fee, he said. Related Yves here. This article misses the obvious need to continue to have generals, even if you buy into the barmy premise that AI could do better. I suspect that it is true that the software types could prove that AI beats humans in most cases.but what about situations where leadership actually matters, like the level of troop discipline, or simple motivation level the fighters? I suspect that computers would not have successfully gamed out, for instance, the USSR victory over Germany at Stalingrad. Factors like the superior ability of the Red Army and their supports in the population to endure pain (the brutal cold) and part of that, their tenacity, is something that is tested only in extremis and is not something AI could ever factor in. The reason to still have generals is their value as salesmen and ambassadors. Look at how current and former generals do star turns in hearings and on TV. People (well, men) in business go gaga over generals and high level spooks. They garner top dollar as speakers at conferences. So it appears the real reason for floating the AI generals trial balloon is to keep these decorated prima donnas in line, to tell them that the only reason they will still have a job is to carry the right PR message. Although, upon reflection, this idea could also be a pet scheme of one faction of military-industrial complex grifters because AI that will at least help sell more mundane applications. By Michael T. Klare, the five-college professor emeritus of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College and a senior visiting fellow at the Arms Control Association. He is the author of 15 books, the latest of which is All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagons Perspective on Climate Change Originally published at TomDispatch With Covid-19 incapacitating startling numbers of U.S. service members and modern weapons proving increasingly lethal, the American military is relying ever more frequently on intelligent robots to conduct hazardous combat operations. Such devices, known in the military as autonomous weapons systems, include robotic sentries, battlefield-surveillance drones, and autonomous submarines. So far, in other words, robotic devices are merely replacing standard weaponry on conventional battlefields. Now, however, in a giant leap of faith, the Pentagon is seeking to take this process to an entirely new level by replacing not just ordinary soldiers and their weapons, but potentially admirals and generals with robotic systems. Admittedly, those systems are still in the development stage, but the Pentagon is now rushing their future deployment as a matter of national urgency. Every component of a modern general staff including battle planning, intelligence-gathering, logistics, communications, and decision-making is, according to the Pentagons latest plans, to be turned over to complex arrangements of sensors, computers, and software. All these will then be integrated into a system of systems, now dubbed the Joint All-Domain Command-and-Control, or JADC2 (since acronyms remain the essence of military life). Eventually, that amalgam of systems may indeed assume most of the functions currently performed by American generals and their senior staff officers. The notion of using machines to make command-level decisions is not, of course, an entirely new one. It has, in truth, been a long time coming. During the Cold War, following the introduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with extremely short flight times, both military strategists and science-fiction writers began to imagine mechanical systems that would control such nuclear weaponry in the event of human incapacity. In Stanley Kubricks satiric 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove, for example, the fictional Russian leader Dimitri Kissov reveals that the Soviet Union has installed a doomsday machine capable of obliterating all human life that would detonate automatically should the country come under attack by American nuclear forces. Efforts by crazed anti-Soviet U.S. Air Force officers to provoke a war with Moscow then succeed in triggering that machine and so bring about human annihilation. In reality, fearing that they might experience a surprise attack of just this sort, the Soviets later did install a semi-automatic retaliatory system they dubbed Perimeter, designed to launch Soviet ICBMs in the event that sensors detected nuclear explosions and all communications from Moscow had been silenced. Some analysts believe that an upgraded version of Perimeter is still in operation, leaving us in an all-too-real version of a Strangelovian world. In yet another sci-fi version of such automated command systems, the 1983 film WarGames, starring Matthew Broderick as a teenage hacker, portrayed a supercomputer called the War Operations Plan Response, or WOPR (pronounced whopper) installed at the North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) headquarters in Colorado. When the Broderick character hacks into it and starts playing what he believes is a game called World War III, the computer concludes an actual Soviet attack is underway and launches a nuclear retaliatory response. Although fictitious, the movie accurately depicts many aspects of the U.S. nuclear command-control-and-communications (NC3) system, which was then and still remains highly automated. Such devices, both real and imagined, were relatively primitive by todays standards, being capable solely of determining that a nuclear attack was under way and ordering a catastrophic response. Now, as a result of vast improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, machines can collect and assess massive amounts of sensor data, swiftly detect key trends and patterns, and potentially issue orders to combat units as to where to attack and when. Time Compression and Human Fallibility The substitution of intelligent machines for humans at senior command levels is becoming essential, U.S. strategists argue, because an exponential growth in sensor information combined with the increasing speed of warfare is making it nearly impossible for humans to keep track of crucial battlefield developments. If future scenarios prove accurate, battles that once unfolded over days or weeks could transpire in the space of hours, or even minutes, while battlefield information will be pouring in as multitudinous data points, overwhelming staff officers. Only advanced computers, it is claimed, could process so much information and make informed combat decisions within the necessary timeframe. Such time compression and the expansion of sensor data may apply to any form of combat, but especially to the most terrifying of them all, nuclear war. When ICBMs were the principal means of such combat, decisionmakers had up to 30 minutes between the time a missile was launched and the moment of detonation in which to determine whether a potential attack was real or merely a false satellite reading (as did sometimes occur during the Cold War). Now, that may not sound like much time, but with the recent introduction of hypersonic missiles, such assessment times could shrink to as little as five minutes. Under such circumstances, its a lot to expect even the most alert decision-makers to reach an informed judgment on the nature of a potential attack. Hence the appeal (to some) of automated decision-making systems. Attack-time compression has placed Americas senior leadership in a situation where the existing NC3 system may not act rapidly enough, military analysts Adam Lowther and Curtis McGiffin argued at War on the Rocks, a security-oriented website. Thus, it may be necessary to develop a system based on artificial intelligence, with predetermined response decisions, that detects, decides, and directs strategic forces with such speed that the attack-time compression challenge does not place the United States in an impossible position. This notion, that an artificial intelligence-powered device in essence, a more intelligent version of the doomsday machine or the WOPR should be empowered to assess enemy behavior and then, on the basis of predetermined response options, decide humanitys fate, has naturally produced some unease in the community of military analysts (as it should for the rest of us as well). Nevertheless, American strategists continue to argue that battlefield assessment and decision-making for both conventional and nuclear warfare should increasingly be delegated to machines. AI-powered intelligence systems may provide the ability to integrate and sort through large troves of data from different sources and geographic locations to identify patterns and highlight useful information, the Congressional Research Service noted in a November 2019 summary of Pentagon thinking. As the complexity of AI systems matures, it added, AI algorithms may also be capable of providing commanders with a menu of viable courses of action based on real-time analysis of the battlespace, in turn enabling faster adaptation to complex events. The key wording there is a menu of viable courses of action based on real-time analysis of the battlespace. This might leave the impression that human generals and admirals (not to speak of their commander-in-chief) will still be making the ultimate life-and-death decisions for both their own forces and the planet. Given such anticipated attack-time compression in future high-intensity combat with China and/or Russia, however, humans may no longer have the time or ability to analyze the battlespace themselves and so will come to rely on AI algorithms for such assessments. As a result, human commanders may simply find themselves endorsing decisions made by machines and so, in the end, become superfluous. Creating Robot Generals Despite whatever misgivings they may have about their future job security, Americas top generals are moving swiftly to develop and deploy that JADC2 automated command mechanism. Overseen by the Air Force, its proving to be a computer-driven amalgam of devices for collecting real-time intelligence on enemy forces from vast numbers of sensor devices (satellites, ground radars, electronic listening posts, and so on), processing that data into actionable combat information, and providing precise attack instructions to every combat unit and weapons system engaged in a conflict whether belonging to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or the newly formed Space Force and Cyber Command. What, exactly, the JADC2 will consist of is not widely known, partly because many of its component systems are still shrouded in secrecy and partly because much of the essential technology is still in the development stage. Delegated with responsibility for overseeing the project, the Air Force is working with Lockheed Martin and other large defense contractors to design and develop key elements of the system. One such building block is its Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), a data-collection and distribution system intended to provide fighter pilots with up-to-the-minute data on enemy positions and help guide their combat moves. Another key component is the Armys Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), designed to connect radar systems to anti-aircraft and missile-defense launchers and provide them with precise firing instructions. Over time, the Air Force and its multiple contractors will seek to integrate ABMS and IBCS into a giant network of systems connecting every sensor, shooter, and commander in the countrys armed forces a military internet of things, as some have put it. To test this concept and provide an example of how it might operate in the future, the Army conducted a live-fire artillery exercise this August in Germany using components (or facsimiles) of the future JADC2 system. In the first stage of the test, satellite images of (presumed) Russian troop positions were sent to an Army ground terminal, where an AI software program called Prometheus combed through the data to select enemy targets. Next, another AI program called SHOT computed the optimal match of available Army weaponry to those intended targets and sent this information, along with precise firing coordinates, to the Armys Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) for immediate action, where human commanders could choose to implement it or not. In the exercise, those human commanders had the mental space to give the matter a moments thought; in a shooting war, they might just leave everything to the machines, as the systems designers clearly intend them to do. In the future, the Army is planning even more ambitious tests of this evolving technology under an initiative called Project Convergence. From whats been said publicly about it, Convergence will undertake ever more complex exercises involving satellites, Air Force fighters equipped with the ABMS system, Army helicopters, drones, artillery pieces, and tactical vehicles. Eventually, all of this will form the underlying architecture of the JADC2, linking every military sensor system to every combat unit and weapons system leaving the generals with little to do but sit by and watch. Why Robot Generals Could Get It Wrong Given the complexity of modern warfare and the challenge of time compression in future combat, the urge of American strategists to replace human commanders with robotic ones is certainly understandable. Robot generals and admirals might theoretically be able to process staggering amounts of information in brief periods of time, while keeping track of both friendly and enemy forces and devising optimal ways to counter enemy moves on a future battlefield. But there are many good reasons to doubt the reliability of robot decision-makers and the wisdom of using them in place of human officers. To begin with, many of these technologies are still in their infancy, and almost all are prone to malfunctions that can neither be easily anticipated nor understood. And dont forget that even advanced algorithms can be fooled, or spoofed, by skilled professionals. In addition, unlike humans, AI-enabled decision-making systems will lack an ability to assess intent or context. Does a sudden enemy troop deployment, for example, indicate an imminent attack, a bluff, or just a normal rotation of forces? Human analysts can use their understanding of the current political moment and the actors involved to help guide their assessment of the situation. Machines lack that ability and may assume the worst, initiating military action that could have been avoided. Such a problem will only be compounded by the training such decision-making algorithms will undergo as they are adapted to military situations. Just as facial recognition software has proved to be tainted by an over-reliance on images of white males in the training process making them less adept at recognizing, say, African-American women military decision-making algorithms are likely to be distorted by an over-reliance on the combat-oriented scenarios selected by American military professionals for training purposes. Worst-case thinking is a natural inclination of such officers after all, who wants to be caught unprepared for a possible enemy surprise attack? and such biases will undoubtedly become part of the menus of viable courses of action provided by decision-making robots. Once integrated into decision-making algorithms, such biases could, in turn, prove exceedingly dangerous in any future encounters between U.S. and Russian troops in Europe or American and Chinese forces in Asia. A clash of this sort might, after all, arise at any time, thanks to some misunderstanding or local incident that rapidly gains momentum a sudden clash between U.S. and Chinese warships off Taiwan, for example, or between American and Russian patrols in one of the Baltic states. Neither side may have intended to ignite a full-scale conflict and leaders on both sides might normally move to negotiate a cease-fire. But remember, these will no longer simply be human conflicts. In the wake of such an incident, the JADC2 could detect some enemy move that it determines poses an imminent risk to allied forces and so immediately launch an all-out attack by American planes, missiles, and artillery, escalating the conflict and foreclosing any chance of an early negotiated settlement. Such prospects become truly frightening when whats at stake is the onset of nuclear war. Its hard to imagine any conflict among the major powers starting out as a nuclear war, but its far easier to envision a scenario in which the great powers after having become embroiled in a conventional conflict reach a point where one side or the other considers the use of atomic arms to stave off defeat. American military doctrine, in fact, has always held out the possibility of using so-called tactical nuclear weapons in response to a massive Soviet (now Russian) assault in Europe. Russian military doctrine, it is widely assumed, incorporates similar options. Under such circumstances, a future JADC2 could misinterpret enemy moves as signaling preparation for a nuclear launch and order a pre-emptive strike by U.S. nuclear forces, thereby igniting World War III. War is a nasty, brutal activity and, given almost two decades of failed conflicts that have gone under the label of the war on terror, causing thousands of American casualties (both physical and mental), its easy to understand why robot enthusiasts are so eager to see another kind of mentality take over American war-making. As a start, they contend, especially in a pandemic world, that its only humane to replace human soldiers on the battlefield with robots and so diminish human casualties (at least among combatants). This claim does not, of course, address the argument that robot soldiers and drone aircraft lack the ability to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants on the battlefield and so cannot be trusted to comply with the laws of war or international humanitarian law which, at least theoretically, protect civilians from unnecessary harm and so should be banned. Fraught as all of that may be on future battlefields, replacing generals and admirals with robots is another matter altogether. Not only do legal and moral arguments arise with a vengeance, as the survival of major civilian populations could be put at risk by computer-derived combat decisions, but theres no guarantee that American GIs would suffer fewer casualties in the battles that ensued. Maybe its time, then, for Congress to ask some tough questions about the advisability of automating combat decision-making before this country pours billions of additional taxpayer dollars into an enterprise that could, in fact, lead to the end of the world as we know it. Maybe its time as well for the leaders of China, Russia, and this country to limit or ban the deployment of hypersonic missiles and other weaponry that will compress life-and-death decisions for humanity into just a few minutes, thereby justifying the automation of such fateful judgments. An aerial view of Le Van Tam Park in HCMC's District 1. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. The U.S. will provide a grant of over $1.45 million in technical assistance to help HCMC build a smart city operation center. The grant includes over $1.16 million non-refundable aid from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) while the remainder is provided by American consulting services company Winbourne Consulting, who will carry out the project. Todd Abrajano, USTDA COO and Head of Agency, said at the agreement signing ceremony Tuesday: "Ho Chi Minh City has an ambitious smart city agenda, and USTDA is an ideal partner to support its goals." The partnership will help the city deploy cutting-edge ICT technologies and advanced data analytics that innovative U.S. companies are ready to supply, he said. USTDAs funding will help the city develop implementation plans for an Intelligent Operations Center, a smart cities priority that will collect and analyze real-time data and information to help decision-makers govern, plan, and shape the future development of HCMC. The operation center is one of four pillars of a master plan to transform Vietnams southern economic hub into a smart city in the 2017-2020 period with a vision toward 2025. In 2017, the southern metropolis began implementing a plan to transform itself into a smart city by 2020. The goal of this ambitious plan is to use scientific advances to resolve the problems the city faces, including a rapid population spurt, unsustainable economic growth, inadequate forecasting, planning and management, poor healthcare, education and transport, pollution, and inefficient public administration. The plan will focus on creating a better living environment for the citys residents. HCMC, home to 13 million, has been facing heavy congestion and frequent flooding for years. The Markets Shares rise, cyber attack interrupts trading New Zealand shares edged higher in a highly compressed trading session after a second cyber attack in as many days caused trading to be halted for more than three hours. Wednesday, August 26th 2020, 6:06PM by BusinessDesk The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 38.33 points, or 0.3 percent, to 12,031.51. Within the index, 29 stocks rose, 16 fell and five were unchanged. Turnover was strong, at $218.8 million, despite the short session. The benchmark index opened weaker, but trading was paused after the distributed denial of service attack that took down the exchange yesterday was repeated. The exchange operator halted trading at 11:24am and didnt resume trading until 3:00pm. Shane Solly, a director at Harbour Asset Management, said the halt was more of an interruption than a disruption. The exchange has done a good job to get back online, he said. And the market has acted quickly to get volume through. Price discovery had been unaffected by the shutdown, but brokers were scrambling to get all their transactions done in the shorter trading period. The pressure is on the brokers who are really earning their money today, Solly said. Investors took the downtime to digest some earnings results and the market closed higher after a frantic two hours of afternoon trading. Napier Port Holdings led the market gains, rising 3.7 percent to $3.67. Solly said the port was clawing its way back up after a good update yesterday. It has added 20 cents to it share price since reporting. Meridian Energy rose 1.6 percent to $5.20 after it reported a 2 percent increase in full-year operations. The electricity generator also deferred construction of its proposed Harapaki wind farm north of Napier citing reduced demand from the expected closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. Spark New Zealand dropped 3.6 percent to $4.85 after it forecast a weaker future dividend than it is paying this year. During its 2020 financial year, net profit rose to $427 million and revenue lifted 2.5 percent to $3.62 billion but the firm is forecasting more impacts from covid-19 in the 2021 financial year. Metlifecare reported a slight fall in underlying annual net profit but a $74.8 million drop in the value of its retirement villages flowed through to a $33.7 million net loss. Its shares fell 0.2 percent to $5.92 widening the gap between the $6 per share scheme of arrangement. Agribusiness group Scales Corporation said it had weathered the global pandemic in the first half but remains fairly downbeat about the full year. Its share price dropped 1.4 percent to $4.88. Pushpay Holdings dropped 2.8 percent to $8.43 after some investors were surprised by the company chief executive selling down his stake yesterday. Contact Energy fell 2.9 percent to $6.27 after the stock shed its dividend. The NZ dollar paused its downward slide, with ASB economist Mike Jones saying given the kiwi had dropped 4 cents in the last month he was expecting the decline to slow. The kiwi dollar was trading at 65.50 US cents at 5pm in Wellington, up from 65.24 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index was at 70.83 at 5pm, down from 70.63 yesterday. The kiwi traded at 91.04 Australian cents from 90.98 cents, 69.69 yen from 69.14, 55.44 euro cents from 55.24 cents, 49.86 British pence from 49.79 pence, and 4.5216 Chinese yuan from 4.5081 yuan. Special Offers Comments from our readers No comments yet Sign In to add your comment Three Men Charged With Felonies for Yucaipa Protest Three men involved in the Aug. 1 protest in Yucaipa, California, have been charged with felonies related to the event, including one charge of assaulting a police officer, the San Bernardino District Attorneys Office has reported. The three were in a vehicle that allegedly drove erratically during the protest, nearly striking a peace officer. When the vehicle was stopped, police said they found weapons in the car. The driver of the vehicle, Andres Ballesteros Medina, 41, of Rialto, was charged with felony assault on a police officer and possession of a dangerous weapon, according to a District Attorneys Office report posted online Aug. 19. Medina and the vehicles passengers, Michael Anthony Nunez, 33, of San Bernardino, and Gilbert Lee Nunez, 37, were all charged with possession of a leaded cane or batonmore commonly known as a billy club or blackjack. Medina pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 4. If convicted, he could face up to five years in state prison for the alleged attack. After reviewing the case, the DAs Office opted to charge Michael Nunez and Gilbert Nunez on a single felony count of possession of a billy club. They have not yet entered pleas. If found guilty on the billy club charge, the suspects could face a year in county jail. Billed as a peaceful protest in support of Black Lives Matter, the Aug. 1 rally quickly descended into chaos after protesters illegally blocked traffic. The Yucaipa Police Department estimated the crowd at 280 people, including residents, protesters, and counter protesters. The protesters began driving west on Yucaipa [Boulevard] and then a number of them illegally blocked traffic and began walking east in the middle of the road, the Yucaipa Police Department stated in an Aug. 2 media release. When the protest became volatile, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department declared the protest an unlawful assembly. The three suspects were allegedly in a car that drove recklessly through the closed roadway and yelled profanities toward the crowd of residents. While attempting to stop and detain the subjects, Sheriffs personnel were nearly struck by Medina who was driving the vehicle erratically, the media release stated. In an attempt to escape, Michael Nunez ran from the car, but was arrested by deputies. Medina and Gilbert Nunez fled the scene in the vehicle but were apprehended blocks from the incident. Several hammers, makeshift weapons, and 2-way radios were located in the vehicle. Another man, Tobias Walnofer, 25, of Redlands, was charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly failing to disperse at an unlawful assembly. Other participants in the protest that were arrested have not yet been officially charged. Mike Bires, public affairs officer for the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office, told The Epoch Times via email that some of the latter cases are still under review or have not been submitted to our office as of today [Aug. 20]. Whether or not all those arrested will be prosecuted depends on the totality of the case (statements, police reports, evidence, etc.) presented to the deputy district attorney review filings, Bires wrote. The protesters would not face charges if there was a lack of sufficient evidence, he added. Silvia Anguiano, 34, of North Hills was arrested after allegedly driving in a dangerous manner. Police said she drove her vehicle in circles with her juvenile son in the car and stopped sideways while she yelled at counter protesters several times, placing her child in the middle of a potential riot. Also arrested for failing to disperse were Daniel Garris, 35, of Yucaipa; Mayra Grajeda, 27, of Banning; Crystal Duarte, 25, of San Bernardino; and an unnamed 15-year-old male minor from North Hills. All suspects were booked at the West Valley Detention Facility and then released from custody. " " Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament on Aug. 24, 2020, in Wellington, New Zealand. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images On March 16, 2020 days and weeks before many parts of the world put plans in place to deal with the coronavirus pandemic New Zealandbegan to shut down. Nearly everyone who entered the country (including residents who'd been traveling) was mandated to self-isolate on arrival. Just a week later, the entire country shut down, closing its borders to almost all non-citizens or residents. The leader behind those decisions, which many now say allowed New Zealand to effectively "squash" the COVID-19 curve, was prime minister Jacinda Ardern. This wasn't the first time Ardern had been praised for swift, strict action. In 2019, New Zealand passed a gun reform law that banned most semi-automatic firearms; parts that convert firearms into semi-automatics; magazines over a certain capacity and some shotguns. The decision came just a month after a mass shooting in Christchurch that killed 51 people. And two years before that, the Guardian announced that "Jacindamania" had gripped the country as New Zealanders donned T-shirts and tote bags declaring their love for the newly elected leader. "Ardern is our third woman prime minister, but I think what sets her apart is her commitment to 'leading with kindness' and her refusal to fit into male-dominated ideals of what a leader should be like," journalist Michelle Duff, author of the upcoming book, "Jacinda Ardern: The Story Behind an Extraordinary Leader," writes via email. "The qualities she represents inclusivity, togetherness, empathy are sorely needed in the world right now, and that's also what has made her stand out internationally. These aren't inherently feminine traits, but we haven't traditionally seen them harnessed by male leaders." But who is Ardern and how did she achieve success as New Zealand's 40th prime minister? Advertisement A Biographical Sketch of Jacinda Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and spent her early years in Murupara, a place where she said she commonly saw "children without shoes on their feet or anything to eat for lunch." "Ardern grew up in a poverty-stricken small town where her dad was the local cop," Duff says. "She's long had a strong sense of social justice, born from viewing inequality firsthand." After attending Morrinsville College and graduating from the University of Waikato, in the northern part of the Waikato region on the North Island, with a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Politics and Public Relations, Ardern worked in a variety of roles: first as an adviser in the office of then-Prime Minister Helen Clark, then in London for the Government Cabinet Office. She later worked as an assistant director in the department for business and enterprise and on a review of policing in England and Wales. At just 18 years old, Ardern joined New Zealand's center-left Labour Party and in 2008, after years abroad working in countries like Algeria, China, India and Lebanon, she was chosen as Labour's candidate for MP (Member of Parliament) of the Waikato district. Historically, the seat hadn't been attainable for the Labour Party, but although Ardern lost the position by about 13,000 votes, she entered parliament as a list candidate (one who is elected from a party list rather than from a geographical constituency, elected because of the number of votes that their party won, not to votes received by the MP personally). By the time she was 28, she was the youngest member of the House of Representatives and was appointed to the Regulations Review and the Justice and Electoral select committees shortly thereafter. " " Ardern speaks at the Labour Party 2020 election campaign launch on Aug. 8, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Hannah Peters/Getty Images Advertisement New Zealand's Youngest Prime Minister in 150 Years After 11 years as a Labour Party representative, Ardern became the MP for the Auckland electorate Mt. Albert in early 2017. In August of that year, when Labour's deputy leader, Annette King, announced her resignation, Ardern was unanimously elected as her replacement, and when Labour leader Andrew Little resigned less than two months before the election, Ardern was subsequently elected as the youngest-ever leader of New Zealand's Labour Party, the country's youngest prime minister in 150 years, and its youngest female PM, ever. However, her victory didn't make her an instantly beloved leader, and many are still waiting to see how she navigates some of the country's toughest issues. "It would be wrong to say Ardern is roundly supported by all New Zealanders," Duff says. "While she led her party to election victory in 2017, she didn't win the popular vote. Many of the problems she pledged to solve are still there we still have a housing crisis, rising homelessness and child poverty. It remains to be seen if she can tackle those in any meaningful way." Many have, however, praised Arden's leadership since her 2017 victory, and her roles as a feminist and mother have played important parts in her legacy. During an interview regarding whether employers had the right to know whether prospective female employees planned on taking time off from work to have children, Ardern said, "I decided to talk about it, it was my choice ... but for other women it is totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace. It is the woman's decision about when they choose to have children. It should not predetermine whether or not they are given a job or have job opportunities." When she and her partner, Clarke Gayford, brought their baby to New York City for a United Nations meeting, Ardern said, "I don't want to ever give the impression that I'm some kind of wonder woman or that women should be expected to do everything because I am. I'm not doing everything." "Her accomplishments are impressive regardless of your politics," Duff says. "She precipitated a change of government, is the second world leader to have a baby while in office, and we've now seen the effectiveness of her empathetic leadership style through the March 15 terrorist attack in Christchurch, the Whakaari/White Island eruption which claimed 21 lives, and now a global pandemic." Many credit Ardern's quick, decisive response to the coronavirus pandemic for New Zealand's relatively low number of deaths. "Her government's decision to swiftly place the country into lockdown in March and close the borders was supported by around 80 percent of the population, which shows the trusted position she holds," Duff says. "It's going to be harder for her to maintain this trust now that Auckland is in a second lockdown, after a second wave of the virus. And with an election approaching in October, opposition parties are poking holes in the government's border control and testing efforts, which have been poor in places." As Ardern continues to build a lasting reputation, Duff says it's important to remember that while the prime minister's successes have been impressive, her kind and thoughtful leadership shouldn't set an impossible political standard. "I often hear people say they wish they had Ardern as a prime minister," Duff says. "Yes, she is good at her job. But I wish people would stop acting like she's some kind of anomaly. Every country has their own Ardern, they just have to elect her." Now That's Interesting Ardern's first job was at a Morrinsville fish and chip shop called the Golden Kiwi. She left that gig in 1999 to work full time for the New Zealand Labour Party in the general election. Crews remove the letters spelling Troy H. Middleton Library on the front of the LSU campus building hours after an LSU Board of Supervisors committee approved a motion that will remove the name from the university's main library, June 2020. Donald Trump announced in a tweet on Tuesday that he will nominate acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to be the permanent head of the agency, a move that has been met with criticism. I am pleased to inform the American Public that Acting Secretary Chad Wolf will be nominated to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. Chad has done an outstanding job and we greatly appreciate his service!, Mr Trump tweeted. Mr Wolf has been the acting Homeland Security secretary since November 2019, taking over the position from Secretary Kevin McAleenan. The last Senate-confirmed Homeland Security secretary was Secretary Kirstjen Nielsenm, who resigned in April 2019. Mr Trumps announcement on Tuesday was a controversial one because the Government Accountability Office (GOA) found last month that Mr Wolf and his acting deputy Ken Cuccinelli are ineligible to serve in their positions. Their ineligibility comes as the Trump administration has failed to follow federal law dictating how specific leadership positions within the government must be filled. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dismissed the GOAs finding, calling them baseless and baffling. I am honoured to be nominated by President Trump to lead the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security in safeguarding the American people, Me Wolf said in a statement. As the Homeland faces evolving threats from natural disasters, violent opportunists, malign cyber actors, and transnational criminal organisations, the mission of DHS is as critical as ever. The DHS has had trouble getting positions filled during the Trump administration. As of right now, 19 positions on DHS website are either vacant or filled by acting officials. Mr Trump has leaned on using acting officials to carry out his administrations agenda in what seems to be an effort to avoid going through the Senate confirmation process. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat of New York, called Mr Wolfs appointment an awful choice in a tweet when sharing the presidents announcement. Given his past actions, hed be an awful choice, Mr Schumer wrote. DHS has had a tumultuous past couple of months dealing with the protests that have spread across the US in the wake of the deaths of black Americans like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police officers. Riots in Portland sparked Mr Wolf and the DHS to send federal agents to the city in an effort to protect federal buildings like the courthouse. But the deployment of federal agents appeared to heighten unrest with residents instead of quelling protests. Democrats have also accused the agency of using forceful tactics against demonstrators in Democratic-run cities, all while Mr Trump has boasted himself as a law and order president. The announcement to appoint Mr Wolf as the permanent DHS secretary means that the president will have to send his appointee to the Senate for a nomination hearing. When that hearing would be held remains uncertain as the Senate is on recess until after Labour Day. (Natural News) For years, vice presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has been an outspoken opponent of private health insurance, suggesting on multiple occasions in the past that she would like to see it completely abolished. But now that she is aiming for the second-highest office in the land, Kamala is trying to lie her way straight to the White House with claims that she does not want to eliminate private health insurance. During a recent softball interview with ABC News David Muir, Kamala claimed that, no, she does not want to eliminate private healthcare. She even went so far as to falsely claim that she has never opposed private healthcare, despite being on record as wanting to eliminate it. And, in fact, that my plan, when I was running, was that we would not eliminate private insurance, Kamala told Muir, adding that, And Joe and I, before being cut off by Muir who asked Kamala point-blank: Even though you signed on for Medicare for All? to which Kamala responded with what Zero Hedge describes as a whiplash-inducing pivot. I signed on to that. I signed on to a number of bills that were about great ideas to fix the problem, Kamala is quoted as saying. I want to fix the problem. And Joe has a plan to fix the problem, and Im fully supportive of it. I ask you this because you have pressure from the Left, you have pressure from the center, youre trying to appeal to Republicans, and so on sort of the evolution on the issues when you talk about health care that you see eye to eye do you see a day where private insurance would go away as you once proposed? Muir further asked, to which Kamala responded simply with: No. You can watch the interview segment on Twitter. Kamala Harris publicly announced support for Bernie Sanders single-payer health bill back in 2017 How Kamala can claim that she never opposed private health insurance is mind-boggling in light of the fact that she publicly announced back in 2017 that she would co-sponsor a single-payer healthcare bill proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders. The underlying intent of Bernies Medicare for All proposal was to abolish private health insurance, it turns out, and everyone who was paying attention at the time is fully aware of this. There were concerns, as you may recall, about the economic impact of eliminating private healthcare, which employs at least half a million people and currently covers some 250 million Americans a majority of them. Roughly one trillion dollars in revenue is also created from private health insurance. Besides Kamala, Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York also signed on to Bernies Medicare for All bill, as did Elizabeth Pocahontas Warren. The concept, in broad strokes, appeals to many Democratic voters, The New York Times reported back in 2019. But overall support diminishes by a third or more when people are told that the plan would involve eliminating private insurance, raising taxes, or requiring waits to obtain medical care, according to surveys from the Kaiser Family Foundation. During a debate that took place that same year, Kamala also raised her hand when the question was asked, Who here would abolish [employer-provided] health insurance in favor of a government-run plan? Kamala Harris wants to end private health insurance, a new Democratic litmus test, NBC News reported immediately following this debate. In Kamalas own words, the only way for everyone to get access to medical care is to eliminate private insurance, or what she described as having to go through the process of going through an insurance company, having them give you approval, going through the paperwork, all of the delay that may require. Lets eliminate all of that. Lets move on. To keep up with the latest news about Kamala Harris, be sure to check out Deception.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Twitter.com The agency is facing a staggering $16.2 billion deficit through 2024, after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out its operating revenue which comes from fares, tolls and subsidies virtually overnight. Ridership on the subway, which plummeted by 90 percent in April, has only reached a quarter of usual levels, even as more and more New Yorkers return to work. The state-run transit agency has requested $12 billion in aid to cover its operating losses through 2021. But after negotiations over the next stimulus package stalled this month, immediate federal support did not appear to be forthcoming. The future of the M.T.A. and the future of the New York region lies squarely in the hands of the federal government, the authoritys chairman, Patrick J. Foye, said on Wednesday. Without this additional federal funding, we will be forced to take draconian measures, the impact of which will be felt across the system and the region for decades to come. The plan, which transit officials have said the agency would not enact before next year, is the first detailed depiction of what the sprawling public transportation network and backbone of the New York regions economy could look like in the wake of the pandemic and the current financial crisis. Hallmark infrastructure projects, like extending the Second Avenue Subway into Harlem and connecting commuter trains to Manhattans west side at Pennsylvania Station, would be paused indefinitely. Purchasing a new fleet of electric buses and new subway cars, as well as adding elevators to stations to make them more accessible, would also be indefinitely delayed. When armed men attacked her village in Naweneangwa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Marie Moses motherly instincts screamed: "Go! Get your children to safety!" The heavily pregnant mother of five could not wait for her husband to return from the fields. She simply gathered up their children and ran into the bush with dozens of her neighbours. In a desperate trek to reach safety in neighbouring South Sudan, Marie was horrified to realise that only four of her children were accounted for. Where was 11-year-old Mborikino? She searched frantically for her son but he was nowhere in sight. Frantic to get her other children including her unborn child to safety, she took the agonizing decision to press on. Exhausted and hungry, the family reached a remote part of Yambio County in South Sudans Western Equatoria State, five days later with nearly 200 other refugees. "Go! Get your children to safety!" Staff from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and other partners received and assisted the new arrivals. When a UNHCR staffer asked Marie how many children she had, fearing he was dead, she thought of Mborikino with great sadness. Four and one on the way, she said, looking down at her stomach. Days later, Marie gave birth to a healthy baby boy, in quarantine. Although grateful for her safe delivery, her mind was still on her missing son was he simply lost or would her worst fear be confirmed? Like Marie, expectant mom Suzana Mbogoregu, 34, also had to flee. Her husband Fidele was attending a burial when armed militias attacked their village. At eight months pregnant she knew she had to save herself and her unborn child. After making the long trek to South Sudan, Suzana gave birth to her baby girl in quarantine, just days after her arrival. She is also grateful for a healthy baby, but the birth is bittersweet without her husband. Still, she does not regret her decision to flee. I dont want to go back. We are safer here, she said, adding that she has since heard from other new arrivals that her husband is safe. South Sudan closed its borders in late March as a precaution against COVID-19, but has nevertheless continued to welcome people fleeing conflict. Since January, over 2,100 refugees have streamed in from Sudan, the DRC and the Central African Republic, majority of them women and children. All arrivals are immediately placed under quarantine for 14 days, under the national COVID-19 guidelines. Im glad I made the decision to save the children, After the quarantine period, Marie and other refugees prepared to be moved from the quarantine facility to Makpandu refugee camp, which hosts nearly 5,000 refugees. On the day of the relocation, Marie spotted a familiar face in the crowd her son, Mborikino. Mborikino told his mother how he lost sight of her in the chaos of flight. Realizing that he was separated from his family, he hid in the bush with neighbours for four days with no food or shelter, later drifting between groups of fleeing villagers. Along the way, he learned his mother and siblings were alive and in South Sudan and pleaded with some adults to help him across the border and find them. Im glad I made the decision to save the children, said Marie, as a wave of relief washed over her. At least we are safe here. Nur Issak Kassim, UNHCRs Head of Office in Yambio highlighted South Sudans generosity in letting in refugees, at a time when the country is grappling with its own displacement crisis nearly 1.7 million South Sudanese are internally displaced and the COVID-19 pandemic. At this very critical time, when someone reaches out for help, it is even more essential to go the extra mile without hesitation, said Kassim. This is exactly what South Sudan has been doing, by allowing refugees to find protection in this country. It is the right thing to do. Kassim added that in keeping its borders open, South Sudan has ensured that UNHCR and other aid agencies can continue to deliver crucial assistance to the forcibly displaced. ...what South Sudan has been doing, by allowing refugees in this country. It is the right thing to do. We welcomed the birth of the babies in quarantine and the fact that their mothers could bring new life into a safe environment, he added. Is there a better symbol of hope in overcoming todays challenges? So far, South Sudan has confirmed more than 2,400 COVID-19 cases. To mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus, UNHCR, the government and health partner World Vision International are working to keep refugees and their host communities safe. Our experience with Ebola in the DRC and South Sudan has prepared us to respond to this influx as precautionary measures against these diseases are similar, explained Chan Gatluak Deng, the Health and Nutrition Coordinator for World Vision International. Health workers have been provided with full personal protective equipment and have been trained to ensure that all guidelines and precautionary measures are observed both at the border, and in the camps where arrivals are relocated. This includes temperature checks and monitoring the nutrition and general health of children in quarantine and once moved to the camps. In Makpandu, Marie and Suzane are slowly adjusting to their new lives. They have their own shelters and their children are healthy. The two mothers are hopeful that they will have a chance at a better future. I do miss home because life was good before the attack, Marie said. I worry about clothes for myself and my children and I hope I can get land to cultivate so that I can make some money to take care of them. Additional reporting by Catherine Wachiaya in Nairobi, Kenya. By Eli Walsh Bay City News Foundation The state of California has secured a contract with a Massachusetts-based company to more than double COVID-19 coronavirus testing capacity, shorten result turnaround times and lower testing costs, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. The agreement with the diagnostics company PerkinElmer will add the capacity to process 150,000 coronavirus tests per day to the state's current testing average of about 100,000 tests per day. The contract also includes a requirement to process and disperse test results in 24 to 48 hours. "Once you get past a few days, those test results lose their resonance," Newsom said. The increased testing capacity will not only help the state track the virus' spread at a more granular level but also help public health officials make more efficient reopening decisions for both businesses and schools, according to Newsom. "If we're going to sustainably reopen, we have to have the testing capacity," Newsom said. "We have to have the results in a much more efficient period of time, allowing us to make decisions on contact tracing, isolation, quarantine and the like." Coronavirus tests currently cost between $150 and $200, only about $100 of which can be reimbursed through Medicare and Medicaid, according to Newsom. Under the new agreement, as testing capacity increases, the cost per test will decrease, ultimately falling to $30.78 per test when the PerkinElmer lab begins processing 150,000 tests per day. The state has slowly built up its daily testing capacity above 100,000 and had topped an average of 130,000 tests per day before the recent West Coast heat wave and subsequent wildfires slowed that progress. In addition to the coronavirus' potency on its own, state public health officials have expressed their desire to hedge against a coming flu season and prevent two widespread respiratory illnesses in the fall and winter. "As a doctor, I will tell you it's going to be hard to tell the difference," between the flu and the coronavirus, said state Sen. Dr. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento. "Being able to have a test that, at no additional costs, will be able to tell us whether someone has COVID, the flu or both is going to be very important," he said. More than 10.8 million coronavirus tests have been conducted across the state since the pandemic began, according to Newsom, and the state's average daily positivity rate over the last 14 days has declined to 6.1 percent. In addition, the seven-day average daily positivity rate remains under 6 percent at 5.8 percent, Newsom said. Hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions have fallen by 17 and 18 percent, respectively, over the last 14 days. Newsom expressed cautious optimism about the decline in the state's positive case rate but cautioned against people letting their guard down. "The pandemic is still among us," Newsom said. "It's nice to see that growth rate begin to decline, but (there is) growth nonetheless in terms of positive cases coming in every day." 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. A branch of Access Bank at Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos has been gutted by fire. Part of the banks building was gutted by fire after a petrol tanker exploded near it. The Federal Fire Service who have also confirmed the incident tweeted; Our men are on the ground, trying to combat the inferno. Thanks for notifying us. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The Yale law professor husband of the woman who coined the phrase Tiger Mom has been suspended over allegations of sexual harassment. Jed Rubenfield, who is married to author Amy Chua, denies the claims. He has been accused of verbal sexual harassment, unwanted touching and attempting to kiss several students over a period of several decades, according to New York Magazine. The alleged incidents happened both in the school and in his home where he had parties, it is claimed. Rubenfield has been suspended for two years. He claims the allegations are false and that he was targeted because of his controversial comments in the past about Title IX rules, which he previously said could make someone incorrectly think they have been the victim of sexual assault. Jed Rubenfield, who is married to author Amy Chua, has been suspended over claims he sexually harassed students at Yale over several decades According to the claims, there was a whisper network about Rubenfield on the campus for years. One unnamed woman claimed she'd been warned by a male alumni: 'Youve not scraped the bottom of the barrel when it comes to Rubenfelds behavior. Stay away.' No other details about the alleged incidents have emerged. Rubenfield, 61, denied the claims wholeheartedly. 'I absolutely, unequivocally, 100 percent deny that I ever sexually harassed anyone, whether verbally or otherwise. 'Yes, Ive said stupid things that I regret over the course of my 30 years as professor, and no professor whos taught as long as I have that I know doesnt have things that they regret that they said,' he told NYMag. The couple with their daughters in 2011 at the launch of her controversial book, The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother He went on to say that his previous remarks about Title IX rules - which shape sexual harassment and assault complaints on college campuses - are what led to the allegations. 'Ironically, I have written about the unreliability of the campus Title IX procedures. I never expected to go through one of them myself. 'I think subsequent to me having written some controversial articles about sexual assault, that I became a target of people making false allegations against me,' he said, adding that he did not know who had made the claims. Rubenfield denies the claims Rubenfield and his wife have two daughters, one of whom clerked for Brett Kavanaugh. Chua, the author of The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, also wrote an op-ed before sexual assault allegations emerged against Kavanaugh, describing him as a 'mentor for young lawyers, particularly women.' The pair were both previously accused of telling young law students how to dress if clerking for him. Chua was also accused of telling young students that Kavanaugh preferred attractive clerks. He denied the claims. She has not commented on her husband's suspension. Chua's book sparked controversy when it was released in 2011. In it, she explains why she raised her daughters in a 'Chinese' way rather than in the style of Western mothers. Her harsh parenting tips include 'nothing is fun until you're good at it' and 'every day that you don't practice is a day you're getting worse.' In 2014, she caused uproar with another book that claims certain ethnic groups 'drastically outperform' others in America. Photos and videos of a functional Banco del Bienestar branch seemingly located in the middle of nowhere have been getting a lot of attention on Mexican social media this week. Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was one of the very first people to get blamed for wasting government money on useless buildings after the photos and videos of a Banco del Bienestar branch located a long way from any human settlement, somewhere in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The building was used to mock Obradors Fourth Transformation of Mexico initiative, but a representative of the bank was quick to explain that although bizarre, the location of the branch actually makes sense. Mario Saldana, a representative of Banco del Bienestar, told RID Noticias that initially the new branch was supposed to be built in a more central area of Nuevo Casas Grandes, a small municipality in Chihuahua, but Mayor Hector Mario Galaz refused to provide a plot of land for construction, so the bank had no choice but to accept a piece of land donated by the Mexican Army. The bank representative added that if they did not act fast, they would have had to wait for the third or fourth stage of the Fourth Transformation project, which meant that people in the Nuevo Casas Grandes area would not have had access to a bank for their everyday needs until next year at the earliest. Apparently, most of the beneficiaries of the social programs carried out through the Banco del Bienestar only need about 20 minutes to reach the unique branch, despite it being located a long way from town. The building and the parking lot in front of it were completed this summer, but the branch is not yet operational, because the furniture, computers and other equipment are missing. However, Mario Saldana said that he expects to be fully operational by the beginning of October. Although the current location of the Banco del Bienestar was not the first option, the bank representative assured reporters that the route will be viable for beneficiaries who do not have their own cars, because public transport drops them off 100 meters from the branch. The Banco del Bienestar was founded in July 2019, after the intention of President Lopez Obrador to replace the Banco del Ahorro Nacional y Servicios Financieros. Fans of Chipotle Mexican Grill dont just like their food fast, theyre fast when it comes to online contests, according to USA Today. The restaurant chain launched a Chipotle IQ trivia contest on Wednesday with a buy one get one free food prize was given for the first 250,000 correctly answering all 10 questions. Chipotle released the trivia contest at approximately 8 a.m., and had its winners by lunchtime. While theres no longer prizes to be had, you can still have fun and take the test. The IQ test site now states There were 250k Chipotle brainiacs who came before you, so unfortunately were fresh out of BOGO prizes. But, if you want to have some fun and learn a little more about Chipotle, the test is all yours, you genius you. After you test your knowledge about Chipotle, go to the bottom of Chipotles main page and check out its new line of apparel and accessories. Profits from the Chipotle Goods collection support organizations that make apparel and farming more sustainable. Some items of note are: Custom design T-shirt -- customize your shirt the way you do your Chipotle -- with your favorite food order. Button-up shirt with red Chipotle peppers all over it. Jean jacket the lining is lined with cute little avocados. Chipotle pepper logo PopSocket. Phone cases variety of designs. Chipotle is launching a clothing line called Chipotle Goods that features apparel and accessories made of organic cotton that's dyed using upcycled avocado pits from the chain's restaurants. via @marketingdive https://t.co/hCtR0i3Rt7 The Cyphers Agency (@CyphersAgency) August 6, 2020 Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Read more: DES MOINES -- Gov. Kim Reynolds announced plans Tuesday to channel about $100 million of federal CARES Act relief funds for a range of agricultural programs to offset the impact of COVID-19 on farmers, producers and agricultural industries. Money from Iowas $1.2 billion share of the $2 trillion federal stimulus package approved earlier this year will go to farm sectors hurt by the coronavirus pandemic that first hit Iowa in early March, the governor said. Under the plan: $60 million will go to an Iowa livestock producer relief fund Up to $9 million for an Iowa disposal assistance program $15.5 million for a state biofuel grant program $7 million for a renewable fuel retail recovery program $6 million to the Iowa beginning farmer debt relief fund $2 million for the meat processing development and expansion program $500,000 to help finance a farm produce and protein program. This has been a tough year for the agriculture community, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said. The programs funded by the CARES Act will help our farmers, renewable fuels retailers and producers, and small meat processors respond to market disruptions and continue on the road to recovery. Iowa exported more than $16 billion in manufactured goods and agricultural products to 199 countries last year, so the critical assistance announced Tuesday will help support and maintain Iowas place in the world market, according to Debi Durham, executive director of the state Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority. Iowa is at the foundation of our global food supply chain and the epicenter of the renewable fuels industry, Reynolds said in a statement. COVID-19 and a devastating derecho dealt a major blow to everything from the demand for ethanol to the supply of meat on grocery store shelves. But just as important are the livelihoods of thousands of Iowa farm families, agricultural industries and the communities they support. Todays investment, Reynolds said, reflects the critical role Iowas ag industry has in our states overall economic recovery. According to the governors office, by using the IEDAs existing small-business relief program infrastructure, the $60 million livestock producer relief fund will provide grants of up to $10,000 to eligible producers of pork, beef, chicken, turkeys, dairy, fish or sheep to serve as working capital to stabilize livestock producers. In addition, the state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is in charge of an Iowa disposal assistance program initiated in May to help livestock producers recoup expenses incurred when they were forced to euthanize and dispose of livestock due to lack of market access caused by the COVID-19 disruption of the meat supply chain, The two state agencies also will work in concert on the biofuel and renewable fuel programs with $15.5 million provided for biofuels producers who were excluded from receiving aid under other parts of the CARES Act. The new program will provide relief to those Iowa ethanol and biodiesel producers based on gallons produced, with grants awarded through IEDAs existing small-business relief program that will be capped at a maximum of $750,000 per producer. The state ag agency already administers the renewable fuel retail recovery program and the added $7 million will go to help expand retail fueling infrastructure for higher blend renewable fuels including E15 or higher and B11 blend or higher. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said fuel demand was badly hurt when pandemic hit this country and most Americans opted to stay home as much as possible as a safety precaution and, in some states, under government directive. Shaw said Tuesdays announced funding is a much-needed lifeline for Iowas renewable fuel producers and makes Iowa the first state in the nation to provide direct aid to the biofuels sector. At its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the idling of roughly 50 percent of Iowas biofuels production capacity, Shaw said in a statement. Even today, fuel use has not returned to normal and biofuels producers are struggling to simply break even. According to the governors office, the $6 million in CARES Act money going toward debt relief will help eligible beginning farmers with a long-term debt service payment of up to $10,000 paid directly to their lender. Another $2 million will aid small meat processors to expand processing capacity across the state to meet protein demand. A separate $500,000 will help specialty ag producers in Iowa as well as the schools that purchase them. In addition to supporting local growers of fruits and vegetables to expand their capacity, it provides grants to schools that buy produce and other local crops and protein sources. Producers can apply for IEDA-administered programs at iowabusinessrecovery.com beginning Aug. 31. They also can apply for IDALS-administered programs at iowaagriculture.gov/grants immediately. WASHINGTON The Trump administration sought on Tuesday to test the waters to determine if it can persuade other Arab and Muslim countries to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel after a breakthrough agreement by the United Arab Emirates to open normal ties. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Sudan and Bahrain, two of the administrations top prospects for bringing Israel together with more of its neighbors in a region where it has faced generations of hostility. But American officials cautioned that the situation remained fluid and no one should expect overnight agreements. To maintain a sense of momentum, President Trump is sending a delegation to Israel next week to accompany high-level Israeli officials on the first direct commercial flight between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, probably on an El Al carrier with its traditional Star of David on the tail. The delegations will seek to forge cooperation in the aviation, security, health and banking sectors, among others, in accordance with the agreement that the two nations announced two weeks ago. This is a historic agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said in a statement. It will bring engines of growth. It can help bring about an economic flourishing in general and during the corona era in particular. I hope that other countries in our region will join the cycle of peace. NEET, JEE 2020: Govt must listen to students, find amicable solution, says Rahul India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 26: Batting for the students taking the NEET-JEE exams, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the central government to listen to their grievances and find an amicable solution. The students have been demanding postponement of the medical and engineering entrance exams in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Gandhi said the NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future due to concerns about coronavirus infection and floods in Assam and Bihar. "NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future. They have genuine concerns of: fear of Covid19 infection, transport and lodging during pandemic and flood-mayhem in Assam and Bihar," he said on Twitter. I warned you before: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over RBI report "GOI must listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution," he said. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News The former Congress president also dubbed the Modi government as "anti-students" and used a hashtag in this regard. (Natural News) People who wear face masks are more likely to flout social distancing rules because they feel more comfortable sitting or standing close to others, suggests a new study. In their report, a team of behavioral scientists from the Warwick Business School in England noted that people wearing face masks tend to keep a smaller distance from others wearing face coverings. In addition, this behavior was seen among those who believe that face coverings can effectively prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The studys findings hint at a classic case of risk compensation, explained lead author Ashley Luckman. Risk compensation, in behavioral science, suggests that people adjust their behavior in response to their perceived level of risk. Wearing masks brings down the overall risk of spreading COVID-19, so people feel safer and are more willing to take other risks, such as decreasing the physical distance between them and others, explained Luckman, adding that governments should set forth clear guidelines for social distancing, even when wearing masks. Masks are not an alternative to social distancing, she added. The team showed 800 people in the U.K. pictures of people sitting, standing or walking. The researchers then asked the participants whether they would be willing to stand close to the person in the picture. The photos included indoor and outdoor settings, as well as two people, with either one or both wearing masks. (Related: Walmart to require all shoppers to wear face masks.) The findings revealed that people were more likely to tolerate being closer to others if either they or the other person was wearing a mask. In particular, people wearing a mask reported being comfortable standing 1.8 meters from others. However, they reported wanted a gap larger than two meters apart without a face covering. Those who believed that masks prevented them from catching COVID-19 were the most willing to stand closer to other mask-wearing people. However, people who believe they fall under the at-risk population were more likely to stand further from others. Findings relevant to social distancing guidelines The groups findings contracted an earlier study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which indicated that people wearing face coverings were 13 times more likely to follow social distancing measures. In the study, the researchers proffered that wearing masks is seen as a social contract that people comply and that it signals prosocial concerns. For Daniel Read, a behavioral scientist at Warwick and co-author of the study, more evidence is needed to demonstrate the risks of reducing social distancing measures when mask usage is mandatory. Australia, for instance, is considering relaxing social distancing measures while urging residents to still wear masks. Clearly, the greatest benefit results from using masks to complement social distancing, rather than replacing it, he added. The findings from their study, he added, are particularly relevant for countries that have high mask usage but with relaxed social distancing measures. He further remarked that more stringent distancing measures may be harder to implement in case of a second wave, compared to when people werent using masks at the start of the pandemic. The United Kingdom has a COVID-19 caseload of 329,869 and a death toll of 41,535, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Learn more about social distancing and other rules implemented by countries worldwide to stop the Wuhan coronavirus at Pandemic.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NLPNotes.com OSF.io PNAS.org ABC.net.au The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its guidelines on coronavirus testing, now saying that people who have been exposed to a known case but do not show symptoms don't necessarily need to get tested. The CDC on Monday changed its guidelines, which now say that if you were exposed but don't have symptoms, 'you do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual' or a doctor advises it. Previously, the guidelines read: 'Testing is recommended for all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because of the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, it is important that contacts of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection be quickly identified and tested.' The change comes amid fears that asymptomatic carriers, particularly young people who often show no symptoms, could be driving much of the transmission, leading some experts to fret that the less aggressive testing guidance could allow cases to go undetected. The CDC has changed its guidelines on coronavirus testing, now saying that people who have been exposed to a known case but do not show symptoms don't necessarily need to get tested 'This is potentially dangerous,' Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician in Palo Alto, California, told the New York Times. 'You're not looking for a lot of people who are potential spreaders of disease,' she added. 'I feel like this is going to make things worse.' The CDC guidelines define 'close contact' as spending more than 15 minutes less than six feet away from a person with a COVID-19 infection. 'Not everyone needs to be tested,' the agency's website says. 'If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.' Other guidelines on testing remained unchanged, including recommended regular testing for everyone who works or lives in a nursing home. The CDC did not explain the reason for the change, and referred media inquiries to the Department of Health and Human Services. An HHS spokesperson told the Times: 'The decision to be tested should be one made in collaboration with public health officials or your health care provider based on individual circumstances and the status of community spread.' Critics of President Donald Trump accused the administration of relaxing its guidelines on testing in order to reduce the number of tests conducted, and in turn reduce the number of positive test results. 'This is not science. Its politics. Politics that are dangerous to public health. It's indefensible,' said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a tweet. 'The Trump administration has one COVID strategy: Denial,' the Democrat continued. 'If you dont test people for COVID, there are fewer cases. Now they are forcing the CDC to fall in line with this head-in-the-sand strategy.' Some experts were baffled by the change in guidelines, given that the CDC estimates that 40 percent of cases are asymptomatic, and that 50 percent of transmission occurs before symptoms appear. 'I'm concerned that these recommendations suggest someone who has had substantial exposure to a person with COVID-19 now doesn't need to get tested,' Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, told CNN. 'This is key to contact tracing, especially given that up to 50 percent of all transmission is due to people who do not have symptoms. One wonders why these guidelines were changed - is it to justify continued deficit of testing?' Coronavirus cases across the United States have now declined for the fifth straight week, and the country is now averaging just over 42,000 new COVID-19 infections a day for the first time since late June. The number of infections dropped 17 percent in the week ending August 23 compared to the previous seven days with 35 states reporting a decline in new cases. Eight states reported a week-on-week increase of more than 10 percent, including South Dakota, North Carolina, Mississippi, Illinois, Arkansas, Wyoming, North Dakota and Maine, according to a Reuters tally of state and county reports. The number of infections dropped 17 percent in the week ending August 23 compared to the previous seven days with 35 states reporting a decline in new cases The state that saw the biggest increase in cases last week was South Dakota at 50 percent with 1,000 new infections, according to a Reuters tally of state and county reports. Infections have been rising since the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which drew more than 100,000 people from all over the country from August 7 to 16. At least two dozen COVID-19 cases in South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska have now been linked back to the rally. South Dakota's health department issued several warnings last week saying that three people who spent several hours at bars in Sturgis and a tattoo parlor had tested positive and had potentially exposed others. The state, which now has 11,200 cases, has been experiencing an uptick of COVID-19 infections with cases steadily rising over the last month. At least seven cases in Nebraska's pandhandle region in the state's west have been linked to the rally. Meanwhile, health officials in Minnesota confirmed that 15 residents had tested positive for COVID-19 after being exposed at the rally. ALBANY A coalition of 16 unions representing teachers and school staff in the Capital Region released an open letter Tuesday calling on districts to hold off on in-person learning until early October. The letter, signed by union presidents, cites the failure of the federal government to provide schools with needed funding, looming state aid cuts, and inadequate safety protocols at the school level. Related: Capital Region school reopening live updates The health and safety protocols that our school leadership teams are feverishly working to develop cannot be fully implemented without additional support from the federal and/or state government, union leaders said in the letter. Instruction must resume in September but we need more time before we transition to in-person learning." Teacher unions from large districts in the Capital Region, like Shenendehowa, to some of the smallest, like Oppenheim-Ephratah St. Johnsville , signed the letter. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has said that infection rates are low enough for in-person classes to resume in September. Districts are bracing for a 20 percent reduction in state school aid as federal funds earmarked for schools and localities are held up during a debate in Congress. Schools are also struggling to update their air filtration systems in classrooms to the state's recommended MERV-13 rating and to secure a reliable supply of personal protective equipment. Schools have released extensive reopening documents outlining how teachers, administrators and staff will enforce social distancing, mask wearing and conduct daily health screenings. Most districts are offering full-day classroom instruction for elementary school students while providing a hybrid of online and in-person courses for older grades. All coursework will be offered in online format for students who elect to stay home. Delaying the start of school in New York is not off the table for school board leaders and superintendents in light of reports of school-fueled outbreaks around the country in recent weeks. While the governor has said schools can reopen, he has left it up to individual districts how instruction will be done. Some area schools have announced a plan to delay the first day of school to Sept. 14, frontloading their professional development days in order to train teachers and staff in the new safety requirements. Ballston Spa officials said last week that the district would begin the school year online and delay in-person classed until Oct. 5. "Virtual grade level meetings are taking place, orientations are being planned, Chromebook and materials pick up schedules are being built, and our planning teams continue refining the details of our reopening," Superintendent Ken Slentz wrote in a letter to parents Monday. "So long as we all continue to do our part in managing the virus, I fully expect that I will be able to announce on September 18 that we will in fact be ready to go for in-person learning on October 5." Rochester City Schools announced recently that students would not return to school buildings until November. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Schenectady City School officials at a recent board meeting floated the idea of fully virtual model for all students next year, in part, due to high interest from parents in the remote option. Roughly 60 percent of surveyed families indicated they would choose the remote option for the upcoming academic year. The district is facing numerous logistical challenges, including the fact that some of its buildings are older and many classrooms lack sufficient ventilation to safely hold students in September, said Juliet Benaquisto, of the Schenectady Federation of Teachers. "We realized as union leaders there is just not enough time in the day for us to be ready by Sept. 14," Benaquisto said. "Some of our superintendents feel confident in the reopening plans, but we are saying, 'Can we take a little more time with a virtual start in order be in a better position to guarantee a safer environment for everyone.'" The letter from teachers notes that COVID-19 testing can take well over a week in the Capital Region, and reopening plans currently do not require buildings to shut down if a positive case is identified. "Once able to safely transition to in-person learning we will meet our students where they are academically and developmentally, adjusting instruction as needed so they further grow and thrive," the teachers write. "Thats what we do, but right now their health and safety cant be guaranteed within the halls of our schools. School officials on Tuesday said they moving forward with reopening plans, which they believe prioritize the health and safety of teachers and students. Niskayuna Central School District Spokesman Matt Leon said, "At this time, we are not considering a delay to in-person instruction. ... We continue to improve and refine the plan almost every day, taking into account the work of our community-wide reopening task force and the input received at the recent reopening meetings. We understand that there are concerns and questions and we are continuing to work through them." Mercy Baguma was found dead inside a Glasgow flat. (GoFundMe) An asylum seeker was found dead next to her starving child earlier this month shortly after she lost her job. The body of Mercy Baguma, originally from Uganda and in her thirties, was discovered by police in a flat in Govan, Glasgow on 22 August. She had told friends she was living in extreme poverty and is understood to have lost her job after her limited leave to remain expired and she could not work. Her one-year-old baby was found crying beside her dead body four days after friends last heard from her. The child is now being cared for by his father, who is understood to be an asylum seeker. Mercy Baguma was an asylum seeker from Uganda. (SWNS) A week earlier, on 11 August, Baguma had been in touch with charity Positive Action for Housing, to seek help and would have been deemed high priority for support. She was reportedly relying on the generosity of friends and charities to survive in the weeks leading up to her death. No cause of death has yet been established. Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing said: "Mercy contacted our charity on August 11 and said she was not getting any financial support yet had made an application to MigrantHelp. "Had she lived she would have been a high priority for a crisis payment from our Emergency Relief Fund like hundreds of others left functionally destitute by the asylum system. The question remains, why are mothers and babies being left to go hungry in this city, why is it being left to charities and volunteers to pick up the pieces? Would this mother be alive if she was not forced out of her job by this cruel system that stops you from working and paying your way because a piece of paper says your leave to remain has expired? Death of Asylum Seeking Mother in Glasgow - Mercy Baguma, from Uganda, found dead in her flat in Glasgow by Police on Saturday 22 August 2020 beside her starving baby. See statement & fundraiser here: https://t.co/tGX5KrpTbO We reiterate our demand for a public inquiry. Positive Action in Housing #RebuildingLives (@PositiveActionH) August 25, 2020 "Im sure Mercys son will want to ask this and other questions once he is old enough. Story continues People are literally depressed and the system seems designed to break spirits. "Its a matter of when not if the next tragedy occurs and this reinforces our resolve for a public inquiry. "We demand a public inquiry and Mercys death to be investigated along side Adnan Walid Elbi and the Park Inn tragedy. "We call on the Church of Scotland and all of civic society to support our call for an independent public inquiry. Her death is the third tragedy to have affected the refugee community in Glasgow in the past four months, the charity added. Syrian refugee Adnan Walid Elbi, 30, was found dead in his room at the McLays Guest House on Renfrew Street on 6 May. Then on 26 June, one man was shot dead after stabbing six people including a police officer at the Park Inn hotel. Yahoo News UK has contacted the Refugee Council, Police Scotland and the Home Office for comment. A shooting at a party house on San Ysidro Drive left one person dead and sent another to a hospital early Wednesday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) A shooting at a party house in the upscale Beverly Crest neighborhood left one person dead and sent another to a hospital early Wednesday morning, authorities said. Los Angeles police responded to reports of a shooting in the the 2200 block of San Ysidro Drive about 2:30 a.m. Two people were found with gunshot wounds, one of them fatal, police said. The injured victim was taken to a hospital, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. Additional details were not immediately available Wednesday morning. The shooting took place in front of the home, which had been rented out for a party, according to police. LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said that prior to the gunfire, 25 to 30 people were at the gathering, which was held in a short-term rental home known for parties. The house was rented through a third-party company to gang members, authorities said. Police said the person who died a man in his 40s had a possible gang dispute with another partygoer. The shooter was at the party and starting arguing with the now-deceased man, Aguilar said. He then pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting two men. As LAPD officers drove up the curvy road to the hilltop home after reports of the shooting, they noticed multiple vehicles driving away, Aguilar said. When they arrived, they found the two men who had been shot and a handful of partygoers. Authorities said that because the home was rented through a third-party vendor, the owners may not have been aware of the occupants. The home has hosted prior parties that have brought neighborhood complaints, but the late-night event generated no reports until gunshots echoed through the canyon-top community. A motive in the shooting, beyond the argument, is unclear, police said. The shooting is the latest in a string of house-party altercations. Earlier this month, one woman was killed and four people were injured during a party at a Beverly Crest mansion in the 13200 block of Mulholland Drive. Story continues That party, which took place in defiance of coronavirus-related health orders, was one of a number that have been held in upscale neighborhoods since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced bars, nightclubs and other typical nightlife spots to close. Health officials have warned that such gatherings heighten the risk of transmitting the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. In response, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced he would authorize the city to shut off water and power services at residences where such gatherings are held. Last week, Garcetti ordered the power cut at a swanky residence on Appian Way in the Hollywood Hills that police say held parties in violation of public health orders. In the latest example, a Kentucky man accused of breaking Canadian quarantine rules faces six months in prison, a $569,000 fine or perhaps both. The man, John Pennington, was fined about $900 by the police in late June, after staff members at an Alberta hotel grew suspicious that he was breaking the provinces quarantine rules. The police later charged him with doing just that, after finding him at Sulphur Mountain, a tourist attraction. Though the Canadian border is closed to the United States, a loophole allows Americans to travel to and from Alaska, providing they use a direct route, quarantine at hotels and refrain from visiting national parks, leisure sites or tourist attractions. Separately, a 28-year-old woman in Australia was sentenced to six months in jail on Tuesday after she hid in the back of a truck on a cross-country journey of more than 1,800 miles from the state of Victoria, a virus hot spot, to Western Australia. The police said that she was picked up by her partner at a gas station. Western Australias pandemic rules include a 14-day mandatory quarantine for most travelers in a hotel, and the penalties for breaking them range from prison terms as long as 12 months to as much as $35,000 in fines. The latest outbreak in Victoria, where the state capital, Melbourne, remains under lockdown, has been linked to breaches in a quarantine hotel, but people around the country have been trying to circumvent virus-related restrictions anyway. The police have also issued citations to travelers from hot spots like Sydney for lying on border declaration forms. In July, Mika Salamanca, a social media influencer from the Philippines, was arrested in Honolulu, Hawaii for having broken the states mandatory 14-day quarantine. Ms. Salamanca was apprehended after posting images and videos out with friends within days of her arrival, leading a group of locals to report her to authorities. The GNPC Foundation has donated one hundred and seventy (170) mattresses to the Twin City Special School in Sekondi of the Western Region. The kind gesture was in response to an urgent appeal for support by the school through the Headmistress, Mrs. Crescentia Efua Bilson-Sai, to improve the living conditions of the students. Speaking after a brief ceremony, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr. Dominic Eduah, stated that GNPCs vision is to extend support to as many Ghanaians as possible under its Corporate Social Responsibility CSR) focus. He added that, persons with disability remain a quintessential group of interest to the Foundations activities. Receiving the donation on behalf of the school, the Headmistress, Mrs Bilson-Sai said, The GNPC Foundation has responded with the level of swiftness required to deal with our challenge and we couldnt be more grateful. This will go a long way in our bid to protect our special need students in this COVID-19 era. 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 Chattanooga's Tennessee Aquarium, dealt a blow by the coronavirus, is facing a major deficit and years to dig out from the current fiscal crisis. Spokesman Thom Benson said, "We have done everything to reduce costs, but due to the ongoing nature of this crisis we anticipate ending the year with a deficit of between $6.5 million to $7 million. Therefore it will take the Aquarium years to recover from the extended closure and sharp decline in tourism. "These last five months have been difficult for everyone, but our team has done a remarkable job adjusting operations to focus on health and safety while providing a relaxing experience for our guests. And, while the summer season has not been normal for anyone, it is gratifying to see people enjoying themselves at the Aquarium once again. "Our capacity limits are set low enough to allow our guests to maintain physical distancing within our buildings and our IMAX Theater. As you might expect, limiting attendance while enduring the headwinds caused by the pandemic have caused serious financial hardships for non-profit organizations like the Tennessee Aquarium. "When compared to 2019, attendance at the Aquarium is down more than 60 percent. And attendance at IMAX is down nearly 80 percent when compared to 2019. To some degree, the losses at IMAX have been exacerbated by the longer closure period. The Aquarium and IMAX closed on Saturday, March 14. The Aquarium reopened to the public on June 18 and the IMAX on July 17. "In a normal year, if we attract 745,000 visitors to Chattanooga, we return an overall economic benefit to the community of $115 million. Our annual economic impact also supports nearly 1,300 additional jobs through our operating and capital expenditures, along with the spending of out-of-town visitors. "That's why we have been saying that the Tennessee Aquarium's success, and the city's success goes hand-in-hand. The broad community support the Aquarium has enjoyed over the years has helped create this "rising tide that lifts all boats." And now we need additional support from the community. "People can help the Aquarium in a couple of ways right now: - Visit the Aquarium and IMAX 3D Theater. Admissions helps cover our operations. Becoming Tennessee Aquarium members also goes toward the cost of operations. - Contribute online. Gifts to the Tennessee Aquarium help us expand conservation and education programs. Philanthropic and corporate gifts help us design and build new experiences to keep visitors coming to Chattanooga. - We have a small online auction active now for our upcoming virtual Sharkfest event. - Our annual fundraising event: Serve & Protect will be Oct. 1. Purchasing tickets to the virtual, live cooking show helps support the Aquarium's mission. We will have a larger online auction as part of this event." Joe Biden condemned the 'needless violence' in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the wake of police shooting Jacob Blake and said Wednesday he had spoken with members of Blake's family. 'Protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary, but burning down communities is not protest, it's needless violence,' Biden said. 'Violence that endangers lives, violence that guts businesses and shutters businesses that serve the community, that's wrong.' The Democratic presidential nominee said he had spoken with Blake's mother, father and sister, and quoted his mother Julia Jackson in the short video Biden posted to Twitter. Joe Biden condemned the violence following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday Joe Biden quoted Jacob Blake's mother Julia Jackson (second from right), who said Tuesday that the destruction in Kenosha 'doesn't reflect my son or my family' Protesters can be seen cowering behind a dumpster Tuesday night outside the Kenosha County Courthouse An American flag flies over a department of corrections building that was set on fire during protest Monday in Kenosha, Wisconsin that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake 'In the midst of this pain, the wisest words that I've heard spoken so far have come from Julia Jackson, Jacob's mother,' Biden said. 'She looked at the damage done in her community and she said this, "This doesn't reflect my son or my family."' Jackson had said Tuesday, 'As I was riding through here, through the city, I noticed a lot of damage that doesn't reflect my son or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as thta goes, the violence and destruction, he would be very unpleased.' Since the shooting of Blake on Sunday, businesses in Kenosha have been set on fire and two people were killed Tuesday night with another one wounded allegedly at the hands of a 17-year-old gunman during a confrontation between protesters and armed men. Blake, according to the family lawyer, is likely paralyzed, as he was shot in the back at close range. At the Republican National Convention, supporters of President Donald Trump have pointed to the destruction caused by protesting the Memorial Day death of George Floyd and other black people killed by the police, the most recently being Blake, and tried to push that Democrats have been supportive of the violence. Biden tried to make clear that he was supportive of the black community - but not of any rioting sparked by Black Lives Matter protests. 'What I saw in that video makes me sick,' he said. 'Once again a black man, Jacob Blake, has been shot by the police in broad daylight with the whole world watching.' Biden then pointed to the fact that Blake's kids were eyewitnesses. 'It's horrible what they saw. Watching their father get shot? Like Gianna Floyd they're asking "Why? Why daddy?"' Biden said. 'Put yourself in the shoes of every black father and black mother in this country and ask, is this what we want America to be, is this the country we should be?' Biden said he told Blake's family on Wednesday, 'justice must and will be done.' The former vice president then condemned what's been happening in the streets. He concluded the video by asking Americans to join him to 'unite and heal.' 'And end systemic racism in this country now,' Biden said. Transaction Underscores the Carrier's Focus on Stimulating New Markets and Both Companies' Commitment to Aiding Air Travel Recovery CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited ("CDB Leasing"), announced today the signing of a sale and leaseback agreement for a fleet of four new Airbus A321neo aircraft with the company's current customer, Wizz Air Holdings Plc ("Wizz Air;" WIZZ.L), the largest Central and Eastern European low-cost carrier. "The unrelenting drive to stimulate new markets demonstrates Wizz Air's strategic efforts to aid the region's nascent air travel recovery, while opportunely positioning its platform for the resumption of growth," asserted CDB Aviation Chief Marketing Officer Peter Goodman. Wizz Air, the largest Airbus customer of the A321neo variant, is expected to take deliveries of the four neos between the first and third quarters of 2021. Powered by Pratt Whitney GTF engines and featuring the widest single-aisle cabin with 239 seats in a single class configuration, the aircraft will bolster the airline's all-Airbus fleet serving short-haul operations. "We are delighted to have collaborated with the Wizz Air team on this latest transaction in the sale and leaseback channel," expounded Goodman, reiterating that the CDB Aviation team continues to be actively engaged in pursuing opportunities for aircraft transactions that enable "airlines to take up new market opportunities and navigate through the current environment." Jourik Hooghe, Executive Vice President Group Chief Financial Officer of Wizz Air, said: "We are delighted today to be signing a deal with CDB Aviation. The four new Airbus A321neo aircraft allow us to continue to fly the greenest and most efficient aircraft currently available. In these unprecedented times, this investment into our fleet reinforces our goal to stay one of the most efficient and most productive airlines in Europe and emerge from the Covid-19 crisis as a structural winner." "Today's operating environment is fraught with significant challenges facing both the airlines and lessors," explained CDB Aviation Chief Executive Officer Patrick Hannigan. "With a degree of resourcefulness and a commitment to working together, we will collectively ensure the industry is on the right track to sustained recovery." Hannigan concluded: "This transaction reflects our team's vigorous efforts, backed by our shareholder's unique financial position and resources, to work alongside the airlines across all key markets to deliver bespoke financings that effectively support their strategic pathways to restoring their networks and long-term profitability through the ensuing recovery." About Wizz Air Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, operates a fleet of 127 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. A team of dedicated aviation professionals delivers superior service and very low fares, making Wizz Air the preferred choice of 40 million passengers in the last 12 months. Wizz Air is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker WIZZ. The company was recently named one of the world's top ten safest airlines by airlineratings.com, the world's only safety and product rating agency, and 2020 Airline of the Year by ATW, the most coveted honour an airline or individual can receive, recognizing individuals and organizations that have distinguished themselves through outstanding performance, innovation, and superior service. www.wizzair.com About CDB Aviation CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited ("CDB Leasing") a 35-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moody's (A1), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is the world's largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating. CDB Leasing is the only leasing arm of the China Development Bank and a leading company in China's leasing industry that has been engaged in aircraft, infrastructure, ship, commercial vehicle and construction machinery leasing and enjoys a Chinese sovereign credit rating. It took an important step in July 2016 to globalize and marketize its business listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX STOCK CODE: 1606). www.CDBAviation.aero View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005464/en/ Contacts: Paul Thibeau Paul.THIBEAU@CDBAviation.aero; +1 612 594 9844 Olusegun Bamgbose, National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has told a former National Chairman of the All Pro... Olusegun Bamgbose, National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has told a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, to start packing his luggage to leave Edo State should the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki win the September 19 election. Bamgbose believes that the governorship election is between Oshiomhole and his former political godson, Obaseki. He noted that the election will go down in history as the toughest one in the entire history of Edo State considering the big guns and the big wigs involved. Acknowledging that the former Governor and some bigwigs of the APC will do everything within their power to win the election, the Lagos-based lawyer noted that it would spell doom for Oshiomhole if Ize-Iyamu fails to win. This is one election that Oshiomhole wont want to lose. Its a do or die affair for him. Its an election that will either make him or mar him for life, the senior lawyer said in a chat with Dailypost His (Oshiomhole) political career is attached to this volatile election. If he loses, it will mark the end of his political dynasty. Oshiomhole will certainly not take things for granted. Tinubu equally will do anything possible for Obaseki to lose to Pastor Ize Iyamu. The Edo election is no doubt a litmus test for Tinubus presidential ambition. If the APC Governorship Candidate loses, his Presidential ambition will be jeopardized. On the other hand, Obaseki will not for any reason want to lose the election, as incumbent Governor. He will be ready to do anything within his political capacity to put Oshiomhole to big shame. The truth of the matter is that the Edo Election is between Obaseki and Oshiomhole. However If Ize Iyamu loses to Obaseki, Oshiomhole should get prepared to relocate from Edo State immediately. Edo will be hell to him if Ize-Iyamu loses to Obaseki. The die is cast. The battle line is drawn. Who will win is no doubt a one million naira question, he stated. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has said that there are no grounds for a "humanitarian catastrophe" in the occupied Crimea due to the alleged lack of water. "There are no grounds for a "humanitarian catastrophe" on the peninsula due to the alleged lack of water. Local water resources are able to meet the household and practical needs of the population. Let the Russian occupation authorities solve the problem of water supply to stolen industrial, agricultural and other enterprises, as well as Russian military facilities," Danilov wrote on his Facebook page. He also advised to read the article "Water in Occupied Crimea: No Catastrophe. Just a 50-Year Step Backwards" by the head of the Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and Black Sea News, Andrii Klymenko. As Ukrinform reported, the head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG, Ukraine's first president, Leonid Kravchuk, said in an interview with UA: Ukrainian Radio that mainland Ukraine would be able to provide water to residents of the occupied Crimea in case of a humanitarian catastrophe on the peninsula. In early July, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the issue of resuming water supply through the North Crimean Canal was not on the Ukrainian agenda. ish The state?s governor summoned the National Guard as violent protests turned the city of Kenosha into the nation?s latest flash point of racial unrest. Blake, a Black man, has been paralyzed and suffered other serious injuries after being shot multiple times, attorneys for his family said. Flash floods caused by torrential rains in Afghanistan have killed at least 100 people and injured more than 300 others in Parwan Province just north of Kabul, Afghan officials said August 26. Ghulam Bahauddin Jailani, Afghanistan's state minister for natural-disaster management, told RFE/RL that the floods have also destroyed more than 1,000 houses in Parwan Province. Wahida Shahkar, a spokeswoman for the government of Parwan Province north of Kabul, said the death toll was likely to rise as rescue teams continue to locate victims people buried beneath destroyed houses. Abdul Qasim Sangin, the head of the provincial hospital in the Parwan's capital of Charikar, told RFE/RL that 68 bodies and 90 injured people had been transported to the facility by early August 26. Sangin said most of the victims were women and children. He said some hospitalized survivors were in critical condition. Shahkar said the flash floods occurred overnight in the central part of Parwan Province after heavy rains. She said the floods destroyed many homes in Charikar, which is located about 60 kilometers north of Kabul, near Bagram Air Field. Shahkar called on Afghanistan's central government to deliver aid and provide immediate support for rescue workers who were digging frantically through mud and debris in an attempt to reach trapped survivors. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has ordered aid deliveries for Parwan and other provinces. Ghani also expressed his condolences to the families of victims. Ahmad Tameem Azimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Disaster Management Ministry, said the flooding had blocked highways linking Kabul to eastern and northern provinces. "Along with rescuing people, we are working to open the highways back to the traffic," Azimi said. Azimi said more than 1,000 people in Parwan Province had been displaced. Houses and roads were also destroyed in the provinces of Kapisa, Panjshir, and Paktia. Azimi said ground and air support has been sent to those provinces. Reports say hundreds of hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed, with crops wiped out in the eastern province of Nuristan. Azimi said two people were killed and five injured by floods that destroyed several houses in Maidan-Wardak Province to the west of Kabul. In Nangarhar Province, the provincial governor's office said two members of a family died and four others were injured when a wall of their house collapsed in flooding. Summer often brings torential rainfall to central and eastern Afghanistan, with floods killing hundreds of people every year. With reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa A University of Montana faculty member in the School of Theatre and Dance has tested positive for COVID-19, the school's interim dean said Wednesday. Interim Dean John DeBoer confirmed the reported case Wednesday in a phone interview with the Missoulian. He said cleaning of the school is underway, but said classes should resume soon. Through contact tracing, health officials determined this faculty member was exposed off-campus, DeBoer told school officials in an email shared with the Missoulian. "The university had everyone on campus identify someone who could be their backup should they need time to recuperate," DeBoer said. "And so, that faculty member did what they were supposed to, made sure they had a plan and enacted it." Faculty has been making arrangements so that at any time, if needed, classes can pivot to remote instruction or an alternative method in order to keep moving, DeBoer said. State officials on Wednesday announced 162 new cases confirmed statewide. Missoula City-County Health Department count is 47 active cases, associated with 270 close contacts, with seven new cases added to the tally on Wednesday. Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCDH) COVID-19 Incident Commander Cindy Farr said during the daily briefing on Wednesday cases at the university would not be reported separately from the overall tallies, but that may change if an outbreak on campus began affecting the local infection landscape. "Internally, we are tracking the cases associated with the university so we that have a clearer overall picture of whats happening with COVID in our community," Farr said. "If the cases associated with the university were to begin to skew our data, we would certainly address that publicly." Farr said the Missoula City-County Health Department has been working for months with the university regarding testing on campus, contact tracing, general prevention measures and how and where to isolate UM students who live on campus. The health department, Farr said, would be the agency to reach out those identified as close contacts. In the email to other school officials on campus, DeBoer said measures set in place for the Healthy Fall 2020 plan include, among other things,: regular cleaning schedules, physical distancing, classroom modifications, mask requirements, disinfectant and hand sanitizer in all buildings, and personal responsibility. "Unless you hear from MCCDH, you should not have to quarantine or seek testing," DeBoer said in the email. "If we stick to our mitigation efforts of 6-foot social distancing and required masks, instructors will not need to cancel face-to-face class or other events if one of your colleagues or classmates tests positive for COVID." In an email to the Missoulian, UM spokeswoman Paula Short said she could not speak to individual cases. She added an assessment does take place after a confirmed case to determine whether additional disinfection and cleaning measures are needed and whether there's a need to make adjustments for teaching. "All faculty were asked by the Provost to establish at least one colleague who can cover classes as needed due to absence," Short wrote. "We have anticipated and prepared for continuity of instructional delivery." Short emphasized in her email that "those concerned about potential exposure" will be notified by the Missoula health department's contact tracing staff if they are identified as a close contact to a positive case. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With a total 228,914 candidates who will take National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in 615 centres, Maharashtra has the highest number of students appearing for the exam followed by Uttar Pradesh with 166,582 students, according to data released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). For the JEE (Main) exam, which, like NEET, is also slated to be held in September, it is Maharashtra again which has the highest number of candidates followed again by Uttar Pradesh. According to the NTA data, there are 110,313 who will take the test in 74 centres in Maharashtra while for Uttar Pradesh, 100, 706 candidates will take the test in 66 centres. Also Read: Despite furore, JEE, NEET to be held in September NEET, which is a pen and paper-based exam for entrance to top medical colleges, will be held on September 13 while the JEE (Main), which is for entry to engineering colleges, is a computer-based test to be held from September 1 to 6. There has been much opposition to the tests being held in the time of Covid-19 with famous activist Greta Thurnberg and actor Sonu Sood being the latest celebrities suggesting the exams by postponed. Chief ministers of some states, like West Bengals Mamata Banerjee, have also asked the Centre to not hold the exam when the number of coronavirus cases is on the rise. The NTA, meanwhile, has been citing the academic interest of the students and emphasising on the detailed safety protocol it has prepared. Also Read: 10 things you need to know about NEET-JEE exam controversy According to the data released by the NTA, after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the state with the highest number of NEET candidates is Karnataka with 119, 587 candidates while Tamil Nadu has 117,990. Kerala is close with 115, 959 candidates. The NTA has set up 298 centres in Karnataka, 322 in Kerala and 238 in Tamil Nadu. Rajasthan also has over 108,000 candidates. According to the NTA data, 1,597, 433 candidates will take the NEET exam in 3,842 centres in September. Last year, 1,519,375 candidates had taken the exam in 2,546 centres. For JEE (Main), the highest number of candidates after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh will take the test in Andhra Pradesh. As many as 82,748 candidates will take the test in the state in 52 centres while 67,319 candidates will take the test in Telangana in 27 centres. Among the other states with a high number of candidates is Bihar. A total of 61, 583 students will take the test in 43 centres. There are over 50,000 candidates in Tamil Nadu while the states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala have over 40,000 candidates, according to NTA data. Delhi has 37,790 candidates. A 22-year-old chef died of a 'catastrophic' head injury after falling from a railway platform while on her way home from a night out. Carrie Bremridge, from Merstham in Surrey, had been drinking with friends at a pub and attended a house party, about a 10-minute walk from Redhill station, on January 31 this year. At around 4.30am the following morning, she was seen asleep on the station platform before she stumbled and fell backwards on to the tracks. Police and paramedics arrived and saw Ms Bremridge lying on the line, unresponsive and bleeding from her ears and mouth. Carrie Bremridge, 22, died of a 'catastrophic' head injury after falling from a railway platform at Redhill station (file image, pictured) while on her way home from a night out She was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, where she died on February 2. At an inquest hearing at Surrey Coroner's Court on Tuesday, written evidence was heard from station worker Dan Hiett. He said he saw Ms Bremridge asleep on the opposite platform from where he was standing at around 4.30am, before she got up, walked towards his direction and leaned against a wall. 'I saw her get closer and she stumbled backwards and fell on to the tracks,' he said. Mr Hiett began making calls to isolate the line and to turn the power off. 'I believe it was an accident,' he said. 'It has upset me terribly.' CCTV footage from British Transport Police corroborated Mr Hiett's statement, showing Ms Bremridge falling on to the tracks at around 5.06am. Mobile phone records showed Ms Bremridge had made 12 calls to taxi firms that night. In a statement read out in court, her cousin, Niki-Jo Bremridge, described Ms Bremridge, who worked as a chef, as 'a really outgoing person, always looking for the best in any situation'. Ms Bremridge, from Merstham in Surrey (file image, pictured), had been drinking with friends at a pub and attended a house party, about a 10-minute walk from Redhill station, on January 31 this year 'She was a very positive person,' she added. The inquest was told that Ms Bemridge was born with congenital heart disease and had an intensive medical history. A post-mortem examination showed Ms Bremridge had 144mg of alcohol in her blood, which 'would have caused drunkenness at the time of the incident'. The legal drink-drive limit is 80mg. Assistant coroner Anna Loxton recorded the cause of death as traumatic head injury and complex congenital heart disease. Ms Loxton said she was satisfied that Ms Bemridge was on her own and that she suffered a 'catastrophic' head injury from the fall. She concluded that Ms Bremridge died an accidental death and gave condolences to her family. ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbors police oversight commission started its meeting Tuesday night by reflecting on the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Its an all-too-familiar story when it comes to the policing of Black and brown bodies in the United States of America, said Commissioner Mashod Evans, pastor of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor. The right of women to vote passed through Virginia sometime in the night. Heres how that happened. On Aug. 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment hitting the threshold to make womens suffrage part of the U.S. Constitution. It did so dramatically, too. The amendment appeared headed for defeat until a 25-year-old Republican legislator from East Tennessee received a seven-page letter from his mother urging him to vote for ratification. Dont forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Thomas Catt , she had written him the Catt in question being the prominent suffragist leader Carrie Chapman Catt. When Harry Burn rose and voted aye, some legislators thought he was confused about what an aye vote meant. He was not. His vote put the amendment over the top or so it seemed. Anti-suffrage legislators tried some parliamentary tricks to rescind the vote. But the vote held. Then they tried fleeing Nashville altogether, hoping to deprive the legislature of a quorum to prevent the necessary procedural vote on transmitting their action to the governor. (Just as today some Republican legislators in Oregon have occasionally left the state to prevent a quorum.) That ploy failed, too. And so on the morning of Aug. 24, Gov. Albert Roberts signed the paperwork and mailed it off to Washington, D.C. registered mail, of course, befitting such official correspondence. The mail then went by train and that train passed through Virginia. No history weve found records the specific route, but railroad historians weve consulted say it probably went through what is now the CSX route through Covington, Clifton Forge, Staunton, Waynesboro and Charlottesville. Historical irony: The Virginia General Assembly had adamantly refused to ratify the amendment and never did so until 1952, long after the fact. Around the country that August, some acted as if the amendment was already in effect. In Roanoke, the city Democratic Committee held a meeting to officially welcome women in the fold and urge as many ladies as possible be present at the next meeting. It was, after all, an election year. Technically, though, the amendment wasnt officially a part of the Constitution until some federal official signed off on it then the secretary of state, today the national Archivist. Now, heres where theres some drama: There was concern that anti-suffragists would seek a court injunction to block the secretary of state from certifying the ratification. The secretary of state then was Bainbridge Colby, a name now mostly lost in history except for what he was about to do. Hed only been secretary of state for a few months, and would only be secretary of state for a few months more Woodrow Wilsons term was coming to an end. Colby should never have been secretary of state. His predecessor was Robert Lansing, a big name at the time. Lansing and Wilson, though, came to have a falling-out over how to proceed after World War I. Wilson was insistent at that the League of Nations was key to keeping the peace. Lansing was not. When Wilson suffered a stroke, and first lady Edith Wilson essentially ran the government, Lansing took it upon himself to hold Cabinet meetings without her permission. He even suggested that Vice President Thomas Marshall take over the presidency. You can probably guess where this is headed. Wilson fired Lansing and appointed Colby, a New York lawyer who had no diplomatic experience but was deemed a Wilson loyalist. His only real claim to fame was that one of his legal clients had been Mark Twain. One Wilson biographer writes that the response to the non-entity Colbys selection ranged from puzzlement to outrage. Colby was notable in one significant way, though: He was a committed suffragist. Wilson had supported womens suffrage, too but only after originally opposing it. Colby, though, was a true believer, and he was determined to thwart any last-minute legal challenges to the amendment. The train from Nashville was supposed to arrive in Washington at 12:30 a.m. Colby left instructions that he should be notified as soon as when the train arrived: He planned to go to his office and sign the paperwork immediately. The train, though, ran late. Not until 3:45 a.m. did State Department employee Charles Cooke call Colby to tell him the paperwork had finally arrived. Colby thought that was an unseemly time to sign such an important document, according to an account posted on the Suffragist Memorial website apparently 12:30 a.m. was a more dignified hour. Colby felt the odds were slim that opponents would find a judge to issue an injunction at that hour, as well so he ordered the document brought to his home. Hed act on it before he went to work. At 8 a.m., in the presence only of Cooke (who is sometimes described as Colbys secretary) and department solicitor F.K. Nielsen, Colby signed the certification. This quiet signing came as a surprise to all the suffragette leaders who were in Washington, expecting a major ceremony. Colby, though, wanted to avoid a spectacle. The official reason that he gave reporters later was that effectuating suffrage through proclamation of its ratification by the necessary thirty-six States was more important than feeding the movie cameras. The unofficial reason, according to the Constitution Center, is that two of the most prominent suffragette leaders Catt and Alice Paul were great rivals and Colby wanted to avoid any conflict over who got the most prominent position in the photographs. Catt was considered the more moderate leader, Paul more militant. Inasmuch as I am not interested in the aftermath of any of the friction or collisions which may have been developed in the long struggle for the ratification of the amendment, I have contented myself with the performance in the simplest manner of the duty devolving upon me under the law, Colby told the New York Times. After the news was announced, celebrations broke out bells rang, whistles blew, and politicians put out favorable statements, no doubt hoping to sway votes that would be cast in just a few months time. The fear of a last-minute injunction never materialized, but it was not an irrational fear. Even after the 19th Amendment was certified, there were two legal challenges to constitutionality that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. Both times, the court ruled unanimously that, yes, women really could vote. A century later, its worth remembering that the right to womens suffrage went through Virginia, if only on a mail train. One of the messages carried to the Williamstown Police Department on Friday by protesters in a demonstration organized by the town's Racial Justice Police Reform Group. Williamstown's DIRE Committee Hears from Grassroots Groups WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Two grassroots groups that predate the town's Diversity, Inclusion, Race and Equity Committee caught the panel up on their activities at Monday's meeting. The Williamstown Youth Abolition Coalition, which formed in July, and the Racial Justice Police Reform Group, which started in June, each gave a presentation to the DIRE Committee at its weekly virtual meeting. The WYAC and the RJPR were among the voices calling for change that led to the Select Board establishing the DIRE Committee in July. But their activities have extended beyond forcing town government to form a committee to start to reckon with issues of inequity in the community. Margot Besnard represented the RJPR Group, which was formed after a well-attended June 5 Black Lives Matter protest at Field Park that was part of a nationwide resurgence of the movement following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Besnard outlined four priorities for the group, starting with improving mental health supports in the town. "There are five social workers in RJPR who meet separately from the big group," Besnard said. "They've developed an initial plan for how Williamstown can improve mental health services. That group has already met with the town manager and has a meeting planned with him again. "They are going to continue advising Jason Hoch on how to best develop those mental health services." The group's second priority is police oversight, Besnard said. That was the focus of the most recent Friday evening protest , which saw demonstrators march from Field Park to the police station on Simonds Road. In the wake of the recent allegations raised in a federal lawsuit against the town, the chief of police and the town manager, RJPR has called on the Select Board to place Hoch and Chief Kyle Johnson on administrative leave, Besnard said. "Long term, our group is focused on this question: How can we implement policy change that prevents accountability issues from happening in the first place," Besnard said. "There are several ideas for that. One is a civilian oversight board, which I know Lanesborough and Pittsfield both have. Research is happening on that topic. There's more to come." RJPR's third and fourth priorities include looking at the town budget and how Williamstown prioritizes spending and gathering information about the roots of racism in the community, Besnard said. One of the members of the community asked Besnard about the fact that the RJPR group did not bring a motion to the floor of last week's town meeting to reallocate a portion of the budget away from the Police Department even though a "defund police" petition had been circulating in the community. Besnard said the group made a strategic decision to focus on Articles 36 and 37 on the town meeting warrant and that a defund measure might not have enough support among town meeting members and that more education needed to be done. She also said the objective was achieved without a town meeting action. "When I looked at the police budget and other people in the RJPR looked at the police budget and the planned $52,000 increase that was proposed [in the original fiscal 2021 budget], we decided take action and come up with ways to try and at least make sure police funding stayed level," Besnard said. "It would be a concrete step in this movement for Black lives to say, 'We are looking more closely at how we're spending more money in Williamstown.' "Was it really going to be necessary for the Police Department to get a new vehicle. Would it be necessary to have two officers on duty and one supervising 24/7, 365, which is our current model of policing in Williamstown. When we started asking those questions, and I met with Jason [Hoch], he helped me understand the answers. We had started working on a citizens' petition for level police funding, but we did not end up submitting it because we found out that actually the budget was not going to increase that much once it was revised for COVID-19 considerations." Priya D'Souza represented the WYAC, a student-led group focused on issues ranging from police spending to broader social justice issues, like affordable housing. "The cost of living and the lack of social services in this town make it completely economically segregated from the rest of the Berkshires," D'Souza said, reading from the coalition's mission statement. "The WYAC takes issue with this and seeks to create a town that is livable for all. "To that end, we advocate strongly that any money displaced from the police budget should go to affordable housing services, mental health services or other social services." D'Souza, whose mother happens to serve on the DIRE Committee, told the panel in answer to a question that the WYAC is not limiting its efforts to advocacy to local youth. "That's why we've been working so closely with RJPR," Priya D'Souza said. "Through speaking with them, speaking at their meetings, speaking at the events they hold, we are trying to get our message across to a wider scope of people, a wider age range. "I do think once school starts up again and once it's possible, given these unprecedented times, we do plan on continuing our work in an academic environment. I am the head of Mount Greylock's Multicultural Student Union, a group of multi-racial students covering issues of diversity or lack thereof at Mount Greylock Regional School." In other business on Monday, the DIRE Committee agreed to authorize Chair Mohammed Memfis to send a letter to the Select Board reminding that body that the DIRE Committee expects an answer to the resolution it sent the Select Board on Aug. 17. The Select Board, which has met twice in executive session since the town was hit with a lawsuit by Sgt. Scott McGowan, has another executive session scheduled for Wednesday morning to discuss strategy with respect to that suit. The Select Board's next scheduled regular open meeting is Monday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. UGC Exam Guidelines 2020: Supreme Court verdict delayed India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 26: The Supreme Court's verdict on the UGC Exam Guidelines 2020 will be delayed. While it was expected that the matter would be listed today, the same did not find a mention in the cause list. Our #UGC matter is NOT listed in tomorrow's Supplementary Cause List. Thus, SC is UNLIKELY to pronounce final order tomorrow. I really wish & hope that final order is passed ASAP. Uncertainty is causing severe anxiety to the students! Will update once final order is notified, advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava said in a tweet on August 25. NEET, JEE exam debate: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren writes to Pokhriyal, seeks postponement of exams A report in Times Now also said that the verdict is likely to be delayed. The court had on August 18 reserved its verdict and had also given all the parties three days time to present their final arguments. The SC would decide on whether the final year degree examinations should be held before September 30. Students have been protesting against the UGC for allowing universities and colleges to hold the final year exams amidst the ongoing pandemic. On August 10, the UGC told the Supreme Court that it is the sole authority to take a decision on whether the exams should be conducted or not. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court on behalf of the UGC that the decision can be taken by the body only as it only can grant degrees. He further questioned the decision taken by the governments of Maharashtra and Delhi under the Disaster Management Act to cancel the final examinations. Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Maharashtra and Delhi government to place on record the decision to cancel the exams. The Ministry of Home Affairs too was asked about its stand on the matter. The court is hearing a batch of petitions that sought cancellation of the final term exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UGC said that the universities were approached to inform the status of the conduct of the exams and responses were received from 818 universities (121 deemed universities, 291 private universities, 51 central universities, and 355 state universities). Out of the 818 universities, 603 have either conducted the examination or are planning to conduct. 209 others have already conducted examination (on-line/off-line), 394 are planning to conduct examination (on-line/off-line/blended mode) in August or September. Many students had urged that the exams be cancelled and the results of the students be calculated on the basis of their internal assessment or past performance. New Delhi/Jammu, Aug 26 : Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists had asked their handlers in Pakistan to prepare videos of the Pulwama terror attack that showed mutilated bodies of Indian soldiers to motivate Kashmiri youths to join militant ranks against India. The Jem commanders had also planned another Pulwama-like attack on a security convoy in March 2019 as well and even identified the 'fidayeen' (suicide bomber) and made other logistical arrangements but shelved the plan after the Balakot air strikes on February 26, 2019. The revelations were made in a 13,800-page charge sheet filed in a Special NIA court in Jammu against 19 persons, including JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brothers Abdul Rauf Asghar and Ammar Alvi, slain terrorist Mohammad Umar Farooq (son of IC 814 flight hijacking conspirator Ibrahim Athar). A top National Investigation Agency officer related to the probe told IANS: "Farooq, who had infiltrated India in April 2018 and was involved in the Pulwama attack conspiracy, had asked his handlers in Pakistan to prepare video clips of mutilated bodies of Indian soldiers to motivate Kashmiri youths by dubbing the suicide bomber as 'shaheed' or martyr." The official said that the JeM terrorists also wanted to make an audio-video clip on suicide bomber Aadil Ahmed Dar, who rammed the explosive-laden car into a security convoy bus on February 14 in 2019, in Kashmiri language to motivate the youths in the Valley. The messages were shared in the form of audio clips through WhatsApp used on Pakistani SIM cards, which Farooq used after his ingress into India. "However, this plan was shelved due to the Balakot air strikes as they were told to lie low," the official said. The official said that it is all part of the charge sheet filed by the anti-terror probe agency in the court. The February 14 suicide attack on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Lethpora in Pulwama district had led to the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and the attacker. Another NIA official pointed out that the JeM terrorists were well aware of the support for another terrorist Burhan Wani, whose killing in an encounter with the Indian security forces on July 8, 2016 triggered protests and stone-pelting in the then state of Jammu and Kashmir. The official said that the JeM commanders in Pakistan wanted to pitch Aadil also as a martyr like Wani to gain support of the Kashmiri youths. The charge sheet claimed that Rs 5.7 lakh was spend for the Pulwama attack, which was revealed in a chat between Farooq and a JeM handler in Pakistan. A copy of the chat is in possession of IANS. The NIA charge sheet claimed that Masood Azhar's brother Asgar also asked Farooq about the movement of fighter jets in Kashmir after the Balakot strikes. "Farooq was discussing with his associates that there should be a war between India and Pakistan so that those waiting to infiltrate at the border can be pushed into India," the charge sheet added. The officer said that the NIA also took the help of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States in the initial days of its investigation to check the statement of JeM spokesperson Ahmed Hussain, who had texted a message to a Kashmiri newspaper to take responsibility of the attack. The official said: "The FBI helped track the Indian mobile phone number used from Pakistan's Muzaffarabad to a Kashmiri newspaper Editor in Srinagar for the responsibility of Pulwama terror attack." The charge sheet also revealed that the three Pakistani JeM terrorists who had infiltrated from Pakistan most of the time didn't stay together for fear of scuttling of their plans in case of an encounter with Indian security forces. "They coordinated with each other from time to time and discussed preparations for the attack," the charge sheet added. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) A Kremlin-linked businessman known as 'Putin's Chef' has vowed to financially ruin poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is in a coma in a Berlin hospital, as Britain backs calls for an independent investigation. Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose company Konkord has laid on catering at the Kremlin, said that if Navalny recovers he'll go after him for 885,000 he owes in damages and 'strip him of his clothes and shoes.' Reports have previously claimed that the Chef funds Wagner, a private army of mercenaries, which he denies. Navalny, a 44-year-old lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner who is one of Putin's fiercest opponents, is being treated at Berlin's Charite hospital after falling ill on a flight in Siberia last Thursday. Tests by German medics indicated poisoning by cholinesterase inhibitors, which are found in Novichok nerve agents. Britain has since said that it will back an independent investigation into the suspected poisoning, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday. 'We need a full, transparent investigation into what happened. The perpetrators must be held accountable and the UK will join international efforts to ensure justice is done,' he said. Konkord catering boss Yevgeny 'Putin's Chef' Prigozhin (left) serves a plate of food to Russian President Vladimir Putin at Prigozhin's restaurant outside Moscow in 2011 Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally in Moscow, Russia February 29, 2020 Navalny ally says only Putin could have authorised the hit A senior ally of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said on Wednesday he believed only President Vladimir Putin could have authorised the suspected poisoning of the outspoken Kremlin critic. The Kremlin has dismissed as 'hot air' and untrue any suggestion Putin was somehow involved in Navalny falling ill. It also says it remains unclear if Navalny was actually poisoned. Without providing evidence, Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), said 'it is clear that only Putin personally could have sanctioned Navalny's poisoning'. 'He hates what the FBK does too much, exposing him and his entourage,' he said. Advertisement Konkord's press service in a statement on social media on Tuesday evening quoted Prigozhin as saying he intended to enforce a court decision last year that Navalny and his associates must pay him almost 88 million rubles in damages over a video report. 'I intend to strip this group of unscrupulous people of their clothes and shoes,' Prigozhin was quoted as saying after paying off the company directly named in the court case, meaning the payment would go to him directly. Prigozhin said that 'if comrade Navalny kicks the bucket, I personally don't intend to persecute him in this world. 'I'll put this off for an indefinite time and then I'll compensate myself to my pleasure.' If Navalny survives, Prigozhin said he would be liable 'according to the full severity of Russian law.' A court in October last year ordered that Navalny, his associate Lyubov Sobol and the Anti-Corruption Foundation he founded must jointly pay almost 88 million rubles to the Moskovsky Shkolnik (Moscow schoolboy) company that makes school dinners. The company has been linked to Prigozhin in media reports. He denies owning it. The case concerned a video investigation by the foundation that accused the company of monopolising the market and alleged its food was bad quality and made children ill. Navalny in July formally closed the foundation in a move to avoid paying its share of the court-ordered penalty. Koncord Catering general director Yevgeny Prigozhin at a meeting of Russian and Turkish government officials and business leaders Its director Ivan Zhdanov in a message to supporters on Wednesday suggested that Navalny could have been poisoned over one of the foundation's investigations. Medical specialists carry Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on a stretcher into an ambulance on their way to an airport before his medical evacuation to Germany in Omsk, Russia, August 22 Without providing evidence, Zhdanov, the head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), said 'it is clear that only Putin personally could have sanctioned Navalny's poisoning'. 'He hates what the FBK does too much, exposing him and his entourage,' he said. German doctors treating Navalny in Berlin said on Monday that medical examinations indicated poisoning with some kind of cholinesterase inhibitor. The specific substance is not yet known but cholinesterase inhibitors are a group of chemical compounds used in medicines to alleviate symptoms of Alzheimers and other kinds of dementia. Nerve gases and the so-called 'Novichok' group of chemicals - substances used in 2018 to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in England - are also cholinesterase inhibitors. Navalny has been a thorn in the Kremlin's side for more than a decade, exposing what he says is high-level graft and mobilising protests. However, he has said he believes his death would not help Putin. Reuters reported he had told supporters just before his illness that his death would 'turn him into a hero.' Following recent concerns on the use of water for its lithium extraction operations, Chilean lithium producer Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM) is working on a new environmental compliance plan with major stakeholders in the lithium-rich Salar de Atacama desert, including indigenous communities. SQMs representatives told Fastmarkets the company is taking steps to improve the sustainability of its operations in Chile. In the Salar de Atacama Desert, SQM produces potassium chloride and lithium chloride; the latter is refined into battery-grade lithium compounds at SQMs chemical plant near Antofagasta port, in northern Chile. Lithium is a key ingredient in the manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems, and lithium demand for both uses is expected to soar in the coming years alongside the shift to a greener economy. Environmental concerns In December 2019, the Chilean environmental court of Antofagasta voided SQMs environmental compliance program that was previously approved in January 2019 by the Superintendencia de Medio Ambiente (SMA), the Chilean environmental regulator. The decision upheld complaints from a few indigenous communities in the Salar de Atacama region which objected the SQMs environmental compliance program approved earlier that year. Complaints from indigenous communities and environmental groups focused on the New York-listed company's use of water for its operations. In early August, the SMA withdrew its appeal process against the decision of the Antofagasta court. As things stand, SQM is working with the environmental authorities to develop a new environmental compliance program . Until a new plan is agreed, SQM is implementing all the measures committed in the first plan presented to the SMA, it said. SQMs use of fresh water and the environmental impact of its operations on the ecosystem of the western part of the Salar de Atacama area were the main concerns raised by a number of indigenous communities. There will be no impact on our current lithium expansion plans as we will not use more brine than we currently do. By 2025 we aim to reach 150,000 [tonnes] of lithium carbonate per year - from the same amount of brine and at the same time we already committed to reduce the amount of fresh water we use in our operations notwithstanding that we are already not a water-intensive operation, an SQM representative told Fastmarkets. In the last three years, we have reduced our freshwater footprint by 50% in the Salar de Atacama, while our chemical plant in Antofagasta uses sewage water from the city that is purified by SQM... In the same period, our production capacity went up from 48,000 MT per year to 70,000 MT per year, the same SQM representative said. Expansion plans During the earnings call held on August 20 following the release of the companys second-quarter financial results, SQM chief executive officer Ricardo Ramos Rodriguez reiterated the companys commitment to increase its global market share in the lithium market by boosting output of lithium carbonate while reducing its production costs. Well, there are several factors that, of course, affect our cost. One that is quite relevant is the exchange rate with the Chilean peso. The Chilean peso has depreciated when compared to last year which is, of course, helping us on our cost," Rodriguez said when asked about how the company achieved lower operating costs. To give you an idea, approximately $400 million or $500 million of our total expenses per year are in Chilean pesos, so that is quite a relevant part of the savings, he added. During the earnings call, Rodriguez reiterated that SQM is committed to the protection of the environment in the Salar de Atacama. Now we are working on modifications to the compliance plan according to the comments of the environmental court. And we hope and we are sure we are going to obtain all the necessary approvals of the new plan in the coming months, he said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.26 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Romania imported 117,000 tons of oil and petroleum products from Azerbaijan from January through June 2020, as compared to 180,000 tons for the same period of 2019, Eurostat told Trend. The country imported 92,000 tons in February and 25,000 tons in April 2020. This is while in 2019, Portugal imported 90,000 tons in April and May each, 84,000 tons in November and 92,000 tons in December. Azerbaijan exported 19.5 million tons of oil from January through July 2020, which is 0.02 percent more compared to the same period of 2019, according to the statistical report of the State Customs Committee (SCC). According to the report, the total volume of exports of petroleum products in the reporting period amounted to $6.3 billion, showing an annual decrease of 48.6 percent. During seven months of 2020, the volume of exports of petroleum products amounted to almost 705,797 tons, which is 15.4 percent more compared to the same period of last year. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn India and Russia are in conversation to possibly manufacture the Russian COVID-19 vaccine name Sputnik V, as well as a Phase 3 human trial of the vaccine in India. During a press conference, when asked about a possible collaboration between Russia and India on the vaccine, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, "As far as Sputnik V vaccine is concerned, both India and Russia are in communication. Some initial information has been shared while some detailed information is awaited." Another health ministry official was quoted by the Print as saying, "the Russian government is keen to collaborate with India on the vaccine....our embassy in Moscow is also trying to get the data and are in touch with the Gamaleya institute." The matter was discussed by a national expert group on vaccine administration for COVID-19 in a meeting held on 22 August, a source told PTI. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with the Department of Health Research has been asked to lead and look into the matter. According to sources that spoke to PTI and the Print, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev has approached the office of Principal Scientific Advisor K VijayRaghavan as well as secretaries of the DBT and the Department of Health Research. "The Vaccine and Research and Development Taskforce co-chair by Dr Vinod Paul (Member of the Niti Aayog) and Professor VijayRaghavan will examine the suggestions for potential collaborations on vaccine development," a government official told ANI. "The committee, with inputs from members, particularly the DBT and the ICMR, will examine the information on the matter and will link potential collaborators were robust and value-added collaborations where robust and value-added collaborations are feasible and meaningful," the official added. Russia made its intentions known about wanting to partner with India for production when Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said, "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 also said Russia is looking forward to international cooperation to conduct widespread phase three trials. "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 added. Sputnik V vaccine The vaccine has been developed by the Gamaleya Institute along with Russias Defense Ministry uses a different virus the common cold-causing adenovirus thats been modified to carry genes for the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, as a way to prime the body to recognize if a real COVID-19 infection comes along. The vaccine is similar to others being developed by Chinas CanSino Biologics and Britains Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The vaccine is supposedly given in two doses and will help people develop immunity to the virus for at least two years. For now, the vaccine being produced will be used to meet the demands in Russia. However, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said he cannot rule out exporting the vaccine as yet. While many countries are sceptical of the vaccines, still others have begun talks with Russia to either get the vaccine or conduct human trials in their countries. The vaccine will be given to people who volunteer for including doctors. Previously, frontline works and teachers were said to be the first in line for the vaccine's initial doses and it would be administered free of charge. Medication abortions require taking two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. They have been in use since 2000, and in 2016 the FDA eliminated the requirement that the first drug be administered in a hospital, clinic or doctors office. FDA experts said it was just as safe for a woman to take the medications at home. - By Alberto Abaterusso The following companies may attract the attention of dividend investors, as their stocks are granting more than the S&P 500 index, which is the benchmark for the U.S. market, in terms of higher dividend yields. The index grants a dividend yield of 1.73% as of Tuesday, Aug. 25. Also, Wall Street recommends positive ratings for these stocks, suggesting their share prices are foreseen to continue to perform well over the upcoming months. Kinder Morgan Inc The first company that tops the benchmark is Kinder Morgan Inc (NYSE:KMI), a midstream oil and gas operator headquartered in Houston, Texas. Based on Tuesday's closing price of $13.96 per share, Kinder Morgan Inc grants a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 7.35% and a forward dividend yield of 7.52%. Currently, the company pays a quarterly dividend of 26.3 cents per common share. Kinder Morgan Inc has distributed dividends for about nine years. The current dividend yield is a little higher than average compared to its historical values, as the below chart illustrates. 3 High Yield Stocks for the Dividend Investor GuruFocus assigned the company a low score of 3 out of 10 for its financial strength rating and a positive score of 6 out of 10 for its profitability. The stock has an overweight recommendation rating and an average target price of $17.57 per share on Wall Street. The share price has fallen 30.32% over the past year for a market capitalization of $31.60 billion and a 52-week range of $9.42 to $22.58. 3 High Yield Stocks for the Dividend Investor The stock is neither oversold nor overbought, as indicated by a 14-day relative strength index of 41. Williams Companies Inc The second company that is topping the benchmark is Williams Companies Inc (NYSE:WMB), an oil and gas operator headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Based on Tuesday's closing price of $21.39 per share, Williams Companies Inc grants a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 7.31% and a forward dividend yield of 7.49%. The company currently distributes a quarterly dividend of 40 cents per common share with the next payment scheduled for Sept. 28. Williams Companies Inc has paid dividends for more than 30 years. Story continues According to below chart, the company's current dividend yield is above average compared to its historical values. 3 High Yield Stocks for the Dividend Investor GuruFocus assigned the company a low financial strength rating of 3 out of 10 and a positive profitability rating of 5 out of 10. The stock has a buy recommendation rating with an average target price of $24.22 per share on Wall Street. The share price has declined by nearly 7% over the past year for a market capitalization of $25.96 billion and a 52-week range of $8.41 to $25.29. 3 High Yield Stocks for the Dividend Investor The stock seems to be neither overbought nor oversold according to the 14-day relative strength index of 56. Nordic American Tankers Ltd The third company that tops the benchmark is Nordic American Tankers Ltd (NYSE:NAT), a global operator of a fleet of 23 crude oil double-hull tankers headquartered in Bermuda. Based on Tuesday's closing price of $4.51 per share, Nordic American Tankers Ltd grants a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 5.31% and a forward dividend yield of 12.41%. Currently, the company distributes a quarterly dividend of 14 cents per common share. Nordic American Tankers Ltd has paid dividends for more than 30 years. Nordic American Tankers Ltd.'s current dividend yield is below average according to the below chart. 3 High Yield Stocks for the Dividend Investor GuruFocus assigned the company a moderate financial strength rating of 4 out of 10 and a low profitability rating of 2 out of 10. The stock has an overweight recommendation rating and an average target price of $5.21 per share on Wall Street. The share price has increased by 150.6% over the past year, determining a market capitalization of $664 million and a 52-week range of $1.66 to $9. 3 High Yield Stocks for the Dividend Investor The stock is neither overbought nor oversold as indicated by a 14-day relative strength index of 55. Disclosure: I have no positions in any securities mentioned. Read more here: Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Ms. Bondi wrapped up her case by alleging that unnamed members of Mr. Bidens family profited from business deals in Iraq, Costa Rica and Jamaica while he was vice president. She offered no evidence of wrongdoing, only insinuations of a deliberate pattern of conduct. How many families would be allowed to get away with this? she demanded. The obvious answer: none more so than that of Mr. Trump, whose family company has collected millions from foreign sources during his presidency, and whose daughter Ivanka has been granted potentially lucrative trademarks by the Chinese government on three occasions, including on the day she joined her father at a dinner he hosted for President Xi Jinping. French President called on citizens to learn to live with the after infections spiralled higher in recent weeks. "To overcome the health crisis, we must learn to live with the virus," Macron tweeted on Tuesday, calling on people to show unity and assume responsibility to contain the epidemic resurgence, Xinhua news agency reported. Macron said he had chaired a defence council over the epidemic situation "to organise with the best possible conditions taking into account the epidemic evolution," the start of the new academic year and work condition, after social mixing during summer vacation had led to faster virus spread and increasing clusters. The president pledged "clear rules everywhere to allow everyone to regain confidence." In the past 24 hours, confirmed 3,304 new cases, higher than Monday's 1,955, but lower than the post-lockdown daily record of 4,897 posted on Sunday. Some 33 active clusters were detected, bringing the total to 352. A total of 248,158 infections have been identified since the epidemic outbreak, according to the country's Health Public Agency. Health authorities said that had conducted over 755,000 virus tests over the past week, and over seven million since the start of the epidemic. As of Tuesday, 4,600 patients are hospitalized, down by 90 from a day before. Meanwhile, the number of those who need intensive care rose by 11 to 410. Some 30,544 people in have succumbed to the respiratory illness, representing a single-day increase of 22. --IANS rt/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All six countries need to strengthen their economies, making them more competitive to deal with the pressures that come from integrating with the common market. They need to bring rules on taxes, environmental protection, intellectual property, food safety, energy and other issues up to EU norms. Their combined GDP is around $113 billion, less than half of Romanias or about a quarter of Austrias. Other shortcomings include weakness in institutions, the rule of law, human rights, transparency and accountability. Corruption and organized crime are endemic. While the EU is already investing in infrastructure and local economies, entrenched interests in industries from energy to construction are hampering efforts to ensure fair competition. For decades governments have also provided state aid to companies they own or control, creating monopolies that distort markets and create barriers to new investors. Still, the would-be EU members offer highly-qualified, low-cost labor that was already attracting foreign investment before the pandemic prompted some EU manufacturers to move parts of their supply chains from Asia closer to home. Tom Cruise masked up as he returned to a cinema for a London screening of Christopher Nolans spy blockbuster Tenet. Mission: Impossible star Cruise, famous for doing his own stunts, did his bit for the ailing film industry as he proudly visited a theatre, some of which have re-opened following months of lockdown. In a video shared to social media, Cruise drove through the streets of London, taking in some of the citys best known landmarks including Buckingham Palace before arriving at a cinema. Big Movie. Big Screen. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/DrAY5tRg5P Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 25, 2020 After being recognised by fans, despite wearing a mask, he climbed out of his taxi and posed next to a Tenet poster, saying: Back to the movies. The footage cut to inside the theatre, showing the moments before the film started and just after it finished. Amid applause from the audience, Cruise told his fellow cinema-goers: Great to be back in a movie theatre, everybody. As he left the building, he told a fan he loved Tenet. Cruise, 58, captioned the video: Big Movie. Big Screen. Loved it. Tenet, which stars John David Washington and Robert Pattinson, was already set to be one of the biggest releases of the year before the coronavirus pandemic lurched Hollywood into crisis. Now, theatre chains are hoping the critically acclaimed film will entice audiences back inside after months of lockdown. Cruise, who was filming Mission: Impossible 7 before production was halted by the pandemic, is next set to appear on the big screen in July 2021 in Top Gun: Maverick. The action sequel was originally set for release in June this year before being delayed by the pandemic. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan showed his appreciation for Cruises trip to the cinema, writing on Twitter: Im biased but I think Londons cinemas are the best in the world. Good to see @TomCruise making the most of them. Im biased but I think Londons cinemas are the best in the world. Good to see @TomCruise making the most of them. Thank you to all the brilliant cinema staff who have made reopening possible. #LondonIsOpen https://t.co/e3Uj2etBji Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) August 26, 2020 Thank you to all the brilliant cinema staff who have made reopening possible. Medical Examiner: George Floyd May Have Had a Fatal Level of Fentanyl When He Died The medical examiners office in Hennepin County, Minnesota, said George Floyd may have had a fatal level of fentanyl in his system when he died on May 25 in police custody, triggering widespread protests, riots, and unrest. Chief Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker said there is no physical evidence suggesting that Mr. Floyd died of asphyxiation, according to court documents (pdf). It said that Floyds level of fentanyl was pretty high, and it added that he had a potentially fatal level of the drug in his system. [Dr. Andrew Baker] said that if Mr. Floyd had been found dead in his home (or anywhere else) and there were no other contributing factors he would conclude that it was an overdose death, a memo said. That memo noted that additional tests were underway to complete the autopsy. Former Minneapolis officer Tou Thaos attorneys requested the release of autopsy reports from the medical examiner, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, and the private medical examiners hired by George Floyds family. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner said Floyds death was, in part, due to a homicide. Video footage of his arrest showed former officer Derek Chauvin with a knee on Floyds neck before his death. His death was caused by the police subdual and restraint in the setting of severe hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and methamphetamine and fentanyl intoxication, the office said. (L-R) Former Minneapolis Police Department officers Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao, in booking photos. (Hennepin County Sheriffs Office via AP) The autopsy carried out on behalf of Floyds family determined that his cause of death was asphyxia as a result of the restraint used in his arrest. Last week, the defense lawyer for another former officer charged in the case, Thomas Lane, argued that the charges against his client should be dropped. Citing body camera footage of the arrest, lawyer Earl Gray said that Floyd allegedly ingested drugs. Floyd had a white spot on the left side of his tongue that apparently was actually 2 milligrams of fentanyl, a lethal dose. 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, Gray wrote in the motion. Given his intoxication level, breathing would have been difficult at best. Mr. Floyds intentional failure to obey commands, coupled with his overdosing, contributed to his own death. According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiners office (pdf), fentanyl intoxication contributed to the 46-year-old Minneapolis mans death. Other contributing factors include arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease and recent methamphetamine use. His cause of death was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression, while his manner of death was listed by the office as homicide. Other reports said that he previously contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, while Lane, Thao, and J. Alexander Kueng, another former officer, were charged with aiding and abetting. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- President Donald Trump has done Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden a considerable favor by calling for snapback sanctions against Iran under a 2015 United Nations Security Council resolution. Biden and his surrogates have repeatedly pledged to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA from which Trump withdrew in May 2018. Having rightly driven a stake through the deals heart by withdrawing, however, Trump is now giving it diplomatic CPR. The White House asserted on Aug. 20 that the U.S. was still a JCPOA participant state under Resolution 2231, and thus had standing to invoke snapback. Of course, when Trump left the deal, he directed the State Department to take all appropriate steps to cease the participation of the United States in the JCPOA. Although head-snapping reversals in Trumps foreign policy are the norm, not the exception, even for him this was a landmark. It could foreshadow more stunning changes in a second term when, safely re-elected, Trump would face far fewer political constraints. And, ironically, it is a move helpful to Biden should he win the presidency. Supporters of the nuclear deal on the Security Council (the other four permanent members and Germany) rejected Trumps snapback ploy, as widely predicted. After consultations with the council president, only the Dominican Republic agreed with the U.S., thus laying the predicate for simply ignoring the American request rather than initiating snapback procedures. Tuesday afternoon, the council president, Dian Triansyah Djani of Indonesia, announced simply that he planned to take no further action. That means the burden of moving forward is fully on Washington, but not under the snapback rules. Therefore, any U.S. step, such as proposing a resolution to overrule the council president, would need at least nine votes, and, if deemed substantive rather than procedural, no vetoes by any permanent member. At least for now at the UN, the U.S. is in a box of its own making. Story continues State Department lawyers, in an opinion not available publicly, apparently argue that, having been once defined as a JCPOA participant state, the U.S. is still one for snapback purposes. This is not only incorrect legally and not the intention of the nuclear pacts drafters but, ironically, could backfire on the U.S. if Biden wins the election. By asserting that the U.S. has any rights in even one aspect of the deal, Trump opens the possibility for creative diplomats to find other rights and therefore responsibilities arising under Resolution 2231 and other provisions of the agreement. This would give legitimacy to any Biden administration effort to fully re-enter the JCPOA. The better logic is this: America is either in the deal or out of it. This reasoning is simple, straightforward and, most important, reflects reality. The argument that we are participants for some purposes but not others should worry U.S. policy makers; it is far more likely to be used against the U.S. by foreign nations when it tries to extricate itself from other international agreements that no longer advance national interests. When we get out, we should be out, period. Such longer-term strategizing, however, is alien to Trumps approach to foreign policy, and much else. Countermeasures against the U.S. ploy continue to accumulate. Along with denying the U.S. has standing, some JCPOA supporters say Washington has failed to undertake the prerequisites spelled out in the pacts dispute-resolution clauses. These involve a complex, potentially lengthy process to resolve compliance disputes precisely to avoid Security Council confrontations that could cause the entire deal to collapse. The Trump team has ignored these procedures, relying instead upon actions that Britain, France and Germany initiated back in January, which are unresolved. This gambit reflects Washingtons private fear that following the nuclear pacts process before convoking the council really is a necessary prerequisite. If required, this would constitute a second example of U.S. participation in a deal it supposedly exited. Critically for the deals advocates, however, the agreements procedures provide ample opportunity to bog the whole snapback process down. As I wrote in 2015: Although each stage has prescribed time limits, these can be extended by consensus a United Nations-style formula for endless palavering before, finally, an aggrieved party convokes the Security Council to vote on snapping back the sanctions. But its hard to snap back when youre trapped in a diplomatic La Brea Tar Pit. Thus, having to enter the dispute-resolution process could well drag things past Novembers election, perhaps even past the 2021 inauguration. At a minimum, requiring the U.S. to slog through the JCPOA morass creates confusion and delay, thereby affording the pacts defenders more time to find other obstacles blocking UN sanctions from coming back into force. Why Trump is playing this dangerous, counterproductive charade is unclear. Even if the UNs suspended sanctions were revived, they would not likely impose any materially greater burdens on Iran than the already crushing effect of the 2018 resumption of unilateral American sanctions, and others added since then. Moreover, the real answer to Tehrans nuclear ambitions is currently being administered by whomever is stealthily destroying key elements of Irans nuclear and ballistic-missile programs. The Trump administrations activity at the UN these days is a sideshow, perhaps largely intended for domestic political purposes. Diplomacys role instead lies in continued efforts to persuade the U.K., France and Germany to ditch the pact. The alternative may be a President Joe Biden reviving the JCPOA, with deep gratitude toward Donald Trump for making it possible. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. John Bolton served as national security adviser under President Donald Trump and UN ambassador under President George W. Bush. He is the author of The Room Where It Happened. 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. Premier Doug Ford says a new ad campaign about the reopening of schools this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic is needed to keep parents informed but he wont yet say how much the government is spending. Critics slammed the government for the expense, saying the province should be using those funds to hire more teachers to reduce class sizes or to purchase personal protective equipment for staff. Everything is going to be transparent, the accountability office is going to have all these numbers, Ford said at an event Tuesday afternoon at a Catholic school in Etobicoke. Its critical that the parents know, you know, its not about playing politics like the other ones are doing, I believe in communicating to the parents, the teachers and as well, to the students. The public awareness ads, about the safe reopening of public schools, include radio spots that say, in part: thats why the Ontario government asked doctors, health officials, school boards and educators to help build a comprehensive plan to keep our kids safe. Working together, our plan includes physical distancing, putting more nurses in schools, masking, enhanced cleaning and hand sanitization and other measures to ensure the well-being of students and school staff. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said instead of spending taxpayer money telling the public that kids will be physically distanced in schools, the premier should be spending taxpayer money providing funding to school boards so that they will actually be able to implement physical distancing. He said this government is notorious for wasting money on ad blitzes that promote their own agenda ... The bottom line is, if the premier is serious about providing comfort to parents, he should immediately redirect spending taxpayer money on vague ads and instead give it directly to school boards who need it. But Caitlin Clark, a spokesperson for Education Minister Stephen Lecce, said since the beginning of COVID-19, our governments public awareness campaign has been a critical tool in helping change public behaviour and stopping the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to inform the public about the health protocols that are in place such as improved hand hygiene and mandatory masks starting in Grade 4. The government says the ads were approved by the auditor general, and meet provincial treasury board guidelines. We inform the people, we inform the parents, Ford said. I think its a no-brainer ... Running ads is the right thing to do, were going to continue running ads. In London, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called it appalling that Doug Ford refuses to invest in smaller, safer classes but is doling out a secret amount of public money on wasteful propaganda to promote his crowded classrooms scheme ... Every dime spent on these partisan defensive ads should be spent on a safe September, instead. Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said Ford needs to come clean and tell Ontarians how much his vanity ads cost. This is money that could be funding teachers, special education professionals and caretakers. He said for every $1 million Doug Ford spends on ads he could be funding 11 teachers, or 13 special education professionals, or 20 caretakers, or technology, or masks for students. Meanwhile, Ontarios four big teacher unions said they met with Labour Minister Monte McNaughton on Monday and left with no clear commitment from the minister to address the specific serious health and safety concerns raised there surrounding the reopening of the provinces schools next month, including class size and physical distancing, as well as busing. The unions raised the urgent concern that there are no clear health and safety standards being set out or ordered by the ministry so that its inspectorate and workers can apply known and commonly accepted precautions as schools reopen. The ministry confirmed that no such standards have yet been set. They said in light of the shortcomings in the back-to-school plan, theyve asked the labour ministry to limit class sizes to 15 to 20 students and only allowing cohorts of a maximum of 50 people for staff and students. The province has made about $900 million in funding available to school boards to hire teachers and custodians and purchase personal protective gear for staff. About $500 million of that money is from boards own reserves. Read more about: Failte Ireland has updated its rules and guidelines for wedding venues under the latest Government Public Health Advice. So, what are the headline rules for wedding receptions? - There can be a maximum of 50 people in the function area including employees - The function area must be self-contained and only one function per area/room - Businesses must follow updated Public Health advice to ensure that all wedding guests leave the function/bar areas by 11.30pm. Public Health advice states that these areas should be cleared of all guests by 11.30pm. However, this does not include staff members who will carry out closing procedures. - Face coverings should be worn by employees in customer-facing roles where no other protective measures are in place e.g. protective screens and where physical distancing of 2 metres* is not possible. - Face coverings should also be worn by guests when arriving to and leaving their table. What are the rules for guests on arrival? - Where possible, guests must be directed to enter and exit through separate doors that are automated or manually operated by an employee. Doors may be propped open if fire regulations allow. - Hand sanitisers (including touchless dispensers where possible) must be readily available at each access point. These must have a minimum alcohol content of 60%. Signage must encourage all guests to use this when they enter and leave. - Prominent signage must explain current physical distancing practices. This must be accompanied by clear and visible markings that illustrate the safe distancing protocol. What about at the drinks reception? - Service stations must use physical distancing queuing systems. - Tea/coffee/drinks and canape stations must be managed by service personnel. There must be no self-service stations. Canapes must be in individual portions. - Remove as much loose furniture (e.g. sofas, etc.) from the room to ensure maximum space for physical distancing. And what about at dinner? - Entrance doors should be opened whilst guests are entering the dining area. - Review the seating capacities to meet the current physical distancing guidance. There must be adequate spacing between customers at each table in accordance with Government physical distancing guidelines. - Hand sanitisers (including touchless dispensers where possible) must be readily available. Consider providing hand sanitiser on each table. These must have a minimum alcohol content of 60%. Signage must encourage all guests to use this when they enter and leave. - Management must ensure appropriate signage is in place to welcome guests and reassure them that employees have been trained in line with the Governments Public Health advice. - There must be no shared items at the table. Instead: - Water jugs must be poured by service personnel only. - Salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes should be available only on request. - Instead, each guest should be given individual portions/sachets. - Face coverings should be worn by staff during the service of the meal - There must be no family-style service of food (i.e. no shared vegetable/gravy dishes, etc.). - Wedding afters must be served directly to each guest fully plated. And the dancing? - Signage on tables and dance floors must ask guests to respect physical distancing guidelines. - Employees must monitor and manage distancing. Additional Considerations - All third-party suppliers must ensure they adhere to the Governments Public Health advice. - Multiple gatherings are allowed in venue facilities provided they are in separate defined spaces and there are systems to prevent intermingling in common spaces (e.g. entrances, exits and toilet facilities). - Limit the number of service personnel per group of guests to the smallest number that is practical. - Where at all practical, service personnel should provide services to only one gathering and should not move between multiple gatherings in different venue locations. - Where possible, facilities such as toilets should not be used simultaneously by multiple gatherings. However, if they are cleaned in between usage, they may be used separately by different gatherings, within the same time period. The Erie Canal Museum reopened a month ago, after shutting down and going virtual to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Now, even though visitors can return in person, with limitations, director Natalie Stetson is focused on the museums online offerings. Weve embarked on a new digital life, Stetson said. Increasing the museums online presence has long been a part of the museums future, but Stetson said the coronavirus pandemic made it an urgent necessity. A student intern from Le Moyne College will be helping with the museums digital expansion. Students from Le Moyne will also be helping digitize records and build maps and dashboards for the city of Syracuse. The college has set up a partnership with Onondaga County, too. Le Moyne has begun talks with local companies about similar partnership opportunities and is looking for more businesses and non-profits that need assistance. All of the Community Internship Initiative positions will be completely virtual, allowing first-year and sophomore students to work from their dormitories or even their family homes. The internships are unpaid, but students get course credit. The program is aimed at helping organizations struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic tackle online projects, enhance their social media presence or conduct research. The internship is ideal for smaller, self-contained projects for younger students, officials said. (While the focus right now is on those projects, the college is also interested in partnering for other, longer-term opportunities involving upperclasssmen.) Whats the thing you might not be able to get to, because youre busy putting out other fires right now? said Meredith Tornabene, director of the Office of Career Advising and Development at Le Moyne. She encouraged businesses to think about where a college students perspective and skills might come in handy, perhaps for marketing, social media, research or analysis. Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura announced the program outside during a press conference and was joined by Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. LeMura said the program is part of colleges Jesuit value system, to give back to the community. In addition to taking interns this semester, the county executive and mayor said they were there to promote the program and encourage local businesses to get involved. Walsh emphasized the long-term benefit to community, noting that these types of opportunities help students feel connected, and more likely to live in the area after they finish school. Walsh said the city was able to utilize internships to do things we havent had time to do in the midst of the pandemic. Interested businesses and non-profits can email careers@lemoyne.edu with their ideas and needs for an intern. CNY BACK IN BUSINESS Looking for work during coronavirus? See list of resources for Central NY job seekers Onondaga County OKs indoor fitness classes at gyms, sets start date New NY state rule bans ticketed music events at bars: This is devastating Local gyms can reopen but a heavy lift remains: Its almost like starting all over again Small business owners with federal coronavirus loans: Beware of phishing scams More from CNY Back in Business Sign up for the Back In Business newsletter to get small business advice delivered to your email inbox 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 What might such teams produce? Conceptual renderings produced for the city by top architectural firms picture transformations that wisely do not indulge in Buck Rogers razzle-dazzle or wiping the slate clean, as the failed urban renewal projects of the 1960s did. Rather, they suggest that developers retain and renovate beloved pieces of architecture and use them as anchors for rebuilding the areas around them. Delhi and parts of neighbouring towns are expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall starting Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. Showers are likely to continue through Friday, as per the Mets fresh forecast, which revised its earlier prediction that the city would receive heavy rain starting Wednesday evening. The department has now said that some parts of the city will see light rainfall on Wednesday night. The city is expected to get moderate to heavy showers from Thursday morning. The forecast rain has shifted to Thursday morning. In Delhi, in most parts we will witness moderate rain, but in some parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), there is a possibility of heavy rainfall, said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMDs regional weather forecasting centre. IMD has predicted intense spells of rain in many parts of northwest India between August 26 and August 28. Scientists explained that the monsoon trough (line of low pressure) is active, lying south of its normal position and is likely to remain active for the next two or three days. Apart from this, there is a convergence of lower level south-westerly winds from the Arabian Sea over north-west India till August 28. In Delhi, the peak rainfall activity due to this will be between August 27 and August 28. The monsoon trough is shifting northwards and will stay very close to Delhi-NCR between August 25 and August 28. Under its influence, the convergence of lower-level easterlies from the Bay of Bengal and south-westerlies from the Arabian Sea will take place over north-west India, Srivastava said. Technavio has been monitoring the automotive lighting market and it is poised to grow by 8.69 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005175/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive lighting Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. General Electric Co., Hella GmbH Co. KGaA, Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd., Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Koninklijke Philips NV, LG Electronics Inc., Magneti Marelli CK Holdings Co. Ltd., OSRAM Licht AG, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Valeo SA are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Demand for effective interior lighting has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Automotive Lighting Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Automotive Lighting Market is segmented as below: Application Passenger Cars Commercial Vehicles Geography APAC Europe North America South America MEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41032 Automotive Lighting Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our automotive lighting market report covers the following areas: Automotive lighting market size Automotive lighting market trends Automotive lighting market industry analysis This study identifies the development of autonomous vehicles as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive lighting market growth during the next few years. Automotive lighting Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the automotive lighting market, including some of the vendors such as General Electric Co., Hella GmbH Co. KGaA, Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd., Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Koninklijke Philips NV, LG Electronics Inc., Magneti Marelli CK Holdings Co. Ltd., OSRAM Licht AG, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Valeo SA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the automotive lighting market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Automotive Lighting Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive lighting market growth during the next five years Estimation of the automotive lighting market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the automotive lighting market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive lighting market vendors Table Of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five force summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Application Market segments Comparison by Application Passenger cars Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Commercial vehicles Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Application Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Volume Driver Demand led growth Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Overview Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors General Electric Co. Hella GmbH Co. KGaA Hyundai Mobis Co. Ltd. Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Koninklijke Philips NV LG Electronics Inc. Magneti Marelli CK Holdings Co. Ltd. OSRAM Licht AG Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Valeo SA Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005175/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Facebook has removed the page for a Kenosha, Wisconsin militia group after it organized a call to arms event as a response to protestors demonstrating against the police shooting of Jacob Blake Jr. According to screenshots shared by The Verge, a militia group called Kenosha Guard hosted a Facebook event called Armed Citizens to Protect our Lives and Property, while the groups page invited patriots willing to take up arms and defend our city tonight from the evil thugs. Facebooks takedowns come after two protestors were shot and killed Tuesday night by a young White man carrying a rifle, according to The Washington Post. Its not clear if the shooter was part of the Kenosha Guard group. A 17-year-old has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, CNN reports. The page was removed while I was writing the piece, but here are a few of the recent posts, for posterity. pic.twitter.com/qH8snPiVK0 Russell Brandom (@russellbrandom) August 26, 2020 A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the company is investigating the incident. The social network announced last week that it would remove accounts and groups that discuss violence, including militia organizations as an expansion of its Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy. The crackdown resulted in the removal of hundreds of groups, pages and ads linked to militia groups and those encouraging riots, Facebook said at the time. The latest removals arent the first time the company has cracked down on extremist groups linked to violence after a deadly shooting. The company banned boogaloo groups in June, after one supporter was charged with murdering a California security guard and sheriffs deputy. Update 8/26 5:55pm ET: In a statement, a Facebook spokesperson said the company had designated the shooting as a mass murder, and confirmed that it had removed accounts associated with the shooter, as well as pages for the Kenosha Guard group and its event. "Weve designated this shooting as a mass murder and have removed the shooters accounts from Facebook and Instagram, the spokesperson said. At this time, we have not found evidence on Facebook that suggests the shooter followed the Kenosha Guard Page or that he was invited on the Event Page they organized. However, the Kenosha Guard Page and their Event Page violated our new policy addressing militia organizations and have been removed on that basis. Environment Canada is warning New Brunswickers of the potential of "dangerous thunderstorms" Tuesday afternoon that could cause damaging wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain. The national weather agency has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Miramichi area and a severe thunderstorm watch for the rest of the province. Strong thunderstorms are detected between Lower Neguac, Baie-Sainte-Anne and Laketon and are moving eastward at 20 kilometres an hour. "Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches," Environment Canada said in its statement. "Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes." Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall. The owner of Brisbanes derelict, still-striking Lamb House will be given three months to pay more than $321,000 in unpaid rates or her home will be auctioned. Brisbane City Council and the Queensland government have expressed interest in buying Lamb House known correctly as Home - for the people of Brisbane. The declining condition of the Queensland heritage-listed property at Kangaroo Point has been the subject of intense interest from the Brisbane community, Brisbane City Council and the Queensland government for 12 months now. The heritage-listed Lamb House on Leopard Street at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. Credit:Tony Moore Lamb House was originally built over 12 months from 1901 for Queen Street draper John Lamb in Kangaroo Point, Brisbanes first "suburb". The Lamb family called the house Home. Starring former San Francisco D.A. and vice presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, a new collection of ceramic mugs and plates supports SF's Museum of Craft and Design. Plus, local Francophiles only have a few days left to shop Hayes Valley's Gazette, Half Moon Bay welcomes a new general store that harkens back to simpler times, and Marin's Zenni partners with black-owned Coco + Breezy for an eye-catching kids' collection. Au revoir, Gazette. Shop the Hayes Valley boutique one last time (avec discount). (Courtesy of Gazette) Beloved small business shutters. Hearts break. Neighborhood forever changed. Unfortunately this story has been playing out time and again since Covid-19 arrived. The latest chapter involves Gazette, Hayes Valley's chic boutique filled with French goodies. The Gough Street store's last day in biz is Sunday, August 30th. Make an appointment to shop, say goodbye, and get 20 percent off everythingstriped shirts galore, candles, and skincare to get that French girl glow. Although our friend and store owner Charlotte Boedec is sad about the closing, she's also grateful: "Gazette has had an amazing journey in Hayes Valley, and it's all thanks to the clients, the fans, and the staff. The neighborhood is filled with passionate Francophiles and I couldn't have wished for a better spot for a great start." The silver lining? The store will live on online. Magnifique! // 334 Gough St. (Hayes Valley), gazette-store.com Savor your morning java with a Kamala Harris mug (+ support a SF museum). (Courtesy of SF Museum of Craft + Design) Who knew political pottery was a thing? And that we would love it so very much? Duh, artist Justin Rothshank did. His series of wheel-thrown mugs and platesnee Political Potteryfuse functional dishware with social commentary. The artist's newest pieces, handcrafted of earthenware clay with a white glossy glaze, feature a smiling black-and-white image of proud Oaklander and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris (yes!) surrounded by colorful blooms. Not only will the mugs and salad plates brighten your kitchen and your mood, the purchases help support SF's Museum of Craft and Design, which, like all museums, could really use the help right now. Our plan? To mix a few KH pieces with others from the dishwasher-safe collectionthink Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dr. Anthony Fauci, John Lewis, The Obamas, and Mr. Rogers. Mugs are $52 each; salad plates are $65 each. // Shop online at shop.sfmcd.org Half Moon Bay welcomes a new, old-school general storeJupiter & Main. (Courtesy of Jupiter & Main) In these crazy times, 2,000 square feet of serene space filled with homey home goods, the calming smells of candles and body products, and top-shelf barware is exactly what folks need to relax while bringing home a slice of positivity and style. At least this is the thinking of local owners Kevin and Colleen Henney who designed the just-opened Jupiter & Main to mimic the general stores of bygone days. "We believe that simple, quality-made goods bring joy to life, and the use of them is truly an act of meditation. Simple is the new high-tech, slow is the new fast, and home is the new getaway," says Ms. Henney. Fitting in with the authentic theme, J&M stocks brands that have stood the test of time as well as small makers. We're most excited about the apothecary, skincare, shaving, and haircare products. // 432-B Main Street (Half Moon Bay), jupiterandmain.com A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has struck down a Defense Department policy that requires noncitizens to serve on active duty for at least six months before they can apply for U.S. citizenship. In a swift response to a lawsuit filed in April by seven permanent residents and one Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals beneficiary serving in the U.S. military, U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle ruled that by law, DoD must provide service members who request the needed citizenship certification the paperwork if they have "satisfied one day of qualifying service." Read Next: Fire Scuttles Coast Guard Cutter Healys Arctic Deployment The minimum service requirements, which also mandate that Reserve members serve at least a year before they can receive the certification, "are contrary to law," Huvelle said, in an opinion released Monday. Army Pfc. Ange Samma, a Green Card holder originally from Burkina Faso who currently serves in South Korea, filed the suit April 24 along with several other U.S. troops who enlisted under the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI, program. Their suit charged that security checks and other measures, instituted in late 2017 to guard against infiltration by foreign nationals with ties to terrorism, have blocked their paths to citizenship and negatively affected their careers, causing delays in obtaining security clearances and other requirements needed for their jobs. The suit alleged that DoD and Esper "adopted an unlawful policy of withholding certifications of plaintiffs' honorable service, which they require to apply to naturalize based on their ongoing military service." "As a result, defendants are denying thousands of men and women in uniform the U.S. citizenship that Congress has long promised to non-citizens serving in our military," the suit said. To begin the naturalization process, service members must receive a certification of honorable service from the Defense Department, a document called an N-426. They then can apply for citizenship with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services certifying honorable service. Past practice was that the form could be completed almost immediately after reporting to basic training, but the DoD changed the rules in October 2017. Two previous lawsuits have been filed against the policy for MAVNI service members from the Selected Reserve. But the current suit applies to all non-citizen service members, including active-duty personnel and Reserve members. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the plaintiffs in the case, the outcome may affect thousands. "Congress has long recognized that immigrants who serve in the military during wartime are entitled to be Americans ... We're pleased that our clients and thousands of others like them can finally benefit from the expedited path to citizenship they have rightfully earned through their honorable military service," said Scarlet Kim, staff attorney with the ACLU's National Security Project, in a prepared statement. DoD officials have maintained that the department "recognizes the value of expedited U.S. citizenship achieved through military service." But, it is "in the national interest to ensure all current and prospective service members complete security and suitability screening prior to naturalization, officials said in a statement released when the new policy was implemented. From 2008 to 2016, about 10,400 foreign nationals were recruited through the MAVNI program, which is designed to bring in noncitizens with language skills or health care and technology expertise needed by the military, according to the DoD. There was a 72% decrease in applicants after the new policy was instituted, according to the ACLU. DoD did not appeal rulings in the previous MAVNI cases, but the large potential impact of Huvelles decision may influence its legal strategy. The Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment by press time. ACLU officials said the policy, along with others instituted by President Donald Trump, denies noncitizen U.S. troops the rights and privileges that accompany citizenship, such as the right to vote, sponsor noncitizen family members and travel. "This decision rejects the Trump administration's racist attempt to subvert this clear congressional mandate in furtherance of its anti-immigrant agenda," Kim said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Recruits in Bureaucratic Limbo With Citizenship Program Suspended Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:34:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YANGON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's parliament approved a motion of Myanmar's participation in signing BIMSTEC convention in capital Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday. The proposal sent by President U Win Myint to the parliament was discussed at Wednesday's parliamentary session. Established in 1997, BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, groups Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. BIMSTEC is an organization which can bring common benefits to member countries under collective cooperation, Union Minister U Kyaw Tin for International Cooperation told the parliamentary session. Enditem Bharatiya Janata Party MP and member of the parliamentary panel on Information Technology, Nishikant Dubey has written to the chairman of the committee, Shashi Tharoor, seeking cancellation of the panels upcoming meeting claiming that its agenda is in contravention of the rules of the House. Dubeys letter to the Congress MP comes a day after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wrote to the heads of all panels asking them to select subjects based on rules and keeping in mind the convention that the House does not discuss issues that are pending in the courts. In this connection, I may like to bring to your kind notice that recently, your good self has convened yet another sitting of the Committee on 1 September 2020 to discuss the issue of 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir, Dubey wrote in his letter on Wednesday. Since this issue is presently pending before the Honble Supreme Court any further deliberations on this would again be a violation of the relevant rules/directions, as well as the recently issued advisory of the Honble speaker. Dubey and Tharoor have already sparred over laffaire Facebook, where the social media companys top lobbyist in India advised that the company not act against a BJP lawmaker whose posts violated the companys standards on hate speech on the grounds that it wouldnt go down well with the ruling dispensation., according to an investigative report in The Wall Street Journal. The Committees should give due consideration to rule 270 and other necessary rules and directions while selecting subjects for examination, Birla said in a letter, which has been reviewed by Hindustan Times. In addition, I would like to point out that as per convention, the Committees do not take those subjects for examination where the issue is pending in the Courts. According to rule 270, a Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records, provided any question arises whether the evidence of a person or the production of a document is relevant for the purposes of the Committee, the question shall be referred to the Speaker whose decision shall be final. Moreover, the rule adds that the Government may decline to produce a document on the ground that its disclosure would be prejudicial to the safety or interest of the state. The Speakers letter came a week before the Information and Technology Panel is slated to discuss two contentious topics, the issue of Internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir on September 1 and Facebooks testimony over alleged bias towards the ruling party on September 2. The Supreme Court is still considering the matter of Internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir. While the date of the next hearing has not been notified, on August 11, the Centre told the SC that 4G telecom services (including mobile internet) would be restored in the newly formed Union territory in a staggered manner after August 15. The mission of the four-day Republican National Convention is becoming clear: The GOP isnt trying to win many new friends. Its trying to convince the old ones to stick around. Convention speakers arent mainly interested in converting wobbly independents when they compare Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to Fidel Castro. Theyre trying to hang onto suburban women who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 when they accuse Democrats of wanting to abolish the suburbs altogether and supporting the vengeful mob that wishes to destroy our way of life. Mondays dire warnings of the threat Democrats posed to America took a backseat at times Tuesday, a night that Republicans advertised as the Land of Opportunity. Business owners praising Trumps antiregulation policies and a New Mexico police officer who helped a drug-addicted pregnant woman were featured, along with five new U.S. citizens being sworn in at the White House as the president looked on a scene that critics said violated the law forbidding campaigning on federal property. First lady Melania Trump capped off the evening with a speech again, from the White House grounds in which she struck a rare unifying tone. It has been inspiring to see what the people of our great nation will do for one another, especially when we are at our most fragile, she said. But there were also plenty of speakers depicting Biden as a captive of radical leftists who would remake America in their socialist image and who embrace cancel culture to suppress conservative speech, with the help of a compliant mainstream media. The Republicans werent trying to persuade anyone or talk about any themes that anyone but their base already buys into, Alan Schroeder, a Northeastern University professor emeritus and expert on the theatrical aspects of politics, said after the conventions first night. It felt like a challengers convention, not an incumbents, Schroeder said. Speaker after speaker came out and said that things are horrible, but yet, elect the guy who has been in charge for the last four years. Theres a fundamental contradiction there. He added, The Trump campaign doesnt seem very comfortable. Polls do show Trump trailing in battleground states he won four years ago, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida. Hes struggling in longtime GOP strongholds like Arizona and North Carolina. He has lost ground among seniors and suburban voters who backed him four years ago, and on the conventions opening night, his campaign appeared convinced that the way to keep them was to cast the alternative in near-apocalyptic terms rather than the aspirational and uplifting tone that party Chair Ronna McDaniel promised. Many speakers warned that Beijing Biden, as the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. called him, will hand the country to his radical socialist friends. The woke-topians, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz said, will disarm you, empty the prisons, lock you in your home and invite MS-13 to live next door, and the police arent coming when you call. In fact, Gaetz said, Biden wants to defund the police. Biden says he does not support the idea, though many progressive Democrats do endorse shrinking police responsibility and delegating some duties to other experts for example, having social workers respond to homelessness complaints or health care workers handle people with substance abuse problems. The party softened its tone Tuesday with a program that more closely resembled past GOP conventions, with speakers denouncing abortion and calling for lower taxes. There were also signs that the campaign recognizes Trumps troubled standing among female voters polls show women are far less likely to vote for him than men. Melania Trump tried to help him by being one of the first speakers during the convention to acknowledge the more than 175,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19. My deepest sympathies go out to everyone who has lost a loved one, she said. And my prayers with those who are ill or suffering. I know many people are anxious and some feel helpless. I want you to know that you are not alone. But the theme of the first night was still there. Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of Christian televangelist Billy Graham, said the Biden-(Kamala) Harris vision for America leaves no room for people of faith. In America we have not yet experienced physical persecution, even though the left has tried to silence us, Lynch said. Even during the pandemic we saw how quickly life can change. Some Democratic leaders tried to ban church services while marijuana shops and abortion clinics were declared essential. One challenge for Republicans hoping to keep seniors and suburban voters from deserting in November is the need to rewrite the history of Trumps response to the coronavirus pandemic. Only 31% of voters in an Ipsos/Axios Coronavirus Index poll this week said they trust what the president has to say about the pandemic, compared with 46% who trust Biden. The apparent solution: Dont talk about it. Other than Melania Trumps comments, the coronavirus was barely mentioned Tuesday. The night before, the subject led to one of the few moments of optimism, as Trump Jr. depicted his father as leading the country out of dark times. As the virus began to spread, the president acted quickly and ensured ventilators got to hospitals that needed them most, Trump Jr. said. He delivered PPE to our brave frontline workers. And he rallied the mighty American private sector to tackle this new challenge. There is more work to do, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, Trump Jr. said. That was at odds with how Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican whom polls consistently cite as one of the nations most popular governors, described Trumps response. Hogan, who is not scheduled to address the convention, wrote in the Washington Post last month of his dismay early in the pandemic as the president downplayed the outbreaks severity and as the White House failed to issue public warnings, draw up a 50-state strategy, or dispatch medical gear or lifesaving ventilators from the national stockpile to American hospitals. The Trump campaign does appear interested in winning over one group of Democrats this week people of color. Mondays lineup featured four Black speakers including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who gave a closing speech that was one of the more upbeat of the night. On Tuesday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is African American, only quickly mentioned the police killing of Breonna Taylor. a case he is investigating. Instead he criticized Biden for telling a popular New York radio host in May that if you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint Black. Mr. Vice President, Cameron said, look at me. I am Black. We are not all the same, sir. Brittany Packnett Cunningham, an activist who served on former President Barack Obamas 21st Century Policing Task Force, said Trump is making a clear play for Black voters. Democrats typically win the African American vote overwhelmingly, and polls this year show Black voters supporting Biden by about 9-1. He knows hes not going to win the majority of us or even a plurality, but what he can do is attempt to peel off a few percentage points of Black voters in essential states, she told MSNBC. Steve Phillips, a San Francisco attorney and founder of the Democracy in Color political organization, told The Chronicle that even more than trying to peel off Black support, theyre trying to win back the college-educated whites who are fleeing the Republicans in droves, appalled by the naked racism of the president. Phillips chronicled 350 racist statements by Trump and his team since 2017 in a report Tuesday called The Trump Administrations Record of Racism. But Tory Gavito, co-founder of Way to Win, a progressive organization that funds grassroots organizations in battleground states, cautioned Democrats to not be smug. I heard a lot at the RNC that will move many of our voters (Democrats) toward Trump. Black voters arent the only part of the Democratic base being eyed by Trump, Gavito said. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haleys story Monday of how her Indian immigrant parents sacrificed when they came to the U.S. in search of a better life will resonate with many voters, particularly Latinos, Gavito said. So will that of Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate. He explained how his grandfather had to quit school in third grade to pick cotton. Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime, Scott said. There are millions of families like mine across this nation ... full of potential seeking to live the American dream. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Multiple counties in West Michigan are in an Ozone Day for Aug. 26, and its the 10th time this year that counties in Michigan have had concerning air quality. Multiple West Michigan counties are in an Action Day for elevated levels of ozone. That means that air pollutants in Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and VanBuren counties are considered to be unhealthy for people with respiratory problems, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Today is probably not a good day to get out and exert yourself, said Jim Haywood, senior meteorologist for EGLE. The action days are two-parts. One is to make sure people with respiratory problems like asthma know to take it easy outside, said Haywood. But these days initially started as days to remind people to take action. People are encouraged to not fill up their gas tanks, use lighter fluid on charcoal grills, and overall try to put fewer pollutants into the atmosphere. Volatile organic compounds like gasoline, lighter fluid, things like that, is one of the precursors that makes ozone, he said. So the thought was if we can put less of that into the atmosphere in those particular days, then there was a good chance that the ozone numbers might be a bit lower. This is the 10th time this year that parts of the state have been under Action Days, up from the six days in all of 2019. But its still not as bad as 2012 when there were 25 Action Days. Its hard to say, every year is kind of like a different child, not all of them are the same, Haywood said. Ozone Days come from a combination of high temperatures and sun along with volatile organic compounds - like gasoline, paint thinner, and lighter fluid - in the air along with nitrogen dioxide. So a lot of the places that we see the high ozone is where you have a lot of cars out there because cars give that off, Haywood said. The most Action Days this year have been in Benton Harbor and Grand Rapids with 10. There were also 9 in Detroit and Ann Arbor, three in Ludington, and two each in Flint, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City. In big cities like Detroit, the problem is more homegrown said Haywood. Thats because theres a lot of traffic. But because Detroit was cloudy on Wednesday, Haywood said they didnt need to call an Action Day. But the West Michigan area was prime for an Action Day. The sun was out, temperatures were expected to be in the 90s, and there was high humidity which acts as a catalyst for the ozone, said Haywood. But the main thing on Wednesday was southwest winds which brings pollutants from Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Those pollutants blow out onto the lake which, acts kind of like a double-bake oven out there, said Haywood. The sun comes through that gunky cloud thats over the lake and bakes it in the ozone and then hits the surface of the lake and then reflects back up through it again so it gets a double wammy, he said. More From MLive: Severe thunderstorms painted over some part of Michigan for 3 days in a row Farmers argue rules for using animal waste on farms are too costly and cumbersome After bears spotted in Michigan campground, Forest Service says to be bear aware live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Punjab National Bank (PNB) share price gained a percent in morning trade on August 26, a day after the bank informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), which spearheaded the corporate governance litigation in a foreign jurisdictional court, that it has received $3.25 million as the first tranche of recoveries. Upon liquidation of the debtors assets by the US Chapter 11 Trustee, a sum of $11.04 million is available for distribution to unsecured creditors, including PNB. The release also mentions that the ministry has initiated proceedings for disgorgement of monies from the perpetrators, which are the entities promoted or controlled by Nirav Modi or Mehul Choksi, following the bankruptcy filings of three companies promoted by Nirav Modi, namely Firestar Diamond, A Jaffee and Fantasy. PNB requested MCA to support and join the bankruptcy proceedings in New York to help PNB realise its claims in the debtor's assets. The stock price has added over 33 percent in the last 3 months and was trading at Rs 35.60, up Rs 0.40, or 1.14 percent. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 35.75 and an intraday low of Rs 35.55. Currently, an Interpol global arrest warrant has been issued against Ami Modi, wife of prime accused Nirav Modi in the over $2 billion PNB bank fraud case, on charges of money laundering. The warrant has been issued by the global police body on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). New Delhi: After the sensational expose revealing Rhea Chakraborty's WhatsApp chats hinted at a possible drug conspiracy, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) director Rakesh Asthana held a meeting with KPS Malhotra, Deputy Director, Operations Team. It has been learnt that there will be another round of meeting at 6 pm today. The deleted WhatsApp chats were reportedly retrieved and unfold the conversation between Rhea and Gaurav Arya - the man who is allegedly a drug dealer. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation in Sushant's case has revealed details about Rhea's conversation about drugs in WhatsApp chat. It is likely that that the CBI team can join hands with ED in order to analyze the data of Rhea's phone. In order to probe Rhea for questioning, NCB will have to register a crime number first. After verifying and analysing the document, the next step will be decided. The proposed meeting in the evening will decide the future course of action by bureau. As per the letter by ED, Rhea used to purchase as well as consume the drugs. According to sources, Rhea used to mix a drug named CBD oil in Sushant's tea, coffee and even drinking water. After this sensational expose, it has been learnt that the CBI will question Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj, house manager Samuel Miranda, staff Deepesh Sawant. All of these close to Sushant and Rhea while they stayed together, therefore, the CBI will quiz them over this new-found drug controversy. Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra pad on June 14. Update: The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man killed during a struggle over a weapon with Bexar County deputies Tuesday afternoon on the Northwest Side. Damian Lamar Daniels, 30, died of a gunshot wound to the chest after family members called deputies to check on him at a home in the 11000 block of Liberty Field. The manner of death was homicide, according to the Medical Examiner's Office. Original: A man who was reportedly suicidal over the loss of several family members was killed during a struggle over a weapon after Bexar County deputies tried to help him Tuesday afternoon on the Northwest Side. Family members called deputies twice to check on the 31-year-old man at a home in the 11000 block of Liberty Field, deputies said. Sheriff Javier Salazar said deputies responding to the first call were not able to establish contact with the man. In the second call, deputies were able to communicate with the man and were attempting to get him mental health assistance, Salazar said One of the deputies did an outstanding job of trying to bond with the gentleman, Salazar said, having reviewed body camera footage of the incident. A struggle began after the deputies attempted to stun the man because he refused to go with them, Salazar said. The man attempted to grab one of the deputies stun guns during the struggle that lasted more than a minute. A minute is a very long time to be struggling with somebody especially when you know that theyre armed, Salazar said. The man then went for a weapon on a holster on his hip, Salazar said. A deputy then grabbed the mans weapon as the struggle continued. Deputies tried stunning him several more times but they were not successful. A deputy then pulled his own gun and shot the man twice, hitting him once in the upper torso, Salazar said. He said three deputies were at the home for about 30 minutes, and included two deputies who had between 15 and 20 years on the force, and a deputy who is in training. The deputies will be placed on administrative leave for some time, then administrative duty as the investigation continues, Salazar said. The sheriff did not elaborate on how the man lost his family members. Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Jacob, become a subscriber. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission is closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Laura on investors and capital markets. The SEC divisions and offices that oversee companies, accountants, investment advisers, mutual funds, brokerage firms, transfer agents, and other regulated entities and investment professionals will continue to closely track developments. They will evaluate the possibility of granting relief from filing deadlines and other regulatory requirements for those affected by the storm. Entities and investment professionals affected by Hurricane Laura are encouraged to contact Commission staff with questions and concerns: Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations staff in the SEC's Fort Worth Regional Office (covers Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas) can be reached at 817.900.2622 or gandym@sec.gov. Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations staff in the SEC's Miami Regional Office (covers Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) can be reached at 305-982-6300 or miami@sec.gov. Contact information for other regional offices can be found at https://www.sec.gov/page/sec-regional-offices. Division of Corporation Finance staff can be reached at 202-551-3500 or via online submission at www.sec.gov/forms/corp_fin_interpretive Division of Investment Management staff can be reached at 202-551-6825 or imocc@sec.gov Division of Trading and Markets staff can be reached at 202-551-5777 or tradingandmarkets@sec.gov Office of Municipal Securities staff can be reached at 202-551-5680 or munis@sec.gov Individuals experiencing problems accessing their securities accounts or with similar questions or concerns relating to the hurricane are encouraged to contact the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy by phone at 1-800-SEC-0330 or email at help@sec.gov. Investors should be vigilant for Hurricane Laura-related securities scams and check the background of anyone offering them an investment by using the free and simple search tool on Investor.gov. The Division of Enforcement will vigorously prosecute those who attempt to defraud victims of the storm. The SEC is asking investors to report any suspicious solicitations at www.sec.gov/complaint/tipscomplaint.shtml. Sadly, this is the second murder of a journalist in about a month's time in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Representational Picture What was the egregious misdeed of 42-year-old television reporter Ratan Singh for which he was beaten up by villagers at the home of the panchayat head in Ballia, eastern UP, before being shot dead? Why was there no deterrence of note in the face of this flagrant crime? Instead, the police, who should be in the dock for birthing this culture of impunity by repeatedly failing to do their job, are now busy playing down the murder as one that occurred as a result of a property dispute, a conjecture denied by none other than the family of the victim. Sadly, this is the second murder of a journalist in about a month's time in the state of Uttar Pradesh. In July, Vikram Joshi was shot in Ghaziabad for reporting the harassment of his niece to police who waited and then effectively watched the crime take place. And in June, Shubham Mani Tripathi, a newspaper reporter from Kanpur, was shot in Unnao at the behest of a local real estate and sand lord after his reports led to the demolition of an illegal structure and he shared it on Facebook. Tripathis killing coincided with the Varanasi polices hounding of Scrolls executive editor for reporting that people in Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency had gone hungry during the Covid-19 lockdown. This time, the police acted with alacrity. Indeed, 60 journalists from all over India, including some prominent names, have been arrested in this period, or booked or been confronted with other tactics of intimidation for simply doing something the police arent which is their own job of reporting on the pandemic and how the people have suffered through it. As the coronavirus lockdown and recession affect millions of jobs nationwide, journalists, too, have come under financial stress and distress. But some of them have continued to face down both the virus and crime, as also an uncooperative and very often vindictive government, in order to report, investigate and be the first to get the news. The government, in its turn, has clanged kitchen utensils in their honour, and then promptly turned a blind eye even as police blithely brushed crimes under the carpet. The headline, therefore, is an ironic one. As for the police-mafia-state crackdown on news and commentary, it is not completely successful. A remorseless killer who struck his fiancee with his car after the mother-of-four broke up with him has once again refused to take responsibility for her death after serving less than three years in prison. Charles McKenzie Ross Evans, 46, has been freed after serving two years and eight months in prison for crushing Alice Marie Little, 41, with his car at their property in Kyneton in regional Victoria in December 2017. Evans - whose initial murder charge was downgraded - pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to render assistance after a motor vehicle accident. Evans flew to Sydney from Melbourne on Tuesday upon his release from jail on parole. When approached by camera crews at Melbourne Airport, Evans attempted to shift the blame over her death. Alicia Little, 41, was run over and killed by her partner Charles Evans, 45, (pictured together left and right) at their Kyneton home in regional Victoria on December 28, 2017 Ms Little had called police and begged for help moments before the car hit her, a court heard Evans attempted to shift the blame over her death as he was released from jail on Tuesday, saying remorselessly: 'Mental illness caused her death, not me' 'I've got nothing to say to you,' he told 7News. 'Mental illness caused her death, not me.' The Victorian Supreme Court had heard how Ms Little called police and begged for help moments before the car hit her. In the 24 hours before her death, she texted her mother to say she was breaking up with Evans. 'In the next 24 hours there's going to be a lot of drama,' she wrote. The next day she was hit by Evans' car. He had proposed just weeks earlier. Ms Little (pictured) had texted her mother to say she was breaking up with Evans 24 hours before her death, a court heard 'Two weeks prior to her death you had asked for her hand in marriage,' Justice Taylor said. 'Your four-year relationship had been marked by episodes of family violence.' But by Christmas 2017, the relationship was irreparable and she decided to end the relationship. 'You said in the background, words to the effect of ''bring your brother, bring your uncles, I don't f***ing care, I am an Evans, bring the lot of them''.' She called police as Evans was 'abusive and drunk', the court was told. Evans took Ms Little's phone, got in his Toyota Hilux at the back of the property, and drove around a water tank and a fence between 12 km/h and 16 km/h. He put on the brakes and skidded for 2.2 metres after hitting his partner. 'The force of the impact caused Ms Little to rotate clockwise, 180 degrees, as the vehicle was skidding,' Justice Taylor said. The court heard Ms Little had called police on various occasions about allegations of abuse before deciding in Christmas 2017 to end their relationship Family and supporters of Ms Little are seen outside the Victorian Supreme Court in Melbourne in September 2019 Emergency workers are pictured at the scene. Evans was charged with murder but later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving The court heard after hitting Ms Little, Evans dashed to a friend's house and complained she had bitten his nose. He called her phone twice, told others he saw her 'alive and well' on the verandah when he left and that she had committed suicide. 'You did nothing to assist Ms Little. You left the scene,' Justice Taylor said. Ms Little's died from 'catastrophic injuries' including severe blunt trauma and cuts to the liver, and police found her 'foaming at the mouth'. Queensland taxpayers have helped thousands of domestic violence victims escape abusive homes during the coronavirus pandemic. In April, the state government freed up $1.7 million to pick up hotel accommodation tabs for victims who could not find safe haven with family and friends during the strict lockdown period or who were anxious about mingling with other people at shelters. The research shows 4.6 per cent of all women experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former cohabiting partner between February and May. Since then, funding has paid for 4684 nights' worth of accommodation for 1155 women and 993 children. The funding was announced after domestic violence advocates told Brisbane Times they were expecting a "crisis" in the sector. An Australian mother has managed to get 18 new Disney Plus Ooshies from a small $31 Woolworths grocery shop, despite the rule being one collectable for every $30 spent. The 36 Disney+ fan favourites landed in stores on Wednesday August 26, featuring iconic characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar. The keen shopper headed to her closest store in Sydney at 7.45am to be one of the first to get their hands on the tiny figurines, and ended up scoring more than she bargained for by purchasing specific brands. An Australian mother has managed to get 18 new Disney Plus Ooshies from a small $31 Woolworths grocery shop In this woman's case she had two packets of Uncle Toby's oats, five Danone YoPro yoghurts and five Pauls squeezie yoghurts and five Macro organic pouches that awarded her 17 bonus Ooshies - plus she got an extra one for spending over $30 Customers can score more than one themed figurine in a single transaction if they buy selected products from participating brands such as Uncle Toby's, Tip Top, Oral B, Huggies, Sorbent, Woolworths Macro Organic and McCain. In this woman's case she had two packets of Uncle Toby's oats, five Danone YoPro yoghurts, five Pauls squeezie yoghurts and five Macro organic pouches that awarded her 17 bonus Ooshies - plus she got an extra one for spending over $30. Every week, the supermarket will nominate selected products from its catalogue that are eligible for a bonus Disney Plus Ooshie collectable. Customers can score more than one themed figurine in a single transaction if they buy selected products from participating brands Revealed: The participating brands for bonus Ooshies Pantene Huggies Gillette Energizer Oral B Devondale Fresh fruit Tip Top Pauls Gold Power Finish Danone Moccona Macro Organic D'Orsogna Fancy Feast Uncle Tobys Sorbent McCain Vegemite Advertisement 'If a customer purchases five products from one participating brand, they will receive five bonus Ooshies,' a Woolworths spokesperson told FEMAIL. The spokesperson confirmed shoppers will be limited to five items per shop for any eligible bonus brand. Last year, shoppers found a loophole to score more than 10 Lion King Ooshies for just $30 after their grocery bill included selected items such as $2 hand washes and $1.80 cat food. The new Ooshies feature iconic characters like Darth Vader, Elsa, Buzz Lightyear, Thor, Ariel, Yoda, Black Panther and Moana. Woolworths revealed the full list of Disney Plus Ooshies collectables this week featuring iconic characters like Elsa and Anna from Frozen, and Darth Vader from Star Wars Australian shoppers can start collecting the themed figurines from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies with every $30 spent in store or online from Wednesday, August 26 The collection includes silver, gold, colour changing, glow in the dark, and additional glitter edition Ooshies, which can all be kept in a limited-edition box. 'We know many Aussie families have had a challenging year, so we're partnering with Disney to give our customers something exciting to look forward to from their everyday shop,' Woolworths chief marketing officer Andrew Hicks said earlier this week. 'Whether it's Woody, a hologram Princess Leia or a glow in the dark Yoda, we're confident the collection is something the entire family can enjoy and collect together.' Woolworths has also teamed up with TerraCycle to offer customers a sustainable way to recycle their previous Ooshies. Woolworths has also teamed up with TerraCycle to offer customers a sustainable way to recycle their previous Ooshies Every Woolworths store will have dedicated recycle bins so customers can drop any pre-loved collectables and wrapper to be recycled until January 31, 2021. The paper wrapper can also be recycled at home in the yellow bin. Unfortunately there will be a delay on the launch for customers in Victoria until lockdown restrictions ease to focus on store operations and safety of team members and customers. To keep Victorian fans entertained until then, Disney+ is offering eligible Everyday Rewards members in Victoria a 14 day free trial of Disney+, giving them access to thousands of hours of films and series. Every Woolworths store will have dedicated recycle bins so customers can drop any pre-loved collectables and wrapper to be recycled until January 31, 2021 'We know some customers in Victoria will be disappointed by the delayed roll out, but the safety and wellbeing of our customers, team members, and community remains our number one priority,' Mr Hicks said. 'The delay will allow our team to focus on operations and supplying customers with their everyday essentials during this challenging period. 'Once restrictions ease and we can safely roll out the program, we look forward to sharing the Disney magic with our Victorian customers.' Prosecutors have brought additional charges against Patrick M. Rose Sr., the 66-year-old former president of the Boston Police Patrolmens Association who is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl over the course of several years. Rose was already facing allegations that he assaulted a young girl multiple times when she was 7 to 12 years old. He was arraigned on 16 more charges on Tuesday, which allege he repeatedly sexually assaulted and abused four more children, according to District Attorney Rachael Rollinss office. Rose, a West Roxbury resident, retired in 2018 after 24 years with the Boston Police Department. He spent his final three years as the president of the Patrolmans Association. Rose headed the union when it sought to stop the city of Boston from implementing a pilot body camera program for police officers, arguing the move violated the collective bargaining agreement. According to a Massachusetts State Police criminal complaint filed in West Roxbury District Court, the first victim, now 14, went to a police station in Boston on Aug. 2 to report she had been sexually assaulted by Rose for years. Prosecutors allege that Rose raped three of the victims in the 1990s, and assaulted the fourth over the past several years. The new charges include 11 counts of rape of a child and five counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. There is nothing more horrible and depraved than sexually abusing a child, and in this case it is made even more unfathomable that the defendant is a former member of law enforcement, Rollins said in a statement. He actually swore an oath to protect victims from harm, instead he was preying on and harming our most vulnerable and innocent, young children. This behavior is unconscionable. Roses bail has been increased to $270,000. Rose has been ordered to stay away from victims, have no unsupervised contact with children under 16, surrender his passport, surrender both his firearms and his firearms license and be affixed with a GPS device within 24 hours of release. Related Content: PITTSBURGH, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Until now, picking coconuts has required workers to climb the palm trees on their own. Fortunately, an inventor from Scarborough, Ontario, has helped to make their job a whole lot easier He developed ROPE RACER & ASCENDER to provide an efficient mechanized means of retrieving coconuts from palm trees. As such, it eliminates the need for manual climbing techniques and implements. Thus, it saves considerable time, effort and expense. At the same time, this safe, durable and comfortable system provides optimum support for both the equipment and operator. It is also reliable, practical and easy to operate. Users will appreciate how convenient, effective and affordably priced it is as well. The inventor's professional experience inspired the idea. "Working as an arborist for over 25 years, I recognized the need for a safe and efficient means of harvesting coconuts," he said. The original design was submitted to the Toronto sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-TRO-315, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com John notes below some recent survey evidence, and incipient media panic, suggesting that Trump is rallying. Lets step back from the day-to-day numerology of polls and headlines and consider presidential elections from a long-term point of viewa field theory, if you like. Over the last 100 years, only three incumbent presidents were defeated for re-election: Herbert Hoover in 1932, Jimmy Carter in 1980, and George H.W. Bush in 1992. (I omit Gerald Ford in 1976 since he was appointed rather than elected in his own right, though the analysis that follows here can be applied to him as well, and he very nearly won in the end after being way behind.) On the other side of the ledger were presidents thought to be vulnerable (or even trailing in some polls) who ended up being re-elected, in some cases by solid margins: Harry Truman in 1948, George W. Bush in 2004, and Barack Obama in 2012. Lets think about some of the factors that went into these outcomes, and then apply them to the Biden-Trump race: Hoover, Carter, and Poppa Bush were ineffective in defending themselves and their records amidst a crisis (especially Poppa Bush with the relatively mild recession of 1991-92), and diffident or incoherent in their campaign attacks on their challengers. Trump faces the twin crisis of COVID-19 and a struggling economy, and is clumsy and impulsive much of the time, but does anyone think he and his campaign wont be vigorous in defending themselves and attacking Biden? Hoover, Carter, and Poppa Bush all faced talented and formidable challengers in FDR, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Anyone think Joe Biden is as talented and formidable as FDR, Reagan, or Bill Clinton? You can stop laughing when you feel like it. Take your time; theres no hurry. To the contrary, the vulnerable presidents who were re-elected faced weak or unconvincing challengers: think Tom Dewey against Truman in 1948 (Eisenhower would have beaten Truman easily), John Kerry (again, stop laughing when you feel like it) against Bush II in 2004, and Mitt Romney against Obama in 2012, who, aside from one good debate performance, campaigned poorly against Obama. Again, Biden seems much more like these weak challengers than the strong challengers. Carter and George H.W. Bush (also Ford, but not Hoover) faced serious primary challenges from within their own party for renomination that weakened them heading into the general election campaign. Obviously Trump didnt have this problem. I conclude from this that a lot of voters will decide to stick with the devil they know if the challenger is weak and if the incumbent does a decent job of defending himself. That means advantage Trump. (Feel free, if you want, to include Poppa Bush, a sort-of incumbent when he ran the first time in 1988, who achieved a 25-point turnout in the vote by election day with skillful attacks on Dukakis.) But dont take my word for it. Some of this logic is implied in todays Wall Street Journal column from Bill Galston, Trumps Unlikely Path to Victory. Galston is a Clintonite liberal Democrat (he was also Walter Mondales issue director in 1984), so you should read between the lines and understand that this calmly argued article conceals his panic at the vulnerabilities of Bidens campaign: Although the Democratic convention was successful, it did open up some political vulnerabilities. The convention did not focus on Mr. Bidens policy agenda. A plurality of Americans told CBS/YouGov that they thought the recent focus on discrimination against minorities had gone too far, an impression the convention did nothing to dispel. . . The sharp economic downturn has reduced but not eliminated the advantage he holds over his challenger on the management of the economy. While his support among African-Americans has not increased, his tough immigration policies and unyielding social conservatism may have improved his standing in some parts of a diverse Hispanic community. The presidents second-term agenda as announced at the Republican convention may also help. Reducing Americas dependence on Chinese manufacturing will appeal to voters across party lines, as will requiring new immigrants to support themselves financially. On balance, defending the police will play better politically than calls to defund them. The Democratic Partys newfound unity is a mixed blessing. The Biden campaign was compelled to accept compromises with forces well to the former vice presidents left, exposing him to charges that his agenda is unaffordable, even if he raises taxes by trillions of dollars, which may itself be a political liability. Courage!, as some forgotten network anchorman liked to say for some strange reason. In the soft warmth of spring the swallows famously return to Capistrano, but in recent years they are followed by what seems inevitable summer power outages and fires. This is not as pleasant an experience for Californians as the return of our favored feathered companions. Every summer, usually around this time of year, we get our inevitable heat waves. In the past, we used to endure them without fearing our lights --- and computers --- would be shut down, and our houses left in ruins. No more. Almost every year we do not just have a fire season, we have a conflagration. Millions of acres get scorched across the state, accompanied by mass evacuations. Meanwhile, electricity is cut off to millions more, and the state, already reeling from an extraordinary economic decline, with the sixth highest unemployment rate among the states, continues its pell-mell rush into the 12th Century. Why California Is Burning As an old newspaper and TV reporter, I covered fires for many years and, in producing documentaries on past California disasters, secured historic footage of devastating fires as late as the 1960s. Yet what has changed is how we respond to natural disasters, often in ways that make them worse. This is clear with the fires. Californias two last Governors, Jerry Brown and now Gavin Newsom, conveniently blame global warming for the massive destruction. But even granting that summer the temperatures have crept up, one would think this would lead to improved management of forests and brush --- after all it is science! But the green allies have long stood against the harvesting of dead trees and the aggressive clearing of bush and attempts to do so in 2016 were vetoed by Governor Brown. Money that could have gone for undergrounding electrical lines went instead to green energy schemes. Overall, the state Legislative Analyst Office found, the fires were less driven by global warming, but by purposeful policies that allowed for the accumulation of fuel, as well a growing development in certain exurban areas, in part as a way to escape the extremely high housing prices along the coast. A 2018 Little Hoover Commission report similarly called for more aggressive forest management in the Sierra, an area that has been devastated in some fires. Last years fires cost the state economy $2 billion; we may surpass it this year. These fires are not great for the environment or for reaching the states super-ambitious GHG goals: According to the US Geological Service, the 2018 fires emitted roughly as much greenhouse gas as an entire year of electricity generation. The Electrical Kool-Aide Test In 1968, Tom Wolfe wrote amusing about hippy movement in the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Today the fodder for the risible has become, at least in California, the politically inevitable. Ever since muscle-bound Arnold Schwarzenegger found climate religion, the state has determined to push the green agenda to its fullest extreme. In a succession of regulatory moves, California has accelerated its detachment not only from fossil fuels, including natural gas, but the most reliable no-emissions electricity, nuclear power. Yet at the same time as the state has subsidized massive increases in wind and solar power, it has also accelerated plans to electrify everything from home kitchens to buses, trucks and, of course, cars. All this at a time when power supplies are increasingly constrained. Elon Musk can build all the vehicles he wants --- increasingly outside California --- but how are they going to be powered and at what cost? Well, we know the cost side all too well. State energy policies have made California gas and electricity prices among the highest in the nation, since 2011 electricity prices have increased five times as fast as the national average. In 2017 alone, they increased at three times the national rate. These prices have been devastating to poorer Californians, particularly in the less temperate interior where energy poverty has grown rapidly. This is no fluke; all countries that have adopted draconian green mandates --- Germany, Demark, even resource-rich Australia --- has experienced huge spikes in energy prices. In Europe, notes one study, reliance on renewables both reduces incomes and boosts rates of household poverty. Reliability, as we are now being reminded, is another problem. Due to our incessant need to proclaim climate virtue, Californians cannot provide reliable power when the sun goes down or the wind stops blowing, which helped precipitate the current blackouts. Solar production and wind are by nature intermittent. As a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) report suggests, over-reliance on renewables will continue to impose costs and threaten reliability, particularly without energy from other sources, such as nuclear plants. Simply put, California energy policies are directly responsible for the blackouts, leaving state residents and businesses as vulnerable as Medieval peasants on the elements. The solutions being proposed to make up for shortfalls from closed nuclear plants are simply inadequate. Given the current rate of home construction, environmental activist Mike Schellenberger estimates it will take 100 years for rooftop solar facilities to match the current production of electricity from the states two slated-to-close nuclear plants. Once California was an energy powerhouse, with nuclear, fossil fuel and hydro power needed to create the worlds fifth largest economy but now has become something like heroin addicts, dependent on injections, often quite costly, of imported energy from neighboring states, and, for crude oil, the enlightened nation of Saudi Arabia. If green power is the answer, and the future is all-electric we better get used to becoming more like Beirut than Paris. The Economic Fallout Until we entered the age of saint Greta Thunberg, it was thought the primary task of a civilized society was to boost the prosperity, health, and safety of its denizens. But today there is little concern in California for such mundane things --- who needs a good job, reliable power, and a little spending money when there is a planet (not to mention political careers) to save. Of course, not all animals suffer the same under this regime. Californias high energy prices --- and increasingly unreliable service --- have been particularly brutal for the heavily Latino working class, both in terms of jobs and costs who inhabit the states less temperate interior. These are the people who harvest our food, run the trucks from the Ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach to the rest of the country, and man the last battlements of the states energy staved manufacturing economy. Indeed, an analysis by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy details how Californias draconian anti-climate-change regime has exacerbated economic, geographic, and racial inequality. One primary impact of climate regulations has been to chase away historically well-paying jobs in manufacturing, energy and home building, all key employers for working and middle-class Californians. Unlike the working class, the oligarchs, and their allies in the clerisy --- state bureaucrats, non-profits, academia, and the media --- bear a far less extreme burden. State officials get to boss everyone around about their energy use while the tech oligarchs who dominate the state economy not only endorse but even profit from the states incessant climate virtue signaling. Renewable energy may be expensive and unreliable, but state policy enriches tech oligarchy's energy investments, even when their efforts --- like the Google-backed Ivanpah solar farm --- fail to deliver affordable, reliable energy. The Cost of Deluded Intentions Ironically, Californias efforts to save the planet have done little more than divert greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to other states and countries. Since 2007, when the Golden States landmark global warming legislation was passed, California has accounted for barely 5 percent of the nations GHG reductions; the state ranks a mediocre 40th in per capita GHG reduction over the past decade. As they demonstrate, state policies may be increasing total GHG by pushing people and industries to states with far less mild climates. In contemporary California, results matter less than supposed good intentions. The fact that most of the states upper-class cluster along in the post-industrial, temperate zones of the state are far more able to withstand high gas and electrical prices, as well as the loss of key industries. Almost every day brings an announcement of firms packing up and leaving California. But if Apple, Google, Facebook remain ensconced here, albeit remotely from home, few state leaders seem to care. The question now is how long Californians will put up with this. California is currently careening towards an economic disaster, a form of green Bolshevism that accepts no compromises. Yet over time, those high prices will impact not just these industries, but the rapidly departing tech sector; artificial intelligence and live-streaming providers are among the largest and fastest growing consumers of electricity. State officials refuse to focus on these impacts. Theres a well-developed sense that anyone who dissents, even a scientist or respected economist, is a heretic not worth listening to, and should be de-platformed, as just happened to Mike Schellenberger, or even subject to legal persecution. This treatment is facilitated by a local media that tends to embrace the most apocalyptic projections of, for example, coastal erosion, with little attempt to actually ascertain the actual facts or look at alternative analyses. Yet if the states media, academia, and political class worries about the death of our lovely planet, many ordinary Californians are more concerned with the declining realities of the here and now. Generally, dissatisfaction among Californians is particularly minorities and those in the inland regions, home to roughly a third of the states population. More Californians feel the state is headed in the wrong direction than the right one, according to a recent PPIC poll; nearly half, and more among African Americans and inland residents, are thinking of an exit notes a UC Berkeley survey. The question is whether this dissatisfaction will register in Sacramento. Attempts to ban natural gas are being opposed not just by energy companies, but minority business owners, civil rights leaders, and blue-collar workers like truck drivers. Attempts to ban natural gas have elicited opposition from over 100 cities with a total population of over eight million. The California Chamber of Commerce and the three most prominent ethnic chambers --- African American, Latino, and Asian Pacific --- have joined the drive. At the same time some 200 veteran civil rights leaders sued the California Air Resources Board, on the ground that state policies are skewed against the poor and minorities. To be sure, the Golden State may be a long way from the French gilets jaune rebellion, but even Californians have their limits. They increasingly resent the grand hauteur and self-righteousness of the wealthy climate activists. In the Middle Ages, most parish priests and their communicants suffered great material hardship, while many bishops lived in luxury, loaded with gold and clad in purple, as Petrarch put it. Similarly, environmentalists aim to impose austerity on the masses while excusing the excesses of their ultra-rich supporters. As we wait for the power to come back, or breath acrid smoke, the elitist hypocrisy and failed policies that Californias leaders have imposed on our population, and now seek to impose on the rest of the country, is becoming all too painfully obvious. Joel Kotkin is the Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University and executive director of the Urban Reform Institute. His new book, The Coming of Neo-Feudalism, is now out from Encounter. You can follow him on Twitter @joelkotkin. Extensive open Copper-Gold project in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil secured London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - Meridian Mining S.E. (TSXV: MNO) ("Meridian" or the "Company") today announces that it has signed an option agreement ("the Agreement") to acquire a 100% beneficial interest in the Cabacal Copper-Gold Project ("Cabacal"), in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, located 330km west of Cuiaba (Figure. 1), for a total consideration of USD 8.75 M and 4.5 M Meridian shares (Table 1) from two private Brazilian companies Prometalica Mineracao Ltda and IMS Engenharia Mineral Ltda (together "the Vendors"). The payments in cash and shares are spread over approximately 39 months and are milestone based (Table 1). This is an arm's length transaction. Highlights of the Cabacal project are: Cabacal has an undeveloped Cu-Au mineralization zone extending from near surface to 175m depth, traced over 1.8 km in historical drilling, and open at depth and along strike: Historical mineralisation intersected by BP-M can be exceptionally thick; e.g. Diamond drill hole JUSPD075 21.0 m @ 0.59% Cu & 1.04 g/t Au; The Cabacal project has an extensive database: 600 surface and underground diamond drill holes ("DDH") totalling 70,000 m; 17,300 assay samples (stream sediments, soil, channel and drill core); 2,800 km line of aerial geophysics; 190 km of ground geophysics (magnetics, induced polarisation and electromagnetic); Cabacal has additional targets for Cu-Au-Ag and Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization untested by drilling and defined by geophysical surveys and soil-stream geochemistry; and Exploration and mining tenure covers 18,460 Ha: Extends over a 30km strike length of the prospective Proterozoic greenstone sequence; Highly prospective for repeat VHMS mineralisation. The Cabacal Cu-Au deposit was discovered in 1983 by BP Minerals ("BP-M"), then acquired by Rio Tinto (at the time RTZ) as part their USD 4.3 B acquisition of BP Minerals in 1989. The project was acquired by the Vendors from Rio Tinto in 2005. Cabacal has an historical inferred resource* of 21.7 Mt @ 0.6 % Cu & 0.6 g/t Au completed by Falcon Metais Ltda in 2009 ("Falcon"), as more particularly set out below. * Note: The historic resource was completed by Falcon and presented to the Vendors in a report dated 22 April 2009. The Company has not treated this resource as a current mineral resource for purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Readers are cautioned that the historic resource is not considered to be current for purposes of NI 43-101. The historical resource was estimated via an Inverse Square Distance method, using data from 301 diamond drill holes. A uniform density of 2.7 was applied for tonnage calculation, using 3D solids modelled from 54 sections. A 0.20% Cu Equivalent % cut off grade was applied (CuEquiv % = Cu % + (0.51 * Au ppm); Metallurgical Recovery = 85% Cu, 65% Au; Au price US$ 845 / oz; Cu price US$ 4000 / ton). Given the amount of historic exploration data on the Cabacal project the Company considers the historic resource to be relevant to understand the mineral potential of the Cabacal project. However, as part of its due diligence review of the Cabacal project the Company will seek to validate the historic resource. Historical resource numbers are rounded to 1 decimal place. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Cabacal project is located in the Alto Jauru Belt, a historical centre of gold and base metal mining. The Cabacal Cu-Au deposit was previously mined by BP-M/ RTZ as a shallow, selective high-grade underground operation in in the late 1980's to early 1990's. The main zone of massive to stockwork, stringer and disseminated Cu-Au sulphide mineralization was never mined. Cabacal's Cu-Au mineralisation remains open beyond ~175 meters below surface, and along strike. At the time of mine's closure by RTZ the approximate price for Cu1 and Au2 during 1991 was USD 1.04 per lb & USD 365.0 per ounce, respectively. The mineral system extends over a strike of 1,800m and has been defined by over 400 historic diamond drill holes. It is shallow-dipping, making it an attractive target for open pit development. Table 1: The schedule for the Agreements milestone payments are as follows: To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_001full.jpg Dr Adrian McArthur, CEO & President, states, "Cabacal represents an outstanding opportunity for Meridian's future. Having laid dormant in two small private companies for so long the Company looks forward to leverage off the historical exploration data of RTZ and BP Minerals, and quickly take Cabacal's drilled and mapped Cu-Au mineralization to a NI43-101 statement and then to a feasibility study through a targeted program of infill and confirmation drilling and metallurgical testwork. The extensive mineral system consists of a stacked series of shallow-dipping Cu-Au lenses - an ideal geometry for testing the open-pit development potential. Such deposits tend to occur in clusters, and the existing geophysical and geochemical surveys indicate clear targets in prospective stratigraphy along strike. Securing the 30km Cabacal VMS trend opens up the potential of future resource development and exploration success." History, Geology, and Mineralization Model The Cabacal deposit is located in the SW Amazonian craton in Mato Grosso, an important gold-producing state. The deposit is hosted by in Proterozoic metavolcanic-sediment rocks of the Alto Jauru Greenstone Belt. The belt consists of an association of bimodal volcanic and sedimentary rocks (tholeiitc meta-basalts of the Mata Preta Formation, felsic volcanics of the Manuel Leme Formation, meta-sedimentary rocks of the Rancho Grande Formation, intruded by granites, tonalites, and gabbroic dykes). The discovery of the Cabacal Deposit has its origins in the 1980's gold rush, during which local companies backed by BP International carried out extensive mapping, stream and soil geochemistry, and reconnaissance drilling. which lead to the discovery of the Cabacal Deposit in 1983. The project operated as an underground mine producing 869,279t at 5g/t Au and 0.82% Cu over four years up to 1991. Regional exploration by RTZ and BP consisted of >600 drill holes (70,000 m of drilling), of which 406 holes were drilled at Cabacal. The deposit is considered to be deformed Cu-Au rich end member of the Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) deposit style. Globally, such deposits have been major global hosts of base metals, gold and silver. Deposits tend to form in districts of about 40 km in diameter, that may contain dozens of periodically spaced mineral centres, related to hydrothermal convection cells on the ocean floor. With tilting, deposits may now be at or below the present-day erosional surface. Whilst VHMS deposits are well known for their base metal production, notable examples exist of copper-gold and gold-only end members, including Mt Lyell (Cu-Au) and Henty (Au) of the Mt Read Volcanics (Tasmania, Australia), and LaRonde Penna deposit of the Doyon-Bousquet-mining camp (Quebec, Canada). The immediate host rocks consist of foliated cherts and volcaniclastic rocks, with hydrothermal overprints of variable sericite, biotite, and chlorite alteration. Cu-Au mineralization has been traced over 1.8km in the mine environment, although much of the drilling is focussed over a 750m sector. Mineralization dips moderately, presenting a good geometry for potential open pit development. As part of the due diligence program, the Company will engage SRK to undertake a detailed audit of the database and past foreign resource estimates, to scope the program requirements over the next 12 months. Current interpretations show that the targeted mineralization forms a series of stacked sheets (Figure 2), which individually can have widths of ~ 10 - 40 m and have been traced ~250-500 m down-dip. The due diligence program will assess the Vendors own recommendations to focus a 7200 m drilling program over a 1km strike length of the central Cabacal Cu-Au trend. Comparative chemical and geological analysis by the Vendors twinning a RTZ DDH returned a reliable comparison (Figure 3). The historical mining activity confirms that Cabacal will be amenable to conventional metallurgical processing for VHMS type mineralization. The Cabacal project tenure covers a 30km strike length of the prospective Proterozoic greenstone belt, and comprises: The Cabacal Mining Lease Application (4,028 Ha; 866292/2004) The Santa Helena Mining Lease (875 Ha; 861956/1980) Three exploration licenses: 867407/2008 (9,813 Ha) 866002/2016 (2,566 Ha) 866455/2016 (1,180 Ha) Polymetallic base metal mineralization was more recently exploited at Santa Helena, but the mine is now closed and rehabilitated. Prioritized satellite targets have been defined through a combination of geophysical and geochemical methods, with the VTEM survey in particular highlighting extensions of the prospective stratigraphic horizon. The Vendors have recommended a program of exploratory drilling, to test NE and SW extensions to the Cabacal trend, and satellite targets at the Fazenda Sao Paulo Prospect, Sucuri Prospect, and Fazenda Alamo Prospect. Fig. 1: Regional map showing the location of the Cabacal Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_002full.jpg The Cabacal mineral rights are free and clear from all liens and/or any encumbrances of any nature, including past environmental, mining and employment liabilities. There is one historical 1.5% NSR associated with the Santa Helena project. Meridian is aware that Cabacal is located within the buffer zone of Brazil's frontier and that the Company will comply with all applicable Brazilian Laws. The buffer zone is a political protection zone and not an economic exclusion zone. The terms of the proposed Agreement gives the Company the option, under certain conditions, to return the mineral rights to the Vendors on a "as is" basis, without any obligation to making any outstanding payments and to complying with other obligations. Figure 2: Sections through the Cabacal mineralization, showing shallow-dipping stacked lenses of copper-gold mineralization. (Note: widths, grade, drill orientation and geological sections are from historical data. Please see relevant Note* above) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_003full.jpg Figure 3: Comparative results of 2005 verification drilling by Prometalica compared to historical RTZ drilling. (Note: widths, grade, drill orientation and geological sections are from historical data. Please see relevant Note* above) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_004full.jpg QUALIFIED PERSON The technical information about the Company's exploration activity and exploration target range has been reviewed and approved under the supervision of Dr Adrian McArthur (B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM), the Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. 1 Historical copper price sourced form www.indexmundi.com 2 Historical gold price sourced from www.kitco.com On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining S.E. Adrian McArthur CEO, President and Director ABOUT MERIDIAN Meridian Mining S.E. is focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on exploring and developing the Espigao manganese and polymetallic projects, the Mirante da Serra manganese project, the Ariquemes tin area, and adjacent areas in the state of Rondonia. Further information can be found at https://meridianmining.co/. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this presentation contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration, development and exploitation of its properties and potential mineralisation. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating risks and hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed exploration, development and exploitation of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of its mineral properties, and no mineral reserve estimate or mineral resource estimate has been established. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62579 Bismah Malik By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Global consulting firm, Accenture is laying off 5 per cent of its workforce across all locations which translate to nearly 10,000 roles being cut in India alone. India has the largest employee base of Accenture, nearly 2 lakh out of the 5 lakh global workforce. Accenture CEO, Julie Sweet said in a global internal meeting that was streamed online earlier that in addition to 5 per cent trimming of their workforce, the company may identify more people based on their performance for the action. The National Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), General Secretary, Harpreet Saluja confirmed to The New Indian Express that they have received complaints from the laid-off employees at Accenture and will file a complaint with the Maharashtra Labour department. The employees of Accenture who approached us said that they were asked to resign and upon their refusal to do the same they will not be able to avail the notice period pay as well as gratuity. This is against the labour laws and we are approaching the labour commissioner office, he added. In the UK, Accenture had reportedly laid-off 8 per cent of its workforce (800 employees) in July across all levels and departments. Top industry sources said that the company will trim its workforce in the July-September period and further action will be decided after that. At this time we are not planning extraordinary global workforce actions. Every year, as part of our performance process, we have conversations with our people about how they are performing, areas for improvement, their potential to progress, and whether they are a long term fit for Accenture. This year, across all parts of our business and all career levels, we will identify approximately 5 per cent of our people as our lowest performers, and these individuals will transition out of Accenture. This is consistent with our actions each year. We continue managing our business for the long term and critical to this is ensuring we have the right people with the right skills to best serve our clients. In India, we continue to hire, and as part of our ongoing compensation programs, we also recently recognized a number of our people with bonuses and promotions, Accenture told this publication in an emailed response. The Accenture CEO earlier informed the employees that due to the lack of available projects, the growth has declined from 8 per cent in February before COVID to 1.3 per cent as the pandemic took a toll on the businesses. In response to the queries posed to Sweet related to the changed metrics of performance assessment, she said that on the back of the slowed demand overall, the working hours of the companys staff allocated to the paying clients had dropped below 90 per cent for the first time in a decade and that these tools were necessary to transition out the company. Interestingly, amidst the pandemic, Accenture went on an acquisition spree with five buyouts of boutqiue tech firms in the US, UK, Canada in cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Robotic process automation to expand market reach and clinch large client deals. Accenture had earlier announced setting aside a budget of USD 1.5 billion for mergers and acquisitions. Lucknow, Aug 26 : The toll in the head-on collision between two Uttar Pardesh Roadways buses on Wednesday on the Lucknow-Hardoi road reached six, with over a dozen injured, police said. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the incident and ordered proper treatment of the injured. The Roadways has ordered an inquiry into the incident by a three-member committee, which will submit its report within 24 hours. The two buses coming from opposite directions rammed into each other earlier in the day. While one bus was coming to Lucknow from Hardoi, the other was headed to Hardoi from the state capital. Sources said that the buses were moving at a high speed which led to the accident. The police reached the spot and the injured have been admitted to a local medical facility. The deceased have yet to be identified. UP State Roadways officials have lso reached the site of the accident. One person was killed and two others injured in an explosion that partly destroyed an apartment building in Yerevan early on Wednesday. Both injured residents of the four-story building were rushed to hospital. One of them, a 40-year-old man, was reportedly in a critical condition. Armenias Minister for Emergency Situations Felix Tsolakian suggested that a gas leak was the likely cause of the blast as he oversaw a search and rescue operation conducted by his subordinates. The rescuers needed more than five hours to find and recover the body of the deceased victim buried under the rubble of the buildings destroyed section. Tsolakian said that the 58-year-old man was found lying on his bed. He was probably asleep, the minister told journalists at the scene. Authorities also evacuated 21 other residents of the building located in Yerevans northern Kanaker-Zeytun district. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian pledged to provide them with temporary housing when he inspected the site of the explosion in the morning. According to Tsolakian, the blast destroyed or seriously damaged 12 apartments. It also blew out windows in adjacent apartment blocks. Armenias Investigative Committee was quick to launch a criminal inquiry into the deadly accident. The law-enforcement agency said in the afternoon that its officers are questioning local residents and taking other investigative actions. During the peak days fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Da Nang, besides frontline soldiers like doctors, police and army forces, there are many outstanding examples of pandemic prevention and control bringing up the rear. Nguyen Tien Ca (first left) is always proud of the will of 'Uncle Ho's army' that still resonates in both wartime and peacetime. These normal citizens steep up when the pandemic hit, helping protect themselves, their families and their community from the coronavirus. Veterans enter a new war Hello, all four people in the house please hurry up and take your temperature. Please wake up the kids, remember to put on a face mask." People in the alley of residential group 22 in Hoa Phat Ward, Cam Le District, are accustomed to the familiar husky voice every morning of an elderly man, dressed in a soldier's uniform with a small portable loudspeaker. He calls door to door and medical staff in protective suits follow him to measure peoples temperature and record their health status. The man is Nguyen Tien Ca, 64, head of Veterans Association No 6 and head of residential group 22. From August 16, when a case of COVID-19 was discovered in the community, alleys 882 and 896 on Truong Chinh Street were locked down. Responding to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's call to fight the pandemic, Ca and other veterans in Da Nang who gave their youth, sweat and blood to the country face a new war. This war features no bombs, smoke and fire, but an invisible but very dangerous enemy: the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the 1980s, Ca served in the army in Cambodia for more than three years. Memories of transporting rice in the forest, car trips over bombs and the injuries of a Khmer Rouge ambush are still bold in his mind. More than 40 years later, in the battle against the pandemic, he no longer has a gun, but a thermometer, a steriliser and a portable speaker. He said that on August 16, when ward authorities informed that his neighbourhood had a case of COVID-19, the first thing he did was immediately notify and reassure people in the blocked alley. Facing the current pandemic situation, the task of ensuring food, medicine, and people's thoughts is the most important. Right from the time the case had not been infected, residential group officials regularly encouraged people not to be too confused, worried, and mentally prepared for bad situations, said Ca. When the blockade started, all the necessities, household appliances and foodstuffs of 22 households with 89 people in this area were bought and supplied by us. When people need to ask information, have questions answered or guidance, residents of the neighbourhood and key staff are always enthusiastic to advise, he said. Thanks to that, although being locked down, people in the alley still feel secure. Volunteer Pham Thi Phuong Thanh, a student of the Faculty of Medicine at the Da Nang University is in the same team with Ca. I have medical knowledge and am well trained on pandemic prevention and control, but when working in the community, I still need co-ordination from local veterans and women's union. When they are with me, people will trust, comfortably and obey. Work can be deployed more quickly and effectively," he said. Le Trong Lanh, chairman of Hoa Phat Ward Veterans Association in Cam Le District, said that currently, 15 veterans' associations in the ward are participating in giving instructions in residential areas. It is a difficult time now, thus the job is very meaningful. Veterans always keep the highest sense of responsibility. Despite our old age, we are always ready to take the lead in taking care of the health of life and spirit of our people, ready to support the next generation, Lanh said. Doctor's scrubs sent to front line The steady, throbbing sound of four sewing machines is heard in a small attic and amid the repetitive rhythmic processes of production, doctor's scrubs come into shape. The working atmosphere at the Women's Union No 15, Hoa Tho Dong Ward in Cam Le District is busy, where women sew clothes for doctors at the front line to fight the pandemic. In the quiet time of social distancing, the small house at the end of the alley belonging to resident group 53 in Hoa Tho Dong Ward is bustling with sewing machines. That is the home of Nguyen Thi Thu Nga, head of the Women's Union No 15, where women in the union gather to do volunteer work for the community. After presenting their ideas and getting consent from the Hoa Tho Dong Ward Women's Union, Nga and four other members launched a programme to sew scrubs to give to frontline doctors. Each of the clothes is cherished and careful with the women, sending their love and appreciation in every needle line and thread. VNA/VNS Photos Quoc Dung After seeing pictures of doctors drenched in clothes, their hands wrinkled with sweat due to continuous protective clothing, I feel very sorry. "My family works in the fashion sector, has many sewing machines and necessary tools, I got the idea of sewing a lot of blouses for the doctors. "I hope that when there are clothes to change more often, the doctors will not get sweaty, ensuring better health. "I am glad that the idea is supported enthusiastically by the women's union and its members," Nga said. Four other members of the Women's Union No 15 gathered at Nga's house to start working. The goal is to complete 50 sets of scrubs in seven days to present to doctors. The living room of Nga's house is used to cut fabric, iron clothes, and the attic is for sewing and spinning. Nga's daughter, who studies and does business in fashion design, supports her mother with shaping and styling. The goal was to match the hospital model and be comfortable, easy to wear, and quick to change. The most important thing is the fabric, to give doctors a cool, soft fabric. They are very careful when making male and female models separately and have three sizes. Each pair of scrubs is cherished by the women, sending their love and appreciation in every needle line and thread. To have durable clothes for the doctors, the women worked hard from 7am to 6pm daily. Nguyen Thi To Trang, chairwoman of the Hoa Tho Dong Ward Womens Union, said sewing scrubs for doctors was a new idea that is being piloted in group 14 and 15, where the members are tailors. It is expected that by the beginning of next week, when completing 50 sets, we will work with the Cam Le District Women's Union to present to the hospitals in need. We are calling for more funding to buy raw materials to expand," she said. I am not afraid of difficulties and hard work. If someone supports us with materials, other women and I in the team can sew up to 2,000 blouse sets per month to donate to the doctors and nurses. "I hope to contribute to energising the frontline anti-pandemic forces. I believe that the difficult days will soon pass, returning peace to Da Nang," Nga said. VNS Students volunteer to fight pandemic in Da Nang Vo Thanh Dong and Nguyen Thi Hien started helping with COVID-19 prevention and control work at the Hoa Tien Commune Medical Station in Da Nang's Hoa Vang District on Sunday. Joint Russia-Turkey Patrol Comes Under Fire in Idlib Sputnik News 09:36 GMT 25.08.2020(updated 10:06 GMT 25.08.2020) Last week, the Russian centre for Syrian reconciliation stated that Turkish troops were hit by an unidentified explosive device while patrolling a highway in Syria's Idlib. The Russian military reported on Tuesday that a joint Russia-Turkey patrol came under fire in Idlib, Syria. The incident resulted in an armoured vehicle being damaged and two Russian servicemen being slightly injured. "On August 25, during the 23d joint Russian-Turkish patrol along the M-4 highway in the vicinity of the Urum al-Joz settlement in the Idlib de-escalation zone's southern part, the patrol motorcade was fired upon from a hand anti-tank grenade launcher. As a result, an armoured personnel carrier of the Russian military police was damaged. Two Russian servicemen sustained light concussions," the centre said. According to the press release, the Russian and Turkish commanders in Syria are currently cooperating with the Syrian security forces to determine which one of the armed groups present in Idlib could have been behind the attack. Turkey and Russia started joint patrolling of the M4 highway, which connects the Syrian provinces of Latakia and Aleppo, on 15 March. The initial route was shortened shortly afterwards because of provocations staged by local rebels. According to the Russian centre for Syrian reconciliation, the terrorists had been trying to use civilians, women and children included, as human shields. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Donald Trump's presidency has been marked by theatrics, turmoil and dazzling made-for-TV spectacles. And then there's Mike Pence. The subdued and austere vice president -- both Trump's most loyal lieutenant and, in some ways, his antithesis -- gets his moment in the spotlight Wednesday when he delivers the keynote speech of the Republican National Convention's third night. It's a pivotal moment for Pence, 61, ahead of his own potential 2024 bid for the White House. No one has so completely tied his own personal political fortunes to Trump as Pence. Vice presidents are expected to stay in line and keep any disagreements with their bosses private, but those with presidential ambitions will occasionally make token demonstrations of independence. Not Pence, whose unswerving loyalty, his critics say, extends to the point of obsequiousness. If Trump wins re-election, Pence may be rewarded with his own shot at the presidency. But just like his boss, Pence's future has been thrown into doubt by the coronavirus outbreak. The vice president had two high-profile jobs this year: lead the White House's coronavirus task force and help deliver the Midwest for Trump's re-election. Neither file has gone very well, with more than 178,000 Americans dead from the virus and Trump trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in polls of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, the states that determined the presidency in 2016. In Republican circles, Pence has developed a reputation for unfailing loyalty, discretion and solemnity in an administration often marked by the opposite. Pence has become, in the words of one ally, a "utility infielder," and his speeches are relentlessly lauding of Trump. "The choice in this election has never been clearer and the stakes have never been higher," Pence said Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina, before Republican convention delegates voted to renominate Trump. "We're going to make America great again -- again." Pence will speak Wednesday from Fort McHenry outside Baltimore, inspiration for the "Star-Spangled Banner." The convention has opened a sort of window into the 2024 Republican primary, featuring speeches by potential Pence rivals including Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo, Tom Cotton and perhaps even Donald Trump Jr., who is popular among the president's base. A win in November will cement Pence as a top-tier candidate to succeed Trump, though by no means a clear front-runner. A loss would severely wound his prospects. If all of Pence's speeches so far are any indication, he can be expected on Wednesday to glorify a president who brought him to the national stage and will determine how long he stays there. "I'm a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order," Pence said during his introductory convention speech four years ago, before poking fun at himself. Trump is "a man known for a larger personality, a colorful style and lots of charisma," Pence said at the time. "And so, I guess he was just looking for some balance on the ticket." Pence's reputation matches that description; one Capitol Hill Republican called him boring but harmless. He shares almost none of Trump's style, but has survived four years largely unscathed by White House infighting and rivalries in part because he never breaks with Trump publicly. For example, Pence has not contested any of Trump's false claims about the virus or his criticism of members of Pence's task force. The deeply religious vice president stayed quiet when his boss, who seldom attends church, questioned Biden's faith. Pence has also survived in part by ingratiating himself with the Trump family. When Donald Trump Jr.'s son broke his leg in 2017, Pence quickly called to check in on how the child was doing, a story Trump Jr. tells frequently, one Republican close to the Trump family said. Pence has never put his own beliefs, agenda or ambitions ahead of the president, the person said. "He is solid as a rock," Trump said earlier this month of Pence. "He's been a fantastic vice president. He's done everything you can do. He's respected by every religious group -- whether it's evangelical, whether it's any other group, they respect Mike Pence." That remark hints at one of Pence's most essential roles: a conduit for Trump to white evangelical Christians, a powerful faction of the Republican Party and a sure base for a future Pence presidential campaign. Pence is "the reason this administration is more pro-life than any in the history of this country," former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker said at the convention this week. Walker called him the "perfect partner" for Trump, recalling Pence comforting Walker's ailing mother before arranging a call from Trump himself. "He's Midwest nice, but he's strong." Trump appointed Pence as chair of the coronavirus task force in late January. The vice president has gone beyond Trump in following the advice of health officials, including more often wearing a mask in public. He kept task force meetings going privately after Trump ended its public briefings in April, and he has acted as something of a buffer between health officials and U.S. governors combating the outbreak and a president prone to disputing or even disparaging them. Pence has frequently served as a White House point-of-contact for leaders across the country who either can't reach Trump or would prefer to go through Pence. "He's a good hand, he's a reliable adviser, understands politics without being captured by politics, and is just rock-solid steady," said Heather Wilson, a Republican who served in Congress with Pence and a former Air Force Secretary under Trump who is now president of The University of Texas at El Paso. When it came time to quietly notify the administration she was considering departing, she called Pence. "He's very discreet, and because he's discreet, people trust him," Wilson said. "He's got tremendous capability that's maybe even undervalued from the outside." On the re-election campaign, however, the Pence is considered "President Trump's top asset," said Ken Farnaso, a campaign spokesman. He has made 73 trips to over two dozen states in the past year and is Trump's top surrogate to the crucial Midwest, officials familiar with the matter said. They asked not to be identified discussing campaign strategy. Pence held two bus tours in Pennsylvania last month and has made regular trips to Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa -- conveniently, the likely first state on the 2024 primary schedule. He has a penchant for Main Street whistle-stops, dropping into burger joints and coffee shops to chat up locals, the kind of face-to-face campaigning Trump avoids. "It's undeniable that his retail-style politics is complementary to the president," Farnaso said. After Wednesday night, Pence's highest-profile moment in the campaign will arrive Oct. 7 when he debates Biden's running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris. The vice president has sought to raise expectations for his opponent, a former prosecutor. "She's a skilled debater," he said in an interview on Fox Business Network last week. "But what I'm more looking forward to is 74 days of debating her team, their agenda, versus the proven record of President Donald Trump." The recent torrential rains and landslide resulted in the deaths of the chief priest and his family members at Talacauvery, the birthplace of river Cauvery. The Brahmin priest Narayana Achar, his wife and three other family members perished in a huge landslide, last week. Now, the Kodava community, the natives of the hilly district, have demanded that the state government should return priestly duties to them from the Brahmins. Locals fear that if this issue is not dealt with carefully, it might lead to a legal battle which could take on a political colour. Every year, lakhs of devotees visit Talacauvery and Bhagamandala to offer prayers to goddess Cauvery. Amma Kodavas, a priestly class among the Kodavas have made an official request to the Deputy Commissioner of the district in this regard. According to them, the pooja and all other associated rituals at Talacauvery were handled by Amma Kodavas for centuries and the Brahmins had no role in Kodava religious traditions and rituals. About 150 years ago, after the annexation of princely state of Kodagu or Coorg by the British in mid-19th century, the priestly jobs were transferred to the Brahmins from the neighbouring Mysore kingdom. Since then, the Brahmins have been conducting all religious activities at Talacauvery, which is a holy place for the Kodavas and other communities. According to Amma Kodava community leader Bananda N Prathyu, their community had transferred the rights of worship to Brahmins due to certain reasons. However, they argue that there are hundreds of historical records to prove their claims that Amma Kodavas have an ancient connection with river Cauvery and its origins. We are the original inhabitants of Kodagu district. We are nature worshippers. Cauvery is our goddess. We have the first right to worship at Talacauvery and Igguthappa temple, he said. After the tragic death of priest Narayana Achar and his wife, their two daughters who live in Australia, rushed back home to perform their parents last rites. According to a report in the Kannada daily Vijayavani, when the local government officials issued a compensation in their names, they informed them that they are no longer Hindus and have converted to Christianity. This revelation has now created a furore among the devotees of Cauvery. Since the deceased priest was a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP), this has now taken a political colour with opposition parties questioning BJPs commitment to Hinduism. The priests daughters have declined to comment on the conversion and have gone incommunicado. Local Tahasildar has confirmed that their given names and names on record dont match. The Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu, Anees Kanmani Joy has informed the Kodavas that she would discuss their demand at the highest level and would try to find a solution at the earliest. However, some fringe groups are opposing the handing over of the temple to Kodavas, by calling it a violation of old tradition. Kodagu, Karnatakas tiny district is known as the coffee bowl of India. With its deep forests, rivers, waterfalls and hills, Kodagu is also known as the Scotland of Karnataka. It was ruled by the Lingayat Kings from the Haleri dynasty till 1830s. The last King Chikka Veera Rajendra was a despot and the British exploited the resentment among his subjects to annex Kodagu with British India. The deposed King was sent to Vellore in Tamil Nadu and later Benares, now Varanasi, to keep him away from his subjects. Hoping to get his Kingdom back, Chikka Veera Rajendra travelled to England to lobby with Queen Victoria and the British Parliament. After his efforts to secure the Kingdom failed, a dejected King died in London and was buried there. His granddaughter Victoria Gowramma, whose only son died in the First World War, breathed her last in London in 1930s ending the line of succession. The British ruled Coorg/Kodagu as a separate state for over a century till 1947. It was a separate state with an Assembly till 1956. In 1956, Kodagu was merged with Karnataka State. The martial race of Kodavas have produced two of Indias best Army Chiefs Field Marshal KM Cariappa and General KS Thimmaya. They have their own language Kodava Thakk. The Central Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has expressed concern about the blatant disregard for COVID-19 protocols at public places especially pubs. It described the social distancing arrangements, no nose mask, no entry signs, washing of hands, use of sanitizers, staff and security checks as woefully inadequate to sustain the gains of containing the pandemic. Mr Kwame Gyasi, Regional Director of GTA expressed the concerns after a three-day inspection of some selected facilities across the Region to assess their adherence to Covid-19 protocols. The move, which was part of a nationwide exercise to enforce compliance took the GTA team to 108 facilities at Winneba, Apam, Mankessim, Gomoa Assin and Cape Coast. The team found the general Covid-19 compliance level of provision of Veronica buckets, hand sanitizers and checking of temperatures to be 60 percent, but poor adherence to the protocols especially at night where people deliberately disregard the protocols. GTA also found out that security arrangements to ensure compliance at the facilities were relaxed though many of them have the Veronica buckets and other required items. He told patrons as well as management to ensure that the staff of the facilities obeyed the protocols and charged facility managers to endeavour to display no nose mask no entry signs and ensure people washed their hands and observed the social distancing rules. In collaboration with other stakeholders, Mr Gyasi indicated that the Authority will not hesitate to apply the law to the latter if managers of facilities were found to have blatantly disregarded strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols to serve as deterrent to others. He urged stakeholders to strictly abide by the industry and the Ghana Health Service protocols to maintain standards and to help ensure that businesses survived. He assured of his outfit's support for all players in the hotel and tourism sector to adhere to the protocols and sustain businesses to grow. 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 KENOSHA, WI -- Police have arrested a 17-year-old Illinois teen in connection with the killing of two people during a protest Tuesday night. According to the Associated Press, Kyle Rittenhouse, a white male from Antioch, Illinois, was apprehended Wednesday, hours after he allegedly shot and killed two people who were at the protest. A video of the shooting shared on social media shows a young white shooter open fire on multiple people after falling down while running. The shooter can be seen running through a crowd with a large gun as people are chasing him. The shooter then falls down and as the crowd gets close, he opens fire, striking at least two people, one of whom remains on the ground. The shooter then stands up, fires a few more shots, and walks toward oncoming police vehicles. Officers initially did not stop the shooter, and allowed him to keep walking by, despite pleas from others who told police he shot someone. I just killed somebody, the gunman could be heard saying, the AP reports. The shooter was running through the crowd after allegedly shooting another person in the parking lot of a car dealership moments before the video starts. We were all chanting Black lives matter at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `Thats not fireworks, 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, He shot someone! He shot someone! And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again. Sheriff David Beth said one of the deceased was shot in the head and another in the chest. A third person shot in the melees was injured, but is expected to survive. The victims have only been identified as a 26-year-old Silver Lake, Wisconsin, resident and a 36-year-old from Kenosha. The wounded person is a 36-year-old from West Allis, Wisconsin. Beth rationalized why the shooter was allowed to leave the scene by saying the chaotic nature of the situation may have caused responding officers to miss him. I can picture all kinds of reasons why I wasnt focusing on people doing that. In situations that are high stress, you have such incredible tunnel vision, you have no idea whats outside here when youre looking right here, he said. Other videos and images from the scene Tuesday night show a young man believed to be Rittenhouse with members of a Wisconsin militia group prior to the shootings. In one video, officers in armored vehicles hand a group of armed civilians bottles of water and praise the group. Rittenhouse is believed to have been in that group. We appreciate you being here, an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. The militia group has been patrolling the streets in recent nights as protesters and police continue to clash in the city. Social media profiles believed to belong to Rittenhouse feature him consistently praising police and sharing messages of Blue Lives Matter. Theyre a militia, Beth said. Theyre like a vigilante group. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, responded to the shootings saying she is not surprised. Barnes, who is Black, went on to say militia groups have been ignored for too long. How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks its OK? Barnes said. People treat that like its some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles. The shootings came on the third night of violence in the city as protesters continue to demand justice for Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man who was shot several times by a Kenosha police officer over the weekend. That shooting was also captured on video. Blakes lawyer Ben Crump said Tuesday that it will take a miracle for his client to be able to walk again. Crump has called for the officer who shot Blake to be charged and the officers involved to be fired. Kenosha police have not released any information on why the officers opened fire, whether Blake was armed and have not disclosed the race of three officers involved. In response to Tuesday nights shooting, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has ordered the sending of 500 members of the National Guard to Kenosha to respond to the ongoing protests. A curfew has also been ordered which goes into effect at 7 p.m. Wednesday night. A senseless tragedy like this cannot happen again, Evers, a Democrat, said in a statement. I again ask those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights please do so peacefully and safely, as so many did last night. I also ask the individuals who are not there to exercise those rights to please stay home and let local first responders, law enforcement and members of the Wisconsin National Guard do their jobs. PARIS (AP)French Champagne producers decided Aug. 18 to put unprecedented limits on the quantity of grapes theyll harvest this year in hopes of propping up prices and containing damage from the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, record amounts of grapes may need to be destroyed or sold to distilleries at discounted prices. But for the Champagne Committee, the influential group that represents 16,000 vintners around Frances Champagne region, thats the price to pay for saving their luxury business. Vintners in Champagne country will only be allowed to collectively harvest 8,000 kilograms (17,637 pounds) of grapes per hectare (2.5 acres) this season, or the equivalent of 230 million bottles for the whole region, according to the decision. That is 21 percent less than the amounts allowed last year. Like the organizations that coordinate policies for oil-producing countries, the Champagne Committee regulates the size of the grape harvest each year to avoid the kind of excess production that would cause bottle prices to plummet. But this years discussions took on unprecedented importance after the industry collectively lost $2 billion in sales because of virus lockdown measures. The pandemic flattened the fizz for Champagne and the celebratory mood that drives the business: weddings were canceled, first-class flights grounded, and restaurants and night clubs shuttered around the world. Champagne revenues this year have already fallen by a third, a plunge unmatched in living memory. Producers expect about 100 million bottles to be languishing unsold in their cellars by the end of 2020, and some predict the crisis could last for years. Champagne, the wine of joie de vivre, of conviviality and celebration, is particularly affected by the global economic crisis linked to COVID-19, the committee said in a statement announcing what it called unprecedented measures to limit the damage. London, June 14 (IANS) People are sleeping for longer hours during lockdowns and work from home scenario as they do not need to travel to workplaces but the quality of sleep has become worse in many, reveals new research. Image Source: IANS News Covid-19 stressing you out? 8 ways you can sleep better. Image Source: IANS News Beijing, Aug 26 : Many believe that lying down for a snooze is a harmless activity but now, a new study shows that napping for longer than an hour is linked to higher risk of heart disease and death. Previous research on the link between daytime naps and death or cardiovascular disease has produced conflicting results. In addition, it did not account for the duration of night-time sleep. This study, presented at 'ESC Congress 2020 The Digital Experience', summarised the available evidence to assess the relationship between napping and the risks of all-cause death and cardiovascular disease. A total of 3,13,651 participants from more than 20 studies were included in the analysis. Some 39 per cent of participants took naps. "Daytime napping is common all over the world and is generally considered a healthy habit," said study author Dr. Zhe Pan of Guangzhou Medical University, China. "A common view is that napping improves performance and counteracts the negative consequences of 'sleep debt'. Our study challenges these widely held opinions," Pan added. The analysis found that long naps (more than 60 minutes) were associated with a 30 per cent greater risk of all-cause death and 34 per cent higher likelihood of cardiovascular disease compared to no napping. When night-time sleep was taken into account, long naps were linked with an elevated risk of death only in those who slept more than six hours per night. Overall, naps of any length were linked with a 19 per cent elevated risk of death. The connection was more pronounced in women, who had a 22 per cent greater likelihood of death with napping compared to no napping, and older participants, whose risk rose by 17 per cent with naps. Short naps (less than 60 minutes) were not risky for developing cardiovascular disease. "The results suggest that shorter naps (especially those less than 30 to 45 minutes) might improve heart health in people who sleep insufficiently at night," Dr. Pan said The reasons why napping affects the body are still uncertain, some studies have suggested that long snoozes are linked with higher levels of inflammation, which is risky for heart health and longevity. "Other research has connected napping with high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor overall physical health," the study authors wrote. Sudden drops in the flow of the Deschutes River have been registered several times this week, causing concern among biologists for the health of fish along the middle stretch of the river. The Deschutes River flows at a rate of 115 to 125 cubic feet per second this time of year below the North Canal dam near North Division Street in Bend. Three times this week the flow of the water plummeted to less than 60 cubic feet per second for brief periods of time before returning to normal levels. Sudden drops in the level of the Deschutes can leave fish and other aquatic creatures stranded in shallow pools or even out of the water. The flow of the Deschutes is regulated by the dam at Wickiup Reservoir, but disruptions in the flow can occur downstream at dams or diversions. The drop Monday reached as low as 48 cubic feet per second. The Tuesday drop was down to 52 cubic feet per second, and the Wednesday drop was down to 57 cubic feet per second, according to data on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation website. The reason for the sudden drop in river flow is being investigated by the irrigation districts that use water from the Deschutes. Mike Britton, general manager for North Unit Irrigation District, agreed that the most likely possibility for the disruption is the presence of large amounts of aquatic weeds and other floating material in the river that gets caught at diversions. When debris (aquatic weeds) build up on diversions, head builds up, and water gets pushed back into the river, said Britton. When the diversions are cleaned of the debris, the water gets pulled back into the diversions. River response to these actions is not instantaneous so the river ebbs and flows as the head in the river changes. Head is the pressure that forms at a diversion when back-ups occur. Britton said the problem often occurs late in the irrigation season. Britton said the irrigation districts are working together with the Oregon Water Resources Department to minimize the fluctuations. Kyle Gorman, region manager for the Oregon Water Resources Department, was advised by the districts that the debris build-up occurs at fish screens at the head of the canals where they connect to the river. When the screens are cleaned, a surge of water enters the canal causing headgate adjustments. Those adjustments create dips in the flow of the river. The system is set up to be automated but is not capable of handling quick, large changes, said Gorman. Britton has not ruled out other possibilities for the erratic river flows. Fluctuations can occur when PacifiCorp modifies operations at its power plant in Bend, he said. Disruptions can also occur when wave adjustments are made at the whitewater park in Bend. Shon Rae, deputy managing director for Central Oregon Irrigation District, confirmed that the COID diversion has been affected by aquatic material and the district is working to resolve the matter. Rae added that deliveries to customers have also been curtailed to 80% of normal recently due to low river flows and that number will likely be trimmed to 75% next week. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife was not immediately able to confirm the impact of the river level drops on fish populations. The sudden reduction in flows undoubtedly led to some level of stranding, said Brett Hodgson, Deschutes District fish biologist. To what degree, its hard to say. Hodgson added that the flow reduction also came at a time when fish populations are already stressed from low flows and warm temperatures in the river. Juvenile fish that occupy shallower habitats near the banks are most vulnerable to stranding, he said. The impacts are cumulative, said Hodgson. A stressed fish faced with rapidly changing environmental conditions will have compromised health and potential mortality. This may not show up right away, rather they may (have) latent impacts. We will attempt to do some sampling early next week and see if we can do at least do a qualitative evaluation. The following Houston-area hospitals and clinics are closing or relocating services due to the ongoing threat of Hurricane Laura. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Harris Health System Harris Health is closing all outpatient healthcare facilities at noon on Wednesday through Thursday. Patients will be contacted to reschedule appointments. The facilities include the following: Acres Home Health Center, Aldine Health Center, Ambulatory Surgical Center at LBJ, Baytown Health Center, Ben Taub Tower, Casa de Amigos Health Center, Cypress Health Center, Danny Jackson Health Center, El Franco Lee Health Center, Gulfgate Health Center, Harris Health Dental Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center, Margo Hilliard Alford Clinic, Monroe Clinic, Northwest Health Center, Pediatric & Adolescent Health CenterBear Creek, Pediatric and Adolescent Health CenterC.E. Odom, Pediatric and Adolescent Health CenterPasadena, Quentin Mease Building, Riverside Dialysis Center, Robindell Clinic, Sareen Clinic at India House, Settegast Health Center, Smith Clinic, Squatty Lyons Health Center, Strawberry Health Center, Sunset Heights Clinic, Thomas Street Health Center and Vallbona Health Center Harris Health System Memorial Hermann Memorial Hermann has temporarily postponed all elective, non-urgent surgeries and procedures beginning the afternoon of Wednesday through the end of day Thursday. Memorial Hermann tentatively plans to resume these procedures at all facilities on Friday. Several Memorial Hermann outpatient facilities will close this week and are expected to reopen on Friday. MD Anderson The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centers League City location will be closed Wednesday through Friday. All other MD Anderson locations (Texas Medical Center, Bellaire, Memorial City, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and West Houston) will close at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and be closed through Thursday. Texas Children's Outpatient clinic appointments and elective surgeries set for Thursday will be rescheduled. Texas Childrens Specialty Care Clear Lake and Texas Childrens Specialty Care Kingwood will be closed on Wednesday. Both locations for The Centers for Children and Women will close beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday. Many of the hospital system's appointments scheduled for Wednesday will be converted to a video visit or rescheduled. See below for the hospital system's full plans: Texas Childrens Hospitals Medical Center Campus: All outpatient clinic appointments scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26 in Mark A. Wallace Tower will be converted to a video visit or rescheduled. All surgical cases and all other outpatient appointments at Legacy Tower will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. All outpatient clinic appointments scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26 in Mark A. Wallace Tower will be converted to a video visit or rescheduled. All surgical cases and all other outpatient appointments at Legacy Tower will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. Texas Childrens Pavilion for Women: All surgical cases and outpatient appointments at the Pavilion for Women will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. All surgical cases and outpatient appointments at the Pavilion for Women will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. Texas Childrens Hospital West Campus: All outpatient clinic appointments scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Texas Childrens Hospital West Campus will be converted to a video visit or rescheduled. All surgical cases at West Campus will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. All outpatient clinic appointments scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Texas Childrens Hospital West Campus will be converted to a video visit or rescheduled. All surgical cases at West Campus will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. Texas Childrens Hospital The Woodlands Campus: All surgical cases and all other outpatient appointments at The Woodlands will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. All surgical cases and all other outpatient appointments at The Woodlands will proceed as scheduled Wednesday. Texas Childrens Pediatrics/Urgent Care locations: Determined on a case-by-case basis Determined on a case-by-case basis Texas Childrens Specialty Care locations: Determined on a case-by-case basis Find continuing coverage of Hurricane Laura here on Chron.com. Except the final semester, other examinations for undergraduate and postgraduate students are cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said here on Wednesday. Except the final semester exams, students who have paid fee for subjects related to other semesters and waiting for exams shall be exempted from taking the examinations and they would be awarded marks, he said. Accepting the request of students considering their welfare and as per the recommendations of a high level committee, the decision has been taken, Palaniswami said in a statement. Also, the move is in sync with the guidelines of the University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education, he noted. Palaniswami said he has directed the Higher Education Department to issue a detailed Government Order on the matter. UG students in their first and second year pursuing polytechnic, arts and science and those in first, second and third year of their engineering courses were exempted from writing their semester exams and allowed to move on to the next academic year by Palaniswami on July 23. Similarly, first year postgraduate students of arts, science and engineering streams and first and second year MCA students were also given the exemption and allowed to advance to the next year. China and US chief trade negotiators hold talks, agree to push for phase one deal Global Times By Chu Daye Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/25 20:45:35 Last Updated: 2020/8/25 21:38:35 The phone call made on Tuesday by chief trade talk negotiators from China and the US and the ensuing announcements showed that there is still enough will from the two sides to implement the phase one trade deal, despite doubts that the deal might be on shaky ground after the call was not held at a pre-scheduled time, Chinese analysts said on Tuesday. They also hinted at the idea of the US loosening its curbs on Huawei, a buyer with huge purchasing power that may help accelerate the implementation of the deal. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held a phone conversation with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday at the latters' invitation and the two sides had "constructive" dialogue over the phase one deal, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday. The call was originally scheduled for August 15, but was delayed. US President Donald Trump later said he had canceled the talk, Bloomberg reported. The two sides had constructive dialogue on how to strengthen bilateral coordination on macroeconomic policies, and on implementation of the phase one economic and trade agreement. The two sides also agreed to create conditions and an atmosphere conducive to pushing forward with the implementation of the trade deal, according to Xinhua. Analysts pointed out that this is by far the most positive communication between the two sides in recent weeks amid increasingly strained ties, with no blaming rhetoric used in each side's announcements. Song Guoyou, director of Fudan University's Center for Economic Diplomacy, said the phone call sent a positive signal to the world. "The delayed China-US call being eventually held shows that China and the US' trade and economic cooperation centered around implementing the trade deal will continue," said Song. "[The call] shows both sides still have enough will to continue to implement the phase one trade deal," Song noted. In addition to the protection of intellectual property, the opening-up of China's financial sectors and the so-called issues around technology transfers, "the parties also discussed the significant increase in purchases of US products by China, as well as future actions required to implement the agreement," read a press release posted on the website of the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, noted that, judging from the information in the news release, the subtext of both sides agreeing to foster an atmosphere conducive to the implementation of the trade deal could be positive news for Huawei, which is currently under attack from the Trump administration. As the US presidential election nears, the Trump administration has escalated its crackdown on Chinese technology companies in addition to its efforts at decoupling and adding pressure on issues related to China's core interests such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South China Sea. Notably, the Trump administration's attacks on Chinese short-video platform TikTok and social messaging app WeChat have drawn broad criticism both abroad and within the US. However, experts have hinted that the one Chinese tech company that might be involved in the trade deal talk is Huawei, not TikTok nor WeChat, as the latter pair are not related to trade in theory. The trade deal requires China to buy $77.7 billion of US manufactured goods within two years. "Whether or not the US eases its purchase ban order on Huawei is related to the effective implementation of the phase one trade deal. The Chinese telecommunications giant alone purchases about one-third of all Chinese imports of US manufactured goods by value," Gao said, predicting there will be some change regarding Huawei. Huawei purchased $18.7 billion worth of US products in 2019. Deal 'precious' Experts said despite that Trump is appearing to be "tough" on China in front of his supporters, it is the US side that is more willing to see the successful implementation of the deal. The US badly wants the deal to move forward , said Gao, who has been closely following the trade negotiations. "This is one of the few existing presentable talking points the Trump administration can use to appeal to its supporters." Gao noted that the deal, according to its text, can be dissolved automatically within 60 days at the request of one party. "The deal is made precious by the current strained ties between China and the US, as in that both countries - the government and the people - can accept it." Analysts said the continuation of the phase one deal has exposed that the hyping about decoupling by some in the US is unrealistic and the fact that China became the top trading partner for the US during the pandemic further highlighted the real-world demand of economic and trade cooperation between the world's two largest economies. The continued implementation of the phase one deal will further grow the base for China-US trade and economic cooperation, making decoupling increasingly difficult, analysts said. China has been ramping up its purchase of US agricultural products and energy products especially in recent months, despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted normal trade flows. In the first seven months of this year, China's trade with the US reached 2.03 trillion yuan ($293.7 billion), down 3.3 percent year-on-year, Chinese customs data showed. From August 7 to 14, China has also been active in importing US soybeans, buying 2.3 million tons, according to the US Soybean Export Council. Speaking at the Republican National Convention on Monday, Trump said US farmers are doing well and China is "ordering more corn than we've ever thought possible." "And now I have farmers calling me up, 'Sir, we love China very much. Please don't be too tough on them,'" the US President told his supporters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cissie Graham Lynch and Jerushah Duford are both granddaughters of the late evangelical leader Billy Graham, but they stand on opposite ends of the Trump spectrum. Lynch delivered an address at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, where she called President Trump a "fierce advocate" of faith, condemned transgender inclusion, and accused Democrats of trying to make "faith organizations pay for abortion-inducing drugs," apparently referring to birth control, which does not induce abortion. Duford also made her political stance clear on Tuesday, writing in an op-ed for USA Today that "every big decision" in her life has been "guided by faith," but now she feels "disoriented as I watch the church I have always served turn their eyes away from everything it teaches." Many Christian women have been telling her they also have experienced a "tug at their spirit," felt when they hear Trump say things about "government housing having no place in America's suburbs" or his border wall, "designed to keep out the very people scripture tells us to welcome." Seeing Trump holding up a Bible in Lafayette Square earlier this summer, minutes after peaceful protesters were tear gassed, should have offended "anyone intimately familiar with the word in it," Duford said. Yet few evangelical leaders have come forward to say Trump's "behavior is antithetical to the Jesus we serve." Because of this, the "entire world has watched the term 'evangelical' become synonymous with hypocrisy and disingenuousness," Duford declared, and "my faith and my church have become a laughing stock." Duford does not want Christian women to ignore the "disrespect and misogyny" being shown by Trump, and she emphasized that they "represent God before we represent any political party or leader." In November, she said, evangelical women must "embrace your inner tug, and allow it to lead you to use the power of your God-given voice and not allow Trump to lead this country for another four years." Read the entire op-ed at USA Today. More stories from theweek.com Trump's RNC role is a much bigger mistake than Republicans realize Kenosha Police face outrage over their seemingly preferential treatment of shooting suspect Kellyanne Conway delivers ostensible farewell address at RNC Francois-Philippe Champagne and Chinas Wang Yi held 90 minutes of talks in Rome as ties between the two countries sour. Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Rome on Tuesday and urged Beijing to release two Canadian citizens it detained late in 2018. Champagne also raised Canadas opposition to Chinas treatment of Hong Kong, said a government official who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation. Champagne, in Europe on an official trip, met Wang in a hotel for 90 minutes. The two men previously held face-to-face talks in Japan in November 2019. Wang was in Rome to attend events marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and the Peoples Republic of China, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. Ties between the two countries deteriorated in December 2018 after Canadian police arrested Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, on a US extradition warrant. Soon after, China detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig and charged them with spying. It also blocked imports of some canola seed. Minister Champagne again reiterated that the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor remain a top priority and that Canada continues to call on China to immediately release both men, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Earlier this month, a Chinese court in Guangzhou also sentenced Canadian national, Xu Weihong, to death for drug-related charges. Last year, two other Canadians, Robert Lloyd Schellenberg and Fan Wei, were also sentenced to death in separate drug cases. Prisoner swap? China has denied that the detentions of Spavor and Kovrig, or the death sentences of the three Canadians are linked to Mengs case and Huawei. Spavor, 44, is a businessman with ties to North Korea, while Kovrig works for the International Crisis Group (ICG), a non-governmental organisation that focuses on conflict resolution. No further details were released regarding the meeting between Champagne and Wang. But earlier reports said there have been some proposals of a prisoner swap of sorts, with one senior Canadian official suggesting intervention in the extradition process to release Meng in exchange for the repatriation of the two Canadians. According to the Canadian foreign ministry, the two diplomats also discussed the importance of global collaboration in the face of COVID-19, including the search for a vaccine, as well as Hong Kong. Last month, Canada suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong following new Chinese national security legislation and said it could boost immigration from the former British colony. In response, China said Canada had grossly interfered in Chinese affairs, adding that the new legislation would safeguard security in Hong Kong. Albany, N.Y. New York will continue to enforce its policy requiring quarantines for some travelers, despite a recent change in guidance on the topic from the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The CDC last week dropped a recommendation that travelers returning from international trips or anywhere with a high number of coronavirus cases self-quarantine for 14 days. New York has been requiring quarantines for travelers from areas where the coronavirus is still spreading rapidly since June and will continue to do so, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. I consider it political propaganda, he said of the guidance change. I think it is wholly indefensible on its face. Private companies should not follow the new guidance either, he added. Cuomo also criticized the CDC for changing its advice on Covid-19 testing. The agency now says people do not necessarily need a test if they have come in close contact with an infected person if they are not showing symptoms. No public health experts would recommend that change, Cuomo said during a conference call with reporters. The only plausible explanation is pressure from President Donald Trump to reduce testing, and thus reported cases. He now has the CDC carrying forward his political agenda, Cuomo said. And it is frightening. And it is alarming. The changes make no sense from a public health standpoint, he said. Cuomo criticized the CDCs entire record during the pandemic. He said the agency should have done more to track the virus before it left China and described it as disgraced. Those at the CDC should feel shame for politicizing public health, Cuomo said. They have been wrong more than they have been right, he said. And we know they have been bullied by the president. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Music venues across New York file federal lawsuit challenging states live music restrictions How will CNY fare when flu season crashes into coronavirus pandemic? Its up to us No Syracuse University athlete has tested positive for coronavirus in last six weeks Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Twenty-first century Catholic school graduates are the highest earners, with an average annual household income of $99,722, a landmark survey of post-school outcomes has found. The study which surveyed 4913 Australians aged 25 to 39 about how school had moulded their adult lives also found graduates of Catholic and independent schools were more likely to come from a family that prizes academic success than religion. The Catholic graduates' average earnings compared with $90,849 for independent school graduates and $85,489 for government school graduates. Hella Ibrahim, a communications officer working from home. Credit:Justin McManus The Cardus Education survey the first of its kind to be conducted in Australia analysed how "millennials" who finished high school between 1998 and 2011 were faring, both materially and in a range of life matters including relationships and community connections. Tom Cruise pulls off new stunt in a movie theater Syracuse-born actor Tom Cruise is one of the most famous people on the planet, thanks to death-defying stunts in Mission: Impossible and other movies. His latest risky business adventure was going to a crowded movie theater in London to see Christopher Nolans new film Tenet, the first major Hollywood release since the coronavirus pandemic began. The actor wore a face mask throughout the screening while sitting alongside director Christopher McQuarrie, and applauded it: I loved it! Its unclear how many people recognized him, but at least one group of fans did in the street: How does that happen? he asked. Im wearing a mask. Well, Tom, its not one of those super-spy masks like Ethan Hunt wears... Big Movie. Big Screen. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/DrAY5tRg5P Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 25, 2020 The West Wing reunion Syracuse University alumnus Aaron Sorkin will reunite with the cast of The West Wing for a special staged reading of the Hartsfields Landing episode from the shows third season, according to Variety. A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote will be filmed at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles to raise awareness for When We All Vote, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization co-chaired by Michelle Obama aiming to increase participation in every election in America. Rob Lowe, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen will reprise their roles from the Emmy-winning series, filming under COVID Safe Way Forward Protocols with special guest appearances. The show will be released on HBO Max before Election Day. #TheWestWing cast reunites for the first time in 17 years to get out the vote! Were thrilled to partner with @WhenWeAllVote on The West Wing Special coming to @HBOMax this Fall! @EW https://t.co/hDUasAcxOH #WhatsNext #Vote pic.twitter.com/E75wYMx5jT Dule Hill (@DuleHill) August 25, 2020 MORE BUZZ: Joe Exotic series starring Kate McKinnon coming to NBC ( SF Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp denies using N-word in videos ( E! Kevin Hart reacts to NBC post using photo of him for Usain Bolt story ( ET William Shatner covers The Thrill Is Gone for new blues album ( RS Gollum trailer: Lord of the Rings prequel video game ( SF TikTok reveals number of users in lawsuit against Trump ( BB Nikki, Brie Bella reveal baby names: Matteo and Buddy ( E! The Color Purple movie musical in the works ( SF Steven Spielbergs father Arnold dies at 103 ( ET Stephen Kings The Stand remake coming Dec. 17 ( RS Bette Midler criticizes Melania Trump during RNC ( BB Amy Poehler to direct Lucy and Desi documentary ( SF Porsha Williams arrested again for Breonna Taylor protests ( ET Ammonite trailer: Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan fall in love ( RS Ryan Reynolds to star in Netflix comedy Upstate ( SF Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news from movies, TV, music and celebrity gossip. A GROUP of suspected Zanu PF hoodlums yesterday blocked cleric and President Emmerson Mnangagwas outspoken adviser Shingi Munyeza from addressing a public meeting in Harare. Munyeza, who appeared unfazed, said the incident was a well-orchestrated tactic to intimidate him. The cleric has lately become a strong critic of the Mnangagwa regime over human rights violations.The rowdy group stormed the venue as Munyeza was about to address the meeting. Initially, the youths demanded to know why he was in good books with Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa (independent) another Mnangagwa critic. This was after a recorded telephone conversation between Mliswa and business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei attacking Mnangagwa recently went viral.The youths also accused Munyeza of not paying them for managing his social media platforms. They, however, failed to prove their claims when the businessman dared them to furnish him with evidence that they were responsible for his social media pages. The youths continued harassing Munyeza until they forced him out of the meeting, leaving fellow businessman Nigel Chanakira and others to address the gathering. Munyeza has been using his Sunday sermons broadcast on social media platforms to criticise governments human rights abuses and corruption. Munyeza told NewsDay after the incident that he knew the kind of system he was dealing with, but remained unshaken. I call it an occult system and it is an orchestrated move to try and muzzle me. It is an orchestrated move to try and raise fear and to take away my own freedoms and rights, he said. I will not relent, I am not deterred, I remain resolute. This country is being run by a rogue system. What people have not realised is what I have been saying. There is no respect for freedoms, there is no respect for rights so today was such a day where I was stopped from addressing a gathering that was apolitical. I am very fully aware of it, I am cognisant of it but it is what it is, we have a rogue system. Munyeza later took to social media, saying freedoms and rights were never negotiated with the oppressor. The struggle is a collective. No one is more important than the other. Diverse strategies must be implemented until everyone is free. Territory taken must never be relinquished, he wrote. In his latest sermon on Sunday, Munyeza said Zimbabwe was in a crisis and accused the Zanu PF regime of having gone rogue and cancerous. We have a crisis. The system has gone rogue and cancerous. They cant provide, protect or prosper citizens. They are like cancerous cells which will destroy the body, he said. Zimbabwe has come under the global radar over alleged gross human rights abuses that have seen journalists, activists, ordinary citizens and lawyers being harassed one way or the other. Investigative journalist Hopewell Chinono remains in custody together with opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume. At the weekend, they were joined by MDC Alliance vice-chairman Job Sikhala and are all being charged with inciting public violence. Several other activists are in hiding fearing arrest for planning the foiled July 31 protests. The international community has called on the Harare regime to end human rights abuses in the country and called for an inclusive dialogue among stakeholders including business, the church, civic society and political actors. Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson George Charamba yesterday threatened more arrests of would-be protesters after a group of youths demonstrated against Sikhalas arrest at the Harare Magistrates Court on Monday. Before the Pearl Brewery became a hot San Antonio destination for locals and tourists, the spot was the backdrop for a story about love, murder and three women named Emma. First, and most prominent, is Emma Koehler, who took over Pearl Brewery after her husband Otto was killed in 1914. She successfully led employees through Prohibition and died in 1947, according to Hotel Emmas website. Employees at Hotel Emma, named after Emma Koehler, honored her during the recent Dia de Los Muertos. An altar at the hotel for her was full of flowers, candles, photos and candy skulls. Gone but not forgotten, read a Facebook post from the hotel. Dia de Los Muertos ofrenda for Emma Koehler. But there are also two other Emmas in this story. In about 1910, Emma Koehler was in a car accident and reportedly required full-time care at home. Her husband Otto hired a home nurse, also named Emma Emma Dumpke. This Emma, a petite brunette in her 20s, however, went by Emmi, according to the hotels website. Not long after joining the household, Emma (Emmi or Emma II) accompanied the Koehler family to Europe for an extensive stay, according to a 2014 story by Joe Holley in the Houston Chronicle. Otto Koehler struck up an affair with Emmi and her friend, the third Emma Emma Hedda Burgemeister. This Emma was tall and blonde, in her mid-30s, according to the website. Otto set up the pair of Emmas in a house on the South Side. The beer baron paid expenses for the two women, giving Emma II $125 a month in spending money and Emma III $50 a month, according to Holleys story. The house was deeded to both women, wrote Holley, and Otto dropped by once a week or so for two to three hours. But not everything was paradise. On Nov. 12, 1914, Otto, considered one of the wealthiest men in the Southwest due to his extensive investments, visited the house and some sort of argument broke out. The taller, blonde Emma (number III) shot him dead, with bullets to the neck, face and heart, Holleys story said. Im sorry, but I had to kill him, she reportedly told police. Several newspapers reported on the murder with headlines like Nurse slays millionaire in love mystery (from the Daily East Oregonian, which described the accused as a beautiful trained nurse). She was charged with murder, but fled to Europe to help as a World War I nurse. Years later, the tall Emma (III) returned to the Alamo City and was found not guilty by an all-male jury, according to the hotels website. It was a sordid story which the unfortunate woman had to tell, but one which held the jury and the courtroom, packed to the utmost with spectators, breathless, the San Antonio Light reported Jan. 19, 1918. Miss Burgemeister wore a dress of dark material and a fur hat and muff, her face was covered with a veil, according to the Light. Emma III told the jury that she killed Koehler in self defense and to protect the honor of her friend, Emma II, Holley wrote. Later, Emma III went to New Orleans and married one of the jurors. Today, a drink called The Three Emmas memorializes the women at the Sternewirth Bar inside the Hotel Emma. Its a drink made of Pearl beer, rose cordial, amontillado sherry, botanist gin, grapefruit and lemon juice, according to the bars menu. Hotel marketing director Beth Smith commented about the drink to an Express-News reporter when the hotel opened, saying One is great, and three will kill ya. Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5 COVID-19 tests in Delhi will be doubled to 40,000 per day within a week as there has been a marginal increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday, asserting that aggressive testing and isolation will remain his government's strategy to fight the disease. IMAGE: Health workers conduct COVID-19 antigen tests for migrant workers in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo He said at present, 20,000 tests are being conducted per day in the city. Addressing an online media briefing, the chief minister said it is not that the intensity of the infections had increased and asserted that the COVID-19 situation is completely under control. He said although there has been a marginal increase in cases in the last few days, his government will not allow the situation to deteriorate in the city. The government has also decided to provide oximeters and oxygen concentrators to those discharged from hospitals in case they need, he said. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had called a high-level meeting to discuss the rising number of coronavirus cases in Delhi. "We are going to double the tests from around 20,000 per day to 40,000 tests daily within a week. Our strategy against coronavirus will remain aggressive testing and isolation," he said. The chief minister appealed to the people to get tested if they have COVID-19-related symptoms and cautioned against complacency, which he said may lead to a rise in number of cases. He said his government has issued directions for stringent enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines, adding that everyone should wear face mask and maintain social distancing at public places. "Do not be offended if the police or any authority fines you for not wearing mask. This is for the safety of all. There is confidence among the people but it should not lead to complacency and neglect. "We have all brought coronavirus under control with great difficulty. It cannot be allowed to increase," he said. On Tuesday, Delhi recorded 1,544 more COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths. It was the first time in over a month that the number of new infections crossed the 1,500-mark. During the online briefing, he said after August 17, there has been a marginal increase in COVID-19 cases in the national capital. "The cases were ranging in between 1,200 to 1,400 since August 17. The cases went down some days. However the number was 1, 544 in yesterday's report," he said. In the last 24 hours, 1,693 new COVD-19 cases have been reported in Delhi, he said, adding that the government has a total of 14,130 COVID beds out of which 10,448 are vacant. "Only 3,700 COVID beds have so far been occupied by coronavirus patients and of these, 2,900 are occupied by Delhiites and 800 by those from other states," Kejriwal said. He asserted that death of any COVID-19 patient, who is under home isolation, has not been reported in Delhi since July 14. The chief minister also said a new trend has been noticed that when the COVID-19 patients recovers and comes back home, the symptoms still remain and the patient still suffers from low oxygen levels and breathing issues. "A few patients have also lost their lives because of fall in oxygen levels. Our Health Minister Satyendar Jain had recovered from coronavirus, but took few days to fully recover and get back to his normal situation," the CM added. He asserted that the COVID-19 situation is under control in Delhi for the past one and half months and all the parameters were fine. "There has been decrease in number of deaths. Also, the recovery rate is over 90 per cent and the number of patients in the hospital has come down. "There was a time when number of deaths were around 100, but now it is below 20 and on some days, it was even below 10. The government is working to ensure zero COVID-19 deaths," he said. Presently, the death rate due to COVID-19 is 1.4 per cent in Delhi which is the lowest in the country, Kejriwal said. Appealing to people to wear face covers and follow social distancing norms, the chief minister encouraged them to go for COVID-19 tests even on slight suspicion of catching the virus. "We are getting cases where 7-8 people from one family are getting infected, and this is because a single infected person did not get tested for many days even after having symptoms and that infected other people," he added. So if anyone suspects COVID-19 infection, he or she should immediately get tested at the government hospitals and dispensaries free of cost, he said. On Tuesday, Delhi's COVID-19 tally rose to over 1.64 lakh, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 4,330. The positivity rate on Tuesday stood at 7.7 per cent. FILE PHOTO: A health worker prays as a catholic priest blesses the COVID19 swab test area of a hospital in Manila, Philippines on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) By Claire Jiao and Andreo Calonzo The Philippines is trying to secure access to a vaccine in development against COVID-19 as it battles the worst outbreak in Southeast Asia. But though other regional countries like Indonesia have already inked deals with frontrunner vaccine candidates, the archipelagos lack of capacity to locally manufacture vaccines has disadvantaged its bid. We are the last in the line because we cant develop our own vaccines, the Philippines former health chief Esperanza Cabral said. If we had the capability to make vaccines, we would come first. The country is banking on a vaccine to contain its surging outbreak that has infected over 197,000 people after testing gaffes and poor tracing rendered one of the worlds longest lockdowns ineffective. President Rodrigo Duterte has begun easing restrictions despite cases doubling this month to rescue the local economy thats heading for its deepest slump since 1985. The Philippines will test 14 vaccines for clinical trials helmed by the World Health Organization, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a local news channel on Monday. Moscows Sputnik V vaccine is expected to start mass scale Phase 3 trials in the Philippines in October. Negotiations are also on with 16 makers of potential Covid-19 vaccines to procure supplies. The government intends to stock up shots worth $400 million and is in talks with the U.S., U.K., and China for supplies. Regional competition, meanwhile, is heating up. A state-owned drugmaker in Indonesia is gearing up for human trials of Sinovac Biotech Ltd.s coronavirus vaccine while Singapore and Thailand are developing their own candidates. Malaysia has picked local drugmakers for packaging and distribution of vaccine doses when available. Local manufacturing is still a possibility, according to Vergeire. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila has applied for an Asian Development Bank grant to study the feasibility of setting up a vaccine facility. In the meantime, the government could also partner with the private sector to fund a modular vaccine packaging facility to get its foot in the door of the global vaccine supply chain, she said. Vaccine security will be a challenge. You cannot ensure that even if you have the money, you can get the vaccine you need, said Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination. The whole world is going to try to get the vaccine for itself. A top Chinese diplomat has warned Australia to stop intervening in the country's internal affairs - and claimed Beijing has no desire to interfere in Australia. Minister Wang Xining, deputy head of mission at the Chinese embassy, said the two countries need to work on respecting each other amid political and economic tensions. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, he said: 'China does not interfere in Australia's internal affairs. 'Nor do we have any intention of changing Australia's political or social culture. He added: 'We should respect others' choice of social and political systems and mode of development, and refrain from imposing one's own ideas onto the other. 'We should respect sovereignty and integrity, and refrain from interfering in others' affairs.' China accused Australia of meddling when Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus which was first identified in Wuhan late last year. Beijing also accused Canberra of intervening when Mr Morrison offered to extend Hong Kong residents' visas after China introduced new oppressive laws in June. Minister Wang Xining (pictured) poses for a photo at the National Press Club in Canberra Minister Wang Xining (pictured), deputy head of mission at the Chinese embassy in Canberra, said the two countries need to work on respecting each other Fears of Chinese interference in Australia's political system were raised in November last year when 60 Minutes reported on an alleged plot to install a spy in parliament. The report said a suspected Chinese espionage ring had offered 'a seven figure sum' to pay for a Melbourne luxury car dealer, Bo 'Nick' Zhao, to run for a seat- and Australia's spy agency said it would investigate the claims. Minister Wang also addressed the coronavirus crisis and said China felt 'singled out' by Australia's push for an inquiry into the origins of the disease. He said: 'Australian ministers claimed that the virus originated from Wuhan province, they did not point to any other places as a source. 'We were singled out, we don't think it is fair.' The minister said the Chinese people felt deeply betrayed when the Morrison government suggested that independent scientists should be allowed to enter China and investigate. Minister Wang (pictured) admitted coronavirus was 'first identified' in China but said 'we should leave the work to scientists' to find out where patient zero came from The wagyu rump that Wang Xining had for lunch at the Press Club before his speech 'All of a sudden, there was this shocking proposal from Australia, supposed to be a good friend of China,' he said. 'It is approximately identical to Julius Caesar in his final date when he saw Brutus approaching him and said et tu, Brute?' Minister Wang admitted the virus was 'first identified' in China but said 'we should leave the work to scientists' to find out where patient zero came from. The minister also said China was 'very disappointed' that the government has blocked the $600million sale of Aussie drinks company Lion to Mengniu Dairy, which is part-owned by the Chinese government, on national security grounds. He suggested the reason for the rejection was not valid, saying he wished Australia would not 'be dragged down for pushing foreign business or investment away on account of ill-founded assertions of security breaches.' 'We hope Australia will provide a very fair, very open and non-discriminatory regulatory and policy environment to Chinese enterprises,' he added. Beijing and Canberra have been at loggerheads after Australia led global calls for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. Soon afterwards, China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, suspended beef imports and told students and tourists not to travel Down Under in an apparent attempt to damage the Australian economy. Beijing accused Canberra of intervening in its internal affairs when Mr Morrison offered to extend Hong Kong residents' visas after China introduced new oppressive laws in June. Pictured: Pro-democracy protesters are arrested by police in Hong Kong Minister Wang said China was not targeting Australian trade and insisted the disputes will be solved through 'standard processes' of mediation outlined by the World Trade Organisation. He urged China and Australia to work together and praised the growing economic relationship between the countries. 'During the past 20 years, our trade volume has grown from less than 10 billion to 235 billion Australian dollars last year. We became attractive markets of business and management to each other,' he said. In June Scott Morrison said cyber-attacks by a state-based actor have increased dramatically in recent weeks and targeted 'all levels of government' as well as 'critical infrastructure'. Intelligence sources said the attacker was China. On July 9, tensions escalated when Scott Morrison announced he is granting five-year visas for students and skilled migrants from Hong Kong after China imposed draconian new laws on the territory. Scott Morrison (pictured in 2019 at the G20 summit) pushed for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak Riot police secure an area inside a shopping mall during a rally on July 21 in Hong Kong (pictured) The Prime Minister has also suspended Australia's extradition treaty with the former British colony, meaning Hong Kongers accused of a crime by their home government will not be automatically deported from Australia. Canada, the UK, the US and New Zealand have done the same. The government is also planning measures to persuade Hong Kong entrepreneurs and businesses to relocate to Australia, with further details yet to be announced. China's new national security law prohibits what Beijing views as secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities or as foreign intervention in Hong Kong. Critics say it curtails freedom of speech and pro-democracy protesters have since been charged for holding flags, posters and pamphlets. A County Derry rugby fanatic who passed away last week has been described as a 'club stalwart' whose death has been a 'huge loss' to his community. Johnny McFalone, from Magherafelt, was a life-long supporter of Rainey Old Boys RFC in the town, and the club paid tribute to a man who had followed them for almost sixty years. All at Rainey Old Boys RFC were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of club stalwart, Johnny McFalone, they said. Johnny had been a long time supporter of Rainey Old Boys for over 6 decades and was the social secretary at the club for more than 10 years and followed in the footsteps of his late wife, Janet, who was the chair of the Ladies Committee within the club for many years. Johnny travelled to all corners of Ireland supporting Rainey; from defeats in the rain in the early 90s in Strabane, Donaghadee and Ballymoney to victories in the sun in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Dublin in recent years. He has been an ever present supporter during the clubs good days and bad; Hatrick Park will be a lesser place in his absence. His family; daughter Katy, son in law Chris, grandchildren Cein, Flynn and Anna were the core of Johnnys life whilst Rainey Old Boys and Man Utd were also integral parts. I am glad that in recent years, Rainey have been able to give him something to celebrate when Man Utd couldnt! Our thoughts are with Katy, Chris, Cein, Flynn and Anna as well as the wider family circle at this very sad time. The 68-year-old was also a regular at Bryson's Bar in Magherafelt, who said he had a knack for making new customers feel at ease. Johnny met his late wife Janet at Bryson's, who paid tribute to a man who they say made the bar a 'go-to rugby bar'. Johnny had been coming to the bar since the 1960s, met his beloved wife Janet here, and also worked in the bar in the early 1970s, the Bryson family said. When Janet passed away in 1999, Johnny never missed a Wednesday in the old back lounge having lunch with his mother-in-law Isa, up until she passed away in 2016. He then of course made the Front Bar his home from home. He loved watching the 6 Nations with his closest pals, Boycie, The Judge, McGoldrick, Brown, Dixie and Dougie, with a fine Pinot in hand! He always looked forward to our annual regulars 12th July trip to Donegal and enjoyed the craic with all of our customers new and old. His storytelling and reminiscing about the good old days in his beloved Magherafelt and early working days in Belfast made customers and staff listen with interest and always feel at ease in his company. His love for rugby and for the Rainey Old Boys RFC brought so many rugby enthusiasts to the bar, helping to make Brysons the main go to rugby bar in mid Ulster. We, the Bryson family, who had the privilege of his company in the bar for so many many years will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter Katie, son-in-law Chris and his 3 grandchildren, Cein, Flynn and Anna at this time. He will be a huge loss to all our customers and to the wee front bar. Like all of our regulars, he was not only a customer, but a friend. Our best friend. Brisbane's sole independent councillor says some developers exploit a planning loophole to build "de facto units" without approval, by claiming they are rooming accommodation, which doesn't require a council sign-off. Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) moved a motion, supported by Greens councillor Jonathan Sri (The Gabba) at Tuesday's council meeting asking the council to amend the City Plan 2014 to ban boarding houses and rooming accommodation from low-density and character residential zones. "De facto" units are being built in Brisbane suburbs, one councillor says. Credit:Lucy Stone Rooming accommodation and boarding houses are classified as "acceptable development" and do not require a formal development application if they do not trigger another building code such the flood or heritage code. Cr Johnston claimed some developers had put up buildings in her ward that did not need council approval, but were now advertised as independent apartments with kitchenettes and private bathrooms. Police on Tuesday arrested 68 protesters in Louisville, Ky. who were participating in a demonstration over the death of Breonna Taylor. The arrests came at the end of a four-day event dubbed BreonnaCon, organized by the New York-based social justice organization Until Freedom. The event was intended to draw attention to the case of Taylor, an unarmed 26-year-old African-American EMT, who was fatally shot in March by Louisville police in her apartment as they executed a search warrant for two men who were known to reside there. At least 300 protesters congregated at South Central Park with plans to make their way over to the Louisville Metro Police Training Academy. Those arrested were charged with obstructing a roadway and disorderly conduct, Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Robert Schroeder said. It is illegal to block the road. Please get out of the road, or you will be arrested, police announced to protesters as officers blocked one of the streets and a sidewalk where demonstrators were marching. Protesters who attempted to pass the officers were arrested. Linda Sarsour, progressive activist and co-founder of Until Freedom, was among those arrested. Sarsour has been accused several times in the past of anti-Semitism. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had warned earlier that, violence or property destruction is unacceptable and will be addressed immediately. More from National Review Kanye West got more bad news amid his long-shot presidential run as a company filed a lawsuit against him for failing to pay it for multiple services. MyChannel Inc. claims in its suit that West, 43, got the company's employees to work long hours on his Yeezy brand and his Sunday Service shows while promising to invest tens of millions of dollars in the company, according to TMZ. The company alleges that West walked away after 6 months of work without paying while stealing some of its technology to use on his Sunday Service performances. Unpaid: Kanye West is being sued by MyChannel Inc. after he allegedly backed out of paying the Black-owned tech company millions for services rendered on his Yeezy Apparel brand, according to TMZ; shown in February MyChannel Inc. describes itself as a Black-owned company specializing in video and e-commerce technologies. It says West began using its services in Spring 2018 to boost sales on his Yeezy line of shoes and clothing. The company, through its attorneys Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok, claims that the Monster rapper never paid for its services and instead promised to invest $10 million in the company. In order to make the deal work, MyChannel spent $7 million of its own funds on a Yeezy Apparel, while its workers racked up over 10,000 hours of work. Working hard: MyChannel says it started working for West in Spring 2018 and spent $7M of its funds and 10,000 man-hours on Yeezy Apparel, while the rapper promised to invest $10M; shown in April 2019 Moving around: West required MYC to move its headquarters from Pennsylvania to Calabasas, California, then to Chicago; shown in April 2019 In the process, West whims required the company shift its headquarters from Pennsylvania to Calbasas, California, to be closer to his home, before requiring them to move again to his hometown of Chicago. Despite all the hoops MyChannel claims to have jumped through, West ended the partnership after six months without paying or investing a cent in the company. According to Pitchfork, West stole the company's video commerce technology to help boost sales of the expensive clothing and merchandise he sold for his Sunday Service performances. He also allegedly met with companies like Adidas and referred to MYC's work while rebranding it as YZY and presenting 'ideas such as those of [MyChannel] as his own. Theft: The company claims West stole its video commerce tech to boost sales of his expensive merchandise at his Sunday Service performances, according to Pitchfork; shown in February MyChannel is suing West and his brand Yeezy Apparel for breach of their oral partnership, cutting into their profits by millions of dollars and withholding his promised $10 million investment, as well as requiring it to spend its own funds on his projects. He's also being sued for breaking a non-disclosure agreement by copying their technology. MyChannel are suing the third-party presidential candidate for $20 million and seeking a jury trial. Stiff bill: MYC are suing west for $20M and requesting a jury trial; pictured in March 2020 Prior to the weekend, West flew back to Los Angeles after spending weeks at his Wyoming ranch and following a short trip to New York. According to a source who spoke to People, the Runaway rapper 'really missed the kids and flew to see them.' Although he put his newest album and his campaign on hold, he reportedly plans on resuming the campaign, despite reports that it and his mental health struggles have put his marriage to Kim Kardashian on shaky ground. ARCHIVED - Migrant boat lands on Percheles beach in Mazarron The occupants scattered into the countryside and so far 11 have been located Image; Cruz Roja humanitarian aid At around a quarter to seven on Wednesday morning a patera containing an unspecified number of irregular migrants arrived on Percheles beach, in the Mazarron municipality, and its occupants headed off into the surrounding countryside. Their arrival was witnessed by a local resident who called the police, Guardia Civil and local police carrying out a search of the area to try and locate the new arrivals. 11 migrants are reported to have been located and a minibus was sent to transfer them to the Escombreras port area in Cartagena, where the Cruz Roja has an encampment, so that Covid testing can be undertaken. No information has been provided as to whether there were any other migrants in the boat who were not detected. This is very common, and usually the media are only notified of how many migrants were actually detained. It is becoming increasingly common for a percentage of those arriving in these small boats to test positive for Covid-19. On Monday 10 migrants were hospitalised after arriving in the region at the weekend, with Covid and their travelling companions were put into quarantine. During the last week the Region of Murcia has received multiple boatloads of irregular migrants from Algeria, as migrant transit centres and the borders of Algeria and Morocco remain closed, so Spain is unable to repatriate arrivals on Spanish shores through the normal channels. This year the number of migrations to Spain has been lower than normal, due prinicipally to the restrictions caused by Covid-19, but in recent weeks there has been an upsurge in activity as organised crime gangs take advantage of the opportunity to bring increased numbers of economic migrants into Spain. The desire to seek a better life and try to find employment is understandable, as unemployment is high in Algeria, the country is suffering from severe economic problems, and opportunities, particularly for young people, are extremely limited. Political opposition against the current regime has lead to public protests and an increased level of dissatisfaction within the country, leading many particularly young people to look at Europe as potentially offering better opportunities. The number of crossings by Algerians has increased dramatically recently; the Frontex border force said last week about crossings on the Western mediterranean route There were around 1 500 detections of illegal border crossings in the Western Mediterranean in July, 84% more than in the previous month.Despite the rise last month, the total for the first seven months of 2020, was less than half the figure from the same period in the previous year at 6 100. The number of Algerians, who accounted for one out of every two detections on this route this year, was seven times the figure from a year ago. All of the migrants intercepted recently off the Murcian coast have been Algerians. On Sunday morning 73 people in six boats wre intercepted, bringing the total of irregular migrants arriving in the Region of Murcia to 132 over the weekend. Last week was a busy week for Cruz Roja and the coastguard: Over the previous Friday evening and Saturday morning twelve boats containing a total of 138 migrants were detected off the Cartagena coastline. 3 of the migrants had to be rescued by firemen and a helicopter from the regional CEIS fire and rescue service after their boat landed in a rocky area with poor access and they attempted to climb Monte de las Cenizas. The two men and one woman had to be airlifted from the side of the mountain. Seven of the new arrivals later tested positive for covid. As the week wore on there were four further lots of arrivals; on Wednesday evening 37 migrants reached Murcia in three boats; on Wednesday morning ten out of 30 were detained after a boat landed on El Portus beach at 11am in the morning and its occupants scattered in the surrounding coutryside, much to the surprise of beachgoers. Police only managed to locate 10 of the 30 in the boat, three of whom tested positive for covid. The others were never located. On Thursday evening a further 48 migrants arrived in four boats. The interceptions took place after 10 pm, when four boats with 8, 11, 14 and 15 irregular migrants on board, respectively, were sighted southeast of Monte de las Cenizas, in Cartagena. On Friday evening and the early hours of Saturday morning, a further six boats containing 81 migrants were detected off the Murcian coastline. NB: The migrants are referred to as irregular immigrants by the EU; the Spanish media tend to call them sin papeles meaning those with no paperwork entering the country illegally, others refer to them as illegal migrants. The phrase irregular migrants is used on MT in an attempt to convey that these are not refugees, but economic migrants, in this case from Algeria, entering Spain and the EU in an illegal fashion, without passports or documentation and without any legal right to enter the EU as Algeria is not an EU member and there is no migration agreement between the two countries. Donate to Cruz Roja; Humanitarian work to ensure those arriving in Spain are treated with dignity is undertaken by the humanitarian organisation Cruz Roja. If you would like to donate, here is the link: Cruz Roja Espanola Further reading EU Action plan against Migrant Smuggling 2015/2020 Click to read EU Directive f2008/115/EC Common standards and procedures in EU Member States for returning illegally staying third country nationals. Click to read FRONTEX european coast guard and border control agency. This explains more about the migration issue and shows the different routes taken. Our routes here are the "Western Mediterranean" routes used principally by Moroccans And Algerians.Click Frontex Actor Charu Asopa, who will be next seen in Akbar Ka BalBirbal, said that she should be recognised for her work as an actor rather than as the sister-in-law of Sushmita Sen. Charu had married Sushmita Sens brother Rajeev in June 2019. Talking to Times of India, Charu said, Being associated with prominent names of the industry always creates a lot of chit-chat and banter amidst a lot of people. I think its sad for people to think that way. I work really hard and my passion for my art of acting is the one I follow. I truly believe I should be recognised for my work as an actor and not the people I am associated with." Rumours have been affloat for the past few months that Charu and Rajeev are facing issues in their married life. However, in the recent times, the two seem to have been taking steps towards reconciliation. Whe asked about the rumours, Charu said, Well, I am here to speak about my show Akbar Ka BalBirbal. I would like to refrain from giving any comments on my personal life." Akbar Ka BalBirbal also stars Ali Asgar, Vishal Kotian and Aditi Sajwan in lead roles. The show is inspired by stories of Mughal emperor Akbar and his minister Birbal. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anthony Deutsch and Philip Blenkinsop (Reuters) Amsterdam, Netherlands/Brussels, Belgium Wed, August 26, 2020 10:23 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c408c2bf 2 World coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,COVID-19-relapses,COVID-19-patient,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Two European patients are confirmed to have been re-infected with COVID-19, raising concerns about people's immunity to the coronavirus as the world struggles to tame the pandemic. The cases, in Belgium and the Netherlands, follow a report this week by researchers in Hong Kong about a man there who had contracted a different strain of the virus four and a half months after being declared recovered - the first such second infection to be documented. That has raised fears about the efficacy of potential vaccines against the virus, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, though experts say there would need to be many more cases of re-infection for these to be justified. Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst said the Belgian case was a woman who had contracted COVID-19 for the first time in March and then again with a different coronavirus strain in June. Further cases of re-infection were likely to surface, he said. Van Ranst told Reuters TV the woman, in her 50s, had very few antibodies after the first infection, although they might have limited the sickness. Re-infection cases were probably limited exceptions, he said, although it was too soon to tell and many were likely to surface in coming weeks. He added that the new coronavirus appeared more stable than the influenza virus, but it was changing. "Viruses mutate and that means that a potential vaccine is not going to be a vaccine that will last forever, for 10 years, probably not even five years. Just as for flu, this will have to be redesigned quite regularly," he said. Van Ranst, who sits on some Belgian COVID-19 committees, said vaccine designers would not be surprised. "We would have loved the virus to be more stable than it is, but you can't force nature." Genetic testing The National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands said it had also observed a Dutch case of re-infection with a different strain of the virus. "It is clear there has been a first and a second infection with a substantial quantity of virus. Enough to be able to determine the genetic code of the virus, that is what showed they were indeed different," said Marion Koopmans, a leading virologist in the Netherlands and a member of the World Health Organization's scientific advisory group. She added the elderly Dutch patient had a weakened immune system, which explained the patient's situation. "People are worried and ask if re-infection is 'standard'. I dont think it is," she added. WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a UN briefing in Geneva regarding the Hong Kong case that, while there were anecdotal reports of re-infections, it was important to have clear documentation. Some experts say it is likely that such cases are starting to emerge because of greater testing worldwide, rather than because the virus may be spreading differently. Still, Dr David Strain, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Exeter and chair of the British Medical Association's medical academic staff committee, said the cases were worrying for at least two reasons. "The first is that it suggests that previous infection is not protective. The second is that it raises the possibility that vaccinations may not provide the hope that we have been waiting for." Media release Half-year results 2020 Emmi successfully defies the crisis Lucerne, 26 August 2020 -Emmi increased sales by 6.6 % to CHF 1,773.5 million in the first six months of the financial year, which were characterised by the coronavirus crisis. The organic growth of 2.0 % achieved by the leading Swiss milk processor was driven in particular by a strong retail performance in the Swiss domestic market, key brand concepts such as Emmi Caffe Latte and sales in strategic niches. The slump in the food service sector triggered by the pandemic affected sales in the business division Americas in particular. EBIT improved by 6.4 % to CHF 112.0 million, while net profit was down by 6.5 % at CHF 81.3 million. Despite considerable uncertainty, Emmi remains cautiously optimistic for the full-year. Key points in brief: Sales growth of 6.6 %; organic growth of 2.0 %; acquisition effect of 9.5 %; currency effect of -4.9 % Gross profit margin down from 36.4 % to 36.1 % due to the coronavirus EBIT of CHF 112.0 million, 6.4 % up from the prior year period; stable EBIT margin of 6.3 % Net profit down by 6.5 % to CHF 81.3 million, due mainly to an expected higher tax rate, financial expenses and minority interests; net profit margin of 4.6 % Share of milk processed in Switzerland and produced according to Swissmilk Green sustainability standard at 87 % "Our business model has proven itself even under difficult conditions, backed by a diversified product and country portfolio, strong brands and an agile organisation. I am particularly pleased that we maintained supply at all times, not least thanks to the tireless commitment of our employees, and were thus able to deliver growth despite the extremely difficult environment," says Urs Riedener, CEO of the Emmi Group. Concerning sustainability, Emmi has been focusing on the four areas of waste, greenhouse gas reduction, employees and sustainable milk, which have been subject to specific and binding targets since 2016. Further progress was made in the first half of 2020. In Switzerland, Emmi now processes 87 % of its milk produced according to the Swissmilk Green sustainability standard, meeting growing demand from consumers and customers. With a reduction of 23 % compared to the base year 2014, it is also on track to deliver on its Group-wide greenhouse gas emission target. However, more efforts are needed in waste reduction to build on the 18 % decrease achieved in reducing food waste. Key figures Amounts in CHF million First half of 2020 First half of 2019 Net sales 1,774 1,663 of which business division Switzerland 829 811 of which business division Americas 599 518 of which business division Europe 292 280 of which business division Global Trade 54 54 Change in sales in % 6.6 -0.7 Acquisition effect in % 9.5 -0.9 Currency effect in % -4.9 -1.4 Organic growth in % 2.0 1.6 EBIT 112.0 105.3* as % of net sales 6.3 6.3* Net profit 81.3 87.0* as % of net sales 4.6 5.2* * Prior year figures adjusted due to change in the consolidation and valuation principles with respect to goodwill The overall positive acquisition effect of 9.5 % is due to the following factors: Positive impact: Acquisition of a blue cheese production facility (US, 28 February 2019) Acquisition of Leeb Biomilch GmbH and Hale GmbH (Austria, 8 October 2019) Acquisition of Laticinios Porto Alegre Industria e Comercio S.A. (Brazil, 24 October 2019) Acquisition of Pasticceria Quadrifoglio S.r.l. (Italy, 31 October 2019) Merger with Quillayes (Chile, 15 January 2020) Negative impact: Sale of Emmi Frisch-Service AG (Switzerland, 3 April 2019) Internal shifts in the distribution channels of individual customers also led to acquisition or divestment effects in the business divisions Americas, Europe and Global Trade. However, these shifts between individual divisions had no impact on the Group. Details of sales and earnings performance Sales business division Switzerland: Crisis bolsters retail sales Sales H1 2020 Sales H1 2019 Difference 2020/2019 Acquisition effect Organic growth Dairy products 343.1 335.4 2.3 % -0.8 % 3.1 % Cheese 199.7 193.8 3.0 % -1.6 % 4.6 % Fresh products 172.0 167.0 3.0 % -0.7 % 3.7 % Fresh cheese 55.3 53.0 4.2 % -3.7 % 7.9 % Powder/concentrates 31.6 29.4 7.6 % - 7.6 % Other products/services 27.1 31.9 -15.0 % -12.1 % -2.9 % Total Switzerland 828.8 810.5 2.2 % -1.6 % 3.8 % The business division Switzerland generated net sales of CHF 828.8 million, an overall increase of 2.2 % compared with the prior year figure of CHF 810.5 million. Adjusted for the adverse impact on sales from the disposal of Emmi Frisch-Service AG, organic growth was exceptionally high at 3.8 %. This is well above Emmi's forecast of 0 % to 1 % for the full-year, driven in large part by the strong retail performance as a result of increased demand for domestic dairy products and the temporary drop-off in shopping tourism. The milk price trend likewise propped up organic growth. The change in demand in the division manifested itself across all major segments. Dairy products are traditional fixtures of every breakfast table; cream, butter and grated cheese are common ingredients in cooking; or if you're in a rush, a Caprese salad with mozzarella or a cheese plate are quick and delicious options. Traditional cheese varieties as well as speciality cheeses such as Kaltbach, Luzerner Rahmkase, der Scharfe Maxx or Le Petit Chevrier proved popular additions to these platters. Especially noteworthy is the continued positive sales trend recorded by Emmi Caffe Latte. Bucking the global downturn in convenience products, which came under pressure during the lockdown due to the sharp reduction in mobility, our signature chilled lattes were able to increase sales. The reasons for this are two-fold: on the one hand, consumers frequently treated themselves to a small reward while working at home during the crisis; and on the other, the good weather lured people outside - often with an Emmi Caffe Latte in their hands. Sales business division Americas: Slump in the food service sector hampers sales performance Sales H1 2020 Sales H1 2019 Difference 2020/2019 Acquisition effect Currency effect Organic growth Cheese 235.1 217.2 8.2 % 21.4 % -9.1 % -4.1 % Dairy products 175.0 138.0 26.9 % 35.2 % -15.6 % 7.3 % Fresh products 96.6 101.2 -4.5 % 5.5 % -6.0 % -4.0 % Fresh cheese 30.8 7.5 313.4 % 428.6 % -111.3 % -3.9 % Powder/concentrates 11.0 2.3 377.1 % 408.6 % -101.5 % 70.0 % Other products/services 50.1 52.2 -4.0 % 12.9 % -10.0 % -6.9 % Total Americas 598.6 518.4 15.5 % 28.7 % -12.2 % -1.0 % The business division Americas incorporates the Emmi Group companies in the US, Spain (excluding Lacteos Caprinos), Chile, Brazil, Tunisia, France, Mexico and Canada. Sales in this business division Americas rose from CHF 518.4 million to CHF 598.6 million in the first half of 2020. The year-on-year growth of 15.5 % is mainly due to the acquisitions in Brazil and Chile. Adjusted for the strongly negative currency and major acquisition effects, organic sales declined by 1.0 %, well below the company's full-year forecast of 4 % to 6 % growth. The main driver of this negative development was the ongoing coronavirus crisis, which had by far the greatest adverse effect on the business division Americas due to its substantial share of sales in the food service sector - the highest in the Group. This is exemplified by the organic decline in sales in the Cheese segment. Cheeses produced locally in the US, including speciality cheeses from California, bore the brunt of this downturn as sales outlets, cheese counters and restaurants were forced to shutter. Swiss cheese (especially Kaltbach) was able to counteract this trend, posting growth. Dairy products also helped to improve the overall balance slightly. The high organic growth is attributable in particular to Chile (milk and cream) and Tunisia (milk and butter). In Tunisia, higher demand for locally produced desserts also bolstered the Fresh products segment. However, the segment suffered from lower sales due to coronavirus, adversely affecting Italian speciality desserts in France, yogurts and milk drinks at Redwood Hill in California, and milk and yogurt drinks in Spain, Tunisia and Chile. Sales of Emmi Caffe Latte in Spain posted gains, by contrast. Sales business division Europe: Diversified portfolio pays off Sales H1 2020 Sales H1 2019 Difference 2020/2019 Acquisition effect Currency effect Organic growth Fresh products 140.2 129.2 8.6 % 15.4 % -6.7 % -0.1 % Cheese 54.2 54.7 -0.8 % 2.8 % -6.1 % 2.5 % Dairy products 49.6 46.8 6.2 % 5.0 % -6.4 % 7.6 % Powder/concentrates 23.9 21.2 12.5 % 0.1 % -6.9 % 19.3 % Fresh cheese 19.1 25.7 -25.7 % 0.8 % -4.5 % -22.0 % Other products/services 4.9 2.3 112.7 % 12.8 % -12.9 % 112.8 % Total Europe 291.9 279.9 4.3 % 8.7 % -6.5 % 2.1 % The business division Europe incorporates the Emmi Group companies in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, Austria, Lacteos Caprinos in Spain and Belgium. In the first half of 2020, sales in the business division Europe amounted to CHF 291.9 million, compared with CHF 279.9 million in the same period last year. This resulted in overall growth of 4.3 %. Excluding acquisition and currency effects, this corresponds to organic growth of 2.1 %, which is in line with our projection for full-year 2020 (1 % to 3 %). The markets in the business division Europe posted a similar trend to that in Switzerland, with the decline in fresh products, which are focused on convenience, offset by strong growth in dairy products and cheese. However, positive stimulus came from the Fresh products segment in the UK, where Onken yogurts and Emmi Caffe Latte posted gains. In the Cheese segment, higher exports of Swiss cheese to Italy and the Netherlands propped up organic growth. It was likewise pleasing to see Glaserne Molkerei in Germany return to growth on the back of its revised strategy, benefiting from the rise in demand for organic products. This is particularly reflected in the performance of the Dairy products segment. A special feature of the business division Europe is the key role played by goat's milk products. Given the high dependency on the food service industry, sales of goat's cream cheese declined, although this was largely offset by higher sales of goat's milk powder from the Netherlands. Sales business division Global Trade: Milk powder exports support growth Sales H1 2020 Sales H1 2019 Difference 2020/2019 Acquisition effect Organic growth Cheese 21.5 22.8 -5.7 % -6.3 % 0.6 % Fresh products 18.9 19.5 -3.4 % - -3.4 % Powder/concentrates 12.3 9.7 27.2 % - 27.2 % Dairy products 1.4 1.7 -18.1 % - -18.1 % Fresh cheese - 0.1 -100.0 % - -100.0 % Other products/services 0.1 0.7 -84.3 % - -84.3 % Total Global Trade 54.2 54.5 -0.6 % -2.7 % 2.1 % Business division Global Trade primarily comprises direct sales from Switzerland to customers in countries where Emmi has no subsidiaries. These include the Asian and eastern European markets, most South American countries and the Arabian Peninsula. Sales in the business division Global Trade amounted to CHF 54.2 million in the first half of 2020, down 0.6 % on the prior year result of CHF 54.5 million. Adjusted for the negative acquisition effect, this represents organic growth of 2.1 %. The key contributing factors here were higher sales of natural cheese (including Kaltbach) and significantly increased skimmed milk powder exports, offset by the decline in sales of yogurts and yogurt drinks in the Asian region. Detailed explanations of the sales performance can be found in theEmmi half-year report 2020. Stable EBIT margin Gross profit amounted to CHF 639.9 million in the reporting period. This constitutes an increase of CHF 35.0 million on the prior year with CHF 604.9 million. The gross profit margin fell from 36.4 % to 36.1 %, depressed by the change in the mix due to the coronavirus crisis at the expense of high-margin products combined with adverse foreign currency effects. The consistent implementation of rationalisation and productivity boosting measures and strong brand concepts such as Emmi Caffe Latte had a positive, stabilising effect. Operating expenses rose by CHF 26.8 million to CHF 473.8 million (previous year: CHF 447.0 million). In relation to net sales, however, they fell from 26.9 % to 26.7 %. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by CHF 8.5 million in the period under review to CHF 168.1 million, up from CHF 159.6 million in the first half of 2019. The EBITDA margin therefore amounted to 9.5 %, compared with 9.6 % in the same period last year. The shortfall at the level of the gross profit margin was thus largely offset by the fact that the rise in operating expenses was kept relatively low. Higher depreciation coupled by a simultaneous slight decline in amortisation largely cancelled each other out. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were CHF 112.0 million in the period under review, down CHF 6.7 million or a good 6.4 % on prior year EBIT (CHF 105.3 million). The EBIT margin remained stable compared with the same period last year, at 6.3 %. As expected, net profit was impacted by lower pro rata profits from associates, rising financial and tax expenses, and higher minority interests. This amounted to CHF 81.3 million in the period under review compared with CHF 87.0 million in the prior-year period, representing a decline of CHF 5.7 million or 6.5 %. The net profit margin was 4.6 % (previous year: 5.2 %). Earnings per share also fell slightly as a result, down to CHF 15.20 at the end of the first half of the year (previous year: CHF 16.25). Outlook for full-year 2020 In the first half of 2020, Emmi once again demonstrated that it is on a very solid ground. Supported by its broadly diversified portfolio and mix of countries, categories and sales channels, the company has so far defied the coronavirus crisis. Given the persistent uncertainties surrounding the future course of the coronavirus pandemic and the associated macroeconomic developments, the outlook for the second half of the year remains uncertain. Moreover, there are currently no signs of recovery in those markets that have been severely affected by the pandemic and are important for Emmi, such as the US, Brazil, Mexico and Chile. Worldwide, consumer confidence is languishing at a low level and recessionary economic trends are already a fact in most countries. Added to this, the positive non-recurring effects in the first half of the year will no longer apply in the second half, and it will likely take several years for certain sales channels to stage a sustained recovery. Emmi is preparing for a continued volatile and highly competitive environment in the second half of 2020, but remains cautiously optimistic about the result for the full-year. Full-year sales forecast for 2020 (assuming the pandemic stabilises): Organic sales development Group: 0.5 % to 1.5 % (previously 2 % to 3 %) Organic sales development Switzerland: 1 % to 2 % (previously 0 % to 1 %) Organic sales development Americas: -2 % to 0 % (previously 4 % to 6 %) Organic sales development Europe: 1 % to 3 % (no change) We consider the EBIT forecast of CHF 255 million to CHF 265 million for full-year 2020 to be extremely ambitious, but still within grasp if the recovery remains intact. Accordingly, from today's perspective, EBIT is expected to be at the lower end of the range indicated above. We are reiterating our original forecast for the net profit margin (4.8 % to 5.3 %). Contacts Analysts Ricarda Demarmels, Group CFO T +41 58 227 37 98, ricarda.demarmels@emmi.com Media Sibylle Umiker, Corporate Communications, Head of Media Relations T +41 58 227 50 66, media@emmi.com Downloads and further information About Emmi Emmi is a major Swiss milk processor. The company dates back to 1907, when it was founded by 62 dairy farming cooperatives around Lucerne. Over the past 20 years, Emmi has grown into an international, listed group. It has for many years pursued a successful strategy based on three pillars: strengthening its Swiss domestic market, international growth and rigorous cost management. Throughout its corporate history, Emmi's keen awareness of its responsibility to society, animal welfare and the environment has been fundamental to its mission. In Switzerland, Emmi manufactures a comprehensive range of dairy products for its own brands and private label products for customers, including leading exports such as Emmi Caffe Latte and Kaltbach. In other countries, its products - mainly speciality products - are manufactured locally. Alongside cow's milk, it also processes goat's and sheep's milk. In Switzerland, the Emmi Group has 25 production sites. Abroad, Emmi and its subsidiaries have a presence in 14 countries, eight of which have production facilities. Emmi exports products from Switzerland to around 60 countries. Its business activities focus on the Swiss domestic market as well as western Europe and the American continent. Half of its CHF 3.5 billion in sales - over 10 % of which stems from organic products - is generated in Switzerland, the other half abroad. Two-thirds of its more than 8,000 employees are currently based outside of Switzerland. The Tunisian parliament will likely approve the countrys new government in order to avoid possible dissolution Tunisias new Prime Minister Hichem Al-Mechichi finally announced the formation of his new government this week, putting together a government of technocrats that includes 28 independents, among them people who served in the previous government and eight women, to handle the North African countrys political divisions and economic challenges. The government was expected to be revealed almost five days ago, a situation which reflects how hard the talks leading up to its formation have been. Tunisian President Kais Saied assigned the task of forming the new government to Al-Mechichi on 25 July after his predecessor Elyes Al-Fakhfakh resigned amid a clash with the Islamist Ennahda Party. The countrys parliament will now decide whether to accept or reject the new government. The expected vote coincides with clear opposition to Al-Mechichi's vision towards the cabinet formation by Ennahda and political forces that are closely connected to it. They have recently expressed dissatisfaction with the country's premiers. The Islamist Party opposes Al-Mechichis cabinet, and it has the largest number of seats in parliament with 54 seats. It is followed by the Qalb Tounes Party (27 seats), the Democratic Current (22 seats), the Al-Karama Bloc (19 seats) and the Peoples Movement (15 seats), the news channel Al-Arabiya reported last week. 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) seem to be backing Al-Mechichis new government. Saied will have to dissolve the parliament in case if it votes against the government put forward by Al-Mechichi and call new legislative elections. For this reason, experts say a "yes" vote is more likely. Mahmoud Al-May, a member of the constituent assembly that drafted the countrys new constitution after the 2011 Jasmine Revolution, believes that the parliament will approve the cabinet as it fears being dissolved if it does not do so. Ennahda will be the biggest loser in case of new elections, with Qalb Tounes risking disappearing altogether, Al-May said, adding that government-formation process "will never happen" if it was not concluded within 30 days. Sarah Yerkes, a senior fellow at the US Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, agreed, adding that this is the third attempt to form a government in Tunisia in less than a year, referring to problems caused by the distribution of seats in parliament. The problem is not the amount of time allotted to the government-formation process. The problem is due to the fractured nature of the parliament, where no party holds even a quarter of the seats and there is no real ruling coalition or opposition, she said. Instead, Yerkes said, the parliament is made mostly of a "bunch of small parties and individuals with divergent interests who have a hard time coming to agreement". Talks on a new government took place during major tensions between Ennahda and anti-Islamist forces. Al-Fakhfakh resigned after Ennahda had reportedly managed to secure the required 109 votes to remove him from his post, with the escalation taking place after Al-Fakhfakh had said he would conduct a cabinet reshuffle and ignore the Islamist Partys request to hold consultations and add new parties to the ruling coalition. Al-Fakhfakh then ousted all the Ennahda ministers from his government, benefiting from his position as caretaker prime minister. The political crisis even grew further when opposition MPs submitted an official request to hold a vote of no-confidence against Ennahda's leader and parliament speaker Rached Al-Ghannouchi last month. They accused him of disregarding the authority of the president, trying to expand his own, and seeking to impose a Muslim Brotherhood agenda on Tunisia. At first it was believed that Ennahda would be out of the government for a short period despite its strong representation in parliament. But now it seems that this period will last longer than expected, causing anger among the partys leadership. Ennahdas exclusion from government has been clear since Al-Mechichi, a member of the National Commission for the Investigation into Corruption established in 2011 and an ex-legal adviser to Saied, was appointed to head it. Al-Ghannouchi said that Tunisia needs an economist, not a legalist, in order to serve as a successful manager. There was a need for a prime minister who has actual experience and not just theoretical knowledge, he said. Arnaud Kurze, an associate professor of justice studies at Montclair State University and a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center in the US, said that recent opinion polls had shown smaller parties benefitting if there were new elections, while Ennahda could lose seats if parliamentary elections were held. Kurze was referring to the Free Destourian Party, the Reform Party, the Al-Watania Party and Tahya Tounes, which he believes have decided to back Al-Mechichi as they would likely be the winners in the new government. He said that it remained to be seen whether Saied would be able to harness the new government of independent technocrats and experts to defuse the political tensions between the countrys secularists and Islamists or whether the political establishment would be able to dominate the political process, hampering long-overdue social changes. After years of stalemate and status quo politics, often accompanied by corruption scandals, the smaller parties, which favour independent, technocratic cabinet choices, see an opportunity to change the governance system in Tunisian politics. If the current head of state is able to play his cards right, these political opportunities might play out in favour of Tunisian society, Kurze said. However, we shouldnt forget that this process does not occur in a vacuum, and established elites have an interest in influencing the outcome to maintain power, whether on the secular or the Islamist end of the spectrum, he concluded. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: A Florida congressman facing a tough re-election battle has been forced to apologize after making comments about rape and sex with 15-year-old girls in old Facebook comments. Brian Mast, a 40-year-old Army veteran and double amputee, made the remarks to a friend, Rocco LeDonni, who is now his campaign manager. The Republican currently represents one of South Florida's most competitive swing districts, and is battling against Democratic challenger Pam Keith to keep his seat. He apologized for the remarks on Tuesday. Brian Mast, a Florida congressman, made comments about rape and sex with children on Facebook The comment, made in 2009 on his campaign manager's photo, has now been deleted Michigan-born Mast, who was elected in 2016, served in the Army from 2000 to 2010, when he was injured by an IED in Afghanistan, losing both his legs. He made the offensive comments in 2009 and in 2011. In February 2009, LeDonni posted a photo of his vacation to South Africa. Mast commented: 'im so proud of you... i hope you hook up with at least fifteen 15 year olds over there.... its legel there right.' Two years later, LeDonni asked in a May 20, 2011, post: 'Anyone have any good pick up lines for this weekend considering according to the crazy christian radio guy the world may end on sunday?' Mast, by then convalescing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, responded: 'How about don't turn this rape into a murder.' Mast has been seen as a rising star in the Republican party. Mast served in Iraq and Afghanistan, having joined the Army straight out of college in 2000 Mast lost both his legs during an IED explosion in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, in 2010 Mast, a strong supporter of the president, is pictured with Donald Trump on Air Force One The congressman, who lives in Palm City, Florida, with his wife Brianna and their four children - Madalyn, Maverick, Magnum, and Major - was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. LeDonni has been a senior campaign adviser and political consultant for Mast since he first was elected in 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile. In May 2018, the Associated Press reported that Mast was under consideration by the Trump administration to become the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. He has often voted in favor of Trump's agenda in Congress, but he broke ranks with the GOP when he supported gun control measures after the February 14, 2018, Parkland school shooting that left 17 students and staff dead. Mast beat Democrat Randy Perkins in 2016 with 53 per cent of the vote and won another close victory over Lauren Baer in 2018 with 54 per cent of the vote. In a statement on Tuesday, after he was contacted by the Sun Sentinel, Mast apologized for the posts. 'A decade ago when I was in the Army, and following my injury, I made disgusting and inappropriate jokes that I am embarrassed to have associated with my name today,' he said. 'I am sorry about that part of who I was, and I strive every day to be a better example for my kids.' The posts were taken from LeDonni's Facebook page after the newspaper contacted Mast. Pam Keith, a former Navy officer, is challenging Mast for his Congressional seat in November His Democratic rival, Pam Keith, a former Navy JAG officer, condemned the posts in a statement. 'This is disgusting, unacceptable and dishonorable behavior for any man, let alone a sitting member of Congress,' Keith said. 'Rape, violence and intimidation of women and children are not Brian Mast's punchline his words are an insult and betrayal to the women he claims to represent.' Keith herself has been slammed for a social media comment in the past. In March 2020, Keith responded to a comment that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden might have raped someone. 'That means he still has LOTS of rape to do to catch up to Trump. Also .... I highly doubt that's true,' she wrote. Mast replied: 'Pam Keith just doubled down on her abhorrent comments trivializing rape, saying she was just trying to be "snarky." There is no room for joking about sexual violence!' Bizarrely both Mast and Keith have made inappropriate jokes about rape Mast and Keith have been vigorously attacking each other in the run up to November's vote. 'If you are a Republican, Pam Keith believes that automatically makes you a white supremacist,' he tweeted on Monday. 'Does anybody honestly believe that as a Member of Congress she would be willing to help somebody who she hates with every fiber of her being?' Keith, in turn, said that Mast was 'on the side that is BREAKING America'. Keith, Mast's Democrat rival, has been attacking her opponent on Twitter Newly elected Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey joins her predecessor, Steve Cooley, for a news conference in 2012. (Nick Ut / Associated Press) To the editor: Your editorial "How Kamala Harris Has Grown as a Political Leader" calls former Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, who ran against Kamala Harris for California attorney general in 2010, a "frumpy white guy." It seems as if you are trying to distance yourself from your endorsement of Cooley. Here is what you wrote about him back then: "Cooley ... is familiar to most Angelenos and has received this board's endorsement in his previous races. As D.A., he has been principled and brave, a solid custodian of the public trust and public access. Cooley came to office in the aftermath of the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart scandal and used that crisis to modernize his office's procedures for sharing information with defense lawyers. His so-called Brady policy a written protocol for prosecutors to determine which evidence must be shared with defense lawyers is a model for other agencies. Cooley raised principled objections to the state's blunt three-strikes policy; his guidelines, which other Republican prosecutors throughout the state have vigorously opposed, should provide a template for district attorneys as they search for ways to apply a bad law to real life." Now you diminish him by referring to his race, gender and appearance. It was irrelevant then and is irrelevant now. You made the right choice in 2010, and now you owe an apology to the man you endorsed. Joseph Charney, South Pasadena The writer is a retired Los Angeles County deputy district attorney. .. To the editor: In your editorial, I was described somewhat derisively as a "frumpy white guy." It should be noted that in the 2010 general election for California attorney general, I received 17 of 18 major daily newspaper endorsements. Fifty-seven law enforcement groups gave endorsements; I received all 57. Not bad for a frumpy white guy. Steve Cooley, Rolling Hills Estates The writer was Los Angeles County district attorney from 2000 to 2012. Drummer joins planning board Max Weinberg, the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen and the bandleader for Conan OBriens Late Night and The Tonight Show, has been appointed to a local planning and zoning board in the Florida city where he lives. Weinberg, 69, told The Palm Beach Post hes looking forward to serving Delray Beach during the two-year term. He said he plans to thoroughly review plans that come before the board. You owe that to the community, Weinberg said. I want to see Delray Beach developed in a way that takes into consideration all of the different viewpoints. You need to look at these plans from every angle. He was recommended for the board post by Commissioner Juli Casale, who said she met Weinberg while campaigning last year. I was impressed with his knowledge and vision of real estate and development, she said. I love Springsteen. Who doesnt? But this appointment was not made because of his music prowess. Weinberg, who was hired as Springsteens drummer in 1974, told the Post that community decisions, like music, can have a lasting effect. Weinberg has bought or built nearly 40 houses over the years and has appeared before planning committees across the country. He said he has encountered planning and zoning board members that were not as thorough or as prepared as they should have been. Jay-Z, Pharrell release new song Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams have teamed up to release a new song about Black ambition titled Entrepreneur. The track is in conjunction with Times special cover project The New American Revolution, which was curated by Williams and includes conversations with Angela Davis, Naomi Osaka, Tyler, the Creator and others about the inequalities Black people encounter in the U.S. Williams told Time the song is about how tough it is to be an entrepreneur in our country to begin with. Especially as someone of color, theres a lot of systemic disadvantages and purposeful blockages, he continued. How can you get a fire started, or even the hope of an ember to start a fire, when youre starting at disadvantages with regards to health care, education, and representation? Jay-Z is the featured artist on Williams song. Entrepreneur was produced by the Neptunes, the duo of Williams and longtime collaborator Chad Hugo. Jay-Z and Williams have collaborated on a number of hit songs throughout the last two decades, including I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me), Excuse Me Miss, Change Clothes, Frontin and Apeshit, also featuring Beyonce. Associated Press 10:00 p.m. update: Laura is moving north-northwest at 15 mph and is about 75 mi. off the coast of Port Arthur. A turn toward the north is expected by early Thursday, and a northward motion should continue through the day. Maximum sustained winds are holding at 150 mph, just under a category 5 hurricane with higher gusts. No significant change in strength is likely before landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura moves inland. Sustained wind of 43 mph and a gust to 49 mph were recently reported by a National Ocean Service station at Texas Point, Texas, at Sabine Pass. A wind gust to 58 mph (93 km/h) was recently reported at Cameron, Louisiana. More from the National Hurricane Center: STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide: Johnson Bayou LA to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge including Calcasieu Lake...15-20 ft Sea Rim State Park TX to Johnson Bayou LA including Sabine Lake...10-15 ft Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge to Intracoastal City LA...10-15 ft Intracoastal City LA to Morgan City including Vermilion Bay...8-12 ft Port Bolivar TX to Sea Rim State Park...6-9 ft Morgan City LA to Mouth of the Mississippi River...4-7 ft Freeport TX to Port Bolivar including Galveston Bay...2-4 ft Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs MS including Lake Borgne...1-3 ft Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...1-3 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes. This surge could penetrate up to 40 miles inland from the immediate coastline, and flood waters will not fully recede for several days after the storm. TORNADOES: Several tornadoes are expected tonight over Louisiana, far southeast Texas, and southwestern Mississippi. The risk for tornadoes will continue on Thursday across Louisiana, Arkansas, and western Mississippi. 6:30 p.m. update: Reports from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 150 mph with higher gusts. NWS forecasters did not rule out the possibility of the hurricane becoming a Category 5 before landfall. Pressure continues to drop and rapid intensification is still continuing, National Weather Service meteorologist Donald Jones said in his 6:30 p.m. briefing. Official forecast has it for a Category 4 and all evidence could see a Category 5. Either way we are only talking about 5-10 mph and the impacts are going to be largely the same. Laura is an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible tonight before Laura reaches the northwest Gulf coast overnight. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura moves inland. 4 p.m. update: After Hurricane Laura was upgraded to a Category 4, it remains on the same course and is expected to make landfall sometime late Wednesday and early Thursday morning. Hurricane Laura currently is about 155 miles south-southeast of Port Arthur moving at 15 miles per hour. Max sustained winds have increased to 145 miles per hour with higher gusts and the National Hurricane has deemed Hurricane Laura as extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane. Some additional strengthening is possible this evening before the hurricane reaches the coast. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 feet from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles. Tropical-storm-force winds and dangerous storm surge is expected to arrive within the at-risk area before Lauras center, according to the National Hurricane Center. Rapid weakening is expected after Hurricane Laura moves inland. 1 p.m. update: Hurricane Laura is now a Category 4 hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 140 mph. Further strengthening is still possible, the National Hurricane Center warns. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 70 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles, the centers latest update reports. Tropical storm force winds have already reached the coast of Louisiana at around 39 mph with gusts of 64 mph. Laura is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph, according to the update. A gradual turn toward the north-northwest and north is expected later today and tonight. On the forecast track, Laura will approach the upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland within that area tonight. 10:30 a.m.: The National Weather Service is urging immediate evacuation for Jefferson County and surrounding areas in an emergency 8 a.m. briefing after Hurricane Laura intensified to a Category 3 overnight with the expectation of it becoming a Category 4. Your life will be in immediate and grave danger if you do not evacuate, Donald Jones, who has been hosting regular briefings said Wednesday morning. Hurricane Laura is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 and slow down to a strong category 3 before making impact Wednesday night. This storm is so much stronger than we were initially anticipating, Jones said. Jones said there would be no more briefings, as the Lake Charles office of the National Weather Service prepares to evacuate given the severity of the hurricane. The National Hurricane Center said in a 7 a.m. update that current speeds have increased to 115 mph, with higher gusts. Laura is a dangerous category 3 hurricane and is forecast to continue strengthening into a category 4 hurricane later today, the update said. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura makes landfall. Laura is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm- force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Hurricane-force winds are expected Wednesday night from San Luis Pass, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana. Catastrophic wind damage is expected where Hurricane Lauras eye wall eventually makes landfall. Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel cited the 7 a.m. forecast in calling for a mandatory evacuation. To reiterate, this hurricane is going to devastate SETX, including Hardin County, McDaniel said in a message to residents. It appears many have chosen to stay and ride it out. I dont blame you! However, seeing the new forecast this morning and the fact that it continues to look worse for us with each update, that is definitely not a good decision and waiting any longer could be a deadly choice for you and your family. Buses will be available for evacuation from 8-9 a.m. at Silsbee Middle School on a first-come-first-served basis. The National Hurricane latest 10 a.m. advisory reiterated the unsirvivable storm surge ie expected and will produce destructive waves. Areas most affected by the storm surge includes anywhere from Sea Rim State Park, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana and could reach as far as 30 miles inland. Widespread flooding is expected along small streams, urban areas and roadways is expected to begin this afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. Flash flooding threat will extend from Eastern Texas all the way into Arkansas. Roger Erickson, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Lake Charles said the impacts will also be severe down the Louisiana coast. This isnt just one side of the state, Erickson said during the 8 a.m. briefing. It is also the center part of the Louisiana coast that we will see some big events happening. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com./byjorgeramos Researchers from Kanazawa University find that as gastric cancer spreads throughout the peritoneal cavity, inflammatory protein IL-17A induces tissue fibrosis, causing lethal side effects and hampering chemotherapy. Kanazawa, Japan - Gastric cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide, is renowned for its ability to disseminate throughout the peritoneal cavity. As well as causing secondary tumors in other organs, metastatic gastric cancer cells trigger extensive stromal fibrosis, or the formation of scar tissue, that can be more deadly than the cancer itself--bowel obstruction and hydronephrosis and jaundice are all common side effects of gastric cancer-associated fibrosis. What's more, the densely packed scar tissue can disturb chemotherapy drugs from reaching their target due to intra-tumoral high pressure. Preventing fibrosis could therefore improve the prognosis for gastric cancer patients. The problem is, researchers have yet to discover what causes fibrosis, let alone how to prevent it. But in a study published recently in Gastric Cancer, researchers from Kanazawa University found that an inflammatory protein produced by mast cells, IL-17A, triggers cellular changes in the peritoneum, leading to stromal fibrosis in gastric cancer patients. Lead author Katsuya Gunjigake from Kanazawa University's Division of Cancer Medicine explains why the researchers targeted IL-17A. "Over-stimulation of the immune system by IL-17A plays a major role in chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. It has also been associated with increased tumor growth and dissemination in various forms of cancer. Interestingly though, while studies had shown that IL-17A causes fibrosis in both Crohn's disease and lung disease, no one had investigated the link between tissue fibrosis and IL-17A in cancer." By studying cancerous tissue from 70 gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination, the researchers discovered that the degree of fibrosis was governed by the amount of IL-17A, and that IL-17A was being produced by a subgroup of white blood cells called mast cells. Says Gunjigake, "Mast cells are most commonly associated with anaphylaxis but are also involved in pathogen defense and immune tolerance, among other things. They contain small particles called granules that are filled with molecules such as histamine, serotonin, and IL-17A that are released into the extracellular environment in a process known as degranulation." The researchers then injected mice with human peritoneal cells and gastric cancer cells and examined the effects of IL-17A treatment, with interesting results. "Not only did IL-17A increase tumor size and the degree of fibrosis, it also changed the structure of the peritoneal cells, enhancing their invasive and migratory capabilities," explains responsible author Sachio Fushida. "Given the obvious role of IL-17A in driving fibrosis, our results suggest that suppression of mast cell degranulation may be a promising treatment strategy for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination." ### Global Autonomous Bus Market: About this market This autonomous bus market analysis considers sales from both fully autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. Our report also provides a detailed analysis of the market in APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America. New York, Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Autonomous Bus Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05826762/?utm_source=GNW In 2019, the fully autonomous segment had a significant market share, and this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. Factors such as developments in the field of driverless vehicles will play a vital role in the fully autonomous segment to maintain its market position. Also, our global autonomous bus market report looks at factors such as the growing investments in autonomous mobility, favorable guidelines and policies supporting autonomous vehicle development, and growing developments in autonomous vehicle corridors. However, environmental impact of autonomous vehicles, reliability and safety concerns over autonomous driving, and cyberthreats faced by autonomous buses may hamper the growth of the autonomous bus industry over the forecast period. Global Autonomous Bus Market: Overview Growing developments in autonomous vehicle corridors The development of autonomous vehicle corridors with supporting infrastructure will help in creating a conducive environment for testing, development, and deployment of autonomous buses. For instance, Ohios Transportation Research Center opened a new state-funded facility, termed Smart Mobility Advanced Research Test (SMART) for autonomous vehicle testing. Similarly, the state of Florida in the US is also planning to invest in the development of smart corridor for autonomous shuttles in Altamonte Springs. These developments will lead to the expansion of the global autonomous bus market at a CAGR of almost 32% during the forecast period. Vehicle-to-cloud OTA solutions for autonomous vehicles Connected vehicle service providers are integrating critical technologies for the development of end-to-end lifecycle management solutions. Vehicle-to-cloud solutions ensure secured and intelligent OTA updates for connected and autonomous vehicles. It helps manufacturers to deploy important software updates efficiently and seamlessly for keeping the vehicle up to date with the latest technologies. This development is expected to have a positive impact on the overall market growth. Competitive Landscape With the presence of a few major players, the global autonomous bus market is concentrated. This robust vendor analysis is designed to help clients improve their market position, and in line with this, this report provides a detailed analysis of few leading autonomous bus manufacturers, that include AB Volvo, Continental AG, Daimler AG, Easymile SAS, Navya SA, Robert Bosch GmbH, Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG, Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co. Ltd., and Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co. Ltd. Also, the autonomous bus analysis report includes information on upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. This is to help companies strategize and leverage on all forthcoming growth opportunities. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05826762/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 While the government and students prepare for the NEET 2020 that is scheduled to happen on September 13, opposition leaders including West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Congress chief Sonia Chief have opposed holding the exams during the pandemic. The leaders have decided to move the Supreme Court to postpone both NEET and JEE. On the vaccine front, a report from the DailyMail said that a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed in Australia has shown promising results in the human clinical trials. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico has been cleared to participate in a federal unemployment booster program that will provide recipients with $300 per week on top of their existing benefits. But the program leaves out a couple thousand unemployed New Mexicans, who will be ineligible to receive the extra money. The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions announced Wednesday it has received approval and grant funding for the Lost Wages Assistance program, an aid program established through an executive order from President Donald Trump earlier this month. The program, operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, provides an extra $300 per week in federal funding for eligible unemployment recipients. Stacy Johnston, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Workforce Solutions Department, said federal guidance dictates that recipients are only considered eligible for the federal program if their normal weekly unemployment benefit amount is at least $100, including the allowance for dependents. Johnston said in New Mexico, the current minimum weekly benefit is $86, plus a $25 bonus for dependents. Consequently, about 2,000 unemployed New Mexicans received less than $100 per week during that three-week period, and are therefore ineligible for the program, Johnston said. Recipients also must be eligible for one of the standard unemployment programs and self-certify that they were unemployed, or partially unemployed, as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a state news release. The program retroactively covers a three-week period, from July 26 to Aug. 15. The department has applied for an additional week of funding to extend the supplemental benefit through Aug. 22, and will continue applying for FEMA grants in future weeks to maximize benefits for New Mexicans, according to the release. NMDWS expects payments under the new program to begin the second week of September, the release said. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_228.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_228 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_228.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_228.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_228.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement From Ali Galadima, Bauchi The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command Lawan Tanko Jimeta has described community policing as a potent strategy tool in solving security challenges that has bedeviled the country CP Tanko Jimeta made this assertion during the official inauguration of Bauchi state community policing advisory committee (SCPAC) by Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir held at the Government House yesterday. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_3e3.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_3e3 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_3e3.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_3e3.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_3e3.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } He said the community based policing model was adopted to suit the values, cultures and ways of life that are peculiar to each community setting in Nigeria According to him, For effective implementation of the strategy in Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police,IGP Mohammed Abubakar Mohammed has approve the setting up of Committees of community policing at various levels within the state. The committees which include, community policing advisory committee, state community policing , area command community policing committee, local government community policing committee and divisiinal community policing Inaugurating the committee Governor Bala Mohammed said that the desire to achieved community policing would be achived by engaging various stakeholders and community leaders to have a say in security situation bedevilling their communities The emir of Bauchi is the Chairman of the community policing advisory committee and the committee was lucky for having him as Chairman because e he would deepen Government would continue to assist the security to discharge their duties saying even though Bauchi is not in crisis but case ls of bandit and kidnappers are there which need to be addressed Also, the Co-Chairma of the Committee who is the Emir of Bauchi Dr. Rilwan Suleiman Adamu commended the Governor and the Nigerian Police for their foresight in of initiating such committee to tackling security challenges in the country He said, security cannot be achived without trust and sincere repr sentattaion of traditional rulers who are more closer to the people in times of communication He also, assure that they will discharge their duties with all sense of humility, maturity to achieve their desire objectives Its all locked down, no more schools, no meeting friends or play time in the park or sharing lunch boxes this year. As kids continue to be cooped up in their homes there is quite a lot that they miss and although parents make every effort possible, solutions do run out. Britannia Cake with the aim to create excitement and delight amongst kids and in turn help the parents in bringing a smile on their kids face has come up with the brand-new Britannia Cake Layerz with indulgent creme sandwiched between two delicious layers of Cake. To announce the launch of this exciting new format, GREY groups Bangalore office has created a TVC. The film highlights a cute banter between a kid and his grandfather, who wants his help to get the cool hairstyle for him and the kids father too. As the TVC progresses, so does the light-hearted fun with the grandfather offering Britannia Cake Layerz as the reward to the kid, who wants two cakes for changing their hair and gets an exciting surprise in return. The mischievous tone of the campaign brings out some of the indulgent aspects of Britannia Cake Layerz that make it kids favourite. Talking about the campaign Mr. Vipin Kataria, Head-Adjacency Businesses, Britannia Industries said, During this lockdown, kids have been constantly cooped up in their homes and with no schools, no play time they definitely feel stuck. Britannia Cake Layerz is unique format, which is exciting and fun and can bring that smile on a kids face. Along with being a delight for kids, this is also an exciting new twist to traditional cake formats and as we keep abreast to the innovations in this category, we hope to bring a whole new experience to our consumers with this offering. With the lockdown and pandemic spread, consumers have re-evaluated their purchase behaviour and have become more value conscious. Understanding this evolving need Britannia Cake Layerz has been launched in an indulgent offering of INR 5 and two exciting flavours Chocolate and Orange. Talking about the campaign Mr. Ketan Desai, Chief Operating Officer, Grey India said, While this format promises increase in category penetration and market share, it will surely be a hit not just with the kids but with every member of the family. Two cakes with creme for just Rs.5 is undoubtedly a treat to our customers in the current times. It is an anytime snack, that can be enjoyed on the go, during short breaks or even as dessert. Talking about the campaign Mr. Gautam Bhasin, Group Creative Director, Grey India said, While the introduction of a new format of cake is at the core of the ad, the challenge was to make it funny and relatable. So, we gave it a quirky twist with a banter between a kid and his grandfather and father, bribing him with the cake to make their hairstyle like his. Health insurers say they have reached agreements with most private hospitals to cover the cost of Covid-19 tests. Last month, the Irish Independent revealed patients were furious after private hospitals and clinics began charging up to 275 for Covid tests for people before they could attend the hospitals. The agreements between private hospitals and insurers will mean insurers will absorb the costs in the future. Those members who have had to pay for tests already may be able to claim refunds retrospectively. Last month, private hospitals were accused of "appalling" behaviour after it emerged they were imposing new charges for Covid tests for people before they could attend the hospitals. The fees were between 75 for those who had to have a day procedure in a private hospital, and 275 for in-patient procedures. Insurers initially said they would not cover the new Covid-19 test charge. The hospitals and insurers have now reached a deal for insurers to cover the cost. However, this new cost is set to be passed on to consumers indirectly over time, according to broker Dermot Goode of TotalHealthCover.ie: "Any increase in claims costs - and this is an extra cost that was not there a few months ago - will undoubtedly be passed on to consumers." He said it could add up to 1pc to the annual cost of cover. Mr Goode said all the insurers had indicated that if deals were finalised, then those members who had paid test charges may be able to claim refunds retrospectively. However, he said he was waiting for confirmation on this. Representative image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Large private hospital chains, which were hoping to recoup some of their losses by allocating some beds to COVID-19 patients, have hit a wall, owing to under-utilisation of bed capacities and lower realisations. Though most hospitals now want to reallocate COVID beds to non-COVID patients, regulations and infection protocols prevent them from doing so. The hopes of hospital chains that COVID treatment will add to revenues dashed primarily because of the price caps by the government. Also, many large chains are concentrated in big cities, and most COVID cases are now being reported from Tier-II cities and smaller towns. Max Healthcare Institute, India's second-largest hospital chain, says currently less than half the COVID beds are occupied. COVID revenues did not contribute even 25 percent to the overall revenues even during its peak, the company says. Max reported revenues of Rs 4,026 crore in FY20, with an average occupancy of 72.5 percent over a bed capacity of 3,391 beds. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The company had an average revenue per operating bed of Rs 51,000. The company is yet to report Q1FY21 results, which saw the full impact of COVID-19 lockdown. The holistic COVID treatment costs are higher than what we are able to realise. We haven't denied treatment even to a single person during the pandemic. Lower occupancy, minimal surgical work and high fixed costs are leading to losses, says Yogesh Sareen, Senior Director and CFO, Max Healthcare. Max attributes lower realisations to government price cap on the treatment. It is not possible to change the configuration from COVID to non-COVID on a periodical basis, since the air handling units (AHU) and patient/staff flows are distinctly different for COVID and non-COVID patient areas," Sareen says. Of the 3,650 operational beds Fortis Healthcare has in its network, it has allocated around 1,260 beds for COVID-19 patients -- that is one out of three beds. Fortis Healthcare is Indias third-largest hospital chain. Revenues from COVID-19 treatment were approximately 8 percent of hospital revenues in Q1FY21. Hospital business revenue in Q1 FY21 stood at Rs 488.3 crore, a fall of 47 percent from Rs 913 crore in the year-ago period. In major cities like Mumbai and Delhi, approximately 50-60 percent of the designated COVID beds are lying vacant as many patients have recovered or have chosen to go under home quarantine since they have only mild symptoms, have no comorbidities (multiple medical conditions) or require no critical care, says Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Managing Director and CEO, Fortis Healthcare. In such a scenario, we should have the flexibility to reallocate beds to non-COVID patients. Some geographies still have restrictions in allowing the conversion of COVID to non-COVID beds, and we have witnessed a few instances where serving non-COVID patients has become a challenge, Raghuvanshi said. Private hospitals say they are seeing a decline of 30-35 percent revenue, compared to the pre-COVID quarter of Q4FY20. For instance, some of the high revenue-generators like transplant surgeries have been postponed because of infection risk. Many hospitals are not expecting full recovery until the end of this calendar year. They are also not expecting the usual 10 percent revenues from medical tourism anytime soon due to travel restrictions. Hospital executives say COVID treatment hasn't provided enough cushion to absorb the revenue loss. In around 20-50 percent bed capacities across our hospitals in different geographies, COVID cases are contributing only 10-15 percent of the revenue, says Dr Nandakumar Jairam, Chairman and CEO, Columbia Asia Hospitals India. This is primarily because the rates fixed by the government for all categories of patients are very low and are not enough to cover even the cost of treatment, Jairam says. Columbia Asia operates 11 hospitals in India. A majority of them are based in and around Bengaluru. Analysts attribute this to the concentration of large hospital chains to a few big metro cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune, where much of India's healthcare infrastructure is located. For instance, most of Max Healthcares and Fortis hospitals are concentrated in Delhi NCR and Mumbai. Delhi, which reported 3,500-4,000 cases on a daily basis in June, is now seeing less than 1,000 cases a day. Mumbai, too, has seen a steady decline in daily cases from about 6,000 in June to less than 1,000 cases now. Moreover, Maharashtra and Delhi have capped the COVID-19 treatment costs. In June, the Delhi government capped charges for intensive care unit (ICU) beds with ventilator support at Rs 18,000. This norm will be applicable to 60 per cent of the total private beds in the national capital. Maharashtra capped the charges for an isolation ward at Rs 4,000 a day. The maximum charge for an ICU has been capped at Rs 7,500 per day, and charges for ventilators are capped at Rs 9,000 a day. This is applicable for 80 percent of beds. Private hospitals were earlier charging between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 a day for a ventilator. With the price cap, the charges are now about 70-80 percent lower than before. India has reported 3.2 million COVID-19 cases, and 59,357 deaths. There are about 7 lakh active cases, and it was found that over 80 percent cases are asymptomatic or mild, not requiring any hospitalisation. Most COVID infections are now being reported from Tier-II cities, small towns and villages. There are allegations of private hospitals flouting price-cap norms, and the hospitals have denied this. There is no opportunity to overcharge as the government has capped prices and all healthcare institutions have to adhere to the prices decided by the government, said Jairam of Columbia Asia. The confusion and feeling that hospitals are overcharging arises because many patients have comorbid conditions which may also require treatment and care in an ICU setting," he added. The Center for Aging and Policy Studies (CAPS) is the focal point for research and training on the demography and economics of aging at Syracuse University (SU). The overarching objective of the Center is to improve the health, well-being, and independence of older adults through research, training, and dissemination The Center for Aging and Policy Studies (CAPS) is the focal point for research and training on the demography and economics of aging at Syracuse University (SU). CAPS research is characterized by two signature themes and three cross-cutting themes that directly address the goals and priority areas of NIA. The two signature themes are health and well-being and family and intergenerational supports; the three cross-cutting themes are the role of policy, the importance of place, and the distinctive circumstances of specific populations, including populations defined by historical experiences (e.g., military veterans), geography (e.g., rural residents), health conditions (e.g., Alzheimers disease), or shared vulnerabilities (e.g., low socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority adults). The Center for Aging and Policy Studies (CAPS) is the focal point for research and training on the demography and economics of aging at Syracuse University (SU). CAPS research is characterized by two signature themes and three cross-cutting themes that directly address the goals and priority areas of NIA. The two signature themes are health and well-being and family and intergenerational supports; the three cross-cutting themes are the role of policy, the importance of place, and the distinctive circumstances of specific populations, including populations defined by historical experiences (e.g., military veterans), geography (e.g., rural residents), health conditions (e.g., Alzheimers disease), or shared vulnerabilities (e.g., low socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority adults). SYRACUSE, NY, Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A consortium of three upstate New York universities has received a 5-year, $1.5-million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to fund the Center for Aging and Policy Studies (CAPS), headquartered at Syracuse University. The NIA, part of the National Institutes of Health, issues such grants to support centers of innovative research on the demography and economics of aging. We are delighted to receive this NIA grant, as it recognizes CAPS as one of the leading research centers on the demography and economics of aging in the country, says Jennifer Karas Montez, who serves as director of the Center and PI for the grant. Montez, a sociologist, is Gerald B. Cramer Faculty Scholar in Aging Studies in the Maxwell School and a faculty associate in Syracuse Universitys Aging Studies Institute (ASI). The cross-site consortium provides exciting opportunities for new collaborations that can improve the health and independence of older adults. Story continues The CAPS consortium includes Syracuse, Cornell University, and the University at Albany. In addition to Montez, the CAPS cross-site leadership team includes, also at Syracuse, Janet Wilmoth, sociologist and director of ASI, and Douglas Wolf, demographer and Gerald B. Cramer Professor of Aging Studies. The leadership team is completed by Kelly Musick, demographer and chair of Policy Analysis and Management in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell, and Benjamin Shaw, associate dean for research at the School of Public Health at UAlbany. The overarching goal of CAPS is to improve the health, well-being, and independence of older adults by addressing issues facing middle-age and older adults and the families that care for them. In its first year, the center will bring together 39 scholars from across the three sites whose research focuses on the demography and economics of aging, organized by the themes of (A) health and well-being and (B) family and intergenerational supports. It will fund innovative pilot projects and will offer a colloquia series, visiting scholars program, grant mentoring program, state-of-the-art methods training, and a research incubator to foster collaborations among CAPS affiliates. This is the third time that CAPS has received funding from the NIA. Previous grants were awarded in 1994-99 and 2009-14 when CAPS was single institution center at Syracuse. For more information, please go to asi.syr.edu/caps/ Attachment CONTACT: Josh Grossman Syracuse University 3154439038 jmgrossm@syr.edu By Anna Weksej New Canadian Media July 2020 marked a year since Rida Khan submitted a spousal sponsorship application so that she could live together with her husband Abdul Wasay Khan in Calgary. According to information on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website, spousal sponsorship applications usually take around 12 months to process. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the processing times have lengthened indefinitely, leaving many applicants stuck in limbo with no information as to when they may be reunited with their families. The last update we got was in March, said Khan. Our application has been stuck at the London office for about five months now and we havent heard anything at all since then. This lack of information, combined with the uncertainty and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, has had a big impact on the mental health of many applicants. The worst part is just not knowing when were going to be together, said Khan. Theres a lot of other people like me. We have anxiety, we have depression, there are days when we cant even get out of bed because we dont know when well be seeing our loved ones again. Just giving us a little bit of peace of mind would mean a lot to our families. Its been very tough on both of us, weve been anxiously awaiting any news, said Noor ul ain Mahmood, who applied to sponsor her husband Ibrahim Siddiq in July 2019 and hasnt had any news about her application since January. Many families have found support in a Facebook group called Canada Spousal Sponsorship Applicants Affected by COVID-19, which has over 3,600 members. The group also helps the families organize and raise awareness about their cause. Members of the group campaigned on social media, organized protests in cities across Canada, as well as submitted a petition to the House of Commons, which was signed by more than 5,500 people. The petition calls for the introduction of a Special Temporary Resident Visa (STRV), which would allow many applicants to be reunited with their families. We understand that it may not be so easy to expedite the process. As a temporary solution, we hope that IRCC will be able to introduce STRV, so that applicants from countries that require a visa will be able to visit their spouses in Canada and stay with them while the process is being finalized, explains Mahmood. This would really help support a lot of spouses and children who are awaiting to be reunited with their families, because right now, were facing this pandemic alone. The cause received endorsement from several MPs: Mathew Green, Alexandre Boulerice and Jenny Kwan from NDP as well as Andres Fontecilla from Quebec solidaire. On June 8, the government announced an exemption to travel restrictions for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows them to enter the country, providing they stay for at least 15 days and are subject to mandatory quarantine. While this helps some families, it does not mean that all applicants can hope to be reunited with their loved ones soon. I would like to highlight the disparity in this situation, commented Miriam Jurigova, Senior Legal Advocate with MOSAICs Legal Advocacy Program. While the government has made it possible for immediate family members to come visit, it is much easier to do so for people from visa-exempt countries, rather than someone who is from a country where theyd have to access a visa before being able to come. There have been some attempts [to speed up the process], but it is still incredibly long for people waiting to be reunited with their loved ones, added Jurigova. What makes the circumstances more difficult is that many government offices, both in Canada and abroad, have been impacted by the pandemic. Every single kind of application is currently taking longer there are individuals who are in Canada, awaiting work permits, that are taking two-three times longer than they should, comments Tatiana Gomez, a Montreal-based lawyer working primarily in the area of immigration and refugee law. In a statement to NCM, IRCC Communications Advisor Lauren Sankey said that IRCC has assured sponsors and applicants that no application will be closed or refused due to a lack of documentation or an inability to complete the application process under the normal timelines. Moreover, IRCC continues to accept and process applications throughout the pandemic, including family sponsorship applications, despite its limited operational capacity. However, some advocates for the cause are critical of the governments response to the issue. The only new measures that have been noted in the response is the extension of deadlines during the pandemic, which I believe fails to address the issue at hand, MP Jenny Kwan wrote on her social media profile, referring to the letter she received from Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco Mendicino. The current process is clearly insufficient and is preventing spouses from reuniting in a timely manner. The authors of the petition also point out that the issue has existed before and that many application delays have already exceeded the 12-month timeline at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the uncertainty of the situation, the applicants hope that the government would recognize that the priority for many families is to simply be able to be together. A lot of people are fighting terrible battles on top of this global pandemic, and being in isolation during this kind of time really takes a toll on their mental health, said Mahmood. I hope the government can hear our concerns and implement a solution. Anna Weksej is a journalist, researcher, designer and a member of the NCM collective, based in Warsaw and Montreal. In a rare display of urgency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held his third high-level political conference in as many weeks, where he raised alarm about the nation's coronavirus response and a typhoon forecast to hit the country early Thursday. During an enlarged meeting of the Politburo of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, Kim lamented unspecified "defects" and "shortcomings" in the country's' anti-virus campaign and urged that they be corrected swiftly, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. Kim also called thorough preparations to minimize damage from Typhoon Bavi, which comes weeks after torrential rains caused flooding and massive damage to homes and crops, inflicting further pain to an economy ravaged by U.S.-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons and border closures amid the pandemic. Also read: Kim Jong Un in coma, sister Kim Yo to take control, suggest reports Kim set tasks for the party and public services at every level, "saying that to thoroughly prevent the casualties by the typhoon and minimize the damage to crops is important work which can never be neglected even a moment," KCNA paraphrased the leader as saying. Typhoon Bavi as of Wednesday morning was near the South Korean island of Jeju and was on course to hit the northwest coast of the Korean Peninsula around daybreak Thursday morning. South Korea's weather agency said it had a maximum wind speed of 155 kilometers per hour (96 mph) and was forecast as one of the strongest to hit the peninsula this year. In another ruling party meeting last week, Kim admitted the country's economy has not improved as he had hoped. The Workers' Party cited "internal and external situations" as hurting the country's economic development, likely referring to U.S.-led sanctions over North Korea's nuclear program, the recent flooding and the efforts of closing the country's borders and other steps taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also read: Who will become North Korea's leader if Kim Jong Un dies? During the meeting last week, the ruling party scheduled a rare congress in January to set development goals for the next five years. Experts say the coronavirus derailed some of Kim's 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. The North has yet to confirm a single-case of COVID-19, but outsiders have widely doubted its virus-free claim. In late July, Kim ordered a lockdown of Kaesong, a city near the border with South Korea after the North reported it found a person with COVID-19 symptoms. It later told the World Health Organization the person's test results were inconclusive. The Hennessey fire in Napa County. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) With over 1,600 structures destroyed by fires sweeping across Northern California and the blazes still burning, we look at some of the startling images from this historic firestorm. Recent favorable weather has given crews a boost, but although the progress is encouraging, the widespread fires continue to take a dramatic toll. Flames consume both sides of a segment of Lake Berryessa in Napa County. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) More than 136,000 people were evacuated, and fatalities among the fires stand at seven. Five people were killed in the LNU Lightning Complex fire three in Napa County and two in Solano County and one in the CZU Lightning Complex fire burning in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. A pilot also died in a helicopter crash in Fresno County while on a water-dropping mission for the Hills fire. Seven people also were missing in the area of the CZU Lightning Complex, according to Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Chief Deputy Chris Clark. An American flag billows in front of a burning home in Vacaville, Calif. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) A destroyed home in Napa County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Veterinary technician Brianna Jeter comforts a llama injured in a wildfire in Vacaville, Calif. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Flames consume a cabin at a Napa County winery. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Debris from a fire is seen in the eye of a horse in Vacaville, Calif. (Jose Carlos Fajardo / Associated Press) A dead cow in Vacaville, Calif. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) A home burns in Napa County. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) A car burns in Vacaville, Calif. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images ) Smoke hangs low in the air at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, where redwoods burned. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) People watch a wildfire in Healdsburg, Calif. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images ) The rubble of a structure burns along Big Basin Highway in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) A resident guards a house in Napa County. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images ) An airplane drops fire retardant over homes in Napa County. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images ) A fire truck drives through flames in Napa County. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) Firefighters protect a home in the Berryessa Estates neighborhood of unincorporated Napa County. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Firefighters work in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Boulder Creek. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press) Family members embrace at the burned remains of their home in Vacaville, Calif. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images ) So I live here now because I love my wife, but Eastport has grown on me, said Hernick, who is vice president of policy and advocacy for Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. He and Pamela are the parents of four children. In D.C. and Arlington, people have their hobbies, but things trickle back to politics and the fast pace. Here the orientation is firmly on the bay, not in what you do for a job, but what you do for recreation. She's long been a passionate advocate for adoption and shares two adopted children with her husband, Hugh Jackman. And this week, Deborra-lee Furness revealed that despite her philanthropy, she's been targeted in the past by 'anti-adoption people'. Speaking on the Future Women's Drive podcast, the 64-year-old said that she has been 'pummelled' by people who for some reason oppose adoption. 'They really came at me': Deborra-lee Furness has revealed that she was 'pummelled by anti-adoption people' because of her advocacy for children in the foster care system Despite the criticism, the Correlli star said she wasn't discouraged. 'I got pummelled,' Deborra-lee said. 'I had a lot of the anti-adoption people really come at me.' She added that she was determined to help children find safe homes, despite the backlash from some quarters. 'I had to really sit and think about, like, "Am I doing the right thing?"' she said. 'And I did all my work and I looked at it and thought, "No, these children need a home." I just kept going.' Family: She's long been a passionate advocate for adoption, and shares two adopted children with her husband, Hugh Jackman: son Oscar, 20, and daughter Ava, 15 (all pictured) Deborra-lee explained that she never intended to be an advocate for adoption. 'I didn't step out to do this... I never set out to be an advocate, that's not really who I am,' the film director said. 'I reached out and tried to just add my two bob's worth and just by talking about it, I thought it'll get attention. I thought the people in the community would take over.' Her passion: The 64-year-old actress told the Future Women's Drive podcast that she was determined to help children find safe homes, despite the backlash from some quarters Deborra-lee and Hugh, 51, share two adopted children, son Oscar, 20, and daughter Ava, 15. In April last year, Deborra-lee spoke candidly about her and Hugh's adoption journey in a column for Stellar magazine. 'The universe had a plan in place,' she wrote, explaining that the couple were unable to conceive children naturally. She said they decided to begin the adoption process about a decade ago, and chose to do so in America instead of Australia because the laws are less strict in the U.S. Candid: In April last year, Deborra-lee spoke about her and Hugh's adoption journey in a column for Stellar magazine. 'The universe had a plan in place,' she wrote, explaining that the couple were unable to conceive children naturally 'Those who knew that Hugh and I had adopted our children Oscar and Ava in the U.S. would come up to me in the street and ask: "Why is it so hard to adopt in Australia?"' she added. She said this prompted her to arrange a meeting with the Australian Prime Minister at the time to speak about the issue. Now the founder of Adopt Change, an advocacy group which campaigns to make adoption easier in Australia, Deborra-lee slammed current legislation. She said: 'The security of love helps develop self-esteem, building a child's confidence and helping them contribute all they have to offer. 'Still today, tens of thousands of children are stuck in the statutory care system, not knowing what it is to find permanency with their carers.' Speaking out: In 2015, Deborra-lee said the adoption process must be made easier in Australia In February 2015, Deborra-lee, who was nominated for Australian of the Year for her work in raising awareness about adoption, spoke to The Drum about the subject. She said: 'We are in the process of change now. I mean, I've been speaking out about this for eight years...and now we are speaking with the politicians.' In January that year, she told The Daily Telegraph that families wanting to adopt shouldn't give up hope. 'Be proactive, speak to the local ministers, advocates, until you get traction,' she said. 'I am a big believer in mind over matter. Where there is a will, there is a way.' Euromonitor International is the world's leading independent provider of strategic and tactical market research. We create data and analysis on thousands of products and services around the world. New York Central Park is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, with its first-ever statues of real-life women. NY1 reports artist Meredeth Bergmann unveiled the new monument to three womens rights pioneers in the New York City park on Wednesday morning. The statue features two Upstate New York suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton with Sojourner Truth, who was born a slave in Swartekill, N.Y., before escaping to freedom in 1826. According to ABC, there are currently two dozen statues of real men in Central Park, but previously the only female statues were fictional characters like Alice in Wonderland and Mother Goose. Youve heard of breaking the glass ceiling, Bergmann told CNN. This sculpture is breaking the bronze ceiling. The bronze sculpture shows Truth speaking, Anthony organizing and Stanton writing. Central Park is unveiling a statue of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth today. This will make history as the park's first statue of real women. pic.twitter.com/A5wQgIaHsv Alexis Benveniste (@apbenven) August 26, 2020 Truth was a well-known abolitionist and womens rights activist, as well as the first Black woman to win a court case against a white man. She famously gave a speech known as Aint I a Woman? at the 1851 Womens Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio. Anthony was a leader in the womens suffrage movement and famously arrested in 1872 for voting in her hometown of Rochester, N.Y., when only men were allowed to vote. President Donald Trump pardoned Anthony last week on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, that gave women the right to vote. Stanton, who held the first Womans Rights Convention in Seneca Falls in 1840, helped write the amendment with Anthony. The pair also co-founded the Womens Loyal National League, the American Equal Rights Association and the National Woman Suffrage Association; published a womens rights newspaper called The Revolution; and worked with Fayettevilles Matilda Joslyn Gage on the History of Woman Suffrage. All three figures died before seeing their dream come true of women gaining the right to vote. According to NY1, the statue was paid for by a group of activists known as Monumental Women who sought to honor more women and people of color. The group raised $1.5 million for the statues in Central Park. Its wonderful that now the city of New York and Central Park are focusing on seeing womens accomplishments as worthy of statuary, Bergmann said. The monument is featured on Central Parks Literary Walk, which also includes statues of playwright William Shakespeare, poet Robert Burns, and novelist Sir Walter Scott. The unveiling was closed to the public due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, but was livestreamed on the Monumental Women website. Today is #WomensEqualityDay Today, 1st statues of women in #CentralPark unveiled: #SojournerTruth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony. Incredibly long overdue. Before, only fictional women could be seen in Central Park. Now we need more! @TODAYshow pic.twitter.com/QCHh2FUT0i Ann Pauley (@AnnPauley2) August 26, 2020 Marking the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote, @MorganRadford reports from the unveiling of the first statue of women in New Yorks Central Park. The statue portrays womens suffrage activists Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth. pic.twitter.com/R6fd84uOu6 TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 26, 2020 Crusade for the Vote: How Central NY launched the womens suffrage movement Crusade for the Vote: Video and podcasts to get smart on the womens suffrage movement Crusade for the Vote: Syracuse women rejoice after the Tennessee ratifies the 19th Amendment Another split in Congress imminent?: Watch Sanjay Jhas response The rift within the Congress party is now out in the open. The letter written by 23 prominent party leaders to Sonia Gandhi, calling for an overhaul of the party structure, was dismissed during the Congress Working Committee meeting on Monday. Instead, the party continued to maintain status-quo and retained Sonia Gandhi as interim party chief. The CWC meeting did have some fiery moments where those who sought changes, and were in a minority in the meeting, were referred to as BJP agents by Gandhi family loyalists. Additionally, the resolution also asked all party leaders to raise issues at party forums and not approach the media to air their grievances. So, the big question remains, is the Congress party headed for a split? Will the young guard, who want an overhaul in the party and fresh elections for all party positions, be sidelined by the old guard and Gandhi family loyalists? Is a split in the Congress imminent? Suspended Congress leader Sanjay Jha responds to these questions during an exclusive interaction with Hindustan Times' Aditi Prasad. ...read more Eisenhower Global Scholars The Global Scholars Program is an exciting new way to expose young American leaders to the rest of the world, and to extend the extraordinary legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of our greatest presidents and military leaders. Eisenhower Fellowships Chairman, Robert M. Gates. Expanding the reach of its widely acclaimed program that for nearly seven decades has connected midcareer professionals around the world, Eisenhower Fellowships will inspire and empower a new generation of young American leaders with the launch of its inaugural Eisenhower Global Scholars Program this fall. Four highly accomplished recent graduates of American universities will travel to the United Kingdom and Spain this fall for a year of postgraduate study at the University of Oxford and at IE University in Madrid punctuated by unique exchanges with Eisenhower Fellows in Europe and followed by hands-on work experience back in the United States. Sruthi Palaniappan, a graduate of Harvard University, and Naomi Ducat, a graduate of Queens College, City University of New York, will spend a year of intense study and cultural immersion in England at the University of Oxfords Blavatnik School of Government. They will refine their individual project proposals and complete a Master of Public Policy degree with a focus on public service and effective governance. Palaniappan, 22, a former Harvard Student Body President, led the launch of the universitys online mental-health screening system. During a busy academic career she interned at ABC News, CNN, UNICEF, the Chicago Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, Save the Children and Common Cause. She is a skilled Bollywood dancer, who choreographed four dances at Harvard that encompassed more than 300 participants. After completing her studies at Oxford, she proposes to create a civics curriculum for 5th graders, starting them early on the path to civic engagement as well-informed members of society. Ducat, 25, is an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton at the U.S. Department of Defense, where her job involves crisis-exercise planning. She was a national security intern at the White House in the office of Vice President Joseph Biden during the Obama administration. Her professional ambition is a career as a policy advisor at a multilateral organization such as the World Bank or the United Nations to advance global consensus on conflict prevention and international human rights. At Oxford she plans to examine the efficacy and enforcement of international commitments to combat human trafficking. Regina Siedow, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Christian Correa, a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, will attend Spains IE Universitys School of Global and Public Affairs, where they will complete a Master in International Relations degree with a focus on global business, innovation and entrepreneurship. Siedow, 26, a Peace Corps alumnus, served in a 1,200-person village in southeastern Senegal, where she mastered Malinke, the native language. She was elected by her peers to be the lead liaison between senior Peace Corps staff and the 250-member volunteer community. In Senegal she oversaw capacity-building events for community healthcare workers, and the creation of a health club for middle-school students. She conducted home visits for pregnant women and new mothers. At IE, she wants to create a toolkit for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers that provides resources on topics such as cultural norms, employment assistance and affordable housing options. Correa, 21, was vice chair of the Undergraduate Senate at UNC, where he shepherded a resolution that led to the creation in 2018 of the universitys Latinx Center for Hispanic students. He was instrumental in the effort to remove Silent Sam, a Confederate monument that had stood on the campus for more than 100 years. At IE, he will focus on the structural inequalities in U.S. healthcare that have contributed to the disproportionately high rates of infection and deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic for African-Americans, Hispanics and other communities of color in the United States. In addition to their year of academic study, the Eisenhower Global Scholars will have access to EFs extensive global network of leaders from government, business, civil society, education, science, health care, the arts and journalism. At the end of their year abroad, the Scholars will be offered an optional three-month professional internship in their field. Eisenhower Fellowships Chairman Robert M. Gates, former U.S. secretary of defense, welcomed the initial cohort of Global Scholars into the Eisenhower fold. The Global Scholars Program is an exciting new way to expose young American leaders to the rest of the world, and to extend the extraordinary legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of our greatest presidents and military leaders, Gates said. Eisenhower Fellowships President George de Lama said the Global Scholars add a dynamic new youth dimension to EFs world-class leadership exchange programs. We are thrilled to partner with Oxford and IE, both great global institutions of higher learning, and introduce these American students to our influential network of exceptional leaders around the world, de Lama said. We look forward to their taking their place in the ranks of Eisenhower Fellows who build bridges across borders and cultures. Now in its 67th year and named for Americas 34th president, Eisenhower Fellowships brings together innovative leaders from all fields from around the globe to tackle big challenges to better the world around them. Since 1953, more than 2,400 mid-career leaders from 115 countries have benefited from the unique, customized experience of an Eisenhower Fellowship. For further information, please contact: Erin Hillman, Vice President of Programs and Operations ehillman@efworld.org 215-546-1738 University of Oxford, Blavatnik School of Government Master of Public Policy IE University School of Global and Public Affairs Master in International Relations Greece and its EU allies held war games in the Mediterranean Wednesday while Turkey conducted drills with the US navy nearby, as the row between the two neighbours over gas and maritime borders ratcheted up another notch. The convergence of a growing number of warships on an energy-rich but disputed patch of sea between Cyprus and Crete came as NATO and a host of European officials called for cooler heads to prevail. Greece and Turkey are ancient rivals with a litany of disputesdespite both being members of the NATO military alliance. They nearly went to war over some uninhabited islets in 1996, and earlier this month frigates from the two sides collided while Turkey was searching for energy in the eastern Mediterranean. The threat of another conflict could imperil Europes access to a wealth of new energy resources and draw in nations such as Egypt and war-torn Libya. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was personally regularly in contact with Ankara and Athens. Catastrophe After failed shuttle diplomacy aimed at getting the two sides talking again Tuesday, Berlin on Wednesday criticised the naval exercises as not helpful. The emerging crisis is quickly rising to the top of the agenda not only regionally but also in Brussels and Washington. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said after telephone talks with US President Donald Trump that Athens was ready for a significant de-escalationbut on condition that Turkey immediately stops its provocative actions. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted Wednesday that Ankara would not accept preconditions such as suspending its gas exploration before resuming dialogue. Turkey will make no concessions on that which is ours, Erdogan said. Greece was able to secure the support of EU military powerhouse France in three days of war games starting Wednesday that also include Italy and Cyprus. The Turkish defence ministry conducted its own drills with an Italian navy vessel on Tuesday. Story continues And the same US destroyer that took part in the exercises with Turkey had staged air and sea manoeuvres with the Greek navy south of Crete on Monday. The seeming shifts in allegiance highlight Rome and Washingtons desire to avoid challenging Erdogan because of Turkeys importance to conflicts in Libya and the Middle East. But France has joined Greece in shadowing the Turkish vessels and is openly warning Erdogan against overplaying his hand. The Mediterranean should not be a playground for the ambitions of someits a shared asset, French Defence Minister Florence Parly said. EU split Simmering tensions began bubbling over when Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel accompanied by warships into disputed waters on August 10. Greece responded by dispatching its own navy ships to show its displeasure and keep an eye on Turkeys work. But Turkey says this latest conflict really started on August 6, when Greece struck an exclusive economic zone agreement with Egypt that conflicted with Ankaras maritime claims. That pact was agreed after Turkey delayed the Oruc Reis mission to give diplomacy another chance in July. Erdogan re-ordered the disputed exploration immediately after the Egypt deal. Greece is expected to once again push for penalties against Turkey at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin on Thursday and Friday. Turkey has been isolated at such meetings because it is a member of NATO but not the EU bloc. Its accession talks to the EU have stalled as Erdogan pushes ahead with a more nationalist and diplomatically aggressive course that plays well to his conservative base at home. But the EU has refrained from heavily sanctioning Turkey and has only targeted two energy executives for their role in drilling work near Cyprus. In past disputes, Erdogan has repeatedly used the threat to open Turkeys borders and allow millions of refugeesmany of them from Syriato enter the EU. If we say we will do something, we will do it, and we will pay the price, he said Wednesday. (AFP) To the Editor: Re Yale Is Accused of Racial Bias in Admissions (front page, Aug. 14), about a Justice Department charge that Yale discriminates against Asian and white applicants: Im writing as an Asian-American alumnus of Yale College and the son of low-income immigrants and Cambodian genocide refugees. At the end of this article Swan Lee, one of the people accusing Yale of bias, is quoted as saying: It feels great to finally have our existence be recognized by the government. The government has recognized our existence only when its politically expedient, such as when the president refers to the Chinese virus or kung flu to deflect blame. With just a few months until the election, this rushed and predictable announcement by the Justice Department is meant to sway Asian-American voters and drive a wedge in communities of color. Just as when the anti-affirmative-action activist Edward Blum declared I needed Asian plaintiffs after his lawsuits (with a white plaintiff) challenging the University of Texass admissions policies failed, the government has decided that it needs Asian-Americans as a tool to further its goals of dismantling diversity in higher education and winning re-election. But it has not recognized that some Asian-American subgroups, like Cambodian-Americans, have significantly higher poverty rates than the national average, and struggle to access higher education even at community colleges. Until the government takes action to help all Asian-Americans access higher education, then they have not truly recognized our existence. Puerto Rican cement market expands 24% in July ICR Newsroom By 26 August 2020 Cement demand in Puerto Rico advanced 23.8 per cent YoY to 60,546t (1.42m bags of 42.6kg) when compared with 49,033t (1.15m bags) in July 2019, according to data by the countrys statistics institute. Cement sales fell in 2019 and the first few months of 2020 before plummeting in March and April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which stalled economic activity. In May demand started to recover with sales up 2.1 per cent YoY, a trend that continued the following month as sales rebounded by 42 per cent YoY. In 2019, 575,609t of cement were sold, representing a 5.6 per cent decline when compared with 2018, when sales expanded by 38.9 per cent, the first increase since 2012, according to Sin Comillas. In terms of cement production, volumes advanced 31.1 per cent YoY to 56,282t (1.32m bags) in July. In 2019 output from Puerto Rican cement plants fell 6.7 per cent to 524,444t when compared with 2018. In 2018 cement production had increased 44.6 per cent YoY, the first advance since 2012. Published under Greece, Turkey draw in allies in Mediterranean war games Greek defence ministry photo shows the country's warships taking part in a previous military exercises Greece and its EU allies held war games in the Mediterranean Wednesday while Turkey conducted drills with the US navy nearby, as the row between the two neighbours over gas and maritime borders ratcheted up another notch. The convergence of a growing number of warships on an energy-rich but disputed patch of sea between Cyprus and Crete came as NATO and a host of European officials called for cooler heads to prevail. Greece and Turkey are ancient rivals with a litany of disputes -- despite both being members of the NATO military alliance. They nearly went to war over some uninhabited islets in 1996, and earlier this months frigates from the two sides collided while Turkey was searching for energy in the eastern Mediterranean. The threat of another conflict could imperil Europe's access to a wealth of new energy resources and draw in nations such as Egypt and war-torn Libya. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was "personally regularly in contact with Ankara and Athens". - 'Catastrophe' - After failed shuttle diplomacy aimed at getting the two sides talking again Tuesday, Berlin on Wednesday criticised the naval exercises as "not helpful". The emerging crisis is quickly rising to the top of the agenda not only regionally but also in Brussels and Washington. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said after telephone talks with US President Donald Trump that Athens was "ready for a significant de-escalation -- but on condition that Turkey immediately stops its provocative actions". But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted Wednesday that Ankara would not accept preconditions such as suspending its gas exploration before resuming dialogue. Turkey will "make no concessions on that which is ours," Erdogan said. Greece was able to secure the support of EU military powerhouse France in three days of war games starting Wednesday that also include Italy and Cyprus. Story continues The Turkish defence ministry conducted its own drills with an Italian navy vessel on Tuesday. And the same US destroyer that took part in the exercises with Turkey had staged air and sea manoeuvres with the Greek navy south of Crete on Monday. The seeming shifts in allegiance highlight Rome and Washington's desire to avoid challenging Erdogan because of Turkey's importance to conflicts in Libya and the Middle East. But France has joined Greece in shadowing the Turkish vessels and is openly warning Erdogan against overplaying his hand. The Mediterranean "should not be a playground for the ambitions of some -- it's a shared asset," French Defence Minister Florence Parly said. - EU split - Simmering tensions began bubbling over when Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel accompanied by warships into disputed waters on August 10. Greece responded by dispatching its own navy ships to show its displeasure and keep an eye on Turkey's work. But Turkey says this latest conflict really started on August 6, when Greece struck an exclusive economic zone agreement with Egypt that conflicted with Ankara's maritime claims. That pact was agreed after Turkey delayed the Oruc Reis mission to give diplomacy another chance in July. Erdogan re-ordered the disputed exploration immediately after the Egypt deal. Greece is expected to once again push for penalties against Turkey at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin on Thursday and Friday. Turkey has been isolated at such meetings because it is a member of NATO but not the EU bloc. Its accession talks to the EU have stalled as Erdogan pushes ahead with a more nationalist and diplomatically aggressive course that plays well to his conservative base at home. But the EU has refrained from heavily sanctioning Turkey and has only targeted two energy executives for their role in drilling work near Cyprus. In past disputes, Erdogan has repeatedly used the threat to open Turkey's borders and allow millions of refugees -- many of them from Syria -- to enter the EU. "If we say we will do something, we will do it, and we will pay the price," he said Wednesday. burs-zak/tgb While youre told you should not judge a book by its cover, can you judge a librarian by their choice of books? Speculation is rife after books titled Betrayed, The Resistance, and The Subtle Knife were spotted behind Boris Johnson as he gave a speech at a school. Several people posted on Twitter wondering if the books had been selected and intentionally placed behind where the prime minister would appear when he spoke at Castle Rock school in Coalville, Leicestershire, on Wednesday. Other titles which appeared behind Mr Johnson included the dystopian fiction Fahrenheit 451, The Toll and The Twits. One person tweeted: Fahrenheit 451 in the background and a PM that lies or holds back reports! Dystopian book for a dystopian PM. Another asked: Are the books behind Boris artfully arranged with a secret political agenda and commentary on the current government? A spokesperson for Castle Rock school told The Independent they were unable to answer any questions on whether the books were specifically chosen to appear behind the prime minister. They were also unable to say when they were placed there. Among the books which appeared behind Mr Johnson, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is about a future American dystopian society where books are outlawed and burned. Similarly, The Toll by Neal Shusterman is part of a trilogy about dictators and prophets, while Betrayed by P C Cast and Kristin Cast is described as dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking. The Subtle Knife, the second novel in Philip Pullmans fantasy His Dark Materials trilogy, won several of the UKs top awards for childrens literature and centres around a parallel universe similar to our own. The Twits, written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake, is about the Mr and Mrs Twit, who play nasty tricks on each other and are eventually handed their comeuppance by the Muggle-Wump monkeys and the Roly-Poly bird. Mr Johnson said pupils returning to the school would experience things with an intensity and clarity ... that is seldom repeated in your lives. He also referenced ongoing cultural debates, telling the students they would be dealing with concepts such as nuclear fusion or is Harry Potter sexist answer no, by the way and is it politically acceptable to sing Rule Britannia yes. He made the remarks after the BBC said it would play an instrumental version of the song at the Last Night Of The Proms next month, following a heated debate over its historical meaning. The BBC has said the decision to drop the lyrics was prompted by Covid-19 restrictions. Mr Johnson added: When you are struggling with complex questions, or something which you are worried about, somebody very probably a teacher, a brilliant teacher will say something and a light will go on, the clouds will lift and you will never, ever forget that moment. And thats why education is the great equaliser, its the liberator, its the transformer of society, and its the single most important way in which we can unite and level up across this whole country and deliver social justice. And that is why we must, in the next week and the succeeding days, we must have every pupil back in school in the way that youve come back to school. It comes after the government performed a U-turn on earlier advice by making face coverings mandatory in schools in some parts of England which are under local lockdown. SALEM, Ore., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 20th of 2020, healthcare executive Wendy Edwards was promoted to CEO for the Oregon-based Medical Advantage health plan provider, ATRIO Health Plans. In this role, Edwards will continue her responsibility for ATRIO's day-to-day operations and regulatory oversight, and work directly with the company's board of directors. Above all else, she will ensure that the quality and reliability that has become near-synonymous with the ATRIO name since its founding in 2004 continues to characterize its services and customer experience. With over two decades of industry experience and knowledge, Wendy is positioned to support future growth for ATRIO. She began her work with the company in 2014, serving as ATRIO's Chief Compliance Officer. Wendy progressed through several leadership titles, transitioning from Executive Vice President to President in 2018 and, now the added CEO title. Edwards' most recent promotion recognizes all that she has done to establish ATRIO Health Plans as the leading Medicare Advantage plan provider in Oregon. "ATRIO has built a tremendous amount of trust among members and providers over the last decade and a half," Edwards said. "As CEO, I look forward to upholding that trust and ensuring that our products and services continue to meet and exceed those expectations." Over the past six years, Edwards has collaborated with the other members of ATRIO's core executive team to craft and deliver Medicare Advantage plans that provide top-tier coverage and reimbursement options to patients and providers, respectively. Under her guidance and with the team's collective business savvy, the company has grown into one of the foremost health plan providers in Oregon. In the coming year, Edwards aims to further cement ATRIO's local reputation for providing high-quality Medicare Advantage plans and uphold the company as a major player in the Oregon market. About ATRIO Health Plans ATRIO Health Plans , Inc. is a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that offers Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) options as well as a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Special Needs Plans for Dual Eligibles. ATRIO was established by Oregon physicians in 2004 and has since grown to serve thousands of members in Douglas, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Marion, and Polk counties. SOURCE ATRIO Health Plans Related Links https://www.atriohp.com Museum exhibitions are all about the Wow!, What? and Why? as they showcase beauty and wonder, spark curiosity, and share some of the important lessons museum scientists have learnt through detailed study of these objects. But what happens when exhibitions no longer reflect our current understanding of how life on Earth evolved? Science advances all the time and new discoveries are constantly being made. At what point should older exhibitions be dismantled and what should they be replaced with, given how rapidly knowledge is moving? These are questions we've recently had to mull at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town. As curators and members of the museum's Research and Exhibitions team, we had to decide on the future of an iconic exhibition that first opened in 1959. It was the first diorama-style exhibition in South Africa that showcased the fossil discoveries made in the country's Karoo region. Dioramas are three-dimensional scenes with models and a painted backdrop. The Boonstra Dioramas were named for Dr Lieuwe Dirk Boonstra , a curator and researcher at the South African Museum who dedicated his life to understanding the mysteries of ancient pre-mammalian relatives that looked a lot like modern-day reptiles and dinosaurs, but are actually much older. The dioramas he and his colleagues created represented the best available scientific knowledge about how extinct plants and animals interacted with each other and the Karoo ecosystem around 270 million years ago. Building on the efforts of science education pioneers like Boonstra, modern scientists now have an even better understanding of Karoo fossils. That has rendered many of the models in the Boonstra Dioramas scientifically inaccurate. But should it remain as a testament to its place in history, to teach us about the process of knowledge generation and the evolution of scientific discovery, or be dismantled to maintain a scientifically accurate and relevant museum? Museums around the world have been grappling with the issue of diorama removal. Some museums have opted to remove these old dioramas; the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in the US has, since 2003, substituted old animal displays with more scientific and modern exhibitions (often digital) emphasising what is currently known of their evolution. We decided to remove the dioramas. But they're not lost forever. Thanks to technological advances, we've been able to preserve the exhibition digitally. We can do the same with other soon-to-be-retired museum exhibitions and make space for more up to date exhibitions that reflect the best available science. A big moving job Before we could turn the dioramas over to technological wizards, we had to decide which objects from the Boonstra Dioramas should be archived for perpetuity and what to do with objects that didn't make the cut. A careful de-installation plan was negotiated between museum professionals and building contractors, who oversaw the physical de-installation process. Most of the models were built in place and were too big to fit through the museum doors. As with most dioramas that are only ever viewed from the front, the wall-facing sides of the models didn't need to be complete. Many of the wall-facing sides in the Boonstra Diorama models showed a grotesque mesh of wire and plaster that would make it difficult to display them in future historical exhibitions without extensive conservation efforts. Most of these larger models had to be dismantled on site and removed in pieces. Models that were small enough to fit through the door were carefully removed intact. We were able to salvage and carefully relocate a few scientifically accurate models. Most of the real fossils (not models or casts) could be carried back into the collections by hand, with one exception. The Bradysaurus, a kind of Pareiasaur , was a remarkably complete showcase fossil that had been built into the display. To our surprise, we found this fossil was encased in concrete. Today, plaster of paris, which is much lighter and less brittle than concrete, is used to consolidate the rocks surrounding fossils in the field and to protect the encased fossil during transport to the museum. Sibusiso Mthungata, a technical assistant, prepares the Bradysaurus fossil for transport. Author supplied Thanks to ten strong construction workers and a customised movable dolly, the Bradysaurus specimen was safely removed. It is now in the museum's behind-the-scenes collection, accessible to researchers for further study. Read more: A fossil hidden in plain sight in South Africa turns out to be a new dinosaur Some of the painted backdrops, separated into panels, have found new homes at regional museums. Others will be temporarily housed at Iziko South African Museum until suitable homes can be found. With the exhibition space cleared, a large blank canvas remains. It will be used for a new permanent exhibition on human evolution, a collaboration between Iziko's Archaeology Unit and the Human Evolution Research Institute at the University of Cape Town. A digital approach Several digital technologies have recently emerged to help preserve brick and mortar exhibitions. These include LIDAR, which is 3D laser scanning; and photogrammetry to create high resolution, coloured 3D models that are accurate digital replicas. Read more: How we recreated a lost African city with laser technology The cost of digital preservation, and particularly LIDAR scanning, is often prohibitive for publicly funded museums. Iziko partnered with the Zamani Project , a non profit heritage documentation organisation based at the University of Cape Town. Through this collaborative effort the Boonstra Dioramas, including the exquisitely painted backdrops, are now digitally archived. The Zamani Team in action, making fossil replicas digital using a 3D laser scanner. Author supplied A 360-degree panoramic tour is available online , allowing visitors an immersive experience of the dioramas. This is a valuable way for museums to connect with a wide range of visitors in a virtual environment during the global COVID-19 pandemic and hopefully beyond. There are also plans to create augmented and virtual reality applications from the digitised exhibition. Additionally, the digital models could be 3D printed to create scaled-down versions of the fossil models. Devonne Kortje, Ralph Schroeder, Laura Rawden, Roshan Bhurtha and Bruce McDonald all contributed to this article. Claire Browning receives funding from the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and through her employment at the Iziko South African Museum. Wendy Black receives funding from the National Research Foundation and is a board member of the Human Evolution Research Institute. Heinz Ruther and Stephen Wessels do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Claire Browning, Curator of Karoo Palaeontology, Iziko Museums of South Africa And Heinz Ruther, Professor (em) of Geomatics , Principal Investigator of the Zamani Research Group , UCT, University of Cape Town And Stephen Wessels, PhD candidate, University of Cape Town And Wendy Black, Curator of Archaeology, Iziko Museums of South Africa The price of bread is set to rise after the worst wheat harvest in 40 years was caused by a volatile year of weather. Extreme weather since last autumn could mean wheat yields fall by up to 40 per cent - pushing up the price of bread and other baked products. Some millers have already started charging 10 per cent more for flour and it is feared a no deal Brexit will cause prices to rise further. 'We're looking at a 30% reduction in our good fields, in some of our poor fields it's is even more', Matt Culley, an arable farmer from Hampshire who is chair of the NFU's crop board, told the BBC. Extreme weather since last autumn could mean wheat yields fall by up to 40 per cent - pushing up the price of bread and other baked products (file image) Extremely wet weather followed by intense drought-causing heat is to blame for the poor harvest, according to the UK's Met Office. The National Farmers' Union said farmers were hit by a triple-whammy of severe weather starting with heavy rainfall last autumn when the crops were planted. More intense rain continued into February, the wettest ever recorded, with storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge ravaging fields. Crops struggled to grow in the water-clogged soil but in the following months an intense few weeks of heat brought with it a drought that further stunted growth. Another heavy bout of rain in August delayed the harvest and grain silos are almost empty where they should be full, according to one farmer. Of what remains in the fields, most of it is only suitable for cattle feed, said another. Some millers have already started charging 10 per cent more for flour and it is feared a no deal Brexit will cause prices to rise further. Pictured, a French farmer drove a tractor over wheat stubble on Tuesday A spokesperson for the Met Office explained: 'UK climate projections show a trend towards hotter and drier summers and warmer, wetter winters.' Alex Waugh, who runs the National Association of British and Irish Millers, said the price of wheat has been increasing steadily since the summer, meaning the price of flour will rise. 'It's reached the point where we can't afford to keep selling flour at the price that we are,' Paul Munsey of Wessex Mill in Oxfordshire told BBC News. He has already increased the price of his flour by 12 per cent. Some 85 per cent of wheat used for flour is grown in the UK, meaning imports will have to make up the shortfall. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, wheat imports could be liable for a 79 per tonne tariff, said the National Association of British and Irish Millers. It would mean another 40 per cent rise in wheat prices. Mr Waugh said wheat prices are up by 40 a tonne - an increase of more than 20 per cent. Millers work at tight margins so the brunt of the price rise will be passed on to customers. Agata Towpik, who runs Marcopolo Bakery in Wantage, is considering rising prices for only the second time since she and her husband Peter started the business a decade ago. 'Flour is our main ingredient and all the prices are increasing at the moment, so that will probably force us to put our prices up,' she told the BBC. Members 1st Federal Credit Union presented four local college students with a $2,500 scholarship in recognition of the credit unions annual Education Awards Program. President & CEO George Nahodil made the presentation, according to a press release. The recipients included Alyssa Fallon, human resources recipient from Penn State University; Brandon Leger, information technology services recipient from Penn State University; Ella Moores, marketing recipient from Susquehanna University; and Taylor Zampelli, finance recipient from Shippensburg University. The students received the news at the beginning of the year that they had been selected to participate in the Education Awards Program, according to the release. To protect the students and associates safety, Members 1st made the decision to forego the in-person 12-week internship. The credit union felt it was important to honor the students efforts, so a check presentation was held at the beginning of August so that the students could receive their scholarship and hear from Members 1sts president & CEO. The four internship opportunities originally offered to applicants were within the Marketing, Information Technology Services, Human Resources and Finance departments, according to the release. To be eligible for the annual award, applicants must be members of Members 1st Federal Credit Union and undergraduate students currently attending an accredited college, university or technical school, the release said. Preference is given to students from central Pennsylvania, majoring in a business-related field. The award consists of a paid twelve-week internship and a $2,500 scholarship. Four recipients are selected during the fall semester and begin their internship the immediate summer following the fall semester in which they were chosen, according to the release. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 26 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan will remain in the center of Raiffeisen Bank Internationals (RBI) focus in terms of research and analysis, the representative of RBI told Trend. Turkmenistan is a market which RBI has been following for a while, said RBI. Generally, Turkmenistan remains a highly interesting destination for cooperation for the bank, added the representative. RBI noted that COVID-19 pandemic requires them to decrease the pace of penetrating into new markets therefore they currently dont have any new initiatives in Turkmenistan. The RBI and local financial institutions of Turkmenistan can implement joint projects as Turkmenistan further improves risk management measures, as well as the structure of the Turkmen financial market, said RBI. As reported, earlier negotiations on establishing business contacts between the Turkmen Rysgal Joint Stock Commercial Bank and Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International were held. As earlier Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs of Austria told Trend, Austria's main area of interest in Turkmenistan is energy, including renewable sources of energy, environmental technologies such as water and waste management, health technology and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, infrastructure and digitalization (e-government, e-learning), added ministry. The prospects of the country's cooperation with Austria cover the creation of joint innovative facilities in the Turkmen free economic zones, the construction of mineral fertilizer production plants, and cooperation in petrochemical and gas sectors. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva Bengaluru, Aug 26 : The Karnataka government is ready to restart interstate bus services to four states and Puducherry and is awaiting their nod, a minister said. "From our end, we are all set to restart bus operations to these states, Telangana, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. We are also ready to restart services to Puducherry, but not Maharashtra," said Transport Minister Laxman Savadi. He said, the state government has already corresponded with its counterparts in these states and is awaiting their nod to resume operations after the coronavirus enforced disruption. Savadi said the neighbouring state governments are yet to respond to the letter correspondence. According to Savadi, the state government went ahead with the bus service restoration idea after the new guidelines emerged from the Central government, easing most of the earlier restrictions. On Monday, Karnataka government lifted almost all the restrictions it put in place for interstate travellers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic under Unlock 3.0. The state has discontinued registration on the Seva Sindhu portal, medical checkups at state borders, screening at receiving centres in the districts, categorisation of passengers, hand stamping and fortnight quarantine. It also waived off isolation and testing, posters on the doors of the infected persons, intimation to neighbours and monitoring by Panchayat or ward level teams, among others, for all asymptomatic arrivals. Only for symptomatic interstate travellers, it advised self-isolation and medical attention according to the latest protocol. The minister said the state will take some more time to restore bus services with Maharashtra as it is still reeling under the Covid pandemic. In all likelihood, Karnataka will take a call on resuming services to Maharashtra in September. Currently, interstate bus services have only been resumed to Andhra Pradesh. In normal times, the southern state used to ply as many as 2,500 government buses to its neighbouring states using its state road transport corporations' buses. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates services in 17 of the 30 districts across the state and also to Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The corporation has about 8,650 buses and ferries around 30 lakh passengers daily in normal circumstances. Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. School district officials in Washington Township are planning for a hybrid schedule when schools reopen for the 2020-21 year amid the coronavirus pandemic, but union officials, concerned about the adequacy of the ventilation systems in buildings, are urging them to start the year remotely. Islamabad, Aug 26 : Three militants from a banned outfit were arrested on Wednesday in Charsadda district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police sources said. "Police have saved Charsadda from a massive terrorist activity by arresting three militants who were planning to carry out a series of attacks including remote-controlled blasts and suicide attacks in the district," sources from police told Xinhua. The sources added that one of the arrested militants is "very dangerous and facilitator of an influential militant commander who is involved in many cases of terrorist attacks," and had been meeting and reporting to him. The police also recovered arms and explosive materials from the possession of the militants who also confessed that they were training a suicide bomber to attack a police station and patrolling police vehicles in the district. The militants were also involved in target killings in the province, the sources said, adding that the three militants have been handed over to the Counter Terrorism Department for further investigation. The intensity and duration of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 is a crucial in determining how long vaccines will be effective for, and how frequently a booster is needed. Researchers in Hong Kong have reported what they say is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection. The patient supposedly fell ill with COVID-19 in August, after having recovered from an earlier infection by SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020. The 33-year-old man from Hong Kong was reportedly infected a second time during a stint of travel in Europe. He had travelled to Spain and returned to Hong Kong via the United Kingdom. A saliva sample was taken upon arrival in Hong Kong as part of a screening protocol and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on 15 August. Two patients in Europe have also been confirmed to have been re-infected with COVID-19. The evidence gathered for COVID-19 reinfection has raised questions around how durable our immunity really is against SARS-CoV-2 either naturally or with a vaccine. Peoples immunity to the coronavirus, and how best to tame the pandemic are still areas being explored, experts have said. The Health Minister of Telangana announced the day after the Hong Kong case made news, that at least two cases of coronavirus reinfection have taken place in the state. 'No antibodies', strong evidence Researchers sequenced the virus from the 33-year-old Hong Kong man's first and second bouts of infection. This comparison showed that the two sequences did not match there was a total of 24 differences in the sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from both infections. In other words, the second bout of COVID-19 was not linked to the first. In addition, there were no antibodies found in a blood sample taken from him soon after his positive test at the airport during travel. This is a key indication that the second virus had not been lingering unnoticed for months, and strong evidence of reinfection. "This is certainly stronger evidence of reinfection than some of the previous reports because it uses the genome sequence of the virus to separate the two infections," Jeffrey Barret, a senior scientific consultant for the COVID-19 Genome Project at the Welcome Sanger Institute, commenting on the study to AFP. Even so, reinfection is rare The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargava said at a press briefing that the Hong Kong case is likely a rare exception, and that reinfection depends on multiple different factors. "We have read with interest the reports of reinfection in one case in Hong Kong. We are learning more and more about the disease as we go ahead. It can depend on several factors, one can be related to the patient itself, how is his immunity, how was his immune status, was it compromised. It can also depend upon the virus, whether the virus has mutated or turned virulent," he said, as per a Livemint report. Even if rare, the Hong Kong researchers highlight the need to be cautious and aware of the reinfection risk. "Our study proves that immunity for COVID infection is not lifelong in fact, reinfection can occur quite quickly," Kelvin Kai-Wang To, lead author of the forthcoming study, and microbiologist at Hong Kong University's Faculty of Medicine, told AFP. "COVID-19 patients should not assume after they recover that they won't get infected again." Experts not linked with the study concur that the finding doesn't change the need for precautions and working vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. "It is to be expected that the virus will naturally mutate over time. This is a very rare example of reinfection and it should not negate the global drive to develop COVID-19 vaccines," Brendan Wren, professor of microbial pathogenesis at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told Financial Times. Other experts are reassured to some extent by the Hong Kong case, since the second infection was asymptomatic suggesting that the immune system might have played a part in reducing the severity of the disease, even if it did not neutralize the virus in his body. "It is very hard to make any strong inference from a single observation," Jeffrey Barrett from the Wellcome Sanger Institute COVID-19 Genome Project. It may be that second infections, when they do occur, are not serious, though we dont know whether this person was infectious during their second episode. In a 13 April study from South Korea, 116 recovered cases of COVID-19 were found positive again. The study poured over these reported cases of reinfection, and concluded that the virus detected in all the recovered patients was simply leftover dead virus from the earlier infection flaring up as false positives. Considering the evidence on both sides, it isn't surprising that the news about 'proof' from Hong Kong is met with caution by most experts, since the study offers limited evidence towards the overarching concerns around reinfection. Reinfection is a key consideration for vaccines The intensity and duration of the body's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been questioned time and again. It is a crucial determining factor in how long vaccines will be effective for, and how frequently a booster dose is needed. Antibodies are agents of the immune system that are produced rapidly in the body's fight against an infection, or a threat to the immune system is discovered. The number of these initial antibodies is known to decline between the first to third month of recovery, depending on how severe the infection was. But for COVID-19, whether the antibody decline makes us more vulnerable to reinfection is a still a mystery. Being able to tell the difference between a reinfection with COVID-19 and a relapse of the same infection will help medical teams tighten treatment procedures for patients. It will also bring experts a step closer to understanding and eliminating the novel coronavirus. To the public, proof that reinfection is possible will also bring clarity on the testing process, its potential inaccuracies, and limit alarmism and any false information or speculation that might be making the rounds about COVID-19 reinfection. Experts around the world are cautiously stressing that reinfection is rare (if not very rare). However, considering the many unknowns about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it might still be risky to tout this theory as a fact. This, because declaring reinfection is not possible, may give people a false sense of security, which could be potentially dangerous. SING OUT THE VOTE: Che Apalache bandleader, songwriter and activist Joe Troop, from Winston-Salem, has launched an initiative to get out the vote in North Carolina. Working with VoteNC.org and RuralOrganizing.org, Troop is making a series of videos to spotlight key progressive voices from across N.C. by sharing songs and having conversations. The video series, Pickin for Progress, is releasing one mini-documentary film per week running up to the elections in November. The videos include Troops original songs and highlight activist and minority voices. The first video features a testimony from folk musician Nokosee Fields, a Lumbee Indian. You can access the videos by going to YouTube and searching for Pickin for Progress." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 19:08:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOHHOT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, has allocated more than 1.5 billion yuan (about 217.5 million U.S. dollars) this year for the renovation of old urban residential communities in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The fund will be used for the renovation of 487 such communities, benefitting 60,307 households, according to the regional development and reform commission. The move comes as part of government efforts in improving people's living environments and fulfilling basic needs like water, electricity, roads, and heating. Enditem Police in north-central Vietnams Thanh Hoa Province on Tuesday issued a notice to find the owners of three bank accounts that fell victim to a multinational fraud scheme. The bank accounts, opened at Vietnamese lenders BIDV, MBBank and Sacombank, belong to Tran Thi Lan Huong, Nguyen Van Tien, and Nguyen Thi Xa Ri, respectively. They are victims in a multinational fraud scheme run by Ajearo Chuckwugekwu Godwin, 34, a national of Nigeria, and his partners. The Nigerian and his team scammed the victims by asking them to make wire transfers in order to receive gifts sent from abroad. Godwin was arrested by Thanh Hoa police officers following a report by a local resident in early May about being conned out of nearly VND900 million (US$38,800) by a foreigner on a social network. With sufficient evidence obtained, officers accused Godwin of being the main suspect in the fraud case. He also allegedly led a transnational Internet fraud ring. By utilizing a Facebook account under the name Johnson Alex, he targeted gullible Vietnamese women through messaging platforms with the promise of sending gold, silver, jewelry, and foreign currencies from abroad provided that the victims transferred money to designated 'airline staff' in advance. The case is being further investigated while investigators are calling on victims to come forward. Nigerian Ajearo Chuckwugekwu Godwin, 34, is interrogated by officers at a police station in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam in this supplied photo. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A third night of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, ended in two people being shot and killed, and a third shooting victim hospitalized with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, according to local police. Protests over police shooting 29-year-old local resident Jacob Blake on Sunday kicked off again in front of the Kenosha County courthouse Tuesday evening. After a night of police clashes with angry protesters and fires being set to dozens of buildings and vehicles, an increased police presence barricaded the building. Protesters threw water bottles and fireworks at the officers defending the building, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Advertisement The standoff continued until after the 8 p.m. citywide curfew with protesters lingering in the streets nearby until around midnight. It was then that the shooting took place and appears to be linked to a visibly armed group of men claiming they were there to protect local businesses. From the New York Times: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many protesters left the area, but others lingered and walked to a gas station several blocks away. There, a group of men with guns stood outside, promising to protect the property and verbally sparring with the arriving protesters. As the night stretched on, the gas station became a tense gathering spot, with bystanders watching from parked cars and people milling around in the street, arguing and occasionally shoving each other. Police officers had crept closer to the gas station in armored trucks, urging the people who were still there to go home. After midnight, shots were fired outside the gas station. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Videos taken at the chaotic scene appear to show this group of armed men in the streets with weapons. Theyre a militia, Kenosha Sheriff David Beth said. Theyre like a vigilante group. Police say that group of men is the focus of their investigation, in particular one man carrying a long gun, though they havent confirmed he is affiliated with the group, and theyre analyzing the video taken at the scene. A widely shared video shows a man sprinting into the parking lot of Bert and Rudys Auto Service at 63th Street and Sheridan Road, carrying a long gun, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Other videos show a man who seems to be the same man wielding a long gun while running north on Sheridan Road, being pursued by people screaming that he shot someone. He falls to the ground and fires the gun at people who seem to be trying to disarm him. While on the ground, he appears to shoot two of them, one in the torso and another in the arm. The man is also believed to have shot another person in the head during the melee. Police say they expect the alleged shooter to be taken into custody shortly. Ive had people saying, Why dont you deputize citizens? Beth said of the armed men. This is why you dont deputize citizens with guns to protect Kenosha. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the government over "expensive petrol" and "rising prices". In his tweet, he also tagged a media report which said petrol prices had increased in the domestic market for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday. "Expensive petrol and rising prices, the government is looting the people openly," he alleged in a tweet in Hindi. The former Congress president has been critical of the Modi government for its handling of the economy over the past few years. Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov believes that elections should be held in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions but there are no proper conditions for holding them so far. "My position is that the elections should be held in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions after foreign troops are withdrawn, after disarmament, demilitarization, withdrawal of all illegal armed groups takes place, and constitutional order is established," Reznikov told reporters on August 26 after a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning. According to him, this will allow the OSCE monitoring mission to come and certify that the elections were held in accordance with the laws and the Constitution of Ukraine, Copenhagen criteria, and freedom of voting. However, it is impossible to ensure the proper conditions so far, Reznikov noted. "According to my information, Russian troops and their mercenaries continue to stay there [in Donbas], so the elections cannot be held so far because no monitoring mission will come there, it is dangerous there... Therefore, first of all, security provisions of the Minsk agreements should be fulfilled and then we will be able to talk about the appointment of elections," Reznikov stressed. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that the elections in the occupied Donbas may be appointed with a separate law, as it is stated in a package of measures to implement the Minsk agreements and in the law on the peculiarities of local self-governance. "The Parliament of Ukraine should pass a separate law on early elections in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and elections can be held there under this law. The Verkhovna Rada resolution regulates elections in the government-controlled territories. These are completely different legal documents and entail different legal consequences," the Vice Prime Minister explained. At a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on August 18, head of the Ukrainian delegation Leonid Kravchuk informed the TCG members that he had asked the Parliament of Ukraine to consider the compliance of the Verkhovna Rada Resolution "On the appointment of scheduled local elections in 2020" with the Law of Ukraine "On Special Order of Local Self-governance in Certain Areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Regions" and the package of measures to implement the Minsk agreements which had been supported by the UN Security Council Resolution 2202 (2015 ). Later, Kravchuk explained that the representatives of the Russian Federation demanded at the TCG meeting that the Verkhovna Rada should amend the resolution on appointment of local elections in 2020. Kravchuk noted that the Russian side was dissatisfied with the fact that, according to the Parliaments resolution, elections could be held only in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Dmytro Razumkov stated that Kravchuk's appeal had been sent to the relevant committee. ol Ericsson and UNICEF announced a global partnership to help map school connectivity in 35 countries by the end of 2023. Mapping the internet connectivity landscape for schools and their surrounding communities is a critical first step towards providing every child with access to digital learning opportunities. This joint effort is part of the Giga initiative. Launched last year and led by UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Giga aims to connect every school to the internet. Ericsson is the first private sector partner to make a multimillion-dollar commitment to the initiative and does so as a Global UNICEF Partner for School Connectivity Mapping. According to the ITU, 360 million young people currently do not have access to the internet. This results in exclusion, fewer resources to learn, and limited opportunities for the most vulnerable children and youth to fulfill their potential. Improved connectivity will increase access to information, opportunity, and choice, enabling generations of school children to take part in shaping their own futures. The deepening digital divide is one of the many inequalities that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored, said Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, UNICEF. School closures, coupled with limited or non-existent opportunities for remote learning, have upended childrens education worldwide. Our partnership with Ericsson will bring us closer to giving every child and young person access to digital learning opportunities. In addition to funding, Ericsson will commit resources for data engineering and data science capacity to accelerate school connectivity mapping. Specifically, Ericsson will assist with the collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and visual representation of real-time school connectivity data. The data generated through the mapping will enable governments and the private sector to design and deploy digital solutions that enable learning for children and young people. Ericsson will also engage its extensive customer base to further advance the goals of the Giga initiative. Ericsson is uniquely positioned to be a key partner in helping address this important issue due to our technology expertise, global scale, decades of experience in public/private partnerships, and proven results connecting students and educators, said Heather Johnson, Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Ericsson. Working together with partners like UNICEF and the ITU amplifies the potential impact of school connectivity and is a concrete first step in helping bridge the digital divide globally. ITU brings a history of technology policy advocacy and regulatory expertise to the vital mission of connecting every school in the world, said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. We are thrilled that Ericsson will join Giga and help build the mapping tools necessary to make connecting every school a reality. The UNICEF-Ericsson partnership also contributes to the Generation Unlimited Global Breakthrough on Digital Connectivity that aims to give young people digital skills so they can fully and meaningfully participate in the digital economy. Generation Unlimited is a global multi-sector partnership to meet the urgent need for expanded education, training and employment opportunities for young people. Additionally, the partnership supports UNICEFs recent COVID-19 Agenda for Action in which the organization called for global action to keep children learning, thereby requiring the prioritization of internet connectivity in rural and remote areas. Thallium has been launching phishing attacks since 2010, but its size and identity are not known. According to cybersecurity firm ESTsecurity, a group called Thallium has been sending a malicious e-mails disguised as coming from Samsung Cloud to South Koreans working in defense firms, North Korea researchers, defectors, and journalists specializing in North Korea. Suspected North Korean hackers are sending phishing e-mails purporting to be from Samsung Cloud to defectors and other South Koreans in North Korea-related jobs. The latest e-mail reads, "We found on 2020-08-24 that you've used Samsung Cloud Gallery services... For further information, please click 'FAQ' or direct inquiry services." But if people click either they are connected to a malicious code that steals their personal information. Victims do not realize that they have been hacked because they are rerouted to the real Samsung Cloud customer service webpage. Last December, Microsoft filed a lawsuit against unknown persons with a federal district court in Virginia. It said that Thallium targeted and stole the "personal information of government and university employees, think tanks, organizations focused on human rights and world peace, and individuals working in the field of nuclear proliferation," according to politics website The Hill. Moon Jong-hyun of ESTsecurity warned, "There's a mounting threat from Thallium, which is launching cyber espionage attacks almost every day on South Koreans engaged in North Korean affairs." Military operations heavily intensified between government forces and military units of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in war-ravaged Yemen on Wednesday, causing an unknown number of deaths among the two warring rivals. The fighting resumption came just one day after the STC representatives suspended their participation in the ongoing consultations to implement the Saudi-brokered peace agreement signed last year. The STC's political representatives informed Saudi Arabia late on Tuesday about their suspension that occurred in protest against the mobilization of government forces in the country's southern province of Abyan. According to a brief statement released by the STC, the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi "began mobilizing its forces to advance militarily in southern Yemen despite the ongoing talks in Saudi Arabia." Local military officials confirmed to Xinhua that intense armed confrontations erupted between the two warring rivals in Abyan using heavy weapons including artillery shelling. "An unknown number of deaths were recorded as a result of the ongoing battles that are continuing in escalation in Abyan province," one of the sources said anonymously. Meanwhile, Mohammed Naqib, a spokesman of the STC's forces in Abyan, said in a statement released on his official Twitter account that "Abyan front is witnessing violent clashes..." and that their forces "fought back strongly against the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islah party forces." The spokesman of the STC's forces indicated that their forces "are at the highest levels of combat vigilance and ready for all possibilities, including the comprehensive battle," which "will only be a decisive battle." Yemen's government made no official comments about the escalation of the situation in Abyan or regarding the STC's decision of talks suspension. Earlier this month, a number of military officials of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition arrived in Aden province as a team to closely watch the situation and prevent any attempts of military escalation in southern Yemen. The Saudi officials began work to provide coalition an integrated plan to start implementing the military part of the Riyadh Agreement through conducting mutual troops withdrawals and disengagement to create an appropriate climate ahead of forming a new government. But the recent escalation of fighting is threatening to collapse the mechanisms proposed by Saudi Arabia last month to accelerate the implementation of the Riyadh power-sharing agreement signed between the two Yemeni warring rivals in November last year. The new mechanisms include maintaining the cease-fire and de-escalation between the government and the STC, which came into effect on July 22. Last year, Saudi Arabia persuaded the STC and the Yemeni government to hold reconciliation talks, which succeeded in reaching a deal to form a new technocrat cabinet of no more than 24 ministers. The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern areas including the capital Sanaa. Search Keywords: Short link: Illinoisans know the names. Joseph Wallace, 3, hanged by his mother in 1993. Gizzell Gizzy Ford, 8, tortured to death by her grandmother in 2013. A.J. Freund, 5, murdered and buried in a shallow grave last year after a tortured life with abusive parents. So many more. They are children betrayed by those responsible for nurturing and safeguarding them. Add to that list Kerrigan Rutherford, 6. Kerri, as family members called her. She was a kindergartner at Boulder Hill Elementary School in Montgomery. Her mother, Courtny Davidson, 32, and her stepfather, James Davidson, 29, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with her July 2 death, along with endangering the life or health of a child. Authorities in Kendall County allege the couple gave Kerri enough of a prescription drug to kill her, according to the NewsTribune of LaSalle, citing court records. The drug, olanzapine, is prescribed as treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Authorities say Kerris mother has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the NewsTribune reported. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the state agency responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect, had contact with Kerri and her family at their unincorporated Kendall County home as far back as December 2015, following a report of alleged abuse or neglect, according to a DCFS spokesperson. Six agency investigations into allegations of abuse or neglect followed in 2017, 2018, 2019, and this year. The case was being treated as an intact family case, and an outside firm hired by DCFS provided intact family services to the Davidsons and their daughter. In such cases, DCFS provides services to a family to prevent further neglect or abuse, but does not remove the child from the household. DCFS inspector generals office is now investigating Kerris death, and the agency is helping the Kendall County sheriffs department determine what happened. There are a host of questions DCFS must answer about Kerri. Beyond those questions, however, Illinoisans should be incensed by yet another case of a childs death at a household that DCFS had been scrutinizing. Weve seen this script many times. A child under DCFS protection dies, agency chiefs pledge reform, and nothing changes. The result? More defenseless, vulnerable children die. A report released last winter by the Office of the DCFS Inspector General found that 123 children died within a year of family contact with the agency. That marked the highest number of deaths after DCFS contact since the fiscal year ending in 2005, when the tally was 139 deaths. Part of the problem: a turnstile of DCFS leadership that has seen 15 directors or interim directors take the helm since 2003. Thats a rate of a new director almost every year. An even bigger part of the problem massive caseloads that overwhelm DCFS investigators. The budget Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law in June sets aside an additional $151.7 million for DCFS. Thats in addition to an 11% spending increase that the agency received from Springfield in last years budget. Last September, DCFS officials said they would spend a chunk of the additional funding on a 5% rate increase for private social services agencies that contract with DCFS and handle about 85% of the agencys intact family and foster care cases. The agency also said it would hire 301 more workers, including 71 more child protection investigators. Pritzker spent $50,000 of his own money in 2019 for a nationwide search for a new director and selected Marc Smith from the south suburbs, an executive with Aunt Marthas. Pritzker, the agency and its heavily unionized workforce of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees cannot claim lack of resources as an excuse for failed policies and lack of accountability. Not anymore. The list of young lives failed by this state is unconscionably long. No more new names. Thats a pledge Illinois should and must demand. Chicago Tribune The India Air force (IAF) saved a precious life on Wednesday by its timely rescue operation in rain-battered Naushera in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. A man was stranded on a marooned island on the overflowing Naushera River. The Indian Army along with civil administration and Jammu and Kashmir Police swung into action since morning but the rising level of water necessitated an aerial effort for the rescue. Accordingly, an IAF helicopter captained by Squadron Leader Ganesh Prasad Honakuppe was immediately pressed into service to rescue the stranded man. The helicopter reached over the rescue spot around 6.15 pm. The crew quickly selected an appropriate spot to position the helicopter close to the ground since no suitable space was available for landing. Two Garud Special Forces commandoes were then lowered onto the island who lifted the man and brought him inside the hovering helicopter. The commandoes found the man in a state of shock and not responding. The man was then evacuated to the nearest landing ground avaialable at Naushera Army area and handed over to the civil authorities for further treatment. The IAF responded swiftly and rescued the individual before the water level could rise to dangerous level during the night. The successful mission was very closely coordinated by Group Captain Sandeep Singh. The Lead: Israel warns of 'back to the future' scenario on Iran nuclear deal Failed Experiment For Israel, the US presidential election in November comes down to Iran. The election is otherwise in many ways is a win-win for Israel. Both US President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have tried-and-true bona fides as friends of the Jewish state. But Iran is top of mind for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team. If Biden wins, Israel does not want a replay of what it considers the fatal flaws that underpinned the Iran nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated by the Obama administration. The Democratic Partys foreign policy platform advocates a return to the JCPOA as a kind of baseline for renewed negotiations with Iran. We have been the guinea pigs in this failed experiment, Israels Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer told me in an Al-Monitor podcast this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vigorously opposed the JCPOA. The Israeli government has welcomed the Trump administrations repudiation of the Iran deal and fully backs the maximum pressure campaign on Iran, which has replaced the Iran nuclear deal as US policy. Were there. Dermer, who is considered to be Netanyahus closest foreign policy adviser, appealed to the next US administration, whether it be a second Trump term or a Biden first, to listen to its regional allies and partners Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all of which opposed the JCPOA before embarking on any future deal with Iran. The Obama administrations failure to win regional buy-in for the JCPOA was a mistake, Dermer explained. Were there, said Dermer, who pointed to the role that Japan and South Korea have played in framing the regional context for discussions with North Korea as an alternative, multilateral and more effective approach. A new deal: Dermer said Israel wont rule out any nuclear deal with Iran. Israel would support something that actually dismantles Irans nuclear capability, Dermer said, even though the price of doing that may be the removal of sanctions. An Iran deal that Israel could support includes removal of centrifuges, essential to making weapons-grade fissile material; an end to all uranium enrichment; and shutting down all heavy water facilities, which can be used in a weapons program. The path to such a deal, said Dermer, involves both sanctions and a credible military threat which has been the Trump Administrations approach. Listen: Listen to my full podcast interview here with Amb. Dermer about Iran, the Israel-UAE agreement, negotiations with the Palestinians, and more. Read more: Check out Ben Caspits piece here about Israels concern about a return to the JCPOA if Biden wins the US presidential election; Rina Bassists article here about Israels campaign to keep sanctions on Iran; and Adam Lucentes review here of Bidens Middle East policy positions. Israel-UAE: Will Israel oppose sale of fighter aircraft to UAE, or find a workaround? Not one screw. Israel Settlement Affairs Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, a close Netanyahu ally, said this week that Israel opposes the sale of even one screw of the F-35 fighter jet to any country in the region, including its newest Mideast diplomatic partner, the United Arab Emirates. A legal obligation. The United States committed to maintaining Israels qualitative military edge in the region after the 1973 war, when Egypt led several Arab counties in an attack on Israel. This is a legal obligation, Dermer explained, that both allows Israel to stay safe and make peace with former rivals such as Egypt, Jordan and now the UAE. Not part of UAE deal: Netanyahu emphasized during a presser with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that an Israeli OK was not part of discussions on the US F-35 sale to the UAE. "I have to say simply that this deal did not include Israels acceptance of any arms deal and I dont know of any arms deal that has been agreed upon, he said Aug. 24. It may be contemplated; our position hasnt changed in opposing such arms sales. Our take. Netanyahu got dinged by some hard-line constituents for suspending annexation in return for the UAE deal. The suspicion that he may have agreed to an F-35 sale adds kindling to the fire. In the end, however, the call is Washingtons, not Jerusalems. And Israel may be banking on some kind of quiet workaround so all sides can save some face. I am confident that there will be a way for these things to be worked out so that Israels qualitative military edge will be maintained, Dermer told me. Read more: Rina Bassist reports here on the stir in Israel over the proposed F-35 sale, and Ron Dermer and I get into it as well in our podcast conversation. Turkey-Syria: Is Turkey cutting off drinking water to 800,000 Syrian Kurds ... again? More misery in northeastern Syria, which is already dealing with the Turkish occupation, the risk of escalation among the various parties in the region (see below), a mostly nonexistent economy and COVID-19. Amberin Zaman reports that: Some 89 civil society organizations noted in a statement published today that Turkey and its Sunni rebel proxies had once again cut off the supply of water from the Alok pumping station near Ras al-Ain on Aug. 13. The station provides drinking water for around 800,000 residents and is also the main source of water for tankers supplying potable water to tens of thousands of internally displaced Syrians and Islamic State prisoners and their families. It was the eighth such stoppage since Turkey invaded Ras al-Ain in the wake of its military assault against US-backed Kurdish forces controlling the area in October 2019. Alok was rendered inoperable during the Turkish invasion and service has been only partially restored. You can read Amberins article here. More on Syria: Moscow weighs risks of escalation in eastern Syria With eyes on Idlib, where a Russian-backed Syrian assault against armed groups may be imminent, the risks of escalation are perhaps equally and dangerously high in the east, over 200 miles away. US and Syrian troops have skirmished, leading to the death of a Syrian soldier. US, Russian, Syrian, Turkish, Iranian, Kurdish and Syrian opposition forces operate in the east in a network of murky and conflicting partnerships and alliances, with lots of bad blood to go around. And we havent even mentioned Islamic State dead-enders and terrorists. All this is giving pause to Russian leaders regarding their next moves in Syria. Russia has found itself in a very risky position in the so-called trans-Euphrates region, reports Kirill Semenov. Moscow does not have the necessary leverage on the Syrian regime to prevent Syrian provocations against the Americans, nor does it have sufficient forces to carry out effective military operations. The region in question is the left bank of the Euphrates River, which Russian and Syrian troops entered last fall on the basis of an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces in order to prevent the advance of Turkish troops during Operation Peace Spring. Read Kirills article here about Moscows concerns about the risks of escalation in the east. Two cool things from Gaza: Child rappers and women body builders Two articles from Gaza this week which reflect the resilience of the people there living under incredible hardship. (Shireene el-Aila lifts weights in Gaza, while Abdel Rahman Salih al-Shanti raps) Abdel Rahman Salih al-Shanti is an 11-year-old who raps about life in Gaza. You can check out his Instagram page here, and read the article by Taghreed Ali here. A demonstrator holds a sign with the image of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers, during a protest against the death George Floyd in Minneapolis, in Denver, Colorado on June 3, 2020. JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images Vice News reports that five police officers who were part of the search on Breonna Taylor's apartment were all part of a 2018 raid in West Louisville, at the home of Mario Daugherty, his girlfriend, Ashlea Burr, and their teenaged daughters. Four of the officers involved had conducted the search on Taylor's home during which she was shot and killed, while a fifth had requested the search warrant. The Daugherty family filed a lawsuit against the city regarding the raid, in which they say the warrant was issued before they even moved into the home. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Five Louisville Metro Police officers involved in the Breonna Taylor case were part of a botched raid that left a family traumatized in 2018. The incident, reported on by Vice News, occurred a year and a half before Taylor was killed in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment by police officers in March during a no-knock search. Vice News reported that four police officers who were part of the search on Taylor's apartment, as well as a fifth who requested the search warrant, were all part of the 2018 raid in West Louisville, at the home of Mario Daugherty, his girlfriend, Ashlea Burr, and their teenaged daughters. According to Vice, police obtained a search warrant on the Daugherty home after receiving a complaint that marijuana was being grown in their residence. Video from the incident shows a SWAT team knocking, then using a battering ram to open the door while announcing themselves as police. Daugherty's 14-year-old daughter thought the family was being robbed, so she ran from the home and was arrested by police officers. Police found a small amount of marijuana at the home, but no one was charged with a crime. The Daugherty family sued Louisville in 2019 saying police obtained the warrant on the home before they moved in. The city moved to dismiss the case, though the lawsuit is ongoing. "We just wanted to get our story out there because we didn't want this to happen to anybody innocent and anybody innocent's life to get lost," Daugherty told Vice News. Story continues It wasn't until recently Daugherty realized that police officers involved in Taylor's death Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove, Mike Campbell, Mike Nobles, and Joshua Jaynes had also been involved in the raid on his home. Hankison, Cosgrove, Campbell, and Nobles were at Taylor's home the night of the raid, while Jaynes had requested the search warrant. During the raid, Taylor's boyfriend thought they were being burglarized and fired his gun, which he held legally. Police returned with fire that killed Taylor in her sleep. Read Vice News' full report here. Read the original article on Insider TRUMBULL Less than two weeks before students report for their first day of classes, Trumbull officials are hoping they will have enough teachers to reopen the schools in-person. The information was disclosed at Tuesdays school board meeting following a report that about two dozen teachers will not be returning to their classrooms because of concerns about COVID-19. Were making progress, Interim Supt. Ralph Iassogna told the Board of Education at the meeting. Worst case scenario: Not enough returning teachers, and substitutes not adequate. We may have to consider another learning model. The district had planned to reopen Sept. 8 using a hybrid learning model, with students divided into two groups and splitting time in the buildings. One group would attend live classes Mondays and Tuesdays, the other on Thursdays and Fridays. Each group would have remote classes on the three days they are not in school. But the number of teachers who have opted out of returning to the classroom, which Iassogna estimated at between 20 and 25, is causing concern. Right now, our numbers are OK, but there are a number of staff members whose (return to work status) are not processed yet, he said. It could go over 30, but I doubt it. Information on the status of the non-returning teachers, what buildings and grades the teachers had been working in and what percentage they were of the districts teaching staff was not immediately available. Trumbull has six public elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. School officials are in daily contact with local colleges seeking eligible candidates to hire as long-term replacements, he said. Though he remained optimistic that the buildings could reopen as scheduled, he conceded that the district may have to call a special board meeting next week if it became necessary to delay reopening. The Wilton school system made a similar call earlier this week. If you cant get teachers, you cant run in-school or hybrid learning, he said. We are monitoring the situation very closely. Board members had plenty of questions for Iassogna following his statements. Jacqueline Norcel expressed her concern that a last-minute change in plans could put families in a difficult position, especially considering many families had scrambled to arrange child care for a partial school return. Even temporary distance learning could be really difficult for a family, she said. Scot Kerr also expressed concern over the impact of even temporary return-to-school delays. Just to clarify, its possible we could open remotely before transitioning to hybrid learning? he asked. Iassogna confirmed that was possible, adding that the district would continue to search for replacement staff during the period of remote learning, if necessary. We may have to say, lets go remote for the first month while were still trying to hire them, he said. Assuming the schools do resume in-person learning on some scale, there also is a need for as many as 40 more lunch monitors, according to Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Budd. The issue, Budd said said, is that lunch monitors typically supervise the elementary school students while they are eating lunch in the cafeteria. But the current plans call for meals to be delivered from the cafeteria and eaten in the classrooms. Teachers contractually have a break during lunch times, he said. Now we need two types of monitors, Budd said. Some to deliver the meals, and others to watch the children while they are eating in the classroom. The district is currently seeking to add lunch monitors for two to three hours each school day, and Budd said the schools would work with people who were available only on certain days. Aside from staffing, board members also had numerous questions about the readiness of the buildings to receive students. Chairman Lucinda Timpanelli commented that many of the schools do not have central air conditioning and asked about improving air circulation in those buildings. John Morello, the facilities director, said adding ventilation to the buildings was a tricky task given the age of most of the buildings. The only thing would be exhaust fans, like a bathroom fan on a larger scale, he said. Portable air conditioners, which also have built-in particle filters, were out of the question because of the schools antiquated electrical systems, he said. Portable air purifiers were a possibility, given their much lower power draw compared to air conditioners, but finding them was a challenge. The quickest place to get them is Home Depot, he said. But the school system would need dozens of the $270 units. Six Trumbull teachers required air purification for their classrooms because of existing health problems, Morello said, and so far he had only been able to find purifiers for five of them. A search of the stores around the state showed that most had either none or very few in stock, he said. The (Home Depot) location in Trumbull is the only one, they received a pallet of 23 today and 20 of them are going to Sacred Heart, he said. Theyre going to see if they can get more. Even placing cheap box fans in the windows of classrooms is not feasible because of their design, he said. The windows dont open like a window in your home so you can put the fan in the window blowing out, he said. The windows swing open. Simply placing a fan on a table pointed at the window would not work, since the angle of the glass in the open window would deflect air back into the classroom, he said. Iassogna, who took over as interim superintendent when Gary Cialfi took early retirement in January, said the entire staff deserved praise for the can-do attitude and round-the-clock effort with which workers had addressed a series of unforeseen and unprecedented challenges. People dont realize what we have overcome, he said. He rattled off a handful of issues that the schools have faced in just the past six months, including a new interim superintendent and search for a permanent one, a board member resigning during a public meeting, a national examination of race relations that has been led in part by students, COVID-19, emergency remote learning, and a $1.2 million budget shortfall. These things take their toll, he said. So with those challenges met, finding 20 teachers, 40 lunch monitors and a truckload of air purifiers doesnt seem quite so daunting, he said. Or, as board member Tim Gallo said, a whole new set of problems could be right around the corner. One thing were sure of is that tomorrow things will change, he said. deng@trumbulltimes.com An Army reserve soldier who works at a community center in Seoul tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of virus patients among military members to 95, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The private first class, who serves as a full-time reserve service member, appears to have been infected after dining with a confirmed civilian patient last Friday in violation of a no-movement order that the ministry issued for all service members out of virus concerns. Officials said they will review whether to launch a probe after his recovery. The solider commutes to the office from his home without having to live in military barracks. "He tested positive yesterday, and three of his colleagues who came into contact with him also underwent virus tests and are awaiting results," the ministry said in a statement. Currently, 1,055 service members are in isolation in accordance with the health authorities' guidelines, and the military has quarantined an additional 3,809 people under stricter anti-virus schemes of its own as a preventive step. The number of COVID-19 infections has been on the rise nationwide at an alarming rate since mid-August. On Wednesday, South Korea reported 320 more cases, mostly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). (Yonhap) Technavio has been monitoring the global dry construction market size and it is poised to grow by USD 22.73 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200825005637/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Dry Construction Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request the Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact Frequently Asked Questions- At what CAGR is the market projected to grow during the forecast period 2020-2024? Growing at a CAGR of almost 5%, the market growth will accelerate in the forecast period. Growing at a CAGR of almost 5%, the market growth will accelerate in the forecast period. What is the key factor driving the market? The rise in construction activities has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. The rise in construction activities has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Who are the top players in the market? Armstrong World Industries Inc., Boral Ltd., Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA, CSR Ltd., Etex NV, Fletcher Building Ltd., Grupo Promax, Knauf Gips KG, Pacific Coast Building Products Inc., and Xella International GmbH are some of the major market participants. Armstrong World Industries Inc., Boral Ltd., Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA, CSR Ltd., Etex NV, Fletcher Building Ltd., Grupo Promax, Knauf Gips KG, Pacific Coast Building Products Inc., and Xella International GmbH are some of the major market participants. Which region is expected to hold the highest market share? North America North America What are the major trends for dry construction market? Growth in modular and panelized constructions is one of the key dry construction market trends. The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Armstrong World Industries Inc., Boral Ltd., Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA, CSR Ltd., Etex NV, Fletcher Building Ltd., Grupo Promax, Knauf Gips KG, Pacific Coast Building Products Inc., and Xella International GmbH are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The rise in construction activities has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the high cost of dry construction compared to brick and mortar constructions in developing regions might hamper the market growth. Dry Construction Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Dry Construction Market is segmented as below: End-user Residential Buildings Commercial Buildings Geography North America Europe APAC MEA South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43471 Dry Construction Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our dry construction marketreport covers the following areas: Dry Construction Market size Dry Construction Market trends Dry Construction Market industry analysis This study identifies the growth in modular and panelized constructions as one of the prime reasons driving the dry construction market growth during the next few years. Dry Construction Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the dry construction market, including some of the vendors such as Armstrong World Industries Inc., Boral Ltd., Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA, CSR Ltd., Etex NV, Fletcher Building Ltd., Grupo Promax, Knauf Gips KG, Pacific Coast Building Products Inc., and Xella International GmbH. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the dry construction market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Dry Construction Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist dry construction market growth during the next five years Estimation of the dry construction market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the dry construction market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of dry construction market vendors Table of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Market characteristics Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook Market size and forecast for 2019 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by End-user Market segments Comparison by End-user Residential building Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Commercial building Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by End-user Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024 APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Volume Driver Demand led growth Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Overview Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Armstrong World Industries Inc. Boral Ltd. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA CSR Ltd. Etex NV Fletcher Building Ltd. Grupo Promax Knauf Gips KG Pacific Coast Building Products Inc. Xella International GmbH Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200825005637/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The future of battery storage took a big step forward in North Carolina recently as Duke Energy began operating the largest battery system in the state. In the city of Asheville, a 9-megawatt (MW) lithium-ion Samsung battery system is operating next to a Duke Energy substation in the Shiloh community. With a total cost of less than $15 million, the project will primarily be used to help the electric system operate more efficiently. It will provide energy support to the electric system, including frequency regulation and other grid support services. Battery storage offers many benefits to customers. Duke Energy has plans to invest $600 million for 375 MW of energy storage across its regulated businesses. "Energy storage will play a significant role in how we deliver energy to customers now and into the future as we act to reduce carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. Duke Energy has more than a decade of experience with battery storage. At one time, the company's 36-MW battery system next to the company's Notrees Wind Facility in Texas was the largest battery operating in the United States. It remains one of the country's biggest. News media can download a time-lapse video of the construction project. Additional Duke Energy projects In Haywood County, the company installed a solar plus storage microgrid on top of Mount Sterling at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The project included the removal of a single overhead electric line, which resulted in 13 acres of park land returned to its natural state. This facility continues to serve a remote emergency communications tower in a less expensive and more reliable way. "We have a long history of testing new battery technologies with a number of battery manufacturers," added De May. "Our research work is now paying off with larger projects that will provide customers more reliable service with lower overall emissions." In Madison County in the town of Hot Springs, the company is planning a 4-MW lithium-ion battery system that will help improve electric reliability for the town, along with providing services to the overall electric system. In South Carolina, Duke Energy is planning a 5-MW lithium-ion battery at the Anderson County Civic Center in Anderson County. The battery will provide backup power at the facility, which serves as a critical shelter for emergency service agencies. As a grid asset, the battery will also provide benefits to the bulk power system to enhance reliability. The battery storage project is just one of many Duke Energy investments in the region. The company recently finished construction of the $817 million Asheville Combined Cycle Station, which became fully operational April 5, 2020. The new station replaced a 344-megawatt, two-unit coal plant at the Asheville site, which retired on Jan. 29, 2020. The company also recently announced a 5-MW solar facility for the town of Woodfin in Buncombe County. Duke Energy 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: Randy Wheeless 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 Twitter: @DE_RandyW SOURCE Duke Energy Related Links http://www.duke-energy.com Sonia Gandhi holds Opposition meet on JEE, NEET, says problems of students being dealt uncaringly India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 26: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states and their counterparts of West Bengal, Maharashtra and Jharkhand on the issues related to JEE (Main) and NEET (UG) exams. The Congress chief also accused the Centre of "uncaringly" dealing with the other problems of students and exams. 'Speak up for Student Safety': Congress protests against holding JEE, NEET exams Announcements such as those related to the National Education Policy should really worry us as it is actually a setback. Other problems of students and exams are also being dealt with uncaringly, said Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Mamata Banerjee At the opposition party meet on NEET, JEE Mains, Mamata said "Let us go to the Supreme Court. Let us talk about this matter. This is a mental agony for students. I have not seen so many atrocities in a democracy. The situation is very serious. We have to speak up for the children." Uddhav Thackeray Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that exams should be conducted but later, when the situation was right. "In US, schools were reopened and around 97,000 kids got infected. What will we do if this situation comes upon us?" he said. Hemant Soren "I think we should go to Prime Minister or President before approaching the Supreme Court", Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren at Sonia Gandhi's virtual meet with CMs of 7 states. Amarinder Singh "All of us who are sitting here should go to the Supreme Court (to file a review petition on the Supreme Court's order to hold NEET and JEE exams), said Punjab CM Amarinder Singh. V Narayanasamy "Conducting of examinations will lead to a rise in a number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Govt of India will be responsible for it. We will jointly fight the battle against the Central government on this issue, said Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy. Ashok Gehlot Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the states are not getting anything from the Centre "except video conferences". Last week, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea seeking postponement of JEE and NEET, scheduled to be held in September, saying that "life cannot be stopped" and the "career of students cannot be put in jeopardy". Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has said both the exams would be held next month as per schedule. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_88b.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_88b .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_88b.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_88b.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_88b.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The military authorities have placed troops of 82 Division, Enugu, on high alert following the clash between the operatives of the Department of State Services and the Indigenous People of Biafra in Emene, Enugu. It also asked troops to avoid individual movement in uniforms outside the barracks in order to prevent reprisals by IPOB members. The violent clash which happened on Sunday, reportedly claimed many lives, including two DSS officers said to be on patrol before they were allegedly attacked by IPOB members holding a meeting in the area. But the Army in a signal despatched to different formations and unit commanders asked troops to be at alert and avoid individual movement in uniforms outside the barracks. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_255.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_255 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_255.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_255.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_255.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } It also warned troops to avoid losing their weapons to criminal elements, adding that commanders must sensitise their men to maintain high alert. The signal read, Following the killing of two DSS personnel at Emene and subsequent attack on Keystone Station at Awgu LGA by suspected IPOB members in Enugu State, I am directed to place troops on a high state of alert. This is necessary to avert any attack by IPOB members on troops location in the AOR (area of responsibility). Furthermore, on no account must troops allow their weapons to be taken away by criminal elements. Commanders at all levels must make deliberate efforts to sensitise troops under command to maintain alertness and avoid individual movement in uniforms outside the barracks for now. Please treat very important and act. When asked about the investigation into the clash on Wednesday, the DSS Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, said he was in a meeting and could not provide an update immediately. Source: https://punchng.com/dss-ipob-clash-army-places-troops-on-high-alert/?utm_source=Smartech&utm_medium=webpush%20notification&utm_campaign=Army%20places%20troops&__sta=%7CBTUU&__stm_medium=bpn&__stm_source=smartech Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared the State of Emergency, according to a statement from his office Tuesday, after unrest following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police. Evers said he would authorize an increase in the Wisconsin National Guard's presence to 250. "Following protests on Monday night, Gov. Evers today announced he is authorizing increased Wisconsin National Guard support for Kenosha County to 250 members and will continue to adjust to meet local needs," the statement read, reported CNN. Calling on protesters to protest peacefully and safely, the statement said: "The ability to exercise First Amendment rights is a critically important part of our democracy and the pursuit of justice. But there remains a line between peaceful assembly and what we saw last night that put individuals, families, and businesses in danger." CNN reported that Evers said in an earlier statement, that the move to increase National Guard presence was to "ensure individuals can exercise their right safely, protect state buildings and critical infrastructure, and support first responders and firefighters." According to a report in The Hill, lawyers representing the family of Jacob Blake, the Black man shot in the back at point-blank range by police in Kenosha, Wis., announced that a civil suit would be launched against the Kenosha Police Department. Blake was shot multiple times in Kenosha on Sunday after officers responded to a reported domestic incident, the report said. Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump said that Blake was in critical condition and undergoing surgery. The incident comes after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man brought the issue of police brutalities and the Black Lives Matter movement in focus. (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.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pak Yiu (Reuters) Hong Kong Wed, August 26, 2020 14:02 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c409e33a 2 Art & Culture Hong-Kong,artist Free Fearing their work may violate a national security law recently imposed by Beijing, some Hong Kong artists are turning to self-censorship while others are moving their creations abroad or are planning to leave the city themselves. The law, enacted in June, punishes subversion, secessionism, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison, raising fears it effectively crushes wide-ranging freedoms promised to the city for 50 years after its 1997 handover by former colonial master Britain. The city government, which has ambitions for Hong Kong to rival Paris or New York on the arts and culture scene, says the law does not curb rights and freedoms but will restore order and preserve prosperity after a year of anti-government unrest. Nevertheless, the impact of the law is showing up in different spheres of daily life: pro-democracy books have been taken off shelves in libraries, shops have removed protest-themed decorations, a protest anthem and other activities have been banned in schools. Nearly 2,000 Hong Kong and international artists and cultural workers said in a statement the security law created a climate of fear and self-censorship. Illustrator Lau Kwong Shing's fine-line drawings will no longer touch on themes of the pro-democracy movement as he shifts his focus to relocating. "I've chosen to leave. For the moment, I want to protect myself," Lau said, adding he would resume drawing once out of Hong Kong. He did not say where he hoped to move. Him Lo, another artist now avoiding politics, moved his works, including a yellow banner that reads "Recapture Hong Kong" into storage at a European museum for safe-keeping. He declined to say where. "Im worried art works will be seized," he said. An artist using the pen name Childe Abaddon published "Voices", a collection of protest works, including cartoons, by mostly anonymous contributors just months before the new security law was imposed. He's not planning a second edition. "It was lucky that we put out the book before," he said. "The book sold well, but we won't consider publishing any more." The artist did not want to be identified by his real name because of the sensitivity of the topic. Read also: Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung sued for breach of contract 'Make an impact' The city government said the new law upholds the "principles of respecting and protecting human rights". "When exercising these rights, art practitioners need not worry as long as they do not contravene the offences as defined under the law," the government said in a statement. "The legitimate rights of Hong Kong citizens to exercise their freedom of speech, such as making general remarks criticising government policies or officials, should not be compromised." The government's Hong Kong Arts Development Council said artists getting support should ensure their works "conform with all legislations, rules, regulations and statutory requirements". A political illustrator who goes by the pen name Ah To, whose cartoon column was dropped by the Ming Pao Weekly newspaper last month, is defiant. "You have to decide and judge what your values are, you can possibly be arrested at any time, or regret that you have not done enough to try to make an impact on society," said Ah To, who declined to be identified by his real name because of the sensitivity of the issue. "I've decided at this stage to continue and persist." Ming Pao, which had featured Ah To drawings on topics censored on the mainland such as China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square, said the decision to stop running his work was part of a revamp and not related to the new law. Oregon State defensive tackle Jordan Whittley announced on social media Tuesday that he has a serious issue with his heart. Whittley wrote on Instagram that he has a tumor in my heart, and the possibility of heart cancer. Multiple sources confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive that Whittley is currently dealing with a health issue. The 6-foot-1, 330-pound Whittley signed with Oregon State in 2019 as a junior college transfer from Laney College in Oakland. Whittley played in 11 games last season, making 14 tackles, including 3 for a loss. Whittley was expected to be a major piece to Oregon States defensive front this upcoming season. --Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. By Marco Aquino LIMA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Peru's Congress approved a law on Tuesday that allows citizens to partially draw down their contributions to the state pension fund, a few months after doing the same with the private system and despite fierce opposition from the government. With 106 votes in favor, three against and 15 abstentions, the fractured, opposition-dominated chamber gave the go-ahead for Social Security Office (ONP) affiliates to withdraw up to $4,300 ($1,200) to mitigate the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The law will now pass to President Martin Vizcarra to enact or revise, but government has already warned it will appeal to the country`s constitutional court to tear it up. Presidency sources say the measure could cost the government coffers up to 13.280 billion soles ($3.7 billion dollars), at a time when the copper-producing nation is facing its worst economic decline in a century. Last week, lawmakers rejected an alternative government proposal for a lower payout for ONP affiliates. Several countries in the region have sought to tap private and publicly held pension funds amid economic hardship. In Chile, a move to release 10% of the country's privately held funds was staunchly opposed by government but has provided the floundering economy with a brief injection of liquidity. Peru's congress approved a law to withdraw up to 25% of private pension funds in April, an initiative that the government also opposed amid warnings it would skew the economy and push up borrowing costs. Peru's private system was obligatory for all citizens when it was introduced in 1992, but more recently, Peruvians have been given the choice between joining a state-run pensions system or the private system. At present, the former has 7 million affiliates while the latter has 4.7 million. Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus reached 600,043 in Peru on Monday. The country has the second highest number of infections in Latin America, after Brazil, and official data shows the number of deceased at 27,813. (Reporting by Marco Aquino, writing by Aislinn Laing; Editing by Bernadette Baum) English French MONTREAL, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xebec Adsorption Inc. (TSXV: XBC) (Xebec), a global provider of clean energy solutions is pleased to announce today that Ms. Sara Elford has joined Xebecs Board effective August 25th, 2020. Ms. Elford is a current board member of BioSyent Inc. and BQE Water Inc., both are TSX-V listed companies. She also served as a director of Hydrogenics Corp., a PEM fuel cell and electrolysis company, recently acquired by Cummins Inc. Ms. Elford sat on the audit and governance committees at Hydrogenics and also served on the special committee for its acquisition. I am very excited to bring my decades of experience in capital markets and cleantech to the Xebec team. The world is at a critical point where companies such as Xebec will play an important role in transitioning us to a sustainable and clean energy future. Im happy to support this mission and my hope is that the insights Ive gathered from serving on different boards over the years will be valuable to the team, says Sara Elford. Ms. Elford served on the board of several other formerly TSX listed companies including Carmanah Technologies (solar LED technology company taken private), TSO3 Inc. (medical device sterilization technology company acquired by Stryker Corporation), and Pure Technologies Ltd. (pipeline leak detection company acquired by Xylem Inc.). Ms. Elford worked in capital markets for over twenty years as both an investment banking and equity research analyst. As a result, she followed an extensive range of industries and companies in the small to mid cap range and alternative energy space. Ms. Elford is a CFA Charter holder and a graduate of Bishops University with a Finance Major and Economics Minor. She also completed the directors education program with the ICD in 2015. I am very happy to welcome Sara to Xebecs Board. With her insights and exposure to a wide range of industries, especially clean technologies and hydrogen, she will be able to greatly contribute to our Board work. As hydrogen will become a more important part of Xebecs business her industry experience in this field will be extremely valuable and helpful. Were honoured to have Sara join the Board of Xebec and the Board and I look forward working with her, states Kurt Sorschak, Chairman, President and CEO, Xebec Adsorption Inc. Related links: https://www.xebecinc.com For more information: Xebec Adsorption Inc. Brandon Chow, Investor Relations Manager bchow@xebecinc.com +1 450.979.8700 ext 5762 About Xebec Adsorption Inc. Xebec is a global provider of gas generation, purification and filtration solutions for the industrial, energy and renewables marketplace. Well-positioned in the energy transition space with proprietary technologies that transform raw gases into clean sources of renewable energy, Xebecs 1500+ customers range from small to multi-national corporations, governments and municipalities looking to reduce their carbon footprints. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Xebec has several Sales and Support offices in North America and Europe, as well as two manufacturing facilities in Montreal and Shanghai. Xebec trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XBC. For more information, www.xebecinc.com . Cautionary Statement 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 contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements, and subject to risks and uncertainties. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as plans, seeks, expects, estimates, intends, anticipates, believes, could, might, likely or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results may, will, could, would, might, will be taken, occur, be achieved or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, including statements concerning future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses and future prospects as well as the expectations of management of Xebec with respect to information regarding the business and the expansion and growth of Xebec operations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic factors and uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, including the relevant assumptions and risks factors set out in Xebec's public documents, including in the most recent annual management discussion and analysis and annual information form, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the uncertain and unpredictable condition of global economy, notably as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, Xebecs capacity to generate revenue growth, the availability to Xebec of financing and credit alternatives and access to capital, Xebecs capacity to meet all its other commitments and business plans, Xebecs limited number of customers, the potential loss of key employees, changes in the use of proceeds relating to the loan, share price volatility, and other factors. Although Xebec believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, Xebec disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made it clear that Sri Lankas strategic security policy will have an India first approach though Colombo remains open to dealing with other key players for economic development, the countrys new foreign secretary Jayanath Colombage has said. Colombage, a retired admiral who commanded Sri Lankas navy during 2012-14 and is perceived as close to Rajapaksa, made the remarks in two interviews to the media. He also said Rajapaksas administration has adopted a posture of neutrality in its dealings with key powers at the regional and global level as Sri Lanka cannot become a staging area for any country to do anything against another country especially...India. Very categorically, the president has stated that we have a strategic security-wise India first policy because we cannot be, we should not be, we cant afford to be a strategic security threat for India, period, Colombage said in an interview to Derana 24 news channel that aired on August 20. We cant be and we dont have to be [a security threat to India]. They are a very big power, [the] fastest developing major economy in 2018, 1.34 billion people, a 7,500-km coastline, its a huge country. We need to benefit from India, he added. Colombage made similar remarks in an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper, pointing out Sri Lanka is between two economic giants. He added: That is why the president mentioned that as far as strategic security is concerned, Sri Lanka will always have an India-first approach. That means Sri Lanka will not do anything harmful to Indias strategic security interests. However, he said Rajapaksa had made it clear to Indias leadership that Sri Lanka cannot depend on any one country for economic development. We are open to anyone. We know China is one country willing to invest and develop. They have the capacity to do it. We have to benefit from it. We have to balance, he told the Daily Mirror. Colombage also told the news channel: Even to India...very firmly, the president has said, you are my first priority in so far as security is concerned but I have to deal with other players for my economic prosperity. Colombage, who was appointed foreign secretary on August 14 and previously served as additional secretary to the president for foreign relations, also said the Sri Lankan government will not hand over total control of strategic national assets to a foreign power following the experience with Hambantota port, which was given to China Merchant Port Holding for 99 years. Now in that deal, roughly...about 85% of that projects stakes are for China Merchant Port Holding and only 15% for Sri Lanka. We will do everything so that no one can use our country against another country but then giving total control for a long period, of majority 85% is a very high stake, he told the news channel. In future ventures, Sri Lanka will retain a 51% stake in any project with foreign investment, he said. Colombage told the Daily Mirror that China understands Sri Lankas position and is pushing for commercial things. He added, China also understands it isnt ethical to push Sri Lanka beyond a certain point that is worrisome to India. He also told the daily that in 2015, India feared we had moved towards China too much, and that India, Japan and the US considered it was wrong for Sri Lanka to give Hambantota port on lease to a Chinese firm. We actually made India jittery during the period between 2015 and 2019. But India is comfortable with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he added. The Modi government has focussed on improving ties with Rajapaksas administration. Modi was the first world leader to congratulate Rajapaksa even before the final results of Sri Lankas parliamentary elections were declared earlier this month, after his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party took an unassailable lead. Last month, India announced a $400-million currency swap facility for Sri Lanka under the Saarc framework, and officials said Colombos request for a bilateral swap facility for $1.1 billion was also being considered. When Rajapaksa visited India last November, just 10 days after becoming president, New Delhi announced a $400-million line of credit to boost infrastructure and development, and offered another $50 million to fight terrorism and enhance intelligence gathering. (Bloomberg) -- Salesforce.com Inc. plans to cut about 1,000 jobs, people familiar with the situation said, a move by the software giant to streamline its business even as it reports record quarterly revenue and forecasts further gains. Sales and customer-support roles are among those being eliminated, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. In the U.S., the move affects some workers who sell the companys software aimed at financial-services firms, health and life-science companies and other cloud sales teams, one of the people said. The cuts are taking place in more than a dozen Salesforce locations around the world, including in Canada, another person said. Some employees focused on Service Cloud, Salesforce Platform and configure-price-quote software were also affected, a third person said. Were reallocating resources to position the company for continued growth, a Salesforce spokeswoman said. This includes continuing to hire and redirecting some employees to fuel our strategic areas, and eliminating some positions that no longer map to our business priorities. For affected employees, we are helping them find the next step in their careers, whether within our company or a new opportunity. The job cuts were reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal. On Tuesday, while some employees were being told via videoconference that their positions would be eliminated, Salesforce reported that revenue climbed 29% to $5.15 billion. The company also raised its forecast for annual sales, signaling the deepest effects of the pandemic-fueled recession may be behind the software maker. Shares of the San Francisco-based company surged 26% on Wednesday in New York on the rosy projections, bringing gains for the year to 67%. Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff said in a Bloomberg TV interview Wednesday that the decision to cut jobs has always been difficult. There is no lifetime employment at Salesforce, he said. Everything is performance-based. We are going to make job changes and shift and evolve as our markets shift and as our customers shift. Every year, Salesforce will rebalance 5% to 10% of its workforce to focus on strategic areas, he added. Story continues Benioff had pledged in March that the company wouldnt conduct any significant lay offs for 90 days, and he scoffed at other CEOs who wouldnt make the same promise. The company will give the employees 60 days to search for a new job within the Salesforce organization, two of the people said. (Updates with CEO remarks starting in fifth paragraph.) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Its been six years since he got out of prison, but Roy Trotter still thinks about being locked up when he catches the nightly news. He and his prison-mates watched the news multiple times a day and got in fierce debates not over policy, but whether the Republican and Democratic parties ever truly cared about Black Americans and whether those behind bars would ever wield any political power to shape elections to come. For the most part, the consensus was we would never be at the table, not because we were Black, brown or poor, but because at the end of the day we were incarcerated, Trotter said. Theres not even a thought in our minds that one day we can participate in the whole process. Trotter wasnt eligible to vote during the 15 years he spent in prison, but thousands in Connecticuts correctional facilities are. According to the Department of Correction, approximately 2,150 people as of Aug. 17 about a third of the total incarcerated population can vote in this falls election. Those who are locked up pretrial or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor are treated as absentee voters in the town or city where they lived before they were incarcerated. In light of the states emphasis on absentee voting in the 2020 elections due to the pandemic, the November election presents a unique opportunity for officials to expand absentee ballot access for a population often forgotten when it comes to voting rights: the incarcerated. And, for the first time, this year it is the department, not volunteers or advocates, who will work from inside correctional facilities walls to ensure that inmates have the information they need to register and cast a ballot a necessity given that visitors and volunteers cannot enter correctional facilities because of COVID restrictions. Starting this week, DOC officials will provide every inmate including those who are not eligible to vote with an educational packet explaining who is eligible to vote, how to register and how to cast a ballot. The pamphlets will provide the hopeful voters with all the information they need to vote by absentee, including town clerks and voter registrars office addresses, as well as postage-paid envelopes, should they request them. For the most part, the consensus was we would never be at the table, not because we were Black, brown or poor, but because at the end of the day we were incarcerated. Roy Trotter, former inmateThe outreach builds on earlier efforts by volunteers and advocates to expand access to the ballot box. Nicole Thibeault, the state agencys director of offender reentry services who is spearheading the departments role in the initiative, said their prior work left inmates feeling like their lives extended beyond the prison walls. It made them feel humanized, Thibeault said, and it made them feel more connected to their community. Trotter remembers those heated discussions during newscasts having a similar effect. Arguing about politics was a kind of lifeline to their families and homes. He still remembers how those conversations made him feel: Like youre in the world. An informational video released by the Secretary of State's Office regarding which justice-involved citizens are eligible to vote. Raising awareness Thibeault acknowledges that its rare for inmates to ask DOC staff for help with voting. That might not be for lack of interest, but because they dont know they have the right. A lot of people dont realize they have access, said James Jeter, who was incarcerated for nearly two decades. He spent three-and-a-half years behind bars before he was convicted and sentenced for his crime. He could have voted in multiple elections, but he had no idea it was even an option. The co-directors of the Full Citizen Coalition to Unlock the Vote, James Jeter, left, and Kennard Ray. Both men are working to expand access to the ballot box for people in correctional facilities, and those who who have returned home and are on parole. The reality of what was lost and what could have been accomplished, and what could have grounded me better, hit me once I came home, said Jeter, who is now the co-director of the Full Citizen Coalition to Unlock the Vote, a group that works to expand access to the ballot box for people whose lives have intersected with the criminal justice system. Jeter is also working to help incarcerated people vote in the fall. His organization will soon mail educational pamphlets to Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven Correctional Centers which house larger numbers of pretrial detainees than most of Connecticuts 14 correctional facilities that explain how to request and submit an absentee ballot from jail. Having done time and having been in an educational program, I understand how information is dispersed throughout the prison system, Jeter said of the importance of jail mail. They dont get any mailers from the candidates. Theres nobody knocking on their door on their cell. And so literally the only thing they have to go by is the name of the party. Alex Tsarkov, Sentencing CommissionCasting an absentee ballot is a three-step process: inmates must register to vote, request a ballot and then submit it potentially daunting considering they have to do them from behind bars. The DOCs educational packet, which will boil down information from the Secretary of States website, is intended to make this process easier. Once its done, the DOC will post fliers in each correctional facilitys housing unit and give each inmate, including each person newly admitted to correctional facilities, a copy of the packet. Inmates who complete the process will list the prison as their mailing address, but theyll be voting as residents of whatever town they lived in before going to jail. The DOC will rely on inmates to determine their own eligibility, as opposed to informing those who are eligible. We want to make sure we outline the criteria as best we can for them, so that there is no question, Thibeault said. Theres no way for us to make a very accurate eligibility list. Town clerks will weed out ballots cast by inmates rendered ineligible because they were convicted of a felony, said Sue Larsen, president of the Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut. Every month we get a list from the Secretary of States Office that tells us whos been incarcerated and whos been released, Larsen said. So, the minute we find out someones been incarcerated with a felony, we take them off the voter list by reason of a felon. Empowering the powerless Even if an inmate wants to vote, casting a ballot from jail comes with logistical challenges. Those who are locked up pretrial dont know how long theyll be incarcerated, complicating the decision to partake in the voting process. Many who are held pretrial on low-level charges today will be out of jail before the election. Plus, absentee ballots dont contain information about what they have to do if theyre convicted of a felony or released from jail before Election Day, potentially putting them at risk of violating the law. And, the elephant in the room for everyone voting by absentee in the November election: it remains to be seen how mail-in voting will be affected by changes and cuts to the U.S. Postal Service. The best thing that can be done to address that concern for everybody is the ballots have to be printed and distributed and sent out early enough so that people can complete them and get them back early enough, said Amy Eppler-Epstein, staff attorney at New Haven Legal Aids housing unit and a co-teacher of a Yale Law Schools Re-entry Clinic. Hurdles aside, Eppler-Epstein said the DOCs leadership is encouraging because eliminating the barriers to incarcerated people voting cannot be accomplished without the states help. Putting that system in place could create a path for expanding all inmates access to the ballot box one day, should lawmakers pass a measure to end felony disenfranchisement in a future legislative session. You need to have the systems that are running the prisons make this part of what they do, she said. DOC is absolutely the critical element here. Even though I did all that time and the judge said I was free, I felt freer when I cast my vote.. Roy TrotterThe department has an incentive to make sure inmates are given every opportunity to vote. A report from the Connecticut Sentencing Commission published in June warns that the state is potentially vulnerable to lawsuits if the barriers posed by incarceration block eligible voters access to the ballot. Eppler-Epstein joined the Sentencing Commission on two trips to York Correctional Institution, the states prison for women, in October 2019, to study pre-pandemic hurdles to inmate voting. Volunteers registered 142 women to vote. Ten wound up casting an absentee ballot the following month, a respectable number, given that they were for municipal elections, said Alex Tsarkov, the commissions executive director. They dont get any mailers from the candidates. Theres nobody knocking on their door on their cell. And so literally the only thing they have to go by is the name of the party, Tsarkov said. Understandably, not a lot of people voted. To Jeter, those numbers are encouraging. In spite of likely not knowing much about the candidates, ten people cast ballots and more than 140 took their first steps on the path to political action, daring to dream of changing policies that have, historically, oppressed the racial and ethnic minorities who disproportionately make up Connecticuts incarcerated population. Youre asking them to turn to a system that is constantly turning on them, Jeter said. As much as we look to shift and create new structures, we have to change the culture of our communities and our prisons. Trotter left prison in 2014. His first job when he got out was working on a state senators campaign. He voted for the first time in his life in that election. Even though I did all that time and the judge said I was free, Trotter said, I felt freer when I cast my vote. FULTON, Md., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Window Nation, one of the country's leading home remodeling companies, has once again earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list for 2020. Each year, Inc. Magazine honors the top private companies in the U.S. according to percentage of revenue growth. In addition, the company, owned by brothers Harley and Aaron Magden, was named the 7th largest company in the country in the replacement/home improvement category and the 4th largest for replacement windows, according to Qualified Remodeler. Window Nation, one of the country's leading home remodeling companies founded by third-generation window experts and brothers, earns national accolades. This marks the fourth year Window Nation was included on the Inc. Magazine list, first making it in 2014. Qualified Remodeler Magazine ranked Window Nation based on its gross sales, remodeling gross sales and the number of remodeling jobs completed annually. The Window Nation team currently services 12 markets throughout the U.S. and brings decades of home remodeling experience to its customers. The co-founders and brothers grew up in the business as third-generation window replacement experts, learning first-hand from their father and grandfather, before starting their own company in 2006. "This isn't the year any of us wanted, but it's the year we got," said Aaron Magden, co-owner and president. "To say we are proud of how our team rallied, supported customers and each other would be an understatement. We are once again recognized by these publications fully because of our dedicated staff and loyal customers. We are in awe of their passion, creativity and determination, this year especially. And are thrilled to celebrate this good news with them." 2020 was a banner year for Window Nation, who celebrated their one millionth window installation. The company also expanded into the Boston market, servicing cities between New Hampshire and Rhode Island, St. Louis and Kansas City. About Window Nation: Window Nation was started in 2006 by two brothers who literally grew up in the window business, learning about home improvement, customer care and the difference a quality window can make. The company provides an unsurpassed selection of premium windows, doors and siding installed by highly skilled, licensed professionals. The company has replaced over 1,000,000 windows in Maryland, Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Indianapolis, Charlotte, St. Louis, Kansas City, Boston, Columbus and northeast Ohio. Learn more here. Media Contact: Victoria Manenti 330.402.0000 [email protected] SOURCE Window Nation Related Links https://www.windownation.com With the largest repatriation campaign ever launched in peacetimes, Vietnam leaves no one behind On July 29, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines flight VN06 departed from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi heading to Equatorial Guinea to fly 219 Vietnamese citizens home. Although it was not the first flight to bring workers abroad home, it was the most special as more than half of the passengers had been confirmed positive for the virus. They were working at Sendje Hydropower Plant in Equatorial Guineas Litoral province for the United Kingdom-based Duglas Alliance Ltd. and the three Vietnamese companies, Tan Dai Loi, CM Vietnam, and LILAMA 10. Eight months after arriving in Equatorial Guinea, they were looking forward to returning to their homeland every day since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Realising the risk of infections among the workers in Equatorial Guinea, the Vietnamese government cooperated with relevant ministries and agencies to plan a humanitarian flight and bring the workers home. After a month of preparation, 17 crew members chosen from nearly 150 volunteer pilots and attendants, together with four orderlies and doctors of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi departed to repatriate the Vietnamese citizens from Equatorial Guinea. In addition, 250 nurses and doctors were also assigned to take care of the patients upon returning from this flight. Doan Dien, a worker of LILAMA 10, said they hugged each other and hooted with joy on the construction site when they heard that there was a repatriation flight back home. We finally set foot on the homeland after many weeks of worry. We have expressed gratitude to the Party, the government, the crew members, and the medical staff. Everyone called their relatives to announce the good news and many couldnt hold back their tears, said Dien. Humanitarian flights In addition to VN06, several other repatriation flights were designated to many countries and territories around the world, including places that Vietnam has never had commercial routes to. As the pioneering airline in the campaign to rescue citizens and respond to the governments call to deploy humanitarian flights to epicentres of the pandemic, Vietnam Airlines has operated more than 45 repatriation flights for 13,000 Vietnamese nationals from 27 countries and territories back to Vietnam since early February. A representative of Vietnam Airlines said that the airline performed most of the flights to irregular destinations. In the coming time, Vietnam Airlines will also operate around 35 flights to rescue Vietnamese citizens from countries such as Cuba, the United States, Canada, and the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, budget carrier Vietjet also showed willingness to operate repatriation flights to bring Vietnamese people home and will transport passengers from Myanmar, Indonesia, and the Philippines. By the end of July, Vietjet had already evacuated nearly 10,000 Vietnamese citizens from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The carrier also operated a flight to Brunei to bring 140 Vietnamese workers safely home on July 29. Moreover, Vietjet has also run 15 evacuation flights to and from Danang to rescue passengers before the city blockade came into effect since the local resurgence of the pandemic. According to Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), since the outbreak of the pandemic, the CAAV has coordinated with airlines to conduct over 80 flights repatriating over 21,000 Vietnamese citizens from more than 50 countries and territories around the world. We cannot meet all the needs of the people at this moment due to the significant number of citizens requesting repatriation assistance. People with difficult circumstances will be supported first. The remaining cases will continue to be considered and suitable flights will be opened in the coming time, said Thang. No one left behind Statistics from the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs show that over 6,000 Vietnamese workers have returned from abroad. Most of them are those whose contracts have expired, were sick, or lost their jobs after many businesses were forced to lay off workers. In such circumstances, the government has been coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to perform these humanitarian flights and bring citizens home. Hundreds of pilots, flight attendants, and medical staff voluntarily participate in these flights even though they know they would face the risk of an infection and undergo quarantine for 14 days afterwards. Truong Anh Tu, one of the flight attendants on the flight carrying workers from Equatorial Guinea to Vietnam, said: Actually, I was also scared when I was on this flight but I was determined to do my duty and responsibility for my fellow citizens. Hopefully, the patients will soon overcome the virus without infecting more people so that we can all be together with our families soon. According to the plan, the humanitarian flights will continue to be conducted in the coming time. This current repatriation is considered the biggest one ever since the country entered peacetime. An Accra Circuit Court has granted a GH50,000.00 bail with two sureties to a mason for allegedly possessing 120 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, popularly known as Wee. The Court ordered that the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the Court. Enoch Tetteh, 28, is to report to the police every Friday until the case was finally determined by the Court. His plea was not taken as the court awaits the results of an examination of the exhibits. He will make his next appearance on September 28. Police Inspector Samuel Ahiabor told the Court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah that, the complainants are police officers stationed at Baatsona Divisional Headquarters, Spintex Road. He said on August 21, 2020, at about 1900 hours, the Divisional Police Command upon a tip-off conducted a swoop at an alleged drug peddling spot located at Kiosk Estate-Baatsona. He said in the course of the exercise Tetteh was arrested in a wooden structure (kiosk), which was his place of abode. Inspector Ahiabor said a search revealed a black polythene bag containing 120 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp also known as wee. Prosecution said in his cautioned statement, the accused admitted being the owner of the wraps, confessing that he bought them from Kpando in the Volta Region. Inspector Ahiabor said Tetteh, however failed to lead police to the said supplier. Meanwhile the exhibits have been forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory for analytical examination. 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 I am honored to be selected as part of the Forbes Agency Council and excited to further enhance my professional capabilities while collaborating with other industry leaders, said Cundari. Steve Cundari, Co-Founder of Summit House, an award-winning full service creative agency, has been accepted into Forbes Agency Council, an invitation-only community for owners of and executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative, and advertising agencies. Steve Cundari 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 Steve Cundari into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes the Forbes Agency 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, Steve 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. Steve 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. I am honored to be selected as part of the Forbes Agency Council and excited to further enhance my professional capabilities while collaborating with other industry leaders, said Cundari. Working with Forbes will continue to solidify Summit Houses position as a leader in the agency world. 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. ABOUT SUMMIT HOUSE Summit House is one of the most transformative top-down creative collectives with a suite of services that directly rival the world's largest agencies. In addition to offering dramatically increased scale and a commitment to collaboration that, to date, has been unprecedented in the industry, Summit House provides strategic oversight and direction to each of its four entities while also operating as distinct and individual brands. Summit House employs nearly 50 individuals who work across creative, strategy, paid and performance marketing as well as video production and design. Irvine, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 - The detection more than a decade ago by the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope of an excess of high-energy radiation in the center of the Milky Way convinced some physicists that they were seeing evidence of the annihilation of dark matter particles, but a team led by researchers at the University of California, Irvine has ruled out that interpretation. In a paper published recently in the journal Physical Review D, the UCI scientists and colleagues at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and other institutions report that - through an analysis of the Fermi data and an exhaustive series of modeling exercises - they were able to determine that the observed gamma rays could not have been produced by what are called weakly interacting massive particles, most popularly theorized as the stuff of dark matter. By eliminating these particles, the destruction of which could generate energies of up to 300 giga-electron volts, the paper's authors say, they have put the strongest constraints yet on dark matter properties. "For 40 years or so, the leading candidate for dark matter among particle physicists was a thermal, weakly interacting and weak-scale particle, and this result for the first time rules out that candidate up to very high-mass particles," said co-author Kevork Abazajian, UCI professor of physics & astronomy. "In many models, this particle ranges from 10 to 1,000 times the mass of a proton, with more massive particles being less attractive theoretically as a dark matter particle," added co-author Manoj Kaplinghat, also a UCI professor of physics & astronomy. "In this paper, we're eliminating dark matter candidates over the favored range, which is a huge improvement in the constraints we put on the possibilities that these are representative of dark matter." Abazajian said that dark matter signals could be crowded out by other astrophysical phenomena in the Galactic Center - such as star formation, cosmic ray deflection off molecular gas and, most notably, neutron stars and millisecond pulsars - as sources of excess gamma rays detected by the Fermi space telescope. "We looked at all of the different modeling that goes on in the Galactic Center, including molecular gas, stellar emissions and high-energy electrons that scatter low-energy photons," said co-author Oscar Macias, a postdoctoral scholar in physics and astronomy at the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe at the University of Tokyo whose visit to UCI in 2017 initiated this project. "We took over three years to pull all of these new, better models together and examine the emissions, finding that there is little room left for dark matter." Macias, who is also a postdoctoral researcher with the GRAPPA Centre at the University of Amsterdam, added that this result would not have been possible without data and software provided by the Fermi Large Area Telescope collaboration. The group tested all classes of models used in the Galactic Center region for excess emission analyses, and its conclusions remained unchanged. "One would have to craft a diffuse emission model that leaves a big 'hole' in them to relax our constraints, and science doesn't work that way," Macias said. Kaplinghat noted that physicists have predicted that radiation from dark matter annihilation would be represented in a neat spherical or elliptical shape emanating from the Galactic Center, but the gamma ray excess detected by the Fermi space telescope after its June 2008 deployment shows up as a triaxial, bar-like structure. "If you peer at the Galactic Center, you see that the stars are distributed in a boxy way," he said. "There's a disk of stars, and right in the center, there's a bulge that's about 10 degrees on the sky, and it's actually a very specific shape - sort of an asymmetric box - and this shape leaves very little room for additional dark matter." Does this research rule out the existence of dark matter in the galaxy? "No," Kaplinghat said. "Our study constrains the kind of particle that dark matter could be. The multiple lines of evidence for dark matter in the galaxy are robust and unaffected by our work." Far from considering the team's findings to be discouraging, Abazajian said they should encourage physicists to focus on concepts other than the most popular ones. "There are a lot of alternative dark matter candidates out there," he said. "The search is going to be more like a fishing expedition where you don't already know where the fish are." ### Also contributing to this research project - which was supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and Japan's World Premier International Research Center Initiative - were Ryan Keeley, who earned a Ph.D. in physics & astronomy at UCI in 2018 and is now at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, and Shunsaku Horiuchi, a former UCI postdoctoral scholar in physics & astronomy who is now an assistant professor of physics at Virginia Tech. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 222 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu. Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists. A furnace explosion at the United Steel Company Limited on Monday, August 24 at the Freezone Enclave in Tema has injured nine persons and destroyed property belonging to MND Metals Company Limited. The nine injured included; six Ghanaians and three Indians working in the company (United Steel Company); the impact also put workers in the neighboring company at risk. Mr Mahmoud El Kurdi, Manager, MND Metals Company Limited, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview with the Company after the explosion. He explained THAT one of the furnaces used by United Steel to melt scrap metals for its production exploded, at about 1810 hours and caused damage to the changing room of their workers among other property. MND Metals Company Limited is situated just behind United Steel Company Limited. The Manager said the fumes released from the explosion and that released daily from the company contained carbon, harmful to the health, adding that most of his workers were diagnosed of respiratory infections and some coughed blood. He said the consistent pollution of the air by United Steel Company Limited had affected his business because most expatriates he brought to work for the company had left due to the unhealthy air quality. Mr El Kurdi said he approached management of United Steel personally to resolve the inconvenience, but to no avail and he had also written several letters with videos on pen drives holding the evidence of the pollution to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ministry for Environment Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI). He said about 200 workers in his company; 50 expatriates and 150 Ghanaians were being exposed daily to the poisonous gases and the company was investing a lot to see that the right thing was done. The situation is bad and this had been going on for so long; decline in business, losing staff and our health are all in danger, he said. He called on the government and stakeholders to ensure United Steel Company Limited followed laid down guidelines given by EPA to prevent all forms of air pollution in the Free Zone Area to avert future dangers. Mr Adams Aikens, Foreman, MND Metals Company Limited, said they as workers had also reported the inconvenience to the Kpone Police Station and the Environmental Health Safety Office at Kpone. He said a worker, George Amoah died out of the air pollution, two years ago adding that his doctor also advised him after a health checkup that his life was at stake due to the poor air quality caused by the pollution from United Steel Company Limited. Daniel Adraku, 33, folk lift operator of MND Metals Company Limited, said the smoke clouded his vision during work and had to wait for over an hour to continue working which delayed his output. One of our guys called John Tetteh is suffering from Asthma as a result of the pollution, he said. Mrs Cynthia Asare Bediako, Chief Director of MESTI when contacted said the Ministry had little information about the incident and needed to conduct further investigations. The Ghana News Agency was unable to gather information from United Steel Company Limited as those contacted were unwilling to volunteer information. 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 New York, Aug 26 : US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the campaign against "the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party" was an accomplishment of President Donald Trump, who will "not rest until justice is done". Recounting Trump's foreign policy milestones, Pompeo told the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, "The president has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world. He will not rest until justice is done." "He has ended the ridiculously unfair trade arrangement with China that punched a hole in our economy," Pompeo said. The second day of the convention sought to dispel the image of antagonism towards immigrants and minorities and history of sexism through carefully crafted sgements. With shrines of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in the background, Pompeo had recorded the speech from Jerusalem, where Trump controversially moved the US embassy. He listed that also as one of Trump's accomplishments. The setting up of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates was another success of Trump, he said. Unlike many of his foreign policy initiatives, that received bipartisan support in the US. He credited Trump for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table and "lowered the temperature". Pyongyang has not conducted any long-range missile or nuclear tests since the talks between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Pompeo put a positive spin on Trump withdrawing from the international nuclear agreement with Iran, although it ended up with Washington's international isolation as even its allies have refused to go along. Pompeo, who is considered a potential candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, spoke at the convention defying Democratic Party criticism and setting aside what has been a convention of secretaries of state not participating in the meetings. Democrats say it is a violation of a law that bars officials from partisan activities and have called for a Congressional investigation. Pompeo defended his decision to speak at the convention saying that he was doing it on his own time and not using government facilities for it. He tried not to be overtly partisan by avoiding any criticism of Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden or his party. That was left to Trump and others. The president warned the convention on Monday that if Biden wins, China will "own" the US. Trump's son Eric said on Tuesday, "Biden will be a pushover for China." Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, said that Biden was supportive of Beijing and had said that the "Chinese are not competition" even while they were hollowing out US manufcturing. She noted that his son Hunter had traveled with him on an official plane to Beijing and held meetings with Chinese Communist Party bankers for a deal that netted him millions. Bondi also brought up Hunter Biden's connection to an Ukrainian gas company that paid him tens of thousands of dollars to be a director even though he had no relevant business experience, and Biden as vice president pushing Kyiv to remove a prosecutor looking into the company. Trump's attempts to get Ukraine to investigate that connection led to the unsuccessful attempt by Democrats to remove him from office through impeachment. On another foreign policy facet of Trump, Senator Rand Paul said that he was the first president in a generation to not start a war abroad and is committed to ending wars. He said that Biden has consistently voted for wars -- in Afghanisatn, Iraq, Syria, Libya and the Balkans. If he is elected, he will "will spill our blood and treasure" in wars abroad," he said. Paul has been a critic of Trump and ran unsuccessfully against him for the Republican nomination in 2016. A political maverick who had opposed almost singlehandedly Trump's initiatives, he said that even though they don't agree on everything, he concedes that Trump "gets things done". On the domestic front, Trump executed two made-for-camera actions that had an imperial flourish and were aimed at clarifying his positions relating mostly to minorities. An Indian software developer, Sundari Narayanan, and four other legal immigrants were sworn in as citizens before him at the White House and he handed them their citizenship certificates. He emphasised that they were legal immigrants who followed the law and he supports them, making a distinction with illegal immigrants in order to deflect the Democratic blanket criticism of Trump being anti-immigrant. He issued a presidential pardon for a reformed bank robber, John Ponder who spoke of Trump's help for rehabilitating prisoners. That gave an opportunity to highlight his criminal law reform that undid the disproportionately harsh sentences given mostly to non-White people under a crime law drafted by Biden. Paul said Trump's law, the First Step Act, undid the harm that Biden had done to people of colour through the crime bill that he he brags about. Several African American politicians defended Trump against charges of racism and pointed to his economic and other policies that had benefited them. They also criticised the Democratic-backed movement against racism that has at time descended into violence and even destroying statues of African American leaders and anti-slavery activists. allegation against Trump's treatment of women and his disparaging of women with sexist talk was also countered. A video segment featured several women working for him, including Kellyanne Conway, the political strategist behind his last campaign who left the White House this week. The narrator said that he has had more women on the presidential senior team than any other president, while women who have worked or still work for him said he selected them on merit and treated them professionally. The convention was held mostly from Washington with live and pre-recorded segments. Tuesday was also the family night in keeping with the tradition of spouses and children giving the portrait of the candidate as a family person. First Lady Melania Trump and Trump's children from earlier marriages, son Eric and daughter Tiffany, spoke. In an gentle speech in which she gave reassuring messages about the Covid-19 pandemic, Melania Trump said she did not want to attack the other side as it only divides the nations further. Unlike the Democratic Convention, the Republican event did not have showbiz people emceeing it or entertainers providing musical interludes. Vice President Mike Pence narrated a long video segment interviewing like a journalist people who had benefited from Trump's programmes. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) New York's transit authority says it is facing 'horrendous' cuts to bus and subway services after the coronavirus outbreak wiped out its revenue. The MTA says it is facing the possibility of cutting bus and subway services by 40 per cent and laying off 7,200 workers, if Congress does not provide additional funding. 'Horrendous choices lie ahead,' Metropolitan Transit Authority Chairman Pat Foye said in an emergency board meeting Wednesday, The New York Daily News reports. The agency needs $12 billion in funding before the end of 2021 to avoid drastic measures, like raising metro fares to $3.75 and reducing service on commuter rail lines. Fewer trains on the rails or subway means longer waits and more crowded cars while the pandemic continues. For the subway, wait times would increase by eight minutes; for the bus it would be 15 minutes. Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North trains would run at every hour or two. Foye added: 'The future of the MTA and the future of the New York region lies squarely in the hands of the federal government.' New York's transit authority says it is facing 'horrendous' cuts to bus and subway services, pictured, after the coronavirus outbreak wiped out its revenue The MTA says it is facing the possibility of cutting bus and subway services by 40 per cent and laying off 7,200 workers, if Congress does not provide additional funding 'Horrendous choices lie ahead,' MTA Chairman Pat Foye, pictured, said Wednesday None of these possible cuts are final, Foye said, but due to deeply reduced ridership, the agency projects a deficit of $3.2 billion in 2020. It will need more than $8 billion in federal aid in 2021 to maintain service, the newspaper reported. He added: 'You may be shocked to know that the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated by federal inaction has exacted a far greater toll on the MTAs ridership and revenues than the Great Depression.' Cutting 7,200 jobs - or more than 10 per cent of the agencys workforce - would spark a confrontation with the union that represents the city's transit workers. 'The only chance of New York City's economy coming back is a vibrant subway, and people aren't going to get on the subway if the commutes are that bad,' said John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union International. Last month, MTA board members suggested raising a gas tax on car commuters to help fund transportation projects and to reduce the reliance of the MTA, and the millions of daily commuters it serves, on federal funding. Numerous business leaders have suggested in recent weeks that the damage to NYC's economy could last for years or decades to come as a result of the mass exodus of residents and businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic New York City - and in particular Manhattan - is currently grappling with escalating homelessness and crime amid the COVID-19 pandemic Pictured above is an empty Times Square on August 16 Numerous business leaders have suggested in recent weeks that the damage to NYC's economy could last for years or decades to come as a result of the mass exodus of residents and businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just last week, a coalition of New York City restaurants are threatening to sue Mayor Bill de Blasio after he admitted there was 'no plan' and refused to give a timeline for when indoor dining can return amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York City Hospitality Alliance on Thursday demanded that de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo release a plan for when indoor dining can resume across the city. An MTA cleaning contractor sprays Shockwave RTU disinfectant inside a New York City subway car on the Upper East Side during the coronavirus pandemic 'NYC's economy cannot function without its transit system', one expert said In addition to the pandemic, New York City has also grappled with a week of looting in June as some Black Lives Matter protests turned violent and the ongoing struggle against escalating crime and homelessness. Crime has shot up in recent weeks, particularly shootings. During July, there were 244 citywide shootings, compared to the 88 shooting incidents in July 2019 - a 177 percent increase. Police leaders in the Big Apple have placed the blame squarely on Mayor Bill de Blasio, citing his move to slash $1billion from the NYPD's budget as part of the issue. President Donald Trump has seized on this and vowed, without explaining how, to revitalize the city if he wins the November election. The spread of homelessness across Manhattan has been rife of late with new ramshackle encampments emerging all over the city along with hotels that are being used to house 13,000 people who were previously in shelters that were closed to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks. Police tweeted on August 5: 'Between May 8th and August 3rd there has been 64 incidents where glass was broken on train cars on the 2,3,7 subway lines in Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.' Getting people back on transit systems is reminiscent of the 1980s in New York when riders shunned the subways as dangerous said one expert And earlier this month horde of revelers descended on the #7239 bus in Maspeth, Queens, as the driver was pulling out of the Grand Avenue Depot at 3:35am. In footage of the incident, revelers are seen sharing hookah pipes back and forth and dancing within inches of one another, without face coverings. 'New York City without a transit system is like a skyscraper without an elevator,' said Philip Plotch, a transportation expert and associate professor of political science at Saint Peter's University. 'New York City's economy cannot function without its transit system.' Getting people back on transit systems is reminiscent of the 1980s in New York when riders shunned the subways as dangerous, said Plotch. 'In the 1980s, there weren't enough people on the system so you felt uncomfortable getting on a train that was empty or waiting on the platform. Here it's the opposite. If there's too many people, you feel uncomfortable.' New Jersey will apply for federal expanded unemployment benefits, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday in his latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton. But workers shouldnt expect to see any money until October. The expanded benefit, called the FEMA Lost Wages Supplemental Assistance Program, was created by an executive order by President Donald Trump on Aug. 7. State Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said the new benefit should be approved by the federal government in a day or two, but that doesnt mean it will be a quick process to get the funds into the pockets of unemployed workers. Asaro-Angelo said the initial funding, which comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), would pay benefits retroactive to the weeks of Aug. 1, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. Then in subsequent weeks, the state would have to apply for funding each week. But rather than send weekly payments to workers, the Labor Department will probably send out the payments in a lump sum, and that probably wouldnt come until October, he said. I know thats not what someone wants to hear who wants their money now, Asaro-Angelo said. The challenge in making the payouts, Asaro-Angelo said, is because this is an entirely new program for which the state cant use existing unemployment systems, infrastructure, staff or accounts, and it will not be easy or quick. Asaro-Angelo said the state isnt in a race against other states for this funding, noting that FEMA is expected to calculate weekly how much longer funding will be available. The disaster relief fund has a finite amount of money, Asaro-Angelo said, adding that the general consensus is that funds would last for between seven and nine weeks, but that doesnt take into account FEMAs potential need to use some of the funding for relief related to the storms heading to the Gulf this week. He also said the state is waiting for guidance on what, if anything, workers will have to do to get the benefit. While every unemployed worker was eligible for the now-expired $600 expanded benefit, not everyone will get the $300 payment. Those receiving weekly benefits of less than $100 and those whose unemployment does not relate to COVID will not qualify, he said, noting eligibility is based on federal rules. Both Asaro-Angelo and Murphy said they hope Congress will come back and pass another $600 weekly extension. Even as we do this, let me make it absolutely clear that what our workers and their families need is for the President and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to reauthorize the $600 federal weekly unemployed benefit they allowed to expire at the end of July, Murphy said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Arizona and Texas have already been distributing the payments while Alaska and Hawaii, among others, said they wont start paying out the benefit until late October, reports said. Not including New Jersey, 39 states have applied for the program. Only South Dakota has said it will not apply to the program. Not every New Jerseyan will qualify for benefits. Workers must be getting at least $100 in benefits to be eligible for the extra $300 a week. The administration previously said it wasnt sure it would apply because it was waiting for additional information from the federal government. Theres some concern that if they were to come back, if Congress were to come back, and enact an extension of the $600 (unemployment benefit) that then the state would have to go back and recoup this money, Matt Platkin, Murphys chief counsel, said Friday. So ... the feds really havent answered a lot of questions, which is why we are one of the many states that havent implemented it yet. Initially, states were told they would have to pay $100 for each worker to get the extra $300, but it later clarified that as long as a state was paying the $100 in regular benefits, it could apply to the program. If New Jersey had to pay an additional $100 per person, it could cost the state $68 million a week if the states unemployment rate stays where it is today. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. A nephew of Venezuela's first lady has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court an 18-year sentence for conspiring to smuggle 800 kilograms of cocaine. Francisco Flores and his cousin, Efrain Campo, were found guilty in 2016 in a highly charged case that gave off a hard look at U.S. accusations of drug trafficking at the highest levels of President Nicolas Maduro's socialist administration. In March, prosecutors sued Maduro himself for leading an alleged "narco-terrorist" conspiracy that provided the U.S. 250 metric tons of cocaine annually. Flores' attorney argued in a petition posted on Tuesday that the jury was misled when a Manhattan federal judge told them that the men should have known that the cocaine was bound for the U.S. This is a requirement for conviction under U.S. law. The petition that they filed before the U.S. Supreme Court said the two men at no moment in wiretapped recordings could be heard even asking about the shipment's final destination. This was when they were negotiating with informants under the supervision of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The petition added that when the informants inserted on 13 recorded instances general references to drug trafficking in the U.S., the men were silent or reacted with inaudible responses. "The only evidence cited with respect to Flores's supposed deliberate avoidance of knowledge was that he and Campo remained effectively silent-i.e. did not seek confirmation or clarification-when the DEA informants dropped their various oblique hints," the petition said. Campo and Flores The two men were arrested in Haiti in a DEA-led operation in 2015. They were immediately removed to New York to face trial. Campo and Flores were lured to the Caribbean island with a promise of an $11 million advance from a wheelchair-bound trafficker they met in Honduras. The trafficker was named "El Sentado." The two men did not know that "El Sentado" was a DEA informant. A meeting in Caracas happened, in which a sample of the said narcotic was present. No drugs were seized when they were arrested. The two men were apprehended near the airport in Port au-Prince after arriving in a private jet from Caracas. In their two-week trial, Campo and Flores' lawyers claimed that no drugs were exchanged, and the men never planned to deliver any. Prosecutors' star witness, Jose Santos-Pena, was a DEA informant and was later found to have lied to his handlers. It is unclear who is paying for Flores' legal fee. Michael Levy, a lawyer at Austin, declined to comment. But in the lower court trial, his legal bill was flipped by Wilmer Ruperti. Ruperti was a Venezuelan shipping magnate close to Maduro's administration. Flores is one of the most powerful members of Venezuela's revolutionary government and a constant companion of Maduro whenever he appears in public. Maduro and his first lady made almost no mention of their loved ones' conviction in the United States. Prosecutors claimed in a court filing that the two men tried to make $20 million through drug trafficking to keep their family in power. Check these out: Citizens Resort to Cybercrime in Venezuela as Economy Plummets Why Venezuela is Latin America's Most Corrupt Country Chile, Argentina, and Venezuela Most Prolific Latin American Cellphone and Smartphone Users in Pew Report As Melania Trump spoke Tuesdy night, Aylin Gomez took notes. Curled in her dorm room, the college senior tuned into the Republican National Convention to hear their message on immigration, a theme of Tuesday night's proceedings. For her, it's personal - Gomez is a "Dreamer," and the Trump administration's policies could directly affect whether she can stay in the country. She came away frustrated. Melania Trump's "dream, her story, is idolized," Gomez said. "It's like, 'Oh, wow, she studied and became a U.S. citizen.' But a father fleeing violence from his home country in Latin America, dreaming of the American Dream, he is a criminal. Why is she idolized and others are not?" For Gomez, that question is personal. She came to the United States from Mexico City when she was 6 years old. She grew up undocumented, she said, unsure of what her future would look like. That changed when she was 11 and President Barack Obama enacted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allowed those who came to the U.S. as children to live and work without the threat of being deported. Once she turned 15, Gomez was eligible to apply. It took her family a year to save up for the application fee. But it was worth it, she said, for the sense of security it provided. Because of DACA, Gomez was able to obtain a driver's license. Everyday errands, such as trips to the grocery store, could be done without fear of arrest or deportation. "Me having a driver's license meant that my parents couldn't get pulled over," she said. "If I got pulled over, I could show them my license. It gave us a little bit of freedom to go out." She also got a job to save for college. She's been working ever since, sometimes holding down three jobs at once. Even with DACA, Gomez faces challenges. Because she is not eligible for federal student loans, she could not afford tuition at her dream school. She had hoped to study nursing but was denied acceptance to the program because DACA recipients are not eligible to receive state licenses in South Carolina. So Gomez switched her major to political science and now hopes to attend law school and help support immigrants like her. Gomez is hopeful for her future, but worried. In 2017, the Trump administration rescinded DACA, putting Gomez and hundreds of thousands of others in a citizenship limbo. Since then, there is no direct path to citizenship for DACA recipients, for those who cross the border illegally or for people who overstay their visas. During Tuesday night's convention, Gomez watched as five immigrants became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the White House. As President Donald Trump lauded the accomplishments of those being sworn in, Gomez noted that they were all of "different backgrounds and different races." But she noticed one similarity. "The thing that makes them fit in is the fact that they came the 'right way,' they have some level of higher education, they have all of these merits so that's what makes them acceptable," she said. "You didn't see a farmworker on that stage." Gomez said that she's "happy" for the group, but that their ceremony was little more than a political prop. "I felt like they're being used," she said. As a commercial played between segments, a woman appeared on the screen, wearing a "Latinos for Trump" hat, a position Gomez does not understand. "I know people who are American citizens and their family is undocumented but they're Trump supporters. It doesn't make sense to me," she said. "You're voting for a person that is literally affecting your family. To me, that's you being ashamed of your roots. It makes me feel like you want to be something you're not." Gomez is proud of where she came from. She knows that one day, she said, she might have to go back. Gomez has ramped up her education efforts, eager to finish her degree. An American diploma would help her secure a good job in Mexico, she said, if she were forced to return there. She tries not to think about such things ("If I think about it every day, it's going to kill me," she said), but it's always in the back of her mind. At the end of the night, Gomez reflected on the first lady's speech, a mix of sympathy for coronavirus victims, personal stories and praise for mothers. She was frustrated, she said, that a fellow immigrant would lack empathy for others. "She had the privilege to move to another country and start a new life," Gomez said. "If I had that privilege, I would understand why others are fleeing some type of persecution and want to go to another country." "The whole American Dream, it's kind of cliche," Gomez added. "America means freedom but not everybody has that access to freedom." KALAMAZOO, MI A Kalamazoo pastor accused of sexually assaulting four male victims between the ages of 15 and 17 is said to have paid the children to have sex with his wife while he watched. The Rev. Stricjavvar Strick Strickland, of Kalamazoos Second Baptist Church, has been charged with 11 felonies connected to alleged incidents spanning from Aug. 1, 2015- Aug. 31, 2018, according to a probable cause affidavit filed last week in Kalamazoo County District Court. Related: Kalamazoo pastor charged with human trafficking, child sex abuse A warrant for Stricklands arrest was issued Aug. 21. As of Tuesday, Aug. 25, the pastor was yet to turn himself in. His attorney, Michael Hills, told MLive early Tuesday, that the two were making arrangements for the pastor to turn himself in. It has been two years since these allegations first came forward and Pastor Strickland has remained in contact and available. He is not running from this, Hills said. Pastor Strickland remains ready to turn himself in and deal with these charges accordingly. Strickland, 37, faces two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct on a student, another on a person age 13-15 and another by force or coercion, according to court records. He also faces four counts of human trafficking of a minor for commercial sexual activity and three counts of child sexually abusive activity. If convicted, the pastor faces a potential penalty of 15 years in prison on each of the first four charges, and 20 years on each of the other seven charges, according to his warrant. In a bond recommendation, filed with the court along with the arrest affidavit, Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Christin J. Mehrtens-Carlin recommends the court not allow the pastor to have any contact with the four alleged victims, his wife Jazmonique Strickland, or anyone under the age of 18. Per the reports, the defendant and his wife would use their employment at Phoenix High School (in Kalamazoo) and to some extent, the defendant would use his work as a pastor, to find male teens to engage in sexual activity with the wife, while the defendant watched and masturbated, Mehrtens-Carlin writes in her bond recommendation. The four said to be victims in the case ranged in age from 15-17 when the alleged acts occurred, she wrote. Mehrtens-Carlin, who is recommending a cash or surety bond of $500,000 in the case, said it is also alleged that Strickland engaged in similar behavior with his ex-wife years ago while living in Mississippi. Strickland, when reached by MLive Tuesday, called the charges absolutely preposterous and said he still had no information regarding the specifics of the allegations levied against him. All I can say for now is that we are prepared for this fight, the pastor said. God will prevail. Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Scott Ernestes wrote about the specifics of the allegations in the probable cause affidavit, which was filed Aug. 18. Ernestes wrote in the affidavit that he was first contacted in August 2018 by two juveniles and one of their fathers referencing a potential sexual assault that occurred during the years 2015-18. At that point, an investigation began, Ernestes wrote. Related: State police search home of Kalamazoo NAACP president, pastor The two juveniles told Ernestes, according to the affidavit, that both of them were students at Phoenix High School during the 2017-18 school year when they met the couple. Jazmonique Strickland, according to the affidavit, was a secretary at the school. Both of the boys, who turned 17 during that school year, were alleged to have been paid $100 each to have sex with Jazmonique Strickland on separate occasions while her husband watched, the affidavit states. The pastor is also alleged to have paid the children each $100 so he could watch his wife perform oral sex on them. Additional money was allegedly given to one of the boys to text nude photos to the pastor, the affidavit states. The pastor also allegedly sexually assaulted one of the boys and then gave him money after the boy told him to stop. A third victim, interviewed in September 2018, told the detective he was 16 years old in 2015 when he was first asked to send the reverend nude photos in exchange for money. Later, when the boy was 17, Strickland coerced the child into allowing him to perform oral sex on the boy, according to the detectives affidavit. In exchange, Strickland allowed the boy to use the pastors vehicle, the affidavit alleges. Ernestes states he interviewed a fourth victim in February 2019. The victim told the detective he was 15 years old in August 2015, when he was paid $200 by Strickland to have sex with the pastors wife on a couch in the couples basement. According to Ernestes report, the victim claimed this type of incident happened on other occasions during 2015 and 2016 as well. In February 2019, five days after Ernestes interviewed the fourth individual, Hills and Strickland hosted a press conference where the two denied any wrongdoing had occurred whatsoever. In a separate Kalamazoo County court case, Strickland faces an assault charge stemming from an incident with a former church deacon that occurred at the Second Baptist Church in December 2019. That misdemeanor case is currently set for trial beginning Sept. 30 in Kalamazoo County District Court. Strickland has been pastor at Second Baptist Church in Kalamazoo since 2012. He also previously served as the NAACP Kalamazoo Chapter president from 2016-18. There are no charges pending against Jazmonique Strickland at this time. Also on MLive: Kalamazoo pastor defends himself amid police investigation Kalamazoo pastor charged with assault of church deacon Boater charged with operating while intoxicated in Gull Lake swimmers death Votes will be recounted in 6 Kalamazoo County primary election races Deviating from his own advice and breaking the longstanding precedent of sitting US secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics, Mike Pompeo has urged Americans to re-elect President Donald Trump if they want to keep the country safe and their freedoms intact. The unconventional address of Pompeo at the second day of the mostly-virtual Republican National Convention on Tuesday created a political uproar, especially from the opposition Democratic Party, which asserted that the Secretary of State should stay away from partisan politics. The decision to speak to the political convention in pre-recorded remarks from Jerusalem breaks with the longstanding precedent of sitting secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics and appears to violate guidance on political activities that Pompeo himself emphasised in a cable to diplomats just last month. Brushing away the criticism, Pompeo said that his speech from Israel is in his personal capacity. The primary Constitutional function of the national government is ensuring your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, work, learn and worship as they choose. Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this President has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world, Pompeo said in his address. Noting that Americans are more safe, and their freedoms more secure, because Trump has put his America First vision into action, Pompeo asserted that it may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked. In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The President has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world, and he will not rest until justice is done, the Secretary of State said. The US has accused China of spreading the novel coronavirus, which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. More than 5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US so far. There have been more than 170,000 deaths in the country. Pompeo said Trump has ensured that the Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats are jailed or sent back to China. He has "ended ridiculously unfair trade deals with China that punched a hole in the economy. Those jobs are coming back home, he said. In North Korea, the President lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table, Pompeo said. No nuclear tests, no long-range missile tests and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families as did the precious remains of scores of our heroes who fought in Korea, he said. Today, because of President Trump, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has defensive weapons systems and America left a harmful treaty so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression, Pompeo said. According to Pompeo, in the Middle East when Iran threatened, the President approved a strike that killed Iranian terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for the murder and maiming of hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Christians across the Middle East. You will all recall that when the President took office, radical Islamic terrorists had beheaded Americans and ISIS-controlled a territory the size of Great Britain. Today, because of the President's determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out, its evil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, and our brave soldiers are on their way home, he told his countrymen. The President exited the US from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the Ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas, he said. Pompeo said that the President moved the US Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland, he said. And the President brokered a historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, that our grandchildren will read about in their history books, he said. As a soldier, I saw, first hand, people desperate to flee to freedom. The way each of us can best ensure our freedoms is by electing leaders who don't just talk, but deliver, he said. Meanwhile, a House Democrat has opened an investigation into Pompeo's controversial decision to address the Republican National Convention. Rep Joaquin Castro, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, said in a statement on Tuesday that the "American people deserve a full investigation." Two Asbury Park police officers admitted Tuesday that they vandalized a pair of cars last year belonging to a man who filed an internal affairs complaint against them, authorities said. Asbury Park Police Officer Stephen Martinsen, 31, and former SLEO-2 Thomas Dowling, 27, both of Asbury Park, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal mischief and as part of their plea deals they must forfeit any future public employment in the state, according to a statement from Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. They also face probation when they are sentenced on Oct. 16 and must pay back the victim for the damage they caused to his cars, the office said. Spiteful retaliation from law enforcement officers towards a citizen for any reason is an unacceptable option. This is in no way condoned at any level, for any reason, Gramiccioni said in the statement. All members of the law enforcement community must maintain the publics trust by conducting themselves at the highest level of integrity and decency. Authorities say the men wore disguises when they rode their bikes to the vehicles in Ocean Grove and Asbury Park, smashed out the windows and slashed all the tires on Sept. 3 between 3 and 4 a.m. The vehicles belonged to Ernest G. Mignoli, an outspoken Asbury Park resident critical of the citys police department. Mignoli, 70, had filed an administrative complaint against both officers several days before the incidents. His jaw dropped when he learned that the people responsible for damaging his white Jeep Liberty and Toyota Prius were police officers, he said in an interview with NJ Advance Media last year. The cars suffered $500 in damage, the office said. Martinsen, a member of the Asbury Park police force since 2013, was suspended without pay when the charges came to light. Dowling, a Class-II special law enforcement officer, was fired. The cooperative efforts of the Asbury Park Police Departments Internal Affairs Unit and the Monmouth County Prosecutors Offices Professional Responsibility Unit is a clear example of how effective our current internal affairs policies are, Asbury Park Police Chief David Kelso said in a statement. These officers were held accountable for their actions and misconduct and we will continue to hold our officers responsible to build upon the trust of the community that we serve. 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. FILE PHOTO: HSBC logo is seen on a branch bank in the financial district in New York By Susan Heavey, Lawrence White and Anne Marie Roantree WASHINGTON/LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday renewed criticism of British bank HSBC for its reported treatment of customers linked with the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, saying China was "bullying" the United Kingdom. Pompeo cited reports of Hong Kong-based executives at Next Media being unable to access their HSBC bank accounts and said the bank was "maintaining accounts for individuals who have been sanctioned for denying freedom for Hong Kongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom." "Free nations must ensure that corporate interests are not suborned by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to aid its political repression," Pompeo said in a statement. Next Media is the previous name of Next Digital <0282.HK>, publisher of the Apple Daily newspaper and part-owned by democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who was arrested Aug. 10 under Hong Kong's new security law. While Next Digital's business account remains open, HSBC has frozen Lai's personal and private business accounts, as well as the personal and credit card accounts of senior executive Mark Simon, Simon told Reuters. The bank is still taking loan and credit card payments from the accounts despite the block, Simon said. A spokeswoman for London-based HSBC declined to comment on Pompeo's remarks or the allegations made by Next Digital. Britain's Foreign & Commonwealth Office and China's Foreign Affairs Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pompeo's assertion that China was bullying the UK. HSBC has in recent months faced mounting pressure on both sides of the Atlantic as it attempts to balance its need to maintain access to the Chinese market with appeasing lawmakers in the United States and Britain critical of Beijing's handling of the democracy movement in Hong Kong. Last month, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reprimanded HSBC and other banks for supporting China's new security law, saying the rights of the people of Hong Kong should not be sacrificed for bankers' bonuses. Story continues Senior British and U.S. politicians criticized HSBC and Standard Chartered in June after the banks backed China's national security law for the territory. Global banks have been examining whether their clients in Hong Kong have ties to the city's pro-democracy movement, in an attempt to avoid getting caught in the crosshairs of the security law, Reuters reported last month. Washington has criticized Beijing's crackdown against pro-democracy opposition in the now Chinese-ruled city following a sweeping new security law imposed on Hong Kong on June 30 that was widely condemned by Western nations. (Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington, Lawrence White and Sinead Cruise in London, and Anne Marie Roantree in Hong Kong; additional reporting by Beijing bureau; editing by Steve Orlofsky and Rosalba O'Brien) The guitarist Julian Breams performances were only part of his legacy. He played a major part in establishing the guitar as a recognised classical instrument in Britain and beyond, working actively to develop and define its sound. Raising the instruments profile involved an exciting expansion of its repertoire, and Bream was also central to arousing popular interest in Renaissance lute music. Bream was born in 1933 in Battersea, south London. The guitar, at that time, had little status as a classical instrument in Britainthe previous significant player, Ernest Shand (1868-1924), was a prolific composer and performer, but primarily earned his living as a music hall actor. Breams development reflected that earlier neglect, but it also shows the disciplined determination the young player brought to the instrument. Self-tuition can be a breeding ground for bad habits, yet Bream worked diligently on his technique. He later said he was mostly self-taught on guitar and that had its benefits. Its a great thing to work through problems on your own. Julian Bream (Credit: Georg Erlich) His first introduction to the instrument came from his father Henry, a commercial artist who also played plectrum guitar in local dance bands. Henry one day found Julian strumming his guitar and decided to teach him to play. Henry was seemingly an accomplished jazz guitarist, and Julian adored the playing of jazz maestro Django Reinhardt. A turning point for Bream was hearing recordings done by Andres Segovia (1893-1987), another great guitarist, whose transcriptions of Baroque compositions helped shape the modern repertoire. Segovia also led the way in developing and standardising modern playing techniques. Recognising Julians interests, Henry bought him a finger-style (classical) guitar for his 11th birthday. He began working through tuition books with him but thought Julians musical future lay with the piano. That year, Julian won a junior exhibition award to study piano at the Royal College of Music (RCM), with the cello as his second instrument. Bream denied being any child prodigy, but the gifted youngster was a quick learner. A year after Julian began playing classical guitar, Henry took him to a meeting of the Philharmonic Society of Guitarists (PSG). Their meetings ended with members playing pieces they were studying. When the principal, Boris Perott, invited the youngest person there to play, Julian surprised and impressed everybodyincluding Henrywith his rendition of Fernando Sors Study in B minor. When Henry explained they were working from tuition books, Perott offered to teach Julian. Bream said Perotts lessons were of cursory value and didnt do any harm, but I had to unlearn the right-hand technique he taught me. He later saw their importance chiefly as giving some measure of discipline at a time when I needed it. Perotts methods were seen as outdated within the PSG. Another PSG member, Wilfred Appleby, steered Bream towards techniques championed by Fernando Tarrega (1852-1909). Even here, however, the youngster was left to a handful of Tarrega-based instruction manuals and a large dose of self-education. As arguments between his would-be mentors raged around him, Bream focused intently on making his own decisions. Perott continued to be supportive, although his promised recitals never materialised. Bream was, however, invited to perform for Segovia at a PSG reception in London in 1947. Segovia was impressed, and offered to teach Bream, an offer later withdrawn for reasons that are unclear. Bream was already beginning to make his own way. He had made his professional debut at Cheltenham, aged 13, and was a seasoned recitalist when he won a full scholarship to the RCM in 1948. The guitar was still not available as a principal study, so he enrolled for piano and cello. The Breamss domestic situation was fraught. His parents had divorced, with Henry winning custody of Julian and his sister, but his business faced bankruptcy. Disaster was averted by financial support from the Artists Benevolent Fund, and Julians London debut was a 1950 benefit concert one week before Henrys death. Julian also brought to the RCM another marginal intereston the concert stage, at least. In 1947 Henry bought a lute from a sailor in London, which Julian repaired and learned to play. In 1950, he found a volume of lute solos by the great Renaissance lutenist John Dowland (1562/3-1626) in transcriptions by Peter Warlock (1894-1930). Struck by their beauty, he initially transcribed them for the guitar before throwing himself fully into the lute. Dowlands music was not unknown, but it was largely confined to a rarefied and academic lute world. This world grumbled about Breams inauthentic technique, but Bream brought the music to a much wider audience, particularly through his ensemble, the Julian Bream Consort. For this alone we would owe him an enormous debt. Julian Bream,1964. In November 1951, Bream launched his career with a debut recital at Londons Wigmore Hall. International success followed. Bream quickly became the figurehead of an established classical guitar repertoire, including relatively recent compositions like Joaquin Rodrigos Concierto de Aranjuez, as well as the pioneer of a whole new repertoire. Meeting Peter Pears led to a two-decade collaboration on lute songs, and a close friendship and collaboration with Pearss partner, the composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Bream and Pears debuted Brittens Songs from the Chinese in 1957, and in 1964 Bream premiered Brittens Nocturnal after John Dowland (1963). This was based on Dowlands Come, Heavy Sleep, long a staple of Pears and Breams recital programme. The Nocturnal, thanks to Breams performance, soon established itself as one of the most important contemporary compositions for the guitar. Bream said its technical complexities were very nearly beyond me. His performance not only established the Nocturnal in the contemporary repertoire, it also encouraged other composers. Bream transformed the repertoire with new compositions by Malcolm Arnold, Lennox Berkeley, Hans Werner Henze, Toru Takemitsu, Michael Tippett and many others. He did more for the guitar repertoire than any other player of his generation. He also consolidated some already established composers for the instrument. In 1957, for example, he gave the first European performance of the concerto by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959). His continued technical refinement never ceased. In 1959, he again reworked his technique, saying his continued attention was a legacy of being largely self-taught. Even after he stopped playing, he said he had become much more criticalof phrasing and tempo and general musical interpretation. Such scrutiny was not confined to his playing but extended to the instrument itself. In 1965, Bream asked luthier David Rubio to make a guitar that will do what I want it to, not one that tells me what I may do. The predominant sound at the time, based on Spanish models, has been described as a quick-fading candle-flame treble and a fruit-salad bass, giving an overpoweringly bass-heavy emotional effect. In its place, Rubio developed the English sound of clarity and balance, better suited to the new repertoire. It was all part of integrating the guitar and its new compositions into the classical world. Clarity sums up Breams approach to music. He recorded extensively, mainly for RCA (1959-1990), but stopped in the 1990s as he had recorded everything I want to record. The recordings cover some impressive material. He won four Grammy Awards, and was nominated 20 times. By the 1980s, Bream had already accomplished the establishment of the guitars place in classical music with a huge expansion of its repertoire, and the wider popularisation of Renaissance lute music, but he continued to perform devotedly. In 1984, he shattered his right elbow in an accident, but with reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation he was touring again three months later. He only finally quit public performance in 2002, although he was still playing informally until 2011, when he broke both hips and injured his left hand in a fall. He said then there was nothing sad about not playing any more, but that he was annoyedthat I know Im a better musician than I was at 70, but I cant prove it. He continued to play scales and arpeggios just to keep brain and muscles ticking over. His summary of his lifes work bears repeating: I devoted my life to music for a reason, and the reason wasnt because I wanted to get on or make money, but to try to fulfil myself and also to give people pleasure. Thats been my credo. As a part of the partnership, Infosys will bring to market Genesys contact center solutions. Clients of both organizations stand to benefit from the enhanced capability that will come from a combined investment in innovation, a broader ecosystem of strategic partners and a shared commitment to delivering world-class customer experiences. In addition, Infosys will leverage and support R&D, operations and customer service for Genesys PureConnect. Genesys will retain and manage sales, marketing and a host of additional functions for this solution. "This partnership will unlock significant value for both our companies. It will bring the industry-leading cloud communications solutions from Genesys to our clients and partners and enhance our ability to accelerate their migration to cloud communication solutions," said Infosys CEO Salil Parekh. Now, more than ever, customers expect flexible and reliable support in the channel that best suits their preference. Together, we will be able to deliver that support and serve the evolving needs of our combined customer bases. Tony Bates, CEO of Genesys, added, "Our strategic partnership with Infosys will be instrumental in enabling organizations of all sizes around the world to realize the Genesys vision of Experience as a Service. As a market leader with a reputation for operational excellence, Infosys brings key capabilities to help us drive continuous innovation for joint customers. Our companies share a commitment to ongoing investment in the latest contact center technologies and delivering the highest levels of support so that customers can always provide differentiated and personalized experiences a paramount component for business success today." The announcement comes at a time of significant demand, as companies quickly adapt to changes within their workforce and the rise of customer service inquiries following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership includes a commitment from both Infosys and Genesys to jointly develop advanced solutions that increase contact center functionality by leveraging AI and hybrid technologies, resulting in improved customer and employee experiences. About Infosys 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. About Genesys Every year, Genesys delivers more than 70 billion remarkable customer experiences for organizations in over 100 countries. Through the power of the cloud and AI, our technology connects every customer moment across marketing, sales and service on any channel, while also improving employee experiences. Genesys pioneered Experience as a ServiceSM so organizations of any size can provide true personalization at scale, interact with empathy, and foster customer trust and loyalty. This is enabled by Genesys CloudTM, an all-in-one solution and the world's leading public cloud contact center platform, designed for rapid innovation, scalability and flexibility. Visit www.genesys.com. 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 and Genesys Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Gunmen killed a policeman and wounded his colleague in an ambush Wednesday in Lanao del Sur, authorities said. A report from the Lanao del Sur provincial police office said PMSg H-Nor Aminod Tander and PMSg Khadafy Goling Bantuas were aboard a motorcycle on their way to the Marantao municipal police station when they were ambushed by assailants in Barangay Ragayan around 6:40 a.m. Tander was hit in the head and was killed instantly by the motorcycle-riding assailants, the report said. Bantuas was slightly wounded but was able to fire back, prompting the gunmen to flee, it added. Authorities said the perpetrators are still unknown, but an investigation has been launched to determine their identities and motive. Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings has released an over 4,300-word response to Professor Kwamena Ahwois 'Working with Rawlings' book. Read full statement below: THE INTEGRITY OF TRUTH STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT RAWLINGS The Office of Former President Jerry John Rawlings, has noted with concern contents of a book titled 'Working with Rawlings', authored by a former appointee of the PNDC and NDC who now calls himself Professor Kwamena Ahwoi. The book attempts to chronicle the history of the role Kwamena Ahwoi played as an appointee of the former President, but disappointingly employs fabrications and grapevine accounts to paint a denigrating picture of President Rawlings and his colleagues. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. President Rawlings has over the past four decades tolerated various views, recognizing the fact that as a public figure one will not be immune to such, even when said opinions are vicious and derogatory. However, the public deserve to be served the truth as far as some of the contents of the book are concerned. The book is generously economical with the truth given that President Rawlings supported President Mills consistently from the year 2000, much to the chagrin of many of those who morphed into his post-victory supporters in 2006. MILLS' PRIVATE CALL TO RAWLINGS After his landslide victory in the 2006 NDC Primaries, candidate Mills travelled to South Africa for medical treatment. While in South Africa, Mills put a call through to President Rawlings and indicated his desire to forego the candidature for the presidential election owing to his medical state. Following this conversation, President Rawlings held a meeting with some leading members of the Party to express concern about the state of candidate Mills' health, and urged them to identify recognizable party members who could step in. President Rawlings is on record as having suggested that some known personalities in the party should position themselves to demonstrate that the NDC had enough Presidential material. Bizarrely, Kwamena Ahwoi has written a lengthy diatribe about how Rawlings coerced his brother (Ato Ahwoi) to contest Mills ahead of the primaries, leading to the breakdown of their healthy relationship. It should be stated on record, that President Rawlings took the responsible and pragmatic approach after he received that politically unnerving call from Professor Mills. He consulted the Party leadership to take strategic steps to fill the gap which by Professor Mills' account was imminent. Urging some members of the Party to position themselves for a potential contest, was in no way an attempt to undermine, sabotage, betray or malign Professor Mills as the author shamelessly infers in his book. More disappointing is the impression created that he was and is unaware of that critical phone call from Professor Mills (while in South Africa) to President Rawlings. It is rather telling of him to deny this well-known crisis merely in his bid to deride and denigrate the genuine efforts of former President Rawlings to arrest a crisis. When Professor Mills returned to Ghana, meetings were held with him without the knowledge or participation of President Rawlings, where Professor Mills was convinced by those present, not to withdraw his candidature and actually made to believe that President Rawlings was working to undermine him. That, was when the mistrust begun, and Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi was and is well-known to be one of the master-architects of that manipulative agenda that pushed a very unwell candidate Mills into the 2008 General Elections. It must be noted, that at no point did President Rawlings support Professor Mills in his bid for presidency, with the aim or intention to manipulate Professor Mills should he become President, despite the attempts of various individuals to peddle falsehoods and sow disunity. Having worked with Professor Mills on various policy and manifesto achievements during his presidency, the aim was to support him and the NDC party back into government, for the good work of the pre-2000 NDC Administration to continue. After nineteen (19) years of working alongside various individuals with different motives and political beliefs including his political opponents, President Rawlings had acquired enough experience in people management to not be as unsophisticated in his relationship with Professor Mills as the book seeks to misinform. President Rawlings was critical of President Mills' administration, there is no denying that, in usual manner, this was done openly and with the best of intentions. He had meetings with President Mills offering counsel and suggestions strictly to the good of Mills' presidency and that of his government. Rawlings has always remained consistent in his open and bona fides criticisms of President Mills' administration which, to date, are still outstanding matters. These include: 1. The failure of the Mills Government to investigate the assassination of the Yaa-Naa and forty (40) of his elders; 2. President Mills' inability to look into the death of Alhaji Issa Mobilla, the late Northern Regional Chairman of the CPP; 3. The failure of the Mills Government to investigate and prosecute genuine fraudulent activities within President Kufuor's administration; and 4. The lack of dedication to the Party ideals of probity and accountability, as well as the monetization of the NDC internal electoral processes. THE 2008 NDC CAMPAIGN In his bid to justify his version of events, the author goes as far as stating that President Rawlings was visibly absent from the 2008 national election campaign. Without needing to belabour a well-known and publicized fact, this account is absolutely false! President Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings travelled extensively to campaign for candidate Mills and these campaigns were covered by the media and are a matter of public record. The documentary titled An African Election filmed during the 2008 campaign and election visibly shows the former president on the campaign trail with steely and unparalleled determination. President Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings were actually an integral part of the NDC campaign structure for the 2008 election. He started his campaign in Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region, and subsequently visited all ten regions, visiting some towns and villages twice, sometimes walking long distances in the process. President Rawlings traversed the whole country and made headlines by being the first to reach Tain, in the Brong Ahafo Region when that town became the eye of the storm during the election, leading to the legendary third round. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings campaigned in not less than 15 major markets in Greater Accra Region, after which she moved straight to the Volta Region to start work. She also campaigned in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western Regions. She is also on record as having loaned vehicles and countless other resources to the Party towards the elections. Lest we forget Admiral Owusu Ansah, a courageous and patriotic member of the NDC who in spite of his failing health, joined the campaign trail shunning the comforts of his home in Accra in order to have Mills elected. This is a tribute to Admiral Owusu Ansah and patriots like General Nunoo-Mensah, who have selflessly sacrificed their lives, livelihoods and comforts for the Party; to then have one callously divisive individual, who in an attempt to increase book sales, insults and attempts to nullify the role and importance of these individuals. Admiral Owusu Ansah, the true and dedicated members of the NDC owe you a debt. Unsurprisingly, the author is 'unaware' of the campaign presence of the former President during the 2008 elections. Neither Kwamena Ahwoi, his brother nor majority of their cronies was on the campaign trail, preferring to stay in the comforts of their homes in Accra, perpetually leaving the hard work of getting the party re-elected to others, but always being first in line for political appointments. ATTA KWABENA KUMAH The entire reference to 'Atta the mortuary man' by the author is obviously ill-intentioned, unresearched and yet another attempt to dramatize the well-orchestrated divide in his Rawlings versus Atta Mills tale. Atta Kwabena Kumah popularly known as 'Attah the mortuary man' was a good friend of President Rawlings, who worked at the 37 Military Hospital, Anatomical Pathological Unit for over forty (40) years. He sadly passed away in July of 2011 at the age of 82. They had known each other for close to forty (40) years, during which time Attah Kumah would regale President Rawlings with his life stories and Rawlings would do same. At the introduction of his address at the 2010 NDC Congress in Tamale, President Rawlings cracked a joke (as he is known to do) recounting one of his many interactions with Atta Kumah which got the entire audience laughing and relaxed in anticipation of the more serious task ahead, the election of National Executives of the Party. This particular non-incident has been clarified on so many occasions that one only has to take the time to find sources for clarification. It is rather unfortunate, that even a light-hearted joke that had the intended effect of diffusing the tensions usually experienced at party congresses, has been twisted into yet another Mills versus Rawlings affair ten (10) years later. Clearly, we can all see who seeks the perpetual disunity and failure of the NDC; once operating from the shadows and now clearly in the light. RAWLINGS: HIS VISION AND LEGACY President Rawlings has always stated publicly and unapologetically that throughout his tenure, he served his nation with a team comprised of various experts with different political affiliations each of whom patriotically contributed their talent and intellect to the cause. As a young Air Force officer (in his twenties) who used to fly across the country, former President Rawlings came face-to-face with some stark realities across the country. He and his pilot colleagues, would sometimes go to local markets in places like Yendi to purchase some local produce. He noticed old men selling beans, sorghum etc. and placed close to their legs were containers with a brown looking fluid. He was shocked to the core when on enquiry, he would be informed that the dirty looking fluid was their drinking water. He felt pained knowing that folks in the urban areas were so privileged that they were able to flush their toilets with clean water from the taps while those in the rural areas drank Guinea-worm infested water. Accept it or not, this was our reality as a nation. How could these experiences not have sparked a vision or a philosophical outlook in this young pilot's head? Even more disturbing was the fact that large patches of Ghana were without lights when he flew at night. His perspective began to take a more serious tone as he recognized the reality on the ground and the fact that without electricity and water, the populace would be living an unhappy and distressing sub-standard existence, while urban dwellers remained out of touch with the reality on the other side of the country. Years later, President Rawlings' priority naturally, was the provision of potable water for the wider populace and the distribution of electricity to the entire country. A vision he can proudly state he largely saw to fruition. The next step in his vision for development was the construction and equipping of regional hospitals across the entire country. Indeed, in the early days (1980s) there was a time when Dr. Joe Abbey informed Flt. Lt. Rawlings that drugs for Government-run hospitals could not last for a week. A most shocking situation! At the time, historical records will clearly show that support from Eastern bloc countries who could be considered natural allies was not forthcoming owing to their own internal challenges. With the urgent need to complement much-needed social development projects, the PNDC Government had no option but to go West to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, where we as a Government and a nation made history by defining our financial needs, terms and method of implementation to those institutions; leading to a complete overhaul in the way the IMF and World Bank approached project funding and implementation globally. President Rawlings has always seen his vision and legacy as a collective one that he hopes each of the dedicated patriots also recognizes as their own legacies as well. It is said, that it is an effective leader that consults with and participates in the backbreaking work of development, but most importantly trusts in the craft, talent and skills of his team to deliver on his and their collective vision. President Rawlings no doubt had a grand vision for Ghana, and in tribute to the dedicated patriots who worked with him to realise this vision, as far as practicable, a few of these achievements are set-out hereunder: Institution of a local government structure, a clear empowering process that has successively been embraced by all Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliation; And credit must go to patriots such Dr. Ayirebi Acquah and Madam Joyce Aryee and several others who played a significant role in implementing the policy. The Rural Electrification Project that ensured that most parts of Ghana were provided with electricity, recognizing the benefits that provision will add to socio-economic development; Prior to the era of Rawlings, travelling from Southern Ghana to Northern Ghana took days. After major roads were constructed to link most parts of the Northern Regions to the South half of Ghana, we became one unified country not just in name but also accessibility. Championing of women's development and affirmative action. The results are there for all to see. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and the 31st December Women's movement, were instrumental in agricultural the country's agricultural development, trade and the development of many of Ghana's health facilities. With food security a priority for Rawlings, agricultural policies were initiated that resulted in the recognition of Ghana's food production growth of 148 percent for the period 1995-1997 as the third highest achievement in the record after Jordan (157%) and China (156%) in the World Bank's 1999-2000 Development Report. The introduction of sustainable economic policies that led to: Increased productivity in export produce like cocoa and gold; The establishment of the National Development Planning Commission; The revival of the Ghana Export Promotion Council, all institutions which have survived to date. There were massive developments in the health sector including: The establishment of the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital The establishment of the Korle Bu Radiotherapy Centre The wooing of eminent personalities such as Professor Frimpong Boateng to return to Ghana to serve their country. The Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre was also constructed under President Rawlings' watch. RAWLINGS FOUNDER OF THE 4TH REPUBLIC President Rawlings, in 1992, established the 4th Republic of Ghana, the longest running in the history of this nation, which still endures. Following his constitutionally mandated two terms serving as the President of Ghana, he handed over the flagbearership of the NDC to Professor Mills and the leadership of the nation to President Kufuor in 2001. Prior to the return to constitutional rule in 1992, Rawlings initiated and supervised a process of transition to constitutional rule as early as 1986 through the actualisation of the District Assembly concept as a primary grassroots democratic organ. Subsequently, the National Commission on Democracy sought opinions from Ghanaians on the best form of democratic governance to adopt. Eventually the former President was presented with a report that recommended an expansion of the District Assembly system into the Regional and National Assemblies where individuals would nominate themselves for elections. President Rawlings has never shied away from stating that he is not a supporter of multiparty democracy because it tends to allow a minority to manipulate and rule the majority and brings about division. In spite of his strong reservations, he still accepted the integrity of the information from his team, to adopt the multiparty system of democratic governance and actually stood as a presidential candidate in both the 1992 and 1996 General Elections. Due to his faith in his team, and desire to prioritize the national development agenda, he chose not to exercise his veto as Head of State, despite his reservations about the multi-party system. Former President Rawlings set an admirable record on the continent by willingly and smoothly handing over power in 2001 when his party lost the 2000 General Election. The continent is currently strewn with leaders who have entrenched their stay after their constitutionally obligated terms, amending the constitution, rigging elections or simply refusing to step down. Today the precedent established by President Rawlings has ensured that the 4th Republic has enjoyed four smooth political transitions. NANA KONADU AND THE NDC SACRIFICE AND BETRAYAL The role, hard work, strategy and organisational talent that Nana Konadu applied to build and propel the NDC to countless victories can never be eroded. The various attempts to not just discount the central role she played, but to also deride her, is symptomatic of the myopic selfishness of characters within the NDC who cannot appreciate the fact that in so doing to pioneers of the Party like herself and others, you have no history to speak of. To peddle falsehoods in the name of hearsay as a justification for the blatant lies in the book is unbecoming of an academician; albeit with the sole intention of creating the impression that Nana Konadu had a role to play in the so-called Rawlings versus Mills tale. Nana Konadu played an integral role in the development of both the PNDC and the NDC, and the attempts by the author to denigrate her and nullify the key strategic and organisational role she played is yet another disappointment of the book. When the 'Swedru Declaration' was made (prior to the 2000 elections), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had in fact been out of Ghana for several months working on a women's health project for the World Health Organisation (WHO). A fact the author could quite easily have verified were he or any of his proof-readers inclined to do so. She was informed about the Declaration while she was abroad. Surely, logic would indicate, that had she any intention to contest that election, she would have been in the country campaigning, or at the very least have set in motion her campaign machinery with which to achieve her Presidential objectives. At no point did she indicate to President Rawlings or members of the Party, that she had any intention or inclination to be the flagbearer of the Party. On her return to the country, she rapidly rolled out her campaign strategy and machinery in support of Professor Mills. Yet another fact that can be easily and publicly verified. April 2000 Congress In writing on the Extraordinary Congress of April 2000, the author again alleges that Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was unhappy with the proliferation of Mills for President T-shirts and confronted several people who wore the T-shirts including he (Kwamena) and Kofi Totobi-Quakyi. It defies logic for an academician turned author to include this falsehood in his work when President and Mrs. Rawlings had publicly thrown their weight behind Vice-President Mills for the Presidency and indeed after the Congress, they campaigned extensively and comprehensively for the candidate. Further, to insinuate that Mrs. Rawlings was averse to the wearing of Mills for President T-shirts is absurd given that Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and her women's group were actually responsible for printing thousands of Mills for President paraphernalia to her personal debt. The foregoing is merely a crystallisation of decades of a smear campaign led by Ahwoi to shift the blame for all the many failures of the Party onto Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. This is indicative of the consistent lack of reflection and the refusal to take responsibility for mistakes, that have led the Party to the point at which it finds itself. Afiadenyigba, Ada Incident In 2000, Vice President Mills had been confirmed as the candidate for the NDC. Nana Konadu, as part of her political campaign for the Party, created a programme for the Greater Accra Region. One of the events was the opening of a school in Afiadenyigba, Ada which she invited Mrs Mills to commission, to officially outdoor her to the Dangbe community. Although protocol arranged for the First Lady and Vice-President's wife to travel together, Mrs Mills decided to take the lead on the journey. One of the etiquettes that J.J. Rawlings insisted upon at public events, which then became custom, was not to drive into durbar grounds, thereby whipping up dust onto the chiefs, royalty and the community. It therefore became an unspoken rule since the 1980s that government officials arriving at any function were to alight from their vehicles at the periphery of the durbar grounds and walk onto the grounds. When Mrs. Mills arrived at the durbar grounds at Afiadenyegba, her convoy in an attempt to drive onto the sandy durbar grounds was frantically flagged down and stopped by a police officer assigned to the function. Mrs. Mills in a fury demanded the reason for this. The police officer proceeded to explain the rationale for stopping her car which unfortunately did little to diffuse the situation and she said she was leaving. The 31st DWM ladies that organised the event frantically went on their knees to apologise to the Vice-President's wife and begged her to stay. This was in full view of the chiefs and people gathered. Nana Konadu eventually arrived at Afiadenyegba to the sight of some elderly organisers on their knees, pleading, with Mrs. Mills who was clearly upset. Nana Konadu enquired as to what had transpired and was briefed by her organisers. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Nana Konadu apologised to Mrs Mills on their behalves and explained that all manner of hiccups occurred at public events but that should not bother her. When Nana Konadu proceeded to greet the chiefs and people present, she was met by shocked chiefs, queen-mothers and their subjects, all of whom could have been located to corroborate the incident, was the author so inclined. In the days that followed, it came to light that the police officer in question and his colleagues present were transferred outside of Greater Accra Region. One of the officers wrote a report to the then IGP Peter Nanfuri who also reported the entire matter to President Rawlings. Shocked and upset at the entire incident, President Rawlings asked Vice-President Mills why he would issue such instructions against the officers when they were just doing their jobs. The transfers were subsequently overturned. Nana Konadu was still on her regional campaigns for the NDC and Vice President Mills, unaware of the demotions, transfers and subsequent discussions taking place in Accra. Whilst in Cape Coast, the then Regional Minister Jehu-Appiah and two other persons met with her to enquire as to her knowledge of the incident. She narrated it and they expressed surprise at such a trivial incident taking this turn. Kwamena Ahwoi, John Kwadjo and E.T Mensah, all appointees at the time, authored a report of this incident which lays all the facts bare. This is a matter of public record and were the author so inclined, he would have consulted it as he did with other documents in his possession. 2011 Primaries Prior to her decision to contest President Mills in the 2011 NDC Primaries, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was the Vice-Chairman of the NDC, and she achieved that position by sheer merit, winning by a large majority at the 2010 Congress in Tamale. As with any other member of the Party or in the wider sphere, as a citizen of this country, she has a democratic right to contest an election employing hard work, a proven track record and sheer wit to her success. By doing so at the 2010 NDC Congress, she put herself in the spotlight, to be scrutinised and judged by the delegates who made their own decisions. This is in clear juxtaposition to others who never put any work into the success or survival of the NDC Party, have manipulated events and people, to sow seeds of mistrust and disunity whilst promoting their own family agenda. For the record the 2011 NDC primaries campaign of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, was led by personalities such as Hon. Michael Teye Nyaunu and Hon. Namburr Berrick. PERSONAL OPINIONS Varied personal opinions have been sought by the author in his bid to sully the image of President Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. A tall list of personalities take turns to offer their apparent view of the Rawlings-Mills relationship. It must be stated, that the claim by named persons in the book that Nana Konadu, at a meeting with Professor Mills requested for the Vice-Presidential slot is an outright fabrication. Nana Konadu never requested, indicated or discussed with any individual an intention or desire to be the running-mate to Vice-President Mills. This book is quite unfortunately, riddled with countless fabrications and assumptions ascribed to said individuals who were thought to have more honour. President Rawlings and President Mills had a good relationship during the latter's tenure. They interacted several times via telephone and met a few times either at the Ridge residence or the Castle, Osu and at all times they treated each other with utmost respect. These meetings were at the behest of President Mills, so it is difficult to reconcile the so-called bitterness that Ahwoi portrays in his book to the reality of the relationship between Rawlings and Mills. A number of personalities that the author refers to and others, have written publicly to disassociate themselves from the comments in the book. A clear indication of the credibility or lack thereof of its contents. This book appears to have no aim of serving history with facts. It reads as an opportunistic and calculated attempt to ridicule President Rawlings and former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, using the personality of the late President John Atta Mills as the bait. From the inception, the author has harboured his own parochial agenda which clashed naturally with the integrity and accountability of Rawlings. Those of such ilk will continue to attempt to rewrite history to suit their selfish ends, but discerning minds will no longer be reticent of nor willing to tolerate such political trickery and subterfuge. The truth is a debt owed to the memory of the departed as well as current and future generations. The true legacy of the PNDC into the NDC under President Jerry John Rawlings, is one that ought to be acknowledged if there exists a Fourth Republic that has endured. Signed: Kobina Andoh Amoakwa (Communications Directorate) ISTANBUL A number of naval drills are underway in the eastern Mediterranean as Turkish and Greek leaders vowed to defend their overlapping territorial claims in the region Wednesday. Speaking at an event commemorating the anniversary of the 1071 Seljuk victory over Byzantine armies, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday the nation would protect its claims in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Seas without any concessions. We will not compromise over what belongs to us. We are determined to do whatever is necessary, Erdogan said, adding that Greeks were unworthy of the Byzantine heritage and today commit injustices and piratical moves counting on the support of Europeans, which shows that they have failed to learn from history. Tensions remain high between Ankara and Athens following Tuesday's visits to both capitals by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who aimed to bring leaders from both sides back to the negotiation table over ongoing maritime disputes. Simultaneous naval drills were conducted by Turkey, Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Tuesday, with some exercises continuing Wednesday, amid concerns of a possible conflict in the region. "The current situation in the eastern Mediterranean is equivalent to playing with fire," Maas said in Athens Tuesday after talks with Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. "Every little spark can lead to catastrophe. Since the mid-1970s, Turkey and Greece have come to the brink of war three times, with one escalation stemming from territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea. Current tensions began after previous Ankara-Athens talks collapsed following an Aug. 6 maritime delimitation agreement between Greece and Egypt. In response, Turkey announced its seismic research vessel Oruc Reis would resume gas exploration activities in contested areas of the eastern Mediterranean, spurring Athens to place its navy on high alert, raising fears of a military escalation between the two nations. Though Turkey issued a Navtex Sunday extending the time frame for the Oruc Reis exploration activities to Aug. 27, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolgu said Ankara was ready for talks with Greece following his meeting with Maas. We are open to talks without preconditions, Cavusoglu said in a press conference with Maas in Ankara. "We are in favor of negotiations for fair sharing, but nobody should lay down preconditions. The statement was seen as a welcome opening for observers after naval exercises led to a minor collision between Greek and Turkish warships on Aug. 14. No injuries were reported. Fiona Mullen, director of the Nicosia-based research consultancy Sapienta Economics, said despite the recent naval drills, Turkey-Greece tensions will likely subside in the near future. It reminds me of those celebrity wrestling tournaments, where the fighters strut around in bright clothing like peacocks before the fight but the outcome is already fixed in advance, Mullen told Al-Monitor. I think it is a lot of theater before they sit down and do a deal. Maas shuttle diplomacy came ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting scheduled for Aug. 27-28 in Berlin, where the issue will be discussed. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who has also worked to resolve regional disagreements, told reporters all options would be on the table during the meeting, including the imposition of new sanctions on Ankara and formally ending Turkeys EU accession candidacy. During previous Turkey-Greece tensions over maritime boundaries in July, German Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened with a phone call to Erdogan, a move that led Ankara to pause exploration activities on July 28. EU leaders will likely take the same approach to cool the current row, though a return to dialogue is unlikely to be an easy process, said Zenonas Tziarras, a researcher at the PRIO Cyprus Centre and co-founder of Geopolitical Cyprus. Berlin seems to remain hopeful, but September is likely to be a difficult month until the upcoming EU Summit, which is seen as an important milestone, Tziarras told Al-Monitor, referring to the Special European Council meeting set for Sept. 24-25. By continuing gas drilling activities, Tziarras said Turkey has sought to keep pressure on Greece, Germany and the EU, so it has something to negotiate with while also appearing willing to return to dialogue. In an effort to calm regional tensions, France joined military exercises called Eunomia with Cyprus, Greece and Italy that are scheduled to run Aug. 26-28. The Greek and US navies held joint drills south of Crete Monday, near the area where the Oruc Reis is operating with an escort of Turkish ships. On Tuesday, two Turkish frigates and an Italian destroyer also conducted naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. Ilke Toygur, an analyst of European affairs at the Elcano Royal Institute and adjunct professor of political science at the Carlos III University of Madrid, said European Mediterranean countries were trying to match Turkish drilling activities and demonstrate solidarity with Greece and Republic of Cyprus, but noted, Both sides are keeping their military interventions [within] limits so that it will be possible to go to the negotiation table before the point of no return. She added, The eastern Mediterranean is a geopolitical game board right now. There are various players that are not shying away from using gunboat diplomacy. Turkey is also playing its cards to get what it wants, explicitly a fair distribution of [energy] revenues and a just settlement of maritime jurisdiction areas. China's MoD Says US Spy Plane Entered No-Fly Zone of Chinese Northern Military District Sputnik News 13:33 GMT 25.08.2020(updated 14:21 GMT 25.08.2020) The Chinese military said on Tuesday that a US spy plane entering the no-fly zone of the Chinese Northern Military District was a "naked provocation." According to the ministry's spokesman, China has lodged a "stern representation" with the United States after a US U-2 reconnaissance plane flew into a no-fly zone during Chinese military drills. "Today, a US reconnaissance aircraft U-2 entered the no-fly zone of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's northern combat command area, where live ammunition was being fired," the statement says. The ministry has pointed out that the US actions have created a serious obstacle to China's regular military drills and have violated air and naval security protocols between the two countries. The Chinese Defense Ministry noted that US actions could easily lead to misunderstandings and even to an incident at sea or in the air. "This is a pure provocation. The Chinese side is protesting and has already made a representation to the US side. The Chinese side demands that the United States immediately stop these provocative actions and take practical steps to protect peace and stability in the region," the ministry said. Earlier this month, China conducted two drills in Hainan Province. The drills came amid an unprecedented US military presence in the region. A Chinese think tank has recorded 67 US intelligence flights through the South China Sea in July alone, and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Xinhua News Agency in an August 5 interview that "in the first half of this year alone, the US sent military aircraft there [to the South China Sea] more than 2,000 times." A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Advertisement A large crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters have accosted white diners outside several Washington, D.C. restaurants, demanding that they raise their fists to show solidarity with the movement. Footage showing the demonstrators aggressively yelling at one woman in the Adams Morgan neighborhood went viral on social media and sparked a widespread backlash. Many accused the protesters of acting like an 'aggressive mob' and using 'intimidation tactics' to order diners into submission. Responding to the footage, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough described the activists as 'horrible people'. The footage shows the woman, identified as Lauren Victor, being shouted at by white protesters after she refuses to raise her fist. The group crowded Victor's table, with two female demonstrators leaning down and shouting in her face 'Are you a Christian?' one of the women shout, outraged by the fact Victor was unwilling to raise her fist in solidarity. 'No justice, no peace!' the large group of activists then start yelling A large crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters accosted white diners outside several Washington, D.C. restaurants on Monday night, demanding that they raise their fists to show solidarity with the movement The footage, taken by a Washington Post reporter shows the woman, identified as Lauren Victor, being shouted at by white protesters after she refuses to raise her fist. The group crowded Victor's table, with two female demonstrators leaning down and shouting in her face. 'Are you a Christian?' one of the women shout, outraged by the fact Victor was unwilling to raise her fist in solidarity. 'No justice, no peace!' the large group of activists then start yelling. Post reporter Fredrick Kunkle identified freelance journalist Chuck Modiano as one of the people who had yelled at Victor. He claims Modiano shouted at the woman: 'What was in you, you couldnt do this?' But Modiano later took to Twitter to deny yelling at Victor, insisting 'Not true. We also spoke cordially for 20 min.' Some diners, including a young boy, were seen raising their fists after being approached by protesters at several outdoor restaurants in Washington, D.C. on Monday night Aggressive mob of white BLM protesters threaten and film white diners at DC restaurants and demand they raise their fist and show solidarity with them Many accused the protesters of acting like an 'aggressive mob' and using 'intimidation tactics' to order diners into submission Victor later told Kunkle that she felt that she was 'under attack'. Ironically, Victor is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and has participated in many marches, but didn't want to be 'coerced' into showing support. 'In the moment, it didn't feel right,' she stated. 'I wasn't actually frightened. I didn't think they'd do anything to me. I'm very much with them. I've been marching with them for weeks and weeks and weeks.' A large group of protesters walked through Washington, D.C. to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake over the weekend Many on Twitter took issue with the race of the Black Lives Matter protesters accosting Victor. Almost all of those seen in the video were white, with several people accusing the activists of undermining the positive work that black organizers have been doing in recent months. 'I see no black faces at all. These dopes will ruin this movement for all of us,' African-American TV anchor Derek McGinty wrote. Others stated that it would turn people away from supporting the movement. 'You don't win supporters by screaming in people's faces and intimidating them. How many people have watched this video and been turned off? Is it about making a real change or just ego gratification? Another bluntly theorized: 'This gives Trump four more years.' Meanwhile, other videos showed the protesters screaming at another couple at a separate restaurant, calling them 'trash' for refusing to raise their fists. Protesters raised their fists to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement The incidents occurred after police shot unarmed black man Jacob Blake, 29, in Kenosha, Wisconsin - an event that has re-energized many Black Lives Matter protesters. Blake was tasered and shot seven times by police as they tried to arrest him during a domestic dispute. He is being treated in hospital, and his family say he has been paralyzed from the waist down. The shooting has been followed by three nights of protests, rioting and property damage in the city. The event has also given a renewed urgency to many Black Lives Matter groups across the nation. There has been overwhelming public support for Black Lives Matter protests, which have been taking place across the country following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd on Memorial Day. However, there have been instances where some have questioned whether the movement's leaders have gone too far in trying to subordinate both supporters and passersby. Back in June, several white police officers and community members gathered to wash the feet of black faith leaders in North Carolina. Back in June, several white police officers and community members gathered to wash the feet of black faith leaders in North Carolina. Some argued that white people appeared to be in a state of capitulation, and that the feet-washing symbolized submission, as opposed to equality While many believed the act would bring racial groups closer together, some argued that white people appeared to be in a state of capitulation, and that the feet-washing symbolized submission, as opposed to equality. Elsewhere, white protesters have also knelt in front of black community members and asked for forgiveness. Meanwhile, disturbing video circulating on social media back in June showed a black man ordering random white pedestrians in New York City to kneel down in front of him and apologize. U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Zapata Station stopped a human smuggling attempt reported east of San Ygnacio in Zapata County. On Tuesday evening, agents responded to a report of a suspicious red flatbed truck on FM 3169. When agents attempted to pull over the vehicle, the driver eluded authorities east on FM 3169. The vehicle turned into a ranch causing property damage and stopped approximately 6 miles east of the initial encounter, authorities said. Agents said several individuals tried to escape into the brush. Authorities caught up to eight individuals with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. All were citizens of Mexico who had crossed the border illegally and were processed accordingly. To report suspicious activity such as human or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994. Animesh Anand Mishra, 29, son of a government teacher and a homemaker from Ballia district of east UP, was recently hired by top consulting firm, Mckinsey in the United States, on a package of Rs 1.75 crore. The news came like a wave of joy for his family and native village, Badilpur Pokhra, located some 25 km away from the district headquarters. Animeshs father, Ved Prakash Mishra, a teacher at a government college, said he was elated at his sons success and hoped it will motivate other students to focus on their studies. Nearly two decades ago, Animeshs mother shifted to Varanasi, along with her daughter , to provide better environment and opportunities for studies to her kids while her husband remained posted in Ballia. Animesh excelled in studies right from his childhood. However, it took years of hard work and sacrifices to get to where he is now. After completing his schooling, Animesh joined the renowned IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research) in 2009 before moving to United States in 2014 on a scholarship. Animesh always made it a point to understand the basics of every subject. He preferred to understand the concepts rather than memorizing them, said Saroj Mishra, his mother, a housewife who stopped her education after completing Class 12. Advertisement Protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake entered their third night in Kenosha on Tuesday as crowds gathered outside the county courthouse and clashed with police, throwing bottles and fireworks at officers. About 300 demonstrators defied the city's 8pm curfew again after Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency earlier following a night of violence and destruction that saw rioters set fire to businesses and vehicles across the city. Kenosha has become the nation's latest flashpoint in a summer of racial unrest after police officers shot 29-year-old Blake, an unarmed black man, multiple times in the back during a confrontation on Sunday, leaving him paralyzed. The shooting comes three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis which sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. As tensions flared for a third night, police in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang rounds as they skirmished after dark with defiant demonstrators outside a courthouse and adjacent park in downtown Kenosha. Scroll down for video Protesters were seen hurling water bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects back at police as they fired rubber bullets and tears gas towards the crowds Law enforcement pleaded with people to leave the area through loud speakers on armored vehicles while delivering a constant barrage of less lethal munitions and tear gas against a hostile crowd which kept up a return fire of lasers, debris, rocks, bottles and explosive devices as the cops moved to push the crowd People, including members of the press, were seen running away as police fired tear gas towards the crowds Chaos rocks Kenosha for a third night: Protests defied curfew and gathered outside the county courthouse on Tuesday night, clashing with police Demonstrators were seen trying to topple over a black fence that was installed around the court earlier as officials braced for another night of destruction Protesters gathered outside wearing helmets and masks, and some held makeshift shields as they prepared to face off with police A man stood in front of law enforcement officers as they braced for a clash against protesters A woman was seen shouting and flipping off police during the protest outside the courthouse on Tuesday The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department also deployed at least four armored patrol vehicles fitted with roof turrets from which deputies fired tear gas canisters into the crowd, many of whom hurled water bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects back at police. But there was no immediate sign of buildings or cars being set ablaze, as happened on Monday night. Demonstrators, some of whom were wearing helmets and equipped with makeshift protective gear, were seen trying to storm a black iron fence that had been installed earlier to protect the court from rioters. Meanwhile, officers dressed in riot gear stood guard behind the barrier, holding up shields as protesters shouted expletives and hurled bottles at them. Footage from the scene also showed people throwing fireworks in the direction of cops as they ignored their orders to disperse. In one video shared by a journalist on Twitter, one man was seen trying to set fire to an American flag before being deterred by pepperballs fired by police. A protester is seen tossing an object toward police as cops deployed tear gas and other crowd control munitions Protesters took cover behind a trash bin as police fired tear gas and armored vehicles moved to the outside of the iron fence in front of the court People were seen using umbrellas and plastic shields to protect themselves from tear gas and rubber bullets A protester shielded himself with an umbrella and took cover behind a dumpster during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse Members of the crowd came armed with makeshift protective gear ahead of Tuesday's night skirmish A law enforcement officer was seen emerging from the hatch of an armored vehicle to fire rubber bullets at protesters after they ignored orders to clear the area Flares are seen near a Kenosha County Sheriff vehicle during the protests on Tuesday night An explosive device detonates as a protester pushes back on an armored vehicle clearing the nearby park where crowds had gathered Kenosha County sheriffs deputies warned crowds over loud speaker that they were participating in an unlawful gathering while urging them to leave the area. The crowd responded by chanting 'black lives matter', prompting police to fire rubber bullets. Several military-style armored patrol vehicles were also called in and were seen maneuvering around the county courthouse, firing tear gas at the crowd. About three hours after declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, authorities had managed to push Tuesday night's crowd out of the downtown park, with demonstrators scattering down streets. The disturbances came hours after Governor Evers vowed to deploy additional National Guard troops in a bid to restore order in the town, while Blake's mother publicly appealed for calm during a press conference held outside the court. On Tuesday, President Trump, who has consistently denounced the BLM protests that have rocked the country in recent months, urged Wisconsin officials to call in the National Guard to quell the unrest, despite troops already being on the ground. 'Governor should call in the National Guard in Wisconsin. It is ready, willing, and more than able. End problem FAST!' Trump tweeted. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows later revealed Governor Evers had turned down Trump's offer for federal assistance, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. A spokeswoman for Evers told the paper: 'The governor informed them that we would be increasing Wisconsin National Guard support in Kenosha and therefore would not need federal assistance in response to protests but would welcome additional federal support and resources for our state's response to COVID-19.' Protesters have begun to try to push over a fence in front of the courthouse in Kenosha. Sheriffs deputies in riot gear have emerged from the courthouse. Some are throwing projectiles at the officers. pic.twitter.com/mkRMuUx3TK Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) August 26, 2020 An armored vehicle moves to the outside of the iron fence in front of the County Court House as police fired teargas towards protesters after they failed to clear the area About three hours after declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, authorities had managed to push Tuesday night's crowd out of the downtown park, with demonstrators scattering down streets Kenosha County sheriff deputies eventually moved to the streets to clear a park of protesters after they ignored police orders to disperse Protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday began started off peacefully before descending into chaos as protesters defied curfew and targeted police Protesters burn a small American flag during a third night of unrest in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers, in Kenosha Blake, 29, a father of six, was struck from behind at point-blank range in a hail of bullets fired on Sunday by police who were following him with guns drawn as he walked away from officers to his car and opened a door to the vehicle. Three of his young sons inside the automobile - aged three, five and eight - witnessed their father being gunned down, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family. A bystander captured the encounter in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage over the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against African Americans. Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women, was struck by multiple gunshots fired at him, all by one officer. Crump also revealed Blake was undergoing surgery for his injuries, adding that the bullets severed his spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Another attorney said there was also severe damage to organs. 'It's going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again,' Crump said. Blake, who is a father of six, is now in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing surgery Jacob Blake was shot in the back by Wisconsin police on Sunday as his three young sons watched on. He is now paralyzed from the waist down after his body was riddled with bullets, his father says. Blake is pictured above being treated just moments after the shooting Blake's mother Julia Jackson (left) denounced the 'violence and destruction' that has rocked the city of Kenosha in the wake of the shooting and pleaded for calm on Tuesday. His father Jacob Blake Sr (right) became emotional as he spoke out against the cops who shot his son seven times The legal team plans to file a civil lawsuit against the police department over the shooting. Police have not explained why Blake was shot. At a news conference earlier in the day, Blake's parents expressed anguish over the shooting while decrying two previous nights of looting, vandalism and arson that overshadowed peaceful street protests. 'They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter,' Jacobv Blake Sr said tearfully as he spoke to reporters alongside other family members and lawyers. 'But my son matters. He's a human being and he matters.' Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, said the damage in Kenosha does not reflect what her family wants and that, if her son could see it, he would be 'very unpleased.' After a night during which protests devolved into unrest, Gov. Evers had called for calm Tuesday saying: 'We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue.' 'We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction.' The night before crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires in the southeastern Wisconsin city's downtown. On Monday, heavily armed residents were also seen standing guard outside buildings and local shops in case they were targeted by rioters. In footage shared online, a group of men were seen carrying rifles and wearing combat gear as they protect local shops. They denied they are part of a militia. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 13:18 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c409a63d 1 National Freeport-Indonesia,Freeport-McMoRan,Grasberg,Tembagapura,labor,workers,employees,protest,COVID-19,pandemic Free Gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia has agreed to meet the demands of its employees at the Grasberg complex in Tembagapura, Papua, after more than 1,000 workers blocked access to the worlds biggest gold mine. Freeport Indonesia spokesperson Riza Pratama said the management had come to an agreement following a meeting with Mimika regencys local COVID-19 task force and Mimika Regent Eltinus Omaleng in Timika on Tuesday. Per the agreement, Freeport Indonesia employees stationed in Tembagapura may visit their families in neighboring Timika on their days off and take COVID-19 rapid tests there in accordance with company protocol, Riza said. Furthermore, Freeport Indonesia employees would no longer be required to take polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests upon entering Timika via the Gorong-Gorong bus terminal, and would instead only be subjected to temperature checks, he added. In the next six weeks, the companys 4,800 workers who have not taken a single leave since April are to be given priority for leave, according to Riza. Those who had been working during the COVID-19 pandemic would also rewarded by the company, he said. The management will provide financial rewards to those employees, Riza said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com. More than 1,000 Freeport miners protested the firms decision to stop visits to their families over health concerns during a public demonstration at the Grasberg complex on Monday. The protest, which started early Monday morning, came in response to a company decision to cancel bus services to the city of Timika in response to fears about the spread of coronavirus infections. In May, Freeport said it was reducing its staff at the mine, which employed about 25,000 people, after virus infections rose in the area. Mimika Regent Eltinus previously urged President Joko Jokowi Widodo to temporarily close the local Freeport mining complex as the number of COVID-19 cases in the area continued to rise. (rfa) There are many ways to sell a used computer, but being in the middle of a global pandemic complicates the process. I would prefer to sell one locally, but that involves getting together with a random stranger and . . . well, not today, thanks. You can sell via an online market such as eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, but if the buyer is not local, theres shipping to deal with and the chance you could be ripped off. Again, do you need the headaches? I faced this dilemma with selling my 2012 Mac mini, which as regular readers know I replaced with a new 27-inch iMac. It was further complicated by the fact that this computer cant be upgraded to the upcoming version of the macOS, which makes the system less valuable. Had I sold it a year ago, it might have fetched as much as $900, based on what I was seeing on eBay, because its the last Mac mini that allowed upgrades for both its memory and drives. Now, it would be worth only a fraction of that. REVIEW: 2020 27-inch iMac: Beauty is also a beast I wound up selling it to Cash For Your Mac, a San Diego, Calif., company that buys used Apple products. The process was simple. You fill out a form to give them a description of the Mac, they give you a tentative price. You accept and they provide a FedEx mailing label and detailed instructions for packing and shipping. There several similar sites, including SellYourMac.com and Gazelle.com, but I got the best price at Cash for Your Mac. (And yes, there are online companies that buy Windows computers, as well as all kinds of electronics, such as ItsWorthMore and BuyBackWorld.) The offer I got was for $340.95, but it turns out I misidentified the CPU, so Cash for Your Mac reduced the amount once they received the mini. I also indicated the condition was flawless, but they found some scuff marks on the an edge of the case that I had missed. In the end, the amount I received was $301, which was still acceptable. It is, after all, a model thats eight years old and cant be upgraded past Catalina. REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra is impressive, and pricey The only aspect of the process I didnt like was that the assessment form didnt allow for modifications. I had two SSDs in the mini a 512-GB primary SSD and a 240-GB secondary one but there was no way to indicate it had a second drive. I just said it had a 512GB drive. I took the computer to a FedEx location and an employee packed it for me according to Cash for Your Macs instructions. They received the computer in a few days, and I had an offer and my cash in my chosen form of an Apple Store gift card a day later. You also can be paid via PayPal or a check. The company has been around since 2013, said Matt Huting, its director of operations. He and his brother, owner Jeff Huting, started selling used Macs on eBay in the late 2000s, and eventually grew it into a business. We worked hard to build peoples confidence in us, Matt Huting. We had to build up our reputation in the Mac community so we were a company that people would trust to send us a $2,000 machine. Release Notes: Get Dwight Silvermans weekly tech newsletter in your inbox Cash for Your Mac receives between 30 to 50 machines per day, and during peak times can receive as many as 3,000 a month. Each computers drives go through a triple wipe, and a stable, usually older version of the macOS is placed on it. The used machines are then sold either in the companys retail store (which is currently closed due to the pandemic) or on eBay under the name Quality Macs. And thats where I found my Mac mini, selling for $750. My initial reaction was, Good luck with that! But Matt Huting said that some machines have a fan base that will pay a premium. The 2012 models expandability may be a bigger draw than I thought, even if Big Sur is not in its future. (A version of this column originally appeared in Dwight Silvermans Release Notes newsletter. Sign up at houstonchronicle.com/releasenotes .) dwight.silverman@chron.com twitter.com/dsilverman houstonchronicle.com/techburger Check out what you should read today: Politics Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday co-chaired the 17th teleconferencing Meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation to review the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership since the 16th edition in August 2018, and to put forth measures and orientations for cooperation in the new period, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society Vietnam on Wednesday morning reported no new cases of COVID-19, pinning the countrys tally at 1,029 with 592 recoveries and 27 deaths. According to Ha Anh Duc, deputy chief of the Ministry of Healths secretariat, around 20 million mobile subscribers in Vietnam have installed Bluezone, a domestically developed contact-tracing mobile app to identify and alert people who have interacted with COVID-19 patients. The central city of Da Nang on Tuesday afternoon removed a blockade at Da Nang Hospital, which was linked to many locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases, after nearly 30 days of lockdown for exposure to patients. Dr. Pham Van Quang, head of the intensive care unit at Childrens Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, said the hospital has received five cases of dengue fever, with three reported with severe shock and respiratory failure, during the past two weeks. Two fire trucks and 14 firefighters were mobilized on Tuesday to extinguish a fire which broke out at a karaoke parlor in the south-central province of Khanh Hoas Cam Lam District and nearly burned down the whole four-story building. No casualties were reported. Business The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications on Tuesday signed a sponsorship agreement with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for a US$1.5 million project to technically assist in building an Intelligent Operations Center for the city. Ho Chi Minh City authorities have planned to provide another support package for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic after the first one in March targeting poor families and 600,000 workers and teachers at private pre-schools who lost their jobs, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the UK amounted to $471.8 million over 1H2020, compared to $539.7 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of the UK in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 1.1 percent during the reporting period compared to 1.2 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to the UK amounted to $288.2 million over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $315.8 million during the same period of 2019. The UKs share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export also amounted to 1.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 1.1 percent during the same period of 2019 indicating it was flat year-on-year. In turn, Kazakhstans imports from the UK stood at about $183.6 million over the reporting period, compared to $223.8 million during the same period of 2019. The UKs share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 1.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 1.3 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). Morgan-Kellers 65th Anniversary was commemorated on Tuesday August 18th with a visit by representatives from the City of Frederick, Frederick County, the State of Maryland, and Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. Taylor Davis, Vice President and General Manager - General Contracts; Jeff Kluttz, Director of Construction; Bryan Adgate, Director of Preconstruction and Estimating; and Chuck Brandenburg, Vice President and General Manager of MK Concrete were presented with certificates honoring this achievement. Morgan-Keller was founded in 1955 as a family-owned residential construction company located in Wolfsville, Maryland. Over six decades, the firm has transitioned into one of the regions most respected commercial builders with offices in Frederick and Hunt Valley, MD. To learn more, visit http://www.morgankeller.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Maria Caspani (Reuters) Wed, August 26, 2020 07:56 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c407b919 2 World US,college,reopening,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free More US colleges were grappling with high numbers of students testing positive for the coronavirus just days into the start of the fall semester after some universities rolled back their campus reopening plans in recent weeks. The University of Alabama on Monday reported more than 550 people across its campuses had tested positive for COVID-19 since it resumed in-person classes on August 19. Most of those infected were students, faculty and staff at the university's main campus in Tuscaloosa. Citing a "dramatic increase" in coronavirus cases on campus, the mayor of Tuscaloosa issued an executive order on Monday ordering bars to shut down for 14 days and placing restrictions on other establishments. "Many students who tested positive for COVID-19 have chosen to go home to isolate," Kellee Reinhart, the university's vice chancellor for communications, told Reuters in an email. Reinhart said the school had an "ample amount" of space for COVID-19 positive students to isolate and that it was enhancing testing of various groups. The university has conducted more than 46,000 tests, according to a dashboard it released this week, and the positivity rate stood at about 1%. The number of positive cases does not include the 400 students who tested positive upon returning to University of Alabama campuses before classes began last week. Alabama is not alone in scrambling to deal with COVID-19 college outbreaks. The University of Southern California (USC), which resumed education almost entirely online on August 17, on Monday said that more than 100 students at the University Park Campus in Los Angeles were in a 14-day quarantine after exposure to the virus. "USC Student Health has received an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in students in the University Park Campus community," the university said in a statement, adding that all cases were related to students in "off-campus living environments." Ohio State University, where classes resume on Tuesday, this week issued more than 200 interim suspensions for students following a string of large parties where health and safety rules were largely ignored, according to media reports. Last week, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill canceled in-class instruction after positive cases of COVID-19 shot up dramatically. New mayors were elected in Fairhope and Semmes on Tuesday, while mayoral races are headed to runoffs in Daphne and Spanish Fort. Voters in Fairhope selected Sherry Sullivan as its new mayor. Sullivan served as the former director of community affairs in Fairhope for over 16 years before she was fired about four years ago by then-new Mayor Karin Wilson. She amassed 58% or 3,797 votes to defeat Wilson, the incumbent, who received 25% or 1,628 votes to finish a distant second. John Manelos, who served 28 years working in corporate security and crisis management, finished third with 15.7% or 1,030 votes. Educator Annette Sanders finished fourth with 85 votes or 1.3%. Voters sent incumbents back to the Fairhope city council for four-year terms. In Place 1, incumbent Councilman Jack Burrell defeated Deb Hopkins by 54.2% to 44%; in Place 4, incumbent Councilman Robert Brown defeated Howell Gibbens by 59.8% to 36.3%; and in Place 5, incumbent Councilman Kevin Boone defeated Joshua Gammon by 54.5% to 43%. The Daphne mayoral race appears is headed to a runoff as two businessmen will square off in an October 6 runoff. Councilman Robin LeJeune (1,545 votes) finished with 48 votes more than Steve Carey (1,497). Selena Vaughn finished a distant third with 457 votes. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the longtime incumbent mayors won handily. And in Bay Minette, incumbent Mayor Bob Wills rolled to an easy win over challenger Harry Still III by amassing close to 80% of the vote. Incumbent Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan, however, will be in a runoff on October 6. With 1,190 votes cast, McMillan finished with 545 votes or 45.8%, which isnt enough to avoid the runoff election. He will be challenged by Rebecca Cornelius, who received 344 or 29% of the vote. She finished ahead of two other challengers -- Jeffrey Batley, who had 257 votes or 22% and David Westerfield who had 44 votes or 4%. McMillan is seeking a third term in office, but he has faced some controversy in the past year after he was charged with a misdemeanor harassment offense for allegedly slapping a city employee. That employee has since been fired from City Hall over insubordination. Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft (65%) and Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon (67%) both defeated their challengers and were re-elected to a fourth term in office in their respective beach cities. In Gulf Shores, there will be a runoff election for the Place 1 and Place 2 council seats. In Place 1, incumbent Councilman Joe Garris Jr. (1,265 votes) will face Bill Coyne (1,021 votes) during an October 6 runoff. Edward Rease finished third with 317 votes. In Place 2, incumbent Councilman Gary Sinak (1,232 votes) will face Michelle Stencil (744 votes) in a runoff. Nan Hedgspeth finished third with 627 votes. Incumbent Councilmen Jason Dyken and Steve Jones were re-elected, and Philip Harris ran unopposed. In Orange Beach, voters re-elected incumbents to its council in competitive races for Place 1 and 5. In Place 1, incumbent Councilwoman Annette Mitchell (1,360) defeated Joe Cardwell (1,182 votes). In Place 5, incumbent Councilwoman Joni Blalock (1,580 votes) defeated the citys former police chief Joe Fierro (928 votes). In recent days, Fierro and Kennon had butted heads over Fierros exit from City Hall last year. The two lashed out at each other during a public meeting billed as a town hall gathering last Tuesday in Orange Beach. In Bay Minette, despite the big win by Wills, two incumbent council members were defeated: In District 1, challenger Pete Sellers defeated incumbent Councilwoman Anne Corbett by a 52-48% difference. In District 3, challenger Matt Franklin defeated incumbent Councilman John Biggs by a 56-44 percent difference. The city of Foley has a new mayor. Ralph Hellmich, a member of the Foley City Council and mayor pro-tem since 2012, defeated libertarian candidate Aaron Bika to become the citys top elected official. Current Mayor John Koniar, who has been in the seat since 2006, opted not to seek re-election. Congratulations to Foleys newly elected officials: Mayor Ralph Hellmich District 1 Wayne Trawick District 3 Richard... Posted by City of Foley Municipal Government on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Voters also sent Incumbent Councilman Wayne Trawick back into office in Council District 1. In Council District 3, Richard Drayton defeated Ralph Eastburn. The other council seats were uncontested. In Robertsdale, incumbent Mayor Charles Murphy won an impressive eighth term to office by defeating two challengers. Murphy received 59% or 495 votes ahead of his two challengers, Roger Booth with 27% or 227 votes and Tim Brown with 14% or 120 votes. Prichard city voters and supporters for council and mayor candidates gather outside Vigor High School on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, in Prichard, Ala. The mayoral seat and all five council seats were competitive during the city's elections. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). The Mobile County cities of Bayou La Batre and Semmes will have new mayors. In Semmes, a city that has grown in recent years due to rapid annexation, challenger Brandon Vanhook defeated incumbent Mayor David Baker by a 64% to 36% difference. In Bayou La Batre, Henry Barnes defeated Daryl Elliott Steiner Jr. by a 59% to 41% difference. Current Mayor Terry Downey wasnt seeking another term in office. In Chickasaw, Councilman Barry Broadhead will face William Bill Vallon in a runoff for the open mayoral seat. And in Prichard, there will be a mayoral runoff pitting incumbent Mayor Jimmie Gardner against Councilman Lorenzo Martin. The two were the top vote-getters in a nine-person race for the citys top elected office. Chikesia Clemons, who garnered national headlines in 2018 during an arrest at a Waffle House restaurant in Saraland, fell short in her bid for a Prichard City Council seat. In District 4, she finished in third place with 121 votes (20.3%). George McCall Jr. finished first with 217 votes (36.5%) and Samantha Richardson was second with 174 votes (29.2%). Fisher Boykin was in fourth place with 83 votes (13.9%). McCall and Richardson will face off in the runoff. For a president elected with thunderous support from rural voters, Donald Trump has an odd way of returning the favor. His first budget tried to eliminate funding for the federal agencies most closely connected with rural economic development including the Appalachian Regional Commission. He also tried to eliminate federal funding for small, rural airports facilities that are often an important selling point in economic development. If a Democratic president had tried to do those things, that would have been just as bad but more politically understandable Democrats have no real base in much of rural America anymore, and so dont really understand rural communities. In trying to zero out the agencies working closest with rural America, Trump was actually acting more like a clueless big-city Democrat out of touch with rural realities than a president who many rural voters once saw as their champion. In a 2018 interview with The Wall Street Journal (hardly a leftist publication), Trump said people who live in economically-struggling rural areas should simply move. Again, that sounded like something some elitist urban-dweller would say. Let them eat cake. Let them move. Apparently Make America Great Again does not include rural America, except perhaps unless you own a U-Haul dealership. Now Trump is once again telling rural Americans that they dont matter with his assault on the Postal Service (now said to be suspended until after the election). Most of the attention there has been framed in terms of Trumps desire to curtail the push to vote by mail. Thats politically misguided Republicans might actually benefit more from vote-by-mail than Democrats. In the first election after Colorado adopted vote-by-mail, Republicans won nearly every statewide office on the ballot that year. In Minnesota, ballots are mailed only to voters in towns with fewer than 400 people. Those rural communities vote overwhelmingly Republican. If Trump wants to carry Minnesota (a state that has been drifting from blue to purple and could conceivably turn red), he needs every rural vote there he can get. Republicans should be doing all they can to encourage mail-in voting as a way to extract even more votes from rural areas. In any case, the Postal Service does a lot more than deliver mailed-in absentee ballots, which is why rural Americans and their largely Republican representatives should be most alarmed by the move Trump and his Postmaster General have made to slow mail service, whether before or after the election. Why? Because rural America is less connected to the internet than the rest of the country, which means rural Americans are more dependent on the Postal Service than their urban counterparts. Among them: 18% of Americans still pay their bills the old-fashioned way by mail. Thats according to a study by ACI Worldwide, a Florida-based payment systems company. It stands to reason that a disproportionate number of those 18% are older or rural or both. 20% of Americans older than 40 who take medication for a chronic condition get those prescriptions by mail order, according to a survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association. More than half of those are older than 65, and most of those receive more than four different types of pills through the mail. Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy arent simply slowing down mail-in ballots in November, theyre slowing down bills and pills now. Who does that hurt the most? Older Americans and rural Americans two demographic groups that supported Trump the most in 2016. (That year, voters older than 65 went for Trump 53% to 44%, the widest pro-Trump margin of any age group, according to a study by Pew Research Center. For the rural/urban split, just look at any of those red-and-blue election maps. In a few Virginia counties were looking at you Bland, Lee, Scott and Tazewell Trump took more than 80% of the vote). Why is Trump hurting his own supporters? Again, if a Democratic president did this, he or she would be accused of treating rural Americans like second-class citizens and rightly so. Make no mistake: This postal slowdown isnt theoretical, its real. The Washington Post recently obtained, and published, some internal Postal Service memos. Traditionally, the Post reports, the goal was for each office to deliver all the mail it received that day. Now, the memo said, if the plants run late, they will keep the mail for the next day. So that means, yes, mail is being held up. Another internal document thats been published shows the plan is to remove hundreds of mail-sorting machines which has already begun. (This is ostensibly to free up floor space for package delivery). And the Postal Service itself confirms its begun removing mailboxes in Oregon. (Gosh, wonder why Oregon? Could it be because Oregon votes by mail?) DeJoy presents these moves as a long overdue reorganization to make the Postal Service more efficient to make it run more like a business than a calcified government bureaucracy. Good knows, the Postal Service, like lots of things, is in need of reform. Except this is exactly the opposite of how a business would operate. If a business held up delivery, customers would eventually find a competitor who would deliver more quickly. The problem here is there isnt a competitor. People in more urban areas can ship packages via commercial freight delivery companies, such as FedEx or United Parcel Service. Many people in rural areas dont have that option, which is why the constitutionally-mandated Postal Service is doubly important to them. If our members of Congress really wanted to represent the rural voters who elected them, theyd be demanding quicker postal delivery, not silently tolerating slower delivery. What we have here is a curious philosophical turnaround. Republicans historically have favored states rights and here some states have decided to use those rights to push vote-by-mail so now a certain Republican is using federal power to curb those policy choices. In the process, hes making life harder on his strongest supporters. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Wirecard AG is pictured at its headquarters in Aschheim FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The collapsed payments company Wirecard has let go more than half of its remaining staff in Germany and terminated the contracts of its management board members, its insolvency administrator said. News of the layoffs came as Wirecard's demise amid an accounting scandal entered a new phase, with the official opening of insolvency proceedings on Tuesday. Michael Jaffe, the insolvency administrator, said "far-reaching" cuts were needed to keep Wirecard's core business operational. The company is laying off around 730 staff, while retaining 570 at its base in Aschheim, Germany. The three remaining board members whose contracts were terminated included Chief Executive James Fries, who joined Wirecard only recently to succeed Markus Braun, who remains in custody. "The economic situation of Wirecard AG was and is extremely difficult in light of the lack of liquidity and the well-known scandalous circumstances," Jaffe said. Wirecard was a rising star in corporate Germany, earning a spot as one of 30 blue chips, but in a dramatic fall from grace, Wirecard filed for insolvency owing creditors 4 billion euros ($4.73 billion) after disclosing a 1.9 billion euro hole in its accounts. Prosecutors suspect Wirecard executives of masterminding a criminal racket to fake the company's accounts and defraud creditors of billions of euros. Jaffe is working to sell Wirecard's global assets. The first deal to sell its operations in Brazil was agreed last week. ($1 = 0.8462 euros) (Reporting by Hans Seidenstuecker, Patricia Uhlig and Tom Sims; Editing by Madeline Chambers and David Evans) Catalyst -Georgia_Tech_University Catalyst is a student housing project under construction pedestrian to Georgia Tech University. The 532-bed community will open in Summer 2021. Catalyst is a student housing project under construction pedestrian to Georgia Tech University. The 532-bed community will open in Summer 2021. Austin, TX , Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Campus Life & Style (CLS), one of the nations leading operators of student housing communities, today announced it has been awarded the management of three apartment communities owned by Campus Realty Advisors (CRA). The assignments include: Catalyst located in Atlanta, Georgia; The Overlook located in Nacogdoches, Texas; and The Edge located in Pensacola, Florida. We are honored and thrilled to take on the management of these communities, stated Jim Sholders, Chief Operating Officer of CLS. Mr. Sholders added, CLS executes on its owners vision to exact standards without compromise, resulting in market leading occupancies and rent growth. We are excited to partner with select clients such as CRA to create the same value for their assets as we have for ours. The CLS team has built a best-in-class operating platform consisting of top-notch personnel, mature systems, and dedication to providing residents with industry-leading customer service. CLS is the only student housing management company in the U.S. to participate in The Forbes Travel Guides global training platform focused on five-star hospitality and concierge services. CLS select third-party management offering enables it to provide clients with an unmatched level of attention, along with unsurpassed talent, knowledge, creativity, and standards of excellence. Catalyst is a student housing project under construction pedestrian to Georgia Tech University. The 532-bed community will open in Summer 2021. Shared amenities will include a sky deck with three courtyards overlooking Atlantas skyline; a 24-hour fitness center; multiple study rooms; a STEM lab; luxury swimming pool; and 24-hour package delivery lockers. The Overlook at Nacogdoches is a 682-bed community that caters to students attending Stephen F. Austin University. The property, consisting of 682 beds, was built in phases between 2007 and 2012. Residents enjoy a full range of amenities including a renovated clubhouse; 24-hour fitness center; full-service Tech Bar; and two resort-style pools. Story continues The Edge is a Pensacolas newest off-campus community located steps away from the University of West Florida. The 344-bed student housing property was built in 2014. The amenity stack includes a boutique clubhouse; 24-hour fitness center; resort-style saltwater pool with open air cabanas; and units featuring granite countertops and luxury wood plank flooring. About Campus Life & Style Founded in 2015, Campus Life & Style is Vesper Holdings property management subsidiary based in Austin, Texas. As one of the largest student housing operators in the industry, CLS manages a portfolio consisting of 51 communities that total over 20,000 beds. CLS senior leadership team features one of the most experienced and respected line-ups of student housing professionals in the United States. CLC is helmed by industry veteran Jim Sholders. Prior to joining CLS, Mr. Sholders served as a top executive at American Campus Communities (ACC) and was responsible for the overall fiscal operations, asset management, leasing, and personnel supervision over ACCs 170 property portfolio. For more information about Campus Life & Style, please visit https://csliving.com Contact: Doug Kligman 212-406-4000 News via: KISS PR News Release Attachment Detectives have arrested a fourth man over the murder of the murder of a 20-year-old, who was knifed to death in south London. The 22-year-old was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder and remains in custody, police have confirmed. The victim Salem Koudou, 20, died from stab wounds four days before his 21st birthday, following a confrontation after a car overturned in Brixton. Police had been called at 5.55pm on August 20 after reports of a fight on the Angell Town estate in Brixton. A 22-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody after Salem Koudou was knifed to death in Brixton on August 20 following a row after a car overturned (above) Salem was found with stab wounds and was taken to hospital but died at 8.53pm. A post-mortem examination took place at Greenwich Mortuary on August 22 and gave the cause of death as multiple stab-wounds. Police said a 26-year-old man with stab injuries was found near the scene and was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He has since been released and remains in hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and grievous bodily harm and was released on bail, to return to a south London police station in September. Another man, 18, was arrested in Harlow, Essex, on August 24 on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Vandenbergh, who is leading the murder inquiry, previously said: 'Today [24 August], should have been Salem's birthday, but instead of celebrating, his family are suffering the pain and anguish of his loss. 'We need to understand the chain of events that led to this young man losing his life, and for that we need the public's help. Salem Koudou, 20, (above) was found with stab wounds and was taken to hospital, but died at 8.53pm - just four days before his 21st birthday 'A post-mortem examination took place at Greenwich Mortuary on Saturday and gave the cause of death as multiple stab wounds. 'An overturned car was found in nearby Marcella Road and is being linked to this incident. 'At this stage it is believed it may have collided with another car before overturning; there were no reports of any injuries directly as a result of this collision.' Witnesses claim to have seen Salem being chased through the streets of Brixton just before 6pm before he was fatally stabbed. Margarida Lopes, 50, said she had seen the victim running through the corridors of her building during the incident. She said: 'They really jump across the balconies here, from above and over the brick walls. They used to do that some years ago. 'The thing that shocked me was that he was completely naked and nobody was thinking about his dignity. 'He asked for a blanket twice and nobody was doing anything. 'I was about to say something and offer my first aid to support them but the tape was up and everyone was on the balcony looking down. 'I don't know why he was naked but I felt that was very wrong. Police had been called at 5.55pm on August 20 after reports of a fight on the Angell Town estate in Brixton (file photo) 'It took a good hour before they took him away so I don't know if he was severely injured and they were trying to stabilise him before taking him away on the stretcher. 'The tops of his legs were bandaged and he had a wound at the top of his chest towards his shoulder.' Police, the London Ambulance Service and Londons Air Ambulance all attended the scene. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Vandenbergh has urged any witnesses to come forward, especially those who may have video or dash cam footage. Anyone with information should call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 5998/20Aug. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has repeatedly declined to say that EU Commissioner Phil Hogan should resign, saying that the government would accept whatever decision Commission President Ursula von der Leyden makes. Mr Martin, speaking at a school in Dublin ahead of its reopening, said that "what that has been a significant difficulty for the government" had been the "changing narrative as this story has unfolded". However, Mr Martin stopped short of calling for Mr Hogan to resign, saying that the decision will be made by Ms von der Leyden and the government will respect that decision. Taoiseach won't be drawn on whether Hogan should resign. He says that the government will respect whatever Ursula von der Leyden decides and "the professional relationship would continue if Hogan stays". Paul Hosford (@PTHosford) August 26, 2020 Mr Martin said that no Irish official had been in contact with the President and they would not be in the future. He said that Ms Von der Leyden must "work within the legal framework available to her". Mr Martin said that Mr Hogan's actions, breaching health guidelines numerous times since returning to Ireland, were damaging to public confidence. "I think he's undermined the whole approach to public health in Ireland." Mr Martin said that the government would respect Ms von der Leyden's decision and would continue to work with Mr Hogan should he remain in his job. "In terms of his role as a European Commissioner, he's performed well as a European Commissioner. But where we feel is undermined public confidence is in relation to the public health guidelines that are not going beyond yesterdays statement." Local News, Business & Finance, Arts & Culture By Ls Cohen Published: August 26 2020 Remodeled and under new management, diner getting rave reviews. The Main Street Diner in Sayville reopened in July after remodeling and the reviews online have been singing the praises of the menu, the exterior artwork, and the new decor. The new owners Marino Francomihalos and Billy Masalis reopened the restaurant on July 20. It is, according to Francomihalos, his first time owning a restaurant. People are very supportive, he told LongIsland.com by phone recently. Menu items include standard Long Island fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Egg plates, pancakes, French toast, waffles and more pack the breakfast menu. They also have a selection of vegetarian breakfast bowls. Lunch and dinner items include some typical food youd expect in a diner but also offered are more unique items like a Greek Chicken Bowl which has chicken souvlaki, chickpeas, cucumber tomato salad, quinoa, yogurt dressing and feta ($17.95). Photo: Main Street Diner Facebook page. They also have a Chicken Meatloaf Sandwich, which is grilled cheese style, tomato jam and Texas toast ($12.95). They have a Main Street Patty Melt which is a stuffed burger with sauteed onions, mushrooms, Swiss, rye bread and more Swiss ($12.95). Dinner plates include Sausage and Peppers ($16.95), Chicken Souvlaki Mofongo ($18.95), Grilled Pork Chop ($21.95), and Grilled Skirt Steak ($28.95). The website also advertised Poke all day. Photo: Main Street Diner Facebook page. The Sayville mural on the next to the diner has been causing a buzz around town. Articles and all Yelp comments mention the new sign. Francomihalos said he commissioned the work from a famous artist in New York City, the graffiti artist Sandra Lady Pink Smith, who does work through her studio PinkSmith Designs. According to an online article, Lady Pinks artwork has also been highlighted in various galleries and exhibitions since she was 16 and had her first solo show at the Moore College of Art. She is currently part of the permanent collection at the Whitney Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Brooklyn Museum and the Groningen Museum of Holland. Francomihalos said that the choice of the artwork theme was obvious. This is Sayville. We wanted to do something for the town, he said. Everybody likes it. Located on Main St. in Sayville, this diner having a new owner with a fresh outlook is something the town needed, wrote Shannon H on Yelp. Outside, the lighting, new sign, freshly paved large parking lot, and GORGEOUS Sayville painting welcome you in. Inside, it gets even better. Brand new flooring, walls, light fixtures, bar, and furniture give a warm inviting feel. The Sayville paintings that cover the walls make you feel at home. This diner was gorgeously designed and well executed. There's a fresh open feel to it. Ashley L, of New York City, gave it five stars. Loved this place, she wrote on Yelp. Best diner food I've had in awhile. Very friendly staff and extremely clean establishment. They are following all COVID-19 rules/safety measures. Location: 229 W Main Street, Sayville, (631) 567-5376. Press Release 25 August 2020 Newport Hospitality Group Inc (Newport), a leading hotel management company, celebrates 30-years of hospitality during an unusually difficult year for the hotel industry. As the company looks forward to better times, they are also taking time to look back on what shaped them into the successful company they are today. Advertisements The story is a tale of two cousins and begins in the 1850s, when a Swedish immigrant and successful merchant, S.M. Swenson, began purchasing vast tracks of land in West Texas. Swenson's sons leased the land from their father and founded the Swenson Land and Cattle Company, which continued to operate for the next 140 years. The ranch stayed in the Swenson Family for generations. In the early 1990s, Bill Carey, a great-grandson of S.M. Swenson and a successful entrepreneur and rancher, began searching for new business opportunities. He only had to look to his cousin, Mike Pleninger, for the answer. Pleninger had spent his entire career building and managing hotels and was also searching for opportunities to launch a new business. At family gatherings, the two began talking about their passions and found they were similar. Carey and Pleninger started to create a vision for their lodging venture. Bill Carey stated, "Together, we brought the fundamental principles of running successful businesses to our new venture, specifically, hard work, community responsibility, and moral integrity, and Newport was born." On September 1, 1990, the company started in a small office in Newport News, Virginia. (hence the name) Since the first day, Newport leadership has created real value for the three pillars of successful hospitality - guests, team members, and owners. As hoteliers, they live for guest service. They aspire to create strong positive experiences for every person who visits their hotels. To achieve this, as leaders, they create memorable and exciting career opportunities for all their team members. All team members understand that they have senior leadership's commitment to their personal well-being and professional advancement. Lastly, this environment could not be sustained without an ongoing commitment to generating outsized returns for clients. Newport's revenue generation team is complemented by its relentless focus on delivering bottom-line results through cost savings and operational efficiency. According to Mike Pleninger, "Our focus on corporate culture and our core values sets us apart from other hotel management companies. Our people-centered culture is designed to inspire and engage our team members., managers, partners, and executives in the Newport family. Our people are our lifeblood, and we strive to create an environment where each individual can thrive, both personally and professionally." In typical Newport fashion, a remote celebration to include all team members and partners will be held on September 1, 2020, complete with individual birthday cakes at each location. Pleninger and Carey both will tell you that it is the people who make a hospitality company a success. Newport Hospitality Group Inc., located in Williamsburg, Virginia, is a leading hotel management company specializing in select and full-service hotels. They operate more than 50 hotels in the Eastern United States. Their diverse portfolio includes independent boutique hotels and top brands such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Wyndham, Choice, and Intercontinental Hotel Group. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin James Gomez and Saul J. Takahashi (The Jakarta Post) Tokyo Wed, August 26, 2020 10:51 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c408dbd0 3 Opinion hate-speech,Japan,Internet,xenophobia,minority-groups,Racism Free Both Southeast Asia and Japan are experiencing new forms of hate speech that are increasingly played out over social media platforms. Updated measures in Southeast Asia to tackle new forms of hate must move away from the negative impact of old rules that threaten democracy. The Japanese government, for its part, must take effective measures against the normalization of hate. Asia Centre, in its latest report, Hate Speech in Southeast Asia: New Form, Old Rules, discusses these and other related matters in this 40 page report released on July 22. Hate speech has no universally accepted definition. The United Nations has noted that in all of its forms, hate speech characteristics comprise any kind of communication in speech, writing or behavior, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor. Japan is no stranger to hate speech: UN human rights bodies have criticized Japanese government inaction in the face of virulent, racist hate demonstrations in minority neighborhoods of Tokyo and Osaka, calling for the mass expulsion, or even killing of ethnic Koreans and Chinese. Apart from the historically race and religion based hate speech in Southeast Asia, newer forms of hate speech have emerged. These include hate speech directed at foreign nationals such as refugees and migrant workers; hate speech against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community; and hate speech based on political affiliation, ideology and values. In Southeast Asia, hate speech against foreign nationals, including refugees and migrant workers has recently spiked amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In Japan, the pandemic has fed into a right wing, anti-Chinese narrative. Hate speech against migrant workers and refugees has also started to emerge over recent years: in 2015, for example, a meme made by a right wing manga artist calling refugees cheats living the good life on other peoples money went viral. Its notable that, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan closed its borders not only to foreign visitors, but foreign nationals who had lived and worked in Japan for years. In order to address hate speech a mixture of legal measures have been adopted. Though long reluctant to take any measures, Japan finally adopted a law against hate speech in 2016. This law is largely aspirational, though, and its provisions and lack of any teeth do not live up to international standards. In particular, the law does not prohibit hate speech against undocumented foreign nationals a glaring omission. The good news in Japan is that national legislation has at least spurred local governments to act, and hate demonstrations are not taking place with the frequency they were before. Nevertheless, it is of concern that some forms of hate speech or at least the discriminatory attitudes behind them may have simply been normalized, as can be seen in the recent Tokyo governorship elections. One candidate, a former head of prominent extremist right wing organization that was responsible for many hate demonstrations, received 180,000 votes on a xenophobic platform that blamed foreigners and leftists for all the countrys woes. To date both new and old laws in Southeast Asia and in Japan do not adequately recognize new forms of hate speech. Further the domestic legal framework concerning the incitement to hatred do not provide the rights acknowledged required of international law. Here it is also important to note the language used by state officials, which sets a tone for how the media and wider population respond to others within the community. Hate speech in society towards others often reflects the discriminatory and prejudicial language by government officials and political leaders. Hate speech is an attack on democratic values but care must be taken in addressing to preserve freedom of expression. Hate speech, to begin with, stifles free and open debate, affects electoral democracy at all levels and incites uncivil political discourse. Targeted communities, especially vulnerable communities, are hesitant to engage in open public debate. While one cannot outlaw hate speech as such, to preserve free and open democratic discourse all countries must abide by their obligations under international human rights law to prohibit incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence. Hate speech is a plague that all governments, civil society, citizens and business organizations must root out to foster a more peaceful, just and inclusive society. *** James Gomez is regional director of Asia Centre, a not-for-profit organization working to create human rights impact in the region. Saul J. Takahashi is Asia Centre Advisory Board member and professor of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Osaka Jogakuin University. This opinion piece is adapted from Asia Centres latest report, Hate Speech in Southeast Asia: New Form, Old Rules. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. A new study demonstrates for the first time that sub-seasonal rainfall and temperature forecasts can be used to predict outbreaks of dengue fever by estimating mosquito abundance. Climate models are often applied to future predictions, but one of the most reliable ways to improve and test the capabilities of these models is to look to the past. In a new study published in GeoHealth, researchers revisited a large dengue outbreak on the island of Reunion and determined it would have been possible to predict the event using available climate data. In particular, they integrated forecasts of rainfall and temperature generated up to four weeks ahead of the start of the outbreak into a mosquito population model. Their success has implications for the use of climate data in future public health efforts. Reunion, a French overseas island between Madagascar and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, faced an unprecedented outbreak of dengue in 2018. Dengue fever is a viral tropical disease spread by mosquitoes; in Reunion, the disease is carried by the local species Aedes albopictus. Mosquito populations are influenced by a complicated web of environmental factors that are difficult to monitor on a local scale. However, the study by researchers at Columbia University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Umea University, New York University and the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that there is great potential for using climate information to predict how suitable an environment will be for vector-borne diseases. Mosquito species such as A. albopictus thrive only within a unique temperature range. Rainfall events also have distinctive effects on their survival. These factors and others can be identified among climate data, and the researchers recognized that an ideal confluence of these environmental factors could bring on an increase in the abundance of mosquitoes, which could lead to an outbreak. Tropical-cyclone-related rainfall events and higher-than-average temperatures played a role in the 2018 dengue outbreak. Since we can forecast such conditions up to four weeks in advance, we thought it would be possible that the outbreak itself could be predicted weeks ahead." Laurel DiSera, senior research staff associate at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society and study's lead author To test the idea, DiSera and her colleagues incorporated subseasonal climate forecasts from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model, available via the Subseasonal-to-seasonal Prediction Project Database, into a vector model that generated predictions of mosquito populations; they found that the methodology was reasonably predictive of the outbreak event in 2018. "Our results strongly suggest that we can use subseasonal data to better understand suitability for mosquito populations and the potential for resulting outbreak events," DiSera said. "The routine way to prevent and manage dengue outbreaks is through mosquito control," said coauthor Joacim Rocklov for Sweden's Umea University. "Having more time to act makes a difference, not in the least operationally." DiSera added that in a time when many public-health systems are already under strain, new methodologies like the one proposed may help public health agencies save resources and time and allow them to be more flexible in dealing with urgent and unexpected threats such as COVID-19. McDonald's is investigating whether its ousted former CEO Steve Easterbrook covered up improper conduct by his colleagues, it has emerged. The 53-year-old British executive was dismissed last November after his relationship with McDonald's employee came to light, and is now facing a lawsuit which claims he lied about other liaisons. Now the US fast food giant says its ongoing probe will be widened to look at the actions of its human resources department, which some managers have accused of ignoring complaints under Mr Easterbrook's leadership. 'The board will follow the facts wherever they may lead,' McDonald's said in a statement to DailyMail.com. Former McDonald's boss Steve Easterbrook (pictured with the firm's mascot Ronald McDonald in Germany) was ousted last year Some former McDonald's managers say that they feared retaliation if they complained to HR about the conduct of the firm's executives, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the investigation. Others said they felt their complaints had been ignored during Mr Easterbrook's tenure at the firm, from 2015 to 2019. The continuing investigation into Mr Easterbrook will now examine whether he covered up improper behavior by other employees, it is reported. A tip-off about one of Mr Easterbrook's alleged relationships also raised concerns about the HR department, it is believed, but McDonalds did not give further details. MailOnline has approached Mr Easterbrook's legal representatives for comment. McDonald's former head of human resources, David Fairhurst, was brought on by Mr Easterbrook soon after he became CEO, but left the company in November. Mr Fairhurst streamlined many HR functions, including a change to performance reviews that allowed for less employee feedback about concerns, former managers told the Journal. Now, McDonalds tells the Journal that it fired Mr Fairhurst with cause after Mr Easterbrooks dismissal because of conduct inconsistent with company policies and values. McDonalds said at the time of his departure simply that Mr Fairhurst had left the company. 'I have decided the time has come for me to move on to my next career challenge,' Mr Fairhurst said at the time. The McDonald's lawsuit announced on August 10 claimed that Mr Easterbrook had covered up and lied about sexual relationships with at least three employees. In its complaint, McDonald's said it had found dozens of nude or sexually explicit photos of women, including the three employees, that Easterbrook sent to his personal email account from his company email account. McDonald's said Easterbrook deleted the emails and attached photos from his company-issued phone shortly before his ouster, but they remained on a company server. Steve Easterbrook's ex-girlfriend Denise Paleothodoros (pictured together) told DailyMail.com earlier this month that his alleged behavior was 'out of character for the gentleman I knew' The firm is seeking to recoup tens of millions of dollars in severance and benefits in the lawsuit filed in Delaware court. The former CEO's severance package was worth $41.8 million when he left the company, executive pay firm Equilar has estimated. Mr Easterbrook is disputing the lawsuit against him, calling it 'meritless' and 'misleading' in a court filing earlier this month. His lawyers are seeking to dismiss the case and say the alleged emails were available to McDonald's at the time of Mr Easterbrook's separation agreement. Mr Easterbrook is also challenging the lawsuit on technical grounds, saying it should have been filed in Illinois rather than Delaware. The lawsuit came nine months after Mr Easterbrook was ousted and admitted that his relationship with an employee was a 'mistake'. The woman has never been named, but another former girlfriend told DailyMail.com earlier this month that his alleged behavior was 'out of character for the gentleman I knew'. Denise Paleothodoros revealed how she had flown on a private McDonald's plane to on vacations to Cabo San Lucas, New Orleans, Lake Tahoe, Scottsdale and New York. The continuing investigation into Mr Easterbrook (pictured) will now examine whether he covered up improper behavior by other employees, it is reported At one stage she had plans to move into Mr Easterbrook's $2.5million apartment in Chicago. 'His actions described are not the actions of the person I knew. He was very careful about his image,' she said. She said she was speaking out because she has 'been lumped together with these other women that were involved in Steve's problems.' Before his firing, Mr Easterbrook had been credited with modernizing the chain during his four-year tenure, which saw the introduction of touch-screen kiosks and an all-day breakfast menu. He was replaced as CEO by Chris Kempczinski, who was previously the president of McDonald's USA. Mr Kempczinski promised earlier this month to 'strengthen our culture and maintain an environment in which members of the McDonalds System are encouraged to and comfortable with coming forward' about any misconduct. Announcing the lawsuit against his predecessor, he said: 'We recently became aware through an employee report of new information regarding the conduct of our former CEO, Steve Easterbrook. 'We now know that his conduct deviated from our values in different and far more extensive ways than we were aware when he left the company last year. 'While the Board made the right decision to swiftly remove him from the company last November, this new information makes it clear that he lied and destroyed evidence regarding inappropriate personal behavior and should not have retained the contractual compensation he did upon his exit.' UK exports of sheep meat grew year-on-year during June with a notable boost to Italy, according to HMRC figures. The latest data shows that overall, UK exports of fresh and frozen sheep meat increased by nearly 3 percent while imports fell 16 percent. The UK exported 7,100 tonnes of fresh and frozen sheep meat in June, 200 tonnes more than was shipped in the same month last year. Shipments increased to Italy in particular (+200 tonnes), with more product also sent to France, and the Republic of Ireland. This offset a fall in shipments to Germany (-400 tonnes), Belgium and the Netherlands, HMRC figures show. Looking at the data, Hannah Clarke, AHDB Analyst for Livestock, said a fall in fresh lamb carcases was outweighed by increases in shipments of fresh sheep carcases and bone-in cuts in particular. She noted, however, that despite the growth in June, exports for the first six months of the year were down 13% year-on-year at 38,600 tonnes. Shipments to all major destinations were down to France (-2,900 tonnes) and Germany (-3,500 tonnes). Turning to imports, 4,500 tonnes of fresh and frozen sheep meat was received in June, 800 tonnes less year-on-year. Ms Clarke said: "Volumes from all key suppliers were lower, with the largest fall being in volumes from the Republic of Ireland (-400 tonnes). "Lower imports of boneless cuts and fresh bone-in cuts were the main driver of lower volumes." The June figures brought imports for January-June (inclusive) to 34,300 tonnes, 10% lower (-3,800 tonnes) than the same period last year. Ms Clarke said lower imports from New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland were the main cause of the decline. According to Hybu Cig Cymru Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), the figures represent a solid comeback following disruption earlier in the year after hotels and restaurants were forced to close. HCC's Export Development Executive Deanna Jones said: In many countries the foodservice sector is an important consumer of Welsh lamb. "We responded by focusing more on social media advertising and the retail sector, such as French-language recipe videos and marketing with supermarkets in Italy. The trade statistics for Italy are particularly pleasing, she added, Not only did we see strong figures for June, but overall more lamb has been exported there in the first six months of 2020 than the same period in 2019. Looking at the wider picture for UK red meat, exports have enjoyed a good start to the year with shipments already worth 733m in the first six months up nearly 3% on the same period last year The strong figures come during one of the most challenging years on record for red meat exports due to the ongoing difficulties caused by Covid-19. China has been dedicated to increasing the supply of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services. By Aug. 2, 2020, the number of registered traditional TCM clinics has reached 18,785, a huge rise from 195 in 2017 and 8,376 in 2018. A doctor diagnoses a patient at a TCM clinic in Sichuan province. (Photo/Zhang Liqiu) "It's so convenient to receive TCM treatment!" Chen Lingzhu, 29, a financial worker in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, said. Having no time to run to a big hospital, Chen went to a TCM clinic near her home, grabbed traditional Chinese medicines and swiped her medical insurance card to pay more than 400 yuan (about $57.98). After taking the medicine, she felt much better than before. "The whole process of opening TCM clinics can now be processed online," said Fu Haicheng, vice president of a TCM clinic brand in Shenzhen. He has been working in the field of traditional Chinese medicine for more than 10 years. In the past, the approval process for opening a clinic required more than two months and he had to make many trips. Now, the declaration materials of opening TCM clinics can be easily completed online. Fu filled out the industrial and commercial name form for opening a new clinic online and received a text message three days later. He then uploaded his business license, physician information and clinic plans, receiving approval in about three working days. "Before the decoration of the clinic was finished, I got the certificate. How easy it could be to open a clinic!" Fu said. Yu Haiyang, director of the policy and regulation department of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that originally TCM clinics were mainly pre-approved, but now there are no restrictions on the layout of TCM outpatient departments and TCM clinics, as well as restrictions on their specific number and location. Tian Xingjun, director of the Sichuan Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said the TCM diagnosis and treatment model is highly compatible with the family doctor system; the establishment of TCM clinics under the filing system helps integrate TCM services into the communities, improve the accessibility of TCM services at the grassroots level, and meet the diverse medical needs of the people. 2:35 p.m.: Beginning at 6 p.m., the city of Port Neches will discontinue all city water service. Water service will resumed as soon as possible after the storm has passed, however it will be necessary to boil the water prior to consumption. City of Beaumont officials have confirmed they do not have any similar plans. Beaumont city water will continue as expected. Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie said he's not sure about his city at this time. 11:35 a.m.: Orange County Judge John Gothia has issued a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for his county. All local cities are under the same curfew, except for the city of Vidor. Vidor residents will be under curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. 11:25 a.m.: Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie has issued his own mandatory curfew, however his city residents will not be allowed outside from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. -- a full two hours longer than one issued for the rest of Jefferson County. Anyone who violates the curfew could be arrested and subject to a $1,000 fine. 11:20 a.m.: As Hurricane Laura's landfall looms, some local elected officials are reporting lower evacuation numbers than they would have hoped. Port Arthur had helped more than 500 residents leave as of 11 a.m. However, Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie expects that number could be closer to 600 by the time efforts cease around noon. Only a few individuals have used Jefferson County's services. But Judge Jeff Branick noted the unincorporated areas only have 13 people registered with the 211 system that shows elected officials that they need help evacuating. Anecdotally, he added, "Port Neches looked like a ghost town driving to work this morning." Bus service evacuations are stopping, but C-130 aircraft already are at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport for general population evacuations should they be necessary. The four-engine military transport planes are capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, which has led to their use in many natural disaster situations. In Hardin and Orange counties, both judges said fewer people have used evacuation services than they expected. Orange County Judge John Gothia, who issued a mandatory evacuation order Monday afternoon, said only 200 residents in Orange County or area cities have taken advantage of the public evacuation services. Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel said the county has more than 300 people on its registration list. However, as of 11 a.m. only 27 people have shown up to be evacuated using state assistance. The busses leave at noon. "My feeling is some are (evacuating themselves), but I'm afraid many are not," he said. 10:15 a.m.: Jefferson County residents are now under a mandatory curfew. Only exempt residents, which includes people involved in interstate travel, individuals going to-or-from work and Utility workers can move about the county from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Violators are subject to immediate arrest and could be subject to a $500 fine. The order does not give an expected end date for the curfew. 9:40 a.m.: Jefferson County Drainage District 7 has announced it will close the Farm Road 365 gates an hour earlier than expected at 11 a.m. The district does not know when it will reopen the gates. 8:30 a.m.: Home Depot stores in Beaumont and Orange will close at noon Wednesday. 7 a.m.: Hurricane Laura is now expected to make landfall tonight on the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts as a category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center said in its 7 a.m. update that current speeds have increased to 115 mph, with higher gusts. Laura is a dangerous category 3 hurricane and is forecast to continue strengthening into a category 4 hurricane later today, the update said. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura makes landfall. Laura is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm- force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel cited the 7 a.m. forecast in calling for a mandatory evacuation. To reiterate, this hurricane is going to devastate SETX, including Hardin County, McDaniel said in a message to residents. It appears many have chosen to stay and ride it out. I dont blame you! However, seeing the new forecast this morning and the fact that it continues to look worse for us with each update, that is definitely not a good decision and waiting any longer could be a deadly choice for you and your family. Buses will be available for evacuation from 8-9 a.m. at Silsbee Middle School on a first-come-first-served basis. Though royal life might seem like glitz and glamour from the outside looking in, over the years, various members of the British royal family have proven that its the exact opposite. From Princess Diana to Sarah, Duchess of York and now Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, countless people have struggled to adhere to royal life. While many of the royals are trustworthy, The Firm itself and certainly those working around the royal family have been known to leak information to the press. This is exactly what happened when Prince Harry and Meghans relationship went public before they were ready to announce it. In fact, the leak came from the household of one of the royal family members closest to the Sussexes. RELATED: Kate Middleton Isnt Very Close With Princess Beatrice or Princess Eugenie, Source Reveals Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie have always been really close Though Prince Harry was close to his brother, Prince William growing up, he was always exceptionally close to his cousin, Princess Eugenie. Eugenie had always been more than just a cousin to Harry, Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobies Finding Freedom reveals. They were also the closest of friends. As the second siblings in their respective households, and because they are fairly close in age, the prince and princess have always shared a tight bond. Out of all the queens grandchildren, Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry have one of the most natural connections. Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest and great fun, the book explains. In fact, Princess Eugenie knew about the princes future wife before anyone else in the royal family. RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Hung Out With This Royal Couple the Most, Source Reveals Princess Eugenie knew Prince Harry was dating Meghan Markle before anyone else After Prince Harry met Meghan in the summer of 2016, later convincing her to join him in Botswana for their third date, he confided in his cousin that hed met someone special. In fact, Princess Eugenie and her now-husband, Jack Brooksbank, double-dated with the Sussexes in Toronto early on in their relationship. Finding Freedom explains, Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life. Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends say that she gives great advice and has always been beyond wise for her year. She was nothing but encouraging about his new relationship. In fact, Eugenie, whod long wanted to see her cousin settle down and be happy, told friends she loved Meghan and that she was just the tonic for him. RELATED: Meghan Markles Pregnancy News Did Not Go Down Particularly Well With Princess Eugenie Princess Eugenies staff member leaked Meghan and Prince Harrys relationship to the press Since the princess was so close to the Sussexes, she was horrified when a member of her staff leaked their relationship to the press. Scoobie and Durand explained that Meghan and Prince Harry were at a Halloween party in Toronto with Princess Eugenie and Brooksbank when the prince received a call that the relationship had leaked. Reportedly, it was one of Princess Eugenie and her father Prince Andrews members of staff who leaked the info. Thankfully, the Sussexes didnt hold it against Eugenie just as she did not hold it against them when their baby news was shared just before her Oct. 2018 wedding. From the mental fatigue of wearing masks, to opening of markets, and the threat of a second wave, several factors can be behind the resurgence of cases that Delhi has seen in the past few weeks. A look five key reasons that can be behind the spurt. 1. POOR MASK DISCIPLINE Experts have repeatedly pointed out the laxity across the city when it comes to people wearing masks. While the police have started enforcement of masks inside cars, mask discipline and enforcement remains an area where the Capital leaves a lot of room for improvement. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage Data accessed by HT shows that nearly 175,000 people have been fined by Delhi Police for not wearing masks till August 23. It is good that the people of Delhi have become confident, but it shouldnt lead to complacency. People should always wear masks, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday. During the Union health ministry briefing on Tuesday, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director general Balram Bhargava had blamed people who do not wear masks for driving the pandemic in India. I would say irresponsible, less cautious people who are not wearing masks and not maintaining social distance are driving the pandemic in India, he had said. What can be done: Enforcement of mask regulations, including proper use with both the nose and mouth covered,must further strengthened. More awareness campaigns needed to emphasise on the importance of wearing masks 2. REOPENING OF THE CITY On top of the list of guidelines by World Health Organization for control of Covid-19, is the request to people against going to crowded places. Where people come together in crowds, you are more likely to come into close contact with someone that has Covid-19 and it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of 1 metre, the advisory states. This formed the backbone of argument in favour of hundreds of lockdown enacted across the world. The rise in cases in Delhi has coincided with the gradual reopening of city -- workplaces, markets, malls, restaurants, hotels and weekly markets. The last two have been opened just last week. There are also talks underway to open the Delhi Metro, which carries around 2.5 million people every day. As per the second sero survey report, nearly two-thirds of the citys population is still unexposed (thus susceptible to Covid-19)... And if you create opportunities for people to mingle, then it will increase the chances of transmission of the infection, said Dr Lalit Kant, former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at ICMR told HT. What we can do: The government needs to ensure that the city opens carefully, and that social distance is maintained in shops, markets and public transport, be it buses or Metro 3. PLATEAU IN TESTING The rise in cases has corresponded with the number of daily tests being on a near-steady drop from peak levels. The seven-day average for tests stands at 17,924 significantly off the peak of 21,660, which was for the week ending July 9. HT first reported this plateau in a report on August 15 when experts raised questions about whether the Capital is getting complacent in its testing strategy. This drop in testing was acknowledged during Wednesdays press briefing by Kejriwal, who said there are plans to double the numbers in a week from roughly 20,000 tests to 40,000 per day. Another issue with Delhis testing has been the heavy reliance on antigen, or rapid tests, which are not as reliable as the gold-standard RT-PCR tests. While ICMR says that at an average, around 30-40% of tests across India are antigen tests, which give out a higher number of false positives. In Delhi, this number has averaged around 70%. What can be done: The government must maintain a very steady rate of high testing for a prolonged period of time and ensure that the number RT-PCR tests are increased, and that they are used at full capacity. 4. STATISTICAL VARIATION A common occurrence among all Covid-19 statistical analysis across the world has been that infections can rise and drop in spurts. Several factors such as incubation period, delay/lag in test results, and age of infected patients can push heavily influence the daily (and by extension, weekly) numbers emerging out of any area. For instance, the incubation period for Covid-19 can vary between one to 12 days, so the same people who got infected on a day can test positive as much as 11 days apart. Such variations in case rates have been visible throughout the world with cases rising and dropping in cycles. Countries such as Brazil and the United States generally see massive variation in daily data. Delhi had been one of those regions that had not seen major variation in daily cases. Therefore Delhis recent spurt in cases may also be connected to recent statistical spurt which may have been influenced by multiple factors. What can be done: Statistical variation can be countered by closely monitoring any change in datasets from the city such as daily positivity rate, reproduction factor, and doubling rate 5. SECOND WAVE COMING? Although the government and experts still say there is no second wave Covid-19 in Delhi, the chances of that happening in the not-too-distant future remains high. Several countries, including those that have been lauded by global health experts for their handling of the disease, have seen a resurgence of cases after bringing the first wave under control. A large majority of countries in Europe such as Italy, Spain and Germany have all seen second waves. The positive news, though, is that the second wave has been milder than the first in terms of total cases and has generally caused far fewer fatalities. Experts have warned that the recent spike in cases may be the start of Delhis second wave of infections. What can be done: If data in Delhi points to a second wave, then the government should not hesitate in shutting down parts of the city a second time to contain cases again. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Passengers taking from India need not apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and can directly book their tickets with the airlines, said an official statement on Wednesday. A standard operating protocol issued by the Home Ministry on August 22 stated that persons who are eligible to travel on outbound flights "will apply to MoCA or an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure & arrival". The MoCA said on Twitter on Wednesday that it "has designated all the operating under Vande Bharat Mission & air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose". "Passengers may book tickets directly with the concerned. They need not apply/register with the Ministry of Civil Aviation," it added. While scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, special have been operating under Vande Bharat Mission and bilateral air bubble arrangements. Since July this year, India has signed separate bilateral air bubble arrangements with various countries like the US, the UK, the UAE, Germany, France and Qatar. Under a bilateral bubble pact, of both the countries can operate special international passenger flights with certain restrictions. (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.) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India and the UAE share a fast-growing relationship and that the Gulf country is central to Indias extended neighbourhood. He also welcomed the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel and said it has opened up lots of opportunities" for the country as it has very good ties with the two countries. India and the UAE share a fast-growing relationship. The UAE is central to Indias extended neighbourhood. We see the UAE on the crossroads of international trade. As Singapore is in the East, the UAE is in the West," Jaishankar told the Gulf News. Jaishankar, who has taken a special interest in the India-UAE bilateral relationship, said: It is a relationship where the highest leadership of both countries have invested goodwill and energy. As a result, you can see the transformation during the last five years." In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first Indian premier to visit UAE in 34 years. This was a turning point, as the last five years have proven so emphatically, the report said. On August 17, Jaishankar held extensive talks with his counterpart from the UAE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, covering a range of areas including ways to further boost strategic ties and the situation in the neighbourhood of both countries. The Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian side invited further investments from the UAE in key sectors of the Indian economy such as infrastructure including logistics, food parks, highways, ports, airports, renewable energy and defence. In a statement, it said wide-ranging discussions were held in a friendly, frank and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the strong bilateral ties between the two partners. Commenting on the recent treaty between the UAE and Israel, Jaishankar said: When two strategic friends come closer it opens up lots of opportunities." India on August 14 welcomed the full normalisation" of ties between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel under a historic peace deal, and said it has consistently supported peace, stability and development in West Asia. A day after his country finalised the peace deal with Israel, Foreign Minister of the UAF Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan made a phone call to his Indian counterpart Jaishankar and discussed the peace initiative. Around 150 Indian Army troops, 45 Indian Air Force personnel and a number of Navy officers will form the Indian contingent for the exercise scheduled to be held in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia from September 15 to 26. (A file photo) NEW DELHI (PTI): India will send a tri-services contingent of nearly 200 personnel to take part in a multilateral war game in Russia next month, in first such participation in a mega military drill after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, official sources said on Tuesday. China, Pakistan and a number of other member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are expected to participate in the strategic command-post exercise, they said. Around 150 Indian Army troops, 45 Indian Air Force personnel and a number of Navy officers will form the Indian contingent for the exercise scheduled to be held in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia from September 15 to 26, sources said. They said a meeting of representatives of the countries participating in the military drill took place in Volgograd on Tuesday to discuss various aspects of the exercise. Russia has been a major partner of India in the defence sector and the cooperation has been steadily growing further. Tweeting about the event, Russian Embassy in New Delhi said on Tuesday, "Preparations for #Kazkaz2020 Strategic Command and Control Exercise are underway in Russia. Indian military representatives among the participants." The embassy also posted the Russian Defence Ministry tweet which said, "A staff meeting for military representatives of the countries participating in #Kazkaz2020 Strategic Command and Control Exercise Belarus, India, Iran, Myanmar and Pakistan started today in Volgograd." In June, a tri-services contingent from India participated at the Victory Day Parade at the iconic Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. A contingent from China had also attended it. The invite for the exercise comes at a time when India and China are locked in a bitter border row in eastern Ladakh. Both India and China are members of the SCO, an influential regional grouping. Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Both countries are holding talks at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the dispute. Russia has already said that India and China should resolve the border dispute through talks and that a "constructive" relationship between the two countries was important for regional stability. The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, has emerged as one of the largest trans-regional international organisations which accounts for almost 44 per cent of the world population stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea. The aim of the SCO is to maintain peace, stability and security of the region. India became a member of the SCO in 2017. It will be the first major multilateral military exercise in which India is participating after the coronavirus pandemic broke out. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who recently announced she was leaving her post, will speak Wednesday at the 2020 Republican National Convention. Conway will speak after the convention convenes at 8:30 p.m. Later on, Vice President Mike Pence will deliver his address from Fort McHenry in Maryland. She grew up in the Atco section of Waterford Township and became the first female campaign manager for a successful presidential candidate. Conway said she was leaving the White House, where she had worked since Trump became president, to spend more time with her family. Her husband, George, had been a leading Trump critic and was involved in efforts by some Republicans to deny him the president a second term. This is completely my choice and my voice, Conway said in announcing her resignation. In time, I will announce future plans. For now, and for my beloved children, it will be less drama, more mama. As counselor to the president, she was a senior adviser and fierce defender of her boss on television. She memorably responded to then-White House spokesman Sean Spicers obviously false statement that Trumps inauguration drew the biggest crowd ever by saying he was using alternative facts. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel had called on Conway to be fired for repeated violations of the Hatch Act, which limits the political activities of most federal employees. The White House disregarded the recommendation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Timini Egbuson A popular Nigerian actor-presenter, Timini Egbuson, has advised ladies to stay away from men who seem to have a lot in common with them, warning such persons can be manipulative. He spoke during a recent episode of his vlog, where he bared his thoughts on five tell-tale signs to watch out for signaling that a partners motives for initiating relationships might not be genuine. Over sexualization, like everything is sexual or when they (the man) oversexualize everything. Something could happen and water spills and they be like, Oh, are you wet?, Egbuson said. Or she says, I like my fruit hard and he goes like, You like it hard, dont you? If a guy tells you that, hes giving you sign he just wants to smash. I might be wrong, what do I know, but yeah. Its another red flag if hes over-romantic. You just started talking to him yesterday and hes like hes been dreaming of you and cant sleep. Or, Im hungry but Ill not eat until youve eaten. If he shakes your hand and spins you around, Im telling you, thats the way hes going to spin into your vagina and scatter everything in your life. Be careful of that, come as real as you can. Egbuson also warned about men who would readily play games on the intelligence of their female partners just to get down with them or in an attempt to see how they react to certain situations. If hes playing games to see your reaction like lying he doesnt have cash or saying he cant afford a certain place. That guy is already being manipulative, the 33-year-old actor added. Its too early in the relationship for him to start showing his tendencies. Mama, slap am, chop the food, make sure he pays, and leave that place. Have you ever been on a date with this guy and he seems to have everything in common with you? Youre talking things and hes finishing your sentences and looks so cute. Mama, Japa! When a guy has too many things in common with you, that is a red flag. Nine times of ten, that guy is making calculated moves to maneuver his way into your pant. Toni Hernandez joins with unemployed airport workers, the Black Lives Matter Alliance of Broward and other supporters to ask that Delta Airlines contractor, Eulen America, who the demonstrators say received $25 million from the CARES Act, hire back their unemployed Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport workers on August 13, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They are also asking that U.S. Senators pass the HEROES Act that provides PPE, essential pay and extended unemployment benefits for essential workers. Joe Raedle | Getty Images Most states have gotten approval to offer workers at least $300 a week in extra unemployment benefits. But more than a dozen haven't and that leaves millions of workers without additional aid and wondering when, or if, it will come. The dynamic is playing out at a time when jobs are scarce and financial relief measures, such as housing protections and low-interest loans for small businesses, have expired. So far, 32 states will offer an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits, funded by the federal government, as part of a Lost Wages Assistance program. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Those states have gotten approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the past week and a half to offer the subsidy, which is being paid by up to $44 billion in federal disaster relief funds. Some states, like Kentucky and Montana, are kicking in an extra $100 from a federal coronavirus-relief fund, for a total of $400. Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming haven't yet received approval to offer the $300 boost. That means about 5.5 million people receiving unemployment benefits are currently left out from getting more jobless aid, according to a CNBC analysis of Labor Department data. More from Personal Finance: Can you be evicted right now? It depends on your ZIP code Medicare open enrollment is coming up Permanent payroll tax cut could deplete Social Security trust funds by 2023 That equates to about 22% of the roughly 25 million Americans receiving traditional state unemployment insurance and those getting benefits through the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for self-employed, gig and other workers. And the analysis leaves out many workers who aren't eligible for the $300-a-week boost even in states approved to offer it. People currently getting less than $100 a week in benefits can't access the federal subsidy equating to about 1 million people nationwide, by some estimates. Of course, many states that haven't yet received federal approval to offer the extra benefits have applied or plan to apply for it. South Dakota's governor has said the state will not apply for the aid. But these delays can prove costly for unemployed workers depending on the extra assistance. Nearly a month has passed since they last received a $600-a-week federal unemployment subsidy enacted in March as part of the CARES Act financial relief law. Absent additional money, workers are getting just $308 a week in state benefits, on average, according to the Labor Department. It appears just two states Arizona and Texas have begun disbursing the lost wages assistance to workers, nearly three weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive measure directing FEMA to pay the benefit. Meanwhile, jobs are hard to find. There are 11.2 million more unemployed workers than job openings, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Cape Town: As the world eagerly awaits a coronavirus vaccine, Africa has received some good news, with wild polio now eradicated and the Democratic Republic of Congo ending the world's largest measles outbreak. Polio is a highly contagious disease that is generally passed through the fecal-oral route, or sometimes through contaminated food and water. It affects mainly children under the age of 5 and can cause paralysis. A baby receives a polio vaccine at the Medina Maternal Child Health Centre in Mogadishu, Somalia. Credit:AP "The ARCC (African Regional Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Poliomyelitis) certifies that the African region has interrupted the transmission of indigenous wild polio virus," announced the independent body's chairperson, Rose Leke. Leke, who was among WHO representatives, heads of state and philanthropists who spoke via video conference to mark the announcement, called it a "historic public health achievement". Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), one of the largest commercial banks in Bahrain, and Ithmaar Holding, the parent of Ithmaar Bank, which operates the largest Islamic retail banking network in Bahrain, have entered into initial talks on a potential acquisition by BBK of Bahrain operations of Ithmaar Bank. The acquisition will includes specific assets of IB Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ithmaar Holding, said an Ithmaar statement. The plans, which are subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, are still in the preliminary discussions phase and subject to the completion of due diligence by both parties, it said. When implemented, the acquisitions will significantly expand BBKs already large operations in Bahrain and add a turn-key, full-service Islamic banking solution, while also bolstering the already well-established Ithmaar Bank brand and position it to better capitalise on opportunities for growth. Details of the plans will be announced in due course, following necessary approvals, the statement said. The chairmen of both institutions issued a statement welcoming the announcement. BBK has long played a key leadership role in the Kingdom of Bahrains banking and financial services industry, said BBK Chairman Murad Ali Murad. To maintain this leadership role, and as part of its ongoing business expansion strategy, BBK has been exploring opportunities to expand its activities and diversify its offerings, particularly in Sharia-compliant banking businesses. Ithmaar Bank seems a natural fit, and we look forward to exploring this possible acquisition further, he said. Ithmaar Bank, an Islamic retail bank, played a pioneering role in the establishment and subsequent development of Islamic banking in the region, said Ithmaar Holding Chairman Prince Amr Al Faisal. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Ithmaar Holding, Ithmaar Bank is a growing, resilient bank that continues to invest in the future and plays a key role in the community. This transaction is in line with Ithmaar Holdings strategy of creating value for its shareholders, and we look forward to exploring this possible opportunity further, he said. TradeArabia News Service A man walks away from the scene of a shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin: @bgonthescene Two people were killed and a third seriously injured as gunfire erupted in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Kenosha police confirmed the two fatalities on Wednesday morning but said they would release no further details. A torrent of videos posted to social media painted a confusing picture of what appeared to be two separate shooting incidents. One man, wearing a green t-shirt, dark trousers and purple gloves, carrying a satchel and a rifle on a sling, appears in several of them. In one clip, the man and two others can be seen running into the car park of an auto repair shop as gunfire crackles. The man in the green t-shirt then runs away, apparently talking on his phone, as people surround an injured man and try to help him. Another clip also circulated showing a man with a head wound. A further video shows several people chasing a man with a long gun who either falls or is knocked to the ground, before he opens fire on his pursuers. Two people appear to be hit. As the man with the rifle, satchel, and gloves gets up and jogs away towards police vehicles at what appears to be the intersection of 60th Street and Sheridan Road in downtown Kenosha, further shots ring out in the background. Mr Blake, 29, was shot seven times by a police officer on Sunday. It left him paralysed, according to his father and his lawyer. Protests over the incident are now in their third day and have turned violent. Police fired tear gas to disperse people who had gathered outside Kenoshas courthouse on Tuesday night, where some rioters tried to topple a protective fence and threw water bottles and fireworks at officers deployed behind it. Police then used armoured vehicles and riot shields to push back the crowd when protesters ignored warnings to leave a nearby park, many lingering for hours after the citys 8pm curfew. In a statement posted online before the latest round of protests, Mr Beth said he believed they had been soured in part by outside forces. Story continues We know that much of the damage is being inflicted by people coming in from outside our community, with the intent to rob and destroy, not to engage in their First Amendment right to demonstrate, he said. Read more Jacob Blakes family make emotional call for change following shooting Sushant Singh Rajput death case: NCB registers criminal case against actor Rhea Chakraborty, others India oi-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, Aug 26: After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Narcotics Control Bureau on Wednesday registered criminal case against actor Rhea Chakraborty, others to probe their alleged dealings in banned drugs. They said various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) have been pressed in the complaint filed by the federal anti-drugs agency on an official reference received from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News The alleged narcotics dealing links are connected to the criminal probe being conducted in the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, who was found hanging at his duplex flat in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14. The NCB is now the third federal investigative agency probing this case apart from the ED and the CBI. The ED, which is probing a money laundering angle into the death of Rajput, has questioned Rhea Chakraborty, and has obtained "deleted WhatsApp messages" allegedly indicating dealings in banned drugs from her phone. Sushant Singh Rajput case: CBI questions actor's flat-mate on 6th day in row Rhea has been questioned by the ED about these suspect drug deals and her statement on these allegations has been recorded by it under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said. Her lawyer Satish Manehsinde had vehemently denied the allegations made against the 28-year-old actor. "Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test," Maneshinde had said. She is the prime accused in this case and has stated in her petition before the Supreme Court that she was in a live-in relationship with the actor. The ED had shared these alleged drug links with the CBI too. Rajput was found dead in his Bandra flat on June 14. The post-mortem report concluded he died by suicide. The probe was handed over to CBI by the Supreme Court, after it upheld the validity of a first information report (FIR) lodged by Bihar Police in response to a plaint filed by Rajput's father, KK Singh. His word keeps his world relevant. Author Lin Peiyuan, 32, observes the intricacies, history, character, old-fashioned charm and foibles of his hometown in South China's Guangdong province. He peppers his work with the salty, wet atmosphere of the small town by the sea. He uses local-dialect phrases to tell a story of universal humanity. Writer Lin Peiyuan speaks at a lecture during the recent 2020 Shanghai Book Fair. [Photo provided to China Daily] Xiaozhen Shenghuo Zhinan (A Guide to Small Town Living) published recently, comprising 10 short stories concerning the author, is a case in point. It is an intense example of self-observation written with panache. The cultural and linguistic region Lin's works repeatedly evoke is often referred to as Chaoshan. This is an amalgamation of the cities Chaozhou, Jieyang and Shantou, or Swatow, at the southeast side of the province. The region, across the straits from Taiwan, sits on the Tropic of Cancer and has moderate weather. It is located between a Cantonese-speaking region and Hakka dialect area, and therefore shares their cultural conventions. Historically, it was a hub of international trade and, not entirely separate, a launchpad for many Chinese to seek their fortune overseas. As hit TV series The Bad Kids and local indie bands, such as Jiulian Zhenren and Wutiaoren, have become popular, Chinese audiences are paying greater attention to the dialects, traditions, dwelling styles and the ornate arcaded streets of small cities and towns in Guangdong. They provide a tantalizing glimpse of yesteryear. "Our local culture used to be framed by that of North and Northeast China in terms of media exposure," Lin says. Congresswoman Stefanik strongly supports President Trumps reelection and is proud to serve as his New York Campaign Co-Chair, she said in the statement. She is running on her record of results, as she has done in every single election going back to her first reelect. Similar to President Trump, many of these significant results such as USMCA [U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement], veterans issues, support for seniors and rural hospitals and small businesses, investing in defense are bipartisan results. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time seeking his intervention to postpone the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) due to be held in September. Banerjees second letter to Modi on the issue was written a day before she and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi hold a virtual meet with the chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states in a bid to mobilize political support for their demand for postponement of the two critical joint entrance examinations on Wednesday afternoon, according to a top TMC leader close to the Bengal chief minister. Banerjee had sent a letter to Modi on Monday for the first time requesting the Prime Minister to postpone the NEET and JEE examinations. In her second letter written on Tuesday, Banerjee said Centre should consider appealing the Supreme Court decision on holding of the examinations. I am aware that the Supreme Court has given a verdict on holding of JEE and NEET examinations and the Central government had been issuing instructions to go ahead with it accordingly. However, I would like to request your kind intervention and to consider the Central government making an appeal to the apex court to review its decision in the interest of the student community, Mamata wrote on Tuesday. Also Read: NEET, JEE Main 2020: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik seeks postponement of exam The West Bengal government received a letter from the National Testing Agency on Tuesday for conducting the JEE and NEET examinations starting from September 1, prompting Banerjee to write to Modi for the second time within a span of 24 hours. We are really worried and concerned, Banerjee wrote. On Sunday, Adhir Ranjan Chowdury, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, also wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to postpone the examinations. Also Read: More exam centres for safe conduct of NEET, JEE: Govt Students in West Bengal and several other states have been demanding postponement of these examinations over the past few days. The All India Students Association (AISA), a Left front organisation, has planned protests in Kolkata and other cities. Such intervention is very much essential in the larger interest of the students to facilitate creating a situation whereby the students will neither be subjected to grave health risk nor they will be facing a career risk, she added. According to BBC, On July 9, WHO confirmed evidence that COVID-19 might be spread by tiny particles of moisture that can hang in the air in enclosed by or unventilated spaces after 200 scientists warned that airborne transmission may be underestimated. Jonathan Reid, a professor of chemistry who is leading a research team at Bristol University in the United Kingdom is looking into virus transmission and singing. Reid stated how important it is to know how many particles spread during singing or regular talking. "The studies just have not been done and that's really where our study comes in. So far, studies have focused on speaking and looking at how the number of particles-these small aerosol particles that you generate-how they increase as you speak louder." Researchers in the United Kingdom recently stated singing is no more of a risk than talking as a study has shown. Jonathan Reid did measurements in the orthopedic operating theater, which has very clean air. Using the funnel as a sampling device, the number of particles is determined when they sing. Reid picked the song, "Happy Birthday" to simplify how the aerosols they generate vary as they sing at different volumes. Dr. Julian Tang, an expert in respiratory sciences with the University of Leicester, told the BBC that there were still risks, especially for group singing. Christian Post stated, as churches in North America and Europe reopen amid the pandemic, some governments have prohibited singing during worship, with the intention of helping to curb the spread of COVID-19. As singing was banned within the Church community, many sued Gov. Newsom and filed a lawsuit against California Court for not allowing churches to have the right to 'freedom of religion.' WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 26, 2020, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Research & Education Foundation and the AAMFT Awards Committee named Marjorie Nightingale, JD, LMFT, Christiana Ibilola Awosan, Ph.D. & Katherine Stavrianopoulos, Ph.D. the recipients of the 2020 AAMFT Foundation Outstanding Research Publication Award. The award recognizes a published article, monograph, book chapter, or book representing an outstanding scholarly achievement in family therapy research. The award ceremony scheduled initially during the AAMFT 2020 Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, was canceled due to the pandemic. "I am excited to share that Marjorie Nightingale is the recipient of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Research and Education Foundation - Outstanding Research Publication Award. For those of you outside of the profession, this is a national[ly] prestigious award historically bestowed to mid to senior-level scholars and researchers," says Dr. Stephanie Brooks, Senior Associate Dean for Health Professions & Faculty Affairs at Drexel University. "Marjorie is the first Ph.D. student to receive this award! Additionally, Dr. Christiana Awosan, a graduate from our Ph.D. program, is the second author on the publication. Very proud of both of them. "Congratulations again, Marjorie. This is the beginning, and your work is already impacting the profession!" says Dr. Brooks. You can read the award-winning publication attached below. About Marjorie Nightingale: Marjorie is a licensed couple and sex therapist headquartered in Washington, D.C. In addition to her clinical work, she hosts a podcast, Cuff'd, blogs, and is an adjunct professor teaching graduate students entering the profession. Currently, Marjorie is teaching couples how to improve their communication skills during uncertain times. Click the link for more information. https://www.marjorienightingale.com/event-details/on-my-corner-effective-communication-for-todays-relationships Media Contact: Hazel M. Williams Weinstein Williams & Assoc [email protected] Related Files EmotionallyFocusedTherapyACulturallySensitiveApproachforAfricanAmericanHeterosexualCouples11 (1) (1).pdf SOURCE AAMFT Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, has expressed disappointment in the work of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu. Kweku Baako slammed Mr Amidu for failing to pull off his best because he expects him (Amidu) to work hard on the cases before his office. Citing the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) scandal which was forwarded to Mr. Amidu office to probe the case, Mr. Baako asserted that the seeming delay in executing the case cast doubts over the significance of the office. He added that, the integrity of the parties involved in the PPA scandal, thus the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei remain hanging so far as nothing is done to establish the truth in the matter. Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei was suspended following a documentary dubbed ''Contracts For Sale'' by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. He was alleged to have contravened procurement practices and President Akufo-Addo suspended him with immediate effect after the expose was published. The President further referred the case to the Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu to probe the allegations of corruption levelled against the embattled CEO but there has since been no communication of the findings by the Special Prosecutor. Other critics have also lambasted Mr. Amidu saying his office is irrelevant because there has not been even one particular corruption scandal that he's been able to pursue, let alone help to prosecute the culprits. Speaking on 'Kokrokoo' on Peace FM, Kweku Baako told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that although he is an ardent supporter of the Special Prosecutor office and the appointment of the former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, he is however utterly unhappy with Mr. Amidu's work. "The inertia and it is so obvious and lack of results doesn't help anybody. Indeed, it only helps to enhance that subculture of cynicism that people are using against such an important creation of law and I'm very worried about that, especially because I'm a very ardent [1] of the creation of the office and [2] of the appointment of Martin Amidu . . . I'm not just playing mischief; I'm geniunely expressing concern that out there, the perception is that nothing really is happening," he stressed. He urged Mr. Amidu to accelerate his investigations and make public his work on the corruption scandals, if he's already conducted his findings, in order to whip up confidence in the Special Prosecutor outfit. ''Some of us were ardent supporters of that office - the creation of that office - but I'm not too sure that we can all say that on the balanced sheet, when you do a very fair analysis, they have produced the results that we expected. And I believe that, going forward, both the NPP as a ruling party now, and all anti-corruption advocates, should try hard to ensure that this office is producing the results. They need to provide a list of the investigations they're doing.'' 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 The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) is calling on the government to act swiftly to ensure its health advice for schools is fit for purpose. The INTO says it sought clarity on face coverings for young kids and protocols for Covid-19 positive cases three weeks ago. But General Secretary, John Boyle, says the situation remains unclear: "Really what needs to happen is that in the new two days, most schools, all schools will be open this day next week. "I think in the initial few days certainly we will be giving a little bit of slack to the government to get this right. "But we need to have clarity on all of those issues before September 1 which is the official date when most schools will be reopening." Principal of Moyne Community College in Longford, Des Cullen, says they have put a lot of precautions in place ahead of reopening. Mr Cullen says: "Now obviously students will be wearing facemasks. "We've put a huge amount of effort of trying to reorganise the school. "Students will be in their base classes rather than moving around to teachers. "We've one way systems in place and we've had to reorganise even the size of our classes. "Rooms can only take the numbers that will be allowable under the guidelines." Meanwhile, there are questions over a school assembly in Carlow yesterday where 152 students gathered 1 metre apart. The first year students at St Leo's college congregated for the prayer assembly which the Department of Education has raised no objection to. However, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) says the congregation was 'unwise' and 'ill advised'. Sri Lanka will adopt an India first approach" as its new foreign policy plank and protect New Delhis strategic security interests, the countrys Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has said as he sought to allay concerns amid Chinas growing presence in the island nation. Admiral Colombage became the first-ever foreign secretary from a military background when he was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to head the Foreign Ministry on August 14. In an interview published by Daily Mirror on Wednesday, Colombage said Sri Lanka is to adopt an India first approach as its new regional foreign policy plank. That means Sri Lanka will not do anything harmful to Indias strategic security interests," said Colombage, who was the chief of the Sri Lanka Navy between 2012-14 and later became a foreign policy analyst mostly on the Chinese initiatives in Sri Lanka and the immediate region. Colombage said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have an India first approach as the key to strategic security. China is the second-largest economy and India is considered the sixth-largest. In 2018 India was the worlds fastest-growing economy. That means we are between two economic giants, he said. Sri Lanka cannot afford, should not afford and will not afford any particular country to use it as a staging area to do anything against another country especially so India," he said. Commenting on the Chinese investment in the southern port of Hambantota, Colombage says that Sri Lanka had offered India Hambantota first. India did not undertake it for whatever reason, then it went to a Chinese company, he said. Now we have given 85 per cent stake of Hambantota port to China Merchant Holding Company. That should be limited to commercial activities. It is zero for military purposes," he said. Colombage said that despite opposition from port worker trade unions, President Rajapaksa would go ahead with the memorandum of cooperation signed with India on the Colombo Ports Eastern terminal. Colombo Port is the largest and busiest port in Sri Lanka. Located on the southwestern shores on the Kelani River, it serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. The previous Sirisena government had signed a memorandum of cooperation" (MOC) with India and Japan for a tripartite effort to develop the terminal which is located just next to the USD 500 million Chinese-run Colombo International Container Terminal. The President has said that he is ready to honour the agreement. As per the new guidance of the President, no national asset is given with total control to any country," he said. Colombage said that the Rajapaksa foreign policy shift would mean that Sri Lanka would not be anymore reliant on a West-oriented policy. The most dynamic foreign office officials would be posted in Sri Lankas neighbourhood, in the Middle East, Bangladesh, Africa and ASEAN in line with the new foreign policy shift where the emphasis would be on the neighbourhood. China has been making significant forays into Sri Lanka, especially in the defence field. Beijings activities have caused regional concerns, especially in India. Sri Lankan in 2017 handed over the Hambantota port to China on a 99-year lease. There are regional concerns, mostly from India, that China may make a military presence at Hambantota, located on a key sea international shipping route. LONDON: British authorities can share information with U.S. prosecutors about two members of a suspected Islamic State militant cell in Syria known as The Beatles, after a U.K. Supreme Court ruling that may lead to the men being tried in America. The decision released Wednesday comes a week after U.S. Attorney General William Barr informed British authorities that his prosecutors wouldnt seek the death penalty for El Shafee ElSheikh and Alexanda Kotey. Both men grew up in Britain but had their citizenship removed after they traveled abroad to fight with the IS group. The Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted a stay that barred the Home Office, the government department in charge of law enforcement, from sharing information about the men with U.S. prosecutors. The court ordered that the application of the appellant for a continuation of the stay be refused, and the stay be lifted. The court had issued the stay after ElSheikhs mother challenged the governments decision to share the information. She argued that doing so was illegal because the evidence could be used to seek the death penalty, in violation of British and European law. While the court agreed that data protection laws barred the government from helping a foreign government pursue the death penalty, the U.S. has now taken capital punishment off the table. Both British and U.S. authorities allege ElSheikh and Kotey were part of a kidnapping and torture squad responsible for the murder of several Western hostages in Syria. The group became known as The Beatles because all four of its members spoke with British accents. ElSheikh and Kotey were captured by Syrian rebel forces in January 2018 and later turned over to U.S. authorities. They are being held by the military overseas. The U.S. initially asked Britain to prosecute them but decided to pursue the case itself after U.K. authorities declined. The Home Office declined to comment on Wednesdays ruling. However, Home Secretary Priti Patel has made it clear in the past that she supports cooperating with the U.S. to prosecute terrorists. Patel and Barr last year signed an agreement making it easier for authorities investigating serious crimes in the U.S. and Britain to seek electronic data directly from tech companies. This is just one example of the enduring security partnership we have with the U.S., and I look forward to continuing to work with them and global partners to tackle these heinous crimes, she said at the time. 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 Farmers have appealed to government officials to mitigate the consequences of closing down a major pig processing site following a Covid-19 outbreak. Production at Cranswick Country Foods factory, Co Antrim has temporarily halted following the discovery of a Covid-19 cluster amongst workers. The factory is one of the main meat processing sites in NI for pigs and has been closed for two weeks. Cranswick, one of the UK's largest pig processors, said the health and safety of all its colleagues was its number one priority. The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has been involved in talks with Northern Ireland (NI) Ministers, government officials and pig processors regarding the ongoing situation. UFU president Victor Chestnutt said farmers held 'grave concerns' about the closure and the potential serious short and long term consequences. "The factory is a central part of the pig trade in NI, processing thousands of pigs every week," he said. "The UFU is asking all industry representatives to get around the table to discuss and explore all options to prevent a serious backlog." He said there should be more help to relieve extra pressure building on pig farmers who do not have the facilities to house pigs for longer than initially planned. "Action needs to be taken now to ensure this situation does not develop into a major crisis," Mr Chestnutt added. The UFU will continue to work closely with processors and the Department of Agriculture and Health, to seek an urgent resolution to prevent as little disruption to the pig trade as possible. Advertisement Jacob Blake's mother has apologized to President Trump for missing his call after she and her husband said they are praying for police officers and denounced the violence that has rocked Kenosha since his shooting. In an interview with CNN, Blake's mother Julia Jackson, reiterated her comments from an emotional press conference on Tuesday, where she denounced the riotous violence that has erupted after police officers shot her son multiple times in the back as he entered his car on Sunday. 'Please, don't burn up property and cause havoc, and tear your homes down, in my son's name', she said. Jackson, who was accompanied by the family's attorney Ben Crump on the Skype call, also had an apology to offer the president. 'And then also, for President Trump, I'm sorry I missed your call!,' Jackson said. 'Because, had I not missed your call maybe the comments you had made would have been different. I'm not mad at you at all. I have the utmost respect for you as the leader of our country.' While Trump is yet to comment on the case, Donald Trump Jr retweeted a right-wing commentator on Monday who called attention to Blake's prior criminal convictions. Scroll down for video Jacob Blake's mother Julia Jackson appeared on CNN with the family's attorney Ben Crump, and denounced the riotous violence that has erupted after police officers shot her son multiple times in the back Blake, who is a father of six, is now in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing surgery In a press conference Tuesday, Julia Jackson and Jacob Blake Sr spoke publicly for the first time since police officers shot their son, and said they're praying for all involved, including police officers. 'They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter,' Blake Sr said tearfully as he spoke to reporters alongside other family members and lawyers. 'But my son matters. He's a human being and he matters.' Jackson said, 'Citizens, police officers, firemen, clergy, politicians: do Jacob justice on this level and examine your hearts. We need healing. As I pray for my son's healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually, I also have been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country.' The family's attorney Ben Crump, who is also representing the family of George Floyd, revealed Blake was undergoing surgery, adding that the bullets severed his spinal cord, shattered his vertebrae and severely damaged his organs. 'It's going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr. to ever walk again,' Crump said. Jacob Blake's parents, Jacob Blake Sr (center) and Julia Jackson (second from right), arrived with family members outside the County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday for a press conference following their son's shooting by police Blake's mother Julia Jackson (left) denounced the 'violence and destruction' that has rocked the city of Kenosha in the wake of the shooting and pleaded for calm on Tuesday. His father Jacob Blake Sr (right) became emotional as he spoke out against the cops who shot his son seven times Jacob Blake was shot in the back by Wisconsin police on Sunday as his three young sons watched on. He is now paralyzed from the waist down after his body was riddled with bullets, his father says. Blake is pictured above being treated just moments after the shooting The shooting was captured on cellphone video and has ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities, just three months after the death of Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police touched off a wider reckoning on race. Heavily armed civilians were filmed protecting businesses in Kenosha after arsonists set buildings alight, torching much of the black business district Monday. Blake's mother Julia during the press conference condemned the violence saying it did not reflect the feelings and values of their family and pleaded for calm and 'healing'. 'As I drove through the city, I noticed a lot of damage. It doesn't reflect my son or my family,' Jackson said, holding back tears. 'If Jacob knew what was going on, as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased. So I really am asking and encouraging everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts. Jackson also denounced the racial tensions that have plagued the country and called for unity among all races. 'How dare we hate what we are. We are humans. God did not make one type of tree or flower or fish or grass or rock. How dare we you ask him to make one type of human that looks just like you,' she said. 'I am not talking to just Caucasian people. I am talking to everyone. White, black, Japanese, Chinese, red, brown. No one is superior to the other. The only supreme being is God himself. Please, let's begin to pray for healing for our nation.' Civil rights attorney Ben Crump updated the public on Blake's condition adding that it's 'going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again' Kenosha firefighter puts out hot spots near the corner of 22nd street and Roosevelt Street in Kenosha, following another night of rioting in the city that stem from the shooting of Jacob Blake by police Volunteers pitch in to help with clean up at B&L Office Furniture Inc. on 60th Street in Kenosha after the riots A man on the ground was shot in the chest as clashes between protesters and armed civilians who protect the streets of Kenosha against the arson during the third day of protests over the shooting of a black man Jacob Blake by police officer in Wisconsin, United States in the early hours of this morning Two dead and one wounded in Kenosha after clashes between 'self-styled militias guarding gas stations' and BLM protesters Two people were killed and another was injured as a gun battle broke out on the third night of protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin last night. Footage showed gunshots ringing out amid a scuffle in the street while bystanders screamed and fled in terror, with one person shot in the head and another one hit in the chest. Panic broke out as one man lay in agony 'losing a lot of blood' after he was shot in the head, with onlookers desperately trying to stem the wound and yelling that 'we've got to keep him alive'. Another man was helped to his feet by cops after bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to his arm as law enforcement vehicles approached. Three people were shot and two of them were killed, police confirmed in the early hours of this morning - but it is not clear which victims died or who fired the fatal shots. The gunfire broke out after crowds chased a man with a rifle down the street, believing he had shot another man, before one pursuer took a flying kick at him and another tried to grab his weapon. Police are hunting for a man with a long gun and fear that the shooting stemmed from a conflict between 'self-styled militias' and demonstrators voicing anger at the shooting of Jacob Blake. Advertisement She also revealed that the first thing her son said to her when she saw him was that he was sorry. 'He said, "I don't want to be a burden on you guys",' Jackson said. '"I want to be with my children, and I don't think I'll walk again."' Three of the younger Blake's sons - aged three, five and eight - were in the car at the time of the shooting, Crump said. It was the eight-year-old's birthday, he added. Lawyers for the family also described the extent of Blake's injuries revealing he now has holes in stomach and is currently undergoing surgery. 'He had a bullet go through some of all his spinal cord. He has holes in his stomach, he had to have nearly his entire colon, small intestines removed, damage to kidney and liver, and was shot in the arm,' Attorney Patrick Salvi said. 'Jacob has a long road ahead of him. Not going to be his last surgery. Long road to recovery. We are going to hope and pray for as good as a recovery as we can get. Jacob is going to fight hard.' The legal team plans to file a civil lawsuit against the police department over the shooting. Police have said little about what happened, other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. The officers involved have not been named. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating. After a night during which protests devolved into unrest, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers called for calm Tuesday, while also declaring a state of emergency under which he doubled the National Guard deployment in Kenosha from 125 to 250. The night before crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires in the southeastern Wisconsin city's downtown. 'We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue,' said Evers, who is facing mounting pressure from Republicans over his handling of the unrest. 'We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction.' It comes after the emergence of a second video, which was taken from a different angle to the initial cellphone footage, that appears to show Blake wrestling with officers in the lead up to the shooting. Both videos capture Blake walking to the driver's side of his SUV and opening the door when the officer started shooting. Cars burn at a small car dealership. It was set on fire the previous night with most of the vehicles being destroyed in the fire. Protesters came back the following night to finish burning the vehicles over the police shooting of Jacob Blake he State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections building burns as flames engulf the facility that was set on fire by protesters over the police shooting of Jacob Blake A city block was cordoned off Tuesday, so officials could survey damage. Several storefronts were badly damaged. Smoke filled the air and visibility was low as firefighters used water cannons on still smoldering buildings Blake's father said he learned Sunday night that officers had shot his son and that he saw the now-viral cellphone video of the incident online just a few minutes later. 'What justified all those shots?' his father said. 'What justified doing that in front of my grandsons? What are we doing? 'I want to put my hand on my son's cheek and kiss him on his forehead, and then I'll be OK. I'll kiss him with my mask. The first thing I want to do is touch my son.' After the first video went viral on social media, a second cellphone video emerged that appeared to show Blake wrestling with at least two officers beside the SUV prior to the shooting. Blake managed to break free and was shown in the video walking to the driver's side of his SUV. Both videos show the moment Blake walked from the sidewalk around the front of his SUV to his driver-side door while officers followed him with their guns pointed as they shouted at him. The police shooting of Blake in front of his three young sons has led to two nights of violent unrest in the city that is located between Milwaukee and Chicago A second cellphone video that emerged later appeared to show Blake wrestling with two officers beside the SUV prior to the shooting Blake and at least two officers were filmed wrestling with each other on the pavement near his SUV, according to this second video As Blake opened the door and leaned into the SUV where his three children - aged 8, 5 and 3 - were, an officer grabbed his shirt from behind and opened fire while Blake had his back turned. At least seven shots could be heard. The officers involved have since been placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice in a shooting by police. Authorities released no details about the officers. Kenosha police do not have body cameras but do have body microphones. The man who said he made the initial cellphone video, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell: 'Drop the knife! Drop the knife!' before the gunfire erupted. He said he didn't see a knife in Blake's hands. White said that before the gunfire, he looked out his window and saw six or seven women shouting at each other on the sidewalk. A few moments later, Blake drove up in his SUV and told his son, who was standing nearby, to get in the vehicle, according to White. White said Blake did not say anything to the women. The images above show the moments leading up to the shooting. Blake (seen in the white shirt) walks away from a police officer who has his gun drawn and is ordering him to stop Donnell and Tamika Lauderdale were spotted washing the blood off the road on Monday after Blake was shot a day earlier White said he left the window for a few minutes, and when he came back, saw three officers wrestling with Blake. One punched Blake in the ribs, and another used a stun gun on him, White said. He said Blake got free and started walking away as officers yelled about a knife. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Blake's family, said Blake was 'simply trying to do the right thing by intervening in a domestic incident.' According to online records, Kenosha County prosecutors recently charged Blake with third-degree sexual assault, trespassing, and disorderly conduct in connection with domestic abuse Police did not immediately confirm either man's account. They did, however, confirm they were responding to a call about a domestic dispute when they encountered Blake. Blake's fiancee, Laquisha Booker, told WTMJ-TV that the couple's three children were in the back seat of the SUV when police shot him. 'That man just literally grabbed him by his shirt and looked the other way and was just shooting him. With the kids in the back screaming. Screaming,' Booker said. Blake's father told the Chicago Sun Times that his son also has three other children. Anger over the shooting spilled into the streets of Kenosha for a second night on Monday, with police again firing tear gas at hundreds of protesters who defied a curfew, threw bottles and shot fireworks at law enforcement guarding the courthouse. Crump, who has also represented the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, said Blake's family has asked that demonstrations in response to his shooting remain peaceful. 'They don't believe violence to be the solution,' he said. The shooting drew condemnation from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who also called out 125 members of the National Guard on Monday after protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear the previous night. The governor said he has seen no information to suggest Blake had a knife or other weapon, but that the case is still being investigated by the state Justice Department. Evers was quick to condemn the bloodshed, saying that while not all details were known 'what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.' Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said the officers 'must be held accountable.' Anger over the shooting spilled into the streets of Kenosha for a second night on Monday, with police again firing tear gas at hundreds of protesters who defied a curfew Demonstrators throw tear gas back at law enforcement on August 24. Hours into the curfew, the mostly peaceful demonstration turned violent. Commercial and government buildings were set ablaze, along with vehicles in car dealership lots Law enforcement officers face angry crowds during a second night of unrest in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake Police attempt to push back protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late on Monday Protestores took turns posing in front of a burning garbage truck during a second night of unrest in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers A city garbage truck burns during a second night of unrest in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Monday Republicans and the police union accused the politicians of rushing to judgment, reflecting the deep partisan divide in Wisconsin, a key presidential battleground state. Wisconsin GOP members decried the violent protests, echoing the law-and-order theme that President Donald Trump has been using in his reelection campaign. The shooting drew condemnation from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who also called out 125 members of the National Guard on Monday after protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and clashed with officers in riot gear the previous night 'As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident,' Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha police union, said in a statement. He called the governor's statement 'wholly irresponsible.' Details have since emerged about Blake's criminal past, including a recent arrest for sexual assault. According to online records, Kenosha County prosecutors charged Blake with third-degree sexual assault, trespassing, and disorderly conduct in connection with domestic abuse. It was unclear whether that case had anything to do with the shooting. In 2015, Blake was also charged with resisting arrest and carrying a concealed weapon after he pulled a gun at a local bar in Racine. Blake's grandfather, Jacob Blake Sr., was a prominent minister and civil rights leader in the Chicago area who helped organize a march and spoke in support of a comprehensive housing law in Evanston, Illinois, days after the 1968 slaying of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Rachel Noerdlinger, publicist for the National Action Network, told The Associated Press that the Rev. Al Sharpton spoke on Monday to Blake's father, who called the civil rights leader for his support. Blake's father will speak at Sharpton's March on Washington commemoration on Friday, Noerdlinger said. Karissa Lewis, national field director of Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 Black-led organizations that make up the broader Black Lives Matter movement, said the shooting was yet another example of why activists have called for defunding police departments. 'There's no amount of training or reform that can teach a police officer that it's wrong to shoot a Black man in the back seven times while his children watch,' Lewis said. The letters 'BLM' are emblazoned in blood-red paint on the outside of a vandalized jewelry store in downtown Kenosha One local business hit particularly hard by the unruly scenes was Car Source, a local automobile dealership The interior of a burned out restaurant is seen on Monday after a night of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha residents woke Monday morning to broken and charred storefronts, with dozens of cars and trucks in the street burnt out, such as this one above Protesters hold signs supporting Black Lives Matter during a demonstration in front of the Kenosha County Court House on Monday India's tally rose to 3.2 million on Wednesday with 67,151 more people testing positive for the infection, while the recoveries have surged to 24,67,758, the Health Ministry said. With 1,066 fatalities reported on Tuesday, the country's death toll is nearing 60,000 - only a notch below Mexico's toll (60,800). In a positive trend, India witnessed its highest drop in active cases in a single day, a fall of 6,423 cases. However, in over two months, daily active cases have been in the negative just four times, of which one instance was of quite negligible consequence, with the gap between new cases and new recoveries at just 54 cases. Delhi recorded 1,544 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking tally to 1,64,071. Therefore, Delhi Chief Minister called a review meeting to discuss the situation in the national capital. says recovery rate above 90% in the national capital. Strategy will remain to test and isolate, says Kejriwal on cases in Delhi. The services, which have been closed since March 22 in view of coronavirus pandemic, are likely to be allowed as part of Unlock 4. In a significant development related to the coronavirus vaccine, Russia has expressed its willingness to the Indian government for collaboration in the manufacturing of Covid vaccine - Sputnik V, a government official said on Tuesday. Listen to the podcast for more Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 17:59:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, who is running for director-general of the World Trade Organization, said if she is chosen to lead the global trade body, she would push for reforms to restore trust in the agency amid a weakening global economy striken by COVID-19. "The WTO is facing profound challenges, both externally and internally. (The WTO is facing) maybe the biggest crisis since it was launched," Yoo said in a recent interview with Xinhua. She said "strains to global trade" were caused by the sluggish global economic growth combined with weak demand, and rising protectionism and trade tensions. The COVID-19 pandemic "added fuel" to the worsening global trade, which contracted in 2019 for the first time since 2009, said Yoo. "What's more concerning is that the WTO has not been able to pull its weight amid this growing uncertainty," she noted. South Korea nominated Yoo as one of the eight contenders for the WTO top job, after incumbent WTO chief Roberto Azevedo unexpectedly announced his resignation for Aug. 31, a year before his term expires. Yoo became South Korea's first female trade minister, starting her 25-year trade career in 1995 when the WTO was born. She took charge of WTO affairs in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Throughout her career, she led many of South Korea's bilateral free trade agreement negotiations and represented Seoul in regional trade talks. To rejuvenate the free, multilateral trade system, Yoo emphasized the need to rebuild trust and renew the three pillars of the WTO: negotiation, dispute resolution and transparency. She said doing so would make the Geneva-based body "more relevant, resilient and responsive." "We need to go back to the basics. The three pillars of the WTO need to work together and reinforce each other to maintain a well-functioning system," Yoo said. The veteran trade negotiator pledged to revitalize the negotiation function of the WTO by updating its rulebook in a bid to reflect new economic realities and "agree on new rules and lessen the burden on the dispute settlement system." Yoo picked addressing the impasse in the Appellate Body, seen as the supreme court for global trade disputes, as an "urgent" need. The Appellate Body requires at least three out of seven judges to be able to function, but the U.S. government has blocked new appointments for judges for over two years claiming that the court went beyond its official work. "I believe the role of the director-general is even more critical at this infection point ... Based on the reality assessment, but with members' collective energy and will, I believe we can move forward at this time," Yoo noted. To fight against protectionist moves, strengthened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Yoo said "we need the three pillars of the WTO to work effectively." "The very reason why we have established the WTO is to collectively resist protectionist pressures of all kinds ... Back in 2008 after the financial crisis, the WTO was there to play such a role at the center of the fight against protectionist pressures," said the trade minister. Touching on trade tensions, Yoo said it was ascribable to the "lack of progress at the WTO." "If the WTO fails to reinvent itself, more countries, more members (of the WTO), might be compelled to resort to their own way of dealing with the disputes. So, it is all the more important to revitalize the WTO system," Yoo said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 18:23:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed in an airstrike by a Turkish drone near the town of Sinjar in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, the Iraqi military said on Wednesday. The Turkish drone violated the Iraqi airspace at about 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday (1600 GMT) and bombed a pickup truck at a village near the town of Sinjar, some 100 km west of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, killing two people aboard but the driver survived the attack, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. The Turkish aircraft also bombed a site in the village of Bara Khansour near Sinjar, but there are no reports on casualties yet, the statement said. On Aug. 12, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad to condemn the violation of Iraq's sovereignty by the Turkish forces and aircraft under the pretext of attacking suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in several areas in northern Iraq. The same day, the ministry canceled a planned visit by the Turkish defense minister to Baghdad scheduled on Aug. 13 in protest against the Turkish attacks and violations. Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardments against the positions of PKK militants in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main PKK base. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. Enditem Back in 2015, Elton performed at the Outside Lands Music and Arts festival, which has been held annually in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park since 2008; it's the largest independently owned music festival in the U.S. Since this year's festival has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's moved online. Now retitled Inside Lands, it'll be a mixture of live virtual performances and archival sets streaming on Friday and Saturday. Elton's set from 2015 will stream at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday at Twitch.tv/sfoutsidelands. His set list included all of his biggest hits, with a good chunk of material from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, as well as "Tiny Dancer," "Levon," "Daniel," "Crocodile Rock" and more. Elton's the only veteran artist in the whole lineup. Most of the artists involved in the streaming event are rap, R&B or alternative rock stars. By Andrea Dresdale Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. KAMPALA Uganda will start treating over 400 cancer patients daily a move that will to reduce on the backlog of several cases that need treatment for cancer. This comes after the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) embarked on the installation of the linear accelerator machine which will supplement on the current cobolt machine which is treating close to 800 people daily. The multi billion equipment purchased by the Government of Uganda for the Uganda Cancer institute is part of President Musevenis pledge to equip hospitals and laboratories with imaging and diagnostic equipment to help doctors carry out proper diagnosis, save more lives and at the same time reduce money spent by Ugandans traveling abroad for medical treatment. DR Jackson Orem, the Executive director UCI which is a regional center of excellence said, Through close collaboration with partners ,they are working hard to fasten the administration of treatment of cancer so as to reduce pain and death. He added,Once the machine starts operation in December 2020, cancer Treatment will greatly improve as this machine provides image guided stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy with high precision to treat tumours and lesions in various parts of the body, including lungs, breasts, head, and neck. Cancer accounts for at least 5 per cent (353,000 people) of the national deaths annually, according to UCI. In 2016, cancer cases were at 4,000 and 4,500 in 2017. Last year , UCI treated close to 7000 new cancer patients at both UCI and Mbarara Regional Cancer Centre. Data at the Uganda Cancer Registry indicates that 32,617 new cases of cancer were registered in 2018. Recently, experts urged East African governments to commit more funds to the fight against cancer. The appeal comes as statistics reveal worrying trends of the disease prevalence in the region. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Cancer Research, cancer cases worldwide are expected to increase by 75% in the next two decades. Related Continue Reading Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander have addressed their breach of Greeces social distancing rules, where the Dutch royals are currently on holiday. After a picture emerged of the couple posing with a restaurateur standing shoulder to shoulder, they addressed the fact that they didnt keep the appropriate distance - tweeting that they should have. The couple were on the Greek island Milos where a man identified as the owner of a restaurant by the Irish Times smiled alongside them. None of them were wearing masks (restaurant staff are required to in Greece), though King Willem-Alexander was seen holding one in his hand. The trio stood close together, however Greeces social distancing rules dictate that people should remain 1.5m apart. Getty Images After the picture emerged on social media, a restaurant employee said the picture was a mistake via The National and was intended for a private photo collection. The royals have since addressed the incident on the Dutch royal households official Twitter account, @koninklijkuis. Written in Dutch, the statement was translated as: A photo appeared in the media in which we didnt keep the appropriate distance. Of course, we should have. Because keeping coronavirus rules while on holiday is just as essential if were to keep the virus under control, it continued. The message was signed off WA & Maxima, implying it was written and shared by the couple. Queen Maxima and her husband are currently on holiday in Greece with their children Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. King Willem-Alexander purchased a Greek villa nearby Kranidi in 2012, which was bought for a reported 4.5 million Euros. It was reported at the time by the BBC that Vladimir Putin and Sean Connery both own homes in the vicinity. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against Vaxart, Inc. ("Vaxart" or "the Company") (NASDAQ:VXRT) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors who purchased the Company's securities between June 25, 2020 and July 25, 2020, inclusive (the ''Class Period''), are encouraged to contact the firm before October 23, 2020. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com. The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Vaxart engaged in a fraudulent scheme to artificially inflate its stock price with false information related to the Company's alleged COVID-19 vaccine. The Company announced via press release that "Vaxart's COVID-19 Vaccine Selected for the U.S. Government's Operation Warp Speed," which caused a sharp increase in its share price. The New York Times revealed on July 25, 2020, that "Vaxart is not among the companies selected to receive significant financial support from Warp Speed," exposing the Company's scheme and driving its share price lower. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Vaxart, investors suffered damages. Story continues Join the case to recover your losses. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq., www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603496/SHAREHOLDER-ACTION-ALERT-The-Schall-Law-Firm-Announces-the-Filing-of-a-Class-Action-Lawsuit-Against-Vaxart-Inc-and-Encourages-Investors-with-Losses-in-Excess-of-500000-to-Contact-the-Firm Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 03:59:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi on Tuesday hailed the "constructive" talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi for opening a "new chapter of cooperation" between Iran and the IAEA. In a joint press conference in Iran's capital Tehran, Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that the Iran-IAEA cooperation "will be developed more than ever," the official news agency IRNA reported. Salehi voiced hopes that Grossi's visit will have results that "satisfy both sides," with the IAEA acting on the basis of its own statute and Iran "reciprocally" fulfilling its duties on the basis of the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and Iran's Additional Protocol. After Tuesday's talks in Tehran, Iran expects the IAEA to perform its task in a "professional and independent" manner, Salehi said. Both sides are working on a joint statement on the results of the talks that will be published "as soon as it is completed," he noted. Iran's enemies "will not remain silent," but Iran will act according to its national interest, and "will not submit to demands beyond its nuclear commitments," Salehi added. For his part, Grossi said as long as he is the IAEA chief, he will "never allow anyone to abuse the agency in order to achieve their own goals." Answering a question about a change in the IAEA's approach under his directorship, Grossi stressed there has not been "any problem" in the Iran-IAEA relation since he took charge on Dec. 3, 2019, and no changes in its approach or procedures. The cooperation between Iran and the IAEA has been "intensive," and is expected to continue to be "constructive," the IAEA chief said. Sometimes "there are questions which require more transparency," and that is the reason for his visit to Iran, he added. Responding to a question about the nuclear activities of Saudi Arabia, Iran's major Gulf rival, Grossi said that under the agreement between the kingdom and the IAEA, Saudi activities will be monitored by the IAEA. Grossi arrived in Tehran on Monday, heading a delegation to confer with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other top Iranian officials. Enditem ZURICH: The 2021 Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) summit of business leaders and politicians has been called off for January due to the coronavirus pandemic, with organisers planning to reschedule the event to sometime early next summer. The advice from experts is that we cannot (host the event) safely in January," WEF said on Wednesday in a statement. The confab in the Swiss Alps that has hosted rival heads of state including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in recent years has been held in the Swiss ski resort of Davos since 1971. WEF, which takes over the ski resort of Davos for about a week each year, has branded itself as the worlds top venue for the business and political elite to meet and discuss the challenges of globalisation. The group said the decision to delay this years edition was not taken easily, since the need for global leaders to come together to design a common recovery path and shape the Great Reset in the post-COVID-19 era is so urgent." In lieu of the meeting, it would host virtual high-level discussions the week of January 25, WEF said, adding it would share dates and location of the rescheduled meeting once it was assured of health and safety conditions. 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 pair of court injunctions aimed at Indigenous land activists remain in force as the occupation of a Caledonia construction site continues. With supporters of 1492 Land Back Lane rallying outside a Brantford courthouse Tuesday morning, Superior Court Justice R. John Harper extended two injunctions he had previously granted on behalf of Foxgate Developments and Haldimand County. The first injunction orders the Six Nations group occupying the planned McKenzie Meadows housing development to leave the site and remove any structures they have put up since moving in on July 19. The second forbids the group from protesting on public roadways. The county sought that blanket injunction in response to the barricades that went up on Argyle Street and Highway 6 after the OPP arrested nine self-described land defenders at the site on Aug. 5. The Land Back group took down the road barricades last week, saying they wanted to return attention to their assertion that the McKenzie Road site is unceded Haudenosaunee territory. But Harper agreed with Woody McKaig, the lawyer representing Haldimand County, who argued that the group could put the barricades back up at any time. Nothing has changed, Harper said, adding that the occupiers have chosen not to respond in court and have instead taken a lawless approach to the injunctions. That can only hurt the community Indigenous and beyond, he said. Six Nations member Skyler Williams said taking the land defenders to court undercuts hopes for nation-to-nation dialogue over the land claim. Extending the injunction indefinitely is ridiculous, and its further criminalization of land defenders, said Williams, who was named as a defendant to the injunctions based on his social media presence as a spokesperson for the Land Back group. That could make him liable for the plaintiffs legal bills, but Williams didnt seem worried about that possibility. Its hard to get water from a stone, I hear, he said. Foxgate lawyer Paul DeMelo said the occupiers are causing irreparable harm to the planned subdivision, noting that Williams also took part in the Indigenous occupation of the former Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia 14 years ago. His actions now, as in 2006, have caused significant damage to the community, DeMelo said. Williams countered that Foxgates plan to build on disputed territory is the real problem. Covering our community in concrete and asphalt is significant damage, he said. Our connection to the land, our connection to who we are as Haudenosaunee people, thats what needs to be respected. DeMelo described Foxgates land title research to ensure the McKenzie Meadows site was legally available for purchase, a claim the occupiers reject. He also referred to an accommodation of Six Nations elected council with cash and land elsewhere. My clients have no dispute with the Six Nations community They have gone over and above their legal obligations, DeMelo said, noting that the builders are not involved in the long-running land claim between Six Nations and Ottawa. But they are unfortunately the ones who are caught in the middle of this dispute, he said. Two Haudenosaunee women who attempted to read a statement aloud during the hearing were admonished by the judge for disrupting the proceedings and not submitting their remarks in advance for all sides to review. One of the unidentified women persisted in voicing her objection to development on the Haldimand Tract. The judge was about to order her to leave, but she evidently did so of her own accord. In a statement released through the Yellowhead Institute an Indigenous-led think tank based at Ryerson University in Toronto a group of Haudenosaunee women voiced their displeasure with the court proceedings. We oppose the broad use of injunctions that are meant to stifle our people from seeking justice, the statement read in part. These matters are complex and we do not believe this court is the appropriate forum to deliberate our concerns or resolve our issues. Williams has called court injunctions colonial tools to push Indigenous people off their land, a view bolstered by Indigenous rights lawyer Kate Gunn of First Peoples Law Corporation. In a blog post, Gunn noted that Indigenous groups have used injunctions to stop development on their territory. But in recent years, developers and other corporations have been much more successful in obtaining injunctions to keep Indigenous activists from interfering with their projects. It is worth considering why, in measuring the balance of convenience, economic interests are so frequently found to outweigh the protection of Indigenous peoples title and rights, Gunn said. Internet celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, alias Mompha, was on Wednesday released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was released on bail about two weeks after he was re-arrested by the anti-graft agency in Lagos. His lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole, said Mompha had withdrawn the N5 million fundamental rights suit he filed against the EFCC to challenge his re-arrest. Mompha is standing trial alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd, on an amended 22-count charge bordering on cyber fraud and money laundering to the tune of N33 billion. PREMIUM TIMES reported how he was re-arrested on August 14. He was arrested when he went to the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos to reclaim his luxury possessions. The items include five luxury wristwatches, an Apple iPod, an iPhone 8 device, and a pair of sunglasses, which were among other items found on him when he was arrested on October 19, 2019, in Abuja. His visit to the EFCC office followed a July 24 ruling by Justice Mohammed Liman ordering the release of the items. Core Design Jensen Krueger Matheson In Bothell, Core Design hired Mick Matheson as a senior project manager, Craig Krueger as a senior planner and Sue Jensen as a senior landscape architect/project manager. Matheson is a civil engineer with 25 years of experience managing private sector land development projects in western Washington. He also worked for 10 years as the public works director/city engineer in Mukilteo and Sultan, and served six years as a member of the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board. Krueger has rejoined the firm after being in the private development industry for over 45 years, gaining experience with builder/developer companies and design consulting firms. His business, Community Land Planning, has become part of Core Design. He continues to provide site planning, feasibility and entitlement services for local, regional and national builders. Jensen has experience in landscape design for residential, mixed-use/infill and master planned communities, such as Ten Trails, as well as retail, schools, parks and trail experience in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to joining Core, she held management and design positions with David Evans & Associates, Weber Thompson, Site Workshop and the State Department of Natural Resources. She will focus on marketing, placemaking and project management. Core Design offers planning, civil engineering, surveying and landscape architecture. The Speaker said the modalities of holding the session by maintaining COVID-19 protocols are being worked out Kolkata: A session of the West Bengal Assembly will begin on 9 September, Speaker Biman Banerjee said on Wednesday. An all-party meeting has been convened on 7 September to discuss the business of the House, he said. "The Assembly session will begin on 9 September. The duration of the session and the business of the House will be decided in the all-party meeting," Banerjee told PTI. The speaker said the modalities of holding the session by maintaining COVID-19 protocols are being worked out. Earlier this week, the state government sent a proposal to the speaker for convening a session either from the first or the second week of September, according to sources. "As per the norms, there can't be a gap of more than six months between two sessions. The last session was adjourned in March this year, so by September, you have to hold the next session. Most likely this will be a short session," a senior leader of the Trinamool Congress said. West Bengal has a 295-member Assembly, including one nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. The evidence is in: At least during the first wave of Covid-19, countries with female leaders suffered far lower death rates than comparable nations led by men. This doesnt mean that the trend will necessarily persist in a second or third wave. Nor does it imply that women are also better leaders when it comes to whatever else governments find themselves doing, from reforming labor markets to waging war. But its worth pondering nonetheless. In doing so, its of course tempting to descend into the netherworld of gender stereotypes and individual caricature. Donald Trump, president of the country with the most deaths from Covid-19, has communicated with an uninformed machismo that has provoked reactions ranging from shock to satire. Jair Bolsonaro, president of Brazil, the runner-up in coronavirus deaths, has pooh-poohed the disease as a little flu. By contrast, Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, which has generally managed the outbreak well, has impressed with explanations of the epidemiological R0 factor that went viral for their sobriety and clarity. Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand, which has only 22 deaths from Covid-19 to date, has talked to Kiwis via Facebook Live from her home in a way that is casual and interactive but also reassuring and credible. Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway, with 264 deaths, has told her countrys children that its OK to be scared when so many things happen at the same time, acknowledging vulnerability even while projecting competence. But in a new global analysis, Supriya Garikipati at the University of Liverpool and Uma Kambhampati at the University of Reading avoid stooping to mere anecdotes. Using data up to May 19, they matched the 19 countries led by women with their nearest neighbors according to a mix of factors including population, the economy, gender equality, openness to travel, health expenditures and the proportion of elderly people. They couldnt use Taiwan (7 deaths), which is governed by a woman but doesnt belong to the United Nations. Their conclusion was unequivocal: On average, the countries run by women suffered half as many deaths from Covid-19 as the nations governed by men. And in individual pairings, female countries fared better than male ones (see chart). Why? Part of the answer is that the female leaders generally ordered lockdowns much earlier, thus flattening the curves of their national outbreaks. Ardern, for instance, calls this approach going hard and early she just went into another temporary lockdown after a new cluster of cases following 100 days of no local transmission at all. But that only raises the question of why women tend to come to that difficult decision so much faster than men. One reason could be that women are more averse to risk, as most studies corroborate. But the choice facing leaders this spring wasnt simply between more or less risk. It was a trade-off between one risk, that to life, and another, that of economic loss. So the difference between the men and women, as the studys authors point out, was really that the women took less risk with lives and more with the economy, whereas men did the opposite. Over time, of course, death and economic loss become intertwined. The women also tended to communicate very differently with citizens. Its long been hypothesized that female leaders lean toward a more democratic or participative style whereas men are more autocratic or directive. Thats been hard to prove, but researchers are still studying whether women indeed bring more empathy to leadership or integrate more emotional information in their decision making. An interpersonal, empathetic and participatory approach certainly seems to help in managing a pandemic. This requires building and maintaining a consensus that the threat is serious, that sacrifice is necessary to protect others, and that individual liberties must be weighed against public-health considerations. And that kind of dialogue with citizens appears to be especially hard for strongmen and comparatively easier for other leaders, female or male. Comparisons between the sexes invariably become frustrating, either verging on the stereotypical or the vague and woolly. We have no idea how the late Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher or the Brittonic Queen Boudica, who gave short shrift to several Roman legions would have managed Covid-19. In leadership, individual character and talent surely trumps gender and everything else. That said, the pattern during this pandemic so far certainly suggests that the world could use much more female leadership. With only 19 countries of the 193 in the UN run by women, theres plenty of room for improvement. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter "So it looks like states are trying to get this money out the door," Michele Evermore, senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project, told Marketplace. "But for the most part, I think it's going to take states quite a while to get this up and running." Sgt. Elder Fernandes in undated file photo provided by the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army) Body Found in Search for Missing Fort Hood Soldier A body found in Temple, Texas, is believed to be that of a Fort Hood soldier who has been missing for over a week. The City of Temple said in a statement that a medical call was made on Tuesday in reference to a male body found near railroad tracks. Officers responding to the scene found identification indicating the victim may be missing Fort Hood soldier Elder Fernandes. City authorities said that a forensic confirmation has not yet been made that the body is that of Fernandes, pending the results of an autopsy. A preliminary investigation determined that the subject had been deceased for some time and, according to the city statement, police do not suspect foul play. Next of kin of the deceased have been notified, with Temple Police Chief Shawn Reynolds saying, Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fernandes family during this challenging time. An attorney speaking on behalf of the Fernandes family told 6 News that after being summoned to the Killeen police station, they were told a railroad worker found the body near the tracks. Natalie Khawam, the attorney, wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday: Our worst nightmare has happened. One of our own, Sergeant Elder Fernandes has been found dead today. We are sickened by this tragedy that has happened one too many times. We are heartbroken for Elder Fernandess family. The 23-year-old soldier went missing from the Fort Hood U.S. Army base in Killeen, Texas, on Aug. 17, with a press release indicating that he left the base of his own accord. Khawam was cited by Task & Purpose as saying that Fernandes was allegedly groped by a male soldier in April, prompting him to report the incident. Fernandes was subsequently transferred to another unit, where Khawam said he was was bullied and hazed. Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam, a spokesman for the 1st Cavalry Division, told Task & Purpose that military officials were not aware of any reports that Fernandes had been subjected to bullying or hazing. Fort Hood last week confirmed an open investigation of abuse sexual contact involving Fernandes, according to KWTX. The unit sexual assault response coordinator has been working closely with Sgt. Fernandes, ensuring he was aware of all his reporting, care, and victim advocacy options, Brautigam said. The unit also facilitated his transfer from a unit who has recently deployed to a different unit within the brigade to ensure he received the proper care and ensure there were no opportunities for reprisals. The Killeen Police Department said in a statement that they are working with the Temple Police Department and the Fort Hood Criminal Investigations Division on the death investigation. Mamata Banerjee upset after not being allowed to speak during PMs meet Missionaries of Charity itself requested SBI to freeze all bank accounts: Govt Mamata Banerjee on PM Modi's virtual hospital launch: We inaugurated it last year Proposal to change rules for central deputation of IAS officers affects states' administration: Mamata to PM West Bengal to observe biweekly lockdown till mid-September India pti-Madhuri Adnal Kolkata, Aug 26: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced a series of relaxations by allowing to resume flights operations from six COVID hotspot states, but extended the closure of educational institutes till September 20. Announcing complete Lockdown across West Bengal on September 7, 11 and 12, Banerjee said Metro Railway can resume services by observing social distancing and other precautionary norms. Fake: This viral video of violence is from West Bengal, not Bengaluru "We have received several requests to resume flight operations from six COVID hotspot states. So from September 1, flight services from these six states can resume thrice a week," she said after a Cabinet meeting. To combat the spread of coronavirus, the state government had imposed a ban till August 31 on passenger flights to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Nagpur and Ahmedabad. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News "Schools, colleges and other educational institutes would remain closed in the state till September 20. The other existing restrictions would be in place. There would be complete Lockdown in the state on September 7, 11 and 12," she said. Banerjee also demanded that the Centre distribute money from PM CARES fund to states to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has settled a heated debate on how to abbreviate 'spaghetti bolognese' during Wednesday's instalment of The Project. Host Waleed Aly told the 45-year-old, who appeared on the Australian talk show via a live link from his London home, that he referred to the popular dish as 'spag bol' while his co-host Peter Helliar used the term 'spag bog'. After hearing the two variations, the Brit couldn't help but chuckle as he admitted a 'bog' was used to describe a toilet in England. Scroll down for video Settled! Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver (pictured) has settled a heated debate on how to abbreviate 'spaghetti bolognese' during Wednesday's instalment of The Project. Jamie said: 'In the UK, a bog is a toilet! If he [Peter] really wants to call it a spaghetti toilet... I mean, I'm not a marketeer, but the marketing on the 'spaghetti toilet' is probably not a great idea!' Referencing the panic buying of toilet paper in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Carrie Bickmore hilariously amused: 'Given how much toilet paper we've bought, maybe it is spag bog in Australia!' The foodie was on the show to promote his new cooking book, 7 Ways, which aims to give people new ideas for the ingredients they regularly purchase. Debate: Waleed Aly told the 45-year-old, who appeared on the Australian talk show via a live link from his London home, that he referred to the popular dish as 'spag bol' while his co-host Peter Helliar used the term 'spag bog' Awkward: After hearing the two variations, the Brit couldn't help but chuckle as he admitted a 'bog' was used to describe a toilet in England. Oliver has been broadcasting his Channel 4 show Keep Cooking and Carry On from his home during the pandemic to give viewers ideas on what to cook. This comes after Jamie Oliver was given the go-ahead to build a greenhouse to grow vegetables in his 6million Essex mansion. He got the green light from the council to start work on the traditional timber-framed vegetable patch at his Grade-I listed 70-acre mansion estate - Spains Hall - in Finchingfield, Essex. Jamie said: 'In the UK, a bog is a toilet! If he [Peter] really wants to call it a spaghetti toilet... I mean, I'm not a marketeer, but the marketing on the spaghetti toilet is probably not a great idea' The TV star bought the country mansion at the start of 2019 and had building work done on the house before he moved in with wife Jools and their five children. Jamie and Jools are parents to Poppy, 18, Daisy, 17, Petal, 11, Buddy, nine, and River Rocket, four. In April 2020, the Jamie Oliver Group confirmed that 20 of its 120 employees had been furloughed because they were unable to work during lockdown. The Singapore State Courts. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) SINGAPORE A 32-year-old woman convicted for hosting an illegal party at her Compassvale Crescent residence during the circuit breaker period claimed she had little choice but to go along with fiancees decision to hold the event. Cassie Ong Shi Hong, who was fined $4,000 on Wednesday (26 August), was the fiancee of Leong Chee Mun, 37, whom her lawyer said was the one who had initially agreed to host the gathering at their home on 8 May. Given that the home belonged to Leong, Ong had little choice but to go along with his decision as she simply could not say No to him, said lawyers Cory Wong, Marshall Lim and Josephus Tan of Invictus Law. The couple are no longer engaged and Ong has since moved out of the unit. Ong pleaded guilty to one count of permitting 16 other individuals to enter her residence to have dinner and drinks, in breach of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020. One similar count, of meeting the same 16 individuals not living in the same residence for a non-essential purpose, was taken into consideration for her sentencing. In relation to the case, 10 Singaporeans have been fined. These are: Felisa Chua Jia Xuan, 23; Poh Yang Ting, 21; Priscilia Tan Sze Hui, 32; Low Wei Hao, 25; Jackson Tan Chia Ho, 30; Nicman Lim Wei Fong, 25; Jasmin Tan Ee Lin, 30; Kho Zi Ting, 27; Peh Si Qin, 22; and Chee Min Hui, 27. Jackson and Jasmin were fined $3,000, while the rest were each fined $2,500. Leong, along with Moey Kai Yi, 18; Jasper Tan Zhi Hong, 25; Cavin Liow Jun Rong, 20; Chua Jie Kun, 29; Mandy Tan Yi Xing, 26 all Singaporeans and 19-year-old Singapore permanent resident Thant Thaw Kuang, have yet to be dealt with. Merrymaking caught neighbours attention Ong and Leong hosted their friends at their flat on 8 May after they agreed to a plan to have dinner and drinks at their place. Jasmin and Jackson visited the flat from about 6am that day, while the 14 other guests began arriving from 9pm. During the gathering, the group ate and drank alcohol together while playing games and watching TV. Story continues Their merrymaking caught the attention of a neighbour, who called the police at about 2am. The neighbour told the police that there are still a lot of youngsters entering and leaving the unit. The complainant added that she had called the police numerous times as the couple had been holding gatherings almost every night. A police officer was sent to the unit at about 2.28am and noticed multiple pairs of footwear outside the front door. He also heard people laughing and chatting inside the unit. When the officer rang the doorbell, he heard the noises quiet down although no one answered the door. He continued ringing the doorbell and waited several minutes before Leong responded. Leong, who said he was the owner of the unit, claimed that he had been sleeping and lied that he and his fiancee were the only ones present. He came clean only after the police officer said he had heard multiple voices from inside the home. While Leong said there were only eight to 10 people in the flat, the officer found a total of 18. Toxic relationship Ongs lawyer Wong sought a fine of no more than $3,000. He claimed that she had little decision-making power over who was invited to the couples home. Wong told the court that Leong and Ong had been in a relationship for two years and that Ong had been dependent on Leong for finances because he was in a stable job while she was between childcare jobs. Ong has since lost her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She had moved in with Leong with a view to settle down but began seeing his true colours after he proposed in June last year, said Wong. The relationship turned toxic as Ong had become conditioned to let Leong make decisions on her behalf, the lawyer said. It was the aftermath of the party that triggered Ong into cutting off the relationship. Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Wei Liang said that a fine of at least $4,000 should be imposed on Ong, in part because the gathering had involved 18 persons, increasing the risk for COVID-19 to spread within the unit and in the community. The gathering was also for a frivolous and completely unnecessary purpose, said Lee. District Judge Ong Luan Tze said that she appreciated that Ong had been under some emotional pressure but that she still held the party in blatant disregard of the law. She agreed with the prosecution that the gathering was completely frivolous and went on for many hours past midnight. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: NZ, Brunei visitors to S'pore to download TraceTogether, keep it activated during stay: CAAS Singapore confirms 5-month low of 31 new COVID-19 cases, including one imported ERP rates at 3 gantries on CTE to rise by $1 during peak hours from 31 August COMMENT: Polarisation in Parliament? PAP will set the tone The Drug Angle In Sushant Singh Rajput's Death Case In one of the messages accessed by the news channel, the Jalebi actress talks about using MDMA and also discusses marijuana. Rhea allegedly messaged a man named Gaurav Arya in which she wrote, "In case we speak about hard drugs, I haven't been doing too much. Tried MDMA once. You have MD?" Another message allegedly sent to Rhea by a person named Jaya Saha on November 25 last year read, "Use 4 drops in coffee, tea or water and let him sip it. Give it 30-40 minutes for it to kick in." Tt is presumed that the him' being referred to in this message is Sushant. Sushant Singh Rajput's Family Lawyer Reacts To These Messages Sushant's family lawyer Vikas Singh told Times Now that it it was highly illegal' for Rhea to administer such drugs to the late actor. He revealed that they had mentioned in their FIR that Sushant used to be over-drugged. Singh said that they were under the impression that those were some drugs administered by a doctor, a psychiatrist and called these revelations 'absolutely explosive.' "Probably, he was being literally drugged, meaning he was given these hardcore drugs which are given to someone to sort of control his mind," Vikas Singh told the news channel. Sushant's Lawyer Claims The Purpose Of Drugging Sushant Was To Subdue Him, Make Him Docile Or Affect His Mind Very Badly Vikas Singh further told Times Now, "It is quite obvious that what was done to Sushant was definitely highly illegal and highly criminal. These drugs were being used to either control him, calm him down or make him docile. That is what the servants also say, that he used to be sleeping on the ground floor. He had a duplex, sixth floor and seventh floor. He used to be sleeping on one floor and there were parties going on on the other floor. Rhea used to be having a party and Sushant used to be sleeping on the other floor. So, there was definitely an element of actual drugging. Not drugging in the sense that we had said in the FIR, but actual drugging. It means that he was administered something contrary to his will, without his knowledge, and the purpose of that drugging was to subdue him, make him docile or to affect his mind very badly. That is ultimately what led to his death." Meanwhile, Rhea Chakraborty's Lawyer Denied These Allegations Responding to all these allegations, Rhea Chakraborty's lawyer Satish Maneshinde said that the actress has never consumed drugs in her life and that she is ready for a blood test. From international environmental activist Greta Thunberg to Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, several political leaders, activists, students, parents, and other stakeholders have raised concerns over holding the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in September amid the Covid-19 pandemic. While NEET is scheduled to take place on September 13, JEE (Mains) will be held from September 1 to September 6. Here are 10 things you need to know about the NEET-JEE exams so far: Exam dates extended twice due to Covid-19: Over 8.58 lakh and 15.97 lakh candidates have registered for JEE (Main) and NEET (UG) respectively this year. Generally, the JEE (Mains) exams for engineering aspirants are conducted in April while NEET is conducted for medical aspirants in May. These exams were postponed twice in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25 to restrict the spread of the disease. Number of centres increased: In order to ensure that social distancing is maintained, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is responsible for conducting these exams, has increased the number of centres this year. While the number of centres for JEE has been increased from 570 to 660, for NEET the number stands at 3,843, an increase from 2,546. Admit cards available online: While NTA has released admit cards for JEE (Mains), the apex examination body on Tuesday said it would soon release admit cards for NEET as well. Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank told a news channel in an interview that over 80% students had already downloaded the JEE (Mains) admit cards till Tuesday. Social distancing in exam halls: As per the standard operating protocols developed by NTA, a reduced number of candidates will be seated in exam rooms to maintain social distancing. In case of NEET (UG), the number of candidates per room has been reduced from the earlier 24 to 12. While students have been asked to use gloves and masks at all times, centres will be equipped with extra supplies in case students or staff need it at the centre. Precautionary measures: There will be hand sanitiser will be present at entry and exit points. Students will disperse in a staggered manner to avoid overcrowding. There will be thermo-guns to check the temperature of all staff and candidates. If any examination functionary fails to meet the self-declaration criteria or thermal scanner check, they will be asked to leave the examination centre immediately. Isolation rooms will also be set up for students with a body temperature of over 99.4 Fahrenheit. NTA has said that no one will be denied permission to appear for the examination, if he/ she violates the Covid-19 directives/advisories of Government (Central/State) applicable on the day of exam and instructions mentioned in the Admit Card. Students cite problems: Apart from the Covid-19 threat, several stakeholders have pointed out that students from flood-hit states such as Bihar, Gujarat, and Assam or the rain-hit districts of Kerala or those from areas such as Jammu and Kashmir facing Internet connectivity issues will have to struggle more to appear for the entrance exams. Activists have also pointed out that students travelling to different centres and returning home to multigenerational families may further spread the disease in the country. Several districts in lockdown: Of the 734 districts in the country, lockdown orders related to Covid-19 of varying degrees are in place in 345 districts across the country. Students from these areas are likely to face problems while commuting to the exam centre with a reduced number of operational public transport facilities. Political leaders against it: Leaders from various political parties, such as the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal among others, have expressed reservations about conducting exams amid a pandemic and urged the Centre to come up with an alternative solution for admission to medical and engineering courses. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee are also slated to hold a virtual meeting with chief ministers of non-BJP states on Wednesday. Students protests: Students organisations, such as AISA, SFI, NSUI among others, have been holding consistent social media campaigns to demand the cancellation or postponement of the exams. Twitter hashtags such as #ProtestAgainstExamsinCovid garnered over three million tweets on a single day. The student community has also been holding relay hunger strikes to protest against the issue. Other exams scheduled to be held in September include Delhi University Entrance Test, Common Law Admissions Test, IP university entrance exams, and UGC-NET exams. Loss of an academic year is a concern: Academicians said a further delay in examinations can disrupt the academic calendar and put the future of students in jeopardy. They also emphasised that conducting the exams in September would allow institutes to start online classes at the very least. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court too said that life must go on and students cannot waste a whole year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hawaii: Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials ahead of a visit on Tuesday to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II. Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl. He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a US Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head. He Will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japans former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the countrys World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site. The memorial will be closed to the public today when Abe visits the historic site, joined by US President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family. The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, its significant that it took more than 70 years for US-Japanese relations to get to this point. Abe wont apologize for Japans attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology. The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the US atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Oakland County has amended its leave policy to provide for more flexibility for its employees with school aged children. Currently, almost 50 percent of Oakland Countys 3,600 full-time employees have school aged children. With many students taking classes online this fall by due to COVID-19, the county has amended its leave policy to provide flexibility for departments to address employees who may be experiencing childcare issues due to the pandemic. The Temporary Child Care Flexibility Leave Policy, which was approved by the board of commissioners Aug. 20 and took immediate effect on Aug. 21, would allow eligible employees to take advantage of various leave options. The policy will be in effect through December 31, 2020. To qualify under the new policy, the employees absence must be related to childcare needs as a result of COVID-19, or an involuntary or voluntary furlough due to COVID-19. Under the new policy, an extension of benefits will count for any leave related to COVID-19 as of March 23. The new policy allows departments and employees flexibility regarding work schedules/work hours that meet the policy criteria and will require employees to sign an agreement that overtime will be calculated based on over 40 hours per week. Leave options available for childcare issued related to COVID-19 include: Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): 10 weeks; 2/3 pay, must supplement with leave banks Employees deemed emergency responders as defined by the Department of Labor are exempt from this option. Unpaid leave (must have exhausted 1/2 leave banks from date of leave before going unpaid) Leave utilizing all leave banks Flexible or reduced schedules Involuntary furlough as determined by department, may qualify for unemployment Voluntary furlough as mutually agreeable by employee and department (may qualify for unemployment). Voluntary furloughs may only be offered if there is a curtailment of work Any other creative work arrangements will be entertained with approval by Deputy County Executive April Lynch, who oversees the countys human resources department On Aug. 13, Lynch sent a letter to the board of commissioners advising them of the policy change. The letter read: As you know, the County has been addressing the impacts of COVID-19 with our employees since March 2020. We have focused on providing policies to address workplace safety, sick leaves, protocols and the like, throughout these last few months with an effort to support our employees through this pandemic. As Fall quickly approaches, almost 50% of our workforce has school aged children. Currently, 26 of 28 school districts within Oakland County will be providing a virtual experience or hybrid of both virtual and in-class for school options in September. For those that are providing in-class experiences, should the State of Michigan return to Phase 3 all schools will be required to go 100% virtual. To support our employees who are struggling with options in the Fall, we wanted to provide flexibility within our departments to work with our employees as they manage this monumental task of addressing the Fall school year. As we started working with departments it became apparent that we needed to adjust some of standard protocols to allow for creative work solutions for both the departments and employees. It also became clear that every department will have different needs and will need flexibility in the area of leave opportunities for their staff. Given this information, attached is a COVID-19 Temporary Child Care Flexibility Leave Policy that will remove some barriers for extended leaves and flexible scheduling for departments. I look forward to presenting this to the Finance Committee as well as the Board of Commissioners on Thursday, August 20, 2020. On Aug. 12, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) issued guidance for childcare centers on how to safely reopen and operate during the pandemic. The guidance aligns with Executive Orders 2020-142 and 2020-164, which were issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on June 30 and Aug. 10. Three new measures have been introduced to help individuals pursue Canadian study and work opportunities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Canada introduces more study and work permit flexibility Three new measures have been introduced to help individuals pursue Canadian study and work opportunities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Canada introduces more study and work permit flexibility Three new measures have been introduced to help individuals pursue Canadian study and work opportunities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Canada introduces more study and work permit flexibility Three new measures have been introduced to help individuals pursue Canadian study and work opportunities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Kareem El-Assal Chris Collette Gabriel Dumitrascu Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canada has just announced three major measures to help individuals who wish to pursue Canadian education and work opportunities. In a news release just issued on its website, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced the following three new measures on Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for international students pursuing their Canadian educational programs online due to the coronavirus pandemic. Students can now study online while overseas up until April 30, 2021 with no time deducted from the length of their PGWP, so long as they complete 50 per cent of their studies in Canada. Students who have signed up for a program that is 8-12 months in duration with a start date from May to September 2020 will be able to complete their entire program abroad and still be eligible for a PGWP. Students who enrolled in a program with a start date between May and September 2020 and study online up to April 30, 2021 and who graduate from more than one eligible program may be able to combine the length of their programs of study when they apply for a PGWP, as long as 50 per cent of the studies are completed in Canada. The PGWP is highly coveted among individuals who wish to study in Canada. After a student completes an eligible program at a Canadian designated learning institution (e.g., a university or college), they can obtain a PGWP for a maximum duration of three years. The ultimate duration of the PGWP depends on the length of time the individual studied at a Canadian DLI. Get help with your study or work permit The PGWP enables these former international students to then work for any Canadian employer. Former students hoping to become Canadian permanent residents seek to harness the work experience they gain to enhance their Canadian immigration chances. Gaining Canadian work experience can make individuals eligible for certain immigration pathways such as Express Entrys Canadian Experience Class program. It can also provide them with additional points under Express Entrys Comprehensive Ranking System. Because of the pandemic and Canadas current travel restrictions, many international students are not able to enter Canada at the moment. This has been problematic for a number of reasons. One such reason is that prior to the pandemic, distance learning could not count towards PGWP eligibility. This changed shortly after the pandemic when IRCC made a series of announcements to enable online learning to count towards PGWP eligibility. The last major announcement came in May when IRCC stated online learning obtained up until December 31, 2020 could be counted when eventually applying for a PGWP. In order to be eligible for these measures, students need to have submitted a study permit application before starting a program of study in the spring/summer/fall 2020 semester or for the January 2021 semester. Students must be eventually approved for a study permit. IRCC concluded its news release by saying that Canadas COVID-19 related restrictions will be eased based on progress made in Canada and abroad in containing the coronavirus spread. IRCC will continue to monitor the Canadian and international situation as it explores additional changes to make. Get help with your study or work permit 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved For months, New Jerseys full reopening has been tied to what seems like a simple target: The number 1. Coronavirus transmission and its complicated relationship with the number 1 has become more important in the debate about indoor dining and gyms than the number of New Jerseyans in hospitals and on ventilators. Its possibly even more important in guiding future decisions than the number of people dying from COVID-19. The coronavirus transmission rate, or Rt, is a count of how many people, on average, a person with coronavirus will infect. I never truly processed the news about the death of my cousin Alejandro during the mass evacuation ahead of Hurricane Rita. Our family was so large, we had to take several different vehicles to flee. We became separated, many of us attempting to avoid the freeways and traffic by sticking to smaller roads in rural areas. Im not sure how we made it out of Houston, but by the time we got out, we had run out of gas. We ended up in different Texas cities; San Marcos, Austin and San Antonio. My cousin Alejandro, who had spent all night trying to get to San Antonio, got out of his stalled vehicle in an emergency lane. A motorist who had fallen asleep at the wheel slammed into him. Alejandro never made it to a hospital. He died on that highway, one of more than 100 others who suffered the same fate. While the hurricane caused little if any physical storm damage to Houston, its emotional impact can still be felt. TRACK FLOODING: Our Texas Flood Map shows if your neighborhood is at risk In Houston, hurricanes and the trauma they cause come with the territory, yet their effects have desensitized many Houstonians, including me. As Hurricane Lauras cone of uncertainty threatened our area, Houstonians raced to the grocery store, stricken by panic hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Their concern, completely normal in this situation, clashes against my protective detachment. Having lived through many hurricanes, I feel more anxious and helpless by the uncertainty they cause than by the storms themselves. Tropical Storm Allison is the first storm I felt truly impacted my life. I was a teenager in 2001 when Allison flooded Houston and left thousands homeless, the Texas Medical Center crippled and nearly two dozen people dead in its wake. During the humid summer months that followed, I spent weeks visiting families whose homes had been completely ravaged by floodwaters, gutting walls and bringing care packages, as part of my church community service. Like many Houstonians, I saw firsthand how torrential rainfall could forever change lives; floodwaters do not discriminate. Many in my congregation lost their homes and livelihoods. At the time, it was the worst flooding that Houston had ever experienced, costing Houstonians an estimated $5 billion in damage; it was so devastating, its name was retired. The Texas Gulf Coast has seen roughly 40 named storm systems since Allison. When Hurricane Ike came around in 2008, everyone was told to hunker down. Ike was so large, it caused damage across much of the Gulf Coast, from Louisiana to Corpus Christi. By the time it reached Texas, it had already killed dozens of people in the Caribbean. The storm surge in Galveston rose to at least 20 feet. Even so, my family decided to take our chances with the hurricane, to remain in our home and pray for the best. We were one of the millions who lost power that September. For two weeks, we used an ice chest and shared a generator with our neighbors electrical cords ran across the street. We slept with no AC and waited in line when FEMA began handing out MREs Meals Ready to Eat, which feed U.S. soldiers whove been deployed. We scouted neighborhood grocery stores to see if theyd restocked their goods and planned to eat beans and tortillas every night anyway. On the day we lost power, my father made the best of it and lit up the barbecue pit. He grilled every last piece of meat in the freezer. Id never been more stuffed in my life. STORM FORECASTS: See the latest NWS forecast track and rainfall estimates I never knew how the rest of Houston got on during Ike. I only saw the horror once we got our television back. Ike truly made me feel like I could tackle any hurricane thrown my way. Nearly 10 years later, Houston was wrecked again during Hurricane Harvey. Many lost homes, their vehicles, their businesses, their pets and some, even their lives. A tree branch fell on my roof that year and I was stranded on an island, one of several homes surrounded by flooded streets along White Oak Bayou. But we were all impacted by Harvey in some way, physically or mentally. When it rains in Houston, when a storm is brewing in the Gulf or when it floods that repetitive exposure to real-life death and destruction can have a lasting effect on our mental health, and in my case, it has left me nearly emotionally and psychologically numb to it. When storms happen so often and when they undoubtedly will continue to happen, its difficult to allow myself to be vulnerable to their effects without risking drowning in the tears of storms past. As for Laura or any future storms, Ill heed the warnings. My household is prepared and well take caution. My husband bought a generator, you know, just in case. But well stay in our home. Just like Houston, were resilient. Our city will come out of this on the other side even stronger. Im sure I will, too. Iracheta is a Houston-based journalist. Her work has appeared in the Houston Chronicle, The Seattle Times, The Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. She lives in Rice Military with her two dogs and husband. Overview Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate - Drug Insight and Market Forecast 2030 report outlays comprehensive insights of the product indicated for the treatment of its approved condition. New York, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate - Drug Insight and Market Forecast - 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865977/?utm_source=GNW A detailed picture of the Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate in Seven Major Markets, i.e., United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan, for the study period 20172030 is provided in this report along with a detailed description of the product. The product details covers mechanism of action, dosage and administration, route of synthesis, and pharmacological studies, including product marketed details, regulatory milestones, and other development activities. Further, it also consists of market assessments inclusive of the market forecast, SWOT analysis, and detailed analyst views. It further highlights the market competitors, late-stage emerging therapies, and patent details in the global space. Romiplate/ Nplate, a genetically recombinant protein, stimulates platelet production via stimulation of the thrombopoietin receptors. Chronic ITP is normally treated with pharmaceuticals that improve blood platelet count by suppressing platelet destruction, but Romiplate/ Nplate, serves to improve platelet counts by stimulating platelet production. Romiplostim was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 22, 2008, then approved by European Medicine Agency (EMA) on February 4, 2009, Pharmaceuticals and Medicals Devices Agency of Japan (PMDA) on January 21, 2011. It was developed and marketed as Nplate by Amgen (also marketed as Romiplate by Kyowa Hakko Kirin). Nplate and Romiplate are available as injection (lyophilized powder) for subcutaneous use, containing 250 mcg or 500 mcg of Romiplostim in single-use vials. The recommended initial dose is 1 mcg/kg once daily. The safety and efficacy of Nplate in adults with chronic ITP were assessed in two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies and in an open-label extension study. Scope of the report The report provides insights into: A comprehensive product overview including the product description, mechanism of action, dosage and administration, route of synthesis, pharmacological studies (pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics) and adverse reactions. Elaborated details on regulatory milestones and other development activities have been provided in this report. The report also highlights the drug marketed details across the United States, Europe and Japan. The report also covers the patents information with expiry timeline around Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate. The report contains historical and forecasted sales for Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate till 2030. Comprehensive coverage of the late-stage emerging therapies (Phase III) in the space with a brief snapshot of the details. The report also features the SWOT analysis with analyst insights and key findings of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate. Methodology The report is built using data and information sourced primarily from internal databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis s team of industry experts. Information and data from the secondary sources have been obtained from various printable and nonprintable sources like search engines, news websites, global regulatory authorities websites, trade journals, white papers, magazines, books, trade associations, industry associations, industry portals and access to available databases. Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate Analytical Perspective In-depth Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate Market Assessment This report provides a detailed market assessment of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate in Seven Major Markets, i.e., United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan. This segment of the report provides historical and forecasted sales data from 2017 to 2030. Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate Clinical Assessment The report provides the clinical trials information of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate covering trial interventions, trial conditions, trial status, start and completion dates. Report highlights In the coming years, the market scenario for Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate is set to change due to the extensive research in the treatment of the indicated condition 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 Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate dominance. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition. Other approved products for the disease are giving market competition to Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate and launch of late-stage emerging therapies in the near future will significantly impact the market. A detailed description of regulatory milestones, development activities, and some key findings provide the current market scenario of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate. Our in-depth analysis of the sales data of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate from 2017 to 2030 will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate in the market. Key Questions What is the prescribed dosage and strengths of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate are available in the market? What are the common adverse reactions or side effects of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? What is the product type, route of administration and mechanism of action of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? What are the chemical specifications of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? How are the clinical trials diversified on the basis of the trial status? What is the history of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate, and what is its future? What are the marketed details of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate in the seven major countries, including the United States, Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan? How many patents have been granted to Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate and when these patents will get expire? What are the pros (benefits) and cons (disadvantages) of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? In which countries Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate got approval and when it gets launched? What are the clinical trials are currently ongoing for Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? How the safety and efficacy results determined the approval of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? What are the key collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, licensing and other activities related to the Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate development? What are the key designations that have been granted to Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? What is the historical and forecasted market scenario of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? How is the market trend of Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate is different in the Seven Major Markets (the United States, EU5 [Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom], and Japan)? What are the other approved products available and how these are giving competition to Nplate (romiplostim)Romiplate? Which are the late-stage emerging therapies under development for the treatment of the indicated condition? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865977/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 A neighbour heard "screaming and banging" before a 27-year-old man was shot dead by police overnight after allegedly confronting officers at a home north of Brisbane. Officers were called to the Surround Street home in Dakabin about midnight on Wednesday in response to a "disturbance" between the man and a woman. When they arrived, police were "confronted by the man who was allegedly armed with knives", a QPS statement said. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said officers had tried to negotiate with the man before the situation escalated. Photo: (Photo : Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels) An emotional dad from Georgia could not hold his tears when he dropped off his son to college. Ken Mohammad's son Nasir is heading to college at Valdosta State University. The college student's mom took the video that went viral online. READ ALSO: 10-Year-Old Boy Sends Plea Letter to the Government for Dad's Release The viral video According to a report by WSBTV2, the viral video has been viewed more than 3 million views on Instagram. The video uploaded by @theshaderoom shows the dad dropping off his 18-year-old son to college. In the viral video, the mom shared that they were dropping their boy at the dorm. After that, the dad is seen as getting very emotional. He started to cry. He said, "You've been with me your whole life. You're gone now." The parents in the video were also telling their son how they hope he will make the right decisions now that he is in college. Before the video ended, the emotional dad also said that the son could give them a call if he needs anything. READ ALSO: 9-Year-Old Oklahoma Boy Pleas for a Family, DHS Receives More than 5,000 Adoption Submissions The emotional dad In an interview with WSBTV2, the emotional dad shared that he has always been with his son and that this will be the first time they will be apart. The dad also said, "I just kind of broke down and lost it." According to the dad, he just felt that the coronavirus pandemic cause him to pile all the emotions. He said that since traditions like the prom and graduation had to be canceled, he did not get the chance to cry for his son during those times. READ ALSO: Ohio Woman Looks for Dad's Last Dollar That She Carried for Two Decades The 18-year-old son In the same interview with the dad, the 18-year-old son shared that he was not surprised about his father's reactions. He knew that he would be very emotional during that day. The son also said that he knows how proud his father is of what he is trying to accomplish. He said, "He wanted me to get higher education. So I knew that he was going to be proud." READ ALSO: Dad from California Makes Ice Cream to Keep His Family and Community Happy Netizens' reactions With more than 3 million views, the netizens were touched by the video. Some admired the kind of connection the father and son has. Others said they would be like the emotional dad when it is already their kids' turn to go to college. ALTON Gumbo artist Zeus Rebel Waters, real name Byron Waters, found a new place to not only record, but to inspire at Lighthouse Sounds. Lighthouse Sounds Studio enjoyed a complete renovation when they were voted as finalists in Deluxe Corp.s Small Business Revolution: Main Street program. Zeus Rebel Waters, national recording artist, of St. Louis, came to Alton to create music in a new atmosphere. His latest album, Blonde Sheep, is available on all digital platforms, including iTunes. I wanted to get away, change the ambiance, so I came over to change the atmosphere, he said. Waters, a full-time teacher at Every Childs Hope Evangelical Childrens Home, has found success as a four-genre artist rock, country, rhythm and blues, and hip hop. I call my style gumbo, he said. Its all different influences, a little journey, some hip hop, a mix of everything. Definitely thats what sets me apart from a lot of artist, he said. Im not afraid to cross any lines. Ill be on the left and still be on the right, still be from the hood, be a school teacher, and do hip hop and renegade, just, be organic. He rented Lighthouse Sounds Studio, in Alton, for four days. My music is my therapy, Waters said. Im kind of the secret weapon where I work. Theyre, like, Get Mister Waters, hell be able to calm down the kids with a few words. Its a gift, Im blessed, and work and mentor with students off campus. Of course, how cool is it to be rapper, entertainer, probably the most popular staff in the building, most of the time, Waters said. To me, its all about the kids. Waters environment is either a blessing or a curse. If Im somewhere angry I can feel that, but if its peaceful and colorful, Im a product of my environment, he said. I adapt to where I am. Really, just being true to yourself and the environment that Im in. What Ive noticed from doing this for a long time is that songs come from the heart. Thats always some of my best material. Wates also is an actor and supporter of all art forms. He was inspired most by his neighborhood barber, Marcus. From watching him and seeing him do his own songs, we started getting serious about it, Waters said of his friends and cousins, starting a three-man hip-hop group. Zeus Rebel Waters will perform his next show Friday, Aug. 28, in Coweta, Oklahoma, and on Saturday, Aug. 29, in Tulsa, as part of his Blonde Sheep Tour. Zeus just signed on with an L.A. management company. Im expecting everything to be quadrupled,the touring, appeariances, movies, commercials Im expecting fireworks, he said. Kevin Hart has ridiculed NBC for mistaking him for Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt. On Tuesday, the media outlet incorrectly attached a photograph of Hart to a Facebook alert titled: 'Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive, tests positive for coronavirus.' 'No comment,' Hart wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, followed by a series of face palm emojis. 'I must of gotten really fast & tall overnight....I want to take advantage of this moment & race anybody in the world. We can bet whatever ... I am also no longer doing comedy due to my Olympic training schedule.' 'I must of gotten really fast & tall overnight....,' Hart wrote. 'I want to take advantage of this moment & race anybody in the world. We can bet whatever ... I am also no longer doing comedy due to my Olympic training schedule' Pictured: Kevin Hart on the Kelly Clarkson Show. NBC has since corrected the error, but Hart described it as 'disrespectful on so many levels' The error has since been fixed, but Hart described it as 'disrespectful on so many levels'. NBC News rectified the mistake and shared a message blaming a 'technical error'. The network said: 'Due to a technical error, the social image on this post mistakenly featured a photo of comedian Kevin Hart. 'In the content management system, a social image was not selected, and the system reverted to an image of Hart from an unrelated video. The display image has been corrected.' Jamaica's minister of health officially confirmed this week that eight-time Olympic gold medallist Bolt had tested positive for coronavirus and is isolating at home in Jamaica. A file photo dated August 18, 2016 shows Usain Bolt of Jamaica as he celebrates winning the gold medal in the Men's 200m Final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 'It is now public knowledge that Mr. Bolt has tested positive,' Christopher Tufton told reporters. 'He has been formally notified, I'm told by the authorities. It triggers an approach to questioning, interrogation if you will, which we follow through with contact tracing.' It came after he reportedly held a party to celebrate his 34th birthday. Other Hollywood figures who have shared their coronavirus stories this year include Idris Elba, Antonio Banderas, Pink, Bryan Cranston, Lena Dunham, and many more. Revenge star Annabelle Stephenson is set to make her debut on Home and Away on Wednesday. The 32-year-old, who was born in London, but raised in Australia, is joining the long-running show as the wife of Detective Angelo Rosetta, played by Luke Jacobz. And it seems that the brunette beauty will fit right in, if her sizzling social media pictures are anything to go by. Meet Summer Bay's new beach babe: Revenge star Annabelle Stephenson (pictured) is set to appear on Home and Away In July last year, Annabelle stripped down into a racy red swimsuit as she urged her followers to be 'okay in their own skin.' 'It's taken a lot of hard work and persistence. I'm a woman and I'm happy and I'm gonna own it,' Annabelle wrote. Annabelle has lived in both Europe and the US, and told The Daily Telegraph this week that landing the role on Home and Away felt like getting 'the golden ticket in Willy Wonka.' New gig: Annabelle has lived in both Europe and the US, and told The Daily Telegraph this week that landing the role on Home and Away felt like getting 'the golden ticket in Willy Wonka' 'Especially during COVID, the gigs are so hard to come by during all of the lockdown and stuff,' she said. 'This year for me having Home and Away was an ironic blessing. 'You have all of these years of struggle and striving to get roles and then when there is a drop, to get this, I think everything happens for a reason.' 'It was an ironic blessing': She went on to say that 'everything happens for a reason' In a new trailer for the show, Annabelle is seen in her character of Taylor Rosetta and is befriended by local police officer, Colby Thorne, a witness in her husband's case. In the meantime, fans are thrilled to see her soon-to-be TV hubby, Luke Jacobz, return to Summer Bay. The actor is reprising his role as police officer Angelo Rosetta, who returns to the Bay to look into the murder of Ross Nixon, Bella's father. What a story line! In a new trailer for the show, Annabelle is seen in her character of Taylor Rosetta and is befriended by local police officer, Colby Thorne, a witness in her husband's case He's back! In the meantime, fans are thrilled to see her soon-to-be TV hubby, Luke Jacobz, (pictured) return to Summer Bay Earlier this year, Luke announced his return to Home and Away, almost a decade after leaving the show in June 2011. Since leaving Summer Bay, the Logie award-winning actor has stayed busy with a number of high-profile hosting gigs, including The X-Factor and Instant Hotel. He also danced his way into Australia's hearts as the winner of the 2008 season of Dancing With The Stars and did a stint in the jungle on I'm a Celebrity... in 2019. Most recently he hosted The Proposal, but the show failed to win over audiences. Home and Away continues on Wednesday on Channel Seven at 7pm. Advertisement Eamonn Holmes and Nigel Farage clashed with activist Femi Oluwole this morning after he claimed most people 'don't really care' about whether Rule Britannia or Land of Hope and Glory are sung at the Proms. The trio appeared on ITV's This Morning to discuss the controversy about whether patriotic songs like Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory should be played with lyrics. The BBC is under mounting pressure over its decision to censor the lyrics of the Proms anthems and play instrumental versions because woke activists find them 'racist' - and the backlash includes BBC employees, a former BBC chairman and Boris Johnson. The corporation has blamed the lack of an audience and called the decision a 'creative' one - but director general Lord Hall yesterday confirmed the songs' links to colonialism were taken into account. Mr Holmes asked Mr Oluwole, who supports Black Lives Matter, why he had an issue with the lyrics of Rule Britannia. Mr Oluwole said: 'Well, to be honest, I don't watch the Proms, most people don't really care about that song because we almost never sing it. 'But as for that song specifically, it was written at a time that the UK was actively engaged in the slave trade, selling people across the waves, selling black slaves, so they were singing about how we ourselves will never be slaves. 'If I were to use an analogy, can you imagine if a rapist - and this is not an exaggeration because slavery involved a lot of rape - if a rapist wrote a song about how he himself had never been raped. Would you sing that song? No, because you know that song would be bragging about that rapist's position at the top of the food chain. We would never sing that.' In other developments in the Proms row today: Ex-BBC chairman Michael Grade launched a blistering attack on the 'idiotic' and out of touch' corporation BBC insiders have blasted their bosses for 'walking into an unnecessary and absurd row' It emerged incoming BBC director general Tim Davie insisted on the songs being included in The Proms Davie - an ex-marketing executive - takes over on Monday and wants to overhaul Beeb's relationship with No 10 Trevor Phillips, ex-head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, also condemned this year's decision Yesterday Boris Johnson condemned the BBC for 'wetness' and 'cringing embarrassment' about UK history Femi Oluwole appeared on ITV's This Morning to discuss the controversy about whether patriotic songs like Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory should be played at the Proms Eamonn Holmes and Nigel Farage clashed with Black Lives Matter activist Femi Oluwole - who claimed most people 'don't really care' about whether Rule Britannia or The Proms are sung at the Proms Ex-BBC chairman blasts 'idiotic' corporation for censoring The Proms Ex-BBC chairman Michael Grade launched a blistering attack on the corporation over the Proms debacle this morning, calling the decision 'idiotic' and a 'ghastly mistake' by bosses who have 'lost touch' with the British public. Grade told the Today programme this morning: 'This is a ghastly mistake which shows how out of touch they are with their audience. 'I would defend the BBC's right to make decisions free of political influence but it is clearly a mistake, it's just idiotic.' 'Although it may be justified on artistic grounds [the decision] does have while political and cultural significance which they [BBC bosses] either ignored, didn't understand or were caught in a complete muddle over.' '[The decision] is an indication of the BBC's... that they are out of touch with the rest of the country. They've shown that tome and again over Brexit, they missed the big swing at the election. The journalists at the BBC are too trapped in the Westminster bubble.' 'The big question is what's the future for British public sector broadcasting and Tim Davie is a fine executive who will serve the BBC very well indeed.What we need to do is take a long hard look and come with a definition and a role fore the BBC that reflects the very different reality today. The remit of the BBC hasn't really changed in 100 years, it really is time for a review. Advertisement As the debate intensified, Mr Farage dismissed Mr Femi as an 'extremist'. 'If you're at home getting angry at what Femi is saying, please don't, he represents a tiny, extremist minority - the vast majority, huge majority of Britons are tolerant, open, decent people,' Mr Farage said. 'We are without doubt the most tolerant country in the whole of Europe. We want racial equality and fairness in our society.' Social media users accused Eamonn Holmes of 'racism', claiming he kept interrupting Femi - who retweeted a series of posts criticising Holmes and Farage. Mr Oluwole also accused Holmes of 'shutting him down' when he tried to stray off the topic of the Proms. The host pointed responded that the activist was booked to discuss his objections to Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory and told him 'if you don't have any objections to them let us know'. And at one point Holmes interrupted Femi to take issue with his interpretation of the Irish anthem. 'The Irish national anthem that is called the soldier's song, let me just read you some of the lyrics from the Irish national anthem: 'Some have come from a land beyond the wave, 'Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland 'Shall shelter the despot or the slave.' Mr Holmes asked: 'Do you have an issue with the word slave used in the Irish national anthem? 'Every time the s word seems to be used, you have an issue with it.' Mr Oluwole replied: 'Well it is an issue within Rule Britannia based on the issues we were talking about. We were bragging about how we were in a position about enslaving other countries while not ourselves being slaves.' Holmes then asks him about 'the French national anthem, the Italian national anthem, the Portugese national anthem, do you think we should have an issue?' Mr Oluwole also claimed 'nobody on Black Lives Matter was talking about The Proms' despite Kehinde Andrews telling Good Morning Britain this week that Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory are 'racist propaganda'. The This Morning guests were asked their thoughts on the Prime Minister's condemnation of the the corporations' 'cringing embarrassment about our history', adding that he 'could not believe' the BBC's decision to censor the anthems. Mr Oluwole said: 'It's essentially just him [Boris Johnson] trying to provoke a culture war to distract from everything he's done, his own fact that he himself said that the problem in Africa is not that we were once in charge but that we are not in charge anymore. 'He's just trying to provoke people, he knows that it plays well to his base, he knows that he can use this to say ''they're coming after your culture'' and stir up people, but this idea that the BBC is somehow leading the march for racial equality when it took them two weeks to apologise for a news presenter using the n-word on a live news broadcast--' Mr Farage today said that he was 'very pleased' the Mr Johnson 'said what he did', adding that the BBC had things 'hopelessly wrong'. He added: 'The overwhelming majority of people in this country who care about this want the Proms to be as they've always been. Labour MP calls Tory MPs 's***bag racist w******' and a 'fat old racists' after Jacob Rees Mogg said Brits should not be 'enslaved to political correctness' in BBC Proms row A Labour MP has deleted an expletive-laden tweet branding Tory Brexiteers 'fat old racists' and 'absolute sh***bag w*****s' as he waded into the Last Night of the BBC Proms row. Neil Coyle sent the bizarre post late last night in reply to a tweet by Jacob Rees-Mogg backing Boris Johnson for criticising the BBC's 'wetness' in deciding to broadcast Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia without any lyrics. The tweet read: 'I have spent years warning local people that these fat old racists won't stop blaming the EU when their s*** hits the fan. Here they come blaming others. Absolute s***bag racist w*****s.' Advertisement 'As for the song itself, well the song Rule Britannia is about the fight for liberty, it's about this country - you know, ever since Viking invasions and King Alfred - and of course, pretty relevant when you think that 80 years ago, 80 years ago today, we were engaged in the Battle of Britain which if we hadn't won, the whole of Europe would've been Nazi for decades and decades. 'We have always been about liberty, and I make this point to Femi - rather than constantly attacking everything this country has ever stood for, can we agree it's a very good thing that Britain did rule the waves because for 50 years in the 1800s it was the British Navy that got rid of the slave trade when all the other countries wanted to continue it. 'We are the one country in the western world that fought hard at massive cost to money and lives to get rid of the slave trade. And why don't we celebrate that fact?' The Royal Navy had been involved in the slave trade before the practise was abolished in 1807. It had slaves working in Jamaican and Antiguan dockyards and had its ships escort slave vessels along Africa's coast, supporting the heinous trade as part of its duty to protect British sea interests. After the defeat of French Emperor Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, British naval supremacy was secured, and the West Coast of Africa Station 'preventative squadron' was established, which operated against slavers for the next 50 years. Mr Oluwole responded to Mr Farage: 'To be honest, I'm not really going to spend a lot of time on this argument that we needed to engage in slavery in order to end slavery, and I'm going to point out the fact that as Nigel Farage just said, he said that we're coming after the culture, this is what they're doing.' Ruth Langsford asked whether we should be dwelling on incidents that were in history, and Mr Oluwole said he agreed we should be talking about more pressing issues in the present, but every time he tries to address those issues he keeps 'getting shut down'. Mr Farage said: 'The song Rule Britannia is about the fight for liberty, it's about this country' Social media users accused Eamonn Holmes of 'racism', claiming he kept interrupting Femi - who retweeted a series of posts criticising Holmes and Farage Mr Holmes said the guest was booked on the show today to talk about his objections to Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory, and asked if he thinks they should be allowed to be played or if they should be banned. Mr Oluwole said that song was an issue 'because it's a distraction', adding that 'these people want to distract from the fact that Boris Johnson, with his majority of MPs, could do things to address system racism... instead Boris Johnson is saying we shouldn't be embarassed by slavery. He added: 'Nigel Farage spends his weekends in a boat in the Channel shouting at asylum seekers. They want to distract you from the things that they've done.' Mr Farage said: 'It's very interesting isn't it, that people like Femi who were opposed to the result of the referendum, wanted it to be overturned, are the same people who want to denigrate this country, not just its history, but its present as well. 'If you're at home getting angry at what Femi is saying, please don't, he represents a tiny, extremist minority - the vast majority, huge majority of Britons are tolerant, open, decent people. 'We are without doubt the most tolerant country in the whole of Europe. We want racial equality and fairness in our society. 'What we don't want is a campaign that masquerades under Black Lives Matter, that effectively is a Marxist campaign to bring down this country, to end capitalism, worst of all, their stated aim to defund the police force. ' He later added: 'Land of Hope and Glory is talking about a time when we had this great big empire. But think about that - in all the history of humankind, no one has managed to form an association like we have in the Commonwealth. 'Whatever you think about it, every country of Europe was trying to build their own, and now we have this fantastic association. And that's why it can be enjoyed by people around the world.' Mr Oluwole claimed the lines in the anthem about Britain 'increasing' its empire would be offensive to people in former colonies, such as Ireland. 'In Rule Britannia, we were bragging about ourselves not being slaves while we were enslaving other countries,' he said. But Mr Farage hit back, saying: 'All our countries are forged by their history. We have some parts of it that we are proud of and some that we aren't. 'The fact at, whenever you look back at British history, we have been the country that has fought for liberty and that has fought against slavery. So let's be proud of our past and stop extremists like Femi from trying to tear it down. 'We are proud of our country, proud of our culture, and I'm not worried about Femi - he represents a tiny number. What I'm worried about is that all of us are forced to pay a licence fee who are happy to pander to this minority view. I don't think it's fit for purpose.' Femi later returned to Twitter to rant about his treatment on This Morning and how it was covered by the press, adding he 'had so many death threats over the past few years, that it was easier to just accept that someone would try to kill me before the campaign was done'. BBC insiders condemn bosses for 'walking into an unnecessary and absurd row' as ex-chairman Michael Grade condemns 'idiotic' and 'ghastly' censorship of 'racist' Last Night of the Proms anthems BBC insiders have blasted their bosses for 'walking into an unnecessary and absurd row' and making a 'ghastly mistake' by censoring the 'racist' to Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia on the Last Night of the Proms. The decision to use instrumental versions of the patriotic anthems for the summer festival has drawn widespread anger - with staff at the corporation also venting their frustration at bosses' apparent submission to 'woke' activists who find the anthems offensive. One senior insider said: 'This is another example of the BBC walking into a completely unnecessary and absurd row about culture. 'It makes a lot of us despair when this kind of thing happens again and again. There's lots of things you can say about both of the songs and they are not up to the minute. But that's the case with 99 per cent of our culture one way or the other.' And ex-BBC chairman Michael Grade launched a blistering attack on the corporation this morning, calling the decision 'idiotic' and a 'ghastly mistake' by bosses who have 'lost touch' with the British public. It comes as tens of thousands sign a MailOnline petition demanding that demanding that the lyrics be reinstated. Another BBC source told The Times 'We have taken a relatively simple thing and made it a complete mess,' one BBC source said. Another called it a 'totally self-generated f*** up'.' The compromise was drawn up after incoming director general Tim Davie - who takes over on 1 September - after he intervened to insist both Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory were performed in some form. BBC bosses had been considering removing both completely following criticism by woke left-wing activists claiming the lyrics about Britain 'never being enslaved' were 'racist' . But former Tory council candidate Mr Davie intervened and is thought to want to reset the BBC's relationship with No 10 when he takes over next week. Mr Davie is a former Tory council candidate and marketing executive who worked for Pepsi and Procter & Gamble before joining the BBC's commercial arm. He is replacing Oxford-educated BBC veteran Lord Hall who worked for the corporation for decades before leading the Royal Opera. Anger grew over the BBC's decision yesterday, with Boris Johnson condemning the corporation for 'wetness' and accusing its senior figures of harbouring a 'cringing embarrassment' for Britain's traditions. Trevor Phillips, the former head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, has also condemned this year's decision. Mr Phillips accused BBC bosses of being 'rooms full of white men panicking that someone is going to think they are racist'. He said: 'The real problem the corporation has is that it is always in a panic about race, and one of the reasons it is always in a panic is that it has no confidence. 'The principle reason it has no confidence ... is that there is no ethnic diversity at the top of its decision-making tree. Incoming and outgoing BBC Director General: Former Marketing Executive Tim Davie, left, takes over the BBC next week from Lord Hall. Mr Davie is understood to have intervened to insist that BBC bosses play some form of Rule Britannia at the Proms BBC Songs of Praise producer who compared people who sing Rule Britannia to Nazis doubles down on her attack and calls for Proms anthem to be REWRITTEN Cat Lewis said that singing about how Britons would 'never be slaves' during Rule Britannia was akin to Nazis shouting about how they would 'never be forced into a gas chamber' A Songs of Praise producer who compared singing Rule Britannia to Nazis singing about gas chambers has doubled down on her attack and called for the anthem to be rewritten. Cat Lewis said that singing about how Britons would 'never be slaves' during Rule Britannia was akin to Nazis shouting about how they would 'never be forced into a gas chamber'. Her comments came amid the controversy over the decision to not sing the patriotic anthem, along with Land of Hope and Glory, at the Last Night of the Proms this year. Ms Lewis, the CEO of Nine Lives Media, which produces the BBC programme Songs of Praise, has now expanded on her earlier comments, saying she thinks 'slavery was Britain's holocaust'. She added: 'We should apologise for it properly and yet at the moment, we have NO memorial to enslaved people in the UK. We should not celebrate slave owners. 'And we should not sing in a gloating way that Britons will never be enslaved, when we were responsible for enslaving so many. We should have anthems which celebrate what is truly great about the UK, which we can all sing and this will help unite our country.' Ms Lewis then said if she was producing the Proms, she would suggest a national competition to find new lyrics for Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory to find 'words which celebrate and unify our fantastic country, because the music to both is undoubtedly fabulous'. Advertisement The BBC vowed last night that the patriotic lyrics would return in 2021 when the concert season finale is again performed before an audience - but it has done little to quell the anger. BBC chairman Michael Grade told the Today programme this morning: 'This is a ghastly mistake which shows how out of touch they are with their audience. 'I would defend the BBC's right to make decisions free of political influence but it is clearly a mistake, it's just idiotic.' 'Although it may be justified on artistic grounds [the decision] does have while political and cultural significance which they [BBC bosses] either ignored, didn't understand or were caught in a complete muddle over.' '[The decision] is an indication of the BBC's... that they are out of touch with the rest of the country. They've shown that tome and again over Brexit, they missed the big swing at the election. The journalists at the BBC are too trapped in the Westminster bubble.' 'The big question is what's the future for British public sector broadcasting and Tim Davie is a fine executive who will serve the BBC very well indeed.What we need to do is take a long hard look and come with a definition and a role fore the BBC that reflects the very different reality today. The remit of the BBC hasn't really changed in 100 years, it really is time for a review. Yesterday, the director-general Lord [Tony] Hall claimed it was a 'creative conclusion' by director David Pickard in response to Covid-19, insisting: 'It's very, very hard to have things where the whole audience normally sing along.' The British public could also force the BBC to play the 'offensive' lyrics of Land of Hope and Glory on Friday after Vera Lynn's rendition of Land of Hope and Glory topped the charts. The corporation could now be forced to play the patriotic anthem properly after all, because the UK's top-selling songs are typically aired in full during BBC Radio 1's Friday chart show. It came after the actor Laurence Fox mounted a social media drive to back a recording by Dame Vera Lynn, who died in June aged 103. The campaign to get Dame Vera to the top of the charts was launched by a group called Defund the BBC, which states that its main goal is to decriminalise failure to pay the licence fee. The group urged those upset with the Proms decision to download Dame Vera's version, tweeting yesterday: 'Let's get Land of Hope and Glory to No 1 in the charts and make the BBC play it... the words the BBC really don't want you to hear, sung by Dame Vera Lynn.' Those backing the appeal include actor Laurence Fox, who called the decision to drop the lyrics from Edward Elgar's composition 'shameful'. 'in a panic about race' : Trevor Phillips, left, the former head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, has also condemned this year's decision Husband of BBC Proms conductor is in heavy metal band that were forced by German record label to drop album track featuring a speech by HITLER Porra plays bass for Stratovarius, who have had three number 1 albums in their native Finland The husband of the conductor in the Proms row is a guitarist for a heavy metal band that tried to release a song about Adolf Hitler. Dalia Stasevska's husband, 42-year-old Lauri Porra, plays bass for Stratovarius, who have had three number one albums in their native Finland. The offending 2005 track, which the band had to drop, began with one of Hitler's speeches. At the time, lead singer Timo Tolkki said he was 'extremely interested' in the dictator but that 'hell broke loose' when he premiered the track to his German record label. The band were formed in 1984 and have played music festivals around the world over the decades, releasing 15 studio albums, four DVDs and five live albums. BBC insiders say Porra's 35-year-old conductor wife is among those keen to modernise the Last Night of the Proms and reduce the patriotic elements. She is understood to have been part of a small group behind the decision to perform Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory without lyrics next month. 'Dalia is a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and thinks a ceremony without an audience is the perfect moment to bring change,' a BBC source said. Her stance has been backed by soprano Golda Schultz, who hinted at plans for a change in an interview. The South African, 36, said: 'Dalia and I want to pay tribute to the culture that has invited us into its space, and also make sure we do something that speaks to the times we are living through.' Miss Stasevska, born to a Lithuanian mother and Ukrainian father, spent the first five years of her life in Estonia. She then moved to Finland and was brought up by her father and a Finnish stepmother. Her mother Ula Zait moved to America and now lives in Texas. Advertisement He wrote online: 'Would the BBC then have to play it? What a beautiful day that would be.' By last night the song had already shot to number one in Apple's charts for its own music services. It followed Boris Johnson's condemnation of the move by the BBC yesterday. Saying he could barely believe the BBC's decision, he added: 'It's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general fight of self-recrimination and wetness, I wanted to get that off my chest.' Former chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Damian Collins MP, added today: 'There has been a suggestion that this is because some people regard the performance of these songs as out-dated and even that some of the words are offensive. 'People are of course entitled to their opinion, but so too are the millions of people who have enjoyed these performances over the years. 'Great words and music that become part of our national culture, based on the significance people have attached to them over many years, often centuries, should not be lightly discarded.' The row also rumbled on today as a Songs of Praise producer who compared singing Rule Britannia to Nazis singing about gas chambers doubled down on her attack - and called for the anthem to be rewritten. Cat Lewis said that singing about how Britons would 'never be slaves' during Rule Britannia was akin to Nazis shouting about how they would 'never be forced into a gas chamber'. Her comments came amid the controversy over the decision to not sing the patriotic anthem, along with Land of Hope and Glory, at the Last Night of the Proms this year. Ms Lewis, the CEO of Nine Lives Media, which produces the BBC programme Songs of Praise, has now expanded on her earlier comments, saying she thinks 'slavery was Britain's holocaust'. She added: 'We should apologise for it properly and yet at the moment, we have NO memorial to enslaved people in the UK. We should not celebrate slave owners. 'And we should not sing in a gloating way that Britons will never be enslaved, when we were responsible for enslaving so many. We should have anthems which celebrate what is truly great about the UK, which we can all sing and this will help unite our country.' Ms Lewis then said if she was producing the Proms, she would suggest a national competition to find new lyrics for Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory to find 'words which celebrate and unify our fantastic country, because the music to both is undoubtedly fabulous'. David Brice, a commodore in the Royal Navy, wrote a letter to The Times condemning the censorship of Rule Britannia. He said : 'Any attempt to remove the right to sing Rule, Britannia! on the Last Night of the Proms seems at variance with historical truth. 'Between 1807 and 1869 the Royal Navy conducted a very difficult maritime campaign against the Atlantic slave trade; it was an act of national intent. 'Without Britannia ruling the waves, this successful campaign could not have been attempted.'The BBC has said there have been 'unjustified personal attacks' on social media on Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, who will be at the helm of the Last Night this year. 'Decisions about the Proms are made by the BBC, in consultation with all artists involved,' it said. Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also weighed into the row, with a Labour spokesman saying the Proms was a 'staple of the British summer' and enjoying patriotic songs 'was not a barrier to examining our past and learning lessons from it'. The row over this year's Proms began at the weekend when it was first reported that Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory could be ditched entirely. Critics have claimed the songs are inappropriate due to associations with colonialism and slavery. The lyrics to Rule Britannia include the line 'Britons never, never, never shall be slaves', while the 1902 words to Land of Hope and Glory were reputedly inspired by Cecil Rhodes, an imperialist and mining magnate whose statue is being removed from an Oxford college. The switch to an instrumental version for the Last Night of the Proms (pictured) prompted the actor Laurence Fox to mount a social media drive to back a recording by Dame Vera Lynn, who died in June aged 103 The lyrics to Land of Hope and Glory Land of Hope and Glory Mother of the Free How shall we extol thee Who are born of thee? Wider still, and wider Shall thy bounds be set; God, who made thee mighty Make thee mightier yet! Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned God make thee mightier yet! On Sov'ran brows, beloved, renowned Once more thy crown is set Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained Have ruled thee well and long; By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained Thine Empire shall be strong Thy fame is ancient as the days As Ocean large and wide: A pride that dares, and heeds not praise A stern and silent pride Not that false joy that dreams content With what our sires have won; The blood a hero sire hath spent Still nerves a hero son Advertisement It was suggested that the Finnish Proms conductor, Dalia Stasevska, was keen to limit patriotic elements, and that this year without an audience due to coronavirus was the perfect moment for change. Late on Monday, BBC bosses finally confirmed that the two anthems would be performed, but without the lyrics. Government officials held talks with BBC executives to urge them to rethink the decision but to no avail. David Mellor, the Tory former culture secretary, said: 'This is a disgraceful cock-up at every level. What we get is a whole lot of woke claptrap and the BBC don't know what to do about it.' Business Secretary Alok Sharma suggested the BBC should put the lyrics on screen so viewers can decide for themselves whether to sing them. Tensions between No 10 and the BBC have been growing since the election. Downing Street banned ministers from appearing on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and was enraged by a monologue by Emily Maitlis on Newsnight about Dominic Cummings. Tony Hall, the BBC's outgoing director general, yesterday tried to blame the coronavirus crisis for the Proms decision, pointing out that fewer performers are allowed on stage. He said the issue had been determined by David Pickard, who became director of the BBC Proms in 2015. Asked whether there had been a discussion about dropping songs because of their link with imperialism, Lord Hall replied: 'The whole thing has been discussed by David and his colleagues.' He defended the compromise, adding: 'It's very, very hard in an Albert Hall that takes over 5,000 people to have the atmosphere of the Last Night of the Proms and to have things where the whole audience normally sing along.' A BBC spokesman said last night: 'For the avoidance of any doubt, these songs will be sung next year. 'We obviously share the disappointment of everyone that the Proms will have to be different but we believe this is the best solution in the circumstances.' Yesterday, a Songs of Praise producer has compared Rule Britannia's lyrics to neo-Nazis singing about the Holocaust. Lord Digby Jones criticised the BBC today, while BBC TV presenter Simon McCoy also appeared to mock the decision, writing 'There are no words' Nigel Farage suggested the BBC 'needs cancelling' when reacting to the ongoing Last Night of the Proms row this morning Kate Hoey, the former MP for Vauxhall, said the Proms was 'not worth watching' without the lyrics to the anthems Tory MPs Andrew Griffith and Alexander Stafford both urged the BBC to row back on their decision not to sing the anthems' lyrics What is the history of Rule, Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory? Rule, Britannia originates from the poem of the same name by Scottish poet and playwright James Thomson, and was set to music by English composer Thomas Arne in 1740. It gained popularity in the UK after it was first played in London in 1745 and became symbolic of the British Empire, most closely associated with the British Navy. The song has been used as part of a number of compositions, including Wagner's concert overture in D Major in 1837 and Beethoven's orchestral work, Wellington's Victory. The song has been an integral part of the annual Remembrance Day ceremony since 1930, when it became the first song played in the programme known as The Traditional Music. It regained popularity at the end of WWII in 1945 after it was played at the ceremonial surrender of the Japanese imperial army in Singapore. Rule, Britannia is usually played annually during at the BBC's Last Night of the Proms. Left-wing critics claimed its inclusion has promoted controversy in recent years as it was deemed too patriotic. The song 'Land of Hope and Glory' is based on the trio theme from Elgar's Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1, which was originally premiered in 1901. It caught the attention of King Edward VII after it became the only piece in the history of the Proms to receive a double encore. King Edward suggested that this trio would make a good song, and so Elgar worked it into the last section of his Coronation Ode, to be performed at King Edward's coronation. Advertisement Cat Lewis tweeted: 'Do those Brits who believe it's ok to sing an 18th Century song about never being enslaved... also believe it's appropriate for neo-Nazis to shout 'We will never be forced into a gas chamber'.' Anti-Semitism campaigner Jonathan Sacerdoti called the comparison 'outrageous'. Several prominent left-wingers have come out against the traditional anthems in recent days. Nwanoku, founder of the Chineke! Foundation which supports upcoming BAME musicians, told The Guardian: 'The lyrics are just so offensive, talking about the 'haughty tyrants' people that we are invading on their land and calling them haughty tyrants and Britons shall never be slaves, which implies that it's OK for others to be slaves but not us. 'It's so irrelevant to today's society. It's been irrelevant for generations, and we seem to keep perpetuating it. If the BBC are talking about Black Lives Matter and their support for the movement, how could you possibly have Rule Britannia as the last concert in any concert?' Ms Kani also raised concerns with the line on slavery, telling BBC Radio 4: 'I'm Indian, my parents came from India, I received a wonderful education in Britain, but I don't actually feel very British when I hear things like that. 'I don't feel very British when I have people say to me 'go home p***.'' The musician instead suggested the songs could be replaced with I Vow to Thee My Country or The Beatles' All You Need Is Love. Ms Kani, whose parents sought refuge in Britain after the partition of India in 1947, also told the Sunday Times: 'I don't listen to Land of Hope and Glory and say 'thank God I'm British' - it actually makes me feel more alienated. 'Britain raped India and that is what that song is celebrating.' The conductor of this year's Proms, Dalia Stasevska, has reportedly voiced her desire to modernise the Proms and reduce its patriotic elements. She is understood to have been part of a small group behind the decision to perform Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory without lyrics next month. 'Dalia is a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and thinks a ceremony without an audience is the perfect moment to bring change,' a BBC source said. A corporation spokesman said: 'The decisions taken are the BBC's. We very much regret the unjustified personal attacks on Dalia Stasevska, BBC Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor made on social media and elsewhere.' If the BBC knew its history, it would understand Rule Britannia ISN'T racist - and is adored across the world, writes ROBERT HARDMAN At least, there is still one irredeemably British quality to this year's Last Night of the Proms: the fudge. Not even the finest dairy herds of Devon and Cornwall could have confected something as thick, rich and clotted as the latest solution served up by the BBC. Instead of either ignoring the usual half-hearted complaints about 'jingoism' a recurring grumble ahead of every Last Night since the war or else explaining why such charges are baseless, the BBC management has, this year, just caved in. The result is a mess that has not merely satisfied no one at all but has now managed to kickstart a national debate about the BBC itself. And it is all so needless. Come the grand finale of this year's concert, 'Rule Britannia' will be just a shrivelled morsel. A few bars of Arne's famous anthem will be bolted on to the end of the usual medley of nautical songs but without any words. Next comes Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 ('Land of Hope and Glory') but, again, minus the words. It would have been easier for the BBC if they had simply said they were removing these pieces on a temporary basis, as indeed they did in 2001. Back then, in those dumbstruck days immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA, it was decided that these boisterous crowd-pleasers would hit the wrong note. So out they went, without complaint. At least, there is still one irredeemably British quality to this year's Last Night of the Proms: the fudge. Not even the finest dairy herds of Devon and Cornwall could have confected something as thick, rich and clotted as the latest solution served up by the BBC This time around, the BBC is floundering, meekly trying to blame this mess on the coronavirus while not denying that it has something to do with the culture wars raging beyond. Yesterday, the director-general Lord [Tony] Hall claimed it was a 'creative conclusion' in response to Covid-19, insisting: 'It's very, very hard to have things where the whole audience normally sing along.' This argument simply falls apart given that the song which has now overtaken Elgar 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is a singalong classic which will be sung by the guest soprano and by the BBC Singers. So, too, will 'Jerusalem' and the National Anthem. In other words, some songs are safe to sing in a pandemic but not others. Pull the other one. This year's guest conductor, Finland's Dalia Stasevska, 35, reportedly regards the virus as a good excuse for pruning a much-loved script. As a BBC source told the Sunday Times: 'Dalia is a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and thinks a ceremony without an audience is the perfect moment to bring change.' Miss Stasevska has made no comment and has chosen to let this remark stand. With no substantial ethnic minorities beyond a tiny percentage of Swedes and Russians, Finland is among the least diverse societies in Europe. Finns are perhaps not best-placed to lecture the British on multiculturalism. I suggest that Miss Stasevska has a word with her compatriot, Sakari Oramo. He was the Finnish conductor with a very difficult task conducting the Last Night of the Proms in 2016 in the toxic aftermath of the Brexit referendum. Back then, the BBC was crippled by the same old anxieties about orgies of jingoism. Former Proms director Nicholas Kenyon wrote darkly in the Guardian of his 'sense of foreboding that this most British of occasions might be hijacked to celebrate the triumph of Little England'. As ever, it was nonsense as I discovered when I went along myself. The only people who hijacked the event were an enterprising band of Remainers who had purchased a lorry load of EU flags which were given to everyone going through the door. A few Brexiteers tried to do the same with Union flags. Mr Oramo ignored it all. Perhaps the loudest cheer of the night came when he led on his star vocalist, Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez, to sing Rule Britannia - originating from a poem by James Thomson. Florez had come not in white tie and tails, nor dressed as Britannia. Instead, he was in the full regalia of the King of the Incas, complete with feathered cloak and Sun God helmet. The audience was ecstatic. Here was a proud Peruvian in ancient native dress, conducted by a proud Finn, leading the entire Albert Hall plus tens of thousands gathered around the jumbo screens in Hyde Park, Glasgow and elsewhere plus millions more watching on telly in a bravura rendition of one of Britain's best-loved tunes. It was a perfect illustration of a point completely lost on these panicky BBC executives: the Last Night is a global event. It is also one with a healthy sense of irony an alien concept, of course, to the woke. The thing which most sticks in my mind about that night in 2016 (like all the other Last Nights, in fact) is the range of nationalities. In addition to the EU and Union flags, the next most popular is usually that of Germany. The song Rule Britannia (originating from a poem by James Thomson, right) was written for an 18th-century royal masque about Alfred the Great defeating the Vikings. Elgar, right composed Land of Hope and Glory People get up at all hours around the world to tune in and hold 'Last Night' parties. For many of them, it is a lifelong ambition to get a ticket to the real thing. All those German and Japanese viewers will be just as dismayed as the crustiest British ancient mariner this year when they witness Miss Stasevska's joyless, truncated snippet of a wordless Rule Britannia. What about other countries? Is Rule Britannia really so offensive compared to the lyrics of other countries' hymns? Judge for yourself... France: La Marseillaise 'They're coming right into your arms, to cut the throats of your sons, your comrades! Let's march, let's march, that their impure blood should water our fields.' Ireland: The Soldier's Song 'Some have come from a land beyond the wave, sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland shall shelter the despot or the slave.' US: The Star-Spangled Banner The US anthem celebrates 'bombs bursting in the air' as they 'gave proof through the night that our flag was still there'. It then celebrates the spilling of 'their blood' for 'conquer we must'. Italy: The Song of Italians 'The Austrian eagle has lost his plumes. This eagle that drunk the blood of Italy and Poland, together with the Cossack.' Hungary: National Anthem Remembering the Ottoman Empire as a 'barbarian nation', Hungary's anthem still includes the following suspect line about the suffering it endured at the hands of a nearby neighbour: 'the Turks' slave yoke we took upon our shoulders'. Portugal: A Portuguesa 'To march against the enemy guns! To arms, to arms, on land and sea!' Mexico: National Anthem 'War, war without truce against who would attempt to blemish the honour of the fatherland!' ... The patriotic banners saturate in waves of blood.' Advertisement Sir Henry Wood's Promenade Concerts (to give them their full name) have always been the greatest festival of world music anywhere. They are anything but a celebration of national music, like so many lesser festivals. Those eccentrics with their little rituals whom viewers always see at the front of the Last Night crowd are very serious about their music. I have interviewed a few of them over the years. They are an eclectic bunch but the last thing you can accuse them of is jingoism. They might sing Rule Britannia with gusto but they will have been just as enthusiastic for the French, African, Indian even Finnish music at other concerts over the season. Besides, Rule Britannia has nothing to do with 'enslavement' as its critics claim. Indeed, the words are an exhortation, not a triumphalist boast. Note that the words say 'Britannia, rule the waves' not 'rules'. The song was written for an 18th-century royal masque about Alfred the Great defeating the Vikings. It acquired its popularity not as a military marching tune, like, say, France's unashamedly brutal Marseillaise, but as a catchy musical number sung by barmaid-turned-West End star, Kitty Clive. In other words, it's a Georgian X-Factor hit. It then went on to be a favourite tune of the Royal Navy the same navy, of course, which abolished slavery. Similarly, Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory was called no such thing when it was first performed at the Proms in 1901 because Arthur Benson had not yet got round to writing any words. It was just Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. These songs have never been imposed on the British public like a national anthem or school song but they endure through their universal appeal. The Germans, Brazilians and Japanese whom I have seen singing 'Rule Britannia' at the Royal Albert Hall, while waving their EU flags, had no more enthusiasm for British imperialism than Dalia Stasevska, Jeremy Corbyn or Karl Marx's cat. Like all the other Prommers, they were there for the music and for the occasion. It is often said that the BBC is far too sensitive to the prevailing wind on Twitter. So the Broadcasting House high-ups must have been mortified to see that the most popular Twitter thread yesterday lunchtime was '#DefundtheBBC' followed closely by '#RuleBritannia'. Then, the Prime Minister weighed in for the second day running, accusing the BBC of 'cringing' and 'wetness'. They need not cringe. Rather, they should point out that it was the BBC which saved the Proms from insolvency in 1927 and which has kept it all going ever since with generations of great musicians, conductors and presenters. Then they should tell their critics on both sides to pipe down and enjoy the music. But perhaps, we should have seen this coming. For last year's Last Night, the BBC commissioned a new work to open the concert. It was entitled, simply, 'Woke'. A man has been left fighting for his life after he was stabbed in broad daylight in south London. The victim, 20, was airlifted to hospital on Wednesday afternoon following the incident in Croydon. Police rushed to the scene on Central Parade just before 3pm following reports of gunfire. They found the man with knife wounds but no evidence of any shots fired. The 20-year-old remains in hospital where his condition is said to be life-threatening. So far no arrests have been made. A crime scene remains in place. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting reference CAD 4246/26 Aug. Haiti - Micro Finance : FINCA Haiti obtains a revolving loan of 100 million from the BNC FINCA Haiti S.A. announces that it has secured a $100 million gourde loan facility with a one-year renewable tenor from Banque Nationale de Credit (BNC), Haitis largest financial institution. This is the first locally-sourced credit line obtained without a parent company credit enhancement in its 30 years of operation and will give FINCA Haiti stable liquidity with the flexibility and cost efficiency of a credit-line and the added protection against foreign exchange fluctuations without costly foreign currency hedging instruments. The credit line will be used for on-lending to support more than 50,000 microentrepreneurs and small businesses across the country via digital financial (MonCash) inclusion and 12 branches. Let's remind that FINCA Haiti, one of the nations first microfinance institutions, executed a remarkable turnaround following Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Since January 2017, FINCA Haiti grew its loan portfolio by 42% to 762 million gourde and its client base by 13% to over 51,500 including 85% of women. In 2015, FINCA Haiti partnered with mobile operator Digicel to launch MonCash, an e-wallet solution offering mobile loan repayment and disbursements. Mobile banking now accounts for 57% of all transactions processed by the institutiona critical lifeline for customers with limited transportation options amid challenging infrastructure. "We appreciate the confidence of Banque Nationale de Credit, which recognizes the strength and potential of FINCA Haiti to expand access to affordable, accessible financial services," said Hamidine Bako, CEO of FINCA Haiti. "With this stable source of local funding, FINCA Haiti will be well-positioned to expand our product offerings and provide vital support to businesses and entrepreneurs emerging from the COVID19 pandemic." About FINCA Haiti : FINCA Haiti is a microfinance institution that currently serves more than 50,000 customers 85% of whom are women across 12 branches and digital services. FINCA Haiti is part of FINCA Impact Finance, a global network of 20 microfinance institutions and banks that provides socially responsible financial services to low-income individuals to invest in their futures. HL/ HaitiLibre By Elder Vogel Jr. Last week the state Department of Agriculture made a surprising announcement that shocked and disappointed farming families across the state when it announced plans to shut down the Pennsylvania Farm Show for 2021. Instead of hosting a live event, one that brings together hundreds of Pennsylvania farmers and draws thousands of spectators and patrons, the 2021 edition is now set to be held virtually. I know that as a farmer I might be a bit biased, but there is a huge difference between looking at pictures of cattle and the sensory experience of walking through the livestock barns at the Farm Show. In a press release, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said, There are times in the life of a farmer when the risks are too great or uncertain, requiring farmers to make the tough decision to leave a field fallow. To protect our assets both our people and our resources from incalculable losses, we have made the tough decision to take a year to lie in fallow. Hes right, farmers do have to make tough decisions and they face tough situations like droughts, blizzards, animal and crop diseases and so much more. Its a good bet that if given the chance they could make a smart decision on whether they would feel safe at the Farm Show Complex especially if attendance were strictly limited and proper COVID-19 precautions were in place. One other vitally important aspect of the Farm Show is the role it plays in the lives of the hundreds of young farmers who have spent the previous year, or perhaps multiple years, preparing to show and sell their steer, hog, lamb or goat at the event. Currently, the Department of Agricultures position is that there will be no in-person events or competitions at the 2021 Farm Show in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. No doubt the pandemic is serious, but I would suggest that the danger is not in the shows, but rather would be in the large number of visitors that normally attend the Farm Show. I can understand the need to close the event to participants only, but I strongly believe our young farmers must be given the opportunity to show their livestock. Pennsylvania has taken major steps to restore a sense of normalcy to the lives of our youth, especially in the areas of education and scholastic sports. There is no reason why we cannot extend those same efforts to support our young farmers. These young people have spent countless hours working with their animals. They must do so even as they attend school and participate in other activities. Caring for farm livestock goes well beyond the demands of those required for a domestic pet, such as a dog and a cat. It requires intense dedication and commitment. The Farm Show is the one opportunity they have to compete against their peers and receive the recognition they deserve for their hard work. And just as important, it provides an opportunity for them to sell these animals. In 2019, sales from the Junior Market Livestock Show topped more than $307,000. An additional $3,500 was given out in Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarships. The scholarships and the proceeds from livestock sales at the Farm Show are essential for these young men and women, especially those saving for tuition to attend one of our great universities or colleges. Recognizing the importance of the show for these farmers, I am preparing a proposal for Junior Market Livestock Show that I am planning to release and send to the Department of Agriculture for consideration soon. Under my plan, the events and sales would be held over several days, limited to steers, hogs, goats and lambs, and would capitalize on the many open spaces available at the Farm Show Complex. These steps would provide protection from COVID-19 spread, while giving our young farmers the opportunity to display and sell their livestock. From a young age, farmers understand that they can never give up. They know the work is hard and challenging. The Department of Agriculture must show that same resiliency and dedication. We cant give up on the 2021 Pennsylvania Farm Show (in August!) It is too important to the lives and futures of Pennsylvanias next generation of farmers. State Sen. Elder Vogel Jr., R-Beaver-Lawrence, is chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. A Delhi court on August 24 dismissed a bail application of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Malvinder Mohan Singh in a money laundering case related to alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd (RFL). Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav did not grant the relief to Malvinder considering the severity of the offence, magnitude of the amount involved and the possibility of witnesses being influenced by him. "The investigation conducted in this case concluded that various companies whose directors or office bearers were persons related to or associated with applicant/accused were granted loans by RFL on the instructions of accused Malvinder Mohan Singh. It is therefore, obvious that allegations against accused Malvinder Mohan Singh have been substantiated by cogent evidence collected during investigation. "It has been found during investigation that entities either owned or associated with accused Malvinder Mohan Singh were involved in systematic placement/layering acquisition and projection of proceeds of crime as untainted over a long period," the court said in its order. Malvinder sought bail on the ground of parity that Shivinder Mohan Singh, his brother and co-accused in the case, had been granted bail by the Delhi High Court on July 23. During the hearing held through video conferencing, advocate Manu Sharma, appearing for Malvinder, told the court none of the investigating agencies, Serious Fraud Investigation office, Security and Exchange Board of India, RBI, police or Enforcement Directorate (ED) have ever raised any complaint that the accused may flee from justice or can tamper with evidence. The lawyer further argued that the amount advanced as loan by RFL was returned by RHC Holdings to 14 companies which were not owned by Malvinder. He said that the complaint was filed in January 2020 and till date further investigation was not complete and that cannot be used to oppose the bail application. Central Government Standing Counsel Amit Mahajan, appearing for ED, opposed the bail application saying Malvinder cannot claim any parity with co-accused Shivinder on the strength of July 23's bail order as the Supreme Court had said that the impugned judgment will not be treated as precedent for any other case. Public shareholding in REL is almost 49 percent while REL was holding 99.9 percent shares of RFL and hence public shareholders were cheated because of the wrongful loss caused to RFL, claimed Mahajan assisted by ED's Special Public Prosecutor Nitesh Rana. He further said that further investigation regarding the rest of money, which was Rs 1500 crores, and other companies was still pending. The charge sheet filed in the case stated that investigation has revealed the role of Malvinder, Shivinder and former CMD of REL Sunil Godhwani in sanctioning and disbursements of Corporate Loan Book (CLB) loans which were given without adequate documentation, risk assessment and due diligence. Investigation further concluded that co-accused Godhwani being Chairman and Managing Director of REL in connivance with promoters Malvinder and Shivinder entered into conspiracy for acquisition and utilization of proceeds of crime generated out of criminal activities and its projection as untainted property, the charge sheet stated. RFL is a group firm of REL, Religare Enterprises Ltd, which was earlier promoted by Malvinder Singh and his brother Shivinder Singh. The EOW registered an FIR in March last year after it received a complaint from RFL's Manpreet Suri against Shivinder, Godhwani and others, alleging that loans were taken by them while managing the firm but the money was invested in other companies. ED lodged a money laundering case based on this. Also read: Fortis Healthcare to be renamed 'Parkway'; hospital's logo to change Also read: Former Fortis promoter Shivinder Singh gets bail in money laundering case Political activist Patson Dzamara, whose brother Itai was abducted in 2015 by suspected state security agents in 2015 for denouncing then President Robert Mugabe, has died. According to his relatives, Dzamara passed away today of cancer of the colon. A few days ago, Dzamara posted a message on Twitter thanking people for showing their support after it was revealed that he had cancer. He said, I am humbled at the amount of people who have shared strength with me in the past few days. The outpouring of assistance and goodwill in many forms is heartening. Together we will testify. Thank you. Mega blessings. Many people are paying tribute to Dzamara, who was arrested several times, for staging protests demanding the safe return of his brother. In his condolence message, MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa said, Im so devastated..Just received bad news from the Dzamaras.The young Dr Patson Dzamara gone too soon. This has been a terrible 2020! Pastor Evan Mawarire said in a tweet, Words fail me. I'm completely devastated. Rest in peace my dear friend and brother Patson Dzamara. Inga wani you said just before surgery that you'd make it nhai Patson?? He didn't make it my friends. The young man is gone. I can't believe it. Zimbabwes Information Secretary, Nick Mangwana said, I learnt of the passing on of @PatsonDzamara with sadness and grief. His passing on at such a young age puts us in touch with our mortality and the feebleness of life to which we hold no control. My heartfelt condolences to the Dzamara family, his friends and colleagues. MHSRIP. Hundreds of people are also expressing similar sentiments on various social media platforms saying Zimbabwe has lost a fighter for freedom and justice. Dzamaras brother, Itai, was the leader of a protest movement, Occupy Africa Unity Square, which called for the resignation of then president Mugabe, claiming that he was failing to properly led the country. Itai was allegedly abducted by state security agents while he was at a barbershop in Harare. I recall series of incidents I had been involved in, in the course of my nearly forty years career as a journalist, similar to the encounter between Femi Fani Kayode, a politician and Eyo Charles, a journalist. At the height of the apartheid regime in South Africa, then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, a strong supporter of the white only government in South Africa was in Lagos on a flying visit, she had earlier been in Kano where she dodged Nigerian journalists. In Lagos we were prepared, or should I say, I was prepared and ready for her. I was Airport Correspondent for Concord Newspapers. Her visit, which had divided opinion in Nigeria came on the heels of the removal of Prof Bolaji Akinyemi as Nigerias Foreign Affairs Minister by IBB. It was rumoured then that Prof Akinyemi was against her visit because of her stance on apartheid, so IBB had to remove him first for the visit to take place, we were made to believe. This prepared the ground for my encounter with Thatcher. We were warned by presidential guards not to do anything funny or step out of bounds. To me, that was rubbish! Thatcher arrived aboard a BA flight, had a meeting with Babangida, I think it was one day visit. On her return, her convoy arrived the Presidential Lounge @MMIA with IBB who proceeded to see her off to the waiting BA aircraft, without even a pause to either acknowledge or take questions from the waiting journalists. Very unlike IBB and his other foreign visitors. I was worried that my opportunity to ask the Iron Lady the many questions bothering my mind was going away from me. But I was determined not to let it slip. I bidded my time waiting for the slightest chance. I followed them as they moved towards the aircraft. As a familiar face known to the presidential BG boys, they allowed me to follow few metres behind. Since it wasnt a state visit, there were official departure ceremonies. So after exchange of pleasantries, Thatcher proceeded to the aircraft, as she was about stepping on the gangway, I jumped in front of the dignitaries, close to her, to the surprise of everyone present, and shouted my questions to her. Why are you dodging Nigerian journalists? Why are you supporting apartheid? Why are you so wicked? Series of questions at the same time, within few seconds. Thatcher was surprised and at the same time angry. She looked at me contemptuously, turned, climbed the gangway and entered the aircraft. Turned again and waved to IBB. And that was the end of the matter. Needless to say I was happy and felt fulfilled as I left for my office to file my story, even as I was given a stern warning by the BG boys never to attempt such again as it could be fatal I took the advice. At another time, another foreign visitor came to Nigeria and I had a near similar encounter. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was at the NIIA to give a lecture, by that time he had spent close to two decades or more in power. I was in the audience. When it was time for questions I indicated I wanted to ask a question and was recognized. The problems of Africa are caused by sit-tight leaders like you who wants to die in office, what are you still doing after about two decades in office?, I asked Uncle Bob. You needed to see the annoyance and irritation towards me in his face, but he gave no response. He called for the next question. At the end of the lecture, nobody rebuked me for asking the question, lots of my colleagues and even dignitaries present commended me for my courage. Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas is a man with a short fuse. As Minister of Aviation under Babangida, he had a running battle with the MD of Nigeria Airways (cant remember his name now) then over fixing airfare. He addressed a press briefing at the airport to state his side of the story. During the briefing there was a heated exchange between us as I challenged some of his actions as ultra vires which he didnt take kindly to. He abused me saying all sorts of things, including that I was being paid to ask those questions. I ignored him. I filed my story devoid of the abuses. The story made from page of National Concord the following day. Few days later, I got a phone call from his Press Secretary, a certain Okemeri, an elderly man, than Douglas was inviting me to his office, which I bluntly declined. The elderly man was my friend and he pleaded with me to honour the invitation as his job was on the line. On a second thought, I accepted. On the appointed day, Okemeri ushered me into Douglas office and the first thing the Minister said once he had sent the press secretary away was thank you. He told me how my story helped his case against the MD when IBB summoned him after reading my story. He was happy that I didnt mention the heated argument we had, and commended my sense of fairness and professionalism. I didnt say anything. Though he didnt expressly apologize for his utterances at the press briefing, I could see that he was genuinely sorry. Commander Okhai Akhigbe as he then was, when he was governor of Ondo State was at the airport several times and on each occasion granted interviews to the correspondents especially during his crusade to get the commodity boards scrapped by IBB. He wanted the Nigerian Cocoa Board scrapped. We reported his position extensively and at the end of the day IBB scrapped the commodity boards. He was happy. During one of his visits to Lagos after, I asked him a very tough political question which I cant remember now and he became hostile, accusing of being sponsored by my publisher then, the late Chief MKO Abiola. I ignored him but my colleagues asked him who was sponsoring us when we were writing the Cocoa Board stories. AVM Dominic Bello, a former Chief of Air Staff was at one time Executive Chairman, Nigeria Airways. During his tenure, the airline made a controversial purchase of a DC-10 aircraft which divided opinion in the industry. Stories were flying around about some underhand dealings in the purchase as well as the shopping spree the airline staff who went to the US to receive the aircraft were engaged in. The press corps at the airport was ready to confirm this and other stories once the aircraft arrived. I was there with my colleagues on the D-Day and we were able to get on board before the people disembarked and truly there were all sorts of things purchased by the staff, including car tyres. As I made my way inside the aircraft to confirm the goods on board, I saw Bellos Military Assistant, a certain Squadron Leader Jetson Nwankwo carrying two big luggage one on each hand. I being known to him, on seeing me, he put down the luggage and shouted what are you doing here. Before I could say a word, he slapped me and I was more shocked than surprised. My immediate thought was to react in similar fashion but I thought that would be dangerous, with the number of security men around him. I verbally protested as I disembarked from the aircraft. Of course the assault was well reported the following day and it became an issue between the Lagos NUJ and Nigeria Airways. The management of Concord Press vehemently protested. I had gone this far to narrate few of the similar experiences I had in the past, first to restate as others have said that Charles had done nothing wrong and that FFK has shown by his actions/utterances that he was and still unfit to lead or hold any position of authority in this country or anywhere in the world. Second, I need to state also that Charles and our colleagues present at the event, by not challenging or responding to FFK in similar fashion had also not done anything wrong, instead, they should be applauded for showing maturity. And I would like to borrow Michelle Obama words here, when they go low, we go higher. We dont have/need to wrestle with a pig to make our point. The media, as a united family, should rise up now and put people like Femi Fani Kayode in the right place where they belong; the gutters. This is the time for the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) comprising the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), to reassert the powers, relevance and importance of a free media in the society, especially one that claims to be a democracy. The political class also needs to rid itself of characters like FFK, people like him abound in all our political parties. Little wonder then that Nigeria is what/where she is today. And to the general public, especially those that venerate spoilt brats like FFK, its time to take a second look at the people we call heroes/leaders. Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. So goes the saying. Waheed Odusile is the immediate past President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Has not the world realized it yet? If Meghan Markle goes down, her husband Prince Harry goes with him, too. If the Duchess of Sussex is in trouble, the Duke is twice in danger -- because he loves her to boot and royal marriages cannot be undermined. When Prince Harry and Meghan decided to step down from their senior royal positions, they still got to keep their titles. However, one caveat behind it is the agreement not to use the titles once they start their new lives. Meghan Markle Stripped of Royal Title? It is only but fair for the royal couple not to use their titles even though they still have those. Besides, Prince Harry will remain a royal no matter what happens to him. And so is his child, baby Archie. Meghan, for her part, may be a commner; however, marrying into the palace certainly makes her a royal regardless of what the public feels about it. Nevetheless, a lot of critics feels strongly for Markle to be stripped off her title, primarily because they think she does not even deserve to be Prince Harry's wife in the first place. These emotions heightened even more when they heard Meghan giving a commanding opinion about US politics. For what it's worth, members of the royal family are expected to be neutral when it comes to political matters, and such protocol has been upheld for several years now. Meghan Markle Speaks on U.S. Election, Gets Bashed It can be remembered that in the past few weeks, the former "Suits" actress has spoken about the upcoming elections in the U.S. She joined initiatives encouraging voters registration and even hinted that she did not like Trump's administration. Even though she did not align herself with either the Republican and Democratic parties, her involvement and words managed to anger some royal fans. However, American celebrities defended Markle's comments, including the equally outspoken Jameela Jamil. Duke of Sussex To Be Stripped Off His Title? The outraged fans want to see Meghan without a royal title, working or not. But a royal expert, Iain MacMarthanne, said it is not possible without dragging Prince Harry into the fray. The expert also explained that Meghan has not broken any laws for such drastic action to be taken. Moreover, she only has a title by marriage, too. If she earns her royal title through marriage, the only way she will lose it is if her husband is stripped off it as well. Prince Harry may be ready to lose everything for his wife, but he has remained silent about political matters in the U.S. -- seemingly practicing the neutrality rule that he grew up on. Mr MacMarthanne explained: "In the instance of the Duchess of Sussex no laws have been broken, conventions are there to be tested, but above all else, suggestions that the duchess could be stripped of her title is to assume it was given to her. "The duchess holds her styles and titles as a courtesy, derived from her husband," the expert added. In effect, there is no law that can be used to strip Meghan's royal title from her, especially since she has the choice and liberty to not use these titles on her own volition. So far, Meghan Markle has not even attempted to use anything other than her pre-marital name. With that said, the calls for Meghan Markle to be removed of her royal title is ungroundes. After all, should it happen, it means Prince Harry loses his title, too. READ MORE: Meghan Markle Mocked: Prince Harry Adoration Weirds Out Experts Nishikant Dubey, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) and a member of the Information Technology (IT) parliamentary panel, on Wednesday wrote to the committees chairperson Shashi Tharoor, a Congress Lok Sabha MP, urging him to cancel the panels upcoming meeting next week while citing that its agenda is in contravention of the rules of the House. Dubeys letter to Tharoor comes a day after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wrote to the chairpersons of all the parliamentary panels, asking them to select subjects based on the rules and keeping in mind the convention that the House does not discuss issues that are pending in courts. In this connection, I may like to bring to your kind notice that recently, you have convened yet another sitting of the committee on 1 September to discuss the issue of 4G (fourth generation mobile telephony) services in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Dubey wrote in his letter on Wednesday. Since this issue is presently pending before the Supreme Court (SC) any further deliberations on this would again be a violation of the relevant rules/directions as well as the recently issued advisory of the Speaker, added Dubey, who represents Jharkhands Godda constituency in the Lok Sabha . On Tuesday, Speaker Birla wrote to the chairpersons of all the parliamentary panels and urged them to follow rules and conventions, including not taking up subjects that are pending in courts. The committees should give due consideration to Rule 270 and other necessary rules and directions while selecting subjects for examination, Birla said in the letter, which is accessed by HT. In addition, I would like to point out that as per the convention, the committees do not take those subjects for examination, where the issue is pending in courts, he added. According to Rule 270, a committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records, provided that if any question arises whether the evidence of a person or the production of a document is relevant for the purposes of the panel, the question shall be referred to the Speaker, whose decision shall be final. The rule stipulates that the government may decline to produce a document on the ground that its disclosure would be prejudicial to the safety or interest of the state. The Speakers letter came around a week before the IT panel is slated to discuss two contentious topics such as internet shutdowns in J&K and Facebooks alleged bias towards the ruling BJP. The IT parliamentary panels discussions are slated to be held on September 1 and 2. The SC is still hearing the matter of internet shutdowns in J&K. On August 11, the Centre had told the apex court that 4G connectivity would be restored in the Union Territory (UT) of J&K in a staggered manner after August 15, the day the nation celebrated its 74th Independence Day. The Facebook controversy broke out following a recent report in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which revealed how the social media company had deliberately turned a blind eye towards hate speeches by a BJP lawmaker from Telangana and did not take them down from its platform fearing that it might hurt the firms business interests in India, its biggest market. Facebook denied The WSJ report and reiterated that it acts in an unbiased manner. Facebook has announced that it will launch its news service Facebook News in India soon. The social media giant will also be launching its news service in four other countries--Germany, the UK, Brazil, and France. It had already introduced the service in the United States last year. With this, the Silicon Valley firm will pay news publishers for content and original reporting. Facebook has found that over 95 per cent of the traffic Facebook News delivers to publishers "is incremental to the traffic they already get from News Feed," Campbell Brown, VP, Global News Partnerships at Facebook said. Facebook, which has over 300 million users in India has come under fire for allegedly favouring ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in its platform.Last week, Facebook clarified its position saying it has removed and will continue to remove content posted by public figures in India that violate its community standards. "We take allegations of bias incredibly seriously, and want to make it clear that we denounce hate and bigotry in any form," Facebook India Vice President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan said in a blog post. Meanwhile, the parliamentary standing committee on Information Technology has summoned Facebook on September 2 to discuss the alleged misuse of social media platforms. For the September 1 meeting, representatives of ministries of communications and home affairs have been called. Representatives of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, News Broadcasters Association, Press Council of India and Prasar Bharati have been invited for the discussion on 'Ethical Standards in Media Coverage. Also read: Facebook to pay $125 million in back taxes, penalties to French govt Also read: Facebook India chief calls site non-partisan, against hate and bigotry amid political row A group of talented Kilkenny musicians have spent their time very productively during the recent lockdown and have completed a number of songs and videos and have received national recognition for their work. Burnchurch (named after their home townland) are a band who recently won a prestigious song competition being run by Conradh Na Gaeilge and 2FM with their entry, An Choran is an Chrois . The teenagers were the youngest entrants in the competition and beat off stiff competition including winning a head to head with the famous Colaiste Lurgan crew. The background story to the song theyve written is extraordinary. A chance encounter with two of OCasadaigh clan (Eanna and Ruari) at a Turkish barberss shop in Dean Street set things in motion. The OCasadaigh family are Irish speakers and the lads were speaking in Irish while they waited ,which prompted a conversation on the respective Irish/Turkish and Catholic/Muslim cultures with the (Turkish) owner and his telling of a little known connection with Ireland in the 1840s. Essentially, a Muslim nobleman from Turkey was so affected with the Irish famine that he sent aid to the country, a massive gesture about which very little was known. Sultan Kelif Abdulmejid was the ruler of the vast Ottoman Empire. He was just 23 years old when, in 1847, he heard of the suffering and terrible loss of life through hunger in Ireland. He decided to send ten thousand pounds in aid, a colossal amount at the time. Queen Victoria was not best pleased, having given only a fifth of that amount. To avoid embarrassment, she persuaded the Sultan to reduce his donation to one thousand pounds, to which he reluctantly agreed. However, he felt the need to do more, and so he secretly sent five ships full of food to the smaller port of Drogheda, in order to avoid detection. Tragically, Sultan Kelif Abdulmejid died just five years later from tuberculosis. Eanna and Ruairi OCasadaigh, delved into the story and composed the song around this marvellous story. The tragedy of the Sultans early death adds to the great sadness, and their determination to keep his memory alive, and to remind the youth of today how in our darkest hour, when our Christian neighbours did little or worse, a faraway Muslim Sultan could not let it go. It also had a type of parallel with the recent discussions and refugee experiences of Direct Provision, a significant proportion of whom would be Muslim. The song which the lads wrote is called An Choran is an Chrois or The Crescent and the Cross, which refers to the idea that neither religion nor race was an obstacle to his kindness. They hope to keep his memory alive. Since their win, the group had formal contact from the Turkish Embassy who are very interested in publicising and promoting this song and the story behind it. Washington Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden today endorsed Dana Balter in her bid to unseat GOP Rep. John Katko, citing her support for making healthcare more accessible. The endorsement comes as Katko, R-Camillus, and the campaign arm of House Republicans air a series of TV ads attempting to show a rift between Balter and Biden. The ads use clips of Biden to portray Balter as too liberal for the vice president. In two Katko ads, Biden is shown warning that the Medicare for All proposal from Sen. Bernie Sanders is absolutely preposterous. If Dana Balter wont tell the truth about her radical healthcare plan, Joe Biden will, a narrator says in one ad. Biden on Tuesday put to rest any question about his support for Balter. He also noted that Katko wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the landmark healthcare law passed when Biden served as vice president. I strongly endorse Dana Balter for Congress because she understands the struggles that working families in Central and Western New York are going through, Biden said in a statement. New Yorkers face a choice between Balter an advocate for working families and Rep. John Katko, who supports President Trumps attempts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, Biden said. Balter said Bidens endorsement should erase any doubt that the two agree about making healthcare more affordable and accessible by improving the Affordable Care Act in the short term. Balter said she has always been clear that her Medicare for All plan differs from Sanders plan. She favors a phased approach that would transition to a version of Medicare for All that would enroll all Americans in Medicare at birth. John Katko is lying when he claims otherwise, Balter said Wednesday. Balter, like Biden, proposes lowering the age of Medicare eligibility while allowing Americans to keep their private health insurance. We both support maintaining a role for private insurance in our healthcare system, Balter said. We both support policies that would lower the cost of prescription drugs, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. And we both condemn John Katkos and Donald Trumps efforts to rip healthcare away from millions of Americans. Katko campaign manager Tom Haag responded: Congressman Katko has voted against his partys efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement. Dana Balter is clearly on record supporting a government takeover of healthcare and has been endorsed by far left groups like the progressive caucus which fully endorse Bernies plan. This is what Dana Balter does: She lies to voters because she knows they dont support her dangerous agenda. Katko supports repealing the Affordable Care Act only if its replacement includes some of its most popular initiatives. Those policies include a ban on denying coverage to Americans with pre-existing health conditions and a requirement that health insurers allow adult children to remain on the policy of a parent up until age 26. Katko voted against a series of House Republican initiatives to repeal all or part of the Affordable Care Act in 2015, 2017 and 2019. But he also voted for Republican tax reforms in 2017 that effectively ended the individual mandate, one of the health laws core provisions. Katko told voters during his first campaign in 2014 that he would not support repealing Obamacare unless Republicans first offered a viable alternative. MORE ON THE 2020 ELECTION How to get an absentee ballot in New York Former GOP Rep. Jim Walsh endorses Joe Biden for president John Katko, Dana Balter: Trump should stop cutbacks to US Postal Service Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category She said the U.N. is cautiously encouraged by government statements and some early moves toward greater accountability, support for freedom of expression and assembly, and commitment to justice. But she said action is urgently needed, noting that partisanship and short-sighted zero-sum politics continue to be major obstacles for progress. DENVER, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) announced two powerful women who will receive this year's Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awards: Grey's Anatomy star Caterina Scorsone and Spanish model Marian Avila. Celebrities are showing up in full force to support GLOBAL and honor the accomplished awardees. The awards will be presented during GLOBAL's annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the world, having raised over $20 million for life-changing research and medical care. Due to COVID-19 and restrictions on in-person gatherings, the event will be held virtually with a new date: Saturday, November 14, 2020. Caterina Scorsone has starred in numerous television and film roles, portraying powerfully complex characters that have captured the hearts of audiences around the world. She is most well-known for playing the reckless, yet compelling "Dr. Amelia Shepherd" on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Scorsone has three beautiful children including her three-year-old, Pippa, who was born with Down syndrome. Since the birth of Pippa, Scorsone has been a consistent supporter of GLOBAL's work. For the last three years, Scorsone has used her formidable platform to promote greater understanding and awareness, end stigmas around people who are differently-abled, and to encourage greater access and inclusion. Marian Avila is an accomplished Spanish model from Barcelona, who happens to have Down syndrome. She has modelled in ad campaigns for big name brands like Levi's and El Corte Ingles and participated in the fashion industry's biggest Fashion Weeks, including New York Fashion Week. She has been featured in worldwide media, including leading publications such as New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Harper's Bazaar. Avila uses social media to meet other people and gain visibility, without judgements or labels, and to help others. She calls herself a feminist and an advocate of human rights, family, and friendship. Other confirmed celebrities include Academy and Grammy Award winner Jamie Foxx; award-winning actors John C. McGinley, Zack Gottsagen, Jamie Brewer, and Megan Bomgaars; Denver Broncos' Brandon McManus, world-renowned swimmer Karen Gaffney, and Colorado Rapids' Kellyn Acosta; award-winning speakers, journalists, and TV anchors DeOndra Dixon, Frank Stephens, Kyra Phillips, John Roberts, Kim Christiansen, and Tom Green; R&B power couple Ronnie & Shamari DeVoe; and supermodel and Amanda Booth. More celebrities and self-advocates will be announced in the coming weeks. The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show will consist of a VIP Reception with more intimate celebrity experiences for table sponsors and a quality virtual event on Saturday November 14, 2020. The event will feature GLOBAL's 2020 Ambassador Walt Snodgrass, 18 beautiful models from 7 states and 2 countries, honorees and celebrities, and special segments including a dance battle between GLOBAL Ambassador DeOndra Dixon and her big brother Jamie Foxx. "I know that COVID-19 has led to tough times for so many," says GLOBAL Ambassador DeOndra Dixon, "but we have to pull together and continue to support GLOBAL and people with Down syndrome in need. I will miss the runway and the audience, but I am excited to make the virtual event a success and beat my brother in an epic dance battle!" "Most people with Down syndrome are high risk for COVID-19, so we have put a lot of effort into education and protection over the last five months," says GLOBAL President and CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. "The pandemic has presented GLOBAL with many challenges this year, and we've met each one with strength, clarity of purpose, and compassion. We hope that people will support our first virtual event and that they know we will work hard to truly save and transform lives." In response to the world-wide pandemic, GLOBAL has worked hard to get out multiple versions of an informative Q&A on COVID-19/Down syndrome, provide over 140 families and 42 Down syndrome organizations with COVID-19 Emergency Relief Global Grants, and support legislation that fights discrimination against those with disabilities during crisis triage care situations. The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show allows GLOBAL to protect people with Down syndrome during this pandemic with their COVID-19 initiatives, provide world-class care to over 2,000 patients with Down syndrome from 28 states and 10 countries, and fund over 200 scientists working on Down syndrome research with a focus on Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. The event also underwrites our advocacy in D.C., resulting in a tripling of the National Institutes of Health Down syndrome research budget, as well as outreach to over 12,000 families. To support GLOBAL's work, please consider a donation. To learn more, visit: www.bebeautifulbeyourself.org To buy tickets, visit: https://bebeautifulbeyourself.org/buy-tickets/ About Global Down Syndrome Foundation The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,000 patients with Down syndrome from 28 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and medical care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 150 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center all on the Anschutz Medical Campus. GLOBAL's widely-circulated medical publications include GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal Testing and Information about Down Syndrome, and the award-winning Down Syndrome WorldTM magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome). SOURCE Global Down Syndrome Foundation Related Links https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org Advertisement Boris Johnson must do more to get office workers back at their desks, a senior business leader says today. Carolyn Fairbairn warns commercial centres risk being permanent ghost towns. Writing in the Mail, the director-general of the CBI says getting staff back into offices and workplaces is as important as the return of pupils to school. The UKs offices are vital drivers of our economy, says Dame Carolyn, who speaks for almost 200,000 firms. They support thousands of local firms, from dry cleaners to sandwich bars. They help train and develop young people. And they foster better work and productivity for many kinds of business. The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade. This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities. Dame Carolyns intervention will pressure the Prime Minister to match his rhetoric on the need to return to school with similar words and action about workplaces. Commuters at Waterloo Train Station during rush-hour yesterday at 7.58am. Writing in the Mail, the director-general of the CBI says getting staff back into offices and workplaces is as important as the return of pupils to school This graphic from Centre for Cities shows the average footfall in city centres for the last full week of August, compared to pre-lockdown levels. The darker the green, the closer the city centre is to pre-lockdown levels British workers are the most reluctant to return to the office because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus, a new study has found An audit of major employers conducted by the Mail reveals most have only a small percentage of staff back in the office and many are telling people they will not be back at their desks until January at the earliest. Firms opting to keep most staff working from home for the rest of the year include NatWest, which employs almost 50,000; BT, which has 40,000 staff at home; KPMG, which has only 10 per cent of its 16,000 staff in the office; and Vodafone, whose 7,850 staff are almost all at home. Tech giant Microsoft has said it will not start returning its 3,000 UK staff to their desks until at least November. A separate survey by the BBC yesterday found that 50 of the countrys biggest employers have no plans to return all staff to the office full time. The Government last month dropped the formal pandemic advice that people should work from home if possible. An audit of major employers conducted by the Mail reveals most have only a small percentage of staff back in the office and many are telling people they will not be back at their desks until January at the earliest. Pictured, The City of London Mr Johnson said start to go back to work now if you can and ordered Whitehall to draw up detailed plans for getting more civil servants back. However the return to work across Government appears to have been only a trickle, rather than a flood. No 10 was yesterday unable to say how many officials were back at their desks. Ministers are in talks about workplace testing for coronavirus in order to give staff more confidence to return. But talks are still at an early stage and there has been no effort to encourage commuters back onto public transport. A Whitehall source said last night: Getting people back to work is something the PM feels strongly about. It is slowly happening in Whitehall but not at the pace we would want. Jace Tyrrell, of the New West End Company, a business group, said shops in central London could not survive unless office workers returned. He said traders still had only half their normal customers. We are encouraging a very strong instruction from the Prime Minister and the current mayor of London to encourage Londoners back to the office and work thats the only way we are going to survive this year for the retail and hospitality sectors in the West End, he added. A view of the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange. The City of London, a major financial centre, continues to be quiet after lockdown easing, as offices stay shut and more people work from home Andy Street, Tory mayor of the West Midlands, said Birminghams public transport system was still only carrying 20 per cent of pre-Covid passengers. He said this could rise to 50 per cent in the coming months, but added: This is undeniably a very difficult situation for businesses that thrive on the back of the big office occupiers being there. What we are trying to do is steadily build confidence that it is safe to return to the city centre. Tory MP Nickie Aiken, whose Cities of London and Westminster constituency has been badly hit by the lack of office workers, urged senior managers to show leadership by getting back to the office themselves next month to lead a wider return to work. She said: It is not just the big brands that are feeling the pain without workers popping out to eat or shop in their lunch hours or after work. The independent shops, cafes, restaurants and bars are also hurting. The list is endless and without offices returning these small businesses are likely to shut up shop for good. Mrs Aiken also rounded on London mayor Sadiq Khan for failing to make clear to commuters that it was now safe to use public transport again. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith urged the Prime Minister to get a grip, adding: Otherwise we are going to face an even worse economic catastrophe than we already are. Sir Iain said the Government should lead by example by insisting civil servants return to work. But Dave Penman, of the First Division Association of senior civil servants, yesterday predicted more than two thirds of officials could still be at home at the end of the year. Numbers are steadily going up but its not going to be huge numbers, its not going to be a majority by the end of the year. Well probably get to 30 or 40 per cent over time. What are some of our biggest firms saying? Natwest Group 49,000 staff working from home, around 10,000 staff in branches and offices Most not expected to return to the office until next year. A spokesman said: We told colleagues they will continue to work from home until 2021 because were prioritising customer and colleague health and wellbeing. HSBC 52,000 UK staff, 46,000 working from home Bank has said it does not have any plans for a return to the office before September at the earliest. Even then, it expects offices to be less than 20 per cent full. Virgin Money 6,900 of 8,500 staff office-based Staff told not to return to office until 2021. Proposals to let back-office employees work from home for most of the time and for offices in Glasgow and Newcastle to become collaboration hubs for meetings. Metro Bank 1,500 staff One of two London offices to close permanently, staff to work from home until at least January. Afterwards, they will work from home for minimum of three days. IG Group 750 UK staff Main London office is to open from September 7. But chief operating officer Jon Noble said: No one will be required to return to the office (if they dont want to) for the rest of 2020. JP Morgan 16,000 UK staff Staff will swap between working from home and the office, according to the head of the investment bank, Daniel Pinto. Lloyds Bank 50,000 of 63,000 staff working from home No plans for an imminent return to the office. From October, bank will test different types of flexible working to decide how often staff will visit the office. It is looking for ways to reduce the office space it uses. UBS Majority of 5,000 staff working from home Gradual return to office expected in coming months, but staff are likely to work from home more often in future. Barclays 80,000 staff globally, 70,000 working at home From October, the gradual return of more staff is set to begin. Boss Jes Staley has said he wants to get staff back together. Santander 18,000 UK office staff, more than 15,000 of whom are working from home. This is expected to continue until at least the end of this month. Ernst and Young 11,200 office staff Firm said it had consulted staff and offices will re-open from September 7, but on a reduced capacity basis and increase steadily over time in line with the guidelines set by the UK. Deloitte 20,000 office-based staff Most still working from home. Small number of offices reopened in July, with more being considered. KPMG 16,000 UK office staff No more than 10 per cent of office staff have returned for business-critical reasons. Vast majority will work from home for most of the year. Anna Purchas of KPMG said: We anticipate that the majority of our people will work from home for the majority of 2020. BT 40,000 of 52,000 office staff working at home Around 10,000 staff in critical customer and network operations teams have continued to attend the office. Staff will begin gradual return from September. AstraZeneca 8,300 UK office staff Pharmaceutical giant says 75 per cent of are still working from home. They will not start returning until September, when a phased approach will begin. Glaxosmithkline 15,000 UK staff Only small numbers back in the office. No date announced for major return, although scientists have been working on site for most of crisis. PWC 8,000 of 22,000 going in to the office. About 50 per cent are expected to have returned by the end of September under current plans, but its entirely voluntary. Rolls-Royce 14,000 office staff Only a very small percentage of its office-based staff have returned. Has not announced detailed plans for when they will go back. A spokesman said: Depending on the nature of our employees role, flexible working arrangements have been expanded and made available. Scottish and Southern Energy 10,000 office staff Majority expected to continue working from home until at least October. A spokesman said: we conducted an in-depth survey of our employees experiences and opinions and are acting on their feedback. Work continues on a phased return plan. Unilever 2,000 office staff The firm has said it believes working patterns will never return fully to normal. Boss Alan Jope said he foresees it being many more months before staff begin returning to the office. He added: We think we will never be back to 100 per cent of workers time being in the office. BP 6,500 office staff in UK Only a small number are returning, and it may be months before things return to normal. It is reviewing its offices and could shift 50,000 staff globally to remote working. Chief executive Bernard Looney said: Work patterns are changing. We expect to move to a more hybrid work style. Vodaphone About 7,850 office staff Only a very small number of staff have returned to the office. Firm broadly expects to stay as we are until the end of 2020. It expects to use a mixture of office based and remote working in future. Aviva 17,000 office workers Vast majority will remain working from home for the time being. About 500 have returned to offices. The insurance giant has said it will start testing out how to combine home and office working when some of its staff begin returning to offices in September. Admiral 7,500 office staff Only 15 per cent of staff have returned to its offices in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Company has said it wants to combine flexible workspaces with regular remote working options for staff in future. Legal & General 6,400 UK staff Under lockdown, 96 per cent of staff were working from home. Only 1,200 are now back in the office. Company has said it is taking a measured, step-by-step approach. It said it intends 80 per cent of staff to spend a day or two per fortnight in the office in future. Microsoft 3,000 UK office workers Staff not be required to return to the office until at least November. A spokesman said: We have a hybrid workplace strategy in place as worksites slowly start to open. National Grid 4,000 office-based staff No plans to return until September at the earliest. A spokesman said: We expect a return to the office to be a gradual process. Airbus 3,000 office-based workers in Bristol Only 20 per cent of office staff had returned in July. Phased return planned this month. Linklaters 2,200 lawyers globally Linklaters will be operating a flexible working scheme where lawyers can spend 20 to 50 per cent of their time working remotely. Ghost town Britain HAS to get back to work and Boris must lead the way Comment by Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director General, for the Daily Mail Decisions taken over the next few weeks will shape our economy for a decade. Getting schools back is an essential component. But as important will be building the right environment to get people back into offices and workplaces. The UKs offices are vital drivers of our economy. They support thousands of local firms, from drycleaners to sandwich bars. They help train and develop young people. And they foster better work and productivity for many kinds of business. The costs of office closure are becoming clearer by the day. Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade. This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities. Remote working has been a resounding success for many firms and employees, and none of these benefits should be lost. Many people have never worked harder, keeping businesses afloat from their desks and kitchen tables. Flexible working is here to stay and needs to remain an option for many. Director-General of the CBI, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, on June 11. Some of our busiest city centres resemble ghost towns, missing the usual bustle of passing trade. This comes at a high price for local businesses, jobs and communities But there are serious downsides too. For young people, learning face to face in the workplace is an unbeatable way to build skills and confidence. We must not deprive the next generation of this opportunity. Not everyone has the space to work effectively at home an ironing board in the bedroom does not make a great workspace. And the mental health challenges triggered by isolation are all too real for many. British firms' maximum office capacity under social distancing rules Anglo-American - 25 per cent Aviva - 10 per cent HSBC - less than 20 per cent Imperial Brands - 30 per cent Legal & General Group - 20 per cent Source: The Telegraph Advertisement There is also the question of fairness. Many employees, from barbers to brewers, have no option to work from home. We dont want to see a new divide in our society between those who can and cant work from the safety and comfort of their homes. For all these reasons we need more people to feel it is safe and possible to go back into their places of work. This is why we are today calling on the Prime Minister and his Government to do more to build confidence around getting people back into offices and workplaces. Getting schools open safely is a vital first step to enable parents to go back to work, but they must stay open wherever possible. This means effective test and trace, and a focus on resilience. We need government, nationally and locally, to do much more to build confidence in public transport. They need to shout louder about safety measures in place, enforce the wearing of face masks on tubes, buses and trains, and support the introduction of flexible season tickets so people can return gradually without financial penalty. And we urgently need mass widespread testing including in the workplace to help people feel confident and safe. We welcome the Health Secretarys recent commitment to a mass testing strategy for 2021. More flexible working is indisputably a good thing for our economy and quality of life, but we must have a balance. Its time for the UK to bring its workplaces back to life, or we will look back with regret at the jobs lost, training missed, and communities harmed. We ask the Government to work with business to build confidence in returning to offices, starting now. That said, there are additional challenges to reporting on ethnicity that are distinct from gender reporting. The thorniest issue is privacy. Employers have to get their staff to voluntarily disclose their ethnicity. There will also be companies that lack enough diversity to publish a nuanced breakdown of the data, or publish any data at all, without jeopardizing staff anonymity. (The government offers 18 different classifications of ethnic groups for census data in England and Wales.) And the severity of inequality and underrepresentation can really vary by region. Ethnic minorities make up just 14 percent of Britains total population but in London, 40 percent of people identify as having an Asian, Black, Arab, or multiple ethnic backgrounds. In response to the online petition on ethnicity pay gap reporting, the government said it had done voluntary testing of the methodology in 2019 with a range of businesses, which highlighted the genuine difficulties in designing a policy that provides accurate information and protects anonymity. One way to get around some of these difficulties has been demonstrated by Deloitte, the auditing and financial advisory firm that is one of a handful of companies in Britain that have voluntarily published their own data. Deloitte offers a single pay gap, showing the difference in pay between whites and all others. The latest report found that the median pay for the group it identified as Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in 2018 was 7.9 percent less than whites, compared with a 6.9 percent gap the year before. The gap for bonuses narrowed, to 25 percent from 30 percent in 2017. This report was made public, but internally more granular data was studied to help make decisions, said Clare Rowe, Deloitte U.K.s head of inclusion. A more detailed analysis is needed because a binary pay gap figure, modeled on how gender pay gap reporting is done, can conceal disparities between different ethnic groups. For example, according to a government survey, average hourly pay in Britain in 2018 was 11.82 pounds ($15.53). For white British people it was 11.90 and higher than that for people who are Indian. But Black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people received pay that was below the national average. Business in the Community, a charity focused on responsible business practices, has been pushing for the government to require ethnicity pay gap reporting since 2018, when a study it did found that just 11 percent of people in Britain said their employer was collecting ethnicity pay data, and only half of those were then making it public. Reporting this data alone cant fix everything, but it does ensure that this conversation remains at the top table and that there are actions to follow through on that, said Sandra Kerr, the charitys race equality director. Because looking at the data you cant just sit back and say, Oh, thats really terrible. You then have to act and say what you are going to do. This was the second fire incident in the city on Wednesday; a fire had erupted in a building in Worli in the morning but no one was injured Mumbai: One person was injured as fire broke out in a building in south Mumbai's Fort area on Wednesday evening, said an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). On Wednesday, this was the second fire incident in the city. A fire erupted in a building in Worli early in the morning, but no one was injured. The fire started at Bahubali building on Kawasji Patel Road in Fort around 7.15 pm and dousing operations were on, the BMC official said. Five fire engines were at the spot. A 22-year-old man suffered 30-35 percent burn injuries in the incident and was admitted to a nearby private hospital, the official said. Blocking the spectacular panoramic view from the Ohio 82 bridge between Brecksville and Sagamore Hills by installing barricade fencing along both sides is a feel-good idea that wont accomplish its intent. And its being done without asking local residents first. Driving across that iconic bridge is magical: The long views of sky and land are unlike any other span in Northeast Ohio. Its the kind of unique, breathtaking feature that convinces people to live here. Yes, it is terrible that some have acted irrationally there on rare occasions. But a fence can be climbed, and installing one does not prevent the myriad other ways a person can bring life to an end. Some local politicians decided upon this bridge fence with no public input; they simply talked among themselves, then convinced ODOT with a phone call. There has been no public-comment period to date. Thats poor governance. Equally poor is the fencing design that ODOT plans to use, similar to Akron's All-America "Y" Bridge. Stated simply, it's ugly. The public should have a significant voice before implementing such a major change to this incredible span. Once its done, there is no going back. Allen Freeman, Brecksville New model uses voting data to find out why parties have become more polarized Political parties have become more polarized since World War II, while voters have remained moderate By moving to extremes, parties minimize constituency overlap Researcher: 'Increased polarization is not voters' fault' New study challenges a 1950's model by economist Anthony Downs EVANSTON, Ill. -- New research shows that U.S. political parties are becoming increasingly polarized due to their quest for voters -- not because voters themselves are becoming more extremist. The research team, which includes Northwestern University researchers, found that extremism is a strategy that has worked over the years even if voters' views remain in the center. Voters are not looking for a perfect representative but a "satisficing," meaning "good enough," candidate. "Our assumption is not that people aren't trying to make the perfect choice, but in the presence of uncertainty, misinformation or a lack of information, voters move toward satisficing," said Northwestern's Daniel Abrams, a senior author of the study. The study is now available online and will be published in SIAM Review's printed edition on Sept. 1. Abrams is an associate professor of engineering sciences and applied mathematics in Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering. Co-authors include Adilson Motter, the Morrison Professor of Physics and Astronomy in Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and Vicky Chuqiao Yang, a postdoctoral fellow at the Santa Fe Institute and former student in Abrams' laboratory. To accommodate voters' "satisficing" behavior, the team developed a mathematical model using differential equations to understand how a rational political party would position itself to get the most votes. The tool is reactive, with the past influencing future behaviors of the parties. The team tested 150 years of U.S. Congressional voting data and found the model's predictions are consistent with the political parties' historical trajectories: Congressional voting has shifted to the margins, but voters' positions have not changed much. "The two major political parties have been getting more and more polarized since World War II, while historical data indicates the average American voter remains just as moderate on key issues and policies as they always have been," Abrams said. The team found that polarization is instead tied to the ideological homogeneity within the constituencies of the two major parties. To differentiate themselves, the politicians of the parties move further away from the center. The new model helps explains why. The moves to the extremes can be interpreted as attempts by the Democratic and Republican parties to minimize an overlap of constituency. Test runs of the model show how staying within the party lines creates a winning strategy. "Right now, we have one party with a lot of support from minorities and women, and another party with a lot of support from white men," Motter said. Why not have both parties appeal to everyone? "Because of the perception that if you gain support from one group, it comes at the expense of the other group," he added. "The model shows that the increased polarization is not voters' fault. It is a way to get votes. This study shows that we don't need to assume that voters have a hidden agenda driving polarization in Congress. There is no mastermind behind the policy. It is an emergent phenomenon." The researchers caution that many other factors -- political contributions, gerrymandering and party primaries -- also contribute to election outcomes, which future work can examine. The work challenges a model introduced in the late 1950s by economist Anthony Downs, which assumes everyone votes and makes well-informed, completely rational choices, picking the candidate closest to their opinions. The Downsian model predicts that political parties over time would move closer to the center. However, U.S. voters' behaviors don't necessarily follow those patterns, and the parties' positions have become dramatically polarized. "People aren't perfectly rational, but they're not totally irrational either," Abrams said. "They'll vote for the candidate that's good enough -- or not too bad -- without making fine distinctions among those that meet their perhaps low bar for good enough. If we want to reduce political polarization between the parties, we need both parties to be more tolerant of the diversity within their own ranks." ### More news at Northwestern Now Find experts on our Faculty Experts Hub Follow @NUSources for expert perspectives The Biden campaign said in a statement Tuesday that the Chinese government's oppression of Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the northwest region of Xinjiang is "genocide," and that Joe Biden "stands against it in the strongest terms." Why it matters: Genocide is a serious crime under international law, and the U.S. government has adopted the formal label only on rare occasions after extensive documentation. China has vehemently rejected any claim that it is engaged in human rights abuses in Xinjiang, but reports from journalists, NGOs and former detainees have documented a sweeping campaign of repression against Uighurs. The draconian reports of mass surveillance, arbitrary detentions, brainwashing, torture and forced sterilization have been described by some experts as "demographic genocide." Between the lines: Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates initially provided the statement in response to an unconfirmed Politico story, which reported that the Trump administration is considering formally labeling China's actions a genocide. The internal deliberations are reportedly still in the early stages. A formal accusation of genocide by the U.S. would infuriate China at a time when tensions are already running high, and could prompt calls on the international stage for the U.S. to take greater steps to intervene. President Trump told Axios in a June interview that he held off on imposing sanctions against Chinese officials involved with the mass detention camps because doing so would have interfered with his China trade deal. Former White House national security adviser John Bolton also claimed in his book that Trump encouraged China's President Xi Jinping in June 2019 to continue building the detention camps. Trump has denied the allegations. The big picture: Top Trump administration officials have publicly condemned China's oppression of the Uighurs, and the Treasury Department has sanctioned a number of officials and entities involved in operating the internment camps. The Trump campaign and Biden campaign have repeatedly clashed over who is "tougher" than China. What they're saying: The unspeakable oppression that Uighurs and other ethnic minorities have suffered at the hands of Chinas authoritarian government is genocide and Joe Biden stands against it in the strongest terms. If the Trump administration does indeed choose to call this out for what it is, as Joe Biden already did, the pressing question is what will Donald Trump do to take action. He must also apologize for condoning this horrifying treatment of Uighurs." Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates For the record: The Trump campaign referred Axios' request for comment to the White House. The White House did not respond. During the afternoon of Aug. 26, as major Hurricane Laura nears landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border, NASA satellites have been providing forecasters with a great deal of data on the storm, examining temperature, rainfall capability, storm structure and extent. Infrared Data Reveals Powerful Rainmaking Capabilities On Aug. 25 at 11:35 p.m. EDT (Aug. 26 at 0335 UTC) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite revealed the most powerful thunderstorms were around Laura's center where cloud top temperatures were as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 Celsius). Strong storms with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6. degrees Celsius) surrounded the center and were generating large amounts of rain. NASA research has determined that cloud top temperatures as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 52.7 degrees Celsius) has the capability to generate heavy rainfall. NASA's Visible Image Of Cat 4 Hurricane Laura on Aug. 26 The MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite provided a visible image of the large and powerful major Hurricane Laura in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 26, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. EDT. Laura's eye was clearly visible, the storm was well rounded, and the eye was surrounded by powerful thunderstorms. Watches and Warnings on Aug. 25 On Aug. 25, NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) posted several watches and warnings on major Hurricane Laura. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for San Luis Pass, Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. Some of the storm surge forecasts are extreme. Johnson Bayou, LA to Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge including Calcasieu Lake is between 15 to 20 feet. Sea Rim State Park, TX to Johnson Bayou, LA including Sabine Lake is between 10 and 15 feet. Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge to Intracoastal City, LA between 10 and 15 feet. Intracoastal City, LA to Morgan City including Vermilion Bay between 8 to 12 feet. For additional areas and storm surges, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov. A Hurricane Warning is in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Sargent, Texas to San Luis Pass and for areas east of Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the mouth of the Mississippi River. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Freeport, Texas to San Luis Pass, Texas, the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and for Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for from east of Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City, Louisiana. Laura's Status on Aug. 26, 2020 at 2 p.m. EDT NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Laura was located near latitude 27.3 degrees north and longitude 92.5 degrees west. That is about 200 miles (20 km) south-southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Laura is moving toward the northwest near 16 mph (26 kph). A gradual turn toward the north-northwest and north is expected later today and tonight. Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 140 mph (220 kph) with higher gusts. Laura is an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening is possible this afternoon, and Laura is forecast to remain a category 4 hurricane through landfall tonight. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura makes over land. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). Tropical-storm-force winds have reached the coast of Louisiana and an observing site at Eugene Island recently measured sustained winds of 39 mph (63 kph) and a gust to 64 mph (104 kph). The latest minimum central pressure estimated from reconnaissance aircraft data is 952 millibars. Laura's Forecast from NHC The NHC warns that Laura will likely make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane and bring devastating effects. Heavy rain, dangerous storm surge, isolated tornadoes and hurricane-force sustained winds are expected. On the forecast track, Laura will approach the Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland within that area tonight. The center of Laura is forecast to move over northwestern Louisiana tomorrow, across Arkansas Thursday night, and over the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday. NASA Researches Earth from Space For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America's leadership in space and scientific exploration. For updated and detailed forecasts, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov ### He's enjoying headline-making coverage since hooking up with Megan Fox. And on Tuesday, Machine Gun Kelly made sure to get some attention as he went shopping in bright yellow trousers. The rapper, 30, stopped by the Vivienne Westwood store on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. Eye-catching: Machine Gun Kelly made sure to get some attention as he went shopping in bright yellow trousers on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood on Tuesday Kelly's eye-catching pants featured big pockets and wide hems that fell down over his shoes. He added a white tank top and a cow print belt and sported a black 'Lost Boys' cap, finishing off the look with a pair of Dr. Martens x CBGB boots. The tattooed Houston native - born Colson Baker - chatted away on his phone as he arrived at the store and as he left again carrying a large bag of purchases. Noticeably, he didn't wear a mask or face covering as currently required when out and about in public places in California due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New love: The rapper, 30, has been making headlines of late with his red hot romance with Transformers star Megan Fox, 34 Kelly's eye-catching pants featured big pockets and wide hems that fell down over his shoes. He added a white tank top and a cow print belt and sported a black 'Lost Boys' cap. Shopped till he dropped: The tattooed Houston native - born Colson Baker - chatted away on his phone as he arrived at the store and as he left again carrying a large bag of purchases Bites: Later he headed to Crossroads Kitchen to pick up vegan dinner to-go Friendly: He chatted with a few fans while waiting for his food to be ready Kelly and Fox met in March on the set of the movie Midnight In The Switchgrass and went public with their romance in May. Fox, 34, is separated from her husband of 10 years Brian Austin Green, 47, with whom she shares sons Noah Shannon, seven, Bodhi Ransom, six, and Journey River, four. The relationship between the rapper and the actress is clearly moving apace. In a recent video interview for BuzzFeed, Kelly appeared to suggest that he's off the market for good. 'I'm locked in already right now. No dates for me, probably ever,' he quipped. Spoken for: In a recent video for BuzzFeed, Kelly appeared to suggest that he's off the market for good. 'I'm locked in already right now. No dates for me, probably ever,' he quipped Loved up: Kelly and Fox met in March on the set of the movie Midnight In The Switchgrass and went public with their romance in May. The actress is separated from husband Brian Austin Green with whom she shares three young children The couple made things Instagram official last month with a black-and-white mirror selfie MGK posted with the caption: 'Waited for eternity to find you again ...' Fox took to her own Instagram earlier this month with a similar (shirtless) selfie, writing: 'Achingly Beautiful Boy... My heart is yours. She later appeared as a crazy girlfriend in the music video for his single Bloody Valentine from his upcoming fifth studio album Tickets to My Downfall, which drops September 25. 'My heart is yours': The couple made things Instagram official last month with a couple of black and white photos and expressions of undying love Today is the birthday of First Vice President of Azerbaijan, First Lady of the Republic and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva. Speaking with the correspondents of Vestnik Kavkaza, Russian political and cultural figures congratulated Mehriban Aliyeva on her birthday. Director of the Multimedia Art Museum Olga Sviblova wished Mehriban health, strength, happiness and new plans. "It is difficult to overestimate the huge contribution of Mehriban Aliyeva, including as the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Her activities are internationally known both in the neighboring countries and in non-CIS countries," Olga Sviblova said, stressing that Mehriban Aliyeva still has many achievements ahead. Deputy chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Ilyas Umakhanov said that Mehriban Aliyeva pays great attention to the development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, in particular, through the Humanitarian Forum in Baku. "Her visit to Russia last year was a beautiful sign of Russian-Azerbaijani interregional ties. Therefore, I have great respect for Mehriban Aliyeva and I know that she treats us with the same respect. Therefore, I congratulate Mehriban Aliyeva on her birthday, I am sure our relations will continue to develop," Ilyas Umakhanov said. President of the Eurasian Institute of Geostrategic Research, Honored Scientist of Russia, Professor, Doctor of Historical Sciences Evgeny Bazhanov stressed that Mehriban Aliyeva is an outstanding statesperson. "The activities of Mehriban Aliyeva both in Azerbaijan and beyond its borders can only be assessed positively. And I want to wish her good health, I want her to stay beautiful, active and energetic to successfully pursue the Azerbaijani leadership's policy, including in relation to Russia," Yevgeny Bazhanov said. Deputy head of the Council of the Russian Diplomats Association Andrei Baklanov drew attention to Mehriban Aliyeva's professionalism in the international arena. "I am also very impressed by her special attention to Russia. Showing how close our peoples and our cultures are by personal example is a very important and significant phenomenon. In all this, Mehriban Aliyeva'a role is very, very great. I like her position on the fact that knowing the Russian language and doing something pleasant for the Russian people is a historical and cultural conquest of the Azerbaijanis, the conquest of Russian hearts," Andrei Baklanov said. - The woman was captured on CCTV getting into Kevin Omwenga's house in Galana Suites - In her statement with the police, she said she knew so little about the controversial man - The woman said they were in the house when the main suspect Robert Obodo called Omwenga to his bedroom for a private talk - The Tanzanian then heard a loud blast from the room before he saw Obodo getting out of the room A woman of Tanzanian origin who was seen in CCTV footage getting into the house of slain controversial businessman Kevin Omwenga has recorded a statement with the police. In her statement, the unidentified woman told detectives that she was just getting to know slain Omwenga better when she visited his house in Galana Suites, Kilimani. READ ALSO: Kenyan newspapers review for August 26: William Ruto recruits ex-Uhuru, Raila bosom friends in his 2022 assault team Controversial businessman Kevin Omwenga sitting on one of his high-end cars. Photo: Generali Osumo Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Bunge yatoa makataa ya siku 60 kwa Mhasibu Mkuu kuchunguza sakata ya KEMSA The lady who was identified as one of the witnesses told the police that self-confessed suspect Robert Bodo called Omwenga to his bedroom for a talk she was not privy to, Citizen TV reported. While the two were in the bedroom, she heard a loud blast coming from the room before she saw Bodo get out. The woman's statement corroborated with that of Omwenga's brother who told the police that when he heard the loud blast, he thought a gas cylinder had burst in the kitchen. Omwenga's brother, whose name is also yet to be released, told the police that after the blast, he saw Bodo get out of the room looking confused. The woman was seen getting into the apartment with Omwenga and also when the deceased's body was moved out of the house to hospital. Photo: Screenshot from Citizen TV Source: UGC READ ALSO: Explainer: Africa declared polio-free and what it means Detectives are also seeking to record a statement from a man who was on the CCTV footage and believed to be of Arab descent, identified only as Jamal, who is said to be Omwengas neighbour and best friend. The two are reported to have planned for a trip to Dubai later in the month which never came to be. The woman's statement came after a court in Kibera ordered the suspects be detained for 12 more days pending conclusion on investigations into the murder. Businessman Chris Obure was taken into custody at the Kileleshwa Police Station while Bodo was taken to the Kilimani Police Station. Police are also getting more statements from other people in the estate and depending on what statements they record, to either take the witness stand or join the duo as accused persons. Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Follow us on Telegram: Tuko news Source: TUKO.co.ke A wanted woman who ran away with her two children in June was found on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Sawsan Hadidi, 39, from Riverside, Northumberland County, was ordered to have her children removed from her custody in late May, according to the marshals service. On June 11, the children were returned but only under conditions including that she live with them. On June 12, the marshals say Hadidi ran away with the children and never returned. She was last seen that day taking items from a home in Shamokin, but by the time police were notified and arrived, she had fled with the children. The Riverside Police Department got a warrant for Hadidi on the charge of interference with child custody. The U.S. marshals detained Hadidi in Niles, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Both children were with her, and the arrest was made without incident. Hadidi was turned over to county officials in Illinois for arraignment. Pennsylvania officials are coordinating with Illinois authorities to bring the children home, the marshals said. The safety and well-being of children are paramount to members of the Marshals Service. We will commit our best effort to these cases and the safe recovery of children, said U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane. Read more on PennLive: The United States Air Force is seen demonstrating and "test driving" Lift Aircraft's single passenger 'flying car' called Hexa and believed to be soon joining the military's standard vehicle. Lift Aircraft primarily aims its focus in developing electric vertical take-off and landing or eVTOL vehicles for ease of use, even available for people without licenses to use. Lift Aircraft's Hexa is an 18-rotor electric-manned vehicle capable of transporting an individual from one place to another. US Air Force's Secretary Barbara Barret, Chief of Staff Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne S. Bass, and leaders from Texas' National Guard were present in the event, according to Electric VTOL News. The US Air Force attended the manned demonstration of the 18-rotor flying car in the parade grounds of Camp Marbury, and some members even got to try Hexa for the first time last Thursday, August 20. Lift Aircraft, Inc.'s Founder and CEO, Matt Chasen, was also present and demonstrated the use of the electric vehicle. The U.S. Air Force's senior leadership was doing a visit to the area's local branch of the AFWERX, the United States Air Force's program that focuses on innovations and creative works. AFWERX officially launched together with Agility Prime. Agility Prime is another USAF program that aims to utilize flying cars in the one to a two-seater, three to four-seater, and unmanned cargo categories to provide the military with vehicles concerning its logistic needs. pic.twitter.com/ihcyHloqFY We're making the experience of personal flying accessible to everyone - so simple and safe it doesn't even require a pilot's license. Join our waitlist to fly in your city starting in 2019: https://t.co/bdtK2o26xm . "LIFT Aircraft's Hexa may be your first drone ride" @TechCrunch LIFT Aircraft Inc. (@LIFTAircraft) January 2, 2019 ALSO READ: Clash Between Tesla and Middle-Class Consumers in China United States Air Force's Agility Prime and Lift Aircraft The United States Air Force's Agility Prime is a program that invites local companies to provide the military and USAF with transportation needs, particularly flying cars that can be used efficiently. According to Agility Prime Leader and AFWERX Director, Col. Nathan Diller, the demonstration is the first for USAF's Agility Prime program. According to the United States Air Force, US Air Force Secretary Barbara Barret said Agility Prime's initiative is to equip the USAF with the aerospace phenomenon's flying cars by partnering with stakeholders, industries, and agencies. Lift Aircraft's Hexa, a single-passenger eVTOL or 'flying car,' is the company's prototype in the 1-2 seater category to soon be used by the Air Force. eVTOLs and Lift Aircraft's Hexa Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing or eVTOLs are storming the market and industry today in the 'flying car' scene that is usually seen in Hollywood movies. The futuristic idea of the car is to efficiently transport a person or an object from one place to another. Lift Aircraft's Hexa is an 18-rotor single passenger eVTOL vehicle currently in the market for preselling and testing. The product aims to deliver a simple mode of transportation with its single three-axis joystick equipped with a redundant autopilot computer that promises a smooth operation. Hexa is equipped with an independent eighteen-motor system that powers the vehicle's propellers that ensures a stable and controlled flight. Its four perimeter floats also enable the vehicle to land and fly from water. ALSO READ: Ford Bronco 2021 Price Leaks: Customers May See a Big Chunk Increase in Trims This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. OTTAWA Manitoba is joining calls to reboot Ottawas troubled commercial rent-assistance program, as documents reveal that struggling Canadian businesses have tapped into less than a third of the available funds. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Manitoba is joining calls to reboot Ottawas troubled commercial rent-assistance program, as documents reveal that struggling Canadian businesses have tapped into less than a third of the available funds. Internal records obtained by the Free Press show $983 million had flowed out of the $3-billion Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program as of Sunday. CP Manitoba Finance Minister Scott Fielding. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files) "This is something we think we can work on with the federal government, to make some changes and give some breathing room to businesses during COVID," said Manitoba Finance Minister Scott Fielding, who provided the data. Under the program's terms, Ottawa and the province split half of a businesss monthly rent if the tenant agrees to pay a quarter and the landlord forgives the rest. But since CECRA was launched in May, businesses have said the criteria are too strict, especially because only businesses that lost 70 per cent of their revenue qualify. This is something we think we can work on with the federal government, to make some changes and give some breathing room to businesses during COVID. Manitoba Finance Minister Scott Fielding Landlords have complained CECRA's terms and time frame are unclear, and that they face a complicated application process when they do sign up. But many business owners need help. In June, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce said the program "will be the determinant as to whether (local businesses) will be viable post-COVID." The data shows less than one-third of the available program funds have been allocated, despite some application adjustments and Ottawa's decision to extend it from three months to five. That aligns with what small-business owners report in surveys conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Laura Jones, executive vice-president and chief strategic officer, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press files) "Its validated our suspicion that the program is grossly under-utilized, relative to the number of people who need it," said CFIB executive vice-president Laura Jones. The $3 billion is for the entire fiscal year, but Jones said the bulk of it was clearly meant to have been accessed by now to temporarily help businesses regain their footing, not to serve as a year-long subsidy. "I'm very much hoping we're going to see some common sense applied to this program," she said. Jones said about 15 per cent of CFIB members are at risk of collapsing due to rent costs, and that the top issue expressed in surveys is landlords reluctant to cut deals for businesses that would otherwise qualify for CECRA. "The fundamental unfairness in that is crazy," she said. A month ago, the Saskatchewan government wrote to Ottawa, saying the "fundamentally flawed" program might better work if reluctant landlords were taken out of the equation. Saskatchewan proposed governments instead pay half the cost of rent, and have business owners pay landlords the remaining 50 per cent. Fielding said he added his support to that proposal Monday in "a really good phone call" with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who was named finance minister a week ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ADRIAN WYLD Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files) "The new minister was very open to listening," he said. "Thats a very good sign. We want to make sure the money is being utilized for these businesses." Manitoba expected the program to dole out a combined $64 million in the province; just $11 million had flowed as of Sunday. In late June, Manitoba joined other jurisdictions in issuing an eviction ban on tenants who qualify for CECRA. The province doesnt believe that move has helped drum up landlord interest. Instead, the Manitoba Gap Protection Program has offered forgivable loans to businesses and landlords who couldnt tap CECRA. The Trudeau government has acknowledged issues with CECRA, but has never said whether it would remove landlords from the formula. Across Canada, CECRA had paid out $613 million as of July 30, the last publicly available number. The internal data Fielding shared shows the provincial and industry breakdown. It shows $784 million was paid out by Aug. 16, and $982.7 million as of Aug. 23. The recipients are overwhelmingly businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and one-fifth are either accommodations or food-service companies. Ottawa has shared those figures for weeks with provincial governments, but has refused multiple media requests for the same information. Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal pledged in June to share CECRA data for Manitoba with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, but his office said a month later that it didn't have access to it. Asked why Ottawa has kept the figures under wraps, neither Finance Canada nor the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. responded by deadline. Jones said that suggests a federal government trying to steer attention away from a troubled program. "Its ridiculous that we havent had more transparency, so kudos to the Manitoba government for sharing this." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 11:07:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Wednesday marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in south China's Guangdong Province, a landmark in China's reform and opening up drive. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has on many occasions stressed deepening reform in all areas and promoting opening up. The following are some highlights of his quotes. -- Reform and opening up is always an ongoing task and will never end. Without reform and opening up, China would not be what it is today, nor would it have the prospects for a brighter future. -- Innovation is the lifeline of reform and opening up. -- Openness brings progress, while isolation leads to backwardness. China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world; and the world needs China for global prosperity. -- The Chinese market is so big that you should all come and see what it has to offer. -- We shall form a new development pattern that takes the domestic market as the mainstay and allows the domestic and foreign markets to boost each other. -- China will see its status continue to rise in the world economy with closer ties, and the country will provide more extensive market opportunities for other countries. Enditem The attempts to change the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are unacceptable. This is what Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov declared during a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Moscow today. In response to a question about prospects for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Jeyhun Bayramov specifically stressed Baku's constructive position and added that Azerbaijan is committed to a political settlement. Bayramov recalled the existence of serious legal and regulatory base, documents of international organizations and set aside the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and several other documents that were adopted after the adoption of those resolutions. The negotiations need to be substantive, not an imitation, Bayramov declared. Lavrov agreed that it is necessary to be governed by the decisions adopted by the international community, including the resolutions of the UN Security Council that pursued an end of the war and the criteria for a peaceful settlement developed later. The frameworks were developed within the scope of the OSCE, which set up the Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, the US and France. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and Armenia and Azerbaijan developed documents on approaches, but the sole purpose is to settle the conflict based on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, the Russian foreign minister stated. According to Lavrov, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have scheduled visits to Baku and Yerevan next month and plan to organize a meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, but it is necessary to solve the situation and rule out incidents not only in the area of Karabakh and the areas of contact, but also on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. W&M provides testing data via online dashboard Healthy Together: The university has partnered with Kallaco and VCU Health Services to test all students before their return to W&M this fall as well as any employees who may be working on campus. The university also began prevalence testing Aug. 24 for students and employees on campus. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption William & Mary has launched an online dashboard to keep the community informed about the universitys return-to-campus COVID-19 testing results. The second phase of the dashboard launched this week and features data from W&Ms testing program, including the number of tests conducted and the number of positive test results among students and employees. The university has partnered with Kallaco and VCU Health Services to test all students before their return to W&M this fall as well as any employees who may be working on campus. The university also began prevalence testing Aug. 24 for students and employees on campus. According to the dashboard, 4,422 students and 604 employees had been tested by Aug. 25. As of that date, a total of 13 students tested positive as part of the universitys pre-arrival program, meaning they tested positive before arriving on campus and were not permitted to come to campus. Students were and still are required to remain at home until they receive a negative test result. None of the students who tested positive are currently on campus. Less than 10 employees have tested positive, and they are also required to remain at home. No one should take these early results as license to relax our vigilance, W&M President Katherine A. Rowe said in a message to campus Aug. 18. We need to turn these rules of behavior into habits of behavior. It is imperative that we all hold ourselves accountable for keeping our campus and neighbors safe. Created by Information Technology with assistance from University Communications and Procurement, the dashboard is meant to inform the campus community of both the progress of the return-to-campus testing program and the latest data coming out of the Virginia Department of Health, according to Louis Hubert, IT senior applications administrator. The data on the dashboard is expected to be updated daily, and while it will not show the full extent of potential spread, it can provide a snapshot in time of the relative prevalence of the virus within the community. The dashboard should be useful to anyone who has an interest in the progress of the testing campaign, said Hubert. This includes all facets of the campus community, but also members of the community at large, said Scott Steward, IT technology architect. The first iteration of the dashboard launched Aug. 18 and primarily featured regional data from the Virginia Department of Health. The data on the dashboard is being provided by Kallaco and VCU Health Services or pulled from publicly available VDH feeds. The team that created the dashboard is looking to continue expanding its offerings, possibly incorporating more detailed data from VDH, a GIS-style map visualization and prevalence testing data in the future. We would really appreciate any feedback on what data and visualizations are most relevant to the community and decision-makers, said Hubert. The dashboard is important because it tells a story, said Hubert. It illustrates how the university is taking steps to provide a safer environment for the campus community and is a key component to proper decision-making both in the present and moving forward, he said. It would be unrealistic to predict that there will be no cases in the W&M community this fall, Rowe said in her email. Yet it is within our control to limit the spread of this virus, she said. Mask up. Wash your hands. Maintain physical distance. Fully-embraced, these habits of care and respect will have a direct impact on the trajectory of W&Ms fall semester. Presidential Staffer, Charles Bissue is optimistic that Ghanaians will vote for President Nana Akufo-Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in the upcoming December 7 general elections. According to him, the launch of the partys 2020 campaign manifesto shows clearly that the Akufo-Addo administration has been consistent with Ghanaians in terms of promises made to them prior the 2016 general elections. Speaking on Tuesday's edition of Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show with Host Kwame Nkrumah Tikese, Mr Bissiw said that the Akufo-Addo government has honoured majority of all the promises made to Ghanaians in 2016. I am hopeful that come December 7, Ghanaians will vote for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government because the manifesto we launched shows that we have been consistent with Ghanaians. All the promises we said that we were going to do, we have done majority of them, he indicated. He added that the New Patriotic Partys (NPPs) manifesto has three areas; the promises made to Ghanaians in 2016; the consolidation of these promises and transformation of lives. Delving into the confusing surrounding the Cape Coast airport, Mr Charles Bissue debunked the assertion by many people that President Akufo-Addo was not aware of the Cape Coast airport, explaining why he could not be emphatic when asked on radio. I will say that it is not true because National Council met last Friday and it was in the afternoon that the President granted interview in Cape Coast and at that time, the manifesto has not been accepted and printed out, he said. The President is a law-abiding person and the National Council which is the second highest decision-making body was yet to accept the manifesto and so the President couldnt have made a categorical statement that there will be an airport in Cape Coast even though it is captured in the manifesto, he stressed. He reiterated that even though the National Council could have rejected the Cape Coast airport proposal, there was a possibility for the Council to say it was not feasible and therefore be taken out of the manifesto. To him, it is welcoming news to have a domestic airport in Central Region, stressing that the Central Region is blessed with a lot of touristic places. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bette Midler faced an angry backlash last night after ridiculing Melania Trump's accent and calling her an 'illegal alien' while the first lady spoke at the Republican National Convention. The award-winning performer, 74, launched a tirade against Melania on Twitter in which she said: 'Oh, God. She still can't speak English.' Midler was immediately branded a 'racist' and 'xenophobe' by critics including Piers Morgan, and accused of 'dunking on an immigrant' who became a US citizen after emigrating from Slovenia in the 1990s. Even fierce critics of Donald Trump said Melania's accent was not a 'legitimate reason' to criticize the first lady. Bette Midler (pictured) launched a Twitter tirade against Melania Trump during the first lady's speech at the Republican National Convention last night Midler said that Melania Trump 'can't speak English' while the first lady delivered her remarks at the White House on Tuesday Midler launched her attack on Melania by saying: 'She can speak several words in a few languages. Get that illegal alien off the stage!' She continued her rant by calling Melania an 'awful person' who 'lacks warmth so severely that I just had to turn my AC down'. After mocking the first lady's Eastern European accent, she immediately came under fire from critics who said the comment was an unfair personal attack. Piers Morgan parodied Midler's words by saying: 'Oh, God. Bette Midlers a racist.' Republican Senate candidate Mark Curran was among those who called the remark 'xenophobic', while CNN's Kyle Feldscher labelled it 'pathetic'. 'One would think that someone who has performed in front of crowds her entire career would be impressed with someone making a speech to millions of people in a tongue that is not her first language,' Feldscher said. Conservative activist JD Rucker condemned Midler's remark by saying: 'Hollywood and the Democratic Party truly hate America. 'They hate patriots. They hate conservatives. But there's one thing they hate more than anything else. 'They hate minorities and immigrants who do not fall in line with their abusive ideology.' Piers Morgan was among those who lambasted Bette Midler's tweet, calling her a 'racist' Melania Trump (pictured during her speech) is a US citizen who emigrated from Slovenia in the 1990s Even those who fiercely oppose the president - and blame Melania for helping to spread the 'birther' conspiracy theory against Barack Obama - said the attack on her accent was inappropriate. Writer Joanna Schroeder said: 'Of all things to criticize Melania for - being a racist birther, marrying the worst president in US history, supporting all his horrific policies, her offensive jacket... 'You choose this? Furthering the idea that having an accent is a bad thing in America? Let's not.' Stefanie Williams said: 'Bad, bad, bad take. There are a million legitimate reasons to criticize Melania. Her accent/ethnic background is NOT one of them. Ever.' Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle said: 'People who learn a foreign language as adults almost never lose their accents. 'In other news, a public figure, presumably left-leaning, thinks "Learn English" is a devastating riposte to an immigrant giving a speech at a convention.' Stephen Sanchez of CBS News said: 'Tweets like this are not acceptable. You can debate the substance without attacking the person.' Midler has not retracted the comment, and continued her attack by posting footage of Melania questioning the validity of Obama's birth certificate. The first lady spoke about her migrant background in her RNC speech last night, telling the audience that 'I was able to achieve my own American dream'. Midler came under heavy criticism from both right and left for her remark about Melania Trump The Slovenian-born former fashion model moved to the US in the 1990s and was granted American citizenship in 2006. 'Growing up as a young child in Slovenia, which was under communist rule at the time, I always heard about an amazing place called America - a land that stood for freedom and opportunity,' she said. 'As I grew older it became my goal to move to the United States and follow my dream of working in the fashion industry. 'My parents worked very hard to ensure our family could not only leave and prosper in America, but also contribute to a nation that allows for people to arrive with a dream and make it reality.' In her speech she also called for an end to what she called 'violence and looting' during the months of race protests after the death of George Floyd. 'Instead of tearing things down, let's reflect on our mistakes. Be proud of our evolution and look to our way forward,' she said. 'Every day let us remember that we are one nation under God, and we need to cherish one another.' Bette Midler was previously branded a 'washed up psycho' by the president himself after posting a fake Trump quote on Twitter. Midler shared a quote in which Trump supposedly ridiculed Republican voters, a meme which went viral in 2015 and 2016 but has long since been debunked. The Oyo State Police Command has paraded Sunday Shodipe, the prime suspect arrested in connection with the multiple killings in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. The Commissioner of Police, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, who paraded him alongside other suspects today, said the suspect went back to Akinyele and carried out another killing after he escaped from police custody. The CP said the suspect escaped from police custody on August 11 and carried out the killing of Mrs Funmilayo Oladeji at her home two days after his escape. He said the suspect who was standing trial before his escape would be handed over to the correctional centre soon. The CP said, Upon interrogation, he explained that he managed to escape from custody when an Inspector attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Mokola gave him the permission to take his bath within the premises of the station. He also confessed that on August 13 at about 2:30pm, he attacked one Mrs Funmilayo Oladeji in her house at Onikeke community in Akinyele. He stated that he inflicted machete injury on the womans head and left her in the pool of her blood. When Shodipe was asked where he went to after his escape, he said he went to Akinyele again and confessed that he killed another victim there. Narrating how he killed the woman, Shodipe said, he used a machete to inflict injuries on her head. He said, I inflicted machete cut on her head. The CP said the suspect was kept in police custody because the prisons pleaded to keep him due to space constraint and Covid-19 pandemic. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Michigan residents, including student organizers with New America Project and the #NOTFiredUpForFall campaign at CMU, gathered in protest at Secretary of Education Betsy Devos home. According to a press release from the New America Project, the protest took place at 10:30 p.m. on August 20th and was put together by the Sunrise Movement in collaboration with CMU students and members of the #NOTFiredUpForFall coalition. The Sunrise Movement is a national movement of young people uniting to stop the climate crisis. The protest was part of Sunrises Wide Awake direct action program, a homage to the mid- nineteenth century abolitionist movement that disturbed the sleep of government officials who resisted abolition. The New America Project is a progressive organization raising awareness and building power around Co-liberatory Socialism through an inter-sectional coalition at CMU. The New America Project organizers are also largely responsible for the continued escalation of the#NOTFiredUpForFall campaign. The protest was centered around accountability regarding Devos push for schools to reopen. The protest also played a role in further protesting against CMU leaderships decision to bring thousands of students back to Mount Pleasant for face-to-face classes during the fall semester, which has led to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the area. Organizers arrived at the Devos residence with banners, signs, buckets, and speakers to share personal stories of hardship, frustration, and concerns around the health and safety of themselves and their communities. The group demanded the suspension of in-person instruction at Michigan schools and universities, and vilified the defunding and de-prioritization of public education under Secretary Devos. These demands come in response to Devos threats to withhold funding from schools that wont hold face-to-face classes despite the ongoing pandemic. The event drew people from the Holland and Grand Rapids areas, as well as Kalamazoo, Lansing, Mount Pleasant, and Flint. With rise in COVID-19 case numbers across the United States, many students and educators have voiced concern about plans to return to in-person education in the fall. In Mount Pleasant, the #NOTFiredUpForFall campaign has collected over 700 signatures to date with many supporters of the campaign citing heartbreaking stories about losing loved ones to COVID-19, fears for their safety due to being immuno-compromised or uninsured, and concerns around overwhelming our health system due to the significant population increase. CMU has currently confirmed 54 new cases and a total of 79 positive cases since June 15. In spite of these numbers, students continue to hold large gatherings and parties at unsafe distances, proving CMUs approach to individual accountability has already failed. Many CMU students have pointed out that the CMU Police Department has been seen targeting Black students disproportionately for partying and fining them, while showing up at white students parties to chat and play party games. Emily Jones, a CMU senior, President of New America Project, and organizer for the #NOTFiredUpForFall campaign, spoke to the frustrations and anxieties caused by CMU resuming face-to-face instruction for the fall semester. We are fighting to hold our administration and elected officials accountable for the decisions that are putting profit over the health and safety of people in our communities, said Jones. It is Central Michigan Universitys duty and responsibility to make these decisions with people in mind, not profit or the bottom line. To be role models for their students instead of showing up at unmasked parties, like President Davies has. It is time that we come together, raise hell, and wake Betsy Devos up to the issues that weve been fighting for. Another CMU student, Amethyst Stewart, spoke to her own recent experiences face-to-face with injustice. I will not watch my own children leave to protest the same things I am today, Stewart said. My voice matters. And until my dying day I will keep speaking out. Stewart then referenced DeVos net worth for the current year, which is calculated to be over 2 billion dollars. She is so far removed from the life of the average American, Stewart said. How can she make decisions that affect the lives of teachers, students, and communities? If you are for the people, you need to listen to the people. Betsy, listen to the people of Michigan. Siena Ramirez, a high school student and Sunrise organizer from the Grand Rapids area, brought attention to the disproportionate effect COVID-19 has already had on marginalized communities, stating. Betsy and our institution of education have built their foundations on giving away BIPOC bodies that arent theirs to give away, said Ramirez. Her statement was met with bucket banging, cheers, and applause from fellow attendees, suggesting that the pain she felt was shared. For more information, contact notfiredupforfall@gmail.com. Two female suicide attackers who carried out a double bombing in the southern Philippines were the widows of militants who had worked for the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group, the army chief said Wednesday. The pair blew themselves up in a coordinated attack on Jolo island in Muslim-majority Sulu province on Monday, killing or wounding scores of security forces and civilians in the country's deadliest attack this year. The death toll from the blasts has risen to 15 with 74 wounded, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement, blaming Abu Sayyaf for the attack. "The Abu Sayyaf Group will not deter us from nor shake our resolve to bring an end to their violence," AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay said. "Our troops on the ground continue to be on high alert to deter similar attacks." No group has claimed responsibility. Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana identified the female bombers as Inda Nay and Nanah. In a text message to reporters, Sobejana said Nanah was the wife of Norman Lasuca, who is considered the Philippines' first homegrown suicide bomber. Lasuca and another attacker blew themselves up outside a military camp on Jolo in June 2019, killing several soldiers and civilians. Inda Nay was the wife of Talha Jumsah, also known as Abu Talha, who acted as liaison between Abu Sayyaf and the Islamic State group. He was killed in November in a shoot-out with security forces on Jolo. Authorities are checking if Nanah was Indonesian. Sobejana has called for martial law to be imposed in Sulu -- a chain of islands that has long been a stronghold for Abu Sayyaf -- to "bring back normality" and enable the military to control the movement of people. But Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has rejected the request. "There will be no martial law," Lorenzana said late Tuesday. Listed by the United States as a terrorist organisation, Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of Islamist militants blamed for the Philippines' worst terror attacks as well as kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries. Monday's explosions happened near a Catholic cathedral on Jolo where two suicide bombers blew themselves up in January 2019 killing 21 people. That attack was blamed on a group linked to Abu Sayyaf. Suicide attacks were once very rare in the Philippines, but since July 2018 there have been five, including the latest blasts. Swedish teen climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg on Tuesday threw her weight behind postponing the NEET and the JEE exams in India in view of the coronavirus, saying it is deeply unfair that students are asked to appear in the crucial tests during the pandemic. Several students and political leaders across the country, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and DMK President M K Stalin, have urged the central government to postpone the examination until the spread of the COVID-19 was brought under control. Voicing her support to the calls for the deferment of the key national examinations, Thunberg took to Twitter, saying it is deeply unfair for the students. Its deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID, she said in a tweet. Meanwhile, Thunberg, 17, has returned to school after a gap of one year. My gap year from school is over, and it feels so great to finally be back in school again! she wrote on Instagram where she also posted a photo of herself with a schoolbag and a bicycle. The Swedish government has allowed to open high school-level classes this week. Thunberg has become a leading voice for action on climate change, inspiring millions of students to join protests around the world. She was named Time magazines Person of the Year for 2019. Two years ago, she started missing lessons most Fridays to protest outside the Swedish Parliament building, in what turned out to be the beginning of a huge environmental movement. The chorus for postponing the various examinations, including NEET and JEE, grew louder on Sunday with over 4,000 students observing a day-long hunger strike to press for the demand in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. The protest came on a day Gandhi said the government must listen to the mann ki baat of students and arrive at an acceptable solution and his party demanded that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) be deferred. According to the leftist All India Students Association (AISA), over 4,200 students observed the day-long hunger strike at their respective home demanding that CBSE compartment exams of Classes 10 and 12 be cancelled and entrance exams such as the UGC-NET, CLAT, NEET and JEE be postponed. Aspirants appear in the JEE for admission into the premier engineering colleges and the NEET for undergraduate medical courses. The JEE (Main) is scheduled to be held between September 1 and 6, while the JEE (Advanced) on September 27. The NEET will be held on September 13. With 60,975 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, Indias COVID-19 tally on Tuesday rose to 31,67,323, while recoveries surged to 24,04,585, pushing the recovery rate to 75.92 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The death toll climbed to 58,390 with 848 fatalities being reported in a span of 24-hours, it said. Portland protesters gathered Tuesday for the 90th consecutive day three months after the death of George Floyd. Demonstrators assembled downtown at Shemanski Park, at the north end of the South Park Blocks. After 9 p.m., the group of a couple hundred people marched to City Hall, where they chanted slogans and some spoke to the crowd. Within about 15 minutes of arriving, some in the crowd had graffitied the rotunda, smashed a door switch and broken at least three glass doors. Police said several demonstrators entered City Hall and that security features, including a surveillance camera, were smashed. Police quickly declared the protest an unlawful assembly. Shortly after, a line of police approached and pushed the crowd away from City Hall. Officers stood guard, keeping demonstrators away from the building and making numerous arrests. For the next hour, demonstrators marched through streets in the area, gathering back at City Hall. Some in the crowd broke windows at City Hall, and police said a man ignited an aerosol can while spraying it toward the building. Police declared the event a riot, citing the extreme life safety concerns of security guards working inside City Hall. Officers dispersed the crowd and arrested more people. The officers were hit by items including eggs and bottles, according to police, and someone shined a powerful laser in an officers eyes three times. Protesters also shattered a bus stop shelter, police said. The crowd again marched throughout the area, and police at midnight converged on City Hall, reminding protesters of the riot declaration and moving them away. Officers arrested several more people. Police ultimately arrested 23 adults and detained two youths. Tuesdays demonstrations were the latest in a months-long stretch of protests against police violence and anti-Black racism. The demonstrations were touched off by the death of Floyd, who was killed May 25 by Minneapolis police. Heres what else you should know about recent protests. Portland protests continued for the 90th consecutive night as a group of demonstrators marched to City Hall downtown before an unlawful assembly was declared at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Dave Killen/Staff CHANGE OF VENUE: Protesters initially sent out notice midafternoon Tuesday that they would gather at Montavilla Park, on Northeast 82nd Avenue near Interstates 84 and 205. The direct action march was billed as a demonstration to Keep Children Out of Jail. The gathering point is a short distance from the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center. Later Tuesday afternoon, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury released a statement, saying she had received information demonstrators could be planning to gather outside the center. She urged them to consider the kids. There are 38 young people inside the building who have experienced trauma and difficulty in their lives that they are working through, Kafoury wrote. There are also youth who are not in custody at all, but living in a residential shelter within the building. Please consider the kids and their parents. She said county leaders want to discuss ways to work with the community on public safety reform and reducing racial disparities, and that the center no longer houses the hundreds of youths it previously did. The health and emotional well-being of young people in this facility - from Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties - is our number one priority, Kafoury wrote. Early Tuesday evening, demonstrators sent out a notice that the gathering point for the demonstrations was being moved to Shemanski Park in downtown Portland, blocks from the Justice Center. KIDS MARCH: Two hours before the direct action march was scheduled to begin, about 200 people, including many young children and their parents, gathered at the Sunnyside School in Southeast Portland for the Kid-Centered March for Black Lives. The weekly march, spearheaded by parents from the school, has become a place for families and community members to gather, march, and listen to speeches by Black and Indigenous community members. An Indigenous drumming group, Awakening Thunder, has also performed at the event each week. Djuna Mains, 7 and Jada Lampton, 7 hug at a kid-centered gathering and march for Black lives at Sunnyside School Park in Portland on August 25, 2020.Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian Organizer Destiny Houston said while the march is geared toward kids, they dont shy away from discussing the things going on throughout Portland and the rest of the country. Its family-friendly, but we talk about real things, and we talk about a broad range of topics, Houston said. I keep it kid-centered by talking directly to them and doing things that engage their bodies and their minds so that theyre making a sensory memory. Were being real, and also being cognizant of the fact that we have very little kids around. Houston said her approach has also been informed by the fact that Black children grow up facing certain realities. For Black children, the revolution is not family-friendly, she said. This is a reality that they live with, and that their parents live with. I cant speak for all Black people, but I try to lead knowing that Black children are parented on how to survive encounters with police, and white children dont have to experience that. She said organizers are impressed with the way people have continued to show up for the weekly marches. Its a wonderful space for everyone to learn and be together, she said. Kids and parents march on East Burnside at a kid-centered gathering and march for Black lives, which began at Sunnyside School Park in Portland on August 25, 2020.Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian DOWNTOWN ARRESTS: Police arrested 23 adults and detained two youths in the downtown demonstration, marking the third consecutive night that over 20 protesters were arrested. Those arrested in the most recent demonstration are accused of charges including disorderly conduct, interfering with a peace officer, trespassing and resisting arrest. One is accused of assaulting a public safety officer, and another is accused of trying to assault a public safety officer. A third faces an allegation of burglary, and a fourth is accused of unlawful directing of light from a laser pointer. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced earlier this month that his prosecutors wont pursue demonstrators accused of interfering with police, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, escape or harassment if the allegations dont involve deliberate' property damage, theft or force against another person or threats of force, Schmidt said. Schmidts office also wont prosecute people on a riot accusation alone. Prosecutors will proceed with a riot case only if it includes an accompanying allegation of specific property damage or use of force, he said. TRUMP TWEET: President Donald Trump again sounded off about Portland protests Tuesday, tweeting a request that Gov. Kate Brown and Mayor Ted Wheeler call the National Guard. They must stop calling these anarchists and agitators peaceful protestors, the president tweeted. Come back into the real world! The Federal Government is ready to end this problem immediately upon your request. Trump has previously threatened to send in the National Guard and referred to Portland protesters as a beehive of terrorists. MONDAYS DEMONSTRATION: A march on the Portland police union headquarters drew a rapid police response Monday night after someone set a fire next to the building. Officers arrived at the Portland Police Association building minutes after protesters and declared the gathering an unlawful assembly as some in the crowd spray-painted the building and someone climbed on the roof to unfurl a banner. About 60 seconds later, police declared a riot as the fire outside the building became visible. Police later said a second fire had been lighted at the rear of the building. Both were quickly extinguished. Officers deployed tear gas to scatter the crowd and ultimately arrested 25 people. OVER THE WEEKEND: Demonstrations held Saturday and Sunday nights were also declared riots by Portland police. The bureau, meanwhile, faced criticism from Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and others after failing to break up sometimes-violent clashes between right-wing police supporters and counter-protesters Saturday afternoon. Mayor Ted Wheeler said Monday he is asking Police Chief Chuck Lovell why officers didnt intervene. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT: Four people who took part in demonstrations in Portland and were exposed to chemical agents or sustained injuries from impact munitions filed a lawsuit Monday against Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and 200 federal law enforcement officers. Angelica Clark, Ellen Urbani Gass, Nathaniel West and Rowan Maher are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which alleges the federal government used excessive force against peaceful protesters. The lawsuit identifies the class as people who protested downtown in July and were exposed to teargas, impact munitions and those who were beaten by federal officers. WISCONSIN SHOOTING: The daytime shooting of a Black man Sunday by police in Wisconsin, captured on cellphone video that quickly spread on social media, ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities. Jacob Blake is paralyzed from the waist down and has eight holes in his body, according to his father. He was shot multiple times, apparently in the back. Since the shooting, anger has spilled into the streets of Kenosha, where he was shot, and other cities that include Los Angeles, Wisconsin's capital of Madison and Minneapolis, the epicenter of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer following Floyd's death. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 The Associated Press and Noelle Crombie and Jayati Ramakrishnan of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. IAEA Chief Says Working On Reaching Agreement With Iran On Safeguards Verification Radio Farda August 25, 2020 Rafael Grossi, the Chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on Tuesday during his visit to Iran that the agency is working on reaching an agreement on the nuclear watchdog's oversight capabilities in Iran. "This morning I met with Iran's Vice-President and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Dr Salehi," Grossi tweeted. "We are working on reaching an agreement on IAEA's safeguards verification activities in Iran." In a joint press conference after the meeting with Grossi, Iran nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi called the talks "constructive" and said "a new chapter has opened with this visit." Salehi also suggested that the issues between Iran and IAEA will be resolved "in the appropriate manner". Grossi has prioritized gaining IAEA access to two Iranian sites where suspected nuclear activities may have taken place, both in the southern outskirts of the capital city of Tehran. The information on the two sites, which was provided to the agency by Israel, is based on the contents of a nuclear archive that Israel obtained through its spies in 2017. Iranian authorities previously blamed the sites' access issues on its enemies, with the country barring IAEA inspectors from the sites even when compelled by a unanimous resolution of the U.N. agency's board of directors on June 19, resulting in a month-long standoff. Iran's representative to the IAEA, Kazeem Gharibabadi, previously characterized the resolution of the board of directors, the first since 2012, as "non-constructive," and promised that Iran would show appropriate reaction to the resolution "at the right time." Since then, Iran's tone has changed, and the IAEA seems likely to gain access to the disputed sites, following recent moves by the United States to restore U.N. sanctions on Iran. The June resolution was submitted to the board by the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and called on Tehran to provide IAEA inspectors access to the suspected sites in order to verify possible traces of unauthorized and undeclared nuclear material and activity between 2000 and 2003. Grossi, who has taken a tough stance on Iran so far, was asked by a reporter during Tuesday's press conference about his alleged "political approach" in IAEA's dealings with Iran. Grossi responded that the agency's approach has not changed since his appointment as head of the agency in December 2019, and he himself has no political agenda in the matter. Grossi also stressed that the IAEA's relations with member countries are not "influenced by third parties" and said his organization prepares its reports "systematically, with sensitivity and detail." Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iaea-chief-says-working- on-reaching-agreement-with-iran-on-safeguards -verification-activities/30801826.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, whose brother, Alexander, served as a key witness during President Trump's impeachment, filed a complaint last week with the Pentagon's inspector general suggesting he was retaliated against for disclosing potential ethics violations by senior White House officials, his lawyers confirmed on Wednesday. The state of play: Vindman, like his brother, is a decorated Iraq War veteran and served at the National Security Council as a senior lawyer and ethics official. They were dismissed simultaneously in February, though top military leaders, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper, claim they were not politically targeted. What happened: Details about Vindman's complaint were first made public in a letter from top House Democrats, including House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney and House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff, who asked the Pentagon's internal watchdog to open an investigation into the matter. The Democrats say Vindman's complaint alleges he was retaliated against for raising concerns about Trump's 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They also say the complaint alleges that he was removed from the NSC after he reported potential legal and ethical violations and allegations of sexism by national security adviser Robert OBrien and NSC chief of staff Alex Gray. What he's saying: "There were allegations of sexism, violations of standards of ethical conduct for employees and violations of the Anti-Deficiency Act. ... I notified my supervisors on the NSC staff and White House Counsels Office about each of these concerns," Vindman wrote in a March memorandum that was attached to his complaint. "While any of these infractions are serious, together they form a disturbing pattern of flagrant disregard for rules." "I fear that if this situation persists, personnel will depart and national security will be harmed. I request you inquire into the facts and allegations herein and take appropriate action." Read House Democrats' letter about Vindman's complaint. (Alliance News) - The UK Eat Out to Help Out scheme needs to be extended, small businesses have said. The call comes as the popular initiative, which sees the cost of eat-in meals reduced three days a week, is due to finish at the end of August. The government announced the scheme, in which diners' meals are slashed to half price up to the value of GBP10 per head during August, to help the hard-hit hospitality industry cope with the coronavirus crisis. The Federation of Small Businesses has called on ministers to extend the scheme into September. The federation's Chair Mike Cherry said: "The Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been an overwhelming success in getting people back on their high streets and in their town centres. "We now need to see it extended to continue the critical support that it is providing for small firms as we enter a period of economic make or break. "Over the past few weeks, the scheme has been hugely welcomed by small businesses and their customers alike. "A nationwide one-month extension would go some way to helping many firms which are still only just about managing in this time of crisis. "More than 35 million meals have been cooked and dished out across almost 50,000 restaurants and cafes who have been able to reap the rewards of this great initiative, but as we enter September with schools reopening and more people going back to their places of work, there are still strong merits to continuing this for one more month. "Additional support is still needed for certain groups in the leisure sector, especially pubs. "We need to see these community hubs fully brought into the Eat Out to Help Out fold, particularly as they have been excluded from the recent VAT cut for food." The FSB said that after September the scheme should be "reactivated" in areas that have gone through local lockdowns. Cherry said: "We must do all we can to safeguard the futures of the small firms that make up 99% of our small business community. They will be pivotal to our recovery from this recession." By Shaun Connolly, PA Political Correspondent source: PA Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Back to school. Its that time of year again. Time to dust the locker room and prepare the classroom. Time to lay out the backpacks and gather the necessary supplies. Yet this year the school season looks very different. The usual air of excitement has been replaced by a thick smog of anxiety. The usual delight that comes with new learning opportunities has been superseded by the unease of virtual and hybrid learning, the threat of sickness, the risk of social proximity for those gathering in person, and the fear of missing out. And to top it all off, there seems to be layer upon layer of needless and superfluous judgment. Parents of homeschooled and virtual-learning students are all too quickly criticizing parents who can and choose to send their children back for in-person learning. In-person learning parents scoff at those who can and choose to keep their kids at home. Teachers are denouncing administrators. Administrators are blaming school board members. Politicians are condemning administrators and school boards, and for things that are far too often beyond any of our control. Perhaps its time we all went back to school. Perhaps this season we might embrace the great opportunity we have to relish in this spirit of learning by choosing to learn ourselves to remind ourselves to measure out, each one of us, heaping doses of biblical kindness instead of judgment, negativity, and despair. Its the medicine we need, after all. Every person has been affected in some way by this pandemic. Some have gotten sick. Some have lost jobs. Others have struggled mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and in other ways. Some have died. We need more than ever an attitude of mercy. We need to walk softly and embrace a Godly perspective that is slow to anger. We need to fill our conversations, our sermons, our social media posts with words that offer compassion and grace. We need an ongoing, open dialogue that abounds in love rather than harangues or terse interjections teeming with harshness and unnecessary disdain (Psalm 103:8 NIV). Because our children are watching. Our Children Are Watching Our children see what we do and how we treat each another. They notice the ways we respond and the sentiments behind what we convey. And when they see us and hear us, they question if the Golden Rule still applies to them. They wonder if do unto others is still a biblical mandate or if we all get a pass when we dont like what others are doing unto us. Do we lash out? Do we seek God? Do we pray for those who differ from us? They are watching. Do we tear others down? Do we build others up? Are we kind? They are watching. Its not easy to manage the stress and uncertainty that many parents, teachers, administrators, and even politicians are carrying in these days. Many are battle-worn, tired, drained, and no one has maneuvered through these past few months perfectly. Yet one thing is certain. We all want the best for our children. We are all trying to do the absolute best we can for this next generation, to raise them with character, to educate them with profundity, to protect them, and for Christians, to guide them to know the Lord and exemplify the Godly responsibility and moral values we hold dear. So, lets give each other a break. Back to the School of Kindness Lets take a step back from our heel-dug positions of defense and offense and choose instead the (more and more) countercultural stance of kindness. Lets model biblical kindness even when our opinions differ and our decisions vary. Lets live mercifully, be grace-filled, listen well and speak beneficially to one another, even when it may be hard to do. And lets be willing to be schooled ourselves. To be humble enough to learn and grow when we need to do so, so that our children will learn and grow to become life-long learners no matter what careers or callings they choose to pursue. We all need kindness. We all need mercy. And we all need to be reminded every now and again that our individual display of both kindness and mercy really does matter. It matters for us as adults. It matters for our children. And more than anything, it matters to God. Mannequin displays at Miami's Acqualina Resort. With Bal Harbour Shops located in close proximity from our resort and being the epitome of fashion, it was a natural fit and we couldnt think of a better partner," said Deborah Yager Fleming, CEO and Partner of Acqualina Resort & Residences. Acqualina Resort & Residences partners with Bal Harbour Shops in a creative way to support social distancing at the ultra-luxury resort located in Miamis Sunny Isles Beach. Four mannequins elegantly dressed by some of the designer boutiques from the luxury shopping mecca will be seated in the impressive lobby of Acqualina Resort to maintain social distancing as guests linger throughout the indoor space. Its a unique collaboration and helps us reinforce our health and safety measures, said Deborah Yager Fleming, CEO and Partner of Acqualina Resort & Residences. With Bal Harbour Shops located in close proximity from our resort and being the epitome of fashion, it was a natural fit and we couldnt think of a better partner. The collaboration will launch with the mannequins dressed in the exquisite collections by two of the boutiques at Bal Harbour Shops: Akris, the Swiss-brand featuring sleek pieces for career-oriented women around the world, and Ermanno Scervino, the Italian womenswear line characterized by sensual glamour and feminine flourishes. This ongoing collaboration with Bal Harbour Shops will feature a variety of fashion brands to be announced. We are excited to partner with Acqualina Resort & Residences on this creative fashion project as during these challenging times it is essential to be able to pivot and respond with innovative solutions, said Matthew Whitman Lazenby, President and CEO of Whitman Family Development, LLC, owner and operator of Bal Harbour Shops. The cornerstone of Bal Harbour Shops storied success has been our emotional connection with our guests and our community. The safety and health of our customers, employees and tenants will always be our top priority. Acqualina Resort reopened on June 15 with enhanced safety and cleanliness practices providing guests, residents and team members with confidence and assurance that their well-being is a top priority. The mannequins are in addition to other safety measures including: A non-contact temperature check for all guests, residents and team members Guests are required to wear a face covering when traversing throughout the property Personal protective equipment and enhanced training are provided to all team members Hand-sanitizer dispensers touchless wherever possible are placed throughout the resort Six-foot distancing measures between individuals, groups and staff are required at all times Social distancing mats located throughout the property The resort complies with all occupancy limits mandated by local and/or state authorities. For more information, visit http://www.acqualinaresort.com or call (305) 918 8000. ABOUT BAL HARBOUR SHOPS Opened in 1965 by retail visionary Stanley Whitman and still operated by his descendants today, the third generation family-owned Bal Harbour Shops was the first all-luxury fashion center in America featuring high-end retailers in a tropical, open-air setting. The first to make lush landscaping a key part of the design, Bal Harbour Shops features tropical plants and orchids, waterfall features and koi ponds and a variety of palm trees for shade. Bal Harbour Shops is uniquely positioned across from the Atlantic Ocean offering a serene visual aesthetic like no other luxury shopping destination. The historic Bal Harbour Shops, known for its curated retail as well as the emotional connection to its tenants and customers is the global leader in luxury shopping destinations and integrates a dynamic website with editorial content and a global following as well as engaging social media channels with over 500,000 followers. For more information on Bal Harbour Shops, please visit http://www.balharbourshops.com. ABOUT ACQUALINA RESORT & RESIDENCES Acqualina Resort & Residences is a place where the charm of a Mediterranean villa meets elegance on the beach. A seaside luxury haven located on 4.5 beachfront acres in pristine Sunny Isles Beach, Acqualina Resort & Residences features 98 impeccably appointed guest rooms and suites and 188 residences with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, world-class dining including Il Mulino New York, three oceanfront swimming pools, spacious meeting rooms and an innovative marine biology-based childrens program. A variety of lavish interior and exterior venues provide an ideal background for opulent weddings and memorable events. Acqualina Spa by ESPA, the first ESPA-branded spa in the United States, provides guests with an exquisite 20,000-square-foot, two-story tranquil sanctuary of excellence and relaxation. A family owned and operated property, Acqualina is a recipient of the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Awards for both the hotel and spa and the AAA Five Diamond Award. Follow us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Preparation for an academic year at Ferris State University is a certainty. Efforts made for the 2020-21 schedule focus on a desire to promote the health, safety and ease of access for students, faculty and staff considering the COVID-19 pandemic. Associate Vice President for Physical Plant Mike Hughes is a member of the universitys Re-entry Committee, which includes service on the working group for campus facilities. Hughes said details on extensive advancements in cleaning practices and materials applied by maintenance crews are available on the Ferris coronavirus campus information page. We have implemented a great deal of new technology, and updated our procedures, Hughes said. We would hope that students, faculty and staff are aware of and compliant with safe practices, protocols and guidelines that apply to social distancing and other measures. Hughes said the Ferris campus community should see that sanitizing stations are near many entryways to buildings, to promote good hand hygiene. There will be products available to meet the goal of keeping clean and caring for touchpoints like tables, chairs and other equipment where people congregate, Hughes said. A full-fledged effort to support these goals will promote the safest and healthiest campus environment possible. University Center Director Mark Schuelke serves with Hughes on the committees facilities working group, with additional responsibility to make adjustments to the Interdisciplinary Resource Center Connector. Schuelke said the re-engagement plans promote social distancing when those in the campus community are spending time outside the classroom. We had to consider the ingress and egress patterns of all entryways to campus buildings, with an eye on distributing the student density in each of these locations, Schuelke said. We have arranged the seating and placed signage across campus to illustrate our dedication to maintaining the six-foot standard in terms of separation in lounge areas and other spaces. Nearly all the soft seating in those areas was removed, and Schuelke noted that good hygiene practices also apply to the campus communitys use of these buildings while studying, or waiting for their next class. There are sanitizing stations at easy points of access as you arrive in buildings. We expect that students will be able to interpret the arrangements we have made to comply with density requirements, for 50 percent of recommended capacity, Schuelke said. I would imagine this is what students and the campus community can expect for at least the fall semester. Other University Center-based operations that have adjusted their operations in the name of compliance with regulations and user safety include the Ferris Bookstore. Manager Karen Bohren said they have acquired a Safe Space counting system to monitor customers passage into the store area. We will have those entering arrive in one door, with those who have purchased their books or other items leaving by the other, Bohren said. We have density orders prescribed by the state of Michigan to meet, with the expectation that our customers are aware of their obligations to wear masks and meet other requirements designed to promote health and safety. Those students and other customers who have made book purchases online can head to the Commuter Lounge on the University Centers first floor. Bohren said that area provides them a pickup point that meets with social distancing guidelines. This is a positive outcome in promoting safe access and acquisition of textbooks and other materials, Bohren said. We will have students come into the lounge and space themselves in line to receive their orders. Dining Services Director Scott Rossen said his staff is prepared to employ various methods and outlets to meet the needs of their customers in the year to come. The Safe Space system display near the entry doors will tell our customers how many people are already dining in say, the Quad Cafe or The Rock, and show the remaining capacity we are allowed, under current guidelines, Rossen said. We hope our customers can appreciate the need to comply with these protocols, which may mean eating and leaving a dining area to accommodate others, who are awaiting their chance to be fed. Customers will find, once in their dining facility, that staff will have completed a number of the steps ordinarily managed by a customer, in a continued effort to promote sanitary and safe practices consistently. We will encourage customers from residence halls to bring their Green Box, or carry-out container for our staff to fill so they can take their meal and go, Rossen said. There will be drinks already poured for customers, salads available with dressing and minimal fixings included, all there to be removed and eaten with minimal contact. Ready-to-eat options like General Tsos Chicken, meatloaf and mashed potatoes will be packaged and available at The Market and The Snack Shack. We have developed a pleasant variety of meals, or snack options that should be efficient, and, most importantly, safe choices to serve our clientele. Rossen said the university plans to station the Bulldog Bites food truck near the University Center throughout the Fall semester, providing combo meal options, such as a hot dog, chips, and a drink, for another quick and easy dining choice. We are considering providing Brutus Bowls, our salad-to-go packaging in buildings like FLITE so that we can meet our customer needs while helping them to stay safe through social distancing protocols, Rossen said. Our range of meal card-swipe options will be varied, and considerable, to achieve this goal. Lastly, Ferris Information Technology Solutions Center continues its vigilance as the university moves ahead in phase two of its re-engagement plan. Director Scott Thede said his staff has remained on campus throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and now stand ready to assist the return to learning in classrooms and labs, which will involve a variety of platforms. We are working to predict and adapt to the needs that will arise on the campus, in terms of the technology required to facilitate instruction, Thede said. We want our faculty, students and staff to know that we are here and prepared to serve their pursuit of learning excellence in this cause. To support students, staff and faculty with their IT equipment concerns, Thede said as much of the work as possible will be accomplished through virtual means. There is a cloud service management system called QLess that we will employ, so that contacts can best manage their visit to the center, with reducing waiting line in an essential gathering, Thede said. University Center Room 116 will be utilized with separate entry and exit doors, for single customer visits with a technician, for the optimal safety of our clients and our staff. Remote desktop responses received through a connection with our technicians will also be a preferred and safe method of offering service. Faculty and staff are returning to on-campus workspaces with Sunday, Aug. 23, established as the conclusion of phase two of the universitys re-engagement plan. Thursday, Aug. 26, will present the first move-in dates for Housing and Residence Life facilities, and Monday, Aug. 31, is set as the first day of classes for the Fall 2020 semester. 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The round was led by Clean Energy Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, alongside Goodwell Investments, in partnership with Alitheia Capital, Total Energy Ventures, and other notable investors. The funding will allow the company to launch its new Digital Solutions offering, connecting smart grid data insights to business operations for large electricity distribution utilities in emerging markets. Led by Dan Schnitzer, co-founder and CEO, SparkMeter is also launching Digital Solutions to help large incumbent distribution utilities digitalize their operations, assess areas for improvement, and deploy customized algorithms and solutions to improve business performance. The Digital Solutions not only provides this visibility, the service goes even further enabling utilities to avoid system capital upgrades through customized solutions including non-wires alternatives like distributed energy resources and load management. As SparkMeter expands its market presence across Africa and Asia, its products open up opportunities for distribution utilities globally to improve their financial and environmental sustainability through the data analytics provided by SparkMeter. The company has also received funding from Lateral Capital, Schmidt Family Foundation, Incite Capital, Powerhouse Fund, Shell Foundation, Factor[e], The E8 Fund, and other investors. FinSMEs 25/08/2020 Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has pledged his support for NTV Investigative Reporter Dennis Okari following his expose on Covid-19 millionaires. The MP on Tuesday offered a cool Ksh500,000 to cater to Okaris legal fees in a lawsuit filed by Megascope CEO Richard Ngatia. Barasa lauded the investigative piece by Okari, noting that after the expose, Covid-19 cases in the country have inexplicably reduced. Because of his expose we have seen the numbers dropping from 600s to 100s, it means that he has foiled the business that was benefiting from the numbers going up. I will send the money to him because Im told some people have sued him so I want to lead Kenyans in standing with Okari for exposing the Covid-19 millionaires, the MP told Kenyans.co.ke. According to the online news site, Didmus Barasa said he will look for Okaris lawyer to ensure that he receives the cash by Thursday, August 27, when he travels to Nairobi. Barasa alleged that some of the names implicated in the Covid-19 Millionaires corruption scandal colluded to manufacture substandard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). I am informed that these people, after selling all the donated PPEs, they may have resorted to manufacturing contraband PPEs to sell. If you look at the people who are mentioned are the vocal ODM MPs, this tells you that we people of Mulembe nation are worried after they formed government, they can sell our land to Uganda, he said. The Kimilili MP further urged the Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, to charge Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe with manslaughter. (Alliance News) - Hummingbird Resources PLC on Wednesday said it swung to profit in the first half of 2020 thanks in large part to a surging gold price combined with increased sales. The company has two core gold projects, the Yanfolila mine in Mali and the recently acquired Kouroussa project in Guinea. It swung to a USD23.8 million pretax profit for the six months ended June 30 from a USD5.9 million loss the year before. Revenue was a major contributor to this, up 37% at USD92.0 million from USD67.1 million. This resulted from a 9.9% increase in the amount of gold sold to 56,095 ounces from 51,034 ounces coupled with a sharp 24% increase in the average price to USD1,621 per ounce from USD1,304 an ounce. Hummingbird had cash of USD6 million and net debt of USD20 million as at June 30, having paid down debt and interest of around USD16 million in the period. It had a gold inventory on hand at that time of 4,000 ounces, worth around USD8 million. Including the value of this gold inventory in Hummingbird's net debt calculation, net debt was around USD12 million. Hummingbird maintained its 2020 guidance of 110,000 to 125,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of as much as USD995 per ounce. It is also on track to fully repay its bank loans by the end of the first half of 2021. Chief Executive Dan Betts said: "During the period we made a pretax profit of USD23.7 million, significantly reduced our bank debt and are on track to pay off all currently held debt by the end of the first half of 2021. We are therefore in a strong position to deliver our goals for the second half of 2020, maintaining our production guidance for Yanfolila whilst progressing Kouroussa, which provides us with the potential to become a near term multi asset producer, near doubling our current production profile." On Wednesday last week, Mali's president said he was resigning to avoid "bloodshed", hours after his arrest by troops in a coup. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's government had been beset by months of protests over economic stagnation, corruption, and a brutal Islamist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives. Betts said: "The recent political unrest in Mali, while a concern, has not impacted our current operations, which are some 280 kilometres from the capital, however, we are closely monitoring any potential impact it may have on logistics. We have a highly capable security team in country and on site who are keeping our operations, contractors and management teams well informed of on- going developments so as to safeguard our employees, contractors, communities, operations and assets." Shares in Hummingbird were marginally higher at 34.02 pence in London on Wednesday morning. By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Arabia with Levison Wood SBS, 7.30pm Levison Wood is a writer and photographer who professes to a "lifelong fascination with the Middle East". This series tracks his journey around the Arabian Peninsula and his attempt to dig beneath the cliches to find a truth somewhat deeper than the average travelogue. The trip begins in Kurdistan, locked in a long-running fight for independence from Iraq. Arabia with Levison Wood. Credit:SBS It's a slightly scary opening, the crew running into roadblocks and heavily-armed soldiers everywhere. Just getting into Iraq is a challenge: a tip-off that this may not be a completely carefree jaunt through scenic locations. However the show is not just warzone-gawping: Wood makes a praiseworthy attempt to engage properly with the people and cultures of the region, and sticking with it brings rewards in the revelation of Arabian diversity. Hard Quiz A son whose father gave him a bottle of 18-year-old Macallan whisky every year for his birthday is planning to auction the booze so he can buy his first home. Matthew Robson, 28, was born in 1992 and Pete, 64, bought a bottle of whisky to celebrate his birth. Father-of-three Pete was working for a company that manufactured some of the raw materials for Macallan, which made him choose the brand. He decided to buy his son a bottle of single malt Scotch every year, but as the brand became more successful the price went up. Over the course of Matthew's lifetime, Pete, who lives in Milnathort, Perth and Kinross in Scotland spent around 5,000 on whisky - but the collection is now worth more than 40,000. Matthew Robson (left), 28, was born in 1992 and father Pete (right), 64, bought a bottle of whisky to celebrate his birth Pete decided to buy his son a bottle of single malt Scotch (pictured) every year, but as the brand became more successful the price went up It is known as a 'vertical' and is unusual to find, according to experts. Matthew, who works for a beef manufacturing company, said: 'I think it's been one of the best things he could have done. Matthew is pictured as a three-month-old baby in 1992 'I never anticipated the potential it could have for me in my life. 'I'm currently looking at buying houses and having that money available to me is a massive weight off my shoulders - especially in these uncertain times. 'It's just very special.' He now lives in Taunton, Somerset, and plans to buy a house with the proceeds going towards the deposit. His siblings were given similar collections. Pete, who works as a manager for a malting company, said: 'Looking at the bottle, I realised that it would be quite interesting to collect 18 bottles over 18 years and then give my son the final bottle, which would be his birth year. 'I also liked the idea that the materials I made would eventually be used in the making of the scotch. 'As time went by, I realised that the collection was starting to appreciate in value considerably and watched the brand with more interest.' Matthew now lives in Taunton, Somerset, and plans to buy a house with the proceeds going towards the deposit. His siblings were given similar collections The collection is being sold by brokers Mark Littler Ltd, with every bottle in its original box, and is listed online for offers over 40,000. Mark said: 'In the whisky and wine world, we call a consecutive run of vintages a vertical,' 'Normally it would take a lot of time and effort to amass a vertical like this, but this is the opportunity for a collector to purchase them all instantly. 'In addition the Macallan 18-year-old is currently one of the most sought-after single malt Scotch whiskies in the world, so you've got a hot ticket item that is sure to be highly desirable to aspiring whisky collectors and investors.' The Bombay high court has directed a woman to pay Rs 25,000 fine for filing a false rape complaint against her boyfriend as it struck down the case following her petition saying she did not wish to proceed with it any further. A division bench of justices RD Dhanuka and VG Bisht on Tuesday directed her to pay the amount to the Maharashtra Police Welfare Fund within four weeks and to produce a receipt of the deposit within six weeks. The complainant moved the high court seeking quashing of the criminal proceeding four months after police booked the boyfriend in March on the basis of her complaint. Her lawyer pointed out that though she was in a consensual relationship with the accused, she cooked up the rape story to save herself from the wrath of her family, especially her elder sister, and under their pressure lodged the police complaint. He submitted the woman did not want to pursue the criminal proceeding and urged the court to quash the first information report (FIR) against the boyfriend. Additional public prosecutor, Aruna Pai, opposed the prayer and requested the court to impose a fine on the petitioner if at all the court was inclined to quash the FIR. The bench accepted the prosecutors request. It said the claim of the petitioner that the complaint was filed under pressure could not be accepted. The bench agreed to quash the FIR as the woman did not want to pursue the case any further but on the condition of making a contribution to the welfare fund. RICHLAND, Wash.--A multidisciplinary research team has shown that radiation from natural sources in the environment can limit the performance of superconducting quantum bits, known as qubits. The discovery, reported today in the journal Nature, has implications for the construction and operation of quantum computers, an advanced form of computing that has attracted billions of dollars in public and private investment globally. The collaboration between teams at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), helps explain a mysterious source of interference limiting qubit performance. "Our study is the first to show clearly that low-level ionizing radiation in the environment degrades the performance of superconducting qubits," said John Orrell, a PNNL research physicist, senior author of the study and expert in low-level radiation measurement. "These findings suggest that radiation shielding will be necessary to attain long-sought performance in quantum computers of this design." Natural radiation wreaks havoc with computers Computer engineers have known for at least a decade that natural radiation emanating from materials like concrete and pulsing through our atmosphere in the form of cosmic rays can cause digital computers to malfunction. But digital computers aren't nearly as sensitive as a quantum computer. "We found that practical quantum computing with these devices will not be possible unless we address the radiation issue," said PNNL physicist Brent VanDevender, a co-investigator on the study. The researchers teamed up to solve a puzzle that has been vexing efforts to keep superconducting quantum computers working for long enough to make them reliable and practical. A working quantum computer would be thousands of times faster than even the fastest supercomputer operating today. And it would be able to tackle computing challenges that today's digital computers are ill-equipped to take on. But the immediate challenge is to have the qubits maintain their state, a feat called "coherence," said Orrell. This desirable quantum state is what gives quantum computers their power. MIT physicist Will Oliver was working with superconducting qubits and became perplexed at a source of interference that helped push the qubits out of their prepared state, leading to "decoherence," and making them non-functional. After ruling out a number of different possibilities, he considered the idea that natural radiation from sources like metals found in the soil and cosmic radiation from space might be pushing the qubits into decoherence. A chance conversation between Oliver, VanDevender, and his long-time collaborator, MIT physicist Joe Formaggio, led to the current project. [Listen to the story behind the science on Pods of Science] It's only natural To test the idea, the research team measured the performance of prototype superconducting qubits in two different experiments: They exposed the qubits to elevated radiation from copper metal activated in a reactor. They built a shield around the qubits that lowered the amount of natural radiation in their environment. The pair of experiments clearly demonstrated the inverse relationship between radiation levels and length of time qubits remain in a coherent state. "The radiation breaks apart matched pairs of electrons that typically carry electric current without resistance in a superconductor," said VanDevender. "The resistance of those unpaired electrons destroys the delicately prepared state of a qubit." The findings have immediate implications for qubit design and construction, the researchers concluded. For example, the materials used to construct quantum computers should exclude material that emits radiation, the researchers said. In addition, it may be necessary to shield experimental quantum computers from radiation in the atmosphere. At PNNL, interest has turned to whether the Shallow Underground Laboratory, which reduces surface radiation exposure by 99%, could serve future quantum computer development. Indeed, a recent study by a European research team corroborates the improvement in qubit coherence when experiments are conducted underground. "Without mitigation, radiation will limit the coherence time of superconducting qubits to a few milliseconds, which is insufficient for practical quantum computing," said VanDevender. The researchers emphasize that factors other than radiation exposure are bigger impediments to qubit stability for the moment. Things like microscopic defects or impurities in the materials used to construct qubits are thought to be primarily responsible for the current performance limit of about one-tenth of a millisecond. But once those limitations are overcome, radiation begins to assert itself as a limit and will eventually become a problem without adequate natural radiation shielding strategies, the researchers said. Findings affect global search for dark matter In addition to helping explain a source of qubit instability, the research findings may also have implications for the global search for dark matter, which is thought to comprise just under 85% of the known universe, but which has so far escaped human detection with existing instruments. One approach to signals involves using research that depends on superconducting detectors of similar design to qubits. Dark matter detectors also need to be shielded from external sources of radiation, because radiation can trigger false recordings that obscure the desirable dark matter signals. "Improving our understanding of this process may lead to improved designs for these superconducting sensors and lead to more sensitive dark matter searches," said Ben Loer, a PNNL research physicist who is working both in dark matter detection and radiation effects on superconducting qubits. "We may also be able to use our experience with these particle physics sensors to improve future superconducting qubit designs." ### The study was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, the U.S. Army Research Office, the ARO Multi-University Research Initiative, the National Science Foundation and the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on signature capabilities in chemistry, Earth sciences, and data analytics to advance scientific discovery and create solutions to the nation's toughest challenges in energy resiliency and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit PNNL's News Center. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Ukraine and Malaysia agreed to intensify bilateral political dialogue at all levels, including within the framework of international organizations, in particular the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). According to the Foreign Ministrys press service, this was discussed during a meeting between First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar and Malaysian Ambassador to Ukraine Dato Raja Reza. The parties agreed to intensify bilateral political dialogue at all levels, including within the framework of international organizations, in particular the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and also introduce modern forms and ways of cooperation against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the report says. The interlocutors expressed mutual interest in the implementation of joint projects in education, tourism, energy, agriculture, etc. in order to expand bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation. Particular attention was paid to human rights violations on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea and to the militarization of the peninsula and the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov region. Dzheppar noted the importance of maintaining international pressure on the Russian Federation and told about the initiative to create a formalized international platform - the Crimean platform, designed to ensure the coordination of international activities in the Crimean direction. ish Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Japanese Minister of the Environment Koizumi Shinjiro discussed cooperation between their ministries at an online meeting on August 28. The ministerial-level meeting between the two ministries formed part of the sixth Vietnam-Japan Environmental Policy Dialogue. The two sides also plan to work together in environmental protection for chemical activities, environmental technology, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), low-carbon technology, bio-diversity preservation, and other issues regarding environmental protection and improvement. In his remarks, Ha lauded the support in different forms of the Japanese ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to Vietnam in the processing of amending the Law on Environmental Protection. He suggested the two countries adjust cooperation contents in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic posing challenges for both nations and the world at large. The minister urged both sides to step up cooperation in climate change response, natural disaster combat, environmental protection and ocean plastic waste management. Minister Koizumi expressed his hope that Vietnam will work with Japan towards the goal of reducing the use of fossil fuels, and in managing, collecting and treating marine plastic waste. On this occasion, the ministries signed document extending their bilateral memorandum of understanding on environmental cooperation, which reiterated the significance of actions aiming to rapidly and successfully implement the Paris agreement and sustainable development goals. Within the framework of the dialogue, the ministries also held a meeting on August 24 to review their cooperation and map out orientations for their partnership in the time ahead. Kim Jong Un has been derelict in his public appearance, leading to speculations that he's comatose or dead. Because of this event, the reigns of power will be handed over to his sister Kim Yo Jong. Last April 22, there has a persistent rumor that the North Korean leader had complications and died as a result from a bungled heart surgery. It has not been proven by any intelligence agency Is he in a coma or not? Sources say that the North Korean leader is reportedly in a coma after his disappearance from his duties for some time now, reported The Sun. According to a source, an ex-aide to the late- Korean president Kim Dae-jung said that the North Korean government is not giving the entire truth of his status, noted US News. Chang Song-min told the media that Kim is just in a coma and is not dead yet. This remark came about after the publicized event of transferring some of his official functions to his sister, 33, in recent reports from a news outlet. He added that processes that are related to the leader's sister Kim Yo-Jong is getting done. They cannot afford to leave the seat of power vacant for so long. If he really is in a coma, then it is a well-guarded secret of the North Koreans while the rest of the world is guessing. When did he last appear in public? According to the news, he was attending a meeting on August 19 which is his first after some time. However, it is hard to confirm even with intel due to the secretive nature of the North Korean leader. Another dilemma is the verification of the images that are released to the press, considering the shadowy practice they regard information. Also read: Kim Yo Jong Authorizes Using Nuclear Weapons Against the US With Kim Jong-Un's Support Another bombshell is the long hiatus from May 1 onwards wherein many has not seen the leader. For many, this meant he is dead not merely in comatose. It left everyone guessing literally, and pawing for answers, said CTV News. One report said that he was keeping a low profile this year 2020 because he was avoiding getting infected by the COVID-19 virus which is running rampant. What else is known Most are in agreement that he is either dead or lying in coma, or is in a vegetable state by now. He failed to attend important dates that was just part his function as the leader on April 15. Some sources that were from Beijing say that Kim died in a botch operation. He could have been saved but the Chinese medical team came too late on April 12. Since May 1, he has appeared in public mostly with his sister. She will be his successor if something happened. His most recent appearance was at the fertilizer plant at Suncheon, told Korean Central News Agency, that he inaugurated, During the public appearance, he was pleased with what was created with hard work from the workers from Kim Chaek University of Technology. Case in point, most secret service think that he's been hiding all the time. More evidence is gathered but still no pertinent leads. Nothing seems to add up if he's dead or comatose too. Whatever happens the wheels are moving and Kim You Jong will be powerful. Related article: Tension Builds Up as North Korea Blows up Border Liaison Office, Will South Korea Retaliate? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nine months before Big Basin Redwood State Park suffered its worst fire in recorded history, one of the parks environmental scientists gave a podcast interview revealing that a prescribed burn had not taken place within the park in three years. Does that raise your anxiety at all about the potential for something catastrophic? asks Peter Jordan, a docent who created the podcast What the Docents Know to give the public a deeper understanding of Big Basin. Sixteen uncomfortable seconds pass an eternity in radio during which the scientist, Portia Halbert, can be heard sighing and swallowing (jump to 21:00 of episode 3 to listen). According to Jordan, who was with Halbert in her office, she was in tears. She finally composes herself and says shes thinking about Paradise, the city that burned to the ground during the Camp Fire in 2018. Given the right conditions, were poised to have catastrophic wildfires all over California, says Halbert, who works for the Santa Cruz District of the California State Park System. So whats my anxiety level like? I think weve been really lucky to avoid something very extreme here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Halbert goes on to say that Big Basin's geographic location, fog and cool summers had seemingly insulated it for a while. But during the 100-plus years the park hadn't seen fire, flammable vegetation had built up, and new trees had grown between other trees, she said. In certain wind conditions, those trees could act as "ladder fuels" that would ignite the canopy. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press "I don't know that just the last three years of us not burning really has built my anxiety level," she said. "But witnessing what's happened in California with these wildfires has definitely made me feel, say, more empowered to try and get burns accomplished to sort of prevent that possibility for this area." The fact that prescribed burns have not taken place in Big Basin for years is a surprise even to people who work for the park and partner organizations. After the CZU August Lightning Complex fires engulfed the parks 18,000 acres, destroying its headquarters, main lodge, ranger station and other historic structures, the Sempervirens Fund a nonprofit organization that helped create the park in 1902 issued a statement about the fire, including a reference to prescribed burning. Randy Vazquez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images Big Basin, in particular, has benefited from the longest, continuous program of prescribed burning anywhere in the state since the purposeful burning done by indigenous people who tended this landscape for thousands of years, the funds website states. Elizabeth Hammack, Big Basins manager of interpretation and education, said it wasnt her department but she believed the scientists were always doing prescribed burns. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press But for more than three years leading up to the CZU Complex which as of Tuesday evening had claimed 79,640 acres and was 19% contained the burns werent happening in Big Basin. A search on the California Air Resource Boards Prescribed Fire Reporting System shows that no prescribed fires have taken place in the park since 2018, when the Monterey Bay Air Resources District began reporting its data. According to Richard Stedman, a pollution control officer with the district, Big Basin did prescribed burns on 410 acres between 2000 and 2015, but nothing since. We havent done a large burn in Big Basin in the last three years because the weather hasnt lined up, Halbert says in the podcast. She brings up other bottlenecks to prescribed burns including permitting issues, staffing, and a short or nonexistent window for favorable weather conditions. Big Basin burns can only happen in the fall. The fuel, composed of vegetation and plant material that burns easily, cant be too wet or too dry. There must be some rain, but not too much. Winds must be blowing away from populated areas. If the winter rains come, the opportunity is gone. Strict guidelines established by the Clean Air Act and enforced by air-quality districts can also prevent burns. Its a great thing to protect public health, but it makes it challenging for us to actually implement prescribed fires, Halbert says. For these reasons and more, prescribed burns have been underutilized not only in Big Basin but throughout California, according to a recent Stanford study published in Nature. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press We need a colossal expansion of fuel treatments, the studys lead author, Rebecca Miller, said in a statement. Reached at her home Tuesday, Miller said her research showed that state lands faced three main challenges for burns: tight environmental regulations, limited resources and concerns about negative public opinion. Research has shown that those concerns can be addressed with public awareness campaigns and education, Miller added. Last year, following Californias deadliest and most destructive wildfires in history, Gov. Gavin Newsom was leading the charge in relaxing regulations. In March 2019, he declared a state of emergency in California and waived environmental regulations for 35 land management projects over 90,000 acres. To make a real dent in reducing wildfires, though, the researchers say California should use prescribed burns or vegetation thinning on about 20 million acres, or 20% of the states land. People like Halbert are desperate to do these burns, and according to the Stanford study, the number of acres planned for prescribed burns doubled between 2013 and 2018. But at least half of that land has not been burned, the studys authors say. Efforts to reach Halbert before press time were unsuccessful, but her frank comments on the podcast seem to sum things up. A lot of area you want to put fire on the ground, but you dont really have the ability to, she says. I wish we could say that we have a prescription or plan to light or reintroduce fire to most of our acreage, but thats just not feasible. Its not true. MORE WILDFIRE COVERAGE: Map: See where wildfires are burning in Bay Area Crews on LNU Complex fires prepare for small chance of lightning Monday SCU Lightning Complex Fire, 10% contained, now 3rd largest in California history Containment on CZU Complex increases as weather cooperates Bay Area mostly spared by thunderstorms passing over California What to do to keep wildfire smoke out of your house Ashley Harrell is an associate editor covering California's parks for SFGATE. Email her at Ashley.Harrell@sfgate.com. Another 24 Victorians have lost their lives to coronavirus, a near-record in the daily death toll, and the state has 149 new cases of COVID-19. More than 50 of the new cases have been categorised as cases of community transmission with no known source. Of the people who died, 21 are linked to aged care. They include a woman in her 60s, three men in their 70s, three women and seven men in their 80s, and six women and four men in their 90s. The number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus has increased to 462. More than 2,100 evacuees fleeing the wrath of Hurricane Laura had sought shelter in San Antonio as of late Wednesday, housed in hotel rooms across the city that had been left empty by the pandemic, officials said. As the storm prepared to make landfall along the upper Texas Coast late Wednesday or early today, the evacuees many from the Galveston area lined up to receive assistance at a processing center near the AT&T Center. First, they were screened for COVID-19. After that, they were given wrist band vouchers and taken by bus or directed to area hotels. Woody Woodward, Fire Department public relations manager, said the expected number of evacuees had grown from 300 on Tuesday to 1,400 by noon Wednesday, as the storm path changed. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer But the exact number of those seeking shelter remains a moving target. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, 2,103 evacuees had been registered. This has turned into a major event literally within hours, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at the daily coronavirus briefing. About 80 people from assisted living or nursing homes are staying at a field hospital run by the Baptist Child and Family Services agency on the grounds of Freeman Coliseum. This is the first time the field hospital is being used it was set up in case the city ran out of hospital beds to treat COVID-19 patients. The hotels are just being jammed up. Theres traffic all over town, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said. Its a massive undertaking, one we had no idea would be that big. Nirenberg said the challenge is not a lack of hotel rooms hotels have been largely unoccupied since the pandemic gripped San Antonio in March. The challenge is making sure the hotels are adequately staffed. Its a matter of how quickly we can set up capacity at hotels that have been dark for months, Nirenberg said. The Marriott Riverwalk has about 500 rooms available for evacuees, Wolff said. A La Quinta also is housing evacuees. University Health System has set up medical stations at both hotels. Theres probably some people with COVID that have traveled here, so well continue to share our messages about the important things you can do to try to prevent infection, said Jennifer Herriott, deputy director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer The screening center at 200 Gembler Road on the East Side opened Tuesday. By Wednesday, lines were long as more and more families lined up to be helped. At this time, we do not anticipate having to open any of the big congregate event centers, Woodward said. Were trying not to, because of COVID, its a lot safer to put people in hotels. And we believe we have enough hotels to house everyone, given that the coronavirus has slowed tourism down. The storm was expected to reach a catastrophic Category 4 level, bringing a storm surge as high as 20 feet to an area between Houston and Lake Charles, La. More than 385,000 residents have been told to flee Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur, and another 200,000 were ordered to leave low-lying areas in southwestern Louisiana. On ExpressNews.com: Hurricane Laura gains power Photos by Kin Man Hui / Staff photographer Still, the impact of Laura on the San Antonio evacuee situation is milder compared to Hurricane Harvey, which slammed into Houston three years ago. I hate to use the word simpler, but this storm is a whole lot simpler for us than Harvey, Woodward said. We have to see what happens when Laura hits and how many people end up being evacuated or even choose to evacuate. For Harvey, the city provided 6,000 shelter beds for evacuees, a quarter of a million meals and 4,000 tarps at the citys Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph evacuee center. On Wednesday, evacuees who came by personal car were given directions to their designated hotels, Woodward said. Many evacuees came in by bus, he added. On Sunday, 100 buses were staged at Freeman Coliseum, then set out to various areas identified as being ripe for evacuees. The buses maintained social distancing among passengers, he said. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer Woodward said the citys Emergency Operations Center at Brooks City Base, activated by Gov. Greg Abbott, has set aside several large areas, should the hotel plan prove insufficient. However, we dont announce those locations to the public because we dont want people just showing up at the evacuation area, he said. San Antonio has been a federally designated relief center since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit. The citys expense to house the Hurricane Laura evacuees will be reimbursed through the Texas Department of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Woodward said. This is a lot easier for us than Harvey, because with that hurricane, we werent sure what the storms impact would be on San Antonio itself, he said. This storm is not expected to bring any weather here except for the possibility of small amounts of rainfall. On ExpressNews.com: Hurricane Lauras impact on San Antonio However, the addition of the coronavirus does complicate things. If someone shows symptoms (at the screening center), we can transport them to receive care if need be, he said. If theyre not that sick, we can still make sure theyre isolated in their hotel rooms. A spokeswoman for Visit San Antonio, the erstwhile Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the agency wasnt tracking whether those checking into city hotels are fleeing the storm. Woodward said the Texas Department of Emergency Management would provide personal protective equipment and possible COVID-19 testing if San Antonio ends up having to use large congregate shelters. Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a general assignment reporter covering breaking news, cultural trends and interesting people and goings-on around San Antonio and Bexar County, as well as all across South Texas. To read more from Melissa , become a subscriber. mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje "Entrepreneurship is not easy, but it is worth it, says Harrison Rogers, CEO and Founder of HJR Global. I am extremely proud of our companys growth and we couldnt have done it without our amazing employees and customers. Inc. magazine today revealed that HJR Global is No. 3418 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. "Entrepreneurship is not easy, but it is worth it, says Harrison Rogers, CEO and Founder of HJR Global. I am extremely proud of our companys growth and we couldnt have done it without our amazing employees and customers. HJR Global is committed to helping businesses grow by providing the knowledge and resources that are essential to succeed in the competitive marketplace, he added. Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years. The companies on this years Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism. About HJR Global HJR Global is a rapidly growing and innovative venture capital firm, based in Mesa, AZ. Founded by President & CEO Harrison Rogers in 2015, HJR Global comprises multiple industries and organizations, including special needs care and education, commercial real estate, financial services, home security, and automation, with much more to come! Learn more at http://www.HJRGlobal.com and follow us @HJRGlobal. 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. The civil war in Somalia has been going on for 11 years between the Somali government and a terrorist group called Al-Shabaab who is allies with ISIL (formerly ISIS). The Somali government has taken control of most parts of Somalia which is a very good indicator for a hopeful future. The Federal Government of Somalia was formed in August, 2012 ruled by Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. Somalia has been ruled by the Somali Democratic Republic that took control from 1969 till 1991. The Republic of Somaliland is another government that has control over the North West part of Somalia. The 2 current governments should unite for the greater good of Somalia. The biggest conflict of all is peace without conflict and I believe the Somali people are great enough to make that dream come true. Somalia is probably the best African country when it comes to progress in ending civil war. Other African countries should take example in Somalia. I personally have high hopes for the future of Somalia. Al-Shabaab must stop their terrorism acts and be part of the Somali people again to contribute to the development of their own country. They should look at the results of insisting on civil war in other African countries and all over the world. If they continue with their irrational behavior, they will be left out as they are becoming the weakest link which cannot remain in formation but it is not too late yet. My message to the Somali people: "Your country is achieving great progress so you need to be part of it now. Be positive and spread positivity in your country. Clean your hearts from hatred and join the winning side of life. Your country needs you now more than ever". By Sociologist Mohammad Alshereda @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A network of childrens hospitals is launching a Canada-wide initiative to improve early access to mental health care for young people. Canadas Childrens Hospital Foundations announced the multimillion-dollar project on Wednesday, which will fund mental health programs at 13 pediatric hospitals around the country. Dr. Ronald Cohn, president and CEO of Torontos Hospital for Sick Children, said the initiative couldnt come at a more critical time as the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated long-standing gaps in Canadas mental health system. Unfortunately, the vast majority of children and youth in Canada cant access mental health services until the point when theyve already escalated into a crisis situation, Cohn said by phone. This need (for early intervention) has been amplified now more than ever. In recent weeks, Cohn said, SickKids has seen a spike in visits to its emergency department and outpatient clinics related to psychological issues. While the hospital is looking into the cause of the uptick, Cohn said, some clinicians worry that the isolation of life under lockdown may be intensifying mental health struggles for many young Canadians. He said the trend is consistent with the role childrens hospitals have played as the first point of contact for young people dealing with mental health challenges and, often, the principal care provider. Between 2006 and 07 and 2017 to 18, emergency room visits for mental disorders jumped by 75 per cent, according to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The 2019 report says its estimated that around one in five Canadians will develop a mental disorder in their lifetime and, for most, symptoms will start to show before adulthood. Thats why Cohn believes that investing in early intervention will not only prevent life-threatening mental health crises during the pandemic, but will pay dividends over time. If you cannot intervene early, then the devastating impact on the long-term quality of life of children when they become adults is tremendous, he said. I think this initiative is going to really help us facilitate to prevent that as much as possible. Mark Hierlihy, president and CEO of Canadas Childrens Hospital Foundations, said the A Family of Support initiative, created in partnership with the Sobey Foundation, will allow for cross-country collaboration between hospitals, while each program will be tailored to target local concerns. For example, the Childrens Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is implementing a telehealth service to reach children and youth in rural parts of the province. Meanwhile, the McMaster Childrens Hospital is partnering with two other medical centres to conduct a clinical trial of a new suicide prevention program. Jennifer Gillivan, president and CEO of the IWK Foundation, which supports the Halifax womens and childrens hospital, said the collective effort could be a game-changer for youth mental health care in Canada. The goal of this is to not leave a generation behind, Gillivan said. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ). From a small fishing village to a modern international metropolis, from mudflats and wastelands to towering skyscrapers and vibrant green fields in four decades, Shenzhen has blossomed into the city we know today. As the first district to be established in Shenzhen and a pilot zone for the city's reform and opening up, Luohu has impressed generations of Shenzhen citizens with numerous firsts. How much do you know about Luohu? A six-episode micro-documentary called "The Luohu Times," which will begin airing on August 26, will recount some inspiring and charming stories about the district. The six episodes - "The Glorious Times," "The Golden Age," "The Hong'an Memory," "A Harmonious Life," "The Fancy Kylin Dance" and "The Luohu Bridge" - will present the pioneering spirit of Luohu along with its profound culture and tradition. Below is a brief introduction to each episode. The Glorious Times "The Glorious Times" celebrates Luohu as a trailblazer of reform and opening up in Shenzhen. Embodying the well-known "Shenzhen Speed," each floor of the International Trade Centre Building was built within three days, which was a historic feat in Chinese high-rise construction. This feat signified the strong momentum behind China's reform and opening up. This astonishing achievement has been written into the annals of Shenzhen SEZ's growth and the country's development. The Golden Age "The Golden Age" brings the audience to Luohu in the 1990s. This episode discusses the heyday of railway transportation in the Sungang-Qingshuihe Area, where the first railway designated to transport goods to Hong Kong was built. With row upon row of warehouses erected across Sungang, trade between Shenzhen and Hong Kong began to flourish during this time. The Hong'an Memory The Hong'an Restaurant, which was housed in an old red and white building, is featured in this episode, which is titled "The Hong'an Memory". The Hong'an Restaurant, which was housed in an old red and white building, is featured in this episode, which is titled "The Hong'an Memory." It is said that prestigious general Ye Ting once commanded the resistance against the Japanese invasion from this building. He Huayi, then the owner of the restaurant, generously supported Ye's work during that trying time. A Harmonious Life This episode depicts a large banquet that is held in Huangbeiling during the Double Ninth Festival. The festival provides people with an opportunity to worship ancestors and carry on traditional customs. Descendants of the Zhang's travel back to Hongbeiling from Hong Kong and overseas to enjoy Pen Cai, or basin dish, which is a dish served in a basin. By sharing the dish of mixed flavors, people find harmony in their hearts and feel a sense of closeness. The Fancy Kylin Dance The fifth episode is dedicated to the Liwei Kylin Dance, which originated in Shuikuxincun Village. This unique dance dates back a hundred years, and a kylin dance group was reorganized in 1999. The group initially had 30 dancers, but today it has 70. The impressive kylin dance has been acknowledged as an intangible cultural heritage of Guangdong province, and its popularity has grown in recent years. The Luohu Bridge The Luohu Bridge used to be the sole pass that connected the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. It served as a window to the world and, most importantly, witnessed the former British colony's return to the motherland on July 1, 1997. The micro-documentary series was produced by the Luohu Multimedia Center under the supervision of the Publicity Department of CPC Luohu Committee. To accelerate the sales process, B2B marketing teams are integrating MQMs into their virtual events, webinars, ads, and other online marketing channels. CMOs can no longer be satisfied with generating MQLs as a KPI, they want marketing-qualified meetings from the marketing investments that contribute more to top-line growth. As enterprises look for ways to make up for the shortfall in valuable face-to-face customer meetings due to cancelled in-person events, they are turning to virtual events, webinars, and digital campaigns. To make these marketing investments more effective, sales and marketing teams are scheduling thousands of virtual customer meetings to build their sales pipelines. Many of these enterprises are using Jifflenow, innovator of the worlds #1 Meeting Automation Platform (MAP), which has seen a dramatic increase in the use of these highly effective meetings since the launch of its Virtual Meetings capability, earlier this year. In just a few months, close to 100 enterprises, including NetApp, Okta, and Veeva, have added virtual customer meetings to their virtual events and digital marketing programs to generate better ROI, said Hari Shetty, CEO of Jifflenow. Over 90% of enterprises are now planning multiple virtual events and online programs, so increasing attendee engagement is their number one concern. To this end, B2B marketers have made the marketing-qualified meeting a vital element of their plans to grow their business, manage sales disruption, and expand their sales pipelines. Since face-to-face meetings are impossible, virtual customer meetings have become a key performance indicator for marketing and sales teams. Consequently, a new marketing KPI has risen to the top of all marketing metrics: the marketing-qualified meeting (MQM). This highly desired metric complements the traditional metric MQL (marketing-qualified leads) by converting MQLs into more valuable sales opportunities. Trend reflects increased buyer proactivity With in-person trade shows and conferences for evaluating enterprise products and services on hold, B2B buyers have become more proactive in determining how to engage with an organization to learn more about a new product or service offering. In B2B sales situations, a buy decision almost always requires a number of customer engagements, such as demos and Meet the Expert or Meet the Executive meetings. To accelerate the sales process, B2B marketing teams are integrating MQMs into more of their virtual events and other online marketing channels. One easy way to do this is by enhancing landing pages with special inbound meeting request pages that allow a lead generated by any digital marketing program to book an informational meeting with the appropriate internal expert resources. MQMs that result from this action are more valuable than MQLs because they scale better, shorten the sales cycle, and drive a higher ROI from marketing and sales campaigns. Examples of creative uses of MQMs by enterprise marketers include: NetApp includes inbound meeting request pages to schedule customer meetings for a variety of campaigns across both industry and corporate virtual events. Okta began using Jifflenow platform to generate B2B meetings during a virtual user conference, and then extended usage for several weeks after the conference to allow attendees to meet with experts at a more convenient time. Veeva Systems used the Jifflenow platform in the virtual booth of its virtual user conference with a Zoom integration to instantly book meetings between experts and interested attendees. CMOs can no longer be satisfied with generating MQLs as a KPI, they want marketing-qualified meetings from the marketing investments that contribute more to top-line growth, said Ravi Chalaka, CMO and VP of product management at Jifflenow. At the same time, prospects and customers dont wait for sales to call themthey are in the drivers seat and want more control of their journey. Marketers must therefore adapt or risk losing customers to those that cater to their expectations. MQMs are now seen as a business imperative to drive attendee engagements from virtual events, webinars and demand gen programs. To facilitate the creation of MQMs within any marketing workflow, Jifflenow integrates with industry-leading marketing, sales enablement, and event software platform to give users an unparalleled experience that simplifies workflows, reduces manual effort, and improves the quantity and quality of meetings across events and trade shows. Integrations include: Video-conferencing software to easily enable virtual meetings including Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams, and BlueJeans Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar to sync available times into the Jifflenow master calendar Adobe Marketo Engage and Oracle Eloqua to enable meeting data to sync back to marketing automation tools Virtual- or live-event management platforms like Aventri, Rainfocus, Cvent, and more. About Jifflenow Jifflenow is the worlds #1 Meeting Automation Platform (MAP) that helps marketing and sales teams to easily schedule, manage, and analyze a high volume of B2B in-person or virtual meetings from marketing campaigns, webinars, hybrid events, and virtual events. The Jifflenow software captures information about the customer, the opportunity, and purpose to ensure high-quality meetings that help enterprises advance the revenue pipeline. Jifflenow offers enterprise-class analytics, security, GDPR compliance, and integration with leading CRM, marketing automation, video conferencing, and virtual event management applications. Jifflenow is the most trusted MAP, with a customer roster that includes hundreds of enterprise customers and more than 60 Fortune 1000 companies. Based in San Jose, California, Jifflenow is backed by Accel, Saama Capital, and Sequoia Capital. For more information, visit jifflenow.com. Montgomery County commissioners approved a $350,000 consulting contract with Hagerty Consulting Tuesday to help the county apply for part of $2.5 billion in grant funds for flooding mitigating projects. However, several commissioners had concerns over the funding source for the contract. This is purely money to pay experts to put this application together, said Precinct 3 Commissioners James Noack said inquiring about the competition for the funding. There is not a lot of contingency and we dont need to be drawing down from anywhere else. Im having a real hard time approving. Jason Millsaps, executive director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, told the court the process is competitive and open to all entities in the state. According to Millsaps, there are two programs the county is applying for projects related to the Memorial Day flood in May 2015, the Tax Day flood in April 2016 and Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. Those programs are the Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation program and a Federal Emergency Management Administration flood mitigation program administered through the Texas Water Development Board. The projects for the CDBG-MI program include the de-snagging and desilting of Lake Creek, Caney Creek, Peach Creek, White Oak Creek, San Jacinto East Fork, Mill Creek, Brushy Creek, Walnut Creek, Spring Creek and improvements to the Sawdust Road bridge and the Texas 242 and Interstate 45 intersection. TWDB program would fund the buyout and removal of about 30 homes in the floodplain. Due to the highly competitive nature and October application deadlines of these programs, Millsaps stressed having the grants professional prepared is critical. We need all the help we can get, said Precinct 4 Commissioner James Metts. The desnag of Peach Creek alone would be a tremendous help. Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said the county needs to be a proactive. We have been talking about cleaning out these tributaries for years. Noack suggested the commissioner split the cost of the consulting contract using their budgets and not other county funds. The court approved the contract in a 4-0 vote with Metts abstaining. cdominguez@hcnonline.com HOLYOKE With the Birthing Center at Holyoke Medical Center scheduled to close in October, former staffers, city officials and residents are wondering why women were no longer choosing the center for their deliveries and why the news of its closure seemed to come so suddenly. The first I heard of it was through a phone call from a news reporter. I was very surprised, and by the time the public hearing was held I felt the closing was a done deal, said Holyoke Ward 1 City Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez, who was part of the task force in the 1990s that advocated for creating the Birthing Center. The closure announcement was made in June, followed by a July 28 public hearing held by the state Department of Public Health. The department subsequently deemed the Birthing Center an essential service, requiring Holyoke Medical Center to submit a written plan on how the effects of the closure will be mitigated. That report is due by the end of this week. While the department can give recommendations, its decisions are not binding, and the hospital can go ahead with the closure. Holyoke Medical Centers president and CEO, Spiros Hatiras, said the hospital followed the proper procedure to announce the closure to staff, patients and their families, as well as city officials. The process starts with a notification of all of your staff, any unions you have, your patient and family advocacy group, all the elected representatives in the city and the president of the City Council, and you have to do this before you can even send a letter to the Department of Public Health. This process ensures the broadest dissemination of that information, and we did that, Hatiras said. The main reason cited for the closure is the low average number of births at the Birthing Center since it opened in 1993. Over the past 27 years, the 13-bed unit consistently had fewer than 400 births per year. That rose to about 600 births per year after bilingual midwives joined the practice in 2002, but by 2010 the numbers were again below 400. Hatiras said there were 383 births at the center last year and that numbers were expected to decline even further. The estimated annual loss from the maternity service is between $3 million and $4 million. You have a 13-bed unit that only has an average of 1.2 births a day, and you are keeping three to four OB/GYNS and each of them costs close to $500,000, he said. You have to keep two or three anesthesiologists, and around-the-clock pediatrician and nursing care. The regulations require us to keep the staff there even if there are no patients, and its just not feasible. Holyoke City Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi said it is difficult to explain to constituents that there is no money for the Birthing Center while the hospital continues to construct new buildings and expand services, including a weight loss center and a family medical practice in Westfield. Its also planning a 64-bed psychiatric facility. It makes me question, has the hospital been receiving grants because of Holyokes demographics, and if so how have those grants been applied? Lisi said, referring to Holyokes Latino population, which is 52%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2019, about 56% of patients who delivered babies at the Birthing Center identified as Latina, according to Department of Public Health records. You are getting rid of this essential service, but you are still going forward with all of these expansion projects, so whats the long-term plan for the hospital and how does it fit with this communitys needs? Lisi said. I dont think that has been made clear. Last week members of the Coalition for Birthing Care Access, in partnership with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Jobs with Justice, held a protest to advocate for access to services at the medical center and better communication with residents. Some of the major concerns cited by the coalition are lack of bilingual services at other hospitals, difficulty with transportation and lack of access to midwives. Holyoke Medical Center records show that no birthing patient has asked for transportation services to any other hospital since April 3. Thats when the Birthing Center unofficially closed to make room for patients relocated from the Soldiers Home in Holyoke due to a coronavirus outbreak. The medical center offers a shuttle throughout the city, as well as a door-to-door transportation service. The service is heavily used, with 17,826 rides in 2019. The shuttle will continue, along with all of the prenatal and postpartum family planning services already provided by the hospital. The shuttle service was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is scheduled to resume shortly, Hatiras said. In the meantime we have been providing free cab services to anyone who needs an emergency ride. Even if its not an emergency, but our patients tell us they have no way to get to Springfield or Northampton, we will provide that service. As for Spanish-language services, in-person interpreters helped 28 patients in the Birthing Center in fiscal 2019. Telephonic interpreters were used seven times in the Birthing Center and 125 times in the Holyoke Medical Group Womens Services Office. Holyoke Medical Center has an agreement with Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, where some of the centers obstetrician/gynecologists will be on rotation. According to Mercy Medical Center spokeswoman Mary K. Orr, the hospitals Family Life Center for Maternity has provided delivery services for 91 Holyoke Medical Center babies since the April closing an average of 18 babies per month as well as providing services to many patients in the obstetric triage area. Mercys Family Life Center for Maternity provides services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of our patients, she said. We have staff that represent the community we serve that are supported by on-site Spanish interpreter services 7 days a week and remote services 24/7 as needed. Women who choose to deliver at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield also have access to bilingual staff and interpreters. However, some argue that translation services are not the same as having Spanish-speaking doctors and midwives. Nina Kleinberg, a midwife at the Birthing Center for more than 20 years, said it is imperative for women to feel comfortable speaking about their reproductive health. Being able to speak to women in their native language was incredibly important when it got to anything personal, she said. Would you want to talk about your sex life in anything other than your first language? Would you want to talk about intimate things in a language you didnt feel comfortable with? Hatiras reiterated that the family planning services will stay in place at Holyoke Medical Center. Women will only be going to another hospital for the birth of their child a choice many women have been making for decades, he said. The truth is 68% of mothers in Holyoke have been delivering elsewhere for decades, meaning that more than two-thirds of births are already going to Baystate or Cooley-Dickinson or Mercy, he said. I dont blame them. A lot of them choose Baystate because it has a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Parents want to be there in case something happens rather than worrying about being transferred. Laura Britton, a member of the Coalition for Birthing Care Access and organizer for Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, said the closure is indicative of a larger problem of closing community health centers and services, like the recent loss of inpatient beds at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke. She called the loss of local medical services an issue of regional equity as well as racial, economic, feminist and reproductive justice. The pattern is to close off sections of the hospital until the hospital itself is not seen as profitable, or its sold to another health corporation or privatized, she said. Within the coalition we are looking at ways to combat that and bring awareness so that hopefully, when the Department of Public Health deems these services essential and necessary for the community, it really means something. Lebron-Martinez said she has heard from some constituents upset about the closure. But the larger frustration is the feeling of being left out of the conversation, she said. I think this is an emotional issue for many of us. Five of my nine grandchildren were born at the Birthing Center. Its an important service for our community, she said. I have spoken to Spiros since all of this and we have talked about making sure there is diversity in the board of directors so that the community can have a voice when decisions like this are made in the future. Related Content: BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has expanded its multifamily investment sales platform in South Florida with the additions of Managing Director Still Hunter III and Director Kaya Suarez, who will join and collaborate with the Greater Florida multifamily investment sales team, which includes Managing Director Brian Moulder and Director Chris Chadbourne in Orlando, Managing Director Dhavel Patel and Senior Director Bobby Gatling in Jacksonville, and Managing Director Sean Williams in Tampa. Messrs. Hunter and Suarez will be responsible for the origination and execution of multifamily property sales in South Florida. Their in-depth market knowledge and strong client relationships will also be instrumental in the company's continued growth throughout this key market. Greg Engler, Walker & Dunlop Investment Sales Executive Vice President, commented, "We are thrilled to welcome Still and Kaya to Walker & Dunlop. Their addition to our property sales platform solidifies our presence in the Southern Florida region and extends our expertise throughout the entire state of Florida. We continue to attract top property sales talent to partner with our best-in-class debt financing capabilities across the country and are extremely pleased with our continued growth, especially in a key market like this." Mr. Hunter commented, "We are very excited to play a part in expanding the Walker & Dunlop platform in Southern Florida, where we will be able to continue providing best in class investment sales advice and services to our clients, while also offering financing solutions from the strongest multifamily-focused debt platform in the market." Prior to joining Walker & Dunlop, Messrs. Hunter and Suarez were part of CBRE's Capital Markets group, where they were responsible for multifamily property marketing and sales throughout Southern Florida. Mr. Hunter co-led CBRE's South Florida Multi Housing Investment Sales team and brings over 20 years of experience to the platform, having closed transactions of more than 85,000 units and nearly $10 billion throughout his career. Walker & Dunlop is a leader in the multifamily property sales space and continues to expand its capabilities and reach across the United States. The company has more than doubled the size of its property sales team since the end of 2018, and has added new offices in Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, the New York metropolitan area, Philadelphia, Portland, and San Diego. Walker & Dunlop is focused on growing this platform to complement its national mortgage banking footprint and has set a goal to grow its annual volume to over $8 billion by the end of 2020. To learn more about our property sales capabilities, visit our website. About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 900+ professionals in 40 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction. SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Related Links http://www.walkerdunlop.com facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published Aug. 26, 2020 The University of Louisiana Monroe School of Allied Health (SOAH) under the College of Health Sciences (CHS) is pleased to announce the new Outstanding Faculty AwardRecognition of Excellence. This annual award recognizes the successes and outstanding work of a full-time faculty member. The Outstanding Faculty AwardRecognition of Excellence honoree, demonstrates exceptional: Teaching effectiveness, solid command of the subject, innovative classroom methods, guidance in independent student work, ability to engage students in the learning process Professional activities and development, including involvement in research, publications, and participation in professional organizations Service as mentor to faculty and/or students, including presence in the department providing a model for students and contributions to the SOAH/CHS Service to the community including the SOAH/CHS which has improved the quality of the institution and the community outside the campus The Spring 2020 Outstanding Faculty Award recipient is Kimberly Theodos, J.D., M.S. Theodos, an Assistant Professor in Health Studies, describes herself as a passionate educator who feels a strong obligation to provide students with the best, most current information in healthcare and always to make her students feel important. On the first day of every class, she tells students, I love my job, and that is the absolute truth! Her extremely high teaching evaluations and student reflections are evident of her strong commitment to students. Theodos has a diverse educational background, including a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Science in Healthcare Management, which has provided her with distinct opportunities through contributions to textbooks and manuscripts. She has given many high-level national presentations, several in Washington, D.C., with prominent elected officials in the audience such as Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi. The Health Studies faculty considers Theodos a very talented teacher who exemplifies the essence of innovative teaching. I am truly thankful for this special recognition by my peers in the SOAH. I am honored to have this type of support and encouragement from my colleagues as we all work toward creating an unparalleled learning environment for ULM students, Theodos said. The new Dean for the College of Health Sciences, Donald Simpson, Ph.D., stated, Kim teaches not only topics associated with healthcare law, ethics, and management, but also personal growth, tenacity, and professionalism in the Health Studies program. She is committed to our students, understands their goals, and is diligent about removing any perceived barriers to their academic success. The Spring 2020 SOAH Outstanding Faculty Award nominees Nominees for the award included Carolyn Murphy, Ph.D., Occupational Therapy, and Jennifer Whited, Ph.D., Speech-Language Pathology. The College of Health Sciences congratulates our Outstanding Faculty winner Kimberly Theodos and our faculty nominees, Carolyn Murphy and Jennifer Whited, who have achieved this noteworthy recognition. It is our hope that these recognitions signal the College of Health Sciences commitment to excellence in teaching, to reward faculty in those endeavors, and to promote distinction in teaching among other faculty, Simpson said. Recognizing the SOAH Awards Committee Last year, the SOAH Awards Committee was formed, and the members designed and implemented several new award categories, one being the Outstanding Faculty Award. A special acknowledgment to all committee members for their comprehensive work on this project over the past two years goes to, Donna Eichhorn, Occupational Therapy, Yolanda Dupree, Ph.D., Counseling, Emily Mike, Ph.D. Occupational Therapy, Amanda Richardson Dental Hygiene, Becky Pickering Speech-Language Pathology, and Theresa Thomas, Ph.D. Marriage and Family Therapy. These committee members spent much time by first identifying the premise of the award, followed by the design and implementation of policies, criteria, and evaluation rubrics. As the chair of the SOAH Awards Committee, Jessica Dolecheck, Ph.D., noted, I am honored to chair this important committee work for our school and excited about the potential these awards have on recognition for our faculty and the college. SARATOGA SPRINGS A former three-term city mayor who is credited for saving the Canfield Casino and building the classical ballet audience at Saratoga Performing Arts Center has died. Raymond Watkin, 91, who served the city as its chief executive from 1974 to 1980, died on Sunday at his home, according to an obituary appearing in the Times Union. Schenectady-born, Watkin began his life in the Spa City at Raymonds Bootery, a specialty shop for ladies shoes, on Broadway. When he swept into office in 1974, he began work to save historic buildings, which the city previously deemed unworthy of saving. To that end, he enacted the city's Historic Preservation Ordinance and formed the Board of Architectural Review, the Broadway Facade Easement Program, the downtown Special Assessment District and the city's historic district, his obituary states. Among his first actions as mayor was to stop the U.S. Postal Service from installing a drop ceiling, obscuring a leaded skylight, and covering up the WPA murals in the lobby of the city's Post Office. He was also known for spearheading the infrastructure work in the area known as "the gut," allowing for later development including the city's public library, his obituary states. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Watkin was also an arts enthusiast who promoted the New York City Ballet with a parade in its honor, helping build audience and community support for the ballet. After his tenure as mayor ended, he worked as a special advisor on thoroughbred racing to state Sen. Howard Nolan, D-Albany. In later years, he remained active in local politics. In 2006, he led a successful campaign against a proposed change to the city charter. He reversed himself in 2017 lobbying for that change, an effort that ultimately failed, his obituary says. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 26 at Beth Israel Cemetery on Abbottsford Road in Rotterdam. 26 August 2020 KR1 plc ("KR1" or the "Company") Investment: MetaCartel Ventures DAO KR1 plc (KR1:AQSE), a leading digital asset investment company, is pleased to announce that the Company has become a member of the MetaCartel Ventures Decentralised Autonomous Organisation ("MCV" or "MCV DAO"), by contributing US $199,119.54 into the entity and receiving 4,938 MCV shares in return, representing an interest of 7.85% in the MCV DAO as at the date of this announcement. The MCV is a for-profit DAO, created by Ethereum's 'MetaCartel' community for the purposes of making investments into early stage decentralized applications, being an exciting new development in blockchain venture funding. This project is a new way for individuals and entities to coordinate funding, labour, time and social capital through an on-chain managed organisation. MCV is formed as a hybrid organisation made up of blockchain smart contract code and a traditional corporate structure. The technology half consists of a deployment of a 'MolochDAO v2' smart contract on Ethereum, with the legal half being a member-managed Delaware Limited Liability Company, 'MetaCartel Ventures DAO LLC'. With MCV's strong community of established blockchain entrepreneurs and founders, the Directors believe that MCV will have its pick of the best seed stage opportunities in the Ethereum space, including DeFi (Decentralised Finance) projects, other friendly DAO projects and many more. To date, the MCV DAO has already made several investments, including 'Reflexer Labs', building 'RAI', a low volatility collateral for the DeFi ecosystem, and 'Zapper Finance', a popular DeFi dashboard. MCV is initially looking to allocate small amounts of capital, which could increase over time as the amount of funds in the DAO's treasury grows. Peter Pan of MetaCartel Ventures DAO commented: "In crypto we are all on the same team to make change happen and KR1 is a great example of a team that is on your side. KR1 truly cares about the grassroots ethos of Web 3 and is willing to back their beliefs. Excited to see MetaCartel Ventures grow in strength." Keld van Schreven, Managing Director and Co-Founder of KR1, commented: "We are very excited about the innovation MCV is doing in the blockchain funding space. MetaCartel and all the individuals involved are a highly credible and hugely influential community including the best and brightest people, which will serve it well as it grows. MCV may very well serve as a future model on how to manage and govern capital in the future. For us the MetaCartel Ventures DAO offers a unique investment opportunity, which brings with it a strong deal flow pipeline where we can contribute our expertise and experience as well as add to it with early-stage projects we are seeing." For further information please contact: KR1 PLC George McDonaugh Keld van Schreven Simon Nicol +44 (0)16 2467 6716 simon@KR1.io Peterhouse Capital Limited Mark Anwyl Allie Feuerlein (AQSE Corporate Adviser) +44 (0)20 7469 0930 Nominis Advisory Ltd Angus Campbell (PR Adviser) pr@KR1.io About KR1 plc KR1 is a leading digital asset investment company supporting early-stage decentralised and open-source blockchain and DeFi projects. Founded in 2016 and publicly traded in London (KR1:AQSE), KR1 has built a notable reputation for generating significant returns by investing in many key projects that are designed to power the decentralised platforms and protocols that are emerging to form new internet infrastructures. www.KR1.io Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. . Ex-anticorruption official Zakharchenko loses bid against prone to escape status RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 13:26 26/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal against a penal colony commissions decision on the prevention registration of ex-anticorruption police colonel Dmitry Zakharchenko as a convict prone to escape, the courts press service told RAPSI. The court thus upheld a ruling of the Lefortovsky District Court dismissing the suit of Zakharchenko against the commissions decision. Zakharchenko was declared prone to escape in November 2019. Ex-Russian anti-corruption official Zakharchenko was arrested on September 8, 2016. During searches at his sisters apartment law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles (about $120 million at the current exchange rate). He denied any relation to the seized funds. In June 2019, Moscows Presnensky District Court sentenced Zakharchenko to 13 years in high-security prison for 3-million-ruble corruption crimes and obstruction of the investigation. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to pay a 117-million-ruble fine ($1.5 million), stripped of his police colonel rank and prohibited from holding law enforcement posts for 2 years. However, the court acquitted him of a $500,000 bribery count. The defendant pleaded not guilty. By Associated Press DUBAI: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will hold closed-door meetings Wednesday with Bahrain's royal family and top officials in the United Arab Emirates amid the Trump administration's push for Arab nations to recognise Israel. Pompeo already travelled to Israel and Sudan on this trip through the Mideast, one that included him offering a recorded message in Jerusalem supporting President Donald Trump's reelection campaign for the Republican National Convention. That speech cast aside his own advice to American diplomats to be apolitical and bulldozed a long tradition of non-partisanship by previous secretaries of state. In Manama, Pompeo is expected to meet with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his son, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. ALSO READ | Defying norm, Mike Pompeo makes 'unconventional' RNC speech in support of Trump's re-election The State Department has not offered any word on what Pompeo will bring up during the meeting, though it comes after a US-brokered deal announced August 13 saw the United Arab Emirates and Israel open diplomatic relations. Bahrain, a small island nation just off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf, has a historic Jewish community. The kingdom has slowly encouraged ties to Israel, with two US-based rabbis in 2017 saying King Hamad himself promoted the idea of ending the boycott of Israel by Arab nations. That boycott had been in place to offer Palestinians support in their efforts to form an independent state. Bahrain is also home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet and remains a close security partner of the US Pompeo arrived there Tuesday night and met Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, wearing an American-flag-colored face mask amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Later on Wednesday, Pompeo is expected in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the seven-sheikhdom federation of the UAE. There, he will speak with his Emirati counterpart and others. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Windhoek, Namibia Wed, August 26, 2020 10:32 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c408cb9c 2 News Namibia,travel,tourism Free Namibia's government said Tuesday the country would reopen to foreign visitors from September 1 to try and salvage thousands of jobs in tourism, badly hit by coronavirus travel bans. The announcement came despite a recent spike in coronavirus cases, which have almost tripled to over 6,000 this month. Recorded deaths have risen from 11 to 57 since August 1. "As from 1 September 2020, Namibia re-opens the Hosea Kutako International Airport to international tourists," Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta announced on Tuesday. "This is a targeted initiative for leisure travellers that will be reviewed bi-weekly and amended as necessary." Shifeta said all incoming tourists would be required to test negative for coronavirus no more than 72 hours before travelling. They will then have to spend a minimum of seven days at their first destination. Namibia is a sparsely populated southwest African country known for its wildlife and spectacular coastal desert. Tourism contributes around 10 percent to the country's GDP. Read also: Namibia's #MeToo movement on the hunt to find and punish sexual predators Around 1.6 million foreigners holidayed in Namibia last year, according to government figures. The environment ministry has said that resuming international tourism ahead of the usual peak season -- from September to December -- could save up to 120,000 jobs. Borders were sealed on March 28 as part of early efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Namibians are still banned from travelling between towns -- a restriction that will be waived for tourists. Topics : Namibia travel tourism A Class 7 student was allegedly raped by a manager of her school, who also made a video of her and threatened to post it on social media if she reported the matter to anyone, police said here on Wednesday. This is the second such incident reported in the Gola police station area of the district in the past 10 days. On July 30, school manager Harendra Yadav (38) called the 15-year-old girl to his house and allegedly raped her, police said, adding that the accused is on the run and a case has been registered against him. The police station in-charge of the area has been removed from the post and attached to the Police Lines for failing to take the case seriously and not informing high officials regarding it. According to police, the accused made a video of the student and started blackmailing her. He threatened to post it on social media if she disclosed the incident to anyone, police said. The manager blackmailed her saying her father would kill her if she told him about the incident. Police said the accused asked the girl to live at his house in the city and study from there. After a few days, the girl, however, disclosed it to her family. The girls father informed police but the accused could not be nabbed. Later, the girls father met SSP Joginder Singh. A case was lodged against the school manager for rape and under provisions of the POCSO Act, but due to the elapse of time after the incident, the accused managed to escape. Gorakhpurs Gola Circle Officer Shyamdev said the girl complained to police that she was raped on July 30 by the manager at his home. Earlier on August 16, a teenage was reportedly raped and singed with cigarette butts by two men in the Gola area. Police had registered a case against one Arjun of Dehribhar village and his friend Mahesh, alias Chotu, on the basis of a written complaint from the girls mother and they were later arrested. According to reports, the teenage girl had gone to fetch water from a hand pump when the two accused took her to a hut near a pond in the village on a motorcycle and raped her. They also tortured the girl by inflicting burn injuries on her with cigarette butts and when she fell unconscious, fled from the spot. In case of victory in the U.S. presidential election, Joe Biden, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, promises to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons. Biden said this in a statement on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, Voice of America (VOA) reported. As President, I will make it clear to the Kremlin that it must end its aggression toward and occupation of Ukraine. A Biden-Harris administration will ensure that Ukraine gets the economic and military support that it needs, including lethal weapons, while urging Ukraine to pursue the essential reforms that are vital to its success," Biden said. According to VOA, the administration of President Barack Obama, in which Joe Biden served as vice-president for eight years, has been criticized by the Republican Party for refusing to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons. Defensive weapons, in particular Javelin anti-tank missiles, were provided to Ukraine by the administration of the incumbent President Donald Trump. The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for November 3. The main contenders for the presidency are Donald Trump from the Republican Party and Joe Biden from the Democratic Party. ish Quarantining travellers staying in the Travelodge in Sydney's CBD began complaining about the cleanliness of the hotel at least a week before it was closed and they were relocated. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller confirmed on Wednesday that health officials and police had received an increasing number of complaints about the budget motel near Surry Hills before it was removed from the quarantine program on Tuesday evening and travellers were taken to another hotel. Quarantined travellers had to exit the Travelodge in Sydney over compliance issues. Credit:James Brickwood "Every hotel has had a complaint at some stage, but it's about balancing that and doing the appropriate orders," he said. "But certainly last week the volume of complaints was unusual, not just to police, but to health and also to those organising the hotels." GRAND RAPIDS, MI U.S. Sen. Gary Peters on Tuesday toured a U.S. Postal Service facility in Kentwood to investigate what he says is a national slowdown in mail delivery caused by recent operational changes which have since been put on hold by U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said he did not get many answers during his tour of a postal service facility on Patterson Avenue SE. Senior management acknowledged there has been a slowdown of delivery since July, but they were not able to give me concrete reasons as to why that is happening, the senator said. Which is very concerning, Peters said. We would hope that senior management at the postal service would have a sense. The operational changes implemented by DeJoy included the removal of mail sorting machines and reduction of overtime availability. Democrats have spoken out against the changes, saying they are resulting in late deliveries and could affect the postal services ability to handle a surge of absentee voting in November. Peters says nearly 8,000 people have contacted his office about problems with mail delays since DeJoy took over as postmaster general in June. I know there are some folks out there that are saying this is not real, he said. Well, I just say, tell that to the nearly 8,000 people who have contacted my office about the impact they have, talk to our men and women who are on the front lines. The USPS facility on Patterson Avenue SE landed in the news last week, when one of the facilitys mail sorting machines was removed. The machine, used to sort catalogs and magazines, was removed due to a decline in mail volume. USPS union officials have said mail volume has declined due to the coronavirus pandemic. They are worried that the removal of the sorting machines could affect delivery times once the holiday season arrives and the volume of mail increases. When you remove machines like that you cant process as much mail, said Amy Puhalski, president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 281. Puhalski, whose union represents 780 postal workers throughout West Michigan, spoke alongside Peters at a USPS union office in Kentwood following the senators tour of the facility. Neither Peters nor Puhalski were able to say to what degree mail delivery times in the Grand Rapids area have been slowed because of the postal services recent operational changes. I dont have specific numbers, and this is part of the problem --- we cant get specific numbers from the postal service, he said. I have been asking these questions. In addition to the Patterson Avenue facility, two sorting machines in the downtown Grand Rapids USPS facility have been dismantled this summer, Puhalski said. Plans to dismantle three other sorting machines were abandoned when DeJoy paused his operational changes, she said. Were all very thankful that theres been a cease to that, she said. Those type of machines can process up to 35,000 pieces of mail per hour. Thats a lot. Peters said the USPS does not expect to reinstate the sorting machines that have been removed or dismantled. He called the decision curious. He said USPS officials have told him they dont need excess capacity. But, at the same time, we have on-time delivery that is going down. Something is up, he said. Something is not coming together, and we need to find the answer. Figuring out what is wrong is important, not only because of the need for the timely delivery of absentee ballots in the lead up to the election, but because of the families and businesses that rely on USPS every day, Peters said. This is very real, he said. We need to fix it. The postal service is too important to everybodys lives not to stand up and make sure that it continues to deliver the quality service that weve come to expect. Beth Nolan, director of research and policy at Positive Approach to Care, a business that provides training to those who work with dementia patients, agrees. She said the educational materials her business mails to people throughout the country have been delayed due to the recent changes implemented by the USPS. The reason this needs to be solved is because small businesses across the country you have customers to serve, said Nolan, who works out of her home in Ada, and appeared alongside Peters at his media event. If you cant count on the U.S. Postal Service, that has an impact on your business. Read more: Grand Valley students moving back to campus amid pandemic excited to be here while it lasts Six coronavirus cases linked to Flushing wedding reception Severe thunderstorms painted over some part of Michigan for 3 days in a row FY20 EBITDAI1 guidance and dividend delivered rapid response to COVID-19 and the associated impacts materialising in the last quarter moderated FY20 impact Return to top-line growth, following two years of flat revenues Earnings growth underpinned by Sparks market momentum and focus on cost discipline Mobile service revenue growth outperformed the market2 Spark New Zealand (Spark) today announced revenue growth of 2.5% to $3,623 million for the year ending 30 June 2020. Following a strong performance in the first half, Spark maintained its momentum to achieve mobile service revenue growth of 3.9%, and double-digit growth in cloud, security and service management revenue, which increased 10.8%. In a year that was enormously challenging for all New Zealanders, Spark moved quickly to mitigate COVID-19 impacts as much as possible, while maintaining essential services to keep the country connected. Impacts included the loss of international roaming revenues, retail revenue reductions from store closures, the removal of data overage charges, and an increase in bad debt provisioning as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19 on Sparks customers. Some benefits were also realised from increased demand for collaboration products to support remote working. Overall COVID-19 had a total negative EBITDAI impact of approximately $25 million in FY20. Operating expenses increased as the benefit of cost-out activities were reinvested to fund growth in key markets and labour capitalisation reduced in some areas. Sparks strong performance in key markets, continued focus on cost discipline and the timing of COVID-19 impacts materialising in the last quarter, resulted in EBITDAI growth of 2.1% to $1,113 million, placing the result in the mid-range of guidance. Net profit after tax increased 4.4% to $427 million, primarily driven by growth in EBITDAI and lower tax expense3. Spark announced an H2 FY20 total dividend per share of 12.5c per share, 100% imputed, bringing the total FY20 dividend to 25c per share. Spark Chair Justine Smyth said: FY20 marks the completion of our 3-year plan, which has transformed Spark from a traditional telco to an end-to-end digital services company and delivered compound annual growth in shareholder returns of 13%4. Agile ways-of-working have improved our speed to market and customer focus, and we have seen a significant increase in both customer and people engagement during this time. Our sustained network investment has underpinned our ability to innovate and grow and provided secure connectivity for our country during COVID-19. It is a credit to Sparks people that we have delivered such a strong result, with growth on nearly all key metrics, despite the impact of COVID-19 in the final quarter. We are now faced with a more uncertain economic climate, and we will continue to be challenged as a country, as a business and as individuals to adapt to the challenges COVID-19 brings. Our long term focus on simplifying and digitising our customer experiences, supporting digital transformation in the business community, and transitioning New Zealand off legacy systems to modern technologies, is more relevant now than ever before and we are ready to play our role in supporting New Zealands economic recovery. Spark moved quickly to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 while maintaining its strong market momentum coming out of the first half. Spark CEO Jolie Hodson said: It is fair to say this will be a year remembered more for the last quarter than the first three, and it is a testament to the agility and commitment of our people that we were able to adapt quickly, support our customers and deliver what we said we would in a challenging environment. Our customers were quick to take up our new Endless data mobile plans, which contributed to mobile service revenue growth that outperformed the market. We grew wireless broadband connections by 16,000, however our aspirations are higher and with the continued strong performance of our network during COVID-19 we have the confidence to accelerate this further in FY21. At a time when having an internet connection is more essential than ever before, we have leaned in and accelerated the rollout of our not-for-profit broadband product Skinny Jump connecting more than 4,500 additional homes since COVID-19 hit. We are now entering a more challenging period as a country, and we expect the impact of COVID-19 to be more material in FY21. The recent return to Alert Level three in Auckland and Alert Level two more broadly has reminded us that this challenge is not behind us, and we moved quickly to lift broadband data caps for our customers once again. We know it is vital for New Zealand that we continue to invest in smart infrastructure during this time, and we are focussing our FY21 capital expenditure on supporting New Zealands economic recovery, including through the rollout of 5G and investment in rural connectivity. We will continue to take a disciplined approach to cost management, ensuring we have the flexibility to respond as economic conditions change. Spark confirmed FY21 EBITDAI guidance of $1,090 million to $1,130 million and a FY21 dividend of 23-25c per share, 100% imputed. The details of Sparks next three-year strategy will be shared at an Investor Briefing on 16 September 2020. The evolved strategy will build on the momentum and foundational capabilities Spark has established through the successful execution of its current strategy. 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This will enable the company to take up and expand its business in the defence sector in line with the recent announcement of the Govt. of India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps is now poised to be the first Black woman to be a crew member of the International Space Station (ISS). On Tuesday, August 25, Epps was assigned to the NASA Boeing Starliner-1. The Black American aerospace engineer and astronaut will join the space administration's first operational crewed flight for Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, in a mission to the ISS. RELATED: NASA Moves Forward With Its Orion Adapter Installation Another Great Leap For Mankind The Boeing Starliner-1 mission will be the first for Jeanette Epps. She first earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Le Moyne College, in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. She then completed her master's degree in science and her doctorate in aerospace engineering, both from the University of Maryland. While she was pursuing her master's and doctorate, Epps received a NASA Graduate Student Researchers Project (GSRP) Fellowship grant, publishing several academic papers on the way. After her doctorate, she started working in a research lab with the Ford Motor Company for more than two years before moving to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she was a technical intelligence officer for seven years. In 2009, she was selected as a member of that year's astronaut class. In January 2017, NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps was assigned to be a part of Expeditions 56 and 57. She was set to fly into Earth's orbit aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. This was supposed to be the first long-duration ISS mission, including an African-American astronaut. However, on January 16, 2018, NASA announced that Jeanette Epps would be reassigned to future missions, being replaced by her backup Serena M. Aunon-Chancellor. The reason for the reassignment was never officially explained. Epps's current assignment marks a big leap for inclusivity. There have been some Black Americans who have traveled to and from space, with a former fighter pilot and astronaut Guion Bluford being the first as a crew member of the 1983 Challenger. However, there has been no Black American assigned to live and work in space for more extended periods. The International Space Station has already seen 240 individuals across 395 spaceflights, since 2000. RELATED: NASA to Remove "Insensitive" and "Harmful" Names NASA Boeing Starliner-1 Jeanette Epps will be joining NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada. Williams formerly held the record for doing the most spacewalks by a woman, with seven walks, as well as the most time in spacewalk for a woman with 50 hours and 40 minutes. On the other hand, Josh Aaron Cassada was a former test pilot with more than 3,500 hours piloting 40 aircraft and serving in 23 combat missions. The upcoming Boeing Starliner-1 will be the fourth Starliner mission and the first to have a human crew onboard. The mission is only the fourth US spaceflight with a female commander, Sunita Williams, the first being STS-93 back in 1999. This mission will also reuse the Starliner spacecraft first flown in an uncrewed Orbital Test Flight Mission last December 2019. Commander Williams announced that the name of the spacecraft would be "Calypso." (Photo : Comoros: The Forgotten Island) The Union of the Comoros is an island country located in the south east of Africa. It gained independence in 1975. Its population is about 850,000. There are 2 ethnic groups in Comoros: - 86% Afro-Arab (mostly Muslims). - 14% Malagasy. Comoros president is Azali Assoumani who came into office in 2016. He is a member of a political party called Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros. Comoros is among the list of the poorest countries in the world as GDP Per Capita. People there suffer from poverty and the medical system is not that good. One of their traditions in called the Grand Marriage where a man is supposed to make another wedding party that costs a lot. This tradition makes no sense since people there are very poor already. It seems that there is a lot of corruption in the government just like other African countries. Greed and thirst for power have poisoned a lot of hearts unfortunately to a degree that some people's behavior has become inhumane. I believe that people deserve to have a good life out of their country's resources instead of dwelling in houses that are too small to have room for all members of the family. I personally encourage business people to consider investing in Comoros because it will be both beneficial for them and for the economy there. I also encourage people who like to do charity not to forget about people of Comoros as they need help and deserve it. This article contributed by Sociologist Mohammad Alsherda 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Malia Cohen, a former president of the board, to a spot on the citys Police Commission. Cohens confirmation comes at a critical juncture for policing in San Francisco and around the country, as departments face a historic reckoning over discriminatory practices and uses of force against people of color. The days of when law enforcement can just act as they want to are gone, Cohen said Tuesday in an interview with The Chronicle. I am excited for the opportunity to work with (San Francisco Police Chief Bill) Scott to roll up our sleeves, and get these reforms in place with urgency. Cohen said she sees herself as a bridge builder between San Franciscos more moderate and left-leaning politicians, and plans to prioritize data analyses to create a more equitable system of policing. I am going to be working very hard to rise above that dichotomy, that split, to focus on justice and fairness for everyone, she said. The police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the nationwide protests that followed added a new urgency to calls for police reform, elevating demands for cities to defund law enforcement agencies. Cohens confirmation will fill one of two vacant seats on the Police Commission, which sets policy for San Francisco police and oversees disciplinary hearings stemming from misconduct allegations. The board rejected Mayor London Breeds prior two Police Commission nominees Nancy Tung and Geoffrey Gordon-Creed with many supervisors saying the moment demanded a candidate with a strong track record of advocacy around police reform. Cohen, a native San Franciscan and former two-term supervisor, said both personal and professional experiences have prepared her for the role. It all stems from a personal place, and being a Black woman, being tired of seeing Black people being shot and killed, Cohen said. Thats what motivates me; thats what brings on the reform. The board must cast another procedural vote for Cohen next week before she can be sworn in. Cohen, who was nominated for the slot by Breed in July, said she is dedicated to ushering in the type of police reform that the city demands. As a supervisor, Cohen for eight years represented District 10, which includes the historically Black Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood and currently serves on the state Board of Equalization, Californias elected tax commission. Some of Cohens key accomplishments as a supervisor centered on police reform. Cohen has described the December 2015 police killing of Mario Woods in the Bayview as a pivotal moment for her as a city leader. Shes credited with helping end the use of police choke holds and leading the charge to create the Department of Police Accountability, a civilian oversight agency that investigates complaints against officers. As a commissioner, Cohen said she hopes to help advance the police reforms Breed outlined in recent weeks, which include shifting officers away from noncriminal calls, particularly those related to mental illness and homelessness. In her Tuesday interview, Cohen laid out some police data that she found striking and that she said called for re-examination. Of the 1 million calls for service annually, police make 30,000 arrests, write 120,000 tickets and transport 5,000 people for 5150, or mental health holds. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The latter two are cause for concern, she said. I have to ask the question: For what reason does a police officer with a badge and a gun need to address traffic stops? she said. And shouldnt we have mental health care professionals addressing individuals who are clearly in need of medication and wraparound services? Cohen said she also wants to focus on fixing an early warning system intended to flag cops showing repeated, problematic behavior, and hopes to use her connections in state government to push for reforms that would make police disciplinary proceedings more transparent to the public. Cohen sailed through the confirmation hearing on Tuesday, with no supervisors asking her questions or raising concerns. In a statement, Breed said she was proud to have nominated Cohen and was excited to see her in the new role. We have the opportunity to reimagine what policing and the criminal justice system looks like in San Francisco, Breed said. I know that Malia will be a critical voice on the commission to guide this transformation and make our system more equitable and just. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy ITHACA, N.Y. - At the Berry Patch farm in Stephentown, New York, big, ripe blueberries are waiting to be picked. The farm is experiencing one of its best seasons to date thanks to better management of fall infestations of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), part of a research collaboration with Greg Loeb, professor of entomology at Cornell AgriTech, part of Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. For the past few years, Loeb has been experimenting with a thin mesh covering, called exclusion netting, around berry crops as a means to prevent SWD infestation. The efficacy of the netting, at Berry Patch and in Cornell AgriTech research fields, is documented in a paper, "Factors Affecting the Implementation of Exclusion Netting to Control Drosophila Suzukii on Primocane Raspberry," published in the journal Crop Protection. The Berry Patch, owned by Dale-Ila Riggs and Don Miles, has experienced the devastation SWD can cause in late ripening berries like blueberries and raspberries. In 2012, their blueberry crop was attacked, resulting in a loss of 40% of their crop. Unlike a regular fruit fly, which attacks overripe fruit, SWD attacks the berry as it's ripening in the field. Females lay eggs in the berries; the eggs then hatch into larvae during the berry ripening phase, rendering the fruit unmarketable. "We were doing our best to keep SWD at bay back then," said Riggs, who co-authored the paper. "But we also knew spraying all the time wasn't sustainable and it also didn't align with our business model." Riggs heard about positive preliminary results of the netting and reached out to Loeb. The netting attaches to a frame and surrounds berry crops in order to minimize SWD contact with berries. While the research supports the viability of exclusion netting in managing SWD, it also indicates that additional management techniques may need to coincide with the netting. For example, SWD outbreak infestations could still occur when workers move in and out of netted plantings. "For this reason, if growers adopt exclusion netting, they must be prepared to manage outbreaks as necessary," said lead author Dara Stockton, a postdoctoral associate in Loeb's lab. "Still, the benefits of using the netting seem to outweigh the risks and research indicates that as few as one to two sprays per year may be sufficient." Over the six years that Riggs has been using exclusion netting for her blueberries, she said she has never had to apply pesticides and has had less than 1% incidence of SWD each year. Another major benefit is cost: Riggs said that for her .1-acre high-tunnel raspberry plot, she spent roughly $300 on exclusion netting, whereas it would cost her $600 for a season's worth of pesticides. "Ultimately, the quality of the berries at our farm is most rewarding," she said. "Under these nettings, we are breaking records and giving Oregon and Washington blueberry yields a run for their money." ### Riggs, Loeb and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) collaborators plan to use a demonstration plot at the Berry Patch in the year ahead to show other New York berry producers the success of exclusion netting as well as best practices. Other co-authors included Marvin Pritts, professor of plant science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and researchers from CCE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture and from Cornell supported this research. Gold Assets Moving from Private Ownership to the ASX Sydney, Aug 26, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Newly incorporated OzAurum is looking to take a portfolio of strategic assets that had been assembled over almost 30 years by founder and managing director Andrew Pumphrey to the ASX next year.The assets sit in the shadow of Saracen Mineral Holdings' ( ASX:SAR ) Carosue Dam gold mine about 100km northeast of Kalgoorlie, a region that has been the subject of considerable greenfields exploration.Notable explorers in the area include St Barbara ( ASX:SBM ), Breaker Resources ( ASX:BRB ) and Apollo Consolidated ( ASX:AOP ).Pumphrey told Stockhead that gold was first discovered at Mulgabbie Hotel in 1898 and the field produced 8,000oz of gold at an astounding 34oz (or a little more than 1kg) to the tonne.More recently about 1,000oz of gold was produced through alluvial means.Gold was also mined at the Patricia gold mine in 1935, which produced 5,400oz at an average grade of 41 grams per tonne (g/t).The Mulgabbie North discovery was made in 1984 by Freeport McMoRan, with drilling returning hits of 9m at 4.7g/t gold and 30m at 1.2g/t gold.It covers 10km of greenstone belt geology in the Norseman-Wiluna Greenstone Belt, one of the richest and most prolific gold-producing camps in Australia.Notable mines within the belt include Granny Smith (+2.5Moz), Wallaby (+7Moz) and Sunrise Dam (+15Moz).This area was pegged by Pumphrey in 1990 after Freeport withdrew from the area.Subsequent reverse circulation drilling by Andrew and Alicia Pumphrey returned results such as 6m at 4.41g/t gold, while a 2km-long zone of gold mineralisation remains to be tested along with wide zones of subparallel gold geochemistry anomalies."More diamond drilling is planned this year to understand the structural orientation of mineralisation at the Mulgabbie North northern prospect and RC drilling to validate the Freeport historical drill results," Pumphrey added.Credentialled team assembled and gold exploration plans pencilled in Pumphrey has brought on former Mineral Deposits managing director Jeffrey Williams as the executive chairman of the company along with veteran geologist Andy Tudor and Cobre ( ASX:CBE ) co-founder and chief executive officer Martin Holland as non-executive directors.OzAurum plans to use its pre-IPO capital to drill four reverse circulation and one diamond hole and fund the upcoming IPO.Upon completion of the IPO, the company plans to undertake up to 50,000m of aircore drilling, 50,000m of reverse circulation drilling and 20,000m of diamond drilling that is aimed at discovering an inferred resource of more than 1 million ounces.It will then move onto completing a scoping study in the second year.About OzAurum Resources Limited OzAurum Resources Ltd (ASX:OZM) is a Western Australian gold explorer with two advanced gold projects located 130 km north east of Kalgoorlie. The Company's main objective is to make a significant gold discovery that can be brought to production. Water cannot be supplied to Crimea before its de-occupation, since this is a very significant lever of pressure and influence on the occupying state, permanent representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Anton Korynevych has said. "The position of both the President's representative and the President's Office of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is unambiguous and does not change, and will not change: water cannot be supplied to Crimea before the de-occupation of the Crimean Peninsula. This is a very significant lever of pressure and influence on the occupying state," he said in on the air of the Ukraine 24 television channel on Wednesday. Korynevych said that Ukraine should not decide the issue of water supply to Crimea for the occupying state. "The issue of water supply is not the only issue that the occupying state cannot solve on its own. The state of Ukraine should not solve these issues for the occupying state. Therefore, the position is unambiguous: no water in Crimea before the de-occupation of the peninsula," he said. The permanent representative of the President of Ukraine also said that "the humanitarian disaster on the peninsula has been going on for the seventh year, because the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea has been temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation for the seventh year." "Therefore, the position is the following: when the occupying state leaves our Ukrainian Crimean peninsula, of course, all issues, including water supply, will be resumed," Korynevych said. He also said that it is important to maintain the existing position of Ukraine regarding the impossibility of supplying water to the territory of the Crimean peninsula before its de-occupation, "despite any manipulations, insinuations from the occupying state." NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rises during a meeting of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the House of Commons on June 9, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Liberal and NDP Interests Converge in Deficit Spending NDP lack funds for election, Liberals need support in upcoming confidence vote The New Democratic Party has no money to fight an election, but it can take the Liberals keys to power. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wants more social spending and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may not have the desire or the leverage to refuse. The Bloc has called for Trudeau to step down as prime minister and the Conservatives may be willing to bring down the government now that they have a permanent leader in Erin OToole. Singh has condemned the Liberal plan to reduce the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) from $2,000 per month to the $1,600-a-month Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) for those not eligible for the employment insurance program, a move that would affect almost 4.5 million Canadians. We think a 20 percent decrease in support to families is the wrong thing to do, Singh told CBC on Aug. 22. The $1,600 amount for families that are on the brink, who are just getting by, that drop in support will put them through some very serious pain. The less generous Liberal plan will still cost $37 billion. The four-week extension of CERB to Sept. 27 will cost $8 billion, three new programs will deliver $22 billion in benefits, and planned EI expansion will cost $7 billion. The three new programs include the CRB along with a Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) for workers who cant work because they are sick or must self-isolate, and a Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) for persons unable to work because they are caring for a family member. The Liberals will also hand out even more EI. Normally, EI claimants would get benefits of 55 percent of their average weekly earnings up to $573 per week. Changes make recipients eligible for at least $400 per week if they have worked a minimum of 120 hours in the past 52 weeks. If recipients find a job, EI benefits are reduced by 50 cents for each dollar of earnings and will stop when their work income reaches 90 percent of the earnings used to calculate their EI. The new spending will create an even deeper crater in 202021 federal budget deficit, currently projected to be $342.2 billion. The NDP has its own debts to pay. The party had net negative assets of $4.5 million at the end of 2018, while it has not yet published its 2019 report. It also incurred a $10 million debt fighting the 2019 federal election, of which $1.5 million is still outstanding. During the first six months of 2020, the NDP raised $2.3 million, barely twice as much as the Green Party but behind the Liberals $5.5 million and the Conservatives $7.3 million. We have fought elections on less and done well, NDP national director Anne McGrath told the CBC. If the Liberals continue to help themselves or continue to be fighting themselves instead of helping people then we will look at all options. The Liberals 156 seats in the House of Commons are 14 seats shy of the 170 needed to form a majority. The support of the 24 NDP MPs is crucial for the governments survival. However, recent estimates by poll analyst Eric Grenier suggest that a snap election would give the Liberals a 51 percent chance of a winning majority and a 41 percent chance of winning the most seats but not a majority. Joseph Garcea, faculty member in political studies at the University of Saskatchewan, says that when the Liberals face a confidence vote after Parliament resumes in late September, they will have the NDPs support for two reasons. One, they run the risk of getting crushedyou know the orange crush that has happened in the past, he said. Secondly, they want to continue to build a legacy as a progressive party and they want to take some credit for whatever progressive initiatives are undertaken. Garcea says the Liberals may explore universal basic income, but their three main considerations will be how are we going to take care of the kids, how are we going to take care of the seniors, and what can we do to give the middle-aged wage earners greater opportunities? Daniel Bernier of Earnscliffe Strategy Group agrees. He says the NDP will push for the speech from the throne to include social measures like dental care, child care, and home care for older citizens. We will see about a minimum salary as Germany is experimenting [with], and Spain [is] considering. Singh has already called on the government to immediately spend $2 billion on child care in order to allow women to return to work during the pandemic, plus another $10 billion over the next four years for universal child care. The federal government must acknowledge that if we want a recovery, we need to make sure women can get back to work and that means assuring that theres affordable and accessible child care, he told a news conference on Aug. 14 in Victoria. The policy path seems the same whether the Liberals want to perpetuate their minority or govern to earn a renewed majority, says Jaqueline Biollo, a principal with Aurora Strategy Group. The Liberals would need to lean on the relationships theyve built with the NDP and the Greens and focus on a platform that heightens essential programs for Canadians, including climate change action, national pharmacare, interest-free student loans, cuts to cellphone bills, investments in affordable housing, and new taxes on the ultra rich. (Natural News) After earlier indicating that vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) probably will not work, the World Health Organization (WHO) is now insisting that the vaccines will work, and that billions of people should get vaccinated. As part of the global entitys new COVAX plan, for which 172 nations have already signed on, whatever vaccine or vaccines end up becoming available for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) will cross national boundaries and be offered at the lowest price possible, ensuring the maximum number of people are able to get jabbed. By 2021, more than two billion doses of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines will be ready for distribution, according to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Nations will have until Sept. 18 to confirm their participation in the program, and until Oct. 9 to make their initial payments. Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus, Ghebreyesus is quoted as saying. The success of the COVAX facility hinges not only on countries signing up to it, but also filling key funding gaps. International cooperation, Ghebreyesus contends, is the key to making it all work. Once Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines go global, there is light at the end of the tunnel, he says, because together we can do it. More related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and the push for fast-tracked vaccines is available at Pandemic.news. WHO wants all vulnerable people and front line workers to be vaccinated first COVAX, which is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO, aims to fast-track Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine production even faster than President Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed plan to produce the jabs as quickly as possible for the American market. Russia is thus far the first to procure what it claims is a workable Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, while the United States claims to be not far behind. It is almost like the space race to see which country can fill its vaccine syringes the fastest. Alexander Gintsburg, Russias top vaccine official, told the media that the more than 3,500 people who have received his nations Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine are thus far showing no severe side effects. The vaccine has already been authorized by the government, despite not yet finishing its Phase 3 trial. The WHO is also considering another nine vaccine candidates to be included as part of the COVAX program. The hope is to acquire and administer the jabs to those at highest risk around the globe, including health care workers and those on the front lines of the pandemic. Whichever folks are critical to saving lives and stabilizing the overall health system are to be first in line for the jabs when they eventually become commercially available. Several U.S. manufacturers of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines have already received their funding to start producing vaccines for COVAX, including Novavax, which obtained a $388 million grant from CEPI. This grant is contingent upon grantees giving right of first refusal of vaccines directly to COVAX, which of course is backed by billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates. Novavax is currently working through its trial phases, having just started Phase 2. We expect this Phase 2 portion of the trial to expand on the encouraging Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity data for NVX-CoV2373, and we will now look for robust immune responses in older adults, stated Novavax R&D president Gregory Glenn. The data collected from this Phase 2 trial will be used in assessing the efficacy and safety of the jab for older adults, which are said to be especially at risk of infection from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Following this, the vaccine will move on to Phase 3, which will reportedly include many more participants. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com TeleSurEnglish.net NaturalNews.com Benzinga.com Skyler Swisher Sun Sentinel (TNS) South Florida Congressman Brian Mast joked about rape and referenced sex with 15-year-old girls in old Facebook comments to a friend who is now his campaign manager. The messages were posted years ago, but theyve surfaced in Masts tough re-election fight against Democratic challenger Pam Keith. Mast, a 40-year-old Republican, represents one South Floridas most competitive swing districts. He apologized for the remarks on Tuesday. One of the comments involves a Feb. 23, 2009, photo of a bar outing posted by Rocco LeDonni, who is now Masts campaign manager. The photo was taken during LeDonnis vacation to South Africa. Mast commented, im so proud of you... i hope you hook up with at least fifteen 15 year olds over there.... its legel there right. Two years later, LeDonni asked in a May 20, 2011, post: Anyone have any good pick up lines for this weekend considering according to the crazy christian radio guy the world may end on sunday? How about dont turn this rape into a murder, Mast responded. In a statement Tuesday, Mast apologized for the posts. A decade ago when I was in the Army, and following my injury, I made disgusting and inappropriate jokes that I am embarrassed to have associated with my name today, he said. I am sorry about that part of who I was, and I strive every day to be a better example for my kids. Mast is a decorated war veteran. He lost his legs and a finger when a bomb exploded under him in September 2010 in Afghanistan. After the explosion, Mast was hospitalized at Walter Reed Army Medical Center into 2012, where he underwent numerous surgeries, learned to walk again and was often heavily medicated. LeDonni has been a senior campaign advisor and political consultant for Mast since he first was elected in 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile. The posts were public on LeDonnis Facebook page, but they were removed from view after Masts campaign was contacted by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Keith, a former Navy JAG officer, condemned the posts in a statement. This is disgusting, unacceptable and dishonorable behavior for any man, let alone a sitting member of Congress, Keith said. Rape, violence and intimidation of women and children are not Brian Masts punchline his words are an insult and betrayal to the women he claims to represent. Keith hasnt held back on social media. In March 2020, Keith responded to a comment that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden might have raped someone. That means he still has LOTS of rape to do to catch up to Trump. Also .... I highly doubt thats true, she wrote. Mast represents a competitive district that includes northern Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. He has often voted in favor of President Donald Trumps agenda in Congress, but he broke ranks with the GOP when he supported gun control measures after the Feb. 14, 2018, Parkland school shooting that left 17 students and staff death. Trump considered Mast for the position of Veterans Affairs secretary in 2018. Instead, Trump decided to nominate Robert Wilkie, the acting secretary. Mast beat Democrat Randy Perkins in 2016 with 53% of the vote and won another close victory over Lauren Baer in 2018 with 54% of the vote. Skyler Swisher can be reached at sswisher@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6634 or @SkylerSwisher. Hillsboro, Oregons Todd Barth, franchise owner for Home Instead Senior Care, is among a select group of successful franchisees across North America named as a 2020 Rockstar Franchise Owner by Franchise Business Review, the leading market research firm in the franchise industry. Todd was recognized for outstanding achievements in the Giving Back category, praised for his franchises charitable giving, mentoring and volunteering in the community. Franchise Business Reviews annual Rockstar Award is based on research from over 27,000 franchisee surveys, across more than 300 leading brands, to identify the best of the best in franchising today. Candidates are judged on leadership, business acumen, financial and professional success, and contributing to their community. Giving back is at the core of who we are, said Barth. Each and every day, we renew our commitment to serve older adults with excellence and compassion, so they not only live independently, but so they also feel that personal connection to our community. Most recently, Barths team delivered a $40,000 grant to the Lines for Life program in Oregon, whose senior loneliness line has seen a 40% increase in calls as area seniors have become more isolated during the pandemic. This community-focused approach is pervasive throughout the Home Instead franchise network. And it has never been more apparent than in the midst of COVID-19 and its dramatic impact on the older adults Home Instead serves. Our franchise network has continued to perform above and beyond expectations in serving our clients, described Jeff Huber, Home Instead Senior Care CEO. Thanks to the resilience and commitment of our franchise owners, care coordinators, office staff and professional CAREGivers, weve continued to provide quality care for seniors. At a time when hospital beds are at a premium, I couldnt be prouder of our network for helping older adults stay happy and healthy at home. Consistency in quality and excellence across Home Instead Senior Care offices is a pride point for the organization one that has been reflected by a growing list of other industry awards. In the past year alone, Home Instead Senior Care has been honored with numerous franchising accolades, including: Franchise Business Review: Top Franchise Culture List Top Franchises for Second Careers Top Franchises for Women Top Second-Career Franchises Entrepreneur: 2020 Franchise 500 ranking 2020 Top Global Franchises 2020 Top Low-Cost Franchise (#30) The recognition that comes with these awards is always gratifying, but this year feels particularly humbling, explained Huber. Home Instead franchises across the U.S. have never faced more challenges, yet they have risen to the occasion and are continuing to show up for our clients each day at a time when they are needed most. For more information on Home Instead Senior Care, including information about franchise opportunities, visit franchises.homeinstead.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 11 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. According to the complaint, Lorenz and Bermudez broke into three Walgreens stores in the Logan Square, Humboldt Park and Irving Park neighborhoods on the evening of May 31, when looting and vandalism broke out during protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. While the Beacon in Baltimore, Co Cork, gets all the attention from walkers and photographers, there is another beacon, less significant maybe, but nonetheless interesting, lying about 20 nautical miles due west of the village. On a visit to Goat Island Little recently I discovered a pleasant spot in a becalmed sea. Well, almost. A forceful breeze and a strong current pushed through the gap that separates it from its big brother, Goat Island. Just imagine the kilowatts of energy that pounded this island last Wednesday when Storm Ellen ripped through the sky and the sea like a demented monster. The island, where no one could ever have lived, is surrounded by jagged steep rocks, except for a tiny inlet where a kayak or other small craft can attempt a landing. And while many goats can be seen boldly grazing on the larger island, it is extremely unlikely that they frequent the little island to which they give their name. Goat Island and Goat Island Little form an L-shape at the western end of Roaringwater Bay in West Cork. Outside them is the rocky islet of Illaunricmonia, the last island port of call before Newfoundland. Where Goat Island is distinctive by its cliffs and sea arches, its little brother is marked by a beacon. The larger island also has a ruin of a house where someone once eked out an existence, as testified by lazy beds nearby. Goat Island Little (or Oilean Clutharach Beag or Goat Island Beg) is a four-acre island at a strategic location and was deemed suitable in the 1850s for the construction of a beacon to aid navigation for boats entering Schull Harbour via Long Island bay. A second beacon was constructed at Copper Point at the west end of Long Island. How the workers and boatmen managed to land themselves, as well as the stone, cement, and other materials needed for construction can only be marvelled at. In the end, the structure reached almost 5m in height and weighed 250 tonnes when it was completed in 1864. It was repaired in 1961 when 40 tons of gravel were brought from Schull to reinforce the foundations. The beacon at Goat Island Little, near Schull, Co Cork. Picture: Paul Cunningham However, The Skibbereen Eagle newspaper, later to become famous for its warning that it was keeping its eye on imperialist Russia, recorded its distaste at the new construction. These celebrated structures, finished at last but to what order or style of architecture they belong we have been unable to discover. We have however been informed that, like their neighbour at Crookhaven, they are neither useful nor ornamental, as in the day time they are not required, while at night they can not be seen. The newspaper went on to recommend that, as in Normandy, the head of the gurnet fish, when properly dried, be filled with tow (wick) from which a brilliant light emanates when lit. Thus 'an inexpensive and brilliant light would be produced, and the effect, no doubt, would be exceedingly useful and picturesque during the ensuing dark winter nights'. Whatever about the then beacon at Long Island (in 1975 it did get lights, and lighthouse status in 1981), the renewal of any such gurnet lamp on Goat Island Little would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, owing to the steep nature of the island. The waters of Goat Island and Goat Island Little are attractive to divers who frequently explore the reefs around them at Man of War Sound, and Goat Island Sound. According to diving.ie 'there is an excellent reef running southeast from the southernmost tip of the island [Little] with water depths of 20m on either side. Start right under the small white beacon on the island. The small islands and rocks which spread west from here have excellent diving on their south side but rapidly run into sand on their north sides'. Griffiths Valuation records Goat Little as being under the ownership of a Cornelius Moynihan in the mid-19th century. In a report on its lighthouses and beacons last June, Irish Lights considered 'no changes necessary' for the Goat Island Little beacon. How to get there: Goat Island and Goat Island Little are in private ownership. Tours at schullseasafari.ie Goat Island and Goat Island Little are in private ownership. Tours at schullseasafari.ie Other: www.irishlights.ie; www.diving.ie Bengaluru, Aug 26 : Online classes for various degree courses in Karnataka will start from September 1 while regular offline classes will commence from October, Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan said on Wednesday. "The academic year for various degree courses will commence from September 1 with online classes. Offline classes will be start in October," said Narayan. He said all colleges will start regular classes in October and students are expected to attend in person. "The state government has already made comprehensive preparations for starting offline classes following the guidelines set by the UGC. The state government will additionally follow the directions from the Central government as and when they come," he said. Narayan, who is also the minister for higher education, said the department is waiting for further guidelines from the Central government to conduct online classes as well as exams for a few courses in September. According to the minister, final year examination will be scheduled for all undergraduate, diploma and engineering students along with the commencement of the academic year. "Additionally, exams for those students who hold backlogs will also be conducted. These decisions have been taken in the sole interest of the students to ensure their bright future," said Narayan. Meanwhile, he appealed to some sections of people not to hinder the conduct of NEET, citing the recent KCET exam as a successful case amid the Coronavirus pandemic. "The state government has successfully conducted the CET for more than 1.94 lakh students. In addition, 63 Covid positive students have also achieved good ranks by confidently taking the exam. When the reality is so conducive, I do not understand why people are opposing the NEET from being conducted," Narayan observed. He asked those people opposing the exam not to play with the future of children, and suspected that something is fishy about this issue. "Maybe certain invisible groups want seats allocated through an opaque system rather than on the basis of merit. Some vested interests have been trying to disrupt the NEET examination since the beginning," the deputy chief minister pointed out. He alleged that a huge ecosystem has been working behind the scenes for many years now but assured that their objectives will remain unfulfilled. "NEET needs to be conducted as it is a well-structured exam which allows students to take up admission throughout the country with just one test," he pointed out. Narayan said the state government is well prepared to conduct the entrance examination and said that it will be done smoothly. A day after the Brandon School Division announced that its schools are not subject to the same health restrictions as the surrounding community, stakeholders were upset and confused about the discrepancy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A day after the Brandon School Division announced that its schools are not subject to the same health restrictions as the surrounding community, stakeholders were upset and confused about the discrepancy. On Monday, Supt. Marc Casavant announced that while the entirety of the Prairie Mountain Health region is under the stricter "level orange" restrictions, Brandons schools are at the less severe "level yellow" restrictions. He said this was determined in consultation with Manitoba Education and added that some schools within the division same may end up being under different restrictions than each other. For education, level orange means K-8 students continue to receive in-class lessons, while those in grades 9 to 12 take their classes remotely. In level yellow, schools are open for in-class learning using a cohort system with only some remote learning required. That announcement by the school division came only four days after Casavant sent an email to parents saying that schools in Prairie Mountain Health were going to be under level orange rules. The reason for the lower restriction level, according to a written statement provided by a provincial government spokesperson, is that additional restrictions were not felt to be necessary for schools. "Manitobas Pandemic Response System allows for targeted, specific measures and restrictions where needed to help control the spread of COVID-19. Because of the additional measures being implemented within the education system, public health officials have not recommended additional restrictions specific to schools at this time. Manitoba Education has been working closely with Public Health and school divisions to ensure that students are able to return to school as safely as possible." Casavant later sent out an email to parents on Tuesday afternoon reiterating that the division is under level yellow but is preparing plans in case they are ordered to move into stricter restrictions. On the Suns Facebook post linking to Tuesdays article about the code yellow announcement, reactions from readers were comprised of confusion and disbelief. Speaking to the Sun by phone on Tuesday, Brandon Teachers Association president Cale Dunbar said he was caught off-guard by the announcement and that the confusion is making the jobs of teachers and principals preparing for the start of the school year more difficult. "Im very confused by (the announcement), to be perfectly honest with you," Dunbar said. "Were in uncertain times and that just added another layer of uncertainty to it." Dunbar said he wishes his union had been consulted in the creation of any of the plans made up by the province or school division, saying there has been very little communication over the summer. "I feel theyre caught in a very difficult spot right now," he said about principals trying to make plans for the return to schools as directives keep changing. "The teachers are planning for the unknown as well, but the principals have a task ahead of them thats almost impossible. Allison McCulloch, a Brandon member of education advocacy group Safe September MB and parent of a child entering Grade 9 this fall, said she believes the schools should have to be under the same restrictions as the rest of the community. "Weve had three (directives) in the past week that seem to contradict each other," she said. "We have some real concerns about the numbers in Brandon, of course, with community transmission and this sort of differential treatment for schools versus other public places. If it warrants an orange level for Prairie Mountain, it warrants an orange level for the schools." cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark Tamil Nadu Arrear exams for colleges cancelled India oi-Madhuri Adnal Chennai, Aug 26: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that examinations for college students, except those in their final semesters, stands cancelled. The latest announcement will be applicable to students who have to write arrear exams. However, students who have arrears from the final semesters will still have to write exams. Is ePass required to travel from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News "Accepting requests from the students and keeping in mind their welfare, and based on the recommendations made by the expert committee set up by the government of Tamil Nadu, examinations for students who have registered to write their semester exams, except the final semester exams, will be cancelled as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and marks will be provided to them," the statement said. The Chief Minister added that a detailed government order will be issued in this regard soon. Gov. Doug Burgum's administration is considering raising coronavirus risk levels in some North Dakota counties, after months of remaining at "low risk" statewide amid rising cases of COVID-19 in July and August. The state reached a record 1,784 active cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, including 405 in Burleigh County and 94 in neighboring Morton County. Burgum announced no changes to the green-colored, low risk level, but said his administration plans to work with local officials in several counties "about potential moves to yellow next week" on a county-by-county basis. "I want to apply very targeted and very local decision making as we think about changing any risk levels," he said. Yellow represents a moderate risk level. The risk level determines what sort of coronavirus-related protocols are in place under the ND Smart Restart Plan for everything from businesses to family gatherings to schools. Changing risk levels in counties next week is "not definite," Burgum said. "It's always been on the table, but maybe it's moving to the front of the table. We'll take a look and see how the numbers go the next week," he said. He pointed to higher case counts in North Dakota's high-population counties of Burleigh, Cass, Grand Forks, Morton, Stark and Ward, which have 76% of the state's active cases. "The distribution of cases goes from none to almost none to hundreds, depending on which counties you're in," Burgum said. He said nothing "really changed dramatically" that led to the decision to review some counties' risk levels, but health officials have been closely watching results of universities' back-to-school coronavirus testing. "We feel good about where we are but we don't like, necessarily, the direction we're going," the governor said. His administration also will review the 11 criteria of the different risk levels. Burgum also said that 56% of North Dakota's 10,467 COVID-19 diagnoses since the pandemic emerged have been of people who were asymptomatic when tested -- most of them ages 20-39. Lost Wages Assistance North Dakota on Wednesday submitted an application for the Lost Wages Assistance Program authorized earlier this month by President Donald Trump, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use up to $44 billion in disaster funds to replace lost wages. The payment assistance follows the July 31 expiration of federal pandemic unemployment benefits of $600 per week. Congress was unable to reach agreement for extending or replacing the aid. Eligible claimants must have been unemployed the first three weeks of August due to the pandemic. Burgum said the federal funding would cover about 17,600 North Dakota claimants, at about $15 million, before running out. The assistance offers $300 a week for three weeks for those eligible. Burgum anticipates quick approval of North Dakota's application, with payments to go out by mid-September. New cases North Dakota's Department of Health on Wednesday reported 238 COVID-19 diagnoses in 34 counties. Burleigh added 64 new cases Wednesday; Morton added 12. Burleigh leads the state in active cases, at 405. Close behind is Grand Forks County, with 388 active cases. Cass, home to Fargo, has 176; Ward, home to Minot, has 153; and Stark, home to Dickinson has 144. Total cases in North Dakota since the pandemic emerged total 10,467. Recoveries total 8,545. State and private labs processed 4,446 tests reported Wednesday. More than 195,100 people have been tested, or about one in four North Dakotans, totaling 442,896 tests. Many people are tested more than twice. Fifty-three people remained hospitalized Wednesday, out of 525 total. Seventeen people of those currently hospitalized were in intensive care beds. State health officials have reported 138 total deaths of people with COVID-19, at least 113 of which were caused by the coronavirus. No new deaths were reported Wednesday. Most people who get COVID-19 recover, experiencing only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough. Others, especially the elderly and people with existing health problems, can experience more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover. For more information on coronavirus in North Dakota, go to health.nd.gov/coronavirus. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. 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. Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner will assign $1 million in next years council budget to kickstart the stalled talks for an Indigenous culture centre in Brisbane. "I think it would be a great asset to have an Indigenous culture centre here in Brisbane," Cr Schrinner said. "The time to do this was 10 years ago. We are really behind the times now." Brisbane's lord mayor Adrian Schrinner promises $1 million to kickstart an Indigenous cultural centre in Brisbane. Credit:Fairfax Media He challenged the Palaszczuk government to make a commitment during the 2020 Queensland election to "match the funding" and "end the talking and begin the building". WATERLOO REGION Just one case of COVID-19 in Waterloo Regions summer camps is a good sign as children soon head back to school, says a Waterloo doctor and health policy adviser. This is very reassuring, said Ahmad Firas Khalid, a professor in the faculty of human and social sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University. That tells me were doing really well. There were no new COVID-19 cases Wednesday associated with an outbreak at a summer camp. The outbreak was declared on Monday after a camper tested positive. In the Wednesday morning update on the regions COVID-19 dashboard, there was no change to the number of active outbreaks in summer camps or related cases. The outbreak first appeared on the dashboard on Tuesday. Khalid said that camps arent quite comparable to schools, since camps are outdoors for the most part. That already reduces the risk, he said. The low number of COVID cases at camps shows people are taking the pandemic seriously and following precautions to curb spread of the virus. Khalid said parents are quite concerned about schools reopening, and they want reassurances about their childrens safety in the classroom. The answer is we dont know, he said. The situation is the same as the reopening of Ontarios economy: Wait and watch and see what happens. He encourages parents to seek out as much information as possible, be vigilant, and talk to their children about what school will be like this fall. Explain to them this is a trial, Khalid said. Be sure they understand the importance of handwashing, social distancing and face masks. Also parents need to monitor children and themselves for potential symptoms. Overall, the local COVID-19 numbers are low and thats a good start for the back-to-school season. But kids have been locked up since the pandemic started with limited close contacts, and now theyre going back out into the world as known superspreaders of viruses. Now were just hoping for the best, Khalid said. Were hoping the measures actually play out in our favour. The summer camp with the outbreak had a mask-wearing policy. Just because a participant tested positive for COVID-19 doesnt mean the virus was picked up at the camp because its also being spread in the community, said medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang. She would not provide specifics about the camp during Tuesdays regional briefing. Camps can be relatively small in terms of numbers and so we want to make sure we can protect privacy, Wang said. She also declined to say how many children could have been exposed to the virus, adding that the number of children who are potentially affected is not a very significant number. Public health is working with the camp, following the same protocol it would for any outbreak. A single positive COVID-19 case constitutes an outbreak at a daycare or camp, according to provincial guidelines. What this does though, when we declare a camp in outbreak, is that we make sure we put in all the measures to try to prevent further spread and make sure that outbreak doesnt grow any more than it has to, Wang said. Parents and staff are notified about the outbreak, and given public health information. The important thing is to make sure that all potentially affected families and staff are informed and public health follows up with the case as well as contacts, Wang said. The camp was not closed and Wang said an outbreak wouldnt necessarily mean a shutdown. That would depend on the specifics at the camp, the potential risk to others and if theres enough staff to continue running. One local camp operator sent a letter to parents on Tuesday to make it clear the case was not at one of its day camps. A spokesperson for the YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo said the decision to send home a note to its camp families was to address their immediate concerns for their childrens safety. A Malian protest coalition that had campaigned against former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said Wednesday it was willing to work with the junta which ousted him in a process to restore civilian rule. "We are willing to work with this process, we came here to exchange views and to reaffirm that we have the same positions" as the military, said Issa Kaou Djim, a leading figure in the June 5 Movement, after its first formal talks with the junta. "We have been reassured (by the fact) that these troops are soldiers, great intellectuals. Mali, across the entire spectrum, is in a drive to bring everyone together," he said. Keita, 75, was forced out on August 18 by young army officers who led a mutiny at a military base at Kati, 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Bamako. They headed into the capital where they detained the president, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other leaders. The putsch -- the second in eight years -- has once more placed the spotlight on one of Africa's most unstable countries, which is battling a jihadist revolt and economic slump. The coup leaders were cheered by a large rally on Friday organised by the June 5 Movement, although they have been condemned by the country's neighbours, the United States, African Union, European Union and the UN. 'Substantive discussions' Named after the day and month that it was launched, the June 5 Movement comprises a diverse association of grassroots groups, political parties and religious figures cemented by the demand for Keita's resignation. Modibe Kone, another leader of the group who took part in the roughly hour-long talks in Kati, said, "We told the junta that it would be useful to have substantive discussions afterwards. They agree, and they said they will consult the people." The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday, attended by the junta's leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, who did not take part on Wednesday, according to people at the talks. Main members of Mali's military junta, who took power on August 18. By Gal ROMA (AFP) Keita was elected in 2013 as a unifying figure in a fractured country and was returned in 2018 for a second five-year term. But his popularity nosedived as he failed to brake a bloody jihadist campaign that has claimed thousands of lives and driven hundreds of thousands from their homes, and to reverse the country's downward economic spiral. Within hours of the coup, the junta, which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, promised to enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time". But it has given no details about the timetable, and the issue is a major source of discord with the regional bloc ECOWAS. On one of the worst nights as the fever raged and the head exploded and the body ached and the lungs filled, Mark Fratrick contemplated his life and how much more of the virus-induced hell he could take. Which is to say that in those lonely, agonizing moments in the intensive care unit at the University of New Mexico Hospital, Fratrick, 57, believed he had no life left. So he wrote his will. In an email he wrote on his cellphone, he detailed what to leave sister Michelle, brother Michael, girlfriend Tina, who would get his beloved dog, Enay, his beloved season tickets for the Los Angeles Rams, his 10-acre spread in Taos. He explained how to feed the cattle and chickens. He described his wishes for burial. Then as he attempted to send what he believed would be his final email, his cellphone went haywire. My phone locked up, he said. I tried to swipe it several times. And then my whole phone lit up and went to factory settings. I couldnt do anything. But he could keep trying to beat the virus. Eighteen days after falling sick, seven of those days spent in the ICU, he did. But the virus that had nearly killed Fratrick wasnt COVID-19. Fratrick is the first and, so far, only reported case in New Mexico this year of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a deadly disease that gripped much of the Southwest beginning in 1993, when a deadly outbreak was reported in northwestern New Mexico. Remember? Unlike COVID-19, the virus is not spread from human to human but from humans breathing in particulates arising from the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents, particularly deer mice. From 1993 to 2017, the latest year for which data is available, 728 cases across 36 states have been reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Mexico has been the hardest-hit state, with 113 reported cases, including Fratricks, since 1993. The fatality rate is 36%. Of the three cases reported in New Mexico in 2019, two died. The key to survival is early diagnosis and treatment. Thats why Fratrick, out of the hospital since Aug. 19, is telling his story because he doesnt want people to forget that the virus is still out there and because it shouldnt be so hard to obtain proper treatment. Last month, Fratrick said, he cleaned out a mice-infested shed on his property. By Aug. 2, he started feeling mild flu symptoms. By the next morning, he was worse, his fever flaring to 102.9, every muscle in his body aching. It was like the flu times 10, he said. After a few days, I started thinking it might be corona. On Aug. 7, he went to his primary care doctor in Taos and was swabbed for COVID-19 the results of which he said would not be available for seven to 14 days. No temperature or oxygen level was taken, he said, and it appeared no concern was raised when he mentioned the possibility that he had hantavirus. Then came the headaches, like the worst hangover, like a knife being drawn across his skull. On Aug. 10, his girlfriend, an Albuquerque physician, drove to Taos and took him to urgent care, where he was advised to go to the emergency room at Holy Cross Medical Center. Fratrick said it was only at the insistence of his girlfriend and his sister, a nurse, that he was finally airlifted to UNMH, the leading facility in the treatment and study of hantavirus. I cant say enough about the doctors and nurses and staff there, he said. They knew what they were doing, and they kept encouraging me to just keep breathing. That was not so easy. For the next seven days, time stretched on endlessly. He thought he was going to die. Its the closest thing to hell I could think of, he said. Doctors prepared him to be treated with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, which takes over the work of lungs by pumping the patients blood through a device that infuses it with oxygen. The grueling treatment is usually considered as a last resort. But Fratrick didnt need it. On Aug. 17, he rallied enough to be moved out of the ICU. Two days later, he was released from UNMH. He learned later that doctors had given him a 45% chance of survival. What saved him, he said, was the knowledgeable and dedicated staff at UNMH, the support and tenacity of his family, the prayers of a community and himself. I hike, I bike, stay busy on the farm, get my 10,000 steps in, said the Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel and retired Taos Ski Valley village administrator. If I wasnt in as good a shape I wouldnt have survived. The recovery process is a long one. He tires easily; his muscles are like lead around his bones. But he takes delight in small things now a shower spilling over his head, a good sleep, a life-sustaining cherry Popsicle. I dont want to make too much of it, but the colors seem more vibrant, more crisp, he said. He said he hopes medical providers, especially in rural areas, will brush up on hantavirus symptoms and treatments. And he hopes people remember that any place where mice do their business should be sprayed with a bleach solution before it is cleaned. Fratrick said he got his phone working again and retrieved the will he almost emailed that night. Hes never shown it to his family. He hopes he never will. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 730-2793, jkrueger@abqjournal.com, Facebook or @jolinegkg on Twitter. The Post, whose seating is behind roll-up doors, plans to reopen on 30th Street in University City. Read more Philly restaurants tentatively have the green light to reopen their dining rooms on Sept. 8. But not all will do so. Its a conundrum. Also read on for timely round-ups of tasty corn dishes and ice cream sodas. If you need food news, click here and follow me on Twitter and Instagram. Email tips, suggestions, and questions here. If someone forwarded you this newsletter and you like what youre reading, sign up here to get it free every week. Michael Klein Philly restaurateurs wrestle with a resumption of indoor dining Philadelphia restaurants tentatively have the green light to open their dining rooms on Sept. 8 but at 25% capacity. I spoke with restaurateurs in the suburban counties who have tried it over the last two months, in addition to restaurateurs in the city who are considering it. The takeaways: Its not profitable at 25%, and the dining public as well as employees are expressing doubts, even if servers must wear masks and face shields. The temporary solution is to dine outside. Critic Craig LaBan explains some of his favorites tasty food, fine atmosphere, and sound sanitation practices. Whatever happened to the local pizza delivery guy? Reporter Jenn Ladd notes that pandemic has made delivery more popular than ever, spreading it to eateries of all stripes: corner bars and delis, neighborhood bistros, even fine-dining destinations. There are the delivery apps, of course. She finds out why more restaurants arent doing it themselves. Four places to find tasty ice cream sodas We eat with our eyes, and a glass of bright-colored soda with a scoop or two of ice cream floating within is a crowd-pleaser. Jenn Ladd finds four spots for old-fashioned (but not too-old-fashioned) ice cream sodas, and gives us all a fizz-ics lesson. Summer corn on the menu Summers not complete without corn, and reporter Grace Dickinson finds restaurants that are turning the versatile vegetable into everything from pops to pizza to Lebanese-inspired porridge. Plus, she shares a grilled corn recipe that will knock you on your ear. Lets get our fill of empanadas August is empanada month in Atlantic City, as Mexican, Dominican, Honduran, Colombian, Salvadoran, Puerto Rican, and Peruvian chefs from 10 restaurants in Atlantic Citys Chelsea neighborhood are competing in the Best Empanada Challenge, a tasty filled-pastry competition. One by one, they have created a restaurant scene independent of the casinos. Meanwhile, Ive been grooving on empanadas in the Pennsylvania suburbs. Antonio Rondinelli, who lost his Ambler Spanish restaurant 555 Lagiola to fire last year, has surfaced in North Wales with Empanadas Lab (119 N. Main St., 215-939-7483), where hes baking savory (and sweet) versions including lasagna, pizza, mixed veggie, and barbecue pork. Best to call for varieties. And its just empanadas from a takeout window. Also recommended: Kendall Bajeks Empanada Mama (21 Donaldson St., Doylestown, 215-230-3330), whose menu also includes salads. Restaurant notes Chef Yianni Arhontoulis had no outdoor dining options at Mica, his Chestnut Hill BYOB. But up the street is Woodmere Art Museum, set in a gorgeous stone building on lovely grounds. CEO Bill Valerio offered the use of Woodmeres porch, and now Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Mica pops up with socially spaced fine dining under cover. Its $100 a head, two seatings a night. Center City Philly is now without a 24-hour diner, since Midtown III on 18th Street packed it in. Theres overnight takeout and delivery from South Street Diner, which opens at 9 p.m. and covers the wee smalls, breakfast, and lunch before shutting down daily at 3 p.m. Bibou, one of our towns prized BYOBs, has closed as owners Pierre and Charlotte Calmels retool the South Philadelphia room into a French grocery called Bibou Boutique. Soul-food destination Warmdaddys has ended its 25-year run as brothers Robert and Ben Bynum say COVID-19 is the right time to find a new home. Their West Oak Lane restaurant Relish is offering outdoor dining and their South Jazz Kitchen (600 N Broad St.) is open for takeout and delivery. Kolkata, Aug 26 : West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Wednesday said that a session of the state Legislative Assembly will begin on September 9. He said that an all-party meeting has been called on September 8 to decide on the matter. "This time the session of the state Assembly will be short, unlike the usual ones, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All members will have to maintain strict Covid protocols during the session. We will discuss about all these details and modalities during the all-party meeting," Banerjee told IANS. The Speaker said that as per the norms, there can't be a gap of more than six months between two sessions. "The last session was adjourned in March this year because of the Covid-19 situation. So, the next session must be held by September," he informed. Earlier, the state government had sent a proposal to the Speaker to convene a session in the 295-member Assembly in the first or second week of September, sources said. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The acting President and Mankralo of the Ningo Traditional Area in the Greater Accra Region, Nene Kanor Atiapa II, has said the expeditious manner with which the Akufo-Addo administration is constructing a sea defence wall to protect his people shows that the President deserves to be given another term to continue his good works. He said the President's wife, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, once visited them and they complained to her about sea erosion, and within a year she had been able to get her husband to commence a major sea defence project for them. Nene Atiapa II made the revelation at Ningo when the First Lady visited the traditional area once again to make some donations towards this year's Homowo Festival. As part of the visit, the First Lady cut the sod for the construction of a maternity ward, a school and also commissioned a market at Old Ningo. Nene Atiapa II was full of praise for the President and said he deserved another term to continue his good works, adding that if the mandate of the NPP is not renewed, the sea defence project will be abandoned. Our town was being submerged by the sea, and she assured us of something drastic to save us when she visited us. True to her words, it is obvious now that a sea defence is being constructed quickly to protect us, he indicated, adding what can you do to someone who is trying to protect lives and property in your town. As the crowd cheered, Nene Atiapa II answered his own question saying there is a slogan which goes like this: 4more! 4more! 4more! The contractors said they would finish the sea defence project in four years. If we don't ensure protection and we leave it for someone to take over, the sea defence project will cease and the sea will submerge us, he stressed. In order to ensure that our towns and villages are safe and developed, everyone must ensure that the 4more comes to past, he appealed. Nene Atiapa II was excited about other projects the NPP government had done for the Ningo Traditional Area, saying this government is extraordinary from successive governments in terms of development. My people should not allow themselves to be influenced financially. We don't have to forget the work of this government and the First Lady. My people, let us appreciate what this government has done for us, he concluded. The items donated by the First Lady towards the Homowo included bags of maize, palm fruits, cartons of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, boxes of bottled water and an undisclosed cash. ---Daily Guide Overall, grocery and drugstore sales have continued to be strong across all categories in the U.S., up by 13% compared to the prior year, per Catalina's Buyer Intelligence Database, which tracks billions of in-store purchases each day. While the number of trips people are making to stores each week continued to be down (by 8%), basket sizes have been up by 22% -- a "new normal" that dates back to mid-January, even before widespread concern about the pandemic began to take root. On a state-by-state basis, BTS sales have dropped in each of the five states that most recently reported the greatest number of COVID-19 cases, including California, Florida, Texas, New York and Georgia. Among the five states that have reported the fewest cases of COVID-19, Maine and Wyoming have reported higher BTS sales vs. 2019. However, in similarly less impacted Alaska, Montana and Vermont, BTS sales have declined by 42%, 21% and 11% respectively. GEOGRAPHY $ Spent on School Supplies Year Over Year # of Store Trips for School Supplies $ Spent On School Supplies Per Trip Across the USA -31% -25% -8% Highest # of COVID-19 Cases California -30% -26% -6% Florida -30% -31% +3% Texas -35% -30% -6% New York -36% -31% -7% Georgia -22% -25% +4% Lowest # of COVID-19 Cases Montana -21% -16% -6% Alaska -42% - 31% -17% Maine +8% +2% +6% Wyoming +1% -2% +3% Vermont -11% -10% -0.7% "The debates about the best way to approach the 2019-20 academic year are complex as parents, teachers and academic institutions grapple with how best teach our kids safely and effectively," said Catalina CMO Marta Cyhan. "The sales decline of back-to-school supplies suggests that many have been taking a wait-and-see attitude, even as they explore virtual or smaller group options like starting learning pods or microschools in a teacher's home with a carefully selected and monitored group of classmates." "Overall, our retail and CPG customers continue to appreciate the timeliness of the data and insights we're able to provide them across 78 major grocery and drug categories during such a tumultuous time," added Cyhan. "It is helpful in making better informed marketing and supply chain decisions." Catalina's COVID-19 Interactive Map is updated each Monday. About Catalina Catalina is the market leader in shopper intelligence and highly targeted in-store and digital media that personalizes the shopper journey. Powered by the world's richest real-time shopper database, Catalina helps CPG brands, retailers and agencies optimize every stage of media planning, execution and measurement to deliver $6.1 billion in consumer value annually. Based in St. Petersburg, FL, Catalina has operations in the United States, Europe and Japan. To learn more, please visit www.catalina.com or follow us on Twitter @Catalina. SOURCE Catalina Related Links https://www.catalina.com The Tardeo police on Monday arrested a 20-year-old for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl at Mumbai Central bridge. The minor has been admitted to Sir JJ Hospital. According to police, the accused Kuldeep Gautam, a resident of Mumbai Central, kidnapped the minor on the night of August 24 while she was asleep, with her family. The accused then assaulted her, said Tardeo police officers. The minors mother in her complaint told police that in the morning when she did not find her child, she went searching for her, and found her in the same area. Her daughter was crying because of the injuries. The minor is undergoing treatment at JJ Hospital. Following the mothers complaint, we registered an offence. We scanned the CCTV camera footage of that area, and found the entire incident captured in it. We have identified the accused and arrested him, said the officer. The accuses is booked under sections 376 (punishment for rape), 363 (punishment for kidnapping) of Indian Penal Code and sections 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The state government in July this year notified two legislations which paved the way for three capitals in the state executive in Visakhapatnam, legislative in Amaravati and judicial capital in Kurnool The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain the Andhra Pradesh government's plea challenging the state high court's decision ordering status quo on two new laws enabling the formation of three capital cities. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and R Shah refused to interfere with the interim order passed by the high court and asked it to decide the matter expeditiously. Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, argued that the judiciary can't decide from where the executive will function. "This has brought the whole thing to a standstill. There are preparations to be done. Preparatory steps have to be taken. It has never happened that the judiciary has decided where the executive will function from," Dwivedi said. The bench was informed that the main matter is pending before a full court bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which will commence its hearing from Thursday. The state government had approached the apex court saying that the high court had issued orders staying the implementation of gazette notifications on the abolition of the AP Capital Region Development Authority and the formation of three capitals for decentralised development without any valid reasons. On 4 August, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered status quo on two new laws that enable the establishment of three new capitals for the state. On 31 July the state government notified the AP Decentralisation And Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020,and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Act, 2020. This was immediately after Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan gave his assent to related bills passed by the Assembly. The law gives shape to the YSR Congress government's plan of having three capitals for the state executive in Visakhapatnam, legislative in Amaravati and judicial capital in Kurnool. The petitioners, which include some NGOs and private individuals who have filed a batch of writ petitions before the High Court, had opposed the formation of three capitals in the state. They expressed the fear that the government was likely to shift the capital from Amaravati and sought a stay on the two new acts. An 18-year-old was sentenced Wednesday to three years of probation for his role in a fire set outside the Portland Police Bureaus North Precinct during a tumultuous Black Lives Matter protest. The case marks the first felony conviction for the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office tied to the nightly demonstrations that began three months ago. Police thus far have made more than 650 arrests, the majority of them misdemeanor crimes such as disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer. Prosecutors are pursuing or reviewing 200 felony cases, including assault crimes, arson, riot or theft, according to the district attorneys office. Rollin Tristan Fodor pleaded guilty to first-degree arson, a non-Measure 11 felony, in connection with the June 26 demonstration at North Precinct that also left windows smashed and graffiti sprayed on businesses in the area, some of them Black-owned. I am sorry for my actions, Fodor told Circuit Judge Amy Baggio during the hearing at the Multnomah County Courthouse. His court-appointed attorney, Alicia Hercher, said her client had attended multiple nights of protests against police violence and systemic racism in Portland before he got caught up in this event. Prosecutors said Fodor, who at the time was 17, tossed a rubber trash can atop a growing dumpster fire set on the north side of the precinct about 2:15 a.m. at Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Killingsworth Street. A second defendant, Gavoughn Streeter-Hellerich, 22, is accused of starting the blaze, court records allege. The pair did not know each other, according to prosecutors. The fire didnt damage the precinct, but it did burn the side of Mid-K Beauty Supplies, police said. Officers used tear gas to clear demonstrators away from the flaming dumpster so firefighters could extinguish it, Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis said at the time. Streeter-Hellerich faces charges of first-degree arson and riot in the case, court records show. Rollin Tristan Fodor, 18, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Aug. 26, to first-degree arson for his role in a fire set outside the Portland Police Bureaus North Precinct during a tumultuous Black Lives Matter protest. (Shane Dixon Kavanaugh / The Oregonian/OregonLive) Deputy District Attorney Todd Jackson told the court that Fodors age at the time and his secondary role in the fire were both considered when reaching a plea agreement with the defendants lawyer. Jackson said the Portland Police Bureau supported the cases resolution. Fodor has been in custody since July 7 when he was arrested, records show. He will receive credit for time served in jail. He now faces a probation violation in connection with a 2019 conviction for third-degree robbery in Washington County, according to prosecutors and court records. Fodor and two other people had tried to take another persons iPhone outside the Washington Square Mall. In addition to probation, Fodor also will be required to complete 160 hours of community service and pay restitution for damages caused by the fire. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Stoffel Vandoorne says the culture inside the Mercedes team is what makes it so dominant. The former McLaren driver lost his F1 seat at the end of 2018, but was signed up for Mercedes' new Formula E team and finished runner-up. But the Belgian is also a Mercedes reserve driver, and after working with the dominant Formula 1 team he says he understands why it is so strong. "I have a good idea of this team now," 28-year-old Vandoorne told the Dutch magazine Formule 1. "It is impressive how well they have done - to remain so competitive for so long. "The group of people here have been working together for 15 years basically. They know each other so well because there is so little staff turnover. "But what's very important is that the people are not afraid to make mistakes and admit it. Everyone is just constantly looking for improvements, which I find really impressive," he added. Vandoorne said a perfect example of Mercedes' mentality is what happened earlier this year in Hungary. "Mercedes had a huge lead, yet everyone - the engineers, the people who develop the engine and everyone else - still had the hunger to want to move forward," he explained. "Everyone keeps looking for progress, and that's not a culture that arose suddenly - it was created over a long period of time. There is no slack at all." (GMM) RENO, Nev., Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) announced today their intent to develop plans for a proposed long-term partnership designed to enhance Nevadas medical education system, expand clinical research capacity in northern Nevada and create a world-class healthcare network. The collaboration between Nevadas oldest medical school and one of its largest non-profit healthcare organizations is well underway, with the organizations executing a Letter of Intent. The final agreement with details of the arrangement is slated to be signed by the end of the year. Over the last 50 years, Renown Health has been an important UNR Med partner. We share a common vision, and recognize how expanding our collaboration will benefit the community through increased access to care and expanded clinical training and research programs. We know we can do more together than we would be able to do separately," said UNR Med Dean and Vice President, Health Sciences, Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D., professor, family and community medicine. "As healthcare professionals, we are forever changed by the events of the last six months. This new affiliation acknowledges our changing educational and healthcare environment, and advances our state-wide vision of A Healthy Nevada." Like many healthcare systems and medical schools across the nation, Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine have worked together for decades to advance a mutual commitment to improving the health of the community. Over the last five decades, UNR Med has educated more than 3,900 physicians with over 30 percent practicing in Nevada, increasing access to care for residents across the state. Equally rooted in the community, Renowns long legacy of service started in 1862 as a county hospital, Washoe Medical Center. Now, Renown Health serves the community by providing care through hospitals, outpatient medical offices, institutes and an insurance plan, Hometown Health. Story continues Expanding on their long history of collaboration, both Renown Health and UNR Med have new strategic plans based on recruiting top-tier physicians and healthcare professionals, improving access to and developing new models of innovative care, and investing in clinical research. As pillars of healthcare in northern Nevada, both provide key services for underserved populations, and collaborate to educate, train and employ the next generation of doctors and healthcare professionals to support the health of local and rural communities, the state and the nation. This new agreement builds on the close collaboration we have had for many years with UNR Med leadership, says Anthony D. Slonim, MD, DrPH, FACHE, President and CEO, Renown Health; who also serves as professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine. We have collaborated in research, medical education, grant funding for public health, clinical trials and integrated clinical practices to improve access and affordability of care. We both serve communities with significant health needs and socioeconomic challenges that have worsened through this pandemic. We recognize that this new level of affiliation will drive innovation and research that improves the health of our community, and together, we can be more effective in creating a healthier Nevada. University of Nevada, Reno President Marc A. Johnson, PhD, said, Physicians, clinicians and clinical researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Renown have worked together to care for patients during the COVID-19 crisis, from the bedside, to the research labs, and to the medical offices. That is a powerful example of the partnership between the two organizations as we have faced a historic pandemic. This new agreement reinforces what has already been a strong and impactful partnership. It promises to extend the healthcare mission of our School of Medicine and Renown for a community benefit that will be felt far beyond the next generation. James DeVolld, board chair of Renown said, During such a difficult time for our community, we are thrilled to bring two great organizations together, and present the community with such a precious gift. We have an urgent imperative to transform the delivery and financing of healthcare. Health systems and medical schools across the country are collaborating in innovative new ways, finding new efficiencies and better solutions by sharing clinical experience, intellectual resources, grants and community support. Max J. Coppes, MD, PhD, Professor and Nell J. Redfield Chair of Pediatrics at UNR Med and Physician-in-Chief at Renown Childrens Hospital, added, We are thrilled to have the support of so many elected officials, UNR Med students, alumni, donors, and community members to advance a mutual commitment to ensuring that people in northern Nevada can get top medical care right here at home. The envisioned integration will result in better access to state-of-the-art patient care, enhance and expand our ability to teach the next generation of healthcare providers, and actively engage in medical research, bringing new clinical research trials to our area. Dr. Coppes noted the partnerships previous success in 2014 when Renown Health and UNR Med collaborated in launching a transformation of Renown Childrens Hospital, the regions only childrens hospital dedicated to full pediatric services. Dean Schwenk will present the Letter of Intent to the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents on Friday, September 11. With NSHE regent approval, the affiliation will enter a period of review and due diligence within the organizations and with the relevant regulatory and oversight bodies. Until then, it will be business as usual within the two organizations. The process is estimated to continue through the end of the year. Together, we can bring a higher level of world-class care providers, leading-edge care and new delivery approaches to meet the needs of people in our community, said Sy Johnson, MBA, and Chief of Staff for Renown Health. This is what we call Destination Health, enabling patients and families, including both local patients and those traveling long distances, to receive the most comprehensive medical care, right here at home. The planned integration resembles other partnerships such as Washington UniversityBarnes Jewish Health System, Yale New Haven Health System, Penn Medicine, and RWJ-Barnabas-Rutgers. These partnerships expand medical education training opportunities for students and residents, retain more physician graduates in the community, recruit prominent physicians and researchers and build a more robust healthcare workforce. ### About Renown Health Renown Health is the regions largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a childrens hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the regions largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renowns institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the worlds largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project. For more information, visit renown.org. About University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Nevadas first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Since 1969, UNR Med has trained more than 3,900 students, residents and fellows. UNR Med continues to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit med.unr.edu. CONTACT: Renown Health Public Relations Renown Health 775-691-7308 news@renown.org UNR Med Public Relations UNR Med 775-846-8445 jardito@med.unr.edu By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu have inaugurated the Sea Cup international competition in Baku. The opening ceremony of the Sea Cup competition took place at the Buta Naval base of Azerbaijans Naval Forces on August 25. The "Sea Cup" international contest is planned to be held as part of the International Army Games - 2020 in the territorial waters of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea from 25 August to 4 September this year. During the period of the competition, the sailors will have to show their skills in performing artillery fires against the sea and air targets, anchoring and mooring barrel, rescue training, as well as in the fight for the survivability of the ship. Earlier, Vice Admiral Vladimir Kasatonov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy said in a presser in Baku that the Sea Cup contest is the symbol of our friendship and sea brotherhood. "The Sea Cup" is a symbol of our friendship and sea brotherhood. During these competitions, we can see how much the navies of other countries have developed since the last competition, and we are further developing our skills, Kasatonov added. It should be noted that August 17, The Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy arrived in Baku to participate in the International Army Games-2020. Among the Russian Caspian Flotilla arriving in Azerbaijan, are small-size gunnery ships Makhachkala and Astrakhan, and SB-738 rescue tugboat. As part of the International Army Games - 2020, the Sea Cup international contest will be held in the territorial waters of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea from 25 August to 4 September this year. The Sea Cup 2020 competition will be held at the Buta Naval Base of Azerbaijan, and the opening ceremony will take place on August 24. Iran and Kazakhstan will not participate in the Sea Cup contest this year due to COVID-19, which was discussed at the video conference with the participants of the contest held in the headquarters of the Azerbaijani Naval Forces on August 13. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Dubai-based Creative Zone and Dubai Capital Club have joined hands to provide a set of initiatives to assist entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals as well as provide auxiliary support the SME community. The agreement between the entities will not only ease the business set up processes for budding entrepreneurs but also give access to the most sought-after private business club in the region. This partnership stands on three primary objectives; first is to develop a Business Intelligence Hub that will generate industry-focused reports, surveys, and business guides to be used by government-run commercial agencies and various other private organisations for enhancing trade and SME policies, execute well-directed programs for specific sectors, and ultimately take steps to improve the regions business landscape. The reports and surveys will be made with contributions from Creative Zone and Capital Club Dubai clientele, experienced and seasoned business owners, and professionals who truly resonate the voice of the SME community and deeply understand the ground realities. Secondly, known for hosting well-curated business summits and exclusive workshops, Dubai Capital Club has extended its services to the wider SME community of Creative Zone - comprising of more than 39,000 entrepreneurs, both local and international. Finally, the two entities have agreed to promote entrepreneurship by introducing the project Creative Zone X Scale, aimed at accelerating and incubating selected business ideas with a 360-degree support system offered by all participating partners. Creative Zone will also provide free trade licenses to certain chosen businesses for one year. Lorenzo Jooris, CEO Creative Zone said: The essence of the partnership is in its complementary nature, and the idea is to create an entrepreneurial haven. With us, our clients can get a well-formulated set of business services under one umbrella ensued by receiving the options to interact with top tier business moguls, professionals, industrialists, and investors at the Capital Club Dubai. This partnership also offers various benefits and perks to the existing and future clients of both Creative Zone and Dubai Capital Club with reduced license package rates, membership rates, co-working space, meeting rooms, event space, and more. Partnering with Creative Zone aligns with our mission of building a wider platform that fosters and enriches the business fraternity of the region, and I believe the three objectives that are at the foundation of this collaboration will be instrumental in shaping a brighter future for all of us, said Vic Barreto, CEO, Dubai Capital Club. TradeArabia News Service DPRK-aligned threat actor targeting cryptocurrency vertical with global hacking campaign F-Secure connects attack on organization working in the cryptocurrency vertical with a global Lazarus Group campaign, in spite of attackers efforts to destroy evidence cryptocurrency vertical On August 25th, cyber security provider F-Secure published a report linking an attack against an organization working in the cryptocurrency vertical to Lazarus Group a highly-skilled, financially-motivated threat actor whose interests reportedly align with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). By connecting evidence obtained from the attack with existing research, the report concludes the incident was part of a Lazarus Group campaign targeting organizations in the cryptocurrency vertical in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and other countries. The tactical intelligence report provides an analysis of samples, logs, and other technical artifacts recovered by F-Secure during an incident response investigation at an organization working in the cryptocurrency vertical. According to the report, the malicious implants used in the attack were nearly identical to tools reportedly used previously by Lazarus Group also known as APT38. The report identifies the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used during the attack, such as spearphishing via a service (in this case, using LinkedIn to send a fake job offer tailored to the recipients profile). According to F-Secure Director of Detection and Response Matt Lawrence, the research provides a solid foundation for the reports actionable security advice. Our research, which included insights from our incident response, managed detection and response, and tactical defense units, found that this attack bears a number of similarities with known Lazarus Group activity, so were confident they were behind the incident, said Lawrence. The evidence also suggests this is part of an ongoing campaign targeting organizations in over a dozen countries, which makes the attribution important. Companies can use the report to familiarize themselves with this incident, the TTPs, and Lazarus Group in general, to help protect themselves from future attacks. Story continues Based on phishing artifacts recovered from Lazarus Groups attack, F-Secures researchers were able to link the incident to a wider, ongoing campaign thats been running since at least January 2018. According to the report, similar artifacts have been used in campaigns in at least 14 countries: the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Russia, South Korea, Argentina, Singapore, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Estonia, Japan, and the Philippines. Lazarus Group invested significant effort to evade the target organizations defenses during the attack, such as by disabling anti-virus software on the compromised hosts, and removing evidence of their malicious implants. And while the report describes the attack as sophisticated, it points out Lazarus Groups efforts to hide their presence were not enough to prevent F-Secures investigation from recovering evidence of their activities. The report, Lazarus Group Campaign Targeting the Cryptocurrency Vertical, contains more information for defenders, including indicators of compromise, a list of TTPs used in the attack, and additional advice for detecting Lazarus Group activity. It is now available on F-Secure Labs. About F-Secure Nobody has better visibility into real-life cyber attacks than F-Secure. Were closing the gap between detection and response, utilizing the unmatched threat intelligence of hundreds of our industrys best technical consultants, millions of devices running our award-winning software, and ceaseless innovations in artificial intelligence. Top banks, airlines, and enterprises trust our commitment to beating the worlds most potent threats. Together with our network of the top channel partners and over 200 service providers, were on a mission to make sure everyone has the enterprise-grade cyber security we all need. Cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange wherein individual coin ownership records are stored in a ledger existing in a form of computerized database using strong cryptography to secure transaction records, to control the creation of additional coins, and to verify the transfer of coin ownership. It typically does not exist in physical form (like paper money) and is typically not issued by a central authority. Cryptocurrencies typically use decentralized control as opposed to centralized digital currency and central banking systems. When a cryptocurrency is minted or created prior to issuance or issued by a single issuer, it is generally considered centralized. When implemented with decentralized control, each cryptocurrency works through distributed ledger technology, typically a blockchain, that serves as a public financial transaction database. Bitcoin, first released as open-source software in 2009, is the first decentralized cryptocurrency. Since the release of bitcoin, over 6,000 altcoins (alternative variants of bitcoin, or other cryptocurrencies) have been created. Cryptocurrency is a system that meets six conditions: The system does not require a central authority, its state is maintained through distributed consensus. The system keeps an overview of cryptocurrency units and their ownership. The system defines whether new cryptocurrency units can be created. If new cryptocurrency units can be created, the system defines the circumstances of their origin and how to determine the ownership of these new units. Ownership of cryptocurrency units can be proved exclusively cryptographically. The system allows transactions to be performed in which ownership of the cryptographic units is changed. A transaction statement can only be issued by an entity proving the current ownership of these units. If two different instructions for changing the ownership of the same cryptographic units are simultaneously entered, the system performs at most one of them. In March 2018, the word cryptocurrency was added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Transaction fees for cryptocurrency depend mainly on the supply of network capacity at the time, versus the demand from the currency holder for a faster transaction. The post Singapore organizations in cryptocurrency vertical face cyber threat appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources. EDWARDSVILLE The county and two fired former employees are battling in court to determine whether the plaintiffs can bring the case before a judge who is not from Madison County. Former Madison County Administrator Douglas Hulme and former county Information Technology Director Robert Dorman are claiming that, since they are accused of computer spying on a judge and county employees, they should be entitled to a judge from out of the county. Due to the fact that a Madison County political body is involved in this case, plaintiffs request an out-of-county judge to be appointed to avoid bias or the appearance of bias, the motion filed by attorney G. Edward Moorman claims. John J. Gilbert, the attorney for the county, claims that the two men have already filed two motions for a new judge, and the county is objecting to the third attempt. Circuit Judge Christopher Threlkeld is currently assigned the case. He is the resident judge of Bond County, which is in the Third Judicial Circuit, the same circuit that includes Madison County. The circuits are regulated by a statewide court system. As pointed out in its prior pleadings, defendant contends that plaintiffs motion is unsupported by an evidence in the record or any law which establishes a basis for transfer of this case to an out-of-county judge. Further, transferring the case to an out-of-county judge invokes the provisions (of state law) which create burdens than are unnecessary, given the lack of any evidentiary or legal basis for plaintiffs supplemental motion, Gilbert wrote. Gilbert asserts that, under law, judges are presumed to be impartial, and the burden is on the party asking the request for an out-of-county judge to show that no judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois can hear this case impartially. The two former Madison County employees recently fired by the county board have filed suit claiming they were let go without a fair hearing. They also are asking for a temporary restraining order reversing the boards action so they can continue to receive salaries and benefits. They claim they were denied admission to a meeting at which they were fired and not given a chance to speak on their own behalf until after the alleged facts were discussed. Hulme and Dorman were fired in a nearly-unanimous vote following an almost three-hour closed session of the county board at a special meeting on April 16. Both were accused of improperly accessing emails and other data for political purposes. Details of the allegations came out after the unsealing of a large number of documents relating to a two-year investigation into possible corruption within the county administration office. County officials allege Hulme and Dorman spied on other county office holders and obtained access to sensitive criminal legal matters that are not under the authority of Madison County government. In an affidavit, the two accused of spying on judges, the Madison County Public Defenders Office and the Madison County States Attorneys Office. The lawsuit states Hulme and Dorman received official notices of termination on April 27, but the mailing included no findings of fact of the alleged misconduct. The two were not given notice of the accusations before the meeting, but merely were given notice that a hearing was to be held at a certain time and place, the suit states. The lawsuit claims they were denied to have a lawyer present and to examine witnesses. The suit also states the termination process did not follow county rules because County Chairman Kurt Prenzler did not vote and did not sign the resolution. Madison County has filed a motion to dismiss a suit filed by two fired employees who claim they did not receive a fair hearing. The countys motion claims Hulme and Dorman were given a chance to file a grievance to state their side of the story but failed to do so. Hulme was supervisor of administration; Dorman was director of information technology. India can use the Aadhaar model to create a colossal vaccination programme encompassing 3-5 million people daily to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, opines Nandan Nilekani, Infosys Co-founder and the former chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, or UIDAI. Backing the idea of replicating the Aadhaar model, he explains that since it was created to enlist 1.5 million people a day, a mass vaccination system can be easily ensured to vaccinate 3.5 million Indians a day. Nilekani said that if India gets "50-60 per cent vaccination", it can "reach vaccine-induced herd immunity and that would be the longer-term solution, I mean 4-5 months from now," The Economic Times reported. Also Read: Coronavirus vaccine: Army, frontline workers may get it first; COVAXIN to be ready by year end Nilekani suggested that the government must ensure that "everybody gets a digital certificate with the date of vaccination, name of the vaccine, through which vendor and at what location." Nilekani reckoned that authorities need to continue testing, "with contact-tracing and quarantining" so that COVID-19 doesn't "flare up". He further said that "we are fortunate that India is the vaccine capital of the world" and that by January 2021 "you should see at least a couple of vaccines in the market". Exuding confidence in the Serum Institute of India (SII) and other companies, Nilekani said that these (companies) are capable of making a billion vaccines or more, "and six to seven such companies" are already doing "domestic research or licensing". Also Read: Coronavirus pandemic led to revival of technology, expertise, says Nandan Nilekani He added that these firms will be able to "make 100 million vaccines a month", and even if some of them are used by other countries, India will "have a lot more choices." However, Nilekani underscored the big "if" in the implementation of the vaccination programme the way he described it, adding that the government must get "vaccination agencies certified and approved by the government with trained people". He highlighted that if the programme is designed well then "I don't see why we can't create a system to vaccinate 3-10 million people a day." Nilekani also underlined that "every month that we lose on vaccination will further impact the economy" and getting the population vaccinated as effectively as possible at the earliest opportunity with the best digital infrastructure is supercritical. He said that "it's about execution" and the government needs to create a competent system around it to speedily inoculate its population. WASHINGTON A small number of U.S. troops were injured this week during a skirmish with Russian forces in northeastern Syria, American officials said on Wednesday, underscoring the risk of simmering tensions between the two rival powers in a hotly contested part of the country. Two U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational details, said the injuries were a result of a collision between Russian and American vehicles, and not any exchange of fire. The officials said four troops were showing mild concussion-like symptoms and were receiving medical attention at their base in Syria. Videos of the encounter that emerged on Twitter on Wednesday appeared to show Russian and Americans vehicles speeding in an open field, with a Russian vehicle ramming an American vehicle, and a Russian helicopter flying low over U.S. forces. The altercation, which happened on Tuesday, is the latest clash between Russian and American ground patrols in northeastern Syria after the United States withdrew from much of that area before a Turkish cross-border offensive last fall. Whatever well-intentioned efforts Waterloo Regional Police have made to root out anti-Black racism in their ranks, the problem persists. And new data unearthed by Record reporter Jeff Outhit provides fresh evidence this is so. Outhits research shows that while fewer people are being documented in the regional police departments database than just a few years ago, a disproportionately high percentage of the people being documented are still Black. This should not be sloughed off as a statistical anomaly. It points, in its own way, to a systemic racism that regional police Chief Bryan Larkin admits exists in policing. It explains why so many Black people in this community feel singled out and embittered. And it underlines why deep, fundamental and structural changes in policing are in order. More sensitivity training or mandating body cameras simply wont cut it. Reporter Outhit has found that in the bad old days of carding or street checks, regional police were four times more likely to stop Black people and ask their identity without laying charges than they were white people. That practice was widely condemned as a tool for harassing Black people. In response, the Ontario government introduced tighter restrictions for street checks provincewide in 2017. But progress can be a turtle crawling uphill. Regional police effectively abandoned street checks in favour of a tighter procedure they call intelligence notes which involves entering someones name into the police database after a complaint, tip or police interaction with the person. And, on the positive side, fewer names are being documented three a day since 2018 compared with 17 a day in the years between 2006 and 2015. Yet Black people are still four times more likely than white people to be named in documented notes. The blunt assessment of Black MPP Laura Mae Lindo, who represents the riding of Kitchener Centre, is that Black bodies are still seen as criminal. And sad to say, a lot of local Black people will agree with her. Moreover, the overrepresentation of Black people in intelligence notes needs to be understood in the greater context of Black people in Canada today. Whether the subject is education, health care or employment, they fare worse than the rest of our society. None of this will be easily changed try as we all must. Regional Chair Karen Redman has confirmed the local police board will discuss intelligence notes on Sept. 9, with an eye on hiring experts to mine the data. As welcome as that pledge may be, the experts should examine a broad range of race-based statistics. Whos being arrested? Whos charged? Whos subject to the use of force? And who benefits from the diversion programs that avoid criminal convictions and incarceration? This community should have the courage to answer these questions. Our police should be brave enough to imagine new ways to perform what is admittedly a vital and difficult service. Theres a strong argument that police should stop keeping a database of names when no one has been charged. In addition, they should consider making police surveillance of this community a lower priority than it is today. Chair Redman, Chief Larkin and others may fear that such changes could limit the ability of police to serve and protect the citizens of Waterloo Region. But before grappling with such concerns, they should realize how much damage is being done to the fabric of this region as well as law enforcement within it when police antagonize and alienate its Black community. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Senior Vice President for Legal Sector Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. has tendered his resignation, while the state agency's President and CEO Ricardo Morales is set to step down on Wednesday amid ongoing investigations of corruption and fraud in the state agency. Del Rosario said he resigned on Monday following the decision of Ombudsman Samuel Martires earlier this month to place him under a six-month preventive suspension without pay amid an ongoing probe. "As I cannot afford to be unemployed for the next 6 months, and understanding that the Corporation would need an SVP Legal in these trying times, I have tendered my irrevocable resignation effective August 24, 2020. This was a painful decision," he said in a statement sent on Wednesday. Del Rosario was named by Senator Panfilo Lacson as among the PhilHealth officials who are said to have been manipulating the financial records of PhilHealth through a "deeply-rooted mafia syndicate" despite changes in leadership. Meanwhile, Morales said in a radio interview that he will submit his resignation on Wednesday following the advice of President Rodrigo Duterte, who noticed his unstable health condition. The President took note last night of Morales on-and-off health situation, and stated that it would be best for the latter and for PhilHealth to give up his post during these critical times for the agency, " Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday. Related: Duterte wants PhilHealth chief Morales to resign over health issues Guevarra Morales on August 10 said he filed for medical leave as he had been undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. Two days later, he suddenly left a House probe on PhilHealth issues, citing his medical condition. Duterte has been pressed to sack Morales for months now after allegations of corruption and fraudulent schemes within the state insurer cropped up in June. But he has refused to fire the former military officer pending solid proof. The President ordered a multi-agency task force to investigate the alleged irregularities within PhilHealth. Based on its ongoing investigation, it has identified the "centers of fraud" in the agency. Guevarra whose agency leads the investigation team said they plan to recommend structural reforms and a possible partial or even total reorganization of the state health insurer. The Justice Secretary said that as of the moment, the probe team has been zeroing in on four specific areas which may have had links to the alleged fraud and irregularities within the agency. These include PhilHealths information technology (IT) system, legal sector, Interim Reimbursement Mechanism or IRM, and its financial management. CNN Philippines correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report. Dear Heloise: When my brown sugar turned into hard lumps, I put it in the microwave and it softened, temporarily. I decided to put the hardened sugar in plastic resealable bowls with lids, and surprise! It softened right up and was ready to use. Anna in New York One-pot chicken Dear Heloise: I'm looking for an easy, all-in-one chicken recipe. Do you have one I can try? Gayle in Tennessee Gayle, I have one that is a favorite with my readers. Here it is. You'll need: 1 teaspoon oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup diced potato (1/2-inch cubes) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons chopped celery 1 cup water 1 bay leaf 1/8 teaspoon thyme Freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 cup canned peas 2 (3-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts Whether they are old enough to understand advanced calculus or young enough to need help with spelling, students in the Cy-Fair area are preparing to go, or are already, back to school either in-person or through a computer. Lone Star College-CyFair Vice President of Administrative Services Theodore Louie and Director of Innovation and Global Strategy for Montessori Preschool at Copperfield Kevin Kalra were the guest speakers for the Aug. 25 virtual meeting of the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce Community Health Committee, discussing how a preschool and college environment will handle beginning a semester with the current COVID-19 pandemic. Aid for students: Lone Star College-Houston North to get $300,000 to provide financial assistance for students affected by the pandemic Kalra said Montessori Preschool is exceeding CDC guidelines, taking temperature of staff and students on entry and placing students six feet apart, but emphasized that parents need to play their part as well. Were sanitizing both before and after the children come to school, Kalra said. The most important factor for the success of any kind of proactive measure is a responsible community thats within the school. You need a group of people that take the pandemic seriously that are taking preventative measures in their own homes. You need to find a way for this community to come together around a common set of principles to protect each other. Meanwhile, Lone Star College-CyFair is starting the semester with half of their classes fully online, 25 percent both in-person and online and 25 percent of classes in-person only. All on-campus students will be provided personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer will be in all rooms, which are cleaned between classes and deep cleaned weekly. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston-area colleges close, switch to remote learning ahead of Hurricane Laura We basically started classes back in May; we brought in certain classes that cannot be taught online, Louie said. Thats basically nursing, firefighters as well as paramedics. We also have the students and staff self-complete a health declaration form, we wipe down the space every day and then sanitize the whole building once a week. We also provide PPE for the students because of our size. Were pretty lucky with the support of the system. Half of the furniture in each classroom has been taken out and all buildings will have a checkpoint where people will be required to take their temperature and answer a health screening questionnaire. What we found is when we started in May once we found somebody who reportedly had COVID-19, were able to contact trace the people in the building, in the classroom and email those people to go into self-quarantine, Louie said. Montessori Preschools will also take temperatures for everyone entering the building, replacing rugs with socially distanced squares made with blue tape in order to keep the space sanitary. A bell will also be rung every 15-30 minutes to remind students to wash their hands. Each classroom is a separate environment and we do our best to not mix the teachers or the students during the day to ensure that if there is someone who tests positive in a room it will not affect the children or the teachers in the other, Louie said. Both LSC-CyFair and Montessori Preschool would conduct contact tracing for each person who signed in or was in the same area as a person who may have COVID-19. LSC-CyFair will have face shields and clear face masks for students who may have hearing disabilities as well as mics for students to hear teachers better behind their required masks. Kalra reminded business owners that COVID-19 is not the only hardship facing Texas schools, naming underfunding and work to be done at the governmental level. What businesses need to do is begin using their voice, Kalra said. This year is so critical. They need to use their voice, they need to encourage their employees to vote, they need to encourage their customers to vote. They need to participate in larger social campaigns about the importance of voting and advocating to our state representatives. chevall.pryce@chron.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - Pedro Resources Ltd. (TSXV: PED.H) ("Pedro" or the "Company") announces the resignation of Mr. Randy Koroll as the Interim Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Koroll for his contributions to the Company and wishes him every success in his future endeavors. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Fiona Fitzmaurice, CPA; ACCA; BA as the new Chief Financial Officer or the Company. Ms. Fitzmaurice has over 15 years of financial experience with private and public companies. She has been responsible for all aspects of finance, treasury and tax functions with current emphasis in the mining and resource exploration sector. Ms. Fitzmaurice is a valuable addition to the management strength of Pedro Resources. In addition, the Company announces that current Director, Wesley Thompson, will be serving as Business Development advisor. Mr. Thompson is an experienced investor and advisor to junior resource companies in the areas of investor relations, marketing, and raising capital. Brian Stecyk President 1-780-953-0111 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 Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the timing of future exploration work or drilling, and the expansion of the mineralization. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Gold Rush Cariboo Inc.., including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration results and estimates, currency fluctuations, dependency upon regulatory approvals, the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing and exploration risk. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62581 Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that if he wins the election, his administration will ensure that Ukraine receives the necessary economic and military support, including lethal weapons. "As President, I will make it clear to the Kremlin that it must end its aggression toward and occupation of Ukraine. A Biden-Harris administration will ensure that Ukraine gets the economic and military support that it needs, including lethal weapons, while urging Ukraine to pursue the essential reforms that are vital to its success. Together, we will work toward the celebration of Ukraines independence day as a peaceful, whole, sovereign, democratic, and prosperous country," Biden said in a statement on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, posted on his website on Monday, August 24. Biden said that As a Senator and as Vice President, I strongly supported Ukraines ongoing quest to become a modern, democratic European state, in which all citizens can live in peace and prosperity. "I saw first-hand the progress Ukraine has made over the course of my six visits to Ukraine as Vice President, and I know from the conversations I had with Ukrainian leaders and average citizens the difficulties of these last six years, as Ukraine has been fighting a two-front war, against Russia in the east and for rule of law at home," Biden said. The owners of Lonzerottis Italia Restaurant took advantage of the closure time during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to spruce up the restaurants bar area with more than just additional seating. The area now features a moving model train set and a large-scale mural depicting destinations of the passenger train that once ran from the St. Louis and Alton area to Chicago, stopping in Jacksonville along the way. Over the years, I wanted a mural or something there, said John Whitney, Lonzerottis manager. I didnt know what I wanted, I just knew I wanted something. As part of the renovations, what used to be a stand-up bar now is lower to accommodate patrons who prefer to sit at the bar. With access to the full menu and while waiting for dinner, patrons now can enjoy a model train. Owner Frank Whitney built the oval train track that spans the bar area from east to west, taking time to build the framework and tracks that hover above the rack of bar glasses. It took me about a month I work slowly, he said with a laugh. Knowing nothing about model trains, friends and family advised Frank Whitney about what type of train to get; he did know he wanted a BNSF engine to parallel the real freight trains that still run on tracks near the restaurant. I looked everyhere for that specific engine, he said. Know where I found it? Kohls. Dru Fernandes, a longtime Whitney family friend, painted the 30-inch by 144-inch mural and worked with the owners to come up with the theme. I did it in my garage, Fernandes said. It looks so much better here than in my garage. The mural, done in acrylics on stretched canvas over a wood frame, hangs above the bar and shows the skylines of both St. Louis and Chicago with the words Chicago Alton RR in the center. I based the skylines off images, but I know John wanted to have the Sears Tower in it, Fernandes said. For Frank Whitney, a highlight of having the mural up is the fact that it was painted by a family friend; he is quick to point out Fernandes talents. She really is a professional and, once she gets an idea, she finishes it, he said. During the bar renovations, the Whitneys found some treasures from the days when passenger trains would stop on the east side of the building at 600 E. State St. that now houses the restaurant. Old tickets, schedules and old playbills from the original Illinois Theater were tucked in between pieces of wood. We pulled them out like little pieces of paper, John Whitney said. The items still are in great condition and the Whitneys plan to have them cleaned up and preserved. Lonzerottis is serving both lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday and dinner on Saturday. Everybody is loving it, John Whitney said of customers reactions to the mural and model train. As excited as they are about the restaurants renovations, the owners are taking social-distancing precautions to make sure their guests and staff are safe, the said. They have done everything to be safe, Fernandes said. Advertisement Brad Pitt was seen arriving at France's Le Castellet Airport with multi-lingual German model and Angelina Jolie lookalike Nicole Poturalski on Wednesday. The actor, 56, and the cover star, 27, stepped out of a private jet as they flew from LAX to Charles de Gaulle before travelling to the smaller airport. The screen star, who shut down claims he's dating actress Alia Shawkat earlier this year, is believed to be staying at Chateau Miraval, an estate he purchased for $67 million in 2011 with his ex-wife Angelina. New romance? Brad Pitt, left, was seen arriving at France 's Le Castellet Airport with multi-lingual German model and Angelina Jolie lookalike Nicole Poturalski, right, on Wednesday Hollywood superstar Brad sported a protective face mask while wearing his signature flat cap, a white T-shirt and khaki green trousers. He looked stylish as he prepared to spend time in the South of France with Nicole, who he jetted straight in from Los Angeles to meet up with him in Paris, before they embarked on the last leg of their trip. The US edition of OK! magazine has quoted an eyewitness saying that before boarding their private jet, the pair were seen acting like 'loved up teenagers'. 'They were kissing and Brad was being super attentive to her,' added the source. 'He was in a semi public place but didnt seem to mind people seeing him. Shes a real beauty and obviously a lot younger than him.' What a stunner: Nicole Poturalski, 27, is a successful fashion model from Germany, who has graced the cover of ELLE and is currently signed to Next Management in Los Angeles and A Management in her native Germany Bitter split: The TV and film star's divorce proceedings with ex Angelina, 45, have stretched into its fourth year (pictured in 2009) Who's who? The dark blonde beauty, left, strikes an uncanny resemblance to the screen star's former spouse (pictured right in 2019) Fancy residence: The award-wining screen star is believed to be staying at his sprawling luxury estate, Chateau Miraval The star's palatial 35-room home located in the village of Correns in the South of France is where he and his ex Angelina, 45, have vacationed in the past and tied the knot in 2014. They purchased the 1,100-acre estate for $60 million and are thought to have spent between $10 million and $12 million renovating it. Little is known about the nature of the beauty's friendship with Brad, but she frequently updates her 101,000 social media followers with sizzling snaps from her high-profile fashion shoots. The bombshell, who has a son, has graced the cover of ELLE and is currently signed to Next Management in Los Angeles and A Management in Germany. Nicole, who enjoyed a sun-soaked trip to Ibiza last month, is believed to be based in Berlin. Jet: The Hollywood heartthrob was seen arriving at Le Bourget airport ahead of boarding a private jet to the South of France Signature style: White a face mask obscured much of his face, the Hollywood star was easily identifiable by his signature style You can leave your hat on: As he made his way across the airfield, the father-of-six cautiously placed a hand over his headgear Safety: Putting safety first, the star made his way onto the aircraft donning a white face mask, amid the COVID-19 pandemic She has brains as well as beauty and her 10 years on the catwalks of the fashion world has helped her become multi-lingual and she can speak in five different languages. Nicole comes from Bergkamen, Germany, which is in the old industrial Ruhr region and is of Polish heritage. On her Facebook page, the fashion star, who is a favourite for British designer Vivienne Westwood, reveals she is single and listed her former city as Warsaw. Her career has taken her to fashion shows in New York, Paris and Milan and she has been a cover girl for ELLE, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. At 13, she wanted to be a marine biologist but was apparently spotted by a talent scout in Disneyland Paris and her parents agreed to allow her to model. Impressive: The stunner completed her Abitur - German A levels - and founded an organisation devoted to helping sharks Casually cool: Donning a green shirt over a white top, the actor carried a taupe travel bag as he was guided onto the aircraft Boarding: The 56-year-old Fight Club star carefully made his way onto the aircraft as he prepared to jet off for his getaway Stylish arrival: Brad's companion followed closely behind him, looking effortlessly stylish in a black jacket with beige trousers Sizzling: Little is known about the nature of the beauty's friendship with Brad, but she frequently updates her 101,000 social media followers with sizzling snaps from her high-profile fashion shoots But talented and beautiful model still managed to complete her Abitur - German A levels - and founded an organisation devoted to helping sharks. While she boasts a long list of accomplishments, the model is particularly proud of her son, Emil, who makes regular appearances on her Instagram account. In February, Nicole raised eyebrows as she shared a cryptic post of herself strolling along Beverly Hills' upscale Rodeo Drive. Who is Nicole Poturalski? Meet Brad's companion By Allan Hall Nicole Poturalski has brains as well as beauty and her 10 years on the catwalks of the fashion world has helped her become multi-lingual and she can speak in five languages. A Capricorn, whose birthday falls on January 2, the brunette beauty hails from Bergkamen, Germany, which is in the old industrial Ruhr region and is of Polish heritage. On her Facebook page, she reveals she is single and listed her former city as Warsaw. Her modelling career has taken her to fashion shows in New York, Paris and Milan and she has been a cover girl for ELLE, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. She is also a favourite for British designer Vivienne Westwood. At 13 she wanted to be a marine biologist but was apparently spotted by a talent scout in Disneyland Paris and her parents agreed to allow her to model. But she still completed her Abitur - German A levels - and founded an organisation devoted to helping sharks. She has long gone by the first name of Nico. While she boasts a long list of accomplishments, the model is particularly proud of her son, Emil, who makes regular appearances on her Instagram account. Advertisement Captioning the image, which showed her flashing a broad smile while donning a black tank top and a denim miniskirt, she wrote: 'Missing my strolls with my Love.' Several weeks later, in March, she alluded to her 'love' once again in another post. Next to a snap of herself wearing grey lounge wear as she clutched a drinking glass, she wrote: 'Saturdays these days for me is self reflection, reading books spending time with my better half.' While she shared the posts with candid accompanying captions, Nicole didn't name or tag the person in question. When contacted by MailOnline, a representative for Brad Pitt said: 'We dont comment on personal relationships.' MailOnline has contacted Nicole Poturalski's representatives for further comment. Meanwhile, it has been claimed in a new report that Brad is 'furious' at his ex Angelina for allegedly eyeing a move from the US to the UK with six of their five children. The former Hollywood couple share Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and 12-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. And the purported move would make it difficult for the star to spend time with his children, as he is based thousands of miles away in Los Angeles. A source told The Sun: 'Brad has joint custody of their six children and was upset after seeing reports Angelina was planning a move to the UK. 'In his eyes it was like a suggestion that hed somehow lost custody when that couldnt be further from the truth. If Angelina wanted to leave the country with the children for a permanent move, shed need to go to court and get permission. 'Brad knows a lot of it is speculation but Angelina has spoken about wanting to leave America before and seeing stuff like this leads to more questions.' Their eldest son, Maddox, is spending much of his time in South Korea, where he is a university student. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for comment. The TV and film star's divorce proceedings with ex Angelina, 45, have stretched into a fourth year. Earlier this month, the Lara Croft actress requested to disqualify Judge John W. Ouderkirk, who married the pair in 2014, for 'failing to disclose' his working relationship with one of her former spouse's attorneys. Love: In February, Nicole raised eyebrows as she shared a snap of herself along with a caption about her mysterious 'love' Another: Several weeks later, in March, she alluded to her 'love' once again in another post as she mentioned her 'better half' The Ad Astra frontman and the One and Only Ivan star's custody trial is set to begin in October, over a year after their divorce was finalised. In March, sources claimed Brad has not dated anyone since he split from Angelina in 2016 following a two-year marriage and a 12-year relationship. 'He doesn't feel any need to get back on the dating scene right now - his focus is elsewhere, they told TMZ. In January, an insider denied rumours the thespian and his first wife Jennifer Aniston had rekindled their romantic relationship following a string of alleged secret dates. The exes - who were married from 2000 until 2005 - were reported to have rekindled their relationship before their cosy appearance at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. In good company: The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star was accompanied by flight staff as he headed off Low-key: They stepped out of a private jet as they flew from LAX to Charles de Gaulle before travelling to the smaller airport Grand abode: Chateau Miraval, the French estate Brad purchased for $67 million in 2011 with his estranged wife Angelina However, the reports were shut down at the time as the source told MailOnline: 'There is absolutely no truth to this'. They caused a stir when they were spotted holding hands and embracing at the star-studded SAG Awards. Following the fan hysteria, an insider close to the Friends actress allegedly claimed she had 'forgiven' him, amid speculation that Brad may have been unfaithful to her with Angelina. After six years off the dating scene, Jennifer began seeing actor Justin Theroux, 48, eventually tying the knot in 2014. But the couple separated in 2017, with Jennifer keeping a single profile since then. During his time in the limelight, the hunk has dated actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Robin Givens, Sinitta and Thandie Newton, and also been romantically linked to Sienna Miller and Kate Hudson. Drama: The TV and film star's divorce proceedings with ex Angelina, 45, have stretched into a fourth year (pictured in 2015) 'We're just friends': The thespian shut down claims he was dating actress Alia Shawkat (pictured in 2019) earlier this year 'No truth to this': In January, a source denied rumours he and his first wife Jennifer Aniston had rekindled their romantic relationship after their SAG Awards reunion (pictured) Kansas City police arrest suspected serial 'drink and dash' man Kansas City, MO - A man suspected of skipping out on multiple bar tabs around the KC Metro was arrested on Sunday at the Tower Tavern for 'drinking and dashing', according to KCPD. Police say his name is Jeffrey McCart. His arrest was captured on video outside Tower Tavern at 301 E. Whilst COVID-19 is creatingacross the globe this town indulges in bar talk as a substitute for news.Accordingly, a local bar scene update on a suspect who has earned a bad reputation across the metro. Read more: Ngati Rangitihi iwi members have voted overwhelmingly in support of the Deed of Settlement to settle historical claims for breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Mana o Ngati Rangitihi Trust chairman Leith Comer says he is extremely pleased with the results and the way in which iwi members have recognised the importance of taking part in the four-week ratification process. After more than a decade, to be able to reach this critical milestone, is truly a special moment for all the descendants of Ngati Rangitihi. On behalf of the trust, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who voted and played a part, including our iwi members, and our negotiators and trustees who have worked tirelessly for this settlement. Voting results show 92 per cent of those who voted support the Ngati Rangitihi Deed of Settlement. The Ngati Rangitihi Deed of Settlement comprises 500 pages of significant detail, which includes an historic account, Crown acknowledgements of how and when it breached Te Tiriti, and the Crowns apology. It sets out the return of more than 500 hectares of culturally significant lands, relationship agreements with Government agencies, and an entity to restore and protect Tarawera Awa, with $500,000 of funding, as well as Financial Redress of $11.3 million. Leith also acknowledges all Ngati Rangitihi claimants who submitted Waitangi Tribunal claims for Te Tiriti o Waitangi breaches by the Crown. Our mokopuna will benefit in the future, but we must not forget those who started the journey for us. He says this settlement will help achieve key aspirations for the Iwi. This settlement means we will be rightfully acknowledged as the kaitiaki and owners of our whenua, and we will help lead the way in the restoration of Tarawera awa our life force. The settlement also enables strong relationships with neighbouring iwi, including Tuhourangi, Ngati Awa and Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty), as Ngati Rangitihi Iwi move forward into the future. Leith says it was important to communicate the detail of the settlement to iwi members so that they fully understood what was on the table to vote on, and why. This was done through a comprehensive voting information pack, regular panui (newsletters), information hui, social media and livestreaming. Due to COVID-19 resurfacing in the middle of our ratification, we were unable to carry out some of our engagement kanohi ki te kanohi but we quickly adapted by holding livestream sessions so whanau could still ask their questions. The voting results are now with the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little and the Minister for Maori Development Nanaia Mahuta, who will decide if the results show sufficient support. There is no doubt in our minds that we have fulfilled the criteria required by the Crown the ratification process followed was robust, and the results are positive, with 35.85 per cent registered adult members voting. If the results receive ministerial approval, a signing ceremony will be held later this year. We look forward to having all Ngati Rangitihi uri join in the celebration, says Leith. Once the settlement is signed, and then enacted through Parliament, Te Mana, as the approved Post-Settlement Governance Entity, will receive the settlement redress. There is also still some work to do this part of our mahi has been about getting the settlement across the line, and the next part after the signing will be electing new trustees to take the trust into the future. These new trustees will be responsible for developing the future strategic plan of the trust and to establish social, cultural and economic developments that will benefit all the descendants of Ngati Rangitihi. We encourage our people, especially our rangatahi, our future leaders, to get involved in this next stage of the journey. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen giving his live address to the 2020 Republican National Convention from Israel on a TV at the White House in Washington By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised President Donald Trump's foreign policy record in a Republican National Convention speech on Tuesday that Democrats criticized as a breach of protocol and perhaps the law. Speaking in a recorded video from a Jerusalem rooftop during an official trip, Pompeo, a Trump appointee widely believed to harbor presidential aspirations, said the president had exposed the "predatory aggression" of the Chinese Communist Party, while defeating Islamic State militants and lowering the threat from North Korea. Even before he spoke, critics pounced, saying Pompeo had broken with decades of protocol in using his appointed office for partisan purposes. The chairman of a Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee announced on Tuesday an investigation into whether Pompeo's appearance broke federal law and regulations. "The Trump administration and Secretary Pompeo have shown a gross disregard not only of basic ethics, but also a blatant willingness to violate federal law for political gain," Joaquin Castro, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's oversight subcommittee, said in a statement. In a letter to Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Castro said Pompeo's appearance was "highly unusual and likely unprecedented," and "may also be illegal." A State Department official told a pool reporter traveling with Pompeo that the secretary was appearing in his personal capacity and no State Department personnel or resources were involved. John Bellinger, the top State Department lawyer under former Republican Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said the agency had long barred senior political appointees from partisan activity, including attending party conventions, even if they might be permitted under the 1939 Hatch Act limiting the political activities of federal employees. Pompeo's address also appeared to violate his own instructions restating the department's prohibition on political activities - which applies to official and private time - sent to personnel in a July 24 cable reviewed on Monday by Reuters. [nL1N2FQ206] Story continues In his letter to Biegun, Castro wrote that it was "readily apparent" from documents in his panel's possession that Pompeo's appearance may violate the Hatch Act, federal regulations implementing that law and federal rules. He asked that Biegun answer a series of questions by no later than Sept. 1 and arrange a briefing for lawmakers by the same date. In his remarks to the Republican convention, Pompeo described what he called Trump's foreign policy successes, including the president's decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and holding talks with North Korean leadership. "The primary constitutional function of the national government is ensuring that your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, to work, to learn and to worship as they choose," Pompeo said. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Heather Timmons and Peter Cooney) The United States had a "modest" lead over China in artificial intelligence as of early this year, mainly because of its edge in the advanced semiconductor sector, according to a US policy think tank. But Beijing's continued focus on developing AI combined with the country's vast population had substantially narrowed the gap, the Rand Corporation said in a report. "A strong semiconductor industry is an essential foundation for good, solid AI research," it said, adding that China was also catching up in the semiconductor industry with massive government investment. "This lead leaves no room for complacency," the report said. The study - commissioned by the US Air Force after Beijing unveiled an ambitious plan three years ago to become a world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030 - compared the two countries' AI strategies and strengths for both general and military purposes. It was presented to the US military in early 2019 but only publicly released last month. While China lagged behind the US in the general environment for innovation - such as its legal system and freedom of the press - the study noted that it had a clear advantage when it came to big data sets, which are crucial for developing AI applications. China's population is about four times that of the US, meaning technology firms could potentially draw on a much bigger database than those in America. The Rand report also identified the continuity of political leadership and its whole-of-regime approach as giving China an edge over the US in AI since it allowed for "an impressive concentration of resources and focus of effort" - though it said that advantage could be eroded by bureaucracy and corruption. On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told academics in Beijing that new growth driven by technological innovation would be a key part of the country's next long-term economic plan. "We should leverage our socialist system's advantage in concentrating resources to get major undertakings done, and achieve breakthroughs in key and core technologies," Xi said during the meeting, according to state media. Story continues Although Beijing has toned down its "military-civilian fusion" programme - in which AI plays a key role - the government has been sponsoring AI applications in other areas, such as infrastructure development, health care, and domestic security. "Ultimately, the long-term prospects for maintaining a lead over the Chinese military ... depend on the ability of the United States to keep its edge over China in AI at the national level," the Rand report said. It added that if China's AI plan succeeded, it would "achieve a substantial military advantage over the US and its allies, with significant negative strategic implications for the US". The report also said China had fostered collaboration between Chinese and foreign academics, resulting in a significant increase in joint publications of AI research results that were accessible to US researchers. "Many prominent scientists in the field appear to have close ties with both the United States and China," it said, adding that US and Chinese investments were entangled in growing cross-border start-ups until 2017. "The decoupling of the US and Chinese tech sectors will provide a good test of how well the United States and China can compete separated," the report said. China is catching up in the semiconductor industry with massive government investment, according to the report. Photo: Shutterstock alt=China is catching up in the semiconductor industry with massive government investment, according to the report. Photo: Shutterstock "The [People's Republic of China] is certainly able to funnel considerable funds into AI research, but can AI in the PRC thrive in a vacuum, isolated from the US tech sector?" the report said. Washington has sanctioned dozens of Chinese firms and institutions, including companies involved in AI and facial recognition systems, because of their alleged roles in hi-tech surveillance of the Muslim Uygur minority in the Xinjiang region. It also cut off Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies' access to advanced chips last week, as the two countries battle for control of the next generation of mobile networks. The report concluded that the US military should focus on three areas - converting AI technology for defence use, assessing the effectiveness and suitability of such technology, and adapting it for operational strategies. It said the American culture of being more accepting of risk and more encouraging of initiative and innovation gave the US an edge over China in those areas. 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. Earlier this month, the Great Outdoors Act was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump. This is an enormous achievement. It provides permanent financial support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, using a small fraction of offshore oil and gas drilling revenues. The backlog of maintenance in our parks will be addressed with $9.5 billion funded over five years. Going forward, it creates permanent annual funding of $900 million. You might wonder, what is the big deal? Well, 5 presidents, 9 secretaries of the interior, and 10 secretaries of agriculture have worked on legislation to accomplish fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, noted Interior Secretary David Bernhardt Tuesday. Only one president has gotten that done. President Donald Trump. The passage of this act during the pandemic is a needed respite. The outdoors does more than give us a place to stretch our legs and take in the wonders of Gods creation; it also gives us a chance to connect with others in a way thats all too foreign in todays technology-focused world. They are among the few places we can go and gather (6 feet away) while staying safe from COVID-19. Protected land is important for our well-being. According to Dr. Qing Li, author of Forest Bathing: How Trees can Help you Find Health and Happiness, even a small amount of time in nature can have an impact on our health. ... It will bring you into the present moment and de-stress and relax you. This we all need, especially now. I know this from experience. My family moved to rural Georgia when I was young. Some of my earliest memories include canoeing down the Flint River, camping in the Okefenokee Swamp and hiking up Brasstown Bald Mountain. Well, to be honest, I would hike a little, and then my father would carry me on his shoulders. Not long after I moved to Georgia, the Trust for Public Land (where I now serve on the Alabama Advisory Board and Georgia Advisory Board) purchased five homes along Auburn Avenue, near downtown Atlanta. These properties form the core of The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park Act, which was long championed by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2018. Without the work of the Trust for Public Land, and the LWCF, this and other important national treasures could have been lost. While most people know my father as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, few know that, before he became a congressman, he was a professor of environmental studies at West Georgia College. Yes, he sported thick, black glasses, turtlenecks and a plaid smoking jacket that my mother made for him. Our time as a family outside was a respite from the crazy world of the 1970s. Since the 70s, over 1,000 acres have been saved and added to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. My dads love for nature led him to fly back to Washington to testify for federal funding after leaving the speakership. The $25 million allocated by the federal government was matched with $25 million from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. This money, combined with additional private, corporate and public funding, led to the investment of more than $150 million in land around our river, more land for people to use. The Trust for Public Land helped kick-start the Atlanta BeltLine and is now working on The Chattahoochee RiverLands, a 100-mile greenway. This exciting project will provide additional land and enhanced access for people. Securing permanent funding for LWCF is key to making this project a reality. A big step forward was made with the signing of the Great Outdoors Act. The act will allow us to protect public access to our nations parks and public lands, for sportsmen, boaters, hikers and families. We are renewing our strong national commitment to conserving the wonders of Gods creation, President Trump said this year. One of the most important ways we uphold this tradition is by protecting our priceless national parks and our public lands. This marks an enormous step in creating a better nation for future generations. It was done with bipartisan support in the House and Senate and championed by President Trump. While partisans and the news media tend to amplify voices that are at odds with one another, in the Great Outdoors Act we have a clear example that we can accomplish great things when we work together. Jackie Gingrich Cushman is a columnist with Creators Syndicate. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More COVID-19 has been like a death knell for airlines. Scores of them, around the world, have filed for bankruptcy. But what if COVID-19 is also a good time to start an airline? Sanjay Mandavia thinks so. The pilot-turned aviation entrepreneur is going ahead with his plans to launch airline Flybig. While the original plan was for the regional airline to start operations in April, it got delayed because of the COVID-19 disruption and the ensuing lockdown. The new launch date is in October this year. "The process to get Air Operator's Certificate, or AoC is in the final document stage. The DGCA, the aviation regulator, and the Civil Aviation Ministry have been helpful. We hope to start operations in October," Flybig CEO Srinivas Rao told Moneycontrol. The airline's first aircraft, an ATR, is at present parked in Australia and will fly to India in September. One more aircraft is in the works. "We plan to start operations with two aircraft, and eventually expand it to a fleet of about 20 aircraft. We will be headquartered out of Indore," said Rao, a former pilot who was also part of the senior management at Kingfisher Airlines. He later worked in Eithad, where he was last Instructor Trainer. For Mandavia, Flybig is a critical part in his aviation ambitions. The other part is that of Jet Airways, which is going through insolvency proceedings. Mandavia's two firms - Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC) and Big Charter - have joined hands with Dubai-based investment banking and wealth management provider Imperial Capital Investments, to bid for Jet Airways. At present, Jet Airways bankers are evaluating bids presented by the consortium, and the other party in the race, a team consisting of Kalrock Capital Partners, a UK-based financial services firm, and entrepreneur Murari Lal Jalan. Also Read : This former pilot now wants to make Jet Airways fly again Mandavia's plan is to serve the metro routes with Jet Airways, which will be fed by the regional flights operated by Flybig. While it may sound like a plan that could take off, what gives Flybig promoter and management the confidence to pull it off, especially when all the airlines in the domestic market are in the red? Lowest costs, thanks to COVID-19 Flybig's business plan is centred around the government's UDAN scheme, which encourages establishing air connectivity in tier- 2 and 3 stories and town. The scheme, which was launched in 2017, includes a government support to operators in the form of Viability Gap Funding, to make these routes attractive enough for airlines. Nearly all domestic airlines had launched UDAN flights. Flybig is not the first one to centre its business around the scheme. But most of them failed to fly for long. By the end of 2018, three out of the four regional airlines were close to shutting down. Rao acknowledges the past experience of the airlines, but is betting on the combination of Flybig's business proposition and the changes in industry dynamics, post COVID-19, to work in favour of the new airline. "The cost base is very much down now," says Rao. Lease rentals have come down by up to 15 percent, thanks to an over-supply of aircraft in the domestic and global industry. Sources in the industry added that Flybig is also in talks with HAL to buy four Dornier aircraft that can be quickly turned into cargo carrier or an air ambulance, as per needs. Talent is also easily available. While IndiGo, the largest domestic carrier, has laid off 10 percent of its workforce, all airlines have sent considerable part of there manpower on leave without pay. Not surprisingly, average salary has also nosedived as pays have been cut across the industry. Flybig, which about 70 employees, plans to increase its workforce to about 100 by the time it launches its operations. "We have already created about 5 stations," said Rao. "We are able to get the best of the talent, including senior pilots who are coming back home. In fact, the average work experience across board is 22 years," he added. Another factor that will help the newbie airline is the low fuel costs. Despite the recent hikes, ATF rates are lower from their year-ago levels. Focused on tier-2 and 3 Consumer tastes too, says Rao, have changed. "Regional tourism will take off, as consumers are reluctant to go on short haul international holidays because of the COVID-19 scare. Instead, interest in domestic tourist destinations has increased," says the CEO. That sits well with Flybig's proposition to connect smaller cities and towns. With its main base in Indore, the airlines plans to first connect to other tier-2 cities, and then the tier-3 cities in the second phase. From Indore, the airline will connect to cities like Jabalpur, Bhopal and Raipur. Later it will expand to other destinations like Ahmedabad and Nagpur. In the second phase, destinations such as Rourkela, Lanjigarh, Ujjain and Chhindwara are on the drawing board. The North-East pie is another big focus. "We will deploy seven to nine aircraft in the region," says Rao. An industry official had earlier told Moneycontrol that Flybig "is in line to operate flights in some of the regional routes, including those connecting the North-East." At present, the airline is using 'internal funds' to launch operations, and will look at raising money later, says Rao. Even as nearly all decks seem to be clear for a launch within two months, Rao underlines that the company has to be careful of changing industry dynamics."We cannot rest. We should be ready for any changes during COVID-19 and post it," he says. That has been the key piece of puzzle missing for many airlines in the past. Russian doctors deny German hospital's claim of opp. figure Navalny's poisoning Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 7:50 AM Russian doctors say tests on opposition figure Alexey Navalny's found no traces of intoxication with substances from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors, dismissing the claim by a German hospital where he has been admitted. Charite Hospital in Berlin, where Navalny was recently hospitalized, said in a statement on Monday that clinical findings indicated he had been poisoned with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors. It said the specific substance remained unknown. The 44-year-old Russian opposition figure was taken to Germany for medical treatment on Saturday. He had been taken to a hospital in Russia's Siberian city of Omsk after collapsing during a domestic flight from the city to the Russian capital of Moscow on Thursday. His plane had been forced to make an emergency landing due to the sudden deterioration in his health. Later on Monday, Omsk Chief Toxicologist Alexander Sabayev said tests on Navalny's blood samples at the Omsk hospital showed no traces of poisoning with cholinesterase inhibitors and that he did not have symptoms typical of such poisoning. "Upon his admission to the [Omsk] hospital, Alexey Navalny was tested on a wide range of narcotics, synthetic substances, psychodiletics, and medicinal substances, including cholinesterase inhibitors all tests came back negative," the Omsk Ministry of Health quoted Sabayev as saying in a press statement. "As we said earlier, we are ready to share Alexey Navalny's samples with our German colleagues for examination," Sabayev said. EU, Germany call for Russian investigation Following Charite Hospital's statement, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell urged "the Russian authorities [to] initiate an independent and transparent investigation on the poisoning of Mr. Navalny without delay." German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in a joint statement on Monday also called on Moscow to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the case. "According to the Charite medical team, the clinical examination indicates that Alexey Navalny was poisoned. Given Navalny's prominent role in the political opposition, local authorities are urged to ensure that this incident is clarified fully and in full transparency," the German officials said in the statement. "Those responsible must be probed and held accountable." The head of the anesthesiology and reanimation department at Russia's Pirogov Center, Boris Teplykh, also dismissed Charite Hospital's statement. "Well, firstly, they speak about clinical data, and not about the substance itself, which neither we nor, apparently, they have discovered at the moment. The same version was worked out by us on the first day of the patient's admission, but no confirmation was found," Teplykh said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Norfolk chicken factory has partially shut after 75 workers tested positive and hundreds of families entered self-isolation. A further 39 positive Covid-19 tests were confirmed among the workforce at Banham Poultry in Attleborough on Wednesday after 347 staff were tested. The county's director of public health, Dr Louise Smith, said it was "now being regarded as a significant national outbreak". It has sparked fears Norfolk could be the next area of the country to enter local lockdown. The cutting area of the factory is to close on Thursday morning and staff have been asked to quarantine along with their families. There have been several outbreaks at chicken factories in the UK / AFP via Getty Images Dr Smith said: We are now working with colleagues across the county, regionally and nationally to take specialist advice, including learning from other similar outbreaks in other parts of the UK. "This will assist us to quickly make decisions on what the next steps will be to prevent further transmission of the virus." Dr Smith added: "At this stage in our investigation these cases of infection are in staff who work in Banham Poultry and their households." She said the source of the outbreak has not yet been determined and there were no plans yet for a local lockdown. At least one factory staff member was taken to hospital but their conditon is not known. Other areas of the plant - which employs 1,100 people - will remain open for the time being, but Government ministers are set to assess the situation on Thursday. Norfolks Public Health team is working with the management team at Banham Poultry and colleagues at Breckland Council, Public Health England and the Department of Health. It is the latest in a line of poultry and food processing factories across the UK to experience an outbreak, which has seen hundreds of workers become infected in recent weeks. Parts of the UK remain in local lockdown - sparking fears Norfolk could be next / PA In a statement on Tuesday, Blaine van Rensburg, managing director of Banham Poultry said: The safety of our staff, customers, and the wider public is really important to us and we are working with public health authorities to make sure we are doing absolutely everything we can and following all of the correct procedures. "We have already invested in a range of procedures and protective equipment to keep our staff as safe as possible. The business remains open and operating and we are doing everything we can to prevent the further spread of the virus. Elections in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO) should be held according to a special law, but now there are no conditions for holding them, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov said. "The Parliament of Ukraine should adopt relevant special law on early elections in the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, and in accordance with this law, elections should and can be held there," Reznikov told reporters in Kyiv on Wednesday. Reznikov said that the adoption of the special bill on elections to ORDLO is mentioned in the complex of measures of the Minsk agreements, including in the law on the peculiarities of local self-government. He said that the Verkhovna Rada decree on local elections regulates the conduct of elections in the territory controlled by the government of Ukraine. "These are absolutely different documents of a legal nature with different legal consequences," the deputy prime minister said. According to him, elections in ORDLO can be held only after foreign troops are withdrawn from this territory, disarmament, demilitarization, and all illegal armed formations are withdrawn. "My position is that elections should be held in ORDLO after foreign troops have been withdrawn from there, disarmament, demilitarization, withdrawal of all illegal armed formations, the establishment of a constitutional order, Ukrainian law, according to the Ukrainian Constitution, according to Copenhagen standards, with freedom to vote, freedom of movement, political parties and completely restored government control throughout the territory," Reznikov said. He said that, according to his information, "Russian troops and their occupation fighters continue to be stationed in the territory not controlled by Ukraine, therefore, elections cannot be held there today." "As not a single OSCE monitoring mission will come there, because it is dangerous. It is clear that the Ukrainian government will not be able to give them a security guarantee, therefore, first of all, the security conditions of the Minsk agreements, which are written in paragraphs from one to four and further, are met, according to the text, then we can talk about the appointment of elections," the deputy prime minister said. A minor fire in the Kerala Secretariat's General Administration Department (Political) on August 24 has created a major political controversy in the state, with the opposition Congress demanding a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the incident, according to reports. Both Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have alleged that the fire was a deliberate bid to destroy files related to the gold smuggling case. The Opposition has been attacking the Left-led Kerala government over the seizure of around 30 kg of gold smuggled in a diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate. The NIA, customs and the Enforcement Directorate are probing the case. BJP state president K Surendran had reached the secretariat along with other workers and demanded that they be allowed inside. "Many important files were destroyed. Many files related to the gold smuggling case have been destroyed, as also those related to VVIP designation. We have decided to observe a black day on Wednesday and demand an NIA probe into the matter," Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said. Youth Congress activists and Yuva Morcha workers also organised protest marches to the secretariat which turned violent with police using water cannons to disperse them. The activists burnt tyres and effigy of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in front of the secretariat. On its part, the state government has alleged that the fire was in fact the handiwork of opposition parties. It has also appointed an expert panel to look into the incident and asked it to submit the report within a week, while the crime branch will also probe the matter. "A special team headed by Disaster Management Commissioner Kaushik has been appointed to probe the technical reason behind the fire that broke out in the secretariat, and to file the report within a week," the chief secretary's office said in a release. "Both Congress and BJP have planned to unleash violence at the state secretariat. That the leaders have come to the secretariat with a mob shows that they had prior knowledge about the fire," Industries Minister E P Jayarajan said. Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli, the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema, says Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, needs to fulfil his promise constructing the Atuabo Freeport. According to him, the people of Nzema are still waiting for the Atuabo Freeport after investors were scared away by a lawsuit initiated by some five New Patriotic Party MPs in 2014. The Vice President in 2018 at the celebration of the Kundum festival on Sunday, October 28, 2018, told the Chiefs and People of Nzema that the Akufo-Addo administration would construct the Atuabo Freeport. Since then, the government has done little to make sure that the project comes into fruition. What the Vice President came to say is something that we look forward to. This was started a long time ago before this current administration and the hopes have been up and down, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli told Citi News on Tuesday. We are still hoping because our resilience for the project is not ending. Of course, we dont have the money to do it ourselves so we still depend on promises. However, we hope that whatever the Vice President said, he is working towards it. I believe that our leaders should keep their promises when they make them. Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli added, In fact, it is something that we dont know who will construct it now but I believe that whoever wins this election should make it a priority and make sure that this happens within a short term. Our people are always happy when we have politicians come to say that they would do the harbour. We dont want it to be just a saying, but we want it done and we have reserved the land for it. Reacting to the Chiefs call, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the MP for Ellembelle, said: It is so painful that we are still talking about this Atuabo Freeport which could have easily created 5,000 jobs for the youth. But what happened is that we had Members of Parliament from the NPP side including the Western Regional Minister who is supposed to lead development in the Region going to court to oppose the project. Buah who was the Minister for Power under President John Mahama continued: However, the excitement that I have is that I have spoken with former President John Mahama who is committed to this Atuabo Freeport. What he is saying is that, if we dont do it, Ivory Coast [will] do it. We want to be the gateway for West Africas oil and gas sector, he said. The Parliament of Ghana initiated the Lonrho Atuabo Oil and Gas Services Freeport project after an agreement was passed to give Ghana 45 per cent ownership. The Freeport was expected to be completed in 2017 in order to provide one-stop oil and gas services for petroleum exploration and production activities across the Gulf of Guinea, reduce the costs and end the difficulties of oil companies seeking services from far distances. Five NPP MPs from the Western Region resisted the construction of the Atuabo oil and Gas Freeport project which was going to have a subsea fabrication base, logistics supply base, and an oil rig and vessel repair base. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The prime minister is not including his ministers and the security cabinet in important discussions, at best deigning to inform them after decisions are made. He has done it again with the UAE deal by Yossi Melman Benjamin Netanyahu and then-navy chief Eliezer Marom on a tour off Haifa, 2009. Weve gotten used to the prime minister not including his ministers and the security cabinet in important discussions, at best deigning to inform them after decisions are made, turning them into rubber stamps. But the decision this time is incredible because both Gantz and Ashkenazi arent just cabinet colleagues but former military chiefs of staff with the highest security clearance, so they were partners to some of the most important decisions life-and-death decisions by previous governments. Benjamin Netanyahus decision to exclude Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi from the consultations and decision-making on strategic issues is unsurprising but still incredible and mainly frightening. The most recent example is the peace deal with the United Arab Emirates and Netanyahus apparently tacit approval to sell U.S.-made F-35s to the UAE.Weve gotten used to the prime minister not including his ministers and the security cabinet in important discussions, at best deigning to inform them after decisions are made, turning them into rubber stamps. But the decision this time is incredible because both Gantz and Ashkenazi arent just cabinet colleagues but former military chiefs of staff with the highest security clearance, so they were partners to some of the most important decisions life-and-death decisions by previous governments. Its unsurprising because Netanyahu has done this in the past, as in the case of the submarines and naval vessels that Israel acquired, and especially when he decided, without consulting then-Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon or then-military chief Gadi Eisenkot, to approve a German companys sale of advanced submarines to Egypt. But above all, the decision not to consult his senior colleagues about whether to normalize relations with the UAE, as with the submarines to Egypt, is frightening. The prime minister is the person who makes Israels most delicate decisions. More metaphorically, we could say hes the person whose finger is on the trigger. For this reason, its even more important that a state commission of inquiry be set up to look into the case of the submarines, which according to foreign reports are designed to carry nuclear weapons, and into Netanyahus actions in that case. The initiative by attorney Eliad Shraga and several former defense officials to establish such a commission is justified. Shraga recently filed a High Court petition making two demands. The first is that Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit investigate the incarnations and ramifications of the original submarine affair, which the police dubbed Case 3000. Even before opening an official investigation, Mendelblit declared that Netanyahu was free of any criminal suspicion. The police investigation led the prosecution to indict former navy chief Eliezer Marom; Avriel Bar-Yosef, a Netanyahu candidate for national security adviser; Shaike Brosh, a former head of the navys elite Shayetet 13 unit; and Michael Ganor, the chief suspect in the bribery allegations in the submarine case who recently retracted his states evidence agreement. This gang had already earned the nickname the mafia of former navy men. The police also recommended charging attorney David Shimron, Netanyahus lawyer and cousin who also became the attorney for Ganor, the corrupt and corrupting, and David Sharan, Netanyahus former bureau chief, and some lesser-known suspects. As the investigation was coming to a close, it was learned that the prime minister had made a 16-million-shekel ($4.7 million) profit from an investment with another cousin, Nathan Milikowsky, who owned an electrodes company whose customers included ThyssenKrupp, the German industrial giant making the submarines bound for Israel and Egypt. The second demand by Shraga and those who signed High Court affidavits is to establish a state commission of inquiry that would mainly address Netanyahus decision-making process and personal behavior. Precisely because of the seriousness of the arguments, its very important that the people who signed the affidavits not be fainthearted. Their refusal to reveal their names shows that theyre afraid. Shraga explained to me the reason: They dont want to taint the criminal investigation, because some of them gave testimony to the police. This isnt a valid excuse because the affidavits held by Shraga made their way to Yedioth Ahronoth and contain many details of their arguments, but their names were withheld by the newspaper. Such detailed reporting of the arguments could also undermine the investigation. In other words, Shraga and the people refusing to identify themselves are trying to have the best of both worlds demand an inquiry commission while remaining in the shadows. This isnt proper behavior, which is why, as a public service, Ive managed to discover the names of some of the signatories, who include Moshe Yaalon, Amos Gilead, Dan Harel, Ilan Biran, Ami Ayalon, Uzi Arad, Ehud Barak, attorney Ahaz Ben Ari and Yoram Ben Zeev. Incidentally, Eisenkot refused to sign the affidavits. But Shraga has a document summarizing a discussion that took place on February 16, 2016, with the head of the Israel Defense Forces planning branch and other officers. At this meeting, Eisenkot opposed the idea of buying anti-submarine boats, and made clear that submarines seven, eight and nine would be procured only when it was clear that numbers one, two and three would go out of service, leaving the submarine fleet always at six. Thats why its important that those who say they fear for the countrys security and are aware of Netanyahus behavior patterns show courage and transparency on such fateful issues. If they come forward, this will buoy those seeking a state commission of inquiry. Such a panel would not only examine the claims but also might halt the prime minister's compulsive tendency to exclude and compartmentalize other decision-makers. When theres more and more evidence of Netanyahus fear of his corruption trial, the increasing influence of his family on him and his desire to do everything possible to avoid justice, every Israeli must be concerned. Its crucial to make sure that the prime minister, who warns day and night about the danger of a nuclear Iran, acts logically. After all, Netanyahu is also the chairman of the secretive Israel Atomic Energy Commission and only recently extended the term of the commissions director general, Zeev Snir, by a year. Netanyahu must consult with all the people authorized to deal with state secrets in crucial discussions, especially life-and-death strategic issues. ( The writer works for The Haaretz, where this piece first appeared.) Chief ministers of opposition-ruled states on Wednesday resolved to work together and fight against the Centre for undermining the rights of states as they also decided to move the Supreme Court and seek a review of its earlier verdict giving go-ahead to the government in holding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in September. In a virtual meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the issues of Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation, NEET and JEE exams in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic, chief ministers of West Bengal (Mamata Banerjee), Maharashtra (Uddhav Thackeray), Jharkhand (Hemant Soren), Punjab (Captain Amarinder Singh), Rajasthan (Ashok Gehlot), Chhattisgarh (Bhupesh Baghel) and Puducherry (V Narayanasamy) stressed the need to protect federalism, claiming that all powers were now concentrated in just one hand. The Congress had not invited the chief ministers of Odisha (Naveen Patnaik), Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal), Andhra Pradesh (YS Jaganmohan Reddy), Telangana (K Chandrashekhar Rao) and Kerala (Pinarayi Vijayan). For his part, Thackeray said the opposition-ruled states have to first decide whether they want to fight or fear the Modi government. Opposition-ruled states should speak louder as the Centre is trying to suppress our voices. But we are together, we will be together and we will fight together, he said Thackeray promptly got support from Banerjee who said the situation was very serious and the opposition-ruled states should launch a united fight against the Centre. Gandhi also endorsed Thackeray and Banerjee. We have to work together and fight together, she said. Soren alleged the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was using agencies against the opposition and undermining the federal structure. Earlier in her introductory remarks, Gandhi said refusal to pay GST compensation to states is nothing short of betrayal by the Narendra Modi government. GST compensation being paid to states on time according to the laws passed by Parliament is crucial and I know this is not happening. Dues have accumulated. The finances of all states have been affected badly, she added. The Congress chief said GST was enacted as an example of cooperative federalism and it came into existence because the states agreed to forego their constitutional powers of taxation in the larger national interest and on the solemn promise of compulsory GST compensation for a period of 5 years. In the meeting of the standing committee on finance on August 11, she said the union finance secretary has reportedly stated that the Centre is not in a position to pay the mandatory GST compensation of 14% for the current year. This refusal to compensate the states is nothing short of a betrayal by the Modi government and a betrayal of trust of the people of India. On the other hand, the central government continues to profiteer from unilateral cesses which are non-shareable with states and corner this revenue, added Gandhi. The Congress president further claimed that ordinances have been issued without consulting states on agricultural marketing, saying the Punjab chief minister has already highlighted how these will destroy the MSP regime and adversely impact the PDS as well. There has been a nationwide outcry against the draft EIA notification which is deeply anti-democratic. Laws meant to protect the environment, livelihoods and public health are being weakened. The auction of coal mines too, I am aware, has been objected to by some chief ministers. Gandhi said public sector assets created over decades are being sold off despite some state governments expressing their strong opposition. Six airports have already been given to private hands. The railways are the lifeline of the country and they are being privatised too. She said other announcements such as the National Education Policy were worrying as it is a setback for progressive, secular and scientific values and reveals insensitivity to what the states have been saying. Problems of students and examinations are being dealt with very uncaringly, Gandhi added. Banerjee urged all chief ministers to together move the Supreme Court for postponing the NEET and JEE exams as students are not prepared. Amid a growing chorus for postponing the JEE and NEET exams in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre has maintained that these will be conducted in September as scheduled. While the JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6, NEET is planned on September 13. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams, saying a precious academic year of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on. Banerjee alleged that states were being bulldozed by the Centre which is not giving money to them. The situation today is dangerous. We cannot speak freely. From Facebook to everywhere, there is fake and distorted news to destroy the opposition, she said. Banerjee said she had raised her concerns about the NEET and JEE exams with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The exams are in September. Why should the lives of students be put at risk? We have written to the Prime Minister, but there has been no response. If the Prime Minister does not listen to us, then we all collectively should approach the Supreme Court, she said. I request the state governments, let us do it together. Lets go to the Supreme Court and request it to postpone it for the time being till the Covid-19 situation improves. We stand by our students, whatever help they require, we are willing to provide that, the West Bengal chief minister added. Thackeray said the time has come to revisit the GST model and see if it is helping or not. The old tax collection model was good? If there are lacunas in the GST, those need to be addressed so that states dont suffer, he said. Thackeray further said they were not begging before the Centre for the GST compensation as it is their money and they have to fight for it. Maharashtra has not got the GST refund from the Centre. We keep reminding them by writing letter after letter. Some letters do get replies but others remain unanswered. The Maharashtra chief minister said no one can suppress the voice of the opposition-ruled states because theirs is the common mans voice and they are democratically elected like the Modi government. Urging Gandhi to hold more such meetings, Thackeray reminded her about the excellent Panchayati Raj decision of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for decentralisation of power. But today exactly the opposite is happening. Powers of all institutions are being concentrated in one persons hand and that is not good for democracy, he said. Singh said the Covid-19 situation is getting worse and Punjab might face a deficit of Rs 25,000 crore this year due to the pandemic. I agree with Mamata ji that we should collectively meet the Prime Minister and apprise him of the revenue situation. And all of us should go to the Supreme Court on the issue of NEET and JEE exams, he added. Baghel claimed that the Covid-19 situation has aggravated while Narayanasamy said the Centre will be responsible if students get infected during the exams. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 16:55:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Yosley Carrero HAVANA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. tech giant Google blocked Cuban state media accounts amid the tightening of the U.S. embargo against the island nation, said a senior Cuban journalist. "U.S. tech giants are very dependent on the U.S. administration decisions, implementing U.S. embargo policy toward the island," Randy Alonso, director-general at popular Cuban website cubadebate.cu and Cuban television program Mesa Redonda, told Xinhua recently. "It has nothing to do with technological issues or violation of social media regulations. What is really behind the U.S. administration stance is its geopolitical and geostrategic ambition to keep global telecommunications under its control," he added. Alonso made the remarks after U.S. tech giant Google blocked the accounts of the Cuban daily newspaper Granma, Cuban international broadcaster Cubavision Internacional, and Mesa Redonda, barring them from accessing Youtube channels. Although the accounts were recently reopened by Google, "the Donald Trump administration tries to silence the voice of Cuban public media, which are also banned from accessing a number of softwares developed in the United States," Alonso added. The accounts of the Cuban Young Communist League, Prensa Latina news agency and Cuban daily newspaper Juventud Rebelde have also been censored by U.S. tech giants over the last few years. "How far will U.S. hostility against Cuba go? How long will it last? " Yailin Orta, director at Granma, asked on social media, adding that the newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba will continue to be part of the counter-hegemonic struggle. In 2019, the Caribbean nation condemned the mass blocking of nearly 500 accounts in the island nation by social media giant Twitter, ahead of a televised address by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, warning of an energy crisis due to U.S. sanctions against the island. The U.S. social media company has also blocked the accounts of Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and his daughter Mariela Castro, director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education. Among the country's media professionals suspended by Twitter was Belkys Perez Cruz, a Cuban legislator and senior reporter at Telepinar TV channel, a regional broadcaster in the westernmost province of Pinar del Rio. "My account was canceled earlier in May. I sent more than 20 messages to the company but there was no response," she told Xinhua. "Anyway, I will continue to tell the truth of my country online." Meanwhile, Iroel Sanchez, a Cuban political commentator and blogger, told Xinhua that the U.S. administration is waging a "four-generation war against the island" and placing internet at the very heart of the battle ground. "U.S. tech giants like Google have a strong connection with the U.S. State Department. They feel empowered to decide whether or not someone can be listened to," he said. "During a war, the truth is the first victim, and those who lie try to silence the voice of their contenders," said Sanchez. Enditem Georgia state health officials reported on Wednesday there have been an additional 40 deaths due to the coronavirus. The new total is 5,311. There were 2,322 new cases as that total reached 260,590 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Hospitalizations are at 23,939, up 222 since Tuesday. Here are the numbers by county: Catoosa County: 816 cases, up 7; 17 deaths; 61 hospitalizations, up 1 Chattooga County: 491 cases, up 26; 5 deaths; 30 hospitalizations, up 5 Dade County: 186 cases, up 3; 3 deaths; 13 hospitalizations Walker County: 942 cases, up 17; 21 deaths, up 1; 52 hospitalizations, up 2 Whitfield County: 3,878 cases, up 19; 49 deaths, up 2; 206 hospitalizations, up 1 The cases remain centered around the Atlanta area: Cobb County: 16,369 cases, up 225; 381 deaths, up 8 DeKalb County: 16,193 cases, up 107; 287 deaths Fulton County: 24,211 cases, up 224; 497 deaths Gwinnett County: 23,636 cases, up 225; 314 deaths, up 5 We mentioned on the last page that voltage in hybrid vehicles can vary in range, but keep in mind that hybrids produce more than enough electricity to kill. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a 7.5 watt, 120-volt lamp draws enough current to cause electrocution [source: Casini]. The two most prolific hybrid manufacturers on the market, Toyota and Honda, each have battery packs with around 100 to 200 volts. In the case of the 2010 Toyota Prius, however, the voltage sent to the electric motor can be boosted up to 600 volts through a voltage converter [source: Webster]. Since the battery packs used by most hybrids produce around 100 to 300 volts of electricity, they are deemed "high-voltage" and must be labeled as such on the parts of the vehicle through which this voltage flows. To contain the voltage, the battery used to run the electric motor is placed in a metal box that's insulated from the rest of the car's body and labeled with "high-voltage" signs. This battery box is placed behind the rear passenger seats, where it's not likely to be damaged in a car accident [source: Honda]. According to both Honda and Toyota's emergency response guides published for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and first responders, penetration of the plastic casing around the metal box and the box itself is highly unlikely, even in a severe collision. Advertisement In addition to the battery box, high-voltage cables run from the battery to the motor and are insulated with heavy-duty orange plastic casings. Both the metal box and these high-voltage cables are insulated from the vehicle's chassis, and manufacturers insist there's no risk of electrocution by touching the chassis [source: Honda and Toyota]. Although the voltage is contained, it doesn't mean that all risks are removed. Go on to the next page to find out what happens to a hybrid's voltage when it's submerged, on fire, or in an accident. Danger: High Voltage! Here's a side-by-side comparison of the voltage produced by various sources: The United States military says it killed six al-Shabab extremists with an airstrike in Somalia after the al-Qaida-linked group attacked Somali forces while U.S. forces were nearby. The U.S. Africa Command statement said Monday's airstrike was carried out near Darasalam village in southern Somalia's Lower Shabelle region after al-Shabab fighters attacked from a building in the area. The statement said three al-Shabab fighters were wounded. No U.S. forces were killed or wounded, the statement said, dismissing an al-Shabab claim of U.S. casualties. Somalia's government in a separate statement said the U.S. forces were there to advise and assist local ones. Al-Shabab remains the most active Islamic extremist group in Africa, and the U.S. under President Donald Trump has increased the number of airstrikes against it. The U.S. Africa Command calls the group a ``danger to Africa and the United States.'' In January, al-Shabab killed a U.S. service member and two U.S. contractors in an attack on a military airstrip in neighboring Kenya. It was al-Shabab's first attack against U.S. forces in that country, and the group quickly shared online images of masked fighters standing next to blazing aircraft. The U.S. military has since stepped up its warnings about al-Shabab's increasingly sophisticated use of propaganda. Search Keywords: Short link: A senior Chinese diplomat on Wednesday likened Australias call for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic to the betrayal of Roman dictator Julius Caesar in a Shakespearean tragedy for the benefit of the United States. Wang Xining, the Chinese Embassy in Australias deputy head of mission and its second-in-charge, spoke at the National Press Club about Australias call for an independent inquiry into the origins of and international responses to the pandemic. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage The call has been blamed for a major deterioration in bilateral relations that has resulted in the Chinese government refusing to take phone calls from Australian ministers and disruptions to Australian exports including beef. The Australian call came when the United States government was trying all out to blame China for their failure to control the spread of the disease and ... shirk responsibility, Wang said. In describing Australias action, Wang quoted the play Julius Caesar from a scene in which the dictator realizes that his friend Marcus Junius Brutus is among the assassins who are about to knife him. It is approximately identical to Julius Caesar in his final day when he saw Brutus approaching him: Et tu, Brute?, Wang said, using a Latin phrase meaning And you, Brutus? The World Health Assembly, the governing structure of the World Health Organization, has since endorsed a global investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 outbreak. Wang said that probe had an entirely different origin from the Australian proposal. Also read: China protests US spy plane watching live fire military drills China has maintained ministerial contacts with the United States as well as governments of other countries that supported Australias pandemic stance, including Japan, Germany and France. Wang denied China was singling out Australia for special treatment by freezing out ministers to send a message to other middle-powers not to speak out. I think its a very lopsided interpretation of what happened between us, Wang told reporters. He declined to say whether he thought Chinese-Australian relations would improve after the U.S. presidential election, saying Chinese comment on another countrys election would equate to interference in that nations internal affairs. China respects Australias strategy alliance with the United States, Wang said. To have an ally is not a problem, he said. The problem is whether you target a third party with the strength of an alliance. If we find any tendency to use the strength of an alliance to strike China down, or press China down what currently some of the U.S. politicians are doing then we will express clearly our opposition and our position, he added. More than 75 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed among pupils and teachers in Scottish schools less than two weeks after they were reopened. One of the latest cases to be identified was confirmed at Preston Tower Primary School in Prestonpans, East Lothian. The infected child has been confirmed as being from the Preston Road campus - making them between eight and twelve-years-old. Since reopening earlier this month, Preston Tower Primary School has put safety measures in place such as keeping each class separate from others throughout the school day. The school remains open but children who have been in contact with the child have been contacted and been told to quarantine for 14 days. Parents were told by text 'not to be alarmed' by the news as the school remains open for the rest of the pupils. A total of 31 coronavirus cases have now been linked to a school in Dundee. Kingspark School was closed last Wednesday as pupils and staff were asked to self-isolate for 14 days Pictured, pupils at St Paul's High School in Glasgow on August 12 One member of staff and two pupils tested positive at High Blantyre Primary School A growing number of cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed among pupils and staff at Scottish schools. The Scottish government has stressed that these are part of community clusters which have had an impact on schools, rather than school-based clusters. So far there have been positive cases at schools in Tayside, Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, West Lothian, Fife, Highlands, Grampians and the Borders. An outbreak at Kingspark School in Dundee has now seen a total of 31 cases confirmed, as of Tuesday evening. This includes 21 members of staff, two pupils and eight community contacts. The school remains closed with staff and pupils continuing to self-isolate. Elsewhere in the city, a pupil from Grove Academy has tested positive with a small number of staff and pupil close contacts of the individual now being identified and told to self-isolate until Sunday, 5 September. Nicola Sturgeon said her government is consulting on exactly when and where the coverings will be required after a growing number of coronavirus cases have been linked to schools This is in addition to a case at St Peter and Paul Primary School and two cases at Happy Times Out Of School club at Downfield Primary School both also in Dundee. Which schools have confirmed Covid-19 cases in Scotland? Tayside Kingspark School, Dundee: 31 St Peter and Pauls School, Dundee: 1 Happy Times, Downfield School: 1 Grove Academy, Dundee: 1 Newhill Primary, Blairgowrie: 1 Oakbank Primary, Perth: 1 Lanarkshire Ace Place Nursery, Rutherglen: 1 St Margaret's, Airdrie: 1 Uddingston Grammar: 1 Stepps Primary School: 1 St Ambrose High, Coatsbridge: 4 St Andrew's High, Coatsbridge: 1 Calverdale High, Airdrie: 1 High Blantyre Primary: 3 Greater Glasgow and Clyde Bannerman High School: Unknown St Albert's Primary School: 1 Todholm Primary School, Paisley: 1 Wallace Primary School, Elderslie: 1 St James' Primary, Renfrew: 1 Castlehead High School, Paisley: 1 Advertisement Chair of the NHS Tayside Incident Management Team, Dr Ellie Hothersall said: 'Pupils and parents of the wider school population have been reassured that if they have not been contacted individually, they or their child have not been identified as a contact of a case. 'They can continue to attend school and undertake other activities as normal. 'Risk assessments are being carried out, however, parents should be assured that all appropriate precautions are in place and the school remains open.' Paul Clancy, Dundee City Council Executive Director of Children and Families Services said: 'Parents may be feeling more anxious as positive cases are identified in schools. 'However we are working closely with colleagues in Public Health to ensure there is a swift and appropriate response to ensure pupil and staff safety.' In Lanarkshire, the latest confirmed case was identified at Ace Place Nursery in Rutherglen. The pupil is self-isolating and NHS Lanarkshire's Test and Protect service is in the process of tracing close contacts of the case who are being given public health advice and being told to self-isolate. The trust has said there is currently no evidence to suggest that there is transmission in the nursery and the risk to the wider community remains low. All parents and staff of the nursery have been notified and the nursery remains open. Dr Josephine Pravinkumar, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health medicine, said: 'We are aware that there will be concern among both children and their parents at this time. 'We would like to reassure the local community there is currently no evidence of transmission in schools or nurseries and that appropriate measures are being implemented. 'Individuals should stay off nursery, school or work and get tested if they or their close contacts experience any Covid-19 symptoms, such as a cough, fever or loss of taste or smell, even if they are mild. 'We want to take this opportunity to remind people of measures to minimise the risk of Covid-19. These include physical distancing and regular handwashing.' NHS Lanarkshire launched an investigation after a number of cases were identified at St Ambrose High (pictured), St Andrew's High and nearby Calverdale High (file photo) This followed a further three cases which were confirmed on Monday in the area with one each at St Margarets High School in Airdrie, Uddingston Grammar and Stepps Primary School. What are the rules on face masks in UK schools? What is the situation in England? Pupils and staff at secondary schools in local lockdown areas will have to wear face masks in communal areas. This does not include classrooms and does not apply to primary-aged pupils. In all other parts of the country, it will be up to headteachers to decide whether masks are required. Which parts of the country will be subject to the mandatory face masks rule? Any part of the country which is defined as an area of national Government intervention. As of Tuesday evening, local restrictions were in place in areas of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Leicester, Luton and Northampton. What are the rules in Scotland? The Scottish government announced yesterday that face coverings should be worn by staff and pupils when they move around secondary schools from August 31. The rules will also apply on school transport for primary school pupils aged five and above. What about Wales and Northern Ireland? Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said yesterday a decision on schoolchildren wearing face coverings will likely be made today, but current guidance says masks are not being recommended. In Northern Ireland, post-primary pupils will be asked to wear face coverings in corridors and other communal areas, Stormont's education minister Peter Weir said. Advertisement All three pupils are self-isolating and there is no known links to the cases. The secondary schools remain open but the trust took the precautionary measure to ask all pupils and staff at Stepps Primary School to self-isolate. An investigation had been launched after a cluster of cases was identified in Coatbridge and nearby Airdrie. Four students at St Ambrose High and one from St Andrew's High - both in Coatbridge - as well one from Calverdale High in Airdrie had tested positive. There were also an additional three cases considered as community contacts linked to the cluster. Dr Josephine Pravinkumar, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health medicine, added: 'There is evidence that mixing socially in the community, particularly around social gatherings in houses, without maintaining physical distancing measures can transmit the virus. 'It is therefore important that people remain vigilant and follow physical distancing guidance. It comes as Nicola Sturgeon confirmed secondary school pupils and staff in Scotland will be asked to wear face masks when they travel between classes. The Scottish First Minister said her government is consulting on exactly when and where the coverings will be required as she cited concerns about ventilation issues in corridors and communal areas. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has sparked warnings of chaos with his face masks U-turn amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering. The Government last night announced that face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns. Meanwhile, a decision on whether to wear masks in non-lockdown area schools will be left to individual head teachers. The change in policy came after days of ministers and Downing Street insisting there were no plans to change the guidance in England which had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to. But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons. Late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs purported girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty never ever consumed drugs and is ready for any test, her lawyer said on Tuesday after reports that her chats with few people mentioned usage of drugs. The response came after some media channels claimed that her chats showed a drug angle. Satish Maneshinde, in a statement, said: Rhea has never consumed drugs in her lifetime. Shes ready for a blood test any time." Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate had written to the Narcotics Control Bureau seeking their guidance in the drug angle in the case. The source said that the agency wants to ascertain if there was some drug syndicate angle involved in the case of Sushant, who was found dead at his flat in Mumbais Bandra on June 14. The ED has registered a case of money laundering on the basis of the Bihar Police FIR filed on the complaint of Sushants father K.K. Singh. The agency has already recorded the statement of Sushants father, his sisters Priyanka Singh, and Meetu Singh in connection with the case. It has also recorded the statement of Rhea, her brother Showik, father Indrajit, Sushants ex-manager Shruti Modi, flatmate Siddharth Pithani, house manager Samuel Miranda, chartered accountant Sandeep Sridhar, Rheas CA Ritesh Shah and others. Meanwhile, a team of CBIs SIT, which is in Mumbai to probe the death of the actor on Tuesday continued their questioning of Pithani, Sushants personal staff Neeraj Singh, his CA Sridhar and accountant Rajat Mewati. According to sources, the CBI team has also summoned two Mumbai Police personnel in connection with the case. The CBI team has visited the flat of Sushant twice along with the forensic team and Pithani, Neeraj and Dipesh Sawant. In the last four days, it has also twice visited the Waterstone resort, where Sushant stayed for two months and the Cooper hospital where his autopsy was done. The agency is yet to summon Rhea and her family members. The CBI has also sought help from AIIMS Forensic Department to understand the autopsy report of Sushant. The time of death was missing from the seven-page report. The CBI team earlier in the day briefed their superiors in Delhi about the latest developments and findings in the case. The CBI took over the probe after the Supreme Court gave its nod for the federal probe agency to investigate. Remote-Streaming Government Meetings with GovTV Built to offer flexible, turnkey, scalable, cloud-based, C-SPAN-style live-streamed coverage to government agencies and other organizations holding public meetings, GovTV's BroadcastManager systems require little more on-site footprint than the one or more mounted, remotely controlled, robotic cameras its clients request. Page 1 San Diego-based GovTV never underwent a migration to remote production and streamingits operations were remote from the get-go. Built to offer flexible, turnkey, scalable, cloud-based, C-SPAN-style live-streamed coverage to government agencies and other organizations holding public meetings, GovTVs BroadcastManager systems require little more on-site footprint than the one or more mounted, remotely controlled, robotic cameras its clients request. Among other regional clients, GovTV has been working with the city of Lancaster, Calif., since 2017, streaming all of its city council meetings (Figure 1, below). The BroadcastManager system is based on technology from Broadcast Pix, which provides live, multiformat switching; customizable multiview; and robotic camera and external device control. Meetings are delivered online through Granicus, a streaming platform expressly designed for streaming government meetings. Figure 1. Live-streamed Lancaster, Calif., city council meetings pre-COVID-19 Before adopting the Broadcast Pix solution, according to GovTV president and CEO Bob Anderson, the system that we were using was slow and tired, with a lot of bandwidth issues, and really poor latency. (In this context, latency refers not to streaming-video latency but to delayed response in serial control for robotic PTZ cameras.) If we didnt move a camera after about a minute, Anderson recalls, the camera would fall asleep. And if we went to that camera, we had to wake it up and then we had to move it. So it was rather cumbersome to say the least in the old system. Moving from the older serial control system to an IP-based infrastructure with Broadcast Pix in 2017 made a huge difference in the responsiveness of the system, Anderson says, and it enabled GovTV to do essentially what it set out to do as a company: help local governments that have either inadequate, ad-hoc video coverage or no video program at all to get their meetings online in a reliable and effective manner. Some cities, believe it or not, still dont stream or broadcast their meetings, Anderson says. In some cases, its a very small system, a couple of cameras on a tripod, and a small switcher somewhere either in the back of the chambers or in a room. So, well come in and put in a whole new system, or just forklift out an old system and replace it. When we put in a BroadcastManager system, we own it, we maintain it 24/7, and the city pays us a license fee. Some cities have a television department, and that works well for them, but other cities really dont want to be in the business of television/ Theyre in the business of government. Paul Redfield, founder and president of Orbdot Networks, GovTVs IT consultant, explains how the BroadcastManager workflow offloads TV-production responsibilities in the Lancaster municipal government to GovTVs San Diego-based control room: We have a facility in San Diego. We have the Broadcast Pix cloud infrastructure. And then we have our endpoint, which is in Lancaster. There we have several pieces of equipment, because we are tying into their legacy stuff. We have our cameras there, we have a Broadcast Pix control unit that provides that all the cameras feed into the IP. And we also have our own network here, so were not touching any of the citys network. We connect into Lancaster via a VPN that we manage and maintain with our own hardware, and thats how we can control and manage the equipment on-site and get confidence feeds back. It allows us to get in and switch on some things manually. We also have a recorder on-prem so we can record the meetings. The Broadcast Pix unit thats sitting in Lancaster goes into the cloud service that Broadcast Pix provides and then provides us a return feed that we connect to out of San Diego. From that, we get control of the cameras and a multiviewer so were able to see all the cameras in real time." Figure 2. GovTVs Broadcast Pix-based control room in San Diego Lancaster has a server that their programming comes out of, which is basically a pre-programmed play channel, adds Jeff Spencer, in-house manager of TV production at GovTV. When we go to air, we actually have to interrupt their on-air feed, route our signal from the chambers to air, and then, when the meetings all over, we have to switch it all back as well. So its not just cameras and switchers that are being controlled from our remote location in San Diego. Its basically everything it takes to get them on and off the air. While the shift to working from home over the last 6 months has heightened the demand and the technical requirements for remote production for a lot of outfits, for GovTV, the lack of in-person, on-site meetings has both slowed down and dumbed down its usual operations. Cities, for the most part, are not doing meetings in their council chambers, says Anderson. In the case of Lancaster, now theyre doing Zoom meetings. And so were basically just picking up the Zoom feed, and then we broadcast it. But with our service, Redfield continues, we take people out of control rooms. And if youve ever seen any city government control rooms, you know theyre usually a closet with two or three people in therea problematic proposition in many states under current conditions. We dont want to jump in too soon when cities are more in the business of protecting their citizens, but we can offer a service that certainly can help them in this environment. Page 1 Even as the state Congress issued a statement reposing faith in the central leadership, rumblings and divisions in the party have come out in open. Senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh Vivek Tankha, who has publicly expressed concern over the pitiable condition of the party organisation for a while and is said to be one of the signatories to the letter shot off to AICC interim chief Sonia Gandhi seeking an active and visible leadership, took to Twitter to express his views. In what seemed to be a reply to widespread backlash to the letter, Tankha said, Friends, we are not dissenters but proponents of revival. The letter was not a challenge to the leadership but a parchment of action to strengthen the party. Universally truth is best defence whether it be Court or Public Affairs: history acknowledges the brave and not the timid. However, party veteran and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh has chosen to tread cautiously on the issue, while extending his support to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. In a chat with a news channel, Singh has said the All India Congress Committee (AICC) should be led by someone from the Gandhi family, adding those who are against Rahul Gandhi should come out in the open and challenge him in an election. The Congress veteran, however, refused to speak on the meeting held at the residence of senior party leader and Rajya Sabha colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad, while adding all that is said and circulated in media is not always true. He also said it would have been better had these leaders raised the issue in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) forum instead of writing the letter and leaking" it in the media. State Congress president and former chief minister Kamal Nath has reposing faith on Sonia Gandhi, which he has done in the past as well. Any suggestion to put blame to Sonia Gandhis leadership is weird. We should not forget that despite all kinds of allegations and smear campaign, she had led the Congress to win in 2004 and forced late Atal Bihari Vajpayee to sit at home. I urge Sonia Gandhi to continue to lead the party and strengthen the organisation. Several ground-level leaders have also expressed their opinions on the matter on social media. Jabalpurs city unit chief Dinesh Yadav openly voiced concerns of party workers. The common party workers is saddened by all that transpired in the CWC. Despite odds, we are committed to party organisation but senior leaders are ruining it all with their bayanbaji (irresponsible statements), he said. As the crisis in the partys central leadership continues to hog limelight, several senior leaders from the state have urged Rahul Gandhi to take over the reins of the organisation again. Meanwhile, the BJP leadership has also taken pot shots at the internal bickering in the Grand Old Party. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that those who speak truth are called gaddars (traitors) and boot lickers are termed loyal in the Congress party and the situation is the same right from the state to the national level. The Congress suffers from a centralised system, Chouhan said, adding that leaders who are speaking out are trampled in the Congress. One of the country's best paid CEOs is fighting against plans for a 111-bed shared co-living space proposal for Ballsbridge in Dublin 4. CEO of Aryzta Kevin Toland and his wife Aisling have lodged an objection against the five-storey Bartra Capital proposal for Merrion Road. In their one-page objection, the Tolands express Covid-19 fears over the proposal and urge Dublin City Council "please reject this planning application". The Tolands state: "Covid-19 has struck every country in the world, the very nature of co-living would have the potential of spreading the virus even further. It could endanger the local community at large. "We were very surprised that a proposal of this nature would even be considered during a world-wide pandemic," the objection adds. Proposal Last year Mr Toland was the second-best paid Irish CEO working at publicly listed companies, when he received a total remuneration package of 4.1m from the Cuisine de France firm. Documents lodged with the Bartra plan state the proposal has been designed to carefully avoid overlooking neighbouring properties. However, others to weigh in with objections against the plan now include former Irish Sugar MD and Ailesbury Road resident Chris Comerford, Dublin Green MEP Ciaran Cuffe, and Sinn Fein TD Chris Andrews. Labour Senator Ivana Bacik, and a residents' group representing Shrewsbury Road residents, have also lodged objections. The Tolands bought their Merrion Road home in 2013 and in their objection against Bartra they claim the proposal "is a complete eyesore". The Tolands state they "understood when we purchased here that the area was zoned residential and that all amenities were supposed to be protected and improved". In response to the Tolands' Covid-19 concerns, CEO of Bartra Capital Mike Flannery stated yesterday an independent medical expert who has examined the Bartra plan has determined the risks of (Covid-19) transmission would be less for Bartra residents than for people in a shared apartment. Mr Flannery said the assessment found the self-contained nature of the suites reduces the risk of transmission and makes suites ideal for self-isolation if required. "We are more than happy to engage with Nphet, or any equivalent Government body on the public health provisions of shared living." Mr Flannery said. A decision by Dublin City Council is due on the Merrion Road proposal next week. Press Release August 26, 2020 PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON JOLO BOMBINGS August 26, 2020 Mr. President, I rise on a point of personal and collective privilege. Noong isang araw po nagulantang tayong lahat na, sa gitna ng kinakaharap na pandemya, ay may twin bombings na yumanig sa bayan ng Jolo, Sulu. Katorse ang mga inosenteng namatay, habang 48 civilians at 27 na security personnel ang sugatan. While terrorist attacks -- especially when there are deaths -- are always galling, this one cuts particularly deep. This is because of fresh intelligence reports emerging that the female suicide bombers responsible for the blasts were two subjects of an Army intelligence mission in June, a mission that ended in the killing of four army soldiers at the hands of the Jolo police. This was stated by Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana himself, commanding general of the Philippine army. As a Senator, as a peace advocate, as a Filipino, I want to know the definitive answers to the questions on everybody's mind: Ano ang kinalaman ng pagbomba ng Jolo noong August 24, sa pagpatay sa mga sundalo noong June 29? Many theories emerged during the CA hearing also on the same day -- elements of the Abu Sayaaf infiltrating the local police force, links to illegal drugs, clan wars or Rido. Ano ba ang totoo sa mga teyoryang ito? Did our policemen put Jolo and our nation at greater risk when they not only interfered with Army intelligence operations, they killed our operatives? How many months and years of intelligence and counter-terrorism effort did we lose on June 29? I rise Mr. President, because the bombing in Jolo casts new light into the June 29 incident and raises the troubling questions that I asked above. I have three points. First, Mr. President, I really believe we need to go deeper into the motivation for the killing of AFP personnel. Already, before; but now, after the bombing, even more so. Ano ang dahilan kung bakit sila pinatay, when all the records indubitably demonstrate that the policemen knew they were dealing with soldiers even from the first checkpoint? The PDEA Operation Reports Monitoring and Information System show that there was no coordination made by any PNP units in Sulu for an anti-illegal drug operation, but then, when asked to justify their actions, one claim the PNP made was that Cpl. Asula had drug connections and was identified in a drug matrix. Kung hinahabol si Cpl. Asula at drugs ang angle, bakit hindi coordinated sa PDEU? Or is it something else, Mr. President? Kasi noong CA hearing, during the questioning of the Minority Leader, Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan admitted the possibility of a conspiracy between the terrorist bombers and the members of the police who shot them, saying, "possible yon dahil magkakamag-anak naman sa Sulu." What lends this theory support is information I have received that on June 29, the soldiers found out that the bombers knew that they were being trailed by the AFP. The soldiers had already been able to narrow down the possible lodging places of the terrorists and were actually closing in on them. I also have information that the soldiers trusted the PNP. In fact gusto nga sana nila na gamitin ang "house to house tokhang" with the help of barangay officials and PNP para mahanap ang bahay kung saan umuupa ng kwarto ang mga bombers. Tapos ganito. Tapos papatayin sila, hindi ng kalaban, kundi ng "tropa". Mr. President, we cannot turn away from this. The targets of the June 29 mission were two female bombers. Investigations into the August 24 bombing show that it was perpetrated by two female bombers. Diretsahang tanong: did terrorist elements somehow influence, directly or indirectly, the killing of the soldiers? Second, Mr. President. I want to talk about the integrity of evidence. Huwag na natin pag-usapan ang planting of evidence, the NBI has discussed that extensively when it stated that a gun may have been planted in the hand of Major Indammog to corroborate the theory of a firefight. Pag-usapan natin ang preservation of evidence. According to the rules of the Revised PNP Operational Procedures, specifically PNP S.O.P. No. ODIDM-2011-008, "Conduct of Crime Scene Investigation", "immediately after an armed confrontation, the officer who is in charge of the operation shall... secure the site of confrontation." This includes, Mr. President, the very basic rule that evidence shall not be removed from the crime scene unless it has been labelled, photographed, and documented. Pero why is it that messaging apps on the cellphone of the late Major Marvin Indammog appear to have a "last seen" time after the moment of his death? Why was custody of the personal effects of the dead soldiers not turned over to the military right away? These questions are important enough already, in the aftermath of the deaths of our valiant soldiers and persistent accusations of cover-up and whitewashing. They are even more important now, in the aftermath of a bloody terrorist attack. Kung ang tanong lang pagkatapos ng June 29 ay "ano ang tinatago ng kapulisan at bakit parang may cover-up", ngayon, pagkatapos ng pagbomba sa Jolo, ang tanong na ay "mayroon bang military intelligence na napunta na sa kamay ng kalaban?" Third and last point, Mr. President, with the killings of the police officers and the subsequent terrorist attack killing fourteen, we need to ask "where does the buck stop?" Sapat na ba ang accountability sa level ng local na PNP? I note, Mr. President, that despite the overwhelming evidence demonstrating prior coordination between the AFP and the PNP, including a meeting on June 25 attended by the Jolo Chief of Police, the PNP leadership continues to maintain that, and I quote, "the incident is not murder or rub-out, as claimed by some quarters, but a legitimate police operation that resulted in an armed encounter." Ang sabi pa, "had there been proper coordination on the part of the AFP with the territorial Police units in the AOR, the said incident could have been avoided." According to our sources, the PNP leadership knew that there was coordination. In fact, the leadership indubitably knew that PNP personnel were already apprised of the identities of the victims and their designations as military personnel when they were accosted at checkpoint 2. Alam ng PNP na alam ng mga local police sa checkpoint pa lang na military ang nakasakay ng Montero. Also, why is the PNP leadership saying that police officers cannot be suspended prior to a finding of guilt? It is patently false to suggest that suspension can only come after a guilty verdict, because preventive suspension is an explicit mechanism under Republic Act No. 8551. It is also an explicit mechanism in the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) manual. But more importantly, the need for preventive suspension of our police officers has taken an urgent turn, in light of the statement of Lieutenant General Vinluan that there may be a conspiracy between the police officers and the terrorists. Sabi ng head ng IAS, the police officers involved will "perform duties as a policeman but their movements will be restricted to ensure their presence in investigations." Ano po ang ibig sabihin ng 'perform duties as a policeman'? They will still have access to police intelligence? They can still participate in operations? In light of the statements of Lieutenant General Vinluan, I am deeply concerned over the risks to our national security. We need more decisiveness from the PNP leadership. We need remorse for the acts of his men, not justifications unsupported by the evidence. We need accountability and justice. Hindi na ito katarungan para lamang sa 4 na military na pinatay. Katarungan na din ito para sa 14 na mamamayan na napaslang sa bombing noong August 24. Kaya hinihingi ko po sa pamunuan ng PNP: relieve the entire Jolo police force. Para matanggal ang agam-agam na May infiltration ng terrorista, para mapanatag ang loob ng mga Pilipino, para bigyan ng free hand ang imbestigasyon, the entire Jolo police force must be relieved. Salamat po. The girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr, whose fiery speech in support of Trump at the Republican Convention has gone viral, is the daughter of an Irish immigrant and spent much of her childhood in Ennis, Co Clare. Former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, the daughter of Irish immigrant Tony Guilfoyle, has emerged as one of Mr Trump's most strident supporters. Guilfoyle, a former district attorney in California, also studied law in Trinity College, Dublin. Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. and a top fundraiser for the Trump campaign, at the RNC urges Americans to stand for a "President who is fearless, who believes in you, and who loves this country and will fight for her" https://t.co/469rNnX3LW pic.twitter.com/WiWSrkX5JZ CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 25, 2020 She now works as one of the chief fundraisers for the Trump 2020 campaign. Her animated pre-recorded speech on Monday night, to an empty room, has been met with widespread derision. CNN's Ana Navarro accused Ms Guilfoyle of scaring her dog with her unhinged, crazy and incredibly loud address. When contacted by the Irish Independent, an uncle of Guilfoyle's (James) declined to comment. However, a cousin of hers agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. Breaking down in a fit of laughter, her relative said: You want to know about Kimberly? What a girl. The brother was just on (the phone) about her. He said she was roaring and shouting about Trump. He was saying, Did you hear that lunatic on the telly? She was up to high doh, he said. I haven't seen it, but I'm going to watch it now. Expand Close Donald Trump Jr AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Trump Jr It's all a bit ridiculous the whole thing, he said. The close relatives of Kimberly who are around are lovely quiet people. I don't think they would really want to speak about the whole thing. She's a cousin of mine, but we wouldn't be close, you could say. I never knew a whole lot about Kimberly, but I know she used to come to Ennis. And I have a sister who has no time for Trump, and when he came to Doonbeg, I said to her, 'I have something to tell you. Trump is after inviting us down to meet him because Kimberly wanted somebody to represent the Guilfoyle family', he said. What she didn't call me, he laughed. Ms Guilfoyle has spoken of her happy memories of Ireland and said her summers in Ennis taught her the value of money. In a recent interview, she said: I grew up partly in Ireland. Every summer from the age of five, I lived in Ennis where my Guilfoyle relatives had businesses on O'Connell Street - a gift shop called Dalcassian House and Dalcassian Printers. I worked in the shop, which sold lovely china and Waterford Crystal. I was about 11 or 12, and I got about 10 a week. It instilled a sense of responsibility in me, putting in the hours, and earning the money. Expand Close Donald Trump Jr has compared his fathers election rival, Joe Biden, to the Loch Ness Monster (Andrew Milligan/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Trump Jr has compared his fathers election rival, Joe Biden, to the Loch Ness Monster (Andrew Milligan/PA) As part of her post-graduate studies she attended Trinity College, Dublin. While there, she published research on international children's rights and European Economic Community law. Her relationship with Don Jr became public in late June 2018 when they appeared at a Republican convention in Montana. Don Jr, who had by then split from his wife, paid tribute to Ms Guilfoyle. Just as everyone else thanks their significant others, Ive got to thank Kimberly for coming out here. We're going to take her fishing tomorrow, then shooting, he told the crowd. She declared that Democrats want to destroy this country, and everything that we have fought for and hold dear. In her speech, which has sparked endless memes on Twitter, Ms Guilfoyle, in unfaltering high decibels, shrieked her support for her boyfriend's father. President Trump is the leader who will rebuild the promise of America and ensure that every citizen can realise their American dream. They (Democrats) want to steal your liberty, your freedom. They want to control what you see and think, and believe so that they can control how you live! They want to enslave you to the weak, dependent, liberal, victim ideology, to the point that you will not recognise this country or yourself. Failing to mention that 177,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, and the country is in deep recession, Ms Guilfoyle finished her six-minute-long diatribe by theatrically raising her arms and thundering: The best is yet to come. Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle was born March 9, 1969, in San Francisco to Mercedes Marie Gerena from Puerto Rico and Tony Guilfoyle. Her father emigrated to the US from Ennis in his 20s in 1957 and served in the US army from 1958 to 1962. On his return, he became a real estate investor. He passed away in 2008. In a Father's Day tribute to her dad on Instagram, Ms Guilfoyle described him as her greatest inspiration. You came from Ennis, county Clare, Ireland to America like so many before you, to live the American dream and provide for your family, and you served faithfully your country in the army. You taught me that in this life all things are possible if you work hard, live fearlessly, believe in yourself and in other people. I will never forget when you brought me home to Ireland to meet my grandparents, Nancy and Patrick Paddy and to this day I treasure the picture of us on the Shannon river. Washington: A small number of US troops were injured during a skirmish with Russian forces in Syria, two US officials said. The incident highlights the risks of troops from both countries operating in proximity in northern Syria and the potential for an escalation in tensions. Russians, Syrians and others gather next to an American military convoy stuck in the village of Khirbet Ammu, Syria, during the pandemic. Credit:AP One of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the injuries were a result of a collision between vehicles and not any exchange of fire. The other official said the incident took place earlier this week in north-eastern Syria and the injuries were mild. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 00:35:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, on Aug. 25, 2020 shows delegates attending the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting via video conference. Economic ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday discussed the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 epidemic and its impacts. (VNA via Xinhua) HANOI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Economic ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday discussed the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 epidemic and its impacts. At the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting held online, the attendees exchanged views on the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, discussed and updated about the epidemic situation, Vietnam News Agency reported. The ministers had discussion on the region's response to the epidemic, including its ability to roll out a comprehensive recovery plan, at the meeting, chaired by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh. Amid the epidemic, there have been a number of priorities for the ASEAN to deal with, including disruption of supply chains as well as movements of goods, products, individuals and human resources affected by disease prevention and control measures, Anh said in an interview with Vietnam News Agency on Tuesday. He called for measures from ASEAN countries to further enhance the resilience of the economy and the capacity to respond to new situations. At the meeting, the ministers also discussed negotiation orientations towards the goal of completing the negotiation and signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by the end of 2020, the news agency reported. Anh said Vietnam has worked actively with other ASEAN countries and their partners to promote the handling of unsolved problems in the RCEP negotiation. The goal that Vietnam aims towards is to "continue the efforts to promote the signing process of RCEP in 2020 in Hanoi," and to seek for and further enhance the opportunities to connect with potential partners in trade-economy, he said. The ministers reviewed the implementation of the bloc's economic initiatives in 2020 and approved documents including the ASEAN digital integration index at the meeting. The ASEAN's economic relations with a number of partners, including China, Japan and South Korea, were also tabled for discussion, according to Vietnam News Agency. Established in 1967, the ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Enditem Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wis., and also denounced the arson and violence that followed. "What I saw on that video makes me sick," Biden said, referring to a viral video showing a white Kenosha police officer shooting Jacob Blake seven times in the back at close range as Blake was getting into an SUV. Blake had reportedly just broken up a neighborhood disturbance, and his family now says he is paralyzed from the waist down. Protesters have taken to the streets in anger. Biden, in a video, said he had recently spoken to Blake's family, and "I told them justice must and will be done." He asked listeners to "put yourself in the shoes of every Black father and Black mother in this country and ask, is this what we want America to be?" Then Biden pivoted from condemning police violence to condemning violence in the community, which has included arsonists burning down a justice building and some community businesses and setting some vehicles on fire. "Protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary, but burning down communities is not protest, it's needless violence, violence that endangers lives, violence that guts businesses and shutters businesses that serve the community," Biden said. "That's wrong." Biden called for people to "unite, and heal, do justice, end the violence, and end systemic racism in this country now." A 17-year-old who reportedly showed up near protesters to defend against property violence was charged with murder on Wednesday on suspicion of shooting and killing two people and wounding a third during clashes on Tuesday night. Bengaluru, Aug 26 : As frontline warriors in the battle against the deadly pandemic, many Karnataka police personnel donated blood plasma to treat Covid-19 patients in the state, a top official said on Wednesday. "Over 40 police personnel who have recovered from the infection have registered to offer their blood plasma after 15 of their colleagues donated their plasma," said state Director General of Police (DGP) Praveen Sood in a statement here. Of the 15 who donated so far, 9 are from the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and 6 from the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF). "They (police personnel) are not only Corona warriors but also saviours, as they donated plasma after recovering from the disease," said Sood. In addition, many from the regular police force have also donated their antibody-rich plasma. Nearly 2,000 police personnel have tested positive across the southern state even as they remained on duty continuously amid the pandemic. While about 40 of the state police personnel succumbed to the infection so far, about 1,500 recovered as they were asymptomatic and about 400 are under treatment at designated hospitals across the state. Mysuru Police Commissioner Chandra Gupta was the latest to test Covid positive on Tuesday after KSRP assistant commissioner of police Bharat Raj tested positive for the virus. Growing focus toward agricultural expansion in terms of productivity drives the growth of the Vietnam fertilizer market. Based on region, Southern Vietnam contributed the highest share in 2019, and will maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The prices of fertilizers across Vietnam have been surged due to disruptions in logistics and clearances for raw material imported from China. Portland, OR, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the Vietnam fertilizer market generated $4.5 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $5.7 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 3.8% from 2020 to 2027. The report offers an extensive analysis of changing market dynamics, key winning strategies, business performance, major segments, and competitive scenarios. Growing focus toward agricultural expansion in terms of productivity drives the growth of the Vietnam fertilizer market. However, frequent climatic changes affecting farming activities restrain the market growth. Furthermore, growing demand for organic fertilizers is expected to provide new growth opportunities for the market player in near future. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/7092 Covid-19 scenario: The Vietnam fertilizer market has not witnessed any major impact due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the fertilizer market remained well supplied due to the build-up of inventories at the producers end in China. In addition, the prices of fertilizers across Vietnam have been surged during the Covid-19 pandemic due to disruptions in logistics and clearances for raw material coming in from China. The report offers a detailed segmentation of the Vietnam fertilizer market based on type, form, application/crop type, nutrient content, and region. Based on type, the inorganic segment contributed to the largest share in 2019, accounting for more than four-fifths of the total share, and is estimated to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period. However, the organic segment is estimated to portray the highest CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period. Story continues Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Vietnam Fertilizer Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/7092?reqfor=covid Based on form, the dry segment accounted for the largest share in 2019, holding more than four-fifths of the total share, and is expected to maintain the largest share throughout the forecast period. However, the liquid segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 4.4% from 2020 to 2027. Based on region, Southern Vietnam accounted for the largest share in 2019, holding more than half of the total share, and is expected to maintain the largest share throughout the forecast period. However, central Vietnam is expected to register the highest CAGR of 4.2% from 2020 to 2027. Leading market players analyzed in the research include Baconco, Agricultural Products and Materials Joint Stock Company, General Materials and Biochemical Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, DUC Giang Chemicals Group, SongGianhCorporation (SongGianh), Japan Vietnam Fertilizer Company (JVF), Vedan Vietnam Enterprise Corp. Ltd., Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), Yara Vietnam, and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam or PVN). Interested in Procuring this Report? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/vietnam-fertilizer-market/purchase-options Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP, based in Portland, Oregon. AMR provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. CONTACT: Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: 1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com When a meteorite hurtles through the atmosphere and crashes to Earth, how does its violent impact alter the minerals found at the landing site? Washington, DC-- When a meteorite hurtles through the atmosphere and crashes to Earth, how does its violent impact alter the minerals found at the landing site? What can the short-lived chemical phases created by these extreme impacts teach scientists about the minerals existing at the high-temperature and pressure conditions found deep inside the planet? New work led by Carnegie's Sally June Tracy examined the crystal structure of the silica mineral quartz under shock compression and is challenging longstanding assumptions about how this ubiquitous material behaves under such intense conditions. The results are published in Science Advances. "Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's crust, found in a multitude of different rock types," Tracy explained. "In the lab, we can mimic a meteorite impact and see what happens." Tracy and her colleagues--Washington State University's (WSU) Stefan Turneaure and Princeton University's Thomas Duffy, a former Carnegie Fellow--used a specialized cannon-like gas gun to accelerate projectiles into quartz samples at extremely high speeds--several times faster than a bullet fired from a rifle. Special x-ray instruments were used to discern the crystal structure of the material that forms less than one-millionth of a second after impact. Experiments were carried out at the Dynamic Compression Sector (DCS), which is operated by WSU and located at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. Quartz is made up of one silicon atom and two oxygen atoms arranged in a tetrahedral lattice structure. Because these elements are also common in the silicate-rich mantle of the Earth, discovering the changes quartz undergoes at high-pressure and -temperature conditions, like those found in the Earth's interior, could also reveal details about the planet's geologic history. When a material is subjected to extreme pressures and temperatures, its internal atomic structure can be re-shaped, causing its properties to shift. For example, both graphite and diamond are made from carbon. But graphite, which forms at low pressure, is soft and opaque, and diamond, which forms at high pressure, is super-hard and transparent. The different arrangements of carbon atoms determine their structures and their properties, and that in turn affects how we engage with and use them. Despite decades of research, there has been a long-standing debate in the scientific community about what form silica would take during an impact event, or under dynamic compression conditions such as those deployed by Tracy and her collaborators. Under shock loading, silica is often assumed to transform to a dense crystalline form known as stishovite--a structure believed to exist in the deep Earth. Others have argued that because of the fast timescale of the shock the material will instead adopt a dense, glassy structure. Tracy and her team were able to demonstrate that counter to expectations, when subjected to a dynamic shock of greater than 300,000 times normal atmospheric pressure, quartz undergoes a transition to a novel disordered crystalline phase, whose structure is intermediate between fully crystalline stishovite and a fully disordered glass. However, the new structure cannot last once the burst of intense pressure has subsided. "Dynamic compression experiments allowed us to put this longstanding debate to bed," Tracy concluded. "What's more, impact events are an important part of understanding planetary formation and evolution and continued investigations can reveal new information about these processes." ### This research was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the NSF. Washington State University (WSU) provided experimental support through awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA). This work is based on experiments performed at the Dynamic Compression Sector, operated by WSU under a DOE/ NNSA award. This research used the resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by the Argonne National . The Carnegie Institution for Science (carnegiescience.edu) is a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with six research departments throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 1902, the Carnegie Institution has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science. FORT MYERS, Fla., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sales improved 9.2% from the first quarter, driven by strong digital performance and store reopenings Expense reductions accelerated with a second quarter SG&A year-over-year dollar improvement of 37% Financial position and liquidity remain strong with $124.5 million in cash and cash equivalents Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) (the "Company") today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2020 second quarter ended August 1, 2020. Molly Langenstein, Chief Executive Officer and President, Chico's FAS said: "Our core strengths - three distinctive brands with new product being well received, a strong digital platform, a differentiated real estate portfolio, our loyal customer base and solid balance sheet position us for success. We are taking advantage of this unprecedented period by capitalizing on these strengths and staying laser focused on continuing our successful turnaround strategy, including accelerating digital growth." "As I enter my second year with the business, the things we learned and improved last fall have been accelerated into the back half of this year. In the second quarter, we substantially enhanced our financial performance despite pandemic headwinds," Langenstein continued. "Compared to the first quarter, our second quarter digital and store sales trends improved 9.2% and gross margin rate rose more than 1,800 basis points. We lowered year-over-year SG&A expenses by 37% and we strengthened the balance sheet. Store and digital conversion rates improved in the second quarter, providing an indicator that our product changes to comfort, casual and easy care fabrics are resonating with customers, giving us confidence our financial and product initiatives combined with relentless customer focus have positioned us to emerge a stronger company. I remain excited and optimistic about the future of Chico's FAS." Business Highlights The Company began the second quarter primarily as a digital-only business, with year-over-year total digital sales increasing double digits in the quarter. In May 2020, the Company commenced its phased store reopening plan under enhanced safety protocols and had opened approximately 96% of its store base by the end of the second quarter. Overall, government mandates delayed store reopening plans which resulted in stores effectively being closed the same number of weeks in the second quarter as in the first quarter. Ms. Langenstein added, "The Company continues to focus on sales and financial initiatives to improve its operational position. Specifically: Our investments in and focus on our digital business are delivering positive results. Year-over-year, digital sales in the apparel group and intimates each grew double digits. Soma led the way with digital sales improving 70% in the second quarter over last year. COVID-19 presented a major challenge and we took the opportunity to reassort inventory to customer demand. We achieved a 37% year-over-year SG&A improvement by streamlining our organizational structure and aligning expenses with sales. We are performing a strategic real estate review and reevaluating each store's strategic value and profitability. We are evaluating options for stores not meeting elevated standards and taking action where warranted as evident by our recent exit of frontline stores in Canada . . We are partnering with landlords and achieving rent relief in the form of rent reductions, abatements and other concessions to partially mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our business. Our financial position and liquidity have been strengthened through accelerating online sales, store reopenings, an expense structure aligned with sales and reductions in capital spending. We continue to invest in and focus on innovation in technology, product and marketing." Overview of Financial Results During the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, the Company experienced varying degrees of business disruptions and periods of store closures or reduced operating hours as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (the "pandemic"). Throughout the first half of the fiscal year, the Company was able to navigate a rapidly changing retail landscape by leveraging its omni-channel capabilities and reopening most of its stores. Sales exceeded Company expectations across all brands during the back half of the second quarter. At quarter-end, approximately 96% of the store base were open to the public. The Company recognized significant inventory write-offs and impairment charges as a result of the pandemic during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, however, the impact was partially mitigated by strong digital commerce performance and the Company's ongoing cost-saving measures. The Company's cash flow for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 also reflects the impact of the pandemic. We continued to take aggressive and prudent actions to drive sales, monetize inventory, reduce expenses and manage cash flows, including suspending or reducing rent payments, and partnering with suppliers and vendors to decrease operating costs and extend payment terms to enhance the Company's financial position. The Company believes it is well positioned to effectively navigate the pandemic business environment and remains confident that it currently has sufficient liquidity to repay its obligations as they become due for the foreseeable future. For the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 (the "second quarter"), the Company reported: A net loss of $46.8 million , or $0.40 loss per diluted share, a material improvement over the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2020 (the "first quarter"). The second quarter net loss includes the after-tax impact of inventory write-offs of $8.0 million , or $0.07 per share. For the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019 ("last year's second quarter"), the net loss was $2.3 million , or $0.02 loss per diluted share. Last year's second quarter net loss includes after-tax accelerated depreciation charges of $2.2 million , or $0.02 per share. , or loss per diluted share, a material improvement over the thirteen weeks ended (the "first quarter"). The second quarter net loss includes the after-tax impact of inventory write-offs of , or per share. For the thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2019 ("last year's second quarter"), the net loss was , or loss per diluted share. Last year's second quarter net loss includes after-tax accelerated depreciation charges of , or per share. Net sales were $306.2 million , an improvement of 9.2% from the first quarter, reflecting the benefit of strong digital sales and store reopenings. Sales decreased approximately 39.8% from last year's second quarter, reflecting disruptions related to the pandemic, including the continuation of temporary store closures and limited hours during the second quarter, as well as the impact of 74 net permanent store closures since last year's second quarter, partially offset by double-digit growth in digital performance. , an improvement of 9.2% from the first quarter, reflecting the benefit of strong digital sales and store reopenings. Sales decreased approximately 39.8% from last year's second quarter, reflecting disruptions related to the pandemic, including the continuation of temporary store closures and limited hours during the second quarter, as well as the impact of 74 net permanent store closures since last year's second quarter, partially offset by double-digit growth in digital performance. Gross margin was $44.8 million , or 14.6% of net sales, up more than 1,800 basis points from the first quarter. Gross margin in last year's second quarter was $168.6 million , or 33.2% of net sales. The second quarter year-over-year decrease in gross margin primarily reflects the impact of temporary store closures which resulted in deleverage of occupancy costs as a percent of net sales as well as a pre-tax inventory write-off of $12.3 million , or 4.0% of net sales. The inventory write-off was driven by the slower than planned cadence of store reopenings during the first half of the second quarter and less relevant work wear and special occasion product. , or 14.6% of net sales, up more than 1,800 basis points from the first quarter. Gross margin in last year's second quarter was , or 33.2% of net sales. The second quarter year-over-year decrease in gross margin primarily reflects the impact of temporary store closures which resulted in deleverage of occupancy costs as a percent of net sales as well as a pre-tax inventory write-off of , or 4.0% of net sales. The inventory write-off was driven by the slower than planned cadence of store reopenings during the first half of the second quarter and less relevant work wear and special occasion product. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $107.3 million , or 35.0% of net sales, compared to $171.0 million , or 33.7% of net sales, for last year's second quarter. The $63.7 million decrease in SG&A expenses reflects the Company's ongoing expense reduction initiatives to align its cost structure with sales. For the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020, the Company reported: A net loss of $225.1 million , or $1.95 loss per diluted share, compared to net loss of $0.3 million , or $0.00 per diluted share, for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019. The net loss for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 includes the after-tax impact of goodwill impairment charges of $73.8 million , or $0.63 per share; impairments on other indefinite-lived intangible assets of $24.7 million , or $0.21 per share; inventory write-offs of $34.1 million , or $0.29 per share; long-lived store asset impairments of $13.9 million , or $0.12 per share; and impairment on right of use assets of $1.8 million , or $0.02 per share. These charges represent $189.5 million of the pre-tax net loss and $148.4 million of the after-tax loss, or $1.27 per share, for the twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020. The net loss for the twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2019 includes after-tax accelerated depreciation charges of $5.7 million , or $0.05 per share. Financial Results Results for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 were significantly impacted by the pandemic and included after-tax charges totaling $8.0 million, or $0.07 per share, and $148.4 million, or $1.27 per share, respectively, as detailed in the tables below. Summary of Significant Charges (1) Thirteen Weeks Ended August 1, 2020 Amount, pre-tax % of Net Sales Amount, after-tax Per share impact (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) Gross margin: Inventory write-offs $ 12,256 4.0 % $ 8,028 $ 0.07 Total significant charges impacting gross margin $ 12,256 4.0 % $ 8,028 $ 0.07 Summary of Significant Charges (1) Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 1, 2020 Amount, pre-tax (2) % of Net Sales Amount, after-tax Per share impact (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) Gross margin: Inventory write-offs $ 55,357 9.4 % $ 34,134 $ 0.29 Long-lived store asset impairment 18,493 3.2 13,925 0.12 Right of use asset impairment 2,442 0.4 1,839 0.02 Total significant charges impacting gross margin 76,291 13.0 49,898 0.43 Goodwill and intangible impairment: Goodwill impairment 80,414 13.7 73,837 0.63 Indefinite-lived asset impairment 32,766 5.6 24,673 0.21 Total goodwill and intangible impairment charges 113,180 19.3 98,510 0.84 Total significant charges $ 189,471 32.3 % $ 148,408 $ 1.27 (1) Includes only significant charges related to the pandemic. (2) May not foot due to rounding. Net Sales For the second quarter, net sales were $306.2 million, an improvement of 9.2% from the first quarter, reflecting the benefit of strong digital sales and store reopenings. Sales decreased approximately 39.8% from last year's second quarter, reflecting disruptions related to the pandemic, including the continuation of temporary store closures and limited hours during the second quarter, as well as the impact of 74 net permanent store closures since last year's second quarter, partially offset by double-digit growth in digital performance. The Company is not providing comparable sales figures for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 as it is not a meaningful measure due to the significant impact of store closures as a result of the pandemic. Gross Margin For the second quarter, gross margin was $44.8 million, or 14.6% of net sales, up more than 1,800 basis points from the first quarter. Gross margin in last year's second quarter was $168.6 million, or 33.2% of net sales. The second quarter year-over-year decrease in gross margin primarily reflects the impact of temporary store closures which resulted in deleverage of occupancy costs as a percent of net sales as well as a pre-tax inventory write-off of $12.3 million, or 4.0% of net sales. The inventory write-off was driven by the slower than planned cadence of store reopenings during the first half of the second quarter and less relevant work wear and special occasion product. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses For the second quarter, SG&A expenses were $107.3 million, or 35.0% of net sales, compared to $171.0 million, or 33.7% of net sales, for last year's second quarter. The $63.7 million decrease in SG&A expenses reflects the Company's ongoing expense reduction initiatives to align its cost structure with sales. Income Taxes For the second quarter, the effective tax rate was 25.7% compared to 0.0% for last year's second quarter. The 25.7% effective tax rate includes the annual benefit of the fiscal 2020 pre-tax loss due the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act, which is slightly offset by the impact of nondeductible book goodwill impairment charges. In addition, during the second quarter, the Company recognized a small valuation allowance against certain state tax credit carryforwards that are expected to expire unutilized in the future. The 0.0% effective tax rate for last year's second quarter was primarily the result of an income tax benefit on the quarter's operating loss, offset by a true-up from the first quarter provision due to an increase in the forecasted annual effective tax rate. Cash, Marketable Securities and Debt At the end of the second quarter, cash and marketable securities totaled $124.5 million. Debt at the end of the second quarter totaled $149.0 million, remaining unchanged from the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Inventories At the end of the second quarter, inventories totaled $235.8 million compared to $227.7 million at the end of last year's second quarter. Second quarter inventories were elevated year-over-year due to merchandise in-transit and inventory held for liquidation. Fiscal 2020 Third Quarter and Full-Year Outlook Given the ongoing market disruption caused by the pandemic and related uncertainty on timing and extent of the market recovery, the Company is not providing fiscal 2020 third-quarter or full-year guidance at this time. Conference Call Information The Company is hosting a live conference call on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET to review the operating results for the second quarter. The conference call is being webcast live over the Internet, which you may access in the Investors section of the Company's corporate website, www.chicosfas.com. A replay of the webcast will remain available online for one year at http://chicosfas.com/investors/events-and-presentations. The phone number for the call is 1-877-883-0383. International callers should use 1-412-902-6506. The Elite Entry number, 9283861, is required to join the conference call. Interested participants should call 10-15 minutes prior to the 8:30 a.m. start to be placed in queue. ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC. Chico's FAS is a Florida-based fashion company founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island, Fla. The Company reinvented the fashion retail experience by creating fashion communities anchored by service, which put the customer at the center of everything we do. As one of the leading fashion retailers in North America, Chico's FAS is a company of three unique brands - Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma - each thriving in their own white space, founded by women, led by women, providing solutions that millions of women say give them confidence and joy. Our Company has a passion for fashion, and each day, we provide clothing, shoes and accessories, intimate apparel and expert styling in our brick-and-mortar boutiques, digital online boutiques and through Style Connect, the Company's proprietary digital styling tool that enables customers to conveniently shop wherever, whenever and however they prefer. As of August 1, 2020, the Company operated 1,313 stores in the U.S. and sold merchandise through 69 international franchise locations in Mexico and 2 domestic franchise airport locations. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.chicosofftherack.com, www.whbm.com, www.soma.com and www.mytelltale.com as well as through third-party channels. To learn more about Chico's FAS, visit www.chicosfas.com. The information on our corporate website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated into our federal securities law filings. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements, including without limitation the quote from Ms. Langenstein and the section captioned "Business Highlights," relate to expectations and projections regarding the Company's future performance and may include the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," "plan," "outlook," "project," "should," "strategy," "potential", "confident" and similar terms. These forward-looking statements are based largely on information currently available to our management and on our current expectations, assumptions, plans, estimates, judgments and projections about our business and our industry, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonable estimates and assumptions, there is no assurance that our expectations will, in fact, occur or that our estimates or assumptions will be correct, and we caution investors and all others not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties about its depth and duration, including any resurgence, as well as the impacts to general economic conditions and the economic slowdown affecting consumer behavior and spending (before and after the COVID-19 pandemic) and potential future temporary store closures due to government mandates; the effectiveness of store reopenings, cost reduction initiatives (including our ability to effectively restructure our lease portfolio to obtain rent relief), the extent, availability and effectiveness of any COVID-19 stimulus packages or loan programs, including the CARES Act, the ability of our third-party business partners, including our suppliers, logistics providers, vendors and landlords, to meet their obligations to us in light of financial stress, staffing shortages, liquidity challenges, bankruptcy filings by other industry participants and other disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our manufacturing operations in China, and trends in consumer behavior and spending during and after the end of the pandemic; our ability to successfully implement any alternatives that we pursue including our ability to achieve the cost savings and additional liquidity described in this release; government actions and policies; increases in unemployment rates and taxes; local, regional, national and international economic conditions; changes in the general economic and business environment; changes in the general or specialty retail or apparel industries, including the extent of the market demand and overall level of spending for women's private branded clothing and related accessories; the exiting of store operations in Canada and other future permanent store closures; the effectiveness of our brand strategies, awareness and marketing programs; the ability to successfully execute and achieve the expected results of our business strategies and particular strategic initiatives (including, but not limited to, the Company's digital strategy, organizational restructure, retail fleet optimization plan and three operating priorities which are driving stronger sales through improved product and marketing; optimizing the customer journey by simplifying, digitizing and extending the Company's unique and personalized service; and transforming sourcing and supply chain operations to increase product speed to market and improve quality), sales initiatives and multi-channel strategies; customer traffic; our ability to appropriately manage our inventory and allocation processes; our ability to leverage inventory management and targeted promotions; the successful recruitment of leadership and the successful transition of members of our senior management team; uncertainties regarding future unsolicited offers to buy the Company and our ability to respond effectively to them as well as to actions of activist shareholders and others; changes in the political environment that create consumer uncertainty; the risk that our investments in merchandise or marketing initiatives may not deliver the results we anticipate; significant changes to product import and distribution costs (such as unexpected consolidation in the freight carrier industry, and the ability to remain competitive with customer shipping terms and costs pertaining to product deliveries and returns); new or increased taxes or tariffs that could impact, among other things, our sourcing from foreign suppliers; and significant shifts in consumer behavior. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors should be considered in evaluating forwardlooking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that the actual future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized. (Financial Tables Follow) Investor Relations Contact: Tom Filandro ICR, Inc. (646) 277-1235 [email protected] Media Relations Contact: Pashen Black Director of Corporate Public Relations (239) 218-3388 Chico's FAS, Inc. 11215 Metro Parkway Fort Myers, Florida 33966 (239) 277-6200 Chico's FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts) Thirteen Weeks Ended Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 1, 2020 August 3, 2019 August 1, 2020 August 3, 2019 Amount % of Sales Amount % of Sales Amount % of Sales Amount % of Sales Net Sales: Chico's $ 139,584 45.6 % $ 268,924 52.9 % $ 271,021 46.3 % $ 545,626 53.2 % White House Black Market 82,253 26.9 139,809 27.5 166,173 28.3 300,754 29.3 Soma 84,337 27.5 99,623 19.6 149,244 25.4 179,704 17.5 Total Net Sales 306,174 100.0 508,356 100.0 586,438 100.0 1,026,084 100.0 Cost of goods sold 261,408 85.4 339,734 66.8 552,767 94.3 666,631 65.0 Gross Margin 44,766 14.6 168,622 33.2 33,671 5.7 359,453 35.0 Selling, general and administrative expenses 107,304 35.0 170,983 33.7 237,475 40.5 356,391 34.7 Goodwill and intangible impairment 0.0 0.0 113,180 19.3 0.0 (Loss) Income from Operations (62,538) (20.4) (2,361) (0.5) (316,984) (54.1) 3,062 0.3 Interest (expense) income, net (507) (0.2) 52 0.0 (851) (0.1) 54 0.0 (Loss) Income before Income Taxes (63,045) (20.6) (2,309) (0.5) (317,835) (54.2) 3,116 0.3 Income tax (benefit) provision (16,200) (5.3) 0.0 (92,700) (15.8) 3,400 0.3 Net Loss $ (46,845) (15.3) % $ (2,309) (0.5) % $ (225,135) (38.4) % $ (284) 0.0 % Per Share Data: Net loss per common share - basic $ (0.40) $ (0.02) $ (1.95) $ Net loss per common and common equivalent share diluted $ (0.40) $ (0.02) $ (1.95) $ Weighted average common shares outstanding basic 115,912 114,802 115,743 114,618 Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding diluted 115,912 114,802 115,743 114,618 Dividends declared per share $ $ 0.0875 $ 0.0900 $ 0.2625 Chico's FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (in thousands) August 1, 2020 February 1, 2020 August 3, 2019 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 103,765 $ 63,972 $ 99,634 Marketable securities, at fair value 20,742 63,893 63,446 Inventories 235,844 246,737 227,736 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 31,446 41,069 41,469 Income taxes receivable 85,940 7,131 6,450 Total Current Assets 477,737 422,802 438,735 Property and Equipment, net 271,750 315,382 337,049 Right of Use Assets 571,992 648,397 697,332 Other Assets: Goodwill 16,360 96,774 96,774 Other intangible assets, net 6,164 38,930 38,930 Other assets, net 28,931 20,374 17,468 Total Other Assets 51,455 156,078 153,172 $ 1,372,934 $ 1,542,659 $ 1,626,288 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 108,166 $ 134,204 $ 137,142 Current lease liabilities 218,691 157,043 158,866 Other current and deferred liabilities 111,318 114,498 108,861 Total Current Liabilities 438,175 405,745 404,869 Noncurrent Liabilities: Long-term debt 149,000 42,500 50,000 Long-term lease liabilities 482,380 555,922 611,308 Other noncurrent and deferred liabilities 6,529 8,188 8,860 Deferred taxes 52 212 2,129 Total Noncurrent Liabilities 637,961 606,822 672,297 Commitments and Contingencies Shareholders' Equity: Preferred stock Common stock 1,199 1,184 1,180 Additional paid-in capital 495,163 492,129 487,789 Treasury stock, at cost (494,395) (494,395) (494,395) Retained earnings 294,708 531,602 554,694 Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) 123 (428) (146) Total Shareholders' Equity 296,798 530,092 549,122 $ 1,372,934 $ 1,542,659 $ 1,626,288 Chico's FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statements (Unaudited) (in thousands) Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 1, 2020 August 3, 2019 Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net loss $ (225,135) $ (284) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Goodwill and intangible impairment 113,180 Inventory write-offs 54,308 6,232 Depreciation and amortization 33,613 46,826 Non-cash lease expense 100,710 106,961 Exit of frontline Canada operations 498 Right of use asset impairment 3,236 Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment, net 18,637 196 Deferred tax benefit (6,756) (2,639) Share-based compensation expense 3,793 3,486 Changes in assets and liabilities: Inventories (44,926) 1,250 Prepaid expenses and other assets 2,743 (9,897) Income tax receivable (78,809) 5,465 Accounts payable (26,300) (16,509) Accrued and other liabilities (338) (5,884) Lease liability (38,673) (114,186) Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (90,219) 21,017 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Purchases of marketable securities (5,212) (25,615) Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 48,326 24,384 Purchases of property and equipment (8,151) (14,076) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 34,963 (15,307) Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Proceeds from borrowings 106,500 Payments on borrowings (7,500) Proceeds from issuance of common stock 251 392 Dividends paid (10,701) (20,633) Payments of tax withholdings related to share-based awards (995) (2,484) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 95,055 (30,225) Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (6) 21 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 39,793 (24,494) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of period 63,972 124,128 Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of period $ 103,765 $ 99,634 Supplemental Detail on Net Loss Per Common Share Calculation In accordance with accounting guidance, unvested share-based payment awards that include non-forfeitable rights to dividends, whether paid or unpaid, are considered participating securities. As a result, such awards are required to be included in the calculation of loss per common share pursuant to the "two-class" method. For the Company, participating securities are comprised entirely of unvested restricted stock awards granted prior to fiscal 2020 and performance-based restricted stock units ("PSUs") that have met their relevant performance criteria. Net loss per share is determined using the two-class method when it is more dilutive than the treasury stock method. Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, including participating securities. Diluted net loss per share reflects the dilutive effect of potential common shares from non-participating securities such as restricted stock awards granted after fiscal 2019, stock options, PSUs and restricted stock units. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 1, 2020 and August 3, 2019, potential common shares were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share to the extent they were antidilutive. The following unaudited table sets forth the computation of net loss per basic and diluted share shown on the face of the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of loss (in thousands, except per share amounts): Thirteen Weeks Ended Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 1, 2020 August 3, 2019 August 1, 2020 August 3, 2019 Numerator Net loss $ (46,845) $ (2,309) $ (225,135) $ (284) Net income and dividends declared allocated to participating securities (193) Net loss available to common shareholders $ (46,845) $ (2,309) $ (225,328) $ (284) Denominator Weighted average common shares outstanding basic 115,912 114,802 115,743 114,618 Dilutive effect of non-participating securities Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding diluted 115,912 114,802 115,743 114,618 Net loss per common share: Basic $ (0.40) $ (0.02) $ (1.95) $ Diluted $ (0.40) $ (0.02) $ (1.95) $ Chico's FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries Store Count and Square Footage Thirteen Weeks Ended August 1, 2020 (Unaudited) May 2, 2020 New Stores Closures August 1, 2020 Store Count: Chico's frontline boutiques 523 (3) 520 Chico's outlets 123 123 Chico's Canada 4 (4) WHBM frontline boutiques 357 (3) 354 WHBM outlets 57 (1) 56 WHBM Canada 6 (6) Soma frontline boutiques 244 (2) 242 Soma outlets 18 18 Total Chico's FAS, Inc. 1,332 (19) 1,313 May 2, 2020 New Stores Closures Other Changes in SSF August 1, 2020 Net Selling Square Footage (SSF): Chico's frontline boutiques 1,424,322 (9,793) 2,437 1,416,966 Chico's outlets 309,921 309,921 Chico's Canada 9,695 (9,695) WHBM frontline boutiques 837,390 (6,193) (834) 830,363 WHBM outlets 119,690 (2,206) 117,484 WHBM Canada 15,588 (15,588) Soma frontline boutiques 460,153 (3,259) (288) 456,606 Soma outlets 34,329 34,329 Total Chico's FAS, Inc. 3,211,088 (46,734) 1,315 3,165,669 As of August 1, 2020, the Company's franchise operations consisted of 69 international retail locations in Mexico and 2 domestic airport locations. Chico's FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries Store Count and Square Footage Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 1, 2020 (Unaudited) February 1, 2020 New Stores Closures August 1, 2020 Store count: Chico's frontline boutiques 525 (5) 520 Chico's outlets 123 123 Chico's Canada 4 (4) WHBM frontline boutiques 362 (8) 354 WHBM outlets 59 (3) 56 WHBM Canada 6 (6) Soma frontline boutiques 244 (2) 242 Soma outlets 18 18 Total Chico's FAS, Inc. 1,341 (28) 1,313 February 1, 2020 New Stores Closures Other Changes in SSF August 1, 2020 Net Selling Square Footage (SSF): Chico's frontline boutiques 1,429,592 (15,063) 2,437 1,416,966 Chico's outlets 309,921 309,921 Chico's Canada 9,695 (9,695) WHBM frontline boutiques 848,778 (17,581) (834) 830,363 WHBM outlets 123,735 (6,504) 253 117,484 WHBM Canada 15,588 (15,588) Soma frontline boutiques 460,153 (3,259) (288) 456,606 Soma outlets 34,329 34,329 Total Chico's FAS, Inc. 3,231,791 (67,690) 1,568 3,165,669 As of August 1, 2020, the Company's franchise operations consisted of 69 international retail locations in Mexico and 2 domestic airport locations. SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc. Related Links http://www.chicos.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 20:38:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHICAGO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two people have died and another has been injured in a shooting during the third night of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin following the police shooting of a black man, according to local police. The shooting happened at around 11:45 p.m. local time (0445 GMT) in an area where protests were taking place, police said in a news release, adding that the injured person was in a serious but non-life threatening condition. FBI and Kenosha police have launched an investigation into the shooting, according to an ABC News report. A video posted on social media shows 29-year-old Jacob Blake appearing to be shot by police seven times in the back at close range in Kenosha on Sunday evening. Blake was later taken to hospital and remains in critical condition. His family plan to file a civil lawsuit against the Kenosha Police Department over the shooting, a family attorney said Tuesday. Enditem live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The UK governments bailout package, titled Project Birch, will not benefit Tata Motors. N Chandrasekaran, the companys Chairman, has said the company is not holding any funding discussions with the government on supporting the British brands Jaguar and Land Rover. Chandrasekaran, who is also the Chairman of Tata Sons, was addressing Tata Motors shareholders at the companys 75th annual general meeting, held on August 25 through a video conference. There have been no discussions in terms of funding; we are not looking at any funding from the UK government, Chandrasekaran said. In March, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a GBP 350 billion package of loans and grants to keep businesses afloat in the UK. Recent news articles in the UK reported that Tata Motors was looking for GBP 1 billion in funding for JLR. However the Mumbai-based automaker never officially spoke about it. Struggling to keep the engine running JLR secured about $705 million from Chinese banks in June in the form of unsecured three-year term loans. This loan pushed up its total debt to $6.5 billion as of June 2020, an increase of 11.5 percent over March 2020, and a nearly 30 percent jump from June 2019. During the June quarter JLRs worldwide retail volumes stood at 74,067 units, down 42 percent from the 128,615 units clocked in the same quarter last year. Capacity utilisation across its plants currently stands at 61 percent. Jaguar Land Rover recorded a GBP 469 million net loss in FY20, which was preceded by a massive GBP 3.32 billion net loss in FY19. For the June quarter the loss after tax was GBP 648 million, widening 61 percent from a loss after tax of GBP 402 million recorded in the same quarter last year. After posting its second consecutive annual loss last year, JLR has gone for a massive belt-tightening exercise. To bring in efficiencies it is aggressively reducing costs and cutting back on undeclared but unviable projects. Tata Motors has also decided to scale back capital expenditure at JLR by 45 percent to GBP 2.5 billion in FY21. Job cuts In mid-June Unite, the UK and Irelands largest union, protested against the axing of 1,100 agency workers at JLR factories. This included around 400 job losses at the Solihull plant, with the remaining job losses spread over the companys other sites in the West Midlands and Merseyside. We dont know if the number of employees will be coming down further this year, Chandrasekaran added. More than 20,000 Jaguar Land Rover employees were furloughed in April, which was down to 10,000 in July. Collectively the employees received GBP 140 million in entitlements from the government. JLR is also expecting a continued reduction in headcount. The absolute number of people within the organisation continues to fall. It was down to 37,400 in March and that will reduce 2 percent or 3 percent in the first half and continue probably in the second half as well, Adrian Mardell, CFO, JLR said in a recent interaction with analysts. TOMS RIVER, NJ Toms River Mayor Maurice B. Hill joined a growing chorus of municipal officials around the state who are urging Gov. Phil Murphy to reopen indoor dining, fitness centers and movie theaters. During the Toms River Township Council meeting Tuesday, Hill said he spoke with state officials recently and urged them reopen those businesses as New Jersey's infection rates continue to go down in the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey's rate of transmission was at 0.83 as of Tuesday afternoon, sitting below 1 for the 19th day in a row. There were 346 new positive cases statewide, giving New Jersey more than 190,000 since the first case was reported March 4. There were 78 people in the intensive care unit and 30 of those were on ventilators as of Monday, according to the state's coronavirus dashboard. There have been 14,124 people who have died from the effects of the coronavirus. It is seeing numbers like those that have had Hill and the council increase calls for a relaxation of restrictions, to allow businesses to stay afloat. While many Toms River restaurants have taken advantage of the outdoor dining permissions, it is very much weather-dependent. The inability to have any indoor dining has created tremendous financial stress, and some restaurants have closed altogether. "I've asked them repeatedly to open up indoor dining, fitness centers, movie theaters," Hill said. "They said they're thinking about it." "I said it's past that time," Hill said. Indoor dining and fitness centers aren't the only things some want to see open, however. Parents have been pushing for schools to open, and Toms River is no exception. Plans that the district revealed that would require teachers to be in their classrooms to teach, while students study remotely, have received mix reactions from teachers and parents. Read more: Toms River School Plan: Teachers In Buildings, Students At Home Story continues Jennifer Howe, who serves on the Toms River Regional Board of Education, spoke during the public portion of the township council meeting on Tuesday. While her primary message was to urge the council to get along because weeks of strife have resulted in negative news reports, Howe also urged the council and Hill to see what they could do to get the township's schools to reopen. "I agree with you about the numbers," Howe said, referring to Hill's comments about the decreased transmission rate and lower critical care figures. "Our numbers are low enough where our kids will be safe," she said. "Our kids need to go back to school and encouragement from the council to the higher-ups would be appreciated." Howe said the persistent infighting and anger that's been on display which has stemmed from persistent conflict between Councilman Dan Rodrick and Hill and the rest of the council have been ugly. Those conflicts, combined with the conflict over the school restart plans that have turned parents against teachers, are not good for the town, she said. "You can disagree with each other but the hatred is bad for our town," Howe said. She said the kids will take what happens with school in stride, but said the problem is the behavior of the adults. "The kids are going to make do," she said. "The adults are the worst." "It's not good for our town that every week they're reading the boards were arguing," she said. Council President Maria Maruca said the town has always come together in past times of crisis, but the ongoing nature of the pandemic has frayed people's nerves and patience. She urged the community and the council to redouble the efforts to be a community that takes care of each other. "If everyone comes together and does something, (such as) help out at the church, or patronize a business, the little things will add up," Maruca said. Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook. This article originally appeared on the Toms River Patch On the sweeping plains at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, a group of female wildlife rangers is making history by defying patriarchal norms. IMAGE: Members of Team Lioness, an all-female Kenyan ranger unit, patrol in their pickup truck as they stay at Risa camp within the Olgulului conservancy in Amboseli, Kenya. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters In Africa's Tanzania a group of female wildlife rangers is making history by defying patriarchal norms that have been passed down for centuries, patrolling against poachers instead of doing household chores. Eight ethnic Maasai women known as Team Lioness are part of 76 community-based rangers guarding leopards, elephants, giraffe and other wildlife in the 147,000-hectare (363,000-acre) area surrounding Kenyas Amboseli National Park. Their job is to protect wildlife from poaching, trafficking in bushmeat and human-wildlife conflict. IMAGE: Purity Rakala, a member of Team Lioness, an all-female Kenyan ranger unit, disembarks from a patrol pickup truck at Risa camp. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters Team Lioness members say they overcame community resistance to women working outside the home and hope their precedent-setting example will help shift mindsets. First, the community believed I will not make it because they believe I am weak. Our work in the community was to give birth and do chores, 24-year-old Purity Amleset was quoted as saying. They thought that this is only meant for men so they have been discouraging us ... but we told them, No, we will do it and we will make it, Amleset added. Sharon Nankinyi, another ranger, said the day she was chosen to enter the team was the best day of her life. Its rare for a woman in our community to be a ranger. With us being the first women rangers we are changing the taboo and men and our dads respect us. We have fought for the rights of girls in our community, the 20-year-old was quoted as saying by Reuters. IMAGE: Members of Team Lioness collect firewood while patrolling at Risa camp within the Olgulului conservancy in Amboseli. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters The female rangers, all aged 17 to 26, have secondary education and are the first to earn formal employment in their families. Recruitment was done on the basis of their education qualifications, with each of the eight clans within the community getting a slot to ensure equality. Along with other members of Team Lioness, Purity underwent a three-week paramilitary training before joining the unit. A lot of times, we deal with irate members of the community when their livestock is attacked by wildlife. It requires a lot of wisdom to calm them down, putting in mind that some are armed and could easily harm us, she says. IMAGE: A member of Team Lioness uses binoculars during a patrol. As the women patrol, their bonds are clear -- they chat and joke on the long walks in between visits to residents, who they ask whether predators are bothering cattle or if any strangers are moving through the area. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters Patrick Papatiti, the head of the community rangers for the Olgulului-Ololarashi group ranch surrounding the national park, said the idea for an all-female ranger group gained ground around two years ago when the ranch, owned by the Maasai community, started working with the International Fund for Animal Welfare. When the idea was floated to the ranch's leadership they were a little hesitant, not because they didn't like it but because they believed the society will not accept it," Papatiti said. A significant population in the community felt that women would not be able to do the work, he said. There was also fear that this project would empower women, and if it's successful then definitely other perceptions in society can be challenged." Despite the initial reluctance, each of the eight Maasai clans after extensive outreach eventually sent representatives to be interviewed for the jobs. A few of us who believed in them knew very well with time ... that women can do as well as men, Papatiti said. IMAGE: Members of Team Lioness take a break under a tree. The rangers carry out 20 km patrols to visit the local community, track and record GPS coordinates of wildlife sightings, as well as threats like snares or any suspicious activity along the way. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters He said Team Lioness has exceeded expectations. The women have excelled in intelligence-gathering because they are easily trusted with information and are the best data-collection unit because all have high school educations. They did not fail us, he said. Good relationships with the community have contributed to Team Lionessess success. When the unit encounters armed poachers or threats of big magnitude, they get backup from Kenya Wildife Service rangers. On a day, rangers can walk up to 30 miles scanning for threats to wildlife. The unit has two trucks for rapid response operations. They also conduct night patrols and ambushes based on the intelligence they receive. IMAGE: Sharon Karaine, member of Team Lioness is welcomed by Maasai women in traditional costumes as she arrives home from the Risa camp, where she stayed due to the coronavirus disease. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters The coronavirus pandemic has shut down the tourism industry in Kenya that provides an income to many Maasai living near the park. Tourism provides nearly 10 per cent of Kenyas GDP, with 2.5 million tourists visiting last year. With no source of income, some community members have turned to poaching for bush meat, Papatiti said. Fourteen giraffes have been killed this year. That poses a new challenge for Team Lioness and their ranger colleagues, who usually go about their work on the vast ranch on foot and unarmed, relying on armed government park rangers as backup. IMAGE: An elephant walks near a patrol vehicle of Team Lioness at the Amboseli National park, Kenya. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters Team Lioness is funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which helped form the unit in 2017 to encourage more women to take part in conservation. The fund says they managed to stop almost all poaching in the area last year. Sometimes the women are accompanied by male rangers, and sometimes they go by themselves. IMAGE: Sharon Karaine, member of Team Lioness meets children to sensitise them against poaching, as they stay at Risa camp. Photograph: Njeri Mwangi/Reuters This unit has also inspired young girls like Puritys sisters by giving them role models. NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Kingold Jewelry, Inc. (Kingold or the Company)(OTC: KGJI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and indexed under 20-cv-03050, is on behalf of persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Kingold securities between March 15, 2018, and June 28, 2020, inclusive (the Class Period). Plaintiff seeks to recover compensable damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). If you are a shareholder who purchased Kingold securities during the Class Period, you have until August 31, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Kingold purports to design, manufacture, and sell 24-karat gold jewelry and Chinese ornaments in the Peoples Republic of China. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading because they misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Kingold used fake gold as collateral to fraudulently secure loans; (ii) consequently, the Company would face creditor lawsuits and be delisted from the Shanghai Gold Exchange; and (iii) as a result, Defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On June 29, 2020, before the market opened, Caixin Global published an article entitled Cover Story: The Mystery of $2 Billion of Loans Backed by Fake Gold. The article stated, among other things, that Kingold had used gold bars that were actually gilded copper as collateral in loans and was now facing lawsuits as a result, and that Kingold had been delisted from the Shanghai Gold Exchange. On this news, shares of Kingold stock fell $0.27 per share, or over 24%, to close at $0.85 per share on June 29, 2020. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has suspended testing of suspected contraband drugs in its 52 prisons a decision the union representing New Yorks correction officers says will lead to more violence in the facilities. The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association revealed Tuesday that DOCCS found there were false-positive results with the testing kits being used to identify contraband drugs. Its unknown how long the kits were in use. Inmates who were penalized for contraband drugs have been released from special housing units and their records were expunged, according to the union. DOCCS said Wednesday that its working with the state inspector generals office and reviewing the testing procedure for suspected contraband drugs. The department didnt comment on NYSCOPBAs criticisms. NYSCOPBA contends that testing for contraband drugs is necessary to protect the correctional facilities. But they also believe their members are trained to know substances, either sent in a package or brought into a facility by a visitor, are illegal drugs. Without the tests, though, the union says inmates wont be held accountable for introducing illegal drugs into a prison. Steps need to be taken immediately to ensure that the hard-working men and women of NYSCOPBA can properly administer these tests, NYSCOPBA President Michael Powers said. We need to ensure that prison rules are being followed and we wont stand for carelessness that puts our members safety in jeopardy. The unions concerns arent limited to the lack of testing. They worry about what the introduction of drugs into a prison might mean for its environment. Drugs, the union explained in a news release, are powerful currency in prisons. The contraband can create conflict and lead to unrest within the facilities. The way to keep these facilities safe is to withhold privileges from inmates, temporarily relocate them to special housing or other more restrictive units and to charge them criminally, NYSCOPBA continued. Its easy to connect the dots without reliable positive tests, there can be no safety inside prison walls. Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Bewley Irish Imports Donation Efforts in 2020 "We are going to continue to do what we can to give back, to help those in need. Hopefully we can make a difference, and make someones day just a bit brighter in doing so."- Ambarish Patel, owner of Bewley Irish Imports In an effort to help those in need, Bewley Irish Imports, an importer and wholesale distributor of specialty foods and giftware from Ireland, has donated 25,242 lbs. of food to various food banks, service organizations, and essential workers across the United States during the first half of 2020. It is very important to us to help people who are in need, and to give back to our community, Ambarish Patel, owner of Bewley Irish Imports, stated. We also do what we can to support other local businesses as well, especially in these uncertain times. South Jersey Food Bank, West Chester Food Bank, Philabundance, Food Connect, and 16 churches, service organizations, senior centers, veterans centers and community centers located in the heart of Philadelphia have all been recipients of food donations. Free boxes of Butlers chocolate bars were also dropped off at local restaurants as an incentive to help get customers through their doors. Restaurants are navigating this health crisis as best they can, and we thought perhaps offering their patrons free chocolate would help. Who doesnt want free chocolate? Ambarish added, smiling. We are all in this together. Bewley Irish Imports also showed their support for essential workers by sending free Butlers Chocolates to nurses and healthcare workers all across the United States through an awareness campaign on social media. We are going to continue to do what we can to give back, to help those in need. Hopefully we can make a difference, and make someones day just a bit brighter in doing so, Ambarish stated. In additional to Butlers chocolates, additional Irish-made products such as Bewley teas and coffees, Flahavan's oatmeal and porridge, and an assortment of Irish-made condiments have all been distributed during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information about Bewley Irish Imports, visit https://bewleyirishimports.com and https://bewleyusaretail.com About Bewley Irish Imports Since 1982, Bewley Irish Imports has proudly delivered quality Irish food and beverage products and giftware to customers across the United States and Canada. With a mix of internationally recognized Irish brands, Bewley Irish Imports brings the tastes of Ireland to America. Because we believe everyone should be able to savor the flavors of Ireland, many of the products we import are all natural, gluten free, fat free and/or suitable for vegetarians. Maddie Morgan, 21, died when the Nissan Skyline she was travelling in was torn in half in a horror head-on-crash east of Perth on May 15 A driver was high on meth and cannabis when his car slammed into a Nissan Skyline and split it in two, killing a mother-to-be and her unborn child. Jesse Matthews, 23, admitted on Wednesday he was responsible for the horror collision at Mahogany Creek, east of Perth on May 15. Maddie Morgan, 21, was killed and her partner Jack Bryant, 23, was seriously injured. Their unborn baby Lucy was delivered but didn't survive. Matthews pleaded guilty to a string of charges - including two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death - at Midland Courthouse in Perth, reported 7 News. He also pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of drugs and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. But the 23-year-old was allowed to walk free on bail, despite the charges against him amounting to a maximum penalty of 64 years behind bars. Jesse Matthews, 23, (pictured) ignored the media's questions as he left the courthouse, with a young woman and baby by his side Maddie's mother said even the harshest penalty won't be able to bring her daughter back. Matthews ignored the media pack as he left the courthouse with a young woman and baby by his side. He will be sentenced later this year. Jack Bryant, 23, lost his heavily pregnant girlfriend Maddie Morgan, 21, (pictured together) and their unborn daughter when their Nissan Skyline was struck by another vehicle east of Perth on May 15 Maddie's partner Jack Bryant miraculously survived the crash which claimed the life of his girlfriend and unborn baby on May 15. Mr Bryant's Nissan skyline was torn in two when it was struck by a Ford Falcon with Matthews behind the wheel. He described his horror after waking up from an induced coma at the Royal Perth Hospital a day and a half after the crash to learn his girlfriend and baby were dead. The Skyline split in two when it was hit by the Falcon (pictured) at the corner of the Great Eastern Highway and Homestead Road in Mahogany Creek on May 15 'The first thing I do remember was seeing two of the police women that informed me about what happened,' he told The West Australian. 'You dont believe it at all. All the cliche things you can think of. It must be a dream, you are trying to wake yourself up. 'Its just the biggest empty feeling you can imagine.' Mr Bryant was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious head injuries, a ruptured spleen, half a dozen broken ribs, collapsed lungs and a chip in his spine. He was discharged six days later. He urged motorists to do the right thing and avoid taking risks, warning they are not worth the potential consequences. FP Trending Editor's Note: This story was originally published on 26 August, and has been republished with a correction on 27 August to reflect IRDAI's clarification that the PUC certificate was needed for motor vehicle insurance renewal but not for claims. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has notified all general insurance companies in India to obtain valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate for vehicles at the time of renewal of policy. According to a report by Live Law, the IRDAI in its circular has advised insurance providers to not renew the vehicle's insurance policy without the owner providing a valid PUC certificate as per the orders of the Supreme Court of India. A report by The Indian Express said that if the validity of the PUC certificate has expired during the time of accidents, the insurance providers will not cover the any damages. The IRDAI emphasized that the pollution licence is essential for all the applications and renewals, but not required for claims. Earlier, the apex court had ordered insurance companies not to insure a vehicle unless it has a valid PUC certificate on the date of renewal of the insurance policy. As per the circular sent to all CEOs and CMDs of general insurance companies, IRDAI said, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has raised concerns regarding the status of compliance of above direction of Supreme Court of India in National Capital Region of Delhi (Delhi NCR). It asked companies to ensure that the direction of the court is followed scrupulously with special focus on compliance in DelhiNCR. According to a report by Indian Express, a PUC certificate confirms that the emissions from vehicles meet the pollution control standards. The pollution standards/emission levels are stipulated for all the kinds of vehicles in the country. It is a certificate that is given to vehicle owners after the test confirms that the emission levels of their cars are within the prescribed safe limit. President Assad has formally requested that Hussein Arnous assume the role of Prime Minister of Syria and form a cabinet writes SANA. On Tuesday, President Bashar al-Assad issued Decree No. 210 for 2020 tasking Hussein Arnous with forming the Cabinet of the Syrian Arab Republic. Hussein Arnous was born in Idleb in 1953, and graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of Aleppo in 1978. He headed the Engineers Syndicate branch in Idleb from 1989 to 1994, and was appointed Governor of Deir ez-Zor from 2009 until 2011 and Governor of Quneitra in 2011, in addition to being a member of the central leadership of the Baath Party since 2013. He was appointed Minister of Water Resources in 2018, in addition to being tasked with assuming the duties of Prime Minister on Jun. 11, 2020. 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. Military police to get CM-34 armored vehicles ROC Central News Agency 08/25/2020 08:08 PM Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Tuesday said it is placing an additional order of 21 CM-34 "Clouded Leopard" eight-wheeled armored vehicles, to be deployed to the country's Military Police Command. The new order comes on top of 284 units already ordered for the nation's military, said Yu Yu-tang () of the Armaments Bureau, which developed the Clouded Leopard and is an affiliated authority of the MND. Considering the firepower of the CM-34, officially called the Taiwan Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV), the indigenous armored vehicles will help reinforce the capability of the military police, Yu said. Mass production of the 284 vehicles, which began in 2019, is expected to be completed by 2023, he said, adding that 32 were delivered last year, of which six have so far entered service. The CM-34 is armored with the Orbital ATK 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon, which has an effective firing range of over 2,000 meters. It also comes with a forward looking infrared sensor, a low-light television camera and a laser rangefinder, according to the ministry. Roughly 88 percent of the vehicle parts are sourced and produced locally, except for the engine, the MK44 cannon, transmission and toxic gas detection system, which need to be procured from overseas, Yu added. In a separate report Tuesday, the MND declined to confirm reports that the ministry has plans to station some of its F-16 fighter jets in Penghu as part of the government's response to China's aggressive behavior toward Taiwan in recent months. The ministry neither comments on details nor discloses information regarding the use and allocation of troops or operational planning, MND spokesman Shih Shun-wen () told reporters in Taipei. Concerning reports suggesting that Taiwan's air defenses could easily destroy any Chinese jets crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, Shih said its military strives not to take any provocative actions and that appropriate measures will always be taken to warn away Chinese military planes that violate Taiwan's airspace. Only in cases of obvious threat or attack would the military consider using force in self-defense, the spokesman said. Also that day, Shih told the media that the recent deployment of drones to Taiwan's Dongsha Islands and Taiping Island in the South China Sea was simply to reinforce the defense capability of the coastguard stationed there, and not for the purpose of reconnaissance or on-site monitoring over the airspace, as had been suggested by the local media. (By Chen Chun-hua and Ko Lin) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26 : Launching a scathing attack against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday said that the fire at the state Secretariat is a conspiracy to save Vijayan in the gold smuggling case. The Kerala government, meanwhile, directed Additional Director General of Police Manoj Abraham to conduct a probe into the fire. On Wednesday morning, the team began the probe. Launching a protest in front of the Secretariat here to demand Vijayan's resignation, Chennithala said: "All the people of the state saw the action of Mehta yesterday when a fire broke out in the General Administration Department at the Secretariat. He was seen chasing away the media who came to find out what happened. He is no longer Vishwas Mehta -- he is 'Avishwas Mehta'. He has lost credibility as his main aim now is to save Vijayan." The fire broke out around 4.30 pm on Tuesday, following which top leaders of the opposition Congress and the BJP reached there. "Our MLAs, including area legislator and former Minister VS Sivakumar went there to find out what happened. But the police and other top officials did not allow them entry. It was only after I went to the spot that we were allowed entry. The fact of the matter is, this fire is a 'created one' meant to save Vijayan as the National Investigation Agency has now reached his doorsteps. We met the Governor last night and briefed him about what happened. We do not want a probe by Mehta; we demand that the NIA should take up this fire case also," added the Leader of Opposition. There are reports that gold smuggling case accused PS Sarith and Swapna Suresh had links with officials of the GAD (Protocol) wing, where the fire broke out. "All heard Vijayan saying that a thunder had recently damaged CCTV at his official residence. Soon came another news that CCTV in the Secretariat has also been damaged, and now this fire. Everything is mysterious as Vijayan now leads a gang out to undo everything. We will not rest until he is ousted," said Chennithala. The gold smuggling case was unearthed when Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 when he was facilitating smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai. Things turned murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the Consulate, and employed with the IT Department, surfaced. Later, her links with now-suspended IAS officer M Sivasankar, then posted as Principal secretary to Vijayan and also the IT Secretary, came to light. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text What Exactly Is The Coordination Council And What Are Its Plans To Oust Belarus's Leader? By Tony Wesolowsky August 25, 2020 One day after an estimated 200,000 people flooded the streets of Minsk demanding longtime leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka to step down, the council established to facilitate a transfer of power met the reporters in the Belarusian capital for the first time. Members of the Coordination Council made clear that Lukashenka, whose 26-year reign was extended in the disputed August 9 presidential vote, would have to wake up to the new political reality. "Belarus has changed and authorities will have to talk to us," Maryya Kalesnikava, a council member and close ally of its creator, the self-exiled opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said August 24. Lukashenka's government has responded to the council's challenge this way: his prosecutor-general has opened an investigation, claiming the council is attempting to "seize" power illegally and of having an "anti-Russian" agenda. Two of its members have been arrested. Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich was called in by the powerful Investigative Committee for questioning on her participation with the council. Now, instead of planning for a possible post-Lukashenka future, the council finds itself parrying the government's propaganda blows, said Kamil Klysinski, a senior fellow at the Warsaw-based OSW Center for Eastern Studies. Tsikhanouskaya announced the creation of the Coordination Council on August 18, nine days after the vote. The goal was to ensure a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Belarus which erupted after Lukashenka was declared the winner with some 80 percent of the vote, giving him a sixth straight term in office. Official results said Tsikhanouskaya won only 10 percent of the ballots; something she and her supporters have rejected, saying the vote was falsified. At the same time that council members were being arrested, Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania as protests erupted in Minsk, met with a senior U.S. diplomat in Vilnius. The meeting, with the number two diplomat at the U.S. State Department, was the latest in the Western efforts to encourage Lukashenka to talk to his opponents, especially the Coordination Council, whose members include a former Lukashenka government official. Soon after polls closed on August 9, Belarusians took to the streets to protest what many suspected was yet another rigged election, a vote that was not even monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In the ensuing crackdown, some 7,000 people were detained and hundreds beaten; many have complained of torture and maltreatment while in police custody. The EU and United States have led condemnations of the vote and crackdown. At a Minsk news conference on August 24, opposition lawyer Maksim Znak said as many as 600 people were involved with the Coordination Council; about 70 formed its "backbone," and seven were on the group's presidium. He invited all Belarusians to join the council's activities. "We are for cooperation and dialogue with all countries, especially with neighbors," said another council member, Paval Latushka, a 47-year-old former ambassador, Foreign Ministry spokesman, and ex-culture minister. Since 2019 he has been the head of Minsk's oldest theater, the 19th century Janka Kupala National Theater. Last week, after speaking out against the government, Latushka was fired from his post and the theater has become a flashpoint for the demonstrations. He told the news conference that the sight of detainees emerging from prison with bruises and complaining of punishment beatings convinced him to join the protests. Besides Latushka and Alexievich, a beloved and renowned cultural figure whose health has reportedly deteriorated, the council includes several dozen prominent civic leaders. Lukashenka, meanwhile, has gone to extremes to paint the group as subversive while he also appears to be warming up again to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Belarusian leader has also put troops on alert amid unfounded allegations NATO forces are gathering on its western borders, a claim the Western military alliance has rejected. On August 21, as part of the criminal probe that claimed the council was "aimed at seizing power and undermining the national security of Belarus," Znak was called in for questioning by the Investigative Committee. Znak earlier had filed an official complaint with the Supreme Court calling for the election results to be ruled invalid. Three days later, on August 24, outside the Minsk Tractor Factory, authorities detained two council members: Volha Kovalkova, a top aide of Tsikhanouskaya, and strike organizer Syarhey Dyleuski. They were accused of attempting to organize an unauthorized protest rally at the plant. Both appeared in court after spending a night in jail. Dyleuski was sentenced to 10 days in jail. Another member of the council, lawyer Lilia Vlasova, was also summoned to the Investigative Committee on August 24 for questioning. Alexievich, who has accused Lukashenka of launching a war against his own people with the crackdown, was due to appear before the Investigative Committee for questioning related to the council on August 26. And more institutional pressure continued to pile up on August 25, when the head of the country's Supreme Court ruled the council was "unconstitutional." The pressure on the council has drawn criticism from international organizations. "We are outraged by the launch of criminal proceedings against members of the Coordination Council, which has formed with the sole objective of facilitating a peaceful dialogue with the current government of Belarus," said Marc Behrendt, director of Europe and Eurasia programs at Freedom House, the U.S.-government-funded democracy monitor. In e-mailed remarks to RFE/RL, Klysinski said the council had not yet become a focus of, or rallying point for, opposition groups. "So far the Coordination Council has not become an efficient and strong center of the protest movement or the main focus for all opponents of the regime," Klysinski said. "Moreover, the propaganda counteroffensive of the regime including accusations of being radically anti-Russian even strengthen the fear on possible political strategy, especially concerning foreign policy. Now, one of the main tasks of the council is to deny all those allegations," he added. Meanwhile, as Lukashenka continued tightening the vice, Tsikhanouskaya received a public endorsement from U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun "She is a very impressive person and I can see why she is so popular in her country," Biegun said after August 24 talks in Vilnius. "The purpose of the meeting was to listen, to hear what the thinking is of the Belarusian people and to see what they are doing to obtain the right to self-determination," he added. In a presentation before the European Parliament on August 25, Tsikhanouskaya repeated her appeal for countries to support the Belarusian people to achieve a "free and fair" election result. "Belarus has woken up. We are not the opposition anymore. We are the majority now," Tsikhanouskaya told the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. Klysinski argued that as opposition grows, and the Coordination Council becomes more visible, Lukashenka will become more desperate and will likely resort to even harsher measures. "But Lukashenka is now so angry and upset and desperate to hold onto power that I doubt he will follow rational policy," he said. "And that means strong repression of the council." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30802198.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By PTI NEW DELHI: The arrival of the VVIP aircraft from the US, which will be used to fly president, vice president and prime minister, has been delayed due to technical reasons, senior Air India officials said on Tuesday. The plane was scheduled to arrive in India during the first half of this week, the officials noted. Senior officials of the national carrier reached the US earlier this month to receive the plane from aircraft manufacturer Boeing, the officials said. Another custom-made B777 plane for the travel of VVIPs is likely to be received from Boeing in September, they noted. It was expected that the delivery of these two planes, which are earmarked for VVIP travel only, would be done by July. However, due to COVID-19, their delivery has been delayed by a few weeks. During the travel of the VVIPs, the two B777 aircraft will be operated by pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and not of Air India, an official said. Currently, the president, vice president and the prime minister, fly on Air India's B747 planes, which have the call sign ''Air India One''. Air India pilots fly these B747 aircraft for the dignitaries and the Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) maintains them. When these B747 aircraft are not flying the dignitaries, they are used by the Indian national carrier for commercial operations. The new planes will be used for travel of the dignitaries only. These two aircraft were part of Air India's commercial fleet for a few months in 2018 before they were sent back to Boeing for retrofitting them for VVIP travel. The B777 planes will have state-of-the-art missile defence systems called Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS). In February, the US agreed to sell the two defence systems to India at a cost of USD 190 million. The Centre has already initiated the process of divestment of its stake in Air India, which has a debt of over Rs 60,000 crore. However, the process has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back at the 2008-2009 economic recession, the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud reported a 21% increase in referrals compared to 2007-2008. More broadly, as incomes fell, the most common types of fraud that spiked included vehicle insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, and workers compensation premium fraud, according to a report by BAE Systems. Even in good times, insurance fraud is pervasive. Fraud accounts for 5-10% of claims costs for US and Canadian insurers, as noted by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, and 32% of insurers have said that fraud was as high as 20% of claims costs. Read more: Fifth Third sheds light on cyber event, now classified as a fraud scheme Its really hard to get out in front of fraud. Oftentimes, the reality is were reactionary, not proactive, to new schemes because we dont sit around trying to dream up how to defraud ourselves, said Flato. Despite these challenges, the Liberty Mutual executive added that he does believe the insurance industry is getting better at identifying and preventing fraud. Anti-fraud efforts are a significant area where carriers look for the opportunity to establish their competitive advantage. Nonetheless, innovation in insurance and, specifically, the application of data and analytics will be needed to support these efforts. Everything you plant, you have to water and weed, as my florist dad used to say, explained Flato. Sometimes, you have to make a call on whether or not you can find commercially viable products or partners who are willing to innovate with you There are also things you can do with data internally and still have some localized fraud models. On the workers compensation side, insurance fraud is a significant concern for insurers, especially as the coronavirus pandemic continues to have an impact on the job market. Guy Dougherty, head of workers comp at Farmers Insurance, has spoken with several of his peers about this topic and explained, We really felt like fraud had been squeezed out of workers compensation [since] the economy was doing so well. However, fraud suddenly started sneaking back into workers comp with the advent of the pandemic in the US. There are two levels of fraud real fraud, which is people trying to rip you off, and thats harder to do in workers comp, and then theres the individual fraud, where someone tries to abuse the system, said Dougherty. Were starting to see a little bit of that come back in. Read more: National Insurance Crime Bureau launches online coronavirus fraud resource One example of individual fraud appearing now might be an employee who states that they have a back injury because they know theyre about to be let go. They can then claim workers compensation and avoid being fired. Hopefully, if theres a quick recovery, [fraud] will be abated some. Otherwise, its going to creep back into workers compensation, cautioned Doughterty. With insurance fraud appearing across many lines of business and the current crisis bringing out more participants in fraud, insurers have to be on high alert and deploy the anti-fraud resources available to them to fight back the fraud wave. This is not just localized its a global activity that has to be managed, said Daniel Regan, VP of financial services for SAP. Its a risk that all should be concerned about in todays market. The signing took place within the Ho Chi Minh City - US Business Summit: Driving Partnerships and Innovation for the Future, co-held by the municipal Peoples Committee, the US Consulate General, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham), HCM City Chapter. The smart city operations centre is among four pillars in a master plan to transform Vietnams southern economic hub into a smart city in the 2017-2020 period and vision towards 2025. It is the centre of control, or the brain, of a smart city, collecting and analysing real-time data and information to help decision-makers govern, plan, and shape the future development of HCM City. The project on technical assistance for the building of the smart city will be carried out by US-based Winbourne Consulting. It has total investment of more than US$1.4 million, close to US$1.2 million of which will be provided by the USTDA in the form of non-refundable aid, while the remainder will come from Winbourne Consulting, according to the agreement. [August 26, 2020] S. Korea's KT Showcases Country's First Drive-In Graduation SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KT Corporation (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT), South Korea's largest telecommunications company, showcased the country's first drive-in commencement ceremony for 2019 graduates who could not have a traditional celebration because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The contactless ceremony was held at the Seoul campus of Hongik University last week. Students wearing graduation caps and their families attended the ceremony in their cars, with their images shown on large display panels. The entire ceremony was broadcast live on Hongik University and KT's official YouTube channels. "I hope this new ceremony show hope and joy to all graduates who are taking their first steps into a larger world," said Park Hyun-Jin, head of KT's Customer Strategy Business Division. "We will continue to develop and support contactless services to hep people get over this difficult time of COVID-19." Korea's telecom leader joined hands with Hongik University for a safe and innovative ceremony as the pandemic persists. To help cope with COVID-19, KT is staging a social campaign, dubbed "Ma-Eum:TACT (Heart to Heart)," providing technology supports for couples whose weddings are delayed, shop owners losing customers, school seniors preparing for national exams, and college students missing on-campus festivals. The ceremony opened with a commencement speech by university president Yang Woo-Suk, followed by a congratulatory performance by Nam Kyung-Joo, musical theater actor and faculty member, and students of the Graduate School of Performing Arts. Then a drive-through diploma presentation ceremony was held, and the graduates tossed their caps into the air in a traditional symbolic ending. "We prepared a no-contact, online ceremony in a unique Hongik way in place of a traditional diploma-awarding ceremony of the 2019 school year," President Yang said in his speech. "I hope this will be a special and significant moment for all of our students who are winding up their academic pursuit to celebrate and congratulate one another amid this pandemic situation." 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/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/s-koreas-kt-showcases-countrys-first-drive-in-graduation-301118923.html SOURCE KT Corp. [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\broadband-stimulus's Homepage ] DELCAMBRE, La. - Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a ferocious Category 4 monster early Thursday, swamping a low-lying coast with ocean water that forecasters said could be 20 feet deep and unsurvivable. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. People looking to evacuate the path of Hurricane Laura arrive at the civic center where evacuation buses wait, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Port Arthur, Texas. Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall in the area Wednesday night or early Thursday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) DELCAMBRE, La. - Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a ferocious Category 4 monster early Thursday, swamping a low-lying coast with ocean water that forecasters said could be 20 feet deep and unsurvivable. The National Hurricane Center said the storm, which intensified rapidly Wednesday before plowing into land, came ashore at 1 a.m. CDT near Cameron, a 400-person community about 30 miles (48 kilometres) east of the Texas border. Potentially catastrophic impacts will continue, forecasters said. Shawn Nelson, 7, right, and Asia Nelson, 6, left, board a bus to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Winds gusted above hurricane force to 128 mph (206 kph) while Laura's northern eyewall moved onshore over Cameron Parish. Forecasters said even stronger winds were possible that could rip apart buildings, level trees and toss vehicles like toys. Authorities had implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate, but not everyone did before howling winds began buffeting trees back and forth in an area that was devastated by Rita in 2005. There are some people still in town and people are calling the building but there aint no way to get to them, Tony Guillory, president of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, said over the phone as he hunkered down in a Lake Charles government building that was shaking from the storm. Guillory said he hopes those stranded can be rescued later Thursday but he fears that blocked roads, downed power lines and flooding could delay that process. Jada Lawson, wipes the face fo her daughter Skyler Lawson, 4, as they wait to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, La., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, ahead of Hurricane Laura. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Video and photos on social media showed torrents of rain flying sideways past street lights in Lake Charles, and streets covered with water closer to the coast. A sudden storm surge knocked over cameras meant to capture the hurricanes effects. With hours of violent weather ahead, officials said the extent of destruction likely wouldn't be clear until daybreak, when search and rescue missions will begin. Drawing energy from the warm Gulf of Mexico, the system arrived early Thursday during high tide as the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. so far this year. It looks like its in full beast mode, which is not what you want to see if youre in its way," University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said. People talk as waves wash ashore and the outer bands of Hurricane Laura bring winds and rain Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in High Island. ( Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP) Maximum sustained winds increased to 150 mph (241 kph) before nightfall, and forecasters said up to 18 inches (46 centimetres) of rain could fall. Forecasters issued a string of tornado warnings as the storm pushed on to land, but there were no immediate reports of damage. More than 200,000 homes and businesses were without power in Texas and Louisiana. Earlier Wednesday, winds picked up as shoppers rushed into a grocery store in low-lying Delcambre. Trent Savoie, 31, said he was staying put. With four kids and 100 farm animals, its just hard to move out, he said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards fretted that the dire predictions were not resonating despite authorities putting more than 500,000 coastal residents under mandatory evacuation orders. Shakesa White shops for essentials in preparation for the effects from Hurricane Laura at Natchez, Miss. Walmart on Seargent Prentiss Drive on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be "unsurvivable and capable of sinking entire communities. Authorities implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate and worried that not enough had fled. (Sabrina Robertson/The Natchez Democrat via AP) Officials said at least 150 people refused pleas to leave and planned to weather the storm in everything from elevated homes to recreational vehicles in coastal Cameron Parish, which could be completely covered by ocean water. Its a very sad situation, said Ashley Buller, assistant director of emergency preparedness. We did everything we could to encourage them to leave. Edwards activated the states entire National Guard. In Lake Charles, Guard members drove school buses around neighbourhoods, offering to pick up families. Across the state line in Port Arthur, Texas, few stragglers boarded evacuation buses, and city officials announced that two C-130 transport planes offered the last chance to leave. A Category 4 hurricane can render wide areas uninhabitable for weeks or months and knock out power for just as long. The threat of such devastation posed a new disaster-relief challenge for a government already straining under the coronavirus pandemic. The parts of Louisiana that were under evacuation orders included areas turning up high rates of positive COVID-19 tests. Eliza Boleware unloads a grocery cart full of essentials into her car at Walmart, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020 in Vidalia, La Hurricane Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be "unsurvivable and capable of sinking entire communities. Authorities implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate and worried that not enough had fled.(Sabrina Robertson/The Natchez Democrat via AP) The National Hurricane Center kept raising its estimate of Lauras storm surge, from 10 feet (3 metres) just days ago to twice that size a height that forecasters said would be especially deadly. On Twitter, President Donald Trump urged coastal residents to heed officials. Hurricane warnings were issued from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and reached inland for 200 miles (322 kilometres). Storm surge warnings extended from Freeport, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. For some, the decision to leave home left them with no place to stay. Wary of opening mass shelters during a pandemic, Texas officials instead put evacuees in hotels, but Austin stopped taking arrivals before dawn because officials said they ran out of rooms. Other evacuees called the state's 211 information line and were directed to Ennis, outside Dallas, only to be told after driving hundreds of miles no hotels or vouchers were available. Taniquia Ned and her sisters showed up without money to rent a room, saying the family had burned through its savings after losing jobs because of the coronavirus. The COVID-19 is just totally wiping us out, said Shalonda Joseph, 43, a teacher in Port Arthur. Port Arthur firefighters stare at a sea wall at sunset as they wait for Hurricane Laura to make landfall, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Port Arthur, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Edwards lamented that the storm meant suspension of community testing for COVID-19 at a crucial time as elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana open and students return to college campuses. Forecasters said storm surge topped by waves could submerge entire towns. Laura was expected to cause widespread flash flooding in states far from the coast. Flood watches were issued for much of Arkansas, and forecasters said heavy rainfall could arrive by Friday in parts of Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky. Laura is so powerful that it's expected to become a tropical storm again once it reaches the Atlantic Ocean, potentially threatening the Northeast. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Becky Clements, 56, evacuated from Lake Charles after hearing that it could take a direct hit. She and her family found an Airbnb hundreds of miles inland. Almost 15 years have passed since Hurricane Rita destroyed the city. The devastation afterward in our town and that whole corner of the state was just awful, Clements recalled. Whole communities were washed away, never to exist again." Laura closed in on the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power and caused intense flooding. Laura will be the seventh named storm to strike the U.S. this year, setting a new record for U.S. landfalls by the end of August. The old record was six in 1886 and 1916, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. ___ Martin reported from Marietta, Georgia, and Plaisance from Stephensville, Louisiana. Associated Press contributors include John L. Mone in Port Arthur, Texas; Gerald Herbert in Lake Arthur, Louisiana; Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas; Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland; Juan A. Lozano in Houston; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Julie Walker in New York and Sophia Tulp in Atlanta. The situation is sensitive in light of tensions between Washington and Moscow, and reports this year that Russia was offering money to Taliban members in Afghanistan to attack U.S. troops. While Trump has dismissed such reports as fake news, Pentagon officials have said they are concerned about the possibility, even if they dont have enough information to corroborate it. YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. All accusations made by Azerbaijan against Armenian military officer Gurgen Alaverdyan are absurd, and the ongoing process is a low-quality traditional theatrical performance, Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said. The Azerbaijani General Prosecution and the State Security Service issued a statement noting that a criminal case on 5 different articles was launched against lost serviceman Gurgen Alaverdyan. All pressed charges are absurd, and the ongoing process is a low-quality traditional stage performance, she said. Stepanyan said the Defense Ministry is in permanent contact with international organizations and is working intensively to resolve the situation. Armenian military officer Gurgen Alaverdyan went missing in the evening of August 22 at his military outpost. The Armenian military launched a search operation to find the missing serviceman. Then, it said that the serviceman got lost in severe weather conditions. Afterwards, Azerbaijan announced that they have taken Alaverdyan into custody. Azerbaijans authorities started spreading fake news claiming that Alaverdyan is a commando who was carrying out a raid. The Armenian military strongly denied these accusations, reiterating that the serviceman got lost. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Sushant Singh Rajput The Special Investigation Team of the CBI on Wednesday continued questioning Sushant Singh Rajput's flatmate Siddharth Pithani. The CBI now wants to know from him the entire chain of events from last year till the time of the Bollywood actor's death. It was for the fifth time that Pithani was being grilled. The SIT team for several hours on Tuesday had questioned Pithani along with Sushant's personal staff Neeraj Singh after they arrived at DRDO guesthouse here in Santacruz, where the federal team has been staying. CBI source said, the agency is focusing on what happened when Sushant returned from his Europe trip in October last year in which his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty accompanied him. Sushant was found dead in his Bandra flat on June 14. His family has accused Rhea and her family of abetment to suicide besides alienating the late actor from his family. The CBI team also wants to ascertain who used to take the late actor to the doctor for treatment and why the actor's family members were not allowed to speak to him. The CBI source said that the agency also wants to know why Rhea and Sushant's ex-manager Shruti Modi had ignored the calls of the late actor's father K.K. Singh and not even bothered to respond to his messages, when he enquired about his son's health. Besides Pithani, the CBI has grilled Neeraj, Dipesh Sawant, his CA Sandeep Silridhar, accountant Rajat Mewati, doctors at Cooper hospital and the Mumbai Police personnel present on duty on June 14. CBI team along with the forensic team, that arrived in Mumbai on August 20, a day after the Supreme Court gave the nod for the federal agency probe has also visited Sushant's flat twice in Bandra and the Waterstone resort where the 34-year-old actor stayed for two months as well as the Cooper Hospital, where the autopsy took place. The agency is yet to summon Rhea and her family members. The CBI has also sought help from the AIIMS Forensic Department to understand the autopsy report of Sushant. The time of death was missing from the seven-page post mortem report. The CBI team earlier in the day briefed their superiors in Delhi about the latest developments and findings in the case. The CBI registered a case on August 6 on the orders of the central government on the request of Bihar government. Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 (3:45 pm) - Score 1,883 Thousands of customers of Manx Telecom on the Isle of Man (British Crown Dependency) have been left without broadband access for two long days after the provider suffered a major outage, although worryingly the provider has not yet been able to identify the problem. The BBC reports that the problem started on Monday and an attempt to fix it last night using a hardware upgrade was unsuccessful. Some reports claim that this is affecting 4,000 homes and businesses, but the islands Communications Commission puts the figure at 7,000 (thats a lot for an island like this). The official website merely includes a vague service status update, which merely confirms that the provider is aware of an issue affecting broadband access in multiple areas of the Island and notes that their engineers are currently investigating. Oddly, the latest update on their Facebook page is much more detailed (why not put that on your service status page too Manx?). Customers of other internet service providers which use this network are also being affected by the problem. Manx Telecom Statement Wednesday 2pm Manx Telecom confirms the issue with loss of broadband services in some parts of the island is ongoing. Engineers are working hard to resolve the problem and we are receiving guidance from our partners Nokia in establishing the root cause and the fix that can be applied. We are aware that some customers have been without broadband services for some time and we are currently working on ways that we can support those most in need. This will include measures such as opening up a customer support hub at Manx Telecom headquarters. More details on this measure will be announced this afternoon. We are grateful to other businesses who are also providing support to affected customers at the present time. All of this comes after the Isle of Man Government recently agreed to invest 10m with Manx to help extend the coverage of their gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network from 25% (10,000) of local premises today to 99% by around the end of 2025 (here). The deal follows last years 255.9m acquisition by Basalt Infrastructure Partners II LP (here). UPDATE 27th August 2020 Service has now been restored and a full investigation is due to be carried out, which doesnt mean much unless theyre willing to share the outcome in public. SAN ANTONIO Air Force officials said the gunman who committed the Sutherland Springs mass shooting in 2017 had threatened to commit mass murder in a church years earlier, according to documents in a federal court case. The gunman, Devin Kelley, was discharged from the Air Force 2014 after he was convicted on domestic violence charges for beating his then-wife and child. He told his former staff sergeant after the 2015 church shooting in Charleston, S.C., I wish I had the nerve to do it, according to testimony from the sergeant, Jessika Lee Edwards, in an FBI report. Kelley also sent Edwards pictures of multiple guns he was building, specifically an AR-15 style rifle. Edwards told Kelley to get help once she realized he was completely obsessed with mass shootings, the FBI report reads. Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News The testimony is among depositions and subpoenaed documents in a 2018 lawsuit against the Air Force and Department of Defense by nine Sutherland Springs families. They accuse the federal government of negligence for failing to report Kelleys convictions to the FBI. The families are asking the court to rule in their favor for an undisclosed amount before the case goes to trial. If the Air Force had disclosed Kelleys convictions as required to the FBI, Kelley wouldnt have been able to pass two background checks to purchase the Ruger AR-556 that he used in the massacre. He killed 26 people and wound 20 others who were attending the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Sunday service on Nov. 5, 2017. He shot and killed himself while in a car chase fleeing from the church. Less than a month after the shooting, the Air Force Inspector General found that it had failed to report Kelleys criminal convictions to the FBIs National Crime Information Center database. Federal law requires government agencies to file the reports. But the IG also found that the failure to report cases to the background check system was widespread, occurring on several military bases. A new law that was introduced by Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn strengthens penalties for agencies and states that dont comply with the reporting requirement. Kelley had a documented history of behavioral problems in the Air Force and was given a bad-conduct discharge after serving time in military prison. The court filings show several Air Force officials were aware of Kelleys behavior. Officials also testified they didnt know they were supposed to submit Kelleys convictions to the FBI. In the depositions, Sgt. Troy Bizzack of Holloman AFB in New Mexico referred to Kelley when he said he had a gut feeling that if there was ever going to be someone who would shoot up the shop, it would be him. In another document, a commander, James Hoy said, I believe there is clearly evidence that suggests he (Kelley) could do a mass shooting, and that was reported, adding later that its foreseeable he could commit a mass shooting Kelley has a history of severe mental health problems. He openly carried a firearm on Holloman AFB and placed a weapon to his wife's head. He has repeatedly threatened to kill his leadership, said Commander Robert Bearden in an Air Force report in late March 2020. Col. James Hudson acknowledged in a deposition that he did not train employees on reporting convictions to the FBI. Is it correct to say that you never provided supervisory oversight or specific training to anyone at Holloman Air Force Base about correcting the errors of fingerprint collection, reporting and conviction reporting? asked attorney Jamal Alsaffar. It wasnt a topic of training, Hudson responded in his deposition. Alsaffar then inquired about three IG reports that outlined a systemic failure to report background files to the FBI. The first I had knowledge of those was as a result of this incident in 2017, Hudson responded. The court filings also show findings from a task force formed after the shooting to investigate the Air Force reporting history to the FBI. It found about 7,300 reporting errors, spanning more than three decades. The Air Force messed up on something very simple as turning in the paperwork, said Gunny Macias, a survivor of the Sutherland Park shooting. If the Air Force had turned in that paperwork, 26 awesome, beautiful people would still be alive. Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF Congress likely to elect new president by January 2021 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 26: The Congress may elect a new president in January 2021. The party is expected to call for its All India Congress Committee session and elect a new president by January. The January schedule suits the party as there would be no major elections round the corner after this year's Bihar election, a report in the Hindustan Times said. Elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry are slated for April 2021. The Congress expects a complete rejig ahead of these elections, the report also said. On whether the party workers are ready to accept a non-Gandhi as president, the report said that a major were against it. However Rahul Gandhi has refused to return as president of the party. CWC: Sibal, Tharoor meet at Azads house The Congress Working Committee on Monday urged Sonia Gandhi to continue as its interim chief till an AICC session can be convened and authorised her to effect necessary organisational changes to deal with the challenges facing the party. At an over seven-hour long meeting, which took place in the backdrop of more than 20 party leaders seeking an immediate organisational overhaul and a collective leadership, Gandhi is said to have offered to quit but was requested by the party's top decision-making panel with over 50 members to stay on. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News Announcing the resolution passed by the CWC, the party's General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal later said at a press conference that the CWC unanimously requested Gandhi to continue to "lead the Indian National Congress until such time as circumstances will permit an AICC session to be convened." The CWC also authorised her to effect necessary organisational changes to take on various challenges before the party. The party further said the CWC unanimously resolved to strengthen hands of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in every possible way, while it also made it clear no one will be permitted to undermine or weaken the party and its leadership. CWC: After seven hours, Congress was back to square one The CWC also resolved that inner-party issues cannot be deliberated through media or in public fora and all such issues must be raised within the party "in the interest of propriety and discipline". MBABANE The country yesterday recorded a total of 23 new COVID-19 cases and one death. This is according to a statement released by Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi. This means that the total number of confirmed cases are 4 327 while deaths are 86. The reported death was of a 67-year-old woman from the Hhohho Region, who died on Sunday upon arrival at one of the health facilities, while awaiting results for COVID-19. The minister said her results later came back positive for the disease. Meanwhile, there were 325 results that were received yesterday and from them; Hhohho had 10 new cases followed by Shiselweni with nine, Manzini had three and one from the Lubombo Region. Seventeen of the cases had mild symptoms; four had a moderate disease while two were asymptomatic. There was one case in the age group of zero to nine years while there were three in the 70 to 79 years bracket. There were also 23 recoveries that were recorded yesterday, totalling 2 959 in the country. This means that active cases are 1 282 in the country. The figures reflect a 1 677 difference between active cases and recoveries, in favour of the latter. The minister also stated that they note with concern the increase in numbers of deaths of confirmed COVID-19 cases as a result of co-existing medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disease and asthma. We therefore urge the public, especially males, to ensure that they do medical checkups regularly, at least once a year and those diagnosed with a chronic illness should adhere to the treatment as advised by the health workers, she said. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster is asking state lawmakers not to craft a new state budget when they return to Columbia soon, but instead keep government running at last years spending levels, citing continuing fiscal uncertainty because of the novel coronavirus. As reported by The Post and Couriers Seanna Adcox, McMaster made his feelings known during an Aug. 20 cabinet meeting. The governor noted, among other things, that an expected $1.8 billion surplus that was slated for the next year evaporated almost overnight during the pandemic slowdown. Lawmakers are expected to return in September to consider a new budget. But the governor wants them to hold off. I believe the responsible thing for the General Assembly to do next month is keep the state budget operating under a continuing resolution and hold off on spending any additional money that comes in until next year, Adcox reported. However, state Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, who says this has been by far the most unusual budget year in the two decades hes been the states lead budget writer, says he intends to move forward with a new budget. When we return to Columbia, we will begin work on a budget where 20% of the fiscal year is history, he wrote in a letter to committee members. SCs unemployment rate remained above 8.5% in July In a sign that the states economy is still struggling during COVID-19, South Carolinas unemployment rate remained above 8.5 percent in July. According to Andrew Brown at The Post and Courier, there were 212,000 South Carolinians who were seeking employment last month but unable to find work. The state added 16,000 jobs between June and July, but that represented a significant slowdown compared to the previous two months, when 150,000 jobs were added back into SCs economy. The unemployment rate dropped from 8.7 percent in June to 8.6 percent in July. Still, state officials remain optimistic. With a decreased unemployment rate, its no surprise that Julys release shows a promising trend of people rejoining the workforce, state Department of Employment and Workforce director Dan Ellzey said in a prepared statement. If we compare the number of employed South Carolinians in April, it shows that 152,943 South Carolinians have rejoined the workforce. Ellzey also notes that South Carolinas unemployment rate was better than the national unemployment rate of 10.2 percent. Protesters push SLED for answers on Elijah Weatherspoons death A group of protesters gathered outside of SLEDs Columbia offices on Aug. 21 to continue seeking answers about the death of Elijah Weatherspoon, a teenager who drowned in the Cooper River in Charleston in June. Scant details have been released about his drowning. He had been one of eight people on a boat in the river before his death. I just imagine my mom two months later having absolutely no idea what happened to her son, says Elijah Whiteside, a 17-year-old protester who studies at Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, according to The Post and Couriers Adam Benson. This is about justice for all, because there are other instances, especially in South Carolina, that are just like Elijahs case, with no closure. A SLED spokesperson said that the case remains open as officials conduct an independent, unbiased, thorough and complete investigation. Kate Winslet is feeling empowered about appearing nude in the upcoming romantic drama "Ammonite." The 44-year-old Oscar winner stars opposite Saoirse Ronan, 26, in the film, which is set in 1840s England and tells the story of the same-sex romance between real-life fossil hunter Mary Anning (Winslet) and timid married geologist Charlotte Murchison (Ronan). Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in Filming love scenes with a co-star nearly two decades younger made the mom of three feel proud to show off her body, Winslet told The Hollywood Reporter. "I'm nearly 45, and Saoirse is almost half my age. And to have an opportunity to be my real 40-something self, post-children, you know? Women arent really having the courage to do that," said the star. "I was just excited to say, This is what it is, peeps. This is how I am now, and its very much not the body I had 20 years ago,'" she added. London Film Critics' Circle Awards - Inside Ceremony (David M. Benett / Getty Images) Winslet explained that she wanted her body in the film, which is directed by Francis Lee, to have the same sort of "heftiness" as the real Anning's body. "There is a grit to her, theres a weight to her. I changed up my exercise a little bit. I made sure that I didnt lose weight which I do a lot, actually, on films," she explained, adding, "I hate to talk about weight, but I only say it in the context of, it was a conscious effort on my part to really make sure that I didnt shrink or change myself for the sake of being naked. I did the opposite." The "Titanic" star revealed that she and Ronan choreographed the movie's most passionate love scene themselves, which helped to make them feel comfortable. "I felt the proudest Ive ever felt doing a love scene on 'Ammonite.' And I felt by far the least self-conscious," she said. Winslet also likes that the movie highlights two women who were pioneers in their fields while shining a light on their untold love story. "It's a story about women speaking up, speaking out. I think uncovering stories where women were repressed in such a systemic way is highlighting how history has covered up those successes," she said, adding, "Were not going to do that anymore, world." "Ammonite" is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on Nov. 13. For the third time, voters in Huntsville have overwhelming re-elected Tommy Battle as mayor. Elsewhere across north Alabama in municipal elections Tuesday, Madison Mayor Paul Finley won a decisive race over challenger Marc Highsmith, Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks won a third term while Florence Mayor Steve Holt is headed to a runoff on Oct. 6 after narrowly finishing second in a five-candidate field. Battle, collecting 78 percent of the vote, cited the economic growth throughout the city as he spoke to supporters Tuesday night pointing to new schools across Huntsville as well as parks and improved infrastructure. That makes us one Huntsville, he said. Huntsville is projected to become the states largest city, based on population, within three years. And Battle sounded a familiar refrain in downplaying that distinction. A lot of people talk about us growing to be the No. 1 largest city in the state of Alabama, Battle said. Thats just a number. We want to be the best. I want to say thank you to the people of Huntsville for their support, thank you for the vote of confidence. Political newcomer Andy Woloszyn finished second with 10 percent of the vote. In Madison, Finley won his second consecutive term and his third term overall as Madisons mayor with 59.2 percent of the vote to Highsmiths 40.3 percent. In Florence, Holt the incumbent mayor and challenger Andy Betterton, a member of the Florence city council, each received 38 percent of the vote but Betterton won the plurality of the race with 20 more votes than Holt. Betterton had 38.07 percent of the vote while Holt had 37.75 percent. There will also be a runoff in Decatur as Tab Bowling attempts to become the first mayor re-elected in the city this century. Bowling came close to an outright win Tuesday, collecting 48 percent of the vote in a 7-candidate field. He will face former city councilman Butch Matthews, who got 17.4 percent of the vote, in the runoff. In Athens, Ronnie Marks won a third term with 54 percent of the vote in a four-candidate field with Russell Johnson finishing second. In a Huntsville city council, incumbent Will Culver appears headed to a runoff against John Meredith, according to AL.com news partner WHNT. In a three-candidate race to represent District 5 in west Huntsville, Culver came 18 votes short of winning a majority and avoiding the runoff. Meredith got 38 percent of the vote while Tom Hopf got 12.4 percent. Huntsville city council president Devyn Keith breezed to a second term with 64 percent of the vote, according to WHNT. In Guntersville, Leigh Dollar, recently elected president of the Alabama League of Municipalities, won a third term over former state legislator Wes Long. Updated today, Aug. 25, 2020, at 9:56 p.m. with new information throughout. Passengers arriving in France from the UK could soon face quarantine restrictions. (AFP via Getty Images) France is set to impose tit-for-tat coronavirus quarantine measures on travellers arriving from the UK in the coming days. The move would follow Britain placing its own restrictions on travellers arriving from France earlier this month. People who arrived in the UK from France since 15 August have been required to self-isolate for 14 days because of rising numbers of COVID-19 cases. The UK governments decision sparked travel chaos as hundreds of thousands of Britons flocked back home from France before the new quarantine rules came into force. However, now French officials say they are planning their own quarantine on arrivals from the UK. Frances secretary of state for European Affairs, Clement Beaune, suggested those travelling from the UK to France could soon face similar self-isolation restrictions. He told France 2: There will be reciprocal measures so that Britons dont close the border in one direction. For travellers returning from the United Kingdom, there will probably be restrictive measures decided in the next few days by the prime minister and by the defence council. Meanwhile, Switzerland could become the next European country to be subject to quarantine measures by all four nations of the UK, according to the latest figures. French junior minister for European Affairs, Clement Beaune, warned that France will impose quarantine measures on those travelling from the UK. (Reuters) A seven-day rate of 20 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people is the threshold above which the UK government considers triggering quarantine conditions. Switzerland is currently recording a seven-day rate of 20.7 cases per 100,000. Meanwhile France has a seven-day rate of 36.4 cases per 100,000, while the UKs equivalent is 10.7. Under new proposals from aviation services companies Swissport and Collinson Group, the UKs 14-day quarantine rules could be halved through dual testing, The Times reported. Passengers would be tested for COVID-19 on arrival in Britain and then again three to five days later. Over 30 countries currently have airport testing, including Austria, France and Germany. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said schools could make use of outdoor spaces for class. The disease doesnt spread the same outdoors. Weve seen that over and over. So we want to give schools the option to do as much outdoors as they can, he said during a press conference. Schools may teach students in schoolyards, and principals can request permission from the city to hold classes in streets and local public parks. The schools would also be required to provide their own barriers to block off space in the streets. Schools from the 27 neighborhoods that were hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, as well as those that do not have schoolyards, will be given first priority for street and park space. All principals interested in outdoor learning have also been asked to submit their plans for outdoor teaching by Friday. However, the city itself has not provided a plan, or much guidance, as to what this might look like. The city has also failed to address how schools should deal with the costs associated with moving lessons outside, what liabilities they may face or what to do if theres inclement weather. City schools are still scheduled to reopen on Sept. 10, despite calls from principals and teachers unions to delay reopening over safety concerns. While the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, which represents 6,400 school leaders, supports outdoor learning, the organization has said de Blasio has given their members little time to prepare schools to teach outside. The shortsighted guidance on outdoor learning also lacks detail, raising serious concerns around safety and security. Furthermore, without funding, this plan will exacerbate already existing disparities, President Mark Cannizzaro said in a statement. The Citys plan will not be implemented nearly as well as it could have been if the Mayor had simply given principals the time and support they need. The United Federation of Teachers similarly stated that de Blasios reopening plan continues to fall short, particularly in terms of necessary testing. The citys parents and educators have been asking the city to consider allowing schools to teach in the streets and parks as an alternative to cramming into classrooms, where the virus is more likely to be spread, but city officials have been reluctant to listen until now two weeks before the start of the school year. The World Health Organization recommended that schools try to take lessons outdoors as much as possible, as did the American Academy of Pediatrics. Italy is currently looking to conduct classes outdoors in amphitheaters, stadiums, parks and open-air museums because of the coronavirus. And schools in Florida and North Carolina have already begun to adopt outdoor schooling. Rice University in Houston has already purchased large circus tents for outdoor classes and student activities this fall. Public schools could also purchase tents for classes but the cost could be a big impediment. City school officials have not indicated whether or not additional funds would be allocated to purchase items that would make outdoor classes more feasible. However, schools Chancellor Richard Carranza suggested that parent associations could raise money for supplies. Im asking that if a PTA has done their fundraising and theyve raised more than enough for their school, lets identify another school that doesnt have that fundraising capacity lets help them out too, Carranza said. Private schools around the state have begun preparing for outdoor learning with tents to protect students against the sun and inclement weather, mandatory coronavirus tests before students return to school and maintaining lots of space between students. Unlike most city public schools, most of the states private schools tend to have smaller class sizes and large campuses, which allow them to set up tents and space out students. In 1907, two doctors created a plan for an open-air school in Rhode Island to see if it could reduce the transmission of tuberculosis among children, inspired by schools in Europe that taught outside. Children stayed warm in their classes during the icy winter while wrapped in heated blankets and none of them fell ill. Two years later schools across the country, including a few in New York City, adopted this model of outdoor teaching. During the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, however, city schools remained open because they were considered a means of disease prevention, since most schoolchildren lived in tenements that were often crowded and unhygienic. While teaching outside may have fallen out of favor in the U.S., many European countries have continued to utilize the great outdoors. In Scandinavia, classes are often taught outside during the spring and summer. Despite the issues associated with setting up outdoor learning, there are positive benefits attributed to holding classes outside that dont have to do with disease prevention. Several studies have shown that students can focus better and they do better in class when theyre taught outside. S hould you be harbouring a desire to see Donald Trump ejected from the White House, lets start with the good news. As the (virtual) Republican party convention staged encounters last night with Covid survivors and a clutch of grateful former hostages meeting Himself at the White House along with a whirr of dystopian clips claiming that Democrats favour sharks and marijuana The Economists statistical forecast calculated this week that Trump has only a one in 10 chance of winning a second term, while Joe Biden has a nine in 10 likelihood of victory. Polling graphs show a crocodile jaw opening a widening Biden lead that Trump has been unable to close. Republicans gathered at their scaled-back conference in North Carolina with a hill to climb. The Biden-Kamala Harris ticket got off to a steady start last week at the Democratic Party gathering , while Team Trump has had a messy fortnight. Steve Bannon, the teams erstwhile ideological guru and campaign manager, was charged with fraud, there were unguarded comments by the presidents estranged sister calling him a cruel brat and an insincere phoney and Jerry Falwell Jr, Trumps link to the Bible Belt, is embroiled in a sex scandal. More serious is Trumps record on Covid-19. He played down the virus and is now banking on accelerating production of an unproven blood plasma treatment to boost his reputation. So why are many Democrats torn between heralding the demise of the bouffant Shrek and surges of fear that he might still be in the White House next year? Some anticipate Trump staying on as a defiant squatter, refusing to accept the result of a close vote most likely centred on a near-tie in Florida, like the hanging chad saga of the 2000 election which saw Al Gore finally concede to George W. Bush after a legal joust. That is not to be ruled out, but the graphic scenario rests on a particularly tight outcome in one major state. Less dramatic scenarios include Trump fighting a dirty but effective campaign, or Biden underperforming. Trumps key strength on this point is that he is a far better insurgent than he is an incumbent. Running from behind is what brought him to power against the insider Hillary Clinton. Biden will not make the same mistake of framing his campaign around being qualified for the job, after Trump tapped into irritation with entitled liberal elites last time around. Anne McElvoy The Democrat must walk the line between highlighting that he would be better at the chief executive aspect of the presidency than Trump, and emphasizing his experience of the hard knocks of life, from hardscrabble upbringing to his losing a wife and two children in tragic circumstances. This is not an easy combination to achieve while under fire in a campaign where Trump will demonstrate his capacity for unloading on an enemys weaknesses. Trumps strategy is fast emerging blame China for Covid and trade wars, embrace toughness on crime and protests (now branded as riots in Trumpspeak). On the economy, Trump will bank on an October improvement in a virus-induced slump. Most of all, his attacks will paint Biden as a wavering opportunist, prone to vagueness. To win, Trump does not need to convince the wider electorate of his rivals weaknesses. He just needs to convince enough swing voters that Bidens flaws are substantial and that he is in hock to extreme Left-wing positions. Anger fest: Donald Trump at the Republican convention in North Carolina last night / POOL/AFP via Getty Images And while the Democratic contender has many strengths as shown in a viral video of him in conversation with a child stutterer, testimony to an avuncular empathetic side reliability in communication has often eluded him and led to gaffes. So Trump has a steep slog ahead but not an impossible one. He is adept at firing up his base, as the anger-fest speeches last night reminded us, and bringing many moderate Republicans along with him. High-profile defections cheer up the Democrat salon, but may not resonate much beyond the chattering classes. Ditto the (justified) complaint from Conservative intellectual Bill Kristol that the Republican Party convening this week has no platform to run on but a Trump cult. That cuts both ways. It is a cult that outwitted a sophisticated Democrat machine in 2016 and whose leader has shown vast reserves of self belief. Cult or not, Republicans outside the eloquent minority of Never Trumpers are largely behind their candidate. Democrats, by contrast, remain scarred by battles between the Left and the victorious centre-Right of the party, and are united only by the prospect of ousting the president. They will face a formidable, unscrupulous campaigner. Friends of Biden have fretted to me about his thin skin over attacks on his son Hunter for an unwise relationship with a Ukrainian energy company. If he gets bogged down on such matters, Trump will press home the advantage. Of course, the presidential familys own business interests are horribly murky. But his campaigns aim will be to muddy the waters so much that voters shrug about it, or (as with news that the New York District Attorney is investigating Trump companies for various varieties of fraud) conclude that it is too hard to follow accusations about tax and insurance claims, and focus elsewhere. Finally, the lesson from two weeks of party conventions is that Democrats should avoid sounding as if they are harvesting excuses for the election going the wrong way. Yes, Trump and his allies are trying to suppress the vote and turn Covid chaos to their advantage. But their starting conditions are far weaker than at the last election. Loading.... For all the number crunching in analysing elections, some fundamental things apply. Parties which do not at heart expect to win (Labour at the last election here, the Tories under New Labour) find novel ways to lose. This is the real danger for Democrats. As their greatest 20th Century leader, Franklin D. Roosevelt, put it, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The key to beating great Shrek is to overcome that fear and start the fight. Anne McElvoy is Senior Editor at The Economist By Online Desk NEW DELHI: Vikas Singh, lawyer of Sushant Singh Rajput's father KK Singh, on Wednesday said that it is a serious matter if the "drug issue" as reported by some media channels is true, and added that it may widen the scope of investigation in the actor's death case. "If this drug issue is true as showed by some media channels yesterday then definitely it is a very serious matter. When the family got the FIR registered, there was an impression that Sushant was being over drugged. But then we meant prescription drug which was being administered on the instruction of some psychiatrist," Singh told ANI. "But if now what is being disclosed is correct. This is actually banned drug and then it will lead to abetment of suicide as well as murder either of the two. The scope of proceedings will also widen. I feel that the matter is getting very serious. Hopefully, some major break will come from CBI," he said. "The real question is whether she (Rhea Chakraborty) was responsible in administering something to Sushant contrary to his will or without his knowledge," the lawyer said. ALSO READ | Rhea playing double game, never cooperated with Sushant's family: Lawyer representing late actor's family Vikas Singh's comment comes amid the the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing a money laundering angle into Rajput's death and has questioned the late actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, has referred some evidence to the CBI and the Narcotics Control Bureau about her alleged links to banned drugs, a charge vehemently denied by her lawyer. The officials said the central probe agency stumbled upon certain data and these "prima facie" inputs have been shared with the two federal agencies but did not give any details of the nature of evidence referred to the agencies. "Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test," her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said in reply to the allegations. While the CBI is probing the death case of the 34-year-old actor, whose body was found hanging at his duplex flat in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14, the NCB is the federal anti-narcotics agency. Rhea, 28, has been grilled twice in this case by the ED and her statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). On August 19, the Supreme Court had asked CBI to investigate the case related to the actor's death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate. ALSO READ | Wanted CBI to take over Sushant Singh Rajput case so that the truth is revealed: Shweta Singh Kirti The single-judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy had observed that the Bihar government was competent to recommend transferring the case to the CBI. It had also asked the Mumbai Police to hand over all the evidence collected so far in the case to the CBI. The central probe agency has already registered an FIR against 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. The ED money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by Rajput's father K K Singh on July 25 with the Bihar Police in Patna against Rhea, her father Indrajit Chakraborty, mother Sandhya Chakraborty, brother Showik, Rajput's manager Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi and unknown persons accusing them of cheating and abetting his son's suicide. The agency has questioned a number of people till now in the case including Showik, Indrajit Chakraborty, Miranda, Shruti Modi, the chartered accountants of Rajput and Rhea, Rajput's flat-mate and creative content manager Siddharth Pithani and three other house helps who were present in the house on the day the actor died by suicide. It has also questioned Rajput's father and two elder sisters. In his complaint to the police, Rajput's father had alleged that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from his son's bank account in one year to accounts of persons not known or connected to the late actor. (With Agencies Inputs) Ambulances from Illinois and Ohio were among the 75 units from outside states that came to a Meadowlands staging area on April 10 as New Jersey EMS squads faced a shortage of responders during the coronavirus pandemic.Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, made several assertions Tuesday about shady business dealings by Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Some of Bondi's remarks to the Republican National Convention were accurate, others were misleading. Bondi attacked the Bidens for their work in Ukraine when Vice President Biden led the U.S. government's anti-corruption campaign in Ukraine, and Hunter Biden secured a lucrative post on the board of a gas company there. "We all know about Joes son, Hunter Biden," Bondi said Tuesday. "A corrupt Ukrainian oligarch put Hunter on the board of his gas company, even though he had no experience in Ukraine or in the energy sector. None. Yet he was paid millions to do nothing." Hunter Biden was on the board from 2014 to 2019 of Burisma Holdings, Ukraine's largest gas company for which he was paid as much$50,000 per month, according to the New York Times. Bondi's statement that Hunter Biden lacked experience in the energy sector is accurate. Former Florida Attorney General, Pam Bondi, speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. However, there is no evidence that Hunter Biden was involved in wrongdoing. Nor is it unusual for Ukrainian companies to burnish their credentials by placing prominent people on their boards, according to a former U.S. diplomat. For example, Cofer Black, who served as George W. Bush's CIA counterterrorism chief, joined Burisma's board in 2017. Joe Biden has acknowledged that his son's work in Ukraine had created the appearance of a conflict of interest and that his son regretted taking the seat on the board. "He said he regretted having done it," Biden said on NBC earlier this year. "Speaks for himself. He's a grown man." Hunter Biden acknowledged in an interview with ABC that he likely would not have been offered the job had his father not been vice president. However, he said he served the company honorably and had done nothing improper. Bondi also re-aired a false claim that Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who had investigated Burisma. Story continues "Recently reported information revealed that a few months after Hunter Biden joined that corrupt companys board, the Obama-Biden State Department began doing business with them, even when it remained under investigation for corruption," Bondi said. "And it gets worse: that very same company was being investigated by a Ukrainian prosecutor. Joe Biden, the vice president of the United States, threatened to withhold aid to Ukraine unless that same prosecutor was fired, and then he was fired." Bondi toes the line here, suggesting the reason Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to fire the prosecutor was to protect his son. That assertion has been debunked. Hunter Biden speaks to viewers about his father Joe, during the Democratic National Convention at the Wisconsin Center, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Biden forced out the prosecutor for the opposite reason. Not because Viktor Shokin had been investigating Burisma but Shokin hadn't pursued corruption among the country's politicians. Shokin's inaction prompted international calls for his ouster and ultimately resulted in his removal by Ukraine's parliament. Moreover, Shokin's office had investigated Burisma, but the probe focused on a period before Hunter Biden joined the company, according to the country's anti-corruption bureau. Left unsaid by Bondi is President Trump's impeachment by the House of Representatives for pressuring Ukraine's president to investigate Joe Biden by withholding military aid and a White House visit. The Senate acquitted Trump. Bondi also used the convention stage to re-air claims about the younger Bidens business interests in China, suggesting that the Chinese sought to curry favor with the Obama administration. The former Florida attorney general said Biden, while vice president, traveled to China with Hunter along for the ride. In Beijing, Hunter didnt just go sightseeing. He had meetings with his Chinese bank partners, Bondi said. Hunter even arranged for his dad to meet with one of the partners. Ten days later, those Chinese communist bankers approved millions to go to Hunters firm and those bankers work for the Chinese Communist Party, which oppresses their people, cheated American workers for decades and covered up a deadly virus. To this day, Hunter controls a 10% stake in that firm. It is true that Hunter Biden traveled to Beijing with his father in 2013. While in the Chinese capital, according to an account in the New Yorker, Hunter Biden arranged for his father to meet China-based business associate Jonathan Li, linked to the investment firm, BHR, where the younger Biden served as a board member. Afterward, Hunter and Li had what both parties described as a social meeting, the New Yorker reported. How do I go to Beijing, halfway around the world, and not see them for a cup of coffee? he said. Hunter Bidens attorney George Mesires said that his client, who resigned his post last year, had not received any compensation for being on the BHR board, nor did he receive any equity in it while Joe Biden was vice president. The former vice presidents son also has pledged not serve on boards of foreign companies if his father is elected president. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Pam Bondi's RNC attacks on Hunter Biden got right and wrong With the launch of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) on August 15, India has ushered in a new era of technology-enabled health care delivery. The prime ministers vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) can only be realised by a Swasth Bharat, which, in turn, requires data integration and standardisation as critical health ecosystem enablers. NDHM is built on the principles of ensuring greater inclusivity, efficiency and transparency in the health sector. For patients, the mission aims to simplify access to their records and enables them to share digitally-stored comprehensive health profiles with providers for treatment and follow-up purposes. Currently, people find it difficult to maintain long trails of paper-based records for health interventions like immunisation, especially over long periods of time, or when they move from one part of the country to another. Yet, these records are critical for monitoring an individuals health status and ensuring continuity in treatment. Undoubtedly, the availability of health care infrastructure and service delivery needs to be strengthened across the country. However, technological empowerment and digitisation can most certainly enable more effective and efficient utilisation of existing facilities. The days of people standing in long queues at health facilities carrying multiple medical reports will become a thing of the past in this digital- and patient-friendly ecosystem, empowered by world-class technologies. Access to patient records will now be just a click away for doctors. Of course, participation and sharing of data are voluntary and all efforts have been made to keep the rights of citizens at the core of the missions design and objectives. It is understood that maintaining security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related information is vital. The missions health and data policies have, therefore, been formulated to ensure privacy and data security. The digital identity of patients will be shared with certified doctors only after they provide their informed consent. The NDHM architecture, by default, ensures that health data is encrypted, and that there is no opportunity for anyone to access the records or modify them without the explicit consent of the concerned individual. Patients can determine the time period for which they grant consent and can also revoke consent anytime they wish to. Under NDHM, all Indians can get access to a unique and easy-to-remember health ID carrying details of their health and treatment history. Through this ID, individuals will not only be able to search for verified hospitals and laboratories, but can also evaluate the quality of services, on the basis of feedback shared by others. This feature can greatly enhance the accountability of health service providers as well as promote the delivery of high-quality services to patients. In addition to individuals, all doctors, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and pharmacies will also be given a digital identity. This, in turn, will enable a single and standardised process for completing their identification, certification and audit formalities, allowing providers to focus on the actual delivery of health services, instead of expending time and resources on undertaking administrative procedures on multiple occasions through different channels. Of course, similar to the mechanism for patients, participation in NDHM will be voluntary for providers as well; however, needless to say, the more participation there is, the stronger and more integrated the health ecosystem will become. Participation for health care providers and establishments under NDHM will also be completely free of cost and the use of Aadhaar for health ID will not be mandated. Apart from the multiple benefits for patients and health care providers, NDHM will offer services such as telemedicine as part of its digital suite. The utilisation of telemedicine has gone up significantly in India following the Covid-19 outbreak; however, there are opportunities to provide services for a range of health conditions by connecting doctors with citizens even in the most rural and remote parts of the country, beyond the Covid-19 era as well. By being able to access quality health care advice remotely, travel costs will be saved for patients in several parts of the country and ultimately help to reduce out-of-pocket expenditures, which currently account for nearly two-thirds of the total health expenditure in India. NDHM is initially being rolled out in six Union territories Chandigarh, Pondicherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. The rest of the country will follow soon. Technology is a powerful disruptor that has revolutionised and accelerated the growth of a large number of sectors such as banking. Through the adoption of digital technologies, NDHM will empower the health sector to cater to the countrys large population in a far more efficient manner, through the standardisation of health records, the creation of a unique health identity, doorstep delivery of quality medicines at affordable prices as well as tele-consultations with verified medical professionals. It would not be an exaggeration to say that with the launch of NDHM, we are witnessing a new beginning for Indias health sector. It is a visionary reform that has the potential to radically transform health care delivery in the country. Amitabh Kant is CEO, NITI Aayog The views expressed are personal Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Tallinn, Estonia As Europe marks the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, Estonias Catholic bishop says nearly all families count a loved one who fell victim to these regimes. By Devin Watkins The memorial to victims of Nazism and Stalinism cuts right to the heart of the tiny Catholic Church in Estonia. The EU member states first Catholic bishop following the Reformation was deported to the Soviet Union in 1942. Archbishop Eduard Profittlich died in a Soviet prison in hatred of the faith, like many other Estonians. The nation recalled those numerous victims with a solemn ceremony in the capital, Tallinn, on Sunday. Bishop Philippe Jourdan, the Apostolic Administrator of Estonia, spoke to Vatican Radio about the Day of Remembrance. Tributes to fallen family members Bishop Jourdan said the ceremony took place at the new Memorial to the Victims of Communism. The names of 22,000 Estonians are inscribed there, in tribute to their deaths during the deportations of 1940. For a small country like Estonia, thats quite a lot, said Bishop Jourdan. In almost every Estonian family there is at least one person who died. The Soviet Union occupied Estonia in June 1940, and vast numbers of people were deported, many because they were ethnic Germans. Listen to the full interview Refusing to flee Archbishop Eduard Profittlich was one of the unfortunate ones. He had received orders from Soviet authorities to return to Germany. But he refused to abandon his Catholic flock, and chose to stay in Tallinn, despite the obvious risks. Archbishop Profittlich was arrested on 27 June 1941 and sent to a Soviet prison camp. He died from exposure and starvation in Kirov prison on February 22, 1942. Bishop Jourdan noted that his predecessors cause for beatification is currently under review in Rome. I would say it is coming along at a good pace, he said, because we received the Decree of Validity from the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints in June. That means the documents which have been gathered over the past 17 years regarding the Servant of God Profittlich are sufficient and complete. Recognizing tragic moment in history Bishop Jourdan expressed his hopes that the Pope will one day clear the way for Profittlichs beatification. Its important for the Catholic Church here in Estonia, because he would be our first saint, he said. Since Archbishop Profittlich shared in the tragic fate of so many Estonians, his beatification would mean quite a lot to even secular Estonian society. Its a way for the universal Church to recognize what happened here in those years, he concluded. Its important for all our families that this part of our history would be recognized. In early April, we had about 100 active cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, and the city was a ghost town. Today, we have more than 350 active cases and Kenaston Boulevard is a traffic jam. What gives? Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion In early April, we had about 100 active cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, and the city was a ghost town. Today, we have more than 350 active cases and Kenaston Boulevard is a traffic jam. What gives? The push to open in the economy in Manitoba and elsewhere in spite of "upticks" in COVID-19 cases reflects the belief that a tradeoff exists between health and economics. According to this view, you can have health or you can have wealth, but not both and right now many are seeming to say, "we choose wealth." But is the choice that simple? And do we need to lockdown again? Like most, I would be deeply relieved if an effective vaccine rescued humanity, but until that happens, many argue that the precautionary principle must apply. Quite simply, when we face complete uncertainty, it is better to be safe than sorry. Given the recent rise in Manitoba cases, for some it seems obvious: we should we apply the brakes hard, buy bags of beans and hunker down searching Netflix for diversions missed. But this thinking has a problem. The precautionary principle can paralyze problem-solving and stall progress in the face of known and knowable risks. COVID-19 is a new game, but the environment of total uncertainty that existed in April is changing with new insights emerging every day. We can and we should develop a more calculated cost/benefit approach to the current surge. Consider some of the costs of COVID-19. A common metric for tracking the cost of this pandemic is the number of deaths. Economists use the value of a statistical life to estimate the return on investments in transportation safety and disease mitigation. The Treasury Board of Canada requires that studies analyzing measures to save lives place a value on a life of about $10 million. Canada, with its 9,124 deaths from COVID-19 (as of Aug. 24) has lost $91 billion in the value of lives lost. Manitobas 12 deaths have triggered a loss of $120 million. According to Statistics Canada, the gross domestic product for Canada (GDP) declined by $289 billion between January 2020 and May 2020. Applying a simplistic proportion to Manitoba, this translates to a contraction of $8.8 billion in our provincial economy. GDP also excludes the many intangible costs associated with stunted schooling and mental health costs, so the true long-term economic costs are much higher. The benefits from increased public-health spending is limiting, possibly reversing these economic losses. Specifically, if we wish to keep the economy even minimally alive, we must invest substantially more in public health. This means many more frequent tests matched by contact tracing, increased candid information about outbreaks and their management, and doubling down on cheap preventive measures. Testing remains a challenge for all jurisdictions, Manitoba performs about 1,500 tests a day, still far off the stated goal of 3,000. But like all jurisdictions, the rollout of a rapid test has been slow. To complicate things, only two Winnipeg labs can perform the tests on the collected nasal swabs. This means that samples gathered in Brandon require transport to Winnipeg. The province needs to increase and disperse lab capacity to rapidly test samples by repurposing idle university labs and even creating temporary testing capacity outside Winnipeg. More frequent rapid testing also supports more effective and rapid contact tracing, provided government allocates sufficient resources to hire these telephone sleuths. The telemarketing industry that routinely adapts to a wide range of client needs could easily execute this task. When the current surge started a couple of weeks ago, some at the fringe of my bubble interpreted the statement that "cases are in rural areas or on a Hutterite colony" as meaning those in Winnipeg were safe. I was unaware the Perimeter Highway was a barrier to COVID-19. Clear and complete communication is essential, specifically identifying the locale of outbreaks, their probable origin, and communicating how government is managing the specific outbreak. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Anything less encourages the suspicion that politics is driving science. Fortunately, the provincial government has finally committed to providing a more detail. One of the more damaging messages still offered by public-health experts everywhere is the widespread caution about the second wave later in the fall. That message may have encouraged some to increase partying now, before things shut down again. Worse, it suggests that COVID-19 waves are seasonal. This is not the case. Our behaviour has triggered this current surge, and without a proper response the second wave will have arrived three months early. Finally, now that masks are in plentiful supply, mandating their use is a no-brainer, since it seems to be one of the more cost-effective methods to control the spread of COVID-19. The most important benefit of a mask mandate may be that it communicates we are all in this together a visible sign of the social contract. The public-health spending required to limit economic losses seems reasonable when compared to the benefits of mitigating the staggering economic costs of COVID-19. Gregory Mason is an associate professor of economics at the University of Manitoba. Air pollution from Australias ageing coal-fired power stations kills around 800 people each year and spreads hundreds of kilometres from regional plants into major cities, new research finds. This national death toll is twice as high as the number of smoke inhalation deaths in the recent catastrophic bushfire season, and eight times greater than the average annual casualties from all natural disasters, according to a new report from Greenpeace Australia. This is the first time the national health impacts of burning coal for electricity have been scientifically assessed, its authors say. Air pollution from coal-burning power stations also causes an average of 850 babies each year to be born with low birth weight, which puts them at greater risk of serious health conditions as adults, like cardiovascular disease, it finds. This represents 450 babies each year for Sydney and 260 for Melbourne. Usually held in Warsaw, but coming to London's Festival Hall this March, with music from Cuphead and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Islamabad: Taking a U-turn, former Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf has said he had not sought any assistance from ex-army chief General Raheel Sharif to exit the country, insisiting that his statement in this regard was distorted by the media. No one approached me, nor did I approach anyone... Raheel Sharif did not discuss anything with me, nor did I send him any request, Musharraf said in an interview to a TV channel. He said his last weeks statement to Dunya News was distorted by the media. 73-year-old Musharraf in a talk show on Dunya News last week had said: Well he (Raheel Sharif) did help me and I am absolutely clear and grateful. I have been his boss and I have been the army chief before him...He helped out, because the cases are politicised, they put me on the ECL, they turned it into a political issue. When asked about the militarys influence on domestic politics, he yesterday said: All institutions in Pakistan work together with each other... Ive served in the army for over 40 years. There is a sense of bonding between the army and me, and it will always remain like that, the former president added. Referring to Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khans statement about Musharrafs return, the former president said he has no knowledge of any such timeline wherein he was asked to return within four to six weeks of his departure, the Dawn reported. There is nothing of the sort in the courts judgement, Musharraf added. The Interior Minister had said in March that Musharraf had committed to facing all cases against him in court and had promised to return in four to six weeks. Musharraf had left the country for Dubai in March earlier this year hours after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL). The government notification followed the Supreme Courts order to lift the ban on his foreign travel. But the order from the top court had come with the rider that the federal government or the three-judge special court trying the retired general for treason was free to make decisions to regulate his custody or restrict his movement. Apart from murder cases of Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, the retired general is facing treason charges for imposing emergency rule in November 2007, arresting judges and limiting their powers. His name was kept on the Exit Control List for more than 20 months. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Eight casinos in Vietnam saw their combined revenues rise 60 percent from 2018 to VND2.5 trillion ($108 million) last year. These eight establishments were licensed before March 2017, when the government began a trial project allowing Vietnamese to gamble in local casinos, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance. Earlier, only foreigners were allowed to play at casinos in Vietnam. Five of the casinos are in the north, two in the central region, and one in the south. They contributed VND1.34 trillion ($58 million) to states coffers last year, up 49 percent year-on-year. But not all eight casinos recorded growth. Royal International Corporation (RIC), which operates the largest casino in the northern province of Quang Ninh, for example, saw revenues decline of 45 percent from 2018 to VND97.8 billion ($4.2 million) last year. It also recorded a loss of VND50.4 billion. The Aristo International Hotel Casino in the border province of Lao Cai, operated by Australian company Donaco International Limited, saw revenues falling 17 percent from 2018 to AUD21.5 million ($15.4 million) last year. Its profits dropped 44 percent to AUD4.8 million ($3.4 million). After March 2017, three more casinos were licensed in Vietnam, including Casino Corona on Phu Quoc Island off Vietnams southern coast, which began operation in January last year and was the first casino in Vietnam to allow locals to play. Its revenue from casino operations was VND1.38 trillion ($59.5 million) last year. It earned pre-tax profits of VND280 billion, serving 105,000 customers last year, of which 45 percent were Vietnamese. Mary Ann Evans had an extraordinary interest in sex. Despite being born in the same year as the famously prudish Queen Victoria, she was a man-eater who would stop at nothing to satisfy her overpowering desires. She had an almost pathological fascination for men and thought nothing of riding roughshod over the women her conquests happened to be married to. Her sex life was reckless, shocking and, to many of her contemporaries, unfathomable. Partly because she was to put it delicately rather plain. The famous American writer Henry James unflatteringly called her 'this great horse-faced bluestocking' with a 'vast ugliness'. But he acknowledged he was nevertheless enraptured by her, saying: 'Behold me, literally in love... I don't know in what the charm lies, but it is thoroughly potent.' Middlemarch author Mary Ann Evans had an extraordinary interest in sex, writes Mark Edmonds. Pictured: Juliet Aubrey as Dorothea Brooke and Rufus Sewell as Will Ladislaw in Middlemarch She would pursue married men in particular. By the time she reached her mid-30s, Evans had enjoyed passionate sexual relationships with a succession of men, most of them married and older. Even so, her story might have vanished with her to the grave were it not for the fact that she left behind an extraordinary literary legacy. For Mary Ann Evans is better known by her nom de plume: George Eliot, author of Middlemarch, and one of the greatest novelists in the language. Now, more than 150 years after it first appeared, Middlemarch is about to be re-published, for the first time bearing its author's real name. The plan is the work of a group of feminist academics eager to give female writers who hid behind male pseudonyms the recognition they deserve. Yet the irony is that in Mary Evans/George Eliot's case there was never anything remotely sisterly about her private life. Indeed, as she hopped from bed to bed, heedless of the emotional carnage she left in her wake, she would often use her experiences in her writing. One early work, The Lifted Veil, is thought to refer to a character who drove himself mad by masturbation. Pictured: A portrait of Mary Ann Evans drawn by Frederick Burton in 1864 Naturally, her liberated approach to sex scandalised many of her contemporaries, who were stuck in a dreary and often hypocritical morass of sexual repression. Yet Evans remained unperturbed by the whispers that surrounded her. 'Gossip,' she once wrote, 'is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it; it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.' Although the success of Middlemarch and her other novels made her a very rich woman, her sexual adventures began in a rather more unfashionable milieu. Mary Ann Evans was born in 1819, youngest daughter of Robert Evans, a comfortably-off land agent from Nuneaton who recognised her intellectual prowess and sent her to boarding school. When she was 19 her mother died, and she returned home to look after her father. When he retired they moved to Coventry. It was there that her life and in particular sex life really began. The subject of her first proper crush was her Latin and German tutor. She gushed to a school friend that he was 'anything but uninteresting, all eternal grace and mental power'. This tutor, Joseph Brezzi, proved to be the first in a long line of unsuitable infatuations. The world in which Evans, now in her 20s, found herself was in marked contrast to the one that we recognise from Victorian literature. Through neighbours in Coventry she had met a local couple, Charles and Cara Bray, who were well-off and held court with a number of intellectuals, including the social reformer Robert Owen. Charles Bray appears to have been Coventry's very own Don Juan. He'd had affairs with many local women, including the cook at the family house, who bore him six children. His wife's sister also succumbed to his charms. Mary Ann Evans is better known by her nom de plume: George Eliot, author of Middlemarch, and one of the greatest novelists in the language The young Mary Ann was soon smitten. She professed that Bray was almost certainly the most handsome man she had ever seen, and she probably lost her virginity to him. At around this time, Mary Ann renounced Christianity, much to the horror of her family. Her life was further complicated by a second entanglement with another married man, Dr Robert Brabant, a German-speaking academic with whom she stayed in Wiltshire. Again she was enraptured, but came unstuck; his wife and daughter found out and she was sent packing back to Coventry, where she resumed her relationship with Charles Bray whose wife Cara was more accommodating. Shortly after her father's death in 1849, Mary Ann went to London and fell in love with a dashing publisher, John Chapman. He was another philanderer who scrupulously recorded the frequency with which he had sex with Mary Ann. His principal mistress was his daughters' governess, Elisabeth Tilley, and unfortunately for Mary Ann neither she nor Chapman's wife would accept a fourth person in their menage a trois. And so it was back to Coventry once again for Mary Ann. But she was compensated later by Chapman who gave her a job as a journalist and editor and she soon returned to London. Although she devoted a great deal of time to her sexual entanglements, she also used this period to build her literary career. Her first novel, Adam Bede, was published in 1859 and Middlemarch, her greatest, followed later. Mary Ann's sexual indiscretions were often talked about in one letter to a friend she referred to what 'gross men or vulgar-minded women might think of me'. None, however, was considered to be quite as scandalous as her relationship with literary critic George Henry Lewes. He was a great wit and raconteur but, like Mary Ann herself, was not conventionally good-looking: he was very short, and his head seemed almost too big for his body. In July, 1854, she and Lewes set sail for Germany rather ungenerously the pair were said to look like a horse travelling with a monkey. Their liaison attracted particular interest since Lewes was married although he by now described Mary Ann as his common-law wife. She took her pen-name George from Lewes. While the accepted version of literary history is that male authors were more likely to be taken seriously, Vivienne Ellis of the George Eliot Fellowship says this is far from certain in this case. 'It's too simple to say that she chose a man's name to help her get published,' she says. 'In my view it was more that she was living with a married man at the centre of London intelligentsia. I'm afraid she was shunned and seen as a fallen woman for many years.' Evans was cut off by her family and most of her friends. But she didn't care. In a letter to her old lover, John Chapman, she wrote: 'I have counted the cost of the step I have taken and am prepared to bear, without irritation or bitterness, renunciation of all my friends. I am not mistaken in the person to whom I have attached myself.' Mary Ann and Lewes spent 25 years together, although they were both plagued by ill-health. Shortly after Lewes's death in 1878, Mary Ann married John Cross, a dreary Scottish accountant who was 20 years her junior. Their marriage got off to a bad start, however. On their honeymoon in Venice, Cross said to be appalled by the thought of having to have sex with her tried to kill himself by leaping into the Grand Canal but was rescued by a passing gondolier. The couple returned to London but by this time Mary Ann's health was failing and in 1880 she succumbed finally to kidney disease. She was buried in Highgate Cemetery, North London, alongside Lewes. It was a sad end to a vivid and sexually voracious life. As for what name she should best be remembered by, Vivienne Ellis says she is 'very upset' by the move to turn George back into Mary. 'It's my own view again, but surely a writer has the right to choose the name they publish under.' With contributions from Dr. Matthew Hardwick , President & CEO, ResInnova Laboratories and Dr. Robert Louis , FAANS, Head of Neurological Surgery at Hoag Memorial Hospital , as well as industry experts Crystal IS and Cleanbox co-founders, Amy Hedrick and David Georgeson , the publication explains the basic concepts and science behind UVC surface decontamination, how it works, when it works and best practices. To quote Dr. Robert Louis, "The problem of microbial contamination is not new to the field of medicine, it is just now that the rest of society is aware of these risks. As industries from airlines to retail turn towards physicians for solutions, we must provide them based upon our cumulative experience. UVC light has repeatedly been proven to effectively kill all known pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses including the Covid19 virus, SARS-Cov2. This has been demonstrated in both solid and porous surfaces and is non-destructive and non-toxic." Further proof of this is demonstrated in a recent independent lab test conducted by a US university in a Biohazard Level 3 lab that shows Cleanbox UVC engineering kills Sars-Cov-2 (COVID-19), with 99.99%+ efficacy on plastics & hard surfaces in 60 seconds, and N95 masks in two minutes. UVC is a wavelength of light that doesn't exist naturally in the earth's atmosphere. Because UVC can't be "found on earth," common pathogens that prove dangerous or deadly to humans have no natural immunity to it. Since UVC can be artificially created in a bulband more recently in an LED substrateUVC has been used as a very effective disinfectant against viruses, bacteria and fungi for decades. This publication explains the basic concepts and science behind UVC surface decontamination. This document does not address UVC water or air decontamination. Download a copy of the paper at https://www.cleanboxtech.com/ About Cleanbox Technology Founded in 2018, California-based Cleanbox Technology, Inc. is a premium, eco-friendly smart tech hygiene company, specializing in the UVC decontamination of hard-to-clean products that sit on the face or head, in proximity to high-risk contagion transfer points of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Cleanbox's patented products use UVC light in an LED, providing safe, hospital-grade decontamination without the need for chemicals, heat, or liquids. Cleanbox products are designed for head-mounted displays (HMDs), surgical and protective masks, eyewear, personal electronics and accessories. Cleanbox products have been independently proven to kill 99.99+% viruses, bacteria, and fungi. SOURCE Cleanbox Technology Related Links https://www.cleanboxtech.com/ Syrian President Bashar Assad and the leader of Iraq's Shia-dominated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Falih Al-Fayyadh, held talks on Wednesday on regional issues and fight against terrorism, Assad's press office said MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th August, 2020) Syrian President Bashar Assad and the leader of Iraq's Shia-dominated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Falih Al-Fayyadh, held talks on Wednesday on regional issues and fight against terrorism, Assad's press office said. Earlier in the day, the state-run Iraqi news Agency reported that Al-Fayyadh had arrived in Damascus and handed over Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's letter to the Syrian president. "President Assad has received a letter of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ... that focuses on strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields, continued consultations and coordination on the regional developments in the political and security spheres, as well as on efforts to combat terrorism and enhance security on the border between the two countries," the press office said in a statement. During the meeting, the two politicians highlighted that people of both countries had still been suffering from terrorism, and it could be only defeated by the Iraqi and Syrian armies, the statement said. "The two sides have also affirmed that economic and security challenges that the region faces, as well as serious plans that foreign countries predict for it, require close cooperation between the regional states in order to thwart these intentions and put an end to foreign interference," Assad's office added. The PMF, an Iraqi-sponsored umbrella grouping of Shia armed militias, was formed in 2014 after the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, outlawed in Russia) had captured Mosul, one of the country's key cities. The PMF forces participated in battles against militants in a number of Syrian cities on Damascus' side. The Iraqi authorities announcing the country's complete liberation from IS militants after over three years of fighting in 2017, but pockets of terrorists continue to engage in sabotage and armed attacks in the liberated regions. They are being resisted by both the government forces and militias. Nigeria will on Tuesday receive its Wild Polio Virus (WPV) free certificate from the World Health Organisation (WHO), following approval from Independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC). The implication of the certificate from WHO is that Nigeria is now without poliomyelitis, or polio, for short, after many years of battling it. Nigeria is the last country in Africa to achieve this milestone. This means the continent is now polio-free. This is a remarkable breakthrough considering the fact that seven years ago, the country had accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization(WHO). According to experts, polio is a highly contagious viral infection that causes serious health defects including infantile paralysis, breathing problems, or even death. It has no cure but can be prevented by polio vaccine which has helped in reducing the incidence of polio by over 99 per cent from 1988, when more than 350, 000 children have paralyzed annually in 125 endemic countries, to 33 reported cases in 2018. With no new cases for three consecutive years, Nigeria became eligible to be certified free of polio in August 2019. This is the requisite period for any country to be certified polio-free. The virus will now remain in only two countries Afghanistan and Pakistan and the entire African continent would be free, with the world inching closer to ending yet another viral disease just as Smallpox in1980. The last four cases of wild poliovirus occurred in Borno State, Nigeria in 2016, an area where the terrorist group Boko Harams presence has hampered health workers ability to immunise children. The country also saw a spike in cases in 2006 fueled by strong community resistance to vaccination. In response, the Nigerian government and its partners used innovative ways to reach children in these hard-t- access areas, said Dr Pascal Mkanda, coordinator of the WHO Polio Eradication Programme, according to Devex. This included vaccinating children while visiting market areas as well as expanding community surveillance of the virus. The Seven Polio Heroes PREMIUM TIMES brings you the seven categories of heroes who helped Nigeria fight the deadly infection to a stop. With a combination of new tactics, their efforts ensured that the 600,000 children under the age of five missing out on vaccination three years ago was reduced to 60,000 today. 1) The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) The task of eradicating polio meant overcoming immense logistical challenges. Without a combined effort of donors, local and international partners in collaboration with the Nigerian government, the goal will be stalled by funding gaps. Nigeria has little cold storage for vaccines, poor infrastructure, and many remote communities coupled with a high level of illiteracy and awareness. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a public-private partnership launched in 1988 with a goal of ending polio worldwide, was most pivotal in bridging funding and technical gaps. It was driven by the Nigerian government with five partners the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Billions of dollars have been invested through WHO and UNICEF with the support of donors and partners including the Dangote Foundation, European Union, Rotary, GAVI, JICA, the World Bank and the Governments of Canada, Germany, Japan, among others. The financial support saw the training and mobilisation of local volunteers who helped the rural communities across Northern Nigeria where polio prevailed to accept the polio vaccines. Support from the initiative enabled the west African country to procure enough vaccines, store them and conduct widespread immunisation programs even in remote areas. 2) UNICEF-trained community volunteer mobilisers Advertisements Over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of volunteers have repeatedly vaccinated roughly 50 million Nigerian children under the age of five. However, it was the resilience of a network of nearly 20 000 UNICEF-trained community mobilisers, influencers and communication experts deployed across 14 northern high risk Nigerian states that heralded the final push to end polio in the last three years. Despite billions of foreign aid pumped into polio eradication, the major challenge has remained to bridge the barrier of suspicion and acceptance of immunisation programs, especially in rural Northern Nigeria. Anything that has to do with western medicine and vaccination is often treated with suspicion in those parts. Advocacy, however, found success with these 20, 000 mediators. They were able to penetrate because they were mostly from the communities. They served as the link between interventions and the people. Their job is to go for door to door counselling of parents about the importance of the polio vaccine in order to ensure that no child falls victim to polio or any other preventable childhood disease. 3) Nigerian Soldiers Without the Nigerian army, vaccination would not have reached several violence-prone communities. In the three countries where Polio has remained active, the most afflicted regions are those where the governments reach is weakest and the presence of Islamic militants is strongest. Borno is the stronghold of Boko Haram and the last state to document polio in Nigeria. Several communities in the state are under the grip of the dreaded sect, making health workers unable to get the polio vaccine to children in those communities. The decision of the Nigerian military to get involved in conducting polio vaccination in these locations was key. They led health workers into trapped communities in the state for routine immunisation. 4) President Muhammadu Buhari Asides insecurity and funding gaps, the deep suspicions in many corners over the safety of vaccines heightened in the last years of polio. PREMIUM TIMES in 2017 reported how false vaccination rumours caused panic within the country. The resulting fright forced schools to shut down in many parts of the country following a rumour that an unusual injection was being administered on school children. Asides the UNICEF-trained community mobilisers, President Muhammadu Buhari also played an important role in dousing the tension which eventually aided the penetration of polio vaccines. His decision to vaccinate his own grandchildren against the virus helped ease the mind of many Nigerians. 5) Traditional Rulers Traditional rulers with the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto acted as vaccine advocates by easing the work of the nearly 20, 000 volunteers working in the frontlines with communities. Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III [Photo Credit: Daily Trust] The collaboration with the traditional rulers in the north and the Sultan Foundation has helped UNICEF to engage more than 42,000 traditional leaders at the community level in Nigeria, said UNICEF. This has helped the government and all key polio partners to push towards the last mile. They worked tirelessly to ensure polio teams reach every house in the communities, while also helping families to understand, trust, and accept the vaccine. 6) Health workers Any success story of ending polio around the world would not be complete without the mention of health workers. This is no difference in Nigeria. At the heart of polio eradication efforts stand health workers across the country who put themselves on the frontline daily to get vaccines to children. Combining the vaccination with other health services, including check-ups and malaria treatment, was one of the most efficient strategies devised by health workers to make routine immunisation more acceptable to especially the 87 million extremely poor Nigerians. 7) Nigerian Governors The governors of the 36 states of Nigeria, especially those from key polio-infected areas of the country, were very pivotal to ending the viral infection. The governors had recognized that to urgently fill ongoing vaccination coverage gaps during polio immunisation campaigns requiring active leadership, engagement, and accountability by the political leadership from the states and districts (Local Government Areas LGAs) is much needed. To this effect, they signed the Abuja Commitments to Polio Eradication in Nigeria in 2009, publicly committing themselves to provide the necessary active leadership which will mobilise the state and LGA civil administrations to reach at least 90% of all children with the polio vaccine. Successive governments followed up with where their predecessors left off even while contending with insurgency and other violent crimes stalling progress. Kano State was arguably the epicentre of Nigerias poliovirus epidemic, accounting for over 80% of total cases in the country as of six years ago. A major setback in Kano came in 2003 when then-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau banned polio vaccines on the premise that local scientists had discovered that the vaccines could lead to infertility, particularly among girls. Nigerian Health Watch reported how the Boko Haram insurgency did its own damage ten years ago when 11 polio vaccinators were shot dead in the line of duty in Kano metropolis by gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded sect. Notably, upon assumption of offices, the Governors of Kano and Sokoto, Nigerias very high-risk polio states, promised to surpass the gains recorded by their predecessors in a renewed commitment to stamp out the paralysing disease. READ ALSO: Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Kano State Governor, convened the state Task Force on Immunization meeting with all the 44 local government chairmen (LGA) and other top government functionaries. The Sokoto State government, on the other hand, led the charge in releasing counterpart funds to assist with, among others, campaign operations and procurement of pluses to increase immunisation uptake and contact tracing. Shortly after the last two cases were found in Borno State, the state government swiftly set up an outbreak response (OBR) on August, 2016 to detect and vaccinate children below five years of age in the two affected local government areas (LGAs) of Jere, Gwoza and three (3) surrounding LGAs of Mafa, Maiduguri Municipal Council (MMC) and Bama. By the end of the first day, a total of 201, 290 children were vaccinated with 662 receiving their zero or first-time oral polio vaccine polio (OPV) dose, according to data from WHO. The second day of the Republican National Convention continued the fascistic politics that dominated the opening session on Monday. The event marks the evolution of one of the two major parties of American capitalism into an instrument for the development of a personalist and authoritarian movement around the figure of the leader, Donald Trump, with increasingly fascistic characteristics. Mondays open appeals to racism and xenophobia in the name of defending Western civilization against the supposed socialist campaign of Democratic right-wingers Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were joined on Tuesday with belligerent calls to confront Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party. The convention has dispensed with the traditional trappings of democracy, effacing any distinction between the office of president and Trumps reelection campaign. The Republicans even decided to forgo the formality of adopting a platform to present to the electorate, instead merely declaring its strong support for Trump. Trump family members are being paraded before the TV cameras, joining dozens of other nonentities in a degrading spectacle of ignorance and political reaction. Monday night featured Donald Trump, Jr. Day two included his brother and sister, Eric and Tiffany, and First Lady Melania Trump. Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump, tapes his speech for the second day of the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Trump used the White House as the backdrop for a video showing him pardoning a convicted bank robber and a separate ceremony granting naturalization papers to a group of immigrants. He plans to give his acceptance speech Thursday night from the White House. The overall result is something akin to a coronation. The racist and anti-Semitic character of the forces being mobilized by Trump and the Republicans was underscored by the last-minute removal from Tuesdays speakers list of Mary Ann Mendoza, a member of the Trump campaign advisory board. Her removal followed a Daily Beast report that earlier in the day she had retweeted and recommended a post by a QAnon conspiracy theorist citing The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and warning of a conspiracy headed by the Rothschilds to enslave and destroy all non-Jews. This followed Mondays appearance by Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the wealthy lawyers who emerged from their mansion in a gated St. Louis community in June to point a rifle and pistol at young people who were marching to a peaceful protest against police violence outside the mayor's home in the same community. Mark McCloskey claimed he and his wife acted to defend their home as a mob of protesters descended on our neighborhood. In an overt appeal to racism, his wife declared, Theyre not satisfied with spreading the violence and chaos into our communities, they want to abolish the suburbs altogether, by ending single-family home zoning. This forced rezoning would bring crime, lawlessness and low-quality apartments into now thriving suburban neighborhoods So, make no mistake, no matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats America. The featured speaker on Tuesday was Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose remarks were taped Monday following a meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Pompeo's appearance was a break with a longstanding protocol of American politics requiring the chief foreign policy officer to avoid involvement in partisan politics. It was in keeping with the reshaping of the Republican Party and the movement toward a presidential dictatorship based on the military, the police and far-right paramilitary forces. In his meeting with Netanyahu, Pompeo discussed stepping up the two countries joint attacks on Iran and countering the growing influence of China in the region. Following the meeting, Pompeo said they had discussed the challenge that the Chinese Communist Party presents to the entire world. In his remarks to the convention, Pompeo praised Trump for pulling back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. He repeated the lie, now a Trump administration mantra, that China was guilty of a coverup that caused the global spread of the coronavirus. He hailed Washington's withdrawal from the INF Treaty with Russia and arming of Ukraine, the scrapping of the nuclear deal with Iran, the assassinations of ISIS leader al-Baghdadi and Iranian General Soleimani, the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem, and this months peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, directed in the first place against Iran. On Tuesday morning, Trumps Secretary of Defense Mark Esper published a column in the Wall Street Journal headlined The Pentagon Is Prepared for China. In part responding to attacks on Trump's foreign policy record by the Democrats and a long list of Republican former military, intelligence and foreign policy officials who are supporting Biden, Esper penned a belligerent piece that defined the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) as the instrument of the Chinese Communist Party. Citing the 2018 National Defense Strategy, which announced a shift in the central focus of the US military from the war on terror to great power competition with China and Russia, Esper said that Washington was countering Chinas plans to upgrade the PLA by strengthening its military coordination with Australia, Japan and other nations in the Indo-Pacific region. Accusing the Chinese Communist Party of seeking to coerce other countries and impede their sovereignty, Esper wrote, First and foremost, long-term competition with China demands that we have a force that is able to compete, deter and win across all domains: air, land, sea, space and cyberspace. The drive both to war abroad and dictatorship at home is rooted in an unprecedented crisis of American capitalism. The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a public health catastrophe and economic collapse, with infections in the US racing toward six million and deaths toward 200,000, unemployment at 30 million and millions of Americans facing hunger and homelessness. The sheer incompetence, callousness and indifference to death on the part of the government, including both parties, and the ruling class as a whole have exposed the failure of the capitalist system. Notwithstanding their criticisms of Trumps handling of the pandemic, the Democrats have joined in carrying out the basic policies demanded by Wall Street, beginning with the multitrillion-dollar bailout of the financial oligarchs in March and continuing with the homicidal campaigns to force workers back onto the job and teachers and students back into the schools, without any protection against the raging pandemic. Trump speaks for those sections of the ruling class and the state that seek to create a fascist movement to suppress social opposition by brute force. The Democrats appeal for support not to the working class that is being impoverished, but to the CIA, the military, Wall Street and the foreign policy establishment. Both camps support new and more disastrous wars, differing mainly on which nations to target first. Both are petrified by the growth of working-class opposition and desperate to block and suppress it. American democracy is collapsing, and whatever the outcome of the election, the working class will face mounting social attacks and attacks on democratic rights. The great danger does not lie in some inherent strength of the Trump camp. It is in crisis and its fascistic policies have the support of only a small fraction of the population. The predominant movement of the American people is to the left in opposition to capitalism. The danger rather stems mainly from the dead weight of the Democratic Party and the efforts of the bulk of the media, the pro-corporate unions and the ex-radical organizations that orbit the Democrats to channel social opposition behind this right-wing party and its right-wing candidates. The Democrats are utterly feckless in responding to Trump, fearful of encouraging popular opposition by warning of his fascistic politics. They devote their efforts to blocking and suppressing an independent movement of the working class against capitalism. They work tirelessly to split the working class by concealing the basic class divisions in society and instead defining all issues on the basis of racea conflict between an irredeemably racist white America and black America. In fact, the source of racism and discrimination is the capitalist system that they defend. The working class needs not an electoral strategy to fight the pandemic, defend jobs and social rights, prevent the installation of a dictatorship and stop the drive to war, but rather a strategy based on the class struggle and guided by a revolutionary socialist program. Dame Vera Lynn would still be singing Land of Hope and Glory if she were alive, her daughter said yesterday. Virginia Lewis-Jones said it was 'wonderful' that a rendition of the track by the forces' sweetheart topped the charts after the race row about its meaning. A social media drive has been launched for the recording by Dame Vera who died in June aged 103 to be played during the BBC's Last Night of the Proms. Speaking out: Virginia Lewis-Jones with her mother, Dame Vera Mrs Lewis-Jones, 74, claimed the song is against slavery and her mother would be proud of her for speaking out. She said: 'I feel that I can see my mother now saying 'You tell 'em girl'. She would feel the same thing and if she were here now she would be singing it.' The 1902 lyrics of Land of Hope and Glory are associated with Cecil Rhodes the British imperialist whose statue is being removed from an Oxford college. The Proms will feature an orchestrated version of the song without lyrics after organisers reportedly expressed a desire to reduce patriotic elements to reflect the international anti-racism movement. Mrs Lewis-Jones said that the song was particularly meaningful to her mother, who sang it on VE Day in 1945. When asked about the BBC's decision, she said: 'It is daft and I can't understand it. You try to stop 12,000 people in the Royal Albert Hall plus all those outside from not singing it. How are you going to do that? Especially if mummy's record has gone to number one. What it could do is put a lot of people's backs up and defeat the object of whatever they were trying to do.' Icon: Dame Vera Lynn topped the iTunes chart on Wednesday Mrs Lewis-Jones added: 'My mother is a British icon and she cared a lot about this country and the Commonwealth. Mummy was always very apolitical. 'One has to appreciate that this was written around 100 or so years ago. But not only that, the words are meaningful for everybody. 'The song is against slavery, not for it. It is an appalling thing and we all still know that unfortunately racism to a certain extent does go on in this country. And we have all got to fight it. I'm a mixed bag myself. Daddy was Jewish, mum was Church of England and I went to Catholic school.' The campaign behind the Dame Vera version was launched by Defund the BBC a group which aims to decriminalise failure to pay the licence fee. Her rendition topped the iTunes digital songs chart on Wednesday. The UK's top-selling songs are usually played during BBC Radio 1's chart show but there have been some exceptions. For example, when Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead reached number two following the death of Lady Thatcher, the BBC did not play the track in full. Imagine for a moment that you lose the job youve held for nearly two years because of budget cuts. And then you get handed a $30,000 bill from the employment agency that placed you in that job. Crazy, right? It certainly should be. Unfortunately, in the world of temp agencies and their increasingly unscrupulous money-making tactics, its a situation workers do encounter, including in Ontario. As the Stars Sara Mojtehedzadeh reported on Tuesday, Eduardo Guzman-Diaz received just such a demand after losing his job at RBC and hes not alone. The temp agency he had a contract with, FDM Group, is facing an Ontario Labour Relations Board complaint alleging the $30,000 fee violates provincial employment laws. The complaint also argues the fee is also an unconscionable threat to young individuals who were hoping to embark on a career. Indeed it is. FDM makes money off workers when theyre placed in jobs and it expects to make money off them when theyre no longer in those jobs. This is a grotesque practice and it must be stopped. Tragically, its also just one of many unacceptable practices within temp agencies and the broader gig economy, where too much work is precarious, low-wage, part-time, short-term and misclassifies workers as independent contractors. This labour board complaint serves to shine a much-needed spotlight on temp agencies, a sector that routinely takes advantage of vulnerable workers, many of them young or newcomers to Canada. Workers can be stuck in temporary positions for years on end and denied the same workplace rights, pay and benefits of their coworkers who are lucky enough to be permanent employees. Temp agencies are routinely exposed for skirting or outright flouting accepted labour practices and government employment laws. Indeed, FDM has been in trouble before for trying to charge workers who lost a job or left a placement early a $30,000 fee. In 2018, the Ministry of Labour ruled that the fee FDM charged a worker who left an RBC job early was prohibited under the Employment Standards Act. In the face of that ruling, all the agency seems to have done is alter the contract wording to keep the fee. Thats like a company being shut down for labour violations and reopening its doors under another name. The provincial government needs to get serious about protecting vulnerable workers from these kinds of predatory and unscrupulous business practices. The Ford government must update provincial labour laws, which are decades behind labour market realities, to protect temp workers and crack down on the agencies and companies that increasingly seem to treat them as disposable workers. So far, to its great shame, it has done the exact opposite and actually rolled back some improvements made by the last Liberal government. The quickest way to put an end to practices that take advantage of vulnerable workers is for companies to hire employees directly, thereby making the middleman redundant. These agencies have been allowed to flourish for too long already. Three years ago, a Star investigation revealed there were an astonishing 1,700 temp agencies in the Greater Toronto Area alone that provide countless workers for a variety of jobs from clerical positions to factory work. Reputable companies, such as RBC and Fidelity Investments, should not be so quick to turn to agencies that profit off the backs of underpaid workers to fill their workforce needs. In this latest case, according to the labour board submissions, RBC paid FDM far more for Guzman-Diazs labour as a business and IT consultant than the temp agency passed on to him. Far better for RBC to have simply hired him directly. Ontarios labour laws and whats expected of businesses must change to end the perverse incentives that leave too many workers hired through temp agencies rather than directly employed. By Trend Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has begun his official visit to Russia, Trend reports on August 26. Bayramov first visited the grave of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin walls, and laid a wreath on it. During the visit, the minister met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The meeting, which has begun in a tet-a-tete format, will be followed with the participation of delegations. A man allegedly wrecked a Covid-19 protective screen in his local garage and then "kicked off" when police arrived, a court was told on Wednesday. Stephen Ogilvie is accused of targeting officers during the disturbance in north Belfast on his birthday. The 38-year-old, of Avoca Street in the city, is charged with criminal damage, disorderly behaviour, assaulting one PSNI constable and attempting to assault a second. Ogilvie was arrested following the alleged incident at a garage on the Crumlin Road on Monday night. A PSNI officer told Belfast Magistrates' Court: "He went into the filling station, punched a Covid protection screen in the store and destroyed it. Then he kicked off at police." Ogilvie was said to have made full admissions during interviews. District Judge Fiona Bagnall noted that he has 161 previous convictions. "You weigh this record, you don't read it," she remarked. Although bail was not formally opposed, the police officer expressed doubts about Ogilvie adhering to any regime imposed. Defence counsel argued that his client has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but now has a support network in place. Mrs Bagnall warned Ogilvie is likely to receive a prison sentence if ultimately convicted. She granted bail, however, on conditions including a curfew and ban on entering the service station. The judge stressed: "I make it clear, if there's one breach he is in custody." 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. TUSD has shut down its second school and two special education classes on another campus after two people one child and one staffer tested positive for COVID-19. Erickson Elementary, at 6750 E. Stella Road on Tucsons southeast side closed its doors on Tuesday, August 25, until Sept. 7, after a student in the KIDCO program housed at the school tested positive for COVID-19. The Pima County Health Department recommended the school close for a 14-day quarantine period "out of an abundance of caution," said spokeswoman Karla Escamilla. The students attending Erickson's on-site care will go to remote learning during the quarantine period. Two special education classrooms at Rincon High, which shares a campus with University High at 421 N. Arcadia Ave., also closed after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, potentially exposing students in both classrooms. The district does not know how many students and staff were potentially exposed to the virus, but seven TUSD students at Erickson were using an on-site care space. The district doesn't know how many kids were in the KIDCO program at the school. The two special education classes at Rincon had a combined 20 students. The two high schools remain open. TUSD, which has been conducting remote learning for all of its students since Aug. 10, will list school closures due to coronavirus at tusd1.org/COVID-19. Myanmar has reported the highest single-day surge in coronavirus cases. The country has expanded a lockdown in conflict-racked Rakhine state which registered most of the infections. Doctors in South Korea have been ordered to return to work because of the continued surge in coronavirus cases after they began a three-day strike on Wednesday over government plans to train more medical students. The 2021 Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) summit of business leaders and politicians has been postponed from January to summer 2021. More than 24.0 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 15.6 million have recovered. More than 821,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Here are the latest updates: Wednesday, August 26 20:59 GMT India: Health workers alarmed over black holes in COVID-19 apps Harinder Kaur was not surprised when people slammed their doors in her face as she walked into neighbourhoods in the northern state of Punjab armed with a smartphone and a long list of health and travel-related questions. The 28-year-old health worker had been told to go door-to-door in villages in Patiala district and help populate the states COVID-19 tracing app with thousands of details people were unwilling to share, from their digestive health to their mobile numbers. People were just hostile, said Kaur, who is one of more than one million Accredited Social Health Activists, or ASHA workers, on the front lines of Indias battle to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Read more here. 20:32 GMT Brazil asks China for proof chicken wings had coronavirus Brazil has asked Chinese authorities to provide results of laboratory tests that detected traces of the novel coronavirus on chicken wings exported by the South American country, according to a statement sent to Reuters by Brazils Agriculture Ministry. The request was made during a meeting in the city of Shenzhen, in Guangdong province, where Brazilian agriculture attaches met local health and trade officials on Tuesday, the statement said. In response, according to the statement, the Chinese participants said the results are being kept by health authorities of Guangdong, who did not participate in the meeting. 19:53 GMT US health agency says some exposed to virus do not need test, reversing course The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention narrowed its guidance for who should get tested for COVID-19 this week, saying those who were exposed but are not symptomatic may not need to be tested. That is a reversal from its previous recommendation, which said testing is recommended for all close contact of people diagnosed with COVID-19. The Latino community in Houston has been especially hard-hit during the coronavirus pandemic [John Moore/Getty Images via AFP] 19:27 GMT Phil Hogan resigns as EU trade chief after Ireland trip furore Irelands Phil Hogan said he had resigned as European Union trade commissioner because of the controversy over alleged breaches of COVID-19 guidelines rules during a recent trip to his home country. It was becoming increasingly clear that the controversy concerning my recent visit to Ireland was becoming a distraction from my work as an EU Commissioner and would undermine my work in the key months ahead, Hogan said in a statement. 18:56 GMT France reports 5,429 new coronavirus infections, new post-lockdown high The French health ministry said it had registered 5,429 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, a new post-lockdown high and a level of new infections not seen since the height of the epidemic in early April. The total number of people infected with the virus in France now stands at 253,587. The health ministry said figures for the cumulative death toll and for COVID-19 hospitalisations for Wednesday were not available yet due to a technical glitch. 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] 18:27 GMT Qatar to reopen mosques for daily and Friday prayers from September 1 Qatar has decided to reopen all mosques across the country for daily and Friday prayers from September 1, a statement by the supreme committee for crisis management announced. The statement said this would be part of the fourth and final phase of a plan that started on June 15, aimed at gradually lifting coronavirus restrictions. 17:59 GMT Women may mount stronger COVID-19 immune response A new study looking at male and female immune responses to the new coronavirus may shed new light on why men are more likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19, researchers said. Since early in the pandemic it has been clear that men, particularly older men, are at a far higher risk of dying from the virus than women of a similar age, but scientists have not yet been able to pinpoint exactly why. A new study published in the journal Nature noted that globally, men account for about 60 percent of deaths from COVID-19 and looked at whether differences in immune responses could explain why. What we found was that men and women indeed develop different types of immune responses to COVID-19, said the studys lead author Akiko Iwasaki, a professor at Yale University, in a video. The immunity specialist said these differences may underlie heightened disease susceptibility in men. 17:33 GMT Norway adds Germany to COVID-19 quarantine list Norway said it will impose a 10-day quarantine on all people arriving from Germany and Liechtenstein from August 29 due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in those countries. Similar restrictions will also be imposed on those coming from two additional regions in Sweden, the Norwegian foreign ministry said in a statement. 16:57 GMT Spain reports 3,594 new cases as struggle to halt virus spread continues Spain reported 3,594 new coronavirus infections as it struggled to contain a second wave of contagion that hit a peak of some 8,000 cases last Friday. The country has registered the largest number of cases in western Europe since the pandemic began six months ago and the biggest resurgence after lifting one of the continents strictest lockdowns against the spread of COVID-19. The latest daily increase was below the roughly 4,000 cases recorded a day earlier, according to updated health ministry data, and brought the cumulative total to 419,849. Healthcare workers wearing protective gear push a patient on a stretcher into the emergency unit at Severo Ochoa Hospital amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Leganes, Spain [Juan Medina/Reuters] 16:20 GMT Romanian theatres, restaurants could reopen in September Romanian theatres and cinemas could reopen from September 1 with social distancing restrictions and protective masks, while the return of indoor restaurants depends on the number of new coronavirus cases in each region, the president said. Romania has been reporting just over 1,000 new cases per day since late July, bringing confirmed cases to 81,646 since the pandemic reached the country in late February. 15:55 GMT Jordan to reimpose lockdown in Amman Jordans government is to impose a 24-hour lockdown on the capital Amman and the city of al-Zarqa on Friday in a return of the strict measures it credits with containing the virus earlier this year. The comprehensive lockdown aims at slowing down the spread of the virus and allowing medical teams to test as many suspected cases as possible, government spokesman Amjad al-Adaileh said. All businesses will be closed and no one will be allowed to leave their houses for 24 hours, except for a few essential workers. In June, restrictions in Amman were eased and most businesses opened, though a night-time curfew remained in place nationwide [File: Muhammad Hamed/Reuters] 15:20 GMT Insect spray chemical can kill coronavirus: UK study A chemical used in insect repellent can kill the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to a preliminary study by Britains defence laboratory. Scientists at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) found that Citriodiol, the active ingredient in repellents such as Mosi-guard, had anti-viral properties if mixed with the virus in the liquid phase and on a test surface. Mixing a virus suspension with Mosi-guard spray or selected constituent components resulted in a reduction in SARS-CoV-2, said the study. 14:45 GMT Ukraine temporarily bars most foreigners amid pandemic after Israel pilgrimage plea Ukraine imposed a temporary ban on most foreigners from entering the country until September 28 and extended lockdown measures until the end of October to contain a recent spike in coronavirus cases. Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal also said the government would need to take a decision on Thursday on whether to ban major public events in September. The rise in coronavirus infections we have seen in recent weeks is forcing us to act more decisively, Shmygal said. Shmygal said the decisions were partly in response to a plea from Israel to prevent an influx of Hasidic Jews travelling to the central Ukrainian town of Uman for an annual pilgrimage, fearing it may become a virus hotspot. Ukraine has 112,650 coronavirus cases to date and 2,398 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University [File: Reuters] 14:15 GMT Davos meeting delayed to summer 2021 on COVID-19 fears WEF The 2021 Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) summit of business leaders and politicians has been called off for January due to the coronavirus pandemic, with organisers planning to reschedule the event to sometime early next summer. The advice from experts is that we cannot (host the event) safely in January, WEF said in a statement. 13:30 GMT UKs Gatwick Airport to cut up to 600 jobs amid travel slump Major British airport Gatwick said it needed to axe up to 600 jobs, or 24 percent of its workforce, because of the travel slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gatwick, which is owned by VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners, said in a statement on Wednesday that it was only operating about 20 percent of last years flights and would now start formal consultations on job cuts. This is Usaid Siddiqui in Doha taking over from my colleague, Saba Aziz. 11:15 GMT Germany looks to scrap free tests for all travellers Germany wants to scrap mandatory free coronavirus tests for returning travellers it introduced earlier this month to stop a rise in new cases, its health minister said, citing capacity constraints at laboratories. The free tests were introduced in the first week of August after new coronavirus cases breached the 1,000-a-day threshold for the first time since May, heightening fears of a return to painful lockdowns. A rule requiring travellers returning from areas that Germany considers as hotspots to self-quarantine for 14 days will remain. Compulsory tests for those travellers will stay in place. A traveller returning from Ukraine receives a voluntary coronavirus test by a German Red Cross medical staff in Berlin, Germany [File: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters] 11:00 GMT Lebanon could lose control of outbreak Lebanons caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the country was at risk of losing its control over the countrys coronavirus outbreak after a spike in the number of cases following the massive explosion in the capital, Beirut, on August 4. The number of cases is increasing greatly, and if this continues, we will lose control of this epidemic, Diab was cited as saying in a statement issued by the Supreme Defence Council. Lebanon registered 525 new COVID-19 infections and 12 deaths on Tuesday. The country experienced a spike in infections following the catastrophic explosion in the capital city at the start of the month. 10:15 GMT Irans coronavirus death toll exceeds 21,000 Irans death toll from the novel coronavirus rose by 119 to 21,020, the health ministrys spokeswoman told state television, with the total number of identified cases rising to 365,606. Sima Sadat Lari said 2,243 new cases were identified in the past 24 hours in Iran, rising from 2,213 a day earlier. Unfortunately, we have been facing a surge in coronavirus infections in recent weeks. I urge everyone to avoid unnecessary trips, Lari said. 10:00 GMT Thailand delays human testing for coronavirus vaccine Thailand will delay human trials of its coronavirus vaccine due to limited production capacity at overseas facilities, a senior official said, but it hopes to resume trials by the end of the year. Thai health authorities had planned human testing of the vaccine by October, but must delay that by several months as factories abroad are at full capacity, said Kiat Ruxrungtham, director of the Chulalongkorn University vaccine development programme. 09:45 GMT How Qatar tackled COVID-19 Qatar has witnessed the worlds highest per capita coronavirus infection rate but one of the lowest death rates due to extensive testing, a young population and significant healthcare spending. With 40,702 cases per million since the pandemic began, Qatar is followed by Bahrain, which has seen nearly 29,000 cases per million, and San Marino at more than 21,000. Read more here. Emergency medical workers wearing protection equipment attend to a patient at a construction site in Doha [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] 09:30 GMT Gaza reports first community coronavirus death A 61-year-old Palestinian man has died in the Gaza Strip after contracting the coronavirus, authorities said as they clamped down on an outbreak of the pandemic in the besieged enclave. The man had suffered previous illnesses and had been on a respirator, the health ministry said. Meanwhile, nine new local cases were detected on Wednesday, raising the total to 15. A full lockdown has been imposed in the entire Palestinian territory after authorities confirmed the first coronavirus cases spread through the community. 08:15 GMT Myanmar expands Rakhine state lockdown Myanmar has expanded a lockdown in conflict-racked Rakhine state to cover four more townships, halting the movement of about one million people as the number of coronavirus cases climbs steadily. One hundred new infections the biggest single-day jump were confirmed across Myanmar in the last 24 hours bringing the total to 574, with Rakhine state registering the bulk. State capital Sittwe has been under lockdown and an overnight curfew since the weekend, and on Wednesday the order was extended to four townships elsewhere Kyaukphyu, An, Taungup and Thandwe. The Rohingya in Rakhine state have expressed alarm of a coronavirus outbreak reaching their overcrowded camps [AFP] 07:30 GMT Latest coronavirus figures Russia: 970,865 cases (4,676), 16,683 deaths (115) Germany: 236,429 cases (1,576), 9,280 deaths (3) Philippines: 202,361 cases (5,277), 3,137 deaths (99) Indonesia: 160,165 cases (2,306), 6,944 deaths (86) 07:15 GMT England schools in hotspots to make masks mandatory It will be mandatory for pupils to wear face masks in communal areas of secondary schools in England in places with local lockdowns, Gavin Williamson, UKs education minister, said after a government U-turn on enforcing their use. Ministers had ruled out the need for pupils to wear masks in corridors despite updated advice from the World Health Organization, but the government has now said face coverings should be worn in schools in places facing restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. Headteachers in other areas will also have the discretion to recommend using masks in their schools for students aged between 11 and 18. Children use hoops for physical distancing at an independent French bilingual school in Fulham, London [Kevin Coombs/Reuters] 06:45 GMT Frances second wave could come in November: Govt adviser A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic could hit France in November, a government adviser told local media, as the city of Marseille tightened restrictions to fight the outbreak. Authorities in Marseille said late on Tuesday that bars and restaurants would have shorter opening times, and they also broadened mandatory mask-wearing in the southern port city between August 26 and September 30. There are fears of a second wave in November, Professor Jean-Francois Delfraissy, who heads the scientific council that advises the government on the pandemic, told France 2 television on Wednesday. 06:30 GMT Kazakhstan secures supplies of Russias vaccine Kazakhstan has signed a deal to get supplies of Russias first potential COVID-19 vaccine once clinical trials are complete, the Central Asian nations government said. The government did not say how many doses of the vaccine it planned to buy and at what price. It said the vaccine would be made available to at-risk Kazakh citizens free of charge. 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. But Western experts have been more sceptical. Read more about it here. Hello, this is Saba Aziz in Doha, taking over from my colleague Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur 05:10 GMT Myanmar reports biggest daily rise in cases Myanmar has reported 100 new cases of the novel coronavirus, its biggest daily jump since the start of the pandemic. The health ministry did not say where the new cases were found. Most recent cases have been in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine, the western state where there has been fighting between the military and rebels and where the Rohingya were driven from their homes in a brutal army crackdown three years ago. Lockdown and curfew have been imposed in the city. The Myanmar Red Cross has been working in the area since March to help people deal with a potential outbreak. As more cases of #COVID19 emerge in #Rakhine state, @MyanmarRedCross is using cash transfers to strengthen communities capacity to deal with the virus through various community-led initiatives including making masks and soap. pic.twitter.com/99wvNxyoXh IFRC Asia Pacific (@IFRCAsiaPacific) August 26, 2020 04:40 GMT S Korean doctors defy government order It seems tens of thousands of doctors have gone ahead with a full-scale nationwide strike, defying the governments return-to-work order. They are angry about planned reforms to medical training, but the strike comes as the country grapples with a resurgence of coronavirus cases. The three-day strike is organised by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which has some 130,000 members, including interns and resident doctors at general hospitals and practitioners at neighbourhood clinics. You can read more on the story here. 04:20 GMT Australian antibody therapy aims for early 2021 trial Researchers in Australia working on a coronavirus antibody therapy say they hope to start human trials in early 2021. Wai-Hong Tam, a researcher at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, told the Reuters news agency the team has made good progress in identifying the most potent antibodies to neutralise the spike protein in the virus and stop it from getting into human cells. Tam says antibody therapies would be most useful for older people and those with weakened immune systems. 03:50 GMT Australia boosts defence spending in latest stimulus Australia will boost defence spending by one billion Australian dollars ($716.80m) in the governments latest attempt to help the countrys coronavirus-hit economy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the money will be used to upgrade military facilities and offer additional paid employment to some 27,000 reservists. Many of the facilities earmarked for improvement are in areas ravaged by fire earlier this year. Australia could slip into recession for the first time in 30 years because of the pandemic. 02:20 GMT South Koreas striking doctors ordered back to work Doctors in South Korea have been ordered back to work after they began a three-day strike on Wednesday, and the number of new coronavirus cases jumped above 300. Trainee doctors and other medics have been staging walkouts in recent weeks, but a full-scale strike by members of the profession forced the countrys five major general hospitals to limit hours and postpone scheduled surgeries. Tens of thousands of doctors will go on a full-scale strike this week in protest of the government's medical workforce reform plan and proceed with a rally in a non-contact manner amid spiking virus cases, @YonhapNews reports https://t.co/a837IQSFdb CSIS Korea Chair (@CSISKoreaChair) August 25, 2020 The government has no choice but to take necessary legal actions such as an order to open business to not put citizens lives and safety in danger, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told journalists. We urge all trainee and fellow doctors to immediately return to work. Doctors associations are opposed to government reforms that would include training more medical students, opening more public medical schools, and broadening telemedicine options. They say the money would be spent on improving the pay and conditions of existing trainees so they would be willing to work outside Seoul. The country reported 320 new cases on Wednesday, with nearly 20 percent of cases in the past two weeks coming from unknown sources, according to Yonhap. 01:30 GMT Malaysian minister to be questioned over failure to follow mandatory quarantine Malaysias Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali is expected to be questioned by police on Wednesday after he failed to comply with a mandatory two-week quarantine when returning from a business trip to Turkey. Mohd Khairuddin has been fined 1,000 ringgit ($240) for failing to go into quarantine after he returned from the trip on July 7. Malaysians have been infuriated not only by his failure to comply with the quarantine rules, but also that he was allowed to travel overseas at a time when Malaysians are barred from leaving the country. A man who returned from India in July and failed to comply with his quarantine was jailed for five months and fined 12,000 ringgit ($2,880), while a 72-year-old woman who had lunch out in breach of quarantine orders was jailed for a day and fined 8,000 ringgit ($1,920). Tan Sri @DGHisham, the issue is discriminative enforcement in favour of the political elite. Raising the quantum is meaningless if law-breaking Ministers are still given convenient exit when offenders from among the common people get the full brunt of the law. https://t.co/3t2QmfqU3r Daud Suratman (@DaudSuratman) August 25, 2020 One is unlike the others. pic.twitter.com/nTdxSUUJCP Lee Seng Foo (@sengfoo88) August 22, 2020 00:30 GMT Latest data from Mexico, China Mexico and China have just released their latest data on coronavirus. Mexico has confirmed 4,916 new cases of the disease and 650 more deaths, bringing its totals to 568,621 cases and 61,450 deaths. China, meanwhile, has reported 15 new cases in the mainland all of them in people returned from overseas. The mainland has not confirmed a domestically transmitted case in 10 days. It also had 14 new asymptomatic cases, which are not included in confirmed cases. The death toll remains unchanged at 4,634. 23:30 GMT (Tuesday) North Koreas Kim calls for enhanced prevention efforts Kim Jong Un has told North Korea to step up prevention efforts against the coronavirus. State news agency KCNA says a politburo meeting assessed some defects in the state emergency anti-epidemic work for checking the inroads of the malignant virus. North Korea has not reported any confirmed cases of the virus, but imposed a strict lockdown in the city of Kaesong after a man there showed symptoms of the disease. Later tests were inconclusive, according to the WHO. 23:05 GMT (Tuesday) Cambridge to start vaccine trials in the autumn The University of Cambridge said it will start clinical trials of a possible coronavirus vaccine in the UKs autumn (the months of September to December) after getting funding of 1.9 million pounds ($2.5m) from the UK government. The scientists working on the vaccine called DIOS-CoVax2 are using genetic sequences of all known coronaviruses to hone an immune response and reduce potential side effects. Were looking for chinks in its armour, crucial pieces of the virus that we can use to construct the vaccine to direct the immune response in the right direction, said Jonathan Heeney, head of the Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics at the university. There are already 30 vaccines in human trials. A colourised scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (green) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow) isolated from a patient sample, captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in the US [National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH/Handout via Reuters] 23:00 GMT (Tuesday) Victoria reports 149 new cases, 24 deaths in past 24 hours Australias southern state of Victoria has reported its second-deadliest day of the pandemic with 24 deaths and 149 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours. Melbourne, the states capital and the second-biggest city in Australia, is midway through a six-week lockdown and curfew as it battles a resurgence of the disease. Almost 64 percent of deaths have been among elderly people living in nursing homes. - 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 25) here. FREMONT, CA Aug. 26 is National Dog Day, and an increasing number of people in Fremont and other U.S. cities are turning to new four-legged friends to fend off loneliness and the abundance of time spent in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, some shelters are seeing a surge in demand for dog adoptions, according to Sarah Brasky, the founder and executive director of Foster Dogs Inc., a New York-based nonprofit that helps get dogs out of shelters and into foster homes. Shelter dogs are really winning in this entire coronavirus experience, Brasky told The Associated Press. Its a strange phenomenon because there was always interest in fostering and rescue, but now it is exploding. In some places, such as New York, adopting a dog could prove a bit more difficult now than in the past. Last year at this time, Braskys organization was accepting applications from about 140 people per month. This year, that number spiked to about 3,000, she told the AP. Another example is at the nonprofit shelter Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, where adoptions were double their usual rate in late June and a waiting list had formed for certain types of dogs, according to the Washington Post. However, dont be discouraged by the recent boon in adoptions. If youve been thinking about adding a new four-legged friend to your family, there are still dogs available for adoption in the United States, and plenty of animal shelters nearby to learn about pet ownership and meet your new furry love. To help out this National Dog Day, here are five things to know about adopting a dog during the pandemic: 1) Despite reports from shelters, dog adoptions nationwide are actually down in 2020. According to an industry report by PetPoint, a data management software used by animal shelters, 32,474 dogs were adopted in July 2020, representing a 22 percent decrease from the previous year. The numbers of dogs adopted in April, May and June of 2020 were also down from 2019. Story continues 2) Owner surrenders of dogs are also down amid the pandemic. Call it an affirmation of our desire to keep four-legged family members nearby during the pandemic, but dog surrenders are also down by about 24 percent this year, according to the same report by PetPoint. 3) There are still plenty of dogs (and cats) taken to shelters that wont get adopted. According to data by the ASPCA, 3.3 million dogs are taken into shelters each year, but only 1.6 million are adopted. Also, 44 percent of Americans say they adopted their dog, indicating adoption is the preferred method when it comes to adding a new four-legged family member. If youre more of a cat person, the numbers are similar 3.2 million cats are taken in each year, and only 1.6 million are adopted, according to the ASPCA. 4) Your risk of catching COVID-19 from a new dog is low. Despite some isolated cases of dogs testing positive for the coronavirus, Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recently told Clear The Shelters, "it doesnt appear that pets are playing a role in spreading the virus." While Klatt encouraged potential pet owners to not be fearful, he did advise caution. The AVMA suggests the following guidelines to keep you and your dog safe: Wash your hands after caring for or playing with your pets, and before and after feeding them. Keep their bedding, food and water bowl, and collars and leashes clean. Social distance with your pet from other people and their pets. 5) Reach out to local animal shelters to meet a new pup. Whether youre seriously committed to adopting a dog or just thinking about it, the best step forward is to contact a local animal rescue group or shelter to inquire about availability, possible waiting lists, and what is included in the application process. To start, here are some East Bay shelters and rescues to contact: Alameda: Humane Society of Alameda, P.O. Box 1571, Alameda, California 94501 Adoption Website | (510) 337-9457 Alameda: Golden State German Shepherd Rescue, PO Box 2956 , Alameda, California 9450 Adoption Website | (877) 447-4717 Antioch: East Contra Costa Homeless Animals Lifeline Organization (H.A.L.O.), PO Box 2011, Antioch, California 94531 Adoption website| (925) 473-4642 Berkeley: Humane Society, 2700 Ninth St., Berkeley, California 94710 Adoption website | (510) 845-7735 Castro Valley: Dusty Paws Rescue, PO Box 2794, Castro Valley, California 94546 Adoption website | (510) 886-8925 Clayton: East Bay Animal Rescue and Refuge, 5433 Clayton Rd. Unit K-#125, Clayton, California 9517 Adoption Website | (925) 429-2785 Dublin: East Bay SPCA-Tri-Valley,4651 Gleason Dr., Dublin, California 94568 Adoption Website | (925) 479-9670 El Sobrante: Jelly's Place Rescue, 2905 San Pablo Dam Rd., El Sobrante, California 94803 Adoption website | (510) 621-3493 Fremont: Tri-City Animal Shelter, 1950 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538 Adoption website | 510-790-6630 Hayward: Hayward Animal Shelter, 16 Barnes Court, Hayward, California 94544 Adoption Website | (510) 293-7200 Martinez: Contra Costa County Animal Services, 4800 Imhoff Pl., Martinez, California 94553 Adoption Website | (925) 608-8400 Oakland: Oakland Animal Services, 1101 29th Ave., Oakland, California 94601 Adoption Website | (510) 535-5602 Oakland: East Bay SPCA, 8323 Baldwin St., Oakland, California 94621 Adoption website | (510) 569-0702 Pleasant Hill: Contra Costa Humane Society, 171 Mayhew Way, Suite 101, Pleasant Hill, California 94523 Adoption Website | (925) 279-2247 Pleasanton: East of Eden Rescue, P.O. Box 236, Pleasanton, California 95376 Adoption website | (209) 969-3352 Richmond: The Milo Foundation, 200 S Garrard Boulevard Space 220, Point Richmond, California 94801 Adoption website | (510) 900-2275 Walnut Creek: Northern California Sled Dog Rescue (NorSled), P.O. Box 30877, Walnut Creek, California 94598 Adoption website | (800) 471-5822 Walnut Creek: Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), 2890 Mitchell Dr., Walnut Creek, California 94598 Adoption website | (925) 256-1273 This article originally appeared on the Fremont Patch /* custom css */ .tdi_75_ca5.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_ca5 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_ca5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_ca5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_ca5.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, have arrested 15 suspected internet fraudsters in the Lekki area of Lagos State. The suspects are: Sunday Okpe; Taiwo Adelagun; Obarakyo Tega; Fasuyi Oladapo; Mark Adedeji Kuju; Adelakun Kehinde Adewunmi; Temitope Gabriel Onore, Christopher Blessed and Aniche Ezenwa Francis. Others are: Abiodun Godspower Odion; Abiodun ThankGod Omoh; Raji Ayo Sheriff; Adeogun Babatunde, Olusesi Razaq Demola and Kole Adetoyinbo. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_ee4.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_ee4 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_ee4.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_ee4.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_ee4.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } The suspected internet fraudsters were arrested on August 15, 2020 at Ayo Babatunde Crescent and James Adejumo areas of Lekki, Lagos State, following intelligence received from concerned members of the public on their criminal activities. During the arrest, the suspects, who are allegedly members of Organized Cyber Criminal Syndicate Network, OCCSN, tried to destroy evidence by flushing their mobile devices into the toilet, burning some and also throwing their laptops into the nearby bush and lagoon. Items recovered from the suspects include nine exotic vehicles, mobile devices and laptops. The suspects will soon be charged to court. West African mediators told Mali's military coup leaders the region would accept a transitional government led by a civilian or a retired army officer for a maximum of 12 months, Nigeria's presidency said in a statement on Thursday. "The Interim Government would then organize elections to restore full constitutional order," it said, following a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the head of delegation from the regional bloc that returned this week from talks with the military officers that led the Aug. 18 coup in Bamako. Search Keywords: Short link: As the threat of Hurricane Laura intensifies, storm chasers like Emmy winner Jeff Piotrowski are naturally in their element, warning coastal residents to evacuate as this formidable Category 4 storm nears. What's particularly threatening about Laura is the storm surge, especially for the Gulf Coast communities including Port Arthur, Vinton, Cameron Parish and Lake Charles which are directly in the storm's path. "Get of town right now. You don't want to be here in the aftermath. It's gonna be a mess, a big mess," Storm chaser Jeff Piotrowski said in his Laura update in Vinton, Texas. "This is bad one, a really bad one coming in." Piotrowski added that this storm surge would be utterly devastating to any community in its path. "Close to a 20-foot storm surge. So this is a catastrophic, life-threatening storm surge, " Piotrowski said. "In NHC's official words, this is an unsurvivable storm surge, if you're on the coastline or even inland." The National Hurricane Center describes storm surge as the unprecedented rise of water generated by a storm, over the predicted tides. The rise in high water can trigger extreme flooding in coastal areas. Storm surge can often the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. However, flash flooding is a different phenomenon than storm surge, as NOAA describes it being caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in short period of time, generally less than six hours. "In my 45 years of storm chasing and hurricane chasing, this is the most dangerous hurricane in terms of storm surge," Piotrowski said. "This whole parish--Cameron Parish. This is the one of the most dangerous counties right now in the U.S. in terms of getting trapped and drowning. I'm just gonna tell it like it is. If you're anywhere in this area on these roads, you've got to get out. You've got to get completely out of those counties." Storm surge from Laura could reach as far as 30 miles inland, according to The National Weather Service. "Sabine River is just east of town here. I-10 is going to go under water 3 to 5 feet. 100 percent. I-10 will be blocked when the storm surge comes in. You will not be able to escape this town." Piotrowski added. Piotrowski reiterated that if you live in these threatened areas, you must take action now. "My message is for the Gulf Coast all the way to I-10, when this storm starts at 5, 7, 8, 9the chances of you getting out of town is about 0 after about sundown tonight," Piotrowski said. "When these winds start picking up, and they will come up enormously after dark, and the trees and power lines coming down and the lines start flooding the road, youre stuck, youre trapped." alison.medley@chron.com You are here: China China's Yellow River sees sixth flood this year - Xinhua | English.news.cn China's Yellow River is undergoing its sixth flood of the year due to continuous rainfall, the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, within the Ministry of Water Resources, said on Tuesday. Due to the inbound water flow and recent heavy rains, the amount of water flowing per second at the Tongguan hydrologic station in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has increased to 5,230 cubic meters, the commission said. The commission issued a blue alert for flooding, asking local governments along the Yellow River, China's second-longest, to continue monitoring the situation. China has a four-tier, color-coded warning system for flooding, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow, and blue. As California wildfires rage, Hurricane Laura strengthens in the Gulf and heat records are broken from coast to coast, the Republican National Convention this week features a host of prominent voices who will be the first to tell you that the climate crisis is overblown. A number of elected Republicans, along with Trumps and their loyalists, have repeatedly shared disinformation, cast doubt on the severity of the crisis, and lauded the fossil fuel industry which has been largely responsible for the crisis. This is despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary and the country's top defense and intelligence officials declaring it a threat to national security. New polling released on Monday found that 68 per cent of Americans want the government to do more to tackle the issue, a figure that has remained stable since 2018, despite multiple other crises facing the country. What's more, young Republicans feel strongly about the climate crisis, according to the conservative American Conservation Coalition. Some 77 per cent of right-leaning voters aged 18-35 considered the climate an important issue, with more than half saying it would impact their vote in November, the group found. Arguably, no voice has had more impact on how some Americans view the climate crisis than that of Donald Trump. Over the years, the President has called it a hoax and told the Washington Post that he is "not a big believer in man-made climate change". Mr Trump has blamed China for the climate crisis (then later said it was a "joke"), blasted California for the states devastating forest fires and pointed to snaps of freezing weather as evidence that global heating isnt happening. "In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People cant last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming? [sic] Please come back fast, we need you!" he tweeted in January 2019. (A day later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration appeared to respond with a tweet that read, "winter storms don't prove that global warming isn't happening" and a link to an explainer). Throughout his presidency, Mr Trump has cosied up to the oil and gas industry. At the height of the pandemic in April, he tweeted: "We will never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down. I have instructed the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Treasury to formulate a plan which will make funds available so that these very important companies and jobs will be secured long into the future!" In 2017, Trump said he believed the crisis was manmade but that there were unanswered questions as to what extent and how serious and the magnitude of it. (NASA reports that "97 per cent or more" of climate scientists agree the climate crisis has been caused by human activities). It is unclear what impact his obfuscations, and those of other prominent political voices, have had on the public. However a Reuters/University of Oxford report this year found that a significant number of Americans (12%) dispute the severity of the climate crisis and may be sceptical of the science. The president is not alone in minimising the threat. Outright climate denial, attacks on science and false equivalence are woven through years of public comments from Republican luminaries. (The Independent has contacted the representatives of the president and all below for any updates or clarifications to their prior, publicly made statements on the climate crisis. At the time of publication, we received no responses). Mike Pence Although the VP echoes his bosss sentiments, his climate views appear to have been cemented decades ago. The defunct website for his congressional run in 2001, includes an opinion piece, where Mr Pence wrote: "Global warming is a myth. The global warming treaty is a disaster. There, I said it." Mr Pence's views dont appear to have shifted far in the interim decades. During a 2014 MSNBC interview, Mr Pence was asked if he was convinced that climate change is man-made". He replied: I don't know that that is a resolved issue in science today" before adding: Just a few years ago, we were talking about global warming. We haven't seen a lot of warming lately. I remember back in the 70s we were talking about the coming ice age. (A fringe theory in the 1970s, this was largely dismissed in the same decade, New Scientist reported). And as vice-president, he repeatedly refused to call the climate crisis a threat, during a painful exchange on CNN last year. At the 2019 annual meeting of the Oil and Gas Association, the Vice-President ticked off the Trump administration's achievements for the fossil fuel industry. "We approved the Keystone and Dakota pipelines; withdrew the United States from the job-killing Paris Climate Accord; eliminated the hydraulic fracking rule; rolled back methane; were ending the Clean Power Plan; scrapped the Stream Protection Rule; and now, under President Donald Trump, the war on coal is over. American energy is booming," he said. He added: "And the oil and gas industry, I want to promise you, has no greater friend than President Donald Trump." Donald Trump Jr Earlier this year, the president's oldest son shared a video titled "Climate Change Panic Is NOT Based On Facts" (it has been viewed 2.4million times on Facebook). He wrote: "CO2 Emissions have gone down for the first time in 30 years under my father. Some people just can't face the Facts." Non-profit, fact-checking group, PolitiFact, wrote: "Reports show U.S. carbon dioxide emissions did spike on Trumps watch in 2018. They fell again last year, but greenhouse gas emissions overall remain higher than they were before he took office." Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Last year, the former CIA director told the Washington Times: "The climate's been changing a long time. There's always changes that take place." During his remarks at the 11th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Finland in 2019, Sec. Pompeo appeared to celebrate the melting ice caps as great for business. "Steady reductions in sea ice are opening new passageways and new opportunities for trade. This could potentially slash the time it takes to travel between Asia and the West by as much as 20 days," he said, according to CNN. Ben Carson, Housing and Urban Development Secretary "Theres always going to be either cooling or warming going on. As far as Im concerned, thats irrelevant. What is relevant is that we have an obligation and a responsibility to protect our environment, retired neurosurgeon Dr Carson told Bloomberg during the 2016 election race. He told Time in 2016 that he was very familiar with the "various arguments" on global warming. "What Ive said is it doesnt matter about global warming or global cooling, at any point in time the earth is getting warmer or colder. Thats not the big factor. The big factor is we have a responsibility to take care of it. We have a responsibility to pass it on to the next generation in at least a good shape as we found it in. And our policies and our philosophies should be aimed towards that, not towards fighting each other," he continued. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky The Republican leader, who is up for re-election in November, was evasive on the climate crisis in a 2014 interview with the Cinncinati Enquirer. "I'm not interested in handicapping Kentucky's economy in pursuit of a crusade no one else is following," Mr McConnell said. "If you felt that was a big problem, you would think everybody in the world would be interested in going down this path, but I don't see any evidence of it so far," he added. He went on to say that the climate crisis could be debated forever, adding: "George Will had a column in the last year or so pointing out that in the 70s, we were concerned the ice age was coming. I'm not a scientist. I'm interested in protecting Kentucky's economy." Senator Rand Paul, Kentucky "I don't think we should be alarmist about this. I mean, the planet is 4.5 billion years old. We have gone through great extremes of climate change, natural and now we may have a man-made influence as well," he told CNN in 2017. "But the question I always ask these alarmists is, how much is nature and how much is man? They act as if it's a given that man is the only source of climate change." Representative Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee "Of course you can be a believer in clean air and clean water and realize that when you work at global warming or climate change, as it is now popularly called, that it is cyclical and you have to look at it in terms of centuries, not in terms of decades. And the science around that is not a settled science," she said during a CNN interview in 2016. Representative Lee Zeldin, New York "It would be productive if we could get to what is real and what is not real...I'm not sold yet on the whole argument that we have as serious a problem as other people are," he told NewsDay in 2014. Senator Joni Ernst, Iowa During the 2014 Senate campaign, Senator Ernst said that she believes in protecting the environment (and that her family recycles and she drives a hybrid car), before stating: "So I dont know the science behind climate change. I cant say one way or another what is the direct impact, whether its man-made or not. Ive heard arguments from both sides. I do believe in protecting our environment, but without the job killing regulations that are coming out of the EPA," Politico reported. Senator Tom Cotton, Arkansas Senator Cotton repeated a misleading statement to the Arkansas Times in 2014: "The simple fact is that for the last 16 years the earths temperature has not warmed. Thats the factsNow, theres no doubt that the temperature has risen over the past 150, 200 years. Its most likely that human activity has contributed to some of that." He went on to tell the newspaper that climate modelling was not to be trusted. "Why would we change the way we live our life on a fundamental, civilizational level based on computer models? Senator Cotton said. The senator went on to say that solutions to the climate crisis could be found in new coal power plants that produce less carbon emissions. We should be building more [coal plants]..." he said the Arkansas Times. "We should be building more nuclear facilities. We should be expanding exploration for oil and gas." Charlie Kirk, founder of conservative group Turning Point USA During a Stanford College Republicans event in 2018, Mr Kirk said that the 99 per cent scientific consensus on the climate crisis did not convince him, the Stanford Daily reported. So what about the one percent? Science is not a democracy. We dont vote on gravity. We dont vote on Newtons Second Law, the right-wing firebrand said, according to the report. He has also taken his arguments to Twitter, where he has 1.8million followers. "Only a Democrat would try and make global warming a key issue of their campaign in the midst of a blizzard and 15 degree temperatures," he tweeted in February 2019. And earlier this year: "Obama is trying to convince us climate change is going to destroy our coasts and consume our cities If he REALLY believed that why did he buy a $15 million home on the water in Marthas Vineyard?" The US Air Force tested a 'flying car' that could soon be part of its flying arsenal. Made by Texas-based LIFT Aircraft, Hexa is a lightweight 432-pound craft that runs on 18 independent rotors. The occupant is not required to have a pilot's license. The vehicle is controlled by a joystick and powered with a 'triply redundant autopilot computer' that, according to its creator, makes it safer than maneuvering a small traditional plane. The military watched from Camp Mabry, a base near Austin, Texas, as Hexa lifted off from the ground and hovered overhead. Scroll down for video LIFT CEO Matt Chasen pilots Hexa over Camp Mabry on August 20. The prototype electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) craft uses 18 independent rotors and is controlled by a three-axis joystick The test flight was part of Agility Prime, a partnership between private aerospace firms and the Air Force that's meant to add flying cars to the military's fleet and speed up their introduction in the consumer market. Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr were on hand on August 20 to watch Hexa, a prototype electric vertical takeoff and landing flight (eVTOL) vehicle, fly above the base. LIFT CEO Matthew Chasen piloted Hexa during the demonstration, It's controlled by a three-axis joystick that LIFT CEO Matthew Chasen claims anyone can use - without a pilot's license. 'We're making flying so simple, safe and inexpensive that anyone can do it with very little skill or special training,' he said in a 2018 interview. Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Q. Brown, Jr., sits in Hexa. The test flight at Camp Mabry was part of a partnership between the Air Force and private aerospace firms meant to add flying cars to the military's fleet and speed up their introduction in the consumer market 'We're truly consumerizing flying for the first time in history.' Hexa is approved to fly to heights of 700 feet, or 1,200 feet in some locations, but not over populated areas. 'The thought of an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle - a flying car - might seem straight out of a Hollywood movie,' Secretary Barrett said in April, when the partnership first launched. Chasen (right) talks to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett (seated). With joystick controls and a 'triply redundant' autopilot system, Chasen says, Hexa is safer than piloting a traditional small aircraft. And it doesn't require a pilot's license 'But by partnering today with stakeholders across industries and agencies, we can set up the United States for this aerospace phenomenon.' Participating firms can perfect eVTOL technology without having to get additional time-consuming safety certification from the FAA, Task and Purpose reported. The Air Force is spending $25 million on Agility Prime this year, according to Inside Defense. The race to launch a commercially viable eVTOL vehicle is in full gear: Airbus, Boeing and Uber are all developing concept crafts, while the Japanese government is hoping to have a flying car on the market by 2023. Tokyo-based SkyDrive recently unveiled the SD-XX, a two-person eVTOL craft that can reach a max speed of about 62mph. Tokyo-based SkyDrive recently unveiled the SD-XX, a two-person eVTOL craft that can reach a max speed of about 62mph. Billed as the world's smallest flying car, it can fit inside two conventional parking spots Billed as the world's smallest flying car, the eight-propeller vehicle measures just 11 by 13 feet and can fit inside two conventional parking spots Using an autopilot with a backup human pilot for emergencies, the SD-XX would initially serve as an air taxi shuttling guests to resorts and hotels, according to Japan Times. By 2050, SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa says, anyone will be able to fly it to almost any destination in Tokyo within 10 minutes. A "celebrity" Cavoodle called Oscar who allegedly boasts 10,000 followers on Instagram is at the centre of a custody and defamation dogfight in a Sydney court. In a case filed in the NSW District Court this year, plaintiffs Kenneth Flavell and Gina Edwards are suing Mark Douglas Gillespie over the custody of Oscar, as well as seeking orders to restrain allegedly defamatory statements being made by him in the future. Oscar the Cavoodle (aged 2) on the set of Opera Australia's La Boheme in Sydney in April 2018. Credit:James Alcock Mr Gillespie is defending the case and has filed a defence and cross-claim in court. As NSW District Court Judge Judith Gibson put it succinctly in a judgment on August 20: "In other words, both parties want the dog." "It's an honor to be recognized by the Inc. 5000," says Tom Agnew, President and CEO of Lease Analytics. "This is a testimony to our dedicated team and the value we add to our remarkable clients." Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000's aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands now. "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 Inc. 5000 includes some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation. About Lease Analytics Lease Analytics is a business intelligence and analytics company serving the energy sector. Lease Analytics helps oil & gas companies maximize their asset value by applying big data analytics to solve their toughest back office problems. Services include Revenue Recovery, Land Data Integrity and Managed Data Services. Lease Analytics' clients include some of the largest and most successful energy companies in the U.S. CONTACT: Hayes Carter at 318.243.0570 or [email protected] or visit www.lease-analytics.com for more information about Lease Analytics. About Inc. Media and the Inc. 5000 The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/. SOURCE Lease Analytics, LLC President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will order additional federal forces to tamp down violence in Kenosha, Wis., that has arisen in the wake of a police shooting that left a Black man paralyzed. "TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!" he wrote on Twitter. Unrest erupted in the city this week after a police officer shot a Black man multiple times in the back in front of his young children. The man, Jacob Blake, survived that shooting but was left paralyzed and his family says he remains in critical condition. The shooting quickly reinvigorated protests against racial injustice in policing that spread across the country earlier this summer after George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis, was killed by police officers who detained him. The unrest in Kenosha a city roughly equidistant between Chicago and Milwaukee erupted this week into a violent standoff between anti-racism protesters, rioters, armed militias and police. Rioters in Kenosha set multiple fires overnight earlier this week and three people were shot two fatally in confrontations Tuesday night. Videos of the clashes echoed the violence between law enforcement and protesters caught on video in cities across the country after Floyd's death. Trump, who has isued repeated demands for "law and order" amid protests across the country, called on Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, to forcibly quash the unrest. "Governor should call in the National Guard in Wisconsin. It is ready, willing, and more than able. End problem FAST!" Trump tweeted Tuesday even though Evers had already deployed the National Guard on the city the day before. The White House called Evers to offer federal assistance to respond to the uprisings, but Evers declined, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows offered agents from the Department of Homeland Security to assist local law enforcement, Evers' office told the Journal Sentinel. Story continues But Trump's announcement on Wednesday said the governor and the president had recently reached an agreement on federal assistance. The governors' office, DHS and Justice Department did not immediately return requests for further details on what federal aid will be arriving in Wisconsin. Senior DHS officials are closely monitoring the situation in Kenosha, according to a DHS official and a second source familiar with the matter. The sources said DHS personnel are on standby to deploy to Kenosha if leadership decides to send them. The Trump administration's reliance on federal law enforcement to quell protests in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere has encountered significant criticism throughout the summer. Federal agents without unique identifiers began appearing in protest hot spots earlier this summer, often in military-style gear. Some were completely unmarked, prompting significant backlash after video circulated of plainclothes agents snatching protesters off the street into unmarked cars. Trump also infamously used federal law enforcement officers to forcibly clear a protest in front of the White House so he could pose for photographs holding a Bible next to a a nearby church. The decision drew criticism for Trump, even from members of his own party. Defense Secretary Mark Esper voiced concern last month over deploying federal agents dressed like military personnel on American streets, and a number of lawsuits were filed challenging the use of federal agents. Trump, however, did not let any of the summer's criticism diminish his message of force. "We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets," Trump wrote online Wednesday. Betsy Woodruff Swan contributed to this report. China has lodged stern representations with the United States, accusing it of sending a US U-2 reconnaissance plane into a no-fly zone over Chinese live-fire military drills on Tuesday, further ratcheting up tensions between Beijing and Washington. China has long denounced US surveillance activities, while the United States has complained of unsafe intercepts by Chinese aircraft. While such missions happen regularly, for China to talk about them publicly is unusual. Chinas Defence Ministry said the U-2 flew without permission over a no-fly zone in the northern military region where live fire drills were taking place, seriously interfering in normal exercise activities. This could easily have caused a misunderstanding or misjudgement or an unexpected incident, the ministry added. It was an act of naked provocation, and China is resolutely opposed to it, and have already lodged stern representations with the US side. In a statement, the US military said a U-2 flight was conducted in the Indo-Pacific region and it was within the accepted international rules and regulations governing aircraft flights. Pacific Air Forces personnel will continue to fly and operate anywhere international law allows, at the time and tempo of our choosing, the US military said in the statement. The U-2 aircraft can fly at over 70,000 feet and carry out reconnaissance activity from afar and would not necessarily have had to enter a no-fly zone. While China did not say exactly where the incident took place, it is currently carrying out drills in the Bohai Sea. Other exercises are also happening in the Yellow Sea and South China Sea. China demands the US side immediately stop this kind of provocative behaviour and take actual steps to safeguard peace and stability in the region, the ministry added. Relations between Washington and Beijing have worsened over everything from trade and human rights to what the United States sees as aggressive moves by Chinas armed forces, especially in the disputed South China Sea and around Chinese-claimed Taiwan. In April 2001, an intercept of a US spy plane by a Chinese fighter jet resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the American plane to make an emergency landing at a base on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. The National Assembly (NA) is verifying reports that one of its delegates holds two nationalities, following an Al Jazeera report on Cyprus's passport scheme. Tran Van Tuy, head of the NA Delegate Affairs Committee, said there have been reports on the media and social media that Pham Phu Quoc, general director of the Tan Thuan Industrial Promotion Company and an NA delegate from Ho Chi Minh City, has acquired additional nationality of Cyprus. However, the committee is yet to receive any official report on the matter, and is trying to verify information at this point, Tuy said Wednesday. When there are changes to a delegates personal profile, he/she is required to report these to the committee, Tuy said. However, it has not received any report on a nationality change from Quoc, Tuy added. Nguyen Hanh Phuc, head of the NA Office, said after determining if Quoc possesses two passports, and if so, when the foreign nationality was acquired, the committee will discuss the matter with the HCMC NA delegates and the HCMC Fatherland Front Committee before bringing it to the NA Standing Committee for further consideration. It has been reported by local media that when Pham Phu Quoc applied to be an NA delegate in 2016, he had no foreign passport, said Pham Van Hoa, member of the NA Law Committee. "But Quoc has told the press that he had two nationalities in 2018. At that time, the Law on the Organization of the National Assembly had not yet been amended and did not have specific regulations on delegates' nationalities. But in my opinion, a NA delegate should only have one nationality because he/she represents the will and desire of the people," Hoa said. In June this year, the NA passed the amended Law on Organization of the National Assembly, which specifies that a delegate can "only have one nationality, which is Vietnamese." But this amended law will only take effect next year, Hoa added. "The problem is that delegate Pham Phu Quoc has a responsibility to truthfully report any change in his personal status to the parliament. Anyone, as a government official and an NA delegate, must report changes to their personal profile, including acquiring a second passport," Hoa said. Quoc admitted Tuesday that he had acquired Cypriot nationality in 2018, but it was due to "his family's petition, not him 'buying' the nationality as reported by Al Jazeera," the Tuoi Tre newspaper reported. Al Jazeera reported on Monday that Cyprus's passport scheme allows people who have invested at least $2.5 million in the country to possess its passport, meaning those individuals are eligible to become EU citizens and travel and work freely in EU nations, as well as enter 174 countries without a visa. Quoc's name was mentioned among the list of foreigners who possesses a Cypriot passport. Quoc, 52, had held several positions in HCMC, including the deputy head of the HCMC Institute for Development Studies, general director of the HCMC State-Owned Finance and Investment Company and the chairman of the board of members of the Benthanh Group. He was appointed the general director for the Tan Thuan Industrial Promotion Company in December last year. This is not the first time a controversy has erupted about an NA deleage's nationality. In 2016, a woman was not recognized as an NA delegate because she had a second nationality, that of Malta. Finally, someone made the convention feel conventional. After two nights of unusual programming a blend of obsequious Trump tributes, apocalyptic warnings and inspired testimonials from average Americans first lady Melania Trump restored a sense of normalcy Tuesday night, closing the GOP conventions second act with a speech that was remarkable for its restraint and deliberate adherence to etiquette. "I don't want to use this precious time attacking the other side, because as we saw last week that kind of talk only serves to divide the country further, she said. "Im here because we need my husband to be our president and commander in chief for four more years. The first lady showed self-awareness in presenting herself as the calm, soothing counterpart to her famously (but, she stressed, not dangerously) volatile husband. Perhaps sensing that the country is desperate for a break from the gusher of bad news, for a reprieve from the polarization and tribal politics that invited her relocation to Washington four years ago, Melania Trump embraced the role of stateswoman on Tuesday, offering a pacifying commentary that could have easily been spoken by any former First Lady. "I'd like to call on the citizens of this country to take a moment, pause, and look at things from all perspectives. I urge people to come together in a civil manner so we can work and live up to our standard American ideals, she said. I have reflected on the racial unrest in our country. It is a harsh reality that we are not proud of parts of our history. Stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice, and never make assumptions based on the color of a persons skin. Perhaps recognizing how inconsistent such ideals are with her husbands own record of conduct and rhetoric, the First Lady noted, "We all know Donald Trump makes no secret about how he feels about things. Total honesty is what we as citizens deserve as president; whether you like it or not, you always know what hes thinking, and that is because hes an authentic person who loves this country and its people. Story continues These are tough times to sell a product like Donald Trump, an incumbent president struggling to handle multiple overlapping crises. What Melania Trump showed Tuesday night was that, for all the doubts of her political acumen, she can make lemonade better than anyoneusing the perch of the presidents office to preach the sort of unity her husband struggles with, explaining that the words on her lips are really a reflection of his heart. Here are some other takeaways from Tuesday night: 11:10 p.m. ET A Star is Born Im pretty sure nobody outside of Kentucky had heard the name Daniel Cameron prior to Tuesday night. Theyve heard it now and they wont soon forget it. It was fair to wonder, when Tuesdays lineup was announced, why Republicans rewarded the virtually unknown Kentucky attorney general with a coveted speaking slot teeing up Mike Pompeo and Melania Trump. But it quickly became apparent when Cameron stepped to the lectern. His presence was immediate. His cadence was impeccable. His innate abilities as an orator were evident from the jump. Political phenoms dont come around often but you know them when you see them. There could be no doubt on Tuesday night: Daniel Cameron is a political phenom. What made Camerons speech so striking was its thematic coherence. He consistently leaned into the legacies of beloved AmericansLincoln, Grant, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reaganto support his own arguments and present himself, and his politics, as within the mainstream of American political thought and traditional Republican politics. (I.E., not Trumpian Republican politics.) That Cameron managed to thread this needle was evidence of his political savvy. He paid tribute to the president for concrete accomplishmentscriminal justice reform, economic growthwithout detouring into the sycophantic and hyperbolic rhetoric that has defined much of the convention thus far. Rather than lionize the president, Cameron kept his eye on the ball, elevating unifying ideals and speaking aspirationally of faith, family and the American dream. Cameron has obvious gifts that would make him a star-in-making under any circumstance. A native of Louisville, Cameron worked as legal counsel to Senate Majority Leader (and fellow Kentuckian) Mitch McConnell after graduating from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. Thats an impressive resume for a guy who's just 34 years old. But even more impressive was his cool under the bright lights of primetime on Tuesday. Far smaller stages have thrown far more practiced politicians for a loop. But Cameron looked right at home. Cameron is just 34 years old. Its overkill to compare his breakout performance to that of Barack Obama at the 2004 convention, an obvious parallel but one that is fundamentally unfair. (Obama brought tens of thousands of people to their feet; Cameron was speaking to an empty auditorium.) Still, when the story of the 2020 Republican convention is written, Cameron will be a starring character. This much seems certain: We havent seen the last of Daniel Cameron in primetime. 10:31 p.m. ET A Missed Opportunity Five years of opinion polls say that President Trump is not well liked. He is not seen as honest. He is not viewed as trustworthy. He is not widely considered to be an ethical person. One would think, then, that Republicans would be eager to challenge the popular portrayals of him and show a different side of the president. Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise, two of the presidents loyalists on Capitol Hill, took a whack at this on Monday night, telling stories of the presidents compassion and friendship and lending human dimension to his character. But on Tuesday night, there was virtually nothing offered on this front which was made all the more surprising by the fact that two of Trumps children gave lengthy speeches. Tiffany Trump, the presidents youngest daughter, made repeated references to my father. But it was always to tout his political chops My father built a thriving economy once, My father was the only person to challenge the establishment and never to shed any light on him as a person, as a dad. If you took out the references to My father, the substance of Tiffany Trumps speech could have been delivered by anyone else this week. She offered no intimate insights into a man she knows better than almost any other person alive. Eric Trump, the presidents middle son, didnt do much more in this regard. Late in his speech, Eric Trump said, "In closing, Id like to speak directly to my father. I miss working alongside you every day but Im damn proud to be on the front lines of this fight. Then, nodding toward the recent death of the presidents brother, he added, "Dad, lets make Uncle Robert proud: Lets go get another 4 years. I love you very much. This brief personal note was the most memorable line of the speech. And it made all the more conspicuous the lack of attempts Tuesday night to humanize the president. 10:22 p.m. ET Trump adds to the American Family' Heres another convention first, and a visual masterstroke from Team Trump: Tuesdays program showed the president overseeing the naturalization ceremony of five immigrants, congratulating them on becoming U.S. citizens during a primetime broadcast. To be clear: This was a naked political stunt, meant to show voters that Trump, who has used harsh and demeaning rhetoric about immigrants, is really quite accepting of and accommodating to new Americans of color. Not all political stunts are smart or well-executed. This one was both. With the acting secretary of Homeland Security serving as emcee raising questions, no doubt, about the legality of a government official working on behalf of a campaign Trump went down the line of the five new citizens, telling their stories. All five were people of color. One of the women wore a head scarf; another wore a sari. It was, acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said, a patriotic celebration. Trump concurred, welcoming the five people to our great American family and telling them, Its an honor to be your president. Just as with Trumps earlier surprise bestowing a presidential pardon on a black ex-felon this scene will serve two purposes. In the short term, it will grab headlines and prompt conversation about a softer side of the president. In the longer term, the sharply-produced videos will be of enormous value on social media and in TV commercials as Trumps campaign seeks to make inroads with the voters most likely to be moved: the college-educated white suburbanites who want a diverse America and an empathetic president. 9:46 p.m. ET All about that base: social conservatives If the target demographic of Monday nights program was a mystery, Tuesday nights programming felt aimed squarely at one group of voters: social conservatives. The night began with a prayer from Norma Urrabazo, a Las Vegas pastor, who asked for "healing and comfort to Jacob Blake and his family, referring to the unarmed black man who was shot this week by a white police officer in Wisconsin. Next came an emotional scene in which Trump offered a presidential pardon to an ex-felon who gave his life to Jesus while in prison and started a ministry for ex-prisoners when he got out. Little noticed was Rand Pauls mention of "medical mission trips to Guatemala and Haiti and how Trump supported them. That language, to church-going evangelicals, will sound familiar. A short while later, Cissie Graham Lynch, the granddaughter of famed evangelist Billy Graham, delivered a forceful endorsement of Trump and described him as a fierce advocate for Christian conservative values. She rattled off the ways in which he has fought for them: "He appointed judges who respect the First Amendment. He supported religious beliefs in court. He ensured religious ministries would not be forced to violate their beliefs. He withdrew the policies that placed our little girls at risk. She then closed by quoting her grandfather, and declared, "I hope and pray you will join me in voting to re-elect President Trump." The most visceral appeal came from Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood employee who is now an outspoken anti-abortion activist. Describing the racist roots of her former employer music to the ears of the religious right Johnson detailed the alleged horrors she saw, heard and smelled inside of abortion clinics. She concluded that, "I support President Trump because hes done more for the unborn than any other President, and added, "This election is a choice between two radical, anti-life activists, and the most pro-life President weve ever had. Thats something that should compel you to action." Piggybacking on the theme of abortion, the next speaker, Nick Sandmann, explained that what brought him to Washington in the first placebefore his infamous viral episode on the National Mallwas the March for Life, "where I demonstrated in defense of the unborn. Tying the mission of that demonstration to his support for Trump, Sandmann explained, "I bought a 'Make America Great Again' hat because our President, Donald Trump, has distinguished himself as the most pro-life Presidents in the history of our country and I wanted to express my support for him too. Then, speaking implicitly to the narrative among social conservatives that they are under siege for their beliefs, Sandmann said, "Looking back now, how could I possibly have imagined that the simple act of putting on that red hat would unleash the hate from the left and make myself the target of network and cable news networks, nationwide? All this, in the first hour of programming. Politics is about building a coalitionand the cornerstone of any coalition is a base. Trump cant think about expanding his coalition this fall until hes secured the support of his base. In that sense, the consistent, coordinated messaging Tuesday night made perfect sense. 9:21 p.m. ET When the pandemic is a thing of the past White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow has been known to put his foot in his mouth, particularly over the past six months as the Trump administration has struggled to thwart the Covid-19 pandemic, but Tuesday night's performance was a uniquely questionable. Consider the following statements: "We still have a lot of hardship, and we have a lot of heartbreak in many areas. But weve hit a turning point. And now the recovery has begun." "There's a big change in attitude happening. The American Spirit is picking up." Get ready for a big third and fourth quarter, folks." "Biden is backing over $3 trillion in tax hikes. You're coming out of a pandemic, and he wants to raise taxes? That's crazy. What do they have in common? All of these statements from Kudlow assume that Covid-19 has come and gone; that the threat is behind us; that America is out of the woods and needs to focus on rebuilding. In fact, were not out of the woods there is no sign of a significant, sustained downturn in the spread of Covid-19. And the reality is, when Americans are polled, majorities dont believe were in the rebuilding stage. Rather, they want the government to focus onand do much better withefforts to slow the virus. The administration was dealt a brutal election-year hand with Covid-19. Trump can be excused for wanting to shift the countrys attention from 180,000 deaths to signs of economic recovery. But the truth is, there can be no real recovery without first containing the virus. And every time someone like Kudlow pretends that weve turned the corner when we clearly have not hes doing a disservice not only to his boss but to the American public. 9:07 p.m. ET An Ode to Compassionate Conservativism Heres some catnip for the white evangelical Christians who overwhelmingly supported the president in 2016 (81 percent, per exit polls) and have remained his most steadfast bloc of support: Trump pardoning a convicted felon during the GOP convention after a story of how the man became born again" and turned his life around. "Not so long ago, my life was running from the police, fearing the police, and avoiding the police, said Jon Ponder, a middle-aged black man, introducing himself to a national audience. "I had allowed animosity to grow inside of me, making me believe that they were my enemy. But today, Im filled with hope. I have been given a second chance. My transformation began in a prison cell. I gave my life to Jesus." Rich Beasley, a retired white FBI agent, shared the screen with Ponder, telling the story of arresting him for a bank robbery 15 years ago. When Ponder was released, Beasley said, the ex-con was a different man. He talked about starting a re-entry program for men and women coming out of prison. He knew he could make a difference in the lives of ex-offenders. Standing with the president, he two men touted legislation Trump signed to reform parts of the criminal justice system. Then, in an apparent surprise, Trump announced his pardon of Ponder, leaving the man in tears. It was a highly effective moment. Not only did the segment serve as a reminder of Trumps lone bipartisan achievement; it also hearkened back to the days of compassionate conservatism under George W. Bush, when the 43rd president made prisoner re-entry programs a staple of his domestic agenda. Nobody will confuse Trump with Bush as far as their attitudes toward minorities and policymaking priorities. Still, Trump was smart to deliver a feel-good, made-for-social-media-sharing moment for a Christian conservative base that needs some energizing at the moment. GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Rangebound as US-China Trade Deal Hopes Steady Aussie The Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate held steady today, with the pairing fluctuating around AU$1.927 at the time of writing. The Australian Dollar (AUD) has continued to benefit from hopes of a possible US-China trade deal. This week saw Beijing and Washington agree, in principle, to honour the Phase One trade deal. The U.S. Trade Representatives office (USTR) said in a statement: Both sides see progress and are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the success of the agreement. In Australian economic news, today saw the publication of the construction work done figure, which fell by 0.7%. However, this was better than the forecast -5.8% drop. Australias Labor housing spokesman Jason Clare said that the construction sector could be facing a bloodbath, adding: The really bad news is that the worst is yet to come. As a result, AUD investors have become more concerned about Australias economic progress in the months ahead. However, if hopes for a Covid-19 vaccine continue to grow, we could see the risk-averse Aussie rise. Pound Steady as Investors Begin to Shrug-Off Brexit Woes Sterling held steady against the Australian Dollar (AUD) today as investors have begun to shrug off their concerns over a possible no-deal Brexit on December 31st. Instead, GBP traders have become more optimistic over an evolving global economic situation, with US-China trade tensions abating. Francesco Pesole, FX Strategist at ING Bank, commented: GBP positioning is a good indication of how investors are currently keeping a highly complacent approach to the Brexit story. Meanwhile, the UKs Chief Brexit Negotiator, David Frost, compained of the EUs approach to Brexit talks, saying: [T]he EU is still insisting not only that we must accept continuity with EU state aid and fisheries policy, but also that this must be agreed before any further substantive work can be done in any other area of the negotiation, including on legal texts. This makes it unnecessarily difficult to make progress. Pound (GBP) investors are also looking ahead to todays speech by Andrew Haldane, the Bank of Englands Chief Economist. Any downbeat forecasts for the British economy, however, would prove GBP-negative. GBP/AUD Forecast: Could a Dovish BoE Drag Down Sterling on Friday? Australian Dollar (AUD) traders will be keeping a close eye on US-China trade developments this week. Any indications that Beijing and Washington will progress towards a more settled trade agreement would boost the Aussie. Tomorrow will also see the release of Australias private capital expenditure figure for the second quarter. If this confirms forecasts and falls to -8.4%, then we could see AUD begin to struggle. The GBP/AUD exchange rate could suffer on Friday, however, if Andrew Bailey, the Bank of Englands (BoE) Governor, is notably downbeat in his assessment of the British economy. The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute Mr. Kabiru Adjoto and Osaigbovo Iyoha, both of whom are senior aides of Governor Godwin Obaseki, over their alleged involvement in the hiring of armed thugs in the invasion of the Edo Assembly complex earlier this month. At least seven thugs were arrested within the Edo Assembly Complex on the 6th of August when the embattled Edo Governor, alongside his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, led hoodlums and other party supporters to block and vandalize the Assembly complex in a bid to deny entry to majority seventeen elected members. The arrested thugs, who were brought before a Judge at the Benin High Court on Monday, were caught with five double-barrel long guns, two single barrel long guns, and 10 live cartridges and have reportedly confessed during interrogation that they were hired and provided the illegal firearms by Mr. Kabiru Adjoto and Mr. Osaigbovo Iyoha. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Col. David Imuse, the Edo APC Chairman, charged the Police to commence an immediate investigation of the involvement of the identified aides of Governor Godwin Obaseki who, according to him, have no constitutional immunity and are thus liable to arrest and prosecution. He also tasked the Police to resist an alleged attempt by the Edo State Government to unlawfully release the seven suspects standing trial for unlawful possession of firearm and disturbance of public peace. He said: The police must wake up to its responsibilities. These two people mentioned are not immune and should be arrested and investigated. It is very disturbing that a government that ought to protect its citizens is encouraging criminals to unleash mayhem on Edo people. We find this development very disturbing and we are charging the Police to carry out a comprehensive investigation on the established ties and nexus between the criminal group, members of the Edo State Government, and illegal purchase and distribution of firearms. It goes without saying that the case, wherein the suspects have already allegedly confessed their ties to the Edo State Government, further affirms our outcry on the illegal arms buildup carried out by Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, through a retired Police officer from Kogi State, Mr. Aruna Yusuf, who continues to act with impunity. Mr. Osaigbovo Iyoha and Kabiru Adjoto have been trailed by several reports and accusations of involvement in violence and illegal ties to cult groups. Back in 2017, Kabiru Adjoto, as a member of the Edo Assembly, led a similar invasion of the Chamber when he attacked the then Speaker, Hon. Justin Okonoboh, and triggered a violent fisticuff which made the rounds on the internet and drew widespread condemnation. President Donald Trump on Tuesday did not appear to be aware of Wisconsin's official response to the state's ongoing Jacob Blake protests. Trump suggested the governor ought to activate the National Guard, which was already done on Monday. Gov. Tony Evers activated the state's National Guard assets following the protests in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. President Donald Trump on Tuesday did not appear to be aware of Wisconsin's official response to the ongoing Jacob Blake protests and suggested the governor ought to activate the National Guard, which was already done on Monday. "Governor should call in the National Guard in Wisconsin," Trump tweeted Tuesday evening. "It is ready, willing, and more than able. End problem FAST!" Despite Trump's recent suggestion, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers had already activated the National Guard to support local law enforcement at the request of local officials. Evers activated the state's National Guard assets following the protests in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. Blake, a 29-year-old Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was shot seven times by police officers on Sunday, and is now paralyzed from the waist down, according to his father. Video footage of the shooting was recorded and distributed on social media channels, prompting outrage across the nation. Jacob Blake lies on the street after he got shot following a police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, August 23, 2020. Incident Response/Reuters Following the protests, city officials declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew. Gov. Evers initially activated around 125 Guardsmembers to assist first responders, but later increased that number "to ensure individuals can exercise their right safely, protect safe buildings and critical infrastructure, and support first responders and fire fighters." In a separate statement on Monday, Evers noted that National Guard assets would not be used "to impede the ability of people to peacefully protest or impede the ability of the media to report on this situation." "I know folks across our state will be making their voices heard in Kenosha and in communities across Wisconsin," Evers said in his statement. "Every person should be able to express their anger and frustration by exercising their First Amendment rights and report on these calls to action without any fear of being unsafe." Story continues Trump has frequently urged state governors to utilize their state-military assets in responding to largely civil protests. During the George Floyd protests, Trump was overheard in a leaked conference call disparaging governors by calling them "weak," and suggesting they take control of the situation by using uniformed troops. "You have to dominate," Trump said, according to a recording obtained by The Washington Post. "If you don't dominate, you're wasting your time. They're going to run over you. You're going to look like a bunch of jerks." Gov. Evers previously declined Trump's offer of using federalized active-duty troops to quell the protests in his state. In a letter last month, Evers said he was strongly opposed to "any such intervention," adding that "this excessive and unwelcome federal law enforcement presence only makes these situations more volatile and dangerous." Read the original article on Business Insider Toronto police are looking for a man they allege urged his Instagram followers to shoot everyone in Regent Park. On Aug. 13, officers responded to information of a threat to residents in the downtown east side neighbourhood. According to police, a man used his Instagram account, which had 3,000 followers, to post a threat in which he allegedly said to shoot everyone in Regent Park. His followers include gang members who have been antagonistic to the Regent Park community, police further alleged in a news release Tuesday. Rowan Atkins, 31, of no fixed address, is wanted for threatening death. He is described as five feet 11 and 154 pounds. He has a medium build, short black hair, a moustache, beard and brown eyes. Police consider him violent and dangerous and advise to not approach if spotted and call 911 immediately. An image of him has been released. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5100, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477 or online at 222tips.com. Aaron DAndrea is a reporter with toronto.com. Reach him via email: adandrea@toronto.com Burma Myanmar Sets Out Re-entry Rules for Foreign Staff A quiet Yangon International Airport in March. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGONAs Myanmar recorded its largest-ever daily spike in COVID-19 cases, the governments investment agencies announced the criteria for foreign staff seeking to re-enter the country. Companies have recently submitted several applications to the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) to allow the re-entry of their foreign experts via relief flights. The MIC and DICA announced on Tuesday that foreigners seeking to fly to Myanmar will have to prove they have urgent tasks in the country. The statement said visas will only be issued after scrutiny from the Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 and other government organizations and ministries. The COVID-19 committee also instructed the Ministry of International Cooperation to inspect all urgent requests. The MIC and DICA said all companies registered with Myanmar Companies Online (MyCo) which receive an MIC permit must directly contact a Myanmar embassy about visiting the country with a relief flight. MyCo is a company online registration system and all the firms operating in the country must register online. It said the MIC and DICA will coordinate with embassies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of International Cooperation when confirming applications. The announcement said the COVID-19 committee had decided the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population will not be responsible for granting visas to foreigners. In March, Myanmar stopped issuing visas and banned commercial flights to stop the spread of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, Myanmar has reported 574 COVID-19 cases with six deaths. A total of 100 people tested positive during the last 24 hours, with 99 of the cases transmitted within the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Reports 100 New COVID-19 Cases Overnight in Countrys Largest Jump So Far Myanmar Closes Govt and Private High Schools Amid COVID-19 Surge COVID-19 Tests Taken at IDP Camps Amid Outbreak in Western Myanmar Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 25, 2020 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Xinhua News Agency: The third LMC leaders' meeting was held in a video format yesterday. At the meeting, Premier Li Keqiang stressed the need to expand and deepen sub-regional cooperation and make water resources cooperation a highlight. Could you tell me more about it? Zhao Lijian: Like you said, water resources cooperation is indeed a big highlight of this leaders' meeting. The LMC was initiated to promote cooperation on water resources, and it is true that water resources have always been the most important area of cooperation and the focus of every leaders' meeting. Let me briefly review the outcomes of the previous leaders' meetings. The first leaders' meeting proposed the establishment of a water resources cooperation center, and the second announced the formulation of a five-year action plan for water resources cooperation. Subsequently, countries held the first water resources cooperation forum and the first ministerial conference on water resources cooperation. At yesterday's meeting, Premier Li Keqiang announced that starting this year, China will share with the five countries of the Mekong River the annual hydrological information of the Lancang River, and jointly build an information-sharing platform on water resources cooperation. This once again shows China's open and transparent attitude towards such cooperation as the upstream country. In the context of intensified global climate change and frequent natural disasters, strengthening cooperation on hydrological information sharing will help Lancang-Mekong countries strengthen integrated river basin management, enhance water resources management capacity, and strengthen cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation. Another major focus of this meeting is to synergize the LMC with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which is an important route that covers all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in western China and connects them with ASEAN and the Eurasian continent. Some countries along the Mekong River have taken part in this Corridor. Through it, they export agricultural products and other competitive products to China and then to the markets of Central Asia and Europe, which has played a significant role in driving up trade. In the first seven months of this year, China-Vietnam (Nanning-Hanoi) cross-border direct freight trains made 96 trips, a 256% year-on-year increase. The first batch of Vietnamese timber was transported to Chongqing through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. It saved nearly one month compared with the traditional river-sea combined transportation. At present, all countries are highly concerned about the post-epidemic economic recovery and whether the industrial and supply chains will remain unclogged. The coordination between the LMC and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor will further facilitate the foreign trade of the Mekong countries and make good use of markets of hundreds of millions of people. This is great news. It will also boost cooperation in production capacity, cross-border economy, infrastructure and other areas, and deepen regional connectivity and development. This will undoubtedly provide new impetus for the recovery of the Lancang-Mekong countries. Over the past two years, Laos has actively fulfilled its co-chairmanship in working closely with China and other parties to move the LMC from a period of rapid expansion to the current period of comprehensive development. China commends and deeply appreciates Laos' efforts. At yesterday's meeting, Myanmar took over the oar as a symbol of co-chairmanship in the form of "cloud transfer". China will actively support Myanmar in executing its role as co-chair, increase resources input, keep to the cooperation direction, and ensure the LMC's focus on development and livelihood. Bloomberg: The US and China reaffirmed their commitment to the phase one trade deal, discussing the protection of intellectual property rights and removing impediments to American companies in financial services and agriculture. Both sides also agreed to create conditions to push the deal forward. Does the foreign minister have anything further to add in relation to this reaffirmation of the phase one trade deal? And I'm also curious if TikTok and WeChat was discussed as part of the negotiations? Zhao Lijian: This is a long question, to which I have a short answer. China has put out the press release. For more specific I would refer you to the competent authority. Shenzhen TV: During the 30th Meeting of States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was just concluded, Ambassador Duan Jielong, the Chinese nominee, was successfully elected as a member of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Could you comment on that? Zhao Lijian: The election of members of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea was held on August 24 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Chinese candidate was successfully elected with 149 votes during the first round of voting. His term will be from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2029. Taking this opportunity, I'd like to thank all States Parties that supported the Chinese candidate, and congratulate the judges from Cameroon, Italy, Malta, Ukraine and Chile who are also elected members of the ITLOS. The ITLOS is an important international judicial institution established according to the UNCLOS. China always attaches high importance to and fully supports the Tribunal's work. Ambassador Duan Jielong received broad support from most States Parties, which demonstrates the international community's recognition of his capacity and China's contribution to the Tribunal over the past two decades or so, as well as the world's resolve to uphold multilateralism and international rule of law. China's success in the election illustrates once again that certain country's suppression of the Chinese nominee out of selfish interest is both unwelcome and futile. We believe the elected ITLOS members will faithfully fulfill their duties and contribute to the Tribunal's work and peaceful settlement of maritime disputes. China Review News: According to the US State Department website, during his visit to Israel, Secretary of State Pompeo said at a press availability with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that they exchanged views on "the Chinese Communist Party posing a major threat to the world" and he believed that the international community clearly sees such a threat from the CCP. What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: For some time now, this politician you mentioned has been vilifying and smearing China out of ideological bias and selfish interests. But China will never allow it to run amok and confuse the public. You should have noticed that the relevant Chinese media published Fact check: Pompeo's fact-twisting China speech versus the truth. It documents Pompeo's preposterous lies which are born of ignorance of history and reality and Cold War and zero-sum game mentality. Let me add two more points here: First, some US politicians paint the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government as "heretics" to justify their sinister intentions of waging an "ideological crusade". As long as China stays committed to the path of peaceful development it independently chooses for itself and does not follow the path designed by the United States, they will see China as an eyesore and oppose China whenever they could. I would like to tell these people that the leadership of the Communist Party of China is a choice of history and the people. "Without the CPC, there would be no New China" is a fact wholeheartedly acknowledged by the Chinese people. No one can turn a blind eye to the fact that the CPC is endorsed and supported by the Chinese people. Any attempt to change or even contain China will not succeed and is bound to fail. Second, some politicians in the US want to make "China threat" a catchphrase, but both the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Constitution of the Communist Party of China explicitly stipulate that China adheres to the path of peaceful development and opposes hegemony, a pledge that has never been made by the US side. Take a look at the current regional and international hot-spot and sensitive issues, which one is China's fault? ! And are there any issues that don't have some American politicians running around on the stage and behind the curtain? ! These people must recognize and accept the fact that for the international community, including the United States, China is a positive force for global peace and prosperity, not a negative factor; an opportunity, not a threat. Bloomberg: Does the ministry have any comment on Australia effectively blocking the purchase of Lion Dairy & Drinks to China's Mengniu Dairy? The Treasury of Australia said the purchase was "contrary to national interest". Did Australia give any further explanation to China? And does China accept this reasoning? Does the ministry have any comment on this? Zhao Lijian: I'm not aware of that and suggest you place your inquiries with the companies concerned and the competent authority. In principle, the Chinese government always asks Chinese businesses to abide by international rules and laws and regulations of their host countries when pursuing cooperation overseas. We hope Australia will provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for all foreign companies investing and operating there. AFP: Could you please give us more details on Foreign Minister Wang Yi's upcoming visit to France? Could you confirm whether he will meet with President Emmanuel Macron? Zhao Lijian: During his visit to France, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with French leaders and hold talks and meetings with Foreign Minister Le Drian and Diplomatic Counselor to French President Bonne respectively to exchange views on deepening China-France and China-Europe relations, promoting exchange and cooperation in various areas, upholding multilateralism and other international issues of mutual concern. China and France are comprehensive strategic partners. China-France relations have long been leading China-Europe relations. There has been a sound momentum in bilateral relations. From the beginning of this year, President Xi have had four telephone conversations with President Macron and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang have had 12 with Foreign Minister Le Drian and Diplomatic Counselor to French President Bonne. Confronted with the pandemic, China and France stood together with solidarity and mutual support. Both are committed to supporting the leading role of the UN and WHO in international anti-epidemic cooperation, and took the lead in resuming high-level institutional dialogue after the situation eased, playing a positive role in enhancing international solidarity against the pandemic and ensuring the stability of global industrial and supply chains. As the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the profound changes unseen in a century and added to instability and uncertainties in the international landscape, rampant unilateralism and protectionism poses a persistent threat to mankind's peace, security and development. China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major powers with a tradition of independent decision-making, need to stay true to the direction pointed out by the two heads of state's consensus, uphold multilateralism, strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral fora like the UN and G20, deepen strategic and practical cooperation in all sectors and jointly contribute to the sustained sound development of China-France and China-Europe relations as well as world peace, stability and development. Kyodo News: My question is about COVID-19 vaccine. WHO recently called on countries to join COVAX. On August 24, Director General Tedros said more than 170 countries have expressed readiness to join. So does China have any plan to join COVAX? Zhao Lijian: China firmly supports developing countries' efforts in the health sector and honors its pledge of turning COVID-19 vaccine a global public good. We will continue to draw on our strength in vaccine R&D and production and work with the international community for progress in the global cause of vaccination. Financial Times: Can you give us an update on progress for the G20 debt standstill scheme? Has China come to any agreements to restructure debt with specific countries? In particular, has an agreement been reached with Angola? And if so, can you give us any details? Zhao Lijian: China attaches high importance to addressing the impact of COVID-19 on African countries and other developing countries. We relate to their financial difficulties and support the international community in working together to relieve their debt burden, so that those countries can focus their resources on handling the virus and stabilizing their economies. Since the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) was adopted in April, China has been implementing the DSSI following the consensus of G20 countries. Now we have received debt relief requests from over 20 countries, and have reached agreement with more than 10 of them by the end of July. Consultations are being held between China and other requesting countries and progress has been made in this regard. China earnestly implements the solemn commitments made by President Xi Jinping at the World Health Assembly and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19. We are working with the international community to give greater support to countries that are hardest hit by the coronavirus and are under heavy financial stress. We also encourage Chinese financial institutions to respond to the DSSI and to hold friendly consultations with African countries according to market principles to work out arrangements for commercial loans with sovereign guarantees. Positive outcomes have been achieved. For many developing countries, the World Bank and other multilateral development banks are their important and even main creditors. Commercial institutions in developed countries also hold much of their debt. It is imperative that these institutions take part in the debt relief process. China calls on relevant sides to accelerate actions and fully deliver their commitments. China will work with other G20 members to implement the DSSI and, on that basis, urge the G20 to extend debt service suspension still further for countries concerned. Regarding your question on a specific country, I'll leave that to the competent authorities. Bloomberg: This is a question about Chinese nationals in Singapore. We understand that Chinese nationals in Singapore have expressed concern to the embassy there that they're unable to get COVID-19 test that they need to enter China. Can you explain why this is so and what is the Chinese embassy doing to help Chinese nationals stuck in Singapore? Also, there has been an increased number of COVID-19 cases from people flying from Singapore to China. Could this threaten the green lane agreement China has with Singapore? Zhao Lijian: I haven't read reports on that. I'd like to stress that the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions, under the guidance of Chinese authorities, have been providing assistance to overseas Chinese to the best of their capability. For Chinese nationals abroad, our diplomatic and consular missions are the home that always has their back. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Donald Trump Jr, son of president Donald Trump, speaks on stage during the Conservative Political Action Conference 2020 (CPAC) hosted by the American Conservative Union on 28 February 2020 Donald Trump Jr is reportedly concerned that his father may not win re-election come November. The New York Times reported the claim on Tuesday. Mr Trump Jrs concerns were leaked to the Times by unnamed campaign officials and a conservative activist who claims they have regular contact with the presidents son. The activist told the times that Mr Trump Jr is the only person who thinks theyre going to lose. Hes like, were losing dude, and were going to get really hurt when we lose. According to the report, Mr Trump Jrs concerns are rooted in an ongoing investigation into the Trump Organisation by the New York Attorney General. He reportedly fears that, following a loss in the 2020 US election, the prosecutors will try to charge Donald Trump and his children as part of the investigation. Mr Trump Jr also apparently fears that a peaceful transition of power between the Trump administration and an incoming Joe Biden administration will not happen, and fears Mr Bidens administration plans to shoot the prisoners. Andy Surabian, a spokesman for Mr Trump Jr, said the story was 100 per cent false and insisted Don does not have these concerns. Assuming the report is accurate, Mr Trump Jr is not the only member of the family to speak ill of the presidential patriarch. A former adviser to First Lady Melania Trump is writing a book about her time in the White House, and claims she has recordings of Ms Trump making disparaging remarks about her husband and her husbands children. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff will release a book in September detailing her involvement with the first lady and the ultimate dissolution of their friendship. Journalist Yashar Ali reported that Ms Wolkoff apparently has recordings of the first lady making the critical comments. Mr Ali claims that most of the disparaging comments were reserved for Ivanka Trump. The Washington Post reported that Mr Trumps niece Mary Trump also the author of a book about the dysfunction in the presidents family said she possesses recordings of the presidents sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, making disparaging remarks about her brother. Story continues All he wants to do is appeal to his base, Ms Barry said. He has no principles. None. None. And his base, I mean my God, if you were a religious person, you want to help people. Not do this. She went on to accuse her brother of lying and poor preparation for the responsibilities of the presidency. His goddamned tweet and lying, oh my God, she said. Im talking too freely, but you know. The change of stories. The lack of preparation. The lying. Holy s***. Read more Donald Trump Jr says Joe Biden is Loch Ness monster of the swamp TDT | Manama Training institutions in Bahrains private sector can resume their activities starting 3 September 2020, as the Kingdom continues to ease its coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. Jameel Humaidan, the Minister of Labour and Social Development, announced this in a circular released to training institutes yesterday. As per the circular, Institutes are allowed to resume their activities, after a long hiatus, adhering strictly to virus precautionary measures recommended by the National Medical Team. Owners of the training institutions, trainees, administrative as well as training staff should strictly commit themselves to the precautionary measures for their own and others safety, the circular reads. Endorsed by the Government Executive Committee, chaired by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the reopening measures are as recommended by the National Medical Task Force to Combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19), headed by Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council of Health. Periodic inspections The Ministry of Labour and Social Development will conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with health requirements, while warning legal actions against violators. Resumption of training activities is important for skill development and for sectors that require continuous training activities such as aviation, engineering, electrical and industrial technologies to name a few. Humaidan said the government attaches prime importance for vocational training for it integrates Bahraini citizens to the labour market. The current reopening decision, he said, follows a meeting held with the representatives of the owners of the private training institutions in the Kingdom. In this context, the minister said the authorities have identified and approved a set of provisions to ensure the smooth functioning of virtual training and constant monitoring by authorities. One in eight women may have a genetic quirk which could delay the onset of Alzheimer's, a study has revealed. About 500,000 people in the UK suffer from Alzheimer's, making it the most common form of dementia in the country. More women than men have the disease but they also survive with Alzheimer's for longer. Now scientists have worked out one potential reason why - because they're more likely to have genetic protection. A gene called KDM6A that is found on the X chromosome can help delay Alzheimer's, and some people have a particularly strong version of this gene that is even more protective. Since women have two X chromosomes, and men only have one, women have two copies or 'doses' of KDM6A and are more likely to have the protective version. Researchers from the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) have found that about 13 per cent of women carry this version of the gene, compared to 7 per cent of men. About 500,000 people in the UK suffer from Alzheimer's, making it the most common form of dementia in the country By looking at long-term studies of older people, many of whom already had mild cognitive impairment, they could see that women with one copy - or even better, two copies - of the strong version of KDM6A appeared to progress more slowly towards Alzheimer's over the space of 10 years. This helps explain why women live longer and with less symptoms of the disease, even if they have the same amount of toxic Alzheimer's proteins in their brains. Their results open up the possibility of increasing resistance to Alzheimer's by boosting the stronger KDM6A gene in both men and women. The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, gathered information from public gene databases in countries including England, Italy, Sweden and the USA. By analysing the genetic make-up of over 6,000 people, they were able to work out how genetics can affect the development of Alzheimer's. Scientists found that women in general had more KDM6A protein in their brains than men, and that those with Alzheimer's had more of the protein in brain regions that get damaged early in the disease. They tested their theory by breeding mice which produced toxic proteins in their brains to model the effects of Alzheimer's in humans. They also engineered male mice to carry two X chromosomes, like females, and discovered they performed better on cognitive tests and lived longer despite having the same levels of toxic proteins in their brains. Finally, they discovered that by increasing amounts of KDM6A in a region of the brain involved in spatial learning and memory, male mice did significantly better in memory tests a month later than those who had not been treated. Dena Dubal, associate professor at UCSF and one of the study's authors said: 'This finding challenges a long-standing dogma that women are more vulnerable to Alzheimer's. 'More women than men have Alzheimer's because they survive to older ages, when risk is highest. But they also live with the disease for longer. 'Our study reveals a new role for sex chromosomes. This protective mechanism on the X chromosome opens up the possibility that we could increase resilience to Alzheimer's by boosting KDM6A in both men and women.' Tara Spires-Jones, from the Centre for Discovery Brain sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'While these data are a long way from a treatment for humans, this study is a promising step and gives scientists a new target to explore in our fight for life-changing treatments for Alzheimer's disease.' Colin Capper, Head of Research Development and Evaluation for the Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Worldwide, women with dementia outnumber men 2 to 1 and 60 per cent of dementia caregivers are female, so Alzheimer's disease is still very much a women's issue. 'This study goes against what we might expect, but it's important to remember this form of the gene is only carried by 13 per cent of women - we need more research to understand if and exactly how this gene may be protective against Alzheimer's disease. 'Research like this, that unpicks the differences in risk of dementia for men and women and which is investigating how we might be able to protect our brain cells from Alzheimer's disease, is vital as it presents the opportunity to develop new drug treatments in the future.' WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S? Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die. This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink. More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it. WHAT HAPPENS? As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason. The progress of the disease is slow and gradual. On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years. EARLY SYMPTOMS: Loss of short-term memory Disorientation Behavioral changes Mood swings Difficulties dealing with money or making a phone call LATER SYMPTOMS: Severe memory loss, forgetting close family members, familiar objects or places Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world, leading to aggressive behavior Eventually lose ability to walk May have problems eating The majority will eventually need 24-hour care Source: Alzheimer's Association Advertisement Alzheimer's zapped: Scientist launch landmark trial to treat dementia by sending electric currents deep into the brain Neurologists are to start treating Alzheimer's patients by sending electrical currents deep into their brain. A team at Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute have been given a $1.5million (1.14million) grant by US philanthropists, including Bill Gates, to trial the technology. Researchers have selected 24 patients with early-stage Alzheimer's to undergo the therapy, which will involve two weeks of daily hour-long sessions. After dozens of failed trials for dementia drugs, experts have high hopes for this new method. The technology called temporal interference brain stimulation involves applying electrodes to the scalp. The electrodes then send two harmless high-frequency beams into the brain. These beams are of slightly different frequencies 2,000 Hz and 2,005 Hz and when they cross they create a third current, a low-frequency wave of 5 Hz. And it is this new wave which researchers hope will make all the difference. It will be triggered in the hippocampus an area deep in the brain responsible for forming new memories. This will hopefully revive the area's mitochondria, the energy source in every cell, which become damaged by Alzheimer's. The two original beams are at too high a frequency to interfere with the healthy brain tissue through which they pass. But the new wave will have the same frequency at which brain cells fire allowing it to spark diseased neurones back into action. Tests on healthy volunteers shows the technique increases blood flow to the brain and results in improved results in facial-recognition tests. But the new trial, which will start in January, will be the first time patients with Alzheimer's undergo the treatment. A team at Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute have been given a $1.5million (1.14million) grant by US philanthropists, including Bill Gates (pictured), to trial the technology Researcher Dr Nir Grossman said: 'There is more and more evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease. 'This is an important milestone for us, concluding years of work on a breakthrough technological development.' Some 850,000 people in the UK suffer with dementia, of whom 500,000 have the Alzheimer's form of the disease. The trial is one of 16 given grants by the $60million (46million) Part the Cloud programme a scheme funded by philanthropists Bill Gates and Mikey Hoag, and the US Alzheimer's Association. Microsoft billionaire Mr Gates has spoken of witnessing the effects of the disease first-hand and said finding a treatment 'needs increased and continued research investments'. Nicholas Sandmann, the Covington Catholic High School student who sued major news outlets in the aftermath of their coverage of a controversial interaction he and several of his classmates had with a Native American activist, said Tuesday that the full war machine of the mainstream media was unleashed against him and called for a return to responsible reporting. Sandmann sued the Washington Post, CNN, the New York Times, and other major outlets for defamation after their coverage portrayed him and his classmates as racist aggressors who cornered Nathan Phillips, an elderly Native American man, during a confrontation near the Lincoln Memorial on January 18 of last year. My life changed forever in that one moment Sandmann said during his address to the Republican National Convention. The full war machine of the mainstream media revved up into attack mode without researching the full video footage of the incident, investigating Phillipss motives, or ever asking him for his side of the story. And do you know why? Because the truth was not important, he added. Viral video of the incident showed Sandmann, who was 16 at the time, and Phillips standing face to face as Phillips loudly beat on a drum inches away from the Kentucky high schoolers face while Sandmann smirked. NBC asserted that Sandmann blocked Phillips and did not allow him to retreat during their interaction. But longer versions of the video, released after the media outlets had already reported that Sandmann initiated the confrontation, showed that Phillips approached Sandmann, who stood mostly still during the incident. Before the encounter between Sandmann and Phillips, members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, a militant black nationalist group, began a confrontation with the teenagers, taunting and shouting slurs at them. Sandmann and his classmates, who were attending the annual anti-abortion March for Life, wore Make America Great Again caps, another fact initial media reports emphasized. Story continues Phillips and other professional protesters were looking to turn him into the latest poster child showing why Trump is bad, Sandmann said Tuesday. Looking back now, how could I have possibly imagined that the simple act of putting on that red hat would unleash hate from the left and make myself the target of network and cable news networks nationwide, Sandmann said. Sandmann recently reached legal settlements with CNN and the Washington Post for an undisclosed sum. More from National Review The advisory board hesitated on outright banning a particularly dangerous restraint, preferring to categorize it for use only in 'deadly force encounters,' pending the state's final police reform measures. Pittsfield Police Advisory Panel Mulls Vascular Restraint Limits PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Police Advisory and Review Board does not plan to eliminate the use of vascular restraint but is considering classifying it to limit its implementation. The board agreed Tuesday that it did not want to totally ban the Police Department's use of that particular restraint but reserve it only for the highest level of force. "Let's put it on the agenda for next month to see where we are at," Chairwoman Ellen Maxon said. Last month, the board asked Chief Michael Wynn to draft a policy prohibiting holds designed to reduce blood or airflow. Although these holds are not taught in Massachusetts, there is no verbiage that outright bans them on the books in Pittsfield. During July's meeting, some board members were hesitant to completely eliminate these restraints. They felt that some of these maneuvers may be necessary for very specific situations. Wynn first outlined the difference between respiratory and vascular restraints. He said the term "chokehold" seems to be used the most in the national conversation around the use of force. He said these are generally known as respiratory restraints, and he was unaware of any department that uses this maneuver. Some departments do train on vascular restraints, also known as carotid restraints, but he was unaware of any departments that train this in the commonwealth. A vascular restraint is when pressure is used on both sides of the neck to reduce blood flow to the brain and render someone unconscious. "Language matters in stuff like this," Wynn said. "If you start talking about chokeholds, and the legal term of a chokehold is strangulation. So we are talking about respiratory restraints, but your intent is to ban any application of pressure to the neck. Then you have created a loophole." He said some departments have issued policies that ban officers from touching the neck, spine, or head. Others have allowed carotid restraints but only at the highest level of force. Wynn, an experienced martial artist, said his department does not train these restraints. He said it would take an enormous amount of time to train correctly. "I don't think this is a technique that will ever be taught at an academy in the commonwealth, and it is not one I am going to allow in my in-service training," he said. "We don't have enough time to train adequately." That being said, Wynn saw a benefit to still classifying the restraint. "It is just not allowed in our current policy," he said. "I understand that not mentioning it is different than prohibiting it, so we are going to have to resolve that." Wynn said the draft policy would limit these sorts of restraints to "deadly force encounters" only. He said this has been accepted at other departments in New England. Board member Michael Feldberg said he was comfortable moving forward with the policy because of the high level of severity it places on vascular restraints. He added that the policy requires a supervisory follow up as well as an immediate medical follow up for the individual restrained. "It is pretty much the equivalent of pulling your weapon and shooting at someone," he said. "It needs to be emphasized that it is a last resort, and it is not to be used lightly. I think that is what I took away from this." Board member Drew Herzig called back to Wynn's distinction between different holds, and he felt the board needed to make this technical language clear to the public. "We want to meet their concerns about what they call a chokehold, and we need to make sure we are communicating across the great divide," he said. The board also plans to undergo a use-of-force policy review, but as with the carotid restraint classification, they felt it may be better to wait until the state finalizes its own police reform efforts. "I think we have enough material to move forward and reach a consensus among my command, staff, and you, but I am hesitant to issue a policy," Wynn said. "... Because if the commonwealth bans them we have to go back and redo the policy." The item will still be on the board's next agenda. Chairwoman Ellen Maxon sent iBerkshires this note to further clarify the board's discussion of the use of vascular restraints: Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a 13,800-page chargesheet in the Pulwama terror attack in which more than 40 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in February 2019. The chargesheet, filed in a special court in Jammu, names Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) chief Moulana Masood Azhar, his two brothers Rouf Asgar and Ammar Alvi, the suicide bomber Adil Ahmed Dar and 15 others as the accused. On February 14, 2019, Adil Ahmed Dar alias Waqas Commando, an alleged JeM cadre, rammed an explosives-laden Maruti Suzuki Eeco into a bus that was in a CRPF convoy at Lethapora in Pulwama district. The NIA said in the chargesheet that the conspiracy to attack the CRPF convoy was hatched by the JeM leadership in Pakistan and carried out by local militant Adil Dar to project it as an act of home-grown militancy in the Kashmir Valley. The terror attack was initially probed by the J&K police in partnership with the CRPF, the Army, other security forces and intelligence agencies. However, the case was soon handed over to the NIA for investigation by the Union Home Ministry. The chargesheet has been filed after the case was registered against the accused under various sections of J&Ks (now defunct) Ranbir Penal Code, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Foreigners Act and J&K Public Property (Prevention of Damages) Act. The accused are JeM chief Masood Azhar, his two brothers Rouf Asgar and Ammar Alvi all absconding, local Kashmiris Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan, Peer Tariq Ahmed Shah, Waiz-ul-Islam, Muhammad Abbas Rather, Bilal Ahmed Kuchay and Muhammad Iqbal Rather (all of them arrested) and absconders Pakistani national Muhammad Ismail and locals Sameer Ahmad Dar and Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo. Besides suicide bomber Adil Dar, the other accused in the case who have been killed since are Pakistani nationals Muhammad Umar Farooq, Muhammad Kamran Ali and Qari Yasir and locals Sajjad Ahmed Bhat and Mudassir Ahmad Khan. The NIA said the Pulwama attack was the result of a well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by Pakistan-based leadership of JeM which has been sending their cadres to militant training camps of Al Qaida-Taliban-JeM and Haqqani-JeM in Afghanistan to receive training in explosives and other militant tactics. It said that the main accused, Muhammad Umar Farooq, visited Afghanistan for explosives training in 2016-17. He infiltrated into India through the International Border in Jammu-Samba sector in April 2018 and then took over as JeM commander for Pulwama, the chergesheet claimed. It said that Farooq along with his Pakistani compatriots Kamran, Ismail alias Saifullah and Qari Yasir and local associates Sameer Dar and Adil Dar planned and prepared for the attack using IEDs. It said that the accused Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan, Peer Tariq and Kuchay provided logistics support and harboured the JeM militants in their houses. From December 2018 onwards, Shakir Bashir started doing reconnaissance of the movement and deployment of security forces along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, whereas Mudassir arranged gelatin sticks and handed them over to Shakir. RDX was brought by the Pakistani militants who infiltrated into India. Shakir collected the explosive material, i.e. RDX, gelatin sticks, aluminum powder and calcium-ammonium nitrate and stocked these at his house for making the IED. The chargesheet further said that in January last year Sajjad Bhat purchased a Maruti Eeco car for the purpose of carrying out the IED attack. The car was kept in the front-yard of Shakir Bashirs house. Waiz-ul-Islam ordered 4 kg of aluminium powder from his Amazon account on the directions of accused Ismail alias Saifullah and gave the same to him, it said. According to the chargesheet, towards the end of January last year, Farooq, Sameer and Adil Dar made a propaganda video of the planned attack at Inshas house which was released immediately after the bombing. In the first week of February, Farooq, Sameer, Adil and Shakir made the IED using RDX, calcium-ammonium nitrate, gelatin sticks and aluminium powder and assembled it in two containers, one weighing around 160 kg and the other around 40 kg. The two IED containers were then fitted in Maruti Eeco and were ready to use these by the morning of 6th February. However, because of heavy snowfall, the National Highway got closed for vehicular movement. The chargesheet said that on the fateful day (February 14), as the highway had opened for vehicular traffic, Shakir drove Adil on to it after which the latter took charge of the Maruti Eeco and drove it further on to the highway and carried out the suicide attack by ramming the vehicle laden with 200 kg of high-grade explosives into a bus of the CRPF convoy, resulting in the death of 40 jawans and causing damage to the tune of Rs 32,90,719 to public property. The investigation has revealed that the Pakistan-based JeM leadership consisting of Masood Azhar, Rouf Asgar and Ammar Alvi alias Chacha alias Chota Masood were continuously giving directions and guidance to the Pakistani JeM militants (who had infiltrated into India) both before and after the attack, the NIA said. It also claimed that the JeM leadership had also planned to carry out another suicide attack which, however, got averted due to Balakot strikes and the killing of main conspirator Umar Farooq by the security forces. Further, due to international pressure, Pakistan lay low, it asserted. Investigation also revealed a well-crafted mechanism by Pakistani establishment to push militants into the Indian territory from the launch pads located in Shakargarh (Pakistan) opposite Samba-Kathua Sector in Jammu, the NIA said. The Turkish Armed Forces , which has accelerated its nationalization efforts in the defense industry, continue its moves to increase its naval might at sea. In the ceremony led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 23 August at Kaptanoglu Desan Shipyard , 2 Emergency Response and Diving Training Boats with a 71 percent localization rate, 2 new SAT (Underwater Dredging) Boats and 8 high-speed patrol boats were delivered to the Naval Forces Command. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan drew attention to the nationalization effort in the defence industry using the following words: "Turkey continues its path in a stable manner in the defense industry. The distance we have covered in the defense industry has contributed to many strategic successes we have achieved within and outside our borders recently. It is not possible for nations that cannot be strong and independent in the field of defense to look to their future with confidence. With the fulfilment of our national defense and security needs, technological independence has become more critical than ever in creating deterrence in the international arena." HISTORIC CALL FOR AIRCRAFT CARRIES FROM PRESIDENT ERDOGAN Underlining that the project stock in the defense industry has been increased from 62 to 700 and the project budget from 5.5 billion dollars to over 60 billion dollars, President Erdogan made a historic call for the building of aircraft carriers stating, "I would like to say that let's build the second and third aircraft carriers after Anadolu. We need to move to the next level. Turkey is one of 10 countries in the world that can design and produce its own warships. Our Navy has further strengthened its stance, which gives confidence to the friend and fear to the foe." "THIS PRIDE IS OF ALL OF US, THIS PRIDE IS OF TURKEY" Drawing attention to the importance of the project for the Turkish defence industry, Cenk Kaptanoglu, Chairman of the Executive Board of Desan stated, "We are proud and happy to successfully deliver these projects to Turkish Navy, our precious possession, which were launched by our President 18 years ago and today merely shining on the fate of almost all oppressed nations, not limited to Turkey, manufactured on behalf of the Turkish Defense Industry. Shafts and propellers of ships have been manufactured in a national project for the first time by us and have been classed by Turkish Lloyd. Acoustic monitoring, capture and diving systems, pressure chamber have been manufactured using the latest technology in Turkey. Data distribution systems and all electrical and electronic infrastructure have been created by our Turkish companies. This is the first project to be delivered at the first time with all the main system, port and sea trial. 'This Proud is of All of Us, This Pride is of Turkey'." FOR WHAT MISSIONS WILL THE BOATS BE USED? Emergency Response and Diving Training Boats manufactured at Desan Shipyard, one of Turkey's oldest shipyard that has completed many successful international projects, will support rescue diving and emergency response operations in future. The ships will take part in determining the locations of damaged, stranded, and sunken ships in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara Seas. Emergency Response and Diving Training Boats will also be used in applied diving training of the diver personnel in the shallow and deep waters. SOURCE Desan Shipyard Friday, Aug. 21 Plainview police arrested 24-year-old Lorenzo Contreras, Jr. on Friday at the 1000th block of Denver St. during a traffic stop initiated around 1:30 p.m. Responding officers cited a criminal traffic violation and found marijuana and other controlled substances during the stop. Contreras was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. Police arrested 52-year-old Michael Reyes on Friday at the 600 block of E. 6th St. Officers responded to the location just before 5 p.m. Reyes was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, which is a felony. Police were called to the 700 block of Smythe St. on Wayland Baptist University property Friday just before 4 p.m. in reference to drugs. Credit card fraud was reported Friday at the 100 block of W. 9th St. around 10 a.m. Credit card abuse was reported Friday at the 100 block of W. 9th St. around 10 a.m. A theft was reported at the 400 block of W. 5th St. on Friday around 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 Police arrested a 21-year-old man on Saturday at the 1300 block of Quincy St. Officers responded to the location just after 2:30 a.m. where the individual was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Officers responded to the 3300 block of Quincy St. on Saturday just after 3 a.m. in reference to calls about marijuana and public intoxication. No arrests were indicated. Criminal mischief was reported at the 2200 block of Portland St. on Saturday around 8:50 a.m. Theft was reported at the 900 block of W. 26th St. on Saturday just before 10 a.m. Criminal mischief was reported at the 100 block of Yonkers St. on Saturday around 10:10 a.m. Theft and criminal mischief was reported Saturday at the 120 block of SE 8th St. around 12:15 p.m. An assault was reported Saturday at the 1600 block of N. Date St. just before 2 p.m. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1000 block of W. 5th St. on Saturday around 6:40 p.m. Criminal mischief resulting in property damage at a business was reported Saturday at the 900 block of W. 5th St. just after 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23 Police were called to the 1000 block of N. Interstate 27 on Sunday just after 3:20 a.m. in reference to a suspicious person. Public intoxication was reported but no arrests are indicated. Burglary of a vehicle and theft from a yard were reported Sunday at the 2300 block of FM 2286 around 11 a.m. An assault was reported at the 1100 block of W. 11th St. on Sunday. According to the report, the assault also included stalking. Officers reported to the location at noon. No arrests were indicated. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on Sunday at the 2100 block of W. 5th St. around 1 p.m. A terroristic threat against a person was reported at the 3300 block of Quincy St. on Sunday just after 1:30 p.m. Cruelty to a child was reported at the 900 block of Fir St. on Sunday around 7 p.m. An assault against a family member was reported at the 600 block of Nassau St. on Sunday around 7:10 p.m. An assault and a threat against a person were reported Sunday at the 500 block of Joliet St. around 11:20 p.m. An assault was reported Sunday at the 1400 block of Oakland St. just after 11:30 p.m. A theft was reported Sunday at the 500 block of N. Date St. around 11:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24 Police arrested 20-year-old Kaleb John Wineinger on Monday at the 3500 block of Garland St. Officers responded to the location at 5 p.m. in reference to an assault. Wineinger was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which is a felony. A hit-and-run crash resulting in property damage was reported at the 600 block of N. Interstate-27 on Monday around 4 a.m. Theft from a vehicle was reported Monday at the 500 block of W. 6th St. just after 6:30 a.m. Police responded to the 1000 block of Baltimore St. on Monday around 12:30 p.m. in response to a felony warrant service but no arrests were indicated. Police arrested a 37-year-old man on Monday at the 100 block of Martinez St. on Monday. Police responded to a call about an assault at the location around 2:30 p.m. and arrested and charged Martinez with assault causing bodily injury. Identity theft was reported at the 3600 block of Garland St. on Monday around 3 p.m. Credit card fraud was reported Monday at the 300 block of SE 6th St. around 6:15 p.m. An assault was reported at the 1600 block of Fresno St. on Monday around 6:40 p.m. Criminal mischief was reported at the 1500 block of Yonkers St. on Monday just before 8 p.m. Officers responded to the 3100 block of Olton Road on Monday just after 9:30 p.m. in reference to a possession of a controlled substance. Marijuana was found during the callout. A 32-year-old man was arrested Monday at the 2600 block of W. 5th St. just after 11 p.m. in reference to a warrant service. The man was arrested for three outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at the Centre and said that refusal to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation to States is nothing short of betrayal on the part of the Narendra Modi government. Her remarks came during a meeting, held via video conferencing, with chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and their counterparts of West Bengal, Maharashtra and Jharkhand on the issues related to GST dues of states, Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) (Main) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) (UG) exams. There are a number of issues related to Centre-State relations and since Parliament is expected to meet in less than 3 weeks. I thought we should have an interaction so that we can have a coordinated approach. GST compensation seems to be a big issue. GST compensation being paid to States on time according to laws passed by Parliament is crucial. But it is not happening. Dues have accumulated and finances of all the States are badly affected, she said. In the meeting of the Standing Committee of Finance on August 11, 2020, the Finance Secretary clearly stated that the Central government is not in a position to pay their mandatory compensation of 14 per cent for the current year. This refusal to compensate the State is nothing short of betrayal on the part of the Narendra Modi government, betrayal of State governments and people of India, she said. Also read: Lets appeal to Supreme Court to postpone NEET, JEE: Mamata Banerjee to non-BJP chief ministers Stating that GST was enacted as an example of cooperative federalism, the Congress interim chief said that the GST regime came into existence because States agreed to forgo their constitutional powers of taxation in the larger national interest on the sole promise of compulsory GST compensation for a period of five years. She alleged that the Central government continues to profiteer from unilateral cesses which are not shared with the States. She said that ordinances have been issued without consulting the States on agricultural marketing and called Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2020 as anti-democratic. There has been a national outcry against draft EIA notification 2020 which is deeply anti-democratic, Gandhi said. She said that public sector assets created over decades are being sold out and 6 airports have been given into private hands and Railway is also being privatised. Also read| Sonia Gandhi holds meet with 7 state CMs on JEE, NEET and GST collection: Who said what Gandhi termed the New Education Policy as a set back for progressive, secular and scientific values. Announcements such as those related to the National Education Policy should really worry us as it is actually a setback. Other problems of students and exams are also being dealt with uncaringly, she said. At the time of the decision, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch went to great lengths to assert that the scope of the ruling was narrow, specifically writing in the majority opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County that it should not influence long-debated bathroom policies. But the reasoning in the decision has already been applied by lower courts affirming transgender students access to restrooms that match their gender identity. The ruling in Grimms case which liberally cited the Bostock opinion is the latest example of its reach. President Donald Trump leaves with First Lady Melania Trump after her speech to the Republican National Convention from the Rose Garden of the White House on Tuesday. Read more To cover how Pennsylvania is shaping the 2020 election, The Philadelphia Inquirer has launched a new email newsletter. Every Wednesday, youll get reporting from counties across the state, insight into issues that impact you, fact checks on what candidates are saying, and more. You can sign up to get it in your inbox here. You can also view the web version of this email. Its President Donald Trumps turn on the big stage, and were watching how his Republican convention might play in Pennsylvania. Joe Biden is doing his own counter-programming, rolling out a list of GOP dissenters who now back him including three former congressmen from the state. And the political battle over how votes will be cast and counted in a pandemic continues with a new election bill proposed by Republicans in Harrisburg. As always, we want to hear from you. Email us at election@inquirer.com. Julia Terruso, Andrew Seidman (@JuliaTerruso, @AndrewSeidman, election@inquirer.com) A cornucopia of political messages This time last month, we examined how Trump has fallen behind Biden in Pennsylvania. Poll after poll showed Biden with a sizable, consistent, but hardly insurmountable lead, as voters faulted Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the presidents best case for reelection, a strong economy, continued to struggle. The state of the pandemic and the economy remain largely unchanged. The race is expected to tighten. And Trump is now in the midst of a week of convention programming that offers one of his only chances to change the trajectory of the campaign. So how, we wondered, will he use this moment to appeal to voters in states like Pennsylvania, which he won by less than 1 percentage point in 2016? So far, it seems like an a la carte menu. GOP-leaning suburban voters uncomfortable with Trumps handling of racial issues might be comforted after watching him pardon a Black convicted felon who turned his life around and preside over a naturalization ceremony for five immigrants. That could resonate outside Philadelphia, where Republicans running for reelection are trying to distance themselves from Trumps harder edges. (Doing all this at the White House is likely a violation of the Hatch Act, but thats a separate story.) Loyal Fox News viewers who stand with Trump no matter what were likely already well acquainted with Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who brandished their guns at Black Lives Matter activists demonstrating peacefully near their home in June. Addressing the convention Monday, they recounted how a Marxist activist led a mob near their house and warned the same thing could just as easily happen to any of you. On Tuesday, the speakers included John Peterson, a steel executive who praised Trump's trade policies, and Robert Vlaisavljevich, a Democratic mayor in Minnesota. They said Trump is the best bet to revive the economy. In other words, something for everyone. Its been a cornucopia of political messages and I think its been very successful thus far, Charlie Gerow, a Pennsylvania GOP strategist, told us. All that may well be overshadowed by Trump, who is appearing every night. And it may be easier for Republicans to persuade undecided voters that Biden and the Democrats are unacceptable than it is to change minds about Trump. To that end, Sean Parnell, a western Pennsylvania Republican running against incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, said Monday at the RNC that Democrats had turned their back on hard working, law abiding Americans. The party of Harry Truman, he said, has become the party of hedge fund managers, Hollywood celebrities, tech moguls and academia bloated with contempt for middle America. Answering your questions about voting Is it better to vote by mail or in person? Its up to you. A vote cast by mail is worth the same as a vote cast in person. There are other concerns you might consider, though, especially this year. Remember that not everyone has equal access to voting by mail or in person, such as if a disability prevents you from easily voting in person. You might also prefer the flexibility and convenience of voting by mail, including the ability to sit with your ballot and research candidates, and to choose the best time for you to fill out your ballot before Election Day. Is it safer to vote by mail or in person? From a COVID-19 health risk perspective, voting by mail is safer because it has less risk of exposure than voting in person, though those risks can be minimized by social distancing and wearing a mask. Elections officials plan to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies. That said, the greatest risk is not to voters but to the poll workers who spend the entire day checking in and helping hundreds of people, usually indoors. You might choose to vote by mail not because of your own health risk but because it lowers the risk for poll workers and voters who do show up in person. Read more: Everything you need to know about voting, by mail or in person Send us more voting questions here Jonathan Lai (@Elaijuh) What were paying attention to Overheard on the campaign trail Im proud to cast Pennsylvanias 88 votes for the president that will make sure we kneel when we pray and stand for the flag Lou Barletta, former Pennsylvania congressman, during the Republican National Convention roll call vote Monday in Charlotte, N.C. Meet the Pa. judge featured at the RNC If you watched the Republican convention last night, you saw a segment in which Vice President Mike Pence chatted with Trump supporters outside of Abraham Lincoln's childhood home. One of them was Cheryl Lynn Allen, the first Black woman elected to the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 2007. She ran unsuccessfully for Supreme Court in 2015 and then retired from the bench. Allen was one of several Black Trump supporters who made a pitch for reelecting the president. As a senior citizen, I know what racism feels like, Allen said. There are injustices but the way to deal with those injustices is for people to sit down across the table and talk and come up with solutions. I do believe President Trump is committed to that. Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters In its filing for a direct listing made public on Tuesday, secretive data-crunching firm Palantir is distancing itself from Silicon Valley and pitching itself as a staunch ally to the US military and intelligence agencies. Palantir, which has several high-profile contracts with agencies like the Pentagon and ICE, claimed in the filing that other tech companies were less loyal to US interests. The document reflects Palantir's eagerness to position itself as adherent to President Donald Trump's foreign policy and national security worldview, a rarity in Silicon Valley. "We have chosen sides, and we know that our partners value our commitment," CEO Alex Karp wrote in a letter included in the filing. Read the full letter below. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Palantir started in Silicon Valley but in its new filing to go public, the company disavows its peers in the Bay Area. "The engineering elite of Silicon Valley may know more than most about building software. But they do not know more about how society should be organized or what justice requires," cofounder and CEO Alex Karp wrote in a letter included in the filing. In the 17 years since it was founded, the secretive data-crunching firm has avoided the spotlight while racking up major contracts, primarily with government agencies like the Pentagon and ICE. Those contracts have drawn criticism, especially in the largely liberal Bay Area and including from Palantir's own engineers. But Karp and cofounder Peter Thiel, a megadonor and adviser to President Donald Trump, have repeatedly defended the contracts. Now, Palantir is applying to go public in a direct listing and its pitch to the public plays up its relationships with government agencies, depicting Silicon Valley tech companies as less patriotic. (The company recently moved its headquarters from Palo Alto to Denver, Colorado.) The filing also reflects Palantir's eagerness to position itself as uniquely adherent to Trump's foreign policy. Story continues "Our company was founded in Silicon Valley. But we seem to share fewer and fewer of the technology sector's values and commitments," Karp wrote in the letter. "Our software is used to target terrorists and to keep soldiers safe ... We have chosen sides, and we know that our partners value our commitment." Palantir's extensive contracts with government agencies, while controversial, are touted as a competitive strength in the company's S-1 filing. The company pitches itself as a staunch supporter of the US government's foreign policy interests. "Our software is used by the United States and its allies in Europe and around the world. Some companies work with the United States as well its adversaries. We do not. We believe that our government and commercial customers value this clarity," the company wrote. The filing slams other companies for doing business with China, which it describes as an enemy to the US. Other tech giants like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft have previously pursued deals with the Chinese government something Palantir explicitly pledges not to do in its filing. Palantir's pledge aligns with Trump's China agenda the president himself has led a charge to sever relationships between China and US tech companies, including a recent executive order barring business transactions with ByteDance, which owns popular video app TikTok, and WeChat. "Our software is used by the United States and its allies in Europe and around the world. Some companies work with the United States as well its adversaries. We do not. We believe that our government and commercial customers value this clarity," the company wrote in the filing. Read Karp's full letter, which introduced the company's S-1 and is divided into five parts, below: Our welfare and security depend on effective software. In times of stability, the right software helps our most critical institutions serve their markets and the public. In times of crisis, effective software can be essential to an organization's survival. Our software platforms are used by the United States and its allies around the world. Many of the world's most vital institutions, from defense and intelligence agencies to companies in the healthcare, energy, and manufacturing sectors, rely on the software platforms that we have built. The challenges that we face, and the crises that we have and will continue to confront, expose the systemic weaknesses of the institutions on which we depend. Our industrial infrastructure and manufacturing supply chains were conceived of and constructed in a different century. Government agencies have faltered in fulfilling their mandates and serving the public. Some institutions will struggle to survive. Others will collapse. Our customers come to us because their technological infrastructure has failed them. The enterprise software industry's focus on custom software tools and applications is misplaced. Those approaches often only work briefly, if at all. The problems and needs of an organization often change before the software can even be deployed. Our partners require something more. They need generalizable platforms for modeling the world and making decisions. And that is what we have built. II. Our company is a creative enterprise, filled with strong personalities who are immensely talented and care deeply about their work. The culture of our company is more than a mere byproduct of the people we choose to hire. Our culture and means of organizing ourselves are preconditions for the creation of effective software. We identify what needs to be done and organize ourselves around the outcomes that we hope to achieve. This requires that we stay flexible about who should be leading what and when. At many organizations, employees spend their days, even their careers, posturing for others, concerned with claiming credit for success and avoiding blame for failure. Entire companies can subsist for years on a business model that may have made sense at some point in the past. In the short term, there are often profits to be extracted from the enterprise, and from customers. We have rejected this way of working. The alignment of interests between our employees and our company, and between our company and our customers, is one of the principal reasons we have come as far as we have. III. Our work and the use of our software present difficult questions. The construction of software platforms that enable more effective surveillance by the state of its adversaries or that assist soldiers in executing attacks raises countless issues, involving the points of tension and tradeoffs between our collective security and individual privacy, the power of machines, and the types of lives we both want to and should lead. The ethical challenges that arise are constant and unrelenting. We embrace the complexity that comes from working in areas where the stakes are often very high and the choices may be imperfect. The more fundamental issue is where authority to resolve such questions to decide how technology may be used and by whom should reside. Our society has effectively outsourced the building of software that makes our world possible to a small group of engineers in an isolated corner of the country. The question is whether we also want to outsource the adjudication of some of the most consequential moral and philosophical questions of our time. The engineering elite of Silicon Valley may know more than most about building software. But they do not know more about how society should be organized or what justice requires. IV. Our company was founded in Silicon Valley. But we seem to share fewer and fewer of the technology sector's values and commitments. From the start, we have repeatedly turned down opportunities to sell, collect, or mine data. Other technology companies, including some of the largest in the world, have built their entire businesses on doing just that. Software projects with our nation's defense and intelligence agencies, whose missions are to keep us safe, have become controversial, while companies built on advertising dollars are commonplace. For many consumer internet companies, our thoughts and inclinations, behaviors and browsing habits, are the product for sale. The slogans and marketing of many of the Valley's largest technology firms attempt to obscure this simple fact. The world's largest consumer internet companies have never had greater access to the most intimate aspects of our lives. And the advance of their technologies has outpaced the development of the forms of political control that are capable of governing their use. The bargain between the public and the technology sector has for the most part been consensual, in that the value of the products and services available seemed to outweigh the invasions of privacy that enabled their rise. Americans will remain tolerant of the idiosyncrasies and excesses of the Valley only to the extent that technology companies are building something substantial that serves the public interest. The corporate form itself that is, the privilege to engage in private enterprise is a product of the state and would not exist without it. Our software is used to target terrorists and to keep soldiers safe. If we are going to ask someone to put themselves in harm's way, we believe that we have a duty to give them what they need to do their job. We have chosen sides, and we know that our partners value our commitment. We stand by them when it is convenient, and when it is not. V. The ability of our most vital institutions to protect and provide for the public requires the right technology. And we believe that as a result, over the long term, the strength and survival of democratic forms of government do as well. Alexander C. Karp, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder Palantir Technologies Inc. Read the original article on Business Insider STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Small businesses that suffered a significant loss of income may not be in a position to make necessary upgrades to ensure customers feel safe entering their businesses. Restaurants have been one of the industries hit hardest by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and many are barely getting by with limited outdoor dining options, delivery and pickup. They have been pushing for indoor dining as the end of outdoor dining approaches Oct. 31 and the weather begins to get colder. Bringing more people indoors would require an updated and powerful HVAC system. City and state guidelines say HVAC system filters should be at least MERV 11, which is said to filter out COVID-19 particles in the air. Other small businesses, like Rabs Country Lanes in Dongan Hills, recently reopened with limited capacity after having been closed for five months. Owner Frank Wilkinson said hed like to be able to upgrade his HVAC system to comply with updated recommendations and to make customers feel comfortable about patronizing his business. BUSINESSES NEED A PLAN TO GET BACK INSIDE' Looking to help small businesses reopen safely, boost the economy through consumer spending and ensure the safety of patrons, state Sen. Diane Savino and Mid-Island Assembly candidate Brandon Patterson have asked Empire State Development (ESD) to expand the requirements for loans. Patterson is Savinos former chief-of-staff who is running for Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis Assembly seat, which will be vacated at the end of the year as part of her congressional run. Savino and Patterson say that offering a small business loan with zero interest that is to be paid back within five years would help businesses make the HVAC upgrades without the need to raise taxes or find additional money in the state budget. The loan, they said, should be available to small businesses with 50 or less employees. Businesses need a plan to get back inside with the colder months right around the corner and theyre going to need our help to keep their doors open. These upgrades will last far beyond this COVID pandemic, and should be seen as an investment for our economy to continue reopening, said Patterson. Outdoor dining has finally allowed restaurants to reopen and serve New Yorkers looking for normalcy. As we start to see cold weather, were going to need to find solutions to allow restaurants to reopen and safe indoor dining is one way we can accomplish that, Savino (D-North Shore) said. But for restaurants that have been struggling, it can be a difficult time to invest in safety measures, she added. LOAN AVAILABLE BUT NOT MANY BUSINESSES ARE ELIGIBLE When asked about the loan proposal, an ESD spokeswoman issued the following statement: While ESD typically does not comment on proposals like this, small businesses can already apply for the New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF), which supports New Yorks small businesses, non-profits, and small landlords as they reopen and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic with working capital loans. Many of the small businesses that Savino and Patterson are speaking about do not qualify for the NYFLF loan based on some of the loan requirements: 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees; Must have a gross revenue of less than $3 million per year; Non-profits must provide direct services and have an annual operating budget of less than $3 million; Have not received either SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for COVID-19 in 2020. The NYFLF loans are also over a five-year period, however, they are not interest free. Our proposal would expand on that program, allowing for more struggling businesses to get much needed upgrades and, when elected, I cant wait to work with ESD to ensure were getting small businesses and New York back on its feed, Patterson said. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Raptor's rankings serve as a great starting point for the college search process. Then, our tools offer families a unique way to find quality, affordable schools that will serve them well in any environment. The pandemic has created chaos around the 2020-21 school year, and students are looking for more help in the college search process than ever before. With that in mind, College Raptor -- which uses artificial intelligence in its mission to help students find great, affordable colleges -- has released its 2021 Best Colleges Rankings. Princeton University earned the top spot as the best college in the U.S. Other #1s include Stanford as the best college in the Far West, Harvard University as the best large college, Pomona College as the best liberal arts college, and the United States Naval Academy as the best public college. In addition to the overall Best Colleges, College Raptor added new rankings inspired by current events and the shifting educational landscape. With more colleges and universities dropping requirements for standardized test scores, Raptor is now highlighting the Best Test-Optional Colleges. Additionally, inspired by recent equality movements, Raptor is showcasing the Best HBCUs. The Best Rural Colleges rankings feature exceptional schools in less populated areas because many students are opting for colleges away from large cities. And given the importance of public health measures, Raptor also created the Best Colleges for Public Health Majors. The media is full of stories about the pandemic and colleges shifting toward online learning. Although we dont know when the crisis will end, its clear students long for normalcy and a return to campus-based education and living, said Bill Staib, College Raptors CEO. Raptor's rankings serve as a great starting point for the college search process. Then, our tools offer families a unique way to find quality, affordable schools that will serve them well in any environment. View the complete College Raptor 2021 Rankings at CollegeRaptor.com/best-colleges/ About College Raptor, Inc. College Raptor builds mobile-first products to help students, parents, counselors, and colleges resolve some of the most significant challenges in college planning. With its motto, The Right College, The Best Price, Raptor is the only college search platform that enables students and families to discover quality, affordable college options based on personalized estimates of financial aid, scholarships, academic match, and acceptance chances at every four-year college in the country. As a result, students and their families find cost-effective, academically-appropriate college options that prepare them for their careers. For more information about College Raptor, visit CollegeRaptor.com. Two of the four suspects in the arson of the vehicle of the "Schemes: Corruption in Detail" television program have been put on the wanted list, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said. "This morning, the National Police officers detained people who organized the arson of the car of the 'Schemes' program of Radio Liberty. After the searches, they found the relevant irrefutable evidence. One of them is a resident of Luhansk, his accomplice is a resident of Kyiv, two more are identified and put on the wanted list. The investigation will go on and we will inform. We consider attacks on journalists as a special type of crime, in which the government should treat with special care," Avakov said at a press conference at the National Bank in Kyiv on Wednesday. As previously reported, one of the suspects, a resident of Luhansk region, was detained by officers of the National Police of Ukraine on the morning of August 26. On the night of August 17 in the town of Brovary, Kyiv region, unknown persons set fire to the car of the "Schemes" program, owned by the driver of the film crew Borys Mazur. As a result of a fire, the vehicle cannot be restored. A car parked nearby was also damaged. The police opened an investigation into the deliberate destruction of property. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Amnesty International Tuesday condemned Madagascan security forces' recent killing of 22 inmates escaping from Farafangana Prison in the south east of the country The playing field in Central Florida's theme park wars has been somewhat leveled by the coronavirus pandemic, with all parks suffering major losses. But a new report claims Universal Orlando is seeing an increase in attendance and currently getting more visitors than Walt Disney World. Analysts from Deutsche Bank said they looked at proprietary geo-location data to make their estimates. The analysts say Universal Orlando is seeing an "uplift in admissions" especially on Saturdays. Saturday attendance is down 64% from 2019 crowds, but it's still the best figures since Universal reopened. As for Disney, the analysts say it's operating at 80% less than last year with Epcot and Animal Kingdom outperforming Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. As for why Universal may be doing better than Disney, theme park expert and blogger TJ Muscaro says a big part of Disney's usual magic is unavailable right now. "You go to the character meet and greets, you go for the parades, you go for the shows, you know, especially the fireworks and unfortunately, they can't do that right now," Muscaro said. Muscaro says the fact that Disney is requiring reservations, not allowing park hopping and has not reopened it's water parks may also be reasons it's not attracting as many guests as Universal. Extensive open Copper-Gold project in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil secured London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - Meridian Mining S.E. (TSXV: MNO) ("Meridian" or the "Company") today announces that it has signed an option agreement ("the Agreement") to acquire a 100% beneficial interest in the Cabacal Copper-Gold Project ("Cabacal"), in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, located 330km west of Cuiaba (Figure. 1), for a total consideration of USD 8.75 M and 4.5 M Meridian shares (Table 1) from two private Brazilian companies Prometalica Mineracao Ltda and IMS Engenharia Mineral Ltda (together "the Vendors"). The payments in cash and shares are spread over approximately 39 months and are milestone based (Table 1). This is an arm's length transaction. Highlights of the Cabacal project are: Cabacal has an undeveloped Cu-Au mineralization zone extending from near surface to 175m depth, traced over 1.8 km in historical drilling, and open at depth and along strike: The Cabacal project has an extensive database: Cabacal has additional targets for Cu-Au-Ag and Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization untested by drilling and defined by geophysical surveys and soil-stream geochemistry; and Exploration and mining tenure covers 18,460 Ha: The Cabacal Cu-Au deposit was discovered in 1983 by BP Minerals ("BP-M"), then acquired by Rio Tinto (at the time RTZ) as part their USD 4.3 B acquisition of BP Minerals in 1989. The project was acquired by the Vendors from Rio Tinto in 2005. Cabacal has an historical inferred resource* of 21.7 Mt @ 0.6 % Cu & 0.6 g/t Au completed by Falcon Metais Ltda in 2009 ("Falcon"), as more particularly set out below. * Note: The historic resource was completed by Falcon and presented to the Vendors in a report dated 22 April 2009. The Company has not treated this resource as a current mineral resource for purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Readers are cautioned that the historic resource is not considered to be current for purposes of NI 43-101. The historical resource was estimated via an Inverse Square Distance method, using data from 301 diamond drill holes. A uniform density of 2.7 was applied for tonnage calculation, using 3D solids modelled from 54 sections. A 0.20% Cu Equivalent % cut off grade was applied (CuEquiv % = Cu % + (0.51 * Au ppm); Metallurgical Recovery = 85% Cu, 65% Au; Au price US$ 845 / oz; Cu price US$ 4000 / ton). Given the amount of historic exploration data on the Cabacal project the Company considers the historic resource to be relevant to understand the mineral potential of the Cabacal project. However, as part of its due diligence review of the Cabacal project the Company will seek to validate the historic resource. Historical resource numbers are rounded to 1 decimal place. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Story continues The Cabacal project is located in the Alto Jauru Belt, a historical centre of gold and base metal mining. The Cabacal Cu-Au deposit was previously mined by BP-M/ RTZ as a shallow, selective high-grade underground operation in in the late 1980's to early 1990's. The main zone of massive to stockwork, stringer and disseminated Cu-Au sulphide mineralization was never mined. Cabacal's Cu-Au mineralisation remains open beyond ~175 meters below surface, and along strike. At the time of mine's closure by RTZ the approximate price for Cu1 and Au2 during 1991 was USD 1.04 per lb & USD 365.0 per ounce, respectively. The mineral system extends over a strike of 1,800m and has been defined by over 400 historic diamond drill holes. It is shallow-dipping, making it an attractive target for open pit development. Table 1: The schedule for the Agreements milestone payments are as follows: To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_001full.jpg Dr Adrian McArthur, CEO & President, states, "Cabacal represents an outstanding opportunity for Meridian's future. Having laid dormant in two small private companies for so long the Company looks forward to leverage off the historical exploration data of RTZ and BP Minerals, and quickly take Cabacal's drilled and mapped Cu-Au mineralization to a NI43-101 statement and then to a feasibility study through a targeted program of infill and confirmation drilling and metallurgical testwork. The extensive mineral system consists of a stacked series of shallow-dipping Cu-Au lenses - an ideal geometry for testing the open-pit development potential. Such deposits tend to occur in clusters, and the existing geophysical and geochemical surveys indicate clear targets in prospective stratigraphy along strike. Securing the 30km Cabacal VMS trend opens up the potential of future resource development and exploration success." History, Geology, and Mineralization Model The Cabacal deposit is located in the SW Amazonian craton in Mato Grosso, an important gold-producing state. The deposit is hosted by in Proterozoic metavolcanic-sediment rocks of the Alto Jauru Greenstone Belt. The belt consists of an association of bimodal volcanic and sedimentary rocks (tholeiitc meta-basalts of the Mata Preta Formation, felsic volcanics of the Manuel Leme Formation, meta-sedimentary rocks of the Rancho Grande Formation, intruded by granites, tonalites, and gabbroic dykes). The discovery of the Cabacal Deposit has its origins in the 1980's gold rush, during which local companies backed by BP International carried out extensive mapping, stream and soil geochemistry, and reconnaissance drilling. which lead to the discovery of the Cabacal Deposit in 1983. The project operated as an underground mine producing 869,279t at 5g/t Au and 0.82% Cu over four years up to 1991. Regional exploration by RTZ and BP consisted of >600 drill holes (70,000 m of drilling), of which 406 holes were drilled at Cabacal. The deposit is considered to be deformed Cu-Au rich end member of the Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) deposit style. Globally, such deposits have been major global hosts of base metals, gold and silver. Deposits tend to form in districts of about 40 km in diameter, that may contain dozens of periodically spaced mineral centres, related to hydrothermal convection cells on the ocean floor. With tilting, deposits may now be at or below the present-day erosional surface. Whilst VHMS deposits are well known for their base metal production, notable examples exist of copper-gold and gold-only end members, including Mt Lyell (Cu-Au) and Henty (Au) of the Mt Read Volcanics (Tasmania, Australia), and LaRonde Penna deposit of the Doyon-Bousquet-mining camp (Quebec, Canada). The immediate host rocks consist of foliated cherts and volcaniclastic rocks, with hydrothermal overprints of variable sericite, biotite, and chlorite alteration. Cu-Au mineralization has been traced over 1.8km in the mine environment, although much of the drilling is focussed over a 750m sector. Mineralization dips moderately, presenting a good geometry for potential open pit development. As part of the due diligence program, the Company will engage SRK to undertake a detailed audit of the database and past foreign resource estimates, to scope the program requirements over the next 12 months. Current interpretations show that the targeted mineralization forms a series of stacked sheets (Figure 2), which individually can have widths of ~ 10 - 40 m and have been traced ~250-500 m down-dip. The due diligence program will assess the Vendors own recommendations to focus a 7200 m drilling program over a 1km strike length of the central Cabacal Cu-Au trend. Comparative chemical and geological analysis by the Vendors twinning a RTZ DDH returned a reliable comparison (Figure 3). The historical mining activity confirms that Cabacal will be amenable to conventional metallurgical processing for VHMS type mineralization. The Cabacal project tenure covers a 30km strike length of the prospective Proterozoic greenstone belt, and comprises: The Cabacal Mining Lease Application (4,028 Ha; 866292/2004) The Santa Helena Mining Lease (875 Ha; 861956/1980) Three exploration licenses: 867407/2008 (9,813 Ha) 866002/2016 (2,566 Ha) 866455/2016 (1,180 Ha) Polymetallic base metal mineralization was more recently exploited at Santa Helena, but the mine is now closed and rehabilitated. Prioritized satellite targets have been defined through a combination of geophysical and geochemical methods, with the VTEM survey in particular highlighting extensions of the prospective stratigraphic horizon. The Vendors have recommended a program of exploratory drilling, to test NE and SW extensions to the Cabacal trend, and satellite targets at the Fazenda Sao Paulo Prospect, Sucuri Prospect, and Fazenda Alamo Prospect. Fig. 1: Regional map showing the location of the Cabacal Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_002full.jpg The Cabacal mineral rights are free and clear from all liens and/or any encumbrances of any nature, including past environmental, mining and employment liabilities. There is one historical 1.5% NSR associated with the Santa Helena project. Meridian is aware that Cabacal is located within the buffer zone of Brazil's frontier and that the Company will comply with all applicable Brazilian Laws. The buffer zone is a political protection zone and not an economic exclusion zone. The terms of the proposed Agreement gives the Company the option, under certain conditions, to return the mineral rights to the Vendors on a "as is" basis, without any obligation to making any outstanding payments and to complying with other obligations. Figure 2: Sections through the Cabacal mineralization, showing shallow-dipping stacked lenses of copper-gold mineralization. (Note: widths, grade, drill orientation and geological sections are from historical data. Please see relevant Note* above) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_003full.jpg Figure 3: Comparative results of 2005 verification drilling by Prometalica compared to historical RTZ drilling. (Note: widths, grade, drill orientation and geological sections are from historical data. Please see relevant Note* above) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7354/62579_5cb17a13b4663ba0_004full.jpg QUALIFIED PERSON The technical information about the Company's exploration activity and exploration target range has been reviewed and approved under the supervision of Dr Adrian McArthur (B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM), the Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. 1 Historical copper price sourced form www.indexmundi.com 2 Historical gold price sourced from www.kitco.com On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining S.E. Adrian McArthur CEO, President and Director ABOUT MERIDIAN Meridian Mining S.E. is focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on exploring and developing the Espigao manganese and polymetallic projects, the Mirante da Serra manganese project, the Ariquemes tin area, and adjacent areas in the state of Rondonia. Further information can be found at https://meridianmining.co/. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this presentation contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration, development and exploitation of its properties and potential mineralisation. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating risks and hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed exploration, development and exploitation of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of its mineral properties, and no mineral reserve estimate or mineral resource estimate has been established. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62579 Justice system can`t be saved from police remand or otherwise for lack of guts An abducted teenage girl, who was said to have gang-raped and murdered, has been rescued alive in good health from Narayanganj, much to the surprise of the locals. The three people, who were previously arrested after being accused of the reported rape and murder, have also confessed to their crime before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court while being in the police custody. Media reports said, the incident questions the integrity of the investigation. The family sources alleged that the policemen of Sadar Model Police Station of Narayanganj have tortured the arrested persons to confess to the crime. They also claimed that they were forced to bribe at least Tk 47,000 to SI Shamim Hossain, the investigation officer of the case, to ensure the well being of the arrestees. Otherwise, the police threatened that the arrestees will have to encounter severe torture. Meanwhile, various acts of brutalities and misdeeds like intimidation, extortion, detention of people without any valid reason, bribery, and threatening to crossfire are the most common allegations being raised against members of police. Extortion business by the dishonest police personnel from families of arrested persons on remand is now a regular phenomenon, it was alleged. But each and every such incident has a negative impact on the entire police force. As reported, a team of police rescued the girl from Kushiyara area in Bandar upazila on Monday morning and later brought her to Sadar Model Police Station the same day. A three-member probe committee led by ASP Jayed Parvej Chowdhury has been formed to look into the matter. On August 6, the girl's father Jahangir Hossain filed an abduction case with the police station accusing three persons -- Md Abdullah, 22, Md Rakib, 19, and Khalilur Rahman, 36 -- in connection with reported abduction. Acting on the case, police arrested the three people. After being questioned by the police, the girl Jisa Moni, 15, currently in police custody, said she took off with her then-boyfriend Iqbal Pandit to marry him and remained absconding since then. However, the prime suspect Abdullah, with whom she was last seen on July 4, had no knowledge about her since that day. Police arrested the husband for marrying an underage girl. In connection with this incident, on Tuesday, a revision was filed with the High Court challenging the accuracy, legality and rationality of proceedings of the abduction case filed in Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station. Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir filed the revision on behalf of five other SC lawyers -- Md Asad Uddin, Md Zobaidur Rahman, Md Ashraful Islam, Md Al Reza Amir and Md Misbah Uddin. The revision also seeks directives from the High Court on concerned offices to summon the documents of the case so that they may be examined. The magistrate, the superintendent of police, the officers in charge of Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station, the investigation officer of the case, plaintiff Jahangir Hossain and the three accused -- Abdullah, Rakib and Khalil -- were all made respondents to the revision. The system of politics based police power has made justice mostly a police justice. Nowhere police remand in secret is allowed to save justice system. We are going through a time of intellectual dishonesty and police justice. Despite Supreme Court's guidelines the lower courts routinely violate those guidelines to police custody under orders. Supreme Court is fully aware that lower courts help corruption by allowing extortion of the arrested person into police custody. There police torture them for money and securing false confession. The whole investigation system through agency has become unnecessary for easy police remand and torture. What else is needed to know about abuse of police remand when two confessions were obtained for murdering the girl who has been found alive after 51 days. The corruption in police is revealed in this case. There were also threats of crossfire killing. There is nothing more to know about blatant abuse of the justice system by police with the help of the judiciary. Unless the magistrates are obliging the police cannot make remand orders. The magistrates do not feel accountable to the higher judiciary. Because the higher judiciary looks the other way. We are powerless against police brutality for corruption yet it has become fashionable for many to fight corruption in the judiciary. It is no use starting corruption cases keeping safe the corruption system. We have been urging a numberless time that remand without the presence of lawyer must be stopped for being unconstitutional. Police acting jointly with judges has made justice system the place of all injustices. It has become normal practice not to grant bail once a person is arrested. What it means police arrest means he is guilty and must not be released on bail. Is he not innocent in the law before found guilty? Everywhere incompetent and corrupt people are prevailing for helping others to be corrupt as well. Many of those who are honest are chicken hearted. They know justice one must have judicial conscience and understanding that it is not the lawyers but the helpless ones who seek justice from the judges. The lawyers cannot be given too much indulgence to delay justice. It is the duty the judges to deliver speedy justice. That is almost totally absent in our justice system. Justice is often delayed by the lawyers. In another recent death sentence case, the Supreme Court found an innocent person was sentenced to death and he had passed twenty years in jail. The Appellate Division was waiting for formalities to release him. We find it sad that the court did not pass immediate order to release the person who had lost twenty years of his life in jail for the wrong committed by the courts, including the High Court Division. The ceasefire declaration statements issued by the Tripoli based Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Tobruk based House of Representatives have once again raised hopes for a negotiated political settlement to the longstanding Libyan conflict. But the way forward is far from easy. It requires painful concessions that conflict with the interests of obstructive forces the network of domestic and foreign parties vested in the perpetuation of the crisis. Although the ceasefire has staved off a clash between Turkey, which intervened on behalf GNA militias, and Egypt, which warned against a Turkish-backed offensive beyond the Sirte-Jufra line, this does not mean that conditions are ripe for a settlement. Not only is trust lacking between the Libyan players after 14 months of civil war centred on Tripoli, but there also remains a long legacy of division over all proposed political solutions from the Skhirat Agreement of 2015 through the modified UN plan, the Paris and Rome initiatives of 2017 and 2018, the outputs of the Berlin Conference in 2020 and the Cairo Declaration of June this year. FRAMES OF REFERENCE This legacy is mirrored in the texts of the ceasefire statements issued by House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh and GNA leader Fayez Al-Sarraj. Whereas both reaffirmed their commitment to the Berlin process, the former affirmed his support for the Cairo Declaration while the latter ignored it. The troubled Libyan Political Agreement, signed in Skhirat, Morocco, in December 2015, produced political entities whose composition and jurisdictions triggered bitter discord between the rival parties. The fusion between the Presidency Council and the GNA and articles that gave the GNA the power to make security and military appointments are only some examples of bitter bones of contention. The Cairo Declaration, by contrast, proposes an elected three-member presidential council separate from the government. This council, which would be representative of Libyas three main regions (Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan), would choose a prime minister charged with forming a government that would then obtain the confidence of the House of Representatives. While most of the councils decisions would be taken by a majority vote, others, such as decisions concerning the armed forces, would require a unanimous vote that would include that of the armed forces general commander. Under the Cairo Declaration, cabinet seats are apportioned between the three regions based on population density (nine seats for Tripolitania, seven for Cyrenaica and five for Fezzan) while the sovereign portfolios would be divided between them equally. These formulas help ensure a minimum degree of unanimity between the three regions. ELECTIONS DILEMMA Both Saleh and Al-Sarraj, in their statements, agreed on the need to hold elections in order to resolve the problem of rival legitimacy claims. However, while the former did not specify a date, the latter set March 2021 as a deadline for holding presidential and parliamentary elections on a constitutional basis. Yet, the draft constitution approved by the elected constituent assembly in July 2017 encountered stiff opposition from both eastern and southern Libya (Cyrenaica and Fezzan) and especially on the part of the federalist camp and the Amazigh, Toubou and Touareg ethnic minorities. In the opinion of these groups, the draft constitution privileged Western political forces via a heavily centralised form of government that favoured the more populous Tripolitania region and its predominant political forces. The Cairo Declaration proposes the creation of a committee, composed of members of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, to amend the constitutional declaration and for the election of a new national committee, representative of the three regions, to draft a new constitution that would be put to a national referendum within 90 days. The Cairo Declaration also calls for an 18-month interim period during which government institutions would be reunified and reorganised and at the end of which presidential and parliamentary elections would be held. This explains why Saleh, in his statement, did not stipulate a date for elections. Unlike Al-Sarraj, he appreciates the difficulties involved in drafting and agreeing on a new constitution in a short period of time while a constitutional framework is a key to holding elections whose legitimacy will not be questioned. DISTRIBUTION OF OIL WEALTH Al-Sarrajs statement agreed with Salehs on the need to resume the production and export of oil and to deposit revenues abroad where they will remain until after an agreement is reached. It also agreed on the need for transparency in the management of revenues. However, it did not refer to the Cairo Declarations provisions in this regard and, above all, to the need for the just distribution of oil wealth. The general convergence between the two sides, here, may have been the product of American pressure, motivated by a desire to wrest the oil card from Russian hands, especially in light of reports that Russian Wagner Group fighters have taken up positions in Libyan oil fields. At the same time, the US probably wants to wield the oil card as a means to keep the two sides at the negotiating table and to encourage them to forge alliances conducive to supporting the compromises needed for peace. This said, there may be limitations on how far the oil card can be used as leverage. Much of the problem would reside in coming to terms over the criteria for the just distribution of oil. Should it be based on demographics, such as population density, which would favour Tripolitania? Or should it be based on geographical realities such as the fact that most of Libyas oil reserves are located in the east and that the Libyan National Army (LNA) currently controls the majority of fields in the east and south? LNA SUSPICIONS The LNA harbours serious concerns over the nature and trustworthiness of the dialogue process at a time when Turkey continues to pour military support and mercenaries into western Libya. The LNA has rejected US Ambassador Richard Nolands proposal to transform Sirte-Jufra into a demilitarised zone. It suspects that the proposal is merely a ruse in order to hand the area to Turkey without a fight. The LNA deeply mistrusts the GNA and fears its intentions once oil production resumes. LNA Spokesman General Ahmed Al-Mismari last week called Tripolis ceasefire initiative a PR initiative. The LNAs stance conflicts with both Al-Sarrajs and Salehs positions on a ceasefire, although the two men disagree over the status of Sirte and Jufra. Saleh would like to make Sirte a temporary headquarters for the new Presidency Council that would be protected not by the LNA but by a police force drawn from all regions, whereas Al-Sarraj supports the creation of a demilitarised zone protected by a security force drawn from eastern and western Libya. Although Russia, which backs the LNA, supports the ceasefire, it is probably just as uncomfortable with the US-European proposal to turn Sirte-Jufra into a demilitarised zone. Certainly, the proposal would limit Russian influence in Libya and, above all, Moscows ability to pressure Turkey and bargain with the US/NATO presence in the southern Mediterranean. According to various reports, there are Russian warplanes and other arms in the Jufra military base. THE MILITIA DILEMMA There have been indications of mounting inter-militia tensions in western Libya since the freeze in the Tripoli war. Some observers fear another outbreak of inter-militia violence similar to that which erupted in the summer of 2018 between rival militias battling for control over Tripoli. This, too, could jeopardise talks and prospects for a settlement. Among the signs of mounting tensions are accusations of corruption levelled by the Tripoli Protection Force (a consortium of the four most prominent militias in Tripoli) against the Libyan chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood. The accusations appear a response to the Muslim Brotherhoods attempts to dominate the National Guard Force that the GNA intends to revive as a means to gain control over the Tripoli militias. The GNA is backed in this by the Turkish-Qatari axis which, while backing the recent ceasefire call, is rapidly working to consolidate its influence in western Libya. The Tripoli based militias fear that any political settlement will undermine their influence by means of plans to disarm them and/or assimilate them into official security forces. Perhaps the most complex and intractable factors are the tribal and regional tensions that have grown even more intense since the battle for Tripoli began over a year ago. Until the causes of these tensions are addressed and remedied by means of a national reconciliation process, a lasting ceasefire and peace-making efforts promoted by outside powers will remain on shaky grounds. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: 1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up. 2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed. 3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms. 4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually. 5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings. Vote View Results By Kate Guiney As our country continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration has taken advantage of our weakened state to reduce environmental regulations and attack the well-being of U.S. citizens through our land, air and water. Now more than ever, we must fight to keep the climate crisis at bay and maintain healthy, stable environments for our citizens. Situated in Southeast Alaska, the Tongass National Rainforest is the United States largest carbon sink and is home to 31 different Alaskan communities. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Tongass holds over 600 million tons of carbon, about 8% of all carbon stored in U.S. forests. This is equivalent to half the countrys 2017 carbon production. The Tongass plays a key role in the prevention of climate change through carbon sequestration. The Tongass is currently protected by the 2001 Roadless Rule, which protects national forests in 38 states by preventing road-building and industrial-scale clearcut logging. The Trump Administration plans to exempt the Tongass from this rule, putting our largest intact national forest in danger as well as the communities that rely on it. This action would threaten the way of life and economy of all Alaskans, especially Indigenous tribes. The forest maintains water quality and provides a habitat for the food on which Southeast Alaskans depend. It also provides a buffer against the spread of disease, crucial as we see our governments weaknesses revealed in protecting the country from mass health crises. The loss of the Roadless Rule in the Tongass would result in an increase of up to 5 billion metric tons of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, an effect that would be felt globally. In an agricultural state such as Iowa, drought caused by climate change becomes more destructive to our land and economy every year. Increasingly erratic weather patterns pose a threat to global food security. In urban areas, polluted air and water increase the risk of developing severe health issues, disproportionately affecting BIPOC. Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized groups and exacerbates inequality and oppression. The country is already seeing the negative impacts of the climate crisis. We cannot wait until its too late to protect our land and citizens. During a commenting period in late 2019, 96% of 250,000 public comments were in full support of maintaining the Roadless Rule on the Tongass. Tribal governments in Alaska have come together to oppose reducing regulations on the Tongass. In spite of overwhelming public opinion, the Forest Service has decided to remove the Roadless Rule during this pandemic. Now more than ever, Alaskans depend on the land around them for economic and food security. The Trump administrations disregard of Indigenous voices and public opinion is an affront to democracy, perpetuates our countrys history of violence against Indigenous peoples, and furthers systemic racism. As students of Grinnell College representing all 50 states and countries across the world, we cannot let this threat go unchallenged. Your voices and actions matter. For U.S. citizens, call and write your senators and representatives to voice your concerns about the reduced regulations on the Tongass Rainforest and the need to conserve national lands. Tell Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the US Forest Service to pause the rulemaking process during this pandemic. Vote in upcoming elections. We all have a responsibility to protect public land and those who rely on it, and to maintain the integrity of our democracy. The Department of Education is now advising schools to avoid large assembly-hall type gatherings of students after a confusing start to the new year under Covid restrictions. In updated guidance today it says that schools should avoid large gatherings including large full school/year group assemblies in one physical space. It follows a controversy that arose after St Leos Secondary School, Carlow hosted a socially-distanced prayer service in the assembly hall to welcome 152 first years. Read More Principal Niamh Broderick said they had followed Department guidelines and everything was done properly and safely. But Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) President Ann Piggott said it was unwise and ill advised to hold such assemblies. Ms Piggott said that in the community we are being told no more than 15 people can gather outside and six inside. It would be better if assembles happened in small numbers, not in large gatherings. In a statement yesterday, the Department raised no objections to the St Leos event. It said that as part of the suite of public health measures, limits were placed on gatherings in other settings in order to support the re-opening of schools which by its nature involves significant numbers of staff and students in school buildings. It added that public health guidance in relation to staff meetings was to ensure two metre physical distancing requirement and when organising staff meetings, school management should consider holding them remotely where it is feasible to do so. But following representations by ASTI on full year/group assemblies and staff meetings, the Department is issuing a note to schools today. It includes a crucial addition to yesterdays statement and says schools should avoid large gatherings including large full school/year group assemblies in one physical space. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / RYAH Medtech Inc. ("RYAH" or the "Company"), announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Argos Applied Intelligence ("Argos-AI") to transform RYAH's patented AI analytics in plant-based medicine research. The MOU sets the plan to create an initial Proof of Concept ("PoC") of a proprietary, scalable enterprise data analytics platform in plant-based medicine and other formulations. The goals involve extensive analysis and normalization of the various data pools from RYAH's applications. The final integrated solution is expected to combine the anonymous patient use data from RYAH's IoT devices with its AI-powered analytics platform. The single, turn-key solution is further expected to be supported by machine learning and visualization tools, which can be used by hospitals, clinics, universities, and research organizations to encourage the advancement of pharmaceutical research in plant-based medicines and to be connected with potentially eligible patients for new clinical trial studies. The details of the work for the initial PoC stage will be formalized in a definitive agreement between RYAH and Argos-AI. "This collaboration with Argos-AI is an opportunity for RYAH to unlock new monetization strategies by accelerating our transformation of proprietary dashboards and APIs into a scalable enterprise data platform," said Gregory Wagner, CEO, RYAH Medtech Inc. "With the help of Argos-AI and yet to be announced new partners, patients will be able to connect to new clinical studies, while medical institutions can leverage RYAH IoT devices and analytics to remotely administer, monitor, and assess the resulting data on a single platform." About RYAH Medtech, Inc. RYAH is a big data and technology company focused on valuable predictive analysis in the global medical plant intake industry. The company manages a complete digital ecosystem leveraging both Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence to create a dynamic data service for the medical plant industry. It is developing a suite of IoT devices, including a dry-herb vaporizer device capable of storing all plant lab results, measuring patient inhalation sessions in real-time, and capturing instant feedback for plant dose management. Its robust artificial intelligence platform aggregates and correlates HIPAA-compliant medical data, which is intended to help doctors and patients personalize plant-based treatments to better predict treatment outcomes. The data collection is also relevant for pharmacies, clinics, growers, dispensaries, and Licensed Processors (LPs) to monitor and manage plant strain effects on patients. With a strong IP portfolio, RYAH gathers deep and insightful data on the complete medical plant lifecycle, from seed to consumption. About Argos Applied-Intelligence Argos-AI is a minority-owned South Florida firm specializing in cybersecurity workforce development, cyber data analytics, and cybersecurity services. Argos-AI leverages a network of current and former private industry, military, federal law enforcement cyber threat intelligence analysts, agents, and officers. Argos-AI and its partners pursue game-changing advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence to mitigate cyber risk. Our focus combines advances in Data Operations (DataOps) with innovations in machine learning, natural language processing, and human-computer-data interaction to solve some of the toughest challenges in cyber risk management and to directly inform Argos-AI's skills, research, and services development and delivery. RYAH Medtech Inc Contacts: Sofiya Kleshchuk Client Relations +1 917 210 0543 Invest@ryahgroup.com Argos Applied-Intelligence Contacts: (305) 999-5220 info@argos-ai.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation and United States rules and regulation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. SOURCE: RYAH Medtech Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603315/RYAH-Medtech-Inc-And-ARGOS-Applied-Intelligence-Sign-MOU-to-Advance-Data-Analytics-In-Plant-Based-Medicine Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, said Oliver made a misstep that has created a lot of unnecessary controversy and politicized an issue. Researchers have been working at an unprecedented pace to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, and theres a rigorous process to develop vaccines for safety and effectiveness. But researchers still have an incomplete understanding of the virus, and still dont know how long the antibodies in vaccinated people will last. The Northam administration spoke against the proposals. If the virus can spread easily from person to person and has the potential to cause severe illness and death like COVID-19 does, its critical to have an effective vaccine as quickly as possible and then to vaccinate a large enough portion of the population to make the spread of the disease from person to person unlikely, said Dr. Lilian Peake, Virginia state epidemiologist. LaRock spoke to the committee about his belief there is a lack of safety measures in place when developing vaccines so corporations could turn a profit. His remarks were similar to those from people who are skeptical of vaccines. RPAN or Reddit Public Access Network just marked its one-year anniversary last week. For those scrolling through the Reddit app, you must have spotted a livestream from some users playing music or speaking to the camera. Those broadcasts come from Reddits own live-streaming service, the Reddit Public Access Network (RPAN). RPAN marked its one year anniversary just last week and almost to mark the occasion, Reddit has been teasing an expansion of RPAN to more subreddits in the future. The Verge called RPANs streams more wholesome than whats on Twitch or YouTube because it is meant to cater to and appeal to a broader audience. Reddits vice president of product and community told The Verge that they saw a lot of people who werent traditionally streaming on other platforms coming on RPAN. Last year, on one specific day, RPAN was available from 9AM to 5PM PT as a part of a five-day test where only certain people were allowed to stream. It is not available 24/7 to anyone. The one limitation it has though is a 45-min limit for each stream. This limit can be extended by viewers via a feature called Feed the Meter. The limit was initially put in place due to technical constraints but Reddit is now thinking of extending it because many broadcasters are asking for it. RPAN live streams are also limited to only over a dozen subreddits right now - like r/RedditInTheKitchen for cooking streams and r/AnimalsOnReddit for animals and pets. During the pandemic, Reddit has seen a steep rise in people doing ask-me-anything broadcasts or just wanting to chat with others from home - thats what created the r/distantsocializing community. Eventually, Reddit plans to bring RPAN to as many communities as possible and this expansion is expected to happen over the next couple of months. One thing that might make RPAN more popular than other platforms is the fact that it allows users to easily stream from their phones - front or back cameras. Thats much easier than an elaborate PC setup that big streamers on Twitch and YouTube usually have. While this does mean that streams on RPAN will be of lower audio and video quality, its not necessarily a bad thing because it makes RPAN steams more intimate and interesting. You can also stream your phone on Twitch or YouTube, and Reddit offers an official integration with the popular live-streaming PC software OBS that is called RPAN Studio. The long-term challenge for Reddit will be to find a way to encourage RPAN users to keep up the positive vibes that make these streams so enjoyable. 26.08.2020 LISTEN The Daffiama Bussie Issa District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has admonished the good people of Pulbaa community to be very much concerned with development intervention in the locality. This called was made by the directorate that, during the commissions, social accountability program dubbed ARAP which is supported by the European Union. Speaker after speaker reiterated the call for residents to prioritize the need to critically get involved in any development programme that is been executed by the government or any other partner. The Daffiama Bussie Issa District Director of NCCE Mr. Abdul Rahaman Osman outlined the objectives of the programme to included; awakening residents to ensure the quality of work and service rendered to them. To empower residents to accept ownership of programme by activity involved in interventions and to ensure that development interventions initiatives demand is been formalize by set up committees. He concluded by urging the people to be ambassadors of demanding, supervision and be vigilant to ensure value for money contract projects or service is delivered to them. On the part of the Upper West Regional Deputy Director of NCCE Mr. Yibile John, he underscored the importance of decentralization and accountability. He intermitted that decentralisation is to bring governance on the doorstep of local people to quicken development interventions and tailored demand of rural communities through participatory democracy. It is important for local communities not to stand aloof, rather get involved in ensuring their development interventions projects are not compromised, he added. He lamented that corruption has engulfed the fundamental principles; rural of law thereby undermining equality before the law and stampeding the human rights and liabilities. To help address these concerns, communities need to be empowered and so the NCCE that has been a principal advocate for development is charging them (communities) to be more concerned in demanding development interventions. A resource person for the programme Tahiru Lukman, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Ideapath Consult and a seasoned development Consultant took participants through needs the process of needs assessment. After brainstorming, presentations and discussions on the felt needs of the people, it was concluded that the need to improve upon basic school educational infrastructure, water resources dam and borehole, and provision of feeder road was the three most pressing needs of the community. This was preceded with the setting up of a five-member committee including the assemblyman of Fian electoral area, the queen mother of Pulbaa community and the Unit Committee Chairman. Mr. Ceasar Anicestu Eneebo who is the Daffiama Bussie Issa District Director of the Department of Community Development and Social Welfare added that socio-economic development is key in alleviating poverty and for that matter communities must get involved in their development process. He explained the mandate of the department of community development and social welfare to included; profiling of communities' needs and support in identify and capturing pro-poor people into government social intervention programs. He urged the beneficiary to be regular in taking their benefits to avoid a situation of been deleted. He also, hinted that there would be an expansion of beneficiary to the programme and more vulnerable people could be added and Pulbaa will be a beneficiary. The programme ended with the session of an open forum where participants gave suggestions and contributions as well as other questioning organisations for clarifications where necessary. The programme which was held at the community meetings grounds on the 23rd August 2020 started at exactly 10: 15amended at one 1: 24pm. Other members in attendance were Mr. Shaibu Umar and Madam Esther Tagtir both from the Upper West Regional Directorate of NCCE. Author; Tahiru Lukman Youth Activist, Devt Consultant & Pan- African Author Email: [email protected] Tel: 0209154057 / 0551018778 (Newser) The Republican National Convention has featured what analysts say is an unprecedented blurring of the lines between campaigning and governingbut White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has dismissed concerns about violations of the Hatch Act. Legal observers believe the 1939 act, which bans most executive branch employees from engaging in political activity, was violated numerous times in the first two days of the RNC, especially when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on an official, taxpayer-funded trip to the Middle East, delivered a speech from Jerusalem, the Guardian reports. Democrats say they are planning to launch an investigation, but Meadows argues that the act is being stretched beyond its original intent. Meadows claims the act was only meant to ensure that federal employees like himself didn't pressure other employees to vote a certain way. story continues below "Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares. They expect that Donald Trump is going to promote Republican values and they would expect that Barack Obama, when he was in office, that he would do the same for Democrats," he tells Politico. "This is a lot of hoopla that's being made about things, mainly because the convention has been so unbelievably successful." President Trump plans to deliver his acceptance speech from the White House Thursday. He is exempt from the Hatch Act, but the Office of Special Counsel has warned that other federal employees involved could be violating the act. Former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah accuses the Trump administration of "normalizing" the use of the White House "as a political backdrop." "Its never been done before for a reason," she tweeted Tuesday. "Its a violation of the Hatch Act, its a misuse of government resources & an abuse of power. (Read more Hatch Act stories.) The lawyer representing a man wanted for making Instagram death threats against residents of Regent Park says he is skeptical Toronto police will be able to make the novel charge stick. Toronto police are looking for Rowan Atkins, 31, for allegedly counselling his 3,000 Instagram followers to shoot everyone in Regent Park. His followers include gang members who have been antagonistic to the Regent Park community, a Toronto police news release said. Police sources allege Atkins has ties to the Project Originals, a street gang operating out of the Vanauley Walk area, near Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West, that has been involved in drug trafficking, firearms and homicides. Evidence presented in court cases suggests Project Originals have a long and violent rivalry with Regent Park gangs. On Wednesday, Toronto defence lawyer Allan Lobel said police have so far been unwilling to provide him with any evidence as to why they believe it was Atkins who made the Instagram posting, which he has yet to see. He added it is extremely unique and far-reaching to charge somebody for making a comment on social media, let alone prove a person made a posting. The basis for the threatening charges seems far-fetched in law, he said. Police have not said which Instagram account they say Atkins used. Even if they can establish the account is his, prosecutors will have a difficult time establishing beyond a reasonable doubt that he was uttering a threat, said Lobel, adding it is a novel first-time use of that provision of the Criminal Code. Toronto police say gang members are increasingly using social media to antagonize and threaten rival gang members, and that online feuding has led to countless retaliatory shootings. Two rapper brothers connected to the Project Originals received prison sentences last year for firing a gun in Regent Park in retaliation for an earlier shooting. Supt. Peter Moreira, head of 51 Division, which includes Regent Park, said the goal of police is to prevent shootings in the first place and we will assess all evidence available as a means to accomplish this. Atkins was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for possessing ammunition located in a room where he was arrested on robbery charges, which were later dropped. In 2013, Atkins was convicted of several gun-related offences. Lobel declined to say if his client will turn himself in. Kenosha A 17-year-old self-appointed militia member obsessed with the Blue Lives Matter movement has been arrested and charged with murder after two people were shot and killed in Wisconsin on Tuesday night. Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested by police in his Illinois hometown of Antioch, Commander Norman Johnson confirmed on Wednesday. Antioch is around 15 miles from Kenosha, where violent protest has broken out since police shot a 29-year-old black man, Jacob Blake, on Sunday night. Riots spread through the city on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday's demonstrations culminating in the deaths of two men. A third man was shot through the arm. Kenosha Dan Miskinis, chief of Kenosha police department, said at a press conference on Wednesday that one of the victims was a 26-year-old from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, 20 miles outside of Kenosha. The second victim was a 36-year-old Kenosha resident. The man shot in the arm was 18 and expected to survive, he said. Kenosha was "not a violent community," he said. "Peaceful protest is welcome. We cannot support violence. Not only is it bad for the community, it detracts from the message." Mr Miskins said the protests on Tuesday night began peacefully "then turned unruly." "Persons who were out after curfew got involved in a disturbance, and persons were shot. "A 17-year-old individual from Antioch, Illinois, used firearms to resolve whatever dispute was in place. As a result, two people are dead. "That was not a police incident." He said the names of those involved were not being released, but they "have a person in custody from outside the state." He said it was not yet clear if both killings were carried out by the same person, although social media footage indicated they were. Wisconsin is an open-carry state, meaning that you are legally permitted to carry a loaded weapon in public, without a permit or license. You must, unlike Rittenhouse, be over the age of 18. Story continues Kenosha On Wednesday the Democrat governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, accepted Donald Trump's offer to send in federal forces. Mr Evers had already deployed the National Guard, but on Wednesday spoke to the president and accepted federal assistance. "We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets," Mr Trump tweeted. "TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER!" Major General Paul Knapp, commander-in-chief of the Wisconsin National Guard, said additional forces were being mobilised - but he refused to say how many. He said "additional resources from surrounding states" were also being drafted in. Rittenhouse was charged with first degree intentional homicide. The teenager is believed to have been caught on camera running from the scene, and reportedly saying into his phone: "I just killed somebody." Kenosha Earlier in the evening a man identified on social media as Rittenhouse spoke to reporters in Kenosha and said he and other members of a militia had gathered by a petrol station to protect it from looting. The man says he has been "pepper sprayed by a person in the crowd." The interviewer says: "So you have non-lethals, but you just did not respond?" He replies: "We don't have non-lethals." The violence in Kenosha began on Tuesday after the 8pm curfew went into effect. The curfew had been introduced the day before, in response to the violent unrest following the Sunday afternoon shooting of Mr Blake. Mr Blake's family appealed for calm on Tuesday afternoon, and yet protesters still gathered outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, firing fireworks at officers stationed there to protect the building. At around 9:20pm military vehicles entered the area around the courthouse, firing tear gas. At about 10pm approximately 70 police in riot gear arrived outside the courthouse and formed a line in front of the building, having pushed the protesters back. Kenosha An hour or so later protesters were pushed back towards Sheridan Road, where law enforcement in armored vehicles were waiting. At the gas station nearby, armed militia had gathered to "protect" the property. Around 11:45pm police were called and gunfire was reported. Social media reports say the a white man, identified by the Washington Post as Ben, was chased by a white gunman across the forecourt of a used car sales center, next to a gas station. The gunman shot the other man in the head, then ran away. As the gunman - now believed to be Rittenhouse - runs away, he is chased by protesters, and is heard on the phone saying "I just killed somebody". One protester karate kicks him, and a second hits him with a skateboard, and the gunman is knocked to the floor. The gunman then begins wildly firing, from the floor, shooting the skateboarder in the chest. One man has his arm almost entirely blown off by the gunfire. Directly following the second shooting, a group of police vehicles advances upon the crowd. Rittenhouse walks toward them and can be seen alternately putting his hands up and touching his gun. As he approaches, the vehicles drive away and Rittenhouse gives them a slight wave. Someone in the crowd shouts: "Hey, he just shot them," as Rittenhouse advances and then disappears. The two injured men were both carried by protesters to Froedtert Kenosha Hospital - the same hospital where Mr Blake was taken on Sunday. At 2am on Wednesday, Sheriff David Beth confirmed to Kenosha News that there had been one fatality, and the death toll was updated shortly before dawn. Rittenhouse was charged at approximately 12:30pm local time in Kenosha and an extradition hearing will be held to send him from Illinois to neighboring Wisconsin. On Facebook, Rittenhouse, with his AR-15 style gun in American Flag slippers. Several of his photos on Facebook were set on the background of Blue Lives Matter flags and insignia. One photo of him from 2017 shows him dressed as a safety cadet, a program for youths interested in law enforcement, at Target. The photo has since been removed. His Instagram also has a Blue Lives Matter backdrop, but was set to private on Wednesday. Mr Beth, the sheriff, said they had brought in reinforcements from all across the state of Wisconsin to deal with the unrest. He said $300,000 damage was done to the justice complex on the first night alone, and said the building was being protected because it contained prisoners, who could not be easily evacuated in case of arson. "In Kenosha, we are not accustomed to riots," he said. "Molotov cocktails were being thrown, and then we did use tear gas to disperse the crowd. It's not something we wanted to do, but we had to do it." Mr Beth said "many" were arrested on Tuesday night for violating the 8pm curfew. He said the curfew for Wednesday night was being brought back to 7pm, and would remain in place until Sunday. "We will gladly protect the protesters until then," he said. "It will help us disperse the crowds in daylight. We find that after dark we have many more issues with violence and things that go on." Mr Beth said "a lot of protesters come for the show". He said, while many were legitimate, others came from outside the area "with no desire to protest." "One of the invitations on social media looked like a party invitation - come, bring your backpacks with molotov cocktails and whatever else," he said. "Some people think I should deputise, and have these people out there. "What a scary thought that is. Part of the problem is that they create confrontation. "It doesn't help us." Asked why the gunman was allowed to flee, the sheriff said it was a chaotic situation, describing the drama as "non stop". "In situations of high stress, you get incredible tunnel vision." Asked if he was part of a militia, Sheriff Beth said: "I don't know. I don't even know his name." John Antaramian, mayor of Kenosha, described it as "a devastating time for the community". He condemned the violence, looting and arson, and demanded that it end. "Kenosha is a community that, in the long run, will recover," he said. But it will take time, it will take healing, and require us to reach out to all parties of the community." Matt Morgan Danielle Fuentes Morgan with her brother Carlos Fuentes A Black assistant professor at a Northern California university is speaking out after she says a visit from her brother went terribly wrong when campus safety officers followed him to her university-owned house and "harassed" her and her family. Danielle Fuentes Morgan tells PEOPLE she's struggling to move past Saturday's incident involving her brother Carlos Fuentes and the campus safety officers at Santa Clara University, where she has worked since September 2016. "It's been overwhelming. How do you move forward from this incident?" she says. "How can I begin to feel comfortable when I return to campus, or even just existing in my home, knowing that these officers know my name, my face, my address and see me now as a troublemaker at best?" "Additionally, my brother was only in town for the weekend, so now he's gone," she adds. "Our entire time together was consumed by this incident, and I'm not sure when we will feel it's safe to see each other again. It's devastating." Morgan, 36, first opened up about the encounter with campus safety in a lengthy Twitter thread on Saturday, explaining that her brother, 32, came to visit her at SCU after eight months apart due to the coronavirus pandemic. With a work meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Fuentes headed to SCU's "beautiful" campus across the street, which Morgan noted is "specifically designed so that students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to work outside." But as he sat there with his books and computer, Morgan said campus security approached him and "told him to move along." Matt Morgan Danielle Fuentes Morgan Morgan said Fuentes complied and moved toward the street an area Morgan said "he thought was no longer on campus" but the security officers insisted, again, that he leave the university and eventually had four patrol cars show up at the scene. Story continues As Fuentes made his way to his sister's home, Morgan said the officers followed him. By the time he arrived, Morgan recalled opening the door to her apologetic brother, who said "they're demanding you come out and vouch for me." "I, of course, knew exactly who 'they' were," Morgan wrote. "When I came out, the officer very aggressively demanded to see my campus ID 'to prove you are who he says you are and that you actually live here.'" While inside, Morgan got her ID and her husband, who is white. She said the couple made their way back to the officer and continued to be questioned about whether they lived there, while her husband argued that Morgan was not required to show any ID. Eventually, Morgan claimed on Twitter, "I asked what the issue was and he said my brother was 'in the bushes' and it was 'suspicious' and they thought he may have been homeless. I asked why I needed to show ID at my own home. He said 'Well, it's not your home. The University owns it.'" A staff member with SCU's Campus Safety tells PEOPLE, "Since the time of COVID and shut-down of the university campus, we've had a tremendous increase in the number of homeless folks that have come through campus." "The area that they were talking about is a place where the homeless go to hang out," the staffer adds. "It is not a bench in front of the library on campus it is a secluded, dirt area off the front of campus where there is a ton of vegetation that separates the view of campus to this area." Danielle Fuentes Morgan RELATED: Dallas Doctor Reflects on Being Treated as a 'Hero' in His Scrubs But 'Hated in a Hoodie' While the overall encounter up to that point was troubling for Morgan, she tells PEOPLE that being told it was not her home was the most heart-wrenching part of it. "It was a petty statement that demonstrated the officers' desire for me to know my place, or in this case, my placelessness," she says. "They wanted my brother and me to know that we didn't belong here, that there was no safe space for us, that our bodily autonomy was irrelevant, or perhaps that it didn't exist." In her Twitter thread, Morgan argued to the officers that she "was one of 7 Black faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences and that our student body population is 2% Black. I told them that the anti-Blackness they espouse and practice is part of the reason why." She also said her husband came to her defense, claiming that the officers "don't harass anyone white on campus, ever" and pointed out that their neighbors some of whom came outside during the incident were not treated in the same manner. "My husband asked what, to their mind, we should do to not be harassed and followed," Morgan recalled. "They said 'Stay in open spaces.' That answer is unclear and insufficient." In the wake of the incident, SCU's President Kevin O'Brien S.J issued a letter to the campus community, where he apologized to Morgan and her family. The note also included measures that would be taken, including an independent investigation, putting the officers on administrative leave and a review of SCU's practices and policies. "To Professor @mos_daf and her family: I am deeply sorry for the hurtful incident that happened today," he wrote in a tweet. "No work is more important than our efforts to realize a more inclusive, welcoming and safe campus where all are respected and valued." At this point, they told us they didn't have any guns on them, so my brother wasn't in danger. I was aghast that they explained he wasn't in danger because they weren't armed, not because he wasn't a threat or because they wouldn't hurt him, but because they COULDN'T. (16/n) Danielle Fuentes Morgan (@mos_daf) August 22, 2020 In a statement to PEOPLE, SCU's Campus Safety staffer mentions its "very diverse team" and the investigation. "I look forward to the outcome that's going to vindicate what this situation was," the staffer says. "It was us asking somebody who was not supposed to be on campus to move along and that person moved along to a university house that we had to, at least, make sure that person was connected to that house." "When the facts come out, it will paint a different picture," he adds. "This isn't to take away from [Morgan's] feelings or emotions of past events and things that have happened in her life, but that's not this case. We're not those folks." However, in an additional statement provided to PEOPLE after this story was published, a spokesperson of SCU says, "The statements made by a staff member of SCU Campus Safety were not authorized and do not reflect the University's position. We have initiated an investigation. Regardless of the outcome of that investigation, we would like to reiterate our apology to Professor Morgan and her family. They are beloved and valued members of the community." As for Morgan, she says she's feeling unsure about her safety on campus but is speaking out in hopes that the experience "opens up broader conversations on campuses across the country about racism and the role of policing." "This isn't just a Santa Clara issue; this is a national disgrace," she says. "When will Black and brown students be made to feel safe and protected on campuses? When will Black and brown faculty and students?" "I never come to campus alone at night for fears that I'll be asked to prove I belong," she adds. "I don't know when I'll feel comfortable returning. It's a terrible feeling." To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations: Campaign Zero (joincampaignzero.org) which works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies. ColorofChange.org works to make government more responsive to racial disparities. National Cares Mentoring Movement (caresmentoring.org) provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond. Azucarera del Norte S.A. de C.V (Azunosa), an Honduran agro-industrial company that produces and distributes sugar, has donated 3,200 food parcels, which were distributed among cane cutting personnel, permanent and temporary employees, both direct and outsourced as a gesture of unity, solidarity and in gratitude for their hard work in these times of crisis during the Covid19 pandemic. It has also supported the efforts made by communities and local authorities to prevent the spread of COVID19. El Progreso, Yoro. Honduras., Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Support to Employees Azunosa, as a socially responsible company, is equipping all its employees with Personal Protection Biosecurity Equipment and implemented security protocols for the prevention of Covid19. One of the measures was directly to benefit their workforce and their families by providing enough food parcels totaling 2,100 food parcels as well as necessary household items such as disinfectants and toilet paper. Despite the limitations caused by the Covid-19 emergency, the company has continued to operate. Since the onset of the pandemic Azunosa worked for 150 uninterrupted days of hard work until the end of the harvest season. The 2019-2020 was the 42nd harvest in the history of the mill. It is a joint effort that arises from the planting and harvesting of sugar cane with agricultural labor, transportation, processing of sugar cane and its distribution. During each harvest Azunosa produces more than 2,000 jobs, having operations in 11 municipalities in the Sula Valley, a very wide area of land in Honduras. We are working for Honduras, it is our mission and commitment to continue operating, maintaining the highest standards and health protocols, to guarantee the supply of our product in Honduran homes. As a company, we are taking all the necessary biosecurity measures while making an investment of more than $ 50,000.00 destined for social aid expressed Mr. Fabian Kafie, member of the Board of Azunosa. Story continues Supporting the Community As part of its social actions, Azunosa has maintained an active participation by delivering more than 1,100 food parcels in 52 communities located in 11 municipalities in the Sula Valley, adjacent to the plantations and the sugar mill site. The donation was made through the leaders of the boards of trustees of each community, who appreciated the support in these times of quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Supporting local authorities The company has also joined the effort of the local and national authorities, supporting at the municipal level with logistics, equipment and personnel in fumigation and disinfection of entrances and exits to the cities, donation of sugar with vitamin A to include in the food baskets for low-income individuals, provision of biosafety equipment (masks, gloves, digital thermometers) for personnel in tasks such as the armed forces and police, as well as logistical support consisting of food and fuel. As a company, we have a high level of commitment to our employees, surrounding communities and our country, only by joining efforts will we succeed in creating a safer and healthier community concluded Mr. Kafie. Health and Workplace security during COVID19 In order to provide safe workspaces and guarantee the physical and mental well-being of employees, Azunosa has made significant investments in training and biosecurity equipment for the emergency due to COVID-19. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) All the actions undertaken by Azunosa contribute to the fulfillment of the SDGs, specifically SDG N1 that contributes to eradicating poverty and SDG8 that refers to work and economic growth. Likewise, to guarantee food safety, Azunosa has ISO 22000 certification that assures the quality and safety of food in all its process and throughout the entire food chain. For more information: https://bit.ly/2ZMyprb Attachment CONTACT: alejandro.ochoa@lufussa.com Azunosa alejandro.ochoa@lufussa.com Actor and philanthropist Gary Sinises charitable foundation is offering respite to Boston firefighters. The foundation has gifted over US$380,000 to a Boston nonprofit for the purpose of buying and installing industrial-grade washing machines so that city firefighters can easily clean and dry their gear on-site. Gary Sinise attends the premiere of Lionsgates I Still Believe at ArcLight Hollywood in Hollywood, Calif., on March 7, 2020. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) The generous donation will cover the cost of 10 washing machines and 32 drying cabinets at fire stations across the city, reported Boston Globe. Phillip Skrabut, a Dorchester firefighter and treasurer of the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation, told the outlet that the new equipment will be able to wash and dry multiple suits in mere hours. Washing the gear serves two purposes, Skrabut said. First, it gets dirt and soot off the gear, which wears down material and can cause the outer shell to rip and tear. That can cause a burn injury to the firefighter. The other is to get toxins and carcinogens out of gear, which soaks through the gear and into our skin, Skrabut added. This exposure to cancer-promoting chemicals is an occupational hazard that increases all firefighters risk of contracting cancer later in life. According to the Boston Relief Fund, 27 firefighters under the age of 70 died from cancer between the years 2012 and 2017; these statistics are alarming and require action, the report stated. Boston firefighter uniform. (eskystudio/Shutterstock) At present, Boston fire stations hire outside contractors to wash and dry their specialized firefighting attire. The turnover can take days, meaning firefighters often end up reusing dirty suits and exposing themselves to harmful chemicals when a call comes in, the report said. Extolling the virtues of the new on-site washing machines, Skrabut said that once installed the system will be able to turn a dirty suit into a clean suit in under an hour. Skrabut said that the donation worth over US$380,000 has contributed toward an already immense relationship between the Boston Fire Department and the Gary Sinise Foundation. Gary Sinise, 65, became a household name after playing the role of double-amputee Vietnam War veteran Lt. Dan Taylor in the 1994 blockbuster Forrest Gump. The iconic actor has since worked closely with military personnel and is a vocal advocate for the U.S. Armed Forces. Gary Sinise talks with a WWII veteran backstage at the 25th National Memorial Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol West Lawn in Washington on May 25, 2014. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images) The legendary star founded his California-based charity, the Gary Sinise Foundation, in 2011. Its mission is to champion military personnel and their families and to fund programs and support services for veterans and first responders nationwide. In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, the Gary Sinise Foundation stepped up in support of the enormous effort being made by front line workers across the country. The donation to Bostons fire stations is not the first significant sum the foundation has gifted to the fire service. In March, the charity sent a grant for decontamination units to Lumberton Fire & EMS in Hardin County, Texas. The units were installed in both the fire station and in the departments ambulances to reduce the risk of transmitting the highly contagious CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Gary Sinise Foundations CEO, retired Air Force General Robin Rand, justified the charitys philanthropic response to the pandemic by posting on its website: [I]t is of the utmost importance to prioritize the health and safety of our nations defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, everyone who supports our noble mission, and the public at large. At this time, first responders are among those indispensable to the safety of our nation, Rand said. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc The Lord Padmanabha Swamy temple here opened for devotees on Wednesday morning adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols. The temple had not allowed worshippers inside since March 21 in view of the pandemic. As many as 200 devotees offered worship this morning, temple sources said. Floor markings had been made for devotees to ensure social distancing. Congress MLA V D Satheeshan, who had moved the no confidence motion against the Pinarayi Vijayan government on August24was among those who offered worship to Lord Vishnu, the presiding deity. Those wishing to offer prayers have to book for darshan online through the temple website www.spst.in, a day ahead of their visit to the shrine and keep a copy of the same and carry their original Aadhar card along with them during the temple visit. A counter has been set up at the North gate from where the devotees have to enter and they have to enter their details in a register, the sources said. Pilgrims were allowed to enter through spot bookings also after verification of their aadhar cards. Only 35 devotees would be allowed inside the shrine at each point of time with a maximum of 665 visitors a day. However, those over 60 and children less than 10 years of age have been barred entry. The darshan is from 8 am to 11am and from 5 pm to deeparadhana around 6.45 pm. (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 woman, who remained anonymous, said she made complaints against two male employees during her time at the company one man was given a warning and the other was promoted. After speaking up, I was bullied, victimised and ultimately silenced. Former AMP worker The woman described harassment that included receiving sexually explicit photographs, emails expressing a desire to have sex with her, constant and public propositioning, being groped by a senior colleague and another rubbing his genitals on her at a work function. "Finally and, in my experience, most egregiously, my direct manager threatened to end my career if I did not follow his sexual wishes while alone with him on a work trip." "In this last experience, I felt in fear of my physical safety." The woman said she requested an internal resolution, seeking an apology and removal from the perpetrator's work area, as well as coverage of legal and medical costs and sexual harassment training for the organisation. "Like Julia Szlakowski, my experience warranted an independent investigation, except that in my case an internal lawyer undertook this so-called independent work." Senior lawyers have raised questions over the independence of AMP's report into sexual harassment against former employee Ms Szlakowski after AMP refused to release key documents related to the investigation. Senator Deborah O'Neill aired the former AMP worker's testimony using parliamentary privilege. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The woman said she was placed on medical leave and suffered from trauma and anxiety, depression and insomnia. "I was explicitly and repeatedly told that I was not allowed to speak to anyone about the matter. The friend and colleague that I asked to accompany me to the first meeting was told they would be terminated if they spoke a word about the matter and that they were not allowed to accompany me again. "The man on the leadership team who was well known for his uninvited caressing of younger female employees suddenly stepped in to manage the investigation and subsequent communication with me. "I was treated like a criminal." AMP's investigation found the woman was "the victim and not the guilty" and she was offered another job under the same manager, according to the woman. She said she was given five days to sign a non-disclosure agreement, "or lose my job". "I am almost certain that this was illegal. I had run out of funds to pay my lawyers and I was physically and psychologically destroyed, so I signed." She said she was demoted to a photocopying role after the complaint's investigation was concluded and continued to be required to attend meetings with the man who harassed her. "I discovered that my harasser had told others I was dismissed from his area due to performance issues, which was untrue. Instead of having a new beginning, I paid penance for speaking up." Instead of having a new beginning, I paid penance for speaking up. AMP whistleblower The woman ended up leaving AMP and said the experience destroyed her career and mental health: "My time at AMP changed me from an optimistic, ambitious professional to a shadow. Loading "It ended my career in finance and resulted in irrevocable long-term damage to me that I carry every day." In her testimony, she said bullying and sexual harassment was systematic. "At AMP, the gatekeepers have until now continued to enable a system where women and the most vulnerable, as I once was, are abused." Senator O'Neill was contacted at 7am on Wednesday morning by AMP's director of public policy Alastair Kinloch claiming he was appalled by the behaviour described. The issue has been escalated to AMP chief executive Francesco De Ferrari and new chair Debra Hazelton. What on Earth? (Science at 9) Experts discover evidence of an abandoned ghost town in the wilderness and its mysterious link to an American military plan to battle zombies. The Western nations were pushing for accountability for war crimes, the United Nations Human Rights Commission was on Sri Lankas case, Sri Lankas debt to China was rising, and China was being granted more and more concessions by the government headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa. by R K Radhakrishnan Mahinda Rajapaksas resurgence has smothered the hopes and aspirations of the Tamils and signals the beginning of an era that is not in Indias best interests. The process of doing something all over again can be terrifying for some, especially for a minority group that had made some progress on its demands and was hopeful of an equitable future in a majoritiarian milieu. Regardless of who the northern Tamils in Sri Lanka voted for, this was their state of mind when the country woke up on August 6 to an era of a one-party, one-family rule for the foreseeable future. The results of the parliamentary elections declared that day marked the end of the Tamil peoples hopes and aspirations for a just and equitable political solution, and forced them to accept a new reality of living in Sri Lanka as second-class citizens. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksas party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), was voted to power with a massive two-thirds majority. The era when the liberal Colombo elite ran Sri Lanka was not just history; it does not seem to have a chance of staging a comeback. Instead, hardcore nationalists from the deep south of the Sinhala heartland are handling the levers of power. The Sinhala-Buddhist administrative-spiritual complex that was in charge from 2005 to 2014 will be resurrected. In short, the Sri Lankan state has changed its basic character, and that change happened in the course of a democratic exercise. This fits in with the narrative of right-wing resurrection in several parts of the world. In fact, the new rulers of the country have proclaimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one of their models (the Chinese Communist Party being the other). In the new Parliament of 2020, the parties that had held sway since the countrys independence are no longer represented in any significant measure. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is a pale shadow of its former self; the United National Party (UNP) was decimated, winning just one seat and securing just 2 per cent of the votes. The UNPs breakaway faction, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), won 24 per cent of the votes and bagged 54 seats. The SJB is now the second largest party in Parliament. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which won just 10 seats, will have to share the Tamil space with other parties, including ultra-nationalist parties and also those supporting the SLPP. The TNA is no longer the sole representative of northern Tamils. This new dawn was scripted by a Sinhala-majoritarian political party, the SLPP, whose leaders, in an earlier avatar, were notorious for human rights violations during the debilitating war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that ended in 2009. The Tamils were at the receiving end of this war, caught between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army, which progressed by culling anyone standing in its path. In his analysis of the Sri Lankan elections, Alan Keenan, senior consultant, International Crisis Group, said: The explicitly pro-Sinhala and anti-minority rhetoric of the SLPPs campaign, the Rajapaksas demonstrated commitment to centralised and authoritarian rule and the comprehensive defeat of the political voices supporting a more liberal, pluralist and tolerant vision of Sri Lanka, together threaten to entrench a more dangerously intolerant form of majoritarianism than Sri Lanka has seen before. Post-war scenario By 2013, the people of Sri Lanka were fed up with the countrys situation because of the economic slump, the lack of any clear direction of the polity, and the excesses of the Ministers and their children. The Western nations were pushing for accountability for war crimes, the United Nations Human Rights Commission was on Sri Lankas case, Sri Lankas debt to China was rising, and China was being granted more and more concessions by the government headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa. The media were gagged and made pliable, while opponents of the regime mysteriously disappeared in white vans; the Rajapaksas controlled a large part of the budget and government departments; many others just fled the country. Those who harboured political ambitions were ruthlessly cut down to size. In fact, the war-time Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Gen. Sarath Fonseka, was imprisoned. It was a perfect storm of all these negative factors that resulted in politicians from warring combines coming together to defeat the Rajapaksas. National unity govt In 2015, a new government of national unityformed by the SLFP minus the Rajapaksas and the UNP, and supported by the TNAtook charge after the Mahinda Rajapaksa faction of the SLFP met with a shock defeat. Two factors that made this possible: the coming together of two important politicians, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithripala Sirisena, and the surreptitious work put in ahead of the combination announcing its intention to join hands publicly. India was the adhesive for this combine. However, India and the government in Sri Lanka squandered away the gains. Both Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena underwent humiliations that differed only in scale. Ranil saw his party being broken and nearly finished in his own lifetime and he was also defeated in the election. Sirisena returned to the Mahinda faction and is not even a Minister in the new Cabinet. Indias role Before the 2015 presidential elections, the Sri Lankan government made the sensational claim that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer posted in Colombo was interfering in the Sri Lankan elections. This forced India to recall the officer. After he was defeated, Mahinda Rajapaksa too made the charge that India had defeated him. Also, after the change of government in Sri Lanka, the RAW and the government of India did not forcefully counter articles in the media that the RAW had engineered the change in Sri Lanka. After the new Sri Lankan government assumed office in 2015, the Indian engagement was evident from the high-level exchanges, the request for help in various forms and the Indian pledges to help Sri Lanka emerge as a strong, democratic country and a reliable ally of India. The officials responsible for guiding this new direction, on the Indian side, were many. Critical among those were Indias then Foreign Secretary, S. Jaishankar, who assumed office in January 2015, and was mainly responsible for guiding strategic interests along with National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. The brief for the Indian side was to help the Sri Lankan government in its endeavours to establish an inclusive government, and ensure that the Indian interests were served. The Sri Lankan government went about the first part with a great sense of purpose in the initial yearsthat of establishing a Constituent Assembly to discuss the Tamil question and arrive at a lasting solution to the political aspirations of the Tamils. The second related to Chinese projects in Sri Lanka. Most Western powers, and India were alarmed at the rise in Chinese investments in Sri Lanka, and almost all the governments, including India, had brought this issue to the fore in their discussions with the Sri Lankans. This has been repeatedly been discussed and debated in the media and elsewhere too. Initially, even before he assumed office as Prime Minister, Ranil had stated that all Chinese projects would be reviewed. But soon after he came to power, he changed tack. From the public reactions of the Indian diplomats at that time, it is clear that this issue was not taken up with the Sri Lankan authorities with the seriousness it deserved. Western diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they were of the opinion that too much pressure on a government at that time was not needed; and could even end up being counterproductive. The second issue related to prosecuting the Rajapaksas, who, the ruling combine claimed, had amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income, and have stashed it away in foreign countries. This was an election campaign slogan, and was also the crucial preoccupation of the government during its first year in office. Sri Lanka realised that it did not have trained manpower or equipment to conduct the sophisticated audits required to pull this off. One Sri Lankan official said that this was not a major issue. Since many developed economies had this capability, all it was needed for the Sri Lankan government to do was to ask any of these governments for help. Another source confirmed that this training was indeed imparted to Sri Lankan personnel. But, according to a diplomat from a South Asian nation who was stationed in Colombo at the time, despite some noise the prosecution of the Rajapaksas did not proceed with the required sense of purpose. Also, India and Japan were to develop Colombo ports east terminal. As much as 70 per cent of the capacity of the Colombo port is used by Indian exporters and importers. Even if India suddenly decides that it will no longer use the Colombo port for its export/import needs, there is no comparable port in India right now to take on the volumes handled by Colombo. In this sense, India is still dependent on the Colombo port, despite the fact that it is China which is operating a large part of the new terminals. The East terminal development is now in cold storage. This decision was hanging fire even before the Ranil-Sirisena government came to power. India also wanted control over the Mattala Airport, the worlds emptiest airport, built on the grand premise that it would help in the development of the impoverished south. The negotiations over this airport too dragged on for over five years. Recently, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared that he would not part with such important strategic assets to any other country. India also wanted the Sri Lankan government to desist from handing over control of the Hambantota port to China, and also requested it to expedite the handover to the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation, the oil tanks in Trincomalee. Indian demands on both these counts have not been fulfilled. The price to be paid for five years of inaction and lack of appropriate action will be steep. India will know this once the Rajapaksas settle in. Maryland has levied six-figure fines against three nursing homes in Montgomery County for infection control deficiencies that inspectors say placed residents in "immediate jeopardy" during the coronavirus pandemic. Collingswood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and Potomac Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, both in Rockville, were penalized $275,000 and $120,000, respectively, following covid-19 surveys conducted by state inspectors in June, according to documents released to The Washington Post. Kensington Healthcare Center was fined $294,000 following an inspection in July. All three facilities were faulted for failing to properly isolate potentially contagious residents, including new admissions. At Potomac Valley, one patient died after a nurse allegedly failed to provide basic life support, inspectors said. At least 78 residents from the three facilities have died of covid-19 since the spring, according to state data, and more than 270 have been infected. The facilities could have Medicaid and Medicare funding for new admissions suspended for a period of time and be barred for two years from operating training programs for nurse aides, inspectors warned. The penalties, included in inspection reports and letters released to The Post by the Maryland Office of Health Care Quality, are among the most serious actions taken against nursing homes in Maryland since the start of the pandemic. "The regulatory and quality of care violations outlined and alleged in these state documents are gravely serious, and extremely concerning," said Joseph DeMattos, president and chief executive of the Health Facilities Association of Maryland. "Some of the violations are related to covid-19 and some are not. And while these centers have the right to appeal, we all have a sacred obligation to work with federal, state leaders and others to ensure the quality and safe care of our loved ones." Family members of residents who contracted the virus at these facilities said the inspection reports confirmed what they had suspected for months. "Downright negligence - they did not protect their patients," said Mike Sheppard, whose mother, Lorraine Sheppard, died from covid-19 three weeks after moving into Potomac Valley in April. Lisa Jacobi, whose father-in-law Robert Jacobi also died soon after being admitted to Potomac Valley, said the $120,000 fine "feels like nothing, like a slap on the wrist and nothing else." Like other states across the country, Maryland struggled for months to contain the spread of the virus in long-term care settings. As of this week, nearly 15,000 staff and residents at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have tested positive for coronavirus. Two thousand have died of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, which is more than half of the state's death toll from the pandemic. Maryland was sharply rebuked by the Trump administration earlier this month for lagging behind other states in nursing home inspections. In May, Sagepoint Senior Living in La Plata, the site of one of the state's worst nursing home outbreaks, was fined $320,000, though the company has said that it is contesting the punishment. In June, more than two dozen other nursing homes were ordered to pay several hundred dollars each for failing to report covid-19 information to the state. But fines exceeding $100,000 have been rare in the state - and in neighboring Virginia and D.C. As of Aug. 14, all 226 nursing homes in Maryland had been inspected, officials said. Of 100 facilities surveyed from June 21 to Aug. 16, 75 were in compliance with state and federal requirements and 22 were cited with deficiencies but not fined. The remaining three were Potomac Valley, Collingswood and Kensington Healthcare. At Potomac Valley, a 175-bed facility owned by Vita Healthcare Group, staff members failed to properly isolate residents who had contracted the coronavirus and sometimes took days to inform family members that their loved ones had tested positive, surveyors said. During an incident in mid-June, attending nurses at the facility "failed to perform basic life support" for a resident who died, inspectors said. The registered nurse realized the resident had become unresponsive during an overnight shift, the report said. The nurse was "hollering" out for help but received no assistance. Later, inspectors found no documented evidence that the nurse performed CPR for the resident or called 911 for support. Potomac Valley employees told The Post in May and July that the facility has been severely short-staffed, affecting their ability to care for patients. Even as the virus took hold and spread to more than half of the people who lived at the facility, Potomac Valley continued to admit new patients. At least five newly admitted patients contracted the virus there, and three of them died, The Post reported last month. Administrator Kathryn Heflin said in a statement Wednesday that the safety of residents has been the facility's top priority, and that all problems cited by the health department "were immediately rectified. In addition, we have taken additional measures to reinforce the safety education regularly provided." Collingswood, where more than 40 residents have died from the coronavirus, also continued to take in new residents from March to June, The Post reported. As late as June, the state report said, administrators did not have an effective plan to adequately isolate new residents or symptomatic residents, even though federal guidance on the importance of doing so had been released three months prior. From April to June, at least eight new residents were admitted "in a manner inconsistent with published guidance," causing some to be exposed to and contract covid-19, inspectors found. Collingswood administrator Jenelle Onyenemezu said the facility "is committed to the effective care of our residents as well as compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements." She added that the company is filing an appeal against the state's findings. At Kensington Healthcare, which has 140 beds, surveyors found that at least seven residents were at risk of contracting the coronavirus because of a failure to properly separate patients who had tested positive from those who were negative or whose status was unknown. Surveyors also reported that the facility failed to isolate new admissions whose covid-19 status was not known. Fred Stratmann, a spokesman for Kensington's parent company, CommuniCare, said the facility is considering whether to pay or contest the fine. He acknowledged that employees struggled to manage a crisis that rapidly escalated after 50 residents tested positive within a matter of days. A total of 66 soldiers serving their jail sentences in the Nigeria Correctional Service facility, Kirikiri in Lagos have challenged their continued incarceration by filing suits at the Federal High Court in Lagos. In three separate suits filed through Falana & Falana Chambers on August 18, the soldiers listed the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Jaafaru Ahmed, as first and second respondents respectively. The soldiers complained that the defendants have refused to include them among beneficiaries of the amnesty granted by President Muhammadu Buhari in April when he ordered the decongestion of prisons to curb the spread of COVID-19. Nigeria has so far recorded over 51,000 cases of the infection across the 36 states and FCT. While announcing the criteria for the pardon, Mr Aregbesola disclosed that those considered were inmates who were 60 years old and above, and those battling terminal illnesses. Others include convicts serving three years and lower who have less than six months to serve, those with mental health issues, and inmates with options of fines not exceeding N50,000 and who have no pending case. According to Mr Aregbesola, the amnesty did not apply to inmates sentenced for violent extreme offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, and culpable homicide. Since states were directed to work out measures for decongestion, some state governments, including Osun and Kwara, added inmates who had served 75 per cent of their jail terms as beneficiaries. Although this category of inmates was not expressly listed by the minister, the NCS, which is supervised by Mr Aregbesolas ministry, included convicted pregnant women, convicted women with children, convicted inmates with minor offences and convicted inmates who spent 75 per cent of their sentence after remission. Suit The 66 convicted soldiers sought an order for the respondents to release them in compliance with the Presidential Amnesty granted on April 9, 2020, by President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pursuant to Prerogative of Mercy under Section 175 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended). Also, they prayed the court to direct the duo to pay them N20 million each as compensation for the violation of their fundamental rights to personal liberty. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had earlier written Mr Aregbesola, requesting the release of the soldiers, who he said have remained in prison custody despite qualifying for the amnesty. In three separate letters to Mr Aregbesola, Mr Falana said the soldiers, who were convicted and had served more than 75 per cent of their time, had remained in custody According to the application of August 18, 35 of the convicted soldiers were tried before a General Court-Martial on a six-count charge, including mutiny and attempted murder. At the end of the trial, they were convicted and sentenced to death in a judgment delivered in December 2014. It was stated that upon a review of the case, the confirming authority upheld their conviction but commuted the death sentence to 10 years imprisonment. Since the convicted soldiers are entitled to remission of the 10-year jail term they are required to spend a total of 80 months in prison custody. From August 2014 to May 2020 the Applicants have spent over 64 months in custody. Thus, the Applicants have spent over 75% of their prison term. Mr Falana noted that one of the 35, Stephen Clement, a corporal, was released from prison custody on April 28 on the ground that he had spent more than 75 per cent of his 10-year prison term in line with the terms of the Presidential Amnesty of April 9, 2020. Also qualified for the amnesty, according to the lawyer, is another set of 19 soldiers who were tried before a General Court-Martial on a six-count charge and sentenced to death in a judgment delivered in December 2014. Similar to the 35, upon a review of the case, the confirming authority upheld the conviction but commuted the death sentence to 10 years imprisonment. Since the convicted soldiers are entitled to remission of the 10-year jail term, Mr Falana said they are required to spend a total of 80 months in prison custody. From August 2014 to May 2020 the Applicants have spent over 64 months in custody. Thus, the Applicants have spent over 75% of their prison term, the lawyer argued for the convicts. Unlike the other two categories, 12 soldiers, including Yusuf Shuaibu, Friday Onuh, Igomu Emmanuel and Stephen Clement, all lance corporals; were sentenced to death between August and September 2014. Advertisements PREMIUM TIMES reported how the soldiers had in May 2014 revolted by opening fire at a car carrying the General Officer commanding of the armys 7 Division in Maiduguri, Borno State. Meanwhile, they were granted a remission of 10 years imprisonment after a review of their death sentence. Arguing their qualification for the amnesty, Mr Falana stated that from August 2014 to May 2020, the 12 have spent over 67 months in custody. Thus, the Applicants have spent over 80% of their prison term. Oil eked out a gain following a choppy trading session as traders eyed declining U.S. stockpiles and expected weaker demand from the shutdown of Gulf Coast refineries ahead of Hurricane Laura. Domestic crude inventories fell nearly 5 million barrels last week for a fifth straight week of declines, U.S. government data show, a positive development for a market in which inventories are still at the highest seasonally in decades because of the pandemics demand destruction. Meanwhile, more than 80% of oil output in the Gulf of Mexico and nearly 3 million barrels of a day of refining capacity has been shut ahead of the storms landfall. Overnight, Laura shifted further east and is less likely to significantly disrupt refineries and ports in the Houston area. Theres going to be a drop in crude demand because of pretty healthy shutdowns for refiners, said Bill OGrady, executive vice president at Confluence Investment Management in St. Louis. Plus, you still have this big overhang of inventory. PREVIOUSLY: Oil, gasoline climb to 5-month highs with hurricane nearing Hurricane Laura has strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm and will likely hit the U.S. Gulf Coast early Thursday. Its already forced a wave of refinery shut-ins in Texas and Louisiana, raising concerns that U.S. East Coast gasoline could spike following the storm. Still, gasoline demand in key consuming nations is stuck at about 10% to 15% below year-earlier levels and supplies are plentiful. Even with the storm, gasoline stockpiles are still above normal, said Michael Hiley, head of over-the-counter energy trading at New York-based LPS Futures. At the same time, you also destroy some demand in the region. The storm is also upending flows of oil and products. About 64 crude oil and refined product tankers in the western U.S. Gulf are waiting on Laura to pass, according to ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. U.S. crude imports are dropping steeply this week as ports close and vessels steer away from the storm, according to ClipperData. The EIA report also showed gasoline supplies declined to the lowest since the middle of December and refinery runs rose to the highest since March, signaling an uptick in demand. Thats reflective of the outlook that refiners have of the need for refined products in anticipation of future demand, said Rob Thummel, a portfolio manager at Tortoise. Refineries clearly are seeing the indication that theres a recovery thats underway. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. During a normal Republican convention, Texas political leaders would be in high demand as jockeying begins for the 2024 presidential cycle. Here is a list of some Texas Republicans who have been talked about as potential White House contenders and why. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, 49 Before President Donald Trump won in 2016, Republicans had a bit of a track record of picking the runner-up from the previous cycle as their nominee, a path taken by John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012. Cruz was the runner-up to Trump in 2016 and hasnt been shy in talking about running for the White House again. Last year he told reporters during a breakfast organized by the Christian Science Monitor that he wants to run gain. Related: Rising Republican stars of Texas lose out with virtual RNC Look, I hope to run again, Cruz said. We came very, very close in 2016. And its the most fun Ive ever had in my life. Gov. Greg Abbott, 62 The last two Republican Texas governors have run for the White House and some national political pundits say there is real potential for Abbott to do the same. The Resurgent, a conservative online publication, has put Abbott on a short list of potential White House contenders in 2024, calling him a conservative and charismatic leader. But asked by reporters in 2018 if he had thoughts of running for higher office, Abbott said he did not and quipped: Is there a higher office than governor of the State of Texas? Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, 70 As heirs to the Trump world go, Patrick would seem well positioned given his role as Trumps Texas Chairman for his re-election and conservative bonafides that have made him a regular on Fox News. Patrick also has been a regular adviser to Trump on key issues, including border security. Patrick has shot down rumors that he wanted to join the Trump administration and said hes not interested in a White House bid of his own. I am not leaving Texas, Patrick said during a 2019 speech. And Im never going to run for president. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, 36 It is hard to find a freshman Republican member of Congress who has made such a big splash nationally. The decorated Navy SEAL, who lost his eye in Afghanistan, has already become one of the biggest fundraisers in Congress, has a massive social media following and hosted a political event with former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, which touched off a Twitter hashtag: #HaleyCrenshaw2024. Crenshaw, who has been called the conservative movements future by Time Magazine, is a featured speaker during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night. Despite the circulating rumors, Boris Johnson dismissed that he will be stepping down as the British prime minister. Concerns over his general health spread when he got infected with COVID-19, and many people are questioning if he can still fulfill his duties. A few months ago, Johnson was laid up after catching the bug, but he recovered and immediately resumed his work on Downing Street. Public thought that he might not be 100% fit to work again, and this prompted all the rumors about him stepping down. But despite what has been going around, he assured the public that he will continue to provide his service. Boris also gave the impression that he plans to stay on and will not leave anytime soon, according to the Daily Mail. According to Dominic Cummings, Boris' father-in-law, the coronavirus took its toll on Johnson and he is not as fully recovered as he claims. With enthusiasm and high spirits, Johnson said he was fit and ready for the work ahead. Notwithstanding the politics of Downing Street and the British Parliament, his office sent out a statement to put down such claims and allegations of resigning as nonsense. Sir Humphry Wakefiel, made the statement that Johnson is not planning to leave office. Arrangements could be made to shift power in six months should he do so. Some sources claim that someone on holiday went to Boris' castle located in Northumberland. The individual alleges that the prime minister said that he is still feeling longer-lasting effects of the coronavirus, and resignation may happen soon. A recent speaking engagement at the Appledore shipyard in Devon was his destination. When he was asked about the claims, he shrugged it off, saying its absolute nonsense. Also read: Boris Johnson Stable in ICU: What COVID-19 Drug is Used to Treat Him? To further exlain to his constituents that he is in great fighting form, Boris stressed that he's lost a bit of weight to get healthier. Politician Baronet Sir Humphry, 84, a former soldier and interior designer, has a daughter named Mary wedded to Mr. Cummings. He added during an interview a reference to the Prime Minister as an injured horse and working despite his lasting illnesses, according to the Times. Sources add that Sir Humphry is critical in letting the not so fit-Johnson back on the saddle as PM. He will never recover, which has a myriad of conclusions to his statement. During early April, Johnson stayed more than a week in the hospital while recovering from coronavirus. He also spent some time in intensive care when it got worse, noted BBC. Reports of many survivors of the coronavirus are some leftover effects that pester the system. And it will remain in the body, giving some discomfort but better than the alternative of being in the hospital. When he got the virus in March at the end, it marked the first world leader sick with the virus. With the PM in the intensive care unit, intubation is very dangerous and could have disastrous effects. The hospital that he was treated in London's St. Thomas's Hospital, along with him was Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary who got out earlier. Having two leaders sick worried the British government too, according to New York Times. Related article: Wearing of Face Masks Mandatory in UK As Work Resumes for Coronavirus Protection @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Buyers looking for homes in the Loop, South Loop or Gold Coast have been taking a pause and reconsidering their purchase, Murillo said. And there are more sellers who want out. In recent weeks, Murillo said he has talked with three or four sellers who live downtown and are thinking about moving to the North Shore, to Hinsdale or out of Illinois. The trick in spotting penguins coming ashore is to watch for their white bellies emerging from the surf to the sand. This was the first nugget of golden intel that had more than 771,000 viewers hooked on a live stream of Phillip Island's penguin parade on Tuesday night. As the little penguins waddled across the beach to the rocks, viewers were informed the birds would be feeling safer now, scrambling inland, camouflaged in their dark blue feathers. The penguins are particularly thrilled at the moment that recent rain has left them an ephemeral pond to break up the long walk home, Ranger Skye Nichol told the virtual crowd. Representative image The mayor of Moscow invited residents on August 26 to join trials of a COVID-19 vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month in what officials described as a breakthrough on par with the Soviet Unions launch of the worlds first satellite in 1957. The worlds first vaccine against the COVID-19 to receive a government go-ahead has caused unease among international medical experts, who called Russias fast-tracked approval and failure to share any data supporting claims of the vaccines efficacy a major breach of scientific protocol. Scientists around the world say any widely-used vaccine should first be tested in advanced trials involving tens of thousands of people to prove it is safe and effective before being licensed. In his invitation to the Russian capitals residents, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin appeared to announce those kind of broad studies would be launched soon. He said the post-registration research will last six months and involve 40,000 people. Sobyanin encouraged Moscow residents to sign up, arguing that the vaccine was based on longtime previous research and proven to be safe. 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 We all were eager to see the creation of a vaccine, and now we have it, Sobyanin said. Now, Moscow residents have a unique chance to become the main participants in clinical research that will help defeat the COVID-19. Scientists at the World Health Organization said last week that although they had begun discussions with Russia about its vaccine, they had not yet received any detailed data about it. In announcing the vaccines approval on August 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin said one of his two adult daughters already had been inoculated with it. He said the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and was shown to provide lasting immunity to the COVID-19, although Russian authorities have offered no proof to back up claims of safety or effectiveness. Experts warn that using an untested vaccine that has not yet proven to be safe or effective could ultimately undermine the response to the pandemic and cause more distrust among people about whether or not to be vaccinated. As of August 26, Russia had reported a total of over 970,000 confirmed virus cases and 16,683 deaths. Russian officials have said the vaccine would initially be made available to high-risk groups, including medical workers and teachers before it comes to broad use. The vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow with assistance from Russias Defense Ministry uses a different virus the common cold-causing adenovirus thats been modified to carry genes for the spike protein that coats the COVID-19,as a way to prime the body to recognize if a real COVID-19 infection comes along. That's a similar technology as vaccines being developed by Chinas CanSino Biologics and Britains Oxford University and AstraZeneca but unlike those companies, Russian scientists havent published any scientific information about how the vaccine has performed in animal tests or in early-stage human studies. Putin said one of his daughters has received two doses, and had minor side effects such as slight fever, and was feeling well and has a high number of antibodies. However, many international experts remained skeptical as the experimental shots so far have been tested on just a few dozen people and there's no published scientific evidence backing official claims of its efficiency. The Russian Health Ministry said in a statement on August 25 that the vaccine is expected to provide immunity from the COVID-19 for up to two years, citing its experience with vaccines made with similar technology. Becoming the first country in the world to approve a vaccine was a matter of national prestige for the Kremlin as it tries to assert the image of Russia as a global power. Putin repeatedly praised Russia's effective response to the outbreak in televised addresses to the nation, while some of Moscows top officials including the country's prime minister and Putins own spokesperson became infected. Last month, the US, Britain and Canada accused Russia of using hackers to steal vaccine research from Western labs. Russia has denied involvement. The Kolkata Customs on Wednesday seized 25 antique idols valued at Rs 35.3 crore, which were being smuggled to Bangladesh. A senior customs official of the Preventive Wing said acting on a tip-off, it searched a truck carrying paddy on the night of August 23 and found the antiquities hidden inside. The truck was intercepted in South Dinajpur district, he said. DELAWARE, Ohio, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF, GEF.B), a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, today announced third quarter 2020 results. The Company also reintroduced guidance for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2020. Third Quarter Highlights include (all results compared to the third quarter of 2019 unless otherwise noted): Net income of $20.7 million or $0.35 per diluted Class A share decreased compared to net income of $62.7 million or $1.06 per diluted Class A share. Net income, excluding the impact of adjustments (1) , of $50.1 million or $0.85 per diluted Class A share decreased compared to net income, excluding the impact of adjustments, of $74.7 million or $1.26 per diluted Class A share. Adjusted EBITDA (2) decreased by $44.4 million to $159.4 million . or per diluted Class A share decreased compared to net income of or per diluted Class A share. Net income, excluding the impact of adjustments , of or per diluted Class A share decreased compared to net income, excluding the impact of adjustments, of or per diluted Class A share. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by to . Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by $6.5 million to $135.0 million . Adjusted free cash flow (3) decreased by $0.5 million to $106.6 million . to . Adjusted free cash flow decreased by to . Total debt decreased by $240.9 million to $2,637.6 million . Net debt(4) decreased by $263.6 million to $2,539 .1 million and decreased $70.8 million sequentially from the second quarter of 2020. Pete Watson, Greif's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Our global Greif team executed well during the fiscal third quarter in the face of a challenging operating environment. Financial results were weaker as expected, dragged down by soft industrial conditions around much of our global portfolio and by a significant price/cost squeeze in our paper business. Despite these external challenges to profit, we generated free cash flow essentially flat to the prior year and paid down debt through stronger operating discipline and better working capital performance. Given our strong execution driving cost reduction and operating efficiencies, combined with increased near term visibility of the COVID-19 pandemic volume impacts to the remainder of the fiscal year, we are reintroducing financial guidance ranges." ___________ (1) Adjustments that are excluded from net income before adjustments and from earnings per diluted Class A share before adjustments are gain or loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and business, net, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration related costs, non-cash asset impairment charges, incremental COVID-19 costs, net, debt extinguishment charges, non-cash pension settlement income and tax net expense (benefit) resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Reform Act"). (2) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, plus interest expense, net, plus debt extinguishment charges, plus income tax expense, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, plus restructuring charges, plus acquisition and integration related costs, plus non-cash asset impairment charges, plus incremental COVID-19 costs, net, plus non-cash pension settlement (income) charges, less (gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net. (3) Adjusted free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, less cash paid for purchases of properties, plants and equipment, plus cash paid for acquisition and integration related costs, plus cash paid for debt issuance costs, plus cash paid for incremental COVID-19 costs, net, plus cash paid for acquisition and integration related Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. (4) Net debt is defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents. Note: A reconciliation of the differences between all non-GAAP financial measures used in this release with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included in the financial schedules that are a part of this release. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement and should be read together with our financial results. They should not be considered an alternative or substitute for, and should not be considered superior to, our reported financial results. Accordingly, users of this financial information should not place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial measures. COVID-19 Business Continuity Greif is considered an essential business because we safely package and protect essential goods and materials that serve the greater needs of communities around the world. As a result of that status, all of our global manufacturing facilities continue to operate and we have not experienced any significant production challenges or raw material or supply disruptions. The health and safety of our Greif colleagues remains our first priority. To protect our colleagues, as well as our customers, suppliers and communities, we continue to follow guidelines, protocols and policies issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and local authorities in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we continue to utilize a variety of enhanced safety measures in response to COVID-19, including: conducting temperature screenings for personnel entering our operations; routinely cleaning high-touch surfaces; following social distancing protocols; staggering production teams where needed; prohibiting all non-critical business travel; implementing visitor protocols; and encouraging all colleagues to work from home when possible. Customer Service The Company's consolidated CSI(5) score was 92.8 during the fiscal third quarter 2020 and reached a record high of 92.4 on a trailing four quarter basis. Our long term objective is for each business segment to achieve a CSI score of 95.0 or greater. CSI for the Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services segment was 94.6, which was approximately 5 percent higher compared to the prior year quarter. CSI for the Flexible Products & Services segment was 84.2, which was approximately 10 percent lower compared to the prior year quarter as a result of COVID-19 related delays to product shipments. CSI for the Paper Packaging & Services segment was 92.2, which was approximately 4 percent higher compared to the prior year quarter. Liquidity and Balance Sheet As of July 31, 2020, the Company had $523.3 million of available borrowing capacity(6) under its $800.0 million revolving credit facility. The Company's Euro 200 million notes are due in July of 2021, but otherwise the Company has no other sizable debt maturities due until 2024. Segment Results (all results compared to the third quarter of 2019 unless otherwise noted) Net sales are impacted mainly by the volume of primary products(7) sold, selling prices, product mix and the impact of changes in foreign currencies against the U.S. Dollar. The table below shows the percentage impact of each of these items on net sales for our primary products for the third quarter of 2020 as compared to the prior year quarter for the business segments with manufacturing operations. Net Sales Impact - Primary Products Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services Paper Packaging & Services Flexible Products & Services % % % Currency Translation (2.6) % (0.1) % (1.8) % Volume (11.1) % (1.4) % (3.1) % Selling Prices and Product Mix (1.4) % (4.6) % (2.2) % Total Impact of Primary Products (15.1) % (6.1) % (7.1) % Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services Net sales decreased by $93.6 million to $548.5 million. Net sales excluding foreign currency translation decreased by $79.1 million primarily due to demand softness and lower average sale prices primarily due to contractual price adjustment mechanisms related to raw material price decreases. Gross profit decreased by $12.1 million to $114.4 million. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to the same factors that impacted net sales, partially offset by favorably priced raw materials due to opportunistic sourcing and lower manufacturing costs. Operating profit decreased by $11.8 million to $42.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $5.3 million to $77.5 million primarily due to the same factors that impacted gross profit, partially offset by a reduction in the segment's SG&A expense as well as the segment receiving a smaller portion of allocated corporate costs. Paper Packaging & Services Net sales decreased by $70.7 million to $459.3 million primarily due to approximately $54.0 million of prior year net sales attributable to the divested Consumer Packaging Group business, lower published containerboard and boxboard prices, and lower volumes. During the quarter, the Company took approximately 10,000 tons of economic downtime across its containerboard operations, down 14,000 tons sequentially from the 24,000 tons taken in the second quarter 2020. Gross profit decreased by $45.8 million to $88.9 million. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to the same factors that impacted net sales, higher old corrugated container input costs, and product mix, partially offset by lower manufacturing costs. Operating profit decreased by $49.8 million to $13.3 million. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $39.0 million to $72.0 million primarily due to the same factors that impacted gross profit and the segment receiving a greater portion of allocated corporate costs, partially offset by a reduction in the segment's SG&A expense. Flexible Products & Services Net sales decreased by $5.2 million to $69.3 million. Net sales excluding foreign currency translation decreased by $3.8 million primarily due to continued demand softness and lower average sale prices primarily due to contractual price adjustment mechanisms related to raw material price decreases. Gross profit decreased by $1.7 million to $14.3 million. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to the same factors that impacted net sales, partially offset by favorably priced raw materials due to opportunistic sourcing. Operating profit decreased by $0.9 million to $4.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA decreased $0.2 million to $7.0 million primarily due to the same factors that impacted gross profit, partially offset by a reduction in the segment's SG&A expense. Land Management Net sales decreased by $0.1 million to $5.9 million. Operating profit decreased by $1.2 million to $2.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $0.1 million to $2.9 million. Tax Summary During the third quarter, the Company recorded an income tax rate of 22.3 percent. The Company's tax rate excluding the impact of adjustments was 22.6 percent. The application of FIN 18 frequently causes fluctuations in our quarterly effective tax rates. For fiscal 2020, the Company expects its tax rate to range between 34.0 and 37.0 percent and its tax rate excluding adjustments to range between 26.0 and 29.0 percent. Dividend Summary On August 25, 2020, the Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.44 per share of Class A Common Stock and $0.66 per share of Class B Common Stock. Dividends are payable on October 1, 2020, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 17, 2020. Company Outlook The Company expects the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to create uncertainty in its end markets. The magnitude of the impact will depend on the depth and duration of the crisis, as well as the timing of the recovery in the markets served by the Company. (in millions, except per share amounts) Fiscal 2020 Outlook Reported at Q3 Class A earnings per share before adjustments $3.00 - $3.20 Adjusted free cash flow $260 - $290 Note: 2020 Class A earnings per share and tax rate guidance on a GAAP basis are not provided in this release due to the potential for one or more of the following, the timing and magnitude of which we are unable to reliably forecast: gains or losses on the disposal of businesses, timberland or properties, plants and equipment, net; non-cash asset impairment charges due to unanticipated changes in the business; restructuring-related activities; non-cash incremental COVID-19 costs, net; non-cash pension settlement (income) charges; or acquisition and integration costs, and the income tax effects of these items and other income tax-related events. No reconciliation of the fiscal year 2020 Class A earnings per share before adjustments guidance or tax rate excluding the impact of adjustments guidance, both non-GAAP financial measures which exclude gains and losses on the disposal of businesses, timberland and properties, plants and equipment, non-cash pension settlement (income) charges, acquisition and integration costs, incremental COVID-19 costs, net, restructuring and impairment charges, is included in this release because, due to the high variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections of some of the excluded information, together with some of the excluded information not being ascertainable or accessible, we are unable to quantify certain amounts that would be required to be included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable efforts. A reconciliation of 2020 adjusted free cash flow guidance to forecasted net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is included in this release. (5) Customer satisfaction index (CSI) tracks a variety of internal metrics designed to enhance the customer experience in dealing with Greif. (6) Available borrowing capacity is determined by the lesser of the available capacity on the Company's secured revolving credit facility or the amount which could be borrowed without causing the Company's leverage ratio to exceed 4.5. (7) Primary products are manufactured steel, plastic and fibre drums; new and reconditioned intermediate bulk containers; linerboard, containerboard, corrugated sheets and corrugated containers, boxboard and tube and core products; and 1&2 loop and 4 loop flexible intermediate bulk containers. Conference Call The Company will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter of 2020 results on August 27, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). Participants may access the call using the following online registration link: http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/7477918. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing dial in details and a unique conference call code for entry. Phone lines will open at 8:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will also be available through a live webcast, including slides, which can be accessed at http://investor.greif.com by clicking on the Events and Presentations tab and searching under the events calendar. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website approximately two hours following the call. About Greif Greif is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services and is pursuing its vision: in industrial packaging, be the best performing customer service company in the world. The Company produces steel, plastic and fibre drums, intermediate bulk containers, reconditioned containers, flexible products, containerboard, uncoated recycled paperboard, coated recycled paperboard, tubes and cores and a diverse mix of specialty products. The Company also manufactures packaging accessories and provides filling, packaging and other services for a wide range of industries. In addition, Greif manages timber properties in the southeastern United States. The Company is strategically positioned in over 40 countries to serve global as well as regional customers. Additional information is on the Company's website at www.greif.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "aspiration," "objective," "project," "believe," "continue," "on track" or "target" or the negative thereof and similar expressions, among others, identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, expectations and other information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those forecasted, projected or anticipated, whether expressed or implied. The most significant of these risks and uncertainties are described in Part I of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements have a reasonable basis, the Company can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those forecasted, projected or anticipated, whether expressed in or implied by the statements. Such risks and uncertainties that might cause a difference include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) historically, our business has been sensitive to changes in general economic or business conditions, (ii) we may not successfully implement our business strategies, including achieving our growth objectives, (iii) our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our liquidity, limit our flexibility in responding to business opportunities, and increase our vulnerability to adverse changes in economic and industry conditions, (iv) our operations subject us to currency exchange and political risks that could adversely affect our results of operations, (v) the current and future challenging global economy and disruption and volatility of the financial and credit markets may adversely affect our business, (vi) the continuing consolidation of our customer base and suppliers may intensify pricing pressure, (vii) we operate in highly competitive industries, (viii) our business is sensitive to changes in industry demands, (ix) raw material and energy price fluctuations and shortages may adversely impact our manufacturing operations and costs, (x) changes in U.S. trade policies could impact the cost of imported goods into the U.S., which may materially impact our revenues or increase our operating costs, (xi) the results of the United Kingdom's referendum on withdrawal from the European Union may have a negative effect on global economic conditions, financial markets and our business, (xii) geopolitical conditions, including direct or indirect acts of war or terrorism, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results, (xiii) we may encounter difficulties arising from acquisitions, (xiv) in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, we may become subject to liabilities, (xv) the acquisition of Caraustar Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries subjects us to various risks and uncertainties, (xvi) we may incur additional restructuring costs and there is no guarantee that our efforts to reduce costs will be successful, (xvii) we could be subject to changes to our tax rates, the adoption of new U.S. or foreign tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities, (xviii) full realization of our deferred tax assets may be affected by a number of factors, (xix) several operations are conducted by joint ventures that we cannot operate solely for our benefit, (xx) certain of the agreements that govern our joint ventures provide our partners with put or call options, (xxi) our ability to attract, develop and retain talented and qualified employees, managers and executives is critical to our success, (xxii) our business may be adversely impacted by work stoppages and other labor relations matters, (xxiii) we may not successfully identify illegal immigrants in our workforce, (xxiv) our pension and postretirement plans are underfunded and will require future cash contributions and our required future cash contributions could be higher than we expect, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and liquidity, (xxv) we may be subject to losses that might not be covered in whole or in part by existing insurance reserves or insurance coverage, (xxvi) our business depends on the uninterrupted operations of our facilities, systems and business functions, including our information technology and other business systems, (xxvii) a security breach of customer, employee, supplier or Company information may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, (xxviii) legislation/regulation related to environmental and health and safety matters and corporate social responsibility could negatively impact our operations and financial performance, (xxix) product liability claims and other legal proceedings could adversely affect our operations and financial performance, (xxx) we may incur fines or penalties, damage to our reputation or other adverse consequences if our employees, agents or business partners violate, or are alleged to have violated, anti-bribery, competition or other laws, (xxxi) the current COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, (xxxii) changing climate, climate change regulations and greenhouse gas effects may adversely affect our operations and financial performance, (xxxiii) the frequency and volume of our timber and timberland sales will impact our financial performance, (xxxiv) changes in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and SEC rules and regulations could materially impact our reported results, (xxxv) if we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control, we may not be able to accurately report financial results or prevent fraud, and (xxxvi) we have a significant amount of goodwill and long-lived assets which, if impaired in the future, would adversely impact our results of operations. The risks described above are not all-inclusive, and given these and other possible risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. For a detailed discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those forecasted, projected or anticipated, see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our most recently filed Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to such risk factors. Except to the limited extent required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME UNAUDITED Three months ended July 31, Nine months ended July 31, (in millions, except per share amounts) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net sales $ 1,083.0 $ 1,252.6 $ 3,353.7 $ 3,362.9 Cost of products sold 863.3 973.2 2,670.7 2,662.0 Gross profit 219.7 279.4 683.0 700.9 Selling, general and administrative expenses 120.4 138.9 376.9 377.0 Restructuring charges 19.1 9.1 26.8 20.3 Acquisition and integration related costs 3.6 5.8 13.5 22.2 Non-cash asset impairment charges 15.5 16.9 2.1 Gain on disposal of properties, plants and equipment, net (0.3) (1.3) (2.1) (7.1) (Gain) Loss on disposal of businesses, net (0.5) 1.3 37.9 3.0 Operating profit 61.9 125.6 213.1 283.4 Interest expense, net 29.8 34.5 89.8 80.1 Non-cash pension settlement income (0.1) Debt extinguishment charges 0.1 22.0 Other (income) expense, net 1.1 (1.1) 3.5 1.0 Income before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net 31.0 92.1 119.9 180.3 Income tax expense 6.9 26.8 44.8 58.3 Equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax (0.3) (2.2) (1.2) (2.4) Net income 24.4 67.5 76.3 124.4 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (3.7) (4.8) (11.9) (18.4) Net income attributable to Greif, Inc. $ 20.7 $ 62.7 $ 64.4 $ 106.0 Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders: Class A common stock $ 0.35 $ 1.06 $ 1.09 $ 1.80 Class B common stock $ 0.52 $ 1.59 $ 1.62 $ 2.68 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders: Class A common stock $ 0.35 $ 1.06 $ 1.09 $ 1.80 Class B common stock $ 0.52 $ 1.59 $ 1.62 $ 2.68 Shares used to calculate basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders: Class A common stock 26.4 26.3 26.4 26.2 Class B common stock 22.0 22.0 22.0 22.0 Shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders: Class A common stock 26.4 26.3 26.4 26.2 Class B common stock 22.0 22.0 22.0 22.0 GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS UNAUDITED (in millions) July 31, 2020 October 31, 2019 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 98.5 $ 77.3 Trade accounts receivable 624.5 664.2 Inventories 349.6 358.2 Assets held by special purpose entities 50.9 Other current assets 182.4 149.3 1,305.9 1,249.0 LONG-TERM ASSETS Goodwill 1,505.3 1,517.8 Intangible assets 726.2 776.5 Assets held by special purpose entities 50.9 Operating lease assets 318.1 Other long-term assets 149.5 142.2 2,699.1 2,487.4 PROPERTIES, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT 1,588.8 1,690.3 $ 5,593.8 $ 5,426.7 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable $ 436.0 $ 435.2 Short-term borrowings 2.6 9.2 Current portion of long-term debt 99.7 83.7 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 53.2 Current portion of liabilities held by special purpose entities 43.3 Other current liabilities 280.1 297.3 914.9 825.4 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES Long-term debt 2,535.3 2,659.0 Liabilities held by special purpose entities 43.3 Operating lease liabilities 267.5 Other long-term liabilities 666.6 686.6 3,469.4 3,388.9 REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS 18.6 21.3 EQUITY Total Greif, Inc. equity 1,141.3 1,133.1 Noncontrolling interests 49.6 58.0 1,190.9 1,191.1 $ 5,593.8 $ 5,426.7 GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS UNAUDITED Three months ended July 31, Nine months ended July 31, (in millions) 2020 2019 2020 2019 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 24.4 $ 67.5 $ 76.3 $ 124.4 Depreciation, depletion and amortization 59.9 60.0 182.4 146.8 Asset impairments 15.5 16.9 2.1 Pension settlement income (0.1) Other non-cash adjustments to net income 8.5 3.3 71.5 7.6 Operating working capital changes 44.3 (9.5) 12.8 (52.5) Deferred purchase price on sold receivables (6.9) Increase (decrease) in cash from changes in other assets and liabilities (17.6) 20.2 (105.5) (27.4) Net cash provided by operating activities 135.0 141.5 254.3 194.1 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Acquisitions of companies, net of cash acquired (29.5) (1,857.9) Purchases of properties, plants and equipment (33.4) (40.2) (98.8) (103.8) Purchases of and investments in timber properties (1.2) (1.8) (4.0) (4.1) Purchases of equity method investments (3.6) Proceeds from the sale of properties, plants and equipment, businesses, timberland and other assets 6.1 6.7 90.7 17.7 Proceeds on insurance recoveries 0.9 0.9 0.2 Net cash used in investing activities (27.6) (64.8) (14.8) (1,947.9) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from (payments on) debt, net (73.4) (64.4) (135.3) 1,876.9 Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders (26.2) (26.1) (78.2) (77.9) Payments for extinguishment and issuance of debt (44.1) Other (3.6) (0.9) (12.1) (19.5) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (103.2) (91.4) (225.6) 1,735.4 Reclassification of cash to assets held for sale Effects of exchange rates on cash 21.9 0.7 7.3 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 26.1 (14.0) 21.2 (18.4) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 72.4 89.8 77.3 94.2 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 98.5 $ 75.8 $ 98.5 $ 75.8 GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS BY SEGMENT UNAUDITED Three months ended July 31, Nine months ended July 31, (in millions) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net sales: Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services $ 548.5 $ 642.1 $ 1,719.8 $ 1,871.6 Paper Packaging & Services 459.3 530.0 1,414.6 1,244.9 Flexible Products & Services 69.3 74.5 199.7 226.6 Land Management 5.9 6.0 19.6 19.8 Total net sales $ 1,083.0 $ 1,252.6 $ 3,353.7 $ 3,362.9 Gross profit: Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services $ 114.4 $ 126.5 $ 351.5 $ 346.1 Paper Packaging & Services 88.9 134.7 283.9 296.9 Flexible Products & Services 14.3 16.0 40.5 50.0 Land Management 2.1 2.2 7.1 7.9 Total gross profit $ 219.7 $ 279.4 $ 683.0 $ 700.9 Operating profit (loss): Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services $ 42.5 $ 54.3 $ 155.8 $ 124.6 Paper Packaging & Services 13.3 63.1 40.3 128.6 Flexible Products & Services 4.1 5.0 10.7 22.2 Land Management 2.0 3.2 6.3 8.0 Total operating profit $ 61.9 $ 125.6 $ 213.1 $ 283.4 EBITDA(8): Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services $ 61.1 $ 74.3 $ 211.0 $ 180.0 Paper Packaging & Services 50.9 103.2 157.4 212.6 Flexible Products & Services 5.8 7.1 15.5 27.8 Land Management 3.2 4.3 9.4 11.2 Total EBITDA $ 121.0 $ 188.9 $ 393.3 $ 431.6 Adjusted EBITDA(9): Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services $ 77.5 $ 82.8 $ 232.2 $ 200.4 Paper Packaging & Services 72.0 111.0 229.0 239.6 Flexible Products & Services 7.0 7.2 18.0 22.8 Land Management 2.9 2.8 8.9 9.3 Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 159.4 $ 203.8 $ 488.1 $ 472.1 (8) EBITDA is defined as net income, plus interest expense, net, plus income tax expense, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization. However, because the Company does not calculate net income by segment, this table calculates EBITDA by segment with reference to operating profit by segment, which, as demonstrated in the table of Consolidated EBITDA, is another method to achieve the same result. See the reconciliations in the table of Segment EBITDA. (9) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, plus interest expense, net, plus income tax expense, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, plus restructuring charges, plus acquisition and integration related costs, plus non-cash impairment charges, plus incremental COVID-19 costs, net, plus non-cash pension settlement (income) charges, less (gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net. GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS BY SEGMENT UNAUDITED Three months ended July 31, Nine months ended July 31, (in millions) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net income $ 24.4 $ 67.5 $ 76.3 $ 124.4 Plus: Interest expense, net 29.8 34.5 89.8 80.1 Plus: Debt extinguishment charges 0.1 22.0 Plus: Income tax expense 6.9 26.8 44.8 58.3 Plus: Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense 59.9 60.0 182.4 146.8 EBITDA $ 121.0 $ 188.9 $ 393.3 $ 431.6 Net income $ 24.4 $ 67.5 $ 76.3 $ 124.4 Plus: Interest expense, net 29.8 34.5 89.8 80.1 Plus: Debt extinguishment charges 0.1 22.0 Plus: Income tax expense 6.9 26.8 44.8 58.3 Plus: Non-cash pension settlement income (0.1) Plus: Other (income) expense, net 1.1 (1.1) 3.5 1.0 Less: Equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax (0.3) (2.2) (1.2) (2.4) Operating profit $ 61.9 $ 125.6 $ 213.1 $ 283.4 Less: Other (income) expense, net 1.1 (1.1) 3.5 1.0 Less: Non-cash pension settlement income (0.1) Less: Equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax (0.3) (2.2) (1.2) (2.4) Plus: Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense 59.9 60.0 182.4 146.8 EBITDA $ 121.0 $ 188.9 $ 393.3 $ 431.6 Plus: Restructuring charges 19.1 9.1 26.8 20.3 Plus: Acquisition and integration related costs 3.6 5.8 13.5 22.2 Plus: Non-cash asset impairment charges 15.5 16.9 2.1 Plus: Non-cash pension settlement income (0.1) Plus: Incremental COVID-19 costs, net (10) 1.0 1.9 Less: (Gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment, and businesses, net (0.8) 35.8 (4.1) Adjusted EBITDA $ 159.4 $ 203.8 $ 488.1 $ 472.1 (10) Incremental COVID-19 costs, net includes costs directly attributable to COVID-19 such as costs incurred for incremental cleaning and sanitation efforts and employee safety measures, offset by economic relief received from foreign governments. GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SEGMENT ADJUSTED EBITDA(11) UNAUDITED Three months ended July 31, Nine months ended July 31, (in millions) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services Operating profit 42.5 54.3 155.8 124.6 Less: Other expense, net 1.2 0.8 5.1 4.0 Less: Equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax (0.3) (2.2) (1.2) (2.4) Plus: Depreciation and amortization expense 19.5 18.6 59.1 57.0 EBITDA $ 61.1 $ 74.3 $ 211.0 $ 180.0 Plus: Restructuring charges 15.6 7.0 19.4 15.0 Plus: Acquisition and integration related costs 0.1 0.4 Plus: Non-cash asset impairment charges 2.2 3.6 2.1 Plus: Incremental COVID-19 costs, net 0.3 Less: (Gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment, and businesses, net (1.4) 1.4 (2.1) 2.9 Adjusted EBITDA $ 77.5 $ 82.8 $ 232.2 $ 200.4 Paper Packaging & Services Operating profit (loss) 13.3 63.1 40.3 128.6 Less: Other (income) expense, net 0.2 (1.2) (1.2) (2.1) Less: Non-cash pension settlement income (0.1) Plus: Depreciation and amortization expense 37.8 38.9 115.8 81.9 EBITDA $ 50.9 $ 103.2 $ 157.4 $ 212.6 Plus: Restructuring charges 3.4 2.1 6.1 5.2 Plus: Acquisition and integration related costs 3.6 5.7 13.5 21.8 Plus: Non-cash pension settlement income (0.1) Plus: Non-cash asset impairment charges 12.4 12.4 Plus: Incremental COVID-19 costs, net 0.8 1.3 Less: Loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment, and businesses, net 0.9 38.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ 72.0 $ 111.0 $ 229.0 $ 239.6 Flexible Products & Services Operating profit 4.1 5.0 10.7 22.2 Less: Other income, net (0.3) (0.7) (0.4) (0.9) Plus: Depreciation and amortization expense 1.4 1.4 4.4 4.7 EBITDA $ 5.8 $ 7.1 $ 15.5 $ 27.8 Plus: Restructuring charges 0.1 1.3 Plus: Incremental COVID-19 costs, net 0.2 0.3 Plus: Non-cash asset impairment charges 0.9 0.9 Less: (Gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net 0.1 (5.0) Adjusted EBITDA $ 7.0 $ 7.2 $ 18.0 $ 22.8 Land Management Operating profit 2.0 3.2 6.3 8.0 Plus: Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense 1.2 1.1 3.1 3.2 EBITDA $ 3.2 $ 4.3 $ 9.4 $ 11.2 Plus: Restructuring charges 0.1 Less: Gain on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net (0.3) (1.5) (0.5) (2.0) Adjusted EBITDA $ 2.9 $ 2.8 $ 8.9 $ 9.3 Consolidated EBITDA $ 121.0 $ 188.9 $ 393.3 $ 431.6 Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA $ 159.4 $ 203.8 $ 488.1 $ 472.1 (11) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, plus interest expense, net, plus income tax expense, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, plus restructuring charges, plus acquisition and integration related costs, plus non-cash impairment charges, plus incremental COVID-19 costs, net, plus non-cash pension settlement (income) charges, less (gain) loss on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net. However, because the Company does not calculate net income by segment, this table calculates adjusted EBITDA by segment with reference to operating profit by segment, which, as demonstrated in the table of consolidated adjusted EBITDA, is another method to achieve the same result. GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW(12) UNAUDITED Three months ended July 31, Nine months ended July 31, (in millions) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 135.0 $ 141.5 $ 254.3 $ 194.1 Cash paid for purchases of properties, plants and equipment (33.4) (40.2) (98.8) (103.8) Free cash flow $ 101.6 $ 101.3 $ 155.5 $ 90.3 Cash paid for acquisition and integration related costs 3.6 5.8 13.5 22.2 Cash paid for debt issuance costs 5.1 Cash paid for incremental COVID-19 costs, net 1.0 1.9 Cash paid for acquisition and integration related ERP systems 0.4 1.4 Adjusted free cash flow $ 106.6 $ 107.1 $ 172.3 $ 117.6 (12) Adjusted free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, less cash paid for purchases of properties, plants and equipment, plus cash paid for acquisition and integration related costs, plus cash paid for debt issuance costs, plus cash paid for incremental COVID-19 costs, net, plus cash paid for acquisition and integration related ERP systems. GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION NET INCOME, CLASS A EARNINGS PER SHARE AND TAX RATE BEFORE ADJUSTMENTS UNAUDITED (in millions, except for per share amounts) Income before Income Tax (Benefit) Expense and Equity Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates, net Income Tax (Benefit) Expense Equity Earnings Non- Controlling Interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Greif, Inc. Diluted Class A Earnings Per Share Tax Rate Three months ended July 31, 2020 $ 31.0 $ 6.9 $ (0.3) $ 3.7 $ 20.7 $ 0.35 22.3 % Loss (gain) on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net (0.8) 0.1 0.1 (1.0) (0.01) Restructuring charges 19.1 4.2 0.1 14.8 0.25 Acquisition and integration related costs 3.6 0.8 2.8 0.04 Non-cash asset impairment charges 15.5 3.5 12.0 0.21 Incremental COVID-19 costs, net 1.0 0.2 0.8 0.01 Excluding Adjustments $ 69.4 $ 15.7 $ (0.3) $ 3.9 $ 50.1 $ 0.85 22.6 % Three months ended July 31, 2019 $ 92.1 $ 26.8 $ (2.2) $ 4.8 $ 62.7 $ 1.06 29.1 % Loss (gain) on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net (0.1) 0.1 Restructuring charges 9.1 1.5 7.6 0.13 Debt extinguishment charges 0.1 0.1 Acquisition and integration related costs 5.8 1.5 4.3 0.07 Excluding Adjustments $ 107.1 $ 29.7 $ (2.2) $ 4.9 $ 74.7 $ 1.26 27.7 % Nine months ended July 31, 2020 $ 119.9 44.8 (1.2) 11.9 $ 64.4 $ 1.09 37.4 % Loss (gain) on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net 35.8 0.5 0.6 34.7 0.59 Restructuring charges 26.8 6.1 0.4 20.3 0.34 Acquisition and integration related costs 13.5 3.2 10.3 0.17 Non-cash asset impairment charges 16.9 3.5 13.4 0.23 Non-cash pension settlement income (0.1) (0.1) Incremental COVID-19 costs, net 1.9 0.4 1.5 0.02 Excluding Adjustments $ 214.7 $ 58.5 $ (1.2) $ 12.9 $ 144.5 $ 2.44 27.2 % Nine months ended July 31, 2019 $ 180.3 $ 58.3 $ (2.4) $ 18.4 $ 106.0 $ 1.80 32.3 % Loss (gain) on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and businesses, net (4.1) (0.6) (2.5) (1.0) (0.02) Restructuring charges 20.3 4.5 0.1 15.7 0.27 Debt extinguishment charges 22.0 5.3 16.7 0.28 Acquisition and integration related costs 22.2 4.3 17.9 0.30 Non-cash asset impairment charges 2.1 2.1 0.04 Tax net benefit resulting from the Tax Reform Act (3.2) 3.2 0.05 Excluding Adjustments $ 242.8 $ 68.6 $ (2.4) $ 16.0 $ 160.6 $ 2.72 28.3 % The impact of income tax expense and non-controlling interest on each adjustment is calculated based on tax rates and ownership percentages specific to each applicable entity. GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION NET SALES TO NET SALES EXCLUDING THE IMPACT OF CURRENCY TRANSLATION UNAUDITED Three months ended July 31, (in millions) 2020 2019 Increase (Decrease) in Net Sales ($) Increase (Decrease) in Net Sales (%) Consolidated Net Sales $ 1,083.0 $ 1,252.6 $ (169.6) (13.5) % Currency Translation 16.1 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 1,099.1 $ 1,252.6 $ (153.5) (12.3) % Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services Net Sales $ 548.5 $ 642.1 $ (93.6) (14.6) % Currency Translation 14.5 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 563.0 $ 642.1 $ (79.1) (12.3) % Paper Packaging & Services Net Sales 459.3 530.0 $ (70.7) (13.3) % Currency Translation 0.2 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 459.5 $ 530.0 $ (70.5) (13.3) % Flexible Products & Services Net Sales $ 69.3 $ 74.5 $ (5.2) (7.0) % Currency Translation 1.4 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 70.7 $ 74.5 $ (3.8) (5.1) % Nine months ended July 31, (in millions) 2020 2019 Increase (Decrease) in Net Sales ($) Increase (Decrease) in Net Sales (%) Consolidated Net Sales $ 3,353.7 $ 3,362.9 $ (9.2) (0.3) % Currency Translation 43.9 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 3,397.6 $ 3,362.9 $ 34.7 1.0 % Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services Net Sales $ 1,719.8 $ 1,871.6 $ (151.8) (8.1) % Currency Translation 38.6 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 1,758.4 $ 1,871.6 $ (113.2) (6.0) % Paper Packaging & Services Net Sales 1,414.6 1,244.9 $ 169.7 13.6 % Currency Translation 0.4 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 1,415.0 $ 1,244.9 $ 170.1 13.7 % Flexible Products & Services Net Sales 199.7 226.6 $ (26.9) (11.9) % Currency Translation 4.9 N/A Net Sales Excluding the Impact of Currency Translation $ 204.6 $ 226.6 $ (22.0) (9.7) % GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION NET DEBT UNAUDITED (in millions) July 31, 2020 April 30, 2020 July 31, 2019 Total Debt $ 2,637.6 $ 2,682.3 $ 2,878.5 Cash and cash equivalents (98.5) (72.4) (75.8) Net Debt $ 2,539.1 $ 2,609.9 $ 2,802.7 GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES PROJECTED 2020 GUIDANCE RECONCILIATION ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW UNAUDITED Fiscal 2020 Guidance Range (in millions) Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 362.0 $ 412.0 Cash paid for purchases of properties, plants and equipment (126.0) (146.0) Free cash flow $ 236.0 $ 266.0 Cash paid for acquisition and integration related costs 15.0 15.0 Cash paid for incremental COVID-19 costs, net 3.0 3.0 Cash paid for acquisition and integration related ERP systems 6.0 6.0 Adjusted free cash flow $ 260.0 $ 290.0 GREIF, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES PROJECTED 2020 MODELING ASSUMPTIONS UNAUDITED (in millions) Fiscal 2020 Modeling Assumptions Reported at Q3 Depreciation & amortization expense $240 - $250 Interest expense, net $115 - $120 Other expense, net $2.5 - $7.5 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest $10 - $15 Tax rate excluding the impact of adjustments 26% - 29% Capital expenditures excluding cash paid for acquisition and integration related ERP systems $120 - $140 Contact: Matt Eichmann 740-549-6067 [email protected] SOURCE Greif, Inc. Related Links http://www.greif.com 2 cops deputed for CM Bommai's security held for trying to 'extort' money from drug peddlers Is there Karnataka weekend lockdowns or night curfew? Here's what minister has to say Unlock 4.0: Karnataka degree colleges to reopen in October India oi-Deepika S Bengaluru, Aug 26: Amid growing clamour on holding NEET during the pandemic, the Karnataka government announced that academic year of colleges for various degree courses will commence from october 1 with online classes. The Karnataka government said offline classes in colleges will be conducted from October 1. The state education department is awaiting guidelines from the central government on conducting offline classes as well as the few degree exams to be conducted in September. Unlock 4.0 guidelines: Metro services may resume, schools likely to remain shut Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News "All colleges will start in October and students are expected to attend classes in person," Ashwathnarayan CN said, adding that preparations are underway for this as per the protocols and safety guidelines. "Final Year Examinations will be scheduled for all the undergraduate, diploma and engineering students once academic year starts," he said. As on Tuesday, Karnataka reported 2.91 lakh COVID-19 cases including 2.04 lakh discharged patients, 82,410 active cases and 4,958 deaths. A burst of warm air is going to move into southwest Michigan this afternoon and tomorrow. It will make you want to go to the beach. But at the same time that warm air will come with stiff winds and dangerous waves. Beach hazards statement has the blue shaded counties with dangerous shoreline conditions developing. From Ludington and the beaches of Mason County southward to the Indiana border, dangerous swimming and water conditions are expected to develop this afternoon. High wave action, strong currents and dangerous swimming conditions will develop between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. today and last into sometime Thursday afternoon. The strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water. High waves can sweep people off piers, as piers may be heavily swamped by waves. The southwest winds at 15 to 25 mph late today through noon Thursday will build three to five foot waves. Most drownings on Lake Michigan occur in three to five foot waves. South sides of breakwalls will be the most dangerous places to swim. Stay out of the water. If you are still compelled to go swimming, make sure you wear a very good life jacket. Otherwise we may be writing about you on Friday on MLive, but you wont be here to read it. Wind forecast at 8 a.m. Thursday, August 27, 2020 shows strongest winds along the southwest coast. The wind forecast above for Thursday morning shows where the strongest winds will occur - from Muskegon to South Haven. Wave forecast for 11 a.m. Thursday, August 27, 2020 The highest waves Thursday morning are also expected in that same stretch from Muskegon to South Haven. Friday will likely be cloudy from the start with numerous thunderstorms developing at some point. Saturday will have a fairly brisk northwest wind. Sunday will likely be your next beach day, but with cooler temperatures in the 70s. T he sisters of Jacob Blake have made a series of heartbreaking speeches calling for justice and change after the 29-year-old was shot several times by police. Mr Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday, was struck by four of seven gunshots fired at him, all by one officer. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family, said on Tuesday that there was "no indication he was armed". Mr Blake is "fighting for his life," has been left paralysed and will need a "miracle" to walk again, his family and lawyers added. Jacob Blake was shot on Sunday by police / attorneycrump/Instagaram The incident sparked angry protests and follows in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody in May, which touched off a global wave of demonstrations calling racial justice. Mr Blake's three sisters, Zietha Blake, Megan Belcher and Letetra Widman delivered speeches to reporters in Kenosha on Tuesday. Ms Belcher, his youngest sister, broke into tears as she said: "You all took him from his family because you all stood by and let it happen." Megan Belcher said: "I just want my brother" / CNN She said: "He was my light. I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm crying because I know how upset he is that his family is upset right now, not because of where he is but because his family is hurting. He loves his family." Another sister, Letetra Widman, said: "I'm not sad. I'm not sorry. I'm angry and I'm tired. Another sister, Letetra Widman remained dry-eyed as she delivered her powerful remarks / CNN "I have not cried one time. I stopped crying years ago. I'm numb. I have been watching police murder people who look like me for years," she said. "I don't want your pity, I want change." Ms Widman told the crowds to ensure that her brother is described as a father, a cousin, an uncle and a human life, "just like every single one of y'all". "His life matters," she said. Wisconsin, Kenosha: Jacob Blake Protests - In pictures 1 /21 Wisconsin, Kenosha: Jacob Blake Protests - In pictures REUTERS Law enforcement officers walk amidst tear gas during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS Protestors run for cover as police shoots tear gas in an effort to disperse the crowd during the demonstrations AFP via Getty Images Police clash with protesters in Kenosha on Monday night AP Flames roar from cars torched by protestors a few blocks from the County Court House AFP via Getty Images Protesters clash with officers during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha AFP via Getty Images Kenosha County Sherriff and police officers in riot gear form a line behind a burning truck during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin AFP via Getty Images A protester stands in a cloud of tear gas near a burning garbage truck outside the Kenosha County Court House AP AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AP AP Ms Widman said people contacted them out to apologise for what has happened to their family. She said: "Don't be sorry. This has been happening to my family for a long time. Longer than I can account for. It happened to Emmett Till. Emmett Till is my family. Philando [Castile]. Michael Brown. Sandra [Bland]. This has been happening to my family." Finally, Zietha Blake, his third sister, recounted how close the two were growing up, calling him her twin. "We got a lot of insiders, a lot of things just between us, because we are like this," she said, holding up crossed fingers. Zietha Blake, his third sister, recounted how close the two were growing up, calling him her twin / CNN "His kids are his world. But not only that, his family is his world," she said. "Like (Megan) said, he's upset because we're hurt, we're upset. He doesn't even care about himself. He's more so worried about us." Mr Blake, a father of six, was struck from behind at point-blank range as he opened the door to his car after being followed by officers with their guns drawn. Three of his young sons inside the automobile aged 3, 5 and 8 witnessed their father being gunned down, Mr Crump said. A bystander captured the encounter in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage. The police have not explained why Mr Blake was shot. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra currently reigns over the DxOMark charts, which Xiaomi is particularly proud about. The team behind the commemorative phone has published a detailed account of how the cameras operate to achieve the best-in-class performance. The main camera has a 48 MP 1/1.32 sensor that can do on-chip single-frame HDR processing. Basically, pixels are grouped into three categories: short, medium and long exposure. Then those are merged into an HDR signal as the sensor reads out the image line by line. The Mi 10 Ultra is Xiaomis first phone that can record HDR10 video, thanks to this on-sensor processing. It also has a rare 8P lens design a lens with eight elements, which reduces aberrations as much as possible. Each element added to the lens makes it exponentially trickier (and more expensive) to produce. Perfecting the telephoto camera was a challenge as well. It has an IMX586 sensor also with 48 MP resolution, but its too large 1/2.32. It would have made the module too thick to fit into the frame of the phone, so Xiaomi had to use a D-cut lens to slim it down. D-cut lenses make optical image stabilization more difficult, however, so it took several iterations until the engineers got it just right. The ultrawide-angle lens has a 128 field of view. It uses a 7P lens again to minimize distortion, especially around the edges of the image (it also minimizes vignetting). Reducing distortion in the lens helps improve the resolution as otherwise the distortion would have to be corrected in software. Xiaomi has several R&D centers around the world: in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Tokyo, Santiago, Bangalore, Paris and Tampere. Those have been tasked with developing and improving the hardware and software of Mi phones and this is the result of their labors. Source 1 | Source 2 Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya has reached an agreement with Italy to set up a joint committee between the two countries to activate cooperation in the field of military medicine, the Ministry of Defence of the Government of National Accord (GNA) announced on Tuesday As a man from Freehold once said, "it's been a long time coming, but now it's here." Idle since March 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its typical summer break, Freehold Raceway is back in action this Friday (Aug. 28) with a 10-race program. The card is highlighted by the first division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund (NJSS-SDF) for three-year-old trotting fillies. The likely favourite in the field of eight is Tricky Sister, trained by Andrew Harris and in rein to Pat Berry. She has kept good company this year, most recently finishing third in the Zweig at Vernon Downs ahead of Hambletonian Oaks winner Sorella and behind Ramona Hill and Hypnotic AM. Last year, she won the NJSS-SDF Final for two-year-old trotting fillies over this track, and followed it with a score in the New Jersey Futurity. She will leave from post 8 on Saturday in the seventh race, scheduled to go at 2:30 p.m. (EDT). In addition, the card also features the Preferred Handicap Trot, scheduled as the eighth race. A pair of Yonkers Raceway invaders headline the field: Meladys Monet and Stormy Kromer. The former is coming off a win in the Preferred at Yonkers, where he trotted a mile in a season's best 1:53.3. He has post 7 for trainer Hermann Heitmann and driver George Brennan. The latter won four in a row earlier in the year before fading after a wide trip last out. Daniel Dube drives from post position 8 for trainer Paul Stafford. First post time on Friday at Freehold is 12:30 p.m. (EDT). (Freehold Raceway) Bengaluru: The police on Tuesday recovered Rs 52.62 lakh in new currency notes in Mandya district of Karnataka. The cash has been seized from a 14-member gang. The seized money was in new Rs 2,000 currency notes. The gang is accused of robbing six persons who were involved in exchange of demonetised currency with new Rs 500 and RS 1,000 notes. The incident took place on December 12 when the gang robbed Rs 66.5 lakh from six persons. Mandya Police will inform the I-T department about the seizure. MIAMI: A nephew of Venezuelas first lady appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court an 18-year sentence for conspiring to smuggle 800 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. Francisco Flores and his cousin, Efrain Campo, were found guilty in 2016 in a highly charged case that cast a hard look at U.S. accusations of drug trafficking at the highest levels of President Nicols Maduros socialist administration. In March, prosecutors charged Maduro himself with leading an alleged narco-terrorist conspiracy that flooded the U.S. with 250 metric tons of cocaine a year. In a petition posted Tuesday on the Supreme Courts docket, attorneys for Flores argued that jury was misled when they were told by a Manhattan federal judge that the men shouldve known the cocaine was bound for the U.S. a requirement for conviction under U.S. law. According to the petition, the two men at no moment in wiretapped recordings can be heard even inquiring about the final destination of the Honduras-bound shipment they were negotiating with informants working under the supervision of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. When the informants inserted on 13 recorded instances general references to drug trafficking in the U.S., the men remained silent or reacted with vague and inaudible responses, according to the petition. The only evidence cited with respect to Floress supposed deliberate avoidance of knowledge was that he and Campo remained effectively silenti.e. did not seek confirmation or clarificationwhen the DEA informants dropped their various oblique hints, according to the petition, which was prepared by New York-based attorneys with the firm Sidley. Campo and Flores were arrested in Haiti in a DEA sting in 2015 and immediately removed to New York to face trial. They were lured to the Caribbean island with the promise of an $11 million advance from a wheelchair-bound trafficker they met in Honduras named El Sentado the seated one who unbeknownst to them was a DEA informant. A meeting in Caracas followed, in which a sample of the narcotic was produced. But no drugs were seized when they were arrested at a restaurant near the airport in Port-au-Prince shortly after arriving in a private jet from Caracas. Lawyers for Campo and Flores argued at their two-week trial that no drugs traded hands and the men never intended to deliver any. Prosecutors star witness, Jose Santos-Pena, was a DEA informant who was later found to have lied to his handlers. Its not clear who is paying Flores legal fee. Michael Levy, a lawyer at Austin, declined to comment. But in the lower court trial, his legal bill was flipped by Wilmer Ruperti, a Venezuelan shipping magnate close to Maduros government. Flores, who Maduro calls the First Combatant, is one of the most-powerful members of Venezuelas revolutionary government and a constant presence alongside her husband whenever he appears in public. The two have made almost no mention of their loved ones conviction in the U.S. Follow Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman 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 contractual decisions made in 1890 cannot bind Virginians 130 years later or beyond, Heytens argued. When the monument was erected, Lee was seen as a heroic figure whose failed cause should be mourned, the solicitor general wrote, but now Lee and other Confederate leaders are regarded as symbols of racism, injustice and oppression and their cause a blight on our nations history. The statue has become an ever-more-painful wound and a focus of the anger and frustration felt by many who continue to suffer the effects of the disgraceful institution the Confederacy fought to protect, Heytens wrote. On Tuesday, Marchant dismissed the lawsuits Count 5, which claimed that taking down the statue violated Virginia Code. Even if Northam is violating state law by taking down the statue, the judge said, in this instance the state code does not give citizens the power to enforce the law by filing a suit. The statute provides under what conditions a work of art may be accepted, removed, relocated or altered by the Commonwealth and under what conditions a structure intended primarily for ornamental or memorial purposes may be procured, removed, remodeled or added to by the Commonwealth, Marchant said. It is completely silent as to authorizing any public action. Good resilience of ID Logistics' business model despite the Covid-19 health crisis First-half sales growth of 4.3% (+2.0% like-for-like) Underlying operating income up to 20.1 million Net financial debt reduced by 30.1m to 0.7x EBITDA Regulatory News: ID Logistics, (Paris:IDL) (ISIN: FR0010929125, Mnemo: IDL) one of the European leaders in contract logistics, announces its results for the first half of 2020 with revenues of 776.6 million, up 4.3% (+2.0% like-for-like), an increase in underlying operating income to 20.1 million (2.6% operating margin) and a decrease of 30.1 million in net financial debt to 0.7x EBITDA. Eric Hemar, Chairman and CEO of ID Logistics, commented: During a first half of 2020 marked by the health crisis linked to the Covid-19 pandemics, all the ID Logistics teams have been particularly proud to have been able to ensure, at the heart of the crisis, the essential logistics needs in the countries most affected by the virus. ID Logistics has also been able to allow, under good conditions, the rapid recovery of the activity of some of its customers. In this unprecedented context, the Group experienced growth in its business and its underlying operating income. This first half illustrates the resilience of our Group's business model and the flexibility of our organization. The diversified client portfolio, the quality of our partnerships, our well-balanced international footprint and the commitment of our teams have been decisive assets in overcoming this unprecedented crisis. Key financial indicators m H1 2020 H1 2019 Revenues 776.6 744.5 EBITDA 97.5 95.3 As a of revenues 12.6% 12.8% Underlying operating income 20.1 19.5 As a of revenues 2.6% 2.6% Consolidated net income 6.5 6.6 As a of revenues 0.8% 0.9% 30/06/2020 31/12/2019 Net financial debt 59.0 89.2 Lease liabilities (IFRS 16) 375.2 379.7 Net debt 434.2 468.9 Equity 209.3 204.0 ID Logistics: a commited player against the pandemics Facing the health crisis, ID Logistics has identified three main priorities: ensure the safety of its employees by providing working conditions that meet the highest standards of health safety support its customers as closely as possible to their needs, whether they are in high volume (sites dedicated to food distribution, health, hygiene or e-commerce), with reduced or stopped activity preserve the Group's cash flow and financial structure. The pursuit of these three priorities enabled ID Logistics to ensure a full continuity of service throughout the crisis and a rapid restart of activity. Revenue growth in the first half of 2020 In the first half of 2020, ID Logistics generated sales of 776.6 million (+4.3% and +2.0% like-for-like): In France, sales for the first half of 2020 came to 344.1 million, down slightly (-1.4%) vs. H1 2019. After good growth in activity (+3.5% in Q1 2020), the second quarter was impacted by lock-down measures and ended down (-5.9% compared with 2019). International revenues for the first half of the year came to 432.5 million, up 9.4% vs. H1 2019. This performance includes a generally unfavorable exchange rate effect, particularly in Latin America, and a change in the scope of consolidation due to the end of operations in South Africa in September 2019 and the consolidation in December 2019 of the Jagged Peak activities in the United States. Excluding these items, revenue growth for the first half of the year was +5.4%. As in France, the second quarter saw a slowdown due to the Covid-19 crisis (-0.2%) after a very good performance in the first quarter (+11.2%). Over the period, the Group started up 10 new sites (3 in France and 7 internationally), in line with the initial business plan. Increase in underlying operating income In this unique context, the diversified customer portfolio, the Group's balanced international footprint and the commitment of its teams enabled ID Logistics to improve its current operating income to 20.1 million at June 30, 2020 (vs. 19.5 million at June 30, 2019), and to maintain a stable operating margin at 2.6%. In France, one of the countries most affected by Covid-19, the operating margin went from 3.8% in H1 2019 to 2.8% in H1 2020. Most of the decrease is due to direct costs (masks, hydroalcoholic gel, specific incentives, etc.) and indirect costs (loss of productivity, volume volatility, non-attendance, etc.) of the health crisis, partly shared with clients. Outside France, on the other hand, the operating margin rose sharply, from 1.6% in the first half of 2019 to 2.4% in the first half of 2020. The impact of the health crisis in Spain was more than offset by solid performances in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Russia, which benefited from the good productivity gains on recently launched projects. Results outside France also benefited from the favorable integration over the first half of the year of the activities in the United States acquired at the end of 2019. Stable consolidated net income H1 2020 results include a non-current expense of 1.5m (including 0.8m of asset impairment) following the Group's decision to cease its activities in China (representing less than 1% of the Group revenues), following the change of shareholder of its main client in the country. Despite this expense, net profit for the first half of 2020 is stable compared to the first half of 2019 at 6.5 million. Disciplined cash management and reduction of net financial debt In the context of the health crisis linked to Covid-19, the Group has been particularly attentive to the management of its cash flow: The cash generated by the activities amounted to 97.5 million during the first half of 2020 (+51.8 million vs. 2019) A strict management of the working capital requirement has enabled the Group to reduce the average time to receive payment from customers by 4 days, representing 18.7 million in current cash; The Group used government measures allowing the deferral of certain social contributions for an amount of 20.5 million during the first half of 2020; Finally, ID Logistics and its customers have adopted a selective and progressive investment logic, limiting the latter to 26.9 million during the first half of 2020 (-9.8 million vs. 2019). During the first half of 2020, ID Logistics finalized the refinancing of the balance of its acquisition debt with a new 100 million 5-year loan with its historic bank syndicate. This operation resulted in a net cash inflow of 30.4 million before expenses, better financial terms than the refinanced loans, and very gradual repayments. On this occasion, the Group also negotiated a 5-year revolving credit facility of 50 million, which has not been used to date. At June 30, 2020, after payment of lease debt (IFRS 16) and other changes, the Group thus has a net current cash position of 148.6 million and net financial debt is limited to 59.0 million, or 0.7x EBITDA. Outlook ID Logistics intends to continue its development while remaining alert to the evolution of the health crisis. It will be particularly attentive to the openings planned for 2020 (15 in total), to the increase in productivity of the projects already started and to the support of its customers. After having validated its business model during this crisis, ID Logistics is ready to seize the opportunities that will arise through the development of e-commerce, the industrial relocation in Europe, the strengthening of outsourcing and the concentration of the sector. Additional note: Audit procedures on the consolidated financial statements have been performed. The certification report will be issued after completion of the procedures required for the purpose of publishing the annual financial report. NEXT REPORT: Publication of third-quarter 2020 revenues after the market close on 22 October 2020. ABOUT ID LOGISTICS ID Logistics is an international contract logistics group, with revenue of 1,534 million in 2019. ID Logistics has more than 320 sites across 18 countries, representing 5.8 million square meters of warehousing facilities in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, with 21,000 employees. With a client portfolio balanced between retail, industry, detail picking, healthcare and e-commerce sectors, ID Logistics delivers high-tech solutions and is firmly committed to sustainable development. ID Logistics is listed on Compartment A of NYSE Euronext's regulated market in Paris (ISIN Code: FR0010929125, Ticker: IDL). APPENDIX Simplified statement of income (m) H1 2020 H1 2019 France 344.1 349.0 International 432.5 395.5 Revenues 776.6 744.5 France 9.7 13.2 International 10.4 6.3 Underlying operating income 20.1 19.5 Amortisation of customer relationships (0.6) (0.6) Non-recurring expenses (1.5) Financial result (6.9) (7.6) Income tax (5.1) (5.0) Share in income of associates 0.5 0.3 Consolidated net income 6.5 6.6 o/w attributable to ID Logistics' shareholders 5.3 5.5 *IFRS 16 Simplified statement of cash flows (m) H1 2020 H1 2019 EBITDA 97.5 95.3 Change in working capital and others 38.7 (4.9) Other changes (non-recurring, tax, etc.) (11.8) (8.2) Net investments (26.9) (36.7) Net cash generated/(used) by operating activities 97.5 45.5 Net issuance (repayment) of debt 30.5 (1.8) Reimbursement of lease liabilities (IFRS 16) (65.9) (62.7) Others (4.0) (1.4) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 58.1 (20.4) Cash and cash equivalent beginning of period 90.5 105.7 Cash and cash equivalent end of period 148.6 85.3 Definitions Like-for-like change: change excluding the impact of: acquisitions and disposals: the revenue contribution of companies acquired during the period is excluded from the same period, and the revenue contribution made by companies sold during the previous period is also excluded from that period changes in the applicable accounting principles changes in exchange rates (revenues in the various periods calculated based on identical exchange rates, so that the reported figures for the previous period are translated using the exchange rates for the current period). EBITDA: Underlying operating income before net depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortisation of intangible assets Underlying operating income before net depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortisation of intangible assets Net financial debt: Gross debt plus bank overdrafts and less cash and cash equivalents Gross debt plus bank overdrafts and less cash and cash equivalents Net debt : Net financial debt plus rent liabilities (IFRS 16) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005638/en/ Contacts: ID Logistics Yann Perot CFO Tel.: 33 (0)4 42 11 06 00 yperot@id-logistics.com NewCap Emmanuel Huynh Thomas Grojean Investor Relations Financial Communications Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 idlogistics@newcap.eu The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:42:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A Lingyan AG50 light-sport aircraft is seen during its maiden flight in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 26, 2020. China's new-generation light-sport aircraft Lingyan AG50 completed its maiden flight Wednesday morning in Hubei, its developer Aviation Industry Corporation of China said. (Xinhua) WUHAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's new-generation light-sport aircraft Lingyan AG50 completed its maiden flight Wednesday morning in the central province of Hubei, its developer Aviation Industry Corporation of China said. The aircraft took off at 8:38 a.m. from Zhanghe Airport in the city of Jingmen and flew for 12 minutes. Chief test pilot Huang Jie said the maiden flight was successful and all systems were operating normally. According to Gu Biao, chief commander of the maiden mission, the AG50 is designed for aeroclubs, general aviation companies, training schools and private pilots. With a maximum takeoff weight of 650 kg and a payload of 245 kg, it has a range of 650 km and a maximum speed of 222 kph. Some buyers made orders at the maiden flight site for the AG50, the aircraft-maker said. Enditem With the contracts between the Detroit Three and Unifor covering 17,000 workers at its Canadian operations set to expire September 21, a petition demanding the union release any tentative contract agreement in its entirety before workers vote on it is winning significant rank-and-file support. The legitimate demand for workers to be able to review any Unifor-blessed deals before voting on them is the outcome of bitter experience. Unifor and its predecessor the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) have recommended one concessions deal after another that imposed plant closures, wage freezes, benefit cuts, the gutting of work rules and the institutionalization of a low-wage two-tier system for workers hired after 2008. Invariably, these contracts have been imposed through highly-scripted union ratification meetings, with workers seeing no more than union-drafted contract highlights. The petition reads: The undersigned demand Unifor leadership provide full disclosure of the contents of the contract, 5 days before ratification, by publishing all revisions, additions, deletions and changes to the contract, clearly marked, on the Unifor National website and the websites of the locals involved in Detroit Three bargaining. The UAW does this with their white book. We also demand that the ratification highlights include a clear statement of all money and benefits negotiated on behalf of union representatives and any money or benefits negotiated to be paid to the Locals and/or National Union. The petition, launched on August 14, is a sign of growing worker opposition to and distrust of the Unifor leadership. At the time of writing, it had already garnered about 1,300 signatures from autoworkers in at least eight locals across southern Ontario. Unifor president Jerry Dias, aware of the petition and preparing to negotiate another concessions deal, has thus far publicly ignored it, while indicating in private that the Unifor apparatus is determined to keep workers in the dark. This is hardly surprising given the viciously anti-democratic record of Dias and the entire Unifor leadership. In 2016, when Dias presented a so-called pattern framework agreement that lacked any details on his promise that he had secured a historic deal to save jobs at GM Oshawa, workers there and at the GM St. Catharines facility and then at Fords Oakville plant took up the call to see the full, approximately 200-page contract rather than the brief, misleading and self-serving highlights brochure handed out to workers as they entered the ratification meetings. At the 2016 ratification meeting in Oshawa, workers denounced the lack of information before the arrogant Dias, to roars of outrage, called a particularly diligent questioner an idiot. Unifor then opened the voting booths before other rank-and-file autoworkers could even speak. Two years later, GM announced the imminent closure of the plant using contract language that had never appeared in the lying brochure. Unifors manipulation of the contract ratification process, however, is only a symptom of a far deeper cancer. One that, from the standpoint of the defence of workers interests, long ago reached the terminal stage. Like the UAW south of the border, Unifor long ago renounced any association with the militant struggles out of which the UAW was born as an organization representing Canadian and US auto workers, and acts in concert with the auto bosses against its own members. Yet, despite decades of concessions and the ever-deeper integration of Unifor into corporate management, the organizers of the petition are claiming that the Unifor leadership can be pressured into serving workers interests, or at the very least that the union apparatus can be reformed. On the website promoting the petition (solidaritymovement.ca), the administrators write: This request should not be construed as an attack on leadership but rather an opportunity to strengthen communication and trust between leadership and the membership. Our unions constitution is built on transparency and democratic values; informing and educating the membership is key to upholding these principles. They go on to appeal for a struggle based on union values, and cite approvingly a quote from former Canadian Auto Workers President Bob White, Workers dont need a union to walk them backwards. The appeal concludes with the call for workers to start fighting like hell. There is no shortage of militancy among autoworkers, who are livid over the decades of concessions imposed by the automakers in close cooperation with Unifor and the CAW. But militant calls to fight like hell for union values ring hollow, to say the least, under conditions in which the vast majority of autoworkers cannot remember a time when Unifor or its CAW predecessor fought for anything other than the profitability of the Big Three and their cozy relationships with management at GM, Ford and Fiat-Chrysler. An honest description of Unifors values would be the acceptance of wage and benefit reductions, increased discipline and the intensification of workloads in order to maintain at least a modicum of auto sector investment in Canada and thereby defend its dues base from which the bureaucracy reap their own bloated salaries and expense accounts. In comparison to Dias, who personifies the corrupt corporatist relations between the union bureaucracy, big business and the federal Liberal government, White may appear to some workers as a no nonsense militant. But the truth is, it was Whites policies while heading the Canadian UAW and then the CAW during the 1980s and early 1990s that helped initiate the race to the bottom in working conditions, wages, and workplace benefits that continues to this day. In the run-up to the 1985 split with the UAW, White explicitly opposed any appeal to the widespread no concessions sentiment among American autoworkers and for a joint struggle of workers on both sides of the border against the right-wing UAW International leadership. Instead, White touted Canadian nationalism as he manoeuvred to reach an arrangement with Solidarity House to establish the CAW and enable each nationally-based wing of the union bureaucracy to pursue its own course. The split facilitated the automakers drive to pit Canadian autoworkers against their class brothers and sisters in the United States and Mexico. White and the CAWs Canadian advantage strategy, which was based on the lower value of the Canadian dollar and state-funded health care, quickly proved ruinous for workers. Seizing on the national divisions promoted by the CAW and UAW, the globally-operating automakers began whipsawing job, wage and benefit cuts back and forth across national borders. In the current contract struggle, workers must recognize that Unifor is no less a determined and ruthless opponent of their interests than management. Only by organizing independently of the pro-company union to oppose another sellout contract will workers put themselves in a position to defend their jobs and living standards. Already, a path toward such action is being cut in the auto plants in the United States, where autoworkers have begun establishing rank-and-file safety committees independently of and in opposition to the corrupt UAW to fight for safe working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. Workers who want to fight for their democratic right to see the contract in full before they vote on it should emulate their American colleagues and establish rank-and-file committees in every Canadian plant. These committees should take control of the contract struggle out of the hands of the Unifor bureaucracy, formulate demands to secure the jobs and living standards of all autoworkers, demand that all negotiations take place in public, and insist that all agreements be made available well in advance of any final vote. The experience of US autoworkers with the UAWs cynical commitment to publish tentative agreements before ratification votes only underscores the impossibility of democratizing the corporatist unions. While it is formally true that under pressure from rank-and-file workers the UAW now releases Detroit Three contracts in advance, this amounts to little more than a document dump, with workers presented documents running to a thousand or more pages and written in legalese. Moreover, none of this has stopped the UAW from manipulating the balloting, including forcing workers to keep voting until you get it right, as was this case with the 2015 Fiat Chrysler deal. Last but not least, there is the fact that it has now been exposed that the top UAW leadership is a criminal conspiracy. Ten UAW officials, including former UAW President Gary Jones, have pleaded guilty to charges ranging from violation of labour laws, racketeering, embezzlement, conspiracy and tax fraud for their corrupt dealings with the automakers. Significantly, Dias has maintained radio silence on the UAW corruption scandal, except to insist that it in no way calls into legitimacy the contracts that the union negotiated. Rank-and-file committees, independent of Unifor, need to be developed in the Canadian plants as the springboard to seize the conduct of the fight for a new contract out of the hands of the union bureaucrats, forge unity with autoworkers in the US and Mexico and organize a counteroffensive against all concessions, two-tier wages, and job cuts. Two young missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are serving in the Ooltewah area. They left home, family and friends to share the good news of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with any and all who want to know more. They are volunteers, serving without pay.Elder Nick Sweet of Bluffdale, Ut. has served for 19 months already, and will return home in about five months. He has one sister and an identical twin brother that passed away at a young age. Elder Sweet began his mission in Mexico and served there for a little over 14 months. He spent most of his time in the city of Pachuca. The Spanish language was hard for me at first, he said, but around my nine-month mark, I started to feel more comfortable. In March, Elder Sweet was sent home to Utah due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and two months later he was reassigned to Tennessee. From start to finish, whether in Mexico or Tennessee, Elder Sweet said, My mission has been everything to me. My testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel was nothing compared to what it is now. My mission has not only brought me closer to Jesus Christ, but I have seen miracles in the lives of those who come unto Christ and lay hold to His commandments and promises.Elder Xavier Small is from Pahrump, Nv. He came into the Church at the age of 14. I didnt know much, he said, but I was able to feel the love and happiness that others had. Elder Small has served for about nine months now in Rodgersville, Faraut and Ringgold.He has three brothers and once he learned that he could be with his family forever, Thats all I wanted, he said. That is the message he now shares. He shares that "Jesus Christ is the living Son of God the Savior of the world and that because of Jesus Christ, families can be together forever, and repentance and happiness are available to everyone who will follow Him." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:12:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BELGRADE, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The China-Serbia economic partnership has not only allowed Serbia to better cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but has also brought new cooperation opportunities in areas such as high-tech and agriculture, an expert has said. Encouraged by the solidarity between the two countries during the pandemic, Chinese companies in Serbia continued with their investment and projects, while new fields of cooperation are under discussion, Pavle Basic, member of Serbia's National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with Russia and China, told Xinhua. Acknowledging that the pandemic has reshaped global economic relations, Basic said the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia has made the two countries' relations more resilient against the impact of pandemic. "A great number of Chinese companies currently operate in Serbia and are engaged in important projects in transport and energy infrastructure, mining, metallurgy, the IT industry, telecommunications, agriculture, etc," Basic said. He noted that there are no major risks for Chinese companies in Serbia, as Serbia has attached great importance to Chinese companies and has contributed to the Belt and Road Initiative. "Serbia has much to offer to its Chinese partners. The Serbian market is the largest one in the Western Balkan region, which is situated on the main road connecting Asia and Europe, and fits well into China's Belt and Road initiative," Basic noted. "We deem the initiative to be one of the most significant initiatives in the global arena, which will contribute to global partnership in all areas," Basic said. He added that in addition to the incentives the Serbian government has already put in place, it has also introduced additional subsidies for citizens and businesses, including Chinese companies, to overcome the negative effects of COVID-19. Once the pandemic is over, there will be great opportunities for Chinese companies in the fields of high-tech and telecommunications, as well as accelerated digitization in the country, he said, adding that he anticipates more engagement from Chinese companies. "We would love to see a deeper involvement of Chinese companies in the fields of renewable energy and electric vehicles," he noted. Enditem Foyle MLA Martina Anderson has apologised after she claimed a compensation scheme for injured Troubles victims would 'discriminate, criminalise and exclude'. She also claimed the money was mainly for those who took part in what she described as 'Britain's dirty war in Ireland', and would mostly go to 'those involved in collusion' and British troops. The senior Sinn Fein politician had been criticised for making the remarks on Twitter on Tuesday. The tweet was later deleted. DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton had called for Martina Anderson to resign and her comments had also been criticised by other parties. In a statement this morning, Ms Anderson said her comments had been 'clumsy' but were not directed at victims. "It was never my intention to cause them any hurt," she said. "All victims of the conflict deserve acknowledgement of their pain and loss and I support them in their efforts to get their pension." The rise in contagion has been limited, with very low impact on health services, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said in an interview with Bloomberg News. We have few cases and the situation is under control, with pressure on hospitals that is very low, minimal, he said. The average age of people whove tested positive in the last week is 30, and most have mild symptoms or none at all, he said. Pankti Mehta Kadakia On September 2, Facebook representatives will appear before a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, over a hate speech row. An article in The Wall Street Journal claims that the social media giant didnt enforce restrictions on hate speech on a communal post by T Raja Singh, a member of the BJP, allegedly to prevent falling out of favour with the ruling party. Founder Mark Zuckerberg said, in a 2019 address at Georgetown University, that in times of social turmoil, "our impulse is often to pull back on free expression. We want the progress that comes from free expression, but not the tension... Pulling back on free expression wasnt the answer and, in fact, it often ended up hurting the minority views we seek to protect." Even so, Facebooks journey in India, its biggest market by far with 290 million users, has been fraught among activists for a while. In 2015, its Free Basics programme met with protests for violating net neutrality, since it would extend special benefits to certain websites. A spate of lynchings following rumours spread via WhatsApp began in 2017 in Indias hinterlands; as recently as April 2020, a vigilante mob lynched two priests and their driver in Maharashtras Palghar district over WhatsApp rumours. While Facebook has introduced fact checking and India-specific features for WhatsApp, including restrictions on how many times a message can be forwarded, they have yet to display their effectiveness, and Facebooks role as a gatekeepera debate thats currently of special relevance in the upcoming US electionsbecomes vital to define. The Election Commission came out with a voluntary code of conduct after the 2019 elections in India, and as we can see, it has not worked well, says lawyer Apar Gupta, executive director of the Internet Freedom Foundation. Facebook also has its own election integrity rules to prevent abuse of the platform. But we have no clear idea of how Facebook is enforcing its rulestheres a lack of transparency as well as a lack of regulatory oversight. This is troubling because voters today make decisions based on what they read online. There have been connections documented between hate speech and elections in India, he adds, specifically how when you vilify hate speech, it leads to a consolidation of religious and casteist identities, and thereby enables political advantages. We need a deep dive into every platform, not just Facebook. Governments, citizens and platforms need to work together to address this, says Pooja Jauhari, CEO of The Glitch, a creative agency that deals with social media branding and advertising. There are going to always be people on every side of the dialogue, but the basics of hate, racism and violence needs to be eliminated. So many people on the internet are impressionable. Gupta says theres a need for a substantial re-look at the fundamental architecture of these platforms and their economic basis too. All of the issues, even the threat to democracy, is essentially a symptom of this, he adds. Its a toxic industry in a way, because theres only one business model: Advertising, adds Mishi Choudhary, lawyer and civil liberties activist in technology. It has to be targeted, and peoples behaviour patterns must be collected. The more outrage on the platform, the more shares there will be, and the more data the machine can collect about you. The main issue is what Choudhary refers to as the business model of surveillance capitalism. In general, she adds, the law is a necessary first step to counter this, but entirely inadequate to solve a lot of problems. Technology is two steps ahead of the government, and the law, two steps behind, she says. So, in the past decade, weve seen a lot of self-regulation. Law is part of the framework we need to build, and we also must be very careful about reining in the power of these companies. A variety of steps have to be taken, not just for data protection, but people protection too, as people are being surveilledand to also make sure governments dont use the law as tools for political censorship. The underlying sense, Gupta sums up, is that people find that their interactions online have stopped having that element of joy. All the platforms are making fundamental technical choices that come from their economic incentives, making sure more people use it for the most amount of time possible, on the basis of which they gather more and more of our personal data, and profile us, he says. On August 21, Facebook India vice president and managing director, Ajit Mohan, issued a statement, which said, 'Weve made progress on tackling hate speech on our platform, but we need to do more'. "We have removed and will continue to remove content posted by public figures in India when it violates our Community Standards," the statement added. "Still, we know this work is never over, which is why we will continue to invest in our efforts to combat hate speech on our services. We welcome the opportunity to engage with all partiespolitical or otherwisewho want to understand our content policies and enforcement more." This article originally appeared in Forbes India here CLEVELAND, Ohio Cleveland City Council wants Mayor Frank Jacksons administration to join legal efforts challenging federal decisions to shorten the counting period for the U.S. Census. The council warns in a resolution approved Wednesday that shortening the period for gathering data will lead to an undercount in Cleveland and other cities that would have wide-ranging ramifications. Were going to take a royal beating, Councilman Mike Polensek said. People have to understand that [an accurate count] is critical for the amount of federal dollars that come into this city. In April, the Census asked Congress for permission to revise its data collection schedule so it could maintain health and safety of its workers and the public during the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis while ensuring a fair and accurate count. The revised schedule would have had field data collection ending on Oct. 31 instead of July 31. But early this month, the Census bureau announced it would end field data collection a month earlier on Sept. 30. Clevelands resolution asks the city Law Department to join a suit in federal court in California that accuses the Trump administration of improperly rushing to complete the decennial population count by Sept. 30. The suit was filed earlier this month by the National Urban League, League of Woman Voters, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, and several local government officials. Several other urban centers including Harris County, Texas (where Houston is located), King County, Washington (home to Seattle), Los Angeles and San Jose, California, have joined the action. The resolution urges local civil rights groups to also join the suit. Jackson gave his approval to the resolution Wednesday, signing it shortly after City Councils meeting. The administration has not yet decided if Cleveland will take legal action. The suit is one of several challenging the administrations handling of the census. Among the others are one in a Manhattan federal court led by New York that involves 20 other states. Californias attorney general recently challenged a Trump executive order that undocumented immigrants not be counted by the Census. Census data is used to determine representation in Congress and to draw legislative districts for the Ohio General Assembly. An undercount could reduce Ohios representation in Congress and Clevelands voice in the Ohio General Assembly. The data also is determining how billions of federal dollars are divvied up for programs like food assistance, health care and education, the resolution states. It also ultimately could affect how residents in Clevelands neighborhoods are represented on City Council, Polensek noted. Since at least 1914, the year the citys first charter took effect, each council member has represented about 25,000 constituents -- even when the citys population was well over twice what it is today. When Polensek joined the council in the late 70s, there were 33 members. But as Clevelands population declined, so did the size of City Council. A charter change approved in 2008 tied the number of seats to Census counts and pegging each ward to a population of 25,000. But undercounts would reduce representation by leading to fewer members, something Polensek argues already has happened. More from Cleveland City Hall Play it Forward Cleveland to return, seeks instrument donations for second year of free lessons for youth Legislation targets $14 million at rebuilding three key roadways in Cleveland Cleveland City Council legislation would press state to allow more drop boxes for voters, contemplates legal action City of Cleveland bans tailgating before Browns home games Clevelands law director asked to restrain City Council from investigating Cleveland Public Power critic LITCHFIELD Earth Wisdom: Spirit, Soil, Sacred Search is the theme of three events set for Sept. 12 at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center. Each of these events will explore and celebrate the wisdom of planet Earth with a focus on Earth Spirituality, a celebration of Earth Soil with a Land Conservation Easement sign unveiling ceremony, plus an introductory Artist Talk on a highly-visual photo gallery reflection on peoples Sacred Search for a place to live, said Deborah Kelly, executive director. A workshop, Earth Wisdom: Spirit: Spiritual Visions of Reality, runs from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and will be presented by John Grim, Ph.D, a senior lecturer and research scholar at Yale University. Grim will explore the insights and vision of Thomas Berry and Teilhard de Chardin, according to a statement. The workshop is $30 per person and includes lunch. Grim, the co-founder and director of the Forum on Religion at Yale University, will draw from his new biography of American geologian Thomas Berry to explain Teilhards deep influence on Berry as well as both thinkers similarities and differences, according to the statement. Grim has appointments at Yale University in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, the Yale Divinity School, and the Department of Religious Studies and Center for Bioethics. He directs Yales program in Religion and Ecology and organized conferences of World Religion and Ecology for the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School, according to the statement. Earth Wisdom: Soil, a ceremony at 1:30 p.m., celebrates the conservation easement of 54 acres by the Daughters of Wisdom at Wisdom House, in collaboration with the nonprofit Litchfield Land Trust. The conservation easement will protect the 54 acres from development and thereby, protect its natural soil, ecosystem, streams, native wildlife, and birds that depend on this land, according to land trust members. The Daughters of Wisdom will continue to own the land which will be protected in perpetuity. Ceremony presenters will include Kelly, land trust president John Markelon, and Rosemarie Greco, DW, former executive director of Wisdom House. Guests are asked to gather outside the Farm House overlooking the Labyrinth where the land trust easement sign will be unveiled. Attendees are asked to wear face masks and observe social distancing during this free event. Earth Wisdom: Sacred Search will feature a free artist talk from 3-5 p.m. with A Place for You photographer Lee Cantelon of Northfield. Cantelons internationally-impactful A Place For You exhibit features photos taken during his three years of travel throughout Nigeria to document women and girls rescued or released from being held hostage by the Boko Haram, according to a statement. Cantelons photos are of displaced women and their children who are victims of Fulani violence. Understanding the meaning of being internally displaced is the theme of the exhibit showing how people search for security and peace in both their external and internal world here in the West and the far reaches of the world, Cantelon said in the statement. Face masks and registration for each event are required. Social distancing will be in place. To register, call Wisdom House at 860-567-3163, or visit www.wisdomhouse.org. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Exports of electrical goods from Turkey to Uzbekistan plunged by 41.01 percent in the first seven months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, standing at $24.6 million, the Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend. In July 2020, Turkish exports of electrical goods to Uzbekistan made up $4.8 million, which is a 32.88 percent decrease in comparison to July last year. The export of electrical goods from Turkey to international markets declined by 9.8 percent from January through July 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to nearly $5.7 billion. Turkeys export of electrical products amounted to 6.3 percent of the country's total exports over this period. Turkey exported the electrical goods worth $988 million to foreign markets in July 2020, which is 4.3 percent more compared to the same month of 2019. Meanwhile, the Turkish export of electrical products in July 2020 made up 6.6 percent of the country's total export. Over the past 12 months (from July 2019 through July 2020), Turkey exported the electrical goods in the amount of over $10.6 billion abroad. Whether its the fact that every single person has a lot less to do these days, everyones stuck in the house, or because of the release of Midnight Sun, the second Twilight renaissance is upon us. While the 10-year anniversary of the first film happened in 2018, 2020 is seeing a major resurgence in Twilight popularity. From TikToks to non-stop watch parties of the series on Twitter, sparkly vampires are back in. And while traveling isnt something that many can do safely right now, its easy to fantasize about where to go after the COVID-19 pandemic. Twilight fans are in luck, because theres a whole town, and more, that caters to the world of the Cullens. Here are a few places fans can visit in real life. Volterra, Italy, a spot from New Moon, the second book in the Twilight saga | Alani Vargas RELATED: Robert Pattinson Thought These 2 Shocking Endings Could Happen for Edward and Bella After the Twilight Saga 1. Bella Swans Residence This is probably one of the most immersive experiences one could have as a Twilight fan, aside form going to Forks itself. While the series takes place in Forks, WA, the first movie was filmed in Oregon, meaning that a lot of the buildings on this list wont be in the famous small, wet town. However, dont get discouraged, because Bella Swans house is a place people can visit and actually stay at. According to Insider, the house is located in Saint Helens, OR, which is around 30 miles north of Portland. Its an Airbnb that leans into Twilight completely. The house is decked out in replicas from the film from the roof to the basement, including Bellas film-accurate room decor and near-accurate bedspread. The quilt her mom gave her is there, and even the living room looks like the humble abode Charlie Swan lived in. Its an ultimate bucket list activity for fans of the franchise. 2. The Cullen house Another house you can visit is the one belonging to Edward Cullen and his family. Again, its not in Forks but in Portland, Oregon. Judging from video and photos of the house and the route to get to it, it will surely transport you into the world of Twilight with its wooded area. Its known as the Hoke House because it belonged to John Hoke, a director of footwear design at Nike. It actually was brand new when they filmed the movie; according to HomeDesignLover.com, the house was built in 2006 and finished in 2007; the movie came out in 2008. Since it is private property and not an Airbnb like Bellas house, you cant reenact the Hold on tight, spider monkey scene. But you can in your heart. 3. Forks High School (spoiler: its not in Forks) Again, the Forks High School seen in the movies was in Oregon because of where the filming took place. Whats interesting here, though, is the fact that two different high schools were used to make up the Forks High seen in Twilight. If you want to get a nice exterior Instagram shot, pretending Tyler Crowley is about to kill you with his massive van, youd want to head to Kalama High School in Kamala, WA. Kamala is a 40-minute drive or so from Portland. And the interior parts in the cafeteria were filmed in Madison High School in Portland. So if you want the actual experience, Kalama High is where you should go. 4. Bella Italia restaurant So this one is a real place, but from the novel. After Bella goes to Port Angeles with Jessica and Angela, she separates from them and finds herself being hunted by some human men, go figure. Edward arrives just in time, and the two of them head to the Bella Italia restaurant. While this is also in the movie, the actual restaurant that Bella and Edward would have gone to in Port Angeles is the authentic one you can eat at. So if you do end up in Port Angeles, you can go to this exact spot. Order some mushroom ravioli and coke, will ya? 5. Forks, WA This one is self-explanatory. With other franchises like Harry Potter or Star Wars, fans have to pay big bucks to go to the real-life equivalent of these fictional worlds. But for fans of Twilight, Forks has been here from the beginning and is just a quaint little town in Washington. And the best thing is that its basically turned into a museum for Twilight. From themed hotels to special tours and events, the town is a Twilight fans dream. 6. First Beach, La Push According to LocationsHub.com, the production team for Twilight planned on filming at the actual First Beach in La Push (like in the book). However, it was too far away from everything else they were doing in Oregon. This is when they turned to Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Oregon. This is where Bella goes with her high school friends and Jacob Black tells her about the Cold Ones, aka the Cullens aka vampires. 7. Volterra, Italy Lastly, if youre really adventurous or already planning on being in Italy, head on over to Volterra. This is where the Volturi are headquartered in New Moon and the actual city is truly a sight to behold. Now, the movies were filmed in Montepulciano, Italy. Both are in Tuscany, so theyre quite similar. However, Volterra is where the real magic is. The town really leaned into the whole Twilight thing, much like Forks. There are New Moon-themed tours and the information center has a ton of Twilight souvenirs. Its a lot of fun to be in the places that are prominent in the book, especially the clock tower and the steep streets. Twilight has such a mystical quality for fans, and these places will not disappoint. RELATED: Robert Pattinson Almost Ruined Twilight in The Early Stages of Making The Movie CHICAGO State officials have begun the process of applying for the Lost Wages Assistance grant program created earlier this month by President Donald Trump. But there is not yet a timeline for Illinois workers laid off during the coronavirus pandemic to start seeing any supplemental $300 weekly payments. Illinois is one of 18 states that have not yet been approved for the program, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Trump tasked the agency with administering the program using $44 billion in disaster relief funds. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state is not yet able to implement the program but his administration is seeking to do so in the future. "We have begun that process," Pritzker said Tuesday at a press conference. "It takes a lot of setup on an internal basis to move forward with that, so that's what we've been doing." Trump authorized the Lost Wages Assistance program on Aug. 8 after last month's expiration of the $600-a-week federal unemployment insurance supplement created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act. The first states received FEMA approval for the new program on Aug. 15. On Aug. 17, Arizona became the first state to begun issuing funds to eligible workers. More than $14 billion in grants have been awarded so far, according to the agency. When asked about any timeline for disbursing money to Illinoisans, Pritzker's spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh said in an email Wednesday that the administration was working through the process and hoped to be able to provide an update before the end of the week. RELATED: Weekly U.S. Jobless Claims Jump Back Above 1 Million Nationwide, there are more than 28 million people claiming benefits under unemployment insurance programs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois has seen an increase of more than 900 percent in its number of unemployment claims. Story continues Last month, the state's unemployment rate fell by more than 3 points to 11.3 percent, according to provisional federal data. The Illinois Department of Economic Security reported nearly 30,000 new unemployment claims in the second week of August, the most recent data available. Earlier in the month, the state unemployment agency announced it would provide an additional 20 weeks of benefits for those who have already received six months of unemployment insurance benefits. RELATED: Additional Federal Aid For Illinois Less Certain As Trump Says No 'Bailout Of Badly Run Blue States' Americans have become increasingly pessimistic in their economic outlook over the past two months. The Consumer Confidence Index fell to its lowest level in more than six years this month, according to the New York research organization Conference Board. The index is 36 percent below its February level, with consumers reporting their employment and business situations both getting significantly worse. "Consumers' optimism about the short-term outlook, and their financial prospects, also declined and continues on a downward path," said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board, in a statement announcing the results Tuesday. "Consumer spending has rebounded in recent months but increasing concerns amongst consumers about the economic outlook and their financial well-being will likely cause spending to cool in the months ahead." This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch Hurricane Laura is expected to intensify before striking the upper part of Texas Wednesday night, and it's causing mandatory evacuations and closures for the state's oil industry. The Golden Pass LNG project being jointly developed in Port Arthur by ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum told Upstream Online that as of Monday evening, only a limited amount of crew members remained onsite to complete storm prep. By Monday night, the city had issued a mandatory evacuation order. Upstream Online reported that to prepare for the storm, Golden Pass LNG has cleared barges from the off-loading facility, lowered piling rigs, closed all openings in the levee to ensure full enclosure around the site, and preparing the shoreline protection by adding rock armouring. HURRICANE HACKS: The 10 most essential hurricane hacks to prepare your family Reuters reported that Laura poses the biggest threat to the oil industry since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and as of Tuesday morning, Motiva Enterprises, Total and Valero Energy had all started cutting operations at their Port Arthur refineries. The three refineries together process more than 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil. ExxonMobil reduced production at its 369,000 bpd refinery in Beaumont. If it ends up closing, it would bring down total shutdowns to more than 1.5 million bpd. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement estimates that about 84.3 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut down. There will be a significant storm surge from Galveston to the Sabine River, DTN meteorologist Chris Kerr told Reuters. There are ideal conditions in central and west Gulf for rapid intensification. Find preparation tips, alerts to follow, and more storm news in Chron.com's Hurricane Guide. Found this article interesting? Follow THN on Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. Hackers always find a way in, even if there's no software vulnerability to exploit.The FBI has arrested a Russian national who recently traveled to the United States and offered $1 million in bribe to an employee of a targeted company for his help in installing malware into the company's computer network manually., 27-year-old, entered the United States as a tourist and was arrested in Los Angeles after meeting with the unnamed employee of an undisclosed Nevada-based company numerous times, between August 1 to August 21, to discuss the conspiracy."On or about July 16, EGOR IGOREVICH KRIUCHKOV used his WhatsApp account to contact the employee of victim company and arranged to visit in person in the District of Nevada," the court documents say."On or about July 28, EGOR IGOREVICH KRIUCHKOV entered the United States using his Russian Passport and a B1/B2 tourist visa."Kriuchkov also asked the employee to participate in developing tailored malware by sharing information about the company's infrastructure.According to court documents released by the US Justice Department, the malicious software Kriuchkov asked to install aims to extract data from the company's network, allowing attackers to threaten it later to make the information public unless it pays a ransom.Kriuchkov and his co-conspirators in Russia promised the employee to pay $1 million in Bitcoins after successfully planting the said malware and offered to launch a DDoS attack on the company's network to divert attention from the malware."If CHS1 [employee] agreed to this arrangement, the group would provide the malware to CHS1 [employee] in either a thumb drive to be inserted into a computer's USB drive or an email with an attachment containing malware.""The unidentified co-conspirator discussed various means by which to pay the employee, including payments using cryptocurrency, a guarantor security deposit, or cash.""After being contacted by the FBI, Kriuchkov drove overnight from Reno, Nevada, to Los Angeles. Kriuchkov asked an acquaintance to purchase an airline ticket for him in an attempt to fly out of the country," the United States agencies say.After getting arrested by the FBI, who was conducting physical surveillance of Kriuchkov and his meetings, he listed prior companies the gang had targeted and also revealed that each of these targeted companies had a person working at those companies who installed malware on behalf of the gang.To be noted, it's quite possible that a few high-profile ransomware and data breach attacks might have been executing in the same way by conspiring with the insiders.Kriuchkov has been charged with one count of conspiracy to cause damage to a protected computer intentionally. Coronavirus has left an impact on everyones life. With India entering the sixth month of living with the new normal, the situation remains stagnant. Maharashtra, one of the worst-hit states of India has been battling the pandemic since the beginning. Many have reached out to help one another, however, Mauris Noronhas efforts since March has been noteworthy. A businessman by profession and a philanthropist by passion, Noronha, a resident of Borivalis IC Colony has dedicated himself to the task of caring for societys most vulnerable segments. What started as help that he extended to his society members comprising of 120 odd families, from the time the lockdown began, he has provided essential supplies and provisions to a lot of needy individuals in every corner of Mumbai. From Cuffe Parade to Virar and stretching as far north in Palghar, Ahmednagar, Shirdi, Pune and Nasik, we have supplied essentials everywhere, says Noronha. As the impact of the lockdown on societys weakest sections became apparent, Noronha has made it his mission to reach out to as many in need as possible, drawing solely from his savings that he was accumulating to migrate to the USA. In addition, he was also planning to clear his housing loan, which has now been postponed. I initiated a door-to-door campaign in the worst-hit slums of Mumbai. We initially focused on Borivali and Dahisar, and my team personally visited zero-income families in these areas with daily and weekly deliveries of food supplies. By April, this initiative had provided vital rations to lakhs of individuals across an approximate of 35,000 households and more than 2 lakh individuals, he shares. Working throughout the day, Noronha has also begun to extend his aid in other ways. We have started to distribute vital medical supplies and protective equipment to ambulance staffers and auto-rickshaw drivers in the region and helped stranded migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar navigate the bureaucratic requirements necessary to return to their homes, he adds. Through his efforts and without taking any donations from anybody, Noronha has stepped up for the people in these difficult times.One can reach out to Noronha on Facebook and Instagram to seek support. Judge denies attempts to shutter Grace Community Church; MacArthur condemns 'misuse of power' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A California court has once again sided with Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church, denying the County of Los Angeles renewed application for a temporary restraining order against the church for holding indoor worship services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In California Superior Court on Tuesday, Judge Mitchell Beckloff concluded that the countys attempt to obtain a restraining order did not meet statutory requirements and that the Court of Appeals' order did not justify a new temporary restraining order. The next scheduled hearing on the original lawsuit filed by the church against the county and the countersuit filed by the county against the church will take place Sept. 4. Thomas More Society Special Counsel Paul Jonna applauded the court for "correctly" concluding that Los Angeles Countys "renewed application for a temporary restraining order was both procedurally and substantively defective." "This was their fourth unsuccessful attempt to obtain a court order prohibiting indoor worship services at Grace Community Church," Jonna said. "We look forward to fully vindicating our clients constitutionally protected rights in subsequent proceedings for this important case. County officials had attempted to get a court order to shutter MacArthurs Sun Valley-based church, which has been holding in-person worship services since last month in violation of orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has mandated that churches in some counties refrain from indoor services amid the pandemic. In a declaration released Monday, MacArthur argued that the county is attempting to impede on his and his congregations free exercise of religion by criminalizing activity directly required by our faith. As a church, we have a moral and religious obligation to continue allowing our congregants to gather in our sanctuary to worship the Lord, the pastor said, adding that the church is the core of life for thousands from nursery to seniors. Our church is not an event center. It is a family of lives who love and care for each other in very intensely personal ways, he said. So essential to personal well-being that people rushed back as soon as they could. The utter unnecessary deprivation of all our people by completely shutting down the mutual love and care that sustains our people in all the exigencies, pressures and challenges of life, was cruel. MacArthur argued that after 63 years of sacrificial, kindness to our city, to be repeatedly threatened with court-ordered efforts to shut the church down when no one is sick reveals an inexplicable preference for a mostly harmless virus over the life-enriching and necessary fellowship of the church. Our leaders and congregation see no real health threat to warrant such restraint. We see this action against us as an illegitimate misuse of power, he concluded. Following the hearing, MacArthur said the church is very grateful to Judge Beckloff for his reasoned opinion and for taking great care to review this very important matter. As I said in my declaration to the court, we see this action against us as an illegitimate misuse of power, he said. It should shock the conscience of every Christian that churches are coming under assault from our own government simply for holding church. Church is essential. Los Angeles officials had argued that in-person worship services could contribute to the spread of the coronavirus. Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reportedly threatened MacArthur with repercussions such as fines and even possible arrest if his church doesnt comply with state orders. However, MacArthur and the elders at Grace Community Church have argued that it's the churchs biblical duty to remain open. We are a church that has a reputation for the last 50 years of obeying the government, the pastor said in a recent interview with Fox News Shannon Bream. We are a friend to this society, to every level of this society. We have been given awards and accolades and plaques from the city government, the police department, all in authority, because they recognize what an honorable congregation this church has been. But never before has the government invaded the territory the belongs only to the Lord Jesus Christ and told us we can't meet, we can't worship, we can't sing." There's no power given to the government to make those kinds of calls against us. ... We love our neighbors. We're not spreading anything but the Gospel, MacArthur said, noting that out of 7,000 church members, no one has had any effect if theyve had COVID. Rockwell Automation, a leading company dedicated to industrial automation and information technology, today announced its partnership with Intech Process Automation, a renowned system integrator and automation solution provider for the oil and gas sector globally. For more than 20 years, Intech Process Automation has helped major oil and gas customers to solve their most pressing issues of instrumentation, control, and electrical automation. With this Solution Partner agreement, Intech Process Automation is now authorized to deliver Rockwell Automation solutions and services in the UAE, a statement said. In line with Rockwell Automations strategy for growth in the Middle East, this solid partnering with Intech Process Automation will meet the growing needs of the Middle Eastern market. Rockwell Automation and Intech Process Automation teams will work closely to provide solutions, services and greater value to the customers in the UAE. Congratulating on this agreement, Assem Salaam, Country Sales Director, Gulf at Rockwell Automation said, We are very pleased to have Intech Process Automation joining our PartnerNetwork as Solution Partner. This is an important milestone achieved in the region and we believe it will bring great value to our customers in the United Arab Emirates. With this partnership, we will strengthen our overall position in the Middle East and enhance our solutions availability to our customers in the region. As a new Solution Partner of Rockwell Automation, Intech Process Automation is now able to deliver an extensive package of Rockwell Automations solutions in several industrial automation categories. Becoming a Solution Partner for Rockwell Automation in the UAE is an important progression for our company. We are looking forward to accelerating the modernization of industrial facilities in the UAE, through Rockwell Automations innovative solutions. Our team of professionals is committed to provide superior value to our customers and enable them to achieve an efficient production. said Huseyn Tarek, Senior Vice President at Intech Process Automation.-TradeArabia News Service Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday took a dim view of the letter written by some leaders to interim president Sonia Gandhi calling for "visible and active" leadership, which set off a storm in the grand old party. He also said it would have been better had these leaders raised the issue in the Congress Working Committee(CWC) forum instead of writing the letter and "leaking" it in the media. "I am neither a member of the CWC nor have I seen the letter. But about five of the signatories (of the letter) are members of the CWC, and as per the Congress' constitution any member of the CWC can request for a discussion which can take place before the committee. "But writing a letter and leaking it in the media is not proper," the Rajya Sabha MP told reporters in Jabalpur. A controversy erupted recently over the letter written by 23 Congress leaders to Sonia Gandhi in which they called for far-reaching reforms within the party, such as having a"full time, active and visible" leadership, devolution of powers to state units and revamping the CWC in line with the party constitution. The letter was criticised at the CWC meeting held on Monday where the party leaders urged Sonia Gandhi to continue to hold her post until an AICC session can be convened. Meanwhile, Singh also opposed the scheduled NEET, JEE exams amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. "With the limited facility for coronavirus tests in the country and steady rise in the number of cases, (I feel)one need to approach the supreme court for review of the decision on (holding) these examination," he said. As per the public notices issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA), JEE (Main) April 2020 is scheduled from September 1-6, while NEET UG 2020 exam is scheduled for September 13. The Supreme Court recently dismissed a plea seeking postponement of JEE (Main) April 2020 and NEET-Undergraduate examinations amid spurt in number of COVID-19 cases, saying precious year of students "cannot be wasted" and life has to go on. Referring to the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to induct MPs and MLAs as members of cooperative bodies, the Congress leader said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was"compelled to placate legislators who failed to get berths inthe state cabinet". She recently finished her two weeks of quarantine after returning from a holiday in Spain with her husband Mark Wright. And Michelle Keegan teased fans on Tuesday as she shared a sneak peek of a new project at a photoshoot. The Our Girl actress, 33, looked stunning as she slipped into a skintight catsuit to showcase her toned figure. Exciting: Michelle Keegan teased fans on Tuesday as she shared a sneak peek of a new project at a photo shoot The star stood against a blue silk screen with her hair blowing in the wind as she showed off her enviable physique. Michelle, who is married to Mark, 33, said in the caption: 'Shot something really exciting today, can't wait for you guys to see!' She also shared a snap of herself getting her hair and makeup done by her team as she prepared for the shoot. Stylish: She also shared a snap of herself getting her hair and makeup done by her team as she prepared for the shoot Isolation: She recently finished her two weeks of quarantine after returning from a holiday in Spain with her husband Mark, 33 (pictured in 2017) Over: BBC drama Our Girl has been axed and won't be returning for a fifth series following Michelle's exit from the show It was revealed earlier this month that her BBC drama Our Girl has been axed and won't be returning for a fifth series following her exit from the show. BBC bosses and the show's creative team announced they had opted to end the military drama series following the 33-year-old star's departure from the role of lead character, Sergeant Georgie Lane. Our Girl creator Tony Grounds told Radio Times: 'With the finale of series four showing Georgie ready to move on with her life, it feels like the right time for us to do the same.' Out and about: Former TOWIE star Mark was seen running errands in Essex earlier in the day Safety comes first: The hunk sported a protective face mask as he held onto a series of shopping bags Working up a sweat: The media personality showcased his athletic prowess as he did a light jog in the car park Despite this, Tony admitted he'd be keen to reunite with Michelle at some stage in the future. He explained: 'Michelle and I are keen to continue our working relationship and, who knows, maybe we'll catch up with Georgie in the future. 'I wanted to say a big thank you to the fans of the show, it's been a joy to write.' Piers Wenger, the controller of BBC Drama, added: 'We are very proud of Our Girl and would like to thank Tony Grounds, Michelle Keegan and the fantastic cast and crew for all their hard work on the show.' How sweet: The presenter handed over a bouquet of flowers to his mother-in-law Jacqueline Low-key: Cutting a casual figure, he opted for a Texas T-shirt by Nike, dark jeans and white trainers Helping hand: The TV star finished off packing things up while Michelle's mum sat in the passenger's seat In January Michelle quit Our Girl after series four of the drama, revealing she was keen to spend more time in the UK and 'explore other opportunities' in her career. She played British army medic Georgie on the show for three seasons but plans to leave in order to spend more time in the UK. The demanding filming schedule of the show had seen the Stockport born star travel to South Africa, Nepal and Malaysia for several months of filming a year. By PTI BENGALURU: Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park announced on Wednesday that an elephant calf will be named as 'Sudha' to acknowledge the contribution of Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy towards the cause of wildlife conservation. Executive Director of BBP, Vanashree Vipin Singh said Sudha Murthy has consented to the proposal. The elephant named 'Suvarna', aged 45, gave birth to the female calf on August 17, taking the elephant population at BBP to 25. Sudha Murthy, author, social worker and wife of co- founder of Bengaluru-headquartered IT major Infosys Ltd, N R Narayana Murthy, marked her 70th birthday on August 19. Infosys Foundation is the philanthropic and corporate social responsibility arm of the company. "In BBP, Infosys Foundation has contributed towards execution of work of Tiger enclosure, Zebra enclosure, Giraffe enclosure, borewell and addressing drinking water storage and staff welfare through their resources," Vanashree said. Sudha Murthy used to personally visit BBP and monitor the work, she said adding, its staff still remember her involvement. Officials said many wildlife conservation enthusiasts suggested to name the baby calf as Sudha since Sudha Murthy extended the Foundation's helping hand for development of BBP and Binkadakatti mini zoo near the district headquarters town of Gadag in Karnataka. Housing nearly 2,300 animals of 101 different species, the government-run BBP, spread over 731.88 hectares, has a zoo, safari, butterfly park and rescue centre. The Roseburg man suspected of shooting cars along Interstate 5 in Oregon from his UPS tractor-trailer rig remained in jail Tuesday on $1 million bail. Kenneth Ayers, 49, has pleaded not guilty to charges filed in Jackson County after his arrest last week 60 miles from where a woman was shot in her car heading north between Gold Hill and Central Point. The charges include counts of attempted murder, assault and unlawful use of a weapon. A grand jury is expected to return an indictment this week, said Virginia Greer, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. State police said investigators believe Ayers shot at least seven vehicles on I-5 while driving his UPS truck -- in Josephine County on May 12, June 22 and July 9; Jackson County on June 2 and last Wednesday; and Douglas County on June 15 and July 7. Authorities havent released the specific locations. State Police Capt. Tim Fox last week said investigators also were looking into another shooting in Jackson County that wasnt along the interstate but declined to provide more information. The charges Ayers faces so far are in connection with one of the interstate shootings in Jackson County -- the one last Wednesday -- and a separate shooting July 9 in Jackson County that injured a man. The same .45-caliber gun was used in both shootings, police said. No charges have been filed in Douglas or Josephine counties as of Tuesday morning. State police and prosecutors have declined to comment on a possible motive. Kenneth Ayers, 49, was booked into Jackson County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon and other charges. Police obtained a search warrant for Ayers truck and found a .45-caliber gun consistent with the gun used in the shootings, Fox said. They had been investigating a possible link between the shootings and a UPS truck when they found Ayers, according to state police. The shootings began shortly after Ayers route changed and sent him from Roseburg south on I-5 and also along Oregon 140 and Oregon 62, police said. Before that, Ayers traveled north from Roseburg toward Portland. UPS declined to comment Tuesday on the investigation, Ayers route change or if he is still employed by the company. Ayers was appointed a public defender. A message left at a number listed for the attorney Tuesday wasnt immediately returned. The Associated Press contributed to this report. -- K. Rambo krambo@oregonian.com @k_rambo_ Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Election 2020 New Ethnic Faces Dot Myanmars 2020 Election Landscape -- YANGONEver since the Union Election Commission (UEC) announced Novembers election, Myanmars political parties have been gearing up their preparations for the upcoming campaign. The UEC said more than 7,000 people across the country have submitted application forms as candidates. Who are these candidates? According to the political parties social media accounts, many are young, educated and new to politics. The Irrawaddy spoke with seven of the new faces representing major ethnic parties the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and the Arakan Nation Party as well as the merged ethnic parties from Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon and Chin states. They shared with The Irrawaddy their ambitious plans and challenges for the 2020 election, their thoughts about the political landscape beyond 2020 and how they would contribute to the countrys democratic reforms. Name: Seng Nu Pan Party: Kachin State Peoples Party (KSPP) Constituency: Lower House of Parliament Myitkyina Township, Kachin State Age: 24 Education: Bachelor of laws (LL.B), Myitkyina University The Irrawaddy: You have been involved in many issues relating to human rights, especially those that concern the problem of internally displaced persons [IDPs] in Kachin State. Why have you decided to seek a seat in the upcoming election? Seng Nu Pan: From my vantage point, I dont see any lawmaker in Parliament who is consistently focused on issues related to youth and women. I led the team that drafted a youth policy for the country. When we approached lawmakers to introduce the policy, we found that many of them were quite unresponsive to us. Many of them are only working within their party framework. Because our issue is not a part of their party agenda, they wont focus on it. I believe that it is time for young people to enter the Hluttaw who represent young voices and feelings, and who are also willing to speak out on issues and challenges. At the same time, so many things need to be tackled in Kachin. There are issues of unemployment, human rights, drugs and simple public safety. Thats why I decided to the contest the upcoming election. The Irrawaddy: What would you like to do if you are elected as a lawmaker? Seng Nu Pan: I will primarily focus on issues confronting youth and women. We have a youth policy but still dont apply it. Firstly, I will work together with other young lawmakers to put that policy into motion. The young candidates from merged ethnic parties the Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon and Chin have already discussed it. So, that puts us in a strong position. I will also push Parliament to enact a policy relating to rights for women. The other important issue is how the budget is allocated to our state. As you already know, natural resources from Kachin State provide billions of dollars in revenue for the country. But we only see a small fraction of those revenues coming back to Kachin. The national government should be investing in education, health and social security since our natural resources provide so much of the overall revenue. If I am elected as a lawmaker, I will call for tripling the amount budgeted for Kachin State. The Irrawaddy: There are so many homegrown Kachin parties in Kachin. Why do you want to contest under the KSPP? And what would be your favorite policy of the KSPP? Seng Nu Pan: The party has come together through collaboration by all the stakeholders in Kachin, including religious, cultural [and] social [groups], civil societies and think tanks. When it comes to policy, it has taken a strong stand to promote young people and involve them in decision making. Its also worth noting that the party grants 30 percent participation to young people when it comes to choosing candidates. I came in to the party because I like those policies. The Irrawaddy: What are your biggest challenges ahead of the election? Seng Nu Pan: There are many challenges, especially COVID-19 rules and regulations for public gatherings. The ruling party can use state-owned media for its campaign. And the other major parties can generate attention through mainstream media for their campaigns. But for ethnic parties like us, it will be very difficult. The main challenge is finances. We cant spend as much money on the campaign as they do. But our goal is to implement political reforms for the people in Kachin. Some have criticized my candidacy because of my age. They think that I am too young to become a lawmaker. And some think that I dont have enough political experience. But if people look carefully at my background, they will find that I firmly stand for the IDPs in Kachin. I faced a lawsuit and was almost sent to jail. I was also involved in the reform of education laws. Age and experience aside, I believe that anyone who really wants to implement reforms and is capable of speaking out for their country, state and the people should be given a place in the political arena. The Irrawaddy: Do you have a message youd like to send to the voters in your constituency? Seng Nu Pan: I am prepared to raise Kachin States issues effectively in the Parliament if I am elected. I already have a strategic plan for what I am going to do for the people during the coming five years. To carry out those tasks, I need support from the voters. I would like to say that people need to vote for MPs who really want to carry out reforms for the people. U Maw Htun Aung Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) Upper House of Parliament Muse Township, northern Shan state Age: 37 MA in social policy and social development, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Master of public administration, Cornell University The Irrawaddy: You have been involved in natural resources policy reform for many years. Why have you decided to seek office in the upcoming election? U Maw Htun Aung: I have worked on policy reform in natural resources and the environment for more than 10 years. I have experience in working with the government ministers and Hluttaws [legislative houses]. And that work has met with some success. But in the current situation of our country, I am not satisfied with the results. In the countrys current situation, we must take 10 steps while others are taking one. I think our progress and pace [of reform] have been too slow. Some might say the pace of reform is slow due to the 2008 Constitution, but thats not the only factor. Some of the obstacles to reform have little to do with the Constitution. The 2008 Constitution does not have many restrictions when it comes to reforming administrative law. I want to speed the pace of reform. My age and environmental experience put me in a position to help carry out the needed reforms. So I decided to seek office in the election. The Irrawaddy: What would you like to do if you are elected as a lawmaker? U Maw Htun Aung: First of all, I think that we need to focus on the state [issues]. As you know, there is a need for greater harmony between different ethnic communities. There are also issues related to land grabbing and the rule of law. Rule of law cannot be overemphasized. It affects our daily lives. And keep in mind the issue of life in a conflict zone as well. I think we need to put more efforts into addressing the health and education problems facing IDPs. Whatever we do, we need to focus on the needs of the indigenous people. There will of course be border-related issues as well. Secondly, there are special concerns because Muse is a border town with China. China-backed mega projects such as a railway, economic zones and other infrastructure will be built in the area. And those projects will lead to unintended consequences such as human trafficking and other human rights issues. I will make use of my role in Parliament effectively to ensure that people are not harmed due to the projects. Another thing is the peace process. When it comes to peace, we have to work within the 2008 constitution. Lastly, we need to be aware of global issues such as climate change and the related issue of COVID-19. The number of natural disasters in the country has risen. Crops have been destroyed. The question is: Is our government prepared to face these challenges? There are policy issues that need to be addressed. We need to stay connected with the international community and keep an eye on what policies have been adopted to face climate change. Then we can lay the foundation for the best practices for the environment of our country in sustainable ways. I would like to push the government to get involved in a global approach to a global problem. The Irrawaddy: You are an ethnic Kachin. There are so many homegrown Kachin parties; why do you want to contest under theSNLD? And what would be your favorite policy of the SNLD? U Maw Htun Aung: When it comes to the federal system and ethnic affairs, the SNLDs policies are strong. They stand firm on what they say. They are men of their word. They have never hesitated in the promotion of federalism. Its also worth noting that the SNLD has decided to become a policy-based party on its 30th anniversary. The political principle of the party is always focused on the Panglong agreement. It is a party that recognizes the importance of the Panglong agreement in the forming of modern [Myanmar]. Based on these facts, these are in line with my political views, so I chose to be elected as a member of this party. The Irrawaddy: What are your biggest challenges ahead of the election? U Maw Htun Aung: It is important for the candidate to be the best representative of the region and the state. People will need a competent candidate because of the uncertain political contexts in Shan State and the uncertain situation with international relations. If other parties nominate qualified candidates, that will be a challenge for me. The Irrawaddy: Do you want to send any message to the voters in your constituency? U Maw Htun Aung: I chose this path not because someone forced me to take it, but because I want to represent our people in the region as a force for reform in our country. I also have an adequate education and work experience that can prove effective and bring about success. Based on my work experience, I have a solid understanding the process of policy reforms and how to overcome potential obstacles. I also want to say, I am not representing just one ethic group. I will be representing all the people, all races and religions here in my constituency. Given these points, you can count on me to work for you. Saw Min Min Myaing Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP) Upper House of Parliament Kawkareik Township, Karen State BA (Myanmar) The Irrawaddy: Why have you decided to seek office in the upcoming election? Saw Min Min Myaing: As a young man, I want to work for the best interests of our people and Karen State. So, I decided to seek election as a lawmaker. Serious feelings of inequality are a reality in ethnic areas, and that is one reason I decided to run. The Irrawaddy: What would you like to do if you are elected as a lawmaker? Saw Min Min Myaing: What we are facing here is that when the government announces a project or enacts a law, it does not take into account the needs of the people in Karen State. If I become an MP, I will object to the governments policies when they are not in the best interest of our people and our state. If those policies are good for our people, I will help them to carry them out effectively. For example, the government comes up with projects and from its point of view those projects will be beneficial. But in reality, those projects often do more harm than good. If I win the election, I will focus on those kinds of issues. Most importantly, I will do my best to prevent our ethnic nationalities from being harmed by ruling government policies. The Irrawaddy: Why did you choose to contest as part of the KNDP? And what would be your favorite policy of the KNDP? Saw Min Min Myaing: In 2010, there were more than four Karen parties. It was not easy for the parties to win the election with the vote split. I am one of the young men who pushed Karen parties to merge. Now, they have merged, so I decided to become involved in it. Equal rights and self-determination are the KNDPs primary goals. The Irrawaddy: What are your biggest challenges ahead of the election? Saw Min Min Myaing: I have many challenges because there are a lot of Mon in my constituency. There is the Mon party as well. At the same time, the National League for Democracy will also contest in my constituency. But I believe that if the Karen people are aware of current political conditions and understand how they can benefit from voting for Karen MPs from a Karen party, they will vote for us. The Irrawaddy: Do you want to send any message to the voters in your constituency? Saw Min Min Myaing: I put my faith in the Karen people in the 2020 election. People will decide who deserves their vote. As for me, I can assure them that I will be their voice in Parliament. U Tun Tun Naing Arakan National Party (ANP) Lower House of Parliament Ann Township, Rakhine State Age: 35 Master in Strategic Planning and Public Policy University of Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) The Irrawaddy: Why have you decided to seek office in the upcoming election? U Tun Tun Naing: Currently, we are facing a lot of issues and problems in Rakhine State, especially issues of development and social insecurity. I decided to run in support of the rights of the Rakhine people, self-determination, equality and our right to create our own destiny. I will speak from the Parliament to achieve those issues. Its also important to note that we have a lot of human rights violations in Rakhine State. And justice has not been delivered so far. I will push the Parliament to address these issues. My voice will reflect the voice of the Rakhine people in the Parliament. The Irrawaddy: What would you like to do if you are elected as a lawmaker? U Tun Tun Naing: The non-democratic provisions in the 2008 Constitution need to be amended. And we need a constitution that is acceptable to ethnic minorities. We need a government elected by the Rakhine people. We dont need someone who is directly chosen at the national level. We can carry out reforms to ensure the self-determination and equality that our ethnic groups are demanding. In Rakhine, there are things that need to change. In particular, there is no economic development. There are no job opportunities for the Rakhine people, and there is a lot of corruption in Rakhine State. I think we need to change those conditions. Another thing that needs to change in Rakhine is that women mostly spend time on household chores. I think that the role of women needs to be enhanced. The Irrawaddy: Why are you running as part of the ANP? And what would be your favorite policy of the ANP? U Tun Tun Naing: The ANP has formed to support the demands of the Rakhine people. It is focused on Rakhine nationalism, which is supported by most of the Rakhine people. I chose the party because the partys main aim is to create for the Rakhine people our own destiny. That is what we want the most. The Irrawaddy: What are your biggest challenges ahead of the election? U Tun Tun Naing: Our party is the most popular in Rakhine. I do not think that there are many challenges for me. If the election can take place fairly and securely, I do not think it will be that difficult. In the current political climate, the NLD has implemented some policies that the ethnic people do not want. They ignore the roles and rights of the ethnic people. In this regard, the role of ethnic parties is to keep working for the benefit of the ethnic state. In our country, we would get better results if ethnic parties worked together rather than being dominated by one big party. The Irrawaddy: Do you want to send any message to the voters in your constituency? U Tun Tun Naing: I will do my best for the Rakhine people, including Ann Township, without self-interest. There are conflicts and human rights violations in our state. I will call for parliament to solve those issues. I will try my best for the Rakhine people and their rights. Dr. Hein Paing Htoo Chit Mon Unity Party (MUP) Mon State parliament Mawlamyine Township, Mon State Age: 29 M.B.B.S University of Medicine (Magwe) The Irrawaddy: Why have you decided to seek office in the upcoming election? Dr. Hein Paing Htoo Chit: I graduated from Magway Medical University in 2014. After that, I volunteered to give medical treatment to people in far-flung ethnic areas. When I was there, I found myself in situations where my services as a physician could not be put to use because of systemic problems. People were in need, facing troubles right in front of me, but I could not help effectively because of the system. Since then, I realized we need systemic change. Without thinking about politics, I started to provide youth development training in 2016. By performing training and volunteer work, I came to realize there are inequalities everywhere in Myanmars ethnic areas. I also realized that in order to push for reforms that will erase inequality I needed to become involved in parliamentary politics. That led to a decision to run in the election. The Irrawaddy: What you would like to do if you are elected as a lawmaker? Dr. Hein Paing Htoo Chit: I think there are five things that need to be fixed at present in Mawlamyine Township. The first is education. We do not have enough institutions able to teach the required courses for young people. We also need to push to use ethnic mother tongue languages at school. When teaching in a language [Burmese] other than your own, it is less effective. Another issue is the environment. Floods occur in Mon State almost every year. We need to discover the root cause of that problem. In Mawlamyine, we also have a waste production problem. There is a lot of garbage in the town. The municipal government is unable to handle it. At the same time, we also need to tackle the drug problem here. That last one involves data accessibility. Most of the data relating to the problem are inaccessible. Some are not correct. Some are missing. We need to create a system that everyone can access. I think that we should address those issues as soon as we can. The Irrawaddy: Why do you want to contest as part of the MUP? And what would be your favorite policy of the MUP? Dr. Hein Paing Htoo Chit: Democracy only works if it can find both the voice of diversity and common interests. If you want to build a democratic system in the ethnic areas, you cannot exclude the ethnic people. So, ethnic parties need to be strengthened in the states. At the same time, the Mon party aims to develop the whole of Mon State. Because of this, I believed I needed to join the Mon party to further the development of the essence of democracy in Mon State. We have been discussing issues in a democratic way in the party. Moreover, the party is also working on the development of our mother tongue in the educational system and urging to ensure equal access to a quality education system in Mon. For me, those policies of the MUP are very appealing. The Irrawaddy: As a young candidate, what are your biggest challenges ahead of the election? Dr. Hein Paing Htoo Chit: As is typical of Myanmar, the main problem is my age. Many say that I am too young, but they are not thinking about what I have done and what I am capable of doing for the country. I think that we need to look at who can do what and what has been done. If you look at only our ages, then we are criticized that we have no political background. Discrimination will always be a factor, but it shouldnt be in a democracy. When it comes to carrying out democratic reforms, it does not depend on age alone. I think that they must look more closely at how that person can help Myanmars reforms and their vision for the countrys future. On a practical level, COVID-19 is also challenge for us as a new face in politics because of limits on public gatherings. The Irrawaddy: Do you want to send any message to the voters in your constituency? Dr. Hein Paing Htoo Chit: I want the people in Mawlamyine to see my dream of what Mawlamyine could be like in the future. I understand that public support will vary depending on the party. Some will have another party to choose. But, the future will depend on who can strengthen our democracy. In the long run, the people will give support to a party that understands equality and is focused on redressing grievances caused by inequalities. Maw Moe Myar Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP) Lower House of Parliament Shardaw Township, Kayah State Age: 27 B.A (Geo) The Irrawaddy: Why have you decided to seek office in the upcoming election? Maw Moe Myar: I have been demanding peace and the promotion of ethnic rights as an activist for the past six years. As you know, the existing laws do not provide for the rights and security of ethnic people. I believe that we need to put in place legal reforms in Parliament to ensure the long-term development of the ethnic peoples. So, I decided to run for Parliament. I have also learned that we need to make use of the forces of civil society when it comes to legal reforms. I come from a civil society organization background. I believe that if I am elected, I would be able to use my past experiences to bring the effective legal changes in Parliament. The Irrawaddy: What would you like to do if you are elected as a lawmaker? Maw Moe Myar: Our area is not very peaceful. Security in daily life and access to education are the most important for our people. We have been suffering inequalities in different sectors when compared with Burmese-dominated regions. We, the ethnic people, long for equal rights. To achieve equal rights, we need to achieve long lasting peace first. The first thing I want to do as lawmaker is to achieve peace in our state. The Irrawaddy: Why did you decide to run as part of the KySDP? And what would be your favorite policy of the KySDP? Maw Moe Myar: I chose the KySDP because the partys policies are in line with my beliefs. The party has in-depth knowledge about the state since it is a homegrown party. It also has a deep understanding about the political problems in the state. So we know what our people want. The party has seven goals and 12 policies. One of my favorites is that the party will work for decentralization in the administration. I am running for office because there are policies that need to be tailored to the local situation in Kayah State. The Irrawaddy: As a young candidate, what are your biggest challenges ahead of the election? Maw Moe Myar: I am a young woman. There are some who believe I would not be capable of taking on the task of reform. When I visit with local people, some older people question what I can do as a young woman and some even ask me if I have any real understanding of the cultural traditions of the Kayah people. But I have studied all those things carefully. I have studied what the local people want at the grassroots level. Because of my youth, I have had to work harder than more senior representatives to be taken seriously. As a young woman, I also face financial issues in the campaign. Because I was not involved in business in the past I spent my time as an activist I cannot spend as much money as the big parties. So I have to compensate with my strength and ability to make up for the lack of finances. I have many challenges, but I am preparing to work for the people to continue the reform process. The Irrawaddy: Do you want to send any message to the voters in your constituency? Maw Moe Myar: I would like to urge young people and women to become involved in development of our villages, townships and states. Because we have so many things needing to be changed. We also have a lot of obstacles. But we need to move forward. I already have plans to create opportunities for women to get involved in community development. I would like to ask young people and women to join and support our party so that we can strive to create a peaceful future together. Mai Lin Lin Tun Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD) Lower House of Parliament Matupi Township, Chin State Age: 37 MA (English) The Irrawaddy: Why have you decided to seek office in the upcoming election? Mai Lin Lin Tun: In Chin State, young people are not allowed to participate much in politics. The involvement of women in politics is also rare. I think we women should go into the political arena. I decided to enter politics because I want to urge and pave the way for young people to get involved in shaping our future. I also want to take responsibility for our state. In Chin State, there are many issues that need to be tackled. The education and health systems are extremely poor. There is not enough support from the government. I want to change those situations. The Irrawaddy: What would you like to do if you are elected as a lawmaker? Mai Lin Lin Tun: The most important thing is education reform. I also want to enhance the lives of women and young people in the state. I want to create job opportunities for them. In terms of education, the literacy rate is low in Chin State. There are not enough teachers. Students dont get support from the government. There are also language barriers. I want to find out how we can make policies that will change these situations. I think we need to gear up the policy reforms to address these problems. We have almost no job opportunities for the people. People in the state often go abroad for jobs. We need to create a system that builds job opportunities for them. I also want to add more provisions in the law to protect the rights of women and to enhance the roles of women in the Chin community. The Irrawaddy: Why did you decide to run as part of the CNLD? And what would be your favorite policy of the CNLD? Mai Lin Lin Tun: There are many Chin parties in our state. But I chose the CNLD because the party prioritizes the participation of women and youth. One of my favorite policies is the partys determination to strive for equality and self-determination for the Chin people. The Irrawaddy: As a young candidate, what are your biggest challenges ahead of the election? Mai Lin Lin Tun: Being a young woman is the biggest challenge for me. In Chin State, there is a stereotypical view that politics is only for men. People have also criticized me for not having any political experience. As a young person, I admit I have no experience in politics but I have willingness. I want to take responsibility for our state. Some critics questioned whether it is possible for a woman to do it. Its all about the skills. I think that they should look at whether you are capable to carry out the reforms. I think that it has to do with goodwill. The Irrawaddy: Do you want to send any message to the voters in your constituency? Mai Lin Lin Tun: Given the current situation, many people always say that this small party [the CNLD] cannot carry out reforms. I dont want them only to look at whether the party is big or small. I want them to look at which party can best serve Chin State and ethnic Chin people. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Military Chief Urges Personnel to Vote for Correct Candidates Suu Kyi Tells Her MPs They Depend on Partys Image Chief Minister of Myanmars Kayah State Targeted for Impeachment Over Spending, Land Allegations Former President John Dramani Mahama has managed to canvass some attention for himself over the past week for his plans to legalise the Okada business once reelected as president. Though the Okada business has not been one which is neither revered nor admired, several concerned Ghanaians have described it as risk which must be banned. Their reason remains that the number of Okada related accidents continue to soar. GhanaWeb hit the streets of Accra to gauge the mood of some Okada riders and how they have received former President Mahamas promise so far. Most riders who spoke to GhanaWeb were not only tired of the promises during the campaign seasons but were also unsure if the former president would actually follow through with the promise once hes given the chance. Some said the fact that he did not do anything about it while he was president some few years ago is a clear indication that he has never harboured the intentions to help them. They insisted that the former president was only up and about his usual promises. They arrested our motor bikes in their regime (NDC) and now he said when he comes, hell legalize because he needs the votes, he knows that Okada people were many, thats the reasonhe wants to use that channel. But the thing is you being president years back, you didnt legalise why now? one of the riders at Kwame Nkrumah Circle told GhanaWeb. However, there were a number of riders who still kept their glimmer of hope alive. They are of the view that John Dramani Mahama has spoken passionately about it thus he can at least attempt to tackle the legalization process. Another said, During Mahamas time, once police arrest you hell take at least GH30 but these days they take about GH100. If you dont have it thats the end of your dayThis is why I have faith that Mahama can actually fulfill his promise. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In a time of seemingly unending changes, not even area codes are going to be spared. Those served by the 217 area code will need to adjust to seeing local calls that begin with a strange set of numbers 447. The new area code will be an overlay to the existing area in order to ensure a continuing supply of phone numbers. The 217 area code covers 36 Illinois counties and has united a wide swath of the state through three digits. The region covered by the area code has not undergone any substantive changes since 1951. Brian Berns, creator of the the humorous 217 Problems social media page, said that he is seeing residents coming to realization that a 447 phone number will start to become more common. Berns said some people tend to associate an area having multiple area codes with larger cities such as Chicago Nobody would guess that you just ran out of phone numbers, Berns said. Berns said that the first two years may present a small identity crisis for people who are proud to be a part of the 217 particularly for teenagers who must undergo getting their first cell phone number without the well known first three digits. Now theres going to be a generation of 447 numbers coming, Berns said, Berns said he believes people will need a year or two to adjust to the new number, but people with 447 phone numbers may expect some light jabs in the meantime that they bare that mark of the outsider. A six-month permissive period will begin on Saturday to give consumers the time to adjust to the change. Local calls can be made with seven or 10 digits. Mandatory dialing where all local calls made in the area must be made using the 10-digit number will occur on Feb. 27. New phone lines or services may be assigned phone numbers with the 447 area code. Berns gave one piece of humorous advice to those fortunate enough to have a 217 number, Just remember that 447 people are people, too. PITTSBURGH--Staying away from those with contagious infections, no matter how lonely it gets, may not only be common sense, but a natural instinct. But that doesn't mean humans or animals will automatically fall in line. A study by Jessica Stephenson, head of Pitt's Stephenson Lab of Disease Ecology and Evolutionary Parasitology, examines the behaviors of guppies when introduced to an environment where they are placed near members of their species with infectious diseases. In the study an empty tank was flanked by one that contained a group of three guppies that represented potential contagion risk. Many guppies preferred the tank near other guppies, as expected from a social species. But some male guppies strongly avoided the side of the tank near the other fish and these distancing guppies were later shown to be highly susceptible to worm infections. Stephenson and coauthors revisited these findings in light of COVID-19 in the article "Emerging Infectious Disease and the Challenges of Social Distancing in Human and Non-Human Animals," which published Aug. 12 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B. Stephenson said human beings overall are "normal social animals in many of our behavioral response to infectious diseases" but benefits such as "global disease surveillance, rapid global communication and centralized governments with public health departments," may be wasted if we choose our social instincts over the evolutionary instinct that tells us to stay away from areas of potential infection. "That the vast majority of our species has largely squandered the potential payoffs of these benefits is again consistent with other social animals: the cost of social distancing itself can outweigh the cost of contracting the disease," Stephenson said. "For some, no amount of Zoom and FaceTime can make up for the lost benefits of social interactions. These frustrating, if wholly natural, behavioral decisions will result in the persistence of COVID-19 until the advent of perhaps our greatest advantage over other species facing emerging infectious diseases: vaccination." ### Government has released a whopping 1.6 Million Ghana Cedis to l complete asphalting works on the Gomoa Afransi/Gomoa Dawurampong road to enhance transportation of goods and services. Mr Alexander Kwadwo Kom Abban, Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa West made this known to the media at Dawurampong. The MP who is also the Deputy Minister of Communication said, the government under President Akufo-Addos 2020 is the year of roads was not a rhetoric but a reality. He assured all that the Afransi/ Dawurampong/Apam-Junction to Apam town which is a major road serving about 30 communities would be tarred to transform the road network in Gomoa West. Mr Abban said the contractor would proceed to the site to commence work within three weeks and that the first phase would cover Gomoa Afransi to Gomoa Dawurampong Senior High School (SHS). According to the Deputy Minister, the second phase of the contract had been awarded to the same contractor to continue construction and tarring of the road from Dawurampong SHS to Apam town. He said the construction and tarring of road linking Afransi to Dawurampong/Apam was started during former President John .A. Kufour but was abandoned after his tenure. On December 7, polls, Mr Abban called on Ghanaians to give four more years to President Akufo-Addo for him to continue the quality governance of the country. He asked the people to vote for selfless, competent, visionary leaders who can manage the countrys economy prudently to create jobs, quality education, unique healthcare, roads and others to promote socio-economic wellbeing of Ghanaians. The MP said the three and half years administration of President Akufo-Addo has been seen by Ghanaians and the rest of the World, adding that, the prudent economic management had transformed the country. The Deputy Minister therefore asked the people of Gomoa West to vote massively for him and President Akufo-Addo in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary Elections to help sustain the social interventions rolled out to support the people. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Four. And a half. Hours. Thats how long it took the Delaware County Election Bureaus chief clerk, Lureen Hagan, to read all of the public comments at the start of last Thursdays Zoom Board of Election meeting before the board got down to the business of approving the use of 50 ballot drop boxes in the Nov. 3 election. Four and a half hours to read an estimated 800 to 1,000 comments, 99.9 percent of which urged the Election Board to approve the use of the drop boxes for the election. Was it orchestrated? Sure. Most of the commenters used the same cut and paste language to express their desire for a free, safe and fair election. But that doesnt mean the commenters werent sincere or that their sentiment wasnt a cry from the heart to protect and expand our voting rights. Imagine the sensation if those 800 to 1,000 people had come to an in-person meeting at the county government building and each one had the opportunity to step to the mic and say their piece. Alas, there was no sensation on Zoom, however, just exhaustion on the part of everyone at the meeting. Those 800 to 1,000 people undoubtedly mostly Democrats took the time to send an email to the election board in support of an action that was already pre-ordained. By law, the board is made up of two Democratic and one Republican member, as determined by the majority vote in the last election. The new all-Democratic County Council had already voted to purchase the 50 drop boxes, one for each municipality. Much, if not all of the $152,000 cost will be covered by federal and state money and grants. So what was the big deal about an after-the-fact Election Board vote on drop boxes? The big deal was this: It is up to the election board to determine whether and where to deploy the boxes. If the election board willed it, those boxes could spend the election sitting empty in the voting machine warehouse. And voters now terrified by the presidents fomentations against mail-in voting and his administrations machinations to deliberately slow down mail delivery would have been left with the alternative of going to the polls and exposing themselves to COVID-19 or streaming like lemmings to the one box available at the government center. Last year as part of the Act 77 election reforms, the Pennsylvania Legislature enacted no excuse mail-in voting by a wide bipartisan vote. But mail-in voting was not then considered a huge part of the overall changes in the law and dismantling the postal service was but a gleam in the presidents eye. Everybody focused on the new voting machines and then wham! In mid-March, we were hit by the pandemic, shutdowns, school closings, no voting machine demos and a huge new interest in mail-in voting. More than 90,000 voters applied for mail in ballots for the primary election in Delaware County, overwhelming the Election Bureau ahead of a typically low-turnout primary election. Learning from that experience, county officials are now concentrating on doing everything they can to make sure the Nov. 3 General Election including mail-in voting goes as smoothly and as quickly as possible. We have 407,285 registered voters in Delaware County, 199,066 Democrats, 155,857 Republicans and 52,000 unaffiliated or other. And we know from the primary election that 76 percent of the mail-in ballots were cast by Democrats and 23 percent by Republicans, while voting at the polls was just the opposite. President Donald Trump may well be right when he says mail-in voting for whatever reason, doesnt work out well for Republicans. The presidents re-election campaign sued several states, including Pennsylvania, not only to try to prevent the expansion of mail-in voting (which was already a done deal in Pa.) but also to prevent the use of drop boxes as an alternative. But after the campaign failed to provide the court with any evidence of fraudulent mail-in or drop box voting, the federal judge overseeing the suit (a Trump appointee) on Sunday put the suit on pause, perhaps until Kingdom Come. Delco voters didnt know that ruling was coming. Hence the four and a half hours of public comment. The commenters want to be able to drop their ballots in a safe secure, conveniently located box and bypass the now untrustworthy Post Office altogether. And with a 2-1 Democratic majority vote on the board, that was going to happen. But, gosh it would have been sweet if the board had voted 3-0. Jim Byrne, the Republican board member, was not moved by the comments. He did his duty to his party if not the voters, by voting against the boxes, just as he was always going to, public sentiment be damned. In his view, Pennsylvania Election Law, including Act 77 and its amendment, Act 12, does not mention drop boxes and therefore, they are illegal. In Election Board Counsel J. Manly Parks legal opinion to the board, the law calls for the ballots to be received by the Election Bureau. It does not say where the Election Bureau is located and a ballot can just as well be received by the bureau by dropping it in a drop box in Upper Darby as it can at the government Center or the bureaus new office at the Wharf in Chester or any polling place. Still, four and a half hours of public comment. That was awesome! Jodine Mayberry is a retired editor, longtime journalist and Delaware County resident. You can reach her at jodinemayberry@comcast.net. STOCKHOLM and NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SciBase Holding AB ("SciBase") (STO:SCIB), a leading developer of augmented intelligence-based solutions for skin disorders, announced today that they will participate in a clinical study to run parallel to the ACTIVATE study (sponsored by the Immune Tolerance Network and the NIAID/NIH), which is being conducted by the Department of Pediatric Allergy at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The goal of the ACTIVATE study is to explore how differences in the gut microbiome of an infant affect its susceptibility to allergies. The study will compare groups born vaginally with those born by Cesarean section with and without so-called "vaginal seeding" of the infant microbiome. The study will examine whether vaginal seeding lowers the risk that infants test positive for allergies at one year of age. ACTIVATE will enroll 120 pregnant women and their babies, and will focus on those babies that are at higher-risk for developing allergies. The infants will be followed for the first year of life, and SciBase's product Nevisense will be used to measure skin properties including barrier function and evaluate whether these measurements can help predict the development of allergies or monitor their progress. "We look forward to adding Nevisense to the study and together with SciBase identify opportunities where these measurements can help clinicians manage these patients" says Dr. Hugh Sampson, Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Director Emeritus of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute. "We are excited to participate in this clinical study which may help provide important guidance on how to reduce the risk that an infant will develop allergies. We look forward to seeing how our unique measurement methodology can help clinicians gain new insight into the skin of these infants and in doing so hopefully help this patient group" says Simon Grant, CEO of SciBase. About SciBase and Nevisense SciBase AB is a Swedish medical technology company, headquartered in Stockholm that has developed and sells a unique point-of-care device for evaluation of skin disorders such as skin cancer and atopic dermatitis. Its first product, Nevisense, helps doctors to detect malignant melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Further development has led to Nevisense also being used as a tool to assess the skin barrier and inflammation. SciBase was founded by Stig Ollmar, Associate Professor at The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Nevisense is based on substantial research and has achieved excellent results in the largest clinical study ever conducted on the detection of malignant melanoma. Nevisense is CE marked in Europe, has TGA approval in Australia and an FDA approval (PMA) in the United States. Nevisense is based on a method called Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), which uses the varying electrical properties of human tissue to categorize cellular structures and thereby detect malignancies and abnormalities. SciBase is listed on First North Growth Market ("SCIB"). Further information is available at www.scibase.com. For more information please contact: Simon Grant CEO SciBase Tel: +46-72-887-43-99 Email: simon.grant@scibase.com Certified Advisor: Avanza Tel: +46-8-409-421-20 Email: ca@avanza.se This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/scibase/r/scibase-s-nevisense-product-included-in-infant-study-at-mount-sinai-hospital,c3180942 The following files are available for download: Pompeo says U.S. to keep Israel's military edge People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:43, August 25, 2020 JERUSALEM, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that the U.S. will continue to ensure Israel's military edge in the Middle East under any future weapons deals involving the United States and the United Arab Emirates. "The United States has a legal requirement with respect to qualitative military edge. We will continue to honor that," Pompeo said while making joint statements in Jerusalem alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said he was reassured on the issue by the state secretary. Pompeo said he hoped that other Arab countries would follow the United Arab Emirates and form diplomatic ties with Israel. "I am hopeful that we will see other Arab nations join in this," Pompeo said. A U.S.-brokered deal to normalize ties between Israel and the UAE was announced on Aug. 13. Last week, local Israeli media reported that the White House is planning a "giant" sale of F-35 warplanes as part of the deal. Pompeo arrived in Israel on Monday, kick-starting his five-day trip to the region. He has meetings scheduled also with Israel's Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Virgin Atlantic hailed 'a significant milestone in safeguarding its future' after creditors voted to approve a 1.2billion bailout. The airline, which is closing its Gatwick airport base and cutting 3,550 jobs, said that shareholders, banks, aircraft owners and suppliers owed money had backed the plan. The deal involves a 400m cash injection including 200m from its main shareholder, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group. Strapped for cash: The airline had warned it would run out of cash by September without a deal The airline had warned it would run out of cash by September without a deal. The company will now need approval from the High Court in London on September 2. 'Today, Virgin Atlantic has reached a significant milestone in safeguarding its future, securing the overwhelming support of all four creditor classes, including 99 per cent support from trade creditors who voted in favour of the plan,' it said. Like other airlines, Virgin Atlantic has been hit hard by the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. British Airways is cutting 12,000 positions while American Airlines yesterday announced plans to get rid of 19,000. Other operators including Easyjet, Ryanair, United Airlines and Lufthansa are also shedding employees. The 1.2billion rescue involves only private funds after Branson's pleas for a Government bailout fell on deaf ears. Creditors are being asked to accept 20 per cent less than they are owed, and for the repayments to be rescheduled. The airline insists that without a 'solvent recapitalisation' its directors would have no choice but to place it into administration, which would 'result in a poor outcome for the company's creditors'. Virgin Atlantic has said that it does not expect demand for air travel to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023. A Chicago teen who hacked at her Uber driver during a crazed attack in 2017 has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for the murder. Eliza Wasni, now 19, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Monday, ABC 7 reports. She was a 16-year-old student at Taft High School when she took the ride with 34-year-old Grant Nelson in Lincolnwood, Illinois. According to police, Wasni had stolen the knife and machete she used to kill Nelson just before he picked her up at 3.30am near the intersection of Touhy and Lincoln avenues on May 20, 2017. Eliza Wasni, now 19, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Monday in connection to the May 2017 killing of Grant Nelson It was her third ride in an Uber vehicle in the early hours of the Tuesday morning. Two minutes after he began driving, prosecutors said that Wasni began stabbing Nelson from the back seat. Nelson was able to pull over and ran into a nearby condominium building, where he screamed, 'Help me, help me! I'm going to die!' until residents called 911. Wasni climbed into the front seat of Nelson's blood-splattered silver sedan and drove away, striking a median in the road. She jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Nelson was the teen's third ride of the night when she attacked him with a stolen knife and machete Wasni did not provide a statement when she was initially apprehended by police When Lincolnwood police arrived, they found the vehicle with blood on both the inside and the outside, with Nelson's phone open to the Uber app. The app said that Nelson's passenger was someone named Eliza. Officers followed the trial of blood and found Nelson lying in grass. He was bleeding profusely from several wounds, and was able to tell the officers what had happened. He died at a nearby hospital a few hours later. Using the description given by Nelson, police found Wasni nearby crouching behind an air conditioner - a machete in one hand and a knife in the other. Police warned her that she would be shot with a Taser if she did not drop the weapons, and when she did not comply an officer used the Taser. Wasni dropped the knives and was taken into custody. Wasni climbed into the front seat of Nelson's blood-splattered silver sedan and fled the scene but eventually had to run on foot after crashing the vehicle 'Only two minutes or so after picking up the defendant, she begins to hack at him and stab him from the back of the seat,' said Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Cunningham said in May 2017. The Cook County State's Attorney charged Wasni as an adult. The death of the Uber driver was the first in the small town of Lincolnwood since 2006, local authorities shared. Team to be led by new VP of AI Engineering and CIO, Ron Bodkin, previously Technical Director for Applied AI in Google's Cloud CTO office in Silicon Valley, focused on responsible AI and industry AI solutions TORONTO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - The Vector Institute today announced the establishment of a new AI engineering team that will translate Vector's leading AI research into new and responsible industrial AI applications and health care initiatives. The team will create reference applications, tools, frameworks, and model templates and provide industry and health care organizations in Canada with the know-how and hands-on experience to adapt and operationalize these models quickly and effectively within their organizations. The team will also support the establishment of world-class scientific computing infrastructure to scale AI research and adoption. The engineering team will be led by Ron Bodkin who will assume the role of VP of AI Engineering and CIO at the Vector Institute, and Engineering Lead at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology in Society as of September 8, 2020. The AI engineering team will be charged with five key priorities: Industry: Supporting the Vector Institute's industry sponsor companies through knowledge transfer programs, giving these companies the know-how and hands-on experience to adapt and operationalize reference applications, tools, frameworks, and model templates within their organizations. Supporting the Vector Institute's through knowledge transfer programs, giving these companies the know-how and hands-on experience to adapt and operationalize reference applications, tools, frameworks, and model templates within their organizations. Responsible AI: Collaborating with the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society to develop technology and frameworks for operationalizing responsible AI, helping industry and health partners address common technical challenges related to AI governance, fairness, explainability, interpretability, privacy, and security. Collaborating with the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society to develop technology and frameworks for operationalizing responsible AI, helping industry and health partners address common technical challenges related to AI governance, fairness, explainability, interpretability, privacy, and security. Health: Supporting the operationalization of innovative AI tools and solutions in Canadian health care organizations with a focus on privacy, technology modernization, and collaboration with practitioners. This will complement and build on Vector's commitment to modernizing health data governance for research by enhancing the impact of compute infrastructure provided for support the Ontario Health Data Platform for COVID-19 research, collaborations with Unity Health Toronto and TAHSN hospitals to derive COVID-19 insights from hospital data, and the Health AI Data Access Platform (HAIDAP) collaboration with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Services (ICES), UHN, and HPC4Health at The Hospital for Sick Children. Supporting the operationalization of innovative AI tools and solutions in Canadian health care organizations with a focus on privacy, technology modernization, and collaboration with practitioners. This will complement and build on Vector's commitment to modernizing health data governance for research by enhancing the impact of compute infrastructure provided for support the Ontario Health Data Platform for COVID-19 research, collaborations with Unity Health Toronto and TAHSN hospitals to derive COVID-19 insights from hospital data, and the Health AI Data Access Platform (HAIDAP) collaboration with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Services (ICES), UHN, and HPC4Health at The Hospital for Sick Children. Research: Accelerating our researchers' ability to conduct and reproduce experiments and push forward the frontier of AI research by enhancing our AI infrastructure, fostering the most promising innovations, and seeking to demonstrate their implications for AI practice, including through open source publication and maintenance. Accelerating our researchers' ability to conduct and reproduce experiments and push forward the frontier of AI research by enhancing our AI infrastructure, fostering the most promising innovations, and seeking to demonstrate their implications for AI practice, including through open source publication and maintenance. AI Infrastructure: Procuring and operating one of the world's most significant non-profit machine learning computational infrastructures, including thousands of GPUs, petaflops of computation, large scale data management, modern training frameworks, experiment workflow tools, and prioritized fairshare scheduling. After spending the majority of his professional life in the United States, Ron Bodkin is repatriating to Canada to take this role at the Vector Institute. In his most recent role as Technical Director on the Applied Artificial Intelligence team in Google's Cloud CTO office, Ron led strategic initiatives working with Google Cloud's customers and partners, and worked with product teams on explainable AI and fairness capabilities in Google Cloud products. Ron is also a serial entrepreneur. He was founding CEO of Think Big Analytics, a company which developed corporate data strategies for clients, and provided integrated machine learning and data engineering services. In 2014, Think Big Analytics was acquired by Teradata, where Ron led Think Big as a business unit focused on analytic solutions, deep learning, and GPU compute. He later became Teradata's Vice President & General Manager of Artificial Intelligence, leading a team with a charter to identify and commercialize machine learning products. Ron's mix of entrepreneurship, product development, machine learning, and responsible AI experience augments the Vector Institute's credentials and capabilities as a leading research institute with a focus on valuable and responsible AI application. Ron received his Honors B.Sc., Math and Computer Science from McGill University in 1991, and obtained a Master's in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992. -- "The establishment of the engineering team marks a natural progression of our vision. The team will accelerate capabilities across multiple sectors and augment our position as a world-leading AI institute with a focus on responsible AI. Given Ron's experience as an entrepreneur and leader in AI engineering and responsible AI, product development, and strategic partnerships, he is uniquely positioned to drive and advance application and lead the team. We are looking forward to welcoming him back to Canada." - Garth Gibson, President and CEO, Vector Institute "Canadian companies seeking to become and remain global competitors must be able to apply state-of-the-art AI. Vector's knowledge transfer programs and projects, imbued with the expertise of AI technology leaders such as Ron Bodkin, will provide the foundation for the application of cutting-edge research and help Canadian companies advance their adoption of this technology." - Ed Clark, Chair, Vector Institute "We are very excited for Ron to be joining our leadership team at Schwartz Reisman to drive practical solutions to the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. Our goal at the Institute is to foster new cross-disciplinary research that connects AI researchers to our social scientists and humanists and to do that in a way that translates as quickly and effectively as possible to real-world solutions for industry, government, and civil society. Ron will play a pivotal role in making that happen and we are delighted to have him on board to help us make sure AI technologies make everyone better off." - Gillian Hadfield, Director, Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society and Inaugural Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society at the University of Toronto "I'm excited at the opportunity to build an engineering capability for Vector, working with some of the top researchers in AI and to lead with AI solutions that exemplify responsible uses of AI and its benefit to society. I look forward to working with the institute's deep and diverse public and private sector sponsors and partners." - Ron Bodkin, VP of AI Engineering and CIO at the Vector Institute and Engineering Lead at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology in Society (As of September 8, 2020) About the Vector Institute The Vector Institute is an independent, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing AI, excelling in machine learning and deep learning. Our vision is to drive excellence and leadership in Canada's knowledge, creation, and use of AI to foster economic growth and improve the lives of Canadians. The Vector Institute is funded by the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada through the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy administered by CIFAR, and industry sponsors from across the Canadian economy. Related Links For more Information Visit vectorinstitute.ai or email: [email protected] SOURCE Vector Institute Thousands of Canadians affected by recent cyberattacks on the Canada Revenue Agency and federal government computer systems could be vulnerable to other attacks, warn cybersecurity and privacy experts. The warning comes after the federal government admitted that hackers accessed the Canada Revenue Agency or GCKey accounts of an estimated 11,200 Canadians in recent days. GCKey is an online portal that allows Canadians to access government services like employment insurance and veterans benefits. Hackers were able to access these accounts by using credential stuffing, or using account names and passwords that were already fraudulently obtained and using them on different websites (in this case, the CRA online services website). Ali Ghorbani, director of the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity at the University of New Brunswick, said theres not much Canadians can do about information that has already been compromised but they can and should change their passwords. If I am one of those people, I would basically change all of my passwords across all of the accounts that I have. And this time I would make sure that these passwords are unique and different from each other, he says. Marc Brouillard, acting chief information officer with the Treasury Board, echoed these concerns. The citizens who are worried about identity theft ... they already have been victims, Brouillard told reporters during a news conference on Aug. 17. The credentials were stolen at some point in the past and these attackers are reusing them. Using the same password for their CRA account that they used for the account that was compromised allowed hackers to get in, he explained. If you have been a victim here, theres a good chance that you are a victim elsewhere as well. Check your bank accounts, check your social media, check your e-commerce systems because the attackers will use those wherever they can and they have quite sophisticated systems. Government officials refused repeatedly on Aug. 17 to comment on the possible source of the attacks, saying it is under investigation by the RCMP. Read more about: The number of Wisconsin National Guard troops in Kenosha County will increase, Executive Jim Kreuser and Mayor John Antaramian announced Tuesday under a commitment they obtained from Gov. Tony Evers. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth released a statement advising residents the best thing they could do tonight would be to stay at home. "As we enter what will likely be another very challenging night in Kenosha County, I want the public to know that the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department and our partners in law enforcement are doing our utmost to protect our community during this unprecedented time of unrest," Beth said. "We are working alongside members of the Kenosha Police Department and law enforcement departments from across Wisconsin, as well as state and federal authorities and the Wisconsin National Guard, in a concerted attempt to minimize the spread of the destructive behavior that has plagued us since Sunday night. "People are frustrated, I get it. And theyre scared. I certainly get that, too. Rumors abound on social media and elsewhere, with widely varying levels of truth to them. We know that much of the damage is being inflicted by people coming in from outside our community, with the intent to rob and destroy, not to engage in their First Amendment right to demonstrate. "The best thing our residents can do to stay safe is to stay home tonight and abide by the curfew." The curfew went into effect at 8 p.m. and is in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday. "If you want to protest peacefully, by all means go out and do it. Its your right. But dont be a part of this destructive force thats burning our community. Thats not a productive path to justice. Kreuser and Antaramian requested additional guard assistance after a second night of rioting, looting and arson in the city on Monday. These additional troops will supplement the 125 guard troops who were deployed to Kenosha on Monday. Additionally, more than 100 law enforcement officers from other communities in Wisconsin are continuing to assist in local efforts to quell violence and destruction in the aftermath of the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. "We are not sitting idly, watching the destruction of our community. Were making every effort to make it stop, and I hope you will too," Beth said. It is clear to us that this is no longer just a demonstration in reaction to Sundays tragic events, said Kreuser. A destructive element is coming in from outside our community to fuel destruction and chaos, to loot and to destroy. We absolutely want to know the truth about what happened with Jacob Blake, but we have to let the investigatory process work. Destroying our city will not make that process go any faster. The mayor echoed Kreusers comments. The actions the last two nights by the criminal element have shown this is no longer about protesting of the officer-involved shooting, Antaramian said. There is a process to investigating the shooting. We have to allow that process to take place. The destruction of our city does nothing to assist with the investigation. The mayor and the county executive called on local residents not to add to the outside forces who have caused significant destruction to the Downtown and Uptown areas and other neighborhoods. People who are destroying property and stealing need to be arrested and jailed, Kreuser said. Antaramian said the city and county "will continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement in holding those criminals who are destroying our city responsible. They have been in contact with the office of Congressman Bryan Steil in an effort to secure federal resources. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Britons ordered to self-isolate to combat coronavirus will be paid up to 182 by the State to encourage them to stay at home. Ministers fear some people will feel obliged to turn up for work even if they or family members test positive for Covid-19. The money will be paid to those in areas with high rates of infection, such as parts of the North West or Midlands, who receive Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit. Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) said: 'The British public have already sacrificed a great deal to help slow the spread of the virus... this new payment scheme will help people on low incomes and who are unable to work from home to continue playing their part' The scheme is targeted towards those on lower salaries, such as cleaners and factory workers, who cannot work from home as well as the self-employed, including taxi and delivery drivers. Will Eat Out to Help Out keep going next month? More than 64million meals later, the Chancellor's Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme ends on Monday. But a string of restaurants vowed to keep the spirit of 'Rishi's Dishes' alive by continuing to offer cut-price meals in September only this time they'll foot the bill themselves. Chains including Harvester, Toby Carvery and Bill's will continue to offer discounts to tempt customers back to their tables along with Stonehouse Pizza and the Q Hotels Group. Rishi Sunak's taxpayer-funded meal deal saw restaurants offer 50 per cent off (to a maximum of 10 per person) throughout August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Mobile phone data has shown that the deal boosted footfall in town centres by 8 per cent but the final bill for the State could hit 500million. Advertisement Officials believe one reason that Leicester infection rates were so high for so long is that factory staff continued to go to work even though they were meant to be self-isolating. Under the new plans, workers who test positive would receive 130 for a ten-day period of quarantine. Relatives or close contacts would be given 182 for 14 days. SAGE, the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, has previously warned that only about half of patients who suspected they had the virus were following guidance on self-isolating. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'The British public have already sacrificed a great deal to help slow the spread of the virus... this new payment scheme will help people on low incomes and who are unable to work from home to continue playing their part.' The scheme will begin next Tuesday in Blackburn and Pendle, in Lancashire, and Oldham in Greater Manchester the three regions with the highest infection rates in the country. If this is deemed a success, the scheme will be rolled out to other high-risk areas. Current candidates include Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and Northampton. Workers will receive the money within 48 hours of submitting a claim, which will need to include a positive Covid test result or proof that they are a close contact of someone with the virus. Applicants must also submit a bank statement to show they receive the relevant benefits. The Department of Health said councils would catch fraudulent claims by cross-referencing with the NHS test and trace service as well as claimants' employment status. The new plan to combat coronavirus came amid fears of a fresh outbreak in Plymouth fuelled by a group of teenagers' trip to Greece. Up to 30 youngsters who travelled to the island of Zante currently exempt from any quarantine requirements are feared to have contracted Covid, with 11 having already tested positive. Many of the teenagers showed only minor symptoms, if any. It is thought the group visited a number of bars and restaurants back home before being diagnosed, stoking fears they may have spread the virus across the city. Officials insist Plymouth is still below the threshold for declaring a local lockdown. However, city council leader Tudor Evans said: 'This is our wake up call. We have been fortunate so far in Plymouth that we have had a low number of cases, but coronavirus has not gone away.' COVID-19 has destroyed the Latino communities in California. Many Latin Americans are front-line workers who contracted the coronavirus and spread the disease to their families and neighbors. The grim cycle of the coronavirus disease and death took them to places like Continental Funeral home. Since March, morgues that serve Latino communities were overwhelmed by the families that need their help. In some cases, the bodies are stacking up as operators of mortuaries try to improvise funerals that might have drawn extended family and mourners from far and wide preciously. Magda Maldonado, director of Continental Funeral Home, said, "It's been so difficult for the families. They have been unable to express their condolences properly or participate in service." According to the state Department of Public Health, Latinos make up 39% of California's population. Still, with COVID-19 cases, the Latinos have 59% of it in the state, while 47% of deaths are from Latino communities. Amid the pandemic, immigrants have been particularly hard-hit economically, knowing that many of them are losing their jobs and are facing financial collapse. Maldonado witnesses these hardships at her funeral home. According to the Los Angeles Times, most of the clients are immigrants from Central America and Mexico. Maldonado's business is 60% devoted to transporting bodies to their homelands due to its less expensive costs to bury their loved ones to their funeral homes. "We were dealing with 35 to 40 bodies at one point in March," Maldonado said. Flood of bodies was sent to their funeral home when the COVID-19 outbreak hit. The funeral home director rented a small refrigerated storage container for $1,900 per month to manage the overflow of bodies being sent to them daily. The funeral home has increased its capacity to about 55 bodies. Separating the bodies of people who died from COVID-19 complications from those who died due to other causes helped, as per LA Times. Maldonado reiterated capacity problems had to do more with the shutdowns. The required documents from state and county offices that took a few days were taking weeks instead. The process of sending back the bodies to Mexico stretched from ten days to two months. Simultaneously, cremations that only took a day could now have to be made by appointment. As per Maldonado, the situation caught off guard, and the local government don't know how to manage this kind of emergency. She said she didn't think anyone thought about all of these other funeral issues that they had. Maldonado's operating costs increased due to the pandemic and even hurt more to the families that their funeral home has been trying to serve. Transporting a body to Michoacan, Mexico, for instance, could cost $4,200, which could be shaved off about $1,500 in the past if the family couldn't pay the full amount. But now, Maldonado has reserved those discounts only for the neediest families or consulates that assist people. The biggest problem that the funeral homes are facing is fundamental. It is how to allow families to mourn for their loved ones while ensuring those who attend the funerals wouldn't get sick. In the previous Latin Post report, Latinos are said to have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 due to cultural practices. Check these out: Latino Families Now Struggle with Remote Learning Segregated Parks Contribute to COVID-19 Spread of Black and Latino Communities COVID-19 Cases in US Nursing Homes Increase by Nearly 80% Earlier This Summer CLEVELAND, Ohio Infectious disease experts are downplaying a report out of Singapore that suggests the coronavirus can be transmitted by food because the virus was found living on salmon, pork and chicken three weeks after the meat had been frozen or refrigerated. While the study showed its biologically possible for the virus to survive on salmon, pork and chicken for three weeks, thats not news, said Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and one of three experts contacted by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Congress to hold nationwide protests on Friday against holding of NEET, JEE India pti-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Aug 26: The Congress on Wednesday announced that it will hold countrywide protests on August 28 to oppose the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams during the pandemic. In a statement AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said the move is in line with concerted opposition to this "dictatorial move" of the government. State units of the Congress will be holding protests on Friday at 11 am in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters, he said. COVID-19 recoveries have exceeded active cases by 3.5 times: Health Ministry In a statement, Venugopal said lakhs of students and parents from across the country are rightfully agitating and demanding postponement of the JEE-NEET exams, scheduled to be held in September. He said the government's decision to hold these exams during the COVID-19 crisis has created huge concern among the students and parents. "Apart from the very obvious vulnerability to and risk of infection, the decision to hold the exams will undoubtedly make it increasingly difficult for students to appear for the exams due to the availability of limited transport and lodging during the pandemic. Punjab CM says that 23 Punjab MLAs have tested positive for Coronavirus so far | Oneindia News "While holding exams during COVID-19 crisis has put the students in a state of extreme mental stress, the grim flood situation in states like Assam and Bihar will further put students from those states at a severe disadvantage," he said. Venugopal said all these protest gatherings will take place following strict social distancing protocols issued by the respective health and civic authorities. He said the party has also decided to organise a massive nationwide online campaign, #SpeakUpForStudentSaftey on the same day from 10 am onwards, through videos and posts protesting this decision, on any of the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Govt amends CSR norms; Likely to help boost funding for coronavirus vaccines, drugs Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said health and safety of 25 lakh students are being jeopardised in the ensuing JEE, NEET exams as students are protesting across the country. He also wondered why the government was "refusing to listen to their grievances, deliberate upon them and find a solution acceptable to all". Posing a set of questions, Surjewala asked who will "oversee that the guidelines and protocols do not remain an empty paper formality". He further asked what special arrangements have been made for students of flood affected Bihar and Assam. There has been growing chorus for postponement of the NEET-JEE exams. Former vice president and Democratic Partys presidential candidate Joe Biden on Wednesday promised that he would protect America against any seen or unseen threats and claimed that he knew how to lead the country through a crisis since he has done it before. Taking a dig at president Donald Trump he said, Its the least of what we should expect from an American president. I promise you that as president, I will protect America. I will protect you and your family. I will defend our nation from threats seen and unseen. Its the least of what we should expect from an American president, he tweeted. I promise you that as president, I will protect America. I will protect you and your family. I will defend our nation from threats seen and unseen. It's the least of what we should expect from an American president. Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2020 Also read: Biden will stay the course with India | Analysis Spotlighting his experience in helping the nation in a crisis, Biden said he wouldnt waste any time bringing the prevailing coronavirus pandemic under control. I know how to lead this nation through a crisis because Ive done it before. I wont waste any time getting this virus under control and building our country back better, he wrote on the microblogging site. In a campaign video shared through the former vice presidents Twitter handle, the Democractic Party alleged that Trump had months but he still doesnt have a plan to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, while Biden on the other hand knows rebuilding our economy starts with fighting the virus, increasing testing, getting more protective gear for health care workers and calling for mask mandates nationwide. I know how to lead this nation through a crisis because I've done it before. I won't waste any time getting this virus under control and building our country back better. pic.twitter.com/HgBdR6VxUO Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2020 The outreach video further claimed that when the economy was on the verge of collapse in 2009, Biden led the largest stimulus in a generation and saved millions of jobs. Also read: 5 ways Joe Bidens presidency will affect US immigration policy The partys presidential candidate has promised to get working families back on their feet by lowering health costs and helping small businesses recover. The tweets come in the backdrop of US polls scheduled to be held on November 3 this year, when Joe Biden and Donald Trump will go head to head for the White House. Five firefighters were injured while battling a large fire at a South Carolina industrial plant. News outlets report that the fire began before dawn Monday at the Carolina Poly plant in Chester County. The plant is located along state Route 9 about 15 miles south of Rock Hill. Chester County Sheriffs Office spokesman Grant Suskin said that four firefighters were taken to the hospital with heat-related injuries and one with a foot injury. Pictures posted to social media show a large blaze coming from trailers parked in a lot just outside the plant, with a column of thick black smoke rising from it. The sheriffs office said that nearby residents should remain inside and that firefighting operations would continue into night. At this time, we recommend all those who live nearby stay inside, the sheriffs office said in a statement posted to Facebook. There is no immediate hazard to the surrounding area, but we are continuing to analyze the situation to determine if evacuations will be necessary, Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics South Carolina OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 22, 2021 /CNW/ - Government of Canada officials will hold a news conference to provide an update on coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Participants will be available to answer questions from the media following their remarks. Date October 22, 2021 Time 11:00 AM (EDT) Location The news conference will be virtual only. Media will be able to ask questions via teleconference. Toll-free (Canada/US) dial-in number: 1-866-206-0153 Local dial-in number: 613-954-9003 Passcode: 8739415# NOTE: To help ensure optimal simultaneous interpretation sound quality, journalists are encouraged to use a microphone (headphones/headset) or, when possible, a landline, and to avoid using speaker mode if queuing up for questions. Twitter: @GovCanHealth Facebook: Healthy Canadians SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/22/c8430.html Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was brutally murdered in the Parkland school massacre, put this election in the proper perspective as one between Joe Biden, who would put the safety of our kids and our country at risk for the sake of ideology, and Donald Trump, who would protect both. Pollack rightly condemned liberal Democratic policies in general for putting the students at Parkland and elsewhere in danger by pursuing social justice and social engineering policies that protect those who would do us harm and not allow us to protect ourselves. It is the same mindset of those who today let felons go free for fear of COVID as our streets fill with burning and looted businesses and our inner cities are littered with bullet-ridden bodies, including infants shot in their car seats and toddlers at grandmas house, all while defunding police, confiscating our guns, and removing school safety officers. As the New York Post reported that Pollack noted at the opening night of the Republican National Convention: In a gripping speech in support of Donald Trump, the father of Parkland shooting victim Meadow Pollock accused Barack Obama and Joe Biden of forcing flawed restorative justice policies into schools, leading to his teen daughters 2018 murder. Speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention kickoff on Monday evening, Andrew Pollock zeroed in on what he said were far left Democrats in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School district in Parkland, Fla., and praised President Trump for taking action The gunman had threatened to kill his classmates before; he had threatened to rape them; he had threatened to shoot up the school, Pollack said. Every red flag you can imagine. But the school didnt just miss these red flags -- they knowingly ignored them. Far-left Democrats in our school district made this shooting possible because they implemented something they called restorative justice, he continued. Gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19, slaughtered 14 students and three staffers in the school on Feb. 14, 2018. I was just fine with the old approach to discipline and safety -- it was called discipline and safety. But the Obama-Biden administration took Parklands bad policies and forced them into schools across America Pollack noted that Biden will pursue full implementation of restorative justice, whatever that means, at the expense of our safety and that of our children. Indeed, Parklands blood is on Joe Bidens hands. Pollack noted that Biden couldnt remember Parkland, except to falsely claim that survivors of the Parkland school shooting visited him in the White House while he was vice-president. As Breitbart reported: Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) made another gaffe Saturday, telling reporters in Iowa that Parkland students visited him -- while he was vice president -- in the aftermath of the school shooting, even though the incident occurred in 2018 over a year after he left office. Biden told a group of reporters in Iowa that students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School visited him while he was vice president, even though the shooting -- which resulted in 17 fatalities and over a dozen injuries -- happened on February 14, 2018, over a year after he left the White House. As bad as the gaffe was, worse yet is the fact that legislation Joe Biden supported made a massacre such as what happened at Parkland possible. Biden also may not recall sponsoring the legislation that made Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School a gun-free zone and Meadow Pollock and her fellow students sitting ducks for an armed predator. Whats stopping teachers from bringing guns to work right now? The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. Sponsored by then-Sen. Joe Biden and signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush the law makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly possess a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school zone Could the Supreme Court overturn the Gun-Free School Zones Act? Maybe. They did it before. Five years after passage, the court declared the law unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause. But Congress amended the bill and President Bill Clinton signed it back into law in 1996. The Supreme Court has not ruled on the issue ever since. Perhaps they should. President Trump as a candidate opposed the idea of schools being gun-free zones: Donald Trump likes the idea of teachers bearing arms in the K-12 classroom. I will get rid of gun-free zones on schools -- you have to, the Republican nominee told a crowd at a campaign rally in Burlington, Vt., in 2016. My first day, it gets signed, okay? My first day. Theres no more gun-free zones. Biden should learn what the Israelis already know, that the only way to protect our schoolchildren from a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Instead, we irrationally put the onus on guns like the AR15 which, contrary to media and political hype, is not an assault weapon. The fact is that there is a sharp spike in school shootings since Joe Biden sponsored the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990: Prior to Gun Free Zone Act During the 1950s there were 17 (1950, 51 (4), 52 (2), 53, 54 (2), 55, 56 (2), 57, 58 (2), 59). During the 1960s there were 18 (1960 (3 shootings), 61 (2), 66 (4), 67, 68 (4), 69 (4)). During the 1970s there were 30 (1970 (5 shootings), 71 (2), 73 (2), 74 (4), 75 (3), 76 (3), 77, 78 (7), 79 (3)). During the 1980s there were 39 (1980 (4 shootings), 81 (3), 82 (3), 83, 84 (4), 85 (5), 86 (5), 87 (5), 88 (6), 89 (3)). After the Gun Free Zone Act During the 1990s there were 63 (1990 (2 shootings), 91 (6), 92 (7), 93 (10), 94 (10), 95 (4), 96 (7), 97 (6), 98 (7), 99 (6)). During the 1st decade there were 60 (2000 (5 shootings), 01 (5), 02 (7), 03 (4), 05 (5), 06 (11), 07 (5), 08 (11), 09 (7)) During the 2010s (as of 14 February 2018) the total number is 146 shootings (2010 (11 shootings), 11 (7), 12 (11), 13 (26), 14 (36), 15 (21), 16 (15), 17 (9), 18 (10)). School shootings are preventable. As much as Americans are reluctant to turn their schools into what critics call "armed camps," it would be a better situation than the free-fire zones that exist today. Would allowing guns in school be dangerous? We allow guns in schools right now by not having secure entrances, by not heeding warnings from those who did see something and did say something, or by not having adequate armed security on campus, including armed teachers. When citizens with guns were nearby, school shootings have been cut short: Few Americans are aware that in an October 1997 shooting spree at a Pearl, Miss., high school that left two students dead, assistant principal Joel Myrick retrieved a gun from his car and immobilized the shooter until police arrived, preventing further killings. Or, in another school shooting in January 2002 at the Appalachian School of Law in Virginia, a disgruntled former student killed Law Dean L. Anthony Sutin, associate professor Thomas Blackwell and a student. Two of the three Virginia law students who overpowered the gunman were armed, preventing further deaths. Not only would armed security in the schools do more than kumbaya-singing wishful thinking, the mere uncertainty of whether the shooter would face return fire might deter such crimes. Killers love gun-free zones, which is why the shooter at an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre picked a particular one. Biden loves gun-free zones, particularly schools, as Andrew Pollack bitterly remembers. It is Joe Biden who is in a major way responsible for making or schools free fire zones for armed predators. It is Joe Biden who has Parklands blood on his hands. Daniel John Sobieski is a former editorial writer for Investors Business Daily and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Image: Public Domain He doesnt know much about the QAnon conspiracy theory, President Trump told a reporter this month. But I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate, he added. I have heard that it is gaining in popularity, and from what I hear, these are people that love our country. The reporter asked a follow-up: At the crux of this theory is this belief that you are secretly saving the world from this cult of pedophiles and cannibals. Does that sound like She trailed off, apparently at a loss as to where to go from there. Like something you are behind? Well, I havent heard that, Trump answered, but is that supposed to be a bad thing? This isnt the first time Trump has interacted with QAnon. He has shared posts from QAnon Twitter accounts, and he greeted the primary victory of a pro-QAnon House candidate with enthusiasm. However, this explicit endorsement of the theorys believers, if not quite the theory itself, is new territory for Trump. It will bring QAnon further into the political mainstream and make this cultic movement a greater threat to the American church. If youre among the majority of Americans unfamiliar with QAnon, a pause for definition may be in order. QAnon is a conspiracy theory that claims that a secret cabal in government, the media, and other influential institutions is engaged in child sex trafficking, cannibalism of a sort, and the usual conspiracist bugbear of world domination and human sacrifice. One sub-theory in the movement alleges that theres footage of Hillary Clinton and her aide ripping off a childs face and wearing it as a mask before drinking the childs blood in a Satanic ritual sacrifice. The QAnon movement began when an anonymous poster called Q took to the 4chan online forumironically, better known for its implication in child pornography and other foul dregs of the Internetto predict Clinton would be arrested and massive riots would break out nationwide on October 30, 2017. That day came and went, and nothing Q forecast came to pass. But heres the genius of QAnon: For those already convinced, its unfalsifiable. According to Travis View, who researches conspiracy theories, Q will say something very vague, like, Watch the water, [and] because water covers most of the planet theres going to be a news event eventually that involves Trump and water. And so the QAnon community will look at that and will say, Look, Trump drank a glass of water on camera. Q said, Watch the water. That means that Q predicted that eventwhich, of course, is nonsense. When Q prophecies (or drops, as theyre called) dont pan out, as with the initial Clinton arrest story, adherents simply conclude the cabal interfered. The cabal is QAnons version of the Fallits explanation for whats wrong with our world. Q is the movements John the Baptist. Drops are its Scripture. And Trump is its messiah, ostensibly working at great personal cost to defeat the cabal and usher in a new age of American greatness. Among QAnons most troubling aspects are its misuse of the Bible to disguise its deception and its increasing function as a syncretic cult of semi-Christian heresy. That religious language isnt only metaphorical. Among QAnons most troubling aspects are its use of the language and style of evangelical Christianity, its misuse of the Bible to disguise its deception, and its increasing function as a syncretic cult of semi-Christian heresy. A pro-Q politician in Oregon described her involvement by sharing that some people think that I follow Q like I follow Jesus, a blasphemous characterization she left unchallenged. Thats unsurprising, for QAnon fashions itself as a Christian movement. Q drops often quote Scriptureas even the devil does (see Matt. 4:10)a tactic that adherents have said helped convince them the theory was worth their time. Article continues below The way ardent Q supporters study drops for hidden truths (and also resonance with headlines) resembles nothing so much as evangelical eschatological obsessions in the vein of The Late, Great Planet Earth. Theres even a church of QAnon, in which congregants meet for services, pray, take communion, and use incoherent, anonymous posts from filthy online forums to guide their understanding of Gods Word. QAnon may not be an error to which CT readers are prone. But what I find deeply worrisome about this movement is how insidious it has become. The more Pentecostal moments of my upbringing didnt stick well enough to make me confident in diagnoses of demonic activity (as opposed to ordinary human evil), but QAnon sure seems devilish. It deliberately preys on well-intended concern about the very real issue of sex trafficking. Q followers glom onto anti-trafficking hashtags, sharing content that casual viewers may not realize mixes truth with malignant lies. These strategies to infiltrate more normal parts of the internet are working, especially in evangelical and fundamentalist Christian contexts. As former CT editor Katelyn Beaty recently reported, pastors say QAnon is on the rise in their flocks. It is taking on the power of a new religion thats dividing churches and hurting Christian witness among younger generations. Some pastors Beaty spoke with wouldnt even go on record to discuss Qs sway among their congregants. That sway isnt surprising, because pastors are at a grave discipleship disadvantage here. A pastor may preach a wonderful 30-minute sermon that is exegetically sound, theologically rich, and has important applicability to the listener's life, but if that congregant goes home and consumes hours of [QAnon] stuff on YouTube every week, I can tell you what the outcome will be, explained Paul Anleitner, a pastor in the Twin Cities. After hearing accounts of church splits over QAnon, Anleitner made a video about the movement as a warning to fellow Christians. Its a warning every American church needs to hear right now. One reason Q appeals to Christians, Anleitner argues, is it can feel like a way to live out Jesuss instruction to be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16, NASB). The problem, he says, for followers of QAnon who are Christians is that they actually arent being shrewd enough. QAnon is predatory drivel that undermines the authority of Scripture and pilfers trust we owe only to Christ. American Christians have a responsibility to learn to identify itand flee. Bonnie Kristian is a columnist at Christianity Today, a contributing editor at The Week, a fellow at Defense Priorities, and the author of A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today (Hachette). The 2021 Toyota Venza is a new arrival at San Francisco Toyota. The 2021 Toyota Venza, a name that is making its return to the Toyota lineup after five years on the shelf, has arrived at San Francisco Toyota for Bay-area drivers to own. Available exclusively as a hybrid model, the 2021 Toyota Venza is a five-seat crossover SUV aimed at stretching the fuel dollar of drivers and families with its powertrain system consisting of an internal combustion engine and electric motor, which doles out a combined 219 net horsepower. That hybrid powertrain is capable of achieving up to an EPA-estimated 40 city, 37 highway and 39 combined miles per gallon. The Venza also suits itself well for families on the go who need ample cargo room, as this crossover can hold up to 55.1 cubic feet of cargo depending on the configuration. Three trims of the 2021 Toyota Venza are on the offering: LE, XLE and Limited. Interested drivers will have the opportunity to choose which of these models offers what they need, whether its such standard features as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay or available technology that includes Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation. Smart safety technology is also found on the 2021 Toyota Venza, with such features as Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 coming standard in the new crossover. This suite includes the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and more. San Francisco Toyota is taking precautions to allow customers to feel safe. These precautions include face masks and social distancing, dedicated sanitation coordinators and stations, adequate furniture spacing, unaccompanied test drives, available touchless delivery to customers homes or offices, daily health checks for staff and more. Customers can also use the Toyota SmartPath tools to conduct nearly their entire shopping and purchasing process online from home. Those interested in the new 2021 Toyota Venza or any other model on the San Francisco Toyota lot are encouraged to visit http://www.sftoyota.com or call 415-504-1947. In April, for example, she attacked a group of health care workers in Colorado who had counterprotested against people calling for an end to stay-at-home orders, suggesting they were actors playing parts. She then urged those opposed to local shutdowns to dress like health care workers as they protested. (Ms. Ward declined an interview request for this article.) On his Twitter feed, Mr. Trump has made haphazard attempts at appeals to moderate Republican and independent women with messages about how his administration is saving the Suburban Lifestyle Dream. But to the extent that Ms. Ward and Mr. Trumps campaign have tried to make inroads with such voters, it has seemed to be less of a pro-Trump message and more of an anti-Biden one, said Paul Bentz, a Republican strategist in Arizona. Instead of trying to bring those audiences to them in a positive sense, theyre trying to scare them away from Democrats, he said. Mr. Bentz pointed to a recent Trump campaign ad that features an older white woman scared for her life in Joe Bidens America, dialing 911 during a home invasion, only for no one to answer. In a recent focus group, a mix of Trump, Biden and undecided voters in Arizona condemned the ad, with one female Trump supporter calling it very far from reality. For Mr. Trump, a public-safety message could offer a real opportunity for gains among center-right women if done correctly, said Lorna Romero, a Republican strategist based in Maricopa County. But for the most part, she said, even as the country looks drastically different, his campaign in Arizona has changed little since 2016. During a campaign stop in Yuma last week, Mr. Trump used the bulk of his 55-minute speech to discuss illegal immigration. But as for the women the party lost in 2018, along with swing voters more broadly, that messaging is not resonating with them, Ms. Romero said. For moderate Republican women and independents, the focus is on coronavirus and education. The Trump campaign and the state party, she went on, have seemed to focus on issues that arent as important to the average Arizona household right now. (During Mr. Trumps speech in Yuma, he mentioned the virus only briefly, to congratulate himself on issuing an early ban on travel from China.) Investors include Girish Mathrubootham, CEO of Freshworks, Vaibhav Domkundwar of Better Capital, and Anand Chandrasekharan, former director at Facebook PUNE, India, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SaaS-based digital skills assessment startup Interview Mocha today announced that it has secured $600,000 in pre-series A funding from a group of investors, including Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham. Interview Mocha has remained bootstrapped since its founding in 2015, and has revenues of more than $2 million ARR. The startup was founded by former IBM executives Amit Mishra and Sujit Karpe. Other high-profile investors in the round include former Snapdeal CPO and Facebook Director Anand Chandrasekharan, and Vaibhav Domkundwar, CEO of Better Capital. Girish Mathrubootham, CEO of Freshworks, said, "Amit and Sujit have built a solid team, and a product that customers love. The company is already profitable and has a big addressable market." "Talent leaders of global companies are struggling to upskill their workforce to continue to be competitive. Interview Mocha brings one of the most important tools for human capital management - a 'skill meter' for talent leaders to rapidly assess skills, and invest in learning and development scientifically. I am not surprised by the demand Interview Mocha is seeing and am glad to be an investor," said Vaibhav Domkundwar, CEO of Better Capital. "The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and is forcing organizations to adapt to the new normal worldwide. We see that enabling organizations to more accurately measure, up-skill, and assess candidates and employees is becoming more and more important, which is driving up demand for our product," says Amit Mishra, CEO and co-founder of Interview Mocha. The company is also rebranding itself as imocha, kicking off a major marketing growth phase for the company. About the rebrand, Amit Mishra said, "The interview in our name came from our legacy as a video interview company. We have outgrown that product and the name, but wanted to keep the i as a signal of what we are - innovative, and as a promise of what we will be - iconic." About Interview Mocha Interview Mocha, the world's largest digital skills assessment solution platform, helps organisations assess, hire, and upskill candidates and employees faster. With more than 2000+ skills in its skill library, the platform empowers recruiters and hiring managers to thoroughly screen candidates and identify their skill proficiency, saving countless hours and closing the hiring cycle 4x faster. Interview Mocha's product is perfect for IT services companies (as well as Financial Services, Engineering, Insurance, and Healthcare sector companies with relatively large IT teams) that have assessments needs for trending, job-based, as well as future skills. Interview Mocha helps these companies in recruitment (university and lateral hiring), upskilling assessment, digital transformation, and assessment certification. Learn more at www.interviewmocha.com Contact Information Sairam Krishnan, Head of Marketing [email protected] SOURCE Interview Mocha Veteran Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has tested positive for Covid-19. The 85-year-old, who was tested on Tuesday, wrote of his health status on Twitter Wednesday. According to Gogoi, he is asymptomatic and does not have any problems. I have been tested COVID-19 positive yesterday. People who came in contact with me during the last few days they should go for COVID test immediately, the former CM tweeted. Talking to Hindustan Times, Gogoi informed that though he had slight cold few days ago, he was not experiencing any health complication. His wife Dolly tested negative. I was tested for Covid-19 on Tuesday and informed about my status on Wednesday morning. I had a slight cough and cold a few days ago, but am fine now, Gogoi said. I am staying at home. Some are saying I can stay at home while others are saying I need to get admitted at a hospital. I will go wherever the doctors asked me to, he added. There are speculations that Gogoi, who has been busy travelling and meeting several party leaders, may have picked up the infection from Congress MLA Ajanta Neog of Golaghat, who had visited the former CMs Guwahati residence recently and also tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. I wish speedy recovery to former chief minister Tarun Gogoi as he has been found COVID-19 positive. We have kept a team of doctors ready for best possible medical care and assistance to our revered senior leader, Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted on Wednesday. On Saturday, a meeting of several senior Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leaders was held at Gogois residence where a decision on forging a grand alliance between the two opposition parties for the 2021 assembly polls was finalised. Gogoi had hit headlines recently when he stated that former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, a nominated Rajya Sabha MP, could be the ruling BJPs candidate for Assam CMs post for 2021. The BJP dismissed the assertion as false. Gogoi is the latest among several MLAs and prominent politicians from Assam who tested positive for Covid-19 in recent weeks. Till date, seven legislators from BJP, three from Congress, two from Asom Gana Parishad and one from AIUDF have tested positive for the disease. Besides, BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Assam Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and the president of All India Mahila Congress and former Silchar MP Sushmita Dev tested positive for Covid-19. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Associated Press TOKYO: Archaeologists have dug up the remains of more than 1,500 people, many of them believed to have died in an epidemic, buried in a 19th century mass grave while excavating as part of a city development project in Osaka in western Japan. Officials at the Osaka City Cultural Properties Association studying the remains said Wednesday that they believe they are of young people who died in the late 1800s. The Umeda Grave, one of seven historical burial sites in Japan's bustling merchant city of Osaka, was unearthed as part of a redevelopment project near a main train station. The more than 1,500 remains were found during the latest round of excavation that started in September 2019, following an earlier 2016-2017 study that dug up hundreds of similar remains at adjacent locations, according to Yoji Hirata, an official at the association. It was our first historical discovery of a burial site in Osaka," Hirata said. The findings will provide details of burial tradition of ordinary people back then. As in the earlier excavation, the remains of some of the people showed lesions on their limbs, suggesting they fell victim to an epidemic in the region, Hirata said. All of the remains have been removed from the excavation site, and experts will further examine them and other artifacts in hopes of finding more details related to the deaths. Many of the remains were in small round holes, where bodies were apparently stacked and buried. Archaeologists found coffins containing multiple remains, a sign that many victims of an epidemic were buried together, Hirata said. Experts also found about 350 urns and a possible ossuary at the site, signs that bodies were cremated. They also unearthed coins, Buddhist prayer beads, headdresses, combs, sake cups and clay dolls that were believed to have been buried with the dead. Remains of several piglets were buried in the north side of the cemetery, and two horses in the south, while those of cats were in containers. Hirata said experts plan to compile their findings and analysis in a report expected at the end of next year. The burial site is in what used to be a farming area outside of the urban community near Osaka Castle and was one of seven major cemeteries in the city. People used to tour around the cemeteries to pray for their ancestors during the mid-summer Bon season under the Buddhist tradition. The Department of Justice wants data from Michigan and three other states that issued executive orders on nursing home safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a release. The department is conducting a civil rights investigation into New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania as well to look into states that required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients to their vulnerable populations, often without adequate testing, the release stated. The data will assist in investigations under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, the release stated, which aims to protect societys most vulnerable members, said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband. Protecting the rights of some of societys most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our countrys most important obligations, he said in the release. We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-169 on Aug. 11, which extended recommended sanitary precautions to be taken by nursing homes. It also required long-term care facilities to not prohibit admission or readmission of a resident based on COVID-19 testing requirements or results if the building has a dedicated wing for quarantining. Whitmer extends orders on nursing home, grocery store coronavirus requirements There have been 2,083 coronavirus deaths from patients in long-term care facilities, as well as 21 staff fatalities, according to statewide data as of Aug. 26. The statewide death toll is more than 6,400 with a death rate exceeding 600 per million residents. The DOJs Civil Rights Division will use the data to determine if the state orders directly led to the deaths in nursing home residents. The release also compared overall COVID-19 death rates by the states that could face investigations to ones run by Republican governors. New Yorks death rate by population is the second highest in the country with 1,680 deaths per million people, the release stated, citing Center for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. New Jerseys death rate by population is 1,733 deaths per million people the highest in the nation. In contrast, Texass death rate by population is 380 deaths per million people...Floridas COVID-19 death rate is 480 deaths per million. Whitmer and her office will review the letter, but warned against partisanship in a potential investigation. We will review this letter and respond as appropriate, she said in a statement. However, Americans would be better served if the Trump administration stopped the partisan games and focused on delivering a real plan to defeat COVID-19. Republicans in Michigan have criticized the Whitmer administrations handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, including state Sen. Lana Theis, R-Sturgis. We knew this was a very vulnerable population from the very beginning, she said at a May 27 Senate hearing. We should have done a better job of protecting them. That outrage against the Whitmer administration is not shared by advocates for senior citizens and long-term-care facilities, as well as experts in geriatric public health interviewed by MLive. States handling of COVID in nursing homes worthy of critique, but GOP lawmakers miss mark, experts say They say the state had to make quick decisions in a fast-changing crisis involving a hugely complicated situation, especially in regards to long-term care facilities. While missteps have occurred, they say, the states actions reflect imperfect choices amid competing interests, and the focus now should be on tweaking policies and improving implementation. The Whitmer administration took a reasonable approach given what we were dealing with, said Melissa Samuel, executive director of the Health Care Association of Michigan, which represents long-term care facilities. All the options come with challenges. Michigan is also one of 17 states where nursing-home residents are at lower risk of coronavirus right now because of lower community transmission rates of the virus, according to an August report from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. Michigan ranks well in nationwide report on coronavirus risk in nursing homes The DOJ request is part of the departments National Nursing Home Initiative announced on March 3. The data requests are not accusations of fault or wrongdoing by the states or any other individual or entity, and the department has not reached any conclusions about these matters, the release stated. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Related news at MLive: Conservative groups sue Whitmer, Benson over gathering limits, absentee ballots Michigan Supreme Court asked to reconsider absentee ballot deadline in light of uncounted primary votes Michigans 10-person limit on indoor gatherings comes with a full slate of exceptions Islamabad: World Bank President Jim Yong Kim discussed the Indo-Pak water dispute with Pakistans Finance Minster Senator Ishaq Dar in a telephonic conversation. The conversation took place days after the country asked the global lender to fulfil its obligations on the issue.Dawn newspaper quoted official sources as saying the call was made on Monday. Dar on December 23 had written a letter to Kim over the dispute over two hydroelectric power plantsKishanganga and Ratlethat India is building on the Indus rivers system. Dar said in his letter that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistans interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been inordinately delayed, Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible. Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt its interests as India is working day and night to complete the two disputed projects. And once they are completed, it will be difficult to undo them. Also Read: Pakistan raises objections as World Bank pauses processes under Indus Water Treaty The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers, the Beas, Ravi and the Sutlej while Pakistan has three western rivers, the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan. Earlier, last week Kim sent a letter to the finance ministers of India and Pakistan, informing them that he had decided to pause the banks arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle this dispute.Tensions over the water dispute intensified in November when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan. Also Read: World Bank approves USD 1.5 billion aid package for war-torn Iraq In the formal request sent to the bank, Pakistan argued that the Court of Arbitration could be formed at the request of either party, if the party concludes that the dispute is not likely to be resolved by negotiation or mediation. The bank would also be obliged to establish the court if the aggrieved party concluded that the other government was unduly delaying the negotiations. Pakistan informed the World Bank that it has already exhausted the option to engage India for resolving the dispute through bilateral talks and was now exercising the option to take its case to the Court of Arbitration. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Telecom regulator TRAI has issued a show-cause notice to Vodafone Idea over the contentious priority plan, saying the offer lacks transparency, is misleading and not in compliance with regulatory principles. In a notice seen by PTI, the regulator has asked Vodafone Idea to "show cause" by August 31, "as to why appropriate action should not be initiated against it for violating the extant regulatory framework by its RedX tariff plan". Bharti Airtel has not been issued a show-cause notice, a source said. Airtel offered to abide by what TRAI says and has also voluntarily modified its platinum offering suitably, and hence TRAI is not proceeding with further investigation on that, the source said. In the show-cause notice sent to VIL, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said it is of the view that the "claim of VIL for providing priority 4G network with faster data speeds is not in compliance with the extant regulatory framework". "The RedX tariff offer lacks transparency and is misleading and not in compliance with regulatory principles of tariff assessment contained under Telecom Tariff Order, 1999, as amended from time to time," TRAI has said in the show-cause notice. It said that the RedX tariff offer is in contravention of specific clauses of the Telecom Tariff Order relating to protection of interests of the consumers. Further, TRAI said that VIL's RedX tariff offer violates the terms of licence agreement and is not consistent with stipulated technical specifications. Over the past weeks, TRAI had been probing Vodafone Idea's priority plan RedX and Bharti Airtel Platinum offering to see if network preference to specific customers leads to deterioration of services for other non-premium subscribers or violates any norms. During its probe, the regulator had shot off questions to the two operators asking them to explain their position on the controversial issue and provide relevant data to substantiate their claims. Responding to questions raised by telecom regulator over its priority plan earlier, Vodafone Idea had argued that a new tariff plan is not a new service. Vodafone Idea had also countered TRAI's contention that the RedX plan that commits higher speeds should have been informed separately so different aspects could have been examined before such service was launched. Vodafone Idea had justified its pay-more-for-priority-experience plan offered to its subscribers, and said that telecom operators faced a double whammy of having to make continuous investments in an era of call and data charges falling way below cost due to cut-throat competition. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo meets with Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani during his visit to Manama, Bahrain on Aug. 25, 2020. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters) Pompeo Discusses Gulf Unity, Regional Stability With Bahraini Leaders DUBAIU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed regional stability and Gulf unity with Bahraini leaders on Wednesday, as part of a Middle East tour following an accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on normalizing relations. On his arrival on Tuesday night, Pompeo had said it was vital to seize the momentum of the U.S.-brokered deal announced on Aug. 13. Israel and the United States have said they are pushing more Arab countries to follow the UAEs path. Israels intelligence minister has mentioned Bahrain as a possible candidate. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said he welcomed U.S. efforts towards the Israel-UAE accord, noting the importance of re-doubling efforts to realize a just solution which utilizes peace as a strategic option to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, state news agency BNA said. U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo meets with Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during his visit to Manama, Bahrain on Aug. 26, 2020. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters) Pompeo also met the king of Bahrain, the foreign minister and Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the kings son who was appointed National Security Advisor in October. The king and Pompeo discussed developing bilateral relations, with the king stressing the importance of intensifying efforts to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, BNA said. Bahrain welcomed the UAE-Israel accord soon after it was announced and said it raised the chances of peace. We discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of Gulf unity and countering Irans malign influence in the region, Pompeo wrote on Twitter after meeting the crown prince. Pompeo visited Jerusalem and Sudan before Bahrain and is now in the UAE. HONOLULU All Hawaii airports receiving flights from outside the state are now operating thermal cameras to screen travelers for symptoms of the coronavirus. Travelers are subject to body temperature screening by the thermal cameras as part of the states effort to prevent passengers from bringing COVID-19 to Hawaii, Hawaii Public Radio reported Monday. The scans of heat signatures in passengers departing transpacific flights determine if they have fevers. Tim Sakahara, a state Department of Transportation spokesman, said the system monitored by Hawaii National Guard personnel notes temperatures greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) and travelers with that temperature or higher are flagged for additional health evaluations. The system was subsidized through Hawaiis share of federal coronavirus recovery funds. The state signed a 10-year contract with Japanese tech company NEC Corporation to install and maintain the cameras at airports in Honolulu, Lihue, Kahului, Kailua-Kona, and Hilo. National Guard members previously conducted fever checks using handheld thermometers and they were prepared to use them to scan small children or people in wheelchairs. The new camera system is far more efficient than the handheld devices, NEC Program Manager Bill Carleton said. Instead of taking half an hour or 45 minutes to offload 200 passengers on a flight, now theyre doing it inside of 10 or 12 minutes, Carleton said. The system is expected to add facial recognition cameras in December, which will snap passenger photos when the thermal cameras detect fevers. The proposal has put civil rights watchdogs on alert. We have concerns about the constitutionality about the technology, particularly in Hawaii where there is a constitutional right to privacy, Matello Caballero of the ACLU of Hawaii said. The state is taking precautions to protect flyers privacy, including deleting the photos after 30 minutes, Sakahara said. The picture itself will not identify that person, Sakahara said. It wont know their name, wont know their address, certainly not something like their Social Security number. 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. 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. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Rong Chhun supporters protest in front of Appeals Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia demanding the court to release union leader Rong Chhun without any conditions August 26, 2020. The Cambodian Appeals Court Wednesday denied a bail request for detained union leader Rong Chhun, citing concerns that he might repeat the actions that led to his arrest if he were released, his lawyer told reporters after the ruling. Rong Chhun was officially charged with incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest under Article 495 of Cambodias Penal Code and jailed at Prey Sar Prison in Phnom Penh on Aug 1, a day after his arrest for claiming the government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on farmland along their shared border. His arrest has prompted nearly daily protests. Defense lawyer Chhoung Chhou Ngy told reporters outside the courthouse in Phnom Penh that his clients bail request was denied because the court wants to finish this case while preventing repeated crimes. Hem Socheat, another defense lawyer, told RFAs Khmer Service that the defense team plans to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court, but he did not expect that the higher court would overturn the ruling. I dont have any hope, but this is the procedure. We think even though we dont have any hope, we will try our best to follow the procedure to advocate for our client, said Hem Socheat. A Supreme Court decision to uphold the denial of bail would end the process, he said. Our client did what was done because he wanted to help the country. Our client has a career and a residence, and he is not a risk to provoke any social problems, he said. I think the Appeals Courts decision runs contrary to the truth. Rong Chhun did not commit any crime. He is innocent and has been working for the sake of the public, Hem Socheat said. Ny Sokha of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) told RFA that the Appeals Courts decision was more likely to cause social issues than Rong Chhun himself. If Rong Chhun were released, there would not have been any protests, he said. During the hearing Wednesday morning, a group of around 100 people protested outside of the courthouse demanding Rong Chhuns release. Phou Sareth, an activist with the Khmer Thavarak youth civic group, told RFA that she was disappointed with the courts decision. She said she would continue to advocate for the union leaders release. We need Rong Chhun. He is a nationalist. He was unjustly imprisoned. Please release him immediately, she said. Three Rong Chhun supporters visited Tuesday A day before Wednesdays ruling, a group of Khmer Thavarak activists visited Phnom Penhs Prey Sar prison to meet with three activists who were detained after they protested in support of Rong Chhun. Two of the activists, Hun Vannak and Chhoeun Daravy are also members of Khmer Thavarak, while the third, Sar Kanika is affiliated with the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). One of the visitors, So Metta, told RFA that she was able to meet with Hun Vannak for less than 10 minutes. I told him that we are still strong and will continue our work. He encouraged us to remain steadfast and not to be intimidated, she said. So Metta said that Hun Vannak appeared to be mentally strong but had a pale face. The visit was watched by guards, who took notes of the encounter, so So Metta said she was unable to speak freely. The guards also would not allow the visitors to bring food and books, because the inmates are required to buy expensive food in the jail, she said. The visitors were able to meet Sar Kanika but were not allowed to see Chhoeun Daravy, because guards said she was in quarantine. Another visitor, Ngel Hean told RFA that Sar Kanika and Chhoeun Daravy are both detained in the same cell. She said Sar Kanika is in poor health because they share the cell with prisoners detained on drug charges who smoke. She said that the guards are not allowing Sar Kanika and Chhoeun Daravy out of the jail cell to exercise and they now look pale. For 14 days, they wont let them out. Their health is good, but they are being treated like animals. Nuth Savana of the Prison General department dismissed Ngel Heans claims, telling RFA that prisoners are not allowed to smoke inside their cells, but adding that he would look into the issue. He said the visits were brief as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. The restriction has been placed by the Ministry of Health to prevent infections from visitors, he said. Am Sam Ath of the local LICADHO rights group told RFA that the prison should allow visitors to talk freely and for a longer duration. I think the prison should give the opportunity to the visitors to speak freely with detainees, he said, noting that lately guards have been increasingly listening in on visits, including when NGOs offer legal advice to prisoners. Border irregularities Also on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered National Border Committee Chairman Var Kimhong to meet with 100 families in Tboung Khmum province who say they lost about 60 hectares (148.2 acres) of their ancestral land when recently placed border posts indicated it was part of Vietnam. Loy Chhoy, an affected villager, told RFA that he supported Hun Sens desire to finalize the border, but wants the government to compensate the villagers for lands that had belonged to them for generations. I am happy with the demarcation, but the government needs to return the land to us if it is taken away by the demarcation process. I have not prepared anything for my meeting with Var Kimhong, but I will ask him for land to start a plantation, said Loy Chhoy. RFA could not reach Var Kimhong for comment. Cambodia Watchdog Council (CWC) President Men Nath told RFA that he is concerned that Var Kimhong will do what Hun Sen directs him to do regardless of what the villagers request. I ask Var Kimhong when he returns to not say the demarcation has been done correctly because there are many irregularities, Men Nath said, adding that that the council will likely not accept Var Kimhongs explanation of the border. The CNRPs Um Sam An told RFA that Var Kimhong needs to resolve the villagers issue fairly and should not make his visit as show to defend a neighboring country. Var Kimhong should not intimidate the villagers and he should give back the 60 hectares of land. If there are irregularities with the border demarcation, it should be redone, he said. The CWC, of which Rong Chhun is a member, says that farmers are losing land because Cambodia is demarcating the border based on a 1985 treaty from Vietnams 1979-89 occupation of the country following its ouster of the Khmer Rouge regime. Unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam, former French colonies from the 1860s to 1954, have sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh. A joint communique signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 stipulates that neither side can make any changes to border markers or allow cross-border cultivation or settlement pending the resolution of outstanding border issues. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. STOCKHOLM: Sweden is beefing up its military presence in the Baltic Sea amid concerns over increased Russian activity in the region and heightened tensions in Belarus following a disputed election. Sweden has been rearming in recent years after running down its military following the end of the Cold War, focusing on the Baltic Sea area, where the strategically important island of Gotland sits within easy reach of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Swedens military gave few details of the build up but said the security situation around its borders had deteriorated. The decision to adjust to a higher level of readiness and adjust force posture were not due to a single factor, but to an overall assessment of the current situation," Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said in a written statement to Reuters on Wednesday. Swedens armed forces said military activity in the Baltic Sea conducted by Russian as well as Western countries was on a scale the likes of which have not been seen since the Cold War. The focus of the high readiness action is to reinforce naval surveillance in the Baltic Sea, at sea and from the air," Jan Thornqvist, the Swedish Armed Forces Commander of Joint Operations, said in a statement. The military presence in Gotland is also increased." On a visit to Lithuania earlier this week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Washington had no indication of any Russian plans for military intervention in Belarus. But Russia has accused foreign powers of interfering in Belarus and has said military support would be available, although it saw no such need for now. Belarus and Russia are close allies and members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. Swedens military said the risk of an attack on the country, a close ally but not a member of NATO, was low, but that given the uncertain security situation it needed a high level of preparedness. 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 WILLIAMSPORT A New Jersey man who escaped prosecution on weapons charges in state court because his speedy trial rights were violated has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge. Jamir M. Ceruti, 22, is facing a mandatory five-year minimum prison sentence after pleading Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court to a charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Lycoming County Judge Marc F. Lovecchio in July 2019 dismissed state charges against Ceruti and blasted the district attorneys office for failing to bring the case to trial within the required 365 days. The ruling was appealed but new District Attorney Ryan C. Gardner earlier this year withdrew it in favor of the federal prosecution. Ceruti was arrested in Williamsport on March 23, 2018, following a foot chase. Discovered in his backpack were two loaded firearms, one of which was stolen and the other had a 30-round extended magazine. Also in the backpack, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel, were two magazines for the stolen gun, and 58 loose 9mm cartridges, 20.9 grams of cocaine and 6 grams of individually packaged marijuana. Rocktashel pointed out Ceruti was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a New Jersey conviction. He has outstanding warrants in New Jersey and Georgia, the prosecutor said. He is awaiting trial in Lycoming County court on charges of access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property. Judge Matthew W. Brann denied Cerutis informal request to be released from jail until he is sentenced. Through his attorney, he said he would like to spend time with his children before going to federal prison and as an asthma sufferer, he is concerned about getting COVID-19 in the Lycoming County prison where he is being held. Rocktashel cited Cerutis record that began as a juvenile in arguing against release, calling him a risk of flight and a danger to the community. Charges of possession of a stolen firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana are to be dismissed at sentencing. By pleading guilty Ceruti agreed to forfeit to the government the guns and ammunition. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. People hold signs as they march outside the County Courthouse during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (AFP) Kenosha: The Black man shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was left paralyzed and fighting for his life, his family and lawyers said on Tuesday, as authorities in the lakefront town braced for a third night of civil unrest. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency, saying he would deploy additional National Guard troops in a bid to restore order in the town, while the mother of the man who was shot, Jacob Blake Jr, publicly appealed for calm. Blake, 29, a father of six, was struck from behind at point-blank range in a hail of bullets fired on Sunday by police who were following him with guns drawn as he walked away from officers to his car and opened a door to the vehicle. Three of his young sons inside the automobile - aged 3, 5 and 8 - witnessed their father being gunned down, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family. A bystander captured the encounter in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage over the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against African Americans. Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women, was struck by four of seven gunshots fired at him, all by one officer, and there was no indication he was armed, Crump said in an ABC News interview on Tuesday. The police have not explained why Blake was shot. At a news conference later in the day, Blakes parents expressed anguish over the shooting while decrying two nights of looting, vandalism and arson that overshadowed peaceful street protests. MY SON MATTERS They shot my son seven times. Seven times! Like he didnt matter, Jacob Blake Sr., his voice crumbling with emotion, told reporters. My son matters. Hes a human being and he matters. Julia Jackson, Blakes mother, said her son has been fighting for his life, but called for unity, saying she was praying for police officers. She also said she was disappointed by the damage to the city, a town of about 100,000 residents about 40 miles south of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan. It doesnt reflect my son or my family, she said. If Jacob knew that was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased. Crump and another lawyer for the family, Patrick Salvi II, said bullets shattered some of Blakes vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down possibly permanently. He also suffered gunshot wounds to his stomach and gastrointestinal tract, requiring surgeons to remove most of his colon and small intestine, and sustained damage to his kidney, liver and one of his arms, they said. Its going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again, Crump said, adding that the family intended to bring a lawsuit to hold wrongdoers accountable. He said Blakes three sons would likely suffer psychological problems for the rest of their lives. Video captured by a neighbour shows Blake walking toward the drivers side door of his SUV, away from two officers who were pointing guns at his back. After he opens the door and leans into the car, seven shots ring out, with one of the officers tugging at his shirt. The shooting is under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which has not released any details. Kenosha police have referred all questions to the state investigators. The shooting occurred three months after George Floyds death in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. Clyde McLemore, president of the Black Lives Matter chapter in nearby Lake County, Illinois, south of Kenosha, said demonstrators would be out again on Tuesday night, demanding that the officers involved in the shooting, who have been placed on administrative leave, be fired and prosecuted. We wont stop protesting until we get that done, he said. I dont condone burning of buildings or looting, but I understand it. Them places got insurance, theyll be back up. Evers emergency declaration came as other officials called for a more forceful response to restore order. Unrest flared again elsewhere on Monday night in the United States with overnight clashes reported in Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Madison, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis. In New York City, marchers swarmed the Brooklyn Bridge, social media video showed. In Kenosha, protester Porche Bennett, 31, said fires had destroyed much of the Black business district and that those she saw igniting blazes were white. Its people from out of town doing this. Weve been shopping there since we were kids, and they set it on fire, Bennett said. Jon Ponder (L), a convicted bank robber and founder of Hope for Prisoners, his wife Jamie Ponder and former FBI agent Richard Beasley look on as Donald Trump signs a document granting clemency to Ponder during the Republican National Convention: Photo Courtesy of the Committee Donald Trump has announced on the second night of the Republican National Convention that he will officially pardon a convicted bank robber, who later turned into an activist, while making his case for re-election. The president described the story of Jon Ponder, founder of the nonprofit group Hope for Prisoners, as a beautiful testament to the power of redemption during a video statement that was taped at the White House ahead of Tuesday night. "He has created one of the most [successful re-entry programmes], Hope For Prisoners, in Las Vegas," the president said in the video, which aired during the RNC. "Hope for prisoners is a movement that began as a dream, in a tiny prison cell, and is now making a difference in the lives of thousands, truly bringing hope that there is an opportunity and a community that is waiting and willing to offer them a second chance." Ponder, who was scheduled to speak at the second night of the convention, was sent to federal prison after robbing a bank. He later turned to religion and founded his nonprofit organisation in 2009, before he was granted clemency by the Nevada Pardons Board earlier this year. .@realDonaldTrump has two "surprise" appearances at the @GOPconvention - one will be a naturalization ceremony for several people to highlight legal immigration. The other will be a pardon for Hope For Prisoners founder Jon Ponder. @FoxNews @foxnewspolitics John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) August 25, 2020 President Trump pardoned Jon Ponder, a convicted felon who has since started a program to help former prisoners re-enter society. The promises that he made, was promises that he kept, Ponder says of Trump as he shares his story at #RNC2020. https://t.co/QOOhCdjT98 pic.twitter.com/isObvwPR20 ABC News (@ABC) August 26, 2020 Meanwhile, a Republican congressional nominee from Georgia who supports the QAnon conspiracy theory and was congratulated by Mr Trump on her primary victory has also been invited to the Republican National Convention. Story continues Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a photo of the invitation to her Twitter account on Tuesday. She wrote that she was "honored and thrilled to be invited to attend President Trump's acceptance speech Thursday evening at the White House". A person familiar with Ms Greene's invitation says it is legitimate. The person was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Mr Trump praised Ms Greene as a "future Republican Star" after she won her primary earlier this month. He has courted the support of QAnon believers, saying, "I heard that these are people that love our country." Other Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy, have rejected the conspiracy theory, which focuses 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. Democrats have criticised many of the speakers during the weeklong Republican convention, unloading on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ahead of his planned address on Tuesday night from Jerusalem. An aide to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden who has worked for the State Department calls Mr Pompeo's Tuesday speech "flat out disgraceful." Aide Bill Russo also said it's "an abuse of taxpayer money." Another top Biden deputy, Kate Bedingfield, blasted Mr Pompeo as the president's "errand boy" and said he has a record of "repeated and blatant use of his office for overtly political purposes". Secretaries of state regularly travel abroad on behalf of a US administration's agenda, but Mr Pompeo's speech to a party convention from foreign soil is an outlier. Mr Russo mocked Mr Pompeo's explanation that he will address the GOP convention on personal time. Mr Russo noted that the speech is still part of "official travel" and that taxpayer money "got him there" and is "paying for his protection" and for the "the staff on the ground" with him. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Mr Pompeo's move "violates his own policy". The senator referred to Mr Pompeo's "memos and instructions" sent recently to his department's employees. 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Senator, I just want to emphasize that the fact that you came to Detroit first, which has a long history of Black women stepping up to the plate, Lawrence said. I trust that all of the brilliance that life has afforded you, I know that youre going to bring that to make this America a better place. We need you so bad and so the fact that you chose Detroit, it just energizes us more. Democrats are hoping to capitalize on that energy in November elections after turnout in the Detroit area dropped significantly in 2016. President Donald Trump won Michigan by only 10,704 votes, while Democratic votes in Wayne County dropped by 76,402 votes compared to the 2012 election. Speaking with Black business-owners and activists, Harris said the race between Trump and Biden presents voters with one of the most important choices in their lifetimes. She also highlighted forces threatening to suppress Black turnout in U.S. elections. Harris pointed to a Senate Intelligence Committee report released last year that found Russian agents targeted African-Americans more than any other group with disinformation campaigns. The senator also noted court decisions that removed key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, allowing states to make it more difficult for racial minorities to vote. Why do you think they dont want us to vote? Harris said. Its because they know when we vote, things change. When we vote, we have the ability through our voice connected with our vote to say: We are present; we matter; we will be seen; we will be heard, and you will be accountable to us. Black voters in Michigan were also targeted by a radio ad campaign launched Monday by BlackPAC and Unite The Country, two Democratic-leaning political action groups. The ad argues Biden and Harris will listen to the concerns of Black voters after four years of inexperience and corruption under Trump. Trump campaign spokesperson Chris Gustafson said Biden and Harris represent generations of broken promises to Black voters in Michigan. Meanwhile, President Trump has delivered results for the Black community with generational criminal justice reform in the First Step Act and encouraging investment in forgotten communities with Opportunity Zones, he said in a statement. Riana Elyse Anderson, a professor of health at the University of Michigan, said the Trump administration has done little to improve the lives of Black people. Anderson said the disproportionate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed African Americans at a higher rate than other groups, has caused extreme stress in the Black community. We were asked for years ago by the Republican presidential nominee what do you have to lose? Anderson said, referencing a statement Trump made in Michigan in 2016. Four years later, we have our answer: Our mothers, our jobs, our mental wellness and 175,000 other attributes I could name. We cannot be fooled by promises made in recent days. Pay attention to what has been done in the past four years. Harris said Bidens plan to restore the U.S. economy after being plunged into a recession by the COVID-19 pandemic will prioritize recovery in cities like Detroit. She said only one self-identified Black-owned business gained COVID-19 relief through the Paycheck Protection Program of 785 businesses that received funding. Je Donna Dinges, owner of Margaux & Max Boutique in Oakland County, said Black entrepreneurs often lack the same access to financial resources as white peers. Harris said Black workers helped build Detroit into a symbol of America. The city represents that triumph as well as being an example of great disparities in health care, education and economic opportunities among racial groups, she said. We will always pop our heads and sing and dance to Motown, but we also know that there is a lot right now happening in Detroit in areas around Detroit like Flint, where folks are suffering, Harris said. Harris said its important for people in positions of power do their part to pull others up with them. Lawrence and Harris are alumni of historically African American sororities, touted the strength of Black women supporting one another. Harris said she and Biden spoke with the family of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man who was shot from behind by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The incident sparked protests this week, which descended into violent riots overnight. What happened there is so tragic and still represents the two systems of justice in America, Harris said. " We need to fight for that ideal that says, all people are supposed to be treated equally, which is still not happening. Also on the call was Chairwoman of Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote Melanie Campbell. The organization is a political nonprofit founded by Black women to increase political engagement in minority communities. Campbell said she cried tears of joy when it was announced that Harris accepted Bidens offer to run alongside him. READ MORE ON MLIVE: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says first night of RNC was grim and fear inducing Michigan Trump campaign teases positive vision for Republican National Convention Vice President Mike Pence to visit Traverse City Friday after Republican National Convention Michigan is at the center of national politics, Democrats say during push for absentee voting Bidens socially distant campaign feels strong in Michigan after Democratic Party rebuilt itself to beat Trump Hopes of building up immunity to reinfection after getting one dose of Covid-19 have been plunged into doubt following a report that it can strike the same person twice. The World Health Organisation is taking a case of reinfection involving a man in Hong Kong seriously and say it was well documented. The man tested positive for the coronavirus four months after he recovered from his first infection. There have also been reports that two patients in Europe - in the Netherlands and Belgium - have been reinfected. Is this a setback to hopes of herd immunity? Antibodies Much focus has been on the antibodies people can develop after recovering from infection. Hopes were pinned on the theory they could be a suit of armour against a future Covid-19 infection. We still don't know how many antibodies a person needs to be immune. Research also found that white blood cells (T-cells and B-cells) can also help the body to ward off disease. Long lasting Some studies show antibodies can fade as quickly as eight weeks after infection. T-cells are seen as more durable so we need to discover more about them. Covid-19 is a new virus so there has not been enough time to track its journey. New case Genetic analysis revealed the man (33) caught Covid-19 for the second time on a trip to Europe. It was caused by a different strain and was only picked up during screening at the airport. He was returning to Hong Kong from Spain on a flight via the UK. He did not have symptoms which gives some optimism that a second infection may not be as severe as the first as he may have built up some immunity to serious illness. Significance of report It may be just one report but it could signal that even if a great number of us in this country get Covid-19, over time the virus could persist and continue to be a threat. Like the common cold, we will never get rid of it. If we never get a vaccine, the hope had been it would eventually fizzle out because it would have no more room to spread. This week the United States authorised the use of plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients to treat those who are sick with the virus. Need for calm Several infectious disease experts say there is no need for pessimism. Bear in mind that more than three million people have been infected with the virus so far. Reinfection might be rare. The virus can be expected to mutate over time and it should not cast a cloud over efforts to find a vaccine. Ireland's level of immunity Recent results from the first antibody tests of people in Dublin and Sligo suggest the proportion of the population aged between 12 and 69 who have antibodies to the virus is around 1.7pc. It would mean 59,500 people in Ireland aged between 12 and 69 years have been infected with coronavirus. This is three times higher than the number of confirmed cases in that age group. Around 70pc of the population would need to have had the infection in order for there to be herd immunity. Sign of infection The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said it would be repeating studies on the prevalence of Covid-19 infection over the next year to help us understand how Covid-19 is spreading within the community. The presence of Covid-19 antibodies in a blood sample is a sign that a participant was infected with the Covid-19 virus at some time in the past. Experts say there is not enough evidence to be sure if antibodies to Covid-19 will protect people from getting sick with it again. Further evidence is required to understand how long the antibodies last and what level of antibodies is necessary to confer immunity. Researchers say this is why it is very important that everyone continues to follow social distancing and hygiene measures, regardless of their antibody test result. Sweden's experiment Sweden pursued a form of herd immunity by avoiding the strict lockdowns imposed in other countries. It ended up with a high death rate but Sweden's case and death numbers have dropped steadily since June. It recently reported 84,294 coronavirus infections and 5,783 fatalities - a death toll per million inhabitants many times higher than those of its Nordic neighbours However, it is still lower than countries such as the UK. More details are needed to find out all of the drivers and outcomes related to these figures before the approach can be considered a success. Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat, then add onion and potato; cook, stirring until they begin to brown. Add the remaining ingredients as listed, except peas and chicken. Stir and bring to a boil. Place chicken in sauce, reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook for about 12 minutes. Then add peas and continue to simmer until the liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes or so. To serve, place one chicken breast on each plate and spoon the sauce over the top. Garnish with parsley, if desired. The consensus among health experts is that while local leaders and citizens sometimes messed up, and that luck matters along with other random factors we still dont fully understand, huge responsibility lies with that one leader. Some 40,000 confirmed infections are being reported each day in the United States, and another American still dies of the virus every 90 seconds. The University of Washington model projects that about 310,000 people will have died by Dec. 1 a figure greater than the number of American combat deaths during World War II. So portraying this toll as a tribute to Trumps leadership takes real chutzpah. Trump initially dismissed the coronavirus as like the flu, scoffed that it was totally under control and insisted it would disappear like a miracle. He imposed some travel restrictions on China (with enormous exceptions), which may have helped modestly, but he fumbled testing, didnt ensure adequate protective equipment, and offered confused messaging. The president resisted masks and embraced miracle cures some dangerous ones, like injecting household disinfectants. He encouraged followers to liberate states with lockdowns and his administration pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise testing guidelines to exclude those without symptoms. He has suggested that his aim is to slow the testing down, so that fewer people will test positive; thats like trying to reduce cancer fatalities by ending cancer screening. Trump still doesnt have a national Covid-19 strategy any more than he has a 2020 campaign platform. The United States does not, as many Trump critics believe, have the highest death toll from the coronavirus on a per-capita basis; deaths per million have been higher in Belgium, Peru, Spain, Britain, Italy, Sweden, Chile and Brazil. Yet while other countries made terrible mistakes especially initially they learned from them. China at first put more effort into suppressing warnings of the virus than into suppressing the virus itself. Italy delayed a lockdown. Britain at the beginning didnt take the risks seriously. Actor Vijay's niece Sneha Britto recently got married to her longtime boyfriend Akash Murali in Chennai in the presence of family members. The wedding took place at a resort in ECR Chennai on August 24. The photos from Sneha and Akash's Christian wedding went viral on social media. In the above photos, one can see guests sitting on the dining table and enjoying dinner with the newly-wed couple. Everyone looks simply amazing in western outfits. In one of the viral pictures, actor Atharvaa looked dapper in a blue suit outside the church. For the unversed, groom Akash Murali is the younger brother of Atharvaa. Notably, Thalapathy Vijay is missing from the pictures and fans are wondering if he made it to the wedding or not. In December 2019, Sneha and Akash had got engaged in the presence of family members and close friends. Vijay had missed the engagement ceremony too. Sneha and Akash reportedly met in Singapore while pursuing their higher studies. Earlier, the families were against their relationship due to their religious differences, but they later approved. Also Read : Master Co-Producer Rubbishes Rumours Of Vijay Starrer Getting An OTT Release! Notably, Sneha is the daughter of Xavier Britto, who is the producer of Vijay's next Master. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Master also stars Vijay Sethupathi, Malavika Mohanan and Andrea Jeremiah in key roles. The film has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Also Read : Lokesh Kanagaraj To Feature In Vijay Starrer Master? We wish Sneha and Akash a happy married life! Speakers at the Republican convention on Tuesday night touted President Donald Trumps tough-on-trade approach as a key argument for his re-election in November, although results have been mixed, especially with a key China deal. Top Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow, a dairy farmer, a mining-town mayor and a metal-welding businessman all credited Trumps trade policies with lifting their hopes. I am a lifelong Democrat, but for far too long, members of both parties allowed our country to be ripped off by our trading partners, especially China, who dumped steel into our markets and slapped tariffs on our products, said Robert Vlaisavljevich, the mayor of Eveleth, an iron-ore mining town in the election battleground state of Minnesota. And what did so-called leaders like Joe Biden do? Nothing, he added, referring to Trumps Democratic opponent in the November 3 election. Trump raised tariffs on imports, including on steel, which is made from iron ore, renegotiated a deal with two of the countrys main trading partners, Canada and Mexico, and started a tariff war with China before brokering a Phase 1 deal earlier this year. Steel prices rallied following the tariffs imposed in March 2018, feeding optimism in US steel towns. But higher prices later hurt demand from automakers, and resulted in layoffs. The US-China trade deal took about 18 months to negotiate, and US exports to China fell by nearly 8% from 2016 to 2019, according to census data. Since the coronavirus, first discovered in China, swept across the world, the US-China relationship has worsened. More than 177,000 Americans have died, the most of any country. China has fallen short of its pledged goals of increased purchases of US goods as its own economy has suffered. Through July 2020, total Chinese imports of covered US goods were $48.5 billion, about half of what the Peterson Institute for International Economics calculates. In pursuit of this extraordinarily weak trade deal that China is not even living up to, Donald Trump was outmaneuvered at every turn by (Chinese President) Xi Jinping, Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said. Farm aid Cris Peterson, whose family has a 1,000-cow dairy farm in Wisconsin, another election battleground, told the convention that new trade deals gave her confidence to rebuild after a fire destroyed her barn in 2017. Trump understood and again took steps to provide the supports we needed, said Peterson. Our entire economy, and dairy farming, are once again roaring back. The administration devoted $16 billion to trade aid in 2019, much of that in direct payments to farmers. After some dairy farmers were left without a place to sell their milk after the coronavirus closed schools and restaurants earlier this year, the administration announced. Spain has secured its first doses of a potential Covid-19 vaccine. According to sources from the Spanish Health Ministry, the government has told the European Commission that it will participate in the plan to purchase 300 million doses for EU countries from British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, once its vaccine candidate is proven to be safe and effective against the disease. Under the agreement, announced on August 14, each European Union member state that joins the plan will receive a number of doses in proportion to their population. This means that Spain will get 31 million doses of the vaccine if, as is expected, all EU members agree to the purchase. The European Commission also has the option to purchase 100 million more doses from AstraZeneca. If this option is pursued, Spain would receive an additional 10 million doses. AstraZeneca has said that the vaccine will cost just a few euros A coronavirus vaccine is crucial to governments for both health and economic reasons: it is needed to address the worst pandemic in a century and to tackle the unprecedented financial crisis that the crisis has caused. The Spanish Health Ministry has placed its trust in Europes strategy to negotiate a vaccine with multinational laboratories. The European Commission has much greater negotiating power than Spain, meaning it is able to guarantee the supply and its equal division between countries. The deadline to join the centralized purchase ended on Monday and more details about what each country will receive as part of the deal are expected to be revealed shortly. This is the European Commissions first deal to purchase a possible Covid-19 vaccine. The drug in question, known as AZD7442, is currently being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The doses will be made available once the Europe Medicines Agency approves the vaccine for sale. At that moment, the drug will be able to be distributed and administered, a situation that is not expected to happen until the end of the year of the beginning of 2021. Spain recently joined the agreement between the European Commission and EU states on Covid-19 vaccines. This initiative is aimed at allowing EU organisms to negotiate purchases with multinationals via Advance Pricing Agreements (APA). Once the conditions of the purchase were reviewed, the Spanish government decided to opt for this route, which will provide it with up to 40 million vaccine doses. Unknown price Its not yet known how much Spain and the rest of the participating EU states will pay for the purchase. AstraZeneca has said that the vaccine will cost just a few euros, making it one of the most accessible, compared to other, more-advanced options from pharmaceutical companies such as Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen (the group that owns the Johnson & Johnson brand). The candidate from AstraZeneca, whose investigation was launched by Oxford University, is one of the leaders in the vaccine race. Some 30,000 volunteers have been enrolled to assess the safety and efficiency of the drug as part of the Phase 3 clinical trial, the final stage before it is put on the market. There is no guarantee that this vaccine candidate or any others will be authorized. It was, however, revealed on Sunday that US President Donald Trump is considering authorizing the AstraZeneca vaccine even though it has not completed its clinical trials. The European Commission is also negotiating the purchase of more vaccine supplies with other companies, which Spain could also join. The US laboratory Moderna said on Monday that it had reached an agreement to provide Europe with 80 million doses of its vaccine candidate, which could be doubled to 160 million. On July 27, the company entered Phase 3 of its clinical trial and began testing thousands of volunteers. Moderna, which has already reached an agreement with Rovi Laboratories to make the drug in Madrid, will offer the vaccine at a cost of between $32 and $37 (27 to 31) per dose. The European Commission is in talks with the German drugmaker CureVac to buy 225 million vaccine doses. It has also reached agreements to buy 300 million doses from Sonfi and GSK, and 200 million (with the option for 200 more) from Janssen. In total, the European Commission has guaranteed a minimum of 1.1 billion doses and a maximum of 1.44 billion until the end of 2021, if all the vaccine candidates are successful. In most cases, two doses of a vaccine need to be administered to each person if it is to be effective. English version by Melissa Kitson. Unprecedented fall in OECD GDP by 9.8% in Q2 2020 Download the entire news release (PDF 120KB) 26/08/2020 - Following the introduction of COVID-19 containment measures across the world since March 2020, real gross domestic product (GDP) in the OECD area showed an unprecedented fall, by (minus) 9.8%, in the second quarter of 2020, according to provisional estimates. This is the largest drop ever recorded for the OECD area, significantly larger than the (minus) 2.3% recorded in the first quarter of 2009, at the height of the financial crisis. Among the Major Seven economies, GDP fell most dramatically, by (minus) 20.4%, in the United Kingdom. In France, where lockdown measures were among the most stringent, GDP declined by (minus) 13.8%, after a drop of (minus) 5.9% in the previous quarter. GDP also fell sharply in Italy, Canada and Germany in the second quarter (by (minus) 12.4%, (minus) 12.0% and (minus) 9.7% respectively (compared with (minus) 5.4%, (minus) 2.1% and (minus) 2.0% in the previous quarter). In the United States, where many states introduced stay-at-home measures late March,GDP contracted slightly less ((minus) 9.5%, compared with (minus) 1.3% in the previous quarter). In Japan, where containment measures were less stringent, GDP contracted by (minus) 7.8% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with (minus) 0.6% in the previous quarter. In the euro area and the European Union, GDP dropped by (minus) 12.1% and (minus) 11.7% respectively, compared with declines of (minus) 3.6% and (minus) 3.2% in the previous quarter. Year-on-year GDP growth for the OECD area was minus 10.9% in the second quarter of 2020, following growth of minus 0.9% in the previous quarter. Among the Major Seven economies, the United States recorded an annual growth of minus 9.5%, while the United Kingdom recorded the sharpest annual fall (minus 21.7%). OECD Chart: Quarterly GDP, Total, Percentage change, previous period, Quarterly, last 8 quarters Link to underlying data - Source: Quarterly National Accounts: Quarterly growth rates of real GDP Note: As a consequence of measures put in place by governments to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), many statistical agencies are facing unprecedented collection, compilation and methodological challenges to develop indicators across a number of domains. To address these challenges, the statistical community is developing guidance, both conceptual and practical, to help ensure the continued delivery of timely and reliable statistics. However, in some cases, there will inevitably be an impact on quality and, as such, the statistics included in this press release may be subject to larger, and more frequent, than normal revisions. @OECD_STAT Syracuse, N.Y. -- A pair of storm systems -- a round of strong thunderstorms and remnants of Hurricane Laura -- could generate damaging thunderstorms Thursday and potential flooding this weekend in Upstate New York. Storms could start tonight in Western New York, but are expected to ramp up Thursday afternoon as temperatures climb and a low pressure system crosses east over the Great Lakes. Damaging winds and large hail are anticipated with the strongest storms, and a even few tornadoes will be possible in the region, the National Weather Service said. The weather services Storm Prediction Center estimates theres a 30% or greater chance of severe storms Thursday afternoon and evening. A severe storm carries winds of at least 59 mph and/or hail of at least 1 inch in diameter. Much of Upstate New York is in the enhanced, or 30%, risk category for severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. Wind gusts could hit 70 mph, strong enough to uproot trees and cause power outages, the weather service said. The strength of Thursdays storms will depend in part upon how much cloud cover there is Thursday morning. If we get a break in the clouds by mid morning (which it looks like we will have), then the solar heating will add extra lift to the surface and upper-air features, leading to an intense severe weather event by the afternoon, said Mark Wysocki, New York state climatologist. The air will have large amounts of moisture being pumped in from the southwest, leading to potentially heavy rain. An inch could fall Thursday; some areas could get substantially more where multiple strong thunderstorms roll over the same spot. Torrential rain could cause street and urban flooding, the weather service said. The thunderstorms should wrap up Friday, giving Upstate a break before the remnants of Hurricane Laura move through. Laura is expected to make landfill tonight on the Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts as an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. Laura is expected to bring dangerous storm surges and torrential rain to the Gulf Coast before making a hard right turn Friday morning at the Arkansas-Missouri border. While the center of the storm is now forecast to cross over Washington, D.C., its outer bands of rain will extend well into Upstate New York. Hurricane Laura is expected to slam into the Gulf Coast tonight, then take a sharp right turn Friday morning near the Missouri-Arkansas border. While the center of the storm will be well south of Upstate New York, the outer bands of rain could cause flash flooding. The most recent forecasts show the storm extending farther north and moving more slowly than early predictions, both of which could mean more rain for a longer period of time for parts of Upstate New York. One to 2 inches are expected to fall across the region on Saturday, but thunderstorms could wring out even more. Combined with the soaking expected Thursday, the weekend rain could lead to rises on rivers and potential flash flooding. The good news is that there has been little rainfall over the past couple of weeks, which gives the soil and creeks more room to absorb heavy rain. After Laura moves out Sunday, Upstate is expected to have several dry days with temperatures in the 70s. This is a developing story. Stay tuned to our weather page for updates. READ MORE Hurricane Laura takes aim at U.S. Gulf Coast After a hot summer, Upstate NY expected to have warm fall A hot summer raises fears of toxic algae blooms in Upstate NY lakes Students and staff who get sick when school is back in session wont need to have a COVID-19 test before returning to class unless theyve had contact with a confirmed case, Ontario health officials say. If they need to get tested and if their doctor or other assessment centre feels they need to get tested, they will get tested, said Dr. David Williams, the provinces chief medical officer of health. However, Williams said, a COVID-19 test wont be appropriate in every case. It may be an ear infection. They may have a history of that, so we want to be sensitive to the fact that children dont always get sick from COVID. On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce, along with Williams and Dr. Dirk Huyer the provinces chief coroner, who is now co-ordinating the provinces outbreak management released back-to-school protocols in the event there are cases of COVID-19. Williams said that while the decision about whether a sick child is tested for COVID-19 should ultimately be made by parents, public health nurses might request a test. But, he added, each case is different, each case needs to be approached separately, respecting privacy, respecting what the situation is with a child and the parent at that time. David Fisman, an epidemiology professor at the University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health, said not requiring testing sounds to me like a great recipe for not seeing COVID in schools until a teacher ends up in the intensive care unit in hospital. Reading between the lines: sounds like theyre uneasy about their ability to keep up with required test volumes given the high frequency of respiratory infection symptoms in kids, he said. Recipe for disaster. Health experts have said cases and outbreaks in schools are expected. When they happen, parts or all of the school will be dismissed, depending on the extent of the infections, which will be tracked in the provinces public health database so officials can monitor trends in schools and districts. Officials said parents will be asked to screen children every morning to make sure they do not have a fever or the classic symptoms of COVID-19, which can also include coughing and trouble breathing. They noted that it is possible for children to have the highly contagious virus and not have a fever. If they start to feel unwell, thats the bottom line, said one top official during a detailed briefing with reporters. Theres no black-and-white answer. Parents are urged to consult their family doctor or primary care provider, and may be advised to get their child tested for COVID-19 or wait it out depending on the circumstances and medical history, such as allergies. However, one official said authorities expect many parents will want to get COVID-19 tests for any children displaying potential symptoms for their own peace of mind. Children must not be taken to school with any symptoms and will need to be symptom-free for 24 hours before they return. The officials also said it makes no sense to have all two million of Ontarios students tested for the virus before school resumes because the nasal swab is a snapshot in time. Any child who takes ill at school will be assessed by staff in personal protective equipment, their parents will be contacted and the child will be sent home. Parents will be informed of any positive tests in the school, at a minimum with a notice posted on the schools website and possibly with a letter sent home. Officials urged everyone to get a flu shot, saying symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 can be similar, and expressed hope that pandemic precautions such as masks, physical distancing and frequent hand washing will keep a lid on influenza this fall and winter, as has occurred in the southern hemisphere where flu season is now in progress. Clearly, education will be an area where there is a risk of outbreaks, Huyer acknowledged, emphasizing the continued importance of proper social distancing and handwashing, as well as not going to school or other places when you have symptoms. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday said the state government will not tolerate any excesses by the police against Dalits. His remarks came after a series of incidents in which Dalits were mistreated by the police; and in one such case a youngster in Prakasam district lost his life. For the first time, our government is even arresting policemen who assault or mistreat Dalits, Jagan asserted. Addressing Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) during the Spandana review through video-conferencing, the Chief Minister said police officials, irrespective of their stature, will be held accountable for their mistakes.Even if it was an SI, CI or others, we investigated cases in a transparent manner and took action by booking them under the SC, ST Atrocities Act. Such action was taken in four-five incidents, Jagan said. He added that these measures are intended to bring about a change in society, and asked the officials to act as though the victims were their relatives.Jagan further said the entire system should be changed, and even relatives of senior officials should not be spared in cases of atrocities against people from weaker sections of society. He recalled the tonsure case, and said immediate action was taken. He added that all policemen should be given orientation classes and sensitised to handle such situations. SPs should orient their men. Though it is difficult, the Home Minister, DGP and Additional DG are taking immediate action in such cases to change attitudes in society, he said, and stressed the need for the police to adopt a humane approach. No one above law, no room for graft: CM Pointing out that the Home Minister is a Dalit and the DGP an ST, Jagan said the administration is responsible for the protection of backward classes, and stressed the need for a qualitative change in peoples attitude.He said a special department has been created to deal with the illegal manufacture of liquor and the sand mafia. Let there be no wrongdoing and no political intervention. Be it ministers, MLAs or political leaders, no one is above the law and there is no room for corruption, he said.Deputy CM (Health) Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas, Panchayat Raj Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, DGP Gautam Sawang and others were present at the meeting. The Greater Accra Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) has rejected former President John Mahamas offer to pay them monthly salary when given the nod in the 7th December general elections. According to them, Mr. Mahama lacks the credibility to make promises, particularly to the Assembly members saying; we have seen, tested, tried and felt the leadership of former President John Dramani Mahama and we are much convinced beyond every measure that he has nothing to offer Assembly members of this country. The Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has assured Assembly members that the next NDC administration will work closely with them to deepen their role in governance. Mr. Mahama, in a Facebook Live, said for providing the service our intention is to pay Assembly Members so that they can earn an income to be able to look after themselves. Addressing a press conference at GNAT Hall in Accra on Tuesday, 25th August, 2020, the association iterated; We find his will to fulfill this promise not credible and his mode of approach not sustainable for his track record as a vice President and President respectively he abandoned us, we the assembly members, left us in the state of hopelessness and took us for granted. He left us with nothing more than broken hopes and hearts hence its surprising that this same Former President John Dramani Mahama is again making a promise to ensure the payment of monthly salaries to Assembly Members when he had the chance to do so but failed. Read full statement below: PRESENTATION BY GREATER ACCRA ASSOCIATION OF ASSEMBLY MEMBERS-GAAM CREATION OF NEW REGIONS, MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLIES, REMUNERATIONS OF ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ladies and gentlemen of the Media, we, members of GAAM, will like our ex-President of the Republic who is a Presidential candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama to come clear with his promise to ensure payment of services to Assembly Members when he is given the nod as President to manage the affairs of the state in 2021. We find his will to fulfill this promise not credible and his mode of approach not sustainable for his track record as a vice President and President respectively he abandoned us, we the assembly members, left us in the state of hopelessness and took us for granted. As the only head of state who had had the opportunity to serve in the capacity as an assembly member, most of us believed in his promise of paying Presiding Members and assembly members as stated,in page 93 of the NDCs 2012 manifesto. It appears all the promises he made under theme 4 of the manifesto with the heading or caption: WE ARE DEEPENING DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE were not scams enough, we are particularly interested in what his manifesto said about remunerations for overseers of the assemblies as cited in paragraph 8 of this subject matter. It states, Implement the decision of the CRC-proposed Independent Emoluments Commission, to determine the remuneration of DCEs, Presiding Members and have these charged on the consolidated fund. This was stated black and white and we believed he could deliver on his promise because he had been in our position before who should understand the plight of the Assembly member. He left us with nothing more than broken hopes and hearts hence its surprising that this same Former President John Dramani Mahama is again making a promise to ensure the payment of monthly salaries to Assembly Members when he had the chance to do so but failed. Just to put in our local parlance s3 kwatrekwa b3mawo ntoma aa, 3yaa tie no din In short, we have seen, tested, tried and felt the leadership of former President John Dramani Mahama and we are much convinced beyond every measure that he has nothing to offer Assembly members of this country. Ladies and gentlemen, GAAM wishes to acknowledge and applaud His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo for bringing governance to the doorstep of the ordinary Ghanaian through his massive and unprecedented decentralization of the local government system. Through his visionary leadership, President Nana Addo has added 6 more regions to the 10 existing regions since independence till 2016. He has further created 53 additional Municipal and District Assemblies; the largest of its kind initiated by any Head of State in the fourth republican dispensation during his four-year term. In the Greater Accra Region, the President in a space of three years created 13 more municipalities in addition to the existing 16 he inherited as at January 2017, bringing it to a total of 29 MMDAs in the region. This is a remarkable achievement and we are most grateful to President Nana Addo of the Republic of Ghana. There has been enactment of new model standings for Assembly men. Several workshops and orientation have been held to equip us for the task ahead. The creation of new electoral areas has lessened the burden of assembly members with big electoral areas and huge populations. All these measures combined have given assembly members much more authority to execute our mandates in the various assemblies effectively for efficacy. It must be stated that GAAM is very excited by the pronouncement made by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Hajia Halima Mahama said that the government is considering allocating a certain percentage of the common fund to the District Assembly members for Developmental projects within our electoral areas. This we find more feasible and practicable enough to bring us hope as assembly members. Therefore, it is not surprising that under her leadership as the local government Minister, construction of assembly office complexes for almost all the newly created assemblies has become a reality. For proven track records of President Nana Addo, GAAM solidly supports President Nana Addo who is the Presidential Candidate of the NPP for emphatic victory in the December 2020 polls. President Nana Addo has proven beyond every reasonable doubt that he is indeed a doer and action-oriented leader hence, the need to give him four years to do more for us. We wish to appeal to the general public and other assembly members who are not part of this association to join our membership to have a well consolidated voice to ensure the achievement of the re-election of president Nana Addo to enable him to continue with his true leadership services he is rendering to the people of Ghana. GAAM is confident about the fact that President Nana Addo is the right person at this material time to protect our progress as a nation through a radical transformation of this nation for the benefit of us all. Friends from the media, we thank you for your attention. 4more4nana 4more to do more. God bless GAAM, God bless the New Patriotic Party, God bless Mother Ghana. 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 SAGINAW, MI - Fists were flying and people were being tackled during the last Saginaw County Board of Commissioners meeting - but the ruckus wasnt caused by commissioners scuffling over agenda items. Instead, members of the Saginaw County Sheriffs Office put on an educational presentation about physical take-down techniques used in the field. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, Sgt. Herb VanRiper, Deputy Matthew Henry and Deputy Tyler Hall of the Saginaw County Sheriffs office the stage under the direction of Undersheriff Miguel Gomez to demonstrate for commissioners the techniques and moves used in situations that require the use of force. Gomez explained that the Sheriffs Office and Saginaw County official met earlier this month to discuss the use of force policy, which ultimately led to the demonstration on Tuesday. They set this up for today so that all of them could see in person what we do, what were trained to do, he said. The demonstration comes at a time of national unrest due to recent events surrounding incidents between police and civilians. Board of Commissioners Chair Michael Webster said that recent events across the country, such as the recent incidents where Jacob Blake was shot in the back by a Kenosha, Wisconsin police officer on Sunday, Aug. 23 and the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd after a police officer knelt on his neck, made it an appropriate time for county officials to begin understanding Saginaw Countys use of force policy. So that really sparked us to think about, hey, how are we different in this community and what kind of practices do we have in place to ensure nothing like that takes place in our community, Webster said. A blue mat was put on the ground in front of the Board of Commissioners, who were gathered in the Red Room at The Dow event center. While Hall and his fellow officers were smoothly executing their moves, Gomez said as a disclaimer that thats not what happens when people resist in real life. It looks ugly, it sounds ugly, the movements are ugly, he said. But we are trained and we try to get it over as soon as possible so that the ugliness stops. Techniques that were demonstrated and performed on Hall ranged from simple handcuffing maneuvers to precision pressure point manipulation techniques. In the meantime, Gomez explained the Sheriff Offices use of force policy and tactics to the board. What we normally use is a tactic called PPCT, pressure point and control tactics. Its all based on pain compliance, he said. So when somebody doesnt want to do what we want them to do, we inflict pain upon them until they cant take the pain anymore and they comply. PPCT targets specific nerves in the body in areas such as the legs, forearm, and shoulders to get the desired reaction. If strike those nerves, we can normally get a reaction, whether a weapon is let go or whether the force used to keep your arm from going behind your back diminishes, said Gomez. Gomez also emphasized during the presentation that his deputies are to be constantly communicating with the subject so that they are aware of what is happening. Hall was given commands to comply by his fellow deputies before being subjected to the use of force techniques in the demonstration. If theres no talking, all youre doing is fighting, he said. And thats not how theyre trained in the police academy and thats not how theyre trained by us, and we try to refresh everyone every couple years. As a part of the demonstration, Gomez explained to the Board of Commissioners how the Saginaw County Sheriffs Office uses a force continuum, which he described as a type of pyramid with the least amount of force at the bottom and most force at the very top. So when we normally get there, when I get out of the car and I put on my hat and Im walking towards a door or Im walking towards a group of people, the first step in that force continuum is my presence my badge, the way I carry myself, the fact that my boots are shiny and my uniform is clean, he said. I let you all know or let them all know that I know what Im doing. That is a use of force. Then it goes up from there, to empty hand techniques, impact weapons, tasers, all the way up to deadly force. Saginaw County deputies are allowed to go one step higher in the force continuum than how the suspect is behaving, according to Gomez. If that person starts to fight with us, we are allowed to use our training to defend ourselves, he said. If that person pulls out a weapon I am allowed to pull out a weapon that would be a step higher. The Board of Commissioners was also informed during the demonstration that deputies are required to fill out documentation anytime they use anything on the continuum beside the minimal use of force. Thanks to voters in the Aug. 4 primary election approving a six-year millage increase and renewal that will generate $8.6 million in its first year for the Saginaw County Sheriffs Office, the agency is eyeing use of Lexipol LLC for its policies and procedures. Lexipol is a California-based company that provides policies to public safety agencies across the country. Gomez informed the commissioners at the meeting how Lexipol would help to increase accountability among the department. He explained that the Sheriffs Office would be able to access a web-based platform that keeps track of who is accessing training and that it will periodically issue policy tests and quizzes to users. Lexipol will help us hold people accountable and theres no way some of the police action that is being done across the country is being done under policy and procedures, its outside of those policies and procedures of those agencies, he said. And so it would help to discipline those people - but those people that follow the polices and procedures, this will help to defend them. Not only the sheriffs officers but the county in general. I believe that its vital. The push to add the Lexipol system to Saginaw County is a part of Sheriff William L. Federspiels plans to use the millage funding for improvements such as more deputies and live-feed body cameras. Related news: Saginaw County sheriff explains plan to hire more deputies, add live-feed body cameras Saginaw County voters approve tax increase to support sheriffs department Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel wins 2020 Democratic primary Police discuss tactics, diversity and George Floyds death with Saginaw community US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday renewed criticism of British Bank HSBC for its reported treatment of customers linked with the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, saying China was "bullying" the United Kingdom. Pompeo cited unverified reports of Hong Kong-based executives at Next Media being unable to access their HSBC bank accounts and said the bank was "maintaining accounts for individuals who have been sanctioned for denying freedom for Hong Kongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom." "Free nations must ensure that ... As part of our Women's Month content feature and in the build-up to our panel discussion with some of this year's Gerety Awards all-female South African executive jury members, taking place in September, Jessica Tennant, senior editor: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity, interviews this year's jury to find out what a woman has to do to get onto an advertising jury, what the opportunity means to them and the significance of these Awards given the current state of gender equality... Monalisa Sibongile Zwambila, founder and CEO of The Riverbed Agency The Awards recognise the best advertising (not just advertising made for women) through the female lens. Comment on the significance of this given the current state of feminism / gender equality / womens empowerment. As part of its call for entries campaign, the Awards sent purple moustaches to prominent female leaders in the advertising industry, and asked them to pose for a picture with the question: What does a woman have to do to get onto an advertising jury? How would you answer that question what does a woman have to do to get onto an advertising jury? The truth remains that to get anywhere as women, we have to work twice as hard, be more committed and make more sacrifices to succeed. It is time to acknowledge that it shouldnt be about the effort that women put in, but the access to opportunity. That is what drives true transformation and allows the doors to be open to give more women a seat at the jury table. What did you think of the campaign? What are you most looking forward to or excited about with regards to taking part in this years Gerety Awards judging? What is your hope for the next or future generations of women in advertising / the advertising industry? And what is your key message to fellow women in advertising this Womens Month? The Gerety Awards, founded by Joe Brooks and Lucia Ongay is relatively new, having launched in 2019. It brings together all-female juries from across the globe to shortlist the best in advertising all advertising, not just advertising made for women through the female lens.The Awards was named after Frances Gerety, the copywriter who coined the slogan a diamond is forever. So, instead of categories, the Awards are judged by cuts (as in diamond cuts), of which there are 10.This year, there are a total of 180 new jury members from 30 different countries. Pre-Covid-19, judging sessions were hosted in each host city and the shortlists submitted to the international grand jury of creative experts for final evaluation, but of course this years judging sessions are having to take a different format. Joe Brooks explains that the judging would have taken place at the VMLY&R offices, with Jacquie as the ambassador. The date had been set for Monday, 1 June and we would have judged and discussed a number of categories of entries from around the world. The same week judging sessions would have taken place in London, New York, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Melbourne, Milan, Istanbul, Helsinki and Berlin. Due to the Corona, all judging is taking place remotely and online over a four-week period with group calls in the middle of the judging to discuss favorite pieces.This years South African executive jury includes: Jacquie Mullany, ECD, VMLY&R; Mpume Ngobese, MD, Joe Public; Sanche Jansen van Rensburg, ECD, Avatar; Simone Bosman, founder and creative, Osu & Kumalo; Neo Segola, ECD, FCB Africa; Sarah Dexter, CEO, Mullen Lowe; Nadia Mohamed, marketing director, McCain; Emma Strydom, head of design, Network BBDO; Juliet Honey, creative, Freelance; Suhana Gordhan, ECD, FCB; Linda Notelovitz, director/producer and founder, Life Design; Liezel Bygate, marketing director, Bliss Brands; Monalisa Zwambila, CEO, Riverbed; Loli Bishop, producer, Freelance; and Fiona O'Connor, creative director, Havas. Look out for our online panel discussion featuring some of these remarkable women in advertising in September after the shortlists have been announced.Here, Monalisa Sibongile Zwambila, founder and CEO of The Riverbed Agency, believes that diversity in advertising narrative requires a platform for women to be acknowledged with regards to their vital role in the process and access to opportunity, and that it's sad to say it takes the Gerety Awards...The purchasing power that women yield is undeniable, and yet our representation in advertising doesnt measure up. According to a Nielsen study in SA 71% of female consumers are responsible for grocery shopping whilst 60% are the primary purchaser. The diversity in advertising narrative requires that we give a platform for women to be acknowledged with regards to their vital role in the process.Sad to say it takes the Gerety Awards! We have seen the loud call for diversity in the creative industry showing that representation of jury members matters.The campaign is bold and hits home. All to often as women, we have to conform to be admitted into the boys club. It is, however, our differences that make what we bring to the table so unique and of value. Im not even sure we need the purple moustache!The quality of entries is always important. Representation and a female jury is not about a different stand of excellence and I want to be sure that we reflect our 'womeness' in the process. Im excited that South Africa is being given the opportunity to participate in judging these global awards.More inclusion in decision making roles for women across the value chain. Out of South Africas 63 CEOs and creative leads in big agencies, only 10 of them are women with a mere four black females.This time, during lockdown has brought to light the challenges women face in times of strife, from unemployment, GBV, single-led households and much more. Despite this, Ive seen women show up with great resilience and strength. I am convinced more than ever before that as women we possess this innate power to thrive. Those of us that have any influence and that can make a difference in any way should do so. Were all intrinsically linked to how we show up in the world of work and I believe that the positive contribution we make will not only help other people, but ourselves too. In the era of vulture investors, tech monopolies, and ubiquitous free internet content, the traditional financial structures that once supported journalism have splintered into bits. But so, too, have some long-standing institutional notions about what journalism is and could be. The exacerbation of the local news crisis, propelled by the pandemic, demands new financial models, but it also underlines the need for better media structuresin which readers are no longer audiences, but partners in the work. As I wrote in a July newsletter, journalists need to ask where the current model is failing, and how it can be rebuilt. Reimagining journalisms relationship to its community could serve as both an important end and a means to survival. In Mondays Tow Center webinar, focused on models for community-engaged journalism, Andrea Wenzela Tow fellow and assistant professor at Temple Universityintroduced her new book, Community-Centered Journalism: Engaging People, Exploring Solutions, and Building Trust. Wenzels work is aimed at using the process of community-centered journalism to repair journalistic practice and restore broken trust, particularly among those communities that have been marginalized and misrepresented in the past. This book is not about saving the journalism industry, she said. Its about reimagining how journalism could better serve communities. And what that looks like may bear little resemblance to traditional models of journalism. Community-centered journalism asks what information a community needs, rather than presuming to know, and every step of the process requires community partnership. Let go of expectations that interactions always take place on the newsrooms terms, Wenzel said in the webinar. Alicia Bell, organizing manager at Free Presss News Voices, agreed, recasting journalisms traditional vision of its role in a community to include more partnership with local organizers. Journalists, Bell offered, should see themselves as one part of the many pieces that make up a functioning society, collaborators who exist alongside many other essential roles that keep a community alive and thriving. Journalism is a community infrastructure, at its best, she said. Thats what journalism should be. And just as its important for readers to be literate in the structures and functions of a newsroom, Bell added, its important for newsrooms to be literate in the structures and functions of the community. Relationship building is a two-way street. Sarah Alvarez, founder and executive editor at Outlier Media in Detroit, argued that clarity around norms and expectations could also play an important role in bridging the gap between reporters and readers. One thing you can do to make your work more accessible is to make clear what you are doing and what you are not doing, Alvarez said of the unspoken rules of journalism. All of this stuff is unsaid, and that does a huge disservice to the industry and the communities that the industry tries to serve. In the end, panelists agreed, a community-centered journalism project that works in rural Kentucky may not work in Philadelphia, but the process itselfand the repositioning of a newsrooms relationship with its readerscan generate a solution that fits each unique place and its people. The sustainability of journalism in the long term will require such solutions. The Journalism Crisis Project aims to train our focus on the present crisis, tallying lost jobs and outlets and fostering a conversation about what comes next. We hope youll join us (click to subscribe). Sign up for CJR 's daily email CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DATABASE: If youre aware of a newsroom experiencing layoffs, cutbacks, furloughs, print reductions, or any fundamental change as a result of covid-19, let us know by submitting information here. (Personal information will be kept secure by the Tow Center and will not be shared.) Below, more on recent changes in newsrooms across the world: JOURNALISM JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES: MediaGazer has been maintaining a list of media companies that are currently hiring. You can find it here. The Deez Links newsletter, in partnership with Study Hall, offers media classifieds for both job seekers (at no cost) and job providers. The Ida B. Wells Society announced that its micro-loan program for journalists would no longer require recipients to repay their loansyou can apply here and donate here. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Lauren Harris is a freelance journalist. She writes CJR's weekly newsletter for the Journalism Crisis Project. Follow her on Twitter @LHarrisWrites. Centre for ESG Resources (CER), a joint initiative of ESG Robo, a corporate sustainability firm, and RSM GC, an energy and sustainability consulting firm, today launched a report titled The State of ESG Reporting in India analysing the maturity of sustainability reports published by the constituent companies of Nifty 50 index. A total of 38 reports were analysed that had reports and/or public accounts of their sustainability that could be reviewed against criteria such as sustainability context, integrated thinking, governance, measurement and performance, and balance. The reports were assessed on 64 scoring points across 3 dimensions: reporting principles, content, and experience, as per best practice guidelines provided by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). As per the report, assessed companies show a high level of basic reporting maturity with 89% of them aligning their reports with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 87% of them were externally assured. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was the most widely adopted reporting framework with 89% of companies providing the GRI index in the report, followed by 39% reporting as per the Integrated Reporting framework. Compared to previous years, the reports are covering more topics including broadening discussions on materiality analysis and stakeholder engagement. The report identified several patterns that emerged in the study including scope for improvement. All reports focus on environmental matters and disclosures on emissions, water, and waste measurement and reduction measures are most visible and extensive. However, despite the focus, there is little disclosure of risk assessment from climate change, or how these risks are being quantified or integrated into business strategy. Reporting on social matters is generally limited to CSR activities and boilerplate health and safety metrics disclosures. The most visible gap is in addressing strategy and governance. Discussions on megatrends and their impact on strategy are either at a high level or are missing. Despite the centrality of governance, the reporting remains boilerplate and most companies are yet to integrate sustainability objectives into management remuneration. Global investors are under pressure from governments and capital providers to report their impact on people and the planet. Companies have been voluntarily increasing their sustainability disclosures and most companies publish elaborate reports. However, there remains a gap and investors complain about lack of actionable information and companies complaining about reporting fatigue. CER initiative aims to close this gap Sandeep Raghuwanshi, CEO, Centre for ESG Reporting and ESG Robo commented on the launch of the report. Sandeep added, Today we have a strange situation. On one hand, companies are complaining about reporting fatigue on ESG matters. On the other hand, investors are complaining about not having enough ESG data. The problem is not lack of information but lack of relevant information. It is critical that the disclosures are tuned to the needs of the investors, and focus on material, actionable information sharing. This report aims to assess the current state of reporting and contribute to bridging the gap. Good information is the lifeblood of good investing and investors use quantitative and qualitative company reported information to make informed investment decisions. Context is key. Clear, consistent, decision useful disclosure helps investors understand the risks that individual companies are facing and the opportunities that a company is looking to capitalize on. This report has a limited scope but it is an important first step in improving the information on sustainable enterprises. added Dr. Ram Babu, Board Member of Centre for ESG Reporting and CEO, RSM GC. The Center for ESG Resources (CER) is a collaboration between ESG Robo and RSG GC to bring a broad range of deep expertise on ESG performance improvement for the industry. ST. LOUIS, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Unemployment insurance (UI) isn't enough to pay rent in most major U.S. metros, according to a new report from Real Estate Witch, an online real estate portal. The study found that of the 109 largest metros in the U.S., residents of just 12 can afford rent for a two-bedroom apartment on top of basic expenses: Springfield, MA Worcester, MA Spokane, WA Toledo, OH Dayton, OH Cleveland, OH Akron, OH Des Moines, IA Cincinnati, OH Columbus, OH Scranton, PA Pittsburgh, PA Although those metros are affordable on UI, people in just two (Springfield and Worcester, MA) have more than $500 left over per month for savings, emergencies, healthcare, and other necessities. South Least Affordable on Unemployment Insurance; Northeast Most Affordable The South may have a comparatively lower cost of living, but it's the most unaffordable region on UI. Average UI payments in the Northeast are $1,738.32 per month, followed by the Midwest ($1,311.18), West ($1,249.65), and South ($870.81). These rankings directly correlate with people's ability to pay rent: Those in 65% of Northeastern metros can afford a studio apartment on UI, compared to 42% of Midwestern, 25% of Western, and just 15% of Southern metros. California, Florida Metros Among Most Unaffordable on Unemployment Insurance UI doesn't cover food, transportation, and rent for a studio apartment in 73 of the 109 metros analyzed. The top 10 metros where residents can't afford a studio apartment on UI are: San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA Washington, DC Oakland, CA New York, NY Miami, FL Honolulu, HI San Diego, CA Fort Lauderdale, FL West Palm Beach, FL Residents need an average of $1,600 in additional unemployment benefits to afford rent and other basic necessities. Read the full report: https://www.realestatewitch.com/expenses-unaffordable-on-unemployment-insurance/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=prnewswire&utm_campaign=ui-rent. About Real Estate Witch Real Estate Witch is a web property of Clever Real Estate , the online platform that connects home buyers and sellers with top-rated agents at a discount rate. SOURCE Clever Real Estate Related Links https://listwithclever.com New Delhi, Aug 26 : A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar Sharjeel Imam to four-day police custody in connection with the February Delhi riots case. On Tuesday, the Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested Imam in connection with the riots under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA). He was brought back to the capital from Assam two days earlier on a production warrant. The Delhi Police had moved an application for five-day remand of Imam. Additional Session Judge Amitabh Rawat allowed an application moved by Imam's counsel for two legal interviews with him in a period of five days, away from the hearing range of police officials. During the court proceedings, Imam's lawyer Surbhi Dhar opposed the five-day custody sought and requested court to grant it for a shorter time. "The accused was in judicial custody for one month before the Delhi riots. Accordingly, there is limited information which can be sought from him; so five days in custody is not required." Imam had come into the limelight for his speech in Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens on December 13 last year and subsequently on January 16 at the Aligarh Muslim University, where he allegedly threatened to "cut off" Assam and the rest of the northeast from the country. The Delhi Police had on July 25 filed a charge sheet against Imam in connection with a case related to his alleged inflammatory speeches during the protests against the CAA at several places. The 600-page charge sheet was filed under Sections 124A (sedition), 153(A) (promoting enmity), 153 (assertion prejudicial to national integration) (promoting enmity, hatred between different communities, 505 (spreading rumours) of the IPC and Section 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in Delhi's Patiala House court. A 30-year-old self-styled spiritualist and his two accomplices are in the grip of the Agona Swedru Police for defrauding their client on the pretext of bestowing him with money after they had performed some rituals. The suspects, Raymond Owusu, popularly referred to as Nana Nzema, Maxwell Bansah,21, and Francis Afful,26, were arrested by the police at their shrine at Wawase, a suburb of Agona Swedru, last Monday after an official complaint. Nana Nzema had defrauded one Leslie Johnson Adams, a native of Sogakope in the Volta Region, to the tune of GH2,800. Adams had sought the services of Nana Nzema for rituals to be performed so that his money could be increased by Nzema to an amount of GH100,000. First visit Adams had come to Nana Nzema after he had watched him perform his money doubling miracles on television in June this year. After paying a consultation fee and other expenses totalling GH1,100, the complainant was given a sack containing dried plantain leaves and told not to open it until he got home and poured Juda oil on it. Later on, Adams called Nana Nzema to inform him of his inability to get that particular brand of oil to be sprinkled on the bag before he opened it. Nana Nzema then told him to send an additional GH1,000 via mobile money to him to buy the oil for him. In his desperation, the complainant added GH700 to the amount Nana Nzema had requested so he could fast track the process since he needed the oil badly to sprinkle on the bag to complete the ritual process. Phone off On receiving the last payment from Adams, Nana Nzema switched off his phone, thus making it impossible for the complainant to get in touch with him and to even enquire about the oil he had been promised. After several attempts to get in touch with Nana Nzema on the phone proved futile, Adams was compelled to open the bag only to find that it contained dried plantain leaves. A source at the Swedru Divisional Police Station told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Adams lodged an official complaint with the station to the effect that in June of this year, Nana Nzema and his accomplices had collected an amount of GH2,800 from him on the pretext of giving him an amount of GH100,000. The source said the spiritualist had handed over a bag to the complainant and told him not to open it until some rituals had been performed, to which the complainant obliged. He said the complainant opened the bag after a long wait and found that it contained dried plantain leaves. The source said the police quickly moved to the spiritualists shrine, arrested him together with his accomplices and placed them in custody to assist with investigations. According to the source, following a search of the shrine by a police team, it retrieved 15 bags containing dried plantain leaves as well as other bags containing papers cut into the sizes of Ghana cedi notes. The retrieved items are suspected to be used to trick people who called on the shrine for consultations. The source added that the suspects would be arraigned on the charge of defrauding by false pretences. 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 US president Donald Trump comes under attack on coronavirus following second night of Republican convention: EPA Vice President Mike Pence delivered the final remarks at the penultimate night of the 2020 Republican National Convention, where he addressed a crowd in Maryland while promoting false claims about the administration's response to the coronavirus and condemned protests across the US challenging police brutality. The third night of the convention also included several women from the Trump administration, including Kellyanne Conway, who is set to leave the White House in coming days, as well as Kayleigh McEnany and the vice president's wife Karen Pence. Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, the vice president national security adviser, also argued the safety of the US depends on the president's re-election a sharp departure from a statement issued by nearly 80 former national security officials who served under four Republican administrations who have all endorsed Joe Biden. Donald Trump has demanded his Democratic rival take a drug test before the presidential debates, as the president announced federal law enforcement and National Guard service members will be deployed to Wisconsin ahead of a fourth night of protests in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who has been left paralysed after an officer shot him several times in the back. NBA and WNBA players began striking in protest on Wednesday, forcing the leagues to cancel games, as law enforcement in Wisconsin confirmed Rusten Sheskey as the officer who fired seven shots at Mr Blake following Sunday's shooting. A 17-year-old suspect accused of fatally shooting two protesters and injuring another in Kenosha, Wisconsin had reportedly attended one of the president's campaign rallies in January, after his social media pages were discovered to show posts supporting the president and law enforcement. As the RNC entered its third night, Democrats announced their vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will counter the president's closing night speech on Thursday. The president is expected to deliver remarks on Thursday to close out the convention, but Hurricane Laura set to bring devastating storm surges and fierce winds to coastal parts of Louisiana and Texas could delay the event. The White House, meanwhile, said that the president is considering executive action to bail out airlines if Congress doesn't reach a new coronavirus stimulus package. Follow live coverage as it happened Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load Read more Republicans fight back at RNC, claiming Trump is pro-women Trump accused of being stuck in 'convention bubble' Kayleigh McEnany says Trump supports pre-existing condition coverage Teenage suspect in Kenosha shooting was in front row of Trump rally WINNIE -- The crew of Austin water squad one pulled up to the Winnie-Stowell Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday morning, introducing themselves. We want to make sure you guys have all the help you need, said Chris Moren, greeting a member of the team. Members of the fire department had been up all night battling a house fire that wouldnt go out. Tired, they were returning to it that morning before all eyes would turn to Hurricane Lauras arrival. A sense of anticipation was everywhere, as people made final preparations in the still-calm wind. A worker drilled plywood over the windows of the gas station. Chambers County officials were watching for every update in the Anahuac Courthouse. The Austin crew, part of A&M TEEX, touched base on where the shelter would be, where the meeting point would be. This community, after all, flooded badly after Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda. But they were calm. We know the drill, Larry Morse said. *** Around noon Tuesday curious onlookers gathered on the beach near High Island, gazing out toward the darkened sky of the storm as the waves already lapped over the beach and toward the road.The area, at the end of Bolivar Peninsula, was under mandatory evacuation but still some such as 33-year-old Mark Allums planned to ride it out. Allums, in fact, had driven in his pick-up here to his beach house from northeast Texas. His 19-year-old brother was with him. Were gonna ride this one out, Allums said. Im fired up about it. He turned to his brother. Arent you? he asked. Heck yeah, said his brother, Hunter Clark. They had food, water and beer. Neither expected to sleep that night. *** Along Highway 124, a man pulled at a cow that had rolled over on its back. The rain was falling, falling as the outermost bands of Laura arrived mid-day. The cow wouldnt move. He got back into his truck and drove on. *** Chambers County Sheriffs Department deputies later in the afternoon Wednesday were moving through final preparations for themselves too, getting rescue boats and high water vehicles into place. At one county warehouse, they loaded their arms full of blue and green cots under an overcast sky cots that had been put to use in storms past. Theyd be sheltering together with other first responders in Winnie that night. And they had a deadline to be ready: County officials had issued a curfew order for everyone starting at 8 p.m., when winds were expected to get so high that being outside would no longer be safe. Being as prepared as they could be before it hit was the aim, 53-year-old Captain Erik Kvarme said. Everything really depends on the storm, he said. We have no control over it. All we can do is prepare. By Laman Ismayilova Heydar Aliyev Center in Uzbekistan invites you to enjoy International Virtual Competition of Azerbaijani and Uzbek Performers on Folk Stringed Musical Instruments on September 10-18. The competition is open to 16-35 years old performers working in concert organizations, theater, radio and television institutions, as well as students of higher and secondary specialized music schools. The contest is supported by the national conservatories of the two countries, as well as the orchestra of Uzbek Folk Instruments. The main goal of the competition is to promote traditional music instruments and support young musicians. The competition will be held in the following nominations: tar - kashkar rubab ( lute-like musical instrument), kamancha - gidjak (stringed bowed instrument) and oud. Each participant will perform national music on a string instrument. Apart from national folk music, all participants can also perform a music piece of another country. The winners will be awarded honorary diplomas and cash prizes from Heydar Aliyev Center in Uzbekistan. The jury will include well-known music experts from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The contest will be followed by a virtual gala concert on September 18. Azerbaijani folk music stems from times far gone. The country's traditional music instruments are much loved worldwide. Saz is a stringed musical instrument of the lute type. The instrument has a pear-shaped body, a neck with tied sliding frets, a wooden soundboard and double or triple strings. Kamancha is a bowed string instrument, which is widespread among Eastern and Central Asian peoples under a variety of names. Art of crafting and playing with kamancha, a bowed string musical instrument, was included into the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Tar or a long-necked plucked lute is traditionally crafted and performed throughout Azerbaijan It is made from mulberry, walnut and pear trees, and the face of the instrument is made from cattle heart membrane. Its strings differ by thickness and composition. The music and craftsmanship of Azerbaijani musical instrument, tar, was inscribed in the UNESCO list in 2012. Oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument with 11 or 13 strings grouped in 5 or 6 courses. Four strings of the musical instrument were likened to the four elements of nature: fire, water, earth, air. It was often depicted in the works of miniature painting. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Donald Trump is not the first president to face down a deep-state cabal, that is, an unelected oligarchy of shadowy figures who wielded enormous power while being unaccountable to the American public. The first was President Andrew Jackson, who faced down the Bank of the United States in the 1820s and 1830s; then as now, the deep state has apparently included a significant financial element. Trumps top economic aide Lawrence Kudlow said it last October: I dont want to get into a lot of Fed bashing, but their models are highly flawed. The deep state board staff, of course, has not been very helpful -- oops, did I say that? Yes, he did. And whatever the actual role of the Federal Reserve in the coup attempt against Trump, there is no doubt that some have been sounding warnings about it since at least 1931 people in a position to know. As Rating Americas Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster explains, the Federal Reserve was established in December 1913, during the progressive Woodrow Wilson administration. But the Fed was just a new version of the same Bank of the United States that Jackson fought: a private corporation that kept the public treasury. Its foes argued that it was dangerous to turn power over the public funds to an oligarchy of private financiers, since the possibility for corruption, and for a de facto second government developed by buying favors until large enough to challenge the government of the United States, was immense. Yet as far as Wilson was concerned, that was by design. Late in the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, the Knickerbocker Trust Company was failing, leading to a significant economic downturn, the Panic of 1907. Banking baron J. P. Morgan stepped in to aid banks that were failing and thus minimize the crisis. Wilson, at that time the president of Princeton University, showed a taste for authoritarian government, writing: All this trouble could be averted if we appointed a committee of six or seven public-spirited men like J. P. Morgan to handle the affairs of our country. In establishing the Federal Reserve System, the nation went a long way toward doing just that. Wilsons support for it contradicted his assurances during his 1912 campaign that he was opposed to a central bank. He declared: A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is privately concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men who, even if their action be honest and intended for the public interest, are necessarily concentrated upon the great undertakings in which their own money is involved and who necessarily, by very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom. Yet Wilsons opposition to a central bank proved to be as hollow a claim as Wilsons reelection slogan, He Kept Us out of War, would prove to be when the U.S. entered World War I on the flimsiest of pretexts. The Federal Reserve Act placed various regional Federal Reserve banks in private hands, controlled by a central board that was appointed by the president. The central board was supposed to prevent the growth of a moneyed oligarchy that would exercise undue control over the American political process, which was exactly what Jackson and Tyler had decried about the nineteenth-century bank. But the board itself came to be dominated by those oligarchs, and once again, the public funds were in the control of a small number of people who had not been elected by the American people. If anyone was responsible for an enormous concentration of power in the hands of a few men, it was Wilson. Rating Americas Presidents recounts that no less a luminary than William Gibbs McAdoo, who was Wilsons treasury secretary when the Federal Reserve came into existence, sounded the alarm about the Federal Reserve in his memoirs, which were published in 1931. Wrote McAdoo: The fact is that there is a serious danger of this country becoming a plutodemocracy; that is, a sham republic with the real government in the hands of a small clique of enormously wealthy men, who speak through their money, and whose influence, even today, radiates to every corner of the United States. For this, he could thank Wilson and the Federal Reserve Act. Thats the same danger the U.S. faces today: becoming a sham republic with the real government in the hands of a small clique. It is because Donald Trump stands in between that clique and unchallenged hegemony that he is so fervently hated today. Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch and a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He is author of 21 books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) and The Truth About Muhammad. His latest book is Rating Americas Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster. Follow him on Twitter here. Like him on Facebook here. Image: {{PD-USGov}} A police car was set ablaze in Philadelphia early Wednesday, prompting an investigation that involves the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This comes after a July 27 incident in which four police cars were set on fire around the city. The police cruiser was parked in front of the 3rd District police station at 11th and Wharton streets in South Philadelphia when the fire broke out, NBC 10 is reporting. The car was burned on the front passenger side. No one was injured. Witnesses told police they saw someone riding away on a bicycle, Action News 6 ABC is reporting. An arson dog was brought in to help with the investigation. Police are still investigating the burning of four police cars in one night from last month, according to reports. One of those incidents resembled Wednesdays fire with the flames appearing to have originated under the wheel well, according to reports. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 18:03:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Jakarta administration has decided to allow businesses to reopen movie theaters under strict health protocols soon, governor of the Indonesian capital city said here on Wednesday. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told a press conference that he will revoke permits of business owners if they are found to violate the health protocols in cinemas. "If there are activities in cinemas that do not obey health protocols, we will simply close their business activities," he said, adding that the city administration is prioritizing public health and safety amid COVID-19 pandemic. The plan to reopen cinemas has been discussed with the government's COVID-19 task force. The task force's spokesman, Wiku Adisasmito, said people who will be allowed to watch movies at cinemas are sound movie goers who are aged more than 12 years old and below 60 years. Those who have congenital diseases are not allowed to enter movie theaters. Regular body temperature checks shall be conducted at every entrance. Moreover, only 50 percent of the seats shall be filled in cinemas and visitors are only allowed to stay inside for up to two hours. Adisasmito also explained that tickets shall be ordered online. Customers will be required to give their personal details to make the task force able to conduct tracing if a new transmission cluster appears. He noted that watching movies at cinemas for the public amid pandemic is important. "Because the immunity of the people can increase if they are cheerful," said Adisasmito. On Wednesday, the COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose to 160,165 with the death toll reaching 6,944, the Health Ministry said. Specifically, the number of cases in Jakarta, home to over 10 million people, increased to 35,453 with the death toll rising to 1,135. Enditem Massachusetts annual tax-free shopping holiday will be different this year, with retailers still battered by the coronavirus pandemic and attendant shutdowns of much of the economy. Restrictions are still in place about how many people can be inside stores, and many students not planning to go at least physically back to school this fall. But local retailers are optimistic heading into the weekend. The feedback from customers is that they are ready, said Dianna Wilson, showroom manager at the West Springfield Raymour & Flanigan furniture showroom. Wilson said stay-at-home advisories had people developing desires to replace furnishings and spruce up rooms. Also, people are buying work-from-home and learn-from-home desks. The store is signing customers up now and will process orders over the weekend. This weekend, Aug. 29 and 30, the state will not charge its 6.25% sales tax on many items under $2,500, giving consumers and break and retailers a boost in whats traditionally a slow time. The annual tax-free holiday typically saves consumers in Massachusetts a total of $20 million, meaning it also costs the state $20 million in tax revenue. There are exceptions and some products are still taxed, including: meals motor vehicles motorboats marijuana products tobacco electricity alcoholic beverages gas telecommunications services At Fireside Designs in West Springfield, owner Jean Peloquin said hes getting tax-holiday customers already and he hopes the boost in business pulls him out of a coronavirus slump. "It's not like it was in the past years," he said. "It's definitely good considering the circumstances we are in." The shop, which sells fireplaces and stoves, was closed for nine weeks. But now Peloquin is seeing customers who are forgoing travel and instead spending money on their homes. Yes Computers in Northampton, an independent Apple dealer, always markets heavily on tax-free weekend for back-to-school shoppers. Owner Mark Wineburg said its a little different now with the technological demands of remote learning. Kids need up-to-date equipment to run software like Zoom, he said. That means laptops, tablets and other devices are in demand. "All the things people need to run their lives right now," Wineburg said. "That's what we sell." But how to service customers in a safe way? Coronavirus and social distancing means no crowds in stores. Yes Computers is only selling by preorder for this tax-free weekend. Customers can call or visit and talk with staff through a plastic barrier, Wineburg said. Staffers write up the order and hold onto it. They will process the purchase Saturday or Sunday. Wineburg said he and his staff are scheduling pickup times for customers during the following week, Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, making sure there arent too many customers set to come for their purchases at the same time. Its really a good way to manage the flow of clients through the store here, Wineburg said. Most of our customers are very comfortable with that, which is very interesting. The state clearly sees tax-free shopping as a way to boost retailers. The My Local MA advertising campaign kicks off Friday in tandem with the tax-free weekend, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday. The marketing plan was developed as a response to the economic impact COVID-19 has had on local businesses and communities. Related Content: NSW Health has confirmed that people who tested positive for COVID-19 attended multiple locations in the Sydney CBD, the suburbs of Hornsby and Willoughby and the Central Coast. One positive case attended the gaming area of City Tattersalls club in the CBD on Monday, August 24. Others who were in the gaming areas on that day must monitor for symptoms and get tested if they develop. "NSW Health is working with City Tattersalls to identify and contact people considered close contacts," a statement read. The department is also reaching out to anyone who attended the Fitness First gym in Bond Street in the CBD between midday and 4.30pm on Thursday, August 20, and Friday, August 21, to determine if they are a close contact, but are advising anyone who went to the gym on those days to be alert. People who attended either the Harris Farm supermarket in Willoughby on Saturday, August 22, between 4pm and 5pm, or PRP Diagnostic Imaging on Edgeworth David Avenue in Hornsby between 10am and 11.15am on Monday August 24 are considered casual contacts and must monitor for symptoms. A newly confirmed case worked in the food court at David Jones in the CBD, but did not have contact with the public. Another new case, who will be reflected in tomorrows numbers, travelled on the following trains: Monday August 24: Sydney-bound train, departing Woy Woy station at 6.31am, arriving at Wynyard station at 7.50am. Northbound train, departing Town Hall station at 5.31pm, arriving at Woy Woy station at 6.54pm. Tuesday August 25: Sydney-bound train, departing Woy Woy station at 6.31am, arriving at Gordon station at 7.21am. Northbound train, departing Hornsby station at 7.53am, arriving at Woy Woy station at 8.28am. People who travelled on these services are considered casual contacts and must monitor for symptoms. Victorias daily coronavirus death toll has tripled, with 24 new deaths announced on Wednesday morning. It is the states second deadliest day with the number of deaths just one shy of the record 25 deaths reported on August 17, and comes after the daily death toll had dropped to eight on Tuesday. The new deaths included a woman in her 60s, three men in their 70s, 10 people in their 80s and six women and four men in their 90s. Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Wednesday 21 of the 24 fatalities were linked to aged care outbreaks. The Department of Health and Human Services also announced on Wednesday morning 149 new coronavirus cases for the past 24-hour period, continuing the states downward trend during its Stage 4 lockdown. The department sent its condolences to all those who were affected by the latest deaths. The coronavirus death toll has now reached 462 in Victoria, while the nations figure has climbed to 549. Victoria has reported its second deadliest day, with 24 new coronavirus deaths. Wednesdays daily cases see an increase of one new daily case on the 148 new cases confirmed on Tuesday. Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday he would be seeking to extend the parameters of Victorias State of Emergency which under the current Public Health and Wellbeing Act is due to expire on September 13. His proposal, which would give the state government the opportunity to extend the State of Emergency to September 2021 in their fight against the coronavirus, has since faced resistance from several politicians. Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien has ruled out supporting the bill, which almost all upper-house crossbench MPs oppose in its current form. The premier said an extended state of emergency would allow Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton to issue "common-sense" directions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. These include rules on face masks, mass gatherings and quarantine as well as density limits for businesses and workplaces. He stressed the proposed extension did not mean stage four restrictions also due to end on September 13 will be in place for another year. Story continues Premiers plan to reopen Victoria Mr Andrews told reporters on Wednesday it was important that Professor Sutton was able to continue making rules beyond September 13. He said that would mean Victoria could reopen and businesses would be able to survive. I'm very hopeful that we will get an outcome that allows the Chief Health Officer to continue to do his important work, allows all of the team to continue to make decisions based on science and evidence that are proportionate to the challenges we face, he said. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said the state can only reopen if the Chief Health Officer can enforce rules. Source: Getty That will underpin us opening up. I think we have just got to think for a moment imagine the plight of the business that were to open up in just a few weeks' time, and then we don't have the power to keep people who have got this virus at home. So, that becomes a kind of an honesty policy. Even a handful of those people, perhaps make the wrong choice, and this gets away from us again. Imagine the impact on that business. Imagine the impact on staff. Imagine the impact across the board. There are some basics here, and the ability with legal authority to make sure that someone who is positive with this virus stays at home and stays safe away from other people, you simply can't have an opening-up strategy unless you have the ability to make those sorts of rules. With AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. F ifty major employers have no plans to return all staff to offices full-time putting many city centre businesses in further financial jeopardy, a study showed today. The findings revealed that home working was becoming a permanent feature for many firms amid ongoing concerns over public transport and social distancing. Twenty-four said they had no plans in place to bring workers back to offices while 20 said they had provided some office space for those unable to work from home. The poll, conducted by the BBC, included a range of companies from banks to retailers. It found that many were struggling to adapt office spaces to make provision for social distancing guidelines. It comes after an investigation by the Standard this month revealed a host of FTSE 100 firms were not expecting all staff to return to headquarters at all this year with a knock-on effect on the tens of thousands of jobs, particularly in cafes, restaurants and shops. Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of the New West End Company representing retailers, called for a strong political message that more workers should return to officers. He said that last weekend West End shops had half the number of customers compared with the same time last year. Mr Tyrrell said: We are encouraging a very strong instruction from the Prime Minister and the current mayor of London to encourage Londoners back to the office and work thats the only way we are going to survive this year for the retail and hospitality in the West End. He added that without extended relief on business rates there would be more redundancies in the retail decor in London. Sam Hart who owns the Quo Vadis restaurant chain as well as Barrafina and Fino said lunchtimes were particularly quiet as office workers failed to filter back in sufficient numbers. He said: We are hoping the offices will go back. This cannot be the new normal. RBS said about 49,000 of the banks staff in the UK will continue to work from home into 2021. Graeme Pitkethly, finance chief of consumer goods group Unilever, said it will be a while before staff return fully to its Victoria Embankment HQ. Sir Martin Sorrell, the advertising guru who now runs S4 Capital, said: The Government is saying that all of the ecosystems around the office are crumbling, it is a desert, so we have to get back to work. But the policies are mixed, there is confusion in my mind as to what we are supposed to do. Facebook has said its staff will not return to the office before July 2021. Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said: Even when the obstacles are cleared, getting back to normal will be an uphill struggle. For employers and workers remote working has worked better than expected. Kevin Ellis, chairman of accountancy giant PwC, today said 8,000 of its 22,000 staff had so far returned to one of its 20 offices around the country. He hopes half will be back by the end of next month but said the trend towards flexible hours and working from home had been hastened by coronavirus. He told the BBC: It was happening anyway 10 per cent worked flexibly and the pandemic has accelerated that. Business leaders predict that 50,000 jobs in the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors could disappear in the West End alone this year with total spending down by half a loss of revenue of around 5 billion as a direct result of the coronavirus lockdown. A satellite view of lightning from Hurricane Laura on Aug. 25, 2020. (NOAA via Reuters) Hurricane Laura Rapidly Intensifies to Category 3, Half a Million Under Evacuation Orders Hurricane Laura strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane overnight, and forecasters and local officials are warning people in its path to evacuate. The hurricane, still located about 300 miles from the Lousiana coast, is expected to bring potentially catastrophic storm surge, heavy winds, and flash flooding to the northwestern Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in an update at 9 a.m. Steps to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the next few hours, the NHC said early Wednesday morning. The storm is located some 280 miles south-southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and 290 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, said the agency. On the forecast track, Laura should approach the Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland near those areas tonight or Thursday morning, the hurricane center said. Laura is a dangerous Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and is forecast to continue strengthening into a Category 4 hurricane later today. Rapid weakening is expected after Laura makes landfall. Waves splash during the passage of Tropical Storm Laura in Havana, Cuba, on Aug. 24, 2020. (Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters) Now that Lauras eye is forming, theres just not a lot of doubt that this will be a large and extremely dangerous hurricane for eastern Texas and Louisiana, National Hurricane Center Senior Hurricane Specialist Eric Blake wrote on Twitter. It is sobering to watch please be smart if you are in the path. On Tuesday, mandatory evacuations were issued by officials in Louisiana and Texas. Chambers County, Texas, issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents who live in low-lying or flood-prone areas, manufactured homes, or trailer homes. The city of Galveston, Texas, also issued an evacuation order as well as the Bolivar Peninsula. Hardin County, Texas, Judge Wayne McDaniel ordered a mandatory evacuation for the whole county starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Texass Jasper County, Jefferson County, Newton County, and Orange County, also issued evacuation orders on Tuesday. In Louisiana, evacuation orders are in effect for Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, Jefferson Parish, Lafourche Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and Terrebonne Parish. About 500,000 people live under areas where the evacuation orders were implemented, according to an Associated Press analysis. Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott waived Houston-area tolls on roads. As Hurricane Laura approaches Texas, this waiver will ensure that Texans are able to evacuate efficiently ahead of the storm, Abbott said in a statement. I urge Texans in the area to continue to take all necessary precautions as Hurricane Laura nears the coast and heed the guidance of local officials. No surprises, no solutions in SIU report on Penners death Re: Police cleared in New Years Eve shooting death of St. Catharines Fred Penner, Aug. 20 The death of Fred Penner, who at the time was in mental distress, at the hands of two police officers was preventable. In defence of the police officers, it seems obvious they had not received training for such a situation. Yes, Mr. Penner presented a threat, wouldnt release the bread knife upon command and advanced towards the officer. But riddling his body with nine bullets from point-blank range was not the answer. A Taser or a single bullet into Penners leg would have disabled and disarmed him for the officers to assume control at which time he could be escorted to the hospital for a mental evaluation. It is not surprising the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) absolved the officers from any wrongdoing, as it rarely disciplines officers. However, the SIU should have shown a little empathy towards Penners family by offering a few recommendations to prevent another senseless and unnecessary death. Barry TuttlePort Colborne Conditions not reasonable for return to school Re: Niagara conditions very reasonable for kids to return to school, says Hirji, Aug. 16 I disagree, the conditions to return to school are not acceptable. Do you have a child going back to school in September? No playground access, no sharing anything, and a mask is mandatory all day. Come on, man, think about the people who care about this situation. Brad MalloyFort Erie Province must facilitate change in local governance Re: Details from funding announcements good news for Niagara, chair says, Aug. 17 What a disappointing article for taxpayers in Niagara. Throughout this whole crisis Niagara municipalities have threatened service cuts or raised taxes, if funding was not forthcoming. What is consistent, is no discussion about operating government differently in Niagara, despite cries from local business owners about the high level they are being taxed. Premier Doug Ford has made a decision to support local municipalities, in essence just throwing money at them, even if it supports municipalities who refuse to reduce duplication and waste local taxpayer money. There are 139 elected positions here in Niagara and numerous examples of duplication. Instead of trying to address these issues as previously promised, Premier Fords government will throw money at it and support inefficiency. Ever since Fords government backed out of its promise for regional governance reform, local discussions have gone quiet. Premier, it is time for your government to take a stand and facilitate this change as local government is only interested in the status quo and not in changing. Al McKaySt. Catharines There are good people out there On a recent weekend, my wife and I (we are in our 80s and 90s) stopped by the Beer Store in Thorold. The lineup had about 12 people in it and we decided my wife would do the first shift. An employee came out and took all orders on a clipboard. When my wife got close to the entrance I took over. The gentleman in front of me now picked up his purchase and to my surprise also carried mine out the door. He said, All paid for, and put it in my trunk. Who paid for this? I wanted to know. I did, he answered, jumped in his truck and drove off. I stood in awe and could not believe what just happened. If you are out there, good buddy, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hard to believe but true: Good people are still out there. Claus Busse Allanburg Letters welcome We welcome letters from our readers. Send them to letters@niagaradailies.com or mail to 55 King St., Suite 600, St. Catharines, Ont., L2H 3HR. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Please include your name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Oregon hopes to begin paying a new, $300 weekly unemployment bonus sometime in the next few weeks, providing a financial boost to hundreds of thousands of Oregonians who had their benefits slashed by at least half at the end of July. The state declared earlier this week that it would seek the new funds, authorized by an executive order by President Donald Trump. The money replaces, at a substantially lower level, a $600 weekly unemployment bonus Congress authorized in March. That bonus expired last month and Congress is deadlocked over a possible extension. Implementing the new, $300 payments will require reprogramming the states obsolete system for paying unemployment benefits. David Gerstenfeld, interim head of the Oregon Employment Department, said in a media call Wednesday that hes not sure how long the updates will take but hopes to have the benefits in peoples hands within a few weeks. The added benefits will be retroactive to the end of July and will likely cover three to five weeks of bonuses, according to Gerstenfeld. He said thats all the money the federal emergency program has to pay benefits, and cautioned the benefits could run out sooner if wildfires or hurricanes exhaust the funding sooner. The president gave states the option of kicking in an additional $100 a week to supplement the $300 weekly bonus, and last week Gerstenfeld said he believed Oregon could tap its relatively well capitalized unemployment insurance trust fund to make those additional payments. But the employment department said this week that subsequent federal guidance ruled that out, meaning Oregon would have to draw from its general fund to make the payments. The department opted not to seek the money from the Legislature, given that Oregon like nearly every state already faces a pandemic-induced budget crisis. At least three states Arizona, Texas and Louisiana have already begun paying the $300 bonus. Thirty-five others plan to make the payments but expect varying degrees of delays while they update their own systems. Just one state so far, Montana, says it will pay the additional $100. Oregon has paid more than $4 billion in jobless benefits since the pandemic began but has struggled to keep up with the unprecedented claims volume. On his weekly media call Wednesday, Gerstenfeld said the department knows tens of thousands of Oregonians are still waiting for their first benefits but he said the department hasnt been able to come up with a more precise estimate of how many it owes. However, Gerstenfeld said the chances have improved that the department will be able to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in delayed federal benefits for jobless Oregonians before those benefits expire on December 31. Congress voted in March to waive the customary one-week waiting period before laid-off workers are eligible for payments. But Oregon perhaps alone among all states has been unable to implement the wavier because its antique computers cannot accommodate the change. That has postponed indefinitely benefits worth at least $800 apiece for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians. The employment department estimated earlier that it would take at least 4,000 hours of computer programming to implement the waiver, and cautioned it might not be able to meet the end-of-year federal deadline putting all that money at risk. New estimates, though, put the total workload at significantly less than 4,000 hours, Gerstenfeld said on his weekly media call Wednesday. Were more confident now than we were that well be able to get it done by the end of the year, Gerstenfeld said, but thats still not a certainty. In a conference call with The Oregonian/OregonLives editorial board Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said hed discussed the employment departments myriad problems with Gov. Kate Brown, who has been largely quiet on the crises. I did not expect that Oregon would be facing so many of these problems, just putting off and putting off the work that needs to be done, Wyden said Tuesday. Wyden said he is not going to stop discussing the issue and will insist that workers are compensated for the waiting week and receive additional federal benefits still before Congress. Im going to stay with it until they get that money, he said. I think its not right that they dont have it. -- Oregonian reporter Andrew Theen contributed to this story. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Trailblazing retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral to discuss leadership by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Michelle Howard, a retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral who became the highest-ranking African American and woman in naval history, will discuss the importance of leadership during a virtual program next week hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. As part of the discussion with John T. Shaw, Institute director, Howard will also share her thoughts on the importance of inspiring leadership in tackling the nations public health, political, economic and social challenges. The free event is at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1, and is open to the public. Registration is required and closes when the virtual discussion starts. Storied military history In 1999, Howard, who would later become commander of United States Naval Forces Europe, was the first African American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy, the USS Rushmore. Howards later assignments included commander of the United States Naval Forces Africa and commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples. In 2014, Howard was appointed the Navys 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the second highest-ranking officer in the navy. She retired from the U.S. Navy in December 2017 after a 35-year military career. Michelle Howard has been one of the iconic military leaders of our time, Shaw said. A four star admiral, she is the highest ranking woman and the highest ranking African American in the history of the United States Navy. Beyond her sterling resume, Admiral Howard is a leader of remarkable character, charm, and charisma. She will provide us with a master class on the importance of principled and competent leadership. Howard graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982. She also earned a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1998. Ongoing Institute Series The discussion with Howard is part of the Institutes series with historians, political analysts, and state and national leaders. The series began in late April and has featured speakers including author and historian David M. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Donald McHenry, Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA director, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, and Carmen Rojas, president of the Marguerite Casey Foundation. Registration is open for Howards conversation Registration for the free ZOOM meeting is available in advance. After completing registration, participants will receive an email confirmation with information about joining the meeting, along with the meeting ID and password. Participants have an opportunity when they register to submit a question to Howard by email at paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu or by including it in the Questions and Comments section on the registration form. More information on the Institutes events is available at paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/event-information/. While businesses across the United States are reeling from the recession sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, one family-owned linens business is thriving. American Blossom Linens, the consumer-facing brand of the nearly 90-year-old Wyncote-based distribution company ATD-American, has seen its revenue jump by 400% since April. The brand, which was launched just last year, sells through its online store U.S.-manufactured sheets made from organic cotton grown in West Texas. I was surprised, CEO Janet Wischnia said of the revenue increase. People are being laid off, the economy is not so good, and I thought it would be tough right now. She attributes part of the uptick in sales to the fact that more people are staying home full time during the pandemic and might want to invest more in their living spaces. People were trying to make their personal spaces a little bit nicer, and thinking about that for bedding, as well, she said. So its kind of like being in the right place at the right time. Wischnia notes that the sheets a queen set including a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and four standard pillowcases sells for $289 are of higher quality than whats typically available at big box stores. The brand emphasizes both the farm-to-bed nature of the fabric, as it writes on purchase thank-you cards, and the structure of the linens with thicker and more durable elastics. American Blossom has also tried to appeal to younger consumers by emphasizing sustainable manufacturing practices. They like the fact that its made from organic cotton, grown without pesticides, and finished in a chemical-free way, Wischnia said. But she thinks theres an even bigger explanation for American Blossom Linens spike in sales. Wischnia says that as the orders started to flow in, she got more emails and Facebook messages from customers saying they wanted to prioritize buying American-made products. When we saw a shortage of personal protective equipment and heard that China had a lot of it in April, I think it got people thinking that maybe they dont want to buy as many products made in China anymore, she said. Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch, who heads communications for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, says shes noticed this trend, as well. Consumers are being very deliberate about the money that theyre spending right now, she said. And they are trying to support locally made goods and American-made goods. Buying American-made products is important for more than just political reasons right now, Brotherton-Bunch notes. She describes every purchase of a product as a chain reaction that ripples through the rest of the economy. When you buy an American-made product, youre supporting a job in an American community, she said. And when that happens, we see the growth of indirect jobs around it. Manufacturing, in particular, she notes, is an industry that often generates growth in other sectors, such as construction, accounting, or engineering. Still, Brotherton-Bunch notes that most executives shes spoken with havent seen as dramatic a revenue jump as has American Blossom. Having a strong e-commerce platform and well-established consumer relations before the pandemic are advantages shes noticed among those that have found success over the last few months. Shes worked with wholesale companies that raised sales by embracing a more consumer-facing approach. Weve seen companies begin to recognize that their wholesale sales arent going to be able to sustain them through this, so theyve begun to really expand on trying to reach out to people in different ways, she said. Wischnia says thats been the case, in some ways, for ATD-American. Before launching American Blossom Linens as a consumer-focused retail brand last year, ATD-American relied solely on wholesale revenue from buyers in the hospitality, health-care, and government facilities industries. Then COVID came, and, of course, that was not so good for the hospitality business, she said. But having a years worth of practice in online retail made Wischnia more comfortable navigating sales and consumer relations during the pandemic. For digital advertising, she says, American Blossom has looked to social media. Were doing a little bit of everything, doing our own social media, using influencers, just trying to see what works, she said. Wischnia declined to disclose revenues. American Blossom had 70 employees working at the brands distribution factory in Thomaston, Ga., and 25 working from the Wyncote office at the beginning of this year. Those numbers havent changed during the pandemic, thanks to a Paycheck Protection Program loan, said Rachel Morales, a spokesperson for the company. Wischnia thinks the companys success also stems from the nature of its product. And while her product line remains somewhat limited, she plans to introduce new merchandise, including a sustainably dyed and manufactured blanket coming out later this year. With the brand still so new and navigating an unprecedented economy for retail, Wischnia doesnt know what to expect in the future but hopes she can keep bringing customers back with new products. I would think its going to be hard to keep growing at that rate, she acknowledged. But it would be great if we could. Santa Clara County is the first Bay Area county to approve an elementary school district coronavirus waiver allowing in-person classes to resume. On Aug. 18, the health department announced it would allow the Moreland School District to offer limited in-person instruction for elementary school students with learning disabilities and distance learning support services to elementary school students. The district applied to reopen on Aug. 20, and a health department spokesperson said it could do so as soon as that date. The district was set to reopen campuses this week, but according to its website, extremely poor air quality readings due to Bay Area wildfires delayed that plan. Air quality levels will be evaluated early next week. Moreland School District, in west San Jose, operates four elementary schools, two K-8 schools and one middle school. Only K-6 schools are eligible for the special waivers in California. The districts application, dated July 19, addressed specifically the equity gap and students who could not learn effectively via distance learning last spring. Santa Clara County has received more than 50 waiver applications, and will continue listing waiver approvals on the health department website. Classrooms across the Bay Area have been shuttered since mid-March because of the pandemic, but California health officials earlier this month released guidelines for elementary schools to request waivers to reopen under strict safety protocols. County health officers decide whether to approve waivers, in consultation with the California Department of Public Health. The state template application form requires schools to submit proof that they have consulted with parents, labor unions and community groups. Each schools reopening plan must be published online, demonstrating how it follows state and local public health guidelines. Heres the latest on the other Bay Area counties: Alameda County Health officials said the county is still working on its waiver process and is currently not accepting any waiver applications. Contra Costa County The Contra Costa County Office of Education collects waiver applications as a first review, and has received 22 requests, all from private schools so far, said Contra Costa Health Services spokesman Karl Fischer. On Tuesday, the education office submitted three applications to the county health department, and after review, they will be sent on to the California Department of Public Health for consideration, Fischer said. He added that both Contra Costa Health Services and the CDPH have committed to three-day turnarounds for applications. Marin County Marin County began distributing applications to elementary schools on Aug. 14 and as of last Friday, 16 schools had applied for a waiver. The Marin County Office of Education maintains a list of applicants on its website. According to Marin County spokesperson Laine Hendrick, all applications are being reviewed by the county health department. Some schools requested a reopening date as early as Sept. 8, but none has been approved yet. Napa County In the last school waiver update posted on Aug. 18, officials said the county has not started the waiver process. Officials did not immediately respond to a request for an update on Tuesday. San Francisco County COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the health officer has invited elementary schools to submit letters of intent to apply for a waiver. When those letters have been received, waiver applications will be distributed. San Mateo County According to San Mateo County Office of Education spokeswoman Patricia Love, the waiver application process started Aug. 20, and the first application was received the next day. So far 15 schools have applied. Love said the soonest some schools might be able to reopen is two weeks after the application was received. Approvals will be posted on the website. Solano County Solano County Health & Social Services is working with the county Office of Education on a waiver application, and is looking to provide them to schools soon. Sonoma County The county has begun accepting and reviewing waiver applications. But waivers will be approved only if a countys case rate is fewer than 200 per population of 100,000 for the previous two weeks, and Sonoma County is above that threshold. According to the Sonoma County Office of Education, no waivers will be approved until the case rate is below 200 and the county is not moving forward with the waiver process. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang Hazel Hunkins Hallinan, one of the original suffragists, marched in support of the Equal Rights Amendment in Washington on Women's Equality Day in 1977. (Associated Press ) We celebrate Womens Equality Day on Aug. 26, when the 19th Amendment was officially made part of the U.S. Constitution. Gaining the vote in 1920 was a watershed victory, but even then, many who fought for the franchise recognized it was only a start. It was no guarantee that Black women could vote in many states. And casting a ballot alone could not confer equal citizenship on women. Now at last we can begin, declared suffragist Crystal Eastman, rallying women after the win. The vote, for Eastman, was a means to a larger end: empowering women to escape being destined by the accident of their sex to one field of activity housework and child-raising. And, if women chose motherhood and housework, to have that occupation recognized by the world as work, requiring a definite economic reward. From the movements beginning, suffragists fought for rights for mothers and family caregivers. In the 1800s, suffragists supported voluntary motherhood and a wifes right to say no to sex. By the early 1900s, some advocated for physical means of contraception. Mary Church Terrell, founder of the National Assn. of Colored Women (and later the NAACP), campaigned for public kindergartens, nurseries and childcare two decades before she picketed the White House for the vote. Eastman and Alice Paul, and their National Womens Party, got the first version of the Equal Rights Amendment introduced in Congress in 1923, intended among other things to ensure mothers parental rights and married womens property rights. On the 19th Amendments half-century anniversary in 1970, hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets in New York, Los Angeles and 40 other cities still pursuing crucial elements of the suffragists' empowerment agenda. The Womens Strike for Equality, led by Betty Friedan and Aileen Hernandez, the first presidents of the National Organization for Women, sought adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment, held up by a few Senate opponents, and advanced three demands: access to abortion, universal childcare, and equal opportunity in education and employment. Story continues Women at home and in workplaces stopped business as usual on Aug. 26, 1970. They organized baby-ins in parks to enable mothers to march. A young Eleanor Holmes Norton, later elected the District of Columbias delegate in Congress, emphasized that the prohibition of sex discrimination in employment was an empty mandate unless the women have a place to leave their children. In the aftermath of the strike the largest womens protest in the U.S. until the massive 2017 Womens March Congress passed the ERA and 30 states ratified it quickly; legislation strengthened anti-discrimination protections in employment, education and credit; and the courts decriminalized abortion. Though few recall it now, in 1971 Congress even voted to provide crucial free national childcare across income levels. In congressional hearings on the Comprehensive Child Development Act, Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-N.Y) directly connected the lack of childcare to womens exclusion from political power. The day care disaster we face in the United States, she said, is the result of Americas tradition of discrimination against women. ... Its all part of a pattern. Look around you. Out of 435 members of the House, 10 are women. Chisholm was not only the first Black woman elected to Congress, but she also ran a day care before her career in elected office. The childcare bill passed both houses, embraced with a bipartisan vote in the House and the Senate, only to be vetoed by President Nixon. He sided with rising New Right conservatives (and nascent culture warriors) when he claimed broadly accessible childcare would diminish parental (read: mothers) involvement with children. Attacking childcare and womens lib, Phyllis Schlafly helped block ratification of the ERA by its 1982 deadline. Now 100 years have passed since women won the vote, and although we are closer to exercising all the freedoms hoped for in 1920 and demanded in the 1970s, we are further away from collective action on the crucial issue of childcare. The COVID-19 pandemic makes painfully clear how our failure to support childcare harms women. All workers caring for children and dependent family members are struggling during the shutdown. But women end up paying the highest price when institutional support for care is unavailable. Between March and April, according to a Washington University study released in July, mothers reduced their working hours four to five times as much as fathers. Even before the pandemic, the lack of public support for childcare, including the lack of guaranteed paid family leave, made women more likely than men to exit the labor market to care for children and other family members. Womens disproportionate role in childbearing and child-rearing, according to economists, largely accounts for the gender pay gap. For all of these reasons, the 19th Amendments promise of equal citizenship will remain unfinished business until we create an infrastructure that allows for the sharing of child raising, and for meeting the needs of other dependent family members, across genders and in the community beyond the family. It would help if we sent more women to Congress the current record number of female members amounts to just 23.2% in the House and 26% in the Senate, not enough to pass legislation so many Americans need. For seven decades, the battle for womens suffrage was also a battle to bring democracy to family life. A century later, key elements of that goal remain unmet. Will it take another 100 years to remedy that failure? Reva B. Siegel, a professor at Yale Law School, is the author of the Yale Law Review Forum article "The Nineteenth Amendment and the Democratization of the Family." Julie C. Suk is a professor of sociology and political science at City University of New York, a visiting professor at Yale Law School and the author of the ERA history "We the Women." Former national security lawyer Lt. Col. Yevegeny Vindman has filed a whistleblower report claiming he suffered retaliation for flagging ethics issues and accusing White House national security advisor Robert O'Brien of making 'demeaning' comments toward female staff. Vindman, the twin brother of impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, spelled out the accusations in a report he filed with the Acting Pentagon inspector General claiming he was kept out of key meetings and ultimately forced out of his job after bringing ethics concerns to higher-ups. Like his brother, Vindman also raised concerns about President Donald Trump's July 25, 2019 phone call with the head of Ukraine where Trump asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his 2020 political rival Joe Biden. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien would 'inappropriately comment on womens looks, talk down to women and exclude women from meetings' according to a complaint filed by Lt. Col. Yevegeny Vindman, the brother Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman The episode featured prominently in Trump's impeachment, and both brothers were pushed out of their White House posts in the aftermath in a purge. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee references the Iraq War vet and ethics lawyer's complaint in a letter to the IG dated Wednesday. Panel chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York and House Intelligence Chair Rep. Adam Schiff of California raise concerns Vindman was 'retaliated against for making protected disclosures about potential legal and ethical violations committed by multiple White House officials, including President Trump.' According to their letter quoting his compliant, which was reported by Axios, Vindman was punished for raising issues about the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) Robert OBrien and the NSC Chief of Staff Alex Gray. Yevgeny Vindman, the brother of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, director of European affairs at the National Security Council, arrives back to the House Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump in Longworth Building on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, testified. Both brothers raised concerns about President Trump's July 25 call to the president of Ukraine Robert C. OBrien, special envoy sent by Donald Trump, leaving the courthouse during the lunch break on the second day of the A$AP Rocky assault trial at the Stockholm city courthouse on August 1, 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, left, and his twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman (right), leave Capitol Hill as they conclude a public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump's efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents, in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019 He asserts that O'Brien and Gray 'committed several ethics and legal compliance violations, misused government resources, excluded women from meetings, and made sexist and demeaning remarks to female NSC staffers, including inappropriately commenting on womens looks and talk[ing] down" to women.' According to the complaint, Vindman became aware of potential ethics violations and that 'there were allegations of sexism, violations of standards of ethical conduct for employees and violations of the Anti-Deficiency Act.' He says he notified his supervisors but no action was taken. 'Together they form a disturbing pattern of flagrant disregard for rules,' he wrote. According to the letter, he raised concerns that O'Brien and Gray 'were misusing NSC staff official time for personal errands including scheduling haircut appointments, retrieving personal luggage and to coordinate personal dinner arrangements.' He also raised concerns about O'Brien's Dec. 2019 meeting connecting Gwynne Shotwell, the CEO of SpaceX, with the Defense Department and other agencies to discuss the companies 'capabilities.' He thought it might amount to an 'improper endorsement.' By that point O'Brien had taken over as national security advisor, having previously served as special presidential envoy for hostage negotiations. He reported at least three conversations with John Eisenberg, the NSC Legal Advisor and Deputy White House Counsel, about Trump's Ukraine call. According to the Maloney-Schiff letter, Vindman found O'Brien and Gray 'engaged in demeaning and demoralizing sexist behavior against female NSC professionals. The report raises specific allegations the lawmakers say 'are unacceptable,' including that the two men 'would inappropriately comment on womens looks, talk down to women and exclude women from meetings. He put his concerns in memos for the Defense Department's general counsel on January 30, 2020 and March 6, 2020. The lawmakers say the Trump administration appears to have retaliated against Vindman, whose detail to the White House was ended, by excluding him from key meetings and events, removing him from his NSC position, and 'escorting him and his brother off the White House grounds' days after Trump's impeachment trial ended, and filing a derogatory performance review. O'Brien is a lawyer who attended law school at the University of California at Berkeley. He previously ran the California office of the Arent Fox law firm, where at one point he served as special master in the the MGA v. Mattel case (Barbie v. Bratz). To make the case for retaliation, the lawmakers point to marked differences in the evaluations Vindman got in July 2019 vs. the one in April 2020. In July, his supervisor Eisenberg wrote: 'Yevgeny (Yev) is the epitome of an Army officer and lawyer. He is a hard-working, disciplined, tough-minded team player who manifests the Army Values.' But less than a year later, he wrote: 'Over time, LTC [Y.] Vindman displayed increasingly poor judgment and failed to learn from his mistakes. On multiple occasions, his unprofessional demeanor made NSC staff feel uncomfortable. Despite express guidance from his supervisor, he continued to add himself to meetings with senior NSC staff where he did not add value.' The White House had no immediate comment. Re: Months of no pandemic pay Castanet's recent article regarding the IH pandemic pay issue should be seen by the BC voters for what it really is. To be sure, IH workers are correct to be dismayed by the dragging of feet by the ineptness of bureaucrats voted in to perform a job. The whole subject of pandemic pay has its roots from within the Liberal government of Canada mandating the distribution of monies to frontline workers in Canadian institutions. Justin Trudeau relayed this mandate from his podium and declared We must support our frontline marginalized workers. In a previous letter I wrote to the editor of Castanet, I pointed out of the inequitable and unjust thinking that British Columbians are subject to, from within the ranks of the present government leaders. The quickness with how the rules rolled out regarding who was, and was not eligible for this pandemic pay, was surprising. The unfortunate truth stills remains. That truth being that not every frontline marginalized worker," as seen by Justin Trudeau, will be eligible for any top up monies from any government. The reason being, at least here in BC, is that Carol James and Adrian Dix deemed that those workers who are employed by pay for fee institutions, that is those institutions not receiving funding from the government, will not be eligible for pandemic pay. Based on this, apart from the 250,000 workers in BCs healthcare system, social services and corrections, there are thousands of marginalized workers who perform the same duties in e.g. private care homes, as those workers in Interior Health, but will not receive the same. History confirms that money can buy votes. It is not out of the realm to consider this when it is associated with how long it has taken for the NDP to distribute the monies. Speculation amongst journalists from around the province are appearing in articles suggesting an early election in an effort to gain a better position. The aspect of rolling out pandemic pay to 250,000 plus voters/employees in association with dropping the writ might very well be but one strategy the present leaders are using. Unfortunately at the cost to many, many ineligible marginalized front line workers. George Orwells words are very much at the forefront in this issue. We are all equal but some are more equal than others. RH Thompson In a release from the local DAR chapter, it says that the words are simple and clear: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. The text is short and to the point, and it may be one of the easiest Constitutional Amendments to interpret, the release continues. The simplicity belies the fact that the 19th amendment was the product of more than 40 years of lobbying lawmakers. Many states had already passed laws giving women the right to vote long before they were allowed to vote in national elections. The efforts to include women in elections started in the very early days of the Republic. Abigail Adams is reported to have told her husband, the second president, John Adams, to remember the ladies when ensuring the right to vote. The suffragist movement gained momentum in 1848, when leaders Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized a womens convention in Seneca Falls, New York, attended by 200 women interested in womens issues. Stanton and Mott had originally become activists in the slavery abolition and temperance movements. Minister of National Defense Nicolae Ciuca had on Wednesday a bilateral meeting with his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, on the sidelines of the EU Defense Ministers' informal meeting taking place in Berlin. The topics approached referred to the development of bilateral defense cooperation within the North Atlantic Alliance, the European Union and the United Nations, with Minister Ciuca expressing Romania's full willingness to support the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union and emphasizing the importance it attaches to consolidating NATO - EU cooperation, the Ministry of National Defense informed in a release. The two officials also pointed out certain aspects regarding NATO's defense and deterrence posture, as well as the security situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea region. At the end of the talks, the two ministers agreed on the need to step up bilateral defense cooperation. Narwal and another Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita were arrested in May by the Delhi Police and booked for rioting, unlawful assembly and attempt to murder The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed the police to place before it the case diary of a matter related to the communal riots in north east Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in February, in which a member of Pinjra Tod group is allegedly involved. Justice Vibhu Bakhru, who was conducting the proceedings on the bail plea of Pinjra Tod member Natasha Narwal through video conferencing, allowed the Delhi Police to submit the case diary in a sealed cover on 29 August and posted the hearing on 31 August. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Delhi Police, said there are sensitive information in the case diary which cannot be shared with Narwal's advocate at this stage. To this, the judge said a separate web link will be given to the agency's advocate and investigating officer and they can show the relevant portion to the court. The judge said others, including Narwal's counsel, will not be privy to the proceedings. Advocate Adit S Pujari, appearing for Narwal, did not object to it. The high court had earlier issued notice to the Delhi Police on the plea challenging a trial court's order which had dismissed the bail application of JNU student Natasha Narwal. Narwal and another member of the group Devangana Kalita were arrested in the case in May this year by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police and booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including rioting, unlawful assembly and attempt to murder. They have also been booked under the stringent anti-terror law - Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a separate case related to the communal violence, for allegedly being part of a "premeditated conspiracy" in the riots. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. In all, four cases have been registered against Kalita, including in relation to the northeast Delhi riots earlier this year and violence in old Delhi's Daryaganj area during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December last year. Narwal is accused in three cases. On 14 June, a trial court had dismissed bail pleas of Narwal and Kalita on the ground that there was no merit in the applications and that it was amply clear from the charge sheet that the investigation was still pending and it has been filed against other accused persons also. It had said that considering the investigation so far and the nature of the offence and the role being ascribed to the accused, there were no reasons at all to grant bail. The trial court was informed that the charge sheet has been filed against 10 persons in the case and investigation qua the accused persons was still being done. Kalita has also challenged the trial court's order denying her bail and the high court has reserved its decision on the plea. Pinjra Tod (Break the Cage) was founded in 2015 with an aim to make hostels and paying guest accommodations less restrictive for women students. A murder investigation has been launched after two pensioners were found dead at a home in Stockport. The bodies of a 69-year-old man and 72-year-old woman were found on Tuesday evening, Greater Manchester Police said. While the case is being treated as a suspected murder, the force said it was not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths. A spokesperson said officers were called out following a report of concern for the welfare of the occupants of the Sandown Road address at 7:30pm and found the bodies upon arrival. Senior investigating officer Bob Tonge said: "This is a very sad incident and our thoughts are with the family at this unimaginably difficult time. "We are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with this incident. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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. 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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 UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty "However, we remain keen to hear from anyone who has information and may help us understand events during the preceding days. "It is important for the family of those who have died that we establish the full circumstances of their deaths. "If you can assist our inquiries, please get in touch as soon as possible." Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 8797 or the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111. Additional reporting by agencies In yet another setback to the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy governments plan to form three capitals for Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant stay on the high court order for status quo on continuing Amaravati as the state capital. A division bench of the Supreme Court comprising justice Ashok Bhushan, justice R Subhash Reddy and justice M R Shah set aside the special leave petition filed by the state government, challenging the high court order. The bench said it cannot interfere in the matter, as it is already pending in the high court and is coming up for hearing on Thursday. The Supreme Court also rejected the plea of the state government to direct the high court to expedite the hearing. We cannot fix a deadline to the high court to complete the hearing. But we hope it will settle the issue at the earliest, the bench said. Senior counsel Fali S Nariman, arguing for the farmers of Amaravati, said the high court was formed in Amaravati as per a presidential order. As such, the state government cannot decide the judicial capital at Kurnool, he said. The development comes as a big disappointment for the Jagan government which is keen on shifting the executive capital to Visakhapatnam at the earliest. More than 55 public interest litigation petitions have been filed in the high court challenging the laws pertaining to creation of three capitals and abolition of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). The HC granted status quo on the two Acts till August 27. The case will come up for hearing in the high court on Thursday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mr Lee hadn't seen his wife and daughter since March when COVID-19 hit Her and her daughter Isabella have been released from detention in Melbourne A young mother and her two-year-old daughter, who has spent her entire life in an immigration detention centre, have been reunited with the girl's father. Vietnamese asylum seeker Huyen Thu Thi Tran, 31, and her daughter Isabella were released from Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre on Wednesday when she received a bridging visa. The reunion with Ms Tran's husband Paul Lee was the first time they had seen each other since March, when personal visits to the detention centre were stopped due to coronavirus. 'We are so happy to see my husband and for us to all be together as a family. We all cried, guards and everyone in the centre.' she told SBS News. Isabella was born at the Broadmeadows facility in March 2018 and had been there with her mother ever since. Vietnamese asylum seeker Huyen Thu Thi Tran, 31, and her daughter Isabella were released from Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre on Wednesday Paul Lee (left) was reunited with his wife Huyen Thu Thi Tran (right) and their two-year-old daughter on Wednesday Ms Tran, a practicing Catholic, fled religious persecution in rural Vietnam in 2011 before arriving by boat on Christmas Island. She was detained for more than a year under under rules for mandatory processing of boat arrivals, before being allowed into community detention. In 2014 Ms Tran ran away from community housing in Adelaide after she claims to have seen other Vietnamese asylum seekers being deported without warning. Ms Tran was brought to the Melbourne immigration centre in November 2017 when she was four months pregnant. Just days before giving birth, Ms Tran was told by MITA staff to sign a waiver saying the baby could stay in detention with her as a 'guest' so she could breastfeed and keep her. 'I was scared they would take my baby away from me so I thought I had to sign that paper. I didn't know what to do but I signed it because I wanted to make sure they let me keep my baby,' she said. Mr Lee came to Australia with his family from Mauritius in 2014 and is currently on a 457 visa. He met Ms Tran while she was in Melbourne before getting married in 2017. Mr Lee is in the process of applying for permanent residency and planned on sponsoring Ms Tran but wasn't able to because she arrived by boat. Ms Tran on Wednesday received an unexpected call by staff to say she will be granted a bridging visa. Lawyer Alison Battisson, along with a team of advocates and doctors, worked pro bono for over two years to reunite the family. 'They deserved better. Isabella deserved the chance to have a normal childhood,' Ms Battisson said. 'When we got the news, although we are lawyers, there were many tears and hugs. We are invested in the lives of this family and many others.' Mr Lee takes issue with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton repeatedly saying that there are no children in detention in Australia. Isabella was never technically detained, but Ms Tran was brought to the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (pictured) when she was four months pregnant Ms Tran, a practicing Catholic, fled religious persecution in rural Vietnam in 2011 before arriving by boat on Christmas Island - 2,600km off the coast of Perth (stock image) 'If you compare Australia to other countries, this isn't right. To keep a mother and baby in detention when they have family support, other countries would never do this for years,' he said. The UN had previously called for the Australian Government to release Ms Tran and Isabella. But in November last year the government tried to deport them, before Ms Battisson challenged the move through the UN Human Rights Committee. She was successful, and the UN granted interim measures requesting the mother and daughter aren't separated. Advertisement Britain today recorded 16 more coronavirus deaths as Scotland's six-week run of no fatalities was ended with the announcement of two new victims. Government figures show ten people are succumbing to the life-threatening illness each, on average a figure that has barely changed in a month despite cases having almost doubled in the same time-frame. Sixteen deaths were also announced yesterday and last Wednesday. More than 1,000 daily fatalities were posted nine times during the darkest spell of the outbreak in April. The current death toll stands at 41,465. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the two deaths announced today were the first since July 16, while Wales also recorded its first victim in almost a week. Statistics today also revealed that cases are still creeping up, with 1,048 more Britons confirmed to have Covid-19. It means the rolling seven-day average has risen for the fifth day in a row to 1,090. In other coronavirus developments in Britain today: Two dozen of the UK's biggest employers, from banks to retailers, revealed they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time; Teachers have warned Boris Johnson his face masks U-turn risks creating chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering; Education Secretary Gavin Williamson insisted he did not force the boss of exam regulator Ofqual to resign in the wake of Number 10's A-level and GCSE results debacle; Cambridge University has joined the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine and could begin clinical trials of its experimental technology which doesn't use a needle within months. MORE THAN 20 OF THE UK'S BIGGEST FIRMS HAVE NO PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE More than 20 of the UK's biggest employers say they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time. A study found this week that British workers are the most reluctant in Europe to return because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus. Employers are currently hamstrung by social distancing restrictions which leaves many unable to fit everyone in, and even if they do, some staff may not feel comfortable returning until a vaccine has been found. This has now been followed by a survey of dozens of major businesses, in which 24 of the 50 asked by the BBC admitted not having any plans in place to get back to the office. However, none of these companies were named in the corporation's research. Accounting and consultancy firm PwC said a 'crowd mentality' was seeing staff begin to trickle back to work, but economists have warned a more widescale return is likely to be an 'uphill struggle'. Advertisement Deaths being announced each day by the Department of Health have tumbled since the peak of Britain's Covid-19 crisis, with more than 1,000 patients killed some days in April. And although the numbers of coronavirus cases is rising again there is no evidence of this leading to more people ending up in hospital or dying, as had been feared. Experts suggest that cases are now being picked up more often in younger people, who almost never die of the disease, and that hospitals are now better at treating Covid-19 than they were at the start of the pandemic. The most up-to-date government coronavirus death toll released yesterday afternoon stood at 41,449. It takes into account victims who have died within 28 days of testing positive. Ministers earlier this month scrapped the original fatality count because of concerns it was inaccurate due to it not having a time cut-off, meaning no-one could ever technically recover in England. More than 5,000 deaths were knocked off the original toll. The rolling average number of daily coronavirus deaths dropped drastically from around 60 to fewer than ten. The deaths data does not represent how many Covid-19 patients died within the last 24 hours. It is only how many fatalities have been reported and registered with the authorities. And the figure does not always match updates provided by the home nations. Department of Health officials work off a different time cut-off, meaning daily updates from Scotland and Northern Ireland are out of sync. The toll announced by NHS England every day, which only takes into account fatalities in hospitals, doesn't match up with the DH figures because they work off a different recording system. For instance, some deaths announced by NHS England bosses will have already been counted by the Department of Health, which records fatalities 'as soon as they are available'. Nicola Sturgeon today announced another two more confirmed coronavirus patients have died in Scotland the first victims since July 16. They take Scotland's death toll to 2,494. Department of Health officials also declare new Covid-19 cases every afternoon. Yesterday they revealed another 1,184 Britons had tested positive for the life-threatening disease. It means around 1,056 people are being diagnosed with the disease each day. For comparison, fewer than 550 cases were being recorded each day, on average, at the start of July. CHILDREN WILL BULLY OTHERS OVER WHO'S GOT THE COOLEST MASKS, TEACHERS FEAR Mr Williamson, pictured in Whitehall this morning, said 'we always follow and listen to the best scientific and medical advice, and that's why we're not recommending that face coverings should be mandatory right across the country in all schools' Teachers have warned Boris Johnson his face masks U-turn risks creating chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering. The Government last night announced that face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns. Meanwhile, a decision on whether to wear masks in non-lockdown area schools will be left to individual head teachers. The change in policy came after days of ministers and Downing Street insisting there were no plans to change the guidance in England which had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to. But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons. The timing of the U-turn has prompted anger - schools in England are due to reopen next week - with teachers warning the wearing of masks could cause 'mayhem'. They have cited fears of increased bullying, of pupils wearing dirty reused masks and of it being harder to challenge bad behaviour in corridors because it may be unclear which children are responsible. Teachers also said they had been left 'dizzy from all of the U-turns that have happened this summer'. The eleventh-hour change in tack followed new advice from the World Health Organisation at the weekend. Advertisement The spike in cases alongside a resurgence of the virus in Europe prompted fears of a second wave. But top experts have insisted the rise is merely down to more testing in badly-hit areas. It comes after separate government figures yesterday revealed more people are dying than expected in England and Wales for the first time in two months. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed 9,392 fatalities were recorded between August 8 and August 14 around 300 more than average for that time of year. But experts have blamed Britain's 10-day heatwave, which saw temperatures soar to 96F (35.7C), for the spike in deaths because the number of Covid-19 victims dropped once again. Only 139 deaths were blamed on the coronavirus over the seven-day spell, the lowest weekly toll since before the lockdown was imposed on March 23. For comparison, deaths from flu and pneumonia were seven times as common with the illnesses mentioned on 1,002 death certificates during the same week. In other developments to Britain's coronavirus crisis today, more than 20 of the UK's biggest employers said they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time. A study found this week that British workers are the most reluctant in the whole of Europe to return because of fears of a second wave of coronavirus. Employers are currently hamstrung by social distancing restrictions which leaves many unable to fit everyone in, and even if they do, some staff may not feel comfortable returning until a vaccine has been found. This has now been followed by a survey of dozens of major businesses, in which 24 of the 50 asked by the BBC admitted not having any plans in place to get back to the office. None were named in the research. Accounting and consultancy firm PwC said a 'crowd mentality' was seeing staff begin to trickle back to work, but economists have warned a more widescale return is likely to be an 'uphill struggle'. Teachers today warned Boris Johnson his face masks U-turn risks creating chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering. The Government last night announced that face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns. Meanwhile, a decision on whether to wear face masks in non-lockdown area schools will be left to individual head teachers. The change in policy came after days of ministers and Downing Street insisting there were no plans to change the guidance in England which had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to. But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons. The timing of the U-turn has prompted anger schools in England are due to reopen next week with teachers warning the wearing of masks could cause 'mayhem'. They have cited fears of bullying, of pupils wearing dirty reused masks and of it being harder to challenge bad behaviour in corridors because it may be unclear which children are responsible. Teachers also said they had been left 'dizzy from all of the U-turns that have happened this summer'. The eleventh-hour change in tack followed new advice from the World Health Organisation at the weekend. Gavin Williamson today insisted he did not force the boss of exam regulator Ofqual to resign in the wake of the Government's A-level and GCSE results debacle. Sally Collier quit her role as chief regulator yesterday and Mr Williamson has denied that he made her carry the can for the exam chaos. Meanwhile, the Education Secretary suggested he had never considered quitting his own role despite widespread calls for him to step down over his handling of the row. Designer Lucky Alexander Fuller rolls yellow paint down on the first letters as crews begin to paint the colors of the permanent 'All Black Lives Matter' street mural in the middle of Hollywood Blvd. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) The cameras clicked as couples from Southern California and Brazil and Pennsylvania captured their pouting selves, arms wrapped ever so tightly, posing along an empty, glistening Hollywood Boulevard. As a rarity, a stretch of the famed thoroughfare stayed serene without performers, without traffic. That's been the case since Monday, when officials from the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services closed the road from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive this week so that workers can install a street mural in tribute to the June 14 All Black Lives Matter march. What first surfaced as temporary art will stay permanent, prompting overwhelming support from a stream of local, national and international visitors roaming a pandemic-struck Tinseltown. "I think it's a good, all-the-time reminder of how things should be, of how lives should be valued," said Amir Dehghani, a psychology student at UC Irvine. "So many spread messages of peace, but they don't follow them. Here's something you can look at and then remember what to do." Jaime Garcia begin to paint the colors on the permanent 'All Black Lives Matter' street mural in the middle of Hollywood Blvd between Highland and Orange. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) On June 13, volunteers turned out by the hundreds to paint the words "All Black Lives Matter" on the boulevard in bright lettering, reflecting the colors of the transgender, nonbinary and pride flags. When crews arrived after the march which drew as many as 40,000 participants to power-wash away the mural, some demonstrators and observers protested. Members of the public pushed for a more lasting tribute. Ideas unfolded. The permanent mural is the result of a partnership among StreetsLA, City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, the L.A. Department of Transportation, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Black LGBTQ+ Activists for Change, the Los Angeles Transgender Advisory Council and others. With the COVID-19 outbreak, and the national reckoning over justice and full racial equality, "symbolism means a whole lot," O'Farrell said. "This is the very first public space installation devoted to the Black queer community and transgender people of color. It's the right time, it's about time, and when Hollywood speaks, the audience notices." Story continues Starting Monday morning, crews with StreetsLA will begin the work to install a permanent decorative street design to commemorate the historic All Black Lives Matter March through the Heart of Hollywood. (Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services) Myllena Silva, standing next to Dehghani while munching Starbucks snacks in the shadow of the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, said the installation is a sign that "acceptance is what we need to aim for." The political science student from Fortaleza, Brazil, who has resettled in Glendale, said she's worried that "when people are suspicious of each other in society, it's never a white person who they think looks suspicious. Why? And how is that fair?" Heather Elias, who grew up in L.A. as well as Arizona and Indiana, said she heard about the mural on Facebook. Elias, sporting heart-shaped sunglasses, called the installation "a stamping of the standards so everyone knows what's important, whether it's political stance or personal stance." The entrepreneur, who launched her own record label, said: "Los Angeles is all about paying homage. Here, it shouldn't matter whether you're low-class, high-class or middle-class, people have access to choices." Murals overlook Hollywood Blvd where crews to install a permanent street mural commemorating the June 14th All Black Lives Matter March. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) Gerald Garth, a founder of Black LGBTQ+ Activists for Change, said he's excited about the mural's permanence because "this is creating space for more conversations. And having conversations around equity, inclusion and homophobia can influence attitudes, can spark enlightenment. Art helps us really make sure we are amplifying not just Black lives, but Black queer lives." O'Farrell called the $20,000 project "a really warp-speed turnaround" marking a historic event. "This is something that speaks to the moment, something we can be nimble doing," said the openly gay elected official, adding that its placement in the boulevard's center lane signals that it's in a spot cars should not drive over. Just days earlier, transportation workers had set up an official city of Los Angeles sign in front of the nearby Hard Rock Cafe honoring the march, which took place at the same site as the nation's first recognized gay pride parade. On Tuesday, two tourists wearing Liberty Bell T-shirts strolled along the Walk of Fame, Instagramming their end-of-summer delights. Destiny Casillas, an eighth-grader from New York, said she's used to seeing "Black Lives Matter" painted in her neighborhood in the Bronx, as well as in Brooklyn and Manhattan. "We should give Black people more respect and treat them as equals," she said. Branson Nejame is a sales associate along Hollywood Blvd. "I think it shows how progressive we are as a community,' Nejame said of the street mural. (Anh Do/Los Angeles Times) Across from her, behind giant Academy Awards statues, sales associate Branson Nejame held a microphone, his voice rising to attract customers to the $10 Boutique, where everything was on sale for $5 for a day. "Cool," he said, upon hearing about the artwork in progress. "I think it shows how progressive we are as a community. With all the nationwide protests, we're actually seeing cause and effect, and to me, Hollywood has always been a smorgasbord of races and culture and religion. Why not expand on it?" The teenager from the Big Apple, having listened to his spiel touting discount hoodies and hand sanitizer, tugged on her face mask, heading to the boulevard to check out the scene. Access is only the first step, the department said in a statement. Iran must provide nothing short of full cooperation, and the I.A.E.A. needs answers to its questions about potential undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran. The I.A.E.A. inspections are not part of the 2015 nuclear deal, and the agency will focus only on nuclear material and activities relevant to specific protocols as required by the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. But the Trump administration had seized on the I.A.E.As findings in June as an example of Irans nefarious diplomacy. Although the I.A.E.A. did not identify the two sites to be inspected, Israeli intelligence officials have identified one as the Abadeh Nuclear Weapons Development Site. Experiments using conventional explosives are believed to have been conducted there. When inspectors demanded access last year, satellite photographs showed that some buildings had been razed. In 2018, fulfilling a campaign promise, President Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement that was brokered between Iran and the five permanent members of the Security Council. (Germany was also a signatory to the deal, which was negotiated largely by the Obama administration and the European Union.) But since then, the State Department has failed to force Iran back into negotiations for a new deal to also limit Tehrans ballistic missile program and military assistance to Shiite militias across the Middle East. A U.S. sanctions campaign to pressure Iran by denying it billions of dollars in exports and revenues has also irked other nations that want the original nuclear accord to be preserved. On Wednesday morning, the State Department tweeted a photograph of Mr. Trump boasting that he had imposed the toughest-ever sanctions on Iran. The Kremlin has brushed off allegations that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is in a coma in a German hospital, was poisoned and said there were no grounds for a criminal investigation because the politician's condition may have been triggered by other causes. The insistence by the government that Mr Navalny wasn't necessarily poisoned comments amplified by Russian doctors came a day after German doctors said tests indicated that he was poisoned and elicited outrage from his allies, who say the Kremlin was behind the illness of its most prominent critic. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the accusations, saying they absolutely cannot be true and are rather an empty noise. We do not intend to take it seriously, Mr Peskov said. Mr Peskov claimed there were no grounds for launching a criminal investigation into Mr Navalny's condition, saying that it could have been triggered by a variety of causes. If a substance is found, and if it is determined that it is poisoning, then there will be a reason for an investigation, he said. Mr Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator who is one of Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics, fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in the city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Over the weekend he was transferred to the Charite hospital in Berlin, where doctors on Monday said they have found indications of cholinesterase inhibitors in his system. Cholinesterase inhibitors act by blocking the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells. Mr Navalny is being treated with the antidote atropine. His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has been visiting her husband daily and made no comment to reporters as she arrived Tuesday. Chancellor Angela Merkel personally offered Germany's help in treating Mr Navalny and has called for a full Russian investigation. France's foreign ministry echoed her sentiment on Tuesday, saying in a statement that it is essential that the Russian authorities carry out a swift and transparent investigation into what it called a criminal act perpetrated against a major player in Russian political life. US deputy secretary of state Stephen Biegun, who visited Russia on Tuesday and met with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, expressed deep concern about Mr Navalny's condition and the impact on Russian civil society of reports of his poisoning, according to a tweet by Rebecca Ross, spokeswoman at the US Embassy in Moscow. Charite doctors said Monday that Mr Navalny had undergone extensive examination by a team of physicians and that clinical findings indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors. Cholinesterase inhibitors are a broad range of substances that are found in several drugs, but also pesticides and nerve agents. Doctors said the specific substance to which Mr Navalny was exposed isn't yet known but that a further series of comprehensive tests had been started. Russian doctors on Monday rejected the suggestion Mr Navalny was poisoned, saying they tested the politician for cholinesterase inhibitors and didn't find any. Mr Peskov said Tuesday that doctors in Omsk, a city in Siberia where Mr Navalny was first hospitalised, noted lowered levels of cholinesterase an obstruction of cholinesterase enzymes can be detected by blood tests, experts say in his body in a matter of hours after he was brought in. However, the Kremlin spokesman insisted, a drop in cholinesterase levels can be triggered by a number of causes, including by taking various medications. Mr Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, on Tuesday said the government's reluctance to launch an investigation was expected. It was obvious that the crime would not be properly investigated and a culprit found. However, we all know perfectly well who that is, Mr Yarmysh tweeted. Associated Press LAS VEGAS, Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Trac Solutions, Inc. (OTCPink: PSYC) (Global PSYC or the Company) is pleased to announce that as the Company continues to ramp-up efforts with the development of its premium, industry-focused content, and continues expanding its network within the emerging sector of psychedelic medicine, PSYC will begin featuring its Microdose Monthly newsletter on a semi-monthly basis, with the second August edition having been released earlier this morning to subscribers. The second edition of Augusts Microdose Monthly newsletter is highlighted by an exclusive Psychedelic Spotlight interview conducted between PSYC CEO, David Flores, and the Founder/Executive Chairman of Field Trip Health, Inc. (Field Trip), Mr. Ronan Levy. Over the past several months, Field Trip has emerged as a leader in the psychedelic-enhanced psychotherapy space and is focused on developing and administering life improving therapeutic programs through trained psychotherapists designed to heal treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Mr. Floress one-on-one interview with Mr. Levy offers insight into the mission and guiding principles of Field Trip, along with the companys ongoing progress with its clinics in Toronto, Canada and New York, and touches on the companys recent release of its Field Trip app. Said Global Trac Solutions, Inc. CEO, David Flores: I am pleased with our progresses thus far and view these most recent changes as the next phase of our growth. Interviews like this place us in a position where we can effectively increase the amount of exceptional, thought-provoking content for our Microdose Monthly subscribers and visitors to Psychedelic Spotlight. I am also encouraged with the identity we are continuing to develop within this space of medicinal psychedelics that is lending to our ability to be able to connect with leaders within this space such as Mr. Levy from Field Trip. Everything we are focused on right now is about establishing a strong foundation beneath us and earning a reputable identity as a trusted news and media outlet in the psychedelic industry. Each of these factors, in my opinion, go hand-in-hand with helping to position PSYC for our future phases of growth which I intend for to have a focus and emphasis on developing sensible revenue generation opportunities through Psychedelic Spotlight and Microdose Monthly. About Global Trac Solutions, Inc. (OTCPink: PSYC) Global Trac Solutions is a diversified holding company dedicated to identifying new and emerging industries. By utilizing our years of business development expertise our diverse team of innovators continuously leverages our experience to effectively execute go-to-market strategies in order to position ourselves for rapid growth through the creation of an evolving business foundation to enhance profitability potential. PSYC has expressed its intent and commitment to positioning itself at the forefront of the psychedelic revolution and as a resource center for discovering and understanding the latest research and business opportunities surrounding psychedelic inspired medicines. In conjunction with the FDAs more open-minded approach to psychedelic medicines, and as several major U.S. cities continue to approve the decriminalization of psilocybin, investors are speculating that the psychedelic boom could be bigger than that of cannabis. PSYC is your source for current investment related news specific to psychedelic medicines and cutting-edge research improving overall health, moving this sector into the mainstream. We believe in a forward-thinking approach that embraces groundbreaking new technology and innovations and through the vision of business development we intend to continue to evolve into these unchartered territories as the industry leaders of the future. We truly are the right TRAC to follow. 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 disclosed on the OTC Markets.com website. Disclaimer: Global Trac Solutions, Inc. does not in any way encourage or condone the use, purchase, sale or transfer of any illegal substances, nor do we encourage or condone partaking in any unlawful activities. We support a harm reduction approach for the purpose of education and promoting individual and public safety. If you are choosing to use psychedelic substances, please do so responsibly. Corporate Contact: London teenager Nora Quoirin may have been 'alive and moving around' during the first view days of the search to find her, a Malaysian inquest has heard. The body of 15-year-old Nora, who had learning difficulties, was discovered unclothed on August 13 last year after a massive hunt through the rainforest. Police insist there was no foul play but her parents - who believe there was criminal involvement, as they say she would not have wandered off alone - pushed for an inquest and authorities agreed. Superintendent Mohamad Nor Marzukee Besar told the inquest they'd searched the area where Nora was found several times and suggested she was 'not there' when his teams were. The body of 15-year-old Nora Quoirin (pictured in a family photo), who had learning difficulties, was discovered unclothed on August 13 last year after a massive hunt through the rainforest Police officers searching for Nora in the jungle surrounding the Dusan Resort in August last year A map shows the Dusun Resort near Seremban in Malaysia where Nora disappeared last year She was reported missing on August 4, a day after she arrived with her parents at the Dusan Resort near Seremban, about 40 miles southeast of Kuala Lumpur. She was found nine days later by a civilian search team on a palm-oil plantation around 1.5 miles from the resort. An autopsy found that she probably starved and died of internal bleeding after spending about a week in the dense rainforest. Supt. Besar was asked about how many times they'd searched the area in question, the BBC reported. He replied: 'Three times. The fourth day, the fifth day, and the sixth day [of the search].' Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad asked Supt Besar what he concluded from this. 'We can assume that when the search team was in the area, the missing person was still alive and moving,' Supt Besar said. 'So it is possible that when we were there, the missing person was not there.' Parents Meabh and Sebastien demanded an inquest after arguing their daughter would not have wandered off. They are pictured calling for their daughter with a megaphone last year The police officer was also asked about Nora's clothing, the girl's family say she was last seen wearing underwear, and she was without clothing when she was found. Supt Besar said that his men were unable to find any of Nora's clothing. He added that the police believe Nora left the resort through an open window in the apartment her family were staying in. Supt Besar said that based on CCTV footage of Nora walking normally through Kuala Lumpur airport, he was of the view that she could have walked 'towards the mountain.' Nora's Irish mother Meabh, 46, and French father Sebastian, 48, are not able to attend the inquest due to the coronavirus pandemic, but are following it via video link. The inquest will be calling 64 witnesses to the courthouse, pictured, in Seremban Yesterday, Supt Besar said that Nora's parents believed she was in one of three houses near the resort. 'Family members said the child had been abducted and identified the three houses where she might be held,' he told the court in Seremban city, on the second day of the inquest. 'We searched the houses but did not find anything.' The teen's family had also told police at the time that she could not walk more than 20 feet on her own, Supt Besar said. As well as the houses, a team searched a hut deep in the jungle after the resort owner said the girl could have been taken there, but only found a man sleeping at the site, he said. The inquest is scheduled to conclude on September 18. "The war is a divine gift," said the Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, before being defeated in the eight-year war with Iraq. Thirty-two years ago, he was forced to accept the ceasefire in a decision that he then defined as "drinking the chalice of poison." Accepting the ceasefire was a bitter defeat for Khomeini, who had been using the war to repress all those who would fight for freedom as well as a way to suppress popular economic and cultural demands. He had always said he would continue until the destruction of the last house in Tehran and reaching Quds via Karbala. At that time, the mullah regime decided to massacre political prisoners as a way to dilute the consequences of war failure. It was also a way to intimidate the Iranian society. In 1988, Khomeini issued a fatwa (a religious decree) that established that all the MEK prisoners who remained "steadfast" should be executed and massacred in all prisons across the country. In his handwritten decree, which primarily targeted members of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq organization (MEK/PMOI), he stated: "Those who are in prisons throughout the country and remain steadfast in their support for the MEK /PMOI are waging war on God and are condemned to execution." This decree allowed the creation of the so-called "death commissions," that were composed of three officials in charge of implementing the order. More than 30,000 political prisoners were executed in a short span during the summer of 1988. History has witnessed many crimes and massacres, but this one has some unique characteristics: 1. It was committed based on the written order of the highest authority of the political and religious system. 2. The only 'crime' that these victims had committed was to be committed to a belief that they persevered on. 3. The executed prisoners were serving their sentences or they had already completed their terms and were waiting for release. Geoffrey Robertson, Q.C., former appeal judge on the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone, described the 1988 massacre as the "worst crime against humanity since the World War II." Ironically, members of such death commissions are currently holding key positions within the regime, including the Judiciary chief, Ebrahim Raisi, and the Minister of Justice, Alireza Avaei. This underlines the responsibility of the international community to hold the Iranian regime accountable for this crime against humanity. Current executions continue the 1988 massacre path Between November 15 and 19, 2019, Iran's security forces illegally used violence to crush nationwide protests. Protests had erupted in over 200 cities across the country in reaction to the increase of the fuel price, so the Iranian regime started massacring protesters. They ended killing over 1,500 people, while thousands were arrested and sent to prison, dozens were killed under torture, and thousands are still in prison under torture and threatened with execution. The regime executed Mostafa Salehi on August 5 for his participation in the nationwide protests in 20172018, despite the international protests held against this. Five other detained protesters have also been sentenced to death, and they are currently in prison. Amnesty International has uncovered evidence that the victims included at least 23 children: 22 boys between 12 and 17 years old and a 12-year-old girl. The gravity of the violations perpetrated and the systematic impunity prevailing in Iran requires that the U.N. Human Rights Council urgently mandates an inquiry into the unlawful use of lethal force by the Iranian security forces in the November 2019 protests. The mullahs' regime has been clearly oppressing, executing, and torturing people. Yet it has never been seriously held to account. Image credit: Philafrenzy via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. DUBLIN, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Global Market for Wearable, Printed, Flexible, Foldable and Stretchable Electronics to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The rapid boom in smart wearable and integrated electronic devices has stimulated demand for advanced intelligent systems with high performance, micro size, mechanical flexibility, and high-temperature stability for application as flexible and stretchable displays, personal health monitoring, human motion capturing, smart textiles, electronic skins and more. There is an increasing demand for wearable electronics from industries such as: Medical and healthcare monitoring and diagnostics. Sportswear and fitness monitoring (bands). Consumer electronics such as smart watches, smart glasses and headsets. Military GPS trackers, equipment (helmets) and wearable robots. Smart apparel and footwear in fashion and sport. Workplace safety and manufacturing. The development of printed, flexible and stretchable conductors over the last decade has resulted in the commercialization of flexible and stretchable sensors, circuits, displays, and energy harvesters for next-generation wearables and soft robotics. These systems must be able to conform to the shape of and survive the environment in which they must operate. They are typically fabricated on flexible plastic substrates or are printed/woven into fabrics. The electronics industry is moving at a fast pace from standard, inflexible form factors to stretchable and conformable devices. Printed, flexible and stretchable electronics products are increasing weekly from wearables for healthcare to smart packaging, sensors, automotive tail lights and displays, flexible displays, photovoltaics and more. Based on a new generation of advanced materials, printed, flexible and stretchable sensors and electronics will enable new possibilities in a diverse range of industries from healthcare to automotive to buildings. These technologies will drive innovation in smart medical technology, automotive, smart manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT) and consumer electronics. In the flexible displays market, electronics giants such as Samsung and LG Electronics are rolling our flexible, foldable and rollable smartphone and tablet products. LGs rollable LG Signature's OLED TV R will be available in 2020 and foldable smartphones have already come to market. Wearable and mobile health monitoring technologies have recently received enormous interest worldwide due to the rapidly aging global populations and the drastically increasing demand for in-home healthcare. Commercially available and near commercial wearable devices facilitate the transmission of biomedical informatics and personal health recording. Body-worn sensors, which can provide real-time continuous measurement of pertinent physiological parameters noninvasively and comfortably for extended periods of time, are of crucial importance for emerging applications of mobile medicine. Wearable sensors that can wirelessly provide pertinent health information while remaining unobtrusive, comfortable, low cost, and easy to operate and interpret, play an essential role. Battery and electronics producers require thin, flexible energy storage and conversion devices to power their wearable technology. The growth in flexible electronics has resulted in increased demand for flexible, stretchable, bendable, rollable and foldable batteries and supercapacitors as power sources for application in flexible and wearable devices. Report contents include: Current applications, state of the art, market and products (including producers, functionalities, prices) in wearable electronics, medical and healthcare monitoring, electronics and smart textiles, energy for wearables, flexible, foldable and stretchable displays and conductive inks. Advanced materials used in werarables, displays, printed, flexible, foldable and stretchable electronics and sensors. Stage of commercialization for applications, from basic research to market entry. Markets covered include conductive inks, wearables and IoT, medical & healthcare sensors, electronic clothing & smart apparel, energy harvesting & storage, electronics components and flexible displays. Market figures for printable, flexible and stretchable electronics, by markets, materials and applications to 2027. Market impact of COVID-19 assessed. Profiles of over 500 producers and product developers. 76 companies profiled in wearables including BeBop Sensors, dorsaVi Ltd., Epicore Biosystems, Equivital Inc., FeelIT, Hitachi, Ltd., Holst Centre, Magic Leap, miomove s.r.o and more. All smart watch and fitness tracker products profiled including functionalties and prices. 130 companies profiled in medical and healthcare wearables including 1drop Inc., Abbott, AerBetic, Inc., Alertgy, Aura Devices, Biobeat, BioIntelliSense, Cardiomo, CareWear, cosinuss, Dexcom, Embr Labs, Eccrine Systems, Gentag, i-Sens, WBD101 and more. 60 companies profiled in electronic textiles (E-textiles) including Ambiotex, BloomerTech, Chronolife, clim8, Emglare, Formosa Taffeta, Healthwatch Technologies, Hexoskin, Inuheat, Litex, Myant, SankiConsys Co., Ltd. and more. 44 companies profiled in energy storage and harvesting including Bionic Power, BrightVolt, Canatu Oy, ChivoTech, Enfucell Oy, Jenax, LG Chem and more. 67 companies profiled in printed, flexible and stretchable displays including C3Nano, Cambrios, iBeam, CurveSYS GmbH, Etulipa, Futaba, Kyulux, Samsung and more. 122 companies profiled in conductive ink including Ash Chemical, Cemedine, DuPont, EMS/Nagase, Henkel, Jujo Chemical, Panasonic, Taiyo, Toyobo, VFP Ink Technologies, and more. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f4vwts About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. 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] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Board members of a quasi-state agency said Tuesday that they were probably misled by their former chief executive into believing that Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan wanted them to approve a large severance package for him as he departed to become the governor's chief of staff. Several members of the Maryland Environmental Service board of directors told a special legislative committee that Roy McGrath assured them, days before he assumed his new position, that Hogan was aware of the payout. Hogan has denied knowledge of the severance or any other payment made to McGrath. "Had he not assured us that [Hogan's office] had approved this, we would not have made the severance payment," said Joseph F. Snee Jr., who chairs the human resources committee for the board of the Maryland Environmental Service. "We took Mr. McGrath at his word, and that's the reason why we acted the way we did." Snee spoke during a hearing of the Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight that focused on a nearly quarter-million-dollar payout that was given to McGrath this spring. McGrath - who resigned as Hogan's chief of staff last week - was invited but did not appear before the legislative panel Tuesday. He did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. "There are outstanding questions for Mr. McGrath," said Sen. Clarence K. Lam, D-Howard, a co-chairman of the committee. "It is concerning that the options are that Mr. McGrath either misled the entire board or the statement by the governor was inaccurate. It is the intention of the committee to get to the bottom of this." Hogan has also launched an inquiry. Earlier Tuesday, the Republican governor announced that he was ordering an audit of the Maryland Environmental Service and would work with the legislature to increase oversight and tighten the rules governing the agency. "It has recently come to light that the Maryland Environmental Service has a long-standing practice of paying large bonuses, expense reimbursements, and severance packages to its top executives," the governor said. "This is something no normal state-operated agency should or would ever grant." Hogan said Charlie Glass, the acting chief executive of the Maryland Environmental Service, "has committed to conducting a top-to-bottom review of this entity's operations, and has already taken steps to begin to address many of these structural problems." "To be clear, I did not approve, recommend, or have any involvement whatsoever in any of these decisions made by the board of directors of MES with respect to the former director Roy McGrath or any other individual," Hogan's statement said. Lawmakers raised a number of pointed questions about $50,000 in expenses paid to McGrath, including for trips to Naples, Miami, Israel and Las Vegas. At least one board member said he had reservations about the severance payout but felt pressure to approve it. "We were caught between a rock and hard place," said William Addison, who serves on the board. "It seemed as though we had no choice." Addison told lawmakers that the board members acted in what they thought was the best interest of the agency. "You've got somebody who is going to a position that is working for the governor, who will control a lot of what the state does," he said. "It's a powerful position that will have impact on MES." In an email Monday, McGrath said it was "customary for departing CEOs" to receive severance payment equivalent to about one year's salary. On Tuesday, board members said severance packages have been given to past executives who were dismissed from the agency or retiring after a long tenure. They had no recollection of a payment given to an executive who was making a lateral move to another government entity. Del. Erek L. Barron, D-Prince George's, a co-chairman of the committee, said the three-hour hearing proved that "this is not normal . . . there is nothing customary about it." Emails from within the agency that were obtained by The Washington Post showed that McGrath received employee incentive payments of $117,932 between September 2017 and September 2019. Other top executives received similar incentive payments, including Beth Wojton, who received about $206,000 from 2011 to 2018, and Jim Harkins, who got nearly $147,000 between 2011 and 2015. Documents also show that McGrath purchased a $50,935 Chevrolet Suburban for himself, including a $3,000 "luxury package." He spent $29,000 remodeling the agency's break room and executive board room, work that included custom quartz countertops, $4,000 in furniture for the "executive waiting area" and $30,000 to remodel the agency's fitness center. McGrath served as chief executive and chairman of the agency's board of directors from December 2016 until May, when he was appointed as Hogan's chief of staff. He resigned from that post Aug. 17, a few days after the presiding officers of the General Assembly called for a special hearing to look into the severance payment. Hogan said in a statement last week that he accepted McGrath's resignation "with regret." "I recognize that this was a difficult decision for Roy, but I understand and respect his reasons for making this decision," the governor said. "I have always known Roy to be someone of the highest character, and I wish him well in his future endeavors." The Maryland Environmental Service is a nonprofit business unit of the state that was established in 1970. It handles environmental and public-works projects, including dredging operations and building, designing and operating landfills. State lawmakers have noted that the bulk of the agency's contracts are with state and local governments, which means it is largely publicly funded. The agency also is subject to state audits by the Department of Legislative Services and has an assistant attorney general that serves as its counsel. Several members of the board, along with the executive director, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. McGrath maintains that the company - a nonprofit, public corporation - is separate from the state.He said it operates not much differently from a private-sector business. Glass told the panel Tuesday that he is a state employee and does not view the agency as a private-sector company. McGrath has maintained that there was nothing wrong with the financial package, which included a $5,250 tuition reimbursement. He said the entire package, which he called a "well-earned award," totaled $238,250. - - - The Washington Post's Erin Cox contributed to this report. The campus was ready to open, Abdullah said. The school had purchased face shields and masks, installed Plexiglas dividers and placed distancing stickers on floors. Then outbreaks began to occur at other schools, causing them to shutter their campuses. Notre Dame recently moved its classes online, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill closed its dorms one week after they opened. VSU determined that it could not prevent widespread transmission between students if they were allowed back on campus. Virginia State sent coronavirus tests by mail to students and began receiving them. There wasnt an abundance of positive results, Abdullah said, though he said he doesnt know the exact figure. The number of positive cases didnt drive the schools decision to go fully online, he said. What the school did worry about was how high that number might eventually become. VSU contracted with Kallaco to conduct testing, the same company used by Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University, which took criticism from professors for delays and errors in testing. Abdullah said he was satisfied with the services Kallaco provided. The catastrophic spread of COVID-19 throughout more than 130 aged care facilities in the Australian state of Victoria has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 304 residents and over 1,700 infections. Data from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services shows that residential aged care accounted for the majority of coronavirus outbreaks between June 1 and August 11. In total, 335 of the 525 people who have died from coronavirus in Australia since the pandemic began were aged care residents. The pandemic has exacerbated a decades-long crisis. Extensive privatisation and the gutting of public healthcare carried out by successive governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, has meant that the needs of the elderly and infirm are subordinated to the profit requirements of the corporate and financial elite. Since 1997, there have been 18 separate government inquiries into residential aged care. An interim report, handed down last year by an ongoing Aged Care Royal Commission, conceded that many of the failings identified in previous inquiries remain widespread. The decades-long assault on the elderly has created the conditions for the rampant spread of the virus in aged care facilities. Recent reports have revealed catastrophic conditions, including widespread malnutrition, dehydration and untreated sores and infections. Victorian state Labor and federal health authorities blocked some aged-care residents infected with COVID-19 from being transferred to hospitala policy that amounts to social murder. One nurse at St Vincents hospital in East Melbourne told the Guardian that she treated an elderly resident from the private Kalyna Care facility who was transferred to the emergency department only after she was found with infected wounds and 18 sores on her body. The nurse said the woman had been left in a room to rot, and her death last week was the culmination of six to eight weeks of neglect. In the same facility, where more than 20 residents and 15 staff have been infected with COVID-19, photos emerged showing a 95-year-old woman with ants crawling over a wound on her leg. An audit of Kalyna Care by the aged care regulator some three weeks earlier found that the wounds of residents were not being properly treated, and an Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission assessment team found that the facility failed all five requirements it was tested on. Staff, it stated, did not have the knowledge and competency to perform their roles effectively. However, it was not until Kalyna Care became severely understaffed, as aged care workers were forced into quarantine, that the Victorian government took over the facility and placed residents under the control of a public hospital. The chair of the board of Kalyna Care stated that at one point there was only one nurse and one personal care assistant responsible for 68 residents. Similar tragedies have played out at facilities across Melbourne. The vast majority of the facilities where outbreaks have occurred, including Kalyna Care, are privately owned and operated, with some of the largest providers amassing millions of dollars in profits each year. There are around 2,500 aged care facilities in Australia tasked with caring for over 200,000 people. Forty-one percent are owned by private corporations and 50 percent by not for-profits, primarily churches and charities. The remaining 9 percent are government owned. A report released by the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research this month revealed that nine of the largest not-for-profit aged care operators, which received $2.4 billion in Government funding in 2019, collectively paid their executives and board members more than $30 million in compensation. The report also revealed that while four of the top six operators reported losses in 2019, losses were driven by property investment... Each of the 6 operators generated between $26 million and $62 million in net cash from operations. Furthermore, in a recent audit, one of the largest not-for-profit aged care operators, Uniting, which owns more than 70 facilities, was found to have underpaid 9,561 workers in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory by more than $3.36 million over the past six year. One worker was underpaid nearly $12,000. The top six private for-profit aged care providersBupa, Opal, Regis, Estia, Japara and Allityreceived over $2.17 billion in annual taxpayer subsidies in 2015-16 and made substantial additional operating profits, while paying just $154 million in tax. According to the Australian Taxation Office, the total combined income of all for-profit aged care providers was over $5 billion in 2015-16, with a total profit of $402 million after tax. The major windfall to private operators is the direct consequence of the pro-business restructuring of the sector spearheaded by the Labor Party. In the early 1990s, the federal Labor government of Prime Minister Paul Keating introduced competitive processes for the allocation of funds to aged care and opened up government-funded homes to for-profit organisations. It also pioneered a user pays regime by imposing higher fees and introducing entry bonds on residents in aged hostels. By 1997, the number of government-owned aged care facilities had fallen from 19 percent in 1972 to around 11 percent. The Howard Liberal-National government deepened this process, cutting $1 billion from aged care in the 1996-97 budget, claiming that higher nursing home fees and entry bonds would provide incentives for investors to expand and improve the industry. In 2011, a Productivity Commission report brought down by the Gillard Labor government made recommendations that the elderly should pay up to 35 percent of their own aged care costs and that these contributions should be funded from the value of their homes, using reverse mortgages. Acting on these recommendations in 2012, the Gillard government released its Living Longer, Living Better package, which it said would deliver a less regulated, more consumer-driven and market-based aged care system. What this meant, in practice, was that the cost of providing aged care services was substantially shifted onto elderly residents and their families. Today, aged care residents can expect to pay a basic daily fee of up to $52.25, which is 85 percent of the single person rate of the aged pension, for day-to-day services such as meals, cleaning, facilities management and laundry. Additionally, there is a means-tested care fee for residents which can be up to $259.15 per day. This is used to cover the cost of residents personal and clinical care needs which can include help with bathing, dressing, grooming and going to the toilet, specialised nursing services and medication assistance. Despite the rising cost of care, a 2018 report submitted to the royal commission found that up to half of all residents in aged care facilities suffer from malnutrition as a result of inedible and non-nutritious food coupled with an inadequate number of staff to assist residents who cannot feed themselves. Another submission found that in 2017, the average food budget in aged care facilities was just $6.08 per resident per day, which was less than the average in Australian prisons ($8.25 per prisoner per day). Staffing levels in residential aged care in Australia are substantially below those of other comparable countries. A study carried out for the royal commission released last October, found that per day, aged care residents receive just 36 minutes of care by registered nurses, 8 minutes by allied health professionals and 144 minutes by personal care assistants. When this was compared with standards in the US, over half (57.6 percent) of Australian residents were found to be in facilities with substandard care. To bring all residential aged care facilities to minimum adequate average staffing levels would require an overall increase of staff by 37.3 percent. If Australian practices were brought to the standards of Canadian British Columbia, levels of care would have to be increased by 175 percent. Moreover, the number of higher-trained aged care staff has decreased. In 2003 registered nurses working in aged care accounted for 21.4 percent of the workforce. By 2016 this was reduced to 14.9 percent. The number of less trained personal care attendants, who are often low-paid, casual employees, increased from 56.5 percent in 2003 to 71.5 percent in 2016. A submission to the royal commission revealed that the present Morrison Liberal-National government was warned in April that aged care facilities would struggle to find staff during a coronavirus outbreak, based on the experience of outbreaks at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge and Newmarch House in Sydney, where an estimated 87 percent of the workforce had to go into quarantine. Furthermore, aged care workers since March have reported personal protection equipment (PPE) shortages and inadequate infection control. Despite these warnings, no significant measures have been taken by either state or federal governments to stop the spread of the pandemic in aged care facilities. On Friday, the Morrison government announced that it would invest $171 million into the aged care sector, claiming this would bring the total investment during the pandemic to $1 billion. However, aged care facilities are not required to report how they are spending this funding. Jason Ward, of the Tax Justice Network Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that while providers have received additional funding during the pandemic, there is no evidence that they have spent that money in a way thats been effective in preventing this disease and unnecessary deaths. The tragic deaths and illnesses are an indictment of the capitalist system, which subordinates every aspect of life to the profit interests of a tiny corporate elite. As has been the case in Britain and internationally, Australian governments have pursued a homicidal policy of allowing aged care residents to become sick, knowing that many of them would succumb to the virus. This underscores the fact that the fight for socialism, a society in which social need, not private profit, determines the allocation of resources, is a life and death question. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Thursday plans a speech condemning President Donald Trump, hours before he is set to accept renomination for a second term, for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Harris will detail a 'profound failure of leadership' from Trump and highlight proposals by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to control the virus and confront the economic fallout, Biden's campaign told The Associated Press. With Trump planning an evening address from the White House lawn, Harris' afternoon remarks from Washington will be the Democrats' main counter to the president on the final day of the Republicans' convention. Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democrats' pick for vice president, will address the nation Thursday afternoon, in the house before President Donald Trump makes his nomination acceptance speech from the White House's South Lawn Sen. Kamala Harris' Thursday address is the Democrats' first attempt of counter-programming the Republican National Convention and her criticism of President Donald Trump will be the post focused yet, sources told The Associated Press Sen. Kamala Harris will serve as counter-programming of the Republican National Convention, as President Donald Trump (pictured) will accept the GOP nomination later Thursday night from the White House's South Lawn Biden has made similar arguments about Trump for months and Harris picked up on that criticism in both her introductory speech as Biden's pick and when she accepted the party's nomination last week during the Democratic convention But the California senator's words on Thursday are billed as her most focused denunciation of Trump since joining the ticket. Her tack will test an argument that the former prosecutor tried last summer, as a White House candidate, to show that she is ready to 'prosecute the case' against Trump and his 'rap sheet.' Harris' address come as she steps up her activity as Biden's running mate. The two have been mostly quiet since the Democrats' virtual convention last week. Harris has been in Washington working virtually with Biden's campaign staff, and on Wednesday was scheduled for three virtual fundraisers and an online discussion focused on Black women in Michigan. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016, in part because turnout among Black Democrats dropped appreciably from 2012. In a Washington Post op-ed published Wednesday, she detailed the history of women's struggle to gain voting rights, especially women of color who were not granted suffrage even with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Vice presidential nominees are sometimes seen as designated attackers in a general election campaign, theoretically allowing the presidential nominee to remain above the fray. But that framing is oversimplified in an election between Trump, who relishes attacking his critics in withering terms, and Biden, the former vice president who has pegged his White House to a moral and competency argument against the Republican incumbent. Trump himself offered the main counter to Biden last Thursday before Biden's acceptance speech as the nominee. In a move aimed directly at his Democratic rival, the president traveled to Pennsylvania to greet supporters near Biden's boyhood home, Scranton. Democrats see Harris as being able to excite Black women and other minority women, but also as a credible messenger to white independents and moderate Republicans unhappy with Trump, especially white college-educated women. Harris has a reputation on Capitol Hill as a sharp questioner of witnesses during hearings - a skill she memorably wielded against Biden in a primary debate. She drew some criticism last summer, however, for some of her more practiced debate attacks on the president, sometimes laughing awkwardly after their delivery. 'He reminds me of that guy in The Wizard of Oz,' she said on the September debate stage. 'When you pull back the curtain, its a really small dude.' Trump and his Republican allies have tried to cast Harris as an ultra-liberal helping the far left control the Democratic Party and the more centrist Biden. Russia has highlighted the recent increase in militant activity in central Syria, and has accused the US of providing them with training writes Al-Masdar. A spokesman for the Russian forces operating in Syria announced on Tuesday, a noticeable increase in militant activity in central Syria. The spokesman said, The terrorists impede the return of social and economic life in Syria with their actions, as well as the establishment of relations between the local Arab tribes and Damascus. This is a situation that benefits the United States first, and will allow it to justify its presence in eastern Syria. The spokesman continued, The militants are working to destabilize the situation in the region by sabotaging transportation lines and oil installations in Syria, and attacking patrols and sites of the Syrian army. On Aug. 18, 2020, the Russian military advisor, General Gladkich, was killed by an explosive device in Syrias Deir ez-Zor Governorate. He said, ISIS gangs in central Syria are joining with militants who were trained in the territories occupied by the United States, in the al-Tanf and Euphrates regions. He pointed out that, over the last month, a region known as the White Desert in the middle of the Syrian Arab Republic, witnessed a noticeable increase in the activity of armed groups made up of former ISIS elements, at the same time, most of the militants appeared in the region after the amnesty was announced by the so-called Autonomous Administration of northeastern Syria, controlled by the United States. The spokesman added, The strikes by the Russian Air Force and the Syrian Air Force, artillery fire, reconnaissance and search operations of special purposes in the White Desert resulted in the liquidation of 327 militants and the destruction of 134 shelters, 17 observation points, seven stores of ammunition and five underground stores of weapons and ammunition. 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. Chinas organisation of consecutive military exercises in the waters to the north-northeast of Vietnams Hoang Sa archipelago has violated Vietnams sovereignty over the archipelago, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. Responding to reporters query at a press conference on August 26, Hang made it clear that Chinas act runs counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and complicates the situation, which is unfavourable for the current negotiations between China and the ASEAN on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) and the maintenance of a peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the East Sea. Vietnam demands that China respect Vietnams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago (Paracel Islands), stop and not repeat such violations. On August 23, the People's Daily of China quoted an announcement from the Hainan Provincial Department of Marine Affairs that China would conduct "military exercises" to the northeast of Vietnam's Hoang Sa Archipelago in six days, starting from August 24. This is the second time in the past two months that China has conducted military exercises in Hoang Sa. The scale of this exercise was announced to be even larger than the one held in early July. Thanh Nam Riot Police and contractors remove wood for a bonfire in the Distillery Street area of west Belfast on August 8th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Detectives investigating attacks on police earlier this month in Belfast have released images of those they want to speak to. Twenty-nine officers were injured during disorder at Distillery Street on August 8 after a republican bonfire was dismantled. They came under attack with petrol bombs, heavy masonry and vehicle parts. Injuries ranged from concussion to back, head and neck injuries. Sinn Fein condemned the attacks as "shocking and wrong". Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Image 7 Image 8 Image 9 Image 10 Image 12 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Image 7 On Wednesday police released images of six people they are seeking, another six images were released earlier this month. Superintendent Melanie Jones said: By releasing these images I am hopeful that either the individuals themselves will contact police directly or the wider community can help us identify them. Officers are examining videos circulating relating to the disorder. She added: We are committed to identifying those involved in this significant disorder and we will be relentless in our pursuit in bringing offenders before the courts. It is in everybodys interest, as well as in the interest of justice, that those responsible are dealt with appropriately and I would urge anyone who may have any information to bring it forward to police at Musgrave police station. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters The US has suffered another humiliating diplomatic setback after the president of the UN security council rejected the Trump administrations attempt to extend economic sanctions on Iran. Related: Iran sanctions: nearly all UN security council unites against 'unpleasant' US America was rebuffed last week when 13 countries on the security council argued that the US had no legal right to snap back sanctions because it had already walked out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. On Tuesday, Indonesia which this month holds the security councils rotating presidency said that no further action could be taken on the US request, because there was no consensus on the 15-nation body. The announcement prompted an angry response from Kelly Craft, the US envoy to the UN, who said: Let me just make it really, really clear: the Trump administration has no fear in standing in limited company on this matter. I only regret that other members of this council have lost their way and now find themselves standing in the company of terrorists. The US claims it still has a right to intervene on the nuclear deal since the original Iran deal listed the US as a participant, and it requires only one signatory to the deal for the sanctions to be reimposed. Pompeo said on Thursday he had triggered a 30-day process to reimpose sanctions taking the crisis into the heart of the UN general assembly, the annual UN conference addressed by heads of state. Russias UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said he hoped the United States would now drop its bid to snap back Iran sanctions, which is not only illegal, but simply will not lead to achieving the result that was envisaged by the United States. Nebenzias deputy, Dmitry Polyanskiy, interpreted the Indonesian assessment in a Twitter post: It means, there is NO SNAPBACK. The Iran deal allowed for the embargo on conventional arms sales to be lifted after five years, a deadline that expires in mid-October. The US is vehemently opposed to Tehran being able to strengthen its military, although it is not clear whether Russia or China would be willing to sell arms to Iran or whether a cash-strapped Iran currently has the means to purchase sophisticated electronic weaponry. Story continues The EU has its own separate arms embargo, but is working to keep alive the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) partly in the hope that the deal could be revived if Trump is unsuccessful in his bid for re-election. The UKs acting deputy envoy, James Roscoe, said: We do not support a move to snap back at this time, which would be incompatible with our current efforts to preserve the JCPOA It is the UKs opinion that the United States ceased to be a participant to the JCPOA following their withdrawal from the deal on the 8th of May 2018. Niger is president of the security council in September and Russia in October. Neither country is likely to adopt a different position to Indonesia so making it hard to see how the US can push the Iran issue back on to the agenda before November. The "Europe Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market to 2027 COVID-19 Impact and Analysis by Offering, Deployment, Enterprise Size, End-User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The virtual desktop infrastructure market in Europe is expected to grow from US$ 1,283.7 million in 2019 to US$ 3,388.5 million by 2027; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.1% from 2020 to 2027. Europe is a technologically advanced region in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). VDI solutions and services are becoming quite popular among various industries such as IT telecom, government, healthcare, BFSI, education, and retail for robustly adopting the trend of mobile and remote teams. Due to the growing trend of digitalization, automation, and smart workplaces, the demand for virtual desktop infrastructure solutions is anticipated to rise at an impressive pace in coming years. Based on enterprise size, the large enterprises segment led the virtual desktop infrastructure market in 2019. Organizations with over 500 employees are classified as large enterprises. These enterprises have their clients across several regions. Moreover, these enterprises account for high market shares and technical knowledge, as well as effective business strategies. These large enterprises invest in innovative and latest technologies to operate their business effectively. The benefits conferred by VDI such as remote access and cost-savings are attracting large enterprises to adopt the VDI solutions. The VDI market for the large enterprises segment is well established and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Major players operating in the Europe virtual desktop infrastructure market include Amazon.com, Inc.; Cisco Systems, Inc.; IBM Corporation; Microsoft Corporation; VMware; Fujitsu Limited; Dell Inc.; Citrix Systems, Inc.; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP; and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Key Topics Covered 1. Introduction 1.1 Study Scope 1.2 Research Report Guidance 1.3 Market Segmentation 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Coverage 3.2 Secondary Research 3.3 Primary Research 4. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Landscape 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 PEST Analysis 4.2.1 Europe 4.3 Ecosystem Analysis 4.4 Expert Opinion 5. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Rising Demand of Enhanced Productivity and Cost Reduction 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 Lack of Awareness and Cloud Infrastructure in Developing Countries 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Growing Adoption among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Ever-increasing Demand for Cloud-Based Solutions Across Industries 5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints 6. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Europe Analysis 6.1 Europe Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Overview 6.2 Europe Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million) 6.3 Market Positioning Top Three Players 7. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Analysis By Offering 7.1 Overview 7.2 Europe Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Breakdown, by Offering, 2019 2027 7.3 Solution 7.3.1 Overview 7.3.2 Solution: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million) 7.4 Services 7.4.1 Overview 7.4.2 Services: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million) 8. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Analysis By Deployment 8.1 Overview 8.2 Europe Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Breakdown, by Deployment, 2019 2027 8.3 Cloud 8.4 On-Premise 9. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Analysis By Enterprise Size 9.1 Overview 9.2 Europe Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Breakdown, by Enterprise Size, 2019 2027 9.3 SMEs 9.4 Large Enterprises 10. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Analysis By End-user 10.1 Overview 10.2 Europe Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Breakdown, by End-user, 2019 2027 10.3 BFSI 10.4 Retail 10.5 Healthcare 10.6 IT Telecom 10.7 Government 10.8 Education 10.9 Manufacturing 10.10 Other End-users 11. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Country Analysis 12. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market COVID-19 Impact Analysis 13. Industry Landscape 13.1 Market Initiatives 13.2 New Developments 14. Company Profiles 14.1 Amazon.com, Inc. 14.2 Cisco Systems, Inc. 14.3 IBM Corporation 14.4 Microsoft Corporation 14.5 VMware, Inc. 14.6 Fujitsu Limited 14.7 Dell Technologies Inc. 14.8 Citrix Systems, Inc. 14.9 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development L.P. (HPE) 14.10 Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r67hvd View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005410/en/ Contacts: 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 A new leak is here, and this time it is for the recently released Samsung Galaxy Buds Live Thom Browne Edition. Yes, the companys latest product in collaboration with the iconic New York fashion brand is leaked. Note that this is not the first time Samsung and Thom Browne are collaborating for an exclusive product. We have had the Thom Browne Galaxy Z Flip edition earlier this year. And now it seems like Samsung is taking this fashion statement up a notch with its Galaxy Buds Live. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Buds Live in the recently concluded Unpacked event. Advertisement There were other products like Galaxy Note 20 series, Galaxy Watch 3, a new Tab S7 series, and much more that was revealed alongside Buds Live. We expect the new line of products might also get a Thom Browne overhaul. But as of now, the leak for Galaxy Buds Live Thom Browne Edition is surfacing the internet. For starters, let us get one thing clear right here, that Thom Browne Edition does not have any new hardware involvement in the product. Advertisement Meaning that you get the same device under Thom Browne Edition, similar to the normal product. However, the exclusivity lies in the exterior colors and branding of the device. Galaxy Buds Live leaks show iconic Thom Browne grey body, a red, white, and blue ribbon The latest leaks show Galaxy Buds Live Thom Browne edition in its full glory. You get the iconic Thom Browne grey body on the case and on the earbuds as well. There is a thick stripe or ribbon of red, white, and blue ribbon color, giving it a subtle touch of the iconic fashion brand. Besides, the buds also have this tri-color ribbon running from top to bottom. Advertisement Normally, you can get the Galaxy Buds Live in three colors, i.e. Mystic White, Mystic Black, and Mystic Bronze. And soon, you will get your hands on this Thom Browne edition buds. The buds have a design form factor that resonates with a bean. In fact, these buds were earlier rumored to be called Galaxy Beans. Which later it was changed to Buds Live. But Samsung did not get rid of the beans name entirely from this product. As a teardown report shows that the word beans is printed inside each earbud. Moreover, it is pretty easy to repair. You can check out that complete article here. Advertisement Well, it is not a new thing that a device falls prey to an undesirable situation. In one of our reports, we have highlighted that users of Galaxy Buds TWS, including Galaxy Buds Live, are experiencing overheating issues when exposed to direct sunlight. There is no official word from Samsung in this matter as of yet. You can grab your pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for a price of $169.99. Though there is no confirmation on the pricing of the Thom Browne edition. A retired Toronto teacher has been charged after a student was sexually assaulted after school by a man over the span of 10 years, police say. Between the summer of 1973 and 1983 a man sexually assaulted a student between the ages of nine and 18 after school, police say. On Tuesday, David Ronald Stanford, 72, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with indecent assault on a male, indecency and buggery. Stanford was an employee of the Toronto District School Board, working as a teacher at Williamson Road Junior Public School at the time of the alleged assaults, police say. Margaryta Ignatenko is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @MargarytaIgnat1 A magistrate court in Nigerias southern Cross River State today acquitted Cross River Watch news editor Jonathan Ugbal and managing editor Jeremiah Archibong on charges of unlawful assembly and breach of peace stemming from their 2019 protest coverage, according to news reports and Ugbal, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Todays decision to acquit Nigerian journalists Jonathan Ugbal and Jeremiah Achibong is a welcome one, but they never should have been arrested or had criminal charges hang over them for more than a year, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. Too often, journalists in Nigeria are arrested and then made to endure further intimidation designed to criminalize their work amid lengthy delays in the justice system. Police arrested the two journalists on August 5, 2019, while they were covering the #RevolutionNow political reform protests that were then taking place across Nigeria, as CPJ documented at the time; they were released on bail two days later. Police also briefly detained at least two other reporters covering the protests, as CPJ documented. Also in August 2019, Cross River Watch publisher Agba Jalingo was arrested , charged with various crimes , and jailed until his release in February 2020 , as CPJ documented. A man with severe mental health issues who slit a father's throat in 2002 has absconded while on day release from a mental health facility in the NSW Central West and may have made his way to Sydney. Michael Striker, 48, was last seen leaving a store on Peisley Street, Orange, about 10.30am on Monday. He was seen an hour later in the Bathurst area. Police are seeking Michael Striker who went missing while on day release in the state's west. Credit:NSW Police It is understood Mr Striker may have made his way to the Sydney region on Tuesday. Mr Striker is housed at a mental health facility at Bloomfield Hospital in Orange, which is managed by NSW Health. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Three former officials denied accusations that they had a hand in the alleged diversion of billions of funds from the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corp. In separate statements, former Health secretary Janette Garin, former Budget chief Butch Abad, and former PhilHealth chief Alex Padilla refuted the findings of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that they diverted funds amounting to 10.6 billion in 2015. The funds were intended for the premiums of senior citizens to construct barangay health centers and purchase dental equipment. The committee recommended the filing of technical malversation charges against the three. Garin, Abad and Padilla all claimed that the 10.6 billion did not even exist in the 2015 General Appropriations Act. "How could funds be diverted if they were not in the budget to start with?" Abad said, responding to supposedly "unfounded" accusations by the Senate panel. Abad added that PhilHealth had applied for funding for the payment of senior citizen premiums under the unprogrammed fund of the 2015 GAA since no revenues were available. He also said that 9 billion from the health facilities enhancement program (HFEP) of the Department of Health to fund barangay health centers and dental equipment came from savings of the unused personnel funds from the miscellaneous personnel benefit fund authorized under the 2015 GAA which was approved by the Office of the President. Padilla shared the same sentiment and said there was no correlation between the HFEP budget of the DOH and the savings of unused personnel funds due to the different amounts being referred to. He also said that PhilHealth has nothing to do with HFEP as the agency "is not in the business of funding infrastructure projects" of the DOH. "I think a simple perusal of the budget allocations for PhilHealth and DOH during those years would reveal these simple truths," Padilla said. "Further, for even simple decency, observance of common courtesy and due process, I was never asked to appear, explain or comment on these baseless allegations at any time in the entire duration of this investigation." Speaking to CNN Philippines' Balitaan on Wednesday, Garin questioned Gordon's motive for including her in a report which was intended for a different Senate probe. "Ang nakakapagtaka lang (What makes this more puzzling), this was supposed to be an investigation on the ghost patients of the WellMed dialysis controversy," Garin said. "Bakit ngayon lang inilalabas kung saan nakita na ng Senado, Ombudsman yung mga kalokohan sa PhilHealth?" Garin said. [Translation: Why would they only release a report now when the Senate, Ombudsman have already uncovered the other irregularities in PhilHealth?] Garin, who headed the DOH from 2015 to 2016, also accused Senator Gordon of "demonizing" her, simply because she was a member of the Aquino Cabinet. The lawmaker was previously slapped with a graft complaint in 2018, along with Padilla. Bigger Battery. Larger Display. 99. Thats not a bad sales pitch, is it? The Realme C11 has arrived in parts of Europe and you can grab one right now in Mint Green or Pepper Grey. The phone is currently shipping to Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Portugal, delivery time is 2-5 days. Realme C11 in Mint Green and Pepper Grey For the first 48 hours, buying a C11 will net you a free Realme Band thats worth 25 normally, which is a quarter of the phones price. Alternatively, you can get Realme Buds 2 for 10 or Buds Wireless for 20 (that's half price for each). Students get a further 5% discount. The Realme C11 is already a hit in India. The phone promises long power autonomy with its 5,000 mAh battery, which can feed the Helio G35 chipset and 6.5 720p+ display for 12 hours of gaming. Or you could use it as a power bank and charge other gadgets. Like the Buds Wireless, for example (though in our review we found that they delivered on the promised 12 hours of playback). The C11 comes with Android 10 out of the box, running in the tight confines of 2 GB of RAM. At least the 32 GB of built-in storage is easily expandable through the dedicated spot for a microSD card (which can sit next to two SIM cards). If youre interested, head over to the official Realme store to check out the phone and the launch promos. Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director, Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has urged media practitioners to interrogate political parties manifestoes for the forthcoming 2020 general elections. He noted that manifestoes were important tools to ensure electorates were well informed, and the media having networks with the political class and a connection to the citizenry, had an advantage to help mobilize opinions around issues. He said the CDD-Ghana had laid out four manifesto evaluative criteria including; does it pass the test of responsiveness; is it implementable; its capacity and impact. Gradually, if we are able to make manifestoes responsive, our ambition and hope is that, we begin to at least drive our politics in a developmental direction Prof Prempeh stated in his remarks during a media engagement in Accra. The forum dubbed The Manifesto for Development Project Evening Encounter with the Media, was aimed at discussing CDD-Ghanas Manifesto for Development Report (M4D Project). The Report, which seeks to inform and influence national agenda-setting and policy for inclusive development, was put together by gathering and synthesizing data and evidence from diverse sources, actors, interest, and stakeholders and has since been submitted to political parties for consideration. Prof Prempeh noted that development was measured in outcomes, saying, when you do the human development index our ranking on it is not dependent on how much brick and mortar we have, is dependent on how we fare on these indices. The Executive Director reiterated that for instance in education political parties could promise they would lower drop-out rate or to increase primary two literacy, and then in health, talk about reducing maternal mortality instead of only talking about number of hospitals to be built. Prof Prempeh said CDD-Ghanas M4D Project was focused on sampling and diagnosing the problems in these various sectors especially problems that had been recurring and then ask the parties to use their manifestoes as problem-solving device to solve problems identified. Dr Kojo Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at CDD-Ghana also called for more engagement between the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) to be able to coordinate the process towards good governance. He said the Centre was committed and knows the importance of the media space as such these engagements should be deepen to ensure both sides could reach out to each other. Madam Afia Pokuaa, a veteran journalist with the Despite Media Group, said since 1992, there had been gains in terms of knowledge of the voter in electoral processes and accountability and this could be attributed to effective work of CSOs and the media. She said however, among the challenges was the tagging issues, where media practitioners in their line of duties were being tagged or affiliated to a particular political party. If we do not empower the media, we will get to a point where this tagging thing will frustrate everybody and journalists will stop asking critical questions, and this is likely to destroy the gains made. 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 AUSTIN The National Republican Campaign Committee removed language from its website Tuesday that suggested conservatives should criticize Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones for her sexual orientation as she runs for Congress in a district that includes San Antonio. The change followed a Huffington Post report on Tuesday that described the attack line featured on the NRCCs campaign website, DemocratFacts. Originally, the site told supporters to knock Jones because she and her female partner lived and worked near Washington, DC, not Texas ahead of her run for the 23rd Congressional District. The word female was later removed. Jones photo on the page also features her partner though other Democratic candidates on the website are not pictured with their spouses. Washington Republicans efforts to promote bigotry and homophobia have no place in this race, and it shows just how out of touch they are with Texans in this district, Jones campaign manager Lacey Morrison said in a release Wednesday. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox NRCC spokesman Bob Salera told the Huffington Post that the reference to Jones sexuality was included as a factual statement, but we removed it because her orientation has nothing to do with her being a Washington, D.C., carpetbagger who supports closing local military bases in TX-23 that will cost thousands of jobs. The NRCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon on why Jones picture, still displayed on the website, features her partner when others do not. Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer and Iraq War veteran, is running her second campaign to represent the 23rd a sprawling swing district stretching from San Antonio to El Paso. U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, who narrowly beat Jones for the seat in 2018, will not run for reelection; instead, her opponent is Tony Gonzales, a former Navy cryptologist. The Jones campaign is also calling out Gonzales for his prior assertion that Jones was running on a transgender agenda. Tony Gonzales should condemn this shameless attempt to stoke hate and answer for his own dangerous rhetoric against the LGBTQ community, Morrison said. Gonzales campaign spokesman Matt Mackowiak said in a statement that the remark referenced Jones support for policies allowing taxpayer dollars to fund gender reassignment surgery in the military, which is out of step with the majority of people in this district. Gonzales also issued a statement on Twitter after the Huffington Post story was published early Tuesday: When I served in Iraq and Afghanistan, I didnt care about the sexual orientation of the person fighting next to me. What I do care about is Gina Jones support for closing our military bases. Dont let her distract you. Russia Developing Radar to Detect Precise Number of Drones in a Swarm Sputnik News Ilya Tsukanov. Sputnik International 15:55 GMT 25.08.2020(updated 16:05 GMT 25.08.2020) Besides Russia, a handful of other countries, including the US, China, Italy, the UK, Japan and Israel are known to be working on technologies related to the mass deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles, whether it's to use them in combat and reconnaissance or to bring them down. The Scientific and Research Institute for Long-Distance Radar Communications (Russian acronym 'NIIDAR'), a major Russian radar systems developer, is currently working on a new, cutting-edge radar capable of the precision detection of drone swarms, a spokesperson from the company's press service said. Speaking to Sputnik on the sidelines of the ongoing ARMY-2020 military expo outside Moscow, the spokesperson explained that although existing radar systems can detect drone swarms, they cannot discern their precise numbers, and detection can be spotty depending on the drones' size. "Several versions of the system are being developed for sectoral and for omnidirectional control of airspace, with the ability to detect small and low-speed unmanned aerial vehicles, including those operating in swarms. The number of objects which can be detected simultaneously is limited only by the system's computing power," the spokesman said. According to NIIDAR general director Kirill Makarov, amid the massed use of drones in a variety of settings today, the creation of the new radar will help operators ensure the safety of important infrastructure from airspace violations for industrial espionage, or other illegal purposes. The company believes its radar system could prove useful for both government and private entities, and that it has major export potential. Drone Swarm Warfare Developers in in a handful of countries are working on drone swarm and anti-drone swarm technology for military applications. The United States alone has multiple separate programs in this area, with the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA), also known as the Pentagon's 'mad scientist division', working on concepts including a computer-brain interface to enable a human being to control a swarm of drones with his or her mind, and the Gremlin project by Dynetics, which envisions the deployment of drones from and to a C-130 'mothership' transport aircraft. In early August, US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command issued a notice to defence contractors on the capabilities it wants its next-gen UAVs, or 'Air-Launched Effects', to have. The Army wants new swarm drones to have the ability to carry out lethal attacks, act as a decoy against integrated air defence systems, and conduct reconnaissance. In addition, the Army wants two different kinds of drones, including a 'small' UAV weighing no more than 100 pounds (45.35 kg), with a cruising range of at least 100 km at a speed of 30 knots. A 'large' drone is to weigh no more than 225 pounds (102 kg), have a range of 350 km, and a cruising speed of at least 70 knots. The US defence industry is also known to be working on drone swarm defences, with the Air Force Research Laboratory recently testing a new piece of equipment known as the 'Tactical High-Power Operational Responder', which is said to be capable of taking down several unmanned aerial targets at once using an electromagnetic strike. The Coyote, a 'loitering munition' system developed by Raytheon to take down enemy drones using kinetic force, is another program which has been approved by the Pentagon. Developers in China, Italy, the UK, Japan and Israel are also working on their own drone swarm/anti-drone swarm technologies, with one product by Israeli defence giant Rafael using a laser to take down small, commercial drones in rapid succession. Last month, Abishur Prakash, geopolitical futurist and author of the book 'The Age of Killer Robots', told Sputnik that the rapid advance of technologies including kamikaze drones, AI-powered drones, and drone swarms, makes it vital for nations to at least talk about the possibility of establishing rules or safeguards for such new weapons systems to guard against any potential disaster. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Q: Im in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend who lives in Mexico. Im worried about our relationship because he has three daughters from two different women. One daughter lives with her mother in the United States. Hes lost touch with both mother and child and is trying to find them to again have contact and relationship with his daughter. But it sometimes feels that hes spending more time talking to his family than me and my seven-year-old daughter (from someone else). Ive said that I feel a little neglected. Sometimes he says things about me that he doesnt intentionally mean, but to me he comes across as insensitive or hurtful. I know he still truly wants to be with me because Ive talked to him about that, and he said so. Im supposed to return to Mexico in November, hopefully for six months to live with him in his house and see how were getting along when spending time together in person. We need to do this before making any more serious plans. But I have doubts because Ive tried to talk to him about the way he sometimes talks to me. He doesnt understand how I feel and doesnt totally see it my way as I think he should. Should I continue the relationship and go to Mexico, or not? Two Countries A: Youre clear on what you want for yourself more attention, more agreement with your thoughts but you show little grasp of your boyfriends strong reasons to be worried and distracted: Three daughters, their two mothers, no contact with one mother and his child. Will living together awhile improve your relationship? Not if your measure of him is only about how attentive he is to you and your daughter. Its a complicated relationship long-distance during travel difficulties (plus Mexicos high rate of COVID-19 infections and limited medical resources). And a man who already has important relationships to juggle. Youd have to be a very confident, giving, understanding woman for this union to last. Currently, Im doubting it. But, since the decisions still yours to make, focus first on your own young daughter, so that shes secure in your attention. Q: A couple months ago I was rushed to a hospital with severe stomach pain and vomiting green bile. My husband of two years (no children) recently returned to working at the office. He said itd be faster if I called an ambulance. I did. My appendix burst just as we arrived. I was scared to be in a hospital during a pandemic but I was well cared for. I called my husband daily. He kept saying that things were crazy busy at the office. He never visited me. Ever since Ive been home and healing, I keep remembering one nurses aide asking me, Wheres your husband? I knew there was no explanation that either she or I would accept. Do you think this warrants my divorcing him? Absent Husband A: It certainly warrants a conversation that goes beyond busy office. Was he so scared of catching COVID that he clung to the busy excuse? Or, does his reputation on the office team matter more than supporting his wife through a serious health scare and surgery? He owes you an explanation. Even if unacceptable, counselling may still help your marriage, IF hell go with you. If not, go yourself and take a break period to decide on divorce. Ellies tip of the day When everything signals a complicated relationship with many stresses, protect your own child, and wait till your boyfriend solves his problems. New Delhi: Minister of State for Finance Arjun Meghwal on Tuesday confirmed that the Union Government is set to bring an ordinance for the process of depositing old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 after set deadline of December 30, due to expire in three days. On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that old notes can be deposited in the Reserve Bank of India till March 31, 2017. However, media reports on Monday night suggested that government may issue an ordinance to levy heavy penalty on people in possession of 10 or more notes of junk currency. There is a thinking within the government to provide for penalising those caught with high amounts of banned notes. If this is introduced, it will be in the form of an ordinance, a government official in the know of the matter quoted in media. Since the Nov 8 announcement, the government and RBI have frequently changed rules, 60 times at the last count. December 30 is the day when the governments deadline for currency overhaul ends, which is expected to bring an end to the cash withdrawal limits and other restrictive measures on currency deposit and withdrawal. However, the government is also expected to notify a slew of new cash rules. Also read | Demonetisation: Deposit your old notes or pay heavy penalty after December 30 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Officials of MTN Foundation have handed over a six-classroom block constructed for school children at Nhyiaeso, a farming community in the Asante-Akyem North District, to replace the dilapidated building which posed danger to them. The school building, which costs GH500,000, comes with a staff common room, office and store, with the classrooms fully furnished to provide a comfortable teaching and learning environment for both pupils and teachers. The construction of the classroom block was in response to a request for a new classroom after a media report highlighted unfavourable conditions under which the pupils were studying. Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Sam Koranteng, said the construction of the classroom block was in fulfilment of MTN's commitment to invest in its priority areas, such as education, health and economic empowerment activities. According to him, these are three key areas selected by the telecommunication giant to help transform lives, particularly people in rural communities. The Asante-Akyem North District Director of Education, Mildred Ama Kwakye Agyapong, commended MTN Foundation for giving the school children such a project in the Nhyiaeso community. She said the new classroom block would not only provide comfort but also the congenial atmosphere for effective teaching and learning. The Education Director entreated the headteacher of the school to ensure proper maintenance of the building for the benefit of future generations. Nana Brantuo Asadu, Agogo-Omanhene Oguakro Nkonwahene, also conveyed the appreciation of the traditional leaders to MTN. He said the chief of Mponua, another community within the district, had decided to freely release 100 acres of land to MTN to put up any project of its choice on it. ---Daily Guide Biggest school risk factor is adults so staff within the school and parents and carers taking children to a school environment This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Aug 26th, 2020 Parents and guardians are being urged to avoid stopping to chat outside the school gates when dropping their children off when the new term begins. Health Minister Vaughan Gething said that people need to consider their actions to help stop the spread of coronavirus when schools return full-time at the start of September. Students across Wales havent had access to regular face to face teaching and classes since education facilities were closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Online classes and teaching was available throughout the remainder of the academic year. However there have been concerns raised of the long-term impact school closures will have on children, particularly those who are unable to access the online teaching and are in receipt of free school meals. Guidance on the re-opening of schools recently been released by the Welsh Government includes a series of measures which schools and educational settings are expected to take wherever possible. This includes enhanced cleaning, ensuring rooms are well ventilated where possible, encouraging frequent hand washing, minimising contact between all individuals wherever possible and making sure that a staff member or student isolates if they, a member of their household, or contact shows symptoms. At yesterdays Welsh Government press conference the health minister was asked if there is any advice to parents on whether they should stay and chat after dropping their children off at school. Mr Gething said he hopes parents will be able move on away from the school and not gather close together. He continued: Outside the school gates, Ive been really clear for a significant period of time, as indeed has the education minister, the First Minister, that the biggest risk factor of schools opening isnt necessarily the children and young people themselves, its adults in the wider school community, so staff within the school and parents and carers taking children to a school environment. The normal school gate conversation that is social and often really valuable in sharing information, you see mums and dads outside school gates, when you drop the kids off, I certainly do. Well those things are going to be more of an issue because we need staggered times to get people in and out of school. It does mean that well want parents to be able to move on away from the school and not to gather close together in the way that we would have been used to even in a cold January. So it does still require us to think about the choices we make even as we have a more normal school return in this September compared to the experience we had at the end of June and indeed a significant move on when we close virtually all schools in the country is during the height of the pandemic. This message was also echoed an interview Englands Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who urged parents to be considerate at school drop off and pick up times before getting on with all the tasks of their day. When the Express-News profiled Lynn Knapik in 2012, she lived in one of only 19 residential units at the Pearl. There were plans for hundreds more, of course, and Knapik was excited to have 1,000 new neighbors. Knapik watched from the window of her fourth-floor apartment as those neighbors moved in and the former brewery blossomed into an ever-expanding mixed-use development centered around landmark restaurants like Southerleigh and Botika. The real estate broker still lives in the Culinary Institute of America building. She has little trouble selling clients on the complexs urban village atmosphere. During a trip to Italy, Knapik was struck by the similarities between the Pearl and the Cinque Terre village of Riomaggiore. People roam both areas streets, which are lined with buildings that have shops on the ground floor and housing above. Where I live is like the way people used to live, years and years and centuries ago, Knapik said. I think thats part of what makes Pearl as popular as it is. The success of the development has sparked a construction boom along the Broadway corridor and skyrocketing property taxes. On ExpressNews.com: In fast-changing San Antonio neighborhoods, homeowners flooded with offers from investors Similar leaps in appraised values are occurring south of downtown, but the historic district designation has protected Southtown neighborhoods like King William from cranes overhead. Elizabeth Barrera Lutz of King William Realty, much like Knapik, hasnt found many occasions recently to dust off the sales pitch for her neighborhood. Clients are coming to her already set on the area. Those clients range from Alamo Heights parents downsizing after their kids leave for college to San Antonio natives returning home after stints in cities like Seattle or Washington. Neither group is scared off by the extensive renovations often needed, she said. Barrera Lutz noted there are fewer house flippers operating in King William than there were a few years ago, due to high property prices and the hassle of negotiating the Historic and Design Review Commission. Refurbishments are now being done by owners who intend to live in the homes, she said, and the quality of the renovations reflect that. The Realtor and King William resident her home was built in 1902 believes Southtown is growing in a positive direction. She pointed to the crowds flooding to community events like the King William Fair and strolling the banks of the San Antonio River. You used to see more cats than you did children, Barrera Lutz said of the river. Now you see more kids. Im a mom myself, I have two little girls, so thats really nice to see. READ MORE: Study: Median income in downtown San Antonio increased by 39 percent in 15 years Both the Pearl and Southtown are known for their walkability, wealth of restaurants, and hefty price tags. So what differentiates the two neighborhoods north and south of downtown? Barrera Lutz said her clients are often considering both, but Southtown offers the opportunity to buy instead of rent and the area is more densely gentrified. The only thing is there are still pockets [of the Pearl] that need to be developed, she said. Its still a little bit behind King William in terms of that. Knapik acknowledged Southtowns history provides a different landscape than the brewery site. Youve got a real neighborhood that youre part of over there when youre part of Lavaca and King William, she said. A different feel than being here where this was all industrial. The Realtor also noted that Pearls popularity is not for everyone. It draws people because theres so much going on, but it also scares some people away because theres so much going on, Knapik said. For Knapik, the areas are both part of one big urban neighborhood, connected by the river that flows between them and a bus the No. 11 that does the same. Its Riomaggiore on the Italian coast, with the next village of Manarola four stops away on the VIA bus. Click through the gallery above to see Knapik's apartment, as photographed early in the Pearl development. Much of the information that helps forecasters guess the path, strength, and timing of major hurricanes comes from planes that fly into the heart of the most severe storms to gather data. NOAA/Facebook Much of the data that helps forecasters predict the path, strength, and timing of tropical storms and hurricanes come from a small fleet of airplanes that fly around, through, and above the storms. The Hurricane Hunters a team within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sometimes assisted by a team from the US Air Force Reserves fly right into the storms, slicing, diving, and weaving through "howling winds, blinding rain and violent updrafts and downdrafts" to gather information. The grueling missions can take 8-10 hours, but the forecasts they've enabled have saved lives, helping people evacuate or seek shelter sooner. Read on to learn more about the Hurricane Hunters and their incredible planes. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. As Hurricane Laura churned through the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, residents along the Texas and Louisiana coasts prepared for what was predicted to be one of the more severe storms to hit the state in years. The National Hurricane Center warned that Laura, forecasted to make landfall as a Category 4 storm late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, could bring heavy rains that would create an "unsurvivable" storm surge along the coast. Much of the information and knowledge that helps forecasters guess the path, strength, and timing of storms like Laura comes from a small fleet of airplanes, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the US Air Force Reserves, that fly directly into the most severe storms to gather data. These elite "Hurricane Hunters" can spend 8 to 10 hours at a time flying through storms, which contributes to life-saving forecasts that help those in harm's way evacuate or seek shelter while skies are still clear and sunny. Story continues Scroll down to learn more about the Hurricane Hunters. Meet "Miss Piggy," one of NOAA's two Lockheed WP-3D Orion "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft. Reuters The other is named "Kermit." Jim Watson/AFP/Getty The two P-3 Orion aircraft with their four turboprop engines and sturdy airframes are used by NOAA to collect data from within hurricanes and tropical storm systems. Molly Riley/Reuters The three turboprops are equipped with specialized probes, sensors, and radars to detect minute details about wind direction and speed, pressure, humidity, temperature, and more. Rhona Wise/Stringer/Getty There are also Doppler radar systems in the P-3's tail and lower fuselage to scan the storm vertically and horizontally. NOAA/Facebook Pilots fly right into the storms, slicing, diving, and weaving through "howling winds, blinding rain and violent updrafts and downdrafts before entering the relative calm of the storms eye," according to NOAA. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty In addition to the pilots, the Hurricane Hunters are staffed by crews of scientists who deploy the various instruments and measure readings. NOAA/Facebook Working on the planes can be grueling, with many missions lasting 8-10 hours. Rhona Wise/Stringer/Getty It's enough to give even the most seasoned frequent flyer motion sickness. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Over their many missions, the Hurricane Hunters have helped scientists better understand how hurricanes form and work, allowing them to better predict storms and deadly storm surges. Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Along with general research missions, the NOAA P-3s along with a WC-130J, operated by the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, perform storm reconnaissance missions, flying into active systems that pose a threat to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Rhona Wise/Stringer/Getty Those reconnaissance missions are "primarily to locate the center of the storm and measure central pressure and surface winds around the eye." Molly Riley/Reuters Even when there aren't any active tropical storm systems, the Hurricane Hunters stay active, carrying out various research missions across the globe. In recent years, Miss Piggy and Kermit have been used in "major studies on storms approaching the continents of Europe and North America to improve forecasts and study the effects of El Nino, atmospheric gases and aerosols over the North Atlantic, large-scale convective storm complexes in the Midwest, and winter storms battering U.S. Pacific coastal states." NOAA/Facebook NOAA also has a third plane in the Hurricane Hunter fleet: a Gulfstream IV-SP jet nicknamed "Gonzo." NOAA/Facebook Gonzo is the only jet-powered plane in the Hurricane Hunter fleet. NOAA/Faceboook The G-IV is used to fly "high, fast, and far" above and around a storm. It has a 4,000 nautical mile range and a maximum cruising altitude of 45,000 feet. NOAA/Facebook It collects high-altitude data that helps forecasters map steering air currents that direct the movement of hurricanes, helping meteorologists predict a storm's path ... NOAA/Facebook ... As the P3 Orions fly through it ... NOAA/Facebook ...Making them an ideal team to gather data on the dangerous storms. NOAA/Facebook Read the original article on Business Insider Another player in the purported multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud First NBC Bank and its shareholders pleaded guilty to his role Wednesday in New Orleans federal courthouse. Gary Gibbs, a Mississippi-based developer, admitted to conspiring to commit bank fraud as part of a plea deal with U.S. Attorney Peter Strassers office, according to court records. In return, the government agreed to not prosecute Gibbs in connection with other crimes he admitted committing in documents that summarize the case against him. Mississippi developer alleged to be major player in loans that brought down First NBC Bank The investigations into the collapse of First NBC Bank have unearthed a new series of suspicious, multimillion-dollar loans that regulators al U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo could sentence Gibbs to a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, as part of the plea bargain, the government said it would recommend that Gibbs receive a sentence of between 6 and 8 years. Milazzo tentatively set sentencing for Dec. 2. Asked to comment on his client's decision to plead guilty, Gibbs' attorney, Randy Smith, said, "It is what it is we trust the process." Gibbs was charged as part of an investigation targeting the founder and CEO of the failed bank, Ashton Ryan, and two of his former employees, William Burnell and Robert Calloway. Court documents say Ryan and Calloway, a loan officer, instructed Gibbs to inflate the value of his real estate and companies in order to obtain more than $123 million in loans from the bank while he worked on projects in Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana. Ryan, Calloway and Burnell once First NBCs chief credit officer would also disguise Gibbs true financial condition when he fell into arrears, by simply issuing new loans to him so he could make payments on the existing ones. The new loans then appeared to be current while past-due amounts and overdrafts appeared to be paid or substantially reduced, prosecutors said in court filings. The maneuver kept Gibbs and his companies off monthly lists of past-due or overdrawn loans, they said or, if they did appear, the amounts in question were substantially lower. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up More than once, Gibbs told Ryan and Calloway that he and his companies might have to declare bankruptcy because they couldnt keep up with payments on their loans. But Ryan and Calloway told Gibbs they couldnt afford for him to default. They then continued issuing the developer and his companies new loans and lied to the board about it, according to court records. The court records said Gibbs would sometimes use the money lent to him for personal purposes. He spent about $120,000 in loan money to pay off expenses on his private plane in one instance. Another time, he used more than $31,200 in loan proceeds to make a payment on a house he owned in Florida. Other loan proceeds went to his moms health care and expenses associated with his sport fishing boat. Charged on July 1, Gibbs is one piece of the puzzle that prosecutors are building to prosecute Ryan, Calloway, Burnell and others whom the government alleges had a hand in First NBCs 2017 failure. The collapse became the costliest one in American banking since the 2008 financial crisis. In First NBC case, feds indict Mississippi developer Gary Gibbs for alleged bank fraud Federal prosecutors have accused a Mississippi property developer of conspiring to defraud the failed First NBC Bank of at least $123 million, Hancock Whitney Bank eventually assumed First NBCs $1.6 billion in deposit accounts as well as some loans. Nonetheless, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was left responsible for nearly $1 billion. Ryan last month pleaded not guilty to more than 40 charges of bank fraud, filing false bank records and conspiracy that a federal grand handed up against him July 10. +4 First NBC's former chief, Ashton Ryan, indicted on bank fraud and conspiracy charges Ashton Ryan, who founded First NBC Bank in 2006 as New Orleans clawed its way back from Hurricane Katrina, grew it into a Wall Street darling Burnell, Calloway and other businessmen who dealt with First NBC have also pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, among other alleged crimes. Gibbs now stands among about a half-dozen defendants who are expected to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against Ryan, the fraud schemes alleged mastermind, as well as members of his inner circle, including Burnell and Calloway. Some of those defendants had already pleaded guilty when Gibbs did. Spring Branch ISD will spend the first week of in-person education with a staggered schedule as they perfect their safety protocols and observe the Labor Day weekend. Middle and high school students who have chosen to receive in-person learning starting on Sept. 8, will spend two days on campus while elementary school children begin with a regular schedule. The district kicked off the school year virtually on Monday. TOUGH DECISIONS: Spring Branch ISD balancing multiple objectives in reopening plan Superintendent Jennifer Blaine reiterated that the staggered plan is only for that first week of in-person learning, which will feature four days of instruction due to the holiday on Sept. 7. Secondary students will return to a normal schedule on Sept. 14. Our teachers want to implement the health and safety protocols correctly. We also want the kids to understand what is expected of them, Blaine told the school board during a meeting on Aug. 24. In order to do that, we feel like a phased-in approach for middle and high school is an appropriate way to move forward. That would give all teachers, grades six through 12, small groups of kids to practice the safety protocols with. Middle and high school students will be split up into two groups sorted by alphabetical order. Half of them will receive in-person learning on Tuesday and Thursday and will return to virtual learning on Wednesday and Friday, with the groups switching places. Blaine explained that the move only applies to middle and high school students, who switch between multiple classes each day, and not elementary school students since they largely remain in one group in one classroom with one teacher for most of the day. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'Felt like home again': Humble, Lamar become first large Houston districts to host in-person classes However, Spring Branch ISD plans on setting up a staggered arrival schedule for the mornings for elementary students to prevent large groups of kids being all together in one place at the same time. Under the Learn SBISD plan that was released in mid-July, families had the option of choosing either in-person or virtual learning for the initial nine weeks of school. The Board voted to move first day of school back from Aug. 17-Aug. 24, and a July 24 order from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo banned in-person instruction until Sept. 8. The Learn SBISD plan will begin on Sept. 8. Meanwhile, 52 percent of Spring Branch ISD families selected distance learning for the first nine weeks, and 48 percent selected in-person learning for the first nine weeks. IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL?: Houston families split on whether or not kids should go back to school this fall The one thing that is going to make this successful is if kids understand how the process is going to work when they walk on to campus, said Board president Pam Goodson. elliott.lapin@hearst.com Hes made clemency something of a theatrical process, announcing a posthumous pardon of Susan B. Anthony to mark the centennial of womens suffrage and timing another pardon to be part of the 2020 Republican National Convention. Also, while standard procedure for presidents is to let the Justice Departments Office of the Pardon Attorney vet requests, most of Trumps grants of clemency have gone to people who didnt meet the offices requirements or hadnt even asked for one, as the Washington Post reported in February. Trumps first act of clemency was a pardon of Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff who had been found guilty a year prior of criminal contempt of court. Arpaio hadnt applied for the pardon, and regardless, the Justice Departments guidelines say pardon requests shouldnt be made until five years have passed after the completion of a sentence, or from the sentencing date if no confinement is ordered. Another recipient of a Trump pardon, David Safavian, who had served prison time for obstructing justice in the investigation of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, said he hadnt sought a pardon and that it came out of the blue. Health officials and lawyers have expressed worry about unclear terms on issues like data retention and sharing. Harinder Kaur was not surprised when people slammed their doors in her face as she walked into neighbourhoods in the northern state of Punjab armed with a smartphone and a long list of health and travel-related questions. The 28-year-old health worker had been told to go door-to-door in villages in Patiala district and help populate the states COVID-19 tracing app with thousands of details people were unwilling to share, from their digestive health to their mobile numbers. People were just hostile, said Kaur, who is one of more than one million Accredited Social Health Activists, or ASHA workers, on the front lines of Indias battle to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. We didnt want to download the app, but our concerns were ignored, Kaur said in a phone interview. There is so much information the app wants from every individual, including pictures. Many are just scared to give it now and threaten us if we persist. Considered key tools in stemming the pandemic, the rollout of Punjabs Corona Virus Alert (COVA) app and the dozens of tracing apps being used by different Indian states has been mired in concerns over privacy issues. I am not sure if using the app helped bring down cases. Harinder Kaur, health worker in India According to a new report released this month by Tandem Research, an independent research collective, there are at least 85 tech tools being used to support the public health response in India. At least half of them are mobile apps, say digital rights campaigners. Health workers and lawyers say they are worried about the lack of privacy policies in the apps, as well as the use of open-source software and unclear terms on issues like data retention and sharing. The apps use Bluetooth and GPS on smartphones to evaluate a users risk of infection based on their location and their medical and travel history. Many of Indias state apps were launched even as the central government brought out its coronavirus contact-tracing app Aarogya Setu, or Health Bridge, in early April, which has been downloaded by more than 152 million people, according to the National Informatics Centre (NIC). While Aarogya Setu has faced significant scrutiny, not much is known about how the state apps work, said Devdutta Mukhopadhyay, a lawyer with New Delhi-based digital rights group Internet Freedom Foundation. Many of them do not have a specific privacy policy and there is no transparency about how these apps collect, process, store or share personal data. A relative wearing personal protective equipment adjusts his protective face shield before the cremation of a man who died due to coronavirus at a crematorium in New Delhi, India [File: Adnan Abidi/Reuters] The NIC, the organisation within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that has been collaborating with many state governments on the development of their apps, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. However, officials in the states of Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that their apps had privacy policies in place and the data collected was secure. Pandemic and privacy In late February, Ravi Bhagat and his team were asked to develop an app that would work as an administrative and awareness tool to fight the pandemic. We had a deadline of less than a week to come up with something, said Bhagat, CEO of the Punjab governments e-governance cell. We studied the South Korea and China models, looked at our requirements, and had it up and running, he added, noting that the app has been downloaded by more than five million people. Down south in Tamil Nadu state, Azhagu Pandia Raja modified a game he had been creating into a coronavirus tracking app for the government within a week of being assigned the job in March. It was a challenge for us because it was an emergency and a question of peoples health, said Raja, a research fellow with the Chennai city government. In this race to get the technology up and running, personal data concerns were overlooked, say privacy rights advocates. A report released in April by the non-profit Software Freedom Law Center has warned about the excessive collection and processing, and unauthorised sharing of personal data, unbridled surveillance and tracing of people by state apps. Looking at the apps policy documents, the researchers at the New Delhi-based organisation found that many did not have terms of service accessible to users, limiting the governments liability in case of misuse of the data collected. A woman carries an idol of Hindu God Ganesh to her home on the first day of the 10-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi festival, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Mumbai, India [File: Hemanshi Kamani/Reuters] Personal data rules under Indias Information Technology Act mandate that all such apps have comprehensive privacy policies, said Prasanth Sugathan, the charitys legal director. Privacy policies have to be very specific in apps like these, but many circumvented the law by being vague to just tick the box, he said in emailed comments. There are no consent clauses for contact tracing, storage of data [or] the role of private players involved how can the data be deleted or rectified? These apps are like black holes. The extra mile Both Bhagat and Raja said these worries were unfounded. We knew that privacy would be an issue and therefore went the extra mile to make sure the data was secure, Bhagat said. He explained that Punjabs app holds the data on the users phones, not on a central server which could be more easily hacked or leaked and that anyone with access to the data has to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The data will be kept till COVID is [gone] and then deleted, he added. A woman wearing a face mask buys fruit in a market, amid the spread of the coronavirus in Mumbai, India [File: Hemanshi Kamani/Reuters] Officials also told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the data being collected is very basic and as such does not need separate privacy clauses. We are collecting rudimentary information already available on other government portals, said Rajneesh, who goes by one name and heads Himachal Pradesh states information technology department, which developed the app called Corona Mukt Himachal. These apps have been helpful in many ways from tracking quarantine violators to updating elected representatives down to the village level about cases and aiding health workers. Petitions filed In the northern Haryana state, about 20,000 ASHA workers have been on strike since early August, demanding the government provide them with smartphones to download coronavirus tracking apps and incentivise them for the data they collect. Meanwhile, two petitions have been filed by employers and social activists in the High Court of Kerala against the central governments order making it mandatory for public and private sector employees returning to work to download the Aarogya Setu app. Along with privacy concerns, the petitions, both of which have been tagged together and are scheduled for a hearing in September, also question the accuracy and efficiency of the app. Kaur has been asking herself the same questions lately, as Indias coronavirus cases crossed the three-million mark over the weekend, making it the worst-affected country in Asia, and third behind Brazil and the United States globally. I am not sure if using the app helped bring down cases, Kaur said. Those who can afford to be safe at home are safe. Others have to step out for work. Besides, cases are increasing everywhere despite all this data being collected. Salem Almuzaini has been arrested in obvious attempt to intimidate and blackmail exiled Saad al-Jabri, family says. Saudi Arabia has detained another relative of Saad al-Jabri, a former top intelligence agent who recently filed a lawsuit in a US court accusing the kingdoms crown prince of plotting to assassinate him, his family has said. Saudi authorities had already detained al-Jabris two adult children and brother in March to try to force his return to the kingdom from exile in Canada, according to reports citing the family and sources with knowledge of the situation. Al-Jabri was an aide to former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was replaced as heir to the throne by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in a 2017 palace coup. In June, Reuters news agency, citing four people with knowledge of the matter, reported that al-Jabri has access to sensitive information that MBS fears could be compromising. Khalid al-Jabri, Saads son, tweeted a statement on Wednesday which said his brother-in-law, Salem Almuzaini, was summoned on Monday to a Saudi state security office in Riyadh where he was arrested. He has not been seen or heard from since. Another family member disappeared in a blatant effort of terrorize my family. This time its my brother-in-law Salem. We hold the Saudi authorities legally responsible for the safety and well-being of my family members Full statement pic.twitter.com/QaOd8g9OpP Khalid Aljabri, MD | (@JabriMD) August 26, 2020 Salems arrest is an obvious attempt to intimidate and blackmail my father, the statement said. My father filed a lawsuit this month against MBS and two dozen others in US District Court in response to their thwarted efforts to assassinate my father and terrorise my family. Salems arrest is a blatant attempt by MBS to interfere with the US judicial process. Al-Jabri, who has lived in Canada since late 2017, earlier this month alleged in a lawsuit filed in US federal court in the District of Columbia that MBS sent a hit squad to kill him in 2018 but that the effort was foiled by Canadian authorities. The alleged incident took place less than two weeks after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdoms Istanbul consulate, sparking a global furore. Several intelligence agencies, including the CIA, have reportedly concluded that MBS ordered Khashoggis killing accusations that Riyadh has denied. MBS has denied ordering Khashoggis murder but said he ultimately bore full responsibility as the kingdoms de facto leader. Riyadh has not commented publicly on al-Jabris lawsuit. Earlier this month, MBS was issued a summons by the Columbia court a summons is an official notice of a lawsuit, given to the person or people being sued. In his statement on Wednesday, Khalid al-Jabri said Almuzaini had in 2017 been renditioned by Saudi authorities from the United Arab Emirates, but was released in January 2018 after his savings were seized and he was placed under a travel ban. He urged for Almuzainis release as well as his siblings Sarah and Omar, who have been held incommunicado in Saudi since March because our father rebuffed MBSs demands that he return to The Kingdom. Bin Nayef himself was detained on March 6 along with two other senior royals in what is widely believed to be the latest in a series of extraordinary measures by MBS to sideline rivals and remove perceived threats to his eventual succession as king. To the Editor: I am pleased that the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, are both vocal supporters of Black Lives Matter. For me this means they are committed to working to end racism in all its ugly manifestations in U.S. life and institutions. However, I am perplexed that their commitment doesnt extend to the Palestinians who live in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Elie Wiesel, Israels Nobel Laureate, said that the opposite of love is not hate but indifference. I have listened to both candidates speak of their commitment to Israel, a major U.S. ally, which like the U.S. and South Africa, is a settler colonial state. I have heard nothing about these candidates concern for the Palestinians. Bidens and Harriss indifference alarms me. I write today as one who has traveled in both Israel and Palestine. I have been to the West Bank South Hebron Hills in occupied Palestine, where villages and homes have been bulldozed. I have been to refugee camps where Palestinians have lived for over 70 years. I have been held up at checkpoints by Israeli occupying soldiers. And I have spoken to Palestinian mothers whose children have been arrested in their homes in the middle of the night, accused of throwing stones at tanks. I could go on, but my point is that the Israeli and Palestinian issue must be addressed from the point of view of human rights and justice for everyone, Israeli and Palestinian. And must no longer be treated with indifference. Given our nations current electoral crisis, I am not arguing in favor of opposing these two Democratic presidential candidates. I am suggesting that we make clear to them our concern and demand for justice for the Palestinians. Ann Tiffany Syracuse Related: Israel must abandon plans to annex the West Bank. Delaying it isnt enough. (Commentary) WASHINGTON - House Democrats are reviving a demand that the Defense Department's inspector general investigate the firings of Lt. Cols. Alexander and Yevgeny Vindman as retaliation for their roles in President Donald Trump's impeachment, citing new allegations that one of the brothers was penalized for probing ethics and legal charges against national security adviser Robert O'Brien at the time of his firing. In a Wednesday letter to acting Defense Department inspector general Sean O'Donnell, the Democratic chairmen of the House Oversight, Intelligence and Armed Services committees wrote that Yevgeny Vindman, formerly a senior ethics lawyer at the National Security Counsel, was looking into whether O'Brien and his chief of staff, Alex Gray, "misused government resources, excluded women from meetings, and made sexist and demeaning remarks to female NSC staffers, including inappropriately commenting on women's looks and 'talk[ing] down' to women." The chairs request that O'Donnell investigate whether actions taken by Trump, O'Brien, Gray and others "were acts of unlawful retaliation" and whether White House officials "sought to create an inhospitable work environment for the two brothers during their service at the White House." White House communications director Alyssa Farah called Vindman's allegations "ridiculous and false" in a statement, dismissing them as "baseless attacks for partisan purposes" from "a junior-level disgruntled former detailee." A spokeswoman at the Defense Department inspector general's office confirmed that it has received a copy of the Democrats' letter and is reviewing it. Lawyers for Vindman said in a statement that he filed a whistleblower reprisal complaint because the actions against him "were taken as a direct result of protected disclosures he had made involving matters that ultimately led to the President's impeachment as well as disclosures of misconduct by other current senior members of the President's national security team." The Vindman brothers rose to prominence after Alexander Vindman became a witness in Trump's impeachment investigation. Alexander Vindman, formerly a Ukraine analyst at the NSC, was one of several individuals listening in on the July 25, 2019, phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that became the centerpiece of the allegations against the U.S. president. Vindman reported his concerns about Trump's comments during the call to the NSC's top lawyer, John Eisenberg. Yevgeny Vindman, who supported his brother's efforts, also raised "reasonable and good faith" concerns about Trump's call with Eisenberg three times during the weeks after it occurred, according to Vindman's complaint as cited in the House Democrats' letter. Both brothers were ousted from their jobs on the same day in February. "I remain gravely concerned that the climate in the NSC is toxic and that leadership does not have regard for rules and standards," Vindman wrote. He warned that "if this situation persists, personnel will depart and national security will be harmed." A spokesman for the Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In addition to complaints about sexism, the House Democrats' letter details new concerns that Vindman raised to superiors about government-funded trips that O'Brien and his wife took to Utah and California. On one of the trips, to Brigham Young University, O'Brien gave a speech before an Air Force ROTC unit in which his daughter was a member. According to the Democrats' letter, "Vindman was subsequently told that future ethics reviews involving Mr. O'Brien's engagements with private entities would be removed from his portfolio and instead vetted through the White House Counsel's Office." In Vindman's complaint, according to the letter, he also raised concerns that O'Brien and Gray were "misusing NSC staff official time for personal errands," such as scheduling haircuts and dinners, and stated that O'Brien "yelled" at him in the fall of 2019 when he told him about the limits to the gifts he could accept. He also raised concerns that O'Brien's December offer to facilitate a government meeting for the CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, and a January meeting with a member of the U.S. Postal Service's Board of Governors might be seen as preferential treatment. Instead of responding to his concerns, the House Democrats' letter cites Vindman's report that his superiors at the NSC - Eisenberg in particular - warned him about scrutinizing O'Brien's private meetings and downgraded his previously stellar officer evaluation reports, accusing him of "substandard performance" and a "lack of judgment." Farah said Vindman's complaint was an attempt "to retaliate against his former supervisors for providing an accurate assessment of his performance," noting that "as the House Democrats admit, he didn't even contemporaneously memorialize his supposed concerns." House Democrats initially asked the Defense Department's inspector general to look into the Vindmans' firings in July. The IFA has reiterated its opposition to the imposition of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs for greenways. The association has made a submission to the Department of Transport on the back of the Departments new guidelines on greenway projects after a number of the planned routes were opposed by farmers. In the submission seen by the Farming Independent, the IFA said while it recognises that greenways have an important role to play in promoting agri-tourism, they must remain a non-critical infrastructural development. It said the Departments draft Code of Practice falls short in a number of areas and claimed it has largely ignored the co-design process, which is deployed for projects such as the National Walks Scheme and gas pipelines projects developed by Gas Networks Ireland. The draft CPO fails to recognise the impact of a proposed Greenway on individual farm businesses, maintain the IFA, saying this creates a dismissive feeling towards farmers and their businesses. Boundaries No farm or field should be divided to accommodate an amenity project, such as a cycle track. All greenways must take a route adjacent to field boundaries unless otherwise agreed with the landowner. Bicycles can take bends, it said. The IFA also called for landowner participation in the design process at the earliest stage. This will avoid an adversarial approach and ensure that farmers concerns are not an after-thought in the process after the route is selected, it said. It added that greenways should be defined as amenities and therefore the Code of Practice should explicitly state that no field will be divided by a greenway. The IFA also said the selection process for a preferred route must have precedence where the largest number of landowners are in agreement for a development. The IFA also sought the right to claim for loss of development potential and possible animal welfare issues due to greenway projects. MS Amlin Underwriting Limited, the Lloyds (re)insurer, has appointed Andrew Carrier to the new position of chief underwriting officer. Carrier will be responsible for managing all of MS AULs underwriting business, including the syndicates Reinsurance and Specialty Insurance divisions. He will review MS AULs underwriting portfolio and strategy, with a view to repositioning the business, where necessary, for future success. Carrier joins Amlin from Everest Re, where he has been general manager for Europe and Asia-Pacific since 2014. Prior to that he was chief underwriting officer at Argo for seven years and an underwriter at Kiln for 23 years. As part of an ongoing simplification of MS AULs operating model, the previous co-CUO management structure of MS AUL will be dissolved and the co-CUOs for Specialty Insurance, Andrew Wright and Mark Clements, along with the CUO for Reinsurance, Phil Wooldridge, will step down from their roles. Carrier will report directly to Tom Clementi, CEO of MS AUL, who said the company has removed group and legacy structures, making the insurance companies leaner, stand-alone entitiesand strengthened its governance. He said a renewed approach to disciplined underwriting will be central to the success of the long-term strategy. Last November, MS Amlin announced a new operating model and senior leadership team in response to the recent decision by its parent company, MS&AD, to reorganize its international businesses. The reorganization involves the removal of the regional holding company framework across Mitsui Sumitomo Insurances three regions, Asia, America and Europe, including MS Amlin Plc. Under the new structure, MS Amlin Plc have been removed and the corporate entities MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd. (MS AUL), MS Amlin AG (MS AAG), MS Amlin Insurance SE (MS AISE) and MS Amlin Business Services (MS ABS) are now owned directly by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI). Topics Carriers Underwriting Mississippi The president of Ukraine stood aside and disarmed his police and Putin went off to the Olympics, while Washington-financed Maidan protests overthrew the Ukrainian government. Now it seems to be happening again in Belarus. by Paul Craig Roberts Something is wrong in the Russian government and in the governments of former Soviet Republics. The president of Ukraine stood aside and disarmed his police and Putin went off to the Olympics, while Washington-financed Maidan protests overthrew the Ukrainian government. Now it seems to be happening again in Belarus. One would think that after Ukraine, Belarus and Russia would clamp down on their traitorous internal oppositions financed and led by Washington. But no. They continue to permit a Washington-funded operation to overthrow themselves. The Russian and Belarus governments permit oppositions that are financed by Washington and serve as agents for Washington to challenge their every election, action and decision. This is the behavior of governments that have no sense of self-preservation. The Russian government even fell into the trap laid for them when they agreed to send opposition leader Navalny to Germany to be treated for a serious health condition that developed while Navalny was traveling by airliner from Tomsk to Moscow. There was an emergency landing of the airliner in Omsk and Nalvany was rushed to a Russian hospital where his life was saved. But Washington-financed opposition leaders alleged Navalny had been poisoned and demanded he be sent from the Russian hospital to Germany for investigation and treatment. It was deplorable enough for the Russian government to allow itself to be put in a situation that implied public acknowledgement that German medicine was superor to Russian medicine and that Nalvany was unsafe in a Russian hospital. But how could the Russian government have overlooked that in Washington-controlled Germany Navalny would be declared to have been poisoned on Putins orders? It was completely obvious that this would happen. If Russia wanted Navalny dead, why was there an emergency landing of the airliner? Why not simply let him die on the flight? But facts dont matter in propaganda operations. Will the Russians ever learn? MH-17, the poisoning of the Skripals, Russian invasion of Ukraine, Putin conspiracy with Trump to steal the US presidential election, Russian bounties paid to Taliban to kill US troops occupying Afghanistan. Russia this, Russia that. It is endless. Each time the Russians take refuge in the facts to no avail. As the Russian doctors saved Nalvanys life, there was no reason to enable another poisoning case against Putin by sending him off to Germany. The Russian government would do much better if it ignored the various false charges instead of responding to them. When it responds, it just keeps the story alive so that it reaches more people. Perhaps the Russian government will listen to Belarusian president Lukashenko who says that the forces directing the ongoing political crisis in Belarus are aiming to attack Russia next Yes, they are. NEW HAVEN Mahogany Lowery, a native of New Haven, recently published her first children;s book, Greatness Over the Rainbow. Greatness Over the Rainbow follows the story of four children from an urban city who are facing personal challenges. This book was designed to encourage all children. No matter what difficulties they face, they can still have happiness and grow up to be whoever they desire to become. Allow Greatness Over The Rainbow to cheer your child on and inspire them to overcome any obstacle. After all, even after the storm, there is a rainbow, Lowery said in a statement. Growing up in a single parent household, Lowery says she is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. She has a deep passion and love for working with children; especially youth from single-parent homes who hail from urban cities. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Work and a masters degree in Human Services. It is her goal to encourage youth to always push past any odds that are against them and come out on top, according to her statement. COVID-19 recovery survey available NORTH HAVEN The Town of North Haven has created a long-term recovery committee to help address the community's needs during COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to assess the behavioral, economic, social, and emotional impacts and the needs of the North Haven community as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the committee has created a brief and anonymous survey that North Haven residents are welcome to complete. It is voluntary, confidential, and no personal information will be collected. The COVID-19 survey results will inform immediate, long-term, and ongoing actions the town can take to address the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on North Haven residents. The survey (also available in Spanish) can be taken online at: https://bit.ly/nhcovid19survey For those without online access, paper copies of the survey will be available for pickup Aug. 24- Sept. 8, at the following locations: Memorial Town Hall, 18 Church St., Town Hall Annex Building, 5 Linsley St., North Haven Senior Center, 189 Pool Rd. and the Department of Recreation, 7 Linsley St. and the North Haven Memorial Library, 17 Elm St. For more information on how to obtain a copy of the survey, please call 203-606-5127. Completed surveys can be dropped off at any of these same locations. Local fire companies, departments receive grants The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today $42.3 million in direct assistance grants to 290 fire departments nationwide through the agencys Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program according to a statement. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program includes grants to the following fire departments in Connecticut: New Haven: Federal share of $836,727 for firefighter breathing apparatus Hamden: Federal share of $350,164 for portable and mobile radios West Haven: Allingtown Fire District - Federal share of $571,428 for a fire pumper truck Since 2001, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. This grant is funded through FEMAs Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Eligible applicants include local fire departments, fire districts, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, tribal fire departments and State Fire Training Academies. The grant applications are submitted from each agency directly to FEMA, where the applications are reviewed and scored by fire service personnel from throughout the nation. Additional information is available at https://www.fema.gov/firegrants. Credit union contributeds to CCMC Connex Credit Union is once again partnering with Credit Unions for Kids to support the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford. As part of the national Miracle Jeans Day promotion, any Connex employee that contributes at least $15 will be allowed to wear jeans to work Sept. 9. The credit union is also accepting donations from its members through Sept. 9 and will match total contributions up to $1,000. Donations can be made at any of Connexs eight local branches or online through the secure fundraising portal available at bit.ly/connexmiracle2020 (case sensitive). All donations are tax-deductible, and every penny goes to supporting the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center. This is the sixth year in a row that Connex has participated in Miracle Jeans Day. To date, the credit union has donated more than $7,000 to the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center. For more information, contact Roquita Johnson at rjohnson@connexcu.org. Shelton announces brush pickup SHELTON The Shelton Transfer Station, located at 866 River Road is open from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and is free to all Shelton residents to drop off brush. Residents in need of assistance should know that the Public Works Department began picking up brush that was a result of tropical storm Isaias only, starting Aug. 17. Items must be placed neatly curbside, workers will not enter anyones property. Brush must be placed with butt end facing the street, and be no longer than 6 feet in length. Limbs must be no larger than 12 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length. No stumps will be picked up. Call. the Public Works Dept. 203-924-9277 when your brush is at the curb. You only need to call once; the department will get there as soon as possible. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday that the black man who was shot seven times by Wisconsin police on Sunday should have 'yielded' when law enforcement instructed him to do so. 'I don't know what happened there. Let's find out. It's dangerous being a cop,' Graham told reporters during a press conference with the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police Tuesday. 'I don't know why the gentleman didn't yield when he was asked to yield. I don't know what the facts are.' The organization, which supports law enforcement officers, held the briefing to endorse the senator, who is facing a tough reelection race in November. Jacob Blake, 29, was shot by a Kenosha, Wisconsin police officer Sunday around 5:00 p.m. as he was responding to calls of a 'domestic incident,' the Kenosha Police Department said in a news release. 'Police are not above the law,' Graham continued. 'There are places where police act with impunity. This is not one of those nations.' South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said Tuesday that Jacob Blake, the man who was shot seven times by police on Sunday, should have 'yielded' to law enforcement when he was told to do so 'I don't know why the gentleman didn't yield when he was asked to yield," Graham said. "I don't know what the facts are.' Graham spoke at an event where he was being endorsed by the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police The comments come as nation outraged was sparked over Jacob Blake being shot seven times by a white police officer. Video of the incident appears to show him ignoring police as they followed him with guns drawn Graham is facing a hotly contested reelection race in November against Jaime Harrison in a state that is 30 per cent black The South Carolina senator is in a hotly contested race against Democrat Jamie Harrison in a state that is 30 per cent black, but there has not been a Democratic senator elected there since 1998. Polls also put Graham and his competitor in a near tie. Graham has been one of President Donald Trump's biggest defenders, especially when it comes to 'law & order' in the midst of months of civil unrest and Black Lives Matter protests and riots. Cell phone video captured the officer shooting Blake seven times as he leaned into a vehicle, which his three children were in at the time. It is unclear from the audio whether police officers asked Blake to yield, but it does show the officer tugging on Blake's shirt. Newly released footage from a different angle also shows that Blake and several Kenosha officers got into a physical tussle moments before the shooting. Amateur video shows the events leading up to the shooting - though the footage is taken from the opposite angle of the initial viral cell phone clip where Blake is seen walking toward his SUV with an officer's gun pointed on him. In the latest video, Blake is seen wrestling with at least two Kenosha police officers. Newly revealed Amateur cell phone video shot from a different angle on Sunday shows Blake entangled in a physical altercation with at least two police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin The video shows Blake managing to extricate himself from the officers' grasp. Blake (seen above in the white shirt) then walks around the SUV to the driver's side while the police officers follow him with guns drawn Within moments, after Blake opens the door, gunshots are heard and the video footage ends Blake then manages to break free from the mayhem and begins to walk from the passenger's side of his SUV to the driver's side. As he opens the driver's side door, gunshots ring out. The video ends there. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave and are said to be cooperating with investigators, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The state DOJ has launched an investigation into the shooting. Blake is now in stable condition after undergoing surgery at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. His father, also named Jacob Blake, said his son has 'eight holes' in his body and has been left paralyzed from the waist down although he claimed doctors do not know if the paralysis is permanent. Video of the shooting of Blake quickly went viral, with angered protesters setting cars on fire, smashing windows and clashing with officers dressed in riot gear across the city throughout Sunday evening and into the early hours of Monday. Meanwhile, the police union representing officers on the Kenosha police force released a statement on Monday criticizing Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, who immediately condemned the 'excessive force' used by the cops. 'Anytime deadly force is used, our hearts go out to those affected by it,' Pete Deates, president of the Kenosha Professional Police Association, said in a statement. 'We assure you an independent investigation is being conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. Jacob Blake lies on the street after he got shot following a police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday Massive protests and riots broke out in Kenosha. People gather in front of the Kenosha County Court House to protest against the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Monday Sheriff's officers in riot gear stand guard outside the Kenosha County Court House where protesters gathered on Monday A Kenosha Police officer gets in the middle of protesters shoving each other who were trying to enter the Safety Building when they were denied access for a news conference on Monday 'Until that investigation is completed, we ask that you withhold prejudgment about the incident and please the let process take place. 'Governor Evers' statement on the incident was wholly irresponsible and not reflective of the hardworking members of the law enforcement community, not to mention the citizens of the City of Kenosha. 'As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident. We ask that you withhold from passing judgement until all the facts are known and released. 'We, along with the citizens of the great City of Kenosha, ask for peace and to let the process play out fairly and impartially.' Meanwhile, photographs show the devastating aftermath of a night of violent protests spurred by the police shooting of an unarmed black man in Kenosha on Sunday that turned the city into the nation's latest flashpoint in a summer of racial unrest. Diana Graves, longtime resident of Kenosha, holds a flag in protest of the unrest in her community A march begins on Monday at the location where Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a day earlier Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian speaks outside the Public Safety Building in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Monday An armed protester takes part in a demonstration near the Kenosha County Court House on Monday In a bid to stave off another night of chaos, Evers, a Democrat, said 125 members of the National Guard would be in Kenosha on Monday night with responsibility for 'guarding infrastructure and making sure our firefighters and others involved are protected.' The Kenosha Police Department declared a state-of-emergency curfew for Monday night beginning at 8pm until 7am the following morning, according to a post on the police department's Twitter feed. The moves come after rioting and looting erupted in the wake of the shooting on Sunday. Shocking pictures from downtown Kenosha captured on Monday showed dozens of burned out cars lining the streets, several businesses decimated by vandalism and numerous others looted and marred with graffiti. Shocking pictures from downtown Kenosha captured on Monday showed dozens of burned out cars lining the streets, several businesses decimated by vandalism and numerous others looted The interior of a burned out restaurant is seen on Monday after a night of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin One local business hit particularly hard by the unruly scenes was Car Source, a local automobile dealership Wisconsin's governor summoned the National Guard to head off another round of violent protests Monday after the police shooting of an unarmed black man in Kenosha turned the city into the nation's latest flashpoint in a summer of racial unrest Kenosha residents woke Monday morning to broken and charred storefronts, with dozens of burnt out cars and trucks lining the street. One local business hit particularly hard by the unruly scenes was Car Source, a local automobile dealership. The front lot of the building, typically filled with rows of pre-owned four-wheel offerings, instead resembled a scrap heap Monday, with charred metal remains and other debris scattered out-front. The dealership is located just blocks from the Kenosha County Courthouse, which was also badly damaged in the riots. The owners spoke to CBS about their 'devastation' to have awoken this morning to find their business destroyed. A video appears to show multiple fires set throughout the car lot as car horns and loud bangs can be heard blaring in the background. The fire continues to spread farther throughout the parking lot as smoke billows from the area and at least one small explosion can be seen. The city's downtown area was closed Monday 'due to damage sustained during last night's civil unrest,' according to a post on Kenosha County Government's Facebook. A dump truck that was parked at an intersection to prevent traffic from moving toward the police department was also set on fire The letters 'BLM' are emblazoned in blood-red paint on the outside of a vandalized jewelry store in downtown Kenosha A vandalized city police car is shown outside Kenosha County Public Safety Building in downtown Kenosha Workers board up windows and doors of a hotel and local academy in anticipation of more chaos on Monday night Elsewhere overnight, one Kenosha police officer was filmed collapsing to the ground face-first close to where Blake was shot after being struck by a brick that was thrown towards cops during a stand-off. 'He just got bricked! He just got bricked!' someone close to the person recording screams, as others in the mob cheer, clap and shout anti-cop sentiments. In a bid to stave off another night of chaos, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said 125 members of the National Guard would be in Kenosha on Monday night with responsibility for 'guarding infrastructure and making sure our firefighters and others involved are protected.' Several other protesters jumped on top of police squad cars and smashed windows in separate footage from the scene. Another clip shows a row of protesters walking toward a line of police officers clad in riot gear as simmering tensions threaten to escalate the situation. A dump truck that was parked at an intersection to prevent traffic from moving toward the police department was also set on fire. In the video of the incident that spared the outrage, three officers could be seen shouting and pointing their weapons at Blake, who walked around the front of an SUV parked on the street. As Blake opened the driver's side door and leaned inside, one officer grabbed his shirt from behind and then fired into the vehicle. At least seven shots could be heard, though it was unclear if more than one officer fired. Blake's three children were inside the SUV and watched as their father was gunned down, the family's attorney, Ben Crump, confirmed. The images above show the moments leading up to the shooting. Blake (seen in the white shirt) walks away from a police officer who has his gun drawn and is ordering him to stop The image above shows the moment a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer fired at least seven shots into the back of Jacob Blake as he was getting into an SUV in a residential neighborhood 'They kills us because they fear us, honor the dead', a scrawl of graffiti reads on the wall of the Kenosha County Court House Several witnesses said that Blake tried to break up a fight between two women outside a nearby home, according to Kenosha News. Before resorting to gunfire, the police attempted to subdue Blake with a Taser, to no avail, it was reported. Benjamin Crump shared video of the incident on his Twitter feed, and confirmed today he is now representing Blake's family, and will 'demand answers' from police. 'We all watched the horrific video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back several times by Kenosha Police. Even worse, his three sons witnessed their father collapse after being riddled with bullets. 'Their irresponsible, reckless and inhumane actions nearly cost the life of a man who was simply trying to do the right thing by intervening in a domestic incident. It's a miracle he's alive.' The officers were placed on administrative leave, standard practice in a shooting by police, while the state Justice Department investigates. And Kenosha County imposed an 8 p.m. curfew to try to head off another round of violence Monday night. Crump is the attorney who represents the family of George Floyd, the 46-year-old black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police in late May. Floyd's death ignited massive nationwide protests and rioting as millions took to the streets over the course of several weeks to demand the police officers responsible be tried and convicted. Blake is seen far left with his three children. Witnesses said all three of his kids were in the back seat of the SUV when their father was shot A dump truck that was parked in an intersection so as to prevent protesters from reaching a police station was set on fire on Sunday A man confronts police outside the Kenosha Police Department late on Sunday night Angry residents gathered near the scene of the shooting in Kenosha on Sunday night In a statement denouncing the Kenosha shooting, Gov. Evers said: 'While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.' Democratic nominee Joe Biden also responded in outrage of 'yet another' example of excessive force against the African America community, calling for an 'immediate, full and transparent investigation.' 'This morning, the nation wakes up yet again with grief and outrage that yet another Black American is a victim of excessive force,' he said, just over two months before Election Day in a country already roiled by the recent deaths of Floyd, Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. 'Those shots pierce the soul of our nation.' Biden added that the officers 'must be held accountable' for the shooting. Republicans and the police union accused the politicians of rushing to judgment, reflecting the deep partisan divide in Wisconsin, a key presidential battleground state. Wisconsin GOP members also decried the violent protests, echoing the law-and-order theme that President Donald Trump has been using in his reelection campaign. 'As always, the video currently circulating does not capture all the intricacies of a highly dynamic incident,' Pete Deates president of the Kenosha police union, said in a statement. He called the governors statement 'wholly irresponsible.' Online court records indicate Kenosha County prosecutors charged Blake on July 6 with sexual assault, trespassing and disorderly conduct in connection with domestic abuse. An arrest warrant was issued the following day. The records contain no further details and do not list an attorney for Blake. It was unclear whether that case had anything to do with the shooting. A man records cell phone video as tear gas is used on protesters outside the Kenosha Police Department Laquisha Booker, who is Blakes partner, told NBCs Milwaukee affiliate, WTMJ-TV, that the couple's three children were in the back seat of the SUV when police shot him. 'That man just literally grabbed him by his shirt and looked the other way and was just shooting him. With the kids in the back screaming. Screaming,' Booker said. Crump, meanwhile, called the officers' actions 'irresponsible, reckless and inhumane'. Wisconsins Republican Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke cautioned the public and elected officials against 'racing towards judgment,' given how few details were known. 'The frustration & anger that many in our communities are feeling must be met with empathy, but cannot be further fueled by politicians statements or actions that can stoke flames of violence,' tweeted Steineke, who is white.' The sign at a branch of HSBC near Liverpool Street Station in London on Nov. 2, 2015. (Tim Ireland/AP Photo) China Bullying UK Over HSBC Hong Kong Accounts: Pompeo The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is using coercive bullying tactics with the UK, said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, citing HSBC banks reported conduct toward Hong Kong account holders. HSBC UK is reportedly denying Hong Kong-based executives of the pro-democracy publisher Next Media access to their personal bank accounts and credit cards, Pompeo said in a statement on Wednesday. The obstruction of access to HSBC accounts was just one example of Chinas bullying of Americas friends in the United Kingdom, Pompeo said. He also criticized HSBC for maintaining the bank accounts of people who had been sanctioned for denying the freedom of Hong Kongers, while closing the accounts of freedom seekers. Pompeo cited an earlier occasion when HSBC sided with Beijing in its repression of freedom for Hong Kong citizens. Only a few months ago, HSBCs Asia-Pacific CEO signed a petition supporting Beijings decision to crush Hongs Kongs autonomy and its peoples freedoms, Pompeo said. Free nations must ensure that corporate interests are not suborned by the CCP to aid its political repression, he added. Riot police secure an area inside a shopping mall during a rally in Hong Kong on July 21, 2020. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) HSBC has in recent months faced mounting pressure on both sides of the Atlantic, as it attempts to balance its need to maintain access to the Chinese market with appeasing lawmakers in the United States and the UK critical of Beijings handling of the democracy movement in Hong Kong. Bankers Bonuses Last month, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reprimanded HSBC and other banks for supporting Chinas new national security law, saying the rights of the people of Hong Kong should not be sacrificed for bankers bonuses. Senior British and U.S. politicians criticized HSBC and Standard Chartered in June after the banks backed Chinas national security law for the territory. Washington has criticized Beijings crackdown against pro-democracy opposition in the now Chinese-ruled city following the sweeping new national security law imposed on Hong Kong on June 30 that was widely condemned by Western nations. Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a prominent democracy activist and top executive at Next Digital, was arrested Aug. 10 under the new security law, further stoking concerns about media and other freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it returned to China in 1997. Media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Apple Daily, is detained by the national security unit in Hong Kong on Aug. 10, 2020. (Tyrone Siu /TPX Images of the day/Reuters) Foreign Commonwealth Office We are in close contact with a wide range of businesses in Hong Kong and are working with them on the impact of the national security legislation and related developments, a British Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said in an email. Pompeo said that the United States would help the UK withstand Chinas bullying tactics. We stand ready to help the British government and its companies resist CCP bullying and stand for freedom, he said. An HSBC spokesperson declined to comment to The Epoch Times. Reuters contributed to this report The combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZM) has been linked to significant cardiovascular risks, including mortality, in the largest safety study ever performed on both HCQ and HCQ+AZM. This network study, led by the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics community, was recently published in Lancet Rheumatology. OHDSI has established an international network of researchers and observational health databases with a central coordinating center housed at the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, HCQ treatment in the short term (30 days) was found to not carry excess risk of complications associated with its use, but HCQ treatment in the long term had a 65% relative increase in cardiovascular-related mortality, compared to sulfasalazine. HCQ + AZM had a cardiovascular mortality risk that was more than twice (2.19) as high as the comparative treatment even in the short term based on findings from more than 320,000 users of that combination therapy. This treatment also produced a 15-20% increased rate of angina/chest pain and heart failure. This study, first published on MedRxiv, has already made significant impacts in the healthcare community. On April 23, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) cited the study in a warning about the risk of serious side effects with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. In July, the EMA again highlighted the study, among other efforts within the OHDSI community, in its eighth revision of The European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance (ENCePP) Guide on Methodological Standards in Pharmacoepidemiology. This is the first published study to be generated from the OHDSI COVID Study-a-thon, a global effort in March to set the foundation for OHDSI efforts to design and execute network observational studies around characterization, patient-level prediction and population-level effect estimation to inform decision-making around the global pandemic. Multiple studies, several of which are highlighted later, have been posted to MedRxiv and are currently under peer review. HCQ, a drug commonly used in the treatment of malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gained early attention during the pandemic as a potential COVID-19 treatment. The short-term (<30 days) safety profile did not identify excess risk in any of 16 severe adverse events as compared to a similar RA drug, sulfasalazine (SSZ). Long-term HCQ therapy was associated with a 65% increase in cardiovascular mortality as compared to SSZ. Hydroxychloroquine, both alone and in combination with azithromycin, gained strong consideration as a potential COVID treatment without a large-scale study of its overall safety profile. We had access to an unprecedented amount of data on this drug, and we were relieved to find no worrying side effects in the short-term use of hydroxychloroquine. However, when prescribed in combination with azithromycin, it may induce heart failure and cardiovascular mortality and we would urge caution in using the two together." Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, PhD, co-senior author on the study This study examined more than 950,000 HCQ users through deidentified electronic health records and administrative claims data over a 20-year period. Records were collected from 14 different databases spanning six nations (Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, United States) and then mapped to the OMOP Common Data Model to generate this large-scale analysis. "At medical school we were taught to 'first do no harm' and to me, our study focuses on this core belief of modern medicine," said Jennifer Lane, MD, who served as co-lead author on this study along with Jamie Weaver. "OHDSI has the power to investigate this question in a very thorough way and to go through rigorous steps. We are looking at patients from the general population, which is why it is so important to look at data from multiple countries. There are reasons why you may get bias from one data source, but if we find a signal in the Netherlands, and we find it in Spain, and we find it in the U.S., then we know we have something." The study was developed and executed by the OHDSI (Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics) community, a multi-stakeholder, interdisciplinary collaborative to bring out the value of health data through large-scale analytics. All solutions are open-source, and links to the study protocol, code and results are posted at the bottom of this release. "It required a global effort to generate this level of reproducible, reliable real-world evidence to inform decision-making around COVID treatment," said Patrick Ryan, PhD, co-senior author on this study. "Our community collaborated for years to develop the high-level analytics which set the course for these studies. Standardizing data for nearly 1,000,000 patients on hydroxychloroquine provides confidence in these findings, and we are pleased to see that this study has already helped make a positive clinical impact as treatment options continue to be evaluated." More OHDSI network studies, including a multi-institutional characterization study of hospitalized COVID patients and prediction models that would assist in hospitalization decision-making, have been posted to MedRxiv and are currently under peer review. All updates on OHDSI efforts on COVID-19 will be posted here and within OHDSI community forums, as well as shared on both the community Twitter and LinkedIn feeds. AseptiScope promises to set a new standard in stethoscope hygiene, offering protection for both patients and clinicians at a time when infection control is the utmost priority. AseptiScope, a privately funded San Diego, California based, clinical innovation company, has been named the 2020 Infection Control Company of the Year by MedTech Outlook. AseptiScope is pleased to receive this recognition, said Kelly Powers, AseptiScope cofounder and Chief Operating Officer. For the first time, clinicians who wear gloves on their hands, goggles on their eyes, covers on their shoes, and gowns on their bodies will have a practical protective barrier for their most frequently used medical device, the stethoscope. We salute AseptiScope for tackling the longstanding gap in infection control posed by the current set of approaches to stethoscope hygiene, said Alex DSouza Managing Editor of MedTech Outlook. AseptiScope promises to set a new standard in stethoscope hygiene, offering protection for both patients and clinicians at a time when infection control is the utmost priority. About the MedTech Company of Year Award With the COVID-19 pandemic warranting a thorough assessment of infection prevention practices, medical instruments like the stethoscope have high utility in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and as such, should be used with vigilance to protect the lives of both patient and practitioner. To this end, AseptiScope was founded to meet the clinical needs in the infection control space. The editorial panel of Medical Tech Outlook found that the company has designed intuitive products based on the situational analysis of market needs, the prime reason to select AseptiScope as the company of the year. They also believe that the company has engineered solutions that help clinicians treat their patients without the risk of stethoscopes turning into vectors for disease transmission. About AseptiScope Inc. AseptiScope is a privately funded San Diego, California based, clinical innovation company formed in early 2016. The organization is founded and led by clinical innovation experts, leading medical researchers and practicing physicians. The AseptiScope mission is to design, develop, manufacture and commercialize novel solutions that ensure Infection Protection for Clinician & Patient. The company will introduce the first true and practical solution for the longstanding challenge of stethoscope contamination in the summer of 2020: The AseptiScope DiskCover System. Visit https://aseptiscope.com for more information. AseptiScope, DiskCover, and related logos are trademarks of AseptiScope, Inc. Israel said Wednesday it had conducted air strikes against Hezbollah observation posts in Lebanon after shots were fired from across the border towards its troops the previous evening. The country's armed forces had said earlier that a "security incident" was unfolding in the vicinity of Manara, a kibbutz near the UN-demarcated Blue Line border between the two nations, and urged residents to take shelter. "During operational activity in northern Israel last night, shots were fired from Lebanon toward IDF troops," the Israel Defense Forces wrote on Twitter. "We responded with fire, & our aircraft struck Hezbollah observation posts near the border. This is a severe event & we remain ready to combat any threat to our borders." Israel and Lebanon are still technically at war, and the United Nations force, UNIFIL, is tasked with monitoring their ceasefire. Lebanon had hours earlier rejected an Israeli call to reform a UN peacekeeping force patrolling the border ahead of a UN Security Council vote to renew its mandate. The incident also comes after Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement announced at the weekend it had brought down an Israeli drone flying over the Blue Line border. Hezbollah vowed in September last year to down Israeli drones flying over Lebanon, following an incident a month earlier when two drones packed with explosives targeted the group's stronghold in south Beirut. Set up in 1978, UNIFIL was beefed up after a month-long devastating war in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's Iran-backed Shiite militia. The 10,500-strong force, in coordination with the Lebanese army, is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire and Israeli pullout from a demilitarized zone on the border. Israel accuses Hezbollah of stockpiling weapons at the border to prepare for a new war. The Green Tribunal Wednesday directed the (CPCB) to take steps to strengthen the infrastructure of laboratories of state pollution control boards. The green panel noted that 23 state pollution control boards have filed Action Taken Reports (ATRs) informing it about prescribed minimum inspection frequency for environmental surveillance of industries. In view of the above, the remaining 12 state pollution control boards may also file their action taken report with the CPCB within three months from today. The CPCB and state pollution control board may take further steps for strengthening of their monitoring and related infrastructure, including the infrastructure of laboratories, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said. It also directed the Haryana government to apprise it about status of fluoride contamination and availability of potable water to the affected inhabitants. The tribunal directed state pollution control boards to submit further action report to the CPCB by December 31. The CPCB may collate the same and file a consolidated report before the next date by e-mail, the bench said. The CPCB told the tribunal that it had engaged Dr. C.S. Sharma, retired Scientist, for preparation of report for strengthening of Central laboratories and Regional Directorate laboratories at Bengaluru, Bhopal, Kolkata, Lucknow, Shillong and Vadodara. Industrial development cannot be done on the graves of human beings and should not be at the cost of "air and water quality", the NGT had earlier said while directing the Haryana government to shorten the period of inspection of polluting factories. The tribunal''s direction came during the hearing of a plea filed by journalist Shailesh Singh seeking a direction to close industrial units running without the requisite statutory consent under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Alleging that these industries were causing water pollution, the plea has also sought a direction to restrain them from dumping untreated effluent in fields. Citing a news article, it said groundwater in most of the areas in 11 districts of southern and western Haryana is unfit for consumption due to salinity of high concentration of nitrate or fluoride. (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.) FILE PHOTO: The messenger app WeChat is seen among U.S. flags in this illustration picture By Brenda Goh SHANGHAI (Reuters) - U.S. companies based in the financial hub of Shanghai said Washington's planned ban on Chinese messaging app WeChat could badly hit their competitiveness and revenue should it apply to U.S. firms and citizens in China, a survey showed on Wednesday. The American Chamber (AmCham) in Shanghai said 88% of 142 respondents to a survey it conducted of firms subject to U.S. jurisdiction this week expected negative impact on operations stemming from the loss of WeChat as a communication tool. U.S. President Donald Trump this month announced an executive order banning WeChat-related U.S. transactions from mid-September citing national security. His administration is yet to detail the types of transactions affected. WeChat is operated by Tencent Holdings Ltd, China's biggest social media and gaming firm. It has clocked a relatively small 19 million downloads in the United States, showed data from Sensor Tower, yet is a ubiquitous platform in China for services as varied as games and payment. It is also used communicate with individuals and businesses outside China. AmCham Shanghai said over a third of respondents to its survey said the WeChat ban could lead to a loss of global revenue, with nearly 5% saying the hit could exceed 5%. Over 70% of respondents, however, said there would be little or no revenue impact should the executive order be limited to transactions within the United States, AmCham said. Of the respondents, 88% said they used WeChat primarily as a communication tool with employees while 78% use it for marketing. Over 36% have partnership and content relationships with WeChat parent Tencent, the survey showed. Tencent on Aug. 12 said it did not believe the ban would apply to its domestic equivalent Weixin, which could limit its impact on the company. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Christopher Cushing) The "Her Strength" forum is held in Shanghai Tower on August 24, 2020. [For chinadaily.com.cn/He Qi] A forum highlighting the contributions of women in the fight against COVID-19 was held in Shanghai Tower on Monday. Titled "Her Strength", the forum was part of the 2020 Shanghai Science and Technology Festival. Co-sponsored by the Shanghai Women's Federation and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, the forum featured six women from scientific research institutes, governments, and enterprises to share stories about how they supported epidemic prevention and control efforts in the fields of information technology, biomedicine, epidemiology and digital economy. Zheng Yaxu, deputy director of the acute infectious diseases department in Shanghai Municipal Center For Disease Control & Prevention, said that she carried out a series of investigations with experts after the first suspected case of COVID-19 was detected in Shanghai. The team successfully located the route of virus transmission, hence making a strong contribution to the fight against the epidemic. "Men and women are absolutely equal, including in the field of the science," said Hao Pei, a researcher from the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai Chinese Academy of Sciences who helped publish a paper about COVID-19. "In our institute, the proportion of female researchers is only 10 percent and I was the only female researcher in 2012 when I joined the institute. This epidemic has allowed people to see the efforts of front-line doctors and nurses who are women. I think it can be said that women are helping to hold up half the sky," she added. "As women, they are brave, intelligent, and full of love. They use the power of scientific and technological innovation to fight the epidemic," said Xu Feng, president of Shanghai Women's Federation. "They have helped gather a large amount of urgently needed epidemic prevention supplies for the medical team, community volunteers, and sanitation workers in Hubei Province, and at the same time, personally fulfilled their social responsibilities," she added. (Source: chinadaily.com.cn) Bobbi Patterson has long studied how to reframe breakdowns and burnouts as opportunities, leading to her new book, Building Resilience. With changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and her own retirement, shes practicing her own advice. Retiring amid the shifting anxieties of a pandemic would wreak havoc on most people. Bobbi Patterson is not most people. Patterson officially retires at the end of August as a professor of pedagogy in Emory Colleges Department of Religion. Her recently published book Building Resilience Through Contemplative Practice reflects her career of creating an intellectual environment that learns by doing. By reframing breakdowns and burnouts as opportunities to build resilience, each chapter offers hands-on tools and skills for moving into disruptions and rebuilding next steps. The book is a handbook of strategies for working with collapsed plans, including aspects of todays demands due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Just as I began to explain how too much stability weakens your ability to adapt, hello COVID, Patterson says. The real question is how to develop capacities for engaging inevitable collapses. It requires reflection, the fundamentals of contemplative practices, which resist denial without blaming and give your body, heart and mind pause to settle and be with what is changing. That stability helps you discover alternate paths for thriving and likely innovation. Such a seemingly simple solution stems from Pattersons decades of engaged ministry, religion and ecology teaching, and research into comparative spiritual practices. As one of 23 members of Emory College faculty retiring this year, she is among a stellar cohort of scholars and teachers who helped usher Emory University to its perch as a world-renowned research institution. Patterson focused on urban ministries at Harvard Divinity School, then worked in inner-city settings for about five years. She applied the traditional Protestant ethic to her efforts: good people power through; bad people burn out. Even then, she sensed that prevailing approach was wrong. She joined Emory as the associate university chaplain in 1981, developing community-partnered learning and service initiatives. She also served as dean of students and director of the Emory Scholars Program, founded the Theory-Practice Learning Program and served on the task force that created the Emory Center for Women. Patterson earned her PhD in interdisciplinary studies from Emory in 1994, the same year she joined the faculty. Her research and teaching with Lance Gunderson, professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences, led her to adaptive resilience theory, which explains a natural cycle of social-ecological systems. She realized that breakdown when viewed through the cycles phases of stability, collapse, reorganization and rebuilding was not failure. It was a necessary phase of healthy life systems. It takes time, and practice, to develop that insight. Ample research supports the idea that mindfulness and meditation, the very sorts of workshops Patterson has long led, help develop that ability to objectively acknowledge your thoughts and feelings. Her book links these contemplative approaches to pragmatic exercises like learning how to pause and regroup, for instance, and how to take a self-inventory of preferred tasks to build a way forward. Resilience weaves through each stage. It is quintessential Bobbi, as the capstone of her career, to translate her work as a scholar of faith into a source of strength for the community, says Allison Adams, associate director for research and scholarship for the Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, whose Scholarly Writing and Publishing Fund helped bring the book to publication by connecting Patterson with an editor. The pandemic has forced Patterson to cancel in-person community events to discuss her work, but, taking a page from her literal book, she is undeterred. She continues to give online talks and workshops. Her publisher, Routledge, shared a chapter of her book online as part of its free resource contribution to Self-Care for Mental Health Professionals during Mental Health Month in May. Her work also attracted the interest of the Mind & Life Institute, a nonprofit in Virginia working to build a scientific understanding of the mind. Patterson now sits on the groups steering council. She is also part of a new resilience/sustainability initiative at Emory aligned with Emorys Office of Sustainability Initiatives. Ive been very lucky, Patterson says. Change is the sweet spot. It sounds so simple, but it is real work to embrace that. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that not a single negotiating platform on the issue of the de-occupation of Crimea over the last six years has been created, he promised to change the situation. "Within the framework of the Normandy negotiation process, Russia does not want to discuss the issue of de-occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and not a single effective negotiating platform over the last six years has been created to promote the reinstatement of Ukraine's control over the peninsula. However, the incumbent Ukrainian authorities will be working to change that," Zelensky said in an interview with the Euronews television channel. The head of state said that the situation with Crimea is more complicated than with Donbas. He also said that he raised the 'Crimean issue' during the negotiations in the Normandy Format, but Russia refused to discuss it. "But Crimea is our territory, we will return it," the president said. "But I am telling you honestly - as of now there is no strong platform to raise this issue. I think that a platform like this has not been created over the six years, it does not exist. Except sanctions, and I am very grateful to our partners for these sanctions. We have been discussing them and our partners are extending these sanctions. That is not just Europe, but also the United States and other countries that are helping a lot," Zelensky said. Zelensky said he viewed both the Donbas situation and the Crimea issue as priorities. "Both issues are a priority. The only thing about the situation in the east, people are dying there. So with this particular human factor [restoration of peace in Donbas], for me personally this is in first place. But they are at the same level, because both territories are ours, they have to come back," Zelensky said. In addition, according to the president, those who allowed the easy surrender of the Crimean peninsula under occupation should be held accountable. "It is impossible to give Crimea back. This is a big problem. But today we can no longer speak and punch the air about how this happened. I am sure that one day everyone will be responsible for that. Many people have participated in this," the head of state said. Iran, IAEA Chief Say Tehran Talks 'Constructive' August 25, 2020 Talks with the UN atomic watchdog's chief were "constructive," Iran's top nuclear official Ali Akbar Salehi has said after a meeting with Rafael Grossi, who is in Iran to seek access for the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) inspectors to two suspected former atomic sites. Grossi's trip comes after the United States last week pressed the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, from which Washington has withdrawn. Iranian authorities said the visit of the IAEA chief was not related to U.S. moves to reimpose sanctions. "Our conversation today was very constructive. It was agreed that the agency will carry out its independent and professional responsibilities and Iran will fulfil its legal commitments," said Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization, as quoted by the semiofficial ISNA news agency on August 25. "A new chapter of cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will start." The IAEA board of governors passed a resolution in June putting pressure on Iran to let inspectors into the sites because they could still host undeclared nuclear material, or traces of it. "There is no political approach towards Iran.... There are issues that need to be addressed...this does not mean a political approach towards Iran," Grossi said after meeting with Salehi. "The IAEA will not let third countries impact its relations with any other country," Grossi said, according to Iranian media. Grossi had said before leaving for Iran that he would address "the outstanding questions, in particular, the issue of the access." Grossi is scheduled to also meet with President Hassan Rohani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and other senior officials during his visit. Based on Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30801750.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SRINAGAR, India (AP) A prominent rights group in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday described a communications blackout imposed by India following its scrapping of the disputed regions semi-autonomy last year collective punishment and urged the international community to question New Delhi over what it called digital apartheid. In a report, the Jammu-Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society described harms, costs and consequences of the digital siege in Jammu-Kashmir from August 2019, when New Delhi stripped the region of its statehood and the semi-autonomy that gave its natives special rights in land ownership and jobs. The move, which set off widespread anger, was accompanied by a security clampdown and communications blackout in the region that left hundreds of thousands jobless, impaired the already feeble healthcare system and paused the school and college education of millions. The multi-faceted and targeted denial of digital rights is a systemic form of discrimination, digital repression and collective punishment of the regions residents, particularly in light of Indias long history of political repression and atrocities, said the report, titled Kashmirs Internet Siege. Several officials, including the regions home secretary, Shaleen Kabra, who issues internet regulatory orders, did not respond to requests for comment. Indian officials have said the internet ban was aimed at heading off anti-India protests and attacks by rebels who have fought for decades for the regions independence or unification with Pakistan, which administers another portion of Kashmir. Both countries claim the landlocked Himalayan region in its entirety. Officials have also argued that such security measures were necessary to better integrate the region with India, foster greater economic development and stop threats from anti-national elements and Pakistan. Many Kashmiris, however, view the move as the beginning of settler colonialism aimed at engineering a demographic change in Indias only Muslim-majority region, a development that could increase the possibility of heightened conflict. Story continues Although some of the communications restrictions have been removed and the internet has been restored over fixed lines, mobile internet speeds in most of the region remain painfully slow. Digital rights activists have consistently denounced the internet restrictions and some have called them far worse censorship than anywhere in the world. The report said India leads the world in ordering internet shutdowns and Kashmir accounts for more than two-thirds of shutdowns ordered in the country. The conflict in Kashmir has existed since the late 1940s, when India and Pakistan won independence from the British empire and began fighting over their rival claims to the territory. The two rivals have fought two wars over Kashmir. The Jammu-Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society said its report was based on field work, government documents, court files and media reports. It describes the consequences of the longest ever lockdown in the regions turbulent history and its severe impact on livelihoods, education, health and media freedoms. It said the digital siege led to chilling effects of online surveillance, profiling and criminal sanctions, with police complaints registered" against some working journalists and over 200 social media users. Some business in the region resumed following the partial lifting of the clampdown earlier this year. However, Indian authorities enforced another harsh lockdown in March to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries pegged the economic losses in the region at $5.3 billion and job losses at half a million since August last year. During the service blackouts, critically ill patients couldnt access government healthcare or seek insurance reimbursements online, students couldnt apply for fellowships or scholarships and distraught families couldnt connect to relatives outside the region. Local tech companies had to close or relocate to other areas of India. While the Government of India may have succeeded in gagging the voices of people of Jammu and Kashmir with its longstanding communication blockade, the report said, it should not prevent the international community from speaking and calling out the Government of India for suppressing the fundamental rights of people. ___ Follow Aijaz Hussain on Twitter at twitter.com/hussain_aijaz ___ This story corrects a quote from the report in the final paragraph. Tony Abbott, who led the Antipodean nation from 2013-15, is said to have been hired as joint president of the Board of Trade and help shape the UK's new commerce relationship with the world A right-wing former Australian prime minister forced out of power by his own party after just two years is to help lead Britain's post-Brexit global trade mission, it was revealed today. Tony Abbott, who led the Antipodean nation from 2013-15, is said to have been hired as joint president of the Board of Trade and help shape the UK's new commerce relationship with the world. The Brexiteer's appointment - to sit alongside Trade Secretary Liz Truss - is yet to be made official but a UK government source told the Sun newspaper 'we are delighted to have him.' Mr Abbott is a staunch monarchist and friend of Mr Johnson who addressed last year's Tory Party Conference, warning that failing to leave would be 'defeat on an epic scale, hardly matched since the Norman invasion'. Current Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last night said the appointment was a 'good hire' by Mr Johnson as he seeks trade deals with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States. But the appointment of the 62-year-old was blasted by critics who pointed to his record on the environment, women and immigration while in power. He has also spoken out against the Black Lives Matter movement. Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said: 'Any way you look at it, this is an absolutely staggering appointment. Tony Abbott is friends with UK leader Boris Johnson. He uploaded this picture of the pair together after Johnson was made foreign secretary in July 2016 Mr Abbott stands with his wife Margie Abbott (second left) and their daughters Frances (left) Louise Abbott (second right) and Bridget (far right) after winning the 2013 election Onion-chomping, budge smuggler-wearing ex-PM with a history of gaffes Tony Abbott was only prime minister of Australia for two years, but he crammed enough into those two years to convince his fellow Liberal Party MPs - the equivalent of the Tories - to oust him. The 62-year-old was born in England to a Geordie father and Australian mother before heading Down under. He did not become an Australian citizen until 1981 but embraced the nation's lifestyle, including a love of skimpy 'budgie smuggler' swimming trunks at the beach. Before politics he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and briefly trained as a Catholic priest. He went on to become a journalist and businessman. On replacing Labour PM Kevin Rudd in 2013 he immediately hit the headlines for episodes including eating a raw onion - skin and all - on television. His hardline anti-immigration policy saw boats of would-be refugees sent back to their country of origin and regimes with dubious human rights records like Sri Lanka were given gunboats to stop them coming. Others were sent to camps on distant islands. He also swiftly reversed a carbon tax that would have badly impacted the countries huge and powerful mining industry. But it was the gaffes as much as the policies which saw him removed. In 2014, during a radio phone-in, he was caught winking at the host when a tearful caller explained how she had resorted to sex work to make ends meet. The following year he attempted to call the bluff of gay rights campaigners by agreeing to a public vote on equal marriage. The devout Christian hoped it would be defeated. Instead it was approved and was later enshired in law. Several years later he attended the same-sex wedding of his sister. Also in 2015, while campaigning, he described himself as 'the guy with the not bad looking daughters' amid fevered speculation Down Under that one of the three could catch the eye of the then single Prince Harry, as he toured the nation. He was also widely ridiculed when, as a staunch Royalist, he reintroduced knighthoods to the Australian honours system and made the Duke of Edinbugh one of the first recipients. Although the Queen is still the Australian head of state it is a mater of some contention. Advertisement 'On a personal level, it is shameful that Boris Johnson thinks this offensive, aggressive, leering, gaffe-prone misogynist is the right person to represent our country overseas. 'And on a professional level, this is someone with no hands-on experience of negotiating trade agreements, who denies the climate change that we believe should be at the heart of our trade policy, and who clearly has no concept of the importance of Britain's trade with the EU. 'He was ousted by his own colleagues after just two years in power, and rejected by his own constituents just last year. They are the people who know him best, and wanted rid of him, yet here we are now, hiring him to negotiate our trade deals around the world. 'It's yet more breathtaking incompetence from a government that has turned it into an art-form.' Whitehall officials played down reports that former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott will become joint president of Britain's relaunched Board of Trade. No decisions about the Board of Trade have yet been made, they said. The former journalist, who started training to be a Catholic priest before leaving the seminary as a young man, has no background in international trade. While in office the Australian, who has a British father and was born in England, scrapped the nation's carbon tax, which sought to control greenhouse gas emission. He was also widely ridiculed when, as a staunch Royalist, he reintroduced knighthoods to the Australian honours system and made the Duke of Edinbugh one of the first recipients. In 2015, after two years in the top job, he was ousted by fellow Liberal Party MPs, and replaced by Malcolm Turnbull amid plummeting opinion poll ratings. He lost his conservative seat of Warringah, north of Sydney in New South Wales, by more than 4,000 votes in last year's elections to an independent former Olympic skier Zali Steggall. Since losing his Australian Parliament seat in 2019 he has been a keen supporter of Brexit, using a speech in London last year to argue that the country did not need the EU. Failing to quit would be 'defeat on an epic scale, hardly matched since the Norman invasion - a national humiliation to echo down the ages, shattering to all who have ever looked to this country for inspiration', he said. 'This is the country that has seen off the Spanish Armada, the French emperor and the German kaiser, [won] against Louis XIV, against Napoleon, against William II, and then against Hitler. This country did not need Europe - it saved Europe,' he told the Policy Exchange think tank. 'No country on earth should be more capable than Britain of standing on its own two feet. 'That, surely is what's crying out now for remembrance, amidst all the declinism and defeatism - because if Brexit fails, Britain fails'. But he has also recently questioned climate change, using an interview with Israeli radio last year to suggest the world was 'in the grip of a climate cult'. Questions have now been raised about whether Mr Abbott will have to register as an agent of foreign influence under Australia's transparency laws. Mr Abbott (pictured working as a volunteer fireman) lost his seat in Warringah, on Sydney's northern beaches, at the federal election in May 2019 and has been looking for a job since then BOSTON New genetic data helps tell the story of how COVID-19 arrived in Massachusetts, exploded across a hotel conference center, wormed its way into a nursing home, repeatedly struck a homeless shelter and contributed to the virus's march around the globe. Although parts of the story have already been told and others remain elusive, genetic data from many of the COVID-19 infections in the Boston area in March and April helps fill some gaps. The new research tracks several "super-spreading events" that may help public officials decide which activities are safe and which are dangerous, said Dr. Jacob Lemieux, who helped lead the study, which was posted online Tuesday but has not yet undergone scientific peer review. One of the super-spreading events occurred in late February at a conference of the biotech company Biogen, which specializes in treating neurological diseases. About 200 people attended the company's leadership meeting. More than 90 infections were traced to it in Massachusetts, and potentially as many as 20,000 worldwide, Lemieux said. The attendees shook hands, exchanged pleasantries and sat together in the same room all day for two days, said Barry Bloom, an immunologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "With unknown amounts of ventilation," added William Hanage, an epidemiologist at the same school, who was an author on the study. Both participated in a phone call with media Tuesday. A map of the main known genetic variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease. The map is being kept on the nextstrain.org website, which tracks pathogen evolution. "The fact that this can happen is something we really need to take into account in the way that we choose to reopen society," said Lemieux, a medical resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and a postdoctoral researcher at the Broad Institute, a genetics research center connected to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Large, indoor events are probably not a good idea while most of the population remains vulnerable to infection, he said. "I don't think the message is, 'We need indefinite lockdowns, everything has to be out-of-doors forever,'" he said. In some cases, risks can be reduced with mask-wearing, social distancing, testing and improved ventilation. But the study indicates the incredible toll that super-spreading events can carry, and it offers some suggestions on how to limit the consequences of such events. Story continues Coronavirus arrived by car and plane The virus that causes COVID-19 arrived in the Boston area more than 80 separate ways. One person brought it from Wuhan, China, in late January, the data suggests, but didn't pass it to anyone else. A few more infected people arrived from Europe in early March, but again, didn't seem to pass it on. As spring began, dozens more carried it with them from Europe. Others brought it up from New York, a four-hour drive to the south. By April, most of the cases were locally transmitted, rather than imported, the research found. As of Tuesday, 8,961 people in Massachusetts had died of COVID-19 and 102,205 had recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The researchers sequenced and analyzed the genes of the viruses in 772 of the cases by Aug. 1, including all the confirmed cases from early March and others that resulted from two super-spreading events. By looking at small genetic changes that occur when the virus reproduces and is transmitted from person to person, researchers can track its movement. Super-spreading conference The origins of the infections that hit the Biogen conference aren't clear, even after examining the genetics of 28 of the more than 90 infections directly tied to it, Lemieux said. The paper doesn't identify the conference, but the dates and the number of infections tied to it match that of Biogen's. It's possible that attendees brought it from Europe or elsewhere in the U.S. The employees who attended from the Boston area could have brought it into the Marriott Long Wharf, with its stunning views of Boston Harbor. On Feb. 26, the day the conference started, there were only 53 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. Companies were just beginning to cancel in-person conferences. People tied to the conference appear to have spread the virus to Virginia, North Carolina and Texas, and to other countries including Australia, Sweden and Slovakia. Lemieux said it's impossible to come up with a perfect count from the data he and his colleagues examined. But, he said, "it is clear from many angles whether looking at the Massachusetts data, state-level data for the United States, or global data that the scale of this event is measured in tens of thousands of cases." Biogen had the misfortune to be the conference where super-spreading occurred, but it could have happened at any meeting, Lemieux said. People simply didn't know back then how contagious the virus was. "There's nothing special about this particular conference except the bad luck of clearly having at least one infected person indoors in a set of circumstances that led to onward transmission," he said. "The conference was important, but COVID-19 was coming with or without it." In April, Biogen formed a consortium with Massachusetts General and the Broad to connect its employees who contracted COVID-19 to create a biobank of research samples. "We never would have knowingly put anyone at risk," Anna Robinson, a spokeswoman for Biogen, said in a statement. "When we learned a number of our colleagues were ill, we did not know the cause was COVID-19, but we immediately notified public health authorities and took steps to limit the spread." Hitting the vulnerable People living or working in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities accounted for 22% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases through Aug. 1 and 64% of the 8,433 reported COVID-19-related deaths in Massachusetts to that date. One nursing facility tested residents because it planned to relocate them to make room for COVID-19 patients released from a hospital. Administrators, Lemieux said, were shocked to learn that about 80 residents and workers were already infected, with 90% linked to a single introduction in early April. It's not clear how so many people came to be infected within a few weeks or even less, he said, but "we consider it a super-spreading event." By contrast, at a shelter run by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, the virus entered at least seven times, the research shows, including four that led to clusters of 20 or more infections each. About half of those infections had the same genetic errors as the virus that spread from the Biogen conference, revealing a link between Boston's biotech industry and the region's homeless population. "The virus spreads in communities up and down the socioeconomic status in ways we don't really understand," said Harvard's Hanage. The research notes that super-spreading events can have a profound effect on an outbreak. These events are somehow different than typical routes of transmission, though more study will be needed to better understand them, Hanage said. People who are super-spreaders may be fundamentally different. Or these cases could be a matter of opportunity, where someone who is particularly infectious ends up in a situation where they can pass the virus to many others. In South Korea, one man spread COVID-19 at five bars he visited in one evening, sparking a major outbreak. "Hopefully, I have to say, super-spreading events are going to remain rare," Hanage said, "because we are hopefully not going to give the virus any opportunities to spread" like that. 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: Boston Biogen event linked to 20K COVID-19 cases: tracing coronavirus Advertisement First daughter Tiffany Trump made a rare appearance Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention and railed against the media, the tech giants and the education system suggesting they keep the American people 'mentally enslaved.' 'People must recognize that our thoughts, opinions, and even the choice of who we vote for are being manipulated and invisibly coerced by the media and tech giants,' the 26-year-old Georgetown Law Center graduate said. She said that in the academic arena, students with opposing viewpoints are 'too afraid to speak,' while the system promotes 'groupthink.' First daughter Tiffany Trump went after the media, tech giants and the education establishment in her Tuesday night Republican National Convention speech Tiffany Trump is photographed speaking at the Andrew W. Mellon auditorium in Washington, D.C., as part of Tuesday night's RNC program Tiffany Trump prepares to record her per-recorded remarks, which were part of Tuesday's RNC program Setting: Tiffany Trump spoke in her pre-taped address from the Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C., where her brother Don Jr. spoke Monday. She was followed by Eric Trump, who also pre-taped his speech Made for television: Tiffany Trump recorded her speech before it was broadcast - and was recorded herself. There was no live audience, only a small number of photographers and aides The speech was much more mature than the one she delivered four years ago in Cleveland, as she gushed about the notes the now-president would write on her report cards. 'Some dating back to kindergarten,' she said. 'Because I like to look back and see the sweet notes he wrote on each and every one of them.' She added that President Donald Trump 'has never done anything halfway - least of all as a parent.' This year's speech was likely meant to be a wake-up call to fellow millennials. 'As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job. My father built a thriving economy once, and believe me, he will do it again,' she said. 'This election I urge each and every one of you to transcend political boundaries,' she continued, adding, 'I urge you to make your judgement based on results and not rhetoric.' While not saying it specifically, she placed the blame of her father unpopularity among some segments of the population - including many of her peers - squarely on the media. 'Rather than allowing Americans the right to form our own beliefs, this misinformation system keeps people mentally enslaved to the ideas they deem correct,' she said. 'This has fostered unnecessary fear and divisiveness amongst us.' 'Why are so many in the media, in technology, even in our own government, so invested in promoting a biased and fabricated view?' she continued. 'Ask yourselves why are we prevented from seeing certain information? Why is one viewpoint promoted while others are hidden?' Entry: Tiffany Trump waved to a non-existent audience as she walked on stage to deliver her speech Ready for her close-up: Tiffany Trump gets ready to face the cameras and speak up for her father in her RNC speech Get ready: A member of the RNC's production staff gets Tiffany Trump ready for her speech to be recorded In the mirror: Tiffany Trump can be seen in the reflection from the teleprompter as she delivers part of her speech Message: Tiffany Trump's speech was intended to alter perceptions of her father among her peers - Gen Z and Millennials Together: Tiffany Trump with her father and stepmother Melania in Easter 2019, attending a service at Bethesda-on-Sea church in Palm Beach, close to Mar-a-Lago 'The answer is control - and because division and controversy breeds profit,' she said. Tiffany Trump said the 'uncensored truth' about what Trump supporters believe include equality of opportunity, freedom of thought and expression and also school choice. Echoing similar comments she made four years ago on the RNC stage she added, 'My father does not run away from challenges - even in the face of outright hatred.' Tiffany Trump then took on masks - but not the ones to be used to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 'I encourage you to see beyond the facade that so many other politicians employ, they mask themselves in disguises of decency as they try to pressure us to mask our own identities and beliefs,' she said. 'My father is the only person to challenge the establishment, the entrenched bureaucracy, big pharma, and media monopolies to ensure that American's constitutional freedoms are upheld, and that justice and truth prevail,' she touted. READ TIFFANY TRUMP'S FULL SPEECH AT THE RNC Good evening I'm Tiffany Trump, Since speaking at the Republican Convention 4 years ago, so much has changed for the world, for our country, and for my family. Like so many students across the world, I graduated from law school during the pandemic. Our generation is unified in facing the future in uncertain times -- and many of us are considering what kind of country we want to live in. As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job. My father built a thriving economy once, and believe me, he will do it again. This election I urge each and every one of you to transcend political boundaries. This is a fight for freedom versus oppression, for opportunity versus stagnation, a fight to keep America true to America. I urge you to make your judgement based on results and not rhetoric. If you believe in criminal justice reform, there is only one president that passed the First Step Act. Giving people a second chance, a chance at life once again. And if you believe in expanding quality and affordable healthcare, only President Trump, my father, signed Right to Try into law, the Favored Nations clause, and other actions to lower drug prices and keep Americans from getting ripped off. People must recognize that our thoughts, opinions, and even the choice of who we vote for are being manipulated and invisibly coerced by the media and tech giants. If you tune into the media, you get one biased opinion or another. And if what you share does not fit into the narrative they seek to promote, then it is either ignored or deemed a 'lie,' regardless of the truth. This manipulation of what information we receive impedes our freedoms. Rather than allowing Americans the right to form our own beliefs, this misinformation system keeps people mentally enslaved to the ideas they deem correct. This has fostered unnecessary fear and divisiveness amongst us. Why are so many in the media, in technology, even in our own government, so invested in promoting a biased and fabricated view? Ask yourselves why are we prevented from seeing certain information? Why is one viewpoint promoted while others are hidden? The answer is control -- and because division and controversy breeds profit. But what are the consequences when only one side of the story gets out or when only one viewpoint is acceptable? For our education system it meant sacrificing civil debate, by creating an atmosphere where students with contrary opinions are too afraid to speak. Many students find themselves suppressing their beliefs to fit into the acceptable groupthink. In short, our nation suffers by inhibiting our diversity of thought and inclusion of ideas. Working together, outside of our political comfort zones, will accomplish so much more. Some cynical politicians don't seem to believe in the miracle of America. I do. As Maximo Alvarez so eloquently put it on this stage last night, if freedom is lost in this country, 'there is nowhere else to go.' Having hope is not weaknessBelieving in Miracles is a gift from God. Tonight, I want to tell you the uncensored truth of what we believe in: We believe in equality of opportunity. We believe in freedom of thought and expression. Think what you want. Seek out the truth. Learn from those with different opinions. Then freely, make your voice heard to the world. We believe in school choice, because a child's zip code in America should not determine their future. We believe in freedom of religion for all faiths. And we believe in the American spirit. A country founded on ideas, not identity. A country where our differences are embraced. And the only country where the word 'dream' has been attached to it. Because in America, your life is yours to chart. So, if you are hearing these things and thinking to yourself, THAT is the kind of country I want to live in. Well, whether you realized it or not, you're a Trump supporter. I implore you to see beyond the facade -- the masks -- that so many other politicians employ. My father is the only person to challenge the establishment, the entrenched bureaucracy, big pharma, and media monopolies to ensure that American's constitutional freedoms are upheld, and that justice and truth prevail. My father does not run away from challenges -- even in the face of outright hatred -- because fighting for America is something he will sacrifice anything for. He dreams big dreams for our country -- and he is relentless at achieving them. You see, Make America Great Again is not a slogan for my father, it is what drives him to keep his promise of doing what is right for American citizens. The energy for change and opportunity is with us. God has blessed us with an unstoppable spirit. His SpiritThe American Spirit. My dad has proven to be driven by that spirit! He has demonstrated his faith by his uncompromising heart and actions! My dad has made me believe that America can truly be great again! If you care about living your life without restraints, about rebelling against those who would suppress your voice, and building YOUR American Dream. Then the choice in this election is clear. A vote for my father, Donald J. Trump, is a vote to uphold our American ideals. Be true to yourself. And stay true to the Dream of America. Thank you and God bless you all. Advertisement Eric Trump turns his RNC speech into direct address to his father saying 'I love you so much' and says: 'Dad let's make Uncle Robert very proud - let's go get another four years!' Eric Trump delivered a flag-waving speech at the Republican National Convention where he attacked those who would 'destroy the monuments of our forefathers' and spoke directly to his father at the end of his remarks. Eric, who along with Donald Trump Jr. is an executive at the Trump Organization, referenced his uncle Robert, who died a week ago and had funeral services at the White House on Friday. 'Dad, lets make Uncle Robert very proud this week. Lets go get another four years,' he said, speaking directly to his father in a televised speech at the virtual convention. 'Dad, lets make Uncle Robert very proud this week,' said Eric Trump, referencing his uncle the late Robert Trump, whose funeral service was held at the White House Friday 'I love you very much. God bless you and god bless the United States of America,' he concluded. The New York-based real estate developer who came up through his father's businesses hailed farmers and workers, championing 'deplorables' and blasting the media for counting out his father's 2016 campaign. He went after 'radical Democrats' who he said wanted to 'erase history,' in a reference to protests and clashes over monuments. 'In the view of the radical democrats, America is the source of the world's problems. As a result, they believe the only path forward is to erase history and forget the past,' he said. 'They want to destroy the monuments of our forefathers. They want to disrespect our flag. Burn the stars & stripes that represent patriotism and the American Dream,' he claimed. 'They want to disrespect our National Anthem by taking a knee while our armed forces lay down their lives every day to protect our freedom. They do not want the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools. Many don't want 'One nation, under God,' he said. Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump, prepares to pre-record his address to the Republican National Convention at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC Eric Trump spoke directly to his father in his remarks President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watch pallbearers carry the casket of Trump's younger brother Robert, following a memorial service at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 21, 2020. - Robert Trump died on August 16 after being hospitalized for an undisclosed illness, the president said in a statement mourning his loss He referred to the 'forgotten man' and woman, a theme of Trump's 2016 campaign. 'First we were ignored. Then we were laughed at. Then they fought us, then together we won,' he said. He complained that the media 'ignored the Trump flags' and millions of MAGA banners. He blasted Democratic nominee Joe Biden as 'a politician who has been in government for 47 years' and a 'career politician who has never signed the front of a check' as well as a 'total pushover for communist China.' 'Biden has pledged to defund the police and take away your cherished 2nd Amendment,' he said in one attack even though Biden has said he will not defund the police, has said he owns a shotgun. He does favor a series of gun control measures. 'To every proud American who bleeds red white and blue my father will continue to fight for you,' he said. Eric, the younger brother of Donald Trump Jr., who spoke Monday, was the subject of a court filing Monday by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Her office is investigating whether the Trump Organization and Donald Trump improperly inflated the value of the U.S. president's assets on annual financial statements in order to secure loans and obtain economic and tax benefits, according to a court filing. According to the filing, the subpoenas were issued as part of the attorney general's 'ongoing confidential civil investigation into potential fraud or illegality,' and is investigating whether the Trump Organization inflated the value of assets such as the Seven Springs mansion in Westchester County. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 18:00:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three militants of a banned outfit were arrested on Wednesday in Charsadda district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police sources said. "Police have saved Charsadda from a massive terrorist activity by timely arresting three militants who were planning to play havoc in the district by carrying out series of attacks including remote-controlled blasts and suicide attacks," sources from Charsadda police told Xinhua. The sources added that one of the arrested militants is "very dangerous and facilitator of an influential militant commander who is involved in many cases of terrorist attacks," and had been meeting and reporting to him many times. The cops also recovered arms and explosive materials from the possession of the militants who also confessed that they were training a suicide bomber to attack a police station and patrolling police vehicles in the district. The militants were also involved in target killings in the province, and killed many people for terrorism extortion, the sources said, adding that the three militants have been handed over to the Counter Terrorism Department for further investigations. Enditem GAZA: Gaza reported one coronavirus death and at least 10 new cases of infection on Wednesday as the blockaded Palestinian enclave sought to control its first public outbreak of the disease. Hamas-controlled security forces enforced a lockdown in all cities in the coastal territory, warning people to stay at home or to wear face masks if they had to go out for emergencies. Health officials said the 61-year-old man who died had pre-existing conditions and had been on a respirator. Ten more cases were reported on Wednesday, six of them in Maghazi refugee camp where the first four infections were discovered on Monday, and another four in Gaza City and the northern area of the enclave of 2 million people. The new infections added to concerns among local and international health organizations about Gazas potentially disastrous combination of poverty, densely populated refugee camps and limited hospital capacity. Until Monday the 360 square-kilometre (139 square-mile) coastal strip had reported no infections outside border quarantine facilities for new arrivals. Facing for the first time a situation that the rest of the world has been dealing with for months, Gazans have been going online to share experiences and voice their concerns. We are now alone with Corona, with the blazing sun and the power supply being cut off. Corona came to empty pockets and homes on the brink of sadness and anger," wrote one Gaza resident on Twitter. The 40 kilometre-long territory is sealed off from the outside world by Israeli walls, watchtowers and gunboats along 90% of its border and coastline, and by Egypt along a narrow strip to the south. Both countries impose tight restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza, citing security concerns over Hamas, which is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel and the United States. The blockade is thought to be one reason why Gaza remained relatively virus-free, with many of its residents comparing their situation to a permanent lockdown. The United Nations agency dealing with Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said it was considering alternative plans to continue under lockdown the health, education and food services it provides to more than half Gazas population. UNRWA spokesman Adnan Abu Hasna said clinics remained open but staffers were providing medical consultations over the phone, and some medication was being delivered to homes. (Additional reporting by Zainah El-Haroun in Ramallah; Writing by Stephen Farrell and Dan Williams; Editing by William Maclean and Hugh Lawson) 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 Christopher Nolans new film Tenet has finally being released in several countries after a month-long delay. The espionage thriller stars John David Washington as The Protagonist, a man who finds himself on a mission to save the world. This being a Nolan film, its nowhere near as simple as that Tenet (find out why it's called that here) comes submerged in the world of time travel in the form of something never before seen on-screen: time inversion. Lose focus for one scene, and you might be left scrabbling to catch up. Fortunately, were on hand to fill you in on everything you might have missed, or clarify what you might not have understood. *Warning major spoilers for Tenet below* The key thing to know about time travel in Tenet is that you are unable to jump to a specific point in time. If you want to travel back to 40 years ago, you have to live those 40 years in reverse. How do you become inverted? In the films world, there are portals used to become inverted in time, which are known as turnstiles these are created at some point in the future. After going through them, you can move backwards in time from the point you entered. From this point, once you enter another one, you shall move forward from the point in time you have travelled back to, meaning two versions of the same person will exist simultaneously. Iy is imperative you do not meet to do so, The Portagonist is told, would cause annihilation. Protective gear is worn in an attempt to prevent this from happening. Tenet presents a number of these machines, with the majority of the action focusing on one vault in an art storage facility in Oslo, and another in a warehouse in Tallinn. Clemence Poesys character explains time inversion in Tenet (Warner Bros) Inverted bullets The reason why objects including guns and bullets can move backwards in present time is because these things have manually had their entropy reversed at some point in the future (entropy measurement is a way of distinguishing the past from the future). Who reversed them? It is suggested that Russian oligarch Sator (Kenneth Branagh) and his men have done so after inverting themselves through the turnstiles. One theory is that, when these people fired their weapons at different points in time, the bullets would remain there until caught by the weapon that fired them. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up What is the Temporal Pincer Movement? At one stage in the film, this term is mentioned by Ives, a soldier played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. It is a tactic used by people who move through the turnstiles to help you receive knowledge you learned in the future its how Sator has been devising his plan the entire time. Once the information has been learnt, the idea is to then invert yourself (so youre travelling backwards), so you can brief either past self or someone else. This, in turn, creates a loop of information. This occurs three times in the film once when Sator threatens to shoot his wife Kat (Elizabeth Debicki) if The Protagonist doesnt tell him where the plutonium is hidden, and again during the battle sequence involving the red and blue team. The third time? For those who might have wandered here without watching the film first (which, again, we suggest you do), well keep that a secret for now. John David Washington as The Protagonist in Tenet (Warner Bros) It is worth remembering throughout: Blue + oxygen masks = inverted / Red and no oxygen masks = not inverted (if inverted and outside, you you cant breathe regular air). Example one the highway chase sequence The turnstile in Tallinn has two sections, which are separated by a glass pane one side is blue and depicts an inverted Sator, the other is red and depicts The Protagonist in the present. This means that Sator in the preceding highway sequence had been moving back in time after going through the turnstile (we know this, because he is wearing an oxygen mask). A few scenes later, The Protagonist goes through the same turnstiles and returns to this scene he is now inverted. In fact, we learn he was the one behind the wheel of the car driving the opposite way in the previous highway sequence, so his past self and future self almost collided. Example two the red and blue team battle sequence Here, the blue team invert themselves to go back in time so they can be filled in on the knowledge of what has already happened. To do this, they go back 10 minutes so they can then fill in the non-inverted red team on what will happen. It is this sequence that give the film's title it's meaning more on that here. Tenet, which features hidden references to some of Nolan's previous films, is in cinemas now Alberta's 19th lieutenant-governor was installed during a ceremony at the legislature on Wednesday. Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani of Edmonton is the first Muslim in Canadian history to serve in the vice-regal position. Born and raised in Kampala, Uganda, she has an honours degree in clinical biochemistry from the University of Manchester. Lakhani, an Ismaili Muslim, has been in Edmonton for more than 40 years, owning and operating an early childhood education centre. After taking her oath, Lakhani gave a speech, sharing her experience of immigrating to Canada with her husband. She recalled encountering generosity and civic spirit among Albertans. She spoke about the importance of continuing to ensure all Albertans are uplifted, regardless of means, ability, religion, race, gender identity or sexual orientation. "We have much to be proud of, but our striving for justice equity does not end here. We must continue to work together to make this province the best it can be, to ensure that all Albertans are able to achieve their full potential and feel a sense of belonging and province," Lakhani said. "Let us commit to uphold the values of a province that carries everyone forward." Speaking during the ceremony, Premier Jason Kenney said Lakhani's story is a "brilliant example" of the ideals of equality and unity, and said his government looks forward to working with her. "What a wonderful symbol it is, to have the first Canadian viceroy, coming from the Ismaili community, which has done so much to be a global leader in a vision of pluralism, of unity in diversity," Kenney said. In 2005, Lakhani was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal for outstanding achievements in the province. In 2012, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal honouring service to Canada. Lieutenant-governors, the highest-ranking officers in each province, carry out a variety of official duties including swearing in the premier and cabinet, opening each session of the legislative assembly and signing bills into law. Story continues Outgoing lieutenant-governor Lois Mitchell, who has held the post since June 2015, performed her final official function Tuesday, swearing in new ministers during a cabinet shuffle. Lakhani's installation was greeted with hope and celebration by communities and institutions that have ties to her. "As a community it gives us lots of pride and great joy to see that one of our own has gone up into that office," said Frederick Lubwama, outgoing president of the Uganda Cultural Association of Alberta. Lubwama said he hopes the appointment changes perceptions about immigrants' capabilities, and that Lakhani's position helps increase understanding of and services for newcomers to the province. "We think it's an opportunity for us to showcase what immigrants can do," he said. Carolyn Campbell, president of NorQuest College, said Lakhani has been a "remarkable friend" to the school and its students for over a decade. "Salma Lakhani has been a truly positive example for students, and a mentor and a role model," Campbell said. NorQuest gave Lakhani an honourary diploma in 2019 in recognition of her work as a founding member of the 1,000 Women movement, which has raised over $3.3 million to aid students facing financial obstacles. Campbell said she's known the new lieutenant-governor for several years. "Her kindness just shines through in every conversation that one has with her. Her genuine interest in you as a person, her curiosity, her engagement and focus," Campbell said. Campbell said she believes Lakhani will bring her intelligence and a focus on education to the post as an excellent representative for the province. PM attends Standard Chartered-ASEAN Business Forum 2020 As ASEAN Chair 2020, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended and delivered a speech at the Standard Chartered-ASEAN Business Forum 2020 themed Unlocking the regions potential, which was televised on international medial channels. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, ASEAN Chair 2020, at the event (Photo: VNA) The event, which is being held from August 25-28, drew the attendance of leaders of businesses and organisations from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US to discuss emerging trends that could shape the future of the region. In his speech at the first session entitled Tapping growth opportunities during and after COVID-19, PM Phuc said in the face of challenges caused by COVID-19, the ASEAN Community has shown its strong will and spirit of resilience, actively cooperated with partners via the implementation of resolutions adopted at the meetings of economic ministers with the US, Australia and the European Union and joint statements of ASEAN and ASEAN 3 summits with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea held in Hanoi in April. Boasting a gross domestic product of nearly 3 trillion USD and a population of over 630 million with growing incomes, ASEAN is a big market for ambitious businesses worldwide, he said, adding that Vietnam joined the bloc 25 years ago and signed 13 free trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). PM Phuc stressed that Vietnam always welcomes foreign firms and investors. With an improving favourable business environment, Vietnam has so far attracted over 32,000 foreign-invested projects with a total capital of more than 380 billion USD from 140 countries and partners, he said. Towards the ASEAN Vision 2025 and 2030, the PM shared ASEANs strong economic cooperation policies. Firstly, ASEAN member states will continue staying united, promoting the blocs central role in regional economic collaboration, prioritising coordination with partner nations and foreign enterprises. ASEAN attaches importance to law abidance and building of stable and sustainable cooperation frameworks, especially for the development of a digital economy. ASEAN is competitive enough to attract shift of supply chains in the region. According to the PM, ASEAN is striving to invest in hard and soft infrastructure, with a focus on human resources quality improvement. It is working to narrow the development gap and expand coordination in the Greater Mekong Sub-region which holds potential to lure investment flows. The PM affirmed that ASEAN treasures the partnerships between businesses and governments. Recommendations raised at the forum will be collected and considered thoroughly, he added. Following PM Phuc's speech, a discussion attracted the participation of Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore; Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; and CEO of Standard Chartered Bill Winters. The event features four sessions, in which speakers from the State and private sector will talk about the groupings trade opportunities amid geo-political challenges, strategies to maintain growth and the best practices for sustainable development. Standard Chartered Regional CEO for ASEAN and South Asia Judy Hsu said it is time for parties concerned to seek new opportunities in the region which boasts young and dynamic workforce, growing middle-income class and vibrant digital economy. Toronto-born designer Aurora James is on the cover of Vogues September issue and the choice is a fascinating glimpse into how the venerable magazine is responding to the events of 2020. The September issue of Vogue is, as any fashion follower knows, always a big deal. (Theres even a documentary about it!) But this year when so much in the world has changed, and absolutely nothing is business as usual who Anna Wintour would choose to front the most-anticipated issue of the magazine was always going to be an intriguing bellwether. Not least because Vogue is firmly at the nexus of two of the most significant themes that have shaped 2020: Its a fashion bible at a time when the pandemic has been particularly tough on this industry and its the flagship title at Conde Nast, a media empire that has faced a reckoning around its unequal treatment of staffers of colour. Unless they wanted to appear tone deaf, this cover could not be business as usual and, to their credit, it isnt. For starters, they traded a big-name photographer and A-list actress for two artists, Jordan Casteel and Kerry James Marshall, who were commissioned to create artworks for two covers. According to Vogue, the artists could select anyone they wanted for their subject, with the only stipulation being they had to be painted wearing something from one of four pre-selected designers. While its not the first time the magazine has featured an artist on their cover Salvador Dali has had the honour, while a painting of Jennifer Lawrence covered the 125th anniversary edition it is significant that both of the artists chosen for this project are Black. Marshall chose to depict an abstract figure wearing Off-White, but Casteel chose to paint Aurora James, swathed in a sky-blue gown by Haitian-American designer Pyer Moss. For those not familiar with James, shes the designer behind Brother Vellies, an ethical brand that makes coveted shoes and bags in collaboration with artisans in Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya and Morocco. Founded in 2013, Brother Vellies won the prestigious CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2015. Now based in New York, the 35-year-old is also the founder of The 15 Percent Pledge, a movement that challenges retailers to stock 15 per cent of their shelves with products created by Black-owned brands. So far, theyve had commitments from Sephora and West Elm, and are actively campaigning to bring Canadian retailers like Indigo and Hudsons Bay on board. As James told The Kit in July, I believe this pledge is one way major retailers can work on beginning to take steps toward financial equality. Black people spend millions of dollars with large retailers every year yet represent an insignificant fraction of how these companies allocate their purchasing power. That passionate commitment to remaking the world as she wants it is why Jordan Casteel, a 31-year-old New York artist, chose James for the cover. I believe that what Aurora is doing is hugely important in creating the long-term change that Black people deserve and this country owes us, Casteel told Vogue of her subject. I see her as a light in a lot of darkness, and a potential for hope, a representative of change across all creative industries. (James, by the way, is one of a tiny handful of designers who have appeared on the cover of U.S. Vogue, most recently Stella McCartney in January.) Casteel was painting to a theme: This September, all of Conde Nasts titles are creating covers based around the idea of hope. For the artist, James is the perfect representation of hope a young, female, Black creator who is demanding institutional, structural disruption. She doubled down on the symbolism in her painting, starting with the expansive blue sky. I think of the sky as being full of endless possibilities, Casteel told Vogue. Ditto the birds, and Jamess foot, posed as if shes about to push up from where shes perched on that stool. I purposely chose this active foot that feels like its propelling her upwards into the world above her shes stepping into the space of real possibility. Speaking of possibility: Vogue is one of many publications that have used their covers to respond to the Black Lives Matter movement. Within the Conde Nast stable, Vanity Fairs September issue was edited by the influential Black writer Ta-Nehisi Coates; the cover is a portrait of Breonna Taylor painted by artist Amy Sherald. O magazine also elected to use an image of Taylor, created by 24-year-old digital artist Alexis Franklin, for its September issue the first time in its 20-year history that Oprah Winfrey hasnt been the cover star. (We at The Kit commissioned Toronto artist Alexis Eke to create our June cover, a self-portrait that opened an issue celebrating visionary Canadian artists of colour.) Whether this possibility and change extends meaningfully beyond a few magazine covers, only time will tell. But Vogues cover and the progress it represents certainly gives us, well, hope. Correction Aug. 26, 2020: The article was edited to correct the name of Kerry James Marshall. In order to keep Covid-19 patients mentally strong and motivated, the Tripura government has started distributing books written on Swami Vivekananda to them. Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb handed over a few books on Swami Vivekananda to the medical superintendent of Tripura Medical College and also to the in-charge of Hapania Covid Care centre in Agartala. To keep the Covid 19 patients motivated and mentally strong, we have decided to distribute books written on Swami Vivekananda to every Covid patient so that they can read these books and get inspired by his thoughts. It is very important to stay calm and energetic when we are fighting against Covid-19, Deb wrote on his Facebook on Tuesday. Also Read: Indias Covid-19 tally over 3.2 million, recovery rate rises to 76.29% The state has recorded a total of 9,213 Covid-19 cases so far and 6,574 patients have recovered. Till now, 83 patients have succumbed to the disease and two others have died by suicide. The state health experts recently said that the 9-10% Covid-19 positivity rate in the state suggests the possibility of it spreading in the communities in the next few weeks. With a hike in such cases, the government would conduct antibody tests in the state from September 15 so that they could start plasma therapy for the Covid patients. Nguyen Duc Le, Deputy Director of the Market Surveillance, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, talks about Vietnam's strict regulations on food safety in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 4, Thuan An City's veterinary department and economic police unit inspected a warehouse for rent on Nguyen Trai Street, discovering more than 19 tonnes of frozen animal products that were of unknown origin and already spoilt, worth some VND500 million. VNA/VNS Photo What are the challenges market watch forces have faced in their work to ensure food safety mission? Under instructions from the 389 National Steering Committee on Food Safety, we have worked closely with agencies to achieve the goal of keeping food safety for consumers. We have worked closely with the market watch forces to conduct regular checks and promptly handle trade fraud and smuggling. We have also organised many food safety inspections, including of food supplements. On April 15, we launched a food safety campaign for the year. By now the market watch forces nationwide have conducted 2,644 food safety inspections and given administrative sanctions in almost 1,400 cases. During a three-day mission, the market forces in the northern province of Hai Duong detected 72 tonnes of animal intestines that were already going bad, along with additives, chemicals, and other items that didn't have clear origins, the total value of which came to about VND1.1 billion (US$47,600). In HCM City, the market watch forces on May 5 also seized 459 boxes of Heineken beer containing more than 12,500 cans/bottles worth more than VND365 million without invoices or proof of origin. Can you tell us about some of the notable achievements of the market watch forces? Keeping food safety is a very important mission for the market watch forces, particularly in the COVID-19 pandemic. We have accomplished the assignment to the best of our abilities. We have worked closely with concerned agencies during our missions. We have also conducted many activities to raise peoples awareness of the importance of following the food safety law. Since the start of the food safety campaign on April 15, we have conducted almost 5,700 missions and given sanctions in almost 3,600 cases violating the food safety law. The total fine was VND9.3 billion. In the context of the pandemic, what measures has the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance developed to win in the battle to keep food safety? We have sent instructions to all market management units nationwide to follow the food safety instructions from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Prime Minister's Directive No.17/CT-TTg which was issued on April 13. With instructions from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, we have regularly conducted inspection missions to food companies to ensure they follow the regulations on food safety in their daily activities. We have also launched many communication campaigns on the Vietnamese Law on Food Safety to raise awareness for all organisations and individuals in the food industry. We have also worked closely with them to listen to their comments or suggestions to make the law more complete in the future. VNS/Cong Thuong Food safety control to be enhanced in Vietnam Management and unscheduled inspections of food safety and hygiene should be enhanced with stricter measures as the COVID-19 pandemic had not yet been extinguished, said the National Steering committee on Food Safety and Hygiene. Richmond-based Dodson Companies has acquired a Florida association management company. The acquisition marks the first deal outside Virginia for Dodson, which manages commercial space and rental properties in Virginia. Dodson Association Management, the homeowner and condominium management division of Dodson Companies, acquired Polaris Property Management of Sarasota, Fla., the company said in a release Wednesday. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Under the deal, Dodson Association Management will manage 13 homeowner and condominium communities in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. There are about 850 homes in those communities, a tally that includes both houses and condominiums. Tim Wehner, vice president of Dodson Association Management, said in an interview that the company had always planned to try to expand outside Virginia and into the Southeastern U.S. We found the opportunity in that specific market, Wehner said of the Polaris acquisition. It was a very well-run company. Google Australia has agreed to banish hundreds more websites involved in the illegal downloading of movies and programs after pirates were able to bypass its initial attempts to remove them from search results. The tech giant agreed to voluntarily pull down websites engaging in piracy last year to help stop the spread of illegally downloaded material, a move which allowed copyright holders to avoid fighting the tech giant for an injunction in court. However, content pirates were able to reappear on Google by slightly tweaking the domain address and creating "proxy" or "mirror" sites - variations of the previously blocked addresses. Graham Burke, former chief executive of Village Roadshow. Credit:Eddie Jim Village Roadshow non-executive director and Creative Content Australia chairman Graham Burke said that Google will now close that loophole by shutting down these mirror sites as soon as they pop up. "Site blocking was brought in by the government and was effective but there was massive leakage because while the government and site blocking shut the front door, the back door was still wide open and search engines were taking people to proxy and mirror sites," Mr Burke said. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the American Red Cross is offering some fun incentives for those who donate blood or platelets during the month Those who come to give blood or platelets during the month of September will receive an email coupon for a free Sport Clips haircut. And those who make a point to give around the Labor Day holiday, Sept. 4-8, will receive a pair of Red Cross branded socks, while supplies last. Lifestyle BGR Dmitry Kokh, a Russian underwater and wildlife photographer, has shared once-in-a-lifetime photos of polar bears that took over an island. The island in question is Kolyuchin Island, located in the Chukchi Sea. This remote part of the Russian arctic used to be home to a meteorological station, but humans have long since abandoned it. Now, The post Polar bears took over an abandoned island and moved into empty houses appeared first on BGR. The Supreme Court on Wednesday took note of the Centre's alleged inaction and asked it to clarify its stand within a week on the waiver of interest on interest for deferred payments of instalments for loans during the moratorium period announced due to the coronavirus lockdown. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said the Centre had not made its stand clear on the issue despite the fact that ample powers were available with it under the Disaster Management Act and was "hiding behind the RBI". The apex court granted time to the government after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought a week's time to file a response. "My Lordships may not say that. We are working in coordination with RBI," Mehta said. The bench, also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and Justice M R Shah, asked the solicitor general to clarify stand on the Disaster Management Act and whether additional interest on existing interest could be accrued. Mehta argued that there cannot be a common solution for all the problems. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, informed the bench that the loan moratorium's deadline would end on August 31 and sought its extension. "I am only saying that till these pleas are decided, the extension should not end," Sibal said. The apex court has now posted the matter for hearing on September 1. The top court had earlier said there was "no merit in charging interest on interest" for deferred loan payment installments during the moratorium period announced in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bench was hearing a plea filed by Agra resident Gajendra Sharma, who has sought a direction to declare the portion of the RBI's March 27 notification "as ultra vires to the extent it charges interest on the loan amount during the moratorium period, which create hardship to the petitioner being borrower and creates hindrance and obstruction in 'right to life' guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India". Sharma has also sought a direction to the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to provide relief in repayment of loan by not charging interest during the moratorium period. On June 4, the top court had sought the Finance Ministry's reply on the waiver of interest on loans during the moratorium period after the RBI said it would not be prudent to go for a forced waiver of interest risking financial viability of the banks. The top court had said there were two aspects under consideration in this matter - no interest payment on loans during the moratorium period and no interest to be charged on interest. It said these were challenging times and it was a serious issue as on one hand, moratorium was granted and on the other, interest was charged on loans. Kildare County Council has granted planning permission for a mixed use development at a hotel in Kilcock. The development is earmarked for Corscadden's Hotel and grounds at Church Street and overlooking the Royal Canal. Approval has been given for 65 dwellings, as well as a cafe and retail units. The total construction value of the project is over 10m. The development is being promoted by White Tide Developments Ltd based in Dublin. Outbuildings to the rear of Corscadden's Hotel and an existing dormer dwelling will be demolished as part of theplans. The existing Hotel building will be renovated and fitted with a three-storey extension which will accommodate retail units and apartments. An existing rubble stone outbuilding will be renovated for townhouses. A number of new buildings will be constructed to create more apartments. Car parking spaces will be created for 110 vehicles on the overall one hectare site. The total floor area of the project is nearly 6,000 square metres. (Natural News) After widespread looting, fires, violence and other destruction for a second night in Kenosha, Wisconsin, CBS News anchor Gayle King described the riots as peaceful. (Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Infowars.com) Yes, really. In yet another startling example of how the media is deliberately burying the bedlam unfolding on American streets every single night, the news network downplayed the violence and even suggested it was justified. King claimed the riots were in fact a second day of peaceful protests, which is what the Black Lives Matter is really about. A second day of peaceful protests gave way to clashes overnight in Wisconsin. This comes after 29-year-old Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back by police as he tried to get into his car. He remains hospitalized in stable condition.@MolaReports has the latest. pic.twitter.com/4Ljb0hZFq0 CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) August 25, 2020 As anyone with eyes and ears knows by now, Black Lives Matter is not peaceful and never has been. Its not clear if those setting fires were involved in the initial demonstrations, said King, again suggesting with no evidence whatsoever that those engaging in arson and violence at a BLM riot had nothing to do with BLM. King then claimed that the protests spontaneously gave way to clashes as night fell, suggesting that this just happened by accident when in reality it was BLM agitators who chose to engineer these clashes. Reporter Mola Lenghi then made more excuses for the rioters, telling viewers, setting this truck on fire right here behind me is how some protesters have responded to the authorities use of stun grenades, [and] of tear gas. Peacefulgave way to clashes, responded Buck Sexton. No, thugs and lunatics engaged in riots, arson, and looting- which everyone was expecting- because the mainstream media is full of cowards who pay for their houses in the Hamptons by running cover for BLM criminality on behalf of the DNC. Peacefulgave way to clashes No, thugs and lunatics engaged in riots, arson, and looting- which everyone was expecting- because the mainstream media is full of cowards who pay for their houses in the Hamptons by running cover for BLM criminality on behalf of the DNC https://t.co/EuOULtjd5f Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) August 25, 2020 Read the tweet then watch the footage, commented Rep. Paul Gosar. Read the tweet then watch the footage https://t.co/9VD9l7Fb4S Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) August 25, 2020 Ill leave a selection of videos below and leave it up to the reader to decide whether the riots were peaceful or whether CBS News is lying once again. HOLY SH*#: while interviewing this #BLM rioter in Kinosha he pulls out a real pistol and points it at my camera while explaining what we would do to cops if they rolled up on us right now Its been a while since I had a gun pointed at me even if it was just to make a point pic.twitter.com/hjQqO9Ccbb ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) August 25, 2020 Kenosha earlier pic.twitter.com/8Q0kPC94mD special agent viti (@selfdeclaredref) August 25, 2020 Those lamps represent systemic racism. pic.twitter.com/bnZutPLPHZ Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Theres families trapped in those apartments. Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/vIRbtjmkLy Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Rioters in Kenosha stole a police vehicle. pic.twitter.com/wH6tjYbffT Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 This is the new normal. Rioters destroy car dealership in Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/BN92PFTzGr Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Rioters in Kenosha are pulling down street lights and stomping on cars. pic.twitter.com/rK2NE6huvh Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Whole city blocks are on fire in Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/8MNUS0Nair Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Kenosha rioters loot mattresses from a furniture store. Reparations for centuries of oppression. pic.twitter.com/a9iYDbawam Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Rioters take out their frustrations against systemic racism and colonialism on parked cars in Kenosha, Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/9SwReBF35M Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 More buildings in Kenosha burn. Rioters promised more violence and its only just midnight. pic.twitter.com/cW2BVpnMWE Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Kenosha rioters knocked out one of their own with a falling street lamp. pic.twitter.com/Ht4jIKQmvq Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 Battle rages on between the National Guard and Black Lives Matter rioters in front of the courthouse in Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/eawsng2irl Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 The Department of Corrections building in Kenosha is completely ablaze. pic.twitter.com/ugC6hBtSMz Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 25, 2020 BLM rioters in #Kenosha are smashing cars one-by-one. pic.twitter.com/vG3AZUObqN Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 25, 2020 Masked BLM rioters are smashing up cars using bats in #Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/4pe01R938U Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 25, 2020 BLM rioters break into a public building and set it on fire in #Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/Am4GxZf89n Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 25, 2020 Read more at: Infowars.com During todays session, the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia gave a mandate to Stepan Stepanyan, accepting as a basis Speaker of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyans statement that the powers of deputy of the National Assembly Mane Tandilyan are terminated. The Central Electoral Commission records that the mandate of the deputy elected from the electoral list of precinct #4 of the Bright Armenia Party of the National Assembly and whose powers are terminated, shall be given to Stepan Stepanyan, the next candidate on the electoral list of precinct #4 of Bright Armenia Party, Secretary of the Central Electoral Commission Armen Smbatyan announced. Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission Tigran Mukuchyan wasnt attending the session. On August 14, deputy of the Bright Armenia faction of the National Assembly Mane Tandilyan took to her Facebook to report that she had to drop her mandate and discontinue her work as a member of the management board of Bright Armenia Party since she has health problems that, according to her, are incompatible with her work as a deputy and her active efforts in politics. File photo The Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi has ordered all herdsmen operating in Ebonyi to henceforth carry ID cards for easy identification in case of crime. The governor gave the directive to the leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in the state after a meeting on Tuesday. The Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, announced the new directive while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a special security meeting convened by Governor David Umahi at the Government House, Abakiliki. The meeting had the leadership and members of the state chapter of MACBAN in attendance. Igwe said that the state government was worried over reported cases of killing of Miyetti Allah members, attack on communities by persons suspected to be Miyetti Allah members, destruction of farm crops and other valuables and incessant cases of rape in the state. The leadership of the various Local Government Areas (LGAs) should immediately liaise with Miyetti Allah leadership to provide identity cards for herders operating in their domains. The various communities in the state are empowered to arrest any under-aged cattle rearers grazing around their communities and hand them over to the police for prosecution, . The chief herder, who is the custodian of such under-aged person, must be prosecuted by the police in accordance with the law, he said. The deputy governor said that herders should be held responsible for attacks on communities in the state and destruction of farm crops by their cattle. Rape cases are not exempted from this as the perpetrators must be produced within seven days for arrest and prosecution. Community leaders, LGA chairmen, Development Centre Coordinators, among others, should take responsibility and produce those who attack herders and their cattle for prosecution within seven days. Herders should henceforth reside in communities where they rear their cattle and any one bearing arms on the roads in areas where infractions occur would also be prosecuted by the police, Igwe said. He said that rearing of cattle within the state government house, centenary city, churches, mosques, schools, among others, had been prohibited and offenders to be prosecuted within seven days. He said that herders would, in the magnanimity of the state governor, receive COVID-19 palliatives and benefit from the government programmers on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. As Californians brace for more bad news about what is already shaping up to be one of the states most intense fire seasons ever, and as we watch as firefighting capacity is stretched thin, I keep coming back to one question: What is California supposed to do? This question is not new, and neither are many of the answers experts and policymakers routinely offer. For one, they say, too many people are moving into the wildland-urban interface, the transitional zones between denser areas of human development and vegetation, which makes them more vulnerable to damage in the event of a wildfire. The solutions to that problem, however, are as complex as the countless reasons people are moving into such areas not least of which is the states housing crisis, pushing Californians farther outside of big cities. Which leaves what Daniel Swain, a California climate expert, told me are essentially smaller-scale fixes. Communities and homeowners themselves can better prepare by clearing fire breaks or using more fire-resistant building materials in higher-risk areas. Local officials can better plan to evacuate ahead of fast-moving blazes. And leaders say utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric, whose infrequently maintained equipment sparked the states deadliest fire, must be held accountable. At the end of the day, though, Swain said, Californias weather is expected to become even more extreme in coming years. The big picture solution is realizing there is going to be a lot more fire on the landscape, he said. And so, he added, I dont see how we get out of this without allowing a lot more to burn. In recent years, momentum has built for purposefully setting fires in certain areas to help thin vegetation and restore ecosystems that would naturally burn more frequently, if not for Californias policy of more than a century requiring that all fires be put out. Before Euro-American settlement in California in the 1800s, about 1.5 million acres of forest burned each year on average, my colleagues wrote roughly the same amount that has burned so far this year. That aggressive fire-suppression policy came at the expense of Native American tribes, who had for thousands of years harnessed fire to help ensure that the forests where they lived were healthy that the plants that fed them were able to flourish, that fires did not burn too hot and destructively. The decades of total fire suppression, coupled with the federal governments moves to cut off access to much of that land, have been damaging to both Indigenous communities and forests. So eventually, as The Guardian reported last year, the U.S. government started to gradually course-correct, and now, some members of some of those same tribes are helping fire agencies and other groups learn how to use fire to manage forests. But the challenge now is getting enough funding to use prescribed burns which require lots of on-the-ground work and monitoring and getting the green light to conduct prescribed burns in places where residents might be concerned about fires escaping or fouling the air. Edward Smith, a forest ecologist with the Nature Conservancy, said that prescribed burns required figuring out when weather conditions are right to start a fire (not any time soon) and deciding which areas were at greatest risk of burning dangerously out of control during fire season. Thats your burn window, he said. Smith said that while prescribed burns often involved dripping fuel onto the ground, lightning strikes can be a helpful force for burning larger areas, especially with weather modeling and data technology that can help firefighters figure out how to prepare. Were chipping away at a backlog from 150 years of suppression, he said. But we can get to a point where well be able to keep up with the accumulation of fuel. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development has furnished the newly constructed office of the National Council of Zongo Chiefs in Accra. The facility which was constructed by the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS) was furnished upon a request from the council. The furnishing covers a conference hall and the reception area. Also planned for the office are air-conditioners and fridges. Speaking during the handing-over ceremony yesterday, the minister, Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid, described the Zongo chiefs as principal stakeholders of the ministry whose authority had been approved by God. As customary landlords of any geographical area, the chiefs, he said, needed a point of contact that would make it easier for them to brainstorm and engage each other on issues relevant to the wellbeing of larger societies. Until this time, there was no place to find them unless we called them from their individual homes for meetings, he said. The decision to furnish the facility, he said, was to make both the work of Zongo chiefs and the ministry much easier as far as harnessing the wisdom and intelligence of chiefs towards achieving government's vision of building better zongo communities were concerned. The public relations officer (PRO) of the council, Alhaji Baba Moro Issah, on his part, said the facility would serve as an information centre for the public as well as dealing with issues about women and children. Minister you have made history because this is the first time there is going to be an office for zongo chiefs and we will remember you, the ministry and your government for all that you have done, he said. He appealed for the posting of National Service and Nation Builders Corp (NABCO) personnel to the office so that they would deal with administrative matters of the office. He further appealed for a vehicle to facilitate the mobility of the council in reaching out to other stakeholders and chiefs across the region. By Issah Mohammed NEW YORK - The Rev. Al Sharpton sat quietly in his office in late July, watching the final funeral service for Rep. John Lewis on a wall-mounted television. Instead of flying down to the memorial in Atlanta, Sharpton had remained in New York; he had work to do. Preaching at the funeral of a year-old boy who was shot in the stomach at a Brooklyn cookout -- a boy not much younger than his first and only grandson -- Sharpton demanded gun control, an issue close to Lewis heart. He also was embroiled in putting together this weeks commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This protest will focus on police and vigilante violence, and its ever-expanding roll call of victims: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Jacob Blake, among others. But Sharpton knows he will also encounter the ghosts of another era on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed that he had a dream. Sharpton said he had always felt a kinship with people like Lewis, who had been the last surviving speaker from the original march; the late former NAACP chairman Julian Bond; his own mentor, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. All, he said, had instilled in him the value of discipline and reverence of principles of nonviolent resistance espoused by King. Lewis, Bond and so many others are dead; at 78, Jackson clearly is not the lion he once was. But Sharpton -- once dismissed by some as a fraud, a jester -- is still standing. He reaches multitudes on television and on radio. The man who helped popularize the 1980s cry, No justice, no peace, is putting himself at the centre of a new wave of activism, in a new millennium. I want to be able to show that the movement is not dead, said the Rev. Al. ___ For more than three decades, Sharpton, 65, has been a go-to advocate for Black American families seeking justice and peace in the wake of violence and countless incidents that highlight systemic racism. He has a penchant for seizing the national spotlight and focusing the public on police brutality and acts of hatred against Black people, particularly at moments of heightened tensions and grief. But Sharpton now contends with a new question: In what shape will he leave the world for Marcus Al Sharpton Bright, the only male heir to the family legacy? I never thought Id live to see my grandchild, Sharpton said recently in an interview at the midtown Manhattan offices of National Action Network, the civil rights organization he founded in 1991. In many ways, every time I see him, I know its a blessing God gave me that he didnt give some of the civil rights leaders before me, Sharpton said. Im hopeful and Im challenged ... What kind of society am I leaving him where you can get shot by the cops and the robbers? Sharpton has embraced the resonance of Black Lives Matter -- its now said to be the largest protest movement in U.S. history. But he takes issue with people who claim that the leaderless, decentralized nature of the emerging movement is an entirely new phenomenon. One of the follies of youth, including me when I was young, is you think youre the first one to do what you do, Sharpton said. There aint nothing new. If you dont have that kind of back and forward (over tactics), which Dr. King used to call creative tension, then you aint got no movement. I expect theres going to be alternatives to me, he added. And its good, because itll bring a synthesis and because nobodys got all the answers. Born in 1954 in Brooklyn, Sharpton quickly showed promise as a preacher. At age 4, he delivered his first sermon; he was an ordained minister by age 10. When he was just 13, Jesse Jackson appointed Sharpton youth director of New Yorks Operation Breadbasket, an anti-poverty project of Kings Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The Al Sharpton who grabbed the spotlight in the 1980s was a rotund young man in a track suit, his neck garlanded by a chain and medallion and his hair in a pompadour -- a remnant of his days as James Browns tour manager. Sharpton constantly courted controversy for using inflammatory language against his opponents. He reserved his most fiery rhetoric for elected officials and attorneys representing police officers and alleged assailants in case after case of racial violence. In 1989, Sharptons attention was drawn to the death of Yusuf Hawkins, a Black teenager fatally shot after being confronted by a mob of white youths in Bensonhurst, a historically Italian-American neighbourhood of Brooklyn. As explored in the recent HBO documentary, Storm Over Brooklyn, Sharptons work on the Hawkins case was widely seen as the main cause of flared tensions between Black and white communities in New York City. In 1991, as he prepared to lead a march through Bensonhurst with the Hawkins family, a white man stabbed Sharpton in the chest. But many people, particularly those turned off by Sharptons brash tactics, know him for his role in publicizing the case of Tawana Brawley, a 15-year-old Black girl who in 1987 accused six white men, including police officers, of assault and rape in upstate New York. A grand jury later found evidence that Brawley had fabricated the story, after which Sharpton and two attorneys who joined in the case were ordered to pay damages to the prosecutor who sued over defamatory statements. Sharpton was hardly the only prominent New York figure who believed Brawleys story. But even today, some of Sharptons critics will bring up the case to discredit him. Asked if he had any regrets about that period of his life, Sharpton said he would have looked into situations more deeply before getting involved. Sometimes your vanity outruns your sanity, and you do things for posture. But its all part of growing up. ___ Sharpton came to be known as a political strategist skilled at staging direct-action protests, while adhering to Kings principles of nonviolence. Although few of his critics would classify his tactics and rhetoric as entirely civil or peaceful, Sharpton is the reason why Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima and Sean Bell, Black men killed or brutalized by police in New York City, became household names long before the advent of social media and hashtags. I had core beliefs and I could work with different eras of the movement, Sharpton said. I was always free enough -- never took government funds, never held office -- I was free enough to flow. I think being willing to adopt everything, but my core beliefs, is the strength of my longevity. Today, the track suits and chains are long gone, replaced by tailored suits over a frame less than half the size of what it once was. But the fire is still there. Sharpton was among the civil rights leaders who flew into Minneapolis for the first of the memorial services for Floyd, who died May 25 after a white police officer held his knee to the mans neck for nearly eight minutes even after he was unresponsive. It was at that service, amid Hollywood celebrities, federal lawmakers and activists, that Sharpton both announced and found the theme to Fridays march commemoration. George Floyds story has been the story of Black folks, he said. Because ever since 401 years ago, the reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed to be is you kept your knee on our neck. Its time for us to stand up in Georges name and say, Get your knee off our necks! The refrain resounded, as protests and civil unrest gripped the nation that seemed to be awakening to issues Sharpton had preached about for decades. Sharpton has been an activist long enough to have inspired acolytes. National civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and dozens of other victims of police brutality and vigilante violence, credits Sharpton with charting a path that made it easier for up-and-coming activists and lawyers to be heard. Rev. Al has been a mentor to me for many years, Crump said in a phone interview. Long before there was Black Lives Matter, you had Rev. Al Sharpton out there saying this life mattered, when everybody else was trying to marginalize it and sweep it under the rug. Hes a teacher and he made some of the mistakes that we dont have to make, said Lee Merritt, another prominent civil rights attorney who has represented the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean and Atatiana Jefferson, among others. A lot of people feel like (the work) is about public outcry, but if you dont get to the root of the issue, if you dont go after the systemic racism and the policies that allow this to happen over and over again, then youre going to be disappointed when its all said and done, Merritt added. Twenty-three-year-old Tylik McMillan first started working for the National Action Network 10 years ago. Now the groups national director of youth and college, McMillan said Sharpton prepared him to act as a field organizer for Fridays March on Washington. He has always been such a compassionate leader, a hard leader that builds character, McMillan said. Hes giving me an understanding of what it means to move from demonstration to legislation. Which is the point of the march on Washington: Sharpton has made passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act a central demand. In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the Floyd act, which would ban police use of stranglehold manoeuvrs and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms. In July, following Lewis death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 requiring states with a record of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voter regulations. The U.S. Supreme Court gutted the provision in 2013. The march, Sharpton said, isnt simply for the cameras. If youve got a march without an objective, then youve got an exercise class going on, Sharpton says. ___ The House of Justice, Sharptons storefront auditorium and headquarters off of Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, buzzed with activity on a Saturday morning in late August. There is a rally each week; afterward, Sharpton personally hands out bagged meals to a line of people that stretches up 145th Street, part of an ongoing coronavirus pandemic relief effort. Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, a Black man whose chokehold death by NYPD in 2014 fueled Black Lives Matter protests in New York and across the country, is a regular at the rallies. She said Sharpton stuck close to her family, particularly when the cameras and probing reporters went away, through the years it took local and federal law enforcement agencies to conduct investigations that eventually led to an officers firing. A lot of people listen to the controversy about Rev. Al, and they dont know him as a person, Carr said. They just listen to what other people are saying about him, and I think thats very wrong. He does a lot for families thats not in the public eye, she added. Some people think its just about police brutality, but it could be housing injustice. It could be a crisis because a familys lights are getting cut off. Still, Sharptons daughters, Ashley Sharpton, 32, and Dominique Sharpton Bright, 34, said their fathers public image isnt much different than the one theyd experienced over the dinner table. As I grew up, I realized this is not a persona, said Ashley Sharpton, who founded the National Action Networks Youth Move Huddle initiative that engages young adults who aspire to be community leaders. We sacrificed our dad to the movement, she added. That was heavy for me to understand. That took a while for me to accept. But something has softened in their dad since he became a grandfather, said Bright, Marcus Als mom and national membership director for the National Action Network. Its so weird to see it because he kind of steps out of who he is to relate to Marcus Al, she said. I remember when he was 4 months old and Dad was like, Is he talking yet? Is he walking? Ashley Sharpton said. Her dad has been preaching since he was 4. So, Im sure its an eagerness to see if any of that translated. There are many things that still keep the reverend away from home -- hes organizing, preaching, consoling. He hosts PoliticsNation on MSNBC, which reaches about 2 million viewers every weekend, and he has a nationally syndicated daily radio show, Keepin It Real, that broadcasts on dozens of Sirius XM stations. The reverend remains a busy man. I do not feel that the people that poured into me would expect me to do anything less, the Rev. Al said. And thats who I am. Im going to do this until I die. Put your ear down to the casket, and Ill be saying no justice, no peace as they lower me all the way down. ___ Morrison is a member of APs Race & Ethnicity team. You can email him at amorrison@ap.org. Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison. PHOENIX - The Phoenix City Council agreed Wednesday to pay a settlement to a Black couple who had police officers point guns at them in front of their children last year after their young daughter took a doll from a store without their knowledge. Iesha Harper said at a news conference that she and Dravon Ames will receive $475,000. It stems from a $10 million claim that the couples attorney, former state Attorney General Tom Horne, filed in June 2019. The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, alleged excessive force by police and a violation of the familys civil rights. I just want to say Im glad we got justice. Its been hell dealing with my kids and everything that happened, said Harper, adding that her children have been left with anxiety. City leaders passed the settlement with a 6-2 vote. I know the money wont take away the trauma or the harm thats been caused, but I hope the children will have a better life for it, Councilman Carlos Garcia said. The settlement comes during a national reckoning over racism and police brutality and as violence has erupted at protests in Wisconsin over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. In this June 18, 2019 file photo Dravon Ames, holding microphone, speaks to Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, as his fiancee, Iesha Harper, right, holds 1-year-old daughter London, at a community meeting. The Phoenix Police Department, in the nations fifth-largest city, has been criticized for its use of force, which disproportionately affects Black and Native American residents, The Arizona Republic reported. The department also has one of the highest shooting rates in the country. The payment would be one of the latest by the city over police actions. Payouts in connection to excessive-force or wrongful-death claims have totalled millions of dollars in the last several years, The Republic reported. The police encounter with Ames and Harper in May 2019 got widespread attention when bystander video spread online. Afterward, the police chief fired an officer and the department required a written report whenever an officer points a gun at someone. The mayor also created an committee to get public recommendations on police reform. Employees at a store told officers who responded to an unrelated shoplifting case that the couples 4-year-old daughter had taken a doll. Ames and Harper, who was five months pregnant, didnt know about the doll and had already driven away. Police followed them to an apartment complex. Ames has said officers didnt use lights or sirens before walking over to the couples parked car, with their 4-year-old and 1-year-old daughters also inside. Next thing you know, a police officer ... comes up, Open the door, banging on the window with a gun, saying hes gonna shoot us in the face, telling us to get out of the car, Ames said. In a video recorded by a resident of the apartment complex, officers can be heard yelling and cursing at the couple. No police body camera footage exists. An officer went to the back drivers side door but couldnt open it because it was malfunctioning, the notice of claim said. He banged on the window and told Harper, who was holding her 1-year-old, to open the door and put her hands up. She told the officer that the door couldnt open and that her hands were up. A second officer then pulled his gun out and pointed it at Ames before pulling him out of the car, according to the notice of claim. A different video begins with Ames lying on the ground as an officer handcuffs him. Hes pulled off the ground and pressed against a police car before the officer kicks one of his legs open. The claim alleged the officer kicked him so hard that Ames collapsed. He also accuses the officer of punching him in the back. Harper says that after getting out of the car, an officer tried to grab one of her daughters to take Harper into custody. The family said the toddler was injured when the officer pulled her arm. The couple were released after another officer arrived and defused the situation, the claim said. No one was charged. New Delhi: Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday (August 26, 2020) lashed out at the Centre and said that students' problems and the NEET and JEE examination issue has been dealt with uncaringly by the Narendra Modi regime. While addressing a meeting of Congress chief ministers via video-conferencing, Sonia Gandhi said, We have to work and fight together against Central government. Students' problems and NEET and JEE exams issue has been dealt with uncaringly by the Centre. The Congress president said that the Centres National Education Policy is a ''setback to secular and scientific values and reveals insensitivity of the NDA government.'' The veteran Congress leader also accused the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of weakening the laws made to protect the environment, public health sector, adding that the draft EIA legislation is ''anti-democratic.'' Training her guns at the Centre, Sonia Gandhi said that the Centres refusal to compensate states on the GST is nothing short of betrayal by Modi government of states, people. The crucial meeting is being attended by the Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states and also the Chief Ministers of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray. Among those present in the meeting are - Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren along with the West Bengal and Maharashtra Chief Ministers. Speaking on her turn, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee urged all the CMs to together to approach the Supreme Court for postponing NEET, JEE exams as students are not prepared for it. She alleged that the state governments have been 'bulldozed' by Centre in name of cooperative federalism. We are fighting the battle, Mamata Banerjee said the at the meeting of opposition CMs. While Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said that the ruling BJP is using central agencies against the Opposition, undermining the federal structure, his Maharashtra counterpart Uddhav Thackeray said that we should decide whether we have to fight or fear the Centre. On his turn, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh urged all the chief ministers to go to PM Modi and apprise him of revenue loss and the current situation in states. Sonia and opposition CMs are discussing the students' protests over JEE and NEET examinations, which are scheduled to be held in September. The Centres refusal to postpone the JEE and NEET examinations has triggered protests by students who are demanding that the entrances be postponed in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The virtual meeting, which began at 2.30 PM, comes a day ahead of the meeting of the GST Council on Thursday. During the meeting, the opposition Chief Ministers called for a joint effort to pressurise the government to postpone the exams at a time when the country is battling a surge in Covid-19 cases. They also agreed that the Centre must give compensation to states who have reported a loss of revenue because of the GST in the time of the pandemic. While the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is scheduled from September 1-6, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is planned on September 13. A total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, and 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. There have been demands from several quarters to further postpone the entrance exams in view of increasing coronavirus cases. Even after repeated requests from students, the National Testing Agency (NTA) once again on Tuesday said that the examinations will held on the scheduled dates. Last Friday, it had informed that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) will be held as scheduled on September 13, while the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) will be held from September 1 to 6. Meanwhile, IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao has warned that any further delay in conducting entrance exams JEE and NEET will have 'serious repercussions' on not only the academic calendar but also career of bright students. The dead were identified only as 26-year-old Silver Lake, Wisconsin, resident and a 36-year-old from Kenosha. The wounded person, a 36-year-old from West Allis, Wisconsin, was expected to survive, police said. "We were all chanting 'Black lives matter' at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `'That's not fireworks,'" 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. "And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, 'He shot someone! He shot someone!' And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again." Scott said he cradled a lifeless victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but "I don't think he made it." According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the young man responsible for the shootings walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder with his hands in the air as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. As for why the gunman was allowed to leave, Sheriff David Beth portrayed the scene as chaotic, with screaming, chanting, nonstop radio traffic and "people running all over the place." Joint military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean dubbed ''Eunomia'' began Wednesday south of Cyprus, an area experiencing heightened tension with Turkey. Taking part are Greece, Cyprus, France and Italy, the Greek media quoted the defense ministry as saying. The exercises will end on August 28 and are part of the Quartet Cooperation Initiative (QUAD). They will include air and surfaces well as search and rescue operations. Italy, according to the website in.gr, is taking part with a Durand de la Penne missile destroyer. BIRMINGHAM, England, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Binding Site has launched a new test to detect COVID-19 antibodies in people with recent exposure, who are asymptomatic, or have mild symptoms. With the focus on mild non-hospitalised patient blood samples, the SARS-CoV-2 Antibody ELISA assay was developed in partnership with the University of Birmingham's Clinical Immunology Service with the initial antigen being provided by the University of Southampton. This latest development is a natural progression for The Binding Site, utilising its world-renowned knowledge of 35-years in developing highly precise, accurate blood tests that affect the immune system. The Company already produces over 35 million IVD tests per year for sale globally and expects this UK manufactured product to be in high demand. The new test specifically detects antibodies (IgG, IgA, and IgM) to the SARS-CoV-2 trimeric spike protein, which is an important protein for the virus infectivity. Targeting IgG, IgA, and IgM the assay will cover all the immunoglobulins which are vital in the body's fight against this virus. These three antibodies appear at different times after infection. The test was designed to detect all three, to increase detection at the earliest possible stage after exposure to the virus. Professor Adam Cunningham, Professor of Functional Immunity at the UOB explains: "Humans make three types of antibodies - Anti-IgM, IgG and IgA. IgM tends to appear first, and IgG and lgA tend to appear later. By combining all three The Binding Site test is able to detect COVID-19 infection in people who have only recently been exposed, or who have mild symptoms." The CE-marked ELISA test is simple to use and provides up to 93 test results in 60-90 minutes. Dr Stephen Harding, Chief Scientific Officer at The Binding Site said: "We set out to develop a test with the UOB that would detect COVID-19 early, and validated the test in a non-hospitalised population that had mild symptoms - which is the largest target population for COVID-19 testing - and we designed the testing kit so it can be used by any laboratory in the world." The test was developed using over 800 blood samples taken from people who had mild to moderate disease including over 100 samples from healthcare workers in Birmingham. The test is already being used in many of the clinical studies conducted at Birmingham hospitals, and is expected to be rapidly adopted by surveillance teams seeking to understand the distribution of infection in the population, as well as vaccine researchers who need to assess antibody responses in clinical trials. Charles de Rohan, CEO of The Binding Site, commented: "The long-standing partnership with the UOB has brought together unrivalled academic, clinical and commercial expertise, and the combined team worked together seamlessly and quickly to deliver this unique and forward thinking test in record time."Professor Alex Richter, Professor of Clinical Immunology at the UOB, who led the team that identified the antibodies to the spike protein, added: "There are two things to get right in an antibody test - which antibodies are we looking for, and what are they recognising? Testing for IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies to the spike protein should give an advantage in terms of early and accurate detection of people with recent exposure, who are not showing symptoms." The Binding Site has provided free kits to support work in developing countries where the disease continues to spread quickly and is impacting on children through Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PIMS). The test has been submitted for rapid FDA approval and is expected to be available in quantities of over 2 million tests per month. To watch a video Media Enquiries for a Fact Sheet and Corporate brochure. Image gallery: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Attc7OsWK2aLm2nZYYkqwbYGgGhN?e=L0FeHF Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1244093/The_Binding_Site_Limited_Logo.jpg For media interviews please contact: The Binding Site Claire Cooper, Head of Global Communications Global.communications@bindingsite.com Tel: +44 (0)121 456 9500 The University of Birmingham Sophie Belcher, Communications Manager (Medical and Dental Sciences) S.Belcher@bham.ac.uk New York Citys largest municipal union on Tuesday filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the American Museum of Natural History over the institutions plan to require employees to record possible coronavirus symptoms on an app. The head of the union called it overly intrusive. Under the museums plan, each day before work, the app would have asked employees to report if they had a fever or symptoms like a cough or congestion. The app would have then told employees whether they were cleared to work or, if not, where they might get tested for the virus. The results would then be reported to their employer. But according to the union, District Council 37, many of its members saw the app, called ProtectWell, as an invasion of their privacy and objected to the museum choosing a program whose data was not protected by Hipaa, the federal law on patient privacy. Henry Garrido, the unions executive director, said there were other tools that the museum could adopt that would not be so invasive. He said he was not able to provide a copy of the complaint, which it filed to the National Labor Relations Board, because it is considered confidential under lawyer-client privilege. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis- Epidemiology Forecast to 2030 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology in the 7MM, i. New York, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Epidemiology Forecast to 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05932734/?utm_source=GNW e., the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), and Japan. Geographies Covered The United States EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) Japan Study Period: 20172030 Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Understanding The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology report gives a thorough understanding of the Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis by including details such as disease definition, symptoms, causes, pathophysiology, and diagnosis. It also provides treatment algorithms and treatment guidelines for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in the US, Europe, and Japan. The report covers the detailed information of the Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology scenario in seven major countries (US, EU5, and Japan). Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Epidemiology Perspective The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology division provides insights about historical and current patient pool and forecasted trend for every seven major countries. The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology data are studied through all possible division to give a better understanding of the Disease scenario in 7MM. The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology segment covers the epidemiology data in the US, EU5 countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the UK), and Japan from 2017 to 2030. It also helps to recognize the causes of current and forecasted trends by exploring numerous studies, survey reports and views of key opinion leaders. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Detailed Epidemiology Segmentation The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology scenario in the 7MM covering the United States, EU5 countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom) and Japan from 2017 to 2030. The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis report also provides the epidemiology trends observed in the 7MM during the study period, along with the assumptions undertaken. The calculated data are presented with relevant tables and graphs to give a clear view of the epidemiology at first sight. Scope of the Report The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis report covers a detailed overview explaining its causes, symptoms, classification, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment patterns The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Epidemiology Report and Model provide an overview of the global trends of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in the seven major markets (7MM: US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan) The report provides insight into the historical and forecasted patient pool of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in seven major markets covering the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, UK), and Japan The report helps to recognize the growth opportunities in the 7MM with respect to the patient population The report assesses the disease risk and burden and highlights the unmet needs of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis The report provides the segmentation of the Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology Report Highlights 11-year Forecast of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology 7MM Coverage Incident Cases of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Familial Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis by Mutation Types Secondary HLH Cases by Etiologies KOL Views We interview, KOLs and SMEs opinion through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. The opinion helps to understand the total patient population and current treatment pattern. This will support the clients in potential upcoming novel treatment by identifying the overall scenario of the indications. Key Questions Answered What will be the growth opportunities in the 7MM with respect to the patient population pertaining to Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis? What are the key findings pertaining to the Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis epidemiology across 7MM and which country will have the highest number of patients during the forecast period (20172030)? What would be the total number of patients of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis across the 7MM during the forecast period (20172030)? Among the EU5 countries, which country will have the highest number of patients during the forecast period (20172030)? At what CAGR the patient population is expected to grow in 7MM during the forecast period (20172030)? 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Reasons to buy The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Epidemiology report will allow the user to - Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the global Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis market Quantify patient populations in the global Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis market to improve product design, pricing, and launch plans Organize sales and marketing efforts by identifying the age groups and sex that present the best opportunities for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis therapeutics in each of the markets covered Understand the magnitude of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis population by its epidemiology The Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Epidemiology Model developed is easy to navigate, interactive with dashboards, and epidemiology based with transparent and consistent methodologies. Moreover, the model supports data presented in the report and showcases disease trends over 11-year forecast period using reputable sources Key Assessments Patient Segmentation Disease Risk & Burden Risk of disease by the segmentation Factors driving growth in a specific patient population Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05932734/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 CLEVELAND, Ohio New research says children can carry high levels of the coronavirus even if they have mild or no symptoms, raising more questions about whether they could spread infection as they return to classrooms in the fall. The study published last week in the Journal of Pediatrics found high viral loads in the airways of children infected with the coronavirus. But its authors, a team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, did not assess the potential for those children to pass the virus to others. Even still, the researchers say school districts should consider the findings should when deciding how and when to reopen schools. They argue that children could fuel new outbreaks of the virus if schools do not take necessary precautions, such as requiring masks and implementing social-distancing measures in the classroom. Without infection control measures such as these, there is significant risk that the pandemic will persist, and children could carry the virus into the home, exposing adults who are at higher risk of developing severe disease, the study says. Other medical experts argue the test used to detect the coronavirus does not indicate how likely someone is to transmit it to others. Having a high viral load does not necessarily make someone more infectious, said Dr. Camille Sabella, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic Childrens. How kids really spread this is not totally clear at this point, Sabella said. And with most kids being asymptomatic, whether the amount of virus really matters is really not clear. The Mass General study involved 192 children and young adults up to 22 years old, including 49 who tested positive for the virus. All the participants had symptoms, came into contact with someone infected with the virus, or lived in a community with a high rate of cases. The researchers took blood, urine and saliva samples, and nasal and mouth swabs to test for the viruss levels in the children and young adults. They found particularly high viral loads in those nasal swabs, the study says. But connecting a high viral load to a greater possibility of spreading the virus is a big leap, said Dr. William V. Raszka, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Vermonts Larner College of Medicine. Raszka and his colleague Dr. Benjamin Lee addressed the likelihood of children spreading the coronavirus in a commentary in the separate medical journal Pediatrics. Studies from countries including China and Switzerland suggest children most frequently acquire the virus from adults instead of transmitting it to them, they wrote. I tend to look at the real world data to say children dont seem to be driving this pandemic. Adults are driving this, Raszka said. Its not clear why children appear to be less likely to spread the virus, Sabella said. Some experts have theorized that they do not cough or sneeze with the same force as adults, so they emit fewer respiratory droplets that spread the virus. It may be as simple as that. Or it may be much more complicated, and we just dont understand it yet, Sabella said. Experts generally agree that children tend to have milder symptoms of the disease, and are much less likely to become seriously ill. But researchers have found some children develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a rare condition that causes the immune system to rev up and attack other organs. Medical experts have suspected children are capable of carrying a high viral load, so the results of the Mass General study are not necessarily surprising, said Dr. John Bower, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Akron Childrens Hospital. Bower also cautioned that its unclear how often children spread infection. Thats partly because researchers have had limited opportunities to study children in group settings with schools around the world closing their doors at the outset of the pandemic. Experts do know that children are capable of transmitting the virus, so schools should take precautions as they welcome back students this fall, Bower said. That includes requiring face masks, implementing social-distancing measures and promoting good hygiene. The safer approach is to make sure we are erring on the side of caution and just recognizing that children can get infected and they can spread, Bower said. Although Raszka noted adults seem to be more capable of spreading the virus, theres no doubt in [his] mind children are capable of transmission. He agreed that schools should be taking precautions. When you put children in a school setting, you should recognize that some situations are higher-risk than others, Raszka said. Personally, I think its silly to enter the school system without mitigation procedures. Vice President Mike Pence will be the star of the third night of the Republican National Convention, which will also include speeches from several prominent members of Congress. Heres how to watch and who is expected to speak. How to watch The big speeches of the night will happen from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Eastern time. The Times will stream the convention on Wednesday and Thursday, accompanied by chat-based live analysis from our reporters and real-time highlights from the speeches. The official livestream will be available on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , Twitch and Amazon Prime . ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News will cover the convention from 10 to 11 p.m. each night; CNN from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.; MSNBC from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.; PBS from 8 to 11 p.m.; and C-SPAN at 9 a.m. and then at 8:30 p.m. Whos speaking The headliner on Wednesday will be Mr. Pence, who will formally accept his renomination as Mr. Trumps running mate. His wife, Karen Pence, will also speak. The other speakers announced by Mr. Trumps campaign are: Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, a firebrand conservative and one of Mr. Trumps most vocal defenders. She is known especially for her opposition to abortion. Sister Dede Byrne , a surgeon, retired Army colonel and member of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary religious order. Madison Cawthorn , the Republican nominee for the House in North Carolinas 11th Congressional District. At 25, he would be the youngest member of Congress if elected. Kellyanne Conway, Mr. Trumps counselor. She is stepping down at the end of the month. BAMAKO, Mali - Mali needs to focus on its security, under threat from Islamic extremists, and put individual interests aside after a coup last week deposed the president and left a power vacuum, Nigerias president said Wednesday after discussing negotiations with the junta with a regional envoy. West African mediators with the regional bloc known as ECOWAS suspended talks with Malis military junta Monday after failing to reach an agreement on who will lead the volatile country in a transition back to democracy. The junta calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People has proposed pushing back Malis next election until 2023, while ECOWAS and others want a return to civilian rule as soon as possible. The juntas proposed time frame is more than double the time it took to hold a vote after a similar coup in 2012, and would allow the soldiers who overthrew a democratically elected president to remain in power for years. Right after the coup, ECOWAS leaders said they were considering mobilizing a standby military force to restore civilian rule, but that prospect has become unlikely after thousands took to the streets of the capital Friday to support the junta. The regional group also shut borders, halted financial flows with Mali and threatened further sanctions. The mediators told the junta leaders that what would be acceptable to ECOWAS was an Interim Government, headed by a civilian or retired military officer, to last for six or nine months, and maximum of 12 calendar months. The Interim Government would then organize elections to restore full constitutional order, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan told Nigerias current President Muhammadu Buhari, according to a statement from his office Wednesday. Jonathan served as the head of the group of mediators who held talks last week in Bamako, Mali. African countries and the wider international community have expressed fears that Malis upheaval could allow Islamic extremists in the country to extend their reach. Mali has been fighting against Islamic extremists with heavy international support for more than seven years, and jihadists have previously used power vacuums in the country to expand their territory. About two-thirds of Mali is occupied by terrorists, and it makes common sense to secure the country, rather than pursuing individual interests, President Buhari said in the statement Wednesday. The sub-region will take this common position later in the week, he said, when the heads of state of the 15-nation body hold a virtual extraordinary summit Friday to discuss the situation. The safety of Malis deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was also discussed last week. We asked them to allow ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to return to his personal residence, where he would be given tight security, but they said he (might) travel abroad and not return to answer questions they may have for him, Jonathan said. Keita was detained with other government officials on Aug. 18, and in a statement later that evening resigned his presidency. The ECOWAS team was also able to visit Keita during their visit to Malis capital. Keita confirmed that he resigned voluntarily, adding that he was no longer interested in returning to his former position, according to Wednesdays statement. The leaders of the junta are also asking ECOWAS to lift sanctions put in place, according to Jonathan, who said we told them that the authority to do such was only in the hands of ECOWAS heads of state. The request comes amid mounting international pressure on the junta. The permanent council of the International Organization of Francophonie which brings together French-speaking countries on Wednesday decided to suspend Mali after holding an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Mali. The organization will send a high-level delegation to Malis capital, Bamako, in the coming days to evaluate the situation, it said in a statement. It pledged to continue co-operation that directly benefits the civilian population and called for the release of deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other officials arrested by the coup leaders on Aug. 18. The Francophonie group also called for the immediate creation of a civilian-run transitional government. The European Union will also be suspending its security training missions in Mali. The EU missions in Mali have been put temporarily on hold because the circumstances didnt allow them to continue their normal activity, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after meeting in Berlin Wednesday with defence ministers from the blocs 27 member countries. But they are still there and they will start working again as soon as possible. These activities are crucial. We have invested a lot, the European Union has invested a lot in Mali and we dont want to waste this effort. The EU has trained about 18,000 soldiers but says it did not train any of the top officers responsible for the coup. Borrell said that we dont train the armies to be putschists. He added that the most important leader in the coup was trained in Russia and others in Britain and the U.S. The EU also announced that it expanded its training mandate to include Niger and Burkina Faso. ___ Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Lorne Cook in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. Read more about: During his first term as president, Donald Trump met three times and reportedly exchanged at least 25 personal letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But those interactions could soon end, depending on the outcome of the November presidential election, as VOAs Bill Gallo reports from Seoul. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 15:25 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40a2bb2 1 National aceh,tornado,puting-beliung,natural-disaster,natural-disaster-Indonesia,BPBD,BNPB Free A puting beliung (whirlwind), hit four villages in Pegasing district, Central Aceh, on Tuesday afternoon, injuring at least four residents and damaging at least 30 homes. The four affected villages were Kute Lintang village, Kayu Kul village, Jurusan village and Belang Bebangka village. As of Tuesday night, the Central Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) had received reports that 15 houses were heavily damaged, 13 were moderately damaged and two were slightly damaged. The Central Aceh BPBD has set up tents for refugees, collected data on injured victims and cleaned up fallen trees and houses. We are also coordinating with the social affairs agency about providing a public kitchen for evacuees, Ishak, the agencys chief, said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com. Some 20 people have been displaced. They have been temporarily relocated to a volleyball court in Jurusan village. (aly) Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson has issued an apology over a tweet she posted around a pension for those injured in Northern Irelands troubled past. She described the compensation scheme as mainly for those who fought Britains dirty war before later deleting the tweet. On Wednesday, Ms Anderson apologised unreservedly for the hurt and offence caused by my tweet to people who suffered serious harm during the conflict here. Posting on social media, she added: My comments were clumsy, were not directed at them and it was never my intention to cause them any hurt. All victims of the conflict deserve acknowledgement of their pain and loss, and I support them in their efforts to get their pension. Meanwhile, a victims group is seeking a meeting with Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long over a payment scheme for the injured. Ms Long has warned it could take up to 18 months before payments are made, as well as estimating the cost of the scheme at 800m (890m). The figure has been questioned by some, including the Wave Trauma Centre, whose chief executive, Sandra Peake, said the majority of those who will qualify for the payments were injured during the 1970s and 1980s and few will still be receiving a pension in 30 years time. In July the Executive Office estimated the scheme would cost 165m (183m). Ulster Human Rights Watch advocacy manager Axel Schmidt described the 18-month wait for payments as hard to fathom, adding that many innocent victims will be further disappointed and incensed. Men may be more likely to suffer severe cases of coronavirus or die of the disease because they have weaker immune responses, a new study suggests. Researchers found that male patients had poor production of certain types of immune cells that kill the virus and fight off inflammation. However, women's immune systems had a robust response that did not decrease with age as seen in men. The team, from Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, says the findings offer some clues in the differences between the sexes and add that men and women may need separate types of vaccines and treatments. A new study from Yale University found that male coronavirus patients tended to have high levels of pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines early in the infection, which can lead to deadly cytokine storms. Pictured: Navy soldiers conduct check-in procedures on an incoming COVID-19 patient at Javits New York Medical Station, April 5 Women tended to have a stronger production of T-cells, which are white blood cells that bind to and kill viruses. Pictured: A COVID-19 patient is attached to a ventilator in the emergency room at St Joseph's Hospital in Yonkers, NY, April 20 'We now have clear data suggesting that the immune landscape in COVID-19 patients is considerably different between the sexes and that these differences may underlie heightened disease susceptibility in men,' said senior author Dr Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunology at Yale University School of Medicine, in a statement. 'Collectively, these data suggest we need different strategies to ensure that treatments and vaccines are equally effective for both women and men.' Around the world, men account for about 60 percent of deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Individual countries have also reported similar circumstances. In the UK, researchers studying 17 million adults found that men could face nearly twice the risk of death from the virus as women. And data out of China, where the crisis started, showed that at least two-thirds of patients who died were male. However, why the male population has been hit harder has been unclear. For the study, published in the journal Nature, the team looked at 17 men and 22 women admitted to Yale-New Haven Hospital between March 18 and May 9, and who had tested positive for coronavirus. Male patients (in yellow) tended to have weak T-cells responses, which only worsen with age, a process that doesn't occur in women Iwasaki told The New York Times that patients on ventilators or on medications that affect the immune system were excluded 'to make sure that we're measuring natural immune response to the virus.' Researchers collected nasopharyngeal swabs, blood, saliva, urine and stool, every three to seven days as well as from non-infected control subjects. Results showed neither differences in viral load between men and women nor in levels of coronavirus antibodies. However, in the early stages of infection, male patients tended to have more inflammatory proteins called cytokines than female patients. Cytokines are generally launched by the immune system as a first line of defense, arriving at the infection site and creating inflammation as physical barrier against the virus to promote healing. In patients with COVID-19, these proteins are known for a dangerous overreaction by the body called a cytokine storm. These so-called storms occur when the body doesn't just fight off the virus but also attacks its own cells and tissues. Cytokine storms can trigger respiratory distress, which can lead to multi-system organ failure and death. The high concentration of cytokines that male patients experience early on in the infection make these end results more likely. Researchers found that women tended to produce more and stronger T-cells, a type of white blood cell that binds to and kills virus-infected cells. Men, however, had a less robust T-cell response than women, and it was linked to the severity of their illness. Additionally, the older menwere, the weaker their T-cell weres. But this association was not seen among women 'When [men] age, they lose their ability to stimulate T cells,' Iwasaki told The Times. 'If you look at the ones that really failed to make T cells, they were the ones who did worse with disease. [However] women who are older - even very old, like 90 years old - these women are still making [a] pretty good, decent immune response.' The study does not help explain why these differences exist between the sexes, but it does offer some clues. In addition, the researchers say different types of vaccines and therapies may be needed for males and females. 'Collectively, these data suggest that vaccines and therapies to elevate T cell immune response to SARS-CoV-2 might be warranted for male patients, while female patients might benefit from therapies that dampen innate immune activation early during disease,' the authors wrote. 'Immune landscape in COVID-19 patients is considerably different between the sexes, and these differences may underlie heightened disease susceptibility in men.' India's most wanted terrorist and 1993 Mumbai blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim is very upset over the Zee News expose of his relationship with Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat, according to sources. It is learnt that Dawood has started investigating how the information about his relationship Mehwish came out in open? Mehwish is 27 years younger than Dawood and it is believed that she is the underworld don's biggest weakness at this time. Mehwish is also known as 'Gangster Doll' or 'Cat' in Pakistan. Notably, Dawood's relationship with Mehwish first came to light in 2019 when the actress was awarded the 'Tamgha-e-Imtiaz', a big civilian honour in Pakistan. The 37-year-old Mehwish was not a known face until a few years ago but she has now become a popular face of Pakistan's media and glamor industry. Several people had raised questions over the Pakistan's government decision to bestow 'Tamgha-e-Imtiaz' to Mehwish and it was reported by a web portal that the Pakistani film industry is shocked to know that Mehwish has been given such a big honour. The web portal reported that whether Mahvish was given the Tamga-e-Imtiaz because she has really done so much work for the film industry or because of her relationship with a Karachi-based powerful person who is very close to ruling Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf party. When Mehwish was trolled after this news, she called it a conspiracy against her. Mehwish had started her career with an item number and it is said that after this item number she grabbed the attention of Dawood Ibrahim. It is said that Mehwish later got opportunities to work in several big projects due to her closeness with an influential person from Karachi, who is no one but Dawood. The meteroic rise of Mehwish shows that Dawood still maintains a lot of hold in film industry and he can make anyone's career in the glamour industry. Born on January 6, 1983, Mehwish is known for her roles in Load Wedding, Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Actor in Law. You couldnt make it up. First the chronology. On Sunday (23 August), in what seemed like a kite-flying piece, The Sunday Times suggested that Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory were to be expunged from The Last Night of the Proms to placate the Black Lives Matter movement. The young Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, who would be on the podium, was said to favour modernising the repertoire: a ceremony with no audience, she felt, would be the perfect moment to bring change. Despite support for this entirely reasonable idea from respected figures including Wasfi Kani, chief executive of Grange Park Opera and of Indian descent, this was the cue for bedlam in the right-wing media. In the face of howls of outrage in Tory newspapers, and a deluge of hate mail for Stasevska, the BBC put out a meekly defensive statement on Monday (24 August) that included the full programme for the evening, which did not include the two songs in question. A few hours later, that programme was revealed to be far from full. What was now revealed was a predictably anodyne exercise in multi-ethnic and social box-ticking. Come Tuesday morning, the message was different again: the songs would indeed be there, but in purely instrumental form, with no words. This was partly for Covid-19 reasons even socially distanced singing by the audience would be a health risk and partly for artistic ones: without 5,500 people belting out the songs with full welly, the point of the exercise would be lost. Later that day, Lord Hall, the BBCs outgoing director general, poured petrol on the flames by promising that next year the words would be back. This message was reinforced by his successor Tim Davie, who takes up office next week. Meanwhile, as was inevitable, the politicians were weighing in. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden was one of many Tories who wanted the songs back in their traditional form. As was also inevitable, prime minister Boris Johnson saw in this situation a God-sent opportunity for one of his populist interventions: I think its time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions, and about our culture, and we stopped this general fight of self-recrimination and wetness, he proclaimed in his best blustering manner. He was clearly relieved that he could at last sound prime-ministerial after cowering in the wings while his ministers messed up the education system. That word wetness was the infantile giveaway, harking back to the Bullingdon Club whose upper-class drunks knew (quite correctly) that one day they would rule the world. Last Night of the Proms: Fans raise flags during rousing concert It has been pointed out that Thomas Arnes rousing song Rule, Britannia! predated imperialism: the servitude to which Britons would never, never surrender was at the hands of the Spanish, who were harassing British traders in the 1730s. But even if it had been about imperialism, so what? It was an exuberant reflection of one side of British culture three centuries ago. If we were to go through the works of Purcell and Handel, Verdi and Wagner, filleting out every phrase which was un-PC, we would have very few operas left. A stronger, more confident BBC would have dismissed such simplistic revisionism out of hand. But as Jonathan Dimbleby has argued, what Johnson is doing is turning the whole affair into a Trump-style culture war. Cringing embarrassment, furnished a perfect Daily Mail headline; its no surprise that Vera Lynns rendition of Land of Hope and Glory has just topped the iTunes charts. From all this it is but a short step to demanding that the wimp-like lefties of the BBC should be defunded. And that plays straight into the Johnson-Cummings campaign which had been losing ground, thanks to the BBCs impressive coverage of the pandemic to castrate the BBC by making the licence fee optional. Its no surprise that Johnsons response to the controversy and that of his braying followers should be both ignorant and simple-minded. But its tragic that the BBC should provide them with an opening for this attack. The BBC has been guilty this week of a terrible own goal. The Last Prom is no stranger to controversy: remember the fate of John Adamss piece Short Ride in a Fast Machine, scheduled for the Last Prom in 1997 but hurriedly replaced after Princess Dianas death, and then again for the 2001 Proms in the wake of 9/11? This weeks controversy may be a storm in a teacup, but there is a much more serious debate simmering behind the scenes. Britain is now a quintessentially multi-ethnic country. And as I have argued in this newspaper for more years than I care to remember, its high time that this event and indeed the Proms in general reflected that fact. The BBC has long kowtowed to what it fondly imagines to be the requirements of youth things like the Ibiza Prom but its conception of classical music remains relentlessly and predominantly white-European and American. There are some wonderfully sophisticated classical musics out there not just the Indian raga music which will be heard in the context of an electronic jam session in this forthcoming Last Night and they should be heard at the Royal Albert Hall on equal terms. Then the Proms audience, when it eventually returns, will no longer be what it has always been, a sea of white faces. Support for Pacific families and communities is being prioritised with the government spending $19.5m to increase the resourcing and capacity of those working to combat Covid-19. This second outbreak of COVID-19 is mainly in the Auckland region, where more than two thirds of New Zealands Pacific population live. The proximity and connection of this outbreak to Pacific communities has required an urgent and a locally targeted response alongside our national strategy, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa. Weve seen a rapid mobilising of our Pacific health workforce in response to this latest outbreak. By Pacific for Pacific health providers and the Auckland DHBs ably led by the Chief Executive of Counties Manukau DHB have worked diligently to address issues and to do whatever it takes to meet the task at hand in an integrated way with wraparound support for people who need it. However our teams on the ground are facing high levels of demand beyond what anyone could have anticipated and it is unlikely to be the last situation were going to need to mobilise for in our ongoing work to limit the effects and spread of COVID-19, says Salesa. This package not only ensures those on the frontline have the capacity, support and resources they need to meet the current challenge, it also ensures we continue to be prepared to respond rapidly and effectively to any future instances of community outbreak. In addition to having larger than average family sizes, higher incidences of over-crowding and damp living conditions, our Pacific people are more commonly employed in many of our frontline, essential workforces. Many Pacific people are employed in hospitality, as health care workers, cleaners, at our airports and seaports as well as residential and homecare support, supermarket and security staff. Essential workers are at much greater risk of exposure to COVID-19. When you combine this with the living circumstances of many Pacific people, you have a potential catalyst for rapid transmission of the virus. We are working closely across the health system and the Auckland region to ensure this does not happen. Todays announcement increases our chance of success. This funding package will be used to deliver on five key priority areas, with an emphasis on increasing the outreach and support to Pacific communities: Enabling Pacific health and disability service providers in Auckland to meet the increased demand for their testing and wraparound support services. Enabling Auckland metro DHBs, led by Counties Manukau, to sustain and expand their mobile outreach services and Pacific case management model which now includes pathways for working with churches that was established under the initial Pacific Response Package. Establishing an enhanced Pacific priority outreach service as part of the National Close Contact Service. This will be a specialised, priority mobile service which can be deployed to find, spot-test, and provide wraparound assessments for Pacific close contacts which cannot be traced through the main NCCS processes. Bringing together a group of leading Pacific researchers and health care providers to analyse current intelligence and data on the Pacific experience of COVID -19, and use this to inform current and future policy and service delivery. Establishing a flexible pool of funding to assist disability support services and their Pacific COVID-19 response. Every New Zealander has a stake in this - if we fail in one part of society, we fail everywhere. Im delighted to see the government prioritising the support of those who need it most COVID-19 is the problem and people working together uniting against the virus is the solution we have done it before and I believe we can do so again by facing the challenge together, says Salesa. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. BERLIN (AP) German police called to the scene of a suspected shooting found a man who had fallen asleep with an action film running at top volume on TV. Police in Cologne said several people on Wednesday morning reported hearing shots from an apartment somewhere in their neighborhood. Several police teams surrounded two neighboring buildings at about 7.30 a.m. and started searching the apartments. The cause of the disturbance was tracked down quickly once officers had called in a locksmith to open a locked door a slumbering man in front of a television showing an action film. The 34-year-old, who wasn't registered as living at the address, was taken to the police station but let go after his identity was established. Firefighter Sarah Lee, who is fighting the Woodward Fire in Point Reyes National Seashore, told KPIX that $7,000 of gear was stolen out of her car on Tuesday. Lee, who works for the Bureau of Land Management, was staying at a hotel in San Rafael in between fire shifts. On Tuesday morning, she went down to her vehicle in the parking lot to discover it had been ransacked. "I'd taken as much as I could into the hotel room with me, but all of my camping gear that Ive been collecting for 20 years of fighting fire, all of the equipment that we use to set up the finance section that wed packed up from here, all of the IT, that was all gone," Lee told KPIX. Also stolen were firefighters' timecards, which means Lee's team will need to individually contact firefighters to determine their hours all over again. The Woodward Fire, located about three miles southwest of Olema, was started by a lightning strike on Aug. 18 and has burned 2,739 acres. Over 250 fire personnel are on the scene. It is 5% contained. "Today's operations will continue with direct and indirect line construction on north, east and south sides of the fire," Marin County Fire said in a Wednesday morning update. "A dozer line on the north side of the fire is 3/4 done and is expected to be completed by the end of the day ... They will start mop up work along the south portion of the fire, which should limit the fire in the coastal brush and limit southern movement into the flashy fuels toward Bolinas." You can check the latest evacuation warnings and orders here. This is the second time in recent days a firefighter battling Northern California wildfires has been targeted by thieves. Over the weekend, a ground commander near Bonny Doon discovered his work truck was broken into. His wallet was stolen and he had his bank account drained, Cal Fire officials said. They're seeking a suspect seen on surveillance footage allegedly using the man's credit card. Katie Dowd is the SFGATE managing editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd Deputy President William Ruto has hit back at the Raila Odinga-led ODM party, which accused him of watering down President Kenyattas commitment to the war against graft. Last week Thursday, Ruto distanced himself from the alleged misuse of funds by KEMSA to procure Covid-19, noting that he is just a spectator. He said that for once, he wont be blamed for the corruption scandal. Then on Sunday, the DP further accused ODM of taking advantage of the handshake between Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta for personal gain and to defend corrupt activities at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency. This prompted a response from ODM, with the partys sec-gen Edwin Sifuna saying ODM is not defending corruption but that they first want an audit by the Auditor General. Sifuna also claimed that the DP suggested it is okay for funds to be stolen as long as he is not the one to blame. It was disheartening to hear no less a senior government official than the Deputy President go public with a juvenile and improper statement about not being blamed for the mess. Even more unsettling [is that his remarks] express the jealousy of being left out of the gravy train, Mr Sifuna said. DP Ruto has now responded to ODM, accusing the political outfit and its top members of being beneficiaries of the KEMSA scandal. Read the DPs full response posted on his official Facebook page Tuesday. The Covid Billionaire heist at KEMSA is a deplorable manifestation of the worst public vice. The hypocritical former Opposition have clearly characteristically changed tune. First, they told us we should ignore what was happening at KEMSA, and that there was nothing wrong with some newly registered suspect companies being awarded tenders worth billions. 2. Then, they told us that the media was sensationalising business at KEMSA by ostensibly elevating rumours to facts. (CNN) A court in Bangkok has ordered the arrest of the heir to the Red Bull fortune on fresh charges, adding another twist to a scandal that has turned a spotlight on one of Thailand's wealthiest families. The Bangkok South Criminal Court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for Vorayuth Yoovidhya, grandson of the creator of Red Bull, according to Royal Thai Police spokesperson, Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen. The warrant was issued after police filed two new charges against Vorayuth, 38, for reckless driving and drug use, Pattanacharoen said. The whereabouts of Vorayuth, who police say caused the death of an officer in a motorcycle accident in September 2012, are unknown. Vorayuth was driving a Ferrari at the time. A warrant for his arrest was issued in April 2017, but authorities believe he had already left the country. Better known by his nickname "Boss," Vorayuth grew up in one of Thailand's most prominent families. His grandfather, the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, created the Red Bull energy drink a fizzy mix of vitamins, sugar, and caffeine and built it into a global empire. Reuters reported that Vorayuth's lawyer said he had no knowledge of the new warrant and had not been in contact with his client. The latest arrest warrant comes just weeks after the Office of the Attorney General dropped a previous round of criminal charges against Vorayuth, prompting a public outcry among Thais who have long felt that the country's legal system unfairly favors the rich. That led to multiple fresh inquiries, including by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and the Office of Attorney General. The Office of Attorney General ordered police to reopen the case earlier this month after evidence emerged suggesting that Vorayuth was speeding at the time of the accident, a point that was previously contested. Blood tests conducted after the accident also found traces of cocaine, according to the agency. Hanna Ziady contributed reporting from London. This was first published on CNN.com. Spray paint left on a building on 40th Street in West Philadelphia by a group of protesters marching in response to the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin. Read more An anticapitalist group taking part in what it called the Summer of Rage has claimed responsibility for unrest that erupted near the University of Pennsylvania campus Tuesday night, leaving windows smashed and prompting campus police to warn students and staff to remain indoors. Roughly 60 people in black clothes and donning black masks gathered at Clark Park, near the intersection of 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, and began marching just before 9:30 p.m., campus police said. They quickly cut a swath of damage along 40th Street building barricades, vandalizing several buildings and a marked Penn police car before dispersing about 40 minutes later. In their wake, several businesses were left damaged along 40th Street, including a PNC bank, a coffee shop, a pizza parlor, a bar, the Free Library branch at 40th and Walnut Streets, and a university residence hall that was spray-painted with the phrase Nerds Call 911. A post that appeared Wednesday morning on Philly Anti-Capitalist, a clearinghouse for local antiauthoritarian and anarchist groups, and submitted by a person claiming to be an organizer of the demonstration, declared the event a success. Over 45 people marched through the streets chanting and smashing windows of banks, business and developments, the post read. There was a surprising amount of destruction. It went on to describe demonstrators using barricades to elude police intervention and covering identifying tattoos and facial features to avoid detection by authorities. Philadelphia police declined to comment on whether their investigation of the vandalism was focused on the Summer of Rage group, saying only that the probe continues. Penn police didnt respond to requests for details. But as business owners and university staff boarded up windows, cleared broken glass from sidewalks, and power-washed antipolice and anarchist graffiti off building walls Wednesday morning, many were still trying to figure out exactly what had happened. Most of the businesses along the corridor were closed when the destruction began. Security footage at Allegro Pizza & Grill near 40th and Spruce Streets showed a crowd of people walking north on 40th just before 9:30 p.m., flanked by people walking their bicycles and halting traffic. People in the front carried a banner that read: F the police. Louie K., a part owner of Allegro who asked that his last name be withheld over safety concerns, said members of the group spray-painted on the wall of his business and a man took a baseball bat to its ATM, causing more than $10,000 in damage. Another local business owner, who asked to remain anonymous because he didnt want [his] windows broken, too, said he saw a crowd of about 25 people in black clothing ransacking a construction site near 40th and Sansom Streets. The group threw traffic cones and toppled trash cans, he said while noting he didnt see any violent behavior. At one point, he said, police approached the crowd near Chestnut Street and the group shouted profanities at officers but kept on walking. The gathering that led to the unrest came together quickly through mostly private messages and social media posts. A graphic shared on Instagram directed attendees in solidarity with Kenosha to meet at Clark Park at 9 p.m. and wear black. Screenshot & share on IG story only, the graphic read. (Instagrams stories function is not easily searchable.) The post early Wednesday morning on the anticapitalist blog said the group was marching in solidarity with Philadelphia sanitation workers, Black Lives Matter, and protests in Kenosha, Wis., over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old man seriously injured by officers Sunday as he leaned into his car in front of his children. Organizers involved in previous protests on behalf of those causes have disavowed property destruction in their pursuit of social justice goals. But a group donning similar dark clothing and masks and also claiming to be associated with the Summer of Rage drew attention in 2017 after causing more than $100,000 in damage to new buildings and high-end cars in North Philadelphia. Those demonstrators said they were marching against gentrification in the neighborhood. Neighbors at the time described the masked demonstrators smashing windows, spray-painting messages like Leave! on new buildings, and throwing Christmas ornaments filled with paint. Two protesters were arrested after area residents surrounded the group and kept them penned in until police arrived. No arrests have been reported in connection with Tuesdays unrest. Bengaluru: Uber on Wednesday launched an on demand 24x7 Auto Rentals service in India. The service allows riders to book an auto and its driver for several hours with the liberty to make multiple stops along a journey, Uber said in a statement. The service in now live in Bengaluru and is available in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune, it said. Prices start at Rs 149 for a one-hour/ ten km package with the option of selecting from multiple hourly packages that can be booked up to a maximum of eight hours, Uber said. You can follow these steps for Uber Auto Rentals: Download the app Get the free Uber app from the App Store or Google Play on your smartphone and open the app to create your account Request a ride by choosing Auto Rentals for your trip Select your hourly package You can choose packages from 1 Hour to 8 Hours Tap Confirm Auto Rentals to request your ride, Add or remove destinations during your ride as per your plan Enjoy your ride Youll see your drivers picture and vehicle details, and can track their arrival on the map Commenting on the new service, Nitish Bhushan, Head of Marketplace & Categories, Uber India and South Asia, said,"This is an India-first innovation and a prime example of how we leverage technology to benefit both riders and drivers." Alternative asset management company Pacific Alliance Group (PAG) could pick up a majority stake in the wealth, investment banking and capital markets businesses of Edelweiss Financial Services for up to Rs 2,500 crore. Asia-focused PAG might purchase a 51 percent stake in a new entity that will be spun off from Edelweiss Global Investment Advisors (EGIA), for Rs 2,200-2,500 crore, according to a report by The Economic Times. The deal, which might be formally announced later this week, will be PAG's first private equity investment in India, the report said. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. PAG and Edelweiss declined to comment when contacted by The Economic Times. Edelweiss is expected to maintain a 35-37 percent stake in the entity while existing investors Sanaka Capital and Kora Management will own a combined 12 percent, the report said. In 2019, Sanaka Capital and Kora Management had invested Rs 1,160 crore in EGIA. The businesses that will be carved out will eventually get listed, sources told the publication. The move is also a part of Edelweiss' efforts to revamp the company after IL&FS defaulted on crucial payments in 2018. DUBLIN, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Chemists & Pharmacies (GLOBAL) - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Chemists & Pharmacies Analysis provides a detailed overview of the Chemists & Pharmacies market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 360 companies, including Welcia Yakkyoku Co., Ltd., Corporativo Fragua SAB DE CV and Apotek Hjartat Retail AB. This report covers activities such as pharmacy, pharmacist, medical, chemist, drug and includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over the past four years. The latest Chemists & Pharmacies (GLOBAL) analysis is ideal for anyone wanting to: See the market leaders Identify companies heading for failure Seek out the most attractive acquisition Analyse industry trends Benchmark their own financial performance Using an exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this report will tell you that 75 companies have a declining financial rating, while 62 have shown good sales growth. Each of the largest 360 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data. Every business is examined on the following features: A graphical assessment of a company's financial performance Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet A written summary highlighting key performance issues Subsequently, you will receive a thorough 100-page market analysis highlighting the latest changes in the Global Chemists & Pharmacies market. This section includes: Best Trading Partners Sales Growth Analysis Profit Analysis Market Size Rankings For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zdde52 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. 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] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com The Socialist Equality Party (Australia) held a successful three-day national congress on August 14-16. Delegates from across the country discussed and unanimously adopted a major resolution outlining the deepening crisis of Australian and world capitalism and the tasks of the party, and elected a new national leadership. The SEP holds its national congresses every two years. The event, held online due to the coronavirus pandemic, was marked by significant international participation. It was held in the wake of the SEP (US) congress last month. Representatives of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement, from the US, Britain, Germany, France, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Canada delivered greetings and participated in the deliberations. David North, chairman of the WSWS international editorial board and the SEP (US), gave a contribution reviewing the significance of the COVID-19 crisis as a turning point in world history. North placed the work of the ICFI in the context of the 80th anniversary of the assassination of Leon Trotsky and the protracted struggle of the Fourth International for socialist internationalism. Cheryl Crisp presented a detailed report examining the different stages of the pandemic. Crisp exposed the fraudulent character of official claims that Australia was exempt from the global crisis. She stressed that the response of the Australian ruling elite and the political establishment to the pandemic, like its counterparts internationally, had been dictated solely by the interests of the corporate and financial elite. Crisps report made clear that the same processes leading to an escalation of class struggle globally are present in Australia. She stressed the need for the SEP to deepen its intervention into the working class and to build the party in preparation for major social and political struggles. Other reports were delivered on different aspects of the SEPs analysis and work. These included the fight by the Committee for Public Education, a rank-and-file organisation of teachers initiated by SEP members to defend the social rights of educators in opposition to the corporatised trade unions; the struggle to build the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, the SEPs youth wing, among students and working class youth; the partys participation in the international campaign to free WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and defend all whistleblowers, including Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, and the fight for an international anti-war movement of the working class against the drive to imperialist war, in particular the escalating US confrontation with China. The main congress resolution, published on the WSWS today, is entitled The coronavirus pandemic, the crisis of capitalism and the tasks of the SEP. Based on the analysis developed by the WSWS since the beginning of the year, and the major statements of the ICFI over the past decades, it identifies the pandemic as a trigger event accelerating the growth of social inequality, the turn to militarism and authoritarianism by governments around the world, and the resurgence of the class struggle. The resolution explains that the prognosis of the January 3 WSWS perspective, which identified the 2020s as a decade of revolutionary struggle, has been confirmed within months. It states: The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a monumental breakdown of the capitalist system and laid bare the chasm between the ruling classes and the mass of the population internationally. Governments around the world stand exposed for their criminal indifference and negligence. Their lack of preparation, despite repeated warnings of the danger of such a public health disaster, and their failure to immediately implement the necessary counter-measures, are responsible for the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The resolution reviews how these developments have found expression in Australia. It documents the criminally-negligent official response to the pandemic, including a pro-business reopening of the economy that has resulted in a resurgence of coronavirus infections and deaths. It states: The rapid spread and global nature of the pandemic and its devastating economic and social impact demonstrate the impossibility of walling off any country or continent, including Australia, from the resulting crisis. National borders cannot protect the worlds population because of the vast interconnectedness of contemporary economic and social life. A global answer is necessary. The threat posed to millions more lives and livelihoods can only be countered through the mobilisation of the international working classthe only social force that can overturn the capitalist profit system, which is a barrier to the international coordination of economic, scientific, industrial and information resources needed to combat the virus. That task requires the building of the ICFI, the world party of socialist revolution, to provide the essential worldwide strategy and leadership. The resolution outlines Australias central role in the stepped-up US confrontation with China, which threatens nuclear war. It reviews an intensifying assault on democratic rights, including the establishment of an extra-constitutional national cabinet, that has ruled by decree through much of the pandemic, and the expansion of police and military powers. It also draws particular attention to the central role of Labor and the trade unions in enforcing an assault on the social position of the working class which has dramatically intensified over the past six months. The document anticipates a deepening of the political radicalisation revealed in Junes mass protests against police violence, and the emergence of social and political opposition from the working class. The document details the partys development of transitional demands, aimed at establishing a bridge between the initial struggles that workers are engaged in and the perspective of socialist revolution. This includes the fight for a rebellion against the unions and the establishment of independent rank-and-file committees in workplaces and neighbourhoods. Summing up the tasks of the SEP, point 30 of the resolution states: The strategic lessons of the 20th centurythe victory of the Russian Revolution in October 1917, as well as the bitter defeats of the working class in revolutionary struggles all demonstrate that without a revolutionary party to provide political education and leadership a mass movement of the working class, no matter how militant, is incapable of seizing power from the bourgeoisie. The basic task of the SEP is to build its political influence in key sections of the working class, by intervening aggressively in struggles as they emerge, to recruit workers and youth to the party and train them as revolutionary fighters. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Congress along with two supplementary resolutions: Free Julian Assange! Defend Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden! and Build the IYSSE! They will be published on the WSWS over the coming days. The Congress elected a new National Committee, to lead the work of the party for the next two years. Reflecting the growth of the SEP over the recent period, it includes a significant layer of students, young people and workers won to Trotskyism over the past five years, along with senior members whose involvement in the party spans decades. As the partys national-secretary, the National Committee elected Cheryl Crisp, who has been a leading member of the SEP and its predecessor organisation since 1972 and was elected as assistant national-secretary in 2015. The outgoing national-secretary James Cogan retired from the position due to ill-health. Max Boddy, who has led the partys work in the Newcastle area and has played a prominent role in its interventions elsewhere, was elected as the new assistant national-secretary. Peter Symonds was elected as WSWS national editor. In concluding the Congress, Crisp stressed that its success was based on the close international collaboration of the ICFI and the immense political and theoretical preparation of the world Trotskyist movement. She emphasised that the Congress was held amid a turning point in the world situation that creates the conditions for the intersection of the revolutionary program of the SEP with the emerging mass movement of the working class and youth. Panic gripped residents of Sidhwan Bet area in Ludhiana after the body of a 47-year-old farmer was found lying in the fields near Salempura village on Wednesday. The victim has been identified as Kulwant Singh, a resident of Salempura. Based on the complaint of the victims brother, Harban Singh, a case has been registered under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons. The complainant said that him and his other brother, Hakam Singh, were returning home from the fields when they found the body of their third brother, Kulwant, lying in the field near their house. They raised an alarm and sounded the police. Inspector Rajesh Thakur, station house officer, Sidhwan Bet police sation, said sharp-edged weapons were used to kill the victim. He ruled out the possibility of robbery. We have to get some vital clues and hopefully we will crack the case soon, the SHO said. PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is proud to announce the opening of the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Primary Care Center Norristown. Nicholas and Athena Karabots, local philanthropists and longtime supporters of CHOP, pledged $2 million to support the renovation and re-location of CHOP's Primary Care Center in Norristown, PA. Located at 1437 Dekalb Street, Suite 100, across the street from CHOP's former Norristown Primary Care site, the new Center will support a growing patient population and need for comprehensive primary care and other social services to serve residents of the community. "Nicholas and Athena Karabots' dedication to helping children in underserved communities is truly admirable, and on behalf of everyone at CHOP, I thank them for their ongoing partnership and support," said Madeline Bell, President and CEO of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "The new Norristown Center will enable us to serve even more families and provides a wonderful opportunity build off the successful healthcare model we have developed at the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pediatric Care Center in West Philadelphia." In 2013, a generous donation from the couple enabled CHOP to open the Karabots Center in West Philadelphia. Today, the Center is a beloved community hub for more than 32,000 children and families each year. The newly renovated, 10,000 square foot space in Norristown will offer the same high-quality, comprehensive primary care as the West Philadelphia site, as well as offer critical services, such as onsite behavioral health and social work, to meet the needs of children and families in the Norristown community. "My wife and I are pleased to support the renovation and re-location of CHOP's Primary Care Center in Norristown," said Nicholas Karabots. "We strongly believe it's a necessity for all children, especially those living in difficult situations in underserved communities, to have access to healthcare services and other resources. We trust that the new Center will provide children and their families with opportunities that they once thought were inaccessible." Through an innovative partnership with the Norristown School District, telehealth visits will also be offered at the Norristown site, as well as a walk-in clinic where sick patients can be seen without a scheduled appointment. Local community agencies will also be invited to share the space to provide additional resources, such as grief counseling and art therapy, for patients and families. 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. Media Contact: Jennifer Lee Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [email protected] SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Related Links http://www.chop.edu The National House of Chiefs (NHC) has initiated conversations with prominent traditional rulers on the African continent to host a conference of African Traditional Leaders in Ghana in 2021. The conference would be used to prepare the grounds for the formation of a permanent continental body of traditional rulers to be known as Africa Traditional Leaders Union (ATLU). A statement signed by Mr Stephen Owusu, Public Relations Officer of NHC and issued in Kumasi, said the initiative was the contribution of the NHC to bring all traditional leaders on the African continent together under one body. According to the statement, the ATLU, which would be modelled on the lines of the African Union (AU) would further strengthen peace, unity and development among Africans. The statement said during the second general meeting of the House in June 2020, the President Togbe Afede XIV, who is also the Agbogbemefia of Asogli, cited a crucial reason for African traditional leaders to do more to ensure continental development and peace. It said recent events had exposed the vulnerability of the black race and it was imperative for traditional leaders on the continent to think about what they could do to complement what the political leaders were doing to further the cause of the continent. According to the statement, the African continent had 20 percent of the worlds landmass, 30 percent of earths minerals resources and 17 percent of its people, yet Africa suffered mass poverty and joblessness. It said the search for answers to these and numerous problems confronting the continent had engaged the minds of the leadership of the House, hence the decision to initiate conversation with important traditional leaders across the African continent towards hosting a conference of Africa traditional leaders in Ghana in year 2021. The statement said the leadership of the House had already interacted with the Ambassadors of Cote dIviore, Burkina Faso, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Niger, Liberia, and Botswana and would continue to contact other embassies to further discuss the issues. 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 TDT | Manama The Ministry of Health could be conducting up to 2,300 random coronavirus (COVID-19) tests a day, according to a top health official. The ministrys mobile units head Dr Taghreed Ajoor revealed yesterday that 300 to 400 random tests could be conducted in each of the Kingdoms various areas daily. The ministrys random testing operations are part of the measures being undertaken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The mobile units are fully equipped in accordance with internationally approved medical standards and the random testing is being done by a team of qualified staff, for the health and safety of all citizens and residents around Bahrain, the ministry said. Dr Ajoor explained that the random tests aim to monitor COVID-19 cases with no symptoms in order to speed up their recovery and limit any potential spread they may cause. These campaigns also contribute to raising awareness by communicating with the public and answering their inquiries, while also stressing to all the importance of following precautionary measures such as social distancing and constant hand washing. Dr Ajoor pointed out that their success was the result of the continuous efforts of Team Bahrain as whole, especially the contributions of the Interior Ministry and Civil Defence to preserve the health and safety of everyone. Random testing in Bahrain began in mid-April. Donald Trump Jr. said Monday at the Republican convention that Democrats were trying to erase the past. Moments earlier, Nikki Haley spoke of pulling the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Statehouse in 2015. (Associated Press) The Republican National Convention should have come with a safety warning beware of whiplash. Throughout the first few days of their party extravaganza, Republicans zigzagged between conflicting messages in a frantic effort to bruise Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee who is leading President Trump in the polls. Nowhere have the contradictions been sharper than in the party's rhetoric on crime. Republicans promised to stand for "law and order" and warned that Democrats will empower "the vengeful mob that wishes to destroy our way of life." But they've also targeted Biden for pushing controversial legislation in 1994 that increased incarceration rates among Black men, crediting Trump for reforms that "made our system more fair and just for all Americans." Political parties are unwieldy, rambunctious organizations, and their conventions must be stretched to contain multitudes. Last week's Democratic National Convention featured both Michael R. Bloomberg, a former Wall Street executive who became New York's technocratic mayor, and Bernie Sanders, the rumpled democratic socialist senator from Vermont. Internal divisions are common during policy debates over how to expand healthcare coverage or tackle climate change. Yet even by those standards, Republicans have contradicted themselves over and over this week. Many of the inconsistencies came as speakers tried to assure the country that the party is enlightened on racial issues even as it tries to stoke white voters' fears." South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, spoke about the outrage over the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor one hour after an appearance by a white St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters passing by their St. Louis mansion. "No matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats' America," said Patricia McCloskey, sitting next to her husband, Mark, in a wood-paneled room. Story continues Corey Lewandoski, a campaign advisor, defended the McCloskeys for presenting an argument about "safety and security." "The McCloskeys did something a lot of Americans would do if they felt if they were potentially in jeopardy, whether it was real or perceived," he said. "That has nothing to do with racism." Paris Dennard, the Trump campaign's senior communications advisor for Black media affairs, rejected the idea that the convention's speakers have been inconsistent. There are absolutely no contradictory messages about the safety and security of the American people, namely those living in urban cities where Democrat leaders refuse to put an end to lawless riots, violence and murders," he said. Dennard added, "Our message is consistent, and voters agree with us, which is why recent polling has showed Black Americans do not want less police presence in their neighborhoods because they know defunding the police will leave them less safe and secure. Biden has proposed boosting police funding as well as shifting additional resources to mental health counseling. Nikki Haley, Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, spoke near the end of the convention's first night about the aftermath of the massacre by a white supremacist at a church in South Carolina, where she was governor, in 2015. After the shooting, Haley said the state "removed a divisive symbol, peacefully and respectfully," a reference to pulling down a Confederate flag from the statehouse building. Next up was Donald Trump Jr. with a different message he accused liberals of trying to erase the past. "We're not going to tear down monuments and forget the people who built our great nation," he said. Like Haley, Trump Jr. didn't explicitly mention the Confederacy, but his comments placed him squarely on the opposite side of the issue. The inability to maintain a consistent message reflects Trump's struggle in tarring Biden as he did Hillary Clinton four years ago. During that campaign, he could capitalize on longstanding Republican attacks on Clinton, painting her as corrupt, untrustworthy and elitist. No such framework exists for Biden, who is less prominent despite his decades in public service and enjoys more goodwill from voters. Trump faces a similar problem with targeting Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate. His campaign has alternated between describing the California senator as a liberal radical and blaming her for tough-on-crime policies when she was a prosecutor in San Francisco. Republicans were quick to skip over inconvenient facts or accuse their opponents of the same offenses that they've committed. At one point, Trump Jr. criticized "Beijing Biden" for being the favored candidate of the Chinese, citing a U.S. intelligence report that concluded China would prefer to see Trump lose. But he glossed over an adjacent conclusion that Russia was meddling in the campaign to undermine Biden repeating its efforts against Hillary Clinton four years ago and acting much more aggressively than China. During a recorded appearance with front-line workers at the White House, Trump thanked a woman who delivered mail to a senior community during the coronavirus outbreak. Even though his administration has financially squeezed the U.S. Postal Service, which he has consistently attacked, the president promised that "we're not getting rid of our postal workers." Then he added, "if anyone does, it's the Democrats, not the Republicans." Trump has never been known for his skill at staying on message, a trait that endears him to his supporters but can frustrate allies who wish he would generate fewer distractions. He veered off course in a meeting with former U.S. hostages who were held overseas. First up was Andrew Brunson, a pastor who became a cause celebre while spending two years in detention in Turkey. But even as Trump expressed satisfaction that Brunson was home, he had warm words for the country's authoritarian leader. "To me, President Erdogan was very good," Trump said. Jeep will soon expand its lineup by resurrecting the Grand Wagoneer nameplate and taking the Wrangler into plug-in hybrid territory for the first time. It released two short videos to preview both models. Posted on Twitter, the 15-second Grand Wagoneer preview shows a full moon shining behind a cluster of high-rise buildings. It announces the shape of premium is about to return, and it briefly displays an outline of the SUV, which confirms the model will have pronounced wheel arches, roof rails, door mirrors, and, thankfully, wheels. Earlier images released by the brand were more revealing; we've seen part of the Grand Wagoneer's chromed grille (or was it the Wagoneer's?), for example, and we know it will be offered with a digital rear-view mirror. The return of a vehicle that defined a generation of adventure. Coming 2021. pic.twitter.com/9dEOBlC5YN Jeep (@Jeep) August 24, 2020 As we've previously reported, the Grand Wagoneer will be positioned at the top of the Jeep range, and it will share most of its underpinnings (including its frame, its suspension, and its available engines) with the Ram 1500. Aimed squarely at upscale SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator, Jeep's flagship model will be assembled in the same Warren Truck Assembly, Michigan, factory that builds the 1500. Also posted on Twitter, the second video gives viewers a look at the plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe. It touts the off-roader's ability to explore the great outdoors in near-complete silence thanks to an electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery pack. Official technical details are still under wraps, but we expect the Wrangler's gasoline-electric powertrain will be closely related to the Chrysler Pacifica's, meaning it will be built around a 3.6-liter V6. Story continues The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is so quiet, its like someone turned the volume up on nature. Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/RhKqaL0s2U Jeep (@Jeep) August 22, 2020 We already saw the plug-in Wrangler at the 2020 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), so Jeep didn't bother to hide its exterior design in the video. It looks almost exactly like a non-electrified model with the exception of subtle blue accents and a charging port at the base of the driver-side A-pillar. And, the Wrangler displayed at the trade show was a Rubicon version that retained the "trail-rated" badge, so going hybrid seemingly hasn't compromised its off-road prowess. Other trim levels may also be offered with the powertrain. Jeep will introduce the born-again Grand Wagoneer online on September 3, though it likely won't arrive in showrooms until early 2021 as a 2022 model. We don't know when the Wrangler 4xe will make its debut, but it will likely be in the coming weeks. Looking ahead, the brand will unveil the much-anticipated next-generation Grand Cherokee and a batch of limited-edition models to celebrate its 80th birthday before the end of 2020. We may soon see the first factory-built V8-powered Wrangler in the nameplate's 34-year history, too. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> You Might Also Like First lady Melania Trump waves as President Donald Trump looks on after her address to the Republican National Convention from the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, on Aug. 25, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) First Lady Melania Trump, Biden Campaign Condemn Rioting First Lady Melania Trump and the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Tuesday denounced the violence and destruction taking place in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Trump, speaking to the Republican National Convention, called on Americans to take a moment, pause, and look at things from all perspectives. I urge people to come together in a civil manner, so we can work and live up to our standard American ideals. I also ask people to stop the violence and looting being done in the name of justice, and never make assumptions based on the color of a persons skin, she said. Instead of tearing things down, lets reflect on our mistakes. Be proud of our evolution and look to our way forward. Every day let us remember that we are one nation under God, and we need to cherish one another. Trump said she has reflected on unrest in the country. It is a harsh reality that we are not proud of parts of our history. I encourage people to focus on our future while still learning from our past. We must remember that today we are all one community comprised of many races, religions, and ethnicities. Our diverse and storied history is what makes our country strong, and yet we still have so much to learn from one another, she said. Demonstrators chant in front of a burning truck in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 24, 2020. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Rioters for several nights have burned buildings and looted businesses in Kenosha, ostensibly in the name of racial justice. Two people were shot dead overnight during rioting. President Donald Trump, who narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, did not mention rioting during remarks on Tuesday. On Twitter, he urged Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to call the National Guard to help quell unrest in Portland, which has continued virtually every night since late May. Brown said she would not. Biden, the Democratic nominee, has not personally condemned the rioting in Kenosha or Portland, but campaign adviser Symone Sanders did. As Joe Biden said in the aftermath of George Floyds horrific murder: Protesting such brutality is right and necessary. Its an utterly American response. But burning down communities and needless destruction is not. Violence that endangers lives is not. Violence that guts and shutters businesses that serve the community is not, Sanders said in a statement to news outlets. Biden in June spoke about Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. The four officers involved were fired and face murder or aiding and abetting murder charges. The country is crying out for leadership. Leadership that can unite us. Leadership that can bring us together. Leadership that can recognize the pain and deep grief of communities that have had a knee on their neck for too long, Biden said at the time. But there is no place for violence. No place for looting or destroying property or burning churches, or destroying businessesmany of them built by people of color who for the first time were beginning to realize their dreams and build wealth for their families. Nor is it acceptable for our policesworn to protect and serve all peopleto escalate tensions or resort to excessive violence. We need to distinguish between legitimate peaceful protestand opportunistic violent destruction. Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake in Evanston, Ill., in Sept. 2019. (Adria-Joi Watkins via AP) In a statement after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha on Sunday, Biden said it was clear that Blake is a victim of excessive force and called for an immediate probe into the matter. The Wisconsin Department of Justice had already said it was investigating the shooting. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave. Trump was being briefed on the shooting on Monday by Attorney General William Barr, a White House official said. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters in Washington that its too early to tell in terms of what actually happened from what I was briefed on. Obviously the video tells a story that is troubling, he said. An initial clip showed Blake walking away from officers and reaching into a vehicle before being shot multiple times. Another video released later showed Blake struggling with several officers on the ground behind the vehicle before escaping and walking to the SUV. Police officers were responding to a call on a domestic incident. Blakes lawyers say he was trying to deescalate that incident. A criminal complaint filed against the man last month charged him with sexual assault, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. The alleged victim in the case said Blake was her ex-boyfriend and they have three children together. Blake is paralyzed from his waist down, his family said Tuesday. A spokesman for Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, where Blake is being treated, declined to provide details when reached by The Epoch Times. The spike comes as new restrictions on public gatherings go into effect in Will and Kankakee counties, due to the rising number of people testing positive for the coronavirus. There will be no indoor service for bars or restaurants, outside bar and food service must close at 11 p.m., and gatherings are capped at 25 people or 25% of the overall room capacity. Casinos also must close at 11 p.m. and are limited to 25% capacity. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) She made the statement in reply to reporters question about Vietnams response to the bombings. We offer deep condolences to the Philippine Government and the families of victims, Hang said, adding that Vietnam believes the perpetrators of the attack must be duly punished./. New Delhi: Politically unstable Nepal saw a change in guard in 2016 with 'Prachanda' becoming the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation, but the crisis persists over the new Constitution that sparked violence in Terai region bordering India with which Kathmandu's ties improved steadily paving way for President Pranab Mukherjee's maiden visit. The year began on a turbulent note as the unrest spilledover from the previous year over the Madhesi demands forgreater political control following promulgation of the new Constitution in September last year. Over 50 people were killed during the months long violent agitation by Madhesis who blocked a key border trade points with India, resulting in shortage of essential supplies in Nepal and causing hardships to its people. The unofficial border blockade was finally lifted on the southern frontier with India on January 5 with a brief clash between Indian traders and agitating Madhesis. On January 23, the Nepalese Parliament endorsed bills for amending three clauses of the Constitution to incorporate the demands of the disgruntled Madhesi groups. The amendment included provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities including the Madhesis in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in the Parliament on the basis of population. Prime Minister K P Oli visited India in February. Priorto the visit the pro-China premier had said that he would only visit India if the unofficial blockade was lifted. During Oli's six-day India visit, he met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj and other important leaders. Two MoUs each worth USD 1 billion were signed between Nepal and India.The first USD 1 billion line of credit assistance wasannounced during Modi's visit to Nepal and the second USD one billion assistance was announced during Swaraj's visit to Nepal for rebuilding after the quake. Oli paid an official visit to China in third week ofMarch, during which Nepal and China signed 10 agreements to boost economic cooperation that includes, an agreement to facilitate trade and transit between the two neighbours, concessional loan for constructing Pokhara Regional Airport and an economic and technical cooperation agreement. President Vidya Bhandari's proposed visit to India wascancelled in May as the cabinet did not endorse her travelplans and the government recalled its envoy to India DeepKumar Upadhyaya, escalating tensions in bilateral ties. India had witnessed a strain in bilateral ties after theadoption of a new Constitution by Nepal that divided the tiny nation into seven provincial units and marginalised Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin and inhabitants of the Terai. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. by Biju Veticad Priests have given up part of their allowance to provide food and coronavirus kits to those in need. About 33 per cent of Bihar residents live below the poverty line. Some 1.3 million unemployed migrant workers need help. The Church is committed to fighting illiteracy. Patna (AsiaNews) In the Archdiocese of Patna, 84 priests gave up part of their monthly allowance to help the poor and the unemployed during the COVID-19 outbreak. "Thanks to their generosity, the Catholic Church has been able to provide supplies to people in difficulty, make and distribute protective masks and sanitiser, and engage in programs to raise awareness of the effects of the coronavirus," said Father Amal Raj, director of the Archdioceses Social Service Centre, speaking to AsiaNews. The pandemic has not affected the commitment of the Catholic community to the needy in Bihar, north-eastern India, one of the countrys least developed state, where the lockdown imposed by the government to stop the coronavirus from spreading has negatively impacted the material conditions of large segments of the population. The most affected are the families of about 1.3 million migrant workers from the state. After moving to other parts of India in search of employment, they were forced to go back to their villages because of confinement measures and the halt to economic activities. About 33 per cent of Bihar residents live below the poverty line. Catholics are less than 1 per cent of the local population, but the contribution of the six dioceses to the development of the state is significant (and visible). Thanks to Sewa Kendra, an inter-diocesan platform, the Catholics have managed to keep up their charitable work even in the midst of the pandemic. For example, to ensure the financial security of migrant workers who lost their jobs, farm animals sheep, chickens, ducks and hens have been provided to migrant families. Founded in December 2014 by Archbishop William DSouza, of Patna, Sewa Kendra works above all for Bihars socio-economic development, the education of children in rural villages and the emancipation of women. Its projects are financed with donations from benefactors, but the economic crisis, with the closure of many companies, is reducing the flow of aid, Fr Raj said. For the Church, illiteracy, especially female illiteracy, is one of the main obstacles to the states development. Sister Anila SCN, from the Diocese of Muzzafarpur, explains that Sewa Kendra is very committed to this cause. Girls and women must be empowered through education. This can bring quality to their families and society as a whole. Shares in sofa specialist DFS have recovered some of their pandemic losses thanks to a trend for home improvements. Strong demand in the past six weeks handed it 70m in revenue, a year-on-year jump of 40 per cent. DFS, which also owns Sofa Workshop and Sofology, culled jobs last month after lockdown forced it to pause furniture deliveries, contributing to a 58m year-end loss. But since lockdown was lifted consumers have 'invested in their homes rather than fashion or holidays', bosses said. Homeware sellers are also benefiting from office employees preparing for many months working from home. Analyst Clive Black described the update as a 'surprise', but said it must be seen against a 'gloomy macro-economic narrative'. Shares jumped 10.7 per cent, or 16p, to 166p, but are 42.5 per cent down compared to the start of the year. The wider London markets lurched into the red as early positive sentiment was wiped out by downbeat economic data, including disappointing retail figures. The CBI's monthly survey showed retailers have slashed jobs at the fastest pace since the height of the financial crisis. The FTSE 100 fell 1.11 per cent, or 67.72 points to 6037.01 while the FTSE 250 fell 0.61 per cent, or 107.18 points, to 17577.89. There was also disappointing news in the US where consumer confidence dropped to a more than six-year low in August as households worried about jobs and incomes. Shares in Astrazeneca edged up 0.2 per cent, or 16p, to 8627p, as the drugs giant said it had begun testing a potential medicine for the coronavirus. It is also developing a Covid-19 vaccine, and believes the antibody-based cocktail AZD7442 could prevent the virus and treat those who have it. It has launched a study that will involve up to 48 adults aged between 18 and 55, to see if the drug is safe. If the study is successful, Astra will move on to phase two and three studies to test how effective it is in patients. Housebuilders were a drag throughout the session with Persimmon (down 1.4 per cent, or 38p, to 2650p), Barratt Developments (down 3.1 per cent, or 16.2p, to 509.8p), Taylor Wimpey (down 3.1 per cent, or 3.75p, to 117.8p) and Berkeley Group (down 0.9 per cent, or 40p, to 4520p) all under pressure. CMC Markets analyst David Madden said: 'Keep in mind that last week Persimmon hit a fivemonth high so it seems a bit of profit taking is doing the rounds.' Cruise operator Carnival managed to keep a hand on the rudder as it announced yet more cancellations for customers due to the coronavirus. The firm said several voyages planned under its British brand Cunard would be taken off the calendar, including trips on its Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria liners. Carnival had already paused operations at Cunard until November, and in an update said it would be extending the suspensions until March 25, April 18 and May 16 for each respective ship. Investors seemed prepared, however, as shares dipped just 0.8 per cent, or 8p, to 977.2p. But other travel stocks fared better with British Airways owner IAG up 2.5 per cent, or 4.9p, to 202.2p while Intercontinental Hotel Group gained 3.4 per cent, or 145p, to 4448p on hopes that a Covid-19 vaccine will be found. The events of 2020 are exposing areas for improvement in corporate marketing programs, forcing marketing executives to strategically evaluate and pivot their efforts for success. This year has been a rollercoaster for most businesses. How do you market and sell products and services, while factoring in global context and your consumers preoccupation with the events of the day? You not only need to remain aware, but sensitive, to the challenges many are facing. Since mid-March, weve heard a lot of businesses say they need PR partners who are architected for the flexibility necessary in todays environment. It may sound counterintuitive for the dynamic communications business, yet we constantly hear about PR programs stalling because firms were not nimble enough to responsibly and creatively tap into the current media atmosphere. The latest W2 Communications blog outlines not only the challenges facing organizations and their media relations efforts, but also provides some strategic guidance for evaluating and pivoting your programs for success. For more details, visit: https://w2comm.com/media-relations-2020-the-real-reason-your-programs-are-falling-short/ About W2 Communications W2 Communications is an integrated marketing and communications firm offering public relations, content development, digital marketing and creative services. The company provides creative communications programs that build brands, elevate awareness, drive engagement and inspire action. With offices located in the Washington, D.C. area and in San Francisco, W2 Communications supports clients around the world. The team works tirelessly to deliver premium services and has been honored with multiple awards and recognition in the areas of public relations, web development, video production and content development. W2 Communications podcast Inside the Media Minds features in-depth interviews with todays top reporters, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a reporter, while also discussing the top trending stories. The company also hosts its CYBERTACOS cybersecurity networking events throughout the United States. Story continues To learn more about W2 Communications, visit www.w2comm.com, or engage with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. For the latest insights on the communications industry, follow the company blog at https://w2comm.com/blog/. Contact Details Christy Pittman +1 703-877-8108 christy@w2comm.com Company Website https://w2comm.com/ MUMBAI: More than 2 million Indian students will sit for admission tests to medical and engineering schools next week, the government said on Wednesday, despite growing concern that the move could fuel a jump in coronavirus infections. India reported more than 60,000 infections, maintaining the worlds highest single-day caseload since August 7, a Reuters tally showed. With 3.2 million cases, it ranks after the United States and Brazil, though its 59,449 deaths are far fewer. Now the government is pushing for a return to normalcy to lessen the economic pain, after having imposed a strict early lockdown of Indias 1.3 billion people in March. We are very mindful of the safety of our students, we will take full precautions," Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal told state radio, adding that the tests had to be held to ensure students did not lose a year. Already twice postponed this year, the tests will be spread over several days and held at more centres than usual, to ensure there is no crowding. But many students have to travel long distances and there was a risk of infections, said the All-India Students Union, a leftist group that represents university students. It urged students to wear black armbands and join online protests to put pressure on the government to delay the tests until infections fall. Swedish climate activist Greta Thurnberg also waded into the dispute, urging a postponement. Its deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the COVID-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods," Thurnberg said on Twitter on Tuesday. Parts of eastern India are also struggling with floods caused by annual monsoon rains. (Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.) 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 Uttar Pradesh transport minister Ashok Kataria announced an ex gratia sum of Rs 5 lakh to families of those killed, and Rs 2.5 lakh to the injured Lucknow: Six people were killed and five others injured in a collision between two Uttar Pradesh state buses on the outskirts of Lucknow on Wednesday morning, prompting the state government to order a probe into the accident. The six killed in the collision between two Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses included a woman riding a two-wheeler, said officials. The collision took place at about 6.45 am when a UPSRTC bus collided with another while trying to overtake it on the Lucknow-Hardoi road under the Kakori police station area, about 22 kilometres, a senior official said. Uttar Pradesh transport minister Ashok Kataria has ordered a probe into the incident. "Five persons onboard bus and a woman on a two-wheeler were killed while five others were injured in the mishap," a UPSRTC statement said. Those killed are Sarvdhar (40), Lucky Saxena (16), Rajendra Saxena (48), Hariom (40), Nitesh Bharti (20) and one unidentified woman (about 35 years). Kakori ACP SM Kasim Abdi had earlier said that six persons were killed and eight injured in the mishap. According to KGMU officials, the condition of five injured was stated to be stable, while the other six were brought dead to the Trauma centre. On directive of the transport minister, UPSRTC managing director has ordered a probe into the incident by a three-member committee and sought its submit report within 24 hours, the UPSRTC statement said. Kataria also announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of those killed in the accident and Rs 2.5 lakh to those injured for treatment, it added. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the deaths and directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment to the injured. NEET 2020 admit card released; how to download India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 26: Amid growing clamour for the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam, the National Testing Agency released the admit card of the NEET exams today. NEET UG 2020 will be held on September 13 for which over 15 lakh candidates have registered. Candidates can now download it from the official website at ntaneet.nic.in. How to download NEET UG Admit Card 2020: Go to the official website at ntaneet.nic.in Click on the Admit card link flashing on the homepage Provide your registration number and password Your admit card will be displayed on screen. Download and take its print out The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted in September as scheduled, officials said on Tuesday, amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial tests in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Testing Agency said it has planned several steps to conduct the papers safely which include increasing the number of examination centers, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit. These steps have been introduced to ensure adherence to social distancing norms at the centres in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. Officials in the Ministry of Education asserted the exams will be conducted as per schedule. While the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is scheduled from September 1-6, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is planned on September 13. Enola Holmes, out on Netflix on 23 September, will see Millie Bobby Brown as ace detective Sherlock Holmes' teenage sister. From the story of Sherlock Holmes sister search for their missing mother to Kate Winslets Ammonite and Telugu thriller V this week has an interesting mix of trailers. V In Nani's 25th Telugu film, the actor seems to play an anti-hero, challenging Sudheer Babu, who plays a cop. According to The Indian Express, V is about a crime writer who falls in love with a cop. His blissful life takes a turn when he is challenged by a killer with a puzzle. Then begins a showdown, a battle between good versus evil. The trailer shows Nani grinning evilly, while Sudheer seems perturbed by the multiple crimes he comes across. The clip teases plenty of fast-paced action sequences orchestrated by stunt coordinator Ravi Varma that will keep the audience at the edge of their seats (or couches). V also stars Nivetha Thomas, Aditi Rao Hydari, Jagapathi Babu, Vennela Kishore, Nassar, and Srinivas Avasarala. V is among the many South Indian films that are getting a direct-to-digital release ever since the coronavirus outbreak forced the shuttering of cinemas. Written and directed by Mohanakrishna Indraganti, the action thriller will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 5 September. Enola Holmes Millie Bobby Brown plays Enola Holmes, sister to ace detective Sherlock Holmes in the upcoming Netflix film. Helena Bonham Carter plays the siblings' mother who mysteriously goes missing. While her elder brothers Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin) expect her to go to finishing school, Enola slinks off to London with the sole mission of finding her mother. The plot is based on Nancy Springer' young adult fiction book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries, which reimagines the world created by Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock's teenage sister as the protagonist. Enola Holmes will release on 23 September. Ammonite The period drama, directed by God's Own Country helmer Francis Lee, follows a famed paleontologist Mary Anning (Kate Winslet), who prefers her solitude. Her routine is broken once Charlotte (Saoirse Ronan) and her husband Roderick Murchison (James McArdle) arrive. Charlotte and Mary eventually develop an intense romance. However, many have questioned the film's storyline, with Anning's real-life descendants claiming that her sexuality was never confirmed. Also featuring in Ammonite are Fiona Shaw, plus Gods Own Country alumni Gemma Jones and Alec Secareanu. The first look was revealed at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Ammonite will have its premiere at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival before hitting the cinemas on 13 November. CU Soon Fahadh Faasil and Roshan Mathew star in Mahesh Narayanan's thriller about a software engineer from Kerala assigned by his family to help a Dubai-based cousin find his missing fiance, after she leaves behind a video-based suicide note. The unique feature of this film is that it's shot with a phone in a controlled and restricted environment during the lockdown. Darshana Rajendran, Mala Parvathy and Saiju Kurup complete the cast of the feature. CU Soon will debut globally on 1 September on Amazon Prime Video. Bad Boy Billionaires: India The docuseries will focus on Indian tycoons Subrata Roya, Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Byrraju Ramalinga carving successful businesses out of nothing but soon outed for grave financial crimes and corruption. The series will bring in insiders and experts to delve further into the rise and fall of these men. The official synopsis states, "What would you do to make it to the top? To build an empire? To maintain an image? Bad Boy Billionaires answers just that." Bad Boy Billionaires: India will start streaming on Netflix from 2 September. Ram Singh Charlie Ram Singh Charlie is about a performer Charlie (Kumud Mishra) who along with his wife (Divya Dutta), moves to a big city after their circus runs in losses and shuts down. To make ends meet, Charlie works menial jobs from cleaning window panes to a rickshaw puller, but remains unhappy. His wife tells him, "All I know is that you were born to perform in the circus." He finally regains courage and decides to start his own circus. Directed by Nitin Kakkar, Ram Singh Charlie will arrive on SonyLIV on 28 August. Fort Myers, FL, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa Gulf Coast announces it is partnering with Burg Simpson attorneys to host the Rise, Shine, and Restart breakfast seminar on September 2, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. ET at the Art Ovation hotel in Sarasota, Florida. The informational breakfast seminar will cover the latest news, trends, and best practices in HOA management. The educational event is divided into two topic discussions and features expert speakers from the property management industry. The two discussion sessions are: Navigating Ongoing Operations Throughout the Pandemic: A guide to meetings, amenities and avoiding legal pitfalls. Presented by Alex Turner, business development manager at Associa Gulf Coast, and George Root III, attorney with Friscia & Ross, P.A. Creating Boards that Work: Presented by Diana Sada, construction defect attorney with Burg Simpson. Associa Gulf Coast understands the importance of educating board members on the latest news in the property management industry and best practices for community associations, stated John Hensley, CMCA, AMS, ARM, PCAM, Associa Gulf Coast president. This seminar provides an opportunity for board members to understand what is happening in the industry, and will equip them with the knowledge, resources, and information to lead their communities with confidence. To register, please contact Alex Turner at alexturner@associagulfcoast.com. Early registration is recommended as space is limited. All registrants will receive a complimentary breakfast and beverage and will be entered to win one of several door prizes. With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com. Stay Connected: Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa On Tuesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet in the Pulwama terror attack case. It has formally named 19 people, including the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief, Masood Azhar, for planning and carrying out the attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, killing 40 security personnel. Azhars nephew, Mohammad Umar Farooq, was sent to Kashmir to execute the bombing and was in touch with the Jaish leadership back in Pakistan, during, before and after the attack, according to the charge sheet. One of Azhars brother also told Farooq, who was killed in an encounter subsequently, that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) wanted Jaish operatives to find out about Indian Air Force bases; Jaish was also planning a second terror attack after Pulwama, but had to abort it due to international pressure on Pakistan. Pulwama was a defining moment for geopolitics in South Asia. Despite Pakistans strenuous denials, it was clear then and it is clearer now that the attack had the clear sanction of the Pakistani establishment. A set of observers, at that point, wanted to make a distinction between the Pakistani government and terror-based groups. But while it is still at the charge sheet stage, the NIA investigation has shown that this is an artificial distinction and in fact, there was a very high degree of synergy and coordination between the Pakistani military intelligence and terror groups based in Pakistan. It also shows that Pakistan was more than willing to escalate the situation with another terror attack, but the Balakot retaliatory attack (framed diplomatically as a pre-emptive strike) and the concerted international diplomatic pressure, mobilised effectively by India, forced Rawalpindi to back off. The international community today recognises Pakistan has given patronage to terror groups and supports terrorism as a State policy but it has vacillated between appeasing Islamabad-Rawalpindi and penalising it in a somewhat half-hearted manner. Pakistan remains a key source of global instability, and any country including its best friend, China which wants stability must force Pakistan to act against terror. For India, the lesson is simple. In terms of security, New Delhi must never let its guard down, for Pakistans intent is clear. In terms of individuals, letting Azhar get away in 1999 (after the IC-814 hijack) has proved to be enormously costly; such an error must not be repeated. In terms of diplomacy, India must be alert to the joint China-Pakistani project of undermining India and counter it across platforms. PENTICTON, B.C.The majority of people forced to flee their homes last week because of a wildfire in British Columbias south Okanagan region are allowed to return home. Officials from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said at a new conference Tuesday that an evacuation order for all but 74 of the 319 properties in the Heritage Hills neighbourhood east of Skaha Lake has been lifted. Personnel are still confirming the safety of retaining walls and slope stability in the northern part of the neighbourhood but are hoping to lift the remaining evacuation orders Wednesday. The only remaining evacuation alert, which covered 116 properties in the upper Carmi area, was also rescinded. The B.C. Wildfire Service said good weather has helped firefighters working to contain the blaze, which is now mostly a smouldering ground fire. Dennis Rexin, deputy incident commander for the fire, said crews are making good progress toward containment and resources will be reduced soon as favourable weather conditions are expected. Theres nothing in the immediate forecast thats of concern, he said. The Christie Mountain wildfire scorched more than 20 square kilometres of land on the east side of Skaha Lake and destroyed one home last week. The wildfire service says 217 firefighters are on-site with support from a dozen helicopters and four water tenders. On Monday, an evacuation alert was lifted for nearly 3,700 properties in Penticton, where residents had been advised they should be prepared to leave at a moments notice. Read more about: SEOUL, KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / The recent corona virus has given way to significant growth in the 'contactless digital infrastructure industry' and various countries have also been releasing relevant policies under the name 'New Deal'. Major countries worldwide have been calling for the digitization of SOCs and are encouraging the growth of such technologies - ABCD5G (AI, Blockchain, Cloud, Data, 5G). However, as the world becomes a digitally 'hyperconnected' society, a gigantic IT system is created but is vulnerable to attack. Thus, security has become an issue so important that it can determine a company's success, with digital security and privacy expected to face an even bigger challenge in the coming years. In accordance with this trend, Rowem, an integrated authentication platform startup specializing in user security - held a conference at the 63 building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 20th regarding 'the South Korean IT industry's Proposal for the Post-Corona Era'. This conference was co-hosted by FPT Information System, a subsidiary of Vietnam's largest IT company, FPT Group, with specialists from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the United States in the audience. South Korea's primary authority figure on blockchain research and professor at the Department of Computer Science in Korea University, Hoh Peter In, stated in his opening speech, "COVID-19 is speeding up the world's hyper digital transformation", and that "companies who cannot adapt to this change will be driven out with only the adopters remaining." First speaker Edward KH Chang, the senior vice president of Korea Public Diplomacy Association (KPDA), introduced South Korea's New Deal policy by starting off, "South Korea has achieved remarkable outcomes with its efficiency based fast follower strategy," and emphasized that "It needs to seize the opportunity to become the First Mover now while the door to the Fourth Industrial Revolution is open." Chinese People's Political Consultative Service (CPPCC) member Dr. Johnny Ng and the State Council's Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) professor Xianhua Wei illustrated the changes that China's financial innovation and e-commerce sectors have undergone and anticipated the emergence of new business models and opportunities. Emanuel Pastreich - president of the Asia Institute - explained how the protection of personal information has become even more important amid a rapid increase in demand for cloud technology. Chair-professor at Handong University, Seung ho Tak, also insisted on new standards tailored to a new era. The closing speech was given by Rowem CEO, An Taeho, where he stated, "The key takeaway from the changes that various countries' specialists have brought up is the authentication technology involved in security," and that "both the convenience that consumers seek and the security that service providers pursue have to be realized." Established in the year 2012, South Korea's leading security certification technology company, Rowem, rose to prominence with its development of 'PASSiKEY', a service that simplified the various and cumbersome online identification steps using a four-digit passcode or the user's biometric authentication by supporting 2 factor and 2 channel authentication techniques at the same time. PASSiKEY is a mobile application providing convenient authentication and payment methods through the user's mobile device and can be accessed on both domestic and global websites that support the service. Its convenience comes from a simple authentication method (a four-digit passcode or biometric identification) that can be used for registration, sign ins, payment, etc. Even with a four-digit code, the user's security is not compromised in any way. Here, a randomized 16-digit converter is applied to eliminate any risk of phishing or hacking. Moreover, because the user's information is again verified by a partner company after PASSiKEY's authentication, service providers can expect a secondary authentication through PASSiKEY's API alone. CEO An further stressed, "As more companies go online and become digitized, security is most in demand and in this regard, companies that adopt PASSiKEY for free are guaranteed the best security service for no additional charge." As for the strength of its security, Rowem's simple authentication technology has been recognized by the South Korean Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) as an alternative to public key certificates. Major financial institutes in South Korea such as KB Securities, Yuanta Securities, Meritz Securities, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, and Shinhan Bank have all adopted Rowem's authentication technology making sign ins and transfers possible through a four-digit passcode while enhancing user convenience as well as security. In 2018, Rowem was recognized as an official member of Telecom Council, whose members include global telecommunication service providers such as Samsung, LG, Verizon, BT Group, Motorola, Intel, Qualcomm, Amazon, Nokia, SoftBank, Deutsche Telekom, Huawei, etc. To fully commercialize PASSiKEY, Rowem has released a free PASSiKEY API through its Developer Center (https://developer.passikey.com/en), allowing service providers to enter the PASSiKEY platform. Media Contact: Company Name: ROWEM Co, LTD Contact Name: Media Team Telephone: +82 02 2103 5116 Fax: +82 02 2103 5138 Email: info@rowem.com Website: https://www.rowem.com SOURCE: ROWEM Co, LTD View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603478/Integrated-Authentication-Platform-Startup-Rowem-Goes-Global-with-Its-Key-Security-Technology-Post-Corona Tuesday nights Republican National Convention featured a speech from Abby Johnson, who explained how she went from being the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic to becoming an anti-abortion activist. Its a story shes told publicly many times before, first in an appearance on Huckabee on Nov. 8, 2009, a month and a day after quitting her job at Planned Parenthood, and most recently in Unplanned, a 2019 film based on her 2011 memoir. Its also a story whose basic facts are still in dispute. Heres Johnsons full speech from the RNC: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About two months after Johnson started telling her conversion story, two investigative reports raised questions about its veracity. At the Texas Observer, Saul Elbein reported that Johnson had been put on a performance improvement plan at Planned Parenthood after an incident involving inappropriate use of work e-mail, while two former friends of Johnsons related that shed been having money problems and contemplating bankruptcy; one said Johnson had told her she was contemplating joining an anti-abortion organization because shed been promised high speakers fees. This whole thing is really just about a disgruntled employee, one of them told Elbein. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Meanwhile, at Texas Monthly, Nate Blakeslee reported that Johnsons former Planned Parenthood clinic had no records of a procedure matching the one Johnson describes changing her mind about abortion. On the date she claimed to have witnessed one, there were no ultrasound-guided procedures performed at all. And since the clinic only performed abortions every other Saturday, its unlikely she had her dates mixed up. Johnson disputes this, and in 2019, while Unplanned was in theaters, she published an editorial in the Federalist reasserting her claims and suggesting Planned Parenthood might have deceptively altered its records. Advertisement Whatever the facts of Johnsons conversion, there was at least one other reason to raise an eyebrow at her RNC speech. She had a lot to say about Margaret Sangers racism, but shortly before she spoke, Vice News reported that Johnson, in a since-deleted YouTube video, said that she believed police officers would be smart to racially profile her biracial son, since he was more likely to commit a violent offense than her other white nerdy kids. Conservatism is a land of contrasts! For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. "We are proud to be recognized alongside the many remarkable, forward-thinking businesses that comprise the coveted list. Our growth trajectory is a direct result of our teams continued commitment to helping customers find new ways to consume technology for bottom-line growth." Focus Technology, a leading provider of next-generation IT infrastructure, managed IT services, cyber security and cloud solutions, announced today that it has earned a spot on Inc. magazines annual Inc. 5000 list. With three-year revenue growth of 73 percent, the firm is among the nations fastest-growing private companies. The Inc. 5000, ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2016 to 2019, represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. 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. We are proud to be recognized alongside the many remarkable, forward-thinking businesses that comprise the coveted list, said Doug Alexander, CEO of Focus. Our growth trajectory is a direct result of our teams continued commitment to helping customers find new ways to consume technology for bottom-line growth. We look forward to achieving a continued trajectory of growth through innovation and personalized service that delivers positive business outcomes for our customers. The companies on this years Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism. The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation. 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. About Focus Technology Founded in 1997, Focus Technology is a leading Boston-based information technology firm that offers organizations new ways to consume technology. By designing and implementing innovative IT solutions through personalized service, Focus Technology delivers positive results that support the customers strategic vision. Our team of experienced industry-certified solutions architects provides customized solutions specifically designed to address each clients unique business requirements. With expertise in next-generation data center infrastructure, managed IT services, cloud solutions and cyber security, Focus Technology is one of the top IT solution providers in the Northeast. The company has earned numerous awards and accolades, including CRN MSP Elite 150, CRN MSP Security 100, CRN Fast Growth 150, CRN Tech Elite 150, CRN Triple Crown Winner, Boston Business Journals Best Places to Work, Boston Business Journal Fast 50 and Inc. 5000. For more information visit focustsi.com, Twitter @FocusTSI or LinkedIn 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. In the absence of national guidelines, Spain's 17 regions have been left to develop their own plans, frustrating parents and teachers and prompting students to call for three days of strikes in September. Loading "We're here to demand that the ministry of education does something, because we're pulling our hair out here to see they've done absolutely nothing over the past five months," student union leader Coral Latorre told state broadcaster TVE. Norway adds Germany to COVID-19 quarantine list Norway said on Wednesday it will impose a 10-day quarantine on all people arriving from Germany and Liechtenstein from August 29 due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in those countries. Similar restrictions will also be imposed on those coming from two additional regions in Sweden, the Norwegian foreign ministry said in a statement. To try to prevent a domestic resurgence of the coronavirus, Norway quarantines all travellers from countries with more than 20 confirmed new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population during the past two weeks. It also advises Norwegians against travelling to those nations. With its latest additions, Norway will be restricting travel from most European countries, including France, Britain, Spain, Poland and Switzerland. It still allows quarantine-free travel from EU countries Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland and the Baltic states as well as some parts of Denmark and Sweden. England schools to bring in face masks after U-turn Students must wear face masks in communal areas of high schools in England in places with local lockdowns, Britain's education minister Gavin Williamson said on Wednesday in a government U-turn on enforcing their use. After failing to persuade schools to bring back all students before the summer, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is keen to make sure the reopening now happens as he urges people to get back to some kind of normality after the coronavirus lockdown. Ministers had ruled out the need for students to wear masks in corridors despite updated advice from the World Health Organisation at the weekend, but Wednesday's move shifted that stance. "There are some areas of the country where we have had to do local lockdowns and we think it is right in those few areas that in secondary schools, in communal areas, that youngsters do wear face coverings," Williamson told Sky News. Gavin Williamson said high schools students in lockdown areas would have to wear face masks. Credit:PA On a school visit in central England, Johnson told students: "The risk to your health is not from COVID...the greatest risk you face now is of continuing to be out of school," he said. Head teachers in other areas will also have the discretion to recommend using masks in their schools for students aged between 11 and 18. It is the latest U-turn by Johnson's government which has come under fire for its handling of the pandemic and after a debacle this month when an algorithm-based system saw swathes of pupils awarded lower-than-expected exam grades. Moscow announces advanced trials for new COVID-19 vaccine The mayor of Moscow invited residents on Wednesday to join trials of a coronavirus vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month in what officials described as a breakthrough on par with the Soviet Union's launch of the world's first satellite in 1957. The world's first vaccine against the coronavirus to receive a government go-ahead has caused unease among international medical experts, who called Russia's fast-tracked approval and failure to share any data supporting claims of the vaccine's efficacy a major breach of scientific protocol. Scientists around the world say any widely used vaccine should first be tested in advanced trials involving tens of thousands of people to prove it is safe and effective before being licensed. Loading The Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), a 'Miniratna' central public sector enterprise, has called for online applications from eligible and experienced candidates for filling Twelve (12) vacancies to the post of Social Media Executive (SME) through direct selection on contract to be posted at the BECIL units in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jammu, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Panaji, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Ranchi, and Guwahati in India on a fulltime basis. The application process towards the same started on August 25, 2020 and closes on September 14, 2020. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Social Media Executive (SME) Organisation Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) Educational Qualification Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication Experience Two in a relevant domain Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Desirable Job Location Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jammu, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Panaji, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Ranchi, Guwahati Salary Scale Rs. 36,000 per month Industry Engineering Consultants Application Start Date August 25, 2020 Application End Date September 14, 2020 BECIL SME Recruitment: Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for Social Media Executive (SME) posts through BECIL Recruitment 2020 must meet the age criteria as per BECIL norms, with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved categories as per the Govt. of India guidelines. Candidates must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 750 (Gen/OBC/Ex-SM/Women) and Rs. 450 (SC/ST/EWS) respectively as application fee for Social Media Executive (SME) posts through BECIL Recruitment 2020 through online mode or any other mode as applicable. BSF Recruitment 2020 For 213 Head Constable, Sub-Inspector, Inspector And Constable Posts BECIL SME Recruitment: Education And Experience Desirous candidates applying for Social Media Executive (SME) posts through BECIL Recruitment 2020 must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication from a recognised University/Institution with two years of work experience in the concerned domain with good communication skills in English and local language as specified in the BECIL Recruitment notification. Candidates must be versatile in using the Internet, MS Word, Excel, Graphic Designing and conversant with working on social media platforms such and Facebook, Twitter, Youtube etc. as detailed in the BECIL SME Recruitment 2020 notification. BECIL SME Recruitment: Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates for Social Media Executive (SME) posts through BECIL Recruitment 2020 will be done as per prescribed norms (test/interview) and requirement of the job as specified in the BECIL SME Recruitment notification. Candidates selected for Social Media Executive (SME) posts through BECIL Recruitment 2020 will be paid an emolument of Rs. 36,000 per month as mentioned in the BECIL SME Recruitment notification. RBI Lateral Recruitment 2020 For 39 Consultants, Specialists And Analyst. Apply Online Before Sep 5 BECIL SME Recruitment: How To Apply Candidates applying for Social Media Executive (SME) posts through BECIL Recruitment 2020 must register online on the official BECIL Careers section and submit their applications on or before September 14, 2020. Download BECIL SME Recruitment 2020 Notification for Social Media Executive (SME) posts. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 12:14:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Fayez Serraj, prime minister of Libya's UN-backed government, discussed Tuesday with executives of U.S. military and security firm Jones Consulting International cooperation, according to the prime minister's information office. "The meeting discussed a common vision for capacity-building programs to face various challenges and risks, as well as defeating terrorist and extremism organizations. The meeting also discussed coordination mechanisms between Jones and the Libyan security and defense institutions," the office said in a statement. "The prime minister spoke about the great importance the Government of National Accord attaches to building and developing Libyan military and security capabilities in accordance with the latest international standards. He reviewed a set of directions and measures to achieve this, including the use of the expertise of international institutions such as the U.S. firm Jones," it said. Senior security and military officials of the UN-backed government attended the meeting, according to the statement. Libyan security services are struggling to achieve stability and security in the war-torn country. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 18:34:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The recent decision of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to normalize relations with Israel has been a "strategic mistake" as it may pose security threats to the region, the Iranian government spokesman said on Wednesday. Iran would consider the UAE "accountable" for any security threat that Israel may pose against Iran, Ali Rabiee told reporters. Also, Iran will hold the UAE responsible for the consequences of any "dangerous interference" of Israel in the regional developments, he added. "We expect the UAE officials to be vigilant about the (Israeli) regime's activities inside their country ... and we cannot remain indifferent to anti-security measures of our Zionist (Israel) enemy near our borders," Rabiee noted. Iran has strongly condemned the recent agreement between Israel and the UAE to normalize ties. On Aug. 13, Israel and the UAE reached an agreement, brokered by the United States, to work towards a "full normalization of relations." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 14:51:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export volume kept falling for four straight months due to an economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak, central bank data showed Wednesday. The export volume index lost 0.7 percent in July from a year earlier, continuing to slide for four months since April, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). Export volume for machinery, transport equipment and textiles slumped in double digits, but the figure for computer, electronic and optical devices grew as people preferred working at home and attending online classes amid worry about the COVID-19 outbreak. In terms of value, the export shrank 8.6 percent in July from a year earlier, keeping a downward trend for the fifth consecutive month. It was down from double-digit falls of 23.3 percent in April, 25.2 percent in May and 10.5 percent in June each. Global demand partially recovered amid the reopening of businesses in major economies following shutdowns on the fear of the virus infections. The import volume index added 0.5 percent in July from a year ago, but the import value index retreated 11.1 percent in the month. Enditem Social Uprisings Continue in Kenosha as Jacob Blake Champions Through Surgery; Blake diagnosed with Paralysis from the Waist Down Kenosha, Wisconsin is a small city on the shore of Lake Michigan; their Police Department had a reputation of being aggressive with people of color. With approximately 200 sworn-in officers, only 10-15 are Black or LatinX. Their Police Chief Daniel Miskins has been slow to equip the department with resources aligned with the progression of police reform. The City Law Enforcement department has not been provided with Body Cams, according to Kenosha public officials there was no real urgency for them. If it were not for Raysean White, a neighbor in the area, the world would not have seen the injustice that happened to 29-year-old Jacob Blake. He was shot in the back seven times at close range, while his three sons were in the car. Blake has gone through surgery and he now champions through paralysis from the waist down. Patience for updates in police reform were already wearing thin, due to the previous string of racially charged acts from various law enforcement across the country. After the shooting of Blake, buildings began to catch fire around the Uptown area. City uprisings have been taking place for the last three days, across the nation including Los Angeles. Blake experienced a gunshot wound in one arm, damage to his kidney, liver, and spinal cord, and most of his colon has been removed. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is conducted. There has been no public statement from Chief Miskins yet. Federal investigators are reviewing the case; The U.S. Justice Department and FBI agents are currently gathering information to determine if a civil investigation needs to take place. Representing the family is Attorney Benjamin Crump who also worked as head attorney for George Floyd. ADVERTISEMENT From the view of the police, officers were responding to a call about a domestic dispute where they found Blake, no information has made it clear if Blake was armed or why the police opened fire. The recording of the incident show residents outside as Blake makes his way over to his driver seat, all three officers follow him, in close range, Blake gets shot in the back seven times. White recalled that the police told Blake to drop the knife, however white explained that he did not see Blake holding a knife. Blakes family try to pacify the civil uprisings that are happening in the name of the wounded, buildings were torched to the ground and store fronts were defaced in dissatisfaction in the city of Kenoshas law enforcement. There is a curfew in place and the National guard has been called. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers continued to increase the assistance of the National Guard on Tuesday. Parents of Blake spoke on behalf of their son, Jacob Blake Sr. stated, They shot my son seven times. Seven times. Like he didnt matter, Blake Sr. continued, But my son matters. Hes a human being, and he matters. According to Attorney Crumps team, Blake was found by police trying to deescalate a dispute between two women. The process that led to Blake being tasered, then followed to his car, and then shot is still not clear. Although Kenosha Police are not equipped with body cams, they do have dashboard cameras. It is still uncertain if any dashboard footage has been obtained. As of Tuesday, the presence of National Guard has increased as social uprisings continue for a third night. Julia Jackson is the mother of the victim who was shot several times, she tried to meet the passion displayed for her son by urging protestors to be peaceful. She stated, We really just need prayers. As I was riding through here, the city, I noticed a lot of damage. It doesnt reflect my son or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes the violence and the destruction he would be very unpleased, Jackson stated, We need healing. Jerry Falwell Jr. has resigned as president of Liberty University after a series of personal scandals, ending back-to-back Falwell leadership eras at an evangelical institution that is a major power center for conservative Christians and politicians. His contract entitles him to a $10.5 million severance package, Falwell, 58, told The Washington Post late Tuesday - in part because he is departing from the university without being formally accused of or admitting to wrongdoing. Falwell said he will receive $2.5 million over 24 months, equivalent to two years salary. He agreed to not work for a competing university during that time. After two years, he will receive $8 million in retirement. Falwell said he signed a 20-page contract in July 2019 that outlined the terms. "The board was gracious not to challenge that," Falwell said of his decision to step down in good standing. "There wasn't any cause," he said. "I haven't done anything." Falwell has generated headlines in recent years for remarks and actions that were considered racist or anti-Muslim, and has been criticized for attempting to silence dissent on the university's campus in Lynchburg, Va. He was suspended with pay early this month after posting a provocative photo on social media. Pressure for him to resign ramped up after news reports this week that alleged extramarital conduct involving him and his wife, Becki Falwell. Jerry Falwell told The Post on Tuesday that he had not been involved in an affair, but his wife had; Becki Falwell, in the same interview, confirmed that account. Falwell said he was leaving Liberty in part because he did not want his wife's conduct to embarrass the school. But he also said he had been bored and wanted to move on. His resignation stands out because Falwell had seemed untouchable within the evangelical community, due both to his family's prominence and his close friendship and alliance with President Donald Trump, who is strongly supported by White evangelicals. Since 2007, Falwell had been at the helm of the Virginia university co-founded by his father, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr., a colorful televangelist who helped shape the religious right. Liberty's board said it will form a search committee to hire a new leader. Former board chair Jerry Prevo, who became acting president after Falwell was placed on leave Aug. 7, remains in that position. The terms of Falwell's departure infuriatedsome in the Liberty community, including members of an alumni group called Save71 who have organized and advocated for months for his ouster. "If they're going to bow down and let this happen, it's going to be an obvious statement that they care less about the interests of the university than Falwell," said Dustin Wahl, a Save71 founder. "It might be true that for whatever legal reason he's owed that money. If that's true, that shows the sheer lack of accountability." The latest allegations about Falwell come from Giancarlo Granda, a young businessman who met the Falwells at a pool in Florida years ago and has been involved in business and social dealings with them for much of the last decade. Granda alleged this week that he had a years-long sexual affair with Becki Falwell and that Jerry Falwell sometimes watched their interactions, including video calls where Becki Falwell was naked. In a statement Tuesday, Granda accused Falwell of being a "predator," saying he'd sent Granda an image of a female Liberty University student exposing herself at their farm. Falwell, in turn, called Granda a "liar" and a "criminal." He said Granda may have been referring to an incident when he and his wife were out of town. His daughters-in-law and a friend were using the family's guesthouse to cook a meal, Falwell said, and the friend pulled up her skirt, as a joke, while she was cooking. The daughters-in-law were videotaping the girl, and sent screenshots around, Falwell said."She had on, I don't know how to say this, granny panties," he said, saying the image wasn't sexual. Falwell said he sent the screenshot to several people because he thought it was funny. He said he does not remember whether he sent it to Granda. Neither of the Falwells specified with whom Becki Falwell had an affair. She described the relationship as embarrassing and humbling. "I wish Christians, and people, would be as forgiving as Christ was," she said. Granda's accusations have revived attention to claims last year by Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney and fixer, that he had intervened on Falwell's behalf several years ago when someone was threatening to blackmail the Liberty leader by circulating embarrassing images. Falwell confirmed Tuesday that Cohen had helped him. He did not say who was threatening to circulate the images, only that someone had stolen photos from his phone - of he and Becki in their backyard - and Cohen spoke to the person's lawyers and threatened to contact the FBI if the photos became public. "They weren't fully nude," Falwell said of the images. "They were just pictures of my wife. I was proud of how she looked." Cohen, however, implied Granda was involved. Cohen told The Post in a text message Tuesday that he had worked with Granda's lawyer to "ensure the alleged photos were not released to the public." A spokesman for Granda said Granda's attorney did not speak with Cohen. Cohen also addressed Falwell's 2016 endorsement of Trump, which came during the Republican primary race, after the alleged photo incident, and was a key turning point in siphoning evangelical support away from other GOP candidates. "I asked the Falwells, as a personal favor to me, to assist with the lagging Trump campaign in Iowa," Cohen wrote in a text. At Liberty, where fall classes began this week, senior Payton Fedako said students were trying to focus on life on campus and not on Falwell news, which Fedako called a "political environment" that is separate. "I'd say it's a small minority of people who are very involved or taking action, posting on social media, reaching out," said Fedako, 21, of Columbus, Ohio. "The silent majority of people are not involved in politics. . . . I've chose the latter and am very happy with the school." The university's statement about Falwell's departure offered him "heartfelt prayers" and praise for his accomplishments, including dramatically increased enrollment and more than $1 billion of ongoing or planned construction on campus. Falwell also executed his family's long-term plan to reduce massive debt at the university and shift to more online learning. The recent scandals have eroded support for Falwell in the evangelical community, with critics increasingly vocal about concerns including racism, nepotism and creating a "culture of silence" for those who rejected Falwell's pro-Trump politics. The overarching complaint was that Falwell had lost sight of the school's evangelical mission to "train champions for Christ." Earlier this month, Save71 called for Falwell's permanent removal, saying he had damaged the spiritual vitality, academic quality and national reputation of the school. It asked for him to be replaced "with a responsible and virtuous Christian leader" and launched a website detailing scores of controversial moments in the most recent five years of his tenure. "This is a reckoning for evangelicals," said Maina Mwaura, a preacher and writer who went to Liberty. "Most people I've spoken with feel deeply embarrassed by this, whether they went to Liberty or not. The Falwell family has been a dynasty of the last 50 years." He said character issues like "the things [Falwell] said about people of color or the things he said about Muslims or calling parents stupid - none of that seemed to matter until the image became hurt" and Liberty's reputation seemed at risk. Jonathan Merritt, a Liberty graduate who has written books critiquing conservative evangelical culture, said sexual indiscretions were Falwell's tipping point. "In some ways, Jerry Falwell Jr. is living the consequences of the moral hierarchy that his dad helped to put into place," Merritt said, adding that he did not expect any broad church fallout. "Evangelicals tend to have an individualistic view of sin, so when one famous leader falls from grace, they tend to see it as 'one bad apple.' " Falwell Jr. said he thinks his father would have been amazed at what his son has built out of the university he founded. But, he said, the role of being president has taken a toll on him. "The quote that keeps running through my mind is Martin Luther King Jr., 'Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, I'm free at last,' " Falwell said. Apart from coronavirus, the other thing that spread around the globe was xenophobia and racism. From people affected with COVID-19 to those from a foreign country, many have faced discrimination on account of heightened fear and misinformation about the infection. YouTube/Karl Rock More recently, a New Zealand YouTuber shared a video talking about a racist attack he faced in Delhi's Chandi Chowk. Karl Rock, whose Instagram account shows that he is married to an Indian and has been residing in India. He also has thousands of followers on social media and travels to different cities of India. How to Shop at an Indian Spice Market (Ft. Angry Racist Man ) https://t.co/kHgJjP8yfT Karl Rock (@iamkarlrock) July 18, 2020 He was walking down the spice market in Chandni Chowk when a local hurled abuses at him and asked him to leave the country. The man called Karl "Corona", and told him to leave the country. Karl tried to reason with the man, but the man refused to pay any attention and continued to attack him. Karl Rock, a New Zealand origin Delhiite donated plasma at Delhi govt's plasma bank You must watch his video about his experience. I am sure this will encourage many more to come forward to donate their plasma and help save lives. @iamkarlrock pic.twitter.com/VySSg0P0yV Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 10, 2020 Ironically, Karl had donated plasma earlier for COVID-19 patients in India. Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had tweeted about Karl saying that he set an example for many. Karl Rock, a New Zealand origin Delhiite donated plasma at Delhi govt's plasma bank. You must watch his video about his experience. I am sure this will encourage many more to come forward to donate their plasma and help save lives," Kejriwal had tweeted in July. Also Read: 'There Is No Vaccine For Racism' - Kamala Harris' Declaration To The Entire US Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have seen a flurry of reports citing racist, xenophobic acts against people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent and tourists. Karl also says in his YouTube video that this is not the first time he's been in such a situation. The first time, he says, he was forced to take a COVID-19 test and that cops were called on him. Also Read: People From Northeast India Have Become Major Targets For Racism During Coronavirus Pandemic VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / Hannan Metals Limited ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSXV:HAN) (OTC PINK:HANNF) provides an update on the Tabalosos copper-silver project, located 80 kilometres north of the Sacanche project at the 100% owned San Martin sediment hosted copper-silver project in Peru (Figure 1). Highlights: Hannan has completed a remote geological study at the Tabalosos project which has defined and constrained the target position of stratabound copper-silver mineralization over a 30 kilometre trend; Two target styles have been defined: A stratabound position in the upper levels of the Sarayaquillo Formation, defined by the presence of debris organic material that hosts high-grade copper-silver mineralization (Figures 2, 3 and 4). This zone is correlated over a 30-kilometre-long trend and over 5 kilometres in width across the Tabalosos project area and is the same mineralized stratigraphic level identified in outcrop at Sacanche, located 80 kilometres to the south; A structurally controlled sandstone hosted copper-silver target has been identified in the southern part of the project. This area is 7-kilometres-long and up to 5 kilometres wide in Tabalosos. The target is analogous with the base metal gossans discovered earlier this year at Sacanche South, located 80 km to the south. This new interpretation at Tabalosos is the first in the district to combine seismic data with modern remote surface observation from high resolution satellite imagery. Michael Hudson, Hannan's CEO, states, "While our field work earlier this year focused on the Sacanche area, the Tabalosos project, located 80 kilometers north is shaping up over a vast scale as another key area for our San Martin project. Of course, we look forward to getting back in the field when the time is right, to conduct further reconnaissance exploration, stream sediment sampling and channel sampling of outcropping mineralization. In the meanwhile, the Company is considering and planning airborne geophysical surveys to advance drill targeting." Within the 30 kilometre trend four key zones have been defined over a 5 kilometre cross strike width: Three zones over a 3.5 kilometre strike, where 16 grab samples from boulders (>0.1% copper) averaged 2.7% copper and 29 g/t silver and ranged from 0.1-8.3% copper and 0.2-109 g/t silver. Reported 17 January 2019. A zone with 3 grab samples from boulders (>0.1% copper) with two different lithologies, averaged 3.3% copper and 12 g/t silver and ranged from 0.2-6.9% copper and 2.2-27 g/t silver. Reported 17 January 2019. Three zones over a 5 kilometre strike, where 6 grab samples from boulders (>0.1% copper) averaged 4.2% copper and 17 g/t silver and ranged from 0.8-11.5% copper and 8-28 g/t silver. Reported 03 September 2019. One zone where quick reconnaissance sampling identified a small shale-host boulder that assayed 12.3% copper and 70 g/t silver. Reported 03 September 2019. Grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property. Hannan recently completed a remote study at the Tabalosos project, which constrains the target position of stratabound copper-silver mineralization. The remote sensing study utilized data from the Sentinel-2 constellation of two twin satellites that systematically acquire optical imagery at high spatial resolution (10 metres to 60 metres) over land and coastal waters. Sentinel-2 has been developed and is being operated by the European Space Agency, and the satellites were manufactured by a consortium led by Airbus Defense and Space. Interpretations from seismic surveying from earlier petroleum exploration shows that the western flank of the Tabalosos project is cut by an inverted basement fault (Figure 2). High grade copper boulders have been located along a 15km long trend. In the southern part of the project area, the inverted basement fault truncates an anticline of the Cushabatay and Sarayaquillo Formations. This area is also prospective for structurally controlled sandstone hosted copper-silver mineralization where hydrocarbons acts as the main trap for copper bearing fluids. Copper anomalous boulders of this style have been discovered by Hannan in the area. Hannan's 100% owned San Martin project encompass a new, basin-scale high-grade copper-silver system situated along the foreland region of the eastern Andes Mountains in Peru. Geologically, Hannan's sedimentary copper-silver deposits analogues include the vast Kupferschiefer deposit in Eastern Europe. Sediment-hosted stratiform copper-silver deposits are among the two most important copper sources in the world, the other being copper porphyries. They are also a major producer of silver. According to the World Silver Survey 2020 KGHM Polska Miedz's ("KGHM") three copper-silver sediment-hosted mines in Poland are the leading silver producer in the world with 40.2Moz produced in 2019. This is almost twice the production of the second largest producing mine. The Polish mines are also the sixth largest global copper miner and in 2018, KGHM produced 30.3 Mt of ore at a grade of 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver from a mineralized zone that averages 0.4 metres to 5.5 metres thick. Hannan is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in San Martin and is working with local representatives to support communities with basic medical equipment and food supplies. The situation remains problematic and the district remains in lock down. About Hannan Metals Limited (TSX.V:HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF) Hannan Metals Limited is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable and ethical resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Peru. Mr. Michael Hudson FAusIMM, Hannan's Chairman and CEO, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO Further Information www.hannanmetals.com 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7 Mariana Bermudez, Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, info@hannanmetals.com Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward-looking statements", and "forward- looking information" under applicable securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements, which include the Company's expectations regarding future performance based on current results, expected cash costs based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projects of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: The Company's expectations regarding timing to complete field work and outcome of results, the granting of the claim applications in Peru, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 on the Company's business, community relations, liabilities inherent in mine development and production, geological risks, the financial markets generally, and the ability of the Company to raise additional capital to fund future operations. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on 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 news. SOURCE: Hannan Metals Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603480/Hannan-Provides-Update-On-The-Tabalosos-Copper-Silver-Project-Peru Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 02:17:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested several "civilians" in the northeastern province of Hasakah and the northern Raqqa province on Wednesday, said state news agency SANA. The SDF carried out house raids in the countryside of Hasakah and Raqqa and "kidnapped civilians," taking them to unknown locations, said the report. SANA said the areas controlled by the SDF witness daily protests against the practices of the group. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that over the past 48 hours, the SDF released tens of detainees from its prisons in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour. The UK-based watchdog group said the release comes as a result of the popular pressure by the people in Deir al-Zour and the protests that urged the Kurdish militia to release the detainees. The SDF has recently started a security campaign in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour to capture sleeper Islamic State (IS) cells. In Hasakah, the group usually captures young men to send them to compulsory military service in its forces. However, the practices of the SDF have raised the ire of the people in Deir al-Zour and other areas, pushing them to carry out several protests against the SDF. Enditem Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) A US-based Filipino scientist says wastewater surveillance may help communities detect the presence of coronavirus by identifying sewage released by those who tested positive for the virus. In an episode of ExperTalk Online aired via the Facebook page of the Science and Technology Departments television program DOSTv, Dr. Francis de los Reyes of the National Academy of Science and Technology, said this method can be compared with the use of pooled testing done on humans. The only difference is in the sample: wastewater, as opposed to nasopharyngeal swabs, or samples taken from peoples noses and mouths. In pooled testing, swab samples are grouped to undergo one test. In wastewater surveillance, samples from a body of water like a river, stream, drainage canal, or sewage treatment plant in a nearby community are gathered. De los Reyes said the wastewater method is like getting thousands or millions of samples at the same time. Since the signature of the virus is in the fecal material, which is in the wastewater, this can be tested to detect and quantify the level of the virus, he said. The use of wastewater surveillance to detect virus presence was conceptualized by the veteran Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering and Associate Faculty of Microbiology at North Carolina State University with his team last March. Researchers from around the world have earlier stated that evidence of the virus can be found in human waste. However, De los Reyes says there is still no evidence of COVID-19 transmission through wastewater, saying that respiratory and fecal droplets remain the primary manners of acquiring the virus. READ: Flush carefully. Study suggests coronavirus could spread in spray from toilet De los Reyes said the proposal was funded by the National Science Foundation in the United States, and was approved the following month. He said this method can be used to detect coronavirus trends in a community, which is vital to enhancing efforts of health officials, identifying infection rates and hotspots, and seeing if there are changes in the virus sequence genome in wastewater. Turnaround time through this method is from a day or two depending on the laboratorys capacity, De los Reyes also said. However, De los Reyes noted there are still challenges if this method will be used. One is the cost of sampling wastewater. The sample also has to undergo a form of polymerase chain reaction, the same kind of test used to detect the virus in humans. However, wastewater sample undergoes a digital droplet PCR test, which he said is more expensive with machines alone already costing $105,000 or nearly 5.1 million. Another challenge is research methodology and the correlation of human health data such as hospitalization and death rates, to data from wastewater surveillance that remain active research questions. He noted that some sampling methods in the Philippines are also being finalized as scientists and researchers from the University of the Philippines Diliman are conducting similar wastewater monitoring tests in Metro Manila, Laguna Lake, and Davao. Nevertheless, De los Reyes said they are willing to share and collaborate techniques and methods with the Philippine Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology. Data from the Johns Hopkins University put the total number of coronavirus cases at 23,925,642. The DOH, meanwhile, recorded a total of 202,361 cases in the Philippines. 133,460 have recovered, while 3,137 succumbed to the disease. A Nigerian-born Canadian, Kaycee Madu, has been appointed as the justice minister and solicitor general of Alberta, a province in Canada. The 47-year-old was born and raised in South-east Nigeria. He graduated from the University of Lagos with a law degree in 2001. He has practised law in both Nigeria and Alberta. According to CBC News, he and his wife relocated to Canada in 2005. With the new appointment, he replaces Doug Schweitzer, the new minister of jobs, economy and innovation. Prior to his appointment, Mr Madu was a member of the legislative assembly of the province representing the district of Edmonton-South West after winning the 2019 Alberta general election. On April 30, 2019, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta as the Minister of Municipal Affairs. Mr Madu, a member of the United Conservative Party, is the first Nigerian-born cabinet member in Alberta. Powerful statement Premier Jason Kenney on Tuesday said the appointment of Mr Madu makes a powerful statement at a time when Albertans have grown more sensitive to racial prejudice. [Madu] is a man who has experienced racial prejudice firsthand and can bring that sensitivity to this important role, Mr Kenney said. Based on the current state of affairs in the province, Mr Madu is expected to see to the changes in the Police Act, and provincial election finance laws proposed by the Select Special Democratic Accountability Committee. Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Mr Madu stated that the importance of carrying the new ministry forward amid difficult social and economic times weighs heavily on his mind. He said that his fundamental belief in equal access to justice has always informed his legal work, and that will never change. I spent my entire professional career fighting for those who lacked means, including at Legal Aid Alberta, Labour, Immigration, and Human Rights Tribunals, and in the courts. My views on the application of justice and equality will always be integral to who I am as a father, husband, citizen, lawyer, and politician. I am determined to make sure our justice system represents all Albertans in a way that is fair and accountable. In particular, I believe Modernizing the Police Act will be a necessary step towards ensuring equality for marginalised people before the law, and I look forward to that important work ahead, he noted. Reading, PA (19601) Today Cloudy with morning snow ending, then windy and turning colder with falling temps and some afternoon clearing. A coating to 1-2" of snow expected in the morning. . Tonight Partly cloudy, windy, and very cold. Wind chills near or below zero later at night. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Republicans and Democrats alike want fair elections in which we can all be confident that every vote will be counted. We can ensure the integrity of our democracy and simultaneously simplify voting by adopting a practice already used by many states: universally available drop-box voting. Drop boxes could be placed throughout the U.S. at each polling place, when it is open for voting during early or extended voting or on Election Day. And, if election authorities made ballots available for pick up as well as deposit, even better, as more people will be encouraged to vote. This is not simply about voting logistics. It is a prescription for expanding electoral participation while diminishing the reliance on the foundering U.S. Postal Service. In Senate testimony Friday, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy assured Congress he is extremely highly confident that if you mail your ballot at least seven days before the election, it will arrive on time. The problem is, many states permit voters to request a mail-in ballot right up to Nov. 3. In that case, the Postal Service warns your ballot might not get counted. In the 2016 presidential election, only about 60% of the eligible voting-age population voted. Although the number of eligible voters has increased as the population has grown, the proportion who cast ballots in presidential elections hasnt varied by more than a few percentage points over the past 50 years. Combining our proposal with the many other efforts to facilitate voter registration this year would give reason to hope that on this Election Day many more citizens would exercise their most fundamental right. This election year is unique. Because of the coronavirus crisis, the majority of voters may well prefer to vote by mail rather than risk their health by waiting in lines at crowded polling places. Mail-in and absentee ballots are not ordinarily a factor in national elections, but this year they could prove decisive. Election rules are governed by state law. And in the seven battleground states of Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin there are laws that mail-in ballots, even if postmarked prior to Nov. 3, will be ignored if received by the election authorities after that date. Drop-box voting eliminates the uncertainty of timely receipt of mail. Story continues Drop-box voting has already been used with no discernable problems in many states. Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan and Washington, to name just a few, have adopted drop-box voting as a convenient alternative to in-person voting. There is much experience across the country demonstrating their safety and security. If each polling place had ballots available for distribution to voters, it would reduce the six-step process of mail balloting to two steps. Today, voters may need to request an application for mail balloting, complete and submit the application, wait to receive the ballot, then complete the ballot and mail it with fingers crossed that it will arrive in time. Under our proposal, registered voters who do not wish to go to the polls in person, for fear of contracting Covid-19 or otherwise, could personally obtain a ballot with a brief stop at their neighborhood polling place when it is open for voting. States could also mail ballots early to registered voters as New York did without incident in the recent primary. Voters could then deposit them at a local drop box on or before Election Day. To assure the security of drop boxes, they could be policed by security guards or local law enforcement. Election officials could collect the ballots at regular and frequent intervals as already happens in those states that have embraced drop-box voting. If the election office provides the boxes, this all could be quite easy. If a state does not provide drop boxes, voters would have to go for it, put on a mask, go inside and hand their ballot to an election clerk. Presumably the lines for dropping off ballots would be shorter than for in-person voting, if the drop-off period extended over multiple days. The voting transaction in that case would be speedier than filling out long ballots at the polls themselves. The director of elections in Denver says she calls mail-in voting ballot delivery because most voters actually return their ballots in person, as opposed to using the post office to mail it back. Our self-governing democracy will not profit from a protracted legal battle over the role of the post office in voting or the integrity of mail-in ballots. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has observed that judges do a bad job in deciding elections. President Donald Trumps adviser Jared Kushner said that all the president wants is a fair election. Drop-box voting would make it happen. The right to vote in a fair and honest election is a precious asset of the American society, not to be squandered or undermined. Author Anne Applebaum fears we are in a global twilight of democracy with a seductive drift toward authoritarianism. Lets hope it doesnt happen here. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. James D. Zirin is a lawyer, public-TV talk-show host and author. His latest book is "Plaintiff in Chief: A Portrait of Donald Trump in 3,500 Lawsuits. Matthew J. Mallow is a former general counsel of BlackRock. The views expressed in this article are his alone and are not expressed on behalf of, nor should they be attributed to, BlackRock. 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. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov within an official visit to Russia on August 26, 2020 met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. After the one-on-one meeting of the ministers, an expanded meeting was held with the participation of delegations. The sides discussed the prospects for the development of cooperation in many spheres of the bilateral agenda, including political, economic, trade, humanitarian, cultural, educational and other spheres. The close contacts and mutual visits of the presidents of both countries have made a great contribution to the development of bilateral relations. The sides stressed the importance of roadmaps for the development of cooperation between the two countries in various fields. The sides expressed hope that a new roadmap in the field of innovations, put forward during the official visit of Azerbaijani First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva to Russia last November, will be approved soon. During the meeting, support was expressed for the full commissioning of the North-South international transport corridor, which is of particular importance for the development of trade and economic relations and the strengthening of regional cooperation. The sides also stressed that the commissioning of a new border bridge across the Samur River will give a new impetus to the mutual trade and contacts between people. The views on cooperation and mutual support within the international organizations were exchanged. The sides agreed to strengthen the cooperation within the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The sides stressed that Russia supported the initiative to convene a special session of the General Assembly dedicated to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The ministers exchanged the views on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Touching upon the recent military provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, Bayramov stressed that the incident, as well as statements made by the Armenian leadership that contributed to the aggravation of tension in the region, impede the settlement of the conflict through the negotiations. The importance of holding substantive negotiations in accordance with the requirements of the UN Security Councils resolutions on the settlement of the conflict was emphasized. In turn, Lavrov stressed the importance of continuing the negotiations to resolve the conflict. Touching upon the current global situation, the ministers stressed the importance of international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. Bayramov stressed Russia's assistance to Azerbaijan, including sending the Russian specialists to Azerbaijan. 1. Vice President Mike Pence will be the headliner at the Republican National Convention tonight. Mr. Pence is expected to give a speech that sells President Trumps record rather than promote himself he is not widely seen as an heir apparent. The outgoing White House adviser Kellyanne Conway will also take the stage. So will Richard Grenell, the openly gay former ambassador to Germany and former acting director of national intelligence, as part of Mr. Trumps turnabout to reach out to the L.G.B.T.Q. community. With the convention at the midway point, there has been far less focus than in the Democratic convention on the pandemic, which has upended life across the U.S. and led to more than 178,000 deaths. Masks and social distancing have been mostly absent, in part thanks to the White Houses ability to test freely. Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday he wasnt invited to the Republican National Convention, but there are plenty of things keeping him busy in Massachusetts. Im a lot more focused on whats going on in Massachusetts right now, Baker said during a news conference Tuesday at WheelWorks in Belmont, where he promoted the upcoming sales tax holiday. We have tons of work to do on a whole series of issues and initiatives that involve COVID, that involve the economy, that involve the budget, that involve education, that involve colleges coming back. One of those initiatives is a $2 million ad campaign to promote local shopping, dining and sales as businesses across the state continue to struggle to generate sales during the coronavirus pandemic. Baker, who announced the campaign Tuesday, said it would run through the end of the year and would include the launch of a My Local MA website: www.findmylocalma.com. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts latest member survey of roughly 200 businesses suggests that 80% are seeing sales below this time last year. We need to remind them that they need to shop like jobs depend on it because, frankly, they do, RAM President Jon Hurst said Tuesday at WheelWorks. More than 8,700 people in Massachusetts have died from coronavirus-related complications with 12 deaths being announced Tuesday. Officials reported another 349 COVID-19 cases, bringing the states tally to 116,770. The coronavirus pandemic has not only infected residents across the state, but has also upended the state economy. Not only are businesses struggling to recapture customers, but budget writers dont have a clear enough financial picture to draft a full year 2021 budget and are in limbo as they wait to see if Congress will pass a relief package with aid to state and local governments. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, however, are in recess and have turned their attention to national elections. The Republican governors comments come a day after the convention kicked off in Charlotte, North Carolina. Baker told reporters on Tuesday that he sees himself as a member of the pragmatic and practical Republican party. He said both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill spend too much time on partisan battles rather than governing their constituents. And I certainly think there are many colleagues of mine in state and federal government that fall under the same category, he said. And I do believe that for many people what really they want the most out of their government is some demonstrated commitment to hearing all voices and then trying to do the things you think that make the most sense for the people youre supposed to serve and represent. Related Content: 20 July 2020. Wirecard headquarters in Aschheim near Munich. Photo: Peter Kneffel/picture alliance via Getty Images Administrators have slashed Wirecards workforce in Germany by half, letting 730 out of 1,300 staff go, as part of the insolvency proceedings at the scandal-ridden payments company. "The economic situation of Wirecard was and is extremely difficult in light of the lack of liquidity and the well-known scandalous circumstances," Wirecards insolvency administrator Michael Jaffe said in a statement. "The usual restructuring and cost-adjustment measures are not sufficient. The companys three remaining board members have also had their contracts terminated, including the interims chief executive, James Fries, who took over from Markus Braun, when Braun resigned after the multi-billion-euro balance sheet scandal began unfolding. Wirecard, once lauded as a shining example of a dynamic German fintech startup, had a spectacular fall from grace in mid-June, after auditors EY refused to sign off on the companys 2019 accounts, saying they could not verify the existence of 1.9bn (1.7bn, $2.25bn) that Wirecard claimed it was holding in trust accounts overseas. READ MORE: Former Wirecard COO put on Interpols most-wanted list Braun, and two other executives are currently in custody, accused of fraud, and market manipulation, among other charges. The companys chief operations officer Jan Marsalek disappeared when news of the accounting scandal broke in June and there is an Interpol warrant out for his arrest. Interpols red notice on Marsalek states that Germany charges the former executive with violation of the German duty on securities act and the securities trading act, criminal breach of trust, especially serious case of fraud. Wirecard was ejected from Germany's blue-chip DAX 30 index (^GDAXI) earlier this month. The insolvency administrator is in the process of selling off Wirecards assets to try and recoup some of the 4bn that it owes creditors. The administrator said the companys Brazilian operations have been sold off and the North American subsidiary sale is well advanced. DELCAMBRE, La. Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be unsurvivable and capable of sinking entire communities. Authorities implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate and worried that not enough had fled. The storm grew nearly 87% in power in just 24 hours to a size the National Hurricane Center called extremely dangerous. Drawing energy from the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, the system was on track to arrive late Wednesday or early Thursday as the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. so far this year. It looks like its in full beast mode, which is not what you want to see if youre in its way, University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said. Winds were expected to reach 150 mph before landfall, and forecasters said up to 15 inches of rain could fall in some places. One major Louisiana highway already had standing water as Lauras outer bands moved ashore with tropical storm-force winds. Thousands of sandbags lined roadways in tiny Lafitte, and winds picked up as shoppers rushed into a grocery store in low-lying Delcambre. Trent Savoie, 31, said he was staying put. With four kids and 100 farm animals, its just hard to move out, he said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards fretted that the dire predictions were not resonating despite authorities putting more than 500,000 coastal residents under mandatory evacuation orders. In Lake Charles, Louisiana, National Guard members drove school buses around neighborhoods, offering to pick up families. Across the state line in Port Arthur, Texas, few stragglers boarded evacuation buses, and city officials announced that two C-130 transport planes offered the last chance to leave. Abbott warned that people who fail to get out of harms way could be cut off from help long after the storm hits. A Category 4 hurricane can cause damage so catastrophic that power outages may last for months in places, and wide areas could be uninhabitable for weeks or months. The threat of such devastation posed a new disaster-relief challenge for a government already straining to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Among the parts of Louisiana that were under evacuation orders were areas turning up high rates of positive Covid-19 tests. Story continues The National Hurricane Center kept raising its estimate of Lauras storm surge, from 10 feet just a couple of days ago to twice that size a height that forecasters said would be especially deadly. By Wednesday afternoon, Laura had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph as it churned about 155 miles south of Lake Charles. Heed the advice of your local authorities. If they tell you to go, go! Your life depends on it today, said Joel Cline, tropical program coordinator at the National Weather Service. Its a serious day and you need to listen to them. On Twitter, President Donald Trump also urged coastal residents to heed local officials. Hurricane warnings were issued from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and reached inland for 200 miles. Storm surge warnings were in effect from Freeport, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. For some, the decision to leave home left them with no place to stay. Wary of opening mass shelters during a pandemic, Texas officials instead put evacuees in hotels, but Austin stopped taking arrivals before dawn because officials said they ran out of rooms. Other evacuees called the states 211 information line and were directed to Ennis, outside Dallas, only to be told after driving hundreds of miles that there were no hotels available or vouchers. Taniquia Ned and her sisters showed up without money to rent a room, saying the family had burned through its savings after losing jobs because of the coronavirus. The Covid-19 is just totally wiping us out, said Shalonda Joseph, 43, a teacher in Port Arthur. Edwards lamented that the impending storm meant suspension of community testing for Covid-19 at a crucial time as elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana are opening and students are returning to college campuses. Were basically going to be blind for this week, Edwards said, referring to the lack of testing. Forecasters said storm surge topped by waves could submerge entire towns. Water was already rising in the small Louisiana community of Holly Beach in the imperiled Cameron Parish, which forecasters have warned could become part of the Gulf of Mexico after the storm comes ashore. Laura is expected to cause widespread flash flooding in states far from the coast. Flood watches were issued for much of Arkansas, and forecasters said heavy rainfall could arrive by Friday in parts of Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky. Laura is so powerful that its expected to become a tropical storm again once it reaches the Atlantic Ocean, potentially threatening the Northeast. Becky Clements, 56, evacuated from Lake Charles after hearing that it could take a direct hit. She and her family found an AirBnb hundreds of miles inland. Almost 15 years have passed since Hurricane Rita destroyed the city. The devastation afterward in our town and that whole corner of the state was just awful, Clements recalled. Whole communities were washed away, never to exist again. ... So knowing how devastating the storms are, there was no way we were going to stay for this. The church educator said she fears for her office, which is in a trailer following recent construction. I very much anticipate that my office will be gone when I get back. It will be scattered throughout that field. The hurricane also threatens a center of the U.S. energy industry. The government said 84% of Gulf oil production and an estimated 61% of natural gas production were shut down. Nearly 300 platforms have been evacuated. Consumers are unlikely to see big price hikes however, because the pandemic has decimated demand for fuel. If Laura moves further west toward Houston, there will be a much bigger gasoline supply problem, Oil analyst Andrew Lipow said, since refineries usually take two to three weeks to resume full operations. Laura closed in on the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power and caused intense flooding. New Delhi: Continuing the close defence partnership, Russia has hoped India will soon sign agreement on IGLA-S anti-air missile while India has announced it will soon produce spare parts of Russian defence equipment under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. India has signed an intergovernmental agreement with Russia to the manufacturing of spare parts of Russian equipment supplied to India. Indian defence forces have a substantial component of Russian military hardware, some estimates bill it around 70 per cent. Indian envoy to Russia DB Venkatesh Varma said, "Now a number of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on both sides are in touch with each other; this is a big step forward." India's Secretary of Defence Production Raj Kumar had a meeting with key Russian defence bodies and Russian deputy minister for Industry and Trade Oleg Ryazansev a few days ago on the sidelines of Russian government's Army-2020 Forum. Meanwhile, Dmitry Shugaev, the Director at Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Russia's nodal body to export defence products to foreign countries has expressed hope that India will soon sign an agreement for production and supply of Igla S Anti Air Missile "since we have won the tender unconditionally". Both sides are hoping to expedite the production of 7.62mm Kalashnikov Assault Rifle- AK203, a joint venture between the two countries. The Russians are also hopeful that contracts for six Ka-31 helicopters will be signed by end of 2020. Spokesperson of FSMTC Maria Vorobyeva said, "We know that due to objective reasons, the Indian leadership decided to accelerate the allocation of funds for the purchase of the specified aircraft. The talks are already going on. We expect, that the contracts, including the one on 6 Ka-31 helicopters, are signed before the end of 2020." Asked about S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, the spokesperson said, "Delivery of the first regimental batch is expected by the end of 2021" to India and "further acceleration of the delivery of the first batch from the system is technically impossible, since there are objective, technology-related stages of production, acceptance and transfer of equipment". India had signed the contract for the deal during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit on October 5, 2018. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panoro Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: PML, Lima: PML, Frankfurt: PZM) (Panoro, the Company), is pleased to provide an update on the progress and results from exploration activities in 2020 at the Humamantata Project in southern Peru. Work at the Humamantata Project was suspended in March 2020 in accordance with Peruvian regulations pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Stage 2 reactivation of economic activities in Peru includes permission for exploration activities to recommence with approved Covid-19 protocols. Panoros protocols have been submitted to and approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Health. Panoros health and safety and community relations team has mobilized to site and the geology team will be arriving this week. With the work in progress (see previous press release), three Targets have been identified over the Humamantata Project: Target 1 includes an Intrusive and a Skarn with oxides, secondary and primary copper sulfides in the contact between a porphyry and the Ferrobamba limestones. Target 2 includes hydrothermal breccias with Ag, Au and Cu, Mo anomalies, hosted in the contact between a porphyry environment and limestones/sandstones packages. Target 3 includes hydrothermal breccias and quartz stockwork with high Ag and low Au anomalies, hosted in sandstone layers in an epithermal environment. In 2020 the main fieldwork was concentrated in Target 2, where the mapping identified a complex lithologic setting requiring further 1:1000-scale mapping and oriented rock chip sampling by mineral structure to complement the Induced Polarization and Magnetics surveys to determine and review a possible connection with Target 1. In Target 2, we have identified a hydrothermal breccia (the BX-7) - 750m in length by 60 to 300m in width, striking in a N45E direction along the north contact of a porphyry of Tonalite composition located at the southeast side. To the west side is an outcrop of a second hydrothermal breccia (the BX-6) in the contact between the limestone and sandstone packages (see linked geologic map). In the Target 2 area there is a mineral outcropping continuity along the 1.2 km length, from the intrusive to the BX-6, passing through the BX-7. There is a metal zoning from a porphyry environment with Cu, Mo, Au in the intrusive domain to an epithermal environment in the BX-6 with high anomalies of Ag, Pb, Zn; passing through a mesothermal environment with high Ag and minor Au values in the BX-7. The BX-7 shows silver grades from 0.5 to 7.5 ounces/tonne with anomalies of gold, in spite of the pervasive supergene oxidation and argillization. The mineralization is conformed by pyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, chalcopyrite, galena acantite-argentiferous, hematite, goethite and jarosite, all in replacement and dissemination textures into the breccia matrix. This information is supported with mineralogy, petrography and spectrometry studies. The chargeability and magnetics geophysics signatures suggest certain continuity of the BX-7 at depth, below the intrusive contacts. This breccia is emerging as one of the best targets for the drilling campaign. Exploration with mapping and rock sampling will continue during the next 3 months to define specific areas for drilling in Targets 1 and 2. The completion of the process to obtain the FTA, environmental permit for proposed exploration drilling program has advanced, receiving the authorization of all private land owners around the project. In addition, the FTA will be completed and approved in a few weeks after the workshop with public authorities is completed. The Permit to Start Drilling Operations is expected to be approved in time to commence the proposed exploration drilling program during the last quarter of 2020. The next stage of the exploration program will be finalized in conjunction with Panoros partner, JOGMEC, after the completion of mapping, geochemistry and geophysical surveys. About Panoro Panoro is a uniquely positioned Peru focused copper exploration and development company. The Company is advancing its flagship project, Cotabambas Copper-Gold-Silver Project and its Antilla Copper-Molybdenum Projects located in the strategically important area of southern Peru. Panoro has completed strategic partnerships at four of its projects: Precious Metals Purchase Agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals at the Cotabambas Project; Joint Venture with JOGMEC at the Humamantata Project; Sale to Hudbay Minerals of the Kusiorcco Project for cash and NSR royalty; and Sale to Mintania of the Cochasayhuas Project for cash and NSR royalty. These partnerships would provide, if all received, US$ 15.5 million of funding to Panoro from 2020 to 2024, not including the potential NSR royalties from the Kusiorcco and Cochasayhuas Projects. At the Cotabambas Project, the Company is focused on delineating the growth potential while optimizing the project economics. Exploration and step-out drilling from 2017, 2018 and 2019 has identified the potential for both oxide and sulphide resource growth. Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project Resources Project Resource Classification Million Tonnes Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Mo (%) CuEq % Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Indicated 117.1 0.42 0.23 2.74 0.001 0.59 Inferred 605.3 0.31 0.17 2.33 0.002 0.44 @ 0.20% CuEq cutoff, effective October 2013, Tetratech Antilla Cu/Mo Indicated 291.8 0.34 - - 0.01 0.38 Inferred 90.5 0.26 - - 0.007 0.29 @ 0.175% CuEq cutoff, effective May 2016, Tetratech Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEA) have been completed for both the Cotabambas and Antilla Projects, the key results are summarized below. Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project PEA Results Key Project Parameters Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Project1 Antilla Cu Project2 Process Feed, life of mine million tonnes 483.1 118.7 Process Feed, daily Tonnes 80,000 20,000 Strip Ratio, life of mine 1.25 : 1 1.38 : 1 Before Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 1,053 520 IRR % 20.4 34.7 Payback years 3.2 2.6 After Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 684 305 IRR % 16.7 25.9 Payback years 3.6 3.0 Annual Average Payable Metals Cu thousand tonnes 70.5 21.0 Au thousand ounces 95.1 - Ag thousand ounces 1,018.4 - Mo thousand tonnes - - Initial Capital Cost million USD 1,530 250 Project economics estimated at commodity prices of; Cu = US$3.00/lb, Au = US$1,250/oz, Ag = US$18.50/oz, Mo = US$12/lb Project economics estimated at long term commodity price of Cu = US$3.05/lb and Short term commodity price of Cu = US$3.20, US$3.15 and US$3.10 for Years 1, 2 and 3 of operations, respectively. The PEAs are considered preliminary in nature and include Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied that would enable classification as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions within the updated PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Luis Vela, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. On behalf of the Board of Panoro Minerals Ltd. Luquman Shaheen. M.B.A., P.Eng, P.E. President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Panoro Minerals Ltd. Luquman Shaheen, President & CEO Phone: 604.684.4246 Fax: 604.684.4200 Email: info@panoro.com Web: www.panoro.com CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and involve risks and uncertainties. Examples of forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release include information and statements with respect to: acceleration of payments by Wheaton Metals to match third party financing by Panoro targeted for exploration at the Cotabambas Project; payment by Wheaton Metals of US$140 million in installments; Panoro weathering the current depressed equity and commodity markets, minimizing dilution to existing shareholders and making targeted investments into exploration at the Cotabambas Project; mineral resource estimates and assumptions; the PEA, including, but not limited to, base case parameters and assumptions, forecasts of net present value, internal rate of return and payback; and copper concentrate grade from the Cotabambas Project. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. In some instances, material assumptions and factors are presented or discussed in this news release in connection with the statements or disclosure containing the forward-looking information and statements. You are cautioned that the following list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions concerning: metal prices and by-product credits; cut-off grades; short and long term power prices; processing recovery rates; mine plans and production scheduling; process and infrastructure design and implementation; accuracy of the estimation of operating and capital costs; applicable tax and royalty rates; open-pit design; accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and reserve and resource modeling; reliability of sampling and assay data; representativeness of mineralization; accuracy of metallurgical test work; and amenability of upgrading and blending mineralization. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks relating to metal price fluctuations; risks relating to estimates of mineral resources, production, capital and operating costs, decommissioning or reclamation expenses, proving to be inaccurate; the inherent operational risks associated with mining and mineral exploration, development, mine construction and operating activities, many of which are beyond Panoros control; risks relating to Panoros ability to enforce Panoros legal rights under permits or licenses or risk that Panoros will become subject to litigation or arbitration that has an adverse outcome; risks relating to Panoros projects being in Peru, including political, economic and regulatory instability; risks relating to the uncertainty of applications to obtain, extend or renew licenses and permits; risks relating to potential challenges to Panoros right to explore and/or develop its projects; risks relating to mineral resource estimates being based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual circumstances; risks relating to Panoros operations being subject to environmental and remediation requirements, which may increase the cost of doing business and restrict Panoros operations; risks relating to being adversely affected by environmental, safety and regulatory risks, including increased regulatory burdens or delays and changes of law; risks relating to inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance; risks relating to the fact that Panoros properties are not yet in commercial production; risks relating to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and tax rates; and risks relating to Panoros ability to raise funding to continue its exploration, development and mining activities. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release. 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 the forwardlooking information. The forwardlooking information contained in this news release is based on beliefs, expectations and opinions as of the date of this news release. For the reasons set forth above, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Panoro does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and statements included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. After nearly six months of not being able to see her friends in person, Sumayyah Ahmed is even more excited about this school year than usual. She figures it might be pretty weird with all her classmates wearing masks and social distancing, but shes going into Grade 8 so she and her friends will finally be the oldest kids in the school. Ive heard its the most fun year. Sumayyahs mother, Lindsay Ahmed, is a little more anxious about what lies ahead. Im feeling probably similar to everyone else, she says. I have no idea what the right decision is. Sumayyah, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is also visually and hearing impaired, is among the estimated one-in-six Ontario students with special needs. Ahmed loves her daughters school Robert Munsch Public School in Whitby and shes confident they will do the best they can with what theyre given. But like many other parents, she still has so many questions and shes frustrated with the lack of information. How will physical distancing requirements affect her daughters support person? What happens if theres another shutdown and Sumayyah is forced to return to online learning, which, if its run as it was in the spring, will be mostly inaccessible to her? Ahmed says it feels like students with disabilities are being treated as an afterthought, which is usually the case. Ahmed isnt alone. Parents and advocates of students with special needs say Ontarios back-to-school plan doesnt address their concerns ahead of this unprecedented school year. There was no systematic effort to figure out how to meet the needs of people with disabilities during COVID, says David Lepofsky, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. Lepofsky says he sympathized with the province back in March when they had to scramble to move classes online. He doesnt fault them for their missteps then, but he says its unacceptable there is still no comprehensive strategy for supporting students with disabilities. We said to them in the spring: You need a plan. You need to come up with ways to ensure that your distance learning meets the needs of those one-out-of-six students, and they didnt. Im not saying they did absolutely nothing, but there was no systematic strategy to deal with it. They basically left it to 72 school boards to each figure it out themselves. That is a formula for failure. Last month the province announced $10 million of their school reopening budget would be used specifically to support special needs students in the classroom. The Ministry of Education has also encouraged boards to support whatever attendance option works best for special needs students. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the province is spending more money than any other province on special education. The ministry also pointed out that they have increased funding for special education grants available to every school board, while creating the Supports For Students Fund, which can be used for additional critical staffing needs, including hiring more educational assistants. Even with the additional funding, Lepofsky and other advocates fear the extra health-and-safety burdens on schools, coupled with the lack of a comprehensive plan for special needs students will lead to more students being excluded. What were worried about right now is with the return to school and principals scrambling theres a real risk that some of them are going to decide, I dont know what to do with this kid. I dont know if we can manage their social distancing. Mom, keep your kid home, he says. This is a festering problem that predated COVID and we are really worried that this fall its going to get worse as a way of coping with the failure of the provincial government to properly plan and resource the return to school. A provision of Ontarios Education Act allows individual principals to prohibit a student from attending school if they believe their presence is detrimental to the physical and mental well-being of the other students. Disability advocates have argued the provision is disproportionately used to exclude students with special needs, particularly those with autism. Last year the Ontario government said it would look into the issue, but there is currently no province-wide policy and individual principals have broad discretion. Theres wild variations from board to board, Lepofsky says. Depending on where you live your kid gets a lot of due process, or none. Laura Kirby-McIntosh, president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, says she has already heard from parents of autistic children whose schools have asked them to attend for less than a full day or only a few days per week. The message there is, Gee, your kid is an awful lot of extra work, so let us get all the normal kids settled and then well worry about you. Thats problematic, she says. The social impact of being excluded can be devastating for a student with special needs, Kirby-McIntosh says. Especially in that first week. Kirby-McIntosh says shes worried the pandemic will be used as a pretext for more exclusions. Im very nervous about how this is going to unfold, she says. I think theres going to be a lot of lawyers and education advocates who are going to be very busy this fall, and a lot of exhausted and exacerbated parents and a lot of sad kids. The ministry did not respond to questions about the potential for more exclusions this year. Angela Nardi-Addesa, superintendent of special education and inclusion for the Toronto District School Board, says the board has instructed its schools that pandemic protocols cannot be used as a reason to exclude a student. I want to make sure that all our staff know that nothing of what we do should act as a barrier for students with disabilities. If a student is unable to wear a mask or to distance themselves from other students, she says, accommodations will be made. It is up to us as a staff, as a board, to figure out how to best support that student to keep them safe, as well as the staff. On top of her uncertainty and anxiety around her daughters return to school, Ahmed is also worried about what will happen if schools are forced to close again at some point this fall. Sumayyah, whose disabilities made learning by video nearly impossible, really struggled to keep up during the spring shutdown. The video connection didnt always work, and she had trouble seeing and hearing things properly. It was annoying and frustrating, Sumayyah says. There was no plan for anyone, so of course the students with special needs were the ones who suffered the most, Ahmed says. She hasnt heard what, if anything, has been done to improve virtual learning for students with disabilities. Im going to assume theres probably not a better plan. Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Tuesday informed the government that it has received the first tranche of Rs 24.33 crore in recoveries in the fraud involving Nirav Modi. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) which spearheaded the corporate governance litigation in a foreign jurisdictional Court, that it has received $3.25 million (equivalent of Rs 24.33 crore) as the first tranche of recoveries. Upon liquidation of the debtors' assets by the US Chapter 11 Trustee, a sum of $11.04 million (equivalent of Rs 82.66 crore) is available for distribution to unsecured creditors including PNB. Further recovery therefrom is subject to other expenses and settlement of claims of other claimants. The maiden repatriation of $3.25 million is an unprecedented achievement of the Government of India, Ministry of Corporate Affairs in its fight against corporate fraud in overseas territory. The Ministry also has initiated proceedings for disgorgement of monies from the perpetrators, i.e., the entities promoted and/or controlled by Nirav Modi/Mehul Choksi. Punjab National Bank in 2018 informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India that three companies promoted by Mr. Nirav Modi, namely M/s. Firestar Diamond, Inc., A. Jaffee, Inc. and Fantasy, Inc., had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection in the Southern District of New York, United States of America. PNB requested the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to support and join the bankruptcy proceedings in New York, USA in order to help PNB realize its claims in the debtors' assets. The US Bankruptcy Court of Southern District of New York, by its Order dated July 26, 2018 recognized the claims of PNB in the proceeds of sale of assets of the properties of the debtor companies. It also authorized PNB to issue subpoenas to compel the examination of Mr. Nirav Modi, Mr. Mihir Bhansali and Ms. Rakhi Bhansali under oath. Subsequently, on 24 August 2018, the Examiner appointed by the New York Bankruptcy Court submitted his report. The Report explains the modus operandi of the fraud, and the manner in which the US-based employees of the debtors participated in the fraud. One prominent feature of the fraud was the apparent fade of independent companies, which were, in reality, entities promoted and/or controlled by Nirav Modi, that engaged in 'round-tripping' of the diamonds amongst themselves. The media reported that the Interpol has issued a red corner notice against Nirav Modi's wife, Ami Modi, in connection with the nearly $2 billion PNB fraud and money laundering case. He is lodged in a UK jail after being arrested in London in March 2019 and is currently fighting extradition to India. He was declared a fugitive economic offender by a Mumbai court earlier this year. The court had also ordered the confiscation of his assets. In July 2020, the ED had attached properties of Nirav Modi worth Rs 329.66 crore under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA). PNB's standalone net profit tanked 69.7% to Rs 308.45 crore on a 60.2% surge in total income to Rs 24,292.80 crore in Q1 June 2020 over Q1 June 2019. Punjab National Bank is a public sector bank. The Government of India held 85.59% stake in the bank as on 30 June 2020. Shares of PNB gained 0.43% at Rs 35.35. It traded in the range of Rs 35.20 and Rs 35.75 during the day. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drew Lee invited me to discuss my lawsuit against officials of the Minnesota Department of Health on the 8:35 a.m. (Central) segment of Justice and Lee this morning. The show is broadcast on Twin Cities News Talk AM 1130 and also available via live stream here. I wanted Drews audience to have easy access to this update on the status of the lawsuit that I posted on Power Line last week. UPDATE: Drew is clipping the segment for us in podcast form. I will post it when available. In the meantime, analyze this: I have brought a section 1983 lawsuit against Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and MDH press officer Michael Schommer for excluding me from the daily MDH press briefings on and after April 27. Although Malcolm contends she had nothing to do with it, my exclusion from the press briefings on that date and subsequently is undisputed. I published my sworn statement setting forth the facts of the case as I understand them in my notes on the lawsuit. That post included the photo of my federal courts press badge below. It tends to belie Schommers assertion that I dont belong on the briefings because Im not a professional journalist. Thats how Schommer explained my exclusion to Washington Free Beacon reporter Collin Anderson for his May 20 story on the underlying events. (Minnesotas health department told the Free Beacon that access to the briefings is limited only to professional journalists.' Collin added that Schommer did not respond to questions about the criteria that determine whether a reporter is a professional journalist and did not explain why Johnson was excluded after having previously attended the briefings.) I am represented in the lawsuit by Theresa Bevilacqua and Ian Blodger of Dorsey & Whitney. Theresa is the chair of Dorseys Minneapolis trial group. I am grateful she agreed to take the case on my behalf and that the firm approved. This lawsuit stands at the intersection of politics, public policy, COVID-19, and the First Amendment. It is an important and newsworthy case. We have put in evidence that brings the case right into the office of Governor Walz. Yet the case has attracted no media interest. I allege that Malcolm and Schommer have excluded me from the press briefings on political grounds in violation of the First Amendment. They moved to dismiss the lawsuit for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted i.e., they assert that I have no legal claim. I moved for a preliminary injunction ordering them to reinstate me to the press briefing conference line. The case is pending before Judge Donovan Frank. Judge Frank denied both motions. Taking the allegations of my amended complaint as true, Judge Frank held that the substance of my First Amendment claim against Malcolm and Schommer is legally sufficient. Denying defendants motion to dismiss my case, Judge Frank adopted the limited public forum analysis on which my lawsuit is predicated. If Malcolm and Schommer excluded me from the calls on political grounds, that exclusion was illegal. I posted Judge Franks 17-page memorandum opinion and order in part 5 of this series. The pretrial management of the case is assigned to Magistrate Judge Becky Thorson. Magistrate Judge Thorson has entered a scheduling order under which the case is to be ready for trial in March. The parties are to exchange basic documents on September 4. Defendants documents should include the various lists specifying the parties invited to the regular press briefings before and after April 27. Although Schommer filed a sworn statement asserting that he excluded me on April 27 for apolitical reasons and that his conference with Governor Walzs staff about me on that date was coincidental, he has so far failed to identify any reporter other than me who was included on the briefings until April 27 and then excluded under his April 27 dispensation. I feel like the man in Lincolns joke who was tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail. If it wasnt for the honor of the thing, Id rather walk. I posted a copy of Schommers sworn statement in part 3 of this series. Schommers statement lacked any supporting exhibits. Not one. I want to see those documents. When I get the documents, I intend to post them for readers to take a look with their own eyes as usual and provide my own analysis. Magistrate Judge Thorson has scheduled a settlement conference in the case on September 17. The settlement conference is to be conducted via Zoom. I will of course report the resolution of the case if it is resolved. I will report what we learn in discovery if the case is not resolved. Given the lack of interest among the Minnesota media, my reports on the case are a Power Line exclusive. President Donald Trump was elected in 2016 having dealt with education almost exclusively in sound bites. While thats no longer true nearly four years later as he accepts the Republican Partys nomination for a second term, perhaps nothing stands out about Trumps position on education like his rhetoric pressuring classrooms to reopen as the nation struggles with the coronavirus pandemic. Although the way the administration has addressed schools response to the virus might end up being Trumps most prominent education legacy, his reelection bid is also showcasing his ongoing support for his signature K-12 policy issue of school choice. And if his rhetoric in recent months and messaging at the partys national convention are any indication, he might be interested in opening up a new political battle over education, or at least reinvigorating one: what students are taught about American history. Both themes were on display as Trump accepted his partys nomination at a White House speech on the final night of the Republican Partys convention Aug. 27. We want our sons and daughters to know the truth: America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world, Trump said. He pledged to fully restore patriotic education to our schools, and always protect free speech on college campuses. The president also said Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden opposes school choice and has vowed to shut down charter schools, and said, In a second term, I will expand charter schools and provide school choice to every family in America. (The Democratic Party platform calls for new limits on and additional accountability for charter schools, but does not say they should be banned outright.) The Presidents Four-Year Track Record In the past four years, Trump and his education team have galvanized many choice supporters and helped deliver a few small-scale wins that are in large part the work of Congress. Separately, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has repealed high-profile K-12 initiatives from the Obama administration that involve difficult debates about civil rights, safety, and race. And Trump has approved significant federal laws governing career-technical education and school safety. Yet the Trump administration has repeatedly failed to coax a sweeping expansion of vouchers, tuition tax credits, or similar forms of school choice out of Congress. In 2016, the president pledged $20 billion to expand choice, but hasnt come anywhere close to that number, as national partisan divisions alter the political landscape for school choice advocates, perhaps permanently. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Educations annual budget has grown on Trumps watch by nearly $5 billion to about $73 billion, despite his pledge four years ago to shrink or even eliminate it. And the controversy Trump touched off in education politics when he nominated DeVos for education secretary has never fully abated; it might have grown during the pandemic due to his pressure for in-person classes to resume. If his interest extends to instruction in classrooms, it might intensify. A New Front: Teaching American Exceptionalism In late August, Trump unveiled a series of priorities for his second term that featured just two bullet points for education . One was a pledge to expand school choice. But the other was a call to Teach American Exceptionalism. In his speech commemorating the Fourth of July this year, for example, Trump said the nations schools teach children to hate their own country through exposing them to a distorted and overwhelmingly negative view of American history. The Republican National Convention this month has also showcased concerns that todays students are not taught to respect the nations founders like they should. Its unlikely the president would be raising this issue now without the presence (and criticism) of the 1619 Project, a Pulitzer Prize-winning essay collection published in the New York Times last year that puts slavery at the heart of American history, politics, and economics, said Andy Smarick, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute. Smarick noted that the projects quick path into classrooms was worrisome to many people. But he added that Trump is also channeling long-standing conservative concerns expressed in places like the 2016 GOP platform, which said education should in part be focused on the handing over of a cultural identity. Its a proxy war, Smarick said of Trumps recent rhetoric. Its really about: How do people think about America, and how is that translated into our schools? Successes and Disappointments: Devos and School Choice But school choiceor what DeVos for well over a year has called education freedom to cover a suite of policies beyond things like voucherscontinues to define much of how the Trump administration discusses education. In June, the president called it the civil rights issue of all time. Trump and other Republicans repeatedly point to choice as a way to provide children of color in struggling traditional public schools with new opportunities, in a year when their parents could be the decisive factor in the presidential election. Due in part to the administration and previous work by supporters, polls have shown that voters across ideological groups and demographics back the idea of school choice, said John Schilling, the president of the American Federation of Children. (DeVos previously served as chairwoman of the organization, which supports various forms of K-12 choice.) I think the administration has been good for school choice, Schilling said. Annual federal funding for charter expansion has risen by a little more than $100 million over the course of Trumps term to $440 million; the increase was approved by Congress over the first two years of Trumps presidency with support from the administration. In addition to that support, the administration has acknowledged the value of charter schools, the value that they bring to public education, and to the Black and brown families that charter schools predominantly serve, said Nina Rees, the president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Elsewhere, the 2017 GOP tax overhaul signed by Trump changed rules for 529 savings plans to allow them to be used for K-12 private school expenses, not just postsecondary costs. This was a small victory, said Ben DeGrow, the director of education policy at the Mackinac Center, which supports K-12 choice and a limited federal role in education. Hes sending all the signals that he wants to make this a signature issue in this second term, DeGrow said of school choice, noting that the president has undoubtedly raised the issues national profile. But getting anything done is going to require a broad, bipartisan coalition. Congress has rebuffed efforts from the Trump administration and its allies to pass a groundbreaking school choice initiative that includes private schools, even when the GOP controlled both chambers of Congress in the first two years of the presidents term. And it increasingly looks as if calls from DeVos and others to expand education choice to families struggling to help their children during the pandemic will be ignored. Schilling said bluntly, Im very disappointed about this shortcoming, and blamed intransigence among Democrats and their allies in teachers unions as a primary reason for it. Ever since DeVos controversial 2017 confirmation hearing, Democrats have been vehemently opposed to the Trump administrations education priorities, and have channeled that opposition into the 2020 election campaign. Democratic candidates singled DeVos out during the primary as a Trump cabinet member they would get rid of. Democratic nominee Joe Biden has pledged to revive Obama-era priorities such as voluntary school integration efforts and guidance dealing with education civil rights. And Democrats as well as their allies have decried Trumps declarations that schools should resume regular instruction during the pandemic as well as his push for private school choice Democrats oppose private school vouchers and other policies that divert taxpayer-funded resources away from the public school system, the partys 2020 platform states . DeGrow said that as far as Trump goes, School choice could also benefit from having somebody whos better at building coalitions, especially if Republicans dont regain control of both chambers of Congress during a second Trump term. But both DeGrow and Schilling said that the role states play in expanding choice is essential. At the Republican convention, school choice has been mentioned a lot, Schilling said. Governors do take note. State legislators do take note. And I think thats important. Its up to us as advocates to do a better job of convincing policymakers [at the federal level] that this is good policy. DeGrow said the administrations Education Freedom Scholarships plan, introduced last year in Congress, where it has been largely ignored by lawmakers, is a good model going forward for Trump. Thats because it would ultimately empower states to expand or create new choice programs and avoid what he called the heavy fingerprint of Washington, even though it would use federal tax credits to do so. Charter Schools in a Tough Spot Charters are in a unique and perhaps difficult position as Trump heads from a first to potentially a second term. At the strictly federal level, charter supporters cheered earlier increases to federal backing for their growth. But they were disconcerted when Trump proposed rolling the federal grant program for charter expansion into a large block grant, thereby ending dedicated funding for the schools; the administration denied that it was truly cutting funding for charters by doing so. For an administration that wants to be known as one thats supported choice, we felt that it was the wrong move, and we certainly didnt like it, Rees said. There are also concerns among charter school backers that voters might increasingly and mistakenly consider charters something primarily if not exclusively backed by Republicans. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress have sought to cut the dedicated $440 million in aid for charter growth, even as charter advocates decry what they see as the partys betrayal of Black and Latino Democrats who benefit from and support those schools. For a ten-year period starting in 2009, enrollment in charter schools increased by nearly two million students , according to Rees group. Yet many in the education community, including charter school advocates, have also opposed Trump in situations that arent strictly about schools but which resonate across politics, such as his so-far unsuccessful effort to undo President Barack Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that grants legal protections to certain undocumented immigrants. Rees, whose organization has supported DACA , said this reflects the longevity and political maturity of the charter sector and how many of its members concerns reflect those found in traditional public schools. The two most helpful things Trump could do for charters in a second term, Rees said, would be to shift his support back to having dedicated federal funding for charters, and to empower state and local messengers who are benefiting from charter schools to be their primary ambassadors. President Trumps rhetoric and Secretary DeVos image in the court of public opinion have raised questions about how effective they are in being messengers for the charter school community, she said. Future Battles Over What Is Taught in Schools? Separate from the administration, its not clear that Trumps 2020 campaign puts a lot of emphasis on the fine-grain details of federal education policy. As of this week , a website maintained by Trumps 2020 campaign branded Promises Kept said his administration has approved plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act , the federal law governing K-12 schools, from 35 states and the District of Columbia. In fact, DeVos had approved ESSA plans from all 50 states and other jurisdictions by October 2017. The campaign website also highlights changes backed and signed into law by Trump that deal with career-technical education and school safety. In 2018, Trump also created a DeVos-led school safety commission in response to shootings at a high school in Parkland, Fla. That commission led to DeVos repealing Obama guidance intended to address racial disparities in school discipline. In a similar vein, she has also repealed Obama guidance regarding transgender students access to facilities and how schools must respond to reports of sexual harassment and assault. (Speakers at the RNC have highlighted the partys views on school discipline and gender identity.) Battles over these education disputes that combine critiques of politics and culture predate the Trump era and have helped define its approach to schools over his first term. But Trumps focus on American exceptionalism could represent something new. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also captured this sentiment when he introduced legislation this summer that would ban federal funding from supporting the use of curricula based on the 1619 Project in schools. Trump has not commented publicly on Cottons bill, which has yet to get momentum on Capitol Hill and runs afoul of the law barring federal involvement in curriculum, although the president has criticized the 1619 Project itself. Of course, such a prohibition might not reduce in any way the issues political power. Smarick of the Manhattan Institute noted that to a certain extent, supporting education pluralism and choice while also pushing for history to be taught in a certain way are in conflict. And he noted that many conservatives spent years battling against federal involvement in schools around the adoption of the Common Core State Standards. Its a little funny now to have a conservative weighing in on what is taught in the classroom, he said. This is going to be a matter of teachers and superintendents and school boards making a decision of what is taught. Repairing the thousands of tiny fractures Covid-19 has made in family life is now a full-time job for parents. And, having been distracted by adults behaving like spoiled kids in Clifden, today we can finally focus on our actual children returning to school. With a question mark hanging over everything we have previously taken for granted, whatever foreboding mums and dads are quietly harbouring this morning, their overriding emotion will be relief. After five months of disruption, the school gates are open again. Yet the students are returning to a very different learning environment. Little wonder many faces have road-maps of anxiety carved into them, fretting over preparations. Getting one million students back to our 4,000 schools across the country has been a mammoth task. In recent days we have seen intense frustration as people recognise the futility of reaching over their shoulders, hoping to regain the equilibrium we have all left behind. Today would not have been possible without pulling together; it represents a major step towards regaining some sort of order. All sensible measures must be taken to protect pupils today. Dr Mary Favier, president of the Irish College of GPs, has some suitably practical and reassuring advice for parents. Be a little more vigilant, she recommends, while stressing that children can be, and should be, at school. However, greater certainty on safety measures would be valuable. Teachers have called for an urgent review of rules that exempt primary school children from wearing face masks in light of new WHO guidance. The recommendations say children aged between six and 11 should wear face masks on a "risk-based approach". The Irish National Teachers' Organisation has appealed to Taoiseach Micheal Martin seeking clarity. It is hardly good enough; the union has been seeking such direction since June. The Association of Secondary School Teachers of Ireland has said it has written to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, asking him to intervene to secure a meeting between the union and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to discuss those in the "high risk" category. There can be no excuses for withholding information that may help keep pupils and teachers safe. Little can be done about the strange new educational experience within or without the classroom. The pandemic is a steep learning curve for all, both big and small. Unfortunately, too many of the lessons seem harsh in these testing and stressful times. There are good reasons why they say it's the children the world almost breaks who ultimately grow up to save it. However unfamiliar the following days may seem, it must be remembered that some day they too will be looked upon more fondly. For teachers and their charges tiptoeing down corridors of trepidation, some guidance from Goethe might be helpful: "Instruction does much, but encouragement everything." [August 26, 2020] First Black Owned and Operated Company, Abu Simbel, LLC events, Shifts the Paradigm In Merging Technology and Mental Wellness DALLAS, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It's time to end the stigma of mental health in the black communities and start addressing our traumas so we can work collectively, productively and fruitfully, to contribute to wealth building in our communities. Abu Simbel, LLC event company https://www.instagram.com/abu_simbel_wellness_event/ is a Dallas based business that held a series of events (Post COVID-19) that provided the community with networking opportunities which centered around wealth and health. The events, which showcased panels of community leaders discussing prevalent issues in the community such as healthy eating, mental health, healing traumas and wealth, grew rapidly from 40 to over 400 participants. It blossomed as one of Dallas's most premier health conscious events which landed rapper, actor and activist, David Banner as its keynote speaker. Amazingly, the events were simply a prelude to a bigger vision which is the wellness resort in Belize www.abu-simbel.com. The events served a real, live interactive survey which would give the participants a taste of what they would actually experience at the resort. Owner, and HBCU alumni Shajuanda White, has partnered with Zector www.zector.io, founders Calaunte Winston and Nathan Nti, in building an empire merging Technology and Mental Wellness. With over twenty years of experience in IT industries for Fortune top 10 companies, private businesses and government contracts. The primary focus and passion is the multi-million dollar conglomerate vision for Abu Simbel, LLC which houses an events, Abu Simbel wellness resort, and technology business. Zector Technology Our mobile development team can help you put your company in your customer's packet by increasing brand engagement with an intuitive, creative and interactive cross-platform application. Creating Web development, Mobile App, UI/UX Design, Web Scraping and Media Services, and independent entertainers, speakers gain complete control over their content by developing their own platforms where they can monetize their audience. Creating Thrive Network with co-founder Shajuanda, a new social media platform for the culture, uncensored and unapologetically. Abu Simbel Wellness Resort The wellness center is a private, peer to peer resort, that is a quick three hour flight from the US. It offers a relaxing vibe amongst our ancestors, with abundant fruit and mystical blue waters as the backdrop. It is nestled away from the hustle and bustle of tourism and as touted as a must experience destination for healing and transformation in 2021 It is a non-medical retreat center that provides education on ancient wellness techniques that benefit participants today. To promote health and wealth. To inspire, transform and uplift personal and spiritual growth. Located amid the southern part of the Island of Ambergris. Thrive. Network Online Thrive Network co-founders, Shajuanda White, Calaunte Winston and Nathan Nti to bring a new innovating social media platform blockchain that allows our voices and stories to be heard authentically and unapologetically without censorship or ambiguous algorithms. Shajuanda has built a successful career that's been forged through resiliency and strength. Her journey brings to mind one of her favorite quotes by Iyanla Vanzant, "the trees with the strongest branches and deepest roots are those that have withstood the heavy winds and stormy weather, season after season. Her current ventures as the founder of Abu Simbel events, wellness resort and technology company is simply another endeavor for the innovative entrepreneur! The former owner of "Kemet Kitchen," which was a health conscious restaurant in the heart of Dallas' Deep Ellum area, spent many years in IT usually as the only African American woman in a senior program management position. Although she thrived in this industry and was able to command a high, 6 figure income, she knew she had a greater calling to cater to her culture by offering platforms for collective creativity, expression, healing, along with innovating technology and community building and outreach. Shajuanda' s advice to young entrepreneurs would be to have a strong foundation in believing in yourself and never allowing critics to say your dream is too big to achieve. She firmly believes that consistency, working hard, but working smart with impeccable execution is invaluable. She also emphasizes partnering and working with friends, or business persons you trust that can help you in achieving your goals, and not going at it alone. She encourages study and research into your chosen field and surrounding yourself with intelligent people who may have skill sets you don't have, but who have the same determination and drive that you do. Shajuanda also believes in reaching back, and the value of meaningful mentorship, as Shajuanda has mentored young developers into becoming entrepreneurs. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-black-owned-and-operated-company-abu-simbel-llc-events-shifts-the-paradigm-in-merging-technology-and-mental-wellness-301119113.html SOURCE Abu Simbel, LLC [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] In this photo provided by the Greek Defense Ministry, warships take part in a military exercise in Eastern Mediterranean sea on Aug. 25, 2020. (Greek Defense Ministry via AP) Turkey, Greece Vow to Defend Positions in Escalating Dispute ANKARA, TurkeyTurkey and Greece vowed on Aug. 26 to defend their competing claims in the eastern Mediterranean, as the NATO allies remained locked in a tense dispute over offshore energy exploration rights. Greece announced plans to extend its territorial waters along its western coastline and held a second day of military exercises in waters where Turkey is challenging Athenss asserted maritime jurisdiction. To the alarm of Western allies, the neighboring countries sent warships to shadow each other this month in an area between Crete and Cyprus, where Turkey has a vessel conducting drilling research. The Greek and Turkish militaries both engaged in exercises within that part of the sea on Aug. 25. Italian destroyer ITS Durand De La Penne (L), along with Turkish frigates TCG Goksu and TCG Fatih, conduct maritime training in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, on Aug. 25, 2020. (Turkish Defense Ministry via AP, Pool) Turkey will take what is its right in the Mediterranean, in the Aegean, and in the Black Sea, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. Just as we have no eyes over anyones territory, sovereignty, and interests, we will never compromise on what belongs to us. We are determined to do whatever is necessary in political, economic, and military terms. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan waves as he attends celebrations marking the anniversary of the 1071 battle of Manzikert, during which Turkish Seljuks beat Byzantine forces, gaining entry into Anatolia, in Malazgirt, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2020. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool) Erdogans tough words came despite mediation efforts by Germany, whose foreign minister conducted shuttle diplomacy between Athens and Ankara a day earlier in a bid to deescalate the situation, as Turkey and Greece engaged in the competing military exercises at sea. We invite our interlocutors to get their act together and to avoid mistakes that will lead to their ruin, he said. Greeces Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a parliament debate in Athens, on Aug. 26, 2020. (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Photo) In Athens, meanwhile, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece is planning to exercise its legal right to extend its territorial waters along its western coastline from six to 12 nautical miles. The planned extension along Greeces Italy-facing coastline wouldnt directly affect the territory at the center of the Greek-Turkish dispute. But the prime minister told parliament that Greece was abandoning decades of passive foreign policy. Mitsotakis, speaking in parliament, described Turkeys actions as illegal and provocative, but added that Athens was willing to start talks with Turkey as part of a German-brokered initiative if the Turkish seismic surveying work were halted. Our position is crystal clear and can be summarized in six words: When provocations stop, talks can start, he told lawmakers. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Aug. 25 flew to Greece and Turkey to appeal for a dialogue and defuse the tensions, warning that any spark, however small, could lead to a disaster. His visits came ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin later this week, at which Turkey will be discussed. After talks with Maas, the foreign ministers of both Greece and Turkey signaled readiness for dialogue but blamed each other for the standoff. Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (L) and German counterpart Heiko Maas speak to the media after their talks, in Ankara, on Aug. 25, 2020. (Fatih Aktas/Turkish Foreign Ministry via AP, Pool) The Turkish vessel Oruc Reis has for weeks been carrying out seismic research escorted by Turkish warships. Greece, which says the ship is operating over the countrys own continental shelf in an area where it has exclusive rights on potential undersea gas and oil deposits, sent warships to shadow the Turkish flotilla. Turkey disputes Greeces claims, insisting that small Greek islands near the Turkish coast shouldnt be taken into account when delineating maritime boundaries. Ankara accuses Athens of trying to grab an unfair share of the eastern Mediterraneans resources. Turkey is also prospecting for hydrocarbons in waters where Cyprus claims exclusive economic rights. Ankara says it is protecting its rights and those of Turkish Cypriots on the ethnically divided island. Everyone must see that Turkey is not a country whose patience can be tried, whose determination, capabilities, and courage can be tested. If we say well do something well do it and pay the price, Erdogan said Aug. 26. If anyone wants to stand before us and face the consequences, they are welcome to. If not, stay out of our way and we will continue with our work. The Turkish leader spoke during an anniversary celebration marking the 1071 battle of Manzikert, during which Turkish Seljuks beat Byzantine forces, gaining entry into Anatolia. By Suzan Fraser and Derek Gatopoulos Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 05:00:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia came closer to 310,000 on Tuesday, while the tally in Turkey crossed the 260,000 mark, as the pandemic continued to rage in the Middle East. Saudi Health Ministry reported 1,114 new infections, pushing the tally of confirmed cases in the kingdom to 309,768. Meanwhile, the death toll climbed to 3,722 after 31 more fatalities were recorded, while the total recoveries rose to 283,932 after 1,044 more patients were cured. In Turkey, the total COVID-19 cases increased by 1,502 to 261,194 on Tuesday, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said. The death toll rose by 24 to 6,163, while the total recoveries soared by 887 to 238,795, Koca tweeted. Iran, the hardest-hit country in the region, reported 2,213 new coronavirus infections, raising the tally of confirmed cases to 363,363. Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman of Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, also confirmed 125 more deaths from the coronavirus, raising the death toll to 20,901. She said so far a total of 313,058 patients have recovered from the disease, while 3,839 are in critical condition and treated in the intensive care units. Iraq's Health Ministry reported 3,962 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily spike in infections in the region on Tuesday, bringing the total nationwide infections to 211,947. It also reported 77 more fatalities, raising the death toll to 6,596, and 3,372 new recoveries, taking the tally of recoveries to 153,761. Falih al-Ziyadi, a member of the parliamentary health committee, said in a press release that currently there is no specific time for the end of the pandemic, while calling on the citizens to adhere to the health instructions to curb further spread of the disease. Israel's total COVID-19 infections climbed to 106,460 on Tuesday, with the addition of 1,988 new cases, the state's Ministry of Health said. The death toll from the virus rose by 12 to 859, while the total number of recoveries reached 83,822, with 2,180 new recoveries, the ministry said. Earlier on Tuesday, Israel's COVID-19 project manager Ronni Gamzu warned in a video briefing that the morbidity situation in Israel is one of the most serious in the world. He added that "the possibility of imposing a general lockdown in Israel is still on the table." In Morocco, 1,276 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday, taking the total infections in the North African country to 54,528. The Moroccan health ministry reported 35 new deaths, taking the death toll to 955, and 815 new recoveries, bringing to 38,293 the total number of recoveries in the country. Palestine recorded 585 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total infections to 26,162 in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, while the death toll rose to 150 with the addition of three new fatalities. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday announced 339 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cases in the country to 67,621, including 377 deaths and 58,754 recoveries. Qatar's Health Ministry announced 232 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 117,498, including 194 deaths and 114,318 recoveries. Jordan on Tuesday reported 77 new cases, the highest daily spike since the pandemic outbreak in the country, bringing the total cases to 1,716, including 14 deaths. Kuwait reported 613 new COVID-19 cases and one more death, raising the tally of infections to 81,573 and the death toll to 519. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 477 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 73,402. Omani Health Ministry said that the number of COVID-19 cases rose by 143 to 84,652, including 642 deaths and 79,147 recoveries. Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Tuesday by 532 cases to 13,687, as the death toll went up by 12 to 138. Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan urged the Lebanese society to be highly aware of the dangers of the virus and take proper precautions to prevent the infection with the coronavirus. Tony Ramy, head of Lebanon's Syndicate of Restaurants Owners, announced that the tourism industries will not shut down anymore despite the lockdown measures, citing their high losses since the COVID-19 outbreak. Libya's National Center for Disease Control on Tuesday reported 272 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 11,281, including 203 deaths and 1,112 recoveries. Jordan reported 77 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase so far, bringing the tally of cases to 1,716, including 14 deaths, Health Minister Saad Jaber said at a press conference in Amman. Enditem The United Nations on Tuesday blocked a controversial bid by the US to reimpose international sanctions on Iran, with the Security Council saying it could not proceed with the disputed move. In a video conference on the Middle East, he cited the lack of consensus in the UN's highest body on the US strategy as the main reason. The Trump administration accuses Tehran of failing to comply with the terms of the historic 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and is demanding the Security Council reimpose sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Washington insists on its legal right to trigger the disputed procedure, called "snapback" -- despite pulling out of the deal two years ago. The move threatens to torpedo the Iran accord and plunge the Council into crisis, while widening the gulf between the US and almost every other member on Iran policy. Thirteen of the 15 Council members had written to the Indonesian presidency to reject its validity. The US "is alone" in their approach, and "their ultimate goal is to destroy the nuclear agreement when they have already imposed (national) sanctions on Iran," one diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP. Another said that, with the sound rejection of the US bid by almost the entire Council, "normally the matter is closed." The US did not see it that way. "We reminded members of our right under Resolution 2231 to trigger snapback, and our firm intent to do so in the absence of courage and moral clarity by the Council," stated US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft. 'Completely inadmissable' Washington has previously accused Council members of "siding with the ayatollahs." The move, never before used, comes after the US suffered a humiliating defeat at the Security Council earlier this month when it failed to muster support for a resolution to extend a conventional arms embargo on Iran. According to the 2015 agreement, in which sanctions against Iran were lifted in exchange for it agreeing not to develop nuclear weapons, a notification that Tehran has broken its promise must in principle be followed by a draft resolution by the presidency of the Security Council. Story continues The exclusion of this option by Indonesia was welcomed Tuesday by the majority of Council members. According to diplomats, Washington could go so far as to table its own draft resolution, opening the way for even more confusion. In this case, said one ambassador, opponents in the Council could go as far as abstaining from the vote. In a statement Tuesday evening, the Iranian mission to the UN welcomed the council's rejection of the US move. Iran said the US request, "including all references therein, are null and void, have no legal standing and effect and are thus completely inadmissible." (AFP) A woman who had lip fillers injected by a 'beautician' has revealed how the nightmare treatment left her with a 'sausage' pout for two years before finally having it rectified on the BBC's The Truth About Cosmetic Treatments. Emma, from The Midlands, who appeared on the documentary investigating Britain's cosmetic industry, had the five-minute procedure after a friend recommended the unqualified beautician. Upon returning home, her lips started swelling 'straight away' but Emma was told that this was 'normal' and to just use some frozen peas on her pout. A woman who had lip fillers injected by a 'beautician' has revealed how the nightmare treatment left her with a 'sausage' pout for two years before finally having it rectified on the BBC's The Truth About Cosmetic Treatments Emma, who appeared on the documentary investigating Britain's cosmetic industry, had the five-minute procedure after a friend recommended the unqualified beautician Still unhappy with her uneven look, she returned to the beautician who injected three more rounds of filler into Emma's face - leaving her with scarring and swollen lips. Thankfully, through an organisation called Save Face, she found a surgeon who was able to remove the fillers, and appearing on the programme tonight, she said she finally felt like a 'new me' after the procedure. Speaking to host Dr Michael Mosley, Emma recalled: 'A colleague at work recommended this lady and it took five minutes and then I was out. 'I left and I had swelling straight away. I tried to get in contact with her and she told me to put some frozen peas on it and that "It's normal".' Upon returning home, her lips started swelling 'straight away' but Emma was told that this was 'normal' and to just use some frozen peas on her pout Thankfully, through an organisation called Save Face, she found a surgeon who was able to remove the fillers, and appearing on the programme tonight, she said she finally felt like a 'new me' after the procedure When Emma further complained about the uneven lips, the unqualified beautician injected more filler to even them out. How to get safe lip fillers 1. As per NHS England advice ensure your practitioner is a registered medical professional 2. Ensure treatment is within a clean clinical environment such as a clinic 3. Check you practitioner had the appropriate insurance and is experienced at the procedure and treating complications 4. Always ensure you have a follow up appointment available to you as part of your treatment 5. Adhere to aftercare and ensure you have emergency contacts for your practitioner Advertisement In total, she had four sets of injections leading to a lot more filler than Emmas lips could take. 'That's a year after,' Emma said when pointing to a photograph of herself. 'The sausage, as I called it is still there. I've got a lot of scarring where the pressure has been on my face.' Worryingly, the person who did Emmas fillers is still practising. Emma admitted: 'I know she is, and she's very rich for it.' Fortunately, through an organisation called Save Face, Emma discovered a surgeon who was able to remove her fillers by dissolving the chemical found inside it - hyaluronic acid - so the body can then metabolise it. 'I can see a difference already,' confessed an emotional Emma after the procedure. 'I'm happy crying because I've been waiting for this day for two years. 'I didn't think it was going to come. I feel like it's the first step to a new me.' The cosmetic treatments industry is now worth nearly 3billion - thats double what it was a decade ago, according to the programme. Instead of potentially risky surgeries, like face lifts and liposuction, were turning to new non-invasive procedures like injectable fillers and fat freezing. But the UK is one of the only countries in the world where this industry is almost completely unregulated. In this two-part series medical journalist Michael Mosley teams up with blogger and journalist Mehreen Baig to scrutinise the science and safety of cosmetic treatments - and put them to the test. From the collapse of the economy and staggering job losses, to the mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic and alleged Chinese incursion into Indian Territory, the opposition is getting battle-ready to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the monsoon session of Parliament. Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday that the Parliament session is slated to start from September 14 and will go on till October 1, as per recommendations made by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla has called a meeting on Thursday to finalise arrangements to conduct the session during the pandemic. This may include the use of 10 display screens for live proceedings, placards to indicate names of parties and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation of the air conditioning system. While the BJP has prepared its own game plan to counter the opposition offensive, the Congress and the Trinamool Congress will soon hold Parliamentary Party meetings to deliberate and strategise on how best to take on the ruling party. The Central government is looking to clear 11 ordinances, HT reported on Wednesday, as they expire after six months if not replaced by a Bill, which has to be passed in six weeks, is not passed. Before Parliament begins, the Congress Parliamentary Party will meet and have a threadbare discussion about the best strategy to counter the BJP, said Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Derek OBrien, Trinamools leader in Rajya Sabha, said that the party would deliberate and decide what subjects to take up. The main assertion is that the Parliament belongs to the Opposition and an appropriate amount of time ( about two of the four hours daily) should be factored in so that all issues can be addressed. Zero Hour and Question Hour must happen OBrien said. DMK MP Sumathy Thamizhachi Thangapandian and RJD MP Manoj Jha too concurred that an adequate amount of time should be made available for discussion on the floor of the house. The broad issues the opposition flagged are as follows Alleged Chinese incursion According to Chowdhury, the claims that China had occupied Indian Territory in Ladakh will be central in the proceedings of the House. The Congress has been attacking the BJP for being in denial about the incursions. DMK MP Sumathy too said that the government will have to answer for the loss of the life of 20 Indian soldiers. The Chinese statement clearly shows that there has been an incursion, said Jha. Then why is the government in denial, why are they fixated on trial balloon diplomacy. CPI(M)s Sitaram Yechury asserted that Indias relationship with all its neighbours was in a state of decline. Look at Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and even Bangladesh, there has been a collapse in the relations with all the neighbours. He added that the CPI(M) supports the government when it comes to China but the party would like to know if there was no incursion, how were 20 soldiers killed. Covid-19 crisis mismanagement Three of the parties believe that the government has failed to adequately address the global pandemic, leading to job losses across the spectrum, and especially for migrant workers. Unemployment is at an all time high, said Chowdhary. The government will have to explain why the youth do not have jobs anymore. Jha added that mismanagement of the crisis is clear from the fact that a lockdown was imposed when there were only 100 cases a day, but now that there over 60,000 cases per day, the government was not even addressing the issue. This shows the government is not serious about the crisis, Jha said. According to Sumathy, the government had failed to provide help to the states even when they had repeatedly asked for it. What have the Prime Minister and his cabinet done to resolve the crisis, it is a failure on part of both the state and the Central government she said. The issue of migrant labourers is also an important one that demands accountability. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that the mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic will be taken up by the party. The Central government not only failed to provide the wherewithal to contain the pandemic, but also failed to bolster health infrastructure, Yechury said. Economic downturn According to all four opposition parties mentioned above, the governments handling of the Covid-19 crisis has had a cascading effect on the economy and the country. Our economy is in shambles, said Chowdhury. The government has done nothing to provide stimulus for it. Sumathy concurred with Chowdhury. Jha, meanwhile, added that it was not even a bleeding economy anymore, but a dead one. The level of unemployment is unprecedented, said Jha. A TMC MP who did wish to be named said that government will have to offer a roadmap to fix the economy, something it has failed to do till now. Yechury said that it was already in crisis before the pandemic hit. The Modi governments policies have destroyed the economy. There is a lack of demand and until that is addressed, no amount of loans can fix the economy, he said. Passing of executive orders The National Education Policy, the Environmental Impact Assessment and setting up of the PM-Cares fund, among others are likely to be questioned by the opposition. What are these 11 ordiances, has India become an ordiance raj, said the TMC MP. Sumathy added that the DMK had opposed the NEP and EIA from their draft stages itself. Imposition of Hindi is another issue we would like to take up, she said. According to Jha, the truncated houses will limit the oppositions ability to question the multiple executive decisions taken by the government. So many executive decisions have already been taken, they must be subjected to legislative scrutiny, said Jha. Chowdhury mirrored Jhas concerns and said that the House must not be disempowered. Question hour is integral to the functioning of the house, any proposal to strike it down should not be considered, said Chowdhury. He added that the turning of Jammu and Kashmir into a virtual prison would also be taken up. The issue became contentious on Tuesday after Speaker Om Birla wrote a letter to all panel chairs that subjects that are sub judice should not be taken up by panels for discussion. It is an individual members right to express themselves, said Chowdhury. 2G was being heard by the Supreme Court, but the issue was raised in Parliament. While there may not be scope for discussion, but everything cant be restricted in such a manner. We will certainly raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Failure of cooperative federalism In terms of compensating GST dues and lending a helping hand to the states to tackle the pandemic, the opposition parties feel that the government has disappointed the states. In Bihar, BJP leader Sushil Modi is also saying that the government needs to pay the states their dues, said Jha. The TMC MP added that cooperative federalism, and its murder by the Central government, is also being taken up a meeting of the party on Wednesday and will certainly be on the partys agenda. Sumathy too said that states had not received enough support from the government in terms of Covid-19 supplies or payment of GST dues. Opposition is victim of half glass empty syndrome: BJP MP BJP leader and MP Rakesh Sinha, however, dismissed the issues raised by the opposition as an example of political cynicism. In recent years obstructionism and cynicism have acquired centrality in the oppositions politics. Narendra Modis popularity graph went up not only in India, but also in the international arena due to his role in managing the crisis that has emanated from Covid 19 pandemic. He succeeded in isolating China in the international fora by aggressively questioning its policy of expansionism, said Sinha. He also added that the Opposition in India has never been so marginalised, not only numerically but also morally. It has been backing the forces which intend to create civil anarchy. People abhor such politics whether inside or outside the parliament, Sinha added. In what may possibly be the best news of the year, I am happy to inform you that murder hornets have not made their way to Texas (yet). Back in May, stories emerged about a species of giant wasps turning up around farms and towns in the Pacific Northwest. The insects, a breed of Asian giant hornet, were quickly nicknamed "murder hornets" for their size and penchant for ransacking and decapitating entire colonies of honey bees. It's a terrifying thought, and some Texans were understandably spooked in the following months when another species of large wasp began buzzing around their homes. However, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife, these are not the same breed as the bee-killing super predators in the news, and you should be fineas long as you're a human. (Sorry robots). "Don't panic!" the group said in a Facebook post Saturday. "Those large wasps you're seeing are cicada killers, a native insect that paralyzes cicadas with their stings and then drags them to their nests for their larvae to eat." COMMUNITIES DURING COVID: 'Quarantine caterpillar' keeps growing to 700+ rocks, bringing families together in Cypress One of the largest wasps encountered, cicada killers can reach up to 1 inches in length and appear in July and August to feed, mate and produce new nesting burrows. The Houston Chronicle's Molly Glentzer reports that entomologists at Texas A&M AgriLife were receiving so many calls and emails from nervous residents, they put together a short video explaining the differences between the murder hornet and other Texas insects that are similar in appearance and active this time of year. While the females are capable of stinging, they're not known to be aggressive toward humans or animals. The males are incapable of stinging, but can be a bit more aggressive. Still, there's no need to lose your sanity over the yellow and black insect. Since posting their clarification, TPW continues to field questions from nervous residents and hammer home that there are no murder-y hornets in Texas. "The only Asian Giant Hornet sightings in the U.S. have been in Washington state." They may look big and intimidating, TPW said, but they don't bother people. This is one of the few occasions this year you can honestly say "Thank goodness we're human." SYDNEY, Australia - An Australian judge on Wednesday issued a rare order restricting the movements of an extremist when he is released from a Sydney prison after serving 12 years for a terrorism-related conviction. Police applied for the control order against former Qantas cabin cleaner and online publisher Belal Saadallah Khazaal before he is released from prison this weekend. Federal Court Justice Michael Wigney made the order, but the conditions and his reasons will not be made public until sensitive information is redacted from the judgment. Khazaal was 39 in 2008 when he was found guilty by a New South Wales state Supreme Court jury of making a document connected with assisting a terrorist act. The online book, which described itself as a practical guide to achieving martyrdom, included advice on assassination techniques and listed countries to be targeted, including Australia. Control orders were created under counterterrorism legislation in 2005 to protect the public from extremist acts. Orders have been issued against seven people since then. Restrictions can include a curfew at a home address, wearing an electronic monitoring device, limits to use of telecommunications and regular reporting to police. Khazaal, the former editor of Call to Islam magazine, was sentenced to 12 years in prison with a non-parole period of nine years. The term expires on Sunday. The value of Saudi Arabias oil exports plunged by 54.8 percent year over year in June, or by US$8.7 billion (32.6 billion Saudi riyals), data from Saudi Arabias General Authority for Statistics showed on Wednesday. The Kingdoms oil exports as a share of its total exports declined from 77.1 percent in June 2019 to 61.9 percent in June this year, according to the General Authority for Statistics. The value of total Saudi exports fell by 43.6 percent in June 2020 compared to June 2019. However, the value of the June 2020 exports compared to May 2020 increased by 19.1 percent, or by US$1.86 billion (6.98 billion Saudi riyals), also because of the higher oil prices in June compared to May. Since Saudi Arabia initiated the oil price war in March, the value of the Kingdoms exports have dropped in each of the following months through June, data from official Saudi statistics show, as prices plummeted with the coronavirus-driven demand crash and the Saudis flooding the market with oil in April. Oil revenues for the worlds largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, continued to slide in May after the Kingdom ended its oil price war with Russia, with the income from oil exports plunging by 65 percent year on year, data from the General Authority for Statistics showed last month. The value of Saudi Arabias oil exports plunged by US$11.8 billion (44.277 billion Saudi riyals), or by 65.0 percent year on year in May, the General Authority for Statistics said. The share of oil exports in total exports declined from 78.6 percent in May 2019 to 65.4 percent in May 2020. The drop in oil revenues for May followed a similar drop of US$12 billion in Saudi oil revenues for April, when the Kingdom made good on its promise to flood the market with oil, contributing to the oil price plunge to the lowest level since 1999 together with the crash in demand during the lockdowns in Europe and the United States. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Meghan McCain of The View marked the two-year anniversary of the death of her father, Senator John McCain, with some very personal pics and posts on social media. Sharing images and video, the television personality paid tribute to her dads love, humor, and dedication. Senator John McCain and Meghan McCain on The View | Heidi Gutman/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Meghan McCains statement upon her fathers passing Senator McCain died on August 25, 2018 from brain cancer. The View star released a very personal statement shortly following his passing. I love you forevermy beloved father, McCain wrote on Twitter the day the senator died, according to Newsweek. I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning. In the thirty-three years we shared together, he raised me, taught me, corrected me, comforted me, encouraged me, and supported me in all things. McCain expressed her sadness at the loss of the war hero and wrote of how she was finding solace through the pain. I love you forever my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 RELATED: Why The Views Meghan McCain Got Emotional Seeing This Vintage Interview My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daughter can, McCain shared. But in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. The View star shares memories on Twitter In a personal series of tweets, McCain admitted to her followers that the second anniversary of her fathers death was tough. The talk show co-host decided to celebrate the senators life in pictures and video to bring some joy, starting with his grilling expertise. Today is harder than I thought it would be So here are few memories of my Dad that I hope make all of us smile, she tweeted. 1. This was one time when I asked for a BLT for lunch and he decided to cook 100lbs of bacon. He loved to grill and cook and it was never healthy, ever. She continued to post on her fathers cooking skills, following up her bacon video with footage of Senator McCain perfecting some ribs on the grill. The View co-host also posted a pic of herself with her dad in a tuxedo, revealing that he never was a fan of the fancy attire. He absolutely hated wearing a tuxedo more than maybe anything. I was trying to make him laugh in this photo. pic.twitter.com/GQfFcAYyLg Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 25, 2020 RELATED: The View: Meghan McCains Biggest Fear About Returning to the Studio May Surprise Viewers He absolutely hated wearing a tuxedo more than maybe anything, McCain captioned of her dad. I was trying to make him laugh in this photo. He loved being a dad The conservative co-host included a pic of her dad with his beloved dog Burma, and a vintage photo of the senator with his wife Cindy and their kids. He loved being a dad, McCain wrote next to the image. Posting a screen shot of the two on FaceTime, McCain revealed she spoke with her father on a daily basis and was still mourning his absence. She thanked her followers for allowing her to express her grief. We talked a few times a day and I miss his laugh and dark sense of humor the most, she wrote. Grief doesnt get easier but in my experience the pain does get quieter in time. I still wake up every day missing him. Thank you for letting me share with you. He also loved @Twitter. We talked a few times a day and I miss his laugh and dark sense of humor the most. Grief doesnt get easier but in my experience the pain does get quieter in time. I still wake up every day missing him. Thank you for letting me share with you. He also loved @Twitter pic.twitter.com/5HLdfmM1ya Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 25, 2020 RELATED: The View: Meghan McCain Posts Touching Tribute to Former Guest on the Show Expecting her first child with husband Ben Domenech, McCain concluded the series of tweets with a simple message to her dad, saying, I hope my child is just like you. Kansas City, Kansas, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Your car is a part of your wealth and needs to be taken care of at all times. Extended car warranty provides you with a peace of mind by saving you money when your car needs repairs. Insurance companies offer to defend auto protection plans covering various components. Red Shield Investigation provides select, power train and essential plans covering both new and old vehicles. It would help if you weighed the cost of the warrant and what it covers before making a final decision. Here are facts about extended auto warranty and why you need it during COVID-19. 1. Saves money During COVID-19 money, most people lost their jobs as the government set strict measures for social distance. You need to save money as much as possible to use it on other essentials such as food, clothing and medical purposes. Extended car warranty comes in handy in such a time since it helps you save money in case your car needs repairs. As long as your repairs are covered on your contract, the insurance company will pay for all repairs. 2. Keep vehicle running Extended car warranty helps you keep your vehicle running smoothly with a peace of mind. You don't have to worry about repair costs and your manufactures warranty expiration. Insurance companies such as Red Shield provides the best protection plans. During these trying times, people are being urged to use private transportation. It means you will be using your car more each day. The more you use your vehicle, the more they need for maintenance. Our company has got maintained costs covered for you. 3. Coverage Plans Red Shield investigation proves that our company is the leading auto protection provider in Kansas and Phoenix. You will get different protection plans that meet your budget, needs and vehicle type. Choose Red Shield select program that covers new and pre-used cars. The terms go up to 80, 000 miles. Guard program provides other choices such as premium plus, powertrain enhanced and powertrain plus and all these custom packages terms go up to 100,000 miles. Even after the manufactures warranty expires your car will still be protected. The essential plan is more a short term plan lasting up to 9 months. However, you can choose this plan during this pandemic to cover your vehicle and at the same time save money. Story continues 4. Towing and Roadside assistance Have you ever been stuck in the middle of nowhere after your vehicle broke down? Red Shield offers rental cars and a ride to your destination as you wait for your car to be fixed. This company has been rated by the better business bureau for providing customers with reliable services. It will only take one single phone call when you have a vehicle breakdown emergency. Even if your car broke Doan when you are out of town, you will our experts take it to the repair shop and assess the damage. Precaution is indeed better than cure, and you might not use the extended warranty plan, but it will save you money used on repair costs in future. In many states, car insurance is mandatory and in case you don't have, you will suffer massive fines. Bottom Line Contact Red Shield Investigation and their administration team today at (888) 740-6170 for more information on extended auto warranty. Better yet visit Red Shield Investigation offices in Kansas and Arizona. You will have a peace of mind knowing your car is protected at all times and save you money during this pandemic. CONTACT: Red Shield Investigation (888) 740-6170 Subscriber content preview The Walgreens at 8701 Greenwood Ave. N. closed in December of 2016. Now the property owner has filed plans to redevelop with a four-story mixed-use residential building on the corner. North of that would be a one-story structured parking garage, the roof of which would be a playground for the third building: a two-story childcare building for Kiddie Academy of Seattle. The corner property last traded in 1997 for almost $3.5 million to a local family group apparently soon after the building was developed and leased. A 20-year lease would've expired in 2017. Walgreens opened a store in Crown Hill, about a mile to the west, circa 2002. . . . SCHENECTADY The Aragosa brothers remember the days mom-and-pop hardware stores like theirs were a common sight in the city. When we first started in this business, there might have been one on every corner or one in every neighborhood, said Joe Aragosa, 62, who currently operates Martys True Value Paint & Hardware, a longtime fixture along Van Vranken Avenue in the Goose Hill neighborhood, with his younger brother, Mike Aragosa and sister, Lynne Ranze, 59. Mike Aragosa recalls when there were four just on Schenectady's North side alone as well as in other parts of the city, including the Woodlawn True Value, Phillips Hardware on Upper Union Street, two hardware stores in Bellevue and Wallace Armer Hardware on Erie Boulevard. The Aragosa family, who have been in business since 1974 and lived on nearby Foster Avenue and Alexander Street, are the last one of the independents still standing. But not for too much longer. The store has been sold to Stewarts Shops, which plans to eventually demolish it and the existing Stewarts next door and build a 3,975 square-foot modern convenience store with a half dozen gas pumps with 21 parking spots, according to plans submitted to the Schenectady Planning and Development Office. The proposal will reduce the current uses and provide an improved visual operation, the application states, noting that the Stewarts site previously had a self-serve gas station, which was removed in 2007. The gas component will add a service to customers already traveling. Erica Komoroske, a spokeswoman with Saratoga Springs-based Stewarts, confirmed last week that Martys is under contract but that the deal has not been finalized. We dont have any variances and we really dont have a timetable, it would likely be 2021 project if everything (approvals) go through, said Komoroske. The proposal must still pass muster with the Schenectady Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning Commission. Once that happens, Mike Aragosa said, they will start to shut down the shop and will either have a huge clearance sale or hire an auction company to sell off the remaining merchandise. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has made stocking some items like canning jars virtually impossible because manufacturers were temporarily closed and are now struggling to catch up with the backlog of orders. Its not about COVID-19 why were retiring, we decided this back in November of last year, said Joe Aragosa. It was around that time that he made overtures to Stewart's after a potential deal with a family that would have kept Marty's open as a hardware store fell through. "Stewart's came back with a number that we couldn't say no to," said Mike Aragosa, who would only say the selling price is in the "high six figures." Mike Aragosa, who has worked full time since 1997, also credits Marty's longevity to the foresight of his father Manny to install a state-of -the- art computer system that helped the store better keep track of inventory and the willingness of his father to take a chance on fledgling start-up companies as well the special rapport he developed with customers. He recounted how about a month and half ago a woman in her mid-40s walked into the store and handed him $300 telling him that Manny, now 89, had loaned her mother the money in the 1980s and she wanted to repay the debt. Mike Aragosa, a member of the Glenville Town Board, said he and his siblings are tired of seven-day workweeks. Goose Hill Neighborhood Association President Camille Sasinowski said Tuesday that the impending closure of Marty's will leave a huge void in the Electric City. "Next to Wallace Armer closing, this is a very sad day, not only for the neighborhood but for the entire city," she said. "They're known for just helping people, I've seen them make deliveries, and just help people out." Mayor Gary McCarthy said Tuesday Marty's had a reputation for the "detail of service that you dont find in the bigger box stores." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Mike's brothers, his mother and father, everybody knew everybody, it wasnt just you were going to a store, you were talking to your friends, he said. John ODonnell walked out of Martys with a can of wasp spray in this hand. The Schenectady man was unaware that the store was shutting down. I come here to get stuff in a pinch, he said. "It's too bad they're closing." In 1974, Manny and Marilyn Aragosa, acquired the hardware store, then located at 1807 Van Vranken Ave. from Marty Santulli. Marilyn Aragosa, 89, passed away in November. Five years later, they relocated to 1559 Van Vranken Ave. where they served customers for two decades before then moving to 1751 Van Vranken Ave. in 2000, which is about 13,000 square-feet. Joe Aragosa, 59, said once they close up shop, hes going to miss the interaction with customers. He recalled how in the early days that his father, a son of Italian immigrants, would often speak the language with customers. As the area changed, so did the demographics. We have a lot more diverse community and clientele, which is great, we love it, he said. He said he plans to still work five days a week, not seven and will remain in the neighborhood where he still lives. We loved it, we learned something every day, we still do, said Joe Aragosa. Protests Erupt After Kenosha, WI Police Shoot Black Man 7 Times In The Back Demonstrators form a line in front of law enforcement on Aug. 24, 2020, in Kenosha, Wisc. Credit - Brandon BellGetty Images On Sunday, when police in Kenosha, Wis., shot Jacob Blake several times in the back, the incident quickly became part of the long list of violent moments that have helped shape this year. Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, appeared about to enter a gray SUV in which his three children were sitting. Kenosha police have released few details about the event, but on Tuesday, the familys attorney, Benjamin Crump, tweeted that Blake was currently paralyzed from the waist down. As has been the case with a number of police shootings in recent months, a video of the event quickly spread online and prompted community members to take to the streets in Kenosha. Some initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent as law enforcement clashed with protesters. It has just been getting more and more tense with the police. Theyve been slightly more aggressive with us with each demonstration, says Diamond Hartwell, 25, a Kenosha native and human rights activist. Early on Wednesday, two people were killed during the ongoing unrest, Police said, in an episode that took place near a gas station where protesters and a group of armed men were arguing. But the events of 2020 arent the only story of which Blakes shooting is a part. What happened to Jacob Blake is also part of other long, troubling historiesincluding those of race in Wisconsin and of police-community tensions in Kenosha specifically. And what protesters are taking to the streets to fight for, including accountability measures like body cameras and increased transparency from the police department, had been on the minds of many community members long before this year. Midwesterners dont understand their history of racism, and so these things seem surprising. They seem to come out of nowhere or be new when theyre really a reflection of who weve always been, says Christy Clark-Pujara, associate professor of history at the University of WisconsinMadisons Department of Afro-American Studies. Its not terribly surprising to me what happened in Kenosha. Story continues Wisconsins history with race is complicated: Clark-Pujara describes the state as racially progressive and oppressive at the same time. Wisconsin was a place of refuge for many people who escaped slavery, who could find help getting to Canada from there, but the state also scrapped an early draft of its constitution that would have called for a referendum on Black male suffrage; the version of the state constitution that passed in 1848 ended up allowing only white men to vote. If you were trying to flee bondage and get through Wisconsin, you could find help. If you were trying to settle and live your life as a free Black person in Wisconsin, you were pushed to the margins, says Clark-Pujara. The number of people affected by that dynamic grew throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, especially as post-World War II job opportunities drew new Black residents to the state. Even so, as of 2019, the states population is overwhelmingly white. A lack of understanding of this history, and of the ways in which white supremacy can be deeply rooted even in a region with a seemingly positive record on equality, has made the Midwest a place of polite, passive-aggressive racism, Clark-Pujara arguesand, she says, that dynamic has contributed to the fact that some of the worst disparities between white and Black people are in the Midwest. One report found that Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, made up 10 out of 11 of the states with the largest ratio between black and white unemployment in 2017. And five out of six of the countrys metropolitan regions where Black residents experience concentrated poverty at rates over 40%a measure of whether a large number of people in a certain area are poorare in the Midwest; Milwaukee is among them. Kenosha, a city of 100,000 where Black residents represent 11.5% of the community, is halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago, two of the most segregated cities in the U.S. And in some cases, the more recent versions of the forces that excluded Black people from the Wisconsin constitution were not polite or passive-aggressive at all. You have this white supremacist contingent here in Kenosha, and for some reason, they feel very, very comfortable, Dayvin Hallmon, a former Kenosha County Board Supervisor, tells TIME. For example, In 2016, a student at Kenoshas Westosha Central High School dressed up as a Ku Klux Klan member for a class presentation. And last year, The Southern Poverty Law Center tracked 15 hate groups, including Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist organizations, with a presence in Wisconsin. To Hallmon, these underlying currents of racism seemed to manifest, as they so often have in the U.S., in the relationship between the citys Black population and its police force; he says he recalls several incidents from his time there during which he felt that police were not looking out for Black peoples safety. (The Kenosha Police Department did not respond to requests for comment for this story.) And tensions between Kenoshas residents and its police have not been limited to the Black community. Notably, in 2004, 21-year-old Michael Bell Jr., who was white, was shot by police in front of his family, like Blake was. After a brief internal investigation of the incident absolved the officers, some in the community came to believe the police were trying to cover something up. Though the police department long stood by its officers in the case, Bells family later won a lawsuit against the city and helped push for a 2014 provision that changed the way deaths involving police are investigated in the state. That was one of the biggest things in recent times that majorly separated the public and the police department, says Isaac Wallner, Kenosha resident and founder of the Human First Project, a grassroots advocacy group. Incidents like these led to a sense that something needed to be done, Hallmon says, but also a sense of theres nothing we can do, no ones actually going to listen. The hopelessness felt by the residents of his district led Hallmon to bring up a package of reform for the police department in 2016, which included body-worn cameras for police officers. The idea did not turn into a reality: In 2017, the city unanimously passed a resolution recommending the use of body cameras, but the measure still hasnt been implemented even today, with city officials citing cost as an issue. On Monday, Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian confirmed that body cameras wont be in the budget until 2022. Two years after introducing those reform measures, Hallmon decided hed had enough of Kenosha. I felt like I had to do something to get myself back as a human being, because trying to stop everything that you see and the multiplicity of ways that I did it, it broke me and destroyed me as a person, says Hallmon. It was either that or suicide. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that as protests swept the nation and the world this year, Kenosha saw its histories of racial and community strain brought back to the forefront. On June 27, for example, Black Lives Matter counterprotesters interrupted a Back the Badge rally in support of law enforcement at the citys Civic Center Park. Activist Diamond Hartwell was among the counterprotesters, working to record and deescalate situations. [The police] were not on our side at all, she says. They were not protecting us. And so when Jacob Blake was shot, it was in a city that was already on edgewhere activists are still at work and hoping that the incident drives real change. The greatest emotional toll is on Jacob and his family. He took the bullets, not us, says Wallner. Its up to us. We the people have the power to make sure that people answer for his shooting and to make sure that nobody else has to go through that again. There was nothing but community pride felt as locals gathered to celebrate the tenth Gap Arts Festival in Ballythomas at the weekend. Although there had been uncertainty around what could be achieved at the festival this year, thanks to imagination, invention and commitment, the team managed to showcase a new play read by Aisling O'Neill and Ruth Hegarty, an original film soundtrack, two short films and a sculpture in the woods. Despite these huge efforts, late Saturday afternoon saw the cancellation of the final two events due to bad weather. 'The band Los Wexicano, had done their sound check and the stilt walker Will Flanagan was up in the air in his costume ready to go with all the designated socially distant pods booked up, but then, like something from the Bible, the heavens opened,' said Festival Director Garrett Keogh. He was thankful to the team as well as the local supporters, from Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District to Failte Ireland and the Arts Council. 'We used local resources as never before and invented a template that offers live performance and brings people together safely, on a shoestring. We hope to work with our sponsors and local and national authorities to acquire the infrastructure to continue to cater for our audiences hail or shine next year. In response to many requests the Gap Short Film Programme will be rescheduled soon,' he said. Online elements of this year's festival included workshops and Irish language lessons and chat groups. Last year's Gig@TheGap was live-streamed on YouTube and enjoyed by all. Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted amendments to the "accredited investor" definition, one of the principal tests for determining who is eligible to participate in our private capital markets. Historically, individual investors who do not meet specific income or net worth tests, regardless of their financial sophistication, have been denied the opportunity to invest in our multifaceted and vast private markets. The amendments update and improve the definition to more effectively identify institutional and individual investors that have the knowledge and expertise to participate in those markets. "Today's amendments are the product of years of effort by the Commission and its staff to consider and analyze approaches to revising the accredited investor definition," said Chairman Jay Clayton. "For the first time, individuals will be permitted to participate in our private capital markets not only based on their income or net worth, but also based on established, clear measures of financial sophistication. I am also pleased that we have expanded and updated the list of entities, including tribal governments and other organizations, that may qualify to participate in certain private offerings." The amendments allow investors to qualify as accredited investors based on defined measures of professional knowledge, experience or certifications in addition to the existing tests for income or net worth. The amendments also expand the list of entities that may qualify as accredited investors, including by allowing any entity that meets an investments test to qualify. * * * FACT SHEET Updating the Accredited Investor Definitions Aug. 26, 2020 The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to update and improve the definition of "accredited investor" in the Commission's rules and the definition of "qualified institutional buyer" in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. The amendments to the accredited investor definition add new categories of qualifying natural persons and entities and make certain other modifications to the existing definition. The amendments to the qualified institutional buyer definition similarly expand the list of eligible entities under that definition. Background These amendments are part of the Commission's ongoing effort to simplify, harmonize, and improve the exempt offering framework, thereby expanding investment opportunities while maintaining appropriate investor protections and promoting capital formation. In June 2019, the Commission requested public comment on its Concept Release on Harmonization of Securities Offering Exemptions. In the Concept Release, the Commission requested comments on possible approaches to amending the accredited investor definition, which is a central component of several exemptions from registration, including Rules 506(b) and 506(c) of Regulation D, and plays an important role in other federal and state securities law contexts. The Concept Release was preceded by a Commission staff report issued in December 2015 on the accredited investor definition, which examined the background and history of the definition and considered comments and recommendations on amending the definition. After taking into account the views expressed by members of the public and recommendations over the years from various Commission advisory committees and the annual SEC Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation, the Commission proposed in December 2019 to amend the accredited investor definition. In March 2020, the Commission continued the harmonization effort by proposing amendments to the exempt offering framework. Highlights The amendments revise Rule 501(a), Rule 215, and Rule 144A of the Securities Act. The amendments to the accredited investor definition in Rule 501(a): add a new category to the definition that permits natural persons to qualify as accredited investors based on certain professional certifications, designations or credentials or other credentials issued by an accredited educational institution, which the Commission may designate from time to time by order. In conjunction with the adoption of the amendments, the Commission designated by order holders in good standing of the Series 7, Series 65, and Series 82 licenses as qualifying natural persons. This approach provides the Commission with flexibility to reevaluate or add certifications, designations, or credentials in the future. Members of the public may wish to propose for the Commission's consideration additional certifications, designations or credentials that satisfy the attributes set out in the new rule; include as accredited investors, with respect to investments in a private fund, natural persons who are "knowledgeable employees" of the fund; clarify that limited liability companies with $5 million in assets may be accredited investors and add SEC- and state-registered investment advisers, exempt reporting advisers, and rural business investment companies (RBICs) to the list of entities that may qualify; add a new category for any entity, including Indian tribes, governmental bodies, funds, and entities organized under the laws of foreign countries, that own "investments," as defined in Rule 2a51-1(b) under the Investment Company Act, in excess of $5 million and that was not formed for the specific purpose of investing in the securities offered; add "family offices" with at least $5 million in assets under management and their "family clients," as each term is defined under the Investment Advisers Act; and add the term "spousal equivalent" to the accredited investor definition, so that spousal equivalents may pool their finances for the purpose of qualifying as accredited investors. The amendment to Rule 215 replaces the existing definition with a cross reference to the definition in Rule 501(a). The amendments expand the definition of "qualified institutional buyer" in Rule 144A to include limited liability companies and RBICs if they meet the $100 million in securities owned and invested threshold in the definition. The amendments also add to the list any institutional investors included in the accredited investor definition that are not otherwise enumerated in the definition of "qualified institutional buyer," provided they satisfy the $100 million threshold. The Commission also adopted conforming amendments to Rule 163B under the Securities Act and to Rule 15g-1 under the Exchange Act. What's Next? The amendments and order become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Amnesty International has called for an end to the incessant attack on the media and journalists in Nigeria. The human rights organisation made the call while condemning the verbal attack on a Daily Trust reporter, Eyo Charles, in Calabar by a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Charles had a sour encounter at a press briefing with Mr Fani-Kayode. A video circulating on WhatsApp shows Mr Fani-Kayode abruptly leaving the briefing after pouring invective on Mr Charles who he said asked him an insulting question. The incident happened on Thursday at a private hotel where the former minister was briefing reporters on his tour of projects in the South-South state. The briefing was moderated by Governor Ben Ayades spokesperson, Christian Ita, and attended by reporters from Vanguard, Punch, NAN, AIT, and other media houses. A statement released on Amnesty International Twitter page on Tuesday says: Journalists seek accountability on behalf of the people and should not be threatened or abused for asking questions. These patterns of attacks on media and journalists must end. Journalists play a key role in promoting the right to information by documenting and disseminating information. Journalists have been contending with challenges that make their job difficult. They should be able to do their job free from violence, abuse and threats, it added. Since the circulation of the video on Twitter on Tuesday, several Nigerians and organisations have condemned Mr Fani-Kayodes action. Daily Trust newspaper, in a statement on the incident, said its reporter did nothing wrong and condemned Mr Fani-Kayode pouring invective on him for asking a question at the press briefing. Also, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) condemned the verbal attack on the journalist by Mr Fani-Kayode. The NUJ, through its President, Chris Isiguzo, described Mr Fani-Kayodes attack on Mr Charles as gangster-like. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Pakistan's Opposition-dominated Senate has rejected two bills related to the tough conditions set by the FATF, jeopardising the government's efforts to escape from being blacklisted by the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. The move drew a strong reaction from Prime Minister Imran Khan who accused the Opposition leaders of trying to save their illegal money. The Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Waqf Properties Bill, passed by the National Assembly a day before, were rejected through a voice vote by the Senate on Tuesday. The legislations were part of efforts by to move from the FATF'S grey list to the white list. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) put on the grey list in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action by the end of 2019 but the deadline was extended later on due to COVID-19. The 104-member Senate, where the Opposition enjoys a majority, rejected two bills after Leader of the House Shahzad Waseem refused to tender an apology for remarks that he made against the Opposition leadership last week, Dawn newspaper said. Waseem without naming the Opposition leaders accused them of being involved in money laundering. The bills will now be taken up for voting at a joint session of Parliament. Today in Senate, the Opposition defeated two critical FATF-related bills: Anti Money Laundering and ICT Waqf bills. From day one I have maintained that the self-serving interests of the Opposition leaders and the country's interests are divergent, Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted. The Opposition leaders have become desperate to save their corrupt money by trying to prevent parliament from functioning; by seeking to undermine the government's effective COVID-19 strategy a recognised global success story and now by trying to sabotage Pakistan's efforts to exit grey list, he said. Khan further said that Opposition parties were trying to hide behind the facade of democracy to protect their loot and plunder and using blackmail as a tactic to gain concessions on their cases of corruption. The tension between the government and the Opposition has been continuing for days over allegations that top Opposition leaders were seeking concession on corruption cases. (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.) F ourteen members of a London organised crime gang suspected of involvement in several knife murders and drug dealing were arrested today by armed Met officers. The arrests, after early morning raids on 19 homes in the Queens Crescent area of Camden, follow a seven-month investigation. Class A drugs and cash suspected of being proceeds of crime were seized today. Scotland Yard said the operation was aimed at a prolific gang that had been involved in stabbings that have resulted in the loss of young lives in recent years as part of its drug supply activities. The 14 men held, aged between 18 and 57, were arrested for offences including conspiring to supply Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply. All were taken into custody. The police operation was carried out with the support of firearms officers. Detective Chief Inspector Jodie Tuff said: This mornings warrants were the culmination of months of hard work by my officers investigating a local gang who have caused and continue to cause detrimental effects to the community. The arrests of these individuals, some of whom have caused serious harm, show that we have listened to the concerns of residents and will not tolerate drug dealing nor the violence it causes. Metropolitan Police dawn raids in North London 1 /17 Metropolitan Police dawn raids in North London Scotland Yard said the operation was aimed at a prolific gang PA The operation was targeting powerful members of a north London criminal gang PA A suspect being led away after one of the raids on Wednesday morning PA Class A drugs and shotgun shells in an evidence bag PA Metropolitan Police officers during a raid on a property on York Way in London PA Cash in an evidence bag PA Occupants attempt to escape the premises as Metropolitan Police officers raid a property in North London PA Class A drugs in an evidence bag PA Metropolitan Police officers arrest an occupant of a property during a raid in North London PA Metropolitan Police officers during a raid on a property in North London PA Metropolitan Police officers arrest an occupant of a property in North London PA Metropolitan Police officers during a raid PA Occupants attempt to escape the premises as Metropolitan Police officers raid a property in North London PA Sustained public protection is one of our priorities therefore we built up a picture of criminal activity, identifying and evidencing the involvement of various individuals. I want to make it absolutely clear that information provided by our community was key to this operation. I am genuinely proud that Londoners continue to play an active part in helping us keep the areas in which they live safe. The Met added that todays operation followed the gathering of intelligence in the area and that the gangs drug dealing activities had caused knock-on effects such as violence and antisocial behaviour as well as the carrying of weapons and involvement in robberies. The raids are the latest carried out by Scotland Yard in an attempt to tackle drug gangs, which are believed to fuel much of Londons violent crime. A new drive-in outdoor movie theater is opening in San Antonio, bringing iconic flicks like "Selena" and food trucks to a space on the city's South Side. Mission Outdoor Theater will open Friday, Sept. 4 at 8069 Challenger Blvd. near Brooks City Base, according to a Tuesday news release from Electric Fiesta, which manages the new theater and is the same company that hosted an EDM Drive-In concert in June in the Freeman Coliseum parking lot. There will be two screens that can accommodate up to 130 vehicles, the release said. The screens will not have the same movie lineup and will show two movies per night, according to the release. READ ALSO: Drive-in EDM concert planned for Halloween weekend in San Antonio at Freeman Coliseum Visitors will need to purchase tickets for each movie being screened at the theater. Ticket prices are $27 per vehicle and can be purchased at missiondrivein.com. Attendees are welcomed to bring their own snacks or purchase items from the food trucks on site. Cash will not be allowed. The lineup for Labor Day weekend includes movies like "Nacho Libre," "Rocketman," and "Anchorman." The movie schedule will be released every two weeks via social media and on its website. Mission Outdoor Theater states on its website that it is resurrecting the iconic Mission Drive-In by bringing back drive-in flicks to the South Side. However, the company told mySA.com it is not affiliated with the Mission Drive-In, which is now known as The Mission Marquee Plaza. The Mission Drive-In theater opened in 1948. It closed in 2000, but reopened as The Mission Marquee Plaza to hosts movie events with Slab Cinema, according to the website. The Mission Marquee Plaza, located on 3100 Roosevelt Ave., has not reopened its venue due to the coronaviurs pandemic, according to its Facebook page. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre NVTC is proud to be part of an industry that continues to generate high paying jobs, drive impressive tax revenue and serve as strong community stewards for the Commonwealth, said Brad Schwartz, Acting President and CEO of NVTC. The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) celebrated the enormous growth and contributions of Virginia's data center industry at the second annual Virginia Data Center Awards virtual event. More than 150 industry executives, economic development professionals and state elected officials attended the virtual event to recognize individuals and projects that represent excellence in areas of sustainability, construction, advocacy and community engagement and support. According to NVTCs 2020 Impact of Data Centers on the State and Local Economies of Virginia prepared by Mangum Economics, Northern Virginia is the largest data center market in the world, but the data center industry has an important footprint in every part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Central Virginia and Hampton Roads each account for almost 10 percent of overall industry employment in the state. Data center industry pay has increased twice as fast as the statewide average since 2001. NVTCs report estimated in 2018 that data centers were, directly and indirectly, responsible for generating: $600.1 million in state and local tax revenue in Virginia; 14,644 full-time-equivalent jobs with an average annual pay of $126,000; $1.9 billion in associated pay and benefits; and $4.5 billion in economic output. An independent panel of business leaders selected winners in six award categories. NVTC 2020 Virginia Data Center Award winners Data Center Community Champion Amazon Web Services Girls Tech Day TJ Ciccone, Stack Infrastructure Data Center Construction Project Aligned Data Center Industry Icon Lee Kestler, Vantage Data Centers Data Center Supplier Champion Verity Commercial Data Center Sustainable Champion Erick Sanchack, Digital Realty Data Center Veterans Champion Dan Fulcoly, QTS Data Centers NVTC is proud to recognize these winners for their remarkable achievement as well as their contributions to the overall success of the region, said Brad Schwartz, Acting President and CEO of NVTC. When NVTC first launched our Data Center and Cloud Committee in 2011, our intention was to help support, grow and advocate on behalf of our data center sector. We are proud to be part of an industry that continues to generate high paying jobs, drive impressive tax revenue and serve as strong community stewards for the Commonwealth. This years NVTC Data Center Awards were sponsored by CoreSite, Loudoun County Economic Development, NOVA Workforce, Google, Equinix, Amazon Web Services, Prince William County Economic Development, QTS Data Centers, Henrico County Economic Development Authority, Hunton Andrews Kurth, Facebook, Iron Mountain, Vantage Data Centers and InterGlobix Magazine. The country of Honduras, officially known in Spanish as Republica de Honduras, is a country rich in diversity of culture and geography. It is located in Central America, bordered by Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Pacific Ocean through its southern Gulf of Fonseca, as well as the Gulf of Honduras and the Caribbean Sea. Honduras also includes the Islas de la Bahia and Swan Islands. The Mayans dominated the area that is now Honduras, and was the first known civilization to have made their mark, from 1200 to approximately 900 BC. Many archaeological sites which demonstrate the thriving civilization remain throughout Honduras. Although some Mayan descendants remained when the first Spanish explorers arrived on the shores of Central America, they found primarily Lencan people in the area. When Christopher Columbus found the coast of Honduras in 1502 he ushered in a period of Spanish rule that would last more than 300 years. On 15 September 1821, Honduras declared their independence from Spain and for a short time was part of the Federal Republic of Central America. Today, Honduras is a democratic republic with a democratically elected president, although a military coup brought Honduras under military rule from 1963 to 1981. The country currently has five political parties, including the Social Democrats, Social Christians and Democrat Unification. Honduras as a nation is very poor it is in the top ten poorest western countries. Approximately half of its 7.1 million people live below the poverty line, and 27.9% are unemployed. Honduras 2006 GDP per capita was a mere $3100 US Dollars (USD). Although its population is very diverse, the majority is made up from indigenous groups which include the Chorti, Garifuna, Pech, Tolupan, Lenca and Miskito peoples. The geography of Honduras is just as diverse as its population. Although it is primarily mountainous, approximately 81%, it boasts beautiful coastlines as well. It is home to a portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second largest of its kind in the world. The last lungs of South America, the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve rainforest, is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Many visitors are drawn to the beauty of Honduras reefs where the snorkeling and diving is unrivaled. The whale shark is primarily found in the waters off the reef, drawing divers who dream of swimming with these gentle beasts. Mayan ruins attract those interested in archeology, as well as the Caves of Glowing Skulls, caves with ritualistically painted skeletons dating back thousands of years. Honduran cities such as its capitol city Tegucigalpa, as well as San Pedro Sula, Copan Ruinas and La Ceiba attract visitors interested in historic sites and churches as well as colonial history. Pro-life activist and Donald Trump supporter Abby Johnson spoke at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday to deliver a graphic retelling of her participation in an abortion she claims took place while she was working at a clinic - a story that has already been questioned against official records. Ms Johnson, who quit her job as director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas to join the Coalition for Life campaign group, recounted details of her participation in a procedure she said took place over a decade ago. For most people who consider themselves pro-life, abortion is abstract they cant even conceive of the barbarity, Ms Johnson told the GOP convention, in a pre-recorded address broadcast on Tuesday evening. See, for me, abortion is real. I know what it sounds like; I know what abortion smells like. Did you know that abortion even had a smell? she added. Ms Johnson, 39, said she quit her job at the Bryan-based clinic after witnessing, she claims, the abortion of a woman who was 13 weeks pregnant. Nothing prepared me for what I saw on the screen: an unborn baby fighting back, desperate to move away from the suction, Ms Johnson said, recounting her participation in the ultrasound-guided procedure. The last thing I saw was a spine twirling around in the mothers womb before succumbing to the force of the suction." But reports have cast doubt on Ms Johnson's story. A 2019 article by Texas Monthly looked at the medical records from the day she claimed the ultrasound abortion took place. The records did not list a patient beyond 10 weeks of gestation, according to the article. Ms Johnson continues to stand by the story. Ms Johnson, who now runs And Then There Were None - a group that she founded in 2012 and which encourages clinic employees to quit - said in her speech that almost 80 per cent of Planned Parenthood abortion facilities are strategically located in minority neighborhoods. But the organisation has disputed that claim, saying "fewer than 4 per cent of Planned Parenthood facilities are in communities that are more than one-third black." Ms Johnson, who has a mixed race son among her eight children, previously said in a YouTube video following the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis, that when her son is grown, police officers would have to be more careful around him, the Daily Beast reported. "Statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons, she said, despite studies showing systemic biases in the criminal justice system that disproportionately punish black men. Johnson has also said on Twitter than she supports household voting in which each household has a single vote, potentially denying a woman an individual vote. Asked for comment, Ms Johnson told the New York Times: If you would like to discuss my talk tonight, Im happy to do so. However, Im not going to discuss something that isnt germane to the event this evening. India hit out at Pakistan for its litany of lies at the United Nations after Islamabads UN envoy claimed to have given a statement in a Security Council meeting not open to non-Council members and said that the biggest sponsor of cross-border terrorism against it now tries to masquerade itself as a victim of terror. Calling out Pakistans lie that it has been a target of cross-border terrorism for decades, India said a lie repeated a hundred times will not become truth. The biggest sponsor of cross-border terrorism against India now tries to masquerade itself as a victim of terrorism by India, Indias Permanent Mission to the UN said on Monday. The Pakistan Mission falsely claimed that its UN envoy Munir Akram gave a statement at a Security Council debate on Report of the Secretary General on Threats to International Peace and Security posed by Terrorism Actions. However, the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security was not open to non-members of the Council. A photograph of the meeting tweeted by the German Mission to the UN showed only envoys of the 15 Security Council members participating in the meeting. Pakistan is not a member of the Council. We fail to comprehend where exactly did the Permanent Representative of Pakistan make his statement since the Security Council session today was not open to non-members of the Security Council. Be that as it may, the five big lies of Pakistan lies exposed, Indias Mission to the UN said in a post on Twitter. On Akrams claim that Pakistan has decimated Al-Qaeda from the region, India said perhaps the Permanent Representative of Pakistan is not aware that Osama bin Laden was hiding in their own country in plain sight, and it is the US forces which got him inside Pakistan. Nor have they heard their Prime Minister refer to Osama bin Laden as a martyr. Giving a strong rebuttal to Pakistans lies, New Delhi termed Pakistans claim that India has hired terrorists as mercenaries to hit them as laughable. Coming from a country which is a known sponsor of cross-border terrorism which has made the world suffer due to its actions, this claim is nothing short of being preposterous!, India said. India also said that Pakistan is home to the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN and many of the sanctioned terrorists and entities continue to operate with impunity inside Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan himself had admitted at the General Assembly last year about the presence of 40,000-50,000 terrorists inside Pakistan. Laying bare another lie by Pakistan about Indian nationals in the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions List of the UN Security Council, India said the Sanctions List is public and the world can see none of these individuals are in it. The 1267 Committee works on the basis of evidence and not random accusations thrown in to divert their time and attention, India said in response to a lie made by Pakistan that it has submitted names of some Indians to be proscribed under the Sanctions list. In a telephone conversation with Chinese Ambassador Liao Liqiang on Wednesday, Gamea discussed measures to increase the flow of trade between Cairo and Beijing Egypt's Trade and Industry Minister Nevine Gamea has urged quick action to finalise procedures required to export pomegranates to China. In a telephone conversation with Chinese Ambassador Liao Liqiang on Wednesday, Gamea discussed measures to increase the flow of trade between Cairo and Beijing. She made it clear that her ministry will coordinate action with the crops export council so that China gets a new list of Egyptian crops that are in high demand in the Asian country. She also hailed the strategic relations between Cairo and Beijing. The Trade and Industry Ministry is keen on supporting cooperation with China as part of such strategic ties, Gamea stressed. The minister said that Egypt is seeking Chinas help to support Abdel Hamid Mamdouh, the Egyptian candidate for the World Trade Organization (WTO) director-general post. Cairo also wants to benefit from Beijings expertise on small and micro-sized enterprises. China is 20th on the list of countries investing in Egypt, with about $7.2 billion invested into 1,736 projects in the country until the end of 2018. The trade exchange between the two sides amounted to some $5.2 billion during the first seven months of this year. Search Keywords: Short link: Composer Cho Eun-hwa poses for a picture before a press conference at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for Arts Award-winning composer encourages classical music lovers to embrace live music By Park Ji-won Partly due to Korea's relatively short history in training students in Western classical music, the nation has not yet produced many world-class composers in comparison to its European counterparts. However, Cho Eun-hwa, a German-based classical music composer and professor at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, set an example for Korea's aspiring classical musicians with her impressive career and she made headlines after winning several globally recognized music awards. She was the first Korean composer to win the Grand Prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium for Composition in 2008 one of the most prestigious awards for composers and the Grand Prize at the Korea Composition Awards in 2014. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Cho plucked up the courage to visit Seoul to present her composition inspired by Beethoven to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of the celebrated German composer. Her 2018 composition "tantot libre, tantot recherche," a cello concerto, will be arranged for orchestra, conducted by Christoph Poppen and played by the Seoul Tutti Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, the last day of the Classic Revolution 2020 Seoul. It is a summer classical music festival organized by Lotte Foundation for Arts for the first time this year being held between Aug. 18 and 30. Cho's music was originally planned to be played by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra but it was cancelled after the surge of infection cases in Korea. She said that she came up the idea for the piece, which is also part of her composition series "Jouissance de la difference," out of her curiosity for Beethoven's composition style. "As a composer, I habitually write scores in my head while listening to music. One day, I was listening to a sonata concert of Beethoven. But when I checked its score, it was so different from what I imagined Also, whenever I listened to the composition, its repetitious style sounds so fresh to meI wondered why. The 'why' was the beginning of my piece," Cho said during an interview with reporters at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. She added that repetition is the theme of her series itself and also something defining her style through repeated musical reference to Beethoven's themes. Cho highlighted the experience of hearing music performed in a concert hall and the acoustic resonance for audiences is important and cannot be felt in Youtube videos. She said she considers the acoustics of a performance space when composing and arranging music and urges people to come to the concert and experience listening to live music in that environment for themselves. "I arranged the piece into something that well encompasses and maximizes the space of the stage as one of audience members told me that it was like a tsunami to listen to my music YouTube cannot deliver the silence and the tension of the concert hall. I hope many can enjoy the music live at the venue." She said Beethoven's masterpieces are like a mirror for her to reflect on herself and her work. "Beethoven is a composer who makes me reflect on myself. Whenever I listen to his music, I can tell whether I grew as a composer or learn skills I can use for composition. Beethoven's pieces are a recurring boom for me." Cho studied classical composition in the Seoul National University. She flew to Germany only to study and continue composing as it was a friendlier place for artists. Even though she spent her entire life studying Western classical music, she finds it more natural to listen to Korean traditional music and wants to study it more in the future. "When we talk about Western music, the subject and the techniques are very important. Basically, it consists of memories But Korean traditional music doesn't have such grammar. But it is just good and time fliesI realized in Germany that Korean music and instruments have huge potential. So, I'm trying to learn more about Korea's music traditions and instruments as much as I can and write music with that in mind. I am thinking of composing with a Korean traditional music influence for the next 10 or 20 years." For more information, visit www.lotteconcerthall.com or call 1544-7744. Nineteen dogs boarded a plane for New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon, bound for their forever homes. The Greater Birmingham Humane Society sent those 19 dogs to the New Jersey shelter for adoption, where most of the animals already have homes waiting on their arrival. By freeing up space in the GBHSs Snow Drive adoption facility, the organization can take in adoptable pets from shelters along the Gulf coast. Those shelters need kennel space for dogs who may be displaced by incoming Hurricane Laura, or future storms this hurricane season. The chain reaction of shelters helping shelters means that lost, stray, or injured dogs affected by the storms can have a better chance at being reunited with their owners, because they are at a local animal shelter. One dog, named William, was set to board the flight and make the group an even 20 dogs; but in the car ride to the airport, William damaged his kennel and therefore was unable to board the flight. The plane transporting the 19 dogs to a city near New York was provided by Wings of Rescue. One of the most important aspects of our mission is to rescue adoptable animals impacted by disasters, said GBHS Chief Executive Officer Allison Black Cornelius. When a storm hits, shelters in large rescues in the affected area need to make space for animals that will be lost or surrendered during the crisis. That is one of the reasons we stress microchipping your pet, having an ID collar on your pet, and making plans for your pet in the event of an emergency. The nonprofit is asking for pet food and supplies, or monetary donations to help with disaster relief efforts. Those wanting to help can visit gbhs.org or call the GBHS for more information. The dogs are loaded onto the plane for their trip. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Dogs in their crates are unloaded from the vans. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Joan and Joni wait to be loaded onto the plane. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Dogs in their crates are unloaded from the vans. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Waiting to take off. The dogs are loaded onto the plane for their trip. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Joan and Joni wait to be loaded onto the plane. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Dogs in their crates are unloaded from the vans. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com The dogs are loaded onto the plane for their trip. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com The dogs are loaded onto the plane for their trip. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Pilot Stephen Horner loaded to dogs onto the plane for their trip. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Joan and Joni got a front row seat on the plane. The dogs are loaded onto the plane for their trip. Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Nineteen rescued dogs took a flight on a Wings of Rescue plane from the Bessemer Airport to New Jersey for adoption. The dogs were at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and were transported to make room for dogs that are coming from hurricane affected areas. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against BorgWarner Inc., a motor vehicle parts manufacturer headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, for materially misstating its financial statements by failing to account for certain asbestos liabilities. The SEC's order finds that from 2012 to 2016, BorgWarner failed to report over $700 million in liabilities associated with future asbestos claims. According to the SEC's order, BorgWarner did not conduct any substantive quantitative analysis to estimate these asbestos claims, despite possessing nearly 40 years of historical raw claims data. According to the order, BorgWarner erroneously relied on untested assumptions in concluding that it could not estimate its liabilities for these claims, including, for instance, that its products were unique among asbestos defendants and that industry benchmarks were inapplicable for purposes of calculating an estimate. The SEC order finds that as a result of this accounting error, BorgWarner's financial statements were materially misstated. As set forth in the SEC's order, in early 2017, BorgWarner reported a charge for these claims and, in 2018, BorgWarner restated its financial statements to report the charges in the appropriate periods dating back to 2012, aggregating $703.6 million related to the asbestos claims. BorgWarner also disclosed that its internal controls over financial reporting were ineffective. "Companies cannot claim an inability to reasonably estimate liabilities when the data they need to do so is available," said Carolyn Welshhans, Associate Director in the Division of Enforcement. "BorgWarner relied on untested assumptions surrounding its asbestos-related liabilities, which ultimately led to its materially misstated financial statements." The SEC's order finds that BorgWarner violated the reporting, books and records, and internal accounting controls provisions of the federal securities laws. Without admitting or denying the order's findings, the company agreed to pay a penalty of $950,000 and to cease and desist from future violations of these provisions. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Lory Stone and Rebecca Schendel Norris, under the supervision of David Estabrook, Laura B. Josephs, and Ms. Welshhans. President is the only person who can take on China and its "predatory aggression," US Secretary of State has told the American people. He also said that President Trump will not rest until he brings the Communist nation to justice for spreading death and economic destruction in America and around the world through the coronavirus. Pompeo on Tuesday deviated from his own advice and broke the longstanding precedent of sitting US secretaries of state avoiding partisan to urge Americans to re-elect President Trump on November3 if they want to keep the country safe. In his address to the Republican National Convention from Jerusalem, Pompeo, who is leading the Trump administration's vocalattack on China and its aggressive moves in recent times against India and in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, said that President Trump has taken bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world. "In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The president has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world. And he will not rest until justice is done, the top American diplomat said. He said President Trump has ensured that the ruling Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats in America are jailed or sent back to China. Further, Trump has ended the "ridiculously unfair" trade arrangement with China that punched a hole in America's economy, he said. "Those jobs are coming back home, Pompeo said. He earlier tweeted from his personal Twitter handle. "President Trump has ensured the safety of America and SECURED our many FREEDOMS, which is the cornerstone of this great nation," he wrote and said he would share with the American people on how the President has delivered on that mission. Relations between the US and China have plummeted during Trump's time in office, with a trade war, tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, and angry denunciations coming from both Washington and Beijing. Trump has repeatedly accused China of spreading the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated the US, killing more than 170,000 Americans and causing widespread economic misery that could tank Trump's re-election chances.The coronavirus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan before it spread across the world. Pompeo has been attacking China after the People's Liberation Army has been making aggressive moves along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh as well as in the South China Sea. On July 8, he said India has done its best to respond to China's incredibly aggressive actions. He said that Beijing has a pattern of "instigating" territorial disputes and the world shouldn't allow this bullying to take place. Pompeo has also said that the world will not allow China to treat the strategically important South China Sea as its "maritime empire" and has vowed that the US would support worried Southeast Asian countries against Beijing's "campaign of bullying" to control the resource-rich region. Beijing claims almost all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Pompeo has also said that the "Chinese predatory world view" has no place in the 21st century and Washington stood with its Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights and obligations under law. After Arcadio Hernandez was wrongfully diagnosed with pink eye at a hospital, he suffered catastrophic brain damage when an aneurysm in his head burst in 2010. A civil jury in Pasco County later awarded him $13.2 million in damages. A decade later, Hernandez is back in the hospital, this time, recovering from a volley of bullets fired by a Miami-Dade police officer during a confrontation outside his Kendall home. New surveillance video, as well as interviews with a neighbor and law enforcement officials, shed new light on last Fridays shooting when the department claimed the 27-year-old Hernandez charged towards Miami-Dade Police Officer Juan Calderon while armed with a machete. The video, taken from a neighbors surveillance system, doesnt appear to show a full-steam charge, but rather Hernandez turning toward Calderon after being shot with a Taser stun gun by another officer. The neighbor told the Herald that Hernandez, who was partially paralyzed and dragged his leg when he walked, was blocked from going back inside his home. He turned back because he had nowhere to walk, they tasered him, he drops the machete and then he gets shot, said the neighbor, who asked she not be identified for fear of retaliation. But the video also shows that before the shooting, Calderon spent about three minutes backing up down the street, pleading with Hernandez who appeared to be having a mental break while crying God was with me to drop the weapon. Drop the machete, I dont want to shoot you, Calderon can be heard saying. Steadman Stahl, president of Miami-Dade Countys Police Benevolent Association, said Calderon tried to de-escalate a tense situation and was justified in ultimately shooting Hernandez because the Taser prongs had no effect on the man. That guy definitely took a stance and went after the officer. The body camera footage is clear. He was trying to talk him down. At some point he pulls the Taser prongs out [of his body]. It has no effect on him, Stahl said. There are people that have thresholds for pain that others dont have. So the Taser is not an end-all. Story continues Calderons body-worn camera footage, which will show a clearer picture of the incident, has yet to be released. Hernandez remains hospitalized at Kendall Regional Trauma Center in stable condition. He could face charges when he recovers, according to Miami-Dade Police. The new details about the shooting at Hernandezs home at 10800 SW 136th Ave. are emerging as national attention has again focused on police tactics in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake, shot several times in the back during a confrontation with police, remains hospitalized and the shooting has spurred protests and unrest in the small city south of Milwaukee. It also follows months of protests around the nation sparked by the May death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer fatally pressed his knee to the mans neck during an arrest. Arcadio Hernandez walks out of the courtroom during a morning recess in his 2013 civil trial in which he sought damages against Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, a physician and physicians assistant, and the companies contracted to do work in the ER by the hospital. Hernandez claimed he was disabled because of a misdiagnosis at a hospital emergency room. According to court documents, Hernandez, then 17, was suffering severe pain in and around his eye and was diagnosed with conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Hernandezs lawyer, Steven Deutsch, right, said Hernandez had a brain bleed and was permanently disabled as a result of the misdiagnosis. As for Hernandez, his life had been marred by misfortune. At age 17, Hernandez suffering from pain around his eye went to the Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in Pasco County. Medical staff diagnosed him with pink eye and gave him antibiotics. Months later, he had to undergo emergency surgery after the aneurysm burst, leaving him with permanent brain damages and physical injuries. At trial, Hernandez testified that his memory was shot, that he suffers regular seizures and had lost the use of one of his hands. Hernandez had lived in Miami-Dades The Crossings neighborhood for about a year, neighbors said. He was known to smoke cigarettes and sing outside, sometimes walking to a nearby Walgreens. Because of his physical disabilities, one neighbor always helped him take his trash cans out to the street for pickup. He wasnt a threat. He wasnt a bother to anybody, said the neighbor whose video camera captured the shooting. But Hernandez had gotten into arguments with a neighbor across the street over the family parking a car in the swale in front of his house, residents said. A few days before the shooting, Miami-Dade police officers were called to Hernandezs home. The department said it received a report that a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier had been threatened by someone with a machete. Hernandez was questioned but not arrested. Then on Friday, just before 5 p.m., according to a Miami-Dade Police press release, reports were received of a man armed with a machete walking along the street and threatening passersby. A law-enforcement source said that Hernandez had gone outside holding the machete and asked his neighbor to move the familys car parked on his swale. The neighbor, Manuel Rivero, did move the car but the family called 911 because of the weapon, the source said. Rivero declined to comment. We already told the police everything that happened, he said before hanging up on a reporter. The neighbor who provided the video to the Herald said police have miscast what happened. Was he threatening bystanders? Was he threatening neighbors? No, he wasnt, she said. Either way, Hernandez was still standing outside his house holding the machete when Officer Calderon arrived. The video shows Calderons patrol car pull up, lights flashing. Drop the f***king machete, he says as he immediately encounters Calderon outside. God is with me, Hernandez repeats. Calderons tone lowers. Drop the machete, he says. Whats your name? Nice to meet you, Im Felipe. The two keep talking in Spanish, as Calderon continues backing up, and Hernandez walks forward toward him. Por favor, Arcadio, the officer says. The two disappear off screen for a couple more minutes. Then, as Hernandez is seen walking back toward his home, another police car rushes up and another officer gets out. Blocked from view by the vehicle, he appears to immediately shoot his Taser at Hernandez. Calderon immediately fired two shots, then a third as the man falls to the ground. The police shooting is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office will ultimately decide whether the officer was justified in shooting his gun at Hernandez. JasonDoiy/Getty Images For the second year in a row, Texans reign superior with regard to the attractiveness of their accents, according to international media company Big 7 Travel. Could it be because of Austin's famous resident Matthew McConaughey's southern drawl? Whatever the reason, a poll done by the travel recommendations website said that individuals from around the world agreed that a Texan accent was the sexiest accent in the United States. A solution to the border row with China must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings without attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, in a clear assertion of India's position on the issue. Jaishankar called the situation in Ladakh the "most serious" after the 1962 conflict, adding the quantum of forces currently deployed by both sides at the Line of Actual Control(LAC) is also "unprecedented". At the same time, he noted that all border situations were resolved through diplomacy. "As you know, we are talking to the Chinese both through military channels and diplomatic ones. In fact, they work in tandem," the external affairs minister told Rediff.com in an interview ahead of the release of his book 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World'. "But when it comes to finding a solution, this must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings. And not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally," he said. India has been insisting that the border standoff with China must be resolved in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols for border management between the two countries. Asked how he envisaged the future of India-China ties in the book that was written before the border row erupted, the external affairs minister said it is "an extremely consequential relationship for both and it requires a strategy and a vision". "What I have said is that the ability of India and China to work together could determine the Asian century. But their difficulties in doing so may well undermine it. So, this is an extremely consequential relationship for both. It has its fair share of problems and I have been forthright in acknowledging them," Jaishankar said. "We need honest conversations on this, among Indians and between India and China. That is why this relationship requires both a strategy and a vision," he noted. Referring to the impact of the border row on the rest of the relationship, Jaishankar said India has conveyed to the Chinese side "clearly" that peace and tranquility in the border areas are the basis for the relationship. "If we look back at the last three decades, this is quite self-evident. Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a tense standoff in eastern Ladakh for over three-and-half-month despite multiple rounds of diplomatic and military talks. The tension escalated after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley clash in which Chinese military also suffered casualties. "This is surely the most serious situation after 1962. In fact, after 45 years, we have had military casualties on this border. The quantum of forces currently deployed by both sides at the LAC is also unprecedented," Jaishankar said. The external affairs minister also referred to previous episodes of border tensions with China including in Doklam, affirming that India will do what it takes to secure its borders. "If you look back over the last decade, there have been a number of border situations Depsang, Chumar and Doklam. In a sense, each one was different. This one surely is. But what is also common is that all border situations were resolved through diplomacy," he said. "I am not minimising either the seriousness or the complex nature of the current situation. Naturally, we have to do what it takes to secure our borders," Jaishankar added. In the course of the interview, the external affairs minister touched upon a wide range of issues including India's ties with the US and Russia, relevance of Jawaharlal Nehru's non-alignment approach, major burdens from the past and historic global events that influenced India's diplomacy since 1977 when he joined the Indian Foreign Service. Asked about Indian thinking in achieving its strategic goals in the 21st century, Jaishankar said, with a billion-plus civilisational society, the country is poised to occupy a much more prominent place in the world. "That puts us in a pretty unique position. Only China can claim something similar," he said. On the impact of an inward looking approach of the US and its 'America First' policy, Jaishankar said India should take a "clinical view" of its own interests and not get entangled in the debates of others. "We have a broad spectrum of support in the US. These relations have progressed through multiple administrations. And that tells us that the convergences are getting deeper and broader by the day," he said. "Like everybody else, both India and the US are coming to terms with the changing world and are obviously discovering the merits of doing more together," he added. On ties with Russia, he said the relationship has been remarkably consistent even though the world has seen dramatic changes over the last three decades and that the convergences are "very strong" in many areas. "But popular sentiment and leadership efforts have also given these ties an exceptional character. Its growing economic content and cooperation in Russia's Far East are new facets that have strengthened it recently," he added. Asked about the burden from the past, he identified the result of Partition, a 15-year gap in ushering in economic reforms compared to China and stretching of the nuclear option. "Whatever the causes, the result of Partition was a reduction in India's geo-political significance and global standing. As for the economic reforms, I would compare our moment of change with that of China. There is a 15-year gap, which has huge implications," he said. Jaishankar further said: "As for stretching the nuclear option that we finally concluded in 1998 it unnecessarily prolonged the hyphenation with Pakistan." "People may debate the compulsions and merits of each of these factors. But no one can deny that they had a serious impact on our strategic prospects," he added. A North Korean soldier stands next to a watchtower on the banks of the Yalu river near Sinuiju, April 14, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has disbanded a military company guarding part of the countrys porous border with China after they failed in mid-July to detect a North Korean refugee returning home after having spent an unspecified amount of time outside the country, sources told RFA Tuesday. The refugee, a native of Chongjin, North Hamgyong province, reentered North Korea by crossing the Tumen river into the provinces Onsong county. He was able to completely sidestep soldiers of the 271st Regiments 27th Brigade before turning himself in to the provincial Security Department. The North Korean refugee confessed during the security departments interrogation that he had not been stopped and had no interruption when crossing the North Korea-China border, a North Hamgyong resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told RFAs Korean Service. A military official said that the Supreme Commanders order to disband the unit was issued after the incident was reported to the supreme command, the source said, referring to Kim Jong Un by his military rank. The incident occurred around the same time as a more widely publicized returning refugee incident on July 19, when a man who had escaped to South Korea in 2017 swam back to the North across the inter-Korean border in the vicinity of his hometown Kaesong. The state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that authorities had declared a national maximum emergency at a July 25 meeting of the Political Bureau, over concerns that the man had brought the coronavirus with him. The city of Kaesong was put on complete lockdown, and travel between provinces was shut down. Sometime around then, the [second] returning refugee incident was reported to the Supreme Command, and the Supreme Commander imposed the strong punishment of disbanding the troops to raise alarm among the entire military, the source said. In North Korea, those found guilty of crimes are not the only ones punished. Often their family members are sentenced alongside them for being guilty by association. Military leaders with the rank of company commander or lower were sentenced to more than 10 years for neglecting their duties as combat-ready border guards. They say their family members were loaded into cars and taken to correctional camps without knowing why, the source said. RFA was unable to confirm if family members of the companys leaders were also sentenced to 10 years, but in most cases, family members of criminals are given lighter sentences. The refugee may have been able to slip by the border guards because they were not focused on their jobs due to low morale, according to the source. In the past, the border guards were able to extort money from smugglers on a regular basis. They were able to save enough money to live on for years after their discharge from the military, the source said, adding that since the border closed in January due to the coronavirus, extortion opportunities became far scarcer. The demoralized soldiers have been on duty just to fill their time, and such an incident has finally occurred. Another North Hamgyong resident confirmed RFA that a company of the 27th Brigade was disbanded for allowing the refugee to return across the border undetected. We know that the refugee who came back lived in Chongjin. He crossed back into North Korea without any problems and had been staying in his own house for 10 days when he turned himself in to the provincial security department, the second source said. They say he is now in quarantine as a suspected COVID-19 infectee after being questioned. But the authorities have not said whether the refugee had only been to China or if he was coming back after having lived in South Korea, because they are afraid this information will have a negative impact, the second source added. The dissolution of the unit would do little to improve the readiness of other border guard units, according to the second source. Stories of the complete replacement of entire border guard companies have been circulating in the wake of the incident. But even if they are replaced, it wont matter until [the authorities] improve the food situation and treat [the guards] better. Meanwhile, sources told RFA that during the Political Bureaus July 25 meeting, the Partys Central Military Commission discussed the results of an intensive investigation into military units stationed near Kaesong, responsible for the lax security that allowed the July 19 returning refugee incident. Reported by Sewon Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Cary, N.C., Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Way of North Carolina and the Cybercrime Support Network (CSN) announce the launch of North Carolinas first cybercrime support and recovery hotline. The new system allows North Carolina residents to dial 2-1-1 to report and find resources to recover from identity theft, financial fraud, cyberstalking, cyberbullying and other cybercrimes. This initiative was made possible through a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Grant that was awarded by The North Carolina Governors Crime Commission. Additional support for the project has been provided by the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT). In 2019 alone, more than 8,223 complaints from individuals and small businesses in North Carolina were filed with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, with monetary losses totaling $48,425,764. The launch of North Carolinas first cybercrime support and recovery initiative allows residents to dial 2-1-1 to report cybercrime and find resources to recover from identity theft, financial fraud, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and other cybercrimes. This free, confidential service is available 24/7. The mission of NC 211 is to increase access to information and resources for North Carolinians statewide, said the NC 211 State Director, Heather Black. With our new understanding of the large volume of cybercrimes in our state, we are excited to launch this statewide Cybercrime Support Initiative in partnership with CSN. NC 211 brings to the partnership our robust set of health and human resources that will be critical to helping victims of cybercrime as they work towards recovery. Our team at NC 211 is trained and ready to help victims of cybercrime in North Carolina access the information and resources they need to report and recover from cybercrime. Upon calling 2-1-1, victims will be connected with trained call specialists who can assess the situation and place them in touch with organizations that can help. Cybercriminals can strike from any part of the globe, posing a challenge to law enforcement in providing aid after a cyber incident. This program will complement and work in collaboration with law enforcement to improve service together. Story continues We are excited to announce that North Carolina residents can now dial 2-1-1 for cybercrime assistance, said Kristin Judge, CEO and founder of CSN. Victims of cybercrime need a service that they can rely on to guide them through the process of reporting and recovering after an incident occurs; we are proud to provide that service alongside our partners at UWNC and NC 211. The need to address cybercrime is great. In 2019 alone, over 460,000 complaints from individuals and small businesses were filed with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for monetary losses of over $3.5 billion in the United States. Experts estimate that these figures represent only a small fraction of the cybercrime that actually occurs. North Carolina residents and businesses lose millions of dollars to cybercrime every year, and many cases remain unreported said State Chief Risk Officer Maria Thompson, who leads the NCDITs efforts to protect the states infrastructure and data from cybercrime. The NC 211/Cybercrime Support Network partnership provides North Carolinians guidance to reduce the potential for attacks and support, should they become a victim. More importantly, it gives them a cyber voice and gets us closer to building a whole-of-state focus on cyber. About Cybercrime Support Network Cybercrime Support Network (CSN) is a public-private, nonprofit collaboration created to be the voice of cybercrime victims. With the strong support of our sponsors, Craig Newmark Philanthropies - AT&T - Comcast - Google - KnowBe4 - Microsoft - Trend Micro, CSN can continue to support individuals and small businesses through FraudSupport.org, a resource database for those affected by cybercrime and online fraud, and ScamSpotter.org, a website to help identify scams and stop fraudsters. For more information, please visit: Cybercrimesupport.org About United Way of North Carolina United Way of North Carolina is a statewide organization, supporting 51 local United Way organizations and administering the NC 211 system. For more information about NC 211 visit nc211.org or visit nc.211counts.org for a dashboard of caller needs by county or zip code. ### This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-V2-GX-0067 awarded by the NC Governors Crime Commission as the State Administering Agency for funds awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication, program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NC Governors Crime Commission or the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. Attachment CONTACT: Rachel Dooley Cybercrime Support Network 502-382-8615 press@cybercrimesupport.org Julia Van Patter United Way of North Carolina 919-834-5200 ext. 115 jvanpatter@unitedwaync.org Deena Theresa By Express News Service KOCHI: Keralas economic capital has once again disappointed its residents with a humiliating ranking of 372 out of 382 in the Swachh Survekshan 2020 undertaken as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban) by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Though Corporation officials rubbished the parameters in the National Cleanliness Survey, it is a fact that citys waste management system is subpar. While Alappuzha was selected as the best small city for Innovation and Best Practices for its decentralised wastewater treatment in the category of cities with 1 to 3 lakh population, several other districts in the state, including Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, ranked are higher than Kochi. Can Kochi take a leaf out of these districts books? Express finds out.Earlier, talking to Express, Mayor Soumini Jain blamed the flawed survey, adding that not getting an open defecation-free status in P&T Colony would have played a role in the abysmal rank. Nevertheless, recurrent efforts and failures to set up a septage treatment plant at Brahmapuram by the Corporation have not deterred it from planning to construct another septage treatment plant. Similarly, the much-awaited `295-crore waste-to-energy plant(WTE) at Brahmapuram continues to dawdle. The blame does not fall on corporation alone. Lack of political will and an inefficient centralised waste management system can be counted as culprits.P Rangadasa Prabhu, president of Ernakulam district Residents Associations Apex Council, questioned the tardiness of the WTE project. The residents associations had supported it but the political intervension has ruined it. Our concerns are overlooked. The WTE project, a first in the state, would have been a relief, he said. What needs to be done De-centralised waste management According to experts, Kochi can very well learn from the capital city which has put in place a slew of initiatives to manage waste. As per Shibu K Nair, India coordinator for GAIA Asia Pacific and a veteran in zero waste initiatives, Kochi needs a sector-wise waste management system like Thiruvananthapuram. Even municipalities near Kochi have been dragged into this mess of promising a centralised waste management system and then not delivering the same. This has hampered the formers abilities to set up effective systems themselves. In Thiruvananthapuram, people took matters into their hands -- they raised funds and got small DPRs sanctioned -- within the last three to four years theyve created nearly 54 places to manage waste. The efficiency of residents associations, skill of the local government and that political leadership exhibited in the capital city is unfortunately almost non-existent in Kochi, he said. Sector-wise segregation and green protocol played a major role in helping Thiruvananthapuram secure the 304th rank. A 2007 policy on Malinya Mukta Keralam, had highlighted that while 50 per cent waste came from households, the rest were from shops and hotels. The capital city follows this level of segregation -- it is not sufficient to categorise the same as wet or dry waste. Simultaneously, the Smart Trivandrum app has gone a long way in building and supplementing a systematic network of waste management, said Shibu. Getting over geographical disadvantages Kochi is geographically a wetland, highly prone to waterlogging areas. Solutions must be found accordingly. While Alappuzha has implemented and utilised the power of technology in their system, Thiruvananthapuram is a far better model for Kochi to adapt from, said Shibu. The right solution to citys problems According to D Dhanuraj, chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research, capacity building hasnt taken place in state or local-self-government level. Everyone has generic solutions, studies have not been undertaken to check if they are the right ones to Kochis problems. Residents associations and ward-level engagements must be strengthened and brought into the mainstream so that they can play a role in managing waste. But none are keen to do and are more anxious about power decentralisation, he said. The CPPR chairman added that being the epicentre of power, Thiruvananthapuram has its advantages in getting initiatives implemented. The decision to appoint a 'gaffe-prone' former Australian prime minister as Britain's post-Brexit trade envoy has been blasted by critics. Tony Abbott is said to be joining the Board of Trade in an advisory role with a mission to help drum up deals around the world. But the appointment of the right-wing Brexiteer, 62, was condemned by Labour international trade spokesman Emily Thornberry, who called him an 'offensive, aggressive, leering, gaffe-prone misogynist'. Tony Abbott, 62, (above) is said to be joining the Board of Trade in an advisory role with a mission to help drum up deals around the world Trade Secretary Liz Truss will be president of the board, and Mr Abbott who was forced out of power by his own party in 2015 after just two years in charge will be appointed to an advisory role, it is understood. The Oxford graduate will play an advisory role in Britains post-Brexit global trade mission after the Brexit transition period ends. The appointment is yet to be officially confirmed, but a Government source told the Sun: 'We are delighted to have him.' There were reports that Miss Truss and Mr Abbott had agreed the appointment over breakfast on Wednesday after he was granted permission to break the Australian travel ban to fly to the UK. He is expected to return to London where he was born next week. Current Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said last night the appointment was a 'good hire' by Boris Johnson as he seeks trade deals with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the US. Mr Abbott is a staunch monarchist and friend of the PM who addressed last year's Tory Party conference, warning that failing to leave the EU would be 'defeat on an epic scale, hardly matched since the Norman invasion'. He has also spoken out against the Black Lives Matter movement and was memorably branded a misogynist in a speech by former prime minister Julia Gillard. There were reports Trade Secretary Liz Truss (above), who will be president of the board and Mr Abbott agreed the appointment on Wednesday, after he was granted permission to break the Australian travel ban to fly to the UK Pointing to Mr Abbott's record on the environment, women and immigration while in power, Miss Thornberry said: 'On a personal level, it is shameful Boris Johnson thinks this offensive, aggressive, leering, gaffe-prone misogynist is the right person to represent our country overseas. 'And on a professional level, this is someone with no hands-on experience of negotiating trade agreements, who denies the climate change we believe should be at the heart of our trade policy, and who clearly has no concept of the importance of Britain's trade with the EU.' Mr Abbott was ousted as prime minister by fellow Liberal Party MPs after a string of gaffes and amid plunging opinion poll ratings. It is unclear whether his new position will be paid or unpaid. His role will be to advise Ms Truss on reform of the global trading system, it is understood. It will not be linked to negotiating free trade deals. ANDREW PIERCE: Strewth... a fireman used to hot water! As excuses to cancel dinner go, the text message sent by Tony Abbott to a British friend newly arrived in Sydney is hard to beat. 'Sorry to do this at short notice, mate, but I'm trying to put out these damned bush fires.' He wasn't joking. The former Australian leader and volunteer fireman had flown hundreds of miles to New South Wales after record-breaking temperatures and severe drought triggered massive fires that raged for months last summer. It was in accordance with Abbott's swashbuckling style. For years, Australian politicians have scrupulously avoided being photographed on the beach in anything other than the baggiest of board shorts. Not Abbott. Australian politicians have avoided being photographed on the beach in anything other than baggy board shorts - but not Tony Abbott. He is pictured at the Great Aussie Swim in 2012 In 2009, the then leader of the opposition centre-right Liberal party appeared in a pair of 'budgie smugglers' tight Speedos pounding through the surf. The pictures went viral but Abbott, a fit fiftysomething at the time, evaded ridicule when it emerged that he was training with his local lifesaving club. Such a vision didn't put voters off and Abbott served as prime minister between 2013 and 2015. His knack of generating headlines and the occasional gaffe is legendary; from consuming a raw onion whole, skin and all, to show his appreciation to agricultural workers, to warning 'the housewives of Australia' that under the rival Labor party it would cost more to do the ironing or dismissing 'so-called settled science' on climate change as 'absolutely c**p'. He has campaigned for boats carrying migrants to be sent back at sea, for asylum claims to be processed off shore, and set up a military-led border control. Misogyny is high on the list of his alleged crimes and misdemeanours: in 2012, the then PM Julia Gillard accused him of sexism after he made comments about her being childless and unmarried. One year later and by then PM himself, he appointed himself minister for women's issues, too, in what was seen as a brazen riposte to his feminist critics. A staunch Catholic who trained for the priesthood as a young man, Abbott, now 62, led the campaign against gay marriage in Australia, and has consistently voted against relaxing the laws on abortion and stem cell research, earning himself the nickname of the 'Mad Monk'. Abbott, who was born in London and emigrated to Sydney with his parents aged two, has always maintained a strong bond with Britain. After graduating in economics from Sydney University, he attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Mr Abbott with his wife Margie Abbott (second left) and their daughters Frances (left) Louise Abbott (second right) and Bridget (far right) after winning the 2013 election He trained as a journalist before his political ambitions took root, working for Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy until he became an MP in 1994, a seat he held until last year. In 2015, Abbott was ousted as PM and a recent book about his premiership included the revelation that party members confronted him and his chief of staff Peta Credlin over a 'perception' they were having an affair (which they both denied). Quite what Brussels will make of the Brexit advocate in his reported new guise as a post-departure adviser remains to be seen. But he's not an unknown quantity, having negotiated with the EU as Australia's PM. His appointment has, predictably, angered Labour with shadow international business secretary, Emily Thornberry, saying that his 'only experience of trade agreements was turning up to sign the treaties [former Australian trade minister] Andrew Robb negotiated for him'. But a friend of Abbott said last night: 'He couldn't care less about the insults. He's tough, clever, and he's done business with the EU. We're lucky to have him.' Indian-American politics during a bitter electoral season took an ugly turn on Tuesday when the South Asians for Biden launched a smear social media campaign against Republican politician Nikki Haley over her remarks a day earlier that the United States is not a racist country. Following backlash from the community members and many others, the South Asians for Biden, which is affiliated to the Biden campaign, apologised and deleted its tweet later in the day. "Upon further reflection, an earlier tweet drawing attention to the name of Ambassador Nikki Haley has been removed. South Asians for Biden regrets the tone of the message," the group tweeted after deleting its previous tweet. Earlier in the day, the South Asians for Biden challenged Haley over her remarks on the first night of the Republican National Convention that America is not a racist country. "In much of the Democratic Party, it's now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie. America is not a racist country," said Haley, the former US Ambassador to the United Nations. Her speech, in which she narrated her Indian-American background, has been widely praised. However, the South Asians for Biden in a tweet, which has now been deleted, alleged that Haley had to change her name from Namrata to Nikki mainly because it is the other way round. "If America isn't racist, why did Namarata Haley feel compelled to change her name to 'Nikki'?" it said. "Maybe just the Republican Party is?" the South Asians for Biden said. The tweet attracted criticism from various quarters. "The Biden campaign made a racist and false accusation against Nikki Haley, and Journos have chosen to completely ignore it," one of her Twitter followers said. "There is nothing the Democrats hate more than a conservative women of color. Nikki Haley infuriates them because she refuses to toe the radical leftist ideological line... and Democrats can't stand when people of color think for themselves," tweeted author Liz Wheeler. As many came out in support of the 48-year-old Indian-American politician, the South Asians for Biden was quick to apologise. "We will continue to focus on the very real issues facing South Asian voters this election," it said after it expressed its regret and deleted its previous post. The South Asians for Biden also retweeted several tweets that were highly critical of Haley. "Nimrata Nikki Haley's invoking her 'brown child in a black and white world' narrative just doesn't sit well when she sat silent while brown children were put in cages," said Kavita Patel in a tweet that was retweeted by the South Asians for Biden. In her speech on Monday, Haley had said, "I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants. They came to America and settled in a small southern town. My father wore a turban. My mother wore a sari. I was a brown girl in a black and white world. In a tweet in 2018, Haley had explained that Nikki is her name on her birth certificate. "Nikki is my name on my birth certificate. I married a Haley. I was born Namrata Nikki Randhawa and married Michael Haley," she said in a tweet on May 20, 2018. At that time she was the US Ambassador to the United Nations. Nikki is a popular name in Punjabi. Nikki means "Little One" in Punjabi. Born as Nimrata Randhawa in South Carolina, she is the daughter of Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa, who emigrated from Amritsar in Punjab. The Republican National Convention will on Thursday formally re-nominate President Donald Trump as its candidate for the November 3 presidential election. President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will be challenged by the Democractic Party's presidential nominee Joe Biden and his Indian-American running mate Senator Kamala Harris. The coronavirus pandemic continues to create uncertainty. What is certain, however, is Canadas need for immigrants, and the desire of foreigners to come to Canada. What will Canadian immigration look like post-coronavirus? The coronavirus pandemic continues to create uncertainty. What is certain, however, is Canadas need for immigrants, and the desire of foreigners to come to Canada. What will Canadian immigration look like post-coronavirus? The coronavirus pandemic continues to create uncertainty. What is certain, however, is Canadas need for immigrants, and the desire of foreigners to come to Canada. What will Canadian immigration look like post-coronavirus? The coronavirus pandemic continues to create uncertainty. What is certain, however, is Canadas need for immigrants, and the desire of foreigners to come to Canada. Kareem El-Assal Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A There are internal and external factors to consider when imagining the future of Canadas immigration system beyond the coronavirus pandemic. Canadian immigration will be shaped by Canadas demographics, economy, politics, processing capacity, and capacity to integrate newcomers. Externally, immigration levels will remain influenced by global circumstances. No Title Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Internal factors affecting Canadian immigration Internally, Canada is still looking to immigration to drive its post-coronavirus economic recovery. Canadas immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, promised that immigration will remain an enduring value after the pandemic. Mendicino recently met with provincial immigration ministers to discuss immigration levels up until 2023, the importance of international students, among other topics pertaining to the future of immigration in Canada. Canadians themselves, especially younger generations, are also maintaining a generally positive outlook toward immigration, according to a recent Association for Canadian Studies survey. About 61 per cent of the surveys participants said they believe that immigration will help Canadas long-term economic recovery. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs Demographic factors that drive Canadas need for immigrants have not changed. Canada has an aging population and a low birth rate. Over 9 million baby boomers will reach retirement age by 2030, and Canadas birth rate is at about 1.6 babies per couple when a birth rate of 2.1 is needed in order to maintain the size of its population. Canadas birth rate may dip even further due to the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19. By 2034, immigrants are expected to be responsible for 100 per cent of Canadas population growth and an increasing share of economic growth, the Conference Board of Canada says. Immigrants do well in creating jobs and succeeding in the labour market. Statistics Canada recently found that immigrant-owned businesses were more likely to create a new product or innovate on an existing process or method. Immigrants who come to Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program or the federal Canadian Experience Class tend to fare better in the labour market than other immigration programs. At the same time, immigrants who arrive under the Federal Skilled Worker Program also successfully integrate into the labour market and tend to surpass the earnings of Canadian-born workers after five years or so of landing in Canada. Global factors affecting Canadian immigration When it determines its immigration levels, Canada also looks at the interest of foreign nationals who want to come to Canada. In addition, Canada makes adjustments to immigration targets based on global circumstances such as crises. The civil war in Syria, for example, prompted the Canadian government to lower the targets for economic-class immigration to make room for more Syrian refugees in 2015-16. This year, Canada has taken a hit to immigration levels due to the pandemic. Immigration started to recover in June when about 19,000 new permanent residents were admitted to Canada. Though this is still down from the over 34,000 admitted in June of 2019. A new World Education Services (WES) survey finds that the coronavirus pandemic has increased global interest in immigrating to Canada, as many people overseas anticipate that Canada will see a less severe economic downturn in comparison to their home country. Get a free Canadian immigration eligibility assessment More certainty to come this fall Economic challenges abroad are a double-edged sword. They will increase demand to immigrate to Canada among some segments of potential immigrants, while blunting it among other segments who will be negatively impacted by factors such as losing their jobs or currency devaluations. Fees to immigrate to Canada went up in April, while some global currencies dropped. Nigeria, which is one of the main source countries of Canadian immigrants, saw its currency dragged down with the falling price of oil. Other oil-rich countries face the same threat to their currency, meaning less disposable income will be available for some would-be immigrants. The future of Canadian immigration in 2021 and beyond will remain blurred so long as the coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten the worlds health and economy. The Canadian economy is seeing some recovery, with 55 per cent of jobs lost due to the pandemic having been recovered as of June. Moreover, attitudes toward immigration are still relatively positive, and foreigners still want to come to Canada. These are all factors that will be taken into account when Canadas 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan will be announced by November 1st, 2020. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved TANZANIA, Tanzania - The U.N. envoy for Iraq said Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic has made things worse in the country, with a 10% increase in poverty and 3 million people who cant afford to buy enough food. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told the U.N. Security Council the pandemic has also disrupted studies for over 11 million school and university students across Iraq and led to the doubling of reported incidents of gender-based violence amid dwindling options for victims to seek assistance and find shelter. On the economic front, she said oil-rich Iraq is expected to experience a 9.7% decline in GDP, mainly as a result of the steep crash in crude prices since the pandemic began, which has cut oil revenues nearly in half. In addition, Hennis-Plasschaert said, the private sector, which remains hindered by a lack of reforms, has been especially hard hit by COVID-19-related job losses. The resulting fall in non-oil economic growth comes at a time when the country is in dire need of economic diversification, she said. Hennis-Plasschaert also stressed that corruption remains endemic, and its economic cost untold as it continues to steal desperately needed resources from the everyday Iraqi, eroding investor confidence. Iraq faced historic mass anti-government protests last October over rampant government corruption, poor services and unemployment, which led to hundreds of deaths as Iraqi forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse crowds. The demonstrations brought trust in the government to a new low. A new prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, assumed office in May facing a myriad of crises. State coffers were slashed following the severe drop in crude oil prices, adding to the woes of an economy already struggling with the aftershocks of the pandemic. Al-Kadhimis administration set a lofty agenda that included enacting economic reform, battling corruption, avenging protesters and bringing arms from rogue Iranian-backed militia groups under the authority of the state. But three months into his administration protests by pensioners stymied plans to cut state salaries, virus cases continue to reach record highs, and militia groups taunt the government with near daily rocket attacks targeting Iraqi bases and the heavily fortified Green Zone, home to many embassies and government offices. Hennis-Plasschaert told the Security Council that the government is undoubtedly operating in the eye of multiple storms at once. She said painful reforms are essential to unlock a brighter future for all Iraqis but so far its political leaders have shown too little of the spirit needed to come together, prioritize the countrys interest and protect the vulnerable. Of great concern is another spike in the killings and targeting of activists and human rights defenders, Hennis-Plasschaert said. The silencing of peaceful voices - by exerting pressure on activists and media, by confusing the scene or even worse, by shedding blood is an affront against basic rights and dignity. She said the U.N. is cautiously encouraged by government statements and some early moves toward greater accountability, support for freedom of expression and assembly, and commitment to justice. But she said action is urgently needed, noting that partisanship and short-sighted zero-sum politics continue to be major obstacles for progress. Hennis-Plasschaert said Islamic State extremists are benefiting from internal divisions, exploiting security gaps, and continuing deadly attacks. U.N. counter-terrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov told the council Monday that more than 10,000 Islamic State fighters are estimated to remain active in Iraq and Syria two years after the militant groups defeat, and their attacks have significantly increased this year. Hennis-Plasschaert said the government met a key demand of protesters by scheduling early elections on June 6, 2021. She urged Parliament to decide the crucial questions o apportioning seats and delineating constituencies on technical grounds, not partisanship. U.S. political co-ordinator Rodney Hunter told council members the Trump Administration plans to announce $10 million in funding for the U.N. mission to bolster Iraqi efforts to hold free and fair elections. He said the U.S also recently announced nearly $204 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Iraqis and Iraqi refugees in the region and the communities hosting them, bringing U.S. aid to more than $706 million since Oct. 1, 2019. Iraqs prime minister met President Donald Trump last week and Hunter reiterated the administrations message that Iran wants to sow chaos and mistrust across the region, including in Iraq, and the United States will not allow that to happen. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky responded, telling the council Iran is not to blame for destabilizing Iraq. He pointed to the well-known position of president Trump who called the Iraq war `the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation. Polyansky said Russia is concerned about efforts to artificially increase tensions around Iran and said a collective security body in the Persian Gulf is increasingly in demand. WASHINGTON - An advocate of household voting in which husbands get the final say. A woman who has argued that school sex ed programs are grooming children to be sexualized by predators like Jeffrey Epstein. A candidate who has peddled in racist tropes and bizarre QAnon conspiracy theories. President Donald Trump has long surrounded himself with controversial characters who hold out-of-the-mainstream views. But the decision by the party to elevate some of those figures by featuring them in prime-time spots at the Republican National Convention or inviting them to witness this weeks events is drawing new scrutiny. Trumps comfort with the far-right fringe got uncomfortable for his party Tuesday. At the last minute, Republicans pulled a prerecorded speech by Angel Mom Mary Ann Mendoza from the program, after she fired off a now-deleted tweet directing her followers to a series of anti-Semitic, conspiratorial messages. Mendoza, whose son was killed in 2014 in a head-on collision with a drunken driver living in the U.S. illegally, had recorded remarks highlighting the presidents fight against illegal immigration. But her spot was pulled after the Daily Beast reported that she had promoted a thread from a QAnon conspiracy theorist that was rife with anti-Semitism and claimed the Titanic was sunk to kill opponents of the Federal Reserve. Mendoza, who has made frequent appearances at the White House and Trump campaign events along with other Angel Moms, apologized for the tweet, writing that she had retweeted a very long thread without having read every post and said it didnt reflect her feelings or personal thoughts whatsoever. But the campaign pulled the plug anyway. We have removed the scheduled video from the convention lineup and it will no longer run this week, Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. Republican Jewish Coalition executive director Matt Brooks applauded the decision, saying her views clearly disqualify her from addressing the convention. We are pleased that convention officials took prompt action to make sure the convention reflects who we are and our values as a party, he said. Not pulled from the schedule was anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson, whose past controversial comments have surfaced in recent days, along with questions about her journey from working at Planned Parenthood to her current advocacy. In May, Johnson advocated for something called household voting in which each household is given a single vote, and said that, if differences arise, women should defer to their husbands. In a Godly household, the husband would get the final say, she wrote. Johnson also posted a video on YouTube in June in which she said she would be fine with police profiling her adopted biracial son when hes older because statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offence over my white sons. One day hes going to grow up and hes going to be a tall, probably sort of large, intimidating-looking maybe, brown man, she said. So the fact that, in his head he would be more careful around my brown son than my white son, that doesnt actually make me angry. That makes that police officer smart because of statistics. The campaign did not respond to questions about how speakers had been chosen or whether they had undergone any kind of vetting. But Murtaugh said Trump strongly supports the sacred principle of one person, one vote, and thats why he is fighting so hard to preserve the integrity of our elections. For her part, Johnson fought back, tweeting: Pro-aborts are SO scared of my speech tonight that will pull back the curtain of the barbaric reality of abortion, they are scrambling to try to find anything to detract people from my message. Well, guess what?? You can dredge up whatever old tweets you want. Im still speaking. Trump has long courted controversy, retweeting videos and commentary that often draw outrage. And he has reveled in the backlash they have generated. Meanwhile, several speakers at the convention cast the Republican Party as welcoming of all viewpoints and condemned so-called cancel culture, which they argue stifles freedom of thought and imposes a liberal, elitist world view. Republicans have also accused the media of holding the president to a higher standard than Democrats, and some noted the Democratic convention, held last week, included an appearance by Linda Sarsour, an activist who has faced accusations of anti-Semitism. Trumps convention lineup has sometimes had the feel of a lower-profile conservative gathering, much like the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, which draws a wide range of ardent conservative activists and does not aim to appeal to a broader, more moderate audience. Mondays opening night, for instance, featured Rebecca Friedrichs, an elementary school teacher who railed in her remarks against teachers unions. In a July opinion piece in the Washington Times, Friedrichs argued that public schools groom kids for sexual predators like Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime companion, who stands accused of facilitating the abuse of girls by the now-deceased sex offender, by teaching them basic sex education. And then there are the invited guests. On Tuesday, Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican congressional nominee from Georgia who supports the QAnon conspiracy theory, revealed that she had been invited to the White House to attend Trumps marquee acceptance speech. Greene has a long history of bolstering the baseless pro-Trump theory, which 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. She has also made a series of racist, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic comments. CNN reported Tuesday that, before she ran for office, Greene promoted the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy and speculated that the deadly 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was an inside job. Trump has praised her as a future Republican Star. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Power Division Shahzad Qasim has assured complete support of the federal government for development of new hydropower projects in the country with involvement of private sector ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Aug, 2020 ) :Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Power Division Shahzad Qasim has assured complete support of the Federal government for development of new hydropower projects in the country with involvement of private sector. Speaking at 1st International virtual conference on Pakistan's hydropower sector, he appreciated the efforts of the organizers of the conference for providing a platform where all the relevant stakeholders of the energy sector gathered to adopt a viable strategy to develop and promote hydropower resource as a viable mean of clean power production in the country, said a statement issued here on Wednesday. He said that more such events should be held for finding viable solutions to resolve energy issues of the country. Managing Director of Private Power Infrastructure board (PPIB) Shah Jahan Mirza said that the PPIB had been facilitating construction of new hydropower projects in the country to the maximum possible extent so that funding for this renewable form of energy could be arranged from the international financing institutions. He said that the PPIB had also encouraged development of new energy projects in Azad Kashmir keeping in view its massive potential to produce electricity through its hydro resources. He said that owing to the contribution of the PPIB the independent power producers had been playing an important role in fulfilling energy needs of Pakistan. Gilgit-Baltistan Power Development Minister Muhammad Ali Khan said that the GB had the massive potential of producing up to 55,000 Megawatts hydroelectricity. There were 128 potential sites in the GB to install small hydropower projects, he added. Engineer Naeem Khan, CEO of Pukhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), said that the share of hydroelectricity in the energy mix of Pakistan was once up to 60 per cent as it was no more the case. He said that the provinces and federal government should join hands to alter the current energy mix of the country by increasing share of hydroelectricity. He said that increased reliance on hydroelectricity would also slash the fuel import bill of the country. He said that much effort had to be done to fully harness massive hydroelectricity potential of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Dr Tahir Masood, NESPAK Managing-Director, said that technology and technical resources for hydroelectricity projects should be locally manufactured in Pakistan. He said that local manpower for the upcoming hydroelectricity projects should be utilized for which proper training programmes should be conducted. Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Energy Minister Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik said that Punjab had the largest canal system in the country having massive potential to produce hydroelectricity. He said that small hydroelectricity projects should be developed in the country on a war-footing with involvement of private sector as it would generate sizable employment opportunities and also serve as an income resource for prospective private investors. He suggested formation of a joint action committee at the national level comprising of all the concerned stakeholders from the provinces and centre for expeditious development of hydropower projects in the country. Naeem Qureshi, chairman of organizing committee of the event, said that the conference had been organized with aim to provide a viable forum for all the concerned stakeholders to get assembled at one place, discuss, and find a way forward to promote and develop hydroelectricity resources in Pakistan in the best interests of energy consumers in the country. COO Mira Power Sultan Ahmed, Sr. Adviser China Three Gorges NA Zuberi, Director Projects Hydro PPIB Dr Munawar Iqbal, Manager International business K Water Resources and others also spoke on this occasion. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / "I'm extremely confident that self-driving cars or essentially complete autonomy will happen, and I think it will happen very quickly," Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a virtual speech to the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in July, 2020. Musk mentioned Tesla will have basic functionality for level-five complete autonomy this year. The self-driving vehicles is not just hot in Silicon Valley. In China, the largest automobile market worldwide, companies are also getting on board to develop autonomous driving technology, including China's internet search tycoon Baidu, also referred to as the "Google of China." Baidu has been developing the autonomous driving technology through its "Apollo" project (also known as open-source Apollo platform) launched in April 2017. Now the company announced the world's first production-ready compute platform specifically for autonomous vehicles is ready for application. Behind the self-driving: Machine learning and Data annotation Before we talk about the feasibility about self-driving and autonomous technology, let's make one question clear: how is self-driving possible? In a nutshell, a self-driving car should be able to sense its environment and navigate without human intervention. Self-driving vehicles depend on hardware and software to drive down the road. The hardware collects data and software processes it through machine learning algorithms that have been trained in real-world scenarios. Simply put it, it is machine learning technology that plays a vital role in the self-driving industry. Machine learning algorithms, sensors and graphics processing devices have integrated into a smart driving neural network, or "brain". First and foremost, the smart "brain" needs to learn image verification and classification, object detection and recognition, as well as traffic rules, weather conditions. Engineers "teach" these situations by feeding the machine learning models millions of labeled images to make it adept at analyzing dynamic situations and acting on their decisions. With the tremendous amount of raw data required for machine learning algorithms, and the need for accuracy, high quality data annotation is crucial to ensure that autonomous vehicles are safe to use for public. Going back to Tesla, this company uses cameras for visual detection, each car equipped with 8 surround cameras. If a Tesla user drives one hour a day on average, considering more than 750,000 Tesla cars around the world, about 180 million hours of video can be generated per month. Tesla Autopilot project has included 300 engineers plus more than 500 skilled data annotators. The company plans to enlarge the data annotation team to 1,000 people to support the data process. Elon Musk admits during an interview that data annotation is a tedious job, and it requires skills and training, especially when it comes to 4D (3D plus time series). A new solution for data annotation market It's becoming challenging for the machine learning and AI companies to internally meet the burgeoning demand of high-quality data annotation. ByteBridge.io has provided an innovative solution to empower the machine learning revolution through its automated and integrated data annotation platform. Built by developers for developers, ByteBridge.io has applied blockchain technology to the data processing platform where developers can create the project by themselves, highlight specific requirements, check the ongoing process simultaneously on a pay-per-task model with clear estimated time and price. In order to reduce data training time and cost when dealing with complicated tasks, ByteBridge.io has also built up the consensus algorithm rules to optimize the labelling system and improve the accuracy of final data delivery. Self-driving technology is going to transform the transportation industry, social and daily lives. It's hard to know when that day will arrive. But one thing for sure is that with top data service companies, such as ByteBridge.io, to fuel the machine learning and autonomous industry, the intelligent future is edging closer into reality. Contact: support@bytebridge.io Website: bytebridge.io SOURCE: TTC Foundation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603430/How-an-Automated-Data-Labeling-Platform-Fuels-Self-driving-Industry DALLAS, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ozarka Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, a part of the Nestle Waters North America family, has awarded two $10,000 scholarships and two $2,500 scholarships to four Texas students pursuing careers in environmental/earth sciences for the 2020-2021 school year. Ozarka established the "Every Drop Counts" Earth Science Scholarship Program in 2002, upon the opening of its bottling facility in Hawkins, Texas. Each year the company awards two annual $10,000 scholarships to qualified Texas students who wish to major in hydrogeology, or any other Environmental/Earth Science that focuses on water conservation and preservation at a four-year college or university. One award is statewide, and the second is designated to a Texas State University student. In addition, the company provides two 2,500 scholarships to students from the East Texas independent school districts where Ozarka has operations. The Wood County high school awards are given each year to two outstanding students graduating from Hawkins and Harmony High Schools who are pursuing degrees and careers in earth and/or environmental sciences. "Ozarka is committed to environmental leadership and innovation and we believe that environmental education is critically important for the future," said Ozarka Natural Resource Manager Trey Mixon. "This scholarship fund was created to help achieve the goal of preserving and protecting our natural environment through the leadership and creativity of promising young students such as the ones we've selected this year. Their interests and pursuits of careers in the earth sciences matches those of many of our own employees, whose daily jobs are to manage and maintain the health of our water resources and the surrounding lands that support our springs. We are very pleased to help these students fund their college educations." The statewide student winners selected this year include a bio-agricultural engineering major and a wildlife ecology major who is pursuing the study of aquatic ecosystems in Central Texas. Alexandra Thompson from Sugar Land, the winner of the statewide $10,000 award, is pursuing a Biological/Agricultural Engineering degree at Texas A&M University this fall. "It means so much to me that companies such as Ozarka are dedicated to the futures of students like me," said Ms. Thompson. "This scholarship will help fund my journey to Texas A&M University, where I will study to become an agricultural engineer. I hope to one day bridge the gap between agriculturalism and environmentalism to benefit both the Earth and our society." In continued partnership with The Meadows Center for Water & Environment, the second $10,000 scholarship was awarded to Matthew Stehle, a Wildlife Ecology graduate studies major, from Texas State University. "I am honored and very pleased to be the recipient of Ozarka's 2020 "Every Drop Counts" scholarship," said Mr. Stehle. "These funds will be extremely helpful in continuing my graduate studies and focusing on my research in local spring species as well as the ecosystem dynamics of spring systems. Through my research, I hope to aid in conservation of our endangered species and to elucidate the individual effects of certain ecosystem drivers using model systems." The winners of the two $2,500 awards were given to Macey Russell from Harmony High School and Zach Willard from Hawkins High School, near where Ozarka operates a bottling facility. Senior Macey Russell won the $2,500 award for Harmony High School and is pursuing her degree at Harding University. "Thank you so much for giving me this scholarship," said Ms. Russell. "This will assist me in pursuing my degree in Secondary Education at Harding University. I want to inspire teens with my story through teaching and coaching. I want them to know how much they are loved and how much potential they have. This money will help me do that." Hawkins High School senior and second $2,500 winner Zach Willard plans to pursue a career in engineering at Texas A&M Commerce. "It is truly a blessing to have companies and organizations like Ozarka in the community who recognize the value of supporting our students' future endeavors," said Tammy Bearden, Harmony High School College Counselor. "Education truly is the key to a brighter future for our students. The scholarships that are awarded help our students reach their post-secondary goals when sometimes it wouldn't be possible otherwise. The scholarship from Ozarka has helped Harmony students for the past 19 years to take that first step towards making their dreams a reality." Students interested in pursuing next year's "Every Drop Counts" Scholarship awards are encouraged to contact their high school counselor or college advisor regarding scholarship rules and guidelines. Next year's winners will be selected in summer 2021. About Nestle Waters North America Nestle Waters North America offers an unrivaled portfolio of bottled water brands for healthy hydration, including Ozarka Brand Natural Spring Water, Nestle Pure Life, Perrier, S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water. The company also owns and operates ReadyRefresh, a customizable water and beverage delivery service. Just Click and QuenchSM. 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 140 communities where we operate in the U.S. For more information, visit us at https://www.nestle-watersna.com/en follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @NestleWatersNA. Contact: Catherine Herter Ervin for Ozarka 512-632-5470 [email protected] SOURCE Nestle Waters North America Related Links www.nestle-watersna.com New Delhi: The normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened up lots of opportunities at a time when ties between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi are growing, external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said. India has welcomed the deal between the UAE and Israel, both key allies in West Asia, and also called for the resumption of direct talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership for a two-state solution. Referring to the normalisation of ties between the UAE and Israel, Jaishankar told Gulf News: When two strategic friends come closer it opens up lots of opportunities. India and the UAE, he said, have a fast growing relationship. He added: UAE is central to Indias extended neighbourhood. We see UAE on the crossroads of international trade. As Singapore is in the East, UAE is in the West. The report in the Gulf News stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally directed officials to give a new thrust to ties with the UAE after coming to power in 2014. Over the past few years, New Delhi has expended considerable diplomatic capital in improving ties with West Asian countries, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Saudi Arabia, and the relations now extend from energy security to security and defence cooperation, including intelligence-sharing and counterterrorism. The presence of some eight million Indian expatriates in West Asia has been a key factor in these efforts. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have also played a role in improving Indias ties with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), though differences remain on issues such as Kashmir. Jaishankars visit to the UAE while he was foreign secretary in 2015 helped him build rapport with minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash and gave a boost to ties, the report said. Modis team also sought to go beyond the perception formed about West Asian countries through a narrow focus on the Israel-Palestine issue or merely as sources of energy, the report added. In 2015, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the UAE in 34 years, and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was the chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations in 2017. During the past six years, Modi visited the UAE three times. Jaishankar said: It is a relationship where the highest leadership of both countries have invested goodwill and energy. As a result, you can see the transformation during the last five years. In his new book The India Way Strategies for an Uncertain World, Jaishankar has listed the UAE among the five countries that India must concentrate on while conducting its foreign policy. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. Company NMLS Identifier #2110672 Copyright 2021 Consumers Unified LLC. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. The U.S. nuclear industry, with a fleet of plants already outdated and a bit shabby, has never been able to recover from the markets inundation with cheap fossil fuels in the wake of the shale revolution. But now shale may be croaking its last breath any day now, nuclear has one foot in the grave, and carbon-neutral forms of energy production are more important than ever. Nuclear, despite all of its other highly publicized drawbacks, is a powerhouse (so to speak) of completely greenhouse gas emissions-free energy. The United States still holds its title as the largest producer of nuclear energy in the world, but that era is also coming to a swift end. Russia and China are adding nuclear energy capacity like nobodys business, and China in particular is on track to jettison to the top of the rankings. GlobalData Plc predicts that China will pass France as the worlds No. 2 nuclear generator in 2022 and claim the top spot from the U.S. four years after that, Bloomberg Green reported in June. But the ageing U.S. nuclear fleet could finally get some love as pressure mounts to build a green stimulus package for post-corona economic recovery in the United States. Presidential candidate Joe Biden has included a nuclear boost in his proposed energy plan, a major part of his platform. For years now, scientists have touted small modular nuclear reactors as a silver-bullet solution to the United States ageing and ailing nuclear energy industry. Bidens energy plan mentions them by name, saying that his pathway to 100% clean energy will include small modular nuclear reactors at half the construction cost of todays reactors. Related: U.S. Oil Exports To China Soar 139% In July But now, after years of promotion, some drawbacks to these safer, cheaper, and more efficient small reactors are beginning to emerge just as the industry starts to get off the ground. Nuclear advocates fret as first maker of small reactors encounters trouble, a Washington Examiner headline stated this week. The article tells the story of NuScale Power, an Oregon-based nuclear company, which is getting a rocky start as their first customers have asked to push back timelines and bristled at rising costs, which is a small enough story, but ultimately could set back the entire industry. The company expected to be the first in the United States to operate a small nuclear reactor is facing setbacks that have caused supporters to question whether the novel technology will ever realize its potential as a tool to combat climate change, writes the Examiner. NuScales first customer, Utahs Associated Municipal Power Systems, a group of small, community-owned utilities in six Western states, has pushed the date of operation of their first reactor from 2026 to 2029. The power group still needs these nuclear reactors to replace a closing coal plant, but not as soon as they had initially thought. These minor setbacks are one thing, but if the project falls through altogether, that could spell big trouble for the nuclear industry and for the adoption of small modular reactors. The setbacks are not fatal, Erik Olson, a Breakthrough Institute climate and energy analyst told the Examiner. But if this project falls through, that would be an enormous blow to the promised next wave of nuclear power. While NuScale is the first and therefore the most high profile of small modular reactor companies in the U.S., it is not the only one. There are a number of other small reactors in various stages of development, so all is not riding on NuScale. That includes California-based Oklo, which is building an even smaller, 1.5-megawatt advanced reactor that recently became the first nuclear design that does not use water as a coolant to have its application accepted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Its a new technology, and some bumps in the road are to be expected, but enthusiasm and excitement around these new projects are crucial for more widespread adoption. If things do fall through for NuScale, we can only hope that another company steps up with something bigger and better (or should I say smaller) to keep the momentum going and keep the United States from falling further behind in the global clean energy transition. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Southeast Texas residents in areas of Galveston and Port Arthur were ordered to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Laura strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday night. The storm is forecasted to make a landfall Wednesday night as a major Category 3 hurricane with winds of up to 115 mph on eastern Texas. The mandatory evacuation was signed Tuesday morning as the storm makes its way to Houston. The mandatory evacuations will be continued until Wednesday night, according to officials. They added that the storm has no certain path with heightened intensity. City services were suspended at noon local time. The state will be providing buses throughout the area for those residents who have signed up for transportation assistance. Galveston Mayor Craig Brown said early Tuesday that with the increasing strength of the storm and its uncertainties, they need to take precautions to protect Southeast Texas residents. "It's imperative that you make plans this morning to secure your homes and move you and your family to safety off the island," Brown was quoted in a report. Brown urged residents to secure loose items and leave the island immediately. He said to evacuation and leave with all family members and pets. Orange County, Texas officials also released a mandatory evacuation to its residents. The county said that first responders will not be able to travel once the winds reach 35 mph. Residents in Port Arthur, Texas were also under mandatory evacuation orders. Houston and Harris County officials advised residents to stay off the roads so people evacuating have access to the freeways. Local officials also said that residents in the path of the storm should fill up their gas tanks and generators right away. "People are going to be evacuated, either from Port Arthur, from Chambers to Galveston County, to the extent that is called for, to allow them to kind of get through on, going into Wednesday," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was quoted. Turner said Harvey was more of a rainy day, but this one would be a windy day. He added that they are certainly more prepared then they were three years ago. "We learned a lot from Hurricane Harvey but you cannot compare Harvey, with what we are dealing in this particular case," Turner said. Hurricane Laura Hurricane Laura's track keeps on changing along the Gulf Coast, which makes people guessing for days. Turner said he woke up on Tuesday to find Laura's track had shifted slightly west and closer to Houston. City officials said they do not expect Laura to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Strom Imelda. Both caused catastrophic flooding. But more winds are expected, which could bring a storm surge, structural damage, and power outages. However, the situation is made harder with the pandemic. Turner told residents to stock up of food, supplies, and PPE. Turner added that COVID testing might be suspended until after the storm. The city will also be not able to open mass shelters as it used to before. Check these out: US Gulf Coast on Alert as Two Tropical Storms Threaten Historic Blow Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Prepares 23 Counties for Hurricane Marco Warmest Waters on Earth are on Hurricane Marco, Laura's Path, What are the Dangers? Construction union LIUNA has pitched itself to the government as a partner in a resurrected LRT project built with a $3.5-billion mix of public and private cash. A high-level analysis done for the union explores a variety of options to pay the bill for light rail transit, including an infrastructure bank loan and $250 million in land development partnerships potentially with LIUNAs pension arm that could see condos built above stations and apartment towers spring up along the LRT corridor. But $1.2-billion in contributions from each of the federal and provincial governments still represent the best bet to make light rail a reality in Hamilton, said LIUNA vice-president Joe Mancinelli. My hope is the feds and the province get together and figure out a way to get this done, he said Tuesday, arguing the prospect of pandemic stimulus funding means the timing just couldnt be better for a federal contribution to the on-again, off-again LRT project. LIUNA asked its investment arm, Fengate Capital, to review light rail building costs after the Progressive Conservative government killed Hamiltons LRT project in the middle of construction bidding last December, citing budget estimates that had ballooned from $3.6 billion to $5.5 billion. An upset Mancinelli publicly questioned that claim, calling the LRT cancellation cowardly and vowing to investigate. The results of that investigation ended up in a confidential unsolicited proposal sent to the provincial Transportation Task Force studying how to spend $1 billion previously earmarked for the cancelled train. An overhead view of the Innovation Park, including the future site of the Hamilton LRT operations, maintenance and storage facility. Supplied artist's concept (That task force, which included a LIUNA appointee, recommended in March that the province fund either light rail or bus rapid transit in Hamilton. The province said Tuesday those findings will likely be made public in the fall.) The Fengate review assumes Hamiltons planned 14-kilometre LRT would cost about $3 billion to build, but differing financing and contract options peg total net present value costs between $3.4 billion and $3.9 billion. Mayor Fred Eisenberger said Tuesday LIUNAs assessment sounded not far removed from the all-in budget of about $3.6 billion approved by the former Liberal government. The Spectator was given a summary of the review, but does not have access to Fengates background research. The summary gives high-level estimates for theoretical cost-covering scenarios. Highlights include: $250 million in private construction cash in return for land development along the route; a low-interest loan of up to $1.1 billion from the Canada Infrastructure Bank; raising construction cash by giving investors a slice of fare-box revenue over 30 years; federal and provincial funding of $1.2 billion each; Year 1 operating and maintenance costs at $23.9 million. Mancinelli said he commissioned the research by Fengate which has a history of involvement in major public-private projects like hospitals in part to dispute the provincial LRT cost estimates that he argued are unfairly inflated. But he said LIUNA is also very interested in either joining a future consortium bidding on a resurrected LRT, or approaching the winning bidder to talk about building partnerships along the route. Thats a sensitive topic for advocates who want surplus LRT lands dedicated to affordable housing. Many have already expressed anger about developers gentrifying the transit route, pushing out low-income renters. Mancinelli said LIUNAs involvement would not preclude new affordable housing and the union-developer would be open to building new rental apartments on the route. You get more housing, and we get a long-term return. The LIUNA vice president said he has forwarded the research to Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna and discussed the options with Premier Doug Ford, adding he seems to have a renewed interest in the project. Fords spokesperson did not reply to a request for comment Tuesday. But the province has previously said its contribution is capped at $1 billion and Ford predicted earlier this month that resurrecting LRT would result in a massive tax increase for Hamilton residents. McKenna has called LRT Hamiltons only shovel-ready transit project with pandemic stimulus funding looming. She told The Spectator earlier this month the government is open to considering a LRT funding request. Despite the reviews findings, Mancinelli clarified LIUNA is not interested in pursuing a slice of LRT fare-box revenue in exchange for upfront construction funding. I think that is revenue the city will need for operations, he said. The province says it would have cost the city $1 billion to run the cancelled LRT part of an overall $5.5-billion project estimate that is still largely confidential. The Fengate review focused on building costs, but included a Year 1 annual operating and maintenance payment of $23.9 million for the private design-build-operate scenario. No explanation of that figure was available Tuesday. Several city councillors have vowed to oppose LRT if it is put back on the table, citing fears of a tax increase and cost overruns. Read more about: A cancer patient and his pregnant fiancee will finally be able to return home to Australia from Mexico, thanks to a strangers generous donation. Jay Morrow, a 34-year-old tradie with a fiancee, two daughters and another child on the way, was last year diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a cancerous tumour causing agonising pain that was cut from his liver, according to a Gofundme post. Following chemotherapy and radiation, Mr Morrow was told he was cancer-free, however earlier this year, he received a shocking blow when he was told the cancer was back. The GoFundMe was started to help get Mr Morrow to Mexico for life-saving treatments which arent offered in Australia. Amid the coronavirus pandemic he and his fiancee Bec Paton were granted permission to fly overseas. Jay Morrow was receiving treatment in Mexico, accompanied by his fiancee Bec Paton, but the two struggled to get home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Source: Facebook/Jay's Hope Through GoFundMe, the money was raised to send Mr Morrow to Hope 4 Cancer Centre in Cancun and his treatment has been documented on a Facebook page, titled Jays Hope. Posts indicate the treatment was going well. Due to the coronavirus pandemic with countries shutting borders and flights being cancelled, Mr Morrow and Ms Paton were left stranded in Mexico. His treatment is proving to be successful which is amazing news! He is doing great and has more tests in a couple of days to see if his tumour has shrunk even more! BUT sadly, its not all good news, the GoFundMe says. Him and Bec are stuck in Mexico and cant get home. Because of COVID-19 a lot of countries borders are closed and there's hardly any flights available unless they pay $20k per flight so 40k in total and pray that it doesn't get cancelled. Appealing to people on Facebook, a post on Jays Hope reaffirmed the $20,000 each for a flight was not in their budget. Fortunately, a generous stranger helped the couple out so they will soon be reunited with their two girls who are still in Melbourne. After seeing the couples story covered by Nine News a businessperson, who has remained anonymous, offered to pay for their tickets home and the couple were told the news on Triple M's Hot Breakfast with Eddie McGuire. Story continues Before finding out a stranger had offered to pay for their tickets back home, Ms Paton explained she only had weeks left to fly back home due to her pregnancy. Speaking to the Today Show, just minutes after the couple received the good news, Mr Morrow and Ms Paton expressed their gratitude towards the stranger. "There is no words for it. Everyone's been so generous trying to get me here, to get the treatment and then we had a GoFundMe page," Mr Morrow told Nine News. "We can put a stop to them now because of this amazing person." An anonymous person is helping out the couple, by paying for their flight back to Australia from Mexico. Source: Facebook/Jay's Hope Nine News reported the couple has a business class ticket booked to Madrid, before flying to Sydney where they will quarantine for two weeks in a hotel, costing an additional $3000. The. treatment Mr Morrow has received in Mexico seems to be working, and his doctor there is very optimistic he will soon be in remission, saying on Facebook his tumour has shrunk by 10 per cent. All my blood works are amazing. Tumour markers are down, a Jays Hope Facebook post said. Normally tumour grows before it shrinks in most patients but mine skipped that part and just started shrinking. As long as I continue a strict home program my Dr is confident I should be in remission in 30 to 40 weeks. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. UPDATE: The municipal budget was approved late Tuesday night by a 6-2-1 vote, with council members Rolando Lavarro Jr. and James Solomon voting no, and Yousef Salef abstaining. The Jersey City Council was poised to approve a $658 million municipal budget for 2020 Tuesday but still hadnt taken a vote after more than six hours of public comment and deliberations. The budget, which was revised earlier this month to fill a $70 million budget gap caused by the coronavirus pandemic, is set to be voted on during a special council meeting that started early Tuesday afternoon. The budget will keep municipal taxes flat but will cut $12.5 million from the Department of Public Safety and leave the Department of Youth Development and Recreation with 42% less money to spend. Numerous residents who spoke during the public comment portion of the special meeting scolded the council for hosting the meeting at 2 p.m. rather than the evening when meetings are typically held. Most City Council meetings are held Wednesday nights. Though rare, there have been previous council meetings held as early as 10 a.m. But speakers continued to bash the council and the mayor for only giving a four-day notice before the meeting as it was announced on Friday. The majority of the speakers also asked for the council to say no to the budget and reallocate funds from the Police Department for other services. Many showed support for Lavarro and Solomons proposal to reallocate the public safety money. Brian Long, a Ward C resident, said what needs to be asked is does this budget serves the city or the Police Department. This budget does not help the people of the city, especially those in the most vulnerable communities, Long said. Members of the council including the mayor love to say we can fund the police and the communities, yet time after time you defund the communities, you defund education, you defund youth service, but you always seem to fund the police. But not everyone was in support of cuts to the Department of Public Safety including Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association President Carmine Disbrow, Jersey City Fire Chief Steve McGill and former Jersey City police Detective and Old Bridge Councilman Mark Razzoli, who called in to speak against it. Now is the time to vote for this budget, McGill said. Now is not the time to tear down public safety. Now is the time to support it. The budget accounts for lost revenue and additional expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed the lives of 511 residents, pressuring officials to find $25 million worth of cuts and other savings measures. The citys spending plan increased by 7% from the $612 million budget that was proposed in January. The city has had to tap $7 million in surplus funds and account for a $10.2 million loss in miscellaneous revenue, including $4.9 million in lost hotel tax money and $3.1 million in lost municipal court fines. A citywide hiring and compensation freeze will save the city $5.5 million, with most of those savings attributed to a freeze on new police and fire recruits. On Monday, Lavarro and Solomon announced they were seeking to reallocate $5 million in Public Safety funds for social services and education. The funds they wanted to redirect is savings from police and fire retirements. But the proposal will likely not go far. Council President Joyce Watterman, Councilman at large Daniel Rivera and Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano told the Jersey Journal they planned to say no. Council members Yousef Saleh, Denise Ridley, Mira Prinz-Arey and Jermaine Robinson are still unknown. But Saleh and Robinson spoke about a need for more police in their wards during the Aug. 12 council meeting. The festival's two-week, rich programme will close with Amar singing an amalgam of his new hits and songs his fans memorise from the 1990s. The festival, dedicated to late Egyptian folk-dance icon Mahmoud Reda, saw a variety of art forms that included plays, film screenings, music performances from different genres in addition to workshops and master-classes. Amar, who released a religious album in May amid the Islamic season of the holy month of Ramadan, is gearing up for his summer release Leman Yahemoho El-Amr ("To Whom it may Concern"). Cultural events and activities in Egypt were resumed last month as part of phase one of the country's reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown. All events are being held under strict measures that include social distancing, obligatory masks, and sanitisation. Programme: Saturday 29 August , 9pm Bibliotheca Alexandrina- Arts Center, Alexandria For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Police in Niagara, Peel and Toronto are searching for a suspect in relation to fraud-related offences. Police are asking the public to help locate Ajay Aery, 27, who has ties to the Great Toronto Area and previously lived in Mississauga. A media release said Aery is aware he is wanted. The Niagara Regional Police central fraud unit began an investigation last December after a complaint that a local business was defrauded of more than $100,000. Aery is wanted by York Regional Police and Toronto Police Service on fraud-related charges. Anyone who may know the location of Aery is asked to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers. The NRP fraud unit can be reached by calling 905-688-4111 ext. 9245. File photo According to The PUNCH, many commuters were on Wednesday afternoon stranded along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as commercial bus drivers stopped operations. It was gathered that some operatives of the Lagos State Task Force had earlier stormed the Abule-Egba and Ijaiye areas in the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of the state. The task force officers were said to have been on enforcement duty when some unknown persons confronted them with dangerous weapons. It was learnt that the task force operatives shot at the hoodlums suspected to be transport workers and allegedly gunned down two of the hoodlums. The ensuing confrontation caused a scare as commuters and traders in the areas scampered for safety. The chairman of the task force, Yinka Egbeyemi, confirmed the incident but denied that his men gunned down any of the hoodlums. He said, Some hoodlums came in three buses to attack some of our men and we faced them. We got the information from the National Union of Road Transport Workers and our men confronted the hoodlums. We have also arrested them and they are in our custody. Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, proved abortive as his calls were not answered and he had yet to respond to a text message sent to his line as of the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, commuters were seen in their droves trekking to their destinations as danfo drivers refused to operate after the incident. A commuter, Lanre Obabiyi, told our correspondent that he started trekking from the Abule-Taylor Bus Stop and heading towards Salolo in Meiran. He said, I was so scared when I heard the gunshots that I had to run inside a bank at the bus stop. Other people also ran inside. We were all there for about 20 minutes before we came out. Right now, I started trekking from Abule-Taylor Bus Stop heading to Salolo in Meiran. Another commuter, Esther Bajulaye, said, I have been trekking from Abule-Egba and I am still going to Tollgate. This is causing unbearable pain and discomfort for commuters. The task force and the drivers should sort out whatever issues they have with each other. Dissidents Call on China's Confucius Institute to Allow Them to Speak on 1989 Massacre 2020-08-25 -- Chinese dissidents overseas have called on the head of a China-backed cultural institute at the University of Western Australia (UniWA) to allow them to speak about their experiences of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre that ended weeks of student-led protests around the country. Jiang Ying, head of the Confucius Institute at UniWA, told Australia's ABC broadcaster's Chinese network in a Aug. 19 discussion panel that she would welcome dissident cartoonist Badiucao and others to speak on politically sensitive topics like the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s armed suppression of 1989 protesters at the institute, which is ultimately controlled by China's State Council. Badiucao, along with 1989 student leader Zhou Fengsuo, massacre survivor Fang Zheng and Hao Jian, the cousin of Hao Zhijing who died in the crackdown, said in an open letter to Jiang that they welcomed her comments. "We welcome Jiang Ying's agreement to host events about the Tiananmen Massacre," the letter said. "We would like to help to organize and participate in the events and we believe it will help to ensure the nature of the events is objective and balanced." It said that while an understanding of the events of the spring and early summer of 1989 is crucial to an understanding of contemporary Chinese history, severe government censorship has left many Chinese students with scant knowledge of that chapter in the ruling Chinese Communist Party's recent history. "Events about the history of Tiananmen Massacre will not only benefit Australia's local students, as well as help many Chinese students in UniWA to open their mind and vision on one of the most censored topics in China," the letter said. It pointed to global concerns over Confucius Institutes as centers for Beijing's propaganda, that are embedded on university campuses around the world, spreading official censorship on sensitive topics like Tiananmen, Tibet, Taiwan, and the mass incarceration of ethnic minority Uyghurs in Xinjiang far beyond the country's borders. "Director Jiang and CI at UniWA must not become tools for inserting Beijing's censorship and propaganda in[to] Australia," the letter said. An employee who answered the phone at the UniWA Confucius Institute declined to comment, saying they weren't familiar with the issue. Repeated attempts to contact Jiang directly were unsuccessful at the time of writing. Badiucao said the activists wanted to hold her responsible for the pledge she made in public. "She should fulfill a promise made on ABC, an Australian broadcaster," he said, adding that he had contacted Zhou and Fang and drafted the petition with their help. "[The letter] was sent to the Confucius Institute and the University of Western Australia yesterday," he told RFA. "Almost a day has passed since then, and I still haven't received any response." Role of institutes The official website of the UniWA Confucius Institute describes it as forming a "bridge" between China and Australia. But Badiucao said the institutes play more of a restrictive role, extending Chinese censorship onto overseas college campuses. "The Confucius Institute's boasts are very hypocritical," he said. "That metaphor is so wrong; it's much more like an extension of China's Great Firewall." "The Confucius Institutes have implanted a lot of pro-CCP and pro-Chinese government content overseas," he said. "Many students who have been to their classes have said that there are three topics that can't be touched on: Tiananmen, Taiwan and Tibet." Fang Zheng, president of Chinese Democracy Education Foundation, who lost both legs under a PLA tank in June 1989, said he would take any opportunity to counter Chinese propaganda overseas. "We need to take any chance we get to tell the truth, because the CCP has been concealing it from its own people," Fang said. "Now, it's exporting that ideology via foreign propaganda, the United Front Work Department, and the Confucius Institutes." The UniWA Confucius Institute was established in 2005 and was the first Confucius Institute to be set up in Australia. The relatives of people killed in Beijing when Chinese leaders deployed PLA tanks and machine guns to end several weeks of student-led protests on Tiananmen Square in 1989 this year called on the Chinese government to make public its secret archives on the massacre. The Tiananmen Mothers' victims group has called on the administration of CCP general secretary Xi Jinping to make public government records from that time, and explain the chain of events that led to the deaths of their loved ones. The group, in an annual open letter to China's leaders, takes aim at the official silence surrounding the events of June 4 and the immediate aftermath, when hundreds, possibly thousands, died or were injured in the crackdown. Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Olivera Nikolic (Agence France-Presse) Kotor, Montenegro Wed, August 26, 2020 17:30 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40b04a9 2 News Montenegro,Kotor-bay,travel,destination,tourism Free Gliding across Montenegro's majestic, mountain-ringed Kotor bay, captain Ivan Gvido Krivokapic revels in the unusually tranquil waters of a destination that has become a tourist magnet in recent years. But any joy brought by the pandemic-triggered peace is tinged with anxiety about the economic future of a tiny country, which heavily depends on its tourism industry. Boat passengers will "probably never again experience such an empty bay and see all the beauties of our city," Krivokapic says wistfully on a picture-perfect summer afternoon, framed by the rocky mountain slopes that jut into the Adriatic's deep blue waters. Gone are the gargantuan cruise ships that have become a daily feature of Kotor's port and the tour groups that clog up the charming alleyways of the walled Old Town, steeped in history. And yet it is hard to feel at ease as fear mounts over the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, which is weighing heavily on the minds of voters ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday. "People are enjoying (the peace) but they are not happy, because the economic moment is crucial," said Branko Radulovic, who rents out apartments in Kotor. "We are now in some ways aware of how dependent we are on the summer crowds and chaos," he said. Tourism contributes to around a quarter of Montenegro's economy in normal times, and employs nearly 20 percent of the workforce. Economists say the pandemic has exposed the dangers of "putting all your eggs in one basket", revealing an urgent need to diversify an economy that otherwise rests on agriculture -- which accounts for 50 percent of GDP -- services and a small industrial sector. This summer, tourist arrivals and spending have plummeted around 90 percent compared to last year, according to official data. That is a bigger-than-expected drop and will likely send shock waves across the economy. According to the International Monetary Fund's latest forecasts, Montenegro is on course for its largest contraction -- nearly nine percent -- since its 2006 independence. Read also: Bali postpones plans to welcome international travelers in September Formerly 'corona-free' The governing Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which has been in power for three decades, hopes the uncertain future will sway voters to play it safe and stick with what they know in Sunday's polls. "Citizens could vote more out of fear and out of the need to preserve the status quo, so as not to lose their jobs, or any other income," said analyst Zoran Radulovic, editor of weekly news magazine Monitor. But the opposition is trying to capitalize on the concern, with critics lambasting the government for its handling of the crisis so far. The current pessimism is a bleak turnaround from just a few months ago, when Montenegro gleefully declared itself the first country in Europe to be coronavirus-free after a period of no new infections for several weeks. Infections then started to mount in July and have now reached a total of more than 4,300 cases and 80 deaths in the population of some 620,000. Desperate to salvage the travel industry, the government recently opened borders to top markets -- including Serbia and Russia -- which had been shut due to their high virus numbers. 'Too much vacation' Tourism operators are desperate for any help they can get. "It's wonderful that there are no traffic jams and that I quickly travel about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from home to work, but the price is too high," said the owner of a local travel agency in the coastal town of Budva, Danica Kazanegra Gregovic. Last year, the company, through leading global tourist operator TUI, brought 72,000 tourists to Montenegro, mainly from Western Europe, Nordic countries and Russia. This year, it has brought 300. In the coastal city of Tivat, only two planes are arriving daily -- compared to last summer's average of 50 planes and 9,000 passengers a day. Locals say they can't remember such a quiet season, even during a devastating 1979 earthquake, or the 1990s wars in former Yugoslavia. "This is currently at the level of a catastrophe," says Dejan Radjenovic, who works for his family's restaurant in Budva. Stefan Petrovic, a 29-year-old who manages a restaurant in Kotor, says young people are already struggling with high unemployment, at more than 18 percent, and low wages averaging just over 500 euros a month. "For us young people, who want to work and make money, this has not been pleasant," he told AFP. "This is too much of a vacation for us." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:20:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- German Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil defended on Wednesday the extension of the governmental short-time work allowance, which supports companies to hold on to their employees in times of economic difficulties, from 12 to 24 months. "We are dealing with the deepest economic crisis of our generation," Heil told the German radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, adding that the crisis would not suddenly be over at the beginning of next year. On Tuesday, the government agreed that employers who sign up for short-time work allowance by the end of this year could receive the benefit for a period of 24 months, extending the program until the end of 2021. Short-time work was the "stable bridge over a deep economic valley," said Heil on Twitter. The measure was certainly very expensive, but mass unemployment would be many times more expensive for the German state. Because the pandemic still continued but "challenges were changing," the government decided to extend and update its COVID-19 measures, according to a government decree published on Tuesday. The government also agreed to extend other COVID-19 aid measures for companies and employees. For example, state interim aid for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would run until the end of 2020 instead of end-August as previously planned. With the interim aid for SMEs, the government provided subsidies for fixed costs of up to 150,000 euros. In total, around 25 billion euros (29.5 billion U.S. dollars) were already made available, according to the government. In addition, the suspension of the obligation to file for insolvency would now be extended by three months until the end of 2020. Despite the economic slump caused by the pandemic, corporate insolvencies in Germany in the first half of the year dropped by 8.2 percent year-on-year, the credit agency Creditreform said in June. Enditem The sister of the Black man shot seven times in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, said her brother was "not treated like a human" by authorities as her family pleaded for peaceful protests on Tuesday. The appeal from the family of Jacob Blake, 29, came before two people were shot and killed and another was injured by gunfire shortly before midnight on the third day of protests, according to Kenosha police. Watch TODAY All Day! Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long. Blake's family, along with attorney Benjamin Crump, spoke to the media outside the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday afternoon. Crump said Blake has been left paralyzed from the waist down by the shooting, with his spinal cord partially severed and several vertebrae shattered. Blake's sister, Zietha Blake, expressed her anguish over her brother's shooting. "He was not treated like a human that day," Blake's sister said. "He was treated like some foreign object that didn't belong." The incident was captured on video by witness Raysean White, 22. An eyewitness told NBC News he heard officers yell drop the knife, but police havent said if they recovered a weapon. Crump said in a statement that Blake was helping to deescalate a domestic incident and when he went to check on his three children in the car, police shot him in the back. The only information released by police in Kenosha, a city halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee, has been that officers responded to a domestic incident at 5:11 p.m. on Sunday and "were involved in an officer-involved shooting." Julia Jackson speaks during the press conference in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse in Wisconsin on Tuesday. (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The family is demanding that the officers shown on the video be fired and the one who shot him be arrested. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave and the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office will decide whether to file charges, according to a statement by Attorney General Josh Kaul on Monday. Story continues Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr., held back tears on Tuesday as he spoke about the shooting. They shot my son seven times. Seven times. Like he didnt matter, he said. But my son matters. He is a human being, and he matters. After the second day of protests, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency early Tuesday and committed to doubling the number of National Guard troops in the city to 250. Blakes mother, Julia Jackson, gave an impassioned plea for justice for her son but also for the violence in Kenosha to stop. As I was riding here in this city I noticed a lot of damage. It doesnt reflect my son or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and destruction, he would be very unpleased, she said. Related: Blake, 29, was shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in a videotaped incident that has sparked protests. She encouraged everyone to examine your hearts amid the civil unrest. We need healing. As I pray for my son's healing, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, I also have been praying even before this for the healing of our country, she said. Police have referred requests for comment to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is conducting a probe of the incident. "The Wisconsin Department of Justice is vigorously and thoroughly investigating yesterday's officer-involved shooting in Kenosha. As with all investigations we conduct, we will unwaveringly pursue justice in this case," Kaul said in a statement Monday. In Central Massachusetts, in a town called Shrewsbury, in a body of water called Mill Pond, sits a small outcropping called Busta Rhymes Island. It is not known by any other name and yet, due to byzantine naming laws in the United States, it is not formally recognized as Busta Rhymes Island either. Not yet, anyway. The island was christened as such by local resident Kevin O'Brien. As The Boston Globe wrote in 2009: Kevin O'Brien answers the phone and cheerfully explains why, since 2005, he has maintained and named a tiny, nondescript island in honor of his favorite rapper. "It's a very small little island [with] rope-swinging, blueberries, and . . . stuff Busta would enjoy," he says of the 40-by-40-foot plot of land in a pond about a half-mile from his home. O'Brien, 27, describes himself as an independent user of the island, but at some point he'd like to take official ownership. He's consulted a lawyer to see about the state's laws of adverse possession, which dictate that if land isn't being taken care of, someone can maintain it continuously for 20 years and eventually be considered the property's owner. And truly: is there any doubt that Mr. Rhymes would enjoy rope-swinging and blueberries? Of course not. O'Brien still has 5 years to go until he can rightfully claim ownership of the island. However, there's still a catch: according to Atlas Obscura, "the byzantine restrictions surrounding naming a geographic feature state that they cannot be named after celebrity until five years after their death." There is a possible exception that could be made for names that catch on through "local usage," which is why O'Brien has been campaigning to spread the good word. He's started petitions, changed its name on Google Maps, and even got the island recognized on a dedicated episode of the popular 99% Invisible podcast. Clearly it's time to give Mr. Rhymes the recognition he deserves. Although there's something kinda cool and mysterious about an island that exists only a map, and not in a real life. Maps are weird like that. One Man Is An Island [99% Invisible] Busta Rhymes Island exists in Massachusetts on Google Maps but not in real life. Here's why. [Dialynn Dwyer / The Boston Globe] Busta Rhymes Island [Atlas Obscura] KENOSHA, Wis. - A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot to death during a third straight night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A protester takes cover during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis., during a third night of unrest following the shooting of a Black man whose attorney said he was paralyzed after being shot multiple times by police. (AP Photo/David Goldman) KENOSHA, Wis. - A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot to death during a third straight night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, about 15 miles (24.14 kilometres) from Kenosha, was taken into custody in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide in the attack Tuesday that was largely captured on cellphone video. The shooting left a third person wounded. I just killed somebody, the gunman, carrying a semi-automatic rifle, could be heard saying at one point. People watch as a group of protesters are dispersed from a park Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. Anger over the Sunday shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police spilled into the streets for a third night. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized the deployment of 500 members of the National Guard to Kenosha, doubling the number of troops in the city of 100,000 midway between Milwaukee and Chicago. The governor's office said he is working with other states to bring in additional National Guard members and law officers. Authorities also announced a 7 p.m. curfew, though protesters ignored it again Wednesday. Protesters marched past the intersection where two people were shot Tuesday night, stopping to gather around the spot where one person was shot, and to pray and lay flowers. Daijon Spann said he decided to join the demonstration because one of those killed the night before was a friend. I couldnt take it any more, he said. I couldnt just sit there and watch my friend die. Evers, a Democrat, issued a statement asking those who wanted to exercise their First Amendment rights to please do so peacefully and safely and urging others to "please stay home and let local first responders, law enforcement and members of the Wisconsin National Guard do their jobs. In this September 2019 selfie photo taken in Evanston, Ill., Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake. He is recovering from being shot multiple times by Kenosha police on Aug. 23. (Courtesy Adria-Joi Watkins via AP) A senseless tragedy like this cannot happen again, Evers said. As of early Thursday, the protests were mostly peaceful, in contrast to the violent clashes that marked earlier nights of protests. There were no groups patrolling with long guns as they had on previous nights, and protesters stayed away from a courthouse that had been the site of standoffs with law enforcement. In Washington, the Justice Department said it is sending in more than 200 federal agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The White House said up to 2,000 National Guard troops would be made available. The dead were identified only as a 26-year-old Silver Lake, Wisconsin, resident and a 36-year-old from Kenosha. The wounded person, a 36-year-old from West Allis, Wisconsin, was expected to survive, police said. A flower is seen near some police evidence paint around some blood where a protester was shot Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) We were all chanting Black lives matter at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `Thats not fireworks, 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, He shot someone! He shot someone! And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him, and then he started shooting again. Scott said he cradled a victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but I dont think he made it. According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the gunman walk past them and leave the scene with a rifle over his shoulder and his hands in the air as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. As for how the gunman managed to slip away, Sheriff David Beth described a chaotic, high-stress scene, with lots of radio traffic and people screaming, chanting and running conditions he said can cause tunnel vision among law officers. A motorist raises his fist in solidarity with a march protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Rittenhouse was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing Friday on his transfer to Wisconsin. The public defenders office had no comment. Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. Much of Rittenhouses Facebook page is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle. In a photograph posted by his mother, he is wearing what appears to be a blue law enforcement uniform as well as the kind of brimmed hat that state troopers wear. The sheriff told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that militia members or armed vigilantes had been patrolling Kenosha's streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. However, video taken before the shooting shows police tossing bottled water from an armoured vehicle to what appear to be armed civilians walking the streets. And one of them appears to be the gunman. People gather Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 to protest in Kenosha, Wis. Anger over the Sunday shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police spilled into the streets for a third night. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) We appreciate you being here, an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. Before the shooting, the conservative website The Daily Caller conducted a video interview with the suspected gunman in front of a boarded-up business. So people are getting injured, and our job is to protect this business, the young man said. And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, Im running into harms way. Thats why I have my rifle -- because I can protect myself, obviously. But I also have my med kit. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is Black, said in an interview with the news program Democracy Now! that the shootings were not surprising and white militias have been ignored for too long. A protester is helped after police used tear gas outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. Protests continued following the police shooting of Jacob Blake two days earlier. (AP Photo/David Goldman) How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks its OK? Barnes said. People treat that like its some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles. In Wisconsin, it is legal for people 18 and over to openly carry a gun without a license. Witness accounts and video indicate the gunman first shot someone at a car lot just before midnight, then jogged away, fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in on him. A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled, "two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds, and that dispersed people near him. A resident looks out from a doorway as protesters march past homes to demonstrate against the Sunday police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/David Goldman) The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired, Rosas said. Blake, 29, was shot in the back seven times on Sunday as he leaned into his SUV, three of his children seated inside. Kenosha police have said little about what happened other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. On Wednesday, three days after the shooting, state authorities identified the officer who shot Blake as Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Department. Sheskey shot Blake while holding onto his shirt after officers first unsuccessfully used a Taser, the Wisconsin Justice Department said. State agents later recovered a knife from the drivers side floorboard of the vehicle, the department said. The man who said he made the widely circulated cellphone video of Blakes shooting has said he heard officers yell, Drop the knife! Drop the knife! before the gunfire erupted. He said he didnt see a knife in Blakes hands. State authorities did not say Blake threatened anyone with the knife. On Tuesday, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blakes family, said it would take a miracle for Blake to walk again. He called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and for the others involved to lose their jobs. State officials have announced no charges. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Vice-President Mike Pence, speaking on the third night of the Republican convention, called for an end to violence in Kenosha and law and order on the streets of this country for every American of every race and creed and colour. But Pence made no direct mention of Blake or other Black Americans shot or killed by police this year. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden posted a video saying he had spoken with Blake's parents and other family members. What I saw on that video makes me sick, Biden said. Once again, a Black man, Jacob Blake, has been shot by the police in broad daylight, with the whole world watching. Elsewhere, the Minnesota governor activated the National Guard on Wednesday night to help quell unrest that broke out in downtown Minneapolis following what authorities said was misinformation about the suicide death of a Black homicide suspect. The unrest comes three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a nationwide reckoning over racial injustice. ___ Associated Press reporters Mike Householder in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin; Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee, Jeff Baenen and Amy Forliti in Minneapolis; Don Babwin in Chicago and Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, contributed, as did news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York. The NSW Bushfire Inquiry report has delivered to the people of this state a thorough analysis of the disaster that ran across much of last summer, destroying land and lives and exposing millions of people to unprecedented levels of air pollution. The NSW government should be commended for accepting in principle each of the 76 recommendations aimed at preventing a repeat of the disaster. Written between and within the lines on almost every one of the report's 466 pages is a glaring, unavoidable fact: climate change. Other factors played a role but authors Mary O'Kane, a former NSW chief scientist, and former deputy police commissioner Dave Owens make it clear the devastation wrought last summer was the result of extreme weather events that will only be more prevalent in the years ahead. The summer's fires were huge, intense and difficult to suppress. The inquiry heard that many were so big, and so extreme in their behaviour, that they just ripped straight through areas that had been subjected to earlier hazard reduction burns. They even burned across bare earth. Firefighters had been expecting a bad season but the severity of what they faced last summer took even them by surprise. The report sets out clearly the steps authorities and communities can take to minimise losses before and during an extreme bushfire season. As well as hazard reduction, which the inquiry found was "more likely to provide help than hinder", these steps include better communication and equipment, improved training and more research into fire behaviour and firefighting strategies. The report also says the government can push technology much further and use it to understand fires better and to identify and suppress them before they become unmanageable. The report calls for a public education campaign about the dangers of bushfire smoke and an air quality alert system to let vulnerable people know when they are at risk. More than 400 people died from exposure to bushfire smoke across eastern Australia last summer and about 4400 were admitted to hospital. In the midst of the crisis, real-time information about how polluted the air was outside proved far too difficult to access, leaving many NSW residents with no choice but to guesstimate the risk they were taking when they opened their front door. This is unacceptable in any country, but especially in a developed nation like Australia. (Natural News) The wave of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that swept across the American South and the West during the summer is showing signs of slowing. The U.S. became the first country in the world to confirm 5 million cases of COVID-19 on August 9. The grim benchmark seems to have acted as a wakeup call, however, with the countrys seven-day average falling by 21 percent to just 42,250 a day. As of August 24, Monday, the countrys average count of daily deaths slipped below 1,000 for the first time in a month. U.S. coronavirus infection rate slowing down Americas summer wave had been driven mostly by surges in cases in Texas, California and Florida the three most populous states which have since tallied more than 500,000 cases each. Now, while the daily fatality rates in these three states remain elevated, their new cases and hospitalizations have been decreasing. (Related: 18 States classified as coronavirus RED ZONES by White House Coronavirus Task Force.) Elsewhere in the country, the plateau in cases is also being felt. An analysis of COVID Tracking Project data by the Financial Times shows that the average number of new cases in 41 states has so far been lower in August than in July. The signs that the summer COVID-19 wave is subsiding has led some states to loosen the restrictions they had put in place in response to the surge. For example, restaurants in Floridas Miami-Dade County will now be allowed to have indoor dining again starting August 31. Meanwhile, New York removed five states, including summer surge hotspot Arizona, from its travel advisory list, easing restrictions on travelers from those regions. However, even as the summer surge slows down, troubling signs are coming from the Midwest, where the turnaround has been much slower. The seven-day average of new infections across the region had gone down at about 8.000 a day, only five percent below its peak in August. Of particular concern is Illinois, which now accounts for nearly one-quarter of new daily infections in the region. Meanwhile, a number of states in the region are also experiencing a fall in demand for testing. For example, the average number of daily tests in South Carolina has dropped by more than two-thirds since the start of August. According to the states director of public health, Joan Duwve, the drop comes because people are just kind of tired. Troubling signs in Americas Heartland The slower turnaround of cases in the Midwest region has led some experts and officials to warn that these states could lead a possible resurgence of the virus in the fall. In late July, the White House Coronavirus Task Forces Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx warned that the coronavirus was moving up into several midwest states because of vacations and other reasons of travel. Local government officials are also raising alarms. In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly said on Monday that the states infection rate was moving in an alarming trend in the wrong direction, confirming that it had now reached the grim milestone of reporting at least one case in each county. Kansas seven-day average for new daily cases hit 561 Monday, up from only around 100 in mid-June according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. Kelly also warned that clusters of cases were being reported at universities as college students returned to campus. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed that the state reported more deaths last week than in any other week battling the virus. Beshear stated that the state is seeing troubling signs and that cases could spike once again. More people are trying to get out of the quarantine than the health department has recommended, he said. The possibility of a fall surge in the Midwest has led health experts to warn that now is not the time to ease prevention measures. Last week, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), expressed concern that Americas heartland was getting stuck while other states were reporting improvements. That is why its so important for Middle America to recognize the mitigation that we talked about its for Middle America too, the Nebraskas, the Oklahomas, Redfield said. We dont need to have a third wave in the heartland right now. The U.S. currently has more than 5.7 million infections and around 178,000 deaths according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Follow Pandemic.news for more on how America is struggling against the coronavirus. Sources include: FT.com Edition.CNN.com 1 Edition.CNN.com 2 Coronavirus.JHU.edu This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. Bernard Fils-Aime was a left-leaning activist and a corporate cellphone tycoon, and inhabiting those seemingly contradictory roles was a mark of his commitment to his home country, Haiti. As an organizer of refugees in Miami, he fought for poor migrants fleeing poverty or political violence. And as a founder of Haitis first cellular network, he saw connectivity, which was previously out of reach for most Haitians, as an engine of democracy. Mr. Fils-Aime saw each role as a means of achieving the same goal: raising the voices of ordinary Haitians at home and abroad. Bernard recognized that and was able to do it, said Conor Bohan, the founder and executive director of the Haitian Education and Leadership Program, or HELP, a nonprofit that recruited Mr. Fils-Aime to its board. The suspected poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny underscores the dangers Russians face for speaking out against President Vladimir Putin. It's also a warning to those currently protesting for democratic change in neighboring Belarus. So long as Putin remains at the helm, Russia will continue to pose a serious threat to democratic values, in its periphery and beyond. A coherent strategy to confront this challenge will be essential for the next U.S. administration. It should include responding more directly to Putin's provocations, raising the costs for Russian misconduct and strengthening America's relationships with its NATO allies. The U.S. shouldn't rule out cooperation with Moscow in areas of mutual interest, but only when doing so demonstrably advances its own security. Above all, Washington must send clear signals to Putin about the kinds of behavior the U.S. deems unacceptable. The Trump administration's policies have instead been characterized by inconstancy. Since 2017, the U.S. has imposed sanctions against Russian individuals and some government entities for a range of actions, from conducting cyberattacks to meddling in Ukraine to poisoning a former Russian spy living in the U.K. Yet the impact of these measures has been blunted by Trump's resistance to tougher penalties, his acceptance of Putin's denial of interference in the 2016 election and his push to welcome Russia back into the Group of Seven club of industrial nations. More recently, Trump has refused to respond to intelligence assessments that Russian operatives paid bounties to Taliban fighters to kill U.S. troops. The U.S. should avoid a rush to judgment, but the president's willingness to side with the Kremlin's version of events, rather than that of his own intelligence agencies, is disturbing. At a minimum, the White House should suspend high-level communication with Moscow while it conducts a thorough investigation. If the deaths of American troops are traced back to Russian operatives, the U.S. should impose a cost that will make Putin regret those actions. Meanwhile, Washington needs to push back against Putin's efforts to divide NATO and subvert the U.S. political system. Military and diplomatic officials should remind their counterparts of America's capacity to retaliate if Russia attempts to meddle in this fall's election. The next administration should repair relationships with NATO partners and work with them on modernizing weapons systems. The U.S. should also reverse Trump's decision to remove some 9,000 troops from Germany, which has cheered Russia at the expense of allies' security. As during the Cold War, the U.S. should look for ways to manage tensions and reduce the risks of catastrophic escalation. Russia lacks the economic power to compete with the U.S., but it possesses the world's biggest nuclear arsenal and a larger military budget than any European country. Extending and strengthening the New START treaty, a bilateral arms-control agreement that's due to expire next February, is critical for the security of both countries. Seeking collaboration in areas of shared concern _ on climate change, say, or space policy _ would also make sense. Engaging with Putin, however, should not mean placating him. Consistent messaging, tougher deterrence measures and resolute support for allies are essential to a successful strategy. Continued drift will only embolden Putin and his operatives, to the detriment of America's security and the world's. This editorial appeared at the Bloomberg News and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency. The first Type 075 amphibious assault ship started its maiden sea trial from a shipyard in Shanghai on Aug 5. It finished its 18-day trial and returned to Shanghai on Sunday. HAI YAN/FOR CHINA DAILY Expert says 18-day voyage suggests good performance, sustainability of vessel China's first amphibious assault ship has finished an 18-day maiden sea trial and returned to its shipyard in Shanghai on Sunday, according to footage and photos published on Chinese websites. Video clips and pictures posted on Chinese news portals and military-themed websites showed the colossal vessel sailing back on Sunday afternoon to a berth at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a major shipbuilder under State-owned defense conglomerate China State Shipbuilding Corp. The top of its superstructure was blackened by smoke from the chimney, according to the posted materials. The ship, the first in the Type 075 class, started its first sea trial from the shipyard on Aug 5. The People's Liberation Army Navy and China State Shipbuilding Corp have yet to publish information about the sea trial. The move indicated that construction of the amphibious vessel has basically finished. Next, engineers will fix problems exposed during the trial and prepare for further trials. Wu Peixin, a military observer in Beijing who closely follows the PLA's hardware developments, said the fact that the maiden sea trial took as long as 18 days indicated that the first Type 075 ship must have carried out many tests and performed well in this voyage. Otherwise the trial would have ended much earlier. Another good sign was that the vessel is able to conduct long-duration missions and can sustain itself in such operations, Wu said. He speculated that it will not take long for the vessel to be delivered to the Navy. The first Type 075 vessel was unveiled in September at Hudong-Zhonghua, followed by the second such ship in April. Science and Technology Daily previously reported that the Type 075 is about 250 meters long, around 30 meters wide and will displace nearly 40,000 metric tons. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and South Korea have also developed and built modern amphibious assault ships. Cao Weidong, a retired researcher at the PLA Naval Research Academy, said the Type 075 will mainly be tasked with transporting and landing troops and weapons in hostile territory via landing craft or helicopters as well as providing air fire support. Such ships can play a leading role in anti-ship, ground target strike and landing operations, strongly boosting the Navy's long-range amphibious capability, according to him. Cui Yiliang, editor-in-chief of industry magazine Modern Ships, said that compared with the Navy's Type 071 amphibious transport dock ships that are capable of carrying only several helicopters, the Type 075 will be able to carry many more as well as a stronger force of landing craft, allowing the Navy to execute low-altitude, over-the-horizon fielding of a large quantity of troops. Furthermore, military observers are speculating about the research and development of the Type 076, which they expect to be the PLA Navy's next-generation amphibious platform that will be equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system and stealth drones. Branch stacking is one of the most unedifying, if not sordid, features of Australian politics. It is a fundamental tool of the factions evident in both Labor and the LNP. Labor has been at it longer, and is better at it. Indeed, Labor factions are more structured, disciplined and effective LNP factions are more amateurish and aspirational. You can be sure the practice is more widespread than just the major scandals that come to light from time to time, usually exposed on a get-even basis by another faction. You can also guarantee a degree of hypocrisy in those that openly condemn the practice while having benefited. Prominent Liberals Michael Sukkar and Marcus Bastiaan have become embroiled in claims of branch stacking. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Jesse Marlow The leadership of both parties has a record of ignoring the issue and/or denying it, reacting only, and only for as long as they have to, under the embarrassment and pressure of public disclosure. Their responses may deal, at the time, with the issue that has come to light, but will certainly not stop it into the future. The end game of branch stacking is simply power and influence for the individuals who drive it, and the factions they seek to build. Mostly, they aim to control the preselections of both members and senators, to control their voting, or to inordinately influence policy of the party. It is certainly not about ensuring better service to constituents, or necessarily good government. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Phosplatin Therapeutics LLC, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on oncology therapeutics, today announced the completion of an oversubscribed $18.4 million private financing round. Participation included new and existing investors, inclusive of family offices from the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific, and high net worth individuals. Robert Fallon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Phosplatin Therapeutics, commented, "The success of the financing underscores the breadth of our data from three different Phase I trials and the broad potential of our lead compound, PT-112, which is advancing through clinical development as a monotherapy, including in mCRPC and multiple myeloma, and in combination with PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibition. We plan to utilize the proceeds of this capital raise to complete Phase 2 development of PT-112, and our continued planning prior to launching intended pivotal trials." Phosplatin Therapeutics has raised $56 million in equity capital since inception, and receives milestone fees from its sub-licensee for Greater China. About PT-112 PT-112 is the first small molecule conjugate of pyrophosphate developed in oncology therapeutics. PT-112 promotes immunogenic cell death (ICD), or the release of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that lead to downstream immune effector cell recruitment in the tumor microenvironment. PT-112 represents a potential best-in-class small molecule inducer of this immunological form of cancer cell death, and is under Phase 2 development. The first-in-human study of PT-112 demonstrated an attractive safety profile and evidence of long-lasting responses among heavily pre-treated patients, and won "Best Poster" at the ESMO 2018 Annual Congress within the Developmental Therapeutics category. The novelty of its pyrophosphate moiety also results in osteotropism, or the propensity of the drug to reach the mineralized bone. This property is of interest in cancer types that originate in bone, or frequently lead to metastatic bone involvement, such as metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The first human clinical results in mCRPC were presented at the 2020 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. About Phosplatin Therapeutics Phosplatin Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical stage pharmaceutical company that holds exclusive global license to phosphaplatins, a family of small molecules rationally designed to circumvent the mechanisms of drug resistance and toxicity commonly associated with chemotherapeutic regimens. The company's lead candidate, PT-112, is a novel chemical entity under clinical development that exhibits a unique combination of properties, including immunogenic cell death and osteotropism. Clinical data generated to date across three Phase I studies have demonstrated single agent anti-cancer activity and an attractive tolerability profile. The company's research and development work to date has spanned fifteen countries and been funded by private investors and family investment offices in the United States, Europe and Asia, along with a sub-license agreement for the development, commercialization and use of PT-112 in Greater China. The company also is sponsoring an ongoing clinical study of PT-112 in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab under a collaboration agreement with Pfizer and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (operating as EMD Serono in the US and Canada). CONTACTS: Phosplatin Therapeutics Taylor Young Senior Director of Strategic Development Tel: +1 646 380 2441 Email: [email protected] Westwicke, an ICR Company Investors: Stephanie Carrington Tel: +1 646 277 1282 Email: [email protected] Media: Mark Corbae Tel: +1 203 682 8288 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Phosplatin Therapeutics Related Links http://phosplatin.com New Delhi, Aug 26 : Setting the stage for a major expansion amid the pandemic, leading digital payments service Paytm on Wednesday said it is in the process of hiring over 1,000 engineers, data scientists, financial analysts among other positions for tech and non-tech roles. Paytm in April announced to hire over 500 people for multiple roles, aside from continued hiring in product and technology and the current move is to ramp up recruitments for expanding its financial and wealth management services. Other than tech and non-tech hires to fill positions across its operations in New Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Mumbai and Bengaluru, Paytm said it is also bringing in over 50 senior-level executives in Vice President and above roles to bolster its leadership. "We are building India's largest consumer internet and financial technology platform that requires more talent," Narender Yadav, Vice President Paytm, said in a statement. "This year, we are aiming to add additional 1,000 colleagues to our different business verticals to build and scale the innovative products for the masses." Paytm said it continued with interviews as well as inductions of new joinees even during the lockdown. From April 2019 to date, the company said that while around 20 senior executives exited Paytm, over 140 have been hired for leadership roles in vice-president and above positions. The company recently also announced the setting up of its largest campus in Noida, Uttar Pradesh to accommodate its growing team. The 5,000-seater office is spread across 5.5 lakh square feet of space comprising 21 floors. In April, Paytm announced to offer Rs 250 crore in ESOPs to high-performing employees and new hires this year. Witnessing rapid growth in its financial services vertical, Paytm said it will hire over 500 people for multiple roles, aside from continued hiring in product and technology. PARIS (Reuters) - France is joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean amid a worsening dispute between Turkey and Greece over energy resources in the region, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday. Tensions between Turkey and Greece escalated after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis survey vessel to disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a move Athens has called illegal. "The eastern Mediterranean is turning into an area of tension. Respect for international law must be the rule and not the exception," Parly said on Twitter, adding that it "should not be a playground for the ambitions of some." Three Rafale fighter jets and a warship equipped with a helicopter will be part of the joint military exercises, she said. Relations between France and Turkey have soured in recent months over Ankara's actions in NATO, Libya and the Mediterranean. President Emmanuel Macron has called for the EU to show solidarity with Greece and Cyprus in the dispute over natural gas reserves off Cyprus and the extent of their continental shelves and pushed for further sanctions at EU level, although there are divisions in the bloc over the issue. Germany has sought to mediate between the Ankara and Athens. On Tuesday their respective foreign ministers said they wanted to solve the matter through dialogue following talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. However, each warned that they would continue to defend their rights in the region. "Our message is simple: priority to dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy so that the Eastern Mediterranean becomes an area of stability and respect for international law," Parly said. (Reporting by Tangi Salaun; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Hugh LawsonM, William Maclean) Representative Image Four out of five individuals arrested in a new e-sim phishing are from Jharkhand's Jamtara district, which is notorious for cyber-crime. Faridabad police suspect the phishing racket was used to access over 300 accounts at state-run and private banks across five states Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand, according to a report by The Indian Express. The fifth individual arrested, who is from Punjab, allegedly orchestrated the scheme. He previously worked with a telecom company and a digital payments company, a source told the paper. The police said many transactions ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 99,000 were made, the report said. The target was often ICICI Bank, and Airtel numbers were used to carry out the scam. Also read: Is behavioural biometrics the answer to social engineering scams? "The case is unique, with the use of e-SIMs as the main conduit and with preliminary investigations establishing procedural infirmities and lack of due diligence on the part of banks and telecom companies," O P Singh, Commissioner of Police, Faridabad, told the publication. The report said the fraud is conducted by calling customers to obtain their OTP and email address, and then convert their SIM card into an e-SIM. The police said the accused have confessed to controlling the victims' bank accounts through the e-SIM. The funds were transferred into mobile wallets on services on PhonePe, Ola Money, Paytm Payments Bank and Airtel Payments Bank. "In addition to an OTP which is sent to his/her registered mobile number with us, the customer needs to enter the ATM PIN. Unless customers share this information it is not possible to login into their internet banking account. On a regular basis, we communicate to our customers to not share PIN, passwords or OTPs with anyone. Further, we would like to state that a bank cannot be held responsible for a SIM SWAP fraud," an ICICI Bank spokesperson told The Indian Express. A PhonePe spokesperson said the company complies with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) guidelines on fraud prevention. "We are awaiting more details on the specifics of the allegations being referred to in this case. We would also like to state that for PhonePe wallets, we are fully compliant with the requirements of KYC verification. PhonePe continues to be a safe and trusted platform for over 23 crore users across the country," the spokesperson said. Faridabad police have issued summons to Paytm, ICICI Bank, and others, even seeking documents to assess if there were procedural lapses, the report added. Airtel, Paytm and Ola Money had not yet responded to queries sent by The Indian Express. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, however capable, has not had a smooth sailing in office from Day One. Erstwhile National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to forgive him for breaking ranks and forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with unlikely partners, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress. Time and again attempts have been made, and continue to be made, to topple his government. However, Uddhav Thackeray has stunned large sections by his maturity, sanguinity and measured discourse in handling the COVID-19 crisis. In the process he has even charmed his detractors and earned brownie points with people who had previously not supported the Shiv Sena. However, the BJP is in no mood to relent. Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been at the forefront attacking the Thackeray government. After several statements that the MVA government would fall, the BJP sought to turn the heat on Uddhav Thackeray after two sadhus were lynched by a mob in Palghar after they were suspected of kidnapping children. However, when some of the mobsters were alleged to be affiliated with the BJP, the allegations against the Thackeray government died down. Now there seems to be an attempt to target Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackerays son and a minister in the state government. The campaign resonates with how the BJP has attempted to malign Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. There are many reasons for such an attempt. Unlike his father and grandfather, Aaditya Thackeray is not only the first Thackeray to go to college but also the first to contest an election. Plunging into electoral politics at a young age (he is 30 years old) gives the young Thackeray a lot of political credibility, and longevity. The Shiv Sena might have recently admitted that it made a mistake in mixing religion with politics, but, it certainly have not eschewed certain ruffian ways that it deems necessary to retain its voter base in some sections of society. To this Aaditya Thackeray brings a suave and sophisticated personality with which the party is trying hard to attract voters in the tony areas of the metropolis, and Bollywood is crucial to that campaign. Like his grandfather Bal Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray is also enamoured of Bollywood and its glitterati. In addition to being voted as the most suave young politician, Aaditya Thackeray has been able to hold his own in three languages, English, Hindi and Marathi something that could never be said about his father and uncle Raj Thackeray, but perhaps Bal Thackeray, a product of a British education who was quite fluent in at least English and Marathi, if not Hindi. The BJP having come up against the wall with regard to his father, who is backed by NCP chief Sharad Pawar, have turned to Aaditya Thackeray in the hope that some of the dirt thrown on him will eventually stick. When his book of English poems came out in 2007, the BJP, then in alliance with the Shiv Sena, ridiculed him for not knowing enough Marathi and choosing English as a lingua franca when his grandfather's party was clearly set up for the Marathi manoos. Aaditya Thackeray managed to overcome that handicap, but when his father hired a PR agency to build his brand ahead of the 2019 elections, he upset many Shiv Sainiks rooted to the ground and unfamiliar with brand building. However, Aaditya Thackeray has succeeded in blending the modern with the traditional and this has got the BJP worried after all, there is hardly any youth leader worth their salt in Maharashtra, and children of other prominent politicians have often failed to make the cut. Now, while Rahul Gandhi was declared as a prince or a reluctant politician, or even labelled imbecilic, his rivals have not been able to link him to unsavoury elements. Aaditya Thackerays obsession with Bollywood and his interactions with those who may be related to the Sushant Singh Rajput case has given his rivals a stick to beat him with. It has been over two months now, and while none of the investigating authorities have been able to pin anything on to the young Thackeray, hopes remain eternal for those who are targeting the Thackerays. Three parties ruling with equanimity and no overt signs of conflict worries the BJP immensely. Political arithmetic compels the BJP to target the Thackerays because it is only the Shiv Sena that is in a position to increase its voter base. The NCP and the Congress are stagnant as of now. If the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine continues, it will relegate the BJP in Maharashtra to the margins, because together the three parties cover large swathes of the political spectrum. The BJP cannot allow that to happen and Aaditya Thackeray's obsession with Bollywood could be the chink in the armour they are looking for. India's novel coronavirus tally rose to 32.34 lakh on Wednesday with 67,151 more people testing positive for the infection, while the recoveries have surged to 24,67,758, the health ministry said. IMAGE: Medics and hospital staff applaud as patients who recovered from COVID-19 prepare to leave Krishna Hospital in Maharashtra's Karad. Photograph: PTI Photo The death toll from the pathogen climbed to 59,449 with 1,059 more fatalities. The recovery rate rose to 76.30 per cent with 63,173 more people having recuperated, while the case fatality rate has declined to 1.84 per cent, the ministry said. There are 7,07,267 active cases of the coronavirus disease, comprising 21.87 per cent of the total 32,34,474 infections, the ministry data stated. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 3,76,51,512 tests have been conducted so far, including 8,23,992 samples on Tuesday. IMAGE: A medic wearing PPE kit while collecting samples for COVID-19 tests in Bengaluru. Photograph: PTI Photo Of the 1,059 more deaths, 329 are from Maharashtra, 148 from Karnataka, 107 from Tamil Nadu, 92 from Andhra Pradesh and 72 from Uttar Pradesh. Fifty-eight people succumbed to the infection in West Bengal, 49 in Punjab, 20 in Gujarat, 19 in Madhya Pradesh, and 17 each in Delhi and Jharkhand. There were 15 more fatalities in Chhattisgarh, 14 in Jammu and Kashmir and 13 in Rajasthan, while 10 people each died due to the contagion in Telangana, Kerala and Haryana. Goa and Odisha registered nine deaths each, followed by eight each in Assam and Puducherry, six in Uttarakhand, and five each from Tripura and Bihar. There were three more deaths in Chandigarh, two each in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Manipur, and one each in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. IMAGE: Workers set up beds in a gallery of Kishore Bharati stadium for a makeshift COVID-19 care centre in Kolkata. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI Photo Of the total 59,449 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum of 22,794 followed by 6,721 in Tamil Nadu, 4,958 in Karnataka, 4,330 in Delhi, 3,460 in Andhra Pradesh and 3,059 in Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat registered 2,928 fatalities, followed by 2,909 in West Bengal, 1,265 in Madhya Pradesh. A total of 1,178 people have died in Punjab, 980 in Rajasthan, 780 in Telangana, 638 in Jammu and Kashmir and 623 in Haryana. There were 519 coronavirus deaths in Bihar, 428 in Odisha, 347 in Jharkhand, 260 in Assam and 244 in Kerala. Chhattisgarh reported 221 fatalities, followed by 213 in Uttarakhand, 172 in Puducherry, 157 in Goa and 83 in Tripura. IMAGE: A health worker collects swab sample from a woman for COVID-19 test at Civil Hospital in Ranchi. Photograph: PTI Photo Forty people died from the pathogen in Chandigarh, 37 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 30 in Himachal Pradesh, 24 each in Ladakh and Manipur. Nagaland registered nine deaths, followed by eight in Meghalaya, five in Arunachal Pradesh, three in Sikkim and two in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said, adding that state-wise distribution of figures was subject to further verification and reconciliation. Washington, Aug 26 : NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps is set to become the first Black woman to serve as an International Space Station (ISS) crew member after the US space agency assigned her to a 2021 mission aboard Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. Epps will join NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada for a six-month expedition to the orbiting space laboratory, the US space agency said on Tuesday. The first operational crewed flight of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft planned for 2021 will follow NASA certification after a successful uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 and Crew Flight Test with astronauts. The spaceflight will be the first for Epps, who earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 1992 from LeMoyne College in her hometown of Syracuse, New York. Epps was originally supposed to fly into orbit aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft two years ago which would have made her the first Black astronaut to serve as ISS crew member. However, she was removed from the assignment at the last minute without an explanation. NASA astronaut Victor Glover could become the first Black astronaut to serve as a crew member of the International Space Station as he is assigned to the SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft's first operational mission to the ISS planned for later this year. NASA assigned Cassada and Williams and to the Starliner-1 mission in August 2018. The spaceflight will be the first for Cassada and third for Indian-origin Williams, who spent long-duration stays aboard the space station on Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33. Congress interim chief will speak to the Chief Ministers of the Congress ruled states and also the Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Maharashtra on Wednesday to discuss the pending (GST) share, and the NEET and JEE examination issue. According to Congress sources, the meeting will be chaired by through video conferencing, in which Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Puducherry CM V. Narayanasamy along with the West Bengal and Maharashtra Chief Ministers will be present. The meeting comes a day ahead of the meeting of the GST Council on Thursday. According to Congress sources the opposition Chief Ministers are expected to discuss a joint effort to pressurise the government to postpone the exams at a time when the country is battling a surge in Covid-19 cases. The source said the agenda of the meeting also includes compensation to states who have reported a loss of revenue because of the GST in the time of the pandemic. --IANS aks/dpb/bg (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.) (Photo: Here's Why You Can Plan A Trip To Vietnam In The Post-Pandemic Times) When the world looked to Asia for successful examples in handling the novel coronavirus outbreak, much attention and plaudits were paid to South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. But there's one overlooked success story -- Vietnam. The country of 97 million people has not reported a single coronavirus-related death and had just 328 confirmed cases as per the latest reports, despite its long border with China and the millions of Chinese visitors it receives each year. Well, before the pandemic had hit the world and brought traveling to a pause - Vietnam has always been a favorite destination amongst backpackers and luxury travelers from all across the world. From foodies and beach hoppers to art and culture buffs and adventure seekers, this country never failed to mesmerize its visitors. With its 3,000 kilometers of tropical coastline, lip-smacking food, and enthralling culture, this amazing country is waiting to be explored by the travelers once the pandemic gets over. To put it in the words of the Lonely Planet: "Unforgettable experiences are everywhere in Vietnam" - and if you are wondering why you should also consider traveling to Vietnam, then here are 10 reasons to convince you for a much-needed trip to Vietnam in the post-corona era! 1) Controlled COVID like no other nation! Guess that's a good enough reason to consider traveling to Vietnam - because I'm sure all of us are going through this fear psychosis of 'What will happen if we travel...?' and procrastinating with the thoughts of exploring a far off destination. So how has Vietnam seemingly bucked the global trend and largely escaped the scourge of the coronavirus? The answer, according to public health experts, lies in a combination of factors, from the government's swift, early response to prevent its spread, to rigorous contact-tracing and quarantining and effective public communication. Once the international borders open up and flights start operating, it will surely be a good idea to head to the East and experience the beauty of Vietnam. 2) Breathtaking landscapes. Be it the towering mountain ranges in the north (Sapa), lined with lush forests, footed with lakes, rivers, and terraced rice fields, or the turquoise waters surrounding the island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam is nothing less than a paradise! The country is home to a few of the biggest natural caves in the world (in Dong Hoi), and stunning national parks such as Cuc Phuong (around the town of Ninh Binh). Then there are limestone towers and cliffs in the immense Ha Long Bay that is marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The beauty of nature will keep you mesmerized throughout, and you probably will not be able to get enough of it. In addition, if you thought that is it, then let me tell you about the sand dunes in red and white hues covering Central Vietnam and attracting curious travellers to the town of Mui Ne. Honestly, your eyes will always be up for a treat - no matter in which part of the country you are! 3) Heartwarming history & richness of the local culture. Each place has a unique culture - and for travelers like us, it's always a fascinating thing to indulge in understanding the past of the nation and how it has shaped the present. Vietnam's history dates back to nearly 2000 years. The culture shows Chinese, Khmer, and Indian influences, as well as effects from the French colonialism. The Vietnam War of the 1970s immensely affected the nationals. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels to get an inside look at what the war was like for many soldiers. During my trip to Vietnam, I took a day trip to Cu Chi from Saigon and it was indeed an inspiring journey as we listened to all those stories told by our guide. There are many war museums as well, where you can get to know more about the dark days that the nation has seen. Whether you are a history buff or not, the stories of their past will surely touch your soul. Many NGOs and international organizations provide support to the underprivileged families affected and are still suffering because of the war. We visited a couple of artisan's villages on our way to Cu Chi Tunnels and saw how people with special needs are engaging in various kinds of handicrafts, with the help of volunteers. 4) Cuisine that'll take your tastebuds on a joyride! Pho noodles, Spring rolls, and Bun Cha might be familiar to you, as they may be available in your country. But Vietnamese food goes beyond that and varies by region with different types of fresh vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood. Culinary adventurers are fond of exploring the foods available on the street, whereas high-end customers often take meals in luxury colonial restaurants. If you are keen on learning how to make a perfect bowl of Pho, then you can attend one of the many cooking classes in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. You cannot skip those street food stalls & eateries at the night market - because they serve the best food in the world! When you are planning out your things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, make sure to add a stop for lunch at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa in your checklist - they have the best banh mi in store for you! 5) Coffee, like nowhere else! If you're a lover of freshly brewed coffee - then Vietnam will never disappoint you! Vietnam is the 2nd leading producer of coffee worldwide - and their variety of beans will leave you spoiled for choices! You could either be sitting on small plastic stools in a streetside local cafe or by the window in a fancy modern coffee shop, you just cannot miss out on the locals bonding over ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk), ca phe da (iced black coffee), and cigarettes. Sitting with your perfect dose of caffeine, you can simply watch life going by - and that would surely make you fall in love with Vietnam. 6) Friendly and hospitable locals. Whether it's your Airbnb host or the streetside vendor, your guide or the barista you meet at a coffee shop - you'll always be greeted with a warm smile and there are high chances that people would wanna strike a conversation with you. Well, that's how the Vietnamese are - extremely friendly. In spite of the terrifying past that they've lived through, the positive vibes and the indomitable spirit of the people is definitely worth admiring. 7) One of the most budget-friendly destinations in the world! Last, but not the least - affordability is a main factor while we plan a trip and when it comes to Vietnam, you definitely shouldn't worry about burning a hole in your pocket - 'coz it's one of the most budget-friendly destinations in the world! And with increasing dependence on the tourism industry for their economy, the Vietnamese have set up their country to be as travel-friendly as possible. No matter whether you are a college student who's looking for a gap year abroad or a meaningful volunteering opportunity in Vietnam, or a solo traveler planning for an extensive backpacking journey across Southeast Asia - or maybe considering a family holiday where everyone gets to experience something incredible - you can surely consider visiting this part of the world. A developing country that has shown its brilliance in strategizing during the war against the pandemic - there's surely no reason to hold back your desires of traveling - and you can start planning a trip to Vietnam once things start looking better. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Luis Grandison, a Black Latino who was a Spanish-language horse-racing announcer for over 25 years, alleges in a lawsuit that the New York Racing Association paid him a fraction of the salary of white broadcasters because of his race and ethnicity. Grandison was paid $60,000, while his white counterparts were paid more than double that amount for doing less work, the federal lawsuit alleges. Tom Durkin, a white English-language announcer, was paid $440,000 before retiring in 2014, and Larry Collmus, also a white English-language announcer, was paid over $200,000 before leaving the job earlier this year, according to the lawsuit. John Imbriale, Collmus replacement, also earns over $200,000 to call thoroughbred races, according to the lawsuit. One of Grandison's attorneys noted that the horse racing heavily relies on a Latino workforce. Latinos are a significant part of the racing industry, both as track workers and as racing fans," Gianfranco Cuadra told the Times Union Wednesday. "This race discrimination lawsuit is important for the Latino community. Grandison was born and raised in Panama, and he was a horse race caller there before moving to the United States in 2009. He became a NYRA announcer in 2014, earning around $32,000 a year, the court papers state. 3 1 of 3 SKIP DICKSTEIN Show More Show Less 2 of 3 SKIP DICKSTEIN Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Grandison called races in Spanish at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course. When he first worked as an announcer with NYRA, the racing organizations then-president and CEO Chris Kay said in a press release that they were thrilled to hire a talented and enthusiastic individual like Grandison. Kay said Grandisons hiring would help enhance and personalize the guest experience for our Spanish speaking fan base. Years later, Grandison approached his direct supervisors about raising his salary, explaining that it was far too low for a race caller in the United States, the lawsuit states. Grandison explained how, unlike Durkin and Collmus, he had to work during the winter months and was tasked with more duties, such as presenting on NYRAs YouTube channel and posting regularly on Facebook and Twitter. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. His supervisors, Eric Donovan and Antoine Allevato, denied him a raise and asked that he not approach Kay about the matter, according to the lawsuit. Grandison tried again two months later, and Donavan again said no, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit states NYRA furloughed Grandison in March 2020, then terminated his employment on June 3, 2020. The discrimination suit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. A NYRA spokesman released a prepared statement arguing the organization has "the most diverse broadcast and TV team in the sport of horse racing today, and maintains a fair and equitable workplace for all employees." The statement goes on to say NYRA faces "financial challenges" brought on by business interruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. "As a result, NYRA was forced to restructure its workforce to sustain essential operations and safeguard the future of the sport in New York." Outdoor seating is shown at la Llorona Restaurant on West Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. Philly restaurants will be able to reopen at 25% capacity on Sept. 8. Read more The restaurant industry has been devastated by the pandemic and it will be among the slowest to recover. In Pennsylvania, the National Restaurant Association reported that through the end of May, 91% of Pennsylvania operators had laid off or furloughed employees, equaling 332,000 jobs lost since March. Supplementing that staggering figure, restaurant operators have consistently reported a decline in sales since March losing $1.8 billion in April alone with 86% of operators reporting its unlikely their establishment will be profitable within the next six months, assuming there will be no additional relief packages from the federal government. READ MORE: Philly restaurants got the green light for indoor dining at lower capacity. Do owners think its worth it? By his own words citing bar and restaurants patrons annoying carelessness and through his own actions, Gov. Tom Wolf has targeted the restaurant industry, blaming it for spikes in Pennsylvania COVID-19 cases. According to a July study by personal finance company WalletHub, Pennsylvania was the third most restrictive state in the country when it comes to restaurant reopening, with only California and New Jersey having more stringent requirements. Whats really telling is that of the eight categories reported from the WalletHub study, Pennsylvania ranks between 15th and 34th, with the average being 27th in the surveys other seven categories, which include categories like travel restrictions (Pennsylvania ranked 15th) and face mask requirements (Pennsylvania ranked 23rd). In a recent update to the same study, WalletHub found Pennsylvania to be the second most restrictive state in the country overall, behind only California. READ MORE: Reopening restaurants is a death sentence for workers and the industry | Opinion To date, there is no evidence proving that the industry is either the problem or solution. Deborah Birx recently stated that recent COVID-19 spread is less from bars and restaurants and more from get-togethers, something were watching unfold in real time as students return to college campuses. In order to justify the arbitrary rollback to 25% capacity for indoor dining, the Department of Health issued a press release on Aug. 14, sharing findings from case investigators who spent time at business establishments, including restaurants and bars. Per the release: Of the 24,468 positive cases reported between July 13 and August 11, less than half of the individuals provided an answer to the question as to whether they spent time at a business establishment 14 days before experiencing symptoms. Of those who did provide an answer, 13%, or 1,499, said yes, they visited a business establishment. Among those yes responders, 47% reported going to a restaurant, and 24% to a bar. READ MORE: Marc Vetri: Were paying huge costs for not reopening restaurants | Opinion According to the data provided above, this would mean roughly 6% of tested-positive individuals said they entered a restaurant with a mere 3% claiming they frequented a bar. This data is woefully incomplete even a simple study done in Pennsylvania reflects less than half of the individuals contacted didnt respond. Orders are being issued based on opinion and data that, at best, can be deemed unreliable. If this is the case, why then should our industry continue to encounter such grave hardships based on flimsy information? With each critical moment endured, we see another establishment permanently shutter and its employees sent to the unemployment line. A national survey published by Yelp revealed that as of July, 60% of restaurants shut down during the pandemic have closed for good. In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association estimates that based on the number of temporary closures during the shutdown that at 25% occupancy capacity, 50% of restaurants will be forced to close temporarily. According to the Yelp survey, that means that in Pennsylvania, 7,500 restaurants will close permanently. The real tragedy is that will lead to 175,000 dedicated restaurant workers losing their jobs forever. READ MORE: Le Virtu owner: Restaurants, including mine, should be shut down and given coronavirus relief | Opinion We ask for a reversal of Gov. Wolfs incredible mandate limiting restaurants to 25% capacity, in an effort to mitigate the damage already invoked due to the COVID-19 landscape. By increasing to the original 50% occupancy mandate, as well as allowing some bar seating and removing the food requirement for alcohol purchases, many of these restaurants and bars will be given a fighting chance. As summer wanes, these establishments deserve the same survival opportunities as businesses in other industries. FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered. John Longstreet is the president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association and an advocate for the hospitality industry. The intelligence community has seen no evidence that foreign powers intend to manipulate mail-in voting in the 2020 election, senior Trump administration officials said Wednesday, undercutting a claim by President Donald Trump that such fraud will be the scandal of our times. We have no information or intelligence that any nation-state threat actor is engaging in any activity to undermine the mail-in vote or ballots, said a top official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, who joined other senior intel community officials from the Department of Homeland Security and FBI to brief media on the status of foreign election threats. They spoke with reporters on condition they not be named. Trump has repeatedly and groundlessly asserted that mail-in ballots will be subject to widespread fraud, driving doubts about the security of the election as a slew of states have ramped up mail-in voting access amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Intelligence community leaders and lawmakers of both parties have pleaded with political leaders to refrain from casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election, which theyve emphasized could be amplified by foreign adversaries like Russia who seek to cast doubts about the legitimacy of American institutions. Trump has ignored those warnings, repeatedly blaring unsupported suggestions that widespread mail-in voting will result in a fraudulent election. RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS, Trump tweeted in June. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES! He has echoed those warnings and reiterated them dozens of times in recent weeks, amid polls showing him trailing Democratic nominee Joe Biden. But a senior FBI official on the same Wednesday call said any consequential election fraud is unlikely to materialize. "We have not seen to date a coordinated national voter fraud effort during a major election, the official said. It's extraordinarily difficult to change a federal election outcome through this type of fraud alone. Story continues Attorney General William Barr talks to the media during a news conference. The comments from intel community leaders also contrast with Attorney General William Barr, who said last month that the expectation of a foreign incursion on mail-in balloting procedures is common sense. If you have wholesale mail-in voting it substantially increases the risk of fraud, Barr said. When asked by Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) if he had evidence to back up the claim that foreign adversaries could print fraudulent mail-in ballots, Barr replied, I dont, but I have common sense. Scanlon called the claim disinformation, to which Barr shot back, Its not disinformation. But when he sought to elaborate, Scanlon cut him off and changed the subject. More broadly, the national security officials issued reassurances about the level of visibility and awareness they have into foreign election threats this time around as opposed to in 2016, when intelligence officials were caught off guard by the ferocity and breadth of Russias interference campaign. We are way ahead of where we were in 2016, said a senior official at DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The landscape is more promising, too, the official said, with no obvious ramp-up in activity targeting election infrastructure that officials were seeing from the Russians around this time four years ago. Still, the countrys top counterintelligence official Bill Evanina has issued two warnings in recent weeks about ongoing malign influence campaigns by Russia, China and Iran that could influence the election. The most recent statement detailed Russias attempts to undermine Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, while pointing to rhetoric by China and Iran that has been critical of the Trump administration and the U.S. more broadly. Trump has since seized upon the assessment about Chinas political activities to suggest that Beijing wants Biden to win, which the intelligence community has not stated publicly or offered evidence for. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe released his own statement last week indicating that China poses the greatest threat to U.S. national security, including election security. China poses a greater national security threat to the U.S. than any other nation economically, militarily and technologically. That includes threats of election influence and interference, Ratcliffe has said in a statement, initially sent to conservative outlets Fox News and the Washington Examiner in the last week. Intelligence officials on Wednesday described China, Russia and Iran as the big three, with one FBI official calling them all significant purveyors of malign influence activity. But asked whether China in particular is trying to help Biden win, the ODNI official referred back to the most recent statement issued about the three countries efforts. Democrats, though, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, have accused Evanina of drawing a false equivalence between the three countries when intelligence indicates that only Russia is taking specific steps interfering in the 2020 election. ODNI officials said Ratcliffe's statement is consistent with Evanina's earlier pronouncements and echoes other statements by intelligence community leaders about the long-term threat China poses to the United states. Tim Starks contributed reporting for this story. Siemens Smart Infrastructure received an order from Go Bus, one of New Zealands largest bus operators, to power two of their bus depots with charging infrastructure for eBuses. The order fulfils two separate Go Bus contracts in Auckland and Christchurch. In Christchurch, 25 electric buses, the citys first large-scale electric bus fleet, will be charged by Siemens systems. In Auckland, the systems will charge nine buses that will operate on a new electric airport link. The operations are scheduled to start early in 2021. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> New Zealand already boasts more than 80 percent renewable electricity generation. To further drive decarbonization, one major lever is the electrification of the transport sector, representing 36 percent of energy use in New Zealand. The city of Auckland, for example, aims to have a full zero emission bus fleet by 2040. As a national bus operator, Go Bus needs to be agile and adapt to many fast-moving changes when transitioning to electric bus transport, said Calum Haslop, CEO of Go Bus. Its also important that any investments we make now, take into account rapid advances in battery technology and digitalization. Siemens independent charging infrastructure and management software provides us with the most future-proof solutions and flexibility. The Siemens Sicharge UC range grants bus operators optimal flexibility when planning electric bus depots, by providing highly efficient infrastructure that is designed to be future proofed against rapid advances in battery technology. It also enables bus operators to economically expand charging infrastructure with up to five dispensers plus a pantograph per charging centre. Jeff Connolly, CEO of Siemens Australia Pacific and head of Siemens Smart Infrastructure portfolio in the region said, Were proud to see our technology play a pivotal part in fulfilling New Zealands low carbon future. Its critical to have a long-term view of transport infrastructure one that centers around the effective and efficient use of the right technology and seamless movement of people. The charging system in the Christchurch depot will consist of 12 Sicharge UC 200 Charging Centers with dispensers powering 25 parking spaces with up to 200 kilowatts (kW). In Auckland, there will be five of these systems as well as two Sicharge UC 100 stations with a charging power of up to 125 kW, supplying a total of nine eBuses. Both solutions provide plug-in depot charging, according to CCS standard, overnight or for top-up charging between scheduled bus services during the day. The Sicharge UC family supports battery voltages from 10 Volt (V) up to 1,000 V. Current eBuses available in the New Zealand market average between 600 to 700 V, but future bus batteries are expected to use higher voltages to enable faster charging. Additionally, the charging system uses open communication standards as Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) to interact with different backend software, for example for charging management. The reporting and monitoring function of Siemens charging management software will enable Go Bus to centrally monitor all charging infrastructure across two cities and easily report on key metrics including electricity savings. Smart management functionality will also enable Go Bus to schedule charging to take advantage to lower overnight tariffs while ensuring that individual buses have reached the desired state of charge by the time they are needed for the next days operations. Special prayers were held at the Mother House in Kolkata, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, on the 110th birth anniversary of St Teresa of Calcutta but entry of visitors was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IMAGE: Nuns offer prayers on the occasion of 110th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa, at Mother house in Kolkata. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo The tomb of St Teresa is in the Mother House. Nuns of the order congregated at the prayer hall keeping safe distance from each other and lit candles before a large portrait of St Teresa, still fondly called Mother Teresa. They prayed to her for the well being of the people, specially the poor for whom she had devoted her entire life. The nuns also distributed food among the poor near the gates of Mother House maintaining social distancing norms. Sunita Kumar, who was one of those closest to the saint, said unlike previous years she could not visit Mother House but offered her special prayer by calling up the nuns. "I specially requested them (the nuns) to pray for a COVID free world. They told me it is in everyone's mind," Kumar, who had been a volunteer in the Missioners of Charity for 35 years and a confidante of Mother Teresa said. IMAGE: Nuns distribute food among needy people on the occasion of 110th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa, at Mother house in Kolkata. Photograph: Ashok Bhaumik/PTI Photo West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. Fondly remembering Mother Teresa (Saint Teresa of Calcutta) on her birth anniversary." St Teresa was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, presently the capital of North Macedonia, to a family of Albanians. She left home at a young age and came to India in 1929 as a novice with the Loreto nuns. She left the congregation in the late 1940s and started the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 to work among the poor. She died on September 5, 1997 in the city, which she had made her home and was canonized on September 4, 2016 by Pope Francis at the Vatican. 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? star Colt Johnsons long-distance relationship with Jess Caroline has seen some serious drama this season. But it is often coming from outside sources Mother Debbie, and his friend, Vanessa Guerra. Colt has admitted that he still has two secrets he is keeping from Jess. When she finds out what he is hiding, fans are wondering what Jess will throw at him this time around. 90 Day Fiance star Colt Johnson | Bryan Steffy/WireImage The 90 Day Fiance star recently had a nasty fight with Jess During a recent episode, fans watched an explosive fight between Colt and Jess after she found texts between him and Vanessa. Colt and Vanessa are close friends, and this has been a source of constant conflict between him and Jess. Colt hasnt been truthful with Jess about how much he talks to Vanessa. As Soap Dirt points out, Jess threw her shoes at Colt when she saw the texts. She also walked out on him and threatened to end their relationship. This was not the first time the couple has fought over his friendship with Vanessa. Even though Colt has told Jess that he and Vanessa are just friends, the 90 Day Fiance star admitted in a confessional that they did hook up at least once. Jess could sense that there was more going on with Vanessa than Colt would admit, so she asked him to stop speaking to her. He agreed but did not follow through with his promise. Things got worse after Colts trip to Brazil According to In Touch Weekly, Colt revealed that things between him and Jess got worse after his trip to Brazil. When he returned home to Las Vegas, Colt talked about the big fight he had with Jess during his last night in her native country. The computer programmer explained that their relationship is rocky. Colt noted that his fight with Jess during his last night in Brazil caused their trust issues to go from bad to worse. He admitted that he and Jess have been fighting everyday since he returned to the United States. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: How Colt Johnsons Mother Debbie Just Proved She Is Relishing In Her Latest Sabotage The 90 Day Fiance star also revealed that he and Jess had broken up a few times. However, he says he still loves Jess and he wants to make things work. Jess also left Brazil and returned to her home in Chicago where she works as an au pair. In an attempt to salvage their relationship, he invited her to visit him in Las Vegas. But, he admits that he is still keeping two big secrets from his girlfriend. The 90 Day Fiance star is scared to tell his girlfriend the truth Colt admits that he hasnt been completely truthful with Jess. But, if he is going to come clean he wants to do it in person, not over the phone. If they have any chance at a future together, he knows he cant hide the truth any longer. One of the 90 Day Fiance stars secrets is that he spoke to other women when he and Jess were broken up. The other secret is about Vanessa. A few days after I returned from Brazil, Vanessa was having a hard time after her divorce and needed a place to stay. My mother invited her to stay with us, so Vanessa is now my roommate, admitted Colt. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: This Move Proves Larissa Dos Santos Lima Is Still Out For Revenge Against Colt Johnson When Jess does find out that Colt has been talking to other women and that Vanessa is his new roommate, he knows it will be an uphill battle to convince Jess that he is a good guy and she can trust him. New episodes of the 90 Day Fiance franchise air Sunday and Monday nights on TLC. Emirates has announced it will resume passenger services to Conakry (Guinea) and Dakar (Senegal) from September 3, taking the total number of cities served by Emirates in Africa to eight. Flights from Dubai to Conakry and Dakar will be linked services, operating twice weekly, utilising an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The addition of linked services between Conakry and Dakar will boost Emirates growing network to 77 cities, providing travellers enhanced global connectivity, particularly to and from destinations in the Middle East, West Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Far East, with one convenient stop in Dubai. Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. 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. Free, global cover for Covid-19 related costs: Customers can now travel with confidence, as Emirates has committed to cover Covid-19 related medical expenses, free of cost, should they be diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel while they are away from home. This cover is immediately effective for customers flying on Emirates until October 31, 2020 (first flight to be completed on or before October 31), and is valid for 31 days from the moment they fly the first sector of their journey. This means Emirates customers can continue to benefit from the added assurance of this cover, even if they travel onwards to another city after arriving at their Emirates destination. 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. - TradeArabia News Service She's been enjoying a luxurious getaway in Byron Bay with her husband, Tim Robards, ahead of the arrival of their first child. And on Tuesday, Anna Heinrich flaunted her growing baby bump on Instagram, while she relaxed at the resort. The expectant mother, 33, was simply glowing as she posed poolside in a skimpy white bikini. Simply glowing! The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich (pictured) showed off her blossoming baby bump in a skimpy white bikini on Tuesday In the photo, Anna couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she cradled her bump and posed for the camera. The mother-to-be tied her blonde hair in a high bun, and concealed her gaze behind a pair of dark sunglasses. Anna and Tim are enjoying a luxurious holiday at Byron Bay's Blackbird resort. On Monday, the criminal lawyer shared a stunning photo, as well as video footage, to Instagram of their picturesque surroundings. Getaway: Anna and her husband, Tim Robards (left), are enjoying a luxurious holiday at Byron Bay's Blackbird resort 'Getting out of Sydney is a luxury these days and I'm certainly not taking it for granted. Good to finally spend time with my hubby,' Anna wrote. Their trip comes after Anna spoke to Stellar magazine about the stress of being separated from Tim, who until recently was working in coronavirus-stricken Melbourne on soap opera Neighbours. Earlier this month, the actor made the 'gut-wrenching decision' to leave Melbourne and quit his job on Neighbours, in order to be with Anna in Sydney. Relaxing: On Monday, the criminal lawyer shared a stunning photo, as well as video footage, to Instagram of their picturesque surroundings 'It's been so stressful for him. For both of us. We're both really struggling with the decision. I know how hard he's worked,' said a tearful Anna. 'The past six weeks have been really stressful, it's been one curveball after another, and when hotel quarantine came in, we realised it meant that if there was an emergency, Tim would not be able to get back to me.' Tim and Anna, who fell in love on The Bachelor in 2013, married in Italy in June 2018. They announced their baby news in May. LYNN HAVEN, Fla., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A federal investigation into corrupt hurricane recovery activity resulted in Lynn Haven Mayor Margo Anderson and City Attorney Adam Albritton being indicted. Merlin Law Group attorney Jeff Carter was temporarily designated as City Attorney. City leaders are now working to establish new guidelines and procedures to ensure no corruption happens again. The investigation involves multiple elected city officials allegedly defrauding the city for millions of dollars via contracts with several disaster relief businesses in the wake of the Hurricane Michael. There are far-reaching implications that could arise with this investigation. Most notably, taxpayers are concerned this corrupt activity could jeopardize future hurricane recovery relief provided by FEMA. Russell stated that he and the city manager would be sitting down with their consultant at Tetra Tech, a local engineering and consulting firm, and their consultant at FEMA to discuss moving forward. In looking to appoint an interim city attorney, Merlin Law Group president, Chip Merlin, believes Jeff Carter's hard work, transparency, and honesty made the decision simple for Lynn Haven. "[Jeff's efforts] turned around an adversarial relationship with Lynn Haven's insurance company after our retention. Jeff could also help them with the newly arising and troubling matters which they clearly need to address right away," said Merlin. Carter's appointment as the interim city attorney for the city of Lynn Haven does not mean that Merlin Law Group is getting into governmental practice law. Instead, Carter will represent the City through his own firm in Panama City, Floridathe Law Office of Jeff Carter, P.A.which handles commercial transactions and litigation along with governmental law in addition to Jeff's role in assisting property owners with their insurance claims through Merlin Law Group. Merlin Law Group's focus is property insurance law claims and helping policyholders of all types, including municipalities, obtain the full recovery of their insurance benefits following a loss. The hope now is that Carter can use his positive relationships to assist the City in moving past this debacle to preserve any chance of receiving hurricane recovery assistance in the future. "It is a privilege to assist the citizens and leadership of the city of Lynn Haven during this difficult time," said Carter. With an already active hurricane season this year, the city is relying on Carter. SOURCE Merlin Law Group, P.A. Related Links https://www.merlinlawgroup.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 15:25 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40a2c23 1 World Turkey,Indonesia,Indonesian-citizen,black-sea,oil-and-gas-reserve,gas-reserve Free Eight Indonesian engineers working aboard Turkey's first oil and gas drilling vessel, Fatih, took part in the exploration that led to the recent discovery of a vast natural gas reserves in the country's Black Sea. The discovery of the 320 billion cubic meters of natural gas at the Tuna-1 well, located around 100 nautical miles off Turkey's Black Sea coast, was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Aug. 21. Not many people have the knowledge and experiences in wireline drilling, that is why we are hired to work here and to train the local staff [in Turkey], said Beni Kusuma Atmaja, 30, a wireline drilling engineer from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java. Wire drilling is mostly used for ultra-deep boreholes, which provides the most efficient core sample extraction from the rock mass for oil and natural gas discovery. Beni and seven other Indonesians, namely Randyka Komala, 33; Bahriansyah Hutabarat, 41; Rifani Hakim, 43; Dian Suluh Priambodo, 33; Hardiyan, 42; Indra Ari Wibowo, 30; and Ravi Mudiatmoko, 42, were listed as expert staff working for Turkiye Petrolleri Offshore Technology Center belonging to Turkeys national oil company, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO). The contribution given by these eight young Indonesians needs to be appreciated. It should be an example for young people in Indonesia to pursue wider knowledge and achieve great things, said the Indonesian consul general in Istanbul, Imam Asari. Imam added that Beni and his colleagues had proved how Indonesians could also be competitive in the labor market of high-tech industries. It has become a commitment of the Indonesian Consulate General in Istanbul to enhance the number of formal and skilled workers from Indonesia in Turkey, he said. President Erdogan also thanked and congratulated all stakeholders who took part in the discovery. He said he expected the gas field to start operations in 2023 to coincide with Turkeys 100-year anniversary. Valmet Oyjs trade press release on August 26, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. EET Valmet will supply Valmet IQ quality management system to PJSC Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill in Kiev, Ukraine. The new system will be installed in the corrugated packaging plant of the mill which is undertaking modernization actions. The investment is targeted to improve the quality of the corrugated board, and to increase productivity and profitability in converting operations. The order was included in Valmet's orders received of the second quarter 2020. The delivery is scheduled by the end of September 2020. We are happy that PJSC Kyiv Cardboard has chosen Valmet IQ to improve their corrugated board quality and plant productivity. Our experience and results from Valmet IQs previous installations for corrugator had a big role in this decision. It is great to see that we can help PJSC to move their performance forward with this moisture-based quality control system, says Mikko Talonen, Business Manager, Automation, Valmet. Technical details about the delivery The Valmet IQ quality management system is specifically designed for Corrugator plants and combines precise online moisture, temperature and warp measurements with reliable closed-loop controls and moisturizers including reporting system. It comprises Valmet IQ Multipoint moisture measurement system with IQ Wet-End Control, Valmet IQ Moisturizer, Valmet IQ Converting Scanners and Valmet IQ Warp Measurement with IQ Dry-End Control. Information about the customer PJSC Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill Private Joint-stock Company is part of the Austrian company Pulp Mill Holding and one of the largest European producers of paper-based products. In terms of total output, the facility produces 30% of all paper products in Ukraine. Recycled paper is the main raw material used in production, and more than 1,000 tons of recycled material is processed at the mill daily. The box and packing cardboard produced at the facility is utilized in the fabrication of packaging for various consumer products. Story continues VALMET Corporate Communications For further information, please contact: Nikolay Litvinov, Sales Manager, CIS Pulp & Paper, Automation business line, Valmet, tel. +7 921 3034673 Mikko Talonen, Business Manager, Automation business line, Valmet, tel. +358 50 598 9873 Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers. Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy. Valmet's net sales in 2019 were approximately EUR 3.5 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. Read more www.valmet.com, www.twitter.com/valmetglobal Processing of personal data Worcester is spending millions of dollars to work on HVAC systems in city buildings and its public schools to improve air filtration during the coronavirus pandemic, making changes that officials say should help long-term. In particular, the upgrades are needed in school buildings before students can return for in-class learning. The Worcester Public Schools district is starting the new academic year with remote learning for all students, with the goal of bringing back the students with the highest need for in-person learning after the first quarter. Worcester is adding filters and equipment to HVAC systems through its energy services contract with Honeywell and hopes to have all the work complete by the end of December. Including city and school buildings, the project will run about $15 million, according to John Odell, the energy and asset director for Worcester. The work will improve air quality and will be an energy-saving component, which allows the project to qualify under the citys energy services contract, the only way to get all this work done by the end of the calendar year, Odell said. The city is still working out how all the upgrades will be funded, and is hoping more federal grant money can be obtained, but it appears some coronavirus relief funding will be used and that the city may incur debt for some amount of the project, officials said. Odell said the majority of the project is school buildings, but city hall, the fire stations, police station, libraries and any facility that has employees inside on a regular basis are included. The pandemic has highlighted existing equity gaps in the community as it relates to health care for Black and Brown residents as well as a lack of internet access for students who need to learn online. Its also highlighted the aging infrastructure of Worcester school buildings. Worcester has 44 schools, according to the district website. While the city has seen new schools constructed in the last 20 years, some of its buildings are decades old, a few even dating to the 1800s, according to district documents. Forty-six percent of buildings were constructed before 1940; 33% were constructed between 1950 and 1989; and 21% were constructed from 1990 to the present, the district said. The age of buildings impacts what kind of HVAC system is present in each school. Twenty-six buildings have no mechanical HVAC system, the district said, while 20 buildings have a partial system with fresh air intake but no mechanical exhaust. Fourteen have full mechanical HVAC systems with fresh air intake with mechanical exhaust, but with or without air conditioning. Worcester Public Schools Chief Financial and Operations Officer Brian Allen said three things are being done: increasing the amount of outdoor air in buildings; increasing the level of filters in schools or buildings with mechanical HVAC systems; and installing needlepoint bipolar ionization equipment, either directly in the HVAC systems or through portable units. Before finalizing the plan for the school year, district administration did say that basement classrooms without windows or adequate ventilation would not be used. Allen said that the district has talked at length about the age of its buildings before, working to submit renovation projects to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, but that the district is underfunded in areas of materials and building maintenance. The Student Opportunity Act, once it actually gets funded, really we should look at the areas of the chronic underfunding, Allen said, so that would be additional funding for each of those areas: instructional supplies, materials and technology, staff development and operations and maintenance of buildings. Currently, there are projects for a new Doherty Memorial High School and South High Community School. The next schools in line are Burncoat High School and Worcester East Middle, Allen said. Allen said he sees these upgrades as a long-term benefit for the schools as research shows this equipment has been used successfully in hospitals for a long time and has been shown to be successful in killing other viruses, mold and other indoor air quality issues. The goal is to have some Worcester students return to school buildings after the first quarter ends in November. If the upgrades arent complete in all buildings, Allen said there is a possibility that students may go to a different school building on a temporary basis until the work is finished. The city is working on finalizing a list of buildings to prioritize for the upgrades. Ill certainly admit, the pandemic catalyzed this for sure, Odell said of the upgrades. This was not planned prior. About two and a half months ago, the city started looking at options to improve air quality and the cost-benefit analysis. These upgrades are in high demand right now as communities across the country work to make improvements during the pandemic. It will be several weeks before the equipment comes in and the installation process can begin, Odell said. For some buildings, this work may just be a mitigating too and supplemental work may be necessary. It depends on the age of each building and what issues exist, Odell explained. This is just a good example of the collaboration between the city and schools and trying to do something that benefits everybody, not just for the current pandemic, Odell said. The hope is that this will help improve indoor air quality for a bunch of other pathogens as well that will benefit employees, students, teachers and, of course, the public. Related Content: 26.08.2020 LISTEN Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has filed an official complaint with the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) against President Akufo-Addo and his Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office, and corruption, as well as conflict of interest, respectively, in connection with an alleged $300,000 per annum PR contract between them and US firm KRL, which, according to international investigative body Open Sources Investigation (OSI), was sponsored with the Ghanaian taxpayers money. The deal, according to ASEPA, was in connection with the IM FOR NANA CAMPAIGN launched in the lead-up to the 2016 general elections, of whose Director was Mr Ken Ofori-Atta. ASEPA quotes OSI as saying after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the elections, President Nana Akufo-Addo and Mr Ofori-Atta regularised the services of KRL, and used state funds in paying for those services every year. The Executive Director of ASEPA, Mr Mensah Thompson, thus, wants CHRAJ to probe the President and his cousin over the matter. Read ASEPAs full complaint below: We write to your office pursuant to section 7(a)(e) of the CHRAJ Act to commence investigations into the KRL-NPP [deal] in which public funds were allegedly used to pay for contracted private services rendered by KRL to the IM FOR NANA FOUNDATION, a foundation created by the NPP to fund the 2016 campaign of President Akufo-Addo. Below are a few facts provided by the international investigative body, Open Sources Investigation, OSI. 1. That on 1 June 2016, American PR firm, KRL, was engaged by the IM FOR NANA FOUNDATION headed by Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghanas current Finance Minister, to provide lobbying services for the NPP. 2. That among other services, KRL was contracted to; (a) support free and fair elections in Ghana in favour of President Akufo-Addo, herein referred to as the 1st Respondent; (b) advise the 1st Respondent on communication strategies ahead of the elections; (c) provide lobbying services with the US government, donor communities and the media; (d) provide in-country support throughout the electoral process. 3. That after the elections, and the 1st Respondent assumed power, the arrangement with KRL was then regularised, providing same services at a cost of $300,000 per annum, excluding other miscellaneous costs to President Akufo-Addo and his party, the NPP. 4. That after the 2017 regularisation of the above arrangements, payments were made to KRL for the same services directly from the Office of the President using state funds. We are hereby filing an official complaint against President Akufo-Addo, the 1st Respondent, for misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office, and corruption. We also bring an action of conflict of interest against Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister and Director of the IM FOR NANA CAMPAIGN. What KRL says it did for Akufo-Addo In the run-up to the legislative and presidential elections in Ghana of December 2016, KRL was hired as communication and general political consultant by the campaign of Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party. The NPP had been out of power for eight years following two unsuccessful presidential bids by Akufo-Addo. An electorate frustrated by the sluggish economy and mismanaged power sector gave the opposition an edge, but the incumbent still had advantages in terms of media access and campaign resources; polls showed a significant proportion of the population undecided. Given the tight nature of the election, there were concerns over potential manipulation of the electoral process, generating a charged political environment. The KRL approach Through an extended period of embedding on the campaign trail, KRL integrated into operational units of the local team. KRL consultants helped craft a communications strategy using polling results and other forms of local data, managed local media monitoring and message coordination, arranged interviews with the foreign press, prepared the candidate for speaking events and helped with outreach efforts to voters and party poll watchers. KRL also encouraged direct lines of communication between the campaign and election observers to help build confidence among all stakeholders in the process. Thanks to a combination of international observation, a robust party poll-watching effort, and careful management of internal campaign dynamics, KRL was instrumental in diffusing tensions in the post-election period and helping to manage a peaceful transition. ---classfmonline NEW YORK (AP) Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of the most powerful politicians in the state, started his prison sentence Wednesday after years of fending off going behind bars. Silver, 76, reported to a federal prison in Otisville, New York, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He was sentenced earlier this year to 6 1/2 years behind bars in a corruption case. Silvers lawyers declined comment on Wednesday. The Democrat was ousted as speaker in 2015 and convicted later that year, but appeals had kept him out of prison. His conviction in federal court in Manhattan was overturned on appeal before he was convicted again in 2018. Part of that conviction was then tossed out on another appeal, leading to yet another sentencing in July where he asked a judge not to let him die in prison. His lawyers had sought a term of home confinement, arguing that sending him to prison would worsen existing health issues or risk having him die from the coronavirus. But District Judge Valerie Caproni said she had no option but to finally punish him for what she called corruption, pure and simple. His time has come, Caproni said. He needs to go to jail. In the part of the case that survived the appeal process, Silver was convicted in a scheme that involved favors and business traded between two real estate developers and a law firm. He supported legislation in Albany that benefited the developers, who then referred certain tax business to a law firm that paid him fees. The federal prison in Otisville is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from New York City, tucked in the lush countryside south of the Catskill Mountains. Recent inmates there have included Michael Cohen, President Donald Trumps former personal lawyer and fixer who pleaded guilty to tax evasion, campaign finance charges and lying to Congress. Cohen is still serving his sentence, but was released to house arrest along with other prisoners to limit the spread of the coronavirus behind bars. Story continues Another Otisville inmate recently released because of the virus was Dean Skelos, the Republican who led New Yorks Senate between 2011 and 2015. He, like Silver, was forced from office in a corruption scandal. As a new inmate, Silver will be tested for COVID-19 and placed in quarantine for 14 days. ___ Balsamo reported from Washington, D.C. NewAmsterdam Pharma Acquires Obicetrapib from Amgen Details Category: Small Molecules Published on Wednesday, 26 August 2020 18:35 Hits: 1410 AMG 899 or Obicetrapib to be developed by Netherlands-based company to be headed up by Dr. Michael Davidson and Dr. John Kastelein Obicetrapib, a potent ApoB and LDL-c lowering small molecule drug, will be tested in patients not well controlled on statins and statin-intolerant patients Pivotal Phase 3 studies in dyslipidemia planned to start in 2021 NAARDEN, The Netherlands I August 26, 2020 I NewAmsterdam Pharma B.V. (NAP) has acquired the rights to obicetrapib (AMG 899) from Amgen. The new Company, spearheaded by Michael Davidson, MD (CEO) and John Kastelein, MD, PhD, FESC (CSO), is currently working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a comprehensive Phase 3 clinical development program, including a cardiovascular outcome trial (CVOT) for obicetrapib. NAP is targeting for these trials to begin in 2021. To this end, the Company has received seed funding of approximately EUR 20M from Dutch investment firm Forbion as well as its Founders and will be raising a substantial financing round before year-end. Obicetrapib is a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor which targets Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the body. Obicetrapib is being developed for patients who are not well controlled on statins and patients who are statin-intolerant. Approximately 32 million people globally have statin-associated side effects or as a result of side effects, have discontinued their statin therapy.1 A Phase 2b study called TULIP, published in The Lancet showed that obicetrapib significantly reduced the number of ApoB-containing particles that constitute LDL-c and was well-tolerated in patients with mild dyslipidaemia.2 The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study tested the drug in 364 patients to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the potential therapy. In 2017, Amgen decided to discontinue the internal development of obicetrapib for strategic reasons and pursue out-licensing opportunities. Forbion believes that this drug could address very substantial unmet medical needs and therefore initiated conversations with Amgen to continue developing the asset. For this purpose, it has established NewAmsterdam Pharma B.V. Financial terms of the acquisition of obicetrapib by NAP from Amgen were not disclosed. Sander Slootweg, Managing Partner at Forbion commented: NewAmsterdam Pharma constitutes a very attractive investment opportunity, as obicetrapib has the potential to address the huge and poorly served patient segment of patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, currently not well controlled on statins or those even completely statin-intolerant. With over 30 million patients meeting these criteria, we believe that obicetrapib has mega-blockbuster sales potential. For this reason, we were able to attract a top founder team with Michael Davidson MD as CEO, who recently sold his previous company Corvidia Therapeutics, Inc. to Novo Nordisk and John Kastelein as CSO, after selling his previous company Staten Biotech to the same Novo Nordisk, in an option structure. Michael Davidson, CEO of NewAmsterdam Pharma added: As we know today, the real culprit of heart disease is ApoB particle numbers. Obicentrapib being a highly potent small molecule, it holds great potential as a powerful tool to lower ApoB in patients, who otherwise cannot tolerate statin therapy. Phase 2b testing of obicetrapib has shown us very promising results with regard to patient tolerance, which we look forward to further examine in this next phase of research. John Kastelein, CSO of NewAmsterdam Pharma concluded: In my opinion, obicetrapib is a best-in-class CETP inhibitor. From the Phase 2b trial in nearly 400 patients, we observed an average LDL-C lowering of 45% at a 5 mg daily dose, with a clean safety profile and excellent tolerability. A key lesson from previous Phase 3 studies with other CETPi molecules is not to combine CETPi with high-dose statins, because of an observed interaction. This makes obicetrapib an ideal drug for statin-intolerant patients and those not well controlled on maximally tolerated dose of statins. We have devised a comprehensive clinical development plan, including a CVOT, to show all favorable attributes of obicetrapib. Notes to Editors: About NewAmsterdam Pharma Founded in 2019, NewAmsterdam Pharma is a privately held, clinical stage company focused on the research and development of transformative therapies for cardio-renal diseases. Its mission is to improve patient care in populations where traditional therapies are not tolerated or have been unsuccessful. In April 2020, NewAmsterdam acquired Dezima Pharma from Amgen, including all rights for obicetrapib (formerly AMG 899, now TA-8995) a selective cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor. The Company is investigating obicetrapib as a preferred ApoB and LDL-c lowering therapy for patients with statin intolerance or for patients with ASCVD/FH on the maximally tolerated dose of statin therapy. NewAmsterdam Pharma is headquartered in Naarden, The Netherlands. For more information, please visit: www.newamsterdampharma.com About Forbion Forbion is a dedicated life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Singapore. Forbion invests in life sciences companies that are active in the (bio-) pharmaceutical space. Forbions investment team has built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with successful investments in over 66 companies. Forbion manages well over EUR 1.25 billion across ten funds. Forbion is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Besides financial objectives, Forbion selects investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of patients. Its investors include the EIF, through its European Recovery Programme (ERP), LfA, Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI), AMUF and EFSI facilities and KfW Capital through the Programme, ERP Venture Capital Fondsinvestments. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany. For more information, please visit: www.forbion.com. 1 Zhang, Ann Intern Med 2014 2 Hovingh GK, Kastelein JP, van Deventer SJH, Round P, Ford, J, Saleheen D, et. al. Cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibition by TA-8995 in patients with mild dyslipidaemia (TULIP): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial. The Lancet 2015.386(9992): 452-460. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60158-1 SOURCE: NewAmsterdam Pharmaceuticals Israel hits Hezbollah positions after shots from Lebanon Army places blame on Beirut government (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 26 AGO - After shots over the night targeting Israeli troops n the Manara zone originating from Lebanon, on Wednesday morning helicopters and other aircraft hit Hezbollah lookout positions along the border, an Israeli military spokesman said. ''The Israeli army holds the Lebanon government responsible for any incident occurring in its territory,'' the spokesman added. ''A serious infraction of Israeli sovereignty occurred.'' The clash, the spokesman said, began on Tuesday evening when shots from Lebanon targeted Israeli troops operating along the border in the Manara area. ''No military personnel were hit,'' the spokesman said, but as a result illuminating flares and smoke bombs were shot back and the attack was responded to.'' The spokesman went on to say that helicopters and other military aircraft had attacked Hezbollah lookout positions along the border. Military radio said that the attack on the Israeli border troops had been conducted by Hezbollah fighters. The broadcaster added that it was the third attack of this sort in recent weeks along the country's borders with Lebanon and Syria. (ANSAmed). Catholic Republican calls Trump, Pence 'gifts' from God America doesnt deserve Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Kicking off the Republican National Convention on Monday, Jay Shepard, a Catholic Republican delegate from Vermont, described President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as "gifts" that God has bestowed upon us but not because we deserve them." Shepard, who describes himself as a Catholic Donald Trump Republican, made the statement during an opening prayer for the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in which he praised the president as an imperfect believer who is on his way to God while painting Catholics like Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as wayward. Thank you, O Lord, for all the gifts you provide us, not because we deserve them, but solely through your grace and mercy, let us acknowledge the many gifts that God has bestowed upon us, starting with a president and vice president that reflect the values of our founding fathers and are willing to fight for those values, starting with life, knowing that all life is precious, from conception to natural death, Shepard prayed. There is no choice but to fight for the unborn. For those of us who are true to our Catholic faith, we pray for an end for the intrinsic evil that is abortion. Give us the strength to fight for our religious freedom as our president does, and instill in us the spirit and commitment to stand with the poor in a continued fight for religious freedom. In his prayer, Shepard expressed appreciation for American troops and their families as well as police officers who are on the frontline of law enforcement every day, before pointing to the state of the presidents faith. We are all sinners and none of us are perfect. We recognize that faith is a journey. It is not where we start that journey, but where we are now and where we strive to be. Help us all to follow President Trump, whose actions show he is on the journey to you, Lord, Shepard prayed. He then spoke against "the other party" and those who claim the faith but lead people astray. Let us not be deceived by those who were once close to you but have turned away in favor of embracing political ideology yet claiming Catholic beliefs and words while their actions turn them and their followers away from you, he prayed. We pray that you change their hearts and bring them back to you. Please, Lord, continue to guide our party to the light. And we pray that those from the other party will turn away from the darkness and join us in our march to you, our Lord and Savior. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Last week, Biden's Catholic faith was featured prominently at the Democratic National Convention. For Joe, faith isnt a prop or a political tool. Ive known Joe for about 30 years and Ive seen his faith in action, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said. Joe knows the power of prayer, and Ive seen him in moments of joy and triumph, of loss and despair turn to God for strength. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 17:41 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40b165b 1 National Napoleon-Bonaparte,djoko-tjandra,bribes,graft-convict,National-Police,Bareskrim,Prasetyo-Utomo,red-notice,corruption Free Two police generals have admitted to accepting bribes in exchange for helping graft convict and ex-fugitive Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra evade capture. National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Awi Setiyono said Insp. Gen. Napoleon Bonaparte and Brig. Gen. Prasetyo Utomo had confessed to removing Djokos red notice status, allowing to freely enter the country and travel within it despite being on law enforcements most-wanted list for more than a decade. We have interrogated the suspects. They admitted taking the money, Awi said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com. However, he declined to reveal the exact amount they accepted in kickbacks. Awi went on to say that the police continued to look for supporting evidence if the bribes, such as bank transfer receipts or any indication that the funds had been handed over in cash. Read also: Djoko Tjandra admits to bribing two police generals The police charged Napoleon and Prasetyo with bribery under the 2001 Corruption Law as well as the Criminal Code (KUHP). Djoko and businessman Tommy Sumardi were also named suspects for bribing the two police generals. Investigators charged them with bribery under the 2001 Corruption Law, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. However, Napoleon and Tommy have not been arrested. Meanwhile, investigators have apprehended Prasetyo for allegedly issuing forged travel documents that allowed Djoko to travel within the country while he was on the run. Both suspects cooperated with investigators, so its not necessary to detain them, Awi said. Napoleon was removed from his post as the National Polices international relations division head for his alleged involvement in removing Djokos red notice status. Read also: Police following money trail in Djoko Tjandras flight Djoko was convicted in 2009 for his role in the 1998 Bank Bali corruption case. The Supreme Court sentenced him to two years in prison and ordered him to pay Rp 546 billion (US$37,183) in restitution. However, he fled the country a day before his conviction and remained at large for over a decade. He returned to Indonesia undetected this year and filed a case review plea to challenge his guilty verdict. The police arrested him in Kuala Lumpur on July 30. (rfa) A Kentucky teen who became the subject of a viral video after an incident during a class field trip to Washington, D.C., warned viewers of the Republican National Convention Tuesday of an outrage mob that threatens to silence conservative viewpoints. After Nick Sandmann attended the March for Life anti-abortion rally with his former classmates from Covington Catholic High School in January 2019, a cellphone video of a close, face-to-face interaction between the students and a Native American demonstrator spread quickly online. Sandmann later sued multiple media outlets, alleging they had taken the incident out of context, portraying him as mocking the demonstrator. This year, Sandmann agreed to undisclosed settlements with CNN and the Washington Post. I learned that what was happening to me had a name. It was called being cancelled. As in annulled. As in revoked. As in made void, Sandmann said Tuesday in a segment at the convention. Cancelled is whats happening to people around this country who refuse to be silenced by the far left. Many are being fired, humiliated, or even threatened. Often, the media is a willing participant. President Donald Trump has frequently flagged cancel culture in his re-election campaign, slamming calls to take down Confederate statues. Some pundits called his comments hypocritical after he called for a boycott of Goodyear tires when he learned the company wouldnt let employees wear his campaign hats to work. Trump also has made teaching American exceptionalism in schools one of only two education priorities on his second-term agenda released this week in lieu of a party platform, seemingly in response to recent calls to teach more fully about slavery and racial injustice in schools. Sandmann, speaking in a prerecorded video from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Tuesday, didnt speak in support of any specific Trump policy, but he praised the president for challenging the mainstream media. In the 2019 viral video, recorded at the Lincoln Memorial, Sandmann and his then classmates wore red Make America Great Again hats while standing very close to Native American demonstrator Nathan Phillips, who played a drum and sang. Sandmann, who smiled throughout the video, was accused by some of mocking Phillips. Other videos, which emerged after initial media reports, showed there was another group, members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, who yelled at the students that day. Phillips had approached the students, not the other way around, the videos showed. Phillips has said he was trying to calm tensions. Other speakers touched on similar themes Tuesday. But they didnt cite specific Trump policies that would address their concerns. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul called on viewers to stand up and fight the socialists poisoning our schools and burning our cities by voting for Trump. Trumps daughter Tiffany said there are consequences when only one side of the story gets out or when only one viewpoint is acceptable. For our education system it meant sacrificing civil debate, by creating an atmosphere where students with contrary opinions are too afraid to speak, she said. Many students find themselves suppressing their beliefs to fit into the acceptable groupthink. Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa . Wild Boar sample V035514-70.7gpt Float Sample Sample ID: V035514 70.7 gpt AU Float Sample Sample ID: V035514 70.7 gpt AU Wild Boar samples 035612-17.6 gpt.AU and 035609-19.45 gpt.AU Float Sample Sample ID: 035612 17.6 gpt AU and Float Sample Sample ID: 035609 19.45 gpt AU Float Sample Sample ID: 035612 17.6 gpt AU and Float Sample Sample ID: 035609 19.45 gpt AU Wild Boar samples 035608-17.6 gpt AU and 035607-19.45 gpt AU Float Sample Sample ID: 035608 20.6 gpt AU and Float Sample Sample ID: 035607 17.65 gpt AU Float Sample Sample ID: 035608 20.6 gpt AU and Float Sample Sample ID: 035607 17.65 gpt AU Wild Boar Rock Samples Wild Boar Rock Samples Wild Boar Rock Samples TORONTO, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angkor Resources Corp. (TSXV: ANK and OTC: ANKOF) (Angkor or the Company) CEO Stephen Burega is pleased to report on the continuation of a mapping and sampling program on its 100% owned Andong Meas property. Highlights Additional high-grade samples with up to 70.7 g/t gold from selected samples from our Andong Meas property; The samples also occur in clusters suggesting several different vein segments over a north to south distance of about 700 meters; and Angkor is planning a trenching/auger/pit program followed by a detailed surface program focusing on the mineralization. Once completed, a +1000m diamond drill program is planned to determine the host rock as well as the style, size, number and character of the gold veins. The high-grade samples occur in clusters suggesting several different vein segments over a distance of about 700 meters, in a northwest trend, stated VP Exploration Dennis Ouellette. We are planning a diamond drill programme to test the potential high-grade gold mineralization zones. The abundance of and high-grade nature of the quartz float samples is very encouraging. Andong Meas is tectonically located in the southwestern segment of the large Yanshanian magmatic belt that hosts several world-class epithermal and porphyry systems including the Zijinshan gold-copper mine that is a core asset of Zijin Mining Company, Dr. Kaihui Yang said. The high grade gold mineralization found so far in Andong Meas has the characteristic of an epithermal gold system that could sit on a porphyry system underneath. Dr. Yang is the technical advisor for Angkor Gold, and has visited the Andong Meas property. Story continues Assay Results Wild Boar Samples Summary August 2020 Sample ID Sample Position Au gpt V035514 Float 70.7 WB-05 Float 55.4 WB-06 Float 46.9 V035608 Float 20.6 V035609 Float 19.45 V035607 Float 17.65 V035612 Float 17.6 WB-04 Float 17.15 V035508 Float 9.56 V035604 Artisanal Pit 9.24 WB-01 Float 9.09 WB-02 Float 8.69 V035603 Artisanal Pit 8.55 1621253 Float 6.53 1575895 Artisanal Pit 6.48 1575892 Artisanal Pit 6 V035502 Float 4.74 V035605 Float 3.98 V035522 Artisanal Pit 3.36 WB-03 Float 3.08 The list of samples above are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the property. Wild Boar sample V035514-70.7gpt is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d22106e5-0a89-483f-9147-a2dff5b359e1 Wild Boar samples 035612-17.6 gpt.AU and 035609-19.45 gpt.AU are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/775de20c-b29f-4c84-a4d6-cb25ae9ffba2 Wild Boar samples 035608-17.6 gpt AU and 035607-19.45 gpt AU are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c99dff9a-4f02-4fa5-a4ef-ba69aa15de1d PROPOSED WORK PROGRAMME Detailed surface mapping program along with an auger and trenching program covering the entire area at Wild Boar consisting holes with a 25 meter sample spacing and a 50 meter line spacing. Pit testing will also be included in the program to further test the depth of the bedrock. 10 km of IP (Induced Polarization). Pole dipole array with 10m dipoles to achieve a depth of 500m while retaining horizontal resolution. A +1,000m diamond drill program will test the primary anomalies or mineralization zones, as may be indicated by the auger and pit/trenching programs and by the detailed mapping program. Once the vein is intercepted, subsequent drill holes would be designed for further intercepts either down dip or along strike. Wild Boar Rock Samples are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/700903d7-cfa7-4a27-b1e7-19a153a40e32 PREVIOUS WORK Over the previous years, Angkor has worked portions of the Andong Meas tenement but much of the property has yet to be fully explored. There are several target areas already defined on the license including the Canada Wall and South Creek porphyry copper moly gold systems, the Colonial and Wild Boar epithermal gold systems and a number of less well defined gold targets surrounding the porphyry centres. The entire license area (187 KM2) has been the subject of an aeromagnetic survey, satellite imagery geological interpretation, with reconnaissance field truth mapping and multi-element stream sediment geochemical survey. The Wild Boar prospect was formerly an area of intensive artisanal workings on several subparallel epithermal veins. In addition to the gold bearing quartz veins, skarn alteration on the contact between granites and marbles in the area was observed. SAMPLE METHODOLOGY Angkor maintains a rigorous sample quality control and assurance protocol, with the customary insertion of blanks and standards, cross-checking and duplicate analysis, retention of all saw-split cores and sample pulps at their gated and fenced secure facility in Banlung. Analysis for publication are all done by accredited third party laboratories, usually ALS-Chemex in Vientiane or Perth, by SFA and AAS finish for gold, or ICP-MS for base metals In-house geochemical analysis of soil and termite mound samples are done at the companys Banlung laboratory by XRF for base metals and by panning for qualitative gold detection. Angkors QA/QC protocol requires calibration standards and blanks be inserted at a rate of 10 per 100. In addition, periodic checks are run on a selected spectrum of samples at ALS-Chemex laboratories. All soil and rock samples are submitted to ALS Mineral-Australian Laboratory Services (Cambodia) Co. Ltd for preparation in Phnom Penh, and gold analyses are done by ALS by standard fire assay in their Vientiane laboratories. All other analyses are by Aqua Regia digestion with ICP-AES/ICP-MS (51 element ME-MS41 package) in their Australian laboratories. Initial assays use their Au-ICP22 method of standard fire assay with an ICP-Atomic emission spectrometry finish on a 50gm aliquot, which has a detection range of 0.001 to 10 g/t. Check assays use the Au-AA26 method of standard fire assay with an ICP-Atomic absorption spectrometry finish again on a 50gm aliquot, which has a detection limit of 0.01 to 100 g/t. Dennis Ouellette, B.Sc, P.Geo., is a member of The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA #104257) and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). He is the Companys VP Exploration on site and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this document. ABOUT ANGKOR RESOURCES CORP. Angkor Resources Corp. is a public company, listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange, and is a leading mineral explorer in Cambodia with a large land package. The Andong Meas property is 187 KM2 in size, and the Company owns 100% of the high-potential property. In 2019, the company received approval to negotiate Production Sharing Contract (PSC) terms for Block VIII, a 7,300 square kilometre oil and gas license in Cambodia. CONTACT: Stephen Burega, CEO Telephone: +1 (647) 515-3734 Email: sb@angkorgold.ca Website: http://www.angkorgold.ca or follow us on Twitter @AngkorGold Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain statements that constitute forward-looking information or statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including without limitation, statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company and its properties, and other matters. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as expects or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, estimates or intends, or stating that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved), and variations of such words, and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon a number of factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, anticipated costs and the ability to achieve goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Companys planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Australia's Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, has defended his position on the use of natural gas after being criticised by some of the nation's leading climate change scientists, saying it would remain one of the nation's key energy sources. "There will be times when supply from renewable electricity generators will be inadequate to meet demand and occasionally such periods will last many days and affect adjacent jurisdictions," Dr Finkel wrote. Dr Alan Finkel has defended his position on the use of natural gas following criticism from a group of Australian climate scientists. Credit:Jessica Hromas On Monday The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age reported that a group of 25 leading Australian scientists had written to Dr Finkel, voicing their concern that his support for the use of gas was not supported by scientific evidence about the need for the rapid abandonment of fossil fuels to tackle climate change. They were particularly concerned about elements of Dr Finkel's address to the National Press Club earlier this year, which preceded the government's adoption of an economic stimulus policy backed by an expansion of the gas industry. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has lauded the outgoing Danish Ambassador, Ms Tove Degnbol, for her contribution to the strengthening of the bilateral relations between Ghana and Denmark. She said over the last five years, Ms Degnbols commitment to the relations led to the realisation of the new strategic sector cooperation between Danish and Ghanaian authorities in maritime and statistics and other areas. Ms Botchwey, who is the Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom, lauded the envoy when she paid a farewell call on the minister in Accra on Friday as she had ended her tenure as the Danish Ambassador. Ms Degnbol, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, was appointed Ambassador in 2015 to replace Ms Margit Thomsen, who served in the same capacity for two years. According to Ms Botchwey, the envoys highly distinguished work in Ghana further enhanced the fruitful relations between the two countries through the exchange of high level visits, including that of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. She said during the four-day visit in November2017, a number of Memoranda of Understanding and agreements were signed, including a letter of Intent between Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) and Bluetown Aps. Others, she said, included the Base of Pyramid Partnership Agreement between Novo Nordisk Pharma Gulf FZ-LLC and the National Catholic Secretariat with regard to the Health Directorate of the National Catholic Health Service. One of the high points of her tenure was the role she played in the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and Grundfos Holdings A/S (Grundfos Ghana Ltd) in a bid to help Ghana meet the SDG goal of achieving universal access to water by 2030, she said Also on the list of the Danish Ambassadors achievement, according to the Minister, was the pact signed between Ghana National Red Cross Commission and APM Terminals and Amend, an African road safety specialist. Ms Botchwey said those agreements had boosted the age-old and cordial Ghana-Denmark relations, which date back to the 1960s and characterised by development cooperation in several sectors, including health, water and sanitation, rural roads and decentralisation. Others were the support to the judiciary sector and civil society for poverty alleviation, and the promotion of sustainable development through programmes and projects implemented by the Danish International Development Agency. Ghana remains strongly committed to promoting friendly and cooperative relations with Denmark, the Foreign Minister said while commending MsDegnbol and wishing her well, adding that she hoped the outgoing envoy would continue to support the enhancement of the bilateral relations. Responding, Ms Degnbol thanked the government of Ghana for the support during her tenure and reiterated her countrys dedication to the longstanding relations and development of both countries. 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. Featured Video The apostle Paul frequently wrote in his epistles of believers need to grow spiritually. Who of us, having walked a spiritual life for ages, does not readily recognize when we look back on our faith journeys, that experience has been our most learning influence, as well as challenging taskmaster? Like the barrel of the proper recipe for the sauce, ignored and disregarded, God was still active in our lives, allowing wisdom to ferment. It would also do us well to remember that oftentimes that our prayers may synchronize with the will of God, but our timing could be a bit off. God does not use the same clocks we do. There are a number of other spiritual metaphors we can glean from Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. Some researchers propose adopting so-called challenge trials. In the final stage of testing, researchers typically give a vaccine to one group of volunteers and a placebo to another, then wait to see whether significantly fewer in the first group develop the targeted infection. That takes time. A quicker but riskier alternative is to inject volunteers with the vaccine, then deliberately expose them to the pathogen. Such challenge trials are the basis for animal studies of vaccines, and theyve been used in human tests of cholera, malaria and typhoid shots as well. Some prominent scientists have argued that the urgency of a Covid-19 vaccine justifies their use now, and the website 1daysooner.org has collected the names of tens of thousands of people who say theyd participate. Skeptics say its unethical to use this trial design until there are better, proven therapies to treat those who would become sick. By Oz Katerji The Iraq War was one of the most catastrophic and disastrous military interventions in modern history, so it has had a lasting impact on the British electorates view on foreign policy. There are some good reasons for that. Even conservative estimates place the death toll from the invasion and the civil war that followed it - one that arguably continues to this day - in the hundreds of thousands. Most of those deaths were not directly attributable to the international coalition, but many were nevertheless an indirect result of the invasion. There are some bad reasons too. For many in Britain, the Iraq War is the prism through which they view all foreign policy. It has created a policy vacuum totally divorced from empathy and solidarity towards the victims of international conflicts. A recent video published by the Labour left campaign group Momentum, fronted by Labour councillor and NEC member Yasmine Dar, was indicative of the problem. The video - tweeted alongside the statement to stop refugees, we need to stop creating refugees - actively denied agency to the very people it claimed to defend. Leaving aside for one moment the fact that a supposedly left-wing political group framed their message around finding a way to stop refugees - an utterly futile task that only gives succor to right wing narratives about immigration - the arguments made by Dar were fundamentally misleading. Dar argued that the majority of refugees arriving in the UK come from Middle Eastern countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria or Libya - countries that have experienced some form of UK military involvement over the last two decades. This is simply not true. In fact, according to the Migration Observatory, the majority of asylum seekers in the UK in 2018 were from Iran, Iraq, Eritrea, Pakistan and Albania. Syria and Libya were not even in the top ten. This fact, however, would have immediately pierced Dars narrative that British foreign policy is somehow the reason that the majority of refugees are fleeing their countries at all. There wasnt even any mention of the fact that the majority of migrants heading to Europe from Libya arent victims of the Libya conflict, but are actually fleeing other parts of Africa. British bombs have nothing to do with it. During the video, images of Iraq and Libya played out while Dar spoke. For her argument, they were interchangeable. But a UN Security Council-mandated No Fly Zone enacted to prevent Gaddafi from slaughtering his own people is not the same as a UN Security Council-rejected invasion and occupation. The idea that a progressive foreign policy requires Britain to use its power and influence to protect civilians, rather than turn a blind eye to their suffering, seems anathema to this way of thinking. In a lot of cases, not only do we support dictators, but weve put them there in the first place, Dar said, before spending the rest of the video discussing Britains role in the overthrow of Irans Mossadegh in 1953 - as if one of the main reasons for conflict in the region can be blamed solely on events that happened 67 years ago, and as if British foreign policy hasnt moved on from Churchill. If were assessing the situation honestly, no regional country has been more responsible for the Middle Eastern refugee crisis than Iran, but that wont fit into a Momentum video that lays the blame squarely at the feet of the British government. The massacres committed in Syria, Yemen and Iraq by Irans sectarian militias have displaced millions of civilians across the Middle East. The Iranian regime has been forcibly conscripting Afghan Hazara refugee children and sending them to fight in Syria. I am not sure how any video about todays refugee crisis can spend so much time discussing the 1953 coup without as much as a passing mention of Irans sectarian involvement in regional wars, including the killing of tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians - deaths which Dar prefers to attribute to British foreign policy. I wish I could say Dar was an isolated case on the left, but this foreign policy rot is far more pervasive than that. The legacy of the Iraq War has left a generation of supposedly progressive people turning a blind eye to some of the most heinous atrocities of the 21st century, based on the idea that tolerating mass murder is preferable to preventing it. This misreading of the Iraq conflict is widespread, particularly on the political left. The war is often cited as one of the main reasons that younger voters were so attracted to Jeremy Corbyns brand of anti-imperialist politics. This narrative acts as if only the far left opposed Iraq, just as it had opposed all foreign interventions during the period. In fact, there were far more persuasive arguments against the war from more mainstream sources. The Iraq War was not a humanitarian military intervention. There was no responsibility-to-protect element in the conflict. The intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction was wilfully distorted to ramp up the threat level and pacify political opposition to the war. That situation cannot be compared with the wars in Syria and Libya, where dictators launched wars against their own people, who were defenceless from the coming onslaught and looked to Western powers for protection - protection which, in the case of Syria, never came. Despite many young, left-leaning people having strong opinions about the conflict in Iraq, too many are totally ignorant of the facts and history of conflicts in the Middle East and too few are bothered to learn. An increasingly conspiratorial strand of so-called anti-imperialism, one which routinely dehumanises and denies agency to Middle Eastern civilians, has further poisoned the debate. Allegations about Saddam Husseins possession of weapons of mass destruction in 2003 may have proved false, but it is demonstrably true that Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly used chemical weapons against the Syrian people. Every time footage of these atrocities reached the West, many of those people who grew up in this strand of 'anti-imperialist politics responded to the images of dead and dying children, frothing at the mouth from nerve agent poisoning, in the same way they would the 'dodgy dossier. The suggestion that something should be done to protect them saw supposed progressives abandon all semblance of compassion and warn those expressing grief that they were being hoodwinked by the same people who 'manufactured consent for Iraq. This political camp has grown proud of its ignorance. It sees no need to learn more about the Middle East or the conflicts raging within it. Why learn about the decades of human misery inflicted upon the people of Libya or Syria when you can instead just dismiss it all as propaganda? There are few more wilfully anti-intellectual movements in the world than dogmatic anti-imperialism, an ideology that essentially instructs its adherents to ignore the voices and views of local populations in favour of pro-regime conspiracism regurgitated by cosplaying revolutionary communists. Conspiracism and war crimes denial has now deeply embedded itself in the Western left, alongside the total abandonment of any semblance of a progressive foreign policy. For many, it is irrelevant that the calls for civilian protection measures in Libya and Syria came from Libyan and Syrian civilians themselves. Democratic revolutions are routinely rejected or dismissed because they require a level of self-reflection that many decided they no longer needed to do after Iraq. The truth is that, whether Britain is involved or not, conflicts will continue to rage across the world. There is no way to stop refugees, just as there is no way for Western military power to police the world. But far from deciding to look away from this, we need to take it on. I do not understand how any progressive can look at the barbarity in Syria, with nearly a million dead and 12 million displaced, and state that Britain could have alleviated civilian suffering by doing less for the Syrian people, rather than more. If we want to help refugees, we have to understand that we cannot stop them. If we want to stop conflicts, we have to understand that the people in those countries need our help. More than 150 teachers, school employees and other workers from around the United States and internationally participated in a call-in meeting Saturday, August 22, sponsored by the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. The committee was formed earlier this month to organize opposition to the deadly reopening of schools. Educators from Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado, New York, California, Michigan, Texas, Hawaii and other states participated, along with Australia, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The meeting began with several reports detailing the present situation facing educators, debunking the anti-scientific lies used to justify the unsafe opening of schools and calling on educators, parents and students to set up rank-and-file committees in their own districts and states. A video of the complete reports can be seen here. Opening reports from the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee meeting on August 22, 2020. Evan Blake, a former teacher in Oakland, California and a Socialist Equality Party member, said the opening of schools had already led to nearly 3,000 reported infections in Florida, Georgia and other states, along with an increasing effort by states and districts to deliberately conceal information about new outbreaks. While the Trump administration had designated educators as critical infrastructure workers to prepare the use of state force against resistant teachers, Democrats in New York, California and other states, along with the teacher unions, were mouthing empty phrases about safely opening schools. The aim of this bipartisan policy, Blake said, was to get children out of their homes so their parents could be sent back to work to produce profits for the corporations, which are needed to finance the mountain of debt created by the Wall Street bailout. Citing the hundreds of protests, sickouts and other forms of resistance by educators across the country, Blake said, A week ago, we announced the formation of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee to break the isolation imposed on educators and unite across district and state lines. We are fighting to link up with autoworkers, Amazon and logistics workers, nurses and the entire working class to prepare for a nationwide general strike to halt the opening of schools, stop the spread of the pandemic and save lives. Benjamin Mateus, a physician who has written extensively on the medical science of the pandemic for the World Socialist Web Site, refuted the lies that children returning to school would not get seriously ill or spread the virus. He presented a series of slides on the spike in infections and hospitalizations among children, evidence that they are a vector for community spread, and recent studies about the aerosolization of the virus, which makes poorly ventilated schools particularly deadly. With testing in the US declining and roughly tenfold lower than what is needed, Mateus said, it is utterly negligent to open the schools. Citing the demands of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, Mateus said, The schools must remain closed until the threat to health is over and rank-and-file safety committees, working in conjunction with trusted scientists and public health experts, can ensure the safety of children, teachers and school employees. Renae Cassimeda, a southern Californian teacher and member of the Educators Rank-and-File Committee, explained that parents have been required to sign waivers releasing schools from liability in the event their child contracts the virus and dies. Educators have also been told to have their wills in order. At the same time, she said, the American ruling class was exploiting the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic to expand the looting of public education and accelerate privatization, from the outsourcing of virtual learning to private contractors to the plans for school vouchers. US public schools face a cumulative debt of more than $300 billion in the coming year, she noted, declaring that the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee would unite teachers to oppose austerity and demand that the resources used for the multi-trillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street be redirected to guarantee state-of-the-art online learning and vastly improve public education. Genevieve Leigh, the national secretary of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), denounced the Democrats and Republicans for feigning concern over the academic and emotional well-being of children after both corporate-controlled parties spent decades slashing funding, closing schools and gutting social services. Now these politicians and union bureaucrats have the audacity to use the students as pawns against the teachers, going so far as to say that teachers are harming the students by refusing to return to unsafe classrooms. The SEP and IYSSE, Leigh said, firmly believe that every effort must be made to unite students and teachers. We urge students to take a stand on the side of health, science and progress. Peter, a teacher in Massachusetts, said 70 percent of school districts plan to open with the hybrid model even though this actually expands the social circuit of children increasing the likelihood of community spread. Pointing to the treacherous role of the unions, he said, the Massachusetts Teachers Association have done little more than empty gestures, at best calling for a phased-in approach that required teachers to report to schools immediately and merely delays a fuller reopening by a number of weeks. This time, he said, will be used by administrators and politicians to stage enough hygiene theater that they think will placate public concerns. But teachers recognize the existential threat to their lives and those who join this committee, he said, had to show educators how to organize independently of the unions and big business politicians. Laura, a preschool teacher from Arizona, said, I support 100 percent a nationwide strike because it is not safe. Teachers in the suburban Phoenix JO Combs district had succeeded in closing down schools by calling out sick, she said. In my district, the kindergartners and first graders were brought back to school without masks she continued. They said they ordered face shields for teachers, but they have not come in yet. Im over 60, and with asthma and diabetes Im high risk. We have to take a stand now. A teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, said Duval County educators had been organizing on a Facebook group called Duval for a Safe Return since June, commenting, Public schools are being held hostage with our funds being threatened if we dont open face-to-face. Richard Corcoran, our secretary of education, has been lying to the media, claiming there would be social distancing and enough PPE. My biggest class has 60 students and my co-workers have small classes of 40 students. The district purchased little cardboard dividers about a foot-and-a-half tall that they put on the students desks that you cant see through, so the students have to raise their heads above them to see the board. People are terrified but have started to organize. DTU (Duval Teachers United) is our union here, but they have marched lockstep with the district officials. At least 80 teachers, he reported, had carried out a sickout on the first day of school, August 20, while hundreds had resigned over the summer as the reopening got closer. Even the administrators feel trapped and they support the protests, he added. Another Jacksonville teacher said, Our positivity rate magically went down from 11 percent to 4 percent this afternoon, so somebody is tweaking the numbers. I started hearing a month ago about office staff getting the virus, but it isnt being reported. I cant see how they can willfully do this, she said, adding that she would join together with other teachers in the district to fight. Alan, a history teacher from a rural Oklahoma district said, Our state is open and there are only a handful of students wearing masks. The OEA (Oklahoma Education Association) did nothing during the strike in 2018. The power, the big money, the oil runs the state. We are a top state when it comes to poverty, its still like The Grapes of Wrath. There is a fighting spirit here, you guys saw that in the 2018 strike. In our school, the administration is going about it like nothing has changed. Weve been given two rolls of paper towels and a bottle of sanitizer, which is alcohol and water called Okie-Safe, which somebody got a contract for. The supplies weve been given for this worldwide pandemic that is threatening billions of people are the same as I got before the pandemic. Were told not to talk about this in class. Dont draw historic parallels to this moment. Just go ahead and teach the state-mandated curriculum. People in this state inherently know it is wrong and want to know what to do. What we need here is a lot of support and ideas on how to organize. An educator in New York City said, A lot of the previous speakers are coming out of more politically conservative states. Im from a city with a supposedly progressive mayor, Bill de Blasio. In areas where Democrats are in power, were finding that they are no less subservient to the capitalist class. The largest school district in the country, he said, was offering parents an online or a blended model, although district officials had made it very difficult for parents to navigate the platform to make this choice. In addition, he noted that there were only five cleaners to do deep cleaning in his school, which is very large, and the janitorial fund had been cut by 20 percent. When a cleaner called out sick under normal conditions, he said, another cleaner would get overtime to fill in. However, with the budget cuts there is no more overtime money. The DOE (Department of Education) knows there is substantial opposition and they are engaging in censorship to ensure that the truth does not come out. They have created a scenario where parents are being forced to send their kids to school with a whole bunch of disinformation. This is why the safety committee, he said, had to spread the truth and organize opposition. A Detroit paraeducator said even if teachers won online learning for a few weeks, support staff, like janitors and paraprofessionals, would still be forced to go into the unsafe buildings with the students. Our lives are not the subject of a cruel experiment or a joke. The administration is playing with our lives and livelihoods as ancillary staff and seeing how far they can push this thing so the ruling elite can go back to business as usual. The rank-and-file committee is necessary to save lives and we must unite broader sections of the working class to halt the opening of schools. Mark, an autoworker who leads the Ford Dearborn Rank-and-File Safety Committee explained that the auto industry had only been shut down in mid-March after workers conducted a series of wildcat strikes. The half-measures hailed by the corrupt United Auto Workers union to reopen the plants in May were now being tossed aside, he said, with management and the union telling workers to remain on the job even if they came in contact with an infected person. We need to join together in different industries, states and countries because we are the only ones looking out for our best interests. Together we are the vast majority and can do this. The reopening of schools is an international policy. Sue Phillips, a teacher in Melbourne, Australia and member of the Socialist Equality Party in Australia, brought greetings from the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), which is leading the fight against unsafe school conditions and austerity. She said the CFPE insisted that the health and safety of teachers and students could not be left in the hands of governments, employers or unions, and would do everything to unite Australian and American educators in a common fight. An educator in Brazil described the catastrophe in the country, which has the second highest death total in the world. Eighty percent of people are against opening the schools, and in Sao Paulo teachers and staff are starting to discuss a strike in September. We have to unite every section of the working class to make this stop. Summing up the work that had to be done in coming days, Nancy Hanover, the editor of the WSWS Educators Newsletter, said, A stand taken by teachers in Florida, Arizona and Massachusetts will galvanize workers both across the US and the world, just as educators did in 2018. Make the decision to join this committee. Organize discussions with teachers at your school and reach out to build up these committees. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee urges all those who agree with this fight to contact us today, join our Facebook group and make plans to attend our next online call-in meeting Saturday, August 29. Register today and share the event widely with your coworkers! by Austin Bay August 25, 2020 In July, senior government officials in Taiwan and the U.S. warned that communist China was aggressively threatening Taiwan's independence. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper contended Beijing had taken its intimidation "to a new level." China's 1995-1996 "missile drizzle" operation, sometimes called the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, set a high bar for aggressive threats to Taiwan. For nine months, Beijing fired short- and medium-range missiles into the surrounding ocean. Though communist missile crews carefully avoided the bullseye, large splashes bracketed the island. The missile launches had several goals: (1) frighten the Taiwanese into accepting Beijing's political hegemony, (2) demonstrate the mainland's growing military might and (3) probe American political will to defend the island. Beijing's 2020 antics have the same goals. In March 1996, two U.S. Navy carrier battle groups arrived in the area. Beijing quietly backed down. However, China's 2020 military is far superior to its 1996 version. America may no longer have a decisive military edge. Moreover, 2020's diplomatic and military threats follow Beijing's callous annexation of Hong Kong. The official warnings spurred several recent articles that examine a U.S-China war sparked by a Beijing invasion of Taiwan. Some are quite dire. For example, the latest issue of the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine has a Taiwan war scenario set in January 2021. The authors have Beijing defeating Taiwan in three days. Proceedings titled the article "The War That Never Was," but that doesn't mean war didn't erupt. Beijing strikes in the wake of the contested 2020 U.S. presidential election and continuing pandemic. Communist China "wins without fighting," at least without fighting the U.S. The scenario's creators: Adm. James Winnefeld, former vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and Michael Morell, former acting director and deputy director of the CIA. I think a Chinese quick victory over Taiwan is highly unlikely, even a Taiwan temporarily alone. My latest book, "Cocktails From Hell," included a Taiwan Straits war scenario where China struck Taiwan with thousands of missiles and smart weapons and then launched an amphibious assault using air-cushion vehicles, helicopters and parachute drops to insert infantry forces. What's the likely result? A major war with the U.S. However, the war on partially occupied Taiwan might be long and bitter. I sketched several other war scenarios and at least two I think are more likely than an invasion of Taiwan. One is "Meeting Engagement in the South China Sea." A sea battle "sparks a short but deadly war between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea with the Philippines and Vietnam likely US allies. Here's an example of a triggering event: Chinese and Filipino vessels exchange fire, the US Navy attempts to intervene, and a Chinese missile hits a USN warship." That was instructive speculation. Here's provocative reality: On Aug. 21, the Philippines accused China of illegally seizing fishing gear in the South China Sea's disputed Scarborough Shoal area. In April, Vietnam claimed a Chinese coast guard vessel sank a Vietnamese trawler. Current events make what I called "the China versus India scenario" uncomfortably likely. Here's a summary of the Sino-Indian War, Round Two, or the War for Southern Tibet: "China launches a limited invasion with the goal of pushing the border 25 to 30 miles farther south in both the eastern and western sectors. China would quickly call for a ceasefire to avoid escalation to nuclear war and offer to negotiate a permanent border demarcation." Fantasy? This year, Indian and Chinese soldiers have clashed along The Line of Actual Control that threads through the Himalayas. The confrontations in India's Ladakh region and in the Naku La mountain pass in Sikkim were particularly dangerous. The 1962 Sino-Indian War ceasefire has produced a kind of stability, but a ceasefire is not a ratified peace treaty. But here's the internal war scenario that truly worries Beijing: The Next Chinese Revolution. China reaches a point (2035?) where "for a variety of reasons ... economic slowdown, ethnic unrest, loss of citizen cooperation, complete disgust with corruption -- authoritarian control cannot be sustained." The revenge of Tiananmen Square? A Canadian man living in Melbourne has accused police of threatening him with a gun when he put his bins out an hour after the 8pm lockdown curfew. Jordan Hale was taking out the rubbish at his home in Mickleham, in Melbournes northern suburbs, at 9.20pm on August 20 when he was approached by police. Stage Four lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire means an 8pm curfew has been enforced daily. Hale told radio station 3AW he was asked to produce identification and explained he didn't carry ID while on his own property. He said he then asked police if they had a warrant when they allegedly followed him onto the property. Jordan Hale says police harassed him when he put his bins out at 9.20pm on August 20. Stage Four lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire means that an 8pm curfew has been enforced daily. Pictured: Police patrolling curfew on August 8 'The officer said something along the lines of I'm lucky there wasn't a gun in my face,' Mr Hale said. 'The officer went on to say: "I know you think you have rights but under the Health Act we can come in your house."' Mr Hale said he responded that was the reason he was leaving Australia to return to Canada. He also claimed the officer touched him without gloves on and got in his personal space. Mr Hale then got the officer to agree to let him go if he could recite his car's licence plate number from memory. He added it would 'be a start' if his allegations were investigated. Police have new powers during Victoria's state of emergency, which allow them to enter someone's home if they are believed to be breaching lockdown measures. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers were responding to reports of a stolen car in the area when they saw a man and stopped to talk to him about it. Mr Hale told 3AW an officer touched him without wearing gloves and 'got in his personal space' during the alleged incident as he took out his bins (stock image) 'Police attempted to perform a routine check of the mans personal details to confirm his name and address, which he did not want to provide in the first instance,' the spokeswoman said. 'During this discussion, they also spoke to him about the Chief Health Officers directives as he was not wearing a face covering. At no stage did police make any reference to holding a gun to this mans face or make any other threats. 'Police do have the authority to enter a premises under the Health Act if they suspect a breach of the Chief Health Officers directions. Once officers confirmed the mans identity and address, they left the premises and no further action was taken.' Weather Alert ...Spotty black ice possible this morning... Slick spots on area roads may persist this morning as temperatures bottom out in the teens to around 10 degrees, and gusty northerly winds continue. Snow flurries may occur across parts of western Kentucky through mid morning. Untreated roads and bridges are most likely to have black ice on them. Motorists should use caution on the morning commute. China-funded culture and language centres at Australian universities and Victoria's Belt and Road deal with Beijing could be cancelled under a powerful intervention to be unveiled by the Morrison government. The new laws will allow the Australian foreign minister to cancel agreements that states, territories, local governments and universities enter into with an overseas government if they contradict Australia's national interest. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce new laws to cancel agreements between foreign governments and Australian states, territories and local councils. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Confucius Institutes operating at Australian universities could fall foul of the new laws because of their links to Chinese Communist Party-controlled headquarters in Beijing, while at least two NSW government agreements and four Victorian deals with foreign governments will be scrutinised under the new scheme. The interventionist measures could force Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to scrap his BRI agreement with the Chinese government, which ties the state to Chinese President Xi Jinpings signature initiative to bankroll infrastructure projects around the world. WATERLOO -- Women have been able to vote in the United States as long as Rose Beier has been alive -- 100 years, right on the nose, as of Wednesday. Beier, a retired Mason City and Waterloo phone company worker, home Former Mason City woman turns 100 on suffrage centennial builder, property manager and homemaker, was born Aug. 26, 1920 -- the same day the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was duly certified for inclusion in the U.S. Constitution as the law of the land. Voters in Tennessee had ratified the amendment Aug. 18, giving the amendment the necessary approval of three-fourths of the states required for inclusion in the Constitution. Iowa was the 10th state to ratify the amendment, in June 1919. The certification culminated an effort that had begun at a women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y. in 1848. Aug. 26 is National Women's Equality Day in the U.S., as proclaimed by President Richard Nixon in 1972 and approved by Congress in 1973. It was a resolution first introduced by Congresswoman Bella Abzug of New York in 1971. "I think it's wonderful," Beier said. "I think it's terrible that they had to wait that long to get a chance to vote -- 70 years" after the Seneca Falls conference. "I can't imagine they had to discuss it that long before they got the right." She believes her first vote was for President Franklin Roosevelt on 1944. "The war (World War II) was on," Beier recalled, and recalled Roosevelt died not long after, in April 1945. She was at work at the phone company in Mason City and "the switchboard just lit up like a Christmas tree." She's voted in every general election since. In contrast, she said, her mother never voted. "She thought she would have canceled out my dad's vote so she never voted. I didn't think it was right, either." While she votes regularly, she's never imposed on others regarding their right and responsibility as citizens to do the same. "I just think it's up to them to know they're supposed to," she said. "Nobody talks me into voting. I just know I'm supposed to vote." She grew up on a 160-acre Floyd County farm between Nashua and Charles City. "I can remember when (Highway) 218 up by Charles City was still a dirt road," she said. She was one of a family of seven children, with three brothers and three sisters. She attended a country school through eighth grade. School was a two-mile walk from home. She helped on the farm but went to work for the phone company in Nashua in 1938 as a switchboard operator. "I started at the telephone office for 25 cents an hour. Twenty five cents," she said. "My first check was $13 and I'd only worked seven days. And my dad couldn't figure out how I could make that much money." She then went to work for the phone company in Mason City, moving there in January 1942, the month after the United States entered World War II. "Everything was rationed," she said. "The month after Pearl Harbor was bombed, you couldn't buy a tire or nothing. Everything was on ration -- sugar, gas. Everything was rationed. Pineapple and bananas you couldn't even buy." "I knew a lot of phone numbers," she said. She placed many overseas calls during World War II. "They couldn't understand the other girls, they had such a squeaky voice, and mine was more understandable" and distinctive over long-distance lines. Of attitudes about the war, she said, "We just took it for granted and did our job. We had a job to do and we did it. I had to work 13 days out of (every) 14 for two years while the war was on, because so many women went to the (Navy) WAVES and (ARMY) WACs and we had to work overtime." She took a bus and visited family at home as much as she could. Many friends went to the service. Some were lost, "but a lot came home." When the war ended, it was "wonderful," she said. "You could finally get pineapple and bananas and gelatin and all that stuff you couldn't get before. There'd be a block (long) lineup from people waiting to get in the store. A lot of times, the stuff was gone when you got there." She and her husband, LaVerne, married in December 1945 after he served a year in the Army, and they came to Waterloo. She worked for the phone company here and he was a John Deere machinist from 1946 to 1982 at company facilities on Westfield Avenue. She attended Gates Business College, took correspondence classes and got her GED diploma. She worked through the phone company through 1951. In addition to their regular jobs, the couple built several houses in town over the years, living in some, managing others. "We didn't let any grass grow under our feet," she said. She, her husband and brother-in-law built the house in which she currently lives in 1971. LaVerne died in 1984. They had two sons, one of whom is deceased, four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She also helped build Ascension Lutheran Church at Greenhill Road and Maynard Avenue -- which, perhaps appropriately, became a polling place. "And I'm planning on voting this year," she said. Having driven a car until age 93, and now with help, she voted at the polls until now. "Probably absentee ballot this year," for the first time, she said, because it's getting harder for her to see. "If it weren't for this coronavirus (pandemic) we were going to have a big party," for her birthday, she said. But family and friends plan a birthday caravan of vehicles in front of her home. It's a vote of appreciation for a life well lived. Profiles of Courage and Persistence: Vivian Smith Eighth in a series of stories in 2020 about inspirational Iowa women in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment allowing women to vote. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For Modupe Oyetoso, July 10 will forever remain a sad day for her because that was the day she lost her fiancee (names withheld) to armed kidnappers alleged to be Fulani herdsmen. Ms Oyetoso and her fiance were returning from their farm at Igbo-dudu in Lanlate around 5 p.m. on the fateful day when the four armed men accosted them, killing her fiance in the process while she was whisked away. She spent two days in her abductors den. She only secured her release after an undisclosed sum of money was paid by her family to the kidnappers as ransom. The harrowing experience explains why Ms Oyetoso told PREMIUM TIMES that Im not sure I want to grant any interview again because each time I do, I remember the sad incident, it was a horrible experience and I remain devastated. Lanlate is one of the seven towns in Ibarapa area of Oyo State. Others are Igangan, Eruwa, Aiyete, Tapa, Idere, and Igbo-Ora. The major activity in these communities is agriculture with many outsiders having acres of land for farming. Despite being a graduate of Computer Science from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Ms Oyetoso took to farming, saying that is where her passion lies. Modupe Oyetoso [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] She started with little capital about six years ago and grew to own Smart Farm Nigeria attending to all forms of farming business. She later introduced her late fiance to farming but two months after showing interest, he was attacked and killed by the armed men. Road where Modupe and her fiance were attacked [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] On sighting the kidnappers, she said her lover manoeuvred their car in order to escape from the kidnappers but could not escape. Soon, she heard a gunshot that hit her fiance at the back of his head. While trying to save him, the car, which was still in motion, hit a tree. By the time the vehicle screeched to a halt, the kidnappers approached her and whisked her away. Ms Oyetoso said the bad guys tied her hands with a rope and forced her into the forest. The spot where Modupes car hooked when her lover was shot [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] She said while one of them was using the rope to pull her, another was beating her when she slowed down, saying that when she even slumped in the rain, they continued beating and pulling her. Upon getting into the forest where they considered safe for them, the kidnappers asked Ms Oyetoso to call her parents to brief them of her travails. Held in forest for 2 days Ms Oyetoso said she was exposed to rain and cold while in the forest for two days. She said that the kidnappers criticised her late fiance for trying to escape when he saw them because what they wanted was just money. While she was disturbed and ignorant about the situation of her lover, one of the assailants told her to accept all that happened as fate. On her first night in the forest, she said her abductors called her family to demand N50 million for her release. While they spoke with her in Yoruba, they were speaking Fulani to themselves, she recounted. When she asked if her lover was going to survive the gunshot, one of the assailants reportedly responded, saying he would be rescued by passersby. By the next morning, they called her parents again. Not pleased with the no money excuse from her father, the assailants shot at her direction threatening to kill and sell her body parts. Amidst this, her father kept pleading that it was a Saturday and that he had no money at home. She again spent the night with them until her parents were able to raise an undisclosed amount of million as ransom. On the day of her release, her father called at 9 p.m. that he had gotten to Eruwa, a nearby town where he was directed to bring the ransom. After a careful check and assurance that the old man was not with the police, the assailants told him to drop the money somewhere and after picking the cash, they called the guy asked to look after me to bring me. It took me about 15 minutes to get to my dad from the forest, she said. It was after she got home that she confirmed that her fiance could not survive the gunshot. They killed his dream, she said, weeping. Ms Oyetoso became downcast. My mum was distraught, she said and even though I didnt see his tears, I know my dad was crying inside. It is one of the worst experiences a parent could face. Advertisements More tales of sorrow Ms Oyetoso is not the only farmer with a tale of sorrow in Lanlate. A PREMIUM TIMES visit to the community showed that there are many others who are yet to recover from their kidnap experiences. In fact, investigations revealed that some farmers have already abandoned their farms following attacks from suspected herdsmen. Lanlate signpost [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] Few days after Ms Oyetosos horrible experience, a cocoa distributor in the community was also abducted. Fatai Ogunniyi has been a cocoa dealer in the town since the 80s. He, however, witnessed an unforgettable experience of his life on July 19 when he was kidnapped by persons he said were Fulani herdsmen. Fatai Ogunniyi [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] He told PREMIUM TIMES that he was whisked away while returning from Iseyin with his wife. The kidnappers robbed his wife of over N300,000 when they accosted them but left for the forest with only him. They took me into the forest, beat me and forced me to drink mud water in the rain. They were six in numbers and were speaking Fulani. It was my wife that ran to the main town to inform the public about my predicament. He told PREMIUM TIMES that he trekked alongside the assailants from the point of his abduction till the following morning. After I summoned courage to ask them about my offence, they told me they were only looking for survival too. Mr Ogunniyi said the assailants later in the night asked him to call his family demanding the sum of N10 million as ransom. When I told them I dont have enough money, one of them slapped me and wondered if a poor man could be driving the type of my car. He said when he could no longer endure the beating, he agreed to call home but by then, they already reduced their demand to N9 million. He told our correspondent that one of his abductors got annoyed and pointed a gun at him following the refusal of his family to yield to their demand. After much pleading and beating, the kidnappers agreed that they would release Mr Ogunniyi if his family would produce at least N1 million a day after he was kidnapped. He explained that the more a victim stays with kidnappers, the higher the ransom. When my friend was coming the next day to pay the N1 million ransom, four of the six assailants went to block him while the other two stayed with me. They asked him to help them buy food (rice) on his way which he obliged. When he got to the forest where they asked him to bring the money, he was asked to taste from the food to be sure he had not poisoned the meal. He told our correspondent that he trekked for over 40 minutes after he was freed before he saw a small village where he was directed back home to meet his traumatised family. Aside from the aforementioned cases, many more cases have been recorded in Lanlate, the farmers told PREMIUM TIMES. When our correspondent visited the palace of the towns monarch, he met a top chief, Adegbayi Adesokan the Asipa of Lanlate , who lamented the security challenges in the community. He said even the monarch and his chiefs were not safe. Lanlate monarch palace [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] We are witnessing what has not been in the place long before now in Lanlate. Fulani are now going to farm to kill, destroy farms and commit many other atrocities. We believe that the only solution is to strengthen police and even equip our own Amotekun. We are not safe. He also pleaded that farmers should not vacate the town. We urge farmers not to leave their farms. I understand many have run away but we cant run. The monarch and chiefs are not also safe. We hope to get authorities efforts soon, he pleaded. Cassava farm destroyed by cattle [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] We are also victims Myetti Allah When PREMIUM TIMES visited the chairman of Myetti Allah cattle breeders association, Muhammed Bello, in Ibarapa, he said that the bad Fulani herdsmen are responsible for insecurity in the community. Muhammad Bello [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] He explained that every tribe has good and bad individuals among them while pleading that the menace of insecurity in the area should not be traced to only a tribe. Mr Bello narrated how one of the top Fulani traders living in Lanlate, Alhaji Anji, was recently kidnapped by fellow Fulanis on his farm. He explained that Mr Anji was kidnapped twice for defaulting on the agreement he had with the kidnappers when he was first abducted. We all want a peaceful environment. One of us, Alhaji Anji was kidnapped twice. The kidnappers asked for N3 million but he was able to raise half of it with the promise that if released, he would work hard to get their balance. After he was freed, the kidnappers were calling him with different lines, he went to report at police station thinking he had regained freedom. But to everybody surprise, Anji was kidnapped again and was beaten mercilessly by the same set of people until he paid the balance. So, this is to tell you that even Fulanis are also affected. He told PREMIUM TIMES that the Myetti Allah in Lalante is collaborating with other farmers to call on security operatives and the government for protection of lives and property. The truth is that all of us are not safe whether Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or Fulani. We call on the police and government to help us. We are all in this together because I have been here for the past 20 years. Insecurity and way forward Many of the farmers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES disclosed that police officers in Lanlate are not enough to combat the bad guys, alleging that, in some cases, the officers compromise. Many a time, there are little or no reports about the criminal activities happening in these rural communities. Residents, who craved anonymity for security reasons, told our correspondent that whenever they report the atrocities of herdsmen to the police, money changes hands between the criminals and the police. A farmer in the community, who did not want her name in print, told PREMIUM TIMES that the challenges facing the farmers are enormous. She disclosed that she was on the farm the day the incident of Ms Oyetoso happened, saying perhaps she could have been the victim if she had gone home with her car. She noted that the kidnappers often target cars to determine their prey. We dont have enough security here and thats the major reason for many of our problems. When these herdsmen destroy your farm, you will pray to get them to pay damages. Police can only do little. So, the community security is porous and large scale farmers are the target of the kidnappers, she said. The only solution is that the government should strengthen local vigilantes and make sure Amotekun start working in Oyo State. These people will comb the forest better than the police. This newspaper also visited Lanlate Police Division for fact findings. Lanlate Police station [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Musiliu Sogbade, admitted that farmers in the community were facing security challenges. He, however, told our correspondent that he was not authorised to speak to the press. He directed PREMIUM TIMES to the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, Olugbenga Fadeyi. Earlier, Mr Fadeyi confirmed the arrest of two of the four assailants who kidnapped Ms Oyetoso while the other two are still at large. The police spokesperson, however, did not respond to this newspapers enquiries on other cases and allegations of sabotage against the force. Lanlate police canter [PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES Adejumo Kabir] The states commissioner for agriculture, Muyiwa Ojekunle, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES enquiries but Wale Olatunbosun, the information commissioner, explained the governments efforts towards curbing insecurity in the state. The government is making adequate efforts to tackle insecurity. Governor Makinde bought 100 vehicles for security operatives basically to tackle the challenges. Kidnapping is not just in Oyo and that was why the six southwest states initiated Amotekun. We will make sure that all those that will be recruited for the community policing would be from the local areas and already familiar with the terrain. We have approved funds for their kits and other things needed. He told PREMIUM TIMES that the Amotekun corps would be recruited in the next few months and that they would start to work fully in various communities in the state. The commissioner, therefore, urged residents to be optimistic and support the government of the day. Food security in danger Experts told PREMIUM TIMES that with the way farmers are abandoning their farms, food security is already in danger and may hinder the efforts of governments in this regard. Before oil became the major source of the countrys revenue, Nigeria used to be one of the most promising agricultural nations in the world but all that has changed now. This newspaper has published a series of reports on how many farming communities are left to rot. A World Bank Senior agricultural economist, Adetunji Oredipe, on September 6, 2019, said Nigerias neglect of the agricultural sector costs the country about $10 billion annually. Speaking with this newspaper, an agricultural economist, Kingsley Ndimele, said to achieve the Nigeria of our dream, the government must as a matter of urgency look at the security challenges farmers are facing including all Nigerians. In as much as stopping importation of farm produce is correct, authorities must ensure that farmers are encouraged to feed the nation. No country develops without agric sector. By Mark McCormick As president of Middlesex County College, I am hearing from 2020 high school graduates who are rethinking the decision to attend college this year. One reason is cost. A second concern is COVID-19. Some are questioning the value of a college education. The average cost of a college education at a residential four-year college or university in New Jersey runs more than $34,000 per year. The College Board reports that the average tuition and fees at community colleges are about a third of costs at the lowest-cost public four-year institutions and one-tenth the costs at the lowest-cost four-year private schools. And that is only tuition and fees. It does not include room, board, and other on-campus expenses. In New Jersey, your first two years of college may be free. If your adjusted gross family income is $65,000 or less, you qualify for the Community College Opportunity Grant, which covers tuition and most fees. Students who complete an associate degree and transfer to a four-year college or university save tens of thousands of dollars. Many four-year colleges like most community colleges will deliver education online this fall. Why pay high tuition for online courses, especially if you are going to be studying from home? Your best option is at one of New Jerseys community colleges, which have been leaders in online education. The New Jersey Transfer Law (also known as the Lampitt Law) guarantees that four-year public colleges and universities in New Jersey must accept as transfer credits the entire Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree earned at a New Jersey community college. Nearly all private institutions of higher education in New Jersey have agreed to abide by the law as well. Thinking of transferring to a four-year college or university out of state? Check with the transfer admissions staff at the college to see if the credits earned at a New Jersey community college will transfer. Most New Jersey community colleges have articulation agreements with a number of colleges and universities in other states. More than two-thirds of students at community colleges in New Jersey intend to complete a bachelors degree. Community college graduates transfer to every college in New Jersey as well as many colleges out of state. For example, Middlesex County College is the largest transfer feeder to Rutgers University New Brunswick and among the largest transfer schools for NJIT and Kean University. Our graduates also transfer to Columbia University, Penn State, Princeton University, Rider University, Seton Hall University, Syracuse University, TCNJ, and the University of Delaware. Transfer institutions regularly report that our graduates perform better than native students at their institutions both in terms of grade point average and time to degree completion. Our small class size, faculty focused on teaching, and strong student support services prepare our graduates for success at four-year colleges and universities. Finally, there is much evidence that a college education matters. Studies show that earning a college degree makes a significant difference in terms of lifetime earnings. The average associate degree holder earns $400,000 more over a lifetime than an individual with only a high school diploma. The differential for someone with a bachelors degree is nearly $1,000,000. You maximize the return on investment in your college education by starting at a community college. The end result for a student who earns the first two years of a bachelors degree at a community college is that she will be a proud alumna with a diploma from the four-year institution but will have paid significantly less for her bachelors degree than students who paid tuition every year at a four-year institution. Every county in New Jersey is served by one of 18 New Jersey community colleges. It is not too late to register for fall semester courses. Some students accepted at four-year schools may be able to choose to defer enrollment for the coming year. Tally up the costs of attending a four-year college or university this year and compare it to the costs of attending the community college that serves your county. Starting at your local New Jersey community college is your best choice. Mark McCormick is president of Middlesex County College. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) A senator said Wednesday evidence is not enough to criminally pin down Health Secretary and PhilHealth chairman Francisco Duque or the entire board over alleged corruption in the agency. "As far as evidence kasi, nasa board siya... eh wala kaming nakita na ang board mismo ma-hold accountable or criminally liable," Senator Ping Lacson told reporters in an online briefing. "Actually nafocus 'yung investigation doon sa execom." [Translation: As far as evidence, he (Duque) is in the board but we did not see anything to hold the board accountable or criminally liable. Actually the investigation was focused on the executive committee.] Lacson said the Senate Committee of the Whole, which led the hearings against PhilHealth, is still working on its final report, but earlier, some senators already said there was enough information to recommend complaints against other officials of the state health insurer. The committee is mulling charges of graft, malversation and violation of the Internal Revenue Code against PhilHealth officers, Lacson said, such as President and CEO Ricardo Morales and Senior Vice President for the Fund Management Sector Renato Limsiaco. Conflicting findings Meanwhile, Lacson said they may encounter issues in signing the final report after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee released its own findings that pointed to different culprits than the PhilHealth executives. "Baka maging awkward, so I think we'll have to discuss it in caucus," he said. "Kung magkakontra 'yung dalawang committee reports I cannot see how a senator would sign both." [Translation: It may turn awkward so I think we'll have to discuss it in caucus. If the two committee reports are contradicting, I cannot see how a senator would sign both.] On Tuesday, Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Richard Gordon presented recommendations, and stated that the regional vice presidents were behind the so-called mafia, responsible for fraudulent schemes. Some of the regional vice presidents earlier supported allegations against the executive committee and raised other corruption issues. Gordon later clarified he meant all of the accused the executives and the regional vice presidents are part of the mafia. However, he stressed that the RVPs should be removed despite Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto calling them "the good guys." "The regional vice presidents are so ensconced in the system because they've been there for 22 years," Gordon told CNN Philippines' The Final Word. Lacson said while he has yet to read the Blue Ribbon Committee's findings, he is inclined to sign the Committee of the Whole report. He said there is no record of the regional vice presidents' involvement in fraud. SHANGHAI, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Westwin, the cross-border marketing agency that helps companies to activate successful marketing in China, recently has signed a strategic partnership agreement with UK Education Guide Ltd, an independent portal offering comparative information about UK boarding schools and universities aimed at international families and prospective students. "We are relatively new to the boarding school market," says Alain de Maurier, Sales & Marketing Director of Westwin, based in London, "we needed a partner that would perfectly complement our marketing and technical ability." "We were looking for a highly ethical partner and UK Education Guide provides a genuinely independent voice in the market which we could clearly see reflected in the content of the site, blog and the parent testimonials their website receives." "We are excited to work with Westwin because of their fresh approach to the market," says UK Education Guide Director, Pat Moores. "We like the fact that they will use their technological expertise to strengthen the voice of independent family advisers in the Boarding school market. We aim to cast the net as wide as possible to help each family find the very best school for their child." Under the agreement, Westwin, with UK Education Guide support, will create a brand new web site - UKeducations.cn - hosted in China and targeting the Chinese market. The site will launch on 1 October 2020. UK Education Guide will handle all parent referrals from the new Chinese site, whilst continuing to develop other international markets via UKeducationGuide.com Schools that meet the criteria will be featured on both sites respectively. Most schools are members of BAISIS (the British Association of Independent Schools with International Students) baisis.org.uk and Caroline Nixon, Director BAISIS adds " We are delighted that the choice of schools made by UK Education Guide and their partner Westwin reflects the fact that UK boarding schools which have the highest standards of academic and pastoral provision for their international students are likely to be members of BAISIS. We wish Westwin and UEG well in this exciting new venture". For more information please contact [email protected] SOURCE Westwin Related Links www.westwin.com Bengaluru, Aug 26 : Karnataka on Wednesday beckoned Japanese firms to invest more in the state and enhance the economic and trade relations between India and Japan. "We look forward to increasing investments from Japanese firms and investors in the southern state to strengthen the economic and trade relations between India and Japan," said state Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa here. Addressing a day-long 'India-Japan Business Forum' in a virtual conference, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Chief Minister said a 519-acres of the Japanese industrial township has been built near Tumkuru to enable more Japanese investments in the state. Tumkuru is about 70km northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state. "Japanese investors and firms can take advantage of the incentives, including 25 per cent capital subsidy offered by us on land to set up their operations in the township across verticals, especially electronic manufacturing," said the Chief Minister. For economic growth and infrastructure development, Yediyurappa said the state encouraged foreign direct investment (FDI) from Japanese firms across sectors under the India-Japan comprehensive economic partnership pact, signed between the two countries in August 2011. "Japan is an important partner for us to promote growth with equity. The NITI Aayog 2019 Innovation Index placed Karnataka on top owing to availability of quality human resources, reputed educational institutions and thrust on research and development," asserted Yediyurappa on the occasion. FDI from Japan doubled to $3.2 billion in 2019-20 from $1.6 billion in 2017-18 across the country. "As we are on the forefront of attracting FDI, we will set up a benchmark post-Covid-19, as the state is first among the states to lift lockdown restrictions gradually for reviving the sagging economy," reiterated Yediyurappa. As knowledge hub, Karnataka and its capital Bengaluru are reputed the world over for strengths in IT, back-office services, biotechnology, machine tooling, aerospace, manufacturing and engineering design. The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) has set up a Startup Hub in the city in 2018 to identify Indian startups for the Japanese market. "As a pioneer in IT-BT, we have policy measures to promote startups and create an ecosystem for their growth with the Karnataka Innovation Authority, a law passed through Legislation in November 2019," recalled Yediyurappa. The state government has simplified processes, set up a single window for investors and engaged in regular discussion with the industry to create a stable, policy-driven environment for ease of doing business in the state. "With an investor-centric approach, we have unveiled a new industrial policy (2020-2025), offering production-linked incentives to create jobs for our youth," added the Chief Minister. The state government has liberalised labour laws to attract investments and create jobs in all sectors. By Trend For Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR, Romanias gas network operator Transgaz can provide the necessary infrastructure for the safe and efficient delivery of the gas volumes from Azerbaijan to the European market, Niculae Havrile?, State Secretary of the Ministry for Economy, Energy and Business Environment of Romania, told Trend. "I mentioned before that Romania is interested in extensive cooperation with Azerbaijan, a country with significant potential for the diversification of transport routes and energy supply sources for the European market. I mentioned the BRUA project and the RO-BG and RO-HU interconnectors. Establishing an energy transport Corridor between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, that would capitalize on the energy resources from the Caspian Sea area on one hand, and on the exploitation of the strategic position of Romania and Bulgaria at the Black Sea on the other hand, has a significant potential of increasing energy security both for Romania and Bulgaria and for the European Union in general," he said. Havrile? pointed out that the establishment of a tripartite Working Group Azerbaijan-Romania-Bulgaria would thus be a natural step and the appropriate cooperation framework in the common pursuit to shape the gas transport corridors linking Azerbaijan, via Bulgaria and Romania, with the Balkans and Central Europe. For the Romanian natural gas transmission operator Transgaz, SOCAR Company can become a bridge to Azerbaijan and the Caspian region, added the state secretary. NEET UG 2020 will be conducted offline on 13 September. As many as 15,97,233 candidates will be taking the exam this year The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the admit card for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 examination on its official website. Candidates appearing for medical entrance examination can download the admit card from ntaneet.nic.in or nta.ac.in. NEET UG 2020 will be conducted offline on 13 September. As many as 15,97,233 candidates will be taking the exam this year. According to a report by NDTV, the exam will be conducted from 2 pm to 5 pm. The admit card will indicate candidates' roll number, test centre number and address, question paper medium, reporting/ entry time and gate closing time of the centre. Steps to download NEET 2020 admit card: Step 1: Visit the website - ntaneet.nic.in or nta.ac.in. Step 2: At the left side of the homepage, under current events, click on the link that reads 'Download Admit Card'. Step 3: You will be directed to a new page where you will have to enter your application number, password, date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format, and enter security pin. Step 4: Press the submit button. Step 5: Your NEET UG 2020 admit card, or hall ticket, will appear on the screen. Download and take a print out. Direct link to download NEET 2020 admit card - https://ntaneet.nic.in/ntaneet/AdmitCard/AdmitCard.html Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, candidates this year were allowed to change their choice of examination. A total of 95,000 applicants had availed the facility and they have been accommodated against their revised choices. Last week, the NTA released detailed guidelines for the exam where it stated that candidates will be given staggered time slots for reporting at the exam centre to avoid crowding. Also, the staff members involved in conducting the examination and candidates will have to undergo thermal scans and anyone who displays COVID-19 symptoms will be placed in separate isolation rooms. Examinees are permitted to carry a face mask, gloves, transparent water bottle, 50 ml hand sanitizer and exam-related documents. A number of students, parents and political leaders have been demanding the postponement of the exam due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 17 August, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea seeking the postponement of JEE Main and NEET UG exams this year. The apex court said the postponement of the exams will result in students losing an academic year and will put their careers in peril. NEET is conducted for students seeking admission to MBBS/ BDS courses and other undergraduate medical programmes in approved/ recognised medical, dental colleges and institutes in the country. Eloise was the sixth of seven children, and all five of her surviving siblings were there, along with her two sons, Ivan and Jasper. So was her mother, Mimi, who is 97. Some people left their video off. There were in-laws and old friends, some from Chicago, where she and Bill lived in their early 30s. Chicago was where she learned to love the Cubs, an obsession she kept through life. Its also where she worked as a copy editor for the American Library Associations publication, Booklist. 26.08.2020 LISTEN The traditional ruler of Igbariam and Chairman Board of Trustees of Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly, HRM Eze DR Kelly Nkeli Nzekwe, has said that the parallel Ohanaeze is unstoppable. Speaking with the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress IMC, Rev Obinna Akukwe at Awka, the monarch said that there is no going back on the newly registered Ohanaeze. When reminded by Rev Akukwe that the newly registered group has been disowned and deregistered by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Eze Okalakwu Nkeli Nzekwe said that there is no way somebody can get a PHD and the university will later withdraw it. The group we registered cannot be deregistered. Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly is not afraid of the CAC and we are carrying on our activities. CAC cannot intimidate us, we have passed that stage. When reminded again by Rev Akukwe that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders Council, Chiefs Nnia Nwodo and Mbazulike Amechi have dismissed the body as bunch of selfish persons, Igwe Nkeli told the leaders of Igbo Mandate Congress that high level corruption, selfishness and greed is at the root of their registering a new Ohanaeze Ndigbo. According to the monarch, it is the deposed Ohanaeze Ndigbo that used Ndigbo to do business. They are busy collecting money from every government and groups while Igbo youths are suffering. They are using Igbos to make money and the records are clear. They have not attracted any meaningful development to Igbo land except sharing money Igwe Nkeli said that Elders cannot stay in the house and a she goat will deliver with umbilical cord. There is no way we can sit by and allow Ndigbo to be used by persons with defined personal agenda. Enough is enough He Said that the proliferation of Igbo Groups, including IPOB, is as a result of the failure Of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to present Igbo positions properly. Igwe Nkeli said that they were called back to Aso Rock last week and met with Buhari and his men and expressed appreciation for the work ongoing at the Second Niger Bridge and Enugu Airport. They also asked President Buhari to decree more projects for Ndigbo so that the levels of unemployment and sufferings in the region will be reduced and the youth put into useful purposes. Igwe Nkeli said that Igboland needs more intervention than we have now. Igbo Mandate Congress has decried the deplorable state of Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretariat in Enugu. In a parley with select church leaders in Awka yesterday concerning the viability of Igbo Presidency project, the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress, Rev Obinna Akukwe condemned the pulling down of the fence of Ohanaeze Secretariate and the exposure of the nakedness of Igbo Headquarters. According to Rev Akukwe what I saw in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariat was very deplorable. The walls are pulled down and the place looks unkept. It is unfortunate that with all the money Ohanaeze collects from politicians, including the N1.2 billion naira shared at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja in December 2014 and another N5billion collected to be shared in Enugu in February 2015, in preparation for polls, the body cannot apportion at least N500 million of the sum to renovate the facility He condemned former Governor Rochas Okorocha for not completing the white structure he embarked upon in the secretariat and called for probe of profligacy in the body. Rev Akukwe asked for truce between the members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief Nnia Nwodo and the one pioneered by Igwe Nkeli Nzekwe so that the Igbo Presidency Project will not be truncated from within. Igbo Mandate Congress learnt that the parallel Ohanaeze Ndigbo is led by Igwe Nkeli Nzekwe (Chairman Board of Trustees), Barrister Basil Onyeachonam Onuorah (President Genreral), Barrister Arthur Chukwu (Secretary General) Dikeoha Hon Kingsley Nnalue (Publicity Secretary) and Barrister Emejulu Okpalaukwu (Igbo Security Adviser) Sunrise weather presenter Sam Mac has taken a brutal swipe at Pete Evans, after the disgraced celebrity chef encouraged Victorians not to wear masks during the stage-four lockdown. The 38-year-old funnyman shared a photo to Instagram on Wednesday of himself in a novelty face mask while holding his pet cat, Coco. Coco wasn't wearing a mask because domestic animals don't have to, but Sam joked that his furry friend was a COVID-19 denier. 'The awkward moment you discover your cat is an anti-masker. Well sorry Coco, sorry you weren't rescued by Pete Evans,' he wrote in the caption. Ouch! Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac has taken a brutal dig at Pete Evans, after the disgraced celebrity chef encouraged Victorians not to wear masks during the stage-four lockdown Mockery: The 38-year-old shared a photo to Instagram on Wednesday of himself in a novelty face mask while holding his pet cat, Coco. Coco wasn't wearing a mask because domestic animals don't have to, but Sam joked that his furry friend was a COVID-19 denier, like Evans Sam's scathing post all but confirms that Evans, 47, is no longer on friendly terms with Channel Seven, the network which employed him for 10 years. He lost his $800,000-a-year job as a judge on My Kitchen Rules in May because of his dangerous and unscientific views. For years before his sacking, however, it had been rumoured that Seven bosses viewed Evans as an expensive liability. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment. Mr Unpopular: Sam's scathing post all but confirms that Evans (pictured on Nine's A Current Affair in May) is no longer on friendly terms with Channel Seven, the network which employed him for 10 years Last month, Evans shared a Facebook post encouraging people in Victoria not to wear face masks after Premier Daniel Andrews made them mandatory in public spaces. The anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist - who has falsely claimed the pandemic is a 'hoax' - urged Victorians to challenge their $200 fines in court. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Evans said it was 'far too expensive' for the state government to defend the fines, making the rule effectively meaningless. This ridiculous advice prompted backlash from sensible Australians, who labelled him a 'danger to humanity'. Misinformation: Last month, Evans - who has falsely claimed the pandemic is a 'hoax' - urged Victorians to accept the fine for not wearing a mask in order to challenge it in court The mask rule was enforced across the state of Victoria on Monday, August 3. People who do not wear masks in public face fines of $200, unless they have been granted an exemption. Wearing a face mask can help prevent the spread of coronavirus because it limits infections spread by airborne transmission. Each time an individual coughs or sneezes, they release germs into the air and this can infect others around them. B oris Johnson has said the UK will help ensure justice is done after the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The critic of Vladimir Putin collapsed last week while campaigning in Siberia and is currently in a coma in a German hospital. Doctors said that tests indicate he was poisoned. The Prime Minister tweeted: The poisoning of Alexey @Navalny shocked the world. The UK stands in solidarity with him & his family. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny (file photo) / REUTERS We need a full, transparent investigation into what happened. "The perpetrators must be held accountable & the UK will join international efforts to ensure justice is done. Mr Navalny's allies claim the Kremlin is responsible for the illness of its most prominent critic. Some have demanded an investigation into whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was involved. But the Kremlin has rejected claims of involvement in the alleged attack. A portable isolation unit used to transport Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny / Getty Images "These accusations absolutely cannot be true and are rather an empty noise," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Mr Peskov saw no grounds for launching a criminal investigation into Mr Navalny's condition, saying that it could have been triggered by a variety of causes, and determining one of them should come first. "If a substance (that caused the condition) is found, and if it is determined that it is poisoning, then there will be a reason for an investigation," Mr Peskov said. German police officers stand guard outside Berlin's Charite hospital where Alexei Navalny is treated after his medical evacuation to Germany / AFP via Getty Images Mr Navalny, a politician and anti-corruption investigator who is one of Mr Putin's fiercest critics, fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on Thursday and was taken to a hospital in the city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. Over the weekend he was transferred to the Charite hospital in Berlin, where doctors said they have found indications of "cholinesterase inhibitors" in his system. Cholinesterase inhibitors act by blocking the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells. Mr Navalny is being treated with the antidote atropine. Charite said Mr Navalny had undergone extensive examination by a team of physicians and that "clinical findings indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors". Cholinesterase inhibitors are a broad range of substances that are found in several drugs, but also pesticides and nerve agents. Charite said the specific substance to which Mr Navalny was exposed is not yet known but that a further series of comprehensive tests had been started. Mr Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has been visiting her husband every day and made no comment to reporters as she arrived on Tuesday. LANSDALE Theyve been meeting online for five months now, but Lansdales borough council marked a new milestone on Aug. 19. Council voted unanimously that night to appoint resident Andrew Carroll to fill their long-vacant Ward 2 seat. I look forward to working with everybody in the future, Carroll said. In late February, then-councilman Tom Work announced his resignation due to a move out of town. Work was first elected to council in 2013 and reelected in 2017, and in early March council members said they hoped to fill the position in the next few weeks. With the arrival of COVID-19 and subsequent switch to online meetings, the vote was postponed for several months, until council President Denton Burnell announced on Aug. 5 that the candidates would be heard, and a vote taken, two weeks later. During their Aug. 19 meeting, four candidates introduced themselves to council, detailed their backgrounds, and made their case to be chosen. Carroll, a resident of Chestnut Street, said hes been a borough resident for five years but worked in the community since 2004, first as a branch manager for Town and Country Auto Parts and more recently as general manager for Round Guys Brewing. As Lansdale has grown and matured since the turn of the millennium, it has been a pleasure to be a part of the resurgence, as a resident, a father, and a businessperson, he said. I really want this position, I think Im going to do a very good job for you guys, and Im going to work really hard to assist in any way that I can, he said. Resident Tabitha Geiger also spoke to council, saying shes a recently retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran and 16-year borough resident with one son in the U.S. Navy and another at Penndale Middle School, and is currently a commercial underwriter for Nationwide after previously working for Harley-Davidson. I have a diverse background, which covers law enforcement, commercial and industrial logistics, liability, and infrastructure development, she said. I have a great desire to continue my service to my community, and if appointed, feel as though I can work with the current council, and put my vast array of experiences to work, for the residents and businesses of Lansdale Borough. Resident Manny Matos said he and his family moved to Lansdale from New Jersey in 1999, and a comment he heard soon after from a teacher at Penndale has stuck with him ever since. I asked her a question. I said, Why is it that, every time I try to draw something, it doesnt match what I have in my mind? She said Manny, thats art. Thats the beauty of art, after a while, the piece isnt what you want it to be, it becomes what it was meant to be,' he said. Maybe this is where Im meant to be, to see you guys perform your art out here, leaving your strokes on the canvas of Lansdale, to make it something special, he said. And resident Bethann Kozempel said she was video-chatting from North Carolina due to a family vacation, but has lived in Lansdale since 2003 and has since raised children in town and gotten involved at their elementary school. Lansdale is who we are now: our kids were born here, are being raised here, and its a great thing to be part of the North Penn School District, and just kind of broadening that into the borough, she said. After the four spoke, council President Denton Burnell opened the floor to nominations by the eight current council members, and all four candidates were nominated: Geiger by councilman Leon Angelichio, then Carroll by councilman Bill Henning, Kozempel by councilwoman Carrie Hawkins Charlton and Matos by councilman BJ Breish. This is a tough decision. I know each one of us has grappled with this, and each of you should be proud of that. Please do stay involved, whatever the outcome, Burnell said. Council then held roll call votes in the order of the nominations, with Geiger on the floor first. Angelichio, Breish, and councilman Rich DiGregorio cast the only votes in her favor, with the five other council members voting against. Next on the floor for a vote was Carroll, who successfully received five of the eight votes, with only Angelichio, DiGregorio and Hawkins Charlton voting against. After Carroll carried the majority of votes, Burnell made a formal motion finalizing his appointment, and council unanimously approved it, with thanks to all four candidates. Carroll then received his oath, via Zoom video, from Mayor Garry Herbert, who ended the oath with Congratulations, Mr. Councilman instead of the traditional in-person handshake. Carroll added afterward that he was proud to represent Ward 2. I look forward to serving my constituents, and assisting my fellow council members to make the place that my family and I call home the best it can be. Lansdales borough council next meets on Sept. 2, with committees starting at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. followed by full council at 8:30; for more information visit www.Lansdale.org. The Jeep brand announced Bear as its #JeepTopCanine winner, as voted by fans. Bear, who was chosen from thousands of entries for the honor, has been crowned the favorite dog among the eight finalists. Named the first-ever #JeepTopCanine on National Dog Day, Bear will appear as the newest (and cutest) face of the Jeep brand across its social media channels, appearing in exclusive content for the next year, until National Dog Day 2021. "As the true cult SUV brand revered around the world for its off-road legacy, Jeep owners share a love of adventure and freedom, and it's almost an unwritten law that if you take out your Jeep SUV, your dog is coming with you," said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, FCA. "It's that same devotion for their 'best friends' that our fans share for their Jeep vehicles. We saw it throughout our first-ever #JeepTopCanine search, giving our fans the opportunity to share and connect with fellow Jeep brand enthusiasts about their shared passions, reaching millions of fans through views and engagements across our social media channels and digital website throughout July and August." Jeep enthusiasts are known to have their dogs buckled up with them as they seek out adventure, proudly featuring them along with their favorite Jeep vehicle in social media content through the years. This year, Jeep owners, fans and followers were able to post the best photo of their pup with their Jeep vehicle, and tag it with #JeepTopCanine on Instagram and Twitter, or upload it to www.JeepTopCanine.com, to enter. In 2018, the Jeep brand was named the first-ever automotive brand to be recognized by The Gathering as a "cult brand." Jeep Brand Built on nearly 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence. The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left- and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Jeep is part of the portfolio of brands offered by global automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. For more information regarding FCA (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA), please visit www.fcagroup.com. Follow Jeep and FCA news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.fcanorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.fcanorthamerica.com Jeep brand: www.jeep.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep or https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep or www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep or www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or www.youtube.com/fcanorthamerica SOURCE FCA Related Links http://www.fcanorthamerica.com The Commerce Department on Wednesday blacklisted 24 Chinese companies, saying that they are helping the ruling Chinese Communist Party construct artificial islands in the South China Sea, which the U.S. sees as a military provocation. Issue at stake: Commerce said that since 2013, the Chinese government has built more than 3,000 acres of islands in the international waters off its southeastern coast, including air defense and anti-ship missile features. This appears to be the first time the administration is targeting China's actions in the South China Sea, which has provoked U.S. partners in Southeast Asia like Taiwan and the Philippines. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has recently stepped up criticism of China's claims of outposts in the area. In 2016, the tribunal at The Hague said China's claims violated international law. Whos targeted: The 24 companies will be placed on the agencys entity list, preventing the export of U.S. goods to Chinese companies. The firms are largely dredging, shipbuilding, infrastructure and technology companies. The blacklisted firms include the state-owned China Communications Construction Company, one of the leading contractors in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, the Communist Partys global infrastructure investment program. The PRC must not be allowed to use [China Communications Construction Company] and other state-owned enterprises as weapons to impose an expansionist agenda, Pompeo said in a statement on Wednesday. In this image from video, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks from Jerusalem during the second night of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via AP) Context: Commerce last week put 38 affiliates of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, which the U.S. says enables Communist Party espionage, on the entity list. The department previously put 37 Chinese enterprises on the entity list for engaging in or enabling human rights abuses in the northwestern province of Xinjiang, home to an ethnic minority of Muslims. Whats next: The move comes amid deteriorating relations with Beijing, which the president has blamed for the coronavirus pandemic to deflect from his unpopular handling of the virus at home. Republicans are ramping up rhetoric against China at their convention this week, and Pompeo said the U.S. will act until we see Beijing discontinue its coercive behavior in the South China Sea. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:35:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUNMING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Four years after the launch of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism, there has been holistic cooperation among the regional countries, experts said. Experts expect LMC countries to unleash greater potential for cooperation in the future so as to achieve a higher level of sustainable development in the region. The LMC mechanism was launched by six countries -- China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam -- in 2016. It derives its name from a river that is called Lancang in China and Mekong in the five other countries. At the third LMC leaders' meeting, held by video link on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said from this year, the country will share the Lancang River's hydrological data for the whole year with Mekong countries. Li also noted that China will work with other LMC countries to establish a Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Information Sharing Platform to better tackle climate change and natural disasters such as floods and droughts. "Sharing the entire year's hydrological data of the Lancang River is an important public product that China offers Mekong countries to deepen the water resources cooperation of the LMC," said Zhai Kun, a professor of international studies at Peking University. The move will help promote more scientific and procedure-based joint research on the river's water resources. It also helps countries in the region improve forecasting and management and reduce the damage to property and crops caused by drought and flood, according to Zhai. At the LMC leaders' meeting, China promised to set up a special fund for public health under the framework of the LMC Special Fund and continue to provide material and technical support to the Mekong countries to the best of its ability. "China's proposals at the meeting are reflective of its neighborhood diplomacy, which features amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, as well as its efforts to create a community with a shared future with our neighbors," said Lu Guangsheng, director of Institute of International Relations of Yunnan University. The proposals also show that China is committed to deepening LMC cooperation with an open, responsible and constructive attitude, Lu said. China also proposed synergizing the LMC with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which passes through western China and connects Southeast Asia with the Eurasian continent. "Synergizing the LMC with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a sensible course of action," said Lu, adding that the move is expected to help further open up markets among LMC countries. Enditem Signal Mountain Police have arrested Calvin Curtis Hightower on charges of providing heroin to a woman who almost died. Hightower, 27, turned himself in at the Hamilton County Jail after original indictments were obtained by Signal Mountain detective Randy Poland. He is charged with reckless aggravated assault, possession of heroin for resale and conspiracy to possess heroin for resale. Signal Mountain Police Chief Mike Williams said, "The charges stem from a drug overdose that occurred on May 13 inside the town of Signal Mountain. Upon police arrival the victim was found unresponsive and not breathing. The victim was transported to Erlanger Hospital Emergency Room where opiates were found in her system. She was admitted in a serious, life-threatening condition. The victim eventually regained consciousness and will survive. "Chattanooga Police detective Terry Topping conducted an interview with Hightower on another similar case at the Chattanooga Police Department Special Investigations office on May 25. During that interview Hightower admitted that he and another individual who has not yet been arrested sold heroin to our victim on May 13. "This along with other physical evidence collected by Detective Poland let to his testimony before the Hamilton County Grand Jury and subsequent indictments." Members of the Congress-affiliated NSUI on Wednesday began an indefinite hunger strike demanding the postponement of the NEET-JEE and fee waiver for six months for students during the pandemic. The president of National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Neeraj Kundan and president of the Delhi wing of the students' body commenced the hunger strike along with eight other members. They are also demanding that varsities should not hold exams during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the NSUI had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and promoting final year students on the basis of past performance. Also read: JEE, NEET 2020 Guidelines: NTA issues safety protocols for aspirants amid COVID-19 pandemic Top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have requested the government to defer the all-India medical and engineering entrance examinations taking into consideration the concerns raised by a section of students and parents amid the coronavirus pandemic. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia too has appealed to the central government to cancel the medical and engineering entrance exams. India's coronavirus tally rose to 32.34 lakh on Wednesday with 67,151 more people testing positive for the infection, while the recoveries have surged to 24,67,758, the Health Ministry said. Also read: Greta Thunberg comes out in support of Indian students; calls for postponement of NEET, JEE exams In the early evening hours of Friday, August 21, Vernetta McCray, an innocent woman, was murdered by individuals that shot twenty-three shots in an apparent drive-by. According to media reports, Ms. McCray was a state worker who had just returned home from her job when she was indiscriminately shot as she was on her front porch on her cellphone dealing with a client, This horrific event stands out because this strong woman refused to be chased out of her neighborhood by the incessant violence that has befallen the city. This woman believed in Trenton and its potential. She refused to give up and move out of the city. She was the type of individual Trenton needs to build on. She cared about Trenton and she was killed by individuals who care about nothing. In most instances, this violence involves individuals who have freely chosen to be a part of this lifestyle. As Councilman Blakely called them, criminal savage shooters who have no regard for life, especially their own. When one of these individuals is murdered on the streets, the community silently understands that dying on the streets or landing in jail is the final outcome for many of these young men and women. It is a part of that life. Sadly, the acceptance by the community to allow these young men and women to fester and take over their neighborhoods, to then martyr them as victims, and to allow children to hold him in regard, will only continue this cycle. I learned long ago that there are three conditions that must be met for criminal activity to take place. The first is the desire of the individual to commit a crime. No research has determined what drives people to want to commit crimes and hurt people, but as we see across this country, this desire is not relegated to one group or community. The second condition is the opportunity to commit a crime. We as law-abiding citizens have created these conditions by following the rules of the streets, that snitches get stitches, instead of caring for each other and being a part of the solution. The final condition, which we all play a part, is the belief that they will get away with committing a crime. The failure by the police to enforce the law, to not have a coherent plan of action, and to not have a strong police-community relationship is part of the problem. You add pandering politicians, and community activists, who are anti-police and call the police criminals, in addition to an indulgent media who perpetuate the stereotype of racist police, have given real criminals the license and freedom to believe no one cares and that they will get away with whatever criminal act they want to commit. Mayor Gusciora released a statement stating that he would meet with local, state, and federal partners for help with the violence that seems to be overwhelming the police director and the police department. In his statement, he actually called for state leadership to slow the early release of dangerous persons simply because of the COVID pandemic. Something I agree with but a request that I am sure will put him on the outs with prison reform advocates who seem to care more about criminals than about law-abiding individuals. In addition, he touts the Real-Time Crime Center that will be coming in the future to help predict violent behavior. While helpful in the future, solutions need to be found now and that $4.5 million dollars allocated for that Crime Center could have been put to better use by hiring more police, fixing the radio room, buying new vehicles, providing better training and arming police officers with less than lethal technology. As a police officer, I bore witness to the city fall victim to this type of violence twice before. Both times involved poor decision making by the police director of the time, Director Joseph Santiago in 2005 (31 murders) and Director Ralph Rivera in 2013 (37 murders) who each eliminated pro-active policing units. These decisions created the vacuum that allowed the conditions for the violence and death to skyrocket. Similar to what we are seeing today. As Trenton deals with the record-breaking pace of homicides and violence in the city, the community and the Trenton police officers continue to lose faith in the police director. Aside from establishing foot posts and stating that Trenton needs more officers, Director Coley has failed to provide any answers or at least a plan that the citizens can support. I know the Trenton Police Department has the ability to deal with this violence. It has done so in the past as it overcame inadequate leadership before. And it can overcome inadequate leadership once again. When is enough enough? When will those in power make the necessary decisions to truly deal with the violence and mayhem that seems to blanket Trenton? How many more innocent individuals must be sacrificed before ego, pride and politics are put aside and those in power say enough? Because the People of Trenton have had enough and say NOW is the time!! WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland on Monday insisted it would reopen schools next week for the first time since mid-March despite reaching a record high number of daily registered coronavirus infections late last week. Poland was at first successful in containing the outbreak, but cases have started rising in recent weeks and on Friday authorities reported 903 new infections, the highest daily increase to date. The rise in infections has caused concern among some parents contemplating sending their children back to class. "Every child, teenager, goes out on the street or to the store and can get infected there. I don't see the need to postpone the beginning of the (school) year," Education Minister Dariusz Piontkowski told a news conference, reiterating the government's position. Children will not be required to wear face masks in classrooms, but individual principals may decide to impose this obligation in school halls and locker rooms. No temperature checks are to be introduced. The ruling nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) imposed strict restrictions in March to curb the spread of the virus and started easing them in May, which critics said was to encourage Poles to vote in the presidential election. In July, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki downplayed infection risks, saying Poles, including elderly citizens, should not be afraid to vote because the novel coronavirus had become a disease "like any other". The country of 38 million has reported 62,310 cases in all, and 1,960 deaths. Schools across the world are trying out a wide range of strategies to reopen, from entirely online classes to entirely in-person. They are asking whether reopening schools with stringent mitigation measures is worth the risk, given that keeping schools closed will likely harm academic progress, social and emotional development, mental health and food security. (Reporting by Marcin Goclowski, Pawel Florkiewicz, and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Editing by William Maclean) It was a day of celebration and congratulations on a job well done on Aug. 18, 2020, when 112 soldiers from the U.S. Armys legendary 101st Airborne Division returned home to Fort Campbell after a three-month deployment in Djibouti, Africa. As part of the East Africa Response Force (EARF), company commander Capt. John Bergman explained to Clarksville Now that their role consisted of lots of training events, deployment exercises, and just maintaining our sharp edge to support any U.S. assets. For the safety of all involved, masks were worn, and proper social distancing protocol was observed to prevent any possible virus-related transmission. (Illustration Straight 8 Photography/Shutterstock) The soldiers returning home are part of the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and were serving with Task Force Bulldog Rakkasan. U.S. soldiers in East Africa were called upon for support in January 2020 when Somali-based terrorist group Al-Shabab attacked Camp Simba, the joint U.S.-Kenya airbase on Manda Island. As Maj. Gen. William Gayler, the director of operations for the U.S. Armys African Command, told Military Times, The EARFs ability to respond to events spanning a vast area of responsibility provides a proven and invaluable on-call reinforcement capability in times of need. Thankfully, the group of soldiers who arrived at Fort Campbell did not face combat during their deployment, but they were ready for anything that came their way. Company commander Bergman told Clarksville Now, We were able to do that with lots of training events, deployment exercises, and just maintaining our sharp edge to support any U.S. assets. U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment respond to an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 30, 2020. (Chief Mass Communication Specialist Elisandro T. Diaz/U.S. Navy) For the soldiers who had been away from their spouses, children, and pets, it was particularly sweet to be home. [I]ts always a relief to get back home to family and friends and continue everyday life back here at Fort Campbell, 1st Lt. Reid Sealby said. He noted that though a three-month deployment is shorter than most, it still feels great to be home. Sealby was particularly excited to have some downtime with his puppy. Other families of soldiers held up signs reading Welcome home, Daddy and Out of my way, I get my daddy back today, expressing their gratitude at getting their loved ones back safe and sound. Richelle Porter and her 4-year-old daughter Emerson were particularly thrilled to see their returning husband and father, Staff Sergeant Isaac Porter. Im super excited, little Emerson told DVIDS. Im going to give him a great big hug and get him to buy me a toy. For Staff Sergeant David Stark, it wasnt a person he was waiting to be reunited with; it was his motorcycle. Im most looking forward to just enjoying the outside again, Stark said. I love being outside and the weather is better here. And Im looking forward to riding my Harley. Since the soldiers had quarantined for 14 days before their deployment and remained in their bubble during their mission, they could be immediately reunited with their families. To make the event safer, it was held outdoors at the divisional parade grounds rather than the hangar where it usually takes place. U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and deployed with East Africa Response Force (EARF). (Chief Mass Communication Specialist Elisandro T. Diaz/U.S. Navy) While temperatures were high, as was the humidity, it was nothing to compare to what the soldiers had faced at their base Camp Lemonnier in East Africa. For Team Bulldog that came in the way of deploying in the hottest part of the year to East Africa, regiment commander James Stultz explained. The average temperature for Djibouti from May until October is a balmy 106 degrees, Stultz joked. Thats why you might see some of them shivering on the field today. After praising the soldiers for their service, Stultz sent them to get down to the really important business: Now go see your families, he ordered. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Activision released a new trailer for the upcoming game Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and replaced it with alternative footage because it offended Chinese authorities according to Apple Daily. The trailer features a brief snipper of Tiananmen Square protests which caused the trailer to be banned in China and later replaced the trailer with an edited version worldwide. YouTube The trailer featured a montage of world events that prompted criticism in China and caused the video to be made private on YouTube. The original trailer was 2:02 minutes long but was replaced with a much shorter trailer on August 21. This is yet another case of Chinese authorities flexing their muscle for content they dont agree with. The Chinese Government has always been sensitive about the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989, where the People's Liberation Army killed hundreds of protestors on the streets of Beijing. The massacre has never been acknowledged by the Chinese Government and has removed all mention of the incident from history books and other forms of online content. In fact, public discussion of the event is also banned and keywords related to the massacre are also banned on Chinese social media websites. Activision This is not the first time Activision has come under fire for appeasing Chinese government sentiments as last year the publisher banned pro-Hong Kong player Blitzchung for speaking out against the Chinese Governments takeover of the city. The company was criticised for censoring the player to avoid repercussions from the Chinese authorities as it would harm their business interests in the country. China also banned Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 in 2018 as it depicted a fictional WW2 bombing at Tiananmen Square. Do you agree with Activisions move to remove the trailer simply because it offended Chinese authorities? Do you agree with the fact that content is being censored worldwide simply because the Chinese Government does not want any mention of the Tiananmen Square massacre? Let us know in the comments. Source: Apple Daily The Department for Education (DfE) advised that in areas under local restrictions, face coverings should be worn when moving around corridors and communal areas. The new guidance came after pressure from teaching unions and followed Scotlands announcement that secondary pupils there will be required to wear face coverings in between lessons. While it has largely been welcomed, Labour described it as a half baked U-turn, arguing that masks should have been made compulsory in communal areas and that the buck had been passed back to schools. Face coverings will not be recommended in English schools more widely, the Government said, but secondaries will have the discretion to require them to be worn by staff and children in Year 7 and above in communal areas. Face coverings will not need to be worn in classrooms, because other protective measures will already be in place and they might affect learning, the DfE said. Advertisement The change follows World Health Organisation (WHO) advice that children aged over 12 should wear masks, the Government said. Just this week Education Secretary Gavin Williamson insisted measures being adopted by schools to limit the spread of coronavirus meant masks were not required, and a Number 10 spokesman had said there were no plans to review the guidance. But announcing the change in advice on Tuesday, Mr Williamson said: Our priority is to get children back to school safely. At each stage we have listened to the latest medical and scientific advice. We're updating our advice on face coverings in schools https://t.co/63R7vdlJgV #BackToSchoolSafely Department for Education (@educationgovuk) August 25, 2020 We have therefore decided to follow the World Health Organisations new advice. In local lockdown areas children in year 7 and above should wear face coverings in communal spaces. Outside of local lockdown areas face coverings wont be required in schools, though schools will have the flexibility to introduce measures if they believe it is right in their specific circumstances. I hope these steps will provide parents, pupils and teachers with further reassurance. Full guidance has not yet been published, but is expected shortly the department said, and will come into effect from September 1. Advertisement In a warning that advice could change again, the DfE said stricter guidance could be issued for schools nationally if the rate of transmission increases across the country. The advice will also apply to further education colleges and will be reflected in guidance to universities, the department said. It is of huge concern that yet again the PM has had to be forced into following the advice of public health officials It will not apply in primary schools because the risks to children in those settings are lower, the DfE said. Earlier Prime Minister Boris Johnson had hinted that guidance may change, as pressure grew on ministers. Mr Johnson told reporters the Government will look at the changing medical evidence as we go on, adding: If we need to change the advice then of course we will. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan criticised the Conservatives for appearing only to make the decision following pressure. He wrote on Twitter: Our children must be able to return to school in a safe environment and I welcome the latest u-turn by the Govt a step in the right direction. However, it is of huge concern that yet again the PM has had to be forced into following the advice of public health officials. Kate Green, Labours shadow education secretary, said: Parents and schools needed clarity and leadership, but instead the Government have just passed the buck back to them. Advertisement Face coverings should be compulsory in communal areas in schools. Instead of this half baked U-turn the Government should have given clear guidance and a plan to deliver it. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, which had called on the Government to keep its advice under review, said the change was inevitable. He said: The new policy is discretionary, other than in places where coronavirus restrictions apply, and secondary school and college leaders will welcome the flexibility this affords them to decide what best suits their circumstances. We look forward to seeing the full guidance as early as possible. Unisons head of education Jon Richards said the change was a welcome step forward and that school staff who work closely with pupils and move between classes and bubbles have particular challenges which should be recognised by allowing them to wear face coverings. Post-primary pupils in Northern Ireland will be asked to wear face coverings in corridors and other communal areas, Stormonts education minister Peter Weir said on Tuesday. The official guidance comes into effect on August 31 when schools there return on a full-time basis. Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said a decision on schoolchildren wearing face coverings will be made on Wednesday, but current guidance says masks are not being recommended. India seems to be moving towards a one nation-one political party system, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee quipped on Wednesday afternoon, minutes after conducting a virtual meeting of chief ministers from seven non-Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states. Let us forget which party is ruling a particular state. To save democracy, we have to unite, Banerjee said without naming the BJP, her main threat in poll-bound Bengal. She alleged that the Centre is taking policy decisions unilaterally and thrusting those on the states without consultation. All the chief ministers complained that they are facing intimidation. Central (probe) agencies are being used. The states are being financially deprived, Banerjee said at the state secretariat after the meeting. Banerjee and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi jointly convened the meeting which went on for two hours. Significantly, Gandhi asked Banerjee to conduct it. Though the demand for postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) was the primary cause, the meetings agenda went far beyond. Gandhi, who opened the discussion, said the states were facing a lot of problems because of the policies of the Centre. She referred to the rise in fuel prices, arrears in the states share of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), disinvestment in public sector enterprises, privatisation of airports and several other issues. Besides Banerjee, others who took part in the meeting were Uddhav Thackeray from Maharashtra, Amarinder Singh from Punjab, Hemant Soren from Jharkhand, Bhupesh Baghel from Chhattisgarh, V Narayanasamy from Puducherry and Ashok Gehlot from Rajasthan. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan could not attend. This was the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic started that chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states spoke out against Central policies from a common platform. Asked by the media whether the meeting was a precursor to a united movement for bargaining with the Centre, Banerjee said, Words such as blackmailing or bargaining do not apply here. We are talking about the problems of the common man. Its been a long time since we got our share of the GST that is collected from the state. We are not getting financial aid for combating the Covid-19 pandemic. The Centre is disinvesting shares in public sector units at random but we are not supposed to talk about the interests of the people. The role of the states and the Centre in our federal structure has been clearly defined by the Constitution. Under the current circumstances, a conflict between the Centre and the states is inevitable. That will be harmful. We dont want it. Only strong states can make a strong Centre. Let us work for a united India, said Banerjee. During the meeting, Soren said, These days the opposition appears to have become weak. We have to take a stand. In her reply, Banerjee said, Yes, we must raise our voice. Otherwise other political parties will not exist. Reacting to this, Sonia Gandhi said, I agree. The BJP Bengal unit said Wednesdays exercise was an attempt by the Congress to find a proxy fighter. The Congress is in the doldrums and Sonia Gandhi needs people to fight her war. Banerjee stepped in because she is afraid of losing the 2021 assembly polls. It is because of the election that she is showing concern for the students, said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha. Political columnist Suvashis Maitra said, The Congress is now in a position where Sonia Gandhi will need people like Banerjee who were once faces of the party but left because they were disgruntled. Close Trump 'profoundly' accepts GOP nomination for president of the United States Donald Trump gave a full pardon to Alice Johnson on Friday after she praised the president at the Republican National Convention. Trump gave his own performance at the convention top ratings for the second-longest acceptance speech since 1984, behind only himself in 2016. Fox News called it "flat and too long". Rand Paul called on the FBI to investigate 'paid anarchists' that harassed the Senator and other RNC attendees as they left the White House on Thursday night. The end of the Republican convention came as four people who attended in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier in the week tested positive for Covid-19. The House Foreign Affairs committee, meanwhile, announced the panel would carry out contempt proceedings against US secretary of state Mike Pompeo for refusing to provide subpoenaed documents in an investigation into government resources. While thousands attended the March on Washington calling for federal police reforms, Trump finished his week at a New Hampshire campaign rally saying protesters during the RNC were just bad people and troublemakers who didn't know who George Floyd is. World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili declared Egypt safe for visitors after a rigorous inspection of its precautionary measures during a visit to the country this week On his first trip outside Europe since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili arrived in Egypt last Sunday for a visit on the invitation of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany. During the three-day visit, Pololikashvili met with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli. He also travelled to Hurghada to inspect Egypts precautionary and hygiene-safety measures against the spread of the coronavirus in hotels, restaurants, a hospital and diving centre, and archaeological sites. He also visited the Hurghada Museum, the Giza Plateau, and the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) outside Cairo. The UNWTO is willing to cooperate with Egypt to ensure the optimal benefit from Egypts tourist destinations, Pololikashvili told Al-Ahram Weekly. He said that the organisation also wanted to benefit from the Egyptian model to develop tourism through comprehensive institutional reform. Pololikashvili hailed Egypts efforts to resume inbound tourism starting in July after three months of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic after adopting a host of strict precautionary and hygiene-safety measures. He described the measures as higher than those implemented in Europe, pointing out that Egypts unprecedented support of the tourism sector, a vital pillar of the Egyptian economy, included incentives for investors to enable them to deal with the pandemic with the least possible losses. Pololikashvili inspected the hygiene-safety measures being implemented by hotels in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, noting that visitors temperatures are taken at hotels, with these all adhering to a 50 per cent capacity rule put in place by the ministry to reduce crowding. After the inspection, Pololikashvili tweeted that the hygiene-safety guidelines he had witnessed in Egypt met all international standards and that the UNWTO was glad to see businesses restarting tourism in a responsible way. Hurghada is ready to welcome tourists, he wrote, adding that Egypt is safe, ready, and open to welcome tourists from all over the globe. He confirmed that all the precautionary measures taken were being implemented according to international protocols in all the countrys museums, hotels, restaurants, and airports. He added that he would be going home without any fear of having contracted the coronavirus in Egypt. The numbers of infections announced by Egypts Ministry of Health and Population were trustworthy, he said, adding that we have to trust each other because without trust there is no travel and tourism. Pololikashvili visited some of the mega-projects that Egypt is implementing in line with the highest international standards in tourism, among them the GEM on the Giza Plateau, which he described as a new tourist attraction for the whole of humanity. El-Enany described Pololikashvilis visit as important, fruitful, and rich. He said that a PCR test for the coronavirus was now mandatory for anyone arriving in Egypt as the governments strategy aims to revive tourism while ensuring the safety of tourists and workers in the sector. He said that Egypt had taken structural measures to revive inbound tourism and that starting in September cultural tourism would resume as well. Egypt has resumed beach tourism in the South Sinai, Red Sea, and Matrouh governorates since July, and cultural tourism, including the reopening of all museums and archaeological sites, will begin in September. This will also allow Egyptian and foreign visitors to travel between tourist cities, archaeological sites, and museums and will take place in compliance with precautionary measures and established regulations. Tourist buses and other facilities and activities will all operate at no more than 50 per cent of capacity. Other measures include a limit of 25 people in groups of tourists visiting museums and archaeological sites, all guides wearing face masks while conducting tours using headphones inside museums, and the sterilisation of headphones after each use. All museum floors and surfaces in communal areas will be sterilised before being opened to visitors, the temperatures of staff and visitors will be taken before entry, and a safe distance between all persons will be maintained. El-Enany said that limits had been placed on the number of people present in museums and non-open-air archaeological sites at any one time. The limit for the Egyptian Museum in Cairos Tahrir Square has been set at 200 visitors per hour, with 100 visitors for all other museums and 10 to 15 inside pyramids or ancient tombs, depending on the size of interior spaces. Measures being taken to promote cultural-tourism programmes in Upper Egypt as well as the Summer in Upper Egypt initiative will be extended to 31 October. The initiative includes a 50 per cent discount on adult foreigner tickets for museums and archaeological sites in Upper Egypt, and with student tickets usually being half the cost of adult tickets, all tickets for non-Arab visitors will be the same price. The reoperation of Nile cruises has been set for October. El-Enany said that projects were discussed at a meeting with Pololikashvili during the latters visit to support tourism in Egypt, among them holding an international conference to discuss issues concerning tourism. The establishment of a youth academy and the promotion of new tourist destinations in Egypt under the heading of religious tourism were also discussed, particularly since Egypt has a dozen synagogues, dozens of ancient Coptic churches and monasteries, and large numbers of historically and architecturally very important mosques and other religious buildings. During their visit to the GEM, El-Enany and Pololikashvili unveiled two large royal colossi to be displayed in their permanent location in the museums atrium. The colossi have been restored and cleaned, and they join other artefacts such as the colossi of king Ramses II and the column of his son Meneptah. Both of the unveiled colossi were previously on show in the Treasures of Ancient Egypt: Sunken Cities exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the US, the last stop of this exhibition tour before the objects returned to Egypt. They depict a Ptolemaic king and queen, each six metres tall and each found submerged in the Abu Qir Bay off Alexandria in 2000. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: In his effort to secure leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, Erin OToole promised the gun lobby that he will weaken Canadas firearm laws. His approach to gun policy received an A grade from a prominent Canadian gun lobby group, the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights. OToole proposes rolling back not only Liberal steps to reduce violence, but firearm policies enacted by the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in the early 1990s. In his platform for the Conservative leadership, OToole promises rather awkwardly to oppose efforts to reverse the former Conservative governments policy advances on firearms, including the Trudeau governments new proposals to confiscate legal firearms. In Parliament, OToole opposed the Liberal gun control law passed in 2019, Bill C-71, which contained efforts to strengthen background checks for firearm purchases, improve record keeping, and tighten gun transportation rules. OToole objected to the Liberal decision to use an order-in-council after the Portapique massacre in Nova Scotia to ban many models of semi-automatic assault-style rifles, including the AR-15. He called the action unprecedented and undemocratic. OToole also promised in his Conservative leadership platform to introduce a simplified classification system for firearms. To Canadians unaccustomed with the wishes of the gun lobby, a simplified classification system sounds innocuous. It isnt. Firearms are currently classified as non-restricted (mostly hunting rifles and shotguns), restricted (many handguns and some semi-automatic rifles), and prohibited (automatic weapons, and some handguns and semi-automatic rifles). Under the simplified classification system that is part of the Conservative Party official policy, automatic rifles would remain prohibited. Restricted weapons would include handguns, and firearms that could be fired when reduced to less than 660 millimeters in length. All other firearms would be non-restricted. In other words, if a firearm isnt a machine gun, a handgun, or a short, concealable weapon it would be non-restricted. Gun lobbyists have advocated for the simplified classification system for years because it would lower the classification of many semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15, meaning they would be much easier to acquire and use. These guns would also no longer be registered, making them more difficult to track. Listen to The Star's Alex Boutilier discuss Erin O'Toole's win OTooles promise to enact a simplified classification system is a repudiation not only of the gun control policy of the Liberal Party. Instituting such a classification system would also weaken the gun control steps taken by Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Prime Minister Mulroney responded to the murder of fourteen young women in the 1989 Montreal Massacre with significant action on firearms, including limiting access to many semi-automatic rifles. Minister of Justice Kim Campbell shepherded the Mulroney governments legislation through the House of Commons. She addressed what she saw as the growing problem of assault-style firearms in civilian hands, and asserted that Parliament needed to update Canadas gun laws to limit access to such firearms. What I am concerned about, and what the legislation seeks to control, Minister Campbell declared in 1991, are modern military firearms that contain high firepower, fast-firing mechanisms, large capacity cartridge magazines, and other characteristics that make them very dangerous weapons, and have little or no place in legitimate sporting activities. Minister Campbell made clear that she wanted to reduce access to the most modern semi-automatic military assault weapons. The Progressive Conservative government subsequently issued orders-in-council prohibiting or restricting many models of assault-style rifles (a fact which counters OTooles claim that the 2020 ban on many assault rifles is unprecedented). Most of the models declared restricted or prohibited by the Mulroney government were semi-automatic versions of standard military assault rifles, including the AR-15. It is unclear whether OToole is aware of these basic facts of gun control history. Implementation of the simplified classification system would make semi-automatic assault-style rifles much more available. Doing so would be at odds with public opinion, as polling shows that a large majority of Canadians support stronger limits on assault rifles. Weakening regulations on assault-style rifles would also mean walking back legislative steps taken by the Progressive Conservatives in the early 1990s, and returning an important part of the Canadian firearm law regime to its state before the Montreal Massacre. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that he issued directions to double the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) tests in the national capital within a week following a spike in the viral outbreak cases being recorded since August 17. Delhi recorded 1,544 and 1,693 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The CM said he gave directions to strengthen enforcement of rules such as wearing of masks in public places and strict adherence to social distancing norms in a bid to keep the raging contagion at bay. He said that the Delhi government would provide pulse oximetres and oxygen concentrators, if needed, to Covid-19 patients after they recover from their viral infection. Several cases were reported, where Covid-19 patients continue to suffer from respiratory complications even after they had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, which caused the disease, he added. For nearly one and a half months now, the Covid-19 situation in Delhi is under control. But, since August 17, Covid-19 cases have been on an upswing. On Wednesdays health bulletin, Delhi recorded 1,693 new Covid-19 cases. While on Tuesday, 1,544 new Covid-19 cases were recorded, said the CM while addressing media persons on Wednesday afternoon via a video-conference. However, other parametres are in good shape. For instance, the death rate is low. The case fatality rate (CFR) has come down to 1.4% and continues to be among the best in the country. We have adequate hospital beds as well. At present, there are 14,130 hospital beds, of which 10,448 beds are still lying vacant. The recovery rate is good. The the home isolation model is also doing well. No Covid-19 patient has died during home isolation since July 14, Kejriwal said. Tuesdays 1,544 new Covid-19 cases reflected the highest single-day spike in the viral outbreak in Delhi in 40 days. The surge comes at a time, when the state government has urged the Centre to resume Metro Rail services in the national capital region (NCR) that have been suspended since end-March in a bid to contain the pandemic. Today, we held a meeting, where I issued directions asking for the number of Covid-19 tests be doubled within a week. At present, we are conducting 20,000 Covid-19 tests a day. It will be 40,000 from next week. Our strategy remains the same test and isolate, said Kejriwal while urging the public to get themselves tested for the pathogen, if they feel the mildest of influenza-like symptoms. A senior government clarified that the CM referred to both real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid antigen detection (RAD) tests as part of the state governments aggressive daily testing mechanism. Soon, the Delhi government is likely to formulate a way to ensure a proportionate increase in both types of tests. We have noticed another trend. Covid-19 patients are developing respiratory problems after their recovery. There have been a few instances of death as well. We have decided that Covid-19 patients discharged from hospitals after their recovery would now be given pulse oximetres for a certain period. Oxygen concentrators will be sent to them in case their oxygen levels drop at any point in time, the CM said. Covid-19 patients under home isolation already get pulse oximetres. The provision to request for oxygen concentrators would also be available for them. In each revenue district, the district magistrates (DMs) are the custodians of the oxygen concentrators, said an official in the chief ministers office (CMO). Kejriwal said that he also directed the authorities to strengthen enforcement of rules. People should wear masks and maintain social distancing. Confidence is good, but it should not lead to complacency at any cost. We hope nobody is penalised. In case a person gets fined, that person must understand that it is for a greater good, the CM added. Earlier on Wednesday morning, the CM had called a meeting with health minister Satyendar Jain, chief secretary Vijay Dev and senior health department officials. Dr Lalit Kant, the former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases department in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), welcomed the Delhi governments strategy. Covid-19 cases are going up in Delhi. At this stage, the government must go for aggressive testing, isolate infected people and strengthen its surveillance mechanism. The public should always wear masks, adhere to social distancing norms and follow respiratory etiquettes. There is no room for complacency, said Dr Kant. Four hundred lightning strikes pummeled Northern California on Wednesday, a monstrous late-summer siege that occurred just as firefighters gained the upper hand on three massive blazes burning in and around the Bay Area that were sparked by lightning. All told, 700 fires have raged across the state since the thunderstorms began on Aug. 15. Flames have decimated 1.6 million acres of land, leveling 1,700 structures, felling cathedral-like redwood trees and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Even as the weather cooled and 16,000 firefighters worked to beat back the infernos, the toll of this latest wildfire season was only beginning to come into focus. Every year its happening, said Manoj Shimire, owner of the Hidden Valley Food Mart and Shell Station north of Middletown on Highway 29 one of the battlefronts Wednesday. Its bad. One of the few upsides Wednesday was a strong marine layer rolling in from the Pacific Ocean, cooling and moistening the air over fire-scarred terrain along the coast. But the weather remains unpredictable: Thunderstorms might hit areas north of Redding, possibly spreading into the Sierra Nevada and the Tahoe basin, according to Cal Fire assistant deputy director Daniel Berlant. Such storms often bring lightning, though probably not the furious barrage that could potentially cause more fires. More than 14,000 strikes have been reported since the summer storm that besieged Northern California in recent weeks with 400 strikes in the past day alone. Sweltering heat projected for the weekend could also create the conditions for more fires. Santa Clara Cal Fire Unit Chief Jake Hess tried to shore up morale during a Wednesday afternoon briefing, acknowledging that just about everybody is run ragged. This is a point on the incident where we start to see our folks become fatigued, Hess said. I know our troops are getting tired. I know (for) the communities that are evacuated, its an inconvenience. In the North Bay, the LNU Lightning Complex fires had torched 360,868 acres across Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Solano and Yolo counties by nightfall Wednesday, destroying 1,080 buildings and causing five deaths, officials said. About 2,300 people are fighting the complex, which was 33% contained. The Walbridge Fire, part of the LNU, near Healdsburg continued presenting challenges: Its encroached on a populated area with steep terrain that had few previous fires, which would have helped clear out vegetation. Make no mistake, there is a lot of work that has to be done over at the Walbridge Fire, said Cal Fire Chief Sean Kavanaugh, who is overseeing the response to the LNU Lightning Complex. But what I can tell you is, there is a good plan in place. The folks over there are working tirelessly every day in all the sections of the Walbridge Fire. The top priority for firefighters grappling with the LNU was an area south of Middletown, fire officials said, referring to a small town in Lake County where Highway 175 meets Highway 29. Fire crews launched an air attack Wednesday afternoon, with helicopters methodically dumping water and bright pink retardant on the burning flank of a hillside, then filling up at a base on Butts Canyon Road. Now Playing: Properties on Mill Creek Road in Healdsburg burned down amid the LNU Lightning Complex fire one of three groups of wildfires that are spreading through dry fields and forests and threatening communities in and around the Bay Area. Video: Gabrielle Lurie A fleet of engines lined up between homes along the road and the smoke and flames a mile away. Tankers, including 747s, flew in to douse the hills in retardant. Occasionally a column of flames would erupt behind the helicopter landing strip, in the middle of an empty field. Across the highway from Shimires store and gas station, the barren hills are marked with dead black trees, remnants of the Valley Fire that burned into Middletown five years ago. His businesses were spared then, but with the LNU Fire burning nearby, they could once again be in the path of flames. Hes staying open to serve the firefighters and utility workers who come in to buy food, water and ice. Gasoline sales are down. Were helping people, so were staying open, he said. In other areas, the fires had begun dying down. First responders are cautiously allowing people to return to areas affected by the Meyers Fire north of Jenner, which was 97% contained Wednesday. On the Peninsula and farther south along the coast, crews were making headway in the battle against the CZU Lightning Complex fires. That complex has burned 81,137 acres in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties and was 21% contained by Wednesday night. The past couple of days, weve been able to make significant progress on our fire fight, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said. Weve been able to establish more (containment) lines, continue to improve those lines that we have established, and (are) getting another day closer to extinguishing this fire. Yet even as firefighters beat back the flames, the fires continue ravaging forests and structures and the death toll could mount. Authorities found a 63-year-old woman dead in her Felton (Santa Cruz County) home Tuesday night, and they are investigating whether her death could be related to the fire. Separately, first responders are searching for a person evacuated from Boulder Creek this week. As they scour for the dead and missing, fire officials are also contending with tens of thousands of evacuees who are eager to return to their homes. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Chris Clark urged residents of fire-threatened areas to resist going home until evacuation orders are lifted, fearing they might impede the fire response if they go back prematurely. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California We want to get you back home, we really do, Clark said. But there are dangers to sneaking back in to the evacuated area. ... We want to help you, but what it does is divide our resources. In the East and South bay areas, the SCU Lightning Complex the second largest in state history is a chaotic, fiery tempest spanning seven counties. It has burned 367,371 acres in Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties and was 30% contained on Wednesday night. It has destroyed 37 structures, caused five injuries and was threatening 20,000 structures. For as large as this fire is, that weve only lost that many homes, and they might be cabins and outbuildings, is very impressive, said Cal Fire forester David Janssen, whose truck bounced along a scorched one-lane dirt road, past charred ground and ashen trees on Wednesday. Now Playing: At a Cal Fire helicopter base in a field outside Middletown, a fleet of helicopters load up buckets of water and retardant in an attempt to extinguish a fire on a nearby mountain. Video: San Francisco Chronicle Janssen was driving through the Ohlone Regional Wilderness about an hour south of Pleasanton and east of Milpitas where fire had swept through. Below the ridge, smoke plumes rose from a steep canyon firefighters struggled to reach. The size of this fire is astronomical,, said Cal Fire spokesman Dominic Polito, standing on an overlook in the wilderness. We need to extinguish hot spots that have the potential to spread canyon fires up onto the other side where there is more grass and communities. The goal Wednesday was to keep the fire from heading south to California State Route 152, east to Interstate 5 or north to Pleasanton, still more than 20 miles away, Janssen said. But the terrain is rugged, with its patchwork of steep canyons and bumpy, dusty roads. Polito said the fire has burned down into canyons and is feeding off oak trees and big lumber. Winds are moving sparks about half a mile, with a 9 in 10 chance of starting a new fire if one lands on grass. Nonetheless, firefighters managed to protect one notable treasure the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton. One building, not in use but with historical significance, was destroyed, Janssen said. The fight up there was incredible, he recounted. Officials hope to completely contain the SCU fire by Sept. 3. Mallory Moench, Michael Cabanatuan, Rachel Swan and Michael Williams are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com, Michael.Williams@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @mallorymoench, @ctuan, @rachelswan, @michaeldamianw. BUENOS AIRES: Meltwater could undermine the walls of ice holding back Antarcticas glaciers, scientists reported on Wednesday, a finding that underscores concern about the potential for a significant sea level rise. The ice shelves, formed over thousands of years, serve as dams to prevent much of the continents snow and ice from flowing toward the ocean. Scientists found that about 60% of the ice shelf area is vulnerable to a process call hydrofracturing, in which meltwater seeps into the shelves crevasses, some of which are hundreds of meters deep, and triggers collapse. This meltwater is heavier than ice, so it can penetrate through the entire ice thickness, just like a knife," said climate scientist Ching-Yao Lai at Colombia University. Its unclear how long such a process might take. Antarctic weather is highly variable, making it difficult for scientists to determine how much of a role is being played by human-caused climate change. Lai said, however, that previous research suggested meltwater could cover the ice shelves in about a century. The new study, published in the journal Nature, used AI to identify ice-fracture features in nearly 260 satellite images of 50 ice shelves across the continent. Those ice shelves surround about 75% of the Antarctic coastline. Finding vulnerabilities in the ice shelves buttressing the glaciers above was a surprise, Lai said. Previously, we thought there are going to be places vulnerable to hydrofracture, but that those places might not matter at all for the ice sheet," Lai said. Scientists fear that losing ice shelves to hydrofracturing will leave Antarcticas ice sheets a more direct pathway to the ocean, which could accelerate ice loss and contribute to sea level rise. The latest reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have projected future sea levels to rise by more than a meter by 2100. However, scientists worry that a sudden collapse of these steep ice shelves could increase future sea levels dramatically. More than half of the worlds fresh water is locked into Antarcticas ice. Meanwhile, warming temperatures driven by climate change are also eating into glaciers and the ice sheet in the Arctic. Last month, Canadas last intact ice shelf collapsed. And Greenlands ice sheet lost a record amount of mass last year, raising concerns the icy bulk is melting more quickly than anticipated. Greenlands ancient ice sheet holds enough water to raise sea levels by at least 20 feet (6 meters) if it were to melt entirely. In Antarctica, if we start seeing the collapse of some of this ice that is there like a wall holding back everything behind it, its just going to accelerate the pace of sea level rise beyond what were probably predicting right now," said Alexandra Isern, head of Antarctic studies for the U.S. National Science Foundation who was not involved in the study. Once gone, the ice shelves wouldnt be able to form again in any time well ever see," Isern said. It took a long time to make them, and it maybe isnt going to take as long to get rid of them." Scientists say that, while governments should prepare for higher seas, there is still time to curb climate-warming emissions in order to slow the rate of sea level rise and avoid coastal catastrophes. Theres no ice on the planet that gets along well with warming air and warming ocean temperatures," said glaciologist Twila Moon at the National Snow and Ice Data Center who was not involved in the study. These kinds of details and tools are helping us to narrow our range of being able to say what will happen in the future, given that humans follow any particular path." 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 election of a Chinese diplomat as a member of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea once again shows that certain countries' attempts to contain and suppress the Chinese contender in the election were unpopular and futile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday. Duan Jielong, China's ambassador to Hungary, was among the six people elected on Monday at the New York headquarters of the United Nations by the States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The other five were David J.Attard, of Malta; Ida Caracciolo, of Italy; Maria Teresa Infante Caffi, of Chile; Maurice Kengne Kamga, of Cameroon; and Markiyan Kulyk, of Ukraine. "The Chinese contender was elected with 149 votes in the first round of voting and will start a nine-year term on Oct 1 to Sept 30,2029. I'd like to take this opportunity to extend sincere thanks for the States Parties' support for the Chinese contender," Zhao told reporters at a regular news briefing in Beijing. He also expressed congratulations to the other five elected members. Zhao said that the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an important international judicial body set up according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and China always highly values and supports its work. The wide majority support for Duan shows the international community's recognition of the Chinese contender and affirmation of China's contribution to the work of the tribunal over more than 20 years, the spokesman said. It also shows global society's determination to uphold multilateralism and the international rule of law. "We believe that the elected judges will fairly perform their duties and make due contributions to the (the tribunal) and for peaceful settlement of disputes on the sea," Zhao said. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has 21 judges with nine-year terms. A third of the members are replaced every three years. Since it was established in 1996, three Chinese have served as judges: Zhao Lihai (1996-2000), Xu Guangjian (2001-07) and Gao Zhiguo (2008-20). Trespass protested The Chinese military strongly protested a high-altitude US spy plane trespassing in the no-fly zone that is currently hosting a live ammunition drill by the People's Liberation Army Northern Theater Command, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on Tuesday. On Tuesday, a Lockheed U-2 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft trespassed in the no-fly zone, and "seriously disrupted China's routine training activities", Wu said, adding that the maneuver also seriously violated China-US maritime and flight safety codes and international norms. MasterCard Inc. credit cards are displayed in this picture illustration Reuters A Black man was using an ATM in a Texas gas station when he was approached by three armed police officers for using multiple credit cards. Brian Friar was "frightened" and started to record the incident. "They were harassing me. I was a black man in a dominant white town," Friar told the Daily Mail. "I wasn't dressed like a bum I hadn't done anything wrong." Video Friar took of the encounter shows how one officer asked Friar to prove that the credit cards belonged to him. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A Black man trying to withdraw money from a Texas gas station ATM was confronted by police officers who asked him to "prove" his credit cards belonged to him. Brian Friar, a 39-year-old, told the Daily Mail he was stopped in Burleson, outside Fort Worth, on August 12. He said three officers with guns walked up to him and asked why he had so many credit cards. "I was at the ATM machine at the store, minding my own business, looking through my cards to see which one I would use," Friar told the Daily Mail. Friar told the outlet he started to record the incident because he was "frightened," citing the death of George Floyd and shooting of Jacob Blake, a man who was shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. "Prove to me the rest of the cards are yours," one officer says in the video. "You got like ten there, man." "All those are mine," Friar responded. Friar explained to the police officer that he used the wrong PIN at the ATM and had to use his phone to unlock it. "We're only asking you about this because someone brought it to our attention," the officer told Friar in the video. The officer then asked Friar how he ended up in Burleson. Friar told him that was getting a tattoo and had to get back to his wife, whose car broke down nearby. Friar told the Daily Mail it was "racist" how the police approach him and ask him about his credit cards. Story continues "They were harassing me. I was a black man in a dominant white town," Friar said. "I wasn't dressed like a bum I hadn't done anything wrong." At the end of the video, the incident ended as the police officer wished Friar luck and he left the store with his belongings. Burleson Chief Billy Cordell told The Daily Mail that his officers approached Friar after a bystander told police that he was using multiple credit cards and was getting declined by the ATM. "He said the man was acting suspicious. The officers approached the man, activated their body worn cameras and explained why they were contacting him," Cordell said. "Officers observed multiple receipts and cards as described by the witness. Officers asked him if he minded sharing identification to match the name on the cards and he eventually provided identification and cards." "This stuff is scary, Friar told the Daily Mail." I was scared." Read the original article on Insider A Malian protest coalition that had campaigned against former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said Wednesday it was willing to work with the junta which ousted him, in a process to restore civilian rule. The new military rulers formally received the leaders of the June 5 Movement for the first time since seizing control of the crisis-hit country in a largely bloodless coup on August 18. "We are willing to work with this process, we came here to exchange views and to reaffirm that we have the same positions" as the military, said Issa Kaou Djim, a leading figure in the protest movement. "We have been reassured (by the fact) that these troops are soldiers, great intellectuals. Mali, across the entire spectrum, is in a drive to bring everyone together," he said. Keita, 75, was forced out by young army officers who led a mutiny at a military base at Kati, 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Bamako. They headed into the capital where they detained the president, along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other leaders. The putsch -- the second in eight years -- has once more placed the spotlight on one of Africa's most unstable countries, which is battling a jihadist revolt and economic slump. Coup leaders were cheered by a large rally on Friday organised by the June 5 Movement, although they have been condemned by the country's neighbours, the United States, African Union, the UN and European Union, Brussels said Wednesday it was "temporarily" suspending its programme of army and police training in Mali, "due to the circumstances", according to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, after a meeting in Berlin of European defense ministers. According to European officials, the European Training Mission for the Malian Army has trained around 18,000 troops in Mali since its launch in February 2013. - 'Substantive discussions' - Named after the day and month that it was launched, the June 5 Movement comprises a diverse association of grassroots groups, political parties and religious figures cemented by the demand for Keita's resignation. Story continues Following their roughly hour-long talks with the junta, the protest leaders were keen to present themselves as joint partners in forging a "new Mali". "We told the junta that it would be useful to have substantive discussions afterwards. They agree, and they said they will consult the people," said Modibe Kone. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday, attended by the junta's leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, who did not take part on Wednesday according to people at the talks. Within hours of the coup, the junta, which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, promised to enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable time". A mediation mission by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) failed to reach a deal on the details of the transition, but said the junta had vowed to return the country to civilian rule within less than a year. ECOWAS is due to hold a summit on Friday to decide whether to maintain sanctions imposed after the coup, including a ban on travel and trade with Mali which threatens to deepen the country's social and economic troubles. Keita was elected in 2013 as a unifying figure in a fractured country and was returned in 2018 for a second five-year term. But his popularity nosedived as he failed to brake a bloody jihadist campaign that has claimed thousands of lives and driven hundreds of thousands from their homes, and to reverse the country's downward economic spiral. Despite international opposition to the coup, analysts say Keita's return to power is now highly unlikely. ah-sd-kt/er/erc/tgb (RNS) The board of Liberty University has accepted the resignation of its president, Jerry Falwell Jr., after a roller coaster day in which Falwell resigned, then withdrew his resignation, then resigned again late Monday night (Aug. 24). The board announced it had accepted Falwells resignation from his roles as president and chancellor of the university and from its board of directors after meeting Tuesday morning. I am so encouraged by the unity of Christ that I saw exemplified by our Board today, acting board Chairman Allen McFarland said in a written statement. Liberty Universitys future is very bright and in capable hands of leaders who are committed to being good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted! The university and board did not adjust the severance compensation in Falwells preexisting employment agreement, according to the statement from the school. Libertys latest tax filings show Falwell made just over $1 million in 2018. Jerry Prevo remains acting president of Liberty. Our students are ready to be world changers as Champions for Christ. Their spirit is strong as they look to the future. I intend to do all I can to nurture their spiritual side as they grow academically and enjoy all our campus has to offer, Prevo said in the statement. The back-and-forth began Monday, when Falwell resigned from Liberty University, the evangelical school his father, the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr., founded in Lynchburg, Virginia. The younger Falwell stepped into the role of president after his father died in 2007. That resignation came hours after a bombshell report from Reuters alleging a past sexual relationship between Falwell, his wife and a business partner. The day before, Falwell had given a statement to the Washington Examiner saying his wife, Becki Falwell, had had an affair with their business partner something in which I was not involved, he said. Falwell called it a fatal attraction type situation and said it had taken an emotional toll on him. Falwell had been on indefinite leave of absence from his role at Liberty for weeks after some controversial activity on social media. Calls from alumni and others for his resignation or removal had intensified during that time. Reached before news of his resignation broke on Monday, Falwell told Religion News Service he would not comment beyond his statement to the Examiner. Several sources confirmed Falwells resignation to RNS on Monday afternoon. But later Monday, Falwell told a Virginia business publication those reports were false. Liberty then released a statement saying Falwell had agreed to resign before he reversed course. Late Monday night, Falwell told The Wall Street Journal he had, indeed, submitted his letter of resignation. He did not respond to requests for comment from RNS. Its a relief, he told a local newspaper reporter Tuesday. The quote that keeps going through my mind this morning is Martin Luther King Jr: Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, Im free at last. READ THIS STORY AT RELIGIONNEWS.COM. Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: RNS/AP Photo/Steve Helber Telecom giant Reliance Jio would be coming up with a cable landing station in West Bengal that would increase the states connectivity with European and Asian countries and attract investment, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday. She also announced that her government has decided to build a deep-sea port in East Midnapore district the same district where the cable landing station would be built. The state is also coming up with a broadband policy. Reliance Jio has agreed to set up a cable landing station at Digha. They would invest more than 1,000 crore. Reliance Jio had bid to build the station and the state government has allotted them land. The decision was taken in the cabinet on Wednesday, Banerjee said at the state secretariat after a cabinet meeting. Submarine cables provide international telecommunication links between countries and these cables terminate in a country through cable landing stations. Top government officials present in the meeting said that the landing station is expected to transform West Bengal into a major IT and ITES hub, draw huge investments and generate employment. Our IT and ITES data centres would be benefited. Our international connectivity with Singapore, Italy and Malaysia will get a boost. Such stations have been set up in Chennai and Mumbai. With the station in West Bengal, the entire eastern region, including Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, would be benefited, said Rajiva Sinha, chief secretary of the state. The chief minister also said that the Tajpur deep sea port would also be built. We have been trying to come up with a deep-sea port at Tajpur. We had requested the Centre for a joint project but it didnt materialise. So the state has decided to go ahead with the project with another partner that would be decided through a tender, Banerjee said. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line crew members may finally get paid after months of working without wages on the companys Florida-based ships. In a settlement agreement reached between the crew members and the company Friday, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will pay $875,000 to around 275 crew members, according to the lawyer representing the crew, Michael Winkleman. The settlement in the class-action lawsuit is still awaiting approval from a federal judge in Miami. We are very pleased with this settlement and we are confident it will fully and fairly compensate the entire crew who were stuck on the ship, Winkleman said. Bahamas Paradise crew members have endured months of unpaid labor during the COVID-19 pandemic and threats for speaking out about the conditions on board, the Miami Herald found. After the U.S. government canceled cruises on March 14, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line asked crew members on its two ships the Grand Celebration and the Grand Classica to sign an agreement to continue working without pay. The company said it would pay crew members again as soon as cruising resumed at that time, estimated as mid-April. But cruises remained canceled, and crew members never got paid again even though they continued to cook and clean aboard the ships. While on board they had to pay for necessities like toiletries and bottled water, depleting their savings. In mid-March, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line presented crew members with a form to sign that said they agreed to stay on board without wages instead of requesting a flight home. Those who aired their concerns on social media or spoke to journalists about the conditions on board were threatened and retaliated against by hotel director Prem Kainikkara, according to interviews with crew members and a recording of a meeting obtained by the Miami Herald. When a group of crew members did not show up for their shift after the company stopped paying them, Kainikkara threatened to cancel their visas and have them arrested, according to a crew member who participated in the small strike. CEO Oneil Khosa boarded the ship in early June and promised each crew member still on board a one-time $1,000 payment by July 25, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by the Herald. July 25 came and went without pay. A teary crew member pleaded with Khosa at another meeting in late July, according to a recording obtained by the Herald. Story continues We are all loyal here supporting our company for four and a half months months right now and we have received nothing, she said, crying. Our family back home is struggling. Khosa again promised each crew member $1,000. No money came. The seafarers have little recourse. U.S. labor laws do not apply to cruise ship workers as the companies and ships are registered abroad. The Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 provides the only international workplace protections for seafarers, but the U.S. is not one of the 97 signatories and therefore does not enforce its crew welfare rules. On Aug. 4, Dragan Janicijevic, 44, a casino worker on the Grand Celebration who made it off the ship and home to Serbia in late June, filed a class-action lawsuit against the company in federal court in Miami alleging the crew had been forced to work without wages. The company has not responded to numerous requests for comment. In an interview with the Palm Beach Post last week, Khosa said the company is struggling to stay afloat. The situation has exposed so many of us to so much uncertainty and negativity, he told the Post. Economically, at the end of the day, everybodys trying to do what it takes to survive. To me the most important thing is to stay in business. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line operates two-night cruises from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama. The company is majority-owned by the family of former Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan. The Bahamas Maritime Authority, the agency in charge of enforcing international maritime law for the companys ships, said it is investigating the company. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line President Kevin Sheehan Jr. held a video conference with crew on the Grand Celebration ship on Aug. 12, 2020 after the Herald published a story about tactics the company used to make crew work without pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the Herald published a story about how the company forced crew members to work without wages using threats and promised payments, President Kevin Sheehan Jr., son of the companys owner, held a virtual meeting with crew on board the ships in mid-August. He urged crew members to contact him directly with their concerns and said an outside investigator would interview each crew member individually the following day, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by the Herald. The interviews never happened, said one crew member still on board at the time. Only around 40 crew members remain on each ship. The $875,000 settlement will cover unpaid wages and the two months severance each crew member is guaranteed in their employment contracts, according to Winkleman, the lawyer. Crew purser Yelitza Cornejo said the settlement feels like justice. Cornejo, 33, from Peru, refused to sign the agreement in March to work without pay. She said the hotel director of the Grand Celebration, where she worked, took away her Wi-Fi after she raised concerns about the working crew on social media. I knew from the beginning that some day justice would come, she said. We are very grateful to who initiated this because everybody was hopeless and now we can say that justice arrived. Mac Cheremeh was caught posting parcels of drugs. (SWNS) A pair of dealers have been jailed after they were caught using Royal Mail post boxes to send envelopes stuffed full of drugs to their customers. James Willoughby, 27, and Mac Cheremeh, 42, posted hundreds of envelopes containing drugs into post boxes around Chelmsford, Essex. Drugs including crack cocaine, heroin, MDMA, cannabis, ketamine, LSD, crystal meth, ecstasy, and amphetamine were sent to addresses in the UK, Australia, and the US. Packages containing drugs were found stuffed inside Royal Mail post boxes in Chelmsford, Essex. (SWNS) But their scheme was foiled when the Royal Mail found 54 packages arrived at one sorting office within four days all of them strongly smelling of cannabis. Royal Mail investigators then intercepted a some 1,800 parcels over the space of a month that had been posted in and around Chelmsford between November and December 2018. The drugs had an estimated street value of up to 517,500. Ecstasy and cannabis was among the drugs that were found in envelopes being posted to addresses in the UK, Australia and the US. (SWNS) Charles Willoughby, his brother James Willoughby, and Mac Cheremeh all admitted to their parts in conspiracy to supply the drugs. James Willoughby and Cheremeh each admitted three charges of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, as well as two charges of conspiracy to supply class B drugs when they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 21 January this year. Charles Willoughby, 32, of Rollason Way, Brentwood, admitted conspiracy to supply a class B drug. James Willoughby (left) and Mac Cheremeh (right) were both jailed for 10 years each. (SWNS) Cheremeh, of Hackney, and James Willoughby, of Islington, were each jailed for 10 years, while Charles Willoughby was sentenced to eight months, suspended for two years. A spokesman for Essex Police said: "This was a significant haul of drugs, which was discovered thanks to the diligence of Royal Mail staff. "Wed like to thank them for their support throughout our investigation. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Woolworths has revealed the four 'extra special' Ooshies to look out for as the supermarket launches its collectables featuring iconic characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar. The collection comes with 36 new themed figurines - including four glitter versions of the classic hero characters - Elsa from Frozen, Woody from Toy Story, Captain Marvel and The Mandalorian from Star Wars. While the four fan favourites are not as rare as Ooshies fury Simba from The Lion King, it's likely shoppers will attempt to sell them for a small fortune on eBay. From Wednesday, August 26, Australian shoppers can collect one of the 36 Disney+ fan favourites with every $30 spent in store or online. Woolworths has revealed the four 'extra special' Ooshies - including (from left to right) Captain Marvel, Woody from Toy Story, Elsa from Frozen and The Mandalorian from Star Wars The Australian supermarket chain announced the four 'extra special' Ooshies to look out for Revealed: The participating brands for bonus Ooshies Pantene Huggies Gillette Energizer Oral B Devondale Tip Top Pauls Gold Power Finish Danone Moccona D'Orsogna Fancy Feast Uncle Tobys Sorbent McCain Vegemite Advertisement The latest set also includes silver, gold, translucent, colour changing and glow in the dark Ooshies, which can all be kept in a limited-edition box. The new characters to look out for include Darth Vader, Elsa, Buzz Lightyear, Thor, Ariel, Yoda, Black Panther, Moana and more. Customers can score more than one figurine in a single transaction if they buy selected products from participating brands such as Uncle Tobys, Tip Top, Oral B, Huggies, Sorbent, McCain and more. Every week, the supermarket will nominate selected products from its catalogue that are eligible for a bonus Disney Plus Ooshie collectable. 'If a customer purchases six products across all participating brands in one transaction, they will receive six bonus Ooshies,' a Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'If a customer purchases six products from one participating brand, they will receive five bonus Ooshies. In both of these instances, we can confirm they will receive an Ooshies for every $30 spent.' Woolworths has revealed the full list of Disney Plus Ooshies collectables featuring iconic characters like Elsa and Anna from Frozen, and Darth Vader from Star Wars Australian shoppers can start collecting the themed figurines from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies with every $30 spent in store or online from Wednesday, August 26 'We know many Aussie families have had a challenging year, so we're partnering with Disney to give our customers something exciting to look forward to from their everyday shop,' Woolworths chief marketing officer Andrew Hicks said. 'Whether it's Woody, a hologram Princess Leia or a glow in the dark Yoda, we're confident the collection is something the entire family can enjoy and collect together.' Woolworths has also teamed up with TerraCycle to offer customers a sustainable way to recycle their previous Ooshies. Every Woolworths store will have dedicated recycle bins so customers can drop any pre-loved collectables and wrapper to be recycled until January 31, 2021. The paper wrapper can also be recycled at home in the yellow bin. The latest set also includes silver, gold, translucent, colour changing and glow in the dark Ooshies, which can all be kept in a limited-edition box From Wednesday, August 26, Australian shoppers can collect one of the 36 Disney+ fan favourites with every $30 spent in store or online Unfortunately there will be a delay on the launch for customers in Victoria until lockdown restrictions ease to focus on store operations and safety of team members and customers. To keep Victorian fans entertained until then, Disney+ is offering eligible Everyday Rewards members in Victoria a 14 day free trial of Disney+, giving them access to thousands of hours of films and series. 'We know some customers in Victoria will be disappointed by the delayed roll out, but the safety and wellbeing of our customers, team members, and community remains our number one priority,' Mr Hicks said. 'The delay will allow our team to focus on operations and supplying customers with their everyday essentials during this challenging period. 'Once restrictions ease and we can safely roll out the program, we look forward to sharing the Disney magic with our Victorian customers.' As part of efforts to strengthen internal security in Nigeria, the Kwara and Borno and Bauchi state governments have inaugurated the state Community Policing Advisory Committees (CPAC). This is in line with President Muhammadu Buharis directive to immediately commence the implementation of community policing strategy across the country after the approval of N13.3 billion naira earlier this month. Recall that the federal government inaugurated a 14-man committee to see to the implementation in 2019. Many states including Lagos, Rivers, Plateau, Enugu, Sokoto have also followed suit. On Monday, Borno State, which is the epicentre of the Boko Haram crisis in the North-east region of the country, inaugurated the committee. The committees membership includes local hunters, civilian Joint Task Force, vigilance groups, and members of the civil society. According to ThisDay, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 15 Maiduguri, Lawan Ado, said the community policing would reduce crime, beginning from the grassroots in the state. The AIG said community policing is the new global way of combating crime in the society. This has become the best global trend of combating crimes from the micro-level of the society. Apart from the involvement of the conventional local security outfits, local women, traders, and community leaders too must buy into the new approach of crime prevention, he said. On Tuesday, the Kwara State government inaugurated its advisory Committee. This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye. In February this year, our administration held a multi-stakeholder security dialogue on strengthening the existing security architecture in the state and exploring community initiatives. Mr Ajakaye noted that the committee will herald the commencement of the initiative in the state. This advisory committee will serve as another platform to engage local communities on matters of safety. I believe that community policing is an idea that is long due as our country tackles varying security challenges. It focuses more on using intelligence and constant interactions with the community folks to prevent crimes. However, what this means is that the success of this idea lies in everybody seeing security as our collective business. Members of the committee are assured of the state governments cooperation and support to make the take-off of community policing a huge success, the spokesperson added. In a similar vein, Yesterday, the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed inaugurated a 21-member advisory committee on community policing Tuesday. Bala Mohammed inaugurated a 21-member advisory committee on community policing. The inauguration of the committees is critical to my administrations efforts to ensure peace and security across the state, he stated in a tweet on Wednesday. As you are aware, across the world, community policing is based on the concept that police officers and members of the community work in synergy and adopt ways to solve contemporary community problems related to crime, social and physical disorder and other anti-social activities peculiar to each community. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks with reporters about the virus relief package negotiations, at the White House in Washington on July 23, 2020. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Mnuchin to Testify Next Week Before House CCP Virus Panel Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will face lawmakers questions over stalled COVID-19 aid negotiations between the White House and Democrats next week when he testifies. Lawmakers said Wednesday that Mnuchin will appear before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis on Sept. 1. The hearing will examine the urgent need for additional economic relief for children, workers, and families and the Administrations implementation of key stimulus programs, according to the panel in a statement. It comes weeks after talks between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and the White House collapsed. The two parties were at odds over how much the next round of aid should be, with Democrats initially proposing a $3.4 trillion bill, while Republicans sought a $1 trillion bill. Key points of contention between the two sides include whether to provide $1 trillion to city and state governments, which Republicans have opposed, and whether to extend a $600-per-week unemployment program. The dueling stimulus bills are designed to offset economic damage done by the CCP (Chinese Communis Party) virus pandemic. After talks broke down, Mnuchin, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Schumer, and Pelosi have not met, and both chambers of Congress took their already-scheduled recess. Previously, Pelosi said that she cut the Democrats proposal by about a half, although Schumer said that any amount below $2 trillion could not pass the House or get support among Senate Democrats. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, signed off on executive orders to partially extend supplemental unemployment payments and deferring payment of some payroll taxes. He also sought to issue a moratorium on evictions and defer student loan payments. Several weeks ago, Trump said he told Mnuchin to ready the distribution of $1,200 stimulus payments and Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans, but he later said that he needs Congress to act first. The focus of congressional action shifted to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), with House Democrats passing a $25 billion bill that aims to stop planned service cuts. Republicans said the measure is dead-on-arrival in the Senate, while Trump said he will veto the measure. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified in both the Senate and House, coming after he announced he would suspend changes to the USPS operations until the November elections are over. DeJoy faced criticism over reports of mail delays. In an announcement, he said that post office hours would remain the same, mail processing equipment will remain, and processing facilities will stay open. While we have had temporary service decline, which should not have happened, we are fixing this, DeJoy testified on Monday in the House of Representatives. With anxiety and depression on the rise amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a West Virginia University-led study seeks to identify mental health issues and test online treatments among West Virginians at home - particularly those in rural areas, where access to clinical services is limited. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute recently awarded an additional $500,000 in funding support to WVU researcher Robert Bossarte for a pandemic-related expansion of an existing project that compares treatment strategies for depressed patients in rural areas. The goal is to provide immediate relief for people with mild to moderate symptoms; anyone with serious symptoms will be referred for clinical treatment. "These are really stressful times for people," said Bossarte, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology with the School of Public Health and the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry in the School of Medicine. "There's research coming out showing that there are pretty dramatic increases in new-onset anxiety, insomnia, depression. These are among people who had not previously been clinically diagnosed or had clinically meaningful symptoms. "You couple the increase in symptoms with decreased access to clinical services, as clinical service lines consolidated to handle the influx in COVID-19 cases, and just the general fear about going to the doctor, and you end up in a situation where you could have a lot of people at home with symptoms that would benefit from treatment that are undetected and, therefore, not getting the help they need." Expected to begin this month, the one-year expansion project involves inviting 100,000 West Virginians to complete a comprehensive online survey that assesses their symptoms as well as personal characteristics, history and preferences. Participants will be randomly assigned to different online treatment modules using a Harvard University-developed model, which accounts for any imbalances that could skew the results. Participants showing no signs of anxiety or depression will be assigned to a module focused on resilience and well-being. Patients receive incentives for participating and incur no cost for treatment. Support is provided for 10 weeks to ensure each patient is progressing through the assigned treatment modules and identify lingering issues, such as insomnia, that might require additional treatment. The research team will assess patient progress at regular intervals over the course of three months. "This project was selected for PCORI funding not only for its scientific merit and commitment to engaging patients and other stakeholders, but also for its potential to give people living in rural areas useful information to help them weigh the effectiveness of their treatment options for depression," PCORI Executive Director Nakela L. Cook said. "We look forward to following the study's progress and working with West Virginia University to share its results." Bossarte previously received $13.3 million in funding support from PCORI in August 2018 for a seven-year study that aims to compare three treatment strategies for about 3,600 rural patients with depression, as diagnosed by clinical providers: antidepressants alone; antidepressants combined with unguided cognitive behavioral therapy provided online; and antidepressants combined with guided online cognitive behavioral therapy. Bossarte and project partners across the country have spent much of the past two years designing the study and preparing the infrastructure, including the website used to survey participants and assign them to a treatment group. After a delay due to the pandemic, the research team is now prepared to begin accepting patients from two referring providers, but they expect a decrease in patient volume due to the pandemic. Bossarte said they are working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to identify supplemental participants who live in rural areas. The first meaningful results are expected in about three months. Bossarte hopes the data generated by the study can be used to inform an algorithm that predicts which patients are likely to find success with online cognitive behavioral therapy. He said previous studies have focused on genotyping - rather than self-reported personal information - to see what treatment approaches are likely to work best. "This work is really innovative," Bossarte said. "I'm really glad and proud we're able to do it in West Virginia. I think what makes us different from everything else that's going on out there is we're not just interested in knowing whether these platforms work. That's a question, of course, that we're interested in answering, but what we're really interested in is getting the best solution to each person as soon as possible." PCORI is an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that provides patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continually seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work. The WVU contract is being carried out in collaboration with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of West Virginia and the Practice-Based Research Network of the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute. PCORI's funding support was provided through WVU's Office of Sponsored Programs and the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University. Attorney: Woman was in body bag 2 hours before found alive An attorney for the family of a young woman found breathing at a Detroit funeral home after being declared dead said Tuesday the 20-year-old was in a body bag for some two hours before it was opened and she was discovered to be alive, with her eyes open. Geoffrey Fieger, who was hired by Timesha Beauchamps family, said she remains in critical condition at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit, where she is on a respirator and her heart is beating on its own. The doctors are unable to give a prognosis right now, and have indicated that its touch and go, Fieger said during an online news conference. ADVERTISEMENT Fieger said the family of the Southfield woman, who was born with cerebral palsy and has always needed constant medical care, are shaken by the blunder that led to her being incorrectly declared dead. He read a statement from Timeshas mother, Erica Lattimore, who said that, On behalf of the family we are devastated by what has happened. We would like people to continue to pray for Timesha and keep her family in their prayers. Fieger said hes just begun investigating at the familys request what he called the negligence that led to Timesha being declared dead Sunday morning at the familys suburban Detroit home, only to be discovered to be alive after she arrived at the James H. Cole funeral home in Detroit. He said he believes that after she was declared dead, police put Timesha in a body bag at her familys home and she was inside it, breathing, for about 2 hours before she arrived at the funeral home. Fieger said she was found to be alive as she was about to be embalmed. She was alive. Her eyes were open and she was breathing. My recollection is that the embalmer was actually there and was the person who opened the body bag, he said. Timesha receives three breathing treatments every day that are needed due to her medical condition, Fieger said. On Sunday, the family called 911 about 7:30 a.m. after her mother and brother became concerned after her first breathing treatment and noticed she was in distress. He said Timesha had apparently suffered a seizure. ADVERTISEMENT It was at that time that the family noticed that her lips were pale, and that she had some secretions around her mouth and that she was having difficulty breathing. And the family called Steven, Timeshas brother, in and then they called 911, Fieger said. He said police arrived within about 15 minutes and four paramedics also arrived at the family home. Fieger said the medical responders were told of Timeshas medical history, the medications she receives and about her daily breathing treatments. Fieger said following live saving efforts, what happened next remains very, very murky to the family and himself but Timesha was declared to be dead, when she actually needed urgent medicare care. She needed medical treatment and needed transportation to a hospital, but got transportation to a funeral home, he said. Fieger said she was declared dead even though her godmother, who he said is a registered nurse, told the paramedics she had seen Timesha breathing and she felt that she had a pulse. He said the paramedics dismissed the godmothers concerns, telling her drugs they had given Timesha were causing those movements. The godmother felt that she saw chest movements and felt that she had a pulse. She told the paramedics and the paramedics told her that the movements were involuntary and were the result of the medication. And they went, according to the family, a total of three times to Timeshas room to look at her, he said. After she was declared dead, he said an officer with Southfield police gave the family his card, wrote on the back of it the medical examiners number and told the family to provide that number to the funeral home when funeral home staff came to pick up Timesha. The funeral home was called at 9 a.m. and she was picked up about 11:25 a.m., he said, only to be discovered alive about 20 minutes later at the funeral home. The city of Southfield said its conducting an internal investigation but insisted that the fire and police departments followed procedures. The Southfield fire department has acknowledged it was involved in Sundays events, and said Monday in a statement that the situation began when a medical crew was summoned to a home on a report that a 20-year-old woman was unresponsive. Paramedics tried to revive her for 30 minutes and consulted an emergency room doctor, the department said. The doctor pronounced the patient deceased based upon medical information provided from the scene, it said in Mondays statement. The department said it then informed the Oakland County medical examiners office of the death and the on-duty forensic pathologist released the body to the family. Battalion Chief Chris Smith said Wednesday that the fire departments chief would have an updated statement, but he was uncertain when that would be released. (Newser) Anti-government activist Ammon Bundy has been pushing back on COVID-19 safety measures for months, and those efforts came to a head this week at the Idaho Capitol, leading to his arrest Tuesday. The Washington Post reports that as state lawmakers gathered Monday for a special legislative session on coronavirus-related issues, dozens of unmasked demonstrators, some heavily armed, stormed into the Capitol's gallery area, which overlooks the floor of the House of Representatives and had been cordoned off to enforce social distancing. The AP notes a glass door was shattered in the process. "Guards were charged, the gallery was overrun," House Assistant Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, a Democrat, tells the Post of what she witnessed. Republican Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke tried to restore calm, allowing the protesters to stay. story continues below The AP reports a second protest was held on Tuesday, and this time Bundy, known for leading the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge standoff in 2016, wouldn't get up from his chair and leave when asked to by Idaho State Policeso police officers simply handcuffed him and rolled him away in the wheeled chair he was sitting in. The Idaho Press identified two other people arrested with Bundy for misdemeanor trespassing as 42-year-old Aaron Von Schmidt and 38-year-old Jill Watts. Bundy was also hit with a misdemeanor charge for resisting and obstructing officers. A fourth man, Bryan Bowermaster, 33, was arrested earlier for trespassing for not leaving an area meant for reporters. A statement from an Idaho State Police spokeswoman says an investigation is underway to see if any laws were broken during the protests, per the Post. (Read more Ammon Bundy stories.) Today, Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) will host a Michigan rountable to launch a nationwide voter engagement program for Black women. The virtual Sister to Sister: Mobilizing in Action Roundtable will also feature Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield), who will serve as moderator, DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins, and Chairwoman of Sisters Lead, Sisters Vote Melanie Campbell. The conversation, which is open to the public, will also feature a small business owner, a mental health expert, and an environmental justice advocate, will focus on how a Biden-Harris agenda would work for Black women, and on what Black women across the state can do in the next ten weeks to unite around the ticket. If youre interested in viewing the 3 p.m. roundtable, you must RSVP at https://joebiden.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6f4f7ad525ac07764c71a3e37&id=74265cbad3&e=3a6f8c40ee. Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden selected Harris as his running mate on Tuesday, Aug. 11 after months of vetting different candidates. During the Democratic National Convention, Harris, a daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, accepted the partys nomination. Shes the first black woman to be a major partys vice presidential nominee. (Natural News) The impact of plant breeding and modern agricultural practices is reflected in soil health and it isnt looking good. In fact, scientists fear that an underground crisis threatens to undermine food production in the near future. Jos Raaijmakers, a microbiologist from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), suggests that the solution to this looming food and agricultural crisis can be gleaned from understanding ancient plant traits that had been lost through millennia of breeding. Raaijmakers first studied ancient beans in 2011. He has since found that ancient beans had unique microorganisms clustered around their roots, unlike their domesticated counterparts. Raaijmakers thinks these microbes are beneficial for both plant and soil health. Learning from ancient crops in building soil health Raaijmakers and his team had collected soil samples from the roots of undomesticated beans in rural Colombia and studied the microbes and fungi clinging to the roots. From their samples, the researchers found that the beans had microorganisms that arent present in domesticated beans. Furthermore, it appeared that domesticated beans planted in that same soil in rural Colombia carried none of those microorganisms found in the earlier soil samples. This led Raaijmakers to speculate that the microbes found in the earlier bean root samples might be important and beneficial for both the plant and the soil. Raaijmakers has since been testing undomesticated species of potatoes and sorghum in field trials in Colombia, Ethiopia and the Netherlands. Using results from these field trials, Raaijmakers and his colleagues intend to understand and reintroduce beneficial ancient plant traits lost through millennia of plant breeding in the hopes of enhancing soil health. (Related: Can regenerative agriculture help the planet?) Modern food crops need a reboot Scientists are concerned that arable lands are shrinking at an unprecedented rate. There are a number of factors that contribute to this, including fragile modern crops, modern farming practices and plant breeding. For instance, modern crops are becoming more and more dependent on fertilizers and pesticides due to the decades-long use of these products. In turn, commercial farms that make generous use of these chemical agents end up producing crops more fragile and prone to disease than their ancient forebears. The long-term use of fertilizers and pesticides also affects soil health as the chemicals in them hurt microbial life. This, in effect, loosens the soil, thus making it more susceptible to erosion. Furthermore, neglecting ancient but crucial techniques like crop rotation and practicing harmful ones like tilling and monocropping also contribute to poor soil health. Breeding nutrient-rich but disease-prone plants borne out of these practices then completes the cycle. Wim van der Putten, a colleague of Raaijmakers and the head of the department of multitrophic interactions in NIOO-KNAW, notes that their ecological research indicates a sort of error in the current state of agriculture. Fertile soil is a finite resource and modern farming practices are hurting this resource to a large extent. It also does not help that the solutions to these problems are no better than band-aid solutions, such as using chemical fertilizers to replace lost soil nutrients. Experts point out that poor attention to soil health and harmful agricultural practices are more than likely to endanger food security in the near future as the global population continues to increase. It appears that modern food crops are in need of an urgent reboot and these problems must be tackled at the root, according to Van der Putten. To this end, researchers from his institute are conducting field trials and tests in greenhouses. The idea is to harness the traits and properties of ancient crops to create modern ones that are not dependent on the extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers. The researchers hope that nurturing crops that possess these traits might also benefit the soil as a result. Raaijmakers also suggests looking for ancient plant traits that are linked to the unique microbes found in ancient crops and then replicating those traits in modern crops through plant breeding. Learn more about ancient crops and modern crops at CleanFoodWatch.com. Sources include: Wired.co.uk FoodTribe.com By Trend Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has begun his official visit to Russia, Trend reports on August 26. Bayramov first visited the grave of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin walls, and laid a wreath on it. During the visit, the minister met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The meeting, which has begun in a tet-a-tete format, will be followed with the participation of delegations. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Senik and Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Ukraine Hadi Nasser Al-Hajri discussed a wide range of issues on the agenda of Ukrainian-Qatari relations. On August 26, 2020, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Senik met with Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Ukraine Hadi Nasser Al-Hajri. The sides discussed a wide range of issues on the agenda of Ukrainian-Qatari relations, focusing on the implementation of joint projects in infrastructure, energy, agriculture and aviation sectors, the Foreign Ministrys press service reported. Senik emphasized that the signing of an agreement on the transfer of Olvia Port to Qatars QTerminals, which took place on August 20, 2020, was the starting point for the implementation of large-scale joint investment projects. He also confirmed the readiness of the Ukrainian side to receive the Emir of the State of Qatar in the country. The parties stressed the need to hold, after the lifting of existing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Qatari Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation, which would provide additional impetus to the intensification of bilateral economic cooperation. ish Advertisement The family's decision to donate the organs was conveyed to the Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO), Eastern Zone by INK. This led to a coordinated effort between Dr. Manimay Bandyopadhyay, Director and Dr. Arpita Raychaudhury, Joint Director of ROTTO, Eastern Zone and Dr. Swarnalatha, in-charge of Jeevandan, Telangana state to ensure retrieval and allocation of the organ based on the national transplant waitlist.The organ was airlifted and green corridors were set up by the Traffic Police in both Kolkata and Hyderabad cities to ensure smooth movement.The team from INK comprising of the Medical Superintendent Dr. Mohua Golder, and Intensivists Dr. Indraneel and Dr. Tanmoy and the family of the donor deserve all the credit in making the donation possible.While lung transplants have been performed earlier in Telangana, this is the first time a donor organ from Kolkata was used. This is also the second consecutive double lung transplant to be performed at KIMS in the last 10 days.The first double lung transplant recipient who received his organs from Pune is presently recovering and expected to be discharged soon.Source: Medindia LONDON: Britains Supreme Court has dismissed two appeals by Chinese telecoms firms Huawei and ZTE over mobile data patent disputes. The disputes center on the licensing of patented technology considered essential to mobile telecoms. The patents are meant to ensure fair competition and access to technology like 4G. In the first case, Unwired Planet, an intellectual property company that licenses patents, had brought legal action against Huawei for infringement of five U.K. patents that Unwired acquired from Ericsson. The second appeal concerned legal action brought by another patent licensing company, Conversant Wireless, against Huawei and ZTE for infringement of four of its U.K. patents. The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld lower court rulings on the cases and dismissed appeals by Huawei and ZTE. In a statement, Conversant said the ruling was a landmark judgment that will have significant implications worldwide for telecommunications patent licensing. The ruling meant that companies like Huawei cannot insist that patent holders like Conversant prove their patents in every jurisdiction of the world, which would be both practically and economically prohibitive, the company added. 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 Police officers outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Getty A father whose son was killed by the Kenosha police department in 2004 has spoken out against the department in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. Michael Bell Sr's son was killed by a Kenosha police officer in 2004 during a struggle following a traffic stop in front of the man's home. Mr Bell - whose son was white - said he could sympathise with the family's trauma as he watched the video that captured Mr Blake's shooting. He told CBS News that seeing the woman screaming in the aftermath of the shooting distressed him, as his son was also shot in front of witnesses, including loved ones. When Mr Bell was shot, his mother and sister were only feet away. Mr Blake was shot on Sunday by police as he was trying to walk away from them and enter his vehicle. An officer shot him eight times in the back. Mr Blake's children were in the vehicle during the shooting. The shooting was caught on video and spread quickly through social media, fuelling the fire of protesters demonstrating against police violence towards black people in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor earlier this summer. "My own daughter and son's mother witnessed my son being shot," Mr Bell told CBS News. "I know the trauma they had to live through, and they're still not right. Nobody understands the pain the family is going through - it's a degree of suffering nobody understands until they experience it themselves." Attorney Ben Crump - who is also representing George Floyd's family - is representing the Blake family and believes the children in the car will be traumatised from the experience. "These kids, these babies, are going to have psychological issues for their entire life," Mr Crump said. The officers involved in the death of Mr Bell claimed he grabbed for one of their guns, prompting another officer to shoot him in the head. However, doubt was cast over the truth of their account by follow-up reports on the incident. Eventually the city of Kenosha settled the case with the Bell family for $1.75m. One of the officers involved in the shooting committed suicide in 2010. Story continues Mr Bell has since advocated for reforms to the methods used to investigate shootings by police. He suggests following a similar method to the National Transportation Safety Advisory Board's protocol for investigating aviation accidents, which employs the use of independent investigators. He believes that method could help not only provide justice for families in cases where a shooting was unjustified, but also could educate the community, as "once the cause of an accident is determined by the safety board, that information is distributed throughout the community to reduce the chances of it happening again." He said that at very least, the Kenosha police should be compelled to wear body cameras. "Body cameras in many ways are like the black box on an airplane -- they record all the critical data at the moment of death that's important. If you want to turn around and make the system better, you have to have a root cause analysis," he said. "We have asked for body cameras here in Kenosha, and they just keep pushing it downstream." Mr Blake's shooting sparked protests and - in some instances - looting and the destruction of businesses in Kenosha. Wisconsin's governor declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as anger over the shooting boiled over. State officials are preparing for another night of protests and potential destruction as it was announced today that while Mr Blake survived the shooting, he will be paralysed from the waist down as a result. Governor Tony Evers said he planned to deploy more National Guard troops to Kenosha to prepare for the unrest. "We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue," Mr Evers said. "We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction." Zach Rodriguez, a member of the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors, told Reuters that the destruction had to stop. "Essentially, our city was burned to the ground, building by building," he said. "Enough is enough." For protesters, "enough is enough" is a shared sentiment. Clyde McLemore, the president of a Black Lives Matter group in nearby Lake County, Illinois, said demonstrators would continue to protest violence against black individuals by police. "We won't stop protesting until we get that done," he said. "I don't condone burning of buildings or looting, but I understand it. Them places got insurance, they'll be back up." Another protester, Porche Bennett, said the fires were largely started by people from out of town, and said the fires mostly affected businesses in a district primarily visited by the black community. "It's people from out of town doing this. We've been shopping there since we were kids, and they set it on fire," she said. Read more Jacob Blake paralysed after being shot seven times by police With the states gyms allowed to reopen with restrictions next Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy said he hopes to permit some indoor dining at bars and restaurants by the middle of next month as coronavirus numbers continue to improve. Murphy was asked Wednesday during his latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton whether rumors are true about a Sept. 14 or 15 target date for the state to allow limited indoor dining. The governor said he hadnt heard that date but stressed I hope its before then. I hope that weve got some indoor dining before then, Murphy said. Im not hanging my hat on it. Im not trying to make news. Thats not a date Im using at least. But, he said, if data we look at stays as good as it is, I hope we beat that date. The governor also said its likely movie theaters will be allowed to reopen in New Jersey at the same time. My guess is, if I had to predict now, they will move at the same time, whenever that is, Murphy said. Gyms, movie theaters, and indoor dining were among the first businesses Murphy ordered closed as he rolled out steps to battle the spread of COVID-19 in March. More than five months later, Murphy announced Wednesday that gyms will be permitted to reopen to 25% indoor capacity, along with other health and safety protocols. That means movie theaters, indoor dining, and performing arts centers will be among the last businesses to have some sort of limited reopening in the state. Most other businesses have been allowed to reopen with capacity limits, as well as mask and social-distancing requirements. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Bars and restaurants have been allowed to offer takeout and delivery, and Murphy permitted outdoor dining beginning in June. He originally announced hed allow indoor dining at 25% capacity in early July but called that off at the last minute, citing growing case numbers in other states and large crowds of mask-less people at Jersey Shore bars. He has also warned that movie theaters and indoor dining are difficult because people are sitting inside for long periods of time and have to remove face masks to eat. Murphy has faced intense pressure from some lawmakers, businesses, and residents to pull back restrictions more quickly as the states economy suffers during the pandemic. Restaurants have been among the hardest-hit industries. Numerous other states have allowed limited indoor dining, including neighboring New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Indoor dining will be allowed in Philadelphia starting Sept. 8. New Jersey has seen its daily numbers drop significantly since April, when officials were routinely announcing hundreds of new deaths and thousands of new cases a day. The state on Wednesday reported 11 more deaths related to COVID-19 and 288 new cases, while the rate of transmission was below the critical mark of 1 for the fifth straight day. New Jersey has reported 15,914 total deaths 14,134 confirmed and 1,780 considered probable with 190,306 total cases in the nearly six months since the first case was reported here March 4. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Washington: President Donald Trump is the only person who can take on China and its "predatory aggression," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told the American people. He also said that President Trump will not rest until he brings the Communist nation to justice for spreading death and economic destruction in America and around the world through the coronavirus. Pompeo on Tuesday deviated from his own advice and broke the longstanding precedent of sitting US secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics to urge Americans to re-elect President Trump on November 3 if they want to keep the country safe. In his address to the Republican National Convention from Jerusalem, Pompeo, who is leading the Trump administration's vocal attack on China and its aggressive moves in recent times against India and in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, said that President Trump has taken bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world. "In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The president has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world. And he will not rest until justice is done," the top American diplomat said. He said President Trump has ensured that the ruling Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats in America are jailed or sent back to China. Further, Trump has ended the "ridiculously unfair" trade arrangement with China that punched a hole in America's economy, he said. "Those jobs are coming back home," Pompeo said. He earlier tweeted from his personal Twitter handle. "President Trump has ensured the safety of America and SECURED our many FREEDOMS, which is the cornerstone of this great nation," he wrote and said he would share with the American people on how the President has delivered on that mission. Relations between the US and China have plummeted during Trump's time in office, with a trade war, tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, and angry denunciations coming from both Washington and Beijing. Trump has repeatedly accused China of spreading the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated the US, killing more than 170,000 Americans and causing widespread economic misery that could tank Trump's re-election chances. The coronavirus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan before it spread across the world. Pompeo has been attacking China after the People's Liberation Army has been making aggressive moves along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh as well as in the South China Sea. On July 8, he said India has done its best to respond to China's ?incredibly aggressive actions. He said that Beijing has a pattern of "instigating" territorial disputes and the world shouldn't allow this bullying to take place. Pompeo has also said that the world will not allow China to treat the strategically important South China Sea as its "maritime empire" and has vowed that the US would support worried Southeast Asian countries against Beijing's "campaign of bullying" to control the resource-rich region. Beijing claims almost all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Pompeo has also said that the "Chinese predatory world view" has no place in the 21st century and Washington stood with its Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law. The mainstream media and others on the left are happy to report that the television ratings reveal that the RNC's audience on the first night of its convention was 29% lower than for the first night in 2016. However, this fails to account for something significant, which was that C-SPAN's audience was almost 600% greater than the DNC's C-SPAN numbers for the first night of its convention. Put another way, huge numbers of Americans wanted to watch the Republican convention. They just didn't want to watch the media mediate it. Because numbers are involved here, let me make sure everybody is operating from the same set of facts: In 2016, according to Nielsen, on the first night of the Democrat convention, 26 million people watched on television. Nielsen's numbers for the first night of the 2016 Republican convention held that 23 million people watched it on television. Both of those were traditionally run conventions, with everyone gathered in a single venue and lots of time out for cheering, during which the media talking heads could insert their commentary. Thanks to the Wuhan virus, both parties have used innovative formats for their 2020 conventions. The Democrats opted for a Zoom-style format with celebrity hosts. The Republicans opted for live footage from a magnificent, neo-classical venue and from the White House, along with a few professionally videotaped statements from people's homes or other locations. One would think curiosity would have driven many people to tune in to the first night of each convention. Additionally, both parties consider this a make-or-break election that will determine America's political destiny for a generation. Nevertheless, the Nielsen numbers, which track television viewership, show that both parties witnessed drops with the Republicans showing a steeper decline than the Democrats. Nielsen reported that, on the first night of the 2020 Democrat convention, 19.7 million people turned on the television, a 24% drop in viewers. Also, according to Nielsen, on the first night of the 2020 Republican convention, 17 million people turned on the television, a 26% decline in viewers. Some media outlets say things were even worse for Republicans. Thus, Variety said that, while the Republicans had more eyes on their first night than Nielsen reports, Republicans also had a bigger drop in viewers compared to 2016: In total, just under 16 million people tuned in for night 1 of the RNC across the cable news and broadcast networks. That represents a 29% dip from the opening night four years ago, which drew around 22.5 million pairs of eyeballs. For comparison, the first night of last week's DNC drew 18.7 million viewers (which was itself down 27% from 2016). The Daily Beast also reported that the Republicans' first night drop in viewership was a problem compared to the Democrat experience. Both outlets, however, missed something important about the viewer numbers. It wasn't that Republicans weren't watching; it's that they weren't watching on the traditional news outlets. Instead, Republicans, unlike Democrats, headed for the unmediated experience of C-SPAN: Livestream viewership from C-SPAN's coverage of the first night of the Republican National Convention was almost six times higher than that of the Democratic National Convention. TV ratings released from Nielsen Media Research Tuesday show that nearly 440,000 people watched C-SPAN's Republican convention livestream Monday night compared to a viewership total of only 76,000 viewers for the Democratic convention's opening night a week earlier, according to the Hill. It's likely that a lot of viewers had the same reaction that I did when I tried to watch the convention on traditional television and I went for Fox, which was presumptively not hostile to the Republicans. From the first minute, Fox irritated me when it cut away from Charlie Kirk, the first speaker, to listen to talking heads talk about what they thought speakers would say. I didn't want to watch their guesses; I wanted to watch the speakers. I therefore went to Spectrum's C-SPAN channel. (And I don't know whether the ratings break out whether people watched through their cable provider or through the streaming video on YouTube. If the ratings counted only one of those, the C-SPAN numbers may be higher.) Considering that I was irritated by Fox's friendly coverage, imagine how many more people couldn't take the other media outlets' hostile coverage. After all, earlier in the day, CNN wouldn't even televise Trump's acceptance speech. While I went to C-SPAN, it's reasonable to believe that many just tuned out in disgust or that other viewers, especially older ones, did not know how to get to C-SPAN's convention coverage. With a purely televised convention, viewers are realizing they no longer need the media to explain what's going on, as is often the case at the live conventions. Americans want to listen to fellow Americans, not to hostile Democrat party operatives yelling at the video like Grandpa Simpson yelling at the cloud. Image: Family watching television 1958, from the National Archives and Records Administration. Public domain. The National Hurricane Center predicts that Hurricane Laura will make landfall as a Category 4 storm. (NHC) Hurricane Laura Now a Category 4 Storm, Trump Calls on Residents to Heed Warnings Hurricane Laura quickly strengthened to a Category 4 storm on Wednesday as it is scheduled to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast on Wednesday night. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that Laura will bring unsurvivable storm surge. It will cause large and destructive waves from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes, adding: This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline, according to the NHC. Hurricane Laura is a very dangerous and rapidly intensifying hurricane. My Administration remains fully engaged with state & local emergency managers to continue preparing and assisting the great people Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Listen to local officials. We are with you! pic.twitter.com/x0JoijLUpb Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2020 Laura currently has maximum sustained wind speeds of 140 mph and is projected to remain Category 4 until Wednesday night when it makes landfall, said the NHC. Then, it is expected to quickly weaken. The eye of the storm is forecast to move over northwestern Louisiana on Thursday, across Arkansas on Thursday night, and it will head to the mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday. It looks like its in full beast mode, University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy told The Associated Press. Which is not what you want to see if youre in its way. Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes. This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. #Laura pic.twitter.com/bV4jzT3Chd National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 26, 2020 Evacuation Orders Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards both have voiced concerns that not enough coastal residents are taking the storm seriously, AP reported. On Twitter, President Donald Trump also called on coastal residents to heed local officials commands to evacuate. Hurricane warnings were issued by the NHC from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and reached inland for 200 miles. Storm surge warnings were in effect from Freeport, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Chambers County, Texas, issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents who live in low-lying or flood prone-areas, manfactured homes, or trailer homes. The city of Galveston, Texas, also issued an evacuation order as well as the Bolivar Peninsula. Hardin County, Texas, Judge Wayne McDaniel ordered a mandatory evacuation for the whole county starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Texass Jasper County, Jefferson County, Newton County, Orange County, also issued evacuation orders on Tuesday. In Louisiana, evacuation orders are in effect for Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, Jefferson Parish, Lafourche Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and Terrebonne Parish. About 500,000 people live under areas where the evacuation orders were implemented, according to an Associated Press analysis. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 26 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: The value of Iran's exports to Oman amounted to $110 million, Secretary of Oman Affairs Bureau with the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Soheila Rasoulinejad said, Trend reports citing the organization. According to Rasoulinejad, the construction materials, wood and rubber materials, fruits, greens, meat, chicken, spare parts for equipment, zinc, lead and gas condensate were exported during the reporting period. The official added that there was increase in the exports of finished products. Iran exported 2.11 million tons of products worth $527 million to Oman in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019 to March 20, 2020). The products exports increased by 3 percent in terms of volume and decreased by 30 percent in terms of value compared to the same period preceding Iranian year (from March 21, 2018 to March 21, 2019). A Coast Guard Watch opened fire on an eight-foot shark when it closed in on 40 crew members enjoying a swim call in the Pacific. Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Cintron, designated shark watch on board the US Coast Guard Cutter Kimball, fired shots at the Long-Fin Mako or Pelagic Thresher shark Wednesday when it was spotted making a beeline for his shipmates who were swimming in the ocean. All crew members - as well as a huge inflatable unicorn - escaped unscathed following the surprise encounter with the sea predator. The sea story was regaled in a post on the US Coast Guard Cutter Kimball Facebook page, where the lucky crew said they will be 'retelling the story for years'. A Coast Guard Watch opened fire on an eight foot shark (pictured) when it closed in on 40 crew members enjoying a swim call in the Pacific The Long-Fin Mako or Pelagic Thresher shark was spotted making a beeline for around 40 crew from US Coast Guard Cutter Kimball when they were swimming in the ocean Wednesday The close shave with the deadly predator occurred when crew members organized a swim call as a treat after a hard day of work on board the cutter. The weather was 'perfect', there were no other ships around and the cutter was stationed 'a zillion miles from land', according to the Facebook post. Crew members leaped into the sea together with swim fins and a huge inflatable unicorn for a much-needed break from monotony. A plan was in place to ensure the safety of the crew including safety briefs, an accountability system, manned rescue station and a designated armed shark watch. A small boat with extra crew and a swimmer was also stationed 50 yards away. The tried and tested protocols then kicked in when a shark was spotted in the waters headed straight for around 30 to 40 shipmates. 'As if right out of a Hollywood movie, a 6-8 foot shark (no exaggeration) surfaced at the Rescue Door and was swimming toward 30-40 people in the water about 30 feet away,' read the Facebook post. All crew members - as well as a huge inflatable unicorn - escaped unscathed following the surprise encounter with the sea predator. Pictured the shots fired in the water as crew members scrambled to safety The sea story was regaled in a post on the US Coast Guard Cutter Kimball Facebook page, where the lucky crew said they will be 'retelling the story for years' Designated shark watch Clintron leaped into action, firing a shot on top of the dangerous predator. Shipmates scrambled for safety from the shark swimming for the Jacob's ladder, the ship's small boat launch or the small boat. The shark turned away from its prey briefly but then turned back making its way toward the crew members again. Cintron opened fire again to keep the shark from his shipmates until everyone - including the inflatable unicorn - was safely out of the water and away from the predator's reach. 'It wasn't the panic of the 4th of July scene from JAWS, but once everyone realized what was happening, they moved with a purpose!' read the Facebook post. The only injury was a graze on a crew member's knee from his clamber back on board the ship. Designated shark watch Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Cintron leaped into action, firing shots at the dangerous predator The only injury was a graze on a crew member's knee from his clamber back on board the ship. The scratch was in the center of a tattoo of an open set of shark's teeth (pictured) The scratch was in the center of a tattoo of an open set of shark's teeth, according to the Facebook post: 'Seriously, you can't make this up!' Footage on board the ship revealed in the aftermath that the shark was likely a Long-Fin Mako or Pelagic Thresher Shark. The crew said in the Facebook post a shark sighting during a swim call is rare and something none of the crew members had ever experienced before. 'We have hundreds of years at sea between all of us and no one has seen or heard of a shark actually showing up during a swim call,' the post read. 'This goes to show why we prepare for any and everything. We just didnt think it would be a swim call shark attack! 'This is a sea story each of us will be retelling for YEARS!!!' In 2009, the crew of the submarine Hawaii encountered a shark at a swim call but no shots were fired, reported Military.com. The exact location of the latest close encounter in the Pacific is not clear as the Coast Guard cannot divulge the Kimball's specific location or missions for national security reasons. The Kimball is one of the Coast Guard's newest cutters, commissioned in August 2019. Bon Jovi has released a new music video for 'Do What You Can', while honouring the resilience of New York City during the pandemic. The song appears on the band's upcoming new album titled 2020, due for release this 2nd October. The video kicks off with news reports of the city ordering a "shelter in place" after reaching "critical mass" with the COVID-19 pandemic. "New Yorkers have the reputation of being tough, of being resilient," reporters say. "New York will get through this. We will get through this." There's a sign that also thanks the healthworkers. The video then changes to show the band observing the city during the lockdown with closed stores, playgrounds, grocery-store workers wearing masks, empty stadiums and even families visiting each other through glass. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi can also be seen wearing a mask, exploring the city on foot, volunteering and waving at strangers. The video ends with a text dedicated to the "everyday heroes fighting to rise above this pandemic". Watch the video below. Bella Hadid spread awareness about Lyme disease and her battle with it, in a detailed series of posts to her Instagram Stories account Tuesday. The supermodel, 23, opened up about the unpleasant symptoms she lives with as she shared a list of Lyme disease symptoms, adding arrows to the ones she's dealt with. Among them included an irregular heartbeat, mood disorders, joint pain, sweats, nausea, difficulty with breathing and exercising, insomnia, headaches, brain fog, anxiety and confusion. The latest: Bella Hadid, 23, spread awareness about Lyme disease and her battle with it, in a detailed series of posts to her Instagram Stories account Tuesday 'Everyday I feel at least 10 of these attributes without fail ... since I was probably 14, but more aggressively when I turned 18,' said the supermodel, who was first diagnosed with the ailment in 2012. Speaking with the Evening Standard in 2015, Bella opened up on the immediate difficulties she experienced when she 'first got sick.' Hadid recalled, 'It affected my memory so I suddenly wouldnt remember how to drive to Santa Monica from Malibu where I lived. I couldnt ride. She added: I was just too sick. And I had to sell my horse because I couldnt take care of it.' Spreading awareness: The supermodel, 23, opened up about the unpleasant symptoms she lives with as she shared a list of Lyme disease symptoms, adding arrows to the one's she's dealt with WHAT IS LYME DISEASE? Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks biting the skin. Early symptoms include red circular rashes around the infected area, however it can take up to three months for the rash to appear after the initial infection. Separate symptoms include a high temperature and fever, fatigue and muscle and joint pain. The condition can be treated with antibiotics. Extreme cases can be considered for specialist hospital treatment. *Information provided by the NHS Advertisement Bella said that she had visions of competitive horseback riding prior to falling ill with the disease. 'If Id had the chance to succeed in riding, I might not have modeled,' she said. 'I didnt know that I was going to get sick.' Bella's mother Yolanda Hadid and brother Anwar Hadid have also been open about their battles with the condition. Bella earlier this week shared a series of shots from her mother's Pennsylvania as she had fun with the animals on the premises. Relaxed: The model played with different four-legged friends in the great outdoors Sleek: The statuesque stunner donned a beige dress and had her locks slicked back Living her best life: Bella remains smiling through her debilitating battle with Lyme disease Other stars who are battling Lyme disease include Justin Bieber, Alec Baldwin, Shania Twain, Kelly Osbourne and Ben Stiller. Bella earlier this week shared a series of shots from her mother's Pennsylvania as she had fun with the animals on the premises. In them, she was clad in a beige dress with her brown locks tightly slicked back. These five stocks, which have lagged the markets over the last two years, have doubled in value since March 23, observe Shreepad S Aute and Ram Prasad Sahu. Mid- and small-cap stocks are witnessing a rally outperforming their larger peers since March 23. The BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices have gained around 49 to 56 per cent, outperforming the Sensex, which has risen nearly 46 per cent since then. Experts say growth prospects and reasonable valuations are among the reasons for investor interest. Within this universe, there have been a few stocks that underperformed the broader markets over the last two years until March 20. Since then, they have witnessed a sharp recovery. We have picked up five stocks in the small- and mid-cap space (sub Rs 25,000 crore market cap) which have sound prospects over the medium term and should deliver robust pre-tax profits over the next two years. Most picks should also deliver good returns at lower levels. Emami Besides sharp reduction in promoter pledge, analysts see an improved earnings outlook for Emami. Analysts at IIFL Securities have revised their FY21 and FY22 earnings estimate upward by around 6 per cent each. Higher rural exposure of around 50 per cent of the business, coupled with strong traction for health and hygiene products (43 per cent of revenues) and cost control, bodes well. The firms expects around Rs 50 crore cost savings in FY21. Some also expect the stock to see re-rating, given attractive valuation. Escorts With over 75 per cent tractors's share in the revenue mix, Escorts is well placed to cash in on the benefits of a demand revival in the tractor sector. Analysts also expect Escorts to gain market share in the high horsepower tractor segment, which should support margins. Analysts at ICICI Direct believe tractor demand trajectory will continue to remain healthy in coming quarters amid positive farm sentiment, backed by a good Rabi harvest, remunerative crop prices, adequate water table levels, ongoing normal monsoon progress, and expectations of a strong kharif output. A pick-up in the construction equipment segment, which is anticipated on account of the government's infra push, is a key monitorable and could provide further triggers. Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) Besides capacity expansion and balance-sheet deleveraging, the better operating margin outlook, led by improved realisation, availability of iron ore inventory from Sarda mines, and benign coal prices, bodes well for the stock. International steel prices have seen a sharp recovery and reached pre-COVID-19 levels after coming under pressure during April-May amid the COVID-19-triggered lockdown. JSPL continues to deleverage and has reduced its net debt by Rs 1,300 crore to Rs 34,621 crore as of June 20. This is expected to go down further with a likely divestment of Oman steel assets. This should allay the concern of lumpy debt repayments, say analysts. Laurus Labs A leading manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for antiretroviral (ARV) and hepatitis C formulations, the company has increased the share of formulations from single digits a couple of years ago to 29 per cent now. While a large part of the growth has been led by ARV orders, non-ARV APIs, and contract research and manufacturing are expected to support revenue growth. The company, which posted its highest-ever net profit in the quarter, is expected to sustain growth on the back of a diversified portfolio, higher customer base, new capacities, and operating leverage as the plants come on stream. Analysts at Motilal Oswal Research expect net profit to grow by 2.7 times in FY21, led by a doubling of formulation sales, 30 per cent growth each in API and CRAMS, and supported by a 780 basis point margin expansion. Tata Communications The pandemic has unfolded new opportunities as corporates embrace the work-from-home culture. The firm with its suite of products is enabling corporates to move to a digital environment, ensure security and improve productivity. On the operating front, less loss in growth services, cost optimisation, and automation are expected to boost margins and the overall profit. The company is witnessing a margin improvement, which should sustain as the data services pie increases and product sales gain traction. A healthy order book across verticals and key markets and deleveraging plans should help it post a 30 per cent-plus earnings growth in FY22. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_5f4.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_5f4 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_5f4.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_5f4.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_5f4.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust and other titles, would like to condemn the reprehensible actions of Femi Fani-Kayode, who in a video clip now gone viral, verbally assaulted repeatedly our reporter, Eyo Charles in the course of doing his job. The encounter occurred in Calabar, Cross River State, in the morning of Thursday 20, August 2020 at a hotel, during a roundtable with invited journalists. During the roundtable, Charles asked Fani-Kayode who was bankrolling his recent trips around Nigeria, to which the ex-minister responded with a raised voice, insults, and eventually a threat to inflict bodily harm on our reporter. The barrage continued for some minutes, while bewildered journalists, including our reporter, looked on. The video clip, also released on one of the ex-ministers social media accounts, was conveniently edited to exclude the question asked by Charles, totally devoid of mischief, simply sought clarification and information, like good journalism should. Said editing paved the way for a social media lynch mob to rain expletives on our reporter, labelling him as rude. This could not be further away from the truth, and we stand by Charles, and commend him for his calmness during the ordeal. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_158.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_158 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_158.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_158.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_158.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Daily Trust reporters are responsible professionals, who uphold the tenets of journalism, as well as best practices. That Fani-Kayode attacks a reporter doing his job, is an indication of the chilling disregard he has towards the media, and its work in investigating and reporting on issues. As always, we stand in solidarity with our reporters, and will continue to fight for the rights of all journalists. After all, journalism is part of the bedrock of democracy; therefore practitioners must not be intimidated or threatened as they carry out their work. We urge the Nigeria Police to take note, that if anything happens to Charles, Daily Trust will hold Fani-Kayode responsible, especially due to the intensity of the verbal threats he issued during the shocking incident. The actions of Fani-Kayode are not only reprehensible, but also constitute a setback to press freedom, in a most dire form. This kind of assault raises major concerns over the safety of journalists in Nigeria. Daily Trust is a completely independent media organisation that does not pander to the whims of any individual or group, no matter how powerful or well-placed in society. We will continue to serve Nigerians and indeed the world with quality, reliable reportage, no matter whose ox is gored. Signed Naziru Mikailu Abubakar Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief BRITAIN'S second largest airport is to cut 24pc of its workforce after a drop in traffic of 80pc compared to last year, it was announced today. Gatwick Airport, located just outside London near Crawley in Sussex, said it needed to axe up to 600 jobs, or 24pc of its workforce, due to the travel slump caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Gatwick, which is owned by VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners, said in a statement that it was only operating about 20pc of last year's flights and would now start formal consultations on job cuts. Read More The company also confirmed that more than 75pc of its staff is still on the UK Governments Job Retention Scheme. Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: "If anyone is in any doubt about the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the aviation and travel industry then todays news we have shared with our staff, regarding the proposed job losses, is a stark reminder. "We are in ongoing talks with Government to see what sector specific support can be put in place for the industry at this time, alongside mechanisms which will give our passengers greater certainty on where and when they can safely travel abroad. This support will not only help Gatwick but the wider regional economy which relies on the airport. "I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff, those who have worked tirelessly to keep Gatwick open throughout the pandemic and those who have had to remain on furlough, for their dedicated tenacity, professionalism and team spirit. We will continue to do all we can to preserve as many jobs as possible. "Gatwick will recover from this pandemic and we will emerge from the restructuring we are proposing a fitter and stronger organisation which is best placed to offer our passengers and our airlines a modern and innovative airport, ready for growth." Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Were all stuck at home at the moment, so here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Extremely Loud and Incredibly False Late-night hosts continued to follow the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, focusing on what they considered some revisionist history (and a high-volume speech by Kimberly Guilfoyle, a Trump campaign fund-raiser and girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr.). I thought it was going to be tough for Donald Trump to sell himself for another four years. I mean, mostly because, you know, we live in a plague-scarred hellscape where 180,000 people have died and we cant go to a movie or hug our grandparents, Noah said. But then I watched the convention, and, guys, it turns out that Donald Trump has actually done a really good job by preventing all of that from happening. Watch industry Leaders Wish WorldTempus a Happy... Watch industry Leaders Wish... Over the last year, we have been asking watch industry professionals for a few words about WorldTempus in celebration of the medias 20th... Over the last year, we have been asking... Russia has condemned Turkish actions in northern Syria, reminding them that depriving people of water is a criminal and inhumane act writes SANA. The head of the International Affairs Department at the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly, Andrey Baklanov, affirmed that drinking water mustnt be used as a weapon to achieve political purposes because such a act is criminal and inhumane. This came in a statement to Sputnik news agency on Tuesday and in reference to the Turkish regimes persistence in cutting off water from more than a million Syrian citizens in Hassakeh city and its vicinity, which they have been doing for more than two weeks. Baklanov said that what is happening in Hassakeh is a source of great concern as the situation is difficult, unacceptable, and contradicts UN resolutions. He noted that Russia will exert all possible efforts to resolve this situation. 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. Coronavirus LATEST Updates: The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi, which currently stand at 716, may be increased owing to further relaxations under 'Unlock' and doubling of coronavirus tests, officials said on Thursday Auto refresh feeds At the meeting, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said that all chief minsietrs must together approach the Supreme Court seeking that the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) exams be postponed. At a virtual meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, Opposition chief ministers mounted an attack on the Central Government over various issues such as pending GST compensation due to the states, and economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The death toll reached 3,804 with 62 patients succumbing to the infection, he added. "Of the 3,244 cases, 1,617 are in Pune Municipal Corporation limits, which has recorded 87,317 cases so far. Pune district reported 3,244 new coronavirus cases since the previous evening which took its case count to 1,53,141, a health official said on Wednesday. "Many states/UTs have performed better with more encouraging figures than the national average for the recovery rate and fatality rate," the ministry said. According to the ministry of health and family welfare, early identification through aggressive testing, comprehensive surveillance and contact tracing, and focus on the timely and efficient clinical treatment of patients have ensured a high number of speedy recoveries. This has also kept the Case Fatality Rate low. The government also aid restriction on flights coming in from six cities, viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai and Ahmedabad, is being partially lifted from 1 September onwards. Flights from these cities can come to the state thrice a week. West Bengal Government in a letter to Union Ministry of Civil Aviation asked the ministry to ensure that there is no flight coming to or going out of any airport of West Bengal on 7, 11 and 12 September as the state will observe complete lockdown on these three days. Narayana said that the department is awaiting guidelines from the central government on conducting offline classes as well as the few degree exams to be conducted in September. The development comes amid the controversy regarding the holding of JEE, NEET examinations. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Dr Ashwath Narayana CN on Wednesday had announced that academic year for various degree courses will commence from the 1 September with online classes. Offline classes will be conducted starting in October, he said. Social distancing norms will have to be followed and all religious places will be sanitised from time to time, the statement said. District collectors and superintendents of police will carry out inspections and ensure all safety measures are taken, it said. All religious places in Rajasthan will reopen for public from 7 September, months after they were closed due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, an official statement said on Wednesday. The decision was taken during a review meeting on the coronavirus situation in the state chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Moderna Inc said on Wednesday that the initial report shows that its COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune responses in older adults that were similar to younger participants, reports LiveMint . The drugmaker said the immune responses in those aged between 56 and 70 years, above 70 and those in the age-group of 18 and 55 were similar. Indias overall case count rises to 33,10,234 with 75,760 new infections in the last 24 hours. The countrys toll goes up by 1,023 to 60,472. As many as 25,23,771 people have recovered from the infection in the country. Scientists around the world say any widely-used vaccine should first be tested in advanced trials involving tens of thousands of people to prove it is safe and effective before being licensed. The worlds first vaccine against the coronavirus to receive a government go-ahead has caused unease among international medical experts, who called Russias fast-tracked approval and failure to share any data supporting claims of the vaccines efficacy a major breach of scientific protocol. The mayor of Moscow invited residents Wednesday to join trials of a coronavirus vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month, in what officials described as a breakthrough on par with the Soviet Unions launch of the worlds first satellite in 1957. Then, there is the big challenge of being able to scale, distribute and allocate fairly around the world without letting the rich countries corner the limited doses, Swaminathan said. On vaccine development for the novel coronavirus, she said: "By early 2021, we should have some good news." Distributing Covid-19 vaccine around the world fairly without letting the rich countries corner the limited doses is going to be a big challenge, the World Health Organisation's Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Wednesday. Arunachal Pradesh reported its highest-single day spike in COVID-19 cases as 143 people, including 23 security personnel and a health worker, tested positive for the infection on Thursday, an official said told PTI. The fresh infections have pushed the state's caseload to 3,555, he said. In his lecture titled 'The rise of renewables: shining a light on a sustainable future', Guterres will renew "his call on G20 countries, including India, to invest in a clean, sustainable transition as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic". Guterres will deliver the 19th Darbari Seth Memorial lecture on 28 August organised by TERI, a global think-tank focusing on a broad range of sustainable development and climate-related issues, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will renew his call to India and other G20 countries to invest in a clean, sustainable transition as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, during his virtual address to The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Human trials on various COVID vaccines are currently underway across the world, including in India. Gandhi had earlier demanded that the government clearly define an inclusive and equitable vaccine access policy to ensure its affordability and fair distribution. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asserted that a fair and inclusive COVID-19 vaccine access strategy should have been in place by now and said the government's alleged "unpreparedness" is "alarming". There are 7,25,991 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 21.93 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated. With a total of 25,23,771 patients having recuperated so far, the recovery rate was recorded at 76.24 percent while the COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.83 percent. Rahul Gandhi said the NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future due to concerns about coronavirus infection and floods in Assam and Bihar. "NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future. They have genuine concerns of: fear of Covid19 infection, transport and lodging during pandemic and flood-mayhem in Assam and Bihar. GOI must listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution," he said. They stressed that classification of cases into mild, moderate and severe categories based just on respiratory symptoms should be relooked to include other organ involvement. COVID-19 can affect almost all organs besides the lungs and the initial symptoms may be totally unrelated to chest complaints, according to experts at AIIMS in Delhi, reports PTI. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said that India has operated more than 1000 flights and more than 200,000 passenger footfalls at airports. "Now we cross the milestone of more than 100,000 domestic passengers in a day, " he tweeted. "Since yesterday, our medical team is in touch with the two volunteers and both are fine. They do not have any pain, fever, injection-side reaction or systemic illness post-vaccination," the medical college and hospital's deputy medical director Dr Jitendra Oswal said. Two men, aged 32 and 48, were given the first shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine, being manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. The dose will be repeated after one month, an official said. Vital health parameters of the two volunteers, who have been administered the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine candidate at a medical college here as part of the phase II clinical trial, are normal, a senior official from the medical facility told PTI on Thursday. Telangana reported 2,795 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the state's overall tallyof positive infections to 1,14,483, reports PTI. The toll rose to 788 with eight more fatalities, a state government bulletin said on Thursday, providing data as of 8 pm on 26 August. Thane city is close to the 25,000-mark as it has so far reported 24,906 COVID-19 cases, an official here said. The number of COVID-19 cases in Thane rose to 1,17,739 on Thursday after 1,326 more people tested positive for the disease in the Maharashtra district, officials said. The district also reported 38 deaths on Wednesday, taking the total number of fatalities to 3,386, they said. Mukherjee was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral Hospital on 10 August and was operated for removal of a clot in the brain. He was also tested positive for COVID-19. He later developed a lung infection. Doctors say a patient is haemodynamically stable when the blood circulation parameters - blood pressure, heart and pulse rate, are stable and normal. Former President Pranab Mukherjee continues to be in a deep coma and on ventilator support, the hospital where he is admitted said on Thursday. According to the doctors treating 84-year-old Mukherjee, he is haemodynamically stable. With 8,580 more people testing positive for coronavirus in Karnataka on Wednesday, the total tally exceeded the 3 lakh-mark. According to the statistics issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the state is 3,00,406. At the same time, in Bengaluru, 3,284 new cases were reported. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Thursday commenced trial runs on the new stretch of Namma Metro in Bengaluru between Yelachenahalli and Anjanapura, The Indian Express reported. "This (trial runs) will continue for a 30-day period to check all the system parameters at different speeds for safety," a BMRCL statement read. BJP MP from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency, Jugal Kishore Sharma, has tested positive for COVID-19. I got myself tested on my own and my test report has come positive, he tweeted, urging people who had been in contact with him during the past few days to get themselves to take precautions and get tested. The apex court said how can it pass a general order for the whole country. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said it would lead to chaos and targeting of a particular community. "You are asking for a general order and then if we allow this there will be chaos. Particular community will be targeted for spreading Covid. We don't want that. We as a court cannot risk the health of all the people," the bench, which heard the matter through video conferencing, was quoted as saying by PTI. The Supreme Court declined permission for carrying out Muharram procession across the country and asked Lucknow-based petitioner to move before the Allahabad High Court with his plea. After receiving the go-ahead, the Metro authorities will discuss the modalities of running the services in the city with the West Bengal government, she told PTI. "We will start the process of resuming services once we receive directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Railway Ministry," Metro Railway spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said. The Kolkata metro railway said that it will restart services on receiving the go-ahead from the Union Home Ministry and the Railway Ministry. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that the Metro Railway authorities can resume services, maintaining all COVID-19-related safety protocols. 25,23,771 patients have recovered, taking the recovery rate to 76.24%. Maharashtra remains the hardest-hit state in the pandemic, accounting for 7,18,711 cases. Maharashtra is followed by three southern states, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. India is the country with the third-highest coronavirus caseload in the world after the United States and Brazil. India has registered 75,760 coronavirus infections and 1,023 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Thursday, making it the biggest daily rise in the country, Union Health Ministry data shows. Todays jump of cases is the highest that any country has ever recorded on a single day since the start of the outbreak. The fresh cases have pushed the country's coronavirus tally to over 33.1 lakh cases. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday announced that all educational institutions in the state till end of Durga Puja vacation in view of the prevailing pandemic situation. The announcement was made by Patnaik after reviewing the situation due to COVID-19 in the state. Dharavi slum colony on Thursday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total count to 2,740, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said. The civic body stopped sharing data on fatalities in Dharavi, once a COVID-19 hotspot, since June. Four members of a dwindling tribe in Indias far off Andaman Islands have tested positive for coronavirus, Reuters reported on Thursday as the country reported 75,760 new infections, the highest-single-day rise. The Great Andamanese are one of the six tribes of Mongoloid and African origin, who have lived in the Andamans in the Bay of Bengal for thousands of years. Only about 50 members survive, after thousands were killed by British colonisers in the 19th century or died later due to diseases, the Reuters report said, Andhra Pradesh on Thursday moved closer to the four-lakh mark in coronavirus cases after adding 10,621 afresh in 24 hours. The state's COVID-19 tally now read 3.93 lakh total cases, 2.95 lakh recoveries and 3,633 deaths, leaving 94,209 active cases, according to the latest government bulletin. The state registered 92 related fatalities in 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday while 8,528 more patients had recovered from the infection. BJP MP from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency, Jugal Kishore Sharma, has tested positive for COVID-19. I got myself tested on my own and my test report has come positive, he tweeted, urging people who had been in contact with him during the past few days to get themselves to take precautions and get tested. The apex court said how can it pass a general order for the whole country. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said it would lead to chaos and targeting of a particular community. "You are asking for a general order and then if we allow this there will be chaos. Particular community will be targeted for spreading Covid. We don't want that. We as a court cannot risk the health of all the people," the bench, which heard the matter through video conferencing, was quoted as saying by PTI. The Supreme Court declined permission for carrying out Muharram procession across the country and asked Lucknow-based petitioner to move before the Allahabad High Court with his plea. All the pending matters listed before the high court from September 1 to 30 would be adjourned to November 3 to December 7 respectively, the order said. The high court, which has been conducting hearings through video conferencing since March 24 to contain the spread of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, said the remaining benches shall continue taking up matters through the virtual mode. The Delhi High Court Thursday said five of its benches will start holding physical courts on a rotation basis from September 1, and issued standard operating procedure (SOP) for it. After receiving the go-ahead, the Metro authorities will discuss the modalities of running the services in the city with the West Bengal government, she told PTI. "We will start the process of resuming services once we receive directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Railway Ministry," Metro Railway spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said. The Kolkata metro railway said that it will restart services on receiving the go-ahead from the Union Home Ministry and the Railway Ministry. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that the Metro Railway authorities can resume services, maintaining all COVID-19-related safety protocols. 25,23,771 patients have recovered, taking the recovery rate to 76.24%. Maharashtra remains the hardest-hit state in the pandemic, accounting for 7,18,711 cases. Maharashtra is followed by three southern states, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. India is the country with the third-highest coronavirus caseload in the world after the United States and Brazil. India has registered 75,760 coronavirus infections and 1,023 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Thursday, making it the biggest daily rise in the country, Union Health Ministry data shows. Todays jump of cases is the highest that any country has ever recorded on a single day since the start of the outbreak. The fresh cases have pushed the country's coronavirus tally to over 33.1 lakh cases. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday announced that all educational institutions in the state till end of Durga Puja vacation in view of the prevailing pandemic situation. The announcement was made by Patnaik after reviewing the situation due to COVID-19 in the state. Dharavi slum colony on Thursday reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total count to 2,740, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said. The civic body stopped sharing data on fatalities in Dharavi, once a COVID-19 hotspot, since June. Four members of a dwindling tribe in Indias far off Andaman Islands have tested positive for coronavirus, Reuters reported on Thursday as the country reported 75,760 new infections, the highest-single-day rise. The Great Andamanese are one of the six tribes of Mongoloid and African origin, who have lived in the Andamans in the Bay of Bengal for thousands of years. Only about 50 members survive, after thousands were killed by British colonisers in the 19th century or died later due to diseases, the Reuters report said, Andhra Pradesh on Thursday moved closer to the four-lakh mark in coronavirus cases after adding 10,621 afresh in 24 hours. The state's COVID-19 tally now read 3.93 lakh total cases, 2.95 lakh recoveries and 3,633 deaths, leaving 94,209 active cases, according to the latest government bulletin. The state registered 92 related fatalities in 24 hours ending 9 am on Thursday while 8,528 more patients had recovered from the infection. The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi has risen from 539 on 1 August to 716 on 27 August. Officials said the rise in the number of containment zones has also been congruent with the increase in cases in the national capital. The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi, which currently stand at 716, may be increased owing to further relaxations under 'Unlock' and doubling of coronavirus tests, officials said on Thursday. COVID-19 tests in Delhi will be doubled to 40,000 per day within a week as there has been a marginal increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said on Wednesday, asserting that aggressive testing and isolation will remain his government's strategy to fight the disease. Coronavirus LATEST Updates: The number of COVID-19 containment zones in Delhi, which currently stand at 716, may be increased owing to further relaxations under 'Unlock' and doubling of coronavirus tests, officials said on Thursday. COVID-19 tests in Delhi will be doubled to 40,000 per day within a week as there has been a marginal increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the city Andhra Pradesh on Thursday moved closer to the four-lakh mark in coronavirus cases after adding 10,621 afresh in 24 hours. India has registered 75,760 coronavirus infections and 1,023 deaths in the last 24 hours ending 8 am on Thursday, making it the biggest daily rise in the country, Union Health Ministry data shows. Todays jump of cases is the highest that any country has ever recorded on a single day since the start of the outbreak. The fresh cases have pushed the country's coronavirus tally to over 33.1 lakh cases. The Supreme Court declined permission for carrying out Muharram procession across the country and asked Lucknow-based petitioner to move before the Allahabad High Court with his plea. The apex court said how can it pass a general order for the whole country. Metro services in capital city Bengaluru will be restarted soon as normalcy is slowly being restored in public life, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was quoted as saying on Thursday. With 8,580 more people testing positive for coronavirus in Karnataka on Wednesday, the total tally exceeded the 3 lakh-mark. According to the statistics issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the state is 3,00,406. At the same time, in Bengaluru, 3,284 new cases were reported. Indias toll goes up by 1,023 to 60,472. As many as 25,23,771 people have recovered from the infection in the country. India's COVID-19 caseload reached 32.34 lakh on Wednesday amid a growing clamour against the Centre's decision to hold NEET and JEE (Main) exams as scheduled. The chief ministers of seven non-BJP ruled states held a virtual meeting on Wednesday, asserting that the national level entrance exams could put lakhs of students across India at the risk of contracting the virus. In the meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, the chief ministers of the seven non-BJP ruled states agreed to file a review petition urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent order rejecting the postponement of the competitive exams. The AAP and the DMK too have supported the demand to postpone the NEET and JEE (Main), with Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia asking the Central government to work out alternative methods for selecting students. Some states on Wednesday also announced measures like cancellation or postponement of state-level exams and to keep educational institutions shut in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In Maharashtra, which recorded its highest single-day surge of 14,888 new infections, the state Cabinet decided to postpone all examinations of the state Public Service Commission. A revised scheduled will be shared at a later date, said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. In Odisha, which has reported 87,602 cases of the novel coronavirus infection so far, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that educational institutions will remain closed till the end of the Durga Puja vacation. The five-day Durga Puja festival is slated to be held from 22 to 26 October. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswami said that except for final semester exams, all other examinations for undergraduate and postgraduate students are cancelled. However, in BJP-ruled Karnataka, deputy chief minister and higher education minister CN Ashwath Narayan said that the government has given the go-ahead for colleges to resume from 1 October, adding that guidelines in this regard were awaited from the Centre. Online classes would begin next month, the minister said. Educational institutions across the country have remained shut since a lockdown to contain the spread of the viral infection was imposed in March. Meanwhile, the Congress announced protests by its state units on 28 August in front of Central Government offices at state and district headquarters, besides a nationwide online campaign, #SpeakUpForStudentSaftey. India reports 67,151 new cases, 1,059 deaths India's cumulative case count rose to 32.34 lakh on Wednesday with 67,151 more people testing positive for the infection, while the recoveries surged to 24,67,758, said the health ministry its morning update. The toll from the virus climbed to 59,449 with 1,059 more fatalities. The recovery rate rose to 76.30 percent with 63,173 more people recuperating from the disease in the 24 hours ending 8 am on Wednesday. The case fatality rate now stands at 1.84 percent, the ministry said. There are 7,07,267 active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), comprising 21.87 percent of the total 32,34,474 infections, the ministry data showed. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 3,76,51,512 tests have been conducted so far, of which 8,23,992 samples were tested on Tuesday. Phase-2 trials of Oxford vaccine begin in Pune Meanwhile, Phase II clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' , being manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), began at the city's Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital, where at least two volunteers were administered doses of the vaccine. "Doctors at the hospital administered the first shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine to a 32-year-old man after his reports of COVID-19 and antibodies tests came out negative," Medical Director of Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr Sanjay Lalwani, said, adding that another 48-year-old male volunteer was also given the vaccine. According to Dr Lalwani, a total of 25 candidates will be given the vaccine in the next seven days. Maharashtra defers MPSC exams, Karnataka plans to open colleges in October With several states reporting new cases and fatalities, some state governments announced steps to allay the concerns of students and their parents. Odisha, which registered its highest single-day spurt of 3,371 new cases on Wednesday, decided that all educational institutions in the state would remain closed till the Durga Puja vacations. The state government also announced that school syllabus up to class 12 will be reduced by 30 percent for the current academic session. The fresh infections have pushed the number of active cases in the state to 27,638, while the toll has reached 441. Maharashtra reported its single-day highest spike of 14,888 coronavirus cases which took the case count to 7,18,711. The toll in the state due to the virus reached 23,089 with the addition of 295 fatalities. In Mumbai, 1,854 new cases and 28 deaths were reported during the day. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the city thus rose to 1,39,537 and toll to 7,505. Pune city reported 1,640 new cases along with 37 deaths. State Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar said that all the MPSC exams were being put off due to the COVID-19situation in the state. In a significant decision for the transport sector hit hard by the lockdown, the government has decided to waive vehicle tax on public transport and goods vehicles, said the CMO. The waiver will be effective for the period between 1 April, 2020 and 30 September, 2020. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan final year examinations will be scheduled for all the undergraduate, diploma and engineering students alongside the commencement of classes, adding that arrear exams will also be held. "The government has decided to get the ball rolling on all academic activities online from next month. In addition, all colleges will start in October and students are expected to attend classes in person," he said. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister E Palaniswami said that except the final semester exams, students who have paid fees for subjects related to other semesters and waiting for exams shall be exempted from taking the examinations and they would be awarded marks. Palaniswami said he has directed the Higher Education Department to issue a detailed Government Order on the matter. Tamil Nadu saw 5,958 fresh coronavirus cases that pushed the tally to 3,97,261, while 118 deaths took the toll to 6,839. In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said COVID-19 tests will be doubled to 40,000 per day within a week since there has been a "marginal" increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the city. The National Capital recorded 1,693 new cases its highest daily spike in the last 45 days. The total caseload rose to 1,65,764 while 17 fatalities pushed the toll to 4,347. 25 MLAs in Punjab test positive, Tarun Gogoi hospitalised The list of politicians testing positive continued to grow on Wednesday. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said that 23 MLAs and ministers are coronavirus positive with just two days to go before the state Assembly Session. Three among the 23 MLAs are Cabinet ministers. "If this is the state of the legislators and ministers, one can only imagine how grave the situation on the ground is," he said, while registering his opposition to the exams being held in September. Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said on Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The veteran Congress leader urged all those who came in contact with him recently to get tested. Gogoi, who represents the Titabor Assembly constituency in Jorhat district, is the 13th Assam legislator to be diagnosed with COVID-19. His former cabinet colleague Ajanta Neog, the MLA from Golaghat, tested COVID-positive on Tuesday and was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Another former Congress minister and legislator from Samaguri constituency in Nagaon, Rakibul Hussain, and his wife had earlier tested COVID-positive. Gogoi, who has initially advised home isolation, was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Wednesday night. Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a nine-member committee under the chairmanship of the head of Pulmonary Medicine department Dr Jogesh Sarma has been constituted to monitor the health status of the former chief minister. With inputs from PTI Yves here. We are continuing with Andrew Dittmers series on what happens when you take libertarian ideas to their logical conclusion. This post first ran on December 1, 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 third installment of a six-part interview. For the previous parts, see Part 1 and Part 2. Red indicates exact quotes from Hans-Hermann Hoppes 2001 book Democracy: The God That Failed. ANDREW: Lets imagine that a future libertarian society has been established, and security and justice are provided by competing insurance companies. What will happen if two different people, covered by two different security GLOs, disagree about what their rights are? CODE NAME CAIN: The two people would find an independent arbitrator that would be the unanimous choice of both parties [251]. ANDREW: Suppose that one of the two parties is stronger, and so will likely outlast the other in a direct conflict. Wouldnt that party prefer to refuse all arbitration and, during the delay, squeeze the other party into submission? CNC: No. ANDREW: Suppose someone annoys you, and you pay their GLO a sum of money that is significantly more than the present value of that persons future insurance payments. Would the GLO kill the person for you? CNC: No. ANDREW: Suppose that one security GLO is much stronger than a competing GLO, and it wishes to expand its market share. Will it strategically assassinate clients of the weaker GLO in order to advertise its superior security capabilities? CNC: No. ANDREW: These scenarios all appear plausible to me. Why are you sure they wont happen? CNC: Security GLOs will understand that the sort of aggressive behavior you describe is economically irrational. In fact, insurers will [not engage] in any form of external aggression because any aggression is costly implying the loss of clients to other, nonaggressive competitors. Insurers will engage exclusively in defensive violence [287] ANDREW: Suppose the CEO of a security GLO understands his own self-interest differently than you do, and starts killing people. What would happen then? CNC: A security GLO that started assassinating people would represent a threat to stable order not just for the insurer of the murdered individuals, but for all security GLOs. Therefore, the security GLOs would cooperate and defend weaker GLOs from aggression. ANDREW: How can we be sure about whether youre right? What if the security GLOs fail to cooperate in the way you say? CNC: There is nothing that would stop the GLOs from cooperating in order to establish stability. Already today, all insurance companies are connected through a network of contractual agreements as well as a system of reinsurance agencies, representing a combined economic power which dwarfs that of most existing governments. [248] Under pressure to settle questions about intergroup conflict, competition would promote the development and refinement of a body of law that incorporated the widest consensus and agreement [250-251] ANDREW: So the insurance companies, taken together, will constitute a sort of global, non-coercive, non-government GLO, established in a consensual and rights-protecting manner. CNC: Exactly. ANDREW: Although it can be very difficult, ordinary people in America can sometimes influence what their government does. I get that the global GLO will be different in that ordinary people will have no voice in what happens but in what other ways will the global GLO not be a government? CNC: First, youre wrong not only will consumers have a voice in the global GLO, they will be sovereign. They will completely control the GLO through their decisions about where to purchase insurance. Anyway, to answer your question, a government is an organization that exercises a compulsory territorial monopoly of protection and the power to tax [256]. The global GLO will be very different. ANDREW: The global GLO will protect people through the security GLOs that are part of it. Those organizations will be paid money by people who desire protection: noncoercive Tax-Like Payments. Aside from everything being completely voluntary, what is the difference here? CNC: The fact that everything will be completely voluntary is, of course, a very important difference. But there will be another difference. Governments not only monopolize the business of protecting people, but they also monopolize control over territory. In the libertarian society, security GLOs will protect people, but they will not hold final authority over a specific piece of real estate. ANDREW: Oh, I see, private homeowners will rule over territory instead. CNC: Not exactly. Most of the time, houses will be part of proprietary communities, like modern-day gated residential communities owned by a single entity, either an individual or a private corporation The proprietor [will be] an entrepreneur seeking profits from developing and managing communities [215]. The residents will not have full title to their homes, since the proprietor will retain the right to enforce covenants i.e. rules about who can live there under what conditions. ANDREW: Since these real estate corporations will have authority over specific territorial areas, could we call them territory GLOs? CNC: We can call them whatever we want, as long as we use our terms precisely. ANDREW: So I guess the idea is that even though the global GLO and the security GLOs will impose a few basic rules on everyone, there will be a lot of room for each territory GLO to create its own individual culture. CNC: Youre finally starting to understand. Catholics will be able to live by their principles, Muslims by Islamic principles, and Non-believers by Secular principles. ANDREW: So these local communities will increasingly separate from each other That might not bother some people, but given that Dr. Hoppe is an economist, isnt he worried that the world will divide up into small, economically isolated units? CNC: That wont happen just because one does not want to associate with or live in the neighborhood of Blacks, Turks, Catholics or Hindus, etc., it does not follow that one does not want to trade with them from a distance [140]. ANDREW: Uh will a lot of people not want to live with blacks or Catholics? CNC: Each territory GLO will have entrance requirements (for example, no beggars, bums, or homeless, but also no homosexuals, drug users, Jews, Moslems, Germans, or Zulus) and those who [do] not meet those entrance requirements [will] be kicked out as trespassers. [211] ANDREW: If youre only allowed to live in certain areas depending on your race, behavior, and religion, that might sound to some people like a less free society. CNC: Those people are clearly uncomfortable with free individuals making decisions that they think are mutually beneficial. Maybe they would prefer living in the United States of today, where [d]iscrimination is outlawed [t]eachers cannot get rid of lousy or ill-behaved students, employers are stuck with poor or destructive employees banks and insurance companies are not allowed to avoid bad risks and private clubs and covenants are compelled to accept members in violation of their very own rules and restrictions. [210] ANDREW: Presumably, some people will not mind living with people of other races. CNC: Of course, every territory GLO would be free to discriminate in whatever way it wishes. But we need to be realistic. Notwithstanding the variety of discriminatory policies pursued by different proprietary communities no proprietary community can be as tolerant and non-discriminatory as left-libertarians wish every place to be. [212] ANDREW: What do you mean by left-libertarians? CNC: Murray Rothbard likes to call them modal-libertarians (MLs). As Rothbard says, the ML is an adolescent rebel against everyone around him, who only hates government because it is something else to disrespect. MLs think that profanity, drug use homosexuality pedophilia or any other conceivable perversity or abnormality are perfectly normal and legitimate activities and lifestyles [206]. What these countercultural libertarians fail to realize is that the restoration of private property rights and laissez-faire economics implies a sharp and drastic rise in social discrimination and will swiftly eliminate most if not all of the life style experiments so close to the heart of left libertarians. [208] Left-libertarians and multi- or countercultural lifestyle experimentalists, even if they were not engaged in any crime, would once again have to pay a price for their behavior. If they continued with their behavior or lifestyle [in public], they would be barred from civilized society and live physically separate from it, in ghettos or on the fringes of society, and many positions or professions would be unattainable to them. [212] ANDREW: I can tell youre excited about this But maybe youre getting your hopes up. After all, youve said that every territory GLO will be free to develop its own culture. What if some territory GLOs make it so people are rewarded for smoking weed? CNC: Every territory GLO is free to develop its own culture, but only subject to the constraints of inexorable economic laws. First of all, the proprietor and largest investors in the territory GLO would, in order to protect and possibly enhance the value of their property and investments, [216] be very careful about whom to welcome to their territory, and these leaders would set clear standards on what kind of behavior is acceptable for local residents. Second, the security GLOs would also have a say on who immigrates into the territory GLOs, and even more than any one of their clients, insurers would be interested in excluding those whose presence leads to a higher risk and lower property values. That is, rather than eliminating discrimination, insurers would rationalize and perfect its practice. [262] ANDREW: So the security GLOs would regulate the territory GLOs Lets see if I understand. Suppose that the security GLOs decide, based on their research, that watching television makes people more docile. Do you think maybe they would require every family to watch television for a certain number of hours per day? CNC: No, you dont understand. If one security GLO tried to do this, they would lose business to competing security GLOs that allowed people not to watch television. ANDREW: Suppose that the security GLOs decide, based on their research, that kids who are home-schooled are more likely to oppose a libertarian society. Would they refuse to insure territory GLOs where kids are home-schooled? CNC: Once again, you fail to reckon with the power of market competition. Security GLOs will only cooperate when doing so leads to positive consequences. For example insurers would be particularly interested in gathering information on potential crimes and aggressors [A]lways under competitive pressure, they would develop and continually refine an elaborate system of demographic and sociological crime indicators. That is, every neighborhood would be described, and its risk assessed, in terms of a multitude of crime indicators, such as its inhabitants sexes, age groups, races, nationalities, ethnicities, religions, languages, professions, and incomes. [260-261] ANDREW: Do you think that the security GLOs might offer people they consider to be potential criminals the opportunity to wear a device keeping them under surveillance as a condition for granting them insurance? CNC: Now youre coming up with more practical ideas. But the insurance companies are good at thinking outside the box theyve probably already thought of that. ANDREW: Lets see so security GLOs will set up precise financial incentives to segregate residential communities by race, etc., following detailed mathematical models. Many people will be effectively forced, in a rights-respecting manner, to be under 24-hour surveillance. Im curious what kind of society do you think this will produce? CNC: I think most people would agree that under such conditions, all regional, racial, national religious, and linguistic wealth redistribution would disappear, and [so] a constant source of social conflict would be removed permanently [262]. ANDREW: I know that you think this is very unlikely, but suppose people living in the free society of the future decide that they dont like it very much, and would like to go back to living in a democracy. Could they do it? CNC: That will not be possible. ANDREW: You mean, you are sure that no one will want to go back to democracy? CNC: No, I mean they wont be allowed to discuss that possibility. In a covenant among proprietor and community tenants for the purpose of protecting their private property, no such thing as a right to free (unlimited) speech exists, not even to unlimited speech on ones own tenant-property. One may say innumerable things and promote almost any idea under the sun, but naturally no one is permitted to advocate ideas contrary to the very covenant of preserving and protecting private property, such as democracy and communism. There can be no tolerance toward democrats and communists in a libertarian social order. They will have to be physically separated and removed from society. [218] ANDREW: But all of these outlaws, excluded from the libertarian society how do you know they wont try to rebel against the civilization youve created? CNC: You mean, what if the rejects continue to nurture ideas of democracy, and they make plans to take away the rights of rich people? Keep in mind that in the society of the future, a lot of jobs will be done by robots. As pacifist libertarian Bryan Caplan says, rich people rarely take the transition to socialism lying down. [If you were a rich person in this scenario], you might want to reprogram your robots for civil war. True, all of the soldiers of the future may be robots But [j]ust because robots do all of the killing doesnt mean humans wont do their share of the dying. In part 4 of this interview series, Code Name Cain will explain why an attentive survey of history shows that all of the rights of governments are illegitimate, and that all of the rights of modern corporations and property-holders are legitimate. Notes: Karl Widerquist envisions a fully sovereign state growing from landholdings like this (A Dilemma for Libertarianism, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics 8.1 (2009): 43-72). Now that I think of it, they already have: Insurance 2020: Innovating beyond old models IBM p. 2: The rising tide of technology empowers insurance underwriters to bring their products closer to realtime interaction via sensor networks and enlightened privacy regulations. See also p. 6, second paragraph from the top. Bryan Caplan, however, points out that since the libertarian society will be incredibly wealthy, it will be childs play for the numerous billionaires to support everyone else through voluntary charity. He therefore considers a revolution extremely unlikely. ISTANBUL, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While increasing its domestic and national defence industry works, Turkey continues its naval investments with two Emergency Response and Diving Training Boats with a 71 percent localization rate, two new SAT (Underwater Dredging) boats, and eight high-speed patrol boats delivered to the Naval Forces Command at the New Naval Systems Delivery Ceremony held at Desan Shipyard. Leading the ceremony was President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech, addressed to all ship builders, he took the opportunity to congratulate Kaptanoglu, proud owners of Desan Shipyard, on 116 successful years in the shipping industry, President Erdogan explained, "We are together here with the owners of Turkey's largest shipyards. I would like to say that let us build the second and third aircraft carriers after Anadolu." The Turkish Armed Forces, which has accelerated its nationalization efforts in the defense industry, continue its moves to increase its naval might at sea. In the ceremony led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 23 August at Kaptanoglu Desan Shipyard, 2 Emergency Response and Diving Training Boats with a 71 percent localization rate, 2 new SAT (Underwater Dredging) Boats and 8 high-speed patrol boats were delivered to the Naval Forces Command. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan drew attention to the nationalization effort in the defence industry using the following words: "Turkey continues its path in a stable manner in the defense industry. The distance we have covered in the defense industry has contributed to many strategic successes we have achieved within and outside our borders recently. It is not possible for nations that cannot be strong and independent in the field of defense to look to their future with confidence. With the fulfilment of our national defense and security needs, technological independence has become more critical than ever in creating deterrence in the international arena." HISTORIC CALL FOR AIRCRAFT CARRIES FROM PRESIDENT ERDOGAN Underlining that the project stock in the defense industry has been increased from 62 to 700 and the project budget from 5.5 billion dollars to over 60 billion dollars, President Erdogan made a historic call for the building of aircraft carriers stating, "I would like to say that let's build the second and third aircraft carriers after Anadolu. We need to move to the next level. Turkey is one of 10 countries in the world that can design and produce its own warships. Our Navy has further strengthened its stance, which gives confidence to the friend and fear to the foe." "THIS PRIDE IS OF ALL OF US, THIS PRIDE IS OF TURKEY" Drawing attention to the importance of the project for the Turkish defence industry, Cenk Kaptanoglu, Chairman of the Executive Board of Desan stated, "We are proud and happy to successfully deliver these projects to Turkish Navy, our precious possession, which were launched by our President 18 years ago and today merely shining on the fate of almost all oppressed nations, not limited to Turkey, manufactured on behalf of the Turkish Defense Industry. Shafts and propellers of ships have been manufactured in a national project for the first time by us and have been classed by Turkish Lloyd. Acoustic monitoring, capture and diving systems, pressure chamber have been manufactured using the latest technology in Turkey. Data distribution systems and all electrical and electronic infrastructure have been created by our Turkish companies. This is the first project to be delivered at the first time with all the main system, port and sea trial. 'This Proud is of All of Us, This Pride is of Turkey'." FOR WHAT MISSIONS WILL THE BOATS BE USED? Emergency Response and Diving Training Boats manufactured at Desan Shipyard, one of Turkey's oldest shipyard that has completed many successful international projects, will support rescue diving and emergency response operations in future. The ships will take part in determining the locations of damaged, stranded, and sunken ships in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara Seas. Emergency Response and Diving Training Boats will also be used in applied diving training of the diver personnel in the shallow and deep waters. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1243651/President_Erdogan_Chairman_Desan_Shipyard.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1243652/Emergency_Response_Boat.jpg OSLO, Norway, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nel ASA (Nel) reported revenues of NOK 148.6 million in the second quarter of 2020, up from NOK 122.5 million in the same quarter of 2019 and an adjusted EBITDA of negative NOK 22.3 million. The order backlog grew 75% to over NOK one billion and the company holds more than NOK 2.5 billion in cash. Nel reiterates the long-term outlook. "We are relatively happy with the second quarter revenue growth and an all-time high order intake, despite the Covid-19 situation. The markets in which we operate continue to show high activity and growth momentum, in addition to good governmental interest for developing green energy infrastructure and industries post Covid-19. It seems like renewable hydrogen will play a vital role in The Green Deal that should contribute to Europe becoming the first carbon neutral continent in the world, and Nel aims to leverage on these opportunities going forward," says Jon Andre Lkke, Chief Executive Officer of Nel. Nel reported revenues in the second quarter of 2020 of NOK 148.6 million (122.5), up 21% from the corresponding quarter in 2019 and the adjusted EBITDA ended at NOK -22.3 million, adjusted for non-recurring and other ramp-up costs. The reported EBIT was NOK -72.0 million (-90.7), while the pre-tax income ended at NOK 594.3 million (-94.7) following the listing of Nikola Corporation (Nikola) and the corresponding positive fair value adjustment of Nel's shareholding in Nikola. The backlog grew 75% to approximately NOK one billion. During the second quarter of 2020, Nel completed a successful subsequent offering of gross NOK 127 million and completed a successful private placement raising NOK 1.3 billion, bringing the cash position to exceed NOK 2.5 billion. "Nel targets to have a strong financing to execute on our strategic plans. The private placement and subsequent offering were both oversubscribed, showing a solid backing from our shareholders. We want to maintain and strengthen our leading position in a growing market through accelerated investments in technology and organization, and experience an increased importance of being a financially strong counterpart, especially for larger contracts," Lkke comments. Nel remains committed to the growth strategy, including the electrolyser manufacturing scale-up project at Herya, Norway, where pre-engineering studies have revealed a potential for the nameplate capacity per production line to be around 500 MW/year compared to previous target at 360 MW/year, enabling a total potential of around 2 GW/year at the facility. Nel has also taken on additional employees and costs to prepare for future growth during the quarter and holds the workforce largely intact to maintain the momentum when the Covid-19 situation normalizes. "The pandemic will most likely continue to negatively impact the general business environment for the rest of this year, but the Covid-19 situation also accelerates the adoption of green hydrogen and industrial hydrogen applications across Europe, and we are now preparing for that, both in terms of manufacturing capacity and organisation. We remain confident in the long-term potential for the industry and reiterate the strong outlook," Lkke concludes. EBITDA and other alternative performance measures (APMs) are defined and reconciled to the IFRS financial statements as a part of the APM section of the second quarter and half year 2020 report on page 22, as well as in the accompanying presentation page 6. The second quarter and half year 2020 report and presentation are enclosed and available through www.newsweb.no (Ticker: NEL) and www.nelhydrogen.com. Nel will host an open investor presentation 08:00 CET at Skyen Atrium, Askekroken 11, Oslo, Norway, and the presentation will be broadcasted live at www.nelhydrogen.com and can also be streamed at https://channel.royalcast.com/webcast/hegnarmedia/20200826_1. The presenter will be Jon Andre Lkke, CEO, and the presentation will be held in English. Please register by email to [email protected] for participation at the presentation at Skyen Atrium. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, number of participants will be limited. For further information, please contact: Jon Andre Lkke CEO, Nel ASA +47-907-44-949 Bjrn Simonsen VP Investor Relations & Corporate Communication +47-971-79-821 About Nel ASA | www.nelhydrogen.com Nel is a global, dedicated hydrogen company, delivering optimal solutions to produce, store and distribute hydrogen from renewable energy. We serve industries, energy and gas companies with leading hydrogen technology. Our roots date back to 1927, and since then we have had a proud history of development and continuous improvement of hydrogen technologies. Today, our solutions cover the entire value chain: from hydrogen production technologies to hydrogen fueling stations, enabling industries to transition to green hydrogen, and providing fuel cell electric vehicles with the same fast fueling and long range as fossil-fueled vehicle, without emissions. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/nel-asa/r/nel-asa--second-quarter-2020-financial-results,c3181244 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/115/3181244/1297310.pdf Nel_2020_Q2_Report https://mb.cision.com/Public/115/3181244/897efe5b9e09418d.pdf Nel 2020 Q2 Presentation https://mb.cision.com/Public/115/3181244/88d0f4e44e41db73.pdf 2020-08-26 - OSE-filing Nel ASA Q2 SOURCE NEL ASA 'Dublin City Council has granted planning permission for the proposal in spite of opposition from a number of local residents, a nursing home operator and the Mountjoy Square Society'. Stock photo: Sportsfile The GAA has secured planning permission for a seven storey, 200-bedroom hotel on the grounds of Clonliffe College located close to Croke Park in Dublin. Dublin City Council has granted planning permission for the proposal in spite of opposition from a number of local residents, a nursing home operator and the Mountjoy Square Society. Stock market-listed hotel group, Dalata is to operate the hotel under the group's Maldron brand. The city council gave the project the green light after the planner in the case concluded that the scale of the development "is acceptable and would not seriously injure amenities of the neighbouring properties which surround the application site". The Council planner concluded that "the proposed development would provide high-quality modern hotel accommodation as well as an active ground floor uses". However, planning consultants for operator of the family run Shrewsbury House Nursing Home, Margaret Gaughran claimed that the proposal would seriously injure the residential amenities of adjoining dwellings and would constitute an excessive scale and density of development in a prominent location. Chairperson of the Mountjoy Square Society, Karin O'Flanagan argued that the hotel site is currently used as a 2,000- to 3,000-space car park for Croke Park for match-days and concerts. Ms O'Flanagan said the proposed extinguishment of the car park to make way for the hotel "will have a disproportionately negative impact on the surrounding metropolitan area and on the functioning of the stadium itself". The loss of the car park and no planned replacement will result in more legal and illegal parking on streets in the area and greater traffic congestion, said Ms O'Flanagan. Drumcondra resident, Paul Tierney told the city council that the "scale and bulk of the development is excessive". Clonliffe Rd resident, Denis Costello told the city council that the proposed hotel development is unsuitable for the site as its dominant positioning so close to Clonliffe Rd would be out of character with the area. A spokesman for the GAA stated yesterday "Croke Park is pleased" to have received planning permission for a new 200-bedroom hotel on the recently acquired Clonliffe College site". Its interesting to consider how various permutations of music as an art form came to evolve in disparate regions of the U.S., from blues and jazz in the deep south to Motown in Detroit to East and West Coast versions of rap and hip hop. Its also fortunate that music and live performances have held a prominent place in the cultural scene of a vibrant college town such as Carbondale. Looking back, I witnessed major innovators and art rock bands such as Frank Zappa; Talking Heads; Yes; and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who all deemed our Southern Illinois city worthy of tour stops at SIU Arena in the 1970s and 80s. Over on The Strip, our local music scene ran the gamut to include bands that performed standards and lounge music, like Rolls Hardly, rhythm and blues, like Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, and those that featured talented original songwriters like Gary Jones. But when punk rock and new wave music first came to prominence, about 1976, it didn't take long about three years, to be exact for that artistic influence to be felt here in Carbondale. Two local bands, Shakespeares Riot and David and the Happenings, led the way by playing this new genre of music. It was Jason Ringenberg, who in 1980 grabbed a couple fellow students, including your humble narrator, and began playing a younger louder music, more based on a roots kind of punk. A multi-instrumentalist who played 6 and 12-string guitars, banjo, keyboards and harmonica, Ringenberg took songs from familiar artists and played them with a high-octane urgency. In some ways we were a typical Midwestern college bar band playing the usual covers of that time like Elvis Costello and The Clash, Ringenberg said recently. But we also stretched the envelope by playing American roots artists like Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, except with a punk rock energy. Shakespeares Riot can make a pretty solid claim as being one of the first bands in the world to mix punk rock with American roots music. The bands first out-of-town gig was on a school night, a Tuesday in Springfield. The Shakespeares Riot trio loaded into a station wagon for the three-hour drive to a tavern known as the Crows Mill School. You boys was rockin! was the assessment of the manager, an old timer named Ace, after the rousing performance. Ringenberg eventually followed his destiny and moved to Nashville in 1981. Its not that I had any dissatisfaction or negative feelings about the band, the musicians or the area itself, he said. It was simply time to move on, and I felt that in my bones. I would never say that Ive completely left Illinois. To this day it remains one of the basic foundations of my life, a place that I never tire of visiting, either physically or mentally. It is still home. Ringenberg soon teamed with three talented musicians to form Jason and the Nashville Scorchers. After signing a major label record contract with EMI, the newly-branded Jason and the Scorchers went on to define a style of music that came to be known as alternative country or cowpunk. Known for Jasons energetic live performances, the band played major festivals like Farm Aid and toured extensively throughout the U.S., Europe and Australia. To date, Jason and the Scorchers has released 16 studio, live or compilation albums, and Ringenberg has made nine solo albums under his name or that of his childrens persona, Farmer Jason. Another early Carbondale band that led the way with innovative music was David and the Happenings. The group was led by David Siegfried, the brother of James Chance, who founded a so called "no-wave" band, The Contortions, in New York City. Siegfried recently noted that the band did not set out to be a punk or new wave band. When I first arrived in Carbondale in 1976, very few people, if any, were into bands like the Stooges or Iggy Pop, he said. The majority of students didnt have a clue what punk rock was. Siegfried said he eventually found local punk and new wave enthusiasts who would host private dance parties lasting until dawn. We didnt set out to make an artistic statement, he said. We did it for the fun, and it wasnt all based on punk rock, which I always considered to be a rather limiting form of music. I was inspired by more avant-garde music such as the free jazz of John Coltrane and Sun Ra, and the rhythm and blues of Motown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and James Brown. Stay tuned for more stories of local Carbondale bands and the 1980s bar scene in town. Gary Gibula is an SIU alum, musician, writer, editor, and friend of Robbie Stokes, the usual author of Music Historicity. He is filling in while Stokes is on a break. Love 10 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nearly 50,000 salmon escaped from a fish farm after four of its pens were damaged during Storm Ellen. The North Carradale farm in Argyll was badly hit by the bad weather, which broke mooring ropes attaching the pens to the seabed. Another 30,000 salmon also died in the incident, while 125,000 were caught and harvested. The North Carradale farm in Argyll was badly hit by the bad weather, which broke mooring ropes attaching the pens to the seabed There will now be concerns about the farmed salmon breeding with their wild counterparts. Farmed fish are bred to grow big and fast, which makes then less suited to wild environments where fitness is central to survival. Corin Smith, head of campaign group Inside Scottish Salmon Feedlots, which broke the story, said: 'For wild Scottish Atlantic salmon on the west coast of Scotland this is the ecological equivalent of an oil tanker running aground. 'The impacts of an escape of farmed salmon from this facility on this scale could finally wipe out, through interbreeding and introducing disease and genetic weaknesses, the tiny population (est 20,000) of genuinely wild Scottish salmon that remain on the west coast. 'Escaped farmed salmon need to be removed from the wild urgently. Those that may catch them by accident need to beware that they may not be safe to eat.' The Norwegian seafood company Mowi told the BBC that an inspection by divers found mooring ropes had broken in four of the 10 pens after the incident on August 20. Another 30,000 salmon also died in the incident, while 125,000 were caught and harvested The farm originally contained 550,700 salmon. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said it was 'concerned' about what had happened. A spokesman said: 'Whilst we are confident that marine pens have been returned to their authorised position and there was no significant pollution, we are liaising with Mowi and Marine Scotland, who have responsibility for fish escapes and their reporting.' We recognize that agencies benefit from additional options for purchasing the federal HR products and services we provide, so Im delighted we are now able to make available this additional contract vehicle. GovStrive, a leader in managed services, management consulting, and workforce solutions that help federal HR leaders effectively manage their organizations, today announced that it is now listed as a prime contractor on the General Services Administrations (GSAs) One Acquisition Solution for Services (OASIS) Small Business Pool 1 contract, a multiple award, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract that provides flexible and innovative solutions for complex professional services. Federal agencies now have an additional procurement vehicle available to procure GovStrive services. OASIS is designed to address agencies need for a full range of service requirements that integrate multiple professional services, products, information technology, and support components with flexibility for all contract types and pricing at the task order level. The contract helps agencies plan various set asides to meet their goals, and also supports HUBZone, a Small Business Administration (SBA) program for small companies that operate and employ people in Historically Under-utilized Business Zones. We recognize that agencies benefit from additional options for purchasing the federal HR products and services we provide, so Im delighted we are now able to make available this additional contract vehicle, said James Sasser, president and chief executive officer of GovStrive. Coupled with our services and software products being available as a HUBZone-certified HR firm on the GSA MAS, federal HR organizations and agencies have several available contract vehicles to do business with GovStrive and take advantage of offerings to improve the service they deliver to their customers. Information on purchasing from GovStrive on OASIS and other contract vehicles is available at https://govstrive.com/federal-contracting/, and GovStrive is listed on the GSA OASIS contractor page at https://www.gsa.gov/buying-selling/products-services/professional-services/buy-services/oasis/oasis-contractors. About GovStrive GovStrive is a leader in federal management consulting, managed services, and workforce planning solutions. We deliver workforce solutions that support our clients mission-related needs around people, process, and technology within federal HR organizations. Our team has broad and deep experience in successfully executing workforce strategies to facilitate large and small transformation, business process reengineering, and technology adoption projects within Federal HR and CR organizations by leveraging analytical and employee engagement solutions to drive data-driven decision making and lasting organizational change. GovStrive is one of only four HUBZone-certified HR services firms on the GSA MAS. Contact: Joe Abusamra jabusamra@govstrive.com 703.447.4068 The approach of Hurricane Laura has led to the shutdown of about three million barrels per-day in US refining capacity Major Wall Street indices set records once again on Wednesday, shrugging off worries about a major hurricane approaching a key US oil-producing region and renewed coronavirus fears that had stymied indices elsewhere. Hurricane Laura's imminent impact on the US Gulf Coast region sent oil prices climbing again and testing five-month highs. Around three million barrels a day of refining capacity have been closed after US authorities said the hurricane could bring "potentially catastrophic storm surges, extreme winds and flash flooding." Futures prices for US benchmark West Texas Intermediate spiked at mid-session to break above $43.75 before slipping back slightly though still holding near a five-month high. But the hurricane uncertainty did not deter traders elsewhere in New York, who pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to yet another record high close while the Dow finished up 0.3 percent despite weak opening momentum. Apple gained 1.4 percent ahead of its four-to-one stock split, while Salesforce.com, which will join the Dow index on Monday in place of global oil giant Exxon Mobil, leapt 26 percent after a strong earnings report. Traders have been looking ahead to Thursday, when Fed Chair Jerome Powell will preview how the central bank signals the trajectory of interest rates in the coming months. "Some of the stock market being up is a little bit of hopeful trading regarding this speech," JJ Kinahan of TD Ameritrade told AFP, suggesting observers might be disappointed. - Coronavirus rears anew - Earlier in the day, London and Paris made only the most meagre of gains, not least over concern at the lingering presence of the coronavirus, although Frankfurt added 1.0 percent. "Second wave fears are becoming more real in Europe as a number of countries, particularly tourist destinations such as Spain and France, are seeing a strong rise in COVID-19 cases," City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta said. Story continues "Governments... are showing reluctance to slap nationwide lockdowns into place just yet but investor concerns are growing." While there are signs that COVID-19 is leveling off in the US, other countries are fighting to subdue new flare-ups, with Spain notably saying Tuesday it would call in the army and South Korea again closing schools and kindergartens in the greater Seoul region. Observers warned the upcoming winter could see more infections as people are forced to stay indoors. "The situation is still far better than it was in the spring," AxiCorp analyst Stephen Innes said. "However, recent momentum and outbreaks around the world are worrying, as second- and third-wave coronavirus outbreaks still pose the most significant threat to the economic recovery." - Key figures around 2115 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 28,331.92 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 1.0 percent at 3,478.73 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.7 percent at 11,665.06 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 6,045.60 points (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.0 percent at 13,190.15 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.8 percent at 5,048.43 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.8 percent at 3,356.76 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 23,290.86 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: FLAT at 25,491.79 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.3 percent at 3,329.74 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1831 from $1.1835 at 2100 GMT on Tuesday Dollar/yen: DOWN at 105.97 yen from 106.39 yen Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3203 from $1.3152 Euro/pound: DOWN at 89.54 pence from 89.99 pence Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.2 percent at $45.78 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $43.41 dan-rfj/cdw/tgb/cs/hs SAN DIEGO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. Magazine announced in its August edition that Pride Resource Partners (PRIDE) has been ranked at No. 1,661 on its annual Inc. 5000 list. With a three-year revenue growth of 258.27 percent, PRIDE joins the distinguished list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies in the American economy. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Patagonia, and other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. Pride Resource Partners, an LGBT-certified project management consulting firm based in San Diego was founded in late 2015. Since then it has grown to more than 65 employees. The company, its service offerings, staff, and client base are projected for exponential growth over the coming years. The services include project management, construction, and facilities management in support of large-scale entities in the energy and telecommunications sectors across California. "We are delighted to receive this prestigious honor as a growing business, especially as a unique player in the supplier diversity and LGBT arena. I personally must thank my team of exceptional employees who made us what we are today, a great American success story. I am ecstatic to see what the future holds for PRIDE"- CEO Joe Maak. For more information about Pride Resource Partners, visit www.priderp.com The Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. 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, several 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. 5000 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. SOURCE Pride Resource Partners LLC Related Links https://prideresourcepartners.com Manitoba may be leading the country in active COVID-19 cases per capita now but Premier Brian Pallister says the province is still the picture of health when it comes to the economy despite two reports Wednesday offering pessimistic prognoses. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba may be leading the country in active COVID-19 cases per capita now but Premier Brian Pallister says the province is still the picture of health when it comes to the economy despite two reports Wednesday offering pessimistic prognoses. "This is a stressful time for everybody, and it's nice to have a little bit of good news now and again," Pallister said at a news conference Wednesday announcing a tweak to a provincial wage subsidy program. He said 74 per cent of Manitoba businesses are fully open and 52 per cent are at or above normal staffing levels, citing the latest Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey. The headline for that same survey said "67 per cent of small businesses in Manitoba are concerned reduced consumer spending is here to stay." That same day, the Conference Board of Canada reported a drop in the consumer confidence index in August after three consecutive months of increase. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, it dropped 4.4 points compared to 4.1 points nationally. Worries about employment rose 6.3 percentage points in both prairie provinces, the think tank said. Pallister said he's expanding Manitoba's Back to Work initiative because it is key to helping reopen an economy that's been damaged by efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Businesses, not-for-profit organizations and charities can apply for wage subsidies for an additional 10 full- or part-time employees in addition to the current total of 10. The program will reimburse 50 per cent of wage costs up to $5,000 per employee hired or rehired between July 16 and Oct. 31. Pallister said the province has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada but 40,000 Manitobans are still looking to get back to work. "What we've been doing is designing programs we hope will work," the premier said. Pallister has promised a lot but delivered little, NDP Finance critic Mark Wasyliw said Wednesday. He released a chart that shows of the $293.9 million the province budgeted for its COVID-19 response, $187.9 million remains unspent. "That's money that should be put towards our schools to keep class sizes small and help keep students and teachers safe," said Wasyliw. He criticized Pallister for refusing to commit to using Manitoba's share of federal emergency aid for schools for that purpose. Some of Manitoba's unspent millions should go to helping small businesses cover COVID-19 reopening costs, said Jonathan Alward, regional director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. He welcomed Pallister's "tweak" of the wage subsidy program but what's needed now, with a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, is a grant program to help small businesses cover costs related to complying with public health orders. NDP finance critic Mark Wasyliw says $187 million of the $293 million the province budgeted for its COVID-19 response remains unspent. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files) Money for things such as plexiglass barriers, protective equipment and hand sanitizer would help businesses protect themselves and their customers, said Alward with the federation of more than 100,000 small businesses that include 4,800 in Manitoba. "By taking steps to improve consumer confidence, you're encouraging people to shop local," he said. "One of the biggest concerns of small business is with the spike in active cases," said Alward. Manitoba reported 25 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and the highest number of active cases (408). Almost daily, public health advisories are listing businesses and places where possible exposure to the virus may have occurred. Customers may be second-guessing whether it's safe to visit them, he said. "If that consumer confidence waivers, we're going to have serious problems," Alward said. "It will definitely put our recovery in jeopardy." The chief economist at the Conference Board of Canada said the consumer confidence index tries to measure "intangibles" like how consumers feel about spending, their income and employment prospects. 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. "What it's telling us is people aren't feeling very optimistic about what's coming down the road," Pedro Antunes said Wednesday. Some of Manitoba's unspent money should go to helping small businesses cover COVID-19 reopening costs, says Jonathan Alward, regional director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files) "I know Manitoba has been very successful until recently keeping the number of COVID cases down," Antunes said. Confidence is slipping across the country with support programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit drawing to a close and a less generous one expected to replace it. "People are worried about their future employment and future finances," Antunes said. "We need to ensure people are confident about the future as wage support programs wear thin." Wage subsidy programs need to be the focus, said Antunes. "We get this virtuous circle going when people have more confidence because they have jobs and are spending more and that drives employment." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca JERUSALEM (AP) A Palestinian who entered Israel from the occupied West Bank on a work permit stabbed an Israeli to death on Wednesday and was later arrested, Israeli police said. The stabbing took place at a junction near Petah Tikva, in central Israel. Police said the suspect, a 46-year-old man from Nablus, fled after stabbing a 39-year-old Israeli man. Police said they were looking into the incident as a terrorist attack," without providing further details. Palestinians have carried out a series of stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks in recent years. Most of the attackers have been young men in their teens or 20s acting alone, and most of the attacks have happened in and around Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Hebron, where tensions run high. Tens of thousands of Palestinians work in Israel, mainly as laborers in factories and on construction sites. Wages are much higher in Israel than in the West Bank, where the economy has suffered from decades of Israeli military restrictions. She's the Australian actress with a heart as golden as her luscious blonde locks. And Margot Robbie is putting her stellar star power to good use by helping to raise funds for children affected by war and the coronavirus pandemic. The Birds of Prey actress has generously donated a signed poster of herself dressed as her iconic Harley Quinn character to be auctioned off for War Child's Emergency Coronavirus Crowdfunder. For a good cause: Australian actress Margot Robbie (pictured) has donated a signed Harley Quinn Poster to be auctioned off for War Child's Emergency Coronavirus Crowdfunder Best of all, Margot, 29, will personalise her signing for the lucky winner. The poster is currently sitting at 1000 or $1313 AUD after 16 bids. The auction closes at 2 am AEST on September 2. Personalised: Best of all, Margot, 29, will personalise her signing for the lucky winner. The poster is currently sitting at 1000 or $1313 AUD after 16 bids. The auction closes at 2 am AEST on September 2 Other items War Child is auctioning off to raise funds include a Zoom call with X-Files star Gillian Anderson and a Captain America shield donated by Chris Evans. War Child is an international charity which aims to 'protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children caught up in conflict'. Margot is no stranger to putting her name to a good cause, having passionately campaigned for people to donate to Australian charities during the catastrophic 2019-2020 bushfire season. Heart of gold: Margot is no stranger to putting her name to a good cause, having passionately campaigned for people to donate to Australian charities during the catastrophic 2019-2020 bushfire season (Pictured) Meanwhile, the former Neighbours star has signed on to headline in a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. This film is said to be a spin-off of the hugely successful franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The blonde stunner is reuniting with her Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson for the female-fronted movie, that is thought to have Margot front and centre, instead of Johnny Depp's iconic character Captain Jack Sparrow. Plot details for the script are being kept under raps for now, but is thought to be a new original story bringing fresh characters to the franchise, which is based on a Disney theme park ride. By Gina Lee Investing.com Asian stocks were down on Wednesday morning, hitting the pause button after U.S. markets saw another record run during the previous session. Investors remain cautious over fresh outbreaks of COVID-19, as economies continue to reopen globally, investors are turning their attention to a potential treatment. The U.K.s AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) said on Tuesday that the first participants have been dosed in a phase one trial of its vaccine candidate AZD7442. Meanwhile, investors are looking to Thursdays Jackson Hole symposium, where U.S. Federal Chairman Jerome Powell is due to give a speech, for further guidance on the Feds monetary policy framework review. They will also be on the lookout for the Feds response to data released on Tuesday, showing that U.S. consumer confidence dropped to 84.8 in August, the lowest level in around six years. Some investors remained hopeful that the Feds guidance would continue to boost stocks. The Fed has all but guaranteed that rates are going nowhere for at least two years. Equity remains the place for investors to escape the secular stagnation that were seeing within the real economy that this zero-yield world produces, Saxo Bank market strategist Eleanor Creagh told Bloomberg. Japans Nikkei 225 edged down 0.20% by 11:12 PM ET (4:12 AM GMT) and South Koreas KOSPI was down 0.63% Down Under, the ASX 200 fell 0.92%. Victoria state recorded 24 COVID-19 deaths, and 149 new cases, on Wednesday, the halfway point of its six-week lockdown. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index edged down 0.20%. The city expects to relax some social distancing measures from Friday, on the back of decreasing COVID-19 cases in the city. Chinas Shanghai Composite was down 0.71 and the Shenzhen Component edged down 0.15%. Optimism over U.S.-China relations remains in the aftermath of U.S. and Chinese officials affirming the phase one trade deal on Monday. But investors will also continue monitoring the level of tensions between the two countries, as disagreements over other issues remain. Story continues Related Articles Asian shares slip from two-year top as economic strains pile up No funds available: Depositors at India's PMC Bank survive on loans, charity Thiel-backed Palantir to go public via direct listing, reveals 2019 loss of $580 million The OPP say they will enforce the Superior Court injunction ordering Indigenous activists off a Caledonia construction site. Just dont ask them how or when. This is no small task, Christopher Diana, a lawyer representing OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique, told Justice R. John Harper during Tuesdays court hearing regarding McKenzie Meadows, which was renamed 1492 Land Back Lane when a group from Six Nations moved in on July 19, claiming the Foxgate Developments site as unceded Haudenosaunee territory. Diana said the police force has significant discretion when it comes to operations, noting that commanders have access to confidential information that the courts do not. The enforcement of the order is within the expertise of the police service, not the judiciary, he said. Diana cited the 2006 Douglas Creek Estates standoff in Caledonia as proof that immediate enforcement isnt always the prudent course of action. When the OPP tried to remove Indigenous occupiers, officers were pushed back by reinforcements who descended on the site by the hundreds. Quoting previous legal judgments, Diana cautioned that courts should not interfere with police decision-making, going so far as to say judges should not question or criticize police operations, except if police show gross impropriety. While acknowledging that the courts do not direct law enforcement, Harper said its a problem if judges cant count on the police to swiftly enforce court orders. As a judge, I make an order expecting it will be obeyed and enforced, Harper said. If it will not be enforced, why did I make the order? Diana assured Harper that the OPP would enforce his order and remain impartial while doing so. The police should always maintain neutrality on the underlying issues, Diana said, referring in this case to who has the right to occupy the land on McKenzie Road. He added that the OPP doesnt have the numbers to hold land after removing occupiers from McKenzie Meadows, as they did on August 5. A private security company took over the contested construction site after police arrested nine Indigenous land defenders and cleared the area. Those who werent put in handcuffs responded by blocking roads and a rail line in the area and setting fires on the street, which kept officers busy well into the night. That was then and this is now, Harper said by way of asking what has kept the police from removing the occupiers a second time. The situation remains very volatile, Diana said, explaining that the OPP must plan for all contingencies, including the potential for retaliatory uprisings in Caledonia and across the province. In the meantime, the question of when the OPP will come in again hangs over the encampment. Extending the injunction is just further escalating the pressure on the OPP to enforce violent action against our people, said Land Back spokesperson Skyler Williams after Tuesdays court hearing. When told of Dianas comments about police neutrality, he snorted. This has not been my experience, he said. Theres nothing neutral about dragging Haudenosaunee people off their territory kicking and screaming, Tasering, slamming women into the ground, shooting rubber bullets at people. This is not a neutral position. Williams was named as a defendant to the injunctions, meaning he has 20 days to file material in his defence ahead of the next court hearing. But at the same time, the injunction order stays in full effect. And so the risk of OPP enforcement here is just as high today as it was two weeks ago when they raided, he said. Its going to be a hard 20 days, and I think the nervousness on our side to be able to stay, holding space in a peaceful way, is paramount for us right now. Haldimand OPP Const. Rod LeClair said the police are following the Framework for Police Preparedness for Indigenous Critical Incidents, which came out of the Ipperwash Inquiry. Those guidelines include the use of provincial liaison officers to establish open dialogue and find a peaceful resolution. Court orders, Harper opined, are not meant to facilitate talks with alleged lawbreakers, but to prompt police to bring wrongdoing to an end. This is not a case of a land claim. This is a case that potentially involves nuisance trespass, the judge said. Diana told Harper that just because the police havent raided the encampment again doesnt mean they arent working to enforce his court order. He pointed to the arrest on Monday in Hamilton of a 36-year-old who is alleged to have committed acts of mischief and intimidation connected to the August 5 protest while in the area of Argyle Street and Sixth Line that night. The OPP continues to make operational plans to clear McKenzie Meadows and remove the protesters if (the provincial liaison team) is unable to effect a better resolution, Diana said. Even though theyre not making arrests every day, it doesnt mean theyre not active. Four US troops were wounded in northeast Syria this week after a Russian vehicle intentionally rammed the one they were driving. The four US service members were diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms after the altercation, Politico reported, citing a draft of a Pentagon statement. A series of videos posted to Twitter on Wednesday appears to show several Russian patrol vehicles harassing US vehicles that had attempted to block their path. One video shows one of the Russian vehicles, identified as a Kamaz Typhoon by the Twitter user, ramming into an American MaxxPro. Another video shows a Russian helicopter flying low overhead of the skirmish of vehicles. After the collision, the Russian vehicles unsafely pursued the American forces, Politico reported. The US has maintained roughly 500 troops in Syria to help the paramilitary Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fight the remnants of the Islamic State there that took over wide swaths of Syria, Iraq, and Libya in the 2010s. The Trump administration's policy in Syria has been haphazard at times, with the president abruptly calling for a withdrawal of all troops from the region in 2018, leading to widespread bipartisan pushback and the resignation of Defence Secretary James Mattis. In October 2019, after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president ordered the removal of hundreds of US troops in northeast Syria as Turkish forces prepared to invade the region and steamroll the Americans' Kurdish allies in the region. Democrat and Republican lawmakers condemned the president for abandoning US allies that have fought alongside its troops in the Middle East for nearly two decades, and allowing Isis and Isis-sympathetic prisoners to escape. The SDF, a mostly Kurdish militia with some smaller Arab groups attached, has been Washingtons main ally in the fight against Isis in Syria. The group received US arms, as well as significant air and ground support in the battle to defeat the Isis caliphate. It lost some 11,000 fighters in the years-long war before recapturing the last piece of Isis territory in March 2019. The drawdown by roughly half of the US peace-keeping forces in the region created a vacuum that Russia and Turkey have sought to fill, observers have said. This week's harassment of US vehicles by Russian troops is one of a handful of recent escalations by Moscow to try to strong-arm the US out of the Syria and the Middle East more broadly. Earlier this summer, reports emerged that Donald Trump had received a written intelligence briefing containing allegations that Russia was paying bounties to Taliban-linked fighters in Afghanistan to kill American soldiers. The White House denied Mr Trump had ever been briefed on that intelligence report, even though the New York Times reported it was included in his daily written brief of national security intelligence matters in February. The last time he was asked about it by reporters, the president said he had not brought up the alleged bounty programme in his calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was never simple living along Lake Berryessa, a reservoir stocked with trout and catfish that is also famous for a drain that creates a vortex-like hole during wet years. Work is scarce, and cities and groceries are a 40-minute drive along vertiginous mountain roads. The roads can glaze with ice in the winter, and on 90-degree summer days, pints of ice cream melt into soup before you can get them home. People said they moved from bigger cities because they liked the rural quiet and seeing mountain lions out their windows. On Tuesday morning, a singed fox limped through the mobile home park, paying no heed to the residents and power crews in the street. Some people had been drawn to the lake by Californias affordable-housing crisis, pushed out of the rest of Napa. They said this was one of the last corners of affordable housing for people earning minimum wage or living off Social Security in a county where the average home costs more than $700,000. Fire had always been a threat, but evacuations and smoke have gotten even more common as climate change compounds the risk of fires in what is known as the wildland-urban interface. Hillsides overgrown with dry fuel are broiling, and the greenery that people say they cherish about life here has gone as brown as scorched crust. For the past four years, people around the lake said they watched fires march toward their homes, only to be beaten back. The local Lions Club would donate money to fire victims. Local officials installed a cache of emergency beds and supplies and a big new generator at the senior center to be used as a fallback spot, residents said. We know what devastation it does, Pam Stadnyk, whose trailer home burned, including the wood deck she had just put in, said as she walked through the area on Tuesday for the first time since the fires. Weve been living with it. You just get to a point where you and she trailed off. Months of the pandemic already had worn on the mobile home parks working-class residents. Some lost work at Napas wineries and restaurants. In August 1920, women across America celebrated the adoption of the 19th Amendment. At the National Womans Party headquarters in Washington, Alice Paul, the groups leader, triumphantly unfurled a banner displaying 36 stars, one for each state that had voted to ratify the womens suffrage amendment. For Paul and the many suffragists who had picketed the White House or paraded along Pennsylvania Avenue, it was the culmination of decades of work. The next step was getting new women voters registered in anticipation of the fall election. Alice Paul, seated second from left, sews the 36th star on a banner celebrating the ratification of the 19th Amendment in August 1920. The 36th star represented Tennessee, whose vote to ratify completed the number of states needed to put the amendment in the Constitution. But the moment looked very different to Americas 5.2 million Black women2.2 million of whom lived in the South, where Jim Crow laws threatened to keep them off the registration books. For Black women, August 1920 wasnt the culmination of a movement. It marked the start of a new fight. In the following months and years, Black women around the country who had pushed for the 19th Amendment persisted. They came together in citizenship and suffrage schools, preparing one another to overcome legal hurdles and reluctant registrars. Fannie Williams worked out of St. Louis Phyllis Wheatley YWCA. Mary McLeod Bethune toured Florida as head of that states Federation of Colored Womens Clubs. In Richmond, Virginia, Maggie Lena Walker gathered Black women through the Independent Order of St. Luke, a fraternal business organization. They tested the promise of the 19th Amendment, and they exposed its limits. Notably, Black women did not do this work under the auspices of the countrys major suffrage associations. As the National American Womans Suffrage Association and the National Womans Party had increasingly bent their cause to accommodate anti-Black racisma position intended to win white Southern supportersAfrican American women worked independently. They knew that their voting rights would fully arrive only with federal legislation that would override the states Jim Crow laws. Hallie Quinn Brown, head of the National Association of Colored Women, was disappointed when Paul declined to join Black women in the next chapter in the story of womens votes. Black women moved forward alone. Story continues In the winter of early 1921, Brown wrote to Paul about the upcoming unveiling of a monument to our three pioneers of suffrage. The likenesses of three white womenElizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mottwere scheduled to be revealed at the U.S. Capitol on February 15, the 101st anniversary of Anthonys birth. Browns words admitted the strain she felt: I am anxious, she wrote, that the NACW be represented on that occasion and shall appreciate all information bearing upon this matter. Brown got what she sought in one sense. Paul made sure that Brown was there in the Capitol rotunda during the unveiling ceremony, representing the NACW in grand style. Accompanied by a flower girl, Brown posed before the statue, while a royal purple banner proclaimed the presence of the NACW. Applause followed. Behind the scenes, however, things did not go her way. A delegation of Black women called upon Paul just days before the NWP convention was set to begin that week. Their delegation aimed to win support for federal legislation that would give strong teeth to the 19th Amendment, such that Black women could overcome the state laws that continued to disenfranchise them. The delegation was received. But before the NWP convention concluded, the delegations aims had been rejected. Rather than continue to work toward womens full and free access to the polls, the NWP declared its work completed and then folded. Paul moved on to launch a campaign for an Equal Rights Amendment. When Brown had reached out to Paul, she had offered a slim olive branch by terming Stanton, Anthony and Mott our pioneers. Those women might just have been foremothers for Black and white women. But Paul did not return the sentimentno Black woman was included on the monument or her political agenda. Yet Brown, and many other women like her, moved forward. Their efforts are all too often left out of the history of womens suffrage in America. But as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment this month, it is important to remember the new fight that Black women took up that year. They sought to further what they termed the interests of humanity. They made the case to the American people that voting should be a right for all citizens, regardless of gender and racea message that resonates in the months before the 2020 election: Black women and men still face hurdles to voting, while leading the nation toward universal access to the polls. When the 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution, Black and white women stood alongside one another more equal than ever before. But what equality meant depended on where you were in a nation divided by Jim Crow. In the North and to the west, Black women successfully cast ballots in 1920, voting for the very first time alongside their husbands, fathers and sons. Officials in Southern states confronted Black women with unevenness, hostility and downright refusal. And without the opportunity to register, many Black women never made it to the polls in that election year. Several states imposed grandfather clauses that ensured that the descendants of disenfranchised slaves, though now free people, could not vote. Other states subjected voters to literacy tests, which local election officials administered differently to Black versus white voters. So-called understanding clauses demanded that potential voters read and then explain a textanother requirement that disproportionately disenfranchised Black Americans. When Black voters did overcome these hurdles, they often learned that they had accumulated years of unpaid poll taxes, all of which had to be paid before they could cast a ballot. Registration numbers reflected the effects of discriminatory laws. Black women did present themselves to officials in the fall of 1920, but many found the doors closed. Their numbers in Kent County, Delaware, were unusually large, the Wilmington News Journal reported, but officials refused Black women who failed to comply with the constitutional tests. In Jefferson County, Alabama, laws stymied Black women when they set out to register, and some blamed Black leaders, who themselves could not navigate the maze of requirements. In Huntsville, Alabama, the Nashville Tennessean explained, only a half dozen Black women were among the 1,445 who registered, and the explanation was clear: Officials applied practically the same rules of qualification to [women] as are applied to colored men. Worried that Black women might manage to register, state lawmakers went so far as to change laws to keep the doors locked shut. In Mississippi, rule makers changed poll taxes to require the same poll tax of $2.00 of women, as now required of men, the Vicksburg Herald said. It was no secret that this change was important, vital even, to those who feared that the old law would permit negro women to register without being required to pay a poll tax. In Savannah, Georgia, officials imposed the letter of the law, concluding that although many negro women have registered here since the suffrage amendment became effective the election judges ruled that they were not entitled to vote because of a state law which requires registration six months before an election, according to news reports. This ruling meant that no woman in the state of Georgia could votetoo little time had passed between the ratification of the 19th Amendment and Election Day. But this was a reading of the law meant to suppress Black womens votes because no white women presented themselves at the polls. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, a well-known educator and advocate who led North Carolinas State Federation of Colored Womens Clubs, saw firsthand the backlash that emerged in response to Black women beginning to gain more political power. In early October, reports surfaced about a letter that was appearing in mailboxes across the South. The letter was addressed to Black women and explained that the terms of the 19th Amendment, which gave all women the right of the ballot regardless of color. It went on to beg all the colored women of North Carolina to register and vote on November 2nd, 1920. It was a call to action: The time for negroes has come. Now is our chance to redeem our liberty. If refused at the polls, the notice instructed Black women to go at once to a Republican lawyer and start proceedings in the United States courtsdont waste time with State courts [which] are Controlled by Democrats. The tone was militant, and it emphasized that Black voters might overtake the system: White women of North Carolina will not vote and while they sleep let the negro be up and doing. When we get our party in power we can demand what we wish and get in. It was postmarked Greensboro, North Carolina, and signed, Yours for negro liberty. colored womens rights association, for colored women. Who, newspaper editors and Democratic Party leaders asked, was responsible for this incendiary manifesto, one that was branded a conspiracy influenced by Republican Party promoters from the North? Browns name very quickly surfaced; Democrats charged her with conspiring to oppose them and using the new political power of Black women to do so. Her defenders stepped in, calling the circular and the charges against Brown the lowest, dirtiest piece of political trickery that has ever been practiced by any political party. These were awkward defenses, though, ones that labeled a circular that stridently promoted Black womens power at the polls and in party politics Bosh! The storm was rough enough that Brown publicly issued a rebuttal, one in which she invoked the name of every white philanthropist who had supported the school she ran and emphasized her commitment to education, not politics. Brown denied how Black women were intently interested in the potential of 1920 and what it could mean to vote. Once, twice and then a third time on the page of the Stanly Albemarle News-Herald, where the controversy had begun, Brown denied the circular and its views: I do not hold, or endorse, the views which [the circular] expresses. Between the lines, Brown expressed her indignation but also her fear of retribution. An association with voting rights could have cost her school its supporters, land, buildings and studentsher reputation and her power. Although it was risky, in many places, Black women organized and prepared one another to face the scrutiny of local officials. In St. Louis, they organized in a Citizenship League and ran suffrage schools for men and women. In New Albany, Indiana, Black women met in local churches, where Republican Party officials helped them register and vote. In Akron, Ohio, they met under the auspices of the Colored Womens Republican Club and canvassed, going house to house to encourage women to register. In Baltimore, from the pulpit a local minister urged that womens votes were part of Gods vision and the ballot was a weapon of protection to self and home. In some places, Black women triumphed, registering to vote in important numbers. In Frederick, Maryland, 75 percent of Black women planned to register. In Staunton, Virginia, the local newspaper noted those Black women who registered by name and, at least on one day, they outnumbered white women 18 to one. In Wilmington, Delaware, Black women were early to the registrars office. In Chatham County, Georgia, the courthouse was stormed by Negro women who wanted to put their names on the registration books, according to news reports. In Asheville, North Carolina, women participated in a mass meeting and then appeared at the various polling places in the city and nearly 100 were registered. Their presence, it was reported, came as a surprise to Democrats. In Richmond, Virginia, a fracas followed when Black women outnumbered white, 3 to 1, at a registrars office. The official in charge underscored the sense that Black women were unwelcome when, in response to the demand, he called upon police to keep the applicants in line according to Jim Crow rules: White and Black women were separated. In the fall of 1920, Black women didnt just work to organize and encourage fellow voters. They also began to make their case to the American public. As the newly elected president of the NACW, Hallie Quinn Brown urged that the ratification of the 19th Amendment was an opening for Black womens power. Let us remember that we are making our own history. That we are character builders; building for all eternity. Womans horizon has widened. Her sphere of usefulness is greatly enlarged. Her capabilities are acknowledged, she wrote in the NACWs national association notes. Let us not ask: what shall we do with our newly acquired power? Rather, what manner of women are we going to be? She framed womens votes as a next chapter in the long struggle for Black political rights: We stand at the open door of a new era. For the first time in the history of this country, women have exercised the right of franchise. The right for which the pioneers of our race fought, but died without the sight. The book Brown published in 1926, Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction, leveled one of Browns best shots at those who doubted Black womens suitability as voters. Today, it is still a go-to text for understanding how Black womens diverse personal histories fit together to tell a story about their readiness for citizenship. Brown collaborated with more than 25 other women to produceacross 250 pages and 60 biographical sketches, essays and poemsan argument about the past, present and future of Black women. The book demolished myths and brought to light the lives of real womentheir ideas and their activism. As Brown put it in her introduction, Homespun Heroines aimed to inspire young people to cleave more tenaciously to the truth and to battle more heroically for the right. On the horizon, Brown suggested, was a time when universal womanhood suffrage would be realized. The women of Homespun Heroines were paradigmatic voters, women of independence and integrity. For many, formal education had bestowed the insight, reason and discernment that suited them for citizenship. Others, especially those born enslaved, still made manifest qualitiespiousness, fidelity, benevolence, selflessness and compassionall of which evidenced their suitability as voters. Black women had earned the vote, Homespun Heroines argued. As suffragists, they had worked to secure for all American women a constitutional amendment. Homespun Heroines may have been shorter than the six-volume History of Woman Suffrage, begun by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan Anthony and Matilda Joslyn Gage in the 1880s. But it was no less a chronicle of the history of womens activism. As the celebration in 1920 of the 19th Amendment faded, Brown and the women of the NACW were left with serious work ahead of them. The way forward was fraughtthe NACW faced competition from the increasingly influential NAACP, and suffered from the indifference of white-dominated womens suffrage organizations like the National Womans Party. The elite politics of respectability kept the NACW at a distance from Black women of the working class. It lost members who rejected the vote and party politics in favor of radical, internationalist and pan-African approaches to power. The road to the 1965 Voting Rights Act was long, arduous and, at many times, dangerous. But Black women in the NACWallied with women in Black churches, civil rights organizations, sororities, teachers association and morepaved the way to 1965. Club womens political networks became companions to litigation, advocacy through federal agencies and, by the 1940s, nonviolent direct action. And the NACWs earliest leaders, women such as Mary Church Terrell and Mary McLeod Bethune, remained active at the heart of struggles for racial justice, from voting rights to desegregation, education and even collaborations with women of color across the globe. Top: Picketers representing the National Association of Colored Women march past the White House in July 1956. Bottom: Activists Gloria Richardson, Rosa L. Gragg and Diane Nash Bevel are interviewed outside the White House in July 1963, after a meeting in which President John F. Kennedy asked representatives of womens organizations to back his civil rights program. For Black women, ratification of the 19th Amendment was not a guarantee of the vote, but it was a clarifying moment. Like the 15th Amendment before it, so much about voting rights depended on state law and the discretion of local officials that the 19th Amendment was little more than a broad umbrella under which a wide range of womens experiences unfolded. More than anything, it marked a turn: Black women were the new keepers of voting rights in the United States. They were at the fore of a new movementone that linked womens rights and civil rights in one great push for dignity and power. Researchers have reconstructed the ancestral relationships of the hillstream loach family tree, detailing for the first time a range of pelvic adaptations that allow some members of the fish family to crawl, or walk like salamanders, to navigate land. In a study published in the Journal of Morphology, a team of researchers from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Florida Museum of Natural History, Louisiana State University and Thailand's Maejo University have successfully pieced together the ancestral relationships that make up the family tree of hillstream loaches (Balitoridae), detailing for the first time a range of unusual pelvic adaptations across the family that have given some of its members an ability to crawl, or even walk as salamanders do, to navigate terrestrial surfaces. The team's DNA-based comparative analysis of the fish family, known to currently encompass more than 100 species native to South and Southeast Asia, is the first of its kind to include Cryptotora thamicola -- the only living species of fish known to walk on land in a step pattern similar to tetrapods, or four-limbed vertebrates such as reptiles and amphibians. The results have revealed that three dominant variations of pelvic anatomy in the family, notably including key variations of a robust pelvic girdle and elongated sacral rib among many loaches, which researchers expect are central in explaining the different degrees of land-walking behavior exhibited by the fishes. The team says that the family's modified pelvic features enabling terrestrial locomotion, which were found most pronounced in Cryptotora thamicola, may have been adapted to enhance their odds of survival in rivers and other fast-moving water environments that many Balitoridae inhabit today. "The modified morphology of these Balitoridae, particularly the enlarged sacral rib connecting the pelvic plate to the vertebral column, is a big part of why studying this family is so exciting," said Callie Crawford, the study's corresponding author and Ph.D. candidate at NJIT's Department of Biological Sciences. "These loaches have converged on a structural requirement to support terrestrial walking not seen in other fishes. What we've discovered is three anatomical groupings that have major implications for the biomechanics of terrestrial locomotion of these loaches, and the relationships among these fishes suggest that the ability to adapt to fast-flowing rivers may be what was passed on genetically, more than the specific morphology itself." "Now that we have revealed a spectrum of pelvic morphologies among these fishes, we can compare the extent of skeletal support with the walking performance in a species," said Brooke Flammang, the study's lead principal investigator and assistant professor of biology at NJIT. "This will allow us to measure the mechanical contribution of robust hips to terrestrial locomotion." Unlike most living fishes that feature pelvic fins located more anteriorly and attached to the pectoral girdle, balitorids typically boast a skeletal connection between the pelvic plate (basipterygium) and the vertebral column via a modified sacral rib and its distal ligament. These modifications are understood to help generate force against the ground useful for navigating land. The most extreme example emerged in 2016 with the discovery of Cryptotora thamicola in the fast-flowing aquatic conditions of the Tham Maelana and Tham Susa karst cave systems in northern Thailand. NJIT researchers then first identified that the rare species used a robust pelvic girdle attached to its vertebral column to walk and climb waterfalls with a salamander-like gait. "This trait is likely key to helping these fishes avoid being washed away in the fast-flowing environment that they live in," said Zach Randall, co-author of the paper and biological scientist at Florida Museum of Natural History. "What's really cool about this paper is that it shows with high detail that robust pelvic girdles are more common than we thought in the hillstream loach family." "The sacral ribs allow forces from the fins pressing against the ground to be transferred to the body so that every time the fin pushes down during a step, the body is pushed up and forward," explained Flammang. "The increased surface area of the more modified sacral ribs also offers more room for muscle attachment, so fishes such as Cryptotora thamicola can rotate their hips during walking, producing a salamander-like gait." River Loach Family Factions To better understand the evolution of the river loach family, the team conducted a broad sampling of CT-scan data taken from 29 representative specimens, analyzing and comparing skeletal structures, muscle morphology as well as sacral rib shape across 14 of the 16 balitorid genera. The team also sampled genomic datasets of 72 loaches across seven families to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships in the Ballitoridae tree of life. "We were able to use a large survey of museum specimens and CT scanning to incorporate data even from specimens that didn't have tissue or genetic data intact," noted Randall. The results showed that the loaches fall into three distinct morphotypes, which are expected to correlate to how well they are able to maneuver on land: species with a long, narrow rib that meets the pelvic plate; species with a thicker, slightly curved rib meeting the pelvic plate; and species with a robust crested rib interlocking with the pelvic plate. Of the species sampled, eleven fell into the third category with advanced land-walking abilities, such as Cryptotora thamicola, displaying the most robust sacral rib connection between the basipterygium and vertebral column. "Our analysis showed that the morphotypes are not grouped by closely related taxa, but instead appear spread out across the phylogeny. That indicates to us that the extent of the modification of these features is less reflecting shared ancestry and more likely a product of adaptation to the flow regimes of their environments," explained Crawford. "To better understand how and why these distinct morphotypes developed, we need more knowledge of the habitat of each species, including water flow rates, substrate types and how the rivers and streams change between rainy and dry seasons." Crawford and colleagues now aim to further investigate the stability physics and muscular forces at play that allow certain species to push their bodies off their ground as they walk. The team, including a recent Rutgers University graduate, Amani Webber-Schultz, recently completed fieldwork in Thailand earlier this year to collect more balitorid specimens, which they are studying using high-speed videos of the fishes walking. "This will allow us to study details of their walking kinematics and gain even more insight into how walking performance might change between species with different pelvic morphologies," said Crawford. ### The study was supported by the National Science Foundation's Understanding the Rules of Life Grant # 1839915 to BE Flammang, P Chakrabarty, and LM Page. Crawford, C. H., Randall, Z. S., Hart, P. B., Page, L. M., Chakrabarty, P., Suvarnaraksha, A., & Flammang, B. E. (2020) Skeletal and muscular pelvic morphology of hillstream loaches (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae). Journal of Morphology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21247 Saba Sahar, who is a senior police officer and an activist as well as a performer and producer/director, was shot in her car or her way to work. She was comatose for 20 hours but is now out of danger, said her husband. The Taliban has denied responsibility. CBS News I ndustry bosses today called on Government to thrash out a post-Brexit deal, warning that the cash crunch caused by coronavirus had left businesses unable to stockpile. Manufacturers, retailers and their suppliers are facing the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, but without the firepower to stockpile to ensure goods continue to flow as they did last year before an anticipated cliff-edge Brexit. Talks between the UK and EU stalled last week. The next round of negotiations kicks off on September 7 with October the deadline for an agreement to be ratified before the end of the transition period this year. The ADS, which represents more than 1100 UK businesses operating in the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, warned a disruptive Brexit is an unwelcome additional challenge to a sector thrown into crisis by the grounding of the aviation industry in lockdown. ADS chief executive Paul Everitt said: Supply chain companies across the UK are focussed on survival and the crisis has put severe pressure on cashflow, restricting their ability to rebuild the stockpiles that were their primary mitigation measure. It is important that the Government and the EU work to reach a deal that avoids any further damage. A no-deal Brexit would cause industry in the UK and in Europe further damage. Retailers could also be squeezed, as the Covid outbreak has deterred shoppers from physical stores, and ratcheted up demand for warehouse space to service online customers. Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: Retailers continue to face unprecedented challenges after months of store closures, slow sales and increased costs. As the end of the transition period draws closer, retailers are working incredibly hard to mitigate the disruption that is likely to arise from leaving the EU single market. However, with retailers focussed on preparing for the all-important golden quarter, warehouses will be at full capacity in the run up to Christmas leaving little room to build up additional supplies ahead of the 1st January. A no-deal Brexit at the end of the year would result in price increases from tariffs and reduced consumer choice. The issue is likely to affect any industry with just in time speedy supply chains. The Food and Drink Federation has said suppliers impacted by the closure of the hospitality industry may struggle if they dont have the cash to stockpile short shelf-life ingredients or finished products. Security of supply of medicines has been a key issue for Government, and this month Steve Oldfield, chief commercial officer at the Department of Health wrote to suppliers asking them to stockpile to a target level of six weeks total stock on UK soil. David Watson, ABPI's interim executive director for commercial policy, said the industry needed support from Government to plan an end to the transition period, after months of strain to ensure drugs to treat Covid patients were still available. He added: Detailed guidance is still urgently required from Government on issues like freight capacity, ferry routes and the Northern Ireland Protocol. "Coronavirus has only strengthened our belief that the best possible outcome is for both sides to reach a deal that includes an MRA to protect patients and public health. The pharmaceutical industry has called for negotiators to seek a Mutual Recognition Agreement which would see both sides accept each others drug safety testing and inspections before exportin order to avoid duplication, supply chain disruption or delays to patient access to medicine. Former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has denied allegations that former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had intentions of running for president in 2000. The allegation was contained in Professor Kwamena Ahwois book titled Working with Rawlings. The former Local Government Minister and member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) alleged that Konadu wanted to succeed her husband, Jerry John Rawlings, as President, when he (Mr. Rawlings) was exiting power in 2000 after 19 years. Prof. Ahwoi said in page 191 of the book that Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had been harbouring presidential ambitions and in 2000 had believed that she would be the one her husband, Jerry Rawlings, would hand over to. However, according to a statement from the office of the founder of the NDC, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had no intentions of contesting Mills or running for president in 2000. When the Swedru Declaration was made (prior to the 2000 elections), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had in fact been out of Ghana for several months working on a womens health project for the World Health Organisation (WHO). A fact the author could quite easily have verified where he or any of his proof-readers inclined to do so. She was informed about the Declaration while she was abroad. Surely, logic would indicate that had she any intention to contest that election, she would have been in the country campaigning, or at the very least have set in motion her campaign machinery with which to achieve her Presidential objectives. At no point did she indicate to President Rawlings or members of the Party, that she had any intention or inclination to be the flagbearer of the Party. On her return to the country, she rapidly rolled out her campaign strategy and machinery in support of Professor Mills. Yet another fact that can be easily and publicly verified, the statement added. The statement also indicated that the allegations are mere fabrications targeted at eroding the role played by the former first lady in the history of the NDC. The role, hard work, strategy and organisational talent that Nana Konadu applied to build and propel the NDC to countless victories can never be eroded. The various attempts to not just discount the central role she played, but to also deride her, is symptomatic of the myopic selfishness of characters within the NDC who cannot appreciate the fact that in so doing to pioneers of the Party like herself and others, you have no history to speak of. The former President also took a swipe at the author of the book, describing his comments on the presidential aspirations of Nana Konadu as a falsehood that is unbecoming of an academician. To peddle falsehoods in the name of hearsay as a justification for the blatant lies in the book is unbecoming of an academician; albeit with the sole intention of creating the impression that Nana Konadu had a role to play in the so-called Rawlings versus Mills tale. Nana Konadu played an integral role in the development of both the PNDC and the NDC, and the attempts by the author to denigrate her and nullify the key strategic and organisational role she played is yet another disappointment of the book. Source: citinewsroom.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Firefighters watch the Lake Hughes fire in the Angeles National Forest on Aug. 12. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / Associated Press) With more than 1 million acres burning in California, state lawmakers are pushing a last-minute proposal that would extend an existing fee on electricity bills to fund $500 million for immediate wildfire response and another $2.5 billion over time for climate resiliency and fire mitigation projects. The legislation adopts the same financing mechanism as a 2019 law that extended a fee on utility bills for 15 years to finance bonds for a $21-billion insurance pool to pay utility wildfire damages. This time, the same fee would be extended for another decade until 2045 costing ratepayers 96 cents a month, or more than $3 billion over 10 years for bonds to pay for wildfire prevention work, according to a document reviewed by The Times and interviews with lawmakers and legislative staff. "It would be negligent for the Legislature to end our session without taking immediate action to generate more resources for battling wildfires across California and mitigating the resulting environmental damage," said Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco), a coauthor of the bill. "It is also imperative that we better prepare our state for longer and more dangerous fire seasons to come. The plan was introduced late Tuesday as wildfires raged up and down the state. While some of California's deadliest wildfires in recent years have been caused by failed utility equipment, state officials said lightning strikes sparked the major fires burning in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, and other parts of the state. The new proposal also comes after attempts to place taxpayer-funded climate bonds on the 2020 ballot stalled at the state Capitol two years in a row. AB 1659 does not need voter approval but faces difficult two-thirds votes in the Senate and Assembly by the end of the legislative session on Monday a higher threshold for legislative passage to ensure the measure would take effect as soon as it is signed into law. Story continues Gov. Gavin Newsom declined to comment on whether he supports AB 1659, which would develop immediate and longer-term plans to spend the bond proceeds. The first plan, which would be developed within 30 days from the date the bill is enacted, calls for the state to borrow and spend $500 million from a state surplus cash fund to train new firefighters, respond to wildfire emergencies and carry out immediate projects to reduce wildfire risks. The state would pay the money back by the end of the fiscal year using proceeds from the revenue bonds, according to the document. A longer-term spending plan to be formed within six months of the bill's passage would spend the bond proceeds on wildfire mitigation and climate projects. Of the money, $100 million would go toward workforce training, with $200 million for local and state government grants for fire detection, warning and evacuation systems, emergency communication and disaster planning. The bill would allocate $300 million to the state Natural Resources Agency for prescribed burns, home hardening, defensible space and other projects to reduce risks in California's wildland-urban interface regions, and $300 million to reduce fire risks and repair damage at state parks. In addition, $200 million would be distributed by the California Wildlife Conservation Board for forest restoration and wildfire resilience, and $300 million would be set aside for projects such as cooling centers and solar power. Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), who introduced the bill, said the current wildfires added a sense of urgency to plans in the Legislature to do more to prevent wildfires before the pandemic hit and the economy collapsed. "This is, to some degree, born out of that desire to do something in that space, but it became imperative as we watched this recent series of fires rage through the state," Bloom said. The bill's reliance on another extension of a fee on customers of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric is already raising concerns among some lawmakers. Newsom and the Legislature quickly crafted and passed Assembly Bill 1054 last summer amid pressure from Wall Street to reduce the utility industry's liability for wildfire damages linked to their electrical poles and equipment. Lawmakers made it easier for utilities to avoid being on the hook for wildfire damages through a new safety certification process and created a $21-billion fund as an additional shield against losses from blazes linked to their equipment. Utility customers were required to pay half of the $21 billion through a 15-year extension of an existing charge on monthly bills that was originally expected to expire by 2021. Advocates of AB 1054 said that the law didn't increase customer rates an argument that is being repeated this year. "One of the things you hear over and over again in Sacramento is, well if you want to do something, what's the funding source going to be?" Bloom said. "And that's no different in this case. The cause is compelling but it still needs a funding source and this one is quite elegant. It's a relatively small fee that ratepayers are already paying." Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for a meeting on Wednesday morning because of a spike in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the national capital, a government official said. The CM has called for an assessment meeting at 11 am because of a surge in Covid-19 cases. The meeting will be attended by the health minister (Satyendar Jain), chief secretary (Vijay Dev) and all the senior officials of the state health department, said the official. On Tuesday, Delhi recorded 1,544 new Covid-19 cases, the highest single-day spike in the viral outbreak in the national capital in 40 days, according to official data. The spike in daily Covid-19 cases is a worrying statistic, as the state government is pressing for the resumption of the Metro Rail services in the national capital that have been suspended since end-March. Experts have warned the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government against complacency, which, they said, could lead to a spike in Covid-19 cases. A man is being shot in his arm during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Brendan Gutenschwager/via Reuters) Teen Suspect Arrested for Shooting That Left Two Dead in Kenosha, Wisconsin A 17-year-old male was arrested in Illinois on Wednesday for a deadly shooting that took place in Wisconsin. The teenager, a resident of Antioch, was taken into custody on a charge of first-degree homicide, the Antioch Police Department said. Officials are working on extraditing him to Wisconsin to face the charge. Our Village of Antioch is deeply saddened by all loss of life. Our hearts and prayers extend to the friends and family who lost a loved one, said Antioch Mayor Lawrence Hanson in a statement. The people involved in the shooting were part of groups taking part in illegal activity after the start of the nightly curfew, Kenosha Police Chief Dan Miskinis told reporters at a press conference. The result of it was: two people are dead, he added. This is not a police action. This is not the action of those, I believe, who set out to do protests. He said he didnt know what led to the disturbance, and whether both deaths were related to the same person. The name of the alleged shooter was not released. The deceased werent identified apart from being described as a 26-year-old Silver Lake resident and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident. Information from the Lake County Circuit Court showed the shooting suspect is Kyle Rittenhouse. He has a court date on Aug. 28 on the extradition status. The brief document says the defendant fled Wisconsin after being charged with homicide with the intent to avoid prosecution for that offense. The court described the teen as a fugitive [from] justice. It said Rittenhouse was being represented by a public defender, who was not named. A man is wounded amid rioting in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (@Louriealex/Instagram via Reuters) The alleged shooter told Richie McGinniss, a Daily Caller reporter, prior to the incident that he was out and about because people are getting injured. Our job is to protect this business, he said, standing outside a boarded-up building that was set on fire the night before. And part of my job is to also help people. If somebodys hurt, Im running into harms way, he added. Thats why I have my weapon, because I need to protect myself obviously, but I also have my med kit. A Facebook profile showing the alleged suspect, which was taken down, shows him posing with the same gun he appeared to be carrying. He had a number of pro-police postings on the page. Video footage captured late Tuesday in Kenosha showed several people attack a man with a rifle. The man was taken to the ground before firing several shots. At least one of the people he shot appeared to be armed. Other clips appeared to show the man shooting another male in the parking lot of Car Source, a dealership, prior to the other confrontation. The shooting took place in the area of 63rd Street and Sheridan Road, the Kenosha Police Department said. Two people died from gunshot wounds while a third was rushed to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Detectives were still working on obtaining the names, ages, and cities of residences of the victims, a police statement said. Anyone who witnessed the shooting was asked to call the police. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel earlier Wednesday that one person who died was shot in the head while the other was struck in the chest. A rioter tosses an object toward police during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (David Goldman/AP Photo) Beth said at least one person would be arrested soon, because of the video footage that clearly captured the shooting. I feel very confident well have him in a very short time, Beth said, adding that local officials were receiving help from the FBI. Riots exploded in Kenosha, on the shoreline of Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee, on Sunday night, following the non-fatal police shooting of Blake, a man wanted for sexual assault who allegedly showed up at a womans house and took her keys. After struggling with police officers, the man walked to a vehicle and reached into the drivers side door before officers shot him multiple times. Blake was rushed to the hospital. He has paralysis from the waist down, family members and lawyers said. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave and the matter is being probed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- delivery.com, a leading destination for online ordering today announced that Five Star Food Express has joined the delivery.com network. Five Star Food Express, which serves several cities in Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, and Utah, will now be available exclusively through the delivery.com website and app. The current Five Star Food Express management and teams will remain local to leverage their roots. The team is proud to take a local first approach to expanding online ordering and delivery services in their areas. The announcement with Five Star Food Express is part of a rapid series of acquisitions and partnerships and comes only weeks after delivery.com announced that Vroom Service Now and MyTown2Go also joined their network. Customers who live in the regions served can continue to order from their favorite local restaurants for delivery or pickup, and can now access the delivery.com suite of offerings: Best-in-class technology and mobile apps: consumers can experience a frictionless, easy-to-use platform to order from their favorite neighborhood restaurants. Order tracking: After placing their order, customers receive a link designed for tracking the progress of their order and stay up-to-date on its ETA. Delivery Points: The popular loyalty program from delivery.com that allows customers to earn free food and other rewards. "We're excited to join delivery.com because they have the technology and resources to provide our customers and restaurants the best experience, while supporting our vision of having local ownership," said Philip Portman, Owner of Five Star Food Express. Five Star Food Express has been locally owned and operated since 2014 in Michigan and has grown their network in 13 cities across 7 states. "Now, more than ever, we see just how important online ordering is in our communities. The Five Star Food Express team is dedicated to serving customers and restaurants, and we're thrilled to be bringing them onboard," said Jed Kleckner, CEO of delivery.com . With the addition of Five Star Food Express, delivery.com grows its presence across Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, and Utah while continuing to expand nationwide. Five Star Food Express plans to roll out a full set of delivery.com services in their markets, including Group Orders and office food delivery. For a limited time, Five Star Food Express is offering their customers $10 off orders of $15 or more when they place their first order on delivery.com with the code ORDERNOW (see the website or app for details). About delivery.com delivery.com empowers the neighborhood economy by enabling consumers and corporate customers to order online from their favorite restaurants and other local businesses. More than three million delivery.com customers and delivery.com Office clients explore their communities and order from over 19,000 local businesses in more than 2,000 cities while at home, at work, or on the go. With headquarters in New York and a growing presence across the country, delivery.com makes e-commerce an integral part of local daily life, enabling customers to order, companies to provide, businesses to grow, and neighborhoods to thrive. Trademarks and/or trademark registrations referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. SOURCE delivery.com Related Links http://delivery.com Government officials in the Philippines are asking for the Churchs help in addressing rising cases of suicide and depression as the country continues to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. By Vatican News Speaking to reporters, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said, [We] respectfully request our spiritual leaders to bring this much-needed message of hope to our suffering countrymen in order to stave off more incidents of self-destruction. The Justice Secretary, who is also a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), said they had asked the Catholic Church and other denominations for their assistance to provide counseling and guidance to those suffering from depression and distress as the pandemic continues. Minister Guevarra said he had spoken with Secretary Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the IATF national task force, about the alarming increase in the number of suicides during these pandemic times. Challenging times The rise in suicides and depression is being blamed on the economic fallout due to the pandemic. The period of lockdown has also led to feelings of isolation and anxiety. The World Health Organisation describes mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and can make a contribution to his or her community. According to the WHO, there has been a drastic increase in mental health disorders in the country since the start of the outbreak. In a recent study, the health body said, Thinking of whether life will ever return to normal, and how one will survive amid the pandemic, are some of the questions making ordinary Filipinos very anxious. Likewise, questions like how will one survive economically and financially amid a pandemic; the sudden changes in everyday life and how to cope with them; the unremitting fear of being infected, the fear of dying from the virus, or the fear that a family member or relative might be infected with COVID-19 and die, and the fear of not being able to receive medical treatment in time are also playing on the minds of many Filipinos. As part of its public health response, WHO says it has worked with partners to develop a set of new materials on the mental health and psychosocial support aspects of COVID-19. Covid Hopeline already in place One diocese that is already providing assistance to those struggling with anxiety and depression in these uncertain times is the Diocese of Kaloohan in Metro Manila which has set up a phone in counseling service known as Covid Hopeline. During the months of lockdown in the Philippines, the National Centre for Mental Health reported a significant increase in the number of people experiencing mental health issues as a result of the pandemic. OTTAWA - The growing level of anxiety experienced by parents and teachers over reopening schools during a global pandemic have reached the ears of highest level of government shortly before children head back to the classrooms. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau removes a cloth mask as he approaches the podium during an announcement at a factory in Brockville, Ont., Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - The growing level of anxiety experienced by parents and teachers over reopening schools during a global pandemic have reached the ears of highest level of government shortly before children head back to the classrooms. The federal government will provide up to $2 billion in additional funding to help provinces and territories prepare for a safe return of children to classes this fall, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. That is on top of $19 billion already promised to help them cope with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their economies and health-care systems. Education is not a federal responsibility and provinces are responsible for their own school reopening plans, Trudeau said, but he wanted to calm parents' fears by ensuring the provinces have additional resources to make schools safe. "Over the past week or so I've heard from so many Liberal MPs, so many parents across the country who are still extremely worried about how that reopening is going to go," Trudeau said at a news conference held in a Toronto school. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with parent Joann Luong before making an announcement at Yorkwoods Public School, in Toronto, Ont., on Wednesday, Aug., 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov "We've seen the provinces put forward plans for that reopening and they are confident that they are doing what is necessary, but parents were still concerned. So we said, 'Let's give the provinces even more resources to be able to do everything that is necessary to keep our kids safe.'" The money will flow through a new fund set up specifically for school reopenings. Trudeau informed premiers of the new funding during a conference call Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, he said provinces and territories will have flexibility to spend the money as they see fit to bolster their efforts to ensure schools can reopen this fall as safely as possible. "This money coming in to be able to top up the plans that the premiers have set forward is going to be something that will give people confidence, not just in the safety of their kids, but in their ability to get back to work and our economy to get going once again," he said. Schools have been shut down across the country since the novel coronavirus started sweeping across Canada in mid-March. Most provinces and territories have announced specific plans on reopening, with some moving to a full, regular return to classes, and others trying staggered start and end times and lower class sizes to help with physical distancing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement at Yorkwoods Public School, in Toronto, Ont., on Wednesday, Aug., 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he heard premiers voicing concerns about Ottawa stepping on provincial toes with this funding, but that he tried relay to his counterparts his belief that the money is being offered in good faith. "The prime minister, when he spoke to me on Friday, the first thing that came out of his mouth was, 'Doug, I understand this isn't my jurisdiction, but I just want to help.' And we're grateful for that and I want to thank the prime minister for that," Ford said. The money will come in two instalments the first this fall and more available early next year to ensure support for the whole school year. Each province and territory will receive a $2 million base amount, with the rest allocated according to the number of children between the ages of four and 18. The federal government is also providing an additional $112 million to help schools in First Nations communities, where core funding for schools is a federal responsibility. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said the money is earmarked for the safe reopening of schools, but local communities will have "wide flexibility" to respond to individual needs. "As we've done with most of our funding allotments to ensure that we're deferring to local decision-making and that's a very important aspect of it, because it's a cornerstone of self-determination in education parents want to see that their kids are well served," Miller told The Canadian Press in an interview Wednesday. Nishnawbe Aski Nation raised concerns last week about a lack of funding to help First Nations schools protect against COVID-19, accusing the federal government of ignoring its urgent requests for supplies and aid for its northern Ontario communities. Acting Ontario Regional Chief Alvin Fiddler said Wednesday the new funding commitment is welcome, but the delay in addressing the organization's requests has been "very distressing to leadership across the region." Fiddler is also the grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. "We require immediate information on the proposed distribution of funds by the federal government," he added. The organization had asked for $33 million. 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. Miller said the federal government was working quickly to secure this funding and that there was never a question that First Nations would receive money to keep students and teachers safe. "I think trust has been an important theme throughout this to ensure that communities don't feel like they were being left behind. So I'm glad that we are public about this and are stepping up to support First Nations on reserve." NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he believes federal money given to the provinces for schools should come with explicit plans to address school safety, including mandating smaller class sizes. "We need to make sure that money is actually going toward making schools safer and that there's a plan in place," he said. Singh also says Ottawa must address a pressing need for child-care spaces with funding of up to $10 billion over four years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26. 2020. Donald Trump proposed Wednesday that he and Joe Biden take drug tests before the presidential debate as he insinuated the Democratic nominee boosted his final primary debate by taking drugs while the president insisted he only takes 'an aspirin a day.' 'Nobody thought that he was even going to win,' Trump said of the final debate of the primary race in March, which was between Biden and remaining contender Senator Bernie Sanders. 'Because his debate performances were so bad,' Trump continued in an interview with the Washington Examiner. 'Frankly, his best performance was against Bernie.' 'We're going to call for a drug test, by the way, because his best performance was against Bernie,' the president demanded. 'It wasn't that he was Winston Churchill because he wasn't, but it was a normal, boring debate. You know, nothing amazing happened. And we are going to call for a drug test because there's no way you can't do that.' Biden took part in 11 debates during the primary season plans for the 12th debate were never finalized as coronavirus ravaged the nation. President Donald Trump demanded that he and Joe Biden be administered drug tests before the presidential debates Trump insinuated the Biden used drugs to enhance his performance at the final Democratic primary debate against Bernie Sanders in March, which Trump claims was his best debate by far 'Nobody thought that he was even going to win,' Trump said of the final debate. 'We're going to call for a drug test, by the way, because his best performance was against Bernie' While most of the majority of the debate stages were busy with a large field of candidates and in front of a large crowd, the final one on March 15 was just Biden and Sanders and there was no crowd or excessive press permitted to attend. The first general election debate between the former vice president and Trump is scheduled to be held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio on September 29. It appears Trump is aware it's unlikely the drug test will become a reality. 'I think it's appropriate,' Trump said. 'I don't know that they'll let me do it, but I think that they should do it.' Trump claims there is a big difference with Biden's performance between the last debate and those prior. 'I don't know how he could have been so incompetent in his debate performances and then all of a sudden be OK against Bernie,' the president said in the Oval Office interview. 'My point is, if you go back and watch some of those numerous debates, he was so bad. He wasn't even coherent. And against Bernie, he was,' he continued. 'And we're calling for a drug test.' 'Go back and watch his performances in some of those debates,' Trump continued in his rant. 'He didn't know where he was. And all of a sudden, he was not good, he was normal, and I don't understand how. I don't know if there is or not, but somebody said to me, 'He must be on drugs.' I don't know if that's true or not, but I'm asking for a drug test. Both candidates. Me, too. I take an aspirin a day.' The president's claims that Biden artificially enhanced his performance through use of drugs are entirely based on observation and cannot be substantiated through any proof. 'All I can tell you is that I'm pretty good at this stuff,' Trump insisted. 'I look. I watched him in the debates with all of the different people. He was close to incompetent, if not incompetent, and against Bernie, he was normal.' 'How does that happen?' he questioned. Joe Biden and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris (right) accepted on Thursday the Democratic nominee to appear on the ticket to take on Trump in November This is not the first time Trump has accused his competitors of being on drugs. He claimed in October 2016, after the second presidential debate, that Hillary Clinton did better because she had taken drugs. 'I think we should take a drug test prior to the debate. We should take a drug test prior because I don't know what's going on with her,' Trump said at the time and no drug tests were administered during those debates. Other than accusations of drug use, Trump is also not happy with the date of the first debate. He claims the first presidential debate should be moved to earlier in September in light of mass mail-in voting, claiming that millions of Americans will have cast their ballots before getting to see him spar with Biden. North Carolina will begin casting mail-in ballots on September 4, nearly three-and-a-half weeks before the first debate of this cycle. US defeat at UNSC showed Iran's diplomatic power: Rouhani Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 4:06 PM President Hassan Rouhani says America's failure in its attempts to make the UN Security Council (UNSC) extend the arms embargo against Tehran was a political success that displayed the power of Iran's diplomacy. "We are capable of standing up to the US at the United Nations, confront it, and achieve success," Rouhani said at a meeting with Iranian media managers on Tuesday. He said the US failed to get the UNSC to approve its anti-Iran resolution despite all the propaganda it has been spreading against the Islamic Republic's defense program over the past decades. The US, he said, has been claiming over the past 42 years that Iran's weapons do not serve the interests of regional countries and thus proposed the resolution in the hope of extending the UN arms embargo against Tehran. "The fact that they got only one vote except that of their own means Iran's success and is [a sign of] its power of diplomacy," the Iranian president said. Rouhani said the US has imposed crippling sanctions on Iran over the past two years with the aim of creating chaos and toppling the Islamic establishment, but to no avail. He highlighted his administration's efforts towards bolstering the country's might and capabilities in various fields, including economic, political and defense sectors. The United Nations Security Council on August 14 unanimously rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October in line with a landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), that Iran clinched with six world powers in 2015. The resolution needed support from nine of 15 votes to pass. Eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain, while the US and the Dominican Republic were the only "yes" votes. US maximum pressure policy failed 100% The Iranian president also said that Washington's so-called maximum pressure policy has completely failed, adding, "The [US] pressure aimed to force Iran to the negotiating table from a position of weakness." "The Americans suffered a definitive defeat in their [policy] of maximum sanctions," he said. "The US sought to act against the JCPOA and imagined that Europe and others would follow its lead, but no one accepted." "Today, whenever there is talk of the JCPOA at the United Nations or other international circles, others, with the exception of only one or two countries which are among the US stooges, do not support America," the Iranian president said. He emphasized that if the US wants an agreement with Iran, it must first come back to the JCPOA that Washington abandoned two years ago. "If an agreement means returning to the JCPOA, this agreement can be reached even today," Rouhani said. US President Donald Trump, a stern critic of the historic deal, unilaterally pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018, and unleashed the "toughest ever" sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 14:36:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday highlighted the Rohingya refugee crisis on the third anniversary of the mass exodus from Myanmar to Bangladesh. The secretary-general renewed his call to bring greater urgency to this crisis by addressing the root causes of the conflict and creating the conditions for the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of all refugees, according to Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman. The ultimate responsibility rests with Myanmar authorities. Beyond solutions for the immediate humanitarian suffering, accountability is an imperative for long-term reconciliation, said the spokesman said in a statement. The United Nations will continue to stand in solidarity with all those affected by the crisis, and is committed to working with all stakeholders, including regional actors, toward a future of sustainable development, human rights and peace in Rakhine State and all of Myanmar, it said. According to UN figures, more than 740,000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar's Rakhine State to Bangladesh since August 2017, escaping violence in Myanmar and joining earlier Myanmar refugees already displaced by previous cycles of violence. Enditem Mumbai, Aug 26 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has extended till September 24 the enforcement of regulatory measures aimed to contain market volatility amid the coronavirus pandemic. The measures, first introduced in March, include limits on positions that can be taken up by investors in the futures and options (F&O) segment. "On review of the COVID-19 pandemic-related situation, it has been decided that the regulatory measures introduced vide SEBI press release dated March 20 shall continue to be in force till September 24, 2020," a SEBI statement said on Wednesday. The March 20 circular said that for stocks in the F&O segment meeting the criterion of 'average daily price high low' variation percentage (during the last 5 trading days) at more than or equal to 15 per cent, the market wide position limit (MWPL) may be revised to 50 per cent of the existing levels. Furthermore, the regulator also set certain conditions under which mutual funds or foreign investors can place bets on the index futures. The market regulator also mandated that short positions in index derivatives shall not exceed the holding of stocks by Mutual Funds/FPIs/Trading Members/Clients. Similarly, long positions in index derivatives shall not exceed the holding of cash, government securities, T-Bills and similar instruments by Mutual Funds/FPIs, as per the measures announced in March. In letters and a journal, Michael wrote about what it meant to him to fight fires. When I had got up to the front the flames were high and hot. I could feel myself growing stronger instantly. . . . Sometimes I was 3 to 4 feet from the fire and at other times I was two feet away. As I worked I could feel my arms and shoulders become heavy as mortar stones. But that only fueled me. He took pride in being given one of the toughest jobs on the crew: Some underestimate the work of using a saw during a fire which is why many dont last on the saw. To use the saw takes strength, determination, and heart. It is a very grueling task and probably the most important one. Whereas for most of his time in prison, Michael saw a hill of years to climb, in 2003, he wrote, Time is flying by so fast I can hardly keep up with the days. If you love seafood but the documentary Seaspiracy and seafood fraud have you worried, there may be a solution: seafood that is actually sustainable. These foods come from the sea but are caught and processed in ways that either dont harm or help regenerate fragile ecosystems. Some even help in the fight against the climate crisis. Just in time for World Oceans Day on June 8, three companies are using transparency, technology and traceability to innovate the seafood space. Whether youre enjoying a kelp burger, a piece of ahi tuna jerky or a fresh lobster tail that you can follow from the fisher to the table, these entrepreneurs are producing seafood to ensure that oceans remain healthy and productive. 1. KnowSeafood: Using blockchain to trace quality seafood KnowSeafood is an online seafood market touting high-quality, sustainable and natural seafood. The idea is that your seafood has a story, the company motto notes, and KnowSeafood wants you to know it even before you purchase anything. Consumers can track the entire history of a seafood product, including a timeline and map, on KnowSeafoods website or on cellphones. Its possible to learn when and where the product was caught, by who, what methods were used, when it was frozen and when it will be delivered. Harvesters are required to upload catch information, which becomes the first block of information in the blockchain. According to Investopedia, blockchains are irreversible datasets that are readily available to view and establish an exact and transparent order of events. At each processing step, the complete and chronological block of information about how the product has been handled is attached to the chain that follows the fish. The 100 percent traceability and transparency brings trust to the seafood chain, KnowSeafood Co-Founder Dan McQuade told EcoWatch. By only partnering with trusted, sustainable harvesters and tracing products from them directly to consumers, KnowSeafood has virtually eliminated much of the fraud and abuse that plagues the seafood industry, a company representative said. Ive worked in the seafood industry for decades and know exactly what happens when seafood goes through too many middlemen, McQuade said. Thats where additives, antibodies, rampant seafood fraud, unsustainable fishing and safety problems happen. Blockchain traceability technology and transparency are available for everything KnowSeafood offers, including New England lobsters that are sorted to avoid reproductive and egg-bearing lobsters; hand-harvested Peruvian bay scallops; and aurora salmon farmed and fed an entirely plant-based diet of corn husk and kelp, McQuade shared. The companys newest venture is the worlds first farmed, entirely plant-based fed, non-GMO shrimp from Ecuador. More information is available at KnowSeafood.com. 2. Akua: Using regenerative ocean farming to create kelp burgers and jerky Akua has introduced sustainable kelp burgers. Akua Sustainable seafood is sourcing food from the sea that leaves the oceans more or less as they were found, resulting in zero impact. Given the state of our oceans, sustainability isnt enough right now, Akua Co-Founder and CEO Courtney Boyd Myers told EcoWatch. Thats why her company focuses on ocean farming kelp. Boyd Myers explained how kelp grows via photosynthesis, without the need for freshwater, land, fertilizer or feed. The algae farming process sequesters carbon and nitrogen from the water, much like plants on land do. According to Akua, this helps to reduce local ocean acidification, which also helps lower rising ocean temperatures, increase biodiversity and support other marine life. This process is much more than sustainable its a regenerative practice that leaves the oceans and planet healthier, Boyd Myers said. In the first six months before official launch, Akua sold 22,000 kelp burgers and another 10,000 during its May 20 launch week. According to New York Times Food, the burgers are best served off a hot griddle. 2021 is definitely the summer of the kelp burger, Boyd Myers added. Were seeing a big shift in all forms of agriculture from sustainable to regenerative because its hugely important that we leave the planet better than it is right now for future generations. We cant just stop, we have to reverse. We need to grow food in a way that is healing and not just sustaining. More information is available at Akua.co. 3. Pescavore: Using local, minimally harmful fishing methods to create ahi tuna jerky Wild-caught tuna promotes responsible tuna fisheries management. Healthy Oceans Seafood Company According to Healthy Oceans Seafood Company CEO and Co-Founder Matthew Owens, the company that owns Pescavore, the brand focuses on innovative fishing technology, local and traceable fisheries and sustainable packaging. For example, the brands ahi tuna jerky is a single-serve, wild-caught product that promotes responsible tuna fisheries management. Owens was frustrated that more than 90 percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, despite having the worlds second-largest exclusive economic zone (which grants jurisdiction over natural resources) and access to locally harvested and sustainable seafood. In addition to a large carbon footprint, an over-reliance on imports creates traceability challenges and thus increases the risk of illegal, unreported and unregulated fish entering the market, Owens told EcoWatch. Thats why all of Pescavores tuna is landed in Los Angeles and made in the U.S. The focus on local catches also returns economic value to domestic coastal communities, which is critical in the post-pandemic economy, Owens added. Pescavore only sources from healthy and abundant fish populations, such as free school yellowfin tuna caught in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and avoids overfished and sensitive species. We source tuna that is unassociated with dolphins or fish aggregating devices, and caught without longlines, Owens shared. The selective fishing methods also create less carbon footprint than pole and line fishing and with almost zero bycatch of dolphins, sea turtles and other sensitive species, he added. Pescavore snacks are shelf-stable for up to 18 months, while innovative pouch packaging saves 96 percent of space compared to caned tuna storage. This further reduces the products carbon footprint. One truckload of our packaging has the capacity of 28 truckloads of tin cans, Owens said. The pouches are made in part from recycled material and are recyclable after use in Europe and hopefully, with improved systems, will also soon be recyclable in the USA. More information is available at https://pescavoreseafood.com. The United States on Wednesday announced it has placed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies and individuals within those companies for their part in constructing Chinas artificial islands in the South China Sea. The action is likely to exacerbate tensions between the two world powers. It follows the U.S. declaration last month that Chinas claims to nearly the entirety of the South China Sea on the basis of historic rights is unlawful. Washington has also accused Beijing of bullying other claimants. Some 24 companies were placed on the U.S. Commerce Departments Entity List, which restricts exports to businesses abroad due to their activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, effectively killing any ability for American businesses to trade or interact with them. The State Department simultaneously placed visa restrictions on individuals within some of those companies, barring them from traveling to the U.S. The stated reason for their sanctioning is the companies role in Chinas extensive dredging campaign in the South China Sea from 2014 to 2017, which saw China build massive artificial islands and military bases among the Spratly and Paracel archipelagoes to strengthen its claim to disputed waters and support the activities of its military, the Peoples Liberation Army. China is currently holding military exercises around one of features, Woody Island. The United States, Chinas neighbors, and the international community have rebuked the CCPs sovereignty claims to the South China Sea and have condemned the building of artificial islands for the Chinese military, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. The entities designated today have played a significant role in Chinas provocative construction of these artificial islands and must be held accountable, Ross said. There was no immediate reaction from Beijing on the sanctions from Washington, which it often accuses of destabilizing the region through its military and other activities. The companies sanctioned include multiple subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a massive state-owned infrastructure-building conglomerate that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell called out by name last month for its direct role in dredging sand to build up Chinas outposts. Close-up photo of Chinese dredging vessels operating around Mischief Reef in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly Islands in a U.S. Navy handout photo. Credit: Reuters Destabilizing the region, harming the environment Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated this charge in a statement announcing the sanctions on Wednesday, as well as accusing the Peoples Republic of China, as the country is formally known, of destroying the marine environment in parts of the South China Sea in its base-building efforts. Since 2013, the PRC has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation, he said. The PRC must not be allowed to use CCCC and other state-owned enterprises as weapons to impose an expansionist agenda. The United States will act until we see Beijing discontinue its coercive behavior in the South China Sea, and we will continue to stand with allies and partners in resisting this destabilizing activity. Other companies named are Shanghai Cable Offshore Engineering Company, and four subsidiaries of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC). The former installs submarine cables and other communications equipment between Chinas occupied features in the South China Sea, while CETC is another behemoth state-owned enterprise, also in telecommunications, that frequently does work for the Peoples Liberation Army through its research arms, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. For this reason, some of its subsidiaries and research institutes were already under sanctions." The U.S. has strongly suggested in the past it is also preparing sanctions on companies not named in this most recent list, such as the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC. CNOOC has played a direct role in pushing Chinas claims in the South China Sea, most prominently by operating the Hai Yang Shi You 981 movable oil rig that kickstarted a tense and dangerous standoff between Vietnam and China in 2014. However, this current list appears to be aimed only at companies involved in the construction of Chinas bases in the South China Sea. Chinas sweeping claims in the South China Sea conflict with the maritime borders of six other Asian governments. A Permanent Court of Arbitration decided in 2016 that Chinas claims held no basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and other countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia have urged China to adhere to that ruling. At the 17th Viet-Nam India Joint Commission meeting held Tuesday, Vietnam and India both underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation as well as peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and called on parties to respect the rulings issued by the dispute settlement mechanisms under the UNCLOS, alluding to the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration award. Vietnam refers to the South China Sea as the East Sea. Petoskey, Kalkaska duo set to release new album Northern Michigan band John Piatek & Friends are set to release their second album right on the heels of their debut release just some six months ago. Mandy Odom and her two sons "We miss him, and we will continue to take care of his wife and three kids in any way that we can. We take care of our own. - Sam Boak Boak & Sons, Inc. is a residential and commercial exterior contracting company in Youngstown, Ohio with a strong reputation in community outreach. Founder and President, Sam Boak, prioritizes the community and believes in giving back. He also believes in treating all of his employees like family, and when one of those family members passed away suddenly of a heart attack, Sam Boak made continuous efforts to support the family he left behind. Mark Odom, or Odie, was a roofing department employee at Boak & Sons for over 20 years. He started with the company when he was only 18 years old, and quickly became a star employee. He worked his way up to a foreman position with the company and was nicknamed Superman for his obsession with the character as well as his super-power-like effort and attitude on the job. Odie was one of the best employees to ever join our team, said Sam Boak. Everyone wanted him on their crew. He made people laugh, he worked his butt off and he never hesitated to help someone whether it was during work hours or on his own time. When he passed, it put a hole in this family that will never be filled. When you see a young man grow into a leader like Odie; thats just not something you see every day. We miss him, and we will continue to take care of his wife and three kids in any way that we can. We take care of our own. Marks widow, Mandy and her three children are still local to the Youngstown area. When Mandy reached out to Boak & Sons about needing some siding work done on her home, Sam Boak knew it would be a meaningful project. Not only did Boak & Sons replace her siding, but they also replaced her gutters and the crew even volunteered their own time to replace the wood landing and stairs on her front stoop. As a surprise to Mandy, Sam Boak did the entire project completely free of charge. I cannot thank Sam and the rest of the people at Boak & Sons enough for what theyve done for my family, said Mandy Odom. Mark had such a heart of gold, and he truly loved this company. He had so many close friends that were coworkers, and I dont know what I wouldve done without them after he passed. They kept us going. This project was above and beyond my expectations and Ill be forever grateful for Sam and everyone at Boak & Sons. Odie was constantly telling everyone how proud he was of his children and his family, and that was definitely reciprocated by his children. Sam Boak says that Mark, Mandy and their children will forever be a part of the Boak & Sons family. To learn more about Sam Boak or Boak & Sons, visit http://www.boakandsons.com. # # # About Boak & Sons: Boak & Sons, Inc. was founded by Sam Boak in 1974 as an insulation contractor. With the high energy costs of the 70's, Boak & Sons expanded early on into the roofing business. They offered economical roof installations through cutting edge technology and equipment, allowing customers to recoup even more in energy savings. Today, Boak & Sons is a residential and commercial contractor for roofing, insulation, sheet metal, siding, and gutters. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, the company serves customers in surrounding areas from Cleveland, Akron, and Canton to Cranberry and Pittsburgh. For more information on Boak & Sons, visit their website at: https://www.boakandsons.com/ - Attendance of students in schools in Cape Coast in the Central region has seen a massive boost - This happened barely 48 hours after President Akufo-Addo's directive for staff and students to be fed one hot meal - School authorities are particularly excited because all their truant students are showing up after frantic efforts to get them to school Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Attendance of students in schools in Cape Coast in the Central region has seen a massive boost barely 48 hours of President Akufo-Addo's directive for staff and students to be fed one hot meal According to a report filed by the Ghana News Agency, at some selected schools students lackadaisical attitude, had changed, and the students appeared more confident and determined to succeed. School authorities at Bakatsir JHS described the directive as very good since three of their most truant students have effortlessly shown up at school these past days. Government's free hot meals increases attendance in Cape Coast schools Source: Facebook (NPP Bureau Projects) Source: Original READ ALSO: Students of St. Cyprian's Anglican JHS 'A' reject hot meal; say the food is not sweet "All the 22 final year students are here including some three truant students who have refused to be in school after all persuasion. The children are happy and I am happy as well," a teacher said. Head Teacher of St. Augustine's JHS, Madam Gladys Ama Cromwell, also said some students went home to inform their truant colleagues about the intervention and for once, all my students were present. A student of the Jacob Wilson Sey JHS, who seemed really content with his meal, said it feels good to be a JHS student at this time as they get to enjoy free meals. READ ALSO: About 600 soldiers storm town where 2 officers were attacked; residents vanish into thin air Meanwhile, students of St. Cyprian's Anglican JHS 'A' in Kumasi today, rejected President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's free hot meal served them. According to the students the food that was served them not tasty and was salty as well. In a report filed by Class News, the students were reported saying they were not prisoners to be served such a meal. READ ALSO: 4 more for Nana: Students chant as they receive free lunch in new video Thousands line up in Takoradi to welcome President Akufo-Addo | #Yencomgh Got a story you think we should know about? Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh KENOSHA, Wis. - Authorities on Wednesday said a 17-year-old had been charged with homicide after two people were killed and another seriously wounded by gunfire amid a chaotic night of demonstrations and destruction in Kenosha unleashed by the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake. Police in Antioch, Ill., about 20 miles southwest of Kenosha, said they had arrested Kyle Rittenhouse in the killings. The Antioch resident was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Wisconsin, authorities said, but they did not specify whether he was being charged in one fatal shooting or both. The shooting came as self-declared militia members and armed counterprotesters have appeared in the city, which is reeling from days of unrest. Authorities have not said whether Rittenhouse is a member of any of the groups. His social media feeds contained messages supporting the police and photos of himself with assault rifles. He had been a member of cadet programs for local police and fire departments, according to department newsletters and statements. This lakeside Wisconsin city became the latest locus of anger over police brutality after Blake, a father of five, was shot by police on Sunday, a recorded incident that quickly went viral and prompted a nationwide outcry. The Wisconsin Department of Justice said Kenosha police were attempting to arrest Blake when Rusten Sheskey, a seven-year veteran of the department, fired his weapon seven times into the Black man's back, the first time officials had identified the officer who shot him. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down, and it has become a flash point in the presidential campaign. On Wednesday, it also touched the world of professional sports, with the Milwaukee Bucks - normally playing basketball less than an hour from Kenosha - declining to take the court for a scheduled playoff game in protest of police violence. Baseball and women's basketball games were also postponed as players said they would boycott. 5 1 of 5 Photo for The Washington Post by Joshua Lott Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Photo for The Washington Post by Joshua Lott Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Photo for The Washington Post by Joshua Lott Show More Show Less 5 of 5 The streets of Kenosha have been filled with peaceful mass demonstrations in recent days, but also damaging riots by night in which businesses have been looted and burned. Armed civilians - many wielding AR-15-style rifles - took position near stores and businesses saying they intended to fill a vacuum left by a law enforcement. Some had stood near the gas station where Tuesday night's shooting began with a confrontation just before midnight. Cellphone video from before Tuesday night's shooting showed police officers thanking armed civilians for being on the streets after curfew and handing them bottles of water. Officials said Wednesday that they could not comment in detail on the video. A complaint filed in Lake County, Ill., by the Antioch police described Rittenhouse as a fugitive, saying that he had been charged with homicide in Wisconsin and fled "with the intent to avoid prosecution for that offense." According to minutes from a hearing on Wednesday, he was held without bond and a hearing on Friday will address his potential extradition to Wisconsin. Kenosha District Attorney Michael Graveley said Wednesday evening that decisions about charging Rittenhouse would be finalized on Thursday. Authorities did not release the names of the shooting victims, but Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, expressed his condolences. "My heart breaks for the families and loved ones of the two individuals who lost their lives and the individual who was injured last night in Kenosha," Evers said in a statement. "We as a state are mourning this tragedy." News of the arrest came as Kenosha was bracing for a potential fourth night of violence and unrest on Wednesday. Evers, the governor, had declared an emergency Tuesday, and authorities made it harder for people to enter Kenosha, with seven consecutive exit ramps closed on Interstate 94 and the city's sprawling outlet mall boarded up. But in downtown Kenosha on Tuesday night, the only visible law enforcement presence was around the Kenosha County Courthouse, where an eight-foot-high fence was erected around the building, with about 1,000 protesters gathered outside the barrier. After some protesters began vigorously shaking the fence and setting off fireworks aimed at officers on the other side, Kenosha County police officers atop the courthouse shot tear gas pellets and rubber bullets into the crowd. Around 9:20 p.m., a military vehicle entered the park, dispersing more tear gas. Protesters shot fireworks, both on the ground and into the courthouse steps. Authorities pledged a more robust law enforcement response on Wednesday, with local officials conceding that they had been overwhelmed after this modest city of 100,000 became the latest focal point of a national uprising against systemic racism in law enforcement. "In Kenosha we're not accustomed to riots," said Sheriff David Beth, who took responsibility for a delay in requesting National Guard assistance that led to confusion over who was protecting which sites on Monday. Mayor John Antaramian acknowledged they had struggled to respond to the unrest and communicate a clear message, saying "I'm not good at this. ... This isn't what I'm used to." Antaramian said local leaders are learning from their mistakes and asked civilians not to take it upon themselves to police the streets. "I don't need more guns on the streets in this city when we are trying to keep people safe," he said. Self-declared militia members had arrived in town before the gunfire, though Beth said he did not know for sure whether Rittenhouse was part of such a group. The sheriff said he had been approached by members of a militia to deputize citizens with guns to patrol Kenosha, and he pointed to what happened on Tuesday as "probably the perfect reason why I wouldn't" do so. The police shooting of Blake has drawn dramatically different responses from across the American political divide. Three days after the incident, President Donald Trump still had not addressed the shooting directly, though his surrogates at this week's Republican National Convention have repeatedly expressed their support for police officers while trying to link their Democratic rivals to destruction and mayhem. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, meanwhile, has condemned the rioting while signaling solidarity with the demands of protesters for an end to systemic racism in law enforcement. On Wednesday, Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, spoke by phone with members of Blake's family, who have called for calm as Blake remains hospitalized with injuries to his spine and internal organs. "All [Biden] did was offer his support," said Jacob Blake Sr., the 29-year-old's father, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "He was 100 percent real." Authorities have released little information about the Blake shooting, which was captured on video and is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. That pattern continued Wednesday even as local law enforcement faced the news media for the first time since the incident. Daniel Miskinis, the Kenosha police chief, said three officers who were at the scene had been placed on leave during the investigation, but he declined further comment, saying it would be "unfair to everybody involved" to speak about an active investigation. The Wisconsin Department of Justice on Wednesday said that a knife was found in Blake's car after he was shot Sunday.The 29-year-old told investigators after the shooting about the knife he had in his possession, the department said. The agency did not say if any of the officers at the scene saw the knife or knew it was there. "Jacob did nothing to provoke police," attorneys for Blake's family said in a statement. "He was a great father and was only intending to get his children out of a volatile situation. Witnesses confirm that he was not in possession of a knife and didn't threaten officers in any way." The Justice Department on Wednesday said it had opened a federal civil rights probe into Blake's shooting. Miskinis offered little new information about the gunfire on Tuesday night. But he appeared to hold those who were shot Tuesday at least partly responsible, noting they were among those who were out in public despite citywide orders to stay in. "Everybody involved was out after the curfew," he said. "The curfew's in place to protect. Had persons involved not been in violation of that, perhaps the situation that unfolded would not have happened." Evers said Wednesday that he is increasing the Wisconsin National Guard contingent in Kenosha to 500 members. Trump posted on Twitter that he would "be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha," though there were no specifics. The shooting began at the gas station around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, police said. After the first shots, a young White man carrying a rifle began running north on Sheridan Road, away from a crowd of protesters. A Washington Post journalist who observed the scene saw the man with the rifle run by with several protesters in pursuit. He rolled into a sitting position, raised his gun and opened fire at his pursuers. Two people fell to the ground, one shot in the arm and the other in the chest. Carol Badoni from Burlington, Wis., started CPR on one wounded man. "He definitely was not breathing," said Badoni, 50. "His eyes were rolled back in his head. There was no pulse." Badoni added, "I never run toward trouble, but it's worth getting shot for somebody else." Police soon took the wounded man to a hospital. Kenosha police did not immediately identify any of the shooting victims. Immediately after the shooting, video showed a gunman appearing to attempt to surrender - his hands up - but police failing to take him into custody. Officials declined to provide an explanation on Wednesday. The confrontation near the gas station late Tuesday unfolded after police dispersed protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, where demonstrators had been lobbing fireworks at the building and the officers trying to protect it. Police set off tear gas and drove protesters in the direction of the gas station, where they were met by the armed men - members of what police described as vigilante militia groups. One of the armed men near the gas station told The Post he was there to stop people from breaking into local businesses, noting that he had seen comments online about pipe bombs being used. "If the cops aren't going to stop them from throwing pipe bombs on innocent civilians, somebody has to," said a man who declined to give his name. (There is no indication that pipe bombs were part of Tuesday's protest.) Other cities also saw demonstrations Tuesday night with some damage, though none reaching the levels seen in Kenosha. Police in Madison, the Wisconsin capital, reported that they had arrested four people after a march near the Capitol gave way to property damage and some fires. In Portland, Ore., police said a group damaged windows and entered city hall and lit a fire nearby. There were 23 arrests, police said. In Portland and other cities in recent days and weeks, members of far-right, self-declared militias armed with paintball guns, bats and pepper spray, as well as lethal weapons, have battled leftist and Black Lives Matter activists in the name of backing police in their confrontations with protesters. From the start of Tuesday's protests, armed civilians were a prominent presence in Kenosha, with handguns, rifles, knives and military flak jackets. "Ain't nothing being done. We're the only ones," said Joe, 29, who described himself as a Marine Corps veteran and declined to give his last name. He noted that others like him were around Kenosha on Tuesday night, "armed and ready." Another man, brandishing a handgun, said he showed up after a call on Facebook to protect the city. On Wednesday Facebook confirmed that it had taken down an event page from a 3,000-member group calling itself the Kenosha Guard, which had encouraged citizens to take up arms to defend the city. The "Call to Arms" event page was taken down for violating the platform's "dangerous individuals and organizations" policy, Facebook said, which was expanded to include militia groups calling for violence last week. Civil rights groups called Facebook's efforts "tragically late." Facebook said that so far it has not found evidence of Kyle Rittenhouse as a member of the Kenosha Guard militia group. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., said the situation in Kenosha "went from bad to worse" overnight Tuesday and called the National Guard deployment at that point "woefully insufficient." On Wednesday, evidence of Tuesday night's violence could be found in bloodstains on the asphalt where one of the shootings occurred. Nearly every car in a nearby lot had its windows smashed, and at least one had been torched. "I honestly feel like it's going to get worse - the shootings, the violence, the riots," said Kilian Kray, 31, who lives nearby. "The cops shouldn't be the judge, juror and executioner." Another round of destruction began Wednesday night in Minneapolis, where the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, who lost consciousness after pleading for air with his neck under the knee of an officer. Police clashed with scores of protesters, who broke store windows and threw bottles and trash cans at officers along a pedestrian mall downtown after reports that police had shot and killed a Black man suspected in an earlier shooting. Police said the suspect, who was wanted for the fatal shooting of another man in a downtown parking garage Wednesday afternoon, fatally shot himself as officers approached him. A police spokesman said the incident was caught on surveillance video and witnessed by several bystanders. Clips were shown to several local reporters, who said the video confirmed the police account, and police said the footage would be soon released more widely. But at least 100 protesters flooded the streets, questioning the story and clashing with police. "Show us the tapes!" one protester shouted. Officers, including some clad in riot gear, were seen shoving and spraying pepper spray at the crowd. "You started this," one man yelled in return. "Now we're going to burn the city down again." An officer, visibly frustrated, shouted, "It was suicide!" - - - Berman, Peiser and Witte reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Whitney Leaming and Erin Chan Ding in Kenosha contributed to this report. A police officer stands guard in front of a Department of Corrections building after it was set on fire during rioting in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 24, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Trump to Send Federal Forces to Kenosha to Help Quell Riots President Donald Trump says that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has accepted federal assistance to help quell disturbances in Kenosha that have led to two deaths and a large amount of property damage. My team just got off the phone with Governor Evers who agreed to accept federal assistance, Trump wrote in an Aug. 26 tweet. TODAY, I will be sending federal law enforcement and the National Guard to Kenosha, WI to restore LAW and ORDER! Meanwhile, Evers has authorized 500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard to support local Kenosha County law enforcement on Aug. 26, the governors office said. We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets, Trump said earlier, adding that the federal assistance is aimed at restoring law and order. When asked about the federal assistance, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters on Aug. 26, The good people of Kenosha want them here. The apparent turnabout from Evers came after several officials accused the governor of turning down an offer for federal help on Aug. 25. We have National Guard standing by, and if the general for the National Guard needs additional help, were there to do it, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight. But today, that request was denied by the governor. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers awaits to address the virtual Democratic National Convention from Milwaukee, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Melina Mara/Pool/Getty Images) Meadows said the situation in Kenosha, where riots exploded late Aug. 23 after a black man was shot by police after officers responded to calls about a domestic incident, is out of control and it cant be allowed to continue. Lawmakers representing Wisconsin had urged Evers to accept the assistance. The governor should reconsider his refusal to accept [the presidents] offer to send more personnel to restore order, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement on Aug. 26. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) said he asked Trump for assistance and he agreed before Evers rejected the officer. I call on the Governor to accept the Presidents offer, he said around the same time. Trump and Evers spoke by phone, Meadows said, before accusing Democratic governors in various states of ignoring the unrest that has taken hold in cities in recent months. You do not have a First Amendment right to loot and riot, he said. Trump called on Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to accept federal assistance to help quell the continued rioting in Portland, an idea she rebuffed late Aug. 25. Everss office didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. A spokeswoman told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the Trump administration was actually offering help from the Department of Homeland Security. The governor rejected the offer, she said, because he sent 125 more National Guard members to Kenosha after an initial deployment of 125 failed to keep the peace Aug. 25. The governor informed them that we would be increasing Wisconsin National Guard support in Kenosha and therefore would not need federal assistance in response to protests but would welcome additional federal support and resources for our states response to COVID-19, Evers spokeswoman Britt Cudaback said. A protester holds up a phone as he stands in front of law enforcement officers in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Morry Gash/AP Photo) In an Aug. 25 statement, Evers called on people to protest peacefully and safely. Everyone should be able to exercise their fundamental rightwhether a protester or member of the presspeacefully and safely. We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction, he said. Later in the day, the governor signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency because of unrest in Kenosha and other cities. The order states that unfortunately, some individuals have deviated from peaceful protests and engaged in unlawful, harmful, and dangerous activities, including arson, which has endangered the lives of other protesters and bystanders, which cannot be tolerated. The order enables the adjutant general to call to active-duty additional National Guardsmen if deemed necessary to assist local law enforcement and protect buildings and other infrastructure. Wisconsin Adjutant General Paul Knapp told reporters during a briefing that more National Guardsmen from inside the state are on their way to Kenosha. Discussions with other states are underway about potentially sending members to help Wisconsin authorities. No buildings appeared to be set on fire in Kenosha overnight Aug. 25, but two people were fatally shot in another night of chaos. An alleged shooter was arrested in Illinois on Aug. 26. Covid-19 vaccine New Delhi: The Russian government has reached out to India seeking collaboration for manufacturing its Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V and conducting its phase 3 clinical trial here, sources said. According to government sources, the matter was discussed by the national expert group on vaccine administration for Covid-19 in its meeting held on August 22. Advertisement Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V has been developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology along with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). The vaccine has not been tested in phase 3 or larger clinical trials. "The Russian government has reached out to the Indian government seeking collaboration for manufacturing their Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, and conducting its phase 3 trial here, a source in the government said. Advertisement "The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with the Department of Health Research has been asked to lead and look into the matter. Russian government officials have shared some information and data on Sputnik V, while more data related to the safety and efficacy of the vaccine is awaited," the source said. Covid-19 vaccine When asked if the Russian government has placed any formal request for the manufacture of its Covid-19 vaccine in India, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference, "As far as Sputnik V vaccine is concerned, both India and Russia are in communication. Some initial information has been shared while some detailed information is awaited." Advertisement Pune-based Serum Institute of India, which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine candidate, has also started the process of conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the candidate in India. Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 25 August 2020. PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 25 August 2020 was 38.62 USD 29.38 GBP and year-to-date performance was 44.1%. Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft). Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal. 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/20200826005751/en/ Contacts: Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk GREENWICH After a two-month delay, the popular book sale at Byram Shubert Library will return Friday and Saturday with new safety guidelines in place due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. We love to stay in the public eye, said Judy Crystal, a member of the Friends of Byram Shubert Library, which organizes and runs the Outdoor Book and Media Sale Bonanza. We want people to come here and be a part of our community, Crystal said. Even during the virus, were still here, and we want people to be able to come safely out of their homes to come and enjoy the sale. The book sale is usually held every spring and fall, but the group postponed its planned June sale due to COVID-19. The bonanza will be a bit smaller this year. Typically, the sale is held inside St. Paul Lutheran Church and in the parking lot. But the entire sale will be outdoors this summer, because it is not possible to do it safely indoors, Crystal said. And it will last only two days instead of the usual three. There will still be plenty of items available for sale, including 25,000 volumes of books as well as thousands of CDs, DVDs and audiobooks, according to organizers. The items are collected from donations throughout the year. The library receives funding from the town. But the Friends of Byram Shubert Library uses the money raised by the sale to support the librarys community programs. The funding is vital, Crystal said. This (sale) is not something we do casually. Its a huge effort by our volunteers, and its what allows us to have such wonderful services for the community. The Friends offer nearly 80 programs a year at the Byram Shubert Library. Many of the programs have been offered virtually since the pandemic, including crafts, classic film screenings, after-school activities, yoga and tai chi. Patrons of the book sale must wear masks at all times and must follow social distancing guidelines. According to the Friends of the Byram Shubert Library, anyone who removes their mask will be immediately asked to leave. The sale will be open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, with an admission price of $20 for book fans who want first choice of the merchandise. Shoppers can fill a box with books and media items for $60. It will be open again from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday with no entry fee. A box filled with items will cost $20. The church is located at 55 William St. For more information, call the Byram Shubert Library at 203-531-0426. Crystal said the Friends hope it will be possible to hold an indoor and outdoor sale in November. And the group is planning to bring the sale back in full in June 2021. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com DALLAS, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) will webcast its participation in the 2020 Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference at 9:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, September 9. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Hsu will discuss the company's strategies for generating shareholder value. A link to the broadcast and related presentation slides will be provided through the Investors section of Kimberly-Clark's website at www.kimberly-clark.com/investors. About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 148-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com. [KMB-F] https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648588/Kimberly_Clark_RGB_Blue_Logo.jpg SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation Related Links http://kimberly-clark.com Egypts health ministry recorded 206 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total case tally nationwide to 97,825 cases since the detection of the first case in February. The ministry bulletin also recorded 19 new deaths, bringing the total fatalities from the virus to 5,317. A total of 996 patients have been discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries so far to 68,713. Egypt has recently witnessed a slight increase in the daily tally of coronavirus cases since the weekend. Saturday saw the lowest daily toll in four months with only 89 cases. There were 103 cases on Sunday, 138 cases on Monday, and 141 new cases on Tuesday. In a separate statement released on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called on people to exercise caution to prevent a second wave of the pandemic, adding that Egypt will maintain the existing preventive measures against the disease, particularly with the advent of autumn. "The noticeable increase in the number of infections recently prompts us to [exercise] caution, and to maintain the strict precautionary measures and penalties for violators to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus and avoid an increase in the curve of infections and deaths as has happened in some countries," the statement quoted Madbouly as saying during the cabinet's weekly meeting. During the same meeting, Health Minister Hala Zayed demanded public and state institutions maintain strict precautions to prevent a second wave, which she said may force the state to reinstate tough measures to ensure people's commitment to the precautions. "The occurrence of a second wave is associated with a false sense of safety among people that the epidemic is over," the minister added. The prime minister said earlier this month that, starting 1 September, Egypt will require all travellers arriving to the country to present a negative PCR test result due to increasing infections in some countries. We are keen on ensuring the health of those arriving in the country and of Egyptian citizens; therefore, we agreed that any traveller arriving in the country should be tested, he said. Egypt began a gradual resumption of regular international flights on 1 July, having shut its airspace in March in the wake of the pandemic. Search Keywords: Short link: A clear and metastasizing disdain for law, order, and reason is growing unchecked in parts of our country. We are seeing what happens to a society without order or trust. Mob rule, lawlessness, and distrust are taking root. Burrowing surreptitiously, at first, into the national conversations over race, radicals have revealed themselves as interested not in racial justice but in revolution. They seek changes that are as revolutionary as they are dangerous. As Wisconsin seems to be the epicenter of so much these days, its experiences are telling and alarming. The recent riots in Kenosha have been frightening. In response to the police shooting of a black man, rioters set 34 fires, destroyed 30 businesses, burned American flags, and wreaked havoc with the police. Early reports suggest that vigilantes have opposed them with force. At a recent protest in Madison, an organizer declared: This is not a peaceful protest, so if you came out here for a peaceful protest, you missed it. Police reports immediately after the first round of riots in Madison indicate that over 75 stores were damaged or looted. One store saw looters steal 90 percent of its inventory. In response to events in Kenosha, rioters in Madison smashed windows at the state capitol, the courthouse, and (once again) businesses up and down the street. Looting and rioting have stained many of our great cities. Seattle even endured a so-called autonomous zone for nearly a month in which rioters, unchecked by any legitimate government authority, invaded, annexed, and controlled portions of the city. They even hung a banner on the police station that read: THIS SPACE IS NOW PROPERTY OF THE SEATTLE PEOPLE (as though it had previously belonged to some other people). Shamefully, too many of our elected leaders have refused to oppose or even strongly criticize this lawlessness. Seattles mayor called the Antifa riots a block party instead of what they truly are an armed rebellion. Portland mayor Ted Wheeler was a pathetic prop for radical rioters until they (ironically) deemed him a fascist and heaped trash at him. When he could be bothered to discuss it, Wisconsins attorney general simply remarked last May that looting is destructive of property, of businesses that people have spent years building, and of public safety, before he bemoaned that the looters have, unfortunately, diverted some of the public discourse away from where it belongs. Story continues Some leaders have been quick to blame law enforcement even as they turn a blind eye to lawlessness. Before all the facts even came out from the Kenosha shooting, Wisconsins Democratic governor issued a press release stating: While we do not have all the details yet, what we know for certain is he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or in our country . . . we stand against excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with Black Wisconsinites. The governor tossed Wisconsins law enforcement under the bus. But turning a blind eye to lawlessness harms us all. Mob law is no law. During the chaos that inevitably reigns during mob rule, the innocent suffer along with the guilty. Once whipped into a frenzy, mobs rarely exercise sound judgment; they exact their revenge indiscriminately. A mob is just as likely to take out its vengeance on the meek as on those it considers blameworthy. Indeed, minority-owned small businesses have been hit especially hard by the riots in Milwaukee and elsewhere. Perhaps that is why 81 percent of black Americans actually want the police to spend the same or a greater amount of time in their neighborhoods. Whats more, lawless actors radicalize others. Those who are lawless in thought are likely to become lawless in practice after observing unconstrained mob rule. Seeing that the coast is clear, they participate. Pernicious long-term consequences also arise from mob rule. Our institutions require the publics faith. When law-abiding people see their lives endangered, their property destroyed, and their families insulted by those who willfully violate the law without consequence, they lose faith in government and our institutions. They opt out of the system, stop caring, and stop participating. And sometimes they take the law into their own hands with equally troublesome consequences. But perhaps that is what the radicals want. Their ends are revolutionary; their means, outside the law. For the rest of us, there is much work to be done to improve, but a number of actions can help. In the short run, our leaders must unequivocally declare that those who break the law will be held to account. And then they must follow through. No stand-down orders. No refusals to arrest or to prosecute. No half-hearted shame on you tweets. Rioting, looting, destruction of property must not be tolerated. Neither must vigilante justice. Equal justice under law makes no exceptions for political expediency. Leaders also must be rational and even-handed when they speak publicly. They must collect information before rendering judgment against anyone. Were often told that words have consequences and that leaders should be careful with their words. Thats true. Leaders words do have consequences. They can inflame passions and demoralize those who seek to protect us. There are likely to be a number of immediate changes the political parties can implement together. Conservatives and liberals share common ground on many areas of criminal-justice reform; weve seen Democrats and Republicans work together in many states to pass such legislation. Others should pursue it, too. In the process, we may learn a thing or two about other policy changes that would be helpful. On a broader level, we must examine what we teach our youth about America and its values. There are some who would teach that Americas history is evil, corrupt, and infected to the core with racism. Thats wrong. And it leaves the next generation waiting for a reason to riot. Were not perfect. No country is. But we are the freest and most prosperous people in the history of the world. Our governing institutions, our economic system, and our belief in the God-given worth of every individual have created that freedom and that prosperity. Our institutions have made it so that people can seek policy change and better their conditions. We must protect those institutions by cherishing them. We face serious threats as a nation. But we will overcome them. We have before. In 1838, Abraham Lincoln spoke out in his Lyceum Address against accounts of outrages committed by mobs [that] . . . pervaded the country, from New England to Louisiana. He called on the country to revere the law and to choose reason over emotion. His words call out to us again. Our leaders must heed them, return stability, and unite us. More from National Review Hrithik Roshan is inspired by mom Pinky Roshan's fitness at 68, thanks everyone for supporting her Mayor Lucas proposes sweeping changes at Board of Police Commissioners meeting Earlier this summer, Mayor Quinton Lucas announced several measures to implement immediate reform for the Kansas City Police Department. Tuesday saw him offer several key change measures for debate during the August Board of Police Commissioners meeting. Very much like the "local control" push, it's uncertain that the Mayor will have the juice to pass this effort that's. However, here's an enthusiastic endorsement of the legislative attempt.Read more: Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez on Tuesday released data on citizen complaints about city police, and police Mark DiLuzio says it underscores the excellent police department and community policing we have in Bethlehem. Also, providing this breakdown along with the departments annual report and its use of force report to the public helps answer questions about Bethlehem police and police department functions, DiLuzio wrote in the conclusion section of the latest report. These reports have always been available -- they are compiled due to the departments national and state accreditation requirements -- but if someone wanted to look at the data, they had to request it, the chief said. Few people did, he added. Now, DiLuzio is releasing the information though the media so it is more widely read, he said. The statistics provided in this report clearly show low incidents of citizen complaints relative to the large number of police calls handled by the department each year, he said. Tuesdays report comes as officials in Bethlehem, as in other communities nationwide, come to grips with conflicts between law enforcement and people of color that continue to leave people seriously injured, or worse. It also comes as the department, which is Pennsylvanias eighth-largest, is currently going through its accreditation process undertaken every three years. It is the only municipal department in the Lehigh Valley with national accreditation, in place since 2007, DiLuzio said. Since the accreditation process is forward-looking, its important for the department to take complaints seriously because police officers are humans and humans are imperfect and sometimes do make mistakes, he said. Most complaints are filed by people coming to the Center City station and submitting them to a supervisor, DiLuzio said. They are forwarded to the departments Professional Standards Division for review, assignment and investigation, the report says. Often, the investigation is done by the officers supervisors, but complaints of a serious nature -- such as gross misconduct, use of excessive force, death, injury or violations of criminal law -- are probed by supervisors in the Professional Standards Division, the report said. In 2015, for example, the department handled 44,131 911 calls and 155,207 nonemergency calls, the report says. That year there were 38 complaints filed -- with 23 of them involving rude or unprofessional behavior, the report says. Two of those complaints were sustained (it happened), while seven were not sustained (the investigation failed to produce a preponderance of evidence to prove the allegation), 15 were exonerated (it did happen but the officer acted properly within the law) and 14 were unfounded (what was alleged didnt happen). There is a scale for discipline in place from retraining to dismissal for officers who are proven to violate policies of the law, DiLuzio said. Over the five years of the report (2015-19), police made 13,650 arrests and 635 of them involved use of force. There were 16 complaints tied to the arrests and use of force and they were addressed, the report says. More men than women file complaints and Black people file about twice as many complaints as their percentage of the population, but Hispanic people file complaints at about half the percentage of the population, the report says. White people file more complaints than anyone else combined and its at nearly the same percentage as they are represented in the general population. All complaints or allegations of misconduct are taken seriously by the police administration, DiLuzio said in the report. If a complaint is substantiated, that officer faces disciplinary action and retraining to correct what he or she is doing wrong. If the violation is criminal in nature, the district attorneys office is involved in the internal investigation. During my seven-year tenure as chief of police, DiLuzio continued, 11 officers have either resigned or have been discharged or have been arrested for serious misconduct. With body cameras, in-dash cameras, city surveillance cameras and citizen videos, the majority of complaints against officers failed to show that the officer acted or performed contrary to department regulations or state law, DiLuzio said. Many peoples understanding of police policies come from television or social media so a supervisor often can resolve misunderstandings with the people making the complaint by explaining the issue, DiLuzio said. All legitimate complaints filed against a Bethlehem police officer will be investigated and taken seriously, DiLuzio said, promising ongoing transparency going forward. Bethlehem City Council President J. William Reynolds and Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith have spoken out after protests following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minnesota. They challenged Bethlehem police to aim for certain standards -- including some where the department already appeared compliant. Reynolds, who didnt return a phone call on Tuesday seeking comment on the latest report, said in June that its clear there are many people in our community who feel there needs to be an improved level of trust between our community and law enforcement. A seven-question quality control survey in English and Spanish is provided by the department to a number of people who interact with police in a given year. About a third of them are returned and they rate police mostly excellent and professional (76%) or above expectations (14%), the report says. There can be no doubt, that even in todays climate, we can all be very proud of our police department in the city of Bethlehem, DiLuzio concluded. The full report is available below and at bethlehem-pa.gov. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a voluntary subscription. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. The European Union is offering only partial protection to vaccine makers against legal risks from side-effects of their potential COVID-19 shots, European officials said, in a move that is hampering deals and contrasts with U.S. policy. With vaccines being developed at record speed during the pandemic, there is potentially a greater risk they may have unexpected consequences or may not be effective. The financial coverage of these liabilities is a key feature of drugmakers talks with governments keen to secure vaccine shots in advance. In these extraordinary circumstances, EU governments are ready to financially cover certain of the companies risks, an EU official told Reuters. The official added, however, that the EUs strict rules on liability remain in place. AstraZeneca Gets Protection from Future Product Liability Claims for COVID Vaccine Lawyers Urge Use of Vaccine Court Over U.S. Injury Compensation Fund for Coronavirus Drugmakers Shielded from COVID Vaccine Liability But Funds for Injury Claims in Doubt These rules consider vaccine makers and other manufacturers liable for their products on sale in the EU, apart from rare cases when, for instance, they did not put them into circulation. The EUs top court increased the burden on drugmakers in 2017 when it ruled vaccine users were entitled to compensation if they could prove a shot caused a negative side-effect, even when there was no scientific consensus on the matter. Reducing the legal burden for vaccine makers has been an EU priority during the pandemic because it is considered crucial to convincing drugmakers to invest in risky vaccines, an EU internal document dated May 7 and seen by Reuters shows. Stumbling Block But offers made to vaccine makers have not always been in line with their expectations. EU officials involved in the confidential negotiations told Reuters in July that liability issues were among the stumbling blocks in talks with U.S. drugmakers Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Pfizer, which is developing a potential COVID-19 vaccine with German biotech firm BioNtech. The EU later said negotiations with J&J were at an advanced stage, though no deal has yet been reached. A European Commission spokesman declined to comment on whether liability issues have been a hurdle in talks with vaccine makers. The supply agreement the EU reached earlier in August on the potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford the only deal struck so far by Brussels offers only partial liability coverage. The contract foresees that liabilities and financial costs are shared among the parties, the Belgian medicines agency said in a statement about the deal the Commission reached with AstraZeneca on behalf of all 27 EU states, including Belgium. Advance purchase agreements provide for member states to indemnify the manufacturer for certain liabilities incurred, a Commission official said when asked about the deal. The official gave no further details. The industry trading body, Vaccines Europe, said it was working with relevant authorities to agree a system of compensation that would avoid endless delays through prohibitively expensive litigation with uncertain outcomes. Among its members are AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline and CureVac, all of which have been involved in talks with the EU on their potential COVID-19 vaccines. The EU stance on liabilities could partly explain why, despite having a bigger population than the United States, it is lagging Washington in securing potential COVID-19 vaccines. The U.S. system shifts liability for vaccines fully to the government and shields drugmakers because widespread inoculation against disease is considered a benefit to society. Congress set aside $30 billion this year to fight COVID-19, including funding vaccine development and possibly any necessary compensation. The EUs equivalent to that is an emergency fund that has been tapped during the pandemic and is expected to use about 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) to help vaccine makers to develop shots and cover their liabilities, EU officials said. ($1 = 0.8465 euros) (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio Editing by Mark Potter and David Goodman) Topics COVID-19 USA Europe Four Michigan fire department paramedics and EMTs have been placed on paid leave after a 20-year-old woman was mistakenly pronounced dead and taken to a funeral home, a local official said this morning. Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee held a press conference on Wednesday to answer questions about the bizarre case of Timesha Beauchamp, who was found alive and breathing by a Detroit mortuary worker on Sunday. Beauchamp is currently at Sinai-Grace Hospital on a ventilator in critical condition, with the family attorney describing her prognosis for recovery as 'touch and go.' Menifee did not name the first responders who took the call and repeatedly checked Beauchamp's vital signs, but described them as good paramedics who never faced any disciplinary issueS. They included a lieutenant with 18 years of experience, a paramedic who has been on the job for seven years, and two EMTs with two years and six months of experience, respectively. Timesha Beauchamp, 20 (left), was wrongly declared dead on Sunday, after paramedics checked her vital signs three times Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee held a press conference on Wednesday to address some of the claims related to Beauchamp's case 'They feels terrible that it happened,' Menifee said. He added that the paramedics and EMTs are currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, who has been retained by the family, has alleged that the paramedics dismissed a relative's assertion that she had seen Beauchamp breathing and felt a pulse, and that the family were handed a body bag for the 20-year-old to be zipped into for her trip to the funeral home - claims that Menifee vehemently denied on Wednesday. TIMELINE OF TIMESHA BEAUCHAMP CASE: August 23, 7.27am: A 911 call comes in about a 20-year-old female who's unconscious, unknown if breathing 7.34am: Southfield firefighters arrive on scene to find an unresponsive, non-breathing woman 7.35am: Paramedics begin life-saving procedures and spend about 30 minutes trying to revive the patient 8.07am: Southfield police arrive on the scene 8.09am: Southfield firefighters contact Providence Hospital emergency room physician and report their findings 8.38am: Southfield Fire Department paramedics leave the scene 8.53am: Southfield police leaves the scene after contacting the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office 11.25am: Beauchamp is picked up by staff from James H Cole Home for Funerals 11.45am: Mortuary worker discovers the woman is alive and breathing Advertisement Menifee opened the press briefing by providing a timeline of the incident, beginning with the 911 call at 7.27am on Sunday and ending with the departure of police from the scene an hour and a half later. The fire chief said that during that time, his four paramedics and EMTs performed life-saving procedures for 30 minutes and checked Beauchamp's vital signs on three separate occasions. 'Each time, Ms Beauchamp didn't show any signs of life,' Menifee stressed. The official acknowledged that as the first responders were about to leave, they were approached by a relative, saying that they heard Beauchamp breathing. 'The fire department immediately grabbed their equipment, went in and reassessed her,' Menifee stated. 'At no time did they find her breathing.' A short time later, a family member approached a police officer on the scene and said they thought they had felt a heartbeat on Beauchamp. The patient was checked a third time, but again no signs of life were detected, according to the chief. 'What transpired with Ms Beauchamp is unique and unsettling, we know there is evidence out there that this sort of thing happened before,' Menifee said. The chief then took time to refute the family attorney's narrative, accusing Fieger of making 'grossly inaccurate statements,' 'The most alarming inaccurate statement is that a Southfield police officer or firefighter placed Ms Beauchamp in a body bag. That is absolutely untrue,' he argued. 'It is not part of our standard operating procedures, nor do we carry that equipment.' Menifee also denied Fieger's claims that the fire department failed to contact a physician, and that the local police department did not contact the medical examiner. 'That is not true,' he stressed. While Menifee declined to speculate how Beachamps was revived after showing no signs of life, he invoked the so-called Lazarus syndrome or phenomenon, which is defined as a delayed return of spontaneous circulation after CPR has stopped. It is named after Lazarus of Bethany, who according to the Bible was resurrected by Jesus Christ four days after his death. Fieger said during his own news conference via video on Tuesday afternoon that Beauchamp spent more than two hours in a body bag - a claim Chief Menifee repeatedly and fiercely denied - before a mortuary worker found her looking at him as he was getting ready to embalm her. Beauchamp was pronounced dead after fire department paramedics and police were summoned to her family's home in Southfield on a medical emergency call. More than two hours later, the 20-year-old woman was brought to James H Cole Home for Funerals. According to Fieger, a staffer was getting ready to embalm Beauchamp when he discovered that the woman was far from dead. 'Timesha was alive,' the lawyer said. 'Her eyes were open and she was breathing. My recollection is that the embalmer was actually there and was the person who opened the body bag.' WHAT IS THE LAZARUS SYNDROME? Timesha Beauchamp, 20, is not the first person who has come back to life after being proclaimed dead. There have been several similar cases reported around the world, most recently in Russia earlier this month, when an 81-year-old woman woke up after spending a night in a morgue. In 2014 in Mississippi, a 78-year-old man who had been declared dead woke up in a funeral home in a body bag, reported The Guardian. Such instances are known as Lazarus syndrome or phenomenon, when circulation spontaneously returns to the body long after CPR has stopped. The syndrome is in reference to Lazarus, the man that Jesus Christ allegedly rose from the dead, according to the New Testament. According to Medical News Today, Lazarus syndrome was first reported in medical literature in 1982 and there have now been at least 40 reported cases. Doctors are unsure of why the rare phenomenon occurs, but there are some theories. One is that CPR builds up pressure in the chest and, when CPR stops, it goes down and give the heart a reboot, according to a 2016 article. Another is that the dead person merely looks dead and is actually suffering from catalepsy, a neurological disorder in which the muscles become stiff and remain whatever position they are placed, breathing slows and a heartbeat is at nearly undetectable levels. Advertisement Fieger, who has been retained by Erica Lattimore, Beauchamp's mother, to investigate what he called the 'negligence' that led to Timesha being declared dead, explained that the woman was born with cerebral palsy and requires constant care and breathing treatments three times a day. On Sunday morning, Beauchamp's mother and brother, who are in charge of changing, dressing and feeding her, noticed that she had difficulty breathing, and that her lips were pale and surrounded by secretions. The lawyer said she had apparently suffered a seizure. The family called 911 and within 15 minutes four Southfield Fire Department paramedics arrived, along with police officers. According to a statement from Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee, the first responders performed CPR and other 'life reviving methods' for 30 minutes. Fieger said the medical responders were told of Timeshas medical history, the medications she receives and about her daily breathing treatments. He said what happened next is unclear but Timesha was declared to be dead, even though he said her godmother, who he said is a registered nurse, told the paramedics she had seen Timesha breathing and she felt that she had a pulse. Fieger said the paramedics dismissed the godmothers concerns, telling her drugs they had given Timesha were causing those movements. 'The godmother felt that she saw chest movements and felt that she had a pulse. She told the paramedics and the paramedics told her that the movements were involuntary and were the result of the medication. And they went, according to the family, a total of three times to Timeshas room to look at her,' he said. Oakland County spokesperson William Mullan told DailyMail.com over the phone that after determining that the woman has died, the EMTs followed standard operating procedure and contacted an emergency room physician at an area hospital, who reviewed the patient's medical data and declared her deceased. The Southfield Police Department then called the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office, saying that an official death declaration has been made for the patient and there was no suspicion of foul play that would have called for an autopsy. Family attorney Geoffrey Fieger said during a press conference on Tuesday Beauchamp is in critical condition and her prognosis is 'touch and go' Based on the information from the police and the ER doctor, a forensic pathologist released Beauchamp, which was still at home, directly to her family to make funeral arrangements. 'The Southfield Fire and Police Departments followed all appropriate city, county and state protocols and procedures in this case,' an updated statement from the fire department read. 'The City of Southfield is currently conducting a thorough internal investigation in addition to the Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA) which will be reporting their findings to the State of Michigan Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness (BETP).' Fiegler said Beauchamp was zipped into a body bag that was provided by the first responders and was left at home for two-and-a-half hours, until a vehicle from the funeral home arrived to pick her up at around 11.25am. Chief Menifee stressed to reporters on Wednesday that neither firefighters nor police officers carry body bags. Funeral home employees 'were about to embalm her which is most frightening had she not had her eyes open. They would have begun draining her blood, to be very, very frank about it,' Fieger told WXYZ on Monday. When asked during Tuesday's conference whether Beauchamp's disability played a role in the erroneous declaration of death, Fieger said it was very likely. 'She's been disabled since birth. She requires constant care,' the attorney said. 'I believe her relatively fragile condition probably contributed to the false belief by the authorities she had deceased. My guess is it certainly played some role.' Menifee pushed back against Fieger's claim, saying that his firefighters are 'very professional.' He continued: 'I've never had an issue with any firefighter looking at any diversity issued with a patient.. we pride ourselves on delivering the best service for every citizen.' Lattimore, Beauchamp's mother, said she's 'devastated' by the ordeal her daughter went through. 'Im devastated that my daughter is going through what shes going through,' she told Click on Detroit Monday morning. 'My family, her twin brother, her older brother - its just, I dont even have words. I havent slept all night. I just dont know what to do. My heart is so heavy.' Beauchamp's mother told the news station that when the paramedics were at her home Sunday morning, 'They said, "Maam, shes gone." I told them, "Are you absolutely, 100 per cent sure that shes gone?" They said, "Yes, maam, shes gone."' A few hours later, however, she said that someone from the funeral home called her with news that 'devastated' her life. Lattimore said the funeral home staffer told her: 'Maam, your daughter is on her way to Sinai Grace Hospital. She is breathing. She is alive.' Beauchamp (right) had been found non-responsive at her home on Sunday morning. After paramedics worked on her for half an hour, they declared her dead Beauchamp's body was released to the family who arranged for her to be picked up by James H Cole Home for Funerals that afternoon. Staffer there discovered she was still breathing [The statement] 'devastated my life,' Beauchamp's mother said, adding she responded, 'What do you mean? What do you mean shes breathing?' The funeral home staffer said, 'Maam, shes in the hospital,' Lattimore recalled. Beauchamp's mother said Monday that she isn't sure if her daughter will be able to recover and survive from the ordeal she suffered. She wants answers about what happened, as well. The management of the mortuary confirmed the facts of the case in a statement to DailyMail.com, saying that staff summoned Detroit Fire Department paramedics, who arrived and transported Beauchamp to a hospital. 'We couldnt believe it,' said Dave Fornell, deputy commissioner of the Detroit Fire Department, who added that her heart rate was 80. More than 9,100 students have returned to Wuhan University in the provincial capital of central China's Hubei Province some eight months after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in the once hard-hit city. Undergraduate students will make up for missed courses from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4 at the university, one of the most prestigious universities in China. Zhang Shaodong, head of the Undergraduate College of Wuhan University, said the makeup courses, covering 106 subjects, are designed to reinforce and supplement the online courses offered during the epidemic to ensure teaching quality. Experiments and other courses that have to be conducted offline are also arranged during the period, Zhang said. In a classroom, students wearing masks attended a physics lecture on Monday. "Returning to how things used to be, studying in a classroom is more familiar, and we can timely interact and communicate with the professor," said Zhao Sibo, one of the students. Shi Ying, a professor with the university's school of physics and technology, said he had spent a long time preparing for the course. "I feel comforted to see everybody sitting here together in class again. I hope we can all continue to do so," Shi said. The university's offline library also reopened Monday. Those who want to enter the library are required to present their QR health codes, have their temperatures taken and wear masks. No new confirmed, asymptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hubei Monday, the provincial health commission said Tuesday. Hubei has reported a total of 68,139 confirmed COVID-19 cases, mostly in Wuhan, and 63,626 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital. The disease has claimed 4,512 lives in the province. Submitted Lone Star College announced that nonprofit organization Gulf Coast Community Services Association, Inc. will provide up to $300,000 in financial assistance to help students of LSC-Houston North who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid will be available for qualifying students in the form of a $500 Walmart gift card. Local agencies prep for storm: Harris County Precinct 4 road and bridge department ready to rescue people if needed during storm events Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 16:16:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio touch elbows during a photo session ahead of their talk in Rome, Italy, Aug. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting) Claiming to launch "a new Cold War" is to reverse the course of history, to serve one's own interests and to kidnap people from all over the world, Wang said. China does not intend to engage in such a Cold War and is firmly against any hype about a so-called "new Cold War," he said. ROME, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Tuesday that starting "a new Cold War" is to reverse the course of history and kidnap the whole world. Wang made the remarks at a press briefing here with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio after their talks. Responding to a question regarding China's comments on the so-called "new Cold War" that China and the U.S. are possibly heading into, Wang said China does not intend to engage in such a Cold War and is firmly against any hype about a so-called "new Cold War." Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) speaks at a press briefing with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio in Rome, Italy, Aug. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting) Claiming to launch "a new Cold War" is to reverse the course of history, to serve one's own interests and to kidnap people from all over the world, he said. In Wang's view, such an attempt "is against the world development trend. And I think countries in the world are not going to be behind this mentality. Instead we are going to join hand to oppose anyone who is trying to drag us back into that 'law of the jungle'." Italy is the first leg in Wang's first foreign tour as the COVID-19 epidemic eases. The official visit in Europe from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 will also take him to the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly modified its coronavirus testing guidelines this week to exclude people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19 even if they have been recently exposed to the virus. Experts questioned the revision, pointing to the importance of identifying infections in the small window immediately before the onset of symptoms, when many individuals appear to be most contagious. Models suggest that about half of transmission events can be traced back to individuals still in this pre-symptomatic stage, before they start to feel ill if they ever feel sick at all. This is potentially dangerous, said Dr Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician in Palo Alto, California. Restricting testing to only people with obvious symptoms of Covid-19 means youre not looking for a lot of people who are potential spreaders of disease, she added. I feel like this is going to make things worse. At a moment when experts have almost universally come forward to encourage more frequent and widespread testing, especially to reach vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the population, the CDCs update appears counterintuitive and very strange, said Susan Butler-Wu, a clinical microbiologist at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. Just weeks ago, the National Institutes of Health announced the first round of grant recipients for its Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics program, or RADx, to scale up coronavirus testing in the coming weeks and months. On the agencys RADx website, officials underscore the importance of prioritizing tests that can detect people who are asymptomatic. For live updates on the coronavirus outbreak, click here A more lax approach to testing, experts said, could delay crucial treatments, as well as obscure, or even hasten, the coronaviruss spread in the community. I think its bizarre, said Daniel Larremore, a mathematician and infectious diseases modeller at the University of Colorado Boulder. Any move right now to reduce levels of testing by changing guidelines is a step in the wrong direction. Prior iterations of the CDCs testing guidelines struck a markedly different tone, explicitly stating that testing is recommended for all close contacts of people infected with the coronavirus, regardless of symptoms. The agency also specifically emphasized the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission as an important factor in the spread of the virus. The newest version, which was posted on Monday, amended the agencys guidance to say that people who have been in close contact with an infected individual typically defined as being within 6 feet of a person with the coronavirus and for at least 15 minutes do not necessarily need a test if they do not have symptoms. Exceptions, the agency noted, might be made for vulnerable individuals, or if health care providers or state or local public health officials recommend testing. David Piegaro, who lives in Trenton, New Jersey, had sought out several tests for the coronavirus in recent months, after events like funerals and those that require travel because of his post in the National Guard. Read: Scientists say Hong Kong man got coronavirus a second time He never experienced symptoms, and his tests have all been negative, bringing him peace of mind, especially because he lives with his parents and grandfather. I viewed testing as a good thing to do, he said. Asymptomatic people could be spreading the virus, so widespread testing seems valuable. Tracking asymptomatic cases is also important from the perspective of the infected, Kuppalli said. Less than a year into this pandemic, experts still dont know the full extent of the long-term consequences of contracting the coronavirus, even if the initial encounter seems benign. The reasons behind the surprise shift in testing recommendations are unclear. In response to an inquiry from The New York Times, a representative for the CDC directed the questions to the US Department of Health and Human Services. An HHS spokesperson said that asymptomatic testing could still be warranted when directed by public health leaders or health care providers, and noted that testing decisions should be based on individual circumstances and the status of community spread. On Twitter, some people speculated that the Trump administration made the change to try to address continuing supply shortages, which have stymied testing efforts in many parts of the country, stretching turnaround times for results to weeks or more. Many institutions and companies performing testing have prioritized people with symptoms in their lineup as a way to expedite the return of results for those most at risk for falling severely ill. When asked about this, the HHS spokesperson said that the modification was not a response to sputtering supply chains. Testing capacity has massively expanded, and we are not utilizing the full capacity that we have developed, the spokesperson said. We revised the guidance to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions. Poorly timed testing, if conducted infrequently, could lead to false positives or false negatives, mistaking healthy people as infected or vice versa. Thats a potential risk if someone gets tested too soon after being exposed to the coronavirus, Butler-Wu pointed out. Even so, anyone with a known exposure should quarantine and consider seeking a test, Kuppalli said, adding, We still need to be careful. Low socioeconomic families - and particularly women - experienced increased financial hardship, food insecurity, domestic violence and mental health challenges during COVID-19 lockdown measures in Bangladesh, a new research study shows. In the first study of its kind, Australian and Bangladeshi researchers documented the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures on the wellbeing of women and their families in rural Bangladesh. The study found that low socioeconomic families experienced a range of economic and mental health challenges during the two-month stay-at-home order, and women reported an increase in intimate partner violence. The study, published today in The Lancet Global Health, suggests in the event of future public health lockdowns, the wellbeing of families - and particularly women - needs be actively addressed. At a glance Australian and Bangladeshi researchers, in the first study of its kind, joined forces to study the impact of lockdown measures in a rural community in Bangladesh. Lockdown measures enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused many families' incomes to drop below the international poverty line. There was an increase in food insecurity, depression, anxiety and domestic violence during the lockdown period. Devastating impacts of lockdown Like many countries around the world, Bangladesh used stay-at-home (or lockdown) orders to limit the spread of COVID-19 in April and May 2020. Using an existing research network in Bangladesh, a collaborative team led by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research in Bangladesh was able to measure the impact of the lockdown on financial stability, food security, mental health and domestic violence in 2424 families in a rural Bangladesh community. The impact of the lockdown on households was worrying, said Associate Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. "While the lockdown was an essential public health measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we were concerned about the problems it could pose for the families in our study," Associate Professor Pasricha said. "Comparing how families were faring before and during lockdown, we observed substantial financial and mental health pressures experienced during lockdown." The study revealed 96 per cent of families experienced a reduction in employment and 91 per considered themselves to be financially unstable. "During the lockdown, almost half (47 per cent) of families saw their earnings drop below the international poverty line of US$1.90 per day," Associate Professor Pasricha said. "Seventy per cent experienced food insecurity, with one in six families running out of food, going hungry or missing meals." The lockdown also had mental health impacts, with women showing an increase in depression symptoms, and 68 per cent of participants reporting their anxiety level had increased. Concerningly, among the women who reported emotional, physical or sexual violence from their intimate partner, more than half reported violence had increased since lockdown. Families need more support Associate Professor Pasricha said the study indicated the lockdown had unintended yet devastating outcomes for the families. "Stay-at-home orders lasting more than two months, in a rural South Asian setting, have inflicted an enormous economic and psychosocial burden on women and their families," he said. Associate Professor Pasricha said the results reflected similar studies that indicated the flow-on effect of stay-at-home orders to food security and nutrition would be experienced globally. "The marked increase in severe food insecurity in our study population shows the impact of economic pressure on food access and supports modelling to suggest the pandemic could have a catastrophic effect on food security and consequently on nutrition worldwide. "Our study, which is the first of its kind, highlights the need for wide-reaching welfare and other forms of financial support for families impacted by lockdown measures, not only for those on low incomes. Crucially, social support is needed to protect women's safety and it is essential that domestic violence intervention services remain accessible during lockdown. Bangladeshi Principal investigator, Dr Jena Hamadani, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh, said she hoped the research would help inform governments about the need for welfare support for people in rural communities in low and middle income countries during lockdowns. "We hope our findings will be valuable for public health officials, and will inform and improve future public health measures, should lockdowns continue," Dr Hamadani said. ### The research was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the Victorian Government, and was conducted in partnership with the Doherty Institute and Monash University. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:45:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ATHENS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- In one of the largest rescue operations carried out in recent months in the eastern Mediterranean, 96 migrants were salvaged on Tuesday evening in international waters west of the island of Halki, Greece's Coast Guard said on Wednesday. The nationalities of the rescued have not been disclosed yet. But according to an emailed press statement, several of them were minors without life jackets and they also included three suspected smugglers who have been detained. Nineteen of the passengers on board the vessel in distress were collected by the Turkish Coast Guard, the Greek authorities noted. "Our country has proved with this operation that it is protecting the borders of Greece and Europe, and at the same time it is saving lives in danger," stressed the Greek Coast Guard statement. "This is another strong proof that our action at sea is not only national but also humanitarian," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, addressing the country's parliament on Wednesday during a debate on the delimitation of maritime borders in the Mediterranean Sea. Tuesday's incident occurred in an area claimed by both Greece and Turkey. Tensions have increased lately between the two neighbors over drilling rights for energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean. "The road to communication concerning the sole open issue we have with Turkey, which is the delimitation of maritime borders in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, is open. The only condition is that (Turkey) should immediately stop provocations," Mitsotakis said on Wednesday in his speech, which was carried live by Greek national broadcaster ERT. Greece considers Turkey's ongoing natural gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean a violation of international law. The Turkish government, on the other hand, believes the waters, in which natural gas is being drilled on a trial basis, belong to the Turkish continental shelf. The Greek leader also recalled that Athens has reached this summer two emblematic agreements with Italy and Egypt, resolving long-standing issues concerning maritime. Greece's parliament will vote on Thursday on the ratification of these two agreements. Enditem Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has advised the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Mahama, to clearly explain to Ghanaians what he did in office as President and what he intends to do when given the nod again. The Asante monarch said President Akufo-Addo has been touring the country explaining to Ghanaians what he has done and why they should give him another term and, therefore, wants the former President to do the same. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also urged Mr Mahama to explain well to Ghanaians what has been alleged he could not do when he was in office but knows he did. This, the Asantehene said, will help Ghanaians make a choice between him and the President in the upcoming general elections. The Asantehene made the comments when Mr Mahama introduced his running mate, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to him at the Manhyia palace today, Wednesday, 26 August 2020. Otumfuo also reminded the former president to rectify some mistakes that made him lose the 2016 general elections "as he was angrily and hungrily voted out by Ghanaians." He, therefore, called on the former President to correct those mistakes if given the nod again. Source: classfmonline.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 Princess Sofia of Sweden is continuing to do her part as the coronavirus pandemic stretches on. The princess will continue to volunteer at the hospital, after first joining frontline efforts back in April. Margareta Thorgren, the Head of Information for The Royal Court of Sweden, told Expressen, "Princess Sofia continues her work at Sophiahemmet and will start her part-time job again in September. She is very much looking forward to it." In a speech earlier this summer, Princess Sofia spoke of her experience as a medical assistant. "The last few months have been tough for very many, not least in healthcare," she said. "All efforts have been needed, and I know that several of you have gone in and supported in different parts of healthcare. I, myself, got an opportunity to come in and work at Sophiahemmet and still do. In fact, with some of you." "But to see healthcare from the inside in this way, to meet patients myself, and to see safe, well-trained nurses 'in action,' it is rare that I have been so impressed," she added. As part of her volunteering, Princess Sofia has been supporting doctors and nurses by doing tasks such as disinfecting equipment, doing shifts in the kitchen, and cleaning. She began working at Sophiahemmet Hospital in Stockholm after completing a intensive training program online. RELATED: Princess Sofia Joined Frontline Efforts As a Medical Assistant Last week, CNN reported that Sweden recorded its highest death tally in 150 years in the first half of 2020, with coronavirus death counts at 5,802 people. Unlike many other countries, Sweden did not go into immediate lockdown amid the pandemic, and instead emphasized personal responsibility, with most bars, schools, restaurants and salons remaining open. "In the crisis we find ourselves in, the Princess wants to get involved and make a contribution as a voluntary worker to relieve the large workload of health care professionals," the Royal Court said in a statement back in April. Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein - AFP A US judge rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's request to be moved into the general population at the Brooklyn jail where she is awaiting trial on charges she aided the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of girls. Maxwell had objected to being treated worse than other pretrial inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center, citing "onerous" conditions including round-the-clock surveillance, numerous body scans, and being isolated in her cell most of the time. But in an order on Tuesday, US District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan found no proof the surveillance measures were "punitive" or "motivated by improper purposes." Prosecutors said isolation would help ensure the British socialite's safety. Nathan also said the Federal Bureau of Prisons had recently modified Maxwell's confinement conditions to allow her 13 hours a day to review materials and participate in her defense, and that this made further modifications "unnecessary." Lawyers for Maxwell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Maxwell, 58, has pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and later abuse three girls from 1994 to 1997, and committing perjury by denying her involvement under oath. Nathan's order also rejected as "premature" Maxwell's bid to learn the names of the three alleged victims, and said she anticipated they would be disclosed "substantially" before trial, now scheduled for July 2021. Epstein was found hanged at age 66 last August in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Sen. Pat Toomey and Rep. Scott Perry on Wednesday took aim at the Wolf administrations handling of the coronavirus, blaming it for what they said was a weak state economic recovery. At a press conference in York attended by about two dozen business leaders and elected officials, the two Republican lawmakers criticized some of the restrictions and measures rolled out by Gov. Tom Wolf intended to mitigate the spread of the highly contagious virus. Toomey first outlined the federal response to the pandemic, including the release of trillions of dollars to states under the CARES Act, which he said significantly staved off what many had projected would be a catastrophic economic disaster. But he singled Pennsylvania out as an outlier, in particular its unemployment rate. The states unemployment rate hit 13.7% in July, well above the national rate of 10.2%. Weve got a long way to go, said Toomey at the press conference, which was held at the York County History Centers Agricultural & Industrial Museum. I think theres a lot of factors but part of it is we had a very severe lockdown that I think lasted longer than needed to, in some cases. In the case of restaurants it is still very, very onerous and problematic restriction that in my view is not necessary. Under mandated state restrictions, bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania have been ordered to reduce indoor dining capacity to 25 percent, limiting on-premises alcohol consumption to meals only, and limiting indoor gatherings to 25 people. The heads of restaurants and bars across the state - indeed the nation - have been clamoring for a bailout from Congress. Wolf has said he expects to keep the limits on restaurants and bars for the time being to limit the spread of the virus, particularly as schools and colleges are reopening. The governor has also said the recent decline in cases indicates the states mitigation efforts are working. Toomey, who prior to serving in Congress ran a small restaurant franchise in the Lehigh Valley, said that even as federal data points to rising incomes, retail sales and new home construction, the economic recovery in Pennsylvania has been stalled. Pennsylvania is way down in the list, said Toomey, who is generating buzz about a prospective gubernatorial run in 2022. Perry, a York County Republican, attributed that to the actions of state government. He said he daily fields calls from constituents expressing concern that they do not have access to the federal funds. I will tell you that I continue to be frustrated, he said. We essentially, in my opinion, handed this money to the states and said, Theres almost no strings attached, take care of your cities, take care of your communities, institutions and businesses. Do what you have to do. Republican Congressman Scott Perry, of the 10th congressional district, on Wednesday said he is frustrated with the "changing goal post" that is states demands on federal pandemic response. Perry criticized what he said was a moving goal post with regards to demands from states for federal assistance. We are still concerned with the amount of debt we are heaping upon ourselves right now, said Perry, who is seeking re-election for a fifth term in November. I just want to impress on you our frustration, at least my frustration. We want to do absolutely everything we can. Do not disregard that. Dont think its anything other than that but we are frustrated with the changing of the goal post on a pretty regular basis. Pennsylvania received approximately $5 billion in federal pandemic assistance; about $1 billion has yet to be disbursed. Wolf has increasingly come under fire by state Republicans over mandated coronavirus-related restrictions and disbursement of the federal funds. Pennsylvania lawmakers have signaled that they will not release the remaining federal aid for coronavirus relief until Washington decides on a second stimulus package. Republicans this summer challenged the extent of Wolfs emergency power, but in July the state Supreme Court affirmed the governors authority to manage the states response to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 600,000 Pennsylvanians are currently collecting unemployment. Some of those workers could be eligible for an additional weekly $300 in financial assistance approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in recent days. Perry noted that back in March as the pandemic began to surge across parts of the country, lawmakers were under the impression that we were going to flatten the curve. None of us in Washington had envisioned states collectively shutting down for this extended period of time, Perry said. Coronavirus cases are dropping in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 501 coronavirus cases Wednesday, continuing a trend of declining infections this month. The statewide total of coronavirus cases stands at 130,536 and more than 7,500 deaths have been tied to COVID-19. With regards to requests from local governments to do something, Perry said, The horse is already out of the barn. We did what we could. That has been very very frustrating. York Mayor Michael Helfrich made an appeal on behalf of his city and other third-tier municipalities, which he said have largely been left out of the federal pandemic relief. Helfrich noted that since York County did not make the population benchmark that would have allowed it to receive the federal funds directly, the city of York has had to negotiate with the state for release of the funds. He said the city continues to hemorrhage financially and stands to lose 5 to 10 percent of total revenue. He said he has been unable to hire police and even replace officers who retire. We just dont have the money, said Helfrich, a Democrat. Most third-class cities are in the exact same position. So the federal government is telling us we are not going to fund you directly and the state government has not been giving us the money unless we can align with COVID expenses. That does not help us. That doesnt help police, fire, all the employees, all the things that the city has to do to support citizens. Helfrich said the process needs to be changed. We need to lift restrictions on that money so that municipalities can continue to function and be made whole or at least partially whole for the massive amounts of money we have lost, he said. Toomey said the initial thought had been to allow states to handle disbursement of the federal pandemic relief money because they are going to know their municipalities far better than we ever will. There was an expectation among some in Harrisburg that we would release restrictions on how the money would be used, Toomey said. That hasnt happened yet. Its likely to happen. Yet Toomey said he understood why state governments might want to hold on to some of the CARES Act money in anticipation of the federal government easing restrictions on how it is used. I understand the feeling that We ought to leave money aside until we have legal authority to do whatever we want with it, he said. Both Toomey and Perry spoke about the next round of federal pandemic assistance and what that might look like. Toomey said GOP lawmakers and officials from the administration hold a daily call with the president about whether or not Washington should release additional money to states and what that might look like. Congress remains divided along partisan lines over that issue: Democrats want around $1 trillion in state and local aid; the White House has offered $150 billion. Republicans previously wanted no additional money at all. Toomey on Wednesday seemed to soften a previously tough stance on additional relief funding. In July during an interview with CNBC, the Republican lawmaker pointed to the $1 billion Pennsylvania still has in reserves, noting that many states had spent less than a quarter of the direct stimulus. Toomey said liability protection for employers would have to be an important component of that prospective legislation. The senator said he has been approached by business leaders as well as the heads of colleges and hospitals expressing concerns over lawsuits as their institutions re-open. All are very much concerned that they dont want to do everything as they are supposed to and then get hit with a wave of lawsuits, said Toomey, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. I do think that is a legitimate concern. Toomey said lawmakers continue to foster cross-party dialogue. My expectation is that there will be a deal at some point, he said. I wouldnt be surprised if it happens by the end of September. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. More from PennLive Buffets in the age of coronavirus: Shady Maple and others adapt to new business models Legalized marijuana, paid family leave and child care: Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf releases fall agenda Wolf calls for legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Pa., but GOP lawmakers say its a pipe dream The Opposition leaders also discussed issues such as GST compensation at the meeting, which was also attended by Maharashtra CM Thackeray, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Puducherry chief minister V Narayansamy and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel At a virtual meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, Opposition chief ministers mounted an attack on the Central Government over various issues such as pending GST compensation due to the states, and economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the meeting, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said that all chief minsietrs must together approach the Supreme Court seeking that the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) exams be postponed. The meeting was also attended by Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Puducherry chief minister V Narayansamy and Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. Last week, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea seeking postponement of JEE (Main) and NEET, saying that life cannot be stopped and the career of students cannot be put in jeopardy. Amid a growing chorus of voices opposing the NEET and JEE (Main) exams due to the current coronavirus situation in the country, the NTA on Tuesday said that the crucial entrance exams will be held as per schedule in September. While the JEE (Main) is scheduled from 1-6 September, the NEET exam is slated to be held on 13 September Banerjee, Singh suggest approaching SC for postponing exams In the meeting, Banerjee accused the Centre of bulldozing state governments in the name of co-operative federalism. We are fighting the battle, she said. Banerjee also urged all chief ministers to together move the Supreme Court for postponing the NEET and JEE(Mains) exams "Why should the lives of students be put at risk? This will be my request to all state governments, let us do it together, let us go to the Supreme Court and postpone the exam for the time being until and unless the situation allows students to sit for exams, she said. Banerjee said that she had written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times but had not received any response. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh backed her demand, stating that the exams are threatening the lives of lakhs of students. "Let us all get together to move the Supreme Court for postponement of the exams, which are threatening the lives of lakhs of students," he said. He also suggested that the JEE-NEET and other professional exams like medical and law could also be held online and there was no need to put the students at risk. Puducherry chief minister V Narayanswamy said that holding the exams as planned would lead to a rise in the COVID-19 cases in the country. "Who will be responsible?" he asked. Thackeray also opposed conducting examinations at a time when the "coronavirus pandemic is rising". Have not received GST compensation, claim CMs The Opposition leaders also discussed other issues such as GST compensation and the economic situation due to the pandemic. Gandhi said the "refusal" by the Centre to pay GST compensation to the states is nothing short of a betrayal of the trust of the people of India. "In the meeting of Standing Committee of Finance on 11 August, the finance secretary stated the Centre is not in a position to pay mandatory GST compensation of 14 percent for the current fiscal year, This is nothing short of a betrayal by the Modi government," she reportedly said. Banerjee claimed that the West Bengal government was yet to get Rs 53,000 crore from the Centre, while Gehlot said that the Centre is yet to release GST compensation of nearly Rs 6,990 crore to his state. Gehlot also said that the situation was worsening and said that all chief ministers should collectively approach the prime minister. "The economic package announced by the Centre is loan based. Situation of states is continuously failing; revenue collection has come down to 40 percent; and there is no subsidy or grant from the Centre," PTI quoted him as saying. "States are surrounded with challenges from all sides but the Centre is only bothered about toppling state governments," Gehlot alleged. Amarinder Singh said that Punjab may face deficit of Rs 25,000 crore this year due to COVID-19. EIA draft deeply undemocratic, says Sonia Gandhi During the meeting, Gandhi also slammed the new National Education Policy (NEP) and the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation announced by the Centre. "The NEP is a setback for progressive, secular and scientific values and reveals insensitivity to what the states have been saying. Problems of students and examinations are being dealt with very uncaringly," she said. The NEP, which proposes sweeping reforms such as establishing a single regulator and multiple entry and exit points in degree courses, was approved by the Union Cabinet last month. Gandhi also termed the Draft EIA as "deeply anti-democratic". "Laws meant to protect the environment, livelihoods and public health are being weakened," she said, noting that the auction of coal mines has also been objected to by some chief ministers. Banerjee also said that the Centre was bulldozing state governments in the name of co-operative federalism. Soren said the ruling party was using agencies against the Opposition and undermining federal structure. Thackeray asserted that all powers are now getting concentrated in one hand, Uddhav Thackeray said, "We should decide whether we have to fight or fear the Central Government." Gandhi called for more such meetings of like-minded parties in the larger interest of the country and the public's good and backed Thackeray and Banerjee's call for a united fight against the Centre. With inputs from PTI EU official says missions in Mali have been frozen as they were designed to support legitimate national authorities. The European Union has suspended its training missions in Mali after a military coup last week removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from power, according to bloc officials. The two missions training Malis army and police as part of international efforts to stabilise Mali and extend the states authority are frozen because they were designed to support the legitimate national authorities, one EU official was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency on Wednesday. Officials said the suspension was temporary and training will continue in neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. It came a day after the 88-member Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) suspended the nation from its membership. The OIF leadership agreed on the move at an extraordinary session held via video conference, while adding that it would maintain any cooperation that would help the civilian population and a transition to democracy. In a statement, the blocs Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo called for the release of Keita and other officials detained since August 18. West African mediators and Malis coup leaders are discussing the possibility of a transitional government, which could allow the EU to eventually resume training in partnership with the United Nations in a country at the heart of the fight against armed groups in the Sahel region. Drawn up in late 2012 to help Malis army regain control of the country after France drove out fighters in the north, the EU military mission (EUTM Mali) has more than 600 soldiers from 28 European countries including EU and non-member states. Its headquarters in Malis capital, Bamako, was targeted by fighters in 2016, although no personnel were hurt. The EU in 2014 agreed to an additional civilian mission (EUCAP Sahel Mali), sending experts to give advice and training to the internal security forces in Mali, the police, gendarmerie and national guard. Meanwhile, an opposition coalition that had for weeks staged rallies against Keita said on Wednesday it was willing to work with the coup leaders in a process to restore civilian rule. We are willing to work with this process, we came here to exchange views and to reaffirm that we have the same positions as the military, said Issa Kaou Djim, a leading figure in the June 5 Movement, after its first formal talks with the military officers who overthrew Keita. We have been reassured [by the fact] that these troops are soldiers, great intellectuals. Mali, across the entire spectrum, is in a drive to bring everyone together, he said. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday, attended by the leader of the military officers, Colonel Assimi Goita, who did not take part in Wednesdays meeting, according to people at the talks. Citis investors may be asking themselves what did those additional checks consist of. Were any alerts triggered and if so how and why were they ignored? And how did Citis own funds end up being transferred to Revlons lenders? The bank was only the administrative agent for the loan, according to its own description, and the cosmetics company had on Aug. 11 remitted the interest amount to Citigroup for transfer, not the principal. Lynn Skipper Strickland of Parker County, Texas, a former insurance agent who sold policies while claiming his license was still in effect, has been sentenced to 14 years in state prison for fraud, state insurance regulators reported. From 2014 through 2016, Strickland schemed to defraud a Texarkana woman out of over $406,000 by stealing money she thought was going to pay for insurance policies, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. Brian Chandler, a TDI attorney, says Strickland, 60, claimed to be a licensed insurance agent though TDI had revoked his license years before after he pleaded guilty to a similar crime in Brazos County. In 2011, that crime resulted in Strickland being placed on 10 years probation. As part of Stricklands guilty plea and sentence today, 299th State District Court Judge Karen Sage of Travis County ordered him to pay restitution to the victim. The investigation was conducted by TDIs Fraud Unit and prosecuted by Chandler, who is embedded within the Travis County District Attorneys Office. The embedded-prosecution program allows TDI fraud prosecutors to pursue cases protecting consumers under the authority of local elected district attorneys. Source: TDI Topics Agencies Texas Check out the overview of news from Slovakia for Wednesday, August 26. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Read the overview of news that happened in Slovakia on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, and do not miss to scroll down to our tips for interesting reads. If you want to support our work, the best way to do it is by purchasing our digital subscription that will give you access to all our content. Thank you for being our reader. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Korcok explained popular hoaxes about Belarus Hoaxes and disinformation spread about the protest in Belarus most often centre around the maidanisation of the protests (meaning they are often described in connection with the 2014 demonstrations in Ukraine that led to the change of regime); the increased NATO activities near the borders; the geopolitical fight; the claim that protests are being funded from abroad; and the claim that they use of fascist symbols. Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) disproved these hoaxes at a press conference on August 26. He also opined that the sanctions against Belarus should be introduced as soon as possible. Tax returns to be submitted by late October It is possible that taxpayers will be required to submit their income tax returns for 2019 by the end of October. In a draft amendment to the lex korona law that will soon be discussed by the parliament, the Finance Ministry proposes setting the date of the end of the pandemic to September 30, requiring tax subjects to submit their tax returns during the following month. The exact date for paying taxes remains unclear. Health minister warns of holiday abroad The list of risky countries will change as of September 1. Its not a good idea to plan any holidays in standard tourist destinations for September since the current situation there, particularly in Croatia, has been very critical, Health Minister Marek Krajci (OLaNO) said. The more detailed information on changes that will become effective in September will be introduced on August 27, after the group of experts meet. He has also revealed plans to increase the number of sites where the samplings for the COVID-19 tests can be taken and commented on the behaviour of some people who can be described as super-disseminators. The epidemiologists want to eliminate the group of such people whose irresponsible behaviour may make it harder to find the close contacts of the already infected people. Meanwhile, the central crisis staff agreed to fully lift the ban on civilian flights, meaning they can now also be operated to and from the red zone countries. Other coronavirus-related stories The August 25 testing revealed 84 new coronavirus-positive cases . With 33 deaths and 2,192 recovered patients, the country now has 1,311 active coronavirus cases . Read more detailed statistics here. . With 33 deaths and 2,192 recovered patients, the country now has . Read more detailed statistics here. The first convicted prisoner was positively diagnosed with the coronavirus . He is serving his sentence in Opatovce (Trencin Region). The man was isolated on August 23, and then transported to the prison hospital in Trencin. (TASR) . He is serving his sentence in Opatovce (Trencin Region). The man was isolated on August 23, and then transported to the prison hospital in Trencin. (TASR) The city of Trnava plans to introduce its own COVID-19 semaphore warning system. plans to introduce its own All schools in Bratislava will open on September 2, despite the city being in the red phase of its semaphore system, said Education Minister Branislav Grohling. The limitations apply only to events and activities that expect a higher number of people. In other news The minimum wage for 2021 will most likely increase from the current 580 to 623 . Moreover, it should no longer serve as a base for calculating the surcharges for working on Saturdays, Sundays, and at night . The government has approved the draft amendment prepared by the Labour Ministry, which will now have to be passed by the parliament. will most likely increase from the current 580 to . Moreover, it should . The government has approved the draft amendment prepared by the Labour Ministry, which will now have to be passed by the parliament. The National Criminal Agency (NAKA) has laid charges against 26 public officials during the first six months of this year. In the corruption-related cases, the bribes amounted to more than 12 million. NAKA carried out altogether 96 operations during the first half of 2020. Most of them (26) were related to corruption. (NAKA) has during the first six months of this year. In the corruption-related cases, the bribes amounted to more than 12 million. NAKA carried out during the first half of 2020. Most of them (26) were related to corruption. Senior citizens in Slovakia will probably receive a 13th pension of 50-300 this year , which is much less than proposed in the legislation approved shortly before the election by Smer, the Slovak National Party (SNS), the far-right Kotlebovci Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS), and Sme Rodina. People with the lowest pension will receive the highest 13th pension. Altogether 307.5 million will be allocated for the 13th pensions this year . , which is much less than proposed in the legislation approved shortly before the election by Smer, the Slovak National Party (SNS), the far-right Kotlebovci Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS), and Sme Rodina. People with the lowest pension will receive the highest 13th pension. . The management of U.S. Steel Kosice and the trade unionists made a temporary agreement on several disputed points in the new collective agreement. The proposals will now be discussed by the basic trade unions organisations. on several disputed points in the new collective agreement. The proposals will now be discussed by the basic trade unions organisations. Seven percent of households in Slovakia face the risk of not being able to repay their loans and other commitments and will see a drop in their incomes due to the pandemic. As much as three-fifths of indebted households have seen their incomes drop due to the coronavirus pandemic, as stems from the report of the National Bank of Slovakia. and other commitments and will see a drop in their incomes due to the pandemic. As much as due to the coronavirus pandemic, as stems from the report of the National Bank of Slovakia. Slovakia will have five new protected areas from mid-September , namely Cenkov, Kameninske Slaniska, Marcelovske Luky, Panske Luky, and Siky. , namely Cenkov, Kameninske Slaniska, Marcelovske Luky, Panske Luky, and Siky. The international GLOBSEC think tank is organising a virtual conference titled 2020 Digital Stage for about 1,000 guests from all over the world between August 26 and 28. Among the most notable guests are Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Philip T. Reeker, top EU and NATO representatives, and an aerospace engineer. You can watch the conference here. video //www.youtube.com/embed/vK4KcYovKGo Do not miss on Spectator.sk: Related article Related article Unionists and government lock horns over minimum wage Read more Related article Related article New bridge over the Danube acquires name Read more Related article Cognite Data Fusion is revolutionizing the workflows of industrial customers worldwide. - Dr. John Markus Lervik, CEO and co-founder of Cognite AI Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market, today announced that Cognite, an industrially specialized DataOps and AI platform company, has been selected as the winner of the Best Predictive Analytics Solution for the Cognite Data Fusion (CDF) platform. Cognite Data Fusion supports the full-scale digital transformation of heavy-asset industries around the world, empowering companies with contextualized OT/IT data to drive industrial applications and develop and scale solutions that increase safety, sustainability, and efficiency, and drive revenue. CDF turns historical and real-time industrial data into insights for organizations in a variety of verticals including: oil and gas, energy and manufacturing, helping them develop and deliver new digital services and even transform their business models. Cognite Data Fusion is revolutionizing the workflows of industrial customers worldwide, said Dr. John Markus Lervik, CEO and co-founder of Cognite. Its important for us to make a true impact on our customers while shaping the digital future of the worlds largest, most vital industries. Cognite Data Fusion liberates data from separate, siloed systems. We believe data must be made accessible, insightful, open then contextualized. Contextualization defines modern data management. The mission of the AI Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of AI and machine learning related categories, including AI platforms, Deep Learning, Smart Robotics, Business Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, industry specific AI applications and many more. This years program attracted more than 2,750 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world. The promise of predictive analytics and AI in demanding industrial operational environments represents a massive global opportunity and Cognite is well-positioned to deliver on this promise of industrial digitalization, said James Johnson, managing director, AI Breakthrough. We are pleased to recognize Cognite Data Fusion as our Best Predictive Analytics Solution award winner and offer all of our congratulations to the team at Cognite. Features and capabilities of CDF include Data liberation, Optimized Time Series, Data Type, Data Set and Data Kit, Contextualized Pipelines, 3D and Photogrammetry Pipelines, Physics Simulations, Model Hosting, Data Quality, Low Code Frameworks, Secure Data Sharing, AI Workflow Integrations, Process and Data Exploration, Data Liberation in Subsurface and Drilling. Explosive growth combined with realized industry value for customers has defined Cognite. Since 2017, Cognite has grown from 34 employees based in Oslo to a global network with more than 300 employees based in Oslo, Stavanger, Norway; Austin and Houston, Texas, Tokyo, Japan and around the world. About AI Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including AI Platforms, Robotics, Business Intelligence, AI Hardware, NLP, Vision, Biometrics and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com. About Cognite Cognite is an industrially specialized DataOps and AI platform company supporting the full-scale digital transformation of heavy-asset industries around the world. Their key product, Cognite Data Fusion (CDF), empowers companies with contextualized OT/IT data to drive industrial applications that increase safety, sustainability, and efficiency, and drive revenue. Visit us at cognite.com and follow us on Twitter @CogniteData or at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognitedata. Billionaire Jack Ma's Ant Group has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong and Shanghai. With this public offering, the company aims to boost its dominance in China's online payments business and expand further in financial services space. The financial technology major is reportedly eyeing a valuation of about $225 billion, based on an IPO of nearly $30 billion. The IPO is expected to top Saudi Aramco's record $29 billion public offering, if markets remain favourable. The company will issue no less than 10 per cent in fresh shares of its total capital. The company posted a profit of 21.9 billion Chinese yuan ($3.2 billion) on total revenues of 72.5 billion yuan in the first half of 2020, according to the exchange filing. Revenue surged nearly 38 per cent from the 52.5 billion yuan the company reported in the corresponding period of 2019. The Chinese firm is 33 per cent owned by Alibaba Group Holding. Ant Group is China's dominant mobile payments company which offers loans, payments, insurance and asset management services via mobile apps. Ant Group, formerly known as Alipay, is the world's highest-valued FinTech company, and most valuable unicorn. In November 2019, the company announced raising $1 billion for a new fund, with the aim to expand the firm's investment activities in Southeast Asia. In January 2020, Ant Group applied for a digital banking licence in Singapore. Also read: Alibaba-backed Ant Group plans IPOs in Hong Kong, Shanghai NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YUKOTERRE RESOURCES INC. (Yukoterre) (CSE:YT), is pleased to announce that further to the press release dated June 17, 2020, it has entered into an amalgamation agreement dated August 25, 2020 with FlyOverture Equity Inc., operating as Silo Wellness (Silo), and 1261466 BC Ltd. (Yukoterre Subco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yukoterre (the Amalgamation Agreement). Completion of the transactions contemplated in the Amalgamation Agreement will result in the reverse takeover of Yukoterre by Silo (the Proposed Transaction). The Proposed Transaction will constitute a Fundamental Change of Yukoterre, as defined by the policies of Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE). Overview of Silo Silo, with an Oregon, Toronto, and Jamaica-based team, has been in the psychedelics and functional mushroom space since 2018 and ultimately formulated and announced a patent-pending psilocybin nasal spray in Jamaica in 2019. In addition to its IP portfolio, Silo is focusing on consumer product and wellness center/retreat brand development for psychedelic and functional mushrooms. Its go-to-market revenue strategy includes scaling its United States Silo Reboot brand of functional mushrooms (via www.SiloReboot.com ), its magic mushroom cultivation in Jamaica, and its psychedelic retreat offerings in Jamaica (psilocybin) and Oregon ( ketamine-assisted psychotherapy wellness retreats) (via www.SiloRetreats.com ). Following the Proposed Transaction, the Resulting Issuer (defined below) will carry on the business of Silo, which Silo anticipates will involve continuing to grow its operations organically and strategically integrating complementary businesses to its operations. The Proposed Transaction Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, Yukoterre and Silo will complete a three-cornered amalgamation in accordance with the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), which will involve Yukoterre Subco amalgamating with Silo to form a single, wholly-owned subsidiary of Silo Wellness Inc., the resulting issuer post-closing of the Proposed Transaction (the Resulting Issuer). Story continues In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Yukoterre proposes to complete a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of one half (0.50) of a post-Consolidation Yukoterre Share for every one (1) pre-Consolidation Yukoterre Share held, subject to the receipt of approval from its shareholders (the Consolidation). Yukoterre also intends to change its name to Silo Wellness Inc. (the Name Change) and to reconstitute its board of directors and management team as described below under Proposed Management Team and Board of Directors of the Resulting Issuer. Pursuant to the Amalgamation Agreement, upon closing of the Proposed Transaction: The shareholders of Silo (the Silo Shareholders ), other than the Silo Shareholders who exercise their dissent rights, will receive one common share of the Resulting Issuer for each Silo Share (as defined below) held; The Yukoterre Shareholders (as defined below), other than the Yukoterre Shareholders who exercise their dissent rights, will receive one common share of the Resulting Issuer for each Yukoterre Share held (post-Consolidation); All outstanding stock options of Yukoterre will be exchanged for stock options of the Resulting Issuer, on equivalent terms after having given effect to all of the transactions contemplated by the Proposed Transaction; and Silo will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Resulting Issuer. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, assuming completion of the Consolidation and the Concurrent Financing (as defined below), former Silo Shareholders will hold, in the aggregate, approximately 35,066,730 common shares (the Resulting Issuer Shares) in the capital of the Resulting Issuer representing approximately 86.9% of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares and existing holders of Yukoterre Shares (the Yukoterre Shareholders) will hold, in the aggregate, approximately 5,260,270 Resulting Issuer Shares, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares. The completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions, including but not limited to: (i) the approval of the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the CSE; (ii) the disposition by Yukoterre of its mining assets; (iii) the approval of the Consolidation, the Amalgamation Agreement, the Name Change and the reconstitution of Yukoterres board of directors by the requisite majority of Yukoterre Shareholders; (iv) completion of the Concurrent Financing; (v) the approval of the Amalgamation by the requisite majority of Silo Shareholders; and (vi) other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. The parties anticipate that, upon satisfaction of the CSEs initial listing requirements and approval by the CSE, the common shares of the Resulting Issuer will begin trading on the CSE following the closing of the Proposed Transaction. There is no guarantee that the Resulting Issuer will meet the listing requirements or that the CSE will approve the Resulting Issuer for listing. The common shares of Yukoterre have been halted since June 17, 2020 and may remain halted until the completion of the Proposed Transaction. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms proposed or at all. Summary of the Concurrent Financing In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Silo plans to complete a best-efforts private placement of subscription receipts of Silo (the Subscription Receipts) to raise a minimum of $2.5 million (the Concurrent Financing). The gross proceeds of the Concurrent Financing, less any cash commission and offering expenses, will be deposited in escrow on the closing date of the Concurrent Financing until the satisfaction of certain release conditions, including that all conditions precedent to the Proposed Transaction have been met (the Release Conditions). Upon the satisfaction of the Release Conditions, each Subscription Receipt will be converted into one common share in the capital of Silo (a Silo Share) without payment of any additional consideration or further action on the part of the holder thereof. At the effective time of the Proposed Transaction, each Silo Share will be exchanged for one Resulting Issuer Share. We are excited to hit this key milestone on our way to a public listing, said Jamaica based Silo Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Gordon. Our team has worked diligently to get us to this point and we welcome the opportunity to develop the business in line with our operational objectives and our post-public growth strategy. Further Information Further details about the Proposed Transaction and the Resulting Issuer will be provided in a CSE listing statement to be prepared and filed by Yukoterre in respect of the Proposed Transaction. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the CSE listing statement (or other disclosure document prepared by Yukoterre) in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. All information contained in this news release with respect to Silo and Yukoterre was supplied by each party respectively for inclusion herein and each party has relied on the accuracy of such information without independent verification. About Yukoterre Yukoterre is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in the Yukon Territory. Its objective is to locate and develop mineral properties of merit and to conduct its exploration program on the Division Mountain Property. About Silo The mission of Silo is to improve health and wellness by developing and introducing psychedelic medicine to reduce trauma and increase performance by destigmatizing the active compounds in psychedelics and innovating ease of administration and ingestion. Silo intends to introduce new, safe, and affordable alternatives to current medicines by facilitating entry into new and emerging markets where psychedelics are legal by conducting wellness retreats and elsewhere by manufacturing and distributing functional mushrooms. Since inception, Silos activities have focused on: (1) development of an e-commerce online sales platform located at www.SiloReboot.com for legal functional mushroom tinctures; (2) establishment of supply chain, extraction, bottling, packaging, order fulfillment relationships and infrastructure for legal functional mushroom tinctures; (3) establishing an inventory of products to be sold online; (4) branding through viral organic social media coverage; (5) development and formulation of the psilocybin nasal spray; (6) managing IP related to its psilocybin nasal spray via the filing of provisional and non-provisional patent applications; (7) development of Jamaican psilocybin retreat infrastructure and online marketing platform for the same through www.SiloRetreats.com ; and (8) development of a legal Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy nature retreat in the State of Oregon ( https://siloretreats.com/ketamine-retreat ). Further Information For further information, please contact: Yukoterre Resources Inc. Kenny Choi Chief Executive Officer Tel: (416) 861-2262 E-mail: Kenny.choi@fmresources.ca Silo Mo Yang Chief Operations Officer Tel: 541-525-9190 Web: www.SiloWellness.com E-mail: mo.yang@silowellness.com CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the Concurrent Financing, the Proposed Transaction and the proposed annual general and special meeting of shareholders of Yukoterre and the items of business thereunder. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Yukoterre assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities from Silo 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. Canada's foreign minister has called the release of two citizens detained in China a "top priority" for his country during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Italy. Relations between Beijing and Ottawa have been increasingly bitter since an executive for Chinese tech giant Huawei was arrested in Vancouver in December 2018 and China detained two Canadian nationals in apparent retaliation. Canadian foreign minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Tuesday said the cases of former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor "remain a top priority for the Government of Canada". He called for their immediate release at a meeting in Rome with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, Ottawa said in a statement. Kovrig and Spavor were charged with espionage in June, while Beijing has called the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou a political manoeuvre on behalf of the United States, which is seeking her extradition on fraud charges. China accuses Washington of attempting to curb telecoms firm Huawei's rise. Wang said the blame for poor ties lay with Ottawa and urged it to "remove the main obstacles currently affecting the development of China-Canada relations", according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry Wednesday. "China and Canada have no historical disputes or actual conflict of interest, but because of the unprovoked detention of a Chinese citizen, the relationship between the two countries has encountered serious difficulties," Wang said, without naming Meng specifically. Meng, who is charged with bank fraud linked to alleged violations of US sanctions against Iran, remains under house arrest in Vancouver while Canadian courts hear the case for her extradition. A bid by her lawyers to access intelligence documents to support claims of abuse of process was denied by Canada's federal court on Tuesday. Canada's foreign ministry said in its statement that Champagne had urged China to "grant clemency to all Canadians facing the death penalty in China". Story continues Beijing has sentenced a number of Canadians to death on drug trafficking charges since last year, saying the cases were handled "independently in strict accordance with the law". Wang met with Champagne on the first stop of a European tour this week, during which he is expected to shore up economic and diplomatic relations with the European Union. tjx/rox/axn Efremovs defense lawyer summoned to face-to-face confrontation in client fraud case RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 15:01 26/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) Attorney Elman Pashayev currently defending actor Mikhail Efremov charged with drunken fatal crash on Wednesday was summoned to a face-to-face confrontation in a case over alleged stealing of 3 million rubles from his former client, a source familiar with the matter told RAPSI. Mass applications forced police to revive old cases against Pashayev including the case of businessman Anzor Psunokov. Earlier, a former assistant to Pashayev was arrested and taken to police. Today, Pashayev was called out to the confrontation, the source said. The lawyer confirmed his participation in the confrontations with Psunokov and accused witnesses in this case of frame-up. The case was opened against Pashayev in October 2017 upon an application of his former client Psunokov. In the course of three years, no suspects were determined, according to the agencys source. However, after Pashayevs TV appearance and turned to police that triggered the case revival, the source stated. Pashayev believes his prosecution is a police revenge for his participation in the case against Efremov. President Trump put the spotlight on his criminal justice record at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday by showing a video of him pardoning a former inmate who started a reentry program for former convicts. The full pardon for Jon Ponder aired during a segment in the first minutes of the RNC's second night. "Jon's life is a beautiful testament to the power of redemption," Trump said in a video first released by the White House on Tuesday. The president appeared with Ponder, his wife, and Richard Beasley, the now-retired FBI agent who arrested Ponder for bank robbery in 2004. Ponder and Beasley have since developed a close friendship. The pardon comes as Republicans attempt to tout the president's record on criminal justice reform while also establishing him as an ally of law enforcement. The president, however, has faced criticism for commuting the sentence of Roger Stone, the GOP operative who was found guilty of seven felonies, including witness tampering and lying to Congress during the Russia investigation, and pardoning supporter and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. On the convention's first night, speakers criticized Democratic nominee Joe Biden's role in passing the 1994 crime bill and praised the criminal justice reform bill Trump signed into law in 2018. On Thursday, Alice Johnson, a first-time nonviolent drug offender whose sentence Trump commuted in 2018, will address the convention. The president has also granted clemency to some of Johnson's friends. At the same time, the president and his allies have falsely claimed that Biden wants to defund the police, and have suggested that Black Lives Matter and other protest groups will bring crime to the suburbs if Trump loses. The segment with Ponder and Beasley, and the focus on the friendship the two men have developed, hit on both themes. Beasley said that law enforcement officers in parts of the country don't feel like they have the support of local leaders, but the president "knows that the overwhelming percentage of law enforcement officers are good, smart people who are doing their jobs very well." Story continues Ponder said he hopes that law enforcement and people in communities across the country will come together and realize what they have in common as Americans. "Not so long ago my life was running from the police, fearing the police and avoiding the police," he said. "Not because of anything that the police had done to me personally, but due to the animosity I had allowed to grow inside of me, making me believe that they were my enemy." "My first help and support came from the unlikeliest of places: the FBI agent who arrested me, Richard Beasley," he said. Trump previously highlighted the relationship between the two at a 2018 National Day of Prayer event at the White House where he shared Ponder's story. In the video that aired during the convention, Ponder said he received his first felony conviction at age 16, and spent several years over the next few decades in prison. In 2004, after he was arrested for a string of bank robberies, Ponder said, he prayed as he awaited what could have been a 23-year sentence. The judge gave him a reduced sentence. "Ever since that day, I got up off that floor and my life went in a 180-degree turn, in the other direction," he said. In 2009 he founded Hope for Prisoners, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit that offers mentorship and job training to recently incarcerated men and women. In February the president attended a graduation ceremony for the program, where he helped hand out diplomas to individuals who'd completed the program. At the time, the president said Ponder was under consideration for a full pardon. The president's decision to grant clemency to Ponder follows a move by a Nevada board in March to grant a state pardon for domestic violence charges from 1994 to 2001. BRENTWOOD, England, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lomax & Wood specialises in the supply and installation of bespoke timber doors and windows. The Brentwood-based business works with clients across the length and breadth of the UK. The company recently launched a revolutionary mobile phone app for iOS and Android. This allows customers to send in precise details of their windows and doors while maintaining social distancing. The Lomax & Wood mobile app can be downloaded onto a customer's phone from Google Play or the App Store. Once installed, the user can take photographs, add dimensions, provide descriptions, and create a complete window and door schedule. This means Lomax & Wood can provide a detailed quotation without the need to visit the customer's home or for the customer to go into the showroom. Managing Director Chris Wood explained that the development of the app as part of Lomax & Wood's ongoing strategy of finding new ways to improve the customer experience. The app means that customers can receive a quote without any transfer risk of Covid-19. Beyond that, however, it brings additional benefits in terms of convenience and flexibility. Customers do not have to arrange an appointment or wait for a representative to visit. They can prepare the information needed in their own time and on their terms. As well as providing an enquiry form for quotes, along with step-by-step instructions, the Lomax & Wood app contains extra features. These include useful "how-to" videos, a selection of case studies and a direct call facility. Lomax & Wood is believed to be the first company in the timber windows and doors industry to develop and deploy this kind of mobile app for its customers. While eager to embrace technological innovation, Lomax & Wood remains committed to traditional, bespoke workmanship. All timber windows and doors produced by the company are made as bespoke orders to the highest standards. Mr Wood remarked that while the app allows for rapid quotations, the manufacturing process is one that cannot be hurried. When completing a quote, therefore, customers are advised to allow a minimum of six weeks from commencement of manufacture to delivery and installation. The Lomax & Wood Quotation App can be found at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.lomaxwood.app&hl=en_GB and https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/lomax-wood-quotation-app/id1522876494 Contacts: Chris Wood Tel: 01277 353857 [email protected] SOURCE Lomax & Wood Related Links https://www.lomaxwood.co.uk/ Someone has recently erected a number of temporary heritage plaques in Toronto that tell a much different version of history. One of the plaques located outside Jarvis Collegiate sheds light on Upper Canada politician and known enslaver William Jarvis, who is the namesake of one of citys main arteries and a downtown Toronto high school. The plaque shares a few details about Jarvis vehement opposition to the abolition of slavery in Canada, which resulted in it being gradually phased out. Even after the anti-slavery legislation was passed, Jarvis petitioned the court to punish enslaved people who escaped his mansion to try to get married, its anonymous author wrote. The plaque went on to note after Jarvis death, his son Samuel continued his fathers oppressive legacy when as the chief superintendent of Indian Affairs he rushed through a sale of Six Nations land to the Crown without full consent. The younger Jarvis then stole at least 4,000 British pounds from the Six Nations Trust Fund and invested it in a losing venture. He was never prosecuted for this theft and no compensation has ever been paid to the Six Nations, the plaque read. Over in the west Torontos Baby Point area, near Jane and Annette streets, theres another plaque that provides some equally sobering information about Jacques James Baby, a judge and political figure in Upper Canada. Those who read this plaque learn Baby was a human trafficker who kidnapped and held Black and Indigenous people captive, forcing them to complete unpaid and brutal labour. According the plaque, Baby enslaved 17 Black and Indigenous people in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Canada. Some of these people were even passed down through the generations of the Baby family, said the plaques author, who also noted Baby was opposed to Lieut. Gov. John Graves Simcoes 1793 efforts to prohibit slavery in Upper Canada. At the bottom of both aforementioned plaques are a number of footnotes along with a quote by Irene Moore Davis, the long-time president of the Essex County Black Historical Research Society (ECBHRS), that reads: What we accept, what we honour, who we choose to honour says a lot about what we value as a society. During a recent interview, Davis, who only recently learned she was quoted in the project, said its important people learn about the real history of names, people, and places, not only the history that is being presented by certain groups and institutions to justify, perpetuate, and even deny systemic imbalances. Their version of the memory of that individual may be very different from the way other members of society are viewing it, said Davis, who said its not about denying history, but also not forgetting other equally relevant aspects of the story. We have to question who and what make up our history. People need to look a little deeper. Many of these figures were racist. Davis, who along with the ECBHRS has been advocating for streets named after enslavers in Windsor and Essex County to be revisited, said shes quite fascinated by this clandestine effort here in Toronto and said shed even like to assist and support the person running it. Id love to work with them, frankly. Its a great project, said Davis, who said she sees a lot of opportunities to grow this initiative into something really amazing. Natasha Henry, president of the Ontario Black History Society, agreed and said more than ever its important people think critically about what theyve been told and taught about Canadas history. I think these plaques are great because they question the land, the landscape, and the spaces around us, said Henry, an independent curriculum consultant who works to develop and source resources that represent and highlights the experiences of Black Canadians. They start conversations and educate people. Henry, who is also completing a PhD dissertation on Black people enslaved in Ontario, said often people celebrate and honour our countrys loyalist founding fathers do so without really knowing their true tainted past. Cited in the footnote on the Jarvis plaque, Henry said its important to understand that historical narratives are usually white-dominated and often exclude and silence Black and Indigenous voices. Think about what you know about the past and ask questions, she urged. We need to reconsider who it is were remembering and what weve decided to remember. That expresses a lot about the values people want to protect as shared values, but some actually devalue the life of others. Joanna Lavoie is a reporter with toronto.com. Reach her via email: jlavoie@toronto.com Sensex, Nifty Highlights on August 26: Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Extending gains for the fourth straight session, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 230 points higher at 39,073. The Nifty 50 index ended 77 points higher at 11,549. Meanwhile, April-June quarterly earnings announcements by Indraprastha Gas, Gillette India, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Dolat Investments, NACL Industries and Sharda Motor Industries will also set the tone for the stock market today. Yesterday, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 44 points higher at 38,843. The Nifty 50 index closed mere 5 points higher at 11,472. Here's a look at the updates of the market action on BSE and NSE today 3. 44 PM: Closing session Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Extending gains for the third straight session, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 230 points higher at 39,073. The Nifty 50 index ended 77 points higher at 11,549. 3. 39 PM: Nifty technical outlook Commenting on Nifty's technical outlook, Rohit Singre, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said, "Nifty has shifted its support to 11500-11450 zone as index traded decisively above 11500 zone so existing longs can be hold with 11500 trailing stop out and resistance is coming near 11600-11650 zone which will be immediate profit booking levels. On Nifty Bank, he added,"Nifty bank closed a day at 23434 with gains of 1.48 percent and formed a bullish candle on daily chart, supports are coming near23230-23000 zone and resistance is coming near 23600-23850 zone". 3. 20 PM: TCS shares fall 1% Shares of TCS were trading lower in Wednesday's opening trade after S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook for the IT major to stable from positive given the subdued global IT spending estimates. "We are revising our outlook on TCS to stable from positive. At the same time, we affirmed our 'A' long-term issuer credit rating on the company," S&P Global Ratings said. TCS share price slips 1% after S&P revises outlook to stable from positive 3. 10 PM: PNB shares gains 1% Share price of Punjab National Bank gained 1.5% in Wednesday's trade after the lender informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) that it received Rs 24.33 crore ($3.25 million) as the first tranche of recoveries related to the Nirav Modi case. "Punjab National Bank has informed the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA), which spearheaded the corporate governance litigation in a foreign jurisdictional court, that it has received $3.25 million (the equivalent of Rs 24.33 crore) as the first tranche of recoveries. Upon liquidation of the debtors' assets by the US Chapter 11 Trustee, a sum of $11.04 million (the equivalent of Rs 82.66 crore) is available for distribution to unsecured creditors, including PNB," MCA said in a release. PNB share rises 1.5% as bank receives $3.25 mn in recoveries 2. 55 PM: Market outlook Commenting on the current market outlook, Yash Gupta, Equity Research Associate, Angel Broking said," The rally on the Sensex is led by S&P BSE AUTO (Up 1.6%), S&P BSE BANKEX (Up .66%), while S&P BSE Telecom (down .2.04%) S&P BSE Basic Materials (Down 0.16%) and S&P BSE Healthcare (Down 0.14%) are witnessing some pressure. Rally in Auto stock led by Tata Motors and Hero motocorp in hope of GST rate reduction.The market is range bound as mix clues from global market. We expect the broader markets to be in range bound and may see some pressure due to sector specific profit booking." 2. 41 PM: Market rises further Extending gains for the third straight session, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Tthe S&P BSE Sensex gained 200 points higher at 39,050. The Nifty 50 index gained 67 points higher at 11,540. 2. 13 PM: Market rises further Extending gains for the third straight session, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Tthe S&P BSE Sensex gained 110 points higher at 38,954. The Nifty 50 index gained 45 points higher at 11,518. 1. 53 PM: Global markets Asian markets were trading mixed taking cues from movements in US markets overnight. US markets closed mostly higher as investors cheered the progress in trade talks between US and China. Also data showed 36% rise in sales of newly built homes in US last month. European markets were trading mixed today after giving up early gains as investors focused on US-China trade talks and economic data. 1. 48 PM: Top gainers and losers Bajaj Auto, followed by Bajaj Finserv, IndusInd Bank, M&M, PowerGrid, Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank and ICICI Bank were among the top gainers today. On the other hand, Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints, HCL Tech, HDFC and TCS were among the laggards. 1. 36 PM: Market Update Benchmark indices erased early gains and traded flat with a positive bias by Wednesday's afternoon session, amid mixed global equities. The S&P BSE Sensex was trading 5 points higher at 38,835. The Nifty 50 index, on the other hand, gained 11 points to 11,484. 1. 28 PM: Federal Bank update Commenting on Federal Bank, Ajit Kumar Kabi, Banking Research Analyst at LKP Securities said," Despite substantial improvement in all major operating matrix, profitability may remain under pressure in FY21 led by the higher provision for LuM. We have incorporated higher provision requirement along with steady growth in balance sheet and thus expect it to deliver RoA/ RoE of ~1%/~13% by FY22E. In our view, maximum negatives are in the price and thus we recommend BUY with a TP of Rs 71 (based on 0.8x FY22E Adj. BVPS); a potential upside of 27%." 1. 17 PM: Birla Tyres stock rises 5% Birla Tyres share hit upper circuit of 5% in early trade today after the firm said its board would meet on August 28 (Friday) to consider capital raising option. The tyre manufacturer plans to raise an amount aggregating up to Rs 1,100 crore by way of equity or debt instruments, including non-convertible debentures, among others. Buoyed by the fund raising plan, share price of Birla Tyres rose up to 4.94% to Rs 23.35 intra day on BSE. The share opened with a gain of 4.49% at Rs 23.25 against previous close of Rs 22.25. Birla Tyres stock rises 5% as firm plans to raise Rs 1,100 crore 12. 53 PM: Nifty Bank outlook Commenting on Bank Nifty, Sameet Chavan (Chief Analyst-Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking said," Banking space has gained some strength in last 3-4 days and it is clearly not letting the market fall. It has now reached it's recent crucial high around 23200-23250. Now going ahead, it would be interesting to see whether BankNifty still holds Nifty higher or a failure to surpass 23250 triggers some correction. Apart from this, some profit taking was seen in the broader market and hence, one needs to be watchful there as well." 12.39 PM: Rupee gains 7 paise to 74.33 per dollar The rupee appreciated 7 paise to 74.26 per dollar in early trade on Wednesday's opening trade, supported by foreign fund inflows and optimism surrounding trade the deal between the US and China. The local unit opened at 74.34 per dollar and gained ground to touch 74.26, up 7 paise over its previous close, of 74.33 against the US currency, even as the domestic equity market was trading in the negative territory. Rupee surges 7 paise to 74.26 per dollar amid foreign fund inflows 12.22 PM: Real estate sector update Speaking on outlook for real estate sector, Arjun Aggarwal, Managing Director, Bhartiya Urban said,"With the businesses across verticals gradually coming back on track, the real estate industry too is witnessing some positive signs of revival. However, amidst this revival, the industry is also undergoing rapid transformations. What we see now is a decisive leaning towards home ownership rather than paying heavy rentals thereby leading towards the growth of the residential real estate market. This shift which is gaining momentum during the pandemic is based on numerous reasons including the financial rationale for suburban homeownership backed by the need for safety and hygiene in the current situation and a drop in home loan interest rates. " 12. 19 PM: Nifty technical indicators Expressing views on Nifty's near term technical insights, Sameet Chavan (Chief Analyst-Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking said," Going ahead, a sustainable move below 11420 should be considered as an exit opportunity for existing longs and aggressive traders can opt to short as well. Below this, 11350-11300 are the next levels to watch out for. On the upside, 11500-11525 remains to be an immediate hurdle and in case if it extends further, we will still avoid participating in it. 12.05 PM: Two-wheeler shares gain today Shares of Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor gained up to 7% in early trade after FM Nirmala Sitharaman said GST Council would consider the proposal to reduce tax on two-wheelers. Currently, goods and services tax (GST) rate on motorcycles and scooters stands at 28 per cent. Manufacturers have been urging the government to lower GST rate on motorcycles and scooters arguing that it was not a luxury good. Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor shares rise up to 7% after FM Sitharaman hints at GST rate revision 11. 49 PM: Market Update Erasing early gains, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty turned volatile on Wednesday, amid mixed global equities. The S&P BSE Sensex was trading 34 points lower at 38,809. The Nifty 50 index, on the other hand, gained mere 1points to 11,474. 11. 32 AM: Dollar index today The dollar index held muted against a basket of major Asian currencies, as investors awaited US central bank speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, scheduled on Thursday. 11. 28 AM: Market outlook As per Geojit Financial, negative divergence seen in daily charts is yet to manifest in shorter periodicities, and towards this end, the upsides continue to be in play aiming 11800. There is a clear slow down that is evolving, but another range expansion is likely to play out in the next few days, which makes it important to continue having the downside marker placed near 11400. 11.14 AM: Coronavirus toll In India, the death toll touched 59,612 and total coronavirus cases reaching 32.34 lakh as of Tuesday. Worldwide, there were 240 lakh confirmed cases and 8.23 lakh deaths from COVID-19 outbreak. 11. 03 AM: MCX Gold On the Multi-Commodity Exchange, gold September Futures traded 0.31% or Rs 156 higher at Rs 51,080, after hitting an intraday high of Rs 51,184 against the previous close of Rs 51,165 per 10 gm. MCX gold futures currently trade almost Rs 5,026 lower than the lifetime high of Rs 56,191 per 10 gm, hit on August 7. Gold price rises for 2nd session; silver rates at Rs 63,700 10. 56 AM: Gold outlook As per Geojit Financial Services, the immediate support range of $1880-1900 levels seems to be hold and hence expect a recovery uptick for the day. However, it needs to close above $1960 to strengthen the momentum. A direct drop below $1880 is a signal of weakness. 10. 30 AM: FDC drug launch update Commenting on new drug launches by FDC Ltd which will be used for treatment of Covid-19, Mr. Yash Gupta, Equity Research Associate, Angel Broking said,"FDC Limited announces the launches Two variant's of Favipiravir Drug for Covid-19, PiFLU and Favenza- which will be used to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in India. Favipiravir has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 disease. FDC's PiFLU and Favenza are currently available across the country. This will be a very positive development for the FDC." 10. 12 AM: Gold outlook Commenting on gold outlook, Anuj Gupta, DVP- Commodities and Currencies Research, Angel Broking said,"As expected yesterday Gold prices fell by 0.67% and closed at Rs 50,924 levels. Silver also fell by 2.38% and closed at 64,007 levels. In international market Gold is trading at $1927 levels and silver is trading at $26.36 levels. Today gold prices are expected to trade on a negative note on the back of strength in Dollar. Global equity market is trading higher as investors cheered signs of progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations and following a fresh Wall Street rally and also positive cues in front of vaccine of covid-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's move to allow the blood plasma treatment was hailed by President Donald Trump. As of today, traders can go for sell in gold at Rs 51,400 levels with the stop loss of Rs 51,950 levels for the target of 50,600 levels. They can also go for sell in Silver at Rs 65,200 levels, with the stop loss of 66,800 levels and for the target of 63,000 levels. Traders can use sell on rise strategy in Gold and Silver. In the Bullion index Bulldex traders can also go for sell at 16050 with the stop loss of 16150 and for the target of 15880." 10. 07 AM: GST rate cut Commenting on the proposed GST rate cuts on two-wheelers, Jyoti Roy, DVP- Equity Strategy, Angel Broking said," There is an increasing likelihood that the GST council may take up the issues of cutting GSt rate on two wheelers from 28%. The finance minister in a CII meeting acknowledged the fact that two wheelers is neither a sin good nor a luxury good. Given that the 28% GST bracket has specifically been created for luxury and sin goods there is likelihood that the Government may take up the issue in the next GST council meeting which will have to take the decision. If the GST rate cut on the two wheeler industry is approved by the GST council then it will be positive for the industry. We expect two wheeler stocks to react positively to the news today. We continue to maintain our positive stance on the two wheeler sector with Hero Motocorp as our top pick in the sector.For MCX Gold August, resistance is placed at 51,580 and support is at 49,960. For MCX Silver August futures, the resistance is at 69,150 and the support is placed at 66,150." 10. 47 AM: Procter & Gamble Hygiene Q1 update "For 4QCY20 (June closing), Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (P&G)s top-line growth was flat yoy to Rs635cr (better than expected). Top-line was negatively impacted mainly due COVID-19 lockdown. On the operating front, the company reported improvement in margins, up 722bps yoy at 17.4%. Operating margin was up mainly due to better product mix. On the bottom-line front, P&G reported growth of 14% yoy to Rs69cr due better operating performance. Going forward we expect demand for hygiene products to remain intact (despite a slowdown in economy). Hence, we are positive on stock." 9. 57 AM: Stocks to watch today on August 26 TCS, SBI, PNB, JMC Projects, Procter & Gamble Hygiene among others are the top stocks to watch out for in Wednesday's trading session Stocks in news: TCS, SBI, PNB, JMC Projects, Procter & Gamble Hygiene 9. 46 AM: BSE Sensex derivatives hits new high BSE, the country's largest stock exchange, has registered a new all-time single day trading turnover record of Rs 1,07,673 crore on August 24, 2020, on its equity derivatives segment, Sensex 50 contracts. This happens to be the fourth consecutive session when the daily turnover has crossed 1 lakh crore. The previous high was Rs 1,03,117 crore recorded on August 21, 2020. "The Sensex 50 contracts has achieved market share of 16.52 per cent against comparable index derivatives traded in India," the BSE said. BSE Sensex derivatives hits new high, registers highest turnover of Rs 1,07,673 crore 9. 34 AM: Global markets Overseas, Asian stocks are trading mixed on Wednesday as markets cheered signs of progress in US-Sino trade negotiations but remained cautious about the broader economic outlook. Top US and Chinese officials reportedly reaffirmed their commitment to a trade deal that had appeared on shaky ground because of worsening bilateral ties following weeks of escalating tensions between the world's two largest economies. Wall street also closed mixed, taking cues from positive developments in U.S-China trade and fresh progress in the medical battle against the coronavirus pandemic. 9. 26 AM: Opening session Extending gains for the third straight session, Sensex and Nifty opened on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Tthe S&P BSE Sensex gained 85 points higher at 38,927. The Nifty 50 index gained 29 points higher at 11,501. 9. 13 AM: Nifty outlook As per Reliance Securities, NSE-NIFTY ended on a flat to positive note post a st tbrong start for the week. The index rose to almost six month high on back of strength in the PSU banking sector and frontline majors. Due to further rise in the index, its key technical indicators on the near-term timeframe chart remained in favaour of bulls. This could lead the index towards 11,537 and 11,614 levels in the near-term. In case of decline, the index will initially find support at 11,252 level and then at 11,111 mark, which coincides with its 20-day EMA and recent swing low, respectively. As for the day, support is placed at around 11,422 and then at 11,371 levels, while resistance is observed at 11,524 and then at 11,576 levels. 9.09 AM: Earnings Today Indraprastha Gas, Gillette India, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Dolat Investments, NACL Industries and Sharda Motor Industries are among companies which will disclose their Aptil-June quarter results today. 8. 55 AM: Technical Insights Nifty50 - the benchmark index traded above the crucial support level of 11350 but resistance was observed at 11,406 and 11,440 levels. On the near term outlook for market indices, Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking said, "The recent buoyancy in the banking space is helping the index to inch higher while other index heavyweights are seeing a pause. We reiterate our bullish view on markets and suggest continuing with the 'buy on dips' approach." 8. 50 AM: FII/ DII action Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 1,481.20 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net sellers to the tune of Rs 172.97 crore in the Indian equity market on 25 August, provisional data showed. 8. 40 AM: Rupee closing Amid volatility in the equity market, Indian rupee that opened 15 paise higher gave up gains and ended flat at 74.32 per dollar, as against yesterday's close of 74.31, after hitting day's low of 74.51 per US dollar. 8. 45 AM: Market outlook Commenting on markets closing today, Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst, Deen Dayal Investments said," The market was in a see-saw mood all of today. We travelled in a narrow range of 50-70 points throughout the day but the bias remained positive until closing time. We are still aiming at reaching the 11,700 mark during the course of the next couple of weeks and 11,300 continues to remain the support for the Nifty." 8. 30 AM: Closing Domestic benchmarks erased early gains on account of mixed global cues and ended tad higher on Tuesday, amid heavy buying in banking and financials. Extending gains for the third straight session, the S&P BSE Sensex ended 44 points higher at 38,843. The Nifty 50 index closed mere 5 points higher at 11,472. Sensex ends 44 points higher, Nifty at 11,472; IndusInd Bank, SBI top gainers Manolis Kogevinas, researcher and Scientific Director of the Severo Ochoa Distinction at the ISGlobal, a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, has received the 2020 John Goldsmith Award, the highest honour awarded by the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE). The John Goldsmith Award recognises "sustained and outstanding contributions to the knowledge and practice of environmental epidemiology" and is awarded annually to professionals who have "contributed in substantive and innovative fashion to the methods and practice" of this scientific discipline. This year's winner was announced at the ISEE annual conference. Manolis Kogevinas has a long and distinguished career in environmental epidemiology. He is the author of more than 600 scientific journal articles that have amassed more than over 50,000 citations. He has supervised 15 doctoral theses. He previously served as co-director of the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) and worked at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO). He is an advisor to several WHO expert committees and European scientific committees. In the last five years alone, he has chaired two IARC Monograph meetings. He has served as ISEE president (2016-2017) and director of the European Educational Programme in Epidemiology (EEPE) in Florence, Italy. In recent years, Kogevinas's research has focused on occupational health, the health effects of circadian disruption and the assessment and control of the effects of chemical contaminants in drinking water. His track record includes large-scale international epidemiological studies. A committed public health advocate, Kogevinas plays an active role in Europe and worldwide in promoting environmental epidemiology research and translating research findings into policy and law. "I am very honoured to receive this award," commented Kogevinas. "In addition to being the highest honour in the world of environmental health, it also recognises the essential link between research and prevention policies, which is especially important now, as we face the COVID-19 pandemic," said Kogevinas. This is the third time in the last six years that an ISGlobal professional has won the John Goldsmith Award. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen and Jordi Sunyer received the award in 2018 and 2014, respectively, illustrating ISGlobal's strength in the world of global research on environmental health. ### About ISGlobal The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, is the fruit of an innovative alliance between the "la Caixa" Foundation and academic and government institutions to contribute to the efforts undertaken by the international community to address the challenges in global health. ISGlobal is a consolidated hub of excellence in research that has grown out of work first started in the world of health care by the Hospital Clinic and the Parc de Salut MAR and in the academic sphere by the University of Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University. The pivotal mechanism of its work model is the transfer of knowledge generated by scientific research to practice, a task undertaken by the institute's Education and Policy and Global Development departments. ISGlobal has been named a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence and is a member of the CERCA programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The impulsiveness and grandiosity, the bullying and vulgarity, were obvious from the beginning; if anything, they accounted for Adolf Hitlers anti-establishment appeal. For Germanys unpopular conservative elites, Hitlers energy and theatrics made him an enticing partner when they appointed him chancellor on Jan. 30, 1933. But anyone who thought the Nazis would be content with their share that Hitler would rise to the occasion or be hemmed in by it, becoming a dignified statesman who sought compromise was summarily purged from the system that conservatives assumed they controlled. An utter impossibility had become the indomitable reality. The Weimar Republic had become the Third Reich. It would take another world war, a genocide and millions of dead before the dictatorship finally collapsed in 1945, a full 12 years after Hitler was invited into power. In the second and final volume of his biography of Hitler, Volker Ullrich argues that the very qualities that accounted for the dictators astonishing rise were also what brought about his ultimate ruin. Hitler: Downfall, 1939-1945 arrives in English four years after the publication of Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939. Its a biographical project that consumed eight years of Ullrichs life and took a definite psychological toll, he writes in his introduction to the second volume. Like the British historian Ian Kershaw, who divided his own two-volume biography of Hitler into Hubris and Nemesis, Ullrich suggests that the Hitlerian regime was capable of only two registers: euphoria and despair. Hitler was shrewd about seizing power, but he was too restless and reckless to govern. A Third Reich that cultivated peaceful stability was simply unfathomable. Downfall begins just after Hitlers 50th birthday, with the Fuhrer entertaining thoughts of invading Poland as if it were a present to himself. I have overcome the chaos in Germany, restored order and hugely increased productivity in all areas of our national economy, he bragged to the Reichstag, even if the actual situation was considerably less stellar than he proclaimed. Years of enormous military expenditures had pushed Germany to the brink of economic collapse. Hitler had made a mess, and a war would clean it up. The idea, Ullrich writes, was to transfer the costs of this financial crisis to the peoples that Germany was going to subjugate. To the editor: Admit it. Just admit it. But you don't have to. I'll just do it for you. What political party is subliminally cheering on the COVID-19 virus, what country of origin initiated the spread of the virus, and who would be the biggest benefactors of a shutdown world superpower? The only people who weren't happy still (before the China Virus came to our country) was the folks still upset three years later that Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't win the 2016 election. Our economy was never better, more disposable income for everyone and American pride was everywhere. Let's take this momentum by eliminating any and all things which gives us enjoyment, along with the parallel ability to earn a living as well. Schools, colleges, universities, service industries, tourism, extra curricular activities for our youth, you name it. Even social contact was taken away. Translation: Since we're not happy because Donald Trump won, let's take way anything and everything that makes you happy. And if you even make this narrative "politically" driven, you will be dealt with accordingly. Unless your narrative is 100% directed to blaming your duly elected president for all of this. Courtesy of our unbiased American media today, your platform of anger will be much louder. Here's some advice: No matter what you do, what you take away, what you ban and how bad you want to break us. President Trump will win reelection on Nov. 3. And there's nothing you can do to stop us. Absolutely nothing. CHARLES MURPHY Midland NEW YORK, NY AUGUST 26, 2020: Penske Media Corporation (PMC)s Robb Report today announced the appointment of David Arnold to Vice Chairman. In Arnolds new role, he will be responsible for developing new revenue-generating initiatives to both leverage and extend Robb Reports authority in the luxury space on a global scale. His new position will allow him to move away from the day-to-day management of a sales team to instead focus on new business development, including identifying and developing new acquisitions and partnerships for the brand. He will additionally extend to developing projects across PMCs Art Media business, which includes ARTnews and Art in America. Arnold will move into his new role once a new sales lead is named, and he will report to PMCs Executive Vice President and General Manager of Operations Tom Finn. Davids deep understanding of the luxury space enables him to perceive exciting and lucrative opportunities, said PMC Chairman and CEO Jay Penske. For this reason and more, I am eager to work with him in furthering the Robb Report brand globally. During his 13 years at the brand, Arnold has led the Robb Report team to grow from a largely print-based U.S. business to a global multimedia, multi-platform brand. Under his leadership, the business innovated in a multitude of areas and built successful event franchises in the culinary, automotive, watch and other influential luxury spaces. The PMC acquisition three years ago enabled Robb Report to reinvigorate a venerable brand to remain highly competitive and look to a future where its authority and brand equity in the global luxury market can be leveraged in even greater ways, said Arnold. The next chapter promises to be innovative, disruptive and rewarding. I am looking forward to the opportunity to build on our foundation and work closely with Art Media. Prior to joining Robb Report, Arnold spent 13 years at Hearst Corporationseven years as the publisher of House Beautiful, and six years at Town & Country. He is an authority on the luxury market and lifestyle, quoted in numerous publications and national broadcast outlets including CNBC, FOX Business News, and Bloomberg. Story continues More from Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Three months after the brutal rape and murder of Vera Omozuwa, a 100-level student of the University of Benin, the Edo State Police Command on Wednesday paraded six suspects in connection with the crime. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the victim, Vera Omozuwa, a 100-level Microbiology student of UNIBEN, was beaten inside a hall in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City on May 13, where she went to study. She died on May 31, 18 days after, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. She was 23 years old. Suspects Parading the suspects at the commands headquarters in Benin City, the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, gave their names as Nelson Ogbebor, Akato Valentine, Tina Samuel, Mary Ade, Nosa Osabohien and Collins Ulegbe. Mr Kokumo said the police decided to intensify efforts in unravelling those behind the death of the student following public outcry and the interest by the Inspector-General of Police in the matter. He said, the matter was a great concern to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Muhammed Adamu who sent to us here in Benin, homicide experts to work with our policemen at the state criminal investigation department. What we are seeing today, is a result of the uniting efforts of the police to get at the root of the crime, and today, I announce to you and making public through this medium that the perpetrators have been arrested. Mr Kokumo said the post-mortem result revealed that Ms Uwaila was raped. The post-mortem results had confirmed that she was raped, he said. He said he had earlier told the people of the state and Nigeria at large that the police would do all in their powers to unmask those behind her death. I assured the good people of Edo State that we will leave no stone unturned to unravel the mystery behind this, he said. He said they (suspects) had made confessional statements. CEO of ALONE, Sean Moynihan said: "The report published recently by the Nursing Homes Expert Panel has highlighted many of the deficiencies within the nursing home sector and in the wider health and social care infrastructure in Ireland. However, much of the recommendations within the report have long been advocated for by ALONE and by many who are caring, supporting and working with and for older people." ALONE welcomes the recommendations outlined in the report, but says 'immediate action' is needed to ensure that the thousands of vulnerable older people currently living in nursing homes across the country are protected and safe. Mr Moynihan said: "The question we should be asking is why so many of the measures in the report have not already been introduced, long before COVID-19. Single rooms, proper infection controls, better staff terms, professionalisation and training should have been longstanding measures within the nursing home sector. With the arrival and continued presence of COVID-19 in Ireland, the urgent reassessment of the nursing home sector to safeguard our older people has been brought to the fore. Nursing homes need to be brought into line with wider health and social care infrastructure in Ireland." He said: "We also need to will give our older people the choice and opportunity to age at home, which would ease pressure on acute medical services. This is done by providing a statutory right to home care and is also significantly cheaper compared to nursing home care; under this scheme everyone that needs home care is entitled to receive it. Home care is a fraction of the cost for example 160 per week compared to over 1,500 for nursing home care. However, the waiting list for home care continues to grow, with around 8,000 people in need of home care." Mr Moynihan said: "Make no mistake, nursing homes provide a valuable support to older people with complex needs. However, older people have been prematurely moved to nursing homes and stuck in hospitals because they could not avail of the necessary supports to live in their own home. We need urgent investment, we have been waiting years for the investment in community, home care and housing services for an aging population. Every year we seem to lose out in the budget process." He said: "This is an uncertain time for all of us, yet older people have been one of the hardest hit groups by COVID-19, and while certain measures were necessary to protect them from the virus. We have seen a massive spike in calls to the National Support Line from older people seeking advice on COVID-19 and the need or our support. We are doing everything possible to keep morale high amongst the older people we work with, promoting mental and physical wellbeing, helping older people to stay engaged and reminding them to reach out for anything they may need." ALONE is encouraging older people who need advice to call ALONE on 0818 222 024 from 8am-8pm, seven days a week. Contact ALONE if you have concerns about your own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person you know. Further information can be found on www.alone.ie. Social Democratic Party (PSD) national leader Marcel Ciolacu announced on Wednesday that the motion of censure tabled by the Social Democrats will be put up to a vote on August 31. "The motion of censure will be up for a vote on Monday - August 31! The Orban government must leave !!!", Ciolacu wrote on Facebook. AGERPRES . KEY HIGHLIGHTS A GST cut on two-wheelers is back on the table after FM Nirmala Sitharaman said they are not sin product Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds are in the highest slab of 28% GST right now. A 10% cut to the next slab of 18% will see significant reduction in prices Sale of two-wheelers has declined by over 60% in first four months of this fiscal so far. Motorcycles are witnessing a faster recovery in sales GST cut may however stretch government finances. Automobile sector contributes 15% of overall GST collections in the country After being taken for a ride in 2019, the domestic two-wheeler industry is hoping Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will provide relief to the sector by reducing GST to 18 per cent later this week. On Tuesday, Sitharaman while interacting with members of industry body Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) had said the suggestion of reducing GST on two-wheelers was a good one and the government will consider it. Two wheelers are bracketed in the highest of the four slabs under GST, which is mostly reserved for products that are considered either as luxury or sin, like cigarettes and cars. The next meeting of the GST council will happen on Thursday. "Since two-wheelers are neither a luxury nor a sin product, they merit a rate revision. Consequently this will be taken with the GST Council," she had said. ALSO READ: GST Council may consider proposal to cut tax on two-wheelers A reduction in GST by 10 per cent on two-wheelers could result in a significant cut in prices of motorcycles and scooters by up to Rs 10,000. This can provide a much needed boost to the industry that has seen sales contract by over 60 per cent in the first four months of this fiscal so far. India is one of the largest markets for two-wheelers in the world with more than 17 million units sold in 2019-20 but over 90 per cent of them are small commuter motorcycles and scooters that cost less than Rs 70,000 and are used as a means of last mile connectivity by the middle class in the country. Manufacturers believe a reduction in GST at this time when the festive season is about to begin will help improve consumer sentiment in the market. "We welcome the Finance Minister's consideration of a GST tax reduction for two-wheelers and determining that two-wheelers are an essential tool for personal mobility. Post the slowdown due to COVID-19, the lowering of GST rate at the earliest, will be a welcome move as it will facilitate the much-needed revival in demand ahead of the festive season," said Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director, TVS Motor Company. "Further, in the era of social distancing, customers are looking for affordable personal mobility options and this reduction, if implemented, will make these options more accessible to them. Lowering of GST rates will also help the entire ecosystem of manufacturers, auto ancillaries to dealers, supply chain partners and related vendors. We will await the next steps and hope this is done soon to give clarity to customers who are seeking to enter the market." ALSO READ: Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor shares rise up to 7% after FM hints at GST rate revision This is not however the first time that the Finance Minister has raised hopes only to disappoint later. Similar noises had emanated from the North Block in August last year as well and the industry was left hanging for over a month before lack of consensus in the GST Council meant the proposal could not go through. "The wait for a cut last year went on for far too long...almost till the middle of the festive season. Customers postponed their purchases and we lost precious time," a senior executive with a two-wheeler maker in Delhi said. "If they cut taxes, it is great but I am keeping my expectations low this time. They should talk less about it and just do it if they have to. The uncertainty is worse than not doing it." The demand for a cut in taxes is not just restricted to two-wheelers. Industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has recommended government should reduce GST across all segments in the country. With an additional cess of 1-22 per cent, the applicable duty on passenger vehicles is even higher ranging between 29 and 50 per cent. It is one of the highest in the world. "We were never really hopeful but Tuesday's statement makes it clear that a cut in taxes on cars is out of question," said an executive with one of the leading car manufacturers of the country. "We are on our own. The government is there only to milk us through taxes and will not come to our aid even if we are dying. That is the harsh reality." ALSO READ: West Bengal FM urges Centre to pay compensation cess ahead of GST meet Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:57:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society will issue official notifications to brand name social media networks, asking them to block access to websites which are deemed to be breaching Thai law, said Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta on Wednesday. The minister said he had sought court orders to block an additional 1,024 web links including 661 Facebook links, 289 YouTube links and 69 Twitter links. "These powerful social media giants do understand Thai law, so I hope they will comply with the Thai court's order to shut down links that breach the Thai law," said Buddhipongse. "There are just some issues of Thailand that should not be discussed or presented in a negative manner in open websites or social media," the minister explained. Buddhipongse said he had just received a feedback from Facebook Singapore that it will block URLs that are deemed detrimental to Thailand's image. The Thai court had on Aug. 10, given Facebook 15 days to remove information which violates the Computer Crime Act or face legal action. "And so today (Aug. 26) the ministry had already received an agreement from Facebook that it will remove the URLs posted into its social media page," said Buddhipongse. The minister said that in April alone, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry received complaints about 1,365 URLs and sent letters and emails to ask Facebook to remove them, though Facebook took down only 236 links and has not yet removed the other 1,129 pages despite court orders. Enditem The Tennessee Supreme Court has unanimously held that a court may not retroactively correct, or reform, a deed when reformation would harm parties with valid recorded liens on the property and would benefit other parties who bought the property with notice of the liens. Courts in Tennessee have the authority to correct an error in a written agreement, such as a deed, if the error was caused by the mutual mistake of the parties to the agreement. To correct a mutual mistake, the parties must prove by clear and convincing evidence that they reached an agreement, they intended to put the agreement into writing, the written agreement is materially different than the agreement they previously reached, and the error in the written agreement was not caused by the gross negligence of the party seeking to correct it. Reformation is an equitable remedy, thus before granting reformation, courts should consider how reformation would affect the parties. Adren and Pamela Greene, facing possible foreclosure and lawsuits over development property they owned, decided to quitclaim other property that they owned to a limited liability company. The Greenes signed several quitclaim deeds and thought they had conveyed all of their jointly owned property to the limited liability company. But Mrs. Greenes name was left off the quitclaim deed to property on West First North Street in Morristown that the Greenes owned jointly. No one noticed the mistake until seven years later, after Scott Trent and Ted Trent had bought the property. Before the Trents bought the property, Mountain Commerce Bank and Peoples Community Bank had sued the Greenes, obtained judgments against them, and recorded the judgments in the Hamblen County Register of Deeds office. Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 66-26-102, once a deed or a judgment has been recorded, it is notice to all the world of the lien. The Greenes tried to fix the mistake in the quitclaim deed for the West First North Street property by signing a corrected quitclaim deed explaining that Mrs. Greene had intended to convey her interest in that property to the limited liability company but had been accidentally left off of the original quitclaim deed. The Trents, along with Civis Bank which had financed the Trents purchase of the property, filed a petition in the Hamblen County Chancery Court asking the court to enter a judgment stating that the corrected quitclaim deed reformed the original quitclaim deed. This would mean that both Mr. and Mrs. Greenes ownership in the property was conveyed to the limited liability company as of the date of the original quitclaim deed, which would deprive Mountain Commerce Bank and Peoples Community Bank of their liens. The chancery court denied the petition, ruling there had been no mutual mistake of the parties to the original quitclaim deed because Mrs. Greene had not been a party to the original quitclaim deed. The Court of Appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court granted review of the case. In the unanimous opinion, authored by Justice Sharon G. Lee, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that the deed should not be reformed. The Court determined that it would not be equitable to deprive the banks of their liens to the benefit of the Trents, who had constructive notice of Mrs. Greenes remaining ownership interest and of the banks liens but failed to protect their own interests. Two Toronto Buddies Launch Brokinis the Bikini for Men Do You Even Bikini, Bro? The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. Product photos from retailer site. This one's for the bros. Two buddies from Toronto just launched the Brokini a small line of suspiciously stylish, one-shouldered bathing suits for dudes and it just might be ready to take the men's swimwear world by storm. RELATED: Gynecomastia 101: How to Get Rid of Man Boobs Chad Sasko and Taylor Field got the idea for their new business venture from the wild bachelor parties they've been attending while clad in crazy bathing suits (because that's a thing, maybe). Presumably while on the hunt for their next greatest piece of poolside attire, they set their eyes on an actual wrestling leotard and realized the style could actually make for some snazzy swimwear. Brokini "They were pretty awesome, but they were actually see-through," Sasko told BlogTO, probably speaking from experience ... a very awkward, virtually-bare-assed-at-a-party experience. "We wanted to make something you could actually swim in, so we started reaching out to manufacturers and found one." Yes, you read that correctly. The guys are completely serious about the Brokini, having thrown down $5,000 of their own money to get 250 of these specific swimsuits made for not-yet-widespread consumption. They retail for just $40 each and are currently available in flirty Fineapple and beguiling Bromingo prints. So, does the Brokini look like something out of a Flintstones cosplay handbook? Sure. Will it give you tan lines you'll instantly regret? Absolutely. But, as the boys point out in the official product description, it will also make "even small weenies look schmedium" as the "shoulder sling draws attention to your dong." And at the end of the day, all that matters is a big dong, right? While their business is only about a week old, they hope you'll be seeing the Brokini in stores soon as they reach out to retail outlets and fund some paid ads (as well as astonished media outlets like ours). For now, however, you can grab your own Brokini over at Brokinis.com. "We wanted to come up with a bathing suit that's fun for goofing around on the beach, cottage weekends, bachelor parties, and festivals," Sasko said, mindful of the fact that the brand is all about embracing fun and not taking yourself too seriously. "It's not the ideal summer to be launching given COVID but Brokinis might be a great way to keep people six feet away from you." That sounds about right. You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. Actor Yoon Je-moon / Courtesy of Indie Story By Kwak Yeon-soo Actor Yoon Je-moon recalled that filming nostalgic drama "Fukuoka" was refreshing because he was able to throw away his usual character of a villain and transform into that of a kind and warm-hearted man. In the film, Yoon plays Je-moon, a second-hand bookstore owner, who is dragged along on a trip by longtime customer So-dam (Park So-dam) to Fukuoka to meet his long estranged friend Hae-hyo (Kwon Hae-hyo). The two parted ways 28 years earlier after falling in love with the same girl, who eventually left both of them. Hae-hyo moved to the girl's hometown of Fukuoka to look for her, but never saw her again. Struggling to get over his ex-girlfriend, Hae-hyo has been running a bar in the Japanese city and growing old alone, just like Je-moon. Despite initial bickering, the two men and So-dam travel across the city and reflect on their past, wondering if things would have turned out differently if they had made different choices. On playing the character of the same name, Yoon said he was able to bridge the gap between himself and the character and feel natural on camera. "I share many character traits with my onscreen characters. Even if I play a villain, I try to bring out my dark side I think that there are similar personality traits or emotions inside of me," he said in a written interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday. "As an actor who has to express a particular emotion in a given situation, I tried to put emotion into and deliver each line perfectly without exaggerating." Yoon said he was thrilled to work with Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu again after starring in the filmmaker's earlier work "Ode to the Goose" in 2018. Zhang started as a novelist in China and made the directorial debut in 2001 with short film "Eleven," which competed at the 58th Venice International Film Festival. His other works include "Grain in Ear" (2005) and "Dooman River" (2011). Referred to as the final film of Zhang's city trilogy "Gyeongju" (2014) and "Ode to the Goose," "Fukuoka" centers on the Japanese city. "Personally, it was a great experience to work with Zhang because I was his longtime fan," Yoon said. A poster for the film "Fukuoka" / Courtesy of Indie Story The veteran actor also commented on starring alongside actors Kwon and Park. "Kwon and I have been friends since we performed on stages in Seoul's theater district Daehakro. With 'Fukuoka,' we became closer," Yoon said. "Although Park is much younger than me, I couldn't feel the large age gap. I was impressed by how she fully concentrated on her role when filming." Yoon is set to star in Im Sang-soo's "Heaven: To the Land of Happiness," which revolves around two men who embark on a journey together in pursuit of happiness. Yoon revealed that he has grown tired of playing bad guys. "I want to play genuinely nice, warm characters in the future," he said. "I think the audience will find my character easily approachable in 'Fukuoka.'" "Fukuoka," which has premiered at several international film festivals including the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, will hit the local theaters on Aug. 27. OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 2020 has been anything but normal for students and teachers with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As many schools across the nation prepare to resume classes virtually, a new white paper from Express Employment Professionals explores why now is the perfect time to revolutionize the education system. The new white paper dives deeper into a survey commissioned by Express in conjunction with The Harris Poll that revealed nearly 9 in 10 employees (87%) agree a whole new approach to education, skills training and learningan "education revolution"is needed to prepare people for the workforce. And of those employees, 40% "strongly agree" with that sentiment. The key challenges survey respondents identified include: The gap between skills needed and skills taught The lack of work study or earn-and-learn opportunities The cost and utility of college and higher education The rapid changes of this year only further revealed what was ultimately not working with the education system before the pandemicwhen too many students entered the workforce unprepared for the jobs available to them. This unwanted disruption is a challenge but also an opportunity to refocus curriculum on what Americans say matters for their careers. Regardless of whether government policy changes are made to address these concerns, it is critical for everyoneemployers, educators, policymakers, students and moreto have a clearer understanding of employees' relationship with and perspectives on the education system, as well as what each can do in response. Other notable topics in the white paper include: Confidence in preparation to handle aspects of work Combining education and experience Accessibility and affordability of college Lifelong learning Upskilling "Historically, during difficult times is often when a society sees the most innovation. This pandemic has exposed which jobs are absolutely essential to the economy, and we need to make sure we are preparing students adequately for the workforce of today and tomorrow," Express CEO Bill Stoller said. "Now is the time for an education revolution." About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, we're in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offer localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit www.ExpressPros.com. SOURCE Express Employment Professionals Related Links http://www.expresspros.com WASHINGTON Its the paradox of a pandemic that has crushed the U.S. economy: 12.9 million lost jobs and a dangerous rash of businesses closing, yet the personal finances of many Americans have remained strong and in some ways even have improved. A poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 45 percent of Americans say theyre setting aside more money than usual. Twenty-six percent are paying down debt faster than they were before the coronavirus pandemic. In total, about half of Americans say theyve either saved more or paid down debt since the outbreak began. The findings highlight the unique nature of the current crisis. Nearly $3 trillion in government aid in the form of direct payments, expanded jobless benefits and forgivable payroll loans helped cushion against the fastest economic downturn in American history. Meanwhile, health fears and mandated closures prompted many Americans to spend less on restaurant meals, clothing and travel. About two-thirds say theyre spending less than usual during the pandemic. Since February, there has been a $1.3 trillion jump in money kept in checking accounts a 56 percent increase tracked by the Federal Reserve. While the greater savings helps to keep families more financially secure, it also may limit the scope of any recovery in a country that relies on consumer spending for growth. Kent Sullivan, a landscape painter from Orlando, Fla., has been making extra mortgage payments. The 68-year-old and his wife received $1,200 in direct government payments and hope to own their home free and clear within 18 months. Everything goes into extra mortgage payments, he said. As an artist, its feast or famine. You never know if youre going to get a big commission or if the gallery does well. The findings shed light on a persistent riddle of a global pandemic in which a weakened economy somehow has spared most U.S. families from the worst of the financial toll. Just 37 percent call the national economy good, down from 67 percent in January. But at the same time, 63 percent describe their personal financial situation as good, largely in line with what it was before the pandemic began more than six months ago. Peoples positive feelings about their own finances also might be helping President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election this November against former Vice President Joe Biden. About half of Americans, 47 percent, approve of how Trump is handling the economy. Thats significantly higher than his overall favorable rating of 35 percent. Hes a businessman, not a politician, said Sally Gansz, 78, from Trinidad, Colo. Hell get jobs back he did it before. But while the initial burst of aid helped Americans, Trump who touted his ability as a dealmaker in real estate couldnt reach an agreement with Democrats to keep the money flowing after many of the benefits expired this month. Alan Vervaeke, 59, from Gilford, N.H., said the Trump administrations failure to contain COVID-19 has forced the government to take on debt, rather than investing in infrastructure and scientific research that could help growth long-term. The American economy is going to come back, but I dont think its going to be as robust, said Vervaeke, a military veteran who manages software engineers. We need an actual statesman who can create opportunities for average Americans, instead of politicians making a lot of promises they may never keep. About a quarter of Americans say theyve been unable to pay at least one bill because of the pandemic, including 14 percent whove been unable to make a rent or mortgage payment, 14 percent who have been unable to pay a credit card bill and 21 percent who have been unable to pay another type of bill. Seventeen percent have been unable to pay multiple types of bills. The downturn also has exposed the depth of inequality in the United States. About half of Black Americans and roughly 4 in 10 Hispanics say theyve been unable to pay a bill, compared with about 2 in 10 Anglos. And 66 percent of Hispanics say theyve experienced household income loss, compared with 50 percent of Blacks and 44 percent of Anglos. Overall, about half of Americans say theyve experienced at least one form of household income loss. That includes 23 percent who say theyve experienced a household layoff, 34 percent who say someone in the household has been scheduled for fewer hours, 22 percent whove taken unpaid time off and 25 percent whove had their wages or salaries reduced. People in households that have lost income, including a layoff, are about as likely as those who have not to say theyve been spending less, saving more and paying down debt, though they are also more likely to say theyve been unable to pay at least one type of bill. Overall, 48 percent of those who say someone in their household has been laid off have been unable to pay at least one type of bill, compared with 19 percent of those who have not. Those who say theyve spent less during the pandemic are much more likely than those who have not to say theyre putting more into savings (58 percent to 21 percent) and paying down debt faster than usual (32 percent to 15 percent). Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison said all customers of the nine collapsed banks have been paid their locked-up funds. He was speaking at a meeting with President Akufo-Addo after the latters working visit to the Central Bank on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. We had the [banking sector] reform in two phases. The first phase had to do with the banking system where we revoked the licenses of the banks. Depositors got their monies. He, however, indicated that there were some outstanding payments to be made to customers of collapsed microfinance companies, savings and loans, and finance houses. The second phase of payment has to do with the SDIs Savings and Loans and Microfinance Institutions and in their case, more than 95 percent of depositors have been paid so there is just about 5 percent of depositors who have not been paid. Following the revocation of the licences of the 347 microfinance companies, 39 micro-credit institutions and 23 savings and loans companies, a validation of the affected customers commenced on November 18, 2019, with the aim of repayment. Processes for the payment of valid claims of those who had their monies locked up in the defunct companies commenced on Monday, February 24, 2020, but some persons have complained of not receiving their funds. There have been suggestions that the Central Bank should print money to pay up customers locked up funds but Dr. Addission has dismissed this suggestion. He argued that although the bank is committed to paying depositors' locked-up funds, printing money has not been part of its plans as it has the potential to undo all that the bank has achieved over the past couple of years. ---citinewsroom Biden Condemns Kenosha Rioting: Burning Down Communities Is Not Protest Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, facing pressure to denounce ongoing rioting in Wisconsin, condemned violence sparked by the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake this week. What I saw on that video makes me sick, Biden said in a videotaped post on social media. Once again, a black man, Jacob Blake, has been shot by the police in broad daylight with the whole world watching. He later said he spoke to his family and told them that justice will be meted out. However, Biden, the former vice president, stipulated that burning down communities is not protestits needless violence. Violence that endangers lives, violence that guts businesses, and shutters businesses that serve the community. Thats wrong. The former vice president cited comments from Blakes mother, Julia Jackson. She looked at the damage done in her community and she said, This doesnt reflect my son or my family, he said. Put yourself in the shoes of every black father and black mother in this country and ask, Is this what we want America to be? Is this the country we should be? Biden, in recent days, has come under pressure to denounce the nationwide wave of violence in the wake of George Floyds death in May that led to riots, arson incidents, vandalism, and anti-police sentiment. President Donald Trump has said that if Biden is elected, it would lead to mass anarchy, violence, and further dismantling of police departments. Trump also has said that Democrat-run cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Chicago have seen a wave in crime in the wake of rioting sparked by Floyds death. Democrats must address the rioting, otherwise, they will lose in November, CNN anchor Don Lemon said. I think Democrats are ignoring this problem, are hoping that it will go away, Lemon said on Aug. 25. And its not going to go away. In this still image obtained from video, a man is wounded amid rioting in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 25, 2020. (@Louriealex/Instagram via Reuters) Shooting Incident A video uploaded online appeared to show police officers in Kenosha, located about 65 miles north of Chicago, shooting Blake several times. Earlier, Blake was seen hurriedly walking away from officers who had guns drawn before trying to enter his SUV and appeared to try to grab something from the vehicle. Other footage appeared to show Blake in a struggle with officers before he walked to his vehicle. The shooting occurred after officers responded to a domestic incident on Aug. 23. According to police scanner audio, a woman called 911 to report Blake at her home when he wasnt supposed to be, and that he had taken her keys and wouldnt give them back. A dispatcher said that Blake had an arrest warrant for sexual assault issued in July. Following two nights of civil unrest that included arson, vandalism, and riots, two people were shot and killed on the third night. Kenosha police confirmed that at around 11:45 p.m. on Aug. 25, they responded to reports of shots being fired and multiple gunshot victims that resulted in two fatalities and a third gunshot victim was transported to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A 17-year-old male was arrested Aug. 26 in connection with the shooting, police said. Individuals involved in the shooting were part of groups taking part in illegal activity following a curfew, Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis told reporters. The result of it was, two people are dead. Footage posted online appears to show several people attacking a man before he was knocked to the ground; additional video appears to show a man shooting another man in a Car Source parking lot. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. The streaming platform Amazon Prime Video revealed a stunning photo mosaic movie poster featuring a massive number of pictures shared by fans making the V symbol on a specially dedicated website for the movie. Directed and written by Mohana Krishna Indraganti, the Telugu thriller V stars Natural star Nani & Sudheer Babu in the lead along with Nivetha Thomas and Aditi Rao Hydari in prominent roles. Amazon Prime Video yesterday raised the excitement quotient of its much-awaited Telugu action-packed thriller, V, with an extraordinary trailer launch! With fans eagerly awaiting the film's release with bated breath, the streaming platform created a specially-dedicated website for the trailer launch, that featured a stunning photo mosaic movie poster that included the pictures of 6,45,543 fans across the globe making the 'V' symbol! Taking to their social media handle, Amazon Prime Video posted, "And as promised, here is the #VTrailerOnPrime Film projector: https://youtu.be/eBcYKDUT8fs #VOnPrime, September 5! @NameisNani @isudheerbabu @i_nivethathomas @aditiraohydari @mokris_1772 @SVC_official #DilRaju #Shirish #HarshithReddy @ItsAmitTrivedi @MusicThaman @pgvinda #MarthandKVenkatesh." The riveting trailer delves into the life of a cop who falls in love with a crime writer. With his life being filled with happiness, things take a turn for the worst when a killer puts across a challenge to him with a puzzle to solve. The showdown between good versus bad leads to the duo facing consequences that are laced with a whole lot of heavy-duty action, playful romance and humour. Speaking about the highly-anticipated trailer launch, 'Natural' star Nani said, "For any artist, it is an out-of-the-world feeling to see fans shower you with love and appreciation! The movie is special to me - since it marks my 25th film. To have found such an interesting way to honour all my fans through this unique reveal has been truly exciting. The trailer is a sneak peek into the action-packed, edge-of-the-seat thrill that the movie promises! This is also my 3rd film with Sri Venkateswara Creations and the director Mohana Krishna which makes it all the more special. It is always a pleasure working with them." Commenting about the trailer that scores high on fan engagement, actor Sudheer Babu revealed, "Fans enjoy the atmosphere of a big release. We didn't want to take that fun away from them this time. I'm happy to see the fans participating in the trailer launch. They have always been my strength. V is an action drama which is worth their wait. Our collective efforts will be appreciated, I'm sure about it. The humongous response for the trailer is an indication of that." Actress Nivetha Thomas too, is grateful for the plaudits that the trailer has garnered. The actor said, "I express my sincere gratitude to all the fans around the world for their constant support and love! They made the trailer launch of our film V very special. We're nearing release and I cannot wait for the audience to watch the film and share their views." Sharing her thoughts on the trailer, Actor Aditi Rao Hydari, said, "Always grateful for the unconditional love that our fans have showered on us throughout. It is their love and support that keeps us going and inspires us to work harder each time. I think V is a wonderful tribute to Nani as this is his 25th film." Produced by Dil Raju, Shirish and Harshith Reddy, V is directed by Mohana Krishna Indraganti with music composed by Amit Trivedi. Also Read : Nani-Sudheer Babu's V Movie Story Leaked Days Before Its Release On Amazon Prime Prime members in India and in 200 countries and territories can stream the digital premiere of Telugu title V, releasing September 5th, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Also Read : Here's Why Tollywood Makers Should Opt For OTT Platforms Skipping Conventional Theatrical Release Butin PR appears on PR News Top 100 list alongside some of Americas traditional public relations powerhouses. Butin PR has been named to the inaugural Agency Elite Top 100 listing of the nations most innovative and strategic public relations firms. The brand new listing, announced in mid-August, was compiled by PR News, whose publications and programs serve the communications, public relations and marketing communities. Now in its 16th year, Butin PR has operations in Charlotte and on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The agency specializes in media relations, influencer programs, and digital strategies for a mix of global, national and regional clients. Butin historically has served companies primarily representing the food-and-beverage and travel-and-tourism industries; the agency recently expanded into the technology sector. Inclusion in PR News Top 100 is the latest in a series of accolades for Butin, which in 2019 was the recipient of a PRSA Bronze Anvil Award; a Queen City PR Crown Award; and two PR News Platinum PR Awards. The agency also won a 2020 PR Daily Digital Marketing and Social Media Award in June of this year. Butin PR appears on PR News Top 100 list alongside some of Americas traditional public relations powerhouses, such as FleishmanHillard, Havas PR, APCO Worldwide, MWWPR, Porter Novelli, Ruder Finn, Coyne PR, Jackson Spalding, ARPR, Highwire, and Y&R PR. Were known as the small shop that delivers big-agency work, so this recognition certainly validates our formula for success. Were very proud to be named as one of those at the forefront of our industry, especially considering our relative size and the caliber of the competition, said Mary Butin, the firms founder and CEO. We really owe much of this honor to our client partners, who continually hold us to the highest standards, she added. On top of that, we simply love what we do. To compile its Top 100 list, PR News scored entries against more than a dozen criteria, including innovation, expertise, growth, and forward-thinking strategies. The judges also sought to understand how these agencies pivoted their businesses and assisted their clients during the coronavirus pandemic. The entire Agency Elite Top 100 can be accessed through a new PR News portal. Visitors to the portal also can filter their search of the agencies listed there by industry specialization and core PR capabilities. For more information about Butin PR, visit butinpr.com or the agencys Facebook or LinkedIn pages. In the last 10 years, the dynamics of media has changed a lot. With the rapid rise of digital, along with social media, many marketers think differently when it comes to engaging their audience. Community groups and experts who form a vital part of the social media groups have become key influencers and are playing a pivotal role in recommending and pushing products, brands and even new behaviour online. The belief in influencer marketing has gone up and has become part of the overall digital strategy today while formulating campaign strategies. We all know influencer marketing helps your brand in terms of authenticity, brand awareness and word of mouth virality. The network of influencers who generate great and relevant content, give you the right perspective for brands to reach the consideration set of the end consumer, which finally helps you to narrow your buying decision before taking a plunge or a deep dive to buy a certain product or brand. Also read: Brand Factory garners reach of over 150 million with its influencer marketing strategy To understand and know better on the power of influencer marketing and its future, Adgully has partnered with Talkwalker and is holding an interesting online Masterclass on The Future of Influencer Marketing. The discussion is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2020, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Some key areas of discussion include: Go beyond measuring influencer marketing in terms of engagement and reach How Influencers have upped their content game? Case Studies of pioneering Influencer marketing campaigns Unlock new collaborative associations with brands Speakers Benjamin Soubies, MD JAPAC at Talkwalker Benjamin Soubies has experience in working across multiple different industry sectors and different countries. Engaging with C-Level Executives and trying to understand what they need to achieve to drive true business outcomes. Soubies enjoys following the development and impact of information technology in business and society. Having worked for TBWA, Gartner, and Talkwalker, Soubies brings a lot of market research experience to the table. For years he has been advising companies across the world on how to leverage the digital age to their advantage. Today as the Managing Director at Talkwalker JAPAC, Soubies advises partners and organisations on best practices in monitoring, measuring, and analysing online conversations. Sagar Mahagaonkar, Sales Director, Talkwalker Sagar Mahagaonkar has over 15 years of sales and sales management experience gathered across APAC. During this time, he has lived in Australia, India, Hong Kong and Singapore and focussed on solutions that use technology to improve efficiency. He has a keen interest in data analytics and leveraging data to understand consumer behaviours. Mahagaonkar has an undergraduate degree in business from University of South Australia and postgraduate qualifications in management from University of New South Wales, Sydney. Who should attend? Heads of Marketing, Marketplace, Content, Market Research, Social Media, Sales & Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Communications, Media, Digital, Brand Managers. Click here for more details. Are we about to see the end of a great run of affordable tariffs for Airtel mobile users? If we are to believe the hints over the past week or so, Bharti Airtel could look at hiking tariffs in the coming weeks and months. At a book launch this week, Bharti Airtel founder and chairman has said as much. Subscribers should prepare to pay a lot more or get significantly less data, for instance, for the monthly bills they pay and the prepaid recharge they do, at this time. Earlier, Mittal had also shared fears that the telecom Industry in India may be reduced to two players if the third player doesnt infuse fresh capital, without naming Vodafone Idea. At this time, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea are embroiled in a legal battle with the government over the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) issue. India has one of the most affordable tariffs for mobile users, anywhere in the world. If we are to look at the impact of a potential, we have to perhaps understand what Mittal said about data tariffs. You either consume 1.6GB of capacity per month either at this price point (160) or you may prepare to pay a lot more. We are not wanting $50-60 like the US or Europe but certainly $2 for 16 GB per month is not sustainable, he said. His reference is to the calculation that for Rs 160, Airtel users get as much as 16GB of 3G or 4G data. That works out to Rs 10 per GB of data. He calls this sort of tariff structure a tragedy. The company believes that is unsustainable and either users should restrict usage to 1.6GB data for the same Rs 160 or pay a lot more. By that calculation, it would work out to Rs 100 per GB of 4G data. There is no doubt that data prices for mobile users in India are the lowest in the world. According to the UK based Cable.co.uk, mobile users in India pay between $0.02 to $2.75 for 1GB of data, depending on the tariff plan they choose. Mobile users in China pay between $0.61 and $1.76 for every GB of data. Users in the US pay between $12.55 and $99.68 per month for a GB of data. If we are to take the same translation to the current prepaid and postpaid tariffs and what they may look like in the future, let is take the entry level Rs 45 plan for prepaid users. This offers 28 days validity with unlimited local and national calls. Ideal then, at present, for someone who either has a basic phone or relies solely on Wi-Fi connectivity to stay connected. Would they see a price hike closer to Rs 100 per month for their prepaid recharge, in order to drive up the average revenue per user (ARPU) figures? Then comes the data question. If we take the Rs 199 prepaid recharge plan, this has 24 days of validity, unlimited local and national calls as well as 1GB data per day. A tenfold reduction in data benefits means that the same plan may offer around 2.5GB data for an entire month. At this time, Airtels postpaid plans start at Rs 499 per month and bundle 75GB of data along with unlimited local and national calls. There are four postpaid plans in total, the others being the Rs 749 plan, the Rs 999 plan and the Rs 1599 plan. The Rs 749 and Rs 999 plans can be shared with family members as well, which further adds value and keeps the monthly billing spends in check. At this time, telecom companies in India including Airtel and Vodafone Idea have to look for stronger sources of revenue, not just to factor in the operating costs and overheads, but also have to factor in the massive AGR payments that will need to be made in the coming months. Then there is also the matter of the 5G spectrum auctions, expected to happen sometime in the next few months, which will require a significant outlay as well. The campaign to legalize political contribution limits in Oregon is heading into the fall election season with less than $10,000 in the bank, after spending heavily during the summer on staff salaries and a statewide poll by a Washington, D.C. firm. The poll findings could explain why backers of the measure havent worked to amass more campaign cash: Voters of every age, party and region of Oregon overwhelmingly favor campaign finance limits and disclosure requirements, a memo from pollsters says. Deadly asthma attacks could spike to 'unprecedented levels' when children go back to school, experts have warned. Charity Asthma UK said the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted care for thousands of affected youngsters, which could have severe consequences. It estimates more than 130,000 children with the condition in England have missed out on an annual medical catch-up due to the coronavirus. But the charity said asthma checks, where a child's inhaler technique is checked and their asthma action plan reviewed, can be carried out remotely. And it said the checks are essential in keeping children well and out of hospital, and called on parents to take urgent action to book their child in with their GP. Basic asthma care has been disrupted by the crisis, which could have severe consequences, Asthma UK warned Asthma UK expressed concern that the number of asthma attacks could 'surge' when children return to school. September typically sees a surge in asthma attacks as children return to school, usually due to a number of factors including seasonal allergies, exposure to colds and viruses. During the long summer break, some parents fall out of the habit of getting their children to regularly use their preventer inhaler, which can also make them more sensitive to triggers when they return to school, the charity added. The charity has estimated that 71 per cent of children with asthma have not returned to school since March, which could mean they have been out of their usual habits for an even longer period, it said. WHAT IS ASTHMA? Asthma is a common but incurable condition which affects the small tubes inside the lungs. It can cause them to become inflamed, or swollen, which restricts the airways and makes it harder to breathe. The condition affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood. Symptoms may improve or even go away as children grow older, but can return in adulthood. Symptoms include wheezing, breathlessness, a tight chest and coughing, and these may get worse during an asthma attack. Treatment usually involves medication which is inhaled to calm down the lungs. Triggers for the condition include allergies, dust, air pollution, exercise and infections such as cold or flu. If you think you or your child has asthma you should visit a doctor, because it can develop into more serious complications like fatigue or lung infections. Source: NHS Advertisement As well as urging parents to book an asthma check, it also called on parents to remember their usual asthma care and get back into good routines before their child goes back to school. 'Unless parents act now, asthma attacks could rise to unprecedented levels when children go back to school,' said Emma Rubach, head of health advice at Asthma UK. 'Children have already missed a lot of school because of the pandemic so it's vital that parents ensure they are prepared for their return to the classroom by making sure they take their preventer medicine every day. 'If their routine has slipped, it's time to urgently get back to it to avoid a hospital admission when term starts. 'The NHS is open for business and if your child's annual asthma review has been cancelled then it's important that you contact your GP surgery to reschedule it.' National guidelines state everyone with asthma should have an annual review with a GP or specialised nurse. But doctors were allowed to suspend them for three months to free up capacity in response to the pandemic. During these sessions, a patient's inhaler technique is checked and they are given a written action plan on how to manage their condition. Failure to use an inhaler properly means the full dose of medicine cannot reach the lungs, with much of the drug staying in the mouth or throat. Reliever inhalers which are usually blue contain steroids to relax muscles in the airways, which narrow during an asthma attack. Other inhalers, known as preventers, reduce inflammation in the airways to prevent patients from suffering attacks. Patients who use their preventer inhaler every day as prescribed have less sensitive airways, and are less likely to suffer an attack. Figures show around 5.4million people in Britain have asthma, including 1.1million children. Asthma UK estimates somebody in the UK suffers an attack which can be life-threatening every three seconds. Government data showed asthma deaths last year were the highest they had been for a decade, with around three fatalities every day. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the virtual third Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders' Meeting (Photo: VNA) In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the virtual third Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders' Meeting on August 24, Son said Vietnamese ministries and sectors have actively taken part in drafting documents in a constructive and cooperative spirit, for the common interests of the whole region. At the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and senior leaders from other member countries discussed major issues affecting the regions sustainable development and necessary solutions to related challenges, the Deputy FM stressed. The meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of the first 5-year cooperation plan in the 2018-2022 period among its six member nations China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, and their future cooperation orientations, he noted. The leaders appreciated the practical and effective implementation of cooperation in the three key pillars of security and politics, economy and sustainable development, and cultural exchange between the MLC member countries, especially the MLC Plan of Action for 2018-2020, which has benefited people and enterprises. The close and effective cooperation among the member nations was also shown clearly in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in recent times, he said. The leaders also applauded achievements in the regional cooperation in the last two years, Son said, noting that the countries have implemented more than 300 technical assistance projects across areas, including trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, and water resources management. A number of specialised cooperation centres such as the Global Centre for Mekong Studies, the Water Resources Cooperation Centre, the Centre for Environmental Cooperation, and the Centre for Agricultural Cooperation, were established and have seen stable operation, he said. The leaders affirmed their determination to promote cooperation to address environmental and socio-economic challenges facing the countries, through expanding cooperation in the three main pillars and five priority areas, including connectivity, production capacity cooperation, cross-border economic cooperation, agriculture and poverty alleviation, and water resources management. The highlights that were agreed upon by the leaders at the meeting include strengthening cooperation in public health to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic via joint research activities, policy dialogue and sharing experience in disease prevention and control, improving the capacity of the countries in handling urgent medical problems, and ensuring equal access to vaccines and medicine. Development of infrastructure, digital economy and hi-tech agriculture, climate change adaptation, environmental management, ensuring stability of production and regional supply chains, and cooperation in education-training and human resources development were also key issues put on table, Son said. According to Son, the meeting spent a lot of time discussing cooperation in managing water resources in the Mekong River, and the leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation in managing and using the Mekong River water resources sustainably. The six countries will organise a periodic MLC Ministerial Meeting on water resources cooperation, promote policy dialogue, share information, data and experience in cross-border water management, build a channel sharing information on water resources, conduct joint studies on Mekong River water resources and collaboration activities on climate change adaptation, hydropower dam safety, and flood and drought management. The leaders also highly valued the proposal to set up a hydrological data centre and share data sources for the Mekong countries in the context of severe drought./. In an abrupt swerve from the dire tone of the Republican National Conventions first night, Tuesday featured President Trump and the various speakers including three of his family members painting his presidency as one of inclusion, mercy and harmony, in a grab bag night that seemed aimed at female and minority voters. In videos recorded at the White House, Mr. Trump pardoned a Nevada man convicted of bank robbery and swore in five new American citizens, all of them people of color, in a miniature naturalization ceremony. Where the convention on Monday emphasized predictions of social and economic desolation under a government led by Democrats, the speakers on Tuesday hailed the president as a friend to women and a champion of criminal justice reform. There was no effort to reconcile the dissonance between the two nights programs, particularly the shift from Mondays rhetoric about a looming vengeful mob of dangerous criminals into Tuesdays tributes to the power of personal redemption. Tuesdays programming featured friendships between an F.B.I. investigator and a reformed criminal, a police officer and a drug addict. Anti-abortion activists praised the president for his steps to limit access to abortion. A dairy farmer from Wisconsin, a lobster fisherman from Maine and a mayor from Minnesotas Iron Range cast Mr. Trump as saving their economic livelihoods. More than 15 lakh people under the poverty line (BPL) deprived of benefits under National Food Security Act (NFSA) would soon get subsidized ration under a proposed state-sponsored scheme, which will be known as Jharkhand State Food Security (JSFS) scheme, officials said on Wednesday. Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren has given an in-principle nod to the scheme, which will be tabled in the next cabinet meeting for approval, as per a press communique issued by the chief ministers office (CMO) on Tuesday evening. The scheme proposes to provide five kilograms of food grains per month to around 15 lakh beneficiaries at Rs 1 per kg. The CMO said it has been proposed to set a district-wise target in order to reach 15 lakh eligible beneficiaries. Secretary, food and public distribution, Arun Singh, refused to speak on the development until the scheme gets approved by the cabinet, however, a senior official in the department, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the scheme would be an extended version of the NFSA. The NFSA was rolled out in the state from October 1, 2015. Around 57 lakh households covering 2.63 people, around 80% of the state population, have been receiving rice at Rs 1 per kg in Jharkhand under NFSA. The NFSA was designed based on the 2011 census, when the states population was 3.29 crore. The population has grown substantially since then based on rough estimates keeping the previous growth rate of 22%, registered in the previous decade, in mind. So, the poor among the additional population are deprived of the benefits under the NFSA, which caps the number of beneficiaries, he said. Also Read: JMM chief Shibu Soren shifted to Gurugrams Medanta Hospital for further treatment If we go through the application pending for ration cards under NFSA, we find the waiting list has reached 22 lakh. So, it has been a big deal for the state to feed these people. Therefore, we have decided to provide subsidized ration to these left out people from the states own pocket so that no one goes hungry, the official quoted above added. Out of the 22 lakh who have applied for ration cards under the NFSA, 15 lakh would be accommodated under the state sponsored scheme, while vacancy would be created in the NFSA to accommodate rest of the people. A massive drive is on in the state to scrap duplicate or fake ration cards apart from cancelling cards from people who are not eligible for it, he said. Also Read: Ranchi University to hold final year UG, PG exams offline in September ON the question of eligibility for the new state-sponsored scheme, the officials said there will be three categories including priority households, Antyodaya and PVTG like in NFSA. However, old people and differently-abled persons would get priority in the scheme. Supplier News 26 August 2020 Singapore/New South Wales, Australia - Leading hospitality technology solutions provider, FCS, has partnered with Byron at Byron, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, in Byron Bay to deploy four of its prominent cloud solutions at the property; including its Housekeeping, Guest Services, Call Accounting, and Maintenance solutions. The Resort, which was acquired in 2019 by independent Australian hospitality company, Crystalbrook Collection, was looking for an integrated technology solution that would equip the Byron at Byron team with the tools needed to achieve a high level of efficiency and productivity to firmly establish its reputation as one of the best destinations in Australia for guest experiences The luxury rainforest resort features 92 stylish suites and will be re-opening its doors for guest stays on September 1st, 2020 after a short temporary closure due to the unprecedented events resulting from COVID-19. David Kotze, Director, Hotel Systems at Crystalbrook Collection commented, "We're excited to be teaming up with FCS. Their integrated technology solutions fit seamlessly with our brand and environmental stance for Responsible Luxury. We're looking forward to working together to provide guests with remarkable service, whilst managing Byron at Byron's operations efficiently and sustainably. Adopting a solution that will support our contactless, paperless and Mindfully Safe approach to travel during these turbulent times is a definite plus!" Following the successful deployment of FCS Gateway & Voice in other properties in Crystalbrook Collection's portfolio, Byron at Byron selected FCS to streamline its backend operations. FCS Housekeeping enables the Resort to optimize and coordinate housekeeping and cleaning operations across guest rooms and public areas, while FCS Connect supports the automation and tracking of guest requests, complaints, and internal work orders from assignment to escalation and follow up. FCS Engineering assists the Resort to manage its preventive maintenance program, engineering service requests, equipment, and supplies. FCS Gateway keeps guests and staff alike connected via the management of the hotel telephone systems. "We are eager to pave the way for Byron at Byron's transition to a paperless environment, while increasing the turnaround speed of guest rooms & guest requests" shared Kristin Carville, Director of Sales & Channels, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. "FCS will help Byron at Byron continue to raise the bar on creating operational efficiencies even during this COVID-19 pandemic. Our automated housekeeping and paperless backend processes minimize physical interactions among staff and guests and ensure that every room and public area is cleaned on a regular basis." To request a callback from our experts on improving your hotel's operational efficiencies, visit https://fcscs.com/callback/. Institutions nationwide have committed to illuminating their structures to honor the suffragists who lobbied, marched, picketed, and protested for the right to the ballot, never giving up on the fight for equality. This week, the Empire State Building, the original torch at the Statue of Liberty, The Gateway Arch, and ten Smithsonian museums in the nation's capital signed on to participate, joining institutions such as The White House, One World Trade Center, Niagara Falls, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Library of Congress Jefferson Building, National Archives Building, presidential libraries, and many National Park Service sites across the U.S. Additionally, the WSCC has partnered with Snapchat to virtually commemorate the Forward Into Light campaign. Starting today, Snapchatters can use augmented reality lenses to apply a purple and gold gradient to their surroundings and add their photos to a digital mosaic of suffragists inspired by the WSCC's Our Story: Portraits of Change mosaic, created by artist Helen Marshall and produced by Christina Korp. Before tonight's illumination, Washington, D.C., will kick off the celebration at Nationals Park. The U.S. Air Force is partnering with the WSCC to honor the centennial with a women-led helicopter flyover at approximately 5:56pm (ET) over the Park at the start of tonight's game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies. The WSCC is also working with the Nationals to celebrate this historic anniversary, and the theme of tonight's game is "Women's Suffrage Centennial: 100 Years of the 19th Amendment." Learn more about Forward Into Light, named in honor of the historic suffrage slogan "Forward through the Darkness, Forward into Light," and sign up to participate at www.womensvote100.org/forwardintolight. Share photos of your illuminated buildings on social media platforms using the hashtag #ForwardIntoLight, and submit photos here to be included in the WSCC's official Forward Into Light online album. The WSCC was created by Congress to coordinate the nationwide commemoration during the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which was officially signed into the U.S. Constitution on Aug. 26, 1920. Learn more about the WSCC and its initiatives at www.womensvote100.org. Contact: Kelsey Millay Email: [email protected] SOURCE Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission Related Links https://www.womensvote100.org MAYOR DE BLASIO INSPECTS STATEN ISLAND COVID CHECKPOINT: NYC launches school ventilation teams; CDC steps down quarantine recommendation. Latest coronavirus updates. (Hot Zone) Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down. We need information like we never have before. How many new cases were there on Staten Island today? How many deaths? How many people have been released from the hospital? What did President Donald Trump say about the pandemic? What about Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio? More importantly, when is this pandemic going to be over? When are we going to get back to normal, whatever normal is? Its almost too much to keep up with. So twice a day, Mark Stein and I take to Facebook Live to give you all the Island information you need. Look for us around 2 p.m. and again at around 5:30 p.m. Then look for this wrap-up on SILive.com at the end of the day. Well give you the numbers and all the latest news. Well answer your questions. Well follow up on your news tips. Well share the good news too, the way that the Staten Island community is coming together in this time of crisis. Or well just share this strange and unique pandemic moment with you, as fellow Staten Islanders. On Tuesday, de Blasio visited the coronavirus vehicle checkpoint set up by the NYC Sheriffs Office near the Bayonne Bridge in Port Richmond. The visit came the same day that it was widely reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had lifted its recommendation that travelers to virus hot spots here and abroad quarantine fort 14 days. The CDC policy change is not expected to affect New York quarantine checkpoint program. The CDC said that residents should still follow the quarantine guidance provided by the localities where they live. See the video above for that conversation. In the video below, Mark and I talked about how the city had launched an effort to make sure that all public schools were properly ventilated, with the mayor saying that having plentiful fresh air was one of the best ways to battle the virus. Were all in this together. Well all get through this together. President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo's second term bid for 4 more years has received massive endorsement from the Greater Accra Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) This came to light at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, 25 August 2020, the groups General Secretary, Paa Joe, said firstly, the President and his government have been able to increase the number of districts in the region from 16 to 29. According to the group, President Akufo-Addo has reduced the size of the electoral areas. Furthermore, the Assemblymembers said the governments Free Senior High School programme has taken a lot of financial burden from them. Also, they said graduates have now found jobs with the Nation Builders Corps (NaBCo) initiative, which has given the youth about 100,000 jobs. Apart from NaBCo, the assemblymembers also say the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has given opportunities to over 70,000 youth while the One District One Factory initiative, has also made it possible for the region to have more than 16 factories. The Disability Fund, the assemblymembers also noted, has been increased, a situation that has eased the financial burden on People Living with Disabilities. For all the above reasons, the assemblymembers says they will vote for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP in the 7 December 2020 polls. So, four more to do more for Nana Akufo-Addo, the assemblymembers sang. About a week ago, some other group of assemblymembers also endorsed former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who has promised to pay assemblymembers a monthly allowance, should he win the elections. The group, calling itself Concerned Assembly Members Association of Ghana, CAMAG, which is made up of assembly members from various Electoral Areas across the country, said its members are ready and willing to vote for former President John Mahama in the 7 December 2020 polls so that he can fulfil his promise of paying assembly members. At a press conference in Tamale, the groups national coordinator David Atta Twum said the assemblymembers will vote based on policies, especially those that will inure to their benefit. So, let us not cloud ourselves with our political colours to destroy what will help us, lets all endeavour to assess whatever promises that come with regard to our collective welfare, he urged. We also call on all assembly members and well-meaning Ghanaians to support His Excellency John Dramani Mahama , the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress, toward the welfare of assembly members, i.e., paying each assembly member a monthly allowance, he told journalists. Its not because we believe that NDC must come back to power again but we believe that the time has come for those who seek to govern us to consider the welfare of honourable assembly members and this we are ready to pursue to the last drop of our blood, he explained. So, going forward into election 2020, if you have his Excellency John Dramani Mahama promising and not just promising but telling us how hes going to make it possible to make sure that 28 years of our fourth republic, assembly members are considered in his next administration, then theres a call for us to rise up, theres a call for us to campaign from house to house, door to door, room to room, bed to bed, market to market to make sure that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama is elected as the president of the fourth republic of Ghana, he added. The group also expressed disappointment at some government officials who have described Mr Mahamas promise as impossible. Its obvious that you will hear from the other side, those who are supposed to know better, instead of them to give us policy directions, instead of them giving us alternatives for us, the assembly members, to consider whether what they are giving us is good or bad, they are rather downplaying this policy, he observed. Some are telling us it is not constitutional. Then the question we ask ourselves is that: those who are saying its not constitutional, what is their purpose at the parliament house? Mr Twum asked. Scientists have launched a number of human milk and lactation studies to determine if SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted to infants through human milk. Three scientists, including one from Washington University in St. Louis, wrote a new perspective article in the American Journal of Human Biology making the case for human milk studies co-created with the people whose milk is under investigation -- and where study findings are interpreted in the context of real-life choices and experiences. "It is not easy to conduct human milk research during a pandemic," said E.A. Quinn, associate professor of biological anthropology in Arts & Sciences and a co-author of the new article. She leads the Biomarkers and Milk Research Lab at Washington University. "Yet, despite the consistent lack of quality evidence for transmission of viral RNA from breast milk, some leaders are pushing ahead by altering public health and clinical practice guidance." "Breastfeeding and human milk are critical to maternal and infant health outcomes, especially during public health emergencies," said Aunchalee Palmquist, corresponding author and a medical anthropologist and assistant professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health and the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "Unequivocal recommendations to disrupt lactation due to COVID-19 reveal a blatant disregard of the potential harms that hang in the balance for parents and infants," the authors wrote. Co-author Ifeyinwa Asiodu, a nurse scientist and assistant professor in the Department of Family Health Care Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, concurs. Current WHO (World Health Organization) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations are supportive of breastfeeding, chestfeeding and expressing human milk. Given the current science, we know that the utilization of donor human milk is also safe as coronavirus is inactivated by pasteurization techniques conducted at HMBANA (Human Milk Banking of North America milk banks. Any mixed messages may further exacerbate disparities and inequities experienced by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BlPOC) communities." Ifeyinwa Asiodu, nurse scientist and assistant professor in the Department of Family Health Care Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing Testing challenges Since COVID-19 emerged, scientists around the world have scrambled to initiate new human milk studies and publish case reports, an effort the authors describe as a "liquid gold rush." When research focuses on milk as a separate entity, the question becomes: 'Are women a risk to their milk?' In published work, 50 COVID-19-positive individuals have had their milk tested, although some individuals have donated multiple samples over the course of infection. Scientists have only found viral RNA in a small percentage of those samples, and repeat milk samples from the same individuals did not consistently yield identifiable viral RNA. Complicating these efforts, the actual act of collecting milk samples for these kinds of studies also is difficult, given high risk of samples becoming contaminated through droplets in the air, skin or surfaces and containers. "People seem drawn to fetishizing human milk as something discreet from lactation," Quinn said. "In reality, while the majority of mothers in the United States do express milk for their infants, most lactating individuals feed their infants directly." "The way in which the research is constructed is, 'Is there infectious potential of the milk?'" she said. "It focuses on the milk as a separate entity, not as part of the relationship between a breastfeeding mother and baby. "So the question becomes: 'Are women a risk to their milk?' Nobody has really demonstrated that," Quinn said. Racial equity issues The WHO has issued guidance that says that COVID-19 presents no reason to avoid or stop breastfeeding. But certain influential global health and health-care authorities have subsequently put forth recommendations that contradict the WHO guidance. And these recommendations have the potential to impact certain people more than others. "The science used to support hospital-based perinatal separation policies for COVID-19, including strongly advising against breastfeeding or provision of human milk with SARS-CoV-2 infection, are disproportionately harming BlPOC populations," Palmquist said. "So, when we see that there are racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding outcomes as a result of COVID-19, we need to recognize that structural racism affects everything in pandemics from bench science to bedside practice." "During this public health crisis, we need evidence-based recommendations and consistent messaging that centers the health and well-being of women and lactating people, their infants and families," Asiodu said. "Human milk research is important; however, it needs to be conducted with a racial equity and reproductive justice lens." 'If Rahul Gandhi is doing so much for the country and the party without thinking about his own health, then I realised that the only way to impress upon Soniaji and all those who are campaigning against him about how ordinary party workers are looking up to Rahulji was to write a letter in blood.' IMAGE:: August 10, 2019: Then Congress president Rahul Gandhi with his mother Sonia Gandhi at the Congress Working Committee meeting at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo "Rahul Gandhi has huge acceptability in India and if not today, then tomorrow, Rahul Gandhi will become the party's president," Sandeep Tanvar -- a member of the All India Congress Commitee who wrote a letter in blood to interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi beseeching her to make Rahul the party president -- tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com. The first of a two-part interview: Why did you write a letter in your blood to Sonia Gandhi? What point were you making? When the Congress lost the 2014 parliamentary election under Rahul Gandhi's leadership he didn't sulk. He went out immediately among the people and has been sweating it out, making a sincere effort to revive the party's electoral prospects. He is a determined man; he is a fighter. A few days ago, during a meeting of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee which was attended by our president Anil Chaudhary, I had announced that Rahul Gandhi sweating out among the people to regain the Congress's glory inspires ordinary soldiers of the party like me to even shed their blood for the noble purpose. The whole night I kept awake thinking how hard Rahulji is working and it is now time that ordinary workers, the people in the streets, encourage him and take the party to great electoral heights. After the 2014 loss, Rahulji's leadership abilities has helped the Congress win Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan despite heavy odds. He was the first one in the country to caution the Narendra Modi government about the economic ill-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the one engaging with farmers, labourers and everybody affected by the pandemic. If he is doing so much for the country and the party without thinking about his own health, then I realised that the only way to impress upon Soniaji and all those who are campaigning against him about how ordinary party workers are looking up to Rahulji was to write a letter in blood. My letter and the act of writing it in blood are purely symbolic of our love for Rahulji and workers like me want him to lead the party as its president. IMAGE: Sandeep Tanvar's letter to Sonia Gandhi which he wrote in his blood. Photographs and videos: Kind courtesy Sandeep Tanvar Despite such love and affection of ordinary workers towards Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, why is there tension within the party over the appointment of the party president? Senior Congress leaders want a non-Gandhi to lead the party. The Congress is a huge family, a huge umbrella like a banyan tree under which different shades of opinion exist; people have their differences over certain issues and they do express these views in public and private. These leaders, instead of writing such a letter, could have met Soniaji personally and aired their views. It could have been done in a manner that would not have raised such a storm and dust. They could have voiced their views in the CWC (Congress Working Committee) meeting or at some other fora, but then writing a letter and then leaking it to the public was improper. The timing was completely out of place when the world and the country are fighting the coronavirus pandemic and even Soniaji is not keeping well. Let me say that the Congress has rewarded and respected most of the signatories to the letter and given them important leadership roles at the Centre and at state level. The party has made them what they are today. And that applies equally to every single loyal Congress worker. During elections to the legislative assemblies and Lok Sabha it is Soniaji, Rahulji and Priyankaji that rally people around them and work for the party's victories. People vote for us because they believe in the leadership of the Gandhis. I feel hurt that given this truth such a letter was written by some of our party men. See: How AICC member Sandeep Tanvar wrote a letter in blood Is there a faction within the Congress that is conspiring against Rahul Gandhi's leadership of the party? Let me put it differently. I disagree that there is a problem (conspiracy). Some people wanted to raise this issue, which in itself is very democratic, but the manner in which this was done doesn't go well with the stature of the leaders who have written it. Perhaps, they wanted to say something else, but it got lost in the way they did it and then the media too blew it out of proportion. The Gandhis will always remain unchallenged in Congress. They had been, are and will remain the undisputed leaders of the party. The father of an Alabama medical student who was killed in a high-speed crash earlier this month has filed a lawsuit against a neurosurgeon, accusing him of causing the death of his daughter who was a passenger in his car. Dr Jonathan Nakhla, 36, has already been criminally charged with manslaughter stemming from the accident that took place on the I-65 Service Road in Mobile in the early hours of August 1, killing 24-year-old Samantha Thomas. The victim's father, Harold Thomas, on Wednesday brought a civil lawsuit against Nakhla, claiming that his 'reckless driving' while 'under the influence of alcohol' resulted in Thomas' death. Scroll down for video Dr Jonathan Nakhla, 36 (left), from Mobile, Alabama, has been charged with manslaughter in a crash that killed Samantha Thomas, 24 (right) Thomas' father, Harold Thomas (right), has filed a civil lawsuit against Nakhla, accusing him of causing his daughter's death 'The lawsuit alleges Nakhla consumed numerous alcoholic beverages prior to getting behind the wheel of his high-performance Audi,' according to a press release from attorney Joe King, who is representing Harold Thomas. The medical student's father is seeking unspecified punitive damages to 'punish and deter Nakhlas conduct, and demands a jury trial.' Nakhla has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge and has been released on $200,000 bond. He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on September 2. 'It is her familys hope and desire that Dr. Jonathan Nakhla will accept responsibility for his actions that caused the death of Samantha,' the press release from the family's attorney stated. 'The family is confident that, regardless of any efforts to avoid responsibility, the justice system will hold Nakhla accountable.' Nakhla was allegedly driving at speeds topping 130mph on the morning of August 1 when he swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle Nakhla's high-performance Audi rolled over and landed in a ditch near this Econo Lodge During Nakhla's bond hearing, prosecutors said that the neurosurgeon had been going 138mph in a 45mph zone before swerving to avoid another vehicle, which caused his car flip over and land in a ditch near the Econo Lodge Hotel, reported Al.com. Nakhla is a married father-of-two and a neurosurgeon working at Mobile Infirmary The newly filed lawsuit provided additional details, revealing that Nakhlas high-performance Audi convertible left the road and collided with a concrete ditch dividing Interstate 65 from the service road. The car then struck a guardrail, rolling six times before striking a light pole and landing upside down. 'Nakhlas Audi continued from there before coming to an uncontrolled stop in a ditch, the lawyer's press release stated. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene from her injuries. Nakhla was taken to a hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail two days later. Dennis Knizley, one of Nakhla's attorneys, pushed back against the prosecution's narrative that his client had been speeding, arguing that because his Audi had rolled over, data taken from the vehicle's 'black box' was unreliable. 'Event data recorders record the speed of the tire going around and as they said in court today, the car flipped,' Knizley told Fox 10 TV. 'Once the tire is no longer in contact with the surface, it no longer indicates the speed of the car but it indicates the tire...so you know how fast the tire is going.' Nakhla's lawyer said he was driving an Audio R8 Spyder (similar to one pictured), which can go from 0 to 60mph in under 4 seconds Police have said that Nakhla was driving under the influence and had blood alcohol level above Alabama's 0.08 legal limit, but so far he has not been charged with a DUI. Prosecutors with the Mobile County DAs Office said they are awaiting the final toxicology results, according to WKRG. Nakhla's lawyer said he believes the neurosurgeon, who works at Mobile Infirmary, was driving an Audi R8 Spyder, a luxury car that can go from 0 to 60mph in under 4 seconds. Spyder models from 2020 start at more than $182,000. Knizley described Thomas, a third-year student at University of South Alabama Medical School, as a family friend of the surgeon, who is a married father of two. At the time of the accident, Nakhla was reportedly living in the same building as Thomas. His wife was present during this month's hearing and was seen crying in the courtroom. Thomas was a third-year medical student at University of South Alabama (pictured left with her sister, Jennifer) Nakhla's lawyer said Thomas, 24, was a family friend of the married doctor A judge set Nakhla's bond at $200,000, ordered him to surrender his passport and barred him from going out of state without permission. Nakhla posted bond in the afternoon and was released from jail. If convicted of the manslaughter charge, the 36-year-old doctor could face up to 20 years in prison. He has been suspended from the hospital. Thomas is survived by her parents and sister, Jennifer. The family have started a scholarship in her name to help disadvantaged medical students at the University of South Alabama. Exchange says the attack was carried out by swamping its network with large volumes of internet traffic. New Zealands stock exchange was halted for more than three hours on Wednesday as it came under cyber attack for a second day. Exchange operator NZX halted its cash markets at approximately 11:24 a.m. in Wellington and trading didnt resume until 3 p.m. Todays issue was similar to yesterdays cyber attack that disrupted the final hour of trading, NZX said in a brief statement. The NZX website and feed of company announcements also went down, but have since been restored. This is a very serious attack on critical infrastructure in New Zealand, said Dave Parry, a professor of computer science at Auckland University of Technology. The fact that this has happened on a second day indicates a level of sophistication and determination which is relatively rare. Cyber attacks arent common in New Zealand but in neighboring Australia there has been an increase in incidents. In June, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned that the frequency of attacks on government, health and education services and various industries has been climbing over many months, and said organizations needed to improve their cyber resilience. On Tuesday, NZX said trading was disrupted by a volumetric distributed denial of service attack from offshore an attempt to disrupt service by saturating a network with significant volumes of internet traffic. It had been able to mitigate the issue and the market began as normal at 10 a.m. today before prices and index updates were again halted. The S&P/NZX-50 benchmark index was near a record high when todays incident occurred. It was at 11,995 at 4:23 p.m., little changed from Tuesdays close. NZX is an important part of New Zealands financial system, said Shane Solly, a portfolio manager at Harbour Asset Management in Auckland. The NZX has worked hard to resolve the outage, but it would be concerning if the outages continued. There is no indication yet as to who might have mounted the attack. NZXs network provider continues to investigate the source of the issue. We will provide further information once available, NZX said. The pandemic has pushed another 100 million people around the world into extreme poverty, says the World Bank chief. Such has been the economic impact of Covid-19, the severity of which is being felt in India too. A report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy says around 1.8 crore salaried jobs were lost since April. Trapped under the crushing weight of loans, insurance payments, unprecedented electricity charges and healthcare expenses, the public are looking towards governments, hoping for a panacea. Sops may help win elections but, in these times of real distress, they hardly make a difference. There is a ready solution at hand, which governments must come forward to utilisefilling up lakhs of government posts that have been remaining vacant for the last several years. Almost every state government department, Central ministry, police station, court, fire station, public school, public bank and university is currently short-staffed. By the governments own data, there were close to seven lakh unfilled vacancies in Central government departments and ministries as of March 2018. By rough estimates, that is enough to employ over 10% of those rendered unemployed, considering they have the required qualifications. That apart, nearly 60% posts reserved for SC/ST candidates in Central ministries and departments are lying vacant. Lakhs of teaching jobs are unfilled across the countryHaryana had 31,000 vacancies as of March and Uttar Pradesh had a whopping 1.4 lakh vacancies as of April this year. Multiple reports have also highlighted the shortage of trained nurses and doctors to treat Covid in rural India. Governments across the world will have to reconsider how the economy operates in the post-Covid era. Laissez-faire has proved to be inefficient in helping the world tide through such crises. The focus must be on rebuilding the public machinery. It provides the required checks and balances for the private sector. Filling up lakhs of vacancies would be a good start to ensure timely and efficient delivery of public services while also providing more livelihood opportunities. ONEs Digital Dialogue Explores the State of Gender-Based Violence Across Africa, the Impact of COVID-19 on GBV, and How Movements are Using Social Media (Johannesburg, South Africa) In recognition of August being Womens Month in South Africa, on Monday, 24 August, ONE Campaign hosted a digital dialogue with Kuhluka Movement and Justice 4 All Womxn exploring the current state of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Africa. Panelists included Josina Z Machel, founder of Kuhluka Movement and Justice 4 All Womxn, South African artist and activist Gigi Lamayne, and Chioma Agwuegbo, founder of TechHernNG in Nigeria. Titled, #Justice4AllWomxn: The Movement Behind The Hashtag, the dialogue explored the current issues, contributing factors, the impact of COVID-19, how social media is being used, and solutions. With guests from South Africa, Mozambique, and Nigeria, the conversation discussed the larger issues across the continent and the global attention that has been garnered from the recent use of hashtags such as #JusticeForUwa, #JusticeForTina and #Justice4AllWomxn. ONE Nigeria Director Serah Makka-Ugbabe moderated the conversation reminding people of the urgency with facts such as, The UN has called sexual and GBV a shadow epidemic saying 1 in 3 women will experience some form of violence during their time on earth. That is 1 billion women. She shared data about the increase of GBV globally during COVID-19 and reminded us that 1 woman is murdered every 3 hours in South Africa 51% of women in SA experience at the hands of someone they are in a relationship with. Josina Machel, the daughter of Graca Machel and President Samora Machel and an outspoken voice on GBV, shared about her own personal experience with violence against women that left her missing an eye and the current efforts of her organization Kuhluka Movement. She reminded people, We must get to a point where we say enough is enough and urged people to mobilize our communities and force these conversations. South African artist and activist Gigi Lamayne shared her music video Kube Kuzi Nini (How Long Will This Go On) which is about a woman leaving an abusive relationship. She called on people to use their voices on social media saying, Social media is becoming a platform where people can speak up. Regardless of who you are or how many followers you have if you have a story or if you have a hashtag there are people who will see it. Chioma Agwuegbo, founder and executive director of TechHerNG in Nigeria discussed the systems and structures that contribute to sexual and gender-based violence saying, Patriarchy rears its head in a number of ways. First, it is the shaming. Then it is the structure. Its the ripple effect. It questions women who question men. The conversation was broadcast live on Justice 4 All Womxn and TechHerNGs Facebook pages and is available for playback. The panel is a part of ONEs larger campaign to bring attention and mobilization to the impact of COVID-19 on other pre-existing issues in Africa. For more information on ONEs work please visit ONE.ORG/AFRICA . About ONE ONE is a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity. We are non-partisan and pressure governments to do more to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, and empower citizens to hold their governments to account. About the Kuhluka Movement: Kuhluka seeks to address women rights issues such as gender-based violence issues through interrogating, deciphering and understanding our cultural practices while advocating and harnessing the original positive beliefs and customs that will on one hand eliminate GBV against women, and on the other hand, provide a safe and protective environment for the healing of survivors of violence. About Justice4AllWomXn: Formed in June 2020, the Justice4AllWomXn campaign was created in response to the rampant levels of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) experienced by womXn across the African continent. We are a global coalition of change agents comprised of national and international civil society organizations, businesses, individuals, and survivors of GBV demanding effective and lasting justice for all womXn victims and survivors of GBV. To aid health care workers in countries with limited resources, Stanford emergency medicine physicians have developed a digital course on caring for COVID-19 patients and preventing spread of the disease. COVID-19 Training for Healthcare Workers is free and available to anyone with a smartphone or tablet. The five-hour course features short video lectures, study guides and quizzes on COVID-19 care, from proper hand washing to connecting a patient to a ventilator. Since it launched July 17, more than 25,000 people in 143 countries have enrolled in the course. Matthew Strehlow, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine and director of Stanford Emergency Medicine International, said that most online lessons about COVID-19 care have focused solely on ventilator use. But, he noted, few patients require ventilators, and those who do often fare poorly. Its better to prevent patients from needing ventilators, he said. Though the Stanford course includes techniques for ventilator use, he said, We wanted to build a course that focuses on early recognition and management, that keeps the health care workforce safe, that keeps the virus from spreading and that limits the mortality rate. The lessons are designed for physicians, nurses, paramedics and community health workers who provide care in many low- and middle-income countries. Health care workers can enroll in the course on Coursera or edX, or download it from Stanfords Digital MEdIC app, available on ios or Google Play. With the course downloaded, enrollees can take devices to locations without reliable internet service and let practitioners use them to learn the skills. Narrated by physicians Physicians from Stanford Emergency Medicine International, a program that aids and educates emergency medicine workers around the world, along with colleagues from other institutions, narrate the 16 videos in the course. They describe the proper ways to put on and take off protective equipment, how to evaluate sick patients, when to put patients on supplemental oxygen and which setting to choose for a patient on a ventilator, among other techniques. As they narrate, the screen displays images such as a chest X-ray, a graph of medication doses, an animation of a patient whos having difficulty breathing, a video of a medical worker taking off personal protective equipment. DGAP-News: TLG IMMOBILIEN AG / Key word(s): Real Estate/Half Year Results TLG IMMOBILIEN records solid operational performance and strong disposal activity leading to improved asset quality 26.08.2020 / 18:34 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, WAKE ISLAND AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS), ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (THE "UNITED STATES") OR IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON RESIDENT OR LOCATED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT. TLG IMMOBILIEN records solid operational performance and strong disposal activity leading to improved asset quality - Rental income amounted to 113 million for H1 2020, down by 2% YOY - FFO increased by 9.4% YOY to 78.3 million from 71.5 recorded for the first half of 2019. - Net profit amounted to 245 million, compared to 322 million in H1 2019. - Signed disposals amounting to 580 million, executed above book value. The disposals were primarily retail assets leading to a portfolio with a higher office-concentration. - EPRA NAV per share amounted to 3.983 million and 35.5 per share, higher by 8.7% and 8.6% respectively as compared to the end of 2019. - Net LTV decreased to 32.0% as of the end of June 2020. Berlin, 26 August 2020 - TLG IMMOBILIEN AG (ISIN: DE000A12B8Z4, the "Company" or "TLG") completed the first half of 2020 with a strong operational performance driven by active management of the portfolio along with part of the operational synergies being realised with Aroundtown SA ("Aroundtown"). The funds from operations (FFO) increased by 9.4% to 78.3 million and by 1.4% to 0.70 per share. Furthermore, the Company recorded negative revaluation gains in the hotel portfolio which were more than offset by positive revaluations across other parts of the portfolio, resulting in positive revaluation gains of 183 million on the entire portfolio. TLG further improved the focus on core assets of mainly offices in top German cities following the completion of disposals amounting to 580 million during the first half of 2020, which comprised primarily of retail properties and were sold above book value. The freed-up funds and resources strengthen the Company's liquidity and capital structure. Following the reporting period, Mr. Jurgen Overath resigned from his position as Chief Operating Officer. The Company is grateful for his successful tenure and services to TLG. Mr. Ronny Schneider has replaced Mr. Overath with effect from August 2020. Mr. Schneider has worked for several years as a Consultant with broad experience in the sectors of Asset Management, Development and Business Development. Further, the Company also successfully completed the issuer substitution process of its Senior Bonds. In addition, holders of the Company's Perpetual Notes voted in favour of the issuer substitution expressing strong investor support. The pooling of capital market instruments on the level of Aroundtown as the new parent company of TLG, is paving the way for realization of potential future financial synergies as identified by the Company and Aroundtown. "I am happy to welcome Mr. Ronny Schneider who is a proven expert in active real estate management and is a strong addition to our company. We are pleased to look forward to a good cooperation. At the same time, we would like to thank Mr Jurgen Overath, who left the company end of July 2020. Mr. Overath set important accents and contributed to the company with great dedication", says Sascha Hettrich, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TLG. Contact TLG IMMOBILIEN AG E-Mail: IR@TLG.DE About the Company For over 25 years, the listed company TLG IMMOBILIEN AG has owned and rented out commercial properties in selected promising locations in Germany. The company continuously develops its portfolio and actively generates value through strategic investments and selected property acquisitions. The portfolio comprises mainly office properties in cities including Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig and Rostock. The properties of TLG IMMOBILIEN AG stand out not only due to their excellent locations but also because of their long-term rental or lease agreements. Its highly qualified employees guarantee extensive local market expertise at its individual locations. 26.08.2020 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de A dog owner has issued a warning to other pet owners after her beloved pooch became ill from stepping on a suspected highly venomous stonefish during a walk on the beach. Angela Braewood from Brisbane had brought her two-year-old Belgian Shepherd cross Shelby to the off leash dog beach in the coastal suburb of Cleveland on August 4. 'She was running around in the shallow water with my other dog Suzi having fun and she suddenly stopped and started holding her paw up,' Ms Braewood told Daily Mail Australia. A dog owner has warned other pet owners after her beloved pooch (pictured) became ill from stepping on a suspected highly venomous stonefish during a walk on the beach Shelby the dog during his over night observation at Animal Emergency Service Brisbane The 29-year-old said Shelby was not showing any signs of distress or making any noises so she washed the debris from her paw and let her keep playing. 'Shortly after I got her home, she held her paw up and that is when we sat and watched her for a few minutes and saw that her foot had started to puff up.' Ms Braewood said her dog's paw became red and continued to swell, prompting her and her partner to rush the dog to the emergency vet. 'She's quite a petite dog and after about two hours her paw had blown up like a balloon to double the size.' The pair took Shelby to Animal Emergency Service in Brisbane where Dr Brooke Schampers, 25, treated the pup by keeping her in overnight for observation and sedating her to take a closer look at her paw. Ms Braewood said she would invest in some beach booties for her four-legged friend (pictured: Angela Braewood and a recovered Shelby) Shelby had a small gash on the underside of her paw about a centimetre long and four centimetres deep with the tissue around the wound already starting to die off. The tissue damage along with the swelling, wound type, and the location of the beach at low tide led the vets to suspect a venemous marine species - probably a stonefish. These fish have a number of long venom-tipped spines along their back which protrude to protect themselves and catch food when the fish are camouflaged in mud or between rocks. The fish, found throughout Australia's warmer waters, are one of the most venomous in the world and there have been recorded deadly cases of dogs who have been stung by stonefish. 'The initial worry was not knowing if the skin around the wound would continue to die but in her case, it didn't'. Shelby the dog's paw puffed up like a balloon to double the size (pictured) 'We are so lucky. After a few bandage changes, check ups and a few weeks of extra TLC, she is now doing very well and has healed completely.' Ms Braewood said she had no knowledge that stonefish were even in the area and had some advice for dog owners. 'My advice would be to gain a bit more knowledge of the possible dangers that are out there. And invest in some beach booties for your dogs to better protect their paws.' Ms Brawewood also recommended pet insurance, saying she was able to claim some of the bill back for Shelby's after hours treatment. According to Zelensky, he is not afraid of the direct dialogue with Russia's president. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin must continue. "I have had a talk with the Russian president right before a ceasefire went into force (on July 27). We discussed the complicated issues in respecting the ceasefire. So far, there is a result of this dialogue and we see it. It is not enough," he told Euronews in an interview. Read alsoZelensky hopes to make Donbas war end as early as this yearAccording to Zelensky, he is not afraid of the direct dialogue with Russia's president. "I am not afraid of the direct dialogue with Russia's president. I think that is the right thing to do. If we have a possibility to talk and the results of those talks can help move forward toward ending the war, it has to be done, no matter how different people or different regions react to this. If there is no dialogue, there will be no result. This I understand very clear. If there is no dialogue, if there are no phone calls when needed, there will be no peaceful result. I am convinced of it," he added. Background LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 130,924 incentive stock options under the Company's stock option plan (the "Option Plan") and 103,582 deferred share units under the Company's deferred share unit plan (the "DSU Plan") to certain directors of the Company as non-cash directors' fees for Q2 2020 (the "Director Grant"). All incentive stock options issued under the Director Grant are exercisable for a period of ten years at $0.46 per share and vest immediately from the date of grant. The Option Plan allows for the issuance of up to 10% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company in the form of incentive stock options. As of the date hereof, a total of 31,108,537 common shares of the Company are allocated for issuance in respect of outstanding incentive stock options granted under the Option Plan, representing approximately 5.2% of the issued and outstanding share capital. 3,441,231 common shares of the Company are currently allocated for issuance in respect of outstanding deferred share units granted under the DSU Plan. For information on this press release, please contact: Dragos Tanase President & CEO Phone: +40 730 399 019 dt@gabrielresources.com Richard Brown Chief Financial Officer Mobile: +44 7748 760276 richard.brown@gabrielresources.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. About Gabriel Gabriel is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Ro?ia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Rosia Montana Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Rosia Montana Project is held by Ro?ia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Ro?ia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company. Upon obtaining the License in June 1999, the Group focused substantially all of their management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Rosia Montana Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Rosia Montana Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Rosia Montana Project without due process and without compensation. Accordingly, the Company's current core focus is the ICSID Arbitration. For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with: the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations (including but not limited to the completion of further funding noted above) or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "is of the view", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation: the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) may affect the Company's operations and/or the anticipated timeline for the ICSID Arbitration; the duration, required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration; the advancement of Romania's nomination of the "Rosia Montana Mining Landscape" as a UNESCO World Heritage site; changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and/or the group of companies of which it is directly or indirectly parent; access to funding to support the Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future; equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of new or existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares; the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the TSX Venture Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities; the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: any allegations of historic acts of corruption, uncertain fiscal investigations; uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Group and political and social instability; regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes and interpretation of existing and future fiscal and other legislation; volatility of currency exchange rates; and the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Group of certain key employees and consultants. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this press release that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies which can be viewed online at www.sedar.com. ENDS SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603487/Issuance-of-Incentive-Stock-Options-and-Deferred-Share-Units In a bid to increase the number of Japanese in head posts at 15 important United Nations institutes, the Japan government has decided to centralize personnel planning under the Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs. The goal is to discover a wide range of candidates from Kasumigaseki in an effort spearheaded by the Prime Minister's Office. The government wants to push back against China, which has gained influence with a number of top postings recently. Currently, when Japan wants to propose candidates for key positions at international bodies, the selection process is mainly conducted by the Foreign Ministry. However, ministries and agencies are loath to let go of promising officials, which can interfere with coordination. The Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs was established in 2014 to centrally manage executive personnel at the ministries and agencies. The government has decided it should also oversee personnel selection for international organizations as a way to work across ministry and agency lines. A specialist may be appointed to the bureau to handle this area, sources said. The government's focus on personnel appointments at international bodies comes in response to China's rising influence. Four of the U.N.'s 15 specialist organizations are led by Chinese: the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). With one of its citizens at the helm, a nation can see its interests reflected in how an organization is run, which can put it at an advantage when creating international rules and standards. From Japan, Koichiro Matsuura was elected director general of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999 and Koji Sekimizu was elected secretary general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2012. However, there are currently no Japanese leading any of the 15 key institutions. In 2006, Shigeru Omi ran for director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), but lost to China's candidate, Margaret Chan, who is from Hong Kong. Omi is now chairman of the government's working group on responding to the new coronavirus. With elections scheduled next year for organizations including ICAO, UNIDO, and UNESCO, Liberal Democratic Party members and others have been calling on the government to strengthen its system. The government also plans to focus on gathering information from overseas to help its goal of winning top appointments for Japanese citizens. The bureau intends to establish a framework for obtaining advice from the National Security Secretariat's economic team on issues such as developments in countries expected to nominate competing candidates. Votes by U.N. member states require a flexible approach, such as by forming a united front with the West or supporting other countries. In the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) leadership election in March, Japan withdrew its candidate and worked with the United States and Europe to block the Chinese nominee and help elect a candidate from Singapore. People wear protective masks as they wait in line to undergo COVID-19 coronavirus swab tests at a temporary test station in Beijing on July 6, 2020. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Xinjiang Officials Force Residents to Take Unproven COVID-19 Drugs, Locals Say Residents of Urumqi, the capital of Chinas far-western region of Xinjiang, said they are being forced by authorities to take medication supposedly for preventing against CCP virus infections. The city, with a population of about 3.5 million, has been placed under lockdown for over a month now, following reports of a cluster outbreak in mid-July. Citywide COVID-19 testing went underway and local communities were placed under seal-off managementmeaning no one would be allowed to enter or leave. Citizens are also forbidden to leave Urumqi except under special circumstances. It is unclear what the true scale of Xinjiangs latest outbreak is, as authorities have provided little information. Some residents previously told The Epoch Times they suspected the government was covering up the severity of the outbreak. Forced Medication Recently, Urumqi authorities added a new regulation. Mr. Wang, an Urumqi resident, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that lately, people were told to regularly take drugsdelivered to him by volunteers working for the local government, three times per day. Volunteers show up, they take our temperature, watch us take the drugs and photograph us the children take a half dosage of the drug. Whether the drug works [to prevent the virus], we dont have a clue, Wang said. He added that authorities did not explain when this practice would stop. Another resident in Urumqi told The Epoch Times that he was also required to take some form of herbal medicine, but the packaging did not show the drug name. Doctors say the drug is good to prevent flu and the drug is made of traditional Chinese medicine. It is said to be good for ones immunity. And community officials pass out the drugs, the resident said, who added that people in other areas of Xinjiang were also taking such drugs. The resident said officials didnt say taking the drug was not mandatory, but they collected the names of people who took the drug and those who refused to. Another resident said he knew someone who was forced to take the drug. The interviewees did not wish to disclose their real names for fear of reprisal from Chinese authorities for speaking to media. On July 23, head of the Urumqi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Li Chongrui said at a press conference that a Chinese medicine hospital in Changji Hui prefecture, located just northwest of Urumqi, had distributed over 5,000 bags of herbal medicine to frontline health workers. According to Chinese state-run media, CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical, a drugmaker based in northern Chinas Hebei Province, air-shipped over 210,000 pills of antiviral medication named Umifenovir to Urumqi on July 31. It is used to treat influenza. Effectiveness Unclear While the Chinese regime has promoted the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Umifenovir in treating patients infected with the CCP virus, the effectiveness of both medications has been questioned. In March, Edzard Ernst, a UK-based retired researcher of complementary medicines, was quoted in the scientific journal Nature, saying, For TCM, there is no good evidence, and therefore its use is not just unjustified, but dangerous. Chinese hospitals widely use Umifenovir to treat COVID patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved using the drug for treating COVID-19. At least two scientific papers have concluded that the use of Umifenovir was not associated with improved conditions of patients infected with the virus. Complaints On social media, Urumqi residents posted videos of people being forced into taking the drug against their will. A widely-circulated online video showed 15 locals at a local community called Ruishen were ordered by a woman to drink from their paper cups, supposedly containing herbal medicine. Quickly drink it, a woman is heard saying in the video, noting that the date was Aug. 20. The 15 people gathered in the room complied. In widely-circulated screenshots of an online chat, a resident complained to a staff worker that she had an allergic reaction after drinking the medication and developed a skin rash. The staff worker told her to obey orders. Another local took to Chinese social media platform Weibo, Chinas equivalent to Twitter, saying that local officials showed up at 3 a.m., and demanded he or she drink the medication in front of the camera. Wang also questioned why the local government made such rules, as it did not report any new local infection cases since Aug. 16. Since the lockdown, meals were delivered to his door, and his garbage was picked up by a local company at noon once a dayto minimize physical contact between people. He added that he and his family were permitted to leave their apartment and move around the residential complex beginning on Aug. 25, but only one person per household could do so at a time. On Aug. 24, Chinese state-run media Xinhua reported that Urumqi residents living in certain communities free of infection cases were allowed to carry out non-gathering personal activities within their residential complex. Ms. Liu, also living in Urumqi, said she believed the local government wanted to impose strict measures for reasons other than stopping the spread of the virus. She explained that these measures were adopted to achieve the objective of maintaining social stability. In other words, local officials could be more effective in rounding up and arresting dissidents in a city under lockdown, Liu believed. She added that recently, it was difficult to send out information about Xinjiang. If people did so, they would risk being arrested or jailed, Liu added. People could simply disappear and no one would know where he or she has gone. Liu said people found in possession of software to circumvent Chinas firewall would be given jail time if caught. Xinjiang Residents Forced to Take Medicine; China Offers Cash Prizes to Report on Religious Activities Chinese authorities are offering rewards of up to 100,000 yuan, or about $14,000, for reporting on activities of people who practice any from a list of over 20 religions that are persecuted in China. The new directive details measures to enhance its state abuses of religions. Issues people can get rewards for reporting include if they see people handing out leaflets or pictures, handing religious banners, and for publishing and printing books that preach religion, among other issues considered crimes by the ruling party. These stories and more in this episode of Crossroads. Crossroads is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube. Join Patreon to Support Crossroads: https://www.patreon.com/Crossroads_Josh His resilience comes from his co-residents every chime from a new text is a reminder that even at a distance, his squad always has his back. Read more Young residents call it the Sunday scaries that feeling you get late in the afternoon, when the warm glow of a free weekend fades into cold apprehension about the week ahead. Its a potent mix of nerves and nausea, brought on by the Ghost of Call Nights Past. In urology, this specter comes as the difficult Foley catheter, the bloody urine that wont clear, or the 2 a.m. emergency surgery for testicular torsion. Once youve had one hard night, its easy to worry that the next week could bring another. Thankfully, when the scaries haunt me, my co-residents are ghostbusters ready to chase them off. We have a group text chat to support each others medical and non-medical needs. When we face unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations what a senior resident dubbed battlefield medicine we turn to each other. Our collective knowledge helps us navigate new hospitals, strange consults, and attending preferences. More importantly, the group text is a judgment-free zone. Topics vary widely, from complex patients and difficult surgeries to debates about a notorious tiger-loving Netflix star. No matter the subject, I am guaranteed a sympathetic ear. As residency progresses, we lean on each other more. We have embraced the battlefield metaphor and jokingly draw parallels between our lives and that of soldiers; gowning up for surgery is akin to arming ourselves for battle and morbidity and mortality conferences sometimes feel like facing a firing squad. One particularly difficult call weekend taught me how deep our bond truly ran. During my second year of residency, having just started urology full-time, I had a patient with a history of pelvic radiation and bladder neck contracture. This is a challenging problem; a closed-off bladder neck makes urination difficult. This leads to urinary retention, and the bladder stretches out like a water balloon. The bladder lining is weakened by radiation and can bleed spontaneously. The blood collects in clots, which further block off the bladder, leading to more retention and then more bleeding in a vicious circle. The patient had been unable to urinate for days prior and the urology team had used a wire to place a small catheter through the narrow bladder opening and relieve the obstruction. Unfortunately, the bleeding had resumed, the catheter had clotted off, and the patient was writhing in discomfort with a full bladder again. Flushing clots out of a small catheter is not an easy job. Its like trying to sip coffee through a stirring straw its possible, but it takes a long time and effort. If this had occurred earlier in the day, the team would have removed the catheter and replaced it with a large size. However, it was late at night on a weekend, so the normal urology support staff had gone home. I was tired and, with my inexperience, terrified of being unable to replace the patients catheter. Instead, I took the safer option and painstakingly flushed three liters of saline through the tiny catheter until it cleared. It was a temporary fix, but the patient felt better. I admitted him to the hospital and left to fight another day. The next morning, I texted my team about my challenging night. My co-resident had finished rounding at a nearby hospital and was free to go home. Instead, she came to my hospital, and over the next hour, we widened the bladder outlet and placed a large catheter together. We watched the patient slowly exhale the universal sigh of relief that comes from emptying a full bladder. My seemingly insurmountable problem from the night before was fixed. When it felt like me against the world, she helped me be brave. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sunday scaries became a daily occurrence. Both patients and providers were dying, and the battlefield metaphor became all too real. To minimize exposure to the virus, our division limited the number of residents present in the hospital at the same time so I did not see my co-residents for months. I felt alone. In recent weeks, the hospital has slowly returned to full capacity, but things are far from normal. Temperature scans are now required for entry, and everyone wears a mask and stands six feet apart. Philadelphia has reopened from yellow to green, but inside I am still on red alert. We have regular seminars on resident wellness and I have access to meditation apps. They are appreciated, but I cant roll out the yoga mat while on call. My resilience comes from my co-residents every chime from a new text is a reminder that even at a distance, my squad always has my back. HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you. Kiran Sury received his journalism degree from Macaulay Honors at Brooklyn College, and his MD from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. He is a third year Urology resident in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The opinions expressed in this article do not represent those of the University of Pennsylvania Health System or the Perelman School of Medicine. New Delhi: Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi will speak to the Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states and also the Chief Ministers of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday to discuss the pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) share, and the NEET and JEE examination issue. According to Congress sources, the meeting will be chaired by Sonia Gandhi through video conferencing, in which Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy along with the West Bengal and Maharashtra Chief Ministers will be present. Sonia and other leaders are also likely to discuss the JEE and NEET examinations, which are scheduled to be held in September. The Centres refusal to postpone the JEE and NEET examinations has triggered protests by students who are demanding that the entrances be postponed in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The virtual meeting will take place at 2.30 PM. The meeting comes a day ahead of the meeting of the GST Council on Thursday. According to Congress sources, the opposition Chief Ministers are expected to discuss a joint effort to pressurise the government to postpone the exams at a time when the country is battling a surge in Covid-19 cases. The source said the agenda of the meeting also includes compensation to states who have reported a loss of revenue because of the GST in the time of the pandemic. While the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is scheduled from September 1-6, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is planned on September 13. A total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, and 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. There have been demands from several quarters to further postpone the entrance exams in view of increasing coronavirus cases. Even after repeated requests from students, the National Testing Agency (NTA) once again on Tuesday said that the examinations will held on the scheduled dates. Last Friday, it had informed that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) will be held as scheduled on September 13, while the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) will be held from September 1 to 6. Workers disinfect as a precaution against the coronavirus in front of a pharmacy in Goyang, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Korea is closing schools and switching back to remote learning in the greater capital area as the country counted its 12th straight day of triple-digit daily increases in coronavirus cases. AP Schools in Seoul and its surrounding areas returned to remote classes Wednesday to protect students and slow down the spread of the virus, as infections surge throughout the nation. The Ministry of Education ordered all 7,826 kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools in the metropolitan area Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday to hold online classes only, until Sept. 11, to tame the highly infectious coronavirus. High school seniors are not subject to the policy in order to prepare for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the yearly national university entrance exam slated for Dec. 3, in which some 480,000 students are expected to participate. The measure also does not apply to the rest of the country, where schools continue to offer a mix of in-person and remote classes with attendance capped at one-third in elementary and middle schools, and two-thirds in high schools. Switching to online-only instruction is part of the most draconian anti-virus regulations, which the country has yet to enforce. But the ministry preemptively put the measure in place as COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate, particularly in the metropolitan region. The precautionary move is a response to what health authorities described as the biggest crisis yet since the pandemic began early this year. The country, once seen as having successfully controlled the virus, has reported infection cases in the triple digits since mid-August. The rapid spread has worried the ministry, which believed in-person learning at school was possible even during the pandemic if thorough anti-virus measures were enforced. Amid a spike in new infections, a record number of 2,100 schools halted in-person classes Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 1,845 on Monday. Some schools shut down as a preemptive measure. Of the total, 40 percent were located in the greater Seoul area, with 157 in Seoul, 524 in Gyeonggi Province and 167 in Incheon. Over the past two weeks, 166 students and 46 teachers and faculty members have tested positive for the virus in the area. The country carefully instituted a phased reopening of schools, starting May 20, amid a slowdown in new cases. Since then, 307 students and 74 faculty members and teachers have tested positive for the virus. The numbers rose by 22 and four, respectively, from a day ago. On Saturday, the government expanded the Level Two guidelines of the three-tier system around the country, as COVID-19 cases were confirmed in all of the country's 17 major cities and provinces, a grim sign that the country might have entered a national epidemic. Previously, it had been imposed in the greater Seoul area. When Level Three is enforced, all schools nationwide are required to switch to remote learning. The ministry said it will decide whether to further extend the measure after closely monitoring the spread of the virus until Sept. 11. (Yonhap) Kentucky Senator Rand Paul praised President Donald Trump's work on tax reform and his goal of bringing home American troops from wars overseas during his speech at the Republican National Convention. Senator Paul, who supports libertarian ideas, admitted to not always agreeing with all of Trump's policies but stressed that they share "significant agreements." "But more important than simple agreement is accomplishment. President Trump gets things done," Paul said. "When some in Congress wanted a so-called revenue-neutral tax plan. Donald Trump and I worked together to make sure that it was a true tax cut." Paul then transitioned to attacking Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden for a piece of legislation he helped write and pass and a US senator. "President Trump actually signed the first step act, the first real reform in a generation and one that sought to undo the harm that others like Joe Biden have done," Paul said. "For those of us who lament the Biden crime bill that locked up a generation of young black men. Remember that Biden bragged about a bill that still wreaks havoc among people of color." As an anti-interventionist, Senator Paul also expressed his support of Trump's plans to bring American troops home from wars that were continued under the Obama Biden administration. "Joe Biden voted for the Iraq war, which President Trump has long called the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation," Paul said. "I fear Biden will choose war again. He supported the war in Serbia, Syria, Libya. Joe Biden will continue to spill our blood and treasure. President Trump. We'll bring our heroes home. If you hate war like I hate war. If you want us to quit sending 50 billion dollars every year to Afghanistan to build their roads and bridges instead of building them here at home, you need to support President Trump for another term." Trump has repeatedly promised to get the U.S. out of wars in the Middle East, and the withdrawal of troops could boost his re-election bid in a nation weary of involvement in distant conflicts. There are currently more than 16,500 soldiers serving under the NATO banner, of which 8,000 are American. Germany has the next largest contingent, with 1,300 troops, followed by Britain with 1,100. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has ordered a recall of peaches imported to Singapore from the United States of America (USA). According to a media release on Tuesday (25 Aug), the peaches of concern are said to be packed or supplied by Prima Wawona or Wawona Packing Company in the USA. These peaches are potentially linked to an ongoing multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis in the USA, it said. According to investigations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bagged peaches are suspected to have made more than 60 people in nine states unwell. Those who have bought the peaches from the affected company should look out for the following stickers with these Price Look-Up (PLU) numbers on them: 4037 4038 4044 4401 94037 94038 94044 94401 The SFA, however, highlights that not all peaches with these PLU codes are supplied by Prima Wawona. Consumers who are unsure about the brand or variety of their loose peaches should contact the respective retailers, it said. According to SFA, the recall is ongoing and those who have bought these affected products are strongly advised not to consume them. Recalled peaches products distributed by Prima Wavona in the US. | Image source: US FDA The consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis in humans, which may lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Salmonellosis can be fatal to young children, the elderly and those with impaired immune systems. Consumers who have purchased the implicated product should not consume it, stated SFA. The agency also advised those who have eaten the peaches affected by the recall to seek medical advice if they have any concerns about their health. Consumers may contact the importer Satoyu Trading Pte Ltd. at 9066 1290 for enquiries and for exchange or refund of products. Signs and Symptoms for Salmonella Infection Story continues Salmonella infection or salmonellosis is mostly spread to people through contaminated food (94%) and the illness usually lasts for four to 7 days. Raw foods like sashimi may come to mind, but truth is, salmonella can contaminate a variety of foods. According to SFA, the commonly associated foods include meat, poultry, eggs and their products. Other incriminated food include coconut, smoked fish and milk powder. Image source: iStock While not everyone who ingests salmonella gets ill, some groups are more vulnerable than others. Those hit by salmonellosis can face the sudden onset of the following symptoms: nausea and vomiting abdominal cramps diarrhea (sometimes bloody) fever headache According to KidsHealth, these are the groups who are at risk for more serious complications from salmonellosis: very young individuals, especially babies have problems with their immune systems (such as people with HIV) take cancer-fighting drugs or drugs that affect their immune system have sickle cell disease have an absent or nonfunctioning spleen take chronic stomach acid suppression medicine Those who experience a higher risk to salmonella infection are usually given antibiotics by the doctor to help prevent the spread to other parts of the body. People who have salmonellosis have the bacteria in their own poop, too. A great way to prevent the further spread is to wash your hands often with warm water and soap. Especially if you have a young child in tow, here are some situations to make that special effort to wash your hands: right after playing with a pet or animal (especially a reptile or chicken) right after you use the bathroom before preparing any food, like cutting up vegetables for dinner before eating any food Lead image source: Website/US FDA ALSO READ: Authorities warns against rockmelon contaminated with salmonella Baby Gets Food Poisoning From Sushi Rice, Mum Warns Other Parents The post SFA Recalls Peaches Imported to Spore from US Due to Salmonella Risk appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids. A savvy Australian mum has shared how she made two different kinds of hotdogs using the $29 Kmart sausage roll maker. Jodie posted images to a popular cookery Facebook group where she originally saw the idea after many said they reminded them of dagwood dogs. A dagwood dog, also known as a corn dog, is a sausage on a stick that's covered in a thick layer of deep fried cornmeal batter. A savvy Australian mum has shared how she made two different kinds of hotdogs using the $29 Kmart sausage roll maker 'Thank you to the person who shared the hotdog idea! I used pastry for four and pancake mix (just the shaker kind) for the other four,' Jodie said online. 'Miss seven said she loved both, but pastry was just a little better. She liked the sweetness of the pancake mix with the hotdog.' Jodie said she used Don Skin-On Cocktail Franks sausages, puff pastry and a standard pancake mix. 'I cooked [the sausages] until I was happy with the colour,' she said. To make the hotdogs, she cooked the sausages first then lined the sausage roll maker with the puff pastry and placed a sausage inside To make the hotdogs, she cooked the sausages first then lined the sausage roll maker with the puff pastry, placed a sausage inside then added another layer of pastry on top. She did the same with the second batch of sausages but instead used the pancake mix to create a sweet hotdog. 'Fantastic idea! Going to try these this weekend,' one person said online. 'I'd like to do this with apples,' another said, a third added: 'Looks so delicious.' Earlier this month, another home cook shared a similar recipe to make 'waffle dogs' using waffle batter and hot dog sausages Earlier this month, another home cook shared a similar recipe to make 'waffle dogs' using waffle batter and hot dog sausages. The recipe is similar to Jodie's pancake mix idea but instead uses waffle batter. 'It does require a bit of patience but I'm sure there are times that we need a break from puff pastry,' Helen said. Other social media users online said they are excited to try both recipes for themselves, though will need to first purchase the sausage roll maker. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 15:55:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GAZA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli warplanes on Wednesday morning carried out raids against military posts belonging to the Islamic Hamas movement in various areas in the Gaza Strip, said Palestinian and Israeli sources. Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that the Israeli warplanes struck agricultural lands in cities of Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported, but the attack caused considerable damage in the bombed places, according to the security sources. Meanwhile, the Israeli army said in a press statement that the "Israeli raids came in response to the continuation of the launch of balloons attached to incendiary or explosive materials into Israeli towns." The army added that warplanes struck "concrete manufacturing sites used for underground infrastructure and tunnel construction" belonging to Hamas. On Tuesday night, Israeli authorities dealt with 30 fires resulted from arson balloons launched by Gaza's youths at Israeli towns adjacent to the strip, according to Israeli security sources. Since Aug. 6, the Palestinian coastal enclave has been witnessing military tensions with the Israeli army, as the Palestinian youths send incendiary balloons toward Israeli cities adjacent to the strip. As a result, Israeli warplanes targeted dozens of military sites belonging to the Hamas movement, in response to the launch of balloons. The violence came amid weeks of tensions, which, according to Palestinian and Israeli reports, was triggered by Israel's refusal to allow the transfer of Qatari money to the besieged Palestinian enclave. Enditem Cheryl and Corrina Thinn were almost joined at the hip. The sisters, both members of the Navajo Nation, shared an office at Arizonas Tuba City Regional Health Care. Cheryl conducted reviews to make sure patients were receiving adequate care. Corrina was a social worker. Their desks were just inches apart. They lived together, with their mother, Mary Thinn. They helped raise each others children. And they died just weeks apart, at ages 40 and 44, after falling ill with COVID-19. Close friend Lynette Goldtooth, a registered nurse and case manager, won't go near the area of the hospital where they worked, knowing shell break down if she sees their empty seats. That's where I used to go to see Corrina every morning, Goldtooth said. I used to sit in Cheryls chair. Corrina and I would just start talking, catch up on what we did during our time off, laugh and joke. Cheryl and Corrina are among hundreds of U.S. health care workers who died after helping patients battle the virus. The Guardian and KHN are investigating more than 1,000 of these workers' deaths in the Lost on the Frontline project. The Navajo Nation was ravaged by COVID-19 this spring. In May, it reported the highest per capita infection rate in the United States. As of Aug. 21, the sisters were among 489 members of the reservation who had died of the virus, according to the Navajo Department of Health. Experts attributed the spread to the prevalence of multigenerational housing and poor sanitation infrastructure many homes lack running water. Like medical centers across the country, local hospitals across the Navajo Nation experienced shortages of personal protective gear. In early March, Corrina, without personal protective equipment, saw a patient who was showing symptoms of COVID-19, according to her sister Chris. Corrina made sure the patient was comfortable and asked what else she could do to help. A couple of days later, that patient died, and a test for COVID-19 came back positive. Within days after that, she got sick really fast, Chris said. The sisters' employer declined to comment for this story. Corrinas first concern was for Cheryl, who started showing symptoms of the virus around the same time that she did. Cheryl's job as a utilization review technician required face-to-face interaction with patients to verify their insurance and discuss workers compensation. She had underlying health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Corrina worked with people with RA when she was on Pima reservation, so she knows the effects of having it, Mary, her mother, said. I think thats what worried her the most, because she thought it might make [Cheryl's] immune system weaker. Chris remembers calling Cheryl on her 40th birthday, March 19. Cheryl joked about how, as the baby of the four siblings, she was still young and pretty. But she also complained that it was difficult for her to breathe. She was admitted to the Tuba City hospital the next day. Corrinas condition worsened as well, and she checked herself into the emergency room at Tuba City on March 21. Hospital staff tried assisted-breathing treatments on her, to no avail. Cheryl was airlifted to Flagstaff Medical Center on March 24. She never knew that Corrina was briefly in the hospital with her. Corrina was airlifted to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale later that night. Chris said that the last time she spoke with Corrina, she was still in the ER. She just messaged us saying she was going to get flown out, that she loves us and that she was going to be back," Chris said. "That was the last time we heard from her. Because of shortages, the sisters weren't tested for COVID-19 until they were transferred out of Tuba City. They both tested positive and were then intubated at their respective hospitals. Cheryl died on April 11, and no family members were allowed to be with her. I couldnt even hold my baby, her mother said. I couldnt even hold her hand when she passed. The family had a small service before burying Cheryl next to their father, Navajo Police Sgt. Jimmie Thinn Sr., and Cheryls ex-husband, who died in January. Even after their marriage ended, the two remained close and co-parented Cheryl's son, Kyle. Chris said the whole experience felt very lonely. Numbed by the pain of Cheryls death, the family shifted their focus to Corrina. You tell yourself that we just need to get her healthy enough to come home," Chris said. "And then all of the sudden, shes gone. Corrina died on April 29 18 days after her sister's death and two weeks after her birthday, which she spent on a ventilator. Although she was unconscious, her nurse sang "Happy Birthday." Corrina's oldest son, Gary Werito Jr., had tried for weeks to take leave from his Fort Bliss Army post in El Paso, Texas. His superiors declined his requests out of concerns he might contract the virus while on leave. Separated from his mother by hundreds of miles, Werito tried to reach her through prayer. I would burn cedar, he said. I was trying to talk to my mom. I was telling her, Mom, youre going to get through this. Youre going to come home. Youre going to meet your granddaughter.' Werito and his wife were expecting their second child. The baby would have been Corrinas first granddaughter. Werito remembers his mother as a model Navajo. She left the reservation to get an education, and then she came home, he said. She could have worked anywhere else as a social worker, but she chose to help her own people. Before becoming a social worker, Corrina worked for the Tuba City Police District for more than 10 years. She ended her law enforcement career as a senior police officer. Goldtooth, the sisters' friend and colleague, said Corrina was particularly effective at the hospital because she spoke English and Navajo fluently. The Native language, which helped the U.S. win World War II as a secret code for communications, is not written down. A lot of people arent fluent in Navajo anymore, she said. When elderly people would come [to the hospital], they dont speak a lot of English. She was there to talk with them. It would really surprise people. Cheryl was more soft-spoken than her sister. Mary remembers her as empathetic and insightful. Her siblings often sought her advice. Thats what we miss about her, Mary said. She might be the quiet one, but she always has important things to say to us. Both sisters left behind young sons. Corrinas son Michael is 14, and Cheryls son just turned 12. The cousins are keeping each other company, reminding Mary of the way her daughters behaved. Honoring her former service with the Tuba City Police District, law enforcement escorted Corrinas body from Flagstaff to Tuba City. Her family was humbled by the outpouring. We had people lined up honoring her return, Mary said. They paid their respects, flying their flags. Some officers were standing along the road saluting her. Since June, the Navajo Department of Health has enforced strict curfews during the week and lockdowns over the weekend. Those measures have been effective, as they've seen cases decline over the past two months. The Navajo Nation began its first reopening phase in mid-August, allowing most businesses to operate at 25% capacity. In late July, Werito left the Army for good and came home to Tuba City. His daughter was born on Aug. 5 in the same hospital where his mother and aunt worked. Her middle name is Lois, the same as Corrinas. Werito said he sometimes forgets his mother is gone and expects her to come home from work. My grandmother told me its a little peace of mind that Im home now, he said. It kind of fills that void that my mom and my aunt left. This story is part of "Lost on the Frontline," an ongoing project from The Guardian and Kaiser Health News that aims to document the lives of health care workers in the U.S. who die from COVID-19, and to investigate why so many are victims of the disease. If you have a colleague or loved one we should include, please share their story. New Delhi: While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the death case of Sushant Singh Rajput, every day there is a new development exposing people who claimed to be close to the late actor. In a shocking twist to the mystery, actress and girlfriend of Sushant, Rhea Chakraborty's WhatsApp chat has hinted at a possible drug conspiracy. The deleted WhatsApp chats were reportedly retrieved and unfold the conversation between Rhea and Gaurav Arya - the man who is allegedly a drug dealer. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation in Sushant's case has revealed details about Rhea's conversation about drugs in WhatsApp chat. It is likely that that the CBI team can join hands with ED in order to analyze the data of Rhea's phone. After this sensational expose, it has been learnt that the CBI will question Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj, house manager Samuel Miranda, staff Deepesh Sawant. All of these close to Sushant and Rhea while they stayed together, therefore, the CBI will quiz them over this new-found drug controversy. If at all this stands true then questions will arise: - Since how long were the drugs being consumed? - Was it consumed on a daily basis or only during parties? -Who all took drugs? - Was any of the staff involved in arranging drugs? -When was the last time that drugs were consumed? The CBI may ask these questions to the people who stayed with Sushant at his Bandra pad where he was found dead on June 14. The origins of Silicon Valley long before Facebook, Google and Apple are inextricably linked with America's defence establishment. It was Pentagon funding that helped to develop the internet, while Fairchild Semiconductor now seen as the original Valley start-up began by making chips for Cold War missiles and the rockets that put Neil Armstrong on the moon. But while this historic link with government has become unfashionable at some tech firms lately, one company is putting it at the heart of its pitch to investors. Inspiration: The company's name, meaning 'one that sees from afar', comes from the seeing stone used by dark wizard Saruman (pictured) in JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings THE DATA WIZARD INSPIRED BY TOLKEIN Palantir is an American technology company founded in 2003 by the Paypal tycoon Peter Thiel and other entrepreneurs. The company's name, meaning 'one that sees from afar', comes from the seeing stone used by dark wizard Saruman (pictured) in JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It makes software that crunches vast amounts of data to make it easier for people to manage and analyse information. The company's early funding came from InQ-Tel, the CIA's venture capital arm, and its customers now include both the US and UK governments. It has earned its name doing official and often controversial work for government agencies. But its tools have increasingly been used by the private sector as well. For example, BP is said to have turned to Palantir to help it extract oil more efficiently in the North Sea, while drugs companies are using its tools to analyse research data, and US bank JP Morgan has deployed the software to detect fraud. Palantir, a data analytics business preparing to float on the New York Stock Exchange, claims to be different to the 'engineering elite of Silicon Valley'. Co-founded by investors that include Paypal tycoon Peter Thiel, it has 'chosen sides' and will stand by clients, who include the US and UK governments, no matter what. Put simply, it makes software that helps to crunch huge amounts of data and then present it in a way that makes it easier for experts to analyse. Its computer algorithms detect fraudulent credit card payments, help police connect the dots between suspects and track down roadside bomb makers who target American troops in Afghanistan. It was recently drafted in by the NHS to analyse data on the spread of the coronavirus. And it is said to have helped US authorities find Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden before his killing. But the company's sensitive and sometimes controversial work means it has long been steeped in secrecy until now. This week Palantir partially lifted the veil ahead of its 15billion stock market listing, expected to be one of the biggest recent floats after those of Uber, Lyft, Spotify and Slack. It hopes to tap into the global tech boom, which has seen digital companies flourish even during the coronavirus crisis, with other deals including British software giant Aveva's takeover of Osisoft and the 23billion float of Chinese giant Ant Financial. Palantir's prospectus reveals familiar Silicon Valley features: an eccentric chief executive; the view that tech can solve life's most intractable problems; and a sky-high valuation - despite a lack of profit. Indeed, after 16 years in operation, it has never been in the black. It brought in revenues of 565m last year, with 35 per cent coming from the US and 20 per cent from the UK, but still lost 441m. Yet the company, led by boss and co-founder Alex Karp, is betting that the explosion in data being collected means its services are needed more than ever. It has taken aim at companies like Facebook, which collect vast amounts of user data to sell targeted advertising. 'We seem to share fewer and fewer of the sector's values and commitments,' Karp said. 'Software projects with our defence and intelligence agencies, whose missions are to keep us safe, have become controversial, while companies built on advertising dollars are commonplace. 'Our software is used to target terrorists and to keep soldiers safe. We have chosen sides, and we know our partners value our commitment. We stand by them when it is convenient, and when it is not.' Yet working with government agencies has also led to controversies. The data it has pulled together at some organisations, from banks to police departments, is so comprehensive that it has been abused by the staff of some customers to snoop on people such as former romantic partners. Trump card: Peter Thiel In New Orleans, its algorithms to hunt criminals were shut down after accusations of bias and racism. And its work with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement was divisive among its own staff, after the agency was scrutinised for separating immigrant families at the border. Despite a petition from employees, however, Karp said it would continue working with the US government. The 52-year-old is a philosophy graduate who reportedly enjoys solving Rubik's cubes and keeps 20 identical pairs of swimming goggles in his office. He previously branded Google 'treasonous' for its decision to stop working with the US military on an artificial intelligence project. 'Silicon Valley is telling the average American 'I will not support your defence needs' while selling products to countries that are adversarial to America. That is a loser position,' Karp told CNBC. Thiel, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, also branded Google's decision 'shocking'. Palantir admits that its own decision to avoid working with China could also hamper its success. But it still thinks the market for its software is huge with 90billion per year up for grabs. Palantir believes that approach will prove to be the right one. 'The engineering elite of Silicon Valley may know more than most about building software,' Karp said. 'But they do not know more about how society should be organised or what justice requires.' Peterborough area Catholic schools will also have a staggered start to the new school year and youll need to know your ABCs to be ready for the return to school from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board announced Tuesday that full-time attendance at the Catholic schools in Peterborough city and county, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County and Clarington wont begin until Sept. 16, with staggered starts for schools beginning on Sept. 10. Normally the school year would have began on Sept. 8, the day after Labour Day, but board staff need more time to organize classrooms and school busing for COVID-19 pandemic measures and prepare a virtual learning program for all the students who opted for in-home learning prior to last weeks deadline. We know that for some families, a staggered start creates challenges, but we do feel a gradual start to the year will benefit our staff and students greatly, the board stated in a letter to families. This will give our administrators and educators more time to prepare the school for enhanced safety measures, our educators much needed time to organize their classrooms and it will allow students to re-enter the classroom gradually to get adjusted to the new school routines. For Catholic elementary students, students whose surnames begin with the letters A to K will attend school on Sept. 10 and 14, while students whose surnames begin with the letters L to Z will attend school on Sept. 11 and 15. In Catholic high schools, students in Grade 9 will attend Sept. 10 and 15, students in Grade 10 will attend Sept. 11 and 15, while students in Grades 11 and 12 will attend Sept. 14 and 15. That means only staff will be in the schools on Sept. 8 and 9. Elementary schools will reopen to staff on Aug. 31. Virtual learning students will also be on the same staggered start schedule. Individual schools can schedule a different entry time for their junior kindergarten students. The Catholic high schools will also alternate each day between the two courses of each quadmester. One high school is exempted from the quadmester system. St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Lindsay has been granted a Ministry of Education exemption to continue with regular four-course semesters because of its low enrolment of 260 students. St. Thomas Aquinas has also been chosen as the host of the boards new Virtual School, delivering online learning for about 1,200 elementary students and 600 high school students and welcoming 70 Virtual School staff members, including principal Jonathan Dilanni. The Virtual School will have no impact on the physical facility as students and staff will connect to the Virtual School from their homes across the boards jurisdiction. On Monday, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board also announced staggered starts for Peterborough area public elementary and high schools, with full-time attendance not beginning until Sept. 18. The public board is also having its high school students stay in one classroom all week, studying one course all day for the full week, before alternating with their other course the next week during the new quadmester system. with files from Kawartha Lakes This Week ALBANY, N.Y. - The owner of the stretched limousine that crashed and killed 20 people in upstate New York repeatedly changed the listed number of seats in the vehicle and took other steps to avoid safety regulations, according to documents released Wednesday by federal investigators. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/8/2020 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. ALBANY, N.Y. - The owner of the stretched limousine that crashed and killed 20 people in upstate New York repeatedly changed the listed number of seats in the vehicle and took other steps to avoid safety regulations, according to documents released Wednesday by federal investigators. The National Transportation Safety Boards docket on the Oct. 6, 2018, crash in rural Schoharie contains dozens of documents, including an inspection report highlighting brake problems that hadnt been fixed since a previous inspection. But it doesnt cite a probable cause for the crash, which state police attributed to catastrophic brake failure. "The next step is that NTSB investigators write an analysis of the factual data and prepare a draft report that will include findings, the analysis of the facts, a finding of probable cause and safety recommendations," NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said via email. The board will hold a public meeting on the report on Sept. 29, he said. Nauman Hussain, the 30-year-old operator of Prestige Limousine in Saratoga Springs, faces 20 charges each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the crash that killed 17 passengers, the limo driver and two bystanders at the Apple Barrel Country Store. He has pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in May, but the trial was delayed because of the pandemic. His lawyers have been meeting with prosecutors to discuss a possible plea deal. The ill-fated limousine was rented to take a group of young friends and siblings to a 30th birthday celebration at Brewery Ommegang near Cooperstown. The vehicles brakes failed on a downhill stretch of state Route 30 in Schoharie, 30 miles west of Albany. It blew through a stop sign at a T-intersection and crashed shortly before 2 p.m. Documents released by NTSB reveal chilling details about the moments before the crash. A passenger texted, "the limo sounds like it is going to explode" and "its a junker." Another driver described hearing a noise like a "jet plane" as the limo swerved around her car and sped through the intersection. The driver had been cited for lacking a commercial passenger vehicle endorsement required by federal regulations. Toxicology tests after the crash showed he had marijuana and a prescription antidepressant in his system. Prestige Limousine is owned by Hussains father, Shahed Hussain, a former paid FBI informant known for his work in a series of controversial domestic terrorism investigations who is now back in his native Pakistan. He has not been charged in connection with the crash. Prestige, the third owner of the 2001 Ford Excursion limo, took pains to avoid more stringent inspection rules intended to ensure a modified vehicle has the braking capacity and other requirements for carrying a heavier load than in its original manufactured state. When it registered the limo, it didnt disclose to the Department of Motor Vehicles that it had been stretched, as required, and falsified the seating capacity from 18 down to 11, according to the NTSB documents. It further reduced the seating capacity to 8 when it registered the vehicle in 2017, and listed the capacity as 10 in 2018. Any vehicle with 15 or more seats is defined as a bus under state regulations and is subject to semi-annual inspections. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Documents also show a pattern of failed inspections. The limo was ordered out of service by the New York State Department of Transportation after an inspection on Sept. 4, 2018, that was part of an investigation of Prestige for operating as a limousine service without proper certification. Twice the DOT issued violation notices, and the company paid $500 penalties but kept operating. In the Sept. 4, 2018, check, the inspector discovered that violations found in previous inspections had not been fixed, so he ordered the vehicle out of service. Among the violations cited was a brake line to the left front axle dangling from the limo that could come in contact with the left front tire. On Sept. 1, 2018, a third violation notice was issued. Prestige failed to show for a hearing the day before the crash, and an administrative law judge issued a $2,000 penalty, which has not been paid, according to the NTSB. In all, the DOT inspected Prestiges vehicles five times, the NTSB reported. Hussains lawyer, Lee Kindlon, said he has taken a preliminary look through the recently released NTSB reports but not enough to comment at this time. - AP writers David Koenig in Dallas and Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed to this story. DUP MLA Gary Middleton has said Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson should resign following a tweet about a compensation scheme for victims of the Troubles. In the Tweet yesterday, Ms Anderson said the money was mainly for 'those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland'. The Foyle MLA and former MEP also said it would mostly go to 'those involved in collusion' and British troops. The tweet has since been deleted. The DUP has called for Sinn Fein to sanction Ms Anderson. Speaking on Radio Foyle this morning, Mr Middleton said she should resign from her Assembly seat. Mr Middleton described Ms Anderson's remarks as 'a deeply offensive tweet about innocent victims'. "This cannot be allowed to go unchecked," he continued. "People who have lived most of their lives with shrapnel from an explosion in their body or who are haunted with the smell, taste and noise of a bombing should not be labelled by Martina Anderson." Mr Middleton said he would raise the comments with the assembly authorities as to whether it breached the MLAs' code of conduct. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood called on the Sinn Fein leadership to apologise, describing the comments as 'grossly insulting to victims'. "These comments, coming less than a week after the High Court criticised the Executive Office, and specifically the deputy first minister, for failing to meet their obligations to these victims under the law, are astonishing," he said. "Time and again, Sinn Fein has proven that it has no interest in putting the needs of victims first." Sinn Fein have not commented on Ms Anderson's remarks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 16:33:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of three policemen were killed and two others injured on Wednesday in an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants in a border area in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a local official said. The extremist IS militants carried out the attack at about 2:00 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Tuesday) on an outpost manned by Iraqi soldiers and policemen in al-Obeidi area near the town of al-Qaim, some 450 km west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, mayor of al-Qaim Ahmed al-Dulaimi told Xinhua. The attack resulted in the killing of three policemen in addition to the wounding of an army officer and a policeman, al-Dulaimi said. Moreover, al-Dulaimi called on the government to conduct preemptive military operations in the desert areas surrounding al-Qaim, as they became shelters for IS militants who are carrying out attacks against the security forces. IS militants are still active in the vast Anbar desert which stretches to the border with neighboring countries of Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as small groups or individuals of IS militants frequently tried to infiltrate into Iraq from neighboring Syria through the roughly 600 km long border with vast rugged areas and desert land in an attempt to regroup in Iraq. The security situation in Iraq has been dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants late in 2017, and the Iraqi forces repeatedly carry out operations to control the whole border areas with Syria and nearby desert in western Iraq. Enditem An Adelaide woman charged with murder fabricated a story about a home invasion to cover up the brutal assault she inflicted on her mother-in-law, a court has heard. Caroline Dela Rose Nilsson is accused of murdering Myrna Nilsson in the laundry of the Valley View home they shared in September 2016. Opening the crown case in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, prosecutor Emily Telfer SC said the 57-year-old had been bludgeoned to death when she arrived home from work. The victim had suffered a fractured skull that ran from ear to ear, as well as deep lacerations to the back and side of her head and some possible defensive wounds to her hands. Ms Telfer said the accused was in the house at the time and later told police that there had been a home invasion involving two or three men who assaulted her, tied her up with tape and speaker wire, and ransacked the house. Caroline Nilsson (pictured) has been charged with murder of her mother-in-law in Adelaide in 2016 'It is the prosecution case in this matter that no strangers came to the house that evening, that Myrna Nilsson was killed and that the version of events given by Caroline Nilsson to the police is not supported by other evidence at the scene,' the prosecutor told the jury. 'It is the prosecution case that the story about other men being there is a fabrication which has been conceived and repeated by Caroline Nilsson to cover the fact that she killed her mother-in-law in the laundry of the house that they shared.' Ms Telfer told the jury the trial would hear about data extracted from a phone belonging to the victim and from an Apple watch she was wearing at the time and which recorded her heart rate. She said this evidence would show the time Ms Nilsson arrived home, when her phone disconnected from the Bluetooth system in her car, and then a period when there was a flurry of activity after which all movement stops and no heart rate is detected by her watch. Myrna Nilsson (pictured) was bludgeoned to death in her laundry after returning home from work 'On the prosecution case this is a record of Myrna Nilsson fighting for her life in an attack which started 47 seconds after the Bluetooth disconnected in her car,' Ms Telfer said. 'So whoever killed Myrna Nilsson did so very quickly after she arrived home.' But Heath Barklay SC, for Nilsson, said it was the defence case that his client did not kill her mother-in-law. He said the circumstantial evidence that the prosecution had put together did not paint a clear picture. 'It does not paint a clear cut case for murder,' he said. 'The defence say all of these items of evidence the prosecution point to do not prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.' Mr Barklay said there was no doubt that Myrna Nilsson met a violent end. 'The issue is whether Ms Nilsson killed her. The defence case is that she did not.' Phuket hotels scramble to register as ALSQ venues PHUKET: Hotels in Phuket are scrambling to be inspected and approved as Alternative Local State Quarantine (ALSQ) venues so that they may receive guests under the Safe and Sealed travel campaign. tourismCOVID-19Coronavirushealth By Tanyaluk Sakoot Wednesday 26 August 2020, 04:43PM From Oct 1, Phuket will be the first destination in Thailand allowed to receive international tourists since the COVID-19 outbreak began. However, one key condition is that international tourists must stay at least 14 days in quarantine, which can be served at any approved ALSQ venue. A recent surge of 27 applications saw the number of hotels in Phuket applying to be ALSQ certified jump from 55 to 82, explained PPHO Chief Thanit Sermkaew. However, despite 14 hotels applying more than a month ago, only two have been approved: the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket (100 rooms and 36 villas) and Trisara Phuket Villas and Residences (15 villas). A third resort, The Mangosteen Ayurveda & Wellness Resort, has been inspected and approved by Phuket health officers, but is still waiting for Bangkok officials to officially recognise as an ALSQ, PPHO Deputy Chief Padungkiet Utokasenee told The Phuket News today. Only after local health officials have inspected a hotel can they request officials in Bangkok to approve the hotel as an ALSQ. Mr Padungkiet explained. Mr Padungkiet declined to confirm how many hotels on the island PPHO officers had inspected for ALSQ validation. Asked what was causing the long delay, Mr Padungkiet said, Many hotels have applied, but most of them do not have a good understanding of what is required. They do not know the conditions. The process is very involved, requiring an overhaul of the processes and services provided at hotels, Mr Padungkiet explained. (The full list of requirements for hotels to become an ALSQ verified are posted by the Ministry of Public Health here.) Most of the hotels are not ready to be designated as ALSQ. Some of them are still reworking their budgets, staffing and their buildings to satisfy ALSQ requirements, which includes the hotel partnering with a hospital, he added. Also, the hotel needs to establish a medical area on site, which will require extra investment in order to have the appropriate equipment, he said. They want to be ALSQ, but they are not ready," Mr Padungkiet said plainly. Hotels may continue to submit their applications to become ALSQ approved until Oct 31, Mr Padungkiet noted. However, he pointed out that some hotels are expected to withdraw their applications later if the hotel wants to target only domestic tourists. Some hotels are worried about their target market as their clients are Thai nationals. They are worried that if their hotel opens to receive foreign guests, Thai guests might not come. Then some of them might decide to deregister as an ALSQ later, he said. Mr Padungkiet said he was unsure if the PPHO would even be able to inspect all the hotels that have already applied by Oct 1, the date set to allow foriegn tourists to land in Phuket. I think our team can handle it. The hotels just need to be ready for the inspection. We are glad to do our job and keep people safe, he concluded. August 26 : In a new development in Sushant Singh Rajput case, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) issued a show-cause notice to the management of Cooper Hospital and the Mumbai police over Rhea Chakrabortys access to the hospital's mortuary at the time when the late actors post-mortem was being conducted. A Mumbai Mirror report stated that the SHRC chief MA Sayeed saw several video clips of Rhea visiting the mortuary at Cooper. SHRC was shocked over the incident and issued a show-cause notice to the dean of the hospital asking him to explain how and why the permission was granted to Rhea and her family members. Some video clippings have gone viral, in which Rhea was seen coming out of the morgue at Cooper along with three other people. According to the police and SHRC, only immediate family members of the deceased are allowed inside the mortuary, it is reported. The SHRC chief reportedly said that legal consequences will take place, and Mumbai police will also face the consequences. Meanwhile, the CBI on Tuesday summoned two officers of the Mumbai police in connection with the probe into Sushant Singh Rajputs case. These police officers are Inspector Bhushan Belnekar and Sub-Inspector Vaibhav Jagtap from the Bandra police, who were investigating the case since June 14, when the late actor was found dead. However, according to Mumbai police these cops have been tested positive for Covid-19 and are on leave. It is reported that CBI is also likely to call other senior officers of Mumbai police, who were part of the probe. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 11:30:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Lam Cheuk-ting and Hui Chi-fung were arrested by Hong Kong police Wednesday morning, according to local media. The Democratic Party of Hong Kong said on social media that the police arrested Lam and Hui at their homes respectively over a case that happened in Tuen Mun Park last year. Lam was also suspected of participating in a riot on July 21 last year. The police have not yet confirmed the above information to the reporter as of press time. Enditem Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is asking city council to formally denounce conversion therapy and demand the federal government reintroduce a bill criminalizing the controversial practice. Conversion therapy attempts to force individuals, in many cases children, to change their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression through counselling or medication. The practice has been condemned by the Canadian Psychological Association as harmful because it can cause anxiety, depression and distress. Watson, who came out as gay just over one year ago, plans to introduce a notice of motion during Wednesday's council meeting asking his council colleagues to formally denounce the practice "as harmful for individuals and to society by promoting myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation and gender identity." The motion, which will be debated at the next council meeting in early September, also encourages anyone who has undergone conversion therapy to seek professional help from a number of local resources, and anyone who suspects someone has been kidnapped or forcibly confined to contact Ottawa police. Yasmine Mehdi/Radio-Canada If passed, Watson will write to the prime minister and attorney general, among other parliamentarians, asking that Bill C-8, which would amend the Criminal Code to outlaw the practice of conversion therapy, be reintroduced "as soon as possible in the upcoming session of Parliament." Bill C-8 would create new offences including causing a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will, forcing a child to participate, removing a child from Canada to engage in the therapy outside the country, advertising conversion therapy and making a profit from it. The bill did not proceed through Parliament after its first reading in March. Parliament is currently prorogued until to Sept. 23. Leave it to lawmakers, Di Monte advises Watson's motion follows an analysis by Anthony Di Monte, the city's general manager of emergency and protective services, who was asked by the mayor to look into whether the city could go ahead and regulate the practice through its own bylaws. Story continues "There is no clear authority for council to prohibit a business outright in Ontario," Di Monte concluded in a memo to the mayor and council on Tuesday. Di Monte found there are "practical and other impediments" that will make it "quite challenging" for the city to ban conversion therapy on its own. Through consultations with advocacy groups including Capital Pride and No Conversion Canada, it's clear conversion therapy is often done in secret, and police would be better equipped to investigate it as a criminal matter, he said. Since the federal government is in the process of banning conversion therapy, municipalities need to be careful with their own laws so that they don't conflict with that legal framework, Di Monte said. While Canada has not yet banned conversion therapy, the practice is already illegal in Ontario and the City of Calgary, while Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Vancouver have introduced restrictions. BATON ROUGE, La. Anxiety over Hurricane Laura ratcheted up along a vast stretch of the Gulf Coast on Tuesday as forecasters predicted the storm would escalate to Category 3 strength, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents to decide whether to hunker down or try to escape before it arrived. As it churned toward the coast, Laura also rekindled unwelcome memories of past hurricanes that swamped neighborhoods, destroyed homes and left burdensome emotional and physical tolls. Officials have stressed the power of the looming storm, drawing comparisons to some of the most disastrous hurricanes to hit the region, including Rita in 2005 and Harvey in 2017. Laura strengthened from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday as it cut through the Gulf of Mexico on a path toward the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Oil and gas companies were shutting down the refineries that help form the economic backbone of the Gulf Coast. India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent COVID-19 fatalities may be much more than what is being reported Two hospitals in TN join Oxford Varsity in Covishield vaccine human trial India pti-Madhuri Adnal Chennai, Aug 26: Amid the scramble to produce a vaccine against the deadly COVID-19,Tamil Nadu's Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Sri Ramachandra Hospital, here, will join the Oxford University in conducting human clinical trials of 'Covishield' on nearly 300 health volunteers aged 18 and above. This will be part of the multi-centric clinical trial in India, according to state health minister Dr C Vijaya Bhaskar. This vaccine, developed in collaboration with AstraZeneca, is considered the most promising to be successful, and is undergoing phase-3 trials in some other countries. Setting new global record, India registers new single-day spike of 77,266 COVID cases The Phase-2 trials of the Oxford University vaccine for novel Coronavirus began in India on Wednesday, with the first doses administered to some volunteers at Punes Bharti Vidyapeeth medical college and hospital. Punes Serum Institute of India, which has an agreement with AstraZeneca to produce and market this vaccine in India and many other countries, has initiated human trials. Both phase-2 and phase-3 trials would take place in India. Phase-1, during which the vaccines safety is assessed, is not mandatory to be repeated in India. Stating that chief minister K Palaniswami has issued orders for the trial, state health minister Dr C Vijaya Bhaskar told reporters here today that it would commence soon. The Director of public health (Dr T S Selvavinayagam) will be the principal investigator for the project, he said. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News Studies have shown that the vaccine triggered a T-cell response within 14 days of vaccination, and an antibody response within 28 days. T-cells are white blood cells that can attack Coronavirus infected cells, whereas antibodies are protein molecules that are able to neutralise the virus so that it cannot infect cells when initially contracted."After the successful phase two and three clinical trials, the vaccine would be brought to public use. This pro-people initiative of the chief minister will strengthen Mr Palaniswami's efforts in containing the Coronavirus," Dr Vijaya Bhaskar said. The minister asserted that the RGGGH has been doing yeoman service in treating COVID-19 patients. It has conducted 1,91,000 swab tests till date and launched the SMS services for communicating COVID-19 results. The SMS service which provides results to the patients within 24 hours would be extended to other centres across Tamil Nadu. Also, the 'zero delay ward' in the RGGGH has helped treat about 12,500 COVID-19 patients. The hospital has performed plasma therapy successfully on 174 people,he said and added that about18,000 Coronavirus patients have been treated at RGGGH. Maple Leaf Foods workers in Brandon are calling for a two-week shutdown of operations at the local plant in an open letter sent out Monday morning to members of the media. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2020 (513 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Maple Leaf Foods workers in Brandon are calling for a two-week shutdown of operations at the local plant in an open letter sent out Monday morning to members of the media. The letter, which was released with the help of migrant worker advocacy group Migrante Manitoba, calls into question the provincial government and Maple Leafs assertion that cases of the virus are not being transmitted at the plant. "The claim from the Maple Leaf President and CEO as well as the provincial government that the employees cases are linked to community gatherings and interactions, and are not linked to the plant is unacceptable," the letter reads. "Many of our co-workers have limited interactions with the community outside of the facility, while seeing confirmed cases rising. It is clear that the spread of COVID among workers at Maple Leaf is a direct result of our employment at Maple Leaf, and the working and living conditions we endure while working for this company." See Safety Page A2 Safety will remain our top priority: Maple Leaf This open letter represents the thoughts of approximately 200 workers at the plant, Migrante Manitoba organizer Miwa Marcelino said. According to him, copies of the letter have been sent to Premier Brian Pallister, Health Minister Cameron Friesen, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont, Brandon West Progressive Conservative MLA Reg Helwer and Brandon East Progressive Conservative MLA Len Isleifson. Maple Leaf has suspended pork exports to China because of the outbreak and required some employees to work mandatory overtime last Saturday out of concerns for the welfare of the hogs waiting to be processed in Brandon. Other demands made by the workers include a deep cleaning of the entire plant, ensuring that every employee gets tested for the virus and job security and wage protection for staff during any shutdown. The letter also echoes concerns made by an anonymous employee at the plant to the Winnipeg Free Press earlier this month that the company has not taken steps to improve safety in common areas like bathrooms and the cafeteria. "On April 18, 2020 during the pandemic, the facility changed the staff locker area, and made the area very crowded and impossible to keep physical distancing for workers," the letter reads. "The facility also didnt consider new health measures for washrooms. There are no measures to keep physical distancing for workers, no staggered times for washroom access, and workers often go to the washroom at the same time. There is no place to wash hands in the cafeteria, no hand sanitizer in the cafeteria. Since the week of August 17, workers found that no doctors are issuing doctors notes for sick leave." Speaking to the Sun on Monday, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 president Jeff Traeger said he agrees with the requests made by employees in the letter. "This is what happens when a large group of people who are in a difficult situation dont get enough attention," he said. "UFCW has been telling the company, the government, the minister, Public Health, weve written to Dr. Roussin, weve written to Cameron Friesen, weve talked to senior Maple Leaf management, weve told them that our folks are scared. Weve polled our members and more than 90 per cent of them dont feel safe going to work." However, he said that he could not independently confirm workplace-based transmission of the virus. The number of Maple Leaf employees who have contracted the virus has risen to 74, he said. Of those, 62 are active cases and 12 have recovered. In response to the letter, Maple Leaf vice-president of communications Janet Riley said in an email to the Sun that the companys response to the outbreak has been guided by science and that Public Health has not found evidence of workplace-based transmission at the plant. "People safety will remain our top priority and we will continue to conduct daily health and temperature screenings, require masks and other personal protection equipment, use social distancing in the plant and use plexiglass separators between work stations," Riley wrote. "Weve even brought trailers in to enable our Team Members to spread out during breaks. "We take the concerns raised in the letter today seriously. Because we are always seeking ways to improve, we welcome any constructive suggestions to strengthen the safety measures already in place." Asked about the letter during Mondays COVID update, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin did not name Maple Leaf but said the workplace has been putting extra safety measures in place and has been very co-operative during the current situation. He reiterated that there has been no evidence of workplace-based transmission and there are no agencies recommending the closure of the plant. If there was evidence of a small amount of workplace transmission, the governments first step would be to implement safety measures he said have already been put in place on site before a closure would be considered. cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark The American government has donated Ksh63 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) and information and communications technology (ICT) equipment to the Ministry of Interior departments. The donations, funded by the U.S. State Department Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) were on Tuesday dispatched to the National Police Service, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya Prison Services. The COVID-19 crisis reminds all of us of the importance of protecting both public health while also providing a safe and secure environment for all Kenyans, U.S Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter said. A healthy police force is essential to achieving this objective. It is critically important that Kenyans follow public health guidelines, and it is equally important that police are able to enforce these regulations ensuring safety and respect for all, he added. The PPE will be distributed to prisons across the country, especially maximum and remand prisons to help Kenya in the fight against the COVID19 pandemic. According to the US Embassy in Nairobi, over the past weeks, it delivered the PPE and ICT equipment to departments within the Ministry of Interior as follows: On July 7, the U.S. Embassy presented forensic and telecommunications equipment to Ms. Anne Makori , Chair of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) . The equipment will be used for a call center for the public to report any police misconduct via a toll-free number . On July 29, the U.S. Embassy presented ICT equipment to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. The computer equipment will be used to ensure Kenyas criminal justice sector is fair, transparent, professional, and accountable and to ensure timely and just case resolution across the criminal justice system. On August 3, the U.S. Embassy presented ICT equipment to Mr. William Singoei , Director of the Joint Operations Center, Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police Service. The ICT equipment will be used to conduct thorough, timely, and impartial investigations of alleged police misconduct. BERLIN - Iran has agreed to allow inspectors in to two sites where the country is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material, the U.N. atomic watchdog agency said Wednesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran was voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve the issues. It said in a joint statement with Iran that the dates for the inspections had been agreed, but did not elaborate. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi wouldnt name the dates after returning to Vienna on Wednesday evening, but said they will take place very, very soon. He called the outcome very important for peace and security. The inspections would resolve a months-long impasse between Iran and the IAEA. Grossis visit to Tehran this week was his first since taking over as the agencys leader in December. Iran must fully co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, said a United Kingdom spokesperson, who by tradition is not named. We welcome Irans commitment to grant access to the agency and fully support the IAEA and its safeguards mandate, which is an essential part of the non-proliferation system. Iran had been resisting providing access to the sites, which are thought to be from the early 2000s, before it signed the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, maintaining the IAEA had no legal basis to visit them. The head of Irans nuclear agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, confirmed that Iran had agreed to the inspections, saying this will bring the case to an end. We are loyal to conventions and our commitments, he said, adding that he hoped the agreement would open a new chapter between Iran and the IAEA based upon good intentions and mutual acceptance. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who on Wednesday met with the IAEA chief, said Grossis visit had produced a good agreement that can help for moving on a correct and proper path and achieve the final resolution of problems. As the U.S. and others continue to put more pressure on Iran, Rouhani urged the IAEA to continue its independence, impartiality and professionalism. Grossi told IAEA board members in March that it had identified a number of questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities at three locations that have not been declared by Iran and had been pressing for access. In its report in June, the agency said it had determined that one site had undergone extensive sanitization and levelling in 2003 and 2004 and there would be no verification value in inspecting it. It said Iran has blocked access to the other two locations, one of which was partially demolished in 2004 and the other at which the agency observed activities consistent with efforts to sanitize the facility from July 2019 onward. Grossi said Wednesday that the outcome of his visit to Iran was very important because the work of our agency was being interrupted. Our essential work for nonproliferation had found an obstacle, and we were having serious difficulties in overcoming this obstacle for many, many months. In its June report, the IAEA emphasized that Iran had been fully providing access to sites agreed upon in the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with the U.S., Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain. The nuclear deal promised Iran economic incentives in return for the curbs on its nuclear program. President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal unilaterally in 2018, saying it needed to be renegotiated. Since then, Iran has since slowly violated the restrictions to try and pressure the remaining nations to increase the incentives to offset new, economy-crippling U.S. sanctions. The ultimate goal of the deal is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Since the U.S. withdrawal, Iran has stockpiled enough uranium to produce a weapon, although the government in Tehran insists it has no such goal and that its atomic program is only for producing energy. ___ Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran contributed to this report. Read more about: BEIJING/CHANGSHA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) --A slew of activities were organized across China as people celebrated the Qixi Festival on Tuesday. The Qixi Festival, which is also referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day, falls on every 7th day of the 7th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar. It celebrates the legend of the annual meeting between the mythological figures of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. In Beijing, eight museums have extended their opening hours into the night, with some deciding to hold nighttime cultural activities to welcome the public. More than 50 cultural events are being held in museums across the Chinese capital city, with about 20 being conducted online. While opening the museums at night, authorities have taken strict anti-epidemic measures to ensure that the public can enjoy a safe and smooth celebration, said Li Yang, with the Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage. In Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, local authorities have come up with a unique way to celebrate Qixi: traffic lights. On the eve of Qixi, many netizens expressed their gratitude for local traffic police in Changsha in anticipation of massive traffic jams during the festival. In return, the police temporarily changed the traffic lights along a bustling commercial street in the city into the shape of hearts. They also urged people to follow traffic rules to ensure a safe Qixi Festival. The heart-shaped traffic lights started operating at midnight Monday and soon went viral on social media, with the public lauding the police for their creativity. "Through the heart-shaped traffic lights, we intend to promote traditional Chinese culture, while asking the public to abide by traffic rules," Changsha's traffic police said in a statement. In celebrations of the festival, online dating site Baihejiayuan released a report on marriage and dating, highlighting topics such as finance, when to give birth, naming babies, and whether couples should live with their parents. The report was based on about 13,000 respondents surveyed online. "The variety of Qixi celebration activities allow people to delve into traditional Chinese culture and history, and give new meaning to the festival," said Yan Haiming, with the Chinese Committee for the International Council on Monuments and Sites. (Newser) At least 59 counties in Texas are now under a disaster declaration, and Gov. Greg Abbott is predicting "a lot of devastation" when Hurricane Laura sweeps through the state. The storm, which became a Category 1 hurricane on Tuesday, is expected to gain strength from warm waters and be a Category 3 by the time it makes landfall on the Gulf Coast near the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday. Abbott said residents should brace for "very high winds" and storm surges of up to 10 feet, the New York Times reports. "There will be a lot of devastation wrecked upon Texas as the storm sweeps through," the governor said. Abbott said Laura would be more of a "wind event" than Hurricane Harvey, which caused devastating flooding in 2017, CBS reports. story continues below "Tornadoes will be spawned, Abbott warned. "People anywhere near where the eye of the hurricane will come ashore will need to be very aware of this high water surge and the devastation it can wreak." The AP reports that the approaching storm has caused the largest US evacuation of the pandemic, with more than 385,000 residents told to leave the Texas cities of Beaumont, Galveston, and Port Arthur, and at least 200,000 told to flee Calcasieu Parish in Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center warned Tuesday that the storm surge "could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline in southwestern Louisiana and far southeastern Texas," though the area is sparsely populated, the Washington Post reports. The NHC also warned that the track could be adjusted westward by up to 30 miles, which would bring it closer to Houston. (Read more hurricane stories.) How do you defend a president who has mismanaged a pandemic that has killed more than 170,000 Americans? On Monday, the Republican Party gave its answer: You lie. At its convention, the GOP presented an almost entirely fake history of President Donald Trumps response to the novel coronavirus. Like authoritarian parties in other countries, the Republicans substituted propaganda for reality. Some networks cut away from the convention to fact-check these statements, but it was impossible to keep up in real time. Here are the biggest differences between the partys fictional narrative and what really happened. Advertisement 1. Travel bans. Several speakers at the convention, including Donald Trump Jr. and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, claimed that when the virus struck, Donald Trump quickly took action by shutting down flights from China and Europe. Natalie Harp, a member of the Trump campaigns advisory board, told viewers: Just imagine what 2020 would have looked like, fighting for your life without Donald Trump fighting for it, too. In January, there would have been no China travel ban. Millions would have died. Millions more would have been infected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats totally false. Trump resisted the proposed ban on travel from China when his health officials recommended it. He didnt accept it until the airlines themselves shut down flights. Because the ban was porous, millions of people got infected anyway: The viral strain that overwhelmed Washington state arrived from China two weeks after Trumps order. And Trump didnt shut down travel from Europe until six weeks later. By that point, European passengers had seeded the pandemic in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement 2. Emergency declarations. A video at the convention boasted that while the World Health Organization got coronavirus wrong, Trump took decisive action to save lives by declaring a national emergency. The video contrasted Trump, shown speaking from the Oval Office, with a WHO tweet that reported no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission. But this narrative obscures the timeline. The WHO tweet, which referred specifically to preliminary investigations, was posted on Jan. 14. Two weeks later, on Jan. 30, WHO declared a global public health emergency. Trump didnt declare a national emergency until six weeks after WHOs announcement. 3. Testing. Harp asserted that without Donald Trump, millions of additional Americans would have been infected, for thered be no record levels of testing. Thats a complete inversion of reality. In February and March, Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, persistently warned that the United States wasnt testing enough people and that a surveillance testing program had to be set up. But Trump, out of vanity and complacency, opposed that idea. On March 6, visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the president said that instead of going out and proactively looking to see where theres a problem, it was better to find out those areas just by sitting back and waiting. Later, as more tests were produced and deployed, Trump constantly complained that the tests, by exposing infections, made him look bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4. Medical supplies. The convention video praised Trump for unleashing billions of dollars in emergency funding and quickly getting crucial personal protective equipment to the states. Trump Jr. said his father acted quickly to deliver PPE to our brave front-line workers. But the real story is less flattering. On Feb. 5, when Alex Azar, the secretary of health and human services, requested $4 billion to stock up on equipment, White House officials angrily refused. Three weeks later, the president belittled talk of shortages and accused Democrats of forcing money on him. In April, he threatened to withhold supplies from governors who failed to be respectful of the presidency. 5. Vaccines. Scalise, in his convention remarks, credited Trump with empowering scientists to create a vaccine. Harp said that without Trump, there would have been no fast track for a vaccine. Thats laughable. On March 2, when pharmaceutical executives briefed Trump at the White House about their work on vaccines, their progress was news to him. Video of the meeting shows that the president, far from leading the effort, was baffled by the timetable. He repeatedly misunderstood the sequence of vaccine development and had to be corrected by Fauci. Advertisement Advertisement 6. Speed. Convention speakers and videos extolled Trumps response to the virus as swift and quick. One speaker, a nurse, claimed that the president made rapid policy changes because he recognized the threat this virus presented for all American early on. Another speaker, a doctor, said Trumps decisive leadership led to a rapid and efficient response. Thats all nonsense. A thorough review of the record shows that Trump dragged his feet, downplayed the threat, and slowed every element of the governments response. Advertisement Advertisement Trump has lied about the virus all along. Hes still lying. We just have to make this China virus go away. And its happening, he declared in a convention video, even as thousands of Americans continue to die. But the president is no longer alone in his fictional universe. Hes backed by a party that glorifies him with fabrications: that he stood up to North Korea, that his impeachment was fake, and that he ended once and for all the policy of incarceration of Black people. The tale of his struggle against the virus is just another heroic myth. Trump is a visionary, Rep. Matt Gaetz explained to the audience. Whats built in the mind is even more powerful than reality, said Gaetz. Thats the message from the first night of the convention: This is no longer a party of limited government, national security, or the rule of law. Its a party of lies. When Premier Daniel Andrews announced stage-four lockdowns he said one of its most important aims was to reduce people's mobility, otherwise "we'll continue to see big transmission numbers coming out of too many people moving too often, going to work". More than three weeks in, as with many other aspects of this disease, stage four restrictions on mobility are working much better for people in wealthier suburbs than those in poorer ones, where the COVID-19 pandemic has hit hardest. Workers in insecure jobs such as Jose and Ana can face pressure to take shifts. Credit:Justin McManus New case data analysed by The Age shows that after the stage three lockdown was announced, there was a flattening of the rate of new cases in Melbournes wealthier local government areas, while infection numbers continued to rise in the citys most disadvantaged areas. It is only in the past week now in stage four that those numbers have started to come down sharply. The team of epidemiologists who supply COVID-19 modelling to the federal government suspect a link between disadvantage, virus spread and the need to travel to work. Lottie Tomlinson proudly displayed her incredible physique in a sexy striped bikini as she took to Instagram to share another sizzling snap on Tuesday. The influencer, 21, showcased her tanned figure in the sultry Instagram snap, as she continues to enjoy her romantic getaway with beau Lewis Burton in Ibiza. It comes as Lottie shared a defiant selfie with her followers after the late Caroline Flack's mother launched a scathing attack on the tragic presenter's former partner, Lewis. Wow! Lottie Tomlinson, 21, displayed her incredible physique in a sexy striped bikini as she took to Instagram to share another sizzling snap on Tuesday Lottie proudly showcased her bronzed physique in the one-shouldered bikini with a nude and white striped print. Pulling her blonde hair up into a towel, the sister of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson struck a sexy post for the camera, in the snap which promoted the brand Tanologist. It comes as she and Lewis were seen packing on the PDA during an afternoon of sunbathing in Ibiza, despite being seen in the midst of a tense exchange just hours earlier. On Monday Lottie marked her return to social media with a defiant selfie amid comments made by Caroline's mother Christine on the same platform hours earlier. Outspoken: It comes after she returned to social media with a defiant snap after Caroline Flack's mother launched a scathing attack on the presenter's former partner Lewis Burton The post was originally shared by ASOS Man almost a week ago before being reposted by the influencer. Hours earlier Caroline's grieving mother slammed Burton on Instagram, claiming the star's relationship with him 'did end her life'. In comments posted three weeks ago - shortly after he and new girlfriend Lottie were reported to have 'grown close' - Christine wrote on a November 2019 photo of Caroline and Lewis: 'he is now in the same pose different girl'. Christine's handle is @ccjep - her Instagram is private, she has no profile picture - nor has she posted any pictures, meaning her comments have previously gone under the radar. She commented under a post on Caroline's Instagram account of her and Burton sunbathing together in August 2019. Despite the photo being uploaded in summer last year, Christine posted comments under the post nearly five months ago, She wrote: 'This relationship did end her life.' She then added: 'Want this deleted so much.' Relaxing: Lottie has been soaking up the sunshine in Ibiza with beau Lewis Burton, despite previously denying claims they were dating During Caroline's inquest, which concluded this month, Christine said a photo Burton had 'sent to a friend' of the bloody crime scene, which emerged in media coverage of the case, had 'killed her.' Although Lewis and Lottie initially denied they were dating, they have been seen putting on a very affectionate display abroad after they touched down in the Balearic island last week. They are said to have bonded over the grief of losing their respective loved ones. She sadly lost her mother and sister in recent years and Burton lost Caroline in February. Lottie's sister Felicite, 18, died after an accidental drug overdose, three years after the death of her mother Johannah, who died of cancer. It's understood Lottie became better acquainted with Lewis at a house party in May hosted by Caroline's close friend Lou Teasdale, 36, which was held to mark three months since her tragic passing. Bosky Khanna By Express News Service BENGALURU: Manganahalli Lake in Ullal is dying a slow death after being abandoned by authorities. Now, irate residents have written to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, seeking his intervention in the matter, and hope that the lake gets a much-needed rejuvenation. The lake, spread across five acres in Sir M Visvesvaraiah Layout, was handed over from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) two months back. But despite this, residents say the lake is filthy, and have decided to reach out to the CM directly. Narayan Kulkarni, a resident, said, The lake has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Though it is full due to rainfall, sewage water and pollutants are destroying the lake. The stench from the lake has made it difficult for citizens to step out of their homes. He said that they tried approaching the BBMP and BDA, but in vain. The lake is said to have been rejuvenated by the BDA in 2016 for Rs 1 crore, but BBMP officials say otherwise. The lake bed has been encroached the by BDA to pave a main road they say. On the other side of the lake is Nice Road. The lake is in bad condition. To start with, we will need to find where it connects to a stormwater drain. The lake was developed, but not maintained. The lake bed has been paved. Currently, due to financial constraints, we have been unable to take up maintenance works, said Nitya, BBMP executive engineer, lakes. BDA officials said that due to financial constraints, all lakes, except Bellandur and Varthur, were handed over to the BBMP, but BBMP officials say that the lakes were handed over in a hurry and are in pathetic condition. We have appealed to the government to release funds for maintenance of the 38 recently-handed over lakes. On an average, Rs 12- Rs 15 crore is needed for the revival of each lake, Nitya added. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is targeting to obtain 60 per cent of the presidential votes in the upcoming December general elections. The Party is also rallying to secure 180 out of the 275 seats in Parliament. The Party obtained 53.07 percent in the presidential votes in the 2016 elections and 169 seats in Parliament. Mr Fredrick Fredua Anto, First Vice Chairman of NPP who made this known said, the Party was going all out to establish itself as a preferred political party, which was focused and committed to transform the nation and improve the lives of all citizens. He was speaking at separate ceremonies to inaugurate constituency campaign teams for the Partys 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections at Old Tafo, Suame and Oforikrom Constituencies in Greater Kumasi. Mr Anto said though the task was onerous, with hard work, dedication and commitment of all members, the Party would be able to achieve that feat. He said the government, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, had worked hard to transform the country and improve the living conditions of the people in its first term of office. This, he charged members of the campaign teams to go all out to preach the good works of the Party in government to enable the people appreciate and retain the Party in power. Mr Anto said the beneficiaries of the free senior high school policy alone, could change the tables in favour of the Party and urged Party members to capitalize on that and work to attract such people to vote massively for the NPP to sustain that policy. He said Ashanti Region was critical in achieving the Partys target and said the 90 votes the Region had targeted to achieve in the December elections should occupy the minds of all Party members. Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Parliamentary Candidate for Old Tafo, said with unity of purpose, members would work to achieve the target set for them. Mr Bright Osei Agyeman, Chairman of the Suame Constituency, said members of the campaign team, together with the rank and file of the Party would continue to work hard to increase the votes of the Party to help retain the government in power. Dr Emmanuel Marfo, Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, said the constituency had seen incredible increases in its electoral fortunes over the years. Members, he said, were ready to work to achieve the 90 percent votes targeted in the Constituency and called for all hands to be on deck to achieve that feat. Meanwhile, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, has asked members of the Party not to be complacent over the achievements of the government and go to sleep. He said though the government, under President Akufo-Addo, had demonstrated commitment and leadership to improve the lives of the people, party members needed to go all out to tell the story to the people. This was the only way the people would know and appreciate what the government had done. Mr Antwi made the call at the inauguration of the Kwabre East constituency campaign team of the party for the 2020 elections, at Mamponteng. He urged members of the team to unite and work together with all other members and supporters to undertake massive house-to-house campaigns in all communities to drum home the achievements and the message of the party going forward to the 2020 elections. Ms. Francisca Oteng Mensah, Member of Parliament for the area, said the Constituency was this time, working to obtain 100,000 votes as against the 80,000 obtained in the 2016 elections. She said with unity of purpose, members were focused to obtain that figure to help retain the Party in power. Ms. Mensah called on all Party members to work hard to help achieve that feat. 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 Planned Parenthood may seize David Daleiden's assets if he can't pay $600K bond Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The man who exposed Planned Parenthood's selling of baby body parts from abortions is facing possible seizure of his assets by the abortion giant if he fails to raise $600,000 in less than two weeks, his lawyer has warned. U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick ruled Wednesday that that Planned Parenthood could begin seizing the assets of pro-life activist David Daleiden of the Center For Medical Progress and those of his organization unless they manage to pay an appeal bond. Orrick issued the ruling as he denied post-trial motions from the defendants seeking a reduction of charges after a judgment was rendered against Daleiden, CMP and his CMP colleagues last year related to charges they faced after the release of undercover videos. Daleiden and CMP released a series of undercover videos in 2015 that purport to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing their willingness to engage in the illegal sale and harvesting of aborted fetal tissue. While the findings of the undercover videos riled conservatives across the nation, Planned Parenthood claims the CMP videos were deceptively edited. Last fall, following a civil trial, a jury found CMP guilty of several crimes, including violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, wiretapping and engaging in a civil conspiracy. The civil trial additionally yielded a judgment ordering Daleiden and other defendants to pay $2.3 million in damages. In April, Orrick agreed with the jury's decision, finding the defendants jointly and severally liable for those damages. Throughout the ordeal, Daleiden's attorneys have challenged various judicial moves. They have long maintained that Orrick is not able to adjudicate the matter impartially because of his board service with a San Francisco nonprofit group that houses a Planned Parenthood office. Peter Breen, senior counsel, for the Thomas More Society, told LifeSite News in a recent interview that the current circumstances are dire. If we cannot post a $600,000 bond in this 14-day period, Planned Parenthoods high-priced collections lawyers can come after David with asset seizures, garnishments and strip him and the Center for Medical Progress bare, Breen explained, noting it could cripple Daleiden's pro-life advocacy. They can take everything. They can take all of his possessions. They can even come get his car. When were able to travel again, how would he even have the money to travel? You cant even imagine the tools that shrewd collections lawyers have at their disposal to take every dime you have, or nearly every dime you have, in situations like this. Breen further elaborated that should the verdict stand, it effectively unravels years of established jurisprudence on undercover investigative journalism. This includes the 1999 decision in Food Lion v. ABC, which held that the truth cannot be a source of monetary damages. And in this case, it is crystal clear Planned Parenthood didnt even know that David had gone undercover until the videos emerged and the nation was outraged immediately, he said. The Thomas More Society is reportedly helping Daleiden raise the funds to pay the bond in hopes of securing their right to continue with an appeal and overturn the verdict. Daleiden's attorneys intend to take the case through the federal judiciary to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Daleiden's plight has received renewed attention not only because of the judgment but also in light of former Vice President Joe Biden's selection of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as his running mate in the 2020 presidential race. Before being elected to the Senate, Harris was the California attorney general. And in 2016, Harris met with Planned Parenthood executives and allegedly conspired to target Daleiden. As attorney general, she sent law enforcement agents to raid his home. Kamala Harris decided to target me and make me the first and only case of a criminal enforcement of the California video recording law, Daleiden said in an interview with Tucker Carlson on his Fox News show Thursday. Kamala Harris sent 11 California DOJ agents into my one-bedroom apartment in southern California to raid my home to seize the means of publishing the videos, he said. They took the means of publishing speech critical of Planned Parenthood and critical of Kamala Harris public patrons. Daleiden had previously faced criminal charges in Texas that were related to his undercover investigative work. But those charges were dismissed. Undercover video is something that is widely practiced in the state of California, Daleiden said Thursday, defending his actions. Its legal and we were scrupulous to follow the law to a T, recording people at open public restaurants, crowded public restaurants, where anybody could be expected to overhear. Hutterite to Independence: a gripping and eye-opening tale of one womans escape from an oppressive, dictatorial religious society. Hutterite to Independence is the creation of published author, Esther Stahl Taylor, who was the first baby born to the Ayers Hutterite Colony, near Grass Range, Montana and the first woman that she knows of in the U.S. to break away from the colony. The author writes: This is the story, in her own words, of a woman who grew up in a dictatorial and oppressive religious societyone where individuals were told that swearing allegiance to the society got them to heaven. But God found this young woman and opened her heart and spirit to the truth of Jesus Christ and faith in him only. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Esther Stahl Taylors new book tells the jaw-dropping tale of one womans childhood and youth in an oppressive religious community in Montana. In addition to detailing the authors lengthy struggle with the overbearing, dictatorial governance of the Hutterite society into which she was born, this book excels in highlighting the transformative power of the authors discovery of Christ and eventual transition into regular society. At times heartbreaking, vexatious, and astounding, Stahl Taylors story is ultimately one of perseverance, faith, and a feel-good tale of victory against the odds. View a synopsis of Hutterite to Independence on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Hutterite to Independence at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Hutterite to Independence, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. The United States has started an investigation into the role of Pakistanis in the Islamic State movement in Syria, complicating the situation for Prime Minister Imran Khan who is still to emerge from Tuesdays setback to his attempt to get two critical FATF-linked legislations enacted, people familiar with the matter said. The US backed and predominantly Kurd Syrian Democratic Forces have shared a list of 29 Pakistanis among others who are in their custody for fighting for the Islamic State, the ultra-conservative radical Sunni movement that swept Iraq-Syria in the past decade. The shortlist, according to counter-terror officials in Delhi and Washington, include four Pakistanis who had acquired citizenship of another country such as Turkey and Sudan. Nine of the 29 captured ISIS fighters are women. The American security forces are currently interrogating these Pakistani nationals including who sent them to fight for IS in Syria and their past affiliations with terrorist groups like the Al Qaida or any other pan-Islamic group based in Pakistan. As the Pakistani deep state is involved with the so-called Islamic State of Khorasan Province in Afghanistan, the interrogation will also reveal its role if any, said a counter-terror official in know of the list. Also Watch | BSF shoots down 5 infiltrators at India-Pakistan border in Punjab, arms recovered The reference to the IS presence in Afghanistan is a pointer to the Islamic State-Khorasan Province, or ISKP, which had carried out several attacks on civilian installations including a gurdwara in the heart of Kabul. ISKP chief Aslam Farooqui, also a Pakistani national with clear links to Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence, was arrested for this bombing. Farooqui was earlier associated with the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba before switching over to the ISKP. Farooqui is currently in custody of Afghan government after it rejected the Pakistani request to extradite him. While Pakistan with the help of China wants to exit out of the FATF Grey List, this new revelation substantiates the Indian claim that Islamabad is the epicentre of terrorism. While two Punjab based terrorist groupsJaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayebbatarget India, Rawalpindi supports Taliban through Haqqani Network and ISKP to cause mayhem in Afghanistan. The Pakistani involvement in attacks in US, UK and the Middle-East have come out in the open in the past. While the Islamic State does not hold any territory in Iraq or Syria, the remnant fighters are operating as free-lancers in the Syrian civil war and its ultra conservative Sunni ideology is still radicalizes the Muslim community in the name of puritan Islam. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 09:19 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40823ff 1 Business state-revenue,tax-collection,2020-state-budget,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,COVID-19,state-budget-deficit,economic-contraction Free Indonesias economic recovery is fragile as state revenue weakened in July after an improvement recorded in the previous month, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Tuesday, warning that the country may enter recession in the third quarter. State revenue collection improved in June compared with May following the governments decision to ease large scale social restrictions (PSBB), which had been implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19, but tax income from several business sectors fell again in July, she said. Indonesias economic recovery is not solid and remains very fragile, she told a livestreamed press briefing on the 2020 state budget realization. The COVID-19 pandemic is the main factor that determined economic activity and recovery. We saw that recovery continued in July but there are signs the economy is still fragile. The government expects the economy to further shrink by 2 percent at worst or record zero percent growth at best in the third quarter, she went on to say, adding that the key to recovery would be stronger consumer spending and investment. Indonesias economy shrank 5.32 percent in the second quarter, the first decline since 1999, as all components of the economy but net exports fell significantly due to the coronavirus-induced restrictions. A further contraction in the third quarter would put Indonesia into a recession, which is defined by economic contraction in two consecutive quarters. The government collected Rp 922.2 trillion (US$62.79 billion) in state revenue as of July down by 12.4 percent year-on-year (yoy) and about 54 percent from this years target following drops in tax revenue and nontax income, among other things, Finance Ministry data show. Tax collection, which accounts for a majority of the state income, fell deeper by 14.7 percent annually in July compared to a 12 percent contraction in June. On a month-on-month (mom) basis, tax income grew 13.2 percent in July to Rp 601.9 trillion versus 19.6 percent growth in June. Read also: Indonesias budget deficit swells to $22.4b in July as revenue falls Several business sectors including trade, construction and real estate, as well as mining fell at a faster rate in July compared with June, signaling a slowing economic recovery, the finance minister said. Tax income from the oil and gas industry also fell significantly because of a drop in commodity prices. Meanwhile, state expenditure rose by 1.3 percent yoy to Rp 1.25 quadrillion as of July, about 45.7 percent of this years target, as the government increased social aid and stimulus spending. The government has spent only 25.1 percent of the Rp 695.2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus in the five months since the start of the outbreak. We will redesign the poorly disbursed programs so that the stimulus can be more effective, Sri Mulyani added. The use of the state budget will be maximized including by providing tax incentives or boosting social spending, among other measures, to boost peoples spending and to restore investment, she said. We will monitor and improve economic recovery-related spending to make the recovery more stable and resilient. The slight increase in expenditure and the fall in state revenue resulted in a budget deficit of Rp 330.2 trillion, 2.01 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), an increase of 79.5 percent compared with the same period last year but still below this years target of 6.34 percent of GDP. Danny Darussalam Tax Center (DDTC) research partner Bawono Kristiaji said the slowing economic activity would continue to hit tax income from several business sectors, namely manufacturing, trade and mining, he said, adding that the weak consumer spending and international trade would also reduce income from value-added tax and import tax. Those factors, along with the governments tax incentives that will boost tax expenditure, will determine this years tax income, Bawono told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, expecting around a 10 to 14 percent contraction in tax income this year, in line with the governments target. The governments 2021 tax income target of 5.8 percent growth signaled that they are being realistic as income from taxes may not fully recover by next year. Despite indicators showing a rebound in the purchasing managers index, retail sales and the consumer confidence index, among other indicators, the economic recovery is at risk of losing momentum because of weak demand, said Kebangsaan University economist Eric Sugandi. A full economic recovery will depend on whether or not the demand side can recover sustainably in the coming months, he told the Post. The finance ministers statement indicates they are being careful as tax revenue may not reach its baseline target. The key to lessening the coronavirus-induced economic pain would be to expedite the governments stimulus spending, he went on to say, adding that the disbursement of fiscal and monetary stimulus programs would be crucial in supporting economic recovery. The Discomfort of Evening, revolves around 10-year-old Jas, who 'has a unique way of experiencing her universe'. The synopsis for the book notes that 'when a tragic accident ruptures the family, her curiosity warps into a vortex of increasingly disturbing fantasies unlocking a darkness that threatens to derail them all'. The 2020 International Booker Prize was announced on 26 August with author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld bagging the prestigious literary honour for The Discomfort of Evening (2018). The Discomfort of Evening, revolves around 10-year-old Jas, who "has a unique way of experiencing her universe". The synopsis for the book notes that "when a tragic accident ruptures the family, her curiosity warps into a vortex of increasingly disturbing fantasies unlocking a darkness that threatens to derail them all". The book has been translated by Michele Hutchison from the original Dutch into English. With this win, Rijneveld and Hutchison share the prize purse of 50,000. Announcing Rijneveld and Hutchison as the winners of the International Booker Prize in an online event hosted as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, chair of the judges Ted Hodgkinson said, "Combining a disarming new sensibility with a translation of singular sensitivity, The Discomfort of Evening is a tender and visceral evocation of a childhood caught between shame and salvation, and a deeply deserving winner of The 2020 International Booker Prize. Among the novels shortlisted for the literary award were Iranian author Shokoofeh Azar's The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree, Spanish-Argentinian writer Gabriela Cabezon's The Adventures of China Iron, German author Daniel Kehlmann's Tyll, Spanish-Mexican novelist Fernanda Melchor's Hurricane Season, Japanese writer Yoko Ogawa's The Memory Police and Dutch writer Rijneveld's The Discomfort of Evening. Also read Yoko Ogawas The Memory Police is a terrifying chronicle of a totalitarian regime, examining remembrance as protest Awarded each year to books translated into English and published in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the International Booker Prize aims to promote works of fiction and translators from across the globe in an attempt to encourage publishing and reading of world literature. The 2020 shortlist chosen by a panel of five judges from 124 entries features works translated from five languages that examine humanity's need to understand the world through our shared narratives, histories, origins, traumas and grief. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) President Rodrigo Duterte will consider authorities recommendation to place Sulu province under martial law following the twin blasts that rocked Jolo earlier this week, Malacanang said Wednesday. Speaking to CNN Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stressed Duterte continues to listen to his on-ground personnel. However, he noted the recommendation still has to pass the scrutiny of both the legislative and judiciary branches. Well the President will of course consider this recommendation as will both Congress and the Supreme Court, Roque said in an interview with The Source. There will have to be notice given to Congress. And Congress will have to be satisfied with both the legal and factual basis for the declaration. And this is without prejudice to the judicial review on both the factual and legal considerations for the imposition of martial law, he explained. Both the Philippine National Police and the Army have expressed support for the declaration of a Sulu-wide martial rule following Mondays twin explosions in Jolo town that left at least 15 people dead, including soldiers and civilians, and 74 others injured. Some lawmakers, however, were quick to reject the idea, as they cited the passage of a strong anti-terrorism law in the country. Senators Vicente Tito Sotto III and Panfilo Ping Lacson earlier noted there may be no need to place the province under martial law, as the Anti-Terorrism Act of 2020 signed in early July will already let local security forces address the situation in the area. The whole of Mindanao was first placed under martial law in May 2017, following the Marawi siege in Lanao del Sur. Congress had then granted Duterte's subsequent requests to extend martial law in the area to quell insurgent forces, with the rule finally expiring on December 31, 2019. Meanwhile, Roque said it may be difficult for the chief executive to visit Jolo at this time due to the situation on the ground on top of the current virus pandemic. As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushes for Arab countries to forge their own deals to recognize Israel, Bahrain indicated it would not be next, saying its position on the need for an independent Palestinian state remains unchanged. Pompeos Middle East tour, which included a stop in the tiny island nation of Bahrain today, comes on the heels of a US-brokered deal to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The top US diplomat is lobbying for other countries to follow suit, and the small Gulf kingdom has been floated as a likely candidate. But during his meeting with Pompeo, Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said his country still adheres to the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for recognition of Israel to be offered in exchange for the Jewish states complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The King stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict according to the two-state solution ... that leads to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, state news agency BNA quoted him as saying. The United Arab Emirates is the third Arab country after Egypt and Jordan to establish formal ties with Israel. Under the deal, Israel agreed to hold off annexing large portions of the West Bank in return for cooperation with the UAE on trade, tourism, security and other areas of mutual interest. As a key ally, Bahrain hosts thousands of American troops at a US naval base in the capital. The kingdom of 1.4 million people maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel, but was the first Gulf state to welcome the UAE-Israel accord earlier this month. Bahrain has close ties to Saudi Arabia, and shares with Israel and the United States a common enemy in Iran. During his meeting with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Pompeo discussed countering Iran's malign influence in the region, according to a State Department release. Israels intelligence minister has said Bahrain, as well as Oman, could be next to strike a similar pact. Senior Israeli officials told The Times of Israel they are in advanced talks with Manama over a potential agreement. Before Bahrain, Pompeo visited Israel and Sudan. He also met with Emirati leaders in Abu Dhabi today before making a final stop in Oman. Homeless residents of Venice affix their tents to sidewalk fencing on Rose Avenue in 2017. ( Los Angeles Times) To the editor: The Los Angeles Police Department's decision to remove tents in Venice, where people experiencing homelessness have taken shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic, is extremely disappointing and extraordinarily shortsighted. As the L.A. Times reported, living outdoors may have helped reduce COVID-19 among this very vulnerable population. As it also reported, just seven of the 26 shelters that were opened to prevent COVID-19's spread among this population remain open now. That leaves few, if any, options for safely housing Venice's unsheltered residents. As a nonprofit community health center that provides care for about 4,500 individuals experiencing homelessness in Venice and the Westside, we know that housing is healthcare, especially during a pandemic. Our unsheltered neighbors are generally sicker and die far younger than people living in shelter. To protect the health of people experiencing homelessness in Venice, and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the city must find permanent supportive housing for each person before removing the tents that provide their shelter now. Elizabeth Benson Forer, Venice The writer is chief executive of the Venice Family Clinic. Campaigners say police are paying attention to cases that otherwise would have gone unheard - Olivier Douliery/AFP Campaigners have hailed a rare victory against sexual violence in the Middle East after prosecutors in Iran and Egypt announced the arrest of alleged rapists who were named online by women. Victims of sexual assault in conservative Muslim societies have taken to social media to identify their alleged tormentors in a series of high-profile cases inspired by the Me Too movement. In Tehran, Police Chief Hossein Rahimi announced the arrest of Keyvan Emamverdi, a former art student of Tehran University, who stands accused of multiple counts of rape. Dozens of women had launched an online campaign to accuse Mr Emamverdi, who owns a bookshop close to the university, of luring them to his house and getting them intoxicated before allegedly raping them. After one alleged victim named Mr Emamverdi on Twitter with the #rape hashtag, at least 20 others joined in to expose him as their assailant. One of his cousins also came forward to testify that she had feared being molested by him. Mr Emamverdis arrest became a trending story on Iranian social media on Wednesday morning, with women applauding the fact that the case had been investigated. "The achievement in this story is not his arrest, but the situation will be created afterwards so victims of rape cases can talk about [their experiences]," one user said. There were also posts in support of the former student. One wrote: "Keyvan Emam (sic) was one of my close friends when I was in Tehran. He was the most moral and best friend. Why do you judge him one-sided? Why do not you want to hear his voice...? Shame on you." The case comes after Egypt's public prosecutor this week issued arrest warrants and a travel ban for six men accused of an alleged gang rape of an 18-year-old woman at a luxury hotel six years ago. The suspects were also outed on social media last month. The lack of any previous action against the men -- said to be from powerful families -- caused a public outcry after details of the womans alleged 2014 ordeal were posted on an Egyptian Instagram account with more than 180,000 followers. Story continues Earlier this month prosecutors questioned the alleged victim, who was reportedly drugged before the men raped her, after several people came forward to give statements about the incident. The attack was said to have occurred after a party at Cairos five-star Fairmont Nile City Hotel. The so-called Assault Police Instagram account, which revealed the case, previously accused Ahmed Bassam Zaki, 24, a university student from a wealthy family, of raping and blackmailing multiple women. He was subsequently arrested and remains under investigation. Egyptian prosecutors claim that Mr Zaki has admitted to using indecent photographs to threaten women. He has denied further allegations. The Assault Police account was temporarily taken offline after its administrators received repeated death threats, although it has since been reactivated. Egypts state-run National Council for Women (NCW) said in a statement that the prosecutor's decision sent a message of reassurance and comfort to women who have long felt disadvantaged in the conservative, Muslim-majority nation. Meanwhile in Tehran, Brigadier General Rahimi urged other abuse victims to come forward, pledging that their identities would be safeguarded to protect them from stigma. Rotna Begum, a spokesman on women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa for Human Rights Watch, said that campaigners across the region were now coalescing around specific cases and naming people online, with police starting to pay attention to cases that could otherwise go unheard. Although there are concerns about this naming and shaming, in most cases all these women seek is for the authorities to listen to them and investigate, as they still mainly face a culture of impunity for sexual harassment and abuse, she added. In many countries for women to speak out is taboo, not just due to pressure from their families and society, but from a criminal justice system that they believe wont take them seriously or might even prosecute them for coming forward. Last week Egypt's parliament voted to approve a new law to protect the anonymity of victims of sexual harassment or assault, in a move described by activists as the beginning of a feminist revolution. But Egyptian prosecutors have also recently charged several women for "inciting debauchery" after they posted videos of themselves singing and dancing on apps such as Instagram and TikTok, in a move that campaigners say could undermine the reforms. Also charged was a 17-year-old girl who shared a live video on Instagram in May showing bruises on her face and alleging she had been beaten and raped. Although the six men she accused were subsequently detained by police, the girl was arrested along with them and she was charged with inciting debauchery and "violating family principles and values" on the basis of the mens statements. She remains under investigation in a government-run shelter for abuse victims, and Amnesty International has condemned the case as a shocking injustice that risks discouraging other women from speaking out. But Reda Eldanoubki, a lawyer and executive director of the Women's Center for Guidance and Legal Awareness, said if convicted, men accused of rape or sexual assault could also expect to receive hefty jail sentences in Iran and Egypt. "We hope that women amid this momentum will make more gains in their endeavours to be legally protected against sexual violence in all its forms," he said. The Troy University Board of Trustees today renamed a building on campus for civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, who grew up on a farm on the outskirts of campus. The board voted to rename Bibb Graves Hall as John Robert Lewis Hall. The change is effective immediately. John Lewis is a towering figure in American history, whose leadership and advocacy for non-violent change have left a lasting legacy for us all, Troy Chancellor Jack Hawkins said in a press release. Although Rep. Lewis once sought admission to then Troy State College as a young man and was sadly ignored, I am pleased to say that he became a friend to the University. He visited our campuses several times and was a profound influence on many of us. I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for choosing to honor this Pike County native with this name change. Lewis died of cancer on July 17. He was 80. Remembrance ceremonies across Alabama followed his death, including one at Troy University on July 25. David Bibb Graves was governor of Alabama from 1927 to 1931 and from 1935 to 1939. Gibson Vance, president pro tempore of the board of trustees, said he was proud that the board unanimously approved the name change. John Lewis character, spirit and selflessness reflect the values we strive to embrace every day at Troy University, Vance said in the press release. Troy University awarded Lewis an honorary doctorate in 1989 and the Hall-Waters Prize in 2006 for his memoir Walking with the Wind. Lewis was the keynote speaker in 2018 during the annual Leadership Conference Celebrating African American History Month, which has since been renamed the Congressman John Lewis Leadership Conference. Naming this building in honor of Congressman Lewis is a great testament to the legacy of a man whose blood, sweat and tears continue to make Alabama and America a better place for all people, said Lamar P. Higgins, vice president pro-tempore of the board. Planning is under way for a ceremony to dedicate John Robert Lewis Hall, with details to be announced soon. In Tiffany Trump's speech on the second night of the Republican National Convention, the youngest daughter of President Trump discussed her own experience as a recent graduate and urged viewers to vote for her father. While Tiffany Trump doesn't often appear publicly to speak about politics, she spoke about political values and criticized mainstream media's political coverage in her remarks. "Like so many students across the world, I graduated from law school during the pandemic," the Georgetown Law grad, 26, said. "Our generation is unified in facing the future in uncertain times, and many of us are considering what kind of country we want to live in." "As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job. My father built a thriving economy once, and believe me he will do it again," she continued. "This election, I urge each and every one of you to transcend political boundaries. This is a fight for freedom versus oppression, for opportunity versus stagnation, a fight to keep America true to America. I urge you to make judgement based on results and not rhetoric." After citing her father's actions on criminal justice reform and health care, she called on viewers to "recognize that our thoughts, our opinions and even the choice of who we're voting for may and are being manipulated and visibly coerced by the media and tech giants." "If you tune into the media and you get one biased opinion or another. And what you share, if it does not fit into the narrative that they seek to promote, then it is either ignored or deemed a lie regardless of the truth ... This misinformation system keeps people mentally enslaved to the ideas they deem correct," she said. "Working together, outside of our political comfort zones will accomplish so much more. Some cynical politicians do not seem to believe in the miracle of America. Well, I do." Story continues She then referenced Cuban immigrant Maximo Alvarez's speech from the first night of the RNC, saying, "Having hope is not weakness, and believing in miracles is a gift from God." "So tonight, I want to tell you the uncensored truth of what we believe in: We believe in equality of opportunity. We believe in freedom of thought and expression ... We believe in school choice because a child's zip code in America should not determine their future. We believe in freedom of religion for all faiths, and we believe in the American spirit, a country founded on ideas not identity, a country where our differences are embraced and the only country where the word 'dream' has been attached to it." Tiffany Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, prerecords her address to the Republican National Convention inside an empty Mellon Auditorium August 25, 2020, in Washington, D.C. "In America, your life is yours to chart. So, if you're hearing these things and thinking to yourself, 'That is a country that I want to live in, then whether you realize it or not, you are a Trump supporter," she added. "I encourage you to see beyond the facade that so many other politicians employ." "My father does not run away from challenges, even in the face of outright hatred, because fighting for America is something he will sacrifice anything for. He dreams big dreams for our country and he's relentless at achieving them." "The energy of change and opportunity is with us," she added. "My father has made me believe that America can truly be great again ... Be true to yourself and stay true to the dream of America." Tiffany Trump also spoke in support of her father at the 2016 RNC shortly after she graduated from college. At the time, she detailed how Donald Trump has supported her as she was growing up and other aspects of his parenting. Tiffany Trump speaks during the Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 19, 2016. "His desire for excellence is contagious," she said. "He possesses a unique gift for bringing that trait out in others, starting with those closest to him. He's helped me be the best version of myself." "That's what he does. He draws out the talent and drive in people so they can achieve their full potential," the then-22-year-old added. Tiffany Trump has remained mostly quiet on politics over the past four years, but she regularly posts about her dad on social media. In a recent Father's Day Instagram post, she wrote, "I love you and Im so grateful for you! Thank you for your constant love, guidance and for always believing in me!" Tiffany Trump is the second youngest of the president's five children and his only child with ex-wife Marla Maples. His oldest three children, with ex-wife Ivana Trump, are also speaking at the convention. Ivanka Trump will take the stage on Thursday. Donald Trump Jr. spoke on Monday, and Eric Trump took the stage Tuesday after his younger sister. Maples sat down with TODAY in late 2018 and opened up about raising her only child out of the spotlight. "Raising Tiffany in California, I think, was important," she said. "I wanted to ... have a chance to have real good mommy-daughter time where she could discover really who she is." Shocking video has captured the moment a French bus driver was dragged to the ground by his hair before being beaten up near Paris. Footage captured in Seine-Saint-Denis, a poor suburb of the French capital, on Tuesday shows the driver being pulled over twice and kicked in the stomach. It comes after driver Philippe Monguillot was beaten to death by a group of passengers after he confronted them for not wearing masks in the city of Bayonne. Shocking footage has captured a bus driver being repeatedly dragged to the ground by his hair and kicked in the stomach in the Parisian suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis RATP, the Parisian public transport company, said the attack happened around 7.20pm after a 'traffic dispute' between the driver and another vehicle. Footage shows a silver Smart car parked immediately in front of the bus, which has stopped in the middle of the road. It is not clear exactly what caused the dispute, how the fight started, or who precisely was involved. Footage shows a large group of people gathered around the driver, one of whom attacks him while the others appear to be trying to help. RATP says it was one of the bystanders who called the police, and later lodged a complaint with them. The company says it is investigating the incident, which is just the latest in a long line of incidents in the 93rd arrondissement. According to Le Parisien, attacks on bus drivers in the area have been a near-daily occurrence over the summer months. RATP, the Paris transport company, says the attack happened on Tuesday around 7.20pm after the driver got into an 'traffic dispute' with another motorist The attack is just the latest on bus drivers in Seine-Saint-Denis, an impoverished part of the French capital, which have become a nearly-daily occurrence in recent months (file) Seine-Saint-Denis is known as one of the roughest parts of Paris, with poverty rates much higher than the rest of the capital. It is often referred to as a ghetto for migrants arriving from north Africa and parts of the Middle East, and is known to be rife with violent crime and drugs. Several of the disputes have concerned passengers failing to wear face masks, including one on August 14, according to ACTU. Mr Monguillot, another French bus driver working 400 miles away in the south of the country, was beaten up while trying to enforce face mask rules on July 2. He was set upon by a gang of people who beat him so severely that he was declared brain-dead, before dying in hospital a week later. Two people were subsequently charged with attempted murder, two more were charged with failing to help a victim, and a third was charged with hiding a suspect. The two men accused of attempted murder 'violently kicked and punched the upper part of his body, including his head', prosecutors say. Boris Johnson told bemused schoolchildren that it is politically acceptable to sing Rule Britannia and ruled that Harry Potter is not sexist as he told them how important it was they got back into classrooms today. The maskless Prime Minister made the rambling remarks as he addressed a roomful of Year 7 pupils at a Leicestershire school as he pushed his plan to have all children back for the autumn term next week. In an address lasting under seven minutes, he apologised for A-Level and GCSE exam results affected by a 'mutant algorithm' that forced an embarrassing Government U-turn last week. He was at Castle Rock school in Coalville, an academy school where youngsters started back today for 'induction and familiarisation' with coronavirus safety measures ahead of lessons starting next week. Mr Johnson's comments on Harry Potter came after its billionaire author JK Rowling was earlier this year engulfed by a row over transgender rights, although the books have not attracted mainstream claims of sexism. He told the students: 'From now on, from getting back into school, the hours and days and weeks of this new term, you will experience things with an intensity and clarity, believe me, that is seldom repeated in your lives. 'You'll remember these days and weeks and months, you really really will. 'And when you have been struggling with something in the classroom or whatever, some concept that you cannot get, like the supine stem of confetti or nuclear fusion or is Harry Potter sexist? Answer: no, by the way. Is it politically acceptable to sing Rule Britannia? Yes ... 'When you are struggling with complex questions, or something that you are worried about, somebody very probably a teacher, a brilliant teacher, will say something and a light will go on, the clouds will lift and you will never, ever forget that moment. 'That moment is absolutely irreplaceable. It is invaluable and it can only happen in school.' In a rambling address lasting under seven minutes, Mr Johnson apologised for A-Level and GCSE exam results affected by a 'mutant algorithm' that forced an embarrassing Government U-turn last week. Mr Johnson's comments on Harry Potter come after its billionaire author JK Rowling was earlier this year engulfed by a row over transgender rights, although the books have not attracted mainstream claims of sexism JK Rowling took on militant trans activists JK Rowling has been the target of vicious attacks from trans activists due to her backing for women's rights. The author, 54, was hit by what she described as 'relentless attacks' after she took issue with an online article about 'people who menstruate' in June. She tweeted to her 14.5m followers: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' Her remarks also led to a backlash from stars including Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the film franchise of the series, and Eddie Redmayne, who stars in Ms Rowling's Fantastic Beasts films. Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films, also criticised Ms Rowling in a series of tweets. But she stood by her tweet as she later insisted: 'If sex isn't real, there's no same-sex attraction. 'If sex isn't real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn't hate to speak the truth.' She insisted she 'respects every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them.' But vile online attacks prompted the Scotswoman, who is believed to be a billionaire, to reveal she was sexually assaulted in her 20s. She told of her scars of domestic violence from her first marriage to Portuguese journalism student Jorge Arantas. Ms Rowling made her astonishing revelations, describing herself as 'a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor' in a 3,663 word essay posted on her personal website. Advertisement The Scottish writer revealed she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and told of her scars of domestic violence from her first marriage as she spoke out after being accused of transphobia. The author, 54, was hit by what she described as 'relentless attacks' after she took issue with an online article 'people who menstruate'. She tweeted to her 14.5m followers in June: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' Her remarks also led to a backlash from stars including Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the film franchise of the series, and Eddie Redmayne, who stars in Ms Rowling's Fantastic Beasts films. Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films, also criticised Ms Rowling in a series of tweets. The Prime Minister today thanked pupils for their efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus, saying: 'We have the number of deaths way down, we have the number of hospital admissions way, way down and it's thanks to you and your sacrifice that we have protected the NHS and saved literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives. 'No previous generation of pupils has ever done anything like this.' Now, he said, 'the risk to your health is not from Covid because, after all, statistically speaking, your chances of suffering from that disease are very, very low'. 'The greatest risk you face now is of continuing to be out of school.' Regarding the recent exam fiasco he added: 'I'm afraid your grades were almost derailed by a mutant algorithm. 'I know how stressful that must have been for pupils up and down the country. 'I'm very, very glad that it has finally been sorted out.' But Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, accused the Prime Minister of trying to 'shrug away' the A-level and GCSE results. He said: 'It is brazen of the Prime Minister to idly shrug away a disaster that his own Government created. Parents, students, teachers and heads will be horrified to see the leader of this country treat his own exams fiasco like some minor passing fad. 'The public will not easily forget the emotional rollercoaster of this year's results season. It is certain to put a long-lasting dent in the Government's reputation on education.' He was at Castle Rock school in Coalville, an academy school where pupils started back today for 'induction and familiarisation' ahead of lessons starting next week He told the students: 'From now on, from getting back into school, the hours and days and weeks of this new term, you will experience things with an intensity and clarity, believe me, that is seldom repeated in your lives' Teachers have warned the PM his face masks U-turn risks creating chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering. The Government last night announced that face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns. Boris Johnson fires education chief Jonathan Slater Jonathan Slater will step down on September 1, it was announced today Boris Johnson fired the top civil servant at the Department for Education today saying 'fresh official leadership' was needed after the A-Level and GCSE exam fiasco. Jonathan Slater has been effectively removed from his post and will leave on September 1, it was announced today, 24 hours after Ofqual chief executive Sally Collier resigned from her post in the wake of the grading U-turn. It means that of the people in the top positions overseeing the grading for exams that were not sat because of coronavirus, only Education Secretary Gavin Williamson remains in his post despite numerous calls for him to go. Boris Johnson has resisted pressure to get rid of his bumbling minister, with suggestions that the former chief whip, who worked on his leadership election campaign, 'knows where the bodies are buried'. Advertisement A decision on whether to wear masks in non-lockdown area schools will be left to individual head teachers. The change in policy came after days of ministers and Downing Street insisting there were no plans to change the guidance in England which had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to. But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons. The timing of the U-turn has prompted anger - schools in England are due to reopen next week - with teachers warning the wearing of masks could cause 'mayhem'. The Prime Minister was accused of ducking personal responsibility for the exams fiasco after sacking the senior official at the Department for Education and blaming the debacle on a 'mutant algorithm'. The Prime Minister acknowledged the stress caused by the situation - which eventually resulted in a U-turn with A-level and GCSE grades in England awarded based on teachers' assessments rather than the algorithm. The Department for Education announced that permanent secretary Jonathan Slater will stand down because 'the Prime Minister has concluded that there is a need for fresh official leadership'. The announcement came a day after Sally Collier resigned from her role as head of exams regulator Ofqual. Jonathan Slater has been effectively removed from his post and will leave on September 1, it was announced today, 24 hours after Ofqual chief executive Sally Collier resigned from her post in the wake of the grading U-turn. It means that of the people in the top positions overseeing the grading for exams that were not sat because of coronavirus, only Education Secretary Gavin Williamson remains in his post despite numerous calls for him to go. Boris Johnson has resisted pressure to get rid of his bumbling minister, with suggestions that the former chief whip, who worked on his leadership election campaign, 'knows where the bodies are buried'. In a three-paragraph statement posted online today, a Cabinet Office spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister has concluded that there is a need for fresh official leadership at the Department for Education. The PM today thanked pupils for their efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus, saying: 'We have the number of deaths way down, we have the number of hospital admissions way, way down and it's thanks to you and your sacrifice that we have protected the NHS and saved literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives' The Government last night announced that face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns 'Jonathan Slater has therefore agreed that he will stand down on September 1, in advance of the end of his tenure in Spring 2021. 'Susan Acland-Hood, currently interim second permanent secretary, will take over as Acting Permanent Secretary. A permanent successor to replace Jonathan Slater will be appointed in the coming weeks.' Mr Slater is the latest senior civil servant to be ousted by the Government under Mr Johnson. Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill is also stepping down, as is Simon McDonald at the Foreign Office. And Philip Rutnam stepped down amid a bullying row with Priti Patel in February. Shadow education secretary Kate Green said: 'Under this Government civil servants have time and time again taken the fall for the incompetence and failures of Ministers.' Dave Penman, leader of the FDA union which represents senior public servants, said: 'If it wasn't clear before, then it certainly is now - this administration will throw civil service leaders under a bus without a moment's hesitation to shield ministers from any kind of accountability.' Relations between Number 10 and Whitehall have been strained, with Mr Johnson's senior aide Dominic Cummings backing a major shake-up of the civil service. Mr Penman said: 'After this Government's continuous anonymous briefings to the press, trust between ministers and civil servants is already at an all-time low and this will only damage it further.' First pupils return to lessons in locked-down Leicester without masks - after government U-turn made them mandatory in common areas but 'passed buck' back to heads about students wearing them in classes By Emer Scully for MailOnline The first pupils have returned to lessons in locked-down Leicester without masks - after a Government U-turn made them mandatory in common areas. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was accused by Labour of 'passing the buck' after an announcement Tuesday night. Individual headteachers will have to decide whether to make face coverings compulsory in school corridors in non-locked down areas of England. Liam Powell, headteacher of Manor High School in Oadby, Leicestershire, said he had decided to allow voluntary mask-wearing. At Manor High, which has 900 pupils on its roll, Mr Powell has led a school which was initially part of Leicester's local lockdown, before the Oadby and Wigston borough - on the city's border - was removed, during an easing of measures. Had it stayed inside the lockdown zone, face coverings would be mandatory for his pupils in corridors and communal areas, according to the new Government guidance. A pupil at Manor High School as years 7 and 11 return to the school in Oadby, Leicestershire, today. The school has adopted a voluntary policy for face masks Liam Powell, headteacher of Manor High School in Oadby, Leicestershire, said he had decided to allow voluntary mask-wearing which 'turned out to be national policy, as of last night'. Pictured, students in class at Manor High Schools across Leicestershire, including locked-down Leicester, are going back this week ahead of the majority of schools in England. They traditionally break up for summer a week earlier. During a visit to a Leicester school, the Prime Minister said in coronavirus 'hot spot' areas 'it probably does make sense in confined areas outside the classroom to use a face covering in the corridor and elsewhere'. But he said wearing masks inside the classroom would be 'nonsensical', reported the BBC. Manor High's catchment means many of the children's parents are medical professionals employed at the city's three hospitals; Leicester Royal, Leicester General and Glenfield. Many children turned up wearing masks to collect GCSE results and again for their first day back for the new term. Year 7 pupils are back at school in Leicester. Schools across Leicestershire, including locked-down Leicester, are going back this week ahead of the majority of schools in England because they traditionally break up for summer a week earlier Mr Powell (pictured) said the ever-shifting nature of the Covid-19 pandemic meant he and other education leaders had to forecast what changes may come and be ready with a 'plan B' Mr Powell, speaking of his pupils choosing to wear masks to school, said: 'We had to have a response to that. One option was to say: 'Don't wear a mask, we forbid it'; another was to say: 'It's compulsory, you must wear it.' 'A third one was to say: 'Actually we are compliant, we are going to give you the option to do it.' Actually, that turned out to be national policy as of last night.' What are the rules on face masks in UK schools? What is the situation in England? Pupils and staff at secondary schools in local lockdown areas will have to wear face masks in communal areas. This does not include classrooms and does not apply to primary-aged pupils. In all other parts of the country, it will be up to headteachers to decide whether masks are required. Which parts of the country will be subject to the mandatory face masks rule? Any part of the country which is defined as an area of national Government intervention. As of Tuesday evening, local restrictions were in place in areas of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Leicester, Luton and Northampton. What are the rules in Scotland? The Scottish government announced yesterday that face coverings should be worn by staff and pupils when they move around secondary schools from August 31. The rules will also apply on school transport for primary school pupils aged five and above. What about Wales and Northern Ireland? Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said yesterday a decision on schoolchildren wearing face coverings will likely be made today, but current guidance says masks are not being recommended. In Northern Ireland, post-primary pupils will be asked to wear face coverings in corridors and other communal areas, Stormont's education minister Peter Weir said. Advertisement The change in policy came after days of ministers and Downing Street insisted there were no plans to adapt the guidance in England. It had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to. But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons. The Government in Northern Ireland will also be recommending the wearing of masks between classes, while Wales has left the decision to headteachers. The timing of the U-turn has prompted anger - schools in England are due to reopen next week - with teachers warning the wearing of masks could cause 'mayhem'. They have cited fears of increased bullying, of pupils wearing dirty reused masks and of it being harder to challenge bad behaviour in corridors because it may be unclear which children are responsible. Teachers also said they had been left 'dizzy from all of the U-turns that have happened this summer'. Mr Powell said the ever-shifting nature of the Covid-19 pandemic meant he and other education leaders had to forecast what changes may come and be ready with a 'plan B'. He added: 'I read the Secretary of State's announcement and he was quoting and responding to what the World Health Organisation (WHO) were saying about masks. 'We had looked beyond the horizon to what was happening in France and Germany and nearer to home, what was happening in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. 'So it seemed a natural conclusion that England may well go in the same direction as well.' Mr Powell said he had not felt 'isolated' from Government advice but that more communication between all levels of government and the teaching profession 'makes us all more responsive'. The head, whose Year 7 and Year 11 cohorts returned to lessons on Tuesday, was speaking amid criticism from some teaching and school leaders' unions of the Government's advice on face coverings. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said ministers were following the 'best scientific and medical advice', adding it was not necessary for face coverings to be mandatory in all schools across the country. But in a message to members of school leaders' union NAHT, general secretary Paul Whiteman said it would be 'prudent' for masks to be used more widely. The head, whose Year 7 and Year 11 cohorts returned to lessons on Tuesday, was speaking amid criticism from some teaching and school leaders' unions of the Government's advice on face coverings. Pictured, the school's pupils during breaktime Manor High's catchment means many of the children's parents are medical professionals employed at the city's three hospitals; Leicester Royal, Leicester General and Glenfield Many children had turned up to collect GCSE results or for their first day back, wearing masks Mr Powell said he did 'not feel isolated' with Government advice 'frequently' sent to him via emails. Idea-sharing generated by a local peer group of headteachers has also helped. It sparked a move to whole-day single-topic lessons, which cut the need for pupils to move between classrooms. The school has also introduced hand sanitisers and a one-way system. Mr Powell has some sympathy for those in national and local government, adding: 'It's been a summer of great change. But what I think is that in each case the right thing was done. 'And I do understand it is not always possible to plan ahead in the way one might like.' Asked if the Government could have provided better support to schools, or more timely advice over issues such as face-covering policy, he said: 'I think there's a balancing act.' Mr Powell said he had not felt 'isolated' from Government advice but that more communication between all levels of government and the teaching profession 'makes us all more responsive' Idea-sharing generated by a local peer group of headteachers has also helped. It sparked a move to whole-day single-topic lessons, which cut the need for pupils to move between classrooms. Pictured, one pupil wears a mask while another doesn't He added the 'whole system works best under a national, global emergency - a pandemic - when professionals all talk to each other.' 'I think it's really important that government - local, national - and the profession maintain a constant dialogue,' he said. 'Because things changed rapidly on the floor and there's stuff we need to feed back. 'Things change in real time.' He added constant communication 'makes us all more responsive'. Mr Powell said centralised decision-making only helped so much, adding 'local need' had a key role to play for schools to quickly respond to conditions in their areas. He said: 'It is useful to have that advice coming centrally, but having freedom to respond to what is right for our local setting as well. Mr Powell said he did 'not feel isolated' with Government advice 'frequently' sent to him via emails. Pictured, his students in class Pictured, pupils at St Paul's High School in Glasgow on August 12. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons 'I think there's a balancing act.' Mr Powell also said it was time for Government to start thinking about schools dealing with the continuing presence of Covid-19 into next year. He said: 'If we go into another lockdown, how are we going to do our mock GCSEs amid that? 'If the lockdown is later in the academic year, we could be in the same position again with the GCSEs exams. We need an online form of assessment.' He added: 'As long as we keep learning and safety as our two key priorities, I don't think we'll go wrong.' It comes as the most senior civil servant in the Department of Education, permanent secretary Jonathan Slater, was asked to step down. The PM said there was 'a need for fresh leadership' following the scandal that saw an algorithm significantly lower pupils GCSE and A-level results. Following criticism from students, headteachers and a backlash by Tory MPs, the Government announced A-level and GCSE grades would be based on teachers' assessments rather than a controversial algorithm devised by regulator Ofqual. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson had previously defended the 'robust' system, which saw almost 40 per cent of A-level grades reduced from teachers' predictions. Sweetie Pies fans are still waiting to hear an official statement from the famous family on Tim Normans arrest in connection with the death of his nephew. Normans criminal history is lengthy, but a potential connection something so heinous is shocking for fans of the reality show. In an unbelievable turn of events, an alleged family source now claims that Normans next target was his own mother. Miss Robbie Montgomery and Tim Norman 2014 | Paras Griffin/Getty Images Tim Norman and Andre Montgomerys relationship on Sweetie Piess Normans mother, Miss Robbie, moved Montgomery in with her during high school to assist in helping her grandson graduate and turn his life around. While living with Miss Robbie in St. Louis, Montgomery worked alongside Norman at their family restaurant. Viewers remember Normans harsh attitude toward Montgomery, most notably an incident that led to Normans temporary firing after Norman hit Montgomery during an argument. Normans excuse for his actions is that Montgomery needs discipline and structure. RELATED: Sweetie Pies Fans Are Shocked at Tim Normans Arrest in Connection With the Alleged Murder-For-Hire Plot To Kill His Nephew Sadly, an unknown assailant murdered Montgomery in 2016. Montgomerys family always believed his murder was a setup. The family publicly mourned on the series, including Norman. Tim Normans arrest in connection with the murder of Andre Montgomery According to a report from Riverfront Times, the FBI is charging Norman for his involvement in Montgomerys murder. The report reveals that Norman allegedly took out life insurance policies totaling $450,000 on Montgomery two years before his murder. The insurance policies list Norman as the sole beneficiary in the event of Montgomerys death. FBI investigators say phone records from Norman and other co-conspirators prove their involvement. Source: YouTube Norman reportedly tried cashing in on the life insurance policies a week after Montgomerys death but was denied for failure to provide proper documentation. The owner of the popular blog site All About The Tea tells YouTube star Tasha K that Normans greed and jealousy of Montgomery is the motivation behind his involvement. A source claims Tim Normans next intended victim was his mother As if Montgomerys death is not devastating enough, an alleged family member tells All About The Tea that Normans next intended target was his own mother, Miss Robbie. The source alleges that a $1 million life insurance policy on Miss Robbie links Norman to another potential plot. Source: YouTube RELATED: Basketball Wives Star Jennifer Williams Responds To Ex Tim Normans Charge in Connection To Alleged Murder-For-Hire Plot Years After She Alleged He Abused Her Tim has a life insurance policy on Ms. Robbie, worth more than a million dollars, the family source claims. Tim was drowning in debt. His Jackson, Mississippi location was derailed because of Coronavirus and he owed a lot of people money. He also owes Janae thousands in back child support and he owes back taxes. Please keep our family in your prayers. Monica from All About The Tea also reveals in her interview with Tasha K that she and Norman struck up a friendship in 2016, not too long after Montgomerys death. She alleges that Norman has leaked stories to her site over the years and has been very open with her about issues in his family. Abdul Wahab can be temporarily released from custody after his new child is born, a High Court judge has ruled. (stock photo) A man accused of killing his step-daughter can be temporarily released from custody after his new child is born, a High Court judge has ruled. But Abdul Wahab, 32, will only be allowed a two-hour visit with the baby in hospital once his pregnant co-defendant wife Aleksandra gives birth. The couple are jointly charged with the murder of five-year-old Nadia Kalinowska at their home in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. They also face counts of causing or allowing the death of a child, and grievous bodily harm with intent over a year-long period. Nadia was discovered dead at the Fernagh Drive address on December 15 last year. Both accused deny any wrongdoing and claim she sustained the fatal injuries falling down stairs in the middle of the night. Nadia's mother, 26-year-old Aleksanda Wahab, is also in custody and due to give birth imminently. Prison staff are set to accompany her to hospital when she goes into labour. Abdul Wahab was seeking compassionate bail to be with her at that stage - even if it was in the middle of the night. Police and the prosecution strenuously opposed the application. They insisted Mr and Mrs Wahab, from Pakistan and Poland respectively, have both been assessed as posing potential flight risks. Concerns were also raised about the number of guards who would be on a maternity ward during the current pandemic. The legal bid for temporary release appeared to have failed when denied by a magistrate last week. However, lawyers for Abdul Wahab appealed that decision at the High Court, arguing that he should be present for the birth. Following submissions Mrs Justice Keegan ruled that he can be with his wife remotely during labour, using Zoom teleconferencing facilities. Abdul Wahab will then be permitted to attend hospital and spend two hours with the baby before it is expected to be taken into care. He is to be escorted and supervised at all times, remaining handcuffed and wearing necessary protective equipment. A further emergency legal challenge aimed at ensuring prison authorities provide 24-hour access to Zoom is now anticipated. But the solicitors representing Abdul Wahab welcomed the court ruling. Danny McNamee of McNamee McDonnell law firm said: "We are delighted that Mr Wahab will be able to attend the birth of his child, even if it is remotely. "He will then have an opportunity to see the child in person at a later stage." RICHMOND An anonymous Virginian wants the states highest court to order Richmonds Confederate statues returned to their pedestals, according to a new court filing. The plaintiff petitioned the Supreme Court of Virginia on Aug. 21. They challenge Mayor Levar Stoneys use of his emergency powers to order removal of the statues last month, and a subsequent vote by the City Council earlier this month to make permanent the monuments removal. James B. Thomas, who is representing the anonymous plaintiff, did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday. Thomas client had filed a previous suit against Stoneys in Richmond Circuit Court last month, arguing Stoney violated state law by ordering removal of the statues using authority the mayor and his lawyers said he possessed under a local emergency order. On July 1, Stoney ordered the statues removed. He cited public safety concerns amid ongoing civil unrest, and said the removal was temporary, until the council could carry out a 60-day administrative process for permanent removal outlined under the state law. Protesters had pulled down several statues in the city amid rolling protests over police brutality and systemic racism. Monument Avenue then home to the countrys most prominent Confederate monuments became the epicenter of Richmonds demonstrations. A man was seriously injured in Portsmouth in mid-June by a falling statue, leading some Richmond officials to call for immediate removal of the citys statues. Stoneys decision came against advice from Richmonds interim city attorney, Haskell Brown, and without approval from the City Council. The original legal challenge led Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley Cavedo to order a 60-day injunction preventing the city from removing any more statutes. By then, crews had taken down all but one of the citys Confederate statues at a cost of $1.8 million. Only the one honoring Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill remained on display. Cavedo, who lives in the Monument Avenue Historic District, later recused himself from the proceedings. A new judge stayed the case until the Supreme Court responds to an appeal of Cavedos injunction, which Stoney filed last month. His appeal is still pending. The petitioner, who continues to refuse to disclose his or her identity, has filed a petition that is procedurally inappropriate and without merit on several grounds, said Robert Rolfe, an attorney with Hunton Andrews Kurth who is representing Stoney. The Defendants will respond in due course to raise those deficiencies. The new filing states the anonymous plaintiff is a descendant of U.S. war veterans who fought on both sides of the Civil War. The citys statues, the filing states, hold sentimental, familial and historical value to the petitioner. It names Stoney and all nine members of the City Council as defendants. After voting earlier this month to remove the statues permanently, the council is holding a 30-day offering period for them, as required under state law. The body could vote on a relocation plan for each statue as early as next month. Brown, the interim city attorney, said his office had received a copy of the new filing, but he would not comment on pending litigation. No hearing had been scheduled as of Tuesday. Photos: Monuments and Markers throughout Virginia Reopening 26 August 2020 With Tanzania's borders open to all international visitors, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti will reopen its doors on September 1, 2020, with health and safety front of mind through Four Seasons new global Lead With Care program and contactless Chat experience. The reopening follows the launch of the Lodge's Private Villa Experience in August, which will remain available for guests seeking the ultimate, exclusive safari experience. At its heart, the safari experience naturally embraces physical distancing through thrilling game drives across the African savannah in search of the best wildlife sightings of each day - private vehicles are ensured for all Four Seasons game drives. To allow even more time to appreciate the beauty of the Serengeti National Park, while also aiding an extended stay in one location, Four Seasons Safari Lodge has launched Stay Longer - Fourth Night Free, applicable to all stays before December 22, 2020. All accommodations at the Lodge boast a private, open air balcony with views over the Serengeti Plains. Recreational activities include an on-site Discovery Centre, a Fitness Centre and an infinity pool overlooking an active animal watering hole. Dining options as from September will comprise the al fresco terrace of Maji and the atmospheric Boma Grill, where locally-inspired cuisine is served around a fire pit under the open night sky. The Serengeti Kani Spa will remain closed until further notice. Lead With Care Grounded in health care expertise and enabled by access to leading technologies and tools, the Lead With Care program is focused on providing care, confidence and comfort to all Four Seasons guests, employees and residents within the new COVID-19 environment. The new program outlines clear procedures that educate and empower Four Seasons employees to take care of guests and each other. While guests will see many of the enhanced Lead With Care procedures, behind-the-scenes measures are also taking place through employee training, additional food handling protocols, and enhancements to ventilation systems and other back-of-the-house operations. In addition, Four Seasons continues to invest in its award-winning App and Chat that further allows guests to control how they engage with others - limiting face-to-face interactions while maintaining the highest levels of personal service. Features include the ability to make and manage reservations, request luggage pickup, airport transfers, room service, restaurant and spa reservations, and much more. Wait-free check-in and check-out is also offered, while Four Seasons Chat integration offers instant translation of 100+ languages giving guests the flexibility for contactless engagement throughout their stay. Turns out that plugging a bunch of computers into our electrical grid that do nothing but draw current and hash through algorithms has had some negative environmental impacts. Recent studies suggest that Bitcoin-related power consumption has reached record highs this year with more than seven gigawatts of power being pulled in the pursuit of the suspect digital currency. A study from the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance released on Monday estimates that the global bitcoin mining industry uses 7.46 GW, equivalent to around 63.32 terawatt-hours of energy consumption. The study also notes that miners are paying around $0.03 to $0.05 per kWh this year. Given that a March estimate put the cost to mine a full bitcoin is around $7,500, the average miner still stands to make over $4,000 in profit from the operation. Todays bitcoin mining operations can be as small as a single user running a dedicated desktop machine to 50,000 state-of-the-art rigs installed in a Kazakhstan warehouse with the goal of hashing through the Bitcoin consensus algorithm faster than your competition in order to maximize the number of block rewards you receive. The current total amount of processing power dedicated to mining, known as the hashrate, is currently hovering around 120 exahash per second (EH/s). However industry analysts argue that that figure is soon to increase. By our assessment, the Bitcoin network can exceed 260EH/s in Hashrate in the next 1214 months, according to a July study from Bitooda. Led by a modest increase in available power capacity from 9.6 to 10.6GW and an upgrade cycle that will replace older generation S9 class rigs with newer S17 and next-generation S19 class rigs. Whitehaven, one of Australia's largest coal miners, has seen its profits nearly wiped out as coal prices collapse around the world. Following a record-breaking result a year earlier, Whitehaven's earnings have crashed 95 per cent from $564.9 million to $30 million in the year to June 30, causing investors to flee on Wednesday. Whitehaven's shares tumbled 18 per cent to finish the day at $1.02, its lowest level in several years. A growing number of global fund managers are pledging to exit their investments in thermal coal. Credit:Nic Walker The profit crash comes as the virus-driven economic downturn weighs on global energy demand and prices of coal, one of Australia's largest export commodity exports. The benchmark price for top-quality New South Wales thermal coal exports has fallen from $US68 a tonne to $US55 in the June quarter, well below the yearly average of nearly $US100 a tonne in the 2019 financial year. Whitehaven chief executive Paul Flynn said he was seeing "signs of life" in the export market and believed the worst of the price falls could be over for metallurgical coal the coal used in steelmaking but he could not predict how much longer the price pressure would last. Twice as many mountaineers successfully climb Mount Everest now than three decades ago but the death rate remains at around 1 per cent, a study has found. Reaching some 29,030 feet above sea level, the summit of Everest in the Himalayas attracts around 500 climbers wanting to scale the world's tallest peak each spring. The last thirty years have seen a increase in the number of people making the ascent increasingly crowding the narrow route through the 'death zone' near the summit. This is the altitude above around 26,247 feet at which the oxygen pressure falls to the extent that it is unable to sustain human life for prolonged periods of time. The findings of the new study also break down the demographics of climbers such as by age, experience and sex that conquered the peak or died during the effort. Such data, researchers said, could help authorities decide whether to impose restrictions such as a maximum climbing age or minimum experience level. Twice as many mountaineers successfully climb Mount Everest, pictured, now than three decades ago but the death rate remains at around 1 per cent, a study has found 'Mount Everest is still a very dangerous mountain, and climbing it will never become a walk in the park, because it's way above the limits of what most people can do,' said paper author and biologist Raymond Huey of the University of Washington. 'Unfortunately, reported statistics of risk on Everest are often inaccurate.' 'By analysing climbing data, we provide accurate information on the chances of success and on the chances of dying, thereby helping climbers make an informed decision about whether to attempt this great peak.' In their study, Professor Huey and colleagues analysed the success and death rates for all first-time climbers who were granted a paid permit to try to summit Everest from 19902019. The team excluded mountaineers performing additional tasks during the climb such as high-altitude porters, photographs and other support staff along with those who were attempting to climb the summit for the second or more times. Also excluded were a small selection of years during which the climbing season was cancelled as a result of ice fall avalanches or earthquakes. Reaching 29,030 feet above sea level, the summit of Everest in the Himalayas attracts around 500 climbers wanting to scale the world's tallest peak each year. Pictured, the Everest base camp Checking the altitude with GPS during the hike on the Manaslu circuit at Dharamsala The team found that the total number of first time climbers increased from around 2,200 between 1990 and 2005 to more than 3,600 in the period from 20062019. Of these, two-thirds now manage to reach the summit, as opposed to the third in the earlier study period and a 60-year-old climber today has the same success rate of around 40 per cent as a 40-year-old climber did before. In both time periods, men and women had essentially the same of odds of success or death however, women climbers now make up 5.5 per cent more of the total number of mountaineers climbing Everest for the first time. The team credit the rise in the ratio of successful expeditions to factors including improved weather forecasting, increase usage of supplemental oxygen (and earlier on during the ascent) and the proliferation of fixed lines on popular routes. In addition, the researchers said, expedition leaders and high-altitude porters are now generally more experienced although, in contrast, climbers today are tending to be less experienced than their predecessors of the 1990s and early 2000s. 'Mount Everest is still a very dangerous mountain, and climbing it will never become a walk in the park, because it's way above the limits of what most people can do,' said biologist Raymond Huey of the University of Washington. Pictured, a signpost to Everest base camp Professor Huey and colleagues sourced their data on the climbers from the so-called 'Himalayan Database', a website based on the records of the Kathmandu-based Reuters journalist Elizabeth Hawley. Ms Hawley, who passed away in early 2018, maintained the official record of all climbs and summit successes for Everest and hundreds of other Nepalese peaks with her work now continuing under new leadership. 'It's a remarkable data source,' Professor Huey commented. 'She was legendary climbers used to say you have not climbed Mount Everest until Ms Hawley says you've climbed Mount Everest,' he added. The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE. Reaching some 29,030 feet above sea level, the summit of Everest in the Himalayas attracts around 500 climbers wanting to scale the world's tallest peak each spring Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh mark Myanmar crackdown anniv. Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 9:14 AM Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh have held a silent protest on the third anniversary of a crackdown on the Muslim minority by Myanmar that killed thousands of them. The refugees decided not to hold a mass gathering to mark what they called "Remembrance Day" due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to Bangladeshi authorities, 88 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the camps and six people have died of the respiratory disease. More than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's Rakhine State to neighboring Bangladesh joining more than 200,000 already there following a military-led crackdown in 2017 that the UN has said was perpetrated with "genocidal intent." Thousands were killed, and many others were raped, tortured, or arrested in the crackdown. "We were forcibly driven out from our motherland to the world's largest refugee camp," Rohingya groups said in a statement on Tuesday. They further said the Rohingya had faced "hidden genocide" in Myanmar for decades and called on the United Nations and other organizations to declare what happened in 2017 a genocide. "Please stand with innocent Rohingya, and then hopefully we can return to our home," the refugees said in the statement. The Rohingya are denied citizenship in Myanmar and are considered illegal immigrants despite their ancestral roots dating back centuries. Last January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Myanmar to do everything in its power to prevent the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sonu Sood deserves to be celebrated for the countless humanitarian work he has been doing since the pandemic outbreak in the country. From helping out migrants reach their homes safely, to offering financial aid to many and offering employment opportunities and other measures to help the needy, Sonu Sood has touched and improved thousands of lives this year. Facebook Sonu Sood After recently offering work and housing facilities to almost 20,000 workers, Sonu Sood has now found another way of improving lives, but this time its the students from a remote village in Morni called Koti, who have become Sonus latest beneficiaries. Recently, Sonu Sood came to know about how children from a remote village in Haryanas Morni had to travel long distances just to access a smartphone for their online classes. Moved by the young kids struggle, the actor offered to arrange smartphones for these kids. A wonderful beginning to my day watching all the students get their smartphones to attend their online classes. @Karan_Gilhotra n thanks to @HinaRohtaki for bringing this need for the students to our notice. https://t.co/6Pn9QH0o4H sonu sood (@SonuSood) August 26, 2020 Just hours ago, Sonu shared that the principal of Government Senior Secondary School in Koti village has received the smartphones, which were delivered through Sonu Soods friend Karan Gilhotra. The beneficiary students also interacted with the actor over a video call. The news had come to light after The Indian Express published a story about the young kids of Koti village who had to travel for miles to access a smartphone at a friend or relatives house, and take turns to get their study notes from a single smartphone that was being used by multiple students in need. Twitter The Sindhiana Trust With classes moving online, lakhs of students across the country have been forced to go digital with no proper arrangements in place. From network issues to no internet access, there is a lot that isnt helping the students case. At least this will be one less thing to worry about now for the students. This is an issue we raised on #NewsEpicentre. The digital have Nots need support during pandemic to continue with their studies. Let them not slip between the gaps. Thankyou @SonuSood for being their messiah. Marya Shakil (@maryashakil) August 26, 2020 I think India has one Human Lord Ram in this Pandemic Covid-19 is @SonuSood Need Few Hearts to Thank Everyday with New News of his kindness ! World needs each Km in INDIA 10 SONUSOOD THAN INDIA WILL BE HEAVEN IN MONTHS ! EXTREMELY PROUD ON REEL VILLAN IS REAL HERO. pic.twitter.com/Md00KrGZEb Its_me (@Harsh31703859) August 26, 2020 God bless you @SonuSood Sir, huge salute for your work. May you get everything you want in your life. You are the most adorable person ever seen, you should be the role model for everyone instead of the TV's "so called heroes". SUjAY (@sujaysp07) August 26, 2020 @SonuSood,aap har baar esa kuch kar jate hai ki izzat&payar dono hi apke liye charguni badh jati hai!Apne sahi kaha tha madat krne k liye niyat hi kafi hai.#oursuperherowithoutcapes sending lots of love&prayers letMe knw in anyway I can help or be part of ur foundation Ruchi Mishra (@FourEyedWomen) August 26, 2020 Sir no matter what people think about you but you have won our(students)hearts .It is blessings from students including me. Thank you sir Vinit (@SawakhandeVinit) August 26, 2020 This isnt the first time we saw Sonu Sood help out those in need and all the good work he has been able to pull off over the last few months is really commendable. Highest respect for this man. NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has on Wednesday (August 26, 2020) called an urgent meeting to discuss the rising number of coronavirus COVID-19 cases in the national capital despite extreme precautionary measures taken by the AAP government. According to sources, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and senior Delhi government officials will be attending the crucial meeting to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the national capital. It may be recalled that Delhi recorded 1,544 fresh coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the city's highest single-day spike in August till today, taking the tally to over 1.64 lakh, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 4,330. Delhi Health Department officials said, The positivity rate on Tuesday stood at 7.7 per cent while the recovery rate was over 90 per cent. According to the bulletin issued by the Delhi health department, seventeen fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours on Tuesday. On Monday, the daily cases count was 1,061 and 13 deaths were reported. The active cases tally on Tuesday rose to 11,998 from 11,626 the previous day. On June 23, the national capital had registered the highest single-day spike of 3,947, till date. The death toll from COVID-19 in Delhi stood at 4,313 on Monday. The Tuesday bulletin said the death toll from the coronavirus infection has risen to 4,330 and the total number of cases climbed to 1,64,071. Monday's fresh daily cases count at 1,544 is the highest in this month till today. The previous highest single-day spike in cases in August was on Sunday at 1,450. Delhi has seen a fluctuation in the number of novel coronavirus cases since the beginning of this month. On August 1, the city recorded 1,118 fresh cases while for the next three days, the number of infections reported in a single-day stayed below the 1,000-mark. From August 5 to 9, the number of fresh COVID-19 cases again stayed above the 1,000-mark only to come down to 707 on August 10. Three days between August 11 and August 22, the city saw less than 1,000 fresh cases - August 13 (956), August 16 (652), and August 17 (787). Medical experts on Tuesday conjectured that the rise in the number of daily cases in the national capital in the last few days could be attributed to patients from outside Delhi coming here to seek treatment, reopening of the economy and low sensitivity of rapid antigen tests. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev took a meeting with Principal Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary (Health), divisional commissioner, health secretary, DGHS, all district magistrates, deputy commissioner of police and chief district medical officers to review the COVID-19 situation. According to the bulletin, out of the total number of beds in COVID hospitals, 10,512 are vacant. Also, 3,493 beds in COVID care centres are occupied by persons under quarantine, including travellers who have returned by the Vande Bharat Mission and bubble flights, it said. According to the bulletin, 1,47, 743 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far. The number of people in home isolation stands at 5,949. The number of Rapid Antigen Tests conducted on Tuesday stood at 14,462 while the RT-PCR, CBNAAT and True NAAT tests figures were 5,380, in all adding to 19,841, according to the bulletin. The total number of tests done till date in Delhi stands at 14,62,845. The number of tests done per million, as on Tuesday was 76,991, it said. On Tuesday, the number of containment zones stood at 654. MANZINI Inyandzaleyo! This is a vernacular word used to call for help and legislators are calling for immediate assistance in dealing with their impending challenges, given the seismic waves of economic instability amid the coronavirus pandemic. Some Members of Parliament (MPs) expressed discontent in the delay by government in releasing of the Rural Development Fund (RDF). The RDF is a fund for rural development that government avails to all constituencies. The nature of the fund presents a two-sided approach towards income generation and infrastructure development. In previous community consultations, the infrastructure component was perceived to have contributed significantly to the development of the communities, especially the installation of electricity. Communities were said to be happy with the participatory approaches and the degree of community consultation for the infrastructure projects. However, according to the parliamentarians, these positive milestones have not been achieved since the assumption of office by the 11th Parliament. This is despite that on Valentines Day February 14 this year, in the 2020/21 Budget Speech tabled by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, the funding for the sector had shot up to E177 million. Relief This increment of E67 million as compared to the 2019/2020 financial year, was envisaged by elected MPs to be a source of relief for them in dealing with the masses needs for development. However, to date, according to the legislators, this has remained nothing but figures thrown in the air. Nkwene Constituency MP Philemon Vulimpompi Nhleko said the funding was nothing but a myth. This, Nhleko said, was because there was no project that had been funded under RDF since he assumed office. The legislator said what he was certain of were two schemes that had been approved and were to benefit 80 homesteads. We have two electricity schemes that were to benefit 80 (65 and 15) homesteads. These schemes will also benefit many people as they will be able to initiate projects like welding and also tuck shops, Nhleko said. He said such projects would have benefitted his constituents a lot in the face of the coronavirus that has seen over 18 000 people, at some point ,being on unpaid layoffs in the past five months since the country was declared to be in a state of national emergency. The legislator said the availability of the funds would have resulted in some of the people within his constituency engaging in self-sustaining projects. His opinion was also shared by Zombodze Emuva Constituency MP Muzi Kunene. Kunene said he envisaged that about 13 000 people would benefit from the RDF if it were to be released as soon as possible. The benefits, he said, would be in the form of agri-business. The constituency seeks mostly water and electricity as mostly those are the applications we made when seeking the funding. However, to date, nothing has been offered, Kunene said. Also lamenting the lack of the funds was Hosea Constituency MP Bacede Mabuza. He said seemingly there was no money to fund development. This, he said, was based on his personal opinion as a legislator who had served in different Parliaments. Last year, we were informed that there was no money while this year, figures have been thrown around with nothing being actually released to initiate the projects, Mabuza said. Another legislator, who shared the same challenge of his constituents not having access to the fund, was Nkilongo Constituency MP Timothy Myeni. Nothing There is nothing that we have received, Myeni said. He bemoaned that while many people had been migrating to rural areas due to the impact of the coronavirus, projects that were initiated in the past were still incomplete and stalling any prospects of venturing into new cash-generating schemes. The legislator estimated that about 700 people would benefit from the fund in terms of sourcing electricity, as many homesteads were still without power. Myeni further supposed that the availability of the fund could kick-start initiatives that would be cash-generating like procuring tractors for cooperatives to farm and assisting in the installation of a clean water network. In 2015/16, government had allocated E80 million to the fund, which was utilised to deliver rural electrification projects in various communities. In 2016/17, the allocation was increased to E88 million. The current allocation is the biggest over the years. Israel said Wednesday it had launched air strikes against Hezbollah observation posts in Lebanon after shots were fired from across the border towards its troops the previous evening. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the shooting on Shiite militant group Hezbollah with which Israel fought a devastating month-long war in 2006, and pledged a "forceful" response to any further incidents. "I advise Hezbollah not to test Israel's crushing strength," he wrote in Hebrew on Twitter. "Hezbollah is once again endangering the state of Lebanon due to its aggression." The border flare-up came hours after Lebanon rejected an Israeli call to reform the UN peacekeeping force which patrols the border ahead of a UN Security Council vote to renew its mandate. The Israeli army had said earlier that a "security incident" was unfolding near Manara, a kibbutz near the UN-demarcated border between the two countries, and urged residents to take shelter. "During operational activity in northern Israel last night, shots were fired from Lebanon toward (Israeli) troops," the military said on Twitter. "We responded with fire, & our aircraft struck Hezbollah observation posts near the border. This is a severe event & we remain ready to combat any threat to our borders." Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli gunfire and flares around the village of Mays al-Jabal, just across the border from Manara. The Israeli army said "troops deployed dozens of illumination rounds and smoke shells and responded with fire". Afterwards "attack helicopters and aircraft struck observation posts belonging to the Hezbollah terror organisation in the border area". It reported no Israeli casualties. An AFP video journalist on the Lebanese side of the border heard shelling on Tuesday evening and local residents reported flares falling around their homes. Story continues In the village of Hula, Hussein Hijazi said that a flare fell just outside his house but did not ignite. Lebanon's top security body, the Supreme Defence Council, decided to file a complaint to the UN Security Council over the Israeli fire into Lebanon, NNA reported. Manara was quiet on Wednesday morning, an AFP journalist reported. The army told residents they could come into the open and resume work in the fields. - Peacekeeping row - Israel and Lebanon are still technically at war, and the United Nations force, UNIFIL, is tasked with monitoring their ceasefire. Lebanon had hours earlier rejected an Israeli call to reform UNIFIL ahead of a UN Security Council vote to renew its mandate. The incident also comes after Hezbollah announced at the weekend it had brought down an Israeli drone flying over the border. The Iran-backed militant group vowed in September last year to down Israeli drones flying over Lebanon, following an incident a month earlier when two drones packed with explosives targeted its stronghold in south Beirut. Set up in 1978, UNIFIL was beefed up after a month-long war in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah. The 10,500-strong force, in coordination with the Lebanese army, is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire and Israeli pullout from a demilitarised zone on the border. Israel accuses the force, whose latest mandate expires at the end of August, of not being active enough against Hezbollah. It accuses the militants of stockpiling weapons at the border, and has been pushing for the UN force to be allowed to inspect private property. But Lebanon's caretaker foreign minister Charbel Wahbe informed the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council on Tuesday that his government wanted the force to stay on "without modifying its mandate or its numbers". Hezbollah wields considerable political influence in Lebanon and its allies dominate the caretaker government. Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes on Hezbollah targets in neighbouring Syria where the group is fighting alongside the government of President Bashar al-Assad. It has also struck Iranian targets in Syria in what it says is a campaign to prevent Tehran providing Hezbollah with the technology to replace its arsenal of rockets with ballistic missiles capable of penetrating Israel's Iron Dome air defence shield. burs/scw/kir Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 10:13 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4089f83 1 National illegal-fishing,North-Natuna-Sea,Indonesian-navy Free The Indonesian Navy warship KRI Bung Tomo-357 seized a Vietnamese-flagged vessel caught fishing illegally in the countrys outermost islands of the North Natuna Sea on Sunday. The KRI Bung Tomo head's of operation, captain Edo, explained that the operation followed reports from another navy ship that picked up the signals of a foreign fishing vessel during a sea patrol code-named Rakata Jaya Operation in Natuna Waters. The Vietnamese-flagged vessel was caught fishing in the area within 1.5 nautical miles from the coastline, Edo said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com. Roughly 1 ton of fish was seized during the operation and 12 of the ships crew members were arrested for further investigation. Previous reports show that illegal fishing remains rife within the waters of Indonesias exclusive economic zone in Riau Islands province. Observers have bemoaned the continued practice of illegal fishing, which is partly exacerbated by a lack of surveillance ships and regulations. Since the anti-illegal fishing task force led by former minister Susi Pudjiastuti was disbanded in December, the ministry detained only 19 foreign fishing vessels in the first three months of this year, a far cry from previous endeavors. During her term, Susi reportedly destroyed over 500 foreign vessels between October 2014 and October 2019. (vny) DUNDALK, MD Aug. 26 is National Dog Day, and an increasing number of people in Dundalk and other U.S. cities are turning to new four-legged friends to fend off loneliness and the abundance of time spent in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, some shelters are seeing a surge in demand for dog adoptions, according to Sarah Brasky, the founder and executive director of Foster Dogs Inc., a New York-based nonprofit that helps get dogs out of shelters and into foster homes. Shelter dogs are really winning in this entire coronavirus experience, Brasky told The Associated Press. Its a strange phenomenon because there was always interest in fostering and rescue, but now it is exploding. In some places, such as New York, adopting a dog could prove a bit more difficult now than in the past. Last year at this time, Braskys organization was accepting applications from about 140 people per month. This year, that number spiked to about 3,000, she told the AP. Another example is at the nonprofit shelter Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, where adoptions were double their usual rate in late June and a waiting list had formed for certain types of dogs, according to the Washington Post. However, dont be discouraged by the recent boon in adoptions. If youve been thinking about adding a new four-legged friend to your family, there are still dogs available for adoption in the United States, and plenty of animal shelters nearby to learn about pet ownership and meet your new furry love. To help out this National Dog Day, here are five things to know about adopting a dog during the pandemic: 1) Despite reports from shelters, dog adoptions nationwide are actually down in 2020. According to an industry report by PetPoint, a data management software used by animal shelters, 32,474 dogs were adopted in July 2020, representing a 22 percent decrease from the previous year. The numbers of dogs adopted in April, May and June of 2020 were also down from 2019. Story continues 2) Owner surrenders of dogs are also down amid the pandemic. Call it an affirmation of our desire to keep four-legged family members nearby during the pandemic, but dog surrenders are also down by about 24 percent this year, according to the same report by PetPoint. 3) There are still plenty of dogs (and cats) taken to shelters that wont get adopted. According to data by the ASPCA, 3.3 million dogs are taken into shelters each year, but only 1.6 million are adopted. Also, 44 percent of Americans say they adopted their dog, indicating adoption is the preferred method when it comes to adding a new four-legged family member. If youre more of a cat person, the numbers are similar 3.2 million cats are taken in each year, and only 1.6 million are adopted, according to the ASPCA. 4) Your risk of catching COVID-19 from a new dog is low. Despite some isolated cases of dogs testing positive for the coronavirus, Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recently told Clear The Shelters, "it doesnt appear that pets are playing a role in spreading the virus." While Klatt encouraged potential pet owners to not be fearful, he did advise caution. The AVMA suggests the following guidelines to keep you and your dog safe: Wash your hands after caring for or playing with your pets, and before and after feeding them. Keep their bedding, food and water bowl, and collars and leashes clean. Social distance with your pet from other people and their pets. 5) Reach out to local animal shelters to meet a new pup. Whether youre seriously committed to adopting a dog or just thinking about it, the best step forward is to contact a local animal rescue group or shelter to inquire about availability, possible waiting lists, and what is included in the application process. To start, here are some shelters in Baltimore County to contact: Baltimore County Animal Services, 13800 Manor Rd., Baldwin 410-887-PAWS, https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/animalservices Maryland SPCA, 3300 Falls Rd., Baltimore 410-235-8826, https://www.mdspca.org/humane-care Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Center, 2490 Giles Rd., Baltimore 410-396-4695, https://barcs.org/ Baltimore Humane Society/Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, 1601 Nicodemus Rd., Reisterstown 410-833-8848, https://bmorehumane.org/ This article originally appeared on the Dundalk Patch KYODO NEWS - Aug 26, 2020 - 23:28 | All, Japan Japan and the United States on Wednesday pledged to work closely on a lunar exploration project led by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration after Tokyo joined it last month. In a joint statement issued after a meeting in Tokyo, the two governments said they "reaffirmed their commitment to Artemis," the multilateral project intended to return humans to the Moon by 2024 and establish sustainable lunar surface exploration with NASA's commercial and international partners by 2028. The two sides "also acknowledged opportunities for Japanese crew activities" on the Gateway, a small spaceship that will orbit the Moon, as well as on the lunar surface, as highlighted in a lunar cooperation accord they signed in July, the statement said. The last humans to walk on the Moon were American astronauts from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. In Wednesday's meeting, Tokyo and Washington touched on "growing concern for threats to the continuous, safe and stable use of outer space," the statement said, in a veiled counter to the growing space capabilities of countries such as China and Russia. U.S. officials welcomed the Space Operation Squadron, an Air Self-Defense Force space unit launched in May to monitor threats to Japanese satellites in outer space. Japanese officials, for their part, pointed to the significance of the U.S. Space Command and Space Force launched by President Donald Trump's administration. The meeting brought together Scott Pace, executive secretary of the U.S. National Space Council, Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations at the U.S. Space Force, as well as space-related officials from the Cabinet Office, Defense Ministry and other Japanese agencies, according to the Foreign Ministry. Conservative groups are suing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in two separate lawsuits, one over free speech and the other over absentee voting. The lawsuits are backed by the Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based non-profit law firm rooted in the pro-life movement. The groups themselves are Michigan offshoots of national groups, according to a representative from Lambert, a public relations firm publicizing the lawsuits. In Election Integrity Fund and One Nation Michigan vs. Whitmer, filed in the U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, the groups claim Whitmer has failed to create adequate breathing space for Michiganders who want to engage in in-person First Amendment speech and association. They argue her limits on the size of gatherings limit responsible politicking and seek an order to declare the gathering-size limits unconstitutional and stop them from being enforced. Included in the lawsuit are letters from One Nation President Linda Lee Tarver asking to hold gatherings of more than the 10 people indoors or 100 people outdoors currently allowed in most of the Lower Peninsula under Whitmers executive orders and being advised by local officials it would violate the governors orders. ... we were told we cannot rally and continue to be confronted with ever-changing, confusing and ambiguous orders from the Governor, she said in a press release. In Election Integrity Fund and Glen Sitek vs. Jocelyn Benson, plaintiffs challenge the Secretary of State allowing people to apply for absentee ballots online, something they say fails to comply with Michigan law and invites fraud. Because the voter doesnt submit a signature in the online process, which is statutorily required, plaintiffs say. That lawsuit, filed in the Court of Claims, asks the court to declare the current system illegal and prevent the SOS from using any absentee application system that does not require the applicant to submit a signature at the time of application. One Nation is a national, conservative 501(c)4 group that focuses on the founders vision for America and lists fighting socialism among its priorities, according to its website. The group recently announced $4.5 million in ad spending against Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters in Michigan. One Nation Michigan is described in the lawsuit as an unincorporated association focusing on racial dialogue. The Election Integrity Fund is a social welfare nonprofit focused on preserving the integrity of Michigan elections, according to the lawsuit. Neither Whitmer or Bensons offices responded to requests for comment on the lawsuits. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/. Related stories: Michigan Supreme Court asked to reconsider absentee ballot deadline in light of uncounted primary votes Michigans 10-person limit on indoor gatherings comes with a full slate of exceptions Arrest of Homicide Suspects by El Centro Police Department El Centro, California - On Thursday, July 30, 2019, patrol officers from the El Centro Police Department arrested Daniel Alexander Munguia for assault with a deadly weapon. He was a person of interest in the 2019 murder of Raul Esparza, a resident of El Centro. The El Centro Police Department Investigations Bureau was notified and responded to interview Mr. Munguia in regards to the unsolved 2019 murder of Raul Esparza. He was transported and booked into the Imperial County Sherriffs Office Jail for the assault with a deadly weapon. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Raul Esparza. On Thursday, August 20, 2020, El Centro Police Department detectives responded to the residence of Rosita Deborah Torres. She was taken into custody and subsequently booked into the Imperial County Sherriffs Office Jail for the murder of Raul Esparza. SUSPECT(S): Rosita Deborah Torres, age 45, a resident of El Centro, booked for murder (Booking No. 20-1599). Daniel Alexander Munguia, age 39, a resident of El Centro, booked for murder. (Booking No. 20-1511) This case was presented to the Imperial County District Attorneys Office for prosecution. On August 24, 2020, both suspects were charged for the murder. If anyone has additional information regarding this murder investigation, please call El Centro Police Department Investigation Bureau, Detective Jeff Malcomb, at (760) 335-3661 or (760) 337-4502. Acclaim offers a sample of recent honors for Emory faculty and staff. Listings may include awards and prizes; election to boards and societies; and similarly notable accomplishments in the wider community. Acclaim is published monthly in Emory Report. To suggest items for the September column, please email your submission by Sept. 1. Emory faculty and staff are frequently recognized for their work locally, nationally and internationally. The following is a sampling of recent accolades, including appointments to professional boards and awards for outstanding research and teaching. Honors highlighted in this column: Bonsall honored with distinguished teaching award Joanna Bonsall, associate professor in the division of hospital medicine, is the recipient of the 2020 Evangeline Papageorge Distinguished Teaching Award. The award, established in 1993 by the Emory Medical Alumni Association, is one of the most prestigious awards presented by the School of Medicine and Emory University. The Papageorge Award recognizes excellence in the teaching of medical education and honors the legacy of Dr. Evangeline Papageorge 29G 37M, beloved teacher and administrator who served Emory for many decades. The award and honorarium are given each year to a medical faculty member whose intellectual luminosity has generated the greatest excitement about learning among students and colleagues. Dinner receives two residential study fellowships Deborah Dinner, associate professor of law, has won two fellowships this year. The ACLS Frederick Burkhardt Residential Fellowship for Recently Tenured Scholars was awarded in 2020, to be used at the Kluge Center, Library of Congress, 2022-2023. The fellowship, through the American Council of Learned Societies, supports long-term, unusually ambitious projects in the humanities and related social sciences. The Law and Public Affairs Fellowship through Princeton University, is for 2020-2021. Outstanding faculty members, independent scholars, lawyers and judges are invited to apply for visiting, residential appointments for the academic year. Each year, through its fellows program, LAPA brings to Princeton world-class experts on the law to engage in their own research and in the intellectual life of the campus. Dinner is a legal historian whose scholarship examines the interaction between social movements, political culture and legal change. Her research focuses on questions of gender and class equity in the legal regulation of the workplace and labor markets, family relationships, the hybrid public-private welfare regime and insurance law. Hubbard inducted into American Ophthalmological Society Baker Hubbard, vice chair of clinic operations and director of the clinical retina section at Emory Eye Center, was inducted into the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS). Hubbard is the chief of the vitreoretinal surgery and disease section at Emory Eye Center and serves as the vice chief of ophthalmology at Childrens Hospital of Atlanta, Egleston. The AOS is a medical society of ophthalmologists and the second oldest specialty medical society in the United States. The mission of AOS is to promote excellence in patient care, education and research, to address essential issues in medicine and to advance the art and science of ophthalmology. Im chosen as outstanding nurse scientist Eun-Ok Im received the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science Outstanding Nurse Scientist Award. The award acknowledges Council members whose sustained programs of research have had significant impact on nursing and health care knowledge development with recognizable benefits for nursing practice and health care. Im is senior associate dean of research and innovation with the School of Nursing. She will be recognized at the 20th Anniversary Virtual Event during the CANS State of the Science Congress in September. Koplan joins CDC Foundation Board of Directors Jeffrey Koplan has been elected to a five-year term on the board of directors of the CDC Foundation. Koplan is a former director and 26-year veteran of the CDC. He founded the Emory Global Health Institute in 2006 and served as its director until March 2013; he currently is the universitys vice president for global health and is a co-investigator of the Emory Global Health Institutes Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private sector resources to support CDCs health protection mission in America and around the world. Lynch noted as distinguished alumnus Mary Lynch, professor of ophthalmology, has received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The award is one of the highest honors bestowed by Johns Hopkins and recognizes those alumni and trainees who have brought credit to the university through their personal, professional or humanitarian achievements. Lynch was recognized as a distinguished alumnus for her work in ophthalmology that has been essential in understanding and improving the lives of patients with glaucoma. During her career, Lynchs research has centered on innovative ways to deal with difficult problems in glaucoma. She was the first to publish papers on several treatments and surgical techniques for glaucoma patients used today. She joined Emory and the Atlanta VA Medical Center in 1988, where she served as chief of the ophthalmology section from 1994-2010. Niyyar recognized for distinguished clinical service Vandana Niyyar received the Distinguished Clinical Service Award from the American Society of Nephrology. The award recognizes individuals who combine the art of medicine with the skills demanded by the scientific body of knowledge in service to patients, exemplify leadership and excellence in the practice of nephrology and have initiated or been involved in volunteer programs or have provided volunteer service post-training. Niyyar is a professor in the division of renal medicine. Her clinical interests center on kidney failure, with specific expertise in dealing with vascular access for hemodialysis patients and renal ultrasonography. Perreault appointed to Biological Systems and Functions Evaluation Group Marie-Claude Perreault, assistant professor in the Department of Physiology, has been appointed to Biological Systems and Functions Evaluation Group of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). NSERC is Canadas research funding agency that supports research in the natural sciences and engineering domains. NSERCs role is to invest in people, discovery and innovation, including supporting postsecondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies and research by postsecondary professors. Perreault will serve a three-year term as part of the group. Pinder to serve as Governors Teaching Fellow Kamina Pinder was chosen as a Governors Teaching Fellow through University of Georgias Institute of Higher Education. The Governor's Teaching Fellows Program was established by Zell Miller, governor of Georgia from 1991-1999, to provide Georgias higher education faculty with expanded opportunities for developing important teaching skills. The program is offered through the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. Pinder is assistant professor of practice and director of the professionalism program with Emory Law. Price named to public health emergency committee Polly J. Price, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law and professor of global health, was chosen as a member of the Study Committee on Public Health Emergency Authorities of the Uniform Law Commission. The committee will study the need for and feasibility of one or more uniform state laws addressing the authority of state governments to respond to epidemics, pandemics, and other public health emergencies. In addition, Price presented COVID-19 and the Creation of a Convention on Pandemic Suppression, at University College London, United Kingdom, in April. Wenger receives mentorship award Nanette K. Wenger was recognized with the 2020 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award of the American Heart Association. This award is presented in recognition of outstanding and long-term contributions as a mentor in developing academic cardiovascular physicians and scientists. Wenger is professor of medicine (emeritus) in the Division of Cardiology and a consultant to the Emory Heart and Vascular Center. She also is founding consultant of Emory Womens Heart Center. Her award will be announced during the Presidential Address at the AHAs scientific sessions in November. University honored for educational fundraising, writing for the web The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) recently honored Emory Universitys Advancement and Alumni Engagement and Communications & Public Affairs. These peer-selected and adjudicated national awards acknowledge superior accomplishments that have lasting impact and demonstrate the highest level of professionalism while delivering exceptional results in the fields of advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing at colleges, universities, independent schools and affiliated nonprofits. Emorys Advancement and Alumni Engagement was named as a recipient of the 2020 CASE Educational Fundraising Award in the Overall Improvement category. A committee of experienced fundraisers select winners based on factors and variables including patterns of growth in total support; overall breadth of fundraising; patterns of growth in gifts from sources including alumni, other individuals, corporations and foundations; alumni participation; and more. Emorys Communications & Public Affairs received two 2020 CASE Circle of Excellence gold awards in the category of Writing for the Web, the highest award given in the category. The Emory News Center was honored for a collection of digital immersive stories noted by judges for wonderful page layout, intriguing story topics and great utilization of photos. Emory also earned a gold award for Stone Age Blades to Cutting-Edge Chemistry: Science Past and Future, a collection of three online features showing how nature and our past informs the science of today and of tomorrow, also praised by judges for great visuals, fascinating story topics, wonderful overall presentation. Michigan residents will soon begin seeing components of a $5-million advertising campaign aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus, especially by individuals in their 20s and 30s. The campaign, which features a red, tentacled character who dons sunglasses and goes by the name of Rona, was launched recently and is expected to spread over the next six months across social media, streaming services, television, 75 radio stations and nearly 200 billboards statewide. Once you see Rona, you cant unsee it, said Fran Westbrooks, managing partner for BLVD Content, a Detroit-based marketing agency. You will remember this campaign. The media campaign is a partnership between BLVD and re:group, an Ann Arbor-based marketing and advertising firm. That idea was born out of the Michigan Economic Recovery Council and is funded by a $5 million pool collected from several businesses across the state. Gerry Anderson, executive chairman of DTE Energy and chairman of the Michigan Economic Recovery Council, said the ad campaign will target young adults because health department data and polling has indicated that younger individuals have shown the most fatigue from current messaging and feel most bulletproof to the disease. While Michiganders in their 20s only account for 24 of the states 6,417 known coronavirus deaths, the age group is now the leader in confirmed cases in Michigan with 16,478, or almost 17% of known cases. Were all tired of this pandemic, but we need to realize that the coronavirus is real and really dangerous and is still damaging our health and well-being and our economy, Anderson said. Rona, like the virus itself, is dangerous and unpredictable, stalking every one of us, our loved ones and our friends. This campaign will drive home the message that we all need to hang in there and be vigilant. A multi-million dollar ad campaign in Michigan is targeting young adults in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy photo | Rona 4 Real initiative) On Wednesday, Aug. 26, representatives from BLVD and re:group introduced the campaign during a virtual press conference. Westbrooks said the goal of the campaign is to reinforce a message that many Michiganders have grown numb to, and to do so in a non-authoritative voice in order to further reduce the spread of COVID-19. Wearing a mask, washing your hands and maintaining 6 feet of separation from people outside your household is still important to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but polling has shown the message has grown dull over time and some residents have let down their guard. We had to create a character to shift the hearts and minds, and do so in an iconic way, Westbrooks said. It had to be sticky, it had to be flexible, and it had to appeal to all, but especially to hard-to-reach audiences. The campaign will feature 15-second video clips of people partaking in daily activities, but with the little red Rona character illustrating the virus in asymptomatic carriers who dont realize they could be spreading the disease. In some cases, Rona is spread through people not taking precautions, while in other ads the virus is unable to infect others due to safety measures like social distancing and mask wearing. The inspiration for the character is the cellular structure of COVID-19, a central sphere with spikes adorning the exterior. The character uses the spikes as arms, reaching out to touch everything within six feet, spreading itself around. Rather than focusing on what people cant do during the pandemic, the campaigns creators say it addresses how to socialize responsibly. The campaign also features images that look like they belong on a social media feed, with messages that say things like, Rona loves a sick party and Catching up with friends? Dont run into Rona. Ads will run from late August through the winter. There are also plans in the works to distribute downloadable content and merchandise to schools and small businesses to help spread the message. (Its) a totally comprehensive campaign that we believe will absolutely reach and get the attention of the 18 to 29 year olds as theyre going back to school, gathering with their friends and putting themselves and, quite frankly, the rest of us at risk, said Janet Muhleman, president of re:group. The groups behind the ad campaign said they tested the concept with virtual focus groups and received positive feedback. Participants indicated they were numb from the repetitive messaging surrounding the pandemic, and admitted to letting their guard down around family and friends. Participants liked the Rona character and felt like it broke through and was different, according to Muhleman. Lisa Richardson, senior vice president of strategy and growth for re:group, said the campaign aims to jump the partisan divide facing the state of Michigan and make coronavirus the common enemy. We want to redirect frustrations to a shared enemy instead of combating each other, she said. Its OK to be mad at Rona. Rona is the one ruining things. Businesses supporting the ad campaign include DTE Energy Foundation, General Motors, Lear, Meijer, UAW Michigan, Consumers Energy Foundation, Quicken Loans Community Fund, Wolverine Worldwide, Dow, TCF Bank, Beaumont Health, Henry Ford Health System, Steelcase, Spectrum Health, Herman Miller, Barton Malow and Oakland University. As of Tuesday, Aug. 25, Michigan health officials have reported 98,439 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state is averaging 682 new cases and 11 new deaths per day, according to the most recent seven-day moving average. A multi-million dollar ad campaign in Michigan is targeting young adults in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy photo | Rona 4 Real initiative) 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 nosewhile 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: Wednesday, Aug. 26, coronavirus data by Michigan county: See counties with highest, lower infection rates Gov. Whitmer not going to be bullied into opening still-closed businesses like gyms and theaters As students arrive in Ann Arbor, health officials prepare for potential coronavirus spread Michigan high school coaches like idea of 7-on-7 football in fall but will governor permit it? As many as nine people were rescued while three, including a 10-month-old baby, are still trapped in the debris of a two-storey house which collapsed in Dewas city, 153 kilometres south west of Bhopal, on Tuesday evening, said administrative officers. Meanwhile, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached Dewas on Wednesday morning for the rescue work going on in Nai Aabadi area on station road, as per the officials. The house is owned by Zakir Sheikh, an auto-rickshaw driver. Families of four brothers including Zakir reside in the house. Those rescued include Baskar B, 55, Aksha, 16, Aafia, 9, Anjum, 39, Alfez, 15, Aneesha, 13, Shareen, 21, Shabana, 40, and another person of the family. Those still trapped include Rehan, 16, Simran, 23, and the 10-month-old baby. The rescued injured were rushed to the district hospital, as per officials. The male members of the family were out of the house when the house, in a dilapidated condition, collapsed. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has instructed officials to expedite the rescue work. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON What planet does Joe Biden live on? In his campaign for president, he's promised more lockdowns if the "experts" tell him to do it, maybe permanent lockdown, lockdown as a lifestyle, which means shutting down the entire country. It's bizarre stuff, given that it's already been done, with plenty of unintended consequences. It's a supposed leadership redo of President Trump's supposedly bad leadership on COVID. This, according to Joe, is how one really does it, so rewind the reel to March 2020 and let him start the lockdowns from there as if nothing had at all changed. "I would shut it down; I would listen to the scientists," Biden, a former vice president, said in an interview with ABC News. "I will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we cannot get the country moving, until we control the virus," Biden added. "That is the fundamental flaw of this administration's thinking to begin with. In order to keep the country running and moving and the economy growing, and people employed, you have to fix the virus, you have to deal with the virus." One problem: It has. The latest data show that the U.S. is winning its coronavirus war. John Merline's Issues & Insights has five tremendously indicative graphs showing that the COVID crisis is peaking. The crisis fading, the conversation now should be on how to exit the extended lockdowns and prevent them from ever happening again. But not for Joe. His calls for more lockdown are pretty weird in conditions like these. I&I says to share the graphs, so we will share a couple: The call for more lockdowns in light of what's clearly a peaking crisis is the call of someone still living in March 2020, embedded in amber. What's more, the U.S. is winning on the COVID fatality front, too. Catching COVID is no longer a death sentence because President Trump has stepped up treatment options, and suggested cheap, plentiful HCQ as one, which is a very good one. Here's another I&I chart of the five: But Joe just sees numbers without context. According to I&I: In his acceptance speech, Joe Biden said "Just judge this president on the facts. Five million Americans infected by COVID-19. More than 170,000 Americans have died. By far the worst performance of any nation on Earth." Later he said, "We lead the world in confirmed cases. We lead the world in deaths." The chart shows that the U.S. is actually doing better than pretty much anyone on a per capita basis, so Biden's claim to a high death count misses the fact that the U.S. is actually a big country and the odds of dying from COVID, especially now, are very low. Even more damning are the already well known reasons for why the death count had any heft at all: there were deaths, all right, concentrated in blue cities and states run by Democrat governors. And those deaths were disproportionately in nursing homes, and those nursing homes had been ordered by those governors to accept COVID patients despite the risk to the vulnerable elderly also residing in them and the protests of the homes themselves. The unwilling nursing homes were dumping grounds for COVID patients while President Trump had sent these states massive floating Navy hospitals that went unused. That's a Democrat problem Democrats refuse to talk about, so their next course is to blame Trump. What we have here is a nation that should be talking about how to dig out of the COVID rubble and find a way to restore the economy to its previous glory. We already know that the public knows this, given its nonchalance about social distancing and absence of fear about catching the illness. The shutdown small businesses should be first and foremost in the conversation about exiting COVID and enacting recovery, given the tremendous losses there as a result of the lockdowns. But for Biden, it's all about extending the lockdown, a prison term, by the way, making recovery from COVID a lockdown lifestyle, a feature, not a bug, of American existence. Just call him Lockdown Joe, from the man who likes living in his basement. Based on these charts, the crisis is over, but Biden has a stake in making it continue forever. Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0; PxFuel public domain image; and Pixabay public domain image. Albany University at Albany students who were near the main fountain on campus Thursday night may have been exposed to coronavirus, university officials announced Tuesday. The university emailed members of the community Tuesday to let them know that a student who lives on campus had tested positive for COVID-19 and has been in isolation since Friday after self-reporting a potential exposure. Kevin Wilcox, associate vice president for Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance and the university's COVID-19 safety officer, said the university does not plan to notify the entire campus every time a positive case is confirmed, but is doing so in this instance because there was a "moderate" risk of exposure to others at the fountain. The exposure would have occurred between 8 and 11 p.m. the evening of Thursday, Aug. 20, he said. Classes started Monday. The Albany County Department of Health recommends that anyone who was at the fountain during that time to contact Student Health Services at 518-442-5454 to schedule a coronavirus test on campus. Concerned employees can make an appointment at the state test site on campus by calling 888-364-3065. "This is not a surprise," Wilcox wrote, referencing the positive case. "We knew this might happen, and we have planned for it." The university is working with the county Department of Health to assist in any contact tracing that will need to be done as a result of the case. "It is important to highlight that this incident demonstrates that the safety nets the university has constructed are working as designed: An individual self-reported potential exposure and the university acted swiftly to isolate the person and arrange testing," Wilcox said. "This event also reinforces our individual responsibility to keep ourselves and each other safe. We know what to do: wear our masks, keep our distance from others and avoid large groups of any size. If we all do these things, we will have a healthy and successful semester." News of the infection came the same day that Albany County reported no new COVID-19 cases the first time since June 23 the county had no new infections to report. It's unclear whether the UAlbany case was confirmed prior to Tuesday, or after the county had already provided its coronavirus update for the day. County Executive Dan McCoy attributed the lack of new cases to the actions of the community at large, citing residents who have worn face coverings and kept their distance from others for helping to keep the region's infection rate low. "With all the testing going on, colleges coming back, things starting to open up it shows that by doing the right stuff we can keep this rate down," he said. County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen warned, however, that the upcoming weeks and months could fuel new cases as school reopenings converge with flu season. "We are looking at a big change in the next couple of weeks with the schools and universities and colleges being in session. ... We're not out of the woods yet," she said. She urged everyone to get a flu shot as soon as possible. The local health department and many provider offices are expecting shipments of the vaccine within the next week or two, she said, but noted that many retail pharmacy sites should have the shots in by now. News of no new infections to report comes as the county's five-day rolling average of new cases dropped to 3.2, the lowest it's been since June 18. Albany County has seen 2,458 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic arrived locally in March. Cases peaked April 24 with 74 new cases reported in a single day. The five-day rolling average of new cases peaked nearly a week later on April at 51 cases. New cases hovered in the double-digits through May, however, and it wasn't until June that they dropped into the single digits and stayed there. The month of July saw another spike in cases which local officials attributed to large gatherings, holiday parties and out-of-state travel. A single party held over the Fourth of July weekend on Albany's Hudson Avenue was responsible for at least 47 cases in Albany County alone. Late July began to see a leveling off of cases, and for the most part the month of August has seen new daily infections once again in the single digits. Elsewhere Several other local counties have recently highlighted zero new daily cases to report. Rensselaer County reported no new cases this past Sunday its first time since July 13 with such news. The largely rural counties of Greene, Warren and Washington have routinely had zero new cases to report in the last two months. Warren County cases fell so low last week that it went three days without any known active infections in the community. Counties report cases once they have been confirmed by a laboratory, so it's possible that some active infections simply weren't captured. Of the 225 known cases of coronavirus in the Capital Region on Tuesday, 85 belonged to Schenectady County, 55 belonged to Rensselaer County, 44 belonged to Saratoga County, 22 belonged to Albany County, nine belonged to Greene County, five belonged to Columbia County, three belonged to Washington County and two belonged to Warren County. Thirty-five residents from the region were hospitalized with the virus Tuesday, down one from the day before. Image: Instagram/rhea_chakraborty The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on August 26 filed a criminal case against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others for their alleged dealings in banned drugs, officials said. They said various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) have been pressed in the complaint filed by the federal anti-drug agency on an official reference received from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The alleged narcotics dealing links are connected to the criminal probe being conducted in the death of 34-year-old actor Sushant Singh Rajput who died by suicide in his duplex flat located in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14. The NCB is now the third federal investigative agency probing this case apart from the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI). The ED, which is probing a money-laundering angle into the death of Rajput, has questioned Rhea Chakraborty and has obtained "deleted WhatsApp messages" allegedly indicating dealings in banned drugs from her phone. Rhea has been questioned by the ED about these suspect drug deals and her statement on these allegations has been recorded by it under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said. Her lawyer Satish Manehsinde had vehemently denied the allegations made against the 28-year-old actor. "Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test," Maneshinde had said. She is the prime accused in this case and has stated in her petition before the Supreme Court that she was in a live-in relationship with the actor. The ED had also shared these alleged drug links with the CBI. Iran Interior Minister Concerned Over Prospect of Low Turnout In Next Presidential Election Radio Farda August 25, 2020 Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has expressed concern over possible low turnout in the country's next presidential election. After Iranian officials announced the date on Sunday for the 2021 election, to be held on June 18, 2021, Fazli appeared on live TV Monday to cite the low turnout in February's parliamentary election as cause for concern, with that election seeing the lowest turnout in 41 years. The average national turnout figure was 42.5 percent, but the situation was even worse in Tehran and small towns near the capital, where the figure was between 21 to 25 percent. After that election, Fazli attributed the low turnout to factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, the protests in November 2019 and the downing of a Ukrainian airliner in January by Revolutionary Guard missiles. Fazli's explanations surrounding the February election may not be accurate, as the government tried hard to conceal the outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran ahead of the elections. Meanwhile, critics have said that it was the violent crackdown on protesters in November that led to a reduction in voters' motivation to go to the polls. Up to 1500 protesters are said to have been killed in some 100 cities by security forces during the protests, although the government insists that less than 250 have been killed. Another main factor leading to the embarrassingly low turnout in the parliamentary election may be a political reason. The hardliner Guardian Council that vets candidates for the election disqualified nearly all the prominent reformist figures who sought to run, reducing the eligible candidates to unknown figures backed by conservative parties. Many Iranian analysts from across the political spectrum have said that they expect a similar situation in the 2021 presidential election. In the meantime, repeated statements by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has called for the electing of a young militant conservative figure as Iran's next president, will almost certainly discourage reform-minded candidates from coming forward. Iranian voters' disillusionment may also stem from the failure of President Rouhani's financial policies and his unfulfilled promises to introduce economic, political, and cultural reforms, as well as the disappointing performance of reformist MPs in the previous round of the parliament, all of which could dissuade potential voters from making their voices heard in June. Meanwhile, the performance of conservatives, neo-cons, hardliners, and ultraconservatives in the Iranian parliament may make the parties' candidates less electable next year. Only a day before the Interior Minister expressed concern over possible low turnout, members of the Parliament proposed a motion to ban all social media platforms and suggested harsh punishments for those who use filter-breakers to circumvent the state censorship. Ironically enough, the measure was announced on banned platforms such as Twitter and Telegram. Measures like this can result in a discouraged electorate, with this proposed legislation capable of affecting 40 million Telegram users and around 11 million Twitter users. With roughly nine months before the presidential elections, Iranian media is mostly discussing conservative candidates for the position. Conservative figures such as State Auditing Organization Chief Mehrdad Bazrpash, former state TV chief Ezzatollah Zarghami, Mostazafan Foundation Chief Parviz Fattah, Vice-President Surena Sattari and Majles Research Center Chief Alireza Zakani are some of the aspiring candidates. Well-known conservative politicians including Majles Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi are also said to be still eying the position of president of the country, despite their powerful current positions as heads of the other two of the three branches of the Iranian government. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is pondering a presidential run as well. Although there is little hope at the time for pro-reform figures to get through the Guardian Council's net, some seem willing to attempt a presidential run, including former MP and vice-president Mohammad Reza Aref, current vice-president Es'haq Jahangiri and Tehran City Council Chief Mohsen Hashemi. Regardless of who will be running, the traditional barriers on their journey will remain the same, with the Guardian Council saying that the vetting for the next election will be more vigilant, since it falls on the year 2021 [Iranian year 1400], which is believed to be a landmark date. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-interior-minister -concerned-over-prospect-of-low-turnout-in- next-presidential-election/30801886.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CNN Political Analyst Joe Lockhart criticized Nick Sandmann, the Covington Catholic High School graduate who successfully sued the network for defamation, after the teen addressed the Republican National Convention Tuesday night, calling him a snot-nosed, entitled kid from Kentucky. Im watching tonight because its important. But I dont have to watch this snot nose entitled kid from Kentucky, Lockhart, who served as White House press secretary for the Clinton administration, wrote in a tweet. I'm watching tonight because it's important. But i don't have to watch this snot nose entitled kid from Kentucky. Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) August 26, 2020 Sandmann sued CNN and other major news outlets for defamation after their coverage portrayed him and his classmates as racist aggressors who cornered Nathan Phillips, an elderly Native American man, during a confrontation near the Lincoln Memorial on January 18 of last year. On Tuesday, the graduate said that the full war machine of the mainstream media was unleashed against him in the aftermath of that incident and called for a return to responsible reporting. Viral video of the incident showed Sandmann, who was 16 at the time, and Phillips standing face to face as Phillips loudly beat on a drum inches away from the Kentucky high schooler while Sandmann smirked. Media reports stated that Sandmann and his classmates, who were attending the annual anti-abortion March for Life and wore Make America Great Again caps, initiated the confrontation. Later, longer footage of the incident showed that Phillips approached Sandmann, who stood mostly still during the incident. Looking back now, how could I have possibly imagined that the simple act of putting on that red hat would unleash hate from the left and make myself the target of network and cable news networks nationwide, Sandmann said. Story continues I look forward to the day the media returns to providing balanced, responsible and accountable news coverage, he added. More from National Review Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-25 23:36:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Aug. 25, 2020 calls for the recovery of tourism from COVID-19 in a sustainable way. (Xinhua) "It is imperative that we rebuild the tourism sector. But it must be in a way that is safe, equitable and climate friendly," according to the UN chief. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for the recovery of tourism from COVID-19 in a sustainable way. "It is imperative that we rebuild the tourism sector. But it must be in a way that is safe, equitable and climate friendly," said Guterres in a video message for the launch of his policy brief on tourism and COVID-19. Transport-related greenhouse gas emissions could rebound sharply if recovery is not aligned with climate goals, he warned. Photo taken on July 22, 2020 shows the yellow frame for tourists to take pictures in Cape Town, South Africa. (Xinhua/Fred Barker) Supporting the millions of livelihoods that depend on tourism means building a sustainable and responsible travel experience that is safe for host communities, workers and travelers, he said. He identified five priority areas: mitigating the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, building resilience across the entire tourism value chain, maximizing the use of technology in the tourism sector, promoting sustainability and green growth, and fostering partnerships to enable tourism to further support the Sustainable Development Goals. Referring to tourism as one of the world's most important economic sectors, Guterres said the industry employs one in every 10 people on earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more, boosts economies and enables countries to thrive, allows people to experience some of the world's cultural and natural riches, and brings people closer to each other. A woman wearing a mask takes photos of the Tokyo Sky Tree in Tokyo, Japan, May 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) That is why it has been so painful to see how tourism has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. In the first five months of this year, international tourist arrivals decreased by more than half and some 320 billion U.S. dollars worth of exports from tourism were lost. Overall, some 120 million direct jobs in tourism are at risk, he noted. Many job losses are in the informal economy or in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ a high proportion of women and young people, he said. The crisis is a major shock for developed economies. But for developing countries, it is an emergency, particularly for many small island developing states and African countries. A man makes a phone call near the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero Palace, Paris, France, May 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) For women, rural communities, indigenous peoples and many other historically marginalized populations, tourism has been a vehicle for integration, empowerment and generating income. Tourism is also a key pillar for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. The fall in revenues has led to increased poaching and habitat destruction in and around protected areas, and the closure of many World Heritage Sites has deprived communities of vital livelihoods, he said. Guterres concluded his message by calling for the restoration of tourism's position as "a provider of decent jobs, stable incomes and the protection of our cultural and natural heritage." China's onerous capital account controls were all too apparent for Oziter Mao during a recent trip to a state bank. "It was so troublesome to transfer just a few thousand yuan out of China to Australia," complained the mainland resident, who is preparing to travel overseas. "You need to pay a three per cent 'administrative fee', and there are requirements for the documents." The complaints from Mao are not uncommon for Chinese residents who want to make overseas payments. China's foreign exchange authorities make it difficult to do so as part of a sophisticated system used to maintain control of the yuan's exchange rate, the nation's international balance sheet, and the size of foreign exchange reserves. Every Chinese individual is entitled to buy US$50,000 worth of foreign currencies per year, but capital controls have been tightened in recent years through operational details, new documentation to prove the purpose of exchange, and ad hoc reasons to reject large-scale transactions. Capital controls are endorsed by the International Monetary Fund as legitimate measures to stem the exodus of money and a plunge in the value of a currency. Almost all countries and regions have control measures in place to prevent illegal activities such as money laundering and terrorism financing, and banks across the world are vigilant about processing cross-border payments and foreign currency cash. While China's capital account measures are also intended to stem illicit cross-border money flows, the system tends to discourage legitimate outflows and encourage inflows. In the past year, the yuan has been one of the most stable currencies in the world with its exchange rate fluctuating around seven per US dollar; the country's foreign exchange reserves have remained at about US$3 trillion; and China's balance of international payment showed a healthy match of inflows and outflows. However, analysts said this stability is achieved at the cost of distorting supply and demand in the foreign exchange market. Story continues Michael Every, head of financial markets research Asia-Pacific at Rabobank, said China's foreign exchange regime, which relies upon administrative controls, was "inherently fragile". "China is finding itself stuck in a paradigm, creating more and more problems and more and more side effects," Every said. "Yet there's no easy way to remove those controls ... that would be a disaster as all of China's money would leave China instantly and its currency would collapse." It is exactly what the State Administration of Foreign Exchange is trying to prevent. Pan Gongsheng, the director of the foreign exchange regulator, said the agency would manage foreign exchange risks from a political perspective. "Unswervingly preventing systemic financial risks should be a bottom line to safeguard the nation's financial security," Pan said in a statement. In foreign exchange, China rolls out the red carpet for those who can bring in hard currencies, but restricts residents and businesses from making overseas financial or property investments. Some Chinese private firms that have made aggressive overseas investments, including Wanda, HNA and the company formerly known as Anbang Insurance, have been forced to offload overseas assets and repatriate funds home. There are a limited number of open financial channels for Chinese citizens, one of which is the Stock Connect programme that allows people to invest in stocks traded in Hong Kong. But even there, the accounts remain in the mainland where there is no risk of capital flight. At the same time, China has repeatedly pledged to make it easier to process foreign exchange transactions for legitimate trade and investment purposes. Pan on Monday held talks with China delegates from Samsung, BMW and Microsoft, vowing to solve any relevant issues they had. But even if China can ensure smooth foreign exchange transactions for legitimate purposes without interrupting imports, the controls can still backfire in other areas, analysts said. Limited ability to convert the yuan into foreign currencies, for instance, has hindered China's push to internationalise the yuan. Strict capital controls could also fuel risks of asset price bubbles at home. "The cost of capital controls is that money is not able to flow to sectors that can generate the best returns, therefore resulting in lower-than-expected investment," said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ Bank. "Restrictions on sectors mean more investment and competition are not able to take place." While China is still pursuing a convertible currency, Beijing is set to become more cautious as the US threatens to sanction Chinese banks and delist Chinese companies from US stock markets. Both could make Beijing more worried about the loss of hard currencies. "China is just getting deeper and deeper into a hole as it is becoming extremely political," Every said. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. JERUSALEM - A Palestinian who entered Israel from the occupied West Bank on a work permit stabbed an Israeli to death on Wednesday and was later arrested, Israeli police said. The stabbing took place at a junction near Petah Tikva, in central Israel. Police said the suspect, a 46-year-old man from Nablus, fled after stabbing a 39-year-old Israeli man. Police said they were looking into the incident as a terrorist attack, without providing further details. Palestinians have carried out a series of stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks in recent years. Most of the attackers have been young men in their teens or 20s acting alone, and most of the attacks have happened in and around Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Hebron, where tensions run high. Tens of thousands of Palestinians work in Israel, mainly as labourers in factories and on construction sites. Wages are much higher in Israel than in the West Bank, where the economy has suffered from decades of Israeli military restrictions. Read more about: LAKE CHARLES, La. - Hurricane Laura, a monster of a storm that picked up ferocious intensity as it traversed the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, threatened a large swath of Texas and Louisiana with what authorities said could be "unsurvivable" flooding and catastrophic winds. Laura strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, its fearsome eyewall trained on the low-lying wetlands that span the border between Texas and Louisiana. Residents fled Lake Charles and Port Arthur, Texas, as the National Weather Service predicted that high tide combined with a potentially historic storm surge could push dangerous waters as far as 40 miles inland in the early-morning hours Thursday. These communities have seen hurricanes before, but perhaps nothing like Laura, which had sustained winds of more than 150 mph while out over the water, with gusts up to 175 mph. That kind of power can uproot trees and toss them like twigs or splinter and flatten homes - as Hurricane Michael did when it similarly intensified rapidly over the Gulf and slammed into Mexico Beach, Fla., two years ago, about 500 miles east of here. Authorities in this coastal city of 78,000 were bracing for some of the worst storm surge flooding in recorded history, with the winds and shape of the coastline combining to drive a wall of water well off the shore. Expectations are that the Calcasieu River and the lakes that sit north of the coastline could crest at more than 15 feet above normal. That likely would put much of Lake Charles underwater, so city officials ordered a mandatory evacuation. By Wednesday afternoon, most Lake Charles residents who planned to get out had already done so. Buildings and homes were boarded up across the region, and the streets of the city's small downtown were desolate. Scattered gas stations were the only businesses that remained open. Authorities had been providing rides out of Calcasieu Parish for those without other means, but those rides ceased at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and Burton Coliseum, the area's evacuation hub, was shuttered by 3 p.m. 3 1 of 3 Photo for The Washington Post by Michael Stravato Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo for The Washington Post by Michael Stravato Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Brittany Fabacher, 34, struggled with whether to escape her family's Lake Charles mobile home. She and her husband discussed timing and cost and the impact on their 6-year-old son. "We've thought about leaving, but then you don't know when you'll be able to get back," she said, noting that many of her neighbors had already evacuated as of Wednesday afternoon. "I'm hoping to just get a lot of water. I'm hoping it won't blow down the house. We have a generator, but I guess that wouldn't do no good if there's no house." "We do have a little boat, but it's an inflatable one," she said. By dinner time, the two were not sure if they had made the right decision. They began looking into whether the highways were still open and thought about trying to outrun Laura. Otherwise, they planned to hunker down. Texas and Louisiana officials implored residents who could be in the path of the hurricane or in coastal areas likely to see flooding to flee, especially since the height of the storm was expected to come in darkness, when rescues are nearly impossible. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, warned residents Wednesday afternoon that it was their "last chance to get out of harm's way" as weather forecasts predicted catastrophic effects from a hurricane that had a well-defined eye and demonstrated the typical characteristics of a powerhouse, such as lightning emitting from its core. Jefferson County, Texas, officials said they feared that as many as half of the 250,000 residents in this oil-producing region near the Louisiana border might try to ride out the storm at home, despite days of highway signs blinking warnings and emergency alerts on their phones. Shelters are unavailable locally because of the storm threat, said Allison Getz, a county spokeswoman, noting that those who had not evacuated vulnerable areas like Port Arthur as of Wednesday night were out of time. "There's still people down there," Getz said. "There's some people that aren't going to leave." She said those planning to stay will have to fend for themselves, because emergency personnel will not be available for rescues until after the storm has passed. "Everybody needs to prepare for the worst," she said. "It's completely beyond your control. You're at the mercy of Mother Nature." Thousands evacuated the area, and the county sent dozens of buses earlier this week to spirit away approximately 1,000 people to shelters in inland cities, mainly San Antonio. They had more buses than usual because they could carry fewer passengers due to the coronavirus outbreak. Cheryl Wisenbaker, a 53-year-old safety director for a construction equipment rental company, said she, her husband, Tony, and her elderly in-laws had booked hotel rooms to evacuate Beaumont for a town many miles inland, as they usually do during a hurricane. But this year, three elderly relatives - her mother-in-law, her boyfriend and a grandmother-in-law - refused to go because of the stress, their limited mobility and the coronavirus. "You can't make them leave," she said. "They just don't want to do it. " If they evacuated, she said, there is a chance authorities would not let them return home quickly. That would force them to go out for food, ice, gas, "and then you could end up with god forbid, covid. And you're up somewhere in the middle of an evacuation, sick." She decided that staying in a sturdy house with food, water and a generator was safe enough. "Honestly, I am exhausted," Wisenbaker said, after boarding up the last of her windows. "We just decided we felt like we could safely stay put." By evening, though, Wisenbaker reconsidered. She heard Laura could arrive as a Category 5 storm. She said she got "a sinking feeling." She and her husband headed west, to College Station. The Louisiana National Guard was positioning boats in Lake Charles on Wednesday to aid with high-water rescues, and Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said he has activated the entire Louisiana National Guard to help with hurricane response. Early bands of heavy rain that spun forward of the storm began soaking Port Arthur and Beaumont just after noon on Wednesday, reducing visibility and leaving the highways covered in inches of water. Rivers began to swell. Winds began to kick up. And that wasn't even the outer edge of Hurricane Laura, which lurked off in the distance. The storm tied for the most rapid intensification rate on record in the Gulf of Mexico, increasing from a 75 mph Category 1 storm to a 140 mph Category 4 storm in 24 hours, according to Colorado State University atmospheric scientist Philip Klotzbach. That intensity spells trouble for a fragile coastal ecosystem. When Laura completes its sweep across the central Gulf Coast, it will leave in its path a drastically and permanently altered landscape. Storm-driven waves will smash through dunes and roll over barrier islands, reshaping more than a third of sandy shorelines in the region, the U.S. Geological Survey predicts. The anticipated 15-to-20-foot storm surge could carry huge amounts of sand inland across the coast - an area of wetlands already facing severe degradation due to human activity. The process, known as overwash, could leave the region more vulnerable. "Laura will be seriously altering this environment," wrote forecaster Jack Sillin of Weather.us. The hurricane also presents major environmental hazards. The oil and gas industry, which has a major presence here, has closed down many of its wells, refineries and port facilities in the Gulf of Mexico region; approximately 85 percent of the current oil production and 61 percent of the natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico had shuttered ahead of the storm, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said. The federal agency said workers have been evacuated from 299 production platforms and nearly half of the 643 crewed Gulf platforms. In addition, the region is home to just more than half of the nation's oil refineries and refined oil products feed pipelines that serve the southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Valero, the nation's largest oil refiner, said on Tuesday that it was in the process of shutting down its giant Port Arthur refinery, and the ports of Lake Charles, Beaumont and Port Arthur have closed, according to the Energy Department. ExxonMobil said it was keeping its refinery and chemical plants running in Beaumont, but at reduced rates. Both have taken shutdown steps, the company said. Like most hurricanes, this one elicited memories of devastating storms of old. Rita ripped through this region in 2005, Ike came in 2008, then Harvey in 2017. Some people here use their experiences as a reason to stay, or to go, to worry, or to brush it off. When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, James Joseph watched people there die around him before rescuers could come to their aid. So he said he understands the risks of waiting out a major storm that officials predict will be "unsurvivable" in the hardest-hit areas. But as of Wednesday, he hadn't decided whether he would leave his home along the coast in Baytown, Texas, which is under a voluntary evacuation order. "I don't want to come back to nothing," said Joseph, 47. "At the same time, if you're in the house and something happens, you can get killed or you can get hurt." Joseph said he was waiting for his wife to return from her job selling auto parts to decide whether they will leave their home of two years for a hotel. Joseph's neighborhood was quiet on Wednesday afternoon, with few signs that people were packing up to go anywhere. "Some people are going to try to stay," he said. "Some people are going to try to leave." Joseph said experiencing Katrina gave him confidence that he could handle whatever happens: "It kind of don't intimidate me." - - - Sacchetti reported from Beaumont, Texas; Iati reported from Houston and Bayside, Texas; and Freedman reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Derek Hawkins, Dan Lamothe, Steven Mufson and Jason Samenow in Washington contributed to this report. CCP Vaccinates for CCP Virus Without Completing Clinical Trials On August 18, Chinese state-run media reported that state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group has successfully developed a CCP virus vaccine that is expected to be introduced in the market by the end of December this year and the annual production of the vaccine will be more than 200 million doses. The state-run media also said that in May, the CCP had begun vaccinating more than 2,000 people even before the third phase of clinical trial was complete. On August 14, a Chinese newspaper, 21st Century Business Herald, quoted a salesperson of a company that many employees at his company have received the vaccine and have all signed the confidentiality agreement. The fee for the vaccine, 1,000 yuan ($144.50 USD), was paid by the company. Former virologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute, Dr. Sean Lin, gave his analysis. He said that usually there are three phases of clinical trials for drugs. Phase One and Two only test the basic safety of the drug and the presence of basic immunogenicity. Whether a particular vaccine is protective enough to withstand the challenge of a live virus will have to be determined in a Phase 3 trial. In regards to the CCPs confidentiality agreement signed by vaccinationists, Tang Jingyuan indicated that the purpose is to cover up the real situation about this vaccine, including the detailed situation of the vaccination, the toxic side effects, the situation of the antibodies produced in the vaccinationists, and the duration of the antibodies. Tang Jingyuan, a commentator on current affairs residing in the U.S., said: The CCP forced them to sign the confidentiality agreement to, in fact, prevent the exposure of scandals if this vaccine did not work. This would be a serious blow to the credibility of CCPs vaccines. Actually, this vaccine is the only resource to save the CCP from being politically isolated, so the CCP must win in this vaccine case. In order to bribe countries that have favorable strategic interests and to improve its global stance, the CCP is using the vaccine as a diplomatic tool. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China promised to give early access and priority of the vaccine to the Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, and Pakistan. These countries will receive more than 100 million doses of the vaccine. It also promised Morocco and Kenya that as soon as the vaccine is put to use, the CCP is willing to take the lead to benefit African countries and support them in the fight against the plague. Tang Jingyuan pointed out that these countries are, in fact, critical to CCPs diplomacy and are so important that the CCP must win them over. The real purpose of giving away the vaccine is not to save the lives of the people in those countries, but to bribe these countries so that the CCP can eventually control them. He believes that the CCPs eagerness for success and its failure to value life may backfire in the end, making the vaccine it developed lose credibility, just like how its exported personal protective equipment and materials lost credibility, and eventually the vaccine diplomacy it once relied on became a failure. Adobe as a building material has been used in New Mexico since long before the beginning of recorded history. By definition, it is a natural building material made of mud, reinforced with straw or other substances used as a binder. Frames, roughly 18-by-6-by-10 inches are used to form adobe mud into bricks, which are then baked hard in the sun. Each brick weighs 50-60 pounds. Walls of adobe are generally 2-3 feet thick. Historically, adobe was used as a building material in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece long before the arrival of stone construction in those parts of the world. According to National Geographic Magazine, The art of making such bricks (in New Mexico) descended from Egyptians, through Moors to Spanish. But Native American people were using adobe long before the Spanish arrived in the 1530s. It may well be that sunlight reflected off adobe pueblo walls was mistaken for gold by the first Europeans to view Native communities in the New World. The process the pueblo people used is sometimes called puddling. It involved making large masses of adobe material that was the formed into walls. Another method involved using smaller, fist-sized lumps of adobe. Spanish Franciscan padres likely introduced the use of molds for standardizing the shape of adobe bricks. As a building material, adobe is long-lasting and offers excellent insulation properties. It does require fairly high maintenance. A process called mudding took place annually in both Native American and Spanish villages. It involved re-covering the entire structure with a new coat of mud. Modern adobe houses may be coated with stucco, which does not require this effort. An 1886 inspection report on Fort Union in northeastern New Mexico indicated some of the problems with such structures: (T)he adobe buildings at this post were originally plastered on the exterior to protect them from the washing of the violent storms which prevail here during the summer. This plaster has fallen off, leaving the walls exposed to the weather. There is a heavy brick coping on top of the walls and the underneath becomes furrowed and hollowed out, weakening the walls very much, and the superincumbent weight of the coping renders the wall very insecure. Corners of buildings crack and fall out, whole sides of buildings fall out, occasionally. One problem in this case was that army commanders, in their collective wisdom, preferred to use soldiers with no experience to do maintenance on the adobe structures, rather than hire civilian workers who knew what they were doing. Eventually, some of the forts walls had to be propped up with timbers to keep them from collapsing altogether. The fort was closed as a military depot only a few years later. The term adobe is also a building style. (Don Bullis is a Rio Rancho resident, New Mexico centennial historian and award-winning author. He was named the Best Local Author in the 2018 and 19 Rio Rancho Observer Readers Choice contests. Ellos Pasaron por Aqui is translated as They Passed by Here.) Don Bulliss latest book, New Mexico Historical Chronology, is available from RioGrandeBooks.com. Meet Cartoon Egyptians In The 3 Tiny Gods Slot From Foxium Published August 26, 2020 by Arthur M 3 Tiny Gods is a new game from Foxium set to launch on the Microgaming platform. Cartoon characters inspired by Ancient Egyptian deities appear on the reels. Developed by Foxium and launched on the Microgaming platform, 3 Tiny Gods is a new slot with an Ancient Egyptian theme. Horus, Anubis, and Bastet appear alongside a Pharaoh and Queen across 5 reels and 30 paylines. It comes with a free spins bonus round and 3 jackpots prizes, plus special favours from each of the gods. Cute Egyptian Gods The cartoon style sets the 3 Tiny Gods slot apart from many others that follow the same topic. The reels are framed by gilded columns, and pyramids rise up in the darkness behind. Other symbols include the 4 playing card suits, each decorated in Egyptian style. The highest-paying symbol is the Wild, which returns 60x the stake when crossing a payline. The 3 Tiny Gods have their own special powers. These randomly awarded bonuses include the Gift of Bastet, which sees symbols shuffled to create a win. In the Mystery of Horus feature, stacked symbols transform into multiple examples of another. A scatter symbol triggers 8 free spins, during which the Mystery of Horus feature will trigger in each. The Wrath of Anubis feature can also help out in the free games, with Anubis adding extra spins to the total and removing 1 lower value symbol at a time. For a bonus bet of 75x the stake, players can enter the free spins round right away. Jackpots From The Gods Gold coins launch a jackpot bonus round that plays out on a 3x4 scratchcard. Coins can appear above each column which is then scratched to reveal a prize. If all 4 boxes in a column show a jackpot, the player wins the corresponding value. 3 Tiny Gods goes on general release on 25th August. It's a PC and mobile compatible game where players can stake from 0.10 to 50.00 per spin. It has a medium volatility and average payback percentage of 96.4%. It's possible to win 5000x the stake from these cartoon gods. DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Destaco, part of Dover (NYSE: DOV), is pleased to announce that it has developed a new line of patent-pending Manual Swing Clamps. This new family of clamps combines features of two existing Destaco technologies to create an easy-to-use option for fixture building/testing, welding and assembly operations in the industrial, aerospace and automotive markets. "The development of our new Manual Swing Clamp series comes as a result of customer requests for a less-expensive clamp that can be manually operated without the need for any air," said Matt Girand, Destaco's Vice President & General Manager, Americas and Global Automation. "Taking this feedback to heart, we combined the best features from our existing pneumatic swing clamp and straight line action clamp products to fashion a new, manually actuated solution that will give our customers another powerful tool to assist them with their most demanding workholding applications." Specifically, the Manual Swing Clamps provide a combination of the benefits of Destaco's 8200 Series Pneumatic Swing Clamps, which provide quick swing-and-clamp movement for increased productivity, and the 6004 Series Straight Line Action Clamps, which can be locked in two positions to enable either push or pull operation. The new Manual Swing Clamps feature an enclosed cam track and can clamp and lock in both retracted and extended positions. They also feature a detent that holds the clamp in the open position to prevent unwanted movement. Future versions will offer Destaco's Toggle Lock Plus, which locks the handle in both open and closed positions. To learn more about any of Destaco's high-performance automation, workholding or remote-handling solutions, please visit destaco.com or call (888) Destaco (888-337-8226). About Destaco: Destaco, a Dover Corporation company, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance automation, workholding and remote-handling solutions. The company serves customers in a variety of end-markets, including the automotive, life sciences, consumer packaged goods, aerospace, industrial and nuclear sectors. Built on a legacy of more than 100 years, Destaco offers a comprehensive portfolio of products designed to engineer precise movement, placement and control solutions that drive productivity and uptime for manufacturers around the world. The Destaco family of products consists of industry-leading brands such as Destaco Manual Clamps, Power Clamps, and End Effectors; Camco and Ferguson Indexers; Robohand Grippers; and CRL Manipulators and Transfer Ports. Destaco is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A. The company has more than 800 employees with 13 locations, in 9 countries, across the Americas, Europe and Asia. More information is available at destaco.com. 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. Destaco Contact: Kristen Fairbrother (248) 836-6674 [email protected] Dover Media Contact: Adrian Sakowicz, VP, Communications (630) 743-5039 [email protected] Dover Investor Contact: Andrey Galiuk, VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations (630) 743-5131 [email protected] SOURCE Dover Related Links http://www.dovercorporation.com Courtesy of Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office When Hurricane Harvey caused flooding across Houston, Harris County Precinct 4 road and bridge department director Freddie Jebouseks high-water team and fleet were there to help rescue people. Theyre prepared to do the same in response to the potential impacts from Hurricane Laura. A Sunday press release outlined the measures that the Pct. 4 road and bridge department has taken to get ready for weather events. The head of the Irish Strategic Investment (ISIF) Eugene O'Callaghan plans to step down from his role at the end of 2020. ISIF falls under the management of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), which will begin a recruitment process next month to appoint a new ISIF director. ISIF was created in December 2014 from the assets of what had been the National Pensions Reserve Fund, including the State's stakes in bailed out banks - known as the "directed portfolio" plus an 8.1bn so called "discretionary" portfolio that is actively managed by ISIF with a mandate to invest commercially to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. The idea behind the move was to use the wealth of the former NPRF as a stimulus fund for the domestic economy as it emerged from the period of the global financial crisis and the EU/IMF bailout. Since 2014, investments by the discretionary arm of the fund has been directed into areas including housebuilders and construction lending, SMEs, high potential start-ups through a tie-up with Silicon Valley Bank and investments focused on climate change. Meanwhile, ISIF's 'directed portfolio' of stakes in AIB and Bank of Ireland was valued at 7.8bn at the end of June 2019. By June 2020, this portfolio's value had fallen to 2.6bn. Eugene O'Callaghan has headed ISIF since it was established. He joined the NTMA in 2005 and was appointed Director of the NPRF in 2010 before transferring to ISIF. Before that he had been chief operating officer and executive director of Irish Life Investment Managers. NTMA chief executive Conor O'Kelly said: "Eugene is one of the most respected investment professionals in the Irish market. He has been an invaluable colleague and I wish him every success and happiness as he begins a new chapter in his life." The government shot off letters to the Centre alleging that Assam Rifles deals with the civil administration "with contempt" and "fails to recognise" that is no longer in force in the northeastern state. Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo has written two letters to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla over the "boycott" of Independence Day celebrations and alleged violation of safety protocols by Assam Rifles, state Home Department Additional Secretary Ramdinliani told PTI on Wednesday. "We are of the firm view that no issue between Assam Rifles and the state administration is so serious that it cannot be resolved through discussions with open minds. "The failure to recognise, on the part of Assam Rifles, that is a peaceful state where Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 had long been withdrawn, and the insensitivity and contempt with which they deal with the civil administration is coming in the way of good relations and cooperation between Assam Rifles and the civil administration," one of the letters read. The government alleged that senior officers of Assam Rifles skipped the state-level Independence Day celebration after the administration issued a Warrant of Precedence (WOP) on August 11, placing the paramilitary force's brigadier stationed in Mizoram at par with the secretary to the state government, chief conservator of forests, district and sessions judge and deputy commissioners. Assam Rifles returned the invitation stating it was aggrieved as the "WOP was notified without its consultation", the letter said. "The chief secretary stated that Assam Rifles had no authentic reason to skip the celebration as its brigadier was elevated from an equivalent rank of additional chief secretary to that of the secretary to the state government," Ramdinliani said. The new WOP, however, has been kept in abeyance since August 14, he said. "Assam Rifles also created hurdles in the preparation for the function by parking its heavy vehicles in the VIP parking space, causing inconvenience to the invitees," the letter said. The chief secretary, in another letter, said that despite security personnel comprising a chunk of recent COVID-19 cases in the state, 15 Assam Rifles personnel forced their way into Mizoram through the Vairengte check-gate on August 18 without undergoing screening. "The state government has been trying its best to help and facilitate Assam Rifles in managing its COVID-19 patients. "However, the personal ego of the head of Assam Rifles in Mizoram and his failure to appreciate that the entire Northeast is not a 'disturbed area' seems to have come in the way of cordial relations between Assam Rifles and state government agencies," the second letter read. Home Minister Lalchamliana had discussed the matter with sector 23 Assam Rifles DIG, Brigadier Vinod S, on Monday. The home minister had urged the DIG to refrain from issuing press statements over "petty issues" with the state government and bring the grievances of the personnel to the notice of the administration to settle the issues on the negotiating table, a statement had said. Brigadier Vinod, on the other hand, had said that Assam Rifles personnel respect the COVID-19 protocols of the state government despite the fact that security personnel are allowed inter-state and intra-state movement by the Centre. He had also urged the people to refrain from spreading rumours on social media and register complaints with him if any personnel breaches the law or misbehaves with locals. A police complaint was registered against Assam Rifles personnel guarding the India-Myanmar border for allegedly molesting two women at Sesih village in Champhai district on Independence Day. The Central Young Mizo Association, a powerful organisation with 4.5 lakh members, has demanded an apology from Assam Rifles over the incident before the end of this month. Assam Rifles has denied the allegation and said that it has not received any such report and complaint should be lodged with the head of the force so that the accused persons are booked. An Assam Rifles officer had said that a contingent of the force was present during the Independence Day celebrations but its senior officers had skipped the function as the DIG's rank was "degraded" in the state government WOP against the national order of precedence. "We had returned the invitations stating that the same is not in order and to kindly make necessary amendments in protocol at their end. However we didn't receive the invitation back from the deputy commissioner's office, so that means we weren't invited," 46 Assam Rifles commandant, Colonel Viplav Tripathi, had 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 Umbrella Academy is a Netflix series based on the Dark Horse Comics by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. Set in a fictional world of superheroes, casting directors took careful consideration in finding the actors to represent each Hargreeves sibling. Perhaps the most unique character in the series is that of Number Five. Fans know and love Aidan Gallagher for the role, but what they may not know is his penchant for the series actually helped him land the part. [Spoiler Alert:] Some mild spoilers ahead for Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy]. AIDAN GALLAGHER | CHRISTOS KALOHORIDIS/NETFLIX 2020 The Umbrella Academy depends on Number Five Throughout seasons 1 and 2, which are based on the Apocalypse Suite and Dallas comic series, Number Five plays an important role in saving the world and the Hargreeves family. In the Netflix series, Five becomes the leader of the Umbrella Academy. He takes on the responsibility of his brothers and sisters, keeping them alive throughout the impending apocalypses. As if all of that responsibility werent enough, Number Five is a 58-year-old man trapped in a teenage boys body. With all of this in mind, showrunners had something of a hard time finding an actor capable of playing someone as convoluted as Number Five. People from around the world auditioned for Number Five As showrunner Steve Blackman explained on Reddit, they had a hard time finding an actor talented enough to play the role. We read [and] saw hundreds of kids from Canada, [the] US, [the] UK, and Australia, Blackman explained. But I just couldnt find the right actor who could play such a complicated character. Then, a young Gallagher showed up to audition. As a fan of The Umbrella Academy, Aidan Gallagher knew Five better than anyone As a fan of Way and Bas work, Gallaghers audition for Number Five was that much easier. I grew up a fan of comics and hanging out in local comic book stores, Gallagher told Collider. I got turned onto these two graphic novels, and it was unlike anything that I had read before, so I was instantly hooked. You can imagine how excited I was when I realized I would get to audition. Blackman remembered when Gallagher read for the part. RELATED: The Umbrella Academy: Klaus Might Have Saved Daves Life in Season 2 [Aidan] was 12 or 13 at the time, Blackman recalled. [When] he sat down, [he] said he would kill for this role. Whats more, Gallagher was such an avid fan of the source material, it shone in his audition. [Aidan] was very insightful, Blackman continued. When he read the sides the scenes we write for auditions I was blown away. Like Number Five, Gallagher was utterly confident in himself during his audition. He told Collider whether or not he knew the comics before his audition, he was always going to go after the role. Its a very unique character, he said. [The] world that Gerard and Gabriel have created was a big selling point for the cast. As a a fan of the source material who read so deeply into it, he felt a connection to the character, it just made sense for showrunners to cast Gallagher. It takes someone pretty special to play a 58-year-old man trapped inside of a 13-year-olds body. The young Gallagher proved he was up to the task! As Blackman mentioned on Reddit: I think we can all agree we made the right choice! There is no crisis in Zimbabwe. What we have seen as a crisis is that which is happening in opposition groups, some of which have become leaderless. We do have a crisis as a nation, we have challenges with Covid-19 just like any society across the world and we are on course to addressing that, said Cde Mugwadi. Sion Francis Davies (pictured) pleaded guilty to causing the death of girlfriend Fflur Green at Gellilydan, near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales A motorist has admitted killing his 24-year-old girlfriend by careless driving after crashing on their way to get a takeaway. Sion Francis Davies pleaded guilty to causing the death of his girlfriend Fflur Green at Gellilydan, near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales. The 23-year-old from Llwyn y Gell was said to have lost control on a bend in wet weather on July 11, 2019, as he drove without due care and attention. The couple had been on their way to pick up a takeaway when the horror crash happened on a notorious corner for accidents. Ms Green, from Trawsfynydd, was a passenger in the blue Renault Scenic, which hit a Mitsubishi ASX at 9.50pm. She was pronounced dead at the scene and police closed the road for more than eight hours as they launched an investigation. Davies appeared before magistrates in Caernarfon on Wednesday to enter his guilty plea in front of Ms Green's family. Prosecutor Sarah Marsh told the court the crown believed the magistrates' sentencing powers were insufficient to deal with Davies' case. She said he was not wearing a seatbelt and suggested he showed a disregard to road safety. He also had a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol in 2016 and had been banned from the road for 14 months. Police experts calculated the maximum speed to safely manoeuvre around the bend was 46mph, and Davies' speed was about 40mph. Ms Green (pictured), from Trawsfynydd, was a passenger in the blue Renault Scenic, which hit a Mitsubishi ASX at 9.50pm Ms Marsh said: 'He is local and admitted in interview he was aware of two previous accidents on that particular bend. 'There were signs and street furniture which suggested the bend be taken with care and he should have heeded those signs.' In a police interview, Davies claimed it was the road surface and not his manner of driving which had caused the collision. Defence solicitor Liz Jones accepted there were aggravating features but pointed to Davies' guilty plea and suggested the magistrates may be able sentence him. She added the vehicle was mechanically sound and described the matter as a 'very sad case' for all concerned. Bench chairman Alwyn Lloyd Ellis said the aggravating features outweighed the mitigation by some distance and concluded the court's powers to be insufficient. Davies will be sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court on September 18. He was granted bail but made subject of an interim driving ban. (TNS) In Napa County, Calif., a wildfire alert meant for cellphones would not connect, because of a coding error.In Sonoma County, similar alerts were sent to areas that required no evacuation, and linked to an evacuation map that was a year old.And in Solano County, an emergency operations official missed a call to report for work because his phone was set to vibrate.As fire crews battle a massive system of wildfires sparked by freak lightning storms, emergency officials are learning once again of the technological shortcomings of localized alert systems. Despite heeding much of the emergency management guidance dispensed in the last year from Sacramento, counties dealing with the LNU Lightning Complex fire burning in Northern California have nonetheless encountered issues. When the LNU Lightning Complex fire exploded over 36 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday last week, expanding from three burns across 12,000 acres to more than a half-dozen fires scorching more than 120,000 acres, some parts of the Bay Area were knocked back on their heels.In Vacaville, where police, firefighters and Solano County sheriff's deputies were evacuating people door to door in the middle of the night, someone had to go to the home of an Emergency Operations Center worker and wake him up because his cellphone had been set to vibrate, officials said.In Napa County, emergency managers considered sending out a targeted Amber Alert-style message to cellphones telling residents to stay vigilant in case they need to evacuate, but ultimately did not."During the construction of the message content, it was discovered that the [alert] vendor's software contained an error, so we instead issued our message utilizing the NIXLE alert tool," said Janet Upton, a county spokeswoman.And then there is Sonoma County, where, unlike three years ago when the previous emergency management director failed to alert some residents of a fire at all, the department's current leader is concerned with having alerted too many."Using this system is like doing your taxes every time," Chris Godley, Sonoma County's director of emergency management, said of their alert software. "It's a very challenging, technical process each time you do this, even though we're relatively well-versed."Though the LNU Lightning Complex fire began as a pair of fires on Aug. 17, it didn't really take off until the next day, when a vast heat wave stoked life into those and several other blazes that had been quietly smoldering after a weekend lightning storm."We didn't expect the fire to come into our county the way it did," said Solano County Sheriff's Deputy Le'Ron Cummings.Indeed, on the Vacaville Police Department Facebook page, the department told residents at 10:40 p.m. Aug. 18 that "there is currently no danger or evacuation orders to the residents of Vacaville. If for some reason this changes, we will work nonstop to notify our community via social media, phone or in person."Less than an hour later, evacuations were underway. The county blasted out messages through its Alert Solano program and posted them on social media and shared them with the media, but none of those approaches work when a person is tuned out and logged off.So the city also sent out people like Vacaville firefighter Joe Scarrott and his crew, who went into the Vacaville foothills, darkened without power, to go door to door to tell residents to get out now."Both sides of the road are on fire, look up the road, it's on fire, trees are on fire, everything is on fire," Scarrott said. "It was a wild night."At one point, Scarrott tried a home on the edge of the wildland that would be among the fire's first potential victims. No one answered the front door, but he had a feeling someone was there, so he opened the front door this was the kind of neighborhood where people don't lock their doors at night, he said.An elderly woman was in the darkened entryway, startled by Scarrott and his headlamp. Scarrott told them there was a fire and they needed to go. The woman's husband told Scarrott they were trying, but the power was out and they couldn't open their garage door to drive away.The firefighter lifted it up and fashioned a pry out of a broomstick so the door would stay open and they could drive out. Scarrott then moved on to the next house."The fire was nipping on backyards probably 20 minutes after we finished," he said.One person has died from the fire in Solano County, but the individual's identity and the circumstances of the death were available.On the other side of the fire, Napa and Sonoma counties were dealing with kinks in their emergency software.After a scathing report in 2018 faulted the response to disasters in the previous 12 months, in particular in Sonoma County, agencies in the region worked to improve how they'd notify the public before the next wind-driven fire.Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, among others, introduced high-low sirens, modeled after the European siren sound intended to alert the public of an imminent disaster. All three also boosted public enrollment in their subscription-based alert system.But notably, in light of last week's evacuations, Sonoma and Napa aimed to tap the federal Integrated Public Warning and Alert System (IPAWS) and its Amber-Alert style warning called an Wireless Emergency Alert."It's extremely helpful where you may not get tourists signed up for your local [program]," said Henry Wofford, Napa County sheriff's spokesman. "Our whole purpose is to get it in their hands on their cellphones, in case they're not at home, in case they're in their backyard watering their lawns."But because of a coding error, that message didn't go out in Napa County, where three people have been found dead. The county did go door to door and send out several alerts on social media, traditional media and through its subscription-based software.In Sonoma County, officials have sent out roughly 20 Amber Alert-style messages to different slices of the community, not all of them hitting their mark, Godley said. Two have had errors."One was set to call a larger area than intended. It's over-warning, but it's not a horrible mistake given the nature of this fire," Godley said.The second error sent residents to an evacuation map for last year's Kincaide fire, which was the largest evacuation ever in Sonoma County. The error was caused by coding in the website itself and was fixed after it was found, Godley said.But unlike his predecessor, who avoided using the federal alert system at all because of its flaws, Godley said he will use it while still wanting it to be improved. He just wants the message blasts to be more accurate and expire when they're supposed to. Sometimes an evacuation alert will pop up two days later if a cell tower has regained power."It's beyond confusing," Godley said. "In Sonoma County, we've been under trauma for several years and those calls can re-trigger that trauma."The LNU Complex fire has burned 351,817 acres and is 25 percent contained. By Gowhar Geelani, TwoCircles.net Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Society (JKCCS) in its exhaustive report has described the frequent internet shutdowns and communication disruptions during the last one year as digital apartheid and a collective punishment meted out to the people in the restive region while urging the international community to step in. Support TwoCircles The JKCCS, a prominent human rights body based in Srinagar, in its report titled Kashmirs Internet Siege said that the unprecedented internet shutdowns and the continued ban on high-speed 4G internet in all but two districts of J&K have adversely impacted the regions economy, education, livelihoods, jobs, justice, journalism and healthcare. According to the JKCCS report, Jammu and Kashmirs economy has suffered immense losses worth billions of dollars while half-a-million people, mostly the youth, have lost their jobs in the Kashmir Valley. Livelihood consequences of the shutdown of August 2019 were severe, and losses suffered by various businesses during the first five months alone were estimated at Rs 178.78 billion, with more than 500,000 people having lost their jobs in the valley, the damning report reads. Prior to the JKCCS report, a Srinagar based leading trading body Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) had estimated the economic losses in Kashmir since August last year to the tune of INR 40,000 Crores. The JKCCS in its report voiced concern over the state of healthcare in J&K. It said that in the months of June, July and August last year the number of hospital visits in the Kashmir Valley dropped by nearly 40 per cent. The report said that the sector of education suffered a major setback, first due to the blanket ban on all forms of the internet for seven months and then the absence of high-speed internet since March this year didnt help matters. Education suffered a major setback, and in August 2020 students enrolled in Kashmirs 30,000 schools and 400 institutes of higher education marked the first anniversary of the internet shutdown as a full year without attending school, or college or university, the report said. The report Kashmirs Internet Siege also noted with concern that justice in Kashmir witnessed systemic delays which were further compounded by ineffective online hearings. Amidst the internet and telecommunications blackout, more than 6000 detentions and over 600 administrative detentions took place around August 5th 2019. Of habeas corpus petitions filed for the release of illegal detainees during the period, 99% remain pending, it said. On media gags in J&K, the report said that Press freedoms and the right to freedom of speech, expression and social participation suffered from the direct impact and chilling effects of online surveillance, profiling and criminal sanctions, with police complaints registered against working journalists and over 200 social media and VPN (Virtual Private Network) users. Many social media users in Kashmir have alleged that they are being routinely summoned by and questioned at the Srinagar-based cyber cell of the J&K Police. Several netizens alleged that they were harassed and threatened to not write any political content or anything remotely critical of the administration. Some also alleged that their mobile phones were confiscated and that they were coerced to reveal passwords of their social media handles. However, the police denied such allegations. Unsurprisingly, the JKCCS report was critical of the bonds of good behaviour and the undertakings which it alleged are being extracted from the political prisoners under duress. The police department extracted such bonds from the Kashmiri political workers, making their release conditional upon promises of not further participating in political protests or political activity. The digital siege punishes Kashmiris for their political beliefs, the report stated. The report further said that The multi-faceted and targeted denial of digital rights is a systemic form of discrimination, digital repression and collective punishment of the regions residents, particularly in light of Indias long history of political repression and atrocities. On August 5, 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Central government in New Delhi unilaterally revoked Jammu and Kashmirs semi-autonomous status and statehood and downsized the region into two federally administered territories (Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir). However, at least six political parties active on the regions political landscape have unanimously rejected the August 5 decision and described it as unconstitutional and illegal while resolving to collectively fight for the restoration of J&Ks political autonomy, statehood besides human, political and economic rights. Although after blocking all forms of the internet for over seven months beginning August last year, the J&K administration effectively controlled by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed slow 2G internet on the mobile networks and recently after the intervention of the Supreme Court the high-speed internet was restored in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district and Jammus Udhampur district on trial basis. Access Now, an international advocacy group that tracks Internet suspensions around the world, in mid-December last year described the internet shutdown in Kashmir the longest ever in a democracy. According to the JKCCS, India leads the world in ordering internet shutdowns, and both in terms of frequency and duration Jammu & Kashmir accounts for more than two-thirds of shutdowns. There have been 226 documented internet shutdowns in Jammu & Kashmir since the year 2012. The rights body argued that under humanitarian law, prolonged and blanket internet disruptions are similar to other kinds of disproportionate and impermissible forms of targeting or blockading of essential civilian infrastructure or services. The digital siege is constituted by varied forms and phases of network disruptions and shutdowns. The Kashmir-based Civil Society coalition said that its report was also addressed to the international community. While the Government of India may have succeeded in gagging the voices of the people of Jammu & Kashmir with its longstanding communication blockade, this should not prevent the international community from speaking out, it said, adding that The report is also a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, who refuse to be silenced. With the life of one of his own in the hands of Donald Trump, Vice President Myron Lizer of the Navajo Nation addressed fellow Republicans on the second day of their party's nominating convention. Speaking via video from the New Mexico portion of the reservation , Lizer made history as the first tribal leader with a prime-time slot at the Republican National Convention . He praised the Trump administration for its efforts in Indian Country, pointing to the the recent passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act , also known as the CARES Act , which set aside $8 billion for tribes to address the impacts of COVID-19 in their communities. "President Trump delivered the largest financial funding package ever to Indian Country," Lizer said of a law that Congress wrote and sent to the White House as the pandemic took hold in America in March. "The $8 billion in CARES Act funding to Indian County was a great start in alleviating the devastating effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted on our Indian tribes," Lizer added. Vice President Myron Lizer of the Navajo Nation delivered his video address to the Republican National Convention from Shiprock, on the New Mexico portion of the reservation. Photo: Navajo Nation Office of President and Vice President And in a shot to the government's history of broken promises to tribes and their citizens, Lizer said: "The Navajo Nation once led the nation in per capita positive cases because of the health disparities that previous administrations failed to improve." Whenever we meet with President Trump, he has always made it a priority to repair the relationship with our federal family," Lizer asserted. But the speech, which lasted a little under two and a half minutes, highlighted the limited ability of Lizer's efforts to impact life-or-death decisions made by Trump. On the same day of the GOP address, the president's administration pressed forward with the execution of Lezmond Mitchell, a Navajo man who is the only Native American on federal death row. In doing so, the U.S. Department of Justice said there was no need to address whether the Navajo Nation's sovereignty mattered. Lizer, in a letter to Trump, had in fact argued that his people's inherent rights to determine the fate of their own was being "marginalized." "We need to address this issue to move forward in our trust of our federal partners and to continue to work on the importance of protecting our People," Lizer wrote in a July 31 letter to Trump that was also signed by Navajo President Jonathan Nez Ahehee, Thank you Mr. President @realDonaldTrump for sharing my #RNC2020 video on your twitter account. As mentioned, we welcome you to our Navajoland, as we look forward to hosting you, to discuss economic development on opportunity zones near the Navajo Nation. https://t.co/Hrp6KgDzRS Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer (@NNVP_Lizer) August 26, 2020 And in another sign of Lizer's lack of influence, Trump on Tuesday night utilized the power of his office to do for someone else what he has so far declined to due for Mitchell. During the RNC, the president announced a pardon for Jon Ponder , who was convicted of robbing a bank not long after the Navajo citizen was tried for two brutal deaths on the reservation. We believe that each person is made by God for a purpose, Trump said in a video filmed at the White House . I will continue to give all Americans, including former inmates, the best chance to build a new life and achieve their own American dream, and a great American dream it is. Mitchell's convictions for the 2001 murders of 63-year-old Alyce Slim and her 9-year-old granddaughter have been upheld repeatedly by the federal courts. But he was not placed on death row for those horrific crimes -- instead, his capital punishment was linked to carjacking. In taking that route, the George W. Bush administration avoided having to seek the Navajo Nation's consent before executing a tribal citizen. The section of federal law requiring tribal approval, or opt-in to the death penalty, did not have to be invoked. "The federal government betrayed a promise when it sought the death penalty against Lezmond Mitchell nearly two decades ago," former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold and former U.S. Ambassador Keith Harper , a citizen of the Cherokee Nation wrote on Indianz.Com on Wednesday. "Today, it has the opportunity to make amends and keep that promise by halting his execution." "It costs little to halt the execution of Lezmond Mitchell, a result that would both respect the sovereign dignity of a tribal nation and do the right thing for Mr. Mitchell," Feingold and Harper added. Lezmond has made additional efforts to halt his execution. But on Tuesday night, as the RNC was underway, his appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court were denied, though Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the Trump administration's revival of the federal death penalty warrants a closer look at the long-dormant practice. "I believe that this court should address this issue in an appropriate case," Sotomayor wrote , stressing that Mitchell did not "adequately" present his questions as part of his case. Separately, Mitchell filed a new lawsuit on Tuesday, attempting to prevent his death. But a federal judge on Wednesday morning refused to grant the temporary restraining order his legal team was seeking against the Trump administration. "At the time Mr. Mitchell was sentenced, the government was not carrying out executions for federal prisoners sentenced to death. But in late July 2019, for the first time in over fifteen years, the Department of Justice announced its plans to execute five federal inmates," Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who presided over the landmark Indian trust fund lawsuit for most of its history, pointed out. It was U.S. Attorney General William Barr who resumed the federal death penalty. He described Mitchell and four other federal inmates as "murderers, each of whom was convicted by a jury of his peers after a full and fair proceeding." "The Justice Department upholds the rule of law and we owe it to the victims and their families to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system," Barr said at the time in announcing Mitchell was going to be put to death later in 2019. Lezmond Charles Mitchell, age 38, has been the only Native American on federal death row. He is being held at a high security U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Mitchell won a temporary reprieve when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals put a hold on his execution last October. He then argued that his trial was tainted by possible racial bias among the jurors who heard his case. The 9th Circuit upheld Mitchell's death sentence in an April 30 decision. A panel of three judges found no reason to reopen the case based on a racial bias claim, though two members called for a fresh examination of the tribal sovereignty issues at play. "In my view, it is worth pausing to consider why Mitchell faces the prospect of being the first person to be executed by the federal government for an intra-Indian crime, committed in Indian country, by virtue of a conviction for carjacking resulting in death," Judge Morgan Christen wrote in a concurrence. "When the sovereign nation upon whose territory the crime took place opposes capital punishment of a tribal member whose victims were also tribal members because it conflicts with that nations 'culture and religion,' a proper respect for tribal sovereignty requires that the federal government not only pause before seeking that sanction, but pause again before imposing it," Judge Andrew D. Hurwitz wrote in his concurrence. "That is particularly true when imposition of the death penalty would contravene the express wishes of several members of the victims family." PRESS RELEASE: Navajo Nation calls for end to Federal execution of tribal member, Lezmond Mitchell - https://t.co/Xw4XYhCbVb pic.twitter.com/uW3HER9eFr 24th Navajo Nation Council (@NavajoCouncil) August 13, 2020 Mitchell's petition to the Supreme Court to overturn the 9th Circuit, however, was denied without comment on Tuesday night. A separate application, the one about which Justice Sotomayor wrote , also was denied. As the Supreme Court push was underway, following the 9th Circuit's refusal to rehear the case, Barr rescheduled Mitchell's execution for August 26. He is set to be put to death at the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. With legal appeals almost completely exhausted, Mitchell's last hope lies with Donald Trump. Barring a last-minute intervention, the Navajo man will be put to death at 6pm Eastern, shortly before the Republican Party opens the third night of the convention. He will have died at the age of 38. Im excited to endorse President Trumps re-election," Lizer said on Tuesday night. "And Mr. President, we look forward to hosting you very soon to come visit our land we call Dinetah." Join the Conversation Related Stories By the time Michael B. Jordan had his breakthrough performance at 28 in Creed (2015), the actor had already been in the business for two decades. After getting started as a child model, Jordan went on to work in two of the most acclaimed HBO series of all time. Jordans first credited screen appearance came in 1999 on The Sopranos. In Down Neck (season 1 episode 7), Jordan plays a 60s Newark kid harassing the young Tony Soprano. Three years later, Jordan became an actor to watch when he got a much larger role on season 1 of The Wire. Though he played a character roughly his age (i.e., an adolescent) on The Wire, Jordan originally auditioned for the part of an older, more prominent character. Casting directors and producers gave him a long look before casting him as Wallace. Michael B. Jordan had his breakout role as Wallace on The Wire Michael B Jordan in 2003 | Virginia Sherwood /Walt Disney Television via Getty Images In season 1 of The Wire, the Barksdale crew does an appalling bit of housekeeping when low-level operators kill Wallace, a young dealer whos seen the dark side of the organization. Wallaces death has major repercussions for the series, beginning with the murder of DAngelo Barksdale in prison. Jordan earned himself a considerable fan base for his portrayal of Wallace something he hadnt gotten while working on Hardball (2001), in which he shared the spotlight. In 2002, Jordan told Black Film how playing Wallace on The Wire changed things. With Hardball I didnt get much recognition because there were other kids and kids my age, Jordan said. The stardom was split up between eight of us. [] With The Wire, it feels great. Who wouldnt love the attention when someone says they love the show and to keep it up? After appearing as Wallace in 12 episodes, Jordan had the experience and exposure to take his next step in the business. That made up for the disappointment he felt when he didnt land the role he originally wanted. Jordan tried out for Bodie and was super sad when he didnt get the part Michael B. Jordan arrives to HBOs New York premiere of The Wire on January 4, 2008. | Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic RELATED: Why Did The Wire Have Low Ratings When It First Aired on HBO? While Wallace was a tragic figure (one of many) on The Wire, Jordan tried out for another likable dealer in the beginning: Bodie. In Jonathan Abrams All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire, Jordan spoke about the disappointment he felt when he learned someone else (J.D. Williams) would play Bodie. I remember feeling so bummed when I didnt get the job, Jordan said. Though he got called back twice, casting directors didnt think he was old enough. I was too young for it and I didnt get it, and I was just super sad. [But] they brought me back in for Wallace. And I ended up getting that character. Putting yourself in the shoes of the casting directors, its hard to take issue with the pick of Williams as the more seasoned Bodie. At that point, Williams was in his early 20s and had worked on a number of major projects (including Oz). Jordans innocence found a much better outlet in Wallace. A fatal fire which took place in the town centre of Dundalk at 2am on Friday August 27 1920, saw the lives of three young people tragically snuffed out along with the destruction of a bank and two of the larger business houses on Clanbrassil Street. Another large shop on the opposite side of the street was also damaged by fire at the same time. While the destruction of the premises was very serious the loss of the three young lives left local people without words. The fire was described in the Democrat on August 28 as The most destructive and tragic fire that has occurred in the history of Dundalk. The blaze commenced at approximately 2am in Craigs drapery shop, which was one of the largest shops in Dundalk at the time. This shop was located on the west side of Clanbrassil Street close to the Square. The fire tooj such a grip on the building that it quickly spread to the two buildings on either side of it, Messrs McGorisks and the Ulster Bank. These three sites are now occupied by the Ulster bank (same location), The Market Bar and AIB. IN Craigs shop on the first and second floors there was accommodation for a number of the shops employees. There were a total of twelve of them sleeping there that night. The alarm was raised shortly after the fire started by three night workers in the nearby Post Office who immediately set about providing ladders to enable the staff to escape from the burning buildings. Having done this, the three got on bicycles and alerted the fire fighters. In response to their effort, the towns fire brigade fought the fire, as well as army personnel from the military barracks and a number of private firms who possessed fire fighting equipment. All was in vain and the three buildings were destroyed. Directly opposite the three gutted buildings, an attempt had been made to set fire to the shop of Mr JD Melville, tailors and outfitters (now the Permanent TSB branch), but ignition failed and the damage was minimal. As was stated, the most serious aspect to the fire was the burning to death of three persons, who were employees of Craigs and were occupying the accommodation above the shop. Those who died were: Miss Elizabeth Wilson, a milliner, from Ballinure, Co. Antrim, Miss Georgina Rice, a dressmaker, from Ardee and Mr Alexander Alderdice, aged just nineteen, from Drogheda. Cause of fire The fire was malicious. WIndows in Craigs shop had been smashed and petrol or other combustible liquid or devices had been placed within. This procedure had been carried out at both the front and rear of the premises and the fire commenced at both sides simultaneously. It quickly took control and spread to the two buildings on either side of it. In McGorisks the employees in the living quarters above the shop all escaped. At the time of this horror in Dundalk, similar events were occurring fifty miles away in Belfast, with the commencement of the pogroms in that city. Extreme loyalists who were endeavouring to put all Catholics out of Belfast and other loyalist areas were burning the homes and premises of firms owned by Catholics. Extremists were carrying out these acts in an attempt to ensure the continuance of British rule in Ireland. The firms of Craig and Melville were Protestant-owned and for that reason, malicious persons, no better than the mobs of so-called loyalists in Belfast, believed the same should be done to protestants in Dundalk. Public Revulsion It was generally believed at the time by the towns inhabitants that the burning of the three premises was the work of the IRA. The loss of life in Craigs caused intense indignation throughout County Louth and the neighbouring counties. Most people viewed the tragedy coming so soon after the death of Constable Brennan, as the work of the IRA and that it was in revenge for what was happening in Belfast. Later, on the evening of the day of the fire, the Town Clerk, Mr Comerford, called a public meeting, by poster, for the Town Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to devise a means of safeguarding the peace of the town. A large crowd, made up principally of ratepayers and loyalists, attended the meeting. Also in attendance was district inspector Neligan and a party of police, as well as Major Dunbar and some officers from the military barracks. Republican view of the fire The following extract is the reaction of Mr James McGuill, the Commanding Officer of North Louth Brigade IRA. he describes the effects the fire had on the Republican movement in County Louth and the surrounding counties in his statement (WS 353) to the Bureau of military History 1913-1921: About the time the pogroms started in Belfast and many Catholic houses were burned down by Belfast Unionists, a deputation of British ex-servicemen came to see me seeking permission to burn out a number of non-Catholic houses in Dundalk as a reprisal for the Belfast burnings. None of those ex-servicemen had any connection with the IRA and were previously actively hostile to the Republican cause. I took a very firm action with the deputation. I informed them that the IRA would not tolerate any such reprisals and as I was responsible for all the citizens of the town and their property any attempt made to carry out the proposal they made to me would be drastically dealt with and that I would give orders to have any person found guilty of such attempts shot. Shortly afterwards an ambush took place in Distillery Lane, Dundalk, in which some members of the Crown forces suffered casualties. Immediately after this operation a mysterious fire took place in a large Protestant drapery establishment named Craigs, in which three shop assistants lost their lives. This fire and the loss of life caused intense indignation all over the County Louth and neighbouring districts of County Monaghan and County Armagh and coming so soon after the ambush it was looked upon by most people as being done by the IRA. In fact, some individuals who felt sore over what was happening in Belfast came to congratulate me on what they considered a proper reprisal. In this confused situation, Mr Comerford, Town Clerk, whom I have already referred to in the 1916 period - called a public meeting by poster to be held in the Town Hall for the declared purpose of forming a town guard to co-operate with the RIC and the British miliater in preventing future IRA activities. This meeting was attended by a big crowd of large ratepayers and loyalists. The district inspector of the RIC and a large force of RIC and some British Army officers were also present. I had one of our intelligence officers (IO) at the meeting as I had originally no intention of being present myself as I was on the run, but I wanted to know what was taking place there. Some time after the meeting started my IO came and told me the trend of the speeches made at the meeting, which I was told cast the responsibility for the fire at Craigs on the IRA. As I was in close proximity to the Town Hall I immediately went there, forced my way onto the platform and made a fiery speech disassociating the IRA from having anything to do with the burning of Craigs. I pointed out that quite recently I was approached by a section of the British ex-servicemen element in town for permission to carry out reprisals in Dundalk for what was happening in Belfast and I said I was forced to threaten the gun on those men to dissuade them. I also promised the meeting, as senior officer of the IRA, that I would guarantee the protection of all citizens of the town, if the RIC and the British military were removed. I pointed out that the IRA as Irishmen had more practical interest in the welfare of our citizens than the British garrison could have. My speech caused consternation amongst the majority at the meeting and no attempt was made to organise a town guard. I immediately disappeared after the speech. On the following day the Irish Independent gave a report of my speech which, I believe, was deliberately distorted to give the impression that it was a section of the IRA that had broken away from me and then approached me in connection with the burning of non-Catholics houses in Dundalk. This report of my alleged speech necessitated a long letter from me to the Independent to clarify the position. The first report, however, had got so much publicity and prominence that it did me a lot of harm in many areas of the county where the true circumstances were not known. My action in publicly announcing the position I had as senior officer of the IRA in Dundalk was not good policy for myself or the IRA organisations point of view. But the diabolical act which had occurred and of which most people believed the IRA were responsible made it essential that I should disassociate ourselves and give a candid exposition of the affair and this safeguard the good name the IRA always held. The IRA intelligence immediately started to investigate the origin of the fire and eventually found that strong suspicions pointed to at least three individuals one of whom left the town shortly after the burning and has since returned and the others left the district. Each of the suspected persons was known to be imbued with the teachings of the Russian Revolutionaries. Neither the RIC nor the military authorities in Dundalk made any move as far as I could see to investigate or enquire into this matter. Police in Antioch, Illinois, announced they have arrested a 17-year-old man in connection for Wednesday morning's shooting in Kenosha. He is expected to be extradited to Kenosha on homicide charges. Two people were killed and a third injured in a shooting at a used car lot on the corner of Sheridan Road and 63rd Street overnight Wednesday by a man armed with an AR-15-style rifle. The shooting captured on video and shared widely on social media. The man, who was white, was seen on social media with a group of armed men described online as militia who were at a small used car lot on the northwest corner of Sheridan Road and 63rd Street. Video shows people running in the street and people falling to the ground as shots ring out. In another video, the man is seen running, holding his rifle and talking on his phone - he can be heard saying I just killed somebody as he ran. In one video, the man with he rifle is seen running down the street, pursued by others trying to stop him, yelling that he shot someone. The man falls to the ground, still holding the rifle. As people run toward him, he fires his weapon, appearing to shoot two people. Someone begins shouting "medic!" After the shooting, the man with the rifle is seen getting up and heading away from the scene of the shooting toward law enforcement in armored vehicles, at first running, then walking with his hands up. A man can be heard frantically trying to call the attention of law enforcement to the man walking with the gun. "That dude just shot them. Dude right there just shot them all down there. Hey, he just shot them. That dude right there, he shot someone," a man screams. The man with the gun then walks beside law enforcement who are advancing in the armored vehicles. "Is someone injured straight ahead?" someone asks as the vehicles drive past the man with the gun. The man's arrest was announced at a press conference in Kenosha. The shooting came during the third day of protests following the shooting of a Jacob Blake by a Kenosha Police officer Sunday. Blake survived the shooting but was left paralyzed according to his family and attorneys. Protests have turned violent, with fires set by rioters destroying or damaging 30 buildings Tuesday. While the center of the protest as been around Civic Center Park and the Kenosha County Courthouse, most of the worst damage was in the working class Uptown neighborhood. Kenosha Police Lt. Joe Nosalik stated in a press release that the latest shooting occurred at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday. Nosalik said two people died and a third had serious but non-life threatening injuries. Photos shared on social media showed one man shot in the head, another with a large wound on his arm. The men who were shot were white. Early Wednesday morning, the car lot where the shooting occurred was quiet, with signs of the violence that occurred there overnight. What appeared to be a blood stain in the parking lot was circled and numbered in yellow chalk. There was the wreck of one burned out car, others with shattered windows. Spent sponge rounds fired by police for crowd control were lying in the street. Sheriff David Beth said early Wednesday that no one was in custody for the shooting when he went home at 2 a.m. He said he had not yet been briefed in the morning. The shooting was in Kenosha Police jurisdiction. Kenosha Police could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning. Beth said hell no when he people were suggesting Tuesday that armed private citizens should be on the street after fires and looting occurred in the city Tuesday. You see the result of that, he said. A resident who lives near the scene of the shooting said he was inside his house watching the social media about the protest Tuesday night when he heard gunfire outside. The gunshots were very clear - I heard about a dozen gunshots, you could tell they were rifle rounds, and then other gunfire, maybe from handgun, the man said. He ran outside to see one person lying on 63rd Street near the interaction screaming, another lying in the driveway of the small car lot with a gunshot wound to his head. He said people were around him trying to tend to his wounds. It was chaos, said the man, who did not want to be identified. It was just terrible to see - he died right next to the hospital, he was less than 30 feet from a hospital. He said people on the scene were shouting that they had pointed out the shooter to police and they did not take him into custody. Standing near the street, the man and neighbors, who were all African-American, discussed the ongoing unrest in the city. They believed the police officer that shot Blake needs to be arrested and charged for the protests to end. They can bring in all the National Guard they want, until they bring justice for this guy its going to continue, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 FOSTER CITY, California, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MedGenome, a leading genomic diagnostics, research and data company based in Foster City, CA and Bangalore, India, today announced that it has formed a strategic discovery collaboration focused on novel discoveries in Parkinson's Disease ("PD") with Denali Therapeutics. MedGenome has built the largest South Asian clinico-genomic datasets through its market leading genomic diagnostics business, public-private partnership with the GenomeAsia100K initiative, and collaborations with leading hospitals and clinicians in the US and India. Denali and MedGenome will collaborate on applying genomics to analyze and identify novel genes and variants associated with PD, to help discover and develop new therapies for this devastating disease. "Our collaboration with Denali underscores the untapped potential of genomically under-represented population groups, in particular those from South Asia, with unique population history, and highlights MedGenome's deep genomics expertise and extensive network of clinical collaborators in India and South Asia. We look forward to working with Denali, a global leader in neurodegenerative disease, to lay the foundations for discoveries that will bring meaningful therapies for Parkinson's Disease patients around the world," said Rayman Mathoda, CEO of MedGenome's Genomic Medicines division. "Our aim at Denali is to defeat neurodegeneration, and identification of novel degenogenes or disease modifying variants is important to enhance our understanding of Parkinson's disease biology," said Joe Lewcock, Ph.D., CSO of Denali. "We are excited to partner with MedGenome, given its substantial genomics expertise to explore novel genetic contributors to PD." About MedGenome MedGenome (www.medgenome.com) is a global leader in personalized medicine with 3 core businesses spanning genomic diagnostics, genomic research, and genomic medicine. MedGenome has a world class high-throughput Next-Generation Sequencing facility and bioinformatics team in Foster City, California, supporting biomarker identification, target discovery, and pre-clinical and clinical research programs for bio-pharma and academic institutions in the US, Europe and Canada. MedGenome is a market leader in genetic diagnostic testing in India and has created the largest known clinico-genomic datasets on South Asian populations. MedGenome has developed algorithms and tools to correlate genomic data with clinical and phenotypic information to provide deep insight into both rare and complex diseases at a genetic and molecular level to support drug development and personalized medicine programs. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140368/MedGenome_Logo.jpg 26.08.2020 LISTEN Bontentene, a village near Nkenkaaso in the Offinso north district is about to welcome its maiden educational facility, thanks to tremendous efforts piled up by indefatigable assembly member Hon. Ernest Bediako affectionately called, 'Senior Ernest' through his DCE and MP Hon. David Kwesi Asare and Augustine Collins Ntim respectively. The community under his jurisdiction, Esorodome electoral area is occupied by settlers mainly into farming, deprived of numerous basic human needs such as portable water, electricity, etc and has no even a grass weaved structure for children to school in despite large number of children of school going age moving about aimlessly. Hon. Bediako during his campaign tour in the Assembly elections observed the situation and realised there was no nearby school for these future kids and promised them of his suppprt to find them a school for the first time. "During my campaign tour, I got to this village and what i saw was a sad situation where so many kids of school going age not schooling but walking about, when i asked, they told me distance to schools in neighbouring towns of Nkenkaasu and Seseku is too far that the kids are unable to ply." "My response to them was that, they have met their saviour once i win the election," The Assembly man narrated to Cruz News. According to him, plans are far advanced to kick start of the project which would have being in place far long but for the covid-19 and its associated challenges and now announcing to his people to get ready for the project. "All that I am telling the people of Bontenten is that, for the school, enough preparations and arrangements have gone into it and that it is coming off within one to two weeks as required materials such as cement are ready by DCE, so the people of Bontenten will believe their DCE, MP and President Nana Akufo Addo," he stated. According to 'Senior Ernest' he was much enthused on achieving the school's establishment for the village Bontenten, their excitement upon his assurance further deepened his eagerness to deliver. "They said oh senior Ernest if you are able to help bring the school to this village, we shall name the school after you" He said this excitement by the village bothering on the vision of President Akufo Addo's vision to make education easily accessible to all Ghanaian children was his motivation to keep pushing for the project which have been warmly welcomed by his superiors Hon. David Kwasi Asare and Hon. Augustine Collins Ntim to make it a reality. Cruz fm newsroom. A Delhi court Wednesday sent JNU student Sharjeel Imam, arrested under the stringent anti terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, to police custody for four days in a case related to communal violence in north east Delhi in February. Imam was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on Tuesday for allegedly being part of a premeditated conspiracy in connection to the riots during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. He was produced on Wednesday through video conferencing before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat who accepted the demand of the Delhi Police that his custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the conspiracy in the case. Investigators had sought five days police custody of Imam to probe the case lodged under the anti-terror law. Others booked under the anti-terror law in the case are Pinjra Tod members and JNU students Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, Jamia Millia Islamia students Asif Iqbal Tanha and Gulfisha Khatoon, former Congress Councillor Ishrat Jahan, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider, President of Jamia Alumni Association Shifa-Ur-Rehman, suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, activist Khalid Saifi, and former student leader Umar Khalid. Umar Khalid has not been arrested in the case yet. The police had claimed in the FIR that Umar and his associates had instigated people to start riots in the area and it was a premeditated conspiracy. Imam was also arrested on January 28 in the case related to violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act near the Jamia Millia Islamia University in December last year. The PhD student at the Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys (JNU) Centre for Historical Studies has been booked on sedition and other charges after purported videos of his alleged inflammatory speeches made during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) were circulated on social media. He was also arrested by the Guwahati police in a case registered against him under the UAPA in Assam. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Shares of two-wheeler majors Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company soared on Wednesday after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's comment that the GST Council will consider the proposal to cut the on Addressing a CII conference on Tuesday, she said that the suggestion to lower tax on is a good one as this category is "neither a luxury nor a sin good" and hence merits a rate revision. Consequently, this will be taken up with the GST Council, she added. Around 10.48 a.m., shares of Hero MotoCorp were trading at Rs 3,095.40, higher by Rs 124.35 or 4.19 per cent from its previous close. It touched its 52-week high of Rs 3,124.95 per share during the initial trade. Shares of Bajaj Auto were trading at Rs 3,106.85, higher by Rs 96.85 or 3.22 per cent from its previous close. Similarly, TVS Motor Company's shares were trading 4.51 per cent higher at Rs 465.90 per share. currently attract 28 per cent GST and the industry has for long demanded for the rate to be lowered. --IANS rrb/sn/dpb (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.) MOSCOW - The mayor of Moscow invited residents Wednesday to join trials of a coronavirus vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month, in what officials described as a breakthrough on par with the Soviet Unions launch of the worlds first satellite in 1957. The worlds first vaccine against the coronavirus to receive a government go-ahead has caused unease among international medical experts, who called Russias fast-tracked approval and failure to share any data supporting claims of the vaccines efficacy a major breach of scientific protocol. Scientists around the world say any widely-used vaccine should first be tested in advanced trials involving tens of thousands of people to prove it is safe and effective before being licensed. In his invitation to the Russian capitals residents, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin appeared to announce those kind of broad studies would be launched soon. He said the post-registration research will last six months and involve 40,000 people. Sobyanin encouraged Moscow residents to sign up, arguing that the vaccine was based on longtime previous research and proven to be safe. We all were eager to see the creation of a vaccine, and now we have it, Sobyanin said. Now, Moscow residents have a unique chance to become the main participants in clinical research that will help defeat the coronavirus. The Russian Direct Investment Fund that bankrolled the vaccine said it will facilitate similar trials in five other countries, which it didnt name. The post-registration clinical trial will allow for a permanent registration certificate and expansion of the circle of possible vaccine recipients, including the 60+ age group, the fund said in a statement. Scientists at the World Health Organization said last week that although they had begun discussions with Russia about its vaccine, they had not yet received any detailed data about it. In announcing the vaccines approval on Aug. 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin said one of his two adult daughters already had been inoculated with it. He said the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and was shown to provide lasting immunity to the coronavirus, although Russian authorities have offered no proof to back up claims of safety or effectiveness. Experts warn that using an untested vaccine that has not yet proven to be safe or effective could ultimately undermine the response to the pandemic and cause more distrust among people about whether or not to be vaccinated. As of Wednesday, Russia had reported a total of over 970,000 confirmed virus cases and 16,683 deaths. Russian officials have said the vaccine would initially be made available to high-risk groups, including medical workers and teachers before it comes to broad use. The vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow with assistance from Russias Defence Ministry uses a different virus -- the common cold-causing adenovirus -- thats been modified to carry genes for the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, as a way to prime the body to recognize if a real COVID-19 infection comes along. Thats a similar technology as vaccines being developed by Chinas CanSino Biologics and Britains Oxford University and AstraZeneca but unlike those companies, Russian scientists havent published any scientific information about how the vaccine has performed in animal tests or in early-stage human studies. Putin said one of his daughters has received two doses, and had minor side effects such as slight fever, and was feeling well and has a high number of antibodies. However, many international experts remained skeptical as the experimental shots so far have been tested on just a few dozen people and theres no published scientific evidence backing official claims of its efficiency. The Russian Health Ministry said that the vaccine is expected to provide immunity from the coronavirus for up to two years, citing its experience with vaccines made with similar technology. Becoming the first country in the world to approve a vaccine was a matter of national prestige for the Kremlin as it tries to assert the image of Russia as a global power. Putin repeatedly praised Russias effective response to the outbreak in televised addresses to the nation, while some of Moscows top officials including the countrys prime minister and Putins own spokesperson became infected. Last month, the U.S., Britain and Canada accused Russia of using hackers to steal vaccine research from Western labs. Russia has denied involvement. Several vaccines, including those developed by Oxford and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, are currently in advanced testing and hope to have results later this year. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Read more about: This is the moment paedophile hunters hold a pervert to the ground before he tells them he arranged to meet a child for sex because his girlfriend was busy. Stuart Burnett travelled 25 miles from his home in Billingham, on Teesside, to Sunderland after arranging to see who he thought was a 14-year-old while her parents were out of the house. But he had been duped by an online decoy and instead of meeting the girl, he was greeted by members of undercover group Guardians of the North, who filmed the confrontation. During a struggle he was led to to one of the paedophile hunters' cars where he told them: 'I did not want to come here. I was going to see my girlfriend. 'I did not go and see my girlfriend because she was busy with someone else.' The defendant had earlier sent the decoy two pictures of his genitals before agreeing to meet her for sex. The 35-year-old was detained by the paedophile hunting group at a shopping centre in Sunderland in November last year. Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant had even messaged the girl on his way to the illicit meet-up to make sure he wasn't being 'set-up'. Stuart Burnett, 35, who has received a suspended prison sentence at Teesside Crown Court after he was snared by paedophile hunters, thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl Burnett was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence at Teeside Crown Court Ian West, prosecuting, said he started talking to the decoy believing she was 18 but his sexual grooming continued after she told him that she was only actually 14. He said a volunteer from the group had set up the fake profile for 'Louise' in a bid to catch deviants and Burnett soon started sending sexually explicit messages. Mr West added: 'He explained that he will teach her sexual matters in the bedroom and then explained about the acts that he will engage in. 'He suggested that they meet, she tells him her parents will be out of the house she lives in and arrangements are made to travel to Sunderland to her house.' Within minutes of Burnett arriving in Sunderland he had been detained by the volunteers and arrested by police before make a full confession in interview. Burnett, of Billingham, pleaded guilty to one charge of attempting to meet a child under 16 following sexual grooming and two charges of taking part in sexual conversations with a child. Chris Morrison, in mitigation, said his client was of previous good character and had been married for 15 years before being caught in the 'sting'. He said: 'His remorse is palpable and equally the fear and trepidation he has come here with today is tangible.' The court heard how Burnett had resigned from his job at Fedex due to the shame of his arrest and was now a full-time carer for his elderly father-in-law. Urging the judge to suspend his client's prison sentence, he added: 'Prison will be the ruin of him; he is not of robust temperament.' Judge Jonathan Carroll branded Burnett 'devious' for arranging to meet the teenager behind her parents backs. He said: 'The moment that line appeared on your phone that she was only 14 was the moment you should have immediately desisted engaging and said 'I can't talk to you because you're under 16' - but you didn't.' The judge passed a two year sentence, suspended for two years and given a sexual harm prevention order for five years. Barnett was also ordered to observe a three month curfew between 8pm and 8am and carry out 50 rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his behaviour. WALLINGFORD Trunks popped open as more than 700 cars flooded the Connecticut Food Bank on Wednesday afternoon. During a two-hour block, about 20,000 meals were given out to Connecticut residents at a drive-through food distribution held at the food banks building on Research Parkway. Cars snaked around Research Parkway as about 40 Connecticut Food Bank employees and volunteers instructed drivers to keep rolling as they filled their trunks with perishable items and non-perishable items. Before the pandemic, Connecticut Food Bank held an average of 30 events a month like this in six counties. But with the high unemployment rate, the need has grown and CFB will hold as many as 50 drive through events in August alone and the trend is expected to continue into September. The Connecticut Food Bank was established 38 years ago. Five years ago, CFB moved from East Haven to Wallingford. Food insecurity in New Haven County has grown exponentially, Connecticut Food Bank Chief Operating Officer Daniel Gomez said. This is our means to responding to that increase in food insecurity. You hear about some folks with tough stories about not having the money to make the rent. Weve had folks living in their cars, he added. Gomez said events like Wednesdays would not be possible without generous donors. However, overall there has been a 60 percent reduction in food donations since the pandemic hit and it hasnt rebounded. CFB spokesperson Paul Shipman said the heart of the organizations mission is to make nutritious food available to those in need. We do that through a network of community based pantries, Shipman said. Events like this fill additional need and fill some gaps where our agencies may not have the storage capacity or the people power to meet what we have seen over the last several months, which is a surge in need. These are a great way to get fresh food and dairy products out quickly to the communities. Its a great opportunity for us to reach a large number of people at one time. Shipman said a number of people Wednesday were receiving food from the food bank for the first time. This is an easier system for them because theyre embarrassed, Shipman said. We want people to understand that there is no stigma around needing our help. There were people who were struggling before this pandemic and theyve got it even worse now. ... weve been seeing folks that have needed our help as well as others that are new to the system. Visit ctfoodbank.org for information about more food distribution events, making donations or volunteering. PIRAEUS, Greece: Workers in bright yellow vests stand on the dock in Greeces main port of Piraeus, greeting hundreds of masked ferry passengers with fliers and the occasional temperature check. Would you like a coronavirus test? Yes, its free. Right over there, in the white structure, youll see the signs, they tell disembarking passengers. Free on-the-spot tests for travelers returning from Greek islands where outbreaks have occurred is the latest in an arsenal of measures authorities are using to tackle a resurgence of COVID-19 in a country that has so far managed to dodge the worst of the pandemic. New localized restrictions, including a midnight curfew for bars, restaurants and cafes and a ban on large gatherings have been imposed, mainly in popular tourist destinations such as the Aegean Sea island of Mykonos, Maria Skopeliti, whose husband and son work on Mykonos, was one of a handful of people opting for the voluntary coronavirus test in Piraeus on a recent morning. She estimated that more than two-thirds of people in Mykonos had been ignoring personal protective measures. Even though I was quite careful you cant be sure because its an island that lives to a different beat, said the 57-year-old Skopeliti. Its logical because there are many young people, you cant restrict them. The number of confirmed virus cases and deaths in Greece remains lower than in many other European countries. As of Tuesday, total cases in the country of about 11 million people stood at just under 9,000, with 243 deaths and 31 people intubated in intensive care units. Belgium, by comparison, with a population of around 11.5 million, has reported nearly 82,000 confirmed cases and close to 10,000 deaths, one of the worlds highest per capita pandemic mortality rates. But Greeces new confirmed cases have been spiraling in recent weeks, reaching a record 284 on Sunday. Yes Im worried, of course Im worried, and weve rung the alarm bell, Gkikas Magiorkinis, a University of Athens assistant professor of hygiene and epidemiology, told the AP last week. Thats why were taking measures." including the generalized use of masks. The measures appear to be working, Magiorkinis, who serves on a committee of scientists advising the Greek government, said during a Tuesday news conference. For now it seems that the dramatic increase of cases has been limited, he said, noting the spike in the first week of August was projected to lead to more than 400 new cases per day, which so far has not occurred. The slowdown of this dramatic increase came relatively earlier than the natural development of a full second wave, and coincides with the taking of measures for the use of masks, and with the reinforced restrictions taken in areas with outbreaks, Magiorkinis said. For a small country barely emerging from the grip of a brutal decade-long financial crisis, Greece appeared to have done remarkably well during the pandemics initial phase in the spring, when Europe became the second continent after Asia with the coronavirus spreading exponentially. The government imposed a nationwide lockdown, ordering people to stay home, shuttering businesses and closing the borders. It also scrambled to bolster a weak health system pummeled by years of budget cuts, announcing the hiring of thousands of temporary health workers and increasing intensive care capacity. Its strategy seemed to work. Greece was spared the heart-rending scenes all too common in fellow Mediterranean countries Italy and Spain: of overflowing morgues, decimated nursing homes and anguished intensive care doctors forced to choose who to try to save and who to let die due to a lack of equipment and space. But no country can survive in a vacuum, certainly not one still grappling with the aftermath of a depression that wiped out a quarter of its economy. In a bid to salvage its vital tourism industry, Greece welcomed foreign visitors and gradually lifted nearly all lockdown restrictions in the early summer. Inevitably, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases mounted. Critics have accused the government of reopening to tourists without a coherent plan, a charge officials vehemently reject. Is tourism responsible for the increase in the number of cases in Greece? The answer is categorically no, Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias said last week. The main culprits, he said, were large private gatherings such as weddings and residents ignoring protective measures like social distancing. Travelers arriving from abroad accounted for just 17% of new cases, Hardalias said, while 83% was domestic transmission. On Tuesday, Hardalias said that 360,200 tests were carried out on the nearly 3 million international arrivals between July 1 when Greece opened its borders to tourists and Aug. 23, and just 723 people tested positive. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas insisted last week that Greece was and continues to be at a better epidemiological level, compared to other countries. Petsas also attributed the increase to people ignoring protective measures, and noted the average age of those testing positive had dropped to around 36, from just over 48 in March. Authorities have been particularly alarmed by the summer party scene on the islands, involving both tourists and vacationing Greeks. On Mykonos, police have played a cat-and-mouse game with parties held in private villas to skirt restrictions on bars and clubs. In one incident, police broke up a party where the nearly 500 guests reportedly included a couple from Spain that had been placed in a quarantine hotel after at least one of them tested positive for the virus on arrival. What currently worries experts most is the virus spreading in facilities that house the most vulnerable people: retirement homes and hospitals. Ominously, outbreaks have already been reported in two retirement homes and at two hospitals, all on the mainland. Extra measures have been imposed, including compulsory coronavirus tests for employees returning from vacation. There is an effort to reduce the risk, Magiorkinis said. We cant eliminate it, but there is risk mitigation. 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 Wolberg previously worked at PayPal, where she held several roles, including vice president of technology and was the principal executive leading the PayPal separation program as part of the eBay/PayPal tax-free split. She also led Salesforce IT as chief information officer. Additionally, she held several technology, product and operations roles at companies such as Charles Schwab, InnoVentry and CSC Index. "I am delighted to welcome Kirsten to CalAmp's Board of Directors," said Amal Johnson, Chair of the CalAmp Board. "Kirsten has been a leading force in business transformations across the software space, and we are looking forward to drawing upon her expertise and fresh perspective as we advance our strategy." "We are excited to welcome Kirsten to our Board of Directors," said Jeff Gardner, president and CEO of CalAmp. "She brings an impressive and successful track record of leading change in technology and operations, both vital to our corporate transformation. We are confident Kirsten will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to execute on our strategy to drive growth and build long-term shareholder value for CalAmp." Wolberg values giving back to her community and sits on two philanthropic organizations; Year Up Bay Area and JVS San Francisco. "I am honored to have the opportunity to join CalAmp's Board of Directors, and be part of this journey," said Wolberg. "I look forward to driving CalAmp's continued growth and digital transformation for our partners and customers worldwide." About CalAmp CalAmp is a global technology solutions pioneer transforming the mobile connected economy. We help reinvent business and improve lives around the globe with technology solutions that streamline complex mobile IoT deployments and bring intelligence to the edge. Our software and subscription-based services, scalable cloud platform and intelligent devices collect and assess business-critical data from mobile assets and their contents. We call this The New How, facilitating efficient decision making, optimizing mobile asset utilization and improving road safety. Headquartered in Irvine, California, CalAmp has been publicly traded since 1983 and has 20 million products installed and over 1.3 million software and services subscribers worldwide. LoJack , Tracker and Here Comes The Bus are CalAmp brands. For more information, visit calamp.com , or LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter , YouTube or CalAmp Blog . CalAmp, LoJack, TRACKER, Here Comes The Bus, Bus Guardian, iOn Vision and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE CalAmp Related Links http://www.calamp.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:54:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two employees of the World Health Organization (WHO) were wounded on Wednesday in a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, a provincial police source said. The vehicle was hit by the roadside bomb left by the Islamic State (IS) militants, while it was moving near the town of Bartella, about 30 km east of the provincial capital Mosul, Mazin al-Ahmadi, head of the media office of provincial police told Xinhua. The explosion resulted in the wounding of two WHO employees, who are an Iraqi male and a female, al-Ahmadi said. The WHO has been providing medical aid to the badly devastated health institutions in Nineveh province, as well as medical support to hundreds of thousands of displaced people during the battles against the extremist militants. On July 10, 2017, the Iraqi security forces regained full control of the city of Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, after fierce battles against the extremist militants. Enditem 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 shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Namibia Critical Metals Inc. (CVE:NMI). 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, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. 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'. Check out our latest analysis for Namibia Critical Metals The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Namibia Critical Metals While no particular insider transaction stood out, we can still look at the overall trading. In the last twelve months Namibia Critical Metals insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Namibia Critical Metals 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 For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Namibia Critical Metals insiders own about CA$11m worth of shares. That equates to 25% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues So What Do The Namibia Critical Metals Insider Transactions Indicate? The fact that there have been no Namibia Critical Metals insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders own shares in Namibia Critical Metals and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Namibia Critical Metals. While conducting our analysis, we found that Namibia Critical Metals has 2 warning signs and it would be unwise to ignore these. Of course Namibia Critical Metals may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. 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. Australian actor George Lazenby during the filming of the James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', 1969. (Photo by Larry Ellis Collection/Getty Images) George Lazenby, the first actor to play James Bond on screen after Sean Connery departed the role, paid tribute to the original 007 on his 90th birthday. Connery, who played Ian Flemings iconic creation in seven films, turned 90 on 25 August, and 80-year-old Lazenby shared his best wishes on Instagram calling the Scot the all-time greatest 007. Lazenby stepped into Connerys shoes for 1969s On Her Majestys Secret Service, but quit the role after just one outing as 007. Connery returned for 1971s James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, then later for 1983s unofficial Never Say Never Again. Read more: Actors who gave up iconic roles Happy 90th birthday to the all time greatest @007 - Sean Connery, Lazenby wrote on his Instagram. Sean, for me, was always the man. I walked in his footsteps - I had to look and dress like Sean Connery - I went to his barber's and tailors. I had no fear when I went up for the role - he was the guy who inspired me to never hesitate. Read more: How Sean Connery changed action cinema Another thing we have in common is that we're both family men, so best wishes to Lady Connery, your kids and grand kids and stay safe. 1964: Actor Sean Connery poses as James Bond next to his Aston Martin DB5 in a scene from the United Artists film 'Goldfinger' in 1964 (Photo by Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Non-actor Lazenby famously blagged the Bond role despite being a total unknown at the time, and remains the youngest actor to ever play 007 at 29. He also holds the record for the shortest tenure as Bond.He had been offered a seven-film contract, but walked away following advice from his agent who warned him about being typecast. His one and only outing as Bond, On Her Majestys Secret Service, is considered by fans to be one of the best in the franchise. Read more: Sean Connery named best ever 007 According to the excellent book Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury, Connery once told Lazenby he had been impressed by his performance. Story continues His tribute follows one from Pierce Brosnan, the fifth James Bond, who yesterday shared his best wishes to his predecessor calling him my Bond of inspiration. The official 007 social media pages also sent messages of congratulations to the nonagenarian, sharing the actors introduction as Bond from his 1962 debut in Dr. No, including personal wishes from No Time To Die producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson. Unemployment is at the peak reached during the last recession despite the reopening of the economy. New official figures reveal the unemployment rate due to Covid-19 stood at 23.1pc at the end of June when there were 531,412 people out of work. The rate has since dropped significantly to an estimated 16.7pc last month with 386,935 people out of work, according to the Central Statistics Office. The unemployment rate previously reached a peak of 16pc during the last financial crisis. Some sectors saw huge falls in employment according to the labour force survey for the second quarter of this year, but some weathered the economic fallout from the pandemic well. Workforces in industry, the ICT sector, financial, insurance and real estate activities, public administration and education rose between April and June. "The Covid-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the Irish labour market and that impact started towards the end of quarter one 2020," said statistician Jim Dalton. Chief economist at Goodbody Dermot O'Leary said the data "encompasses the employment shock brought about by Covid-19 and the lockdown". He said although there was a two-speed economy in some sectors, it was not wise to read too much into quarterly figures. "Like most developed economies around the world, Ireland faces huge challenges in returning the labour market to normality," he said. He noted there was a "large range" around the unemployment rate estimate because it was not known how many people would remain on the Government's wage subsidy or pandemic unemployment payment in the long term. Excluding those on the pandemic payment, he said the unemployment rate stood at 4.9pc in the second quarter of the year, rising to 5.5pc according to preliminary estimates for July. "Including those on the pandemic unemployment payment, the rate rises to 16.7pc in July, having peaked at 29pc in April," he said. He said it seemed inevitable some jobs would be lost due to cuts in the wage support scheme next month. Changes are also being made to the UK furlough scheme, although it has had a much greater take-up. The standard employment rate is 3.9pc - although it had lower unemployment ahead of the pandemic. The Nevin Economic Research Institute said in a statement the CSO data made for stark reading. Younger groups are disproportionately affected as they were in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008. The organisation said groups with higher levels of education had been less affected. It said the number of managers in jobs fell by less than half a percent from 182,400 to 181,500 in the year to June, while employment in professions requiring the least education fell by almost 25pc from 256,600 to 192,800. The biggest drop was in accommodation and food services where numbers fell by just under 30pc or 53,600. Worse, though, were her repeated violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits government officials from political activity while serving in their official roles. Conway got away with it disingenuously referring to efforts to call it out as violations of her free speech. In doing so, she paved the way for further likely abuses, such as having Secretary of State Mike Pompeo give a convention speech this week or Trumps use of the White House as a backdrop for parts of the convention. New Delhi: Bollywood star Mithun Chakraborty on Monday resigned from the Rajya Sabha. Mithun cited health reasons for decision to quit from parliament. Mithun had been member of Rajya Sabha in last two years. During this period, the actor has attended parliament for three days only. Chakraborty was sent to Rajya Sabha by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in April 2014. He attended the House in his first two sessions. First, for two days in the 231st session, and a solitary day during the 232nd session. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. ANN ARBOR, MI - A widely-circulated photo of young people partying near the University of Michigan campus has drawn both the attention and ire of those worried about how having students back in Ann Arbor will impact public health. While the university said banners hanging from the house do not reflect positively on the residents, officials defended them residents Tuesday, Aug. 25, noting they are believed to all be members of the same household. Indigenous leader Noel Pearson has claimed coronavirus payments such as JobSeeker are being used on 'grog chaos and gambling' in remote communities. Mr Pearson also said Indigenous leaders' repeated calls for the supply of alcohol to be limited in their communities have been ignored by political leaders. 'There is grog chaos all over the country, from Cape York to the Pilbara. With JobSeeker and superannuation withdrawals, the normal level of grog and gambling has gone through the roof,' Mr Pearson told The Australian. Respected Indigenous leader Noel Pearson has claimed coronavirus payments such as JobSeeker are being used on 'grog chaos and gambling' in remote communities Mr Pearson (pictured) also said Indigenous leaders' repeated calls for the supply of alcohol to be limited in their communities have been ignored by political leaders In the Northern Territory, the principal of one school in the remote town of Wadeye south of Darwin, said student attendance had dropped by 30 per cent since increased COVID-19 welfare payments began. On Monday, the West Australian government went against the advice of police and community leaders in the state's Pilbara region by imposing a banned drinker list instead of blanket restrictions on alcohol sales. The move prompted Mr Pearson, who founded the Cape York Institute, to question whether state and territory governments were committed to the 'shared decision making' they agreed to with the Closing the Gap initiative. 'These state and territory governments are harlots to the Australian Hotels Association. The banned drinkers register will do nothing,' Mr Pearson said. But the CEO of the Australian Hotel Association, Bradley Woods, who pushed for the banned drinker register option, said Mr Pearson's comments were inflammatory and unhelpful. Mr Woods said targeted measures were needed to better focus the government's resources to those in need rather than across the board restrictions. Mr Pearson argued that alcohol revenue was a factor in the decision, saying the government had failed to 'stop people from profiteering from misery, violence and hunger.' A banned drinker list would involve police being able to add names to a register for people who have been involved in incidents connected with alcohol. People can also voluntarily go on the list if they are concerned about being forced to buy alcohol for someone else. Mr Pearson claimed business interests were being put ahead of the community (stock image) The Pilbarra town of Newman in Western Australia (pictured) has a large indigenous population A similar program in the Northern Territory is enforced by police officers stationed outside bottle shops who check identification. In WA's Pilbara, police have been pushing for blanket alcohol sale restrictions since 2017 when they presented the WA government with CCTV footage of alcohol fueled violence in Port Hedland. One of the clips shows a man staggering next to a teenage girl before stomping on her outstretched leg, which was later revealed to be broken, while another clip shows a teenage boy punching a teenage girl in a shopping centre carpark. About 12,000 of the Pilbara region's 60,000 residents are Indigenous with another large portion fly-in-fly-out workers for the large mining industry. Health officials have stated the introduction of a 'floor price' for alcohol in the Northern Territory had been shown to be more effective than the banned drinkers register. Over recent weeks, tensions have been rising in the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, prompted by what seems like a simple rivalry over energy resources. Turkey has pursued an aggressive gas exploration effort, its research vessel heavily protected by warships of the Turkish Navy. There have been encounters with rival Greek vessels and a third Nato country, France, has become involved, siding with the Greeks, BBC writes in the article The Eastern Mediterranean tinderbox: Why Greek-Turkish rivalries have expanded. Most recently it's been announced that a small number of F-16 warplanes from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are deploying to an air base on Crete for exercises with their Greek counterparts. Ostensibly this is a routine deployment. So what is going on here? Are the tensions just about gas resources? Why are seemingly far-flung countries being drawn in? And just what risk is there of the Eastern Mediterranean turning into a worsening geo-political tinderbox? What's happening is dangerous, complicated and threatens to exacerbate existing fault lines in the region. While gas exploration is the immediate cause, the roots of the problem lie much deeper. What you have is a long-standing conflict between Greece and Turkey being revived in a new context. Grafted on to this, you have a regional or geo-strategic rivalry that pits a much more assertive Turkey against several other players. The battleground for this struggle extends from Libya across the waters of the Eastern Mediterranean to Syria and beyond. The tensions are real and growing. One concern is that as countries coalesce in their opposition to Ankara's regional ambitions, Turkey itself feels more isolated. This risks it becoming ever more assertive. The Eastern Mediterranean tensions also highlight another shift in the region - the decline of US power or, perhaps more accurately, the decline of the Trump administration's strategic interest in what goes on there. President Donald Trump has suspended Turkey from the F-35 warplane programme after its purchase of advanced Russian surface-to-air missiles. But there has not been any real consistent US pressure on Turkey to match the trouble that it has been creating for US policy within Nato, in Syria and elsewhere. In the absence of clear US action, Germany has sought to mediate between Greece and Turkey, with France weighing in more explicitly on the side of the Greeks. The areas of tension Energy At one level it's all about gas. Several countries in the region have either found significant gas fields or are actively exploring to find them. This can have very mixed consequences. On the one hand it super-charges national rivalries, with ongoing battles over the delineation of maritime boundaries, who owns which plot of undersea territory and so on. Indeed, deals to recognise respective rights have prompted upticks in tension. Last year, Turkey signed a maritime accord with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) and set about renewed gas exploration in areas that Greece regards as its economic zone. Tensions ensued. Earlier this month, Greece and Egypt signed a maritime boundary agreement, prompting Turkish anger, a renewed exploration effort and naval deployments. But the curious thing is that, while energy exploration almost inevitably exacerbates tension and in the longer term could well fuel a regional air and naval arms race, concerted action is going to be needed if the economic benefits of this gas are to be realised. Pipelines and other vulnerable infrastructure must be created. These must cross several countries' undersea "territory" if they are to make landfall, say, for crucial European markets. A fledgling international infrastructure is being established for the potential energy producers of the Mediterranean basin and this could ultimately help to reduce tensions, maybe even offering a path to the resolution of the long-standing Cyprus problem as well. Cyprus This has been in dispute between Greece and Turkey ever since 1974, but builds upon a much longer history of enmity between the Greeks and the Turks going back to before the modern Turkish state was founded. Despite multiple diplomatic efforts - there were hopes that as Turkey came ever closer to European Union membership, the Cyprus issue might be easier to resolve - it has proved as intractable as ever. Now, there is no prospect of Turkey joining the EU. And the tensions over energy have added a new element to a very old dispute. Foreign policy Another crucial element of the puzzle is the much more assertive foreign policy being pursued by Turkey. The geographical horizons of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have certainly expanded. The ruling AKP party saw a dynamic and growing Turkish economy as helping to establish the nation as a player with regional reach. But equally Turkey has seen what it perceives as its vital national interests threatened - not least in Syria - where it feels let down by many of its Western Nato allies, the United States among them. Turkey has sought to steer its own course, engaging with other players like Russia and Iran where necessary. It has, by all evidence, enjoyed this relative measure of strategic autonomy and has sought to expand its regional footprint, weighing in heavily on the side of the GNA government in the Libyan civil war. Like so many battles in the region - as indeed in Syria - this has become to some extent a proxy war, with various outside players lining up against each other. And in Libya, Turkey is opposed by powerful actors like Egypt and the UAE. Turkey has intervened heavily on the side of the UN-backed Libyan government while the UAE and Egypt back the eastern militias of Gen Khalifa Haftar. Turkey and the UAE have mounted a kind of proxy drone war in Libya's skies, with the UAE operating its Chinese-supplied drones and the Turks deploying a home-built armed drone of their own. This Turkish air power proved decisive in saving the GNA. The Libya conflict has also deepened the enmity between Turkey and Egypt. Relations went into the freezer following the overthrow in Egypt of the Muslim Brotherhood - seen as a fraternal regime by the Turks. And differences over Libya have soured relations between Turkey and France too. There was a naval stand-off not so long ago where Turkish warships intervened to stop the French Navy from intercepting a cargo vessel thought to be carrying weapons off the Libyan coast. Amid the growing Greek-Turkish tensions, France despatched two warships and two maritime strike aircraft as a show of solidarity with Athens. So the immediate cause of tensions in the Mediterranean may be energy-related but this only tells part of the story. There are both deep-seated and developing diplomatic strains which, combined, could erupt without warning. If ever a region needed crisis management, then it is the Eastern Mediterranean. But who exactly is to be the manager? And do the parties themselves actually want to be managed? Last week, on Aug. 18, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave American women the constitutional right to vote. On Wednesday, we are marking the day when the amendment officially entered the Constitution. We pay little attention to what happened during that curious, chaotic week in between. Why the delay? It took that extra week for women to gain the right to vote because suffrage opponents launched a brute-force campaign to nullify the ratification and cast doubt upon its legality. The tale of this strange interlude involves racism, legal obstruction and political dirty tricks; it also offers an alarmingly relevant glimpse into what can happen when a bitter and well funded faction refuses to accept the outcome of a political decision involving race, sex and voting rights. The cheers in the Tennessee House chamber following the very narrow victory for ratification the deciding vote delivered by its youngest member, the 24-year-old freshman delegate Harry T. Burn were still echoing when the backlash began. The stakes had been high: Tennessee was the last state needed to propel the 19th Amendment into the Constitution. Burns aye had extended the vote to women citizens in every state. The young delegate was booed and hissed. The commotion in the chamber grew so heated that the governor ordered the sergeant-at-arms to protect Burn. Burn managed to escape the chamber unscathed, but he wasnt safe yet: Powerful interests were after him. A couple who prey on the elderly and have clocked up 452 offences between them in a 26 year thieving spree are behind bars after stealing wallets and purses from pensioners in supermarkets. Police have previously had to warn the public about Peter Ellis, 51, and Lorna Walker, 39, saying town centres were 'safer without them'. The cowardly pair who live together in Crumpsall, Manchester, on state handouts would typically target pensioners, picking their pockets or stealing their purses from shopping trolleys. They were arrested last month after Ellis targeted a 79-year-old man for his wallet which contained an irreplaceable picture of his late mother. Callous lovers Peter Ellis and Lorna Walker have racked up more than 450 offences between them for targetting elderly people as they go about their shopping Walker is thought to have thrown the wallet away before using the victim's bank card to buy cigarettes. In statement, David Condron, who had been on his way to buy groceries at a Farmfoods supermarket in Wythenshawe, said: 'I didn't realise my card and wallet had gone missing until I arrived at Farmfoods. 'Another customer offered to pay and I did take them up on their kind offer - but it did embarrass me. I went to the bank to cancel my card and the bank staff told me that transactions were being made on my card as we spoke. CCTV caught the couple stealing an elderly woman's purse while sat at a coffee shop in Oldham in 2017 The couple met in 2015 and were jailed later the same year following a spate of thieving in town centres Peter Ellis' previous thieving offences Peter Ellis was jailed for 28 months 1994 - theft from the person 1999 - theft from the person 2001 - theft from the person x 2 2002 - theft: two years jail. 2004 - attempted theft from the person: 15 months jail 2005 - theft and handling goods: 18 months. 2006 - theft x 4: 12 months jail 2010 - theft x 4 2011 - theft x 2 2012 - theft x 7: 20 months jail. 2013 - theft x 5 2014 - theft x 3 2015 - theft x 8: two years jail 2018 - theft: 18 weeks jail 2019 - theft x 2: 39 weeks jail 2020 - theft: 20 weeks jail Advertisement 'While I am angry about the cards and the money, the most distressing thing is that in the wallet I had a picture of my late mother which I carried about with me for the last 20 years since she passed away, and that can't be replaced. 'My daughter had to come and bring me back home, she even had to pay for my tram. I hope whoever is responsible gets whatever they deserve.' At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester Ellis who admitted theft was jailed for 28 months whilst Walker who admitted handling stolen goods and fraud was locked up for 18 months. Both were on licence from prison at the time and each had repeatedly been and out of jail for similar offences. The pair are thought to have got together in 2015 after each embarked on life of crime dating back to 1994. In 2015 they were jailed for two years over a three month campaign against elderly people targeted in shopping centres in Middleton, Bolton and Stretford. While Walker got talking talking to victims, Ellis rifled through their shopping trolleys or bags, stealing their contents. Altogether they stole cash and possessions valued at more than 2,000 from victims aged 58 to 88 in the spree. In 2018 their pair were locked up for a further 18 weeks after being captured on CCTV taking a pensioner's purse from her handbag while sat a Rhode Island cafe in Oldham. Then last year they were given a further 39 weeks after stealing purses, bank cards and handbags from pensioners in Ashton-under-Lyne including a theft in a charity shop. The latest offences took place after Mr Condron boarded a tram to Wythenshawe market on the tram. He went to pay for grociers with 50 cash he had his wallet only to find it missing. Inquiries revealed the pair had approached the victim as he got off the tram and paid for his ticket. As Walker spoke to Mr Condron, Ellis who was stood behind took his wallet. Walker then used Mr Condron's bank card to pay for 110.21 worth in cigarettes at three different stores within 50 yards of each other. The victim has since been reimbursed by the bank. Ellis has 239 previous offences on his record dating back to 1994, Walker has 213 offences, including 160 for theft Lorna Walker's previous offences Walker admitted handing stolen goods and fraud was locked up for 18 months 2005: Handling stolen goods 2011: Burglary and fraud: two years jail 2015: theft x 7: two years custody. 2016: theft: 24 weeks jail 2017: fraud x 2: 28 weeks jail. 2017: breach of suspended sentence: 28 weeks 2018: theft and fraud: 18 weeks jail. 2019: theft from the person, fraud and possessing criminal property: 39 weeks jail. 2020: theft x 7 and fraud: 22 weeks jail. Advertisement When arrested Walker claimed she had been given the stolen card by an 'unknown man' whilst Ellis you denied wrongdoing. Both broke down and confessed when shown CCTV. Ellis has 239 previous offences on his record dating back to 1994 including 159 for theft plus burglary, violence, possession of drugs with intent to supply and dangerous driving and he has used six different aliases during his criminal career. Walker has 213 offences including 160 for theft and she has used eight aliases. She had previously been in an all girl gang who posed as posed as policewomen and carers to bluff their way into victims' homes. Sentencing Judge Michael Leeming told Ellis and Walker: 'You were both less than frank with police and your victim suffered inconvenience which he had not expected. 'He was left angry and distressed by the fact the photograph of his mother which he carried with him for more than 20 years was stolen and cannot be replaced. 'This was not something either of you remotely cared about. 'You were only concerned about yourselves and the 'advantage' the theft would bring to you. 'Your victim's daughter had to come to collect her dad as he had no money to get the tram home. 'Neither of you have been deterred in the slightest by sentences imposed in the past and there is every indication that you will continue to offend in exactly the same way in the future. You both effectively act as a team.' Earlier in mitigation Ellis' lawyer Waheed Baber said: 'It is clear this unenviable record comes from a drug problem and the defendant is frank about that. 'He is now drug-free. This was opportunistic offending and he is trying to become clean.' Defending for Walker, solicitor Chudi Grant said: 'The defendant has a long-standing history of Class A drug use and her previous record reflects that. 'She makes no attempt to minimise her record. 'She expresses remorse which is genuine but is of course tempered by her previous record. 'Her condition, desperation to get drugs and financial problems led her to offend again. ' A man sitting on the edge of a crocodile infested riverbank tried to lure in one of the predators by slapping the water with a stick - before turning around to take a selfie. Campbell and Cheryl Brodie were horrified to see the man so close to the animals while they visited the notorious Cahills Crossing in the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park earlier this month. The couple who were travelling from South Australia spotted at least a dozen crocs lurking in the water and were bracing themselves for the man to be taken. A man set hearts racing when he sat on the water's edge and slapped a stick against the water to lure in crocodiles Cahills Crossing is notorious for having large numbers of crocodiles as tourists race to get through unscathed 'I decided to take the photo of him squatting there so we could ID him to the cops,' Mr Brodie told the NT News. 'We counted 11 crocs in the area in front of the viewing platform and a couple on the lower side.' At one stage the selfie taker was within five metres of a crocodile and was even splashing the water with his hand to draw them in. The couple repeatedly told him to stay back but he ignored their warnings. Despite the string of danger signs surrounding the crossing, the man told the couple he simply wanted to get a closer look. 'He showed no fear or concern for his own safety,' Mr Brodie said, adding the man luckily survived. Cahills Crossing has had a string of other near-death experiences with locals and tourists getting up close and personal with huge packs of crocs. Earlier this month, Rachelle Wastle and her husband Peter were driving through the crossing when they were blocked by a dozen crocodiles. A group of saltwater crocodiles are seen swimming at Cahills Crossing in the Northern Territory Video footage captured the terrifying moment a couple were stuck in the middle of Cahills Crossing (pictured), a popular spot in Kakadu National Park, notorious for saltwater crocodiles Terrifying video footage shows the couple's car submerged into water as they attempted to cross to the other side of the river. Mrs Wastle told Daily Mail Australia that she and her husband had been taking advantage of the Northern Territory's long weekend and had been camping in Cobourg Peninsula. The couple were returning to their home in Darwin. 'We were fine with the crocodiles, we are used to them now,' she said. 'We had been camping in an area where you walk along the beach and a crocodile would appear two metres in front of you.' Eventually, the crocodiles began to move out of the way of the vehicle in chase of some food. Crocodiles are a common occurrence at the crossing and one 40-year-old man, Kerry McLoughlin was tragically taken and decapitated by one in 1987. Visitors continue to flock to the area. Appointment 26 August 2020 Michael's 20 years of experience in the hotel industry has taken him from Como Hotels & Resorts in London to Park Hyatt in Sydney. With his extensive knowledge in hospitality, Michael joined Swire Hotels in 2009 as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Opposite House in Beijing and later assumed the position of General Manager at EAST Beijing in 2013. In 2017, he moved to Shanghai to take on the role of General Manager of The Middle House and oversee its opening. Michael's recent appointment as Head of Sales & Distribution in 2020 will be based in Hong Kong at the Swire Hotels Central Support Office, with a focus on the development of a comprehensive distribution strategy for both The House Collective and EAST brand. He will be responsibile for the overall relationship with distribution partners and will take the lead in developing offline/online sales strategies. In his free time Michael enjoys traveling, running, and music. In apparent defiance of court orders, the Trump administration has reaffirmed its cutbacks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for young undocumented immigrants: No new DACA applicants will be accepted, and current participants can renew their legal status for only one year instead of two. Supporters of the program have asked a federal judge in Maryland to hold the administration in contempt of court. The Supreme Court ruled June 18 that President Trump had acted illegally in September 2017 when he repealed DACA, the program established by President Barack Obama in 2012. It grants deportation reprieves and work permits to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. without documentation before turning 16, have attended school or served in the military, and have no serious criminal record. Trump claimed Obama had no legal authority to exempt a category of undocumented immigrants from deportation. In the courts 5-4 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts said Trump had failed to offer a rational explanation for his order or consider its impact on more than 700,000 migrants who relied on the program, or their 200,000 U.S.-citizen children. The court did not prohibit Trump from making another attempt to eliminate DACA, but ordered it reinstated in the meantime. The administration had stopped accepting new DACA applicants since September 2017 but had been required by lower courts to allow renewals by current participants. Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images The Supreme Court ruling implied, but did not expressly state, that officials must resume accepting new applications. U.S. District Judge Paul Grimm of Baltimore took that step July 17, ordering the Department of Homeland Security to restore the program to its status before Trumps action, including new applications. On July 29, however, Chad Wolf, Trumps acting secretary of Homeland Security, issued a memo that maintained the administrations ban on new DACA applicants and allowed current participants to renew their status for just one year. Wolf also said DACA participants would no longer be allowed to leave the United States and return legally, apart from exceptional circumstances. He did not mention Grimms order. The existence of a program like DACA may send mixed messages about DHSs intention to consistently enforce immigration laws, and may encourage individuals to take a perilous journey to this country, needlessly endangering children, Wolf said in his memo. Then on Monday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which oversees DACA, published guidelines for its employees to enforce Wolfs restrictions, again without referring to the federal judges order to restore the program. Grimm, meanwhile, is considering requests by immigrants and their supporters to find the administration in contempt and order immediate compliance. Federal officials have demonstrated their intent to defy the clear mandate of the Supreme Court, as well as lower courts, the immigrants lawyers said in a filing Aug. 14. They said officials have dared this court (or any other) to enforce their orders. Pratheepan Gulasekaram, an immigration law professor at the University of Santa Clara, said the administrations response to the court rulings suggests that the executive branch is above the law. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, had an equally scathing assessment. Following the Supreme Courts decision, the president had the opportunity to do the right thing for Americas Dreamers, Lofgren said Tuesday, using supporters name for DACA participants. But, instead, his administration chose chaos over compassion. The government agencies did not respond to requests for comment. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Primeste notificari pe email Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare (Premium) Granturi - Finantari (Premium) Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Who thought an accidental lottery ticket would turn into a millionaire-maker? Looks like that tip about going with computer-generated combinations really works. Construction worker Jose Sarabia got the surprise of his life after a ticket he bought at a New Mexico gas station won him $2 million, considering the winning stub was actually an extra ticket that the clerk accidentally printed out. He originally meant to buy just one, but eventually forked out an extra $3 for the second ticket. "Sarabia's ticket matched the white ball numbers of 02, 11, 47, 62 and 63," Fox News Latino reported. "He missed landing that night's jackpot of $500 million by not matching the winning red Powerball of 17." "While there were 15 other lottery players across the nation who won $1 million, Sarabia purchased an additional $1 Power Play -making him the only winner in the United States to double his Powerball prize to $2 million," the publication said. The winning combination was drawn January 6. Sarabia claimed his prize earlier this week at the New Mexico Lottery headquarters in Albuquerque, Texas. "Sarabia bought his lucky ticket at the Brewer Oil Loving Chevron, 100 N. 8th St., in Loving," Las Cruces Sun-News noted. "For selling the $2 million-winning ticket, the store is eligible for a $2,500 New Mexico Lottery bonus." The new millionaire said that he plans to use the money to pay off existing debts, such as those involving his home and vehicles. He also said he would donate to his church and help his parents. It was learned that the clerk originally attempted to sell the extra ticket to Sarabia's friend, who was with him when he bought the winning numbers. However, the pal denied the offer, so Sarabia eventually decided to get it himself. And now, when asked whether his friend regretted the decision, the new millionaire said, "No, he said it was my ticket, it was meant for me." The construction worker didn't miss a beat and bought a ticket for the Wednesday Powerball draw. However, it's unknown whether he is one of the winners of the jackpot prize. Recently, it's been reported that three winners share the billion-dollar prize, with one from California, another from Florida, and the third one from Tennessee, ABC 7 noted. "California also had 12 tickets match five of the six numbers in Wednesday's drawing," the news outlet said. Has a Latino won in the recent Powerball draw? Did your bet win? Talk to us in the comments below! WATCH: 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Police resorted to the use of water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters at several places as various political organisations on Wednesday took out marches across the state alleging that important files" were destroyed in the fire that broke out at the Secretariat here. Many workers were allegedly injured in the police action. The Congress and the BJP, their youth-wing organisations, womens wing organisations, and the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) took out marches at various places, including to the secretariat here, in protest against the left government. The workers alleged that the fire last evening was a move to destroy the files" related to the gold smuggling case. The government maintained that none of the important files were destroyed as the state secretariat had a few years ago migrated all its files to the e-files system as part of the paperless secretariat initiative. Police resorted to the use of water cannon and tear gas at workers of Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, who tried to climb over the police barricade and enter the secretariat complex in Thiruvanathapuram. The BJP took out another rally which was followed by those of the Youth Congress, the Congress, and the SDPI. The Mahila Congress also marched to the secretariat, trying to break the barricades which were set around the complex since early morning. Youth Congress activists burnt an effigy of the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Kannur and Ernakulam, sources said. The Youth Congress activists also staged protests at various districts and there was a minor scuffle when police tried to arrest and remove them at Kollam, police said. The Yuva Morcha march to Kannur also allegedly turned violent, injuring many. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala launched a scathing attack on Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehtha and said he is now the Avishwas Mehtha." The files were destroyed to save Swapna Suresh (key accused in the gold smuggling case), Sivashankar (suspended senior IAS officer and former principal secretary to CM)and the chief minister, he alleged. The government has appointed the Chief Secretary to defend them. He is not Vishwas Mehta anymore butAvishwas Mehta. When a fire broke out in the General Administration Department yesterday, Mehta chased away the media who came to find out what happened," Chennithala told reporters during a protest march in front of the secretariat. Chennithala also shot off a letter to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan urging him to summon" the chief secretary and the chief minister to seek explanation" over the gross negligence" resulting in the fire. Meanwhile, BJP state chief K Surendran said the governments explanation on e-files was not satisfactory and the fire was pre-planned." Most of the employees were quarantined and the government is yet to release the details of those who have turned positive and the number of staff under quarantine.When the office was shutdown due to COVID cases, did the government inform the media?" Surendran asked. However, CPI(M) state chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged the Congress has been engaged in violence to hide the ignominy of defeat in the no-confidence motion in the state Assembly. He claimed both the Congress and the BJP were trying to incite violence together and it was evident that the BJP state chief Surendran and opposition Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala reached the spot soon after the fire broke out. The violence in the state capital is perpetrated by the Congress to hide the ignominy of defeat in the state Assembly and the differences of opinion from their own (UDF) Front. Both the Congress and the BJP have been trying to spin out a fake narrative even as it has been clear that only a few papers were partially burnt in the incident," Balakrishnan said in a statement. He pointed out that important files were in the e-filing system and the opposition was protesting and inciting" violence despite knowing all the details. The Opposition is well aware of all these details but still prefer to engage in fake narratives and violence. While probing the matter, the role of Congress and the BJP in this matter should also be investigated," Balakrishanan said. The youth wing of CPI, the AIYF, alleged the Congress and the BJP were trying to incite violence in the state capital. Both the parties have crossed all limits and is engaged in this protest drama. The Opposition must explain why they are protesting.It seems like, there is a conspiracy behind this. Just minutes after the fire broke out, the BJP leaders reached the spot and it shows that there is a conspiracy behind the incident," the AIYF said in a statement. The state government has been drawing flak in the gold smuggling case involving a diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate and the matter is being probed by central agencies including the NIA, Customs and the Enforcement Directorate. The NIA has arrested many including former employees of the Consulate Swapna Suresh and Sarith. The state government had earlier suspended senior IAS officer and the then IT secretary M Sivashankar, who was also the principal secretary to the chief minister, after allegations came up that he had close connection with Swapna Suresh. The Congress had on Tuesday demanded an NIA probe into the matter, while the state BJP chief courted arrest for forcefully entering the complex soon after the fire broke out. The state government has appointed an expert panel to look into the incident and asked it to submit the report within a week, while the crime branch will also probe the matter. A special team headed by Disaster Management Commissioner Kaushik has been appointed to probe the technical reason behind the fire that broke out in the secretariat, and to file the report within a week," the chief secretarys office said in a release. The crime branch team will be headed by ADGP Manoj Abraham. Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta and other senior officials, including members of the probe team, have already visited the spot. The incident happened on the second floor of the North Sandwich Block where certain sections of the General Administration and the tourism department are functioning. Nearly 26 metric tons of food that would have been destined for landfills in the past three years in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, have instead been used to feed more than 10,000 people thanks to a local food bank. Chen Jiahua and Zhang Ying, both in their early 20s, started a food bank in 2017 to salvage food that was still good but was not used or close to expiring. The food bank, PDT Food Depotnamed for the French word for potato, pomme de terrestarted distribution in communities in Guangzhou. It then expanded to a much greater part of the city with the help of the Shanghai Oasis Ecological Conservation and Communication Center, which had created the country's first food bank in 2014. The program also joined Oasis' food bank network. Partners within the network share information about obtaining donated productsusually food items close to their "best before" dates from supermarkets and producers or excess from restaurantsso that the food can be redistributed to the nearest recipients. "We also learned from Shanghai Oasis the practices and legal framework for operating a food bank in the country," said Chen, who has signed up 12 food businesses, including major companies like Kellogg's and Kraft Heinz Co, as donors. PDT also has opened 19 social work facilities that offer such services as centers to care for the homeless and welfare facilities for mentally challenged children who are hungry. "Our goal is to develop a food redistribution network covering South China while exploring a future of zero food waste with joint efforts from food enterprises and consumers, especially as the country recently started a nationwide drive to avoid unnecessary food waste," Chen said. She learned about food banks while studying environmental science at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. There, Chen and others who helped create the Guangzhou food bank were honored when PDT Food Depot won second place in the university's 2019 competition for the McGill Dobson Cup for the best startup idea, according to the July issue of a McGill newsletter. For 2020, the program aims to reduce by 100 tons the amount of food wasted in Guangzhou through sharing and donation, she said. Just like in Guangzhou, food bankswhich mostly redistribute staple foods, cooking oil and milk powder to impoverished familieshave grown up around the country. The goals are not only to salvage food that otherwise would be wasted, but also to protect the environment and help low-income individuals and families, said Li Bing, founder of Shanghai Oasis, a nongovernmental organization. "We hope to help impoverished families cut down on food expenses and to be able to use the money for health and education purposes instead, while helping enterprises minimize their food waste," she said. Oasis' food bank network has been extended to at least 11 provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Sichuan province, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Liaoning province. Some of those efforts have been supervised by Oasis, but at least five local food banks learned from the Oasis model and joined its food distribution network. Oasis said 580 tons in food worth more than 31 million yuan ($4.5 million) produced by 202 food enterprises had been salvaged by the end of 2019. The food was distributed to 760,000 individuals at nearly 250 nonprofit organizations, communities and schools. "However, what made us happier was not the figures but the rising awareness of reducing food waste among more enterprises, institutions and grassroots and city-level governments, which reached out to us to work together," Li said. She said local communities always gave a positive response to food banks wherever they went because people received tangible benefits. "We often said, in amazement, that the donated food items are of very good quality. We ourselves wouldn't even buy some of them because they are pricey. But, without food banks, they would have been wasted only because of overproduction or their approaching the end of their shelf life," said Zheng Liang, a volunteer for the food bank in Shanghai. US deeply involved in Taiwan Island's politics, peaceful reunification unlikely: former KMT official Global Times Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/25 21:17:27 The US has deeply involved in the island of Taiwan's politics, and the possibility of a peaceful reunification is fading, the former deputy secretary-general of the Kuomintang (KMT) Tsai Cheng-Yuan said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times. One month before the 2020 Taiwan regional leader election, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) personnel had threatened some media bosses of the Blue Camp to change their stance, Tsai revealed. While the US continues to provoke confrontation, the People's Liberation of Army (PLA) recently resumed a week-long military exercise on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, but Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan seem not to realize the imminent danger. The DPP is deeply divided, he noted. "They always ask me, 'What will the mainland do?' or 'What should we do?'" Tsai said. There is a huge divergence of opinion within the DPP, but none to the point of quarreling, said Tsai, adding "DPP members are waiting and observing other members action." . Tsai told the Global Times that the US has deeply involved in Taiwan Island's political affairs. "Many Taiwan businessmen have a US passport. Before the 2020 Taiwan regional leader election, the CIA contacted many media bosses of the Blue Camp, demanding them to follow US order. As a result, the Blue Camp media changed their stance in the last month," he said. The CIA even approached KMT legislators one by one and asked them whether they are anti-US and pro-Communist Party of China, said Tsai, adding that legislators do not have US citizenship, but some of their children may be studying in the US. According to a poll released by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation on Thursday, 41 percent of respondents worry about a cross-straits war, and 58 percent do not.Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou believes that "the first battle (between the two sides) will be the last." Thirty-four percent of respondents echoed Ma's remarks and 58 percent disagreed. Tsai doesn't mince words about his pessimism, arguing that the possibility of a peaceful reunification is diminishing, no matter from the perspective of history, US intervention, de-sinicization and other factors. In his opinion, Trump wants to win more votes by provoking the Chinese mainland, and to persuade voters forget the inefficiency of his administration. "In 1996, missiles were fired (by the mainland) to places very close to Keelung and Kaohsiung," he said. "However, the locations of the (PLA's) military exercises are relatively far away from Taiwan Island with a relatively restrained attitude this year." Tsai agreed with Ma's recent remarks that "the first battle will be the last." If the Chinese mainland decides to deal with the Taiwan question with the armed forces, it will resolve it quickly, Tsai said. "Because it would be like the Chinese mainland showing all the achievements of its military build-up in the past decades in front of the people, and the PLA would not allow the failure of a first battle," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TRENTON The alleged gunman who shot and killed 29-year-old Rahkeem Ortiz in downtown Trenton last week has been arrested. Arthur Ford, 29, of Trenton, is facing murder and weapons offenses in the Aug. 17 slaying of the Blackwood resident, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri announced Wednesday. Authorities found Ford Tuesday evening hiding at a family members house in Pocomoke, Maryland, according to the Mercer County Prosecutors Office. The Trenton man is currently incarcerated at the Worcester County Detention Center in Snow Hill, Maryland, pending extradition to New Jersey. Surveillance footage and witness statements helped police solve the grisly murder of Ortiz, who died from multiple gunshot wounds in the daylight homicide last week, authorities said. The shooting occurred about 1:40 p.m. Aug. 17 in downtown Trenton, near South Warren and West Front streets. After the shooting, the Trenton Police Departments Communications Center received several calls with descriptions of a black male fleeing the area, the prosecutors office said Wednesday in a news release. During their investigation, homicide detectives located multiple surveillance cameras in the area. After reviewing video footage and speaking with one or more witnesses, detectives were able to positively identify Ford as the shooter, authorities said. Onofri announced the arrest Wednesday morning but did not identify a motive in the murder of Ortiz. Officers found Ortiz suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a public parking lot last week. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, according to the prosecutors office. Ortiz was a resident of Blackwood in Camden County, about 40 miles away from Trenton. He previously lived in the capital city and formerly served time in state prison for a July 2015 aggravated assault and unlawful possession of firearms in 2014, records show. The alleged killer Ford is also an ex-con who previously pleaded guilty to third-degree drug charges stemming from a July 2012 arrest in Trenton, according to online court records. It could take weeks or months before Ford is extradited to New Jersey to answer charges of murder. The total amount sanctioned under the 100 per cent Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by public sector and private banks stand at Rs 1,55,995.62 crore as of 24 August 2020, of which Rs 1,05,926.99 crore has already been disbursed, the Union Ministry of Finance has said. As of 24 Aug 2020, the total amount sanctioned under the 100% Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by #PSBs and private banks stands at Rs 1,55,995.62 crore, of which Rs 1,05,926.99 crore has already been disbursed. Here is the break-up: #AatmanirbharBharat #MSMEs pic.twitter.com/6JGtiKcvIa NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) August 25, 2020 Public sector banks sanctioned loans to 33,59,149 accounts so far, of which funds to 20,57,762 bank accounts have already been disbursed. Private sector banks sanctioned loans to 8,06,247 accounts and 3,20,046 bank accounts have already received funds. In total, loans were approved to 41,65,396 accounts, while banks have already disbursed funds to 23,77,808 accounts. Under the scheme, the loan amounts sanctioned by PSBs increased to Rs 76,765.18 crore, of which Rs 58,230.01 crore has been disbursed as of August 24, 2020. Under the 100% ECLGS, the loan amounts sanctioned by Public Sector Banks increased to Rs 76,765.18 crore, of which Rs 58,230.01 crore has been disbursed as of 24 Aug 2020. Here are the bank-wise & State-wise details: #AatmanirbharBharat #MSMEs pic.twitter.com/fYcokPNOLZ NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) August 25, 2020 Among PSBs, SBI has sanctioned maximum loans to 5.4 lakh accounts, followed by Canara Bank (4.65 lakh accounts) and Punjab National Bank (4.14 lakh). SBI has sanctioned maximum Rs 23,864.34 crore so far, of which Rs 17,599 crore have already been disbursed. PNB has sanctioned Rs 10,348.64 crore worth loans, of which Rs 7,621.08 crore have been disbursed. Canara Bank has approved loans worth Rs 8,248.47 crore, of which 6,773.91 crore worth loans have been released. Compared to August 18, 2020, there is an increase of Rs 5,236.17 crore in the cumulative amount of loans sanctioned and an increase of Rs 3,681.22 crore in the cumulative amount of loans disbursed by both PSBs and private sector banks combined as on August 24. Also read: Rs 1.23 lakh crore sanctioned to MSMEs under emergency credit line guarantee scheme; SBI top lender Also read: GST Council may consider proposal to cut tax on two-wheelers A former student from Aloha High School is suing the Beaverton School District after a teacher was convicted of sending the girl nude pictures of himself. The suit, which asks for more than $2 million in damages, alleges the district failed to monitor the teachers communications with students and didnt take action even after it became aware of some of the teachers troubling behavior. In March, Timothy Lawrence Yee, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of luring a minor. As part of his sentence, he received three years of probation, is required to register as a sex offender and must undergo sex offender treatment. As part of the plea deal, Yee admitted to sending a 16-year-old student naked photos of himself and a video of himself engaged in a sexual act. In April, the girl told her friends that Yee had commented about the appearance of her breasts and sent her naked photos in the summer of 2018, according to a probable cause affidavit. One of the victims friends told her own mother, who told the victims parents, who called police. In a recorded phone call, Yee asked the girl to keep quiet, according to the affidavit. Yee was arrested about a week later and admitted to what he had done, records show. Yee was sentenced to 120 days in jail, setting off a blistering rebuke from the victims civil lawyers, Erin Greenawald and Sean Riddell, who said in a statement their client was deeply disappointed with the lenient sentence. The punishment does not fit the crimes he committed and was originally charged with, reads the statement. The defendant took advantage of his position as an educator and mentor to repeatedly victimize our client. The educational system did not protect our client. And the criminal justice system let her down, as well. In the lawsuit, filed Monday, Greenawald and Riddell alleged that Yee had electronic communications with multiple students across multiple social media platforms, none of which included district oversight or that of parents or guardians. In August 2018, an Aloha High School teacher told district administrators that Yee had been engaging in questionable behavior with students over social media, according to the suit. The Aloha principal and vice principal met with Yee but did not request a Title IX investigation of Defendant Yees conduct, did not document any investigation of Defendant Yees conduct, did not interview any witnesses to Defendant Yees conduct, did not view Defendant Yees social media accounts to determine if he was friends with any current students, and did not ask to view Defendant Yees electronic communications with students, the lawsuit alleges. It wasnt until a second teacher complained to administrators that an investigation was initiated, according to the suit. The suit seeks $250,000 in economic damages, counseling and medical expenses. It also seeks $2 million in emotional injury and mental anguish, among other non-economic damages. The school district said it was unable to comment on pending litigation. -- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. US officials have attacked HSBC for its treatment of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, and accused China of 'bullying' the bank. Donald Trump's chief foreign affairs adviser, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, alleged the lender was maintaining bank accounts for sanctioned officials but cutting off those 'seeking freedom'. It is the latest salvo in a row that has caught HSBC between the world's greatest superpowers. Under fire: Mike Pompeo, alleged the lender was maintaining bank accounts for sanctioned officials but cutting off those 'seeking freedom' The lender is under scrutiny after backing a security law imposed on Hong Kong by China. In response, the US has issued sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials. While HSBC makes most of its money in Asia, it has a significant presence in the US and provides a lot of the financial plumbing between the East and the West. Pompeo said HSBC was 'maintaining accounts for individuals sanctioned for denying freedom for Hong Kongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom.' He added: 'Free nations must ensure that corporate interests are not suborned by the Chinese Communist Party to aid its political repression.' When a star passes too close to a supermassive black hole, tidal forces tear it apart, producing a bright flare of radiation as material from the star falls into the black hole. Astronomers study the light from these "tidal disruption events" (TDEs) for clues to the feeding behavior of the supermassive black holes lurking at the centers of galaxies. New TDE observations led by astronomers at UC Santa Cruz now provide clear evidence that debris from the star forms a rotating disk, called an accretion disk, around the black hole. Theorists have been debating whether an accretion disk can form efficiently during a tidal disruption event, and the new findings, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal and available online, should help resolve that question, said first author Tiara Hung, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz. "In classical theory, the TDE flare is powered by an accretion disk, producing x-rays from the inner region where hot gas spirals into the black hole," Hung said. "But for most TDEs, we don't see x-rays--they mostly shine in the ultraviolet and optical wavelengths--so it was suggested that, instead of a disk, we're seeing emissions from the collision of stellar debris streams." Coauthors Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC, and Jane Dai at the University of Hong Kong developed a theoretical model, published in 2018, that can explain why x-rays are usually not observed in TDEs despite the formation of an accretion disk. The new observations provide strong support for this model. "This is the first solid confirmation that accretion disks form in these events, even when we don't see x-rays," Ramirez-Ruiz said. "The region close to the black hole is obscured by an optically thick wind, so we don't see the x-ray emissions, but we do see optical light from an extended elliptical disk." The telltale evidence for an accretion disk comes from spectroscopic observations. Coauthor Ryan Foley, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC, and his team began monitoring the TDE (named AT 2018hyz) after it was first detected in November 2018 by the All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN). Foley noticed an unusual spectrum while observing the TDE with the 3-meter Shane Telescope at UC's Lick Observatory on the night of January 1, 2019. "My jaw dropped, and I immediately knew this was going to be interesting," he said. "What stood out was the hydrogen line--the emission from hydrogen gas--which had a double-peaked profile that was unlike any other TDE we'd seen." Foley explained that the double peak in the spectrum results from the Doppler effect, which shifts the frequency of light emitted by a moving object. In an accretion disk spiraling around a black hole and viewed at an angle, some of the material will be moving toward the observer, so the light it emits will be shifted to a higher frequency, and some of the material will be moving away from the observer, its light shifted to a lower frequency. "It's the same effect that causes the sound of a car on a race track to shift from a high pitch as the car comes toward you to a lower pitch when it passes and starts moving away from you," Foley said. "If you're sitting in the bleachers, the cars on one turn are all moving toward you and the cars on the other turn are moving away from you. In an accretion disk, the gas is moving around the black hole in a similar way, and that's what gives the two peaks in the spectrum." The team continued to gather data over the next few months, observing the TDE with several telescopes as it evolved over time. Hung led a detailed analysis of the data, which indicates that disk formation took place relatively quickly, in a matter of weeks after the disruption of the star. The findings suggest that disk formation may be common among optically detected TDEs despite the rarity of double-peaked emission, which depends on factors such as the inclination of the disk relative to observers. "I think we got lucky with this one," Ramirez-Ruiz said. "Our simulations show that what we observe is very sensitive to the inclination. There is a preferred orientation to see these double-peak features, and a different orientation to see x-ray emissions." He noted that Hung's analysis of multi-wavelength follow-up observations, including photometric and spectroscopic data, provides unprecedented insights into these unusual events. "When we have spectra, we can learn a lot about the kinematics of the gas and get a much clearer understanding of the accretion process and what is powering the emissions," Ramirez-Ruiz said. ### In addition to Hung, Foley, Ramirez-Ruiz, and other members of the UCSC team, the coauthors of the paper also include scientists at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen (where Ramirez-Ruiz holds a Niels Bohr Professorship); University of Hong Kong; University of Melbourne, Australia; Carnegie Institution for Science; and Space Telescope Science Institute. Observations were obtained at Lick Observatory, the W. M. Keck Observatory, the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope, and the Swope Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Heising-Simons Foundation. ASUS has been taking a cautious approach to its new phones, at a time when rivals continue to churn out a mix of flagship and midrange devices. Take the ROG Phone 3: its basically just an updated ROG Phone II. The same goes for the ZenFone 7 series announced today, with both models being (pretty much) scaled-up, 5G-capable versions of the ZenFone 6. Apparently people really liked the flip camera on the ZenFone 6, so much that ASUS decided to keep this feature for its 2020 flagship. It means you can use the main cameras for better selfies, instead of making do with a weaker punch-hole camera. This new flip camera comes with three cameras instead of two. The ZenFone 7 series consists of two models: the ZenFone 7 Pro and the near-identical ZenFone 7. Ill be focusing on the Pro here, since thats the one Ive been playing with. Gallery: ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro hands-on | 19 Photos /19 Gallery: ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro hands-on | 19 Photos /19 In addition to the 64-megapixel f/1.8 main camera and the 12-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, the ZenFone 7 Pros flip camera module has gained an 8-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera, which offers 3x fixed optical zoom (and up to 12x digital zoom). As a bonus, both the main camera and the telephoto camera come with 4-axis OIS (optical image stabilization). ASUS claims that the cameras here perform significantly better than last years model. The main camera is powered by Sonys IMX686 imaging sensor, which can apparently capture four times the brightness than before in low-light conditions. The sensor is also capable of recording video at up to 8K at 30fps or 4K slow motion at 120fps, making the phone a versatile video camera. For the ultra-wide camera, ASUS decided to go with the new IMX363 sensor, which has its pros and cons: it features a slightly lower resolution and field of view than last years camera module, but in return, it packs larger 1.4um pixels for better light sensitivity, along with dual pixel autofocus and macro mode (down to 4cm). This is a wise decision for improving both landscape photography and group selfies, especially when lighting isnt ideal. The new sensor can also handle 4K capture at up to 60fps, along with HyperSteady electronic stabilization and real-time distortion correction. Richard Lai/Engadget All these camera benefits apply to both front and rear capture. Or at any angle, for that matter -- just press and hold the flip button in the camera app or use the volume keys to manually adjust the angle. This is particularly handy if your subject is placed at an awkward height or position. There are also three customizable angle buttons -- you can press and hold to save a new angle. Sadly, the unit I received wasnt carrying the finished camera software, so ASUS told me the image quality wasnt representative of the product. Ill update this article with some sample shots once my phone gets the final update. Another major, but less obvious, update to the flip camera is its moving mechanism. According to ASUS, the ZenFone 7 series stepper motor is 40-percent smaller than before, yet its capable of 2.2 times more torque to handle the heavier module with a faster rotation. Its redesigned gearbox and a new angle sensor also allow more precise movements, going from the old 2-degree steps to smaller 0.5-degree steps. Even the level of durability has been doubled to 200,000 continuous flips, according to ASUS. This equates to over five years of usage if you flipped the camera 100 times per day (which is, of course, rather excessive). Like before, if you drop the phone while attempting a selfie, the camera will automatically retract during the fall. That said, the ZenFone 7 series isnt waterproof due to the nature of the flip camera design, so youll want to keep the phone away from liquids. Richard Lai/Engadget The new flip camera supports improved auto panorama and motion tracking video recording, with the former now compatible with the ultra-wide camera for some wider panorama shots. The more demanding users will also enjoy new features like independent focus point and exposure point controls, along with the Pro Video mode which lets you tinker with the ISO, shutter speed, white balance and more. Its worth mentioning that the ZenFone 7 series comes with not two but three microphones for better noise cancellation. These add the ability to focus on the sound coming from a subject, and you can even pick the audio direction (front, back or all directions) when recording in Pro Video mode. Richard Lai/Engadget Another physical feature worthy of a mention is the new Smart Key. Its actually just the power button with an integrated fingerprint reader, but it also doubles as a multi-function key. This is a cunning approach, as this all-in-one Smart Key can be customized to instantly unlock and toggle an app or action in one go; or you can leave it as-is for summoning Google Assistant. In terms of core specs, the ZenFone 7 Pro shares the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor as the ROG Phone 3. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, microSD expansion (up to 2TB) and dual SIM slots. Nothing surprising here for a flagship, of course, so its really all about that flip camera. And if it werent for the third camera and the relocated fingerprint reader, youd easily mistake the ZenFone 7 Pro for the ZenFone 6. When placed side by side, though, youll see the new device is much larger. Despite carrying the same generous 5,000mAh battery, the ZenFone 7 Pro is also a lot heavier, weighing 230g (about 8.1 ounces) compared to its 190g (about 6.7 ounces) predecessor; though this shouldnt be a problem for those who are accustomed to the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Richard Lai/Engadget The ZenFone 7 Pro has a 6.67-inch Samsung AMOLED panel, which features a slick 90Hz refresh rate and 200Hz touch sampling rate, along with a longer aspect ratio (2,400 x 1,080) and a maximum outdoor brightness of 700 nits -- about the same as what youd get on the latest flagships from Samsung and Apple. You also get HDR10+ support, which already works with Netflix; just too bad about the lack of front-facing stereo speakers here. ASUS threw in a 30W adapter which supports Quick Charge 4.0 protocol, and this can get the 5,000mAh battery up to 60-percent charge in 34 minutes, or 100-percent charge in 93 minutes. Also included in the box are two protection cases: a hard transparent case and a more rugged black Active Case -- the latter has a latch to lock the flip camera in place for better protection. If you were looking for something a little cheaper, the lesser ZenFone 7 is almost identical to its Pro counterpart, except it packs the less powerful Snapdragon 865 processor along with both 6GB and 8GB RAM options, a smaller 128GB storage and cameras sans OIS. Richard Lai/Engadget The ZenFone 7 series will launch in Taiwan first, with pre-orders starting today. The ZenFone 7 Pro will start from NT$27,990 (about US$950) with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, whereas the more affordable ZenFone 7 is priced starting at NT$21,999 (about US$750) with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Alas, ASUS has confirmed to Engadget that the ZenFone 7 series wont be heading to North America, mainly due to the lack of most US 5G bands on the devices. Folks in Europe, however, can look out for a local launch as early as September 1st. With Navalny Poisoning Confirmed, Focus Turns To With What And By Whom By Yevgenia Kotlyar, Michael Scollon August 25, 2020 For five days now, Russian anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny has been comatose, medically induced into unconsciousness in an effort to keep his body from shutting down. Russian doctors at the Siberian hospital where he was first rushed on August 20 said they didn't know why he fell ill so suddenly. German doctors who treated him after he was airlifted to one of Berlin's best hospitals, however, determined that he suffered poisoning by a toxin in a class of chemicals that includes a deadly Soviet military-grade nerve agent. The main questions now are what, precisely, the toxic substance is; how it got into Navalny's body; and -- if it was administered deliberately as alleged by the Kremlin critic's colleagues and the German government -- by whom. On August 24, the Berlin-based Charite hospital where Navalny is receiving treatment confirmed what Navalny's supporters had been saying for days: that his symptoms, and condition, were consistent with poisoning by an external substance. "The clinical findings indicate intoxication by a substance from the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors," the hospital said in an August 24 statement. While the hospital added that "the specific substance involved remains unknown," the finding fueled allegations that Navalny was deliberately poisoned as he traveled to the Russian capital from the Siberian city of Tomsk, where he was investigating corruption. Accidental Poisoning 'Unlikely' Asked if it was possible Navalny could have ingested something accidentally, Dan Kaszeta, a veteran chemical and biological weapons expert who now runs a London-based consultancy, said that given the substance identified by the Germans, it was "highly unlikely." Accidental poisoning involving this category of chemicals tend to be in agricultural settings, he said, and very infrequent. Navalny's case is "just too damn suspicious," he told RFE/RL. Colleagues of the 44-year old activist, who led boycotts against Russia's 2018 presidential election after his registration as a candidate was rejected by authorities, have said they suspect tea that he drank at the Tomsk airport was laced with a foreign substance. After the plane he was traveling in was forced to make an emergency landing in Omsk, Navalny was rushed to a hospital for treatment and placed into an induced coma. Doctors for two days refused pleas by his relatives and his wife to release Navalny for treatment elsewhere, calling it "an attempt on his life" and a ploy intended to stall until traces of poison could no longer be found in his body. It was only after Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, demanded that President Vladimir Putin allow her husband and staunch Kremlin critic be allowed treatment in Germany that he was rushed by air ambulance to Berlin on August 22. For its part, the Kremlin denied that Putin had gotten involved at all. The Charite hospital's discovery of cholinesterase inhibitors -- toxins that can be used as chemical weapons and have been known to be used in assassinations -- led to increased calls for an investigation into Navalny's suspected poisoning. Russian Skepticism Russian health officials were quick to challenge the idea that the substance -- part of a broad range of chemicals that are also found in several drugs and in some pesticides -- was responsible. Aleksandr Sabayev, the chief toxicologist of the Omsk region and the Siberian Federal District, said on August 24 that Navalny's symptoms were not consistent with those caused by cholinesterase inhibitors. "Upon admission to the hospital, Aleksei Navalny underwent testing for a wide range of narcotic, synthetic substances, psychedelics, and medicinal substances, including cholinesterase inhibitors," Sabayev was quoted as saying by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. "The result was negative." But Vil Mirzayanov, a scientist involved in developing the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, told Current Time on August 24 that cholinesterase inhibitors are "organophosphate toxic substances" that can include nerve agents such as Novichok as well as sarin and soman. Novichok came to wide public awareness after it was used in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England. British prosecutors have charged that two men believed to be Russian military intelligence agents were behind the attack, which ended up killing a British woman, apparently by accident. The attack prompted an outraged response that included Britain and other Western allies expelling dozens of Russian diplomats. Cholinesterase inhibitors can "suppress receptors, and in the event of poisoning muscle control is lost," Mirzayanov explained to Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for Russia to investigate the apparent attack on Navalny. "In light of the prominent role played by Mr. Navalny in the political opposition in Russia, the authorities there are now urgently called upon to investigate this crime to the last detail -- and do so in full transparency," she said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on August 24. "Those responsible must be identified and held accountable." In an indication of how serious Germany considered the threat against Navalny, guards were assigned to protect the hospital unit and room where he was, because "one can say with near certainty that it was a poisoning attack," a Merkel spokesman announced. The Kremlin responded on August 25 by saying there was no immediate need to open an investigation, and suggested that the German doctors treating the Russian opposition leader were "rushing" to use the word poisoning. "If the substance is identified and if it is determined that it is poisoning, then, of course, this will be a reason for investigation," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Kaszeta, the chemical weapons expert, said if the Germans were rushing, it was because they needed to identify the foreign substances and treat it immediately: both to ensure Navalny lived, but also to identify it before his body metabolizes the substances and it's impossible to detect. Mirzayanov said it was difficult for him to say what Navalny's poisoning was caused by until there was testing using something called a gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis, which could then be compared to a database of all known toxic substances. In its August 24 statement, the Charite hospital did not specify how it had determined that cholinesterase inhibitors were present in Navalny's body. The hospital said only that "multiple tests" in independent laboratories had been used, and that a "further series of comprehensive testing has been initiated." The hospital also said Navalny could face long-term consequences. "As a result of this diagnosis, the patient is now being treated with the antidote atropine," the statement said. "Navalny's prognosis remains unclear; the possibility of long-term effects, particularly those affecting the nervous system, cannot be excluded." The hospital did not immediately respond to further questions from RFE/RL. Mirzayanov painted a similarly dire picture, saying it was a "very long, painful process to remove these substances from the body." "The consequences are very bad. Poisoning is almost irrevocable, unfortunately," he said. "Years of rehabilitation are needed." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by Current Time correspondent Yevgenia Kotlyar Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30802286.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Scott Peterson's former mistress said that she is 'relieved' the California Supreme Court did not reverse his convictions for the Christmas Eve murders of his wife and unborn child. Amber Frey began a relationship with Peterson in December 2002, around the time he murdered wife Laci and son Conner. When they first met, Frey was under the impression that Peterson wasn't married. But she soon found out that he was, and that his wife was missing. She agreed to help police in their investigation by having her phone conversations recorded, and her testimony in court helped secure the 2004 guilty verdict. On Tuesday, the day after Peterson's death penalty was overturned, Frey, now 45, said she was pleased that the conviction still stood. Amber Frey has said she believes her ex-boyfriend Scott Peterson should remain in prison Frey, with Peterson in 2002, testified against him and helped secure his 2004 conviction She said that the decision to retry his penalty phase should be left up to Laci Peterson's family. 'I think that in making the decision as to whether to seek it again, the District Attorney should consult with Laci's family and honor that decision,' she said, in a statement emailed to Fox News. Laci Peterson's sister-in-law Anne Bird has also said she believes the state's Supreme Court got it right by not reversing Peterson's conviction. 'I think that Scott Peterson is where he should be in prison,' she said. 'I lost my sister-in-law, Laci, and my unborn nephew, Conner. I am against the death penalty in principle for everyone. 'However, I do think that Scott Peterson is guilty and should spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.' The California Supreme Court on Monday overturned Peterson's planned death by lethal injection, owing to errors in the trial. Scott Peterson and his wife Laci are pictured in 2002, before her Christmas Eve disappearance Peterson was convicted of her murder in November 2004 and sentenced to death in 2005 Peterson, now 47, continues to maintain his innocence. He led the search for her for months but was arrested after Laci's badly decomposed body and the fetus of their son washed up on a San Francisco shoreline in April 2003. Peterson, who authorities say dumped the bodies off the side of his fishing boat, has been on death row since 2005. In the ruling on Monday, the court said Peterson's death penalty conviction was being removed because the trial judge made 'clear and significant errors' in jury selection that meant Peterson did not receive an impartial trial. The court agreed with Peterson's argument that potential jurors were improperly dismissed from the jury pool after saying they personally disagreed with the death penalty but would be willing to follow the law and impose it. 'While a court may dismiss a prospective juror as unqualified to sit on a capital case if the juror's views on capital punishment would substantially impair his or her ability to follow the law, a juror may not be dismissed merely because he or she has expressed opposition to the death penalty as a general matter,' the justices said in a unanimous decision. Frey is pictured with her attorney Gloria Allred in 2004, during the Peterson trial Laci was reported missing on Christmas Eve in 2002 when she was eight months pregnant Her husband led the search for her for months but was arrested after Laci's badly decomposed body washed up on a San Francisco shoreline in April 2003. The couple married in 1997 Peterson contended on appeal that he could not get a fair trial because of the massive publicity that followed, although the proceedings were moved nearly 90 miles away from his Central Valley home of Modesto to San Mateo County, south of San Francisco. He also had contended on appeal that the trial court erred in deciding whether jurors and the defense were properly allowed to test whether Peterson's new boat would likely have capsized if he dumped the weighted bodies over the side. Amid rising water levels in Mumbai's lakes, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra has suggested a comprehensive plan for water harvesting. The 65-year-old business tycoon said that while the rising levels are good news, it could make one complacent. Mahindra tweeted, "So this a sight for sore eyes, but it could make us complacent". Mahindra tagged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uuddhav Thackeray in this tweet. The chairman of the Mahindra Group cited a report by Numerical with data on water levels in Mumbai's lakes. The average level of water in Mumbai's lakes has neared 95 per cent of their total supply capacity on Wednesday. As per Numerical, all the lakes have 94.90 per cent combined live storage as of August 26 in comparison to 95 per cent at the same time last year. Had recently voiced concern at the low lake levels in Mumbai despite record rains. So this is a sight for sore eyes. But it could make us complacent. Mumbai needs comprehensive plans for water harvesting & a desalination plant. Or else well be praying every year. @OfficeofUT pic.twitter.com/HZfnrjWl6B anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 26, 2020 Earlier, in July, Mahindra had expressed concerns over low lake levels in Mumbai despite record rains. He then tweeted, "In a cruel twist of fate, lake levels in Mumbai remain perilously low despite the city having received its full quota of July rainfall". In a cruel twist of fate, lake levels in Mumbai remain perilously low despite the city having received its full quota of July rainfall. Apart from the fact that rainfall tapered off as it approached the lakes, theres perhaps another cause...(1/3) anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 20, 2020 The report added that a total of 361 days of supply is left in all lakes combined as of August 26. Bhatsa lake, which shares the highest water at 48 per cent, has 682,194 million litres of water. On the other hand, lake Vetarna's share of water to Mumbai is 16 per cent. It has 19,818 million litres of water. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) supplies 3,800 million litre volumes of water to Mumbaikars every day. BMC has been supplying the same quantity of water even during the COVID-19 lockdown indicating increased usage for domestic and residential purposes.Also read: Anand Mahindra shares picture of room for mother-in-law; Twitter cracks up The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the decision of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to transfer Rs 15 crore to the PM CARES Fund. A division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan heard the matter through video conferencing and while refusing to entertain the plea, said how a PIL can be filed when the members of ICAI were not aggrieved by the transfer of funds. The court later asked the petitioner Navneet Chaturvedi to either withdraw the matter or face dismissal with cost, so the counsel for the petitioner then decided to withdraw the plea and the court dismissed it as withdrawn. The petition claimed that the decision was taken by the ICAI on a request made by the then Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. If the members of ICAI are not opposing the decision of contribution towards the PM Cares fund, then what are the grounds for a PIL, the bench said while raising contention of the petitioner. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had rejected a PIL seeking directions to bring the PM CARES fund under the ambit of Right to Information (RTI) Act for more transparency. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 09:32:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has made public a one-month schedule for regular and chartered international flights starting from Sept. 2, nearly six months after international flights were suspended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to the ministry, only Nepalis getting special permission from the Nepali government to come to Nepal, foreign diplomats and employees at foreign diplomatic missions in Nepal, representatives and employees of United Nations offices and development partners of Nepal, can enter Nepal from some selected countries and regions on these flights. As per the flight schedule released by the ministry on Tuesday, one Nepali airline and one foreign airline have been allowed to conduct one international flight respectively on the first day of flight resumption. The Nepal Airlines, Nepal's national flag carrier, has been allowed to fly on Kathmandu-Narita (Japan) route while Malaysia's Malindo Air has been allowed to fly on Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route on Sept. 2. The flight schedule has been arranged for the entire September month. During the period, foreign airlines have been allowed to conduct 29 regular flights between Kathmandu and cities of various countries and regions. Likewise, the Nepal Airlines and the Himalayan Airlines, Nepal's two international airlines, have been allowed to conduct 17 and 12 international flights respectively. Similarly, various Nepali and foreign airlines have been allowed to conduct 27 chartered flights on different routes in September, as per the notice issued by Nepal's tourism ministry. The Nepali government has suspended regular international flights since March 22 and it has allowed chartered flights only for humanitarian purpose and the delivery of medical goods. Nepal's cabinet on Aug. 20 decided to resume scheduled international flights from September. Only those who test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before boarding would be allowed to board the plane as per the protocol prepared by the ministry. A senior official at Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) said that the airport authority was prepared to deal with the arrivals of the Nepalis and foreigners through both regular and chartered flights by adopting necessary safety measures. TIA General Manager Debendra K.C. told Xinhua on Tuesday evening that health workers, security personnel and aviation staff to be assigned in the front desk would be using personal protective equipment (PPE) and other protective gear while dealing with the passengers. "Adequate safety measures have been taken," said K.C. "That's why none of the TIA staff has contracted with Coronavirus even though they cleared more than 72,000 passengers travelling on the chartered flights since Nepal imposed nationwide lockdown March 24," K.C. said. The lockdown enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 lasted till July 21. Enditem Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (L) speaks to reporters in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 13, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images); (R) President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on June 27, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Trump, Biden Deadlocked in 4 Battleground States, New Survey Finds President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden are all but dead-even in four key battleground states of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Florida, according to a new survey of likely voters by Heritage Action. We asked voters who they plan to vote for between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Forty-eight percent answered Trump, 48 percent answered Biden, Heritage Action said in a statement accompanying release of the surveys results. Only 4 percent were undecided. In terms of favorability, both President Trump and Joe Biden were viewed unfavorably by 2 points. In each state, the race is a statistical tie, the statement said. The presidential preference results, particularly the low undecided number, suggest Bidens strong lead nationwide in surveys earlier this year has disappeared. Things remain much more fluid, however, when voters are asked about their party support preferences. That preference can be a key factor in deciding close congressional races. When we asked whether voters plan to support Republicans or Democrats in the upcoming election, the responses were split, with 43 percent supporting either side, the statement said. Fourteen percent remained undecided. If 14 percent of likely voters in the four states remain undecided through the rest of the summer and into the post-Labor Day campaign run-up to the Nov. 3 election, the Wednesday after voting could bring a huge package of upsets. The survey interviewed 400 general election likely voters in each state, for a total of 1,600, with a margin of error of 2.45 percent on the full sample and 4.9 percent on the individual states. The interviews were conducted Aug. 24, a three-day period in which violent riots, especially in Portland, Oregon, were continuing into a third month of near-nightly destruction and mayhem. The riots appeared to have made a deep impression on virtually all of those interviewed for the survey. When asked if the riots were the result of years of injustice and inequality or were being perpetrated by people who hate America and want to tear down the government, 49 percent overall agreed with the latter, compared to 42 percent choosing the former. The same pattern held in the four battleground states, with the percentages being 5043 in Arizona, 4742 in Florida, 4844 in Pennsylvania, and 5041 in Wisconsin. When asked specifically if they support defunding the police, the results overall and within each of the four states were overwhelmingly opposed. Overall, 79 percent were opposed, including 69 percent who said they are strongly opposed, compared to 16 percent who favored such action. Opposition to defunding the police spanned all age groups, both genders, and the three major ethnicities, including 60 percent among blacks. In the four states, 82 percent of Arizonans interviewed opposed defunding the police, along with 80 percent of Floridians, 76 percent of Pennsylvanians, and 78 percent of Wisconsinites. Trumps job approval ratings overall were strong, with his handling of the economy earning approval from 54 percent and disapproval from 43 percent, for a net 11+ for Trump. The positive responses of each of the four states to Trump on the economy were also strong, with the approval/disapproval numbers for Arizona being 5643, as well as 5644 in Florida, 5343 in Pennsylvania, and 5344 in Wisconsin. The percentages were much closer when respondents were asked their approval or disapproval of Trump overall, with 50 percent saying the former and 48 percent the latter. Trumps overall approval rating was on the plus side in Arizona (5247) and Florida (5347), but on the negative side in Pennsylvania (4950) and Wisconsin (4851). Bidens major policy positions dont appear to be net positives for him, based on the results of a series of push questions asked of interviewees. When told, for example, that Joe Biden has proposed the single largest tax hike in American history, including raising taxes on the middle class by over $2,000 a year for the average family of four, 53 percent of respondents said they were less likely to vote for the former vice president. The survey also asked interviewees about their opinions on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), aka AOC. The responses were nearly identical and strongly negative for both Pelosi and AOC, with 53 percent disapproving of the Speaker and 40 percent approving. For AOC, the numbers were 4531, with 10 percent saying they had never heard of her. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc PODGORICA, Montenegro - Montenegros president says a weekend parliamentary election will be crucial to the preservation of the small Balkan states independence in the face of renewed attempts by Serbia and Russia to bring nationalist and anti-Western allies to power, his party said Wednesday. President Milo Djukanovic alleged that a media and political war is being waged against him and his Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) ahead of Sundays election, to put Montenegro under the umbrella of Belgrade and Moscow and prevent it from joining the European Union, the party quoted him as saying. Djukanovic said the DPS wont allow the dark ideology of the middle ages to prevail in the election. He was referring to the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, which has led a series of protests against his government. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied the accusations that Serbia, a close Russian ally, was interfering in the Montenegrin election through the media and the church. A religious property law in Montenegro triggered months of anti-government protests by Serbs, who represent about 30% of the countrys population of 620,000. They say the law will lead to the state impounding Serbian Orthodox Church property, which Montenegrin officials deny. In the election, Montenegros ruling party is facing a challenge from a pro-Serb group and another opposition alliance that have accused Djukanovic and the government of widespread corruption during his 30 years as prime minister and president. Opinion polls suggest that the DPS will win the most votes, but not enough to govern alone. Djukanovic, who is not up for reelection on Sunday, led Montenegro to independence from much larger Serbia. He also led the country to NATO membership in the face of strong opposition from Russia, which considers Montenegro its traditional Slavic ally. During the last parliamentary election in 2016, Montenegro thwarted an attempted coup that was allegedly orchestrated from Serbia by two Russian military intelligence officers. More than a dozen people, mostly Serbs, have been sentenced after the failed coup, including the two Russians who remain at large. Both Russia and Serbia have repeatedly denied they were behind the alleged coup attempt. On Wednesday, Montenegrin police said they have information that certain groups plan street gatherings during the vote and after the polls close, and warned that any destructive behaviour would lead to consequences. Kenosha, Wis. A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday in the killing of two people during a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, was taken into custody in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha. Two people were killed Tuesday night in an attack carried out by a young white man who was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle. FROM EARLIER: Illinois police arrested a juvenile Wednesday after two people were shot to death in a possible vigilante attack during a protest in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Barnes. Commander Norman Johnson of the Antioch Police Department said the suspect a young man whose name was not released because he is under 18 was arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. Police did not immediately release any other details. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha, which has seen three straight nights of unrest since Blake was wounded by police over the weekend. Two people were killed Tuesday night in an attack carried out by a young white man who was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle. I just killed somebody, he could be heard saying at one point during the shooting rampage that erupted just before midnight. In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized 500 members of the National Guard to support local law enforcement around Kenosha, doubling the number of troops sent in. The governor's office said he working other states to bring in additional National Guard troops and law officers. One victim was shot in the head and the other in the chest, Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A third person suffered gunshot wounds not believed to be life-threatening. We were all chanting Black lives matter at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `Thats not fireworks, 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, He shot someone! He shot someone! And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again. Scott said he cradled a lifeless victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but I dont think he made it. According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the young man responsible for the shootings walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. The sheriff told the Journal Sentinel that armed people had been patrolling the city's streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. Theyre a militia, Beth said. Theyre like a vigilante group. The FBI said it is assisting in the case. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is Black, said in an interview with the news program Democracy Now! that the shootings were not surprising and that white militias have been ignored for too long. How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks its OK? Barnes said. People treat that like its some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles. Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages: The gunman first shot someone at a car lot, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him. A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled, two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him. The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired, Rosas said. Sam Dirks, 22, from Milwaukee, said he saw the suspected gunman earlier in the evening, and he was yelling at some of the protesters. He was definitely very agitated. He was pacing around, just pointing his gun in general. Not necessarily at anyone specifically, Dirks said. In other widely circulating video, police can be seen tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle to what appear to be armed civilians walking the streets. One of the civilians appears to be the gunman who later shot protesters. We appreciate you being here, an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. In Wisconsin, it is legal for people 18 and over to openly carry a gun, with no license required. At a news conference earlier Tuesday, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blakes family, said it would take a miracle for the 29-year-old Blake to walk again. He called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and for the others involved to lose their jobs. Blake was shot, apparently in the back, on Sunday as he leaned into his SUV, three of his children seated inside. Kenosha police have said little about what happened other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. They have not said why the officers opened fire or whether Blake was armed, and they have not disclosed the race of three officers on the scene. The shooting was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests in the U.S. three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a nationwide reckoning over racial injustice. Blakes father, also named Jacob Blake, said police shot his son seven times, seven times, like he didnt matter. But my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters, he said. During the latest round of unrest on Tuesday, police fired tear gas for the third straight night to disperse protesters outside Kenoshas courthouse, where some shook a protective fence and threw water bottles and fireworks at officers. On Monday night, crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires downtown. City of Kawartha Lakes OPP closed a section of Porter Road for more than six hours Tuesday after a gravel truck rolled over into a ditch in a single-vehicle collision. Emergency responders were called to the scene just after 7 a.m. Porter Road was closed between Lifford Road and Highway 7A for the investigation and cleanup and reopened by 1:30 p.m. The driver was freed from the gravel truck by firefighters and then taken to hospital by paramedics with minor injuries. The 2020 manifesto of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been hailed by some residents in Asante-Akim South Municipality as reassuring and achievable. They believe Ghana would progress significantly if the policies in the manifesto are implemented after the government has laid a solid foundation for economic growth. They made these observations when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) sampled public views on the NPP Manifesto which was recently launched in Cape Coast to find out public reactions to the vision of the ruling party. The exercise was conducted in three vibrant communities in the Municipality including Juaso, Obogu and Bompata. While some argued that the content of the manifesto would facilitate accelerated development in the next four years, others believe the NPP deserved another term to consolidate the gains achieved so far with or without a manifesto. They were hopeful that another term for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would improve the lives of Ghanaians and afford him the opportunity to complete projects and programmes initiated by his administration. Emmanuel Adomako, a level 200 university student at Juaso was particularly excited about the students loan which would no longer require a guarantor which had been the practice over the years. He said the policy would facilitate easy access to loans by students and also make the process less cumbersome. Mr. Ernest Asamoah Tinkorang, a civil servant at Bompata Also commended the NPP for its intention to introduce a rent scheme to support Ghanaians in need of funds to rent accommodation. This, he said, would be a key policy intervention that would impact the lives of many Ghanaians. 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 (Natural News) Offering his take on the governments response to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church has indicated that he believes all people everywhere should get vaccinated. In a recent afternoon address, Pope Francis suggested that whatever vaccines are released for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) need to be made universal and for all, rather than be restricted just to certain countries, regions, or people groups. It would be sad if we gave priority for the COVID-19 vaccine to the richest people, he declared. It would be sad if this vaccine became the property of this or that nation and was not universal and for all. Completely ignoring the fact that Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are being made with aborted human fetal tissue and other ingredients that Catholics would not normally support, Pope Francis framed his argument in terms of the jabs being necessary to cure the plandemic. While other Catholic leaders such as Archbiship Carlo Maria Vigano and U.S. Bishop Joseph Strickland have come out in condemnation of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for this reason, Pope Francis is fully on board with the jabs, which he believes need to be distributed in a socialist fashion to prevent inequality. While Pope Francis stopped short of claiming that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is only harming the poor, he did launch into a diatribe of social justice warrior (SJW) propaganda during his speech, claiming that the devastating path of the virus has created great inequalities and discriminations. Pope Francis says there are two viruses: coronavirus and social injustice According to Pope Francis, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is just the little virus in need of a cure. The big virus, he contends, is social injustice, which includes unequal opportunity, marginalization, and lack of protection for the weakest members of society. In other words, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is just an afterthought at this point. The plandemic response was never really about curing it, functioning more as a launching pad for virtue signalers like Pope Francis to extrapolate the narrative as a means of pushing socialism and a globalist new world order. Pope Francis made it abundantly clear during his speech that people are desperate to return to normality and take up economic activities again, when they should instead, in his view, take up a new normal that is more equitable and fair for everyone on the planet. The pandemic is a crisis, and we dont come out of a crisis unchanged, he opined. Either we leave better or we leave worse. Insinuating that the time is ripe to burn the old system to the ground, in essence, and allow the proverbial phoenix to rise from its ashes, Pope Francis went on to emphasize his hope that people will emerge from the plandemic changed, both in mind and intent. Today we have an opportunity to build something different, Pope Francis stated plainly, clearly referencing the new globalist order that he would like to see replace the existing world order. The World Health Organization (WHO) naturally agrees with this effort, its head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, tweeting: I couldnt agree more with Your Holiness @Pontifix. The #COVID19 pandemic shows that we must make health a human right for all and not allow it to be a few. It also gives us an opportunity to rebuild a better, safer, fairer world together! The WHO is right now calling on countries all around the world to join in on an endeavor called The COVAX Pillar, which basically aims to redistribute wealth and jointly unveil a successful Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to be mass distributed to all humans. The COVAX Pillar aims to ensure that every country gets fair and equitable access to eventual COVID vaccines, a WHO informational video explains. For more related news, check out Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com Larry Kudlow Thanks for the heads-up, Larry. President Trumps economic guru Larry Kudlow let the cat out of the bag during the alternate reality show that is the Republican convention when he declared that COVID-19 is over. It was awful, he said. Health and economic impacts were tragic. Hardships and heartbreak were everywhere. But presidential leadership came swiftly and effectively with an extraordinary rescue for health and safety to successfully fight the COVID virus. Kudlow spoke on Aug. 25, the day 1,147 Americans died from the virus and the US death toll headed for the 180,000 mark. A second wave of COVID-19 is expected during the fall. You can bet Donald Trump is ready to jump on Larrys bandwagon. He desperately wants to move on from his disastrous handling of the virus. Though science has made great strides in developing a vaccine for COVID-19, a cure wont be available until after the presidential election. Thats too late for Trump, which is why he pressured Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn to join him at the White House on Aug. 23 to exaggerate the benefits of plasma therapy in treating COVID-19. After a barrage of criticism from the scientific community, now-disgraced Hahn apologized for overstating the facts. But the damage is done. Trump will now hype plasma therapy as a cure-all for COVID-19. Its his version of George W. Bushs Mission Accomplished aircraft carrier speech. The snake oil salesman-in-chief already has told more than 20,000 lies since he took office. Whats one more lie about plasma therapy? His cult-like followers will lap it up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has been totally politicized by Trump, is doing its part to downplay COVID-19. The agency has modified its COVID-19 testing guidelines to exclude people who dont have symptoms of the virus, even if they were exposed to it. Infectious disease doctor Krutika Kuppalli told the New York Times the CDCs revisions are potentially dangerous and only going to increase the spread of the virus. Shes missing the big picture. The president doesnt give a fig about stopping the spread or saving American lives. Its always only about him. Trump has been hammering away at the need to slow down the rate of testing because he believes the way to get the overall number of infections down is to keep your head in the sand and deny reality. The CDC is just being a good foot soldier on Trumps war on the truth. Melania Trump contributed her part at the alternate reality festival when she made up a story about Americans coming together in unity to fight COVID-19. I have been moved by the way Americans have come together in such an unfamiliar and often frightening situation, said the First Lady. It is in times like this that we will look back and tell our grandchildren that through kindness and compassion, strength and determination, we were able to restore the promise of our future." What is Melania thinking? Americans cant even get it together when it comes to wearing a mask, which is the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19. A Gallup poll released Aug. 7 found that only 47 percent of Americans wear a mask while outdoors. Less than a quarter (23 percent) of Republicans don masks while outside, compared to 64 percent of Democrats and 43 percent of Independents. Masks have gotten so toxic that the CDC has issued guidelines for shop keepers, urging them not to argue with customers who refuse to mask up. The agency warned retailers about the threat of physical and verbal assaults from irate customers told to put on a mask. It suggests limiting contact with customers via curbside pickups, home delivery or personal shoppers; having employees work in pairs; setting up safe rooms for employees who feel endangered and installing security systems. Whatever happened to that We are all in this together slogan from the early days of the pandemic? Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is delivering some very bad news for the beleaguered US Postal Service. The online retailer has been buying up real estate and opening facilities to handle online orders. The Post Office currently delivers a third of Amazons packages. Consulting firm MWPVL International predicts that Amazon could handle about 85 percent of its volume by the end of 2022, which would be a terrible financial blow to the USPS. It would be sweet revenge for Bezos, whom Trump has accused of ripping off the Post Office. Rising to 10-week high, shares of Tata Motors closed at Rs 137.85 a piece, up 8.5 per cent on Wednesday over the previous day. The running up of the stock indicates that companys investors are confident that the Tata group flagship will be able to achieve the target of deleveraging the balance sheet in a significant way on the basis of an improvement in operational performance in both, the ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Setting aside the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), the Department of Posts, trading as India Post has opted for private telecom players- Vodafone, Airtel and Reliance Jio for mobile connections provided to its employees. According to information revealed under the RTI Act filed by Arif Jwadder, for a total of 4,487 connections, a little over Rs 4.5 lakh was paid to private telecommunication companies on a monthly basis. The RTI reviewed by News18 had information about 15,608 connections out of which 9,349 connections did not mention any providers name. Extrapolating the average stated above, the annual bill approximates to Rs 1.45 crore. On the other hand, BSNLreceived a monthly payout of approximately Rs 30,000. While the RTI had information about only 15,608 connections, the 2018-19 annual report of the Department of Posts stated that as on 31 March 2019, over 38,000 mobile phones were purchased. This could take the total amount paid by the India Post to private players to a whopping Rs 4.16 crore annually. Vodafone accounted for the lions share, 73.1 per cent of the connections. In September 2018, the Centre had launched a plan to provide smartphones to postmen in order to provide door-to-door banking by India Post Payment Bank. This comes at a time when both BSNL and India Post have been competing with each other to become Indias top loss-making public sector unit. BSNLs loss swelled by over 2.5 times to Rs 39,089 crore during the April-December 2019 period, minister of state for Telecommunications Sanjay Dhotre informed Parliament in March this year. The public sector telecom firm had recorded a loss of Rs 14,904 crore in the previous financial year. Meanwhile, in the past three financial years, the revenue deficit of the India Post has increased by close to 150 per cent. The public sector unit, which runs the worlds largest postal network along with popular savings schemes, a payments bank and, more recently, even an e-commerce portal has projected revenue of Rs 19,203 crore for the current financial year. According to reports, India Post spends on an average Rs 12.15 on each postcard but realises only 50 paise from it. Similarly, the average parcel service cost is Rs 89.23, but recovery is only half of that. The revenues have also taken a hit due to dropping volumes of letters, telegrams and parcels which have given way to phone calls, emails and courier companies. Meanwhile, over 78,300 BSNL employees and 14,378 at MTNL have opted for voluntary retirement schemes. In order to take control of the situation, the Centre on October 23, 2019, had approved a Rs 68,751-crore revival package for BSNL and MTNL. The Cabinet also approved the merger of the state-owned telecom firms and till the completion of the process, MTNL will operate as a subsidiary of BSNL. Disclaimer: News18.com is part of Network18 Media & Investment Limited which is owned by Reliance Industries Limited. From Paranoia to the expansion of Star Wars into what it is today, West End Games has one of the most enduring legacies of tabletop gaming. In the world of roleplaying games, West End Games casts a long shadow. The tiny company made a journey from the beginnings of the industry in 1974, through the tumultuous 80s, where they were one of the few companies who could go ten rounds with TSR and have a shot at coming out ahead, to a strange, spiraling descent in the late 90s. Even then, West End Games had enough staying power in its properties to keep it going in one shape or another until 2017. West End Games has an enduring legacy, with a surprising number of hits that outlast their own time in the spotlight. Their popularity let them tackle big names like Ghostbusters, Star Wars, and much later, Hercules & Xena. For a while, West End Games had tapped into that magic formula that makes all things possible: having enough money to have the infrastructure and pay people competitive rates. It helped that they started their tenure in the RPG industry by already being successful somewhere else. Already having money has been the secret to pretty much every American success story, whether they're an individual robber-baron, or a "self-made" tech startup that began in a garage with just a few hundred thousand dollars "loaned" from their parents. But unlike these folks,... Sudarsan Maharana By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Sudeep Sudarshan Rana topped this years Plus II Science examination conducted by the Council of High Secondary Education. Originally from Bhuban block in Dhenkanal district, Sudeep had applied for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main earlier this year and chosen Bhubaneswar as his entrance centre since he was studying in a private school in the city. Now, he is in a fix. After COVID-19 lockdown was imposed and educational institutions were shut down in March, he went back home. Now, he has to travel to Bhubaneswar, worst COVID-hit City in the state, to appear for the exam amidst restrictions clamped. "I did not choose Dhenkanal since I was studying in Bhubaneswar. Now I cannot change it. Many of my friends are also facing the same dilemma," Sudeep says. On a day when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal seeking postponement of JEE Main and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to a later date, students remain apprehensive amidst the COVID surge in the State. There is also overwhelming support to Naveens call for postponing the test. Even Rajya Sabha Member Subramanian Swamy came out supporting Naveen and called for other CMs to pitch in for the same. As per Centres announcement, JEE (Main) will be held from September 1 to 6, while NEET will take place on September 13. Limited Centres The National Testing Agency has selected seven places - Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Berhampur, Dhenkanal, Rourkela and Sambalpur -- as entrance centres for these tests in Odisha. Approximately 40,000 candidates will appear for JEE in these centres over 12 shifts, two shifts each day. Similarly, around 50,000 students will appear for the NEET. A set of safety guidelines has already been issued by NTA to be followed by candidates in examination centres to maintain adequate social distancing. But that is not the main problem. The biggest challenge is travelling to the seven towns, using public transport, finding accommodation amidst the COVID-19 surge. For students of Malkangiri, the southern-most district, JEE aspirant students are under severe tremendous mental pressure. So are the parents. The closest test centre in the State for them is Berhampur, about 440 km. Next is Sambalpur, about 490 km away. Else, they could choose to go to Vishakhapatnam. JEE aspirant Govind Bairagi, son of a small farmer from MPV-41 village under Kalimela block, had chosen Sambalpur as his centre but he can only afford travelling in a bus, provided buses ply at that time. "Its very difficult to maintain social distancing while traveling in a bus. Plus, I do not want to risk lives of my relatives by staying at their place in Sambalpur. I have worked hard for the examination and hopeful of qualifying it. But how do I go?" asks Govind. His father, Palash Bairagi admits he cannot arrange a private vehicle for his sons journey to Sambalpur. Another JEE aspirant from Malkangiri town, Sumit Kumar Roy has to appear the examination in Bhubaneswar. He is hopeful of cracking the test but upset over the Governments decision to conduct the examination physically during the pandemic. "Hotels and guest houses may not be available in Bhubaneswar. Moreover, there is risk associated with staying there. Besides, I have to hire a taxi to enable my son to travel to Bhubaneswar," Sumits headmaster father Subash Roy says. They will have to travel for 20 hours one way. Distance Matters For students from Koraput, Rayagada and Nabaragnpur districts, the same challenge awaits. The entrance centers are over 500 km away from their homes and it is difficult to travel with limited transportation available from the tribal areas. "It is difficult for us to reach the examination centers due to irregular and limited bus plying from our areas," rues Badal Dash, a JEE candidate of Jeypore. As it is, most candidates are wary of getting accommodation where examination centers are located. Akshya Kumar Patnaik, a candidate of Umerkote, is actually contemplating to skip the entrance. "I am confused because apart from transport, getting accommodation will be a problem," he adds. With COVID-19 case surging in coastal districts, many are having second thoughts about travelling to a hotspot. Swadhin Sahu, a candidate of Nabarangpur district, is one of them. "Since risk of catching the virus is involved for those using public transport, students will be forced to book private vehicles to reach examination centres. However, all parents are not in a position to afford it," said educationist Sudhir Rout from Ganjam. For students living in northern districts, similar obstacles are on the way. SK Serajuddin, who secured 535 marks out of 600 in Plus Two Science and was second topper in the district, plans to take a bike to Balasore which is his test centre. The distance is about 60 km. "I will arrange a bike from my relative to go to Balasore as bus and other transport facilities are closed during weekend shutdown. Besides, I do not have relatives at Balasore. I have decided to go to the centre three hours before the examination," said Serajuddin who will appear for the NEET entrance. Not everyone is opposed to the entrance tests being held as per schedule though. Principal of Delhi Public School (DPS), Rourkela Siddharth Rath is strongly in favour of holding JEE and NEET on schedule. Students are made to sit at safe distances and that distance can further be enhanced. If any student is found with mild symptoms, they can appear in isolation, he said. RK Behera, a resident of the steel city whose daughter Ritika will take the JEE (Main) felt that if adequate safety precautions are maintained at the examination centre, there will be no harm. Ritika has downloaded her admit card and says she is mentally prepared. Another parent Ajay Mallick says his daughter Anisha will take the NEET but he is apprehensive about sending her to the examination centre. Anisha, on her part, is scared but feels she cannot afford to lose a year by not appearing. For many students, the lockdown has brought its own set of stress. The gloom surrounding the last six months has taken its toll on their preparations as well as frame of mind. Students say the COVID-19 pandemic affected their preparedness as e-learning was the only option available with them to prepare for the tests in absence of physical classes. EXAM WORRY National Testing Agency has selected Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Berhampur, Dhenkanal, Rourkela and Sambalpur as entrance centres for these tests in Odisha. Some of these towns are Covid hotspots Travelling to the seven towns using public transport and finding accommodation amidst the Covid surge will be the biggest challenges for students For students of Malkangiri, JEE aspirants have to travel to Berhampur, about 440 km, to write the test With COVID-19 case surging in coastal districts, many students have second thoughts about travelling to a hotspot (With inputs from Deba Prasad Dash, Sukanta Sahu, AK Mishra, Sisir Panigrahy, Prasanjit Sarkar) Despite public outcry that the National Assemblys budget is too much and too opaque, an official has asked that it be increased. The Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Ahmed Amshi, on Tuesday, called on the federal government to increase the National Assemblys annual budget. He said the budgetary allocation of N125 billion is not enough to fund the institution. Mr Amshi made the call when he received a delegation of the Benue State House of Assembly Commission (BSHAC) led by the chairman, Sylvester Atachin. The National Assemblys budget is not enough and we seek an increase to enable us achieve more and ensure stability in the legislative arm of government, he said. Mr Amshis call comes amidst outrage expressed by individuals and civic groups over the huge amount allocated to the legislative arm annually as well as calls for transparency in the institutions budget. After an #OpenNASS campaign in 2015, the eighth assembly published a breakdown of the N125 billion budget in 2017 but soon went back to secrecy. Despite making promises to ensure openness of its budget to the public, the ninth assembly has failed to do so. In the 2020 budget, President Muhammadu Buhari earmarked N125 billion for the National Assembly which is expected to cater for legislative aides, the National Assembly, National Assembly Commission, National Assembly Legislative Institute as well as the service-wide vote of the legislature. This is however, different from the N37 billion budgeted for the renovation of the National Assembly complex. In his speech Tuesday, Mr Amshi did not speak on the need to make the budget of the National Assembly public. However, while addressing his guests, Mr Amshi urged State Houses of Assembly Commissions to, as a matter of necessity, separate themselves from the control of the executive in the states. He said a situation where the executive hires and fire aides to legislators is not acceptable as it erodes the principle of separation of powers. The parliament everywhere in the world, he said, is independent and not under the control of the Executive, even in recruitment and management of its staff and that the same should apply in the state assemblies. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has requested the opposition leaders to seek legal recourse unitedly against holding Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Mains and National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 after the Supreme Court gave its approval to conduct these examinations. Mamata said, "This will be my request to all state governments, let us do it together, let us go to Supreme Court and postpone the exams for the time being until and unless the situation allows students to sit for exam (JEE/NEET)." On Tuesday, she had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking to move Supreme Court for postponing the examinations to ensure the aspirants are free from "mental agony". She wrote in the letter, "I am aware that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has given a verdict on holding JEE/NEET examinations and the central government has been issuing instructions to go ahead with it accordingly. "However, I would like to request for your kind intervention and to consider the central government making an appeal to the Hon'ble apex court to review its decision in the interest of the student community, so that they are free from mental agony and mental disaster." The letter added, "Such intervention is very much essential in the larger interest of the students to facilitate creating a situation whereby the students will neither be subjected to grave health risk nor they will be facing a career risk." "We are really worried and concerned," she said. She, in her letter, said, "I would request you to kindly appreciate the sensitivity of the matter and consider taking necessary action for posting these examinations until the public health situation becomes conducive again." Previously, Mamata said that lives of aspirants should not be put at risk by such "unilateral and bureaucratic decisions". Apex court had dismissed a plea seeking the postponement of JEE (Main) and NEET examinations despite the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of improvement, saying the precious time of students "cannot be wasted" and "life has to go on". JEE (Main) is scheduled to be held between September 1 and 6, while the JEE (Advanced) examination will be conducted on September 27. NEET 2020 will be held on September 13. Also Read: Government debt seen topping 90% of GDP in FY21; first time since 1980 Also Read: India needs to grow at 8-8.5% to create 90 million jobs by 2030 Also Read: India's GDP growth to see strong pick up in second half of 2020: Moody's Two prominent Hong Kong opposition lawmakers were among more than a dozen people arrested on Wednesday in a police operation focused on last years huge protests, part of a widening crackdown against the citys democracy camp. Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui were detained after early-morning raids on their homes, according to their political party and the police. Opposition figures decried the arrests, which add to a mounting toll of prosecutions targeting Beijings critics in the restless financial hub. This is out-and-out political persecution, James To, a veteran lawyer and member of the Democratic Party, told reporters after the arrests. A police source told AFP that 16 people -- including Lam and Hui -- were arrested during Wednesdays operation, which focused on protests in July last year. Both are minority pro-democracy lawmakers in the citys partially elected legislature and vocal critics of both Beijing and the Hong Kong government. A post on Lams Facebook page said he was arrested on suspicion of participating in rioting on July 21 last year. That day, Lam and dozens of pro-democracy protesters were beaten by a gang of government supporters, some with triad organised crime links, in the town of Yuen Long. Police were late to arrive on the scene and were also filmed allowing some of the armed attackers to leave -- scenes that sent already swirling distrust of the force skyrocketing and helped fuel further months of protests. Lam was also charged with conspiring to damage property and obstruction of justice outside Tuen Mun police station on July 6 last year, the statement said. No reconciliation Huis office released video footage of his arrest where officers said they were charging him with attempted obstruction of justice, access to a computer with criminal or dishonest intent and criminal damage. He was later led from his house in handcuffs. The party said his charges also stemmed from a protest on July 6 last year. Police said a press conference would be held later in the day. Beginning in early June 2019, Hong Kong was hit by seven straight months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in which more than 9,000 people were arrested. The popular unrest upended the citys reputation for stability and sparked a crackdown by China that has gathered pace this year. In late June, Beijing imposed a sweeping new security law, tightening Communist Party control over the semi-autonomous city and ending the legal firewall between the two territories. Certain political views such as advocating independence or greater autonomy for Hong Kong became illegal overnight and arrests have followed. In response to the law, many Western nations ended extradition agreements with Hong Kong. The United States has placed sanctions on some Chinese and Hong Kong officials and declared the business hub no longer sufficiently autonomous from the authoritarian mainland. The democracy protests died down at the start of 2020 thanks to mass arrests and anti-coronavirus restrictions. City leader Carrie Lam began the year vowing to heal divisions. But police have since arrested dozens of prominent pro-democracy figures on a slew of charges related to the rallies, with the courts now filled with hearings and trials. Authorities have denied allegations the investigations are politically motivated. Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party, said the latest arrests would do little to heal divisions. The government is wielding the legal system and the police force to suppress dissenting voices within society and create a chilling effect instead of trying to reconcile confrontation and polarisation, he said. The last two weeks have been exciting times for our democracy. With the Democratic and Republican National Conventions coming to an end, its clear that both sides are highly invested in this Novembers 2020 General Election. While there is little that both parties agree on, there is one thing that binds them together the importance of voting. As a citizen, casting your ballot is both a right and a responsibility, and the results of voting can echo far into the future. When you vote, youre not just voting for the next four years. Legislation affects the further generations and its the children, nieces and nephews that you are voting for as well. Voting is very, very important. Earlier this month, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. What some might not know is that Tennessee played a vital role in its 1920 passage by being the last of the 36 states necessary to ratify the amendment. Tennessee helped bring about a momentous, inclusive change to our voting system. Participating in this sacred civic duty safely is something that might have been taken for granted in the past. However, COVID-19 has spurred an awareness of how social behavior can be a risk. While COVID19 remains a big concern, I hope you vote and make a plan to do so safely. Thankfully, there are options for those who wish to remain socially distant and still practice their sacred right of voting. One way that you can plan to vote is by early voting. Instead of many people showing up on election day to cast their ballots, early voting increases the window of time that votes can be cast, which helps spread the number of people voting over many dates, which also allows individuals to spread out and distance themselves. For Tennessee voters the early voting period runs from Oct. 14-29, and Oct. 12-30 for Georgia, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live so be sure to check with your countys election commission. Another way is voting by mail. With COVID-19 appearing this year, this option has become increasingly popular in a number of states around the country. In Tennessee, an absentee ballot application can be requested up to 90 days before the election but no later than seven days before the election; Georgia voters can request an absentee ballot application as many as 180 days before the election but no later than four days before the election. There might be other stipulations to voting by mail in your specific area, so it is important for anyone interested in utilizing this method to check with their local countys election commission to be aware of any needed documentation and pertinent dates. Realtors dont just sell houses. We serve the real estate needs of our community. Housing helps make our neighborhood, state, and country stronger. Thats Who We R. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has on Wednesday called a high level meeting to discuss the overall Covid-19 situation in the national capital amid the rising number of infections. The meeting will take place at 11am and will be attended by Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, chief secretary Vijay Dev and other officials of the states health department. Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic Delhi over the past few days has witnessed a slight rise in Covid-19 cases. On Tuesday, the state registered 1,544 cases- the highest single day tally in over a month. The total number of cases in the national capital are over 161,000 and the death toll stands at 4330, according to the union health ministrys dashboard. As many as 147,743 people have recovered from the infection till now. Also read: How metro travel will look in Covid-19 era Meanwhile, 67,151 fresh cases and 1,059 deaths in the last 24 hours pushed Indias Covid-19 tally to over 3.2 million. The total cases include 7,07,267 active cases 2,467,758 discharges and nearly 60,000 deaths. (With agency inputs) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) The National Center for Mental Healths hotline saw an alarming spike of calls in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a monthly average of 53 suicide-related concerns. Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said a high volume of calls were observed in the months of April, May, June, and July. The country started seeing increasing numbers of new COVID-19 cases in March; this was also the start of the world's longest lockdown. The data from National Center for Mental Health showed that from an average of 13 to 15 daily calls before the pandemic, mental health providers are now receiving around 32 to 37 calls per day. From around 300 to 400 calls in May 2019 to February 2020, it spiked to at least 1,000 calls from April to July. Vergeire said majority of the calls are due to anxiety-related concerns. She also said suicide-related calls peaked in July 2020, with 115 calls. DOH said most of the calls were made by returning callers whose mental health conditions were exacerbated by the pandemic. Vergeire earlier urged those undergoing alarming changes in their mental wellbeing to call the National Center for Mental Health Crisis hotline. "Hindi porket tumawag kayo sa hotline ay loko-loko o mayroon kayong sira sa ulo. It is okay not to be okay especially in this situation na mayroong pandemiya," she said on Monday. [Translation: Calling the hotline does not mean you're crazy. It is okay not to be okay especially in this pandemic.] With the alarming numbers, Inter-agency Task Force chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. suggested tapping religious leaders to provide guidance and enlightenment to those struggling with their mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the government should invest in hiring mental health professionals to properly address the situation. If you are in need of mental health support, please call the 24/7 National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline at (0917) 899-8727 or (02)7-989-8727 or 1553 (Landline-to-landline only). CNN Philippines correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report. NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of McDonald's Corporation ("McDonald's" or the "Company") (NYSE: MCD). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether McDonald's and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On November 3, 2019, McDonald's announced the termination of Steve Easterbrook from his role as McDonald's Chief Executive Officer, finding that Easterbrook had "demonstrated poor judgment" in engaging in a consensual relationship with a McDonald's employee, in violation of Company policy. On this news, McDonald's stock price fell $5.28 per share, or 2.72%, to close at $188.66 per share on November 4, 2019. Then, on August 10, 2020, McDonald's sued Easterbrook in Delaware Chancery Court seeking to recoup a severance package worth more than $40 million, alleging, among other things, that Easterbrook had concealed details of three "physical sexual relationships" with employees and had awarded stock valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars to one of the employees. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Related Links www.pomerantzlaw.com Abbott, who was PM of Australia between 2013 and 2015, was a vocal supporter of Brexit - GETTY IMAGES Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott is to be Britain's new joint president of the Board of Trade. Mr Abbott, a vocal supporter of Brexit, who led Australia from 2013 to 2015, will be tasked with drumming up deals for the UK around the world, the Sun reported last night. The Board of Trade has traditionally been made up of British politicians and business executives. Its mission is to "champion exports and inward and outward investment to deliver economic growth and prosperity". It came as farmers and business chiefs have been given a louder voice to ensure they do not lose out in trade negotiations as ministers bid for a raft of post-Brexit deals. Bosses in 11 sectors including agriculture, manufacturing and financial services have signed non-disclosure agreements so they can help to shape potential deals with other countries - including commercially sensitive rules on tariffs and rules of origin. Abbott with the Duke of Cambridge during a royal visit to Canberra in 2014 - GETTY IMAGES The change is part of a major overhaul of the Government's trade machinery as talks intensify with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Trade groups had previously expressed concern that such gagging orders would prevent them from fully consulting members. But Liz Truss, Trade Secretary, said: "This is about bringing business closer to the negotiating table and using their expertise to help secure the best possible deals." Mr Abbott's appointment is part of an effort to champion British economic interests abroad after Brexit. Last year Mr Abbott said Britain should not worry about a no-deal exit from the European Union. He said: "Let me reassure anyone in Britain, anxious about the prospect of no deal, that Australia does one hundred billion dollars worth of trade with the EU every single year, on this very basis. Last night a Whitehall source told The Sun: We are delighted to have him on board. On Tuesday night during the Republican National Convention President Donald Trump again touted his ability to get wins for iconic industries in specific states, but scrutiny reveals hes failed to deliver. Many of Trumps actions have not achieved their stated outcomes, or failed to materialize promised sales, jobs and growth, analysis shows. Beautiful Maine Lobsters will now move tariff-free to Europe! the President tweeted on Tuesday, ahead of a speech that night by a Maine lobster fisherman. The state was won by Hillary Clinton in 2016 by fewer than three percentage points and is now seen as purple, blue on the coast and red in the inland rural areas. The lobsterman, Jason Joyce, praised the president that night. He brokered a deal to end EU tariffs on Maine lobster products, which is great news for Maine's lobstermen, he said. Eric Pray (Robert F. Bukaty / AP file) The American lobster industry exported $111 million worth of lobster to the E.U. in 2017, but more recently has been hurt by the retaliatory tariffs China placed on American lobster in 2018, which caused exports to crater by more than 80 percent. Trump has also touted as evidence of his support for lobster fishermen the rollback of an Obama-area establishment of a protected marine area that closed the area to commercial fishing. An analysis found that only five lobster fishing permits would be impacted by the monument less than 0.05% of the industry. Tangible results may matter less to his base though than the appearance that Trump is fighting for their interests. Although Maine's lobstermen don't fish there, Obama's executive order offended us greatly, said Joyce. The economy-focused messages of the Republican National Convention highlighted the ways in which the White House has engaged in trade policies and regulatory rollbacks targeted to specific states deemed critical by Republicans in the 2020 Presidential election. The RNCs speaker slate on Tuesday included a speaker from the dairy industry in Wisconsin, Story continues another state in which Trump is leaning heavily on his self-proclaimed deal-making prowess to hold onto his 2016 electoral gain. Trump has touted his trade policies as being beneficial to the dairy industry, but the reality is less than it seems, according to trade economists. The new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact that took effect in June and replaced NAFTA, opened up 3.6 percent more of the American dairy industrys access to the Canadian market. Both the U.S. and Canada engage in complex protectionism, including tariffs and import quotas, to support their own respective dairy industries. Scholars at the Brookings Institution pointed out in a recent report that the 270 percent tariff Trump has railed against was never actually paid. In recent months, American dairy farmers have been grappling with slumping demand as schools, hotels and restaurants shut down and consumer behavior shifted. This is driving down prices which, when combined with supply chain bottlenecks brought on by the pandemic, has led to some farmers having to dump supplies of milk it would cost more to process than to discard. Trumps trade war with China also has hurt many of the other heartland states on whose support he relies. The White House pledged aid packages of $12 billion and $16 billion in 2018 and 2019, respectively, to support farmers whose exports collapsed when China imposed retaliatory tariffs. A review by the Environmental Working Group found that very little of that assistance went to small farmers. The top 1 percent of aid recipients received an average of just over $183,000 each, while the bottom 80 percent got payouts that averaged less than $5,000 each. A key element of the Phase One trade deal settled at the beginning of this year was the commitment by Beijing to buy $80 billion of agricultural products, including soybeans, grains, pork and seafood, but the Peterson Institute for International Economics found China falling far short of those commitments. Tuesday night also featured the owner of a Wisconsin metal factory firm to illustrate his support for manufacturing jobs. Chinese electronics manufacturer Foxconn pledged to invest $10 billion in a Milwaukee-area manufacturing complex the President referred to as the eighth wonder of the world in 2018. Foxconn got $4 billion in tax breaks in exchange for a promise to create 13,000 new jobs. Wisconsin is still waiting for those jobs, even as the manufacturing sector battles the one-two punch of the trade war and the coronavirus pandemic. Wisconsin has lost hundreds of manufacturing jobs the last five months due to his tariffs, Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, a Democrat, told NBC News. There is a major disconnect between what Trump says and what the reality is. Last week, as the Democratic candidate took the virtual stage for the Democratic National Convention, the President offered counter-programming by stumping in Joe Biden's home state of Pennsylvania. The state is another key battleground, a state Trump flipped in 2016 by the slimmest of margins. He has touted his record on energy extraction to drum up voter support and claimed misleadingly that Joe Biden would devastate the states economy by curtailing energy production. In a visit to the Pittsburgh area last year, Trump bragged about the development of a petrochemical plant that will bring 600 permanent jobs although the division of Royal Dutch Shell building the plant actually already secured $1.7 billion in tax credits back in 2012. Six San Diego County projects that focus on combating racial and economic injustice have been selected to receive grants of at least $100,000 to continue their work, according to a local philanthropy association. San Diego Grantmakers announced Monday that more than $821,000 in funding would be distributed to groups working on a range of issues including criminal justice, education and food insecurity. The recipients, representing 30 organizations and resident groups, were selected from among 66 applications to the Social Equity Collaborative Fund, which was created to increase opportunities for grass-roots organizations working to address societal problems. The fund is made up of contributions by the Satterberg Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation and The California Endowment. Advertisement Nancy Jamison, president and CEO of San Diego Grantmakers, which hosts the fund, said the relatively large number of applications highlights a need for active outreach to smaller groups that might be overlooked by other funding sources. The organizations arent in the nonprofit infrastructure because theyre just doing the work, she said. The projects picked to receive grants are: Advancing Healthy Neighborhoods: $135,000 to help refugee and immigrant families participate in civic, environmental and economic life in El Cajon and City Heights. Asian Solidarity Collective: $152,000 to aid its work on issues related to social justice and building solidarity with other communities of color. Semillas de Libertad (Seeds of Freedom): $170,000 to help support formerly incarcerated people, particularly in North County. Southeastern San Diego Food Equity Project: $130,000 to educate residents about how to grow, cook and advocate for greater access to healthy food. The CommUnity Spot Collaborative: $104,000 for mentoring, educational and entrepreneurial support to residents and leaders working in southeastern San Diego. United for Justice: $130,000 to further its work with low-income immigrant taxi drivers. dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @danalittlefield Some community members, including doctors, want to know why the Regional Medical Centers trustees did not renew the contract of the hospitals president and chief executive officer. "It is the concern of the general public whether the RMC Board of Trustees is responsible, equitable and researched in its decision-making," Orangeburg podiatrist Dr. Kevin Ray wrote in an Aug. 19 letter to the RMC board chairman. "The county councils of Orangeburg and Calhoun are tasked with overseeing the BOT and the citizens of these counties are charged with holding the BOT and county councils accountable for the health and wealth of our primary provider of health care, Regional Medical Center, the letter said. The RMC board voted on Aug. 6 not to renew the contract of CEO Charles Williams, who has been at the hospital for three years. Hell remain until his contract ends in December. Ray says hes seeking transparency from the board on behalf of the concerned citizens of Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties. He asks for the board to fulfill his request for information under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. The letter asks for: All documents, including electronic communications and emails, supporting the non-renewal Williams contract, including the vote of individual board members. All documents including electronic communications and emails of regular and special meeting minutes from Jan. 1, 2017 to July 31, 2020. Financial documents. All documents or records of current board members with professional, personal or business conflicts of interest. All documents or records outlining a succession plan for a new administration that represents the demographics of the county and ensuring that a qualified black candidate is presented. Access information (time, place, login, etc.) to the next in-person or virtual, regular or special board meeting. Board Chair the Rev. Dr. Caesar Richburg acknowledged receipt of the letter and said he shared it with the board's attorney, who is following through on the requests. Richburg defended the board's Aug. 6 special called meeting, saying the meeting was called per Williams contract. The contract gives Williams 120-day notice about whether his contract will be renewed. "There must be 24-hour posting of the meeting and that was done," Richburg said. "No laws were violated. Protocol was completely followed. There was no secrecy about anything." The roll call on how the board voted has yet to be provided to the media despite a request for the vote results. Richburg said the minutes of the meeting will be coming out and will be made public. When asked why Williams contract was not renewed, Richburg said the matter was discussed in closed session and it will be left to closed session. "The board recognized that Charles has significant talents and has had many accomplishments during his tenure," Richburg said. "The board had a very detailed and substantive discussion in executive session regarding the leadership needs of RMC moving forward." He said the board was very close but, a change in leadership would best support RMC moving forward into the future. "Charles was informed of the decision by counsel and he pledged to give his full attention to the RMC until Dec. 10," Richburg said. Richburg said the hospital has started to formulate a transition plan, which will include the search for an interim or new CEO. "There are currently no plans to sell the hospital or to affiliate or partner with any system," Richburg said. "RMC has a remarkable future. We are excited about its future (and) the services offered by the institution." Ray said at least 150 community members tried to listen to the hospital boards meeting by phone on Tuesday. Background noise was audible throughout the call, prompting several board members to request members on the community line mute their phones. The background noise continued until the board voted to go into closed session following the public portion of the meeting. "The confidence level in this board is very, very low," Ray said Tuesday afternoon after the conference call. "The frustration level for this board has escalated. It (the call) was complete pandemonium. No one from the community could hear." "The community feels like if they can't manage a meeting in this current environment, how can they manage the hospital effectively?" he said. Ray said, "The community will seek a vote of no confidence as it relates to this board. Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. John Ansley of Orangeburg said he has been in practice for 20 years and questions if the board is serving the best interest of the hospital and medical community at-large. "The board seems to have an agenda that is not clear," Ansley said. Medical staff members directly involved in patient care are being left in the dark, he said. Ansley said he was the 90th caller on the line when he signed in to listen to the meeting. "They are using some outdated technology that did not allow the host to mute all the callers," he said. "This seems like basic technology the board could use so that the concerned citizens could listen in and hear what is driving the agenda." "I think the board needs to be held accountable for the actions the board took and explain why the action was taken and what they hope to accomplish by changing the CEO of the hospital who by all measures was doing a good job," Ansley continued. "We are in the middle of a pandemic and that does not seem to be a wise time to make a change at such a critical time for Orangeburgs health care needs." Ansley said the medical staff is exploring the possibly of issuing a vote of no confidence against the board. "This is about accountability and answering to the medical staff that they should have our best interests and, more importantly, the patients best interests, in mind in making these decisions," Ansley said. "I don't believe that to be the case." Aisha Graham, one of the many concerned citizens who tried to listen in to Tuesday's call, says she wants transparency. She says by all indications, Williams was doing a good job. "If there is a concern, I think community should know about it," said Graham, who is a licensed master social worker. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 6 Sad 2 Angry 9 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WASHINGTON - If Joe Biden is elected president, he promises to overturn President Donald Trump's aggression against federal employee unions, support regular pay raises and protect their workplace rights. Biden, the Democratic nominee, has pledged to upend Trump's actions concerning federal labor organizations on Inauguration Day in January. Trump's assaults were codified in three executive orders he issued in 2018. They systematically undermined the ability of unions to represent not only their members, but all employees in agency collective-bargaining units. Saying Trump "has loosed a direct attack on our members' union rights and dignity on the job," the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) questionnaire to Biden outlines policies the largest federal union wants reversed. "This includes purging lawful representational activity from government worksites and equipment, weaponizing the bargaining process to propose, and in some cases impose, one-sided contracts, attacking our statutory right to collect voluntary dues, crippling our ability to mediate disputes on duty time, and more," says the questionnaire's introduction. "Taken together, these attacks constitute more than just a threat to our members' livelihoods, they threaten the survival of the merit-based civil service system on which our government is built." AFGE endorsed Biden last month. In two internal polls, AFGE said its members supported Biden over Trump by more than 30 points. The first question asked Biden to commit to overturning the executive orders and other directives that weaken employee due process and collective bargaining rights "on your first day in office." Biden agreed and said "the federal government should serve as a role model for employers to treat their workers fairly." "On my first day in office," he added, "I will restore federal employees' rights to organize and bargain collectively, restore their right to official time, and direct agencies to bargain with federal employee unions." Official time allows union leaders to represent employees, including those who are not union members, in grievance procedures and matters involving issues such as workplace safety and productivity, while being paid by the government. In addition to Biden's answers, the Democratic Party Platform promises to "strengthen labor rights for the more than 20 million public-sector employees" at all levels by supporting legislation that would "provide a federal guarantee for public-sector employees to bargain for better pay and benefits and the working conditions they deserve." While Trump has been relentless in his federal union offensive, all was not copacetic when Biden served as Barack Obama's vice president. Government workers vehemently opposed three federal pay freezes imposed under Obama, with congressional approval, during an era of budget tightening. But the Obama-Biden administration did not seek to fundamentally undermine unions as Trump has done or diminish federal workers. Obama's stated effort to "make government cool again" contrasts sharply with Trump's "drain the swamp" attitude toward government. Trump did not respond to AFGE's questionnaire. Biden promised to seek repeal of legislation approved during Obama's administration that required employees hired after 2013 to pay more out of pocket toward their retirement benefits. Biden now says he opposes "proposals to decrease the government's share of federal workers benefits." Responding to Trump's proposals to freeze pay, Biden promised "consistent and regular pay increases" and said federal workers "should not be subject to cuts in health insurance premiums or other critical employee benefits. The federal government should lead by example and provide high quality benefits, instead of pushing anti-worker budget adjustments designed to shift the burden of health care and retirement costs onto employees." The questionnaire did not directly ask about federal whistleblowers, who have been the target of suspicion and derision by Trump and his allies. In some cases, whistleblowers have been pushed from federal service. But in his answer to the question about employee due-process rights, Biden said he will "reinstate and expand protections for federal employees" and support agencies whose protection of federal employee rights, such as the Merit Systems Protection Board, has been weakened by vacancies in key positions. "I will prioritize ending these vacancies to ensure that our federal workers, and workers throughout our country, are protected," Biden said. Regarding specific agencies, Biden said he would: -- Assess Department of Veterans Affairs staffing needs "to inform specific hiring initiatives and programs for attracting and retaining medical professionals." - Oppose creating separate civilian personnel systems for the Defense Department and other agencies. -- Support sufficient funding to provide the Federal Bureau of Prisons adequate staffing. "If we don't . . . we are putting our corrections officers, other correctional workers, and incarcerated individuals at a greater risk." -- Back collective bargaining and other workplace protections for Transportation Security Administration workers who lack the rights available to other federal employees. -- Fight for adequate Social Security funding to ensure better service to the public. "Social Security represents a bedrock commitment. . . . I will fight to fund this service to meet the needs of beneficiaries today and into the future." If Biden is elected and keeps his promises, his administration would represent an about-face from Trump positions that degraded and angered the federal workforce and assaulted its labor organizations. "The Trump administration is using a union-busting playbook to silence the voice of workers and weaken their ability to fight back against his disrespectful and demeaning behavior towards federal employees," Biden added in his AFGE answers. "In the Biden Administration, federal employees will not be treated like the enemy and union activity will be embraced and honored." We just have to make this China virus go away, and its happening. President Trump, in a taped conversation with frontline workers shown at the convention. This is false. While reports of new cases have dropped considerably since late July, when the country averaged well over 60,000 per day, case numbers remain persistently high, according to a New York Times database, and there is no evidence that the virus is going away anytime soon. On Monday, more than 40,000 new coronavirus cases and at least 500 new coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the United States. With more than 5.7 million people infected, the United States leads the world in coronavirus cases roughly 2 million more than the country with the second highest count, Brazil. We just broke a record on jobs, an all-time record. Theres never been three months where weve put more people to work, over 9 million people. President Trump, speaking after he was renominated on Monday. This is misleading. While it is true that the labor market has regained more than 9 million jobs since April, that rebound came on the heels of an even larger decline and about 60 percent of the jobs lost since February have yet to return. The rapid labor market bounce back has come as many people who had lost jobs temporarily during state lockdowns returned to work. It is difficult to judge at this point how robust the rebound will prove going forward. The economy is coming up very rapidly, our farmers are doing well because I got China to give them $28 billion because they were targeted by China. President Trump, speaking after he was renominated. Public spending per person in Scotland is now almost 2,000 more than the UK average as Scottish Tories claimed the 'Union dividend' had dealt a 'hammer blow' to Nicola Sturgeon's independence plans. Total public sector expenditure for the benefit of Scotland, including both UK and Scottish government spending, has increased by just over three per cent to 81 billion. That is equivalent to 14,829 being spent on public services per person in Scotland, some 1,633 per person greater than the UK average. The spending gap has been largely blamed on the Barnett Formula which is used by the UK Government to figure out how much funding should be given to the other home nations when it decides to spend more or less on something in England. The numbers, published in Holyrood's annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report (Gers), are likely to accelerate long-running calls for the discredited formula to be overhauled. The Scottish Tories seized on the numbers and said they illustrated why Scotland should remain a part of the UK. Scottish Tories today claimed Nicola Sturgeon's case for independence had suffered a 'hammer blow' after statistics showed the extent of Scotland's 'Union dividend' Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser suggested the figures were persuasive of the case for the Union even though they do not take into account the recent 'blockbuster support' from the UK Government, such as the furlough scheme. He said: 'This is a hammer blow to the SNP and a massive setback for separation. 'Nicola Sturgeon would have to throw away Scotland's entire NHS, every nurse and doctor, just to come close to balancing the budget in her separate state. 'It's beyond dispute that the economic case for independence has never been weaker. 'Separating would cost Scotland 15 billion a year that we need for our schools and hospitals.' The official figures showed Scotland's fiscal deficit grew to 8.6 per cent of GDP in the 2019/20 financial year, with government spending 15.1 billion more than is received in revenues. The deficit rose from 7.4 per cent the previous year, while the UK's deficit stood at 2.5 per cent compared to 1.9 per cent last year. While the figures incorporate the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, the Gers report notes the impact will be greater in the next financial year. The SNP claimed the figures showed the current 'status quo' between Westminster and Edinburgh needed to change. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes reiterated her call for the Scottish Government to be given further financial powers. She said: 'Although Gers is not the Scottish Government's budget and reflects the current constitutional arrangements whereby another government's policy choices are allocated to Scotland, the publication sets out the context for why the status quo and the present constitutional arrangements are unsustainable.' Ms Sturgeon is calling for a rerun of the 2014 independence referendum but Boris Johnson, pictured in Leicestershire today, has ruled out holding another border poll Ms Forbes said it was 'incredibly frustrating' that Scotland could not borrow to invest in recovery. She added: 'Gers reflects the current constitutional position, there are perfectly legitimate questions to ask about these figures, but based on these figures nobody can or should defend the status quo of the current constitutional arrangements. 'Instead, this publication once again strengthens calls for additional fiscal and economic powers to manage our public finances in a sustainable way and invest in recovery. 'Scotland simply cannot afford not to have the powers of a normal independent country.' Mithila Gupta Five NSW screenwriters and directors have been selected to participate in the development initiative, Charlies Talent Escalator Lab. Development takes place in two stages, through a partnership between Screen NSW and Australians in Film (AiF), with support from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The five are Mithila Gupta, Darlene Johnson Brooke Goldfinch, Julie Kalceff and Monica Zanetti. Head of Screen NSW Grainne Brunsdon said, Despite our current challenges, were delighted the Charlies Talent Escalator Lab was delivered virtually to nurture our five screen practitioners endeavours now, before they each have the opportunity to meet their mentors in LA in 2021 when health guidelines permit travel. Australian stories hold international currency through universal themes told by our writers, and Im proud that Screen NSW, in collaboration with AiF, are shaping the global film industry by developing the next generation of screenwriters and directors through meaningful storytelling. Executive Director of Australians in Film Peter Ritchie said, The first stage of our online professional development lab wrapped in mid-August and now these five extremely talented content creators will continue onward with the inspiration and knowledge they have gained, to the next stage of the lab in Los Angeles and then on to their brilliant careers. This lab has also provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the NSW screen sector to the wider Hollywood community. With the recent success of zeitgeist shows such as Normal People and I May Destroy You, there are clear indicators that Hollywood is looking further afield for talent and inspiration. The investment in the lab by Screen NSW, with the support of a grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, is a savvy and timely one, serving to shine a light on the world-class internationally-focused talent and screen creatives based in New South Wales. The lab is designed to support local screen talent develop their career pathways, foster networks in the US screen industry and provide opportunities towards execution of screen projects and stories. Screen practitioners successfully completed Stage One a customised virtual five-day development lab in mid-August. The online structured program included pairing each participant with an industry mentor based in Los Angeles, practical assistance from those working in Hollywood as well as unprecedented access to leading Hollywood experts, including Senior Executives at major US networks, studios and streaming platforms and award-winning writers, directors and producers. For Stage Two in 2021, participants will be invited to travel to Los Angeles to meet with their industry mentor. Lab participant Mithila Gupta said, The Charlies Lab gave us access to some of the most ambitious content makers and buyers in LA. During the week I grew as a writer through the practical advice and insights offered but the biggest gift has been the confidence imparted on us all. Each fabulous speaker and mentor urged us to stay true to our voice, no matter how difficult it feels to get it over the line. Thats made me reframe my entire career and I cant wait to get stuck into it with a new crew of amazing mates and collaborators to boot! Lab participant Darlene Johnson said, Participating in the lab was fantastically inspiring as the industry professionals shared their unique insights and wisdom about the US filmmaking landscape. The experience was invaluable and will shape my future approach to my storytelling which will stay with me forever. In Stage Two, lab participants will be invited to travel to Los Angeles for the opportunity to meet with their mentor and spend time in the field, attend meetings and network at Charlies in Raleigh Studios in 2021 when health guidelines permit. Travel advice provided by NSW Health and the State and Federal Government will be followed. Recipients of the Charlies Talent Escalator Lab 2020 Mithila Gupta Mithila is an Indian born, Australian bred screenwriter who started her career in the story room at Neighbours in 2010 where she introduced an Indian family to the regular cast of Ramsay Street. She went on to script edit and write for the show. Mithila most recently wrote on both seasons of Five Bedrooms (Ten, Peacock & BBC1), Bump (Stan, Roadshow Rough Diamond) and was Head Writer on Aquarius Films The Unlisted (ABC & Netflix) on which she wrote several episodes including the pilot. Both series feature Indian leads and celebrate family and culture. Shes also written on Doctor Doctor (Nine), The Heights (ABC), Playing for Keeps (Ten), Winners and Losers (Seven), Home and Away (Seven), Trip for Biscuits (ABC), and Toybox (Seven). She was the assistant script editor on Cleverman (ABC). Currently, Mithila is developing a colourful slate of original ideas including an Aussie-Bollywood feature film Salsa Masala, which gained Mithila entry into Film Victorias Catapult Concept Lab in 2012 and has since received development funding from Film Victoria, Screen Australia and Scripted Ink. Mithilas also developing several television series for the global market with a specific focus on India. Mithila is passionate about diversifying our screens both in front of and behind the camera. She believes true inclusion begins on the page, through story. Mithila is a founding member of the Australian Writers Guilds first ever Diversity and Inclusion committee. Brooke Goldfinch Writer and director Brooke Goldfinch was an ABC reporter in Sydney when she decided to drop everything and move to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a filmmaker. A scholarship student in NYUs prestigious graduate film program at Tisch School of the Arts, she was taught by Spike Lee, Todd Solondz and many other notable professors. Brookes most recent short film, Outbreak Generation was the result of her receiving the 2016 Lexus Australia Short Film Fellowship, with the film premiering at the 2017 Sydney Film Festival. She is currently developing several projects, including Splitters a feature length dramatic-thriller produced by Truant (an Animal Logic Company) and Arcadia, which has previously been supported by Create NSW, The Beginning, a television series formerly with Stan and Fremantle, and Matchboxs Attempts, a dramedy series she has co-created with Corrie Chen, which was selected for the Create NSW and ABC Half Hour Drama Development Initiative. Brookes narrative short films have screened in festivals around the world, including Edinburgh and Rome. Brooke received a Screen Australia Talent Escalator Grant for her short film Red Rover, which earned her Best Director awards at the Sydney Film Festival, Flickerfest and St Kilda, as well as AWGIE and ADG nominations. Brooke was selected by actor James Franco to write and direct a segment of the compendium feature film The Color of Time, starring Franco, Jessica Chastain, Mila Kunis and Henry Hopper. She was also mentored by Ridley Scott, working as his Directors Attachment on Alien: Covenant. Darlene Johnson Darlene is the recipient of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association grant. Her career as writer/director started with the internationally acclaimed Two Bob Mermaid winning Best Short film at the Australian Film Critics Circle Awards and nominated for the Baby Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival. Darlene moved into documentary writing/directing Stolen Generations which was nominated for an International EMMY Award; the making of Phillip Noyces Rabbit-Proof Fence; Gulpilil One Red Blood and the supernatural drama Crocodile Dreaming featuring the first-time pairing of legendary Aboriginal actors David Gulpilil and Tom E. Lewis. Her moving portrait, River of No Return was the opening night film at ImagineNative in Canada. Darlene has produced documentaries for the ABCs Message Stick series and wrote, directed and produced the independent documentary, The Redfern Story. Her short film, Bluey won 13 awards at numerous Australian and International festivals. She was the first recipient of the Inaugural Shadow Directorship, an ADG and Screen Australia Gender Matters initiative directing on Home and Away. She went on to direct episodes of The Heights for Matchbox Pictures and episodes of Neighbours, Australias longest running TV series. In 2019, Darlene won the Inaugural Australian International Screen Scholarship in New York City, awarded by the International Screen Forum and the American Australian Association. Darlene is currently developing Obelia, her first feature film inspired by her Aboriginal mother and Aboriginal grandfather and is developing a supernatural crime thriller TV series with Aquarius Films entitled The Secret and the Sacred, which she created. She is also developing her short film Bluey into a feature. Julie Kalceff Julie Kalceff is an award-winning writer, director, and producer. A graduate of AFTRS, Julie is best known as the creator, writer, director and producer of the international hit online drama series Starting from Now, and writer, director, and co-producer of childrens television series First Day. Attracting both critical and popular acclaim, Starting from Now is one of Australias most successful online projects. It has amassed over 130 million views, been watched in 230 countries, and was sold to and played on broadcast television in Australia. Julie was the sole writer and director on all 30 episodes of the series. In 2017, Julie was commissioned by the ABC to write and direct First Day, a stand-alone television episode about a 12-year-old transgender girl starting high school. First Day won the MiPCOM Diversify TVs Excellence Award for Kids Programming, 2018, and the Gender Equity Prize at the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International Childrens Television Festival, 2018. In 2019, First Day was commissioned by the ABC as a 4 x half-hour childrens television series. Julie was the sole writer and director on the series, which was broadcast in March 2020. It is the first scripted television series in Australia to star a transgender actor in the lead role. Julie is the founder and director of the Sydney-based production company Common Language Films. She has helped raise public awareness around the lack of diversity on screen and has paved the way by embedding diverse characters in stories with broad appeal. Monica Zanetti Monica Zanetti is an award-winning Australian screenwriter and director. Her debut feature Skin Deep, screened at over eight international film festivals and was honoured at Austin Film Festival with an award for Best Narrative Feature. The film also earned Monica an AWGIE nomination for Best Original Screenplay, a spot on the 25 Screenwriters to Watch list by US MovieMaker Magazine and was released internationally in 2016. Monica then went on to work in various story rooms before joining the writing team for the Channel 10/Netflix series Sisters. She was a writer/producer on the ABC Comedy series Tonightly with Tom Ballard and wrote an episode for the CJZ series My Life is Murder. Monicas second feature film, Ellie & Abbie (and Ellies Dead Aunt) was the recipient of the Frameline Completion Fund in the US and was the first Australian film to ever open the Sydney Mardi Gras film festival; it will be released in 2021 after screening as part of Melbourne International Film Festival 2020. She is a co-director of the production company Clever Rabbit Productions alongside Geraldine Hakewill. Orange County Supervisor Michelle Steel (R) is seen at a Board of Supervisors meeting in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 25, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) OC Board Votes to Buy Hotels for Homeless SANTA ANA, Calif.The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 25 unanimously approved the purchase of up to eight hotel properties as part of Californias Project Homekey program to provide housing for transients affected by COVID-19. The county is currently leasing five hotels as part of Project Roomkey, which provides temporary housing for homeless people with COVID-19. The action will allow the county to obtain additional properties to permanently house the high-risk homeless population. The move permits the countys Chief Real Estate Officer to access up to $400,800 in escrow funds and perform related actions under specific conditions leading to the purchase of properties. It also allows the auditor to make related payments to real estate agents and execute other actions in accordance with the programs guidelines. In previous meetings, the board noted current property prices are relatively low since tourism is down due to the pandemic, which makes purchasing additional properties for the program more affordable. The supervisors approved a resolution in July to apply for an additional $60 million in state funding to expand Project Homekey in the county. Gov. Gavin Newsom in June designated $600 million in the state budget for the program. A number of residents made public comments at the Aug. 25 meeting criticizing the program. Some were concerned that by adhering to the program, the countys homeless population would be forced into quarantine. Supervisor Vice Chairman Andrew Do called on Dylan Wright, the countys community resources director, to explain that the program is entirely voluntary. Wright said that the program comes with full wraparound services, so that there is full support for the individual living in the unit. Thats the reason theyre called supportive housing. It is a part of a transition, so that way they can transition into something more permanent and awfully healthierso that way we can reduce the risk of those individuals falling back into homelessness, he said. Wright didnt clarify whether drug rehabilitation was part of the projects services. Other residents took issue with the countys effort to create permanent housing for the homeless, though the program is already operating in the region. Orange County does not need to replicate what occurred in San Francisco, Nicole Brown, a Costa Mesa resident, told the board. A meth lab was created inside a hotel that was converted to a Project Homekey, which sounds more permanent opposed to its former name of Roomkey, she said. Huntington Beach resident Michelle Peterson, a recovering drug addict and former transient, urged the board to provide rehabilitation services to the homeless as part of the program. They absolutely need some type of mental health services, Peterson said. They need to be assessed mental health-wise. They also need to be offered some type of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Supervisor Lisa Bartlett had encouraged the board earlier this year to investigate purchasing hotels rather than renting as a way to save money. The county had previously leased a hotel in Anaheim to provide shelter for the homeless living in the Santa Ana riverbed, but eventually got billed millions of dollars when the facility had to be renovated following their stay. Only 12 people can say for sure what the Earth looks like from the lunar surface. But only one of them is on record as believing aliens averted a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union to keep humans from destroying themselves. Astronaut Edgar Mitchelll is best known for typing in 80 lines of code to save the entire Apollo 14 mission as it descended to the moon in 1971. But he also claimed that top military officials had hidden evidence of UFOs, potentially alien spacecraft, and that they were particularly fond of hovering over White Sands Testing Range in New Mexico. Growing up in New Mexico had given him a unique insight to the area, he told the UKs Mirror in 2015. "White Sands was a testing ground for atomic weapons - and that's what the extraterrestrials were interested in They wanted to know about our military capabilities. My own experience talking to people has made it clear the ETs had been attempting to keep us from going to war and help create peace on Earth." Mitchell also told the Mirror that other military personnel had confided in him that alien spacecraft were responsible for disabling nuclear missiles and for shooting them down over the Pacific Coast. He started talking publicly about his less mainstream beliefs in 1973, just two years after landing on the moon, when he abruptly left NASA, divorced his wife and founded the Institute for Noetic Sciences. He used that as a platform to discuss exploring new worlds in ways separate from known science or religion. He became convinced that extraterrestrial life had been visiting Earth and helping humanity along a more spiritual path. Mitchelle began to form his metaphysical and extraterrestrial beliefs during his training as an aviator, but he wasnt known as a kook or prone to making wild statements. He was one of the U.S. militarys most able and brilliant pilots. NASA would recognize this potential as well, giving Mitchell the chance to live the dream hed had since President John F. Kennedy challenged the United States to land a man on the moon. When Kennedy announced the Space Programs goal to reach the moon in 1961, Mitchell was ready to go. That's what I wanted, because it was the bear going over the mountain to see what he could see, and what could you learn, he said. I've been devoted to that, to exploration, education and discovery since my earliest years, and that's what kept me going. NASA Apollo 14 astronaut and moon walker Edgar Mitchell is interviewed about moon dust by the BBC for the Discovery program "Invisible Worlds" at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on Dec. 8, 2009. (Andy Freeberg/NASA) Mitchell spent much of his adult life in the U.S. Navy. He was a Naval Aviator before attending the Navys postgraduate school. He then became a Navy research pilot and earned a PhD in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He eventually attended the U.S. Air Force Research pilot school to become a test pilot. While he was working to graduate first in his class as a test pilot, he was instructing astronauts in mathematics and navigation. In 1966, just 13 years after enlisting, he became a NASA astronaut. He was in the rotation for Apollo missions 9 and 10, and was supposed to go up with ill-fated Apollo 13. But it was during Apollo 14 that Edgar Mitchell was finally able to set foot on the moons surface. While coming back to Earth, he finally had a moment to take in the view. To see Earth from outside changed the way he saw himself and humanity. In a 2016 interview with VICE, he called it powerful overview effect. "From looking at Earth from space you come up with the question, who are we, how did we get here and where's all this going? And that's an ancient, ancient question that humans have asked for a long time My experience was to realize that perhaps our science is wrong at answering these questions and perhaps our religious cosmologies are archaic and flawed. And given that now we are an extraterrestrial civilization ourselves, we need to re-ask these questions, and do a lot more work to find the answers." The once-enlisted sailor who became the 6th human on the moon died in 2016 at age 85. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci will be honored by a new medical scholarship made possible by Columbus Citizens Foundation. Through this perpetual scholarship program, our Foundation will continually pay tribute to this great Italian-American by providing needed assistance to the next generations of public health and medical trailblazers emerging from our community. Columbus Citizens Foundation (CCF) is proud to announce a new scholarship to support Italian Americans with great academic prowess seeking financial aid at the graduate level in medical and public health fields of study. The scholarship will be awarded annually, recipients will be chosen by a qualified standing committee and the scholarship is to be awarded in the name of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci. Dr. Fauci will be an honored guest at the Foundations 2020 Virtual Gala on Saturday, October 10, and will be featured in the Columbus Day special that will air on WABC-7, Monday, October 12 at 12:30 PM ET. Dr. Fauci will also be honored formally with the Columbus Citizens Foundations Humanitarian Award in October 2021, when an in-person Gala event can be held. Tickets to CCFs 2020 Virtual Gala can be purchased at http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/galatickets. CCF President, Marian Pardo, said of the announcement: During his entire career Dr. Fauci has pursued the public good through sound science, rigorously applied and clearly explained. COVID-19 has again brought to the Nation his voice of calm in a sea of uncertainty. Through this perpetual scholarship program, our Foundation will continually pay tribute to this great Italian-American by providing needed assistance to the next generations of public health and medical trailblazers emerging from our community. Dr. Fauci was born in New York City. He grew up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, where his family owned a pharmacy that they lived above. A young Anthony Fauci delivered prescriptions to the local, largely Italian American, neighborhood. Dr. Fauci attended Regis High School in Manhattan's Upper East Side and following his graduation he enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in classics with a pre-med track. Dr. Fauci then attended medical school at Cornell University Medical College where he graduated first in his class with a Doctor of Medicine in 1966. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, now known as New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Fauci has been a key advisor to six Presidents and their administrations on global AIDS issues, and on initiatives to bolster medical and public health preparedness against emerging infectious disease threats such as pandemic influenza. As an HIV/AIDS researcher, he has been involved in the scientific effort since AIDS was recognized in 1981, conducting pivotal studies that underpin the current understanding of the disease and efforts to develop therapies and tools of prevention. Dr. Fauci was one of the principal architects of the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has helped save millions of lives throughout the developing world. He is best known currently as a key advisor on the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Fauci was previously named as a Columbus Celebration Honoree in 1988, for his ground-breaking work on curbing the AIDS epidemic worldwide. At inception, the Fauci Scholarship is seeking to raise one million dollars in endowment that will be distributed as $25,000 annual amounts to a single recipient each year. Executive Director of CCF, Lisa Ackerman, noted: We are thrilled to be introducing this new scholarship to our existing program. The qualities of empathy, understanding and perseverance that Dr. Fauci has exemplified throughout his career, will all be prerequisites for potential candidates. We are fortunate to be starting our fundraising with significant leadership donations, including a gift of $100,000 from the Francesco and Mary Giambelli Foundation and a $25,000 grant from a Board member. Angelo Vivolo is the President of the Francesco and Mary Giambelli Foundation, and he had this to say about that groups leadership role: The Giambelli Foundation carries on the legacy of philanthropic giving that Francesco and Mary Giambelli established during their lifetimes and we cannot think of a greater way to curb future pandemics than to encourage the future Faucis to shine. We are proud to be the first lead sponsor in what will be a very special scholarship for Columbus Citizens Foundation. To learn more, and to contribute to the Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Scholarship, please visit: http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/fauci. MORE ABOUT COLUMBUS CITIZENS FOUNDATION Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through various scholarship and grant programs. The Foundation organizes New York City's annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade. MORE ABOUT DR. ANTHONY S. FAUCI Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. is a physician-scientist who directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He oversees an extensive research program on infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, influenza, tuberculosis, Ebola and Zika, as well as diseases of the immune system. Dr. Fauci also serves as one of the key advisors to the White House and Department of Health and Human Services on global infectious disease issues. He was one of the principal architects of the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved millions of lives throughout the developing world. Dr. Fauci also is the long-time chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation where he has made numerous important discoveries related to HIV/AIDS and is one of the most-cited scientists in the field. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the US National Academy of Medicine and has received numerous prestigious awards for his scientific and global health accomplishments, including the National Medal of Science, the Robert Koch Medal, the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has been awarded 45 honorary doctoral degrees and is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than 1,300 scientific publications, including several major textbooks. FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEW: Jefferson Wilson, (212)249-9923 x242 jwilson@columbuscitizens.org C ourts are planning to tear up their traditional seating plans and install hundreds of Perspex screens to boost the number of jury trials being held. Leeds crown court has run a successful pilot of new social distancing measures, with transparent screens being placed between jurors to allow them to safely sit closer together. Jury trials were shut down in the early stages of the coronavirus and since restarting each court has only been able to deal with a low number of cases while adhering to two-metre social distancing measures. Plans are now in place to roll out the Leeds pilot with the installation of screens in 160 courtrooms and 80 jury rooms in crown courts across England and Wales to rapidly increase the number of trials being held. Senior Judge Martin Edmunds QC, who signed off the plan for Isleworth crown court, said the courthouse which has 13 hearing rooms is hoping to go from its current maximum of two trials to seven in October. Planning has taken place towards utilising more courts for trials on 1m+, he wrote in the plan. The + element being the removal of fixed jury seating and provision of Perspex screens between jurors and elsewhere on the model developed in Leeds. The court was measured up for Perspex screens in July, with installation imminent and new furnishings and plinths also on the way. Harrow crown court has agreed a similar plan, seen by the Standard, showing it is hoping jury trials will occupy five out of its eight courtrooms by the end of next month. At present, Harrow is able to run just one trial. It is expected that about 50 of the newly fitted out courtrooms will be in London. Judge Rosa Dean, who oversees Harrow, has urged barristers to ensure cases are fully prepared and given realistic time estimates to make full use of the courts it can open. We will need to list so as to use the available trial courts as intensively as possible, she wrote. The justice system has been also grappling with limited capacity in the cells for defendants while social distancing is in effect. The option of defendants dialling-in to their trials from prison except on days when they are giving evidence is being considered. Filmmaker Peter Paul, husband of Bigg Boss Tamil star Vanitha Vijayakumar, today had to be rushed to a hospital after he complained of chest pain. He has been admitted to Ramachandra Hospital in Porur, Chennai, reported Pinkvilla. She took to Twitter to give a hint of what she has been going through in her life. However, Vanitha did not write anything about her husbands illness. Vanita said, Lots to saynothing I can..god is great..believe..everything happens for a reasonlife is tough ..face it..when u do..trust me ..everything will be okget tough..hit backshow the world you can. Lots to saynothing I can..god is great..believe..everything happens for a reasonlife is tough ..face it..when u do..trust me ..everything will be okget tough..hit backshow the world you can.. Vanitha Vijaykumar (@vanithavijayku1) August 25, 2020 Last month, she celebrated Peters birthday by organising a picnic in a car. Vanitha also uploaded a video showing her having fun with her husband and kids. The caption of the video reads, Lockdown birthday party in the car#covid19 atrocities. She can also be heard wishing Peter happy birthday. She also posted a picture wherein she and Peter can be seen smiling while clicking a selfie. In the photo, Vanitha is seen holding a food plate. Sharing the image, she wrote, Partying in the carpicnic birthday. Vanitha has two daughters, Jovika and Jaynitha, from her previous marriage. Peter and Vanitha tied the knot in a private wedding ceremony in Chennai in the presence of their close friends and family members amid the coronavirus lockdown, reported PinkVilla. Following their wedding, Jovika penned a beautiful note for Peter. She wrote on Instagram, Im happy for you and proud of you!! And Im extremely happy and in awe of welcoming Papa into our little group of joy, adventure, excitement and truthfulness that we call family!! The couple dated each other for a long time before getting married. The body of a missing soldier is believed to have been found about 30 miles from Fort Hood, the Army base in Texas where he was stationed, police said Tuesday. Identification found with the body in Temple, Texas, indicates the man may be missing Fort Hood soldier Sgt. Elder Fernandes, according to a statement from local police. Forensic confirmation is pending. Fernandes is the third soldier from Fort Hood to go missing in the past year, and two have been found dead this summer. Temple police received a medical call at 5:36 p.m. saying a male had been seen near some railroad tracks, according to the statement. When officers arrived, they determined the man was dead. Foul play is not suspected, police said, but the investigation is ongoing. An autopsy has been ordered. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fernandes family during this challenging time, Temple Police Chief Shawn Reynolds said. Natalie Khawam, who is representing the Fernandes family, said Army police told family members about the discovery late Tuesday night. She said the body was found hanging in a tree. Fernandes' backpack was with him, Khawam said, and police found the 23-year-old man's driver's license inside. Fernandes was reported missing by Killeen and U.S. Army police on Aug. 19 after he was last seen on Aug. 17, when officials said a superior dropped him off at his house. Fort Hood said in a statement over the weekend that Fernandes had transferred units after reporting sexual abuse, an Army official said in a statement. Fort Hood officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The Army and the Fernandes family, from Massachusetts, had asked the public for help in finding the missing soldier. Related video below: Family of Massachusetts soldier who went missing from Fort Hood searching for him in Texas I am saddened that another soldier who served the country has been destroyed by sexual assault and sexual harassment and this toxic culture in the military that exists, said Khawam, who is also representing the family of Vanessa Guillen, another Fort Hood soldier who went missing and who was found dead. The Army said a fellow soldier killed her. U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in a visit to Fort Hood earlier this month that the Central Texas base had some of the highest numbers of sexual assault, harassment and murder. He ordered an independent probe of Fort Hood in July, after authorities said Guillen was slain. Instead of driving halfway across the city to get tested for COVID, imagine you could just walk a couple of blocks. Thats what could happen if Ontario gives the go-ahead to pharmacies to do on-site COVID-19 throat swabs something several chains in Alberta are already doing for symptom-free patients. Its something the province is considering, said a spokesperson for health minister Christine Elliott. We are looking at ways of enhancing access to testing. Having pharmacies function as testing centres is currently under consideration, said Alexandra Hilkene. How to integrate pharmacies into the COVID-19 Diagnostic Network, specifically how they would function and for whom they would be appropriate, is being explored at this time, Hilkene added. A pilot program in Alberta which started in mid-June has already expanded to more than 230 Shoppers Drug Mart locations in that province, according to Theresa Firestone, the pharmacy chains senior vice-president of health and wellness. London Drugs and Rexall are also running in-store COVID-19 testing in Alberta. If the province gave the go-ahead, Firestone estimates it would take as little as three to four weeks to get a similar program up and running in Shoppers Ontario stores. Firestone is confident it would work well in Ontario. We can do this, said Firestone, who estimated that the average turnaround time for receiving test results in Alberta is 48 hours. While doing in-store testing might take some load off existing publicly-run test sites heading into the busy flu season, Firestone said the biggest attraction for most customers is convenience. Theres a convenience factor. People know where the Shoppers is. They might not know exactly where the public health testing facility is. And weve got a lot of locations, said Firestone, pointing out the chain has more than 900 stores in Ontario. The fact that the program in Alberta is only open to symptom-free people is an added draw, Firestone argues. People might not feel comfortable waiting in a long line with someone whos got symptoms, Firestone said. Taking on more services isnt a new thing for pharmacies, said Andrew Forgione, a spokesperson for McKesson Canada, a firm which owns Rexall and several other smaller pharmacy chains. Already, flu vaccines and HPV vaccines can be administered at pharmacies in some provinces. COVID-19 testing would fit right in, he said. McKesson is looking to expand its in-store COVID-19 testing to other provinces, including Ontario, said Forgione. We are always in active discussions with governments across Canada on the benefits of community pharmacy, including expanding access to care in communities that would otherwise be underserved, Forgione said. Rexall has 259 stores in Ontario. Read more about: Students use ham radio to call an astronaut in space NASA reports on May 15, 2020, Canadian students used ham radio to talk with NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy KF5KDR, currently aboard the International Space Station Thanks to ham radio operators and the International Space Station program, the students were able to participate from their homes. Learn more about ham radio aboard the space station: https://go.nasa.gov/2DRPAeK Watch Students Use Ham Radio to Call an Astronaut in Space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1clACXLdDhs Learn more about the research being conducted on station: https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science Follow Twitter updates on the science conducted aboard the space station: https://twitter.com/iss_research What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio Free online amateur radio training course https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/ China has launched two missiles on Wednesday morning into the South China Sea, flexing its muscle and sending a clear warning to the US, a report claims. The missiles, including an 'aircraft-carrier killer', were fired in a bid to improve China's ability to deny other forces access to the disputed sea region, a source close to Chinese military told South China Morning Post. The reported missile launches came a day after Beijing accused Washington of sending a US Air Force U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone imposed during live-fire military exercises in northern China. China has launched two missiles on Wednesday morning into the South China Sea, sending a clear warning to the US, a report says. In this file photo, Chinese missile frigate Yuncheng launches an anti-ship missile during a military exercise in south China on July 8, 2016 One of the missiles is said to be a DF-26, which has a range of 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles) and can be used in nuclear or conventional strikes against ground and naval targets. The file photo shows 'DF-26' being driven past the Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015 in Beijing One of the missiles is said to be a DF-26, which has a range of 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles) and can be used in nuclear or conventional strikes against ground and naval targets. The other one, a DF-21, has an estimated range of around 1,800 kilometres (1,118 miles). The most advanced model in the series, DF-21D, is described by Chinese state media as the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile. Both were fired into an area between Hainan province and the Paracel Islands, according to South China Morning Post. 'This is China's response to the potential risks brought by the increasingly frequent incoming US warplanes and military vessels in the South China Sea,' the source said to the Hong Kong-based newspaper. 'China doesn't want the neighbouring countries to misunderstand Beijing's goals.' Song Zhongping, a Hong Kong-based military commentator, claimed that the missile launches were clearly aimed to send a signal to the US. The missiles, including an 'aircraft-carrier killer', were fired in a bid to improve China's ability to deny other forces access to the disputed sea region, Military vehicles carrying DF-26 ballistic missiles participate in a military parade at Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2015 'The US continues to test China's bottom line in Taiwan and South China Sea issues, and this pushed China to showcase its military strength to let Washington know that even US aircraft carriers cannot flex their full muscle near China's coast,' Song said. The news comes as China is protesting the alleged incursion of an American spy plane into a no-fly zone in the country's north. In a statement issued late Tuesday, the Ministry of National Defense said the action had 'seriously interfered in normal exercise activities' and 'severely incurred the risk of misjudgement and even of bringing about an unintended air-sea incident.' 'This was a naked act of provocation,' the ministry said, quoting spokesperson Wu Qian. China has lodged a stern protest and demanded the US cease such actions, Wu said. The statement did not give details on the time and place of the drills, but the information matches the exercises that started Monday and would run through September 30 over the Bohai Gulf east of Beijing, according to the Maritime Safety Administration. Taiwan has complained that China has stepped up threatening military activities in recent months near the island which Beijing considers its own. The file picture taken in April 2018 shows China's sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning (front), during a drill at sea Relations between the US and China have sunk to their lowest in decades amid disputes over myriad issues including trade, technology, Taiwan and the South China Sea. Pictured, military vehicles carrying the DF-17 missiles roll past Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019 Relations between the US and China have sunk to their lowest in decades amid disputes over myriad issues including trade, technology, Taiwan and the South China Sea. The high-altitude U-2 reconnaissance planes were flown over China, the former Soviet Union and other countries in the Communist bloc during the Cold War and upgraded versions continue to support US missions. China is also holding naval drills in the South China Sea, which it claims virtually in its entirety but over which five other governments also exercise claims. China objects to all US military activity in and over the strategic waterway, especially 'freedom of navigation operations' during which US Navy ships sail near to Chinese-held islands. This photo released by US Navy shows the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) conducting underway operations on April 28 in the South China Sea Another naval exercise is planned from Thursday to Sunday in the East China Sea despite warnings issued over Typhoon Bavi, which is affecting the Korean Peninsula. The defense ministry earlier this month said combat exercises were held in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters that were a 'necessary move responding to the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and were meant to safeguard national sovereignty.' China claims Taiwan is its territory and threatens to use military force to bring under its control the island that is a self-governing democracy and close US ally. Washington and Taipei have increased military and governmental contacts in recent years and this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar became the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan, prompting a Chinese protest. The eastern command of the People's Liberation Army will 'stay on high alert and take all necessary measures to fight against provocations and protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity,' the ministry quoted command spokesperson, Senior Col. Zhang Chunhui, as saying. At a time when the return in the frontline indices have been nothing to write home about in calendar year 2020, the action has shifted to the mid-and small-cap stocks. While the S&P BSE Sensex has lost nearly 6 per cent YTD till August 25, the S&P BSE Midcap and the S&P BSE Smallcap indices have gained around 1 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively during this period. The rise in select counters, however, has been spectacular. A quick analysis of the stocks that comprise the S&P BSE 500 index reveals 13 stocks that have rallied 100 per cent to 225 per cent thus far in calendar year ... Patna, Aug 26 : Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is reportedly angry over the statement of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav who compared senior leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh with a jug of water. Lalu Prasad has called Tej Pratap to meet him in Ranchi where he is under arrest in the fodder scam case. Tej Pratap is expected to reach Ranchi on Wednesday evening. Sources in the RJD said that Lalu Prasad wants to pacify Raghuvansh Prasad so that he would have a rethink on leaving the party. When asked by reporters about Raghuvansh's resignation from the party vice president's post on Monday, Tej Pratap replied that the RJD is like a sea and it would not be affected much if anyone takes one jug of water from it. Sources said that Tej Pratap also wants to change his constituency from Mahua in Vaishali district to Hasanpur in Samastipur. Tej Pratap was elected from Mahua constituency in the 2015 assembly election when the JD-U was part of the Grand Alliance. Sources said that Vaishali is a stronghold of the JD-U which is now a part of the National Democrativ Alliance and its leaders may give the ticket in the upcoming Assembly polls to Tej Pratap's ex wife Aishwarya Singh. Hasanpur constituency is a safer seat for him compared to Mahua. The planning permission was granted despite objections regarding the scale and density of the proposed building. The hotel is set to be seven stories high, with 200 bedrooms on the Clonliffe College site, walking distance from Croke Park. Hotel group Dalata, behind both the Maldron and Clayton groups, will operate the hotel. Locals had argued the hotel, which is to be built on a site bought from the Catholic Church, would be out of character with the area, impact on parking and cause congestion. According to The Irish Times, the hotel is part of a major development planned for more than 30 acres which was been purchased for up to 95 million. Film director Roman Polanski's legal battle against his expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was thrown out by a Los Angeles judge on Tuesday. Polanski fled the United States in 1978 after admitting to the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl. The director of Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby was expelled from the Los Angeles-based Academy, which awards the Oscars, four decades later against the background of the #MeToo movement, and filed a legal petition to force the prestigious organisation to reverse its decision. But Los Angeles superior court judge Mary Strobel found the Academy board "had cause to expel" Polanski, and that its decision "is supported by the evidence" and "was not arbitrary or capricious". Polanski "was given the opportunity to present any evidence" on the matter of whether he "should or should not remain a member of the Academy in light of his criminal conviction and fugitive status". Not welcome in Hollywood Polanski is persona non grata in Hollywood, and cannot return to the US for fear of arrest. The French-Polish director admitted the statutory rape of Samantha Geimer in a plea bargain in 1977 to avoid a trial on more serious charges. But he fled to France the following year after serving 42 days in jail when it appeared a judge was reconsidering his release. "The problem Roman has obtaining justice in Los Angeles is that all the judges cover for each other's misconduct," Polanski's lawyer Harland Braun told French news agency AFP following Tuesday's ruling. "All Roman asked for is a fair process." Polanski, now 87, was awarded the Academy's best director Oscar while still living in self-imposed exile in 2003 for The Pianist. But he was expelled from the Academy along with Bill Cosby in 2018, at a time when Hollywood was facing a reckoning over historic sexual harassment and abuse. In the wake of Weinstein The Academy board voted to expel Polanski under a procedure for enforcing Standards of Conduct that it adopted in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Polanski claimed the Academy had failed to follow its own procedures, or California law, in its decision. "We are pleased the court confirmed that the Academy's procedures regarding Mr Polanski were fair and reasonable," an Academy spokesperson told AFP on Tuesday. Editors note: The Courier Journal has exhaustively covered all aspects of the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor on March 13 at the hands of Louisville Metro Police Department officers. As the investigation of their conduct continues, this story examines documents and other evidence we obtained that helps explain why LMPD pursued the no-knock search warrant and why officers were there that night. It does not justify the shooting but provides more insight into this highly controversial case. An earlier version of this story was published prematurely Tuesday morning before final edits were made. We apologize for that misstep. An internal report by the Louisville Metro Police Department after officers fatally shot Breonna Taylor on March 13 sheds more light on why they forcibly entered her apartment the night she was killed. It provides no explanations or evidence aimed at justifying the shooting that has sparked three months of protests in Louisville, Kentucky, and national outrage. Critics accused police of smashing into the home of an unarmed Black woman for no legitimate reason and killing her. The 39-page report and corroborating evidence show that Taylor had more extensive ties than previously made public with a person suspected of drug trafficking who was at the center of a larger narcotics investigation in Louisville. It is not known whether details in the report were presented to the judge who signed the controversial "no-knock" warrant for Taylor's apartment. The front page of an undated report prepared by Louisville Metro Police as part of its investigation of accused drug dealer Jamarcus Glover, Breonna Taylor's boyfriend. The report, supported by jail phone recordings and other documents obtained by The Courier Journal of the USA TODAY Network, details multiple links between Taylor and Jamarcus Glover, a main target in a drug probe that prompted police to request the search warrant for Taylors apartment. Plainclothes officers battered in her door, and she was killed in an exchange of gunfire between police and her boyfriend. None of the drugs or illicit cash police were searching for was found. Story continues 'We are here to fight for justice': 64 protesters arrested in Louisville amid demonstration over death of Breonna Taylor "Breonna Taylor did not deserve to die no matter what her role in all this, said a Jefferson County law enforcement official who asked not to be identified because Kentucky's attorney general is still deciding whether the officers who shot Taylor should be prosecuted. Glover was arrested the same night as Taylors shooting. He was picked up at an alleged drug house 10 miles to the north in Louisvilles West End. He was released on bail but is a fugitive after failing to post a new bail set at $50,000 when he was charged again last month. In an email to The Courier Journal, Sam Aguiar, an attorney for Taylors estate, which filed a wrongful death suit April 27 against the city, said that while this looks like a smear campaign, I also appreciate the need for everything to get out to the public about this case. Good and bad. He said the police department went to "great lengths AFTER Breonna died and this case received national scrutiny to dig up all of her past." In a statement issued early Tuesday morning, Mayor Greg Fischer condemned the release of the report. "Breonna Taylor's death was a tragedy. Period. Justice, peace and healing are what is needed for her, for her family and for our community," Fischer said. 70 days of protests: Breonna Taylor's death has created a much larger movement in Louisville "It is deeply reckless for this information, which presents only a small fraction of the entire investigation, to be shared with the media while the criminal process remains ongoing," he said. "It would be unjust to draw conclusions about this case before the investigation is complete and the full truth comes out. And efforts to sway opinion and impact the investigation by releasing select information are wrong and divisive, at a time when our city needs unity more than ever before." Recorded jail calls mention Taylor The Courier Journal reported May 12 that a sworn affidavit from LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes said Glover was seen walking into Taylor's apartment one January afternoon and left with a "suspected USPS package in his right hand," then drove to a "known drug house" on Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Jaynes said he verified through a U.S. postal inspector that Glover had received packages at Taylor's address, though that was contradicted by Postal Inspector Tony Gooden. The police report reviewed by The Courier Journal goes beyond the information in the affidavit, detailing evidence into police surveillance of Taylor and Glover, as well as recorded phone conversations from a jail involving Glover and Taylor. Jamarcus Glover The report was compiled by the LMPD's new Place-Based Investigations unit, which targets violent crime at specific locations. The Courier Journal also reviewed transcripts of jailhouse calls Glover and other defendants made from Metro Corrections. The report is undated, and an LMPD spokesperson did not respond to requests for information about it, including whether it was provided to the mayor, police chief or other city or commonwealth officials. It was written by an LMPD detective whose name was redacted from a copy of the report The Courier Journal reviewed. More: Activists see progress after George Floyd's death but say more must be done The evidence it details includes the results of a tracking device placed on Glovers Dodge Charger that shows it was driven to Taylors apartment six times in January. The report includes photographs of Glover entering and exiting Taylors building. In the application for the search warrant of Taylor's apartment, police said they suspected drugs and money were held at the residence. Glover called from jail about 12 hours after he was arrested and after Taylor was shot and killed. In the recorded call March 13, Glover, 30, told a girlfriend that Taylor was holding $8,000 for him and that she had been handling all my money. No money was found at her residence during the police search. Aguiar said Glover and Taylor had dated until about two years earlier and maintained a "passive" friendship. The recordings and other evidence reviewed by The Courier Journal show Taylor and Glover maintained closer ties. On Jan. 3, after Glover was arrested on trafficking and weapons charges, he called Taylor from the jail and asked her to contact one of his co-defendants to get bail money. Taylor responded that the associate was already at the trap slang for a house used for drug trafficking. Glover told her to be on standby to pick him up if he made bail. I'm going to get me some rest in your bed, he said, according to the recording. Love you, he said at the end of the call. Love you, too, she replied. In his email to The Courier Journal, Aguiar apologized to the public and to Breonnas family for mischaracterizing the relationship, saying it was based on an erroneous conclusion he drew without the benefit of the jail recording. Ryan Nichols, president of River City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 614, told The Courier Journal that he wishes more information about Taylors connection with Glover had been released earlier because it would have countered erroneous rumors that police went to the wrong address and had no reason to search Taylors home. Keturah Herron, policy strategist with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, blasted LMPD for creating the report, calling it a case of victim-blaming. "We have seen this, historically, not just in Breonna's case but in cases across the nation," Herron told The Courier Journal. "They did it with Freddie Gray. They did it with Trayvon Martin. And then just recently, they did it with Jacob Blake (the victim of a police shooting this week in Kenosha, Wisconsin). "What's important here is that regardless of what Breonna was involved in from the day that she was born until March 13, it does not give reason for her to be murdered the way she was murdered," she said. "For LMPD now, or even sometimes the media ... to basically try to paint the picture that it's OK for police to use those tactics, it's absurd. It's disrespectful. It's distasteful." At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, interim LMPD Chief Robert Schroeder chastised the release of the report. "We want to protect the integrity of all of our investigations," Schroeder said. "This kind of leak and this kind of reporting is simply not helpful to the process. It seems irrelevant to the goal of getting justice, peace and healing for our community." Must read: Debunking 8 widely shared rumors in the Breonna Taylor police shooting Glover claims Taylor ha n d led his money On Dec. 30, 2019, days before her recorded jail conversation with Glover, Taylor posted a $2,500 bond for another man charged in the same case, Darreal Forest, 34. His attorney, Casey McCall, did not immediately respond to a question about how his client knew Taylor. Glover, Forest and three other men were charged with trafficking and weapons offenses after police received a tip from a confidential informant that they were hiding drugs and firearms in abandoned homes adjacent to the "trap house" they allegedly operated at 2424 Elliott Ave. Darreal Forest, for whom Breonna Taylor posted bond last December Police seized five handguns and three rifles, according to evidence filed in the case. The jail recordings show that on March 13, Glover, trying to round up cash to make bail on a new set of trafficking charges, called a girlfriend and told him Taylor had his money. "She had the eight grand I gave her the other day, and she picked up another six," Glover said. Did she tell you where it was? the caller asked him. She didn't have the chance to tell me nothing, he replied. She dead. When the caller asked Glover why he left the money with Taylor, he said, Dont take it wrong, but Bre been handling all my money. She has been handling (expletive) for me and it aint just me." Nothing in the recordings or other evidence obtained by The Courier Journal substantiates Glovers claim that Taylor was handling money for him. Read more: Will Louisville police be forced to release the Breonna Taylor file? Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, one of the three officers who fired shots into Taylors apartment, told investigators from the Public Integrity Unit, which investigates potential crimes by government employees, that police suspected Taylor may have held drugs and money for Glover. In a different recorded phone call from the jail March 13, Demarius Bowman, who was arrested with Glover, told his sister that another woman, Alicia Kesha Jones, 24, had been given the groups money. We put all the money on Kesha, said Bowman, 24. We dumped everything on her. Jones was holding $3,413 in cash when she was arrested earlier after the search at 2424 Elliott Ave., according to police records. Jones, Glover and Bowman, along with three other defendants Rayshawn Lee, 33; Anthony Taylor, 31; and Adrian Walker, 28 are charged with complicity in trafficking in a controlled substance and running an organized crime syndicate. They all pleaded not guilty. Police surveil Glover and Taylor Court records show that Taylor posted bond twice for Glover in 2017, as mentioned in the police report, though it is not unusual for a girlfriend, spouse, friend or parent to post bond for a loved one. The police report says Glover called Taylors phone from jail 27 times from January 2016 to January 2020, including the call Jan. 3 in which he asked her to contact Adrian Walker to round up bail money for him. The report says that on Feb. 13 a month before Taylor's death detectives watched through a pole camera mounted outside the suspected drug house on Elliot Avenue as Taylor and Glover drove up to the house in her black Dodge Charger and he got out and went inside. He came out after a few minutes and they drove off, the report says. Police disclosed in their application to search Taylors apartment that another vehicle registered to Taylor, a white 2016 Chevrolet Impala, was seen parked in front of 2424 Elliott Ave. several times. The report says Glover called Walker at the jail the same day Taylor was killed and said he didnt understand why police searched her apartment because nothing ties me to Bre house at all except those bonds an apparent reference to the bail bonds she posted for him in 2017. Walker responded that there were other ties, including photos they knew had been taken of her car from the police camera. Yeah, she was there the top of the week before I went to court, Glover said. He said he was upset by Taylors death, according to the recording. Im tore, he said. Im tore. I keep losing those close to me. This s--t kills my soul. I lose people that really be close to me, he told Walker. That hurt, boy." He blamed Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker no relation to Adrian Walker for Taylors death: "At the end of the day, it was not my fault. At the end of the day, if I would have been at that house, Bre would be alive, bruh. I dont shoot at no police. Taylor's boyfriend again says he didn't know he was firing at police Taylors death has been condemned by celebrities, including LeBron James, Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce Knowles. Former first lady Michelle Obama and Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris mentioned her when they addressed the Democratic National Convention last week. Protesters have insisted Taylor was murdered and demanded that the officers be fired, charged and convicted. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who spoke at Tuesday's Republican National Convention, is reviewing the shooting. He said Sunday night no findings will be released this week. Neither Mattingly nor Detective Myles Cosgrove or former Detective Brett Hankison have been charged, though Schroeder fired Hankison in June for firing 10 rounds blindly into Taylor's apartment and the one next door. Mattingly told investigators police knocked and announced they were officers and nobody responded, so they used a battering ram to force open the door. Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired one shot from inside the apartment, and it hit Mattingly in the thigh. Walker said he thought intruders were breaking in. Mattingly and Cosgrove returned fire through the doorway, while Hankison fired from outside the apartment. Taylor died in her hallway after she was struck five times by the officers' bullets, according to her death certificate. In a recorded call from the jail the same day Taylor was killed, Walker, who was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer, told a friend the same story he told police that neither he nor Taylor knew the intruders were officers. "They was beating on the door," and Taylor "was like, who is it, and they aint saying nothing," he said. Charges against him were dismissed, subject to further investigation. Aguiar, the Taylor family's attorney, said in his email that Breonnas name should not be tarnished." She overcame a difficult childhood, being raised without a father in her life and becoming the first in her immediate family to graduate high school," he wrote. "Breonna had no drugs or cash in her apartment at the time she was killed. Breonna was living her best life. Contributing: Tessa Duvall Reach Andrew Wolfson: 502-582-7189; Twitter: @adwolfson. Mayor Greg Fischer's statement "Breonna Taylor's death was a tragedy. Period. Justice, peace and healing are what is needed for her, for her family and for our community. Today a news story was released that includes information related to the Breonna Taylor case, despite the fact that the Attorney General and FBI have insisted that the investigation remain confidential for the integrity of the judicial process as a whole. In addition, attorneys for Breonnas family, the county attorney, and the civil attorneys for the officers are under a protective order that does not permit them to disclose evidence in this case. It is deeply reckless for this information, which presents only a small fraction of the entire investigation, to be shared with the media while the criminal process remains ongoing. It would be unjust to draw conclusions about this case before the investigation is complete and the full truth comes out. And, efforts to sway opinion and impact the investigation by releasing select information are wrong and divisive, at a time when our city needs unity more than ever before." This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Breonna Taylor: Why Louisville police decided to forcibly search home As a parent, Daniel Handler has experienced both public and private schools in San Francisco. His teenage son has attended both, and Handler said he and his wife felt he had a better experience in public school. The local author of such famed works as "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and "All the Wrong Questions" (published under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket), Handler grew up attending San Francisco public schools, graduating from Lowell High School. Last week, Handler and his wife Lisa Brown pledged a donation of $10,000 to the San Francisco Unified School District to help eliminate the systemic inequities laid bare & exacerbated by COVID-19. The pledge is a matching donation, and Browns tweet announcing the pledge called for others to join them in contributing. If its a time where you can step up in a financial way, you should be stepping up, Handler said. I hope that the attention to my donation helps facilitate more conversation between the school district and other parents that have the means to help out. He said its been hard watching his son adjust to digital learning amid the pandemic, and hes hoping that other parents that feel that way too feel empowered to donate to the district since he said so many have the means. The pandemic is having a pretty catastrophic effect on schooling, and I think that its a failure of our system that in a city as wealthy and tech savvy as San Francisco that we dont have a better system for this going on, he said. He said beyond parents giving money to the district, there could be room for more creative approaches and solutions to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Were in a very trying time and I think we need to be very creative about the solution, he said. I think the district should be working more openly and creatively with an army of parents who are eager to do something about the crisis. While he said he misses swimming at the Dolphin Club, Handler said he and his wife, who live in the Buena Vista neighborhood, feel lucky for their circumstances right now. Theyve been enjoying a lot of time at Ocean Beach and theyre trying to support their favorite local businesses as much as they can. As for work, Handler said hes working on a memoir, as well as some theater projects, which began before the pandemic and now are facing some challenges. He said while he thinks San Francisco is a great place to be a writer, the arts generally are encountering overwhelming difficulties, especially actors and musicians. In a city thats expensive, you have to commit to a widespread support of the arts, he said. Not even the rich want San Francisco to become a playground for just the rich. Tessa McLean is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her at tessa.mclean@sfgate.com or follow her on Twitter @mcleantessa. "Not long ago, an unfortunate incident happened in the border areas that neither China nor India would like to see. Now we are working to handle it properly. It is a brief moment from the perspective of history," the Chinese Ambassador said while speaking at China-India youth webinar. New Delhi : Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong termed the Galwan clash, which claimed lives of 20 Indian soldiers, as 'unfortunate incident' saying it is "brief moment from the perspective of history." Weidong said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India 70 years ago, bilateral relations have withstood tests and become more resilient. "It should not be disturbed by one thing at a time. In this new century, bilateral relations should continue to move forward instead of backward," he said. The ambassador was convinced that China and India, two ancient civilizations, have the wisdom and ability to properly handle bilateral relations. "China sees India as a partner instead of a rival, and an opportunity instead of a threat. We hope to put the boundary question at an appropriate place in bilateral relations, properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, and push bilateral relations back on track at an early date," the Ambassador said. Weidong said India and China "should live in peace and avoid conflicts." "No country can be isolated from the rest of the world and seek development on its own. We should not only adhere to self-reliance, but also stick to opening up to the outside world in line with the trend of globalization. Only in this way can we achieve better development," he said. The Chinese Ambassador emphasised that the economic complementarity between China and India is very strong. "China has been India's largest trading partner for many years in a row, while India is also China's largest trading partner in South Asia. The Chinese and Indian economies are interwoven and interdependent," he said. "I think the two big economies of China and India should attract each other like magnets, rather than forcefully separate them," he added. The Chinese Ambassador said language learning is indispensable in people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, which "cannot be ignored, let alone be politicised." India and China are engaged in a standoff since April-May over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including Finger area, Galwan valley, Hot springs and Kongrung Nala. The talks between the two sides have been going on for the last three months including five Lieutenant general-level talks but have failed to yield any results, so far. The Chinese Army has refused to withdraw or disengage completely from the Finger area and seems to be buying time to delay its disengagement from there. While efforts are underway to resolve the ongoing border dispute, India has rejected the Chinese suggestion to disengage equidistantly from the Finger area in Eastern Ladakh. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:21:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday revealed that about 44,000 people are registered as missing across the African continent, with nearly half of them being children. Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Libya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Cameroon make up 82 percent of ICRC's missing caseload in Africa, the ICRC disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday. "As August 30 marks the International Day of the Disappeared, nearly 44,000 people across Africa are registered as missing with the ICRC at a time when restrictions put in place to curb COVID-19 create new challenges in searching for missing people," the statement read. According to the ICRC, about 45 percent of the cases were children. "This caseload is a drop in the ocean to the true scale of people whose family members are searching for them," said Sophie Marsac, the regional advisor for the missing and their families in Africa for the ICRC. "Conflict, violence, migration and climate shocks have not stopped separating families in the pandemic, but our work to find missing people has become even harder," Marsac added. "Families of the missing often suffer psychologically and face economic and legal challenges. The tragedy of missing people is a humanitarian crisis and one that cannot be forgotten as the world focuses on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," she added. The ICRC also stressed that despite the increase in new cases, COVID-19 has created new challenges in searching for missing people as it is no longer possible to gather people in large groups to listen for names or look through photos. "Many countries suspended domestic travel between states or provinces, making it more difficult for searches to be done over wider geographic areas. Access to places of detention, where the ICRC would look for cases, is suspended in some places to limit the risk of COVID-19 exposure," the ICRC said. It, however, stressed that digital tools have proven to be effective amid the limitations that COVID-19 brings. The ICRC further called on authorities to acknowledge the tragedy of missing people and the impact that it has on families and to do everything in their power to prevent people from going missing, take measures to search for those who are missing, and provide information to families on the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. More than 3,300 people are registered with the ICRC in Ethiopia, the majority of whom are women and children, accounting for about 64 percent, it was noted. The ICRC also stressed that inter-communal clashes and migration are the largest drivers behind missing caseload in Ethiopia today, in which more than 250 cases were opened so far in 2020. Nigeria which reported nearly 23,000 people is ICRC's largest caseload of missing people in the continent. More than 360 cases have been opened with the ICRC in Nigeria in the first half of 2020, it was noted. The ICRC's teams in South Sudan are also currently searching for more than 5,000 people, most of whom went missing because of inter-communal violence and conflict. Women and children make up three-quarters of the more than 3,200 people registered as missing with the ICRC in Somalia, it was noted. More than 500 missing people have been registered by the ICRC's teams in the DRC in 2020, bringing the total of missing persons to 1,800. Most of them went missing because of violence and conflict. The ICRC also stressed that conflict and migration are the causes for the missing caseload in Libya, which reports more than 1,600 people. The ICRC has more than 1,500 open cases of missing people in Cameroon, with more than 420 registered in 2020. The ICRC stressed that the figures represent those cases documented as of the end of June, and they do not represent the total number of people missing in Africa. Enditem (Natural News) Ibram X. Kendi has become, if not a household name, something approximating it for an academic set not used to attention. Thus, when Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey agreed to give Kendis Boston University Center for Antiracist Research a $10 million grant last week, just two months after the center was opened, that was a pretty big deal. (Article by C. Douglas Golden republished from WesternJournal.com) Your $10M donation, with no strings attached, gives us the resources and flexibility to greatly expand our antiracist work. The endowment is vital, as we build our new Center, Kendi wrote on Twitter. Racism is a juggernaut. Racist policies + ideas are ubiquitous, he added. We need juggernauts combating racism. We need the ubiquity of antiracist research, policy innovation, narrative change, and activism. Racism is a juggernaut. Racist policies + ideas are ubiquitous. We need juggernauts combating racism. We need the ubiquity of antiracist research, policy innovation, narrative change, and activism. Thanks @Jack for supporting the @AntiracismCtr + so many racial justice orgs. 2/ Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) August 20, 2020 What is amazing is just the generosity of Jack Dorsey and that it gives the foundation to the center, said Boston University President Robert A. Brown, according to BU Today, a university publication. Given that the funds were gifted to Kendis center with no strings attached, Brown said, that gives the director endless discretion about how the income from the gift will be used over time to advance the center. $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 This wouldnt make headlines in any other time. Kendi isnt just a major name in the field of academia; his 2019 book, How to Be an Antiracist, attracted positive reviews in the media and became an international bestseller in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Dorsey, of course, is currently positioning himself as the woke face of social media. This, in short, isnt just a donation, its a powerful advertising opportunity for Dorseys corporate leviathans, Twitter and credit-card processing firm Square the kind of advertising opportunity Dorsey hoped for when he began the Start Small initiative to give away $1 billion of his wealth expediently and with measurable results. However, the question isnt what kind of results Dorsey was hoping for. Its the question of what kind of impact Kendi might make and its not entirely a positive one. To start with, we should probably define what Kendi describes as racist or antiracist. As Manhattan Institute fellow Coleman Hughes pointed out in his review of How to Be an Antiracist for City Journal, Kendi believed there is no such thing as a not-racist idea, only racist ideas and antiracist ideas. If one isnt an antiracist, one is necessarily racist. There arent gradations between (pun unintended) black and white. A curious idea enough if it were just expressed in a book. Kendi wants to see it go far beyond this. He distilled one of his more controversial concepts in a short 2019 piece for Politico when describing how he would go about fixing inequality. To fix the original sin of racism, Americans should pass an anti-racist amendment to the U.S. Constitution that enshrines two guiding anti-racist principals: Racial inequity is evidence of racist policy and the different racial groups are equals, he wrote. The amendment would make unconstitutional racial inequity over a certain threshold, as well as racist ideas by public officials (with racist ideas and public official clearly defined). It would establish and permanently fund the Department of Anti-racism (DOA) comprised of formally trained experts on racism and no political appointees. The DOA would be responsible for preclearing all local, state and federal public policies to ensure they wont yield racial inequity, monitor those policies, investigate private racist policies when racial inequity surfaces, and monitor public officials for expressions of racist ideas. The DOA would be empowered with disciplinary tools to wield over and against policymakers and public officials who do not voluntarily change their racist policy and ideas. Now, beyond the utterly insane idea that the concepts of racist ideas and public official could be clearly defined, Hughes hit this one solidly on the head. Kendis goals are openly totalitarian. The DOA would be tasked with investigating private businesses and monitoring the speech of public officials; it would have the power to reject any local, state, or federal policy before its implemented; it would be made up of experts who could not be fired, even by the president; and it would wield disciplinary tools over public officials who did not voluntarily change their racist ideas as defined, presumably, by people like Kendi. What could possibly go wrong? Given the near-impossibility of passing a constitutional amendment, of course, this would be almost impossible to enact. And yet, Jack Dorsey just gave $10 million to a man who aims to do just this. Kendi is serious, however, about considering every policy a potentially racist idea that needs to be eradicated via totalitarianism. According to Hughes, Vox editor Ezra Klein asked Kendi whether a capital-gains tax cut could be considered racist or antiracist, given that its as race-agnostic of a policy as you can get. However, Klein pointed out blacks own less stock so does this mean the policy is racist? Yes, Kendi said and, according to Hughes, without hesitation. If you supported this because you didnt think it was racist, this simply made you a racist. While Kendis logic isnt as circular as that of White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo, its not too far off. This is the kind of authoritarian Jack Dorsey just gave money to. Will his Start Small program produce measurable results? We can only hope and pray that it doesnt. This is the kind of knee-jerk reaction from two elites you would have figured some conservative had dreamed up as an example of liberal fascism instead of real life. Read more at: WesternJournal.com NBCUniversal Global Distribution has signed a wide-ranging, multi-year output deal with Stan, which will see the streamer become the exclusive Australian home of new shows from Sky Studios, NBCUniversal International Studios, and Peacock content produced by Universal Studio Group. Also included within the deal are DreamWorks Animation TV shows produced for Peacock and NBCUniversals childrens programming, while Stan will also have access to NBCUniversals library of TV series and hundreds of blockbusters films. Financial terms were not disclosed. Stan will be the exclusive home of Peacock series including Brave New World and its Saved By The Bell reboot. Sky Studios shows, such as Gangs Of London and I Hate Suzie, created by Succession writer Lucy Prebble, also feature in the deal, as does Working Titles comedy Lady Parts and DreamWorks series, such as Madagascar: A Little Wild. Stan CEO Mike Sneesby said: This marks the first time an agreement combining series from Sky Studios, DreamWorks Animation and Peacock content produced by Universal Studio Group has been secured in Australia the biggest new slate of premium scripted content to come to market in recent times. Belinda Menendez, NBCUniversals president and chief revenue officer of global distribution and international, added: This extensive agreement ensures that Stan will be the exclusive Australian home of our new and compelling dramas, hit comedies, engaging childrens programs, exciting unscripted series and iconic film and library titles for many years to come. More from Deadline Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A woman has been charged with child homicide over the death of a seven-month-old baby girl in Melbourne. Police were called to a home on Kavanagh Street in Southport at about 7am on July 18 after the baby was found unresponsive. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the infant, but she died at the scene. The 35-year-old woman was on Wednesday charged with child homicide and granted bail. She will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court next Wednesday. In the letter, which was shared by the library, Spadoni stated he has sold his home and he is moving out of the library district. He has served on the board since 2015 and is in final year of a six-year term, according to the library. Even as a debate raged nationally over the issue of holding NEET and JEE examinations amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Karnataka government announced to reopen regular classes in degree colleges from October 1. Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said on Wednesday the department of Higher Education would, however, await guidelines from the central government on reopening of the colleges which have remained shut since March in view of COVID-19 lockdown, indicating a final call would be taken later. Narayan, who holds the Higher Education portfolio, said online classes would commence from September 1. The government has decided to get the ball rolling on all academic activities online from next month. In addition, all colleges will start in October and students are expected to attend classes in person," he told reporters here. According to Narayan, the state government has already made comprehensive preparations for starting offline classes following the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The state government will additionally follow the directions from the central government as they come, he added. Along with the commencement of the academic year, final year examinations will be scheduled for all the undergraduate,diploma and engineering students, the minister said adding arrear exams will also be conducted. The state government had also conducted the SSLC board examination and the pre-university examinations. However, there was no indication as yet on when the schools and pre-university colleges would reopen. Regarding the holding of NEET, Narayan said he saw no reason for putting it off and claimed some vested interests"were trying to disrupt the medical entrance exam since its inception. Karnatakas COVID-19 tally is inching toward the three lakh mark and the state recorded a sharp spike of 8,161 new cases on Tuesday. The total cases stood at 2,91,826 and the death toll 4,958. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (right) gestures during a senate hearing in Manila on Feb. 6, 2020. A U.S. presence in Asia bolsters Philippine interests, Manilas top diplomat said Wednesday, while underlining that the Philippines would not stop patrolling the South China Sea despite Beijing calling such operations an illegal provocation. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the government would not dismiss any means to protect the nations sovereignty and freedom, according to a transcript from his office of an interview with ANC, a Philippine news channel. Were going to continue our patrol[s] because its ours, Locsin said. They will continue to call it an illegal provocation, but thats their right thats the free world. He was responding to a question regarding Chinas complaints about Philippine actions in the South China Sea. In the same interview, he said the Philippines had rejected calls to "keep foreign powers out of the region" during discussions on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Yes, we need the U.S. presence in Asia, Locsin said. [O]n the military aspect, we need them because our whole defense posture depends on the Mutual Defense Treaty. Still, Locsin said, he would not turn his back on China. For me, first and foremost are Philippine interests, he said. I have repeatedly said even while affirming the necessity of American military presence in the region and hopefully, its growing economic presence Ive also said that I will not turn against economic opportunities offered by China, he said. Opportunities that, in fact, offer the prospect for mutual progress. Locsins comments came days after his department on Aug. 20 filed a diplomatic complaint against China for its alleged harassment of Filipino patrol aircraft and for confiscating devices of local fishermen. Philippine officials said fishermen had complained of Chinese ships blocking their boats from hauling their catch, especially in the Scarborough Shoal. The shoal lies just west of the main Philippine island of Luzon in the South China Sea. Beijing effectively seized control of the triangle-shaped reef in 2012 during a territorial standoff with the Philippines, while President Benigno Aquino III was in office. Aquino filed a complaint with the Permanent Court of Arbitration over boundaries in the South China Sea. In July 2016, shortly after Rodrigo Duterte succeeded Aquino as president, the court ruled in favor of Manilas claim to the shoal. China rejected the verdict and has since ignored it. Duterte has refused to enforce the tribunals ruling and instead sought closer bilateral ties with Beijing while distancing from the U.S., its traditional ally. The president has said repeatedly that he was powerless to enforce the ruling because of Beijings military might. Chinas response In response to last weeks diplomatic protest, Beijing said the Chinese coast guard had acted well within its mandate, as China urged Manila to stop what it said were provocative activities. Citing historical rights, China has established a so-called nine-dash line claiming nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei. Last weekend, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters that Chinas territorial claim was a fabrication. Their so-called historical rights over an enclosed nine-dash line dont exist except in their imaginations, Lorenzana said. Earlier this week, Philippine presidential spokesman Harry Roque downplayed the tension, saying Duterte would not give an inch of territory to Beijing. Our diplomats lodge protests like that if we believe our sovereign rights are violated, Roque said, according to transcripts released by the presidential palace. Last weeks diplomatic protest was at least the third bilateral one filed against China this year. Manila filed two in April against perceived aggressive actions by China. The protests were over the unilateral creation of two new administrative districts in the South China Sea and about an incident in February where a Chinese navy boat pointed a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship near the Philippine-occupied Rizal Reef. US sanctions Chinese firms Meanwhile, the U.S. on Wednesday announced sanctions against 24 Chinese companies and individuals linked to those firms over their alleged roles in constructing artificial islands in the South China Sea. The companies were placed on the U.S. Commerce Departments Entity List, which restricts exports to businesses abroad because of their activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. The sanctions follow a U.S. declaration that Chinas historical claims to the South China Sea are unlawful. Locsins comments on Wednesday came two days after a Chinese candidate was elected to be one the 21 judges on the International Tribunal for Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Duan Jielong, the Chinese ambassador to Hungary, ran unopposed. Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said Duans victory would not affect the 2016 ruling by an international tribunal favoring the Philippines claims in the South China Sea. The [South China Sea] arbitration case is already decided and in international arbitration there is no process of review of reversal of decided cases, Batongbacal told BenarNews, adding ITLOS is an entirely separate body from the ad hoc arbitral tribunal that decided the Philippines versus China case. TORONTO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Canada and National Bank of Canada comfortably beat estimates for third-quarter profit on Wednesday as they took fewer loan-loss provisions than expected and benefitted from a recovery in financial markets. Royal Bank, Canada's biggest lender, attributed its better-than-expected performance in the three months through July to record earnings in its capital markets business, whose profit jumped 45% from a year ago. National Bank, the smallest of Canada's six major lenders, posted a more modest 5% increase in profit from its financial markets business. Both banks, which were conservative in setting aside money to cover bad loans in the prior quarter, took half the provisions for credit losses (PCL) that analysts had expected. Royal Bank set aside C$675 million ($512.49 million), while National Bank posted provisions of C$143 million. Investors had surmised before the results announcements that extended and expanded assistance programs that helped keep borrowers in decent shape likely kept in check the formation of bad loans at Canadian banks. That also helped support capital levels, with RBC posting an increase in its Common Equity Tier 1 ratio - the core measure of a banks capital - from the prior quarter to 12%, while National Bank maintained its level of 11.4%. Both were well above the regulatory requirement of 9%. RBC reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of C$2.23 in the quarter, compared with analyst expectations of C$1.88. National Bank posted adjusted EPS of C$1.66 versus estimates of C$1.30. ($1 = 1.3171 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Nichola Saminather; editing by Jason Neely and Chizu Nomiyama) Earlier today, the Joint Forces Operation Command reported on the first month of full and comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas introduced on July 27. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have discussed the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine's Donbas warzone. "I spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The Secretary of State welcomed the establishment of silence regime in Donbas. It's been 31 days without combat losses among our military. This became possible thanks to our efforts and thanks to the support of the United States and Europe. Thank you for your support for territorial integrity and bipartisan support," Zelensky tweeted on Wednesday, August 26, following a phone conversation with the U.S. top diplomat. Earlier today, the Joint Forces Operation Command reported on the first month of full and comprehensive ceasefire in Donbas introduced on July 27. "No enemy shelling" was recorded in most areas of the warzone, while Ukraine has been reporting random provocations where the enemy would open non-aimed fire, reads the JFO report posted on Facebook No combat losses or injuries have been reported over the said period, the JFO Command says. Read alsoZelensky on Donbas talks: Direct dialogue with Putin must continue"Not a single case of the use of heavy weapons was recorded," the statement adds. It is also noted that Joint Forces comply with the ceasefire agreement, while remaining prepared to deliver an adequate response if enemy action poses a threat to the lives and health of Ukrainian troops. Donbas truce: background Since midnight on July 27, a full and comprehensive ceasefire has been in effect along the contact line in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas. Russian invaders have resorted to random provocations, opening non-aimed fire at the direction of Ukrainian defense positions, employing small arms and grenade launchers. BBC Three has played host to a string of hit shows including Normal People, Fleabag and Killing Eve (Anthony Devlin/PA) Choosing whether or not BBC Three should return as a linear TV channel is one of the early decisions facing the corporations incoming director-general, the controller of the channel has said. BBC Three moved online in 2016 but it has previously been reported that the channel may return to its original TV format. The channel has played host to a string of hit shows including Normal People, Fleabag and Killing Eve. Expand Close Normal People is among the channels hit shows (Enda Bowe/BBC/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Normal People is among the channels hit shows (Enda Bowe/BBC/PA) Fiona Campbell, who is the controller of the channel, told the Edinburgh TV Festival: Obviously theres a new director-general about to start and as the annual plan said, that is something the corporation has got under active consideration. Hes obviously going to have that on his list of early decisions. She added: I would say anything that gives a boost to BBC Three content which is trying to reflect lives across the UK is obviously a good thing. The corporation has got quite significant savings to make across the piece, so theres a bigger picture in which it has to be weighed within. Successful BBC Three content also performs well on the broadcasters television channels, she added. Expand Close Incoming director-general Tim Davie (Chris Radburn/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Incoming director-general Tim Davie (Chris Radburn/PA) Video of the Day When you see something doing well, you have got to think, How can we make it do even better?' Ms Campbell said. Tim Davie is set to take over from Tony Hall as director-general next month. Ms Campbell also defended a comedy sketch by Famalam which was criticised by some for invoking stereotypes of Jamaican people. A clip posted on social media showed cast members of the BBC Three show taking part in a Jamaican version of the quiz show Countdown. Ms Campbell said the sketch was not malicious, adding: We stand by the creators brand of humour. She told the Edinburgh TV Festival: Famalam is now in its third series and it is very successful. It is not malicious humour and I think if you followed on social, the creators themselves said they are poking fun at all stereotypes. There isnt malice in the type of content. BBC Three has also announced it has commissioned a new programme featuring reality star Joey Essex. Expand Close Joey Essex (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joey Essex (PA) Joey Essex: Who Am I? will see him discuss his experience of his mother dying when he was 10-years-old and the long-term impacts it has had on his life. The channel has also commissioned Meet The Khans: Big In Bolton, which will feature boxer Amir Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom. The programme will look at the young couples family life and the pressures of living in the media spotlight. Dancing and dating show Dance Crush will also be coming to BBC Three. Single professional dancers and novices will perform in an attempt to score a date and avoid elimination from the show. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 03:55:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran has agreed to allow the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) an access to two requested locations in the country, according to a joint statement by Iran and the IAEA. The agreement was made during a recent visit by the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to the Iranian capital Tehran. "Iran will voluntarily provide the IAEA with access to two locations specified by the IAEA and will facilitate the process of verification to resolve these issues," the statement was cited as reading by the official IRNA news agency on Wednesday. "The IAEA does not have any further questions to Iran, and it does not have further requests for access to locations other than those declared by Iran," the statement said. According to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), the inspections will be made at two locations, near Shahreza in central Isfahan Province and near capital Tehran. Besides, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the AEOI, on Wednesday confirmed the deal and expressed the hope that "the agreement would bring the case to an end." The agreement would hopefully open a new chapter between Iran and the IAEA, he said. Earlier in the day, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the IAEA to adhere to what he called "independence, impartiality" in dealing with its professional responsibilities. Rouhani made the remarks during a meeting with Grossi in Tehran. On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran was willing to cooperate with the IAEA according to international regulations. Iran and the IAEA have always cooperated according to international commitments and in a technical and professional framework, Zarif was quoted as saying by IRNA. Zarif stressed that the existing differences would be resolved through mutual trust and cooperation inside the framework of the Safeguards Agreement regulations. The UN nuclear watchdog had demanded inspections for "possible" nuclear activities in the two locations and was waiting for Tehran's permission. On Sunday, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the AEOI, said that Iran was not initially opposed to the IAEA's demand for inspection of two locations. However, the IAEA's questions must have been based on serious evidence and documents instead of "mere allegations," he noted. Enditem McDonalds said on Tuesday that its investigation into misconduct claims within the company now included whether its former chief executive, Steve Easterbrook, may have covered up inappropriate actions by other executives during his tenure. The company also said it was examining the actions of its human resources department. The board will follow the facts wherever they may lead, a company spokesman said in a statement about the investigation, details of which were reported earlier by Bloomberg. The company declined to elaborate on what prompted these new questions or on other details of the investigation. The company recently filed a lawsuit seeking to recoup tens of millions of dollars in compensation that Mr. Easterbrook was allowed to keep when he was fired in November. McDonalds dismissed Mr. Easterbrook after an employee notified the company that she had had an inappropriate relationship with him. The employee said she was worried that she would end up getting punished for the monthlong consensual relationship. She said the relationship consisted of sexually explicit text messages, photographs and at least one FaceTime call between herself and Mr. Easterbrook but was not physical. A panel session on the closing day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. The World Economic Forum announced Wednesday that it decided to postpone its upcoming annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, due to safety concerns and in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19. The meeting, originally scheduled for January in the Alpine ski resort, will be rescheduled to "early next summer," according to Adrian Monck, managing director of public engagement at the Forum. "The decision was not taken easily, since the need for global leaders to come together to design a common recovery path and shape the 'Great Reset' in the post-COVID-19 era is so urgent," Monck said in a statement. "However, the advice from experts is that we cannot do so safely in January." The World Economic Forum's annual summit in Davos is routinely one of the globe's largest collections of world leaders and corporate executives. This year's gathering, which took place over four days starting Jan. 21, featured commentary from President Donald Trump, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and climate activist Greta Thunberg. The 2020 conference also included Wall Street and finance bigwigs, and counted among its ranks billionaire George Soros, hedge-fund manager Paul Tudor Jones, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, and Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio. The World Economic Forum also announced Wednesday that, instead of the in-person session, it will host a "high-level," digital forum called "Davos Dialogues" during the week of Jan. 25, 2021. Monck said the platform will feature global leaders and offer them a chance to present ideas on the state of the world in 2021. The organization said details on the new dates and location of the rescheduled in-person forum will be made available "as soon as we are assured that all conditions are fulfilled to guarantee the healthy and safety of our participants and the hosting community." Credit Suisse Head of Asia Technology to Join Xiaomi as CFO By Bloomberg / Aug 26, 2020 10:10 AM / Business & Tech One of Credit Suisse Group AGs most prominent executives in Asia, Alain Lam, is joining Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp as chief financial officer, according to people familiar with the matter. Lam, head of the technology and media practice within Credit Suisses investment banking and capital markets group in Asia Pacific, will take on his new role as early as September, the people said, requesting not to be named because the appointment isnt yet public. Xiaomis previous CFO, Chew Shou Zi, has already been appointed president of international operations. Xiaomi and Credit Suisse declined to comment. The veteran investment banker joins a tech company thats fought through a tumultuous 10 years since its founding by billionaire entrepreneur Lei Jun. Early on, Xiaomi drew comparisons to Apple Inc. with its sleek smartphone designs and rabid fan base. It was once the most valuable startup in China, ahead of TikTok parent ByteDance Ltd. and food-delivery giant Meituan Dianping. But Xiaomis growth slowed in recent years as the mobile phone market stagnated and domestic rivals like Huawei Technologies Co. and Oppo challenged the company at home and in markets from India to Southeast Asia. Xiaomis stock has only just rebounded to surpass its 2018 initial public offering price, with a valuation of about $56 billion. Xiaomi Is Said to Seek at Least $50 Billion Valuation in IPO Lams experience could help Xiaomi uncover value in the more than 300 companies it has backed. The banker spent more than 20 years at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, with stints in New York, London, Silicon Valley and Hong Kong. He worked on more than 140 transactions with an aggregate value of more than $60 billion, including the public listings of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Google and Pinduoduo Inc. Xiaomi executives have long argued the market underestimates the value of its sprawling portfolio of startups, ranging from Segway owner Ninebot Inc. to portable charger maker Zimi. Some allies, which often sell gadgets under the Mi brand, have gone public, including smartwatch maker Huami Corp. and appliances developer Viomi Technology Co. Xiaomi contends this ecosystem gives it an edge in the so-called Internet of Things, as computing power is integrated into everything from refrigerators to roads. The company, which turned profitable only two years ago, makes money from selling phones and other gear, as well as from online advertising and services. Credit Suisse is naming Allan Chu head of technology, media and telecom in Asia Pacific, according to people who saw an internal memo sent to bank employees. Chu has been with Credit Suisse for more than 18 years, working on Alibaba and other deals. Chu reports to Zeth Hung and Edwin Low, co-heads of Credit Suisses investment banking and capital markets group in Asia Pacific, the memo said. Related: Xiaomis Strong First Quarter, Recent Uncertainty Ring Up Mixed Investor Reaction Tablets believed to be laced with fentanyl are displayed at the Drug Enforcement Administration Northeast Regional Laboratory on Oct. 8, 2019, in New York. (Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images) US Sanctions Chinese National for Fentanyl Trafficking The United States on Aug. 25 sanctioned an alleged Chinese fentanyl kingpin, describing him as one of the most significant drug traffickers in the world. Zhang Taotao, 32, a chemist and chemical supplier based in Shanghai, is accused of shipping fentanyl to the United States. Distributors would then press the drugs into large amounts of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that were sold across the country, the treasury department said. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. As little as two milligrams is considered a lethal dosage for most people. Over 31,000 people in the United States have died from overdosing on synthetic opioids in 2018, most of them being fentanyl-related, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. China is the largest source of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances in the country, according to a 2018 report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC). The treasury department sanctioned Zhang and his Hong Kong firm Allyrise Technology Group Co. under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. It said the firm is a front company for Zhangs fentanyl-related financial transactions. The designation freezes any U.S.-based assets that Zhang and the Hong Kong company possess, and bars American dealings with them. Zhang would use freight-forwarding services or ship the fentanyl via multiple people to disguise that the shipments were from China, the department said. Labeling on the parcels also misstated what was inside to avoid seizure by authorities. Once a package arrived in the country, U.S. distributors would then be able to press one kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of fentanyl into up to one million counterfeit pharmaceutical pills to be distributed to domestic customers, it added. The United States remains committed to protecting vulnerable Americans by targeting individuals peddling this deadly drug, Treasury Deputy Secretary Justin Muzinich said in a statement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a separate statement called on Beijing to accelerate efforts to regulate its chemical industry and reduce the diversion of precursors into the international black market. The United States continues to seek cooperation with the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] to tackle this supply chain threat, Pompeo said. While the regime had pledged to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States, President Donald Trump and U.S. officials have criticized Beijing for not taking active measures to crack down on fentanyl production and distribution in China. On Sunday, police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, seven times. Blake had been climbing into a car with three of his sons in the back seat; the eldest was celebrating his eighth birthday. Today, Blake is alive and conscious, though the bullets severed his spinal cord, paralyzing him. Members of Blakes family and Benjamin Crump, their attorney, held a press conference in Kenosha that was carried live on cable news. A reporter asked Jacob Blake, Sr., Blakes father, how the children were coping. The whole picture plays over and over in front of their little faces, Blake, Sr. said. Then he turned the question on the reporter: How would you feel if your white son walked up to you as a mother and said, Mommy, why did the police shoot my daddy in the back? You have no clue. At protests in Kenosha, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections building in Kenosha was burned to the ground. On a wall amid the rubble, someone daubed the words, ARE YOU LISTENING YET? The precise circumstances surrounding the police shooting of Blake remain murkyin large part because local law enforcement officials havent yet released basic details to the press. We still dont know the identity of the officer who shot Blake, though we do know that the officer has been placed on leave. At the press conference, Crump accused local police of keeping Blakes family in the dark, even though the family has cooperated with police inquiries. Its kinda ironic how that always happens, Crump said. What we are demanding is transparency. The lack of honest information is, of course, a classic police tactic; as CJRs Alexandria Neason wrote last year, police departments are commonly more concerned with image management than with the timely airing of truth. Officials often spin a preferred narrative around shootings at which police are at fault; reporters have tended to accept police statements as fact. As news of Blake broke, some outlets took that approach, echoing the phrase officer-involved shooting from a Kenosha Police Department press release. As Mya Frazier wrote recently for CJR, many journalists still reflexively use those wordsa moral failure always, and an especially obvious one since May, when a white officer named Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. Yesterday, the AP reminded newsrooms following its stylebook that they should use words that communicate who did the shooting. ICYMI: Journalisms Gates keepers These elements of the Blake story feel despairingly repetitive. So does the fact that his name came to widespread media attention via a graphic cellphone video that showed police shooting him. The footage circulated on social media, then on cable news, along with the customary warning that This Is Hard To Watch. In May, Neason critiqued the role that such videos have played in bringing police brutality and white supremacy to national attention. The videos draw focus to casesand clicks to websitesbut they are also used as a way to spark apathetic white and other non-Black people to action, at the expense of subjecting Black people to the trauma of witnessing violence against their communities, she argued. Black people have never needed video footage to be convinced of a problem. As Neason wrote in May, the killing of Breonna Taylora twenty-six-year-old emergency medical technician in Louisville, Kentucky, whom police shot in March during a home raidwas not captured on tape, and subsequently took a long time to break into the national consciousness. Since the killing of Floyd, Taylors case has received more attention. Ongoing protests in Louisville have dipped in and out of the major news cycle; images of Taylor have appeared on the covers of O, The Oprah Magazine and, as of this week, Vanity Fair. (The former cover was the first not to feature Oprah in that magazines history; the latter was painted by Amy Sherald, an artist who, among other things, made Michelle Obamas official portrait.) Taylors belated recognition from national publications is a legacy, in no small part, of tireless activism and persistent local coveragethough some have argued that the meme-filled memorialization of Taylor has veered too far away from the story of her life. Although the police shootings of Floyd, Taylor, and (for now) Blake have become big national stories, the same cannot be said of many other recent victims of racist violence. When Garrett Rolfe, a white officer in Atlanta, killed Rayshard Brooks, a twenty-seven-year-old Black man, in June, at the height of the protests that followed Floyds death, one might have thought it would become an enduring national story, but it faded from view. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least five Black trans women were killed in JulyShaki Peters, in Amite City, Louisiana; Bree Black, in Pompano Beach, Florida; Dior H. Ova, in the Bronx; Queasha D Hardy, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears, in Portland, Oregonyet none of their names has become familiar in news reports. Two days before Blake was shot, police in Lafayette, Louisiana, shot and killed a Black man named Trayford Pellerin. Pellerins name was repeatedly mentioned at the Blake familys press conferenceand that may have been the first time many people had heard it. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The reasons some of these cases get more coverage than othersstereotypes around what makes a sympathetic victim, whether theres a video, what else is going on in the news that dayare numerous and well-known, and the resulting disparities are, ultimately, arbitrary. Still, its striking that even sustained national attention to police brutality against Black people isnt enough to ensure sweeping change in American policy or practice. A functioning government and media should be able to juggle numerous urgent priorities at onceafter all, thats the reality were in. The longer our institutions fumble, the more Black people will die. Its a miracle that Blake is alive. Below, more on race and journalism in America: Other notable stories: ICYMI: The problem with Captain Americas new both sides website Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. The following column is the opinion and analysis of the writer. When George Floyd was murdered I drew a cartoon depicting the historic roots of American racial brutality beginning with a 17th-century white slaver, his knee on an African mans throat, who in the next scene became a white plantation owner, whip in hand, with his knee on an African-American persons throat, repeating this knee to the neck pattern through the post-Reconstruction rise of the Klan, through Jim Crow, up to my depiction of a Minneapolis cop with his knee on Mr. Floyds throat in the year 2020, with Mr. Floyd saying, I cant breathe. The good folks of Wylie, Texas, a very white suburb of Dallas, were so shocked by my assertion that whites have been oppressing blacks since before our nations founding that they could not catch their breath. I feel for the poor, well-intentioned junior high school educators in Wylie who shared my cartoon in the classroom and made the dreadful mistake of asking students to interpret the meaning of the cartoon in a lesson about the freedom of expression, democracy and the Bill of Rights. The president of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration's demand to restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran, a move that drew an angry rebuke from the U.S. ambassador who accused opponents of supporting terrorists. Indonesia's ambassador to the U.N., Dian Triansyah Djani, whose country currently holds the rotating council presidency, made the announcement in response to requests from Russia and China to disclose the results of his polling of the views of all countries on the 15-member council. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted last Thursday that the United States has the legal right to snap back U.N. sanctions, even though President pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between and six major powers that was endorsed by the U.N. Security Council. All the council members, except the Dominican Republic, had informed the council president that the U.S. administration's action was illegal because Trump withdrew in 2018 from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. Council president Djani told members at the end of a virtual meeting on the Mideast on Tuesday: Having contacted the members and received letters from many member countries it is clear to me that there is one member which has a particular position on the issues, while there are significant numbers of members who have contesting views. In my view there is no consensus in the council, Djani said. Thus, the president is not in the position to take further action. That means the U.N.'s most powerful body, at least during Indonesia's presidency, is not going to take up the U.S. demand. Niger takes over the council presidency in September, and its ambassador also sent a letter calling the U.S. action illegal. So it is likely to ignore the U.S. demand as well. The U.S. mission to the U.N. later issued a statement saying the U.S. is on firm legal ground to initiate the restoration of sanctions under the Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal. The fact that some council members expressed disagreement with our legal position in an informal VTC (virtual meeting) does not have any legal effect, the mission said. Pompeo came to the after the Security Council resoundingly rejected a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, which is set to expire on Oct. 18, with only the Dominican Republic supporting the United States. U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft on Tuesday repeated Pompeo's message: 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 ... (or) to have a nuclear weapon. Craft accused the council of lacking courage and moral clarity, and accused of defying the arms embargo and fomenting conflict and murder throughout the world as it supplies weapons to proxy militias and terrorist groups. The Trump administration has no fear in standing in limited company in this matter in light of the unmistakable truth in guiding our actions, she said. I only regret that the other members of this council have lost their way and now find themselves standing in the company of terrorists. (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.) Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Tran Ngoc An briefs participants on the COVID-19 pandemic fight in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) London As many as 50 UK businesses joined an online meeting to get updates on socio-economic situation in Vietnam as well as developments in the Vietnam-UK relations, and seek opportunities to cooperate with Vietnamese partners in the future. At the meeting, held by the Vietnam-UK Network, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Tran Ngoc An briefed participants on the COVID-19 pandemic fight in Vietnam. He said that initial success in the fight has helped Vietnam minimise the pandemics negative impacts and maintain business and production activities, enabling the country to attract more investment. The ambassador held that although the pandemic has ravaged the world over the past eight months and affected many plans of activities, Vietnam and the UK have maintained close coordination with each other. Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had a phone call in Mid-July, during which Raab thanked the Vietnamese side for curing British COVID-19 patients and presenting face masks to UK hospitals and social organisations. Raab affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner in the UKs foreign policy for Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia, while showing his hope for stronger partnership between the UK and the ASEAN. Minh affirmed that as the Chair of the ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam will support partners, including the UK, to bolster collaboration with the grouping. Regarding the Vietnamese economic situation, An said that The Economist magazine listed Vietnam among five economies with highest economic growth in the world in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimated Vietnams GDP growth at 4.8 percent in 2020 and 6.8 percent in 2021, the fastest expansion in Southeast Asia and the world. Vietnams GDP growth in the first six months of 2020 reached 1.81 percent, led by the strong performance of major sectors such as industry, production and processing, he said, expressing his belief that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which took effect on August 1, 2020, will open up plenty of chances for Vietnam and UK firms. At the meeting, some businesses held that Vietnams small enterprises should apply digital technology for higher efficiency. They also discussed measures to increase the number of Vietnamese tourists to the UK. Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-UK Network Paul Smith presented a survey showing that UK businesses are interested in Vietnamese sectors of food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, education, health care, finance, banking, financial technology, tourism, artificial intelligence, environmental protection and renewable energy. Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) Head of Sustainability & Responsible Investment Strategy Meryam Omi / Courtesy of LGIM By Nam Hyun-woo Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), one of the U.K.'s largest asset managers and a shareholder of Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), may take "investment action" against the state-run power distributor, in opposition to the company's continued efforts to invest in overseas coal-fired power plant projects, according to LGIM's head of sustainable investment strategies. With KEPCO already facing growing criticism from global investors and international environmental groups for its planned investments into plant projects in Vietnam and Indonesia, LGIM's opposition is coming as additional pressure to compel the company to drop the plans. "Unfortunately, KEPCO failed to address our concerns despite repeated engagements. Under our Climate Impact Pledge program, where we assess the climate strategies of circa 80 of the world's largest companies, it is the lowest-scoring company in its sector," LGIM Head of Sustainability & Responsible Investment Strategy Meryam Omi said during an interview with The Korea Times arranged by Solutions for Our Climate. "Where we do not see companies step up in their sustainability efforts, we will continue to take voting and investment action." LGIM is a FTSE 100 company having $1.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM) as of June 30. LGIM held around 40 million pounds worth of KEPCO shares as of mid-August, an approximate 0.5 percent stake in the company. Omi's remarks came amid growing criticism of KEPCO's coal investment plans in the two Southeast Asian nations. In recent years, KEPCO has been tapping into a $3.5 billion project to build the Jawa 9 and 10 coal-fired power plants near Jakarta, Indonesia. In June, the state-run Korea Development Institute (KDI) approved KEPCO's $51 million investment into the project, even though the institute calculated the investment would cause a $7 million loss for KEPCO. In Korea, a project worth more than 50 billion won ($42.15 million) by a public institution is required to pass a KDI feasibility study. Similarly, KEPCO is attempting to make investments into a Vietnamese coal-powered power plant project building two 600-megawatt plants in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam. This plan was also estimated to make $158 million loss in a separate KDI study, but the institute again approved it in March. These triggered uproars from overseas environmental activists, who staged a series of protests in front of Korean embassies. In June, nine overseas civic groups ran an ad in the Washington Post questioning President Moon Jae-in, asking, "Is this Korea's idea of Green New Deal?" The Green New Deal is Moon's initiative to nurture the country's eco-friendly industries and accomplish net-zero emissions. Along with civic groups, a number of global investors also raised not only ESG concerns but also profitability questions over KEPCO's plans, with Blackrock demanding the company reveal its "strategic reasons" for pursuing the projects in Indonesia and Vietnam. Despite this opposition, the KEPCO board approved the Indonesia plan, June 30, and is expected to okay the Vietnam plan in a separate board meeting scheduled for later this month. "Although independent feasibility studies have questioned the profitability of KEPCO's coal plans, the key point is broader than debating the financials of this or that coal project: it is in the interest of all investors to avoid market damage from coal-fueled climate change," Omi said. LGIM has already taken action against KEPCO's coal investment plans. Last year, LGIM cut KEPCO from its ESG-themed Future World Funds, as the asset manager said the power company failed to meet environmental standards. And Omi dropped hints of further action by LGIM to oppose KEPCO's coal investments. "Where companies fail to persistently meet our minimum environmental standards, we will exclude them from certain funds," Omi said. "Where we are legally obliged to keep our stake for example, because companies are part of major market indices we will use our shares to vote against the chair of their board, to send a consistent message. Importantly, we will call out publicly companies that fall short and have been very pleased to see a change as a result of our pressure." As voices calling for KEPCO to drop its coal investment plans grow, Korean lawmakers tabled a pack of revisions July 28 prohibiting KEPCO and other domestic financial institutions from investing in overseas coal projects. If the revisions, proposed by ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers, pass the National Assembly next month, KEPCO's investments in the coal projects will be halted. Members of Greenpeace Indonesia stage a protest at the Embassy of Korea in Indonesia, June 30, calling for the Korea Electric Power Corp. to drop its investments in the Jawa 9 and 10 coal-fired power plants. Courtesy of Greenpeace Activists protest outside Palantir Technologies' headquarters for allegedly helping ICE and the Trump administration. Reuters/Shannon Stapleton Palantir revealed its stock-listing documents Tuesday, offering one of the first in-depth looks at the secretive data company's financials. In the documents, Palantir acknowledged that criticisms from "political and social activists" as well as "unfavorable coverage in the media" could pose risks to its business. Palantir has long been scrutinized for its work with US military and law enforcement agencies, particularly around the use of its technology by immigration officials in controversial deportation raids. But Palantir also said that "being perceived as yielding" to activists' concerns could harm its business by damaging its relationships with key government clients. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. In its public reveal of stock-listing documents on Tuesday, Palantir gave a nod to the negative attention it has received from activists who have denounced its work with US military and law enforcement agencies. Palantir filed registration documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a public stock listing on the New York Stock Exchange, offering one of the first comprehensive looks at the secretive data company's financials and operations as well as potential risks, which it said included criticisms from activists. "Our relationships with government customers and customers that are engaged in certain sensitive industries, including organizations whose products or activities are or are perceived to be harmful, has resulted in public criticism, including from political and social activists, and unfavorable coverage in the media," the filing says. Activists have repeatedly protested Palantir's work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which reportedly includes licensing software to ICE to build profiles and plan workplace raids of undocumented immigrants. Lawmakers also questioned its $24.9 million contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to track the spread of COVID-19, asking whether the data is being used to help ICE deport immigrants. Story continues "Palantir is complicit in the surveillance, arrest and deportation of our communities through their work with ICE. Their S1 recognizes that these are risky contracts to take on. We're calling on investors everywhere not to invest when the IPO happens. An investment in Palantir only serves to profit off the continued surveillance & exploitation of communities by ICE," Jacinta Gonzalez, a senior campaign director at Latinx and Chicanx organizing group Mijente, told Business Insider in a statement. Palantir said that critiques of its work could "engender dissatisfaction among potential and existing customers, investors, and employees." But the company also said that addressing those critiques could also pose a threat to its business. "Conversely, being perceived as yielding to activism targeted at certain customers could damage our relationships with certain customers, including governments and government agencies with which we do business, whose views may or may not be aligned with those of political and social activists," the filing says. Palantir relies heavily on government contracts and also on a small number of major clients. According to the filing, $345 million of the company's $742 million in revenue (46%) last year came from its government work, and its top three customers accounted for 28% of its total revenue. In a letter to investors included in the filing, Palantir CEO Alex Karp defended the company's work with government clients, suggesting that it will not significantly adjust course or drop any contracts in response to activists' demands. "Our work and the use of our software present difficult questions... We embrace the complexity that comes from working in areas where the stakes are often very high and the choices may be imperfect," Karp wrote. "We have chosen sides, and we know that our partners value our commitment. We stand by them when it is convenient, and when it is not," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider At the recent Black Hat conference, Peleg Hadar and Tumar Bar of SafeBreach Labs pointed out that the way to a networks heart is often through its printers. In 2010, one of the vulnerabilities Stuxnet used was a remote code execution on a computer with printer sharing enabled. To reach Iran's centrifuges, Stuxnet exploited a vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler service to gain code execution as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The method Stuxnet used to propagate across the network is still possible. In fact, Hadar and Bar announced that the security updates that Microsoft released in August includes a fix for a printer vulnerability that they discovered. A proof of concept of their findings has been posted to GitHub along with the tools they used. In May, Yarden Shafir and Alex Ionescu released a whitepaper called PrintDemon: Print Spooler Privilege Escalation, Persistence & Stealth that showcased the interesting ways Print Spooler can be used to elevate privileges, bypass endpoint detection and response (EDR) rules, and gain persistence. Attackers often look for new and unusual ways to attack systems. The Spooler service, implemented in Spoolsv.exe, is appealing to them becaust it runs with SYSTEM privileges and is network accessible. Shafir and Ionescu point out that attackers look for the following attack vectors: Printing to a file in a privileged location, hoping Spooler will do that Loading a printer driver thats actually malicious Dropping files remotely using Spooler RPC APIs Injecting malicious printer drivers from remote systems Abusing file parsing bugs in EMF/XPS spooler files to gain code execution Starting in Vista, Windows does not require admin rights to install printer drivers if the driver is a pre-existing inbox driver. Absolutely no privileges are needed to install a printer driver. Look for and patch print spooler bugs Shafir and Ionescu advise to be alert for print spooler bugs and patch systems as soon as possible after validating the updates in your environment. You should also review the printers and their behavior in your network. Scan for any file-based ports with either Get-PrinterPort in PowerShell, or just dump HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports. Treat any ports that have a file path in them especially ending in an extension such as .DLL or .EXE -- with extreme prejudice. Susan Bradley Review ports in PowerShell Keep printer drivers up to date Review the printer status in your office regularly. Printers often open exposed vulnerabilities in your network that attackers can use. Older printer drivers are often vulnerable, and attackers can use them to inject web shells or software that introduce vulnerabilities into a system. At last years DEF CON conference, NCC Group researchers Mario Rivas and Daniel Romero documented issues as mild as denial-of-service vulnerabilities and as serious as buffer overflows that could lead to remote code execution. As a result of their research , these vendors released technical advisories: If you cant remember when you last reviewed the print server driver installed in your network, its time to review what version number is installed and update if necessary. Heres another reason to keep the drivers current: Hewlett Packard created the Printer Command Language (PCL) for its ink-jet printers in the 1980s. PCL 5 is the last version to be based on the traditional code that the computer driver sends to the printer to give it the instructions on how to print the page. PCL 6, also known as PCL-XL, is a more powerful driver that operates completely differently. The PCL 5 driver broke with the June Windows updates. These older printer drivers have historically been more prone to Windows patching issues. The newer style of driver PCL 6, or Microsoft V4, is less prone to patch interaction. To me patching and security are interconnected. I had to upgrade all my PCL 5 style drivers to PCL 6 to be able to print after the June updates. Scan for internet-connected printing vulnerabilities Consumer style printers, which many work-from-home employees use with their business-provided systems, allow for wireless printing and printing via web or email. During the installation process, the user is prompted to answer a set of questions that expose the printer to various possible external attacks. Such tools as the Shodan search tool allows you (and attackers) to search the internet for open and possibly insecure devices, including vulnerable and open printers that could be abused remotely. If you set up a device on the open internet, Hewlett Packard recommends the following guidance when setting it up: Network options: Enable TCP/IP. Enable IPPs printing. Disable 9100 printing. Disable SLP config. Disable LPD printing. Disable telnet config. Disable FTP printing. Disable WS-Discovery. Disable web services print (unless currently in use). Disable TFTP configuration file. Add allowed IPv4 addresses for Exchange Web Services (EWS) and print to the Access Control List. Note: If the printer is on the open internet and not configured to limit access to known IP addresses, it is open for public access and potential abuse. Set encryption strength to High. Enable HTTPS setting to encrypt all web communication: Encrypt All Web Communication (not including IPP). Disable mDNS config. If you do not have DNS on your network, leave enabled. Configure an SNMP community name and disable the default community name of Public. Disable unused protocol stacks. HP recommends the following (unless currently in use): Disable IPX/SPX. Disable DLC/LLC. Disable AppleTalk/Bonjour. Security options: Set the administrator password (local administrator or EWS administrator password). Set the PJL security password. Disable PJL device access commands. Disable file system page (external) access settings: Disable PJL drive access or PJL disk access. Disable PS drive access or PS disk access. Configure file system page options: Disable PML. Disable NFS access. Disable Postscript. Disable Allow Stored Jobs on this device. Disable remote printer firmware updates. Note: This setting will need to be re-enabled anytime the printer firmware needs to be updated remotely: Disable Allow firmware upgrades sent as print jobs (port 9100). Disable Allow installation of legacy packages signed with SHA-1 Hashing algorithm. Disable Remote Firmware Upgrade. Disable SNMP disk access or SNMP access. Configure secure disk encryption mode (AES128 or AES256). Embedded Web Server options: Enable outgoing mail. Enable continue button. Disable print service. Disable incoming mail. Disable command invoke. Disable command download. Disable command load and execute. Secure the Information tab (if available) or disable the following settings: Cancel Job Button Go/Pause/Resume Button Web Services options: Disable Web Services. Disable proxy services. Wireless options Configure wireless security (if using wireless connectivity). Printers are a weak link and entry way into many a network. Take the time to review your security posture accordingly. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Northern Samar 1s District Rep. Paul Daza announced Wednesday he tested positive for COVID-19. Daza said he got tested on Monday in Manila after he felt sick for eight days. He worked at the time from his provincial home in Daganas. "I am now hospitalized and look forward to being discharged upon clearance by my doctors," he said in a statement. The lawmaker said he will continue to work while in the hospital but instructed his staff to coordinate with authorities for contact tracing. He said he tested negative before August 8 when he went around Catarman to meet with local officials. The House of Representatives recorded more than 50 COVID-19 cases including staff. A lockdown has been lifted from Da Nang Hospital, Vietnams largest novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cluster, after nearly 30 days. Da Nang Hospital, located in the namesake central city, was reopened at 4:00 pm on Tuesday after the lockdown restrictions were removed. The Ministry of Health previously sealed off the infirmary at 1:00 pm on July 26 after many of the emerging COVID-19 cases at the time were traced back to the facility. Da Nang C Hospital and Da Nang Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital were also fenced off in late July for similar reasons but they have been allowed to resume operations since earlier this month. Speaking to the press, Dr. Le Duc Nhan, director of Da Nang Hospital, asserted that the infirmary had undergone four levels of disinfection. The hospital has gone 14 days without detecting any new COVID-19 cases. About 340 health workers have been permitted to leave the hospital and will undergo 14-day home quarantine. According to Dr. Nhan, Da Nang Hospital will follow a four-stage reopening plan to ensure treatment for its patients while preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the coming time. Health workers cheer as a lockdown is lifted from Da Nang Hospital in Da Nang City, Vietnam, August 25, 2020. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre During the first stage, which will last for three days, the hospital will focus on establishing treatment and care procedures appropriate for the epidemic situation. The infirmary will receive seriously ill patients who require emergency medical attention during the second phase. All departments of the hospital will gradually be reopened to provide health examination services in the third stage. The institution will receive inpatients during its final phase. Dr. Nhan also expressed his gratitude toward doctors and experts from across the country for their assistance during this difficult time. During the lockdown, many health workers and family members of patients were brought to local quarantine camps as part of COVID-19 prevention measures. More than 800 patients were also transferred to other hospitals to better control the spread of the disease at Da Nang Hospital, the director elaborated. Vietnam has recorded 1,029 COVID-19 patients, of whom 28 have been killed and 592 have recovered. The country has registered 547 local infections since July 25, when Da Nang logged the first domestically transmitted case after the nation had spent 99 days recording no community transmission. Many of the domestic cases have been traced back to the central city. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Kremlin seeks to make Ukraine sit down at the negotiating table with their Donbas proxies, while defying own role in the ongoing war. Russia is trying to shift the Donbas settlement process away "from the Normandy Four level to the Trilateral Contact Group [Ukraine, Russia, and OSCE], where there are no Germany and France, but there is the ORDLO [unrecognized Russian puppet authorities in the occupied areas of Donbas]," says Ukraine's delegate to the TCG representing certain areas of Donetsk region, journalist Sergiy Garmash. Therefore, the new meeting of the Normandy Four (Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia) leaders will not lead to the end of Donbas war, contrary to the expectations earlier voiced by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Garmash believes, according to Ukraine 24 TV channel. In his opinion, there are no prerequisites for ending the war at the moment. "I remember the Paris [summit of N4 leaders in December 2019] communique: it contains the point about the next meeting of the Normandy format leaders. As far as I remember, they were supposed to discuss including the issue of early elections in the occupied territories. What are the chances of holding such elections while Ukraine is not breaching the red lines like [regaining] control over the border and the withdrawal of illegal armed groups, their disarmament?" Garmash said. Also, he recalled that Russia does not intend to recognize itself party to the conflict in Donbas. Russia insists on securing a special status [for Donbas] in the Constitution of Ukraine, which again is unacceptable for us "On August 21, [Russian Foreign Minister Segei] Lavrov in an interview with the Trud newspaper said that Russia was not a party to the conflict, and accordingly, there are no armed formations there according to the logic of the Russian side. Russia insists on securing a special status [for Donbas] in the Constitution of Ukraine, which again is unacceptable for us. As an analyst and as a journalist, I see no opportunities to end the war, although I don't know what President Zelensky puts into this concept," he said. Normandy Four talks: background On August 25, the President's Office said the meeting of advisors to the Normandy Four leaders, initially scheduled for August 28, was delayed for an indefinite period. Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Normandy Four leaders' summit that was set to be held following the advisors' meeting would provide a high chance of ending the war in Donbas. Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) and the Shuqaiq Three Company for Water (S3CW) have achieved a major safety milestone at Shuqaiq 3 IWP desalination plant in Shuqaiq, Jizan region, on the countrys south-west coast, clocking two million man-hours without Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) as construction surpasses the 50 per cent completion mark. This achievement reflects the shared priority and focus of SWPC, S3CW and Spanish infrastructure major Acciona, on risk prevention and the correct implementation of the Health & Safety (HSE) measures for all the workers in the project. Acciona is the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project (IWP) Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant, which will produce 450,000 cu m of potable water per day. The project also includes the EPC of a large electrical special facility (ESF) to feed the plant with power and some other additional installations from the existing power plants in the vicinity. Acciona had, in close collaboration with S3CW and SWPC, deployed very high HSE standards from the start of the project and this accomplishment is the result of the great effort between all the parties. The present situation with the spread of Covid-19, has added an extra challenge to coordinate the necessary prevention measures with our productivity goals while allowing us to reach the final target as per the contractual dates, said the statement from Acciona. This SWRO plant will provide water to the cities of Abha and Jizan covering a potential population of two million inhabitants once it will be completed in Q4 of 2021 in this extremely dry region close to the border with Yemen, it stated. Acciona pointed out that the zero LTI record shows the seamless teamwork between all the parties involved: SWPC, S3CW, Acciona and all its subcontractors who from the start of the project have prioritized safety in parallel with the execution of the works. The EPC contractor is aiming at the overall project completion with a zero LTI index while meeting all the requirements of the contract. Acciona Shuqaiq 3 IWP Project Director Jesus Garcia Prieto said: "This important milestone reflects our high commitment designing and building this kind of vital facilities for Saudi Arabia and fulfilling the best Health and Safety standards that guarantee safe conditions for our employees and subcontractors." "It is the time to recognize the great effort made at Shuqaiq 3 Project by all the parties involved with a special highlight of the difficult circumstances relative to the impact of the Covid-19 worldwide," stated Prieto. Acciona Shuqaiq 3 IWP Project HSE Manager Altaf Khan Mohsan said: "This impressive achievement becomes a reality because of Accionas ongoing commitment toward the HSE goal (Zero Harm) through its stringent HSE strategies, system and safe processes." "Acciona management always believes that by creating a Health & Safety culture and promoting safe practices, at the end of the day everyone should go home safe. In addition, Shuqaiq-3 team prioritizes the environmental values and maintains the project's sustainability at the highest level," stated Mohsan. "The awareness given by the HSE team about the Covid-19 pandemic is remarkable and has minimized the consequences in the project," he added.-TradeArabia News Service PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intrados Health Advocate , a leading provider of health advocacy, navigation, well-being and integrated benefits programs, announced today the launch of its new Return NavigatorSM solution to support employers as they develop and implement workplace reopening plans. Return Navigator integrates three essential elements for organizations transitioning to this next phase: COVID-19 Navigator SM provides employees and employers with access to expert resources for personalized, high-touch assistance with COVID-19-related questions and guidance. For employees, this includes help accessing medical care, behavioral health assistance and counseling, as well as employer-specific information. For employers, this service provides medical director-led consultations on return-to-work strategies and managing ADA requests for accommodations. provides employees and employers with access to expert resources for personalized, high-touch assistance with COVID-19-related questions and guidance. For employees, this includes help accessing medical care, behavioral health assistance and counseling, as well as employer-specific information. For employers, this service provides medical director-led consultations on return-to-work strategies and managing ADA requests for accommodations. Return Pass SM Mobile App is a health status self-attestation solution built on CDC guidelines. Return Pass helps employees quickly and easily determine if they are able to return to the workplace, or if they should self-quarantine and seek medical care. If employees are not cleared to return to work based on the screening, Health Advocate will conduct follow-up outreach as part of the integrated Return Navigator solution. is a health status self-attestation solution built on CDC guidelines. helps employees quickly and easily determine if they are able to return to the workplace, or if they should self-quarantine and seek medical care. If employees are not cleared to return to work based on the screening, Health Advocate will conduct follow-up outreach as part of the integrated Return Navigator solution. COVID-19 Dashboard is Health Advocates new proprietary forecasting tool, which provides employers with visualizations of the impact of COVID-19 at the national and local level. The Dashboard uses advanced Natural Language Processing to combine information on confirmed cases in the community with Return Pass screening results and an analysis of employee engagement with Health Advocate related to COVID-19. This gives organizations advanced insight into emerging trends in any workplace location across the country as they plan and evaluate their return-to-work strategy. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below: For organizations planning the transition back to the workplace, safety and health are top priorities. However, it is challenging to determine the right timing and approach to have employees return, said Dr. Arthur Abbie Leibowitz, Chief Medical Officer, Founder and President Emeritus, Health Advocate. By combining these valuable tools, employers can make more informed decisions about developing and implementing their return-to-work strategy. In addition to Return Navigator, Health Advocate offers other return-to-work solutions, including a suite of onsite and drive-through testing services such as worksite temperature scanning, diagnostic and antibody testing, and flu shots. Organizations interested in more information or a demo of the Return Navigator solution can contact Brian Harrigan, Chief Sales Officer, at BHarrigan@HealthAdvocate.com . About Intrados Health Advocate Intrados Health Advocate makes healthcare easier for over 12,000 organizations and their employees and members nationwide. Our solutions leverage a unique combination of personalized, compassionate support from healthcare experts using powerful predictive data analytics and a proprietary technology platform including mobile solutions to provide clinical support and engage members in their health and well-being. Our members enjoy a best-in-class, personalized concierge service that addresses nearly every clinical, administrative, wellness, or behavioral health need. Our clients benefit from high levels of engagement, improved employee productivity and health, and reduced medical costs, while simultaneously simplifying and upgrading their health benefits offerings. For more information, visit us at www.HealthAdvocate.com . About Intrado Corporation Intrado Corporation is an innovative, cloud-based, global technology partner to clients around the world. Our solutions connect people and organizations at the right time and in the right ways, making those mission-critical connections more relevant, engaging, and actionable - turning Information to Insight. Intrado has sales and/or operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and South America. Intrado is controlled by affiliates of certain funds managed by Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO). For more information, please call 1-800-841-9000 or visit www.intrado.com . TEL AVIV, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. ("A2Z" or the "Company") (TSXV:AZ) (OTCQB:AAZZF), an innovative technology company specializing in state-of-the-art automation and electronics technology, today announces that it has entered into an engagement agreement with Orion Underwriting and Issuances Ltd. (the "Agent"), who will act as agent, to carry-out a best efforts private placement (the "Offering") of up to 19,008,000 subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of CAD$0.625 per Subscription Receipt (the "Offering Price"). It is anticipated that the Offering will raise aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to US$9,000,000. The Agent is entitled to a cash commission equal to 5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The Company intends to use US$2,000,000 of the net proceeds of the Offering to fund the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of a certain amount of securities (the "Target Shares") of a technology company specializing in smart shopping carts technology (the "Target") and the remainder for general working capital. The Company presently owns an option to acquire 19% of the Target. Mr. Bentsur Joseph, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company owns approximately 80% of the Target. After completion of the Acquisition the Company would own at least 51% of the Target. Each Subscription Receipt will automatically convert into one unit (a "Unit") of the Company on the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent to the Acquisition and certain other ancillary conditions customary for transactions of this nature (collectively, the "Release Conditions"), without the payment of additional consideration or the taking of further action on the part of the subscriber. Each Unit will be comprised of one common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") and one full non-transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of CAD$0.90 per Warrant Share for a period of five years following the closing date of the Acquisition (the "Acquisition Closing"). The Company and the Agent have agreed that should the market conditions require, a certain amount of the Offering may be placed in subscription receipts convertible into an unsecured convertible loan (the "Convertible Securities") instead of Units (the "Note Subscription Receipts"). The Convertible Securities, issuable without payment of additional consideration or the taking of further action on the part of the subscriber upon fulfillment of the Release Conditions, will be exercisable into Common Shares, at an exercise price of CAD$0.71 per Common Share, for a period of five years following the Acquisition Closing. The Convertible Securities will bear interest at a commercially reasonable rate and such interest will be payable in cash. The issuance of Common Shares and Warrant Shares (collectively, the "Securities") upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts, or the Note Subscription Receipts, if any, to subscribers who will own 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, is subject to compliance with the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") rules and requirements regarding 10% shareholders. In the event that these rules and requirements are not met, the TSXV will not allow the Company to issue Securities in excess of 10% of the outstanding Common Shares to such subscribers. In such event, subscriptions by these shareholders will either be reduced to below 10%, withdrawn entirely, or re-allocated in whole or in part to meet the TSXV's requirements. The gross proceeds of the Offering will be held in escrow pending the satisfaction of the Release Conditions. In the event the event the Acquisition does not occur on or before November 28, 2020, the gross proceeds shall be returned to the subscribers' pro rata without any deduction or interest, and the Subscription Receipts, or Note Subscription Receipts, if any, shall be automatically cancelled. The Acquisition is a "Related Party Transaction" (as such term is defined in "Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions" (the "Instrument")) as the Target Shares are owned by Mr. Bentsur Joseph the CEO and a director of the Company. The Company will comply with the Instrument but expects to rely on the exemptions available in Sections 5.5 and 5.7 of the Instrument as they relate to the Acquisition. The Offering is expected to close on or about September 30, 2020, and it as well as the Acquisition are subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the approvals of the TSXV. Disclaimer: The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Company has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. 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 contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the results of exploration activities -- that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities described herein in the United States or elsewhere. These securities have not been, and will not be, registered in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered or exempt therefrom. Corporate Contact: Gadi Levin +972-8-932-4333 gadi@a2zas.com Investors: ClearThink nyc@clearthink.capital SOURCE: A2Z Technologies Canada Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603448/A2Z-Smart-Technologies-Announces-Private-Placement-for-Gross-Proceeds-of-up-to-US9000000 Solicitor General of India (SG), Tushar Mehta on Wednesday declined permission for initiation of criminal contempt of court proceedings against actor Swara Bhasker for her statements criticising the Supreme Court and its 2019 judgment in the Ayodhya dispute. Mehta said in his letter to the petitioner, one Usha Shetty from Karnataka that the Attorney General for India (AG), KK Venugopal had earlier rejected a similar request by Shetty and hence the request made to the SG is misconceived. The AG, on August 21, has declined to provide his consent for the reasons stated in the reply of the AG. Considering the fact that the AG has already declined to grant his consent, the present request made to me is misconceived, Mehta said in his letter to Shetty. Bhasker had, on February 1, said that the Supreme Court acknowledged the illegality of the demolition of Babri Masjid in its November 2019 judgment and yet rewarded the perpetrators who brought down the mosque by handing over the land to them. The plea seeking initiation of a criminal contempt case against Bhasker, which was filed by Shetty on August 17, was initially placed before AG for his consent to list the matter before the court. As per Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act and Rule 3 of Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of Supreme Court, the consent of the AG or SG is required before the apex court can hear a criminal contempt petition filed by a private individual. After the AG declined permission, Shettys lawyers had approached the SG. The November 9 judgment of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya dispute, which was delivered by a bench headed by former CJI Ranjan Gogoi, had awarded the 2.77 acre disputed site to Ram Lalla Virajman, the child deity. The bench had also ordered that 5 acres of land at an alternative site should be granted to Muslims for construction of a new mosque. The top court had, interestingly, acknowledged the existence of a valid mosque at the disputed site and had expressly stated that the acts of Hindus in placing idols inside the mosque in 1949 and destruction of the mosque in 1992 were illegal. Bhasker had, on February 1, attended a panel discussion organized by NGO Mumbai Collective on the topic Artists against Communalism. During the discussion, Bhasker, as alleged by the petitioner, made the following statement: We are now in a situation where our courts are not sure whether they believe in the Constitution or notWe are living in a country where the Supreme Court of our country states in a judgment that the demolition of Babri Masjid was unlawful and in the same judgment rewards the same people who brought down the mosque. Shetty submitted that the statement by Bhaskar is derogatory and intended to scandalize the Supreme Court. It is not merely a cheap stunt for publicity but a deliberate attempt to incite masses to resist and revolt against the apex court, she added. The statement intends to incite feeling of no confidence amongst public with respect to the proceedings of the Supreme Court. It amounts to criminal contempt, the petition said. Venugopal in his response to the petitioner said that Bhaskers statement on Ayodhya judgment appeared to be a factual statement and reflected her perception of the incident. Regarding Bhaskers statement about courts not believing in the Constitution, the AG said that it is a vague and general statement not related to any particular court and cannot be taken seriously. Venugopal had recently urged the Supreme Court not to punish activist lawyer, Prashant Bhushan for contempt of court in relation to his tweets against the Supreme Court and current Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde. The top court is yet to pronounce its judgment in that case. MIDDLETOWN With Connecticut schools going back in session soon, many families and students are grappling with anxiety related to the many unknowns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Health Center of Middletown is states largest provider of school-based health care, with behavioral health clinicians serving more than 180 schools, according to a press release. When schools closed in March, sessions with students shifted to telehealth. In-person visits will resume when schools reopen, with telehealth available as needed, the release said. CHCs behavioral health leaders are offering information to families and students finding it difficult to cope at this time of year. Tim Kearney, chief behavioral health officer and president of behavioral health staff, said in a prepared statement that parents and youth are worried and grappling with many unknowns: Will they be safe, will their teachers, friends or family members get sick if school reopens, will they return for a few days or weeks, only to have to go back to a virtual setting? You know your child and their needs better than anyone else. Collect your best information about your schools plans, learn the most recent information about the virus and risks associated with returning to the social setting of school, talk to people you trust for input, and consider your childs opinion and their specific needs, Kearney said. Then make the best decision can make and go forward in the safest way you can to reduce risks, he said in his statement. This is a frightening time for children, he said. You dont need to pretend to be brave if you are scared, talk to someone you trust, Kearney tells young people. He also advises parents to make plans for school safety and practice new challenges, such as wearing a mask all day, keeping at a distance from friends, having revamped rules and routines. Some will do fine with changes, he said. Others will show signs of increased anxiety or depression, which can manifest as trouble sleeping, increased fighting with siblings or parents, talking about fears or worries, eating more or less than usual, withdrawing from activities they used to enjoy, or talking about hurting themselves. Dr. Tichianaa Armah, CHC medical director and vice president of behavioral health is also a mother of school-aged children, who practices open dialogues with her kids. We learn a lot when we take the time to listen to children. Find out what they know and how they feel about returning to school in the midst of the ongoing pandemic and cries for racial equity. Remember, if you are anxious they can see and feel that, model what it means to cope well with those feelings and engage in activities that help the whole family find some peace, from a game of charades to a walk on the beach, she said in the release. Parents should not just be honest about their own challenges dealing with all the uncertainty, but be honest about not having all the answers and recognizing that things remain in flux, Armah said. She counsels parents to regularly talk about school issues, and set up practices that will help children maintain a sense of normalcy, if school learning models change in the future. For information, visit chc1.com. Armed men have abducted at least six peaceful protesters in Libya's capital and used live fire to disperse a demonstration wounding others, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. The protest was one of several that took place Sunday against poor public services and living conditions, with other rallies erupting in the country's third-largest city Misrata and Al-Zawyia west of the capital Tripoli. "At least six peaceful protesters were abducted and several others were wounded after armed men fired live ammunition including from heavy machine-guns to disperse a demonstration in Tripoli," Amnesty said in a statement. The London-based rights group said Sunday's attack took place in a district controlled by a militia aligned to Tripoli's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). It was carried out by "unidentified armed men wearing military-style camouflage clothes (who) opened fire," Amnesty said, citing video evidence, photos and witnesses. Witnesses said that no warning was given before the live rounds were fired and gave "stong indications" that the militia was responsible, the watchdog said. "Videos also show assailants using a heavy machine-gun mounted on a pick-up truck to fire live rounds into the air to disperse the protesters," Amnesty added. On Wednesday, GNA leader Fayez al-Sarraj chaired a security meeting that discussed "the clashes" in Tripoli and what triggered them. A statement by the GNA on Facebook added that the meeting underscored the need to "implement measures to ensure the safety of citizens". It also called for a probe into "violations" committed against the protesters, including anyone who sustained injuries, and ordered the release of those not involved in acts of "vandalism", it added. Search Keywords: Short link: The Supreme Court has just thrown a curve ball at companies doing business in India--at least those that deal with natural resources ranging from dirty coal mines to new-economy data mines. All of them may need to do a rethink of their models based on what the Supreme Court has to say on sovereign rights to natural resources. For instance, the government is planning to award contracts for the use of the national health data stack. Should companies remain interested if they cannot pass on their value addition when there is a bidder for them? The Reserve Bank of India has floated plans ... Flash The president of the Security Council said Tuesday that he will not take any action on a purported U.S. notification for a "snapback" mechanism on sanctions against Iran. Indonesia's UN ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, whose country holds the Security Council presidency for the month of August, said he "is not in the position" to take further action as there is no consensus among council members over the issue. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday submitted Washington's demand for the return of all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran. But the overwhelming majority of Security Council members hold that the U.S. move does not constitute a "notification" as envisaged in Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Iran nuclear deal. They argued that the United States has no right to invoke the "snapback" mechanism as it is no longer a participant since it withdrew from the deal in May 2018. Asked on Tuesday by Russia and China on how he would proceed with the U.S. demand, Djani said: "It is clear for me that there is one (council) member which has a particular position on the issue while there are a significant number of members who have contesting views. In my view, there is no consensus in the council. Thus, the president is not in the position to take further action." Under Resolution 2231, any participant state to the Iran nuclear deal can notify the Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. Under the resolution, if no member of the Security Council has submitted a draft resolution to prevent a snapback within 10 days of a notification by a participant state, the president of the Security Council shall submit such a draft resolution and put it to a vote within 30 days of the notification. All remaining participant states of the deal except Iran -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia -- were on the Security Council. The E3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- on Tuesday reiterated their common position that the United States is not eligible to invoke the "snapback" mechanism as it has withdrawn from the deal. Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asked the United States to stop pursuing its path, which, he said, "is not only illegal but simply will not lead to achieving the result that was envisaged by the United States." He also commended Indonesia's conclusion that no further action shall be taken in the Security Council. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said participants of the Iran nuclear deal and the overwhelming majority of Security Council members believe that the U.S. demand for restoring UN sanctions on Iran has no legal ground and goes against common views, and the "snapback" mechanism shall not be deemed as invoked. China resolutely opposes the U.S. demand and holds the view that the U.S. letter submitted on Thursday should not be identified as "notification" specified in Security Council Resolution 2231, he said. "The council should fully respect views of the international community and the overwhelming majority of council members, uphold its credibility and authority, and fulfill its responsibility of maintaining international peace and security," he said. The U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, remained adamant on Tuesday despite the isolation. "Let me just make it really, really clear: the Trump administration has no fear in standing in limited company on this matter, in light of the unmistakable truth guiding our actions," she told the Security Council. She said other members of the Security Council "have lost their way." The U.S. move on Thursday came after its draft resolution that sought to extend the current arms embargo against Iran failed in the Security Council. In a voting on Aug. 14, only the United States itself and the Dominican Republic voted in favor. Under Resolution 2231, the arms embargo against Iran expires on Oct. 18, 2020. The U.S. move to invoke the "snapback" mechanism seeks to automatically bring back all pre-2015 sanctions, including the arms embargo. Once a "snapback" is initiated, the United States could use its veto power in the Security Council to shoot down any draft resolution that seeks to prevent the restoration of the sanctions against Iran. President Keita was forced to resign by the military on the 18th. This was the second coup since 2013 and it got the same hostile reaction from the neighbors, international organizations and Western supporters. The March 2012 coup was triggered by lack of financial and political support for troops stationed in the thinly populated north, which was being taken over by a Tuareg rebellion led by Islamic terrorist groups. Elections were held in 2013, after a French led force advanced into the north in January and quickly defeated the Taureg rebels and their Islamic terrorist allies. Eight years later the Taureg tribes are still waiting for the government to deliver the economic aid promised when the Tauregs agreed to a peace deal. The Islamic terrorist groups are still up there and have spread to central Mali, partly to support their smuggling operations (drugs and people) that finance the terror groups. Eight years later and the corruption and mismanagement are still prominent and the target of growing popular anger. The military has been rebuilt, a task carried out largely by the French military. Currently the army has about 7,000 troops. Another 800 personnel serve in the air force and riverine navy. There are also nearly 5,000 paramilitary troops, including the 2,000-man Republican Guard stationed in the capital to protect government officials and facilities. Most of the paramilitary personnel act as national police and serve throughout the country. Overall, the rebuilt army is a more effective force than it was in 2012. But the Mali troops are still considered the least effective in the region. The 2020 army has a few units that are first-rate and these often operate with the French counterterrorism forces. But these elite Mali troops account for less than ten percent of the army. The 2020 coup was triggered by the inability of the government to agree to reforms and cooperate with the opposition parties. There had been over a month of fruitless negotiations with president (since 2013) Keita, who seemed to believe he could wait it out. After all Keita had been reelected in 2018 amid accusations of voting fraud. The opposition produced many proposals but few Keita was willing to accept. Mediators from ECOWAS (Economic Community of 15 West African States) kept the negotiations going but Keita refused to consider resigning and the opposition saw curbing Keitas power as essential if there was to be any hope of peace and prosperity. The army leaders, who were not formally part of the opposition, seemed to agree and carried out a coup that had more popular support than the 2012 one. Demonstrations had been going on since June 5th and that led to an unexpected coalition, called the June 5 Movement (J5M), containing political, economic and religious groups that rarely agree with or work with each other. The coalition held together but past experience shows that such a coalition will have a difficult time implementing sustained change. Faction leaders and Malians in general understand that without a much less corrupt government they will be stuck in a cycle of economic decline and inability to deal with tribal, religious and political rebels in central and northern Mali. Foreign aid donors are backing away because of the corruption and the waste of so much aid via theft and mismanagement. Some faction leaders feared Keita might try using mass arrests and violence to retain power. These leaders went into hiding leaving cleric Mahmoud Dicko as the de-facto spokesman for J5M. Dicko is a popular senior imam (Moslem cleric) who studied Islam in Saudi Arabia and came to be chairman of Malis High Islamic Council. Despite (or because of) his education in Saudi religious schools (which stress the need for Islamic law) Dicko openly backs a secular government, but one run by honest (or a lot more honest than now) politicians and officials. Imams like Dicko are one reason Islamic terrorist beliefs have not spread to the majority of Malians, most (95 percent) of them Moslem. Many foreign students in Saudi religious schools note that for all its piety Saudi Arabia is very corrupt as are most other Arab oil states. There were some exceptions but without all that oil wealth many Arab governments would be undergoing the same political pain Mali is suffering. Corruption has long been a major problem for Mali. Corruption and misuse of foreign aid are the main reasons for many other problems. The international aspect of this can be seen in the worldwide surveys of nations to determine who is clean and who is corrupt. For 2019 Mali ranked 130th out of 180 nations in international rankings compared with 120th 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 the least corrupt (Finland, New Zealand and Denmark) are over 85. Keita and his associates were supposed to be the cure for the current mess, which began after France intervened in January 2013, leading a military operation to clear Islamic terrorists out of northern Mali. Aided by Chad and a growing number of other African peacekeeping contingents, this effort continues and is somewhat open ended. The French acted because in 2012 Tuareg tribal rebels (with the help of al Qaeda affiliated Islamic terrorists) in northern Mali chased out government forces and declared a separate Tuareg state. The Mali army mutinied because of lack of support from the corrupt government down south and took control of the capital. The army soon backed off when neighboring nations threatened to intervene. The elected government was soon back in charge and more corrupt than ever. In April 2020 parliamentary elections were conducted after nearly two years of delays. These were the first such elections since the military coup in 2013. Fewer than 15 percent of eligible voters participated. Most of the 19 million people in Mali dont have to deal with the Islamic or tribal terrorism found mainly in thinly populated central and northern Mali. Everyone knows about this problem and how it has spread from the north to central Mali in the last five years. The main reason for the spread of this violence is corruption. It has been a problem ever since Mali became independent after the French left in 1960. It is a problem common throughout Africa and many other parts of the world. Voters are discouraged because it seems that whoever they elect, they just get another bunch of corrupt and incompetent leaders. Lots of corruption often produces rebels and in Moslem majority nations that often means Islamic terrorism. There are several of these groups in Mali and largest of them is JNIM (Jamaah Nusrah al Islam wal Muslimin, or Group for the support of Islam and Moslems). This is an al Qaeda coalition formed in early 2017 to consolidate the many separate Islamic terror groups in Mali. In part this was a reaction to the growing threat from ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), which is hostile to everyone who is not ISIL and will attack or recruit from the JNIM members like AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), Ansar Dine, FLM and several other smaller groups. Another reason for the merger was to make it easier to pool resources, especially information and practical advice, and coordinate with other Islamic terror groups in the region. This reduces friction and destructive feuding. Making a coalition like this work is always difficult, especially considering the importance of ethnic differences. The FLM is Fulani (the largest local tribal contribution) while the other groups are largely Tuareg or Arab and some have a lot of foreigners. Note that JNIM did not incorporate all of AQIM groups in the area, just local groups that had long been identified with al Qaeda. The income from the drug trade keeps a lot of these factions in business, while the Islamic terrorists know that business and religious fanaticism do not mix and keep it that way. Those groups that did not went broke and withered to nothing. Meanwhile the Islamic terror groups evolved with more radical JNIM members joining more radical groups like ISIL, which is universally hated by other Islamic terrorists and Moslems in general. By 2018 there were two ISIL provinces in central Africa when the smaller one, ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara), showed up. ISGS is currently active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The other, slightly older and larger, ISIL province was ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). ISWAP was actually a faction of the Nigerian Boko Haram Islamic terrorists who had been around since 2004. ISWAP personnel are mostly in northeastern Nigeria as well as smaller numbers in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. In the last year there has been a lot more fighting between JNIM and ISGS in northern Mali. Some of this is about money and access to smuggling routes but a lot of it is about ISIL insisting that they are the leading Islamic terror group and all other Islamic terrorists must obey ISIL. In practice that does not work very well for ISIL but since ISIL members are generally more fanatical than those in other Islamic terror groups, ISIL members tend to keep at it until they get killed by one of their many enemies. There are also a lot of tribal conflicts in central Mali but these have been active for decades and are made worse by the corruption. The tribal war between Dogon and Fulani has been particularly bloody this year. As long as Mali suffers from the high levels of government corruption and mismanagement there will be Islamic terrorism and the threat of separatism succeeding, as it did in 2012-13. France wont always be willing to move in the deal with the problem. Many in France are questioning the wisdom of remaining in Mali and the Sahel. What keeps the French forces there is past experience. When Islamic terrorists are left free to expand the terror groups will do just that. Nearly all the mayhem will be local but some of it will show up in the West, triggering demands that something be done. At the moment the French, aided by the Americans and a coalition of Sahel states, are doing something and it forces the Islamic terrorists to restrict their activities and spend a lot of time avoiding detection and attack (on the ground or via airstrike). The counter-terror operations by France, the G5 Sahel states, UN peacekeepers and the Mali Army have been successful but it has only suppressed Islamic terrorist and tribal violence, not eliminated it. There are fewer large-scale terror attacks or tribal raids. But there is still lots of low-level activity that does not kill but rather intimidates and extorts financial and other support for the armed groups. August 22, 2020: In central Mali (Mopti) near the Burkina Faso border, Fulani rebels used a roadside bomb against an army patrol, killing four soldiers and wounding another one. August 21, 2020: Popular Islamic cleric Mahmoud Dicko presided over a large rally in the capital. Dicko urged everyone to support the military government. August 19, 2020: Leaders of the 5,000 strong G5 force demanded that the Mali military release president Keita and other officials seized during the coup yesterday. G5 showed no interest in using its troops to enforce this demand, nor did the 5,000 strong French force or the 12,000 UN peacekeepers. August 18, 2020: The army forced president Keita to resign and began trying to form an interim (until elections) government. President Keita August 2, 2020: In central Mali (Mopti) troops suffered five dead and five wounded as result of two attacks. One was an ambush and the other was a mortar attack on an army base. July 23, 2020: In the north (Timbuktu region) JNIM used a suicide bomber to attack a French patrol near the Burkina Faso border, leaving one French soldier dead. Education Minister Peter Weir has announced that guidance on face coverings will be updated to include a recommendation to wear them in corridors of post-primary schools. This will come into effect on August 31 when schools return on a full-time basis. Pupils returning to school in England will not be required to wear face coverings, with Downing Street saying yesterday there were "no plans" to change the guidance. The World Health Organisation and UN children's agency Unicef advise that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a one-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area. The Schools Standards Minister in England Nick Gibb had indicated that hygiene measures put in place in classes meant masks were not required. Mr Gibb told the BBC: "If a school puts in place the measures that are in the guidance that we issued in early July, all the hygiene measures that I've been talking about, then masks are not necessary for staff or pupils." England's deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said the evidence on whether children over 12 should wear masks in schools was "not strong". However, older pupils in Scotland will be required to wear face coverings in between lessons from next week. Face coverings should be worn by staff and pupils when moving around secondary schools in Scotland from August 31, according to Holyrood's Education Secretary. Expand Close Education Minister Peter Weir is recommending that school children should wear face coverings in corridors / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Education Minister Peter Weir is recommending that school children should wear face coverings in corridors John Swinney said that the rule will apply on school transport for primary school pupils aged five and above, and all those at secondary school in communal areas, but not in classrooms. Previous advice in Northern Ireland had made it mandatory for all pupils aged 13 and over to wear a face covering on public transport, or when large numbers of staff or pupils gathered within an enclosed space where social distancing was not possible. However, they were "not generally recommended for routine use in schools". But last night Mr Weir said: "Following further advice which I have received today from the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser, I am recommending that pupils and teachers wear a face covering in corridors and other communal areas of post-primary schools from next week when schools return full-time. "The current public health advice is that the use of face coverings provides some benefits; however, it is not a replacement for frequent hand washing, social distancing where possible, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and regular cleaning of surfaces. "It is also important to remember that evidence suggests that the risk of transmission in schools is relatively low compared to some other settings. "My existing guidance on the reopening of schools already deals with the use of face coverings. In terms of school transport, the advice remains the same, that we strongly recommend that all pupils wear a face covering on all dedicated school transport including buses and taxis where it is appropriate for them to do so. "In relation to communal areas in schools, the guidance already strongly encourages face coverings for activities that entail large numbers of staff or pupils within an enclosed space where social distancing is not possible. "Given the risk mitigations in place in schools to limit and contain the spread of Covid-19, face coverings are not recommended as being compulsory for routine use in education settings. "However, staff and pupils may wish to use them during the routine school day and this is acceptable. Schools should also be aware that some persons (including some children) are exempt from wearing face coverings. "I will continue to keep all guidance in respect of education settings under review in light of the latest medical and scientific advice." Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd has said the decision should have been introduced with immediate effect. The Upper Bann MLA and former Education Minister said: "The safety of children and young people while at school is an absolute priority for everyone. "New guidance from the World Health Organisation has strongly recommended the need to introduce the wearing of face coverings in secondary schools. "While the decision to introduce the wearing of face coverings in school corridors, communal areas and school transport is welcome, it should be implemented immediately, not with any delay. "This latest move by the Minister is yet another example of lack of clear decision-making and guidance which has caused confusion for parents, teachers and students." The state government is pushing for a greater range of housing types and sizes to ensure that people of all income levels can afford to live in any suburb in Sydney. In justifying a proposed shake-up of planning controls to create greater housing diversity, Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the state's legacy of policies had distorted Sydney's shape and undermined attempts to make it a more sustainable and cohesive city. "So much of planning has been about trying to restrict who can live in certain areas according to the style of housing they can afford," he said. NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes says a legacy of housing polices has distorted the shape of Sydney. Credit:Kate Geraghty Mr Stokes said the same was true of every city and town across NSW, although he acknowledged that there was more "social mixing" in smaller towns. This article will be updated throughout the week with coronavirus case counts and other need-to-know information about the pandemic in San Antonio. COVID-19 numbers: To avoid another post-holiday spike in coronavirus cases, residents are being urged by Bexar Coutny officials to continue social distancing and avoid gathering with others outside their households. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported 110 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, continuing a downward trend as the spread of the coronavirus slows. August 29 COVID-19 numbers: The city of San Antonio reported an additional 208 cases of COVID-19 Saturday as the spread of the virus continued slowing for another week. As of Saturday, 46,291 in total had tested positive for coronavirus since the onset of the pandemic more than five months ago. The city verified 13 deaths on Saturday, growing the toll to 793. August 28 COVID-19 numbers: The number of Bexar County residents who have been infected with novel coronavirus soared past 46,000 Friday with 272 new cases reported, the highest one-day increase since Aug. 12. The countys death rate continues to be among the highest in the state; the Metropolitan Health District verified 13 more deaths from the virus Friday Dr. Bryan Alsip, chief medical officer at University Health System, said the upcoming Labor Day holiday will be a natural experiment in how the disease spreads or doesnt spread. August 27 COVID-19 numbers: The number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County continued to rise Thursday as the Metropolitan Health District verified 13 new deaths. Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 45,811 people have now tested positive, up from 45,622 Wednesday. San Antonios hospitals are still considered to be under high stress, but the numbers continue to improve; there were 412 people with COVID-19 in the hospital, down from 436 Wednesday. Marriott lays off half its staff: The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, one of the regions premiere luxury hotels, is laying off 462 workers, or half its staff, according to affected employees. Downtown Marriott properties are also cutting staff. COVID-19 deaths higher per capita in Bexar: Bexar County has suffered more deaths per capita from COVID-19 than any other large urban area in Texas, according to state and federal data. The reason for this grim distinction, experts say, is a majority Latino population thats older and more likely to suffer from underlying conditions that increase the risk of dying from COVID-19, including obesity, diabetes and heart and chronic kidney disease. August 26 COVID-19 numbers: San Antonio officials reported 134 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 more deaths on Wednesday. The numbers signaled that the virus is spreading more slowly. The Texas Department of State Health Services listed 1,007 COVID-19 deaths in Bexar County as of Wednesday 253 more than Metro Healths total. Local officials say those 253 deaths are under investigation to verify that the patients lived in Bexar and had tested positive for the virus. August 25 COVID-19 numbers: San Antonio and Bexar County reported a modest 124 newly diagnosed coronavirus cases Tuesday, indicating continued local progress on bringing infections down from the large numbers recorded earlier this summer. That includes 16 more deaths reported Tuesday, which occurred between July 21 and Aug. 18. August 24 COVID-19 numbers: For the first time in months, a key indicator of novel coronavirus infections in Bexar County dropped below 10 percent on Monday. The positivity rate measures the proportion of people tested for COVID-19 who turn out to have the virus. San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Monday reported 109 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in Bexar County to 45,364. Students unable to contact school: Thousands of students in Northside Independent School District on Monday were unable to log on for their first day of school courses, possibly due to a Zoom outage. We are aware of an issue affecting the MyNISD portal. We are working with our vendor on a resolution. Thank you for your patience, district officials wrote on its social media pages about an hour after it posted a video of Superintendent Brian Woods welcoming students back to school. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Subscribe/follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app. Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | Aug. 26, 2020 Legalized marijuana is one of several items in Governor Tom Wolf agenda for this fall. Prosecutors say ten thousand inmates in Pennsylvania state prisons applied for unemployment benefits, costing the state millions. A group of Black Lives Matter protestors were shot at while passing through Pennsylvania, leaving one injured. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has issued guidance on how schools should handle outbreaks of COVID-19. And two animals were stolen from a pet store in Pennsylvania: not dogs or cats, but you guessed it alligators. Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state. Todays episode refers to the following articles: If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. This is one of the targets set in a draft national strategy for developing Vietnamese digital technology companies recently devised by the Ministry of Information and Communications. According to the draft strategy, in the next 10 years, digital companies would contribute 20% of GDP and Vietnam would be one of the top two countries in ASEAN and the top 50 in the world in technology and innovation ranking. By 2025, Vietnam strives to have 70,000 digital technology companies with a workforce of 1.2 million. They are expected to have revenue growth 1.5-2 times higher than the countrys GDP expansion rate and export growth at 10-20% per year. Such companies are expected to contribute 10% of GDP and to bring Vietnam into the top three countries in ASEAN and the top 70 in the world for technology and innovation ranking. To realise these targets, the ministry proposes six solutions, including perfecting the legal framework to create a favourable environment for digital technology companies, strengthening research and development capacity, developing a robust market for digital technology companies, building a data industry and digital technology ecosystem, and developing human resources. Digital technology companies are expected to play an important role in making Vietnam a developed and industrialised country with rapid, sustainable and inclusive economic development as well as turning Vietnam into a high-income country by 2045. The Vietnamese Government estimated the country would need at least 100,000 digital technology companies to develop a digital economy, smart urban areas, e-Government and promote the application of digital technology advancements in socio-economic fields as well as accelerate national digital transformation. Under the draft strategy, Vietnam will focus on developing four types of digital technology companies, namely those developing core technologies, developing digital technology products, providing digital technology solutions and digital-technology start-ups. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, about 43,000 enterprises currently operate in the information and technology sector together with 17,000 others doing business in distributing and providing IT products and solutions. The ministry said hitting 100,000 digital technology companies would be challenging, given the country's heavy dependence for core technology on foreign countries, the low added value of IT products and limited innovation capacity and competitiveness, together with increasing competition from international IT companies. Vietnams competitive advantage of cheap labour is being undermined by breakthroughs in new technologies, the ministry said, stressing that it is critical to develop a national strategy for digital technology. Manama, Aug 26 : Pursuing a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict was stressed by Bahrain's leadership during a meeting with a US top diplomat on Wednesday. Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during a meeting with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the capital Manama highlighted the Arab Peace Initiative, which aims to end the Israel-Palestine conflict, Xinhua news agency reported. "There should be intensified efforts to end the Israel-Palestine conflict by achieving the two-state solution that is peaceful and further backs an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital," said a statement reported by the state-run Bahrain News Agency following the meeting. The king also mentioned the need for establishing peace and security in the Middle East and "confronting Iranian interference in the region's affairs." Pompeo stressed countering growing threats from Iran and building a strategic partnership with the Gulf countries. The US official also met Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Pompeo arrived in Bahrain on Tuesday night as part of a Middle East trip after the historic UAE-Israel normalization deal. He has now left for the UAE from Bahrain and is expected to meet the UAE foreign minister. Good Production Rate, Iron Ore Price and FX Rate Maiden Underlying Profit of C.US$6 Million HONG KONG, Aug 26, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - The largest iron ore mining operator in the Russian Far East, IRC Limited ("IRC" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, collectively "the Group"; stock code: 1029) is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2020. Financial Highlights - Revenue increased by 19% to US$106.2 million (30 June 2019: US$89.2 million) - Cash cost down by 4.7% to US$48.8/t (30 June 2019: US$51.2/t) - EBITDA has more than doubled, increasing to US$33.2 million (30 June 2019: US$13.2 million) - Profit of US$5.9 million (30 June 2019: loss of US$25.2 million) Operation Highlights - 14.3% and 11.4% improvement in production and sales respectively over the same period in 2019 - Stable production capacity of 89% (30 June 2019: 78%) - K&S operated at more than 90% capacity in July and the early part of August. Planned ball mill maintenance and a period of heavy rains affected production in August. Normal production has now been resumed, month-to-date capacity of c.80%. - Impact of COVID-19 not as yet significant Commenting on the results, Peter Hambro, Chairman of IRC said: "The first half of 2020 has been a significant time for the development of IRC with the Company achieving its maiden underlying profit. While the profit is modest, the milestone is significant. We are unlocking the great potential that we see in the Company. While K&S is currently operating at close to its full capacity, IRC has the track record of running a mine at higher than its designed capacity. We see K&S having the ability to do the same, and look forward to seeing the mine coming-of-age to unleash its full potential. Good production rate, strong iron ore price and weak Russian Rouble contributed to IRC's profitability. Despite the devastating effect of the COVID-19 on the global economy, iron ore was one of the best performing commodities in the first half of 2020. Coupled with K&S's good production rate, IRC's revenue recorded a significant increase in the first half of this year. We also benefitted from the weak Russian Rouble, allowing the Group to lower its cost level. These positive factors contributed to our maiden underlying profit. We are pleased with the financial results of IRC in the first half of 2020 and are striving for further improvements as K&S continues to raise its production level. We are pleased that much has been achieved in the first half of 2020. That said, continuous improvement is our goal and we are not resting on our laurels. We believe that the foundations of our Company are in place for further enhancement in operational and financial performance. Looking to the future, we are committed to ensuring that IRC continues to prosper and grow in a sustainable manner. We shall increase our production from our world-class assets to maximise shareholders' value. We would like to thank our stakeholders for their continued support." For more details of the Group's interim results, please refer to full announcement at: https://files.services/files/370/2020/0826/20200826061501_65488741_en.pdf About IRC Limited IRC Limited (1029.HK) is the largest iron ore mining operator in the Russian Far East. Its operations focus on producing high-quality iron ore concentrates, with long-term relationships with customers in China and Russia. IRC is unique in the iron ore market due to its competitive advantages, namely superior geology and direct access to China, the world's largest iron ore market, through established world-class infrastructure. For more information, please visit: http://www.ircgroup.com.hk/ Media enquiries: Anli Financial Communications Limited Kylie Chan 852-3956 1640 kylie.chan@anli.com.hk Doris Ho 852-3956 1641 doris.ho@anli.com.hk Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de (Photo : Pixabay) Viking Stock: Norse Horse Can Withstand Iceland's Elements All Year-Round The Norse horse is a hardy beast that can withstand Iceland's elements year-round, and so they are ideal to use as a means of transportation in heavy snow. This Viking stock can withstand it even as the snow clings to its teddy bear-like coat, having been purebred for 1,000 years. In the west of Iceland, near Borgarnes, is where a herd of Norse horse lives. Hestaland horseriding is run by Gudmar who said that the best way to be close to nature in the area is through being on horseback. In that way, one would be able to notice something that they usually do not see. Although Icelandic horses have low-slung bodies, anyone who rides them would still experience a smooth ride and perhaps a new perspective in seeing the beautiful view. Norse Horse as Part of the Life in Iceland Iceland seems the only place where horses can fly instead of their usual three gaits- walk, trot, and canter or gallop. Uniquely, these Icelandic horses have five as they like to surprise their riders by bursting into a merry four-beat single-foot gait known as 'tolt.' The ancestors of these magical beasts came from those that were brought by the Norse settlers more than 1,000 years ago, hence, the name Norse horse. Since then, they have played a significant role in Icelandic life. They have been used as a means of transportation in the heavy snow. But in spring, communities would jump on horseback to round up the wild-roaming sheep of the farmers. The picture of people living close to nature is best seen in the western part of the country, near Reykjavik, where more than 360,000 population live, but beyond the golden circle where most tourists flock. Read Also: Archaeologists Unearthed Oldest Viking Settlement in Iceland Decades Before They Are Supposed to Settle in the Island Touring Iceland Anyone who wants to tour Iceland should visit the Krauma baths to experience their steaming-hot geothermal water surrounded in the silence of the mountains and enjoy a mug of frothy beer. The place is located ninety minutes from the country's capital. The west side of the country is the snow-spotted lava fields and mountains that are reflected in the lakes. The scene seems to stretch to infinity with no forests insight. The tiny town in the western part of Iceland is a gateway to the Viking region, where the Stedji beer brewery can be found. Water in the area is so pure, coming from the glaciers, which makes Iceland a magnet for microbrewers although beer that is above 2.25% has been banned already in 1989. Exploring further in the 56-mile-long Snaefellsnes peninsula, often described as little Iceland for its diverse mountains, its jewel Snaefellsjokull glacier at the tip, sleepy fishing villages, and gothic black sand beaches have immortalized the 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth written by Jules Verne. West Iceland maybe once a mysterious place that the Vikings have landed on, but today it has become for its citizens to explore even its most remote areas. Locals would recommend experiencing the wild adventure of seeing the country as much as how the Vikings did in the past through soaring the tundra on the back of a Norse horse. Read More: Norway is Excavating First-Ever Viking Ship in 115 Years But Needs to Save it First From Fungus Check out for more news and information on Norse Horse and Iceland on Science Times. 5 notable Republicans who've endorsed Joe Biden over Trump Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Coinciding with the first day of the Republican National Convention, the Biden presidential campaign has released a list of over two-dozen prominent Republicans that have endorsed the Democrat former vice president Joe Biden for president. The endorsements from former Republican members of Congress were announced via an email sent Monday morning to Biden campaign supporters announcing the Republicans for Biden outreach initiative. In a strong rebuke to the current administration, these former members of Congress cited Trumps corruption, destruction of democracy, blatant disregard for moral decency, and urgent need to get the country back on course as a reason why they support Biden, stated the campaign in the email. These former Members of Congress are supporting Joe Biden because they know what's at stake in this election and that Trump's failures as President have superseded partisanship. Republicans for Biden aims to get more members of the GOP who feel disaffected by the president to vote Democrat in November. The list of former GOP Congressmen is the latest high-profile example of notable Republicans and other members of the GOP publicly proclaiming their support for Biden. The following pages list five prominent Republicans who have endorsed Bidens presidential campaign. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next " " The key stages in an angioplasty procedure: A catheter, stent and balloon are inserted into a blocked part of a coronary artery to open up the passageway. 3D4Medical.com/ Getty Images If you opt for an angioplasty procedure, you'll undergo a nonsurgical procedure that will have you up and on your feet sooner. An angioplasty only takes a couple of hours to perform and you'll remain under local anesthesia for the duration, which is appealing to many patients. You'll probably just need to stay in the hospital one night for observation, and then you're back home and in your normal routine within the week. Coronary bypass surgery usually requires about week in the hospital and up to three months to fully recover. Minimally invasive micro-surgery procedures cut your recovery time down to a few weeks, with only three to four days in the hospital. You could be a candidate for this kind of operation if: Advertisement you have blockage in only one or two coronary arteries your blocked arteries are on the front side of the heart you're healthy aside from your artery blockage There are also some restrictions for angioplasties. You probably aren't a good candidate if: your blocked artery is too small for the balloon your artery is completely blocked your blockage occurs in the left main coronary artery you have diabetes or have already suffered heart failure your blockage is where two arteries meet There are some other things you should consider when deciding between the two procedures. While angioplasty and bypass surgery have similar long-term outcomes and mortality rates, you're more likely to need a repeat procedure with an angioplasty. Sometimes the artery closes back up -- this is called restenosis. A 2008 study in Germany found that 14 percent of angioplasty patients needed another procedure within a year of the first. Only six percent of CABG patients required more work [source: ABC News]. Another study from 2007 gives us a more long-term picture. After five years, about 10 percent of bypass patients needed more treatment, and 46 percent of the angioplasty patients needed repeat procedures [source: The Washington Post]. One important thing to consider is that these stats are for angioplasties that don't use the metal stents. These tiny little pieces of arterial scaffolding have gone a long way in helping to shore up the interior walls of the blood vessels after the balloon is removed. And now there are drug-eluting stents. These stents are coated with time-released, blood clot-fighting drugs. For the 2007 study, the number of repeat procedures needed using the drug-coated stents fell from 46 percent to 40 percent [source: The Washington Post]. A study from 2005 concluded that long-term success rates with angioplasty alone was at 60 percent, using stents came in at 75 percent and using drug-coated stents hit the 90 percent mark [source: medicalmoment.org]. Although the last thing on your mind when dealing with life and death is cost, it's a factor for many people. A 2006 study found that at the five-year mark, costs for angioplasty were about 19 percent lower than with bypasses. This percentage equals almost $20,000 in savings [source: American Heart Association]. Determining which procedure to undergo is up to you and your family. Your doctor will recommend a course of action based on your condition and severity of the blockage, but it's up to you to understand the ins and outs of each procedure. Angioplasties are cheaper, less invasive and will have you on your feet sooner, but you're more likely to need another one at some point. CABG demands longer recovery time and will cost you more, but you may not need to go back in for follow-up procedures. If you have coronary blockage, get the facts, talk to your doctor and family, and you'll be able to make the best decision that fits your bank account and lifestyle. More than anything, start exercising and eating right, and your chances at living a long and healthy life will increase. HOLYOKE The City Councils Finance Committee on Monday accepted a $760,000 Pioneer Valley Planning Commission/Connecticut River Clean-Up Committee grant. The committee, chaired by Councilor Joseph McGiverin, held a virtual meeting as City Hall and municipal buildings remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic. City Engineer Bob Peirent said the Planning Commission has awarded Holyoke similar grants in the past. The gift does not require a match on the citys part and covers costs in fiscal 2021, which began July 1. Peirent said $485,00 of the grant is set aside for a combined sewer overflow project, part of long-term clean water plan. Initial work is expected in the River Terrace and Springdale Park areas. The $485,000 would cover mapping, survey, fieldwork and inspections of all lines along the project routes. Were trying to bite off a little bit every year with the money we get from Connecticut River Clean-Up fund, Peirent told the committee. The grants help prevent expending city dollars for future, costlier water projects. The remaining $275,000 will support the ongoing Jackson Street sewer separation work. In January 2019, the City Council approved an $8.9 million bond to modernize the Jackson Street sewer and water infrastructure. Our project is underbudgeted at this point, but were running with a relatively small contingency after receiving the bids, Peirent said. The $275,000 provides a cushion against uncertainties that crop up during construction. Peirent said the Jackson Street work likely would continue into spring or summer 2021. It will be a big impact, but when its all done, the neighborhood would be better off, he said. He promised to keep the City Council and impacted neighborhoods apprised of current and future public works projects. The full City Council must vote whether to accept the grant at its next meeting. South Africa is the first region to benefit from a new, white label mobile payment, customer loyalty, and rewards programme, with the launch of UBU International. The platform-based ecosystem converts the massive power of mobile search for products and services into feet through the doors of local physical and digital retailers. Many businesses have been severely impacted by the COVID lockdowns. Those who have survived the last couple of months are looking for ways to aggressively boost sales. A new platform-based solution addresses this challenge, while allowing consumers to support their local retailers as well as their communities. The UBU International ecosystem engages with three audiences: Local businesses who are hoping to attract and retain new customers; Organisations or individuals that have a substantial audience, customer base or following (this could include schools, radio stations, gyms, churches or even social media influencers and local celebrities) and; Members of the public who want the convenience of a touchless mobile wallet as well as the cashback rewards and discounts offered by a loyalty programme. Our platform solves a commerce problem. Rather than simply focusing on sales conversions, it is designed to increase sales and drive foot traffic for brick-and-mortar retailers, while using digital channels to address relevant audiences for both retail and e-commerce businesses, many of whom cant afford large advertising campaigns or to implement complex loyalty programmes, explained Andre de Wet, CEO of UBU International. The UBU platform and ecosystem users also come out on top as research has shown that cashback and great deals are the benefits most sought after in loyalty programmes. UBU International provides businesses with their own branded loyalty wallet where their audience, customers, or followers can get direct loyalty rewards, and also shop in the wider UBU Marketplace. Its in their interest to actively encourage users to download and use their wallet, which includes access to mobile payments, while at the same time having access to the UBU International platform which manages both the loyalty and rewards programme. This programme allows for all merchants on the marketplace to be featured across the whole ecosystem. Organisations who have their branded wallets earn a commission for each purchase made by their users, creating a passive income stream. This is a unique way for wallet holders to earn income from their users outside of their normal sphere of business. When searching for local services and retailers (like restaurants, B&Bs, handymen, coffee shops, salons, retail shops etc), the wallet directs users to participating businesses in their area. When the user purchases services or products at these vendors, they get immediate cashback. Businesses gain exposure via the UBU Marketplace which is constantly promoted by the participating organisations and businesses to their networks and clients. This gives them access to a market that they would otherwise struggle to reach, attracting new customers, boosting sales and keeping existing customers coming back for more. Our solution merges marketing, loyalty and payments. With one platform we solve the small business challenge of getting feet through their door. We enable radio stations, churches, schools, gyms, NGOs and even social media influencers to monetise one of their greatest untapped assets their audience. For the wallet users, we give them the convenience of a touchless payment system that puts money back into their wallet, rather than complicated points reward systems. Its an elegant solution for each participant, said de Wet. UBU International is well capitalised by private equity funding from Norway and the UK. Once the South African business is bedded down the team is gearing to rapidly scale up in other international markets, with a target of 10-15 new countries within the next year to 18 months. The UBU International team are no strangers to the world of technology and finance. Before launching UBU International, serial entrepreneur and mobile strategist Andre de Wet was, among others, CEO of well-known ecommerce site PriceCheck.co.za and had already sold his first business by the time he was 27. Companies, organisations, and individuals can sign up now to join the UBU International ecosystem. Brands such as Jacaranda FM, East Coast Radio, and Radio Laeveld are already members, along with hundreds of small businesses country wide. About UBU International Established in February 2020, UBU International is a platform-based ecosystem that converts the massive power of mobile search for products and services into feet through the doors of local physical and digital retailers. The business is headquartered out of Cape Town, South Africa, with backing out of UK and Norway. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 06:03:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on July 6, 2020 shows a railway bridge along the Anshun-Liupanshui railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) China, the world's second-largest economy in real GDP terms, has slowly been catching up on the United States. Economists say China's quick rebound from COVID-19 will accelerate that process, says WSJ. NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- As much of the world struggles to contain the coronavirus, China's recovery is gaining momentum, positioning it to further close its gap with the U.S. economy, according to an article, "China's Economy, Bouncing Back, Gains on the U.S.," published on The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. According to the article, China is the only major economy expected to grow this year. J.P. Morgan recently boosted its 2020 China growth forecast to 2.5 percent from 1.3 percent in April. Economists at the World Bank and elsewhere have also upgraded their forecasts for China. China, the world's second-largest economy in real GDP terms, has slowly been catching up on the United States. Economists say China's quick rebound from COVID-19 will accelerate that process, the article said. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 19, 2020 shows vessels sailing on the sea near Xin'gang port in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Homi Kharas, a senior global economics and development fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the coronavirus puts China's economy on track to reach parity with the U.S. in 2028 in absolute terms, using current dollars, two years faster than his pre-coronavirus estimate, according to the article. "China will emerge even stronger as the largest economy in the developing world," the article quoted Kharas as saying. According to the article, China's factories were among the world's first to reopen in April, which helped China grab market share in global trade. Customers chat at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Shanghai in Shanghai, east China, June 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Companies from Marriott International Inc. to Starbucks Corp. reported strong second-quarter growth in China, as the rest of the world pulled back. The article added that before the coronavirus, Deutsche Bank estimated China's economy would grow by roughly 26 percent between 2019 and 2023, versus 8.5 percent for the United States over the same period. Now, taking into account the impact of the pandemic, the bank expects China's economic expansion to moderate slightly to 24 percent between 2019 and 2023, while the U.S. over that stretch will have grown by 3.9 percent - less than half the original projection. Yet, China still faces headwinds. It counts on exports for roughly one-fifth of its economic output, making it reliant on customers in the U.S. and Europe overcoming the virus. It must also prevent its own resurgence in COVID-19 cases, the article said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 26 By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend: Turkmenistan and Iran intend to develop cooperation in the fields of transport and communications, manufacturing, agriculture, and water management, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. This was said during a video conference between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, and Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran, Mohammad Eslami on August 25, 2020. The parties discussed several topical issues on the bilateral agenda, in particular, the interaction in trade and economic spheres. Thus, special emphasis was placed on the development of transport and transit cooperation and maintaining freight rail links between the two countries. The sides stressed the important role of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Iranian Commission on Economic Cooperation in the context of further strengthening of bilateral relations. As reported, Iranian Shilat (Fisheries Company) is interested in supplying its products to the Turkmen market. The two countries have accumulated a lot of experience working together. This included projects, designed to contribute to increasing trade and economic cooperation between Central Asian and Middle Eastern states. Turkmenistan and Iran share borders on the Caspian Sea as wells as on land. Over the years of long-term cooperation, the countries have implemented many large-scale joint projects. In addition to border gas pipelines, the Dostluk (Friendship) dam was jointly built by the two countries. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva Alex Morse, the Holyoke mayor challenging longtime U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in a primary on Sept. 1, gained a big endorsement Tuesday from Courage to Change, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs political action committee thats strategically backed progressive candidates against establishment Democrats. I am so proud to have the endorsement of @AOC's @CouragetoChange. When AOC took on an entrenched incumbent, she changed the Democratic Party for the better. It would be an honor to serve alongside her in Congress to fight for progressive change that benefits working families. pic.twitter.com/jgvBSwOO7r Alex Morse (@AlexBMorse) August 25, 2020 In an announcement Tuesday evening, Morse said he was proud to earn the endorsement of the group, which Ocasio-Cortez started this year and which backed New Yorks Jamaal Bowman, who defeated Rep. Eliot Engel, whod been in Congress for three decades, in a July primary. When AOC took on an entrenched incumbent, she changed the Democratic Party for the better, Morse said. It would be an honor to serve alongside her in Congress to fight for progressive change that benefits working families. The endorsement, coming less than a week before primary day, follows Morse fending off allegations of impropriety while a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts. The UMass College Democrats disinvited Morse from future events, alleging he had inappropriate relationships with college students, the Daily Collegian reported. But no students came forward on the record with allegations at the time. Morse decided to stay in the race, noting all his relationships were consensual. He also said he never had any relationships with his own students and said he wouldnt apologize for being young and gay, though he apologized for making anyone uncomfortable and noted he needs to be more mindful of his own position of power. The Intercept reported that members of the UMass Amherst College Democrats discussed digging up material that could hinder Morses campaign, with the groups chief strategist hinting that it could help his chances for an internship with Neal. Neal vehemently denied any involvement with the allegations, saying a university investigation should play out and the students voices should be heard. In a debate earlier this month, Morse, whose supporters have charged the allegations were politically-motivated and homophobic, said that the push against his very candidacy goes all the way to height of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. He accused the Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman, Gus Bickford of discouraging him from challenging Neal a year ago. Bickford denied the accusation in a statement to MassLive. Morse, who at 22 was elected the youngest mayor in Holyokes history nine years ago, argues his candidacy will bring the voice of the people back to Congress, and hes gone after Neal over health care issues, the congressmans corporate donors and the pace of chasing for President Donald Trumps tax returns. Neal, the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has touted his decades of leadership and bipartisan efforts, including substantial work on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act earlier this year in the wake of the pandemic. Neal says his efforts for improved health care have rankled insurance companies, and he argues his committee is fighting a historic battle in the courts for the presidents financial records, taking pride in being the only member of Congress that Donald Trump is suing. Hes also challenged Morse for his attendance record at school committee meetings, and touted his own attendance record when he was a Springfield mayor. Related Content: As Vice President of Human Resources and a member of the company's Executive Leadership Team, Alexis will focus on evaluating the people-related business strategy through a top talent lens. She will augment Rinnai's strategic priority of Becoming a Talent Magnet and brand promise of Creating a Healthier Way of Living by concentrating on the Attraction of Top Talent, Engagement Strategies, Performance Management, Leadership Development, and Organizational Effectiveness. Alexis joined Rinnai America's Human Resources team in September of 2019. During her time at Rinnai, Alexis has shown great leadership in several areas including the Covid-19 response, a smooth transition to the organization's work from home policy, and its employee engagement initiative. "Recruiting and retaining top talent is critical to the continued success and growth of Rinnai America Corporation," said Frank Windsor, President of Rinnai America Corporation. "Alexis' vast experience and proven success in Human Resources will enable us to continue to expand our team as we increase our footprint in the North American Market." "I look forward to playing an instrumental role in the enhancement and execution of top talent strategies that will support and accelerate Rinnai America's strategic growth goals," said Davis. "My objective is to nurture Rinnai's heart-led culture, all while spearheading the people-focus initiatives to drive the business." Alexis brings over 15 years of progressive and energetic experience managing global Human Resources teams, acquisitions, talent development programs, and implementing enterprise-wide change management strategies. Before joining Rinnai America Corporation, Alexis served as the Senior Global Manager of Human Resources for a Fintech company, Strategic Link. While at Strategic Link, she led the talent and employee experience of over 700 employees across an affiliated group of entities that spanned the U.S, Virgin Islands, Philippines, Belize, and the United Kingdom. Her previous employers include a diverse consortium of companies such as Avis-Budget Group, Innergy Lending (World Financial Group), and Pain Care America. Alexis received her B.S. degree in Business Administration from Tiffin University and holds certifications as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and as a Strategic HR Business Partner (sHRBP). Alexis is also a Certified ELI Civil Treatment Impact Instructor (ELI-CTI), an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), along with other community-based organizations. Rinnai America Corporation has made significant investments to expand its operations in North America in recent years, including the expansion of its Corporate Headquarters, the opening of a state-of-the-art innovation center, and the opening of its manufacturing facility. The company also recently broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia that is scheduled to open late 2021. To learn more about Rinnai, visit www.rinnai.us. About Rinnai Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and is the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.2 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and Creating A Healthier Way of Living. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us. SOURCE Rinnai America Corporation The opening ceremony of the "Sea Cup" international contest took place on August 25 at the base of the Naval Forces of Azerbaijan, the country's Defence Ministry reported. The event was attended by the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Minister of Defence of Russia General of the Army Sergei Shoigu and other guests. First, the guests, laying flowers at the monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev, erected in front of the headquarters of the Naval Forces, paid tribute to his memory. The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan welcomed the participants and guests of the ceremony and declared the "Sea Cup" international contest open. The Russian Defence Minister thanked for organizing the event at a high level. One of my earliest memories is of a man and woman arguing. I had just turned 5 years old. These angry grown-ups, who wore clothes from another time, were not my parents. Yet the image now feels as primal as if they were. That vision, in a pulsing black and white, is my earliest recollection of watching television. Those people, I later learned, were New York stage stars. Their names were Julie Harris and Christopher Plummer, and they had been enacting the last moments of a play called A Dolls House. I must have wandered in as it was ending. I do not remember the slamming of a door with which that play famously concludes. But I was much struck by the small, tense woman who wore her long dress and shawl as if they were battle gear. (My parents told me they knew someone who had been in love with Harris in drama school.) And I do remember being both upset and enthralled by what I had witnessed. Though I couldnt have appreciated this at the time, this mysteriously galvanizing scene had been transmitted live in the present tense, with all the possibilities for error and serendipity that implies from New York City into my familys house in Winston-Salem, N.C. It was November, 1959, the twilight of both a decade and of an era in which live dramas classics like A Dolls House, but more often, new plays, starring some of the best actors in the country were regularly broadcast on American TV. Gospel for Asia Extends COVID-19 Hunger Relief to Americans GFA World helps battle hunger in Texas as pandemic cripples economy ALLEVIATING COVID HUNGER: One of the biggest poverty-alleviating organizations in Asia is helping distribute food to families impacted by COVID-19 on its own doorstep in Texas. Bishop Danny Yohannan, left, of Texas-based Gospel for Asia (GFA World, www.gfa.org) helped launch the monthly food giveaway to Texans affected by COVID-19. NEWS PROVIDED BY Gospel for Asia Aug. 26, 2020 WILLS POINT, Texas, Aug. 26, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- One of the world's biggest poverty-alleviating organizations has started distributing food to families impacted by COVID-19 on its own doorstep in Texas. Gospel for Asia (GFA World, www.gfa.org) -- known for clean water projects and disaster relief in Asia's poorest nations -- is helping distribute food to hundreds of families living near its international headquarters in Texas, one of America's coronavirus hotspots. GFA World is teaming up with nonprofit group Body of Life to carry out food giveaways at its campus in Wills Point, 50 miles east of Dallas. At the most recent drive-thru event, volunteers -- including the city's mayor -- handed out more than 1,200 USDA "Farmer to Families" food boxes containing fresh produce and other food items to local families, many left jobless by business closures. "When families come in, their heads are down," said Louie Alexander, a spokesperson for Body of Life. "But by the time they leave, there are smiles on their faces." The organizations plan to stage local food distributions every month for the foreseeable future. They've also handed out food packages at local apartment complexes. Many Texans are teetering on the edge of hunger, struggling with job layoffs and reduced work hours as the coronavirus continues to cripple the economy. According to Feeding Texas, the state's biggest hunger relief network, one in every seven Texans is "food insecure" -- or doesn't have enough to eat. That number could increase rapidly due to COVID-19. Nationwide, nearly half of America's families are at risk of going hungry because of the coronavirus, says hunger relief organization No Kid Hungry. 'Hunger Is No Respecter of Countries' "COVID-19 has shown us that hunger is no respecter of countries," said Bishop Danny Yohannan, vice president of GFA World, recognized for its feeding programs and community aid projects across Asia. "With so many going hungry, it's a privilege for us to help our neighbors in Texas as an expression of God's love during this critical time in our nation when many are losing hope because of the pandemic," Yohannan said. Locals have been impressed by the compassion of GFA World -- one of the largest faith-based organizations in the world -- to help those in need right in its own backyard. "It's an absolute blessing," said Wills Point Mayor Mark Turner. "The need exceeds city limits and county lines. So many across Texas and America are dealing with hunger." "It's very important to help everyone, to keep strong," said a Wills Point resident, whose husband lost his job because of the pandemic. GFA World is also helping to feed coronavirus-affected families in distress on the other side of the world, including migrant families in Asia forced out of work by COVID-19 and now on the edge of starvation. "While we've been able to distribute food here in Texas, thousands of our parishes in Asia are distributing food to tens of thousands of families each month," Yohannan said. "We are grateful to be God's hands and feet all around the world." Gospel for Asia (GFA World, www.gfa.org) is a leading faith-based mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear about the love of God. In GFA's latest yearly report, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 260,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry. For all the latest news, visit our Press Room at https://press.gfa.org/news. SOURCE Gospel for Asia CONTACT: Gregg Wooding, 972-567-7660, gwooding@inchristcommunications.com Related Links www.gfa.org https://press.gfa.org/news The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs released this photo showing what it described as reclamation by China on the Johnson South Reef in the South China Sea, May 15, 2014. The United States on Wednesday announced it had placed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies and individuals for their roles in constructing Chinas artificial islands in the South China Sea. The action is likely to exacerbate tensions between the two world powers. It follows the U.S. declaration last month that Chinas claims to nearly all of the South China Sea on the basis of historic rights is unlawful. Washington has also accused Beijing of bullying other claimants. The United States, Chinas neighbors, and the international community have rebuked the CCPs sovereignty claims to the South China Sea and have condemned the building of artificial islands for the Chinese military, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. The entities designated today have played a significant role in Chinas provocative construction of these artificial islands and must be held accountable, Ross said. The companies were placed on the U.S. Commerce Departments Entity List, which restricts exports to businesses abroad because of their activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. The placement effectively killing any ability for American businesses to trade or interact with them. The State Department simultaneously placed visa restrictions on individuals within some of those companies, barring them from traveling to the U.S. The stated reason for the sanctioning is the companies role in Chinas extensive dredging campaign in the South China Sea from 2014 to 2017, which saw China build massive artificial islands and military bases among the Spratly and Paracel archipelagoes to strengthen its claim to disputed waters and support the activities of its military, the Peoples Liberation Army. China is holding military exercises around one of the features, Woody Island. No immediate reaction Beijing had no immediate reaction on Washingtons sanctions, which it often accuses of destabilizing the region through military and other activities. The companies sanctioned include subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC), a massive state-owned infrastructure-building conglomerate that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell called out by name last month for its role in dredging sand to build up Chinas outposts. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo reiterated this charge in a statement announcing the sanctions on Wednesday, as well as accusing the Peoples Republic of China, as the country is formally known, of destroying the marine environment in parts of the South China Sea in its base-building efforts. Since 2013, the PRC has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation, he said. The PRC must not be allowed to use CCCC and other state-owned enterprises as weapons to impose an expansionist agenda. The United States will act until we see Beijing discontinue its coercive behavior in the South China Sea, and we will continue to stand with allies and partners in resisting this destabilizing activity. Other companies named are Shanghai Cable Offshore Engineering Co., and four subsidiaries of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC). The former installs submarine cables and other communications equipment between Chinas occupied features in the South China Sea. Chinese dredging ships are seen around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in this image from a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft, May 21, 2015. (U.S. Navy handout via Reuters) CETC is a behemoth state-owned enterprise involved in telecommunications that frequently does work for the Peoples Liberation Army through its research arms, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. For this reason, some of its subsidiaries and research institutes were already under sanctions. The U.S. strongly suggested in the past that it was preparing sanctions on companies not named in this most recent list, such as the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC). Officials said CNOOC has played a direct role in pushing Chinas claims in the South China Sea, most prominently by operating the Hai Yang Shi You 981 movable oil rig that kickstarted a standoff between Vietnam and China in 2014. However, this current list appears to be aimed only at companies involved in the construction of Chinas bases in the South China Sea. Chinas sweeping claims in the South China Sea conflict with the maritime borders of six other Asian governments. A Permanent Court of Arbitration decided in 2016 that Chinas claims held no basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and other countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, India and Indonesia have urged China to adhere to that ruling. At the 17th Viet-Nam India Joint Commission meeting on Tuesday, Vietnam and India both underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation as well as peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They called on parties to respect the rulings issued by the dispute settlement mechanisms under the UNCLOS, alluding to the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration award. Vietnam refers to the South China Sea as the East Sea. To boost the stagnant real estate market hit by COVID-19, the Maharashtra government on August 26 decided to temporarily reduce stamp duty on housing units from 5 percent to 2 percent until December 31, 2020, sources said. Stamp duty from Jan 1, 2021, until March 31, 2021, will be 3 percent, they said. The decision was taken at the state cabinet meeting on August 26. Real estate developers had been asking for a reduction in stamp duty following the lockdown to encourage homebuyers to purchase properties during the pandemic. "The move will benefit the customer and foster demand creation along with giving a stimulus to the allied industries coupled with employment generation. Whenever there has been a reduction in the stamp duty in the past, it has only lead to an increase in revenue in the government treasury, said Jaxay Shah, Chairman, CREDAI National. This is a proactive measure taken by the government and was most needed. It will provide buyers an incentive to buy homes, give them the option to take a decision to buy, Satish Magar, national president of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India told Moneycontrol. Maharashtra Governments decision to reduce the stamp duty from 5% to 2% till December 31 augurs well for the revival of MMR realty and is a much-needed boost to the ailing sector amid the pandemic. The reduced cost of the stamp duty is bound to encourage first-time homebuyers, fence-sitters as well as resale flat buyers to invest in real estate, said Nayan Shah, president, Credai-MCHI. ALSO READ: COVID-19 impact: Maharashtra exempts commercial vehicles from road tax in H1 FY21 Coupled with the festive season, we expect demand to pick up significantly which will provide a huge respite not only to home buyers but also to developers who have been suffering amid low demand and limited cash flow availability due to Covid-19, he said. On August 15 state revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat hinted at a 2 to 3 percent reduction in stamp duty on property registrations in the state was in the anvil. Also speaking on the matter, Niranjan Hiranandani, National President, Naredco said, "This will certainly stimulate the housing demand and help in converting inquiries into the sales closures. The fiscal advantage should nudge fence-sitters to convert into the actual home buyers with rippling effect on economic growth." adding that With many other favorable market conditions, this announcement shall rekindle ailing real-estate sector and see volumes in transactions. "If the central government can slash GST rates in an upcoming council meeting would act as a shot in the arm". In Maharashtra, stamp duty charges are 5 percent in key cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik and 6 percent in others. A 2-3 percent reduction in rates will result in significant savings for home buyers. Apart from the obvious homebuyer benefits, the government can generate badly-needed revenue via increased registrations after the most severe downturn in recent history. Affordable and mid-segment properties, which are in maximum demand, would see the most traction from such a move, said Anuj Puri, chairman ANAROCK Property Consultants. To ease inventory pile-up and cost overruns, many players have already topped off discounts with added incentives such as booking amount refunds, statutory fees waivers, cashback schemes, easy payment structuring, and assorted freebies. A stamp duty rate cut could push sales into the green during the festive season, he added. The Maharashtra government on March 6 had announced that it is reducing stamp duty on properties by 1% for Mumbai, MMRDA Region and Pune for a period of two years. Stamp duty rates in other major states largely hover anywhere between 5-8 percent, but they are lower in some states if property registration is executed in the name of a woman. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana offer relaxation in stamp duty for women buyers. The exemption on stamp duty ranges from 1-2 percent in different states. Cyber and biological threats are becoming more terrifying and threatening even than nuclear weapons. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, suggests that the first global biological war is unfolding. That's according to a report published by the NSDC press service on August 26. Danilov has received Ambassador of Sweden in Ukraine Tobias Tiberg and Ambassador of Finland Paivi Laine, having shown them the capacities of the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center under the NSDC. Read alsoUkraine prolongs quarantine until Nov 1During the meeting, Danilov said that in the modern world, "cyber and biological threats are becoming more terrifying and threatening even than nuclear weapons." "Today we are witnessing the first world biological war, whose consequences are felt by the whole world," he noted, stressing the importance of joining efforts of partner states in countering these threats. The parties also discussed the current security situation in the region, in particular in the context of the settlement in eastern Ukraine, as well as the developments in neighboring Belarus. In turn, Tiberg and Laine assured of the invariability of their countries' support for Ukraine in restoring its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. The envoys also expressed their readiness to expand cooperation with Ukraine in the field of cybersecurity. The NSDC secretary has expressed gratitude to Sweden and Finland for the comprehensive assistance and support provided to Ukraine. NSDC Secretary Danilov: recent statements On water shortage in Crimea: no grounds for humanitarian disaster; water supplies to be resumed once Ukraine regains sovereignty over the peninsula. On Russian threat in the country's south: "Everything is well sealed". On Donbas settlement: Ukraine plans to end the war in Donbas, but not at the expense of losing its sovereignty or concessions that would not be accepted by Ukrainians On state language: Ukraine should have only one state language, namely, Ukrainian. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:27:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PARIS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Wednesday announced a two-billion-euro (2.36 billion U.S. dollars) rescue plan to support the country's pandemic-hit culture sector as part of the government's economic recovery package. French arts and culture, still shackled by restrictive sanitary rules, would get "an exceptional fund" to compensate losses and kickstart activities despite the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Castex told France Inter radio. Stressing that "the priority is to get (the sector) start again," he called on the French public to "resume their cultural and social life as normally as possible" while protecting themselves by respecting barrier gestures. "Go to the theater! Go to cinema! You don't risk anything. Living with the virus is also cultivating yourself with the virus," Castex said. The prime minister warned that "the virus is still here and it has not gone down in terms of its virulence." However, he ruled out a new national lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. To mitigate the economic fallout of the pandemic, the government is scheduled to present on Sept. 3 details of its general 100-billion-euro recovery plan, which focuses on reviving economic activities and preserving jobs amid the persistent sanitary crisis, Castex said. The French government has already mobilized 460 billion euros, representing 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), to help companies stay afloat through the coronavirus outbreak. The fund mainly consists of tax and payroll charge deferrals, in addition to specific plans to rescue the worst-hit sectors, such as tourism and the auto and aviation industries. The government expects the French economy to contract by a post-war record of 11 percent for the whole year of 2020. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollar) Enditem Hindustan Foods declined 2.90% to Rs 749.55 after consolidated net profit dropped 10.59% to Rs 3.88 crore on 39.61% jump in revenue from operations to Rs 201.89 crore in Q1 June 2020 over Q1 June 2019. Consolidated profit before tax (PBT) slipped 5.64% to Rs 6.19 crore in Q1 June 2020 over Q1 June 2019. Total tax expense fell 46.77% year-on-year to Rs 2.31 crore during the period under review. The Q1 result was declared during market hours today, 26 August 2020. Consolidated EBITDA grew 33% to Rs 15.04 crore in Q1 FY21 from Rs 11.30 crore in Q1 FY20. The COVID-19 situation led to less than optimal capacity utilization of the factories. The Q1 FY21 figures magnified due to the increased capacities which came on line in Q4 FY20. The loss of sales resulted in underrecovery of depreciation and interest costs. The factories stabilized production from May 2020 end and continued to perform at higher than preCOVID levels currently. The company has entered into a long-term contract to manufacture a leading brand of toilet cleaner from its upcoming facility in Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The board has sanctioned a further investment of Rs 150 crore in Hyderabad, Telangana on the back of the successful commercialization of the liquid facility. The merger of the Mysuru and Coimbatore facility is also on track. The company has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary company, HFL Consumer Products on 6 August 2020 to leverage further manufacturing opportunities. Commenting on the Q1 performance, Sameer R. Kothari, the managing director of Hindustan Foods, said that: "Hindustan Foods dedicates the first quarter of 202021 to the fantastic set of people who have fought at the frontlines of the COVID19 battle with scant recognition. It has been a quarter which truly tested the capabilities and competencies of the company. The performance of the company was affected by lockdown, the reverse migration of labour, the unavailability of trucks, the shutdown of the upstream factories and a resultant lack of raw and packing materials. While most of the products manufactured by the company fell in the category of 'Essential Products', the coordination with various government authorities and the differing understanding of the rules and regulations in various states lead to major challenge in starting up the facilities. Some of the plants started operations in April itself but were hampered by various issues leading to suboptimal capacity utilization with production stabilizing only in May and June. The team did a fantastic job in the face of adversity and managed to bring all the factories to the preCOVID levels by May end." He further added: "The company did not exercise the option of moratorium and continued to pay the EMIs leading to a further strengthening of our relationship with our bankers who I believe will be more confident to support us in our future projects. Coming to the present times, I am pleased to confirm that we are on track to have record turnover in the second quarter. This has been aided by an increased demand for home and hygiene products in our factory in Hyderabad and also an increase in the demand for household insecticides in our factory in Jammu. The company had started a project in Silvassa to build a home care facility and I am pleased to inform that we have signed an agreement with a leading brand of toilet cleaner for the entire capacity. Though this project was delayed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, we are expecting to start commercial production from next month." Hindustan Foods manufactures cereal-based food products and a range of instant mixes, baby foods, instant porridges, breakfast cereals and health drinks. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode. For the past couple weeks, the European country of Belarus has been gripped by political protests. People filled the capital citys plazas to reject the Aug. 9 reelection of Belarus longtime dictator, Aleksandr Lukashenko, which the EU has called a sham. The movement is making a mark: Police and security forces have been rounding up protesters, beating them, and stuffing them into overcrowded holding cells, but the people are not leaving the streets. And Russia, Belarus neighbor to the east, has been watching the growing demonstrations closely, and with worry. To understand what Belarus pro-democracy movement means for its own own future as well as Eastern Europes, I spoke with Julia Ioffe, a GQ correspondent whos been covering Russia and former Soviet states like Belarus for years, on Wednesdays episode of What Next. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ray Suarez: Did Belarus not change much when the Soviet Union broke up? Julia Ioffe: It changed a lot, but some things didnt change at all. Like, the interior police are still called the KGB. It is a very authoritarian state. I think, just like in Ukraine and Russia, the younger generation coming up in Belarus has spent their whole life with leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko and are looking for something else. Theyre less afraid and dont have that historical fear bred into them the way their parents and grandparents might. Have the demands of the opposition shifted as the protests and backlash have gotten bigger and stronger? Is what will satisfy the opposition now a moving target because its getting a sense of its own power? I remember early on all they wanted was a recount. It seems like thats not in the cards anymore. Advertisement Advertisement That train has left the station and gotten lost along the way. I think you saw some confusion in the ranks of the opposition early on. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the candidate who ran against Lukashenko, seemed kind of confused as to what she wanted. She was forced to flee to neighboring Lithuania, and she put out weird statements that she then said were forced by the Belarusian authorities. Now she is much more firmly in charge and has formed a coordination council, with a clear message of what they want: They want Lukashenko to step down. They want new elections. They want things to change. The question is, if Lukashenko leaves tomorrow, what replaces him? Do all the institutions get cleaned out? What happens to the KGB? What happens to all these state-owned enterprises? Russia is also a cautionary tale. Look what happened after its nine years of experimenting with democracy. Building something like that is very hard, takes a lot of work. And its very hard in countries that dont have that kind of culture and history and practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Baltics, just to the northwest, are very open societies: elected governments, members of the EU, members of NATO. Ukraine is perhaps a cautionary tale at the southern border. If youre looking for cues about what to do next, there are a lot of models that you can work from. But I guess the most precarious one might be Ukraine, no? I think there has been a lot of fear, ever since the protests broke out, that the Russians would intervene militarily, or intervene the way they did in Ukraine. The founding editor in chief of Russia Today even called for the little green men to go into Belarus and restore order the way only they know how. A country like Belarus is at this crossroads of major powers. You have the Baltic bloc. You have the EU to the west and the giant that is Russia to the east. And Lukashenko has been quite good at playing all of them against one another and being able to extract whatever he is able to get for himself. Advertisement Advertisement Hes trying to play on Putins fears that this will spread to Russia, quite openly invoking these words and terms and images that he knows will really resonate with Putin and in the Kremlin at large. He seems to be courting the Russians and, without saying as much, almost asking for a Russian interventionhe said hes getting his troops ready on the western border because he thinks theres going to be a NATO invasion. I dont think theres going to be any such thing, but it feels like hes saying it to goad Putin into sending security forces to help him keep his grip on power. Advertisement Advertisement That would seem to be a pretty risky strategy. Is it a sign that perhaps hes really scared of what may happen next? The protests have only gotten larger and havent stopped; the threats and fist-shaking that normally send people back into their homes havent worked. Is this a sign that the guys really willing to countenance foreign troops on his soil in order to stay in power? Advertisement Advertisement For Lukashenko, I think at this point the calculation is not even whether he stays president of Belarusits whether he stays out of jail or gets to stay in Belarus, or gets to be a princeling or a viceroy of Russia if Russia takes over. Otherwise, he might have to flee somewhere. The Russians so far have seemed to be hands-off about this. I think there is a feeling in Moscow that Lukashenko hasnt managed this very well, that hes lost the popular mandate. The fact that workers in factories all across Belarus are protesting and striking against him is a huge sign to the Kremlin that hes lost the regular man. In the Kremlin, they see that the creative class, the urban liberals, are lost for good. Theyll never be in favor of somebody like Putin or Lukashenko. So you might as well not even think about them or deal with them. But once youve lost the working class, thats a sign youve mismanaged this situation badly. And I can imagine Putin probably doesnt want to risk new sanctions and get his hands dirty by supporting somebody whos handled something so poorly. Advertisement What are Russias bottom lines? Im making an educated guess that Putin doesnt want a lively multiparty democracy in Minsk. And he also doesnt want leaders who are willing to tell him no, or to get lost. I think this is also something that Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia have discovered: You cant change your geography. Russias still much bigger, much richer, and your next-door neighbor. For a country like Belarus, thats where you do most of your trade. At a certain point, youre going to have to make deals with the Russians, and the Russians are going to be able to drive quite a fair bargain. Advertisement Advertisement I dont see Europe expanding and taking Belarus into the EU. The EU has enough problems of its own right now. So does NATO. I think the fact that those two things are off the table makes a big difference in Putins calculus. What weve seen from Putin is that he likes to keep all his options open as long as possible and then make a very sudden decisionwhich is what he did in Ukraine. Advertisement Theres a worry, I think, in Russia about what this could mean for its own domestic situation: Could the opposition in Russia come out into the streets and demand similar things, yet again? What if theyre successful? What does it mean for somebody like Putin if Belarus ousts Lukashenko? This is also coming at a moment when the U.S. is largely absent from the world stage. Its indicative of this new post-American world order, especially in Europe. How is this going to shake out without America trying to call the shots or trying to mediate? Advertisement Advertisement Maybe Putin feels like he can let the situation play out, see who comes to power. If Lukashenko falls, he can make Belarus an offer it cant refuse then use more covert methods to make sure the democratic experiment in Belarus, should it happen, doesnt get very far and that it becomes something he can show on Russian state TV to his people and say: Is this what you want? Because this is what democracy in one of our brotherly nations looks like, and thats what it would look like in Russia. Advertisement Putins got his own problems. Somebody whos on his side is probably responsible for the poisoning of Aleksei Navalny, a noted dissident. Do we ever get a chance to step back from Putin and say, maybe he sometimes doesnt handle these situations so craftily either? Advertisement I totally agree. Russia is suffering economically in part because of things that Putin has done. A lot of people in Russia dont see him as perfect. I remember talking to one of my sources in Moscow who used to work in the Kremlin and with the United Russia party. He said: Nothing in Russia works. Our education, medical, transportation, and pension systems are falling apart. But youre telling me that were able to carry out all these impressive foreign operations perfectly and without a hitch? Advertisement Should Americans keep an eye on whats going on in Belarus, and if so, why? Well, our own democracy is at stake. And its extremely inspiring to see people in Belaruswho had all of three years to try democracy before Lukashenko was elected and after the fall of the Soviet Unionout on the streets today. A lot of them dont know anything other than Lukashenko. Theyve never in their lives participated in a free and fair election, but theyre willing to risk life and limb and livelihood for even the chance to try to build a democracy. My question to Americans is: Are we willing to fight as hard to preserve what we have as the Belarusians are to even try to have a chance at building something like what we have? Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. One of Nigerias major partners in the fight against tuberculosis, KNVC Tuberculosis Foundation, has expressed fears over worsening cases of tuberculosis (TB) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Director of the foundation, Gidado Mustapha, said there is an urgent need to strengthen TB case finding in the country. Mr Mustapha, who spoke at a virtual media briefing on Monday, noted that with the impact of COVID-19 on health services, over 6.5 million TB cases could be recorded in the near future. He said it is crucial to challenge the status quo and bring new innovations to address the overall impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis response and other health services. The impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis is overwhelming. The pandemic has adversely affected tuberculosis control, management and treatment, he said. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. The COVID-19 virus, which has infected over 24 million people globally, has disrupted human activities and overshadowed other health issues across the globe. High burden Nigeria remains one of the 30 countries globally with the highest burden of the disease. Nigeria also ranks first in Africa with the highest number of undetected cases. TB is one of the vaccine-preventable killer diseases which is also curable. Nigeria ranks high among countries with a high burden of TB, TB/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and multidrug-resistant TB. In 2019, the World Health Organisation reported that eight countries India, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and South Africa accounted for two-thirds of new TB cases globally. Nigeria comes third behind only India and China in terms of tuberculosis cases. Statistics from the UN health agency also show that every year, around 245,000 Nigerians die from TB, and about 590,000 new cases occur (of these, around 140,000 are also HIV-positive). Strengthening health system Mr Gidado reiterated the importance of strengthening Nigerias health system. He called for stronger partnership, adding that it is crucial to find mechanisms for collaboration towards ending tuberculosis. ALSO READ: Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa, are finding more TB patients. These countries have functional health systems. The countries that are doing well in TB control are tied to the functionality of their health system. Go back to strengthening and collaboration between vertical collaboration and coordination, we need to strengthen the health system, he said. Mr Gidado said KNCV was presently working in more than 20 countries, providing either direct or indirect support services. He reassured Nigerians of its continuous support in the fight against the disease. I will like to assure our colleagues that Nigeria is not the only country that is going to be benefiting from KNCV services, of course, they have benefited for over 10 years, we will continue to provide these services across the globe, he said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in Jerusalem on Monday to further cool relations with China and limit Chinese investments in Israel over the new strategic partnership agreement China signed with Iran, Israeli and U.S. officials said. Why it matters: The Trump administration has been lobbying Israel for two years to scale back its relations with China. Until now, those efforts have had very little success. Many Trump administration officials remain frustrated by the Israeli position. Upgrading relations with China and enhancing trade and investments was one of Netanyahu's main foreign policy objectives over the last decade. What happened: U.S. officials said Pompeo raised several China-related concerns: The U.S. wants Israel to sign a memorandum of understanding on 5G that would clearly ban Chinese companies from getting involved in communications infrastructure projects. Negotiations have made progress, but the Israelis are still trying to soften the language in order to prevent a crisis with China. The U.S. wants Israel to upgrade its oversight mechanism on Chinese investments in the country. It currently is only voluntary and has no authority to block deals, but American officials want to see a mechanism "with real teeth." The U.S. is unhappy with the fact that many Chinese-controlled companies are still competing for big infrastructure projects in Israel. The big picture: U.S. envoy for Iran Brian Hook, who attended Pompeos meetings in Israel, told me that the U.S. stressed that Chinese support for Iran on the UN arms embargo and its strategic partnership agreement should change Israels calculations regarding China. "China has made its bed with Iran. We think it is important to not let China have it both ways. They cant strengthen Iran, which chants 'Death to Israel,' and have a business-as-usual relationship with Israel. We have been very clear about that. I am sure Israel will do the right thing on China." The state of play: Hook added that China plans to start selling heavy weapons to Iran when the arms embargo expires in October, which he claimed would lead to an arms race in the region. On his arrival on Tuesday night, Pompeo had said it was vital to seize the momentum of the US-brokered deal with the UAE announced on 13 Aug. Related US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives in UAE U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed regional stability and Gulf unity with the crown prince of Bahrain on Wednesday, as part of a Middle East tour following an accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on normalising relations. On his arrival on Tuesday night, Pompeo had said it was vital to seize the momentum of the U.S.-brokered deal announced on Aug. 13. "We discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of Gulf unity and countering Iran's malign influence in the region," he wrote on Twitter following the meeting with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Israel and the United States have said they are pushing more Arab countries to follow the UAE's path. Israel's intelligence minister has mentioned Bahrain as a possible candidate. Pompeo said he also met the king of Bahrain. Pompeo first visited Jerusalem and Sudan, and is now holding talks in the UAE. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: DETROIT A 20-year-old woman was pronounced dead after a heart attack in Michigan early Sunday. But when she was taken to a Detroit funeral home, staff found that she was still very much alive. Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee struggled to explain Wednesday how paramedics mistakenly determined the death of Timesha Beauchamp. He suggested it could have been a case of Lazarus syndrome. The rare but hard to scientifically explain phenomenon has been described in research papers as a delayed return of spontaneous circulation after CPR. The name alludes to the biblical story of Lazarus, who was resurrected by Christ after his death. "This is a terrible, tragic thing," Menifee said of Sunday's incident that has been making international headlines. "We feel terrible about this. Like I said, the entire city feels terrible about this. Personally, we're very upset about it." Previously: Michigan funeral home discovers woman declared dead is actually alive Southfield officials have been on the hot seat since Tuesday, when Beauchamp's lawyer, Geoffrey Fieger, held a news conference and suggested that the mistake was a result of negligence. Fieger is well known for taking cases with settlements and judgments of at least $1 million. Beauchamp was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant. When asked why paramedics didn't rush Beauchamp directly to the hospital, Menifee said that's "under investigation." And when asked if that's what paramedics should have done, Menifee said "no," adding that they followed the medical procedures. In this family photo provided by the family's lawyer, Timesha Beauchamp is pictured with her brother Steven. "While ultimately, what transpired here with Ms. Beauchamp is unique and unsettling, we know that there is evidence out there that something like this has happened before," Menifee told news crews at City Hall. "We're still investigating to determine what happened on that Sunday." Over and over again, the chief responded to reporters trying to get answers by saying the situation was under investigation, eventually ending his own news conference by walking out of the room as a reporter shouted a question at him. Story continues Menifee confirmed the two paramedics and two EMTs at the scene all of whom are now on paid leave checked Beauchamp three times within an hour and, each time, determined she had no life signs. The chief also noted at least two of the firefighters had experience, as 18-year and seven-year veterans. He acknowledged and apologized for not contacting the family directly, saying that he felt "terribly bad personally and professionally" that he didn't. But, he felt they "wanted and deserved answers" and did not have them to offer. But, the chief said he absolutely did not share concerns raised by Fieger, that negligence or discrimination may have led to a misdiagnosis, and blasted Fieger for making what he called "grossly inaccurate statements." Menifee said Fieger's claim that paramedics or police placed the young woman in a body bag was completely inaccurate. Firefighters, he said, do not even carry body bags, and the paramedics left the body in the care of the family. "The men and women of this fire department are very professional," the chief said. "They go out every day and deliver the best service possible to the citizens of this city. I've never had an issue with any freighter and diversity issues with a patient." Menifee also took issue with Fieger's insinuation that paramedics might not have contacted a physician or Michigan's Oakland County Medical Examiner. They did, the chief said, adding it was in line with proper procedure. James H. Cole funeral home in Detroit For the most part, Menifee's and Fieger's timelines matched up. At 7:27 a.m. local time, Menifee said, the fire department responded to a 911 call that a woman was not breathing. Paramedics, he said, offered help. They arrived at 7:34 a.m. and a minute later started performing lifesaving procedures for about 30 minutes to try to save her, checking her vital signs three times. Southfield police, Menifee said, also arrived at 8:07 a.m., two minutes later, the fire department reported their findings to a physician, who determined Beauchamp had died based on the information paramedics relayed. But then, Menifee said, between 8:09 a.m. and 8:38 a.m., a family member told fire officials Beauchamp appeared to be breathing and reassessed her. They ended up with the same result and conclusion: No life signs. When paramedics went to their vehicle, Menifee said, a family member told a police officer Beauchamp had a heartbeat. They evaluated Beauchamp a third time, and, the chief said, they still detected no life signs. At about 11:30 a.m., the James H. Cole Funeral Home picked up the body. But by Fieger's account, when the Detroit funeral home checked on Beauchamp her eyes were open and she was breathing. From the funeral home, she was taken to a nearby hospital , where she has been on a respirator. Follow Frank Witsil on Twitter @fwitsil. First Rita, then Ike: Now the 'resilient' residents of this Texas town brace for Hurricane Laura. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Timesha Beauchamp found alive at funeral home: Could be rare syndrome Were proud to be the first business in Austin to offer this new technology and believe that the new kiosk, alongside other preventative measures, will help ensure a safer, healthier space for everyone. Personique Surgery Center announced today the addition of the revolutionary Sentry Health Kiosk to their offices to ensure a safer, healthier environment for patients and staff alike. This advanced, touch-less kiosk is designed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other transmittable flu-like viruses and diseases. The kiosk interfaces with the buildings automatic front door, providing crucial access control to the Personique Surgery Center, Personique On The Spot med spa, and the Austin Clinic for Men. The device requires visitors to follow a series of prompts and answer a CDC CoVid related health questionnaire before granting them access to the building. The high definition screen allows for touch-less interaction by automatically recognizing gesture-based responses, such as an up and down head nod for yes and a side to side nod for no. The kiosk also comes equipped with infrared thermometers that can scan body temperature, technology that detects if a visitor is not wearing a face mask (or wearing it improperly), and an automated hand sanitizing dispenser, making it mandatory for all visitors to sanitize their hands before entering the building. If the visitor does not follow the prompts or answers a question that indicates high risk, the kiosk will call Personique staff to notify them of the failed attempt. Staff will then decide if the visit should be deferred to a later date, or if alternate arrangements can be made. The addition of the Sentry Health Kiosk is just one component in Personiques comprehensive plan to help improve the safety of tenants, employees and visitors. All air conditioners have been upgraded with ultraviolet lights to minimize the probability of transferring CoVid, Influenza, molds and other pathogens. Personique On The Spots second location at The Domain is currently adding the new UV light system, as well. We wanted to take a layered approach to re-opening, said Manager for Personique, Angelica Hesles. Our focus is on risk reduction and doing everything we can to mitigate the asymptomatic spread of Covid-19. Were proud to be the first business in Austin to offer this new technology and believe that the new kiosk, alongside other preventative measures, will help ensure a safer, healthier space for everyone. ALBANY -- American Red Cross volunteers from the Northeastern New York chapter say they've given emergency aid to 20 people after a fire Monday night on Second Street. The chapter provided financial assistance for necessities such as shelter, food and clothing to the adults. Syracuse, N.Y. Mayor Ben Walsh is among a handful of U.S. mayors filing a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to curb the citys growing problem with ghost guns. During a conference call Wednesday, Walsh said Syracuse police had recovered 25 ghost guns as of the end of July. Thats a 30% increase over the same period last year, Walsh said. In all, police recovered 23 ghost guns countywide in 2019. A ghost gun is a homemade gun built from easy-to-obtain pieces, which can be purchased online without a license or background check. Those pieces arent required to have a serial number. Walsh joined the mayors of Chicago, Ill., San Jose, Calif. and Columbia, S.C., as well as Everytown Law, a gun violence prevention organization, in a lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The lawsuit asks a judge to invalidate the ATFs interpretation of what defines a gun. Currently, the agency permits online retailers to sell gun parts that are nearly complete, along with how-to guides that explain how to easily convert the pieces into a fully functioning firearm. Typically, the parts are 80% completed, and require several holes to be drilled in them before they can be used. The assembled guns do not have a serial number, nor does the ATF require a serial number on the parts. The lawsuit points to a company called Polymer80, which received explicit approval from the ATF to sell pieces of pistols and rifles along with instructions on how to finish and assemble the guns. The company posted the approval letter from the ATF on its homepage next to the question, is it legal? Another online retailer sells AR-15 parts etched with a drawing of a man giving the middle finger and the quote heres your serial number, the lawsuit says. A screen capture shows an online retailer selling gun parts without a serial number. A group of mayors and advocates is suing the federal government to make this practice illegal. Walsh said pandemic panic buying has led to a huge surge in the purchase of online ghost guns, which pose a public health and safety threat to Syracuse. Federal action, he said, could quickly and easily solve the ghost gun problem by outlawing the sale of the pieces. We know we cant wait for Washington to solve every aspect of gun violence, Walsh said. But when it comes to untraceable ghost guns, theres a limit to what local law enforcement can do. Late last year, a six-year-old boy was shot by a man using an untraceable ghost gun. Local, state and federal officials have urged the ATF to take action to make ghost gun pieces illegal, including Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. Those pieces are currently not considered illegal until they are fully assembled into a firearm. Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed banning ghost guns in his State of the State address this year. Sen. Schumer visited Syracuse in February to talk about the growing problem of ghost guns in the city and across the nation. Schumer said the federal government should update its definition of a firearm to include the components of the weapon, not just the finished gun. Regulating those components would make ghost guns harder to build. Reporter Julie McMahon contributed to this report. NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy Corporation has assembled a workforce of nearly 7,400 prepared to respond to Hurricane Laura, which is forecast to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding to portions of southwest Louisiana and southeastern Texas before it moves north through Louisiana into Arkansas. While Tropical Storm Marco had minimal impact, customers are encouraged to stay storm ready as Laura heads toward the Gulf Coast. Customers also should continue monitoring local weather alerts and follow the guidance of state and local officials. Entergy has strategically moved equipment and crews from the path of the storm to allow them to quickly begin restoration work as soon as the storm passes. Additionally, crews have added flood protections for equipment in other areas that could see high water. High-water vehicles, drones, helicopters and airboats have also been secured to assist in restoration efforts. "While we were fortunate that Marco had limited impact on our systems, customers should keep their guard up as Hurricane Laura, which is predicted to be much stronger, is on the way," said Eli Viamontes, vice president of Entergy utility distribution operations. "Please remain storm ready and take this as seriously as we are. This is expected to be a major hurricane and should be treated as such." Crews will continue to practice social distancing while in the field due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Entergy asks that customers do the same. For the safety of crews and customers, please stay away from work zones. If there is a need to report a service problem, customers should call 1-800-ENTERGY. Stay Informed Staying informed before, during and after a tropical system strikes is just as important as making personal storm plans. Here's how customers can stay updated throughout the event: Download the Entergy App at entergyapp.com. Customers can use the app to report outages or check on the status of power at their home or business. Entergy's View Outages website includes maps that show where outages are located and give information about restoration progress. Sign up for text alerts by texting REG to 36778 and have your account number and ZIP code handy. The registration pattern is as follows including spaces: REG (account number) (ZIP code). Once registered, text OUT to 36778 to report an outage. You can also report an outage online as a guest . by texting REG to 36778 and have your account number and ZIP code handy. The registration pattern is as follows including spaces: REG (account number) (ZIP code). Once registered, text OUT to 36778 to report an outage. You can also report an outage online . The Entergy Storm Center website has storm safety, preparation and restoration information that is updated throughout the day. Operation: Storm Ready Guide is a free downloadable guide that helps customers plan and prepare for weather emergencies. Follow us on Social Media Social media plays an important role in keeping customers informed, and the company places a high priority on updating its social media channels throughout an event. Customers can follow Entergy on Facebook and Twitter. About Entergy Corporation Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and approximately 13,600 employees. entergy.com facebook.com/Entergy Twitter: @Entergy SOURCE Entergy Corporation Related Links https://www.entergy.com S Godson Wisely Dass By Express News Service THOOTHUKUDI: A History professor in Thoothukudi trains transgenders on folk dance forms and performing arts to increase their social status. Dr M Sankar of VOC College, who trains the transgenders, told TNIE that 13 transgenders have been trained so far in Parai Aattam and Karagaattam. They are now being trained for Poikkal Kuthirai. Soon they will be trained on Oyil Aattam, Theru Koothu, Marakaal Aattam, Silambaattam, Sattai Kuchi and Kaliyal Aattam, he said. Sankar, who has been training the transgenders for two hours a day at Otha Tsunami Temple Ground for the past few weeks, said the participants were enthusiastic and were quick learners when it comes to dance forms. I would say trans people, in general, perform folk dances in an elegant and beautiful manner. I believe they are inherent dancers. With regular practice, they can become professional folk artistes, said Sankar, who has been performing traditional folk dance forms since 2004. The participating transgenders will be registered with the Tamil Nadu Department of Art and Culture. The registration will get them benefits from government such as offers to perform in government and private functions, he said. The transgenders mostly get opportunities to perform during Dussehra, Deepavali, Pongal and temple festivals. On most of the days in a year they remain jobless. Professor Sankar, who did a project titled Transgenders social life for his MA (History) thesis in 2010, said transgenders were sensitive to the ways they were being seen by different members of public. He said he gives them counselling for half an hour before the training. During dance programmes, they are expected to show flesh and such an act shows them in a bad light, he pointed out. Indias second transgender advocate Viji, who is the Founder and Managing Trustee of Anbu Trust that took steps on identifying the transgenders for the training, told TNIE that she wanted a social change among the transgenders so that they do not depend on alms and anti-social activities. Becoming a folk artiste would make them feel empowered. After training, the transgenders will be roped in for Sahi Folk Arts Club, a club dedicated for transgender folk dancers, she added. Sankar said though 1,200 folk art forms were mentioned in Tamil literature, only 120 of them are known and among them only a few are being performed. To revive the forgotten folk dance forms, the transgenders will be trained on the now nonexistent Kai Silambaattam, Annakodi Aattam, Aaliaattam, Irular Aattam, Lavanya Paadalgal, Urumi Melam, Ottaga Aattam and other dance forms, he said. Aarthi, a transgender, said: I hope I would get income regularly when I become a professional. Welcoming the State governments creation of an exclusive website for folk artistes, Sankar sought an exclusive website for transgender dancers. More benefits from the government The participating transgenders will be registered with the Tamil Nadu Department of Art and Culture. The registration will get them benefits from government such as offers to perform in government and private functions, he said. The transgenders mostly get opportunities to perform during Dussehra, Deepavali, Pongal and temple festivals. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chairs a symposium on economic and social work in Beijing, China, Aug 24, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Forty years ago, China created four special economic zones in the southeastern coastal cities of Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong province and Xiamen in Fujian province as part of the country's opening-up drive to encourage foreign investment and boost economic growth. Ever since then, by adhering to its fundamental State policy of opening-up, China has aligned itself with the economic globalization process, and emerged to be the world's second-largest economy. As the COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the world economy into recession, China remains committed to expanding opening-up to bolster its high-quality growth and to promoting globalization and inclusive development. Speaking at a symposium on economic and social work on Monday, President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of higher-level opening-up in international cooperation and competition, and reiterated that opening-up remains China's fundamental policy. He underlined the need to actively develop cooperation with countries, regions and enterprises that are willing to partner with China, including individual states, local partners and companies from the United States, in order to form an all-around, multifaceted opening-up structure. While adhering to opening-up, Xi said the country should also coordinate security with development, make efforts to enhance competitiveness and improve its risk oversight, prevention and control capabilities. Observers said that, against the backdrop that the US keeps raising its rhetoric against Beijing and escalating confrontation with the "new Cold War", China's consistent policy of opening-up holds the key to its post-pandemic development and will also inject greater confidence and momentum into the world economy. Zhou Fangyin, president of the School of International Relations at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, said that in the current situation, China's wider opening to the world will help frustrate US attempts to contain it on the international stage, although the policy cannot result in changes to Washington's anti-China strategy. Through bilateral and multilateral cooperation with more countries, China will use its concrete steps in reform and opening-up to reduce the impact of anti-globalization caused by unilateralism and protectionism, hence contributing to its growth and bringing hope for world economic recovery from the fallout of COVID-19, Zhou said. A recent meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee set the tone for the country's economic policy based on the uncertainties and problems that are likely to exist in the medium and long term. It called for a "dual circulation "development pattern in which the domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while the international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement. Strategic choice The policy comes as China seeks to leverage its huge domestic market and the potential of domestic demand so that domestic and foreign markets can complement each other, as it copes with an external environment characterized by rising protectionism, a global economic downturn and a shrinking international market. It is neither a contingency plan in response to industrial and supply chains being severely affected by the pandemic nor a forced measure to counter some countries' decoupling with China, said Huang Qifan, former mayor of Chongqing and vice-chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. It is a strategic choice China has adopted to step up the coordination of domestic and international markets to make them complement each other through more profound reforms and higher-level opening-up, Huang said in a recent online symposium on China's economy in Beijing. Given rising protectionism and unilateralism, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, Huang said that the more difficult the situation China faces, the more firmly it is committed to expanding opening-up in order to create new prospects from the changing situation. "We need to boost the international economic cycle with higher-level opening-up," he added. Since May, a number of new opening-up measures have been implemented in China, such as the liberalization of foreign investment in financial services. On June 1, China released the Overall Plan for the Hainan Free Trade Port, including zero tariffs on specific goods, lower income tax rates and a simplified tax system. Once operational, the port will become another door opening for China to interact with the world. The third China International Import Expo, expected to be held in Shanghai in November, is considered a sign of China's firm commitment to win-win development through opening-up. It has drawn more registrations from renowned companies compared with last year, and the average exhibition area of Fortune 500 and leading companies will increase by 14 percent, fully demonstrating global businesses' confidence in China's economic growth and prospects. Xi pledged at last year's expo that China will open wider to the world. In a reply letter to representatives of Global CEO Council members on July 15, Xi reassured the global CEOs that China will continue to deepen reform and expand opening-up, and provide a better business environment for investment and the development of Chinese and foreign enterprises. Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization, said China's opening-up will not only benefit itself, but also brighten prospects for the world economy amid the current crisis. "China demonstrated its ability to accelerate global economic recovery during the 2008 financial crisis, and now, amid the COVID-19 crisis, China is capable of helping the world move out of the coronavirus shadow via continued opening-up and multilateral cooperation," Wang said. Sound business climate While stepping up efforts to open its market, optimize opening-up and intensify bilateral and multilateral cooperation, China has also done a lot to improve the business environment. Since China's first negative list for foreign investment access was released in 2017, it has been progressively shortened to 33 items from 93. The World Bank's Doing Business Report 2020 ranks China 31st, up from the 78th place two years ago. For two consecutive years China has been on the list of 10 economies where business climates improved the most. According to a recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Commerce, 99.1 percent of foreign-funded enterprises indicated that they would continue to invest and operate in China. The US-China Business Council's recent survey of over 150 businesses also shows that China's steps to expand opening-up and optimize its business environment have provided greater convenience to foreign companies in China, and US companies remain optimistic about the Chinese market. However, analysts said the US administration's "America first "policy and mounting China-US tensions pose risks for countries' efforts to work together to get out of the world economic recession. Zhou said "decoupling" with China, as proposed by some US politicians, cannot reduce the impact of globalization on countries' economic structures or solve problems related to the distribution of interests, but will actually make these problems get even worse. Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, said that in the current situation, partial decoupling or a slowdown in globalization may be a realistic outcome, but this will not bring benefits in the long term. "Given the current economic disaster of many developed countries, a less efficient global economic environment may be a small price to pay in exchange for guaranteeing domestic social stability," Geraci said. Stephen Roach, a faculty member at Yale University and former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, said it is tempting to read too much into the sharp escalation of the US-China conflict. "In my opinion, the recent escalation is more about crass US politics than about deep existential threats to globalization," Roach said. He said the logical conclusion that the US administration is implying through this attack-escalation strategy is that the alleged "China threat" has become more serious in recent weeks. "However, this is a supposition laced with conspiracy theories without any validation from fact-based evidence," Roach said, adding that this is the justification for the US administration's ever-escalating anti-China campaign. Evacuation orders enveloped communities across Southeast Texas on Tuesday as it became increasingly clear that Hurricane Laura was headed here with winds exceeding 100 mph and life-threatening levels of storm surge. Nearly half a million people have now been instructed to leave for safety. The exodus led to traffic congestion even in rural Newton County, where memories of Hurricane Rita feel fresh for many despite the passage of 15 years. I was out of power for 30 days, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Olen Bean said. Its some of those memories that stick with you. In Port Arthur, which can expect some of Lauras strongest winds and waves that might overtop its levee system, buses began loading folks outside the Bob Bowers Civic Center bound for shelters in other cities. The travelers included Xavier Taylor and Michael Sanders, currently homeless, who said they did not want to be around when the storm hit. Taylor, who rode out Tropical Storm Harvey at the pavilion but never wants to do that again, said he had been tracking the latest storm on his phone and began asking around a couple of days ago. Both men said they plan to get back to Port Arthur and help with cleanup as soon as possible. Well just see how everything goes, Sanders said. I hope it all goes well. Related: Hurricane Laura questions asked and answered When the men arrived at the civic center, neither knew where the buses were heading, but both said any destination was better than ground zero of a potentially catastrophic Category 3 hurricane. They werent the only ones with previous storm experience. Exactly three years ago, on Aug. 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey spun into Texas, unloading extraordinary amounts of rain and eventually swamping much of Southeast Texas. That storm killed nearly 70 people, damaged more than 300,000 structures and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage. Bean said Newton County residents who remember 2005s Hurricane Rita, another storm with devastating local impact, were packed up and ready to leave shortly after the county announced its mandatory evacuation order on Tuesday. You dont forget those days, he said. Laura, whose eye could pass directly over the county, likely will bring a similar experience to residents who stay behind, a group that includes not just the stubborn but also those who dont have the resources to be able to do so after the coronavirus-related economic slowdown. Related: SETX HEB stores will close early tonight Bean said hes less concerned about the expected storm surge, despite projections of flooding along the Sabine River to be more than 9 feet above ground level well past Deweyville. The city is some 50 miles away from where Sabine Pass meets the Gulf of Mexico. Updated projections showed a strong storm surge across the region. After a 10 a.m. briefing with the National Weather Service that showed fairly widespread flooding as a result of storm surge, Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel said a mandatory evacuation order for residents in low-lying parts of the county was an easy call. Shortly afterward, he spoke with mayors and other elected leaders in his area. The group ultimately decided to extend that order to the entire county. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Orange and Jefferson counties were the only ones in Southeast Texans to order evacuations on Monday. Messages from various city and county officials issued throughout the day urged residents to leave. This Category 3 storm will continue to gain strength and cause catastrophic and life-threatening conditions, a text from Jefferson Countys emergency alert system said. Please evacuate now. Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie took the time to give a news conference and visit residents at the Civic Center to urge those attempting to stay behind to get out of town. I dont want you to wait. Do it today, he told residents. If you want to be housed where they are taking our citizens, you have to go on the bus. If that wasnt enough, updated storm details gave them even more reason to do so. Related: Laura now a hurricane; expected to be major at landfall By 5 p.m. Tuesday, projections of storm-surge flooding more than 3 feet above ground level stretched well into parts of Beaumont. Much of the Jefferson County coastline was set to experience a surge at least 6 feet above ground level, if not more than 9 feet. Forecasters warned that the surge, expected between 9 and 13 feet, and accompanying waves could be enough to top Port Arthurs levee system. The forecast was even more dire in Orange County, where only small parts of Pinehurst, Orange, West Orange and Bridge City seemed removed from the threat of flooding. Flood levels everywhere else ranged from 1-foot above ground level to more than 9 feet. The two counties also are expected to see wind speeds between 80 and 115 miles per hour with gusts up to 130 mph in Jefferson County and 125 mph in Orange County. The two also carry a marginal tornado threat. If you decide to stay, you are on your own, Bartie said. I will not put my people in harms way. If you stay, it is you and God. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain 08/26/2020 Photo (c) Bill Oxford - Getty Images The U.S. government has secured an indictment against Teva Pharmaceuticals U.S. unit on price-fixing charges. The generic drugmaker was charged under a Justice Department complaint filed in federal court in Pennsylvania, accusing it of engaging in anticompetitive actions that resulted in consumers paying $350 million more than they should for prescription medications. Specifically, the complaint accuses Teva of dividing up customers in three different conspiracies and fixing prices for pravastatin, a prescription cholesterol drug marketed under the brand name Pravachol. The suit also charges Teva with conspiring to fix prices on several drugs prescribed to treat arthritis, seizures, pain, skin conditions, and blood clots. The company also stands accused of conspiring to fix prices for drugs used to treat brain cancer, cystic fibrosis, arthritis, and hypertension. Todays charge reaffirms that no company is too big to be prosecuted for its role in conspiracies that led to substantially higher prices for generic drugs relied on by millions of Americans, said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justices Antitrust Division. The division will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that companies that blatantly cheat consumers of the benefits of free markets are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Teva will fight the charges in court Teva issued a statement in response to the indictment in which it disputed the allegations and said it would defend itself against the charges in court. It also said it is deeply disappointed that the government has chosen to proceed with this prosecution. Teva Pharmaceuticals is the seventh drug company to be indicted in the Justice Departments ongoing probe of alleged price-fixing in the generic drug market. In January, a group of states filed sweeping generic drug price-fixing charges against 26 corporate and 10 individual defendants. That complaint charged the defendants with attempting to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade for generic drugs. The Justice Department indictment accuses Teva of conspiring with three other pharmaceutical companies -- Tarco Pharmaceuticals, Taro Pharmaceuticals, and Sandoz, Inc. The Justice Department says Sandoz admitted to its role in this conspiracy, as well as to conspiracies with other generic drug manufacturers. In March, the company agreed to pay a $195 million penalty. During these difficult times, it is absolutely essential that our pharmaceutical companies conduct business with the well-being of the consumer in mind, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Stuller, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. When generic drug companies conspire to artificially increase prices, they do so to the detriment of many who depend on these medications to maintain good health. Five previous drug price-fixing cases were resolved by deferred prosecution agreements. The Justice Department said Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is awaiting trial. Four executives have also been charged; three have entered guilty pleas, and one is awaiting trial. "Samadhi," the new CD by saxophonist-composer Jacam Manricks. It's not just the horn anymore. It's about me as a composer and orchestrator. It's about what sort of environments I'm putting myself in and how I'm orchestrating colors within that . . . ultimately trying to make something beautiful with rhythms and pitches. Saxophonist/composer Jacam Manricks marks his arrival as a full-fledged auteur on the splendid "Samadhi," set for a September 4 release on his own Manricks Music Records. Already an accomplished composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and improviser, Manrickss sixth album adds recording, engineering, producing, and mixing to his overflowing skill set. Thus it stands as a vision entirely of the leaders own makingalbeit with input from his high-caliber colleagues, pianist Joe Gilman, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Clarence Penn. "Samadhi" is a Sanskrit term that refers to a state of heightened, holistic focus that allows for communion with the divine. Manricks uses that title not to announce his achieving it, but his goal of reaching it: Getting to that state of intense concentration where everything else disappears around you and only the music exists, as he explains in the liner notes. The wide spectrum of creative mastery he deploys on the album reflects that goal. So does the music on display. "Samadhi"s eight tracks (seven Manricks originals, with one improvised collaboration between the saxophonist and Gilman) feature a remarkable range of ideas and emotions, from the paradoxically bright yet tense opener Formula One, to the ruminative title track, to the playful Common Tone and the mysterious Ethereal. The range of textures and timbres is also formidable; Manricks plays alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones as well as clarinet and bass clarinet, flute and alto flute, and MIDI strings (for which he wrote the orchestrations). Of course, part of "Samadhi"s purpose, Manricks says, is to allow him to flex these polymathic muscles. Its not just the horn anymore. Its about me as a composer and orchestrator. Its about what sort of environments Im putting myself in and how Im orchestrating colors within that. ultimately trying to make something beautiful with rhythms and pitches. Im wearing so many hats, he adds. This is the culmination of a lot of things for me, and Im extremely proud of 'Samadhi.' Jacam Manricks was born in 1976 in Brisbane, Australia, the child of two classical musicians in the Queensland Symphony Orchestraand the grandson of a celebrated Portuguese jazz saxophonist and clarinetist, and a Sri Lankan concert pianist. As a boy, Jacam quickly began finding a niche in this musical family, immersing himself in his fathers jazz records and in his parents concert performances. He began learning to play the piano at age five and the saxophone at age nine. After receiving a degree in music performance (classical and jazz saxophone) from the Queensland Conservatorium, Manricks began making his way in the Sydney music scene before moving to New York in 2001 to study at William Paterson University. He earned a masters degree in composition there, then a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music in 2007. While at the Manhattan School, he composed and premiered a large-scale work, Chromatic Suite for Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, for the schools 90th birthday celebration. Its combination of classical and jazz traditions presaged Manrickss 2009 debut album, "Labyrinth," which blended a chamber orchestra with a venturesome jazz quintet. "Trigonometry" followed in 2010, then "Cloud Nine" in 2012, "Chamber Jazz" in 2016, and "GilManricks" in 2017. Each received international acclaim. One could say that Manricks, with 16 international tours as a leader and countless credits as a sideman, has also graduated from the real school, particularly during his 13 years in New York working for luminaries such as Jeff Tain Watts, Tyshawn Sorey, and Elio Villafranca, to name a few. Relocating to Sacramento, California, in 2014, Manricks spent five years teaching at the nearby University of California, Davis, working as a member of Sacramentos Capital Jazz Project, running his own super sax style ensemble (Super Saxto) and leading his own 19-piece big band (Jacam Manricks Orchestra). Meanwhile, Manricks also learned the ins and outs of sound engineering, using that knowledge to build his own home studio where "Samadhi" was recorded and mixed. 2020 has been rough, says Manricks. The pandemic is hitting the performing arts hard with prospects for safe public gatherings more than ever remote. The loss of artistically enriching events, which typically uplift and create our communities, imposses a cultural deficiency impacting the quality of life for all, including those working outside the arts industry. Therefore, it has never before been more important that artists create and where necessary find new ways to share our work. For me, this means producing new music and providing access to it through any means I can. In late June, he adds, I was bedridden for two weeks with COVID, quarantined in my sons bedroom while my family remained safely at bay. During the entire shutdown and especially while quarantined, Ive had more time to reflect on life, my personal goals, music and how it enriches our lives. One thing that became abundantly clear was that focused listening to musicthe kind you do with your eyes shutis an incredibly healing experience. Using your ears and mind to escape, meditating to music in search of beauty, we can find solace, inspiration, and a refreshed state of mind. 'Samadhi' is being released during the shutdown for this purpose primarily. Go forth and find solace in this music. Manricks and his Quartet (with Joe Gilman, p; Michael Gilbert, b; Tim Metz, d) will be performing a CD release concert to be live-streamed on Saturday 10/10 at 5:30 pm Pacific time. (Concert link here.) Iran has agreed to allow inspections of two sites where nuclear activities are suspected to have taken place in the past, easing diplomatic pressure on Tehran as the United States seeks to reimpose UN sanctions. The announcement was made on August 26 in a joint statement by Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as Director-General Rafael Grossi was wrapping up his visit to Tehran. The Vienna-based global watchdog has criticised Iranian officials for denying it access to the two locations, and for not answering its questions about possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities there. In the statement issued by the IAEA, Grossi and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said that Iran was "voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve the issues." The statement said that the dates for the inspections had been agreed, but it did not say when they would take place. As he returned from Tehran later in the day, Grossi told reporters that IAEA inspectors will have access to the two sites "very, very soon." Meeting Grossi in the Iranian capital, President Hassan Rohani called the agreement "good" and said it can help "finally settle issues," according to the government's official website. Russia's ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, described the Iran-IAEA agreement as a "breakthrough" and "another proof that dialogue is more productive than pressure." Grossi's trip, his first to Iran since taking over the IAEA leadership eight months ago, came amid a mounting standoff between the IAEA and Tehran over access to the two sites in order to clarify whether undeclared nuclear activity took place there during the early 2000s. In June, the IAEA's board of governors passed a rare resolution demanding that Iran "fully cooperate" and "satisfy the agency's requests without any further delay," including by providing "prompt" access to the sites. At the time, Grossi accused Iran of denying access to the two locations for six months, and said that for almost a year "it has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify our questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities." Iran maintained the IAEA had no legal basis to inspect the sites in question. The August 26 announcement also comes after the United States last week pressed the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Washington exited the agreement more than two years ago and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week formally launched the monthlong process of activating the nuclear accord's "snapback" mechanism aimed at reimposing UN sanctions on Iran, citing Iranian violations of the deal. 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 pact. The United States claims it remains a "participant" in the accord because it was listed as such in the UN resolution that enshrined it. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Some residents of Dome Faase near Obom in the Greater Accra Region have been accused of assaulting two soldiers over a land in the area. The soldiers had clashed with the residents while protecting the piece of land for the Mponuahene of Akyem Apedwa who they claim is the owner. Two other residents also sustained gunshot wounds during the clash. Speaking to Adom News, the soldiers said the residents had been demonstrating against the ownership of the land when the incident happened. One of them, only known as Clement, said that they had given warning shots in hopes to calm the agitated residents down so they could start a conversation on why they (soldiers) were on the land. However, the residents who doubted the two men were soldiers began to beat them, he narrated. Clements partner had blood on his face and chest. The uniforms of both soldiers had been ripped. Their leader came there and we informed him that we are not criminals. So if there is anything else, exercise patience and lead us to your chief or wherever then we continue, he pleaded. Clement said their pleas and cries of innocence fell on deaf ears as residents continued to beat them adding but we are not criminals. Meanwhile, the leader of the mob claimed a team of armed land guards had been terrorising the people in the area. Source: Myjoyonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Endy Bayuni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 12:04 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c409385b 1 Books #literature,#book,#bookreview,#author,#Indonesia,#Bali,#memoir,#DeborahCassrels Free Indonesia looks very different if you are in Bali than in Jakarta. While this may be stating the obvious, it is an important first step to understanding Indonesia. It is like saying that the United States looks different depending on whether you are in Los Angeles or in Washington DC. The same country, more or less the same political culture and the same President Trump. But you can only appreciate the vast differences in America if you are you far away from the center of power. Similarly, it is the same Indonesia and the same President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, but the country can look very different when viewed from Bali or anywhere else outside Jakarta or Java. You only begin to appreciate not only the vastness, but also how diverse Indonesia is in terms of ethnicity, religion, culture, tradition and language as well as politics if you venture out of Jakarta. Deborah Cassrels was reporting from Indonesia between 2009 and 2017 for Australian and international media, but rather than Jakarta, where all foreign correspondents are based, she chose Bali, Indonesias most popular tourist destination, as her home base. She was churning out stories after stories that were different from the run-of-the-mill articles we read from her colleagues in the Indonesian capital. She gets the diversity, and some of the important political nuances in her reporting, to explain Indonesia to the world. Now Cassrels is sharing with us the story of her time in Bali. In Gods and Demons behind the tourist veneer of Bali and greater Indonesia: a foreign correspondents memoir, she takes us on her personal and professional journey of trying to comprehend Indonesia. This book is more about the storyteller and not so much about the stories that she has reported and written. Cassrels makes no claim to have fully understood Indonesia even after eight years. She opens the book with a reminder from former foreign minister Marty Natalegawa: Indonesia defies definition, almost. Its diversity is its identity. This presents a challenge for anyone who comes to Indonesia, particularly writers, scholars and journalists, with the idea of trying to explain to the world what this country is all about. Choosing Bali as her place of residence, Cassrels gives us a glimpse of Indonesia through a unique lens. Digging deeper into the lives and cultures of the peoples in every story she worked on, she presented a more realistic picture of the island, with its problems and challenges. Its still the same much-romanticized Bali that draws hordes of Australian tourists and a handful of drug traffickers, but in Gods and Demons we also get a sense of its place in Indonesia and in the world. Cassrels may have missed the two stories that defined Bali in the minds of most Australians: The devastating suicide bombing that killed more than 200 people, including 88 Australians, at a Kuta beach resort in 2002, and the 2005 arrests of nine Australians for trying to smuggle 8.3 kg of heroin to Australia from Bali. But she was there for the 10th commemoration of the Bali bombing, meeting with survivors and relatives of the victims from Australia, Indonesia and other countries. She traveled to Java to interview the widows of the terrorists, three of whom were executed in 2008. What becomes clearly from these stories is that everyone has been striving for closure to this tragedy, with varying degrees of success. Deborah Cassrels (Courtesy of abc.net.au/-) Cassrels got to know all Bali Nine members as they waited for their appeals for clemency. She became a frequent visitor at the infamous Kerobokan jail near Denpasar, where most were housed, learning about their hopes and anxieties as they struggled to cope with living behind bars. She got to know Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, doing good deeds while waiting for their appeals against the death penalty. Sukumaran took up painting, and Chan gave spiritual counseling to fellow inmates. Cassrels followed them to the Nusakambangan penal island off the southern coast of West Java, where they were executed in 2015. Inevitably, their execution impacted her personally, as she relates in the book. Cassrels may have kept her personal emotions out of her reports, but in the book she revealed these emotions and how she became touched by their story. There are many other behind-the-scene stories about how she worked on some of the best reports she produced during those eight years. Eat, Pray and Love, the bestseller movie and the book, may have put Bali on the world map, but Cassrells came up with the story of bogus shamans duping gullible tourists who are hoping to experience what Julia Roberts went through. Bali may be a predominantly Hindu island, but it is also an island of tolerance, where a tiny Jewish community of largely expatriates could have their weekly gathering. This activity led to her story of a Jewish family in North Sulawesi. Cassrels put Bali at the center of Indonesia even on stories that have national and international dimensions and those that required her to travel to other parts of Indonesia. She scored a major scoop, rare in todays era of digital journalism, securing an interview with Tomy Winata, an Indonesian tycoon who had evaded Indonesian and foreign journalists. She convinced him to talk about his massive land reclamation project in Bali that is being fiercely challenged by environmentalists. She visited neighboring Lombok Islands several times to check on how it struggles, and why it fails, to come out of Balis shadow in presenting itself as an alternative tourist destination. Gods and Demons is personal as much as it is professional. Cassrels relocated to Bali in search of peace and solace not long after her divorce, but without giving up her career. Its no holiday though, as she soon learned that there were plenty of stories to tell. Settling down in a new strange environment can be challenging for anyone, and settling down as a foreign correspondent in a place where few journalists have settled is even more daunting. But journalists thrive on challenges, and big stories appear to have kept Cassrels adrenaline high. Literature in English about Indonesia and Bali is still limited, not enough compared to what has been written about most other countries in Asia. Cassrels joins other foreign journalists who have made Indonesia their temporary abode in contributing to this growing body of literature. Gods and Demons helps to dispel the notion, still strong among Australians, that Bali is Indonesia, and shows that there is so much more to it than sandy beaches and trendy bars. But the book also tells us that Indonesia is more than just Jakarta and Java. For all its exoticism, Bali can also help explain the world what Indonesia represents.(ste) Gods and Demons Behind the tourist veneer of Bali and greater Indonesia: a foreign correspondent memoir By Deborah Cassrels ABC Booksellers, 2020 336 pages After Jodhpur police and commandos had pushed Asaram into a vehicle and raced towards Indore airport on August 31, 2013, Ajay Pal Lamba got a call on his mobile phone. Mukta kisi bhi gaadi mein nahin hai. Woh humare saath nahin hai, sir. Woh peechche ashram main hi chhoot gayi hai lagta hai! (Mukta is not in any of the vehicles. She is not with us, sir. It seems that she has been left behind at the ashram!) Sub-inspector Mukta Pareek, SHO of the Womens Police Station (West), Jodhpur, went missing in the melee that preceded the arrest of controversial godman Asaram Bapu at the Indore ashram. Amid the sudden, unforeseen action, the team members detailing and who would sit where and in which vehicle, had been disturbed. Mukta was safe. She called Lamba to tell him that she hopped on to an Indore Police vehicle and was also headed to the airport. This is one of the many tales from a new book that Lamba has written, calling it the true story behind Asaram Bapus conviction. The book, titled Gunning for the Godman, will be released on September 5. Lamba, a 2005-batch IPS officer, was posted in Jodhpur East as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) when the FIR against Asaram was registered in August 2013. After Asaram was pronounced guilty and imprisoned for life in March 2018, Lamba decided to pen the journey that involved difficulties, pressures, inducements and threats during the arrest and trial in the case. The book narrates how a team of 20 officers, called the tough twenty in the book, investigated the charges, collected evidence, arrested the accused and filed a charge sheet despite all efforts made by the godmans high profile battery of lawyers to get the man off the hook using all the tricks of the trade. It is the story of foiling the Babas many attempts to get away scot-free; they arrested him in a matter of only ten days, and how they assiduously saw the victim and her family through a four-year long trial. This, despite the countless threats not only to the girl and her family, but also to DCP Lambas own family and the team. A testimony to unrelenting courage, this story of a dynamic police officers pursuit of justice is a lesson for these troubled times, said the description of the book on the publishers website. Also Read: Asaram verdict: All you need to know about the case against him Lamba said there were several moments during the trial when it seemed like an endless judicial process, but the doggedness of senior officers and public prosecutors led to the case reaching a logical conclusion. The examination and cross-examination of all the witnesses lasted for more than three years. The victim was cross-examined for twenty-seven days, her mother, for nineteen days, her father, for eighteen days and the investigating officer, ACP Chanchal Mishra, for several months, the book said. Also Read: Asaram case: Self-styled godmans journey from puritanical preacher to rape convict Lamba, currently the additional commissioner of police in Jaipur, is happy that the book will soon be converted into a motion picture by Anubhav Sinha. I decided to write the book because I wanted the tale of Asarams conviction told so that people know that no one, no matter how influential they are, is above the law, said the officer, who is an electrical engineer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As a result of the investigation, police obtained an arrest warrant for Cruz-Oquendo for obstruction of justice, according to the release and court records. Police believe her actions Saturday interfered with the investigation. In terms of setting and format, the second night of the Republican convention was the same as the first: people spoke in the magnificent Andrew Carnegie auditorium, in venues associated with American history, at the White House, and in a recording studio. Everything was polished without being phony. These were real Americans talking about matters that are deeply important to them. And as on the first night, the convention made clear that this is a party that welcomes and will support minorities. The theme for the night was Opportunity. Some speakers spoke about the way America is a land of opportunity. Others spoke about the way that Donald Trump restored opportunity in America by giving help where it was needed (Trump isn't giving money to crony entities such as Solyndra) and by paring back the onerous regulations that were making it increasingly impossible for small businesses the ones that can't afford millions in political donations to function. As the evening unfolded, we didn't hear from victims. We heard from Americans who, given the opportunity, will take care of themselves, their families, and their communities. They were a cross-section of Americans: a Navajo leader, a dairy farmer, a lobsterman, a police officer, a reformed felon, an ophthalmologist who performs free cataract surgeries in impoverished countries (and who just happens to be Sen. Rand Paul), a small businessowner, a former Planned Parenthood worker, and so many more. We were reminded, among other things, that President Trump values human life; that, as president, he has employed more women in high positions than any president before him; that he welcomes legal immigrants to this country (as shown by his appearing for a live naturalization ceremony in the White House); and that his children love and respect him. There were so many good speakers and so many moving videos that it's difficult to select just those few that will give you an idea about the evening if you didn't get a chance to watch. I'm leaving a lot on the table, but if you have any time, I suggest the following speakers. Jon Ponder was a felon whom the FBI finally caught for bank robbery. The story of how he turned his life around, and about how an FBI agent who treated him with respect created a powerful friendship with an eventual impact on hundreds of people, is a two-part must-see: This was incredible!!! The power of Jesus Christ to change hearts, transform lives, and the redemption that follows! Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, for pardoning Jon Ponder pic.twitter.com/5KR5leJWVO Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) August 26, 2020 Police officer Ryan Holet's story about the night his life collided with a heroin addict's life is another must-see: Rand Paul's praise for Trump a former opponent is gracious and important. He touches upon Trump's refusal to send Americans to die in unnecessary foreign wars, as well as his belief in smaller government: Robert Vlaisavljevich, a lifelong Democrat and the mayor of Eveleth, Minnesota, in the Iron Range, talks about the way Trump is bringing jobs back to America: For those who have begun to realize that the Democrats' fealty to abortion is not about keeping it safe, rare, and legal, but is, instead, something much closer to a pre-Judeo-Christian death cult, former Planned Parenthood employee Abby Johnson is worth watching: And of course, we were all waiting for Nick Sandmann. Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he talked about that day in January 2019, when leftist activists targeted him for his MAGA hat and the media defamed him, putting his life at risk. Sandmann is the ultimate symbol of cancel culture. He's also a symbol of fighting back against cancel culture because he sued those same media outlets for hundreds of millions of dollars. Sandmann was composed and thoughtful, but you could still feel his anger at what the American media did to him and be sure to watch until the last second: Mike Pompeo spoke from Jerusalem. He wouldn't have had to say a word to make his point about Trump's foreign policy, but he says quite a lot, all of it important: Daniel Cameron, Kentucky's attorney general, is a star in the making. Not only is he a thoughtful conservative and a good speaker, but he also has the opposite of that awful "resting bitch face" one so often sees. Cameron has "resting smiling face." He radiates joy: There were other interesting speakers, but those were the standouts. Melania Trump spoke, and it was a sweet speech, but her gift is personal interactions (or so I've heard), not public statements. All told, it was an excellent night, easily matching the first for quality, sincerity, and power. The point could not be clearer: this election is not about two different but positive visions of America. This is about America versus the anti-America. If you love America, Trump is the only candidate. Image: Republican convention screen grab. Robotic support pets used to reduce depression in older adults and people with dementia acquire bacteria over time, but a simple cleaning procedure can help them from spreading illnesses, according to a new study published August 26, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Hannah Bradwell of the University of Plymouth, UK and colleagues. There is a wealth of research on the use of social robots, or companion robots, in care and long-term nursing homes. "Paro the robot seal" and other robotic animals have been linked to reductions in depression, agitation, loneliness, nursing staff stress, and medication use--especially relevant during this period of pandemic-related social isolation. In the new study, researchers measured the microbial load found on the surface of eight different robot animals (Paro, Miro, Pleo rb, Joy for All dog, Joy for All cat, Furby Connect, Perfect Petzzz dog, and Handmade Hedgehog) after interaction with four care home residents, and again after cleaning by a researcher or care home staff member. The animals ranged in material from fur to soft plastic to solid plastic. The cleaning process involved spraying with anti-bacterial product, brushing any fur, and vigorous cleaning with anti-bacterial wipes. Most of the devices gathered enough harmful microbes during 20 minutes of standard use to have a microbial load above the acceptable threshold of 2.5 CFU/cm2 (colony forming units per square centimetre). Only the Joy for All cat and the MiRo robot remained below this level when microbes were measured after a 48 hour incubation period; microbial loads on the other 6 robots ranged from 2.56 to 17.28 CFU/cm2. The post-cleaning microbial load, however, demonstrated that regardless of material type, previous microbial load, or who carried out the cleaning procedure, all robots could be brought to well below acceptable levels. 5 of the 8 robots had undetectable levels of microbes after cleaning and 48 hours of incubation, and the remaining 3 robots had only 0.04 to 0.08 CFU/cm2 after this protocol. Hannah Bradwell, researcher at the Centre for Health Technology says: "Robot pets may be beneficial for older adults and people with dementia living in care homes, likely improving wellbeing and providing company. This benefit could be particularly relevant at present, in light of social isolation, however our study has shown the strong requirement for considerations around infection control for these devices." ### Citation: Bradwell HL, Johnson CW, Lee J, Winnington R, Thill S, Jones RB (2020) Microbial contamination and efficacy of disinfection procedures of companion robots in care homes. PLoS ONE 15(8): e0237069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237069 Funding: The publication of this manuscript was kindly funded by the School of Clinical Sciences at Auckland University of Technology. H. Bradwell's PhD is being funded by the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Plymouth, allowing HB to conduct this study as part of her degree. The robots used in this study were loaned from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Ehealth Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly (EPIC) project, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). All of the above were 'general funds' to fund study in this area of endeavour. There were no specific funds for this project and there is no commercial or other interest from the funders in the findings of this study. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237069 Channel Nine stopped airing The Ellen DeGeneres Show from Monday amid accusations of a 'toxic' workplace. And in what may be the final nail in the coffin in Australia for the struggling talk show, it has been smashed in the ratings by reruns of Desperate Housewives. The early 2000s hit drama debuted to an audience of 73,000 viewers on Monday. Is this the end of Ellen? Ratings for this week show that The Ellen DeGeneres show is being easily beaten by reruns of Desperate Housewives (Ellen pictured) It managed to hold onto a top 50 spot in the daily ratings across all networks for two consecutive days. It is a feat which The Ellen Show has not managed to pull off since August 4, when just 49,000 viewers tuned in. The network has bumped reruns of the talk show to 9Gem, while Desperate Housewives, which previously screened on Seven, has taken over Ellen's usual time slot between 12pm and 1pm. Drama! Desperate Housewives debuted to an audience of 73,000 viewers on Monday and it managed to hold onto a top 50 spot in the daily ratings across all networks for two consecutive days, a feat which Ellen hasn't pulled off since August 4. (Pictured left to right Nicollette Sheridan, Brenda Strong, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria and Teri Hatcher) While talks continue between Nine and Warner Bros Television regarding the broadcasting rights for the new season- one former senior executive believes the workplace bullying scandal could play right into the networks hands. Leading TV commentator Rob McKnight, a former senior executive at Nine, believes the controversy 'has come up at the perfect time during a negotiation period' and gives the broadcaster bargaining power. McKnight also told Daily Mail Australia that Nine has the enviable position of being 'willing to walk away' from the deal as it refocuses its efforts on prime time. Power play: Leading TV commentator Rob McKnight (pictured), a former senior executive at Nine, believes the controversy 'has come up at the perfect time during a negotiation period' and gives the broadcaster bargaining power 'Nine are in negotiations and to bring the price down they're showing Warner Bros. that they're willing to walk away,' said McKnight, who is the editor of industry website TV Blackbox. 'With the advertising market shrinking [due to the coronavirus recession], the focus is on prime time. I'm sure they'd like to keep Ellen, but this whole controversy has come up at the perfect time for them during a negotiation period. 'They'll be taking a look at the ratings of Desperate Housewives in the Ellen slot and seeing whether it adversely affects them before they walk away from the deal. Daytime on the back-burner: McKnight also told Daily Mail Australia that Nine has the enviable position of being 'willing to walk away' from the deal as it refocuses its efforts on prime time 'The fact is, this is all about getting the best deal for Nine. Controversies come and go, but at the moment every dollar counts.' Warner Bros. Television announced last Monday that three senior producers had been fired from Ellen's show: Ed Glavin, one of the executive producers; Jonathan Norman, a co-executive producer; and Kevin Leman, the show's head writer. They were sacked as a result of the internal investigation into multiple allegations of a 'toxic' work culture behind the scenes of the popular daytime talk show. Employees described a working environment rife with 'racism, fear and intimidation'. Desperate Housewives ran for eight years from 2004 and starred Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and Eva Longoria. The star of BBC's Normal People Daisy Edgar Jones said she is really proud to have worked on a show which had 'equal nudity' between her and her co-star Paul Mescal. The 22-year-old actress rocketed to fame in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel playing the character of Marianne Sheridan, alongside Mescal, 24, who played her on-off boyfriend Connell Waldron. While at a virtual panel at the Edinburgh TV Festival Daisy spoke about show, which has been praised for its handling of sex scenes. Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones says she is proud to have worked on a programme which had 'equal nudity' between her and her co-star Paul Mescal She said: 'An element I was really proud was a part of the show was the equality in nudity between Paul and I, and if you're trying to tell the truth of a relationship you have to include the truth of what that means in terms of intimacy.' To make the sex scenes look authentic the production hired an intimacy co-ordinator to work with the stars and the director. Also speaking at the event, her co-star Paul said: 'I think the idea of shooting those scenes made me far more anxious than the actual shooting process from day to day. 'There is an awkward 10 minutes where you are like 'I'm going to have to be relatively naked in front of a group of strangers' but from an actor's perspective you have to treat it in the same way as a scene where they are speaking to each other and get over your own ego and anxiety.' To make the sex scenes authentic, the production team for the show hired an intimacy co-ordinator to work with the stars and the director Discussing working on her Irish accent for the show, the English actress said: 'That was something I was most nervous about because my mum is Irish. 'I do love working in accents because I think it's really easy to differentiate yourself from the character if you have a different voice to her. 'There is a calmness and stillness to her voice which probably isn't present in my own voice, which is quite flappy.' After the success of the series, Daisy said she hopes to take on a different role to that of her breakout part as Marianne so she can 'keep learning'. Paul Mescal said the thought of shooting sex scenes and being naked in front of strangers made him more anxious than when it took place She said: 'I'm at work at the minute, which is really strange, on a job I did before Normal People, called War Of The Worlds, which is strangely scary because it's all about the end of the world and that is quite close to home at the minute. 'It's really nice to be back at work. We have both been so extremely privileged to be able to play characters like Marianne and Connell and work with directors like Lenny (Abrahamson) and Hettie (McDonald). 'So I personally would just like to find another project that has such a wonderful team attached like this one and find a character that is maybe a little bit different from anything I've done before, just to see how far I can learn and push myself over the next few years, because I learnt so much on this job so I would like to keep learning on the next.' Watch every episode of Normal People on BBC Three, or on Stan in Australia. SEOUL, South Korea - A powerful typhoon barreled toward North Korea and was forecast to make landfall Thursday, threatening to inflict heavy damage on a nation already reeling from weeks of flooding and long-standing economic hardships. The approach of Typhoon Bavi, packing winds of 100 mph, follows torrential rain that caused severe floods and landslides across the Korean Peninsula earlier this month. South Korea's Meteorological Administration said Wednesday that the storm was already unleashing strong winds and heavy rain over the southern island of Jeju, causing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and ferry services to and from the resort island. As Bavi approached, North Korea's weather agency said the storm would near Pyongyang early Thursday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told a ruling party meeting Tuesday to brace for damage, particularly to the country's agricultural sector. State media quoted Kim as saying that mitigating the typhoon's impact is "important work which can never be neglected even for a moment for our party, bearing the responsibility for the destiny of the people." Typhoons regularly menace the Western Pacific at this time of year. Bavi is expected to deal another blow to North Korea's ailing economy, already hit by international sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests. In addition, the coronavirus outbreak this year led the isolated country to further restrict trade with neighboring China. Heavy rainfall earlier this month damaged some 100,000 acres of farmland and more than 16,000 houses in North Korea, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). South Korea's National Intelligence Service told parliament last week that this summer's downpours "caused the most serious damage" to the country since Kim came to power. The areas hit hardest were North Korea's southern provinces, home to the most important farming areas. The floods' impact on agricultural production raised concerns about the country's food insecurity. United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a briefing earlier this month that the U.N. team is in contact with authorities to provide flood support to North Korea. At Tuesday's meeting, which was reported by the KCNA on Wednesday, Kim also urged officials to ramp up the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic, acknowledging shortcomings in the regime's handling of the crisis to date. "The meeting seriously assessed some defects in the state emergency anti-epidemic work for checking the inroads of the malignant virus, and studied measures to overcome the defects urgently," the report said. Although Pyongyang has not acknowledged any confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, it has put thousands of people under quarantine and locked down the border city of Kaesong last month, citing a suspected case. Tuesday's meeting of the Politburo of the ruling Workers Party came less than a week after Kim, in an unusually candid move, admitted the failure of his ambitious five-year economic plan. At another party meeting Aug. 19, the party's Central Committee acknowledged that its long-term economic goals have been "seriously delayed" because of "unexpected and inevitable challenges," the KCNA reported. South Korea's spy agency said the North's economy is expected to shrink this year if trends continue. Security analysts say the domestic problems piling up in North Korea will prompt Kim to shift his attention to domestic issues rather than to provocations against South Korea and the United States. "The recent flurry of party meetings show Kim's resolve to work out the unprecedented internal challenges posed by the coronavirus and flood damages," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. The police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday, August 23 reignited protests against police brutality and racism. @davenewworld_2/Twitter; Morry Gash/AP Photo; Brandon Bell/Getty Images; Insider Millions have watched a video of police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shooting Jacob Blake in the back on Sunday. The 29-year-old has "eight holes" in his body and is paralyzed from the waist down, his father said Tuesday. Two police officers have been placed on administrative leave as the state Department of Justice investigates the incident. On Wednesday, the agency identified the officer who shot Blake as Rusten Sheskey. Blake's shooting reignited national protests against police brutality and racism. Demonstrators are demanding justice not only in Kenosha but also in New York City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and elsewhere. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Protests have once again erupted in cities across the United States with thousands expressing outrage at the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Blake, a father-of-six, survived, but he is paralyzed from the waist down, his father said on Tuesday. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting. Here's how Kenosha, a city of 100,000 in the southeast corner of the state, became a hub of racial tension. Sunday, August 23 Officers from the Kenosha Police Department responded to a "reported domestic incident" at 5:11 p.m. local time. Witnesses told the Winona Daily News that Blake was trying to break up a fight between two women. It's unclear what happened in the moments before the video. Some witnesses have said police used a Taser and wrestled with Blake before the shooting, but it hasn't been confirmed. Raysean White told CNN he looked out his window and saw police putting Blake in a headlock, punching him in the ribs, tugging on his arm, and Tasing him. White filmed Blake rounding an SUV with two police officers tailing him, one of them with a gun trained on his back. A still from bystander video posted to Twitter, showing police following Jacob Blake. @davenewworld_2/Twitter The video shows Blake opened the driver's door and tried to get into the vehicle. Three of his sons sat in the backseat. One of the officers pulled Blake's shirt and shot him in the back, the video shows. Witnesses, including White, said they heard at least seven gunshots ring out. Story continues Jacob Blake lies on the street after he got shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video filmed on August 23, 2020. Incident Response/Reuters Officers provided medical aid to Blake at the scene before air-lifting him to Milwaukee-based Froedtert Hospital in serious condition around 5:30 p.m. Prominent civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, posted White's clip on social media at 9:24 p.m., quickly gaining millions of views. News of Blake's shooting sparked protests in Kenosha, with demonstrators demanding justice for Blake and an end to police violence and systemic racism in the US. A protester faces off with police in riot gear outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin. David Goldman/AP Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers identified Blake as the person shot by police "in broad daylight," and condemned the excessive use of force at 10:35 p.m. Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 24, 2020 Monday, August 24 The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation said at 2:46 a.m. that it would handle the investigation, aided by Wisconsin State Patrol and the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office. Officers involved in Blake's shooting were put on administrative leave. Crump announced on Twitter that the Blake family had retained him to represent them at 8:42 a.m. Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said an investigation is underway and two things would be required to bring criminal charges against the officers involved in Blake's shooting: "One, did any officer in this case commit any crimes? And two, are there any crimes we believe were committed that we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt? If those two things are concluded as a 'yes,' then criminal charges would be brought at the end of that process." A window is spray painted at the Kenosha County Administration in Wisconsin during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY via REUTERS People start donating to a GoFundMe campaign that will benefit the Blake family by paying for "medical bills, family expenses, legal representation, support for his children and therapy costs." Athletes, politicians, and activists decried the violence that landed Blake in hospital. At 1:58 p.m., Evers said on Twitter that there's a need to "increase accountability and transparency in policing in Wisconsin." He deployed the National Guard to Kenosha, where officials declared an emergency curfew from 8 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday. Security forces stand guard in front of the courthouse following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Some protesters ignored the curfew, lobbing water bottles at officers, spraying graffiti, smashing windows, looting businesses, and setting fires. Law enforcement officials used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the gathering. People also protested in several other cities, including Madison, Minneapolis, New York, DC, Los Angeles, and Denver. Tuesday, August 25 Blake's father, also named Jacob Blake, told the Chicago Sun-Times Tuesday morning that his son is paralyzed from below the waist and his body has "eight holes." Evers returned to Twitter at 1:22 p.m. to say that he has requesting more National Guard troops, urging people to "protest peacefully and safely." Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) August 25, 2020 Family members of Jacob Blake are seen walking to a press conference in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images At the same press conference, Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, asked people to pray for her son's recovery and said "we need healing" as a country. Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser and Mayor John Antaramian issued a statement on Facebook at 3:23 p.m., decrying the looting, arson, and destruction that has accompanied protests. They announced that not only was Evers dispatching additional National Guard troops, but another 100 law enforcement officers were being sent to Kenosha from elsewhere in Wisconsin to patrol the streets. Burned cars are seen at a damaged car dealership on August 25, 2020 amid ongoing protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter at 7:16 p.m. that Evers "should call in the National Guard in Wisconsin. It is ready, willing, and more than able. End problem FAST!" He seemed unaware that the governor had taken that step on Monday. Protests erupted for a third night in Kenosha and gunfire was reported around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, August 26 Three people were struck by bullets two of them died and one is hospitalized with serious injuries, Kenosha police said on Facebook at 4:27 a.m. Law enforcement officials are investigating whether the shooting was triggered by a conflict between demonstrators and armed civilians who have taken it upon themselves to guard local businesses, including a gas station. Crowds clash with police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the second night of unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. David Goldman/AP Photo The Kenosha County Board of Supervisors sent a letter to Evers, shared on Facebook at 6:43 a.m., asking him to immediately send 1,500 National Guard members with police powers to "help preserve and save" Kenosha and return "civility" to the area. Local officials announced at 7:01 a.m. that the Kenosha County Courthouse, which agitators have targeted, will remain closed. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, was arrested in connection with the shooting, USA Today's Nick Penzenstadler tweeted at 12:03 p.m. Leading up to Rittenhouse's arrest, Daily Caller video journalist Richie McGinniss shared an interview with the teenager on Twitter. In it, Rittenhouse said, "People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business and part of my job is to also help people." He said he was armed a Smith & Wesson AR-15 style .223 rifle was strapped across his chest because "I gotta protect myself, obviously," but also showed McGinniss his "med kit." Evers issued a statement announcing that he had authorized 500 additional National Guard troops to support local officers. That's up from 250 on Tuesday. Trump said on Twitter that he plans to send federal troops to Kenosha. "We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets," he wrote at 12:19 p.m. The US Department of Justice announced it will conduct a federal civil rights probe into the shooting. The FBI said that it would conduct the federal inquiry in cooperation with local authorities. Athletes protested: The NBA season is on the verge of ending early as the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers push their team owners for social justice reform, and tennis player Naomi Osaka took a stance against police violence by dropping out of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio. The curfew didn't stop protesters from pouring into the streets of Kenosha. Photographs from the scene show people carrying signs, marching, chanting, painting messages of hope on sidewalks, and grilling food for each other. There were no reports of clashes between law enforcement officials and demonstrators. The Kenosha News reported that police searched a U-haul truck, which, based on images on social media, was filled with water and food supplies. Vice President Mike Pence pushed for "law and order" during his nomination acceptance speech at the RNC. "Let me be clear: the violence must stop whether in Minneapolis, Portland, or Kenosha," he said around 10 p.m. Thursday, August 27 Kenosha DA Graveley filed a criminal complaint against Rittenhouse, which detailed his "utter disregard for human life" and the events surrounding Tuesday night's shooting. Rittenhouse has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. A conviction for the first charge could put him behind bars for life, the complaint said. The complaint also identified Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, as the two men Rittenhouse shot dead. Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, was also struck by gunfire, but is expected to survive. Blake's father told the Chicago Sun-Times that his paralyzed and sedated son was handcuffed to his hospital bed during a visit on Wednesday. "He can't go anywhere," the senior Jacob Blake said. "Why do you have him cuffed to the bed?" Former Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Yang said on Twitter at 4:31 p.m. that Blake's legs are also restrained. Speaking on the final night of the RNC, Trump, who has yet to address Blake's shooting, voiced his opposition for "mob rule," WISN-TV reported. "In the strongest possible terms, the Republican Party condemns the rioting, looting, arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and New York," he said. Friday, August 28 Patrick Cafferty, the Blake family's attorney, said that $500 bail had taken care of a warrant that had been issued in July for Blake's arrest. "The warrant is vacated, the cuffs are removed, and the deputies have left the hospital," Cafferty told Patch. The warrant was issued after an incident in May that resulted in Blake being charged with felony sexual assault as well as disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing, both misdemeanors, according to Wisconsin court records. Yelena Dzhanova and Frank Carber contributed to this report. Read the original article on Insider A 17-year-old Illinois resident has been arrested by police for first-degree murder after allegedly fatally shooting two Wisconsin protesters on Tuesday evening. Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois, was labelled a fugitive of justice, according to Lake County, Illinois Clerk of Courts public records first obtained by The Daily Dot. The Antioch Police Department confirmed to The Independent that Mr Rittenhouse voluntarily surrendered himself to the department on Wednesday morning after an arrest warrant was filed. The suspect allegedly fled Kenosha, Wisconsin for his home state following the shooting. [The suspect] fled the state of Wisconsin with the intent to avoid prosecution for that offence, according to the document. This morning Kenosha County authorities issued an arrest warrant for the individual responsible for the incident, charging him with first degree intentional homicide, the Antioch Police Department said in a press release. The suspect in this incident, a 17-year-old Antioch resident, is currently in custody of the Lake County judicial system pending an extradition hearing to transfer custody from Illinois to Wisconsin. Mr Rittenhouse has been assigned a public defender and is expected to appear in court on Friday. In a video posted by a reporter for The Daily Caller, Mr Rittenhouse was interviewed prior to the late-Tuesday evening shooting and was asked what his purpose was at the protest. So people are getting injured and our job is to protect this business, Mr Rittenhouse said. And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, Im running into harms way. Thats why I have my rifle because I need to protect myself, obviously. I also have my med kit. A gunman shot one person in the head and one person in the chest around 11.45pm on Tuesday evening during protests in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Two people died from the shooting on Tuesday and one person was hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries. Video footage from the event showed a gunman in the middle of the street brandishing a semi-automatic rifle before firing off the shots that hit multiple people. Witnesses then said the gunman was allowed to walk past police without being arrested. In one video, protesters are heard shouting at police that he was the gunman as an officer drove by to attend to the victims. As video footage circulated about the shooting, social media users identified the potential suspect as Mr Rittenhouse. His Facebook page is no longer available to the public, but previous posts allegedly included Blue Lives Matter and pro-police statements. One image circulating of Mr Rittenhouse showed him carrying a rifle similar to that which was allegedly used during the shooting. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier on Wednesday that armed people have been patrolling the streets of Kenosha in response to protesters looting, burning, and doing other damage to buildings and cars in the area. He could not say if the gunman from Tuesday was among them. Theyre a militia, Mr Beth said. Theyre like a vigilante group. Wisconsins lieutenant governor, Mandela Barnes, who is black, slammed the freedom of gunmen to walk the streets with rifles and face no repercussions. How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks its OK? Mr Barnes said in an interview with Democracy Now!. People treat that like its some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles. The FBI has been called to assist in investigating the case. The town of Antioch, where Mr Rittenhouse lives and surrendered himself, is just a 30-minute drive from Kenosha. Police have not indicated if more suspects are being investigated for the shootings. Mr Rittenhouse is to be charged with at least one charge of first-degree intentional homicide. This includes purging lawful representational activity from government worksites and equipment, weaponizing the bargaining process to propose, and in some cases impose, one-sided contracts, attacking our statutory right to collect voluntary dues, crippling our ability to mediate disputes on duty time, and more, says the questionnaires introduction. Taken together, these attacks constitute more than just a threat to our members livelihoods, they threaten the survival of the merit-based civil service system on which our government is built. Mumbai Police has arrested a murder case convict, who was on the run for over 40 days after jumping his furlough. The convict has been identified as Tushar Mahesh Saujani, a resident of Kandivali (East) in Mumbai. Assistant police inspector Raviraj Jadhav said that Saujani, 45, was convicted for life for murdering his minor daughter in 2016 by a sessions court, Vasai, in November 2018 . He claimed he didnt intend to kill her and that it was an accident. Saujani was staying at his brothers place and was arrested from the Kandivli area. He has been booked again under Section 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to lawful apprehension) of the Indian Penal Code, Jadhav said. Saujani was lodged at Amravati prison following his conviction. On June 20, Saujani was allowed to go on a furlough that was sanctioned by the office of deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police (east region), Nagpur. Saujani was staying with Omprakash Joshi, who had given his surety, at Trivedi Sangam CHS, Hanuman Nagar, Kandivli (East). Saujani was slated to return to the jail on July 12, but he played truant. Amravati jail officials alerted Samta Nagar police authorities about him going missing and the latter started a search for the absconding convict. He was arrested on Monday and the following day a local court sent him to Thane jail, said Raju Kasbe, senior inspector, Samta Nagar police station. Soon, Amravati jail authorities will take Saujanis custody. Amravati jail superintendent will conduct an investigation and prepare a report about his offence. He may be blacklisted from the prisons maafi system, which ensures speedy reform of a prisoner by legally awarding h/him remission, as an incentive on the basis of good behaviour. He is unlikely to get the monthly seven-day (annually 84-days) remission that a prisoner gets while serving a sentence because he is guilty of flouting the rules. He will be deprived of the 30-day AGCR (Annual Good Conduct Report) remission. Altogether, he stands to lose his annual 114-day remission. His name is also likely to be deleted from the maafi register that keeps a record of every inmates remission, said a DIG-rank official. Boris Johnson has demanded a 'full, transparent investigation' into the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Mr Navalny is currently in a coma in a Berlin hospital where doctors said they had found evidence he had been poisoned. Allies of Mr Navalny, a fierce critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, have claimed the Kremlin is behind his illness - claims which have been rejected by Moscow. Mr Johnson today became the latest world leader to call for an official probe into the matter as he said the UK will help 'ensure justice is done'. Boris Johnson today called for a 'full, transparent investigation' into the alleged posioning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny Mr Navalny, pictured during a rally in Moscow in January 2018, is a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin The Prime Minister tweeted: 'The poisoning of Alexey Navalny shocked the world. 'The UK stands in solidarity with him & his family. We need a full, transparent investigation into what happened. 'The perpetrators must be held accountable & the UK will join international efforts to ensure justice is done.' Medical tests carried out by German doctors indicated Mr Navalny had been poisoned. In a statement the hospital revealed extensive tests pointed to 'intoxication by substances from the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors'. Further analysis and tests to identify the exact substance which Mr Navalny was exposed to are ongoing. 'The outcome remains uncertain but long-term effects, especially to the nervous system, could not be ruled out', the hospital said. The Kremlin has dismissed claims that it was involved in the alleged poisoning of Mr Navalny. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'These accusations absolutely cannot be true and are rather an empty noise. We do not intend to take it seriously.' He added: 'If a substance (that caused the condition) is found, and if it is determined that it is poisoning, then there will be a reason for an investigation.' Mr Navalny fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia last Thursday, with his supporters of the belief that he drank tea laced with poison. He was taken to a hospital in the Russian city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing. He was then transferred by air ambulance to the Charite hospital in Berlin at the weekend. Cholinesterase inhibitors act by blocking the breakdown of a key chemical in the body, acetycholine, that transmits signals between nerve cells. Mr Navalny is being treated with the antidote atropine. The inhibitors are a broad range of substances that are found in several drugs, but also pesticides and nerve agents. Mr Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has been visiting her husband every day and made no comment to reporters when she arrived yesterday. Chancellor Angela Merkel personally offered Germany's help in treating Mr Navalny and, along with other European officials, has already called for a full Russian investigation. Mr Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said the Russian government's reluctance to launch an investigation was expected. She tweeted: 'It was obvious that the crime would not be properly investigated and a culprit found. However, we all know perfectly well who that is.' The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved Volodymyr Zhmak, who was head of the supervisory board of the Boryspil airport, Board Chairman of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia. "He was selected at an open competition by the supervisory board. He passed absolutely all interviews, it was an open competition," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, commenting on this appointment at a government meeting on Wednesday. As reported, the Supervisory Board of Ukrzaliznytsia on August 12 supported Zhmak's candidacy for the post of the head of the company. Zhmak was appointed a member of the Boryspil airport's supervisory board in May 2019. From 2015 to 2016, he was the first deputy head of the Odesa Regional Administration. He held senior positions in the structures of the TNK-BP group, which was one of the ten largest private oil companies in the world in terms of production. As an advisor to the president of Ukraine's largest mobile operator Kyivstar, he was responsible for the development of new business areas and compliance. For seven years he was a member of the Kyivstar supervisory board and he was a member of the Council of the European Business Association (EBA) from 2012 to 2014. I t would be "downright humiliating" for the UK if former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is given a post-Brexit trade role, Labour's Emily Thornberry has said. Mr Abbott, who was Prime Minister in Australia from 2013 to 2015, has been tipped to become joint president of Britains relaunched Board of Trade, reports the Sun. The board is among 11 groups that the UK's Department for International Trade has set up to cover a range of areas, such as investment, life sciences and financial services, to help advise on negotiations. Mr Abbott only served as leader in Australia for two years before he was ousted by rivals inside Australia's right-wing Liberal party. The social conservative lost his Sydney seat of Warringah to an independent candidate after losing votes from Sydneys Northern Beaches last year. Tony Abbott served as Australian PM from 2013 to 2015 / Stefan Postles / Getty Whitehall officials have downplayed reports Mr Abbott has been tipped for the role as they said no decisions have been made yet about the Board of Trade. Ms Thornberry, Labour's Shadow International Trade Secretary, said she found his appointment "absolutely staggering". She told Politico: On a personal level, I am disgusted that Boris Johnson thinks this offensive, leering, cantankerous, climate change-denying, Trump-worshipping misogynist is the right person to represent our country overseas. He was ousted by his own colleagues after two years in power, and kicked out of Australian politics by his own constituents just last year. "They are the people who know him best, and they wanted rid of him yet here we are, hiring him to negotiate our trade deals around the world. If it wasnt so downright humiliating, it would be almost hilarious. Labour's Emily Thornberry expressed concerns following reports Tony Abbott could take on the post-Brexit trade role / PA When asked about reports of Mr Abbott's new role, the current Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the ABC network on Wednesday. I think thats a good hire. Well done Boris [Johnson] good hire. The launch of the new advisory groups comes as ministers seek to step up talks with countries including Japan, the US, Australia and New Zealand. Negotiators hope that the advice will help them to secure new market access on products like ceramics, cars, steel and beef, as well as agreeing cutting-edge digital trade rules. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said that the Government wants to strike deals benefiting every part of the UK. This is about bringing business closer to the negotiating table and using their expertise to help secure the best possible deals that deliver jobs and growth across Britain, she said. Talks with Japan, the US, Australia and New Zealand are entering their crucial latter stages, so it is only right that we step up engagement with vital industries to utilise their technical and strategic expertise. I want business in Britain to feel engaged and informed about the work were doing to build an independent trade policy and how it impacts them. As we recover from coronavirus we want to strike deals that benefit every part of the country so we can build back better and deliver a fairer country for all. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 12:37:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XINING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The national nature reserve of Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland saltwater lake in northwest Qinghai Province, has seen an increased population of Przewalski's gazelles (Procapra przewalskii), the reserve's administration said. The number of Przewalski's gazelles near Qinghai Lake currently exceeds 2,700, up from over 300 in 1994, data from the administration showed. "To better protect the Przewalski's gazelles, the nature reserve's administration set up a protection station in 2004, stepping up efforts to rescue and breed the species," said Wu Yonglin with the station. The Przewalski's gazelle used to be found across northern and western parts of China, including Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, as well as Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. However, the animal is now only seen near Qinghai Lake. The species was listed as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection. From July 10 to Aug. 5 this year, 15 Przewalski's gazelles were born in the protection station. "With strengthened conservation efforts, the number of Przewalski's gazelles near the lake has increased and a good gene pool for the species has been preserved and established," said Wu. Dubbed the "most beautiful lake in China," Qinghai Lake plays an important role in the ecological preservation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Enditem By PTI NEW DELHI: Fintech major Paytm on Wednesday said it is in the process of hiring over 1,000 people across various roles over the next few months as it expands its operations, including segments like financial and wealth management services, in the country. Paytm is in the process of hiring over 1,000 engineers, data scientists, financial analysts among other positions for tech and non-tech roles, a statement said. "The company has ramped up recruitment as it is heading for a rapid expansion of its financial and wealth management services," it added. Paytm and its group businesses such as lending, insurance, wealth management and offline payments have been expanding operations, thereby creating the need to bring in more tech and non-tech employees, it said. This team expansion would play an essential role in launching innovative financial services and technology to fuel its growth journey, it added. Other than tech and non-tech hires to fill positions across its operations in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru, Paytm is also bringing in over 50 senior-level executives in vice president roles and above to bolster its senior leadership. In April, the Noida-based company had announced plans to hire over 500 people. Asked if Paytm has completed that process, the company said it has hired close to 700 employees during the last four months. "The 1,000 people is additional manpower in tech and non-tech roles that we need and the hiring process is on for that," it said in an e-mailed response. In its statement, Paytm said it held interviews and inductions of new joinees even during the lockdown. In response to reports of layoffs and exit of senior leaders, the company said, "We have not laid off any employees or resorted to any salary cuts." "From April 2019 to date while around 20 senior executives exited Paytm, over 140 have been hired for leadership roles in vice-president and above positions. Paytm is recruiting talent from Fortune 500 companies, MNCs, top startups, and bringing in people who have entrepreneurial experience," the statement said. Recently, the company also announced setting up of its largest campus in Noida, Uttar Pradesh to accommodate its expanding team. The 5,000 seater office is spread across 5.5 lakh square feet of space. "We are building India's largest consumer internet and financial technology platform that requires more talent. This year, we are aiming to add additional 1,000 colleagues to our different business verticals to build and scale innovative products for the masses," Paytm Vice President Narender Yadav said. Italy and Albania, who also have Ionian coasts, have been officially informed about Greece's plans and a bill on the matter will be submitted to parliament soon, Mitsotakis said Greece plans to extend the western limit of its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 miles, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. Italy and Albania, who also have Ionian coasts, have been officially informed about Greece's plans and a bill on the matter will be submitted to parliament soon, Mitsotakis said. "Greece will extend its western territorial waters to 12 nautical miles from six," Mitsotakis told lawmakers during a debate on whether to approve an accord on maritime boundaries between Greece and Italy. The two countries signed an agreement on maritime boundaries in June, establishing an exclusive economic zone and resolving longstanding issues over fishing rights in the Ionian Sea. A separate maritime agreement with Egypt, a step Turkey said infringed on its continental shelf, is also under debate in the Greek parliament and lawmakers are expected to vote on both agreements on Thursday. Mitsotakis said Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias would soon visit Tirana to discuss a maritime agreement with Albania. The planned measure does not affect the Aegean region, off Greece's eastern and southern coasts. To the east of Greece, Turkey has warned that a similar move by Athens would be a "casus belli", or cause for war. The two countries are in dispute over the extent of their continental shelves and their maritime boundaries and the row escalated after Turkey sent a survey vessel in disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a move Athens called illegal. US President Donald Trump called Mitsotakis on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mitsotakis' office said in a statement. Mitsotakis told Trump that Greece was ready to help de-escalate tensions as long as Turkey ended its provocations. Search Keywords: Short link: For too long and at a terrible cost to taxpayers, bad actors have disguised abusive tax shelters as legitimate conservation donations. These actors must be stopped. The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, today welcomed a U.S. Senate investigative report regarding abuse of the federal conservation tax incentive. The following statement can be attributed to Andrew Bowman, president & CEO of the Land Trust Alliance: The Land Trust Alliance and our 1,000 member land trusts welcome the U.S. Senate Finance Committees thorough and revealing report on abuse of the federal conservation tax incentive. The bipartisan investigation that yielded this report, led by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), concluded the ongoing abuse is egregious and must end. The report also makes clear in the starkest terms why Congress must take action now. For too long and at a terrible cost to taxpayers, bad actors have disguised abusive tax shelters as legitimate conservation donations. These actors must be stopped. A solution is ready for Congress to pass. The bipartisan Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act (S. 170 / H.R. 1992) will safeguard taxpayers by stopping these bad actors from their profiteering, all while allowing conservation donations motivated by charity to continue unimpeded. This legislation is concise, sensible and ready for passage in the House and Senate. On behalf of our member land trusts, I thank Sens. Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) along with Reps. Mike Thompson (D-California) and Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania) for championing this solution. The Land Trust Alliance joins the Appraisal Institute, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and other leading appraisal and conservation organizations in urging Congress to end the outrageous abuse by passing the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act. More information about this issue is available at https://www.lta.org/integrity. 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. # # # The Reserve Bank of Australia is warning a 40 per cent fall in house prices is 'plausible' as coronavirus pushes up unemployment to 1990s levels. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, Australia already had the world's highest household debt levels after Switzerland. A surge in unemployment to double-digit levels unseen since 1994, as a result of from coronavirus trading restrictions, is set to force struggling home borrowers to sell. In those circumstances, the Reserve Bank said an eight per cent fall in employment levels could see 'housing prices falling by 40 per cent'. 'We believe this is an extreme but plausible scenario, which is broadly in line with the shock experienced by some countries during the Global Financial Crisis,' it said. Scroll down for video The Reserve Bank of Australia is warning a 40 per cent fall in house prices is 'plausible' as coronavirus destroys the economy. Such a scenario would see median house prices in Melbourne (pictured) dive from $793,548 to $476,129 This would see many borrowers owing their bank more than their home was worth - a situation known as negative equity. Australia's distressed housing market Sydney: DOWN 1 per cent to $1,002,107 marking the third consecutive month of decline Melbourne: DOWN 1.4 per cent to $793,548 - the fourth straight month of decline Brisbane: DOWN 0.3 per cent $555,284 - dropping two months running Perth: DOWN 0.6 per cent to $455,813 - the third straight month of decline Adelaide: UP 0.1 per cent to $478,175 - one month of increase Hobart: DOWN 0.4 per cent to $514,392 - one month of decline Darwin: DOWN 0.2 per cent to $466,959 - one month of decline Source: CoreLogic Home Value Index median house prices, July 2020 Advertisement Should such a scenario occur, Sydney's median house price would plunge from $1million to just $600,000, going by CoreLogic data. Melbourne's equivalent house prices would dive from $793,548 to $476,129. The plunge in real estate values would be 'more extreme' than the 20 per cent drop that occurred during the aftermath of the 1991 recession that saw the jobless rate peak at a six-decade high of 11.2 per cent - as unemployment stayed in the double digits for three years. Nonetheless, the RBA said a 40 per cent drop in Australian house prices would be comparable with the GFC a decade ago, which saw property values fall by 32 per cent in the United States, 37 per cent in Spain and 55 per cent in Ireland. The central bank is forecasting the official jobless rate rising from a 22-year high of 7.5 per cent in July to 10.5 per cent by the end of 2020 - a level unseen since early 1994. Making matters worse, Australia's debt-to-income ratio of 186.5 per cent is the second highest in the world after Switzerland's 211 per cent. Despite forecasting a severe drop in house prices, the Reserve Bank paper titled, How Risky is Australian Household Debt? - by Jonathan Kearns, Mike Major and David Norman - argued high household debt levels weren't a problem because this reflected high incomes and a high level of individuals owning rental properties. The paper overlooked how Australian wages growth had been stuck at below-average levels for the past seven years. Digital Finance Analytics principal Martin North, an economist, said house prices would likely to dive as struggling home borrowers who had lost their job were forced to sell - causing the property market to be flooded with distressed sales. Sydney's median house price would plunge from $1million to just $600,000, going by CoreLogic data 'We have some of the highest debt-to-income ratios in the world,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Digital Finance Analytics principal Martin North said house prices would likely to dive as struggling home borrowers who had lost their job were forced to sell - causing the property market to be flooded with distressed sales 'As house prices fall and as people see equity being destroyed, more people will come into the market.' A monthly survey of 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises by Digital Finance Analytics found more than a third of them feared their business wouldn't existing in six months' time - further exacerbating the house price crisis. 'The immediate crisis comes from the SME sector,' Mr North said. 'A proportion of those have a residential property so effectively, the residential property which is security for their business could be at risk because of the failure of the business.' On August 14, National Australia Bank chief executive Ross McEwan said struggling home borrowers would be better off selling their houses before prices fell. A monthly survey of 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises by Digital Finance Analytics found more than a third of them feared their business wouldn't existing in six months' time - further exacerbating the house price crisis. Pictured is an empty shop front at Bourke Street in downtown Melbourne in May 2020 The major banks offered six-month mortgage repayment holidays in March but those are due to end in September unless desperate borrowers beg for another half-yearly reprieve. 'There seems to be evidence from within the banks themselves that there is actually more pressure on households,' Mr North said. While the Reserve Bank has expressed concern about house prices, Mr North criticised the paper for downplaying the risk of high household debt levels - taking into account what borrowers owed on their mortgage, credit cards and personal loans. 'It is all about spin. This is not going to magically sort itself out,' he said. 'We're in the foothills of a crisis - the crisis is going to continue for two or three years, unemployment will rise.' The burial site is in what used to be a farming area outside an urban community near Osaka Castle and was one of seven major cemeteries in the city. It appeared in Japans traditional Bunraku musical drama The Love Suicides at Sonezaki by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. People used to tour the cemeteries to pray for their ancestors during the mid-summer Bon season under Buddhist tradition. By Trend Members of the Azerbaijan national gymnastics team have sent a congratulatory video message to First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, President of the Gymnastics Federation Mehriban Aliyeva on her birthday. Trend presents the video message. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Coalition of Car and Spare Parts Dealers, Clearing Agents and Artisans in Tema, Spintex and Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, in conjunction with Vehicle and Asset Dealers Union of Ghana (VADUG), has called off its planned demonstration scheduled for Thursday, 27 August. A statement signed by Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary, Tema Car Dealers Association, dated Wednesday, 26 August 2020, explained: This follows a meeting convened by the Minister of Trade and Industry, which was attended by the Commissioner and Senior Officials of the Customs Division of GRA, the Director-General of Ghana Standards Authority and Representatives of the Coalition, as well as the leadership of Automobile Dealers Union of Ghana (ADUG) and Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association. The statement said: The Minister and the Commissioner of Customs have assured members of the Coalition that their concerns will be addressed during the implementation of the Customs Amendment Act, 2020 and that further consultations will be held in defining the detailed implementation modalities of the Act. The Coalition said it wishes to give full assurance to all its members that they will continue to engage with the government to ensure that their businesses and livelihoods are protected in the implementation of the Ghana Automotive Development Policy. The group, on August 23, announced the intended demonstration against the governments ban on old car imports. The group said it wants the ban reversed. In its earlier statement serving notice of the now-called-off demonstration, the coalition said the Customs Amendment Act, 2020, which comes into force from November this year, will have an adverse impact on the sector as far as jobs are concerned. The protest is to serve as a strong signal to the government that its decision will collapse our business and deprive more than 20,000 artisans of our livelihood if the policy is rolled out on 1 November 2020. The coalition said it took the decision to march after all its meetings with the President and his Minister of Trade and Industry produced no good results for them. The nationwide demonstration was billed to have started from Tema followed by replicas in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale. It was to register our protest against the implementation of the policy on 1 November 2020. Ghana banned the importation of cars older than 10 years to encourage international companies including Volkswagen AG and Nissan Motor Co. to set up local plants in the West African country. The new law also provides import-duty rebates for companies that manufacture or assemble cars in Ghana, according to the act of parliament obtained Thursday by Bloomberg. The embargo will take effect six months after the manufacturing or assembling of new vehicles in Ghana begin under a special government program meant to draw investment. Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota Motor Corp. , Suzuki Motor Corp. and Renault SA are among automakers weighing the local assembly of vehicles in a country where used cars make up about 70% of vehicle imports. Ghana is seeking to become a car-manufacturing hub for West Africa, a region with more than 380 million people. The import restrictions could cost the government as much as $143 million in customs revenue in the first three years after implementation, according to parliamentary documents. Used-car sellers offer more affordable deals in a country where auto loans are rare. The law, signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo on April 30, also bans the importation of cars which have been involved in accidents, which dealers bring in and repair to provide even cheaper options to consumers. The ban on these will take effect from October, regardless of their date of manufacture. ---classfmonline Ex-top military official Aloys Ntiwiragabo is investigated in France over role in killing spree that left 800,000 dead. Rwanda has issued an international arrest warrant for former Rwandan spy chief, Aloys Ntiwiragabo, who is under investigation in France over his role in the African countrys 1994 genocide. Prosecutor-general Aimable Havugiyaremye told reporters on Tuesday Rwandan authorities have investigated his case and are working with the French unit in charge of combatting war crimes and crimes against humanity. France opened a probe into alleged crimes against humanity by the ex-military official after he was found in the suburbs of the city of Orleans, about 100km (62 miles) southwest of Paris. French investigative news site Mediapart tracked down Ntiwiragabo, who had been identified by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) as one of the architects of the genocide. Neither the ICTR, Interpol, France nor Rwanda were actively seeking him now and had dropped arrest warrants years ago. The revelation of his whereabouts came barely two months after another suspected genocide architect, Felicien Kabuga, was arrested on a Paris suburb. Kabuga, who evaded police in several countries for 25 years, is accused of financing the genocide. Kabuga had asked for a trial in France, citing frail health and claiming the United Nations court in Africa would be biased against him, and possibly hand him over to Rwandan authorities. Meanwhile, Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor for the international tribunal handling Rwandas genocide cases, arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday with a team of prosecutors and investigators. Brammertz will spend two weeks in the country, while the team will remain for a month to investigate and gather evidence on Kabuga and other genocide suspects at large. France has long been known as a hiding place for wanted genocide suspects. French investigators currently have dozens of cases under way, although Paris has so far never extradited a suspect to Rwanda. A plane carrying President Juvenal Habyarimana, from Rwandas Hutu majority, was shot down in Kigali on April 6, 1994. Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in 100 days of killing, orchestrated by the Hutu-led government and its ethnic militia allies. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who killed 51 worshippers at two mosques during the March 2019 attacks. (AP) A man shot and wounded in the New Zealand mosque attacks had a simple message for the mass-murderer responsible: "You are the loser, and we are the winners." Mirwais Waziri was among the survivors and family members who spoke on the second day of a four-day sentencing hearing for white supremacist Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who killed 51 worshippers at two mosques during the March 2019 attacks. Mr Waziri said Tarrant had not shown any remorse during the hearing and so instead of giving a victim's impact statement, he wanted to deliver the gunman a message. Coming from Afghanistan, Mr Waziri said, he was sometimes associated with terrorism - but now he has been freed. "You took that name from me," Mr Waziri said. "Today, you are the terrorist." His comments prompted applause from other victims in the courtroom. Others told Tarrant he was a coward, a monster, and a rat. Tarrant broke his impassive facade a couple of times to smirk at survivors when they made fun of him. One told him he should read the Koran during his plentiful free time, while another said he was still alive because Tarrant did not know how to shoot except from point-blank range. In March, the 29-year-old Australian gunman pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder and terrorism, reversing an earlier not guilty plea. He could become the first person in New Zealand to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, the toughest sentence available. Tarrant is noticeably thinner than when he was arrested. At the current hearing, he has not shown the brazenness he did at his first court appearance the day after the attacks, when he made a hand gesture sometimes adopted by white supremacists. Rashid Omar, whose 24-year-old son Tariq was killed at the Al Noor mosque, said he had desperately held out hope his son had survived until police and Muslim leaders read out a list of those who had died. "As a parent, no matter how old your children are, they'll always be your baby," he said. Each day has become a burden to endure and he finds even simple tasks hard to complete, Mr Omar said. Mr Omar's wife Rosemary said she functions from moment to moment, often in a fog. The loss and grief is debilitating, she said, and has cast a shadow over everything in their lives. "It's like I'm broken, and I see my family as broken," she said. Pakistani Prime Minister imran khan Headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, the German Federal Security Council denied Pakistan's request for supply of air independent propulsion (AIP) systems for its submarines. According to a report by Hindustan Times, quoting anonymous sources, said the German panel's decision was conveyed to Pakistan in the first week of August. Germany's decision to turn down the latest request by Pakistan is believed to be related to the 2017 truck bomb attack on the German Embassy in Kabul in which about 150 people were killed. The Haqqani network, a terrorist group known to have the backing of certain elements within the Pakistani deep state, was blamed for the attack. The AIP system would help Pakistan modernise its submarines as the technology allows non-nuclear (conventional) submarines to operate without having to surface for atmospheric oxygen for about a week. Conventional, diesel-electric engine submarines have to frequently come up to the water surface to recharge their batteries, thus reducing their underwater endurance time. While India is yet to adopt and transition to AIP systems, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is already working on indigenously developing the technology to equip the naval submarines. F rance's interior minister has defended topless sunbathing after police faced a backlash for asking a group of women on a Mediterranean beach to cover up. A patrol of two officers asked three women who were bathing topless on the beach of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer on August 20 to cover up with their swimsuits. Police said the request followed a complaint from a nearby family who were embarrassed by the situation due to the presence of their children. Interior minister Gerald Darmanin spoke out in support of the women on Twitter saying: "Freedom is a precious commodity". He added that it was normal for the administration to recognise its mistakes. The Pyrenees-Orientales police said in a statement shared on Facebook that no "municipal order forbids this practice in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer". "Guided by a desire for appeasement, the police asked the people concerned if they would agree to cover their chest after they explained the reason for their approach," it said. Police spokeswoman Maddy Scheurer blamed the "clumsiness" of the two officers for the incident on Twitter. She said: "You will always see me in uniform, but the practice of topless tanning is allowed at the beach of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer." One social media user disagreed and said the incident shouldn't be blamed on the "clumsiness" of the officers but on "incompetence". Others questioned how the patrolling officers were not aware of the law which does not forbid the practice of topless bathing at the beach. "I dare to hope that this poor woman received a formal apology," said one Twitter user. It is not illegal to sunbathe topless in France, but local authorities can ban the practice with guidance about clothing. The Vietnam Fisheries Society has criticized Indonesias illegal arrest of Vietnamese fishermen, and demanded their release and the return of their boats. In a communication to the Government Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Communist Party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission on Monday, it said Indonesia has to ensure the safety of Vietnamese fishermen and their boats and that similar incidents do not occur again. It also called on the Vietnamese government to condemn the Indonesian action and bring the fishermen back home safely soon, and strengthen patrols to promptly assist fishermen at sea. On August 10 three Vietnamese fishing vessels from the south central province of Khanh Hoa with 26 crew members on board were seized and towed away by Indonesian authorities while they were fishing in Vietnamese territorial waters. The fishermen were arrested and taken out of Vietnamese waters. Last year senior Vietnamese and Indonesian defense officials pledged to treat fishermen from either country humanely, avoiding the use of and threat to use force. Vietnam and Indonesia have been working for years to speed up negotiations on the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones (EEZ). In 2003 the two countries reached an agreement on continental shelf boundaries after 30 years of negotiations. Since President Joko Widodo took office in Indonesia in 2014, hundreds of foreign fishing vessels have been scuttled, more than half from Vietnam, according to AFP. Hagaesplanaden, Sweden -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/26/2020 -- Beautyka, a skincare clinic based in Stockholm is proud to introduce new skincare procedure Profhilo a slow release of hyaluronic acid that stimulates the production of new collagen in the skin. With Profhilo, People can receive an anti-aging treatment that is less invasive than cosmetic surgery yet provides similar results. Skin is the body's largest organ as well as its shield against surrounding environment. Collagen is a major component of the skin because it plays a role in its strengthening, plus may benefit hydration and elasticity. However, as we age, the skin's ability to produce collagen decreases causing the redudion thickness of the dermis thereby leading to the loss of skin elasticity and the formation of wrinkles. Beautyka, a beauty clinic is committed to reversing this situation with the introduction of Profhilo. Beautyka is a skincare clinic that offers a wide range of skincare services and aesthetic treatments for all age groups and skin types. They offer services that include cellulitreduction massage, aesthetic treatment, skincare treatments and hair removal. They have licensed dermatologists and licensed physicians with many years of experience in skincare and aesthetic treatments that are always ready to solve skin issues. Also, they sell a wide range of high-quality and effective skincare products from well-known brands on their webshop for home use. Profhilo, an aesthetic anti-aging procedure is one of the latest innovations to treat skin laxity by skin bio-remodeling. Profhilo is a skin booster made from hyaluronic acid for skin that is losing its elasticity and firmness with age. It involves the injection of hyaluronic acid gel which when injected stimulates the skin's natural production of collagen and acts as a skin booster thereby improving the quality of the skin. The treatment is effective in treating those areas prone to laxity and sagging like the neck, chest and cheeks. If you're looking for skin that looks dewy, plumper and generally younger, Profhilo skincare procedure from Beautyka is your best bet. The physicians that will carry out the procedure are certified and highly experienced. Beutyka is committed to ensuring customer satisfaction and is always happy to answer questions, recommend products and skincare that will suit and satisfy the skin's needs. For more information, please visit https://beautyka.se Media Contact: Company name: Beautyka AB Contact name: Maiia Solodovnykova Email: info@beautyka.se Phone number: +46765799689 Website: https://beautyka.se/ Address and Zip Code: Hagaesplanaden 58 113 66 Country and City: Sweden Stockholm GeoCoordinates latitude: 59.347791, longitude: 18.034549 A 17-year-old boy has been arrested over the killing of two people gunned down during a protest in Wisconsin over the police shooting of black man Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, from Antioch, Illinois, was arrested on Wednesday 15 miles from the scene and charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Lake County prosecutors, in Wisconsin, branded him a "fugitive from justice" after he allegedly fled the scene, according to reported court documents. A white gunman shot one person in the head and one person in the chest around 11.45pm on Tuesday in Kenosha as tempers flared during a third night of unrest over the police shooting that paralysed Mr Blake from the waist down. The 29-year-old was shot multiple times by an officer as he leaned into his car, where his children sat. His lawyers say it will take a "miracle" for him to walk again. Wisconsin, Kenosha: Jacob Blake Protests - In pictures 1 /21 Wisconsin, Kenosha: Jacob Blake Protests - In pictures REUTERS Law enforcement officers walk amidst tear gas during a protest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS Protestors run for cover as police shoots tear gas in an effort to disperse the crowd during the demonstrations AFP via Getty Images Police clash with protesters in Kenosha on Monday night AP Flames roar from cars torched by protestors a few blocks from the County Court House AFP via Getty Images Protesters clash with officers during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha AFP via Getty Images Kenosha County Sherriff and police officers in riot gear form a line behind a burning truck during demonstrations against the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin AFP via Getty Images A protester stands in a cloud of tear gas near a burning garbage truck outside the Kenosha County Court House AP AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AP AP Two people died from the shooting on Tuesday and one person was wounded with non-life threatening injuries. In mobile phone footage purporting to show the attack, a young white male could be heard saying "I just killed somebody". US president Donald Trump said federal law enforcement officers were being deployed to the city. "We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets," he wrote in a tweet. In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers authorised 500 members of the National Guard to support local law enforcement around Kenosha, doubling the number of troops sent in. The governor's office said he working other states to bring in additional National Guard troops and law officers. Recalling the shooting, protester Devin Scott, 19, told the Chicago Tribune. We were all chanting Black lives matter at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, Thats not fireworks. And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, He shot someone! He shot someone! And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again. Mr Scott said he cradled a lifeless victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but I dont think he made it. Much of Rittenhouses Facebook page is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle. Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages the gunman first shot someone at a car park, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him. Donald Trump has sent federal reinforcements into the Kenosha / AFP via Getty Images A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled, two people jumped on to him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him. The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired, Mr Rosas said. Sam Dirks, 22, from Milwaukee, said he had seen the suspected gunman earlier in the evening, and he was yelling at some of the protesters. Jacob Blake's mother calls for violence to end He was definitely very agitated. He was pacing around, just pointing his gun in general. Not necessarily at anyone specifically, Mr Dirks said. Sheriff David Beth told the Journal Sentinel that armed people had been patrolling the citys streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. Theyre a militia, he said. Theyre like a vigilante group. The FBI said it is assisting in the case. Bella Thorne is making a movie based on her recent monetary success on the social media platform OnlyFans. Since the actor joined the subscription-only platform last week, Thorne has reportedly made over $2m (1.52m) from her page. OnlyFans allows celebrities and influencers to share exclusive images or videos with paying subscribers. Often its content is deemed too risque for social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. Thorne charges users a monthly fee of $20 (15.20) to access her feed. The actor told the LA Times of her plans to document her OnlyFans success story in a film starring herself. Its a feature we are researching as Im living it currently, she said. The 22-year-old also revealed that, although the film is very early in its development, Sean Baker who previously directed critically acclaimed indie films The Florida Project and Tangerine has signed on as its director. (Getty Images) The Assassination Nation star said the film will answer questions about a platform such as OnlyFans, including What are the ins and outs? What does a platform like this do to its users? Whats the connective material between your life and your life inside the world of OnlyFans? How can it change your life for the worse and the better? How far are you willing to go, and how far do you want to go? The actor concluded, You can be me, or this talented girl from Montana, and OnlyFans could change your life if you want it to, of course. Thorne first became famous as a child star on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up before going on to star in films including Assassination Nation, Infamous and the television series Famous in Love. Jason McDonald, owner of Casual Hair Salon in Torontos Little Jamaica, said hes received more government financial support during COVID-19 than he has over the past nine years as hes struggled to weather the LRT construction outside his window. He has watched other businesses close around him, leaving For Rent signs in the nearby windows along Eglinton Ave. West. McDonalds foot traffic has all but dried up because of the construction of the Crosstown LRT, which has been delayed more than once he would have closed years ago if not for his longtime clients. The Little Jamaica McDonald describes from 1994 the sound of reggae music, the smell of patties and jerk chicken is all but gone. When this whole construction is done, there wont be a lot of remnants of Little Jamaica. There might be one or two stores still around. Im trying to be one of those stores. Local advocates are renewing the push for official recognition of Little Jamaica and support to help the area recover from the effects of COVID-19, construction and gentrification a call that has been ongoing since the Metrolinx Crosstown LRT project broke ground in 2011. A youth-led group called Reclaim, Rebuild Eg West is the latest voice on the scene. In an emailed statement, group member Victoria Rodney said RREW was inspired by seeing the wave of protests after the deaths of George Floyd, Regis Korchinski-Paquet and DAndre Campbell. In partnership with Black Urbanism Toronto, they have set up a GoFundMe to raise money for grants to help Black-owned businesses in Little Jamaica. They are also holding a rally August 29 in support of their cause. The group is asking for support from the city and the three business improvement areas (BIAs) that cover Little Jamaica, which they say do not adequately represent Black-owned businesses. As a result of this, there have been many decisions made that do not reflect or consider the sustainability and livelihood of Black businesses/livelihood in the area, said Rodney. Rodney outlined multiple ways this support could manifest, including financial compensation from Metrolinx (the provincial agency in charge of the LRT construction project) to help struggling businesses, assessing the benefits that could arise from an official branding of Little Jamaica, and inclusionary zoning to keep newer developments accessible. Many of these solutions come from a July report penned by Black Urbanism Toronto after speaking with Black-owned businesses in Little Jamaica earlier this year. Dane Williams, co-founder of Black Urbanism Toronto, said the LRT construction has caused some 140 businesses in Little Jamaica to close since it began. The pressure of COVID-19 has exacerbated the need to have the area officially recognized as Little Jamaica by the BIAs and the city, he said, but added the BIAs have long been reluctant to support officially branding the area. Little Jamaica is covered by three BIAs York-Eglinton, Eglinton Hill and Fairview Village making the interests of the businesses even more fragmented, he said. In an emailed response, York-Eglinton BIA chair Nick Alampi said two of the organizations seven board directors are Black business owners. We understand the daily struggles of our retailers, and we have always been proud of the history of Little Jamaica along Eglinton West. We are committed to working closely with our local city councillors and grassroots organizations to recognize our neighbourhoods past, celebrate the present and secure our future, he said. Steve Tasses, chair of the Eglinton Hill BIA, said in an email that the organization has always involved the Jamaican/Caribbean community in its events, such as hiring local performers. They currently have two board members who are of Jamaican descent, he said. The Fairbank Village BIA did not respond to requests for comment. Everett Cooper, who has owned several businesses in the area and worked for more than 20 years with the Eglinton Hill BIA, said Little Jamaicas businesses have gone through one thing after another. The LRT construction weakened the businesses, he said, making them more vulnerable to COVID-19. He said branding Little Jamaica would add value to the area, acknowledging the important role the Jamaican community has played in Torontos history. But he believes any funding given to the community should be put straight in the hands of those who have lived and worked there for decades, those who know the community well and what it needs. Another new voice on the scene is a website called The Little Jamaica, a community initiative by the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) in partnership with the City of Torontos Economic Development and Culture division and the citys Confronting Anti-Black Racism unit. Nadine Spencer, president of the BBPA, said her organization was brought in by the city to work with Little Jamaica businesses, which she said have been disadvantaged by the LRT construction and COVID-19. You can see the vacancy, she said of the area, adding that many of the businesses werent equipped to deal with the e-commerce boom during the pandemic, and couldnt access funding to help them get through the construction. She said the current branding of the area as International Market doesnt do it justice, and agrees its time Little Jamaica was recognized for its history and significance to the city. It is Little Jamaica. Thats what it is. But McDonald is cautious. He said everyone already knows this area as Little Jamaica, and that any sort of official recognition will be meaningless without actual change and support. I havent gotten a dollar, he said. In April 2018, Toronto announced initiatives to help Little Jamaica businesses including $100,000 to help them enhance their online presence. Metrolinx promised $10,000 a year to business improvement areas (BIAs) on Eglinton. Toronto city councillor Josh Matlow, who represents Ward 12 Toronto-St. Pauls, came onto the scene during the last election. He said he found Metrolinx had treated the local business community like collateral damage, and he is concerned that with more development on the way, the Black-owned businesses that havent closed due to construction or COVID-19 will be pushed out because they cant afford the new spaces. Theres a real concern that the character, the story, along with the Black-owned businesses in Little Jamaica could be lost to history. A spokesperson for Metrolinx said in an emailed statement that it continues to work with the BIAs, other neighbourhood groups and the city to figure out solutions, and have supported advertising campaigns for the Caribbean, West Indian and Filipino communities. They added Metrolinx is aware of the report by Black Urbanism Toronto, and that it is being reviewed in the context of the March 9 announcement by the Ontario government of $3 million in funding to promote businesses impacted by the LRT construction along Eglinton Avenue. They said they cant yet provide details on how this funding will be used, but that it could provide marketing funds, direct business supports and more. Matlow wants the city to focus on two things, the first being economic development to help the remaining Black-owned businesses survive. This could include affordable spaces in any new developments, he said. The second is public improvement in the form of art, street names and other initiatives with a focus on preserving the areas character and history. Matlow said he has been talking with city planners, social development staff and the anti-Black racism unit to create a planning framework that includes all the different groups advocating for change, making the community co-authors of the framework. The meetings with community members, business owners and city staff started pre-pandemic and will continue this fall, he said. People love Little Jamaica, said Matlow, but it hasnt had support over the years the way other cultural pockets have, like Chinatown or Little Italy. Its time to reverse that trend. Read more about: The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has rolled out parameters to sustainable growth in the petroleum industry. The corporation said these parameters are necessary for the industry to move forward in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mele Kyari, spoke at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Energy Industry Transformation Summit (NEITS) 2020, held under the theme: Changing Global Energy Landscape: Repositioning for Industry Sustainability. I would quickly name four critical pillars which I consider important towards repositioning for industry sustainability. This focuses on people, partnership, profit, and posterity, he said. According to a statement by the corporations spokesperson, Kennie Obateru, Mr Kyari said industry players need to train their eyes on a strategy that focuses on these four. He urged the industry stakeholders to evolve innovative ways to reposition the sector for sustainability. He said the new normal brought about by the coronavirus pandemic has, more than ever, reinforced the need to upskill the human capacity within the Industry for the next phase, and develop the capacity to attract, train and retain people in the Sector. There must be collaboration across different dimensions; government, industry, academia, and, particularly, with the communities where we carry out our operations. The social license to operate is critical to the Industrys long term survival. Also, a partnership among Industry peers to chart new ways of resolving Industry challenges and preparing for tomorrow cannot be overemphasized. I am delighted the SPE provides such veritable platform he said Mr. Kyari said that for sustainability, Industry players must learn to manage cost, improve efficiency, and deliver required cashflow (margins) for reinvestment and expansion, stressing that without creating profit today. We wouldnt be in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that keep us viable and ready for tomorrow. Another key to repositioning the industry for sustainability, according to the GMD, is for industry players to always act and take decisions with posterity in mind. We must bequeath to the next generation a world worthy to live in. Our operations must, therefore, be carried out in a safe manner without adversely impacting the environment. As you know, most discussions around energy substitution or green economy stem from looking at the Industry as dirty and unconscionable. It must be reiterated that our Industry remains the bedrock of modern human existence. We must, therefore, work to create a positive view if we are to remain relevant in the long run, he said. In his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill would ensure that Nigerias abundant natural gas resources are used to promote national development. He also said that in collaboration with stakeholders, the ministry, under his watch, would promote domestic use of gas resources so as to create job opportunities for Nigerians. Delivering the keynote address, the President, SPE International, Shauna Noonan, said the concept of energy transition was not to wipe out fossil fuel but rather an aspiration for cleaner energy. She said the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigeria Council, has a great role to play in reducing energy poverty, noting that energy transition was important for greater value in the global oil and gas industry. In his welcome remark, the Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Joseph Nwakwue, said the society was ready to offer professional services and work with all stakeholders to move the industry forward. He said the society was focused on capacity building to develop the required skill set for the oil and industry operations, stressing that it was what informed the choice of the theme of the conference. India is emerging as a global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, with the virus spreading rapidly throughout the country, including to rural areas where public health facilities are largely nonexistent. Home to the worlds largest number of desperately poor people, the South Asian country now leads the world in terms of daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases, with new cases exceeding 60,000 on virtually every day for the past two-and-a-half weeks. India is on pace to soon surpass Brazil as the country with the worlds second largest total tally of COVID-19 infections. Since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party government began reopening the economy at the end of April, the countrys COVID-19 caseload has gone up exponentially, with cases increasing more than a hundredfold. On May 1, India had just over 25,000 cases and 1,150 deaths. As of Tuesday, according to extremely conservative official figures, total infections rose to 3,170,942 with 58,570 fatalities. A record number of daily infections was registered on Saturday, with 70,488 cases. Underscoring that the spread of the virus continues to accelerate, the past seven days have witnessed the fastest weekly increase in new infections and fatalities since the start of the pandemic, with nearly half a million new infections and 6,666 people losing their lives. The latest one million infections have been registered in just 16 days. Commuters wearing face masks jostle for a ride on a bus in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, July 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Bikas Das) Responsibility for this health and social disaster lies squarely with the entire Indian ruling class, which has pursued policies from the outset aimed at defending the wealth and business interests of the superrich, while leaving the vast majority of impoverished workers and toilers to fend for themselves. The Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Modi has refused to take any serious measures to strengthen the countrys chronically underfunded health care system and has facilitated the rapid spread of the virus to almost every corner of the country with its homicidal back-to-work drive. It has been supported in this by all of the official opposition parties, which have used their positions in various state governments to throw open the economy so big business can begin extracting profits once again from highly-exploited workers, regardless of what this costs in human lives. Despite the horrendous toll the coronavirus has taken, especially on the working class and rural poor, Modi continues to insist that his government has mounted an exemplary response. In his August 15 Independence Day speech, Modi said India is doing well in the battle against the deadly pandemic. He added that he believe[s] the indomitable will power and determination of 130 crore [10 million] countrymen will make us win over Corona [pandemic], and we shall definitely win. Modis rhetoric is aimed at covering up the callous attitude of his BJP government towards the lives of millions of working people and rural toilers. After ignoring the threat posed by the pandemic for more than two months, the government belatedly implemented an ill-prepared countrywide lockdown on March 25 with only a few hours notice. The lockdown failed to prevent the spread of the disease, above all, because the government did not use the time to increase desperately needed financial support to the health care system, nor put in place a system of mass testing and contact tracing to identify and contain infections. Neither did the government provide adequate financial and other support to the tens of millions of workers who lost their incomes overnight, resulting in hunger and social distress on a vast scale. The social misery produced by the governments policies meant that millions of workers were left with no choice but to return to unsafe workplaces when lockdown measures began to be prematurely lifted from late April onwards. The Congress Party, Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI), Aam Admi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena and several regional parties are equally to blame for the rapid spread of the pandemic. All of them, whether as part of current or past governments at the central or state levels, have intentionally neglected the public health care system by limiting budget allocations to the meagre level of 1.5 percent of Indias GDP. Since the onset of the pandemic, none of the state governments involving these parties has challenged the Modi governments criminal policy of herd immunity, which involves allowing the virus to run rampant so that major companies can return to business as usual. It is worth noting in this regard that two of the states hit hardest by the virus, the western state of Maharashtra and the capital of Delhi, are run by a coalition government of the ultra-right Shiv Sena and Congress, and an AAP government respectively. The herd immunity policy, which even its advocates acknowledge will likely lead to a death toll in the millions, is the spearhead of a savage assault being prepared by the Modi government against the working class. The prime minister has vowed to initiate a quantum jump in pro-investor reforms, including the further relaxation of Indias already lax labour laws so as to slash labour costs and make India more attractive to global investors. To downplay the disastrous consequences of its policies, which are becoming ever clearer with the daily increases in new infections and deaths, the Modi government primarily highlights the so-called recovery rate, which is "nearly at 75 percent. It also claims to have presided over a lower fatality rate of 1.86 percent, which is one of the lowest globally, according to the Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry. These claims are absurd in many ways. Indian state authorities are notorious for vastly underreporting death rates, which has no doubt contributed to the comparatively low official fatality rate. Changes made to the procedure for releasing COVID-19 patients from hospitals have also artificially boosted the recovery rate. Whereas a patient initially required two negative coronavirus tests before being discharged, the government adopted new guidelines in April that allowed patients to be discharged if they showed no symptoms for three days. Even patients receiving critical care require just one negative test before being discharged. As a result, there have been repeated reports of patients who have died after leaving hospitals. It remains unclear whether these deaths are being logged as coronavirus casualties. The attempt to paint a rosy picture of the low death rate also ignores the devastating impact COVID-19 is having on the elderly and other vulnerable sections of the population. According to a study by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research, Indians over the age of 60 account for 53 percent of all virus deaths, even though they make up just nine percent of the general population. The refusal of the Modi government and its counterparts at the state level to make available additional funds for Indias desperately underresourced public health system has also created terrible conditions at many hospitals. There is an acute shortage of medical staff and personal protective equipment for frontline workers. Doctors, nurses and other medical staff have been forced to labour in hellish conditions and have often gone for months without pay. This has triggered a growing number of strikes and protests. For example, on July 18, sanitation workers and nursing staff of the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Patna went on strike to protest the nonpayment of their salaries for the previous two months. Although the facility was designated as a COVID-19 hospital by the state government, striking workers alleged it had become a hub for VIP patients of COVID-19 like ruling government leaders, ministers, bureaucrats, judges and businessmen. As they have occupied the majority of the isolation rooms and ICU beds with ventilators, health care workers or their family members have been refused admission and treatment at the hospital where they have worked since the beginning of the pandemic, according to NewsClick. Across India, around 200 doctors have already succumbed to the virus, 40 percent of whom were general practitioners. These protests in the health care sector coincide with mounting social opposition among the working class and rural toilers to the pro-corporate agenda of Modi and the ruling elite as a whole. Millions of workers, including social health and child care workers, have participated in various strikes and protests over recent weeks against planned privatisations, cuts to public spending, and attacks on workplace rights. The growing opposition to the Indian political establishment must find an independent political way forward if it is to put a stop to the ruling class onslaught on working people and save lives amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic. This requires the mobilisation of the working class and rural toilers in a struggle for a workers and peasants government pledged to socialist policies. A poacher who may have killed over 500 elephants since 2008 has been jailed for 30 years in the Republic of Congo. Mobanza Mobembo Gerard was found guilty of ivory trafficking and the attempted murder of park rangers. Gerard, known as Guyvanho, led poaching expeditions which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of animals, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. The case has been held up as a milestone in the fight to hold wildlife criminals to account. His trial and sentencing last week marked the first criminal conviction of a wildlife trafficker in the country. Previously, environmental crimes were tried in civil courts and incurred a maximum sentence of five years, the WCS said. The sentence sends an extremely strong message that wildlife crime will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted at the highest levels, WCS regional director Emma Stokes said in a statement on Monday. Congolese judicial authorities could immediately be reached for comment. The attempted murder charges against Gerard were connected to a 2019 incident when his poacher group allegedly fired at and wounded members of a ranger patrol in Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, WCS said. The park covers 4,000 square kilometres (1,540 sq miles) in the north of the country. Its dense lowland rainforest has been a refuge for the region's rare forest elephants, which were only confirmed to be a separate species from the larger African savannah elephant in 2010. As recently as 1980, there were over a million elephants in Africa; they now number just over 300,000 and are at risk of being wiped out from all but the most heavily protected pockets. In addition to ivory demand - mostly from China - persecution is increasingly being seen in areas where elephants come into contact with expanding human populations and settlements. Earlier this year it was announced Botswana was auctioning licences to hunt a total of 70 elephants in seven districts, the first such hunting to take place since the countrys president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, lifted a five-year ban on big game hunting in May 2019. Additional reporting by Reuters New Delhi, Aug 26 : The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has demanded a fee cut in national law universities, citing economic woes due to coronavirus. The student organization has sent a memorandum to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, demanding that the students pay fees in instalments instead of a lump sum. The ABVP said the facilities which the students have not been using during the corona pandemic should not be charged for. It has also demanded that no penalty should be imposed for delay in paying fees. The ABVP has demanded a similar fee exemption in other universities, drawing the attention of the Union Minister towards a fee relief of nearly Rs 63,000 to the students in Gujarat National Law University (GNLU). The GNLU has given an option to the students to pay their fees in instalments by January 2021. The ABVP has demanded that other national law universities in the country also give a similar option for paying fees. ABVP National General Secretary Nidhi Tripathi said, "Memorandum has been given to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to grant fee relief to all students studying in national law universities and give them the option to deposit the fee in instalments. Gujarat National Law University has provided tremendous relief to the students by taking the necessary steps suggested by us. Hopefully, the Ministry will take prompt steps on our demands." We strive to create and maintain a positive working environment that embodies the firms culture, which is built on a collaborative effort to provide high-level service to our clients, Dallas Managing Shareholder The Dallas office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has been named by the Dallas Business Journal as one of its 2020 Best Places to Work in North Texas. This marks the fourth consecutive year the firm has earned a spot in the annual rankings. We strive to create and maintain a positive working environment that embodies the firms culture, which is built on a collaborative effort to provide high-level service to our clients, Dallas Managing Shareholder Joseph F. Coniglio said. Its an honor to once again be selected as one of the best places to work in Dallas. It is a testament to the teamwork and dedication of our employees who serve our outstanding clients in Texas and beyond. Annually, the Dallas Business Journal chooses the top 100 workplaces in the North Texas metro area based on an index score from employee responses and a survey conducted by Quantum Workplace. Companies are chosen from five separate categories, depending on the number of employees. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Texas: Texas is important to Greenberg Traurig, LLP and part of its history. With more than 130 Texas lawyers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Greenberg Traurig, LLP has deep roots in the Texas business, legal, and governmental communities. Greenberg Traurig Texas works with clients to address their interdisciplinary legal needs across the state utilizing the firms global platform. The Texas attorneys are experienced in industries key to the states future, including: aviation, chemicals, construction, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, health care, hedge funds, hospitality, infrastructure, insurance, media, medical devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, real estate, retail, sports, technology and software, telecommunications, transportation, and video games and esports. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has 2200 lawyers in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 26 Aug 2020: The Report Kids Footwear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Casual, Sports, Formal), By End User (Boys, Girls, Unisex), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025 The global kids footwear market size is expected to reach USD 59.2 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 8.2% over the forecast period. Growing middle class population, along with rise in the disposable income, is anticipated to boost the growth of the market over the forecast period. The market is driven by use of the trendy and attractive lifestyle footwear, especially for children. In addition, use of the conventional cotton products in manufacturing baby footwear to provide comfort has been driving the sales of the products in the market. Various design stores, fashion stores, and mass merchandisers have contributed to the sales and offers of the footwear for toddlers in the market. Moreover, the extra space provided for the children wear in the offline and online segments across the industry is anticipated to contribute to the growth over the forecast period. In addition, the children wear section in the shops involve up to 17% of the space and around 16% of the general deals, thereby contributing to the sales in the market. Kids footwear products in North America are anticipated to ascend due to the rise in the sales of retail child products in the clothing and apparel market. In U.S., the retail sales in apparel stores surpass USD 15 billion on a monthly basis. Moreover, rise in the number of footwear innovations for the women section in the market has likewise been added to the girls wear due to the similar pattern and trending style. Rising interest in the apparel and footwear products among children due to trendy lifestyle, product innovations, and high disposable income will drive the market in the coming years. Organizations are expanding their geographical reach so as to increase the sales of their products in the market. The market is recognized by few initiatives such as limited extension, mergers and acquisitions, and online sales and development. Key players in the business include Nike, Inc.; The Children's Place; Crocs Retail, LLC; Stride Rite; New Balance; Converse; Puma SE; ASICS America Corporation; SKECHERS USA, Inc.; and Adidas AG. Access Research Report of Kids Footwear Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/kids-footwear-market Further key findings from the report suggest: In terms of revenue, casual footwear accounted for the largest share of 46.0% in the year 2018 By end user, the boys segment dominated the global market with an overall share of 47.2% in the year 2018 North America dominated the global kids footwear market in 2018, accounting for 34.4% share of the overall revenue. This trend is projected to continue over the next few years The market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness significant growth due to increasing disposable income in countries such as India, South Korea, China, and Japan The industry is highly competitive in nature with the main players including Nike, Inc.; The Children's Place; Crocs Retail, LLC; Stride Rite; New Balance; Converse; and Puma SE Various manufacturers are concentrating on new product launches, capacity expansion, and technological innovation to estimate existing and future demand patterns from upcoming product segments. Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/clothing-footwear-and-accessories Grand View Research has segmented the global kids footwear market on the basis of product, end user, and region: Kids Footwear Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) Casual Sports Formal Others Kids Footwear End User Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) Boys Girls Unisex Kids Footwear Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) North America Europe Asia Pacific Central & South America Middle East & Africa Access Press Release of Kids Footwear Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-kids-footwear-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 Ant Group involved in digital currency development From:ChinaDaily | 2020-08-26 10:16 Ant Group is involved in the process to work on China's digital currency architecture, according to the prospectus it filed to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The financial technology giant said it is "one of a number of powerful commercial institutions" that the People's Bank of China, the central bank, summoned in late 2017 to develop the digital currency system. "Over the past two years, the company has been actively involved in the development and testing of digital RMB, and has been conducting closed-door pilots in cities like Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xiongan and Chengdu to prep for the forthcoming Winter Olympics scenarios," it said. Unlike general electronic payment tools, digital renminbi is positioned as the equivalent of notes and coins in circulation outside of the banking system, including cash held by institutions and individuals. The dual public offering will help Ant Group "accelerate its goal of digitizing the service industry in China," the company said in July when announcing the concurrent listing in both Shanghai and Hong Kong. American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald remarked, The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. For poor, often Black, communities, a desire for more policing is not at odds with their cries for humane treatment by the men and women in blue. Back in Los Angeles in the summer of 1991, my cousin and I two Black men in our early 20s were in my car getting ready to drive away when an orchestra of red and blue lights flickered around us. Four members of the Los Angeles Police Department guns drawn leapt from their squad cars, yelling for us to get out and on the ground. Bewildered, I asked what was wrong? They replied, Someone saw you breaking into this car." I replied, "How am I breaking into my own car? I have a key. Look at the registration." The next 10 minutes, face down in the gravel, felt like hours, as they scanned my ID, took notes, traced the car tags, and searched us for drugs and weapons. Nothing nefarious turned up. They released us without a word. This was not the first, or last time, police drew a gun on me. Months later, I was stopped again, this time for a blown tail light. The police officer told me I had $600 in outstanding traffic fines, too. I asked if he was sure about the tickets. He was. It dawned on me that a year before I lent a friend my car while I was away at college. He had racked up the fees and never paid them or told me. I explained the situation to the officer. It sounded like an excuse that need not be believed. But he did. And instead of sending me to jail for the night and taking my car, he wrote me a ticket with a handwritten note at the bottom. Once in court, I told the judge my story and a court clerk handed him the officers ticket and note on it. The judge read it silently (I never did) and reduced my fine to $25. The judges last words were keep teaching the youth. I was a fifth-grade teacher at a private school in South Central Los Angeles then. Story continues I never got any of the police officers names or badge numbers, or filed a complaint or compliment. I never thought to. The next year, Los Angeles burst into riotous flames after the verdict in the Rodney King case. Views about police are nuanced My conflicted experiences with police are not an outlier they are consistent with Black and lower-income communities perceptions of law enforcement. A new State of Opportunity in America report, released by the Center for Advancing Opportunity and produced in partnership with Gallup, reveals intriguing and seemingly contradictory perceptions of police. The nearly 7,000 respondents to the poll hail from 47 states, including some of the poorest and crime-challenged zip codes in the United States. The third annual report shows that contrary to conventional wisdom, most low-income, often inner-city, communities are not as hostile to or threatened by police as we are supposed to think. But they are not content either. In fact, large majorities of residents in low-income fragile communities including in both urban and rural areas want more police presence, not less. In the more than a dozen low-income urban areas surveyed, 53% of residents want more police presence while 41% want the same only 6% want less. Protesters face police officers in downtown Kenosha on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in response to police shooting Jacob Blake, a Black man. While Black Lives Matter advocates identify legitimate concerns with police, their push to defund the police is at odds with what many Black residents want. For instance, a mere 8% of Black residents in these communities want less police presence with 52% wanting more and 40% the same amount. Hispanics in these areas report similar views, and 53% of urban residents of all races desire the same. Why do police matter to people in fragile communities? Because these individuals live where safety cannot be taken for granted. While 40% of all Americans believe crime has decreased in their area, only 11% of fragile communities residents agree. The rest say it has increased or stayed at the same often high levels. Unfair treatment is common But because these communities want the police does not mean they are satisfied with law enforcements treatment of them or their community. Sixty percent of Blacks know some or a lot of people treated unfairly by the police, a rate much higher than for both Hispanics (39%) and whites (11%) a wide racial disparity. Less than a quarter of Black residents are very confident that police will treat them with courtesy and respect. A third of Hispanic residents and half of whites expect respect from police. Incidents like the police shooting of Jacob Blake this week in Kenosha, Wisc., reinforce Blacks' deep concerns about mistreatment at the hands of off who took an oath to protect and to serve. This seeming cognitive dissonance between wanting more police and viewing police skeptically is not the result of confusion as much as lived experiences. In between the black and the blue, there are shades of gray that should inform the path forward on police reform, public safety and race relations. And just as importantly, economically disadvantaged communities have other, higher priorities to address. In fact, when all fragile community residents were asked to list their areas three biggest problems only 6% chose unfair police practices, putting it in 13th place out of 14 possible options. A lack of jobs, drug and alcohol addiction, and personal financial challenges topped the list. They, like all of us, want safety, justice, and a better life filled with opportunity. Gerard Robinson is the vice president for education at the Advanced Studies in Culture Foundation in Charlottesville, Va. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why America needs better, not less, policing in many neighborhoods BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 30 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. By Jonathan Stempel Aug 26 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday upheld former Autonomy Corp Chief Financial Officer Sushovan Hussain's fraud conviction and five-year prison sentence for his role in the $11.1 billion sale of the British software company to Hewlett-Packard in 2011. The court rejected Hussain's claim that American wire fraud laws did not cover his conduct in Britain, saying the case was based on conference calls, emails and press releases involving people in California, where Hewlett-Packard was based. It also said jurors could have found that Hussain, 56, defrauded Hewlett-Packard investors by vetting false information about Autonomy's finances and growth prospects that was included in a statement announcing the takeover. "The jury was entitled to reject Hussain's efforts to minimize the press release and his level of involvement in it," Circuit Judge Daniel Bress wrote for a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Hussain, 56, was convicted in April 2018 on 16 wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy counts. He was also fined $4 million and ordered to forfeit $6.1 million. Lawyers for Hussain did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney David Anderson in San Francisco did not immediately respond to a similar request. Prosecutors claimed that Hussain, who moved to England from his native Bangladesh at age 7, used backdated contracts and other accounting fraud to inflate Autonomy's revenue and attract potential buyers. Hewlett-Packard took an $8.8 billion writedown a year after buying Autonomy. It is awaiting judgment from a trial completed in January in London's High Court, where it sued Hussain and former Autonomy Chief Executive Mike Lynch for $5 billion in damages. Lynch, the British technology entrepreneur, submitted himself for arrest in February and could face extradition to California to face criminal charges related to Autonomy. He has denied criminal wrongdoing. The case is U.S. v Hussain, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 19-10168. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Human Rights Under Attack in Hong Kong Under New National Security Regime: Report 2020-08-25 -- A draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the ruling Chinese Communist Party at the beginning of July has ushered in an ever-widening crackdown on peaceful dissent, and a new wave of human rights violations, according to a report from an overseas-based rights group. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities have deployed the law to step up violations of local people's human rights and to undermine the city's rule of law, the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) network said in a report published on its website. "The crackdown ... has involved arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters and pro-independence advocates, media censorship, interference in the democratic election process, and intimidation against overseas activists who fled the city out of fear for retaliation," the report said. "The National Security Law has been used to legitimize the violation of human rights." Beijing's imposition of the new law on Hong Kong, bypassing the city's Legislative Council (LegCo), also mandated China's feared state security police to set up a headquarters in a Hong Kong hotel and empowered Beijing to supervise directly cases considered to be "serious" violations of the law. The law also provided for separate national security courts, with judges hand-picked by chief executive Carrie Lam, which lawyers slammed at the time as a serious blow to judicial independence in the city. "The Hong Kong government is obligated to guarantee freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and other civil political rights," CHRD said, citing international rights covenants and the city's own Basic Law. It called for the immediate release of anyone arrested under the law for exercising their civil and political rights. Slew of arrests Hong Kong police arrested 10 people on the day the law took effect for displaying leaflets and banners referring to calls for independence for the city. Five days later, eight people were arrested in Kwun Tong for holding up blank placards in a silent protest. The government warned that a popular slogan of last year's protest movement"Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now!"was now illegal. On July 29, four members of the pro-independence student group Studentlocalism, which was disbanded before the law came into effect, were arrested on suspicion of "inciting secession." This was followed up with the arrest of pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai and a raid by the newly formed national security police on the offices of his newspaper, the Apple Daily. Three pro-democracy activistsAgnes Chow, Wilson Li, and Andy Liwere detained on the same day. Days after the law was implemented, public libraries removed books from the shelves including those written by prominent student activist Joshua Wong and pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan, while Occupy Central movement initiator and law professor Benny Tai lost his job at the University of Hong Kong, the report said. Hong Kong police have also issued arrest warrants for six pro-democracy activists currently overseas under the new law, including former lawmaker Nathan Law, pro-independence activists Wayne Chan and Honcques Laus, and former U.K. consular official Simon Cheng, who was detained and tortured after being arrested in Hong Kong by Chinese police. "The National Security Law has had a profound chilling effect in the short nearly two months of its implementation in Hong Kong," CHRD's report found. "The law is particularly potent in suffocating the free expression characteristic of Hong Kong's vibrant civil society." Protesting despite law A protester who gave only a nickname David said he had already seen police violence at close hand during last year's protests, but that he plans to continue his activism in spite of the draconian new law. "I have seen countless demonstrators being violently dealt with by the Hong Kong government and the police, which I hate to see," David told RFA in a recent interview. "As a student, I think it is time to speak out." "I think we have to speak out, and not let the government and the police hurt our citizens ... the more they monitor and try to intimidate me, the more I have to keep coming out [in protest]," he said. The law bans secessionist, subversive, and terrorist words and deeds, as well as collusion with foreign forces to interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs, charges which carry a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life. Charges of "collusion with foreign powers" appeared in the law after repeated claims from Beijing that last year's anti-government and pro-democracy protest movement was instigated by "hostile overseas forces." The law has been criticized by foreign governments as being in breach of Beijing'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 continue to crack down on any form of peaceful criticism, active dissent, or political opposition. Reported by Man Hoi-tsan for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The big picture: The US is funding 12 new technology hubs that will focus on a wide range of topics on artificial intelligence and quantum research. The move is part of a strategy to prevent the US from falling behind its rivals in emerging technologies, which is seen as a matter of national security. The White House earlier today announced a $1 billion plan to establish no less than twelve federal research centers that will focus their work on two of the hottest topics in science and technology at the moment -- artificial intelligence and quantum information science. The move comes as criticism over a talent shortage in these fields is reaching new levels. In part, the problem is the result of a surge of students who enroll in computer science programs at many universities, who can't seem to keep up with the demand. Additionally, the Trump administration issued a halt on high-skilled H-1B visa holders entry into the US. The administration has even explored the possibility of removing international students' ability to work for up to three years in the US after they graduate. In February 2019, the White House announced intentions to strengthen US leadership in artificial intelligence but did little more than reiterate that tech companies will face little regulation regarding AI development. Earlier this year, it proposed that $2 billion be directed to general AI and quantum research by 2022, and it looks like it's now taking the first steps towards that goal. Five of the new research centers embedded with the Department of Energy will receive $625 million in funding for topics like quantum networking (as in a "quantum Internet"), quantum computing, special sensors, and exotic materials. Private companies like Microsoft and IBM and academia will contribute a further $300 million towards those labs. The other seven research centers will be led by the National Science Foundation and will receive $140 million in funding from the $1.2 billion allocated for the National Quantum Initiative Act. These institutes will focus on finding new ways to improve materials manufacturing, weather forecasting, and precision agriculture, among other things. White House Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios said in a press statement that "It is absolutely imperative the United States continues to lead the world on AI and quantum. We know our adversaries around the world are pursuing their own advances. [...] The future of American economic prosperity and national security will be shaped by how we invest, research, develop and deploy these cutting-edge technologies today." The chances of achieving these goals are getting slimmer every year. The EU has committed to investing $1.7 billion on AI research by the end of this year, and China is spearheading plans to establish as many as 50 research centers for its own ambitious goals. Countries like France, Germany, Russia, and South Korea are also investing over $1 billion each for similar programs, but see China as a more significant threat than the US on AI, 5G, and quantum science. Image credit: Mark Reinstein Four U.S. troops were injured after a Russian military vehicle deliberately rammed the vehicle they were driving following a tense high-speed confrontation in the east of Syria. The U.S. service members have been diagnosed with mild concussion-like symptoms, Politico reported, citing a draft statement by U.S. Central Command. National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement that a Russian vehicle struck the American vehicle near Dayrick, in northeast Syria. Video tweeted of the incident bearing Russian markings shows the drama that resulted in the apparent ramming, which was in a 'deconfliction zone' set up to In it, a Russian helicopter can be seen overhead while military vehicles bearing U.S. and Russian flags circle. A National Security Council officials said two Russian helicopters flew above the Americans, and one of the aircraft was within about 70 feet of the vehicle 'To deescalate the situation, the coalition patrol departed the area,' Ullyot said. 'Unsafe and unprofessional actions like this represent a breach of deconfliction protocols, committed to by the United States and Russia in December 2019.' While there have been several other recent incidents between the American and Russian troops who all patrol in eastern Syria, officials described this one as the most serious. U.S. troops are usually accompanied by members of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. High-speed confrontation: This is the moment before the Russian vehicle from which the video footage came hits the U.S. armored vehicle as the two patrols move fast across a field in the east of Syria with a Russian military helicopter flying low overhead Rammed: The Russian video captures the moment the Kremlin's armored vehicle hits its U.S. equivalent. Four American troops were injured, with minor concussions Russian presence: One still from the video shows how the Russian armored vehicle which rammed the American troop-carrier was not alone - at the right is another armored Russian vehicle Two officials spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of the incident that were not yet made public. One official said the incident happened deep inside the eastern Syria deconfliction zone, where Russian troops generally should not be present. The officials said the incident is being discussed by senior officials from both countries who routinely work to prevent conflicts between troops in that area. U.S. and Russian commanders have frequent conversations to try to avoid contact between their troops there. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke by phone on Wednesday to Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff. No details of the conversation were provided. Often the top U.S. and Russian military leaders do not publicly release the contents of their phone calls, so it's not clear if the incident was discussed. A military scholar who reposted the video said U.S. forces appeared to be blocking the path of a Russian patrol in an open field. It was then the Russian vehicle side-swipe the American one. The U.S. has several hundred troops in Syria, following a pullout President Trump announced. They are mostly in the east of the country. The U.S. has supported Syrian Democratic Force in the conflict, while Russia has backed the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The clash on the ground comes after U.S. and Russian diplomats have taken steps to avoid accidental military engagements between the two nuclear powers. The two sides negotiated in 2015 under the Obama administration over rules for the skies as both sides exercised air power in the civil war. The two sides have continued to maintain communication in an effort to avoid confrontations between the two superpowers. Other videos appear to show a Russian helicopter hovering over U.S. forces in an attempt to make them disperse. The U.S. vehicle in the encounter appears to be an MRAP, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected, which is designed to provide protection against roadside bombs. President Trump announced a pullout from northern Syria in 2019, but faced blowback from critics who said he was ceding the ground to Assad and yielding to Russian influence in the region. High stakes: The revelation that Russian forces rammed an American patrol vehicle and left four troops injured comes after warnings Vladimir Putin was paying bounties to the Taliban for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan, which Donald Trump said he was never briefed on Russian presence: Vladimir Putin has moved troops into Syria The video, which allegedly occurred on Monday according to footage, emerged on the third day of the Republican National Convention. It comes weeks after Trump faced political blowback after reports that the U.S. received intelligence that Russia was paying bounties to forces in Afghanistan for killing U.S. troops. The White House said Trump was never briefed verbally on specific intelligence because it was not fully vetted, although the New York Times reported it was included in his daily intelligence brief. Trump said late last month that he has never raised the issue of Russian bounties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned his Russian counterpart against paying bounties for killing U.S. troops, the Times reported August 7 in what appears to be the first U.S. rebuke since the information emerged. The U.S. military has repeatedly complained to Moscow about harassment from Russian military forces in the air, land, and sea. In April, Russian jets buzzed U.S. and NATO aircraft in the Baltic and over the Mediterranean. 'For the second time in four Days, Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner while intercepting a #USNavy P-8A Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft in @USNavyEurope,' the Navy tweeted at the time. Russia responded that it had raised an aircraft from a Syrian base in compliance with rules over international waters. In late 2019, NATO complained about Russia's repeated buzzing and harassing of U.S. ships. NEGAUNEE, MI -- A Michigan man has been charged with multiple felonies involving the possession of child pornography following an investigation by the Michigan State Police and the FBI. According to WLUC TV, Gerald Moore, 40, formerly of Negaunee, was arrested last week and arraigned on charges of one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual conduct; using a computer to communicate with another to commit a crime; child sexually abusive activity-possession (possession of child porn); using a computer to commit a crime. If convicted on the conspiracy to commit CSC charge, it carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and up to life. During his arraignment, Moore was issued a $250,000 bond, cash or surety. Moore was arrested without incident Thursday in the Lower Peninsula after a search warrant conducted on his Negaunee home led to police finding multiple internet capable devices and other evidence. The investigation began after the FBIs Philadelphia office contacted the MSP Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task force asking for assistance in the matter. READ MORE Busch unveils new beer, for your dog After bears spotted in Michigan campground, Forest Service says to be bear aware Michigan man suffering from stroke traveled 100 miles on U.S. 131 with shredded tires, police say Body cam images released after Detroit officer shoots dog in fenced-in yard BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European markets closed higher on Wednesday as investors picked up stocks amid optimism about progress in U.S.-China trade talks and on data showing a notable increase in U.S. durable goods orders in in the month of July. Investors also reacted positively to Germany's coalition parties' decision to extend economic measures at a cost of up to 10 billion euros, including prolonging a short-time work program for an extra year to cushion the effects of coronavirus crisis. The French government is set to present its 100 billion euro stimulus plan next week. Investors were also looking ahead to the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's live-streamed speech at the Jackson Hole economic symposium. Powell's speech, which is scheduled to be begin before the start of trading on Thursday, is likley to provide clues about the outlook for monetary policy. The pan European Stoxx 600 moved up 0.91%. Germany's DAX advanced 0.98%, France's CAC 40 climbed up 0.8% and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 edged up 0.14%, while Switzerland's SMI ended up 0.77%. Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey ended higher. Norway closed modestly lower, while Czech Republic ended flat. The mood was cautious early on in the session, but stocks gained in strength gradually as the session progressed, and the mood turned fairly positive after data showed U.S. durable goods orders surged up more than 11% in July. In the U.K. market, Aveva Group shares climbed more than 7%. Kingfisher, Johnson Mathey, Fresnillo, Burberry Group, The Sage Group, IAG and Rightmove gained 2 to 3.1%. Carnival plunged more than 5%, while Rolls-Royce Holdings, BP, Severn Trent, Vodafone, Centrica and Meggitt lost 2 to 4.5%. In Germany, Infineon Technologies, BMW, Deutsche Post, Volkswagen, SAP, Deutsche Bank and Daimler gained 1.6 to 2.6%, while Wirecard plunged nearly 8.5%. In the French market, ArcelorMittal gained more than 4%, Atos surged up 3.85% and STMicroElectronics moved up 2.65%. Worldline, Kering, Hermes International, BNP Paribas, Publicis Groupe and Saint Gobain were the other notable gainers, while Technip and Airbus declined 2.1% and 1.5%, respectively. In the Swedish market, shares of medical equipment group Elekta rose sharply after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings. In economic news, French consumer confidence remained stable in August, survey data from the statistical office Insee showed. The consumer sentiment index held steady at 94.0 in August. The score came in line with expectations. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de SEATTLE, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In March, when COVID-19 closed schools across Seattle and King County, changes occurred almost overnight. Classes went online. Students went home. Parents were conscripted as teachers. Lesson plans took a backseat to student well-being and safety. Technology and connectivity were transformed from a luxury to a necessity. To support local students and families, Tableau today announced it is donating nearly $2M through the Tableau Foundation to organizations supporting the Puget Sound's most vulnerable through the COVID-19 crisis. These investments focus on helping meet the urgent needs of youth of color and their families as they navigate distance learning and support educators and community organizations working to bridge the equity gap. "The Puget Sound has been Tableau's home for more than 15 years and we're committed to help build a future where everyone can share in the benefits of its growth," said Neal Myrick, Head of the Tableau Foundation. "Without equitable access to the STEM education and skills that underpin tens of thousands of careers, we risk losing an entire generation of diverse, homegrown talent." Grants will help 14 nonprofits and organizations including sea.citi's Family Tech Support Center (FTSC), FareStart, and the Technology Access Foundation (TAF) tackle immediate needs and long-term racial and equity disparities exacerbated by COVID-19. Educating students amid a continuing pandemic required administrators to balance education and safety as they navigate disparate guidelines, data and community pressure. They've built new remote learning models while reimagining physical classrooms, placing incredible strain on already limited resources. For students, the pandemic caused an education crisis that disproportionately impacts low-income and minority families. Organizations like TAF have evolved their programs to support teachers and students adapting to this new world of synchronous / asynchronous remote teaching and learning. "The past several months put a magnifying glass on racial inequities in our community and brought us to a critical juncture in education," said Trish Millines Dziko, TAF Co-Founder and Executive Director. "These funds will help us support educators and reimagine an equitable school system where all students can successfully learn whether or not they're in physical classrooms." Tableau is also investing in programs like sea.citi's Family Tech Support Center, a public-private partnership between sea.citi, Seattle Public Schools, Alliance for Education and several area technology companies including Tableau. As classes moved online in March, FTSC was formed to provide dedicated tech navigators to help families navigate any technical challenges with new hardware and software so Seattle Public School students can fully participate in remote learning. To date, Family Tech Support Center volunteers have fielded nearly 2,500 tech support calls. They are increasing their services with the district, to make sure every student has the tech support they need. "Tech access is crucial to virtual learning. Donated laptops and internet access are essential but do not directly translate to consistent, equitable learning. For students and families navigating the district's technology and tools for the first time, support was incomplete," said Nick Merriam, CEO, sea.citi and Family Tech Support Center. "FTSC closes that gap with hands-on technical assistance and customized support for students and families struggling with remote instruction. Tableau's support will help extend these digital equity services to Seattle Public Schools' more than 55,000 local students and 3,700 teachers." Early on, Tableau Foundation recognized that unprecedented times required the team to think expansively about the kinds of partnerships that would make a meaningful difference. "In speaking with each of these non-profits, it was clear no one program or organization would be enough and we needed to take a collective action approach," said Myrick. "The work of each of these organizations overlaps with and reinforces the effectiveness of others, ensuring that these kids have a whole community of support standing behind them." Grant recipients include: Equal Opportunity Schools provides students of color and low-income students with equitable access to academically intense high school programs. Funds will help EOS implement a STEM Equity Initiative with SPS to identify, enroll and support students in STEM AP courses and internships to provide equity-oriented professional learning focused on AP Computer Science. provides students of color and low-income students with equitable access to academically intense high school programs. Funds will help EOS implement a STEM Equity Initiative with SPS to identify, enroll and support students in STEM AP courses and internships to provide equity-oriented professional learning focused on AP Computer Science. Family Tech Support Center (FTSC) was founded to help students and families navigate the sudden shift to virtual learning. This grant will help FTSC scale to all Seattle Public Schools and provide dedicated technology navigators to help schools and underserved families successfully use remote learning. (FTSC) was founded to help students and families navigate the sudden shift to virtual learning. This grant will help FTSC scale to all Public Schools and provide dedicated technology navigators to help schools and underserved families successfully use remote learning. FareStart has long used food to transform lives, disrupt poverty and nourish communities. This funding will help FareStart provide approximately healthy, made-from-scratch 33,000 dinners to underserved students who typically rely on school meals. has long used food to transform lives, disrupt poverty and nourish communities. This funding will help FareStart provide approximately healthy, made-from-scratch 33,000 dinners to underserved students who typically rely on school meals. FEEST is a youth-led organization working to improve health in local schools. During COVID-19, this Black-led, youth-oriented organization is providing meals to underserved youth and families in South King County . Funding will support their 2020-2021 youth leadership cohort in learning and organizing to conduct student-led social justice projects serving their peers and community. is a youth-led organization working to improve health in local schools. During COVID-19, this Black-led, youth-oriented organization is providing meals to underserved youth and families in . Funding will support their 2020-2021 youth leadership cohort in learning and organizing to conduct student-led social justice projects serving their peers and community. Geeking Out Kids of Color (GOKiC) offers data science, full stack web dev and other STEM programs to teach kids computer science through a multicultural perspective. This grant will expand youth and family support programs through GOKiC's COVID response team and offer health insurance to educators. (GOKiC) offers data science, full stack web dev and other STEM programs to teach kids computer science through a multicultural perspective. This grant will expand youth and family support programs through GOKiC's COVID response team and offer health insurance to educators. Rainier Scholars offers a path to college graduation for low-income South Seattle students of color. Funding will help provide Rainier Scholars students with laptops and home wifi, ensuring access to educational offerings. Funds will also support planning and help provide tools, training and support to make distance learning cognitively and socially engaging to address educational inequities and gaps formed during the pandemic and transition to online learning. offers a path to college graduation for low-income students of color. Funding will help provide Rainier Scholars students with laptops and home wifi, ensuring access to educational offerings. Funds will also support planning and help provide tools, training and support to make distance learning cognitively and socially engaging to address educational inequities and gaps formed during the pandemic and transition to online learning. Roadmap Project works to improve education outcomes in seven South King County school districts. Funds will help scale Roadmap Project to help improve student success and use data to improve outcomes for underserved students. works to improve education outcomes in seven school districts. Funds will help scale Roadmap Project to help improve student success and use data to improve outcomes for underserved students. Technology Access Foundation (TAF) teaches STEM skills through broad programming and dedicated classrooms. This grant will help TAF build capacity and scale programs throughout Washington State to transform classrooms and redefine public education. (TAF) teaches STEM skills through broad programming and dedicated classrooms. This grant will help TAF build capacity and scale programs throughout to transform classrooms and redefine public education. Treehouse works to close the achievement gap between youth in foster care and their peers by providing academic and essential support to help students become more self-determined and invested in their education. Funds will help Treehouse continue remote meetings with youth, providing a consistent and positive adult presence that keeps students engaged in school and connecting youth and caregivers (especially non-native English speakers) to support and resources. works to close the achievement gap between youth in foster care and their peers by providing academic and essential support to help students become more self-determined and invested in their education. Funds will help Treehouse continue remote meetings with youth, providing a consistent and positive adult presence that keeps students engaged in school and connecting youth and caregivers (especially non-native English speakers) to support and resources. Washington Building Leaders of Change (WA-BLOC) is a Rainier Beach-based organization committed to building academic, creative and community leaders among underserved youth. This grant will allow WA-BLOC to continue COVID-19 relief efforts, help equip Rainier Beach scholars and families for a remote return to school and provide virtual academic support and supplies to Rainier Beach High School and Emerson Elementary School. (WA-BLOC) is a Rainier Beach-based organization committed to building academic, creative and community leaders among underserved youth. This grant will allow WA-BLOC to continue COVID-19 relief efforts, help equip scholars and families for a remote return to school and provide virtual academic support and supplies to and Emerson Elementary School. We Are OneAmerica is the state's largest immigrant and refugee advocacy organization. Tableau's grant will support the One America Youth program in engaging immigrant and refugee young people from across King County . Funds will support their work in immigration, education reform justice and racial justice and will leverage their power and advocacy to move school districts and colleges to address educational inequities amplified by the pandemic and provide tech tools for all. is the state's largest immigrant and refugee advocacy organization. Tableau's grant will support the One America Youth program in engaging immigrant and refugee young people from across . Funds will support their work in immigration, education reform justice and racial justice and will leverage their power and advocacy to move school districts and colleges to address educational inequities amplified by the pandemic and provide tech tools for all. Zeno is a Seattle -based non-profit committed to improving math confidence and abilities in low-income communities. These funds accelerate Zeno's ability to reach 4,000+ WA families and 500 educators through preschools, home visit programs, in-home childcare providers and other educational settings. It will expand resources for engaging young children in math learning at home and increase opportunities for educators to explore early math and family engagement best practices online. These funds build on Tableau's longstanding community commitment and are the latest grants focused on addressing inequality, poverty, hunger discrimination, abuse and other societal issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, Tableau's invested more than $18 million in Washington-based organizations. In addition, Tableau will also support the small retailers, restaurants, services and nonprofits in the neighborhoods where their employees live and work by granting small-business support funds to the Fremont and Kirkland Chambers of Commerce. Tableau's announcement follows news that Salesforce will invest $20 million in five major public-school districts across the USempowering them to provide equitable, safe and connected learning from anywhere. For more details, visit https://www.salesforce.com/company/news-press/press-releases/2020/08/salesforce-grant-announcement/ . About Tableau Foundation The Tableau Foundation is a philanthropic initiative led by the employees of Tableau Software that encourages the use of facts and analytical reasoning to solve the world's problems. Tableau Foundation grants combine Tableau's two most valuable resources its people and its products with financial support to nonprofits that are using data to reshape communities around the globe. To learn more, visit www.tableaufoundation.org . SOURCE Tableau Foundation Related Links http://www.tableaufoundation.org North Korea has issued new pictures of leader Kim Jong-Un just days after a South Korean diplomat claimed he was in a coma. The dictator was shown at an enlarged meeting of the politburo of the Workers Party, the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said. He called for prevention efforts against the coronavirus and a typhoon, according to KCNA, whose photographs cannot be verified for their date. It comes two days after Chang Song-min, ex-aide to late-South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, claimed Kim has been in a coma since April, with his appearances faked. Kim was shown smoking a cigarette during a meeting of the politburo of the Workers Party He called for prevention efforts against the coronavirus and a typhoon, according to KCNA, whose photographs cannot be verified for their date Wednesday's meeting took place amid a pandemic that is heaping more pressure on the North Korean economy, battered by recent border closures and flood damage. The meeting assessed 'some defects in the state emergency anti-epidemic work for checking the inroads of the malignant virus', KCNA said in a statement. North Korea has not reported any confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, but Kim said last month the virus 'could be said to have entered' the country. He imposed a lockdown after a man was reported to have symptoms but later test results on the man were inconclusive, according to the World Health Organisation. Kim had this month lifted a three-week lockdown in the city of Kaesong after a suspected case of the coronavirus there. The meeting discussed state emergency measures on preventing crop damage and casualties from Typhoon Bavi, which is expected to hit the country within days. Wednesday's meeting (pictured) took place amid a pandemic that is heaping more pressure on the North Korean economy, battered by recent border closures and flood damage The meeting (pictured) assessed 'some defects in the state emergency anti-epidemic work for checking the inroads of the malignant virus', KCNA said in a statement Heavy rain and flooding have raised concern about food supplies in the isolated country. The ruling party said it will hold a congress next year to decide a new five-year plan after a party meeting noted serious delays in improving the national economy. Chang speculated Kim Yo-jong, the dictator's younger sister, is being groomed for leadership after spy chiefs claimed she was promoted to de-facto deputy leader. Intelligence officials are said to have told a closed-door meeting of security chiefs Kim had put his sister in charge of foreign policy toward the US and South Korea. The role, which has not been confirmed, would make her de-facto second-in-command of the country. Chang said such a move is unprecedented in North Korea's history and would only occur under two scenarios - if Kim was gravely ill, or if there had been a coup. Kim Yo-jong, 33, (pictured above) is in prime position to take over some of her brother's powers, according to Chang Song-min Of the two possibilities, Chang wrote on Facebook: 'I assess him to be in a coma, but his life has not ended. 'A complete succession structure has not been formed, so Kim Yo-jong is being brought to the fore as the vacuum cannot be maintained for a prolonged period.' That would mean all of Kim's recent public appearances have been faked, including one of him at a party meeting last week. Observers previously suggested Kim could be using a body-double after images of him at a fertiliser factory - published after he disappeared for 21 days - seemed to show several physical differences. But observers poured scorn on Chang's comments, with South Korean website Shinmoongo calling it 'absurd'. The site pointed out the former diplomat - now a popular commentator on conservative news outlets - made the same remarks earlier this year. After 'greatly embarrassing' himself by commenting on the leader's health before he reappeared in public, Chang is now trying to validate his opinions, the site said. Earlier this week, it was claimed Kim had promoted his sister to second-in-command of North Korea. Pictured: Kim (centre) attends a plenary meeting of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang on August 19 Other North Korean experts had cast doubt on the initial intelligence from South Korea, which they pointed out has been wrong in the past. In 2016, the agency reported chief of the army Ri Yong-gil had been executed, only to subsequently report that he was still alive. Kim, said to be 36, has only been seen a handful of times this year amid speculation in April a 'botched' heart operation had left him in a critical condition or even dead. While he has appeared in public multiple times since then, his schedule has been dramatically reduced. Meanwhile Kim Yo-jong has been taking on a much larger public profile in recent months, including taking the lead on diplomacy with South Korea. 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. And she threatened South Korea with unspecified military action, until Kim ordered the threat to be withdrawn. Observers said it was possible 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 the pair were trying to develop a 'good cop, bad cop' dynamic, potentially giving them an edge in negotiations with foreign powers. The Internet was introduced to Vietnam quite late compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. Former Director General of the General Department of Post Office Mai Liem Truc. In 1997, when the Internet officially entered Vietnam, debates broke out amid concerns about national security and the benefits of the information highway, as well as the right to access information on the Internet. The 23-year milestone may not be a long time, but for a field with miraculous growth such as IT and the Internet, it has been long enough to realize the amazing level of change that has occurred. Mr. Tran Ba Thai, former Director of NetNam, who is considered the second most important person to bring the Internet into Vietnam, said: "The Internet was introduced to Vietnam quite late compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. However, it has brought the country the biggest results - the democratic and economic ground - right from the early stages". The innovation struggle Former Director General of the General Department of Post Office Mai Liem Truc said that there was a long struggle in terms of innovation. At that time, the country was in a complicated and difficult period of renovation. Innovative thinking had kicked off and Vietnamese leaders were determined to innovate. The opening for the coming of the Internet at that time was a big challenge in the innovation process because it was a very sensitive issue. In 1991, Truc attended a meeting in Washington DC, and that was the first time he experienced the Internet. Then, at several meetings in Asia, many leaders of other countries told him "See you on the Internet". When the Internet was not available, Party and State leaders asked the General Department of Post and Telecommunications to take Vietnamese newspapers with them to Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and North America so that international friends could understand Vietnam better. However, even when the newspapers were transported to these markets, the question was who would sell the newspapers. It was very difficult and expensive to transport by air. But with the Internet, it would be simple and not cost much. At that time, experts, scientists and the media were in favor of opening the Internet in Vietnam. But, leaders found the Internet too new, so they asked to restrict the downside of the Internet. In the last moments to persuade the opening of the Internet at the highest level, the Politburos standing members and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai asked: If Vietnam opens the Internet, can all harmful information on the Internet blocked? I, as the General Director of the General Department of Post and Telecommunications, and Mr. Khanh Toan, Deputy Minister of Public Security, and Mr. Chu Hao, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, made detailed reports in the meeting with the Politburos standing members, Truc recalled. Mr. Khanh Toan at that time talked in detail about documents related to PM Khais question. Former General Secretary Le Kha Phieu then asked about the implementation in reality. I stood up to report that there were joint circulars between the General Department of Post and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Culture and Information, but in the actual implementation due to the technical and professional conditions, it was impossible to block harmful information completely. However, we will minimize the harmful information of the Internet. After that, the Politburos standing members agreed to open the Internet and we went to persuade the Government. All four of us went to Prime Minister Phan Van Khais house and the Prime Minister agreed to open the Internet. However, when we left, the Prime Minister patted me on the shoulder and said: "You guys do what you want, but don't let it (the Internet) be closed so we will not know how to tell the world about it," said Mr. Truc. Internet is the fruit of innovation Recalling the early days of persuading the countrys leaders to accept the Internet, former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Khanh - one of the 10 people with the greatest merit to bring the Internet into Vietnam said that it was difficult to persuade leaders to accept that the Internet was full of difficulties because there were many different information flows. At that time, opening the Internet in our country was difficult in terms of technology, but the most difficult thing was how to clearly explain and persuade responsible agencies about the great benefits of the Internet for the country's economic and social development and the ability to control Internet operations, Khanh said. Even when the Government decided to open the Internet, it was also very cautious and Vietnam was both implementing the Internet while learning from experience. The provisional regulations on the management, establishment and use of the Internet in Vietnam attached to the Decree dated March 21, 1997 stipulated: Computer networks and databases of Party agencies, Government agencies, and national defense and security agencies are not allowed to connect to the Internet." Vietnamese scientists and the mass media quickly recognized the power of the Internet so they actively supported and promoted the opening of the Internet. "I think that the States permission for the opening of the Internet at that time was the expression of the innovative thinking of the leaders of the Party and the Government at that time and also a clear result of the renovation," Mr. Nguyen Khanh said. Changing the mindset I will never forget that it was November 19, 1997 when the Internet officially opened in Vietnam. I was very happy that a great opportunity had not been lost and the country had had a means for change. At a press conference with foreign news agencies, I was excited to speak in English so that when the news was broadcast to the world, it would not be translated in the wrong way, Mr. Truc recalled. However, when Vietnam opened the Internet, Decree 21 still restricted the development of Internet so that three years later Vietnam issued Decree 55 to "untie" the Internet. When the Internet opened in 1997, besides Decree 21 there were documents from high levels directing that the opening of Internet in Vietnam would come along with the countrys management ability. At that time, we knew that Decree 21 had many uncertainties for the development of the Internet. From the beginning, the General Department of Post and Telecommunications found that it was necessary to change this Decree, because if the mindset that 'the opening of Internet' has to keep up with the 'ability to control Internet' was maintained, it was dialectical and limited the development of the Internet, said Mr. Truc. Management must keep up with development. This is right for many industries, not just the Internet. However, persuading leaders to replace Decree 21 with Decree 55 was difficult. Even when we already opened the Internet, there were still too many concerns in awareness. At that time, the opening of Internet agents, even by the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) was also restricted.," said Mr. Mai Liem Truc. Truc said that the first lesson is to always innovate thinking in various fields, especially the Internet, because this is a rapidly developing field. If we are satisfied with success without innovating our mindset, the Internet will not be developed. Social trends are increasingly democratic, with international integration and stronger globalization. The Internet is the connection between service technology and content, so without innovation thinking, we cannot promote Internet development. Thai Khang Thu Hang Increased internet use by children concerns parents E-learning has become a popular model of education amid the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to become a new trend in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Legislation that would rename the Columbus Obelisk monument to honor victims of police brutality is heading to the Baltimore City Council after it was unanimously approved by the citys Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Tuesday. The committee, sans councilmen Bill Henry and Isaac Yitzy Schleifer, voted 5-0 to approve the bill, which would rename the monument in the Heinz Park section of Herring Run Park in Arcadia in Northeast Baltimore to honor the victims of police brutality. The bill now moves to the full council for a second reading. Proposed by Councilman Ryan Dorsey, the bill comes as cities across the country have reexamined their monuments to the Genoese explorer, with Philadelphia becoming the latest city to vote to remove Christopher Columbus visage from a public plaza. Tuesdays meeting mirrored the debate that has been raging on in the city since a different statue of Columbus was dragged from Little Italy into Baltimores Inner Harbor on July 4. Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Trane Technologies plc Global Credit Research - 25 Aug 2020 New York, August 25, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Trane Technologies plc 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. Trane Technologies plc's Baa2 senior unsecured debt rating broadly reflects the company's sizable revenue base, expected to continue to exceed $10 billion during the current downturn stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Continuing to support the company's credit profile are its strong brand recognition, geographic diversity and healthy cash flow generated from operations. The company's credit profile also reflects its strong competitive position in its climate control businesses focused on HVAC equipment and services as well as transport refrigeration. Post the February 2020 spin-off of its industrial business segment, the company became a pure-play climate control-focused entity. Moody's expects that the company's strong liquidity profile will enable it to withstand revenue and related earnings pressure stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The company's EBITDA margins are expected to soften because of lower cost absorption as coronavirus-related revenue demand weakens and the commercial vehicle's cyclical downturn is accentuated by the pandemic. Story continues This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period. The principal methodology used for this review was Manufacturing Methodology published in March 2020. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology. This announcement applies only to EU rated and EU endorsed ratings. Non EU rated and non EU endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit. This publication does not announce a credit rating action. 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New Delhi: Amid much dissention and protests over the demonetisation drive by Centre, Congress has scheduled a joint press conference to galvanize all the Opposition partys support to strengthen their attack on Modi government. But Congress plans to onslaught against government seems to be a non-starter as most of the parties decide to stay away from the conference. Some Opposition leaders seem to be miffed with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the last day of the winter session of Parliament without even informing or consulting them. ALSO READ: (Oppn's battle against PM Modi's demonetisation move: Mamata reaches Delhi to attend joint meeting, Left and JDU to stay away) Congress President Sonia Gandhi had on Monday invited opposition parties across the board to sharpen the attack against Centre on demonetisation and its woes. Mamata Banerjee the only all-weather friend of Congress West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee seems to be the only all-weather friend of Congress as she arrived in Delhi on Monday to attend the meeting of opposition parties and joint press conference. Banerjee will attend the media briefing at Constitution Club along with other Opposition leaders including representatives from DMK and RJD among others. ALSO READ: (BJP makes scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, claims he's making baseless charges against PM Modi in frustration) A top TMC leader told PTI while reacting to CPI-M's pull-out, said, "It is the CPI-M's internal matter. But we feel that it is for them to decide on which side they are." CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury in Kolkata, said: We have decided to stay away from the press conference of Opposition parties convened by the Congress because there has been no proper consultation and coordination among the parties. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The authors of The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine: (from left to right) Lan Liu, Rebecca Lawrence, Jacopo Fanciulli, Lyka Caparas You need an entry-level book for people to get into Italian wine without being intimidated by its complexity and diversity. In fact, the book wishes to take the complex world of Italian wine and put it into a bite-size chunk that would make it more accessible for people of all levels. Unlike wine, education should never be dry. With that in mind, wine author and student Lyka Caparas; VIA Italian Wine Expert Jacopo Fanciulli; author, educator and voice of the BBC Rebecca Lawrence; and Vinitaly International Academy coordinator Lan Liu put together a comical, friendly, straightforward, and pretty much practical instant book called The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine. The four wine professionals uncovered this and other curiosities about their last book during four interviews for the Italian Wine Podcast (italianwinepodcast.com), hosted by wine writer Monty Waldin. The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine is a compact introduction to the world of Italian wine. Lan Liu tells how he and the other authors came up with this idea: our book was inspired by Jancis Robinsons 24-Hour Wine Expert. We actually realized that there was a book missing for Italian wine. You need an entry-level book for people to get into Italian wine without being intimidated by its complexity and diversity. In fact, the book wishes to take the complex world of Italian wine and put it into a bite-size chunk that would make it more accessible for people of all levels. No talk about specific soil types or microclimate (that will come in one of the next books). This one we just really wanted to make it more interesting and exciting for people. So, we added some fun and illustrations; broader views of the region; and a little bit about grape varieties, but more just about how they taste, and where you can enjoy them, explains Rebecca Lawrence. The kind of contribution that this handbook represents can be useful not only for those for example in Europe who intend to approach the world of wine. The book can also be key to introduce the topic to those who live in countries where the culture of wine has not taken root yet, and is experienced as something new. Lyka Caparas offers her direct eyewitness account on this. She would absolutely love to make wine more accessible and less intimidating in her home, the Philippines, where there is basically no tradition in wine. I think every innovation starts with education, she says; my fellow countrymen and people in general can appreciate an innovation only if they know something about it that is basic. It is fundamental to really understand and embrace that innovation. Still, The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine is going to be of interest to experienced wine students as well. Even if the book is mainly designed for beginners and wine lovers, readers with a well-rounded background in wine can approach and appreciate it from a different point of view. Jacopo Fanciulli says that it is like reading The Little Prince more than once, at different stages of your life. Lets say you have read it for the first time as a child. As you grow up, you will catch things you missed the first time around, and you will understand every aspect on a deeper level. You can read The Little Prince again, and again, and again... and you still pick stuff up. The authors met in Verona, where they are all based to pursue their passion for Italian wine. This is how Rebecca Lawrence describes the team: I am actually the only English native speaker. Lyka is our Filipina, Jacopo is our Italian ah, hed like me to say Ligurian, not Italian! And then we have Lan, who is from China. It was really interesting to work with such a diverse crowd because we were all coming to it from different cultural perspectives, but also from different writing styles. Lan is primarily a business MBA style; I am much more flowery and literary; Jacopo is very poetic and Italian; Lyka is quite clear and direct. As the native speaker, the person who is bringing together all of these voices, for me the biggest challenge was trying to make it sound like one voice whilst not losing the character of the other authors in the way I did that. It was a long process, but I think we really achieved it and I think that the different voices still come across in the book whilst making it an easy read overall. The book is available on Kindle, Amazon.com or directly from the publishers website (http://www.positivepress.net). To listen to the Italian Wine Podcast interviews with the authors of The Jumbo Shrimp Guide to Italian Wine, please find the episodes 305, 325, 330, and 355 on italianwinepodcast.com, Soundcloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRADIO, Ximalaya, and YouTube. The Cubs announced that they have activated left-hander Jose Quintana and righty Tyler Chatwood from the injured list. The club optioned righty Jason Adam and outfielder Ian Miller to its alternate site in corresponding moves. Quintana hasnt pitched this season after undergoing left thumb surgery in early July, though hes known for consistently providing solid production over a large number of innings. The 31-year-old will head into this season with a 3.72 ERA/3,65 FIP in 1,485 innings divided between Chicagos two teams. While 246 of Quintanas lifetime 250 appearances have come as a starter, he seems likely to function as a reliever this year, at least in the early going. Chatwood, meanwhile, will rejoin the Cubs rotation after missing a couple weeks with a back strain. The former Rockie has largely been a disappointment since he signed a three-year, $38MM contract with the Cubs before 2018, but his platform season has brought some encouraging signs. Chatwoods 5.40 ERA through 15 innings is unsightly, though he has turned in two very good starts versus one clunker this season. He has so far logged an excellent 13.8 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9, and put up a 2.60 FIP/2.71 xFIP/2.91 SIERA. The Cubs will give Chatwood another chance to hang on to a rotation spot alongside Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester and Alec Mills. However, if he flops upon his return, Quintana could move back into their starting five. Residents of Cleveland Manor Apartments were greeted by a special picnic parade Wednesday afternoon, as staff members delivered meals right to their doors. The apartment complex, which provides affordable living for individuals 62 and over, as well as those under 62 with a disability, typically holds a more traditional annual picnic. This years event was adjusted due to COVID-19. Two groups of three staff members walked from door to door, pushing carts filled with lunch items, including chicken, baked beans, fruit cups, chips, water, soda and slices of cake. In each group, one staff member also carried a cowbell, which they rang when approaching each door to signal to the residents that the picnic parade had arrived. Cleveland Manor Executive Director Trudy Laufer was part of one the groups who distributed the meals. The first place we stopped, they said, You just absolutely made my day. So it was like, OK, were on the right track here, she said. Maria Swantek has lived at Cleveland Manor for about five years, and was disappointed that the community couldnt meet out in the courtyard like they usually do. I wish it wouldve been outside out there, but the way it is, we couldnt have, she said. Still, Swantek is grateful to the staff for their efforts. They take care of things that we need to have done. Yeah theyre good, theyre really good, she said. For more photos of the picnic parade, visit www.ourmidland.com. Prosecutors have urged UN judges to uphold former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladics genocide conviction, saying he personally oversaw the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys. Mladic, 78, is appealing against his 2017 conviction and life sentence by a tribunal in The Hague for genocide over the massacre and for crimes against humanity and war crimes throughout the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. The former general, dubbed the Butcher of Bosnia, resorted to genocide, extermination and murder to expel Croats and Muslims from the UN-protected area as part of the wider pursuit of a Serb-only state, prosecutor Lauren Baig said on Wednesday. Mladic was in charge of the Srebrenica operation, Srebrenica was Mladics operation. And the chamber was right to conclude that he was responsible for these crimes, Baig told the court. He used the forces under his command to execute thousands of men and boys, she added, describing the slaughter as being on a scale not seen on European soil since the second world war. Thin air Mladic will be allowed to speak for 10 minutes later on Wednesday at the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals which handles cases left over from the now-closed UN tribunal that convicted him. Lawyers for Mladic urged the court on Tuesday to overturn his conviction, saying that the charge of genocide was made out of thin air. The Srebrenica massacre was the bloodiest single episode during the Bosnian war, which erupted as communal rivalries tore apart Yugoslavia after the fall of communism. In all, about 100,000 people were killed and 2.2 million displaced during the conflict. Jacob Blakes family made an impassioned plea for justice outside the Kenosha County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon as Blake was undergoing another surgery in Milwaukee. Attorneys for Blake and his family said the 29-year-old Kenosha man was left paralyzed by the shots fired by a Kenosha Police officer Sunday, with his spinal cord at least partially severed and several vertebrae shattered. They shot my son seven times. Seven times. Like he didnt matter. But my son matters. He is a human being, and he matters, said his father Jacob Blake, Sr. Attorneys for Blakes family called for the Kenosha Police Department and Kenosha District Attorney Michael Graveley to act quickly, saying they want to see the officer who shot Blake prosecuted and those officers involved fired. Blake was shot Sunday after police were called to what they said was a domestic incident on the 2800 block of 40th Street. During the encounter captured by a bystanders video, an officer is seen shooting Blake while holding him by his shirt as Blake attempted to get into a parked vehicle. His attorney said Blakes three young sons were in the vehicle, including an 8-year-old boy who was celebrating his birthday that day. Attorneys said Blakes mother, Julia Jackson, was initially denied access to her son at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. Attorney Ben Crump said Gov. Tony Evers intervened to help sure she could visit. Jackson made a plea not only for justice for her son, but for peace in the community and healing for the country. As I was riding here in this city I noticed a lot of damage. It doesnt reflect my son or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and destruction, he would be very displeased, Jackson said. So I really am asking and encouraging everyone to take a moment and examine your heart. Citizens, police officers, firemen, clergy, politicians, do Jacob justice on this level and examine your heart. When Jackson began speaking to a large assembly of media, her voice was barely audible. But she became stronger as she spoke, although her legs were visibly shaking beneath her. As I pray for my sons healing physically, emotionally and spiritually, I have also been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country. God has placed each and every one of us in this country because he wanted to be here., she said, calling for people to end hatred based on race or ethnicity. How dare we hate what we are. We are human. God did not make one type of tree or flowerhow dare you ask him to make one type of human that looks just like you. Blake grew up in Evanston, Ill., where according a report in the Chicago Sun-Times his family was involved in the Civil Rights movement. It is unclear how long he has lived in Kenosha. Letetra Widman, of Blake's three sisters made an impassioned plea for civil rights and an end to police violence against African-Americans. So many people have reached out to me saying that they are sorry this happened to my family. Well dont be sorry, because this has been happening to my family for a long time, longer than I can account for. Emmett Till is my family, Widman said. This is nothing new. Im not sad. Im not sorry. Im angry and Im tired. I havent cried one time. I stopped crying years ago. I am numb. I have been watching police murder people who look like me for years. Im not sad, I dont want your pity. I want change. Crump said police have not given the family any details about what led to the shooting. It is so strange, so crazy that when there is video of certain people in the community they say that is all we need to arrest somebody and charge somebody. But when its them doing something nefarious to a person of color, they say oh oh, no no, dont just take the video, you have to put it in context. Dont rush to judgement. But didnt they rush to judgment when they shot Jacob. Supporters at the press conference were critical that information about a warrant filed for Blakes arrest in July was being shared on social media and used as justification for his shooting. It doesnt matter, a man shouted from the crowd watching the press conference. According to court records, a warrant had been issued for Blakes arrest on July 6, with charges for criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and third-degree sexual assault, all with a domestic violence modifier. According to the criminal complaint, a woman who lived on the 2800 block of 40th Street called police in May and reported her former boyfriend Blake had entered her home and taken her car keys and vehicle. She told the officer Blake had also touched her sexually without consent. An attorney representing Blake said he had no previous criminal charges or convictions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Good evening, America. When I stood on this Convention stage four years ago, no one fully understood the historic change that was about to take place. We could all feel it. Something was happening. A movement was forming just below the surface. The forgotten men and women, voiceless in Washington D.C., were preparing to rise up. Our movement followed the pattern of so many that came before us. --First, we were ignored. --Then we were laughed at. --Then they fought us. And then together we won. From that moment forward, America came first. America started winning again. America became respected again. But with every movement, there is a counter-movement. In the view of the radical Democrats, America is the source of the worlds problems. As a result, they believe the only path forward is to erase history and forget the past. They want to destroy the monuments of our forefathers. They want to disrespect our flag burn the stars and stripes that represent patriotism and the American dream. They want to disrespect our National Anthem by taking a knee, while our armed forces lay down their lives every day to protect our freedom. They do not want the Pledge of Allegiance in our Schools. Many, do not want one nation under God. The Democrats want to defund, destroy, and disrespect our law enforcement. The Democrats want an America where your thoughts and opinions are censored when they do not align with their own. President Reagan said, Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction It must be fought for and protected. This is the fight that we are in right now -- and it is a fight that only my father can win. My father ran, not because he needed the job, but because he knew hardworking people across this great country were being left behind. The media mocked these patriots and the flyover states in which they lived. They ignored the Trump flags. They ignored the millions of MAGA banners and barns painted in Red, White and Blue. The Silent Majority had no one fighting for them -- in either Party. Their so called leaders were bowing to China, bribing Iran, and spending more time worrying about how they were received by the elites in Paris than how Americans would provide for their families in Pittsburgh. Our family lost friends but it only pushed us to fight harder. My father pledged to every American in every city, state and town: He Was Going to Make America Great Again. And so began The Great American Comeback. Almost immediately, taxes were slashed. Regulations were cut and the economy soared to new heights -- heights never seen before. Wages went through the roof. Unemployment reached historic lows, especially for Black Americans, Hispanic Americans and Women. Trade deals were ripped up and renegotiated lights were turned back on in abandoned factories across our country. Trillions of dollars were repatriated back into the United States which had been sitting in foreign lands for far too long. Once again --- America became the envy of the world. And with that renewed strength came leverage. The President demanded that our allies pay their fair share for the defense of the Western World. My father rebuilt the mighty American military added new jets, aircraft carriers. He increased wages for our incredible men and women in uniform, and expanded the military defense budget to $721 billion per year. America was no longer weak in the eye of the enemy. The moment President Trump ordered special forces to kill some of the deadliest terrorists on the planet --- the day the mighty MOAB was dropped on insurgent camps --- is the day America took a stance to never be defeated by the enemy. Al-Baghdadi and Soleimani? Dead! Over and over again. Issue after issue. The economy. The Wall. The Military. Trade deals. Tax cuts. Supreme Court Justices. VA Hospitals. Prescription drugs School Choice Right To Try Moving the embassy to Jerusalem Peace in the Middle East Never-ending wars were finally ended. Promises made, and promises, for the first time, were kept. Most politicians spend their entire careers in Washington DC and get absolutely nothing accomplished. For example: Joe Biden. Joe Biden is a politician who has been in government for 47 years. He is a career politician who has never signed the front of a check and does not know the slightest thing about the American worker or the American business --- the engine which fuels the greatest economy the world has ever known. The same politician who is a total pushover for Communist China and someone who would be a giant relief for the terrorists whove now spent years running, hiding, and being taken out by the most talented military known to man. Biden has pledged to raise your taxes by 4 trillion dollars -- 82% of all Americans will see their taxes go up significantly. Biden has pledged to stop border wall construction and give amnesty and healthcare to all illegal immigrants. Biden has pledged to Defund the Police and take away our Cherished Second Amendment. My father on the other hand, delivered the largest tax cuts in American history --- knows that if you do not have a border, you do not have a country --- and will always support Law Enforcement and your Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Every day my father fights for the American people. The forgotten men and women of this country. The ones who embody the American Spirit, which is unlike anything else in the world. It built the New York City skyline, it built the Hoover Dam and soon under my Fathers leadership it will send Americans to Mars. The American Spirit can be felt in the majesty of the Grand Canyon, the shadow of Mt. Rushmore and in the stillness of the air at Gettysburg. It can be seen in the wide-eyed wonder of every American child as they take their first breath in the greatest Country the world has ever known. It defeated fascism and communism and in 68 days, itll defeat the empty, oppressive, and radical views of the extreme left. Ronald Reagan's quote ends with this simple warning: One day we could spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in, the United States, where men (and women) were free. Under President Trump, freedom will never be a thing of the past. Thats what a vote for Donald Trump represents. It is a vote for the American spirit, the American dream and the American flag. To the Law Enforcement Officer who is being attacked, betrayed and whose job they are trying to make extinct My father will fight for you. To all Houses of Worship and to all people of Faith, stripped of our religious freedoms and religious liberties My father will fight for you. To the Voiceless Shamed, Censored and Canceled My father will fight for you. To our Farmers who work dawn to dusk to keep our plates full My father will too fight for you. To every single Mother and Father, to our Veterans, our Coal Miners and to the American Worker - My father will fight for you. And to every proud American who bleeds Red, White and Blue My father will continue to fight for you. In closing, Id like to speak directly to my father. I miss working alongside you every day but Im damn proud to be on the front lines of this fight. I am proud of what you are doing for this country. I am proud to show my children what their grandfather is fighting for. I am proud to watch you give them hell. Never stop. Continue to be unapologetic. Keep fighting for whats right. You are making America strong again. You are making America safe again. You are making America proud again. And, yes, together with the Forgotten Men and Women -- who are finally forgotten no more -- you are making America Great Again! Dad, lets make Uncle Robert proud. Lets go get another 4 years. I love you very much! God Bless You and God Bless the United States of America! Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron Remarks as Prepared: Thank you, and it is an honor to be with you as a proud Republican and supporter of President Donald J. Trump. My name is Daniel Cameron and Im the Attorney General of the great state of Kentucky. I was raised in Kentucky, just a few miles from Abraham Lincolns birthplace. Our first Republican president believed in compassion. Self-reliance. Freedom. Equality. And justice. Sadly, there are some who dont believe in this wisdom or in the better angels of our shard American history, as they tear down the statues of people like Ulysses S. Grant and even Mr. Lincoln himself. Lincoln said that any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure. And for Republicans, our heroes are those who propelled an imperfect nation ever forward, always striving to make life better for everyone. But even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police officers and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognize those who earnestly strive for peace, justice, and equality. In fact, it was General Dwight Eisenhower, a future Republican president, who said: Democracy isasystem that recognizes the equality of humans before the law." Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts, but neither will we accept this all-out assault on western civilization. My values were shaped by my faith and by my parents. I worked at their small coffee shop, meeting people from all walks of life. And I realized something: everyone needs a cup of coffee. That lesson has stuck with me because, despite our difference, we all want the same things: For our children to have more opportunities than we did. To feel the dignity of work. And to believe that if you play by the rules, you can make a good life for yourself and your family. The question is: will we choose the path that gives us the best chance to meet those universal desires? Or will we go backward, to a time when people were treated like political commodities who cant be trusted to think for themselves? I think often about my ancestors who struggled for freedom. And as I think of those giants and their broad shoulders, I also think about Joe Biden, who says: If you arent voting for me, you aint black. Who argued that Republicans would put us back in chains. Who says there is no diversity of thought in the black community. Joe Biden is a backwards thinker in a world craving forward-looking leadership. Theres no wisdom in his record or plan, just a trail of discredited ideas and offensive statements. Joe Biden would destroy jobs, raise our taxes, and throw away the lives of countless unborn children. And he is captive to the radical left, a movement committed to cancel culture and the destruction of public discourse. They believe your skin color must dictate your politics. If you fail to conform while exercising your God given right to speak and think freely, they will cut you down. The politics of identity, cancellation, and mob rule are not acceptable to me, and Republicans trust you, the people, to think for yourselves and to pursue your American Dream however you see fit. The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present, Mr. Lincoln said. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise to the occasion. Ive believe President Trump can meet Lincolns mandate, even as Joe Biden remains trapped by his partys radicals and his own failed record. Lets be honest: no one is excited about Joe Biden. And so I ask you to judge the record: On criminal justice reform: Joe Biden couldnt do it, but President Trump did. On the economy: Joe Biden couldnt do it, but President Trump did build an economy that worked for everyone, especially minorities, and he will do it again. And on immigration: Joe Biden promises more to illegal immigrants than he does to you, and President Trump believes his highest duty is to the American worker. The choice is clear. Let me close with something my mom has always said: that this countrys many faces comprise a family, not separate parts to be divided against each other. And like any family, we care for one another. We grieve together. We share our burdens and struggles, and we celebrate our successes. And though we fuss and fight, we are not enemies. We are Americans, united by a collective faith in our Constitution and laws and the fundamental fairness they represent. We are defenders of life and of individual liberty. And we carry the mantle of Eisenhower and of Reagan to be a force for good in this world, and one that must always be reckoned with. Thats my Republican Party, the Party of Lincoln, that believes America is an indispensable nationan Evergreen Tree, standing tall in a turbulent world. And thats why I am voting for Donald Trump for President. Thank you for listening, and may God Bless you and keep you safe, wherever you are. The Honorable Mike Pompeo Remarks as Prepared: Hi. Im Mike Pompeo. Im speaking to you from beautiful Jerusalem, looking out over the Old City. I have a big jobas Susans husband and Nicks Dad! They are more safe, and their freedoms more secure, because President Trump has put his America First vision into action. It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked. President Trump understands what my great fellow Kansan, President Eisenhower said, for all that we cherish and justly desire -- for ourselves or for our children -- the securing of peace is the first requisite. The primary Constitutional function of the national government is ensuring your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, work, learn and worship as they choose. Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this President has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world: In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The President has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world, and he will not rest until justice is done; He has ensured that Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats are jailed or sent back to China; and He has ended ridiculously unfair trade deals with China that punched a hole in our economy. Those jobs are coming back home. In North Korea, The President lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table. No nuclear tests, no long range missile tests and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families as did the precious remains of scores of our heroes who fought in Korea. Today, because of President Trump, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has defensive weapons systems and America left a harmful treaty so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression. In the Middle East, When Iran threatened, the President approved a strike that killed Iranian terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for the murder and maiming of hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Christians across the Middle East. You will all recall that when the President took office, radical Islamic terrorists had beheaded Americans and ISIS controlled a territory the size of Great Britain. Today, because of the Presidents determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out, its evil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, and our brave soldiers are on their way home. The President exited the U.S. from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the Ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas. The President moved the U.S. Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland. And the President brokered an historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, that our grandchildren will read about in their history books. As a soldier, I saw, first hand, people desperate to flee to freedom. The way each of us can best ensure our freedoms is by electing leaders who dont just talk, but deliver. An American hostage imprisoned in Turkey for two years, Pastor Andrew Brunson, said upon his release that he survived his ordeal with these words of scripture -- Be faithful, endure and finish well. If we stay the course, we will. May God richly bless you and may God bless our great nation, the United States of America Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 07:09:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHICAGO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The family of Jacob Blake, a black man shot by police seven times in the back at close range in Kenosha in the southeastern corner of U.S. midwestern state of Wisconsin on Sunday, would be filing a civil lawsuit against the Kenosha Police Department over the shooting, said a family attorney on Tuesday. Ben Crump, one of the family attorneys, said at a news conference that his client is paralyzed and it would "take a miracle" for him to walk again, with Blake's family members standing behind. Crump also represented George Floyd's family three months ago when Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. "They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter," said Blake's father in a choked voice. "But my son matters. He's a human being and he matters." Blake was still in surgery while the news conference was held on Tuesday afternoon, Crump said. Protests triggered by the shooting continued in Kenosha and spread to Madison, capital of Wisconsin, and Minneapolis in Minnesota Monday night. Defying an 8 p.m. curfew, hundreds of protesters in Kenosha set fire to several buildings downtown as well as to cars and dumpsters on Monday night. More than 30 businesses were destroyed or damaged. The protestors even clashed with officers in riot gear, including 125 members of the Wisconsin National Guard, who were guarding the courthouse. The police used tear gas. In Madison, windows were smashed, fires lit and some shops looted late on Monday into early Tuesday. Police deployed tear gas and pepper spray. Six people were arrested. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency, and will deploy more Wisconsin National Guard troops. In Minneapolis, 11 were arrested after breaking windows at the Hennepin County jail on Monday night. One police officer suffered a broken hand in an altercation with demonstrators, the sheriff's department said, cited by local media. Early Monday, Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden issued a statement on the shooting, saying the shots "pierce the soul of our nation." "Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism." The Division of Criminal Investigation under the Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating into the case. The division aims to provide a report of the incident to the prosecutor within 30 days. Kenosha, a city of about 100,000 people located between Milwaukee and Chicago, is bracing for the third night of protests. Enditem Senator Lindsey Graham has indicated he is not jumping to any conclusions on why police in Kenosha, Wisc., shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake in the back seven times, saying Mr Blake, who is black, "didn't yield" to officers' orders. The South Carolina Republican, one of President Donald Trump's closest confidants in the Senate, made the comments about Mr Blake's shooting at a press conference announcing the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police's endorsement of his re-election campaign. I don't know what happened there. Let's find out. It's dangerous being a cop, Mr Graham said, when asked on Tuesday about Mr Blake being shot on 23 August. I don't know why the gentleman didn't yield when he was asked to yield. I don't know what the facts are," Mr Graham said. Mr Graham is expected to win his race this November against Democratic candidate Jaime Harrison, a well-funded former state party chairman. More follows Vietnam strongly condemns the terrorist bombings in Jolo town, Sulu province, the Philippines, on August 24, which killed and injured many people, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on August 25. Police forces at the site of the terrorist bombings in Sulu province, the Philippines. She made the statement in reply to reporters question about Vietnams response to the bombings. We offer deep condolences to the Philippine Government and the families of victims, Hang said, adding that Vietnam believes the perpetrators of the attack must be duly punished. Condolences offered to Philippines over terrorist bombings Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 25 sent a message of condolence to Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte over the twin terrorist bombings in Jolo, Sulu province of the Philippines, which killed and injured many people. The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also offered his condolences to Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Lopez Locsin./.VNA He hosts a popular podcast that began with Mr. Trumps impeachment proceedings (Verdict with Ted Cruz, he plugged mid-interview), plans to release a book this fall about the Supreme Court (each chapter focuses on a different constitutional liberty, he enthused) and has tended to a puckish Twitter feed that seems to have grown more prolific in this period of relative social isolation, holding forth on Comrade Pelosi and a faux Democratic proposal to give each American three soy lattes a day. I try to have fun, he said. While other Republicans said to be interested in future presidential runs, like Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, were allotted convention speaking time on Mr. Trumps behalf, those who know Mr. Cruz say his absence from the programming might well do more good than harm to his cause. I think the smart money is to lay low and see how this shakes out, said Amanda Carpenter, a former Cruz aide who has opposed Mr. Trump. It is a huge risk for speakers to try to hitch their star to Trump in this moment. For Mr. Cruz, of course, there is also their history. Many Republicans said things they wish voters would now forget in the time between Mr. Trumps debut as a presumed sideshow candidate and his tenure as the nations 45th president. But few could match Mr. Cruz known on the campaign trail for his hammy imitations and extended stabs at comedy in the raw showmanship of the reversal. Just before dropping out in 2016, he appraised Mr. Trump as a pathological liar and serial philanderer of boundless narcissism and no moral compass. While Mr. Cruz has not dwelled on these assessments, he has not taken anything back, either. Before his convention speech in Cleveland, Republicans had hoped that Mr. Cruz, by far Mr. Trumps most formidable primary opponent, would project party unity by expressing his unqualified support. The senator left the stage instead to ferocious boos after advising delegates to vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom without explicitly placing Mr. Trump among them. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said today he will work to address regional divisions in Canada and build a more inclusive political party that better reflects the country's population. During his first news conference since winning the leadership on Monday, O'Toole said Canadians haven't always seen themselves reflected in the party. "I'm going to change that," he said. O'Toole won the leadership on the third ballot early Monday morning after a long night of delays caused by technical glitches in the ballot processing system. Final results, which were expected before 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, weren't announced until after 1 a.m. Monday. On his first day on the job, O'Toole dealt with transition issues and spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about Western alienation, emergency pandemic funding and the government's decision to prorogue Parliament until Sept. 23. O'Toole would not say today how his party intends to proceed on the confidence vote on the throne speech which could trigger an election but said it's critical for the government to address western alienation in its plan going forward. "If they continue to leave out the ability for our resource sector to get Canadian resources to market, we're going to see more Western alienation, we're going to see less jobs and opportunity for Canadians in Ontario, in Atlantic Canada," he said. "So we need to make sure that Canada's strength in natural resources is part of that economic plan. We can do that while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but we have to be proud of what we produce here in Canada." O'Toole said he wants to collaborate with the provinces instead of taking an "Ottawa knows best" approach. In his acceptance speech early Monday, O'Toole said he would work to heal any internal rifts in the party and broaden the party's base of support. "I believe that whether you are Black, white, brown or from any race or creed, whether you are LGBT or straight, whether you are an Indigenous Canadian or have joined the Canadian family three weeks ago or three generations ago, whether you're doing well or barely getting by ... you are an important part of Canada and you have a home in the Conservative Party of Canada," he said. Story continues O'Toole repeated a similar line today. O'Toole says he has 'clear track record' on human rights During the fall election campaign, his predecessor Andrew Scheer was dogged with questions about his social conservative positions on abortion and same-sex marriage. O'Toole said today he has a "clear track record" when it comes to human rights. "I won the leadership of the Conservative party as a pro-choice Conservative MP, one that won with a strong mandate," he said. "That's how I'm going to lead as the leader of the Opposition and that's how I will be as prime minister. I'm in politics to defend the rights of Canadians to secure a brighter future." O'Toole also noted he also was one of only 18 Conservative MPs to vote in favour of a bill advancing transgender rights. Acknowledging he has work to do in getting Canadians to know him, O'Toole emphasized his middle class roots. "I'm not famous, I'm not well known. I get things done. I don't drop the ball and I've always fought for Canadians," he said. "I have no famous name. I just fight for Canadians. And after the pandemic, with record deficits, with the challenges we face in the world, we need a fighter. I think we're tired of a directionless, divisive and ethically challenged liberal government." Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said O'Toole will be a strong voice for his province and said he's confident he'll work to address regional alienation. "One of the reasons I endorsed Erin is because he has been a consistent, long-time leader on real priority issues for Albertans around oil and gas, pipelines, fairness in the federation, jobs and the economy," he said. 'Bold efforts' required Jonathan Malloy, a political science professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, said O'Toole will need "bold efforts" to bring the Conservatives back to government. He said that while Stephen Harper's strategy of assembling the minimum number of voters necessary to win worked to ensure a unified and well-funded party, it proved insufficient in the 2019 election. "This is beyond appealing to specific groups of voters and policy areas it's a mindset that sees growth and inclusion as a good, not just grudgingly necessary, thing," he said in an email response to questions from CBC News. "In particular, the party must cultivate a more positive and collective vision, rather than the resentful individualism of its 2019 election slogan: 'It's time for you to get ahead.'" David Stewart, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, said one big challenge for O'Toole will be to appeal to voters who might have suspicions about the social conservative views of many within the party. "The party can't win an election without overwhelming support from social conservatives, but it can't win if it is unable to reach out more broadly," he said in an email. While leadership contender Peter MacKay had a narrow lead on the first ballot, O'Toole ended up taking 57 per cent of the votes, scooping up support from those who had supported social conservatives Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan. Liberal MP calls for Sloan's expulsion Ontario Liberal MP Pam Damoff issued a news release calling on O'Toole to condemn "racism, misogyny and bigotry" within his caucus by removing Sloan from his team and refusing to sign his nomination papers for the next election. She cited past statements from Sloan criticizing Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam that many people considered racist and pointed out that he supported conversion therapy. "I am proud to be part of a caucus that believes in protecting LGBTQ2 rights and women's rights and sees Canada's diversity, including within our public service, as our greatest strength," she said in the release. "If Mr. O'Toole wants to prove that he only pandered to far-right groups in order to win the leadership, and not as part of his vision for the next campaign, he has a lot of work ahead of him. However, the first item on his list needs to be removing Derek Sloan from his team." O'Toole said he and Sloan have some "very stark differences" in positions, though there are some areas of overlap, such as shared concerns about China. O'Toole said he didn't agree with the way Sloan characterized some of his concerns. "But certainly within a pandemic, within the race we were in, a lot of things were said. We're united now, we're going to talk together as a caucus soon," he said. As leader of the Official Opposition, O'Toole is entitled to a salary top-up of $87,200 in addition to an MP's annual salary of $182,600, and the use of the official residence at Stornoway. Scheer has moved out of Stornoway already but there's no word yet on when the O'Toole family will take up occupancy. Key appointments for leader's team O'Toole also made some key appointments and announced one nomination today: Tausha Michaud, a long-time political staffer who served as O'Toole's senior adviser when he was Veterans Affairs minister, becomes chief of staff. Fred DeLorey, who led O'Toole's leadership campaign and has worked for the Conservative Party, former prime minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, was named national campaign manager. Alupa Clarke, a former Conservative MP who served as O'Toole's Quebec campaign chair, was appointed senior adviser to the leader. Janet Fryday Dorey, former president of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party, was nominated for the position of executive director of the Conservative Party of Canada. The nomination must be ratified by the party's national council. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains was asked by a reporter if he had any concerns about O'Toole's appointments of Harper-era staff. "They seem to be stuck in the past, stuck in divisive politics, stuck in a view that they need to muzzle funding for innovation. We've seen that film before," he said. By Jiraporn Kuhakan BANGKOK (Reuters) - Police in Thailand on Wednesday arrested two pro-democracy student protest leaders for taking part in rallies and would charge them with sedition, expanding a crackdown on demonstrators as pressure builds against the government. Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree of the Free Youth Group and his partner Panumas Singprom were arrested at their residence in Nonthaburi province on the outskirts of Bangkok and taken to a police station. "We got arrested with many charges, but the most severe one is article 116," Tattep told reporters, referring to the sedition law. He was seen flashing a three-finger salute, a symbol of the movement, when he arrived at police station. The two were among 15 people charged in connection with a July 18 rally for breaching internal security laws and defying an emergency decree, which banned public gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Pawinee Ghumsri, lawyer for Tattep and Panumas, said the pair deny the charges and would seek bail. Protesters have staged rallies almost daily for the past month in Thailand against the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power in a 2014 coup. Some of those demonstrators have called for reforms of the country's monarchy, a taboo topic in a country that has a strict law that punishes perceived royal insults by up to 15 years in prison. Other protesters have vowed to move ahead with a planned demonstration on Sept. 19, the anniversary of an earlier coup in 2006. Thai police on Tuesday arrested human rights lawyer Anon Nampa for the third time over his participation in anti-government protest on similar charges. He was later released on bail. Police have arrested student leaders, rappers and activists for participating in demonstrations, but they have not been charged under the 'lese majeste' law. Those arrested so far have all been released on bail. (Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty) Photo: The Canadian Press FILE This Jan. 31, 2018 photo, provided by the New York State Department of Corrections, shows Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon. Chapman, 65, was denied parole for an 11th time, New York state corrections officials said Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (New York State Department of Corrections via AP, File) The man who gunned down John Lennon outside his Manhattan apartment in 1980 was denied parole for an 11th time, state corrections officials said Wednesday. Mark David Chapman was denied after being interviewed by a parole board Aug. 19, according to corrections officials. Chapman, 65, is serving a 20-years-to-life sentence at Wende Correctional Facility, east of Buffalo. Chapman shot and killed the former Beatle on the night of Dec. 8, 1980, hours after Lennon autographed an album for him. He has said previously that he feels more and more shame every year for the crime. I was too far in, Chapman told a parole board in 2018. I do remember having the thought of, Hey, you have got the album now. Look at this, he signed it, just go home. But there was no way I was just going to go home. Chapman's next parole hearing is scheduled for August 2022. Defendants in $2.3 mln Russtroybank embezzlement case go on trial RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 17:25 26/08/2020 MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) A former vice-president of the Russian Construction Bank (Russtroybank) and his acquaintance indicted of a 175 million-ruble ($2.3 million) embezzlement will stand trial in Moscows Meshchansky District Court, the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office reports Wednesday. According to the investigation, in 2015 the banks vice-president, ex-chairman of the management board of the credit organization Andrey Strukov and other unidentified persons conspired to steal the banks money. They organized granting of knowingly impaired loans to firms under their control failing to conduct financial and operational activities. Thus, they caused damage worth 175 million rubles to Russtroybank. A case against Strukov is under separate inquiry. He escaped and was put on the international wanted list. The Russian Construction Bank (Russtroybank was declared bankrupt in February 2016. The Deputy Head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (IPMO), Jalil Eslami, said on Wednesday that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has promised to investigate the seizure of several tankers carrying Iranian fuel to Venezuela. "We have on several occasions announced our protest to the seizure of tankers carrying Iranian fuel to IMO and several times talked to the Secretary General of the IMO regarding the seizure of the tankers carrying Iranian fuel to Venezuela but this is for the first time that they have promised to investigate the matter," Eslami said. Earlier this month, the United States seized four vessels carrying gasoline from Iran to Venezuela following federal prosecutors calls in July for the tankers to be seized. The news of the action taken by the United States was initially met with shock in Iran and elsewhere, as Iran had shipped gasoline to Venezuela at least twice before over the past few months. Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said that the cargo of the tankers, gasoline, belonged to Venezuela, not Iran. The seizure of the four ships appears to be part of the United States' efforts to pressure Iran back to the negotiating table over its controversial nuclear and missile development programs, its destabilizing activities in the region and its human rights violations. In response, Iranian officials have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to foreign vessels, and in several cases, detained foreign ships and tankers to be released afterwards. In July 2019, allegedly in retaliation for Britain's detaining of its supertanker at Gibraltar in early July, Iran's military seized a U.K.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities who released the tanker later cited numerous justifications for the seizure, claiming that the British tanker collided with an Iranian fishing vessel, though they did not produce any evidence to convince the international community that Irans actions were justified and legal. 'Help! I Work With People': Chad Veach releases new book, says everyone must learn power of influence Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Bestselling author and distinguished pastor of Los Angeles Zoe Church, Chad Veach, says he wants to help everyone tap into their leadership potential. The pastor's new book, Help! I Work With People: Getting Good at Leadership, Influence, and People Skills, was birthed out of something God deposited into his heart a few years ago. "God was speaking to me about writing my first leadership book. ... There's nothing that God loves more than humanity, Veach told The Christian Post in a recent video interview. John 3:16, he said, is the most famous verse in the whole world because it resonates with everyone that God gave His only Son, for the whomsoever's, anyone. I wanted to write a book that was all about people because we really need to turn our heart toward humanity," added Veach, who leads one of the fastest-growing young adult ministries in the United States. "I feel like in this political climate, in this culture that we're in right now, opinions are not going to change people, but the love of God will. The spirit of it (the book) isn't, ugh ... 'Help! I work with people!' It's more like the Apostle Paul; I want to win with people. So I become all things to all people, only so that I can win them over to Jesus, the pastor explained. Veach is a spiritual covering for many high profile celebrities, including award-winning actor Chris Pratt and reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian. The young minister said he's not fazed by criticism that might come from being seen out at events or parties in Hollywood because his leadership is modeled after Christ. One thing we have to always remember about Jesus is that He was highly criticized for who He was associated with, he maintained. I don't think it really swayed Him or discouraged Him. I don't think it really moved His ministry. I think He knew His audience. It's always got to be something that alarms us if we're not being criticized for who we're associated with. "I don't think Jesus was hanging around notorious sinners, famous sinners, worried about being contaminated. He was injecting them with faith, infusing them with love. They weren't contaminating Him. So I think either we're going to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, or we're going to hide out in our Christian kumbaya boxes, Veach maintained. This book is all about saying we love people from all backgrounds, from all ethnicities, no matter what sin cycle they're in. We love who God loves and God loves humans. During times of political and social unrest, Veach said he wants everyone who reads his book to develop the people skills Christ had to help win over a hurting world. "We've got to get really good at using our influence for good. Having leadership and people skills, he stressed. We've got to develop people skills; we can't win with people that don't like us. So in order for you to work with somebody, they got to first like you, so we can't just live off our faith. Thats why they would come around Jesus and they would listen to Him talk. They marveled at His gracious words and His authority. So what was He? He had unbelievable influence and leadership and people skills. Even Pontius Pilate, he didn't follow Jesus, but he was influenced by Jesus. Nicodemus just the same, Veach added. He went on to share some of the people skills listed in Help! I Work With People. I think we've got to really work on our people skills. People skills is asking questions, learning people's names, expressing gratitude, building their confidence, not using them for our confidence. Just practical hacks to great people skills so we can win them and lead them, the 39-year-old father of four shared. Veach further emphasized that for someone to lead anyone, people first have to work out their own personal issues. "Leadership is so easy. It's just so natural if you first learn how to lead yourself. The hardest person to lead is not someone in my family or my company or organization, the hardest person to lead is me, Veach said. You and I are the same. There is always a difference between what we know we should do and what we actually do. He then quoted the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:15, which says, The things I want to do, I never do, and the things I hate to do, it's what I always do. "So the hardest person to lead is us. It always starts with me. If I can lead me, leading others is easy. I am the common denominator of all my problems. So I've got to learn how to deal with my insecurity, my wounds, my hurt, my disappointment. And if I can get healthy, then I'll naturally grow, Veach said. The book, he added, begins with helping people work on themselves and then progresses to learning how to influence others. "I think leadership starts with me, and then impacts my one on one relationships, and then impacts the group. I think churches, teams group, we got to learn how to build great morale and great chemistry, and we got to learn how to have conflict and resolution. Every team is going to have conflict. Every family has conflict. How do you bring resolution? he asked. Veach hopes his book is a game-changer and impacts all people, not just Christians. "Leadership, by definition, is influence nothing more, nothing less. So what we're trying to convince every person is that you have influence. You might have influence over the stay at home kids that you're raising and developing. You might have influence over your co-workers. You might have influence over your family, influence on social media, all of us have a measure of influence. So we've got to get good at using our influence for the right things, he insisted. Veach concluded by adding: "I'm broken, you're broken, everybody's broken. And we've got to do our best to bring encouragement and to bring strength and to bring love. Shame will not change people, but the love of God will. And so we've all got to do our part, to use our influence, to point people to the ultimate solution whose name is Jesus. The foreword to Help! I Work With People was written by leadership expert John C. Maxwell. The book was also endorsed by business moguls Ed Bastian of Delta Airlines, Kourtney Kardashian, and DeVon Franklin, among others. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 00:39:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TBILISI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Georgia will have a multinational military drill named "Noble Partner 2020" with NATO member states at the Vaziani military base near its capital Tbilisi in September, the Georgian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. More than 2,700 servicemen from Georgia, the United States, Britain, France and Poland will participate in the exercise slated from Sept. 7 to 18. The multinational exercise will include command, staff and field training with live fire, engagement of maneuver and combat support elements, said the ministry, adding that armored and combat vehicles, as well as artillery systems, will be engaged in the exercise. The annual exercise aims to increase the interoperability of Georgian troops and partner states and improve their combat capabilities, according to the statement. Initiated in 2015, "Noble Partner" was originally aimed to train Georgian soldiers and improve Georgian troops' interoperability with NATO units. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 07:07:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Tuesday voiced concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza and West Bank. The security situation in Gaza has recently deteriorated, a trend which may soon become irreversible, he warned. Militant activity, incendiary balloons, rockets and a deteriorating humanitarian situation inside Gaza are rapidly eroding peace efforts, he said. This latest escalation has once again demonstrated the urgency of implementing long-term solutions for Gaza. There is a moral imperative to end all militant activity in Gaza, restore Palestinian national unity and lift Israeli closures, he said. "But the political solutions that must be provided by leaders are nowhere in sight. Instead, we have a day-to-day, month-to-month, year-to-year patchwork of crucial humanitarian efforts to prevent war and to try and sustain the lives of 2 million desperate Palestinians in Gaza." During the past months, Gaza's economy has deteriorated dramatically, he said. Compounding the impact of continued closures, intra-Palestinian division and more than a decade of Hamas rule, COVID-19-related restrictions have halted the crossing of workers and traders into Israel and inhibited revenue transfers to Gaza's exporters. The current absence of cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel in response to the threat of annexation has also slowed implementation of critical infrastructure projects and led to job losses, said Mladenov. In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, clashes between Palestinians and Israel continued. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a concerning increase in violent crime within Palestinian communities across the West Bank, as well as violent incidents involving Palestinian Security Forces and civilians, with several people shot dead in recent weeks. Palestinian organizations focused on gender-based violence in the West Bank have also reported a sharp increase in femicides, he said. "Gaza is teetering on the brink of another major escalation with Israel, the occupied West Bank is fracturing under a multitude of economic and political pressures, settlement expansion and demolitions continue, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on Palestinian and Israeli societies." Enditem NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2020 / Capturing the exquisite beauty of luxury hotels is often a daunting task. With enormous pressure, the levels of work with big tourism names are often left for more experienced photographers. But experience and expertise are what photographer Antonio Cuellar delivers. The architectural photography icon has worked with the most high-end hotels in the tourism industry today. Antonio specializes in luxury hotel photography and videography. He is known for his ability to elegantly capture the whole essence of a destination's architecture and lifestyle. With a range of high-end hotel brands in his portfolio, it's no question that he is one of the best. Antonio has done work for the most luxurious hospitality brands around the world. The luxury hotel photographer has a great dedication towards the highest level of excellence and 15 years of industry experience. Antonio Cuellar has received several photography awards in the field of Architectural photography and travel. The photographer also received the task and privilege of being an esteemed judge of the Luxury Travel Guide. Antonio joined television host Anthony Melchiorri of "Hotel Impossible" and Shane Green of "Resort Rescue" in judging the competition. Antonio Cuellar's eye for detail is legendary in photographer circles. Specializing in medium format photography, he uses Hasselblad and Arca-Swiss prime lenses and advanced lighting gear. His superior skills, combined with some of the best equipment, ensure that he produces the highest quality imagery for his clients. In the hotel industry, visuals play a big part in an establishment's marketing strategy. Photos and videos that look great, whether on small scale prints or large billboards, can make or break a luxury hotel. With Antonio Cuellar behind the lens, he can make miracles happen for some of the best hotels and resorts, making already beautiful destinations look majestic in stills or moving pictures. Story continues Some of the best work that the luxury photographer has done were the results of minimal artificial lighting. Armed with his creative eye and weapons of choice, Antonio knows the best times of the day to shoot to maximize natural light. Today, Antonio has two offices- one in the United States and in the United Kingdom. His local production teams and retouching studios in each location help him scale operations and cater to more clients. This expansion comes as a timely move as his demand has skyrocketed in recent years. With a dedicated team and stable system, Antonio's studios promise a 24-hour turnaround on output if needed. A destination photographer of epic renown, Antonio Cuellar has travelled worldwide to serve clients in countries like Mexico, Ireland, China, Dubai, Scotland, and The United States. His company has approval from most major hotel brands in the luxury sphere. As a big name in luxury hotel circles, Antonio often gets invitations to work with and dine, experience, and stay at some of the world's most glamorous hotels. A licensed drone operation with full insurance, his videos often contain some of the most beautiful aerial shots. As a trilingual professional, Antonio puts a premium on professional communication with his clients. Company: Antonio Cuellar Photography Email: info@antoniocuellarphotography.com Phone Number: 917 387 4423 (New York), 44 203 608 7929 (London) 305 458 1131 (Miami) Website: www.antoniocuellarphotography.com SOURCE: Antonio Cuellar Photography View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603210/Antonio-Cuellar-Leaving-a-Mark-in-Luxury-Hotel-Photography-Circles Patrick Narhgwah Narh Wortey, a 20-year-old driver's mate has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl at La Wireless, Accra. Wortey who is said have defiled the victim on two occasions, is facing a charge of defilement. He pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann, admitted Wortey to bail in the sum of GH60,000.00 with three sureties one of whom should be a public servant earning not less than GH2,500.00. He was ordered by the court to stay 50 meters from the victim. The court further ordered the prosecution to file their disclosures and witness statements and serve same on the accused. The matter has been adjourned to September 9. Prosecuting, Police Sergeant Opoku Aniagyei said the complainant is a 57-year-old unemployed man residing at La Wireless with the victim. Sergeant Aniagyei said the accused also resides at La. Prosecution said police investigations revealed that accused once lived with his parents in the same house, but he relocated to a different location at La. According to prosecution, accused occasionally visits his parents who are still in the same house with the complainant. Prosecution said during the month of March this year, Wortey went to have sex with victim in the complainant's room. He said on July 23, this year, accused at about 1100 hours again had sex with the victim. Prosecution said whiles in the act, the complainant chanced on the Victim and the accused and as soon as the complainant raised an alarm, the accused escaped. The complainant, however lodged complaint with the Ghana Police Service Domestic Violence and Victim's Support Unit in Accra where he was given a Police Medical Report Form to seek medical attention for the victim. He said Wortey was later picked up by the Police and in his cautioned statement admitted the offence. ---GNA BERLIN - Germany will end mandatory coronavirus tests for travellers returning from high-risk areas abroad and again focus its testing strategy on people with symptoms or possible exposure to COVID-19 patients, the countrys health minister said Wednesday. Health Minister Jens Spahn said that over the summer vacation period the number of virus tests performed in Germany nearly doubled, to 900,000 per week, in part to identify people who caught the virus during trips abroad. People coming home from coronavirus risk areas were offered free tests at airports, train stations and highway stops, allowing them to cut short the required two-week quarantine if their result came back negative. Travellers returning from high-risk areas, which include most countries outside the European Union and some regions inside the bloc, will in the future be required to go into mandatory quarantines for at least five days before taking a test, which may no longer be free unless ordered by a doctor. With the end of the vacation period ... this risk is going down again, Spahn told reporters in Berlin. We have to focus more on patients with symptoms and those who had contact with COVID patients. Spahn did not say when exactly the testing strategy would change, but it is likely that that decision will be made at a meeting on Thursday between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the countrys 16 state governors. The change in the countrys testing strategy is also due to Germanys labs reaching the limits of their capacities, Spahn said. The operators of Frankfurt Airport, Germanys biggest, criticized the decision to focus on quarantining, rather than testing travellers. Stefan Schulte, the chief executive of Fraport, said the move amounted to a second lockdown for the airline and travel industries. He called on the government to instead improve the existing system of testing travellers from high-risk areas rather than to dismantled it again. On Wednesday, Germanys disease control centre reported 1,576 new confirmed coronavirus cases. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the country has reported 236,429 cases and 9,280 virus-related deaths. The average age of infected individuals has declined to 32 from around age 50 at the beginning of the pandemic. More younger people becoming infected means that fewer COVID-19 patients ended up hospitalized, but we want to avoid that (the virus) will reach those groups that are especially vulnerable, Spahn said. Late Tuesday, the parties in Germanys governing coalition agreed to extend short-work measures introduced due to the pandemic until the end of next year, with the government supporting companies using the strategy to avoid layoffs with around 10 billion euros ($11.8 billion) in tax money. In further developments, organizers cancelled plans for a large concert with Bryan Adams in Duesseldorf on Sept. 4, while in Berlin authorities banned several protests planned for the weekend against coronavirus pandemic measures. Officials said that those protesting would likely have breached rules on social distancing designed to stop the spread of the virus. Germany has seen an upswing in new confirmed cases in recent weeks, and the government is considering whether to impose fresh restrictions again. Authorities in the capital cited a rally against COVID-19 restrictions on Aug. 1 during which participants ignored mask-wearing and distancing rules and other conditions imposed on the protest. Berlins top security official, Andreas Geisel, welcomed the decision. We need to weigh the basic right of freedom of assembly against the sanctity of life, he said. We chose life. Geisel said police would act to stop any large gathering of people and indicated that authorities wouldnt tolerate a tent camp that protesters have erected near the German parliament. Im not prepared to accept that Berlin is abused a second time as a stage for corona deniers ... and right-wing extremists, he said. Numerous leading figures in the countrys far-right scene, including members of the Alternative for Germany party, had announced they would participate in rallies in Berlin on Saturday. The partys leader in the Berlin state assembly, Georg Pazderski, criticized the decision to ban the protests, calling it disproportionate and unjustified. The organizer of one of the protests has said they will appeal the ban. Read more about: Top STEM Graduates Hired For District Official Roles in China 2020-08-25 -- Government recruiters for ruling Chinese Communist Party-sponsored jobs are requiring ever higher levels of qualification for graduate positions in district-level government organizations, RFA has learned. As China's economy continues to decline and unemployment continues to worsen, graduates with postgraduate qualifications from prestigious schools like Peking University and Tsinghua University are now being recruited by district-level government departments and neighborhood committees, according to recruitment advertisements seen by RFA. Doctoral and master's graduates from Peking University and Tsinghua University have recently been found applying for positions in neighborhood committees in Hangzhou in the eastern province of Zhejiang, social media reports have indicated. The Hangzhou Sub-district Office of the municipal government recently advertised for candidates holding PhDs in STEM subjects including biology, geophysics, materials science and engineering, according to one advertisement. Jia Lingmin, a former high-school teacher in Zhengzhou, Henan province, said the graduate labor market is getting increasingly difficult in China. "There is a saying that scientists are held in the highest esteem, especially those who majored in civil and biological engineering at Tsinghua," Jia said. "But now, neighborhood committees are recruiting graduates with qualifications that have nothing to do with social management," he said. Hangzhou's Yuhang district recently recruited someone with a masters degree in journalism and communication from Peking University, while Qiaosi sub-district office hired someone with a master's in software engineering from Peking University, according to social media. Meanwhile, the Linping and Donghu subdistrict offices hired graduates in Chinese philosophy, someone with a masters in Law and a PhD in geophysics. Some of the new hires were assigned to the general management office as stability maintenance personnel, an army of domestic security officials tasked with preventing social unrest by cracking down on peaceful critics of the government. Politicization of universities Shanxi-based scholar Lu Qiang said the new trend reflects the increasing politicization of universities under the ruling Chinese Communist Party's general secretary, Xi Jinping. "The focus of professors is no longer on research, and the focus of students is no longer on learning," Lu said. "Universities seem from the outside to be prospering, but they are actually very materialistic." "This process now starts in kindergarten, and education is simply a way to find a good job after college," he said. "Now the Chinese economy is in such a state that finding a job in a sub-district office is actually pretty good." An official in charge of the Communist Party's organization department of the Yuhang District Committee said in response to netizens' questions that candidates of such caliber are needed to ensure Yuhang's economic and social development of Yuhang, according to the Qiangjiang Evening News. Guo Baosheng, a current affairs commentator who graduated in philosophy from Beijing's Renmin University, said graduates are likely keen to land any job on the ruling party's payroll. "Being an official is the only way to make your ancestors proud and ensure a stable income," Guo told RFA. "It also shows that Chinese universities educating people who are profit-oriented and have no ideals at all." "Nothing in China beats being an official, because they have a stable income, and the opportunity for promotion and to get rich, have a bright future," he said. "You can embezzle a lot of money as an official." Soviet similarities Guo drew a parallel between China now and the former Soviet Union. "This situation is very similar to the situation before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, he said. "Back then ... Soviet university graduates and doctoral students were vying to be officials too," Guo said. "High-quality students would rather be local officials than do academic research." Think tanks are predicting that unemployment will see a double-digit increase in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while 8.74 million new graduates will enter the labor market. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Donita Jose By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The government showed appreciation for healthcare workers by showering flower petals on them for their service in tackling Covid-19, however, the kin of many healthcare workers who lost the fight have not received any compensation either from the Central or State governments. Express tracked four such families of Covid-19 martyrs from Telangana whose applications for ex gratia to the Central government are stuck at various levels. The ex gratia application for Victoria Jayamani, Head Nurse from Chest Hospital, who died on June 26, is yet to be processed. Her family members said that they gave all required documents for the insurance claim under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, two months on, nothing has moved. A family member on condition of anonymity shared that they were yet to receive Rs 20,000, which was given as funeral expenses. In another case, the family of M Kurhseed, a lab technician from MGM Warangal, who died on August 1, is yet to receive his death certificate, which is required to apply for the insurance claim. We are being made to run from pillar to post. We went to the Municipality office, then to the hospital administration, and both departments claim the other has not forwarded the documents, said Kursheeds son. His widow is uncertain if they would even get a pension. I am left with just Rs 12,000 and three children to take care of. Without a death certificate I cant do anything, said Zaibuneesa Begum. Similarly, the family of Goverdhan Kumar, a lab technician from Chest Hospital, who passed away on July 25, is still struggling to get a death certificate. They were informed that the NIMS administration is yet to send details of death to district officials. The issue is that there is no nodal agency to handle this. If not for my fathers colleagues and lab technician union we would not be able to follow this up, said B Shailesh Kumar, his son. In another case, the family of a deceased healthcare worker on condition of anonymity said that if the State government so willed, the entire process could have been wrapped up in a weeks time. Till date, only one healthcare worker, Dr Naresh Kumar, has received assistance in the form of a job assurance for his wife. Hurricane Laura is expected to devastate the northwest Gulf coast with catastrophic winds that could uproot trees and storm surge that could reach 15 feet when it makes landfall as a Category 4 hurricane late Wednesday, but forecasters believe Houston will narrowly escape the worst of the wreckage. Tracking steadily northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, Lauras winds reached 115 mph with stronger gusts around 7 a.m. Wednesday as the hurricane morphed into a Category 3 storm roughly 290 miles southeast of Galveston. Hurricane Laura is expected to gain more strength, with windspeeds reaching 130 mph, and escalate into a Category 4 hurricane before pummeling the Gulf coast. Forecasters are confident the storm will strike near the Texas Louisiana border far enough east that Houston lies well outside the potential path, said Eric Berger of Space City Weather. It is now clear the Houston-Galveston metro area will escape the worst of what is a powerful Hurricane Laura, Berger wrote Wednesday morning. TRACK FLOODING: Our Texas Flood Map shows if your neighborhood is at risk Berger said his team of meteorologists will continue to monitor the storm, and the Houston area should still expect some inclement weather as the hurricane ravages areas like Beaumont, Port Arthur and southwest Louisiana. This has been a very, very close call for Houston, Berger wrote. Similarly, the National Hurricane Center made no changes to Hurricane Lauras predicted path early Wednesday, maintaining that the storm appeared to be heading for the Texas Louisiana border. The models are in very good agreement on the center of Laura moving into extreme southwestern Louisiana or southeastern Texas in about 24 hours, the center wrote in a 4 a.m. update. The hurricanes intensification over the past day was remarkable, and there are no signs it will stop soon, the hurricane center said. STORM FORECASTS: See the latest NWS forecast track and rainfall estimates The same areas from San Luis Pass to Intracoastal City, La. remain under a hurricane warning that officials issued Tuesday. A storm surge warning is in effect for Freeport, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River where there is danger of life-threatening inundation from rising waters that could penetrate 30 miles inland from the immediate coast. The hurricane center urged residents in those areas to rush to finish preparations before multiple life-threatening hazards arrive Wednesday afternoon. Devastating wind damage will occur where the hurricane makes landfall, the hurricane center said. Trees will be snapped or uprooted, well-built homes may sustain major damage and electricity and water could be shuttered for days or weeks. Widespread tree damage and power outages should be expected well beyond the hurricanes center track. Storm surge is expected to peak at 10 to 15 feet between Sea Rim State Park and Intracoastal City, La., which could be catastrophic. Port Bolivar to Sea Rim State Park are expected to get 6 to 9 feet of storm surge; San Luis Pass to Port Bolivar and Galveston Bay could see 3 to 5 feet, forecasters predict. Laura is expected to dump 5 to 10 inches of rainfall over the area between Wednesday afternoon and Friday, which could cause widespread flash flooding, the hurricane center said. Hurricane-force winds and damaging wind gusts are expected to spread well inland into parts of eastern Texas and western Louisiana early Thursday, the hurricane center said. Houston should expect to see downed trees and sporadic to widespread power outages as the storm tracks to the east, Berger said. Tropical-storm force winds could blow through areas east of Interstate 45 in Houston, while greater gusts will likely impact Galveston Bay, Chambers County and Bolivar Peninsula. A Shell Alcyone Buoy located 315 miles southeast of Galveston reported around 4:40 a.m. a wind gust of 107 mph and 35-foot seas near the eyewall of Hurricane Laura, according to the National Weather Service Houston. Satellite images showed the hurricanes eye beginning to develop early Wednesday. anna.bauman@chron.com Situated on a 15,000-square-foot roof deck with expansive views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline, and featuring ample space for social distancing, Marcus at NoHu adds another dynamic to Port Imperial, where Roseland Residential Trust is leading the creation of a $3-billion, 200-acre neighborhood surrounding the NY Waterway ferry terminal. Roseland is focused on creating a holistic, lifestyle-oriented destination at Port Imperial, where the company is currently developing two luxury residential projects that are set to open in early 2021 RiverHouse 9 , a 313-unit building in Weehawken, and The Capstone , a 360-unit building in West New York. "Roseland's placemaking success in Port Imperial is mirrored not only in the design of our thoughtfully-imagined properties, but also in its attraction of celebrity chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson," stated MaryAnne Gilmartin, Board Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation. "Our Port Imperial offerings provide more space, state-of-the-art amenity packages, incredible views of both the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline, and now, signature culinary experiences," she explained. "When combined with the region's affordability and convenient transit access for cross-river commuters, Port Imperial is uniquely positioned to meet the demand for the urban-suburban conveniences and lifestyle that renters and hotel guests have been seeking for decades." Marcus at NoHu features a menu of seasonally-inspired dishes and a hand-crafted selection of refreshing cocktails, wine, and beer. Chef Samuelsson is the acclaimed chef, cookbook author, TV personality, philanthropist and food activist behind iconic restaurants Red Rooster Harlem in New York City and Marcus B+P in Newark. He has won multiple James Beard Foundation awards for his work as a chef and as host of PBS's No Passport Required, his public television series produced with Vox/Eater. Samuelsson was crowned champion of Top Chef Masters and Chopped All Stars and was the guest chef for President Obama's first state dinner. "The people in and around the Port Imperial community are craving new and exciting things to safely enjoy with their loved ones," said Matthes Metz, General Manager, EnVue. "We couldn't be more thrilled to team up with the powerhouse Chef Marcus Samuelsson to bring our community an amazing new dining offering during this difficult time period." NoHu is open every day of the week, for dining, drinks, and weekend brunch. Reservations are recommended to ensure availability and to receive notifications about closure due to inclement weather. NoHu is located at 550 Avenue at Port Imperial, Weehawken, New Jersey 07086 USA. For reservations, call 201-683-2132 or visit: http://envuehotel.com/dining/nohu/ . Perfect for private events and weddings, in addition to the 15,000 square foot outdoor rooftop, EnVue also offers over 18,000 square feet of indoor space including views of New York City. For inquiries, contact [email protected] . Please note the hotel is still closed to overnight guests. For more information about EnVue, Autograph Collection, click here or call 201-758-7920. For more information on updated ferry schedules and operating routes, please visit the NY Waterway website. About Roseland Residential Trust Roseland Residential Trust is an owner, manager, and developer of luxury multifamily properties in high-barrier-to-entry waterfront locales throughout the Northeast. A subsidiary of New Jersey-based Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, one of the country's leading Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Roseland develops innovative, lifestyle-oriented communities in waterfront neighborhoods that provide quick access to mass transit. Roseland, which owns and manages a large collection of luxury residential units, has a long history of creating communities that enrich the quality of life for residents, and enhance the beauty, economic vitality, and energy of their surrounding environs. Fully integrated and self-managed, the company is the master developer for several nationally recognized, mixed-use waterfront destinations, including Port Imperial, a $3-billion, 200-acre neighborhood on the Hudson River Waterfront in New Jersey, and Portside at East Pier in East Boston, where the company is redeveloping a half-mile of Boston Harbor into a luxury community. For more information on Roseland Residential Trust and its communities, please visit www.roselandres.com . About HEI Hotels & Resorts HEI Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is a leading hospitality investment and management company that owns and/or operates 82 premium select-service, full-service, upper upscale and luxury independent or branded hotels and resorts throughout the United States with annual combined revenues in excess of $2.2 billion. HEI's branding partners include Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Accor. Taking a holistic approach to creating value for its investors and employees, HEI sets the highest standards across all aspects of hotel management and operation and focuses on central principles of excellence and continuous improvement. HEI prides itself on some of the highest employee satisfaction scores in the hospitality industry, fuels local economic prosperity by investing in communities and is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability. To learn more about HEI, please visit www.heihotels.com . About Marcus Samuelsson Group The Marcus Samuelsson Group was founded by award-winning chef, international restaurateur, and media personality Marcus Samuelsson and is led by longtime partner/ CEO Derek Evans. The Harlem-based minority-owned company is committed to creating outstanding culinary experiences, community support and thought-provoking storytelling that celebrates food, music, culture and art. From high-end through fast-casual dining to creative experiential events and multimedia content, the principles of culinary distinction, community, sustainability and inclusivity are the core elements that define this dynamic hospitality and media group. For more information, please visit www.marcussamuelssongroup.com PRESS CONTACTS: For EnVue, Matthes Metz, 201-683-2111, [email protected] For Marcus Samuelsson Group, Chloe Mata Crane, 212-300-7102, [email protected] For Roseland Residential Trust, Christian Rizzo, 201-519-7838, [email protected] SOURCE Roseland Residential Trust Related Links http://www.roselandres.com Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol U.S. Border Patrol agents seized more than 300 pounds of marijuana in two incidents that occurred within 24 hours, authorities said. One case was reported on Friday evening, when a commercial transport van with several people arrived at the Interstate 35 checkpoint. A consensual search of the occupants luggage revealed a bundle of marijuana in one of them. Australia supports access to COVID-19 vaccines Australia will support the Gavi COVAX Facility Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC) to improve access for Pacific and Southeast Asian countries to safe, effective and affordable COVID-19 vaccines. The COVAX AMC will secure and distribute COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, not just those that can afford to purchase or manufacture vaccines themselves. Australias contribution of USD80 million will help secure COVID-19 vaccines for Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries. The AMC will address the acute phase of the pandemic, providing doses for up to 20 percent of countries populations in its first phase, ensuring that health care workers and vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, have access. Access to vaccines will play a critical role in the economic recovery of our region from this pandemic. Pacific countries eligible for COVAX AMC support include Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Kiribati. Eligible countries from Southeast Asia are Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, The Philippines and Vietnam. Australias investment builds on our strong support for Gavi. Australia will continue to promote health security in our region through our role as the Vice-Chair of the Gavi Board. International investment in vaccine manufacturing and procurement is stronger when nations work together. In making this investment, Australia joins key donors such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and Norway. The COVAX AMC forms part of the wider COVAX Facility, a global mechanism designed to enable rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to end the acute phase of the pandemic by 2021. Days after a South Korean diplomat claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was in a coma, the communist nation has issued new photos of the reclusive leader. State-controlled Korean Central News Agency published the new photographs of Kim. In the pictures, the North Korean leader can be seen attending a meeting of the politburo of the Workers Party. According to KCNA, during the meeting, Kim called for prevention efforts against the coronavirus and a typhoon. Notably, the photographs released by KCNA cannot be verified for their date. On Sunday (August 23), Chang Song-min, a former aide to South Koreas late president Kim Dae-Jung, had claimed that Kim is in a coma and his sister Kim Yo-jong is running the government in North Korea. I assess him to be in a coma, but his life has not ended. A complete succession structure has not been formed, so Kim Yo-jong is being brought to the fore as the vacuum cannot be maintained for a prolonged period, Chang said in an interview according to a report by South Korean media. Chang asserted that Kim is bedridden and unable to rule. He claimed to have gotten the information from a source in China. Chang also said thta photos of Kim released by the North Korean media in recent months were fake. Earlier, South Korea`s intelligence agency had claimed 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 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, Reuters reported on Thursday. A strong lead from Wall Street failed to coax the Australian share market higher on Wednesday, as declines for banking and mining stocks dragged on a handful of earnings season wins. The ASX 200 dropped 45 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 6116.4 as it retreated from Tuesdays near five-month peak and further away from the 6200 barrier it has been struggling to top since June. The big four banks were all sharply lower, while global miners BHP and Rio Tinto were also in the doldrums. Ex-dividend Telstra was a 3.3 per cent drag and closed at an 18-month low, while AGL and Suncorp were 3 per cent and 2.8 per cent lower after their respective allocations. Positive overnight developments in US-China trade negotiations and fresh vaccine hopes lifted the S&P 500 and NASDAQ to record highs but those leads werent enough to woo local stocks higher. Novus Capital senior investment adviser Gary Glover said it was important to note the market remained in a tight range, despite falling away on Wednesday, and could soon again challenge 6200. Id say its better to have a few touches and then push through, Mr Glover said. (The market) can sit underneath the high, as long as as it doesnt slip away. Its been in a pretty tight range here, and there has been no sell-off ... sometimes you need the market to rotate, things too cool off . Buy now, pay later firm Afterpay may have backed away from yesterday's record high but challenger Zip Co briefly jumped by as much as 31 per cent to a new record $9.95 on the All Ords after announcing its new Zip Business would partner with eBay. Zip closed 27.5 per cent ahead at $9.65. Sector competitor Sezzle rose 14.7 per cent to close at a new peak of $9.54 and Splitit added 9 per cent to $1.64. A busy day for the space included FlexiGroup launching a $140 million equity raising and a name change to humm, the brand of its buy now, pay later products. In the wider tech space, Xero, Appen, Link and Megaport all finished higher, while investors punished Bravura Solutions in the wake of its earnings report. The company dropped 13.4 per cent to $3.74. Consumer staples were narrowly ahead, helped along by a 0.5 per cent gain for Coles, a 0.8 per cent rise for Treasury Wines, and a 2.4 per cent jump for IGA and Mitre 10 supplier Metcash, which reported a strong start to its new financial year. The earnings season was kind to Cleanaway, though Seven Group slipped, and pipeline firm APA was hammered by investors on a weaker-than-expected outlook, dropping 2.7 per cent. Coal miner Whitehaven crashed 18.1 per cent to a four-year low as profit slumped 95 per cent on collapsing coal prices. Worley added 6.4 per cent to $9.69 after the acquisition of ECR from Jacobs helped it boost underlying earnings by 80 per cent. Polynovo dropped 8.5 per cent and Japara Healthcare fell 1 per cent, while Avita Medical gained 8.1 per cent on a booming sales update. The bigger health stocks did well - CSL up 0.4 per cent to $290.97, Fisher and Paykel rising 2.7 per cent to $33.27, and ResMed up 0.6 per cent to $24.97. Fortescue Metals added 1.2 per cent for the day to close at $18.72 but Transurban dragged by 2.4 per cent to close at $13.48. US President Donald Trump's youngest daughter Tiffany Trump on Tuesday urged young voters to "make a judgement based on results and not on rhetoric" in the upcoming presidential elections. "For opportunity versus stagnation, a fight to keep America true to all Americans, I urge you all to make a judgement based on results and not on rhetoric. If you believe in criminal justice reform, there is only one president that passed an act giving people a second chance and if you believe in expanding the quality and affordable healthcare, only president Trump -- my father -- signed the Favourite Nations clause to lower drug prices to keep Americans from getting ripped off," Tiffany said here at the Republican National Convention. She further slammed the media and tech giants for their "biased opinions" and said that the "misinformation we receive impedes our freedom" further stating that Americans are "mentally enslaved" to the "misinformation system". "If you tune in to the media, you get one biased opinion or another and what you share does not fit into the narrative they seem to promote, then it is either ignored or deemed a lie regardless of the truth. This information that we receive impedes our freedom," Tiffany said. "Rather than allowing Americans the right to forming our own beliefs, this misinformation systems keep people mentally enslaved to the ideas they seem correct. This has fostered unnecessary fear and divisiveness amongst us," she added. Pointing out that the US suffers from inhibiting diversity, Tiffany urged that "working outside political comfort zones" would lead to "more" accomplishments. "Our nation suffers by inhibiting our diversity of thought and inclusion of ideas. Working together outside of our political comfort zones will accomplish so much more," she said. She asserted that Donald Trump's slogan 'Make America Great Again' "is not just a slogan" for her father. "My father is the only person to challenge the establishment--the bureaucracy, big pharma and media monopoly to ensure that America's constitutional freedom is upheld and justice and truth prevail. My father does not run away from challenges. Make America Great Again is not a slogan for my father. It is what drives him to what's right for Americans," she said. Tiffany, who is also a recent graduate from Law School, said that she represents many Americans who graduated this year and facing difficulties to find a job. "Our generation is unified in facing the future in uncertain times -- and many of us are considering what kind of country we want to live in. As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job. My father built a thriving economy once, and believe me, he will do it again," she said. The Presidential elections in the US are scheduled to take place on November 3. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:33:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUDAPEST, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The priority of the Hungarian government's foreign policy is to promote the country's economic interests, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Wednesday. "The goal of the Hungarian diplomacy is to attract as much foreign investment as possible," Szijjarto said at the annual meeting of Hungarian ambassadors. Szijjarto said that "we must convince as many companies as possible -- companies that are restructuring their production -- to choose Hungary as the venue for their economic activities." The minister called Hungary's foreign policy "balanced and patriotic." Its aim, he said, was to draw tech investments into the country from the east as well as the west. Szijjarto thanked the employees of his ministry for their "superhuman, excellent work during the first phase of the pandemic," which contributed to the success of Hungary's response to the novel coronavirus. "It is not difficult to procure medical supplies in peacetime, but in an emergency situation, when the whole world wants to buy a mask, a ventilator and medical protective clothing, it is a real challenge," he said. "Our staff successfully took on this challenge, so we managed to provide the necessary equipment for the successful operation of the Hungarian health care system," said Szijjarto. During the first phase of the pandemic, 185 planes were flying regularly between Hungary and China, importing some 93 million masks, 40 million protective clothing, 800,000 doses of medication and 15,000 ventilators, the minister said. Enditem BALTIC SEA : Sweden is beefing up its military presence in the Baltic Sea amid concerns over increased Russian activity in the region and heightened tensions in Belarus following a disputed election. Sweden has been rearming in recent years after running down its military following the end of the Cold War, focusing on the Baltic Sea area, where the strategically important island of Gotland sits within easy reach of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Sweden's military gave few details of the build up but said the security situation around its borders had deteriorated. "The decision to adjust to a higher level of readiness and adjust force posture were not due to a single factor, but to an overall assessment of the current situation," Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said in a written statement to Reuters on Wednesday. Sweden's armed forces said military activity in the Baltic Sea conducted by Russian as well as Western countries was on a scale the likes of which have not been seen since the Cold War. "The focus of the high readiness action is to reinforce naval surveillance in the Baltic Sea, at sea and from the air," Jan Thornqvist, the Swedish Armed Forces' Commander of Joint Operations, said in a statement. "The military presence in Gotland is also increased." On a visit to Lithuania earlier this week, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Washington had no indication of any Russian plans for military intervention in Belarus. But Russia has accused foreign powers of interfering in Belarus and has said military support would be available, although it saw no such need for now. Belarus and Russia are close allies and members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. Sweden's military said the risk of an attack on the country, a close ally but not a member of NATO, was low, but that given the uncertain security situation it needed a high level of preparedness. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Indian government's debt levels will reach 91 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the current fiscal for the first time since 1980, before moderating slowly to 80 per cent by the end of the decade, says a report. The spike in debt-to-GDP ratio will restrict the country's ability to increase its spending significantly and support economic activity in the 2020s decade. The COVID-19 pandemic will further impact government's spending. According to a Motilal Oswal Financial Services report, the government's (center + states) debt rose to 75 per cent of GDP in FY20 from 70 per cent in FY18. It is seen rising further to 91 per cent of GDP in FY21 and peak at 91.3 per cent of GDP in FY22. The debt-to-GDP ratio shows how likely a country is to pay off its debt. The higher the ratio, the less likely the country will repay its debt and the higher its risk of default. Investors often look at this ratio to evaluate the government's ability to fund its debt. According to a World Bank report, if the debt-to-GDP ratio of a country exceeds 77 per cent for a prolonged duration, it slows down economic growth. As per Motilal Oswal report, it may take another decade (or even more) to bring down debt levels to 60 per cent of GDP - the target the government had hoped to achieve by FY25 a few years ago. "Assuming a gradual fall in the debt-to-GDP ratio, the government's primary spending is projected to grow around 7 per cent over the 2020s decade, lower than 11.3 per cent in the previous decade and marking the slowest growth in any decade since the 1970s," the brokerage said in its report. The slow growth in primary spending means that the government would not be able to grow its investments (capital outlays) at the same pace as it has done in the past decade. There is a high possibility that fiscal investments would grow even slower in the 2020s which could impact non-interest revenue spending (such as defense, salary & wages, pensions, etc.), the report said. The report warned that real GDP growth in the next decade would slow to 5-6 per cent during 2020s as compared to 7 per cent in the 2010s decade, unless private spending picks up strongly. It is notable that personal consumption and government spending have been the key drivers of real GDP growth in the past few years. In the past six years, fiscal spending (consumption + investments) has been one of the key drivers of economic activity. While real GDP growth averaged at 6.8 per cent between FY14 and FY20, real fiscal spending grew at an average of 9 per cent during the period. In FY20, while real GDP growth weakened to 4.2 per cent, fiscal spending is estimated to have contributed 1.1 percentage point (pp) or 27 per cent to annual real GDP growth. During the past three years, government spending has contributed almost a quarter to annual real GDP growth, the report noted. Also Read: India's debt-to-GDP to surge to 87% in FY21; rating downgrade looms large: SBI Ecowrap Also Read: Rebooting Economy XIII: Why Indian corporates are debt-ridden Belarusian Government Ups Crackdown Against Opposition Activists By VOA News August 25, 2020 Belarusian authorities have jailed several opposition activists as part of a mounting pressure campaign against protesters who are planning more demonstrations against President Alexander Lukashenko to force an end to his 26-year rule. A court on Tuesday sentenced opposition leader Sergei Dylevsky to a 10-day jail sentence, while authorities summoned other opposition activists for questioning and dozens of others to appear in court. Courts in the capital, Minsk, are also contemplating charges against two members of a council that opposition activists formed last week to negotiate a transition of power after Lukashenko won a sixth term in office in an August 9 election that the activists and other critics allege was rigged. Lukashenko has rejected offers of dialogue from the opposition Coordination Council, whose dozens of members represent broad areas of Belarusian society, including Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich, who has been summoned for questioning on Wednesday. Lukashenko has said the activists who have been protesting for more than two weeks are under the control of Western nations. The authoritarian leader has also threatened to file criminal charges against council members for allegedly trying to create a parallel government. The protests were triggered by a government crackdown shortly after the election that resulted in the detention of nearly 7,000 people. Three people were killed, and hundreds of others were hurt when police dispersed peaceful protesters with rubber bullets, clubs and stun grenades. Two other opposition supporters were found hanged in forests. Police said they committed suicide, but the opposition disputes the claim. Belarus is a former Soviet republic. Russia is the country's top trade partner and main military ally. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for talks with Russian officials after meeting Monday in Lithuania with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was Lukashenko's main opposition challenger in the election. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnams TTC Group and Viettel Construction, a subsidiary of military-run telco giant Viettel, have signed a cooperation agreement on developing smarthomes and solar energy. Regarding their collaboration in smarthome development, Viettel Construction will provide equipment and technology to operate houses within TTC Groups real estate projects. The smart housing system is capable of interacting with owners through personal electronic devices, allowing them to monitor and control their houses from anywhere, according to a representative of TTC Group. The installation of smart technologies offers various benefits and comforts, and helps homeowners save time, money, and energy. This is the goal that we are striving for in the design and construction of our real estate projects, the TTC representative stated. The cooperation with Viettel Construction will help TTC improve quality of life and optimize user experience in its realty developments, he added. With regard to the energy sector, Viettel Construction will use high-tech solar panels distributed by TTC Group for installation in the formers industrial and civil projects. Viettel Construction will also become a partner of TTC in the construction, installation, and maintenance of the solar energy system for TTCs energy projects. Compared to traditional power sources, rooftop solar power is a green and clean form of energy as it helps minimize environmental pollution. The use of solar panels will contribute to the enhancement of power efficiency for both residents and the electricity industry. According to Dang Van Thanh, chairman of TTC Group, the cooperation will effectively tap into the potentialities and strengths of both firms, thereby enhancing and affirming the credibility of the Vietnamese brand. "We believe that this partnership will not only bring about economic benefits, but also enhance our competitiveness and build up our strength in the market," Thanh remarked. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has scolded Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over his book titled ''Working with Rawlings''. The book chronicles the history of Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi's working relationship with the former President. Prof. Ahwoi disclosed, in his an book, an incident where Mr. Rawlings squeezed the testicles of a former Upper West Regional Minister, Bede Ziedeng resulting in the latter's exit from the party. He recounted that the former President meted out such vicious attack on Bede Ziedeng because he was opposed to the election of the late President John Evans Atta Mills as Presidential candidate of the NDC in 2002. The book further gave other accounts of the things that happened during the military regime of the former President Jerry John Rawlings. Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi was one of the long-serving Ministers in the Rawlings administration. In a quick response to Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, the former President has denied the historic accounts of the book. He referred to the book as an ''opportunistic and calculated attempt to ridicule President Rawlings and former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, using the personality of the late President John Atta Mills as the bait''. ''Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. President Rawlings has over the past four decades tolerated various views, recognizing the fact that as a public figure one will not be immune to such, even when said opinions are vicious and derogatory. This book is quite unfortunately, riddled with countless fabrications and assumptions ascribed to said individuals who were thought to have more honour'', he said. Mr. Rawlings therefore addressed the erroneous contents of the book in an 11-page statement copied to Peacefmonline.com. ''A number of personalities that the author refers to and others, have written publicly to disassociate themselves from the comments in the book. A clear indication of the credibility or lack thereof of its contents. This book appears to have no aim of serving history with facts...From the inception, the author has harboured his own parochial agenda which clashed naturally with the integrity and accountability of Rawlings. Those of such ilk will continue to attempt to rewrite history to suit their selfish ends, but discerning minds will no longer be reticent of nor willing to tolerate such political trickery and subterfuge'', the statement from Mr. Rawlings' office further read. Read full statement below: THE INTEGRITY OF TRUTH STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT RAWLINGS The Office of Former President Jerry John Rawlings, has noted with concern contents of a book titled Working with Rawlings, authored by a former appointee of the PNDC and NDC who now calls himself Professor Kwamena Ahwoi. The book attempts to chronicle the history of the role Kwamena Ahwoi played as an appointee of the former President, but disappointingly employs fabrications and grapevine accounts to paint a denigrating picture of President Rawlings and his colleagues. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. President Rawlings has over the past four decades tolerated various views, recognizing the fact that as a public figure one will not be immune to such, even when said opinions are vicious and derogatory. However, the public deserve to be served the truth as far as some of the contents of the book are concerned. The book is generously economical with the truth given that President Rawlings supported President Mills consistently from the year 2000, much to the chagrin of many of those who morphed into his post-victory supporters in 2006. MILLS PRIVATE CALL TO RAWLINGS After his landslide victory in the 2006 NDC Primaries, candidate Mills travelled to South Africa for medical treatment. While in South Africa, Mills put a call through to President Rawlings and indicated his desire to forego the candidature for the presidential election owing to his medical state. Following this conversation, President Rawlings held a meeting with some leading members of the Party to express concern about the state of candidate Mills health, and urged them to identify recognizable party members who could step in. President Rawlings is on record as having suggested that some known personalities in the party should position themselves to demonstrate that the NDC had enough Presidential material. Bizarrely, Kwamena Ahwoi has written a lengthy diatribe about how Rawlings coerced his brother (Ato Ahwoi) to contest Mills ahead of the primaries, leading to the breakdown of their healthy relationship. It should be stated on record, that President Rawlings took the responsible and pragmatic approach after he received that politically unnerving call from Professor Mills. He consulted the Party leadership to take strategic steps to fill the gap which by Professor Mills account was imminent. Urging some members of the Party to position themselves for a potential contest, was in no way an attempt to undermine, sabotage, betray or malign Professor Mills as the author shamelessly infers in his book. More disappointing is the impression created that he was and is unaware of that critical phone call from Professor Mills (while in South Africa) to President Rawlings. It is rather telling of him to deny this well-known crisis merely in his bid to deride and denigrate the genuine efforts of former President Rawlings to arrest a crisis. When Professor Mills returned to Ghana, meetings were held with him without the knowledge or participation of President Rawlings, where Professor Mills was convinced by those present, not to withdraw his candidature and actually made to believe that President Rawlings was working to undermine him. That, was when the mistrust begun, and Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi was and is well-known to be one of the master-architects of that manipulative agenda that pushed a very unwell candidate Mills into the 2008 General Elections. It must be noted, that at no point did President Rawlings support Professor Mills in his bid for presidency, with the aim or intention to manipulate Professor Mills should he become President, despite the attempts of various individuals to peddle falsehoods and sow disunity. Having worked with Professor Mills on various policy and manifesto achievements during his presidency, the aim was to support him and the NDC party back into government, for the good work of the pre-2000 NDC Administration to continue. After nineteen (19) years of working alongside various individuals with different motives and political beliefs including his political opponents, President Rawlings had acquired enough experience in people management to not be as unsophisticated in his relationship with Professor Mills as the book seeks to misinform. President Rawlings was critical of President Mills administration, there is no denying that, in usual manner, this was done openly and with the best of intentions. He had meetings with President Mills offering counsel and suggestions strictly to the good of Mills presidency and that of his government. Rawlings has always remained consistent in his open and bona fides criticisms of President Mills administration which, to date, are still outstanding matters. These include: The failure of the Mills Government to investigate the assassination of the Yaa-Naa and forty (40) of his elders; President Mills inability to look into the death of Alhaji Issa Mobilla, the late Northern Regional Chairman of the CPP; The failure of the Mills Government to investigate and prosecute genuine fraudulent activities within President Kufuors administration; and The lack of dedication to the Party ideals of probity and accountability, as well as the monetization of the NDC internal electoral processes. THE 2008 NDC CAMPAIGN In his bid to justify his version of events, the author goes as far as stating that President Rawlings was visibly absent from the 2008 national election campaign. Without needing to belabour a well-known and publicized fact, this account is absolutely false! President Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings travelled extensively to campaign for candidate Mills and these campaigns were covered by the media and are a matter of public record. The documentary titled An African Election filmed during the 2008 campaign and election visibly shows the former president on the campaign trail with steely and unparalleled determination. President Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings were actually an integral part of the NDC campaign structure for the 2008 election. He started his campaign in Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region, and subsequently visited all ten regions, visiting some towns and villages twice, sometimes walking long distances in the process. President Rawlings traversed the whole country and made headlines by being the first to reach Tain, in the Brong Ahafo Region when that town became the eye of the storm during the election, leading to the legendary third round. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings campaigned in not less than 15 major markets in Greater Accra Region, after which she moved straight to the Volta Region to start work. She also campaigned in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western Regions. She is also on record as having loaned vehicles and countless other resources to the Party towards the elections. Lest we forget Admiral Owusu Ansah, a courageous and patriotic member of the NDC who in spite of his failing health, joined the campaign trail shunning the comforts of his home in Accra in order to have Mills elected. This is a tribute to Admiral Owusu Ansah and patriots like General Nunoo-Mensah, who have selflessly sacrificed their lives, livelihoods and comforts for the Party; to then have one callously divisive individual, who in an attempt to increase book sales, insults and attempts to nullify the role and importance of these individuals. Admiral Owusu Ansah, the true and dedicated members of the NDC owe you a debt. Unsurprisingly, the author is unaware of the campaign presence of the former President during the 2008 elections. Neither Kwamena Ahwoi, his brother nor majority of their cronies was on the campaign trail, preferring to stay in the comforts of their homes in Accra, perpetually leaving the hard work of getting the party re-elected to others, but always being first in line for political appointments. ATTA KWABENA KUMAH The entire reference to Atta the mortuary man by the author is obviously ill-intentioned, unresearched and yet another attempt to dramatize the well-orchestrated divide in his Rawlings versus Atta Mills tale. Atta Kwabena Kumah popularly known as Attah the mortuary man was a good friend of President Rawlings, who worked at the 37 Military Hospital, Anatomical Pathological Unit for over forty (40) years. He sadly passed away in July of 2011 at the age of 82. They had known each other for close to forty (40) years, during which time Attah Kumah would regale President Rawlings with his life stories and Rawlings would do same. At the introduction of his address at the 2010 NDC Congress in Tamale, President Rawlings cracked a joke (as he is known to do) recounting one of his many interactions with Atta Kumah which got the entire audience laughing and relaxed in anticipation of the more serious task ahead, the election of National Executives of the Party. This particular non-incident has been clarified on so many occasions that one only has to take the time to find sources for clarification. It is rather unfortunate, that even a light-hearted joke that had the intended effect of diffusing the tensions usually experienced at party congresses, has been twisted into yet another Mills versus Rawlings affair ten (10) years later. Clearly, we can all see who seeks the perpetual disunity and failure of the NDC; once operating from the shadows and now clearly in the light. RAWLINGS: HIS VISION AND LEGACY President Rawlings has always stated publicly and unapologetically that throughout his tenure, he served his nation with a team comprised of various experts with different political affiliations each of whom patriotically contributed their talent and intellect to the cause. As a young Air Force officer (in his twenties) who used to fly across the country, former President Rawlings came face-to-face with some stark realities across the country. He and his pilot colleagues, would sometimes go to local markets in places like Yendi to purchase some local produce. He noticed old men selling beans, sorghum etc. and placed close to their legs were containers with a brown looking fluid. He was shocked to the core when on enquiry, he would be informed that the dirty looking fluid was their drinking water. He felt pained knowing that folks in the urban areas were so privileged that they were able to flush their toilets with clean water from the taps while those in the rural areas drank Guinea-worm infested water. Accept it or not, this was our reality as a nation. How could these experiences not have sparked a vision or a philosophical outlook in this young pilots head? Even more disturbing was the fact that large patches of Ghana were without lights when he flew at night. His perspective began to take a more serious tone as he recognized the reality on the ground and the fact that without electricity and water, the populace would be living an unhappy and distressing sub-standard existence, while urban dwellers remained out of touch with the reality on the other side of the country. Years later, President Rawlings priority naturally, was the provision of potable water for the wider populace and the distribution of electricity to the entire country. A vision he can proudly state he largely saw to fruition. The next step in his vision for development was the construction and equipping of regional hospitals across the entire country. Indeed, in the early days (1980s) there was a time when Dr. Joe Abbey informed Flt. Lt. Rawlings that drugs for Government-run hospitals could not last for a week. A most shocking situation! At the time, historical records will clearly show that support from Eastern bloc countries who could be considered natural allies was not forthcoming owing to their own internal challenges. With the urgent need to complement much-needed social development projects, the PNDC Government had no option but to go West to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, where we as a Government and a nation made history by defining our financial needs, terms and method of implementation to those institutions; leading to a complete overhaul in the way the IMF and World Bank approached project funding and implementation globally. President Rawlings has always seen his vision and legacy as a collective one that he hopes each of the dedicated patriots also recognizes as their own legacies as well. It is said, that it is an effective leader that consults with and participates in the backbreaking work of development, but most importantly trusts in the craft, talent and skills of his team to deliver on his and their collective vision. President Rawlings no doubt had a grand vision for Ghana, and in tribute to the dedicated patriots who worked with him to realise this vision, as far as practicable, a few of these achievements are set-out hereunder: Institution of a local government structure, a clear empowering process that has successively been embraced by all Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliation; And credit must go to patriots such Dr. Ayirebi Acquah and Madam Joyce Aryee and several others who played a significant role in implementing the policy. The Rural Electrification Project that ensured that most parts of Ghana were provided with electricity, recognizing the benefits that provision will add to socio-economic development; Prior to the era of Rawlings, travelling from Southern Ghana to Northern Ghana took days. After major roads were constructed to link most parts of the Northern Regions to the South half of Ghana, we became one unified country not just in name but also accessibility. Championing of womens development and affirmative action. The results are there for all to see. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and the 31st December Womens movement, were instrumental in agricultural the countrys agricultural development, trade and the development of many of Ghanas health facilities. With food security a priority for Rawlings, agricultural policies were initiated that resulted in the recognition of Ghanas food production growth of 148 percent for the period 1995-1997 as the third highest achievement in the record after Jordan (157%) and China (156%) in the World Banks 1999-2000 Development Report. The introduction of sustainable economic policies that led to: Increased productivity in export produce like cocoa and gold; The establishment of the National Development Planning Commission; The revival of the Ghana Export Promotion Council, all institutions which have survived to date. There were massive developments in the health sector including: The establishment of the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital The establishment of the Korle Bu Radiotherapy Centre The wooing of eminent personalities such as Professor Frimpong Boateng to return to Ghana to serve their country. The Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre was also constructed under President Rawlings watch. RAWLINGS FOUNDER OF THE 4TH REPUBLIC President Rawlings, in 1992, established the 4th Republic of Ghana, the longest running in the history of this nation, which still endures. Following his constitutionally mandated two terms serving as the President of Ghana, he handed over the flagbearership of the NDC to Professor Mills and the leadership of the nation to President Kufuor in 2001. Prior to the return to constitutional rule in 1992, Rawlings initiated and supervised a process of transition to constitutional rule as early as 1986 through the actualisation of the District Assembly concept as a primary grassroots democratic organ. Subsequently, the National Commission on Democracy sought opinions from Ghanaians on the best form of democratic governance to adopt. Eventually the former President was presented with a report that recommended an expansion of the District Assembly system into the Regional and National Assemblies where individuals would nominate themselves for elections. President Rawlings has never shied away from stating that he is not a supporter of multiparty democracy because it tends to allow a minority to manipulate and rule the majority and brings about division. In spite of his strong reservations, he still accepted the integrity of the information from his team, to adopt the multiparty system of democratic governance and actually stood as a presidential candidate in both the 1992 and 1996 General Elections. Due to his faith in his team, and desire to prioritize the national development agenda, he chose not to exercise his veto as Head of State, despite his reservations about the multi-party system. Former President Rawlings set an admirable record on the continent by willingly and smoothly handing over power in 2001 when his party lost the 2000 General Election. The continent is currently strewn with leaders who have entrenched their stay after their constitutionally obligated terms, amending the constitution, rigging elections or simply refusing to step down. Today the precedent established by President Rawlings has ensured that the 4th Republic has enjoyed four smooth political transitions. NANA KONADU AND THE NDC SACRIFICE AND BETRAYAL The role, hard work, strategy and organisational talent that Nana Konadu applied to build and propel the NDC to countless victories can never be eroded. The various attempts to not just discount the central role she played, but to also deride her, is symptomatic of the myopic selfishness of characters within the NDC who cannot appreciate the fact that in so doing to pioneers of the Party like herself and others, you have no history to speak of. To peddle falsehoods in the name of hearsay as a justification for the blatant lies in the book is unbecoming of an academician; albeit with the sole intention of creating the impression that Nana Konadu had a role to play in the so-called Rawlings versus Mills tale. Nana Konadu played an integral role in the development of both the PNDC and the NDC, and the attempts by the author to denigrate her and nullify the key strategic and organisational role she played is yet another disappointment of the book. When the Swedru Declaration was made (prior to the 2000 elections), Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had in fact been out of Ghana for several months working on a womens health project for the World Health Organisation (WHO). A fact the author could quite easily have verified were he or any of his proof-readers inclined to do so. She was informed about the Declaration while she was abroad. Surely, logic would indicate, that had she any intention to contest that election, she would have been in the country campaigning, or at the very least have set in motion her campaign machinery with which to achieve her Presidential objectives. At no point did she indicate to President Rawlings or members of the Party, that she had any intention or inclination to be the flagbearer of the Party. On her return to the country, she rapidly rolled out her campaign strategy and machinery in support of Professor Mills. Yet another fact that can be easily and publicly verified. April 2000 Congress In writing on the Extraordinary Congress of April 2000, the author again alleges that Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was unhappy with the proliferation of Mills for President T-shirts and confronted several people who wore the T-shirts including he (Kwamena) and Kofi Totobi-Quakyi. It defies logic for an academician turned author to include this falsehood in his work when President and Mrs. Rawlings had publicly thrown their weight behind Vice-President Mills for the Presidency and indeed after the Congress, they campaigned extensively and comprehensively for the candidate. Further, to insinuate that Mrs. Rawlings was averse to the wearing of Mills for President T-shirts is absurd given that Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and her womens group were actually responsible for printing thousands of Mills for President paraphernalia to her personal debt. The foregoing is merely a crystallisation of decades of a smear campaign led by Ahwoi to shift the blame for all the many failures of the Party onto Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. This is indicative of the consistent lack of reflection and the refusal to take responsibility for mistakes, that have led the Party to the point at which it finds itself. Afiadenyigba, Ada Incident In 2000, Vice President Mills had been confirmed as the candidate for the NDC. Nana Konadu, as part of her political campaign for the Party, created a programme for the Greater Accra Region. One of the events was the opening of a school in Afiadenyigba, Ada which she invited Mrs Mills to commission, to officially outdoor her to the Dangbe community. Although protocol arranged for the First Lady and Vice-Presidents wife to travel together, Mrs Mills decided to take the lead on the journey. One of the etiquettes that J.J. Rawlings insisted upon at public events, which then became custom, was not to drive into durbar grounds, thereby whipping up dust onto the chiefs, royalty and the community. It therefore became an unspoken rule since the 1980s that government officials arriving at any function were to alight from their vehicles at the periphery of the durbar grounds and walk onto the grounds. When Mrs. Mills arrived at the durbar grounds at Afiadenyegba, her convoy in an attempt to drive onto the sandy durbar grounds was frantically flagged down and stopped by a police officer assigned to the function. Mrs. Mills in a fury demanded the reason for this. The police officer proceeded to explain the rationale for stopping her car which unfortunately did little to diffuse the situation and she said she was leaving. The 31st DWM ladies that organised the event frantically went on their knees to apologise to the Vice-Presidents wife and begged her to stay. This was in full view of the chiefs and people gathered. Nana Konadu eventually arrived at Afiadenyegba to the sight of some elderly organisers on their knees, pleading, with Mrs. Mills who was clearly upset. Nana Konadu enquired as to what had transpired and was briefed by her organisers. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Nana Konadu apologised to Mrs Mills on their behalves and explained that all manner of hiccups occurred at public events but that should not bother her. When Nana Konadu proceeded to greet the chiefs and people present, she was met by shocked chiefs, queen-mothers and their subjects, all of whom could have been located to corroborate the incident, was the author so inclined. In the days that followed, it came to light that the police officer in question and his colleagues present were transferred outside of Greater Accra Region. One of the officers wrote a report to the then IGP Peter Nanfuri who also reported the entire matter to President Rawlings. Shocked and upset at the entire incident, President Rawlings asked Vice-President Mills why he would issue such instructions against the officers when they were just doing their jobs. The transfers were subsequently overturned. Nana Konadu was still on her regional campaigns for the NDC and Vice President Mills, unaware of the demotions, transfers and subsequent discussions taking place in Accra. Whilst in Cape Coast, the then Regional Minister Jehu-Appiah and two other persons met with her to enquire as to her knowledge of the incident. She narrated it and they expressed surprise at such a trivial incident taking this turn. Kwamena Ahwoi, John Kwadjo and E.T Mensah, all appointees at the time, authored a report of this incident which lays all the facts bare. This is a matter of public record and were the author so inclined, he would have consulted it as he did with other documents in his possession. 2011 Primaries Prior to her decision to contest President Mills in the 2011 NDC Primaries, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was the Vice-Chairman of the NDC, and she achieved that position by sheer merit, winning by a large majority at the 2010 Congress in Tamale. As with any other member of the Party or in the wider sphere, as a citizen of this country, she has a democratic right to contest an election employing hard work, a proven track record and sheer wit to her success. By doing so at the 2010 NDC Congress, she put herself in the spotlight, to be scrutinised and judged by the delegates who made their own decisions. This is in clear juxtaposition to others who never put any work into the success or survival of the NDC Party, have manipulated events and people, to sow seeds of mistrust and disunity whilst promoting their own family agenda. For the record the 2011 NDC primaries campaign of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, was led by personalities such as Hon. Michael Teye Nyaunu and Hon. Namburr Berrick. PERSONAL OPINIONS Varied personal opinions have been sought by the author in his bid to sully the image of President Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. A tall list of personalities take turns to offer their apparent view of the Rawlings-Mills relationship. It must be stated, that the claim by named persons in the book that Nana Konadu, at a meeting with Professor Mills requested for the Vice-Presidential slot is an outright fabrication. Nana Konadu never requested, indicated or discussed with any individual an intention or desire to be the running-mate to Vice-President Mills. This book is quite unfortunately, riddled with countless fabrications and assumptions ascribed to said individuals who were thought to have more honour. President Rawlings and President Mills had a good relationship during the latters tenure. They interacted several times via telephone and met a few times either at the Ridge residence or the Castle, Osu and at all times they treated each other with utmost respect. These meetings were at the behest of President Mills, so it is difficult to reconcile the so-called bitterness that Ahwoi portrays in his book to the reality of the relationship between Rawlings and Mills. A number of personalities that the author refers to and others, have written publicly to disassociate themselves from the comments in the book. A clear indication of the credibility or lack thereof of its contents. This book appears to have no aim of serving history with facts. It reads as an opportunistic and calculated attempt to ridicule President Rawlings and former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, using the personality of the late President John Atta Mills as the bait. From the inception, the author has harboured his own parochial agenda which clashed naturally with the integrity and accountability of Rawlings. Those of such ilk will continue to attempt to rewrite history to suit their selfish ends, but discerning minds will no longer be reticent of nor willing to tolerate such political trickery and subterfuge. The truth is a debt owed to the memory of the departed as well as current and future generations. The true legacy of the PNDC into the NDC under President Jerry John Rawlings, is one that ought to be acknowledged if there exists a Fourth Republic that has endured. Signed: Kobina Andoh Amoakwa (Communications Directorate) Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A new University of Washington study of thousands of local rental ads finds a pattern of "racialized language" that can perpetuate neighborhood segregation, using specific terms to describe apartments in different areas of town. Terms like "convenient" and "safe and secure" are more common in neighborhoods with a greater proportion of people of color, while "vintage" and "classic" are more popular in predominantly white neighborhoods. "When you're looking at racial segregation, we all make housing choices, and those choices we make affect segregation. We should know if we're making choices based on racialized discourse," said Ian Kennedy, a graduate student at the UW and lead author of the study. "A racialized society can be perpetuated through means that aren't clearly conscious." The findings don't mean the ads are overtly, or even intentionally, racist, Kennedy said. Rather, words and phrases - certain terms common to some neighborhoods, and certain terms for others - can reinforce perceptions of neighborhoods, influence where people choose to live, and ultimately, create areas of the city where some racial and ethnic groups are more prevalent than others. The study published Aug. 3 in the journal Social Forces. Past research has documented segregation in Seattle, and the legacy of redlining in some neighborhoods. Through the mid-20th century, real estate and rental ads identified properties in "restricted" areas - those with covenants designed to keep out people of color. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prevented such discrimination in housing, and by 1970, overtly race-related language in local housing ads had essentially disappeared. But by then, as is the case elsewhere in the country, geographic and demographic patterns had been cemented, and less-explicit forms of discrimination continued. Given Seattle's economic and population growth in recent years, Kennedy wanted to examine the factors that could sustain some of the de facto segregation that exists today. Seattle has grown by more than 130,000 people since 2010, and people new to the area may have little information about specific neighborhoods. UW sociologist Kyle Crowder has written about how people tend to move to neighborhoods where there are others "like" them, often because others in their social networks live there or recommend them. Combined with the legacy of racial segregation, this perpetuates neighborhoods where predominantly white people live and shop, neighborhoods where Black people tend to live and shop, and so on. For this study, Kennedy and the research team started with more than 400,000 Craigslist ads for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area between March 2017 and September 2018. Removing duplicate ads cut the database to about 45,000 from nearly 850 census tracts; data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey established the racial and ethnic breakdown of each tract. Kennedy used an approach called topic modeling to recognize groups of words appearing together, and categorized those groups into 40 topics. For example, the topic "vintage charm" typically included words like "vintage," "classic" and brick." The topic of "convenience and ease" included terms such as "easy," "convenient," "location" and "open." Kennedy was then able to spot patterns between the terms in the ads, and the neighborhoods the ads were tied to. Topics such as "vintage charm" and those related to walkability and surrounding amenities were associated more frequently with predominantly white neighborhoods in Seattle, such as Wallingford and Queen Anne. In neighborhoods with a greater proportion of people of color, such as Seattle's Northgate and in Kent, topics like "safe and friendly" and those pertaining to drive times and bus access were common. In particular, terms related to security - "safety," "secure," "controlled," "courtesy patrol" - were associated more frequently with neighborhoods with a higher proportion of Black residents. "These associations are sadly aligned with what we know about racial stereotypes in the United States," Kennedy said. "We're worried that, in addition to influencing housing patterns, that these ads could also be a site for the reproduction of racial stereotypes." A general theme emerged, Kennedy said: Listings in predominantly white neighborhoods highlighted history, culture and community. In neighborhoods that had a greater proportion of people of color, listings focused more often on features that separate the property from its surroundings, or simply on transportation out of the area. The goal of rental ads, of course, is to occupy the unit, Kennedy said, so listings try to highlight what will draw a tenant; reversing perceptions and patterns requires a more systemic effort to discourage segregation. The study notes how the Chicago suburb of Oak Park took a proactive approach to integrating its community by promoting a variety of neighborhoods and working with real estate agents, landlords and prospective tenants on changing perceptions. ### The study was funded by the National Science Foundation. Co-authors were Amandalynne Paullada, a doctoral student in linguistics at the UW; Chris Hess of Cornell University; and Sarah Chasins of the University of California, Berkeley. For more information, contact Kennedy at ikennedy@uw.edu. Odisha's COVID-19 tally jumped to 84,231 on Tuesday with 2,752 fresh positive cases, while nine more fatalities pushed the toll to 428, a health department official said. The state also registered the highest single day recovery of 2,546 patients taking the total number of cured persons to 59,470 which is 70.6 per cent, the official said. The maximum number of 627 patients were discharged from hospitals in Khurda district followed by 266 from Ganjam, 143 from Nayagarh, 141 from Puri, 112 from Rayagada and 104 from Koraput. Other districts reported less than 100 recovery cases, he said. Of the fresh fatalities, two each were reported from Ganjam and Sundargarh districts and one each from Balasore, Bolangir, Cuttack, Gajapati and Khurda. "Regret to inform the demise of Nine #COVID-19 positive patients while under treatment in hospitals," the Health and Family Welfare Department said on Twitter. Of the 428 deaths, Ganjam district alone accounted for 181 fatalities followed by Khura (55), the official said, adding that 53 more patients in the state have died due to other ailments. Though there has been a surge in positive cases, the state registered a decline in the rate of fatalities which Tuesday was 0.50 per cent against 0.55 per cent on August 19, a data released by the said. Our objective is to further bring down the fatality rate to below 0.50 per cent, said P K Mohapatra, the additional chief secretary to the deaprtment of health and family welfare. The day saw 2,752 new positive cases. Of them 1,708 were recorded in quarantine centres and the remaining were detected positive during contact tracing. Khurda district, of which Bhubaneswar is a part, reported the maximum number of fresh cases at 247, followed by Jajpur 217 and Ganjam 212. With new positive cases, record highest single day recovery of patients and fresh fatalities, Odishas active cases now stands at 24,280, the official said. The state on Monday conducted 58,338 tests, taking the total number of such clinical examinations to 14,21,958, the official added. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that with an objective of ramping up COVID-19 testing across the state, has tested nearly 2 lakh samples over the last 3 days. The increased rate of testing has brought down positivity rate and ensured that 'test, track, trace' goals are achieved, he said. Meanwhile, the state government has re-fixed the maximum price of RT-PCR test at Rs 12,00 inclusive of GST and all other incidental charges by the approved private laboratories for private individuals desirous of testing their samples, a notification by the health and family welfare department said. Khurda district has reported the highest number of new cases at 423 of which 332 COVID-19 positive persons were detected in Bhubaneswar. The new cases in Bhubaneswar included a 50-year-old male from CRPF campus with travel history to Jammu and Kashmir and another 13 fresh cases from the 7th battalion of police. So far the total positive cases in the state capital are 7,931 of which 3,162 are active ones and 34 have died of the disease so far. (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 fire outbreak has occurred at a branch of Access Bank Plc located at Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The fire outbreak, which started around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, was yet to be put out at the time of this report. The fire was attributed to a diesel truck discharging fuel at the bank. Access Bank confirmed the incident in a tweet, saying no one was harmed and safety protocols have been activated. There has been a fire incident at our Adetokunbo Ademola branch this morning. Thankfully, no one was harmed. Our fire protocol has been activated and all personnel have been moved to safety. ALSO READ: Cause of the fire was a diesel truck discharging fuel, we advise you to avoid that area, the tweet reads. Emergency responders and firefighters are at the location, to combat the raging fire. More details later. London: Two European patients are confirmed to have been reinfected with the coronavirus, raising questions over how long immunity to the virus lasts. The cases, in Belgium and the Netherlands, come a day after researchers in Hong Kong revealed that a 33-year-old man was reinfected with a different strain of the virus 4 months after being declared recovered - the first such reinfection to be determined through genetic sequencing. However, experts have advised caution in interpreting the small number of cases in a pandemic that has infected more than 23 million people. A lab technician fills a test tube during research on COVID-19 at Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceutical in Beerse, Belgium. Credit:AP Virologist Marc Van Ranst said the Belgian case was a woman who had contracted COVID-19 for the first time in March and then again in June. More work to be done on water pollution Unfortunately, Lake Anna is once again making summer headlines due to dangerous harmful algal blooms, keeping people out of the water on hot days [Team trying to tackle Lake Anna algae issue, Aug. 8]. While Lake Anna is often hard hit, its not alone. In recent weeks, algal blooms have caused concern at the Virginia Beach oceanfront and led to thousands of dead fish washing up on the shores of Annapolis. Algal blooms are fueled by pollution from farms, developed areas, sewage treatment plants and excess fertilizer on homeowners lawns. To prevent this problem, Virginia legislatorsmeeting this month in a special sessionmust maintain support for programs that reduce this pollution. Harmful algal blooms not only threaten the health of people having fun on the water, they imperil the economy and quality of life at places that rely on clean water to attract visitors and residents. The US State Department has condemned the Turkish presidents recent meeting with senior members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas as one that only serves to isolate Turkey on the world stage. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed a Hamas delegation to Istanbul on Saturday for his second high-profile meeting since February with the group, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The United States strongly objects to Turkish President Erdogan hosting two Hamas leaders in Istanbul, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement today. President Erdogans continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza. The delegation Saturday included Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and his deputy Salah al-Arouri, both of whom are listed as specially designated terrorists by the US government. Arouri is wanted in connection with several terrorist attacks, hijackings and kidnappings, and the State Department has offered up to $5 million for information leading to his whereabouts. The State Departments rebuke of Turkey came a day after President Donald Trump lauded its president for releasing American minister Andrew Brunson in October 2018. During a video segment at the Republican National Convention featuring ex-hostages whose release he helped negotiate, Trump described Erdogan as having been very good to him. Why it matters: The weekends high-level meeting was Erdogans latest outreach to Hamas, a group he views as a legitimate political force but is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union. Erdogans governing Justice and Development Party shares an ideological linkage with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, a pan-Arab movement banned in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Leaders from both Islamist groups praised the Turkish governments recent conversion of the iconic Hagia Sophia into a mosque. This month, The Telegraph reported that Ankara is granting citizenship to senior Hamas figures. The British newspaper also reported in December that Turkey was allowing Hamas to plan attacks against Israel from Turkish soil, including a foiled plot to assassinate of Jerusalem's mayor. Turkey denies the charges. Whats next: The State Department is continuing to raise concerns about the Turkish governments relationship with Hamas at the highest levels amid heightened cross-border tensions between Israel and the Gaza-based militants. Hamas has launched bomb-laden balloons across its frontier in recent weeks, setting fire to Israeli farmland and prompting Israel to strike Hamas-run military facilities in the coastal enclave. Turkeys support for the Palestinians comes amid strained relations with the Jewish state. Also this weekend, Erdogan spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to voice his opposition to the recent US-brokered deal normalizing relations between Israel and Turkeys regional rival, the United Arab Emirates. Know more: State Department officials are also pressing Turkey to restore water supplies to Kurdish-run areas in northeast Syria, as Amberin Zaman reports. For more on the Israel-Hamas tensions at the border, check out the latest by Rina Bassist and Ben Caspit. Democrat Joe Biden is ahead in five of six key swing states after last week's Democratic National Convention, but new polling also finds that President Donald Trump's approval has bumped up. A survey from CNBC/Change Research has Biden head of Trump in Pennsylvania - where Biden was born - Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin. The two White House rivals are essentially tied - Biden with 48 per cent, Trump with 47 per cent - in North Carolina, where the Republican National Convention was scheduled to be. New polling shows Democratic nominee Joe Biden (left) ahead of President Donald Trump (right) in five of six key swing states Joe Biden is ahead of President Donald Trump in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, while North Carolina is essentially a tie due to the survey's 1.4 per cent margin of error Instead the GOP only held festivities in Charlotte on Monday and most convention speakers have delivered addresses from Washington, D.C., instead, due to the coronavirus pandemic. New polling found that swing state voters are still seriously concerned about the pandemic, but that metric is going down. Sixty-nine per cent of likely voters from these six key states said two weeks ago they had serious concerns about the coronavirus. Now that number stands at 66 per cent. Additionally, two weeks ago 49 per cent of swing state voters said they had 'very serious' concerns about the coronavirus. That share has decreased to 45 per cent. Meanwhile, Trump's approval rating is moving back up. In the last two weeks the president has bumped up from 46 per cent approval to 48 per cent approval. His disapproval rating moved from 54 per cent who disapproved to 52 per cent. Pollsters interviewed 4,904 people across the six states from Friday - the day after Biden's DNC speech - until Sunday, the day before the RNC kicked off. The polls have a plus or minus 1.4 per cent margin of error. About seven in 10 polled gave Biden high marks for his Thursday night Democratic nomination acceptance speech delivered from his adopted hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Ford Receives Swine Flu Shot President Gerald Ford is injected with a swine flu inoculation by White House physician Dr. William Lukash, in Washington, D.C., Oct. 14, 1976. Credit - David Hume KennerlyGerald R Ford Library/PhotoQuest/Getty Images For months, President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that a vaccine for the novel coronavirus may be ready by the end of the year, even as the nations top infectious disease specialist says early 2021 is more likely. Now, the New York Times has reported that the Trump Administration intends to speed up the process, with its eyes on a slightly earlier deadline: before Election Day on Nov. 3. White House officials disputed the Times account, and researchers working on the specific vaccine cited as the likely candidate for emergency approvalone that is being developed by Oxford University and pharma giant AstraZenecasaid it would be premature to speculate on that possibility. This isnt the first time Trump or his team has suggested a COVID-19 vaccine could come before the general electionTrump, for example, made a similar claim in the first week of August. Some pundits, like David Axelrod, an adviser to former President Barack Obama, have accused Trump of being willing to sacrifice safety in the name of politics. This is as predictable as it is disturbing. If @realDonaldTrump fast tracks a vaccine, bypassing critical safety steps so he can announce it before the election, who will have confidence in taking it?https://t.co/OLZT5BDc4o David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) August 23, 2020 Trump has shot back, suggesting that his political opponents are holding up research progress for the same reason; on Aug. 22, he tweeted that The deep state, or whoever, over 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 November 3rd. Story continues This isnt the first time a fast-tracked attempt to mass inoculate Americans has gotten political. The history suggests that if the White House rushes a vaccine rollout, it can risk losing credibilitynot just for itself, but for the science as well. In February of 1976, more than 200 recruits at Fort Dix military base in New Jersey came down with the flu. While some simply had the 1975-1976 seasonal flu, 13 had a new strain of H1N1, often called swine flu, that the CDC says was similar to the strain that caused the 1918-19 flu. One 18-year-old died. The outbreak sparked concerns of a repeat of that infamous pandemic, which scientists now know killed an estimated 675,000 Americans, or of the more recent 1968-69 pandemic, during which 100,000 Americans died and $3.2 billion was lost in medical bills and working time, TIME reported. Unlike in 1918, the U.S. in 1976 had a way to stop the outbreak in its tracks: flu shots, developed for military use in the 1930s, approved for civilian use in 1945 and encouraged for all high-risk Americans since 1960. But the Fort Dix cases involved a new strain of H1N1, so if a vaccine were going to be ready in time for the 1976-1977 flu season, production needed to start as soon as possible. Even though no major outbreak had yet begun, the government decided to put its weight behind the effort. We cannot afford to take a chance with the health of our nation, then-President Gerald Ford said on March 24, 1976, when, per the CDCs recommendation, he called for a $135 million program (about $615 million in 2020) to produce a vaccine and manufacture more than 200 million doses in time to inoculate all Americans for the winter flu season. The plan was unprecedented in intended timing and in scope among American immunization efforts, Richard E. Neustadt and Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg noted in The Swine Flu Affair, their 1978 evaluation of the program, which the incoming Health, Education and Welfare Secretary asked them to undertake. But not everyone was sure the vaccine program was being launched for purely altruistic reasons. A year of celebrations to mark Americas bicentennial was in full swing. It was also a presidential election year, and while Ford had beaten challenger Ronald Reagan in the first five primaries and the Iowa caucus, it was still a tight race for the Republican nomination. In fact, Neustadt and Finebergs report points out that Reagan won the North Carolina primary the day before Fords announcement of the vaccine program. During hearings on the program that spring, Washington States Democratic U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson joked of vaccine recipients that the Administration might have em vote at the same time, and, TIME noted, some legislators and doctors are wondering out loud whether the flu program is merely another symptom of election-year fever. Ford Administration officials took the position thatgiven that the vaccine was safethe risk of an outbreak outweighed any concerns about politics. Not that it wouldnt be politically beneficial: Consider the outcry, one White House aide was quoted as saying, if with all that evidence the President had said no. In April 1976, Congress swiftly passed emergency appropriations to make the vaccine for which Ford had called. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter By July 1976, the vaccine was only partially successful in clinical trials, TIME reported back then, prompting scientists to reconsider the rollout. Among the roughly 5,000 volunteers injected with the still-being-tested vaccine, researchers found minimal side effects in adults, but high fevers in young people, leading Dr. Albert Sabin, developer of the oral polio vaccine, to backtrack on his initial support of the Ford program, and argue that only the highest-risk people should get the vaccine. Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the initial polio vaccine, argued it was safe and would reduce the virus spread. By August, when Congress passed a bill officially authorizing the rollout, the effort was two months behind schedule, largely because of Congressional wrangling over whether vaccine-makers would be protected from liability related to the product. This delay would have serious consequences: In retrospect, a 2006 review of the CDCs handling of the 1976 swine flu vaccine program co-written by David Sencer, the agencys director back then, found that manufacturers demand for indemnification led the public to believe theres something wrong with the vaccine, and so every coincidental health event that occurred in the wake of the swine flu shot would be scrutinized and attributed to the vaccine. Clinics began offering two swine flu vaccines in Octobera vaccine against swine flu and, for higher risk groups, a vaccine against both swine flu and the previous years flu. At that point, no other cases of swine flu had been confirmed since the Fort Dix cluster in February, but the government began offering free vaccines anyway, along with the slogan ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE, AMERICA. A poll showed that a little over half of Americans (53%) planned to get one, TIME reported in its Oct. 11, 1976, issue. Howard Markel, director of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan, remembers getting the shot as a high school sophomore: Everyone went to school gyms or large areas, and I remember vividly my mother making us go, and waiting in line, and saying this is ridiculous.' But only a few vaccine-distribution centers were equipped on launch day. A Portland, Ore., health official told TIME, We didnt even know wed received a batch until we read about it in the newspaper. And the magazine reported that by November, only a quarter of the more than 200 million doses advertised had been manufactured. Then, 35 mostly elderly people, in various parts of the country, died shortly after getting vaccinated. The government said there was no link between the deaths and the vaccines, but the news still dissuaded people from getting the shot. After the news of the deaths, the number of New Yorkers who showed up for a vaccine dropped from 21,000 to 7,500 a day, and nine states closed their clinics, TIME reported. If you immunize very large numbers of elderly people, inevitably some will have a heart attack the next day, so you have to prepare the public for such coincidences, Fineberg, a co-author of the 1978 study of the public health response, later told the World Health Organization. That wouldnt have been a blip on the screen had there been a pandemic but, in the absence of any swine flu disease, these rare events were sufficient to end the program. Photographs of Ford (who had ultimately been successful in the primaries) getting vaccinated, like the one seen above, were circulated in an attempt to restore confidence in the vaccine program, but it was too late. Election Day rolled around, and Fords tenure in office ended, for a host of reasons other than the flu-shot rollout. The mass inoculation program ended about a month laterbut not before the publics confidence was once again shaken, this time by reports of shot recipients being at a very slightly higher risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). The uptick was not directly caused by the flu vaccine, Markel says, but it was associated with it, so everyone came to the conclusion that the swine flu shot equaled Guillain-Barre. (About one additional case occurred per 100,000 people vaccinated, according to the CDC, but most studies that have since evaluated a possible link between other flu vaccines and GBS have found no association.) Markel also notes that the programs failure happened to occur at a time when Americans trust in government was already in decline, following the Vietnam War, Watergate and the assassinations of the 1960s. The idea that the government would have botched the vaccine and still tried to capitalize on it for political reasons fit right inwhether or not it was true. That confusion and distrust incubated in that time period lingered well beyond 1976. In a 2009 CDC fact-sheet about a vaccine for that years H1N1 virus, for example, two of the questions were about about 1976 and GBS. Today, at a time when unfounded anti-vaccine views are growing (even though vaccines are safe) and polls indicate distrust in the federal governments management of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, that enduring doubt can be dangerous. Things like the small increased risk of GBS from the 1976 vaccine becomeconvenient for post-hoc justification of those pre-existing fears, says Jonathan M. Berman, author of the forthcoming history of the anti-vaxxer movement Anti-vaxxers: How to Challenge a Misinformed Movement. Later studies showed that there was likely no link, but already wary parents and anti-vaxxers see it as a justification for the fear. On the other hand, the 1976 controversy does provide important lessons, Berman argues. When vaccination decisions appear politically motivated, it can undermine trust. The fact that even people who are not generally anti-vaccine are worried about the safety of a COVID-19 inoculation means its all the more important that a coronavirus vaccine is not rushed, argues Markel. This is a very touchy issue, he says, so this [vaccine] has to be rolled out exactly right. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie went to President Abraham Lincoln's hometown of Springfield, Illinois, Wednesday to double down on his opposition to a gender-neutral update to the agency's iconic motto, taken from Lincoln's second inaugural address. Wilkie dedicated a plaque at the VA's Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield with the existing motto: "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan." The VA secretary made his purpose in the visit clear in remarks that followed. Read Next: Army Moves to Kick Out 3 Unit Leaders After Deadly Bradley Accident "The words that brought us here should not be diluted, parsed or canceled," Wilkie said, according to a VA release. The Department of Veterans Affairs "welcomes all veterans, including the 10% of all veterans who are women," Wilkie said. But, he added, "the words that brought us here ought to be preserved as they were spoken and displayed so every generation understands the origin of America's progress in becoming the most tolerant nation on earth." The current motto was adopted in 1959, and the words have since been emblazoned at the entrance to VA headquarters in Washington, D.C. In his Memorial Day remarks this year, Wilkie announced that the motto would go up at more than 140 VA cemeteries nationwide, and the Camp Butler cemetery in Springfield became the first Wednesday. The VA has not yet given a cost estimate for the project. The organizations Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Service Women's Action Network and several lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have argued that the current motto is exclusionary, and fails to recognize that about 10% of veterans and 17% of the armed forces are women. Advocates for changing the motto have offered up a paraphrase of Lincoln's words: "To care for those who have borne the battle, and for their families and survivors." Another proposed version would state: "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise 'To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans." Tom Porter, Government Affairs vice president at IAVA, noted that Wilkie's trip to Springfield coincided with the Defense Department's marking of "Women's Equality Day." "It seems like he's trying really hard" to make it more difficult for any future change to the motto, Porter said of Wilkie. "It's kind of head-scratching what he's doing." Changing a few words in the motto would not be a disservice to Lincoln's legacy, Porter said. "It's not canceling Lincoln," Porter said, adding that reverence for the 16th president "should not be used as an excuse to make women feel unwelcome" at the VA. He speculated that if Lincoln were commander in chief today, he would be in favor of a change to the motto. The debate over the motto resulted in a heated exchange at a House hearing last month between Acting VA Deputy Secretary Pamela Powers and Rep. Kathleen Rice, a New York Democrat. In defending the current motto, Powers said at the July 24 hearing of a House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations that the panel had "heard from some women on both sides of the issue," but she was cut off by Rice. The motto can have the effect of keeping women from seeking health care at the VA, Rice said. "You immediately feel like you don't belong there," she said. "I really hope that you will reconsider your position and stop making reference to words that were spoken many years ago because the reality of our military in 2020 is very different." In a statement to Military.com Wednesday, Rice said she found it "disappointing that Secretary Wilkie is ignoring the calls of veterans and lawmakers and proceeding with adding new displays of the VA's outdated motto." Lincoln's famous second inaugural address was given on March 4, 1865, ahead of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. His fuller statement reads: "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan -- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Effort to Change VA Motto Triggers Heated Exchange in Hearing King of Prussia, PA, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American College of Financial Services announced today it will induct Lee V. Bethel, CLU, ChFC, REBC, RHU, ChHC, CAP, AIF, CPFA, CASL, C(k)P, President of Comprehensive Benefit Services, Inc., into its Alumni Hall of Fame on November 5, 2020 at The Colleges Presidents Dinnerthis year to be held virtually. Bethel is the first African American to be inducted into The College's Alumni Hall of Fame. Bethel is a long-time College volunteer and served on its Trustee Board for nine years. His support of The College has been steadfast for the past two decades as a Presidents Circle donor, a Loyalty Society and a Legacy Society member, and the epitome of a lifelong learner. He is one of the founders of the Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP), and in 2018, was the first recipient of the inaugural Lang Dixon Leadership and Excellence in Achieving Diversity (LEAD) award, which held extra meaning for Bethel as Lang Dixon was his friend and long-time mentor. In addition to being a 27-year Life and Qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) with 13 Court of the Table qualifications, he has received multiple professional awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National African American Insurance Association. Im beyond honored and humbled to be inducted into The American College of Financial Services Alumni Hall of Fame, said Bethel. My personal passionto help provide services that benefit othershas always aligned with The Colleges mission to benefit society by delivering the highest quality education to the professionals entrusted with the publics financial well-being. Im very grateful for the education and guidance The College has provided me. Bethel credits The College for having a profound effect on his career, and he has never stopped expanding his knowledge base. In fact, Bethel is currently growing his long list of designations as he works to complete his Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) designation with The College. If you take the l off of learn, what do you have? You have to learn in order to earn. If you learn, the earning will take care of itself, said Bethel. Professional education is vitally important. When I talk with prospective clients, I want to come to the table with more questions than they have answers so they know they will benefit by working with me. I want my competitors, when they see my credentials, to say to themselves, We cant go after him; its not like he doesnt know anything! After graduating from Morehouse College in 1978, Bethel planned to attend dental school and become an orthodontist. That all changed when his uncle, Ted Tillman, invited him to join him in the insurance business. Tillman was the second African American agent hired in the history of New York Life and was one of the companys top 10 producers. He saw something in his nephew that was just beginning to emerge. Four decades later, Bethel is the President of Comprehensive Benefit Services, Inc., in Alexandria, VA, where he specializes in corporate retirement plans and employee benefits. He is a Series 7 Registered Representative with LPL Financial and a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and the District of Columbia Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Bethel and his wife, Valerie, have three daughters, Brittney, Kristin, and Lindsey, and one grandson, Mekhi. He is an accomplished bass guitar player and is the former director of his churchs a 20-piece orchestra. We are privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Lee and our alumni who have excelled in their profession and have made an impact in communities across the country, said George Nichols III, President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. Lee has always carried the torch in our mission to benefit society, and were proud to celebrate him and his accomplishments. Bethel has been unwavering in his extraordinary dedication and leadership to The College, to the profession, and to the community. For these reasons, Bethel is a worthy 2020 inductee into The Colleges Alumni Hall of Fame. ### ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES The American College of Financial Services was founded in 1927 and is the nations largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated one in five financial advisors across the United States and offers two masters degrees in management and financial services, along with prestigious financial planning designations such as the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and education leading to the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification. The Colleges faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services profession. Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Attachment Dr. Saleh bin Said Masan, Omans Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of Madayn's board of directors, today (August 26) visited the headquarters of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM). Dr Saleh was acquainted with the key projects in the various industrial cities of Madayn, available investment opportunities in the industrial cities including for the SMEs, Madayns institutional transformation and strategic plan in line with Oman Vision 2040, in addition to review of Madayns financial position and financing of existing and future projects. He was also introduced to the vision of Madayn in enhancing the Sultanates position as a leading regional centre of manufacturing, ICT, innovation and entrepreneurship excellence, and its mission in attracting industrial investments and providing continued support, through regionally and globally competitive strategies, good infrastructure, value adding services, and easy governmental processes. Madayn officials delivered a presentation on Oman Investment and Development Holding Company (Mubadrah), which was established by Madayn to develop and improve the operational processes, competitiveness, infrastructure and facilities of the various industrial cities. Mubadrah also aims at strengthening Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and attracting international developers and operators in accordance with best practices in the development of industrial cities. The officials also highlighted Masar Service Centre, which is designed to offer an investment window with a unified system that facilitates and simplifies the procedures for the investors, which allow the investors to obtain approvals, permits and licenses required for their projects under one roof and during specific time period. Additionally, Madayn officials delivered a presentation on the National Business Centre (NBC), which offers promising Omani entrepreneurs a platform to develop their business ideas into growing ventures. Moreover, a presentation was delivered on Madayn Industrial Academy which was established by Madayn with the aim of developing national human cadres of Madayn, and the companies and factories based in the various industrial cities. Dr Saleh was also briefed on Shumookh Investment and Services, which was established in 2010 to develop globally competitive industrial infrastructure in the industrial cities of Madayn and create the best environment for the growth of industries in Oman through the attraction of strategic partnerships to invest and implementation of diverse infrastructure development projects in the industrial cities of Madayn. Briefs were also highlighted on the security system of Madayn, masterplan of Samail Industrial City, and the existing projects at Al Mazunah Free Zone.TradeArabia News Service 17-year-old arrested in killing of 2 people in Kenosha KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday in the killing of two people gunned down during a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, was taken into custody in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha. Two people were shot to death Tuesday night in an attack carried out by a young white man who was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle. ADVERTISEMENT I just killed somebody, the gunman could be heard saying at one point during the shooting rampage that erupted just before midnight. One victim was shot in the head and the other in the chest, Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A third person suffered gunshot wounds not believed to be life-threatening. In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized 500 members of the National Guard to support local law enforcement around Kenosha, doubling the number of troops sent in. The governors office said he working other states to bring in additional National Guard troops and law officers. We were all chanting Black lives matter at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `Thats not fireworks, 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, He shot someone! He shot someone! And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again. Scott said he cradled a lifeless victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but I dont think he made it. According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the young man responsible for the shootings walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. Much of Rittenhouses Facebook page is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle. ADVERTISEMENT Other photographs include those of badges of various law enforcement agencies, including the Chicago Police Department. All of the badges have a black line across them something police officers do with black tape or another material whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty. In a photograph posted by his mother, he is wearing what appears to be a blue law enforcement uniform as well as the kind of brimmed hat that state troopers wear. The sheriff told the Journal Sentinel that armed people had been patrolling the citys streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. Theyre a militia, Beth said. Theyre like a vigilante group. The FBI said it is assisting in the case. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is Black, said in an interview with the news program Democracy Now! that the shootings were not surprising and that white militias have been ignored for too long. How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks its OK? Barnes said. People treat that like its some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles. Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages: The gunman first shot someone at a car lot, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him. A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled, two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him. The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired, Rosas said. Sam Dirks, 22, from Milwaukee, said he had seen the suspected gunman earlier in the evening, and he was yelling at some of the protesters. He was definitely very agitated. He was pacing around, just pointing his gun in general. Not necessarily at anyone specifically, Dirks said. In other widely circulating video, police can be seen tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle to what appear to be armed civilians walking the streets. One of the civilians appears to be the gunman who later shot protesters. We appreciate you being here, an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. In Wisconsin, it is legal for people 18 and over to openly carry a gun, with no license required. Blake, 29, was shot, apparently in the back, on Sunday as he leaned into his SUV, three of his children seated inside. Kenosha police have said little about what happened other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. They have not said why the officers opened fire or whether Blake was armed, and they have not disclosed the race of three officers on the scene. On Tuesday, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blakes family, said it would take a miracle for Blake to walk again. He called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and for the others involved to lose their jobs. The shooting was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests in the U.S. three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a nationwide reckoning over racial injustice. During the unrest in Kenosha since then, protesters destroyed dozens of buildings, set fires and hurled objects at police, who responded with tear gas on three straight nights. Courtesy photo /Texas Department of Public Safety This week is National Brake Safety Week and the Texas Department of Public Safety will be doing brake inspections on commercial vehicles, authorities said. DPS troopers and civilian inspectors will be inspecting commercial vehicles throughout the week from about 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on mile marker 15 of Interstate 35. Michelle Ogundehin (pictured) said face coverings are important for protecting others YES By Michelle Ogundehin, Magazine editor and mother The admission may not make me popular, but I cheered when a primary school headteacher in Milton Keynes made face masks compulsory. Finally, rather than waiting to be told what to do, someone in a position of responsibility had engaged his common sense. Yes, it might be over-cautious for a primary (Boris Johnson has just said teachers in England can order secondary pupils to wear masks in communal areas of the school; Scotland has already done so), but thats so much better than reckless. The PM points desperately to his scientific advisors as the basis for his policies. But theyre not all-knowing sages; theyre just peoplewith-training who are grappling with the unknown. And people make mistakes. I ceased paying any heed to the Governments incoherent and arbitrary diktats months ago. Back in March, I didnt wait for permission to pull my six-year-old son from school. I did it a week early based on my own judgment about the available evidence. It is up to parents, not politicians, to decide Likewise, I lost my temper at my 75-year-old mother who seemed perfectly content to sit and wait for easyJet to tell her if it was safe to fly to Berlin in March, rather than making up her own mind. It should be up to teachers and parents not the Government to decide if children wear masks at school. My sons school has already vetoed their use, so whether I let him go back in September will depend on local R-numbers (Covid-19 infection rates) and what additional measures they put in place. But the point of wearing masks is to protect others. If youre coughing and spluttering, I can avoid you; but if youre asymptomatic, you could be super-spreading without knowing it, fast-tracking the vulnerable to their coffins. Yes, masks can be hot, scratchy and uncomfortable, and any normal child will initially be resistant to wearing one. But show me a child who voluntarily cleans his teeth or likes having his hair washed. As parents, we insist on such compliance, because having fresh breath and being clean is good for us, and less of an affront to society. Mask-wearing should be exactly the same. As for my six-year-old, it came down to a combination of him seeing me and others wearing them, and buying him a softer, child-friendly cotton mask rather than the medical ones I use. Throw in a fun rainbow print and tell him hes being a superhero because he might be saving lives and youve sealed the deal. At the end of the day, wearing a mask is just not that big a deal, unless you make it one. Liz Cole (pictured) argues children play a minimal role in virus transmission NO By Liz Cole, Childrens campaigner Areassuring pattern emerges at the start of each new year at primary school. Uniforms and pencil cases ready, the little ones are excited but nervous, searching for a friendly smile in the playground. But now imagine its been six months off, not six weeks, and instead of smiling friends and teachers, they are met by a sea of masked and unfamiliar faces. Thats what Warren Harrison, headteacher at Premier Academys Eaton Mill Primary School in Milton Keynes, has decreed will be the case for all children at his school, bar those in Reception. My heart sinks at his attitude. My daughters are 11 and 12, and wear masks in shops and on public transport. Still, they find doing so uncomfortable and cant wait to take them off after half an hour or so. Its even harder for younger children to cope. Ive spent much of the pandemic campaigning to keep schools open and mask-free with Us For Them, the action group I co-founded. We started it in mid-May after we saw pictures of children returning to school in France and sitting isolated in chalk circles. We were horrified that this was happening to children without anyone speaking out, and we now have 20,000 members. Soon after Eaton Mills face-mask policy was revealed, emails from worried parents with children there started dropping into my inbox. A friends eight-year-old said she is worried she wont be able to whisper a secret to the friend she is so looking forward to playing with again. Another nine-year-old boy is petrified of people wearing masks: it makes him think of villains in films. More than one said they were seriously considering withdrawing their child. So I think its high time we get some perspective to ensure we dont sacrifice the health and education of a generation of children. Dont isolate youngsters or sacrifice their education Psychologists worry about childrens learning, communication and anxiety levels if face masks are worn. How will they read signals from their teacher? How will a teacher know if a child has understood something fully without seeing their face? Children play a minimal role in virus transmission. Data from Public Health England from schools open in June found only 0.01 per cent of had an outbreak, and the vast majority were staff-to-staff transmission. So lets use our common sense, put children first and send them back to a school environment where they can actually learn and grow. STRONGSVILLE, Ohio Theft: Admiralty Drive On Aug. 14, an Admiralty Drive resident came to the police station after realizing he had been scammed. The man said he initially sent money to someone who claimed to be a military servicewoman stationed in Afghanistan, whom he had met on the game app Words with Friends. At first, she attempted to send him transactions of $19,000 and $41,000, which were denied by his credit card, for a ring. Then, the resident sent $20,000 in cash via bitcoin to a woman in Dublin, Ireland. Thats when the man realized he had been scammed. The officer told the resident that they cant follow international money transfers. The officer did advise the resident, who also gave the woman his Social Security number, to monitor his credit. Drug abuse: Sprague Road On Aug. 14, police observed a weaving Chevrolet on Sprague Road. While talking to the driver, the officer smelled marijuana. It turned out that the passenger was in possession of felony drugs. He was arrested for drug abuse. The driver was cited for not driving in continuous lanes and possession of drug paraphernalia. Gas leak: Camden Circle On Aug. 14, a Camden Circle resident called police after accidentally hitting a natural gas line, which started to spew gas. The officer talked to the utility company because the leak was large. Eventually, a truck came out to fix the leak. Shoplifting: Pearl Road On Aug. 14, a Walmart employee observed a man steal a kitchen mixer from the Pearl Road store. The security member chased the thief into the parking lot. The man left in a black Nissan Versa. An arriving officer was unable to locate the shoplifter. Shoplifting: Pearl Road On Aug. 14, police were dispatched to Walmart after an employee watched a woman stealing merchandise from the Pearl Road store. An arriving officer located the woman and her male accomplice. The latter had a warrant from the Independence Police Department, which wanted the man to be advised of his warrant, then released. Both the man and woman were charged with theft. Warrant: Albion Road On Aug. 18, an Albion Road resident called police when he discovered his Subaru was missing. However, while he was talking to the police, the Subaru showed up at the mans house driven by an Avon Lake resident. An arriving officer talked to the Avon Lake man, who said he had borrowed the Subaru. It turned out that he had numerous warrants, including from the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office. The suspect was arrested and held for transport. He wasnt charged regarding the Subaru because the owner didnt report it stolen. Read more from the Sun Star Courier. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks during a news briefing in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on July 31, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Trump Considers Executive Action to Help Airline Workers Facing Furloughs White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday that if deadlocked lawmakers cant reach a relief deal to help ailing airline workers, President Donald Trump may step in with executive action. If Congress is not going to work, this president is going to get to work and solve some problems, Meadows said Wednesday at an event hosted by Politico. Hopefully we can help the airlines and keep some of those employees from being furloughed. Meadows said he believed a negotiated deal on a new relief package would be needed to provide aid to airline staff but, failing that, the Trump administration is looking at other executive actions. If youve got airline workers in your district, whether youre a Democrat or Republican, you need to call the speaker or the leader and let them know that its a priority, Meadows said, adding, its all about keeping people in jobs during this V-shaped recovery. Talks on a fifth relief bill remain stalled on Capitol Hill amid deep divisions with Democrats. At the White House, Trump suggested that one main holdup is the amount of money Democrats want for cash-strapped states and cities, which he dismissed as bailouts. They are still rejecting any more relief for anyone unless they get a flood of demands with no real relationship to COVID-19, said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-Ky.), in remarks earlier this month. All indications are talks will not resume in full until Congress resumes in September, while Trumps executive actions seem to have provided a temporary reprieve, offering $300 in jobless benefits and other aid. In a bid to bolster the economy and reduce tax burdens on American workers amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, Trump signed an executive order this month that defers employee payroll taxes, which he said he would seek to turn into a permanent tax cut if he wins reelection. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in remarks at Tuesdays Republican National Convention that the Trump administration is looking to introduce more tax cuts to spur investment and create jobs as the country continues its fitful rebound from a deep recession. Now, looking ahead, more tax cuts and regulatory rollback will be in storepayroll tax cuts for higher wages, income tax cuts for the middle class, capital gains tax cuts for investment, productivity, and jobs, Kudlow said. It comes after American Airlines announced on Tuesday that when pandemic aid to airlines expires in October, the company plans to slash 19,000 jobs. Breaking the somber news in a letter to employees, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom said, [t]he one possibility of avoiding these involuntary reductions on Oct. 1 is a clean extension of the payroll relief that airlines received under the CARES Act. The relief bills Payroll Support Program set aside $25 billion in grants to U.S. airlines, strictly for employee compensation. One of the conditions of receiving the aid was that air carriers must wait until Oct. 1 to cut jobs. Air travel in the United States plunged 95 percent by April, just over a month after the first known case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Washington state in a man who had returned from Wuhan, China. The virus then surged across the country, with a Johns Hopkins tally noting over 5.7 million infections and over 177,000 deaths. As the outbreak dynamics have slowed, passenger traffic has recovered slightly, but remains down 70 percent from a year ago, and carriers say they need less staff. The COVID-19 crisis has hammered the U.S. labor market, with unemployment at 10.2 percent and around 1 million Americans continuing to file for unemployment each week. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A virus-killing chemical found in insect repellent can also destroy the infection that causes Covid-19, scientists have claimed. Citriodiol, an ingredient in Mosi-guard and other 'bug sprays', was shown to damage the coronavirus in government-run research. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) conducted the research on chemical under orders of the British Army. Early findings claimed Mosi-guard's natural spray started to attack the coronavirus in just one minute. It suggests citriodiol has promise against SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes Covid-19, having previously shown to work on other similar coronaviruses. However, experts warned it is still early days, and the chemical has not been shown to prevent people from catching the coronavirus. Products containing citriodiol can be purchased online at outlets such as Amazon for around 10 ($13) but stocks appear to be low. Citriodiol found in Mosi-guard among other 'bug sprays', has shown to damage the coronavirus in government-run laboratories Military scientists started trials on citriodiol in February at Porton Down, government run laboratories in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The DSTL a branch of the Ministry of Defence was tasked with the research by the Surgeon General, the most senior medical officer in the British Army. British armed forces were given the insect repellent as an extra layer of protection against the virus at the start of the pandemic even though there was no proof it worked, Sky News first reported. DSTL wanted to determine the level of anti-viral activity of Mosi-guard's natural spray against the coronavirus. Preliminary findings published today suggest it 'can kill the strain of coronavirus that causes Covid-19', Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said. What is citriodiol, in which products is it found and how could it combat coronavirus? Citriodiol is chemical which actively repels insects. It has long been widely used in commercial repellents. The chemical is used in the following products: MosiGuard Incognito Ben's Natural Care Plus Natural Insect Repellent Citriodiol comes from the leaves of the eucalyptus citriodora tree, native to Asia, South America and Africa. Previous studies have found the chemical is also able to kill the SARS virus, which caused a pandemic almost 20 years ago. It remains unknown if the chemical is able to destroy SARS-CoV-2, the virus which leads to COVID-19, but the two viruses are closely related. Deet, another common chemical used to keep bugs away, is not believed to be effective against coronavirus. Mosi-guard, the commercial product that contains citriodiol, is not available at Boots or Superdrug but can be bought online. The company which manufactures the product in the UK, Citrefine International Ltd, based in Leeds, is calling on the Government to test the product and see is it is effective. The Ministry of Defence is believed to be undergoing tests to determine just that. Advertisement Two experiments took place, to assess if the chemical kills the virus when applied to it directly as a liquid, as well as on latex 'synthetic skin'. After one minute, tests showed a liquid drop of Mosi-guard's natural spray reduced quantities of the SARS-CoV-2, with a higher dose 'resulting in no recoverable virus'. This suggests it has 'anti viral properties', the report published on the government's website says. 'Additionally, viral studies on latex indicated that Mosi-guard Natural had anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2 England-2 isolate,' it said. The England isolate refers to the fact the virus particles were taken from an English patient, therefore it is not clear if it would work against strains found in other parts of the globe. It took longer for the virus to die out on the fake skin than on surfaces, taking four hours for levels to drop enough to be noticed. Even though SARS-CoV-2 was slowly killed off, it was still detectable from all surfaces tested in the fake skin experiments. Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: 'DSTL's latest research shows that sprays containing citriodiol, which have been made available to MOD units engaged in the Covid response, can kill the virus. 'We are sharing our preliminary findings today so others can take forward additional research to confirm and expand on our findings.' 'Defence has played a wide variety of roles in supporting efforts to tackle coronavirus. We are pleased that this is another example of Defence sourcing innovative ways to keep people safe.' Dr Matthew Lloyd, a senior lecturer, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology at University of Bath, said there is 'definitely an effect' of Mosi-guard to a 'very high' significance. He told MailOnline: 'Looking at the kill tests viral load is been reduced by 100-1000 times. On artificial skin, after four hours, viral loads are only reduced by 10-fold. So the effect is quite small.' However, he added: 'The insect repellent formulation also contains ethanol and isopropanol (short-chain alcohols) and these are probably equally effective. As far as I can see they did not actually do a statistical significance test of the alcohols vs. the insect repellent, but they look equally active to me. 'My feeling is that we need to be cautious as it may be the alcohol carrier rather than the citriodiol killing the virus in the Mosi-guard. 'One advantage might be that citriodiol would be quite a lot less volatile than ethanol or isopropanol which would make probably it easier to apply. It would probably be an acceptable substitute in the field for using soap and water. It is probably of similar effectiveness.' Citrefine International Ltd, the company that produces citriodiol, also believed it could offer protection against the coronavirus, but had not carried out its own research. Jacqueline Watson, managing director the company, said in April she would like the government to support a formal testing programme. 'What we can say is that we do feel there is a very good chance it could work against this virus but it does of course need to be thoroughly tested,' she said at the time. Bug sprays nearly always contain DEET a chemical that when applied to the skin or clothing provides protection against various insects. But the laboratory work did not look at DEET and so it is unclear what role this would play. Even if citriodiol is able to zap the virus in some way, as the reports claim, it is not clear if this prevents people from getting infected. British troops were given stocks of Mosi-guard early in the pandemic on suspicion it could have an effect on the strain of the disease behind the pandemic. Preliminary tests have shown that low concentrations of citriodiol can be effective in killing SARS CoV-1, a coronavirus closely related to the one causing the pandemic. SARS, originally found in China, caused epidemics in 2002 and 2004, predominantly in Asia. But no cases have been detected since. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said a citriodiol-based spray has been given to personnel in light of the Surgeon General's advice it wouldn't do any harm. The MP said it should be used on a precautionary basis as against exposure to the virus. An Ministry of Defence spokesperson told MailOnline at the time: 'Citriodiol is known to have anti-viral properties and has been used as a barrier against the SARS 1 virus. 'Its utility for protecting against COVID-19 is therefore being explored by the Ministry of Defence as an additional protective measure for personnel working on the response. 'Further work is required to determine its full effectiveness, acquisition and distribution.' But some politicians have expressed concern at the trials. In separate letters, politicians asked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for more details and clarification. Chief among their concerns are why, with such little evidence, are resources being diverted to this endeavour. Stewart McDonald of the Scottish National Party asked to see the evidence that informed the MoD's decision. The letter states: 'If this is based on science, it is vital that the evidence is made public and all frontline workers are given the same advice. 'If there is no evidence that it will be effective, then the MoD must explain why this product is being issued, creating a false sense of security and putting lives at risk. 'Clarity on this matter is of the greatest urgency.' Jamie Stone of the Liberal Democrats wrote in his letter: 'The over-riding point is that if your decision has been taken on the basis of sound scientific evidence, then why are other frontline workers not also being provided with citriodiol?' Citriodiol comes from the oil of the Eucalyptus citriodora tree, making it a naturally sourced ingredient. It has already passed rigorous safety and efficacy tests, making it an attractive avenue for Covid-19 protection. However, there is currently no proven vaccine, chemical or drug that prevents Covid-19, although work is ongoing. The advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on avoiding infection is still to clean your hands frequently and thoroughly, keep at least one metre distance from others and catch sneezes and coughs in a tissue or your elbow. Panaji, Aug 26 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday accused an Opposition MLA of tampering with a photograph to show that a small-time Bollywood actor who was arrested last week in a drug-related case, had met Sawant on the latter's birthday this year. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sawant said the Opposition MLA Rohan Khaunte, had cropped the date out of the Instagram screenshot, to show that the meeting between Kapil Jhaveri -- who was arrested for organising an illegal rave party last week -- and him was held during the Chief Minister's birthday on April 24 this year. "The Opposition MLA is trying to distract attention from the main issue. He has cropped the image to hide the real date," Sawant said. The Chief Minister's meeting with Jhaveri was held on January 2 instead, following a formal appointment protocol, Sawant's office has said. On Tuesday, former Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte had alleged that Sawant and several senior state BJP leaders were associated with Jhaveri and had shown photos featuring Jhaveri along with Sawant and other ruling politicians, as proof of the association. Khaunte made the allegations after one of his close aides Shailesh Shetty was also arrested on August 19 for co-organising the rave party and was booked under sections of the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act by the Goa Police Crime Branch officials. K im Jong Un has expressed dissatisfaction with "shortcomings" in North Korea's anti-virus campaign as he raised the alarm about a typhoon forecast to hit the country on Thursday. Following claims that the North Korean leader has been in poor health, state media reported that he had spoken at his third high-level political conference in as many weeks. Last week South Korean diplomat Chang Song-min claimed that Mr Kim had been in a coma since April and some of his public appearances had been faked. The diplomat suggested Mr Kim's sister Kim Yo-jong was expected to take over leadership of the country. But according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Mr Kim was present at an enlarged meeting of the Politburo of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday. Mr Kim lamented unspecified defects and shortcomings in the countrys anti-virus campaign and called for them to be corrected swiftly, according to KCNA. Kim Jong Un, centre, attends an enlarged meeting of the Politburo of the ruling Workers Party in Pyongyang / AP The North Korean leader also called for thorough preparations to minimise damage from Typhoon Bavi, which comes weeks after torrential rains caused flooding and massive damage to homes and crops, inflicting further pain to an economy ravaged by US-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons as well as border closures amid the pandemic. Mr Kim set tasks for the party and public services at every level, saying that to thoroughly prevent the casualties by the typhoon and minimise the damage to crops is important work which can never be neglected even a moment, KCNA paraphrased the leader as saying. On Wednesday morning, Typhoon Bavi was near the South Korean island of Jeju and was on course to hit the north-west coast of the Korean Peninsula around daybreak on Thursday. A satellite image released by NASA shows Typhoon Bavi near South Korean island of Jeju / AP South Koreas weather agency said it had a maximum wind speed of 100mph and was forecast to be one of the strongest storms to hit the peninsula this year. Pyongangs official Rodong Sinmun newspaper urged the nation to demonstrate single-minded unity in a struggle to protect people and the assets of socialism from natural disasters. They should turn out as one in the struggle for preventing typhoon damage, sharing the consciousness of crisis with the Party, the newspaper said. They should direct the biggest efforts into ensuring no loss of life. KCNA said earlier the typhoon warning covers most the country, with fishing boats called to shore and measures being taken to protect buildings, farms, railroads, coal mines and power stations. Fishing boats are anchored at a port on the southern island of Jeju / YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images In another ruling party meeting last week, Mr Kim admitted the countrys economy has not improved as he had hoped The Workers Party cited internal and external situations as hurting the countrys economic development, likely referring to US-led sanctions over North Koreas nuclear programme, the recent flooding and the efforts of closing the countrys borders and other steps taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the meeting last week, the ruling party scheduled a rare congress in January to set development goals for the next five years. Experts say the coronavirus derailed some of Mr 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 mobilise its workforce. The North has yet to confirm a single-case of Covid-19, but outsiders have widely doubted its virus-free claim. In late July, Mr Kim ordered a lockdown of Kaesong, a city near the border with South Korea after the North reported it found a person with Covid-19 symptoms. It later told the World Health Organisation that the person involveds test results were inconclusive. Additional reporting by Associated Press. As Hurricane Laura shifted east Wednesday, Montgomery County leaders, residents, emergency personnel and city officials remained in full prep mode as the storm was expected to make landfall early Thursday morning near the Texas-Louisiana border. But while preparation for the storm was critical, officials also urged residents Wednesday to be prepared for the days following the storm. With winds topping 140 mph, Hurricane Laura reached Category 4 status on Wednesday afternoon as it barreled toward the Texas-Louisiana border with potential to strengthen more before devastating the coastline. Montgomery County remained under a Tropical Storm warning Wednesday. While the storm is not forecast to provide heavy rain, county leaders said residents should be prepared for high winds that could topple trees and cause widespread power outages for potentially several days. Its moving very rapidly, County Judge Mark Keough said Tuesday. Residents, he added, need to be prepared for the days after the storm with possible power outages with plenty of food, water, prescriptions including food and water for pets. Local wind predictions showed winds west of Interstate 45 to be around 30-40 mph with winds east of I-45 to be closer to 45-55 mph. Rainfall is expected to be about one to two inches west of I-45 and two to six inches on the east side of the interstate. The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security opened its hurricane call center for residents reminding residents to use 911 for life-threatening emergencies. The call center number is 936-523-3918. Jason Millsaps, executive director of the MCOEMHS, said the county is prepared to open shelters if need but noted as of Wednesday the potential conditions wouldnt likely warrant shelters. He added if the county did open any, they were prepared to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing during the current pandemic. Typically in a wind and power event, where people lose power for hours or long, they stay home, Millsaps said. Its only when it floods do they need to get out of the house and we are not expecting any flood event. Additionally, as a pass through county, residents from coastal areas being evacuated will not be brought to Montgomery County. Millsaps said local hotels are seeing additional guests who evacuated on their own and made their own arrangements. To stay informed, residents can register for AlertMCTX, the countys official emergency alert system, and receive real-time weather alerts and post-storm recovery information. cdominguez@hcnonline.com Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, ASEAN Chair 2020, at the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi As ASEAN Chair 2020, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended and delivered a speech at the Standard Chartered-ASEAN Business Forum 2020 themed Unlocking the regions potential, which was televised on international medial channels. The event, which is being held from August 25-28, drew the attendance of leaders of businesses and organisations from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US to discuss emerging trends that could shape the future of the region. In his speech at the first session entitled Tapping growth opportunities during and after COVID-19, PM Phuc said in the face of challenges caused by COVID-19, the ASEAN Community has shown its strong will and spirit of resilience, actively cooperated with partners via the implementation of resolutions adopted at the meetings of economic ministers with the US, Australia and the European Union and joint statements of ASEAN and ASEAN 3 summits with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea held in Hanoi in April. Boasting a gross domestic product of nearly 3 trillion USD and a population of over 630 million with growing incomes, ASEAN is a big market for ambitious businesses worldwide, he said, adding that Vietnam joined the bloc 25 years ago and signed 13 free trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). PM Phuc stressed that Vietnam always welcomes foreign firms and investors. With an improving favourable business environment, Vietnam has so far attracted over 32,000 foreign-invested projects with a total capital of more than 380 billion USD from 140 countries and partners, he said. Towards the ASEAN Vision 2025 and 2030, the PM shared ASEANs strong economic cooperation policies. Firstly, ASEAN member states will continue staying united, promoting the blocs central role in regional economic collaboration, prioritising coordination with partner nations and foreign enterprises. ASEAN attaches importance to law abidance and building of stable and sustainable cooperation frameworks, especially for the development of a digital economy. ASEAN is competitive enough to attract shift of supply chains in the region. According to the PM, ASEAN is striving to invest in hard and soft infrastructure, with a focus on human resources quality improvement. It is working to narrow the development gap and expand coordination in the Greater Mekong Sub-region which holds potential to lure investment flows. The PM affirmed that ASEAN treasures the partnerships between businesses and governments. Recommendations raised at the forum will be collected and considered thoroughly, he added. Following PM Phuc's speech, a discussion attracted the participation of Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore; Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; and CEO of Standard Chartered Bill Winters. The event features four sessions, in which speakers from the State and private sector will talk about the groupings trade opportunities amid geo-political challenges, strategies to maintain growth and the best practices for sustainable development. Standard Chartered Regional CEO for ASEAN and South Asia Judy Hsu said it is time for parties concerned to seek new opportunities in the region which boasts young and dynamic workforce, growing middle-income class and vibrant digital economy. Colombian man Martinez Lopez Samir is escorted by a police officer outside a court in HCMC, August 26, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Duyen. A court in HCMC sentenced a Colombian man to 12 years in jail on Wednesday for stealing $47,000 from five-star Caravelle Hotel in District 1. Martinez Lopez Samir, 36, charged with "theft," will be deported from Vietnam after completing his sentence, the court ruled. Fellow countryman Diaz Velasquez Carlos Jeronimo, who was involved in the theft, is currently at large. In January 2019, Martinez and Diaz entered Vietnam on tourist visas. Two days later, they visited an e-gaming club at Caravelle. Discovering the gaming machine's cash box was unlocked, they decided on the heist. Martinez subsequently asked a nearby waiter for a cup of coffee, leaving the cash box unguarded. Taking advantage of the situation, the duo retrieved over $47,000 from inside and escaped the hotel. They escaped into Cambodia after that via Moc Bai border gate in Tay Ninh Province, which borders HCMC. Last February, the wanted Martinez was arrested by HCMC police. FedEx has transported $11 million worth of emergency supplies to Lebanon as disaster relief to help health facilities responding after a deadly explosion ripped through the city earlier this month, putting significant strain on the medical system. More than 60 tonnes of critical aid will soon offer needed relief to medical personnel in Beirut, Lebanon, a statement from FedEx said, adding that FedEx transported the emergency supplies via a dedicated charter flight. FedEx supported this disaster relief effort through its relationship with humanitarian organization Direct Relief, it added. FedEx picked up $11 million worth of medicines, medical supplies and personal protective equipment from Direct Relief headquarters in Santa Barbara, California and trucked the load to Memphis. On August 22, the team members loaded those supplies onto a FedEx Express Boeing 777 at the FedEx World Hub. The flight landed at noon in Luxembourg August 23, where FedEx worked with Cargolux, which also donated its services, to transport the supplies into Beirut. "FedEx has catalyzed and made possible a huge boost of urgently needed assistance to people in Beirut by providing its world-class team, logistics expertise and aircraft, said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. Direct Relief and the many partners with which were working to help, including the American Task Force on Lebanon, are profoundly grateful for FedEx once again providing just an extraordinary example of leadership and action to assist people slammed by a humanitarian crisis. The relief effort is part of the companys FedEx Cares Delivering for Good initiative, where the company uses its global network and unparalleled logistics expertise to help organizations with mission-critical needs in times of disaster. Weve seen the devastation from the explosion and know people are still in desperate need of help. On behalf of our 500,000 FedEx team members, we are proud to be able to use our global network to provide these lifesaving resources, said Richard Smith, executive vice president, Global Support, FedEx Express. We are inspired by Direct Reliefs commitment to making a difference in the lives of others and we are honored to work alongside this incredible organization. The delivery of the lifesaving supplies is also part of the companys FedEx Cares 50 by 50 goal to positively impact 50 million people around the world by the companys 50th anniversary in 2023. FedEx Express is represented in Lebanon by a service provider, Gezairi Express.TradeArabia News Service Cloud Accounting Experts at AcctTwo Honored to be Named for 5th Straight Year to Accounting Today VAR 100 List "All the credit goes to our employees, who continue to provide outstanding consulting, implementation, and technical services to our customers. Our employees and our customers are constantly innovating and I'm lucky to get to support their efforts." Marcus Wagner, AcctTwo CEO and Founder Cloud accounting experts, outsourced accounting providers, and 6-time Sage Intacct Partner of the Year, AcctTwo, announced today they have been honored with a spot on the Accounting Today VAR 100 list for their 5th straight year. In addition, AcctTwo jumped up 6 places to #29 this year. The VAR 100 is Accounting Today's ranking of the top value-added resellers of accounting and accounting-related software by revenue. The publication not only ranks the firms, it also dives into the major issues theyre facing, as well as their strategies for success. The theme for this years list was The Cloud and the Coronavirus. "All the credit goes to our employees, who continue to provide outstanding consulting, implementation, and technical services to our customers. Our employees and our customers are constantly innovating and I'm lucky to get to support their efforts. We are also grateful for the continued support that the folks at Sage Intacct give their channel partners," said AcctTwo Founder and CEO Marcus Wagner. This honor is particularly poignant and even more appreciated at a time like this. No one started 2020 thinking we would be here in August. Im very proud of our AcctTwo team members for their agility and as we shut down our offices, moved to fully remote work, and shuffled duties to ensure employees and clients had everything they needed to maintain business continuity, added Wagner. In a recent Accounting Today article entitled The Post-COVID-19 Business Model Requires Proactive Planning, Wagner detailed the five steps businesses and accounting teams should take now to emerge more resilient and better prepared to maintain business continuity in the face of unplanned situations. Heres an excerpt from the Accounting Today article: Theres something to be said for avoiding the bleeding edge of technology, but the COVID-19 experience suggests that being in the late majority or a laggard is not actually the lowest-risk strategy for technology adoption. A strong argument can be made that one should adopt new technologies just as soon as is feasible for the organization. "We're very proud of our continued success, especially in light of the unprecedented year weve all had. Its an honor to earn a place on the VAR 100 list again and be counted among these esteemed organizations," Wagner said. About AcctTwo AcctTwo is focused on delivering the future of finance and accounting to its customers. AcctTwo has three main solutions Cloud Accounting Software, Managed Accounting Services, and Software Development, all built around Sage Intaccts best-in-class financial applications. Our dedicated team of over 100 people has helped nearly 1,000 organizations optimize finance and accounting through software implementations, accounting outsourcing, and consulting. AcctTwo has been recognized by Sage Intacct as its Partner of the Year from 2014 2019 and by our customers as a leader in overall satisfaction and popularity through their reviews on G2. AcctTwo is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information about accounting software customization, please visit https://www.accttwo.com or call 713-744-8400. Hurricane Laura tracker: Projected path map of Category 4 storm; over 500K ordered to evacuate Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Residents of coastal Texas and Louisiana have been urged to evacuate as Hurricane Laura has strengthened to Category 4 and is expected to make landfall late Wednesday with the potential to cause much devastation and deadly flooding. As of early Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Laura consisted of maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center, a division of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Little time remains to protect life and property before water levels begin to rise and winds increase in the warning areas, the NHC warned in a tweet. 1 PM CDT: #Laura is now an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane with maximum winds of 140 MPH. Little time remains to protect life and property before water levels begin to rise and winds increase in the warning areas https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gBpic.twitter.com/6f9tvionaR National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 26, 2020 With Laura swirling in the Gulf of Mexico and its landfall imminent, more than half a million people living along the Gulf Coast have been ordered to evacuate. On Tuesday, over 385,000 residents were instructed to leave the cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur in Texas. In the low-lying Calcasieu Parish in southwest Louisiana, a mandatory evacuations order issued Tuesday affects more than 200,000 residents. Additionally, neighboring Cameron Parish is also under a mandatory order while parts of other parishes have been ordered to evacuate. The projected path of Hurricane Laura shows the storm hovering around the Texas-Louisiana border Thursday morning with hurricane status. As the day goes on, the storm is projected to move up into Arkansas as a tropical storm. By Friday morning, Laura will be downgraded to a tropical depression as it continues to move east through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee over the weekend before moving out to sea early next week. The Saffir-Simpson scale rates hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds. A Category 4 hurricane has sustained winds ranging from 130 to 156 miles per hour. According to the NHC, Category 4 hurricanes can result in catastrophic damage, including snapped trees, downed power lines and damage to the roofs and exterior walls of well-built frame homes. In anticipation, the National Weather Service issued a series of watches and warnings for several areas along the Gulf Coast. A hurricane warning extends from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. A tropical storm warning has been issued for the area east of Intracoastal City extending to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Another tropical storm warning is in effect from Sargent, Texas to San Luis Pass. In addition to potentially damaging winds, residents of the Gulf Coast will also have to deal with a life-threatening storm surge. A storm surge warning is in effect for the area from Freeport, Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River. The NHC predicts a peak storm surge of up to 20 feet in Louisianas Calcasieu Lake. The latest rainfall forecast shows that the area surrounding the Texas and Louisiana border has the potential to see six to 10 inches of rain as a result of the hurricane. Southwestern and central Arkansas, as well as the shared border of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, could see similar amounts of rainfall. Residents in certain portions of eastern Texas, western Louisiana, central Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, northwestern Tennessee, southwestern Kentucky and even small portions of southern Illinois could see four to six inches of rainfall. While the state of Mississippi will have to deal with storm surge, it will not see nearly as much rainfall as other states in the southeast. Most of Mississippi is predicted to receive only one to two inches of rainfall. Some parts of Mississippi may see less than one inch of rain. The rainfall from Hurricane Laura could extend into Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio over the next five days, according to the NHC forecast. Leaders at the state and federal level are taking action to make sure that the residents of the affected states remain safe. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration covering 59 counties. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards activated the entire Louisiana National Guard for the first time since Hurricane Isaac, which ravaged the state in late August 2012. President Donald Trump sent out a tweet Wednesday urging the residents of affected areas to listen to local officials. My Administration remains fully engaged with state & local emergency managers to continue preparing and assisting the great people (of) Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, he wrote. Hurricane Laura is a very dangerous and rapidly intensifying hurricane. My Administration remains fully engaged with state & local emergency managers to continue preparing and assisting the great people Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Listen to local officials. We are with you! pic.twitter.com/x0JoijLUpb Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2020 As the people of the southeastern United States face another potentially catastrophic natural disaster, members of the faith community are sending their thoughts and prayers. Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham and head of the evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritans Purse, asked his Twitter followers to join me in prayer for those in the path of this destructive storm. #HurricaneLaura is forecast to make landfall in the upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts late today or early Thursday. I ask that you join me in prayer for those in the path of this destructive storm. https://t.co/gMswqDOKqX Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 26, 2020 Hurricane Lauras landfall coincides with the 15th anniversary of Hurricane Katrinas landfall and the third anniversary of Hurricane Harvey. Both storms caused catastrophic damage along the gulf coast and across the southern U.S. China's Defense Ministry condemns U.S. plane in no-fly zone PLA Daily Source: CGTN.COM Editor: Chen Zhuo 2020-08-26 00:27:01 China deems the U.S. U-2 plane's entrance into a no-fly zone as a purely provocative act, said a Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian on Tuesday. The plane was reported to have entered into a no-fly zone enforced by the Northern Theater of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). According to Wu, the move severely encroached on China's sovereignty, heavily interrupted China's ordinary military operations and could easily cause misjudgment and even result in accidents. China urged the U.S. to correct its mistake and refrain from further patrols, said Wu, stating that the Chinese army will firmly do its duty to defend the country's sovereignty and safety with concrete actions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hollywood Boulevard is lighted up earlier this year. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The man accused of robbing three transgender women in Hollywood earlier this month in what police have called a hate crime was released from jail Tuesday after prosecutors asked detectives to dig deeper into the case before they filed charges, authorities said. Carlton Callway, 29, was arrested last week in Bakersfield on suspicion of the Aug. 17 robbery that was filmed in a video on Hollywood Boulevard, but he was released from jail Tuesday after the Los Angeles County district attorneys office delayed filing charges in the case, pending further investigation by Los Angeles police. Jail records show he was released Tuesday afternoon. Video widely shared on social media showed a man threatening popular influencers Eden the Doll, Jaslene Whiterose and Joslyn Flawless about 2 a.m. Aug. 17 in the 6500 block of Hollywood Boulevard. In the video, someone threatens Flawless with a crowbar as he robs her and then strikes Whiterose in the head as bystanders taunt the women. Investigators have said the attacker also made demeaning remarks about the womens gender identity, which led police to consider the incident a hate crime. News of the decision sparked a furor online after Eden recorded a phone call with an LAPD detective and published it to Instagram on Monday. In the call, the detective criticizes the district attorneys office and describes the case as temporarily rejected. Even with the video footage, all the signatures, everything thats happened the last week thats not enough evidence? she asked. This just does not make sense to me. Everything you just said, I do believe, is enough to file criminal charges against them, the detective responded. Prosecutors normally have to file charges within two business days of an arrest. The district attorneys office often sends cases back for further investigation if there is not enough evidence to file a case in that time, though prosecutors do not normally consider that the same as a rejected filing, which would trigger the creation of a document explaining the reasoning behind a decision to decline charges. Story continues The case has since been reassigned to the LAPDs elite Robbery-Homicide Division, which normally handles high-profile cases, according to a law enforcement source who spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity. It initially had been investigated by the Hollywood Division. It was not immediately clear whether Callway had an attorney, and The Times was unable to contact him for comment. The status of another man arrested in connection with the attack by LAPD last week 42-year-old Willie Walker was not clear. He was arrested on suspicion of trying to extort the victims Aug. 19, and released on his own recognizance, according to jail records. A third suspect, Davion Williams, 22, was wanted on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after police allege he threw an electric scooter at the women, authorities said. He remains at large. Youth NGO Activate Change Drivers recently held a panel discussion for Women's Month to find out what young women want. Moderator Nkokeli Mankayi, who heads up the Activate Interconnectedness sector which deals with gender equality, asked the panel, made up of young women activators at Activate, to define what it meant to be a woman in South Africa today - under lockdown in the shadow of Covid-19, and what the conversations were that they should be having. Siphelele Chirwa, CEO, Activate Change Drivers Successful women celebrated as 'rare gems' Need to showcase women in leadership Kay-Dee Mashile, publisher Reversing the negativity Calling out sexist behaviour Role of men Activate Change Drivers CEO Siphelele Chirwa introduced the session by stating that she felt it was not enough to only celebrate women when they achieved positions of leadership. We clap when women achieve leadership positions, but forget the thousands of women who deserve to be in leadership positions and are not there. How do we sustain that momentum when Womens Month is over? There is something within the system that is not shifting, despite the legislation.Women in business or as political leaders are often celebrated as rare gems, said Chirwa, which didnt recognise the efforts of many other women in society aspiring to leadership roles or leading in their communities in varying ways. We are not a rare commodity. There are many of us, we need to be given the platforms to lead. There are so many young women who are pushing; just surviving one day to the next. There are thousands of women leaders out there - give them a chance. I dont want to be the only one wearing a cape, there are many of us.Ntsikayam Maweni, a final year student at Rhodes University, and a partner at Enable, an NGO which brings about inclusivity surrounding disability, pointed out that when women found themselves in spaces of leadership, they were not always seen as part of the leadership. We find ourselves having to negotiate with the patriarchy that exists in that space. We are seen as taking over an administrative space or secretarial space. As much as we would like to say we have evolved in the 21st century, we are still overlooked. When we look at the apartheid space, we only look at the role women played on Womens Day, 9 August, but not about the important role that women played in the liberation struggle and in between. We need to tell those stories too.Publisher Kay-Dee Mashile said South Africa needed to move to a point where women were recognised as leaders and not just celebrated on one day or one month of the year. We need to move to a point where we recognise that women are leading. Women are bosses. We are at that place, but we need to showcase that, so that other people can see they are not the only ones.Mashile believes South African society needs to stop having one-dimensional conversations about women in terms of being wives of leaders or in a negative way, pulling each other down. There should be a lot more conscious effort made to ensure women get into leadership positions. Women are judged on competence and men are judged on gender. Women have to stand out ten times more than men. Women have done great things. We need to start creating great spaces.Activist and student Elaine Scott said young women needed to go out into the world and find the area of impact where they can go and make a difference. If we can all do that for young women coming after us: clap for them, let them know we see them. We are not once-in-a-while people who serve in between the male appointments.Nomalanga Tshuma, founder and organiser of Define a Girl, and an advocate for women and children, said women needed to reverse the negativity of women pulling each other down, to a pull-me-up syndrome. There may be someone looking up to you pull them up instead. Lets focus on that. We need to look at change strategy what are you doing within your spaces to change things? I dont have a problem being the person who represents. But I also dont mind being the one who brings along her five sisters from her community. I believe in representation. Im not standing alone, she emphasised.Mashile is worried that funding does not get channelled to women entrepreneurs as easily as it does for male entrepreneurs: There isnt a conscious effort to improve entrepreneurship for women. Society is more receptive to male entrepreneurship. The pandemic has made that so obvious to me. Women are expected to fail, and we are seen as just working for a hobby. It has become a lot more apparent to me that women in entrepreneurship are not respected and taken as seriously as men are.Scott believes that young women in particular need to call out men more on their sexist behaviour. The conversation we should be having is a conversation about how we barely call out patriarchy and comments that seek to victimise women. We need to inform and educate everyone who would bring down another woman to call out nonsense when we see it.That is the conversation we should be having. It promotes patriarchy in our society if we stay quiet. We need to start dismantling that toxic masculinity. It is time for men to recognise the privilege they have. We need to coexist as human beings, added Scott. Tshuma agreed, saying many women are mere bystanders. We need to speak out about how to bring them into the conversation as well. We can speak about being united, but with regards to gender-based violence, they often arent part of the conversation.Mashile added that women did need the support of men in fighting against violence against women: Men do have a role to play. If men stop killing women, there would be no femicide. Men have to be there. They have to listen and act right.In conclusion, Tshuma said it was so important for young women to understand how strong and capable they were. Even when we are almost at our breaking point, we can do the work we need to be doing. We need to encourage as many other young women as we can. It goes back to collaboration. That is how we will see a change in all the spaces we need to see changes in, as women. The Prime Minister's key aide Dominic Cummings has been absent from the government during its torrid last few weeks after undergoing surgery. Boris Johnson's powerful chief of staff, 48, was originally due to have an operation for an undisclosed condition last summer. But he is understood to have postponed the procedure twice to help Mr Johnson into No10 and then to win the general election and oversee Brexit. His absence over the past fortnight partly over-lapped with the Prime Minister's holiday. But it has also coincided with a torrid period for the Government, which it found itself under severe attack over bungled A-Level and GCSE exam grades and whether returning schoolchildren should wear masks. His surgery will again fuel rumours that he may step down from his powerful role within months. In May the Spectator suggested he could quit by the end of the year if he completes his ongoing attempt to reform the civil service. The Tory Bible employs his wife, Mary Wakefield, as a senior journalist. Boris Johnson's powerful chief of staff was originally due to have an operation for an undisclosed condition last summer But he is understood to have postponed the procedure twice to help Mr Johnson (pictured today) into No10 and then to win the general election and oversee Brexit An insider who knows Mr Cummings well said he intends to step back from the political front line after the UK finally leaves the EU in December. The suggestion that he could be out in six months was reinforced by a separate claim that he will consider himself 'largely redundant' by Christmas if he completes his shake-up of Whitehall mandarins by then. Earlier this month he was accused of parking his tanks on the Civil Service's lawn. Mr Cummings and another of Mr Johnson's top advisers Munira Mirza, are to leave No10 to set up a new 'control centre' for the PM in 70 Whitehall, the current home of the Cabinet Office. It is a move that can be measured in the tens of metres, but one that may be seen as a larger one in terms of intent. To all intents ant purposes it will create an 'office of the prime minister' in the middle of mandarin territory, the Times reported. Mr Cummings has made no secret of his desire to shake up the Civil Service. Last month he won an internal power fight with Sir Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet Secretary, stepped down. Meanwhile Mr Cummings has also come under fire for his role in a review of Britain's defence capabilities. MPs warned that Mr Johnson's pledge to overhaul defence and foreign policy is in danger of being undermined by the failure of Government to engage with outside voices. The Integrated Review of foreign policy, defence, security and international development was billed in last year's Queen's Speech as the deepest and most radical re-evaluation of the UK's place in the world since the Cold War ended. Last night there was anger after it was reported the British Army's entire force of hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles could be scrapped under sweeping modernisation plans. The UK's Challenger II main battle tanks and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles are said to be at risk because of swingeing budget cuts expected to follow the coronvirus crisis. The cost of upgrading the heavy armour and a desire to switch military focus to modern threats like cyberwarfare could see the battlefield heavies put out to pasture, little more than 100 years after they were invented. The Challenger II has been the UK's main tank since the late 1990s, with cavalry regiments using it in Iraq. There are around 227 in service. The Warrior, of which there are almost 400, has been in service since the 1980s. Britain already sounding out Nato partners about giving up its heavy armour and focusing instead on aviation and cyber warfare, the Times reported. A government source told the newspaper: 'We know that a number of bold decisions need to be taken in order to properly protect British security and rebalance defence interests to meet the new threats we face.' Labour's shadow defence secretary John Healey said: 'This Government has shown time and time again that it lacks the strategy and competence needed to maintain our national defences, with little to show from a decade in power other than a shortage of troops and an equipment funding black hole.' Harry Dunns family have learned the attorney general is considering a virtual trial for his alleged killer or trying her in her absence. Dunn, 19, died after his motorbike collided with a car driven by Anne Sacoolas outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on 27 August 2019. As his family prepares to mark the first anniversary of his death on Thursday, they learned the government is considering the option in a letter from justice minister Robert Buckland QC to their MP Andrea Leadsom. Ms Leadsom wrote to government ministers on 10 August asking them to consider the possibility of Ms Sacoolas standing trial while she is still in the US. Mr Buckland, the first minister to reply, said the options of holding a trial virtually or in absentia are...being considered by Suella Braverman QC. In a letter to Ms Leadsom, seen by the PA news agency, Mr Buckland said: I quite understand how important it must be to Harrys family, as the anniversary of his death approaches, to achieve some sort of closure. The suggestions you put forward for resolving the impasse by holding a trial virtually or in absentia are as you know being considered by the attorney general, and she will respond as decisions about criminal proceedings in individual cases are a matter for her and the director of public prosecutions. My officials stand ready, however, to assist in any way they can. Ms Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to America, sparking an international controversy. She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December but an extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo the following month a decision later described by the US State Department as final. Anne Sacoolas was charged with causing death by dangerous driving last year (ITV News/PA) Speaking to PA about Mr Bucklands response, Dunns mother Charlotte Charles said: My family and I have not been able to grieve this year without justice and closure. It is doing us real harm and I cant believe how cruel the US government are being. They should be in no doubt my family and I are going nowhere until we fulfil that promise to Harry. I can see the authorities in London are doing everything they can to ensure that that is just what is going to happen but we will leave them to decide how it happens. The familys spokesman Radd Seiger added: If the authorities decide that a British trial led by a British judge in a British Court should take place with Mrs Sacoolas attending virtually, then the parents will raise no objection. The outcome is not within the control of any victim of a crime but every victim is entitled to see that the life of their lost loved one did mean something, did matter, and that they had a fair crack of the whip at justice. A government spokesperson said: The governments deepest sympathies remain with Harrys family. We are doing everything we can to achieve justice and the case continues to be raised at the highest levels. Additional reporting by Press Association By Akbar Mammadov The Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office has launched a criminal case against the Armenian saboteur senior lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan who sought to commit a provocaiton on the line of contact on August 23. Alaverdyan was the commander of the subversive-intelligence group of the Armenian Armed Forces and was captured by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. According to the report shared the Prosecutor General's Office on its website on August 26, the criminal case has been initiated by the Prosecutor General's Office under five articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan: Article 100.2 (conduct of aggressive war), 276 (espionage), 279.1 (creation of armed formations or groups not provided by law), 228.1 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of firearms, their components, ammunition, explosives and devices) and 318.1 (illegal crossing of the state border of Azerbaijan). Furthermore, a joint investigative-operational group consisting of professional employees from the Prosecutor General's Office, the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Border Service has been established to conduct a thorough, complete and objective investigation of the criminal case. Thus, the Prosecutor Generals Office revealed that on August 23, 2020, on the instructions of the special services of Armenia, Gurgen Alaverdyan was suspected of illegally crossing the state border by spying in order to collect information constituting a state secret for the purpose of using it to the detriment of the security of Azerbaijan and transfer the information to Armenia. It was also noted that substantial suspicions have been established that he participated in the illegal formation of armed groups in the occupied Kalbajar region as a result of the aggressive wars of the Armenian Armed Forces, attacked Azerbaijani servicemen, facilities, institutions, organizations or individuals, as well as committed acts of violence against them, killed people, harmed their health, acted in a manner aimed at causing significant property damage or other public dangerous consequences, illegally acquired, stored, transported and carried firearms, their components and ammunition. Taking into account the nature and complexity of the crime, the Prosecutor General instructed the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office to conduct a criminal investigation, the Prosecutor Generals Office noted. It should be noted that commander of the sabotage-reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces, senior lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan, born in 1989, was identified and detained as a result of measures taken by the Azerbaijani army in the direction of Goranboy region of the frontline on August 23 at around 6:00 am. Earlier, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry puiblicized the military items found on Alaverdyan during his capture. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz New Delhi: Attacking the NDA government on the report by the Reserve Bank of India that economic recovery is likely to take longer, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the RBI has only confirmed that he had been warning for several months. In a post on the social media, Rahul said, "RBI has now confirmed what I have been warning for months. Govt needs to: Spend more, not lend more. Give money to the poor, not tax cuts to industrialists. Restart economy by consumption. Distractions through media won't help the poor or make the economic disaster disappear." Birla Tyres share hit upper circuit of 5% in early trade today after the firm said its board would meet on August 28 (Friday) to consider capital raising option. The tyre manufacturer plans to raise an amount aggregating up to Rs 1,100 crore by way of equity or debt instruments, including non-convertible debentures, among others. Buoyed by the fund raising plan, share price of Birla Tyres rose up to 4.94% to Rs 23.35 intra day on BSE. The share opened with a gain of 4.49% at Rs 23.25 against previous close of Rs 22.25. In a month, the share has lost 14%. Total 0.22 lakh shares changed hands amounting to turnover of Rs 5.19 lakh on BSE. The stock has gained after 2 days of consecutive fall. There were only buyers and no sellers for the stock in early trade. The share trades higher than 5 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages but lower than 20 day and 50 day moving averages. Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 332.95 crore. The company's board will meet on August 28 (Friday) to consider capital raising options for an amount aggregating up to Rs 1,100 crore by way of equity or debt instruments, including non-convertible debentures, among others, Birla Tyres said. Share Market News Live: Sensex, Nifty turn volatile; GAIL, NTPC, Dr Reddy, Tata Steel top losers Post approval from the board, the shareholder approval, if required, will be sought, it added. Kolkata-based Birla Tyres, which caters to two-wheelers, three-wheelers and commercial vehicles, however, did not share reasons for raising capital. Meanwhile, Sensex and Nifty were trading flat in afternoon session after rising in early trade. Erasing early gains, Sensex was trading 34 points lower at 38,809. The Nifty 50 index, on the other hand, gained mere 1 point to 11,474. Stocks in news: TCS, SBI, PNB, JMC Projects, Procter & Gamble Hygiene Industry Update Appointment 26 August 2020 Liviu Nedef Promoted Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) At RedDoorz in Singapore, Indonesia Liviu Nedef will continue to play a key role on RedDoorz's leadership team as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), where he leads the company's marketing, communications, and direct business-to-consumer (B2C) sales efforts. He will continue to focus on making RedDoorz become the preferred hospitality brand in Southeast Asia and accelerate its mobile-first customer strategies. RedDoorz recently became the top most considered hotel brand for consumers in Indonesia by YouGov BrandIndex. RedDoorz RedDoorz is Southeast Asias largest and fastest growing, technology-driven hotel management company offering affordable accommodations for everyone. With a vision to enable people to travel more and provide an affordable reliable stay in all major cities and destinations across the region, RedDoorz is disrupting the hospitality industry by transforming the fragmented supply inventory into branded, standardised accommodations and leveraging its mobile app and digital channels to drive strong consumer demand. more information Recent Appointments at RedDoorz Trixie Thye - Regional VP - Human Resources 26 August 2020 As Regional Vice President - Human Resources, Trixie Thye brings almost two decades of experience with notable global corporations such as Accenture. Most recently, she was the Regional HR Vice President and Business Partner with Beijing-headquartered IT consulting and outsourcing company, Pactera. read more Kelvin Teo - COO 26 August 2020 As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kelvin Teo will oversee the business and operations for RedDoorz across the region. Kelvin brings with him 20 years of experience in the tech and online industries. read more SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PCH International, the product development and supply chain orchestration company for the world's best brands, today announced that Jim Rowan, former CEO of Dyson, will join its Board of Directors, effective immediately. "I've long admired Jim for his deep understanding of the power of design and brand," said PCH CEO Liam Casey. "Jim has brought innovative category-defining products to market globally and has transformed the consumer experience. Jim will be invaluable to PCH as we continue to help brands bring premium products to market with speed, end-to-end visibility, sustainability and a great consumer experience." "Jim has tremendous insight into the market dynamics that brands face today. His experience in building a direct-to-consumer business will be a great support to our customers who are competing in a world where consumer expectations are rising, brand power is essential, and supply chains must be flexible, responsive and intelligent," said Mike McNamara, PCH chairman. "I've followed the PCH story for many years. I'm impressed by PCH's unique product development and supply chain platform that returns value to brands," said Jim Rowan. "PCH's asset-light business model has been ahead of its time and is leading the industry with the most flexible, responsive and transparent product development and supply chain services. Brands require this agility and intelligence to deliver unique experiences that consumers expect. I look forward to working with Liam, Mike and the PCH team," said Rowan. About Jim Rowan Jim Rowan was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Dyson in 2017 after five years as Chief Operating Officer at the company. He implemented the strategy and investments that allowed the company to "pivot to digital" quickly building this into a substantial channel for the company. He drove product and service innovation to the next level allowing Dyson to successfully enter new markets and geographies. He spearheaded Dyson's complex transition into a digitally enabled global technology organization. Prior to joining Dyson, Jim was Chief Operating Officer of Research in Motion, (BlackBerry), Executive Vice President of Worldwide Operations for Celestica and Vice President of Operations for the Flextronics European region. Jim founded two successful start-ups which were acquired, after which he took positions within the expanded organizations. About PCH Our customers are passionate about design, brand and the consumer experience and come from a variety of sectors. PCH takes products from the initial concept phase of product development, to the delivery of products direct to consumer and retail. PCH provides end-to-end visibility and intelligence across the entire product journey, allowing our customers to better operate their business and delivery unique consumer experiences and services. With a unique business model, PCH is an "asset light" company that works with a network of over 1000 supplier partners. PCH operates its own product development, strategic sourcing, personalization, customization, fulfillment and global logistics services, which are highly differentiated in the industry and provide value to brands. Founded in 1996 by Irish entrepreneur Liam Casey, PCH is a privately held global company with core operations in Cork, Ireland, San Francisco and Shenzhen, China. https://www.pchintl.com/ Facebook @PCHInternational Twitter @pch_intl Instagram @pch_intl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pch-international @LiamCasey productdesign bringexperience supplychain engineering productdevelopment consumerexperience newproductintroduction innovation Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1244244/PCH_Jim_Rowan.jpg Chennai, Aug 26 : Firecracker production in Sivakasi town in Tamil Nadu has come down by about 30 per cent as suspense and uncertainty prevails over Diwali celebrations this year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, said manufacturers. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights will be celebrated in November across the country and overseas. Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the country's firecracker production, and has 1,070 firecracker units located in and around it. "We are manufacturing with a sense of fear. Nearly 100 days of production were lost due to Covid-19 lockdown. The factories were fully closed for 55 days. After that, there was a lack of sufficient workers due to lockdown and containment and the factories worked at 30-40 per cent capacity for another 50 days," Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA) President Ganesan Panjurajan told IANS. Now some units are functioning three days a week while many have shut down. Industry officials are also worried about Diwali celebrations as the state governments have not called for applications for licence from shopkeepers wanting to sell firecrackers. In Tamil Nadu only Coimbatore district has called for the same. Even Virudhunagar district where Sivakasi is located has not called for applications. "The big question facing us is whether there will be Diwali celebrations this year? Diwali is the only festival after a gap of 200 days. There are several industries that are pinning their hopes on Diwali sales like textiles, jewellery and others," Panjurajan added. About 300,000 workers are directly employed by the firecracker industry and another 500,000 workers are in allied sectors. The production value of firecracker factories in Sivakasi is about Rs 2,500 crore and the retail sales value may be about Rs 6,000 crore. So, the current year production value may be just about Rs 1,800 crore. Industry players told IANS that production has been cut due to uncertainty about Diwali celebrations and also dealers in north India are laden with stocks as there were no sales after Diwali in 2019. Normally there are sales after Diwali for the wedding season and other occasions. There is also good sale of firecrackers during Vinayaka Chaturthi season in Maharashtra. "For Vinayaka Chaturthi good quantities of lar crackers would be sold in Maharashtra. But this year it did not happen due to the lockdown," Rajendra Raja, Vice President, Indian Fireworks Manufacturers' Association told IANS. "So after last year's Diwali, sale of firecrackers was almost nil. Dealers in north India are having stocks and they are not ordering," Panjurajan added. If there are no Diwali celebrations this year, then the industry will not make anything next year which in turn would impact the eight lakh workers. "Bigger players are executing orders and many are not. Some factories are working three days a week. Those who are financially strong are taking a gamble with a hope that Diwali will be celebrated as usual," a manufacturer, not wanting to be quoted, told IANS. "One outcome of the lockdown and uncertainty is that illegal units that cater to seasonal orders are shut down as buyers from north India are not there this year," Raja said. Raja said the wages of workers did not go down but the number of working days has come down. "Absence of migrant workers is not an issue as the industry does not employ migrant labour as there can be a communication gap which may turn dangerous," Panjurajan said. A son accused of killing his elderly mother at his home in north Dublin told arresting gardai he was "guilty", a court has heard. Brendan Murray (61) made the reply when charged with murdering his mother Neasa Murray (88). Ms Murray, a widow and mother-of-five, was found dead at her son Brendan's home address at Kincora Court, Clontarf on Sunday, August 23. He was brought before a special sitting of Dublin District Court yesterday evening after being charged by detectives at Clontarf Garda Station. Pervert Detective Sergeant David Ennis told the judge when he arrested Mr Murray for the purpose of charging him, he replied after caution: "I admit it." He was then charged, at 6pm, and his reply after he was handed a copy of the charge sheet was "guilty, she was vile, she was a pervert", Det Sgt Ennis said. He applied for a minor technical amendment to the charge sheet and defence solicitor Michael French made no objection. Det Sgt Ennis asked for the accused to be remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court. Judge Brennan noted that "in light of the nature of the charge", no bail application was being made. Bail cannot be granted at the district court on a murder charge. Asking for an early remand date, Mr French said his client "suffers from serious mental health issues, I would like to monitor his progress". He also asked for an urgent psychiatric assessment of the accused on his arrival in Cloverhill prison. "It may be a situation where my client will be transferred elsewhere," Mr French said. Judge Brennan said he was noting the reply to the charge, made the amendment as requested and remanded Mr Murray in custody, to appear in Cloverhill District Court on August 28, by video link. He said this was for mention only pending the preparation of a book of evidence. The judge also directed a psychiatric assessment of the accused on his admission to Cloverhill prison. The judge granted free legal aid after Mr French made an application and said the accused was in receipt of social welfare. There was no garda objection. The accused, dressed in a blue sweater and grey tracksuit bottoms sat muttering and rocking back and forth, then repeatedly stood and blessed himself during the brief hearing. After Ms Murray's body was found on Sunday night, paramedics rushed to the scene but, despite the efforts of the emergency services, she was pronounced dead. Ms Murray's address was at nearby Kincora Drive and she was understood to have been living alone there following the death of her husband Charles in January 2018. The Finance Ministry on August 25 said banks have sanctioned loans of about Rs 1,55,995 crore under the Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector reeling under the slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, disbursements against this stood at Rs 1,05,926 lakh crore till August 24. The scheme is the biggest fiscal component of the Rs 20-lakh crore Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in May. The latest numbers on ECLGS, as released by the finance ministry, comprise disbursements by all 12 public sector banks (PSBs), 24 private sector banks and 31 non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). "As of 24 August 2020, the total amount sanctioned under the 100 percent Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by PSBs and private banks stands at Rs 1,55,995.62 crore, of which Rs 1,05,926.99 crore has already been disbursed," the finance minister said in a tweet. The loan amounts sanctioned by PSBs increased to Rs 76,765 crore, of which Rs 58,230 crore has been disbursed as of August 24, she said. At the same time, private sector banks have sanctioned Rs 79,230 crore of loans and disbursed Rs 47,696 crore. "Compared to 18 August 2020, there is an increase of Rs 5,236.17 crore in the cumulative amount of loans sanctioned & an increase of Rs 3,681.22 crore in the cumulative amount of loans disbursed by both PSBs and private sector banks combined as on 24 August, 2020," Sitharaman said. Market leader SBI has sanctioned Rs 23,864 crore of loans and disbursed Rs 17,599 crore. It is followed by Punjab National Bank, which has sanctioned Rs 10,348 crore. However, its disbursements stood at Rs 7,621 crore as of August 24. On May 20, the Cabinet approved additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore at a concessional rate of 9.25 per cent through ECLGS for MSME sector. Under the scheme, 100 percent guarantee coverage will be provided by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) for additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore to eligible MSMEs and interested Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) borrowers in the form of a guaranteed emergency credit line (GECL) facility. For this purpose, a corpus of Rs 41,600 crore was set up by the government, spread over the current and next three financial years. The scheme will be applicable to all loans sanctioned under GECL facility during the period from the date of announcement of the scheme to October 31 or till the amount of Rs 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under GECL, whichever is earlier. ALBANY, CA Aug. 26 is National Dog Day, and an increasing number of people in Albany and other U.S. cities are turning to new four-legged friends to fend off loneliness and the abundance of time spent in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, some shelters are seeing a surge in demand for dog adoptions, according to Sarah Brasky, the founder and executive director of Foster Dogs Inc., a New York-based nonprofit that helps get dogs out of shelters and into foster homes. Shelter dogs are really winning in this entire coronavirus experience, Brasky told The Associated Press. Its a strange phenomenon because there was always interest in fostering and rescue, but now it is exploding. In some places, such as New York, adopting a dog could prove a bit more difficult now than in the past. Last year at this time, Braskys organization was accepting applications from about 140 people per month. This year, that number spiked to about 3,000, she told the AP. Another example is at the nonprofit shelter Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles, where adoptions were double their usual rate in late June and a waiting list had formed for certain types of dogs, according to the Washington Post. However, dont be discouraged by the recent boon in adoptions. If youve been thinking about adding a new four-legged friend to your family, there are still dogs available for adoption in the United States, and plenty of animal shelters nearby to learn about pet ownership and meet your new furry love. To help out this National Dog Day, here are five things to know about adopting a dog during the pandemic: 1) Despite reports from shelters, dog adoptions nationwide are actually down in 2020. According to an industry report by PetPoint, a data management software used by animal shelters, 32,474 dogs were adopted in July 2020, representing a 22 percent decrease from the previous year. The numbers of dogs adopted in April, May and June of 2020 were also down from 2019. Story continues 2) Owner surrenders of dogs are also down amid the pandemic. Call it an affirmation of our desire to keep four-legged family members nearby during the pandemic, but dog surrenders are also down by about 24 percent this year, according to the same report by PetPoint. 3) There are still plenty of dogs (and cats) taken to shelters that wont get adopted. According to data by the ASPCA, 3.3 million dogs are taken into shelters each year, but only 1.6 million are adopted. Also, 44 percent of Americans say they adopted their dog, indicating adoption is the preferred method when it comes to adding a new four-legged family member. If youre more of a cat person, the numbers are similar 3.2 million cats are taken in each year, and only 1.6 million are adopted, according to the ASPCA. 4) Your risk of catching COVID-19 from a new dog is low. Despite some isolated cases of dogs testing positive for the coronavirus, Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recently told Clear The Shelters, "it doesnt appear that pets are playing a role in spreading the virus." While Klatt encouraged potential pet owners to not be fearful, he did advise caution. The AVMA suggests the following guidelines to keep you and your dog safe: Wash your hands after caring for or playing with your pets, and before and after feeding them. Keep their bedding, food and water bowl, and collars and leashes clean. Social distance with your pet from other people and their pets. 5) Reach out to local animal shelters to meet a new pup. Whether youre seriously committed to adopting a dog or just thinking about it, the best step forward is to contact a local animal rescue group or shelter to inquire about availability, possible waiting lists, and what is included in the application process. To start, here are some East Bay shelters and rescues to contact: Alameda: Humane Society of Alameda, P.O. Box 1571, Alameda, California 94501 Adoption Website | (510) 337-9457 Alameda: Golden State German Shepherd Rescue, PO Box 2956 , Alameda, California 9450 Adoption Website | (877) 447-4717 Antioch: East Contra Costa Homeless Animals Lifeline Organization (H.A.L.O.), PO Box 2011, Antioch, California 94531 Adoption website| (925) 473-4642 Berkeley: Humane Society, 2700 Ninth St., Berkeley, California 94710 Adoption website | (510) 845-7735 Castro Valley: Dusty Paws Rescue, PO Box 2794, Castro Valley, California 94546 Adoption website | (510) 886-8925 Clayton: East Bay Animal Rescue and Refuge, 5433 Clayton Rd. Unit K-#125, Clayton, California 9517 Adoption Website | (925) 429-2785 Dublin: East Bay SPCA-Tri-Valley,4651 Gleason Dr., Dublin, California 94568 Adoption Website | (925) 479-9670 El Sobrante: Jelly's Place Rescue, 2905 San Pablo Dam Rd., El Sobrante, California 94803 Adoption website | (510) 621-3493 Fremont: Tri-City Animal Shelter, 1950 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538 Adoption website | 510-790-6630 Hayward: Hayward Animal Shelter, 16 Barnes Court, Hayward, California 94544 Adoption Website | (510) 293-7200 Martinez: Contra Costa County Animal Services, 4800 Imhoff Pl., Martinez, California 94553 Adoption Website | (925) 608-8400 Oakland: Oakland Animal Services, 1101 29th Ave., Oakland, California 94601 Adoption Website | (510) 535-5602 Oakland: East Bay SPCA, 8323 Baldwin St., Oakland, California 94621 Adoption website | (510) 569-0702 Pleasant Hill: Contra Costa Humane Society, 171 Mayhew Way, Suite 101, Pleasant Hill, California 94523 Adoption Website | (925) 279-2247 Pleasanton: East of Eden Rescue, P.O. Box 236, Pleasanton, California 95376 Adoption website | (209) 969-3352 Richmond: The Milo Foundation, 200 S Garrard Boulevard Space 220, Point Richmond, California 94801 Adoption website | (510) 900-2275 Walnut Creek: Northern California Sled Dog Rescue (NorSled), P.O. Box 30877, Walnut Creek, California 94598 Adoption website | (800) 471-5822 Walnut Creek: Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), 2890 Mitchell Dr., Walnut Creek, California 94598 Adoption website | (925) 256-1273 This article originally appeared on the Albany Patch PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthVerity, the leader in privacy-protected data exchange, today expanded its commitment to advancing racial and ethnic diversity and inclusion in clinical trials with the launch of the "Provider Diversity Index." With more than 330 million patients and the vast majority of US healthcare providers represented in the nation's largest healthcare data ecosystem, HealthVerity is enabling pharmaceutical manufacturers and contract research organizations (CROs) with the ability to assess the ethnic and racial mix of patients under the care of each provider. With insights into which providers care for more diverse patient populations, CROs can redirect their efforts to attract trial cohorts that more closely mirror those that the intended therapy will treat and best reflect the optimal mix of patient participation. Following new guidelines from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the recent attention garnered by limited racial diversity in ongoing COVID-19 trials, the urgency around this subject has never been greater. Recommendations on how to resolve the inequalities in representation have yielded traditional calls for broadening eligibility criteria, conducting more inclusive virtual trials and reconsidering various trial designs, yet all of these initiatives still require access to diverse populations from which to recruit. Powered by HealthVerity Marketplace, the Provider Diversity Index represents an entirely new approach to patient recruitment by establishing HIPAA-compliant measures for each physician that broadly reflect the demographic make-up of their patients in a privacy-protecting manner. The index thus enables CROs to better balance recruiting efforts by working with physicians who are best positioned to inform, educate and attract the optimal mix of clinical trial subjects. "The global race to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19 provides a stark reminder of the need to ensure diversity across clinical trials or we risk developing clinical knowledge that is not generalizable," said Andrew Kress, CEO HealthVerity. "In the case of clinical trial recruitment, it's no longer just a matter of basic integrity, but a true healthcare crisis to not build out populations that represent the patients for which a new or existing therapy is meant to treat. By leveraging our privacy-protecting technology across a vast healthcare data ecosystem assembled to solve issues just like this, HealthVerity can ease the burden for Pharma manufacturers and CROs who need to adapt to current demands." The Provider Diversity Index is a logical next step following HealthVerity's previously announced relationship with FDA to support COVID-19 clinical study and treatment opportunities. Furthermore, FDA has been more aggressively encouraging sponsor companies to include historically underserved populations in clinical trials since the issuance of draft guidance in June 2019. As such, the Provider Diversity Index is expected to have a profound impact on the industry's effort to enhance participation and to improve the efficacy of new drugs across the broadest possible patient set. To learn more about the Provider Diversity Index, contact [email protected] . About HealthVerity Powering the largest healthcare and consumer data ecosystem, combined with best-in-class management and privacy solutions, HealthVerity is helping answer healthcare's most critical questions. Our technology platform serves as the foundation for the rapid creation, exchange and management of healthcare and consumer data in a fully interoperable privacy-protecting manner. Advantaged by highly sophisticated identity resolution and matching capabilities, HealthVerity is on a mission to increase transparency, forge interoperability and activate deeper insights. To learn more about HealthVerity's technology platform, visit www.healthverity.com . Contact: Abigail Stockwell Senior Director of Marketing, HealthVerity [email protected] 856.562.7413 SOURCE HealthVerity Related Links https://healthverity.com Cabinet to extend adaptive lockdown in Ukraine for two months MP The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will extend the adaptive lockdown in Ukraine until October 31, 2020. The relevant decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday. "Today at the meeting we will consider the issue of extending the lockdown for two months. The zoning of territories by color will operate at least until November 1. We will extend the lockdown until October 31," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at the government meeting on Wednesday. Lockdown restrictions in Co Kildare are being kept under "close review", the Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ronan Glynn has said. Speaking at the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, Dr Ronan Glynn said that if a point comes where NPHET feel they can recommend lifting the restrictions, they will. He explained that they want to get Kildare back aligned with the rest of the country as soon as possible. Three meat processing plants in Co Kildare - which were shut down earlier this month after Covid-19 outbreaks among workers caused the first lockdown restrictions with Laois and Offaly - have begun a phased reopening this week. The number of confirmed cases in Co Kildare peaked at 110 on August 7 but numbers have reduced since then and the figure dropped to 5 yesterday. Kildare Chilling Co in Kildare town confirmed it began a gradual reopening of its facilities on Monday. OBrien Fine Foods in Timahoe also began a controlled phased reopening on Monday. Irish Dog Foods in Naas also said it expects to be fully operational this week. According to the restrictions running until September 6, people living in Co Kildare should only travel within the county and the only exceptions include travel to work, to medical appointments and to collect medicines for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people. Businesses such as cafes and restaurants can only offer take-away food and allow 15 people dine outdoors. Venues such as cinemas, theatres, leisure centres and betting shops are closed. The Minister for Health told today's Oireachtas Committee that Ireland is at a "tipping point" and could be looking at anther national lockdown. Stephen Donnelly said that flattening the curve of Covid-19 came at a huge cost and now Ireland is entering the second chapter. In his opening statement he said the focus from now until Christmas will be suppressing the virus while reopening society. He said last week the amazing efforts of Kildare, Laois and Offaly showed that suppressing the virus through local efforts is possible. Mr Donnelly also said that the easiest thing in the world for the National Public Health Emergency Team to do would be to close down all sports He said that we have to take this "deadly seriously" and it would have been quite reasonable for them to say that for the next three weeks to protect the country we have to stop sports. SACRAMENTO California has entered into an agreement worth up to $1.7 billion with a company that could process tens of thousands of coronavirus tests per day as soon as November, a step that could help the state return more quickly to normal life, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. The diagnostics firm, PerkinElmer of Massachusetts, will set up a laboratory that will report test results within 24 to 48 hours, Newsom said at a news conference. The lab would reach full capacity, 150,000 tests per day, by March 1. That would more than double the states current testing capacity, the governor said, allowing officials to respond more nimbly to the pandemic and making it easier for businesses and schools to bring back customers and students. California is processing about 100,000 tests a day, but results take an average of seven days, making them quite useless, Newsom said. Doubling the states testing capacity would get California closer to the levels necessary to successfully fight the virus, according to estimates from Harvard researchers. California would need about 223,000 tests a day to mitigate the virus and about 825,000 tests a day to suppress it, according to the Harvard Global Health Institute, a research group focused on public policy that includes scientists and public health experts. The institute models how much testing is needed in each country and state to mitigate and suppress the virus. Testing has been a major problem locally and nationally since the start of the pandemic. Initially, back in March, a global shortage of testing supplies made it nearly impossible to get tested. Later, in the spring and early summer, the states testing capacity greatly improved as more labs opened up to process tests. Partially due to that testing, infection rates in the Bay Area stayed relatively low. But when cases began surging in late June and July, demand for testing shot way up, and labs struggled to process the tests quickly. Many residents were forced to wait two weeks or more for results. The delays thwarted health officials ability to quickly trace sick peoples contacts and prevent them from furthering the spread. Test results that take more than a couple of days are no longer as useful. By then, the person may have spread it to others, who can then pass it on. The PerkinElmer deal would add to the states existing lab system for coronavirus testing, which includes public health labs run by counties, commercial labs like Quest and Labcorp, academic labs like UCSF, UC Berkeley and Stanford, and smaller private labs. The deal provides us the ability to have much more stability and the ability to provide more reliability to people who are at risk, Newsom said, especially if the state faces a bad flu season this fall. Then we have the ability to make decisions in real time that will advance our efforts to reopen our schools for in-person education, Newsom said, as well as reopen our businesses in a more effective and efficient manner, and a more sustainable manner. Guidelines for reopening businesses that shut down when coronavirus infections began surging in June will be made public Friday, the governor said. Businesses, including indoor restaurants, barbershops and nail salons, have been awaiting those guidelines as counties where they are located begin to come off a state monitoring list for heightened spread of the virus. Mark Ghaly, Californias secretary of health and human services, said the state would be responsible for setting up the new laboratory, as well as collecting and transporting test specimens there. The contract with PerkinElmer covers test kits, reagents, instruments and staffing necessary to process the tests. With a greater testing capacity secured, Ghaly said the state would work to set up more collection sites, particularly in hard-hit poor and minority communities that have not had equitable testing. This creates a degree of testing independence that we havent enjoyed until now, Ghaly said. The state is already contracting with Verily, the life sciences arm of Google parent company Alphabet, and Optum, a Minnesota company, to provide testing at dozens of sites across the state. The contract with PerkinElmer covers up to $1.7 billion worth of tests, or about 150,000 per day for a year, according to a spokeswoman for the state Health and Human Services Agency. The state is looking at a site in Southern California to set up the laboratory. Newsom said the deal would drive down the cost of testing. The state negotiated a price starting at $47.99 per test for up to 40,000 tests processed daily, dropping to $30.78 per test for the full 150,000 tests, and will use a third-party billing service to seek reimbursements from health insurance plans. Processing a test can now cost $150 to $200. Current test costs are jaw-dropping, Newsom said. Theyre simply not sustainable. Fyodor Urnov, director of UC Berkeleys Innovative Genomics Institute whose lab is conducting coronavirus testing at no cost for vulnerable communities in the East Bay said the states deal with PerkinElmer is exactly the right thing to do. The capacity projected is a robust one, and the cost of the test is lower than what other for-profit entities charge, said Urnov, who is not involved in the states testing task force. Since the lab will not be up and running until November, the state and PerkinElmer have time to address a key challenge: low availability of tests in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. ... The extra testing capacity has to be provided to folks in the most need. Local health officials stressed the need to expand testing, especially in poor neighborhoods that have been hit especially hard by the virus even as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control this week amended its testing guidelines to exclude asymptomatic people who recently came into contact with an infected person. The change, local infectious disease experts said, is misdirected and counterproductive. Testing is our way out of this epidemic, Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said. Since the beginning, testing has been the Achilles heel for our country and our county in getting us out. When you get a test, you know your status, you know whether youre infectious and you need that information for two reasons. For yourself, to know whether youre going to get more ill and to watch your symptoms; and two, you need to know whether you pose a risk to your family and friends and co-workers so you can tell them whether they need to be tested. Alexei Koseff and Catherine Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com, cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff, @Cat_Ho The state education department on Wednesday reversed its Tuesdays circular wherein it had asked minority junior colleges to offer social reservations in non-quota seats. In a circular issued late on Wednesday, Dinkar Patil, director of secondary education, clarified that minority colleges need not implement social reservations seats reserved for students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes on non-minority seats. However, the department has upheld its decision asking colleges to offer vacant minority seats to other minority students before they are surrendered for open category admissions. For instance, a religious minority college will have to offer its vacant minority seats to a linguistic minority student before the seats can be surrendered for the centralised admission process for open category. Thereafter, the vacant seats can be filled up as per centralised admission process, said the circular. On Tuesday, Patils office had issued a circular asking minority colleges to implement social reservations on its non-minority seats, which constitutes 45% of its total seat share. This upset many minority colleges in the city. Maharashtra Association of Minority Educational Institutions wrote to Patil stating that social reservations were not applicable to minority colleges. In November 2017, the Bombay high court (HC) upheld that minority institutions cannot be asked to apply social reservations after it set aside a circular by the University of Mumbai as unconstitutional. Thereafter, in July 2018, the Supreme Court refused to overturn the Bombay HC decision to exempt minority degree colleges in Maharashtra from reserving seats for students belonging to socially weaker sections. In minority colleges, up to 50% of the seats are reserved for students belonging to linguistic or minority communities. Patil told HT that the department had received a letter from the minority colleges association. We have reviewed the matter and issued a fresh decision, he said. Principals said that the education departments earlier directive to implement social reservations for students hailing from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, would interfere with the admission process of such institutes. Social reservations do not apply to minority colleges. The judiciary has said that it is the constitutional right of a minority institute, said Marie Fernandes, principal of St Andrews College, Bandra, which is a Catholic religious minority college. What to read? And how to read? Hopscotch Reading Room, located in a complex of art galleries and studios in Berlin, was started by Siddhartha Lokanandi, who worked for the publisher Verso in New York. The bookshop takes its name from the Argentine author Julio Cortazars experimental novel Hopscotch (1966), which had a table of instructions telling readers that they could skip around and read the novel in a nonlinear fashion. Hopscotch Reading Room similarly tries to disrupt linear thinking, describing itself as a bookshop focusing on Non-Western & Diasporic perspectives. Some recent offerings include Evidentiary Bodies Nudewalk (2018), the handmade score created by Barbara Hammer and Norman Scott Johnson for the closing event at Ms. Hammers exhibition at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in New York. Another Hopscotch post featured in the book What is Islamic Art? Between Religion and Perception (2019), by Wendy M.K. Shaw, which explores the relationship of the arts to the Quran, Hadith, Sufism, ancient philosophy and poetry but also, ambitiously, uses Islamic art as a model for decolonizing global art history. Liz at Large / Liz Montague @lizatlarge Australia's largest superannuation fund has met with Rio Tinto to seek tougher penalties for the blasting of the ancient Juukan Gorge rock shelters, saying the bonus cuts announced earlier this week fall significantly short of appropriate accountability. Ian Silk, chief executive of the $180 billion superannuation giant AustralianSuper, said the fund had made its view clear to Rio chairman Simon Thompson that the proposed penalties were an inadequate punishment for destruction of the two 46,000-year-old rock shelters, considered to be among the most significant cultural heritage sites in Australia. AustralianSuper chief Ian Silk wants tougher penalties over destruction of Juukan Gorge. Credit:Wayne Taylor Mr Silk said he had requested tougher penalties than the reduction of a combined $7 million in bonuses for chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques, iron ore boss Chris Salisbury and corporate affairs boss Simone Niven. "The proposed penalties fall significantly short of appropriate accountability for those responsible," he said. Police at the house in Aughnacloy where a pensioner was left for dead after a break-in A teenage burglar from south Dublin who is suspected of having left a Co Tyrone pensioner for dead during a break-in two years ago is now a top target for the Garda. He is believed to be in the 'Dirty 30' - the name given to a gang of some of the Republic's most prolific burglars following a spate of cross-border break-ins. The gang, led by two brothers from south Dublin, is under investigation following an increase in burglaries in recent weeks. Detectives believe several different crime groups from across the Republic are now working together to target homes on both sides of the border. Two brothers, who are aged in their early 20s and from the Rathfarnham area of Dublin, have been identified as the leaders of the mob, who are now a prime target for gardai and the PSNI. Sources have said they are operating a wider criminal network made up of around 30 prolific burglars who are mainly based in the Leinster area. Criminals linked to the Dirty 30 have previously been investigated for break-ins in Cavan, Monaghan, Tyrone, Armagh and Down. Several of the raiders have also been arrested by the PSNI or gardai over a cross-border burglary crime wave and it is now feared that they are becoming active again. "They were prolific two to three years ago, and following great cooperation between both police agencies several were charged," a source said. "However, there has been an increase in recent weeks of burglaries and the fear is that this crew will become even more active with the dark nights getting longer and people return to work." One of the mob leaders was earlier this year arrested over a crime spree in the south west, and despite Garda objections was granted bail. The burglary gang also includes a Tallaght teenager suspected of involvement in a break-in which the PSNI is treating as an attempted murder. An 83-year-old pensioner was left fighting for her life after a gang broke into her home during a series of raids in Aughnacloy in 2018. Pat Davidson (83) was left critically injured after falling from an upstairs window during the burglary. She suffered a fractured skull, spine and pelvis when a four-man gang raided her home in a crime that sparked widespread revulsion. The victim fell from a bedroom window while trying to escape as her house was ransacked by the thugs. Following cooperation between the PSNI and Garda a number of young Dublin burglars, including the teenage thug, emerged as the chief suspects. Another key associate of the gang is suspected of fencing stolen high-end jewellery on behalf of the mob. The 25-year-old, from Tallaght, was previously jailed after being caught trying to pawn almost 100,000 worth of jewellery stolen by the gang. Gardai in Laois have also identified a volatile local criminal and prolific burglar as being associated with the Dirty 30. The man, who is in his mid-20s, has been arrested in relation to break-ins in Northern Ireland and has also been investigated for firing shots at gardai in the past. A source said: "The key members are the two brothers, but they have a wider crime group around them either through criminal association or relatives, which includes some of the country's most prolific burglars. "They are highly organised and forensically aware, which has made them a particular challenge for both police forces to deal with. "In some instances they will send up a scout car to watch an area before sending up a different gang to carry out a series of break-ins. "They have been stopped at times with several different number plates in a vehicle to make it harder for gardai to trace them." Crime figures for Northern Ireland show burglaries were still occurring frequently during lockdown, with an average of 343 break-ins a month between April and June. In the Republic there was a 5% drop from last year in the same period, although in recent weeks the Garda has noted a slight increase. The German economy contracted by 9.7% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019. Photo: Jens Buttner/picture alliance via Getty Images The coalition government in Berlin last night agreed to keep funding its short-time work programme for an extra year to support companies and their staff during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, extending it until the end of 2021. Called Kurzarbeit (short work), the government programme was introduced during the financial crisis in 2008 to avoid mass layoffs and allow companies to quickly get staff working again once the economy picked up. The government pays about 60% of a workers salary 67% if they have children and their employer either puts the worker on reduced hours or sends them home if there is no work for them. That amount goes up to 70% of lost wages if people are on short-hours for more than four months, and after seven months, to around 80%. German vice-chancellor and finance minister Olaf Scholz recently described Kurzarbeit as the countrys greatest economic and socio-political act, and a masterpiece of the German state. In May, at the peak of the coronavirus crisis, around 7.3 million people in Germany were on short-time hours. The Ifo Institute estimated that about 5.6 million workers were still on short-hours in July. READ MORE: Coronavirus: German economy shrank by 9.7% in second quarter as pandemic peaked The extension of the short-time work scheme and other support measures, including allowing companies to delay bankruptcy filings and extending bridging loans for SMEs, will cost the government an extra 10bn. Scholz said last week that the German government would borrow more money in 2021 to weather the coronavirus fallout. The government waived its constitutional rule against taking on new debt earlier this year as the pandemic spread rapidly and the country went into lockdown. It will borrow around 218bn (195bn, $257bn) this year, and take on additional debt in 2021, meaning it cannot reinstate its Black Zero Schwarze Null debt-brake law for a second year running. "Next year we will continue to be forced to suspend the debt rules and spend considerable funds to protect the health of citizens and stabilise the economy," Scholz said. Story continues The German economy contracted by 9.7% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, as coronavirus pandemic lockdowns caused a record quarterly collapse in economic activity Investments excluding construction fell by 19.6%, exports plunged by more than 20%, and private consumption was down 10.9%. As a whole, Berlin has earmarked over 1tn to help Europes largest economy recover from the pandemic. It unveiled a 130bn financial stimulus package in June. The Rev. Stricjavvar Strick Strickland of Kalamazoos Second Baptist Church has been charged with 11 felonies A pastor in Kalamazoo is alleged to have sexually abused four teenage boys and paid them to have sex with his wife. The Rev. Stricjavvar Strick Strickland was charged last week with 11 felonies, including four counts of human trafficking of a minor for commercial sexual activity and three counts of child sexually abusive activity, MLive reported Tuesday. Read More: Liberty University president Jerry Falwell, Jr. reveals wifes affair after he says couple was blackmailed The pastor of Kalamazoos Second Baptist Church in Michigan has also been charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct on a student. The probable cause affidavit claims the incidents took place between Aug. 1, 2015- Aug. 31, 2018. The minors involved were between the ages of 15 and 17. Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Scott Ernestes detailed the allegations in an Aug. 18 filing. He says he was contacted by two of the boys and one of their fathers with the allegations in 2018. Two of the juveniles were students at Phoenix High School when they met Jazmonique Strickland and her husband during the 2017-18 school term. They were both allegedly paid $100 to have sex with Jazmonique as her husband watched. (Credit: Rev. Stricjavvar Strick Strickland) The pastor is alleged to have also requested nude pictures of a 16-year-old boy in exchange for money and of sexually assaulting another boy and then paying him. Strickland is also accused of coercing one of the boys to allow the pastor to perform oral sex on him when he was 17 in exchange for use of the pastors vehicle. A 15-year-old also claims that the pastor paid him $200 to have sex with his wife on the couples couch. An arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 21 for Strickland, 37, who has yet to turn himself in to authorities. His lawyer, Michael Hills, says that arrangements were being made for him to do so and denied all charges on his clients behalf. Story continues It has been two years since these allegations first came forward and Pastor Strickland has remained in contact and available. He is not running from this, Hills told MLive. Pastor Strickland remains ready to turn himself in and deal with these charges accordingly. In February of 2019, Strickland and his attorney held a press conference to deny the accusations. Strickland repeated his innocence after being contacted by MLive on Tuesday. He insisted the charges were absolutely preposterous and that he hadnt been given any new information concerning the allegations. He added, All I can say for now is that we are prepared for this fight. God will prevail. Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Christin J. Mehrtens-Carlin stated in the arrest affidavit that Strickland used his position as a pastor and access to the school to exploit the children. She also accused the pastor of engaging in similar behavior with his ex-wife when the then-couple lived in Mississippi. Per the reports, the defendant and his wife would use their employment at Phoenix High School (in Kalamazoo) and to some extent, the defendant would use his work as a pastor, to find male teens to engage in sexual activity with the wife, while the defendant watched and masturbated, Mehrtens-Carlin wrote in the bond recommendation. Mehrtens-Carlin is requesting a $500K bond in the case. Mehrtens-Carlin also wants him not to have any contact with the alleged victims, any minors under 18, and his wife, who does not face any charges. Read More: Michigan pastor says white woman coughed on him for not wearing mask Stricklands issues with the law also extend to his church members. Hes been charged with assaulting a deacon at his church. His trial for the one misdemeanor count of assault and battery case begins on Sept. 30. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Kalamazoo pastor accused of sexual assault, paying teens to have sex with wife appeared first on TheGrio. Actor-comic Vir Das has created a comedy special like no other. With Inside Out, Vir has brought the audience inside his home and has got a few glimpses into their lives as well. The show is a compilation of Virs sit-down shows on Zoom calls that he performed over the lockdown period right from his home. The audience also logged in to watch him from their own homes, with their babies, families, and dogs. Talking about the drastic change in tone, Vir said in a conversation with Hindustan Times that it all felt different. I think it was just different. Because usually when people come and see me, you are a very large mass of people, and you exist in the darkness. I exist in the spotlight and brightlights and you are coming to hear about my life. But now we are all just boxes on a Zoom call. Like right now, you can look into my life, I can look into your life. Thats how it changed for me. It had to become a conversation since I can see my audiences live for the first time, he said. Speaking about the origins of the show, Vir said it started as just a couple of shows he would do to raise money for a different charity. People started tuning in from everywhere int the world--from Norway, Wuhan, Costa Rica, Russia, all tuning in. I realised that this might be the only time in my life when the entire world is going through the exact same thing at the exact same time. That never happens in an artists life. So I felt I had to capture this conversation and I turned it to this show, he said. While the Zoom shows did allow him avenues to flex his comedy muscles, Vir is still too keen to be back on stage. The minute there is a vaccine, main first day first show lene wala hai, he said. Of course, the informality of it all also results in some hilarious, unscripted incidents. Someone has flushed, there is balls scratching, somebody is watching the show and he gets caught by his mom watching the show. Lots of random sh*t is happening in these shows. This the first time in my life where I have come to a show with zero agenda. The audience is going to tell me what the show is about, it is the opposite of my career. While at home, Vir is not just working on his shows but also making and sharing videos on latest controversies and internet debates. Recently, he shared a video on the double standards of film stars who treat their subordinated like dirt but pretend to be all for equality and respect at the workspace. Talking about what inspired the video, Vir said, Its just a very basic thing where I will only call out someone else when I have taken a hard look at my own behaviour. And I feel that should apply for everybody. And I think you can tell the goodness of someone by how they treat people who are less power or they how treat people largely who serve them. So I feel like thats more important and thats what I was bringing to light. Also read |Sands are shifting: Sanjay Dutts wife Maanayata shares pic of their twins with heartfelt note, Trishala Dutt sends her prayers Inside Out is available on www.virdas.in to watch. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON There is no doubt the coronavirus-induced restrictions in Palghar would further marginalise students who were already disadvantaged Editor's note: This article is the third of a multi-part series which examines how the COVID-19 lockdown has impacted one of the most backward districts in Maharashtra and the most disadvantaged section of the society living on the outskirts of Mumbai. Read part I, part II here *** Looking back on her first online lecture, Kamini Ghosale, 40, chuckles and shakes her head. Some of the pranksters in the class had muted me, while I continued to talk, she laughs. Until then, I had no clue one could mute a speaker. I was venturing into completely new territory with e-learning so I was a bit nervous. On the bright side, it was good to know some of the students had found ways to play pranks even during an online lecture. Ghosale teaches at the SD Vartak Vidyalaya in Boisar a town in Maharashtras tribal-dominated district of Palghar. The school, with over 2,000 students across the English, Marathi and Hindi mediums, is one of the better-known private schools in the district. Children from 19 villages study at this school. Many of them come from marginalised sections of society and are curious about the new academic year. On 15 June 2020, the Government of Maharashtra issued a circular laying out the challenges of starting the academic year with the novel coronavirus outbreak raging in India. With large gatherings inadvisable, the circular said, We would have to avoid the usual lectures. The students would have to study on their own and teachers could clear their doubts later. We have the availability of TV, Radio, and other online means. We should use that. Pre-empting the crisis, Daryl DMello, headmaster of the school, says they organised a basic training session for the teachers on how to conduct online classes. We incurred an additional expense, but it had to be done, he says. It has been heartening to see teachers in their 40s and 50s adapting to the new challenge. Ghosale says the teachers stuttered initially but learnt on the job. We sought each others help, she says. The pandemic made us into students of sorts. We took our first lecture on 15 June. Over two months later, I can say we have got the hang of it. However, not all students have been able to attend online classes. DMello says about 70 percent students, studying in the English medium, log in. The number dwindles to 55 percent and 40 percent when it comes to Marathi and Hindi medium students, he adds. The fees of English medium are higher. Most of the students there have access to smartphones or laptops to attend the online class unlike Marathi or Hindi medium students. When the authorities mooted the concept of online education, several educationists pointed out that it would widen the gulf between privileged and underprivileged children. The national sample survey of 2017-18 had found only 18.5 percent of households in rural Maharashtra had any internet facility while every sixth man and eleventh woman could use the internet. Among the most alienated are the states Dalits and Adivasis, who account for 12 percent and 9.4 percent of the population respectively. But in Palghar a district where Adivasis comprise 37 percent of the population the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected children. In fact, Adivasis comprise over 90 percent of the population in talukas like Mokhada, Jawhar, Talasari and Dahanu. In forested areas of these talukas, there is not even a semblance of network connectivity. Most people here survive solely on hard labour which does not earn them enough for two square meals a day and are too destitute to own a smartphone. Deepak Kharpade, 40, an Adivasi farmer in Talasaris Uplat village merely 60 kilometres from Boisar explains why online education is beyond the reach of his 15-year old son. Since the lockdown on 24 March, we have not made any money because there is no labour work available, he says. Our survival depends on it. With things opening up slowly, I cant afford to be at home and check on my son. Even if I do, I wouldnt know if he is studying or not. I am uneducated. Kharpades son, Rajendra, has a low-priced Android phone rare in his village. The network here is as good as non-existent, he says. I cant even watch a video properly. Most of the Adivasi students study in the state government-run Zila Parishad schools. These schools provide free education to children who cant afford private schooling. There are over 60,000 Zila Parishad schools in the state with 4.6 million students. Teachers at Zila Parishad schools in Palghar are currently going door-to-door to make up for the lack of connectivity and non-availability of smartphones. We send the syllabus and PDF files to students who have WhatsApp, says Ravi Rakh, a teacher at one of the Zila Parishad schools in a tribal village of Talasari. For the students who don't have access to phones at all, we physically visit them and try to teach as much as possible. We try and visit every student at least once a week. But the state has done little to alleviate the concerns of teachers and students at Zila Parishad schools, who are doing the best that they can. There is no doubt the coronavirus-induced restrictions would further marginalise students who were already disadvantaged, while privileged students at private schools would manage to get by relatively unscathed. DMello says they already have a plan at SD Vartak Vidyalaya to reach out to students who cant log in for online classes. Once classes with limited students are allowed, we are thinking of only calling the students who have not been able to join online classes, while continuing with e-lectures for those who can, he says. That would help disadvantaged students catch up on the syllabus to a certain extent." Until then, though, parents remain concerned about their kids. And rightly so. There is no way classes would resume before the first semester, says Pratibha, whose 11-year-old son studies in SD Vartak Vidyalaya. We cant afford two smartphones. My husband has one. He is a driver and he is out the whole day. I am a homemaker. I try and teach him as much as I can. But I fear my son might lag behind. Even among students who are attending online lectures, the consensus is in favour of attending classes physically. Samiksha, 13, says she misses being around her friends. There are advantages of learning from home as well, she adds. We save traveling time. The other day, to explain what a solar panel does, our teacher took a class from the terrace where a solar panel is located. But it is still not as much fun as being in the class. We cant wait to get back to school. While students up to ninth standard can afford not panicking, but those studying in the 10th standard are in a precarious situation. If they fall behind in the first semester, there is little time for them to cover up until the all-important board exams. Our performance in the board exams determines whether we get an admission in a good college, says Pooja, 15, whose father runs a barbershop in Boisar. The family has been struggling since the lockdown, for this is one profession where physical distancing is impossible. I need to do well in the exams. I am nervous. The connectivity in my village is erratic, which doesnt allow me to consistently attend online lectures. Ghosale concedes that the 10th standard students are in a bit of a quagmire, and sheds light on another grave issue. Many students who cant attend online lectures have started working to sustain their families, she says. Many parents have lost their jobs. The economic slowdown has hit every family. If we dont do anything about it, we could see the rise in child labour among the poorer sections of society. Kudos to the Columbia Journalism Review for putting the muscle behind having Tim Schwab perform an in-depth investigation into how the Gates Foundation has lavished money on various not-for-profit news organizations, like NPR, as well as other media outlets in the US and abroad, to secure favorable, even at times one-sided coverage of its pet initiatives. Another successful leg of the Gates Foundations efforts is donating to fact-checkers, which in turn incorrectly brand articles that question Gates Foundation influence-buying or specific programs as inaccurate or conspiracy theories. Needless to say, this piece is particularly welcome given that Bill Gates is getting undue attention in the press for his views on Covid programs, particularly vaccines, as if medical policy patronage has rendered a software squillionaire particularly qualified to discuss public health. In fact, as Schwab points out: During the pandemic, news outlets have widely looked to Bill Gates as a public health expert on covideven though Gates has no medical training and is not a public official. PolitiFact and USA Today (run by the Poynter Institute and Gannett, respectivelyboth of which have received funds from the Gates Foundation) have even used their fact-checking platforms to defend Gates from false conspiracy theories and misinformation, like the idea that the foundation has financial investments in companies developing covid vaccines and therapies. In fact, the foundations website and most recent tax forms clearly show investments in such companies, including Gilead and CureVac. . Writing in De Correspondent, freelance journalists Robert Fortner and Alex Park examined the limitations and inadvertent consequences of the Gates Foundations relentless efforts to eradicate polio. In HuffPost, the two journalists showed how Gatess outsize funding of global health initiatives has steered the worlds aid agenda toward the foundations own goals (like polio eradication) and away from issues such as emergency preparedness to respond to disease outbreaks, like the Ebola crisis. (This narrative has been lost in the current covid-19 news cycle, as outlets from the LA Times to PBS to STAT have portrayed Gates as a visionary leader on pandemics.) I strongly urge you to read Schwabs devastating account in full. Let me present part of three threads to entice you. The first is on how Gates giving has turned NPR into a foundation mouthpiece: Last August, NPR profiled a Harvard-led to help low-income families find housing in wealthier neighborhoods, giving their children access to better schools and an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. According to researchers cited in the article, these children could see $183,000 greater earnings over their lifetimesa striking forecast for a housing program still in its experimental stage. If you squint as you read the story, youll notice that every quoted expert is connected to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which helps fund the project. And if youre really paying attention, youll also see the editors note at the end of the story, which reveals that NPR itself receives funding from Gates. NPRs funding from Gates was not a factor in why or how we did the story, reporter Pam Fessler says, adding that her reporting went beyond the voices quoted in her article. The story, nevertheless, is one of hundreds NPR has reported about the Gates Foundation or the work it funds, including myriad favorable pieces written from the perspective of Gates or its grantees Since 2000, the Gates Foundation has given NPR $17.5 million through ten charitable grantsall of them earmarked for coverage of global health and education, specific issues on which Gates works. NPR covers the Gates Foundation extensively. By the end of 2019, a spokesperson said, NPR had mentioned the foundation more than 560 times in its reporting, including 95 times on Goats and Soda, the outlets global health and development blog, which Gates helps fund. Funding from corporate sponsors and philanthropic donors is separate from the editorial decision-making process in NPRs newsroom, the spokesperson noted.. Given Gatess large funding role at NPR, one could imagine editors insisting that reporters seek out financially independent voices or include sources who can offer critical perspectives. (Many NPR stories on Gates dont: here, here, here, here, here,here.) Likewise, NPR could seek a measure of independence from Gates by rejecting donations that are earmarked for reporting on Gatess favored topics. Mind you, theres more in this vein. One initiative that I found particularly alarming was the Gates Foundation throwing its weight behind solutions journalism: If critical reporting about the Gates Foundation is rare, it is largely beside the point in solutions journalism, a new-ish brand of reporting that focuses on solutions to problems, not just the problems themselves. While that might sound anodyne, first, focusing on solutions provided a ready platform for billionaires to advance their ideas for how to remake society. Second, it also appears designed to pre-empt or at least weaken efforts to have government intervene, either via social programs or law against damaging conduct. Fundamental social change is usually driven by grievances. The press often plays an important role by showing those injustices to be common. That legitimates the sense of harm felt by the victims, which encourages them to take action, and also helps them win support form other groups. By contrast, solutions come from..software developers.and incrementalists like NGOs. In fact, solutions journalism is awfully reminiscent of the highly successful campaign to remake jurisprudence along neoliberal lines. From ECONNED: The third avenue for promoting and institutionalizing the free market ideology was inculcating judges. It was one of the most far-reaching actions the radical right wing could take. Precedents are powerful, and the bench turns over slowly. Success here would make the free markets revolution difficult to reverse It is hard to overstate the change this campaign produced, namely, a major shift in jurisprudence. As Steven Teles of the University of Maryland noted: In the beginning, the law and economics (with the partial exception of its application to antitrust) was so far out of the legal academic mainstream as to be reasonably characterized as off the wall. . . . Moving law and economics status from off the wall to controversial but respectable required a combination of celebrity and organizational entrepreneurship. . . . [Henry] Mannes programs for federal judges helped erase law and economics stigma, since if judges the symbol of legal professional respectabilitytook the ideas seriously, they could not be crazy and irresponsible.62 Now why was law and economics vantage seen as off the wall? Previously, as noted above, economic thinking had been limited to antitrust, which inherently involves economic concepts (various ways to measure the power of large companies in a market). So extending economic concepts further was at least novel, and novel could be tantamount to off the wall in some circles. But with hindsight, equally strong words like radical, activist, and revolutionary would apply. Why? The law and economics promoters sought to colonize legal minds. And, to a large extent they succeeded. For centuries (literally), jurisprudence had been a multifaceted subject aimed at ordering human affairs. The law and economics advocates wanted none of that. They wanted their narrow construct to play as prominent a role as possible. For instance, a notion that predates the legal practice is equity, that is, fairness. The law in its various forms including legislative, constitutional, private (i.e., contract), judicial, and administrative, is supposed to operate within broad, inherited concepts of equity. Another fundamental premise is the importance of due process, meaning adherence to procedures set by the state. By contrast, the free markets ideology focuses on efficiency and seeks aggressively to minimize the role of government. The two sets of assumptions are diametrically opposed. Now why is it reasonable to be concerned that solutions journalism could lead to the already pretty captured journalism profession to become even more friendly to powerful interests? The premise of traditional fair and balanced reporting is that there are two sides to a story. Someone is accused of a crime. A reporter is expected to seek out the defendant for comment. Similarly, a business or government tries to promote a new program. In the World According to Journalism School, the press is supposed to do more than just run the press release; they should contact parties that would be affected by it and see if any will comment. By contrast, solutions journalism, at least as practiced by the Gates Foundation, looks like an avenue for influence peddling. From Schwab: That more upbeat orientation has drawn the patronage of the Gates Foundation, which directed $6.3 million to the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) to train journalists and fund reporting projects. Gates is the largest donor to SJNsupplying around one-fifth of the organizations lifetime funding. SJN says more than half of this money has been distributed as subgrants. SJN acknowledges on its website that there are potential conflicts of interest inherent in taking philanthropic funding to produce solutions journalism, which SJN cofounder David Bornstein elaborated on in an interview.Asked if he could provide examples of any critical reporting about Gates emerging from SJN, Bornstein took issue with the question. Most of the stories that we fund are stories that look at efforts to solve problems, so they tend to be not as critical as traditional journalism, he said. That is also the case for the journalism Bornstein and fellow SJN cofounder Tina Rosenberg produce for the New York Times. As contract writers for the Fixes opinion column, the two have favorably profiled Gates-funded education, agriculture, and global health programs over the yearswithout disclosing that they work for an organization that receives millions of dollars from Gates. Twice in 2019, for example, Rosenbergs columns exalted the World Mosquito Project, whose sponsor page lands on a picture of Bill Gates My cursory review of the Fixes column turned up fifteen installments where the writers explicitly mention Bill and Melinda Gates, their foundation, or Gates-funded organizations. Bornstein and Rosenberg said they asked their editors at the Times to belatedly add financial disclosures to several of these columns, but they also cited six they thought did not need disclosure. Rosenbergs 2016 profile of Bridge International Academies, for example, notes that Bill Gates personally helps fund the project. The writers argue that SJNs ties are to the Gates Foundation, not to Bill Gates himself, so no disclosure is needed. Ive already quoted a bit too liberally from this important article, so please delay no further and read it in full, since it covers other important topics, like the subversion of fact-checkers. But even with Schwabs digging, theres even more that the Gates Foundation does to influence the press, such as entering into contracts, which remains almost entirely hidden. A n east London man who attacked his ex-partner and her male friend in a jealous rage has been jailed. Umit Hayta, 39, of Dagenham, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars with an extended licence of three years at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. Hayta and his wife were together for 15 years before she filed for divorce in October 2019, the court heard. On the evening of February 21, she invited a man, aged 24, to her home in Homerton. They had known each other about two months and exchanged numbers that afternoon. He had only been at her address for about 15 minutes when they heard Hayta banging loudly on the front door. She tried to hold it closed as the 39-year-old began to kick it in. He eventually forced his way into the house and immediately began attacking the 24-year-old while his ex-wife pleaded with him to stop. While Hayta carried out the frenzied attack, she shouted at her two young children to run out of the house which they did. She managed to flee to a neighbours address, where her children had taken shelter, while the male victim ran to the nearby shop where he worked. There, he told a colleague: Shut the door, hes going to kill me. The colleague called 999 but, after realising the extent of his friends injuries, drove him straight to an east London hospital. The 24-year-old required urgent surgery for 18 stab wounds and a bleed on the brain, which was assessed as life-threatening. Doctors also said he could have died from his stab wounds if he had not received such immediate care. The attack has left him with life-changing injuries and he will be dealing with the neurological and emotional consequences with trained professionals for many years, police said. Haytas ex-partner needed stitches for lacerations to her back and legs, which she received while trying to stop Haytas attack. The defendant fled the scene and drove back to his home address where he called the police. Stating his full name he then said: Ive done something wrong. He then admitted to stabbing the pair. Officers arrested Hayta at his home address, where they also found blood stained clothing and trainers. On February 23, he was charged with attempted murder and two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, to which he pleaded guilty and was later convicted. The trial was heard at the Old Bailey / AFP via Getty Images In a victim impact statement read to the court, the male victims cousin said: [My cousin] is one of the kindest and most genuine people I have met. He was very well regarded and loved by not only his family but his friends too. He was a popular member of our local community and a role model to my children. He was never involved in any wrongdoing and had an amazing life with a promising future. He was stabbed 18 times by a violent attacker. To this day, we fail to apprehend how someone can physically carry out the act of such cruel violence. This was an unprovoked attack and he did nothing to deserve such cruelty. This attack has not just affected [my cousin] but has tormented our entire family. His parents were uncontainable with pain and sorrow. He survived the surgery but was in a coma and we were given nil hope about him ever waking up. A miracle happened, one that surprised the team at the hospital as much as we and he survived. Every day, I am grateful that he is alive and with us, but unfortunately the new him is not the same person anymore. He has severe behavioural and cognitive difficulties and a diminished mental capacity. He is not able to function like an ordinary person anymore. He has spent his months bed bound in hospital and is currently still in a brain injury rehabilitation centre being cared for. A very fit and healthy young man has been left injured and scarred for life. His entire life has changed and his hopes and ambitions are dead. His old self is dead. Haytas ex-partner said in a victim impact statement: I never thought Umit would hurt me. If I didnt run from the flat he would have stabbed me further. My injuries have now healed, however, they could have been fatal. I am very lucky to be alive. The incident itself comes to my mind time and time again. I feel guilty for what has happened as I always blame myself for what Umit has done to me and [the male victim.] Umit was a good father to his two children, however this has been ruined by a moment of madness. Umit has runined my life, his life and his two childrens lives. What Umit did to me is not acceptable. I could not believe he had stabbed me. It will stay with me for the rest of my life. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment It is no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities. As a Latino evangelical pastor who sees first-hand the deleterious effects of hunger in our communities, I am calling on Congress to act again on behalf of those who are particularly exposed to hunger, housing and economic hardships. So many members of my congregation are suffering. Theyve lost jobs and loved ones. In the early months of the pandemic, Congress responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with swift, strong, and bipartisan actions. But more needs to be done. Sickness, devastation and income inequality loom as this pandemic persists. Week after week I, like many of the pastors of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, have seen the church-run food distribution lines continue to grow and more and more families needing additional support. The unemployment and underemployment realities require an urgent response. As a nation, we can and must do better. As a Christian, I believe God calls us to care for the "least among us." COVID-19 is a hunger crisis. Congress ought to make nutrition part of its priorities in the next stimulus bill to assist those hit the hardest by this crisis here and abroad. Specifically, Congress should: increase SNAP benefits by at least 15%, extend pandemic-EBT to ensure children have access to nutrition this summer and invest $20 billion for the global response to COVID-19. Each of these will go a long way in helping the most vulnerable in our communities. By acting on these legislative priorities, Congress can help struggling people access the food they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives, including immigrant families, many of which have U.S. children. Increasing SNAP benefits not only help families impacted by the economic downturn put food on the table, but supports local economies in states. Every $1 increase in SNAP benefits generates more than $1.50 in economic activity. For children, even brief periods of hunger can carry a lifetime of consequences. A pandemic-EBT benefit of approximately $114 per child, per month could be a tremendous resource for families struggling with layoffs and furloughs. Unfortunately, the benefits are only available to families when school is in session. I urge Congress in the next stimulus bill to extend pandemic-EBT benefits into the summer. Around the world, strong U.S. leadership is needed to address the increase in extreme hunger amid the pandemic. I urge Congress to provide $20 billion toward global food and nutrition programs, emergency global health, flexible humanitarian assistance and urgent economic relief, and development of and access to new vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. As a Latino and an evangelical pastor, my faith calls me to stand alongside people facing hunger and poverty. I urge Congress and those who represent us in Florida to make nutrition investments a priority in the next stimulus package. Inaction is not an option. 24/7 free crisis hotline now available to those in need: 1.877.757.7587 CHICAGO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - As historically large wildfires continue to burn across California, Oregon and Colorado, Morneau Shepell has opened its 24/7 crisis support hotline for anyone affected by the ongoing devastation. "During this time, we offer our deepest sympathies to all who've lost loved ones, been displaced by or are battling, the hundreds of wildfires across the states," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer. "The resiliency shown by all communities, families, and firefighters is truly humbling, and we want to do our part and offer emotional support to help people as they deal with these natural disasters." A crisis or traumatic event can trigger overwhelming emotional responses. When calling the crisis line, individuals receive crisis counseling support and/or referral to community resources. Anyone affected by the wildfires in California, Oregon and Colorado, can reach the free crisis support line at 1.877.757.7587. The Company's employee assistance program is also available to the employees of existing clients of Morneau Shepell through the designated toll-free number or by visiting workhealthlife.com/us. About Morneau Shepell Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries. For more information, visit morneaushepell.com. SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc. Related Links http://www.morneaushepell.com/ Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton has a piece of advice for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden: Whatever happens, do not concede defeat on the night of the Nov. 3 election. Clinton, a Democrat, lost the 2016 presidential election to President Donald Trump, a Republican whose re-election bid is facing a stiff challenge from Biden, who has been leading Trump in public opinion polls. Clinton conceded defeat on the night of the election in 2016 but said the shift to mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic means it could take longer to know the winner in November. Speaking an interview on Showtimes 'The Circus', she said this years election day results might point to Trump having a narrow advantage. But in that case, Clinton said, "Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances because I think this is going to drag out." As many as half of U.S. voters are expected to cast their votes by mail this year, more than twice as many as in 2016, but not all state and local officials have the capacity to count mail ballots as quickly as those cast in person, Reuters reported. Also, some states, including battlegrounds like Ohio and North Carolina, allow ballots to count if they arrive days after polls close but are postmarked by election day. "Eventually I do believe he will win if we dont give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is," Clinton said. File image After the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on August 24, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi and former party president Rahul Gandhi called Ghulam Nabi Azad, one of the signatories on the "dissident" letter sent to Sonia Gandhi by over 20 party leaders. According to a report by NDTV quoting sources, Sonia Gandhi spoke to Azad and assured him that his concerns will be addressed. This came after Azad, who is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha, had come under criticism from within the party for being one of the signatories on the letter which called for organisational changes within Congress and demanded a "full-time, visible leadership". According to the report, Rahul Gandhi, too, had a conversation with Azad earlier that day, when he had also called up Kapil Sibal, another senior Congress leader who had signed the letter. Sibal had in a tweet slammed Gandhi after it was reported that the Congress scion had questioned the timing of the letter and accused those who wrote it of colluding with the BJP. However, Sibal, after the call with Rahul Gandhi, withdrew his tweet. According to the report, during the meeting, other senior party leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge and Ambika Soni had called for a disciplinary action against those who wrote the letter. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reportedly wanted Azad to be stopped from speaking during the CWC meeting. "A section of media is wrongly attributing that, in CWC I told Rahul Gandhi to prove that the letter written by us is in collusion with BJP- let me make it very clear that Shri Rahul Gandhi has neither in CWC nor outside said that this letter was written at the behest of BJP," Azad had later said. "Sonia Gandhi will stay interim president until an AICC session. The Congress will have a permanent president after six months, which is good as it will end ad-hocism," Azad told NDTV after the meeting. Getty Images Donald Trump has led the White House for almost four years, and this November he will battle Joe Biden to lead the country for the next four years. As the 2020 election draws ever closer, theres no-one who wants to see Mr Trump re-elected more than the members of his large, if often controversial, family, many of whom often stand alongside the president on his campaign trail and even hold positions in his administration. But just exactly how many members of the first family of the United States are there? And more importantly, who are they? Donald Trump Jr, 42, son of Ivana Trump Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of the president, is an ardent political advocate of his father and supporter of his presidential campaign. Alongside his political endeavours, Mr Trumps oldest son currently serves as a trustee and executive vice president of the Trump Organisation, running the company alongside his younger brother Eric Trump. The American businessman is widely known as a sportsman and big-game hunter, for which he has often drawn controversy from animal rights groups. He divorced from his first wife Vanessa Trump in 2018, with whom he has five children. He is currently dating Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle, an American attorney, prosecutor, and television news personality who is currently working as a top fundraiser for the Trump campaign after first joining the campaign as a senior advisor last year. (Getty Images) Ivanka Trump, 38, daughter of Ivana Trump Ivanka Trump is the second-oldest of Mr Trumps children and his first daughter. She has served as Senior Advisor to the President since 2017 and similarly to her older brother, has played a central role in assisting her fathers political career. Ms Trump, a former runway model, also previously had a hand in the family business having worked as an executive vice president of the Trump organisation. The presidents oldest daughter is married to Jared Kushner, an American investor, real-estate developer, and newspaper publisher who is currently working alongside his wife as senior advisor to the president. Ms Trump converted to Orthodox Judaism before her 2009 wedding and the couple has three children together. Story continues (AP) Eric Trump, 36, son of Ivana Trump The youngest son of the presidents first marriage to Ivana Trump, Eric Trump, holds the same title as his older brother as trustee and executive vice president of the Trump Organisation. The presidents second son was one of the central advisors, fundraisers, and campaign surrogates during the 2016 presidential campaign. Like his older siblings, he is set to speak at the Republican National Convention (RNC) this year. Instead of attending the University of Pennsylvania like his father, brother, and sister before him, he attended Georgetown in Washington DC. Mr Trumps second son also owns and operates Trump Winery, Virginias largest vineyard. He married Lara Yunaska, a former personal trainer and TV producer in 2014 and the couple have two children together. (AFP via Getty Images) Tiffany Trump, 26, daughter of Marla Maples Tiffany Trump, Mr Trumps only daughter from his second marriage to Marla Maples, was raised by her mother outside of Los Angeles. Mr Trumps second daughter graduated from law school at Georgetown University in May in a virtual ceremony. She previously graduated from the University of Pennsylvania like her father. She has been dating boyfriend Michael Boulos, who studies finance at City University of London, since 2018, according to reports. Ms Trump does not occupy the same central role in her fathers company or political campaign as her three half-siblings but, similarly to them, is scheduled to speak at the RNC this year. She has a large Instagram following and posts regularly to her over 1.2 million fans. (Getty Images) Barron Trump, 14, son of Melania Trump Barron Trump is the presidents youngest son and his only child to his current wife, and first lady of the united states, Melania Trump. The Trumps have worked to keep their youngest son out of the media spotlight in his younger years and he is usually only photographed alongside his parents while travelling or on family occasions. The presidents youngest son has attended St Andrews Episcopal School since 2017, which recently made headlines after it announced it will not re-open this year for in-person learning amidst the coronavirus pandemic, despite the presidents demands for all schools to re-open this fall. She has previously shared that her son is a big fan of sports. (AP Donald Trumps Grandchildren In total, Mr Trump has 10 grandchildren from his five children. Donald Trump Jr and his former wife Vanessa Trump have five children: Kai Madison Trump, 13, Donald John III Trump, 11, Tristan Milos Trump, eight, Spencer Frederick Trump, seven, and Chloe Sophia Trump, six. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have three children: Arabella Rose Kushner, nine, Joseph Frederick Kushner, six, and Theodore James Kushner, four. Ms Trump often shares updates of her children on her Instagram to her six and a half million followers. Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump have two children together: Eric Luke Trump, who is two-years-old, and Carolina Dorothy Trump, the youngest Trump family member at one-year-old. Read more Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner earned 27.6m in outside income Donald Trump Jr says Joe Biden is Loch Ness monster of the swamp Ex-Trump campaign manager complains about Fox News RNC coverage Trump makes bid for empathy on opening night of RNC President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday voiced hope that "there is enough wisdom in Parliament" for the censure motion tabled by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) not to pass, as this demarche is "completely out of place." "I hope there is enough wisdom in Parliament for this censure motion not to pass, it is completely out of place, emerged from the PSD's cynicism and I believe Romanians realise that we have to deal with a electoral-populist motion, completely improper and set in a moment when we needed everything but political instability," the head of state told a press conference at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. AGERPRES . Holograms similar to whats been depicted in sci-fi TV and film for decades arent quite ready for primetime but they are real and incoming. Thats based on a recent report from TechNewsWorld, pooling statements and advancements from the industry. For clarity, holograms are often depicted as a 3D image shown in the air. Typically, they represent 3D scan of a person in real-time, most often for communications. Companies such as Aexa Aerospace, Portl, and Microsoft are already well on the way to delivering on that promise. Aexa Aerospace, for example, is already targetting a launch of its technology, demoed in June, by the end of 2020. The demonstration featured an interaction between CEO Fernando De La Pena Llaca and software architect Nathan Ream. The former was in Houston Texas while the latter was in Alabama. Advertisement Portl, meanwhile, works as a doorway-sized apparatus that beams a 4K image from and to anywhere in the world. Microsoft has been demonstrating its technology since last year, when it utilized its HoloLens 2 headset to generated a full-size hologram representation of demonstrator and Azure Corporate VP Julia White at Inspire 2019 in Las Vegas. Holograms are incoming as an extension of MR There is plenty of discussion over use case and where holograms fit into the world. According to Enderle Group pincipal analyst Rob Enderle, for instance, the technology is an extension of mixed reality (MR). Mixed reality is a group that combines the category of AR and VR implementations already present in the market. Advertisement Founding Object Theory partner Michael Hoffman makes a similar conclusion, noting that holograms dont offer a whole lot that current technologies dont already offer. In fact, they enhance AR and VR. And thats because they offer the ability to deliver what he refers to as the non-verbal aspects of communication. Summarily, the incoming holograms as used in real-world scenarios offer body language cues. Thats not unlike video conferencing or AR stickers in current technology. But, because they show more, they also offer deeper real-time insight on that front. To begin with, theyll also be expensive just like the first iterations of the technology theyll be supplementing. The above-mentioned Portl requires only a standard wall plug, for instance, but it also requires fast, consistent internet to work. Thats atop its already high $60,000 price tag. Advertisement But thats also geared toward education and other similar use cases. For instance, the categories served by Portl pictured above include hotels, museums, casinos, malls, boardrooms, hospitals, and airports. Current tech leaders want to bring hologram technology to the forefront too Now, the cost of the technology should come down over time but that may get some help from unexpected sources. One such company thats already investing heavily in holograms is Samsung. The South Korean tech giant has often been derided for over-pricing its phones. But it also has a large footprint in the technology industry as well as the means to produce technology and required components. So it should come as no surprise that Samsung has already been patenting and designing hologram equipment. That includes at least one portable adaptation designed and patented back in 2019. Advertisement The company also went a step further to tout holograms as an incoming technology that would serve real-world users across the gamut via the advent of 6G. 5G could also be used to support the technology, according to Mr. Hoffman and others in the industry. But, in either case, it will likely be established front-running companies like Samsung and Apple that deliver the technology to the wider user base. The senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has narrated how Boko Haram insurgents killed 75 members of his community in Gwoza local government in one night. Mr Ndume made this disclosure Wednesday in an emotion-laden presentation during a stakeholders meeting organised by Senate Committee on Special Duties and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Maiduguri. The former Senate leader, who is also a member of the committee, informed the gathering that the challenges faced by the people of Borno State were being underreported. If the Senate Committee would take time during their stay to go round some of the camps and even the nearby Konduga local government, we would all better appreciate what the people are facing, he said. Even as a serving senator, I still cannot go to Gwoza my home town because it is not safe, he said. Our security operatives are trying their bests, and we have to give it to them. But the situation is overwhelming. People are dying every day, either from attacks or by hunger. We have lost many lives here. There was a time in my home town Gwoza, that about 75 elders most of whom I know personally were dragged by Boko Haram to the towns abattoir and slaughtered like animals. Only two persons survived because their bodies were covered with other peoples blood and the assailants thought they were dead. In the same Gwoza, Boko Haram had in a single day lined up young men and summarily shot them dead. These were just some stand out cases. Mr Ndume also lamented the issue of hunger in the state stressing that the situation would have been worse had there not been non-governmental organisations in Borno. We dont know where we would have been or what would have happened to us in Borno State, had there not been the NGOs, he said People die every day here, and I can assure you that even today or this evening, someone may have died of hunger. I am not talking about children I mean adults. Senator Ali Ndume addressing journalists. He said these and many other cases of insecurity pushed him to realise the need for the Northeast region to have a Development Commission. NEDC was my idea, and I pushed for its formation, not for anything else but to see how our people could be helped out of this ugly situation. And so far, we are impressed with the kind of work they are dong. But sadly, the amount of money at the disposal of the commission is not adequate to solve the humanitarian challenges facing Borno state alone, he said. The Senate Committee on Special Duties led by Yusuf Abubakar, was in Borno State to review the performance of the NEDC and the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) The committee had upon arrival in Maiduguri paid a courtesy call on the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum; where they explained their mission before proceeding to the Shehu of Bornos palace. At the stakeholders briefing, officials of the Nigeria military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NEMA and that of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency took time to brief the committee on the situation in the state. The NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali-Goni, commended the Senate committee for taking time off their busy schedule to be in Borno State. He said their visit would enable the National Assembly to appreciate the challenges in the region. The committee is expected to visit IDP camps and some of the locations where the NEDC has projects. The United Kingdom's Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously dismissed appeals by China's Huawei and ZTE in patent disputes over mobile data technology with Unwired Planet International and Conversant Wireless. The first appeal concerned an action brought by Unwired against Huawei for the infringement of five UK patents, which Unwired had acquired from Ericsson and were said to be essential in mobile telecoms. An English court had previously ruled that two of the patents were valid and essential, and in a subsequent trial found Unwired's licence terms were justified and enforceable. The second appeal concerned action brought by Conversant against Huawei and ZTE for infringing four of its UK patents, which had been acquired from Nokia and related to LTE standards used by 4G handsets to download and send data. Huawei and ZTE argued that the English Courts did not have jurisdiction to determine the validity of foreign patents. But the trial judge had ruled against them, saying the court had jurisdiction under a international patent framework agreed by the mobile industry. The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it had unanimously dismissed both appeals. Conversant's CEO Boris Teksler said he was "very pleased" by the outcome, which the firm said would have "significant implications worldwide" for standard-essential-patent (SEP) licensing. "It confirms Conversant Wireless' approach, that as a holder of cellular standard-essential patents, we can seek proper value for our patents without having to resort to what the UK courts themselves called the 'madness' of country-by-country licensing and related litigation," he said. "This helps level the playing field when small companies are trying to license SEP portfolios to global giants with seemingly limitless litigation resources." TEL AVIV: Israeli aircraft struck posts belonging to the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah early on Wednesday after shots were fired from Lebanon towards its troops, Israels military said. No Israeli troops were wounded in the firing, the military said. Soldiers deployed illumination flares, smoke shells and live fire after the shots from the Lebanese side of the frontier, it said. In response, overnight, IDF attack helicopters and aircraft struck observation posts belonging to the Hezbollah terror organization in the border area," the military said in a statement, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah. Tension has been running high on the border. Last month, Israel said Hezbollah carried out an infiltration attempt, which the Iran-backed group denied. The Israeli military said it lifted a curfew it had imposed overnight. 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 Finix, a San Francisco, CA-based payments infrastructure company, raised an additional funding of approx. $30m. The extension round, which was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from American Express Ventures, was an extension of its previoulsy announced $45m Series B and brought Finixs total funding to $96m to date. Led by Richie Serna, CEO and Co-founder, Finix provides an infrastructure platform for vertical Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers and fintech companies to build payments experiences for their merchants. The companys customer base includes mobility management platform, Passport Labs, private club management software platform, Clubessential, retail point-of-sale company, Lightspeed POS, and more. SaaS companies and fintechs like these are using Finix APIs to build and manage business-critical payments experiences to reduce cost, increase flexibility, and accelerate time to market. Finix also has an additional office in Cincinnati, Ohio. FinSMEs 26/08/2020 Details added: first version posted on 15:39 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.26 Trend: Azerbaijan pins especial hopes on active role of Russia in settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov said. Bayramov made the statement during the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Trend reports on August 26. Russia is the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the largest regional power with long-standing close ties with the South Caucasus region, he said. In this regard, we pin especial hopes on Russia's active role in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I would like to note with regret that no progress has been made in the settlement of the conflict. Armenia continues to occupy 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, the minister reminded. The indigenous Azerbaijani population was expelled from these territories, and their homes are inhabited by ethnic Armenians from abroad, including the countries of the Middle East, which in turn is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, first of all, the Geneva Conventions. Armenia continues to undermine the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE. The destructive position of Armenia led to an escalation of the situation on July 12-16 this year, he stated. The armed forces of Armenia inflicted strikes both on the military positions and peaceful villages of Azerbaijan. An attempt was made to seize Azerbaijani territories. Among the victims of this aggression was a 76-year-old resident of an Azerbaijani village, who died in the yard of his own house. Azerbaijan's position on the settlement of the conflict is based on the norms and principles of international law, as well as documents adopted by international organizations, first of all, the resolutions of the UN Security Council," Bayramov added. 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. Contrary to recent guidelines put forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bay Area health experts are encouraging people with possible coronavirus exposure to still seek testing, even if they do not have any symptoms. Because a large portion of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, or pre-symptomatic, skipping testing for these people would be counterproductive to efforts to contain the virus, local health officials and epidemiologists said. That advice runs counter to the controversial change in COVID-19 testing guidance from the CDC on Monday, which said that people who have had recent contact with a person carrying the virus, and who displayed no symptoms, do not need to get tested unless they are a vulnerable individual or their health care provider or state recommends they get tested. Close contact is defined as coming within 6 feet of someone with the virus for at least 15 minutes. The CDC pronouncement has been widely criticized by infectious disease experts. Local health officials say they will not adopt the CDCs change in guidelines, and that people who have had recent contact with an infected person should get tested even if they do not have symptoms. This is the part of the guidance that felt, frankly, most bizarre, said Dr. Sara Cody, public health officer for Santa Clara County. The truth is if youve been in contact with someone who is infectious with COVID, you absolutely need to get a test. Testing asymptomatic people who have been in contact with an infected person is critical to containing the spread of the virus because those people need to know if they have contracted the virus and must self-quarantine so they do not spread it to others. And if they test positive, they can tell family, friends and coworkers to get tested as well. When I first heard about this change in (CDC) guidelines, I actually didnt believe it, Cody said. It undercuts our very basic tenets of how we control an infectious disease. Testing and having individuals know their status is foundational to our ability to control an infectious disease, and our ability to control COVID. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said he does not agree with the new CDC guidance, Period. Full-stop. The CDC did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday about why the agency deemed it unnecessary for people without symptoms, who have had recent contact with an infected person, to get tested. I believe these changes have not come from the CDC directly, I believe these changes in the guidance have come from further up the chain in the federal government, the White House, and they are misdirected, said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, coronavirus testing officer for Santa Clara County. They are totally misdirected. Failing to test is not going to end this pandemic. Failing to test will not make the virus go away. Fensteinsheib encouraged local residents to continue to get tested, whether they have symptoms or not, if they have been in contact with someone with the virus. An estimated 40% of people with the coronavirus never develop symptoms, and an additional 20%, on any given day, are not yet showing symptoms, or pre-symptomatic, said Dr. George Rutherford of UCSF, who is leading San Franciscos contact tracing efforts. In order to control this, especially in the context of contact tracing, you absolutely have to test people without any symptoms, he said during a Wednesday COVID-19 briefing with reporters. I dont know why the CDC said that. It seems counterproductive to me. Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho The financial woes of the coronavirus pandemic are not close to being over yet, and in Massachusetts, the housing scene is particularly grim. A new report from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) found that an estimated 108,700 households who filed unemployment claims last month will have trouble paying their mortgage or rent. Of that number, 61,000, or 55%, are renters and 47,700, or 45%, are homeowners. This updated analysis shows us that Massachusetts needs a plan for how to keep people in their homes - especially those who rent, the MAPCs report said. Without additional protections or assistance, these households are likely to face eviction in the future. The MAPC, a regional public planning agency, predicted that the nearly 109,000 struggling households will need roughly $117 million per month in housing assistance. The agencys report, published Tuesday, found that the average monthly aid required is $940 per rental household and $1,250 per home. The funds are needed to fill the gap between residents lost income and their housing costs as well as other expenses. An online map created by the MAPC analyzed housing assistance needs statewide, breaking down the aid needed by city and town. Based on unemployment claims from July 18, the agency estimated the monthly amount of money residents of each Massachusetts municipality will need to make rent and mortgage payments without federal benefits. Among the communities the MAPC estimated will need the most aid were Boston, Worcester and Springfield. While Boston is expected to require nearly $18.3 million in housing assistance, Worcester and Springfield will need roughly $2.9 million and $3 million, respectively. The 21 other towns and cities the agency predicted will need between $1 million and $3.5 million in aid are Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Medford, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Somerville, Waltham and Weymouth. The estimations were calculated using communities unemployment claims by occupation, the costs of housing in each municipality and workers wages before COVID-19-related layoffs. The calculations are almost certainly underestimating the aid needed for unemployed renters and homeowners, though, the MAPC said. The agencys analysis did not include undocumented immigrants, who are ineligible for unemployment benefits. It also did not encompass workers who filed for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which helps self-employed and seasonal workers. Community members, economists and public officials have been warning of a looming housing crisis for months now due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Starting in March, the national coronavirus stimulus package, called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provided $600 in federal unemployment benefits to jobless Americans. However, that program ended in July, and the prospects of Congress passing another stimulus package with more longterm federal unemployment benefits are murky. Although Massachusetts has been approved to give an extra $300 a week through the Lost Wages Assistance Program, those affected by layoffs will continue to face financial suffering if another federal aid bill is not passed, according to the MAPC. As of Friday, Massachusetts had a statewide unemployment rate of 16.1%. While tens of thousands of jobs have been added in the commonwealth in the past two months, around 591,000 residents were still out of work in July. In light of the nations historic unemployment levels, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker late last month extended the deadline of a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures to Oct. 17. Still, the MAPC expressed concern for renters, who are in a particularly precarious situation as they will be expected to make up rental payments after the states eviction moratorium ends in two months, the MAPC said. While homeowners laid off due to COVID can add missed payments to the end of their mortgage, renters will be expected to make up for missed payments once the moratorium ends, the agency said. Even as the state reopens and people go back to work, many rental households wont be able to catch up. The MAPC pointed out that many of the residents who are struggling economically during the ongoing public health crisis already lacked financial security before the mass layoffs and business closures sparked by the pandemic. Based on data from prior years, we estimate that 11% of all working households and 21% of working rental households did not have incomes high enough to pay for estimated basic needs and housing costs, the agency said. This striking measure indicates that hundreds of thousands of working households were forced to make difficult decisions about spending, go into debt or rely on other types of assistance to make ends meet monthly, even before the economic crisis hit. Related Content: White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday dismissed criticisms of Trump administration officials for speaking to the Republican National Convention in apparent violation of the Hatch Act of 1939. The law prevents employees of the federal governments executive branch from engaging in certain kinds of political activity, including soliciting activities or contributions to political causes. Critics have alleged that certain aspects of the RNC may have violated the law, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeos speech from Jerusalem and acting Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolfs participation in a naturalization ceremony at the White House. What its really designed to do is to make sure people like myself and others do not use their political position to try to convince other employees other federal employees that they need to vote one way, need to register one way or need to campaign in one way, Meadows told Politico on Wednesday. We take it on well beyond the original intent of the Hatch Act. Meadows added, Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares. They expect that Donald Trump is going to promote Republican values and they would expect that Barack Obama, when he was in office, that he would do the same for Democrats. Besides Pompeo and Wolf, National Economic Director Larry Kudlow and adviser Kellyanne Conway have also appeared at the RNC. The Democratic National Convention of 2012 featured health secretary Kathleen Sebelius, an Obama appointee who oversaw the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. More from National Review COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sovereign Lending Group, refinance Orange County , is proud to announce that we have made the Inc. 5000 list for fastest-growing private companies for the 8th year in a row! Sovereign Lending Group is proud to achieve this honor and we do not take it for granted. We pride ourselves on growing our company and providing opportunities for professionals who have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you want to learn more about Sovereign Lending Group, refinance Orange County , visit www.slgmortgage.com or call at (800) 817-0201. To see our OPEN POSITIONS, visit our Careers page! Get more updates and follow us on Facebook and Instagram . Refinance Orange County , Sovereign Lending Group, is honored to be selected to the Inc. 5000 list for fastest-growing private companies for the 8th year in a row! We do not take this lightly and because of it, we are expanding our team more than ever this year. Sovereign Lending Group prides itself on providing home loan solutions for hard-working Americans including VA loans. VA loans can be an excellent option because of the lower closing costs as well as the easier qualifications. Other benefits of getting a VA loan include options for a no down payment plan and PMI (no mortgage insurance). We are HIRING dynamic individuals who want to make a difference in people's lives. If that sounds like you, visit our Careers page! Sovereign Lending Group, refinance Orange County , is proud to be adding new members to our team in a time when many others have cut their staff down. In a time where many are downsizing, Sovereign Lending Group is HIRING more employees than ever before. If you are looking to break into an expanding business, look no further than Sovereign Lending Group. Refinance Orange County , Sovereign Lending Group, is ecstatic to be on the Inc. 5000 list for the fastest-growing private companies. It is a great honor for our expansion efforts to be recognized and we cannot wait to add new members to our team. It has never been a better time to refinance your mortgage and Sovereign Lending Group is a great resource for all your mortgage lending needs. There are many reasons to take advantage of these low rates as it can contribute to more financial success for you. About Sovereign Lending Group Sovereign Lending Group, Refinance Orange County , is proud to make the Inc. 5000 list for fastest-growing private companies for the 8th year in a row. We have success because of the excellent staff and the services that we offer. Here at Sovereign Lending Group, we cannot wait to add new members to our team and provide home loan solutions for more hard-working Americans. If you want to JOIN OUR TEAM, visit us at https://www.slgmortgage.com/careers/. If you want to learn more about equal housing lender Sovereign Lending Group NMLS 189421, Refinance Orange County , visit www.slgmortgage.com or call at (800) 817-0201. To get more updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram . SOURCE Sovereign Lending Group Inc. While at Delaware's Prime Hook Beach in the summer of 1985, Cathi Riddle and her cousin thought it would be fun to send a message in a bottle and see if anyone ever responded to their letter. Finally, 35 years later, Riddle received a reply. In the letter, dated Aug. 1, 1985, the girls wrote about their pets and asked the person who found the missive to "please write back when you receive this and tell us about yourself." Riddle told WBOC they were curious about how far the message could go. On Aug. 8, kayaker Brad Wachsmuth was on the Broadkill River near Prime Hook Beach when he saw a bottle floating in the water. He picks up trash during his kayaking adventures, and grabbed the bottle to recycle. Back on shore, he saw there was a piece of paper inside the bottle, and after reading the message, got in touch with the Milton Historical Society, which helped connect him with Riddle. Wachsmuth told WBOC with "the tides and the amount of storms that come here, tropical storms, nor'easters, hurricanes, over 35 years you would expect it wouldn't end up in the same waters." It appears the bottle likely "didn't travel very far," Riddle said, but it's not too far-fetched to believe that "perhaps it traveled the world and came back." More stories from theweek.com Trump's RNC role is a much bigger mistake than Republicans realize Kenosha Police face outrage over their seemingly preferential treatment of shooting suspect Kellyanne Conway delivers ostensible farewell address at RNC Four Cal Fire firefighters parked their engine in a small lot and lined up outside the front doors of Loma Mar Store. The store had been a place where the 100 or so residents of the forested community between Pescadero and La Honda could buy fresh eggs and delicious meals until the pandemic shut off the steady dribble of tourists who kept the business viable. It was a wildfire that brought the store back to life. With the area under evacuation due to the CZU Lightning Complex, the store has become a base of sorts for the dozens of firefighters who are saving the towns from destruction. Its a place where firefighters can grab a free warm meal, park their trucks and cat nap before running to an emergency, said store owner Jeff Haas. Local businesses in Pescadero, including Downtown Local, a coffee shop, Duartes Tavern and Arcangelis Grocery Store, helped provide the free food. Just after 6 p.m. Tuesday, a dinner of artichoke soup and chicken-and-cheese sandwiches from Duartes was ready to be served to the firefighters and other first responders who came to the Loma Mar Store. Loma Mar residents live on farms, homesteads and homes nestled among tall redwoods and surrounded by hills. Its home to Memorial Park with 673 acres of redwoods with hiking trails and picnic areas. The town has been evacuated for nearly a week, but Haas and his wife, Kate Haas, have opened their store every day to serve as a refuge for firefighters continuing to battle the flames. The CZU fires, which are burning in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, scorched 79,640 acres and were 19% contained as of Tuesday evening, Cal Fire said. The blazes have destroyed 443 structures, 11 of which were in San Mateo County and 432 in Santa Cruz County. Some 24,000 other structures continue to be threatened by the fires, including the homes in Loma Mar. As firefighters gathered in the Loma Mar Store parking lot on Tuesday evening to scarf down their dinners, small spot fires burned in the hills surrounding the store. A tree trunk behind the store smoldered. If youre here after dark, youll still see active fire in the hills, Kate Haas said. Kate Haas and her husband live near the store, but evacuated to a friends home. The couple comes to Loma Mar every day to run the store before returning to their friends house. Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle Nathan Abrego, a fire apparatus engineer for Cal Fire, and his crew had just stopped at the store on Tuesday evening after checking on a nearby home that had smoke drifting from the backyard. Abrego, who came from San Luis Obispo to fight the fire, said his main job is to protect homes. So far, no homes or structures had been destroyed in Loma Mar. We havent seen too much of the main fire because its burned out, Abrego said. The weather conditions have been good. He sat on a log outside the store scraping his cup of artichoke soup for the last remaining mouthfuls. Its really good, he said laughing, his face covered in dirt. Having something warm like this, its good. Jeff and Kate Haas bought the nearly 100-year-old Loma Mar Store, which includes a post office, in 2014. The ceiling was refinished with wood from redwoods on the property. The couple built a commercial kitchen in the space. Their hope was to create a community space for their neighbors, and a place where they could sell eggs from the 100 chickens they have on their homestead. For the first year that they opened, thats exactly what it was. They hosted a locals night every Thursday where their chef would create a menu of chile relleno or meatloaf. Sometimes they had live music. On Halloween, Kate Haas dressed as a hippie chick and Jeff Haas wore a vampire costume. Their neighbors came dressed up, too an unexpected treat, they said. But their budding business came to a standstill when the coronavirus pandemic hit and Memorial Park closed to visitors. We are learning a lot of lessons very quickly by perseverance, Jeff Haas said. The lessons didnt end at the pandemic. On Sunday, the fire bore down toward their store and home. Jeff and Kate Haas watched in horror as flames engulfed the hills behind their store. Embers battered the roof of their business. But Cal Fire firefighters already there beat the fire back before they suffered even more loss. On Monday, a redwood caught fire outside the store. But firefighters told the couple to trust them and let it burn. It would be OK, they were told. Ronald Gonsalves was at the store eating dinner with his 28-year-old son, Andrew Gonsalves. The two make up half of the Loma Mar Fire Departments volunteer crew. The CZU Lightning Complex is Ronald Gonsalves first wildfire. He graduated from the fire academy just last December. Im a 58-year-old rookie, he said as he waited for his chicken sandwich. Since the blaze ignited, Ronald and Andrew Gonsalves were recruited by Cal Fire to protect their town. Andrew Gonsalves said in the past week, hes used everything hes learned about wildland firefighting from the academy: structure protection, how to put in line and evacuating residents as the fire came closer. We saved a house, Ronald Gonsalves said. That was cool. Nearby, Mark Obrien, a water tender operator, finished the last of his soup. Hes had three hours of sleep over the past four nights. On Tuesday, he hoped for a few extra hours. You never know where youre going to go these days, Obrien said. Where it is, its fire and it has to be put out. Like Obrien, Gonsalves said he stops regularly at Loma Mar Store to use the internet, stock up on supplies of water and Gatorade, and have a warm meal. Its the only open store in town. His own home is nearby, and he said he has food in the refrigerator, but after a 24-hour shift, hes too tired to cook. Everybody is doing what they have to do, Ronald Gonsalves said. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani By Ruma Paul DHAKA (Reuters) - Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh held a "silent protest" on Tuesday to mark the third anniversary of clashes between Rohingya insurgents and Myanmar security forces that set off a huge movement into Bangladesh of people seeking safety. More than 1 million Rohingya live in the world's largest refugee settlement in southern Bangladesh, with little prospect of returning to Myanmar, where they are mostly denied citizenship and other rights. The refugees said that because of the novel coronavirus they would not hold a mass gathering to mark what they call "Remembrance Day". Authorities say 88 cases of the virus have been found in the camps and six people have died. Three years ago, Rohingya insurgents raided 30 police posts and an army base in Myanmar's Rakhine State, killing at least 12 members of the security forces. The Myanmar military crackdown that followed forced 730,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, joining more than 200,000 already there. "We were forcibly driven out from our motherland to the world's largest refugee camp," Rohingya groups said in a statement. The United Nations said the crackdown by the Myanmar military was carried out with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide, saying its forces were engaged in a legitimate campaign against the Rohingya insurgents, and it was the insurgents who were responsible for most of the violence, including the torching of villages. The refugees said Rohingya had faced "hidden genocide" in Myanmar for decades and they appealed to the United Nations and other organisations to declare what happened in 2017 genocide. "Please stand with innocent Rohingya, and then hopefully we can return to our home," they said in the statement. In some rare good news for the refugees, Bangladesh said on Monday it would soon lift a ban on high-speed mobile internet in the camps that authorities imposed last year citing concern that social media would be used to stir panic. (Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Krishna N. Das, Robert Birsel) Healthcare Is a Basic Human Right The following is adapted from a previous posting from Bren Simon regarding the availability and accessibility of essential healthcare services. Please visit https://brensimon.com/no-one-in-need-of-healthcare-should-be-turned-away-not-ever/ for more information. Its a bold statement but an important one. Healthcare is a basic human right, not to just those who can afford it. St. Vincent Health, a mission-driven alliance of healthcare providers in Indiana, raises funds through its foundation to provide top-of-the-line patient care to those who cannot afford it on their own. Over the past several years, the Bren & Melvin Simon Foundation has supported the foundations lifesaving mission. The foundation supports a wide range of hospital-related initiatives, focused around helping those in need. Almost all proceeds received go directly to helping those in the community who need it most. I truly feel it is crucial to look outside our own needs to improve the lives of others, and few organizations embody my own values and beliefs in the ways that the St. Vincent Foundation does. My late husband and I have always held St. Vincents work close to our hearts through many years together, as it provided support for families close to our home. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://brensimon.com/ The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has demanded a fee cut in national law universities, citing economic woes due to The student organization has sent a memorandum to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, demanding that the students pay fees in instalments instead of a lump sum. The said the facilities which the students have not been using during the corona pandemic should not be charged for. It has also demanded that no penalty should be imposed for delay in paying fees. The has demanded a similar fee exemption in other universities, drawing the attention of the Union Minister towards a fee relief of nearly Rs 63,000 to the students in Gujarat National Law University (GNLU). The GNLU has given an option to the students to pay their fees in instalments by January 2021. The has demanded that other national law universities in the country also give a similar option for paying fees. ABVP National General Secretary Nidhi Tripathi said, "Memorandum has been given to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to grant fee relief to all students studying in national law universities and give them the option to deposit the fee in instalments. Gujarat National Law University has provided tremendous relief to the students by taking the necessary steps suggested by us. Hopefully, the Ministry will take prompt steps on our demands." --IANS Hindi-khz/bg (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Raigad building collapse: Death toll mounts to 16; Rescue operations continue India oi-Briti Roy Barman Mumbai, Aug 26: At least 16 people of whom 7 males and 9 females, died after a building collapsed in a residential area of Mahad in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Monday. One person is still missing , and 78 people have been rescued from the debris till now. The Raigad Police on Tuesday registered a case under Sections 304, 304 A, 337, 338 and 34, against 5 persons. Saddened, says PM Modi on Raigad building collapse Three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed to the site of the tragic accident on late Monday. Also local police and fire brigade join NDRF in the rescue operations. A green corridor was created from Pune to Raigad to create a swift passage for the NDRF teams. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News At 6.50 pm Monday, the top three floors collapsed of the more than 10 years old building. Some residents managed to escape before it came down, reports say. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he was saddened by the incident, and prayed the injured recovered soon. "Saddened by the building collapse in Mahad, Raigad in Maharashtra. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their dear ones. I pray the injured recover soon. Local authorities and NDRF teams are at the site of the tragedy, providing all possible assistance," the statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. British Museum to Reopen With Display of Founders Statue Labeled Slave Owner The British museum is set to reopen on Thursday, after over five months of closure during the CCP virus pandemicbut with changes to displays to reflect the exploitative context of the British Empire. A portrait bust of Sir Hans Sloane, the earliest founder of the British Museum, was taken off its pedestal and put into a display case in the Enlightenment Gallery with a label saying slave owner, The Telegraph reported on Monday. The British newspaper said that the busts new position is among artifacts that explain his work in the exploitative context of the British Empire, and other artifacts will also get new labels explaining how they were acquired by the museum through colonial conquest and military looting. Sloane was a physician as well as a collector. Its believed that the funding of his collection was from both his medical career and his wife, an heiress to sugar plantations in Jamaica worked by enslaved people. When he died in 1753, Sloane bequeathed to the British nation his 71,000-item collection, which became the founding collection of the British Museum, the British Library, and the Natural History Museum. Hartwig Fischer, the museum director, told The Telegraph that dedication to truthfulness when it comes to history is absolutely crucial, with the aim to rewrite our shared, complicated history. The new display will make the relationship between the Enlightenment era, colonialism, and slavery explicit. We have pushed him off the pedestal where nobody looked at him, and placed him in the limelight, Fisher said. The British Museum has done a lot of workaccelerated and enlarged its work on its own history, the history of empire, the history of colonialism, and also of slavery. These are subjects which need to be addressed, and to be addressed properly. We need to understand our own history. Curators told the Telegraph that the Black Lives Matter movement accelerated the decision to highlight the museums history from this angle. Non-profit organization Save Our Statues (SOS), however, argued that the label is not a fair characterization of the museums benefactor. Sloane was not a slave owner, he married the widow of a plantation owner who received 1/3 of its income (i.e. did not own). Sloane was a doctor who gave free surgeries, donated his salary to the hospital & established the Foundling Hospital, SOS wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. The @britishmuseum label is incorrect. Sloane was not a slave owner, he married the widow of a plantation owner who received 1/3 of its income (i.e. did not own). Sloane was a doctor who gave free surgeries, donated his salary to the hospital & established the Foundling Hospital. Save Our Statues (@_SaveOurStatues) August 25, 2020 Movement to Remove Statues Before the British museums announcement, BLM activists had called for a different statue of Sloane to be removed from central London, and places such as Sloane Square renamed. A petition started in June for the removal of Sloanes statue called it an insult that sends chills down the petition writers spine. I believe it is a time to put an end to glorification of pain and suffering, the petition reads. SOS initiated a counter petition on Tuesday to save his statue from the historically illiterate who are attacking British history, heritage, and culture. SOS argued that we are merely custodians of history, which shouldnt be erased or rewritten. Both petitions aim for 1,500 signatures. The original petition had around 1,300 while the counter petition had around 1,400 on Wednesday morning. DUP Councillor Billy Walker of Northern Ireland, where Sloane was born, called the campaign to remove Sloanes statue ridiculous, citing the contributions of Sloane. This man did so much for the worldhe gave us the concept of free museums; he found a cure for smallpox; he pioneered science and medicine to do away with magic for treating illness; he promoted the use of quinine against malaria; he discovered milk [drinking] chocolate; he was the first man to lead both Royal Colleges; he treated the poor for free. The list is endless. He was no slave trader, Walker told the Belfast Telegraph in June. After the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, there has been a renewed campaign to remove statues of people with connections to colonialism, slavery, or that may exacerbate racial tension. On June 7, the statue of 17th century English slave trader and Bristol benefactor Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into the harbor by protesters. It was temporarily replaced with the statue a BLM activist before the replacement was removed by the local council a day later. The toppling of Colstons statue inspired concerned academics, think-tanks, lawyers, politicians, and students to form SOS, the coalition to protect Great Britains exceptional and irreplaceable historical and cultural heritage, according to the organizations website. A statue of Churchill was defaced on June 8 during a protest, and Denmarks famous little mermaid was labeled racist fish in early July. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 20:01:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday contributed 1 million U.S. dollars to the food program of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip. In a press statement sent to Xinhua, the UNRWA said that the release of the contribution followed the signing of an agreement between Guo Wei, director of China's Office to the State of Palestine, and Marc Lassouaoui, a senior official of the UNRWA, on Tuesday. The UNRWA hailed the contribution as generous support from the Chinese government, expressing gratitude for the financial support for the Palestinian people in Gaza. This is the third time that the Chinese government has donated to the UNRWA, after contributing 2.35 million dollars in 2018 and 1 million dollars in 2019, both of which were allocated to mitigate the effects of food insecurity among Palestinian refugee families in Gaza. Guo said that China will continue to "firmly support the just cause of Palestine and support the work of the UNRWA." China has called on the international community to provide more support and assistance to Palestine refugees through the UNRWA, according to Guo. For his part, Lassouaoui voiced his appreciation of China's efforts, saying China's contribution, which has been "very strong and steadfast," will offer great assistance to many Gazans in need of food. The Hamas-run government in Gaza has imposed a lockdown on the coastal enclave after recording new COVID-19 cases inside the strip. "This new contribution ensures the health and safety of Palestine refugees, through a new food distribution modality, which uses door-to-door home delivery to avoid crowding at pick up locations and reduce the risk of spreading the virus," the UNRWA said. Due to the strangling blockade on the enclave by Israel since 2007, many Palestinians in Gaza suffer from poverty, unemployment and instability. Enditem CARLISLE - As shooting victim Kaylee Lyons lay in critical condition in a Hershey Medical Center trauma unit the night of July 30/31, police found a suspect as they were searching for another piece of the puzzle in the confounding case: Lyons missing car. Having received a report from Pennsylvania State Police that the car had been seen at a downtown Carlisle convenience store some 30 minutes earlier, police went to the Carroll Mart in the 300 block of North Hanover Street to look at surveillance video and possibly make an identification of the driver. Thats when the same car drove right back into the lot. Police watched as Carlisle resident Davone Anderson left the store and got back into the car - which had just been listed as stolen by Kaylee Lyons mother in the wake of her daughters shooting - and took him into custody. The next day, after a series of encounters with detectives at Cumberland County Prison, police say Anderson, 25, admitted to shooting both Sydney Parmelee, who officers found dead from a gunshot to the head on July 5, and then Lyons, who was shot on July 30 in the same residence in the 100 block of East Louther Street in Carlisle. Both women had borne children to Anderson, and both were 2014 graduates of Carlisle High School. Carlisle Police Detective Christopher Miller said that Anderson broke off two earlier interview sessions with officers at the prison on July 31, but during processing for DNA and gunshot residue tests, admitted shooting Parmelee because he thought she was cheating on him, and then shooting Lyons more than three weeks later with a different gun because he believed Kaylee was going to turn him in for killing Sydney. It was not immediately clear from Wednesdays testimony why Anderson had developed that suspicion. Lyons mother, Bettina, testified separately that less than a week before the second shooting, on Saturday July 25, Kaylee Lyons was celebrating a second pregnancy with Anderson, putting a decoration referring to a future Davone Jr. on her refrigerator door. Her daughter, she said, seemed very happy that day. Autopsy records later confirmed that Lyons, 23, was about six weeks pregnant when she was killed. Anderson attended the hearing via a Zoom conference call from the prison, where he is being held without bail. He will stay there now to await trial on two counts of first-degree murder, receiving stolen property and related charges after Magisterial District Judge Jon Birbeck ordered all charges to Cumberland County Court. His attorney, Michael Palermo, said afterward he is not surprised that charges were sent to trial court given the existence of the confession, but he cautioned that no one should draw any conclusions about the case until all the evidence is in, including police body camera footage of Andersons interviews. The shootings - which quietly mystified friends and family of Parmelee and Lyons for weeks, and have since shocked the community at large - started on the 4th of July holiday weekend. That Sunday, the 5th, police responding to a reported suicide found Parmelees body on a couch in the East Louther Street apartment at 4:42 p.m. with an apparent gunshot to the head. A pistol, which had been stolen from its registered owner in August 2019, was found on the floor by her. The death scene was, ironically, Lyons residence, though police noted Kaylee was at work and not at home when the Parmelee shooting occurred. Anderson spoke with police at the scene that day, telling officers that Parmelee, who had two children by him, had followed him to Lyons home where the two of them argued. Detective Tom Dolan said Anderson told him he went outside to smoke a cigarette and heard the shot. Dolan said Anderson told him he ran back inside, saw Parmelee sprawled on the couch, grabbed his 14-month-old son to Lyons and left. Anderson, who did not testify Wednesday, said he then ran to his mothers home and told her to call 9-1-1. But information published in Andersons criminal complaint showed police had doubts about the suicide report. Police said Parmelees newly purchased cell phone and wallet were missing. And follow-up reviews of Parmelees cell phone messages showed there was no evidence that Parmelee wanted to commit suicide, the investigators said. Nor were there gunpowder burns or other marks on Parmelees body to indicate she had shot herself at point-blank range, they said. An autopsy completed on July 7 determined Parmelees wound was not self-inflicted, and the death was formally classified as a homicide. Police did not make any immediate arrests at that point, perhaps because they were awaiting the results of ballistics tests on the gun found at Parmelees side. Police did not immediately respond to questions on that point Wednesday. Anderson was a person of interest almost immediately after the Lyons shooting on July 30, however, in part because that case was uncovered when he asked his mother and another woman, with no further explanation, to go to the Louther Street house to tend to his and Lyons son. The women found Lyons on the floor of the Louther Street home with a gunshot wound to her head around 9:15 p.m. Miller testified Wednesday they could not locate Anderson in the aftermath of the second shooting, The criminal complaint noted that another unidentified witness, who was not called to testify Wednesday, told police Anderson went to a home in Harrisburg shortly after Lyons shooting, where he got a change of clothes and some bleach and went into a bathroom. That witness, police said, told them Anderson had a gun in his possession that night, asked for ammunition, asked about being tracked and said he didnt want anyone to know where he was. In the intervening hours, Bettina Lyons filed the stolen car report, and the car and Anderson were located at the Carroll Mart later that night. Anderson was held in prison from that point on without bail because of Birbecks determination that Anderson posed a high danger to the community. The first prison interview occurred on the morning of July 31, Miller said, when he told Anderson he wanted to talk to him about everything thats going on. The following day, Aug. 1, Miller said he went back to the prison to follow up on a previously-discussed offer to take Anderson on a ride to see if they could locate the gun he said he used to kill Lyons, but Anderson said he didnt want to talk further without an attorney, and that ride was cancelled. Homicide charges were filed against Anderson in both cases, police said, after the receipt of ballistics tests results from the Parmelee shooting on Aug. 9. Besides the murder charges, which carry an automatic sentence of life in prison upon conviction and could lead prosecutors to seek the death penalty, Anderson is charged with two counts of illegally possessing firearms - he is disqualified from possessing a gun because of a 2017 drug conviction; receiving stolen property, both for having the gun and Lyonss car; and child endangerment. With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 5.2x The Brighton Pier Group PLC (LON:PIER) may be sending very bullish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in the United Kingdom have P/E ratios greater than 17x and even P/E's higher than 35x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly reduced P/E. Brighton Pier Group certainly has been doing a great job lately as it's been growing earnings at a really rapid pace. It might be that many expect the strong earnings performance to degrade substantially, which has repressed the P/E. If that doesn't eventuate, then existing shareholders have reason to be quite optimistic about the future direction of the share price. View our latest analysis for Brighton Pier Group pe We don't have analyst forecasts, but you can see how recent trends are setting up the company for the future by checking out our free report on Brighton Pier Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow. Does Growth Match The Low P/E? In order to justify its P/E ratio, Brighton Pier Group would need to produce anemic growth that's substantially trailing the market. Taking a look back first, we see that the company grew earnings per share by an impressive 66% last year. The latest three year period has also seen a 14% overall rise in EPS, aided extensively by its short-term performance. So we can start by confirming that the company has actually done a good job of growing earnings over that time. Weighing the recent medium-term upward earnings trajectory against the broader market's one-year forecast for contraction of 3.8% shows it's a great look while it lasts. In light of this, it's quite peculiar that Brighton Pier Group's P/E sits below the majority of other companies. It looks like most investors are not convinced at all that the company can maintain its recent positive growth rate in the face of a shrinking broader market. Story continues What We Can Learn From Brighton Pier Group's P/E? Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company. We've established that Brighton Pier Group currently trades on a much lower than expected P/E since its recent three-year earnings growth is beating forecasts for a struggling market. We think potential risks might be placing significant pressure on the P/E ratio and share price. One major risk is whether its earnings trajectory can keep outperforming under these tough market conditions. It appears many are indeed anticipating earnings instability, because this relative performance should normally provide a boost to the share price. Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Brighton Pier Group that you should be aware of. It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20x). 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. Dallas, TX, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The number one selling brand in slow-smoked barbecue Dickeys Barbecue Pit is launching their biggest online sale of the year in celebration of Labor Day. From August 31 September 8, Dickeys is offering 50% off for nearly all items in their retail collection. Popular items such as Dickeys original barbecue sauce, seasonings, apparel, rubs and barbecue beans will only be available at the discounted price through athome.dickeys.com for the limited-time end of summer sale. For Labor Day weekend, weve got all of the top-of-the-line products you need to elevate your barbecue grilling game at half the price, said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants Inc. Weve also curated new recipes for our At Home website that combine our familys bbq expertise with unique, unexpected flavors that everyone from pit masters to picky eaters are sure to love for their Labor Day cookouts. Recipes for slow-smoked dips, drinks, sides, desserts, appetizers and more are listed on athome.dickeys.com for barbecue fans to try at home and range from elixirs such as a smoked grapefruit paloma to Caribbean stuffed peppers. Visit Athome.Dickeys.com to purchase products and discover exclusive content including recipes, deals and find a participating retailer near you. Learn more about franchising with Dickeys Barbecue Pit by visiting franchise.dickeys.com or call (866) 340-6188. Find your nearest Dickeys Barbecue Pit location by visiting dickeys.com/locations. Follow Dickeys on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys App from the Apple App Store or Google Play. About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. For the past 79 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked on-site in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why they never say bbq. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. The fast-casual concept has expanded worldwide with two international locations in the UAE and operates over 500 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and was named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur in 2018. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, QSR Magazine, Forbes Magazine and Nations Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. Attachment SEBI imposed a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on the National Stock Exchange for making changes in compensation policy for senior management level people without taking prior approval from the markets regulator. The change in the policy resulted in encashment of accumulated ordinary leaves for NSE's former managing directors and chief executive officers -- Ravi Narain and Chitra Ramkrishna -- above the limit of 360 days granted by the exchange without taking Sebi's prior nod, an order said. According to Sebi, this led to non-compliance with the provisions of the SECC or Securities Contracts (Regulation) (Stock Exchanges and Clearing Corporations) Regulations. "The noticee (National Stock Exchange), being the leading regulated stock exchange in India, should have set higher standards of compliance which is found missing in the present case," Sebi said. "Further, the material brought on record shows that the failure of taking prior approval from Sebi before making a change in its policy which was approved by the Compensation Committee/ NSE Board of NSE on November 26, 2012 may be a single instance but, it has led to violation on repeated instances...," the order said. The instances include encashment of accumulated ordinary leave by Ravi Narain and Chitra Ramkrishna over and above the limit of 360 days at the time of his retirement and her resignation, respectively, it added. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had received a letter from Ministry of Finance regarding a news report which referring to the NSE's annual report stated that Ramkrishna earned about Rs 44 crore in a period of three years during which she held the position at the exchange and that she earned Rs 23 crore as total remuneration in the last eight months of her tenure. She was a former MD and CEO of the exchange. Based on the reference from the ministry, Sebi initiated an examination of the matter. Under the NSE policy, leave encashment of up to 360 days is permitted for an employee. However, on comparing the approved compensation and actual gross compensation paid for the period of eight months and two days to Ramkrishna for the financial year 2016-2017, Sebi observed that the NSE board on the basis of the recommendation of its Nomination and Remuneration Committee permitted an additional encashment of 168 days. The extra remuneration paid to Ramkrishna on account of encashment of this additional 168 days of leave was Rs 1.54 crore, as per Sebi. Sebi said such nature of default with regard to non-adherence to guidelines prescribed under the SECC Regulations as observed in this case would compromise the regulatory framework and should be dealt with by imposing monetary penalty so as to send an effective message to the market participants as a whole. Accordingly, Sebi decided to impose a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the NSE. Join scientists as they explore the SS Portland, sometimes known as the Titanic of New England, which sank in November 1898, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI). WHOI is offering live ship-to-shore broadcasts that will give you a behind-the-scenes look at an oceanographic research expedition in action, as well as a close-up view of one of our nations defining undersea features. The shallow waters of the Stellwagen Bank, an underwater plateau off the coast of Boston, create treacherous conditions that change unexpectedly and have led to numerous shipwrecks that dot the seafloor, WHOIs website states. That includes the fateful night the the steamship Portland, which took the lives of about 200 people. The expedition to return to the wreck will explore both aspects of the wrecks importance and will help document changes that have occurred since its discovery and will hopefully provide greater insight into why the ship sank, the website states. The broadcasts are 45 minutes long and students can submit questions. The live videos are held Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday: Thursday: Related Content: WASHINGTON - The twin brother of a key witness in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump has filed a federal complaint alleging retaliation by the White House and possible ethical violations and sexist behaviour by top officials, including Robert OBrien, now national security adviser. In the August complaint, Lt. Col Yevgeny Vindman alleges he faced retaliation from Trump and White House officials after raising concerns about the presidents pressure on Ukrainian officials to investigate Democrat Joe Bidens family the heart of the Democrats impeachment inquiry. Vindman also said he reported multiple allegations that OBrien and another official misused government resources, excluded women from meetings and made sexist and demeaning remarks. The White House is strongly denying those claims, calling them ridiculous and false. The complaint was first revealed by House Democrats, who on Wednesday pressed the Pentagons inspector general, Sean ODonnell, to investigate what they called a concerted effort by the Trump administration to retaliate against Vindman and his brother, retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. The development is the latest twist in the fallout from impeachment. Administration officials who testified against Trump have been fired, demoted or reassigned while those who refused to participate have faced little consequence. Democrats have pushed back on the seeming retaliation, pledging to protect whistleblowers who co-operated with the impeachment inquiry and those who want to talk to Congress in the future. Both Vindmans worked for the National Security Council in the White House and were reassigned to the Army after the Senate voted to acquit Trump in his impeachment trial. Alexander Vindman was a star witness in the Democrats inquiry, appearing in his military uniform and testifying that he didnt think it was proper for Trump to demand that a foreign government investigate Biden. Vindman said he had raised concerns internally over the matter. In a letter to the Pentagon watchdog, the Democrats said it is all the more urgent that the Defence Department investigate and closely examine actions taken by White House officials against the Vindmans in light of the new complaint. If the White House refuses to co-operate fully including by denying requests for documents or for interviews with White House officials we will have no other choice but to infer that any such actions were retaliatory, the Democrats wrote. The letter was signed by the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff of California; the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington; the chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York; and Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, who heads the House Oversight and Reform subcommittee on national security. Dwrena Allen, spokeswoman for the inspector general, said the office received the Democrats letter and is reviewing the request. Mark Zaid, a lawyer for Yevgeny Vindman, confirmed the existence of the complaint and said it states that that senior White House officials, to include the president, retaliated against him for performing his duty as an attorney and soldier. The White House did not immediately comment on the allegations. In a summary, Democrats say Yevgeny Vindman details allegations of legal and ethical violations committed by White House officials that he both personally witnessed and became aware of in his capacity as an NSC Deputy Legal Advisor and a senior ethics official on the NSC staff. The Democrats said he had outlined many of his concerns in a memo to Defence Department lawyers within a month of his reassignment. The allegations are wide-ranging, including his apprehension about the pressure on Ukraine and the behaviour of OBrien, who was then the assistant to the president for national security affairs. Vindman said he had also raised concerns about OBriens use of official resources for personal activities, including government-funded travel with his wife, and that OBrien and the National Security Councils chief of staff, Alex Gray, had engaged in demeaning and demoralizing sexist behaviour against female NSC officials. Vindman said he learned in his capacity as a senior ethics official that the two men would inappropriately comment on womens looks, talk down to women and exclude women from meetings. It is unclear what incidents Vindman claims to have personally witnessed. Yevgeny Vindman said he had also raised concerns with NSC lawyers that the men were misusing NSC staff official time for personal errands including scheduling haircut appointments, retrieving personal luggage and to co-ordinate personal dinner arrangements. In a statement, White House communications director Alyssah Farah said OBrien and these other senior staff are highly valued members of the presidents national security team with impeccable reputations during their years in public service. Farah called Vindman a junior-level disgruntled former detailee who made baseless attacks for partisan purposes. She said he had almost no interaction with OBrien and that he had been reassigned for poor performance. Democrats had previously requested that the inspector general investigate retaliation against Alexander Vindman, who announced in July that he was retiring from the Army after more than two decades of service. His lawyer said at the time that Trump had run a campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation against him. ___ Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. New Delhi, Aug 26 : Hallucination, paranoia, depression and loss of mind control are some effects of the drugs mentioned in the alleged drug chat of actress Rhea Chakraborty, which adds a new twist to the death case of her late boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Importantly, these effects fit right into the narrative around his mental health, be it his reported hallucinatory episode in Europe or his alleged struggle with depression. In the WhatsApp chats made public, Rhea allegedly talks of using MDMA and also discusses marijuana. "In case we speak about hard drugs, I haven't been doing too much. Tried MDMA once," she allegedly messaged a man named Gaurav Arya, asking him: "You have MD?" A message sent to her by one Jaya Saha on November 25 last year read: "Use 4 drops in coffee, tea or water and let him sip it. Give it 30-40 minutes for it to kick in." It is being presumed that the "him" refers to Sushant. According to doctors, MDMA is a psychotropic drug. "MDMA is classified as a stimulant. Without making a reference to Sushant Singh Rajput as we can't ascertain right now, whether he was taking it or not, I can tell you that the drug works by increasing metabolism and neurochemicals. It is a psychoactive substance, one can feel more energetic, excited, and also have hallucinatory experiences," doctor and director (Asia Pacific) at World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) Sunil Mittal told IANS. "People report a crash when they come off the high, and sometimes a moment of dullness. The effect starts with euphoria, happiness, rapid talking, perception changes, and hallucinations. People feel more connected. Some of the psychological withdrawals include paranoia, depression and restlessness," added Mittal, who is also director at Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences (CIMBS). Madhulika Sharma, former doctor from Central Forensic Science Laboratory, New Delhi, also mentioned that the drugs directly affect the nervous system. "One can remain confused, you don't have your own thinking, have shaky hands. When the effect wears out, your nervous system becomes dull. You don't have control over it," she said. Leading psychiatrist Samir Parikh added: "MDA is a stimulant that when used cause addiction, dependence, and impairment of thinking and judgement." Sushant was found dead in his Bandra flat on June 14. His girlfriend Rhea and her family has been accused by the late actor's father of abetting his son's suicide, among other charges. Madhulika feels one should go for re-examination to ascertain if there was any drug in Sushant's body. "The viscera report states no drug was found in the body. It is better if one goes for re-examination from somewhere else other than Maharashtra. If that shows nothing, then there is no point in digging this up," she said. Meanwhile, Rhea's lawyer on Tuesday night said that the actress has never consumed drugs and is ready for any test to prove the fact. YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. TUMO center opened in the Russian capital, Moscow on August 26, ARMENPRESS was informed from the TUMO center for creative technologies. Following Paris and Beirut, now the youngsters of Moscow will be able to get acquainted with the TUMO program, use the newest technologies and gain skills in a number of modern spheres. Thanks to the cooperation between TUMO and Genome Ventures the TUMO members of Moscow will be able to specialize in 8 spheres in the initial stage - programming, graphic design, robotics, 3D modeling, game creation, music, filmmaking and animation.In the future 6 more directions will be available - Website creation, drawing, photography, new media, mobile graphics and arts. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin attended the opening of the center. Technological education is very demanded and popular in Moscow. I am confident there will be huge aspiration for studying here, he said. TUMO center is located in the center of Moscow, next to Moscow City business center. It has its own building and is designed for 2 thousand students. Classes will start from October. 2 more international TUMO centers will open until the end of the year in Berlin and Tirana. Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan According to a July report from Yelp, more than 1,100 businesses shut their doors across Connecticut during the coronavirus pandemic. Between March 1 and July 10, 1,162 businesses in Connecticut closed their doors, both temporarily and permanently, according to data provided from the crowd-sourced review website Yelp. Of those businesses, 671 were noted as permanently closed as of July 10. October 20, 1935 August 5, 2020 John Terry "Jack" McKissen was born in Grand Junction, Colorado, the fourth child of Harry Escol McKissen and Mary Ethel Handley. Doctors advised that Ethel cease child-bearing, as she was becoming increasingly thin, so Jack was her last child. The entire family was musical, playing and singing together frequently. News clippings show that he went to the Colorado-Wyoming spelling bee both years of junior high school. High school records show steady participation in FFA and Band, an IQ score of 131, and that he went directly from high school to Western State (Gunnison, CO) in 1953, at age 17. There he played trombone in the concert band as well as in a travelling dance band. He took one year off to lead the dance band, billed as "John Terry and his Orchestra" on advertising posters. After receiving his Bachelor of Music Education in May 1958, he travelled to enter service in the United States Navy. His service began at the Officer Candidate School at Newport Rhode Island from July 1958 to April 1959, followed by three years' service on the U.S.S. Samuel N. Moore DD-747. Amongst other ports, Jack visited Seattle, Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines during his service. A civilian again, Jack picked up his trombone, but found that disc jockeys had impacted the viability of travelling dance bands. Jack never stopped making music, but did return to school, earning his Master's of Education from Eastern State (Cheney, WA). He then taught music, first in Almira, Washington, and then for 27 years in the Grand Coulee Dam School District. It was in Grand Coulee that he met Alice Ann Walter, a home economics teacher. They married June 16, 1969, and produced two children, Alicia and Matt. Jack unfailingly supported his family members and students in their own interests, whatever those were. He remained a life-long learner and armchair traveler, as well as a musician, right to the end. Jack and Alice were married for 50 years before Alice passed away, just ten months before Jack. Also predeceasing Jack were his parents, siblings, and one grandchild. Surviving are Alicia, Matt, many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and grandchildren. A memorial gathering will be held the afternoon of June 16, 2021, at Spring Canyon. Much-loved media personality Bonang Matheba will co-produce and host this year's Nubian Music Festival, which will take place via livestream from Sun City on 29 August 2020. Matheba who has just come off a hugely successful TV special on SABC1, A Very Bonang Year will lead the show, which is a celebration of Womens Month with a female-led lineup including the queen of Afro-jazz, Judith Sephuma; Limpopos superstar rapper Sho Madjozi; house/dance star Lady Zamar; platinum-selling Afro-pop princess Amanda Black; and Mahikeng groove queen Aus Tebza.Im excited to be producing my first livestream music event, especially from Sun City, in the province where I was born. This is an important month for women to be inspired to realise their dreams and this livestream intends to do just that along with some of the countrys and Africas greatest female artists in their music fields, says Matheba. Nubian Music Festival founder Mpho Mathope adds: It is an honour to be able to livestream this celebration of South African women and especially the amazing artists who present our music heritage to the world. Were also excited that we can bring the Nubian goal of promoting social togetherness and cultural tolerance to an even larger audience in the age of Covid-19. Tickets to Nubian Festival Celebrating Womens Month can be purchased on Computicket online and at Shoprite and Checkers stores across South Africa. If fans cant make the livestream itself (from 3pm on August 29), tickets can also be purchased for on-demand streaming of either the entire show or chosen artists for 48 hours after the live show ends. MINSK -- Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich has said she thinks the crisis in Belarus could be resolved with assistance from the international community and help from Russia, as protests challenging the results of this month's presidential election continued for an 18th day. Alexievich is one of dozens of public figures who formed the opposition Coordination Council last week in the aftermath of the country's disputed August 9 presidential election. Her remarks on August 26 came as she arrived at the Investigative Committee's headquarters in Minsk, where she was summoned for questioning as part of a widening clampdown on opposition calls for the resignation of the country's longtime authoritarian ruler, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The 65-year-old Belarusian leader, who has ruled the country since 1994, has shown his determination to stay in power despite more than two weeks of demonstrations and strikes at industrial plants that have posed the greatest challenge yet to his 26-year rule. The electoral results and postelection crackdown are facing growing Western condemnation, with European Union foreign ministers expected to agree sanctions this week on Belarusian officials. Neighboring Russia, a historical ally that wields some influence over Minsk through financial and political levers, has warned the EU and the United States against interfering in Belarusian affairs "Any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs [of Belarus] and to put pressure on its authorities would be counterproductive," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on August 26 during a call with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, according to a Kremlin statement. Alexievich told journalists that the Belarusians "need assistance from the world and, probably, from Russia in order to overcome this crisis." She adding that she expected a peaceful resolution of the crisis, which has seen tens of thousands of people demonstrate regularly against the official results of the August 9 poll that gave Lukashenka a new six-year term. "In my opinion, there will definitely be a long period of political reshuffling. Perhaps the world will help us, so that Lukashenka starts talking to us. For now, he's only talking to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, so, perhaps, Putin will help us," Alexievich said. She emerged from the Investigative Committee building after a short time and said she had refused to answer investigators' questions, invoking her right not to testify against herself. "The more we stay together, the stronger we will be, and the greater chance we will have of making the authorities talk to us," she said, adding that there was no basis for the investigation. Alexievich, who has been critical of the government, is not known to have taken part in any of the Coordination Councils public meetings. The 72-year-old author reportedly rarely leaves her home due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities in Belarus have stepped up pressure on prominent protest organizers and members of the Coordination Council, which the chairman of Belarus's Constitutional Court on August 25 called unconstitutional. Last week, a criminal case was launched against the council, set up with the stated aim of opening negotiations with the government to pave the way for a transfer of power. Lukashenka has called it an illegal attempt to seize power. Alyaksandr Lavrinovich, the head of the strike-organizing committee at the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant, was handed a 10-day jail sentence on August 26 on charges of organizing an unsanctioned protest. Earlier this week, two members of the Coordination Council presidium were jailed for 10 days on similar charges. One of them, Syarhey Dyleuski, was also a strike organizer. On August 26, riot police dispersed protesters who had gathered in Minsk's central Independence Square, and detained at least 14 of them, according to the human rights center Vyasna. While police moved to disperse the demonstration, officers blocked the doors of the nearby Church of Sts. Simon and Helen, where several dozen protesters had found refuge. Journalists were said to be among them. Minsk Bishop Yury Kasabutski condemned the police action as a violation of freedom of conscience and religion and an insult to believers. Detentions were also reported in another area of Minsk and in the western city of Brest. In the capital, residents also formed long lines in several parts of the capital to sign a petition demanding the resignation of lawmakers in a parliament outwardly loyal to Lukashenka. Also on August 26, a spokesman for the state Janka Kupala National Academic Theater said dozens of staff had resigned in a show of solidarity after its director, Paval Latushka, who is also a member of the Coordination Council, was fired. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly told visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on August 25 that there were many questions in Belarus over the legitimacy of the way the Coordination Council was formed. Despite the crackdown, the exiled challenger in the presidential election vowed on August 25 that the country's pro-democracy movement "will not be broken." "Belarusians have shown over the past two weeks that they will not give up" despite repression, intimidation by physical force, and threats of imprisonment, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee via video link. She was speaking from Lithuania, where she fled following the vote amid reports that she and her family had been threatened by authorities in Minsk. The EU and the United States have dismissed the Belarusian election as neither free nor fair and urged the countrys authorities to engage in dialogue with Tsikhanouskaya's team. EU officials say the bloc's foreign ministers will look to target "between 15 and 20" Belarusian regime figures with asset freezes and travel bans over their involvement in falsifying the election and cracking down on protesters when they meet in Berlin for two days of informal talks starting on August 27. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on August 26 slammed the Belarusian authorities for their "severe human rights violations and violations of basic democratic principles," adding that these violations would "not go unanswered." Maas, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, said it was "absolutely unacceptable" that members of the Coordinating Council had been "imprisoned, interrogated, and intimidated." Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda deplored the "deteriorating" situation in regard to the postelection crackdown in Belarus. "It appears that the more afraid the regime is, the more inappropriately it reacts to the situation, and the more brutally it treats its own people," Nauseda said. Latvia's government said that it would make 150,000 euros ($177,000) available to support civil society and independent media in Belarus. And leaders of the Council of Europe said Belarusian authorities should "urgently initiate a broad-based and inclusive national dialogue, fully involving civil society, to ensure a peaceful way out of the current crisis and opening the door for necessary reforms benefiting all Belarusian citizens." Meanwhile, Lukashenka has ordered the military into full combat readiness, claiming that Belarus is facing a potential invasion and raising the prospect that the army may unleash a much-feared bloody crackdown to suppress the unprecedented wave of street protests across the country. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on August 26 that any attempt by the Belarusian government to use the Western alliance as a scapegoat and crack down on protests was "wrong and unjustified." Speaking in Berlin before a meeting of EU defense ministers, he also called for free and fair elections in Belarus. "There is no military NATO buildup in the region, so any attempt by the regime in Belarus to use NATO as an excuse or a pretext to crack down on demonstrators in their own country is absolutely wrong and absolutely unjustified," Stoltenberg told reporters. With reporting by Current Time, Reuters, AP, TASS, Interfax, dpa, AFP, and Tut.by A giant snowman erected on the bank of Songhua River in Harbin, the capital of Northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province, has drawn much attention online. Around 2,000 cubic meters of snow was used to create the 18.5-meter-tall figure dressed in a red hat and scarf. Since December, ice and snow sculptures featuring Winter Olympics and Lunar New Year elements have popped up across the city famed for its ice festivals, drawing many visitors Jan 20, 2022 06:19 PM Amey has been awarded extra funding to develop technology that could change the way traffic management on roads is carried out, boosting safety in the process. In an announcement on Tuesday the firm, which is owned by Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, said it had received 759,000 ($998,259) from Highways England. According to Amey, the money will be used to design an impact protection vehicle, or IPV, to keep roadworkers safe when laying out traffic management measures on "live carriageways." The first phase of the project received funding back in 2018. The vehicle is set to incorporate technology that will allow it to, among other things, automatically deploy advanced warning signs and impact protection systems. At the moment, workers need to manually lay out traffic management measures, a task that is not without risk. "While we are doing all we can to change driver behavior and prevent traffic management incursions, we cannot eliminate all risk," Catherine Brookes, Highways England regional director, said in a statement. "But measures such as this new type of IPV could protect the lives of our workers and road users and we look forward to seeing its further development," Brookes added. The IPV's development has been a communal effort: Amey has collaborated with organizations including Highways England, the Manufacturing and Technology Centre and Coventry University. The next few years could see a big shift in the way roads operate, with advances in technology set to usher in a new era of transportation focused on automation. Over in the U.S., for example, the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, recently unveiled plans to create a 40 mile "connected and autonomous vehicle" corridor in the state. And just last week, the U.K. government started a consultation on the use of Automated Lane Keeping System technology on Britain's freeways. In an announcement unveiling its plans, the government described ALKS as "an automated system that can take over control of the vehicle at low speeds, keeping it in lane on motorways." It explained that the tech had been developed to enable drivers to "delegate the task of driving to the vehicle," noting that a human would need to be ready to retake control of the vehicle when prompted. Former President and Flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. John Dramani Mahama, has appealed to voters to repose their confidence in the party as Ghana goes to the polls in December, this year. He said the party would not disappoint the people if given the mandate, outlining various development projects and programmes that the NDC had in store for the nation. Our vision is to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians through a well-structured economy that provides jobs and security for the people, he assured, when he paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi. The delegation included Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Running Mate to the former President, as well as some bigwigs of the Party. The visit was to officially introduce the two NDC leaders to the king and also ask for his spiritual support as the largest opposition party seeks to regain power in the impending presidential and parliamentary elections. Citing the NDCs BIG PUSH agenda, which aimed at injecting into the economy some US$10 billion, the former President said the plan had been designed to drive job creation, entrepreneurial and infrastructural growth. The package, he said, would be rolled out over a five-year period, explaining that an amount of two billion dollars would be injected into the economy every year for five years. This is to provide potable water, health and educational facilities to bring prosperity to the people. Former President Mahama emphasized that, under the package, a number of road networks would see significant improvement such as the Accra-Cape Coast, Accra-Aflao and the Eastern Corridor roads, with plans to also reshape cocoa roads across the country. He said an NDC-led Administration would provide agricultural equipment to farmers to enhance agro-processing, to help reduce post-harvest losses. Former President Mahama said the largest opposition party had the antidote to Ghanas socio-economic problems, urging the citizenry to give the NDC another chance. Otumfuo Osei Tutu lauded Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang on her choice as Running Mate to the NDC Flag-bearer. He advised her to endeavour to bring her expertise to bear in the activities of the party as it sought to regain power. 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 Flash Russia warns the United States and the European Union (EU) against any form of interference in Belarus' internal affairs, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday in a statement following talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in Moscow. "During the exchange of views on the current situation in Belarus, the Russian side emphasized the inadmissibility of attempts to exert pressure on Minsk, either through sanctions or politically, in order to undermine the process of establishing a mutually respectful dialogue in the country," the statement said. "Russia warns the U.S. and the EU against any form of interference in the internal affairs of Belarus, including open calls for anti-government demonstrations that are ongoing in some capitals," it added. Belarus has been witnessing mass protests after incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term in the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results. courtesy photo Realty.com, a privately-held national real estate brokerage and portal based in Houston, purchased a 20-story office building in the North Houston/Greenspoint area as part of a plan to expand into commercial real estate. The 400,000-square-foot building at 363 N. Sam Houston Parkway East was purchased from Manny Khoshbin, according to Realty.com. The building is 33 percent leased. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has described his boss President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a person who is very "demanding". Vice President Dr Bawumia on Tuesday had a one-on-one discussion with renowned Broadcaster, Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' and in an answer to what his biggest challenges as Vice President has been, he said President Akufo-Addo is "almost a workaholic" and "demanding". "As Vice President . . . I have a boss who really wants things to be done in a hurry; hes almost a workaholic . . . at his age he is stronger than us the younger men; hes demanding and its something that we all have to work to . . . you cannot relax; you have to keep going at it . . . it can be a challenge but it also helps us all know what is going on . . . the whole issue of wanting to deliver quickly but sometimes government doesnt move as quickly as you do. I realized in government that if you want something in six months time you should say you want it in three months time". Election 2020 Speaking on the upcoming elections in December, Vice President Dr Bawumia says if the party is able to communicate its achievements and policies well, Ghanaians will vote in their favour. "Election 2020 is in Gods hands . . . I believe if we are able to communicate our policies and how they have benefitted people then the people will look at us favourable . . . but we don't want to take anything for granted . . . we have to work but pray and leave it in the hands of God. ," he added. Listen to Dr. Bawumia This is not the first time someone close to the President is giving him such a description. The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has on several ocassions described him as a workaholic. Speaking to Nana Yaw Kesse on Peace FM's 'The Platform' programme he narrated how the President keeps late hours just to get things done. "Akufo-Addo is a workaholic . . . " he said. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video She began her career as a fashion model in the late 1970s before transitioning to a successful acting career. And Monica Bellucci cut a glamorous figure as she attended the Spoleto63 Festival of 2Worlds in Spoleto, Italy on Wednesday. The actress, 55, was every inch the film star as she posed on a balcony overlooking the festival stage with a scenic view of the city. Stunning: Monica Bellucci, 55, cut a glamorous figure as she attended the Spoleto63 Festival of 2Worlds in Spoleto, Italy on Wednesday Monica looked radiant as ever as she donned a black long-sleeved top with a v-neckline. The Italian beauty styled her brunette locks into an updo for the day while she added to her look with a pair of shades. Monica is a regular on the festival circuit and most recently attended the Taormina: 66 Taormina Film Festival in honour of Dolce & Gabbana last month. The star was seen without her man Nicolas Lefebvre, 36, who she has been believed to be dating since May 2017, four years after her split from ex-husband Vincent Cassell. Beauty: The actress was every inch the film star as she posed on a balcony overlooking the festival stage with a scenic view of the city Glamorous: Monica looked radiant as ever as she donned a black long-sleeved top with a v-neckline The actress first confirmed she was seeing someone in an interview with Paris Match last November, but stayed coy about her partner's identity. Admitting they had been dating a while and things were going well, she said of her new man: 'The man I share my life with doesn't have the same job as me, but he travels a lot. His rhythm of life complements mine.' Asked whether she would consider getting married again, the former Bond girl kept her cards close to her chest. She said: 'When you've been married twice before, you need to take time to think about it before starting over, to understand why it happened and why you divorced. Let's just say I'm in a learning phase at the moment.' Monica was married to fashion photographer Claudio Carlos Basso from 1990 until 1994, and then Matrix star Vincent Cassel from 1999 until 2015. K-State civil engineering summit focuses on commercial vehicle safety Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020 MANHATTAN Kansas State University Department of Civil Engineering faculty will host a 2021 Midwest Commercial Vehicles Safety Summit to reduce the number and severity of commercial vehicle crashes through an exchange of ideas. A grant of nearly $400,000 from the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will bring together regional commercial vehicle champions, including state highway agency officials, regional policymakers, emergency services personnel, commercial vehicle enforcement, advocacy groups and private industry, to focus discussion on the creation of the following federal research needs: Increased public and private awareness of commercial vehicle safety culture. Improved road safety for commercial vehicles and buses through deployment of new countermeasures to reduce the severity of crashes. Improved safety and security of the transporting of goods. Better commercial vehicle resiliency to natural disasters. Demonstrated effectiveness of new technologies to increase commercial vehicle safety through human factor interventions. Enhanced quality and quantity of commercial vehicle safety data. The K-State team is led by Eric Fitzsimmons, assistant professor and the Hal and Mary Siegele professorship in engineering, along with civil engineering colleagues Christopher Jones, associate professor and Wallis-Lage Family Cornerstone teaching scholar, and Scott Schiff, teaching professor and Wallis-Lage Family Carl and Mary Ice Cornerstone teaching scholar. The three have set a goal of bringing 150 attendees to the Midwest Commercial Vehicle Safety Summit in Kansas City, Missouri, next year. "We hope to double or triple this number of participants with future summits," Fitzsimmons said, "as there is a great need to develop and expand a commercial vehicle safety culture in the Midwest." The Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration awarded nearly $80 million in grants to states and educational institutions to enhance commercial motor vehicle safety under this program. These most recent awards represent the highest-ever funding level for these critical safety grants. Exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law holds a placard outside the Italian Foreign Ministry, ahead of a meeting between Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Rome, Italy, on Aug. 25, 2020. (Yara Nard/ Reuters) Hong Kong Activist Warns West to Shun Chinese Technology Ties ROMEChinese businesses like Huawei Technologies pose a threat to the West, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law said on a visit to Italy on Tuesday, shortly before the Italian foreign minister was due to meet Chinas top diplomat. Law, a former legislator, left Hong Kong last month after China imposed a new national security law on the territory that has been heavily criticized by the West. Law spoke to reporters in Rome shortly before Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio was due to meet Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi, with the pair expected to discuss the roll out of new generation 5G technology in Italy. Italy has not joined the United States in imposing restrictions on Huawei but the company was excluded from a recent Telecom Italia tender to supply technology for a 5G network in Italy and Brazil. Law urged Western governments to be highly cautious in their dealings with Beijing. The most powerful authoritarian regime in the world is posing a threat to democracies, including using measures of infiltration, including using the influence of their state enterprises like Huawei, he said. If infrastructure like telecommunications, harbors, or even the nuclear industry are controlled or are owned by Chinese companies then it will impose serious danger to the country. Huawei has denied allegations by the United States that it is a Trojan Horse for Chinese cyberspies and Beijing has criticized countries such as Britain and Australia, which have said they will shun the Chinese technology giant. Di Maio and Wang were due to give a news conference at the end of their talks. Law called on Italy not to ignore what had happened in Hong Kong. My arrival and the message Im bringing here is very clear: We need to address the human rights violations to China even if were engaged with them and we have to be very aware of the infiltration and their authoritarian expansionist nature. By Angelo Amante China War Scenarios: Versus the US, Versus India, Versus Taiwan Commentary In July, senior government officials in Taiwan and the United States warned that communist China was aggressively threatening Taiwans independence. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper contended Beijing had taken its intimidation to a new level. Chinas 19951996 missile drizzle operation, sometimes called the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, set a high bar for aggressive threats to Taiwan. For nine months, Beijing fired short- and medium-range missiles into the surrounding ocean. Though communist missile crews carefully avoided the bullseye, large splashes bracketed the island. The missile launches had several goals: (1) frighten the Taiwanese into accepting Beijings political hegemony, (2) demonstrate the mainlands growing military might, and (3) probe American political will to defend the island. Beijings 2020 antics have the same goals. In March 1996, two U.S. Navy carrier battle groups arrived in the area. Beijing quietly backed down. However, Chinas 2020 military is far superior to its 1996 version. America may no longer have a decisive military edge. Moreover, 2020s diplomatic and military threats follow Beijings callous annexation of Hong Kong. The official warnings spurred several recent articles that examine a U.S.-China war sparked by a Beijing invasion of Taiwan. Some are quite dire. For example, the latest issue of the U.S. Naval Institutes Proceedings magazine has a Taiwan war scenario set in January 2021. The authors have Beijing defeating Taiwan in three days. Proceedings titled the article The War That Never Was, but that doesnt mean war didnt erupt. Beijing strikes in the wake of the contested 2020 U.S. presidential election and continuing pandemic. Communist China wins without fighting, at least without fighting the United States. The scenarios creators: Adm. James Winnefeld, former vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and Michael Morell, former acting director and deputy director of the CIA. I think a Chinese quick victory over Taiwan is highly unlikely, even a Taiwan temporarily alone. My latest book, Cocktails From Hell, included a Taiwan Straits war scenario in which China struck Taiwan with thousands of missiles and smart weapons, then launched an amphibious assault using air-cushion vehicles, helicopters, and parachute drops to insert infantry forces. Whats the likely result? A major war with the United States. However, the war on partially occupied Taiwan might be long and bitter. I sketched several other war scenarios and at least two I think are more likely than an invasion of Taiwan. One is Meeting Engagement in the South China Sea. A sea battle sparks a short but deadly war between the United States and China in the South China Sea with the Philippines and Vietnam likely U.S. allies. Heres an example of a triggering event: Chinese and Filipino vessels exchange fire, the U.S. Navy attempts to intervene, and a Chinese missile hits a USN warship. That was instructive speculation. Heres the provocative reality: On Aug. 21, the Philippines accused China of illegally seizing fishing gear in the South China Seas disputed Scarborough Shoal area. In April, Vietnam claimed a Chinese coast guard vessel sank a Vietnamese trawler. Current events make what I called the China versus India scenario uncomfortably likely. Heres a summary of the Sino-Indian War, Round Two, or the War for Southern Tibet: China launches a limited invasion with the goal of pushing the border 25 to 30 miles farther south in both the eastern and western sectors. China would quickly call for a ceasefire to avoid escalation to nuclear war and offer to negotiate a permanent border demarcation. Fantasy? This year, Indian and Chinese soldiers have clashed along The Line of Actual Control that threads through the Himalayas. The confrontations in Indias Ladakh region and in the Naku La mountain pass in Sikkim were particularly dangerous. The 1962 Sino-Indian War ceasefire has produced a kind of stability, but a ceasefire isnt a ratified peace treaty. But heres the internal war scenario that truly worries Beijing: The Next Chinese Revolution. China reaches a point (2035?) where for a variety of reasons economic slowdown, ethnic unrest, loss of citizen cooperation, complete disgust with corruptionauthoritarian control cannot be sustained. The revenge of Tiananmen Square? Austin Bay is a colonel (ret.) in the U.S. Army Reserve, author, syndicated columnist, and teacher of strategy and strategic theory at the University of TexasAustin. 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. For what is being portrayed as a surprising upset victory, Erin OTooles weekend coast into the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada was surprisingly convincing. OToole, the Durham MP who was supposed to be eclipsed by the pedigree of party co-founder and multi-term cabinet minister Peter MacKay, took nearly 60 per cent of the vote in their head-to-head matchup on the final ballot. That says a lot about the mood of Conservatives in Canada. OTooles victory and the strong showing by Leslyn Lewis indicates they arent listening to commentators who say social conservatism is a losing game and the party has to move closer to its old Red Tory roots to defeat the Liberals. Peterborough and area Conservatives showed they are even less impressed by those warnings, which could have a real impact on the next campaign here. When first-round ballots were finally counted and released Sunday, McKay finished dead last among voters from the Peterborough-Kawartha riding. The Peterborough delegates preference for OToole over McKay was not unexpected. OToole has a claim to local roots his father, John OToole, was born in Peterborough and was a longtime MPP in neighbouring Durham riding and a riding that elected Bill Domm and Dean Del Mastro to multiple terms clearly has some blue roots. However, McKay was also beaten by Lewis, a moderate but definite social conservative, and Derek Sloan, generally portrayed as too far to the right. Clearly, most of the media and much of the professional political-watching class got it wrong again. Canadian Conservatism is not, as a brand, as committed to populism and hardline Trump-ism. But the majority perhaps a strong majority of members of the Conservative Party of Canada are a long way from being Stanfield Conservatives, or even Mulroney Conservatives. On the second ballot, with Sloan no longer around to capture roughly 15 per cent of voter support, Lewis placed first nationwide by a small margin Most commentators granted her little more than afterthought status six months ago and no chance of making a serious difference right up to the start of vote counting that shows, which shows just how wrong they were. In Peterborough, even more so. This riding is not a Conservative stronghold. Federally and provincially it has elected Liberal, Conservative and even, on three occasions, NDP representatives over the past 50 years, almost always as members of the winning party. That suggests a history of fiscal, but not social, conservatism. Yet on the second ballot Lewis nearly came out ahead of local boy OToole and crushed McKay, 319 votes to 165. Which creates an interesting situation for the next Conservative candidate here, possibly Michael Skinner in his third attempt. Skinner gained ground on Liberal MP and cabinet minister Maryam Monsef in 2019 but the number of Conservative voters still fell by about 1,000. To win, a Tory candidate has to get the vote out. Judging by leadership support for Lewis and Sloan that wont happen without a stronger appeal to social conservatives. Skinner took a Red Tory approach in the past two elections and lost. Will he and the local Conservative leadership be willing to gamble that way again? That decision might have to be made shortly, with the memory of this past weekends leadership vote still fresh. Sixteen candidates who submitted their candidacy for the seat of mayor of District 6 will try to convince voters that they deserve to get their vote on September 27. Of the 16 candidates, one is independent. The formations submitting lists for local councilor in District 6, which were validated by the Constituency Electoral Bureau, are the People's Movement Party (PMP), the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), the Pro Bucharest 2020 Alliance, the Adhere to Democracy Education and Reconstruction Party (ADER), the Greater Romania Party (PRM), the Humanist Power Party (social-liberal) (PPU-SL), the Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Union and Solidarity Alliance (USR PLUS Alliance), the Force of National Identity Party, the Romanian Environmentalist Party (PER), the Christian Democratic Alliance, the RE:START Romania Party, the Independent Social Democratic Party, and the Alliance for the Union of Romanians. At the same time, two independent candidacies were admitted - Gabriel Razvan Pisoschi and Mihai Danes, who is also running for mayor. GREENWICH A small village in Haiti will see a big boost in its quality of life and public health, thanks to the hard work of one of its native sons, as well as the generosity of police, fire and water workers in southern Connecticut. Jonas Dorelus came to the U.S. from Haiti in 1999 to achieve a better life. In his job as a custodian for the town of Greenwich, Dorelus has gotten to know the police and fire department employees at his workplace in the Public Safety Complex, which he keeps spotlessly clean and in good working order. In his conversations with firefighters and police officers, Dorelus mentioned the difficulties the residents of Marmonc, his village in Haiti, have when it comes to obtaining clean drinking water. People have to walk 3 to 5 miles to get water, not even clean water, said Dorelus, a married father of three who now lives in Bridgeport. An idea sprang up among Dorelus friends in the police and fire departments why not put up the financing to provide a working well for the village? The idea came to fruition this week, with the presentation of a $3,500 check for Dorelus well project in a ceremony Thursday at the Public Safety Complex in downtown Greenwich. The villagers are digging a 40-foot-deep well, and the donation from the police and fire unions, as well as the Aquarion Water Co., will pay for a mechanical pump and a solar-powered energy source. The fire union and Aquarion put in $1,000 each, and the police union contributed $1,500. We have a close relation with Jonas, he helps us out. We thought it would be a good way to give back to our friend, said Greenwich Fire Department Lt. Tom Lenart, who is the treasurer of the firefighting union. The well should be finished and working by the end of the year, said Dorelus, who is also an ordained minister. Speaking of the residents of the village where he grew up, Dorelus said, They are very excited about it, the whole community is coming together behind it, to help out. Dorelus said he hoped the project will also inspire a sense of self-sufficiency and a belief in making investments for the benefit of the community. He bought a tractor for his old village several years ago, on the same principle of grassroots economic development. George Logan, director of public relations at Aquarion, said the water company was also looking to further the cause of clean water and public health, even in faraway places. We consider ourselves stewards of the environment, and we hope to help the communities we serve and beyond, said Logan, a Republican state senator who represents the 17th District, which includes Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge. We encourage this type of altruism, Logan said. Dorelus said he was looking forward to celebrating the hard work put in by the villagers, and the assistance from his public-safety friends, with a cool and refreshing drink of water. rmarchant@greenwichtime.com KENOSHA, Wisconsin: The family of the Black man shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, made an emotional plea for the value of their son`s life on Tuesday and called for an end to the violent protests that erupted in the city. "They shot my son seven times. Seven times! Like he didn`t matter," Jacob Blake Sr., his voice crumbling with emotion told a news conference following the Sunday shooting of his 29-year-old son. "My son matters. He`s a human being and he matters." The news conference was called by the family`s lawyers as state and local officials brace for a third night of unrest following Jacob Blake, Jr`s encounter with police on Sunday in which seven shots were fired at him from point blank range. Earlier on Tuesday Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency and said he would deploy more state National Guard troops to counter looters and arsonists who had caused widespread damage to public buildings and businesses overnight. The lawyers said Blake was paralyzed from the waist down -- possibly permanently -- had holes in his stomach, suffered damage to kidney and liver and would need his entire colon and small intestines removed. Julia Jackson, Jacob`s mother, made an emotional appeal for unity, saying she was praying for police officers. She also said she was disappointed by the damage to the city. "It doesn`t reflect my son or my family," she said. "If Jacob knew that was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased." Blake, who had been attempting to break up a fight between two women, was struck by four of the seven shots, all fired by one officer, in front of his three young sons, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family. Video captured by a neighbor shows Blake walking toward the driver`s side door of his SUV, away from two officers who were pointing guns at his back. After he opens the door and leans into the car, seven shots ring out, with one of the officers tugging at his shirt. The police have not explained why Blake was shot. The shooting is under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which has not released any details. Kenosha police have referred all questions to the state investigators. But the incident, the latest in a litany of cases to focus attention on police treatment of African Americans, unleashed outrage in Kenosha, a Lake Michigan city of about 100,000 people located between Chicago and Milwaukee. The shooting occurred three months after George Floyd`s death in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. Clyde McLemore, president of the Black Lives Matter chapter in nearby Lake County, Illinois, south of Kenosha, said demonstrators would be out again on Tuesday night, demanding that the officers involved in the shooting, who have been placed on administrative leave, be fired and prosecuted. "We won`t stop protesting until we get that done," he said. "I dont condone burning of buildings or looting, but I understand it. Them places got insurance, they`ll be back up." UNREST ACROSS AMERICA Evers said he would authorize an increase in the Wisconsin National Guard`s presence - more than 100 members were deployed on Monday - to 250. The move came as other officials called for a more forceful response after a night of looting and arson overshadowed peaceful protesters on the streets. Unrest flared again elsewhere on Monday night in the United States with overnight clashes reported in Portland, Oregon; Seattle and Minneapolis. In New York City, marchers swarmed the Brooklyn Bridge, social media video showed. In Kenosha a curfew set for 8 p.m. on Monday was largely ignored. As the evening wore on, the mostly peaceful demonstration turned violent, with some people setting off fireworks and others setting fire to buildings. Local police, supported by National Guard troops, fired tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd, according to protester Porche Bennett, 31, of Kenosha. Bennett said fires had destroyed much of the Black business district and that those she saw igniting fires were white. "It`s people from out of town doing this. We`ve been shopping there since we were kids, and they set it on fire," Bennett said. While acknowledging the First Amendment rights of protesters, Governor Evers said lawless behavior would not be allowed. "There remains a line between peaceful assembly and what we saw last night that put individuals, families, and businesses in danger," the Democratic governor said in a statement. For the 1,400 brand-new UC Berkeley students who decided to live on campus this year, the freshman experience has been far different from what some had dreamed of before the coronavirus pandemic erupted. So many of the rituals and hallmarks of freshman year have been either put on hold or transformed in strange ways: socializing in the dorms, commiserating at the library over difficult assignments, pursuing Greek life, or even simply walking to the gym or the cafeteria. With remote instruction set to start Wednesday, here are some of the strangest aspects of campus life so far, as told by three freshmen: Elizabeth Abul-Hawa, 18, of Vienna, Va., Cameron Johnson, 19, of Manhattan Beach (Los Angeles County), and Abigail Yu, 18, of Belmont, Mass. Packing: The essentials include a lot more than they used to in the pre-coronavirus days. Abul-Hawa flew to California with her parents a couple of days before her scheduled move-in on Saturday. She ended up packing more than seven duffel bags of stuff that included things she wouldnt have normally brought: exercise equipment and bags filled with cleaning supplies. With campus gyms closed and pandemic cleanliness a priority, she wanted to be prepared. Coronavirus testing: Testing was the mandatory first stop on move-in day. Students headed to the coronavirus testing station at a campus parking lot. A supervisor showed five students at a time how to administer the test themselves. Abul-Hawa swabbed herself, got the sheet that showed she had been tested, and headed to her dorm to move in. She said she is still awaiting her results. According to the Chronicle, at least three students have tested positive since move-in day, and 729 results are still pending. Johnson, who moved in with the earliest group, said she was surprised she could move in without a confirmed test result. When she moved into her room, she said, she left everything untouched except for her bed for three days before she got her negative test result back she didnt want to have to take down all of her decorations if she ended up being positive. Cameron Johnson Sparsely occupied dorms and single rooms: Johnson said her dorm floor felt like a ghost town when she moved in. It was kind of alienating, she said. My room wasnt a room yet, and I didnt have my parents, and there was only one other person on my floor. It didnt really feel right. Even when all students have moved in, they have far more space to themselves. Usually, about 96% of freshmen live on campus. Last year, the campus enrolled 6,454 freshmen. This year, just 1,400 freshmen live in campus housing. Students normally have at least one roommate. This year, its one student per room. For Yu, who lives in what would usually be a three-person mini-suite, that means she has plenty of space and three desks and three beds to choose from. Sequestering period: All the students who moved in are in a sequestering period for 7-10 days. They are told to keep inside as much as possible, except to get fresh air and walk to the cafeteria for meals. When outdoors, they must socially distance and wear masks, and they are told not to stay out for more than an hour. Indoor socializing of any kind within the dorms is not allowed. After the sequestering period, students will be allowed to form a social bubble with a small group of the same students throughout the semester. Cameron Johnson Johnson said the resident assistants have kept the dorms pretty regulated they walk around and enforce masks and social distancing. Masks are to be worn everywhere in the dorms outside of rooms unless students are eating, brushing their teeth or showering. Parking lot cafeteria: The cafeteria scene is far different from days past: For starters, its now a set of outdoor tents in a parking lot. Still, the students say the outings have become the main vehicle for socializing and making friends. At the cafeteria tents, administrators use clickers to count students and monitor capacity. All students have to wear the wristbands they received during move-in it makes the process quicker and involves less talking, Johnson said. Meals are served three times daily on weekdays (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and twice a day on the weekends (brunch and dinner). Each meal has three options: vegan, vegetarian and meat-friendly. Students can get an extra salad, cookies or a drink if they want. Cameron Johnson Students must supply their own between-meal snacks, Johnson said, but the university has waived the $250 typical add-on cost for a microwave and a mini-fridge. She said her RA also passed out a few power bars. Social life moves online: During the pandemic, clubs cannot conduct in-person meetings or events on or off campus, according to Adam M. Ratliff of the Student Affairs Communications Office. Sorority and fraternity activities, including rush, must remain virtual. 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. Yu and Abul-Hawa say theyre wary of Greek life during the COVID-19 outbreak and dont plan to join sororities. Johnson isnt yet sure she might try it out. Abul-Hawa, who chose Berkeley because of her interest in film, has applied to two film-related clubs. Shes also joined an anti-trafficking coalition, a Disney club and a whale-watching club which she hopes to be able to experience in person soon. Yu, who plans to study either computer science or data science, is hoping to join the tech team for AFX, a well-known dance club on campus looking for people who can help maintain their website and make them an app. Shes also looking into choral groups and planning to apply to a few different DeCals, or student-run classes, on topics like web design or chess. Transitioning to a new life: Like their predecessors over the decades, this trio at Berkeley moved to campus seeking new friends and new academic challenges but the pandemic has put a unique spin on the experience. Elizabeth Abul-Hawa Johnson said she thought about staying home for the first semester, but all of her high school friends were moving away and she didnt want to be stuck there alone. Her twin brother, who is on the volleyball team at UC Santa Barbara, also moved to campus. She noticed how unfocused shed been during her spring semester of high school and was worried if she stayed, her motivation would drop again and it would be even harder to make friends. Yu said shed also felt herself dropping in motivation in her last days of school. I feel like I focus much better if Im surrounded by all the academia, and literally where Im studying, she said. One thing I knew for sure was that I wouldnt be making friends if I stayed home, Abul-Hawa said. Theres no guarantee that COVID-19 will end anytime soon, she said. We all want to believe that in 2021 there will be a vaccine, but we dont know for sure. I just didnt want my entire college experience to be spent at home. Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain Liberty reportedly to pay Falwell Millions in departure WASHINGTONUnder terms of a contract, Jerry Falwell Jr. will receive millions in a severance package in resigning as as president of Liberty University, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. Falwell confirmed his ouster Tueday after a series of personal scandals, ending back-to-back Falwell leadership eras at an evangelical institution that is a major power center for conservative Christians and politicians. His contract entitles him to a $10.5 million severance package, Falwell, 58, told The Post late Tuesday, in part because he is departing from the university without being formally accused of or admitting to wrongdoing. Falwell said he will receive $2.5 million over 24 months, equivalent to two years salary. He agreed to not work for a competing university during that time. After two years, he will receive $8 million in retirement. Falwell said he signed a 20-page contract in July 2019 that outlined the terms. Proposal to allow COVID vaccine exceptions dies in committee RICHMONDA committee in Virginia's legislature has halted legislation that would create exceptions for people who dont want to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The Roanoke Times reported Tuesday that the proposal was defeated in the House of Delegates' Democratically controlled Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee. Proposals from Republican Delegates Mark Cole and David LaRock would have created exceptions. The measure included exceptions for religious reasons as well as for people who dont want to receive a mandated vaccine during a public health emergency. One proposal also would have prevented the state health commissioner from requiring people to take vaccines during a public health epidemic. Dr. Norman Oliver, Virginia's health commissioner, caused a recent stir when he told WRIC that he would mandate COVID-19 vaccinations. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northams office said afterward that he did not plan for the state government to mandate vaccinations. A federally approved vaccine currently does not exist. But researchers have been working to develop one. Virginia man pleads guilty to $1M virus fraud scheme ALEXANDRIAA Northern Virginia man has pleaded guilty to a $1.4 million fraud scheme to obtain federal funds meant for businesses struggling under the coronavirus pandemic. Tarik Jaafar, 42, of Woodbridge, admitted in U.S. District Court in Alexandria on Tuesday that he created four shell companies to fraudulently apply for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. Prosecutors say he and his wife filed 18 separate loan applications seeking $6.6 million. They actually received $1.4 million in loans from various banks. His wife, Monica Magdalena Jaworska, 43, of Ashburn, is also charged in the scheme and is scheduled to plead guilty next week. The two were arrested in June at Kennedy International Airport in New York after purchasing one-way tickets to Poland, authorities said. The vast majority of the funds were frozen but Jaafar was able to withdraw at least $30,000 in cash, authorities said. The Senate says it is probing the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and StarTimes Joint Venture Agreement over the non-profitability of the venture which had been since 2008. The chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning, Solomon Adeola, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, during an interactive session with some revenue-generating agencies of government. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the upper chamber had, on Monday, queried the management of NTA, over 12 years of non-profitable venture with StarTimes. The Senate asked that the management should appear before the committee along with the Managing Director, NTA TV Enterprises, Maxwell Loko. The joint venture agreement was that whatever accrued at the end of every financial year, 70 per cent, goes to StarTimes and 30 per cent to Nigeria. Mr Adeola queried why some of the accounts of StarTimes were in dollars and naira. If this business is truly owned and it is owned in Nigeria as you profess, this account should only be in naira value. Why you have structured it to be in dollars and naira, is for easy movement of dollars outside the country. In 2019, the total revenue for subscription is 36.1 million dollars and in naira terms, it is over N11 billion. On this note, we are going to set up a special investigative panel to look into this record before us, audited account from the few lines l am able to open and look into, there is a lot of issues, he said The chairman further called for the stepping aside of the Managing Director, NTA TV Enterprises, chief executive officer of StarTimes and the director of tax, for an independent investigation. Also speaking, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Olubunmi Adetumbi, called for a forensic audit of the process. He said, an independent forensic audit of this exercise is needed so that we can open up where the issues are, if NTA needs to renegotiate its agreement, so be it. A member of the committee, Yusuf Yusuf (APC-Taraba) said: Whatever way we look at it, this thing is actually a messy situation. NTA signed an agreement with these people, which is a venture to form Star TV and then to be overlooked by TV enterprises. However, if you look at the shareholding, the 30 per cent is not TV enterprises. NTA has 30 per cent and not TV enterprises. Whatever way you look at it, this thing is muddled up. That is why this venture could not generate income for the country. Responding, Mr Loko, the managing director, NTA TV Enterprises said I dont work for them, I dont manage the company. We have a chief executive officer, I do not manage StarTimes, that is the truth. I do not manage StarTimes, I do not work for them. It will interest the committee to know that it was indeed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that introduced StarTimes communication of China to NTA. Mr Loko explained that NBC granted the company licence from August 2011 to 2016 in the first instance. We were expected to have paid N500 million as licence fee, he said. (NAN) Advertisements UK's Supreme Court dismisses Huawei and ZTE patent appeals People walk next to ZTE booth at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom's Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously dismissed appeals by China's Huawei [HWT.UL] and ZTE <000063.SZ> in patent disputes over mobile data technology with Unwired Planet International and Conversant Wireless. The first appeal concerned an action brought by Unwired against Huawei for the infringement of five UK patents, which Unwired had acquired from Ericsson and were said to be essential in mobile telecoms. An English court had previously ruled that two of the patents were valid and essential, and in a subsequent trial found Unwired's licence terms were justified and enforceable. The second appeal concerned action brought by Conversant against Huawei and ZTE for infringing four of its UK patents, which had been acquired from Nokia and related to LTE standards used by 4G handsets to download and send data. Huawei and ZTE argued that the English Courts did not have jurisdiction to determine the validity of foreign patents. But the trial judge had ruled against them, saying the court had jurisdiction under a international patent framework agreed by the mobile industry. The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it had unanimously dismissed both appeals. Conversant's CEO Boris Teksler said he was "very pleased" by the outcome, which the firm said would have "significant implications worldwide" for standard-essential-patent (SEP) licensing. "It confirms Conversant Wireless' approach, that as a holder of cellular standard-essential patents, we can seek proper value for our patents without having to resort to what the UK courts themselves called the 'madness' of country-by-country licensing and related litigation," he said. "This helps level the playing field when small companies are trying to license SEP portfolios to global giants with seemingly limitless litigation resources." (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Marc Jones) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during an industry interaction on August 26 said two-wheelers are neither luxury goods nor sin goods, and hence, merit a Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate revision. Two-wheelers currently attract 28 percent GST. Sitharaman said a rate revision proposal would be taken up by the GST Council. Unlike four-wheelers, two-wheelers are the backbone of rural and semi-urban India. Experts have been warning of a slowdown for some time now with falling two-wheeler demand among the key indicators. Pre-lockdown blues The automobile industry has been battling slowdown blues for a while now. Even before the coronavirus struck, bringing economic activities to a screeching halt, the auto sector had started facing slow demand and industry representatives were trying hard to draw the government's attention to their woes. Also Read: Two-wheelers neither luxury nor sin goods, merit GST rate revision: Finance Ministry 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 GST, that was officially introduced in July 2017, relaxed the tax on motorcycles with engines under 350cc to 28 percent from the pre-GST rate of 30 percent. However, the industry was not happy, particularly with other stringent emission and safety-related norms already raising the cost pressures. The countrys largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp last year urged the government to consider a phase-wise reduction in GST on the segment, starting with bringing bikes up to 150cc in the 18 percent slab. Apart from Hero, TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto also petitioned that a high GST rate along with mandatory combined braking system (CBS), anti-lock brakes (ABS), and a switch to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission norms would push up prices of two-wheelers. Also Read: Rajiv Bajaj says two-wheeler prices could drop by up to Rs 10,000 if GST rate cut to 18% Post-lockdown blues The near three-month nationwide lockdown imposed to check COVID-19 spread slowed down economic activity considerably and some businesses are yet to come back to life even as the first phase of the unlock began in June. With the economy still not out of the woods completely, various agencies expect a GDP contraction in the first quarter of FY21. As for the auto industry, the COVID crisis and the mandatory shift to BS-VI emission norms from April this year came as a double whammy. According to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), dealers nationwide were left with unsold vehicles worth Rs 7,000 crore, comprising 7 lakh two-wheelers, 15,000 passenger cars and 12,000 commercial vehicles. Separately, nearly over 10 lakh two-wheelers, 2,250 passenger cars and 2,000 commercial vehicles have been sold but not yet registered. With auto sales expected to in a free fall this fiscal, the industry has pressed the panic button. Passenger vehicle sales are expected to be at an 11-year low. According to industry projections, sales of passenger vehicles (cars, SUV/UVs, vans) for FY 2020-21 is expected to be at 1.91 million units, lower than 1.95 million units sold in 2009-10. Volumes in two-wheelers (motorcycles, scooters and mopeds) are also expected to be lower at 12 million in FY21 versus 13.4 million in FY12. TheAfricanDream.net was at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) webinar organized on August 19, 2020, under the theme: Africa Must Industrialize Now The Urgency for Value Addition to African Products that was held via zoom. The event was moderated by Emmanuel Bensah Deputy Executive Director of AfCFTA Policy Network while Rongai Chizema, Chief Technical Advisor and Head of AIDA Implementation & Coordination Unit in the Department of Trade & Industry of the Africa Union Commission commenced it. Participants that joined the online event included Dr. Thomas Mensah, Founder at Silicon Valley of Ghana; Professor Jean Bosco Byiringiro, Associate Professor and Director of Siemens Mechatronics Certification Centre and Visiting Researcher at University Bourgogne Franche Comte; Dr. Alexander Anim-Mensah , an Engineering Manager at ITW and President of i2iMegaHub (NGO); Yaliwe Soko of South Africa Ecosystem Lead at cLabs, Chairwoman of the United Africa Blockchain Association and founder of Essence Consultants; Alvin Alexander, System Engineer and Founder at Orion Applied Science & Technology OrionAST; Dr. Lonnie G. Johnson, President & CEO of Johnson Research and Development Co. Inc., and Harriet Chimezie a Senior Environmental Engineer at Volta Group United States (US) and Green Earth Consulting-Africa. All the presenters shared great thoughts on respective subjects pointing to the need for Africa to industrialize and add value to her products so as not to just become a consumer of Western products and ideas refined by materials from Africa. Dr. Thomas Mensah, a Ghanaian-American Industry leader, inventor, and entrepreneur touched on resources and infrastructure. He focused on the need for Africa to pursue steel production and transportation, stressing that this will give Africa financial freedom, and when we add high-speed trains that could move people around Africa in a much shorter time to promote industrialization." Professor Jean Bosco Byiringiro touched on how investing in Africa innovation was necessary to support more African products and shared some electronic equipment his research center was working on with participants. On her part Yaliwe Soko, a self-taught woman from South Africa spoke about blockchain and how important young people of Africa should take advantage of newer technologies to secure themselves jobs anywhere. Alvin Alexander of OrionAST touched on the use of geospatial technology for the benefits of several industries across Africa such as mining, petroleum, water, and agriculture among others. He focused on how to use the technology to benefit the booming agricultural industry in Africa to maximize outputs by enabling farmers or agriculturists to work smarter by providing information on monitoring weather patterns, hot spots, climate, target specific areas of crops that need attention to significantly enhance their yields, and other avenues to help produce abundant of food. Harriet Chimezie, Senior Environmental at Volta Group USA, and Green Earth Consulting Africa touched on how important Africans needed to patronize made in African goods. In a post-event interview, TheAfricanDream.net reached out to Dr. Alexander Anim-Mensah to gather more of his interesting practical concepts presented which we feel if harnessed could support Africas Industrialization strategy. Dr. Anim-Mensah gave a simple definition for Industrialization as Adding Value, he added some key requirements for industrialization to include resources, infrastructure, technology, connection, systems, and some soft factors, among others. He then broke down each of the industrialization requirements into their various contributions and related the importance of value, value-adding, value analysis, and value chain management to each of the various requirements's contributions to industrialization. As I said in my presentation, to sustain industrialization, we must adhere to the concept of value being equal to the benefit minus the cost (Value = Benefit Cost) by dwelling on value-adding and lowering cost. This is a prime factor necessary to stay competitive from a pricing standpoint apart from finding the right customers, suppliers, and what customers mostly need, Dr. Anim-Mensah explained. He additionally defined an idea as the smallest unit of an industry where screening and harnessing viable ideas original to a specific African country or location and growing them into an industry is necessary to position countries competitively. He added that these are the first principles to generating businesses and cost less. From this point, people could be enticed to do more if the finances, know-how, policies, and systems are available to support them. But first start with the idea, develop it well and be ready to reasonably defend it to a potential financier for instance Dr. Anim-Mensah also told TheAfricanDream.net that Africa has almost everything it needs such as resources, the know-how, and even money which he termed as hardware, however, strong institutions and systems, developing, executing, and managing strategies under progressive leadership to positively tune people attitudes is what was often lacking. For a hugely diversified continent, our differences as a people must not divide us, but it must continue to keep us united in the sharing of ideas to accelerate the industrialization our children can enjoy and improve upon for our grandchildren. I believe AfCFTA has come to support and promote these efforts and like everyone else here, I too am ready to work towards this reality. For industrialization to work the AU needs to have a solid industrialization team to work among themselves to tailor to their needs, strengths, and opportunities for the ultimate benefit of Africa. Dr. Anim-Mensah is a Ghanaian-American Distinguished Innovator and Inventor, Distinguished Patent Award Winner, a 2019 Fellow National Academy of Inventor Nominee, an industrialist with a background in Chemical Engineering, Strategy and Technology, Operation & Value Chain Management. Contact TheAfricanDream.net to directly connect with him or find him on LinkedIn. Also visit au.int/en/ti/cfta/about to learn more about AfCFTA, the largest free-trade area in the world in terms of the number of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization . The Secretariat of AFCFTA is located in Accra, the capital of Ghana. A man who was among those charged in the notorious 1989 killing of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teen set upon by a white mob, was fired from New York's hip-hop radio station Hot 97 after a new HBO documentary revealed his identity. WQHT-FM, better known as Hot 97, announced over the weekend that Pasquale Raucci was fired following an uproar from viewers of the documentary 'Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn.' Raucci had worked at the station since 1994 in mostly behind-the-scenes roles, most recently in production, and was known by the name Paddy Duke. The film was directed by Muta'Ali and premiered on HBO earlier this month. New York hip hop station Hot 97 on Sunday announced the firing of long-time employee Pasquale Raucci (left) over his connection to the 1989 racial killing of Yusuf Hawkins (right) Raucci's termination followed an uproar from viewers of the new HBO documentary 'Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn' 'HOT97 was shocked and took swift action. Paddy Duke is no longer employed by HOT97. The march for social justice continues,' the station said on Twitter. Raucci, 50, was ousted from the station on Sunday, which marked the 31st anniversary of Hawkins' death. Hawkins, 16, had gone to the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn with three friends to look at a used 1982 Pontiac he considered buying when he was attacked by a group of 30 white bat-wielding youths, one of whom shot him with a .32 caliber automatic pistol through the heart. The murder sparked outrage in New York, with prominent civil rights leaders, among them the Revs Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan, calling for an end to racial violence. Prosecutors alleged that one of the teens, Keith Mondello, had assembled the mob from the mostly white neighborhood because he was afraid that black and Hispanic friends of a local 18-year-old woman were coming to beat him up. Several youths were charged, including Joseph Fama, 19, who was accused of being the gunman and was convicted of second-degree murder by depraved indifference. Hawkins (left) was 16 when he was shot in the heart after being attacked by a 30-person white mob while shopping for a used car in Brooklyn The ringleader of the mob, Keith Mondello (center), is seen being whisked away from court during his trial two years ago Rev. Al Sharpton (left) with Moses Stewart, Hawkins' father, are seen outside Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn, New York on September 6, 1989, for the indictment of gunman Joseph Fama Fama was sentenced to more than 32 years in prison and will not be eligible for parole until 2022. 'Yusuf Hawkins died of racism in the first degree,' said then-Mayor David Dinkins after the guilty verdict. Raucci, then aged 19, was the last to go through trial, and was acquitted in 1991 of the most serious charges against him including second-degree murder and manslaughter. The New York Times reported he was ultimately sentenced to probation and community service for having a bat as a weapon. In comments during the show Ebro in the Morning' on Monday, Ebro Darden and his co-hosts addressed the criticism, saying that many at the station had no idea of Raucci's involvement in the Hawkins' case, or even his real name, especially since the beginning of his 26-year employment predated many of their arrivals. Raucci is a married father of two (pictured left with his wife). He had worked at Hot 97 in behind-the-scenes roles since 1994 under the name Paddy Duke 'Corporate started to go to work to figure out who knew what when Paddy was hired and what was going to be the response,' Darden said. 'Because this wasn't just going to be allowed to fly.' Darden revealed that on one occasion eight or 10 years ago, he had a conversation with Raucci about the Hawkins killing. 'He told me he got swept up in the Yusuf Hawkins situation. He also told me he had nothing to do with it,' Darden said on air. 'What am I going to say to a guy Im working with "I dont believe you"?' The Times reported Raucci declined to comment on the situation. Social media posts indicate that he is married with two children. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. A homeowner of Foxburrow, one of the Portlaoise estates to be expanded in an Strategic Housing Development planning application in Laois, says the new fast-tracked planning method is very unfair. We only get five weeks to give submissions, it looks like a system ransacked by developers, the resident said. Foxburrow was only part finished in 2008, with 24 houses and two apartment blocks, and its access road is through Chantiere Gate estate on the Block Road. They want to bring three estates together, ours, Grenville and Chantiere Gate. You will have another 250 or 300 cars coming out of the entrance to Chantiere Gate. Schoolgoing traffic already cuts through Beladd, it will start cutting through Grenville to come out by Chantiere Gate. We always hoped it would be finished, but done properly. This plan has gone from building 90 homes to 155, and a lot are two bedroom, one bedroom and thats not very family friendly, he said. The resident said that traffic in the mornings is already madness. The Block Road is well named, it is blocked with traffic every school morning. It has the hospital entrance, the Cuisle Centre, the Kolbe school, it was never designed for this type of traffic. And there are plans to put another school in Aughnaharna. We are worried about road safety and construction traffic. Our town is being strangled, he said. The resident also says he and others do not want pedestrian walkways between the estates. There are already gangs of young people starting to walk through, let alone putting in walkway. They had to close one in Rathevan over anti-social behaviour, he said. The sewerage system is already overloaded he believes. Since Foxburrow was built, there has been a waft of sewage at the bottom of Chantiere Gate, he said. Boderg Developments who built Graigavern Lodge estate in Ballybrittas, proposes to build the 155 homes in Foxburrow, Beladd. The plan is one of two proposed in Portlaoise under the fast-tracked SHD housing scheme, which puts An Bord Pleanala in charge of planning decisions instead of each local authority in an attempt to provide housing faster in Ireland. Thomas Kelly & Sons Group, builders of Conniberry Estate among others, is seeking permission for 262 units, a creche and a shop in an extension to Rathevan estate, next to Kilminchy housing estate which is the biggest in Laois. Public submissions were accepted on both until July 28. The local authority was to receive ABPs report in mid August and will send back their advice on it, with ABP making its final decisions by mid October. The only way to appeal is a judicial review in court. Meghan Markle praised Prince Harry for embracing his 'feminist' side, while gushing that the royal is setting a 'beautiful example' for their son Archie by being so 'comfortable' advocating for women's rights. While sitting down for a 'backyard chat' with Gloria Steinem, the 39-year-old recalled a moment when Harry, 35, proudly told the activist: You know that I'm a feminist too, right Gloria?! It's really important to me that you know that.' Meghan shared the sweet story in a written Q&A for female empowerment platform Makers Women, during which she and Gloria, 86, discussed a range of issues, including voter suppression, women's rights, and the importance of representation. Proud: Meghan Markle has praised her 'feminist' husband Prince Harry while speaking about women's empowerment during a 'backyard chat' with activist Gloria Steinem Proud: During the chat, the 39-year-old Duchess of Sussex thanked Harry, 35, for setting such a 'beautiful example' for their one-year-old son Archie Speaking about how her own understanding of feminism has evolved over the years, Meghan praised Gloria for being such an inspiration to her - before naming her husband as a perfect example of a man who is both a feminist and 'masculine'. Responding to Gloria's point that it is possible to be 'a feminist and be masculine and a guy', Meghan said: 'Like my husband!' She then went on to recall a conversation that she and Harry with had with Gloria, saying: 'I love that when he just came in he said, "You know that Im a feminist too, right Gloria?! Its really important to me that you know that."' 'But you need that,' she continued, noting how important it is for her that her one-year-old son is able to look up to Prince Harry. 'And I look at our son and what a beautiful example that he gets to grow up with a father who is so comfortable owning that as part of his own self-identification,' she said. I look at our son and what a beautiful example that he gets to grow up with a father who is so comfortable owning [feminism] as part of his own self-identification 'That theres no shame in being someone who advocates for fundamental human rights for everyone, which of course includes women.' And Meghan was not the only one complimenting Harry's parenting skills, with Gloria describing the royal as a 'nurturing father' who will ensure that Archie 'will grow up knowing it's OK to be loving and nurturing'. But while the women concluded their chat talking about Prince Harry, the primary focus of their conversation was the importance of voting - particularly among women and people of color. In her introduction to the Q&A, Meghan highlighted a quote from Gloria that stuck out to her most during their chat: 'If you don't vote, you don't exist.' 'These words from Gloria Steinem have stuck with me since she first spoke them during this conversation,' she wrote. 'Throughout our friendship, weve spoken of our shared beliefs surrounding womens rights, the need for representation and the very timely conversation on voting.' The mother-of-one added that she believes 'we vote to honor those who came before us and to protect those who come after us', adding that Gloria is one of the women she honors when she casts her vote. Although Meghan has yet to verbalize her support for a specific candidate, she once again made it incredibly clear who she plans to vote for come November, expressing her excitement at seeing a woman of color on the Democratic ticket - Joe Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris - and explaining that the nomination was particularly meaningful to her because she is biracial. 'Im so excited to see that kind of representation,' she said. 'You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity. High praise: In the Q&A, Gloria described Harry as a 'nurturing father' after Meghan recalled a time when Harry proudly told the activist icon, 'I'm a feminist too!' 'As many of us believe, you can only be what you can see. And in the absence of that, how can you aspire to something greater than what you see in your own world? I think maybe now were starting to break-through in a different way.' Speaking about racism and its impact on voter turnout, Meghan admitted that she is incredibly 'concerned' about 'voter suppression', revealing that she recently had a conversation with Democratic politician Stacey Abrahms in order to better understand how to ensure that people of color don't face intimidation at the polls. 'We can already see all the different challenges that were facing,' she warned, adding: 'For example, if youre a person of color and youre in line, for potentially hours on end, and during that time someone tries to intimidate you to tell you that you should get out of line because you might be under surveillance or any number of intimidation tactics that are so scary.' Meghan also touched on the way in which 'the digital space shapes our thinking about race' - an idea that she has explored while reading Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble, a book that examines the ways in which search engines like Google 'reinforce racism'. 'For example, it wasnt that long ago that when youd start to type in a search engine "why are white women" it would start to autofill with words like "so pretty" or "so beautiful,"' she said. Learning: Meghan shared that she has been reading Algorithms of Oppression, a book that examines how search engines like Google 'reinforce racism' 'And then when you would type "why are black women" it would autofill with words like "so angry" or "so loud." You get to see how our minds are being shaped by something so much bigger than what were actually feeling or putting out there.' The written Q&A was published one day after Makers shared a sweet behind-the-scenes video from Meghan's 'backyard chat' with Gloria, in which the Duchess of Sussex was seen unashamedly gushing over the feminist icon. Meghan appeared overwhelmed with excitement at points during her intimate conversation with Gloria, who sat down together last month to discuss everything from voter suppression to the importance of representation. In the video, the two women seem entirely at ease with one another, reclining in wooden deck chairs in a lush surrounding. At one point, the pair were even joined by Meghan's beloved dogs, black Labrador Pula, and rescue beagle Guy, who happily wandered into the camera shot during the chat, and lay down at the Duchess's feet while she continued chatting with Gloria. '[The dog] wants to be on camera,' Gloria joked while gesturing at Pula, who Meghan and Harry adopted together in 2018, shortly after they tied the knot. The Duchess of Sussex rescued Guy the beagle before she met Prince Harry and moved the pup to London with her back in 2017, leaving her other rescue dog - Bogart - behind. The black-and-white clip - which was shot last month by photographer Matt Sayles - shows the two women sitting in the shade of a large tree, with a wooden table placed between their chairs, which appear to have been spaced in order to comply with social distancing regulations. Meghan certainly looks at home in the scenic surroundings, and at one point is seen checking something on her phone, and popping on a straw sunhat to complete her chic all-white look - a far cry from the multiple virtual summits and conference calls that she has done in recent months, all of which see her sitting down and staring straight into the camera. She also made no attempt to hide her admiration for Gloria, gushing happily about how 'great' it was to be chatting with the famed feminist. 'Today is a pretty great day, for me it's a pretty great day,' Meghan is seen saying to the activist, who shared her opinions about the upcoming election - and the importance of each and every vote - with the Duchess. Inspiration: During the conversation, Meghan shared her excitement at seeing a woman of color - Kamala Harris - nominated as the Democratic party's candidate for Vice President 'For me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity,' Meghan (seen in childhood photos) said She added: 'Weve talked a lot these last few weeks. I keep thinking my goodness Ive looked up to you for so long! Its wonderful to just be in your company, to learn so much and to feel inspired to be home. But also to help people remember why its so important to vote.' The pair shared some insight into their close relationship, with Meghan recalling lunch dates that the two have enjoyed together - while also revealing that Gloria recently gave her a gift, a bracelet that features the motto, 'Linked not ranked.' In what some people on social media have perceived as a thinly-veiled reference to the hierarchy within the British monarchy, Meghan expressed her love of that concept - that women and voters should first and foremost stand alongside one another, not fight to get ahead of others. 'I love this,' the Duchess said, referring to the jewelry. 'It means everything to me on every level; we are linked not ranked.' During the conversation, the mother-of-one - who moved back to the US with Prince Harry and their son Archie in January - also expressed her joy at being back in her home country. 'Meg, welcome home, I'm so glad that you're home,' Gloria said to the Duchess at the start of the clip, prompting Meghan to respond: 'Thank you. Me too, for so many reasons.' While sharing the clip on Instagram, Makers Women described the conversation between the two women as a 'historic backyard chat', while sharing a few details about what Gloria and Meghan discussed. 'Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and Gloria Steinem discuss representation, why each vote matters and how all women 'are linked, not ranked,'' the caption read. 'MAKERS has an exclusive look at that historic backyard chat! Q&A to come tomorrow.' Early on in the clip, Meghan makes an impassioned statement about women's right to vote, telling Gloria: 'People forget how hard women like you and so many others before you fought for us to be where we are right now,' to which the activist responds, 'If you don't vote you don't exist... it's the only place we are all equal, in the voting booth.' The activist, who was one of the most prominent figures of the Women Liberation's movement of the 1960s and 1970s, goes on to focus on young women, telling Meghan that it is essential for the youth to vote because it is their future that they are deciding on - not hers. The importance of voting, and women's rights, are topics that Meghan has become well versed on, having herself spoken out at great length about the significance of the upcoming election as she moves to become more politically active in the wake of her stepping down as a senior royal. Just last week, the mother-of-one made a bold plea to women across the US to take part in the 2020 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.' Meghan 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.' '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 out: Last week, Meghan 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' 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. '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. 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 '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'. '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. Last minute addition: The mother-of-one's participation in the online event was only announced on Wednesday, one day before it took place '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.' Over the past few weeks, the Duchess has taken part in multiple interviews and summits 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'. 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 '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. 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. 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 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. 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. Recently we got the first look at Matt Reeves' The Batman, which is also going to be Robert Pattinson's debut as the DC superhero. The trailer also stars Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman and Paul Dano as Riddler. If you haven't seen the trailer already, take a look here: In the trailer, Pattinson is masked for the majority of the two minutes, twenty-second video, however, Pattinson does finally gives us a glimpse of his character as Bruce Wayne with a messy side-parted greasy hair look and hard-to-miss smudged kohl look that is reminiscent of Billie Joe Armstrong's signature look from Greenday. This glimpse has already given his character an additional edge than other contemporary superheroes. DC Unlike the Marvel Universe, where superheroes are groomed with the most aspirational hair and beard styles that exist, this is definitely something different. Right from Captain America's flawless hairstyle and a clean-shaven look to reflect the ideal man in the early twentieth century before he was frozen to the aftermath of him waking up years later and still managing to look his best. DC Even with other contemporaries like Thor with his long luscious locks inspired by the Norse mythology and a drastic yet extremely striking makeover in Thor: Ragnarok, the theme across the films is to build their physical appearance unblemished of any human flaws. DC The only exception to the rule can be, perhaps, Avengers: Endgame wherein all heroes are struck by crippling adversity beyond their control. This is the first time we see them, more human than a superhero. With unkempt hair and grown-out hair, this is the first time we see the heroes battle grief in a more visual way that reflected int their grooming or the lack of. DC It is a known fact, that with recent films of DC, the giant has completely changed his strategy and is attempting to demystify the persona of superheroes by fleshing out their flaws in their new projects like never before. From projects like Birds Of Prey and Joker, we're already excited for the new stream of films that are going to be coming our way. DC But what we found striking about The Batman is Robert Pattinson's look. While not much is revealed about Bruce Wayne, the kohled eyes were enough to suggest that the film is going to focus more on his tragic past and how he's dealing with things now from a lens, that DC has perhaps, never explored before. DC The kohl-rimmed eye is a look that was first popularised by bands like Rites Of Spring and then went on to become a major emo sub-culture with bands like My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, and Panic! At The Disco. The mournful, edgy, and grunge look may not be in the mainstream anymore but it does make its appearances from time to time. DC The emo-look on Pattinson reflects a brooding man, a man who could perhaps, with a few dialogues, take us inside his head just like we witnessed with Joaquin's Joker. The brooding hero is not new to Pattinson, he's played the role as Edward Cullen from Twilight. But unlike Twilight, where the hero was imagined through a teenage lens wherein all his features were enhanced under the shimmering rays of the sun like his sharp jawline or the shiny yet spiky hair, one can really see Pattinson more human as Bruce Wayne here. As a vigilante superhero, kohled rimmed-eyes, a shawl wrapped around, and a side-parted greasy hair look are all things more authentic to Batman and Bruce Wayne than DC could have ever been in the past. There are days, when I feel the best of me is ready to give in. Then there are days, when I feel, I am letting go, soaring on the wind the opening verse of Jacqui Velazquezs On My Knees. This line from a most amorous Christian song would have definitely defined me seven years ago. In a job which should have set me free, but seemed to only keep me quite stationary, I lamented this fate each day. At this particular job, there was a normal intake of new recruits at least twice a year. When the usual new recruits arrived, I was drawn to one particular person that would later become one of the closest friends I could find. The group was large, quite articulate and very talkative. I could hardly fit in with them because not only were there age differences, but experiences and realities of the place we called work. I wasnt very close to anyone of them, but I truly enjoyed being included in their many lunch banters and laughs. The particular person I mentioned above had a welcoming spirit. She had been the one who invited me to join them and it truly started to change my experience in that reality. Deep sorrow paved the way for rebirth At this time in my life I had just recommitted my life to God and was on a journey of self-renewal. It was however the same time that things at work started to get extremely hard and my faith was constantly being tested. I had hit rock bottom and my sorrows and pain were so real. I was in the bowels of depression and that stole whatever membrane of hope I had in life. I had just decided to try my best to keep my head above water to make it through each day, but some days were tougher than others. On one particular day when I was at my lowest and sat at my desk despondent in fear, this particular person came to look for me. I had missed lunch I guess, and just being the candid person she was, she came to check in on me. I spoke from the heaviness of my pained heart and my final words echoed that I didnt feel that anyone would miss me if I would die tomorrow. She responded without hesitation No, KimberleyI would miss you. She invited me to pray with her in one of the lounges at work. She explained that she had fasted and prayed there every Wednesday and that I was welcome to join her. I didnt know the truly healing power of constant prayer. I didnt know the power of a Godly friend. We prayed for many things that year. Mostly for our country and our co-workers, but also for the things we hoped to achieve. She desired marriage and I wanted a scholarship to study. I must say that we both ended that year with the promise of our main wishes. I received a full-government scholarship to New Zealand, and she got engaged during that year. I was very grateful that I had made it home in time to be at her wedding and was dearly delighted to be chosen to toast the bride, recounting this very friendship that had changed my life. Gods relentless love I came to know and see God in a new way. I truly realise that he loved me enough to send me a Samaritan when I was bleeding and almost dead. That is Gods relentless LOVE for all of us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust (Psalm chapter 103 verse 13 14). I couldnt see the bigger plan or why all those things may have been happening to me at that time in my life. On days when I would wonder what my true purpose was for being at that job, I would remember the fruitful growth in God that came out of that period. The prayer, the fasting, the trust, the truths, the peace, the closeness to him Discipleship It is often in our lowest periods that God can reach us and take us to where he intends us to be. As Christians we must always be ready to assist others. I can imagine how time consuming some might see walking one through such a low time might, but this is a form of discipleship. I wasnt expecting my life to change so significantly when I went through this, but I welcomed the growth. I was a Christian at the time I met my friend, but there was so much more for me to learn and she not only provided that but brought people into my life that could also add to my growth as well. As Christians, it is hard to grow significantly without discipleship. Given this very gift in so many ways, I was delighted I could walk with a friend going through a dark time in her life. I was happy God had built me up through others to help her see him in a time when she didnt understand his love. Today, she cant see her existence without him, and I am reminded that our care and friendship is life changing. When I am approached by someone who is in a low place in their walk, I jump at the opportunity to share with them that I too have been there and have overcome, so they can too. At the end of the day, we need to be there for each other. You could be on the receiving side like I was then, but you should always be preparing for when you will need to be on the giving side. You never know when your words, kindness or friendship to a saved or non-saved person may just change their life. Teens from Mass. church hold car wash, raise thousands of dollars for Beirut relief Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A congregation in Massachusetts has raised money through a car wash and through their website to help the victims of the recent massive explosion in Beirut. St. George Orthodox Church of Boston held the car wash on Saturday, with the youth raising thousands of dollars while cleaning a couple hundred vehicles. The Very Rev. Timothy J. Ferguson, head pastor of the church, told The Christian Post that the congregation felt inspired to hold the charitable event due to the many personal ties to Lebanon. Our community, my parish that is to say, is about 60% immigrants from Lebanon. And so there were a lot of people who were directly affected by the explosion that took place there, explained Ferguson. So they wanted to reach out and respond. It was an initiative on the part of the teenagers, the young people in the parish. While the car wash charged $10 per vehicle, Ferguson noted, many drivers gave way more than what was asked, with donations passing the $7,000 mark and still being added through the churchs online donation page. They cant physically get up and go there, so they know that those funds are being used for what they would do had they been given the chance to go there, the pastor said. Donations will go to helping to rebuild homes, to take care of people who are in need of food, clothing, and so forth, with it being managed through the local organizations in Beirut, he explained. Earlier this month, a large explosion occurred in a port in the major Middle Eastern city of Beirut, resulting in approximately 200 people killed and around 5,000 injured. The large explosion was the result when hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate were ignited; an investigation into the exact cause of the blast is underway. After the tragedy, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his resignation, which came not only in response to the explosion but also major anti-government protests. I declare today the resignation of this government, said Diab, citing huge corruption as a problem at a press conference, ABC News reported. May God protect Lebanon. Many churches and aid organizations have poured resources into the city, among them the evangelical Christian humanitarian group World Vision. Rami Shamma, field operations director for World Vision-Lebanon who was around 18 miles away from the explosion, told CP in an earlier interview that emotional care was needed in addition to physical aid. They have either experienced it or seen it. People are talking about it, yelling about it, crying about it, said Shamma to CP. The trauma is stacked up and thus we support in psychological first aid and guiding parents for children living through this difficult time. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High around 50F. W winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional light rain...mainly this evening. Low around 25F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday appealed for a joint plea with other state heads before the Supreme Court to postpone the NEET and JEE Mains examinations scheduled for the first week of September even as the coronavirus cases across India continue to rise. Her views were echoed by her Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh who has asked his state Advocate General to coordinate with his counterparts in other opposition-ruled states for filing a collective review petition in the Supreme Court to seek deferment of the NEET-JEE exams. Speaking at a virtual meeting of opposition chief ministers chaired by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on various issues related to the states and the Centre, Banerjee said, I appreciate the courts order on examination. But I would like to appeal to our Prime Minister to request the Supreme Court to postpone the examination. There are previous instances when the government of India has appealed on some issues. Similarly, I would like to request the Centre to appeal to the Supreme Court to review its order so that the student community should not feel harassed." Banerjee said if the law permits, political parties can discuss the matter with senior advocates for a joint appeal. The Supreme Court can say it has already given the instruction, but there are instances when it reviewed its order considering the larger benefit of the society. If the Centre refuses to approach the court, we can jointly make a fresh appeal before the apex court to postpone the examination. My request to you all, let us go to the SC together," she said. Banerjee even suggested a public movement for the betterment of students who are mentally depressed with the examination dates in this crisis period". There are more than 25 lakh students how will they travel? What about their safety and security? she asked. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhands Hemant Soren and four Congress Chief Ministers were also present in the virtual meet. Thanking Gandhi for organising the meeting, Banerjee urged every chief minister to come forward in this fight. The Centre is bulldozing the state government. I have not seen such atrocities by the Centre before. We are facing an acute crisis. We are not allowed to speak against them," she said. If we speak, there are agencies to harass us. Facebook to everywhere, they are spending money to destroy the democratic fabrics of India." Banerjee had written to PM Narendra Modi for the second consecutive day on Tuesday on the holding of the JEE/NEET examinations during the ongoing pandemic and sought his intervention. Banerjee in her letter had also requested the Centre to consider appealing to the Supreme Court to review its decision on holding the exams in the interest of the student community. GALVESTON With Galveston expected to be spared from the worst of Hurricane Lauras impacts, some island residents have decided to ride out the storm rather than evacuate, drawing on years of experiences with storms that were both near-misses and direct hits. The stiff winds from Laura had already begun to swell the Gulf of Mexico surf on Wednesday morning, crashing violently over jetties and blanketing what was left of the visible beach. Sunlight struggled to pierce through the shale-gray clouds that shrouded the horizon. And yet Gerard Coleman and his wife strolled the seawall together as if it were a normal weekday morning. The Colemans live just behind the seawall, which they say usually protects them from major flooding, and estimated that 60 percent of their neighbors had decided not to evacuate. Coleman said they wouldnt be leaving the island unless Lauras path veered off its expected path toward the Texas-Louisiana border. If all things go according to that track, Galvestons fine. If it doesnt make that turn to the right, then its a bit more of an issue, Coleman said. We still have the option to leave. Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown signed an order Tuesday instructing residents to begin leaving the island. Laura strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, and forecasters expected it to approach the Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Still, a hurricane warning remained in effect Thursday afternoon for the area from San Luis Pass, Texas which is about about 25 miles south of the Galveston Seawall up to Intracoastal City, La. At a Wednesday afternoon briefing, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry that said with the storm shifting to the east, his primary concern is Bolivar Peninsula, which is still expected to get a storm surge of up to 6 feet, sustained winds of 60 mph and gusts of up to 80 mph. At the moment the most impacted area is gonna be Bolivar Peninsula, both wind and water, Henry said. This morning there was a 35-foot wave registered offshore in a buoy, so thats an example of how significant the wave action is gonna be. Henry was pleased to see that only 40 or so residents stayed behind to ride out the storm on the peninsula. County sheriffs deputies are stationed on Bolivar through the storm and will be patrolling the peninsula once the storm has passed to protect peoples properties, Henry said. The Texas Department of Transportation has ended ferry service to the peninsula until the storm passes, which is expected to be between noon and 2 p.m. Thursday. For the rest of Galveston County, strong winds have the potential to knock out power for days. Centerpoint Energy, which serves most of the county, has trucks staged at Jack Brooks Park in Hitchcock, ready to respond to power outages. With those kinds of winds, youre gonna have flying limbs, debris, its going to knock out power, Henry said. The county judge said he has been assured by Centerpoint that they would take care of Galveston County customers before heading east to handle potential outages closer to where the hurricane will make landfall. Not everyone was worrying about the storms likely impact Wednesday. Farther east down the seawall from Coleman, several surfers unloaded boards from their trucks to brave the churning Gulf waters, getting a quick adrenaline fix before the water becomes too dangerous. The surf conditions brought Darla Sheffield down to the seawall with her board, though she was taking a break to help her landlord board up the Citgo gas station convenience store that he owns on the boulevard. I do construction work myself, building homes in Sea Isle, so I know its real hard to hold the wood up there by yourself, Sheffield said. I just thought Id help out. Sheffield did manage to get a quick surf in before the manual labor, though she quickly bailed until more surfers showed up. While surfing in storm conditions sounds risky, Sheffield says the islands surfing community has a cardinal rule: nobody goes out by themselves. Thats the best time to (surf) out here in Galveston, thats when we really get our waves is when the storms come in, she said. Everybody pretty much waits on this moment. In Galvestons Strand Historic District downtown, which frequently floods during storms from the bay side of the island, there was hardly any sign of pedestrians and most storefronts were obstructed by sandbags or storm shields. Elizabeth Punches, a painter who owns an art gallery downtown, walked the sidewalk outside her studio with a coffee mug in hand. Punches does not own a car so she decided to stay behind and hunker down in her apartment with her two dogs rather than catch a bus to the mainland. Weve all got our storm shields up, were also barricaded inside with rubber mats, plastic sheeting and everything, she said. We have two additional levels, so if (water) compromises the first level, theres a second level. And of course since our electricity is only about a foot off the ground and live, we put duct tape over everything. But with two anxious dogs, Punches expected to spend most of the next 24 hours trying to keep them calm. She waved at a neighbor biking down the street, and noted that the islanders who choose to stay behind during storms generally are veterans of other storms who know what it takes to survive them. Theres a group of people that live on the island that are like that: stay low, do what you have to do, dont take chances, Punches said. Its the best they can do. nick.powell@chron.com Top meat importer China has suspended imports from some foreign meat packing plants where workers became infected with coronavirus - but not others. WHY IS CHINA SO WARY OF FROZEN FOOD IMPORTS? China is the worlds top meat importer, bringing in huge volumes in recent months because of a shortfall at home. Authorities in Beijing found heavy traces of the coronavirus in the meat and seafood sections of the Xinfadi market, a large wholesale food market in Beijing, after an outbreak there in June. Though there was no evidence to show food had caused the infection, officials at the General Administration of Customs have said they cannot rule out such a risk given the rapid development of the pandemic abroad. The agency, which oversees food imports, has told trade partners that its efforts are aimed at easing consumer concerns about the safety of imported produce, said diplomats familiar with the conversations. HOW DOES CHINA ASSESS WHICH MEAT PLANTS SHOULD BE SUSPENDED? Chinas General Administration of Customs did not respond to a Reuters request seeking clarification on its process. But it has held meetings with food and agriculture authorities from exporting nations, say diplomatic sources, urging them to voluntarily suspend exports from meat plants where workers have contracted COVID-19. Many countries are complying with Chinas request. Argentina recently halted exports to China from seven plants that had COVID-19 cases among employees. Canada, Ireland and France have also voluntarily suspended exports. In countries that have not notified Beijing of outbreaks, customs has at times halted imports from the affected plants. Several plants have been suspended in Brazil but only one has in the U.S., where more than 16,000 meatpacking workers in dozens of plants have been infected with coronavirus. Many plants have been able to resume exports to China after notifying Customs that cases are under control. WHAT DO COMPANIES SAY? Canadas Maple Leaf Foods Inc said Aug. 19 it was complying with Chinese government protocols for Canadian processors that require any plant reporting a positive COVID-19 case to suspend exports to China. Cargill Incs Canadian beef plant at High River, Alberta is also blocked from shipping to China, and said it is communicating with Chinese authorities through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The agency said it is working with Cargill to formally request that exports resume. Others like Brazils BRF have said they were not immediately notified when plants were banned. BRF said Chinese agencies had carried out tests in food samples but found no traces of the novel coronavirus on those. Tyson Foods Inc says it is working to get China allthe information it needs in order to resume exports from the United States. The start of the academic year is already underway for the majority of Colorados K-12 schools. Without a set mandate from the state regarding the reopening of schools, districts are making their own decisions on reopening plans at the start of the school year, which range from full in-person instruction, a hybrid model of partial in-person and partial online instruction, full-online instruction for a limited time, or some combination of the three. With Colorados emphasis on local control, the reopenings are unfolding in a piecemeal and highly dangerous fashion. The state now has 55,800 COVID-19 cases and 1,926 deaths, with the virus increasingly spreading out of control. Concerned teachers have begun organizing and speaking out to oppose the homicidal campaign to reopen schools. Gregory, a teacher from Fort Collins who was recently fired for raising safety concerns, spoke with the WSWS about the conditions at his school and district. Gregory stated, I do not believe getting people together in the same rooms, even with state-of-the-art ventilation systems, is safe. He added, Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that in indoor spaces, good ventilation will filter some of the virus out of the air, but may leave more viral particles on surfaces. In the classroom setting, after running a 50-minute simulation with an asymptomatic teacher consistently talking, the researchers found that only 10 percent of the aerosols were filtered out. The majority of the particles were instead deposited on the walls. I feel that we dont know very much about the virus and its potential to impact health long-term, though we know what some people felt like when afflicted with it, and we know that we may have 300,000 dead in the US by the winter break in a lot of school schedules. The fact is that any of us can be a vector, and any of us might be susceptible to the serious illnesses and deaths we have seen and recorded in the country since before March. I do not want to infect anyone in my community. Students could go home and infect family or neighbors. Maybe that will happen anyway, but I dont want to participate in spreading the virus. Further, I am one of at least three staff members in my schools community who are at high risk of serious illness or death if we get infected by COVID-19. I was fired because I was concerned about health, safety, and risk, and the head of school made me feel wrongfully terminated. I spoke about the issue and shared current research and information, I was considered rude because I didn't want to kill or be killed. Earlier this month Colorado Governor Jared Polis said that opening schools in Colorado was reasonably safe and announced that he is sending his own children back to school. Despite baseless reassurances from Polis, many schools that reopened to in-person instruction have already begun reporting outbreaks of COVID-19, and some have carried out temporary school closures. Guidance from the states Department of Education and health officials is inadequate, asking districts to consider strategies like cohorting, masks for students age 11 and older, and limiting high school class sizes for social distancing purposes. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Department of Education, working alongside the Governors office, developed a set of guidelines for Local Public Health Agencies (LPHA) and school districts to consider in their reopening plans. The guidelines are organized by the level of COVID-19 incidence in the community: Stay at Home (high level of COVID-19), Safer at Home (mid-level of COVID-19), and Protect Our Neighbors (lower level of COVID-19). These guidelines place hundreds of thousands of families at risk as they rely on pseudoscience and lies that portray youth as immune from and less likely to transmit the virus. To justify pushing students and teachers back into in-person instruction, the guidelines cite the American Association of Pediatrics which suggests that younger children play a smaller role in onward transmission of COVID-19 and that the risk of transmission between children and from children to adults is low. Multiple comprehensive studies have refuted these claims, and indicate the opposite to be true, that children are more likely to spread the virus than adults. Further guidelines from the CDPHE and CDE state that schools should try to implement mitigation tactics such as 6-foot social distancing, mask wearing, directed movement, smaller group sizes and minimal touch. However, if schools are unable to meet these safety measures, they advise, consider how to layer [safety measures]. For instance, if students cannot remain 6-foot apart, cohort students. Cohorting is the most important strategy to keep schools open. If strict cohorts cannot occur, some cohorting is better than none. A recent study from the University of Florida confirmed that an infective aerosolized form of minute COVID-19 particles can become airborne and travel 16 feet or more, well beyond the recommended six feet for social distancing. These aerosols can also remain suspended in the air for hours in poorly ventilated spaces. The findings make concrete that all classrooms where children and teachers will gather are dangerous and deadly, particularly in schools that do not require the use of masks or social distancing. Unsurprisingly, cases have already erupted in schools throughout Colorado. Last week, a teacher at Josephine Hodgkins Leadership Academy in Westminster Public Schools (WPS), tested positive for COVID-19, sending 125 students into a 14-day quarantine. The school has remained open due to the use of cohorts as part of their in-person learning model. In a recent announcement responding to the quarantine, Westminster district spokesperson Steve Saunders stated, WPS created its plan with the understanding that at some point a student or staff member would test positive, the announcement stated. There have been other reports of cases in schools throughout the state, including Sand Creek Elementary, Fort Lupton High School, Burlington Middle School, Windsor Middle School, Soaring Eagles Elementary School, North Mesa Elementary School, and Grandview High School. These schools have closed their doors to in-person instruction until September 8, except for Soaring Eagles Elementary which will resume in person on Monday, September 1. State and district officials have pointed to the low case count in recent weeks to justify the resumption of face-to-face instruction, but positive cases of the virus in schools have gone largely unreported. There is no doubt that cases will continue to rise in the coming days and weeks as more schools open to in-person instruction. Colorado has over 900,000 students who attend public schools. Almost six in ten of these children have at least one parent working in an essential industry and more than half of all households are living below the poverty line with household income of less than $55,000. The majority of districts in the state, 146 out of 178, are defined as rural. A study conducted by the Colorado Futures Center found that nearly five percent of school-age children in the state, around 54,000 students, are living in households without internet access, primarily in the rural western slope region or the southwest portion of the state. This presents difficult conditions amid the pandemic, as many of the rural schools also struggle with geographic isolation, low funding, and aging and dilapidated facilities. Before the pandemic, conditions were already dire for tens of thousands of rural poor that lack access to basic nutrition, healthcare, and other vital services. While rank and file teachers have threatened strike action to halt the reopening of schools, the Colorado Education Association (CEA) has rejected this and instead negotiated with state officials to facilitate the reopening of schools, simply demanding that safety protections, protocols and precautions must be provided by school districts for all students and staff. Last month, CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert claimed that everyones biggest priority is to get to in-person learning. She sought to obfuscate the science of the pandemic, saying that contradictory studies and data make it hard to find consensus on what the science is saying about the coronavirus in schools. But the reality is not one of conflicting data, but fundamentally a class question. The ruling class is elevating pseudoscience and questionable data to justify reopening schools, while an increasing number of studies point to the dangerous airborne character of the virus which upends the 6-foot distancing upon which so many reopening plans are based. If 6-foot distancing does nothing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, then the entire basis on which schools, factories, and other workplaces have reopened under supposed safe conditions is thrown out the window. The 2019 Denver teachers strike centered on the demand that the merit-based pay ProComp system be abolished. The Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) isolated this powerful struggle and shutdown the strike after three days, pushing teachers back into the classroom under a sellout contract that did nothing to meet their demands to overturn ProComp. Instead, a complex tiered system of pay based on experience and academic degrees, teacher evaluations based on test scores, potentially biased student and fellow teacher reviews was implemented. Facing what are now life-and-death conditions, educators must assimilate the lessons from the 2018-2019 strike wave, including the betrayal from the DCTA, CEA, and NEA/AFT, and begin organizing independently of the trade unions. The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee has been formed to coordinate and facilitate the building of a network of rank-and-file safety committees in every school and neighborhood, to organize the immense opposition to the murderous plan to reopen schools. All those who agree with this perspective should contact us today, join our Facebook group and make plans to attend our next online call-in meeting Saturday, August 29. Register today and share the event widely with your coworkers! Everything that has happened this momentous year has raised the stakes for carriers, forcing them to quickly and effectively modernize their operations to meet the pressing financial-security needs of billions of consumers worldwide." --Ian Jeffrey, CEO of Breathe Life Breathe Life, the enterprise SaaS platform provider for the life insurance industry, today announced it has secured an additional $11.5 million CAD in funding to enhance its digital distribution platform for insurance carriers. The $6.5 million Series A was co-led by Real Ventures & Investissement Quebec with participation from Clocktower Technology Ventures, Cameron Ventures, Desjardins, NAventures, and Diagram Ventures. The remaining $5 million is made up of a $4.2 million debt financing from National Bank of Canadas Technology and Innovation Banking Group and various government grants. Breathe Life provides insurers a modern digital platform for the distribution of life insurance products that increases sales and speed of policy delivery while reducing operational costs. Breathe Life enables carriers to quickly deliver a fully-branded, user-centric experience that streamlines the online buying process for consumers. This ease of engagement is especially important as carriers continue to navigate the global coronavirus pandemic, which has largely eliminated traditional face-to-face sales and paper-based distribution processes. In our current global context there is an increased need to develop digital services in all sectors, and were convinced that this promising Montreal company will play an important role in bringing innovation to the insurance industry, stated Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO of Investissement Quebec. Our investment in Breathe Life reaffirms Investissement Quebecs leadership role among Quebec-based venture capital and private investors. Breathe Lifes omnichannel platform breaks through data silos to unify customer information into a single profile, making it easier to convert leads to policies across products and channels. Advanced analytics and machine learning continuously provide recommendations on product and market opportunities to help grow customer-lifetime value. Today, carriers across the U.S. and Canada are using the platform to achieve double-digit sales and premium increases while reducing customer acquisition costs by almost a third. John Stokes, Partner at Real Ventures, noted: Until recently, the insurance industry has approached digital transformation as a multi-year effort. If the last six months have taught the industry anything, its that the time to go digital is now. Breathe Life has a proven track record helping carriers across North America quickly deliver high-quality digital experiences to consumers that drive growth while also generating valuable, data-driven insights back to the business. Our Group is pleased to partner with some of the greatest Canadian success stories, and we believe Breathe Life will be among them," said Mathieu Apuzzo, Senior Director, Technology and Innovation Banking Group, National Bank of Canada. "Our partnership with Breathe Life goes back to their early days, and were proud to support them in this next phase of growth. Were thrilled to promote innovation in a space that is increasingly dynamic and rich with investment opportunities. We share the passion the Breathe Life team puts in every day and are very excited about their bright future. Everything that has happened this momentous year has raised the stakes for carriers, forcing them to quickly and effectively modernize their operations to meet the pressing financial-security needs of billions of consumers worldwide, said Ian Jeffrey, CEO of Breathe Life. Helping consumers engage online -- and making it easy for advisors to help them there -- is no longer a nice to have, but an urgent requirement of the new normal. Breathe Life is empowering carriers to transform now. Using our digital distribution platform, carriers can quickly attract, service, and win new business cost-effectively across channels. ABOUT BREATHE LIFE Breathe Life is an enterprise Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, platform for the individual insurance industry. We provide insurers with a modern end-to-end platform that increases the speed of policy delivery and reduces operational costs for the distribution of financial security products. We believe that technology will help eliminate the financial insecurities of generations to come. Breathe Life is venture-backed by Real Ventures, Invest Quebec, Diagram Ventures and a variety of industry veteran angel investors from AXA, AIG, and RGA. Learn more about Breathe Life at breathelife.com or on our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. ABOUT REAL VENTURES Real Ventures serves mission-driven entrepreneurs and nurtures the communities in which they thrive. Established in 2007, the firm backs visionary founders building innovative tech companies that will have large-scale positive impacts on society. The firm also helps entrepreneurs to realize the full potential of their companies by providing them with the guidance, stage-specific help and communities required to develop the self-awareness and operational capabilities for global success. Real has invested in over 280 companies across five funds, with $330 million under management. Reals active portfolio companies have a total current value of over $5 billion. ABOUT INVESTISSEMENT QUEBEC Investissement Quebecs mission is to play an active role in Quebecs economic development by spurring business innovation, entrepreneurship and business acquisitions, as well as growth in investment and exports. Operating in all the provinces administrative regions, the Corporation supports the creation and growth of businesses of all sizes with investments and customized financial solutions. It also assists businesses by providing consulting services and other support measures, including technological assistance available from Investissement Quebec CRIQ. In addition, through Investissement Quebec International, the Corporation also prospects for talent and foreign investment and assists businesses with export activities. Media Contact Sarah Mees for Breathe Life 617-462-8066 sarah@meescommunications.com Catherine Salvail for Investissement Quebec 514-876-9600 catherine.salvail@invest-quebec.com UPDATE: Authorities said Devon Wayne Copeland has been found safe. EARLIER: Authorities are searching for a 14-year-old boy who was reported missing Tuesday evening. Devon Wayne Copeland has hearing problems and a speech impairment, according to the Etowah County Sheriffs Office. They issued a release shortly before 11 p.m. saying Devon had not been scene since 4:30 p.m. The young teen was last seen leaving #13 T.C. Dobbins Road on foot. Dobbins Road is at the Etowah and Marshall counties line off Bluff Road. Devon is described as 5-feet, 4-inches tall, weighs 120 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing light-colored blue jeans, a black shirt and a white New York Yankees ball cap. Anyone with information on Devons whereabouts is asked to call the Etowah County Sheriffs Office at 256-546-2825. A dear friend has said something that is causing me to re-evaluate our friendship. I recently hosted a few women at a small get-together to celebrate a birthday. All four of us have been close for many years. In the course of conversation, we began to discuss current events, including the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. This friend said that she couldnt see why Black lives should matter to us (we are all white) when Black lives dont even seem to matter to other Blacks. She cited Black-on-Black crime and, in particular, the recent death of a young African-American girl who was killed by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting. (I should mention that all of us live in an affluent, predominantly white suburb of a major metropolitan city that is predominantly Black and poor. Prior to the pandemic, this city was experiencing something of a renaissance but still had a long way to go.) Our friend also noted that she was disgusted by the outpouring of attention and love at George Floyds funeral. After all, she said, he did not live a very virtuous life and did not deserve to be treated like a saint. The rest of us spoke up immediately. We tried to explain that George Floyd was the last straw after hundreds of years of discrimination. We acknowledged that Black-on-Black crime exists, but so does white-on-white and white-on-Black crime. And discrimination and poverty create many difficult socioeconomic conditions. We also emphasized that the police should be held to a higher standard than the average citizen and the officers actions in the Floyd case point to outright murder. We told her that Floyds past was not pertinent to anything at this point. For one thing, it was unclear whether the officers called to the scene all knew of his past not that it would justify killing him anyway. And we told her that George Floyd is representative of all the other African-Americans who have been unjustly arrested, and often killed, for no reason other than the color of their skin. This went on for a while, but she was unmoved and held firmly to her position, which I believe was shockingly racist. We eventually changed the subject and remained friendly for the rest of the evening. However, I cannot get this event out of my mind. I find it very disturbing that a close friend of mine would express such racist views. Can I remain friends with someone whose personal belief system is so contrary to my own? Name Withheld Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in virtue, Aristotle said in the Nicomachean Ethics. That is, and was meant to be, a pretty demanding standard. Given that your friends racist views, by contrast to your antiracist views, represent a vice, you are not alike in virtue. I find Aristotles standard too demanding, though. For one thing, perhaps because I was raised with a Christian consciousness of original sin, I am aware that no one is wholly virtuous. DETROIT -- The Detroit Police Department released images captured from the body cam of an officer who shot and killed a dog on its own property earlier this month after the dog attacked a canine officer. According to Fox 2 Detroit, the images show the dog, named Chino, was latched on to the canine officers muzzle and wouldnt let go. At that point, the police officer drew her weapon and fired a single shot at Chino. Following the shooting, DPD called The Detroit Pit Crew, a local animal rescue group to try to save Chino. Theresa Sumpter of Detroit Pit Crew says they arrived quickly and immediately took the wounded dog to an emergency veterinarian. However, the efforts to save Chino were unsuccessful and the decision was made to put the dog down. The incident took place Aug. 3 and video of the shooting captured from a home security system has gone viral. Activists, critics of the DPD and even former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro have called for an investigation into shooting and are demanding accountability. Detroit police officials have justified the shooting and stand by the officers decision to shoot the dog. Preliminarily, the K9 made an effort to dislodge the dog it didnt happen, said Detroit Police Chief James Craig. She was concerned for the safety of her partner, who in this case was her K9 and she fired a single shot. The DPD also told Fox 2 that the fence was too close to the sidewalk according to the city ordinance. Sumpter says Chino was just defending its property, much like many other dogs. DPD officers were near the property because they were searching for a gun that was believed to have been ditched nearby. Officers reportedly asked the property owner to secure their pets, but Chino got away and ran to the fence. The K9 officer suffered injuries to its mouth and nose, but is expected to be back to work soon. The female officer who shot Chino was off of work for a few days and was described by Craig as being extremely upset about the situation. READ MORE Pontoon boat on Torch Lake flips with 15 people on board After bears spotted in Michigan campground, Forest Service says to be bear aware Michigan man suffering from stroke traveled 100 miles on U.S. 131 with shredded tires, police say By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory letter to First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of her birthday, Azertag reported on August 26. Putin congratulated First Lady and noted her significant contribution of strengthening the ties between the two countries. "As a true friend of Russia, you make a significant contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between our countries. I am confident that these relations will continue to develop productively in all spheres for the benefit of the Russian and Azerbaijani peoples." "I sincerely wish you a good health, prosperity and successes in your state activity," the letter reads. Azebaijan's First Vice President and First Lady Mehriban Alieva is marking her birthday today. Editor's note: Andrew Korybko is a Moscow-based American political analyst. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spewed a lot of disinformation during his anti-Chinese diatribe that he shared last month while speaking at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. His speech is regarded as the most critical one that any American diplomat ever made. Since he's in the limelight once again after his speech at the Republican National Convention, it's worthwhile returning to his false claims. According to him, the Communist Party of China (CPC) doesn't represent the Chinese people. Not only is it allegedly oppressing them and, especially, those who live in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, but it's also dangerously destabilizing the rest of the world as it ruthlessly seeks to expand in order to impose its totalitarian, hegemonic intentions upon everyone else. Its modus operandi allegedly includes cheating the rules-based international system by stealing territory, intellectual property, and American jobs. The purpose in misportraying the CPC in such a way and even comparing it to the erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is to craft the false information warfare perception that it's an unpopular, evil force, which must be contained just like its Soviet predecessor was, and that history is on the so-called "free world's" side so the CPC will inevitably fail. Put another way, this is a declaration of hybrid war by the U.S. against China, and in particular against its ruling party which America wants to delegitimize as justification for taking even more aggressive measures against it. History, however, is actually on the CPC's side, as are the facts. The party is immensely popular in the country, and its unique system of socialism with Chinese characteristics means that it doesn't harbor the global expansionist plans. This domestically focused model has done wonders for improving the living conditions of literally hundreds of millions of people, and it's accomplished all of this after playing by the rules of the same international system that the U.S. itself created. Its military policy is also purely defensive. All of this upsets America since it thought that it could control China by manipulating the so-called "rules-based" international order. This tremendously backfired after the U.S.'s fading unipolar hegemony of the past few decades, which is a natural trend in international relations that all superpowers experience but was accelerated by the country's own disastrous domestic and international decisions, led to its global decline. This in turn created space for China to rise as it stuck by the rules, played fair and square, and beat the U.S. at its own game. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of the 52nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, August 1, 2019. /VCG In response, the U.S. began systematically dismantling its previously cherished rules-based international order under the Donald Trump administration, which destabilized the world and led to the emergence of a plethora of newfound threats to the international community. It did so out of desperation, gambling that it might be able to find an opportunity amid this self-inflicted chaos in order to reshape the resultant world order according to its grand strategic interests. This insight proves that the U.S., not China, is the world's greatest threat. To be clear, the American people aren't to blame for what their government does in their name. Ironically, its ruling Democrat-Republican duopoly, supported by the "deep state" (the permanent military, intelligence, and diplomatic bureaucracies), is just as out of touch with their people's true needs and unrepresentative of their will as the U.S. falsely claims that the CPC is vis-a-vis the Chinese people. American democracy has long ago been hijacked by oligarchic interests and political lobbies, exactly as the Founding Fathers once feared. All people across the world want peace, stability, and development, and this includes both the American and Chinese people. This dream, however, is endangered by the U.S. duopoly and its "deep state's" obsession with zero-sum outcomes, which risks not only ruining this for everyone else across the world, but also for Americans themselves. The fatal flaw of American grand strategy is that it doesn't recognize the existence of win-win outcomes like the CPC does, which could ruin everything for everyone if this doesn't soon change. BBC Ones Crimewatch Roadshow Live is set to return for a new series next month. The programme appeals for the publics help in solving some of the UKs biggest unsolved cases and will add former South Wales Police officer John Paul Davies to the presenting line-up as a reporter. Former detective Rav Wilding and co-presenter Michelle Ackerley will return to the studio, calling on viewers to name more criminals caught on CCTV and helping the police track down individuals featured in the daily wanted faces gallery. Expand Close Michelle Ackerley will return to host the latest series of Crimewatch Roadshow Live (Lauren Hurley/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michelle Ackerley will return to host the latest series of Crimewatch Roadshow Live (Lauren Hurley/PA) Twelve years on from a deadly arson attack in Bolton, the team will hear from the woman whose mother and daughter were killed by the fire as well as from the Greater Manchester Police team working on the case. Wilding said: Its been an extremely challenging time for police and emergency teams during the pandemic and through lockdown, so any information our viewers can offer to help police investigations is more crucial than ever. Its also hugely important to me to be able to remind people watching at home that police are more than just their uniforms and to celebrate the heart-warming tales of officers going above and beyond the call of duty in these difficult circumstances. Crimewatch Roadshow Live returns to BBC One from September 7 at 9.15am for three weeks. A father-of-two who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease seven years ago is preparing to end his life at Swiss clinic Dignitas for 10,000 so he can 'die peacefully'. Dave Finlay, 70, has suffered with the debilitating condition for seven years and believes the diagnosis is a death sentence. Over time it becomes increasingly more difficult to move, swallow and breathe, with feeding tubes and face masks often needed in the later stages. There is no cure and it is eventually fatal, but there are treatments to ease its symptoms. The father-of-two, from Dundee said today: 'You basically turn into a vegetable. You can't move or speak and the only way you can communicate is by blinking and I don't know how long I'd have to live like that. Dave Finlay, 70, has lived with motor neurone disease for seven years and wants to end his life The father-of-two from Dundee is calling for a change in the law so that people from the UK with long term illnesses don't have to travel to Switzerland to end their life What is motor neurone disease or MND? Motor neurone disease is caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones. These cells gradually stop working over time, it's not known why this happens and there is no cure. According to the NHS' website, moving around, swallowing and breathing get increasingly difficult, and treatments like a feeding tube or breathing air through a face mask may be needed. The condition eventually leads to death, but how long it takes to reach this stage varies widely. There are treatments to improvement and maintain the ability to speak as the condition worsens. More information on MND is here. Advertisement 'Why should I have to suffer? People are dying terrible deaths. 'In Switzerland, it's a peaceful way of going, you drink something and fall asleep. I envy people who die in their sleep. 'Nobody wants to die but I've accepted that if I don't do it, it could end up being too late and I'll end up as a vegetable so when I start to feel like the condition is getting worse, I'll go. 'I'm lucky because I can still walk, I can walk to the pub for a pint but in the end I'd end up paralysed.' The retired heating surveyor has been given the green light to end his life in Switzerland when his condition begins to worsen, at a cost of 10,000. Mr Finlay was diagnosed after noticing a 'niggle' in his left leg and he started becoming clumsy. He didn't tell his family until two years later when his mum, Doreen, died. He said: 'I first started getting symptoms in 2009. 'It was in my leg when I was walking down stairs, then I would fall over and I put it down to clumsiness but now I know there were signs staring me right in the face which I ignored it because I wasn't in pain. 'I thought maybe it was life getting me back because I had a motorbike accident years before and injured my knees. Dave Finlay fears he will become a 'vegetable,' as his conditions worsens over a period of time Mr Finlay got in touch with assisted suicide clinic Dignitas to look into his case, as he plans to end his life Assisted dying in the UK Under the Suicide Act 1961, anyone helping or encouraging someone to take their own life in England or Wales can be prosecuted and jailed for up to 14 years if found guilty of an offence. Section two of the act states that a person commits an offence if they carry out an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person, and the act was intended to encourage or assist suicide or an attempt at suicide. In 2015 MPs including former prime minister David Cameron rejected a Bill to legalise assisted dying. Opposition to changing the law has come from faith groups, campaigners who say disabled people may feel pressured to end their lives and campaigners who fear assisted dying would become a business. Advertisement 'After I was diagnosed, the first thing I did was google it and the first thing I read was the fact it was basically a death sentence. 'It was a shock. I didn't tell anyone, I didn't want my mum to know so I waited until she'd died before telling my family.' Two years ago he got in touch with assisted suicide clinic Dignitas Switzerland. He had to pay an upfront cost of 3,000 just for them to look into his case. He said: 'I was so relieved when I was accepted. 'The difference I felt in myself was amazing. 'My family understand what's ahead for me so they know why I want to go and they support me. 'Ten per cent of people last more than ten years and they're usually bed ridden or in a wheelchair so I am lucky that I'm still moving about. 'The disease is moving through my body slowly and I've lasted longer than expected but that's also worrying because if I end up paralysed, we don't know how long I'd have to live like that.' Dave is now calling for a change in the law so that people from the UK with long term illnesses don't have to travel to Switzerland to end their life. He said: 'There are people in my situation not enjoying their life because they know what's coming. Two years ago, Dave got in touch with a clinic in Switzerland and had to pay an upfront cost of 3,000 just for them to look into his case 'I want to see the law change so I don't have to go but it won't happen in my lifetime. 'Going to Switzerland is going to take years off my life because I'll have to make sure I go before I start deteriorating. 'If I could do it here, I'd be able to last a bit longer and do it in my own time.' Taiwan is allowing tertiary students from mainland China to return to campus on the island, more than six months after it banned mainland travellers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The lifting of the ban with immediate effect would allow some 5,000 mainland Chinese students to continue their college or university studies on the island, Ministry of Education officials said on Tuesday. Mainland students seeking to return must apply through their universities or colleges, which will then send their names to the National Immigration Agency for registration before they will be allowed in, said Sung Wen-chien, a spokeswoman for the ministrys higher education department. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. Sun said the students would also have to complete the 14-day mandatory quarantine either at a designated hotel or dormitory. She said the lifting of the ban would also allow some 5,000 college or university students from other parts of the world to enter Taiwan, including from high-risk coronavirus countries such as the United States. Taiwan has previously allowed tertiary students from 19 low-to-medium-risk countries and areas, including Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, to study on the island. Sung said all of the students from Hong Kong and Macau who were allowed in between June and July had completed their quarantine requirement and reported to their universities for the new semester starting in September. Education Ministry officials said any students entering Taiwan after August might not be able to start the new term on time because of the two-week quarantine period. In addition, mainland students must apply for an exit permit from mainland authorities, which in April banned new mainland students from studying in Taiwan, according to Taiwanese news media. The mainland ban was in response to the islands refusal to allow travellers from across the Taiwan Strait to enter the island in February as part of pandemic containment measures. Story continues Many mainland students returned home for the Lunar New Year holiday in January, but a large number have not been able to go back to Taiwan since then because of Taipeis temporary restrictions. Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward territory that must be returned to the mainland fold by force, if necessary. It has suspended official exchanges with the island since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle. But it has allowed private exchanges, including letting mainland students study in Taiwan and the islands students study on the mainland. Tang Yen-po, chairman of the Taipei-based Private Education Association, said colleges and universities in Taiwan stood to lose NT$880 million (US$30 million) per year if mainland students stopped studying on the island. The loss excludes the expenses covered by those students in Taiwan, he said. This article Coronavirus: Taiwan lets mainland Chinese students return to island for university first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Photo: (Photo : Facebook/VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System) Army Veteran Timothy Yablonski received a portion of his stepdaughter's liver in March. The surgery happened when VA Pittsburgh Healthcare partnered with UPMC to perform the first-ever VA living-donor liver transplant. Stepdaughter applied first as a donor Yablonski's stepdaughter, Alyssa Last, said that she wanted to help as soon as they found out that her stepdad could receive a living-donor liver transplant. She was the first to apply and got evaluated for it. The 54-year-old Army Veteran was suffering from liver cirrhosis for more than five years already. He said that his stepdaughter's generosity saved his life. It made him feel incredible that his daughter wanted to support him. His doctor told him after the transplant that Last kept him alive. See also: Virginia "Heroes with Heart" Winner Has Her Very Own American Girl Doll The duo believed that the transplant match and successful surgery were all meant to be. They took personal strength and connected the surgery date and a Bible verse that they value. Yablonski said that they had the surgery on March 16, 3-16, just like the verse John 3:16. He believes that it is a promise. Not blood related but they matched A year ago, Last was involved in an accident that required surgery and hospital care. Last said that there is no way for her to go through the liver transplant surgery because of the injuries she acquired from the accident. See also: Ohio Newlywed Couple Donates Reception Food to the Homeless She felt it was amazing because she was healthy enough to do so. For her, it was all meant to be because they matched perfectly even though they were not related biologically. Lindsey Herlinger, VA Pittsburgh transplant administrator, said that any Veteran eligible for VA care could opt for a living donor if he or she needs a transplant. She explained that it is helpful for those who would wait for a long time for an organ. She also said that they would not have to wait for a long time, plus they help free up space from the deceased donors' list. Wore matching shirts In late June, the father-daughter wore matching shirts when they returned for follow-up care. Yablonski's shirt wrote that he carries a part of his daughter wherever he goes, while Last's shirt wrote that her dad has always been one of her heroes, now, she is one of his. Both statements ended with the date they had the surgery. See also: Mom Was "Blown Away" by Strangers' Sweet Gesture upon Hearing About Son's Leukemia One of the 13 VA transplant centers, VA Pittsburgh performs in-house kidney, liver, and living-donor kidney transplants. It is the only VA hospital that accepts both small bowel transplants and living-donor liver transplants. Chief transplantation at UPMC and one of Yablonski's surgeon, Dr. Abhinav Humar, said his thoughts. He that they should offer all Veterans with such transplants. He said that Yablonski's case was special because the medical center was able to partner with VA colleagues. He was glad to offer a life-saving procedure that was not available before. The government recently announced that it wants to replicate Telkoms public-private partnership to save the insolvent South African Airways (SAA). The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) said it has started negotiations with private entities interested in buying into South Africas national carrier. SAA needs at least R10 billion to resume operations and the DPE said it wants SAA to resume operations by the year-end. DPE director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi said they have received as many as four promising proposals. Tlhakudi said the government is keen to replicate the privatization of former state monopoly Telkom, which was partially sold to outside investors ahead of a listing on the JSE. 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. He added that, just like Telkom, the new SAA may eventually be listed. Telkom versus SAA The governments plan to replicate Telkoms public-private partnership model may seem like a logical solution, but the two companies are very different. SAA has been gutted by years of corruption and mismanagement and had to be bailed out numerous times to continue operating. The airlines financial challenges became so untenable that it was placed into business rescue in December 2019. Global travel bans and more efficient competitors mean there is not much demand for SAAs services. If it disappeared, travellers could easily be served by other airlines. There is, therefore, no real need for a national carrier. To compare the bankrupt SAA to Telkom before it was listed is completely misguided. When a 30% stake in Telkom was sold to SBC Communications (now AT&T) and Telekom Malaysia in 1997, the company was in good shape. It was well-run, had great assets, and had been performing well financially for years. In the 1996/1997 financial year, Telkom grew its revenue by 23% to R16.3 billion and its profit by 46% to R4.4 billion. It has also shown strong revenue and profit growth for the five years preceding the deal with a big increase in dividends for shareholders. Telkom further enjoyed a government-protected monopoly in the fixed-line telecommunications market and was a 50% shareholder in Vodacom. It was a great company for anyone to invest in. There was tremendous demand for telecoms services, and there were few other avenues to buy into the industry. Telkom also paid handsome dividends to its shareholders and the outlook for the telecommunications sector was excellent. In short, it was a dream for any investor. To compare Telkom in 1997 to the SAA in 2020 is a very poor and misguided view of the two companies. The SAA is bankrupt, it does not have many significant assets, and the outlook for the airline industry is not good. To find a private partner who is willing to invest billions in the national carrier will be a much tougher sell than Telkom in 1997. The table below provides an overview of Telkom in 1997 and SAA in 2020. Telkom in 1997 vs SAA in 2020 Company Telkom SAA Revenue R16.3 billion R27.0 billion Profit/Loss R4.4 billion profit R5.0 billion loss Legally protected monopoly Yes No Strong demand for services Yes No Growth in recent years Yes No Telkom 1997 financial results SAA 2019 financial results Now read: New SAA set to relaunch in January 2021 Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued an order to have Istanbul's medieval Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora be converted into a Muslim house of prayer. This order follows another recent order to convert the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque as well, both seemingly done to increase support amongst his more conservative voter base. Erdogan's decision was met with much outrage and opposition by the foreign ministry of Greece, who claim that Erdogan is "brutally insulting" a heritage site beloved by another U.N. country. Erdogan's opposition, Garo Paylan, the HDP party lawmaker tweeted out, "One of the symbols of our country's deep, multicultural identity and multi-religious history has been sacrificed." The Greek Ministry urges Turkey and Erdogan to return to the "mutual respect, dialogue, and understanding between civilizations," calling on them not to deface the history and cultural religious significance of the church, as it would be a "provocation against all believers." Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire, has been given a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days by a Greek court, after being found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery. The sentence will be suspended because it is Maguires first offence and charges were misdemeanours. However, the England defenders legal team have said they will appeal the verdict. Maguire was convicted of all the charges against him by a court on the island of Syros. He was arrested with his brother and a friend, after a fight broke out while he was on holiday in Mykonos, over claims his sister was injected with a suspected rape drug. Maguire said: Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing. I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter if anything myself, family and friends are the victims. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Orit Soliciano has heard many testimonies of sexual and domestic violence over the years. But even she admits that a recent case in Eilat stands out in its severity. Soliciano heads the Israeli Association of Rape Crisis Centers an organization uniting all of the centers in the country treating victims of sexual harassment and violence. She has just come back from a meeting with Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir. The reason for the meeting was the gruesome gang rape in Eilat that took place in a hotel Aug. 20. Several men are accused of gang-raping a 16-year-old girl in a Red Sea Hotel room. First reports of the case mentioned 30 men who allegedly participated in the attack. The police have arrested 11 suspects, including seven minors, but the investigation is far from over. The gang rape in Eilat generated anger with large swaths of the society. "Dozens of men were present there. It is inconceivable. Unimaginable. And so this has touched many. It was the one drop too many that caused all sorts of feelings to burst out," Soliciano told Al-Monitor. Soliciano and her organization are not alone in the protest. Thousands of people have been demonstrating for the past few days against what they consider insufficient action by the authorities against sexual violence, lenient punishment and lack of resources to assist victims of rape. Shortly after the news, women started gathering in junctions across the country, dressed in red, carrying signs, "We wont be silenced" and "Rape is like murder." On Aug. 23 at noon, dozens of women rights groups staged a strike, with walkouts all over Israel. A mass rally in Tel Avivs Rabin Square took place that night. Interestingly, these groups were joined by many big and small companies. Yair Katz, head of Israel Aerospace Industry labor union, posted on his Facebook page a call for staffers to wear red, as a sign of solidarity with the battle against violence against women. "Israel is embarrassed," said his post. But calls came not just from activists and labor unions. Managements of dozens of firms were also quick to react. In fact, many companies decided to join the public upheaval and stop all work for different periods of time. In a symbolic strike denouncing sexual violence against women, Microsoft staff in Israel were encouraged to protest for an hour. AIG Israel Insurance Co. announced it will donate 50,000 Israeli shekels ($15,000) to one of the rape crisis centers. Carasso Motors announced that its 18,000 staffers would stop working at noon Aug. 23 to join the protests in the public space. "As companies that operate as part of Israeli society and view human dignity and gender equality as major values, we consider the struggle of preventing violence against women as a highly important one. Following the recent events, we decided to join the protests and to stop all work at 12:00 as a sign of solidarity," said Dganit Kremer, deputy CEO of Pelephone, yes and Bezeq International. Thousands of workers in these three companies stopped working for 15 minutes and released balloons in a sign of support. "We have seen in Israel several mediatized cases even before the #MeToo movement," Soliciano noted. "The case of former President Moshe Katsav, for instance, who was convicted of sexual assault that was several years ago. The coronavirus period also did its part, with a serious increase in domestic violence cases in Israel. Then we had a few cases recently of celebrities getting lenient sentencing for sexual assault. People are no longer willing to accept this." Director of the Israel Womens Network Michal Gera Margaliot told Al-Monitor that this recent case illustrates a comprehensive, institutionalized failure. She argued that the states handling of sexual violence must change profoundly. "Two and a half years ago, the Israeli government decided to invest 10 million shekels [$2.9 million] in a national program for the prevention of sexual harassment. Ten million. Not 100 or 200 million. And even this [small] budget was never allocated. The program stayed on paper only." Gera Margaliot has fought many years for gender equality and she has years of experience in parliamentarian lobbying. She said that this failure to fund the program is yet another example of a much larger trend where Israels government takes no responsibility for the lives of women, their safety or their well-being. Soliciano explained that well before the Eilat case, they proposed a comprehensive ministerial plan for fighting sexual violence. The organization identified the six Cabinet ministries most relevant to the issue including the ministries of justice, health and education proposing concrete measures to be implemented. So far, they received no serious response. "The first and most important measure should be prevention. In Israel, we dont have a compulsory comprehensive education plan in schools for that. We need a program that teaches students about sexual consent and about sexual violence. The Education Ministry must react now," she concluded. FP Trending Comet Neowise, or C/20202 F3, proved to be one of the brightest comet ever seen from the Earths surface when it was fully visible in the northern hemisphere in mid-July. The rare comet is about five kilometres across and its nucleus is covered with sooty material dating back to the origin of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. Now NASAs Hubble telescope captured close-up shots of the coma of the comet, and the results are illuminating. The coma is a cloud formed of gas and dust that surrounds the icy nucleus of the comet. According to the space agency, the comet photos were taken on 8 August and it is the first time that Hubble has photographed a comet of this brightness at such resolution after this close of a pass by the Sun. This happened after Neowise came as close as 43 million kilometres to the star on 3 July. Where other comets are likely to break apart due to the enhanced thermal and gravitational stresses at such close encounters, Hubbles picture shows that Neowise and its nucleus have managed to stay intact. While the nucleus is too tiny to be seen by Hubble, lead researcher Qicheng Zhang of Caltech, California, said that this telescope had far better resolution than any other telescope to capture Neowise. Zhang added that the resolution allowed the see details very close to the nucleus. As per the researcher, it allowed them to see changes in the dust right after its stripped from that nucleus due to solar heat. These images could help scientists learn more about dust in the early solar system, reported Space.com. Researchers are trying to see how the colour of the comet changes as it rockets away from the sun and towards the outer solar system. This will show how the composition and structure of dust in the coma changes with the Sun's heat. Advertisement A Brazilian city where the dead bodies of coronavirus victims had to be piled up in refrigerated trucks may have reached herd immunity against the disease without a lockdown, scientists say. Manaus has witnessed a sharp but unexplained fall in Covid-19 cases, deaths and hospitalisations despite a lack of control measures, suggesting the coronavirus has naturally fizzled out. The city, situated in the middle of a rainforest, was ravaged by the coronavirus at the start of the pandemic. It made international headlines four months ago when drone images captured bulldozers digging mass graves for Covid-19 victims. Hundreds of bodies were stored in refrigerated trucks in scenes described by the city's mayor as a 'horror movie'. But unlike the majority of Asia and Europe, the city never imposed a lockdown, strict social distancing rules or enforced face masks. Brazil's president was a vocal critic against the measures, which have crippled economies but saved lives. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva, assistant director of the Pan American Health Organisation, claimed the peak of the outbreak was very strong, which may have produced some kind of 'collective immunity'. But he added the city, in the Amazonas state, had 'paid a very large price'. Figures show it has suffered 3,300 deaths among the 1.8million residents the equivalent of one in 500 residents being killed by the virus. Herd immunity would mean a country is no longer at risk of Covid-19. However, to achieve it, up to 70 per cent of the population needs to have had the virus, which in turn would see millions of people die. Scientists still don't know the death rate of the disease for certain but believe it kills around 0.6 per cent of all patients, most of whom are elderly. Brazil's worst-hit city battled an outbreak that made world headlines four months ago when drone images captured bulldozers digging mass graves for Covid-19 victims. Pictured: An aerial view of the Parque Taruma cemetery in Manaus Health workers wearing protective gear move a person's body into a refrigerated truck at the Dr Joao Lucio Pereira Machado hospital in Manaus on April 24 Manaus has witnessed a sharp but unexplained fall in Covid-19 cases, deaths and hospitalisations despite a lack of control measures, suggesting the coronavirus has naturally fizzled out. Graphs of new and total cases in Amazonas from coronavirus.app, using data from the Brazilian health ministry Data shows the number of patients dying from Covid-19 in Amazonas has stabilised, after peaking in May with around 100 fatalities every day Figures show Amazonas - in blue - hasn't been hit as hard as Sao Paulo, in the south of the country. Some 116,000 cases have been confirmed in Amazonas Brazil's coronavirus outbreak is the world's second most severe, after the US, with more than 3.6million cases and 115,309 deaths recorded since March. But its outbreak is still rattling on, with Brazil registering 1,271 Covid-19 deaths and 47,134 new cases on Monday. The Amazonas is one of hardest-hit states, with 116,579 cases and 3,588 reported deaths as of Tuesday. Most are in Manaus. BRAZIL PRESIDENT'S SON GETS COVID-19 Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of president Jair Bolsonaro, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to a statement by Flavios spokesman. Flavio has no symptoms of COVID-19 and is at home, it said, adding he has started taking chloroquine and azithromycin as part of a treatment against the virus. President Bolsonaro is a big supporter of chloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria, despite the lack of solid evidence it works against the disease. Bolsonaro himself caught the virus earlier, as well as his wife Michelle Bolsonaro and his youngest son, Jair Renan. Advertisement The city accounts for all of the intensive care units in Amazonas and 80 per cent of its specialised doctors, according to Bernardo Albuquerque, an infectious disease expert at Amazonas Federal University. No formal lockdown was imposed on the city. Mask-wearing is not encouraged across the country. Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro, who was infected himself, has dismissed the effects of the virus. He has described it as a 'little cold' and demanded an end to lockdown measures. Many regional leaders ignored him and imposed their own quarantine measures. Brazils State Public Prosecutors Office in Manaus tried to establish a lockdown to contain the pandemic in the city in April. But a local judge denied the request, citing insufficient information, a report in the medical journal Nature Medicine states. On May 6, the Legislative Assembly of the state of Amazonas approved a bill allowing the reopening of temples and churches, 'non-essential' retail stores opened on 1 June. Private schools reopened last month. But despite this, Manaus has not seen cases increase like other countries that have relaxed Covid-19 restrictions on movement including the UK and swathes of Europe. There are close to zero 'excess deaths' and the city's field hospital, built specifically for Covid-19 and once completely overwhelmed with patients, has been closed due to a lack of Covid-19 cases. The Amazonas generally is recording around 780 new cases per day and 10 Covid-19 deaths. This compares to 2,700 cases and 50 deaths during the darkest days of the crisis at the end of May. 'There isn't a concrete explanation,' Henrique dos Santos Pereira, a scientist at the Federal University of Amazonas, said. 'Manaus is an interesting case indeed,' Jarbas Barbosa da Silva, assistant director of the Pan American Health Organisation. Mr Barbosa said that the decline in cases was gradual enough to suggest 'a natural dynamic' rather than the effect of public health initiatives. He told The Washington Post: 'The hypothesis and this is just a hypothesis is the peak we had in Manaus was very strong, and there was such widespread community transmission that it may have produced some kind of collective immunity.' Mr Barbosa insisted, however, that Manaus had 'paid a very large price' and that the number of deaths 'was a tragedy'. Herd immunity occurs when enough of the population is protected from a disease because so many of them have been exposed to it because they've already had it or have been vaccinated that it cannot spread. There is no indication that any country in the world has developed herd immunity yet, based on antibody studies. Antibody studies are considered the most accurate way of calculating how much of the population has already been infected because millions of infected patients were not swabbed for the virus during the height of the crisis, either because of a lack of tests or because they had no symptoms. In places severely battered by the disease, some infectious disease specialists have speculated that there is some level of protection. According to The Times, testing in Manaus reveals that 20 per cent of people there have already had Covid-19. But research has suggested that antibodies decline three months after infection meaning only a fraction of true cases may have been spotted. And some people may never develop antibodies at all, so the true number of cases will always be a mystery. Previously it's been speculated 60 to 70 per cent of the population would need to suffer Covid-19 or be vaccinated to gain 'herd immunity' status. But other modelling studies suggest as little as 10 to 20 per cent need to have had the virus. The calculations account for swathes of people who are less likely to get infected. Immunity among the most socially active people could protect those who come into contact with fewer people, scientists say. Funeral workers in protective gear carry the coffin of Nicolares Osorio Curico, who his relatives say died of the coronavirus disease, at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, April 16 A collective burial of people that have passed away due to the coronavirus disease is seen at the Parque Taruma cemetery in Manaus, Brazil, April 23 A burial taking place, attended by mourners and funeral workers in face masks, at an area where new graves have been dug at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, April 22 A series of coffins lie in a newly-dug grave at the Nossa Senhora de Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, April 22 WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY AND WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING IT? Herd immunity is a situation in which a population of people is protected from a disease because so many of them are unaffected by it - because they've already had it or have been vaccinated - that it cannot spread. To cause an outbreak a disease-causing bacteria or virus must have a continuous supply of potential victims who are not immune to it. Immunity is when your body knows exactly how to fight off a certain type of infection because it has encountered it before, either by having the illness in the past or through a vaccine. When a virus or bacteria enters the body the immune system creates substances called antibodies, which are designed to destroy one specific type of bug. When these have been created once, some of them remain in the body and the body also remembers how to make them again. Antibodies - alongside T cells - provide long-term protection, or immunity, against an illness. If nobody is immune to an illness as was the case at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak it can spread like wildfire. However, if, for example, half of people have developed immunity from a past infection or a vaccine there are only half as many people the illness can spread to. As more and more people become immune the bug finds it harder and harder to spread until its pool of victims becomes so small it can no longer spread at all. The threshold for herd immunity is different for various illnesses, depending on how contagious they are for measles, around 95 per cent of people must be vaccinated to it spreading. For polio, which is less contagious, the threshold is about 80-85 per cent, according to the Oxford Vaccine Group. WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity is considered a controversial route for getting out of the pandemic because it gives a message of encouraging the spread of the virus, rather than containing it. When UK Government scientists discussed it in the early days of the pandemic, it was met with criticism and therein swept under the carpet. The Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said at a press conference on March 12, designed to inform the public on the impending Covid-19 crisis: 'Our aim is not to stop everyone getting it, you can't do that. And it's not desirable, because you want to get some immunity in the population. We need to have immunity to protect ourselves from this in the future.' Sir Patrick has since apologised for the comments and said he didn't mean that was the government's plan. In a Channel 4 documentary aired in June, Italy's deputy health minister claimed Boris Johnson had told Italy that he wanted to pursue it. The Cabinet Office denied the claims made in the documentary and said: 'The Government has been very clear that herd immunity has never been our policy or goal.' Meanwhile, unlike most European nations, Sweden never imposed a lockdown and kept schools for under-16s, cafes, bars, restaurants and most businesses open. Masks have been recommended only for healthcare personnel. Sweden only introduced a handful of restrictions, including banning mass gatherings and encouraging people to work and study from home. Dr Anders Tegnell, who has guided the nation through the pandemic without calling for a lockdown, claimed on July 21 that Sweden's strategy for slowing the epidemic, which has been widely questioned abroad, was working. Dr Tegnell, who previously said the 'world went mad' with coronavirus lockdowns, said a rapid slowdown in the spread of the virus indicated very strongly that Sweden had reached relatively widespread immunity. 'The epidemic is now being slowed down, in a way that I think few of us would have believed a week or so ago,' he said. 'It really is yet another sign that the Swedish strategy is working.' At the time Sweden's death toll was 5,646 which has now reached 5,814. But when compared relative to population size, it has far outstripped those of its Nordic neighbours. Advertisement Manaus was one of the first cities to be hit badly by coronavirus in Brazil, which experts partly blamed on the large number of indigenous communities living there. Amazonas has more indigenous people than any other state in Brazil, and they are considered to be more vulnerable to diseases brought in from outside because their immune systems have not been exposed to them. It can take days for people in extremely vulnerable indigenous communities to reach health centres because the Amazonas state is so big. Historically, indigenous communities have been devastated by viruses they cannot cope with. In April, shocking aerial images of mass graves in Manaus caused alarm around the world. At a cemetery called Parque Taruma, crews dug holes in the earth to make mass graves for coronavirus victims. Under orders from local officials, no more than five relatives were allowed to gather to say goodbye. The mayor of Manaus, Virgilio Neto, said the hundreds of coronavirus deaths was 'a scene out of a horror movie'. He said his city was 'no longer in a state of emergency but rather of absolute calamity' after the daily death rate shot up because of the pandemic. 'We are working hard to bury people. We have had gravediggers fall ill with coronavirus. Some will not make it,' said the mayor. 'This is a really, really tough fight.' Mr Neto was one of the harshest critics of Mr Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic in Brazil, calling him an 'indirect murderer' in May. He had pleaded with the federal government on numerous occasions to help contain the spread of the coronavirus in Manaus. But on 8 July, President Bolsonaro vetoed measures to protect indigenous peoples from Covid-19, such as free distribution of hygiene and cleaning materials and the disinfection of villages. According to Mr Neto, the health system collapsed in April, as did the citys mortuaries and cemeteries, representing the collapse of almost an entire state. But the city's devastation during the first wave of Covid-19 may mean it is more prepared if a second one hits, some scientists believe. Others fear Manaus is heading towards a devastating second wave. Lucas Ferrante, of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, says if a second wave of the pandemic in Amazonia is to be avoided, effective measures such as closing schools and non-essential services need to be implemented immediately. This is because so few people are known to have developed immunity to the virus, which is still circulating, albeit at low levels, and could easily spread again. In a paper published in Nature Medicine on August 7, Mr Ferrante and colleagues said: 'Unfortunately, the general level of activity in the streets and commercial establishments of Manaus has returned to nearly normal despite the fact that the bulk of the population has no known immunity the virus.' They claimed cases in Amazonas increased by 4,951 per cent and confirmed deaths had increased by 2,069 per cent between 17 April and 20 July as a result of failing to implement social distancing and domestic travel at the start of the pandemic. Many other cities around the globe that were once devastated by coronavirus have begun to reopen but some appear to have avoided a spike in cases. Some experts speculate this is because the population has herd immunity, which either stops people catching the coronavirus in the first place, or at least reduces the severity of the disease. Some epidemiologists hypothesise that parts of London and New York have already achieved 'substantial immunity'. Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told the New York Times: 'I'm quite prepared to believe that there are pockets in New York City and London which have substantial immunity. 'The reason people think it might be lower is that it's not the case that everyone is equally likely to be infected by a transmissible disease,' he told DailyMail.com. 'If you go through the naturally infectious process, you are going to generate immunity in the people most likely to be exposed, by definition.' In other words, groups like essential workers and people living in multi-generational homes are most likely to have been outside of their homes early in the pandemic, making them most likely to have already been infected and to have developed immunity. The same is said by health officials in highly-dense areas like India's Mumbai and Delhi, where studies have shown up to a quarter of people have antibodies against the disease. Swedish health experts also claim to have achieved a level of herd immunity while abstaining from a lockdown. Unlike most European nations, Sweden kept schools for under-16s, cafes, bars, restaurants and most businesses open. Masks have been recommended only for healthcare personnel. Sweden only introduced a handful of restrictions, including banning mass gatherings and encouraging people to work and study from home. Dr Anders Tegnell, who has guided the nation through the pandemic without calling for a lockdown, claimed on July 21 that Sweden's strategy for slowing the epidemic, which has been widely questioned abroad, was working. At the time Sweden's death toll was 5,646 which has now reached 5,814 more than a month later. But when Sweden's death toll is compared relative to population size, it has far outstripped those of its Nordic neighbours. Dr Tegnell, who previously said the 'world went mad' with coronavirus lockdowns, said a rapid slowdown in the spread of the virus indicated very strongly that Sweden had reached relatively widespread immunity. 'The epidemic is now being slowed down, in a way that I think few of us would have believed a week or so ago,' he said. 'It really is yet another sign that the Swedish strategy is working.' The Duke of Sussex has made his Netflix debut in a new documentary as he urged society to 'encourage and accept' people with disabilities. Prince Harry, 35, who is currently living in a $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara, has a starring role in a new Netflix documentary Rising Phoenix, which was released today and shares the history and stories behind the Paralympic Games. The Duke follows in the footsteps of Meghan Markle, 39, with the move to documentary work coming after the Duchess offered a voiceover for a Disney film earlier this year. Production company HTYT Films confirmed the Duke did not receive a fee for his appearance in Rising Phoenix. It comes after sources revealed in January that he and Meghan plan to make a living by providing voiceovers and producing documentaries on worthy issues such as mental health and climate change. Prince Harry, 35, plays a starring role in a Netflix documentary about the Paralympics which was released today on the streaming service In the film, the Duke of Sussex exalts the success of the London Paralympics, claiming that many people thought the event would be 'a failure.' He said: 'A lot of people, based on what they'd been told, thought it was going to be a failure and that they weren't going to be able to sell tickets.' He added: 'The stadiums were packed. The sport was incredible. And what they saw was undoubtedly better than the Olympics themselves.' Meanwhile he continued: 'For me and for so many people out there especially young kids to see individuals like that go on and achieve what they have achieved... The Duke appeared relaxed in the documentary and spoke about the success of London's 2012 Paralympic Games 'No amount of books that you read or teaching or class that you can have is going to give you the same inspiration as being able to watch something that you have been told is impossible.' The Duke later hailed the significance of sport in changing lives, saying of the stadiums: 'There's thousands of seats there that could change those people's lives because don't forget, yes lives are being changed on the track but lives are also being changed in the stands as well.' Meanwhile the royal also added some final comments to the film's finale, and spoke of his admiration for Sir Ludwig Guttmann, who established the Paralympic Games in England. He said: 'Sir Ludwig's vision has not really been completed because still those that are referred to as being disabled are not being encouraged or not being accepted back into the society at large. 'What Sir Ludwig was trying to do back then is needed more now than it's ever been.' Appearing in the film, the Duke can be seen wearing a relaxed green shirt and a pair of simple grey jeans and reclines on a green sofa as he speaks from within a studio space. The sporting subject of the documentary is a passion of Prince Harry's, with the royal setting up the Invictus Games in 2014. Co-director Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui said the Duke had been passionate about the subject matter, with the producers 'keen' to get the royal involved. Peter told The Mirror that they had been wary about including celebrity commentators in the film who were not involved directly with the issues in the documentary. The Duchess signed a voiceover deal with Disney in return for a donation to an elephant charity (pictured, promoting the documentary) He said: 'Obviously we cant say no to the Duke of Sussex and we were worried that it would be someone commentating on the games but his passion and his intelligence about this subject was so vivid and immediate that there was no danger of him being just like a celeb commentator.' Meanwhile he added that the Duke has a 'deep fellow feeling for people who have come through a trauma' and who have 'shown resilience and humanity.' Ian added that Prince Harry's comments were among the most powerful in the film, and said he became 'quite angry' when discussing how Paralympic Games creator Sir Ludwig Guttmann had not yet achieved his dream. Ian said: 'He has some of his people telling him that he has to do it a certain way but you can really see the fire and thats why we used that because it really was the way we wanted to finish the film.' Rumors of Harry and Meghan seeking to gain a foothold in Hollywood have run rampant ever since the couple announced their plans to quit as senior royals, seek financial independence and move to North America in January. The duke and duchess want to follow in the footsteps of former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who are currently working with Netflix on several documentaries, sources revealed Meghan's first post-Megxit job in showbiz was as a narrator of the Disney Plus docuseries Elephants, which came out in April. The 39-year-old Los Angeles native nabbed the job after Harry bragged about her voice-over skills to Disney chairman Bob Iger at the London premiere of The Lion King live-action remake last summer. Her fee for the project went entirely to the Elephants Without Borders charity - an organization dedicated to conserving wildlife and helps protect the animals from poaching. The film's release comes after reports emerged Prince Harry and Meghan are quietly shopping a top secret project to network executives as they settle into their new life in Hollywood. Sources told Variety that the former royal couple began pitching their idea to 'numerous' media companies back in June, around the time that they purchased a sprawling estate in Santa Barbara. Very few details are known about the project, including the concept behind it and whether it would be a TV series or some other format. However, one source with knowledge of the idea said Harry and Meghan intend to serve as joint producers on the venture should it get picked up. Last year Harry announced that he was partnering with Oprah Winfrey on on an Apple TV+ docuseries about mental health. Shortly after the Duke and Duchess announced their intention to step back from royal duty, a senior Netflix executive said the streaming giant would like to work with them. Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos said at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January that the streaming giant would like to work with Harry and Meghan, adding: 'Who wouldn't be interested? Yes, sure.' The decision to work with Netflix is also a move reminiscent of former President Barack Obama and his lawyer wife Michelle. The documentary release comes after it emerged the Duke and Duchess have snapped up a $14.7million home in Santa Barbara, California (seen above) In January, sources confirmed the couple had discussed their plans with the Obamas and wanted to mimic the way they had managed to build a successful, but dignified, life for themselves after the White House. Since leaving the White House, the Obamas have earned a small fortune by selling rights to their autobiographies and setting up their own production company, which has bagged a lucrative deal with Netflix. After stepping down as senior royals, Meghan and Harry signed with New York-based Harry Walker Agency in June, which represents the Obamas and the Clintons. Meghan has made several appearances as a speaker at various online summits, however it is understood that she did not receive payment for these engagements. Experts estimate that the Sussexes stand to earn an impressive sum from public speaking however, with one agency estimating that the couple could rake in up to $500,000 each from a single appearance. Finding Freedom co-author Omid Scobie also claimed the couple have big plans for the next few years, and are basing their working model on the Obamas. He said their plans were 'not too dissimilar' from what the former president created after leaving the White House and setting up Higher Ground production company. He pointed to the Obama's multiyear production deal with Netflix to produce films and documentaries covering topics like race, class and civil rights. Nicola Sturgeon has called for wholesale reform of the asylum system following the death of Mercy Baguma (Positive Action in Housing/PA) Nicola Sturgeon said she is consumed with sadness and anger at the death of Mercy Baguma, who was found dead next to her starving baby in a Glasgow flat, as a UK Government minister refused to answer questions on the matter. The Ugandan womans body was discovered by police in Govan on Saturday and the Scottish First Minister has now called for a complete reform of the UKs deeply inhumane asylum system. The Positive Action in Housing (PAIH) charity said Ms Bagumas one-year-old son was found crying beside his mothers body, weakened from several days of starvation. He has since been released from hospital into the care of his father. Speaking at First Ministers Questions, Ms Sturgeon said: I find myself consumed with sadness but also with real anger at the death of Mercy Baguma and first and foremost my thoughts and Im sure the thoughts of all of us go to her family and friends following her tragic death. Asked about the incident by Scottish Green co-leader Alison Johnstone, Ms Sturgeon continued: We knew this before this tragedy, but it is underlined by this tragedy the UK asylum system is not just broken, it is deeply inhumane and it must be changed. People who come to Scotland because they need a place of safety should have our support, and that is even more true right now at this time of crisis. Ms Sturgeon said her government has repeatedly raised concerns about the Westminster-reserved asylum process and added: We need wholesale reform of our asylum system and we need to start from the principle of dignity, of empathy and of support for our fellow human beings who come to this country, seeking support at desperate and dismal times of their lives. I would appeal to the UK Government to look into their hearts as a result of this case and finally make the changes that are needed to housing. Ms Sturgeon added she would support all efforts to investigate Ms Bagumas death, including backing the PAIH charitys calls for an inquiry into the accommodation situation faced by asylum seekers in Glasgow during the coronavirus pandemic. At an event in Glasgow on Wednesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey refused to answer questions on Ms Bagumas death. When a reporter from the PA news agency began to ask a question about the matter, Ms Coffey interrupted. She said: I appreciate you want to talk about other matters, but theyre not really matters for me. When asked if she would at least hear the question, Ms Coffey added: Im conscious that there are some issues, but we really are here today to talk about pensions and climate change. The Crown Office has said the Procurator Fiscal has received a report in connection with the 34-year-olds death and an investigation is under way. Earlier, a Home Office spokesman said: This is a tragic situation and our condolences go to Ms Bagumas family. The Home Office takes the wellbeing of all those in the asylum system extremely seriously, and we will be conducting a full investigation into Ms Bagumas case. In 1880 Dr. R.I. McElrees Wine of Cardui hit the pharmaceutical market as a menstrual relief product for women. Confident of its anticipated success, the developer of the product made an agreement with the purchasers of the alcohol-laced product that if they were not satisfied with its promised result that they would get their money back. Allegedly 6,500 ladies reported being cured of the vapors or fallen womb syndrome and the company immediately received an initial shipment of 7,000 bottles. The Chattanooga Medicine Company was founded on Feb. 21, 1889, and started operations in an unpretentious two-story brick building on the muddy, unpaved Market Street in Chattanooga. The principal founder of the company was former Union soldier from Illinois, Zeboim Cartter Patten. His fellow charter members were H. Clay Evans, Theodore G. Montague, Fred F. Wiehl and Lew Owen, who were all successful businessmen in other endeavors. In 1882, Dr. McElree (he is also referred to as Reverend McElree in some writings) sold his product to the Chattanooga Medicine Company where it was originally marketed as McElrees Cardui, The Womans Tonic. After prohibition passed in 1919-1920, the ingredients were listed as Blessed Thistle, Golden Seal, and 19 percent alcohol (38 proof). Surprisingly Congress had passed on Nov. 18, 1918, the temporary Wartime Prohibition Act, which banned the sale of alcoholic beverages having an alcohol content of greater than 1.28 percent (2.56 proof). When the McElrees Cardui was sold to the Medicine Company it flourished with sales and profits. In this era women were not the only ones that benefited from the magic elixir. Men had bouts of melancholy and women suffered from the vapors, which was described as attacks of hysteria, mania, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, withdrawal syndrome, fainting, and mood swings of PMS (ladies know what this is). The main ingredients of this magical tonic were potassium (51.9 percent), salt (16 percent) and a varying amount of alcohol that fluctuated up to 23.3 percent alcohol (46.6 proof). Prior to hitting the jackpot with Wine of Cardui, the Chattanooga Medicine Companys best seller had been Black Draught laxative product but sales had fallen recently until Wine of Cardui came along and helped the company. Patents to the Black Draught had been bought by Mr. Patten in 1879. Chattanooga often has been called the Buckle of the Bible Belt and the consumption of Wine of Cardui allowed the large teetotaling Baptists, Methodists, and other fundamental religious groups to take Cardui for medicine purposes and remain faithful to their religion. Some of the advertising materials pertaining to the product are informative with glowing reports from female users: Mrs. C.M. Ladd wrote: I take great pleasure in telling you and affected women that I owe my life, my health and my happiness to Wine of Cardui. After my marriage my health broke down and, after having tried several physicians and several kinds of medicines, I was given up to die. I had heard of Wine of Cardui and decided to try it. I began to receive benefit at once, and now I am well and strong and our home has two fine little boys to make it bright and happy. However, the product did have its detractors. Over time it was analyzed by physicians and was the subject of lawsuits claiming it had no medicinal value. However, it was determined that non-alcoholic ingredients were in large enough quantities to really be medicinal and it was the 19 percent alcohol that had an effect on masking the symptoms and making the patients feel better. In 1916, the Chattanooga Medicine Company, which made Wine of Cardui, brought a successful libel suit against the American Medical Association for its claims that the business was built on deceit and that the product was a vicious fraud. During an adjournment of the court in April 1916, in Chicago, company owner John A. Patten was seized with acute intestinal pain he was rushed to the hospital and operated on, but unfortunately died. At this unexpected incident, a personal suit brought by Patten lapsed, but he and his brother had also brought a partnership suit for $100,000 and, once the funeral was over, the case continued. The verdict, after the jury had been out a week, was in favor of the Chattanooga Medicine Company it was awarded damages of one cent. Both sides could claim a victory of sorts. As the California State Journal of Medicine pointed out in August 1916, it is permissible to suggest that the American Medical Association will hardly find its prestige diminished among good citizens by its opposition to the sale of proprietary medicines containing a marked percentage of alcohol. In reporter Mary Braswells Looking Back column in the Albany (Georgia) Herald dated April 27, 2014 she covers the subject of Wine of Cardui in an informative and humorous way, with several comments on the advertisements touting the production and encouraging mothers to give their daughters, beginning at age 12, one dose of Wine of Cardui each morning to head off female problems.. such care was needed to help a girl develop into attractive womanhood and equip her for the duties of a wife and mother. (May 1901) Unfortunately, the present Drinking Under Age Statutes prohibit such consumption. * * * Jerry Summers (If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com The second night of the Republican convention has come and gone (and very successfully, too), but what should live forever is the article the New York Times wrote about the line-up of speakers for the evening. It is a triumph of misdirection and fraud by omission. It may well be the most perfect example ever of how the media functions: not to inform, but to mislead. The article, entitled "How to Watch the Republican National Convention," gives practical advice about how to find the convention on the internet and television. Interestingly, it does not mention C-SPAN, which is proving to be a preferred venue for many conservative viewers. What's really fascinating, though, is what the Times says and does not say about some of the speakers. The article introduces Pam Bondi, not just as a former Florida attorney general, but adds a couple of additional factoids: Former Attorney General Pam Bondi of Florida, who was part of Mr. Trump's legal defense team during impeachment proceedings. After her term as attorney general, she joined a lobbying firm that was subpoenaed by federal prosecutors last year. The Times fails to mention that Trump prevailed in those impeachment proceedings. It's also silent about the fact that the subpoena came from the highly politicized Manhattan U.S. attorney's office. The article makes sure to imply that Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron may be engaged in dirty dealing over Breonna Taylor's much publicized death: Attorney General Daniel Cameron of Kentucky, who last year became the first Black person elected to that role. He has been in the spotlight recently over his investigation of the police killing of Breonna Taylor. The article tells readers that Mike Pompeo shouldn't be speaking at all: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. His appearance may violate rules against partisan activity by State Department employees; in a recent memo to department employees, he said such activities were unacceptable even on personal time. What the New York Times doesn't understand is that Mike Pompeo is not a civil servant, as is the case with other State Department employees. He is, instead, a member of the president's Cabinet, which is an inherently political position. Once upon a time, even Times employees weren't that dumb, but times (and the Times) have changed. The article has a grossly misleading description for Nick Sandmann: Nicholas Sandmann, a teenager from a Catholic high school in Kentucky who was involved in a confrontation with a Native American man at a protest last year. An uninformed person, and there are many, would read those words and believe that the Republicans are giving a speaking spot to a teenage racist who got into a fight with a Native American. The truth is that Sandmann, because he wore a MAGA hat; was the victim of an activist set-up, was pilloried by a dishonest, biased, and complicit media; and is now making that same media pay through their collective noses. The article implies that Eric Trump is on the verge of being indicted: Eric Trump, the president's son and an executive vice president of the Trump Organization. It was reported this week that the New York attorney general's office had asked a judge to order Eric Trump to submit to questioning under oath. What it fails to mention is that the New York attorney general is a highly politicized leftist who uses her office to attack Trump and anyone associated with him or with the Republican party. Indeed, she just filed a suit seeking to dissolve the NRA. All of the above are actively false or impliedly false statements. Ironically, there was one person on the list who did not deserve to be at the convention, and, indeed, the Republicans removed her from the roster when they learned about her unsavory beliefs. That is Mary Ann Mendoza, who supports a border wall because an illegal alien (or, as the Times says, "an undocumented immigrant") killed her son in a car crash. The Times tried to tie Mendoza to Steve Bannon, which is stupid. Her real sin is that she is an anti-Semite and the Republicans instantly dropped her upon learning this. The Democrats don't drop anti-Semites. Instead, they have them speak at their convention, as they did with open anti-Semite Linda Sarsour. Biden disavowed her, only to have his campaign apologize for that disavowal. Nor have the Democrats disavowed Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, the Black Lives Matter movement, Al Sharpton, or any of the other anti-Semites at the heart of the party. (Recall that when the Democrats were forced to address Omar's anti-Semitism, the best they could do was come up with an insipid statement condemning all sorts of bad thoughts.) Trump is right. Our mainstream media outlets are not about the news. They're not even about being honestly partisan. They are, instead, blatantly dishonest Democrat party propaganda outlets. What lies beyond the pandemic? MassForward is MassLives series examining the journey of Massachusetts small businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic. __________________ Having internet access in Boston may just become a little bit easier because of a new program launched by the city this week. The Boston Public Library will soon reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic to allow residents to use computers at its main Copley Square location, Mayor Marty Walsh announced Tuesday. As part of the public computer access program, patrons will be able to set up two-hour appointments to use computers in a socially distance spaced within the Central Library, the mayor said in a statement. Another initiative Walsh announced Tuesday, called the outdoor Wi-Fi program, will also provide 24-hour outdoor internet access at nine other Boston Public Library branch locations throughout the city, allowing users to socially distance while browsing online. The two initiatives, which will run for the foreseeable future, are designed to help bridge the digital equity gap in Boston and help residents cope with the COVID-19 public health crisis, the mayor noted. Bostons libraries play a vital role in our communities by providing digital access to all, Walsh said in a statement. Digital access at the BPL helps Boston residents find jobs, attend classes, download e-books or just check email and read the news. As the coronavirus outbreak ramped up across the United States in March, Bostons more than two dozen public library branches were closed. City officials said they would waive all late fees until May and let residents keep their books and other library materials for 15 weeks. In mid-August, the Central Library and 25 neighborhood branches officially reopened for to-go services during the pandemic. Residents are able to pick up and return books, CDs, DVDs and other items. They can also submit documents to be printed at nearly all of the library locations. The public computer access program will be the first program since the start of the COVID-19 public health crisis that allows patrons to use facilities inside the library building, according to the mayor. The initiative allows teenage and adult patrons to book appointments on the BPL website or by phone at (617) 536-5400. Computers are available for booking Monday to Thursday during the following time slots: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Total space is limited to 10 people, and patrons are only allowed to make one reservation per day, according to Walshs office. Those inside the library are also required to physically distance and wear masks at all times. Computers will be sanitized between two-hour appointment slots. The outdoor Wi-Fi program will set up internet access points outside nine BPL branch locations, including Mattapan, Codman Square, Parker Hill, Hyde Park, Grove Hall, Egleston Square, East Boston, Honan-Allston and the South End. The locations were chosen based on data about at-home broadband access, household income and the availability of nearby outdoor seating, the mayor said. Outdoor areas near the BPL branches, like parks and parking lots, are available for public use. To access the internet, people need to bring their own devices and maintain physical distancing. There is no time limit for someones Wi-Fi use. Boston Public Library President David Leonard said closing the digital equity gap, as he and the mayor called it, requires access to devices and connectivity. Public computer access and extended outdoor Wi-Fi at branches are more ways to increase public access and remove barriers to opportunity. Inside or out, our buildings are there for the local community, Leonard said. Related Content: Disgruntled Melburnians are continuing to taunt police by deliberately going on walks at the same time in a south eastern suburb. Dozens of people, including women, children and families, can be seen thumbing their noses at Stage Four lockdown laws in Dandenong in video posted to social media on Tuesday. The latest video comes a day after a video of police busting up a group exercise session in the same suburb was posted online. People in Dandenong are all walking at the same time, which has gained the attention of the law Police have come under fire in Dandenong for hassling people going on walks In that video, a man filmed an expletive-laden rant in which he described mask-wearing police officers as 'Nazi dogs' and accused them of cashing in on the pandemic. In the latest video, filmed by a Dandenong local on Tuesday, police can be seen shadowing dozens of people as they walk along a busy street. 'Let the Nazis do their work,' someone is heard shouting as police cars appear around them. Police officers can be seen marching down the middle of the road and shouting at the people to stay off the road. 'You get off the f**king road,' they respond. 'Youse are looking for it. Youse are dogs.' A man is heard commentating as he conducts his hour-long walk within the allowed 5km radius of his home. 'People need to wake up. This is what we're dealing with here,' he says. Residents can be heard booing police as they stop to question sections of the crowd. 'We pay them to follow us walk ... we pay these dogs to follow us walk,' the man says. One officer can be seen with his pepper spray in hand ready to use at any moment. When questioned, the man hands over his identification and explains that he is simply going for his hour-long walk. Most of the walkers appear to be wearing masks. The policeman warns the man he will be fined if he saw him again later that day on another walk. Most of the people walking in Dandenong appear to be wearing masks People enjoy a cheeky stroll in Dandenong, south east of Melbourne Police descended on a crowd of ten young people who were exercising at the George Andrews reserve on Monday Under Stage Four restrictions Melbourne residents can only leave their homes for four reasons, to buy essential items like groceries, for care or to give care, exercise and work. There is also a nightly curfew from 8pm until 5am. The uprising comes as the political stoush ramps up over a proposed 12-month extension to Victoria's state of emergency to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, the declaration can only run for six months and will expire on September 13 along with Melbourne's Stage Four lockdown and regional Victoria's Stage 3 rules. On Monday, Victoria premier Dan Andrews said his government won't be able to dictate guidelines such as mandatory mask use and isolation rules without a 12-month extension. 'We've got to protect public health, there can be no economic rebuilding until we fix this problem,' he told reporters. The man in the video warned that Melburnians were fed up with the current police state of Victoria. 'People are already starting to lose their minds,' he says as he continues his walk. 'Now imagine another year on top of that. Imagine the businesses that are going to go bankrupt. Imagine the suicides.' A police officer (far left) pulls out his pepper spray in anticipation of trouble Police cars blocked the road as they filmed people going for a walk in Dandenong People in Dandenong continue to taunt police with large groups of people all walking at the same time On Monday, tempers flared when a convoy of nine police vehicles were seen pulling up to George Andrew reserve in Dandenong. 'Wake up you Nazi dogs, you are f****** Victoria Police you are not f****** Nazis!' a man in that video told police. The angry resident, along with a number of other locals, confronted the officers after witnessing the squad cars pull into the park. 'Look at this? For what, for ten kids around here doing exercise, they are kids mate! Wake up to yourselves,' the man said. He accused police of wasting tax payers money and state resources before asking if they 'feel great' about themselves while people around them had 'lost everything'. 'We lost our jobs, you have your jobs, we lost our homes, you have your homes,' the man said. 'You got a pay rise because of us mate!' Victoria Police received close to a three percent pay rise after agreeing to a new deal with the State Government in December, 2019. The Dandenong local became increasingly agitated after one of the officers told him 'we are all in this together'. A Dandenong man labelled Victoria Police 'Nazi dogs' after dozens of officers descended on a park where people were exercising during the COVID-19 Stage Four lockdown (pictured) After officers forced the man and others from the park (pictured) he chastised them saying they were acting like Nazis, not Victoria Police, before telling the cops to 'go f*** yourselves' DES MOINES Speaking Tuesday night to the Republican National Convention, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds praised President Donald Trump for his administrations efforts in assisting Iowa after the Aug. 10 derecho that caused millions of dollars worth of damage across the state. In a pre-recorded message, Reynolds said Iowans helped each other after what she said was the worst storm in the states history, then praised Trump. Someone else also had our back: our president, Reynolds said, according to her prepared remarks. When the winds had finished raging and the cleanup had only begun, he showed up. You might not know, because the national media didnt report it. But the Trump administration was here. In full force. Trumps visit was covered by several national media outlets, including the Washington Post, the New York Times and USA Today. The day after the storm, the president called to assure me that we had the full backing of the federal government, Reynolds said. Later that week, Vice President (Mike) Pence came to Iowa to again assure us that the president and his administration were behind us. With the help of the Trump administration, we quickly received a major disaster declaration that will help Iowans get back on their feet. The president cut through the bureaucracy to do what needed to be done, and to do it quickly. Pence was in Iowa to launch a Farmers & Ranchers for Trump coalition at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. He pledged federal support for the state as it recovers, but offered no specifics, and did not tour areas with storm damage. Trump's declaration covered only a portion of governor's request. It did not include individual assistance for people in 27 counties whose homes were destroyed or had major damage, nor did it cover damage to farms, grain bins and ag buildings. On Aug. 20, he approved individual assistance for Linn County, among the hardest hit areas, but Reynolds office said other requests remained under review. Reynolds recorded her convention address Monday in Des Moines. The convention is being held in Charlotte, North Carolina. But, like its Democratic predecessor the previous week, very little action is taking place on-site amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Speaking on the second night of the four-day convention, Reynolds also praised Trump for his response after severe flooding in western Iowa in 2019, providing relief to farmers who have struggled as a result of trade disputes to which the administration has contributed and for federal relief for workers and businesses impacted by the pandemic. Because of President Trump and his leadership, our country is able to show resolve through adversity, and see opportunity grow and thrive, Reynolds said, according to her prepared remarks. This is an administration of action and outcomes. They are delivering every day on their promise to make America great again. And thats exactly why we need to re-elect President Trump in November. Earlier Tuesday, the Iowa Democratic Party held a press conference call in advance of Reynolds speech. State party chairman Mark Smith and state treasurer Mike Fitzgerald criticized Reynolds and Trump for their respective work managing the pandemic. Smith alleged Reynolds and Trump failed to contain the virus, follow the advice of federal health experts, and offer critical resources. No matter what the governor said (Tuesday night), she cannot paper over her failed COVID response, Smith said. Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday. (Photo : Twitter via IFA Berlin (@IFA_Berlin)) IFA 2020 (Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Unsplash.) The Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin 2020, popularly known as IFA, is pushing through with its event to showcase the latest brands, releases, and innovations in the world of consumer electronics despite the strict prohibitions and restrictions brought by the Novel coronavirus or COVID-19. The IFA 2020 will see the likes of the strongest technology on mobile connection, 5G, and manufacturers like Huawei. The IFA 2020 will take place in Berlin, Germany, which has done so in the past years, with the country's prohibitions on the global pandemic. It will allow them to hold the convention to a limited number of 4,000 mass participants. This year's IFA will be called the 'IFA 2020 Special Edition' and will be catering mostly to the Business-to-Business platform (B2B) rather than opening it up for the public. Mass gatherings are still not allowed in the country. However, the organizers made it possible to continue with the event while respecting and observing the country's regulations on mass gatherings. IFA 2020 invites the technology companies, brands, manufacturers, retailers, innovators, and the media to their event physically. However, it will be closed to the general public. Most mobile and technology releases are released digitally during the pandemic, and IFA will also let people experience their tech convention. Worry not, the public is invited digitally, through the IFA 2020 XTENDED SPACE. Details on the digital preview event will be announced by IFA soon on their website. The public and organizers are more than a week away from the target event dates that will launch on Friday, September 3, and will go on until Sunday, September 5. ALSO READ: PayPal Bets Big on Crypto, Google and Amazon Might be Next Here are the Brands You Should Expect on IFA 2020 Several brands and manufacturers are gunning to showcase their innovations and work to the famous worldwide event. Phone Arena speculates and reports that these are the confirmed brands to join the IFA. Huawei 7:00 AM Central Standard Time (14:00 Central East European Time) September 3, 2020 Huawei is one of the biggest names who have confirmed their appearance on the IFA 2020. However, speculations rise and suggest that there won't be any major releases from the Chinese phone company with the likes of its Mate series. Huawei may provide news and updates to their Harmony OS, the Android substitute of the manufacturer, after going Google-free with their devices in the past year. Qualcomm 2:45 AM Central Standard Time (9:45 Central East European Time) September 3, 2020 The world-renowned and leading smartphone chip manufacturer, Qualcomm, is also set to take the stage on the IFA with its president, Christiano Amon, set to be a key speaker in the event. Amon will mainly focus on 5G and its future with phones, but news about new chipsets and products is unannounced. Honor 4:25 AM Central Standard Time (11:25 Central East European Time) September 3, 2020 Another Chinese phone manufacturer and an affiliate of Huawei, Honor, is scheduled to don the stage and present their new devices on the IFA. Smartphones and watches are rumored and expected by the company. LG 4:00 AM Central Standard Time (11:00 Central East European Time) September 3, 2020 South Korean technology company, LG, is given the stage on Friday to showcase its products and devices, but it will come as a surprise because of no news and updates from the company. ASUS The Taiwanese company, ASUS, will hold its line of devices in their booth, which will be readily available for public viewing. ASUS' Zenfone 7 will premiere on August 26, in a YouTube live stream. Several gadgets and laptops are expected to be seen from the company. Sony The Japanese company, Sony, hasn't missed any appearances in the IFA 2020 and is expected to appear and drop their new releases in the event. A new smartphone is speculated to be released with Sony's Xperia series. Other gadgets like audio and wearables are expected from Sony in the convention. Nokia The Finnish company, Nokia, also scheduled a slot and booked a booth in the IFA 2020 with an expectation of a new Android smartphone line to drop. Nokia is currently missing out in the flagship area, and its inclusion in the convention might suggest a new phone coming. 5G The fifth-generation mobile network connection is stirring a lot of talks and releases from several phone companies that manufacture their phones to be 5G-ready or capable. Qualcomm's President Christiano Amon is set to lead the discussion and introduction of 5G into mass production and soon see its extensive public use. ALSO READ: [PREDICTION] PlayStation Plus September 2020: Top 5 Free Games This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Aged just 18, Andrea Brown was left seriously injured in the Lisburn fun run bomb of June 1988. The attack left her in wheelchair and she still suffers pain and has injections to her spine every three weeks. She has never had assistance in dealing with the trauma she suffers every time she wakes up. Read More Five years before the bomb, when she was 12, the IRA murdered her RUC sergeant father. She said no words of apology from Martina Anderson would ever be enough to ease the hurt and insult caused to hundreds of victims like her. On Tuesday, Ms Anderson took to Twitter to criticise a payment scheme for people injured during the Troubles, sparking a furious backlash from unionists and the SDLP. Expand Close Sinn Feins Martina Anderson Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Feins Martina Anderson Sinn Fein had previously refused to back the pension, claiming it excluded republicans with past convictions, until Michelle O'Neill was sharply criticised by a High Court judge who ruled last week that the delay was unlawful. Ms Anderson tweeted: "800m 4 pensions mainly for those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland. 800m mainly 4 those involved in collusion. "800m mainly 4 British troops like Paras who murdered people on Bloody Sunday and Ballymurphy. 800m mainly to discriminate and criminalise and exclude." Politicians rounded on the Foyle MLA, with the DUP and TUV urging the Sinn Fein leadership to sanction Ms Anderson for comments that were deemed "deeply offensive." Justice Minister Naomi Long said the tweet was "an outrageous, gratuitous insult". SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described Ms Anderson's comments as "unacceptable, disgusting and grossly insulting to hundreds of victims who sustained life-changing physical and psychological injuries". UUP MLA Doug Beattie said Sinn Fein seemed determined to "slur" IRA victims and was showing it was shameless and had "an appalling lack of humanity". Expand Close The UUPs Doug Beattie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The UUPs Doug Beattie While the political storm continued, Andrea, from Moira in Co Down, said she could no longer sit in the background as part of the silent majority. "It's only now that I've realised just how many people have been left in the same position as me. I struggle financially, emotionally and physically on a daily basis," she explained. "It costs 190 every three weeks for the spinal injections. The pension would help. Without it, I will probably end up in a care home. As it is, I have help coming in four times a day. "That's the life sentence I live every day - that and the memory of my father, who was murdered by the IRA five years before I suffered my injuries. Only we know the knock-on effects on our family." Only after Ms Anderson's comments were criticised was an "unreserved apology" offered on Wednesday morning. It was lunchtime before Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill addressed the issue on social media. "I contacted my party colleague Martina Anderson yesterday evening and told her that her tweet was ill-considered and would cause hurt and offence to victims. I told her that she should delete the tweet," she said. The MLA for Foyle said her comments were "clumsy" and not directed at the "people who suffered serious harm during the conflict". "It was never my intention to cause them any hurt," she said. "All victims of the conflict deserve acknowledgement of their pain and loss. "I support them in their efforts to get their pension." But after decades of suffering, Andrea said no apology could paint over the words which were there in black and white. "For someone like Martina Anderson to think that what someone like me is going through equates to someone who did this is horrific," she said. "It's an apology the party forced her into making. It's not sincere. It was rushed out. No words can retract what she said in the first place. "Getting a name or a date wrong, that's clumsy. We, the victims of people like her and her comrades, know she meant what she said. "As a child I was not brought up to be bitter. I was brought up to be decent and respectful. I'm sorry that I can't say the same of others. "I listen to people saying they were brought up in west Belfast or wherever and they had to put up with injustice, but no matter where people come from, the majority are decent people. "I know some in the RUC, some soldiers, do have questions to answer, but the truth is the majority of RUC officers were decent people. The majority of paramilitaries were evil and it's hard to comprehend how people can be so full of hatred. "I have watched over the years how Sinn Fein have got what they wanted bit by bit and have never shown any remorse for the suffering caused by the IRA and other paramilitaries to the people of this country. "This is like the Bobby Storey funeral all over again. "The fact that another victim like myself, Jennifer McNern, had to go to court to show up Sinn Fein and our government was shameful. "But this pension, if it finally does come, will make my life better. There's no doubt about that. "For so long I felt that I was alone, the only one going through this, no matter how many family or friends I had around me. "I now have four wonderful grandchildren and my life is dedicated to making happy memories for them, but unless I can afford to continue paying for the injections, I'll end up lying in a bed. That will be my life." Expand Close Andrea Brown being carried from the scene of the Lisburn fun run bomb in 1988 after being injured in the explosion / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andrea Brown being carried from the scene of the Lisburn fun run bomb in 1988 after being injured in the explosion Andrea remembers little of the blast which left her facing life in a wheelchair. "I was in the bridal shop. We were due for a fitting for bridesmaids' dresses. Another party was in the back and was running late, so we had to wait. I can remember sitting on the floor as there were no seats." Her mother, sisters, fiance's sisters and mother-in-law to be, who were also in the shop at the time, escaped with only minor injuries when the blast hit. "The force of the bomb lifted me into the air and I landed on the concrete floor. That's all I know," Andrea said. The hairdressing student suffered spine, neck and leg injuries. Six soldiers were killed. Despite suffering life-changing injuries she went ahead with her wedding three months later, having to remove her neck brace for the service and photographs. Andrea knows her mental scars go back beyond that June evening in Lisburn. "Everything in my life stems from my dad's murder," she said. Her father Eric (41), an RUC sergeant, was murdered by the IRA along with Constable Brian Quinn (23) when they stopped a suspicious car outside a post office in Rostrevor on January 6 in 1983. "I live with a double life sentence," Andrea said. "But it's not just me. It's a daughter who became a carer to a mother who felt like a burden on her family." RAMALLAH, West Bank In three decades of failed peace efforts, the Palestinians have never faced a more hostile U.S. administration, a more self-assured Israel or a more ambivalent international community. But even as their hopes for statehood have never seemed so dim, theres no indication their aging leadership will change course. President Mahmoud Abbas remains committed to the same strategy he has pursued for decades seeking international support to pressure Israel to agree to a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war. That quest seems even more quixotic after the United Arab Emirates decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, which shattered the Arab consensus behind land for peace, a rare source of leverage for the Palestinians. Other Arab nations are expected to follow the Emirates lead, lending support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus contention that Israel can make peace with its Arab neighbors without any concessions to the Palestinians. The UAE agreement has also resurrected President Donald Trumps Mideast plan, which overwhelmingly favors Israel and was rejected by the Palestinians. It would remain the cornerstone of U.S. policy for another four years if Trump is reelected. But while the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against them, the Palestinians make up nearly half the population between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Their leaders say Israel still needs their signature if it hopes to resolve the conflict, a source of frustration for Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, the architect of the plan. There is an erroneous assumption that the Palestinians are defeated, and they have to accept the facts of their defeat, said Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official. The Palestinians are willing, generation after generation, to continue their struggle until we get our rights. Heres a look at the Palestinians options going forward: ___ THE DIPLOMATIC ROUTE The Palestinians demand for a state based on the 1967 lines still enjoys broad international support and is enshrined in U.N. resolutions. Palestine was granted observer state status in 2012, allowing it to join several global forums, including the International Criminal Court. The Palestinians have requested an ICC war crimes investigation of Israel that could eventually see charges filed against political or military leaders. Israel is not a member of the ICC and says there is no legal basis for any investigation, but its citizens could be subject to arrest in other countries if warrants are issued. Those moves have put pressure on Israel, but have not led to any concessions. They also havent prevented it from cultivating closer ties to Arab and African countries that historically supported the Palestinians, culminating in the agreement with the UAE. The Palestinians responded to the UAE agreement by calling for an urgent meeting of the Arab League and the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, but the oil-rich UAE is a powerful member of both and the meetings have yet to materialize. The EU divided and preoccupied by the coronavirus crisis also seems unable to offer significant support. ___ BOYCOTTS AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY In recent years, a Palestinian-led international movement has sought to mobilize grassroots support for a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions. BDS organizers say they are leading a nonviolent campaign for Palestinian rights modeled on the struggle against apartheid South Africa. Israel accuses them of seeking to delegitimize its existence. While BDS has notched some successes, it has had no discernible impact on Israels economy. Popular among left-wing activists in Western countries, it also has faced setbacks, including anti-BDS legislation in the U.S. and Germany. Tareq Baconi, an analyst for the International Crisis Group, says the growing solidarity between Palestinian and Black Lives Matter activists is an example of some of the pressure that can be brought to bear on Israel eventually. But this is, for the moment, too fragmented and not sufficiently powerful enough to have any kind of political leverage. ___ A ONE-STATE SOLUTION In recent years a growing number of Palestinians and their supporters have suggested abandoning the two-state solution in favor of a single binational state for Jews and Palestinians or some kind of Israeli-Palestinian confederation. The idea gained new attention last month when Peter Beinart, a prominent Jewish-American commentator, came out in favor of the idea. The argument is that Israels right-wing government and its sprawling West Bank settlements now home to more than 500,000 Israelis make any partition impossible. There have been no substantive peace talks in more than a decade. One-state proponents say Palestinians should instead seek equal rights, including the vote. While it has gained traction among intellectuals, the idea has little support in Israel or the Palestinian territories. A June poll carried out by the respected Palestinian Center for Survey and Policy Research found that just 37% of Palestinians support the idea, and only 6% would choose it over other options. The Palestinian leadership remains staunchly opposed to a one-state solution, which would entail dismantling the Palestinian Authority and plunging into an uncertain future. ___ CLEANING HOUSE Many Palestinians argue that their leadership needs to pursue fundamental reforms. Abbas popularity has plunged in recent years and the Palestinian Authority is widely seen as corrupt and incompetent. There have been no national elections in nearly 15 years because of the bitter division between Abbas Fatah movement and the Islamic militant group Hamas, which seized Gaza from his forces in 2007. Fatah and Hamas are united in their rejection of the Trump plan and Arab normalization and in recent weeks have held joint meetings and rallies to project a united front. But several past attempts at a broader reconciliation have all failed. That has left the 85-year-old Abbas entrenched at the head of an aging and inflexible Palestinian leadership. ___ BANKING ON BIDEN The election of former Vice President Joe Biden would likely spell the end of the Trump plan. But few Palestinians believe a return to the Obama-era approach of trying to coax the two sides toward a negotiated settlement will succeed. Its very difficult to envision anyone doing more damage than Trump, Ashrawi said. At the same time, I would like to caution against thinking that Biden is a knight in shining armor. Biden will go back to managing the conflict, said Ali Jarbawi, a political science professor at Birzeit University in the West Bank. Under the banner of a two-state solution you give money to the Palestinians, you tell the Israelis please dont do this and dont do that, and engage once more in negotiating that will take another 20 years. he said. ___ Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh contributed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 04:47:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday asked the international community to help Iraq fight terrorism and rebuild its economy while respecting the country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. As Iraq is planning to hold early elections in June 2021, the political process in Iraq is at a crucial stage. The international community should respect Iraq's ownership and leadership in all its endeavors, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. When lending a helping hand, it is important to first listen to the views of Iraq, respect its sovereignty, refrain from imposing solutions and interfering in Iraq's internal affairs, he told the Security Council. Geng asked for support for Iraq's efforts to safeguard national security and combat terrorism. "We call on the international community to continue to support Iraq in consolidating the hard-won results of counter-terrorism and addressing the issue of foreign terrorist fighters. We should also support Iraq in bringing terrorists to justice in accordance with its domestic laws, and reject double standards and politicization in counter-terrorism." The international community should help Iraq address current challenges and boost socio-economic development, said Geng. The war-torn country is now confronted with economic and fiscal hardships, exacerbated by low oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic. The international community must intensify efforts to help Iraq carry out reconstruction, diversify its economy, create more jobs, eradicate poverty, and improve public services and livelihoods, he said. Enditem In recent years, tax compliance and administration has not been an active topic on which Prime Ministers (PMs) have addressed the nation. That changed on the morning of August 13, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced measures towards contact-less tax assessment and appeals. This was alongside a taxpayers' charter - under the flagship "Transparent Taxation - Honoring the Honest" platform. These measures had earlier been mentioned in the Union Budget 2020 by the Finance Minister. Details arrived post the announcement by PM Modi. So, what has happened and why? Firstly, the interface between the taxpayers and the tax administration has been made anonymous and online. The stated objective is eliminating close proximity between the taxpayers and the tax officers - with an intent to promote greater honesty, reduced litigation and ultimately to improve the ease of doing business. The contact-less, referred to as faceless, scheme of tax assessment will be applicable to all taxpayers across the country with immediate effect. Secondly, this will involve complete reliance on artificial intelligence for selection of tax filings for undertaking tax assessment. The only exception being serious frauds, major tax evasions, sensitive and search matters, international tax, Black Money Act and Benami Property. Also Read: PM Modi announces Taxpayers' Charter; what is it? The tax department will now need to factor in multi-level reviews and disbursal of audit locations. This could possibly lengthen the time and effort for a tax assessment. Will it be arduous and error-prone for the tax officer to audit the documents without recourse to the personal attendance and in-personal explanations by the taxpayers? We will soon know, as the tax department is to complete by mid-September 2020 the faceless assessments of cases selected through notices issued in October 2019. Given that less than 0.26% of the tax files are selected for audit, and that less than 4.18% of the population files tax returns, the audited population is quite limited. Similar to faceless assessment, the introduction of a similar framework for appeals was announced with effect from September 25, 2020. The tax regime in India has been plagued with instances of high pitched tax assessments. This behavior is often attributed to tax collection targets that field inspectors have to deliver annually. The outcome is an over-burdened and long drawn appeal system, where the success rate of the tax department has been less than 30%. The collective outcome is a lot of effort and pain for limited outcome on revenue generation. The ongoing reforms are holistically designed to reduce tax litigation, and if the multi-level audit process eliminates the tax collection pressure on field inspectors, then the structural reforms needed for efficient tax administration will happen. The global tax landscape has been witnessing exponential changes, with tax administrations around the world continuously upgrading their old tax administration systems or replacing them with new ones, in their constant endeavors to capture and process taxpayer-specific information, data and financial transactions on real-time basis, using data analytics, data mining and artificial intelligence tools. Also Read: Taxpayers' charter: Only select officials to sanction, conduct income tax surveys Besides, most European countries are implementing the standardisation of exchange of accounting data such as Standard Audit File for Tax (SAF-T) [Luxembourg, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Norway etc], Latin American countries are adopting transactional level reporting through e-invoicing (Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Peru etc) and Public System of Digital Bookkeeping (SPED) [Brazil], Australia is applying computer assisted verification/e-audit, and also many countries and tax organisations are contemplating the use of internet of things (IoT), blockchain technology for automation of data exchange and compliance. The reforms will place India amongst the frontrunners of the facilitative tax administration system. The next reform pertains to unveiling of a Taxpayers' Charter, complete with the tax department's commitments and duties of the taxpayer, which has revamped the Citizen's Charter of 2014. Similar to the taxpayer charters of developed economies such as the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, the Indian Taxpayers' Charter assures the taxpayers of fair, courteous and reasonable treatment from the income-tax department. While the intention of introducing the charter is certainly noble, its efficacy towards creating a better and people-friendly tax system will primarily depend on its implementation, legal status and enforceability. Also Read: Taxpayers' charter silent on assessee's legal right, implementation What next? India has been making efforts to align its tax administration to keep up with the advancement of technology and reduce latency. In the recent past, India has implemented reforms such as digitising the filing of returns, payment of taxes, submission of grievances, reporting of tax transactions (Form 26AS), tracking and requesting of tax refunds, introduction of online compliance portals for validation of data, GST-N portal and GST e-invoicing, etc. India's current efforts in restructuring its tax system, along with its technology initiatives to achieve a completely automated data exchange and data assessment, should eventually eliminate the need for compliance - something similar to what HMRC, the tax administration department of UK, is trying to achieve through its Making Tax Digital initiative. These developments also require taxpayers to assess their organisational readiness to respond to the accelerating digitisation of the tax administration. (Gokul Chaudhri is a Partner and Amit Bablani is a Director with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP.) A Russian schoolgirl who claimed a ten-year-old boy was the father of her unborn child has posted pictures of her leaving a maternity hospital with her new baby. Social media influencer Darya Sudnishnikova was 13 when she became famous after insisting that she was made pregnant by her prepubescent boyfriend Ivan (Vanya) . The boy - now 11 - was with her as she departed a clinic in Krasnoyarsk with baby Emelia, who weighed in at 8lbs and measured 21 inches. The couple smiled at the hospital door flanked by their mothers. Social media influencer Darya Sudnishnikova was 13 when she became famous after insisting that she was made pregnant by her prepubescent boyfriend Ivan (pictured together) The boy - now 11 - was with her as she departed a clinic in Krasnoyarsk with the newborn baby. The couple smiled at the hospital door flanked by their mothers (pictured) In recent postings, Darya has told her almost 400,000 followers about the painful contractions and birth. When Emilia finally appeared 'my head was dizzy - and then they put the baby on my tummy. 'And then I passed out. I fainted.' In recent postings, Darya has told her almost 400,000 followers about the painful contractions and birth. Pictured: Darya and Ivan together with the new baby She posted: 'I didn't imagine giving birth would be like that. 'I thought it would be much more painful, but only the contractions are painful. 'But for the sake of such happiness, it's worth enduring all this pain.' Darya, now 14, has become a social media sensation after detailing the trials and tribulations of her pregnancy. Darya, now 14, (pictured in the delivery room) has become a social media sensation after detailing the trials and tribulations of her pregnancy Darya recently gave birth to a baby girl called Emelia, who weighed in at 8lbs and measured 21 inches This followed a nationwide TV appearance when she insisted Ivan was the father after they had slept together. But later - with experts saying her pregnancy with the boy was impossible - she confessed that she had been raped in her hometown Zheleznogorsk by a boy aged 16. She said Ivan was the father because she was too embarrassed to admit to the rape, she said. Ivan was not allowed to be present with her at the birth due to his young age but visited Darya at the maternity hospital a shortly afterwards Darya's mother Elena Sudnishnikova, 35, (pictured left holding the baby girl) will act as guardian to the newborn Police are investigating the case and it is believed they have taken a DNA sample from the newborn girl. Ivan was not allowed to be present with her at the birth due to his young age. Before giving birth she posted: 'He does not live with me, he stays overnight sometimes. 'At 16, he will take over the fatherhood, but it depends on how everything goes on between us.' She also told how she is happy to be slim again and can lie on her front. 'I see myself in a mirror and can't stop adoring: I'm so slim!' Darya told her followers on social media that she now plans to take leave from school to care for her new child (pictured together) Darya said that in keeping with Russian tradition, she will not show the baby's face until she is 40 days old Darya plans to take leave from school to care for her new child, she said. Her mother Elena Sudnishnikova, 35, will act as guardian. The young influencer recently revealed she was ordered to remove a post about the alleged sex attack. 'I wrote a post about the real father, but I had to delete it due to the fact that now there is a (criminal) investigation,' she said. 'I am forbidden to divulge the information of the investigation.' Ivan's mother Galina Fyodorova, 28, said when Darya first claimed her son made her pregnant after the pair locked themselves in a bedroom: 'I believe my son that he is the father 'I understand that he himself maybe doesn't realise what happened.' Darya said that in keeping with Russian tradition, she will not show the baby's face until she is 40 days old. Its been barely a month since Australian Trade and Construction (ATC) Insurance Solutions announced the appointment of London-based Jenny Arkell as senior underwriter for cyber in Melbourne. Now the firm is once again adding a UK hire to its roster this time for the Sydney office. Also making the switch from CFC Underwriting, Lawrence Ormrod will relocate once travel restrictions permit. As senior cyber risks underwriter, he will be in charge of expanding and developing ATC Insurance Solutions portfolio for the eastern states. A man has been booked by police for allegedly raping a minor sister of his elder brothers wife and then marrying her by threatening her and her mother before giving her triple talaq. On a complaint by the victims mother, belonging to a village under Budhana police station of Muzaffarnagar district, accused Momin has been booked under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, section 3 and 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act. After the registration of the case against him, Momin has gone missing but the police have launched a manhunt to nab him, said Budhana police station in-charge K P Singh. In her complaint to the police, the victims mother said that her elder son-in-laws brother Momin had visited their house in January this year and stayed with them for a few days during which he raped her minor daughter, said SHO Singh. After returning his home, he along with his parents began threatening the mother-daughter duo to marry the minor girl to him, the SHO said, adding the woman married her daughter to Momin under duress in February this year. But a few weeks after taking the minor girl to his home, Momin gave her triple talaq and left her back with her mother, said the SHO, after which the fatherless child approached Childcare Helpline, which referred the matter to the police. The police subsequently got a complaint from the mother of the minor child and booked the accused, he said. The most common scams include using information about the novel coronavirus as bait, swindling people by offering to sell masks. Photo by Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff. Vietnam led Southeast Asia in the number of phishing attacks targeting small enterprises in the first half of this year. There were more than 1.6 million attacks on small and medium-sized enterprises with 50-250 employees in the region, up 39 percent from the same period last year, Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab said a report it released on Tuesday. Vietnam accounted for 464,300, followed by Indonesia (406,200) and Malaysia (269,500). Singapore had the least number of attacks, but the number of cases was up 60.5 percent. On a global scale, Brazil topped followed by Russia, France, Columbia, and the U.S. The most common scams included using information about the novel coronavirus as bait, swindling people by offering to sell masks, seeking donations for vaccine research, and offering relief payments. The report also mentioned several other common phishing tricks such as evaluating job performance, important announcements from administrators, requesting emergency password checks, and urgent press releases. Yeo Siang Tiong, Kasperskys general manager for Southeast Asia, said the surge in attacks in Southeast Asia was due to the fact many companies let employees work from home since the end of March, resulting in a large number of users clicking on an infected link or attachment. Vietnam recorded 2,017 cyber attacks on its information systems in the first half of 2020, down 27.1 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications Department of Information Security. US-based consulting firm, KRL International LLC says recent reports by Open Source Investigations (OSI) on its support for the 2016 presidential campaign of President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Government of Ghana lack credibility. KRL International LLC made this known in a statement dated August 26, 2020. OSI claims to be a non-partisan, independent investigative website. However the website had consistently carried critical and negative reports on Akufo-Addo as if it had been contracted by opponents of the president from his days in opposition till now. According to the statement, a recent article published anonymously on the website Open Source Investigations deliberately misinterpreted public documents which KRL filed with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2016 and 2017 to imply that public funds were improperly used by the Government of Ghana to support political activities. KRL says in its statement that this was not the case. KRL had separate contracts to work with the campaign and with the Government, which were financed separately, as appropriate, and made available under U.S. laws to the U.S. Department of Justice. It says KRL International LLC has in recent time been the subject of three attacks. The statement added that OSIs reports lack authors, attribution, fact checking and credibility. The statement threatened that KRL will be filing a formal legal complaint against the site once we can determine its ownership, management, and editorial team, saying none of this information is publicly disclosed. Journalists who cite their content should conduct their due diligence, or they put their own reputations at risk. According to the statement, prior to Akufo-Addos inauguration on January 7, 2017, KRL had a contract with the I am for Nana Foundation in support of his campaign, followed by an agreement with the Office of the President-elect to offer support during the transition period. It said several months after, President Akufo-Addo took office and established a cabinet, KRL signed its first agreement with the Government of Ghana to provide support to the Ministry of Finance. It did not state the kind of support it was contracted to provide to the Finance Ministry. Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), KRL has always submitted timely and transparent reporting to the U.S. Justice Department on all work with foreign governments and political parties. These reports are submitted twice annually: at the end of August, covering the six month period of February 1- July 31, and at the end of February, covering a reporting period from August 1 of the previous year through January 31. It stressed that the document of which OSI cites as a contract extension dated 28 February 2017 is in fact a reporting document submitted to the Department of Justice on that date. This report refers to a contract extension in this reporting period [August 1, 2016 January 31, 2017] between KRL International LLC and the Office of the President-elect for Ghana. It added that this extension covered support provided by KRL between the end of the campaign and the Presidents inauguration. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters during a third night of unrest in this southeastern Wisconsin city following the shooting of a Black man whose attorney said he was paralyzed after being shot multiple times by police. A group of protesters walked toward a fence that was put in place Tuesday around the courthouse and started shaking it. Police behind it moved toward protesters as some threw water bottles and fireworks over the fence. Armoured vehicles then rolled in and tear gas was fired into the crowd. When police ordered protesters to disperse, the crowd responded by chanting Black lives matter. Police then fired rubber bullets. Jacob Blake, the man shot by police responding to a domestic disturbance on Sunday, is paralyzed, and it will take a miracle for him to walk again, his familys attorney said Tuesday, while calling for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and others involved to lose their jobs. The shooting of Blake on Sunday in Kenosha apparently in the back while three of his children looked on was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities, some of which have devolved into unrest. It came just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police touched off a wider reckoning on race. They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didnt matter, said Blakes father, who is also named Jacob Blake and who spoke to reporters alongside other family members and lawyers. But my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters. The 29-year-old was in surgery, said attorney Ben Crump, adding that the bullets severed Blakes spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Another attorney said there was also severe damage to organs. Its going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr. to ever walk again, Crump said. The legal team plans to file a civil lawsuit against the police department over the shooting. Police have said little about what happened, other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. The officers involved have not been named. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating. After a night during which protests devolved into unrest, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers had called for calm Tuesday, while also declaring a state of emergency under which he doubled the National Guard deployment in Kenosha from 125 to 250. The night before crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires in the citys downtown. We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue, said Evers, who is facing mounting pressure from Republicans over his handling of the unrest. We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction. Blakes mother, Julia Jackson, said the damage in Kenosha does not reflect what her family wants and that, if her son could see it, he would be very unpleased. She said that the first thing her son said to her when she saw him was he was sorry. He said, I dont want to be a burden on you guys, Jackson said. I want to be with my children, and I dont think Ill walk again. Three of the younger Blakes sons aged 3, 5 and 8 were in the car at the time of the shooting, Crump said. It was the 8-year-olds birthday, he added. The man who said he made the cellphone video of the shooting, 22-year-old Raysean White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard them yell, Drop the knife! Drop the knife! before the gunfire erupted. He said he didnt see a knife in Blakes hands. In the footage, Blake walks from the sidewalk around the front of his SUV to his driver-side door as officers follow him with their guns drawn and shout at him. As Blake opens the door and leans into the SUV, an officer grabs his shirt from behind and opens fire. Seven shots can be heard, though it isnt clear how many struck Blake or how many officers fired. Blakes father told the Chicago Sun-Times that his son had eight holes in his body. Anger over the shooting has spilled into the streets of Kenosha and other cities, including Los Angeles, Wisconsins capital of Madison and in Minneapolis, the epicenter of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer following Floyds death. Hundreds of protesters defied an 8 p.m. curfew Monday night, massing in downtown Kenosha, where they were met by a wall of law enforcement officers, including members of the Wisconsin National Guard. Some clashed with officers and vandalized businesses. There were 34 fires associated with the unrest, with 30 businesses destroyed or damaged along with an unknown number of residences, Kenosha Fire Chief Charles Leipzig told the Kenosha News. Photo: stantec.com UPDATED: 10:50 a.m. Paramedics across the province are also still waiting on the pandemic pay wage top up, promised to more than 250,000 eligible frontline workers. A letter recently addressed to B.C. paramedics from the Provincial Health Service Authority (PHSA) stated the pay is coming, but provided no exact timeline on when it will arrive. Paramedics who spoke with Castanet also voiced concern over how the pay will be applied when it does arrive, such as overtime hours not being taken into account. They say it's been a "very frustrating" process. ORIGINAL: 4 a.m. Interior Health employees are fuming after months of waiting for government-funded, employer-distributed pandemic pay that has yet to arrive. The pandemic pay program was announced by the provincial government in May to support people working on the frontlines in B.C.'s healthcare system, social services and corrections. More than 250,000 eligible frontline workers were set to receive a lump-sum payment of about $4 per hour for a 16-week period, retroactive to March 15, in part of a cost-shared program with the federal government. After watching other workers receive extra pay as a thank you for their service, multiple IH employees from different professions within the health authority reached out to Castanet to share their frustration. All requested anonymity out of fear of retribution for speaking to media. "During this whole COVID experience staff throughout Interior Health have watched store employees get a boost in wage to show that store employees are appreciated," an employee told Castanet. "We watched our PM promise up to $4 wage increase to front-line workers, hospital care home workers - a wage increase for 16 weeks, which still has never happened." Departments who have not received pandemic pay include nurses, medical device processing technicians and housekeepers/cleaners, one of which echoed the same sentiment. "We have yet to see our pandemic pay. We are exposed to COVID on a daily basis, have been here during the outbreaks and are constantly exposed to all other harmful viruses, diseases and illnesses. We are cleaning up bodily fluids from the emergency department, patient wards, operating rooms and all other areas that everyone who is actually sick are touching. "And where is our money? ... when we ask if/when we are ever going to receive it, there are NO clear answers. Why is it taking so long? Why can't they give us a date? For some reason I believe it's too good to be true. If we do receive it, I'm sure the tax man will take most of it. I'm sure we will pay it all back in taxes next season anyway. This is the thanks that we get for all of our hard work." All of the employees we spoke with were of the understanding IH had received the government-provided pandemic pay on July 5, 2020, and has been withholding it since then. They say that information was revealed to them during conversations with direct managers or union representatives. "Theres a consensus where weve all been told they have the money, and theyre telling us employers will start flowing out the money in the fall," another employee told Castanet. "Its like a carrot, just being dangled in front of you." Staff also hold concerns that when the money is disbursed, it will be added to a regular paycheque instead of given as a separate lump sum payment, meaning employees may enter a different tax bracket for that paycheque and lose more in taxes. However, according to Ministry of Finance senior public affairs officer Sonia Lowe, the funding has not yet been given to IH by the provincial government. "Funds have not yet been distributed to Interior Health and eligible employees have not received Temporary Pandemic Pay yet. The Province is coordinating with multiple ministry funders and hundreds of service providers across the province to ensure that the distribution of funds occurs as quickly and efficiently as possible. We expect funding to begin flowing to employees in the fall." In light of that, it is unclear why so many IH employees are under the impression the health authority was granted the money by the Ministry on July 5, or what the source of the internal miscommunication may have been. When contacted, IH told us they are unable to comment publicly on the situation, instead referring to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health for clarification. Castanet obtained an internal staff email addressed to all IH employees on August 18 by acting VP of Human Resources Matt Wilkie, which made efforts to clear up the confusion. "We recognize that many employees are interested in hearing about whether they are eligible for the Temporary Pandemic Pay Program (TPP) and when eligible employees can expect to receive the temporary wage top-up. "Interior Health is working with the Ministries of Finance and Health to ensure eligible employees at IH receive their TPP as quickly as possible. This is a complex process and we appreciate your patience. Once all of the information is received from health authorities and all contracted service providers across the Province, the Ministry of Finance will disburse the funding." In the interim, employees were referred by Wilkie to general updates periodically available on the provincial government website. Mohammed Umar Farooq, the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, had received Rs 10 lakh in his bank accounts in Pakistan to execute the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed in February last year, the NIA has said in its chargesheet. The National Investigation Agency probe has shown that Rs 10 lakh in Pakistani currency was redited into three accounts of Farooq, the main accused in the suicide attack case who was later killed in an encounter with security forces, in Allied Bank and Mezaan Bank in that country days before the incident, officials said. They said the money was deposited by top leadership of the terror group JeM between January and February 2019. The terrorists had spent around Rs six lakh on procurement of explosives and the Maruti Eeco car used in the attack, the NIA said in its chargesheet filed on Tuesday before a special court in Jammu. A major chunk of the fund, about Rs 2.80 lakh, was used to procure around 200 kilogram of explosives including ammonium nitrate to trigger a massive car-laden IED attack on the Central Reserve Police Force convoy moving from Jammu to Srinagar on February 14, 2019, they said. The 200 kilograms of explosives comprised of a lethal concoction of RDX brought from Pakistan, gelatin sticks procured by Mudasir Ahmad, four kilograms of Aluminium powder bought on Amazon by accused Wazi Ul Islam and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate. The IED was fitted into the Eeco car in two containers weighing 160 kilogram and 40 kilograms to trigger the blast, the NIA said. Chargesheeted accused Shakir Bashir allegedly collected the explosives -- RDX, Gelatin sticks, Aluminium power and Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate -- and stocked them at his house for making the IED, the agency said. The terrorists had spent another Rs 2.5 lakh on purchasing and modifying the car to be used in the attack which was also parked in the front-yard of Shakir Bashir's house, it said. Some money was spent on miscellaneous expenses too, which included purchase of containers for fabricating the Improvised Explosive Devices, officials said. The NIA probe has shown three bank accounts of Farooq, the main perpetrator, who received the money from January 2019 till February of the same year. The agency had filed a 13,800-page chargesheet against 19 accused persons in an NIA Special Court at Jammu in connection with last year's terrorist attack on the CRPF convoy at Lethpura, Pulwama, they said. Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Adil Ahmad Dar, who was driving the car laden with explosives, had rammed it into the convoy killing 40 CRPF personnel and grievously injuring eight others. "The investigation has revealed that Pulwama attack was a result of well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched by Pakistan-based leadership of terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad. The JeM leaders have been sending their cadres to the terrorist training camps of Al-Qaida-Taliban-JeM and Haqqani-JeM in Afghanistan for receiving training in explosives and other terrorist tactics," the NIA said in the chargesheet. The agency said the main accused Umar Farooq was trained in Afghanistan for explosives. He visited Afghanistan in 2016-17 and had infiltrated into India through the International Border at Jammu-Samba Sector in April, 2018, it said. Farooq took over as the Jaish-e-Mohammad Commander of Pulwama. "Accused Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan, Peer Tariq Ahmad Shah and Bilal Ahmad Kuchey provided all logistics and harboured the JeM terrorists in their houses," the NIA has said. Bashir allegedly did reconnaissance of the movement and deployment of security forces on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. A propaganda video clip of Mohammad Umar Farooq, Sameer Dar and Adil Dar was allegedly prepared at Insha Jan's house which was released immediately after the suicide attack, it said. The terrorists had prepared the car for the attack by fitting it with the IED on February 6, 2019 but suspended their nefarious plans because of heavy snowfall which led to closing of the National Highway for vehicular movement, the agency said. They attacked the convoy on February 14, 2019, when the National Highway reopened, they said. Bashir drove Adil Ahmad Dar till the National Highway, after which Dar drove the car and carried out the blast, it alleged. Damage to the tune of Rs 32.90 lakh was caused to public property, the probe agency said. The NIA found that JeM leadership consisting of Masood Azhar, Rouf Asgar and Ammar Alvi alias Chacha alias Chota Masood handled the operation by continuously giving directions and guidance to the Pakistani JeM infiltrators before and after the attack. Learning to cross a busy street is anything but easy for a child, especially in places where the traffic doesn't stop. Children must first identify a safe gap in traffic, use refined motor skills to precisely step off a curb the moment a car passes, and safely reach the other side of the street before the next vehicle arrives. The good news: Research says parents can help their children--a lot. A new study from the University of Iowa reports that parents who use road crossings as teachable moments help their youngsters learn road-crossing skills faster and become better at crossing streets. The researchers learned this by watching sets of parent-child duos--with the children varying in age from 6 to 12 years old--cross a virtual road with continuous traffic. One finding: Children who received constructive advice from their parents--especially the pointing out of safe gaps in traffic ahead of time--learned best-practices in crossing more readily and crossed more safely. "This is something children need to learn how to do. It's an important, common, real-world skill," says Elizabeth O'Neal, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Iowa and the first author on the study. "Children learning ahead of time how to choose a sizable gap between vehicles leads to safer crossing outcomes. We found there's a lot that parents can do to help their children learn those skills and to keep their kids safe." By far, the safest way for a child to cross a road is at an intersection with a walk sign, a stoplight, or with marked crosswalks. But vehicles may not stop, even at crosswalks, and there are many roads where no crossing markings exist. This puts children at risk. In 2018 alone, 175,000 youngsters between the ages of 1 and 14 were injured as pedestrians, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a branch of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Iowa researchers wanted to understand whether parents could help their children cross roads more safely, as well as study how the parents offered help. In multiple rounds, 64 parents with a child aged 6, 8, 10, or 12 crossed a virtual, single-lane road with a line of oncoming vehicles traveling at 25 miles per hour. The participating pairs were instructed to watch the traffic and then decide together when to cross. The main results: Across all ages, parents proactively pointed out safe traffic gaps in just 30% of the crossing exercises. In the other instances, parents simply instructed their children to cross (such as saying, "Let's go!") or began crossing without saying anything. When parents gave helpful instruction, their children showed a 10% improvement in how quickly they entered the road after the first car passed and a 7% gain in the margin of time between when they reached the other side of the road before the next car arrived. The researchers say those seemingly small gains in motor timing substantively increase the chances of a successful crossing. So, what is helpful instruction? Jodie Plumert, professor in the UI Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and a co-author on the study, explains: "When you're crossing roads with your child, don't just say, 'Let's go!' when you want to go. Help the child look at the oncoming traffic and pick out ahead of time which gap you're going to choose. It helps the child learn how to pick the gap ahead of time and to correctly time when to cross." The findings add to previous results by researchers in the UI's Hank Virtual Environments Lab (led by Plumert and Joseph Kearney, professor in the Department of Computer Science at Iowa) showing that most children don't fully grasp how to identify gaps in traffic and correctly time their road crossings until age 14. That study appeared in April 2017 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, published by the American Psychological Association. A few previous studies have looked at how children cross roads and then interviewed their parents afterward. According to the Iowa researchers, it was clear from those studies that on the whole, parents weren't actively helping their children learn how to safely negotiate road crossings. Plumert says the most recent study is the first to examine how parents can help children learn to prospectively control their movements, and to understand what is needed mentally and physically to cross safely. "If this was something that parents were doing most of the time, then that would be great," Plumert says. "But our study shows that parents aren't using effective strategies to help their child learn about safe road crossings all that often. But the times the parents do have useful instructions, it's really helpful to the child. They just show much better performance crossing roads." ### The U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Transportation funded the research. Contributing authors include Kearney; Shiwen Zhou, who worked as an undergraduate in the Hank lab and is now a graduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology; and Yuanyuan Jiang, a graduate research assistant in the Hank lab who is now an assistant professor at California State University-San Marcos. 3 1 of 3 Joseph Dalton Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Joseph Dalton Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz spent her summer with music. That may not come as much of a surprise, given that shes the founding director of Musicians of Maalwyck and a longtime member of the orchestra at the Glimmerglass Festival, among other affiliations and obligations. But like many of us, she was rather flummoxed in late March when her calendar was suddenly wiped clear. There was one cancellation after another and I wondered, am I still a musician? It was a weird frame of mind, she recalls. From the void, new projects have sprung. They include a series of live streamed concerts and a weekly musical journal written by Schwartz. But top of the list is a CD that was recorded in late July in the formal dining room of Hyde Hall, the historic home located on a scenic bluff across Otsego Lake from the Alice Busch Opera Theater in Cooperstown. The disc, to be released next year, will be the groups second commercial release. If theres a historic house in the region, its likely that Schwartz has put on an event there. The Musicians of Maalwyck has a long and fruitful association with the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, where they put on concerts every season. The groups first CD, released in 2018, was titled Music from the Schuyler Mansion. It was only a matter of time until Schwartz, who has a second home in nearby Cherry Valley, brought music to Hyde Hall, which has been designated as a national historic landmark. The affiliation with Musicians of Maalwyck began in 2018 and continued with a residency the following year. A third annual Mothers Day concert plus some other events were scheduled for this season. When that all got scrubbed because of the coronavirus, Schwartz recalls, Jonathan Maney, Hyde Halls CEO, suggested that if concerts were out then they should find another collaboration, maybe a CD? Thats an offer few musicians would pass up. According to Schwartz, Hyde Hall did more than just a provide a venue, it was a financial partner as well. A few grants from local sources were also obtained in short order. Usually raising money takes time, but this came together very quickly, says Schwartz. Music has actually had a long history at Hyde Hall. The main house was completed in 1820 under the supervision of George Clarke, but it was his son, George Clarke, Jr. and his family, who were the first to fully occupy it. George Junior was an avid flute player and his instrument plus a collection of his sheet music are archived at Hyde Hall. The elder George must have been a music enthusiast as well. Schwartz recalls seeing his name in the membership roster of the Albany Euterpean Club, a musical society that flourished in the 1820s and was the subject of Schwartzs masters thesis. She points out that Clarkes journeying from Cooperstown to Albany for club events is evidence of his commitment to music. As for George Clarke, Jr., Schwartz thinks he must have been a pretty advanced player judging from his music, which includes solos, duos and trios. One of the pieces, Otsego Waltz, will be included on the forthcoming CD. The balance of the disc is devoted to opera transcriptions for flute, violin and guitar with selections from Bellini (Norma), Rossini (La Cenerentola) and Meyerbeer (The Huguenots) among others Schwartz hopes that the operatic material will be familiar and enjoyable to audiences. Yet there might be more than audience appeal in her programming decision. Perhaps the new disc is also a reflection of her feeling about losing a summer at Glimmerglass. Im totally missing the opera but if I did the opera, wed couldnt have done the CD, she says. Remembering Petia Kassarova On July 20, cellist Petia Kassarova died after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was a member of the Albany Symphony and upon her death, music director David Alan Miller wrote a loving tribute, saying, She was a brilliant artist and teacher, and one of the most thoughtful, gentlest people I have known. Kassarova was also a founding member of the Musicians of Maalwyck. Schwartz remembers her as a colleague and also a close friend, saying, In a group of sort of staid, scholarly chamber musicians, she was our Maserati (a Bulgarian version of course!) -- sleek, luxurious and a bit dangerous. When Petia revved up to play a solo, you knew that you were in for an exciting ride. Schwartz recalls many standout chamber music performances by Kassarova, including in Schoenbergs Verklarte Nacht, Gardners Piano Quintet, and the Brahms String Sextet No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 18. Her final appearance with the ensemble was a joyous evening of waltzes and polkas at the Viennese Ball on Feb. 29 in downtown Albany. Thats a nice memory, she looked beautiful and happy, recalls Schwartz. Just days after Kassarova died, the Musicians of Maalwycks remaining core members Schwartz, violin, Norman Thibodeau, flute and Sten Isachsen, guitar gathered at Hyde Hall for the recording sessions. Schwartz describes the loss of Kassarova as a shadow hanging over us. Musical Treasure Chest In early April, Schwartz launched a weekly email to patrons and friends, saying During our Covid-19 isolation, I thought you might enjoy hearing about the musical works and artists that I turn to when I want inspiration, release or just the sheer joy of listening to a certain passage thrillingly executed. Ann Maries Musical Treasure Chest has had 16 editions since then and Schwartz has shared insights about the Franck Violin Sonata, Massenets opera Werther, and the Bach B Minor Mass, among many other repertoire items. She also explains how the musical works fit into her life including her years as an announcer on WMHT-FM, producing CDs for Dorian Recordings, and as a member of the Glimmerglass Orchestra. Theres no musical jargon just plenty of enthusiasm, vivid memories and links to some good clips on YouTube. All of the essays are archived at musiciansofmaalwyck.org. I started these as a way of using music to make my life feel more normal, says Schwartz. I get tons of good feedback and plan to continue until concert life returns or if I think theyre getting stale. They just flow out right now. Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. 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NEW YORK U.S. health officials have sparked a wave of confusion after posting guidelines that coronavirus testing is not necessary for people who have been in close contact with infected people. The new guidance was posted earlier this week on the website of a federal agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC previously had advised local health departments to test people who have been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes. But on Monday a CDC testing overview page was changed to say that testing is no longer recommended for symptom-less people who were in close contact situations. There was a caveat, however. Testing may be recommended for those with health problems that make them more likely to suffer severe illness from an infection, or if their doctor or local state officials advise they get tested. CDC officials referred all questions to the agency's parent organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. That suggests that HHS ordered the change, not CDC, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher. HHS officials officials have offered little explanation, but scheduled a briefing for Wednesday afternoon to answer questions. Across the country, public health experts called the change bizarre. They noted that testing contacts of infected people is a core element of public health efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of infected people the CDC has said as many as 40 percent exhibit no symptoms. "I was taken aback and didn't know that it was under consideration," said John Auerbach, president of Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. preparedness against disease. "The recommendation not to test asymptomatic people who likely have been exposed is not in accord with the science." Ultimately, restricting testing could be self-defeating, because it could skew the numbers and create a perception that rates of infection are higher. Testing people who appear to be healthy would tend to lower the overall rate of positive results, while narrowing testing to people who are sick would raise the overall positive rate, Auerbach said. Why HHS would order such a change quickly became a matter of speculation. Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at Emory University, suggested in a tweet that there are two possible explanations. One is that it may be driven by testing supply issues that in many parts of the country have caused delays in results of a week or more, he suggested. The other is that President Donald Trump simply wants to see case counts drop, and discouraging more people from getting tested is one way to do it, he said. Dr. Tom Frieden, who was head of the CDC during the Obama administration, said the move follows another recent change: to no longer recommend quarantine for travelers coming from areas where infections are more common. "Both changes are highly problematic" and need to be better explained, said Frieden, who now is president of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit program that works to prevent epidemics. Frieden said he, too, believes HHS forced CDC to post the changes. He called it "a sad day" because "CDC is being told what to write on their website." Associated Press writer Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report. Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/26/2020 -- Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, a law firm providing renowned U.S. immigration services, is pleased to announce six lawyers have been recognized in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for their outstanding professional excellence in immigration law. Congratulations to Jordan J. Gonzales, Natalia Gouz, Michele G. Madera, Maria M. Mihaylova, Karuna Chandani Simbeck, and F. Oliver Yang for this achievement. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a peer-review publication committed to recognizing outstanding lawyers early in their careers. The company was founded in 1981 and, since then, they have become a respected guide in the legal profession. Achieving this recognition on Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a process that includes peer review and a second layer of authentication. To be eligible for this prestigious acknowledgment, lawyers must have between five to nine years of experience in private practice, must currently practice in the United States, and must be in good standing with their local bar association. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch then conducts exhaustive surveys in which nominees are reviewed by their peers. Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP is incredibly proud of the work of the recognized attorneys, especially during the increasingly difficult and unprecedented U.S. immigration environment. Jordan J. Gonzalez earned his J.D. from the University of Houston, and, since then, has dedicated his career to helping corporate and individual clients navigate the constantly shifting landscape of U.S. immigration law. As someone with a bilingual and bicultural background, Jordan is uniquely positioned to help clients achieve their career and immigration goals. Natalia Gouz has extensive experience in business immigration law, helping corporate clients secure nonimmigrant and immigrant worker petitions and Labor Certifications from the U.S. Department of Labor. Natalia's clients span a broad spectrum of industries, including financial services, information technology, logistics, transportation, utilities, manufacturing, universities, and hospitality. Michele G. Madera is a partner at Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP and specializes in assisting corporate clients in hiring foreign nationals, worksite compliance, and other complex immigration challenges for her clients. She is leading the firm in analyzing data on adjudication trends to better align her clients' filing strategies for long-term success, as well as to forecast the growth and trends of their global workforce. Maria M. Mihaylova uses a client-centric approach to solve complicated and delicate immigration issues for foreign nationals and corporate clients. She is passionate about helping foreign nationals and international students achieve their dreams of working or studying in the United States. She is highly experienced in handling corporate immigration challenges. Maria completed her J.D. at Seton Hall University School of Law, where she worked on the Circuit Review as an Editor. Karuna Chandani Simbeck manages the firm's individual case unit and is an integral part of the EB-1 and EB-5 teams at Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP and focuses on employment and family-based immigration law with extensive experience in processing EB-5, EB-1, I-130, and K-1 visas and counseling foreign nationals and their employers on H-1B and L-1 visa and filing requirements. Karuna has a Master's in Law Degree from Temple University and practiced law in India for over nine years. F. Oliver Yang uses his legal expertise to help clients successfully achieve their immigration goals. As a native Mandarin speaker, he also regularly assists Chinese-speaking clients with all kinds of immigration applications. He is an emerging leader as an investment immigration lawyer, assisting entrepreneurial clients in creating or investing in job-creating entities in the U.S. through the EB-5 visa program or as an E-2 investor with a third-country citizenship. Oliver completed his J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he worked on the Journal of Law & Politics as an Editor. To contact an one of the KILP employment based immigration lawyers listed here or an investment immigration lawyer, please call 215-825-8695 or visit www.KlaskoLaw.com. About Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP has offices in Philadelphia and New York and provides top-tier legal services to individuals, multinational corporations, small companies, universities, and hospitals. The firm has been selected as one of the top 6 business immigration law firms in the United States by the prestigious Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Chambers and Partners) for the past ten years. The firm serves as the North American Regional Representative of the Investment Migration Council, the worldwide association Investor Immigration and Citizenship-by-Investment. For more information, please see www.klaskolaw.com. KHARTOUM, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said he held "direct and transparent" talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Khartoum on Tuesday, including over removing Sudan from a U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list. Hamdok said the two also discussed support for Sudan's civilian-led transitional government, and that he was looking forward to "positive tangible steps" to support Sudan's revolution. (Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Jon Boyle) For Dr. Cecily Morrison, research into how AI can help people who are blind or visually disabled is deeply personal. Its not only that the Microsoft Principal Researcher has a 7-year-old son who is blind, she also believes that the powerful AI-related technologies that will help people must themselves be personal, tailored to the circumstances and abilities of the people they support. We will see new AI techniques that will enable users to personalize experiences for themselves," says Dr. Morrison, who is based at Microsoft Research Cambridge and whose work is centered on human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence. Everyone is different. Having a disability label does not mean a person has the same needs as another with the same label. New techniques will allow people to teach AI technologies about their information needs with just a few examples in order to get a personalized experience suited to their particular needs. Tech will become about personal needs rather than disability labels. Dr. Cecily Morrison with her partner and two children, including her seven-year-old son who is holding his cane. Image Credits: Cecily Morrison Dr. Morrison will speak at Sight Tech Global, a virtual, global event on Dec. 2-3 that will explore how AI-related technologies will shape the future of accessibility for people who are blind and visually impaired. The event, which launched on TechCrunch, takes place on Dec. 2-3 and is free to attendees. Pre-register here. Dr. Morrison is currently involved in several research projects that explore the potential of AI to enable people who are blind or low vision. Project Tokyo, for example, is exploring ways to provide information about the immediate social environment to enhance peoples existing sense-making skills and abilities. The team works closely with people who are blind or low vision to ensure that the research is grounded in their experience and needs. It is critical that we imagine what the technologies do for people who are blind and low vision in a way that is empowering. Many blind and low vision people have well developed strategies for making sense of their environments. AI technology must augment these acute sense-making skills, covering information gaps. It is important that technology is not seen as replacing vision, but rather augmenting the information a person already has when going about their lives. Story continues As the mother to a blind child, Dr. Morrison believes she has gotten to see the world in a different perspective, taken part in communities that I wouldnt otherwise have seen or taken part. That has definitely driven her research. An inclusive design project, Torino, was inspired by the need of blind children to learn to code. What resulted was a physical programming language designed to teach computational thinking and basic programming to children ages 711, regardless of their level of vision. The effort led to a spin out project called Code Jumper, which is now commercially available from the American Printing House for the Blind. That success came from working very closely through trial and error with blind 7-11-year-olds, which is also where Dr. Morrison deepened her understanding of how critical it is for researchers to work closely with the people they aim to help. Then too, she points out, people with vision limitations are outstanding early technology adopters in general. In the agent space, Dr. Morrison says, we have done some work with people who are blind and low vision because, at the time we started working with agents, the mainstream was not heavy users of agents. In fact, most people thought they were toys. Whereas for people who are blind and low vision were early adopters and heavy users of agent technologies. They really could help push the boundaries of what these technologies can do. If youre not using technology regularly, you cant really imagine what the next steps are. So, its a great example of inclusive design where we can work with this cohort of very able blind people to help us think about what agents of the future are going to look like for all of us. Dr. Morrison holds a PhD in Computer Science from University of Cambridge and an undergraduate degree in Ethnomusicology from Barnard College, Columbia University. She shares life with her partner and two children, one of whom is blind. Pre-registration for Sight Tech Global is open. And the event is free. Sight Tech Global is a sponsor-driven event, and our partners so far include Waymo, Google, Wells Fargo, TechCrunch and Verizon Media. All proceeds go to the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired 501 (c)(3). For more information on sponsorship, please contact us at sponsor@sighttechglobal.com. Victoria's controversial Belt and Road Deal with China could be scrapped by Scott Morrison under a proposed new law. The prime minister wants to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that go against Australia's foreign policy and damage the national interest. An extraordinary new law will give the foreign minister sweeping powers to tear up agreements made by state and local governments as well as universities if they pose a threat. Daniel Andrews (pictured in China's Tiananmen Square) signed a deal with China under the country's controversial Belt and Road Initiative in October 2018 The prime minister (pictured on Wednesday) wants to stop states and territories signing deals with foreign powers that go against Australia's foreign policy and threaten the national interest Victoria made a deal with China under the country's Belt and Road Initiative, a scheme that sees the communist superpower invest in huge infrastructure projects around the world, in October 2018. Premier Andrews said he made the agreement to increase Chinese participation in Victorian building projects, manufacturing and trade in order to boost jobs. Several federal politicians, fearing the expansion of Chinese power and influence, have urged the Victorian government to scrap the deal but it has refused. Under the proposed law, the foreign minister will be able to terminate the deal and any private contracts that are part of it. Once the law is in place, governments and universities will have six months to reveal their foreign deals to the foreign minister, who will then decide which ones must be stopped. The Belt and Road Initiative is a Chinese plan to establish maritime trade routes and invest in infrastructure projects around the world, set up by President Xi Xinping (pictured) in 2013 The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (pictured) is an example of a project being financed by China under the country's Belt and Road Initiative The law will cover dozens of deals with China and other nations including India and Israel in areas such as culture, education, health, science, tourism, infrastructure and even sister-city arrangements. It will also require states get approval from the federal government to start negotiating a foreign deal and seek approval again when the negotiations are done. Under current laws, states can make a deal and not even tell the foreign minister for three months. Daniel Andrews caused outrage by only telling the Morrison government about his Belt and Road agreement on the day it was signed. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton described the Belt and Road Initiative as 'a propaganda initiative from China' that could lead to an 'enormous amount of foreign interference'. He said: 'Victoria needs to explain why it is the only state in the country that has entered into this agreement.' Federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Andrews had 'gone off the reservation by conducting his own foreign policy with China'. In May Victoria Treasurer Tim Pallas told a parliamentary inquiry the state government would 'absolutely not' scrap the deal. He then accused the federal government of 'vilifying' China by pushing for an inquiry into coronavirus. This graphic shows how the existing laws work. Under current laws, the state can make a foreign deal and not even tell the foreign minister for three months This graphic shows how the new law will require states get approval from the federal government to start negotiating a foreign deal and seek approval again when the negotiations are done The Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020 will be put before federal parliament next week in the hope it will be signed off this year. Scott Morrison said: 'Australia's foreign policies and relationships must always be set to serve Australia's interests. 'Australians rightly expect the federal government they elect to set foreign policy. 'These changes and new laws will ensure that every arrangement done by any Australian government at any level now lines up with how we are working to protect and promote Australia's national interest. He added: 'Many agreements and partnerships are of a routine nature but it is important that the federal government is notified of all agreements. 'Where any of these agreements undermine how the federal government is protecting and promoting our national interests they can be cancelled.' Daniel Andrews' deal with China In October 2018, the Victorian Labor government signed a memo of understanding with China under the country's Belt and Road Initiative. The BRI is a Chinese plan to establish maritime trade routes and invest in infrastructure projects around the world. More than 170 memos of understanding have been signed with 125 countries. Premier Andrews said he wanted to increase Chinese participation in Victorian building projects, manufacturing, and trade. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Premier Li Keqiang on May 22 In October 2019, Mr Andrews reached a 'framework agreement' with China that vowed to make a roadmap for cooperation on specific initiatives. So far the roadmap has not been published. Critics say the BRI is a tool to expand influence and power across the globe. Federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Andrews had 'gone off the reservation by conducting his own foreign policy with China'. As trade tensions with China mount, Mr Andrews has been urged to scrap the agreement, which he claims creates jobs for Victorians. Michael Schoebridge of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said: 'The Victorian government's BRI activities are simply out of step with the new international and economic environment, including the now openly coercive directions that Beijing is taking with Canberra over trade and in government relations.' Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching, chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade References Committee, said: 'The Victorian government should not have entered into an agreement with the Chinese government on the Belt and Road Initiative - it is bad policy and bad optics.' Advertisement It comes amid increasing political and economic tensions between Australia and China. Beijing and Canberra have been at loggerheads after Australia led global calls for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19. Soon afterwards, China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, suspended beef imports and told students and tourists not to travel Down Under in an apparent attempt to damage the Australian economy. On Tuesday Treasurer Josh Frydenberg blocked a $600million bid by Chinese company Mengniu Dairy to buy Aussie drinks company Lion, citing national security concerns. Minister Wang Xining (pictured) poses for a photo at the National Press Club in Canberra On Wednesday Wang Xining, deputy head of mission at the Chinese embassy in Canberra, said Chinese people felt deeply betrayed by Mr Morrison's call for independent scientists to enter China and investigate coronavirus. 'All of a sudden, there was this shocking proposal from Australia, supposed to be a good friend of China,' he said. 'It is approximately identical to Julius Caesar on his final day when he saw Brutus approaching him and said et tu, Brute?' Minister Wang admitted the virus was 'first identified' in China but said 'we should leave the work to scientists' to find out where patient zero came from. A serving member of Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly (NA) has addressed the controversy around his dual citizenship exposed in an exclusive report by the Al Jazeera. Dozens of major political figures and their families have bought Cyprus citizenship through the golden passport program of the Cypriot government, the Al Jazeera reported on Monday after obtaining what they call 'The Cyprus Papers.' Such papers are a batch of leaked documents containing more than 1,400 approved applications for the Cyprus Investment Programme (CIP) run by the Republic of Cyprus. "The programme allows people to buy a Cypriot passport, and by extension become European Union citizens, by investing at least 2.15 million ($2.5 million) in the country," the Al Jazeera said in their investigative report. Named in the papers is Pham Phu Quoc, the incumbent NA representative from Ho Chi Minh City who is serving the 2016-21 tenure. Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper was able to interview Quoc on Tuesday to give further details on his Cyprus citizenship. The following interview was done in Vietnamese and translated by Tuoi Tre News. The Al Jazeera reported that you are keeping Cyprus citizenship, is this the case? I started having Cyprus citizenship in mid-2018. However, it came about from the petition of my family, so the notion that I bought a second citizenship is false. Under which circumstance did you obtain your second citizenship? While running for the 14th National Assembly in 2016, you made no mention of this information in your profile. During my run as a candidate for the 14th National Assembly in May 2016, Vietnamese was my only citizenship. In 2018, due to changes in work and personal circumstances, I wrote and submitted my resignation letter twice to step down from the role as deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies for a transfer to the citys Party Committee and People's Committee. Upon the knowledge of my resignation, in mid-2018 my wife and child both of whom had obtained Cyprus citizenship by then suggested and implemented the procedural steps to petition for my Cyprus citizenship. This was meant to help me travel more conveniently and take care of my family better when I stop working. I can attest that my Cyprus citizenship was obtained through my familys sponsorship, and the suggestion that I bought the status for $2.5 million is entirely false. When and how did your wife and children gain their Cyprus citizenship? Apparently, Cyprus citizenship requires a tremendous investment of a few million U.S. dollars. My wife and son are both entrepreneurs. Since 2013, my son has been studying and working in the UK, where he established a career and is looking to settle down. In 2017, my wife and daughter wished to pursue study abroad as well as join my son in a foreign country, which led them to apply for Cyprus citizenship. This country allows Vietnamese to be naturalized as Cypriot citizens without having to abandon their original citizenship. In mid-2018, my family started petitioning for me to gain Cyprus citizenship. Have you disclosed your second citizenship to any governing authorities so far? I am writing a report on this issue to submit to relevant agencies, as per regulations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff on Tuesday touted the value of stakeholders after the company posted a quarterly profit that smashed Wall Street's estimates. In an interview on "Mad Money," Benioff, founder of the subscription-based business software, highlighted actions the company has taken in the midst of the economic and health crises. "This is a victory for stakeholder capitalism because I think, you know, that we did a great job for our shareholders this quarter, but we also did a great job for our stakeholders, as well," he told CNBC's Jim Cramer. "This is a moment when we need to be thinking not just about how to serve all of our customers, but also how to take care of our communities because they are in so much pain." Salesforce delivered a beat on the top and bottom lines in its second-quarter report for the 2021 fiscal year, growing revenue by 29% and net income by 152% from a year ago. The company posted $5.15 of revenue, compared to FactSet estimates of $4.9 billion, and earnings of $1.44 per share, as analysts expected 66 cents. Benioff, who has been outspoken about the dangers of corporations' "obsession" to just maximize profits for the investing community, said he was "most proud" that Salesforce played a role in addressing the needs of some major public school districts in the face of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. In January, he said that stakeholder capitalism, the notion that corporations should champion more societal responsibilities than just returning profits to investors, was reaching a "tipping point." The internet entrepreneur was one of almost 200 CEOs last year to sign on the Business Roundtable's idea that corporate America shares a "fundamental commitment to all of our stakeholders," not just to shareholders. The change in focus comes as more younger investors enter the market and introduce their interests in social justice and sustainability to Wall Street. Stakeholder capitalism was a big topic at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "It shows that you can do well and you can do good at the same time," Benioff said of the company's output. "Our stakeholders have radically benefited from this company since we went public in 2004." Earlier this month Salesforce announced $20 million in grants for school districts in San Francisco, Oakland, California, Indianapolis, Chicago and New York City to bolster technology efforts to hold classes, whether in class or online. The grants emphasize equipping schools with connected learning tools, as the country grapples with gathering limits in efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19. The company says it has provided a total of $118 million in education grants to date. "Our public schools are key stakeholders for Salesforce," Benioff said. "While we're growing the company, while we're doing well for our customers, we're also taking care of our stakeholders. That's our very core of who we are at Salesforce.com." This weeks one-two punch of Hurricane Laura and Tropical Storm Marco may be extraordinary, but the storms are just two of nine to strike Texas and Louisiana since 2017 alone, helping to drive a major federal change in how the nation handles floods. For years, even as seas rose and flooding worsened nationwide, policymakers stuck to the belief that relocating entire communities away from vulnerable areas was simply too extreme to consider an attack on Americans love of home and private property as well as a costly use of taxpayer dollars. Now, however, that is rapidly changing amid acceptance that rebuilding over and over after successive floods makes little sense. The shift threatens to uproot people not only on the coasts but in flood-prone areas nationwide, while making the consequences of climate change even more painful for cities and towns already squeezed financially. This month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency detailed a new program, worth an initial $500 million, with billions more to come, designed to pay for large-scale relocation nationwide. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has started a similar $16 billion program. That followed a decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to start telling local officials that they must agree to force people out of their homes or forfeit federal money for flood-protection projects. The government has been accused of ignoring councils and failing to share data with local public health teams, hindering the effort to control Covid-19. Local government leaders told MPs on Wednesday that there had been "no coordination" by central government, that orders were handed down by diktat from Whitehall, and that local authorities learned about new initiatives at the same time as the media. "It certainly has been quite evident throughout that we have not been trusted with the data and we've not been trusted with the powers," Sir Peter Soulsby, mayor of Leicester, told a hearing of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus. "The combination of those two aspects has very significantly hindered our ability to respond as we'd wish to and could." Ian Hudspeth of the Local Government Association said the government has given "no reasons" to explain why it was still not sharing adequate data with public health teams to help them fight the virus. "Certainly data is now available to us but I think not sufficient," he said, adding that councils needed "real time data getting down to ward level" to really respond quickly to pandemics. Public health experts have for weeks been urging the government to decentralise its test and trace system, amid evidence that local councils are getting better results than the centralised and privatised system using call-centres staffed by outsourcing company Serco. The Independent Sage group of experts said earlier this month that it was "impossible to fathom" why the government was running such a centralised system and said ministers should redirect resources towards councils. But Sir Peter, whose city of Leicester was the first in the country to be put under local lockdown, said government refusal to trust and cooperate with councils and the public health teams was had potentially worsened the situation. "Our director of public health, for example, in the middle of June identified that there appeared to be a spike in Leicester and asked a number of questions about what that may or may not indicted," he said. "He was unable to access that data which would have allowed him to have predicted and perhaps pre-empted the local lockdown that was eventually applied to Leicester. That inability to access the data directly and the lack of good reason for it has not been available to him has been a major frustration and handicap." While the local government leaders said there had been some improvement in data sharing in recent weeks, they said the quality of and level of access to information was still not good enough. Sir Peter added: "It is better than it was but it is still inconsistent, it is still erratic, it still comes through after a very significant time delay and it does mean that although we do the follow-up tracing and testing ourselves it is happening far too late. "People who have been identified as having had the disease are out in the community without their contacts being traced in a way that is certainly not effectively and in a timely fashion addressing the disease." He said the government's head of test and trace, Dido Harding, had told him that certain data such as ethnicity and address was not available. Many councils have set up their own local contact tracing systems amid concern that the centralised system operated by the government is not functioning as well as it could. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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. 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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 UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty The mayor of Leicester added: "We were invited to meetings and told very little of the government's plans and had very little influence over them. Certainly as the lockdown has been loosened somewhat in Leicester we've found most of what's being going on from news releases. "In terms of government coordination, I haven't seen any. The problem is it's all coming from the centre. There's no sense that the government is listening, and listening to feedback. "In order to coordinate you need feedback ... you go to a meeting and they tell you what it is, there is no listening and responding." Congress president Sonia Gandhi has hit out at the Centre for pushing ahead with the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission to engineering colleges and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical schools, accusing it of not caring about students. Thousands of students, parents and several political leaders have demanded that the tests, which are taken by lakhs of children, be put off in wake of the coroanvirus situation in the country. There are other problems with students and examinations. These are also dealt with uncaringly, Gandhi said during a meeting with the chief ministers of seven opposition-ruled states on August 26. A day earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA), tasked with conducting the entrance examinations, said the tests would be held as planned--JEE (main) from September 1 to September 6 and NEET on September 13. Gandhi called the meeting to discuss the goods and services tax (GST) issue as well as the JEE and NEET entrance exams. 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 During the virtual meeting, Gandhi also described the National Education Policy, 2020 as a setback for progressive, secular and scientific values. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Punjabs Capt Amarinder Singh, West Bengals Mamata Banerjee, Jharkhands Hemant Soren, Chhattisgarhs Bhupesh Baghel, Rajasthans Ashok Gehlot and Puducherrys V Narayanasamy attended the meeting. My request to all the state governments is to let us do it together and go to the Supreme Court and postpone the exam for the time being until and unless the situation allows students to appear for the exams, Banerjee said. She found support in her Punjab counterpart and Congress leader Amarinder Singh. Singh tweeted he had asked the states top legal officer to coordinate with his counterparts in other states to file a review petition in the country top court. The Supreme Court had on August 17 rejected a plea for putting off the exams, saying more delay in the tests would waste a precious year for students Thackeray said schools couldnt be opened in June even though there were fewer coronavirus cases. What will we do if such a situation arises here? the Maharashtra CM said, citing a US report that said 97,000 children were infected when schools reopened. For 22 days now, India has reported the biggest daily spike in coronavirus cases in the world. Also Read: Here are the new dates for JEE and NEET When candidates come to exam centres, their parents also accompany them, especially female candidates, which is why the place is likely to become too crowded, which may lead to a risky situation, Soren said. The Jharkhand chief minister said states were not prepared to hold the examinations. Narayanasamy warned that the tests would lead to a spike in infections and the government of India will be responsible for it. Gandhi also criticised the Centre for not clearing GST dues of state governments, putting them in financial crunch amid the pandemic. "At the meeting of the standing committee of finance on August 11, the finance secretary clearly said the Central government is not in a position to pay its mandatory compensation of 14 percent for the current year. This refusal to compensate states is nothing short of betrayal on the part of the Narendra Modi government, betrayal of state governments and people of India," she said. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 26, 2020 2020/08/26 CCTV: According to the Canadian Foreign Ministry, Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne met with State Councilor Wang Yi in Rome on August 25. He talked about the cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, calling on the Chinese side to agree to Canadian consular visits to the two Canadians. Can you confirm that? What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: China has issued a press release on State Councilor Wang Yi's meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. As for the individual cases you mentioned, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are suspected of engaging in activities endangering China's national security. The Chinese judicial authorities have been handling the cases in strict accordance with law and protecting their lawful rights. In all our communications with the Canadian side, we have made it very clear that Canada should respect the rule of law and China's judicial sovereignty. I would like to stress once again that things between China and Canada have come to this stage not because of China. The Canadian side is well aware of the crux of the problem. It should take immediate and effective measures to correct the mistakes and create conditions for bilateral relations to return to the right track. Global Times: It is reported that Taiwan authorities plan to open a new representative office in Aix-en-Provence in Southern France, which they say is aimed at fostering cooperation between Taiwan and France and other European countries in culture, tourism, business, innovation, and education. What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. China firmly opposes any country having diplomatic ties with China making any form of official contact and exchanges with Taiwan, including the establishment of official institutions in each other's places. France should abide by the one-China principle and prudently and properly handle issues related to Taiwan. The attempts of the DPP authorities to carry out separatist activities in the international arena will not succeed. Shenzhen TV: Indonesia's Permanent Representative to the UN, who held the rotating presidency of the Security Council in August, reportedly said that the Security Council had no consensus on the US request to activate the snapback mechanism, and the President of the Security Council would not take further action. What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: China has expounded on its position on the Iranian nuclear issue many times recently. The statement by the current President of the Security Council reflects the position of the overwhelming majority of the Security Council members and the consensus of the international community. As State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed the other day, China supports the establishment of an alternative multilateral dialogue platform on the premise of firmly safeguarding the effectiveness and authority of the JCPOA on the Iranian nuclear issue, where all parties can raise their concerns and forge new consensus on maintaining regional peace and stability. We are ready to work with relevant parties to push for the political and diplomatic resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. China News Service: Protests in Belarus over the presidential election result have not subsided and the international community is paying close attention to the situation there. What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: China always respects the development path chosen by the people of Belarus in line with their national conditions, firmly supports Belarus' efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security and development, and firmly opposes interference by external forces in the country's internal affairs. We are confident that political stability and social tranquility will be restored under the leadership of President Lukashenko. China is ready to continue to push for in-depth development of China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation and deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields to the benefit of the two countries and peoples. CRI: You announced earlier that China sent a team of medical professionals to South Sudan. We now know they have been working to contain the virus and train staff since they arrived. Can you give us more details on that? Zhao Lijian: The team of medical experts, sent by the Chinese government, has been working intensively after they arrived in South Sudan. From August 19 to 24, they visited Juba International Airport and the biggest local commodity market, had discussions with a medical advisory group of South Sudan's special committee on COVID-19, visited South Sudan's national public health lab, and provided professional guidance for local health authorities. During their stay, based on China's training plans and the features in local epidemics, the experts shared as much as possible their knowledge on epidemic prevention and control with local medical workers and answered their questions. This has effectively helped local medical personnel know more about China's experience and measures, and enhanced the capacity of front-line medical institutions in South Sudan. Vice President Abdelbagi of South Sudan met with the Chinese experts and said that South Sudan and China are true friends and good partners. Over the past years, whenever South Sudan faced difficulties, China was always the first to offer help. After COVID-19 broke out in South Sudan, China was also the first to provide emergency medical supplies, making it a true friend in trying times. China chose South Sudan as one of the first destinations to send medical experts after the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, demonstrating the Chinese side's deep friendship and high attention attached to South Sudan. Olushayo Olu, WHO Representative for South Sudan, also expressed gratitude for China's strong support for the efforts by African countries and the WHO to fight the pandemic. The Chinese medical experts received wide attention and warm welcome from people in South Sudan, who believe their visit will contribute to bilateral cooperation in health and epidemic containment, enhance South Sudan's confidence and capability in defeating the virus, and help South Sudan and other African countries to bring the epidemics under control as soon as possible. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Norway soon. What are the issues that will be discussed? What's the importance for China of this visit? Zhao Lijian: Thanks for your interest in the visit. While in Norway, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with Prime Minister Solberg and hold talks with Foreign Minister Sreide to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Norway is one of the first European countries to recognize the New China and its market economy status. Recent years has seen sound development in bilateral relations, with frequent high-level exchange and fruitful cooperation in various fields. China stands ready to work together with Norway to act on the important consensus of our leaders and achieve greater development in bilateral relations in the new era. We also hope this visit will inject new impetus into China-Norway practical cooperation, especially negotiation on a free trade agreement. More information will be released as it comes out. Please stay tuned. China Review News: The Wall Street Journal published an article by US Defense Secretary Esper on August 24. The article, titled the Pentagon Is Prepared for China, says that the PLA is not a military that serves the nation, let alone a constitution, as the US armed forces do. The PLA belongs to and serves a political entity, the Chinese Communist Party. It goes on to say that the Chinese Communist Party coerces other countries and impedes their sovereignty. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: Mr. Esper's allegations are completely groundless. Here I would like to offer one recommendation, two facts and three questions. First, one recommendation. I recommend Mr. Esper read over the full text of Pompeo's Fact-twisting China Speech Versus the Truth released by the Chinese side. It is a compilation of a large number of facts and data that are more than enough to expose and shatter the lies and fallacies of the so-called "China threat". Second, two facts. First fact, since 1990, the Chinese military has participated in more than 20 UN peacekeeping operations and sent over 40,000 military personnel, making China the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the five permanent members of the Security Council. Second fact, in the 240-plus years since the founding of the US, only 16 years have passed without a war. The US military budget for 2019 exceeds $716 billion, equivalent to the combined military spending of the next nine countries trailing the US. Third, three questions. First question, China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. Both the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the Constitution of the People's Republic of China clearly stipulate that China adheres to the path of peaceful development and opposes hegemony. Can the US pledge the same? Second question, who is the one that owns hundreds of military bases around the world, illegally waged war and military operations against countries such as Iraq, Libya and Syria, and sent ships to and planes over far-flung waters to flex their muscles? Third question, who is the one that has been behaving out of a Cold War mentality, quitting treaties and multilateral organizations and wielding sticks and fists like crazy? The right answers are not difficult to get as long as these US politicians respect the facts. Tass News Agency: According to Chinese military, the US sent a U-2 high altitude reconnaissance plane to the no-fly zone established by the north military command during the live-fire drills. I wonder if the foreign ministry has any comment on this? Zhao Lijian: The spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense has issued remarks on that. I'd like to stress that the US U-2 high attitude reconnaissance plane arbitrarily intruded into the no-fly zone for live-fire exercises by the Northern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army. The trespass severely affected China's normal exercises and training activities, and violated the rules of behavior for air and maritime safety between China and the United States, as well as relevant international practices. It could easily have resulted in misjudgments and even accidents. China firmly opposes such blatant provocation and has lodged stern representations with the US. We urge the US to immediately stop such provocative moves and take real actions to uphold regional peace and stability. The Globe and Mail: We saw the readouts from both Canadian and Chinese sides about the meeting that took place yesterday. I just want to ask was there anything on which the two sides agreed? We heard quite a bit about what they disagreed about, so did they agree on anything? Zhao Lijian: We already put out a press release on the meeting. There is consensus on developing bilateral relations. More than half a century ago, pioneering Canadian leaders braved external pressure and took the right step to establish diplomatic relations with China. We hope today Canada will act as a good custodian of what the forefathers built, show the same resolve and take concrete actions to bring China-Canada relations back to track at an early date. Young activists take on powerful monarchy and pro-army leaders in what could be a new turning point for Thai politics. In the biggest and boldest protests since Thailands 2014 coup, students and young activists intent on shaking up a stultifying political order are taking on the countrys most powerful players: King Maha Vajiralongkorn and general-turned-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Borrowing from Harry Potter, the Hunger Games and other pop culture hits, thousands of protesters have been holding near-daily demonstrations for more than a month. They are calling for systemic democratic reforms the dissolution of parliament, an end to harassment of opponents, amendments to the constitution as well as curbs on the kings powers, a long-standing taboo in Thailand where criticism of the monarchy is punishable with up to 15 years in jail. Its all very exciting, said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai academic and prominent critic of the monarchy who lives in exile in Japan. The protesters are young; they are social media savvy. They use new and creative tactics in their protests. They have many different leaders. And most importantly, they have clear demands. This could be a new turning point in Thai politics. The triggers of the protests which appear to be gathering momentum, recently drawing in high school students and labour unions are wide-ranging. Key among them is the close ties between the monarchy and the military, an alliance some protesters have denounced as enemy to the principles of democracy. Prayuth, who seized power after Thailands second coup in as many decades, scrapped the countrys constitution in 2014 and had the military write a new charter that increased the kings powers and entrenched the pro-military royalists. The document, ratified in April 2017, months after King Vajiralongkorn took the throne, removed the need for the monarch to appoint a regent when he travelled overseas, and allowed the military to appoint a 250-member Senate that was to have a say in selecting the new prime minister. In a long-delayed general election that was finally held in March last year, the pro-military Palang Pracharat came second but Prayuth remained prime minister, with the backing of the unelected Senate and the support of smaller parties. Closer to an absolute monarchy At the same time, King Vajiralongkorn was moving to consolidate his personal position. In July 2017, the military-appointed legislative assembly amended the royal property law to give the king full control of the Crown Property Bureau, which manages the crowns estimated $30bn fortune. Then, in October of last year, the king also placed two army units directly under his control, moves Joshua Kurlantzick, at the Council on Foreign Relations, called an indication of Vajiralongkorns intent to push the country closer to an absolute monarchy. Writing in the World Politics Review, Kurlantzick said the new king was not like his late revered father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who intervened in politics in secret or via proxies. Instead, Vajiralongkorn has managed to maneuver himself to the centre of Thai politics, decreasing the power of both the army and politicians along the way. Thailands Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha standing in front of a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn while receiving a copy of a July 16 speech by the monarch at a ceremony in Bangkok [File: Handout/ Royal Thai government via AFP] The new kings overt involvement in politics combined with his preference to spend much of his time outside Thailand, even during the coronavirus pandemic prompted a backlash, with critics taking to Twitter in March to question the role of the monarch. The hashtag #whydoweneedaking started trending and on March 22, it was used more than 1.2 million times, prompting a government minister to warn Thais against breaking laws on online content. Thongchai Winichakul, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the 2014 coup brought back strong waves of ultra-royalism to Thai society, boosting the kings standing. At the same time, it is no secret that the coup regime remains in power due to the support of the palace, he said. Crackdown Meanwhile, critics say the deepening entrenchment of the monarchy and the military in Thailands central political scene has been accompanied by a crackdown on opponents. Late last year, the Constitutional Court disqualified Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a 41-year-old billionaire popular with young voters, from the parliament for holding shares in a media company on the date he registered as a candidate for the election. Then, in February, the top court went on to dissolve Thanathorns fledgling pro-democracy Future Forward Party, which rode a wave of popular support to win the third-highest number of seats in parliament. The disbanding of the party prompted protests at the Chulalongkorn University in central Bangkok, with students laying out a funeral wreath labelled, RIP Democracy. The rapid rise and success of the Future Forward Party in the 2019 election was phenomenal, said Thongchai. The main source of its success is the young generation. In retrospect, it represented the brewing dissatisfaction that is erupting today. The Future Forward Party was outspoken on many issues including opposing the building up of military force under the direct command of the palace. He added, Only politically naive people would believe that the partys dissolution has nothing to do with its progressive politics and its criticism of the monarchy. The student protests, after subsiding briefly because of the pandemic, resumed in June following the disappearance of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, a dissident who was kidnapped from outside his apartment in Cambodias capital, Phnom Penh. He was the ninth Thai activist to have disappeared from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam after fleeing the 2014 coup, according to rights groups. The demonstrations gathered pace in late July, with several protesters burning portraits of Prayuth near the Government House in the capital, Bangkok, and scores more staging a run around the citys Democracy Monument, singing an altered jingle to the Japanese cartoon, Hamtaro. The revised lyrics described the government as hungry hamsters devouring taxpayer money. A Harry Potter-themed protest followed on August 3, with hundreds of people dressed in wizard costumes waving chopstick-wands in the air and casting mock-spells to protect Thai democracy. There, for the first time in decades, Anon Nampa, a 35-year-old human rights lawyer, openly called for reforms to the monarchy. We must be able to speak about this publicly, he told the crowd. If we dont discuss it, we will never be able to fix the problem I speak so that the institution can exist in the society rightfully, under a democracy with the king as head of state. Anon Nampa, right and other pro-democracy protesters dressed as wizards attend a Harry Potter-themed protest demanding the resignation of Thailands Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in Bangkok, Thailand, August 3, 2020 [Athit Perawongmetha/ Reuters] A group of students followed up Anons speech with an even more detailed call for reform, presenting a 10-point plan on August 10, calling on the king not to endorse further coups and to revoke the countrys harsh lese majeste laws. The declaration from the Student Union of the Thammasat University lambasted the mutually beneficial ties between the army and the military, saying, Such a situation constitutes an enemy to the principles of a democracy with the king as head of the state. Young people are fed up On August 16, an even larger crowd of more than 10,000 people gathered in Bangkok, in support of the students call for democracy and monarchy reform. Two days later, pupils at more than a dozen Thai high schools raised the three-finger Hunger Games salute, while many others sported white ribbons in a show of support for the protesters. Students make the three-finger salute as they hold placards to show support for the student-led democracy movement outside the Education Ministry in Bangkok, Thailand, August 19, 2020 [Athit Perawongmetha/ Reuters] Matthew Wheeler, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the growing protests showed that many Thais, especially young people, are fed up with the current social and political order. The king is at the pinnacle of this hierarchy, he said. The government, born of a coup detat, has borrowed legitimacy of the monarchy to justify seizing power and instituting a political order that reserves power for an unelected elite. As the protests mount, the government has cracked down by arresting student leaders, rappers and activists, including Anon, the human rights lawyer, for taking part in the demonstrations. It has also moved to shut down online forums for debate, including a Facebook Page called the Royalist Marketplace, run by Pavin, the exiled academic in Japan. But with Prayuth saying the king did not want prosecutions under the lese majeste laws, none of those detained has been charged under the harsh laws. Wheeler said the student protests had put Prayuths government in a tough spot. The government will not easily relinquish their power and privileges. But there is little they can do at this point to quash the movement, short of repression on a massive scale that would hardly serve their interests, he said. It is also likely that any crackdown will cause a backlash against the government and greater support for those demanding change. She's just returned from a sun-soaked trip to Rome, Italy. And Zara McDermott was clearly still in the holiday spirit as she shared a sizzling throwback snap from her getaway on Tuesday. The former Love Islander, 23, flaunted her two-stone weight loss in a tiny pink bikini from Oh Polly after her boyfriend Sam Thompson admitted she 'weighed a lot more and didn't exercise' when they first met. Wow! Zara McDermott flaunted her incredible figure in a tiny pink bikini for a sizzling throwback snap from her Italian getaway on Tuesday The Made In Chelsea star showcased her toned abs and lithe legs in the pink briefs which she wore high on her waist. She also highlighted her ample assets in a plunging pink crop top as she posed up a storm for the snap. Zara let her highlighted blonde tresses hang over her shoulders as she went makeup-free for the holiday photo. 'She was always beautiful': The 23-year-old's boyfriend Sam Thompson recently admitted she 'weighed a lot more and didn't exercise' when they first met (pictured in February) Health: Zara weighed 10st 7lbs last August but is now 8st 9lbs, and her boyfriend Sam, 28, said he can see how much happier she is in herself (left in 2018, right last month) Her social media activity came after her boyfriend Sam, 28, told MailOnline when he first met his partner a little over a year ago she 'wasn't happy where she was and never exercised'. Last August, Zara weighed 10st 7lbs but is now 8st 9lbs, and the media personality said while she was 'always beautiful in my eyes', he can see how much happier she is in herself. Sam, who has partnered up with Captain Morgan to promote their new Tiki drink, said: 'I think shes in f*****g great shape. When I first met Zara she weighed a lot more and she was not so happy about where she was. Stunning: It comes after she revealed last week she had signed up with Storm Management to further her modelling career 'She was still beautiful in my eyes- obviously I went out with her didnt I? She looked great either way. 'She wasn't happy with her lifestyle, her health, she never exercised. She's training a lot and eats more than she ever used to, she just eats healthily.' Last week, former policy advisor Zara announced she had signed up with Storm Management to further her modelling career. Zara celebrated her new venture by posting a sizzling snap of herself as she declared her new signing as a 'dream come true'. Career move: Zara reposted the Instagram snap of her signing and wrote: 'I'm excited to announce I have officially signed with @stormmodels. What a dream come true' She wrote: 'I'm excited to announce I have officially signed with @Stormmodels. What a dream come true.' In her first picture with the company, Zara sported her voluminous tresses in a loose wave and side part. Her closest friends and family reposted the picture announcement, congratulating Zara on her big achievement. Kate Moss left the modelling agency in 2018 after working with them for a whopping 28 years as she decided to manage her work 'in-house' instead. The company were the first agency to sign the 14-year-old Kate, and her half-sister Lottie Moss is still signed to them. The modelling veteran was scouted in 1988 by Storm Management founder Sarah Doukas at JFK airport in New York and had been with the agency since her 2018 departure. Cara Delevingne, also left the agency in July 2015 after she said she wanted to focus her attention on her acting career, but stars such as Brooklyn Beckham's ex Hana Cross and the iconic Cindy Crawford are signed with the company. As he lobbied Arab countries to normalize ties with Israel, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also discussed dropping Sudan from a list of states that sponsor terrorism during his high-profile visit to Khartoum on Tuesday. Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok tweeted that he held direct and transparent talks with Pompeo over ending his countrys pariah status. The United States lifted most sanctions on Sudan in 2017, but kept the African nation on its terror blacklist with just three other countries North Korea, Iran and Syria. Hamdok and his transitional government, which was formed after the toppling of longtime dictator Omar Bashir last year, have repeatedly called on Washington to take Sudan off the terror list. Khartoums continued designation makes it ineligible for much needed loans from international lenders and the stigma has kept foreign investment at bay. The country was added to the list in 1993 for harboring international terrorist groups and serving as a transit point for Iran-backed extremist groups. Then-al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden lived in Sudan for five years before he was expelled in 1996 and found safe haven in Afghanistan. The US government alleges that Sudan provided material support to the al-Qaeda terrorists who organized the twin bombings on the US embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, in 1998 that killed 224 people. The US State Department has reportedly asked Sudan to pay $335 million in compensation to the victims and their families in exchange for its removal from the terror list. In February, Sudan reached a separate financial settlement with the families of the 17 US sailors who died during the al-Qaeda bombing of the USS Cole, a Navy destroyer, at a port in Yemen in 2000. A statement from the State Department on Tuesday said the rescission of Sudans State Sponsor of Terrorism designation remains a critical bilateral priority for both countries. Pompeos visit to Sudan comes on the heels of the Israel-UAE deal that Washington helped broker. On Tuesday, Americas chief diplomat landed in Khartoum on the first official non-stop flight between Israel and Sudan. Officials have suggested that Sudan, along with Oman and Bahrain, could be next to establish formal relations with Israel, but Hamdok told Pompeo that his government lacked the authority to make such a move during the countrys transitional period. He also urged the United States not to link normalizing Israel ties with Sudans potential terror delisting. Mysterious packets of seeds are being delivered to unsuspecting Australians which have sparked fears they could damage the nation's biosecurity. Mysterious packets of seeds have sparked biosecurity fears after being sent to Australian addresses from overseas. The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment said 46 packages containing unidentified seeds had arrived on Australian shores in the past five weeks. While the majority of the packages are sent from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, the seeds' exact source is still unknown and agricultural groups have warned they could pose a serious risk to Australia's farming sector. The federal government has launched an investigation into the seed packages to find out where they came from and their variety. Scroll down for video The Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment has reported 36 unknown packets of seeds arriving at Australian authorities in the past five weeks. Pictured are similar unsolicited packets delivered to addresses in the US Australians have been warned not to plant seeds if they do not know their variety or source 'The unsolicited seeds may not have gone through any of the checks and balances that legally imported seed goes through,' Australian Seed Federation chief executive Osman Mewett told ABC News. He warned recipients not to plant seeds from unknown senders as they could prompt an ecological disaster if introduced to the Australian ecosystem. 'There's a real risk if they are planted, or if they are thrown in the bin and end up in the tip then they could introduce weed species or diseases to Australia that we don't currently have,' he said. He added the unsolicited seeds could potentially cause billions of dollars in damage to Australian industry. The federal government estimated earlier this year biosecurity underpins $60billion in agricultural production, $49billion in agricultural exports and $42billion in inbound tourism. Unsolicited seeds have also turned up in both Europe and the US, with those who receive the packages asked to send them straight to the government for testing. Authorities are yet to prove why the packages are being sent but the Australian government said unsolicited seeds are often tied to a 'brushing' scam. Seed packages shared by a social media user in the United Kingdom are pictured. Local authorities are still trying to prove why the packages are being sent 'Seeds are often sent in the mail as a result of an e-commerce practice called "brushing",' a Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment spokesman said. 'Brushing is used by a vendor to bolster their stores orders and ratings, to increase their visibility online. 'Seeds are often used because they are light and cheap to send through the mail.' An investigation by the US Department of Agriculture found the seeds are often harmless varieties used to grow mint, sage, rosemary and lavender. U.S. health officials have sparked a wave of confusion after posting guidelines that coronavirus testing is not necessary for people who have been in close contact with infected people. The new guidance was posted earlier this week on the website of a federal agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC previously had advised local health departments to test people who have been within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes. But on Monday a CDC testing overview page was changed to say that testing is no longer recommended for symptom-less people who were in close contact situations. There was a caveat, however. Testing may be recommended for those with health problems that make them more likely to suffer severe illness from an infection, or if their doctor or local state officials advise they get tested. CDC officials referred all questions to the agency's parent organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. That suggests that HHS ordered the change, not CDC, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher. HHS officials officials have offered little explanation, but scheduled a briefing for Wednesday afternoon to answer questions. Across the country, public health experts called the change bizarre. They noted that testing contacts of infected people is a core element of public health efforts to keep outbreaks in check, and that a large percentage of infected people the CDC has said as many as 40% exhibit no symptoms. I was taken aback and didnt know that it was under consideration, said John Auerbach, president of Trust for Americas Health, a nonprofit that works to improve U.S. preparedness against disease. The recommendation not to test asymptomatic people who likely have been exposed is not in accord with the science. Ultimately, restricting testing could be self-defeating, because it could skew the numbers and create a perception that rates of infection are higher. Testing people who appear to be healthy would tend to lower the overall rate of positive results, while narrowing testing to people who are sick would raise the overall positive rate, Auerbach said. Why HHS would order such a change quickly became a matter of speculation. Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at Emory University, suggested in a tweet that there are two possible explanations. One is that it may be driven by testing supply issues that in many parts of the country have caused delays in results of a week or more, he suggested. The other is that President Donald Trump simply wants to see case counts drop, and discouraging more people from getting tested is one way to do it, he said. Dr. Tom Frieden, who was head of the CDC during the Obama administration, said the move follows another recent change: to no longer recommend quarantine for travelers coming from areas where infections are more common. Both changes are highly problematic and need to be better explained, said Frieden, who now is president of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit program that works to prevent epidemics. Frieden said he, too, believes HHS forced CDC to post the changes. He called it a sad day because CDC is being told what to write on their website. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo harshly criticized the new CDC recommendations and said the state would not be following the guidance. Why would you reverse yourself on the quarantine order? Because they dont want publicity that there is a COVID problem. Because the presidents politics are, COVID isnt a problem Were past COVID. Its all about the economy, Cuomo told reporters on a conference call. What possible rationale is there to say Youre in close contact with a COVID-positive person. And you dont need a test? Local testing Northampton County offers drive-up COVID-19 testing at Coordinated Health, 3100 Emrick Boulevard, Bethlehem Township. The tests are offered from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 22, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The tests will be offered every Monday through Friday and on Saturdays twice a month. You dont need a doctors note but you do need to display one or more of these symptoms: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or loss of taste and/or smell. The tests are available to everyone. Northampton County residents can get the tests free if they dont have health coverage. Do Chinese people hate the US? I am often seen as a "hardliner" on the US, but I don't hate it anyway. I agree with one thinking that the US is one of the powers that have relatively done the least bad things to China in history. In addition, it has done many good things to China. For example, the US returned the Boxer Indemnity and used it for China's education, which played a leading role in the returning of the indemnity of other powers such as UK and France. It's much better than taking the money. From late 1941 to 1945, the US strongly supported China's War of Resistance against Japanese aggression. After the reform and opening up started, the US has been No.1 country to which China opened itself and clearly played a role in China's modernization process. All these Chinese people never forget. They are deeply embedded in their collective perception toward the US. The Chinese society has accumulated certain goodwill toward the US through these events, which continuously helped shape the Chinese people's attitudes toward the US in different periods. Yet this is not the whole story of the China-US relations. Since the end of the World War II in 1945, the US has been obstructing Chinese people from choosing their own national path. In the early 1970s, China and the US approached quickly, and their strategic need to work together against the Soviet Union during the Cold War played a decisive role. Looking back over the past 70 years, China-US relations are very complex. From the bloody Korean War, the disruption of China's reunification by the US, to the current strategic containment launched against China, and the massive interdepedence of the two largest economies, it is difficult to make a simple generalization about the relationship between China and the US. I tend to think that since modern times, the US has generally played a more positive role than a negative one in China's development and progress. The US attitude toward China is based on American interests. When China was backward and weak, the US tended to use China in a positive way, such as using China to drag Japan in World War II, resisting the Soviet Union in the Cold War, opening Chinese markets in the early years of China's reform and opening up, and so on. In those times, the common interests of China and the US became the dominant theme. But as China grows stronger, the other side of the US is increasingly shown. In the 1950s, the US hit China as the eastern flank of the Soviet Bloc. Today, China has developed into the second largest power in the world, and the US has finally identified China as its top strategic competitor. At this time, the US attitude towards China has come to a fundamental turning point. The US assumes that China has ambition to usurp its global hegemony, and Washington has adopted realistic policies to prevent that: To block China's continuous peaceful development. In other words, China's threat to the US is a worst-case scenario that Washington anticipates, but US suppression of China is what is happening today. Opinions differ as to which side is justified. But the reality is that if the US does block China's development, the real consequence will be that the Chinese people lose the right to further improve their living standards. This is about maintaining racial inequality and running counter to the ideal of human rights. So no matter how much the US crackdown can be strategically explained, it is bound to be resisted by the Chinese people. The US claims that it is targeting the Communist Party of China, but the Chinese people won't believe this nonsense. When it comes to safeguarding the fundamental right to development, Chinese society will surely be a firm community of shared interests. The suspicion that China is going to overtake the US can be resolved through strategic communication and institutional building of international relations. The Chinese are committed to peaceful development and have no interest in seeking world hegemony. The focus of Chinese politics from ancient times to the present has been to solve domestic problems of a large society. Even if this issue cannot be explained for a while, it is not morally justified for Washington to sacrifice the actual rights of the Chinese for the future security of the US. The Chinese themselves have to figure out what we're dealing with. Because the US is powerful, technologically more advanced and economically more modern, some people see the dispute between China and the US as a "contest between advanced forces (the US) and backward forces (China)." This is caused by the inferiority complex left from the semi-colonial era. In fact, from the beginning of China's pursuit of rejuvenation as an independent country, our own national interests have entered into a complex interaction with those of the US, and the simplistic black-and-white thinking has become impossible to guide this country. How China, as a super-sized country, responds to American challenges is bound to be difficult. By Hu Xijin, Global Times Law enforcement officers are investigating criminal proceedings concerning UAH 9 billion, collected in the funds for financing the construction of the Bank Arcada (Kyiv), Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov has said. "Criminal proceedings have been initiated concerning UAH 9 billion of funds collected at the Bank Arcada, which we are now inspecting to find out what violations were there," he said at a press conference on Wednesday. Avakov said that the issue of Bank Arcada will be resolved and depositors will not suffer either financially or in terms of investment and construction. "If during the investigation it is established that there were abuses, a criminal scheme of funds theft was involved, and the case is being conducted under Articles 191 and 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, I believe that the perpetrators should in any case be brought to justice," the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Head Ivan Bakanov said. As reported, the NBU on August 25 declared the bank insolvent due to a decrease in capital requirements to less than one third of the minimum established level. Bank Arcada was established in 1993. According to the NBU, the owner of the bank's significant stake as of June 1, 2020 is Kostiantyn Palyvoda (total participation of 74.797%). According to the National Bank, as of July 1, 2020, in terms of total assets (UAH 1.902 billion) Bank Arcada ranked 45th among 75 banks operating in the country. To reflect governments priorities and international protocols on urban development, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has commenced a review of the Urban Development Policy instituted in 2012. This came to light when the sector minister, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama took her turn at the Meet The Press series organized by the Ministry of Information on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. Highlighting some achievements of her ministry, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama indicated that the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, Ministry of Communications and Ghana Post has been able to successfully harmonize the street naming and Ghana Post GPS address system across the country. The Ministry and the Land Use Planning Authority (LUSPA) has also provided data from 84 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies MMDAs on 212,333 parcels and properties and addresses of 96,467 streets to Ghana Post for the exercise. She also added that her Ministry has established Regional Mobile Teams in 10 Regional Coordinating Councils to regularly support street naming and property addressing needs at the MMDAs. Sixteen (16) Regional Spatial Planning Committees have also been inaugurated in line with Land Use and Spatial Planning Act, 2016 (Act 925). Other achievements include a USD100M credit facility from the World Bank for Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program (GSCSP) in 25 Municipal Assemblies. A total of USD $42,531,623.26 has also been transferred to all implementing institutions to increase investment in urban infrastructure to implement identified prioritized sub-projects. These include roads, storm drains, markets, lorry parks, and sanitation facilities. The program also aims to ensure effective urban management and service delivery; Out of the initial identified 60 sub-projects, 48 have been awarded and are at various stages of completion. President Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the commencement of work on the construction of Nsukwao Basin Drainage Improvement Project in New Juaben under the GSCSP. The minister also stressed some other key sub-projects which have been delivered under Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP). They include; Kumasi: An Engineered Landfill at Oti, Modern Markets at Old Tafo, Asawase, and Agogo. Tamale: Abattoir, Drains and other Community Upgrading in Tishiegu, Moshie Zongo and Gumani and Lorry Terminal at Aboabo Sekondi-Takoradi: Garages and Skills Development Centre at Kokompe. Ho: Abattoir, Engineered Landfill, and the Redevelopment of the Ho Central Market. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is reportedly angry over the statement of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav who compared senior leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh with a jug of water. Lalu Prasad has called Tej Pratap to meet him in Ranchi where he is under arrest in the fodder scam case. Tej Pratap is expected to reach Ranchi on Wednesday evening. Sources in the RJD said that Lalu Prasad wants to pacify Raghuvansh Prasad so that he would have a rethink on leaving the party. When asked by reporters about Raghuvansh's resignation from the party vice president's post on Monday, Tej Pratap replied that the RJD is like a sea and it would not be affected much if anyone takes one jug of water from it. Sources said that Tej Pratap also wants to change his constituency from Mahua in Vaishali district to Hasanpur in Samastipur. Tej Pratap was elected from Mahua constituency in the 2015 assembly election when the JD-U was part of the Grand Alliance. Sources said that Vaishali is a stronghold of the JD-U which is now a part of the National Democratic Alliance and its leaders may give the ticket in the upcoming Assembly polls to Tej Pratap's ex wife Aishwarya Singh. Hasanpur constituency is a safer seat for him compared to Mahua. (Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnsons top advisers may impose restrictions on TikToks activities in the U.K., but are likely to stop short of blocking plans by the Chinese-owned social media app to set up an international headquarters in London. A review led by the prime ministers chief of staff Eddie Lister is likely to find the app doesnt pose as big a security threat as Huawei Technologies Co., but may still recommend the government stops the company from moving users data out of the country, said a person with knowledge of the discussions who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The popular video-sharing app, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance Ltd., is battling critics concerned it could be used by Beijing to spy on foreign nationals. President Donald Trump has ordered ByteDance to sell its U.S. arm on grounds of national security and privacy -- but European politicians have so far resisted similar moves. ByteDance has rejected claims that it is controlled by the Chinese government, or that user data is at risk. Executives at its U.K. operation are, however, braced for greater scrutiny from regulators and politicians. They are particularly concerned by the comparison with Huawei simply because they are both Chinese companies, according to a person familiar with internal discussions at the company. A spokeswoman for TikTok and a spokesman for Britains National Cyber Security Centre both declined to comment. A spokesperson for Johnsons office said ByteDances decision on the location of their global HQ is a commercial decision for the company. The Department for Culture Media and Sport did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Huawei spent a decade building a prominent position in Britains communications infrastructure only to find itself excluded from the next generation of wireless networks, following a concerted effort by the U.S. and lawmakers in Johnsons ruling Conservative party that the Chinese company posed a security risk. Story continues Last month, the U.K. government ordered all 5G equipment made by the Shenzhen-based company will need to be removed from the network by 2027. Some members of Johnsons own party had already voiced concerns about TikTok, which has rapidly emerged as a rival to Googles video-sharing site YouTube, serving as an alternative for creative talent as well as advertising dollars., with over 100 million users in the U.S. alone. With a flashy campus in the U.K., ByteDance would be free to masquerade as a British equivalent to Facebook or Google, gaining credibility in London, said Conservative lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith. Tom Tugendhat, a ruling Conservative Party lawmaker who chairs Parliaments foreign affairs committee, has also questioned ByteDances reputation within China, last month tweeting that TikTok is a form of surveillance malware. TikTok has been considering expanding its office in London, making the city its international headquarters. No decision has been made by the company, according to a person familiar with the planning. The company says it currently stores user data in the U.S. and has a backup data center in Singapore. Earlier this month, TikTok announced plans to build a new site in Dublin where it plans to store European users data. Regulators across Europe have opened probes into TikTok, but politicians appear to be in no hurry to ban it. France has no plans to do so, and either does Germany, according to spokespeople for their respective governments. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Owners of bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs are highly likely to want to own their breed again in the future, and to recommend their breed to other owners, according to a study published August 26, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Rowena Packer of the Royal Veterinary College, UK, and colleagues. The development of breed loyalty toward these so-called brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs may lead to their continued proliferation and popularity, despite their substantial health risks. In the past decade, the popularity of brachycephalic dogs has dramatically increased worldwide. But these breeds are strongly predisposed to a range of severe disorders, including respiratory disease, eye disease, spinal disease, heat stroke and pneumonia, and their lifespan is reduced by on average four years compared to dogs with longer muzzles. Some veterinarians consider bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs as having health and welfare too compromised to continue breeding, while owners of pets with chronic illnesses report greater psychological distress and a lower quality of life. It is important to understand factors that influence breed choice to avoid the future proliferation of breeds that are prone to substantial health risks. Toward this goal, Packer and colleagues conducted the first large-scale study to explore owners' desires to reacquire or recommend the most popular brachycephalic breeds in the UK. Among the 2168 owners surveyed, 93% would choose to own their current breed again in the future, and two-thirds would recommend their current breed to a potential first-time dog owner. The likelihood of reacquisition or recommendation is increased by first-time ownership and increased strength of the dog-owner relationship, and is decreased by an increased number of health problems and dog behavior being worse than expected. Owners recommend their breed because of positive behavioral attributes for a companion dog, breed suitability for a sedentary lifestyle with limited space, and suitability for households with children. Owners recommended against their breed due to the high prevalence of health problems, expense of ownership, ethical and welfare issues associated with breeding brachycephalic dogs, negative effects upon owner lifestyle and negative behavioral attributes. According to the authors, these results can be used to inform interventions that highlight undesirable traits of brachycephalic dogs and desirable traits of other breeds to control the population boom in brachycephalic breeds in the long term. The authors add: "Although dog breed popularity often follows a boom and bust pattern, our results are of real concern as they indicate that this 'brachy boom' is here to stay. Owners are becoming hooked on the loving personalities of these sweet dogs, but also accepting and normalising their shocking health issues." ### Citation: Packer RMA, O'Neill DG, Fletcher F, Farnworth MJ (2020) Come for the looks, stay for the personality? A mixed methods investigation of reacquisition and owner recommendation of Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs. PLoS ONE 15(8): e0237276. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237276 Funding: RMAP is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk) grant number BB/P010881/1. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237276 Four Cal Fire firefighters parked their engine in a small lot and lined up outside the front doors of Loma Mar Store. The store had been a place where the 100 or so residents of the forested community between Pescadero and La Honda could buy fresh eggs and delicious meals until the pandemic shut off the steady dribble of tourists who kept the business viable. It was a wildfire that brought the store back to life. With the area under evacuation due to the CZU Lightning Complex, the store has become a base of sorts for the dozens of firefighters who are saving the towns from destruction. Its a place where firefighters can grab a free warm meal, park their trucks and cat nap before running to an emergency, said store owner Jeff Haas. Local businesses in Pescadero, including Downtown Local, a coffee shop, Duartes Tavern and Arcangelis Grocery Store, helped provide the free food. Just after 6 p.m. Tuesday, a dinner of artichoke soup and chicken-and-cheese sandwiches from Duartes was ready to be served to the firefighters and other first responders who came to the Loma Mar Store. Loma Mar residents live on farms, homesteads and homes nestled among tall redwoods and surrounded by hills. Its home to Memorial Park with 673 acres of redwoods with hiking trails and picnic areas. The town has been evacuated for nearly a week, but Haas and his wife, Kate Haas, have opened their store every day to serve as a refuge for firefighters continuing to battle the flames. The CZU fires, which are burning in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, scorched 79,640 acres and were 19% contained as of Tuesday evening, Cal Fire said. The blazes have destroyed 443 structures, 11 of which were in San Mateo County and 432 in Santa Cruz County. Some 24,000 other structures continue to be threatened by the fires, including the homes in Loma Mar. As firefighters gathered in the Loma Mar Store parking lot on Tuesday evening to scarf down their dinners, small spot fires burned in the hills surrounding the store. A tree trunk behind the store smoldered. If youre here after dark, youll still see active fire in the hills, Kate Haas said. Kate Haas and her husband live near the store, but evacuated to a friends home. The couple comes to Loma Mar every day to run the store before returning to their friends house. Sarah Ravani / The Chronicle Nathan Abrego, a fire apparatus engineer for Cal Fire, and his crew had just stopped at the store on Tuesday evening after checking on a nearby home that had smoke drifting from the backyard. Abrego, who came from San Luis Obispo to fight the fire, said his main job is to protect homes. So far, no homes or structures had been destroyed in Loma Mar. We havent seen too much of the main fire because its burned out, Abrego said. The weather conditions have been good. He sat on a log outside the store scraping his cup of artichoke soup for the last remaining mouthfuls. Its really good, he said laughing, his face covered in dirt. Having something warm like this, its good. Jeff and Kate Haas bought the nearly 100-year-old Loma Mar Store, which includes a post office, in 2014. The ceiling was refinished with wood from redwoods on the property. The couple built a commercial kitchen in the space. Their hope was to create a community space for their neighbors, and a place where they could sell eggs from the 100 chickens they have on their homestead. For the first year that they opened, thats exactly what it was. They hosted a locals night every Thursday where their chef would create a menu of chile relleno or meatloaf. Sometimes they had live music. On Halloween, Kate Haas dressed as a hippie chick and Jeff Haas wore a vampire costume. Their neighbors came dressed up, too an unexpected treat, they said. But their budding business came to a standstill when the coronavirus pandemic hit and Memorial Park closed to visitors. We are learning a lot of lessons very quickly by perseverance, Jeff Haas said. The lessons didnt end at the pandemic. On Sunday, the fire bore down toward their store and home. Jeff and Kate Haas watched in horror as flames engulfed the hills behind their store. Embers battered the roof of their business. But Cal Fire firefighters already there beat the fire back before they suffered even more loss. Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California On Monday, a redwood caught fire outside the store. But firefighters told the couple to trust them and let it burn. It would be OK, they were told. Ronald Gonsalves was at the store eating dinner with his 28-year-old son, Andrew Gonsalves. The two make up half of the Loma Mar Fire Departments volunteer crew. The CZU Lightning Complex is Ronald Gonsalves first wildfire. He graduated from the fire academy just last December. Im a 58-year-old rookie, he said as he waited for his chicken sandwich. Since the blaze ignited, Ronald and Andrew Gonsalves were recruited by Cal Fire to protect their town. Andrew Gonsalves said in the past week, hes used everything hes learned about wildland firefighting from the academy: structure protection, how to put in line and evacuating residents as the fire came closer. We saved a house, Ronald Gonsalves said. That was cool. Nearby, Mark Obrien, a water tender operator, finished the last of his soup. Hes had three hours of sleep over the past four nights. On Tuesday, he hoped for a few extra hours. You never know where youre going to go these days, Obrien said. Where it is, its fire and it has to be put out. Like Obrien, Gonsalves said he stops regularly at Loma Mar Store to use the internet, stock up on supplies of water and Gatorade, and have a warm meal. Its the only open store in town. His own home is nearby, and he said he has food in the refrigerator, but after a 24-hour shift, hes too tired to cook. Everybody is doing what they have to do, Ronald Gonsalves said. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani UNITED NATIONS: The U.N. envoy for Iraq said Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic has made things worse in the country, with a 10% increase in poverty and 3 million people who cant afford to buy enough food. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told the U.N. Security Council the pandemic has also disrupted studies for over 11 million school and university students across Iraq and led to the doubling of reported incidents of gender-based violence amid dwindling options for victims to seek assistance and find shelter. On the economic front, she said oil-rich Iraq is expected to experience a 9.7% decline in GDP, mainly as a result of the steep crash in crude prices since the pandemic began, which has cut oil revenues nearly in half. In addition, Hennis-Plasschaert said, the private sector, which remains hindered by a lack of reforms, has been especially hard hit by COVID-19-related job losses. The resulting fall in non-oil economic growth comes at a time when the country is in dire need of economic diversification, she said. Hennis-Plasschaert also stressed that corruption remains endemic, and its economic cost untold as it continues to steal desperately needed resources from the everyday Iraqi, eroding investor confidence. Iraq faced historic mass anti-government protests last October over rampant government corruption, poor services and unemployment, which led to hundreds of deaths as Iraqi forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse crowds. The demonstrations brought trust in the government to a new low. A new prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, assumed office in May facing a myriad of crises. State coffers were slashed following the severe drop in crude oil prices, adding to the woes of an economy already struggling with the aftershocks of the pandemic. Al-Kadhimis administration set a lofty agenda that included enacting economic reform, battling corruption, avenging protesters and bringing arms from rogue Iranian-backed militia groups under the authority of the state. But three months into his administration protests by pensioners stymied plans to cut state salaries, virus cases continue to reach record highs, and militia groups taunt the government with near daily rocket attacks targeting Iraqi bases and the heavily fortified Green Zone, home to many embassies and government offices. Hennis-Plasschaert told the Security Council that the government is undoubtedly operating in the eye of multiple storms at once. She said painful reforms are essential to unlock a brighter future for all Iraqis but so far its political leaders have shown too little of the spirit" needed to come together, prioritize the countrys interest and protect the vulnerable. Of great concern is another spike in the killings and targeting of activists and human rights defenders, Hennis-Plasschaert said. The silencing of peaceful voices - by exerting pressure on activists and media, by confusing the scene or even worse, by shedding blood is an affront against basic rights and dignity. She said the U.N. is cautiously encouraged by government statements and some early moves toward greater accountability, support for freedom of expression and assembly, and commitment to justice. But she said action is urgently needed, noting that partisanship and short-sighted zero-sum politics continue to be major obstacles for progress. Hennis-Plasschaert said Islamic State extremists are benefiting from internal divisions, exploiting security gaps," and continuing deadly attacks. U.N. counter-terrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov told the council Monday that more than 10,000 Islamic State fighters are estimated to remain active in Iraq and Syria two years after the militant groups defeat, and their attacks have significantly increased this year. Hennis-Plasschaert said the government met a key demand of protesters by scheduling early elections on June 6, 2021. She urged Parliament to decide the crucial questions o apportioning seats and delineating constituencies on technical grounds, not partisanship. U.S. political coordinator Rodney Hunter told council members the Trump Administration plans to announce $10 million in funding for the U.N. mission to bolster Iraqi efforts to hold free and fair elections. He said the U.S also recently announced nearly $204 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Iraqis and Iraqi refugees in the region and the communities hosting them, bringing U.S. aid to more than $706 million since Oct. 1, 2019. Iraqs prime minister met President Donald Trump last week and Hunter reiterated the administrations message that Iran wants to sow chaos and mistrust across the region, including in Iraq, and the United States will not allow that to happen. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky responded, telling the council Iran is not to blame for destabilizing Iraq. He pointed to the well-known position of president Trump who called the Iraq war `the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation. Polyansky said Russia is concerned about efforts to artificially increase tensions around Iran and said a collective security body in the Persian Gulf is increasingly in demand. 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 Until recently, the conspiracy theory known as QAnon was mostly known only in America. QAnon is the belief that U.S. President Donald Trump is fighting a deep state plot of sex traffickers against him. The term deep state means a group of government employees who secretly work against the president. The extreme-right idea has gained believers throughout the United States. Trump has often retweeted messages from QAnon. It is estimated that more than 12 Republican candidates running for Congress have accepted some of its ideas. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is worried about QAnon believers. It has identified conspiracy theories as a possible terror threat. However, QAnon believers appear to no longer live only in the United States. Believers are thought to be in at least 71 countries. That information comes from QAnon researcher Marc-Andre Argentino. There has been massive growth, said Argentino. He is a Ph.D. candidate at Canadas Concordia University. Outside the U.S., Germany has become home to the largest number of QAnon followers, Argentino said. One German QAnon channel on the encrypted messaging app Telegram has 120,000 members. In the past month, the biggest growth in QAnons international followers has taken place in Brazil. The country has been hit hard by the coronavirus, and more than 114,000 people have died there. What does Q stand for? Q is an online writer who claims to be a government employee at a top secret level and with knowledge of the deep state's systems. But few experts believe he is a government insider. And many suspect more than one person may have been behind the Q writings over the years. Q first appeared online in October 2017. The writer made an unusual prediction: Former Democratic party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would soon be arrested. Her arrest would be followed by nationwide riots, the prediction said. The prediction proved false. Q made many more untrue predictions. One stated that large numbers of Democratic Party members would be arrested. Q has continued to write about Trumps secret war against sex traffickers and others have passed the writings along and repeated them. Q last wrote publicly on July 31. The writer said the coronavirus health crisis was created to help keep then-likely Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden from appearing in public before the election. It was also created to force Trump to stop having his large gatherings, Q wrote. "QAnon believes President Trump is the person who will save the world from this network of bad actors and he will uncover the Deep State that exist[s] in the United States and overseas," said Kevin Grisham. He is the associate director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino. Who are QAnon believers? Georgia businesswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is a believer. She just won the Republican Party nomination Tuesday for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is expected to win the seat in November. Qs followers have grown on social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Telegram. Argentino said about 300,000 to 400,000 people write about QAnon on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram each day. Since the start of the spread of the new coronavirus around the world, QAnon support has grown a lot. The number of QAnon Facebook group members has jumped 800 percent to 1.7 million. Argentino added that pro-QAnon Twitter accounts have increased 85 percent -- to 400,000. In recent weeks, both Facebook and Twitter have removed writings by QAnon. How popular is QAnon overseas? Most of the recent growth in QAnon following has taken place in countries other than the U.S. "You're starting to see these sort of groups popping up everywhere," Grisham said. Germany, Britain, Australia and Canada are among the countries where supporters appear to be growing. Also, observers are watching what Russian- supported media are saying. Experts who study QAnon said there were no signs Russia had a hand in creating it. However, Russian media has increased its coverage of the movement. Cindy Otis is a former CIA employee and a disinformation expert. Reuters reports that she said Russian-backed news organizations have been writing more about QAnon because it shows division in the United States. Im Susan Shand. VOAs Masood Farivar reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English with additional material from Reuters. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story conspiracy theory n. a theory that explains an event or situation as the result of a secret plan by powerful people or groups massiveadj. large in amount or degree encryptedadj. to change from one form to another especially to hide its meaning slogann. a phrase or expression used by a group or business to attract attention popping up v. to appear suddenly or in an unexpected way BOSTON - A team led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has taken an important step forward in the goal of developing a potential treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common form of chronic liver disease. There are currently no approved medications for NAFLD, but in a study published in the journal JCI Insight on August 20, 2020, investigators conducted a genetic analysis that has identified how one promising therapy may work to improve the adverse effects of this increasingly prevalent health threat. NAFLD is an umbrella term for a spectrum of conditions that begin with a build-up of liver fat, which can set the stage for inflammation that may promote scarring known as fibrosis. Over time, fibrosis can progress to potentially fatal cirrhosis and even a form of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Between 30 and 40 percent of adults in the United States have NAFLD, and the incidence appears to be rising. Last year, a team led by endocrinologist Steven Grinspoon, MD, chief of the MGH Metabolism Unit, published a randomized controlled study in Lancet HIV showing that the drug tesamorelin (Egrifta) reduced liver fat and fibrosis progression in patients with HIV, who have an increased risk for NAFLD. Tesamorelin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected people, but how the drug might improve critical features of NAFLD was unknown. In collaboration with colleagues at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute, as well as with collaborators at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Grinspoon and his team decided to find out. Using a technique called gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), Grinspoon and his colleagues studied liver biopsy specimens from participants in the Lancet HIV study, half of whom received tesamorelin, while the others got inactive placebos. GSEA revealed that the drug appeared to increase expression of a set of genes that are associated with burning of fat in the mitochondria--the "furnaces" in cells that play a key role in energy metabolism. In turn, increased expression of key oxidative phosphorylation genes was associated with reduced expression of fibrosis genes. "Increasing oxidative phosphyloration may be a key process by which tesamorelin reduces fat in the liver and ultimately prevents progression of fibrosis," says Grinspoon. What's more, the study revealed that genes associated with inflammation were relatively silenced, or downregulated, in patients treated with tesamorelin compared with placebo. Likewise, genes associated with cell repair and cell division were also downregulated. "That's likely beneficial," explains Grinspoon, noting that the body may over-respond to inflammation with collagen deposits that promote fibrosis. Moreover, a high rate of cell division could increase the risk for HCC. While it's unknown whether tesamorelin prevents liver cancer, genes associated with a favorable prognosis of HCC were upregulated in patients given the drug. The MGH group is conducting additional studies with tesamorelin in both HIV and non-HIV patients. "This treatment strategy has effects on critical NAFLD pathways that could alter the milieu of the liver in a positive way in non-HIV patients, as well," says Grinspoon. ### Steven Grinspoon, MD, who is also a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard, is the senior author of the JCI Insight paper. His coauthors include Raymond T. Chung, MD, director of Hepatology and Liver Center at MGH and an associate professor of medicine at HMS; Kathleen Corey, MD, director of the MGH Fatty Liver Clinic and an assistant professor of medicine at HMS; Lindsay Fourman, MD, an endocrinologist at MGH and an instructor of Medicine at HMS; and Takara Stanley, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at MGH and an associate professor of pediatrics at HMS. The study was supported by and conducted in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of NIH. The drug studied in this research was supplied by Theratechnologies, Inc. About the Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with an annual research operations of over $1B and comprises more than 9,500 researchers working across more than 30 institutes, centers and departments. In August 2020 the MGH was named #6 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its list of "America's Best Hospitals." Another Chinese Lawyer Has His License Illegally Revoked On August 11, Xie Yang, a lawyer who was arrested and tortured in the 709 crackdowns, a nationwide crackdown on Chinese lawyers and human rights activists in 2015, had his lawyers license revoked illegally by Hunan Provincial Department of Justice. On August 15, Hunan Lawyer Association also canceled his membership. At the same time, Xie Yang received threats and intimidation from the local authorities, demanding him not to defend sensitive cases and accept interviews from overseas media. He was threatened with more severe criminal charges if he did not abide by the rules. On August 11, human rights lawyer Xie Yangs license was revoked by the Ministry of justice of Hunan Province, over a case he represented before his arrest. His wife, Chen Guiqiu who is now in exile in the U.S., released this news on Twitter, also saying: Once someone gets targeted by the devils, laws do not even account for a shred of decency. Multiple wildfires are burning in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties and several have merged into larger fires. Cal Fire is referring to them collectively as the CZU August Lightning Complex. CZU stands for Cal Fire's San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit. Find fire and evacuation updates here and map here. The CZU August Lightning Complex burning in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties grew minimally overnight from 79,640 acres to 80,137 acres, Cal Fire officials said at a Wednesday press briefing. The blaze remains at 19% containment, but firefighters said they have made "significant progress" this week as they surround the inferno with containment lines. "It is slow, but it is happening," said Cal Fire Chief Ian Larkin. In an update Wednesday evening, Cal Fire announced that an evacuation order for UC Santa Cruz has been lifted. Cool temperatures and humid conditions continue to offer optimal firefighting conditions. "The fire's not explosive," said Cal Fire Operations Chief Mark Brunton. "We're not seeing the fire runs we saw a week ago. The weather has changed. It has mitigated the intensity of the fire. This weather pattern is fantastic because it raises the humidity...As we start getting into the weekend, it's going to start drying a little bit more. Any fire that is there, we will see slight intensity, but nothing we've seen in the past week." The count of structures destroyed rose from 443 to 538; of those, 11 are in San Mateo and 527 in Santa Cruz. More than 24,000 structures remain threatened. Santa Cruz County released a preliminary damage assessment map Tuesday night with homes that were damaged or destroyed. The map displays home addresses and uses a scale to show the degree of damage, from affected (1-9%) to destroyed (more than 50%). The county will continue to add to the map as more homes impacted by the conflagration are identified. "Just because it isnt there today, doesnt mean it wont be there tomorrow," said Larkin. Officials said residents should use this map instead of returning to evacuation areas. "We want to get you home but there are dangers in sneaking back into the evacuation zones," said Chris Clark, a chief deputy with the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Department. As of Wednesday morning, six people have been reported missing. Cal Fire Clark said on Tuesday someone called about a friend, age 63, who hadn't been seen in days. Officials found her deceased, likely by natural causes, at her home in Felton. Firefighters identified a 73-year-old man killed in the fire at the end of Last Chance Road in Santa Cruz County as Tad Jones. His body was found Sunday near his vehicle in Davenport and recovered by helicopter. Nearly 1,700 personnel are working on the incident and today crews will be focused on line construction in the Highway 9 corridor, providing protection for the communities of Felton, Ben Lomond, and Boulder Creek. Line construction along the Highway 9 corridor is very difficult due to thick vegetation and steep rugged terrain. Bulldozers have been utilized to build some of the fire breaks, but hand crews have been needed to access the most challenging terrain. Today, Cal Fire will conduct what are known as "burn out operations" in the area. This tactic is implemented by setting fire inside a control line to consume vegetation between the edge of the fire and the control line. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press "It will create a very nice barrier around the community of Felton. That will button up that part of the fire. It will take a couple days," said Brunton. "As we finish that line, then we'll be moving into Ben Lomond and that line will be be coming into the south end of Ben Lomond." He added, "Its a common strategy we utilize when working in inhospitable terrain. Its very controlled. Its a very planned event. We put our best resources on it. You have the most highly qualified, most highly experienced individuals there." Brunton said the community of Bonny Doon is "looking very good." "It has been a painstaking process," he said. "We have a lot of homes in there. We're extinguishing fire around structures." Around Davenport, crews today will be working to put out flames on the ridge. The north end of the fire is well-contained with lines. "We feel very confident that has been secured," Brunton said. "That was an area that was critical so we didnt have any spread into the northeast and threatening Santa Clara County." Crews have built two control lines on the fire's south edge, between Highway 1 and Highway 9 above the UC Santa Cruz campus. "Fire lines are holding well here," he said. "Santa Cruz and the UC campus looking very well protected. No threat at this point in time." More than 72,000 people have been evacuated in the CZU Complex and Cal Fire's Billy See said if more progress in containment is made in the next 24 to 30 hours, "over the course of the next four to five days, we'll look at bringing some sense of normalcy to this area. " Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press See added, "Obviously it depends on weather and how well operations go on the ground. I don't want to guarantee an exact time frame." Santa Cruz County has established a 24-hour medical care clinic at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds (2601 E Lake Ave., Watsonville) for those evacuating the fire. Santa Cruz County has initiated a volunteer center for those hoping to assist those affected by the CZU Complex. The county asks those interested to register at SCVolunteerCenter.org. San Mateo County residents and business owners who sustained losses in the CZU Complex can begin applying for assistance on Aug. 25 by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. MORE WILDFIRE COVERAGE: Map: See where wildfires are burning in Bay Area Crews attack 'the last, most difficult part' of the LNU Complex fires SCU Lightning Complex, 25% contained, now second-largest fire in Calif. history Crews to use fire to fight CZU Complex in Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Cruz County posts 'damage map' with homes destroyed in CZU Complex What to do to keep wildfire smoke out of your house Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. During a self-imposed quarantine earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to spend two full weeks with my family. It was the most consecutive time weve been together in the last 18 months. It made me realize how fast my young family is growing up, Smith said. I have missed so much and will continue to do so if I were to stay in this 24/7 position. BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (TSXV:SSE)(Frankfort:S6Q1) announced today that it has granted 300,000 stock options to its CFO, Camilla Cormier, with an exercise price of $0.05 per share and an expiry date of August 26, 2025. The stock options will vest 1/3 on the date of the grant, 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant and the final 1/3 on the second anniversary of the grant. About Silver Spruce Resources Inc. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario and with Colibri Resource Corp. to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Gold project, a drill-ready precious metal project in Sonora, Mexico. The Company also is pursuing exploration of the drill-ready and permitted Pino De Plata Ag project in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration. Contact: Silver Spruce Resources Inc. Brian Penney, CEO and Director (902) 430-8270 info@silverspruceresources.com www.silverspruceresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The company seeks Safe Harbour. SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603527/Silver-Spruce-Grants-Stock-Options My gap year from school is over, and it feels so great to finally be back in school again! the 17-year-old said Monday on Instagram next to a photo of herself with a backpack on her back and her hands resting on bicycle handles. A satellite image shows tug boats and the broken-up Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio, that ran aground on a reef on July 25 causing an oil spill, off the coast of Pointe d'Esny, Mauritius in this mid-August handout. (Photo : Satellite image 2020 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS) It was on July 25 that MV Wakashio crashed into a reef off the coast of the Indian Ocean. The Mauritius Oil Spill began two weeks later as oil began leaking from the vessel threatening significant damage on the pristine waters and marine life and tourism-industry of the island. Nagashiki Shipping, the owner of the vessel, reported that as of August 25, they have successfully sunk the front part of the ship in the open ocean as instructed by the authorities. Two tugboats began towing the front section of the vessel to approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) into the open sea and sunk it to the depth of 3,180 m (10,433 ft). The smaller section, however, remains stuck in the area where the shipwreck occurred. On Tuesday, the ship's captain and the second-in-command were arrested as officials investigate why the ship came close to the island. Japan's Kyodo News, however, said that the boat moved close to the shore to find a mobile signal so they can contact their families. READ: Methane Leak: The Decade-Long Poisoning of the North Sea by a Major Gas Company Mauritius Oil Spill Damage The vessel spilled more than 1000 tons of oil into the pristine waters of Mauritius, which is a known tourist spot and the home of world-renowned mangroves and coral reefs. A team of British scientists arrived last week to help in the assessment of the damage done to the island and find ways on how the ecosystem may recover. The expert from Japan and France are also on the island since the start of the spill. The British team would help determine the footprint of the oil and shoreline. The team will also help assess if the oil has reached seabeds and evaluate the impact of the oil spill on mangroves, coral reefs, and various marine species. The Japanese experts and local officials of Mauritius reported that from their surveillance in several marine spots that are 800 meters away from the spill, they had not seen any damage yet, and no oil was found on the bottom of the ocean or the coral reef. READ ALSO: Tropical Storm Laura Leaves 13 Dead in the Caribbean, Hurricane Marco Weakens but Still a Threat Dr. Sue Ware, the senior British marine monitoring specialist, said the booms placed in the water seemed to be successful in preventing the oil from leaking unto the protected Blue Bay wetlands area. The clean-up operations are now centered on gathering oil-covered seagrass and other plants that would end up on the shore. Japanese officials, however, said that the remaining wreck and the ropes holding the oil fences are grinding against the reef. They said that removing the sediment would harm the coral and that removing the remaining wreckage seems to be the only solution to prevent further damage. The soft mangrove forest soils are now contaminated with oil, the team of experts also said. The Japanese team has not found damage in the mangroves yet, but the oil could damage it in the coming months. Mangrove clean-up is exceptionally complicated as human activities would tend to drive the oil more in-depth into the soil, causing more harm, the Japanese team said. Long-term monitoring in the area after the Mauritius oil spill was among the crucial recommendations of the Japanese team of experts to continually observe and address the damage. READ NEXT: Increased Incidences of Stranded Whales Linked to Military Sonar Exercises, Experts Say Check out for more news and information on Oil Spills on Nature World News. The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a media advocacy non-governmental organisation on Wednesday appealed to the Police Administration to expedite investigation into the murder of a timber contractor at Mim in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Ahafo Region. The deceased, Akwasi Banahene was shot dead by unknown assailants at his residence at Mim on Friday, August 21, 2020, and his body has since been deposited at the Goaso Government hospital mortuary for autopsy. We condemn the barbaric act of the murderers in no uncertain terms and called on the Ghana Police Service to respond swiftly with a probe into the matter, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators and ensure that justice is served, the NGO said in a statement signed by Joseph Kobla Wemakor, its Executive Director. A copy of the statement made available to the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani commiserated with the bereaved family, and called on the Police to step up efforts in crime combat, as the country goes to polls on December 7. The statement alleged among others that, we equally express concern at the growing state of insecurity in the country in recent times and again appeal to the Police force to step up their efforts to fight crime and protect lives, especially in the run-up to the upcoming general election. As a matter of urgency, we call on the leadership of the Police Service, the Inspector General of Police, Regional, Divisional and District Commanders to step up their efforts in curbing crime. Also, crimes committed must be investigated in real time with urgency, precision and professionalism to arrest offenders real-time to serve as a deterrent to others, the statement added. 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 Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Auto parts workers at Faurecias Gladstone plant in Columbus, Indiana, recently formed a Rank-and-File Safety Committee to fight unsafe working conditions and management harassment and victimization. The Committee recently published a statement through the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter defending James Grady, a whistleblower in the plant who was set up and victimized in a conspiracy involving both plant management and the local leadership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. Yesterday the committee reported that workers at the plant are declassing themselves, which means refusing leadership positions on the shop floor, and others are leaving the factory altogether in response to the brutal regime of forced overtime and the disregard of the advice and work restrictions signed by workers family doctors. To help fill the vacancies, the company posted on its plant bulletin boards a long list of skilled trades positions which have now become available. Last week a gap leader who worked on multiple lines was allowed to work for five days after having reported exposure to COVID-19. She was not sent home until she finally began showing symptoms. To make matters worse, the company refused to compensate her for lost wages. They said her lost time resulted from self-quarantine. A supporter of the Autoworker Rank-and-File Safety Committee Network from another Faurecia plant in Saline, Michigan, which supplies interior parts for Ford, FCA and Tesla, told the Autoworker Newsletter, Faurecia is keeping stuff about the Coronavirus on the hush-hush! They dont want you to know what is really going on. She denounced the company policy of taking a workers vacation pay if they stay home to self-quarantine. Thats not right. You are not supposed to take the test and come right back to work, she said. Its unsafe. A lot of people have to go back to work because they cannot afford to lose their vacation time. The company is holding that against them. After the World Socialist Web Sites initial report on Gladstone, the company hit back by blocking the World Socialist Web Site, which supports the rank and file movement by publishing its statements, from its wifi network in the factory, and circulated allegations that the WSWS was engaged in false reporting. Supporters of the Committee reported to the WSWS that the head of Human Resources had come onto the shop floor last week, apparently at the direction of top management of the French multinational company in Paris, to accuse the WSWS of making false reports and to claim that the crisis would blow over and business would continue as usual. As the transparent propaganda campaign swung into high gear, multiple workers at the factory wrote into the WSWS to say, on the contrary, that everything in its articles was true, and more. The Faurecia Gladstone Rank-and-File Safety Committee issued the following statement on Tuesday, August 25, to denounce the inhuman conditions at the plant and to advance the call for a nationwide strike to stop the corporate back to work and back to school drive. We are tired of Faurecia treating us like garbage. We dont want the headaches of running to speed up production. Corporate management has no concern for our health and well-being. We stand 100 percent behind every worker who has been forced by the inhuman conditions at Gladstone to declass themselves and the others who have been compelled to leave the plant. The union (IBEW 1424) gave the company the green light to impose brutal exploitation when it accepted in the contract imposed in March the companys right to manage any way they see fit. The company uses that language to their advantage in every possible situation. They do not care if we are injured or sick. The head of Human Resources tells us to get to work or use our precious, limited FMLA. The union has repudiated its responsibility to protect us. It works hand in pocket with company management. The pandemic shows that these same conditions exist all over the world. We are building the Network of Rank-and-File Safety Committees with our brothers and sisters in other plants to protect the interests of all employees. Our hearts go out to the kids, parents and teachers in Muncie, Indiana, in Florida, in Georgia and all over the country who are being forced back into school for face-to-face instruction when the pandemic is by no means under control. Any job, school or public gathering is a transmission belt for the disease. Faurecia, Ford and Fiat Chrysler are all doing the same thingDELIBERATELY. They chose to overlook the danger for the profit. We must put our foot down. We need to do it together. In 1970 the truckers went on strike. When the president went on TV and ordered every one of them back to work, they wouldnt listen to him. And they were right. Nothing got done until the truckers decided to stand together. That should be educational for us. We need to stand together. What John F. Kennedy said, Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for our country, no longer holds. Our country is not looking out for us. We need to look out for ourselves as workers. In 1970 the country ground to a halt. The harsh reality is that we have to do this in order to be treated fairly. In recent weeks, management has brought in large numbers of supplemental workers from Haiti. In defiance of the company effort to foment chauvinism and racism as a means of splitting and disorienting the workforce, the Gladstone Rank-and-File Safety Committee expressed solidarity with their new coworkers and decided to expand their struggle for safe working conditions, free speech and transparency to include the Haitians who had just arrived and were being exploited as well. We need to have sympathy for these guys because the company is running the same gamut on them as they are on us, a member told the Autoworker Newsletter. If we could talk to them, they would know that the company is screwing them the same way they are screwing us. To join the Rank-and-File Safety Committee at your plant, or for assistance in establishing a Committee, contact the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter at autoworkers@wsws.org. Kolkata, Aug 26 : A fast track court in West Bengal's Bankura district has sentenced Bhopal resident Udayan Das to life imprisonment for the murder of 28-year-old Akanksha Sharma in 2016. After murdering Akanksha, Das had put her body into a metal box and concrete was poured over it. The body was recovered from Das's place at Saket Nagar in Bhopal. A resident of Bankura's Rabindra Sarani locality, Akanksha came in touch with Das via social media, police sources said. "The fast track court has sentenced him to life imprisonment under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He has also been fined Rs 20,000. If he fails to pay, he will have to spend six more months in jail," Public Prosecutor Arun Chatterjee told the media outside the court. According to police sources, Das had allegedly killed both his parents in Madhya Pradesh before murdering Akanksha Sharma. The family members of Akanksha, however, said they would appeal to the higher court demanding the death sentence for the convict. Police said Akanksha had left her Bankura home on June 23, 2016 following a fake appointment letter given by Das. She went to Das' place at Saket Nagar in Bhopal and realised that the offer letter was fake. Police investigation had revealed that the 28-year-old Bankura girl was choked to death on July 15, 2016. Das, however, continued to mislead Akanksha's parents by sending Whatsapp messages. As the family members of Akanksha could not connect with their daughter for a long time, they had finally lodged a missing report with the Bankura Sadar police station on December 5, 2016, police sources said. On January 5, 2017 they had lodged another complaint against Udayan Das for allegedly abducting their daughter. On February 1, 2017 sleuths of the West Bengal police had arrested Das from Bhopal and found Akanksha's mortal remains at his place. The chargesheet in the murder case was filed by the Bankura police within three months, police said. The City of London risks being 'hollowed out' as thousands of white collar workers refuse to return to their desk, a top stockbroker has warned. Steven Fine, the boss of Peel Hunt, said he is 'angry' to see financial firms encouraging their staff to stay at home while leaving the Square Mile like a ghost town. The 54-year-old said that while just over 20 per cent of Peel Hunt's 250 staff have returned to the office, the area around its headquarters is still near-deserted. Ghost town: A report suggested that some chief executives may be looking to make the shift to home working more permanent Fine told the Mail: 'We live in the greatest city in the world and it's sad to see it being hollowed out this way.' It came as a report from accountancy firm KPMG has suggested that some chief executives may be looking to make the shift to home working more permanent. In its survey of 315 key global bosses throughout July and early August, KPMG found that nearly 70 per cent of firms plan to cut office space and let staff work from home. And bosses now see the recruitment and retention of staff as their top risk, up from 11th on a list of risks at the start of this year. Several major City firms have told staff to forget about coming back to the office any time soon. But for businesses which rely on office workers in cities, such as cafes, restaurants, hair salons and shops, a permanent shift to home-working could turn out to be devastating. Fine said: 'It saddens me when I look at London and people are nervous and anxious to walk around. 'You can see it in people's eyes when they walk towards you everyone is paranoid you could be carrying the virus because they don't know you. 'Yet in your office, because you 'know' your colleagues, intuitively you have less concern about their hygiene.' He added: 'It angers me to see all these businesses keeping their staff at home because I think people are making a lot of long-term decisions about working from home based on short-term data. 'Usually you would go through a lot of data and thought processes, and run tests and simulations, before making such a big decision.' Though Peel Hunt managed to thrive during lockdown with 100 per cent of its staff working from home, Fine predicts businesses would be worse off if this became the norm. He said: 'The social side of the office breeds ideas, and proximity of people is a good thing. Part of it is banter, yes, but it's also lateral thinking. It can lead to the germ of a story or an idea.' By Online Desk Amid continued pressure to postpone crucial competitive tests Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), various national leaders and students activists have expressed views on whether or not these exams should be postponed or cancelled keeping COVID-19 pandemic in mind. Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Union Education Ministry, which is responsible for organising the tests, has issued the admit cards for these exams on Wednesday amid the ongoing debate. Leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, Rahul Gandhi, Manish Sisodia have voiced the 'need' to postpone NEET and JEE keeping student's interests in mind. TMC leader and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, at meeting, said chief ministers should go to Supreme Court again, seeking to postpone JEE, NEET exams. Children are facing mental agony because of NEET/JEE exams during Covid-19: @MamataOfficial #NEET_JEE @NewIndianXpress richa sharma (@richa_TNIE) August 26, 2020 The Supreme Court had dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams last week despite a spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases. The apex court had said precious year of students 'cannot be wasted' and life has to go on. Rahul Gandhi in a tweet, written in Hindi, said that the Centre must listen to the demand of students and hear their opinion on whether to conduct the exams or not. NEET, JEE GOI must listen to the #StudentsKeMannKiBaat about NEET, JEE exams and arrive at an acceptable solution. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 23, 2020 Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi convened a meeting, on Wednesday, with the chief ministers of seven states regarding NEET and JEE. The meeting is being attended by Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhan CM Hemant Soren among others. I have written to the @PMOIndia thrice asking that @ugc_india that postpone exams but we're told no and let's together approach the SC for this and seek a review on #NEETJEE postponment: @capt_amarinder @NewIndianXpress richa sharma (@richa_TNIE) August 26, 2020 Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia said that the Centre should either postpone or find an alternative way to conduct NEET, JEE exams. According to Tamil Nadu minister KA Sengottaiya, the state government has requested the Centre to scrap NEET or at least exempt students from the state from attending that exam if they were held Our students' safety and wellbeing should be the only priority for the government. In light of the very real threat of #COVID19, I urge Hon.@DrRPNishank to postpone the JEE, NEET exams immediately. #POSTPONEJEE_NEET pic.twitter.com/jpbkuYc0RL M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 24, 2020 Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy also came out supporting the Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik for postponing the test and requested other state chief minsiters to pitch in for the same. A total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET, as per inputs from PTI. "Its very difficult to maintain social distancing while traveling in a bus. Plus, I do not want to risk lives of my relatives by staying at their place in Sambalpur.." said a NEET aspirant from Odisha. The JEE (Main) this year is scheduled to be held between September 1 and 6, while the JEE (Advanced) on September 27 while NEET is schedule for September 13. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray participates in VC with Congress President Sonia Gandhi along with other states chief minister's. Thackeray raised various issues like non compensation of GST by Central govt, #JEE_NEET exams, threat to federal structure @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/D5LmyqcS3w Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) August 26, 2020 Increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit are among the steps the NTA will take for safely conducting NEET and JEE in September. ALSO WATCH: (Inputs from Agencies) National Trench Safety, LLC (NTS), a Houston-based company specializing in the rental and sales of trench and traffic safety equipment, along with trench and traffic safety engineering, and OSHA-compliant training classes, announced today the relocation of its Denver, Colorado operation. NTS recently completed the relocation of its existing Denver operation to a larger facility located at 4795 North Forest Street in Denver. The new location will provide increased office, warehouse and outside storage for the property. Moving our Denver location was a necessity for us, explained Ron Chilton, President of NTS. Our Denver team led by Richard Hearn has done a tremendous job building the branch and we had simply outgrown the capacity at our previous location. The new location will provide us with the runway needed to continue growing our presence in the Denver market, as we will be able to bring in additional products to support our growing customer base, continued Chilton. In addition, we are substantially improving the office space, including a state of the art training facility that will allow us to provide additional OSHA compliant training services to customers in the area. This relocation reinforces our continued commitment to continual growth and improvement of our operations, even in the face of an unprecedented pandemic, commented Chilton. We remain focused on a few more strategic operational upgrades that well be sharing as they reach completion. National Trench Safety operates 34 USA branch locations, while also maintaining an international presence with two branch locations in England. This large national footprint allows NTS to provide its national, regional and local market customers a fully integrated, national branch network delivering unique engineered solutions, the highest level of customer service and the most cost effective shoring solutions in the industry. NTS plans to open at least one additional new branch location in 2020 with more to follow in 2021. For more information about NTS, visit the National Trench Safety website at http://www.ntsafety.com. About National Trench Safety: National Trench Safety is dedicated to providing the construction industry with the most complete line of trench and traffic safety equipment, as well as cutting edge engineered solutions and OSHA-compliant training classes. With a proven track record of success, National Trench Safety expertly provides unique solutions to the most difficult and complex project needs. National Trench Safety is committed to providing customers with the highest quality products, most diverse and broad product/fleet offerings and the most comprehensive customer training in the industry. National Trench SafetyThe Trench and Traffic Safety Specialists. WASHINGTON - Faced with a pandemic that has killed more than 175,000 Americans, President Donald Trump used glitzy video and misleading testimonials to spin a tale of heroism and resolve far removed from the grim reality of a country in the throes of an uncontrolled public health crisis. At the Republican National Convention on Monday, Trump was hailed as a bold and lifesaving leader who "was right" on the novel coronavirus while Democrats, doctors and pundits were wrong from the beginning. One campaign-style video that aired during the convention hailed Trump as the "one leader" who stood up to the virus while quoting Democratic figures who played down the severity of the virus in its early stages. It's a revisionist version of recent history belied by hours of videotape in which the president minimized the threat of the virus for months, falsely predicted that it would "disappear" with warmer weather, promoted several unproven miracle cures, pushed states to reopen before meeting federal government benchmarks, equivocated on mask-wearing, defied social distancing guidelines and repeatedly told Americans that everything was under control. With the pandemic still ravaging the country just 10 weeks before Election Day, the president is mounting his most ambitious effort yet to change Americans' minds about his handling of the crisis - relying on his background in reality television and show business to create an alternative reality that edits out his mistakes and magnifies those of his opponents. "The RNC is taking a 'Mission Accomplished' approach to coronavirus, but the fact [Trump] can't even hold a regular convention says otherwise," said Amanda Carpenter, a former aide to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and a Trump critic who wrote a book titled "Gaslighting America: Why We Love It When Trump Lies To Us." "American life as we know it has been shut down since last March because of his magical and paranoid-style of thinking, campaigning and governing," she said. While Trump has previously touted his coronavirus response with misleading videos, charts and quotes during news briefings and in campaign ads, the Republican National Convention gives him a platform unique in its scope and reach. Over the course of four nights, the GOP will have 10 hours of prime time coverage, with cable and broadcast networks airing large chunks of the program uninterrupted. It is perhaps Trump's last best chance to present an unfiltered affirmative case for a second term in a race in which a majority of voters disapprove of his handling of a pandemic that has battered the economy and upended Americans' lives. It is likely to be a difficult task. Government forecasts predict the country's coronavirus death toll could surpass 200,000 by mid-September; schools continue to struggle with reopening plans as mini-outbreaks across the country shut down classes and frustrate parents; the economy continues to suffer from recession-level unemployment and desperation; a safe and effective vaccine is at least months away; and a flu season looms that public health experts say will only worsen an already precarious situation. Trump's positive portrayal this week of his pandemic response is also undermined by the fact that the convention is mostly virtual despite the president's best efforts to have an in-person gathering. Still, Trump has found ways to flout public health guidance or at least to show a disregard for social distancing. He plans to have a large crowd at the White House to watch his speech Thursday on the South Lawn. The broadly accepted view that Trump has mishandled the virus is a political liability for the president, as polls show his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, leading nationally and with key voting groups that will determine the outcome. A Washington Post-ABC News poll this month found that nearly two-thirds of registered voters say they are worried that they or their families might contract the coronavirus, and half of Republicans expressed that concern. Many of those respondents plan to vote for Biden. Much of Monday's convention program appeared designed to appeal to such concerned voters by convincing them they should not worry. During one of his appearances in Monday's program, Trump spoke with a group of front-line workers to thank them for their efforts in combating the virus. "Well, I'm for the nurses, I'm for the doctors," Trump said. "We just have to make this China virus go away, and it's happening." The remarks echoed comments Trump has been making since January, in which he has repeatedly claimed the virus was receding or under control as it spread through the country. "We have it totally under control," Trump said in January when asked by a CNBC host whether he worried about a pandemic. "It's one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It's going to be just fine." A month later, he praised his administration for "a pretty good job we've done," predicting that the number of confirmed cases in the country would soon decline to zero. The next day he declared "one day - it's like a miracle - it will disappear." As cases surged by the thousands in the spring and throughout the summer - leaving the United States with the most coronavirus deaths in the world - Trump continued to tout his own handling of the virus and refer to it in the past tense. He regularly made announcements of breakthrough treatments that ultimately did not prove effective, including the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine and ultraviolet rays. He held rallies and avoided wearing a mask at a time when public health experts said social distancing and face coverings were the country's best tools to contain the virus. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press More recently, Trump has pushed for schools to reopen, claiming falsely that children are essentially immune from catching and spreading the virus. Multiple schools have shut down in-person learning in recent weeks as hundreds of students contracted the virus. The president continues to promote the false idea that case numbers are rising mostly because of more testing. And on Sunday, Trump called an impromptu news conference to announce a "historic breakthrough," touting a convalescent plasma treatment about which scientists have expressed doubt. In the video that aired at the convention Monday, Trump was praised for instituting travel restrictions on China and leading an effort to quickly produce personal protective equipment and a vaccine. In the narrator's telling, only Trump's perceived opponents and critics were at fault for the country's predicament. "From the very beginning, Democrats, the media and the World Health Organization got coronavirus wrong," the narrator says in the video, which features clips of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio commenting on the virus in February and early March. The video, like others Trump has touted, does not include comments from the president in February, when he publicly dismissed concerns about the virus despite receiving briefings and warnings from top aides and the intelligence community. Trump also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping in January for "transparency" in comments that are now out of step with the president's tough-on-China stance. Democrats, who used much of their convention last week to slam Trump as mishandling the pandemic response, said Monday's program was proof that the president continued to lack a coherent plan to solve the country's topmost problem. "The truth is that his failed leadership has needlessly cost over 177,000 Americans their lives, tens of millions of Americans their jobs, and left the United States the hardest hit country by the pandemic in the whole world," Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. Trump has been his chief spokesman in defending his coronavirus response - with his own public health experts regularly contradicting him publicly - but this week's convention provided an opportunity for the president to showcase other voices that support his boasts of handling the crisis flawlessly. "As a health-care professional, I can tell you without hesitation, Donald Trump's quick action and leadership saved thousands of lives during covid-19," said Amy Johnson Ford, a nurse in West Virginia, who spoke of the Trump administration's move to expand access to telemedicine. Though public health experts have criticized the president as failing to take the virus seriously at the beginning of the year, Ford said Trump "recognized the threat this virus presented for all Americans early on and made rapid policy changes." Other speakers praised Trump for his administration's efforts to ramp up production of PPE and testing kits, countering criticism he has received for the country's shortages at the height of the pandemic. First lady Melania Trump was the only speaker at the convention so far to highlight the toll the pandemic has taken on the country, although she defended her husband's job managing the response and desire to find a vaccine. "The invisible enemy, covid-19, swept across our beautiful country. And impacted all of us. My deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one and my prayers are with those who are ill or suffering," she said Tuesday night. "I know many people are anxious and some feel helpless. I want you to know you are not alone." Trump has tried to cast criticism of his response as partisan politicking, using a speech in Charlotte to accuse Democrats of locking down states to hurt his electoral prospects. "These Democrat governors love shutdowns until the election is over because they want to make our numbers look as bad as possible for the economy," Trump said during a 50-minute speech that included several baseless charges. Nancy Rosenblum, a professor of ethics in politics and government at Harvard University, said the president's willingness to embrace conspiracy theories during a pandemic has hampered the country's ability to mount an effective public health response. It's a far cry from the traditional response to a crisis, in which Americans band together across political lines, she said. "It's a kind of polarized politics that has now reached down into every aspect of our lives, even to life itself," said Rosenblum, co-author of "A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy." In a second video that aired during the convention, the narrator took on a more bipartisan tone while still praising Trump's "swift action" to save lives during the pandemic. "We are America. Despite unpredictable events, we as Americans work together to overcome challenges and write our own stories," the narrator said. But with the death toll continuing to mount and just weeks to go before voting begins in several states, Trump's attempt to rewrite the script will have limited impact on voters, Carpenter said. Travis Dove, POOL / Associated Press "Four nights of Trumptastic reality TV won't change the dystopian reality we are living with Donald Trump as president," she said. "People believe their own eyes and ears over Trump." The number of deaths is likely to surpass the benchmark Trump set for success earlier this year just ahead of the election. "If we can hold that down to 100,000 . . . it's a horrible number, maybe even less, but to 100,000, so we have between 100 and 200,000, we all together have done a very good job," he said during a March 29 news conference. The president, who is to meet with medical professionals Wednesday to discuss the pandemic, has said he will use his acceptance speech at the convention Thursday to set the record straight on his handling of the crisis. "So we'll be talking, because really the job that we've done is incredible," Trump said Monday in Charlotte, N.C. "It's incredible, and none of us get any credit for it, and that's OK." - - - The Washington Post's Glenn Kessler contributed to this report. The August 4 explosion at the Port of Beirut not only killed more than 170 people, injured thousands of others, and left at least 300,000 people homeless, but it also dashed the Lebanese peoples hopes for a better future for their country. This is why, I, alongside 36 other United Nations Special Rapporteurs and independent experts, issued a statement earlier this month calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the explosion that underscores international human rights obligations, clarifies responsibilities related to the explosion, and leads to justice and accountability. I am also acutely aware of what is at stake since my immediate family was hit by the blast, sustaining life-threatening injuries and losing their livelihoods. In our joint statement, my colleagues and I urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to hold a special debate on the Port of Beirut explosion when the council reconvenes in September so as to explore all avenues by which this leading international human rights body can support the people in Lebanon and help them meet their needs and demands. There are several reasons why we believe the UNHRC should play a leading role in the efforts to ensure that effective, transparent and impartial justice is realised for the victims of the explosion, and people in Lebanon at large. Like scores of Lebanese and international civil society organisations, we do not trust the Lebanese governments ability to conduct an efficient and transparent investigation into its own failures. Therefore, we believe only an international and truly independent investigation can achieve the desired results. As we noted in our statement, the investigation into the explosion should not only be protected from any undue influence, but it should also have a strong and broad mandate to effectively probe any systemic failures of the Lebanese authorities and institutions to protect human rights. Unlike an investigation led by the Lebanese government, an international investigation mandated by the UNHRC could go beyond finding the individuals directly culpable for the explosion and address the systemic collapse of Lebanese governance that paved the way for the blast. When faced with calls for an international investigation into the blast, Lebanese elites raised concerns about foreign powers meddling in Lebanons internal affairs and using the blast to push their own agenda. Lebanons President Michel Aoun, for example, rejected calls for an international investigation just a few days after the devastating blast, on the grounds that such an effort would dilute the truth. Lebanons caretaker Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm also dismissed calls for an international probe, asserting that she does not want to create a system where every time there is an important issue I go to the international. The Lebanese peoples lack of trust in local judicial authorities undoubtedly justifies the calls to involve international institutions and bodies in a probe into the explosion. However, the concerns about the possibility of foreign governments using an international probe to serve their own interests should not be dismissed as baseless either. The Lebanese people have previously witnessed how seemingly well-meaning international inquiries such as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon established by the UN Security Council could end up serving narrow geopolitical interests and ignoring wider calls for justice. So when French President Emmanuel Macron calls for an international inquiry into the explosion, the Lebanese people should be suspicious of his intentions. After all, France was the former colonial power that institutionalised the sectarian system that is at the root of Lebanons current problems. And it is still working to expand its influence over Lebanon today. Last year, for example, the French government was the main player behind the CEDRE proposal, in which a mix of international institutions and countries pledged to give Lebanon $11bn in loans and grants on the condition that it implement certain reforms. On the surface, the proposal seems to be aimed at helping the people of Lebanon. But under closer inspection, it becomes clear that its primary aim is to give international lenders, especially France and the World Bank, a significant amount of power over political and economic life in Lebanon. The international community has failed Lebanon too often. For too long it left the Lebanese people searching for justice and a better future with a choice between relying on faulty and corrupt local mechanisms and international efforts guided by vested interests. But this does not mean that the international system lacks the capacity to conduct a truly impartial probe into Lebanons August 4 explosion that is not shadowed by powerful governments hidden agendas and interests. To achieve this, countries with a vested interest in Lebanon such as France, the United States, Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and China would need to step back, and allow a multilateral process guided by an impartial international body and based on human rights principles to take its course. As Special Rapporteurs, who work on a voluntary basis and are independent from any government or organisation, we believe the UNHRC is well placed to give the Lebanese people what they desperately need. While we know the Council has the capacity to mandate an international investigation that would meet the Lebanese peoples demands for transparency and impartiality, we are also aware of how political pressures can cloud such a process. Just a few months ago in June, amid the Black Lives Matter uprising in the US, a bloc of African countries pressed the Council to hold an urgent debate on racism, police brutality and violence against protesters. During the debate, some delegates called for an international probe to investigate racially motivated police brutality in the US. However, due to pressure from the US and its many allies, the Council failed to efficiently address the problem and merely adopted a vague resolution calling for a report on racially discriminatory and violent law enforcement practices used against Africans and people of African descent, without specifically naming the US. Only time will tell whether the UNHRC will be able to lead the way in the Lebanese peoples quest to bring justice to the victims of the explosion and hold the people responsible to account. To mandate an international investigation into the Port of Beirut explosion, the Council needs at least one country to officially put forward such a request. If a group of countries backs the proposal, it will send the message that the international community is ready and willing to help Lebanon in its time of need. Come September, the Lebanese people will see whether the messages of solidarity and concern issued by world governments in the aftermath of the devastating explosion were honest. If the UNHRC successfully mandates an independent investigation into the matter and ensures that the investigation is conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, it will give the Lebanese people renewed hope for their countrys future. But if it buckles under political pressure and takes no action, or accepts a watered-down resolution, it will confirm the fears that the international community is incapable of furthering an impartial human rights agenda. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. Much colder. High 22F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 10F. Winds light and variable. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr. strongly opposed the idea of assigning a Coast Guard representative at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, saying this would jeopardize the countrys sovereignty over its coastal seas. PH Coast Guard wants own attache in Beijing Embassy. Flat NO, Locsin said on Twitter Tuesday night. We have a Defense attache for national defense issues. A separate Coast Guard attache means we concede exclusive sovereignty over our coastal waters so they are now subject to discussion instead of automatic protest, he added. The Philippine Coast Guard in a statement explained that the request reached Locsin's office in October 2019 after it was approved under then Coast Guard Commandant Elson Hermogino. It was anchored on the memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Coast Guard on the establishment of a joint committee to enhance cooperation. The attache would be the focal person in bilateral and multilateral engagements on the setting up of the committee, particularly in maritime search and rescue, law enforcement, security, and marine environmental protection. "While the PCG believes that the establishment of said post will significantly strengthen maritime cooperation between the Philippines and China, PCG spokesperson, Commodore Armand Balilo said the service fully respects the decision of Secretary Locsin on the matter at hand and will continue to find ways to further secure the countrys maritime domain," the statement read. Early this year, the Chinese Coast Guard had a week-long visit to the country for joint exercises and high-level meetings, but discussions were not made public. An Inquirer report quoting a government source said both sides recognized the importance of sending an attache to each other's embassies. Admiral Joel Garcia, who was then commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, said talking to China is the only solution to the two countries dispute over the West Philippine Sea parts of the South China Sea that are both claimed by Manila and Beijing. But the supposed goodwill visit in January was marred by the sighting of Chinese Coast Guards Zhongguohaijing 5402 in Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal, a submerged reef west of Palawan. In October 2019, the DFA filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of a Chinese Coast Guard vessel around the same area. Its not clear if its the same ship that blocked three local civilian vessels the previous month. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the DFA has lodged several protests with Beijing. The most recent one was over the Chinese Coast Guards illicit radio challenges at Philippine aircraft conducting regular maritime patrols, and the illegal confiscation of Filipino fishermens devices in the West Philippine Sea. In a rare public comment on a diplomatic protest, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian hit back, saying the Philippines should immediately stop illegal provocations. Ivanka Trump shared a quick cuddle with her youngest son Theodore on Wednesday morning before leaving her Washington, D.C. home on the third day of the Republican National Convention. The 38-year-old White House senior adviser was dressed to impress in a sleek black pantsuit and a matching black face mask as she stepped out the front door with her four-year-old in tow. Ivanka was beaming as she squatted down to enjoy a few precious minutes with her little boy, who had his back to her as he focused on something in front of him that had captured his eye. Off to work: Ivanka Trump shared a sweet goodbye with your four-year-old son Theodore as she left her Washington, D.C. home on Wednesday morning Special time: The 38-year-old's youngest child followed her out onto the stoop, and she squatted down to spend a few precious moments with him before she headed to work Theo was dressed for a casual summer day in a white T-shirt, khaki shorts, and blue ankle socks instead of shoes. He was holding onto a pen and likely in the middle of playing when he followed his mom outside. At one point, he turned around to look over the railing at the sidewalk below as Ivanka lovingly held her hand on his back. After saying goodbye, Ivanka strutted down the stairs, revealing her full outfit: a modern black blazer with three-quarter sleeves and matching skinny pants. She topped off her look with strappy black stiletto sandals, a black leather handbag, and a black face mask a departure from the colorful floral one she wore the day before. Ivanka has faithfully donned a protective face covering for the majority of her public outings, despite her father's wavering stance on masks. Quick cuddle: Ivanka had her arm wrapped around her son as something captured his eye Play clothes: Theo was dressed for a casual summer day in a white T-shirt, khaki shorts, and blue ankle socks instead of shoes Special moment: At one point, he turned around to look over the railing at the sidewalk below as Ivanka lovingly held her hand on his back She has also taken great care to match them to her outfits, with Wednesday's look being no exception. The mother of three wore a dainty gold chain around her neck, and she also had a red string bracelet on her left wrist, which she has been wearing off and on for a few years now. Although she hasn't spoken about the purpose of the bracelet, it does bear a resemblance to the type of red string that Kabbalah practitioners wear to ward off the 'evil eye.' Ivanka's long blonde hair was center-parted and flat ironed straight, a signature look for her. Coincidence or not, it was the same hairstyle that she donned to speak at the RNC in 2016. Her husband, fellow White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, was also seen leaving their home on Wednesday wearing a navy suit paired with a red and navy blue striped tie. Strictly business: After saying goodbye, Ivanka strutted down the stairs, revealing her full outfit: a modern black blazer with three-quarter sleeves and matching skinny pants Accessories: She topped off her look with strappy black stiletto sandals and a black leather Safety first: Ivanka also donned a black face mask that matched her sleek power suit The 39-year-old dad was out the door at 7:30 a.m., over an hour before Ivanka said goodbye to their kids and headed to work. The parents also have a daughter Arabella, nine, and an older son Joseph, six. Ivanka got an earlier start than usual, leaving her home at 8:45 a.m. nearly two hours earlier than she had left the day before. President Donald Trump's eldest daughter had some extra pep in her step when she left her home on Tuesday wearing seafoam green Ralph Lauren shirt dress, a look she has worn before. She looked elegant in the belted $1,990 Ralph Lauren frock, which was buttoned to the top collar and featured slit sleeves that gave her the appearance of wearing a cape. Go-to style: Ivanka's long blonde hair was center-parted and flat ironed straight, a signature look for her He's off: Her husband, fellow White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, was also seen leaving their home on Wednesday wearing a navy suit paired with a red and navy blue striped tie Grinning: Jared, 39, had a smile on his face and his cellphone in his hand as he headed to work at 7:30 a.m. over an hour before Ivanka left the house She paired the outfit with a matching floral mask and classic suede pumps in an understated shade of nude. Matching seafoam green earrings peeked out from underneath her hair, and she carried a cream leather clutch in her hand. Ivanka had a twinkle in her eye as she headed to work, and while there was no way to tell, she appeared to be smiling behind her mask. She got a late start on Tuesday, leaving her home at 10:30 a.m. three hours after her husband, fellow White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, stepped out the door. Ivanka seemed well-rested and chipper, despite spending most of the day on the campaign trail in North Carolina with her father the day before. She put on a show during her short walk from her front door to the Secret Service vehicle waiting at the curb for her, giving a cordial wave to the paparazzi as they captured her departure. Busy week: Ivanka's stepmother, First Lady Melania Trump, tried to appeal to female voters during her speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday evening Big night: Ivanka's half-sister Tiffany Trump, 26, made a rare public appearance at the RNC as she took the stage in a powder blue suit Family motto: Tiffany took a cue from her siblings and railed against the media, the tech giants, and the education system suggesting they keep the American people 'mentally enslaved' She will be the last of Trump's adult children to speak at the Republican National Convention. Don Jr., 42, took the stage on Monday evening, while Eric, 36, and Tiffany, 26, gave speeches on Tuesday. It was a rare appearance for Tiffany, who gave a well-received speech four years ago at the convention in Cleveland, Ohio, where she talked about her father in personal terms, showing a different side to the GOP nominee. This time around, she took a cue from her father and older siblings and railed against the media, the tech giants, and the education system suggesting they keep the American people 'mentally enslaved.' 'People must recognize that our thoughts, opinions, and even the choice of who we vote for are being manipulated and invisibly coerced by the media and tech giants,' the Georgetown Law Center graduate said. Likely speaking from experience, she said that in the academic arena, students with opposing viewpoints are 'too afraid to speak,' while the system promotes 'groupthink.' Taking the stage: Ivanka's younger brother Eric Trump, 36, also spoke at the convention on Tuesday evening Doing his part: Donald Trump Jr., the president's oldest child, took the stage on Monday to help kick off the RNC Special: Ivanka (pictured with Trump in 2016) will only address supporters on Thursday, the final night of the convention President Trump's youngest daughter usually pops up at major events in his administration the State of the Union address, the trip he took to Mount Rushmore on July 3, and the state dinner in London but her speech suggests she may be ready to take on a more prominent roll in her father's campaign. First Lady Melania Trump also spoke at the convention on Tuesday evening, arguing for her husband's bid for a second term in a speech designed to appeal to female voters. Ivanka will not address supporters until Thursday the final evening of the event. It is understood that she will introduce her father as he prepares to accept the Republican party's official nomination. Pep in her step! Ivanka Trump gave a wave as she stepped out of her home on Tuesday wearing a $1,990 Ralph Lauren shirt dress Details: The now sold-out dress was buttoned to the top collar and featured slit sleeves that gave her the appearance of wearing a cape Strutting her stuff: Ivanka also put on a very chic display as she left her home on Monday morning ahead of the Republican National Convention It's been a busy week for Ivanka, who traveled to North Carolina to be by her father's side on Monday. She was seen strutting out of her home in a $1,990 white dress from Lela Rose that had pretty blue flowers printed across it. Ivanka added matching accessories, opting for a white face mask, white strappy sandals, and a $1,540 white Max Mara handbag. Shortly after leaving her home, Ivanka traveled to North Carolina, where she and her father visited a Farmers to Families Food Box program site in Mills River ahead of the start of the convention. 'I am incredibly excited to join the President in North Carolina as he sees first-hand the incredible work being done through our Farmers to Families Food Box program,' she said in a statement. Surprise! Ivanka and her father made an unscheduled appearance at the convention shortly after landing in Charlotte, where President Trump accepted the 2020 nomination in person Making it official: Delegates officially nominated Trump to be their candidate in November during the roll call Monday morning Ivanka was pictured disembarking Air Force One at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, having taken off her face mask and replaced it with a glamorous pair of sunglasses. She then made an unexpected visit to the convention ahead of schedule, where President Trump accepted the nomination in person, while Ivanka watched on from the wings. During his speech, the president told the scaled-back convention: 'We have to win. This is the most important election in the history of our country.' Soon after the surprise speech, Ivanka and her father flew to Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher, North Carolina, before making their way to Mills River for their visit to the Farmers to Families Food Box program site. They were met by a crowd of fans, with Ivanka's arrival, in particular, eliciting cheers and screams. The Australian Defence Force did not offer to "put resources into hotels" to quarantine returned travellers in Victoria, the state's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp has insisted. Mr Crisp told a state parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday that Defence support to the state in late March was limited to planning hotel quarantine, adding he did not seek extra military assistance because private security personnel had already been hired to guard hotels. Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp maintains his stance on an offer of quarantine help from the ADF. Credit:Getty Images Mr Crisp was questioned at the parliamentary public accounts and estimates committee about his role in the botched quarantine scheme, which triggered a new wave of coronavirus cases. Speaking publicly for the first time since the early days of the pandemic, Mr Crisp was grilled by Coalition MPs Richard Riordan, Danny O'Brien and Bridget Vallence about Victoria's decisions on ADF support. The James Beard Foundations declaration last week that it would not announce the winners of this years major restaurant and chef awards startled Blake Spalding and Jen Castle, the two chefs who own Hells Backbone Grill & Farm in Boulder, Utah. The week before, Spalding and Castle had recorded a short video at the foundations request in which they pretended to accept the award they had been nominated for, Best Chef Southwest. Told to give a 30-second acceptance speech, they thanked their employees, then clapped and laughed for 90 seconds, as if they had just won. All the nominees were being asked to make a video like this, they were told. Still, they allowed themselves to get their hopes up. Then they got a mass email from the foundation, calling the whole thing off. We were really gutted, Spalding said. It was a really demoralizing and wrenching thing to be so close and have them be, Never mind. She was not the only one taken by surprise. Several people on the volunteer committee that administers the restaurant awards said they learned about an hour before the announcement that there would be no new winners this year because they seemed minor compared with the hardships restaurants now face. The foundations news release said the decision not to name winners in 2020 or 2021 had been made after serious deliberation and consultation with members of the industry, Award committees, JBF staff, and partners. But the days leading up to the decision were so frantic that many people close to the awards say they arent quite sure what happened. With the winners names to be broadcast at a virtual ceremony set for late September, the foundation struggled to stay on schedule as the ground shifted beneath its feet. Restaurant workers were taking to social media to denounce their bosses. The restaurant-going public was rapidly changing its notions of which chef behaviors should be rewarded, which overlooked and which shunned. As Black Lives Matters protests bloomed across the country, patience was growing thin over how few opportunities are given to Black chefs, including the opportunity to win Beard awards. The James Beard Foundation itself was trying to leave behind its origins as a group that celebrated the restaurant industry and make itself over as one that led the charge for reform. It was a lot to handle. By last week, the foundations leaders had settled on calling off the rest of the 2020 awards season, which only a few days before had seemed like a remote possibility. The short list of nominees had been announced in May. The final vote had been cast and counted soon afterward. But in July and August, the slate of nominees began to crumble, according to interviews with foundation officials, nominees and members of the committee that administers the restaurant and chef awards. Some chefs took themselves out of the running. The foundation asked others to drop out, having deemed them too controversial because new allegations about their personal or professional behavior had surfaced over the summer. The critics, reporters and other media people on the restaurant awards committee say they were overwhelmed by the number and speed with which chefs were falling under suspicion. At an emergency meeting held on Zoom in late July, a foundation staff member who had seen the final voting results raised a second concern: No Black people had won in any of the 23 categories on the ballot. This would not have been a first for the James Beard awards. The foundation and the restaurant awards committee had promised many times recently, though, to field more diverse slates of candidates. Many observers saw progress. This year, a number of Black chefs were named as semifinalists or nominees. But they had lost in the final round of voting, according to people who were briefed on the racial breakdown of the results. The message came through that they knew who the winners were, and the winners didnt look like they want them to look, said one committee member, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of concerns about violating the nondisclosure agreement everyone on the panel is required to sign. After some discussion, a suggestion was placed before the committee. We proposed removing previous winners from the voting body, said Mitchell Davis, the foundations chief strategy officer. According to the procedures described on the foundations website, votes on the restaurant and chef awards are given to the 20 members of the restaurant committee, to the 200 or so regional judges they appoint, and to hundreds of people who have won awards in the past. Established in 1990, the awards program embraces several fields, including design, journalism, books and broadcast media. (This reporter has received six of the journalism awards.) But the prizes that are called the Oscars of the food world are the ones given to chefs and restaurants. Those awards have long mirrored the American restaurant business itself, whose highest slopes of power and prestige have tended to be the preserve of white men cooking food mainly derived from Western Europe. Davis and others see the voting bloc of previous winners as a possible source of what he calls systemic bias. But taking them out of the process after the votes had been counted struck many members of the restaurant committee as foul play. The committee was like, if the results arent what we wanted, tough, said one member, who asked not to be named because of the nondisclosure agreement. Were not going to get into vote rigging. There was less resistance to another proposal: a second vote, with the regular group of voters. The ballot would be edited to remove nominees the foundation now saw as problematic. But as summer went on, that list kept getting longer. The longer they waited, the more they learned about people, another committee member said. In July, Jessica Koslow, a Los Angeles chef, sent a letter to the foundation withdrawing as a candidate for Best Chef California. Her reputation had been bruised by allegations that she had taken credit for others recipes, misled city health inspectors and allowed furry lids of mold to grow on pots of jam. Right now, my presence on the slate will only serve as a distraction, she wrote. On social media and in news articles, other nominees were accused of abusing, underpaying or mistreating workers. Additional accusations were made privately to the foundation staff. Several restaurant committee members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that some of the allegations brought to them were so vague that they werent sure what the problem was. Lacking the time to investigate each case, the committee asked the foundation staff to follow up. What happened next is in dispute. Committee members say they were waiting for more information about the allegations before making a decision. They also wanted the chefs to have a chance to tell their side of the story. But several chefs who received calls from the foundation say they had no chance to respond and were given few details about what they were supposed to have done or who said they had done it. Davis said that in deciding what to do about chefs who fell under suspicion, the foundation was guided by a recently adopted awards criterion that allows chefs to be disqualified for allegations of criminal or unethical behavior, or behavior determined to be detrimental or contrary to the integrity and fair perception of the Awards. If he or someone else from the foundation called a chef, Davis said, we felt there was enough information to meet our eligibility criteria, which was about the reality that there is some controversy brewing that might affect the integrity of the awards. Told that several chefs felt they had no chance to respond to the information against them, Davis said, In questions when people in power are challenged in ways that might undermine that power, not enough weight is given to those who are making those challenges. One nominated chef said that a representative of the foundation called two weeks ago to communicate a charge that was both anonymous and nebulous: toxic kitchen culture. I said, Can you give me an example? She said, Thats it. Toxic kitchen culture. The chef said the Beard representative suggested withdrawing from the ballot. She said, Im in PR, so I can give you a bunch of examples of how to do this. This chef, who spoke anonymously to avoid being tainted by the suspicion of misbehavior, refused to drop out and remains on the list of nominees. Several other chefs disappeared last week from that list, though, including Rich Landau, Paul Bartolotta, Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus. On the same day, the foundation announced that it would not be disclosing the winners. Another name struck from the record belonged to California chef David Kinch, a nominee in the Outstanding Chef category. Kinch wrote in an Instagram post Aug. 15 that he had decided to remove myself from consideration, and potential acceptance of this years award. No single event had led to the decision, he wrote, but the idea of celebrating achievement and all that our @manresarestaurant has accomplished simply does not feel right in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, and the devastation it has pressed upon our chosen metier and industry. In an email, Kinch said that withdrawing was my decision only and that his only communication about it with the James Beard Foundation was sending it a copy of his statement in advance. Asked whether Kinch could be called a nominee for this year, Davis said: I would say no. I would say the record has been amended. Some people who work on the awards say they are concerned by how the foundation handled the allegations against nominees. Im really troubled by the lack of process and transparency, said Hanna Raskin, who has been on the restaurant committee for three years. What I would like to know is, where is this information coming from and what are the standards? Do we have a list of disqualifiers? To me, its a really big thing to remove somebody from a list. The groups chief executive, Clare Reichenbach, said in a statement Tuesday that the decision to cancel the awards was not made in haste but added: It is not a secret that we believe that there is work to be done in adapting our Awards policies to have a more fair and equitable playing field. If this means changing the way things have been done in the past, adapting judging privileges that have likely perpetuated bias, and taking a stronger stance on nominee behaviors that violate our guidelines, we are ready to do that for the betterment of the Awards and the community they serve. Arguing about the awards is a long-running sport in the food business, but even by those standards the foundations choice not to name winners has been divisive. It makes no sense to me, said Alan Richman, a journalist and occasional New York Times contributor who once served on the restaurant awards committee. It seems they must have found some intrinsic flaw in the voting. What else could it be? If they found a flaw in the voting, they should say so. Raskin and others feel that the foundation has passed up an easy chance to help restaurants whose survival is threatened by the pandemic. What stands out to me about this decision is that the vote was conducted, winners were chosen and those winners werent allowed to know that they won, she said. In this time of crisis for the hospitality industry, the foundation had an opportunity to do right by even one person and decided not to do that for reasons that remain unclear. With the traditional Beard awards on pause until 2022, the foundation has said it is taking a year to work with all seven of its awards committees and an outside social justice agency to settle on new ground rules. The goal, the foundation said, is to remove any systemic bias and make the rosters of candidates even more diverse. Paola Velez, a pastry chef in Washington, was nominated in the Rising Star Chef category, which recognizes chefs age 30 or younger. When the awards return in 2022, she will be too old to qualify. Even so, she said that she doesnt mind that the world will never know whether she won this year. Im an Afro-Dominican girl from the Bronx, she wrote in an email. My nomination has inspired so many, including myself. Its not about winning or losing for me. In Utah, Blake Spalding has had a harder time accepting that the award she was nominated for will never be given out. It feels risky to me to criticize the foundation, she said. But in a year when they had more women and racially diverse chefs as nominees than ever, why not make every nominee a winner? What does my nomination even mean now that its been canceled? I am for a more just restaurant industry and a more just country, she said. There are a lot of dodgy practices in the restaurant industry that need to be changed. But is this going to change it, canceling the awards? This article originally appeared in The New York Times. A 22-year-old cyclist appeared in court today accused of manslaughter after allegedly knocking down and killing a 72-year-old pedestrian. Ermir Loka, of Waltham Forest, east London, allegedly killed Peter McCombie in a collision in Tower Hamlets on July 3. Mr McCombie was making his way home from work at the Royal London Hospital when he suffered serious head injuries in the incident. He was taken for emergency treatment but died from his injuries eight days later. Loka appeared at the Old Bailey for a hearing before Judge Sarah Munro QC, charged with manslaughter and causing bodily harm by wanton and furious driving. He did not enter a plea to either of the charges. Peter McCombie, 72, was struck by a biker in Tower Hamlets, east London, on July 3. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and died eight days later with serious head injuries Police released CCTV images of the biker who they suspected had struck Mr McCombie Prosecutor Deanna Heer said: 'The defendant is charged with manslaughter and causing bodily harm by wanton and furious driving. 'The allegation is that on July 3 when he was riding his bicycle he collided with and killed a pedestrian, Mr McCombie, who was 72-years-old at the time.' The judge set a trial for October 4 next year, with a plea hearing on October 27 this year. She said if restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic were lifted, an earlier trial date would be possible. The defendant was remanded into custody. Mr McCombie was struck in Bow Road, close to Thames Magistrates' Court, on July 3 Mr McCombie had continued to work past the retirement age to help the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic. Andy Vince, of Barts Health NHS Trust, said after his death: 'Peter had worked for us since May 2003 and was a well-loved member of the team, with many stories to share. 'It's fair to say his work was his life and even during this pandemic, when he could have chosen to stop and stay at home, he continued to come in every day and make sure that he and the team continued to deliver.' Mr McCombie's sister, Christine, said: 'It is hard to put into words the effect losing Peter has had on our family.' Detective Inspector Julie Trodden of the Met Police said of the victim: 'Peter was an active man who had continued to work beyond retirement age. 'As a result of this collision, his family, friends and colleagues are now mourning his loss.' Parents of a baby girl who died after complications during her birth have received a written apology and a payout from hospital bosses - four years after her death. Nicky Baines was 36 weeks pregnant when she went into labour with twins Eleanor and Lucas at Wythenshawe Hospital, south Manchester, back in September 2016. Mrs Baines had already given birth to Lucas naturally before her placenta burst whilst daughter Eleanor was still in the womb. An inquest into Eleanor's death previously found there was 'an absence of monitoring of the foetal heart rate' when she was born minutes after her twin brother. Mrs Baines was left with three midwives who had never delivered twins before, the 2018 inquest heard. Nicky Baines's baby daughter Eleanor, who died on September 21, 2016, six days after she was born When they tried to call for a doctor they were told all were busy in theatre before Mrs Baines was eventually transferred to theatre for an emergency caesarean section. Eleanor was born seriously ill and had to be resuscitated. She died six days later on September 21, with tests showing the placenta abruption had likely caused a fatal brain injury. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has now written to Mrs Baines and her husband Colin to apologise for mistakes made during the birth. It's the first time the couple, from Hale, Greater Manchester, have had a written apology for the failures they experienced. In a letter dated July 2020, the Trust's chief executive officer Karen Connolly offered her 'heartfelt apologies and condolences'. Ms Connolly wrote: 'Following a detailed investigation, the Trust accepts that there should have been continuous monitoring of Eleanor following the birth of her sibling. 'Urgent obstetric assistance should have been sought due to difficulties encountered on locating the foetal heart with the transducer. 'The Trust accepts that Eleanor could have been delivered 5-10 minutes earlier but sadly it is unlikely that this would have made a difference as Eleanor had a shortage of oxygen during labour which was then compounded by an abruption. 'As I am sure you are aware, this was also the view of an external expert.' The Trust has also paid a five-figure compensation settlement to Mr and Mrs Baines, the Manchester Evening News reported. But the couple - who are also parents to Imogen, six, Lucas, three and Finley, two - said no amount of money could ever heal the pain of losing baby Eleanor. They hope lessons will be learned from their tragedy to make twin deliveries safer for other families. Mr Baines was away from home when his wife, 40, went into labour at 36 weeks on September 15, 2016. She had been in contact with the hospital to explain she was expecting twins. She said 'things progressed very quickly' and she was rushed to hospital by ambulance. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has now written to Mrs Baines and her husband Colin to apologise for mistakes made during Eleanor's birth Mrs Baines said: 'I was 9cm dilated when I arrived and having been under consultant-led care throughout the pregnancy, I had expected there to be a doctor there to manage things. 'This wasn't the case and there seemed to be a lot of confusion with the midwives who were asking things I thought they should already know about the pregnancy. 'It's clear to us now that they were out of their depth and we want to highlight that this happened in a high-risk twin delivery so that we can hopefully ensure other families receive a better standard of care than we did. 'At the time it felt like the hospital was passing the blame back to me with doctors telling me the next day that I wouldn't keep still to be monitored and that I delayed the C-section by asking to speak to my parents. 'The loss of Eleanor has had a lasting impact on our entire family as we struggle to come to terms with what we believe to be an avoidable tragedy. 'Our experience has opened our eyes to truly worrying statistics in the UK around standards of care during labour, and so many deaths that could have been prevented. 'We need to do better, and this can only happen if staff start to be more open and honest about their mistakes and are willing to learn from them.' The Trust's letter stated that there should have been continuous monitoring of Eleanor following the birth of her sibling. It added that urgent obstetric assistance should have been sought 'due to difficulties encountered on locating the foetal heart with the transducer'. When a doctor did eventually arrive and realised the danger Eleanor was in, Mrs Baines was rushed for an emergency caesarean. After her birth Eleanor was transferred to neonatal intensive care at St Mary's Hospital but never managed to breathe independently. Six days after she was delivered her parents were advised to remove her life support. The letter from the Trust stated that even without the errors, Eleanor would have died. Mr Baines was away from home when his wife, 40, went into labour at 36 weeks on September 15, 2016 But the couple's specialist clinical negligence solicitor at law firm JMW, Jodie Miller, claims that her investigations found she would have survived. Ms Miller said: 'To be left with midwives who were not experienced in twin deliveries, which are complicated and high-risk, would be any woman's worst nightmare. 'Maternity guidelines exist for a reason, to keep mothers and babies safe, but these were not always followed. 'This desperately sad case serves as a reminder of why it is crucial all maternity staff are fully trained and competent in the following of safety procedures. 'Aside from the admitted failings, there were numerous other issues that occurred that contributed to this traumatic and life-changing episode and unfortunately Nicky and Colin do not feel they were taken seriously enough by the hospital. 'This led to them taking the step of taking legal action in the first place..' A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We have offered our sincere condolences to the family of baby Eleanor. 'We undertook an investigation into Eleanor's death in 2016 and as a result we have made a number of changes to improve the safety of mothers and babies in our care. 'We are fully committed to ensuring that lessons are learnt to continuously improve patient care.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 14:22:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three more suspected cases of the bubonic plague have been reported in the central Mongolian province of Uvurkhangai, the health ministry said Wednesday. "Three suspected cases of the plague are now under isolation at a local hospital. They are members of the same family or mother and her two children," Dorj Narangerel, head of public relations and surveillance department of the health ministry, told a press conference. They have eaten marmot meat earlier last week, said Narangerel, warning citizens not to hunt marmots or eat marmot meat. Although hunting marmots is illegal in Mongolia, many Mongolians regard the rodent as a delicacy. Since the beginning of this year, 16 suspected cases of the bubonic plague have been reported across the Asian country, four of which were confirmed by laboratory tests. The country's National Center for Zoonotic Diseases said that 17 out of all 21 Mongolian provinces are now at risk of the infectious disease. The bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that can be spread by fleas living on wild rodents such as marmot and can kill an adult in less than 24 hours if not treated in time, according to the World Health Organization. Enditem Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Europe this week, his first trip abroad since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world. He will be traveling to Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, France, and Germany from August 25 to September 1, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, The Diplomat writes in the article Amid Souring US Ties, Chinas Foreign Minister Heads to Western Europe. Wang has not been abroad since February, when he attended an emergency meeting on the coronavirus outbreak with his ASEAN counterparts in Laos. The choice of Europe as Chinas return to some form of a diplomatic normal thus is striking. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters on Monday that Wangs trip shows the importance attached to China-European relations by both sides. As COVID-19 adds to the instability and uncertainties in the international landscape, it is of even greater significance for China and Europe, two major forces, markets and civilizations in the world, to work together on strengthening international solidarity against the pandemic, upholding multilateralism, and jumpstarting the world economy, Zhao added. While the spokesperson was nothing but upbeat about the prospects of China-Europe cooperation, the visit comes amid a significant hardening of European positions on China. COVID-19 has not helped Chinas image in Europe, especially after its highly publicized efforts at mask diplomacy rubbed many Europeans (including EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell) the wrong way. Beyond that, concerns over the rights situation in China, especially Xinjiang and Hong Kong, are growing impossible to ignore. And as Philippe Le Corre and John Ferguson noted in a recent Diplomat article, both the U.K. and France have soured on Huawei, issuing de facto (albeit future) bans on use of the Chinese telecommunication firms equipment in 5G networks. Even in Central and Eastern Europe, often painted as Chinas bridge to Europe (or, less charitably, Chinas Trojan horse), relations are far from rosy. As Andreea Brinza noted in a recent article for The Diplomat, from the perspective of the CEE countries, the grand promises of the 17+1 (formerly 16+1) platform has turned out to be largely a disappointment. Domestic political changes in Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic) and Slovenia have made both those countries noticeably more critical of Chinas rights record. Its telling that this time, Wang is focusing solely on Western Europe in his upcoming tour. The CEE bloc apparently did not merit a stop; instead, the Hungarian foreign minister will meet with Wang briefly on August 24, the day before the Chinese foreign minister departs for Italy. For China, Western Europe takes on a critical importance amid souring ties with the United States. With each day seemingly bringing a new action against China from Washington, Beijing will be keen to avoid Western Europe joining the pile-on. Each of Wangs goals in the trip, as summarized by Zhao, can be read in this light (author's comments in brackets): "Through this visit, China hopes to achieve three goals: that the two sides will act on Chinese and European leaders consensus and advance major political and economic agenda [i.e., provide China some diplomatic options as U.S. ties go south]; deepen cooperation on fighting the virus and keeping the global industrial and supply chains stable, and further discuss cooperation in emerging sectors like digital economy and green economy [i.e. secure China some breathing room for the relentless calls for decoupling emanating from Washington]; send out the message of jointly upholding multilateralism and improving global governance and contribute more to world peace, stability and development [i.e., framing the U.S. as the deviant actor and China as the upholder of global norms Europe should partner with]." Since the Trump administration, with its defiant aversion to multilateral fora and even longstanding U.S. alliances, took power, China has been framing itself as a champion of the multilateral order and looking to find common cause with Europe to that end. Wang struck many of these same notes in his speech at the Munch Security Conference on February 15 (his second-to-last trip abroad before the long COVID-19 hiatus). But that messaging has become less and less persuasive as Europe registers its own concerns over everything from Chinas trading practices to rights violations. Originally, 2020 was supposed to be a banner year for China-Europe cooperation. There were plans for a historic meeting between Chinas Xi Jinping and the leaders of all the EU member states in Germany in September. That summit has since been cancelled ostensibly because of the pandemic, but there are persistent reports that European leaders were less than pleased with the lack of progress on a long-desired bilateral investment treaty. As a sign of the growing disagreement, the most recent China-EU summit (held virtually) did not result in a joint statement. The EU press release reflected Europes changing view: while both European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recognized the importance of partnership with China, they also voiced serious concerns about the relationship. In the meantime, Wangs tour of Western Europe, and the comments from his hosts after those meetings, are well worth watching for an update on the state of Chinas image in Europe. A concerned parent has filed a case in court seeking to compel Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha to reopen schools next month. The complainant, Joseph Aura, noted that since the state ordered for closure of schools due to Covid-19 in March, his kids and others across the country have been subjected to mental torture. I have lodged these proceedings as a parent on behalf of my children and on behalf of millions of voiceless children enrolled similarly in learning institutions across the country, Aura says as quoted by the Star. The oppressive psychological and mental torture inflicted on the school-going children because of the open-ended closure of schools effected by the ministry from March till now has gravely injured them, reads the court documents. According to the father of three, in-person learning is more effective than virtual learning or any other method. Mr Aura, therefore, wants the court to compel Magoha to reopen schools in September for the third term. Further, the parent wants Magoha barred from implementing the community-based learning project across the country which the CS announced on July 30. Additionally, Mr Aura is seeking a court order compelling Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to reopen all play areas and recreational centres for children across the country. Aura, through his lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, argues that many countries who had a high number of Covid-19 cases have since reopened their schools and Kenya should follow suit. He cited France, Japan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Senegal, Gambia, Namibia, Ghana among others. Meanwhile, CS Magoha on Tuesday said the government is willing to reopen learning institutions earlier than January 2021 depending on the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Youre aware the virus is starting to look like it is going to stagnatewere saying should the situation change, we shall be ready and willing to look at the scenario once again in the interest of our children, said Prof. Magoha who was speaking in Migori County. As far as the government is concerned, ours is to open the learning institutions like yesterdaythe bottom-line is our children should be reasonably safe when they return. Were doing everything possible including ensuring that water sources and sanitizers are available were even in the process of providing masks where its possible. Vietnam is exploring the launch of an international arbitration case against China over a series of mishaps in a disputed sea if diplomacy fails, analysts believe. Over the past six years, Beijing has authorized the placement of an oil rig in contested South China Sea waters and Vietnam has begun exploring for undersea energy in spots that Beijing considers sensitive. In April a Chinese survey vessel sank a Vietnamese fishing boat. Vietnamese officials claim the seas Paracel Islands belong under their flag, though China has controlled the archipelago since the 1970s. The Philippines, which spars with China over other tracts of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea, won world court arbitration in 2016. The tribunal found that China had no legal basis to its claims to about 90% of the waterway including tracts east of Vietnam. China rejected the outcome and stuck to its course but spent the next year improving economic relations in Southeast Asia. Through my own assessment of it, [for Vietnam] I think its probably one of the more palatable options, said Derek Grossman, senior analyst with the Rand Corp. research institution in the United States. Whenever China offends Vietnam at sea, he said, they get really, really apoplectic and then they start to think about what are some of the ways they can push back. Vietnam and China have been at odds over the sea and their land border for decades, straining relations between the two Communist neighbors. The Chinese oil rig sparked deadly anti-China rioting in Vietnam in 2014. Vietnamese deputy foreign affairs minister Le Hoai Trung told an international conference in November that arbitration and international litigation were among the means Vietnam had explored. This year Vietnam contracted a panel of international maritime law specialists to advise the government. Grossman said he heard earlier this year from a Vietnamese official that the government was considering arbitration. Foreign ministers from both sides met Sunday to mark an anniversary of a bilateral land border treaty, signaling that diplomacy is alive for now, said Nguyen Thanh Trung, Center for International Studies director at University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnams role as 2020 chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gives it extra clout to push China over maritime issues. I think that they still want to rely on the bilateral mechanism and also the multilateral mechanism to settle their disputes between the two countries, Nguyen said. Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan claim all or parts of the sea as well. Governments prize the waterway for natural gas, oil and fisheries as well as marine shipping lanes. Vietnam should show it has exhausted diplomacy before filing for any arbitration, said Carl Thayer, Southeast Asia-specialized emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia. The government in Hanoi would look too for a critical moment when its dispute with China had crystallized, he said. Arbitration would especially appeal to Vietnam if China declared an air defense zone over the disputed sea, a threat to the activities of other Asian countries. Diplomacy is increasingly not effective because China is not listening, said Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii. Vietnams military cant compete with Chinas, he added. That narrows down the viable options that Vietnam can take, Vuving said. Vietnam must approach any world tribunal cautiously because some of its holdings in the South China Seas Spratly Islands are too tiny to justify establishing an exclusive ocean economic zone around them, scholars caution. China would react angrily if called to arbitration, Nguyen said. It might scale back economic relations and become more aggressive toward Vietnam at sea, scholars say. The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, a foundation for world arbitration, does not force either side to carry out arbitration results. But ASEAN could use a Pro-Vietnam arbitration outcome as pressure to make China comply Thayer said. External maritime powers such as the United States and Japan would cite the award as a legal basis to push back against China he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 15:04:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Chen Jiabao, Ming Dajun BANGKOK, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- China supports Thailand's efforts to upgrade border infrastructure and explore new trade routes among the Lancang-Mekong region, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand Yang Xin has said. Yang made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview with Xinhua after the third Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders' meeting held on Monday. The meeting mapped out a blueprint for regional cooperation and aimed to promote regional prosperity and development. He said the joint working group of Lancang-Mekong cross-border economic cooperation is intensifying planning on e-commerce cooperation, adding that China supports Thailand in setting up LMC fund projects to facilitate trade and logistic in the region. So far more than 300 special fund projects and nearly 30 infrastructure and industrial projects under the LMC mechanism have been implemented, according to Yang. Many of Thailand's LMC special fund projects aim to promote cross-border trade, business communication and rural e-commerce. Meanwhile, the country is exploring new trade routes based on the existing infrastructure. These projects will benefit medium, small and micro enterprises, business operators and farmers in the region, said the charge d'affaires. With the development of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation, Yang believes cooperation between China and Thailand in sectors such as e-commerce will see new opportunities and benefit the people in the region. Talking on cross-border trade among China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, Yang said Lancang-Mekong countries are enjoying a rapid economic growth and have strong demand for regional cooperation, adding that they all face common needs of seeking development and improving people's livelihood. China and Thailand have achieved fruitful results in promoting cross-border economic cooperation, said Yang. Yang said joint working groups on priority areas such as cross-border economic cooperation, production capacity and connectivity have mapped out medium and long term plans for the Lancang-Mekong sub-region. China's proposal at the third LMC leaders' meeting of synergizing the LMC with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor provides a broad platform for e-commerce development in the region, said Yang. Lancang and Mekong differ in name, but refer to the same river. It is called the Lancang River in China, while in its downstream after flowing out of China's Yunnan Province, it is called the Mekong River, running across Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Yang said water resource cooperation is one of the five priorities in the LMC agenda, and the cooperation mechanism has improved over time, adding that the joint working group has drawn up a five-year working plan, while the Lancang-Mekong water resource cooperation center has been officially launched. At the latest LMC leaders' meeting, China has promised to share the annual hydrological information of the Lancang River with Mekong countries starting from this year, he added. On poverty reduction, Yang said China is implementing a special poverty reduction plan, which will carry out 100 assistance projects to improve people's livelihood in Mekong countries within three years. China also supports poverty reduction in Mekong countries through the LMC special funds, Yang said. Most of Thailand's projects under these funds aim to improve people's lives, such as the forestry poverty alleviation pilot scheme that has been launched in nine appointed villages in northeastern Thailand, according to Yang. Yang said the world is facing growing uncertainties, and the LMC has become a significant stage for regional countries to discuss cooperation plans and uphold international justice, adding that all sides reiterated their support on free trade and multilateralism at the LMC leaders' meeting. Enditem NEET, JEE main 2020: Even as pressure piled from several states and opposition parties questioning the wisdom to conduct NEET and JEE exams in September, Education Ministry and the National Testing Agency (NTA) continued working for what would be the biggest entrance tests to be held during a pandemic. For JEE (Main), 7.41 lakh out of 8.58 lakh registered candidates have downloaded their admit cards. Only 332 candidates have requested for change of their centre cities, which are being considered positively, a government official said. For NEET, 6.84 lakh out of 15.97 lakh registered canddiates downloaded their Admit Cards in the first 5 hours, since start of the downloading at 11.55 am on Wednesday, the official added. Also Read: NEET Admit Card 2020 released at ntaneet.nic.in, heres direct link to download The promptness was seen by many in the education ministry as desire and willingness among students to take the tests. The JEE (Main) exam will be held in 660 centres across India from September 1 to 6, while NEET candidates would take the exam in 3842 test centres on September 13. Also Read: JEE Mains 2020 admit card released at jeemain.nta.nic.in, heres how to download According to a government official, the education ministry is keen to hold the exam because it will help keep the academic year on track and not keep students in perpetual uncertainty. Asked if any criteria could be chosen to select students for admission, the official said there was no alternative to these exams especially because colleges like IITs and AIIMS were highly coveted. The NTA has been emphasizing that it will hold the exams safely and a detailed protocol had been put in place. Also Read: NTA says NEET, JEE Main 2020 exams in September, informs about steps taken for safety of candidates Among the states which have questioned the move to hold the NEET and JEE exams are West Bengal, Delhi, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. These are states from which large number of candidates are going to appear in the two exams. For the JEE (Main) exam there are 37,790 candidates from Delhi, 38,236 from Odisha, 53,765 from Tamil Nadu and 37,973 from West Bengal. The highest number of candidates are from Maharashtra and second highest from Uttar Pradesh. Also Read: NEET, JEE Main 2020: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik seeks postponement of exam For NEET there are 53,993 candidates from Delhi, 37,459 from Odisha, 117,990 from Tamil Nadu and 77,061 from West Bengal. Maharashtra and UP are the top two states in terms of number of candidates for NEET as well. Clearly NTA needs support from states for holding the tests. However, several states do not concur with NTAs judgment. Also Read: No NEET exam abroad, but students allowed to come by flight: SC One of the strongest defences in favour of conducting examinations in recent days has come from IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao. In a post on social media, Rao said he was for conducting the examinations after taking all precautions and following social distancing norms. Lockdown is not a solution to COVID. Lockdown was needed to prepare ourselves better. We cannot be perpetually in lockdown mode. COVID is not going to go away for another 6 months to one year. We all need to get used to this new normal. The earlier we realise, the better it is for all of us. The last postponement of exams definitely helped us prepare well now, Rao had said. Also Read: Mamata Banerjee appeals to centre to postpone JEE, NEET exams Significantly, IIT Delhi is the organising institute for the JEE (Mains) which is also slated in September itself. As far as JEE Mains is concerned, the exam is now conducted multiple times in a year. In case some students cannot write the JEE Mains this time, they can take the exam after 6 months again. I dont see any reason for a concern. The consequences of postponing these exams any further can have serious repercussions on IIT academic calendars and for the candidates. I fail to see how we can run two batches together. It will become a zero academic year for lakhs of studentsWe have already lost 6 months. If we conduct the exams in September, we can at least start the sessions in IITs (could be online) in December. Tinkering with the examination pattern or admission processes in these times will also be detrimental and unfair for every one, Rao had said. Also Read: This isnt practical, postpone exams: Aaditya Thackeray to PM Modi The JEE exams should be held as per their schedule in September 2020. A large number of students and their parents want the exams to be conducted and looking forward to the wait to end now. The pandemic has already disrupted the academic plans of many students and institutions and we dont see the pandemic going away anytime soon. We should not let this be a zero academic year as it might have consequences on the bright future of several students. Students and their parents need to have faith in the system. The decision to conduct these exams has been taken post considering every aspect of the current situation. The government has been ensuring that all necessary arrangements would be done to safeguard the health and safety of the students. Delaying the exams would have a cascading effect thus we should come together in understanding its importance and support the system in conducting it seamlessly - Prof. Ajit K Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee. Also Read: Put JEE, NEET on hold, DMK chief Stalin urges Centre The centralised formats of exams like NEET posed more serious Challenges to the students in this pandemic situation. The students coming from socially and economically background, rural and far flung areas will find it very difficulty to cope these Challenges and may be forced drop out from the examination. This will add to financial stress to such households. Many areas are facing lock down, non-availability of public transport and hotels and flood situation. The experience of crowding at exam centres in different states add to worries of spread of infection. The solution should be inclusive and decentralised in nature. The NEET, JEE should be postponed till the time proper preparation is done. States should be given the responsibility to conduct the exams with more centres at sub-district level. The health and safety concerns of the students can not be ingnored at any cost, said Delhi University Executive Council member Dr Rajesh Jha. Also Read: Over 4000 students participate in day-long hunger strike demanding postponement of JEE, NEET and other exams There were always apprehensions that holding of JEE (Mains), NEET, CLAT, and other entrance tests by NTA in the proctored mode at chosen centres has the potential of degenerating into a Centre- States confrontation. The future and fate of almost 30 lakh students is involved and political slugfest on them is unfortunate. Supreme Court of India has clearly approved holding of these tests after ensuring all the safety measures against Covid. Future of millions of young students cannot be allowed indefinitely to be kept in tense limbo. Nation has to fight Covid and yet go on. As to when the Covid situation shall become normal cannot be predicted with any certainty, said former UGC member Dr Inder Mohan Kapahy. Also Read: NEET, JEE 2020: Punjab CM asks AG to coordinate with counterparts to file petition on entrance exams NTA authorities have categorically assured that all the Covid norms shall be observed at the designated centers. However the difficulty is in the students reaching their centers safely. Also if the students and their guardians have to stay overnight it adds to difficulties. Instead of fighting Centre, States and NTA should coordinate their efforts to increase the number of centers to facilitate accessibility and to arrange for transport from designated cities/towns and for lodging for the night for those who cannot do without it. There is huge pressure from a large sections of candidates and their parents to hold these tests. They fear zero year, Kapahy added. SOFIA -- Bulgarian Justice Minister Danail Kirilov has tendered his resignation after "a conversation" with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Bulgarian government said in a statement on August 26. The reshuffle was expected to be formally approved after talks between Borisov's ruling GERB party and its junior coalition partners. Approval requires a vote by parliament, which is due to meet next on September 2 for the start of its autumn session. The move follows weeks of mass demonstrations across Bulgaria against what protesters say is oligarchic control over Bulgarias government and judicial system. Rather than Kirilov's resignation, however, the demonstrators have been calling for Borisov and Bulgarian Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev to resign. Protesters have been blocking roads and staging daily rallies in Sofia and other cities for nearly two months The 50-year-old Kirilov has been heavily criticized as one of the authors of a controversial proposal for a new Bulgarian Constitution that has been denounced by experts and immediately rejected by protesters. Analysts have dismissed the proposal as an attempt by Borisov to win time and stay in office until his current third term expires in March 2021. They say the proposed constitution fails to improve the accountability of the chief prosecutor -- an issue long highlighted by Bulgarian and international observers and by the European Court of Human Rights. They say GERB's draft constitution also attempts to further limit the powers of Bulgaria's largely ceremonial president. Parliament is expected to start reviewing the constitution proposal when its autumn session starts. Debates on the proposal are expected to continue for months. Borisov has previously sacked four ministers in an attempt to appease the crowds of anti-government demonstrators. Thirteen years after joining the European Union, Bulgaria remains the bloc's poorest and most corruption-ridden member, according to Transparency International's corruption perception index. With reporting by AFP This is the heartwarming moment a group of food delivery riders teamed up to save a kitten that fell into a filthy drainage canal. The hapless moggy appeared scared while tiptoeing on the narrow ledge at of the dirty water after heavy monsoon season rain storms in Mandaluyong City, the Philippines on August 2. The men used cardboard and leash as a platform for the cat so they could slowly carry it up to safety. One of the riders, Rey Jalop Ladesma, said they were eating lunch at a nearby food stall when they saw the cat chasing a rat and fell into the canal and began crying for help. He said: "Doing good is for everyone whether it is animal or human. We must not choose whom we should help." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 03:15:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue on the basis of a two-state solution and for efforts to promote peace through development. The international community should firmly promote a peaceful settlement based on the two-state solution. Independent statehood is the inalienable national right of the Palestinian people that cannot be compromised or bargained away, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. He expressed the hope that relevant parties will take concrete action to advance the political process, and pave the way for the early resumption of peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis on an equal footing. Relevant UN resolutions, the "land-for-peace" principle and the two-state solution set out the overall direction of a final settlement. They are important parameters in the Middle East peace process, and must be observed and reaffirmed, he told a Security Council meeting. Zhang called on relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any hostile actions that may further aggravate the fragile security situation in Gaza. And the UN secretary-general's call for a global cease-fire should be heeded and truly followed. The increased demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank are a matter of concern. Concrete efforts must be made to implement Security Council Resolution 2334, including ceasing all settlement activities, stopping demolitions, and preventing violence against civilians, he said. The international community should take a holistic approach and promote peace through development, said Zhang. China commends the UN agencies including the World Health Organization and the UN agency for Palestine refugees for lending a helping hand, and calls for intensified international efforts to alleviate Palestine's economic and humanitarian difficulties. It is also imperative to end the blockade on the Gaza Strip and allow timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and services to people in need, he said. China firmly supports Palestine's just demands and all the efforts that are conducive to the settlement of the Palestine question. China stands with Palestine in its bid to establish an independent state that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, he said. China will continue to provide support and assistance to the Palestinian people, including in the fight against COVID-19. China is also committed to working closely with the international community in the pursuit of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, he said. Enditem Heer Khan, who had abused Hindu gods and goddesses and made derogatory comments against them in a YouTube video, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police. People on Twitter demanded her arrest after people saw her video named "Black Day 5 August" wherein Khan made some derogatory statements against Goddess Sita who Hindus preach for her purity. Peoples like Heer Khan" are abusing our gods and misusing democratic rights because we were tolerating them but now, we can't tolerate such Hinduphobic peoples anymore. I request @Uppolice to #ArrestHeerKhan immediately. Youtube Channel Link : https://t.co/wKe7OKkJtb pic.twitter.com/g2l8uBzQQX Mayank Bisaria (@bisaria_mayank) August 25, 2020 Now, a Hindu woman named Upasana Arya, in response to Heer Khan, has insulted Islamic Gods and has openly given rape threats. We wonder whats happening these days and why there's so much communal and religious hatred. See the video here: #ArrestUpasanaArya dono Ko Jail me band karo pic.twitter.com/rMbKIfO0Ra Dr Kumar Vishvas (@Amrk93) August 25, 2020 Soon after her video went viral, people started to demand strict action against her as they asked in the case of Heer Khan. People said that abusing anyones faith in their deities is unethical and something which wouldnt be tolerated. #ArrestUpasanaArya | 1 she abused islamic icons and principles 2 openly gave r@pe threats 3 Page on her name threatens to break mosques that hold namaz Just like Heer khan, she also deserves to be behind bars Don't let these hate mongers represent your religion. pic.twitter.com/ioXhiG6uGx An Open Letter (@AnOpenLetter001) August 26, 2020 If i am not wrong, she has written "Atheist" in her Ig bio. "Atheism is one thing: A lack of belief in gods." I just want to know one thing, for someone who doesn't believe in God, why did she feel the need to comment on any religion?#ArrestSushmitasinha #ArrestUpasanaArya Vanshika Wagh (@vannshikaa) August 26, 2020 First of fall @Uppolice #ArrestUpasanaArya and secondly I request to both community please don't use abuse for Hindu god and Muslim Messanger and Allah he used abuse only for popularity don't famous on twitter my msg Hindu Muslim Brotherhood Shabbir Khan (@shabbir44276586) August 26, 2020 #ArrestUpasanaArya #ArrestSushmitasinha Arrest All people who wants Indians fight Please Respect Each and Every Religion Religious Books Gives Knowledge to Spread Happiness and Live Together And Beacuse of One or Two People Please Donot Blame a Religion https://t.co/UMVH0youqb SHIVAAY (@mohitverma7699) August 26, 2020 In the morning itself, we had people talking about how a woman named Sushmita Sinha had uploaded a video wherein she said that she wants to use the book which has gods imprinted on it as the toilet paper. Are these millennials doing it for just limelight or theres more to it? Is this the way we see the new and educated India? What do you have to say about this? Let us know in the comments section below. An interior designer has transformed his little apartment into a 'lush' tropical jungle after covering every inch of his home with hundreds of plants. Markus Hamence, from Adelaide, South Australia, turned his love for greenery into the ultimate indoor forest, overflowing with 400 houseplants - and counting. The plant-obsessed entrepreneur said his 'epic' jungle has become a 'massive part of my life' after he started his collection four years ago. Slide me Interior designer Markus Hamence has transformed his little apartment into a 'lush' tropical jungle after covering every inch of his home with 400 houseplants - and counting BEFORE: Over the next four years, the avid green thumb slowly filled his home with stunning plants AFTER: The plant-obsessed entrepreneur turned his love for greenery into the ultimate indoor forest The avid green thumb shared a 'before' and 'after' pictures on social media of his spectacular living room transformation after he filled every space with plants. 'The day I moved in, and now, at my most recent plant indulgent self. I got green,' Markus wrote on Facebook. Not only does his captivating collection cover all of his floor space, but the plants adorn his walls, ceilings, dining table, chairs, kitchen bench and bedroom. 'I need my space to be my personal sanctuary that reflects who I am, and, as a child I always had a fascination for rainforests and jungles. This is what I had to create as my home,' Markus said. Not only does his captivating collection cover all of his floor space, but the plants adorn his walls, ceilings, beside table and even his bedroom After sharing his collection on social media, many were amazed by the transformation, describing his living area as 'beautiful', 'perfection' and 'gorgeous After sharing his collection on social media, many were amazed by the transformation, describing his living area as 'beautiful', 'perfection' and 'gorgeous. 'Wow this is a dream come true for plant lovers,' one woman said, while another added: 'In our house more is more. Maximalist vibes forever. Love this room, love this design aesthetic.' In June, he shared a picture of his 'favourite corner' - complete with tropical plants, vines and a fish tank filled with underwater greenery. Markus shared 'before' and 'after' snaps of his home office transformation. In 2017, he revealed his plans to turn his collection into a 'somewhat of an Amazonian forest' over the next 10 years In June, he shared a picture of his 'favourite corner' (pictured) inside his home - complete with tropical plants, vines and a fish tank filled with underwater greenery 'Everyone has that place in their home where everything seems that little bit more special. The place that gets the best light, the best air and the best attention,' he wrote. Markus - who runs his own business called The Botanic Designer - told The Advertiser in December 2017 he planned to turn his collection into a 'somewhat of an Amazonian forest' over the next 10 years. 'When I'm home I like to cook Thai, Mexican, Indian. I love cooking. I'll cook anything edible. If it turns out to be not, its instantly compost for the indoor plants win/win,' he told the publication at the time. Ukraine is closing its borders for foreigners from Aug. 29 due to growth in the coronavirus cases, the countrys prime minister announced on Wednesday, Anadolu agency reports. The ban on the entry will last till Oct. 31 and can be expanded if the dynamics will be still negative by that time, Denis Shmyhal said at a meeting with the government members in the capital Kiev. The exception will be made for the foreign nationals with Ukrainian residence permit and members of international and humanitarian missions, he added. Ukraine has registered 1,670 new cases over the last 24 hours, pushing the tally to 110,085, according to the Health Ministry. The death toll rose by 36 over the same period to 2,354 while recoveries increased by 584 to reach 53,454. The first case of coronavirus infection in Ukraine was detected on March 3 in the Chernivtsi region. On March 17, the authorities announced a nationwide quarantine. Since Aug. 1 Ukrainian regions have been divided into four zones, where different restrictions apply depending on the outbreak situation. Forty-six, 64, 86, 93, 104. Those are the number of daily positive cases leading up to the August 16 death of Don Beni Kabangu Nsapu, who at age 19 became the youngest Quebecer to have died from COVID-19 complications since the beginning of the pandemic. Im heartbroken. What will it take? I sit here, after a month of working with schools to attempt to put plans in place to open safely. Ive delayed this submission because I wanted to try to temper it with some professionalism, grace and reassurance. I wanted to exclude the fury, the depression, the anxiety, the disappointed, and disgust. However, the time for sugar-coating this message is over. If I am to have something put in writing it will be with the matter-of-fact-ness for which I have come to be known. So as a disclaimer, it should be clear that although I am proud to be working at the Jewish General Hospital, this commentary is personal and does not represent that institution. It is the commentary of a father of three, a husband, a son, and a lifelong West Islander, Quebecer and Canadian who also happens to have studied microbiology for 25-years and practiced medicine for 15-years. Just in case some important people are reading this, I am pre-emptively clarifying that this opinion has nothing to do with the fact that I am anglophone, that I am writing in English, the same language as the New England Journal of Medicine, or that it appears in an English language publication. What will it take?! The first wave hit Quebec, and Montreal in particular, like a freight train; albeit a slow moving and identifiable freight train that we were warned about. The government only expected a few cases within our jurisdiction. Just like with our roads and overpasses, our own special provincial vaccine schedules, and reapproval of Health Canada approved medications we always seem to know better in Quebec. We watched as COVID-19 washed across the planet eastward from January until early March. Italy warned us. New York State warned us. But it wasnt happening here, so it was not a problem as weddings continued and healthcare workers spent a half day here and the next part of the day there. Then COVID-19 decimated our CHSLD system, as if by surprise. Subsequently the elderly flooded hospitals, healthcare workers became ill, and brought COVID-19 back into their communities. Quebec paid for this hubris in lives, and time, and loneliness, and mental-health, and financial-security, and jobs. We are now being warned again, this time by Israel and Germany and our southern neighbours (whom we have been forbidden to visit for months) that schools are not magical places where the laws of COVID-19 transmission dynamics are suspended. Enchanted pods of six students or classroom sized bubbles do not stop the spread of this disease in school or prevent the disease from being transferred back into homes, the only true bubble that counts. Even schools that have prepared to go beyond the inadequate provincial back-to-school plan are being ordered to revise their plan since no additional safety measures beyond Public Healths (also inadequate) recommendations for schools may be enforced. Families have been told that their children are expected in person on day-1. There is no option for distance learning without medical exemption, thereby removing an individuals right to decide what is most in line with their personal risk tolerance for their familys safety, and also eliminating a potential outlet to relieve classroom congestion. To what end? What will it take?! We can see the type of mitigation measures that our leaders expect for themselves. A huge well ventilated hall, a large wooden desk and nobody within 2 metres of each individuals chair. Turn down the volume and check it out: I expect nothing less for my children and those of my community. Currently, it is accepted that children carry many times more SARS-CoV-2 virions in their airways than adults. It is true that children seem to tolerate COVID-19 infection better than adults, but complications are still seen. Children likely play an important role in viral transmission, similar to what is seen with almost every other seasonal respiratory virus and common cold. Children above 10-years old have transmission dynamics equivalent to that of an adult. While school reopening should be about the children, we must be mindful and remember that the COVID-19 infection doesnt stop at the age of 17. School openings are also about teachers, school staff, mothers, fathers, siblings, and grandparents. When students cant be distanced in their antiquated, poorly ventilated classrooms, which would essentially be almost every moment, they should be wearing the only mitigation measure we have available face coverings. As of August 19, in an attempt to mitigate risks for people of all ages, the American Academy of Pediatrics amended their guidance to agree with what I have been recommending for weeks: diminish class sizes, ideally achieve 3-6-feet of social distancing, and face coverings for all children above the age of 2. What will it take?! We have an influenza outbreak every year. We have to prepare for a potential flu season even if Australia has foreshadowed a mild one. Besides vaccination, influenza is mitigated by the same measures as those put in place to mitigate COVID-19; that is everywhere except schools and classrooms. It is no coincidence that two measures of community influenza activity are school absenteeism and school outbreaks. There is no announcement of expanded recommendation for influenza vaccinations or for extended coverage of influenza vaccination for those that want it. COVID-19 and influenza have overlapping syndromes which have the potential to further disrupt sustained activities in schools, the workplace, and the community. What will it take? We are not asking our representatives for a $200 million to save a circus. We are asking for an actual return-on-investment. Drop the human experiment, drop the dogma, drop the push towards herd immunity, and drop the principle of economy above all. Use all current data, all of the lessons learned during the first wave, and heed the warnings this time. Apply all of this to not only dampen a second wave, but to avoid a second wave and influenza season. We want to open schools safely and keep them open safely. We want to have a healthy workforce confident that they can return home healthy to their family at the end of the day. We want the economy to revitalize, and not breakdown again. We want safe and healthy communities, for people of all ages, moving forward in this hopefully temporary reality. Dr. Marty Teltscher, an infectious diseases specialist and medical microbiologist at the Jewish General Hospital and an assistant professor, McGill University faculty of medicine. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:23:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- An international research team has discovered that dinosaurs developed yearly growth lines on their bones throughout their lives, a find that sheds light on growth patterns of the ancient animals. Scientists from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with the China University of Geosciences and the George Washington University, conducted the study and published it in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Most modern mammals grow rapidly in their early years but develop dense lines of arrested growth in adulthood, a sign of cessation of growth. Modern reptiles, on the other hand, grow more slowly and keep growing throughout their lives, developing tree-ring-like growth lines on their bones every year. According to the new research, dinosaurs may have followed growth patterns similar to those of modern reptiles. The research team analyzed the bone tissues of Jeholosaurus, a small ornithopod dinosaur. They studied the specimens from five individuals at different growth stages, ranging from zero to five years old. The research results showed that, while the growth rate of Jeholosaurus was obviously faster than that of modern reptiles, they also developed growth lines every year. Environmental changes may be a cause of Jeholosaurus' particular bone histology, but more evidence is required in order to reach a conclusion, said Xu Xing at the IVPP, one of the authors of the study. Enditem Fuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more Online bandits are decreasing their schemes against businesses but increasing COVID-19 scams aimed at consumers, according to a report released Tuesday by TransUnion. Suspected fraudulent digital transactions against businesses worldwide dropped nine percent from the lockdown phase of the pandemic (March 11 to May 18) to the reopening phase (May 19-July 25), noted the quarterly report on global online fraud trends by the Chicago-based transaction security solutions provider. That contrasts with surveys done by TransUnion for the weeks of April 13 and July 27, which found a 10 percent jump in consumers targeted by digital COVID-19 scams. With the rush for businesses to go digital, as many were forced to go completely online almost overnight, fraudsters tried to take advantage, Shai Cohen, senior vice president of global fraud solutions at TransUnion, said in a statement. As those businesses ramped up their digital fraud prevention solutions, he continued, the fraudsters took their scams elsewhere. Conversely with consumers, he added, fraudsters are increasingly using COVID-19 to prey on those persons who are facing mounting financial pressures. Rejecting Layups TransUnions findings suggest that there may not be as much low hanging fruit among businesses for scammers as there used to be. Businesses have become a bit more vigilant regarding cybersecurity at the present time, observed Adam Laub, CMO of Stealthbits, a cybersecurity software company located in Hawthorne, N.J. What were layups for bad actors previously perhaps dont work with the same degree of success because cybersecurity has become more top of mind, he told TechNewsWorld. Nevertheless, he cautioned that most organizations still suffer from the same vulnerabilities and exploits they had previously. Its just a little bit harder to get through the front door, he said. Once in, however, attackers will traverse networks, escalate privileges and execute their missions with relative ease. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Weaponizing Fear and Uncertainty On the other hand, Laub continued, the closing of physical locations for shopping has increased e-commerce activity. That makes consumers just from a sheer numbers perspective an easier target than business at this point in time, he said. When businesses dont have their eye on the ball, they are by far the more attractive target, he added, but when they do, theyre a much tougher nut to crack for the average cybercriminal. Melody J. Kaufman, a cybersecurity specialist for Saviynt, an application and infrastructure security provider in El Segundo, Calif. explained that businesses have quickly adapted their security measures to accommodate remote workers over the last few months. This security shift has improved processes and procedures in many areas over organizations including phishing training and awareness, she told TechNewsWorld. This level of awareness makes businesses harder targets now. Thats not the case with consumers, she continued, who whether theyre savvy with technology or not are generally not familiar with the wide varieties of phishing campaigns that exist such as smishing and vishing. Bad actors find it easier to weaponize the fear and uncertainty of national events, including COVID-19, and this helps their attacks and scams yield valuable results, she said. Fraudsters enjoy times of uncertainty, added Trace Fooshee, a senior analyst with the Aite Group. They flourish in times of crisis, he continued. They take advantage of crisis because crises tend to introduce a level of heightened emotion when people lower their guard a little bit. People can be more gullible when their emotions are being preyed upon. Whack A Fraudster Governments may also be contributing to COVID-19 scams aimed at consumers, maintained Chris Clements, vice president of solutions architecture at Cerberus Sentinel, a cybersecurity consulting and penetration testing company in Scottsdale, Ariz. The transition from business to consumer targets is likely due to COVID-19 stimulus efforts from national governments, he explained. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Because consumers are primed to expect contact of some sort relating to the matter, it gives cyber criminals targets primed to interact with financial information, he told TechNewsWorld. The TransUnion report found that the biggest declines in suspected fraud were in the telecommunications (-60 percent), healthcare (-18 percent) and financial services (-13 percent) industries, while there were big increases in the travel and leisure (47 percent), logistics (27 percent) and insurance (8 percent) sectors. The change in the amount of suspected fraud against industries, comparing the periods of March 11 to May 18 and May 19 to July 25. Source: TransUnion This shows us that fraudsters initially targeted the hottest industries with the most money to be had early in the pandemic in order to hide behind the rush of transactions, but have now made an obvious shift once they experienced the fraud controls those industries had implemented, said Melissa Gaddis, senior director of customer success for global fraud solutions at TransUnion. Fraud is a constant game of whack a mole and when fraudsters arent successful in one area, they move somewhere else, she told TechNewsWorld. Avalanche of Disruptions Increases in transaction volumes probably contributed to the increases in suspected fraud incidents in the logistics and insurance industries. Logistics and insurance organizations have seen a surge of business due to the pandemic and as their workloads increase, they are more prone to failing to identify fraud as they attempt to manage a flood of legitimate requests, Clements explained. Meanwhile, in the travel industry, there was an avalanche of disruptions. That caused the overall number of transactions between consumers and their travel companies to increase exponentially, Fooshee explained. Travel companies also had to make many concessions to consumers for canceled trips, he continued. Whenever large scale concessions like that are being granted effectively giving away money the fraudsters are going to pounce on that, he said. Gen Z Targeted As part of its report, TransUnion surveyed 8,265 adults in Canada, Colombia, Hong Kong, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United states the week of July 27. It found that more than three out of 10 respondents (32 percent) said they had been targeted by digital fraud related to COVID-19, with Gen Z (age 18-25) being the most targeted at 36 percent. A common assumption is that fraudsters target older generations who are perceived to be less digitally capable, Gaddis observed. However, she continued, a potential reason that we found the opposite is the fact that younger consumers are more apt to conduct more digital transactions. Fraudsters tend to go where the transactions are. Furthermore, she added, our analysis found younger generations are more strained financially during the pandemic so fraudsters could be trying to take advantage of people in more dire financial situations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 02:10:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. soldiers were wounded in a quarrel with Russian soldiers in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, a war monitor reported on Wednesday. The incident happened on Tuesday when Russian and U.S. patrols came face-to-face in the countryside of Hasakah province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based watchdog group said a U.S. patrol was roaming in the countryside of Hasakah when a collision occurred with a Russian patrol, which intercepted and set off in pursuit of the U.S. patrol in the countryside of Al-Malikiyah city in Hasakah countryside. It said the situation developed to quarrel between both sides without weapon clashes. The Observatory said the incident is part of the tension between both sides as their confrontations are becoming almost a daily occurrence during the patrols in northeastern Syria. Enditem A Chinese couple has come under fire from both the media and the general public after allegedly filming their young, overweight daughter devouring whole plates of food and streaming the footage online. Pictures and videos of a three-year-old girl nicknamed Pei Qi stuffing her face from multiple plates full of food have been doing the rounds on Chinese social media and sparking outrage among viewers. The parents are being slammed for abusing their child and using her as a cash cow by not only encouraging her to eat unhealthy amounts of food, but also streaming the eating sessions on the internet. The little girls video channel was recently removed from a popular video streaming platform, because of the online uproar surrounding this case. Pei Qis parents deny the accusations, saying that their daughter just has an unusual appetite, but is otherwise healthy. Our videos not only included her eating food, as well her losing weight and dancing, the girls mother told reporters. Shes my birth child, why would I intentionally feed her that much? She has always been a big child. We have jobs and dont lack money, we just want to record the growth of our child, Pei Qis father added. We did make a little bit of profit, maybe a few hundred yuan, but that is just a number to us. Trying to explain Pei Qis excessive weight, her mother, surnamed Tan, said that the girl weighed 4.5 kilograms at birth, and had always put on weight very easily. According to Chinese media, the three-year-old weighs around 35 kilograms, much more than most kids her age. Her mother says its because she loves eating, but has no interests in sports. Chinese video platform ixigua.com said that it made the decision to close Pei Qis account after receiving numerous complaints from viewers regarding child abuse. UK tabloid Mail Online claims that in a since deleted video, Pei Qi told her parents to stop feeding her only to have her plate immediately filled again. Pei Qis channel is believed to have been inspired by mukbang a South-Korean online video genre in which a host consumes large quantities of food while interacting with their audience. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently critiqued the genre as wasteful and many prominent mukbang channels have since been deleted. An official organisation that protects the rights and welfare of Chinese women and children has launched an official investigation into Pei Qis case. Meanwhile, the general public seems to have already made up its mind about who is to blame. This is child abuse! Some people dont deserve to be parents. This is making me so angry! one person commented. The parents are using the child as a cash cow. They dont care about the childs health and well-being at all! someone else added. BANGKOK - Thailands prime minister on Wednesday described the countrys future as dire if escalating political tensions over demands by pro-democracy demonstrators for his government to resign arent resolved. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said political polarization due to the growing protests could destroy the nation. If each side insists on defeating the other politically, our country will collapse, he told reporters. If that happens, just wait and see, everyone will live on a fiery land, consumed by flames. If that happens I am at a loss for what to do. The student-led protests in many schools across Thailand have been non violent. Leading activists have been arrested on the serious charge of sedition, but courts so far have allowed their release on bail and authorities have made little serious effort to ban demonstrations. Prayuth faces threats by the demonstrators to escalate their campaign, as well as pressure from conservative groups that oppose the protesters, especially when some extend their criticism to the monarchy, a sacrosanct institution protected by law. He also is under pressure in Parliament, where a major coalition partner opposes military plans to include funding for two submarines in the new national budget. Prayuth has framed the problem as one of contending political viewpoints rather than singling out the student protesters for blame. However, he professed a similar position as army commander in 2014 of seeking to restore calm during more serious political confrontations, but then led a coup that favoured the interests of royalist conservatives over pro-democracy forces. Prayuth served as prime minister in the post-coup military regime and returned as prime minister after a general election last year. Laws guiding the election were widely seen as so heavily rigged in Prayuths favour that victory was all but guaranteed, which is why protesters seek new polls. They also want the army-installed constitution to be amended and harassment of government critics to cease. Police on Wednesday continued their crackdown on the protest movement, arresting two more activists on charges of sedition and several other offences. Those arrested Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree and James Panumas Singprom are members of the Free Youth movement, a key part of the growing pro-democracy protest coalition. A total of 13 activists have now been charged in connection with the recent protests. All including the two arrested Wednesday have been released on bail. The arrests have done little to deter the activists. They have declared they will hold a major protest in September if their demands are not met. Read more about: WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted a number of individuals it said were part of construction and military actions related to disputed islands in the South China Sea. The U.S. Commerce Department said the two dozen companies played a role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize the internationally condemned artificial islands in the South China Sea." The State Department, in a separate statement, said it would impose visa restrictions on Chinese individuals responsible for, or complicit in," such action and those linked to Chinas use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources." The move marked the Trump administrations latest efforts to crack down on companies whose goods may support Chinese military activities. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The United States accuses China of militarizing the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbors who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves. The United States has conducted multiple freedom of navigation operations by sending its warships through the area to assert the freedom of access to international waterways. China claims 90% of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of an area through which about $3 trillion of trade passes each year. Companies blacklisted by the Commerce Department include Guangzhou Haige Communications Group, several firms that appear to be related to the China Communications Construction Co, as well as Beijing Huanjia Telecommunication, Changzhou Guoguang Data Communications, China Electronics Technology Group Corp and China Shipbuilding Group. A message left with Shanghai Cable Offshore Engineering Co Ltd, an engineering company that specializes in the laying of submarine cables for Chinese utilities and telecom companies on the listing, was not immediately returned. Several other companies on the list could not immediately be reached or could not immediately be located. The Commerce Department said it was adding the firms to its entity list," which restricts sales of U.S. goods shipped to them and some more limited items made abroad with U.S. content or technology. Companies can apply for licenses to make the sales, but they must overcome a high bar for approval. The actions follow the same blueprint used by Washington in its attempt to limit the influence of Huawei Technologies Co for what it says are national security reasons. 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 Don Lemon covered the second night of the Republican National Convention with fellow CNN anchor Chris Cuomo. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) CNN anchor Don Lemon has spoken up about the ongoing protests in Kenosha, Wis., demanding justice for Jacob Blake and he wants Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to speak up too. While covering Night 2 of the Republican National Convention with his colleague Chris Cuomo, the veteran broadcast journalist shared his thoughts on the outrage and demonstrations that erupted in Kenosha this week after Blake was shot multiple times by police in front of his young children. "What's happening in Kenosha is a Rorschach test for the entire country," Lemon said. "I think this is a blind spot for Democrats. I think Democrats are ignoring this problem or hoping that it will go away. And it's not going to go away. ... "The problem is not going to be fixed by [the presidential election], but what they can do and I think maybe Joe Biden may be afraid to do it ... He's got to come out and talk about it. He's got to do a speech like Barack Obama did about race. He's got to come out and tell people that he is going to deal with the issue of police reform in this country." Lemon's subsequent remarks on the unrest in Kenosha which has seen multiple arrests, several businesses set on fire and two fatal shootings caused a stir on Twitter. Many demonstrations in the city have been largely peaceful. "What's happening now is happening ... on Donald Trump's watch, and when [Biden] is the president, Kamala Harris is the vice president, then they will take care of this problem," Lemon continued. "But guess what. The rioting has to stop. ... It's showing up in the polling. It's showing up in focus groups. It is the only thing it is the only thing right now that is sticking." Several criticized Lemon for focusing on polling numbers instead of violence in Kenosha, while others accused him of overlooking the root issue of police brutality and failing to hold the current president accountable for his handling of systemic racism. Story continues "Why is it that Don Lemon is holding Biden's feet to the fire when Trump is the man in charge?" tweeted Brave News Blog's Bianca Delarosa. "Whats more concerning is how the media always frames the shooting of an unarmed black person around the aftermath," added writer Florence J. Tipton. "Riots and destruction of property are more important than state sanctioned murder. Shameful!" Representatives for CNN and Lemon did not immediately respond Wednesday to the Los Angeles Times' request for comment. In a recent interview with The Times, Lemon opened up about the exhausting and rewarding experience of leading CNN's coverage of the nationwide protests prompted by the police killing of George Floyd. All of the chaos makes me sad, he said in June. But seeing those young people out there [who] are doing things the right way. They got it right. And theyre mad as hell and theyre not going to take it anymore. And good for them. So I am optimistic. Palestine accuses U.S. of trying to break apart region RAMALLAH, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian officials on Tuesday accused the U.S. government of trying to break apart the region. Their accusations came in response to the ongoing tour of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the Middle East over promoting Arab normalization with Israel. "Arming Israel instead of keeping it to the international legitimacy clearly shows that Washington is an ally that shares the Israeli occupation and its crimes against the Palestinian people," said Saleh Rafat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, in a press statement. Taher al-Noono, a media aide to the Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, said in a separate press statement that Pompeo's tour in the region "aims at carrying on with the crime of normalization." Hamas calls on the Arab states that Pompeo plans to visit "not to get engaged with the American efforts to implement the rejected Deal of the Century silently," al-Noono said. "All these attempts aim at beautifying the image of the occupier (Israel) in the region, justifying its crimes and denying the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," he added. The comment comes amid reports that Russia allegedly put forward an ultimatum at the TCG demanding that Ukraine hold local elections throughout the occupied Donbas simultaneously with those across Ukraine before foreign troops withdraw and Ukraine regains control of the border. Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement Leonid Kravchuk expects that the parliamentary working group will develop a certain document regarding the local election prospects for the occupied Donbas ahead of the upcoming TCG meeting. Kravchuk spoke to journalists on Wednesday following a Verkhovna Rada's Local Government Committee meeting which he had attended, according to an UNIAN correspondent. "This was a really constructive meeting. The deputies have analyzed the situation very deeply and considered my appeal (calling for a resolution on local elections - UNIAN) from all angles ... It was about the fact that the elections will definitely be held once appropriate conditions are in place to this end, the same as they are for the territory controlled by Ukraine," said Kravchuk. It is about "drafting a special law that would allow and ensure the conduct of democratic elections." "Now the committees ... agreed that it is necessary to create a working group that will prepare appropriate proposals. At this stage, it would be premature to say that the issue has already been resolved," the ex-president of Ukraine said. The corresponding working group, he added, will be created in the coming days. When asked whether Russia had indeed issued an ultimatum to hold local elections in the occupied territories, Kravchuk said: "In general, there was no ultimatum [] Nobody put forward an ultimatum. But it was expressed so concretely, so harshly, and the point was deliver on what you've signed," he said. Read alsoDonbas war: Will renaming "special status" for "special regime" be of any help to UkraineAlso, when asked if the negotiations in Minsk could be disrupted if Ukraine fails to fulfill the demand to hold local elections in the occupied areas, the ex-president noted: "When the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group starts, we will already have that document I currently don't know what kind it will be prepared by the working group. And we will say, at least, I will say, I'll repeat again that this is about a democratic parliament of Ukraine. In order to adopt the document, they must first comprehensively analyze and study it based on other documents, laws, and the Constitution of Ukraine. If this does not suit you, then suggest something else. At least, this will already be a reason for me to rely on something, for me not to just voice statements, words, or promises I will show them the relevant document," said Kravchuk. To a clarifying question on whether the working group will have time to develop such a document ahead of the next meeting of the TCG, he noted: "I hope so." TCG talks: latest NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has first filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Anaplan Inc. (NYSE: PLAN) between November 21, 2019 and February 26, 2020, inclusive (the Class Period). The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Anaplan investors under the federal securities laws. To join the Anaplan class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-1935.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE. YOU MAY RETAIN COUNSEL OF YOUR CHOICE. YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER AND DO NOTHING AT THIS POINT. AN INVESTORS ABILITY TO SHARE IN ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE RECOVERY IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON SERVING AS LEAD PLAINTIFF. According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company was undergoing sales organization and execution challenges; (2) these organizational challenges were causing the Company to miss on closing very important large deals; and (3) as a result, Anaplans financial guidance for calculated billings growth was baseless and unattainable. Further, while in possession of this material non-public information, Anaplan insiders dumped approximately $30 million worth of Anaplan stock at artificially inflated prices. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 23, 2020. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. If you wish to join the litigation, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-1935.html or to discuss your rights or interests regarding this class action, please contact Phillip Kim, Esq. of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via e-mail at pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 3 each year since 2013. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firms attorneys are ranked and recognized by numerous independent and respected sources. Rosen Law Firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- (Newser) At least three people were shot during a third night of protests in Kenosha, Wis., two of whom died. Shots were fired around 11:45pm Tuesday during a confrontation between protesters and armed men who claimed to be protecting a gas station, reports the New York Times. After initial shots, a graphic video showed a white man with a rifle running away from a crowd, falling, then firing multiple shots into the crowd. One person was shot in the chest, another in the arm, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A separate video showed a man who bystanders said had been shot in the head. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said there were two fatalities and one person suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police are now looking for the man with the long gun. story continues below There were 250 law enforcement officers and 250 National Guard members on hand as protesters angered by the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake in front of his three young children again gathered near the Kenosha courthouse, protected by a newly installed fence, after the 8pm curfew. Some threw water bottles, rocks, and fireworks at officers, per the Times. Police deployed tear gas, flash bangs, and rubber bullets, reports ABC News. The tear gas eventually forced protesters into the streets. Gov. Tony Evers had previously called for an end to the "damage and destruction" amid a state of emergency. Protests over Blake's shooting also turned violent early Wednesday in Atlanta, Ga., where protesters allegedly threw fireworks at officers and vandalized a police precinct, reports WSB. (Read more protests stories.) In a bid to ensure that quality fertilizer is accessed by farmers, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Abdulkadir Muazu, has reaffirmed the federal governments commitment towards implementing the National Fertilizer Quality Control (NFQC) Act 2019 by ensuring that a fertilizer regulatory system is in place. This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Ezeaja Ikemefuna for the director of information for the ministry. According to the statement, the initiative would increase agricultural productivity towards national food security. Speaking during the operationalization of the NFQC Act meeting held at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday evening, Mr Muazu stated that the policy would safeguard the interest of the farmers against nutrient deficiencies, adulteration, misleading claims, and short weight. He noted that it will also safeguard interests of fertilizers enterprises, thereby creating part of the enabling environment for private sector investment in the fertilizer industry and protect the environment against potential dangers that may result from the use of harmful substances in fertilizer. The ministry has however been unrelenting in the bid to set in motion the enforcement of the Fertilizer Act and accordingly developed regulations for its implementation which has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review by legal draftsmen and subsequent gazetting, he said. According to him, in the implementing regulations are the steps, processes, procedures and guidelines for effective enforcement of the NFQC Act. The ministry has listed the services/activities necessary for the enforcement of the Act and is, therefore, proposing fees, tariffs and charges that will be prescribed for the various services to be rendered for consideration and adoption. He said this meeting is being convened to enable us to holistically examine the proposed charges/fees. In our deliberations, the above key objectives must be put into utmost consideration and none of it should be compromised, he said. In his presentation on key areas of the NFQC Act and the regulations, Yemi Akinseye-George said, the federal government and relevant stakeholders of the fertilizers industry have taken the bull by the horn by enacting a robust legal framework for quality control in the country. Mr Akinseye-George urged that all hands must be on deck to ensure full implementation of the National Fertilizer Quality Control Act 2019. In his introductory remarks, director, Department of Farm Inputs Support Services in the ministry, Tunde Bello, stated that the meeting will address the critical issues relating to operationalization of the NFQC Act 2019, particularly issue of charges and the regulation of the manufacture, importation, distribution, sales and quality of fertilizers in Nigeria. The Porsche driver accused of filming a dying police officer after a horrific crash that killed four officers was in shock after experiencing his own 'near death experience', a court has heard. Millionaire businessman Richard Pusey, 41, appeared via videolink on Wednesday in a Melbourne court where he faces 15 charges - one of which hasn't been used since the 1600s in England. 'Amazing. Absolutely amazing. All I wanted to do was go home and eat my sushi and now you have f**ked my f**king car,' Pusey was allegedly heard to say as Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor lay dying. Richard Pusey was arrested on April 23, one day after the fatal crash which killed four police officers Pictured: Emergency services trying to remove a Porsche from the scene the day after a fatal crash on Eastern Highway in Kew Pusey had avoided the crash that killed the officers after he jumped the fence to urinate. Top Melbourne barrister Dermot Dann, QC, who appears for Pusey, claims his client was in shock when he pulled out his phone to film the scene after narrowly escaping death himself. 'Part of the context of course is that Mr Pusey - on any objective view - must have been involved in a near death experience,' he told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. 'There's evidence ... of him being, shortly after him being filming, in a very distressed and shocked state.' Mr Dann said his particular circumstances immediately following the deadly crash needed to be taken into account when judging his behaviour. Pusey is contesting an offence that has never been used in Australian legal history, Mr Dann contends. The charge of 'outraging public decency' was added to Pusey's existing 12 charges in late June. It was issued amid allegations Pusey was heard by witnesses declaring 'these cops were harassing me, that's justice'. Mr Dann told the court another witness who filmed the scene, albeit from further away, had not been charged by police. The court heard Pusey had been co-operative with police after they pulled him over on April 22 on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway amid allegations he was speeding. Mr Dann said Pusey's behaviour toward Leading Senior Constable Taylor had been conducted in a 'good natured way' before the truck hit. 'There was laughing between them. This can be seen. There is evidence of Mr Pusey describing Leading Senior Constable Taylor as being lovely and nice. And this is in the immediate aftermath of this filming,' Mr Dann said. 'It's no part of the defence case that there can be some kind of characterisation of this whole event as Mr Pusey being angry with the individual officers that he was dealing with at the scene. We say that's not part of our case and it's not the evidence.' The mortgage broker (pictured in a court sketch) avoided being struck because he'd been urinating off to the side of the road Pusey previous 12 charges include driving at a dangerous speed, reckless conduct endangering life, destruction of evidence, perverting the course of justice, failing to remain at the scene after a drug test and failing to render assistance Senior Constable Kevin King (pictured, far left), Constable Glen Humphris (second from left), Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor (second from right) and and Constable Josh Prestney (far right) all died in the crash Mr Dann said his client had not argued with police and said the prosecution agreed too that Pusey had not taunted the dying officer. 'He cannot be described as taunting any of the police officers,' he said. Mr Dann again said his client would likely plead guilty to some charges if police would withdraw that offence. But prosecutor Robyn Harper said the Crown would not back down, arguing that elements of the charge had been used before in prosecuting sex offenders. Ms Harper produced newspaper court reports dating back more than 100 years to back-up her claims. Ironically, just moments earlier she had argued to deny court reporters access to documents and other materials tendered to the court. Mr Dann argued no trace of the actual charge being prosecuted could be found in Australian legal history. Mr Pusey himself sat quietly from a prison media room throughout the video hearing. At one point, he interjected to help resolve a technical problem with the video feed. The court heard previously the legal process could drag on for years if police pushed ahead with all of the charges currently hanging over Pusey's head. The driver of the truck, Mohinder Singh, was charged with four counts of culpable driving and also remains behind bars. Mr Dann said even if the charge did exist, his client could not be found guilty of it because hardly anyone had heard his comments. Top Melbourne barrister Dermot Dann, QC, (left) claims police have charged Richard Pusey with an offence that may not even exist in Australia. He is pictured with ex Tiger Jake King Pusey has been behind bars since April when a truck crashed into four officers after they pulled him over for allegedly driving at 149km/h in his Porsche 911 with cannabis and ice in his system. The three male officers were already dead when Pusey allegedly began filming. Public funerals were held for all four officers after the tragedy, which marked the single greatest loss of police life in Victoria's history. Pusey's previous 12 charges include driving at a dangerous speed, reckless conduct endangering life, destruction of evidence, perverting the course of justice, failing to remain at the scene after a drug test and failing to render assistance. At a previous hearing last month, Magistrate Jo Metcalf labelled Pusey's alleged filming of the graphic crash scene as 'highly intrusive and morally repugnant' but noted it was not illegal. He remans in protective custody at Melbourne Assessment Prison and did not apply for bail. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:52:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Staff members inspect the Sino-Russian 500 KVA (kilo-volt-amp) back-to-back converter station in Heihe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged congratulatory letters on Wednesday marking the start of the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation between the two countries. "As each country is the other's largest neighbor, China and Russia have been working together and helping one another as the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the globe," Xi said in his letter, stressing that launching the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation between the two countries as scheduled has "fully reflected the high level and exceptionality of their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era." He expressed his belief that the two countries' successful practice in jointly fighting the pandemic and tiding over difficulties would surely be transformed into a powerful driving force for strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation. "China and Russia, as responsible major countries in the world as well as scientific and technological powers with important influence, should move forward with the tide of the times, grasp the trend of development, and advance the all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging exchanges and cooperation between the scientific and technological personnel of the two countries, so that they can make greater contributions to the reform of the global governance system and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi said. Putin said in his congratulatory letter that scientific and technological innovation is one of the most promising areas of cooperation between Russia and China that will determine the future of the two countries and have a bearing on the improving of the living standards of the two peoples. "Activities under the framework of the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation are rich in content, covering scientific research, exhibitions and academic exchanges," Putin said. He noted that the governments as well as medical and scientific research departments of the two countries have conducted close cooperation in the battle against COVID-19 and attained a series of important results with broad impact. "I sincerely wish that the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation will be a success and add new substance to the development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era," he said. During Xi's visit to Russia in June 2019, he and Putin announced that 2020 and 2021 would be designated the Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation, the first national theme year titled "scientific and technological innovation" between the two countries. Bengaluru, Aug 26 : Bengaluru Zoo has named a new born female elephant calf after Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy, recognising her contribution to wildlife conservation, an official said on Wednesday. The calf Sudha was born to a 45-year-old mother. "Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park is happy to announce that elephant Suvarna's calf born on August 20 will be named as 'Sudha' to acknowledge the contribution of Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murthy towards the cause of wildlife conservation," Executive Director Vanashree Vipin Singh told IANS. In 2016 and 2017, Murthy contributed to the creation of enclosures for zebras, giraffes and tigers in the zoo, including the construction of a storage tank and money for staff welfare. Murthy used to come personally and take interest in the works. She used to get involved, Singh added. She said some local media houses also conducted a poll on possible names for the calf during which Murthy's name popped up. Image Source: IANS News "I did not take the decision to name the calf after Murthy immediately as I have to take permission from higher-ups and Murthy herself," she said. Singh wrote to Murthy who consented to naming the calf after her. "In the past, I have named one elephant after Tulsi Gowda who was a Padmashri awardee and worked in the field of environment. She was from Karnataka and had done a lot of plantation work. It was done to recognize her services to environmental causes," said the senior Indian Forest Service officer. Image Source: IANS News A tigress was also named after sprinter Hima Das in an endeavour to inspire people. Barring herd animals, all the animals in the zoo have been named, she said. -- Syndicated from IANS Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese car manufacturing joint venture FAW-Volkswagen (FAW-VW) said the year-to-date sales volume of its entry-level sub-brand JETTA has exceeded 100,000 units as of mid-August. The joint venture aims to fulfill the 2.325 million-unit sales goal in 2020, of which 200,000 units of the target is shouldered by Jetta. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand has so far achieved only 50% of its annual task. However, as the domestic auto market is posting a solid rebound, JETTA is still expected to consummate the sale goal. (JETTA VS5, photo source: JETTA) On March 22, 2019, JETTA was officially launched as the third sub-brand of FAW-VW. It currently has three vehicle models for salethe VS5, the VS7 and the VA3, which are all priced between 60,000 yuan ($8,680) and 130,000 yuan ($18,805). The market of this price range is usually dominated by China's self-owned PVs priced around 100,000 yuan ($14,465) for household use. With 46,234 units sold in total, the VS5 is JETTA's best-selling model in term of the Jan.-Jul. wholesale volume, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). In addition, the automaker sold 24,242 VA3s and 20,305 VS7s respectively so far this year. Jetta president Harald Mueller previously said Volkswagen Group was considering launching the entry-level marque in other markets thanks to high demand in China. Apart from Mueller's statement, there hasn't been any confirmation that JETTA will go globally. The media outlet Motor1. com said the brand is expected to move north to Russian and perhaps to markets elsewhere in Asia: the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and the like. However, it is unlikely to tap European and American markets. Queensland Deputy police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski speaks at a press conference at Police headquarters on March 25, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Jono Searle/Getty Images) Queensland Investigates Victoria Luxury Yacht Arrival Queensland police are investigating seven people who sailed to the Gold Coast from Victoria aboard a luxury superyacht under an exemption for repairs. A criminal investigation has been launched into a group of people who sailed a luxury yacht to Queensland under an exemption for repairs. The seven people arrived at the Gold Coast from Victoria aboard the Lady Pamela superyacht on Aug. 24. Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski says a criminal investigation is underway. We are doing that in collaboration with the New South Wales Police Force, he told reporters on Aug. 26. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young earlier granted the vessel and its crew an exemption to come from Victoria to Queensland for routine maintenance and repairs. The yacht was not supposed to stop in NSW during the journey and the crew were told to quarantine at sea. They were (also) only meant to have the people necessary to bring the yacht safely up to Queensland, Young said. Thats a very serious investigation. All those on board are now in hotel quarantine and their travel exemption has been revoked. Queensland recorded one new case of coronavirus overnight, the eleventh in the Brisbane youth detention centre cluster. The case is a known close contact of another infected person and was already in quarantine. We have not seen any community transmission due to any of the original five cases of those youth workers at the centre, Young said. There is still a risk over the next week that we will see that. Young urged people to continue coming forward for testing, saying there may be more cases undiagnosed. We actually dont know what the link is for this cluster (and) where did they actually get it from, she said. Police have now found 92 of the 94 children authorities were tracing, and are confident the other two will be located soon. Meanwhile, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says a Federal Court ruling endorsing Western Australias hard border closure vindicates Queenslands decision to quarantine the state. Justice Darryl Rangiah on Tuesday found the hard borders were stronger than any alternative approach to keeping COVID-19 out of WA and that an uncontrolled outbreak could have catastrophic health consequences. Palaszczuk says the courts findings support the decision close Queenslands borders. I am very pleased with that result because that is exactly what I have been saying, she told reporters on Aug. 26. Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said the courts decision was a defeat for our knockers. Miles said it was a loss for Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Clive Palmer and their attempts to criticise states that closed their borders. This has confirmed that keeping borders closed is an effective and legal measure, he said. By Aaron Bunch Health and safety are key concerns, impacting the travel intentions of Chinese tourists in the new normal as recent findings of the ITB China Travel Trends Report revealed. The report is a yearly publication, conducted by ITB China, to update the travel industry with the latest travel demands and trends in the China market. According to the market survey based on 200 China outbound travel agencies and travel companies, the prevention and control of the pandemic at the destination are considered most important to Chinese travellers. Sanitary measures in force will also become key concerns, as will stable flights schedules. Self-driving tours, free independent travel (FIT) and customized tours are being driven by the new situation to avoid places with crowds and large travel groups. "After the outbreak, travellers may prefer outbound products focusing on safety, health and wellbeing, while the demand for natural landscape and customized travel will also increase," said He Yong, President of HCG Travel Group. Island, outdoor, natural landscape, family and medical tours are expected to be the most popular themes in the coming year. Business + Leisure will be still one of the trends for business travel in the future. Over 60 percent of the surveyed travel companies expect business travellers to make personal or family trips to the specific destinations of their business travel next year. Regarding the question of how to effectively and quickly restore the Chinese travel market, 200 respondents from Chinese outbound travel agencies and travel-related companies participating in the survey, offered opinions and suggestions, such as Sustain and improve awareness and popularity of destinations, Align and upgrade travel products focusing on safety and health, Communicate with Chinese partners to keep aware of changes in the Chinese market, Set up flexible operation process and quick response mechanism and Engage in pre-sale activities of travel products. We would advise European tour operators to start work on preparing products to answer the needs of potential travellers and visitors in the aftermath of the outbreak, said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of European Travel Commission. These products should focus on health, wellbeing, nature, and should be customisable. Examples of such products could be self-guided tours. Chinese tour operators should get in touch with potential partners in Europe to help prepare these products, especially taking into account the Chinese experience in restarting domestic travel after the pandemic. TradeArabia News Service The Caribbean island state of St. Kitts & Nevis has stripped four oil tankers of its flag after an NBC News investigation found that as many as 15 tankers under various flags had manipulated their trackers to skirt the U.S. sanctions on Irans oil exports. An earlier investigation by NBC News found that those tankers were switching off trackers to hide the fact that they had traveled to Iranian waters to load oil for exports in violation of the U.S. sanctions on Irans oil industry. Iran is exporting a lot more crude oil than U.S. figures suggest, data from TankerTrackers.com has revealed, as reported by NBC News. According to the data, Iran is exporting as much as 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), using ship-to-ship transfers with transponders turned off to avoid detection, skirting U.S. sanctions. The daily average number compares with an estimate of 227,000 bpd made in a U.S. Congressional report, NBCs Raf Sanchez wrote on Twitter. TankerTrackers.com first reported in 2018, after President Trump reintroduced sanctions on Iranian exports, that Iranian tankers were turning off their transponders to hide the destination of their journeys. At the time, most tanker tracking data came precisely from transponders and port authorities, which made most Iranian tanker movement reports unreliable. After the NBC News report was aired earlier this month, St. Kitts & Nevis stripped four tankers of its flag, the Giessel, the Ekaterina, the Lerax, and the Amfitriti. The St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry takes any violations of imposed sanctions very seriously and will act swiftly and effectively to deal with infringements involving any vessels flying its flag, it said in a emailed statement to NBC News. Such was the case with the tanker Giessel which was de-flagged on August 4th following press reports that it had visited an Iranian port, the registry told NBC News. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp insists the Australian Defence Force did not offer to provide personnel for the state's hotel quarantine program at a crucial meeting on March 27, and he never asked for it. Mr Crisp was speaking on Wednesday at a parliamentary public accounts and estimates committee hearing that also heard Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton reveal criminal inquiries are under way into security companies engaged for the botched program. Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp chaired a pivotal meeting to set up the hotel quarantine program. Credit:Luis Ascui "Last week, I was made aware that complaints had been made to the licensing and registration division which governs that area," Mr Patton said. He was unable to reveal anything else about the criminal inquiries after the committee's chair Labor MP Lizzie Blandthorn cut the questioning short as the member asking the questions the Liberals' Bridget Vallence had run out of time. Iran said on Wednesday it was ending a months-long standoff with the U.N. nuclear watchdog by granting it access to two sites suspected of once hosting secret activities, easing diplomatic pressure on Tehran as Washington seeks to reimpose sanctions, Reuters reports. Wednesdays breakthrough in the dispute over the sites was announced in a joint statement by Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency during IAEA Director General Rafael Grossis first visit to the Islamic Republic since he took over the role in December. Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA, Grossi and Irans nuclear agency chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, said in a joint statement, confirming an earlier report by Reuters. It said dates for IAEA inspectors to visit the sites - one near Karaj west of Tehran, the other near Isfahan in central Iran - had been agreed, without naming them, as well as the parameters of verification activities there. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Cloudy with morning snow ending, then windy and turning colder with falling temps and some afternoon clearing. A coating to 1-2" of snow expected in the morning. . Tonight Partly cloudy, windy, and very cold. Wind chills near or below zero later at night. It's been six weeks since her brother died from a self-inflicted gunshot. And on Tuesday, Riley Keough continued to publicly mourn Benjamin Keough, who was 27 at the time of his death in the early hours of July 13. The actress and granddaughter of Elvis Presley posted two photos to her Instagram Story, one showing her with her beloved sibling and a solo pic of Benjamin laughing on which she wrote the word: 'Angel'. Missing him: Riley Keough continued to mourn her brother Benjamin on Tuesday, as she posted more photos to her Instagram Story six weeks after he killed himself Gone too soon: Riley, 31, wrote the word 'Angel' on a solo shot of her brother laughing. Benjamin, 27, killed himself at his mother Lisa Marie Presley's home in Calabasas on July 13 Riley, 31, and Benjamin are the children of Elvis' only daughter Lisa Marie Presley with her ex-husband Danny Keough. In an emotional social media post a few days after his death, Riley called her brother her 'twin soul' and 'best friend.' In addition to Benjamin, Riley has 11-year-old twin half-sisters, Harper and Finley, from her mother's marriage to Michael Lockwood. Lisa Marie, 52, was reported to be 'completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated' at the loss of her only son. Famous genes: Benjamin was the only grandson of Elvis Presley and his mom Lisa Marie, 52, was reported to be 'completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated' at his loss The King's legacy: Elvis' widow Priscilla Presley, 75, described the aftermath of her grandson's suicide as 'some of the darkest days of my family's life' Elvis' widow Priscilla Presley, 75, described the aftermath of her grandson's suicide as 'some of the darkest days of my family's life.' She wrote on Facebook: 'The shock of losing Ben has been devastating Trying to put all the pieces together of all the possible whys has penetrated my soul. Each day I wake up I pray it will get better.' Benjamin killed himself in the bathroom of Lisa Marie's Calabasas home during a party celebrating the birthdays of his girlfriend Diana Pinto and Riley's husband Ben Smith-Petersen. Police called to the mansion discovered his body around 6 a.m. on Sunday July 13 after he shot himself in the head with a shotgun. Benjamin was a musician like his father and his famous grandfather, and it's been claimed he struggled under the weight of the legacy of'the King of Rock and REoll'. Riley has forged a career as a Hollywood actress with roles in Mad Max: Fury Road, Logan Lucky and The Girlfriend Experience. Supporting the demand for postponement of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and Joint Entrance Examination examinations in view of the coronavirus pandemic, seven chief ministers of non-Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states on Wednesday decided to jointly move the Supreme Court on the issue. IMAGE: Police detain Indian Youth Congress workers who were staging a protest outside the HRD Ministry for organising JEE-NEET Examination amid COVID-19 pandemic, in New Delhi, on Wednesday. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo Parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kahagam and the Aam Aadmi Party too joined the growing chorus against the holding of the (NEET) and (JEE) at a time when COVID-19 cases were rising. At a meeting convened by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on a range of issues ahead of Monsoon Session of Parliament, the seven chief ministers unanimously agreed to the need for filing a review petition urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent order rejecting the postponement of the competitive exams. Among the chief ministres who attended the meeting were West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), Maharashtra's Uddhav Thackeray, who is heading the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress government, Punjab's Amarinder Singh (Congress), Jharkhand's Hemant Soren (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), Rajasthan's Ashok Gehlot (Congress), Chhattisgarh's Bhupesh Baghel (Congress)and Puducherry's V Narayanasamy (Congress). A decision was taken to discuss the matter and evolve a joint strategy in this regard. Sonia Gandhi said the Congress party was on board on the issue and asked Banerjee, who proposed a joint appeal by the states in the apex court, to work out with Amarinder Singh and other chief ministers on the legal recourse. She said whatever steps need to be taken in the interest of students should be taken unitedly. Batting for the students who are demanding postponement of the exams due to COVID-19, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the central government to listen to their grievances and find an amicable solution. 'NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health and future. They have genuine concerns of: fear of Covid19 infection, transport and lodging during pandemic and flood-mayhem in Assam and Bihar,' he said on Twitter. 'GOI must listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution,' he said. The Congress also announced protests by its state units on August 28 in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters, besides a nationwide online campaign, #SpeakUpForStudentSaftey. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia separately said medical and engineering entrance exams NEET and JEE should be postponed and the central government should work on alternative methods for selecting students. "They (Centre) are saying protocols will be followed. Following the same protocols that the Centre wants 28 lakh students to follow, lakhs of Indians have tested positive," the Aam Aadmi Party told reporters. "How can we take the risk of sending 28 lakh students to exam centres and be assured that they will not be infected," Sisodia asked. DMK chief M K Stalin welcomed the decision of the seven chief ministers to appeal to the Supreme Court for postponement of NEET, JEE exams and thanked Sonia Gandhi for her efforts. He said the Tamil Nadu government should also move the Supreme Court. Earlier, during the chief ministers' meeting, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren suggested meeting the president and prime minister on the issue, to which Banerjee and Amarinder Singh said there was no time for that, considering JEE Mains are scheduled to be held from September 1 to 6. Sonia Gandhi set the stage for a discussion on the JEE, NEET issue by mentioning in her opening remarks that the government was looking at the students' issue 'uncaringly'. Banerjee then urged other CMs to jointly move a review petition in Supreme Court, saying the students are facing a lot of hardships. The Punjab CM endorsed her demand, saying the atmosphere is not conducive for holding exams physically as the number of COVID cases were rising. "I have written to the prime minister twice requesting him to postpone the decision to hold NEET/JEE exams. I also requested him to intervene as the Supreme Court has already passed an order and the Centre can appeal against it. "But there has been no response. So if the Centre can't appeal then the states for the sake of the students should jointly appeal and move the SC on this issue," Banerjee said. Thackeray also said that the time is not right for holding the competitive exams and pressed on the need for postponing them. He said the assembly session was curtailed due to the rising number of COVID cases. Singh asked the Punjab Advocate General to coordinate with his counterparts in other opposition-ruled states for filing a collective review petition in the Supreme Court, to seek deferment of the NEET-JEE exams. "23 MLAs in Punjab are down with Covid19. If this was the state of legislators and ministers, one can only imagine how grave the situation on the ground was. The scenario was not conducive to holding physical examinations," Singh said. He suggested holding JEE, NEET and other entrance exams online. While Gehlot and Baghel also endorsed the view, Narayanasamy said the central government would be held responsible if students get infected with COVID. "Conducting NEET and JEE will lead to a rise in COVID-19 cases and the central government will be held responsible if students get affected," Narayanasamy said. The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted in September as scheduled, the Ministry of Education officials had said on Tuesday. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams, saying a 'precious' academic year of students 'cannot be wasted' and life has to go on. While a total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. The NEET is to be held on September 13 and engineering entrance exam JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6. Weeks before a middle-aged man and his elderly mother headed out to sea on a bizarre boat trip and disappeared, he purchased a second, similar vessel from an online salesman. What for? And where is it? Those are the questions that have Victoria Police investigators intrigued, nine months after Felicity Loveday, 83, and son Adrian Meneveau, in his 50s, pulled on their life vests and jetted out to sea from Frankston Wharf on December 11, never to be seen again. Police have said Mr Meneveau was planning to 'cleanse' Felicity - the South African-born former 'worshipful master' of a sect known as the Co-Freemasons - of evil spirits on a three-day boat trip. Adrian Meneveau, in his 50s, and his mother Felicity Loveday, 83, vanished at sea on December 11. Their boat was later found capsized and a police investigation is continuing A senior police investigator said 'no one' has come forward with information that could solve the mystery of what happened to Mr Meneveau's second boat, purchased weeks earlier This is the separate boat that Victoria Police officers found at sea last December. Its discovery brought with it many questions Four days after their departure, their boat was found capsized. Their bodies have never been found and family members presume that the pair perished. And despite an appeal for information, Senior Constable Chris Obst from the Marine Investigation Unit said witnesses are yet to come forward with information about the boat Mr Meneveau's recently purchased. 'The first boat in relation to the incident, no one's come forward in relation to that,' Mr Obst told Daily Mail Australia. He added that Mr Meneveau had bought it 'a few weeks prior' to departing Frankston and that police wanted to know where it was and whether it itself had been sold. The 'mere fact its a few weeks prior to heading out and capsizing and them disappearing' was of interest to the investigation, which is still active, he said. 'it's just a line of inquiry that needs to be closed off,' he said. When asked if the missing second boat left open the possibility the mother and son could be alive, just elsewhere, Mr Obst said there was no evidence to suggest that may be the case. 'Ghostly' photo: How daughter was forced to debunk speculation her mother WASN'T dead in final photo and just 'pale' due to dementia It's not the first time interesting theories have surfaced about what happened to the pair. Earlier this year, Ms Loveday's daughter Christina was forced to debunk further speculation that her mother was dead in the final photo she took. Months after her loved ones were last seen, Christina went on the record to definitively state her mother was alive when she took the photo from Frankston Wharf. 'For the sake of accuracy, I took the photo and Felicity was very much alive,' Christina Loveday said. Daily Mail Australia accepts that Felicity was not dead in the image. 'She has dementia, and had spent a lot of time indoors, so she generally looked pale, and was mostly napping.' Last photo: Felicity Loveday, 83 (on right) and her son Adrian were lost at sea during a bizarre three-day boat trip to 'cleanse' Ms Loveday of evil spirits Ms Loveday's daughter Christina insists her mother was alive and simply clammy and pale when this picture was taken Christina came forward with an explanation after a report was published stating that investigators had considered the possibility Felicity was dead in the image. Senior Constable Obst told Melbourne's Herald Sun: 'There are many aspects to this investigation that appear suspicious and strange. 'We just can't rule anything out at this stage.' Christina witnessed the pair's departure in the small boat - which lacked a cabin or sleeping quarters for shelter. She raised the alarm after her relatives failed to return home on schedule, with Mr Meneveau reportedly last messaging his sister on December 13 to say they were having a 'good time together' - only to be never heard from again. Emergency crews after retrieving the boat in December last year Christina Loveday, above, was the last to see her loved ones from the wharf The mother and son's first boat was found submerged near Ricketts Point, some 24km north of where their voyage began, on December 15, two days after Adrian was last heard from. Police launched 'extensive' air and sea searches but could not find the pair. A single life jacket was found inside their boat. Likewise, the nature of the ritual the mother and son were hoping to perform remains unknown, but a family friend was told Adrian had been planning to perform a 'spiritual exercise' upon his mother. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Felicity was once the 'worshipful master' of a Gold Coast branch of the secretive fraternal society, Co-Freemasonry. Co-Freemasonry is an offshoot of Freemasonry which admits both men and women. A leading figure in the Australian Federation of Freemasons was later quoted saying Felicity's ties to the Masonic Order was in no way related to the events of last year. A spokesperson said: 'The personal beliefs and practices are in no way associated with Freemasonry nor are they associated with her role as a former presiding officer of one of our Lodges. 'Freemasonry has nothing to do with ''evil'', ''black magic'' and ''cleansing rituals".' Felicity Loveday (centre) is pictured with other members of the Co-Freemasonry lodge at Southport, on the Gold Coast, where she previously lived Ms Loveday was known on the Gold Coast for participating in a local choir and yoga, but suffered severe dementia and moved to Melbourne to be with her two children. Asked earlier this year for her thoughts on claims her mother could be dead in the picture released by police, Christine Loveday said she had 'no control over speculation.' She said she had been cooperative with the police investigation into her relatives' sudden disappearances. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Christina was in any way involved or complicit in the incident involving her family members, including their disappearance. 'I have told the police everything I know, and don't wish to discuss it further,' she said. Pro-Pacific and Pro Reps West marketing groups join forces with Marra Forni. We are excited about the new partnership and looking forward to having a much stronger presence in the region states Todd Griffith, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Marra Forni, the Beltsville Maryland based manufacturer of Commercial Brick Oven Cooking Solutions, has appointed a new representation in the Western U.S. markets. Pro-Pacific Agents has been appointed in the Pacific Northwest, and Pro-Reps West will represent Marra Forni in California and Nevada. Francesco Marra, President & CEO of Marra Forni told us that being an east coast manufacturer, we have been challenged with our penetration in the west. We believe with these alliances will significantly strengthen our market positioning and brand presence in the west. Pro Pacific has been supporting the commercial foodservice industry of the Pacific Northwest (HI, AK, WA, OR, ID, MT) for more than 25 years. We are excited about the new partnership and looking forward to having a much stronger presence in the region, states Todd Griffith, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Robin has a great team, a well-known reputation for technology and customer service, and a beautiful state-of-the-art test kitchen that we look forward to making available to our customers for demonstration and training. Founded in 1995, Pro-Reps West, an employee-owned rep firm, supports the California and Nevada markets with offices located in Berkeley and Costa Mesa, California. When it comes to focus and resources, I dont think there are many groups as well-positioned to support their markets as Pro Reps is! said Griffith. We look forward to supporting their team and maximizing shared resources to grow our business together! Marra Forni, based in Beltsville, MD, is a leading domestic manufacturer and global supplier to the commercial foodservice Industry. The product line includes a full line of brick-oven cooking solutions, refrigerated prep tables, mixers, slicers. Marra Forni currently sells and supports its products in 5 continents and 23 countries worldwide. marraforni.com | inquiries@marraforni.com | 888.239.0575 FOLLOW US LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram A woman who broke Stage 4 lockdown curfew in Melbourne to buy donuts is one of the latest Victorians to be hit with a $1,652 fine. Victoria Police on Wednesday morning revealed 156 residents had been fined for breaching the chief health officer's directions in the past 24 hours. There were 22 infringements of handed to Victorians who failed to wear a face covering when leaving the home without an exemption, while 46 were hit with a fine for curfew breaches. Police also checked 17,298 cars at vehicle checkpoints, and 16 of those people were fined. Victoria Police on Wednesday morning revealed 156 residents had been fined for breaching the chief health officer's directions in the past 24 hours (pictured, police at Flinders Street) A woman who broke Stage 4 lockdown curfew in Melbourne to buy donuts is one of the latest Victorians to be hit with a $1,652 fine (stock image) In one example of a breach, police said a woman was pulled over in Carlton, in Melbourne's inner-north, at 12.45am after she was seen driving without her headlights on. The woman was asked why she was driving and told police she was going to a convenience store to buy some donuts. In another instance, police said a drunk man was found sitting in the passenger seat of a car at 4am and told officers he had just come from a party at his friend's house. Multiple residents across Metropolitan Melbourne were caught leaving their homes during curfew to buy fast food, police said. Metropolitan Melbourne is in Stage 4 lockdown and residents are subject to a curfew from 8pm to 5am. The rest of Victoria is in Stage 3 lockdown. Victorians are handed a $200 fine for failing to cover their face when outside and can be hit with a $1,652 infringement for breaching stay at home orders. In the 24-hour period, Victoria Police conducted 4,474 spot checks on people at homes, businesses and public places across the state. In Queensland, a 50-year-old woman was issued with a fine after she travelled 1,000km to Mackay from Tweed Heads in New South Wales, despite only having a pass to enter border towns. A woman has been fined after travelling 1000km from the NSW Queensland border (pictured, on August 7) The woman, who had a Border X-Pass which allowed her to go over the border locally, was pulled over for a roadside breath test at about 9.30pm on Monday. On Wednesday, Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police have seen 'some disappointing behaviour' of motorists. 'There was an intercept at a random breath test in Mackay in the last 24 hours where a person with an X-Pass that only allows them to go within the border bubble was found in Mackay,' he said. 'So that person has been issued with an on-the-spot fine and also placed into quarantine.' Mackay is more than an 11-hour drive north of the NSW-QLD border. Police patrol Swanston Street in Melbourne's CBD during the 8pm-5am curfew (pictured) Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich said Wednesday she refused to answer investigators' questions after she was summoned as a witness in a criminal probe into the opposition. Opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko formed a Coordination Council to oversee a peaceful transition of power after they rejected his claim to have won a sixth term in an August 9 presidential vote. Lukashenko dispatched the security services to violently crack down on mass protests against his re-election and opened a criminal probe into the council, accusing its members of attempting to topple his government. Alexievich was named a member of the council's presidium but has not attended its sessions. "I am completely calm. I do not feel guilty. Everything we are doing is legal and necessary," Alexievich told AFP as she arrived at the Investigative Committee's headquarters in Minsk with other members of the presidium. She left shortly afterwards, saying she had invoked her right not to testify against herself and that the council's only goal was "to unite society". Alexievich, who won the Nobel Literature Prize in 2015, is an outspoken critic of Lukashenko and has supported leading opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who fled to neighbouring Lithuania after claiming victory in the vote. - 'Trumped-up charges' - Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has supported Lukashenko since the protests began, said "any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs (of Belarus) and to put pressure on its authorities would be counterproductive," during a call with Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, according to a Kremlin statement. The Council of Europe said Belarus authorities needed to "urgently initiate a broad-based and inclusive national dialogue, fully involving civil society, to ensure a peaceful way out of the current crisis". At least three other members of the Coordination Council in Belarus have been detained this week, including former diplomat and culture minister Pavel Latushko, who was questioned by investigators for several hours on Tuesday and signed an agreement barring him from discussing the meeting. Story continues Latushko was forced from his job as director of the state Janka Kupala Theatre after calling for new elections and dozens of staff resigned Wednesday in a show of solidarity, a spokesman said. Two other members of the presidium were detained earlier this week and sentenced to 10 days in police detention for organising unauthorised rallies. The home of Valery Tsepkalo, a leading candidate in the elections who fled ahead of the vote fearing arrest, was searched by police, his spokesman, Alexei Urban told AFP. The European Union has rejected the results of the election and said it will impose sanctions on between 15 and 20 people it believes are responsible for election fraud and cracking down on peaceful protesters. International advocacy group Amnesty International and 15 other rights groups on Wednesday urged the UN Human Rights Council to "convene a special session to address the human rights crisis in Belarus". In an open letter, the groups accused Lukashenko's government of carrying out "arbitrary arrests, prosecutions under trumped-up charges, and torture and other ill-treatment in relation to the 2020 presidential elections". tk-jbr/er/pma SeamlessMD, the leading digital patient engagement platform, today announced a $4 million Series A financing round led by MEDTEQ+, bringing the companys total funding to $7.4 million. Hikma Ventures, Anges Quebec, AIoT Health and health IT entrepreneur Sanjay Malaviya also participated in the oversubscribed round. As part of this round, Robert Ritlop (MEDTEQ) and Sanjay Malaviya will be joining Andrea Matheson (who led the companys first investment round) on SeamlessMDs board of directors. SeamlessMD is used by UAB, Rush, Atrium Health and dozens of other leading health systems to engage, monitor and stay connected with patients throughout a variety of healthcare journeys, including surgery, oncology and chronic care. Patients can access digital care plans on their smartphones, tablets or computers and be guided via reminders, interactive education and progress tracking. Providers receive alerts, monitor patients remotely and access analytics to deliver better care. COVID-19 has accelerated the need for health systems to deliver digital care at scale. Since the pandemic started, we have been rapidly assisting health systems to adapt to the pandemic, including new solutions for COVID-19 digital screening, patient education, and digital pre-surgery monitoring to safely resume surgery, said Dr. Joshua Liu, MD, Co-Founder & CEO of SeamlessMD. This investment enables us to meet growing customer demand, expand our library of digital care plans and further develop our machine learning platform for risk prediction and optimizing patient outcomes. We are ecstatic to be supported by forward thinking, strategic healthcare investors who share our belief that the future of healthcare is digital. SeamlessMD's financing follows a period of establishing category leadership, having become the first digital patient engagement platform to hold validated, turn-key integrations with Epic and Cerner via SMART on FHIRthe latest interoperability standard. SeamlessMD also remains the industry leader in clinical validation, with over 15 clinical studies across numerous specialties demonstrating significant results, including: cost reductions of $1,000-$2,000 per patient; reductions in hospital length of stay by 1-2 days; and reductions in hospital readmissions by 45%-72%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SeamlessMD has proven itself to be a terrific partner for health systems to engage patients remotely at scale, resulting in less patient anxiety, fewer in-person visits and improved patient outcomes. We are excited to partner with SeamlessMD to make digital the new standard for patient care, said Robert Ritlop, Director of Investments at MEDTEQ+. Over the past year, its become clear to me that digital patient engagement is the future of healthcare delivery. I am thrilled to partner with SeamlessMD and contribute to guiding the company through its next phase of growth, said Sanjay Malaviya, founder & former CEO of patient safety software company RL Solutions. We have been incredibly impressed by SeamlessMDs vision, category-leading clinical evidence, and best-in-class technology platform, and are excited to add them to the diverse portfolio of companies we have invested in that are utilizing digital health technology to improve outcomes for patients, said Hamzeh Abdul-Hadi, Principal at Hikma Ventures. SeamlessMD has developed a proven model for health systems to improve patient outcomes at scale, and we are thrilled to support SeamlessMD in advancing their mission and expanding into new markets where Hikma operates to improve the quality of care. Dr. Jehangir Appoo, Managing Partner at AIoT Health adds, Digital Patient Engagement is a wonderful tool to drive improved healthcare outcomes. The beauty of patient engagement tools is two fold: Firstly, it empowers patients and helps bring healthcare into the digital age. Secondly, by increasing patient adherence, patient engagement tools are able to drastically improve outcomes without requiring a new expensive gadget to be invented. About SeamlessMD SeamlessMD provides the #1 digital patient engagement platform used by health systems to elevate the patient experience, improve outcomes and lower costs. Patients access digital care plans on their smartphones, tablets or computers and are guided through their health conditions or treatments via reminders, education and progress tracking. Providers receive alerts, monitor patients and access analytics to deliver better care. SeamlessMD is directly integrated with Epic and Cerner. Health systems such as Stanford Health Care, Rush University Medical Center and UAB Health System use SeamlessMD to improve patient satisfaction while reducing hospital length of stay, readmissions, and costs. For more information and to see SeamlessMD in action, please visit: http://www.seamless.md. About MEDTEQ+ MEDTEQ+ (http://www.medteq.ca) is the pan-Canadian Consortium for Industrial Research and Innovation in Medical Technology. Its mission is to accelerate the development of innovative technological solutions to improve patients health and quality of life. MEDTEQ+ supports their validation and integration in the healthcare system and their impact, both locally and globally, by bringing together the complementary skills of industrial and academic partners, and with those of healthcare providers. MEDTEQ+ relies on the financial support of the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada (delivered through the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR)), the private sector and complementary partners to foster research-industry relations. About Hikma Ventures Founded in August 2015, Hikma Ventures operates as the corporate venture capital arm of Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Hikma Ventures invests in global start-ups where Hikma's expertise can accelerate revenue growth and enhance value creation by providing ventures with access to the resources of a multinational pharmaceutical company. For more information, please visit http://www.hikmaventures.com. About Anges Quebec Anges Quebec is a network of 250+ angel investors who invest time and capital in innovative Quebec companies with high growth potential. The members of the Anges Quebec network have, to date, invested more than $100 million in the Quebec economy, with more than 265 investments in more than 137 innovative companies. For more information, please visit http://www.angesquebec.com. About AIoT Health AIoT Health is a North American syndicate fund at the intersection of Venture Capital, Medicine & Impact. AIoTHealth invests in early stage companies applying exponential technologies to improve healthcare quality by driving Personalized Medicine. AIoT Health is backed by a powerful network of expert physicians who excel at matching the algorithm with the right clinical problem and business leaders who can help companies scale. The most massive stars in the universe are born inside cosmic clouds of gas and dust, where they leave behind clues about their lives for astronomers to decode. The nebula known as W51 is one of the most active star-forming regions in the Milky Way galaxy. First identified in 1958 by radio telescopes, it makes a rich cosmic tapestry in this image from NASA's recently retired Spitzer Space Telescope. Located about 17,000 light-years from Earth, in the direction of the constellation Aquila in the night sky, W51 is about 350 light-years -- or about 2 quadrillion miles -- across. It is almost invisible to telescopes that collect visible light (the kind human eyes detect), because that light is blocked by interstellar dust clouds that lie between W51 and Earth. But longer wavelengths of light, including radio and infrared, can pass unencumbered through the dust. When viewed in infrared by Spitzer, W51 is a spectacular sight: Its total infrared emission is the equivalent of 20 million Suns. If you could see it with your naked eye, this dense cloud of gas and dust would appear about as large as the full Moon. The Orion Nebula -- another well-known star-forming region and a favorite observing target for amateur astronomers -- occupies about the same size area in the sky. But W51 is actually much farther from Earth than Orion and thus much larger, and it's about 75 times more luminous. While Orion contains four known O-type stars -- the most massive stars in the universe -- W51 contains over 30. "Star factories" like this one can operate for millions of years. The cavernous red region on the right side of W51 is older, evident in the way it has already been carved out by winds from generations of massive stars (those at least 10 times the mass of our Sun). The dust and gas in the region are swept around even more when those stars die and explode as supernovas. On the nebula's younger left side, many stars are just beginning to clear away the gas and dust in the same way the stars in the older region have done. It's apparent that many of these young stars are in the process of forming bubbles of empty space around themselves. This image was taken as part of a major observation campaign by Spitzer in 2004 to map the large-scale structure of the Milky Way galaxy -- a considerable challenge because Earth lies inside it. Called the Galactic Legacy Infrared Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire (GLIMPSE), the survey also turned up valuable data on many wonders within the Milky Way, including images of multiple stellar factories like W51 that were hidden by dust from visible-light observatories. "The really spectacular images provided by Spitzer via the GLIMPSE survey -- in concert with data from many other, complementary telescopes -- give us insight into how massive stars form in our Milky Way, and then how their powerful winds and radiation interact with the remaining ambient material," said Breanna Binder, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, who studies the life cycles of massive stars. "We can't observe star-forming regions in other galaxies in anywhere near the level of detail that we can in our own galaxy. So regions like W51 are really important for advancing our understanding of star formation in the Milky Way, which we can then extrapolate to how star formation proceeds in other, nearby galaxies." NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope launched 17 years ago this week, on Aug. 25, 2003. The spacecraft was retired on Jan. 30, 2020. Though the mission has concluded, the entire body of scientific data collected by Spitzer during its lifetime is available to the public via the Spitzer data archive, housed at the Infrared Science Archive at IPAC at Caltech in Pasadena, California. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. CEO Anders H. Nrgaard CEO Anders H. Nrgaard CEO Anders H. Nrgaard Field work Slovakia Field work Slovakia Field work Slovakia Reasonable half year still gives expectations of a record result for 2020 In the first half year of 2020, FirstFarms A/S has improved EBITDA by 39 percent compared to same period last year. The increase is primarily due to the company in June 2020 acquiring the company AISM srl. (Now FirstFarms Agro North srl.) in Northwest Romania. FirstFarms' operations have overall delivered slightly above budget before correcting for changes in the livestock, and although the individual farms in general have not been directly affected by COVID-19, the result is reasonable in light of the situation in which the farms have operated. All in all, a satisfactory half-year, which with the acquisition in Northern Romania, expected sale of land in Western Romania over the next 7-10 months and an expectation of slightly higher prices for pigs and crops, means that FirstFarms maintains its expectations for 2020; o An EBITDA result in the level of DKK 110-135 million o An EBIT result of DKK 60-85 million In 2019, an EBITDA of DKK 96 million an EBIT of DKK 48 million were realised, which was historically good. If the expectations for this year are met, 2020 becomes another record year for FirstFarms. Our ambition is develop into one of Europes most well-run and attractive farms. It requires skilled and committed employees, an ambitious board of directors and a group of shareholders, who show confidence and support. And we have that, says CEO of FirstFarms, Anders H. Nrgaard, who are willing to reveal the formula for continued growth in the company: Based on Danish agricultural management, we must continue to acquire, develop and run agriculture with respect for the surrounding communities. We must continue to deliver products of the highest quality, which are primarily sold and consumed locally. Last but not least, we must continue to contribute to the development towards more sustainable agriculture and execute on new opportunities that create value for consumers and our investors. Summary The Board of Directors and Management of FirstFarms A/S have today reviewed and adopted the un-audited interim financial accounts for the period 1 January 30 June 2020. Story continues FirstFarms has in the accounting period realised: A turnover of DKK 151.8 million An EBITDA result of DKK 65.4 million An EBIT result of DKK 39.8 million A pre-tax result of DKK 28.8 million EBITDA and EBIT are improved with DKK 18.2 million and DKK 16.8 million, respectively, compared to same period last year. FirstFarms has in June 2020 purchased AISM srl. (Now FirstFarms Agro North srl.) FirstFarms Agro North owns 2,430 hectares of cultivated, leased agricultural land in Romania, a modern silo plant with 6,000 tons storage capacity, feed mill and storage- and office facilities. In connection with the calculation of the values in the company, an added value of DKK 19.7 million has been realised compared to the purchase price. This surplus value is recognised in the income statement (see page 12-13). Operation branches The milk price has been lower than budgeted, whereas efficiency and production has been better that expected. The prices for piglets and slaughter pigs have decreased during the first half year, but FirstFarms expects that the prices will increase again in second half year. In the first half year of 2020, there is a negative adjustment of the stock with DKK 9 million, compared to a positive adjustment in the first half year in 2019 of DKK 5.6 million. The harvest of autumn crops has all in all been lower than budgeted. Currently, the spring crops look satisfactory. Best regards, FirstFarms A/S For further information: Please visit our website www.firstfarms.com or contact CEO Anders H. Nrgaard on telephone +45 75 86 87 87. About FirstFarms: FirstFarms is a Danish stock exchange listed company, which purchases and operates agriculture in Eastern Europe. We develop the individual farms to modern businesses that deliver milk, meat and grains of the highest quality to the local food processing companies. FirstFarms contributes to, and approves, the development towards a more sustainable agriculture. Attachments A total of 8,23,992 samples were tested for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total number of samples tested to 3,76,51,512 so far, informed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday. In a tweet today, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said that testing has worked as an effective tool to contain the spread of the deadly virus. India has exponentially scaled its TESTING from one in January to 10 lakhs/day in August 2020, the tweet read. With Positivity Rate progressively falling, testing has worked as an effective tool to limit the spread of #Covid19 infection, the Ministry said in another tweet. According to a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) shared by the Ministry, the average daily positivity rate in India has fallen from 11 patients per 100 in July to about eight patients in the last week of August. Also read: Indias Covid-19 tally over 3.2 million, recovery rate rises to 76.29% With 67,151 new Covid-19 cases, India surpassed the 32-lakh mark in the last 24 hours, according to the MoHFW. Former Australian prime minster Tony Abbott will reportedly become president of the UK's Board of Trade. The 62-year-old will be tasked with helping Britain strike trade deals around the world after leaving the European Union. He will hold the role jointly with UK Trade Secretary Liz Truss, according to The Sun. Tony Abbott is friends with UK leader Boris Johnson. He uploaded this picture of the pair together after Johnson was made foreign secretary in July 2016 Mr Abbott stands with his wife Margie Abbott (second left) and their daughters Frances (left) Louise Abbott (second right) and Bridget (far right) after winning the 2013 election His appointment is yet to be made official but a UK government source told the newspaper 'we are delighted to have him.' Mr Abbott, who was prime minster from 2013 to 2015, is a staunch monarchist and has supported Brexit. He is friends with UK leader Boris Johnson and was a guest at the Conservative Party conference in October where he urged Britain to be hopeful about the future. 'Now I know that many people here in Britain think that these are daunting times, but surely they are also stirring times because, yet again, a great country is grasping for freedom,' he said. Mr Abbott lost his seat in Warringah, on Sydney's northern beaches, at the federal election in May 2018 and has been looking for a job since. During Australia's devastating summer of bushfires, he filled his time by volunteering as a fireman with his local rural fire service branch. Mr Abbott (pictured working as a volunteer fireman) lost his seat in Warringah, on Sydney's northern beaches, at the federal election in May 2018 and has been looking for a job since then Questions have now been raised about whether Mr Abbott will have to register as an agent of foreign influence under Australia's transparency laws. Prime Minister Scott Morrison brushed off those questions on Wednesday, simply saying the appointment was a 'good hire'. 'I'll leave that for the attorney-general to sort out and I'm sure there's paperwork for Tony to fill out - I'm sure he'll get that done,' the prime minister told reporters in Canberra. 'But well done Boris, good hire.' The UK is currently negotiating trade deals with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 20:44:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YANGON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities confiscated over 550 tons of illegal timbers across Myanmar in a week, according to a release from the Forest Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation on Wednesday. From Aug. 17 to 23, the authorities seized over 131 tons of illegal teak, over 175 tons of hardwood and 244.3 tons of other types of timbers across the country, the release said. During the period, 80 offenders were charged in connection with the cases, along with the seizure of 37 vehicles and machinery. According to the department's latest figures, a total of over 12,370 tons of illegal timbers including over 3,098.2 tons of teak, over 2,602.7 tons of hardwood and over 6,669 tons of other types of timbers were seized across the country in first four months of present fiscal year 2019-2020 which started in October. During the period, 1,332 offenders were charged in connection with the cases, along with the seizure of 1,049 vehicles and machinery. Meanwhile, the forest department has been making efforts to crack down on illegal logging and trading of forest products as well as to implement tree plantation projects in substitution. Enditem On Saturday night, the Detroit Police Department (DPD) went on a rampage against continuing protests against police brutality in the city. Video footage of the attack shows DPD moving in on a crowd of peaceful protesters, shoving people to the ground, beating them with batons and shields, and dousing them in teargas. Photos and videos of the attack went viral on social media, including images showing face-down, zip-tied protesters getting sprayed in the face with tear gas by cops. According to DPD, 44 people were arrested for unlawful assembly downtown as they blocked street traffic at Woodward Avenue and John R. All but one have since been released. Detroit Police Chief James Craig told a press conference Monday that, in spite of several ongoing internal investigations of excessive force, there was no instance of such force Saturday night. While simultaneously admitting that force was necessary in order to prevent a Seattle zone of lawlessness from taking place, Craig and DPD spokeswoman Sergeant Nicole Kirkwood claimed that all accounts of excessive force were completely false and inaccurate. Craig expanded the lie further, claiming that the information released on social mediaapparently including video evidence of the attackwas put out as a false narrative. Was force used? he asked. Absolutely. But theres a difference between force being used and a determination if that force was excessive. The bottom line is, were not going to have a Seattle here. Kevin Kwart was offering protesters a safe place in his Woodward apartment building when Detroit police tackled and beat him on Saturday night. He was arrested and issued 3 tickets. On Tuesday, the Detroit MetroTimes reported that legal observers, including a representative of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), were assaulted by the police during the protest on Saturday. A statement from the NLG said, One DPD officer beat a Legal Observer so severely with his baton that she could not move. The statement went on, When two other Legal Observers attempted to remove the injured LO out of harms way, another officer deployed pepper spray directly in all three of their faces. The Detroit chapter of the NLG has monitored demonstrations in the city for decades. They are present to observe neutrally and document police behavior to ensure First Amendment rights are not violated. The NLG representatives were attacked even though all of them were wearing neon green hats emblazoned with the words, National Lawyers Guild LEGAL OBSERVER. The MetroTimes also reported on Monday that witnesses to the police rampage said five people were taken to the hospital with injuries. One of these was Alex Anest, a medic who was clubbed by a police officer with a baton and suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung. Anest said that the police dragged me 15 feet across the sidewalk and cuffed me, and denied him any treatment for his injuries while detaining him with a group of protesters. Anest was eventually let go and given a ride by other protesters to the hospital at 4 a.m. Demonstrators held a meeting Sunday in the aftermath of the attack. Many were limping, in casts and covered in bruises from being brutalized. The protests over the weekend in Detroit were aimed specifically at the removal of federal agents from the city, while ongoing demonstrations in Detroit have been part of a broader movement against police brutality internationally since the May 25 murder of George Floyd. In an ongoing effort to divide protesters against each other, DPD and the right-wing Detroit media continue to identify the cities where protesters are from. Claims of outside agitators are used in an attempt to whip up support for the police, in particular along racial lines. The accusations about outsiders among the protesters was endorsed by Democratic Party Mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan several weeks ago at a press conference called to address the ongoing protests in the city. Responding to the demand by citizens for defunding the police department, Duggan said the loudest voices calling for cutting the police budget are coming from those who do not live in Detroit. Youve got people who are largely from outside the city coming into Detroit and saying, defund police, before going back home to the suburbs, Duggan said. We need more officers on the street, not fewer. The police riot on Saturday is the product of Duggans policy of more police on the street. Additionally, when President Trump announced plans to send an undercover Department of Homeland Security swat team to Detroit as part of a nationwide law and order initiative to assault protesters and build support among fascistic elements for his reelection campaign, Mayor Duggan did not object to support for federal crackdown in the city. Duggan said on July 22, I was talking to my fellow mayors across America about, theres something about whats been going on in the protests across the country that have emboldened people with guns in a lot of cities. Mayor Duggan went on to say that what would help are ATF agents [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] and federal prosecutors to help the Detroit police deal with illegal guns in Detroit. The DPD is not unique. Emboldened by support from the far-right Trump administration and insertion of federal agents into the city to crack down on protesters, police nationally are continuing to operate with impunity. Just a week ago, the Trump administrations Attorney General William Barr visited Detroit to review Operation Legend with Chief Craig. The pair boarded a US Army UH-72 Lakota helicopter ostensibly to tour the city, and for something else I cant tell you about, Craig cryptically told a news conference afterward. The operation is part of the Trump administrations law-and-order initiative, using gun violence in the city as a pretext for intimidating and cracking down on protests. Last year DPD looked on as a neo-Nazi attacked a woman at the Detroit Pride festival. Last weekend a Proud Boys rally drew fascists from across the country to Kalamazoo, where police intervention was delayed and to a large extent friendly to the neo-Nazis and their supporters. Significantly, since the police assault on Saturday night, Mayor Duggan has not been heard from. No statement has been issued by the mayors office and Duggan has not been quoted by the local news media about the rampage. Instead, local Democratic Party legislators, State Senator Stephanie Chang (1st District) and US Representative Rashida Tlaib (13th Congressional District), have stepped forward to call for an investigation into the police brutality against peaceful protesters in Detroit. Chang tweeted, There should be a full independent investigation of this incident and the use of excessive force, while Tlaib put the blame for the police violence on the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners. Supporting the Mayor-in-hiding and the posturing of the other local Democrats, the Metro Detroit Democratic Socialists of America and other groups associated with the pseudo-left are falsely presenting the struggle against police violence as purely a racial matter. While they deny the class foundation of the police as an arm of the state that exists for the purpose of defending the private capitalist ownership of the means of production, these groups collaborate with the Detroit Democratic Party and are supporting the ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the US presidential elections. PARIS: France is joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean amid a worsening dispute between Turkey and Greece over energy resources in the region, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday. Tensions between Turkey and Greece escalated after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis survey vessel to disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a move Athens has called illegal. The eastern Mediterranean is turning into an area of tension. Respect for international law must be the rule and not the exception," Parly said on Twitter, adding that it should not be a playground for the ambitions of some." Three Rafale fighter jets and a warship equipped with a helicopter will be part of the joint military exercises, she said. Relations between France and Turkey have soured in recent months over Ankaras actions in NATO, Libya and the Mediterranean. President Emmanuel Macron has called for the EU to show solidarity with Greece and Cyprus in the dispute over natural gas reserves off Cyprus and the extent of their continental shelves and pushed for further sanctions at EU level, although there are divisions in the bloc over the issue. Germany has sought to mediate between the Ankara and Athens. On Tuesday their respective foreign ministers said they wanted to solve the matter through dialogue following talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. However, each warned that they would continue to defend their rights in the region. Our message is simple: priority to dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy so that the Eastern Mediterranean becomes an area of stability and respect for international law," Parly said. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Flora Gill (pictured) was invited to a rave by an acquaintance Last week I was spending a glorious afternoon sitting on the green outside a pub with a takeaway pint, when I saw a boy I recognised from before the world stopped still. He's the kind of acquaintance that in 'normal life' I might have given a gentle nod and a smile, but in these days of Covid where we're starved for human interaction, I dived into conversation. We kept our distance, after knocking elbows awkwardly, and he commented on my leopard-print mask while I silently noticed his surgical one uselessly wrapped around his elbow. At the end of our catch-up he asked if I wanted to join him and some friends at a rave that evening. 'Really?' I asked, 'You're going to a rave?' 'Yer,' he replied with a shrug. 'There's a secret WhatsApp group of like 300 people. 'Don't know the location until later, right now it's just referred to as Bernard's castle.' He smiled: 'Hey if they're breaking the rules, we might as well.' I declined the invitation. While some people have been choosing which parent to visit and which relatives can't attend a funeral, others have been partying with strangers. Last weekend, police broke up more than 70 illegal gatherings across Birmingham, while in Huddersfield, police had to disperse a 300-strong rave. In the capital, more than 500 illegal events were organised in July alone. A 4,000-person 'quarantine rave' in Manchester resulted in a 20-year-old man dying of a suspected overdose and police investigating the rape of an 18year-old woman at a similar event. Even events that result in no additional illegal activity leave litter strewn across parks and hours of police time wasted. And they're damaging something else too; the reputation of my generation. These inconsiderate, hedonistic teethgrinders are fitting into every cliche about modern younger people (commonly and disdainfully called millennials, although these days some millennials are pushing 40 and lots of the ravers actually belong to the even younger Gen Z). He bragged about being part of a secret Whatsapp group filled with 300 people who engaged in illegal raves. Flora said she turned down his invitation. Pictured: Hundreds of young people were sent home by police after a recent gathering at a late night party in Cardiff They think the rules don't apply to them. That the pandemic should end now, because they're bored of it. You may be struggling to live without much human contact or a stable income, but this group can't survive without electronic music until 3am. At these UMEs (unlicensed music events) people are dancing close enough to see their reflection in a stranger's dilated pupils. And I seriously doubt they're then quarantining for ten days even if they did, I'm willing to bet many still live with their parents. While young people may be unlikely to get seriously ill, they can easily transmit the disease to older relatives with fatal consequences. When I hear about these events I immediately think of my shielding 27-year-old friend, still too scared to leave her house because of the reckless way she sees other people behave. For other friends, it elicits a sense of resentment: it becomes hard to do the little things (like put on a mask and keep your distance) when you see a peer doing something so remarkably heedless. The boy in the pub was pretending his attendance was some kind of rebellion sticking two fingers up to the system. As if he would be just as happy to spend his Saturday night in a knitting circle if it would put across the same message. But in reality, he's going because he's bored of the current situation and wants to forget about it with loud music and discount drugs. The UK rave scene, which surfaced in the 1980s alongside the new youth music genre of Acid House, was largely stamped out with the introduction of the 1994 Criminal Justice And Public Order Act, which made UMEs illegal. Flouting the law at an illegal rave may have felt illicit and exciting then but post-Covid, it's just dangerously selfish. The current law has not been put in place as an attack on youth culture. It covers bingo halls and wild parties just the same, and it's there to keep us safe. But please don't let these idiotic individuals define your view of our whole age group. This is what makes me so angry a minority of young people are dancing in abandoned buildings and tainting the reputation of all of us. No wonder so many people, reading the headlines over their morning marmalade, feel dismayed by the young refusing to take coronavirus seriously and letting down the nation. The truth is the number of young people engaging in raves is tiny. The majority have been staying at home and struggling to cope like everyone else. Flora says the inconsiderate young people who choose to go to illegal raves are damaging the reputation of her generation. Pictured: The aftermath of an illegal 'quarantine rave' at an Oldham beauty spot in June Except it's not quite like everyone else, because what's often forgotten is that the very generation getting lambasted are sacrificing far more than most. Last week we saw the distraught faces of teenagers having their university places pulled thanks to an algorithm. Young people have been furloughed and fired at a greater rate than any other age group according to HMRC; those in late teens have missed defining years at school, and studies show that students who graduate in a recession will suffer a large initial earnings loss that will take up to ten years to make up. All of these sacrifices and concessions have been made by the young, not to protect themselves, but for the older generations they want to safeguard. We're taking it seriously for those whose odds aren't as favourable as our own. But my generation isn't being celebrated or thanked for its actions, but vilified because of the activities of a selfish minority. The day after I saw the boy I refuse to call a friend, I checked his Instagram. Sure enough, there were images of the rave, mostly blurry close-up photos of his gaping mouth and flashing lights, taken somewhere in East London and captioned with a secretive finger-on-mouth emoji. Social media is a forum where people portray the version of themselves they want others to see, and instead of being ashamed or embarrassed he wanted to gloat about his illegal activity. This is perhaps the most shocking part of his rave attendance: he thought it was cool. Part of the reason these raves are popular is precisely because of their 'secret' and illegal nature. But this is not the same rebellious scene of the 1980s and 1990s, part of a new subculture. Covid-ravers are more like Trump supporters who lick the windows of shops that make them wear masks and spit in the faces of cashiers who impede their 'freedom'. There is nothing cool about risking other people's lives so you can have a party. We should be talking about how young people have pulled together to protect their elders, putting their own lives on hold and their economic futures at risk to defend their parents and grandparents, but instead we're discussing the small numbers ruining it for everyone. CBI after taking over Sushant Singh Rajput's case, has been investigating from different angles. The team so far has interrogated the late actor's friends, house staff and accountants and will also proceed to question more names associated with the case. According to recent developments in the case, CBI has found procedural lapses in the probe conducted by the Mumbai police. According to a report by Times Now, Mumbai police has botched up the investigation in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. The report also claimed that the investigating team did not handle the late actor's body properly, and the sanctity of the crime scene was also compromised. The revelation has raised many questions about Mumbai police's proceedings as well as on Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. According to reports, when the HM was quizzed about the procedural lapses, he replied saying, "no comments." Earlier on Tuesday, the CBI team was not allowed inside the Cooper Hospital for not having an appointment. For the unversed, Sushant Singh Rajput's post-mortem took place at the hospital, and many reports have claimed that discrepancies have been found in the late actor's post-mortem report. Republic World in a report also revealed that the doctors who conducted Sushant Singh Rajput's autopsy, have been sent on leave. Meanwhile, CBI had recorded the statement of Rhea Chakraborty's brother Showik Chakraborty. Reports suggest that the CBI will soon summon Sandip Ssingh, who had reportedly contacted the ambulance driver two days after Sushant's demise, on June 16. ALSO READ: Subramanian Swamy Alleges Sushant Was Poisoned; Says Autopsy was Delayed Deliberately ED Found That Drugs Were Supplied To Rhea, Sushant: Narcotics Control Bureau Director Rakesh Asthana 2 COVID-19 outbreaks in Wyoming tied to churches: govt Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A county in Wyoming is experiencing two outbreaks of COVID-19 that have been tied to two local congregations, according to government officials. Fremont County spokesman Michael Jones told the Casper Star-Tribune on Monday about the two outbreaks, one of which reportedly happened at a church camp. The first outbreak was responsible for as many as 30 coronavirus cases and has died down, while the second outbreak remains ongoing. Jones did not name the churches. Jones told the Star-Tribune that it was part of an overall rise in cases in Fremont County, with the government official blaming social gatherings for the increase. Were definitely hitting some spikes and its all these social gatherings, he explained. You hate to say churches, but it is family and social gatherings where people are inside and let their guard down. Wyoming Department of Health spokeswoman Kim Deti labeled the outbreaks significant and explained that social distancing guidelines were not being followed at one of the churches. What I can say is that I know that there is an ongoing outbreak connected to at least one church in Lander that had a series of services, said Deti to the Star-Tribune. its our understanding that recommendations weve made about face coverings and physical distancing were not followed at the event. Churches are exempt from the public health orders, but recommendations still apply. Fremont County has had 506 confirmed COVID-19 cases since March, while Wyoming as a whole has had 3,068 confirmed cases since Monday, according to the Associated Press. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the vast majority of churches in the United States opted to end in-person worship earlier this year, switching over to exclusively online services. As a large social gathering, churches holding indoor worship and not strictly following social distancing guidelines are seen by many as an especial risk for spreading COVID-19. Westmore Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, experienced an outbreak of coronavirus cases after returning to indoor worship in June. Westmore Pastor Kelvin Page posted a video message to Facebook in July apologizing for the outbreak, saying that he should have taken the issue of face masks more seriously. The thing I most did not give attention to, and I have to say this, was masks. Ill have to say today that masks must be considered by everyone, but especially those that are vulnerable, said Page at the time. Perhaps when we all wear masks, the vulnerable are less likely to be vulnerable. So that is something that we have got to really take seriously. Some megachurches, among them North Point Community Church of Atlanta, Georgia, have opted to suspend in-person services for the remainder of the calendar year. North Point Pastor Andy Stanley announced the decision in July, going against an earlier plan to hopefully return to in-person worship on Aug. 9. In fact, back in May when we announced a possible August 9 reopening, the COVID numbers were actually moving in the right direction. That has changed. Consequently we cannot guarantee your safety and thats a big part of this decision, said Stanley at the time. Even if we did reopen, we certainly would not be able to create a quality adult or childrens worship experience with social distancing protocols in place. The Supreme Court on Tuesday lashed out at a lawyer for purposely" keeping mum despite being called out thrice since he was waiting for a senior lawyer. But it has turned out there was no senior lawyer engaged in this case at all. A bench headed by Justice Rohinton F Nariman, a day ago, took strong exception when the court called out the lawyer three times but there was no response from him. Upon realising it was his case being called out, the lawyer reacted in panic and apologised. Justice Nariman, however, pulled him up for employing tactics instead of coming up front and informing the court that he was waiting for a senior counsel. The lawyer, yet again, apologised profusely for his lack of attention and submitted that he had no intention to waste the time of the court. But the judge went ahead and started recording in his order how the lawyer was indulging in such tactics and tried to take advantage of the non-physical hearing. The lawyer once again tendered his apology and requested the bench not to put this on record, but to no avail. The court recorded how it deprecated such practices. However, it has now come to light that there was no senior counsel to appear in this case. The appearance slip, which records the names of the lawyers to appear in a case before a bench, had also not mentioned about any senior counsel, nor did the order passed by Justice Narimans bench record the presence of any senior lawyer. Besides, even before the Bombay High Court, there was no senior counsel engaged and this every lawyer had argued on his own. Another lawyer, connected through video-conferencing in Justice Narimans court, also called this incident unfortunate". He told News18 that case number 9 was called out after 6. This lawyer was of the impression case number 7 was called out and so he remained silent. It was only after a while the lawyers, including me, realised Item 9 was called out. I was fortunate to not be in item 9," he said. Technical glitches and interruptions due to various kinds of snags are not new in proceedings through video-conferencing. From positioning of the cameras to power cuts, there have been myriad reasons for interruptions in these proceedings as judges and lawyers adapt to this new form of conducting courts. Judges have been taking lenient views when snags disrupt proceedings and rightly so. A clement approach is the need of the hour when individuals sitting miles away try to connect while relying completely on technology and devices. The government of Seoul said Wednesday it has decided to include foreign residents in its disaster relief payout scheme linked to the coronavirus outbreak. In March, the Seoul Metropolitan Government extended 542.3 billion won ($457 million) in emergency disaster relief funds to 1.6 million households earning less than the capital's median income to help them cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. At that time, almost all foreign residents, excluding marriage immigrants and refugees, were excluded from the one-time cash payout program. In June, however, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea advised the Seoul government to include foreign residents among the beneficiaries of its disaster relief funds, saying foreigners were discriminated against despite also being hit hard by COVID-19. The municipal government said all foreign residents that meet certain criteria and have household incomes smaller than the median income can apply for the disaster relief funds, beginning Aug. 31. Doctors ordered to go back to work amid soaring infections Stranded by coronavirus, foreigners overstaying in S. Korea sharply increase Virus cases bounce back to over 300 In order to be eligible, the head of household must have one of the visas that permit employment and profit-making activities and have been registered as living in Seoul more than 90 days since reporting alien registration as of Aug. 27. Those who have student and general trading visas and work restricted jobs won't be eligible, it noted. The total income before tax of household members should be lower than the median income. The median income differs by family size 1.76 million won per month for a one-person household, 2.99 million won for a two-person household, 3.87 million won for a three-person household, 4.75 million won for a four-person household, 5.63 million won for a five-person household, 6.51 million won for a six-person household and 7.39 million won for a seven-member household. Households with two or fewer members are paid 300,000 won, those with three to four members 400,000 won and those with five or more members 500,000 won, the government said. The relief money will be paid by prepaid cards that are valid through Dec. 15, it added. Online applications can be made from Aug. 31 to Sept. 25 at a Seoul government website (http://fds.seoul.go.kr), or at 40 designated places, including the Seoul Global Center and the Seoul Counseling Center for Migrant Women. On-site applications can proceed from Sept. 14-25 at ward offices throughout Seoul. The online and on-site application services can be used only on designated days for each individual, depending on the last digit of one's birth year. For instance, people whose birth year ends in 1 or 6 can apply on Mondays and in 5 or 0 on Fridays. The five-day rotation system doesn't apply on weekends. Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has described President Nana Akufo-Addo's free Senior High School (SHS) programme as a "groundbreaking" policy. The free SHS policy, according to the government, has benefited about 1.2 million Ghanaian school children with the first batch of beneficiaries currently writing their final exams. Over 300,000 students have sat for their 2020 WASSCE which will be completed in September this year. However, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has bastardized the government's free education policy. The NDC Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama has pledged to review the policy into what he believes will be best for Ghana's educational system than what the President is currently doing. Making his submissions on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Mr. Baako put it straight to the opposition party not to trivialize the government's policy saying it is a historic social intervention. He praised the government for boldly implementing the free SHS programme. "The successful implementation of the free SHS is groundbreaking. It's historic. It is not a joke. It's a huge investment in our human resource development; big big time social investment. Nobody should underestimate that. As a socialist myself, sometimes I envy the NPP for executing this broad-based social intervention. It's no joke. Take it from me; it needed courage," he said. 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 BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks advanced on Wednesday as investors cheered progress in U.S.-China trade talks and pinned hopes on additional stimulus from Germany and France. Germany's coalition parties last night agreed to extend economic measures at a cost of up to 10 billion euros, including prolonging a short-time work program for an extra year to cushion the effects of the coronavirus crisis. The French government will present its 100 billion euro stimulus plan on September 3, Prime Minister Jean Castex told France Inter radio today and added the new package marks 'continuity' with emergency measures already in place. Investors also looked ahead to Thursday's Jackson Hole meeting, during which Fed Chair Jerome Powell is expected to give details on the Federal Reserve's framework review. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose half a percent to 371.40 after declining 0.3 percent in the previous session. The German DAX gained 0.6 percent and France's CAC 40 edged up 0.3 percent while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was marginally higher in lackluster trade. In stock-specific action, Swedish medical equipment group Elekta soared 13 percent after reporting better-than-expected first-quarter earnings. British doorstep lender Provident Financial soared 15 percent. After posting a first-half loss, the company said it is cautiously optimistic about the outlook for 2020 and beyond. Gold producer Polymetal International shed 0.8 percent. The company reported that its net earnings for the six months ended 30 June 2020 rose to US$381 million from last year's US$153 million. Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell edged up slightly in spite of a downgrade by Barclays Capital to 'underweight'. In economic releases, French consumer sentiment index held steady at 94.0 in August, survey data from the statistical office Insee showed. The score came in line with expectations. 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. China unveils first indigenous 15 ton-class transport helicopter; amphibious assault role expected Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/25 16:45:37 The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has unveiled its latest type of transport helicopter, the Z-8L, the first in the 15 ton-class in China. The new helicopter is capable of transporting an all-terrain assault vehicle and other heavy equipment. It is expected to enter service with aerial assault troops and to play a major role in multiple scenarios including amphibious assault missions, experts said on Tuesday. In its first official public appearance, a Z-8L helicopter affiliated with a Jiangxi-based PLA test flight unit recently went through a series of tests on carrying and lifting a Bobcat all-terrain assault vehicle to examine the stability and safety of the transport procedure, Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine reported over the weekend. Domestically developed and based on the original Z-8 and being another Z-8 variant in addition to the Z-8G, the Z-8L has a wider body so it can accommodate a Bobcat all-terrain assault vehicle within its well-protected cabin, whose size is comparable to the Russia-made Mi-17 helicopter, the magazine report said, noting that the larger Z-8L is the PLA's first 15 ton-class helicopter. By comparison, the original Z-8 belongs to the 13 ton-class, and another new PLA helicopter, the Z-20, belongs to the 10 ton-class. Equipped with a new type of photoelectric device and self-defense systems including radar warning receiver and infrared decoys, the Z-8L has higher survivability, the magazine said. The Z-8L will be commissioned into the PLA's aerial assault forces to enhance the troops' comprehensive transport and overall combat capability, the report said. In addition to operating in a wide range of terrains including plains, valleys and plateaus, the Z-8L can also join cross-sea amphibious assault missions when paired up with amphibious landing and assault ships, a Chinese military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times on Tuesday. Multiple Z-8Ls carrying all-terrain assault vehicles means vertical-landing troops will have vehicles to use the moment they have their feet on the ground, which will allow them to win crucial tactical opportunities, the expert said. The PLA has been attaching great importance to helicopters and vertical landing tactics in its amphibious landing missions. It has launched two Type 075 amphibious assault ships, also known as helicopter carriers, since 2019. Additionally, multiple types of helicopters attached to the PLA 71st Group Army recently practiced takeoff and landing, replenishment and emergency repair on a civilian semi-submersible ship in the Yellow Sea, China Central Television reported last week. Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie told the Global Times in a previous interview that semi-submersible ships have large decks and can serve as temporary helicopter carriers, landing decks and maintenance centers. In a potential major mission on large islands or reefs, they can be deployed to become maritime relay platforms to extend the combat radius of helicopters, Li said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bacteria can survive for up to three years in space, according to scientists who studied colonies of microbes outside the International Space Station. Researchers responsible for the Japanese Tanpopo experiment on the ISS say the discovery means alien life could hop between neighbouring planets. Colonies of microbes at least 0.02 inches thick - thinner than a piece of paper - are resistant to the extreme cold and high radiation levels in space, researchers found. Only those at the surface of the colony die - they sacrifice themselves and form a protective layer for the remaining microbes underneath. The discovery means these colonies of microbes could travel between Earth and Mars or any other part of the universe by gathering into 'aggregates' of particles. The finding is based on 'exposure panels' of a type of bacteria called Deinococcus that were placed outside the International Space Station for up to three years. Researchers responsible for the Japanese Tanpopo experiment on the ISS say the discovery means alien life could be common - hopping from planet-to-planet This new discovery backs a theory called 'panspermia' - the controversial idea states that organisms migrate between planets, moons and solar systems. Dr Akihiko Yamagishi, principal investigator of Tanpopo said the origin of life on Earth is the biggest mystery plaguing human beings. 'Scientists can have totally different points of view on the matter,' he said. 'Some think life is very rare and happened only once in the universe, while others think life can happen on every suitable planet.' Yamagishi said that for panspermia to be possible life must exist much more often than previously thought by astronomers. Sir Stephen Hawking was a proponent of the panspermia theory. 'Life could spread from planet to planet or from stellar system to stellar system, carried on meteors,' Hawking once said. It's even been argued this is how life came to exist on Earth, although such claims have been widely criticised. The purpose of Tanpopo - Japanese for dandelion - is to investigate the possibility of natural inter-planetary transport of microbial life. Tests took place from 2015 to 2018 on the exterior of the researchers' craft called Kibo - 250 miles above Earth. They showed microscopic organisms could spark life by multiplying again after finding suitable conditions - at the other side of the universe. In the study, samples of dried Deinococcus of different sizes were placed in space for one, two or three years. By the end of the period those at least 0.02 inches thick had survivors but bacteria at the surface died - creating a protective layer to ensure the survival of the colony. Japanese astronaut Mr. Yugi set up the exposure experiment module ExHAM on the International Space Station to study external bacteria Using the data at one, two and three years of exposure, it is estimated a pellet thicker than 0.02 inches would have survived for up to 45 years on the ISS. The design of the experiment enabled the researchers to predict a 0.04 inch thick colony would last up to eight years in outer space. Dr Yamagishi, of the University of Tokyo, added: 'The results suggest radio-resistant Deinococcus could survive during the travel from Earth to Mars and vice versa - which is several months or years in the shortest orbit.' Previous research has proved bacteria could survive for a long period when benefitting from the shielding of rock - a phenomenon known as 'lithopanspermia.' The finding is based on 'exposure panels' of a type of bacteria called Deinococcus that were placed outside the International Space Station But this is the first long-term study. It raising the possibility of bacteria surviving in aggregates - raising the new concept of 'massapanspermia.' Two years ago the same team - using an aircraft and scientific balloons - found Deinococcal floating 7.5 miles above Earth. The bacteria is known to form colonies well over 0.04 inches in diameter and be resistant to environmental hazards like UV radiation. Now Dr Yamagishi and colleagues have shown they can resist long enough in space to support the possibility of panspermia. The findings have been published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. Melbourne multimillionaire Mark Simonds and his family face criminal investigations in two states over their super-yacht's voyage to the Gold Coast. Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski confirmed on Wednesday that the investigation would involve Mr Simonds and others on board the Lady Pamela, which left Melbourne on August 9 and docked at the Gold Coast on Monday. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said NSW Police Marine Area Command would also investigate potential breaches of the state's health orders. "There are not two standards for those who have, and those who have not," he said. Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield testifies before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the Trump Administration's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, June 23, 2020. "You do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one," the CDC's site now says of people without symptoms who were in close contact with an infected person for at least 15 minutes. "A negative test does not mean you will not develop an infection from the close contact or contract an infection at a later time." The agency previously recommended testing for anyone with a "recent known or suspected exposure" to the virus even if they did not have symptoms. The CDC's previous guidance cited "the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission" as a reason why people without symptoms who were exposed to the virus should be "quickly identified and tested." Numerous studies have shown that people who don't have symptoms can still carry and spread the virus even in the presymptomatic stage a few days before symptoms appear or if they are asymptomatic and never develop symptoms. The agency quietly revised its testing guidance for asymptomatic individuals Monday, advising people who are vulnerable to the virus to get tested if they have been within 6 feet of an infected individual for at least 15 minutes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is no longer recommending testing for everyone who's been exposed to Covid-19, saying people who don't have symptoms "do not necessarily need a test." The agency, which directed CNBC to HHS for comment, also added new language referring to asymptomatic individuals as "healthy people," language that's frequently used in social media posts protesting the use of masks. "In areas where there are limited number of new cases, State or local public health officials may request to test a small number of asymptomatic 'healthy people,' particularly from vulnerable populations," the new guidance reads. The CDC's updated guidance still acknowledges that people can carry and spread the virus, even if they don't have symptoms and feel healthy. In the CDC's pandemic planning scenarios, the agency says its "current best estimate" is that up to 50% of spread of the virus occurs before patients begin to experience symptoms. On a conference call with reporters later Wednesday, Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir, who leads the Trump administration's testing effort, defended the policy change, saying it empowers local health officials and clinicians. He also denied allegations of bowing to political pressure from the Trump administration. "Let me tell you, right up front that the new guidelines are a CDC action," he said, adding that members of the White House coronavirus task force, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, discussed and agreed on the new guidelines. Fauci later told CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta that he "was under general anesthesia in the operating room and was not part of any discussion or deliberation regarding the new testing recommendations." Giroir said he has heard of seemingly healthy people who think they've been exposed getting tested and using a negative test to justify "risky behavior." He said a negative test could provide a "false sense of security." "A negative test on day two doesn't mean you're negative, so what is the value of that?" he said. "It doesn't mean on day four you can go out and visit grandma or day six go without a mask." Dr. Michael Mina, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard's School of Public Health, said it's critical to test people who don't have symptoms for Covid-19 to help guide a targeted U.S. response. "It's absolutely crucial that we continue to know who is spreading virus and that is largely due to asymptomatic individuals or at least there is a large fraction of spread that is asymptomatic," he said. "That makes the new guidance frustrating, to say the least." Other epidemiologists and former health officials also criticized the change in guidance because of the role that asymptomatic people are suspected of playing in spreading the virus. "This makes no sense. People without symptoms account for up to 50% of transmission," tweeted Dr. Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University and former health commissioner of Baltimore. "We need MORE testing, not less." Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the CDC under President Barack Obama, said on Twitter that the change is "probably indefensible" and was "likely imposed on CDC's website." Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association and former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, called the change "bizarre." "Testing contacts is a core part of contact tracing!" he said on Twitter. 50% of transmission happens before symptoms occur & you make this policy decision? The CDC brand is toast." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also slammed the change in guidance, calling it "political propaganda" designed to support the reelection efforts of President Donald Trump. The updated guidance also removed a line on the importance of testing and surveillance to the U.S. national response plan. The guidance previously read: "Testing is a fundamental part of the United States SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Plan, which uses multiple surveillance systems and epidemiology networks to monitor the progression and impact of SARS-CoV-2 spread in the United States." BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- China has proposed solid measures for regional cooperation at the third Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders' meeting to jointly cope with global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic. At the event, held by video link on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed to expand cooperation in areas such as water resources, connectivity and public health among the six Lancang-Mekong countries, namely China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Zhang Lili, a professor with China Foreign Affairs University, said these measures demonstrate China's role as a responsible country and its efforts to promote building a community with a shared future for mankind. WATER RESOURCES COOPERATION The LMC mechanism was launched by the six countries in 2016. Its name comes from a river: It is called Lancang in China and Mekong after flowing out of the country into Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Chinese premier said starting from this year, China will share the Lancang River's hydrological data for the whole year with Mekong countries. Zhai Kun, a professor of international studies at Peking University, said this represented a step forward in water resources cooperation as China used to share only the hydrological data during the flood season. The Chinese premier also noted that China will work with other LMC countries to establish a Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Information Sharing Platform to better tackle climate change and natural disasters such as floods and droughts. As the upstream country, China has actively responded to the expectations of downstream countries to strengthen cooperation with a sense of responsibility, increase trust and dispel doubts as well as help the LMC countries to better manage water resources, Zhai added. REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY China also proposed synergizing the LMC with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which passes through western China and connects Southeast Asia with the Eurasian continent. Zhai said the trade corridor would activate the synergetic development of the western and southwestern China market and the ASEAN market, and thus help optimize the allocation of resources, keep industrial and supply chains stable and promote the Belt and Road construction. According to China's Ministry of Transport, transportation connectivity through railway, road and waterway has been greatly improved under the LMC mechanism. The Chinese section of the China-Vietnam railway has completed electrification, and the construction of the rail tracks from China to Laos, Thailand and Myanmar is proceeding smoothly; 29 cross-border road transportation routes from Yunnan to Laos and Vietnam have been opened; China's part of the Lancang-Mekong shipping lane has been upgraded to allow 300-tonne ships to navigate. Hailing the LMC mechanism as a paradigm of the sub-regional cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, Ruan Zongze, executive vice president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the countries take full use of the geographic advantages to push ahead connectivity. Merging the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor with the LMC will enhance the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, push forward the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, and raise regional economic integration to a higher level, Ruan added. PANDEMIC RESPONSE As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, LMC countries are also concerned about how to cooperate more on public health. China promised to set up a special fund for public health under the framework of the LMC Special Fund and continue to provide material and technical support to the Mekong countries to the best of its ability. Also, once developed and used in China, COVID-19 vaccines will be provided to Mekong countries on a priority basis, said Premier Li. Ruan said the countries working together to combat the pandemic has created favorable conditions for future cooperation in various fields, promoted people-to-people exchanges and injected strong confidence and impetus into broader regional collaboration. A Midland man who is on paid administrative leave from Ector County ISD was being held at Midland County jail Tuesday night on a charge of improper relationship between educator and student, according to a press release from the district. Bond for William H. Boone had not been set as of Tuesday night. ECISD police began an investigation earlier this month after two former students of Odessa Collegiate Academy reported that a teacher and a student at the school had been involved in an improper relationship during the spring semester, according to the release. The teacher Boone was immediately placed on paid administrative leave. The investigation culminated in Boones arrest Tuesday on the second-degree felony. This is extremely disturbing, ECISD Superintendent Scott Muri said in the release. We are angry. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. As a school district, we have taken steps to combat this. We require sexual harassment training each year, and this training includes very clear warnings of the consequences for employee-student relationships. There is no excuse for our employees to misunderstand the seriousness of these actions. We want you, our staff, our parents and our community to know we will continue to do everything we can to prevent this behavior. I want to add: We are extremely thankful for our teachers the 99.9 percent of them who are committed to helping kids every day, Muri said. Boone began teaching in ECISD in August 2000 and has worked at Crockett Middle School in addition to OCA, with no previous complaints, according to the release. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American:CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases, today announced that it will be presenting at the 12th annual LD 500 on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 9:20 AM EST / 6:20 AM PST. The LD 500 will take place on September 1st through the 4th. Investors interested in viewing the presentation may register here: https://ld-micro-conference.events.issuerdirect.com/ Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman will present to a live public audience, and management will conduct private 1x1 meetings with registered investors. LD Micro expects 20,000 attendees and 300 featured companies. Can-Fite plans to update investors on its advanced clinical pipeline including two ongoing Phase III trials in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, an upcoming pivotal Phase III study in liver cancer, and two upcoming clinical trials in the treatment of COVID-19 and NAFLD/NASH. Chris Lahiji, Founder of LD stated, "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." Can-Fite's profile for the conference may be viewed here: http://www.ldmicro.com/profile/CANF Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of ACCESSWIRE 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. About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American:CANF) (TASE:CFBI) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory disease and COVID-19. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson, is currently in Phase III trials for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver drug, Namodenoson, is headed into a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, and successfully achieved its primary endpoint in a Phase II trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company's third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,500 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: www.can-fite.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fite's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, market risks and uncertainties, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, Can-Fite or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by Can-Fite with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of Can-Fite's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Can-Fite's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause Can-Fite's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the impact of the recent outbreak of coronavirus; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business; and risks and other risk factors detailed in Can-Fite's filings with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. In addition, Can-Fite operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. Can-Fite does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Can-Fite BioPharma Motti Farbstein info@canfite.com +972-3-9241114 SOURCE: Can-Fite BioPharma via LD Micro View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602792/Can-Fite-to-Present-at-The-LD-Micro-500-Virtual-Conference-on-September-1-2020 Data released by National Statistical Office on August 26 shows new employment in the government sector fell by over 60 per cent in June 2020 compared with the monthly average of the last financial year. Secondly, despite the Reserve Bank of India tightening its vigilance, bank frauds continue to occur with worrying frequency. As per the RBI annual report released on Monday, August 26, the total cases of frauds shot up by 28 per cent by volume and 159 per cent by value during 2019-2020. While there were 6,799 frauds involving Rs 71,543 crore as of March 2019, the number of frauds jumped to 8,707 involving a massive Rs 185,644 crore. Dominic Xavier wonders what will happen to the poorest who have been ravaged by the strict lockdown imposed by the Narendra Damodardas Modi govt in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and unemployment rates spiralling out of control every passing month. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) has launched a new blog post that explains the benefits drivers gain when using car insurance brokerage websites. For more info and free quotes, please visit: https://compare-autoinsurance.org/why-are-brokerage-websites-recommended-for-comparing-car-insurance-quotes/ Brokerage websites can help their users obtain a better view of the car insurance market. With the help of brokerage websites, drivers will find out what insurance providers are selling policies in their areas. Drivers that use brokerage websites will gain the following advantages: Drivers can save money. Brokerage websites can help drivers find better insurance deals that in some cases will help save hundreds of dollars each year. Policyholders can also simulate different insurance plans and see which one offers the most protection at the lowest price possible. Moreover, brokerage websites will list the newly established insurers. It's not uncommon for newly established insurers to offer better insurance deals compared to big, known insurance companies. They usually do that in order to attract new customers. Online quotes can be used from anywhere and at any time . Drivers are no longer required to travel for one insurance agency to another to obtain several quotes. They can easily obtain online quotes while sitting comfortably in their homes, or while being on vacation in another city. All they need is an internet connection and a smartphone or pc. Multiple offers at once . Brokerage websites, usually work with several car insurance carriers. Drivers will only have to complete an online questionnaire and wait several seconds for the multiple insurances offers to be displayed. Accurate estimates. Brokerage websites can display very accurate insurance quotes. To do that, policyholders will have to provide accurate info about their vehicles and their driving history. No matter how unpleasant it can be, drivers will have to share data about their speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and drunk driving in order to obtain accurate car insurance quotes. They can help drivers decide if they should switch carriers or not. Policyholders will usually search for car insurance quotes just before the renewal time is getting closer. Drivers that find better insurance deals are recommended to contact their insurance providers and see if they can make a counteroffer. If not, then they should switch their carriers. Story continues For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Brokerage websites can help drivers find better insurance deals in a comfortable and time-saving manner", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing Company Person for contact Name: Gurgu C Phone Number: (818) 359-3898 Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz Website: https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603426/Why-Drivers-Should-Use-Car-Insurance-Brokerage-Websites By Jung Min-ho Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha apologized Monday over the handling of sexual allegations against a senior Korean diplomat once stationed in New Zealand. "We received the investigation results from Cheong Wa Dae that there were problems in the ministry's response," Kang said during a meeting. "The case has become a diplomatic burden for the government, causing concern to the public. I'm sorry." The statement comes about a month after President Moon Jae-in promised to deal with the case promptly during a phone conversation with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. A local employee at Korea's Embassy in Wellington has accused the diplomat of groping his body parts against his will three times in 2017. The case came to attention after local media highlighted it. Before Ardern's direct request, a spokeswoman at New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told The Korea Times that the New Zealand government was disappointed that the Korean government did not cooperate with earlier requests from New Zealand police. Kang vowed to strengthen communication with New Zealand authorities to resolve the case and apply stricter standards for future sexual misconduct cases. The diplomat, who later moved to a post in the Philippines, has returned to Korea at the ministry's order. He is expected to be questioned soon after a 14-day self-isolation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear whether the presidential office and the ministry will accept a New Zealand police request to send him back for an investigation there. Speaking to Korean media, the diplomat admitted there had been physical contact, but he denied sexually harassing the employee. Hes the leading political chameleon of the Trump era, adapting seamlessly to give old-world, pre-Trump Republicans and new-world, MAGA-focused acolytes a message that works for each of their tastes. And Mike Pence will take the stage as Wednesdays feature act at the Republican National Convention, to show viewers and party up-and-comers the balancing act likely 2024 contenders must perform in a party transformed by President Donald Trump. Trumps obsequious vice president is as much a rumored presidential hopeful as former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott two other movement conservatives who stood out for their personal stories and rosy assessments, among Mondays lineup of fire-breathing right-wingers and guests for whom proximity to Trump was the only explanation behind their appearance. But with his own name on the ticket and his political future riding on the outcome of this election, the convention stage carries more weight than most for Pence. Beneath a replica of the star-spangled banner at Baltimores Fort McHenry, the vice president will do what he does best: walk the Trump tightrope. In remarks that are still being finalized, Pence is expected to combine flattering anecdotes about his divisive boss with a full-throated defense of Trumpism, and then blend it all together with a dash of Ronald Reagans infectious optimism. Unlike Haley and Scott, neither of whom are on the ballot this November, Pence must frame this moment in a way that pleases Trump, energizes their base and strikes the right chord with skeptical audiences. If he succeeds in this role, he could emerge in November as a sturdy bridge between the old Republican guard and the new populist right during a second Trump term and beyond. 2024 takes care of itself if Vice President Mike Pence can reassure and remind key elements of the base of all the promises he and President Trump have kept, and also make a compelling case to swing voters that he and Trump are the guys that will get peoples lives back to normal, said Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips. Voters will remember that at a key juncture in the 2020 election, this guy fired up the base to higher heights and brought persuadable voters on board. Story continues If Pence fails, a future political comeback will automatically seem improbable. Pence does a better job than almost anyone of taking the popular, defensible portions of the presidents agenda and fusing them with more traditional conservatism, said Michael Steel, a former aide to GOP House Speaker John Boehner. If this is a close election and the VP is seen to have done his best to help the ticket, he can argue plausibly that hes the best candidate to bring together Trump supporters and traditional conservatives heading into the 2024 primary. Those closest to Pence said he is aware that his role at this years convention is different from the part he played in 2016, when he and Trump were mere acquaintances shoved together in what aides assured them was a mutually beneficial partnership. Pence brought stability and conservative bona fides to the ticket in exchange for political stardom and an enhanced national profile if they won. He is still seen inside Trumps circle as someone who offers meaningful reassurance to disgruntled conservatives, particularly those who favor the presidents policies but detest his rhetoric. The relationship theyve had is something that is exceedingly rare in this administration, Phillips said. Its been durable when so many others faltered. This time, Pence sees himself as a trusted conservative who can speak about Trumps temperament behind the scenes and explain why working-class and suburban voters should trust he has their best interests at heart even as the president struggles to articulate those interests himself. He really understands Trumps thinking and the reasons why he makes his decisions and can articulate that in a much different way than the president does one that resonates with older conservatives and voters who are used to more normal political rhetoric than blunt tweets, said one former Pence aide. People familiar with the vice presidents remarks said he will spend the bulk of his speech elevating accomplishments over the past four years that Trump believes have received slanted coverage and insufficient media attention. Hell also aim to define the presidents second-term agenda in clearer terms. Only a third of the vice presidents speech is expected to delve into the chief criticisms he and Trump have of their Democratic opponents, former Vice President Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris. Officials inside the vice presidents office were adamant that Pence will focus on the president and his plans for the next four years, not himself and his own aspirations a nod to Pences fealty even at a time of heightened uncertainty surrounding his own political fate and that of the party to which he belongs. The reason he is the most trusted member of this administration is because the president knows that the vice president has his back and is not self-serving, said a senior White House official. Pence has already shown he is capable of maintaining links to different wings of the party in a way that escapes his more capricious boss and other Trumpian figures. While the president rarely plays nice with Republican officials who have criticized his leadership or policies, Pence has proven willing to work with many of the administrations sharpest critics on both sides of the aisle. As chairman of the federal governments coronavirus task force, he remains in close contact with state governors. As a devout Christian himself, he is regarded among religious conservatives as someone who speaks their language and keeps pressure on the president to take up their causes, such as abortion, religious liberty and school choice. And as the primary salesman for the administrations revised trade deal with Mexico and Canada and a former governor from the heartland, hes widened his appeal to white working-class voters who account for a substantial portion of the GOP base. He is well-versed in speaking at CPACs and state conventions and knows how to deliver red meat, said the former Pence aide. But hes also capable of speaking to swing voters throughout the Midwest about the issues theyre facing whether its trade, the economy as it is now or dealing with coronavirus and hes a military father who can appeal to ordinary patriotic Americans. Both Haley and Scott made their own attempts this week to walk the tightrope Pence has mastered since joining the GOP ticket in 2016. Despite far less riding on their appearances, they each earned high marks from mainstream Republicans. While recounting her experience as governor of South Carolina following the Mother Emanuel church shooting in 2015, Haley skirted around mentions of the Confederate flag, which Trump has said people should be able to fly freely. Together, we made the hard choices needed to heal and removed a divisive symbol, peacefully and respectfully, she said, describing her decision to remove the Confederate flag from state buildings following the mass shooting in Charleston, S.C., five years ago. Meanwhile, Scott spoke with the same genteel tone that has become a hallmark of Pences public remarks. His was a Pence-like speech through and through from lavishing praise on the president for building the most inclusive economy ever to criticizing Bidens attitude toward Black voters and acknowledging the country is not fully where we want to be on issues of race and economic equality. We have work to do, but I believe in the goodness of America, the promise that all men, and all women, are created equal, Scott said. If the speeches by Haley and Scott were well-received, Phillips said he expects the vice presidents speech to go over even better not because Pence will consciously strike a balance between extolling his boss and offering a future-oriented take on the presidents second-term agenda, but because that balance comes naturally to him after so many years at Trumps side. I think the difference between Mike Pence and Nikki Haley or Sen. Scott is Pence has been there every step of the way and the other two cant say that, said Phillips, who will be in the audience Wednesday night when Pence delivers his remarks in Baltimore. They delivered really uplifting speeches. Its just that the vice president knows Donald Trump in a way very few others do and that will make a significant difference when he takes the stage. Advertisement The owners of an iconic Outback pub at the centre of Australia have revealed the devastating impact coronavirus has had on their business. The Mount Dare Hotel in Witjira, South Australia, is the closest pub to every beach in mainland Australia - even though it is 3,184km from the Gold Coast in Queensland and 2,750km from Bondi in New South Wales. The venue on the western edge of the Simpson Desert and just 10km from the Northern Territory border is also the closest pub to the Lambert Centre of Australia. Mount Dare Hotel 'all rounder' Pascal Houron, 38, said the iconic landmark was a hot ticket destination among four-wheel-driving adventure enthusiasts looking to cross the Simpson Desert. The Mount Dare Hotel in Witjira, South Australia (pictured), is the closest pub to every beach in Mainland Australia - even though it is 3,184km from the Gold Coast in Queensland and 2,750km from Bondi in New South Wales The venue also revealed it was the closest pub to the centre of Australia, known as the Lambert Centre of Australia (pictured) The sandy terrain is only open from March 15 to December 1 due to temperatures soaring up to - and above - 50 degrees during the nation's warmest months. It stretches across 176,500sq km, lures thousands of thrill-seekers each year and is home to the world's longest parallel dunes. 'We had 20,000 cars cross the Simpson Desert just three years ago - in 2017,' Mr Houron said. 'Lots of them stopped over ... but not everyone. It can be very busy and popular.' However, with the coroanvirus outbreak and border restrictions in place, business at the Mount Dare Hotel has been slashed by 90 per cent. The venue (pictured) is on the western edge of the Simpson Desert and just 10km from the Northern Territory border Mount Dare Hotel 'all rounder' Pascal Houron, 38, and his partner,Michelle Jraijiri, (pictured) fell in love with the venue and area while travelling Australia four years ago The Mount Dare Hotel in Witjira is a hot ticket destination among four-wheel-driving adventure enthusiasts looking to cross the Simpson Desert. Pictured: A map of a popular 4X4 route The site is serving up to 10 people a day for dinner at the moment - down from an average of 100 - and the campsite, which usually has 120 visitors staying, has 'no one'. Mr Houron said having a group of 20 stopping by on Tuesday was the busiest the Mount Dare Hotel had been since the beginning of March. Staff numbers have also been halved to four, which includes the two owners. 'It's just myself, my partner and the owners, Sandra and Graham,' he said. 'We're doing a lot of maintenance and a few regulars pop in but its really quiet. 'We're hoping things will really start to pick up in September. A couple of cars are coming through a day but not a lot. The site is serving up to 10 people a day for dinner at the moment - down from an average of 100 - and the campsite, which usually has 120 visitors staying, has 'no one'. Pictured: Inside the Mount Dare Hotel Staff numbers have also been halved to four, which includes the two owners. Pictured: Inside the Mount Dare Hotel Mr Houron, who is originally from France, said the best part about the Mount Dare Hotel was the 'friendly community' and being 'genuinely in the middle of nowhere.' It was what won Mr Houron and his partner, Michelle Jraijiri, over while travelling Australia four years ago. They have been working at the Mount Dare Hotel for the past 17 months. 'It's an amazing place and the community is very friendly. There are not too many people and it's perfect all year round,' he said. 'There is just natural beauty everywhere and it's changing all the time. 'I would definitely recommend people seeing this part of the world.' Mr Houron, who is originally from France, said the best part about the Mount Dare Hotel was the 'friendly community' and being 'genuinely in the middle of no where'. Pictured: Area surrounding the venue The Mount Dare Hotel owners, Sandra and Graham Scott, who took over the pub in July 2015 His comment's follow South Australian MP Leon Bignell encouraging thrill-seekers to support Australian businesses and check the site out online. He checked in on Tuesday and said in a post it was in a 'prime location' despite being 'a long, long way from all of the beaches'. 'If a 1000km plus drive to the beach is too far, you can have a nice warm swim nearby at Dalhousie Springs. The temperature from the natural springs ranges from 38C-43C,' he said. 'If you want the place to yourself, hit the road and explore South Australias amazing outback. Youll see why people from all over the world love the place.' Seattle police claim that protesters attempted to trap them inside a precinct other demonstrators were setting on fire in an 'attempted murder' attempt Monday night. Surveillance footage from the incident appears to show protesters stacking up plywood against the East Precinct door as the fire is set nearby. Cops released images of the door they say was covered in quick-dry cement to keep it shut and had its electronic keypad destroyed, leaving officers forced to smash their way out of the building. One person was arrested Monday night in connection with the arson attempt. Scroll down for video The Seattle Police Department released this image of the door of the East Precinct which protesters had tried to cement shut on Monday night as they set the building on fire Surveillance images show the protesters setting the fire and blocking off the entrance Fire lit at SPD East Precinct tonight #Seattle pic.twitter.com/acfof9W1vi Kitty Shackleford (@KittyLists) August 25, 2020 'That's not a protest, that's not a demonstration that's a directed attack against the police,' Sgt. Randy Huserik with the Seattle Police Department told KOMO News. 'Last night was, was clearly a coordinated attack against three Seattle Police facilities. 'They mixed up the Quikrete and then tried to seal off the exits,' he added, claiming that other protesters tried to block the cameras by using umbrellas. 'I don't think there's a lot of leaps that have to be made about what their intent was last night.' A spokesperson also told the station that they believed the attack to be 'attempted murder'. The city's police claim that the Seattle Police Officers Guild was also targeted with three incendiary devices on Monday night. One of the devices set the steps of the building alight, they said. 'What's next? Will there be a loss of life?' said SPOG President Mike Solan. 'I mean, that would be tragic, and this is why these people need to be stopped, immediately.' Solan told KIRO 7 it was 'clear domestic terrorism', adding, 'I think what this shows you is that these people are intent on killing police officers. 'We're being held hostage by a group of 100 to 150 people that are bent on destroying this city and hurting police officers'. He claimed that the Guild's own surveillance footage caught two individuals 'scouting our location for several hours', as well as showing one the the firebombs being thrown at the stairs. The fire can be seen here between the fence as the protesters to the front block the door Protesters are seen adding more fuel to the fire outside the precinct Monday night A protester is seen here to the left bring wood to block off the door so cops were trapped After a march between Cal Anderson and downtown, protestors returned to Capitol Hill lighting fireworks off and a small bonfire at the east precinct. Police responded in force. Retreating protestors lit a few small fires along Pike. #seattleprotests pic.twitter.com/xVfW1QPNuq matt (@mmitgang) August 25, 2020 Police leaders have condemned city officials, blasting their failure to step in and protect cops from the protests. 'That's why it's incumbent upon our elected officials to put a stop to this immediately,' he said. 'How can city leaders be so feckless? It can't just be on the officers. This is an absolute overthrow attempt of some of our government institutions, and police are in the way. They or the officers will get hurt or killed so they can put forth that agenda. 'They're not going to bully us into submission,' he added. 'They're not going to bully this community into submission.' 'The way that the officers were treated here, the things that were said, the stuff that happened, was worse than WTO,' added Sgt. Huserik, comparing the recent protests to the 1999 World Trade Organization Seattle protests. 'And I never imagined I would say that.' The Seattle Police Department released this image of the aftermath of the East Precinct fire Graffiti was sprayed over the exterior walls of the Seattle Police West Precinct Monday Protesters damaged the underground parking entrance at the Seattle Police East Precinct A press release from the Seattle Police Department said that one officer was injured during Monday night's protest. The violent scenes began as a direct response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday, adding to the weeks of unrest caused by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Seattle police said that around 250 people gathered to protest Blake's shooting Monday, marching from the East Precinct on Capitol Hill, then to the West Precinct downtown and back to the East Precinct. A department press release claimed that the crowd smashed parking meters, graffitied, damaged an Amazon Go store, and broke windows of several Starbucks locations on Capitol Hill as they marched. Starbucks has made donations to the Seattle Police Foundation. At the West Precinct, the crowd spray painted messages such as 'burn me'. According to the Seattle Times, there was no visible police presence throughout the march. When the crowd returned to the East Precinct, the protesters began throwing fireworks at the building and started a fire behind a chain link fence surrounding the precinct, cops said. The group was then ordered to disperse. A further fire was set on Pike Street before the group left the area. Blake, 29, a father of six, was struck from behind at point-blank range in a hail of bullets fired on Sunday by police who were following him with guns drawn as he walked away from officers to his car and opened a door to the vehicle. Police in riot gear clear a park during clashes with protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis A man stood in front of law enforcement officers as they braced for a clash against protesters on Tuesday night following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin Three of his young sons inside the automobile - aged three, five and eight - witnessed their father being gunned down, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family. A bystander captured the encounter in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage over the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against black Americans. Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women, was struck by multiple gunshots fired at him, all by one officer. Crump also revealed Blake was undergoing surgery for his injuries, adding that the bullets severed his spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Another attorney said there was also severe damage to organs. 'It's going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again,' Crump said. Blake remains in hospital after being shot multiple times by the white Kenosha officer on Sunday, prompting a wave of protests around the county. On Tuesday night, two people were killed and another injured in Kenosha when protesters clashed with militia groups. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested on Wednesday in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois and charged with first degree intentional homicide following the shooting death of the two protesters. Aaron Gilbert, Realtor Aarons knowledge of the Richmond area real estate market is second to none. ~Ray Ferguson, VP Central Virginia region. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, one of the countrys fastest-growing real estate brokerages, today welcomes award-winning agent and top producer Aaron Gilbert to its Bon Air office. Aarons knowledge of the Richmond area real estate market is second to none, said Ray Ferguson, vice president of the companys Central Virginia region. With his savvy business knowledge, impressive work ethic and unparalleled dedication to customer service, theres no doubt that Aaron will continue to deliver the best results for his clients, even during our current environment of uncertainty. We are so pleased to welcome him to the company. Gilbert began his career in real estate 15 years ago where he has consistently placed among the top producers in the Richmond area. He holds the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation plus certifications in military relocation, seller representation and resort properties, among others. This year, Gilbert was ranked #49 in the Real Trends list of Americas best real estate agents] based on his impressive 2019 production. Im excited to start the next phase of my career with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, said Gilbert. Im pleased to be part of such a strong brand thats one of the most respected worldwide. Plus, the companys continued growth in the Richmond market, and the tools that they offer, give me the opportunity to enhance the value of my real estate services to my clients. Gilbert is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he is a member of the Delta Chi fraternity. He was born and raised in central Virginia and currently resides in Midlothian with his wife, Katie and their three children. Gilbert can be reached by phone/text at (804) 868-0080 or email at Aaron.Gilbert@PenFedRealty.com. About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty (http://www.penfedrealty.com) is a full-service real estate company with an annual sales volume of over $5 billion. The company has 1,800 agents and more than 50 offices, providing complete real estate services nationwide. PenFed Realty is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PenFed Credit Union and is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerage network, operated by HSF Affiliates LLC. Membership with PenFed Credit Union is not required to conduct business with BHHS PenFed Realty. We are proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Equal Housing Opportunity. ALTON In a public service announcement Wednesday, the RiverBend Growth Association encouraged area businesses and residents to mask up and help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The announcement came as a resurgence of the virus in the area has brought stricter guidelines for high-risk settings, such as bars and restaurants. All were asking is for people to do their part to keep businesses open, said RBBA President John Keller. According to the Illinois COVID-19 Mitigation Plan announced July 15, mitigation strategies will be automatically applied in a region that meets resurgence criteria. Mitigation strategies for retail, fitness and salon settings will be available if testing and contract tracing data at the local level indicate those mitigations are advisable. By wearing a mask, keeping 6 feet apart when possible and following other guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, we can slow the spread and keep businesses open, the RBGA said in a public statement released Wednesday. Additionally, the organization reminded area residents to be appreciative of the local businesses that have been implementing innovative and creative business practices during the crisis. They noted that many now offer online ordering, delivery, carry out and increased safety practices. The RBGA is proud of its members who have safely remained open, making it easier for residents to safely shop local, the RBGA said. For more information, contact the RBGA at 618-467-2280 or visit the RBGA website at growthassociation.com. Roman Polanski will not appeal a judges decision to uphold his expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a lawyer for the controversial director has said. Polanski sued the Academy the body which oversees the Oscars after it kicked him out in May 2018, alleging he had not been given warning or a chance to respond. Polanski fled the United States in 1978, after pleading guilty to the rape of a 13-year-old girl. He won the best director Oscar in 2003. Roman Polanski will not appeal a judges ruling that the Academy had a right to expel him (Joel Ryan/PA) A Los Angeles Superior Court clerk confirmed a judge had denied Polanskis request to be reinstated to the Academy on Tuesday, ruling the body had a right to expel him. Harland Braun, the directors lawyer, told the PA news agency he would not be appealing. We were trying to establish justice, he said. The membership is actually worthless, but his art and Academy awards endure. French-Polish filmmaker Polanski, 87, was booted out of the Academy alongside the disgraced comedian Bill Cosby as Hollywood reacted to the #MeToo movement. In a statement at the time, the Academy said: The board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academys values of respect for human dignity. Polanski, whose films include Chinatown, Rosemarys Baby and The Pianist, is one of the most feted directors of his generation, however he remains highly controversial. For his latest film, An Officer And A Spy, he took home the best director prize at Frances Cesar Awards in February, leading some attendees to walkout of the ceremony in disgust. The Academy has been contacted for comment. On Wednesday, soon after a yet-untitled cross-border love story featuring Arjun Kapoor was announced, Twitter was flooded with memes and trolls targeting the actor. As a result, his name started to trend on Twitter. Arjun has been a favourite target of memers and has lately been attacked on social media along with other star kids, as a conversation on Bollywood nepotism reopened after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. #ArjunKapoor It takes guts to cast someone like Arjun Kapoor after what all has just happened. Either the producer is Dumb/ Overconfident Whatever may be the case it will be a Massive Disaster like his previous films. Timeup now for such Nepo Products supported by Bollywood Mafia," tweeted a user. #ArjunKapoor It takes guts to cast someone like Arjun Kapoor after what all has just happened.Either the producer is Dumb/ Overconfident Whatever may be the case it will be a Massive Disaster like his previous films.Timeup now for such Nepo Products supported by Bollywood Mafia. Bhaskar Agnihotri (@BHASKARAGNIHOT) August 26, 2020 We r not interested in star kids.. kindly boycott don let them go free.. or elz they will murder many sushhants an dishas in the future," wrote another user. We r not interested in star kids..kindly boycottdon let them go free..or elz they will murder many sushhants an dishas in the future#ArjunKapoor Hazel Moraes (@MoraesHazel) August 26, 2020 Some were sarcastic: Dont worry People Boycott ki zaroorat hi nahi #ArjunKapoor is enough to ruin any movie single handedly." Dont worry People Boycott ki zaroorat hi nahi #ArjunKapoor is enough to ruin any movie single handedly pic.twitter.com/mYFM5cdV7p VsAl (@Iam_vsAl) August 26, 2020 How does he still get film offers? #ArjunKapoor," wondered a user. How does he still get film offers?#ArjunKapoor ND (@koolnivi) August 26, 2020 Panipat What a glorious history Very excellent and beautiful story But this man ruined that movie with his acting. #ArjunKapoor," reads another tweet criticising his acting skills. Panipat What a glorious historyVery excellent and beautiful story..But this man ruined that movie with his acting.#ArjunKapoor Hitesh (@Hitesh48367867) August 26, 2020 The untitled film that drew social media ire towards Arjun also stars Rakul Preet Singh, John Abraham and Aditi Rao Hydari, and is directed by Kaashvie Nair. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 00:17:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close 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 (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a plenary meeting of the 13th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national political advisors put forward suggestions for the country's economic and social planning over the next five years during a session of the standing committee of China's top political advisory body. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended Wednesday's plenary meeting. A total of 12 members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee voiced their suggestions for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development at the plenary meeting. Aiming to boost the growth of economic volume and improve the quality of development, the political advisors proposed to facilitate national economic circulation to establish a new development pattern, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay and allows the domestic and foreign markets to boost each other. They called for deepening supply-side structural reform, and effective measures to forestall and defuse financial risks to achieve high-quality development of the financial sector. Stressing the need to uphold the innovation-driven development strategy, the political advisors urged efforts to foster cutting-edge technology industries and seek development opportunities through technological innovation. The political advisors urged a balanced and high-quality compulsory education as well as improving coordination between prevention, treatment, and scientific research on major epidemics. Continuous efforts should be made to strengthen ecological conservation, and pursue eco-friendly development models and ways of life, said the political advisors. Noting that China should deepen its opening up on a larger scale and in more fields, the political advisors also called for safeguarding multilateral trading regimes, and the building of an international economic governance system that is fair and equitable. Enditem By Jo Anne Zito New Jerseyeans will have the opportunity to change criminal justice laws themselves this November by voting in favor of marijuana legalization. Cannabis prohibition has supported violence between law enforcement and suspected marijuana users and punishments that do not fit the supposed crime. Just this June, Woodlynne police officer Ryan Dubiel was charged with two counts of simple assault for use of force that was determined unjustified by the Camden County Prosecutors Office when investigating someone who was smoking cannabis. Jawara McIntosh (Tosh 1), son of the late, Rastafarian reggae artist Peter Tosh, was brutally beaten into a coma three years ago by a violent inmate while serving time for possession of marijuana in the Bergen County Corrections Facility. He was in a coma for more than a year and died on July 17. Across the Hudson, 18-year-old Ramarley Graham was shot and killed by police in front of his little brother and grandmother in her bathroom, after police mistook his bag of weed for a gun. These laws have torn apart families, stolen future wealth, denied people their rights, and caused injury and death, all for a substance thats used as medicine and has shown to be over a hundred times safer than alcohol, according to the National Institute of Healths therapeutic index and study. Peoples lives are ruined more by the laws for having cannabis than by cannabis itself. The most recently compiled ACLU report for marijuana arrests in New Jersey showed over 36,000 arrests for marijuana in 2018. It also showed that despite similar usage rates, Black people were arrested for marijuana 3.5 times more than white counterparts. Also, both rates of arrests and disparities in arrests have increased from what was reported for 2017. Given these statistics, this cannabis policy reform should definitely be a part of social justice reforms currently underway to invoke justice and save lives now! Although marijuana decriminalization bills A1897/A4269 passed in the Assembly, the cannabis decriminalization bill in the Senate, senate bill S2535, is preferred as it offers more meaningful reform and a fairer policy than the Assembly bills and especially for those who are disproportionately arrested and even after possible legalization. Many people of color and those with previous records are still getting arrested in legalized states because of continued marijuana felonization. If social justice is truly what were after in marijuana policy reform, then we must end felony disenfranchisement for marijuana as much as possible, as soon as possible. Decriminalization bill S2535 helps do that by offering provisions even the previous legalization plan did not offer, like protecting child custody rights and access to financial assistance, housing assistance and social services. It also protects against employment or mortgage loan discrimination and helps and protects those with previous felonies, those on probation or parole and can even help release prisoners from jail, prison or forced rehabs for these marijuana felonies. It also has provisions that would no longer allow the smell of marijuana to be probable cause for a search by police. Some fear decriminalization will hinder legalization but polls conducted in the state over the last few years have shown that legalization is supported by a majority of people, as they want the protection of a regulated market with tested products they will legally be allowed to use and keep. Full legalization is very much needed, but weve made it a point to make it about social justice; and although there are cannabis industry opportunities in the plan for those disenfranchised by this war on people, many of us will not be able to participate because of the enduring negative effects of these drug war tactics. As a person whos been unjustly criminalized, harshly punished, had my family separated and future destroyed by these hypocritical laws, this is not an either-or situation, but rather a situation where both policies are needed to keep families together and protect the most people. So, I am urging people to please join me in contacting state Sen. Nicholas Scutari to tell him to command justice and have a hearing on marijuana decriminalization bill S2535 now. Please also contact your own legislators to encourage a hearing and to pass S2535 to ensure meaningful justice reform and fewer arrests which will reduce costs for law enforcement, the criminal justice system and to the taxpayers who fund them. There will be a protest rally in support of this at the statehouse in Trenton Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. Social distancing or face-coverings are required. Jo Anne Zito is a founding board member of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana-New Jersey. Contact the CMM-NJ at info@cmmnj.org. 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. Arrest comes after three nights of unrest in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. A teenager identified as Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested and charged with homicide after gunfire killed two people and wounded a third during protests over the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha in the US state of Wisconsin. The lakeside city has been rocked by civil unrest since Sunday, when police shot Jacob Blake, 29, in the back at close range. The incident, captured on video, has reignited protests over racism and police use of force in the US, and prompted the Milwaukee Bucks an NBA team from Wisconsin to boycott a play-off game. Police equipment from across the state as well as National Guard troops, the FBI, and other federal law enforcement officers were sent to Kenosha, police officials said. They also announced a 7pm (23:00 GMT) curfew beginning on Wednesday, an hour earlier than the night before. Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested on a warrant in the neighbouring state of Illinois and charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Kenosha, a Lake County court official said. The attack on Tuesday was largely captured on mobile phone video. I just killed somebody, the gunman, carrying a semi-automatic rifle, could be heard saying at one point. Julia Jackson, the mother of Jacob Blake, speaks during a news conference outside the Kenosha County Courthouse [Stephen Maturen/Reuters] Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis confirmed the 17-year old from Antioch, Illinois was in custody in another state and efforts were being made to bring him back to Wisconsin. What I cant tell you is what led to that disturbance, what led to use of deadly force, Miskinis said. Miskinis said the events surrounding Blakes shooting were being investigated by the criminal division of the Wisconsin Department of Justice to give it the outside view, and that he had no knowledge of the investigation as mandated by Wisconsin law and procedure. Protesters marched, drove cars and honked horns in Kenosha on Wednesday night and early Thursday as protests continued. The protests were mostly peaceful, in contrast to the violent clashes that marked earlier nights of demonstrations. There were no groups patrolling with long guns as they had on previous nights, and protesters stayed away from a courthouse that had been the site of standoffs with law enforcement. The shocking events Two people were killed on Tuesday night in an attack carried out by a young white man, alleged to be Rittenhouse, who was caught on a mobile phone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle. I just killed somebody, the person could be heard saying at one point during the shooting rampage that erupted just before midnight. One victim was shot in the head and the other in the chest, Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A third person suffered gunshot wounds not believed to be life-threatening. The dead were identified only as a 26-year-old Silver Lake, Wisconsin, resident and a 36-year-old from Kenosha. The wounded person, a 36-year-old from West Allis, Wisconsin, was expected to survive, Kenosha police said. A protester takes cover during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late on Tuesday during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake two days earlier [David Goldman/ AP] According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the gunman walk past them and leave the scene with a rifle over his shoulder and his hands in the air as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. We were all chanting Black lives matter at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, Thats not fireworks, 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, He shot someone! He shot someone! And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again. As for how the gunman managed to leave the scene, Beth portrayed a chaotic, high-stress scene, with screaming, chanting, nonstop radio traffic and people running in all directions conditions he said can cause tunnel vision among law enforcement officers. A video posted by The Daily Caller, a right-wing news and opinion site, appears to show Rittenhouse answering questions during an interview on Tuesday night. When asked what he was doing, Rittenhouse replies: So, people are getting injured and our job is to protect this business, and part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt Im running into harms way. Thats why I have my rifle because I need to protect myself, obviously. I also have my med kit. Rittenhouse also appears to be a supporter of a number of pro-law enforcement groups, The Daily Beast reported. The website referenced a 2018 post by Rittenhouse which asks people to donate to a group called Humanizing the Badge (HTB). National Guard deployed The post reads: Ive chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope youll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me, The Daily Beast said. HTB is a non-profit organisation seeking to forge stronger relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. Were doing this through community service projects, mental health support, social media content and strong partnerships with others blazing new paths. Following the killings, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers authorised 500 members of the National Guard to support local law enforcement around Kenosha, doubling the number of troops sent in. The governors office said he was working with other states to bring in additional National Guard troops and law enforcement officers. The White House said it helped Wisconsin with the deployment of the National Guard. President Trump condemns violence in all forms and believes we must protect all Americans from chaos and lawlessness, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany, said in a statement. We have assisted Wisconsin in the deployment of almost 1,000 National Guard and over 200 federal law enforcement personnel, which include the FBI and US Marshals. The unrest spilled over into sport. The National Basketball Association team the Milwaukee Bucks did not appear on the court on Wednesday, prompting the NBA to postpone the rest of the play-off games for the day, saying in a tweet that they would be rescheduled. Tennis player Naomi Osaka also announced she was pulling out of the semi-finals of the Southern and Western Open, which is being played in New York, because of racial injustice. JEFFERSON CITY State legislators in a joint committee hearing on Tuesday questioned the motives behind the plan for a half-cent sales tax to support early education in St. Louis County, and speculated that well-meaning early education advocates had been a front for hidden interests seeking to tap county tax revenues for a slush fund. A proposal to put the tax plan on the Nov. 3 ballot was already dead in St. Louis County. Its sponsor, Council Chairwoman Lisa Clancy, announced Monday she was dropping it and the advocates she had worked with to develop it said they were regrouping. But the legislators went ahead with their inquiry anyway. A 2-hour hearing was marked by allegations by Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, and Rep. Dottie Bailey, R-Eureka, of corruption and political influence in the proposal. Clancy, D-5th District, said later in a phone interview that she had no words for how this is going down and said she was disappointed that the state legislators did not use the discussion time to talk about supporting early childhood education. The only goal here is to provide much needed resources to expand early childhood education quality and access here in St. Louis County, she said. The ballot question would have asked county voters if they wanted a half-cent sales tax to educate children up to age 5. A half-cent sales tax equated to $87 million in revenue in 2019, but would be on target for just $75 million to $80 million this year because of the economic downturn. Clancy seemed to have the support of the councils Democratic majority at first. But the bill did not spell out how the revenue would be used to lower the cost of child care, a stated priority of the campaign. Instead, it directed funds to land acquisition, wastewater treatment and other economic development projects in or outside of the county. Emails discovered through a public records request show Clancy helped develop the proposal with early education advocates in the Ready By Five campaign, who asked her to shepherd the project through the government approval process. That sparked questions about why Clancy waited until the last minute to file the legislation, leaving minimal time for public input. Councilman Tim Fitch, R-3rd District, who testified by phone on Tuesday, said it looked like she thought she had the votes to get it through without a committee hearing. The bill stalled when Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, D-1st District, one of the bill co-sponsors, said shortly after its introduction that she no longer supported it. Clancy and the Ready By Five advocates could not bring her back on board. On Tuesday, Chappelle-Nadal, accused prominent businesswoman Maxine Clark, Ready By Fives treasurer, of having supported the research pointing to benefits of early childhood education with the ultimate goal of county tax dollars heading back to to her massive mixed-use Delmar DivINe development in the former St. Lukes Hospital on Delmar Boulevard in the city of St. Louis. That must be sweet, Chappelle-Nadal said, as if speaking to Clark. That has to be really exciting that you can be on all sides of $84 million. Isnt that awesome? Clark did not respond to a phone message and text from a reporter later Tuesday asking for a response. Clancy said she never saw any evidence of that. Chappelle-Nadal and Bailey told two Ready By Five advocates who appeared at the hearing Ready By Five campaign coordinator Gloria Nolan and Ellicia Lanier, executive director of University City-based Urban Sprouts Early Childhood Learning Center that they believed the advocates were being used. For their part, the advocates said they did not agree with some of the language in the final draft of the bill. Joey Saunders, director of policy and system change for WePower, a group that worked to support the Ready By Five campaign, said at the hearing Tuesday that the original intentions have been warped by the political process which is why (the bill) is something we no longer support and its now dead. Chappelle-Nadal said she believed the county should have dedicated $50 million of its federal coronavirus relief money for early childhood education, instead of $6 million. The people that didnt show up is who we are wanting to speak to and get to the bottom of it and figure out whose pocket this is actually going to line, because its not going to be yours, Bailey told Nolan and Lanier, who, by this point, was in tears. Rep. Raychel Proudie, chair of the House Special Committee on Urban Issues who has relentlessly questioned and criticized Clancys proposal for two weeks criticized the cowardice of Clancy and other elected officials for declining to participate. Clancy said she could not participate because she already had meetings sandwiched between two long council meetings, and she has not had child care options since the start of the pandemic. Questions persist Teacher union leaders and other public education advocates have questioned the Ready By Five campaign and Clarks connections to education nonprofits and charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run. On July 20, Clark tweeted that plans for a second phase at Delmar DivINe include an early childhood center. Clark has been instrumental in bringing the national charter school network KIPP to St. Louis. The first charter school in St. Louis County is set to open in 2021 in the Normandy school district. That charter school and several others in St. Louis city are sponsored by the education nonprofit The Opportunity Trust, a WePower donor and future tenant of Delmar DivINe. This fall, The Opportunity Trust launched a pre-kindergarten cooperative with charter schools and early childhood centers in St. Louis. Clark is listed as a director of The Opportunity Trust in 2017 federal filings. Eric Scroggins, founder of The Opportunity Trust, said the organization and the new cooperative have no involvement with the Ready By Five campaign. Another future tenant and strategic partner in Clarks project is the nonprofit IFF, which wrote the First Step to Equity report which helped guide the Ready By Five policy recommendations. Robbyn Wahby, executive director of the Missouri Charter Public School Commission, serves on the IFF board of directors. Clark sits on IFFs St. Louis advisory council. Saunders, of WePower, said at the hearing that posts on social media claiming the proposed sales tax is aimed at charter school expansion are conspiracy theories. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Jeremy Kohler Jeremy Kohler is an investigative reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Jeremy Kohler Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Another 72 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland (Joe Giddens/PA). Another 72 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. Health minister Robin Swann has expressed concern about the rising number of infections over recent weeks in areas like Belfast. The Stormont executive has relaxed a number of coronavirus restrictions but moved to cut the numbers allowed to congregate indoors and outdoors earlier this month in response to the virus resurgence. A total of 384 have tested positive over the last seven days, the Department of Health said. No new deaths were recorded. Two police stations in Northern Ireland which closed after officers tested positive, Antrim and Newtownabbey, will reopen to members of the public on Wednesday evening. Assistant chief constable Alan Todd said appropriate steps were immediately taken to address and manage the issue. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) He said the health and welfare of members of the public attending stations and that of officers and staff was of paramount importance. The force has commenced a phased return to duty for officers based in those stations as it is now assessed that it is safe to do so. Mr Todd added: Once again, I would like to reassure the public that plans remain in place across the district to provide a service to the community and keep people safe. Five patients on a cancer ward in Northern Ireland have tested positive for Covid-19. It is the second cluster of infections at Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh. Mr Swann has pledged to leave no stone unturned in tracing the outbreaks. He said the countrys health system was in a fragile place as he warned against complacency over social distancing. Totals allowed to socialise indoors at households have been reduced to six from no more than two households. The limit on those attending outdoor gatherings fell from 30 to 15. Canberra: A senior Chinese diplomat on Wednesday likened Australia's call for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic to the betrayal of Roman dictator Julius Caesar in a Shakespearean tragedy for the benefit of the United States. Wang Xining, the Chinese Embassy in Australia's deputy head of mission and its second-in-charge, spoke at the National Press Club about Australia's call for an independent inquiry into the origins of and international responses to the pandemic. The call has been blamed for a major deterioration in bilateral relations that has resulted in the Chinese government refusing to take phone calls from Australian ministers and disruptions to Australian exports including beef. The Australian call came when the United States government was trying all out to blame China for their failure to control the spread of the disease and ... shirk responsibility, Wang said. In describing Australia's action, Wang quoted the play Julius Caesar from a scene in which the dictator realizes that his friend Marcus Junius Brutus is among the assassins who are about to knife him. It is approximately identical to Julius Caesar in his final day when he saw Brutus approaching him: "Et tu, Brute?," Wang said, using a Latin phrase meaning "And you, Brutus?" The World Health Assembly, the governing structure of the World Health Organization, has since endorsed a global investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak. Wang said that probe had an "entirely different origin" from the Australian proposal. China has maintained ministerial contacts with the United States as well as governments of other countries that supported Australia's pandemic stance, including Japan, Germany and France. Wang denied China was singling out Australia for special treatment by freezing out ministers to send a message to other middle-powers not to speak out. I think it's a very lopsided interpretation of what happened between us, Wang told reporters. He declined to say whether he thought Chinese-Australian relations would improve after the U.S. presidential election, saying Chinese comment on another country's election would equate to interference in that nation's internal affairs. China respects Australia's strategy alliance with the United States, Wang said. "To have an ally is not a problem," he said. "The problem is whether you target a third party with the strength of an alliance." "If we find any tendency to use the strength of an alliance to strike China down, or press China down" what currently some of the U.S. politicians are doing "then we will express clearly our opposition and our position," he added. A young drug dealer who was stabbed to death in north-east London was likely killed by rivals wanting to steal his customers, an inquest has heard. Antonio Rodney-Cole died in hospital, aged 22, after he was knifed in Stoke Newington on December 2, 2013. On Wednesday, Poplar Coroners Court heard that a suspect has been identified and there is enough evidence to bring them to trial, but they have left the UK. Giving evidence over video-link, Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Harbir Kooner said the murder investigation was continuing. Mr Kooner, who joined Scotland Yards investigation in 2015, said officers believed Mr Rodney-Coles death was related to his drug dealing. He said evidence indicated it was an issue with drug dealing that they wanted to steal his mobile phone to sell drugs from, so in essence the contacts on that phone. Forensics officers at the scene in 2013 / Nigel Howard The inquest was told that Mr Rodney-Cole had been seen in the Oldfield Road area with two other men on the morning of his death. Francis Alo, who lived nearby, said he saw the group standing near a car. In a statement read to the court, he said the other two men were walking off when Mr Rodney-Cole said: Dont go off like that. They then returned to the car before leaving hastily. It was then the victim called out to me Big man, call me an ambulance, Mr Alo said. The victim drove off before the witness saw him again minutes later. He said: I could see a lot of blood on the floor of the car and a cut to his hand. When I tried to help him I saw there was a knife on his lap. The whole incident lasted about 10 to 15 minutes from when I first saw the men. The car was taken away to be examined by forensic experts / Nigel Howard Police and ambulances attended before midday and Mr Rodney-Cole died in hospital shortly before 1pm. The inquest heard that Mr Rodney-Cole died from a haemorrhage caused by a stab wound to his right leg and had also suffered an injury to his back. Senior coroner Mary Hassell made a determination of unlawful killing. The inquest also heard written evidence from one of Mr Rodney-Coles long-term customers, Leanne Brown. In a statement, Ms Brown said she spoke to the victim on the morning of his death, when he said to call him back later as he was still preparing the drugs for sale. She said: When I rang later, a male answered the phone. I didnt recognise this persons voice. The male gave me a different number to continue dealing. Ms Brown met up with the unknown man on the phone and bought a package of heroin from him, later recognising it as Mr Rodney-Coles drugs by the way the package was wrapped. The inquest heard that detectives have enough evidence to charge a suspect with robbery and murder. Mr Kooner continued: There is significant evidence for a murder charge and the realistic possibility of a conviction. If someone has left the UK, depending where they are, it can take a significant time due to extradition treaties in various countries. He told the court, including Mr Rodney-Coles sister Bianca Nelson, who also appeared via video-link, that steps are still being taken to charge and retrieve the suspect. Sideways is a one-of-a-kind agency in the true sense, founded by Abhijit Awasthi in 2015. Awasthi is firm about not letting Sideways become just another agency, which explains the uniqueness of this company. Ranging from branding and advertising to services like Technology solutions, Experience Design, Packaging/ Product design and Strategy Design, Sideways provides all kinds of solutions to clients across sectors. And the client roster is also as widespread as their services, including Disney, Google, ZEEL,Swiggy, Kia Motors, etc. Also read: Abhijit Avasthi to launch Sideways Sideways aims to be the Birbal to businesses and organisations, which provides solutions no matter what the problem is. The year 2020 marks the 5th anniversary of this unique agency. Adgully spoke to Abhijit Awasthi, Co-Founder, Sideways, not just about their five-year journey, but also what makes Sideways and its vision so unique. Avasthi also shares what keeps him so optimistic amid the pandemic and how the economy can look for revival. When you started out with Sideways, you had called it an adventure. How has this adventure been over the last five years? Its been an absolutely thrilling ride for us. Its been an adventurous and extremely satisfying journey for us. Actually when we started off, on Day One we had a very vague inkling of what we wanted to do. Nothing like us existed then. The idea was to get people of different skillsets together, solve problems and explore opportunities across the spectrum and not just advertising and branding. Five years back, when we would meet prospective clients and partners who would join us, Id say This is an adventure trip and I dont know how it will pan out. Now, I can say with absolute confidence that weve truly created a really unique and impactful company and something that just doesnt exist. The fact that we never derailed from our original objective and vision is another big achievement for us, because in the start-up community, this happens very often. Weve had a great learning curve and its been a tremendous and fulfilling journey. What have been your 5 key takeaways/ learnings of turning entrepreneur after a long agency stint with Ogilvy? The first thing would be realising that this is 247, without any downtime. Second would be, there are googlies awaiting you every hour. Theres no such thing as Its all set and you can take things for granted. The positive discovery is that if you have a vision and you are sincere and honest in your intentions, you will find good partners, clients and colleagues who will join you in your journey. The fourth learning Ive had is the understanding that it takes a lot to put out something new. It wasnt as easy as I thought it would be. Peoples resistance to change, especially on the client side, and their tendency to go back to tried and tested ways, I think, is huge. To gather courage and have a sense of vision to experiment with something new which could be impactful is very tough. Ive witnessed this behaviour change first hand. Lastly, I would say it is a huge responsibility on your head because there are people with you, but it is also satisfying because you are building a team and travelling together towards some destination, but the journey is fun! You have been steadfast in not categorising Sideways as an agency. How challenging has it been explaining the concept of Sideways to clients? What is your strategy while partnering with clients? In the initial years it was tough. Especially when there is no precedent, it is tough to explain it to clients and for them to understand the outcome. Our processes were evolving, the nature of solutions were also evolving. It did take a leap of faith from our client partners to give us a shot and Im extremely thankful and grateful to those initial clients. They entrusted us with certain projects that Id never done in my life. Now after 5 years, I think we have multitudes of case studies and a proven track record across a variety of businesses. So, now it is a much easier sell. Now it very rarely happens that people sit through our case studies and refuse to collaborate with us. Could you tell us about your marquee client roster built over these 5 years? I recently found an old picture of mine in front of the white board on Day One. The white board had the 3 buckets of clients that we wanted to work with. There were big established corporates, start-ups and the social sector. The good thing is we stuck to this vision and developed a bouquet of clients across each of these. In terms of big corporates, we work with clients like Google, Flipkart, Marico, Citi Bank, Disney and Star to name a few. In terms of start-ups we clients like Curefit, Urban Company, Swiggy, Great Learning, Noah, etc. In the social sector, our first project was with Paani Foundation along with Aamir Khan, where we designed the physical training model to demonstrate the flow of water. After that, we worked with the Mumbai Police Anti-Narcotics department, Sesame Street, Break Through, etc. We managed to attract some great clients, which allowed others to join in as well. Weve had clients across businesses over the years. Amongst the initial clients we had, included Imagica, Citi Bank, Wildstone and Disney, who took the leap of faith for us. There have been numerous reports/ views on the COVID-19 impact on the overall economy and the advertising industry. What is Sideways perspective on the current situation? What are the factors, according to you, that will trigger an economic revival? For us, it has been a mixed bag. After 5 years, only half of our business is in advertising, branding and communication, while the other half spans other bits. While there was immediate slowdown on the advertising side in the initial months, but some of the long term product design projects, service design, long term strategy, etc., continued. This diversification sort of cushioned us and we werent solely dependent on advertising for survival. The pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our life in such a drastic way that we also recognised that conventional thinking wont help businesses bounce back. Very quickly we launched SRL Smart Recovery Lab where we asked many businesses to tell us their problem and not what solution they wanted for the problem. We will figure some way to solve it ourselves whether it uses tech, product design or service journey intervention or good old advertising. We asked them to leave it to us and wed do it quick. This, too, attracted some attention and, in fact, we partnered with some businesses that got battered badly, and clients from the travel sector and F&B space and helped them move ahead. I am very optimistic and believe that things will start bouncing back as we can already see signs of it. People will learn to live with it and understand that life has to move on. The government and companies are doing what they can. My focus is on the long term haul, while the short term cushions my vision and doesnt allow us to derail. As long as we are doing good work and our people are fine, I am optimistic. Going forward, how do you see technology and digital taking forward Sideways vision for the future? What path do you see Sideways taking in the next 5 years? From when we started Sideways, we knew that tech will be very pivotal to what we do. Therefore, when we started the company we also built a technology division. If we are offering our client solutions across various facets, then I need the technology to enable it across sales, HR, inventory management or communication. Tech and digital are the heart of what we do. We really cant talk about Sideways without its key campaigns. Which would you call the defining campaigns from Sideways and why? Rather than just focussing on campaigns, weve done pieces of work that have helped us grow. I look at projects differently and hence, works like our product design project for Disney are important because they helped us push our product design portfolio. When we provided some tech solutions for Imagica and the model for Paani Foundation, they really pushed us forward. One of the downsides of what we do is that a lot of what we do it isnt exactly easy to show and for people to see compared to an everyday ad. The tech and stat partnership with Google Pay was key for us, Disney Toy project was important and the launch of Kia Motors, too, was big for us. On a parting note, could you explain the thought behind the curious Sideways logo part scribble, part doodle? Whats the story behind that? I think the logo captures the idea and essence of Sideways. The logo is like a tribute to the people whos sideways thinking inspires us and, therefore, it comprises of the actual handwriting of those people. The S is Salvador Dali, the I is Leonardo Da Vinci, D is Prasoon Pandey, E is Nek Chand who built the Rock Garden at Chandigarh, W is Walt Disney, A is Anant Pai who started the Amar Chitra Katha, Y is Piyush Pandey whos my Guru, S is Albert Einstein and the flourish below is Picasso. Because its so odd, it catches peoples attention and it also reminds us to stay inspired and do something big. (Natural News) Amid riots and looting in the city of Chicago, city council members have called on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to declare a state of emergency and deploy the National Guard again for a four-month period. National Guard troops were previously sent to Chicago on May 31 to cordon off certain sections of the city, after protests against police brutality turned violent. The Chicago city council held a special meeting on Aug. 21 at the request of aldermen Anthony Napolitano, Leslie Hairston, Anthony Beale and Raymond Lopez to tackle the issue. The four aldermen presented a letter of resolution containing the petitions for Gov. Pritzker, which the council sent to the citys public safety committee in a 30-17 vote. Prior to this session, the council had been on recess since July 22 and was supposed to have its next regular session on Sept. 9. Chicago has seen increase in violence and unrest In the letter, the four aldermen argued that the city has never seen more violence, unrest and organized looting as in recent days, people were afraid to travel across the city and businesses were subjected to targeting by unyielding criminals. Moreover, the letter warned that continued attacks will impact residential real estate development, community investments and future economic development. (Related: Chicago residents kick chaotic Black Lives Matter demonstrators out of their community.) Aside from their requests to the governor, the four aldermen also called for reports on how officials are handling the rioting, looting and destruction of property Chicago is facing as well as monthly hearings on public safety organized by the budget committee. Council members endorsed the second proposal in a 43-4 vote. Lightfoot rejects calls for National Guard intervention In a press conference held after the special council meeting, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot rejected calls to send in the National Guard a second time, saying that doing so would not solve the unrest in the city. She said that while she understood the concerns of people worried about their safety, she did not want a situation where a tool that isnt the right one for the moment is brought in. Lightfoot cited the 1970 Kent State University shootings that happened in her native Ohio. This incident saw four dead and nine injured after National Guard troops opened fire on students protesting against the Vietnam War. The National Guard has a very different set of training, very different perspective on force, she remarked, adding that it had a tendency to put down conflict using all means possible owing to its military background. Air Force Brig. Gen. Richard Neely, Adjutant General for the State of Illinois, appeared to share the Lightfoots hesitation on sending National Guard troops into the city. Still, Neely said that the National Guard was ready to answer the call despite finding the deployment most distasteful. When asked about the four aldermen who called for the special meeting, Lightfoot pointed out that two of them have a history of grandstanding. She remarked that this wasnt the way things get done and further emphasized the need to make sure we are working together to find common ground. As mayor of Chicago, Lightfoot has suspended public transportation services in the city, restricted access to downtown Chicago and the central business district and implemented a 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m curfew in the city. More about the riots happening in Chicago and other U.S. states, and how individual states are responding to them, can be found at Rioting.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WTTW.com ChicagoTribune.com History.com VidetteOnline.com NBCChicago.com Chicago.SunTimes.com 1 Chicago.SunTimes.com 2 Three months after the murder of George Floyd sparked mass multiracial and multiethnic demonstrations demanding an end to police violence and racism, the police continue their reign of terror across the United States without any sign of slowing down. Since May 25, the day Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee into his neck for more than 8 minutes, at least 235 people have been killed by police in the US. The pace of killings is on track to surpass 1,000 this year, with nearly 3 people shot dead by the police every day. The latest incident to produce an eruption of angry protests is the attempted murder of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old African American father of six, shot seven times in the back by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. While Blake amazingly survived the shooting, his father told the Chicago Sun-Times Tuesday that his son is now paralyzed from the waist down and doctors are uncertain if he will fully recover from his injuries. A cellphone video taken by a bystander and posted on social media shows that Blake was walking away from police officers and attempting to get into his SUV when a white officer, with gun drawn, pulled him by his shirt and pumped seven shots into his back at point-blank range. Three of Blakes sons were in the back of the vehicle when he was shot. Those police officers that shot my son like a dog in the street are responsible for everything that has happened in the city of Kenosha, Blakes father said, referring to incidents of arson and looting after demonstrators were attacked by police. My son is not responsible for it. My son didnt have a weapon. He didnt have a gun. Black and white protesters who took to the streets Sunday and Monday night in Kenosha to demand that the responsible officer be charged and arrested were met with tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper balls. Residents attempting to attend a press conference with the citys Democratic mayor Monday afternoon were similarly met with police in riot gear and pepper spray when they raised demands, heightening tensions. Protests across the country in recent days against the unending slaughterfrom Portland, Oregon to Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michiganhave been met by an unrelenting crackdown by the police. Hundreds, including journalists, have been arrested, and many more have been hit by pepper spray, pepper balls, rubber bullets and other munitions deemed less than lethal by the police. Federal agents were directed by President Donald Trump last month to wage an assault on Portland protesters, including carrying out snatch-and-grab operations using unmarked vans in scenes reminiscent of Latin American dictatorships. While these forcesincluding the US Border Patrols paramilitary BORTAC unithave been largely relegated to the background following widespread outrage over their direct use against protesters, the police have taken their cue from Trump, carrying out their own snatch operations by unidentified officers in New York City and Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, hundreds of federal agents have been deployed to work alongside police in multiple large cities, including Detroit and Chicago, with the consent of Democratic mayors. Trump and the Republicans are openly inciting police violence and attacks on protesters. The term "police" was invoked 25 times on the first day of the Republican National Convention, and they were hailed as the guardians of society from mob rule by the far left. The president has spent much of his time in office building up the police at the local and federal level in defense of his personalist rule. However, it is important to note that it is the Democratic Party in Wisconsin that is overseeing the reign of police terror against protesters in Kenosha. After the first night of protests, Wisconsins Democratic Governor Tony Evers deployed 125 National Guard soldiers to aid the police in enforcing an 8 p.m. curfew. Military humvees were used to patrol city streets and dump trucks deployed to block off exit ramps from the main freeway into the city. Evers declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon to allow for the marshalling of even more resources against anti-police violence protests. While there has been a lot of talk from Democratic politicians declaring their support for Black Lives Matterrepeatedly mouthing the phrase and having it painted in big block letters on city streets, while promising to confront white supremacy and systemic racismnothing has changed. Nothing has been done to even slow the pace of police killings. In fact, the Democrats distanced themselves from demands to defund the police, a popular slogan among protesters, almost as soon as they were raised. Minneapoliss Democratic Party-controlled City Council has kicked the can on a much heralded proposal to disband the citys police force made in the immediate aftermath of Floyds killing as part of the efforts to corral and disperse popular anger. In an interview with ABC News Friday, former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrats presidential candidate, alongside his running mate Senator Kamala Harris, made clear that his administration would work to provide more funding for the police and claimed that it was, in fact, Trump who would defund the police. I dont want to defund the police departments, Biden declared, I think they need more help, they need more assistance Biden suggested at a campaign event in June that the solution for police killings would be to train officers to shoot them in the leg instead of the heart. Meanwhile, Bidens former primary opponent and now leading surrogate, Senator Bernie Sanders, has called for officers to be paid higher salaries as a possible solution to police killings! The United States is a tinderbox, with the mass social crisis intensified by the murderous response of the ruling elite to the COVID-19 pandemic driving the outbreak of explosive protests. Millions of people have been thrown out of work and it has been a month since the $600 federal extension to unemployment benefits was allowed by Congress and the White House to expire. Tens of millions face the possibility of eviction and foreclosure in the coming months as moratoriums expire. The police, as special bodies of armed men, are essential to the protection of the state and enforcement of class rule, defending the property interests of the rich and policing the immense social gulf that separates them from the bottom 90 percent. Regardless of who sits in the White House in January, police violence will continue and, in fact, intensify. The more the social tensions rise, the more violent the campaign of police terror overseen by both parties will become. The fight against police violence and racism requires the mobilization of the working class as a united, independent social force against the capitalist system and a rejection of all efforts to divide workers against each other along racial and other identity lines. This is what the Socialist Equality Party is fighting for in the election campaign of Joseph Kishore and Norissa Santa Cruz for president and vice president. We encourage all those who agree with this perspective to support our campaign and join the SEP today! STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Private, Catholic and charter schools across Staten Island were able to secure millions of dollars in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, which were issued to small businesses to help with revenue loss due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Across the country, more than 650,000 organizations received money from the $659 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which launched April 3, according to data published by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). A transgender woman is proudly showing off her new fuller nose after undergoing her eighth rhinoplasty to fix the nearly irreparable damage from her previous surgeries including necrosis and the placement of an implant without her consent. Maria, who is based in Los Angeles, consulted with Dr. Paul Nassif and Dr. Terry Dubrow on Monday night's episode of the E! reality series Botched, explaining that everything went downhill after her fifth nose job. 'I'm here to tell you how seven nose jobs f****d up my nose, honey. It looks like a melted candle. It's too small,' she said in her testimonial. 'I hate looking at my nose. I f****d up!' Last chance: Maria, a transgender woman based in Los Angeles, appeared on Monday night's episode of the E! reality series Botched to have her nose fixed Then and wow: Maria underwent her eighth rhinoplasty on the show to make her nose thicker, after saying it looked 'like melted candle wax' Maria was assigned male at birth, but she transitioned shortly after she tried on women's clothing for the first time at the age of 18. As she was transitioning, she underwent multiple feminization surgeries, including breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. 'So, actually, the first, second, third, and fourth nose job I had great results, but the reality is that people still sort of discriminated and treated me horribly because of the fact that I was trans,' she explained. She recalled how people would come up to her at a bar and rudely ask her if she was a man without any concern for her feelings. 'I honestly thought that at every turn, the next surgery would give me access to that woman I felt inside,' she explained. 'I just wanted to be female and to be accepted as female, which led me to my fifth nose job.' Change: Maria was assigned male at birth, but she transitioned shortly after she tried on women's clothing for the first time at the age of 18 Not stopping: She had her first rhinoplasty to feminize her nose while transitioning and went on to have three more with 'great results' After the disastrous surgery, she took off the bandage and was horrified to see a 'big, deep dent' in her nose, saying it looked 'like a combination between a pig and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.' She went to a doctor in Beverly Hills to get filler injected into the dent, but five days later, her entire nose turned black. 'I had necrosis and it had died,' she explained of the skin on her nose. 'So, I made a decision to go for my seventh and last surgery. 'I had told them, "I do not want an implant because at any time that implant could come out." But then right after surgery, I found out that I had an implant. I was really upset.' Hard to handle: Maria explained that wanting to be 'accepted as female' led her to her fifth surgery, which left her with a large dent in her nose Toughest critic: Maria said her nose looked 'like a combination between a pig and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' The surgeon told her that he doesn't specialize in removing the rib to make a graft, and the implant was the best that he could do. 'I'm thinking to myself, "It doesn't aesthetically look normal. It doesn't look pretty,"' she recalled. 'I know that people are sort of looking at me, saying: "God, that girl went too far."' Dr. Nassif and Dr. Dubrow were both shocked by her story, particularly the delay in diagnosis she experienced while suffering from necrosis. 'I know I have to go bigger with my nose,' she assured the doctors. 'I've got an understanding that small doesn't necessarily equal feminine. Nightmare: After attempting to fill the dent with filler, she developed necrosis and the skin on her nose turned black and died Risky: 'I had necrosis and it had died,' she explained of the skin on her nose. ' So, I made a decision to go for my seventh and last surgery' Final one? Maria hated the way her nose looked and turned to Dr. Paul Nassif, who performed her eighth rhinoplasty 'I think the journey with all the surgeries made me realize that I had to sort of accept that the world is going to see me as the world sees me,' she added. When Dr. Nassif examined Maria, he noted it would be a complicated procedure because the necrosis damaged the thickness of the skin on her nose. 'For me to do this for you: take a piece of rib, take some tissue from your scalp, open up your nose,' he told her. 'And to make it less pinched from the front, we have to make your nose wider.' Dr. Dubrow also stressed that this was a difficult procedure, making it clear that she would be taking a risk by going under the knife again. Before and after: Maria was warned that she could develop necrosis again, but she took the risk, and it paid off He did it! Dr. Nassif was able to build her a wider and more defined nose while repairing the damage from her previous surgeries Happy: 'I am done with having anything done to my nose for sure,' she said after showing off her new nose. 'I'm f*****g beautiful' 'I've seen him do this thousands of times and he's the best in the world at this by far, but there's still the possibility that the blood supply is not adequate enough to keep the tissue alive,' he said. 'And if you thought the tissue death you had before was significant, hold on to your glasses, because it could be a lot worse.' Despite the risks, both Dr. Nassif and Maria agreed to go ahead with the surgery, and luckily for her, it was a success. After she was fully healed, she proudly unveiled her new nose, vowing to never touch it again. 'I am done with having anything done to my nose for sure,' she said in a voiceover. 'I'm f*****g beautiful.' Donald Trump Jr. has poked fun at Hunter Biden's battle with drug abuse while responding to criticism of his Republican National Convention speech. The President's son, 42, gave an impassioned 10-minute address at the event on Monday evening, with his enthusiastic demeanor prompting several social media users to joke he was on drugs. But Trump Jr. quickly turned those claims into a savage blow against Hunter Biden - the son of his father's 2020 Presidential rival, Joe Biden. One Twitter user shared a photoshoppped image of Kermit The Frog snorting white lines of powder, before writing: 'Trump Jr. Backstage #RNC2020'. Trump Jr. quickly shot back: 'You must have confused me with Hunter Biden'. Donald Trump Jr. has poked fun at Hunter Biden's battle with drug abuse while responding to criticism of his Republican National Convention speech Trump Jr. quickly turned criticism of his speech into a savage blow against Hunter Biden - the son of his father's 2020 Presidential rival, Joe Biden. The President's son was seen clutching two cans of Red Bull at the event - which may have explained his energized appearance Hunter Biden, 50, has battled drug and alcohol addiction, and was dismissed from the Navy Reserve in 2014 after he tested positive for cocaine. He completed his first stint in an Antigua rehab back in 2003, which led to seven years of sobriety. Hunter reportedly relapsed in 2010, and returned to rehab. According to Business Insider, he subsequently struggled to stay away from narcotics. The death of his brother, Beau Biden, in 2015 also made his recovery more difficult. In 2016, two years after his dismissal from the Navy Reserves, Hunter had a gun pointed at his head as he tried to buy crack from a Los Angeles dealer. The following year, Arizona police found a crack pipe in his rental car. Speaking about his substance abuse issues with The New Yorker last year, he stated: 'Everybody has trauma. There's addiction in every family.' 'I was in that darkness. I was in that tunnel - it's a never-ending tunnel. You don't get rid of it. You figure out how to deal with it.' Hunter Biden and his father, Joe Biden, are pictured in 2016 The father-of-five has recently been in the headlines for his tumultuous love life. In 2016, he began a relationship with his brother's widow shortly after separating from his long-time wife, Kathlee Buhle. He also fathered a child with Arkansas based stripper, Lunden Roberts, before marrying South African filmmaker, Melissa Cohen, six days after meeting. From Rolling Stone: A new Trump administration rule relaxing guidelines that govern the transport of liquefied natural gas could create "bomb trains" with enough explosive power to level whole cities, environmental groups say. A coalition of organizations led by the nonprofit Earthjustice has sued the administration, challenging the rule, which is scheduled to go into effect on Monday. Separately, 14 states and the District of Columbia are also suing the Trump administration to review the rule and declare it unlawful. The National Transportation Safety Board and the National Association of State Fire Marshals oppose it as well. This is hardly the first reckless reversal of environmental or infrastructural regulations that's happened under the Trump Administration. But even among those other Fossil Fuel-friendly cuts, this sounds uniquely terrifying. According to EarthJustice, an organization that's suing the administration to reverse this change: It would only take 22 tank cars to hold the equivalent energy of the Hiroshima bomb. A train of 110 tank cars filled with liquefied natural gas would have five times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb. Cool. The existing federal regulations around liquefied natural gas have considered it far too dangerous to transport in tank cars. Companies can transport the explosive liquid fuel by ship or truck. Special exceptions were available for rail transport, but only if the fuel was carried in UN-approved tanks. (While Trump has clearly been eager to please the Fossil Fuel industry during his time in office, I wouldn't be surprised if he xenophobically reveled in yet another opportunity to stick it to the UN.) This isn't just environmental paranoia or a general outrage at the fossil fuel industry, either; there's historical precedent that this stuff is dangerous. Also from EarthJustice: In one of the worst examples of this danger, 131 people were killed, countless people were injured, and a square mile of Cleveland, Ohio, was destroyed when liquefied natural gas escaped from a tank farm, flowed into the city's sewer system and ignited in 1944. In the numerous explosions that followed, temperatures soared to 3,000F, streets blew up, with one explosion opening a crater 25 feet deep, 30 feet wide, and 60 feet long. While a 30mph impact with one of these train cars is considered disastrous, the new rules would suggest that trains carrying liquefied natural gas adhere to a voluntary 50mph speed limit. They'd also be allowed to travel through populated areas, as opposed to routing through the countryside. Cool. New Trump Rule Could Create 'Bomb Trains,' Environmentalists Say [Tessa Stuart / Rolling Stone] What You Should Know About Liquefied Natural Gas and Rail Cars [EarthJustice] Image: Public Domain via Needpix (Newser) Before night two of the Republican National Convention had even begun, there was controversy: Mary Ann Mendoza, who had been scheduled to speak on President Trump's efforts to stop illegal immigration, was pulled from the schedule after retweeting a Twitter thread that included anti-Semitic and conspiratorial messages. As the AP reports, Mendoza's son was killed in 2014 in a head-on crash with an illegal immigrant who was driving under the influence. "Do yourself a favor and read this thread," Mendoza wrote atop the series of tweets that included what Politico calls "nearly every anti-Semitic trope of the last century to portray a Jewish cabal set on taking over American government." She later deleted the post and tweeted that she had "retweeted a very long thread earlier without reading every post within the thread." She apologized and said the Twitter thread "does not reflect my feelings or personal thoughts whatsoever." More from the night: Another Tuesday night speaker, anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson, made headlines due to her own past statements. Johnson has advocated for "household voting," in which wives defer to their husbands on all political decisions. She also said earlier this year that it would be "smart" for police to racially profile her biracial son, whom she and her husband adopted at birth, Vice reports: "Statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons," she said in a YouTube video following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. "Right now, Jude is an adorable, perpetually tan-looking little brown boy. But one day, hes going to grow up and hes going to be a tall, probably sort of large, intimidating-looking-maybe brown man." Johnson is white, and said her biological children would grow up to look like "white nerdy men." story continues below Per CNN, much of the two hours went by with no mention of the coronavirus pandemicuntil the night's final speaker, first lady Melania Trump. "My deepest sympathy goes to everyone who has lost a loved one and my prayers are with those who are ill and suffering," she said during the rare speech. "I want you to know you are not alone. My husband's administration will not stop fighting until there is an effective treatment or vaccine for everyone." She also said that while "we are not proud of parts of our history," she encourages Americans "to focus on our future, while still learning from our past. We must remember that today, we are all one community, comprised of many races, religions, and ethnicities." Speaking of the lack of COVID-19 mentions, NBC News notes top economic adviser Larry Kudlow actually spoke about the crisis in the past tense: "It was awful. Health and economic impacts were tragic." The president himself made two "surprise" appearances, one to issue a pardon (more on that here) and the other to preside over a naturalization ceremony for new US citizens. "You followed the rules, you obeyed the laws, you learned our history, embraced our values, and proved yourselves to be men and women of the highest integrity," he said at the White House ceremony, per Fox News. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made what CNN calls an "unprecedented" appearance from Jerusalem to highlight Trump's foreign policy achievements; Democrats were decrying the move. "Heres the weirdest aspect of Secretary of State Mike Pompeos speech," EJ Dionne tweeted. "He broke all sorts of precedents, politicized the State Department, and ran into a storm of legitimate criticism for a short and unmemorable speech that may not have moved even 10 votes." Trump's son Eric and daughter Tiffany also spoke, and a video highlighting how Trump has empowered women featured his other daughter, Ivanka; Melania; his daughter-in-law, Lara; and his other son's girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle. (Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. spoke Wednesday; Ivanka will introduce her father before his acceptance speech Thursday.) Nicholas Sandmann, the teenage star of the infamous Covington Catholic viral video, spoke out against cancel culture. Vox has an explainer on him here; for more on his appearance, see Yahoo News. (Read more Republican National Convention stories.) More frequent seizures during the menstrual cycle in women with genetic generalized epilepsy have been linked for the first time to drug-resistant epilepsy, when anti-seizure medications don't work, according to a Rutgers coauthored study that may help lead to tailored treatments. Women with a form of genetic generalized epilepsy called catamenial epilepsy - when seizure frequency increases during their menstrual cycle - were nearly four times more likely to have drug-resistant epilepsy than women who experience no changes in frequency, according to the study in the journal Neurology. This association was found in two independent samples. "Typically, genetic generalized epilepsy is thought to respond better to anti-seizure medications than focal epilepsy. However, previous studies suggest a minority of individuals, between 18 percent and 36 percent, with genetic generalized epilepsy do not respond well to these medications," said senior author Gary A. Heiman, an associate professor in the Department of Genetics in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "It is unclear why seizures in these individuals do not respond well, and we sought to investigate why. We found a surprising association between women's menstrual cycle and those with drug-resistant genetic generalized epilepsy. Understanding the reasons for this association could lead to alternative, personalized treatment options for at least some patients." In generalized epilepsy, seizures begin on both sides of the brain, while focal epilepsy seizures start in only one part of the brain. In 2015, about 3.4 million people, including 470,000 children, had epilepsy in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anti-seizure drugs limit the spread of seizures in the brain and work for about two-thirds of people with epilepsy. Other options include surgery. The study included 589 patients with or without drug-resistant genetic generalized epilepsy at Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and 66 patients at Yale Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. The goal was to develop and validate a model for predicting generalized epilepsy that resists drug treatment. Such models may allow healthcare professionals to identify patients who may benefit from more aggressive or different kinds of treatment. "Women whose seizures increase during their menstrual cycle and have drug-resistant genetic generalized epilepsy may represent a homogeneous group with a specific cause," Heiman said. "Genetic and treatment studies of these women could uncover the reason, and tailored treatment could be developed. Although our study sample is one of the largest to date and found in two independent samples, further investigation using larger sample sizes is required." ### Suzanne Thornton, who earned a doctorate at Rutgers and is now at Swarthmore University, contributed to the study. Coauthors include scientists at Columbia University Medical Center, University of Miami, Yale University, University of Oxford, Free University of Brussels, Monash University, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne and Alfred Health. A Trenton man was arrested Tuesday night in Maryland and charged in the shooting death of a 29-year-old Camden County man in Trenton last week, authorities said. Arthur Ford, 29, is charged with murder and weapons offenses in the killing of Rahkeem Ortiz of Blackwood in Gloucester Township. Trenton police officers found Ortiz suffering from multiple gunshot wounds about 1:40 p.m. on Aug. 17 in the area of the Broad Street Parking Lot on South Broad Street, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. Ortiz was taken to a local hospital, where he died a short time later, the prosecutor said. After the shooting, several 911 callers gave police descriptions of the shooter as he fled the area, Onofri said. Detectives were able to canvas the area and locate multiple surveillance cameras, Onofri said. Through video footage and witness statements, detectives were able to positively identify Ford as the shooter. Members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Ford at the home of a family member in Pocomoke, Maryland. He was held in a Maryland jail to await extradition, Onofri said. The shooting was Trentons 25th homicide so far this year. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Mr. Trump, his company and some of his associates have long been the focus of investigations overseen by officials in New York. Just this week, the states attorney general went to court to force Eric Trump, one of the presidents sons, to answer questions about the Trump Organization under oath. Heres what you should know: The Manhattan district attorney has been seeking eight years of Mr. Trumps personal and business tax returns. The tax returns could shed light on whether any New York State laws were violated when hush-money payments were made in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election to two women who claimed they had affairs with Mr. Trump. The president has denied the affairs. The office of the district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., issued a subpoena to Mr. Trumps accounting firm for the returns last August as part of a criminal investigation. The tea-calix with leaves produced by Jingxiang Culture Communication Co Ltd. [Xinhua] Tu Jinge, 27, is one of the founders of Jingxiang Culture Communication Co Ltd, Tianjin. While studying for a master's degree in Nankai University, she and her friends set up a social space for learning and communication. In the process of operation, they realized the young generation had a strong interest in traditional handicrafts and folk culture. After that, they focused on the tea-calix with leaves, a representative work of traditional porcelain in Jiangxi Province as a breakthrough point, and started the entrepreneurial journey of protecting, inheriting and innovating intangible cultural heritage. Tu Jinge sells intangible cultural heritage products via livestreaming on August 24. [Xinhua] The team tapped design talent developing original works, established a cooperative relationship with intangible cultural heritage craftsmen, and sold the products through webcasts and crowdfunding. After three years of development, the company has launched nearly 60 inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, served hundreds of craftsmen in all parts of the country, especially in rural areas, and promoted the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage. Tu communicates with her colleague on August 24. [Xinhua] Tu looks for leaves suitable for making a tea-calix with leaves on August 24. [Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Three years after exodus, Rohingya refugees 'more vulnerable than ever' 25 August 2020 - Three years into the Rohingya refugee crisis, women, men and children driven from their homes in Myanmar into camps across the border in Bangladesh are more vulnerable than ever, UN agencies have reported. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), almost all refugees remain entirely dependent on food assistance to survive. "The availability of foods in camps, outside of WFP assistance, has been shrinking and prices rising," Elisabeth Byrs, a spokesperson for the UN agency, told a media briefing on Tuesday. Disrupted supply chains due to COVID-19 lockdown measures are also affecting availability of fresh food, she added. The pandemic has also hit the scaling up of WFP's e-voucher programme, which provides food assistance to almost 88 per cent of the refugees. Efforts to cover all camp residents, originally planned to be completed in the first half of 2020, have been pushed towards the end of the year, owing to the outbreak. Measures have been taken to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 at in-kind distribution sites where about 12 per cent of refugees receive rice, lentils and oil, added the WFP spokesperson. She urged the international community to continue supporting response efforts, or else risk the situation deteriorate rapidly. "The international community must not turn its back on the Rohingya," said Ms. Byrs. COVID-19 outbreak could be 'devastating' There are fears that an uncontained outbreak of COVID-19 in the refugee camps, such as the main camp in Cox's Bazar in southern Bangladesh the largest and most overcrowded in the world could be devastating. With several hundred thousand people living in an area of just 13 square kilometres, social distancing is almost impossible. In addition to COVID, relentless rain and hazardous weather have added to the challenges. According to humanitarian reports, over 100,000 refugees have been affected due to the heavy monsoon rains, this year, that destroyed shelters and washed away crops. Disrupted learning Lives of Rohingya refugee children have also been severely hit by the pandemic. Education centres in the camps have been closed since March, as is the case in the rest of Bangladesh, keeping more than 300,000 children and adolescents away from learning opportunities, according to UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). "Rohingya refugee children need opportunities to develop knowledge and skills for their future. That in turn will enable them to contribute to peace and stability," said Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia. UNICEF and partners are assisting efforts to help children learn at home, engaging parents and caregivers to support learning and providing workbooks and visual aids. However, significant challenges remain, including the fact that many parents cannot read and write. 'Extraordinary resilience' In spite of the incredibly difficult circumstances, the refugee population is actively participating in response efforts to prevent and manage the threat of COVID-19. With the reduction of humanitarian workers in the camps to limit the spread of coronavirus, humanitarian organizations and UN agencies have established new ways to deliver critical services and raise awareness on the disease, said UNICEF. Rohingya volunteers and Bangladeshi personnel have been essential to such efforts. In July, for instance, UNICEF and partners launched a door-to-door Vitamin A supplementation campaign. Rohingya volunteers proved vital in reaching 154,000 children aged 6 months to 5 years. The campaign covered 97 per cent of the target children, "a remarkable outcome" considering the challenging situation and the heavy monsoon rainfall, added UNICEF. "Rohingya refugee children and families have shown extraordinary resilience while living in exile in Bangladesh. Despite unimaginably difficult circumstances these families continue to teach us each day what strength, courage and perseverance are," said the UNICEF Regional Director. A complex refugee crisis The complex Rohingya refugee crisis erupted in August 2017, following attacks on remote police outposts in northern Myanmar by armed groups alleged to belong to the community. These were followed by systematic counter attacks against the minority, mainly Muslim, Rohingya, which human rights groups, including senior UN officials, have said amounted to ethnic cleansing. In the weeks that followed, over 700,000 Rohingya the majority of them children, women and the elderly fled their homes for safety in Bangladesh, with little more than the clothes on their backs. Prior to the mass exodus, well over 200,000 Rohingya refugees were sheltering in Bangladesh as a result of earlier displacements from Myanmar. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address (TNS) - Aria, Ava, Arthur Jr., and Addison Washington sat under the shade of a tree in blue surgical masks Wednesday morning, while they waited for shelter from Hurricane Laura.Tammy Washington, of Orange, said she left town Tuesday afternoon and drove to Beaumont to pick up her four grandchildren, her daughter, her son and her sons fiancee.They are among the thousands of residents from Galveston to Beaumont, whose cities were under evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Laura. Some evacuees arrived in North Texas late Tuesday.Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state is relying less on traditional group shelters and instead is providing vouchers for evacuees to stay at area hotels until the storm passes.Washington lived in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and had to be rescued, and also needed to be rescued during Hurricane Harvey. After those experiences, she said shes not taking chances anymore.Hurricane Laura was blowing winds up to 140 mph on Wednesday, and it was expected to make landfall somewhere between the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters at the center warned that the Category 4 storm could produce an unsurvivable storm surge and devastating wind damage where it makes landfall.I dont play around, Washington said. If its a Category 1, Im getting out.The family of eight crammed into Washingtons maroon Nissan Murano and arrived in Mesquite around 7 p.m. Tuesday. With no money for a hotel, the eight slept in the SUV Tuesday night.When youve been through it, you have a whole nother outlook, Washington said. Were not worried about our things.They barely had enough money for gas to get to Mesquite on Tuesday. A good samaritan at the gas station where they slept filled up their tank for them in the morning.Its all gonna work out, Washington told herself. Just stay encouraged.Early Wednesday, they drove to a reception center set up by the state in Mesquite. Washington wasnt sure what to expect at the center. She said she had heard through word of mouth that it could be a shelter, others told her she could get a hotel voucher there.Mesquite is one of four cities that are hosting evacuees. Its reception center is located in the parking lot of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service off of Interstate 20. Rows of orange cones in the lot guided busses and evacuees in their own vehicles through lanes where they could get information on next steps.Buses provided by the state arrived at the center Wednesday with evacuees, where they were screened for COVID-19 symptoms and given hotel vouchers.Those who had driven to the center on their own were told theyd have to wait for vouchers, Washington said.Were asking for your patience, a Texas State trooper updated dozens of evacuees Tuesday morning.At a Wednesday news conference, Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said hotels in the Dallas area were at about 39% occupancy, and that officials were working to get hotels for those who had evacuated on their own.There are still plenty of hotels available, Kidd said. Well get this balanced out.Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins signed an emergency disaster declaration Tuesday to help set up a system that would provide hotel rooms for those evacuating the Texas coast. Jenkins said the county and the city of Dallas would front the money to be reimbursed 100% by the state.North Texans should be proud of their welcoming spirit and how the people of Dallas County always step up to help neighbors in need, Jenkins said in a written statement. This will be done without increased risk of infection to the community.To prevent further spread of COVID-19 as hurricane evacuees come to North Texas, Jenkins said no one in Dallas County will be denied COVID-19 testing or services.The people fleeing Hurricane Laura are no more likely to have COVID-19 than members of the general population anywhere in Texas, Jenkins said.Convention centers may need to be used as shelters as a last resort, Kidd said.The states plan follows guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to maintain social distancing in group shelters.But the plan cant guarantee shelters will be able to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, FEMA admits.For those who do need to go to a public shelter, the plan suggests bringing hand sanitizers, cleaning materials, and masks or face coverings.Washington said she was frustrated she had to wait hours for a hotel voucher, but said she understood the precautions the state was taking to avoid group shelter which could potentially further spread COVID-19.Peoples anxiety is on high, Washington said. You gotta remember that a pandemic is happening.2020 The Dallas Morning NewsVisit The Dallas Morning News at www.dallasnews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Bhavtosh Mishra from Delhi was charged Rs 750 per day in a private hospital as charges for infection control when he was hospitalised for Covid-19 treatment. Though he shared a room with another person (who was uninsured), only Mishra was charged this amount. His insurer refused to bear the full cost and he had to pay an additional Rs 10,000 from his own pocket. Moneycontrol reviewed the bills and found that the other patient wasn't charged the same rate. I checked the bills of fellow patients and they were not charged the same amount. Just because I have a health insurance cover, why should I be made to pay? said Mishra. While close to 1,27,000 claims have been filed for Covid-19 related medical expenses by customers, hospitals and insurance companies continue to battle it out over which charges are covered by insurance. Policyholders are the victims of this blame-game between the two sides. Claims are only paid partly on the one hand, while hospitals continue to add newer charges such as temperature check fee, PPE kit fee and cleaning fee, on the other. Different interpretations Insurers rue that hospitals are not following the standard rate cards that were issued in June 2020 by industry body General Insurance Council. Hospitals, on the other hand, have said that all patients cannot be put under capped rates. Moneycontrol had reported earlier on how hospitals have increased treatment costs due to the infection-control measures adopted after the Covid-19 outbreak. This was passed on to customers resulting in higher bills. But insurers are of the view that insured customers are being unfairly charged. What insurers want The government has capped rates for Covid-19 treatment in hospitals. But not all hospitals are following these rates and insurers want the pre-agreed terms to be followed. The insurers want a legal mandate to ensure that all hospitals follow the rate chart provided earlier and stick to it for all Covid-19 treatment expenses for patients with health policies. The General Insurance (GI) Council is filing an appeal to implead itself in an ongoing public interest litigation (PIL) case in the Supreme Court over charges incurred in hospitals for Coronavirus (Covid-19) treatment. The GI Council wants to point out that insurers cannot compensate by paying high costs for infection-control measures in hospitals. When there is a ready reference rate provided to all hospitals, why cant the medical establishments stick to the rate? Insured customers shouldnt be overcompensating for the uninsured patients in a hospital, said the head of claims at a mid-sized private general insurer. Customers stuck in the middle Meanwhile, customers have been suffering due to the back-and-forth between the hospitals and insurers. Akshata Tiwari, an IT professional from Kolkata had to wait for almost three weeks before she received confirmation on what expenses would be payable for her father's Covid-19 hospitalisation. I have been informed that I will only be reimbursed 65 percent of the costs. In earlier instances of hospitalisation for my father, specialised medication was not excluded. But this time, it is. The insurer and hospitals must clearly decide and tell us what is covered and what isn't. That way we can plan the finances better," she added. What hospitals want Hospitals are of the view that insurance companies must be more flexible and ensure that customers dont suffer. Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Managing Director and CEO, Fortis Healthcare, told Moneycontrol that insurance companies can pitch in more actively to share the burden of Covid treatment with hospitals so that patients are not at the receiving end. He added that they can also adopt a more flexible procedure for cashless services, processes, scrutiny of bills and evaluation. The cap on rates for Covid-19 treatment is also not acceptable for many hospitals since they are of the view that the virus is unique in nature and exact costs vary from customer to customer. Yogesh Sareen, Senior Director and CFO, Max Healthcare said that insurance companies cant shy away from contracted rates and take shelter under capped rates. Capped rates should apply to 30-40 percent of the patients and not to all. The public good at private cost is bad economics for a sector where we direly need private investments to augment capacity, he added. When it comes to cashless treatment for insured patients, hospitals generally follow pre-agreed protocols and rates agreed with the partner insurance companies. Hospitals are of the view that insurance companies are now suddenly shrugging off responsibility and dont want to share the burden of increased treatment costs due to the nature of Covid-19. Their view is that customers who have the ability to pay should pay and that they should not be put under capped rates. Dr Nandakumar Jairam, CEO, Chairman and GMD, Columbia Asia Hospitals India, said that the capped treatment should be excluded for people who are insured and for people who can afford to pay for the treatment. This, he said, will help maintain the balance. It would not be fair to generalise. However, there are some insurance providers who are arbitrarily deducting our claims even if the claims are as per the signed contracts, which is unfair. We condemn this practice and expect that to stop immediately, he added. For health insurance customers, the worst is far from over. If there is a court decision legalising standard rates for Covid-19 treatment, it will be binding on both insurers and hospitals. WASHINGTON - White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is taking some unprovoked swipes at Canada in a new book about U.S. President Donald Trump's unconventional approach to foreign policy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at the White House, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Washington. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is taking some unprovoked swipes at Canada in a new book about U.S. President Donald Trump's unconventional approach to foreign policy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Patrick Semansky WASHINGTON - White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is taking some unprovoked swipes at Canada in a new book about U.S. President Donald Trump's unconventional approach to foreign policy. In CNN correspondent Jim Sciutto's book, "The Madman Theory: Trump Takes on the World," Navarro casts aspersions on Canada's role in the U.S.-led multilateral NATO mission in Afghanistan. He suggests Canada's decade-long mission, which cost the lives of 158 Canadian soldiers, was motivated more by a desire to curry favour with the U.S. than to support the global fight against terrorism. Navarro also accuses Canada of being out of step with "Trump world," maintaining unfair barriers to foreign dairy imports and facilitating the dumping of Chinese products into U.S. markets. In an interview with CTV News, former Obama-era defence secretary Leon Panetta rejected Navarro's comments, saying they reflect more on the self-interests of the Trump administration than they do on Canada's values. It's not the first time the outspoken Navarro has set his sights north of the border: following the fractious G7 summit in Quebec in 2018, he accused Justin Trudeau of "bad-faith diplomacy" and said there would be a "special place in hell" for the prime minister. CTV obtained audio recordings of Navarro's interviews with Sciutto, who was questioning the trade adviser about the Trump administration's often-caustic approach to foreign relations when the subject of Canada's mission in Afghanistan came up. "Were they doing us a favour, or were they brought into the idea they needed to do that as part of the global effort against terrorists?" Navarro responds. "I mean, if they were just doing us a favour, maybe their government should have been thrown out of office. I mean, every time that a Canadian shows up in a uniform, it's doing us a favour? How's that work?" Navarro's sentiments are largely a reflection of the Trump administration's confrontational approach to Canada, particularly on matters of cross-border trade. "What's good about Canada?" Sciutto quotes him as saying, before he rattles off a list of grievances, including barriers to U.S. dairy products and a claim that the country serves as a transshipment point for Chinese products that would otherwise be subject to countervailing duties. "It's like this blue-eyed brother kind of thing," he said. "It's just Canada. It has its own national interests and self-interests." Panetta, who served as Barack Obama's secretary of defence from 2011 to 2013, described Canada as having been "in the foxhole" with the U.S., as well as being a long-standing and trusted ally unlike the U.S. itself in the Trump era. "(Trump) sends a strong signal that he is not a trustworthy member or a trustworthy ally, and that raises a lot of concerns with regards to those strong alliances that are critical to peace and prosperity," Panetta told CTV. "Instead of an America that is a world leader, the rest of the world is looking at the United States as a rogue nation that cannot be trusted." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2020 American evangelicalism has a problem with authority, and the resignation of former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. has forced it to the surface. Falwell's departure and the ignomious circumstances that prompted it were met by some evangelicals with protest: Why is the media saying he's our guy? What makes Jerry Falwell Jr. an "evangelical leader"? I don't follow him. For an outsider looking in on the movement, this may seem like a protest in bad faith. It's not. "I've been in evangelical circles for 30 years," says a representative tweet. "Falwell's dad certainly was someone who had a vision for Liberty and had a lot of influence, but I have never heard anyone EVER refer to Falwell Jr. as a leader in evangelicalism. I'm not trying to be combative, just honest." I could say exactly the same, and for most, I think this protest is sincere. But I also think it's entirely fair to call Falwell an "evangelical leader" because of how leadership is often developed and authority asserted within American evangelicalism. It's a problem that makes the movement prone to exactly the sort of scandal we see with Falwell this week. To understand this problem, you have to know a little bit about church governance. Some denominations, like the Catholic Church, have a strong system of top-down control. If Pope Francis were caught in an illicit liaison a la Falwell, no Catholic could respond by denying the pope is properly deemed a "Catholic leader." Evangelicalism has no comparable hierarchy, and many Christians within it worship in groups that are also light on top-down authority. There's no Baptist pope, and many evangelicals are in nondenominational congregations whose governance is entirely self-contained. Thus can anyone start their own church and they do. Anyone can launch a blog or podcast or YouTube channel and build a digital congregation and they do that, too. There's a real sense of spiritual entrepreneurship in evangelicalism, as indeed there always has been. There's also a real sense of unaccountability, now made riskier by the sheer reach the internet allows such leaders to garner. Story continues That isn't news to evangelicals. In 2017, Christianity Today (where I am also a columnist) published an article by Tish Harrison Warren, an Anglican priest, titled, "Who's in charge of the Christian blogosphere?" Warren focused on the blogger as a "new kind of Christian celebrity and authority" who accrues a "huge [following] based on a cult of personality and hold[s] extensive power and influence, yet often lack[s] any accountability to formal structures of church governance." Parsing the raging controversy Warren's argument occasioned, historian Daniel Silliman, who is now a Christianity Today editor, explained "authority has always been contested and in crisis" in evangelicalism. "That's the history," he wrote. (Other scholars agree and link evangelical debate about theological and ecclesial authority to debates about political and scriptural authority, too.) Liberty sits squarely in this freewheeling milieu: The university has a relationship with the Southern Baptist Convention, but particularly in recent years, Falwell has taken a contentious attitude toward the denomination and insisted he should not be thought of as a pastoral figure. So what makes Falwell an "evangelical leader"? Simply the fact that he claims the evangelical label and is (or has been) a leader. For better or worse, there's no more rigorous test. Anyone who becomes famous in an evangelical capacity can be called an evangelical leader, even if the source of that fame is nothing more substantive than personality, wealth, or family connections. In Falwell's case, it was all three. "There is a long history of evangelicalism conflating success, authority, and fandom," said a Liberty University faculty member who spoke with me on condition of anonymity. (Liberty professors typically don't have tenure, and it's not uncommon for faculty and staff to request anonymity when speaking with the press.) "That element of 'fandom' is under-discussed," the faculty member continued, both in general and where the Falwell family specifically is concerned. Fixation on individual personalities like this happens, my source theorized, because "evangelicalism has always struggled with a clear identity," and people like Falwell combine visibility with a degree of success assumed to be "entwined with God's will." The trouble is that a movement which chooses its leaders this way and "chooses" is maybe too strong a word for such a democratized, organic, and sometimes hereditary process will end up with a decidedly mixed bag. Some are "good and faithful servants." Yet hucksters and shameless partisans take advantage, and the most well-intentioned leaders may become corrupt without institutional and spiritual safeguards. Falwell's is hardly the first scandal of evangelical celebrity. He's not even the first prominent evangelical to be involved in a financial and sexual scandal involving two men, one woman, and an accusation of blackmail. That dishonor, Silliman notes, goes to televangelist Jim Bakker, whose downfall coincided with Falwell's first year of work at Liberty. In a bizarre symmetry, Falwell has now left Liberty under allegations of remarkably similar circumstances. He seems to have learned no lessons from Bakker's disgrace, but the evangelical movement would do well to learn from his. More stories from theweek.com Trump's RNC role is a much bigger mistake than Republicans realize NHC warns of 'unsurvivable' storm surge from Hurricane Laura This terrifying animation shows how high Hurricane Laura's storm surge might get By Laila Bassam BEIRUT (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined political and financial reforms Lebanese politicians need to make to unlock foreign aid and rescue the country from multiple crises, including an economic meltdown, according to a document seen by Reuters. The two-page "concept paper" was delivered by the French ambassador to Beirut, a Lebanese political source said. A source at Macron's Elysee office said the ambassador had handed a short document to President Michel Aoun and Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, but described it as informal and not a roadmap. The necessary measures include an audit of the central bank, appointment of an interim government capable of enacting urgent reforms, and early legislative elections within a year. Lebanon's now-caretaker government, which took office in January with the support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its allies, failed to make progress in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout due to inaction on reforms and a dispute over the size of financial losses. The government resigned over this month's huge Beirut port explosion that killed at least 180 people, injured some 6,000 and destroyed entire neighbourhoods, and renewed protests against a political elite over endemic corruption and mismanagement that has led to a deep financial crisis. "The priority must go to the rapid formation of a government, to avoid a power vacuum which will leave Lebanon to sink further into the crisis," the French paper reads. It lists four sectors in need of immediate attention: humanitarian aid and the authorities' response to the COVID-19 pandemic; reconstruction after the Aug. 4 blast; political and economic reforms and an early parliamentary election. It also called for progress in IMF talks and United Nations oversight on international humanitarian funds pledged to Lebanon in recent weeks, as well as an impartial investigation into the cause of the detonation of vast amounts of highly explosive material stored unsafely at the port for years. Macron visited Beirut shortly after the blast and made it clear that no blank cheques would be given to the Lebanese state if it did not enact reforms against waste, graft and negligence. Story continues Since then, he has held multiple phone calls with major political leaders under the country's sectarian power-sharing system, a Lebanese political source said. Macron is due to return to Beirut on Sept. 1. Political rivalries and factional interests have prevented the formation of a new government able to tackle the financial crisis that has ravaged the currency, paralysed the banking system and spread poverty. [L8N2FS4PV] The French concept paper stresses the need for an immediate and full audit of state finances and reform of the power sector, which bleeds public funds while failing to provide adequate electricity. Parliament should enact laws needed to effect change in the interim period, it said. "Factions must be engaged to vote on the key measures that the new government will take in the next few months." The Elysee source said the document reiterated proposals agreed upon under the framework of a 2018 donor conference to support Lebanon and a subsequent international support group meeting. "This document reaffirms the availability of France to support Lebanon within this framework. It is in no way a roadmap," the Elysee official said. The concept paper could deepen France's role in Lebanon, a former French colony. The paper states that Paris will play a major role in rebuilding Beirut port, bolster healthcare, send teams from its treasury and central bank to support the financial audit, and help organise early parliamentary voting, along with the European Union. (Reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut; Additional Reporting by John Irish and Elizabeth Pinneau in Paris; Writing by Raya Jalabi; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Jon Boyle) WASHINGTON Out of 1,022 people who either attended or worked at several overnight summer camps in Maine that implemented measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, only three tested positive for it, a new study says. And those three cases did not result in secondary infections because proper measures were taken. The encouraging news emerged from a new study the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made public on Wednesday. It comes on the heels of another CDC study, released last week, that showed that after childcare centers in Rhode Island opened in June, there were few infections and almost no secondary transmission throughout the surrounding community. Cabins at Camp Winnebago in Fayette, Maine. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo) Together, the two studies seem to offer promise. These camps did it right. They followed the basic public health measures, said Dr. Ashish Jha, a Harvard epidemiologist. Those measures included face coverings, enhanced hygiene measures, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, maximal outdoor programming, and early and rapid identification of infection and isolation, according to the new studys lead author, Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a pediatrician at the Maine Medical Center who serves as a medical adviser to the American Camp Association. CDC Director Robert Redfield celebrated the results. Using a combination of proven public health strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19, he said in a statement, campers and staff were able to enjoy a traditional summer pastime amid a global pandemic. Jha contrasted the Maine approach with that of a Georgia camp that was more lax it did not require masks or adequately ventilate buildings and consequently became the site of a coronavirus outbreak earlier this summer. That experience called into question the much-longed-for resumption of other everyday activities, including schooling. The Maine study was especially encouraging for colleges, Jha explained, since in both camps and colleges, young people live and play in close quarters. The biggest thing here is they were aggressive on entry screening, he said. Its really smart, and it works. Story continues The new CDC study followed attendees at summer camps in Maine between June and August. Approximately 1 week after camp arrival, all 1,006 attendees without a previous diagnosis of COVID-19 were tested, and three asymptomatic cases were identified, the study says. Following isolation of these persons and quarantine of their contacts, no secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred. (SARS-CoV-2 is the official international designation for the pathogen.) Campers at Sebago Lake State Park in Maine. (Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) The camps took the kinds of measures that would be difficult to undertake in a large city, or even a suburb. Camps and schools are not the same, said Blaisdell, who has been volunteering in a medical capacity at her sons camp for 20 years. At the same time, the camps hosted attendees from 41 states and six countries, as well as one U.S. territory. Some came from coronavirus hot spots, including Texas and Florida. A college could encounter a similarly challenging demographic distribution from its incoming students. Attendees and their families were advised to drive to camp. Once they arrived, campers were asked to stay within their new cohorts for two weeks and not mix with other children. They were routinely monitored for symptoms, with daily temperature checks, and diagnostic tests administered between every four and nine days. No attendees declined testing, the CDC study says, a subtle reminder that public health measures mean little if people refuse to adhere to them. The results came back two or three days later. Across the country, people continue to report waiting as long as two weeks to learn the results of their coronavirus tests. Two adults and one child eventually tested positive, despite showing no symptoms. A new CDC guidance says that people who do not show coronavirus symptoms do not always need diagnostic tests. But people without symptoms can still spread the disease. Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist, said the Maine approach showed what a wrong-headed move the CDC was making by dropping the guidance to test asymptomatic people. If the camps had not done such testing, they would not have found the three people infected with the virus. Those people could then have spread the disease to other campers. Blaisdell described to Yahoo News what happened once those positive tests were returned: The three sickened individuals were isolated, while their respective cohorts were moved into what she described as a shadow camp, apart from other attendees. They were still able to take part in camp activities, but without potentially becoming transmitters of the virus. They were also regularly tested. Dr. Laura Blaisdell at Maine Medical Center Research Institute in 2014. (Gabe Souza/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) The strategy proved successful. No cohort members received a positive test result, and all were released from quarantine on day 8 after the asymptomatic campers positive test result, the CDC study reported. No secondary transmission was identified. Blaisdell said that keeping children in small, well-defined groups was critical to the camps success. Cohorting allowed us to decrease spread by kids in small, stable relationships. The study she and four other authors from outside Maine published Wednesday through the CDC describes how stable, small, segregated cohorts allowed camps to isolate and quarantine a wide age range of younger attendees with potential COVID-19 symptoms and exposures while continuing camp operations in other cohorts. Classrooms are natural cohorts. So are some college arrangements, such as Greek-letter organizations and special-affiliation houses. At the same time, both schools and colleges are bound to be subject to much more movement throughout the surrounding community than an isolated camp in rural Maine. Nobody can promise a COVID-free environment, Blaisdell told Yahoo News, but by enforcing a culture of compliance, the camps were able to have a relatively normal summer. We did do singing around the campfire, she said, adding a caveat that can be attached to virtually any human activity in 2020: It looked different this year. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: PREMIUM TIMES and 13 other newsrooms across the world were, on Wednesday, awarded in two categories for their joint reportage on the environmental degradation and species loss resulting from the illegal trafficking and poaching of pangolins. The awards were presented to PREMIUM TIMES and its 13 partners at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) annual awards virtual ceremony held Wednesday in Hong Kong. The collaborative report, which pooled journalists from Asia, Africa, and Europe to form the Global Environmental Reporting Collective, won all 14 partners the top prizes in the regional excellence in journalistic innovation and excellence in reporting on the environment categories. The awards were among SOPAs 91 awards presented to newsrooms across the world at the Wednesday virtual ceremony. Mid last year, this newspaper announced an alliance sealed with other international media on the reportage of pangolin trafficking. In September 2019, the report, Global Investigation: Pangolins: Trafficked to Extinction, was published. The project The Pangolin Reports focused on the poaching, smuggling, and illicit trade of pangolins, an artichoke-like solitary long-tailed scaly anteater found in tropical Africa and Asia, which is the most trafficked mammal in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Prized for its scales, particularly for traditional medicine in China, this animal is at the centre of a sophisticated, multi-million-dollar supply chain across Africa and Asia, run by networks of criminal syndicates. High demand for the byproducts of the shy mammal which has eight distinct species threatens its extinction, scientists say. And when pangolins disappear, so does the ecological balance in their natural habitats. In the 21st century, we really should not be eating species to extinction, Jonathan Baillie, a leading expert, said in 2014. There is simply no excuse for allowing this illegal trade to continue. In the preceding decade, more than a million pangolins are believed to have been hunted, the IUCN estimated. Despite a global ban on pangolin trade in 2017, its smuggling continued with record numbers of the animal being intercepted and seized by Asian and African authorities last year, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), an advocacy organisation. Global seizures have surpassed the 2018 figures by a wide margin, according to the EIA. Its researchers estimate that an equivalent of 110,182 pangolins has been confiscated by law enforcement this year so far a 54.5 per cent increase compared with last year. Roughly 50 tons of illegal African pangolin scales have been seized globally in the last four months, estimated Peter Knights, the CEO of WildAid, another advocacy group. In shipments that contain both pangolins and ivory, pangolin scales have now surpassed the volume of ivory. In 2016, Nigeria became the number-one country in the world in the illegal pangolin trade. All African pangolins the ground, giant, white-bellied, and black-bellied are found in Nigeria, and they are being hunted by rural dwellers for food and other rich cuisines among upper and middle class. Involved in the report are over 30 journalists from about 14 newsrooms who reported from Africa and Asia, conducting dozens of exclusive interviews and even going undercover. Joined in the transcontinental reportage with PREMIUM TIMES are the Nepali Times, Tempo.co, Malaysian R.AGE, Mongabay, Taiwanese The Reporter, Cameroonian Green Echoes, Vietnamese MDI, Rappler, Shannews, ThaiPublica, ADM Capital Foundation, South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. DUBLIN, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biocides Markets in China" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. China's demand for Biocides has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the next decade, both production and demand will continue to grow. This new study examines China's economic trends, investment environment, industry development, supply and demand, industry capacity, industry structure, marketing channels and major industry participants. Historical data (2009, 2014 and 2019) and long-term forecasts through 2024 and 2029 are presented. Major producers in China are profiled. The primary and secondary research was done in China in order to access up-to-date government regulations, market information and industry data. Data was collected from Chinese government publications, Chinese language newspapers and magazines, industry associations, local governments' industry bureaus, industry publications, and in-house databases. Interviews were conducted with Chinese industry experts, university professors, and producers in China. Economic models and quantitative methods were applied in this report to project market demand and industry trends. Metric system is used and values are presented in either Yuan (RMB, current price) and/or US dollars. This market research report provides hard-to-find market data and analyses. Today, China has the largest market in the world. If you want to expand your business or sell your products in China, this research report provides the insights and projections into Chinese markets necessary for you to do so. Key Topics Covered: I. INTRODUCTION Report Scope and Methodology Executive Summary II. BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Economic Outlook Key Economic Indicators Industrial Output Population and Labor Foreign Investment Foreign Trade Financial and Tax Regulations Banking System and Regulations Foreign Exchange Taxes, Tariff and Custom Duties III. BIOCIDES INDUSTRY ASSESSMENTS Biocides Industry Capacity Major Producer Facility Locations, Output and Capacity Market Share of Key Producers Potential Entrants Major End-Users Major Foreign Investments Technology Development IV. BIOCIDES PRODUCTION AND DEMAND Overview Biocides Production and Demand Organic Acids Chloroisocyanurates Inorganic Compounds Organosulfurs Iodophors Halogenated Hydantoins Organometallics Sodium Bromide Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Phenolics Nitrogen Compounds Other Biocides Biocides Imports and Exports Pricing Trends V. BIOCIDES CONSUMPTION BY MARKET Biocides Markets Outlook Overview Water Treatment Chemicals Water Treatment Chemicals Market Outlook Biocides Consumption in Water Treatment Chemicals Disinfectant Products Disinfectant Products Market Outlook Biocides Consumption in Disinfectant Products Food and Beverages Food and Beverages Market Outlook Biocides Consumption in Food and Beverages Paints and Coatings Paints and Coatings Market Outlook Biocides Consumption in Paints and Coatings Pulp and Paper Pulp and Paper Market Outlook Biocides Consumption in Pulp and Paper Personal Care Products Personal Products Market Outlook Biocides Consumption in Personal Products Other Biocides Markets VI. MARKETING STRATEGIES China Market Entry Overview China's Distribution System Distribution System Rubber Processing Chemicals Distribution Channels Transportation and Freight Infrastructure Communications China's Market Entry Market Entry Licensing Franchising E-commerce Trading Companies and Local Agents Representative Offices and Chinese Subsidiaries Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises VII. BIOCIDES PRODUCER DIRECTORY Biocides Producer Profiles Distributors and Trading Companies Research Institutions and Associations Major End-Users Companies Mentioned Yancheng Huapai Chemical Co., Ltd Yancheng Limin Chemical Plant For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tl7d9w About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. 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] 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com REUTERS/Blair Gable After a string of scandals during his tenure, and a reported rift with the Prime Minister, Bill Morneau is resigning as Canadas Finance Minister. Morneau announced he is stepping down during a sudden news conference called Monday evening. He says he told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he will not be running in the next election, and that he never intended to run for more than two elections. Morneau says the Prime Minister did not ask him to resign, and that he tendered his resignation when he met with Trudeau earlier today. Like any job theres a time when youre the appropriate person in the role and theres a time, where you have to decide youre not the appropriate person in the role, said Morneau, during the news conference. Since Im not running again, and since I expect well have a long and challenging recovery, I think its important that the Prime Minister has by his side a Finance Minister who has that longer term vision, and so thats what led me to conclude during this time period that its appropriate for me to step down. Morneau says Trudeau supports his decision to put his name forward to be the next Secretary General for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For me the opportunity to contribute to the challenges were going to face in the globe, the OECD is there at the centre, in thinking about issues like international taxation, the digital transformation in our world, thinking about how we can deal with the challenges well be facing as we get through this pandemic. Morneau would not say if a rift with Trudeau led to his resignation, but acknowledged there was vigrous debate over spending plans. Thats the way you get to better policy outcomes, said Morneau. Trudeau praised Morneau in a statement acknowledging his resignation. Bill has worked relentlessly to support all Canadians and create a resilient, fair, economy that benefits everyone, said Trudeau in a statement. Story continues Under his leadership, Canada developed a strong economy with one of the best balance sheets in the G7, created over one million jobs, achieved the lowest unemployment rate in recorded history, lifted over one million people out of poverty, and created a coherent plant to protect the environment while growing the economy. Morneau, 57, has served as Finance Minister and the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre since the Liberals took power in 2015. As Finance Minister he launched the Canada Child Benefit and incentives for first-time homebuyers. He has also helped guide the countrys fiscal programs through the COVID-19 pandemic with new supports like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). Morneau was caught up in the WE Charity scandal that has also brought criticism to the Prime Minister, and resulted in an ethics investigation. He has four children with his wife Nancy McCain, a member of the New Brunswick family that owns McCain Foods. His daughter Grace, who is adopted and the family sponsored to Canada from Uganda when she was 14, worked at WE when the scandal emerged. Before entering politics, Morneau served as head of Morneau Shepell, Canadas largest human resources firm. Continuing ties to the company his father founded got him into hot water on more than one occasion. He sold his shares in the company after facing criticism for not placing the $20 million stake in a blind trust, and was later cleared of insider trading after accusations that he profited from his own tax policies when he sold shares in the company in 2015. He was also the head of policy think-tank C.D. Howe Institute. He co-authored a book, The Real Retirement, with Fred Vettese. Jessy Bains is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jessysbains. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Joey Hood and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq David Copley, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs On the Recent U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue Special Briefing Joey Hood, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs David Copley, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq Affairs Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs VIA TELECONFERENCE August 25, 2020 MR BROWN: Thank you. Good afternoon everyone and thanks for joining us today for this on-the-record briefing on the U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue which, as you'll recall, Secretary Pompeo hosted just this past week. Briefing us today are two senior officials from our Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Joey Hood and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq David Copley. We'll begin with opening remarks from Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Hood and then we'll turn to your questions. We'll do our best to get to as many of you possible in the time we have, which will be about 30 minutes. As a reminder, the contents of today's briefing are embargoed until the end of the call. For the sake of efficiency, if you'd like to ask a question, I'd invite you to go ahead and get in the queue by dialing 1 and then 0. And with that I will turn it over to you PDAS Hood. Go ahead. MR HOOD: Good afternoon, everyone. I thought I would start with some relevant background. On June 11th we held a virtual U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue. And then on August 19th we had a meeting where the U.S. and Iraqi sides in person here in Washington reaffirmed our commitment to a long-term strategic partnership. We reiterated our respect for Iraqi sovereignty, and Iraq pledged to protect us and other intentional guests from attacks by Iran-backed militias. Our goal for this in-person dialogue was to consolidate the progress we made in the virtual session and translate our shared vision into a more detailed roadmap for strengthening our partnership. I'm pleased to report that last week's strategic dialogue accomplished just that. And we anticipate holding several smaller follow-up meetings called joint coordination committees in the coming months to maintain momentum. That the United States hosted such a logistically complex in-person summit in the midst of a global pandemic speaks to our commitment to a stable, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq. We covered a broad range of political, security, economic, and cultural issues, from preparations for Iraq's elections to the challenge posed by ISIS. Over the course of seven breakout sessions, we had productive discussions on Iraq's preparations for credible elections, protecting civil society, helping Iraq's religious and ethnic components recover from ISIS atrocities, ensuring the last defeat of ISIS, ensuring that international humanitarian actors have the access they need to deliver critical services, expanding bilateral trade, implementing reform, improving Iraq's business climate, and improving Iraq's energy production and electricity infrastructure. The dialogue wasn't merely talk. The Iraqis signed nine deals or MOUs touching on development, finance, health, and energy. And our announcement of $204 million more in humanitarian assistance and $10 million for UNAMI's election support efforts further illustrate our commitment to helping Iraq's most vulnerable citizens and supporting the reforms demanded by the Iraqi people. We didn't only host the dialogue last week as you saw in the news. We also hosted Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi along with his ministers of foreign affairs, finance, defense, electricity, and oil. The fact that the prime minister led such a high-level delegation speaks to Iraq's good-faith efforts to meet the needs of its people and embrace the international community. The day after our dialogue, President Trump and Prime Minister Kadhimi met and reaffirmed that our strategic partnership between our two countries is based on a mutual desire for security and prosperity. Apart from the White House visit, the PM's delegation had a number of other important engagements here at the State Department, at the Departments of Treasury, Defense, Energy, and Commerce. As Secretary Pompeo said, 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. That's what the Iraqi people want, too: a stable, prosperous, independent Iraq; an Iraq which is for Iraqis. And the Iraqis who protested last year and are continuing to do so now couldn't have made that any more clear. And with that, we're happy to take your questions. MR BROWN: Okay. For our first question let's go to the line of Joyce Karam. QUESTION: Yes. Hi. Thanks for doing this. And having followed the visit and also events happening in Iraq, on the issue of countering Iran-backed militias, what do you expect to happen next? I mean, we have heard these commitments being said over and over. When you speak to activists on the ground, they are still being targeted and assassinated. Rockets still target joint bases and other foreign embassies in the country. So what should we expect tangible on that front that you were able to get from Kadhimi while he's in D.C.? And can you if you can offer anything on the issue of U.S. redeployment or withdrawal. Is there a timeline set for that? Thank you. MR HOOD: Thank you, Joyce. And apologies to everyone here that we can't see you face to face, so the interaction will not be quite as warm as I've been used to with you in the past. And it also takes us a second or two for us to decide between David and me who's going to answer which question, or which part. And you had several parts there, Joyce. So in terms of what to expect, I mean, the prime minister was clear that he sees a continuing need for support from the coalition, including the United States. And much of our discussions were focused on what that continuing support needs to look like. And so he understands better than anyone that, as invited guests in his country, he has an absolute obligation under international law and our agreements and, indeed, in Arab culture, to protect us. And so that is exactly what we expect to see from the prime minister and the forces under his control. We absolutely find the assassinations and the attempted assassinations of activists and journalists in places like Basra completely abhorrent. We have condemned those publicly, and we know that the prime minister joins us in that condemnation. Indeed, when he returned to Iraq, the first place he went to was Basra to reassure the families of those innocent victims that they that justice would be brought to their killers. Over to you, Dave. MR COPLEY: Yeah. I'll tag-team in for the second half of the question here. This is David Copley. We had a lot of really good discussions with our Iraqi partners about security during the dialogue and in a lot of the bilateral meetings. Our focus is really jointly working together to defeat ISIS and to build out the capacity of the Iraqi security forces. I think the prime minister said it well when he told The Washington Post that the joint security relationship between the U.S. and Iraq is really something to be proud of. We are currently transitioning to a new phase in the campaign that's focused more on our advisory and training work, as well as providing critical enabling capabilities like ISR and close air support to the Iraqi security forces. And certainly we all look forward to a day when the coalition's forces are no longer required. The President has directed us to get our forces down to lower levels as quickly as possible, but as Secretary Pompeo noted the other day in the Oval Office, we'll stay until the mission is complete. MR BROWN: Okay. Next question. Let's go to the line of Joel Gehrke. QUESTION: Hi. Thank you for doing this. I wonder, you talked about the need for a guarantee that the Iraqi Government would protect U.S. positions from militias and other threats. I wonder, what's your thoughts on the government's an operation that happened in June where the government detained a number of Kata'ib Hizballah fighters? I think it was 14 people were arrested, and then a few days later they were released. In the interim, there was there were threats at least in the press there were threats from Kata'ib Hizballah's security spokesperson directed at the prime minister. What do you make of that sequence of events? Were they released for legitimate reasons? Are you aware of how many of the group were released? And what does that what did you learn from that incident about the both the prime minister's ability to impose to assert himself vis-a-vis these militias and also the limits of his ability to do that? MR HOOD: Thank you for the question. I would have to refer you to the Government of Iraq with regard to the number of detainees, the judicial process, how many of them are still being held, what the process of trying them may be. But in terms of what we expect I think part of your question was what we would expect from groups like Kata'ib Hizballah. Well, they're a designated terrorist group and we expect them to act like terrorists. And so that's why we all need to work with the Iraqi Government as closely as possible to deter and defend against that threat as much as possible. In terms of the Iraqi Government's ability to assert itself well, look, militarily, they have now one of the most capable counterterrorism forces in the region. And if that force was able to take on and defeat, with our assistance, ISIS, then clearly the prime minister has a very powerful tool at his disposal for getting control of armed groups that are resistant to his command as commander in chief. And so we expect to see the Iraqi Government increasingly asserting itself as it turns its focus from entirely on ISIS to getting sovereign control over all of its territory again from all groups, no matter what they look like. MR COPLEY: And this is David here. I would just add that I think the Iraqi Government understands that these lawless, Iran-backed militias are a threat to their sovereignty and a threat to what we're trying to accomplish. As they look to counter the economic crisis, the presence of these lawless groups makes it a lot harder to attract business investment and attract support from the international community. So it's making it a lot harder for the United States and our international partners to assist the Iraqi people in getting back on their feet again. MODERATOR: Next let's go to Nadia Charters. QUESTION: (Inaudible) you for doing this. I believe both the President and the Secretary expressed confidence in the current prime minister, Mr. Kadhimi. However, do you believe that you can peel him off from the Iranian influence, considering that the first foreign trip was to Tehran that he took? And secondly, did you discuss also in this current meeting last week any fostering of relationship between Iraq and the Gulf states in particular, considering that they were deteriorating during his the time of his predecessors? Thank you. MR HOOD: Thank you for the question, Nadia. No, indeed, the President and the Secretary expressed confidence in the partnership with the prime minister. We understand that Iraq is going to have relations with all of its neighbors, and we have nothing against that. We just want those relationships to be in the best interests of Iraq, and we think the prime minister does as well. And I think you can see that from his public statements while he was in Tehran and shortly afterwards. We understand that he is in Jordan right now as part of a meeting with the government there and counterparts in Egypt. This is all to be commended. And we are working to support reestablishing those ties that you talked about to the Gulf countries, because that's extremely important for investment in Iraq and for things like infrastructure, the electricity grid for example. Iraq should be able to, at some point, produce enough of its own electricity and even be able to sell excess production to the GCC and to purchase electricity when it needs it. And so we are looking very closely with our friends in Kuwait and in Iraq and other countries in the GCC about how we can support greater investment in the interconnection between the GCC countries and Iraq on the electricity side. MR BROWN: Next let's go to Lara Jakes. QUESTION: Hi, gentlemen. Hope you're having a good day. I have two questions, one a little more narrow than the other, but I'm sure you've seen the report that Turkey's forces are moving into northern Iraq to attack the PKK. Prime Minister Kadhimi has been declaring this a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. Can you talk to me a little bit about how that's going to play out, what the United States is doing to dissuade Turkey from continuing these incursions? And then also on that, I'm just curious: How would you contrast how Mr. Kadhimi works with you all in comparison to some of his predecessors? What's he like? MR COPLEY: So I think this is David. I'll take the first question. Look, we'd like to see Turkey and Iraq work closely together to address concerns about the PKK's presence in northern Iraq. It's important to respect Iraqi sovereignty. It's also important to recognize that Turkey has legitimate security interests. We think the best way to solve these problems is for both parties to work together, and hopefully maybe we can play a role in potentially making this happen in a way that's good for stability and for both parties. I'll let Joey take the second question. MR HOOD: Thank you, and just to add on to the first one, there is no place better for the parties to start than Sinjar. If you could have the Kurdistan Regional Government, the federal government in Baghdad, and Turkey working together with advice and support from the United States and other coalition countries, you could see where maybe a place like Sinjar could be cleared out of militias, including the PKK, and you could put a civilian administration in there that would work for the people and be accepted by the people so that Yezidi IDPs, victims of genocide could actually go home, which they can't do safely and voluntarily right now. And we are talking to all parties about this at a high level. The contrast with the other governments that's an interesting question because this is by my count, this was something like the sixth or seventh higher coordinating committee meeting under the Strategic Framework Agreement of 2008. And I was certainly present for a few of the previous iterations, and what struck me about this was it's as if we were all on the same team reading from the same talking points, totally agreed on the goals, and then just talking about how we can work together to achieve those goals. It was I wouldn't say that previous governments were necessarily adversarial, but this government absolutely had a very constructive attitude and clearly shared goals across the board, and that was striking. MR BROWN: Okay. Next question, let's go to Michel Ghandour. OPERATOR: I apologize. That line seems to not be in queue right now. Oh, she's back. MR BROWN: He's back. OPERATOR: He's back. Thank you for the correction. Your line is open. QUESTION: Yeah, regarding the electricity, is the U.S. ready to offer another waiver for Iraq to import power from Iran? And what's the importance of the oil deal that the U.S. made with Iraq at the strategic level? MR COPLEY: Yeah, with regards to the waiver, that's at the discretion of the Secretary, and I'm not going to comment on that at this time, but I think generally, what we've always been looking for is for Iraq to make progress in working towards energy independence. This is something that's really good. It's in Iraq's self-interest. They should be a net energy exporter. They have their own natural gas. They don't need to be exporting it. I think they're taking a lot of good steps right now to move in a direction that's really going to help their own economy, and that's what we're really looking for. MR BROWN: Okay. Next let's go to the line of Jared Zuba (ph). QUESTION: Hi. Thank you for doing this. I was wondering how you gentlemen balance asking Prime Minister Kadhimi to when necessary, to defend U.S. forces, to move against Iran-linked groups in Iraq With President Trump's assertion that U.S. forces will not always remain there, that seems to be putting quite a tall order on the prime minister. But yeah MR HOOD: Jared, do you want to reword that question in some way? Because I'm not sure that we really understand what you're getting at there. QUESTION: Sure. I'm wondering how the U.S. essentially balances asking the prime minister to move against Iran-linked groups when President Trump is saying that U.S. troops won't always be in Iraq. That seems to me that it puts or could risk putting the prime minister in a very difficult position once U.S. troops leave Iraq, given that Iran's influence in Iraq, being a direct neighbor, is bound to continue beyond U.S. troop presence in the region. And I was wondering how you guys approached that with the prime minister. MR COPLEY: This is David. I think the need for security sector reform in Iraq is basically unrelated to any sort of U.S. troop presence there. Rule of law, combating corruption, fighting against sectarianism these are all things that are absolutely in Iraq's own interests, and it's something they're going to need to work on if they're ever going to have a stable state. This is a country with tremendous human capital, tremendous natural resource wealth, and what they need is rule of law in order for them to be able to put those resources to good use, and that's certainly going to involve security sector reform and getting arms back under the control of the state. MR BROWN: Okay. I think we have one last question in the queue. Ahmet (ph), go ahead. (No response.) MR BROWN: Yep, are you on mute? QUESTION: Hello, I don't know if you are mentioning my name. My name is Aness (ph). MR BROWN: Yeah. Sorry, go ahead. QUESTION: Okay. No problem. So you mentioned that there is, like, a $10 million contribution from the U.S. to support the election maybe next year. I would ask: Have you discussed how the Iraqis are going to spend or use this money given the situation there are many parties in the parliament are supported by Iran. MR COPLEY: Hi. This is David again. So that contribution is actually for the UN assistance mission in Iraq. They have an expanded mission of technical electoral assistance to the Iraqi Government that's passed through the UN Security Council. And as part of their expanded mission, the United States and I believe other international partners are going to help them resource so they can assist the Iraqi Government in running a credible and fair election. So the money is being directed towards the UN. MR HOOD: Yeah. Just to be clear, it does not go to the Iraqi Government. It does not go to political parties. MR BROWN: Great. I think we do have time for one more question if someone wants to jump in the queue. Otherwise, we'll call it here. I'll give it a few seconds. All right. Last question, let's go to Moat Al-Ahmri (ph). QUESTION: Yes, thank you. The U.S. has promised to end its presence in Iraq, and the President Trump told the Iraqi prime minister that the withdrawal of all the troops will get out of Iraq in three years. The two parties have signed (inaudible) agreements between the Government of Iraq and the American companies. I'm wondering: How would the U.S. will protect its interests in a region that is full of tension without any military presence? MR HOOD: Well, thank you very much for the question. We obviously have a longstanding security presence throughout the region. And so no matter what the configuration of the security relationship that the Iraqi Government wishes us to have in three years or five years or ten years, we are confident that we will be able with the partnership with the Iraqi Government to protect our interests in Iraq. And just to be clear, our vision is an Iraq in which you have thousands and thousands of American tourists every year, where you have American military training at your staff colleges as well as ours in the United States, just like in any normal close ally and strategic partner that the United States has with several countries all around the world. MR BROWN: Okay. Thank you all for to our briefers for taking time out of their day, and to everyone who joined the call. This concludes the call, and so the embargo on the contents is lifted. Have a great afternoon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blood-thinners could boost the survival chances for people hospitalised with Covid-19, growing evidence suggests. Several studies have implied anticoagulants may keep coronavirus patients alive by stopping dangerous clots forming on their lungs. Now an in-depth analysis of one of the biggest pieces of research into the topic has offered more proof that the drugs are life-savers. Doctors at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York originally found hospitalised Covid-19 patients given blood-thinners were 50 per cent less likely to die. Their updated study involving another 1,500 patients and an extra month of data found the same survival-boosting benefits. But it also found patients given apixaban tablets, branded as Eliquis, and injections of low molecular weight heparins, including Fragmin, offer the most benefit. Coronavirus can cause deadly blood clots in the lungs, brain and heart, which stops oxygen supply to the organs and makes them fail. This can be fatal, with doctors warning of patients dying from heart attacks, strokes and blockages in the lungs, rather than the virus itself. Ministers have already fast-tracked anticoagulants such as heparin into trials, in the wake of emerging evidence. The best outcomes were for those taking oral apixaban, sold under the brand name Eliquis in the UK and US, and injected low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), such as dalteparin sodium, marketed as Fragmin In May, Mount Sinai researchers showed blood thinners may lower the risk of death by as much as 50 per cent. Scientists examined the survival rates for those given blood thinners compared to those not taking the drug, publishing their findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on May 6. Some 63 per cent of patients on ventilators in intensive care given anticoagulants survived compared with 29 per cent who did not get anticoagulants. There was no difference in death rates between patients who were not on a ventilator to help them breathe. But the time to death was a week longer for those who were given anticoagulants: a median of 21 days compared to 14 days for those who did not receive anticoagulants. Co-author Dr Girish Nadkarni told DailyMail.com: 'Clinically, we were seeing a lot of blood clots in patients.' 'A lot of clinicians used anticoagulants as treatment so we wanted to see if they provided a benefit or not.' After taking age, ethnicity, pre-existing conditions, and whether the patient was already on blood thinners into account, both therapeutic and prophylactic doses of anticoagulants reduced mortality by roughly 50 per cent compared to patients on no blood thinners HOW DOES THE VIRUS LEAD TO DEADLY BLOOD CLOTS? The coronavirus appears to cause blood clotting which can lead to deadly strokes, heart attacks or pulmonary embolisms. While experts are unsure why the virus causes the blockages, there are three main theories: CYTOKINE STORM Some say it could be the result of a an immune overreaction called a 'cytokine storm'. Cytokines are chemical-signaling molecules which guide a healthy immune response. They tell immune cells to attack viral molecules in the body. But in some people, this response goes into overdrive and immune cells start attacking healthy tissue as well, known as a cytokine storm. As blood vessels become damaged they can leak, causing blood pressure to drop and driving up the chance of clots forming. BYPRODUCT OF INFECTION Other scientists say the surge in strokes may be a byproduct of the way COVID-19 invades the human body. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'Covid binds to an enzyme called ACE2 which is on the surface of the cell. 'It simply uses it as a way of attaching itself but in doing so the enzyme function of ACE2 is reduced. 'The consequence of this is an imbalance of hormones called Angiotensin I and Angiotensin II which together regulate blood pressure. 'It could be related to the increase in strokes reported.' VIRUS' UNIQUE SHAPE Dr Robert Bonow, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern University, said it may be the coronavirus' unique shape that is causing the bloodclotting issues. He said the virus' spikes, which latch onto receptors in cells, can also attach to blood vessels. Once they dock onto these blood vessel cells, the viral particles can trigger damage to these as well as to heart muscle, Dr Bonow says. Advertisement In the first study, researchers looked at almost 2,800 Covid-19-positive patients admitted to five hospitals in New York City between March 14 and April 11. They have since expanded their study to answer more questions, publishing their findings today in the same journal as before. They looked at the medical records of 4,389 Covid-19 patients admitted to the same five hospitals in New York between March 1 and April 30. The researchers looked at the survival and death rates of patients put on six different blood-thinning regimens when they arrived at hospital. Patients were on either therapeutic 'high dose' (900 people) or prophylactic 'low dose' (1,959) blood thinners. Typically these are given out to either treat or prevent blood clots, respectively. In both groups, patients were given either antithrombotic pills, heparin injected under the skin, or heparin through an IV drip. The remaining 1,530 were not on blood thinners at all. After taking age, ethnicity, pre-existing conditions, and whether the patient was already on blood thinners into account, both doses reduced mortality by roughly 50 per cent, compared to patients not on blood-thinners. Rates of intubation which is when patients need help to breathe were 31 per cent lower for those on therapeutic blood thinners and 28 per cent lower for those on prophylactic blood thinners, compared to those not on the drugs. The researchers observed the greatest benefits for those taking therapeutic and prophylactic low-molecular weight heparin injected into the muscle, and the antithrombotic pill apixaban. Low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is typically used to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The group of drugs include dalteparin sodium (Fragmin), enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox), and tinzaparin sodium (Innohep). Meanwhile apixaban, branded as Eliquis, is used to treat people who have had a stroke, heart attack or blood clot in the leg or lungs. Bleeding rates, a known complication of blood thinners, were surprisingly low overall among all patients. Only three per cent of patients suffered the complication but it was slightly more common in the therapeutic group. 'Clearly, anticoagulation is associated with improved outcomes and bleeding rates appear to be low,' corresponding author Dr Anu Lala said. The director of Heart Failure Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai added: 'As a clinician who has treated Covid-19 patients on the front lines, I recognize the importance of having answers as to what the best treatment for these patients entails, and these results will inform the design of clinical trials to ultimately give concrete information. 'This report is much more in-depth than our previous brief report and includes many more patients, longer follow-up, and rigorous methodology.' In both studies, the patients were not randomly assigned to either get the blood thinners or not. It means the study not considered the most rigorous evidence could not rule out other explanations for the apparent survival benefit. It is a 'retrospective study', meaning it looked back on data for patients from the past. The findings would be more reliable had it been a randomised controlled trial, when people are randomly chosen to have either the treatment or a dummy drug. In a separate part of the study, the researchers looked at autopsy results of 26 Covid-19 patients. It is not clear on what grounds these patients were chosen, but they had not been on any kind of blood thinning treatment. Findings show 11 of them (42 per cent) had blood clots, including in the lungs, brain and/or heart. These could have caused heart attacks, strokes or a blockage in the lungs. But none of these blood clots had been suspected while the Covid-19 patients were in hospital. Heparin is one of the drugs that has been chosen for the ACCORD study, which was approved to begin at the end of April in 30 NHS hospitals across Britain. The University of Southampton-led trial aims to give an early indication of whether the drug is effective in treating hospitalised coronavirus patients. If proven to be effective, officials will fast-track it into larger coronavirus trials in the UK. But no results have been published yet. Protesters, outraged over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, take to the streets in downtown Los Angeles on May 29, 2020. (Los Angeles Times) In California, as in much of the nation, an officer fired for misconduct can often get a job at the police department across town or in the next county. There are about 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, few of which have both the capacity and the desire to track down every necessary detail of their applicants service records. Police reformers have long called for a national registry or other database of bad cops officers with histories of dishonesty, racism or excessive force to ensure that once they are drummed out of one department for good cause theyre not hired by the next oblivious department. There still is no such registry. One would be required under the federal George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, but after quickly passing the Democratic-controlled House, the bill stalled in the Republican-majority Senate. Even without an interstate registry, though, California can act now to keep bad officers from moving among in-state police departments. Senate Bill 731 would require that law enforcement officers be state-certified, in much the same way that doctors, lawyers and others performing key jobs must be licensed. An officer could lose certification for serious misconduct or importantly upon resigning his or her position before the end of an investigation. The bill would build on the states existing Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, known as POST, which already regulates training in firearms and other law enforcement functions and awards certificates to officers in participating agencies. But POST does not currently block an officer from moving to another agency within the state, nor does it have the power or capacity to investigate charges of wrongdoing. The bill would grant those powers and would fund them through certification fees imposed on each officer (although they would most probably be reimbursed by their employers). There is an argument that California and other states impose far too many certification requirements and fees on professions in order to keep the number of competitors low and the pay for those already in the field artificially high. While that argument may have merit in some fields perhaps for hairstylists, for example the same critique does not apply to law enforcement officers, who are public employees with the power to take the liberty or life of the people they are sworn to protect and serve. It is not too much to ask that officers who carry deadly weapons be subject to decertification for misconduct. Story continues Critics of the bill also argue that it is directed at a handful of bad apple officers and would do little to fix a policing culture in which misconduct by a few is tolerated or even protected. But California does indeed have bad apple cops who spoil one department after another. In the wake of legislation to require broader public availability of police misconduct records, news outlets discovered last year that the department in the Kern County town of McFarland had knowingly hired many officers who had been fired, sued for misconduct or convicted of crimes in other jurisdictions. The Maywood Police Department has a similar record. And as The Times has reported, L.A. County has hired a number of sheriff's deputies who'd had troubling histories in other departments. Bad apples may not be the only problem in policing, but they are clearly an important one. A rival proposal, Assembly Bill 1299, would require departments to notify POST when officers are fired or resign with investigations pending. But that doesnt guard against the McFarland problem, in which departments know of applicants troubled histories but hire them anyway. It also would keep investigations within departments, which don't always have an incentive to get to the bottom of an officers conduct. SB 731 is the better option. It would leave local agencies independent while still providing a statewide level of scrutiny that is long overdue. As President, he will make it clear to the Kremlin that it must end its aggression toward and occupation of Ukraine Former U.S. Vice President and candidate in the 2020 presidential election Joe Biden has said he will provide Ukraine with lethal weapons if he wins the election. Read alsoFriendship between U.S., Ukraine "has never been stronger" Pompeo"As President, I will make it clear to the Kremlin that it must end its aggression toward and occupation of Ukraine. A Biden-Harris administration will ensure that Ukraine gets the economic and military support that it needs, including lethal weapons, while urging Ukraine to pursue the essential reforms that are vital to its success," he said in a statement on Ukraine's Independence Day. "As a Senator and as Vice President, I strongly supported Ukraine's ongoing quest to become a modern, democratic European state, in which all citizens can live in peace and prosperity," Biden said. 2020 U.S. presidential election The U.S. presidential election is scheduled for November 3. In addition to Democrat Biden, incumbent President Donald Trump will compete for the presidency. They are considered the main contenders. In 2012, after having presented major technological achievements in the design of diving watches, BALL Watch Company released the first edition of the Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU. Today, true to its never-ending innovative developments, the new NEDU delivers accuracy, performance, and reliability. Combining engineering and aesthetics, the new NEDU appears as a striking, powerful and stylish chronograph. 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Two chamfers, which cut into the case flange, support the bezel by acting as drainsthereby facilitating the outflow of any water that may become lodged between these components while also combating any possible corrosion. To offer instant and reliable readings, even in the darkness of the deep, the dial's indexes and hands are fitted with luminous microtubes of H gas. This state-of-the-art Swiss technologythe iconic signature of all BALL watchesrequires no external source of light or energy, yet proves 100 times more efficient than conventional luminous paints. The Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU is available on a rubber strap--USD $4,399 or a stainless steel and titanium bracelet--USD $4,499. To begin your shopping experience, click here. About BALL Watch Company Since 1891, BALL Watch Company has manufactured mechanical timepieces celebrated for precision, quality and reliability. The firm was literally founded by accident. Following a tragic 1891 Kipton, Ohio head-on train collision, American railroad companies appointed Webster Clay Ball as "Chief Time Inspector" to supervise newly synchronized timing protocols. This standardized "railroad time" efficiency originated the popular "Be on the Ball" proverb and inspired the future Swiss Society of Chronometry (COSC) which governs the highest watch timing certification today. Connect with us on YouTube and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. SOURCE BALL Watch Company Related Links https://shop.ballwatch.ch Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 13:48:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wearing face masks are seen at a bus station in Kigali, Rwanda, on Aug. 27, 2020. Rwanda has reinforced efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in response to a recent spike in infections. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua) KIGALI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda has reinforced efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in response to a recent spike in infections, Rwandan State Minister in charge of Primary Healthcare Tharcisse Mpunga told Xinhua on Tuesday. The Rwandan health ministry reported 231 new cases Tuesday, bringing the national tally to 3,537 cases, with 1,806 recoveries and 15 deaths. The central African nation has been observing a spike in cases from Aug. 14 and efforts have been made to reinforce measures to contain the spread, said Mpunga in a written interview. The measures include strengthening epidemiological interventions, such as enhancing laboratory testing capacity, establishing a solid contacts tracing and case management system, and running risk communication and community awareness campaigns aimed at social behavior change, he said. The country has also initiated a new case management model to provide care for asymptomatic cases who are eligible for home-based care, he said, adding that it provides room in treatment centers for severe cases. Some biggest markets where cases were identified were closed for disinfection and containment of the virus, and mass testing in markets and on streets was organized to ascertain the prevalence of the pandemic in Kigali in order to conduct appropriate responses, said the state minister. At least hundreds of cases have been reported from mass testing in Kigali markets, since two of Kigali major markets were closed from Aug. 17 due to a spike in new infections in the city, especially in the two markets. President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has pledged to reach out to and engage with stakeholders of the bank to ensure stability and progress. Mr Adesina made this known in his opening speech at the 2020 Annual Meetings of The African Development Bank Group, held virtually on Wednesday. The AfDB boss also offered himself to governors of the bank for consideration for a second term as president. Mr Adesina explained that the past several months have been challenging for the bank but the bank pulled together despite the turbulence. I would like to sincerely thank you all, our esteemed Governors, under the excellent leadership and wisdom of the Chairperson, Minister Niale Kaba, for joining hands to steady the Bank, he said. I am proud of the African Development Bank and the strength of our governance systems. I am proud of each and every shareholder of the Bank who challenged and made us all better. Our experience has made us better and stronger. Our challenges, though difficult, have become our gain. But its not been easy I will reach out I will engage We will HEAL A few months ago, Mr Adesina was in the eye of the storm over sundry allegations of misconduct. The former Nigerian minister is seeking a second term as president of the bank. In a petition by the group of whistleblowers, Mr Adesina was accused of 20 breaches of the banks code of conduct. The bank, however, found the allegations to be frivolous. He was thereafter cleared of the allegations. At the annual meeting Wednesday, Mr Adesina said he is seeking re-election with a strong sense of duty and humility. I do so, with humility, he said of his re-election bid. I do so with a strong sense of duty and commitment and a call to serve Africa and our Bank, selflessly, to the very best of my God-given abilities. Strong Bank Speaking at the meeting, Mr Adesina argued that Africa needs a strong and stable African Development Bank to support it through this pandemic and help its economies rebound for better, healthier lives and livelihoods for its people. And the African Development Bank needs you our shareholders as you always have been: united and strong, he said. The AfDB boss explained that the world has changed and the COVID-19 health pandemic has upended all plans, including travels. He added that health and safety have become primary for all decision making and that is why the Governors of the Bank took the extraordinary decision to hold the Annual Meetings virtually for the first time in the history of the Bank. Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. I applaud the Governors of the Bank for your wisdom, sensitivity and leadership, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading fast and causing much havoc and untold hardships. Lives lost too many. Jobs lost unimaginable. Economic losses too deep and vast to fathom. Our collective humanity has never been so challenged so tested, so vulnerable. Yet our interdependency, our need for pulling together, uniting and staying focused together, has never been more important. For in unity we build strength. Strength to overcome, even the most challenging of obstacles. Pulling together has always been the strength of the African Development Bank. We pulled together right here in Abidjan, where you the shareholders approved the largest capital increase in the history of the Bank raising the capital of the Bank by $115 billion. We pulled together, yet again, in Pretoria, South Africa, and gave the African Development Fund 35% increase in financing financing so crucial to low-income countries and fragile states. Fragility is transient, resilience is enduring. The FBI said Wednesday there has been no intelligence to suggest that foreign countries are working to undermine mail-in voting and no signs of any coordinated effort to commit widespread fraud through the vote-by-mail process, despite numerous claims made by President Donald Trump in recent months. Officials at multiple federal agencies stopped short of directly contradicting Trump, but their comments made it clear they had not seen evidence to support the president's statements that voter fraud will be rampant in the upcoming election and that the expected surge in mail-in ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic leaves November's presidential election especially vulnerable to foreign interference. Trump, for instance, tweeted July 30 that mail-in voting was proving to be a 'catastrophic disaster' and added: 'The Dems talk of foreign influence in voting, but they know that Mail-In Voting is an easy way for foreign countries to enter the race. Even beyond that, there's no accurate count!' But a senior official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, asked on a conference call with reporters Wednesday about the threat of foreign countries manufacturing their own ballots or amplifying disinformation about the integrity of the vote-by-mail process, said there was no information or intelligence that any adversary was 'engaged in any kind of activity to undermine any part of the mail-in vote.' A senior FBI official said officials had not seen to date a coordinated, nationwide effort to corrupt mail-in voting. Mail-in plan: Trump has repeatedly attacked mail-in ballots and claimed they will lead to fraud - including by foreign countries. Intelligence agencies said they had no evidence that was true The official also said, given the diffuse and varied election systems across the country, it would be 'extraordinarily difficult' to tamper with results in a measurable way. But the official said the FBI remained committed to investigating fraud that emerges. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Three of the main agencies tasked with countering threats to America's voting system arranged the briefing at a critical time in the electoral process, with little over two months left before Election Day and mail-in voting starting in weeks. Trump has made unsubstantiated claims that the election will be marred by fraud and is refusing to commit to accepting the results. Democrats say the agencies haven't been forthcoming with the public about possible threats, and the risk of foreign interference was underscored by a recent Senate report that provided new details of Russian meddling in 2016. The officials who spoke did not mention Trump in answering questions about threats to the vote-by-mail process, but their answers to reporters' questions about the topic served at least indirectly to counter some of his more incendiary claims about possible fraud. In a separate speech Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen confirmed that the U.S. has 'yet to see any activity intended to prevent voting or to change votes' but is encountering, as in 2016, foreign efforts to influence American public opinion and undermine confidence in the elections. 'We cannot escape the reality that the opportunities for malign foreign influence in our elections are far-flung, so it remains a challenge for Americans as voters,' Rosen said. Even without active efforts to corrupt the vote-by-mail process, intelligence officials have publicly warned about foreign countries who they say have a vested interest in the election. Officials said this month that they have assessed that Russia is working to undermine Trump's Democratic presidential opponent, Joe Biden. Claims: Donald Trump, seen at the White House signing a pardon for a bank robber which was broadcast at Tuesday night's Republican National Convention, has repeatedly claimed foreign countries could print mail-in ballots They have also said China prefers to see Trump lose and regards the current president as unpredictable, but have not detailed specific steps Beijing had taken to interfere in the election. Officials said Wednesday they were cognizant that the 2020 election presented its own unique challenges, including an influx of mail ballots that could lead to a potential weeks-long period of uncertainty as votes are counted. But they emphasized the significant efforts that have been made since the 2016 election to improve communications and sharing of threat information with state and local election officials. They also touted the use of threat-detection devices placed on state and some local election networks as having increased the ability to detect suspicious activity targeting such systems, although experts have noted these devices are limited to detecting known threats. A senior official with the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity agency said cyber activities targeting elections have so far been routine and limited to scanning and probing for vulnerabilities. 'We're way ahead of where we were in 2016, to even be able to understand what that activity looks like,' the official said. The official also characterized current activities as 'relatively consistent and largely unsuccessful' and noted there have been no incidents similar to the 2016 breach of Illinois' voter registration system, in which Russian hackers were suspected of gaining entry but not making any changes to voter data ahead of the election. Three months after the high-profile death of an Afro-Indigenous woman, Ontarios police watchdog has ruled there is no basis to charge any of the Toronto police officers present in the moments before she fell from her High Park highrise a decision sharply criticized by the womans family and their lawyers Wednesday. Regis Korchinski-Paquet a 29-year-old woman described as a charismatic and deeply loving daughter, sister and friend died May 27, after falling 24 storeys shortly after a volatile family dispute that summoned police to their apartment. Within hours of the tragedy, her death set off urgent calls for justice and police accountability amid what was a growing international uproar over racism and policing. But after a relatively swift investigation, expedited at the urging of Torontos police chief and mayor amid mounting controversy, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontarios police watchdog, said it concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe any of the officers involved committed a criminal offence. Listen to Alyshah Hasham discuss police accountability and the SIU Releasing an unusually detailed report and acknowledging the case had garnered an exceptional amount of public interest, SIU director Joseph Martino, who released a 25-minute video explaining the decision, said the investigation established Korchinski-Paquet died after attempting to scale her balcony railing and step onto her neighbours balcony. She then lost her balance, and fell, Martino said. Claims made in the early hours after Korchinski-Paquets death that she was pushed off the balcony by police were not borne out by evidence, Martino said this did not occur. The SIU findings were called disappointing by lawyers representing the Korchinski-Paquet family, who told reporters Wednesday evening they believe there were serious omissions in the SIUs investigation and that there had been a basis to charge officers. The system and the process need to change, Knia Singh, one of the familys lawyers, told reporters Wednesday. Singh said the family is continuing to perform its own independent investigation, which includes the help of Howard Morton, a Toronto lawyer and past director of the SIU. They plan to release an interim report on their findings next week. On May 27, 2020, 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet fell tragically to her death from the balcony of a 24th floor apartment in Toronto. Because Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers had interacted with her and were present in her apartment at the time of the fall, the SIU was notified and commenced an investigation. Based on his review of the evidence, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any of the officers committed a criminal offence in connection with Ms. Korchinski-Paquets death. Morton said he believed there had been a strong foundation for criminal liability on the part of at least one of the officers, and that Martino had misapplied the law in failing to lay two charges Morton believes apply: criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life. The latter is triggered when someone is detained by police, which Morton said Korchinski-Paquet was. Gathered on the lawn outside the family apartment unit, not far from where Korchinski-Paquet died, her grieving family members decried the decision, her sister Renee Korchinski saying the family was disgusted and that they feel the SIU are hiding things. Its not right its unjust, and were not OK with it. What happened to my sister shouldnt have happened to her but it did. So people need to be held accountable for their actions, but theyre not, she said. The civilian watchdog, which probes deaths and serious injuries involving police, interviewed 15 civilian witnesses, including members of Korchinski-Paquets family and paramedics, as well as the seven police officers who responded to the scene. They relied on forensic evidence, video recordings captured by security cameras, audio recorded by two officers wireless microphones and a series of 911 calls, including three placed by Korchinski-Paquet herself, and separate calls from her brother and mother. Police were initially summoned to the apartment at 5:13 p.m. on May 27, first by a call placed by Korchinski-Paquets mother, Claudette Beals-Clayton, who told the dispatcher that my son and daughter are fighting and that her daughter was throwing bottles. Korchinski-Paquet and her brother then placed a series of calls, each stating the other had attacked them, both saying the other had pulled out knives. According to the SIU, police were dispatched to the scene by 5:16 p.m. with the first officers reaching the 24th-floor apartment by 5:29 p.m. Another group of officers and paramedics arrived at around 5:25 p.m. Korchinski-Paquet who had been in the hallway outside the apartment re-entered the apartment after telling police she needed to use the bathroom. The situation then developed rapidly, Martinos report says, and Korchinski-Paquet fell to her death around 5:39 p.m. 26 minutes after the first 911 call. The central finding that Korchinski-Paquet fell after trying to scale the balcony and go to her neighbours home is based on evidence provided by two Toronto police officers and a paramedic who were inside the Korchinski-Paquet apartment at the time. SIU investigators also interviewed a civilian eye witness who was walking along High Park Avenue near the home when she saw Korchinski-Paquet on the outer side of the balcony railing moving quickly along the railing to her right before seeing her fall, according to the report. I am satisfied on the totality of the evidence that the conduct of the officers who responded to Ms. Korchinski-Paquets residence did not amount to a marked and substantial departure from a reasonable level of care in the circumstances, Martino said. Though (the officers) efforts were unsuccessful, they tried to de-escalate tensions by bringing in a non-police emergency responder to speak with Ms. Korchinski-Paquet. There is no suggestion of an undue show of force by the officers or unnecessarily aggressive behaviour in tone or movement. Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, interim Toronto police chief James Ramer said officers arrived to find a volatile scene and acted professionally, in the best interest of the family, and in accordance with their training, he said. Although our officers were cleared, a finding that I fully stand behind, there is no win in this tragic situation for anyone, Ramer said. A young woman lost her life. Her family lost their daughter, sister and cousin. And the service again offers its deepest sympathies, Ramer said, adding that this was a profound event for the officers involved. Kate Puddister, an assistant professor at the University of Guelph who researches police oversight, said the SIU directors report was unusually detailed in addition to being provided in a shorter time than usual. She also noted that for what may be the first time, there was a specific acknowledgment of the societal context of the case, including systemic racism in policing and the public outcry in both Canada and the U.S. I accept that systemic racism exists and continues to challenge the relationship between racialized communities and the institutions of our justice system, just as it does in other sectors of society, Martino wrote in his report. Similar comments were not made in the report following the police fatally shooting Andrew Loku in 2015 despite public protests, Puddister said. There has been very few discussions of race at all, she said of past SIU reports. Korchinski-Paquets death has garnered significant attention across the country, provoking a massive protest through the streets of Toronto and coming just 48 hours after the death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis police killing that has galvanized an international movement against racism and police brutality. Calls for justice for Korchinski-Paquet and her family and for the SIU to conduct a swift investigation have been sustained in the three months since her death. Seven Toronto police officers were involved in the incident, six of whom were designated witness officers while one is the subject officer, meaning his actions are at the centre of the civilian watchdogs investigation. All of the officers were interviewed by the SIU. None of the officers involved have been publicly identified. The watchdog only names police officers if they are criminally charged. Korchinski-Paquets death has helped prompt changes to how emergency mental health calls will be handled in Toronto, with both city council and the Toronto police board recently committing to help establish a non-police emergency mental health service. In the interim, as the new system is being developed, Toronto police will also soon expand the mobile crisis intervention teams (MCIT), a program that pairs a mental health nurse with a specially-trained officer. The Toronto police board also recently green-lit the $34-million purchase of body-worn cameras for front-line officers, a controversial decision amid calls to defund the police. In May, former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders called Korchinski-Paquets death a textbook case for body cameras, saying they can be useful at killing all the misinformation that goes out. None of the officers were wearing cameras at the time of Korchinski-Paquets death. With files from Alyshah Hasham Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis Jenna Moon is a breaking news reporter for the Star and is based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @_jennamoon US AFRICOM Conducts Airstrike Targeting Senior Leader of al-Shabaab in Somalia Sputnik News 21:10 GMT 25.08.2020(updated 22:10 GMT 25.08.2020) US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced on Tuesday it had carried out an airstrike against a senior leader of the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. According to a news release, AFRICOM carried out an airstrike near the southern Somali town of Saakow, in Somalia's Middle Juba region, which it said was believed to have killed one terrorist. The Germany-based command announced just five days earlier another airstrike targeting another member of al-Shabaab alleged to have been making explosives to be placed by roadsides. That strike was assessed not to have killed any civilians, just as the Tuesday attack was. AFRICOM is required to print quarterly reports on its operations, evaluating attacks for possible civilian casualties; however, the US' method of authorizing such airstrikes leaves little to no consideration for possible civilian casualties, just the possibility of killing the targeted militant, so such immediate casualty assessments are worth little. The US' undeclared war in Somalia is justified by the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF), which gave broad power to the Pentagon to stage attacks against al-Qaeda and its affiliates, such as al-Shabaab, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. According to the Tuesday release, AFRICOM coordinated the airstrike with the Somali government in Mogadishu. Since 2015, al-Shabaab has not controlled any major city, but it is still able to exert influence in the countryside, particularly the coastal Lower Shabelle region, where the authority of the central government remains weak after decades of civil war. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Yofi Grant says the promise by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramni Mahama to legalise the commercial use of motorcycles popularly known as Okada is extremely surprising. According to him, its amazing Mr. Mahama under whose tenure the use of okada for business activities was banned, now wants to compromise the safety of Ghanaians in exchange of voter numbers. John Mahamas defence to the promise is that he recognizes the benefits of the 'okada' business to the many families that depend on it, hence his campaign to legalize and regularise it should he win the December 7 polls . Wading into the legalization of okada debate, however, on the Face to Face show on Citi TV last Tuesday, the GIPC boss was convinced there is also no commitment to legalize the operations of the okada business. Yofi Grant believes, the promise is a calculated attempt by the opposition leader to win some political favours and amass votes. The okada riders have so soon forgotten that it was the same [NDC] government that banned okada. It is amazing he [John Mahama] is saying this for votes. We are against the blatant disregard of the rules and regulations in the sector. Many doctors have said that we should ban okada because it is creating more disaster. I get sad when I see a young man who gets involved in an accident. People are already using okada but John Mahama banned them so why didnt he arrest all of them when he was leaving office. Is it now that he has realized the need for them to be legalized? he quizzed. This campaign promise by John Mahama has been largely discussed within the media space, with a number of people describing it as a false promise . Some have criticized him over the idea, saying that it is populist and would cause more harm than good, however, members of the NDC have defended it, citing the job creation prospects of the operations. The Bureau of Public Safety, for instance, demanded details of how the commercial use of motorcycles would be regulated. ---citinewsroom Suriya's recent announcement about Soorarai Pottru's digital release has indeed shook the fans and followers of Kollywood films and stars. With such a big-budget movie gearing up to release on a video streaming platform, skipping the theatrical run, the makers of other films are too thinking to go the unconventional way. Earlier, there were reports suggesting that films like Vijay's Master and Dhanush's Jagame Thandhiram might also opt for a massive release on OTT platform. Well, the makers of the Thalapathy-starrer including director Lokesh Kanagaraj and producer Xavier Britto have clarified that the film is completely meant for a big-screen watch, and will only be released when the theatres reopen again. After the confirmation given by Master team, the fans and followers of Dhanush have taken to social media, requesting the makers of Jagame Thandhiram to not release on any video streaming platforms, and to go for the traditional release. A few netizens said that watching Dhanush's movie first-day first show is the most satisfying one, therefore the makers should consider the request of the fans and should only release the movie on the big screen. A blockbuster will be missed by theatres and fans if released in OTT !!!!#WeWantJTOnTheatres#JagameThandhiram#Master VIJAY FANS RAMPAGE (@VMandram) August 26, 2020 We SK Fans Also Need All Films To Be Release In Theatres .. Not In OTT All Fans Need To Celebrate Their Star In Theatres ! Hope Producers Can Understand Our Emotions..#Master #DOCTOR #WeWantJTOnTheatres #JagameThandhiram SUBASH SK (@Subash_SKF) August 26, 2020 @sash041075 pls you allready know the craze for Jagamae Thandhiram..our fans are eagerly waiting for dancing in theatres for Rakita Rakita Rakita So before taking any desicion pls keep us on your minds.#WeWantJTOnTheatres #JagameThandhiram || #Dhanush (@DhanushNAnirudh) August 26, 2020 Interestingly, the producer of Jagame Thandhiram, S Sashikanth has assured the fans that the film will only be releasing in theatres, and added that the entire team is waiting to see Dhanush on the big screen. He also requested the fans to not believe in any of the rumours regarding the digital release of the action-thriller. He wrote, "Jagam is still healing & not back to normal. Until then, be patient for the theatres to open & don't believe in rumours The entire team is waiting to see @dhanushkraja go #rakitarakita on a big screen soon.. Just #chillbro." #Jagamethendiram Jagam is still healing & not back to normal Untill then, be patient for the theatres to open & dont believe in rumours The entire team is waiting to see @dhanushkraja go #rakitarakita on a big screen soon Just #chillbro @StudiosYNot@karthiksubbaraj Sash (@sash041075) August 26, 2020 On a related note, Jagame Thandhiram was slated to release on May 1, but was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Touted to be a gangster drama set in London, the movie has been helmed by Karthik Subbaraj. Bankrolled by Y NOT Studios, the action-thriller will feature Game of Thrones actor James Cosmo, Kalaiyarasan, Joju George, Aishwarya Lekshmi and Sanchana Natarajan. The United States on Wednesday announced restrictions against Chinese individuals and firms involved in the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea (SCS). These are first SCS-centric curbs announced by the Trump administration after a recent shift in policy from indifference to a full-fledged embrace of an international tribunals 2016 order rejecting all of Chinas claims in the South China Sea. Today, the Department of State will begin imposing visa restrictions on Peoples Republic of China (PRC) individuals responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea, or the PRCs use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The department of commerce announced it was adding 24 Chinese companies to the Entity List, which pose a threat to the national security of the United States and therefore subjected to trade restrictions. The United States, Chinas neighbours, and the international community have rebuked the CCPs sovereignty claims to the South China Sea and have condemned the building of artificial islands for the Chinese military, said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in a statement. The entities designated today have played a significant role in Chinas provocative construction of these artificial islands and must be held accountable. The listed firms included the Chinese Communications Construction Company, a largely state-owned entity, and several subsidiaries. Kapil, who had acquaintance with Raj and offered help to get him out on bail and took Rs 60 lakh through a hawala agent. Hyderabad: A Pune-based businessman was arrested by the Hyderabad Central Crime Station police for cheating a city-based businessman who was arrested in an Explosive Substances Act case, by taking Rs 3.6 Crore on the pretext of arranging bails and ensuring that he would not get in trouble. Accused Kapil Rajendra Kumar Baheti, who is Director of various firms Kapil Sons Trading at Pune, Rahul Agency at Dhule, Arun Murugan Explosives located at Karur of Tamil Nadu, Laxmi Traders located at Pali of Rajasthan and Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals Ltd at Dholpur in Rajashtan was held at Pune and brought to the city. The complainant Raj Kumar, a city-based businessman who deals in explosives was arrested by the RGI Airport police in 2019, for transporting Ammonia without permission. Kapil, who had acquaintance with Raj and offered help to get him out on bail and took Rs 60 lakh through a hawala agent. For closing the case, he demanded Rs 2 Crore. Meanwhile, the SOT police of Rachakonda raided a godown of Raj at Bohngir and registered a case and the same day, a consignment belonging to him was intercepted at Raipur in Chhattisgarh. Taking advantage of the situation, Kapil told Raj that he has to pay more money to get rid of the cases, and also that the Bihar police were also inquiring about his businesses in the state, he extracted more money. However, Raj lately realised that Kapil was not helping him and stopped being in contact. But, Kapil took him to Bihar where he managed to arrange meetings with senior police officials in Bihar Anti-Terrorist Squad and some politicians and the complainant paid more money through hawala, and then lodged a complaint after receiving threatening calls from the accused. Accused Kapil threatened Raj Kumar to pay the money as demanded and threatened to get the latter booked in cases under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, using his influence. He totally extorted about Rs 3.6 Crore. A special team was deputed to Pune and apprehended the accused, who is remanded to judicial custody, said the CCS police on Tuesday. The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison, has said the Receiver of the collapsed banks has settled all payments due depositors. The governor said 95 per cent of the customers of savings and loans companies, microfinance institutions and finance houses had also been paid their deposits and investments. Dr. Addison, briefing the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at the BoG yesterday on a number of issues in the financial sector, especially the banking crisis, said there was just about five per cent of depositors of the non-bank financial institutions which had large amounts of money to be settled that were swapped with bonds which were to be retired over five years. He also indicated that there were a few delays regarding depositors of the GN Bank/GN Savings and Loans and First Allied Savings and Loans which were cleared last three weeks. The governor added that the government had provided a bond worth GH1.7 billion, out of which GH700 million had been monetised, with which the Receiver was also working at clearing the last people that were left in this segment. President visits Dr. Addison gave the breakdown when President Akufo-Addo asked the governor to tell Ghanaians about the causes and effects of the banking sector clean-up and the state of payment to customers and depositors who had accounts with the banks. The President, who is the third President, after Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and J. J. Rawlings, to visit the BoG, paid a working visit to the central bank to commend the staff for their work and also salute them for the role they had played in managing the economy. He later visited the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), the first President to have done so, to interact with its management and staff. Measures Explaining to the President what the BoG had done to avert a repetition of the crisis, Dr. Addison referred to the passing of the new Corporate Governance Directive, which was at the heart of the crisis. He said because there was a lot of falsification of data submitted to the central bank by the financial institutions, the bank had brought in a new technology which would allow it to get the data directly from the sources to avoid human intervention in data retrieval. He said because many of the banks reported that they had capital when, in fact, they did not, the BoG had reviewed the entire capital verification process of banks, saying it was currently almost impossible to have a bank that did not have any capital to feign it. Dr. Addison said the staff of the Banking Supervision Department of the BoG had received a lot of training with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and some other technical assistant providers. Results He said the clean-up had culminated in a stable financial sector with fewer banks and specialised deposit-taking institutions (SDIs) which were well capitalised, liquid, solvent and better able to support the nations economic growth agenda. Those were the efforts that helped the BoG to earn international recognition as the Central Bank of the Year in 2019, he added. Maximum support Responding to the governor, President Akufo-Addo said the government found it necessary to give the maximum support for the clean-up exercise because the fragility in the financial sector that his administration inherited was terrible. He said many of the people responsible for the crisis had found it convenient to point accusing fingers at those who were trying to clean up the mess. He said the matter had been handled very well, which had made the country come out of the financial sector crisis stronger. The President described the feat as a major achievement for the governor and his team, stating that it was one of the reasons I wanted very much to come here. Clear He said, however, that measures in place to forestall the recurrence of the banking crisis were not clear to many, saying too many people wanted to know, for instance, what particular specific measures had been taken within the BoG to prevent similar crises in the future. I dont think there is sufficient publicity. And I think with an occasion such as this, it is an opportunity to tell the Ghanaian people the measures that have been put in place to make sure that these events dont recur, especially the banks own institutional mechanism to ensure that they dont reoccur, the President advised. AfCFTA He urged the BoG and the GSE to position themselves well to help the nation achieve its vision of becoming the financial hub of Africa. He said as the host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Ghana must provide the needed leadership for the rest of the economies on the continent to harness their collective efforts to ensure the success of free trade. President Akufo-Addo said the AfCFTA had great positive impacts and enormous possibilities for the future welfare of the African people, and that the host country for the secretariat would have to be seen to be offering the needed leadership on the continent. That, he explained, must come in the way in which the economies were properly managed and developed and the measures that would also allow the ideas of the free trade to succeed because the BoG would have to play a critical role in that compelling future. GSE To the stock exchange, which has listings from a couple of West African countries, President Akufo-Addo expressed the belief that Ghana would now serve as the headquarters of the AfCFTA and the centre of attraction for trade, in which the GSE would have a major facilitating and developmental role to play. Your role in all of that is going to be critical. So the dimensions of the exchange and what is feasible on its part are growing larger and larger. It should have a Pan-African and continental camera to work and think, he charged the two institutions. Strong "I think a strong and robust stock exchange is usually a very good mirror and reflection of a strong market economy," President Akufo-Addo said, and commended the management of the GSE for its work, saying that "whatever can be done to strengthen an exchange is inevitably tied up to what you can do to strengthen your economy". He said it was important for those who made decisions affecting the economy to have a clearer idea of what was going on at the GSE, and that was the main reason he had visited the place to find out the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its activities. The President said it was also to ascertain where the GSE was in terms of growing and what the government, for its part, could do to assist in the process of getting Ghana a really strong stock market. He commended the GSE for its performance, which made it obtain high ratings on several occasions as the best performing and most innovative stock exchange in Africa, noting that those were the solid credentials on which the GSE could build. No Impact The Managing Director of the GSE, Mr. Ekow Afedzie, said the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact so much on the performance of the exchange. He told the President that the market had done very well, with some GH59 billion worth of bonds traded on it by the end of July this year. He said the GSE was putting in place measures to leverage the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it had signed with the London Stock Exchange as an emerging market in Africa and across the world. Mr. Afedzie asked the government to consider providing the exchange with incentives and policies to enable it to attract companies to the capital market. 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 Delhi deputy CM and education minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday urged the Central government to either postpone the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or find an alternative way of conducting them. I think the Central Govt should postpone the NEET and JEE exams or they should find an alternative way of conducting the exams. Examination system across the world is evolving, there are 1,000 alternate ways to conduct exams, Sisodia told reporters. Despite opposition from several quarters and appeals to postpone the national level entrance exams for professional courses amid Covid-19 crisis, the National Testing Agency (NTA) gave directive to conduct JEE from September 1 to 6, and NEET on September 13. On August 17, the Supreme Court also rejected the plea seeking postponement of these exams saying a crucial year of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on. Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi have jointly convened a meeting of chief ministers of non-Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states at 2.30pm on Wednesday to demand postponement of these exams. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy will be attending the meeting, a top TMC leader said. Yesterday I was busy all day denying the news about the resignation of the minister of health, Arsen Torosyan. But it seems some circles of media outlets do not rest and spread more "perfected" lies, one after another. Alina Nikoghosyan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health of Armenia, wrote about this on her Facebook page. "First of all, let's start with the fact that the coronavirus situation in Armenia remains stable, the cases have started to decrease a little, and the situation is completely under control. The minister has been working 24/7 for the last half a year, and he can make use of the annual vacation he is entitled to. Let me also add that he will be in Armenia [during his vacation]. Arsen Torosyan has not submitted a letter of resignation and is not going to. Once the vacation is over, the minister will return to normal work," Nikoghosyan added. Weather conditions are now helping in fighting California wildfires, state fire officials said Tuesday. California wildfires have been raging on for days, with weather refusing to cooperate with firefighters. According to CNN, the deadly fires have burned down more than 1.25 million acres in the Golden State since August 15 and had taken the lives of seven people. That's more than six times the size of New York City. California wildfires have also destroyed more than 1,400 buildings, Cal Fire said. Weather in the state right now has given lower temperatures and weaker winds. These factors may help in getting fires in control soon. Smoke from the fires resulted in poor air quality. The National Weather Service issued alerts on air quality in some parts of California and at least seven other states in Western U.S. Tuesday. Firefighters Catch a Break Firefighters have been working 24-hour shifts just to fight the California wildfires. But they have been given a break from the increased humidity and low winds, said Cal Fire Chief Mark Brunton Tuesday. They scrambled to take advantage of the cooler weather and an influx of aid. Containment lines are getting carved around the flames to help put an end to the deadly flames. "Every percent of containment is hours and hours of sweat and blood up on those lines," said Jonathan Cox, deputy chief of Cal Fire, on Tuesday evening. Progress has been made on three major blazes so far. Areas such as those near San Francisco Bay Area and the wine country north of San Francisco is getting better at containing the fires. One of the areas is now 27% surrounded, said an Associated Press report. "The weather's really cooperating with us," said Brunton. "We are steadily getting a trickle of resources in, and putting them to work." Despite these developments, Cal Fire is not sitting still. They believe good weather may not be here to stay as temperatures are forecasted to rise in the coming days into the weekend. "We are going to return back to a warming and drying trend," said Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director Daniel Berlant in a USA Today report. He added that September and October are typically the peak months for fires, so a fire in the middle of August was a matter of concern for them. Evacuations and Warnings Lifted Some wildfire evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted in Northern California on Tuesday. Sonoma County allowed residents to go back to their homes. Some evacuations in Napa County have also been reduced to warnings, Cal Fire said. Santa Clara also had all of its warnings lifted. Red flag warnings are still in place for areas covering Northern California, Nevada, Oregon and Montana. Those warnings mean conditions that will likely start or spread fires, like lightning, can still happen. Among the many California wildfires that have raged on lately, two are on the state's top three largest wildfires in recorded history. They are the 363,000-acre SCU Lightning Complex Fire, largely east of San Jose, and the 352,900-acre LNU Lightning Complex Fire in the northern Bay Area. Check these out! Lightning Strikes Add to Raging California Heat, Thousands Evacuate Death Valley Temperature Reaches 130 Degrees, Hottest Day on Site in 107 Years Rare 'Firenado' Spotted as Heat Wave Scorches California; Probably the First Time Use-Of-Force Reports Local and State Statutes Racial Data (TNS) The Borough of Carlisle, Pa., could release more information about use of force by officers, or about the racial makeup of traffic stops.Or, it could not.As mundane as it sounds, the critical distinction surrounding recent discussions on police transparency is the old cant-versus-wont issue, according to government officials and activists. And there isnt a unified sense of what is worth releasing or withholding.In the wake of the death of George Floyd on May 25 at the hands of police in Minneapolis, and the ensuing protests against police brutality nationwide, a recurring element of activists demands for reform is that police agencies disclose more information about their use of force and the racial demographics of those with whom they interact.Those demands have been voiced locally, with both the Cumberland County government and, most recently, with the Borough of Carlisle.From a legal standpoint, there isnt a clear yes-or-no answer to activists demands. But as has been pointed out at several public meetings in the past few weeks, there is a difference between the technicalities of the law and the moral imperatives that may be involved.The right thing to do is to create avenues to gather this information, even if the law doesnt mandate it, said Chris Burbank, vice president of Law Enforcement Strategy at the Center for Policing Equity, which advocates for better data collection in the justice system.It's not that the volume of force used has changed dramatically over time, Burbank said, but rather that the public has demanded more accountability and justification."Why are we having that [use of force] encounter when we cannot demonstrate that the act which brought us together is doing anything to make society better? You've got nothing if you don't have the data," Burbank said, which is why his organization works to help police departments track when, where, and why they are using force in order to identify disparate outcomes.If every agency in the country were to do that, they would be miles ahead in terms of trust and confidence in law enforcement, said Burbank, the former police chief of Salt Lake City.Carlisle presents an example of some of the institutional constraints on doing so.With only 32 officers, Carlisle Police Chief Taro Landis said its not difficult for him to keep tabs on his staff, and questioned if broader use-of-force statistics would be valuable.Any kind of statistics you put out can be misconstrued, Landis said. Why would we do that? Why would we look for another thing for people to look at us for, and justify what we do and dont do, and criticize?His fear, Landis said, is that any disparities in the use of force particularly racial disparities will be used to accuse individual officers of malice, rather than taking into account a wider variety of circumstances, particularly socio-economic factors.Those are the things, in reality, we should be looking at, but we look at the low-hanging fruit, said Landis, who is Black.The Carlisle Borough Police Department keeps a record on each use-of-force incident, which Landis said he reviews vigorously on a case-by-case basis.Just my very presence as an officer in uniform is a use of force, Landis said. Anything other than that is going to have to be documented. If I put hands on, point a gun, point a Taser, point a dog, everything has to be documented.The Carlisle Police Department doesnt track those incidents in a statistical sense in the way data proponents like Burbank would like. That would be where a department can track how often certain calls escalate, what types of force were used in those calls, and deduce any patterns as to location, race or other factors.The uses of force that create unbalanced outcomes, Burbank said, aren't sensational incidents like armed robberies, homicides, and the like; they're typically low-level encounters that go awry.The majority start out as an encounter with a homeless man, an individual who violated a traffic law, was jaywalking, and then somehow the situation devolves, Burbank said. We want to see the sorts of things that generate use of force and any disparities that may be involved there.Landis said he didn't know if his department had the administrative staff to compile such numbers, but if the borough council decided it wanted those statistics compiled, it could be figured out.Its above my pay grade. If they say do it, we do it, Landis said. I dont see how it would be helpful, but I leave that up to the borough council.Hypothetically, the borough can release whatever information it wants regarding the use of force, be it statistical breakdowns or even specific incident reports.Some argue the latter may not always be wise, given legal liability concerns, but it isnt disallowed something that hasnt always been clear in public discussions on the matter.In the weeks following Floyd's death and the ensuing protests across the nation and in Carlisle for racial justice reform and against police brutality, Carlisle Borough issued a series of written responses to questions from concerned residents.In a set of responses issued July 20, the borough wrote that use-of-force reports fall under various exemptions found in the Right-to-Know statute.In a second set of responses issued July 25, when another person asked if the borough had a database of use-of-force actions, the borough wrote that at this time records retained by the police department on the issue of deadly force are not available to the public under state law.This isnt a statutory prohibition, however, but rather a concern with civil liability.Im not aware of any statutory prohibition against it, said Erik Arneson, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, regarding the release of use-of-force reports.Pennsylvanias Right-to-Know Law provides some fairly broad exemptions that agencies can choose to exercise, Arneson said. This includes the ability of police to decline to disclose information that could compromise an investigation or hinder a departments ability to secure an arrest.The short answer here is that it depends on exactly what the records are, Arneson said. We have ruled that some use-of-force records can be withheld. Weve also ordered some use-of-force records to be released.Ultimately, exercising certain clauses of the Right-to-Know law in order to withhold certain information is a choice of the government body that oversees the agency that holds the records.If you have the option, in the end its a policy decision as to whether you release it or not. Whether thats good policy, thats up to people to decide, Arneson said.In an email to, Carlisle Borough Manger Susan Armstrong said the boroughs response about use-of-force disclosures was predicated on the criminal investigation exemptions found in the Right-to-Know law.Asked about the release of statistical data about different uses of force and their frequency, there is no prohibition against releasing that information, if a police department keeps a record of that information, Armstrong wrote, but that the more detailed information about the incident giving rise to the use of force, however, would most likely implicate the various exceptions under the criminal investigation provisions.This doesnt mean the borough couldnt still release the information, even though it has the legal option to withhold it. But the issue and the reason the borough has said a change in state law would need to occur to release use-of-force reports is a concern about releasing information and then facing civil suits from parties who claim they have been harmed by the choice to release it.Pennsylvania has statutory standards within state law regarding personnel files and employment records, and employees' expectations of privacy. An officer's personal information as a municipal employee, if disclosed in an un-redacted use-of-force report, could create a conflict.If we disclose personnel information, wed need some immunity to securely do that, said Carlisle Deputy Mayor Sean Shultz, who is a municipal attorney. Theres no statutory prohibition against release, but you would need statutory immunity to make a municipality comfortable releasing that information.Landis, however, said he would be more comfortable with the inverse while hes reluctant to put out statistics that may be misconstrued, he said hes perfectly comfortable discussing specific incidents with concerned residents, as long as names are kept out of it.Come in and talk about, Ill give you our whole philosophy, Landis said. Ill show you blacked-out use-of-force reports.What he doesnt want, Landis said, is for such information to be shared without cause or without a specific issue in mind, or for officers to feel like theyre being targeted every time they do their job, and then become reluctant to self-report their use of force.The more we tinker with this on one end, officers just stop reporting it on the other end, Landis said. Im not saying that would happen here, but in general thats the concern.Landis has already provided some statistical breakdowns that include race data. In the published answers to residents' questions, Carlisle Borough provided arrest numbers, by race, going back several years.That data table shows that Black people are arrested at a proportionally higher rate in Carlisle than white people for instance, half of the 34 arrests in 2019 for possession of small amounts of marijuana were of Blacks, despite only 7.6% of Carlisle residents being Black, and another 4.7% mixed-race, according to the U.S. Census.Half of 2019s criminal trespassing arrests in Carlisle were also leveled at Black people, as were 43% of disorderly conduct charges, according to the data released by the borough.But Landis said he is confident that his officers aren't the cause of the disparity. The department doesn't use quotas, and there's no incentive for officers to be racially biased in order to boost their numbers.We dont give anybody a toaster for making more arrests, Landis said. You drive out of the gates and stuff just comes at you."Burbank said that, in an ideal world, the data available would be even more granular, including not just arrests but also the nature of the initial call, use of force and other factors. This could also be tracked not just for arrests but also for summary offenses, including traffic stops.But the collection is all over the map, Burbank said, given that few states or localities have concrete requirements for what data police agencies collect. Most collect only top-line arrests that must be reported to the FBI under federal funding laws.The Pennsylvania State Police are a case in point. The agency faced criticism recently following media reports that the agency stopped collecting race data on traffic stops in 2012.There is no legal requirement that the State Police record such data; the collection was initially part of a 2002-03 study, in partnership with the University of Cincinnati, which attempted to identify any racial bias in troopers traffic citation patterns, spokesman Ryan Tarkowski toldThe State Police continued to collect the information on its own volition for several years after the formal study, until stopping the program in 2012, but is now working to start collecting the data again, Tarkowski said.We hoped to have it started back up by now, but COVID-19 kind of gummed that up, Tarkowski said, adding that race data is now expected to go back into the State Police traffic database in the first quarter of 2021.Carlisles e-ticketing system does record race, Landis said, even though there is no requirement from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts that race be on citation forms.But at the end of the day, Landis questioned if this was worth the administrative effort to pro-actively track race data, given the small size of the borough police department, and his ability to personally oversee his staff."People ask how do you know what your cops are doing?" Landis said. "I can drive around and see them. A portion of Hayes Street will be the latest spot in San Francisco to close to cars during the pandemic so people have more room to socially distance while still enjoying the bars, restaurants and stores that desperately need the foot traffic. The popular blocks of the street near Alamo Square will close between Laguna and Franklin streets on Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., and then on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It could be a boon for the Hayes Valley neighborhood, which has permanently lost about 20 businesses since the pandemic forced the citys once bustling bars, restaurants and retailers to board up their windows. Our hope is that by safely opening up Hayes Street on weekends to restaurants and other small businesses, we can help revive the area and get struggling businesses back on their feet, said Supervisor Dean Preston, whose district includes Hayes Valley. This closure is the latest in San Franciscos Shared Streets program, which is designed to help business districts by allowing merchants and restaurants to use sidewalks, street parking spaces and sometimes entire streets. Droves of people have been flocking to two blocks of Valencia Street, which recently began Thursday-through-Sunday closures. Other streets closed to cars include Grant Avenue in Chinatown and a portion of 18th Street in the Castro. Another program, Slow Streets, shutters residential streets to provide space for walking, biking and skating. The blocks on Hayes Street which had about 20 bars and restaurants before shelter-in-place was a popular shopping district pre-pandemic. But that activity dried up in March, and led to the eventual demise of several popular spots including Stacks, a brunch restaurant that often had long waits on the weekend, and The Riddler, a fancy Champagne bar that usually had every seat occupied. Life has slowly trickled back into the area since outdoor dining and indoor retail began this summer, but the crowds are still nowhere near the levels they were before the pandemic. Jen Laska, vice president of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, hopes the closure will give the area a boost. The association originally proposed closing the blocks seven days a week, but after some neighborhood pushback, that plan was scaled down. This is going to be a big learning experience, said Laska, who spearheaded the effort that has been under way for months. But were hoping to save some of the stores. The Hayes Street closure will begin as a soft launch Sunday, which will give the city a few days to work out any kinks before beginning its first full weekend on Sept. 4. Laska said the neighborhood association will have a meeting with the community in four to six weeks to get feedback. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency permit expires in December, but it could possibly be extended. The spread of the coronavirus is still a major concern in the city especially in areas that attract major crowds. Laska said volunteers will guard the entrance of the street and ensure everyone is wearing masks and social distancing. But there is another factor people might have to worry about aside from the virus this weekend: Smoke from the states big wildfires that have been choking the Bay Area this past week. We just cant catch a break this year, Laska said. But Im excited this is finally happening. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani Mumbai, Aug 26 : The cast of KGF: Chapter 2, including Kannada superstar Yash and actor Prakash Raj, has started shooting for the much-hyped sequel as India goes through phased unlock. Among other cast members to face the camera is Malavika Avinash, who is also a politician. She took to her unverified Twitter account and shared the news of the commencement of the shoot, along with pictures. "After 6 full months... the Covid break is broken. Shooting today! Feels like a rebirth," she tweeted. Several images of the veteran Prakash Raj from the sets have also been doing the rounds of the internet. Prakash Raj, who has a pivotal role in the sequel, was not a part of the first film. "Start camera... action... back to work," he tweeted. In the images, Prakash Raj is seen receiving instructions from director Prashanth Neel. Welcoming him, Prashanth Neel tweeted: "Welcome on board @prakashraaj sir. We resume shoot finally for #KGFChapter2 Thank you everyone for all the love and excitement towards the movie. Wish us all the luck." "KGF: Chapter 2" also stars Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids leaders are hoping to increase the citys affordable and low-income housing stock with vacant properties. At their Tuesday night meeting, city commissioners unanimously approved vacant property sale criteria that favors lower-income housing projects on the properties. Under the approved sale guidelines, the citys stock of about 67 vacant properties are available for sale through the State Land Bank Authority to a handful of area nonprofits if the organizations can do one or more of the following: Rehabilitate the property for 80% area median income homeownership; Rehabilitate the property for 60% area median income rental; Place the property into a Community Land Trust; or Rehabilitate the property for emergency or transitional housing under an organizations existing program Nonprofits are required to demonstrate to the city the viability of undertaking any of these options before a property is approved for sale. Any projects outside of these sales parameters need city commission approval. The city intends to sell these properties to nonprofits on a cost-neutral basis. The move to bring more affordable and low-income housing into the city comes after city commissioners were briefed last month on a housing needs study that showed the city needs a sizable amount of additional housing to meet demand and avoid displacing residents. The study, conducted for the city of Grand Rapids by Housing Next, found the city needs 2,892 more rentals and 1,549 more owner-occupied homes between the 0% and 80% area median income range by 2025 to avoid resident displacement and meet demand. Related: Grand Rapids needs a lot of new housing to meet demand, avoid displacing residents The vacant properties for sale were previously held by the Kent County Land Bank, which was dissolved late last year by county commissioners in a controversial 10-8 vote. Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt recommended commissioners dissolve the land bank after a study of land bank operations, real estate market conditions and adherence to commissioner recommendations. Britts office concluded the county land bank was no longer needed because the housing market had recovered from the Great Recession. Additionally, his office found the county land bank had engaged in mission creep beyond what county commissioners recommended by rebranding itself and providing housing, both in and out of the county, through at-cost modular constructions. Related: Time to move on: Kent County disbands land bank Following the dissolution, the city contracted with the State Land Bank to take on the citys tax-foreclosed properties held by the county, maintain the properties, clear messy property titles and work with the city on property sales, transfers and redevelopment. The sale guidelines approved Aug. 25 by city commissioners additionally allow Housing Next, a collaborative initiative through United Way of Ottawa County, to evaluate properties and potentially use them for demonstration projects. A demonstration project would be one that could be built within the parameters of the existing zoning ordinance and could demonstrate a financial model for either incrementally more dense development or missing-middle housing construction in the city, Grand Rapids staff wrote. Any demonstration project will need city commission approval before going forward. I am in full support of this agreement, said Commissioner Kurt Reppart. My interest is in maximizing this resource that we have ... and the way to maximize it right now is to get creative, so I really like the thinking around creating some experimental opportunities for these nonprofits to change the mix without changing the character of the community to meet our goals from the housing needs assessment. At the same Tuesday meeting, city commissioners also approved the purchase of seven tax-foreclosed properties from the Kent County treasurer to be added to their State Land Bank inventory. Five are vacant residential properties and two are commercial lots. The purchase price for all seven totaled $200,458.17. That figure includes unpaid taxes and fines the properties had incurred. City officials say they are evaluating opportunities on the two commercial properties with area corridor improvement authorities, neighborhood associations and others. Altogether, the city has about 67 properties with the State Land Bank. The nonprofits able to purchase vacant property under the agreement are: Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, Inner City Christian Federation, LINC Up, Next Step of West Michigan, Wellhouse, Dwelling Place, New Development Corporation, Genesis Non-profit Housing Corporation and 3:11 Youth Housing. Read more: Grand Rapids police officers Facebook posts of alleged racial profiling under investigation Farmers argue rules for using animal waste on farms are too costly and cumbersome Sen. Peters gets few answers on mail delays during Grand Rapids post office visit DOJ Seeking Data From Cuomo, Other Governors Over COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday it is requesting data from the Democratic governors of Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, and New Jersey on COVID-19-related orders that may have resulted in the deaths of thousands elderly nursing home residents. Letters were sent to Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. Cuomo, namely, has come under fire from Republicans over how his state handled nursing homes in the midst of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. More than 32,000 people have died from the virus in New York, 15,000 have died in New Jersey, 7,600 in Pennsylvania, and 6,600 in Michigan. New York and New Jersey, respectively, have the highest and second-highest number of virus deaths in the United States, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. The offices of the four governors havent responded to a request for comment. On March 25, Cuomo issued an executive order that prohibited nursing homes from denying admission to patients on the basis of being infected with the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus. On May 10, the governor issued an executive order that blocked hospitals from sending infected nursing homes. No resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to [a nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. [Nursing homes] are prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission, according to the governors order. Whitmer issued a similar order on April 15, while the state health departments in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania issued similar directives in March. Protecting the rights of some of societys most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our countrys most important obligations, said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband in a statement on Thursday. We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk. The departments Civil Rights Division is evaluating whether to launch investigations under its Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which safeguards the rights of people in state-run nursing homes, according to a release. It said that the four states orders may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents. The states also required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients to their vulnerable populations, often without adequate testing, the DOJ said. The DOJ noted that Texass death rate is 380 deaths per million people, with about 11,000 COVID-19 deaths, even though its population is about 50 percent larger than New Yorks. New York, in contrast, had 1,680 deaths per million people, which is the second-highest in the United States. Floridas death rate was 480 deaths per million, the agency said. Whitmers press secretary Tiffany Brown said in a statement Wednesday that protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of our seniors and most vulnerable residents has been a top priority throughout this crisis. Brown called the letter nothing more than election year politics, adding: We will review this letter and respond as appropriate, however, Americans would all be better served if the Trump administration stopped the partisan games and focused on delivering a real plan to defeat COVID-19. In July, Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to Cuomo, responded to a separate, House Republican-led request about nursing home mandates. He described the GOP politicians as craven political hacks sent this same partisan document to several other statesall of which happen to have Democratic governorsapparently seeking some sort of election-year boost and to misdirect attention away from the oversight committees investigation into the federal pandemic response. At the time, he noted that current New York state law prohibits nursing homes from accepting patients, saying that New York state law is similar to federal guidelines that were issued on March 13, advising that nursing homes only take in patients with actual and suspected CCP virus infections if they were capable of following the quarantine guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 32 percent of Michigans 6,417 overall COVID-19 deaths have occurred among nursing home residents, according to the Detroit News, citing state data. Over 6,600 people have died from COVID-19 in New York nursing homes according to the states official count, but the actual number could be higher, reported AP. In New Jersey, at least 6,700 nursing home residents died during the pandemic, and about 68 percent of the nearly 7,000 COVID-19 deaths in Pennsylvania occurred in nursing homes, data shows. Ivan Pentchoukov and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. New Delhi: Amid the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak, the only saviour for movie lovers has been the OTT platform where a plethora of genres is available for viewing. From romantic, comedy to thriller, horror and action - every kind of movie can be found on the digital platform and language is certainly not a barrier. Therefore, today we list out the upcoming south film releases which are set to stream on the digital platforms. Take a look: Soorarai Pottru Based on the events and struggles of Captain GR Gopinath, a retired Army captain, who founded the low-cost airline Air Deccan, Soorarai Pottru is scheduled to have a DTS release on October 30, 2020. Helmed by Sudha Kongara, the gripping biopic is produced by Suriya and stars him alongside Mohan Babu and Aparna Balamurali in pivotal roles. The film is set to stream on Amazon Prime Video in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam (dubbed in all languages). CU Soon Shot entirely on a phone in a controlled and restricted environment during the lockdown, Malayalam film CU Soon is set for its digital world premiere on September 1 on Amazon Prime Video. Edited and directed by Mahesh Narayan, the gripping drama stars superstar Fahadh Faasil along with Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran in pivotal roles. Kilometers and Kilometers The comedy-drama travel film follows two people as they travel across India from Kerala to Khardung La. This Malayalam film, that stars Tovino Thomas, Joju George, India Jarvis, Sidhartha Siva and Basil Joseph, is set to release on Disney+Hotstar soon. V Starring Nani and Sudheer Babu in lead roles, V is a Telugu action thriller about a cop falling in love with a crime writer, releasing on Amazon Prime Video. While everything is going great, his life turns upside down when a killer challenges him with a puzzle to solve. Set to release on September 5, the film is produced by Dil Raju, Shirish and Harshith Reddy, while it is directed by Mohana Krishna Indraganti. The film also stars Nivetha Mohan and Aditi Rao Hydari in prominent roles. The music of the film is composed by the talented Amit Trivedi. Maniyarayile Ashokan Maniyarayile Ashokan is an upcoming Malayalam romantic comedy film directed by Shamzu Zayba and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under the banner Wayfarer Films along with Jacob Gregory, who also stars in the title role. The film, set in a village, follows the love-life of a middle-class man named Ashokan, played by Jacob. Starring Anupama Parameswaran, Krishna Sankar, Shine Tom Chacko and Anu Sithara in pivotal roles, the film will stream worldwide on Netflix this August 31. MARYVILLE The long-talked-about roundabout on Route 162 at Keebler Road has been moving closer to reality. Friday Mayor Craig Short pointed out that construction crews recently repaving Route 162 stopped before and after Keebler Road, leaving enough space for the roundabout. Short said he hopes the project goes out for bid in November but several things still have to happen first. He said there are three property owners with right-of-way and/or easement access near the intersection. The trio had until July 31 to enter into negotiations with the village but none of them did. Short said that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is becoming impatient at the inaction and may use its state acquisition authority to compel the holdouts as there are other construction projects planned on Keebler Road that are contingent on completing the roundabout. On July 31, 2015, 16-year-old Abby McElroy died in an automobile accident at the T-junction. Her mother calls me every year at the end of July to get an update on the roundabout, Short said. Drivers slow as they enter a roundabout and travel in a counterclockwise direction until they reach the road on which they want to turn right. Roundabouts are preferable to signalizing intersections for a variety of reasons. Roundabouts, by design, have half of the 16 vehicle-to-vehicle conflict points in a traditional, two-lane, four-way intersection and just eight vehicle-to-pedestrian contact points, compared to 12 in a standard two-lane, four-way intersection. Traffic entering and exiting roundabouts moves at a steady pace but under the roads posted speed limit to negate traffic backups and lessen high-speed impacts. With no wait times at a traffic light, emissions are less of an issue at a roundabout, particularly if homes, schools or businesses are nearby. The biggest benefit of a roundabout is that it handles larger numbers of traffic compared to a signalized intersection because no one comes to a complete stop within the roundabout and no one can make left turns. Over at the villages eastern border with Troy, another roundabout is scheduled to be built where 162 intersects Old Troy Road. It would be about 1,500 feet east of the roundabout at Lakeview Acres Road and 162, near the First Baptist Church of Maryville. Old Troy Road was revamped over the past two years and the new construction stops short of the intersection by a couple of hundred feet to allow for the roundabout, which would replace the current triangle-type intersection that can be confusing to navigate. Short said the city of Troy is the lead agency on that roundabout even though its just inside Maryvilles border. He said his village could not afford to do both projects, even with grant money covering a percentage of the costs. He thinks the Troy roundabout would be done in 2022 or 2023. Troy City Administrator Doug Partney verified this. He stressed any plans for the roundabout are very preliminary at this time. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735 Doubling down on increasing the use of voting by mail in November, Harris County will send every registered voter in Texas' most populous county an application for a mail-in ballot for the general election. With more than 2.4 million residents on its voter roll, the move, announced Tuesday by the county clerk's office, puts Harris County ahead of most other counties when it comes to proactively working to bump up the number of voters who may request a mail-in ballot. Election officials expect a record number of people to vote by mail this year, but not all of Harris County's registered voters will ultimately qualify. Texas is one of just six states that hasnt opened up mail-in voting to any voter concerned about getting COVID-19 at a polling place. The state's eligibility requirements remain strict voters can only qualify for a ballot they can fill out at home if they are 65 and older, if they will be out of the county during the election period, if they cite a disability or illness or if theyre confined in jail but still eligible to vote. But in sending out ballot applications to every voter, Harris County is employing an initiative that's been carried out by several states for primary elections held during the coronavirus pandemic. Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins has said he was encouraged by the county's return rate ahead of the July primary runoff election when it sent applications to every registered voter who was 65 and older. Typically, voters must print out or request an application for ballot by mail from the county or the state and deliver or mail it to their local elections office. In between the March primary election and the July primary runoff, the county saw a more than 100% increase in vote by mail applications, Hollins said. "If you're eligible to vote by mail, we want you to vote by mail. It's safest for you. It's safest for all your neighbors," Hollins said in a previous interview, arguing every additional mail-in voter would make the election safer for those voting in-person because they'd have to stand behind one less voter who could potentially infect them. "Voting by mail is the safest way to vote and all those who are eligible to vote should strongly consider casting their vote in that manner not only for themselves but as a service, a duty to other residents." Texas' Republican leadership has successfully blocked efforts by state Democrats, civil rights groups and individual voters to expand voting by mail through the courts, echoing unsubstantiated concerns about widespread fraud. But local elections officials are still preparing for a deluge of mail-in applications in the fall from voters fearful of the health risks of voting in person. Hollins' office is planning to purchase more mail-sorting equipment and bring on hundreds of temporary workers who will be solely focused on processing voting-by-mail applications and ballots. With thousands of ballot styles to draw up for the general election, the complex endeavor requires ballot requests to be processed by hand. Applications for mail-in ballots can be dropped off in person before the start of early voting, which begins Oct. 13 for the general election, and local election officials must receive mailed applications by Oct. 23. The U.S. Postal Service recommends that Texans ask for mail-in ballots no later than 15 days out from Election Day to allow for enough time to receive and return them to the county. Netflix is set to release its latest Indian docuseries on September 2. The trailer for the docuseries called 'Bad Boy Billionaires: India' has been released by Netflix. As evinced from the title, the show delves into the transgressions of some of India's biggest defaulters -- Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Subrata Roy and Byrraju Ramalinga Raju. "What would you do to make it to the top? To build an empire? To maintain an image? Bad Boy Billionaires answers just that. Dive into the stories of India's most infamous billionaires - Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Subrata Roy, and Byrraju Ramalinga Raju as they plan, plot and maneuver through their rises and falls. Watch as insiders and experts discuss what made these men genius and, in some cases, the greatest conmen," reads the description by Netflix. True to the preamble, the trailer is an assemblage of testimonies by experts, reporters and people who know them on how things took a downturn. "There was no one else who appeared to be living the dream the way Vijay Mallya was," says Raghu Karnad in the trailer. "Subrata Roy's genius was that he understood the value of scale," an expert can be heard in the video, followed by what seems to be a reportage adding, "Sahara actually means 'saviour'". Roy is followed by a part on Nirav Modi where the diamantaire is seen saying, "We wanted to create India's first luxury brand." This is followed by footage of Ramalinga Raju with Bill Gates. These footages are followed by reports of the downfall -- Mallya borrowing more and more money for Kingfisher from state banks, Modi bribing banking officials to take a series of loans, Raju cooking the books, Roy employing millions of agents to raise capital from the poorest. The four billionaires pushed their luck till it all came crashing down. "It was like riding a tiger and not knowing how to get off without being eaten," said an expert. The show will start streaming from September 2. Also read: PNB gets $3.25 million from liquidation of Nirav Modi's US-based companies Also watch: Rustica driver Josiah Schlatter, 30, of West Philadelphia, heads out for a delivery in Northern Liberties. Schlatter has been working at Rustica for three years and works fewer hours than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more Think back to ordering in on a Friday night circa 1998: You rifled through the junk drawer, pushing aside catalogs, bills, and birthday candles. You plucked out your local pizza shops trifold menu. An hour and a half later, a familiar delivery guy the one you saw every Friday showed up, raggedy insulated bag in hand. Seems forever ago, but Harry Kauffman remembers it well. He was a driver for Franks Pizza in Elkins Park from 1995 to 2003, making 70 or so deliveries a day for the mom-and-pop shop. He went through five cars. I would work doubles, said Kauffman, so Id just hustle. Hed arrive at 10 a.m. and fold pizza boxes, clean the fryer, and stock sodas until the lunch rush. After it ended, hed make dough until dinnertime hit. From 4 to 10 p.m., it was nonstop action. All the mechanisms were old-school: Orders were taken over the phone, tickets were handwritten, and Kauffman planned out his route on a big-ass map tacked up in the back. READ MORE: How Phillys new food-delivery law changes the rules for Grubhub, DoorDash, and other services Technology has transformed delivery since then. Customers need not consult a paper menu, dial a number, or speak to another human to summon food to their doorsteps. Sleek ordering systems, databases, and tracking ease the burden on restaurants. And the rise of third-party delivery services means the hassle can be outsourced entirely. The pandemic has made delivery more popular than ever, spreading it to eateries of all stripes: corner bars and delis, neighborhood bistros, even fine-dining destinations. But as the service expands, more restaurants are discovering its not so simple to make delivery work. The local delivery guy persists Third-party delivery services have been gaining ground around Philadelphia since 2014, when Postmates and Caviar launched here. Grubhub came in 2016. DoorDash and UberEats showed up in 2017. And Phillys homegrown third-party service, Black and Mobile, started in 2019. Despite all that, the local pizza delivery guy has never gone extinct. Take Josiah Schlatter, one of five active drivers for Rustica, a pizza shop in Northern Liberties. Hes driven for various restaurants Berwyns Neopolitan Deli, Kensingtons Four Sons Pizzeria, Petes Famous Pizza in Center City as well as Uber. At Rustica, where hes been for three years, Schlatter knows coworkers and customers. He characterizes his workplace as caring and democratic. We have a good time. We love each other, he said. When youre working for what essentially feels like an app, he said, that camaraderie vanishes. Youre a lone soldier. Rustica runs all deliveries in-house. In Schlatters view, third-party services hurt him, the business, and the customer: I think its so overpriced. Its really ripping off the customer when they could be calling the restaurant straight up and cutting out the middleman, saving a whole bunch of money on both ends. The New York Times found customers can pay 7% to 91% more for delivery through an app versus what theyd pay in-store. Why? Some third-party services allow restaurants to mark up prices on their platforms. If customers want to pay the regular rate, they can call the restaurant directly. But the apps themselves tack on service fees to customers, even as they collect commissions from their restaurant partners. One Chicago restaurant consultant made headlines in May when he posted a clients monthly invoice from Grubhub: Out of $1,042.63 customers had paid, the restaurateur received $376.54 after various fees and discounts were collected. READ MORE: Outdoor dining comes with rules and responsibilities. These Philadelphia restaurants are worth it. The delivery apps prevail Some restaurants, however, would not offer delivery if they had to run it in-house. Picas Restaurant, the celebrated Delco pizzeria, has been eat-in and takeout only for most of its nearly 80 years in business. Frank Pica III remembers that his late father, Frank Pica Jr., always feared the liability reasons and really just wanted to grow the restaurant and banquet business. ... So we always just had pickup. But a year ago, the Picas sibling-owners Frank, Lori Pica-Rosario, and Angela Oandasan decided to partner with DoorDash at their West Chester location. Outsourcing delivery spared them the headache of liability. (Drivers have their own insurance, but delivery-centric restaurants often have umbrella insurance policies.) There was no need to hire drivers, determine a delivery radius, or get a point-of-sale system to collect addresses and phone numbers. There were no worries about its effect on their high-volume output. In-house delivery would be a different shift in our business, said Pica-Rosario. This was a great way to try it with that third-party assistance. And its definitely growing with each month. Its gone well enough that Picas plans to implement third-party delivery at its Upper Darby outpost soon. READ MORE: What its like to be a server during the pandemic: The things that I loved about my job they were gone Finding a balance Other mom-and-pop pizza shops have reported net-positive experiences with third-party partnerships in years past, but reception has been mixed among restaurants that are newcomers to takeout, let alone delivery. That was the case for Standard Tap, which had casually used Caviar pre-pandemic. It always was a little bit of extra, said William Reed, who co-owns the Northern Liberties gastropub with Paul Kimport. We almost considered it advertising. Cue coronavirus. Takeout and delivery became Standard Taps only revenue stream. When we started looking at the numbers theyre terrible, Reed said. The cut that they take for delivery, it would be our profit, the whole thing. Reed and Kimport learned other bars in their area, Martha and Bottle Bar East, had launched in-house delivery. They bought insulated bags, hired drivers, and did the same. I gotta admit, Reed said, it hasnt worked. Trying to get some traction on it with customers is brutal. Having Standard Tap employees handle the food from start to finish made for a smoother process, but the amount of downtime our delivery guy had, and still has, is crazy. And orders still come in off the apps even for takeout despite the surcharge to customers. How do you let people know? Reed asked. Maybe we should act like pizza shops and start flyering peoples doors. He added that bombarding social media with promotional posts didnt always sit right during the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests. If I had a message for anybody that is looking for delivery, Id love them to always check with restaurants to see if they have a delivery person, he said. And we still do, but it is a labor of love almost at this point. READ MORE: BBQ, Mexican, hoagies or sushi? 13 Philadelphia restaurants for great takeout Tiffin owner Munish Narula doesnt have Reeds exact problem Tiffins business was about 80% takeout and delivery even pre-pandemic but he understands it well. In fact, his 10 restaurants run an internal education campaign, using postcards and emails to remind customers they can order directly on Tiffins app, its site, or by phone. In 2006, when Narula opened the first Tiffin on Girard Avenue as a web-only, delivery-only restaurant, the Wharton grad and former investment banker calculated that delivering a single order would cost $5.75 at the low end. Volume and efficiency would make it more cost-effective. Whenever possible, Tiffin drivers (about six per store) work on a hub-and-spoke system: Drivers take four or five orders at a time, all destined for the same geographic area or along the way, which makes it worthwhile for them and economical for us, Narula said. Its modeled after Mumbais dabbawala network, which ferries lunch boxes from homes to offices and back again with astounding accuracy. Narula is one of the areas most vocal critics of third-party services Tiffin has class-action lawsuits against Grubhub and Caviar but his restaurants accept orders from all of them. Once you reach a break-even point in your business, he explains, margins expand substantially. But if youre using the service to sustain your business, thats not possible. When Narula heard about Philadelphias recent move to cap fees levied by third-party delivery sites to 15% during public health emergencies, he said, Thank God. About time. How to coexist Like Tiffin, many restaurants work with third-party sites while maintaining their own drivers. If possible, they make deliveries themselves, reducing the commissions they fork over. Del Rossis Cheesesteak Co. is one of those businesses. Owner Nish Patel said that 75% of the Northern Liberties shops orders come from third-party sites. Its been a savior, to be honest, Patel said. Were recognized in this area, but if you were to go a little bit south, or a little bit toward Center City, [customers] wouldnt know who we are. Patel took over Del Rossis from its original owners in March, but much of the staff has remained, including manager Jen Rhein, a former Del Rossis delivery driver herself. Rhein expedites the pace of service on busy nights, when Del Rossis gets up to 175 orders. It is like controlled chaos, she said. Rhein orchestrates the flow between the kitchen and as many as nine drivers. The Philly native determines which orders will go with whom, grouping them together not by zip code, but with her knowledge of city streets. Shes like Google Maps, Patel said. When Rhein started working as a driver for Del Rossis three years ago, she was intimidated by third-party services. She worried theyd jeopardize her job. But now she thinks they enhance service, especially because many will deliver outside Del Rossis 2.5-mile range. I think theres a way to have in-house delivery drivers and third-party, and it can all exist peacefully, she said. READ MORE: 13 Philadelphia-area rooftop restaurants and bars that are open during the pandemic Patel agrees. He also owns Saladworks franchises in Newtown, Bucks County, and Mount Laurel. While their business was never delivery-centric, he maintained branded cars for both shops even as he partnered with DoorDash and UberEats. Ive always believed in handling our own, he said. Rather than hire a dedicated driver, hed send out one of his existing employees to make deliveries, which had to meet a $30 minimum and be scheduled somewhat in advance. Its a potential path forward for small-scale operators considering in-house delivery. If you have your regular crew members working there that could potentially benefit from some extra tips and you could get some extra, Patel said, then why not? Why not take advantage of it? Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has filed an emergency action against Florida-based investment adviser Coral Gables Asset Management LLC and its sole owner, David C. Coggins, in connection with an alleged fraudulent offering. On Aug. 20, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen M. Williams granted the SEC's request for emergency relief, including an asset freeze and an order for records preservation, against Coggins and Coral Gables, as well as two entities charged by the SEC as relief defendants. According to the SEC's complaint, Coral Gables and Coggins solicited investors for a private fund they managed by misrepresenting the fund's past performance, the amount of assets they were managing, and Coggins' experience as a portfolio manager. For example, the complaint alleges that one document Coggins provided to investors and potential investors showed 37 months of positive monthly performance even though, in reality, in approximately 26 months during the specified timeframe the Fund had negative performance. The complaint further alleges that Coral Gables and Coggins falsified brokerage records and investor account statements and created and sent fake audit opinions to investors and third parties. As alleged, within hours of receiving a request from the SEC to preserve documents, Coggins destroyed evidence related to his fraudulent conduct. According to the complaint, Coggins misappropriated investor funds for personal use, including a luxury vehicle and travel. "As we allege, Coggins drew in investors by suggesting that he was an experienced manager with a highly successful private fund and then took elaborate steps to conceal the truth of his fraud, including destroying evidence after being contacted by the SEC," said Kurt L. Gottschall, Director of the SEC's Denver Regional Office. "The SEC's emergency action is intended to protect prospective investors from future harm by halting what we allege is an ongoing fraud and preserving the remaining evidence." The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, charges Coral Gables and Coggins with violating antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. The SEC's complaint also charges Coggins, in the alternative, with aiding and abetting Coral Gables' violations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The SEC seeks injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, and financial penalties against the defendants. The SEC also charged Coral Gables Asset Holdings, L.P. and its successor entity, Coral Gables Capital, L.P., as relief defendants. The SEC's investigation, which is continuing, is being conducted by Jeffrey D. Felder and Tracy W. Bowen in the Denver Regional Office and supervised by Kimberly L. Frederick, Jason J. Burt, and Kurt L. Gottschall. The SEC's litigation is being led by Zachary T. Carlyle and Christopher E. Martin, under the supervision of Gregory A. Kasper. The BBCs drama boss has vowed to get rid of inadvertent instances of racism known as microagressions among staff at the Corporation. Piers Wenger told the Edinburgh TV Festival that he has been in deep discussion about how to eradicate unconscious bias to help improve the representation of ethnic minorities. The 250k-a-year Drama Commissioning Controller said it was now ground zero and the moment where we have to get it right. His comments come amid reports that executive staff at the BBC are being advised to have unconscious bias training to make sure they don't inadvertently offend anyone, according to The Times. The BBCs drama boss Piers Wenger (centre in 2017) has vowed to get rid of inadvertent instances of racism known as microagressions at the Corporation Mr Wenger said: Its also the role of commissioners to really get it right because we know that we are at the very beginning of the process. 'If talent isnt being protected and nurtured and empowered, if ethnic minority stories arent making their way on to screens then we have a big part to play in that. He added: Over the last few months as a department weve been in deep discussion around how to eradicate unconscious bias and microaggressions. We just cant deny that those things exist. A microaggression is a remark or action which unintentionally reveals a prejudice towards a minority group, such as asking someone: So where are you really from? Mr Wenger said that he wanted the BBC to be radical and it was the moment to act. He added in recent months people had been trying to drill down into the detail of why, despite people spending years talking about diversity, that so little has really changed. I May Destroy You - starring actress Michaela Coel (pictured) - follows London-based writer Arabella as she comes to terms with a sexual assault after her drink was spiked at a nightclub In an earlier session at the festival Mr Wenger, who was appointed to the role in 2016, said: The industry is not diverse, its you know, as [black British film director] Steve McQueen said it is racist.' Sir Steve McQueen previously said the UK has a 'shameful' lack of diversity in its film and TV industries and the country lags 'far behind' the US in representing ethnic minorities in production. The BBC's head of content Charlotte Moore (pictured) said 'diversity on screen and off screen has never been more important to the BBC' Mr Wenger added: Something has gone wrong, and we are really really engaged with putting that right. We have to eliminate unconscious bias, I think thats been one of the major problems. We spent a lot of time in lockdown talking about exactly how you identify it, and how you get rid of it and that is about having greater diversity at a decision making level and within commissioning teams. We need to make sure that everyones history and everyones point of view is represented in order to make the offering truly rich. The BBC's head of content Charlotte Moore said 'diversity on screen and off screen has never been more important to the BBC' and said she hopes hit shows including Noughts And Crosses and I May Destroy You has showed 'real commitment'. I May Destroy You - starring actress Michaela Coel - follows London-based writer Arabella as she comes to terms with a sexual assault after her drink was spiked at a nightclub. Noughts and Crosses depicts a world where black people are the oppressors and whites are a downtrodden underclass. Ms Moore said: 'Diversity on screen and off screen has never been more important to the BBC. If we don't reflect the country we are making programmes for we have failed. Noughts and Crosses depicts a world where black people are the oppressors and whites are a downtrodden underclass 'I hope some of the films we have shown this year from Noughts And Crosses to I May Destroy You and A Suitable Boy and Small Axe, I hope that shows real commitment and direction of travel, we are absolutely committed. 'This should be right at the heart of BBC one's schedule and right at the heart of iPlayer. 'It's been too long and its up to all of us to make sure this is the moment of absolute change and I couldn't be more committed to that. I think this is the moment we will look back and say we really did see change. 'The whole business will benefit. If we don't do this I don't think the television industry will survive.' The West Bengal government is setting up a three-tier scanner to monitor senior citizens living alone in high-rises and gated communities in urban areas after it emerged that one out of every five people who died in the state due to Covid-19 belonged to this category. The three-tier scanner will comprise three arms of the government the police, district and health officials and public representatives who would keep a check on the senior citizens. This would help the authorities to send medical help and ambulance during a crisis which in turn could help to reduce the case fatality rate (CFR). At the ground level, officers from the local police station, the block development officer, block medical officer and public representatives such as ward councilor and ward coordinators will keep a tab on the senior citizens living alone in housing societies, flats, high rises and gated communities, particularly in urban areas, said a senior official of the home department. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage. Till Tuesday, 2,909 people have died in West Bengal after testing positive for Covid-19. Nearly 20% of them were found to be citizens above 61 years of age. While 6.2% were found to be in the age bracket 6175 years, 13.7% of the victims were above 75 years of age. Hypertension was the major comorbidity factor among senior citizens. Under the monitoring plan, the ground level government staff and public representatives will visit the highrises and gated communities and speak to the members of the managing committees. They will exchange numbers so that the citizens can contact the police and health officials whenever a senior citizen falls sick or tests positive for Covid-19. They can be immediately rushed to the hospital and treatment will start at the earliest. With comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiac diseases also taking a heavy toll we will be starting a survey on this, said a senior health official. The police have already started taking stock of senior citizens living in Kolkata, Howrah, Salt Lake and Barrackpore. The police and administration in other urban areas such as Asansol-Durgapur, Siliguri and Chandannagar have been asked to start the process as well. The decision was taken in an administrative review meeting chaired by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday. With a three-tier checklist we hope to plug the gap that exists in urban areas. This would in turn help us to bring down the mortality rate, said a senior official of the state government. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX:FF)(OTCQX:FFMGF)(FRANKFURT:FMG) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced upsized bought deal offering (the "Offering"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued 57,500,000 units of the Company (the "Units") (including 7,500,000 Units issued in connection with the exercise in full of the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters (as defined below) in connection with the Offering) at a price of $0.50 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $28,750,000. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, one additional Common Share at a price of $0.70 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The Units were offered and sold through a syndicate of underwriters led by Cormark Securities Inc. and including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (collectively, the "Underwriters"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for exploration, development and permitting activities at its Canadian gold projects, potential acquisitions, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Units issued under the Offering were offered by way of a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated June 24, 2019. The Prospectus Supplement was filed in all of the provinces of Canada other than Quebec and, together with the related Base Shelf Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference therein, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Story continues The securities offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and were not offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Qualified Person Hazel Mullin, P.Geo., Director, Data Management and Technical Services of First Mining, is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and she has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. About First Mining Gold Corp. First Mining is a Canadian gold developer focused on the development and permitting of the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario. Springpole is one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada, currently hosting a mineral resource base of 4.67 million ounces of gold in the Indicated category and 0.23 million ounces of gold in the Inferred category1. A Pre-Feasibility Study is underway, with completion targeted in early 2021, and permitting is on-going with submission of the Environmental Impact Statement targeted for 2021. The Company also holds a large equity position in Treasury Metals Inc. that is advancing the Goliath-Goldlund gold project towards construction. First Mining's eastern Canadian property portfolio also includes the Pickle Crow (being advanced in partnership with Auteco Minerals Ltd.), Cameron, Hope Brook, Duparquet, Duquesne, and Pitt gold projects. First Mining was created in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp. ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. Daniel W. Wilton Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact: Spiros Cacos | Vice President, Investor Relations Direct: +1 604 639 8825 | Toll Free: 1 844 306 8827 | Email: info@firstmininggold.com www.firstmininggold.com Note: 1. These numbers are from the independent technical report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment Update for the Springpole Gold Project, Ontario, Canada", dated November 5, 2019, which was prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available at www.sedar.com under First Mining's SEDAR profile. Readers are cautioned that the PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news 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. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the use of net proceeds from the Offering; (ii) timing for the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study for Springpole; (iii) timing for the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement for Springpole; (iv) the Company's focus on advancing its assets towards production; (v) Treasury Metals advancing construction on the Goliath-Goldlund gold project; and (vi) realizing the value of the Company's gold projects for the Company's shareholders. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties.; and the additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR. First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. Cautionary Note to United States Investors This news 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 in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum 2014 Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. 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 SEC, and mineral 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 any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. 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. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" exists or is economically or legally mineable. 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 the Company in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. SOURCE: First Mining Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603421/First-Mining-Completes-Over-Subscribed-2875-Million-Bought-Deal-Financing Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 08:40:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Vehicles travel through floodwater after heavy monsoon rain in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Aug. 25, 2020. Heavy monsoon rains have broken a 36-year-old downpour record in the month of August in capital city Karachi of Pakistan's south Sindh province, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said. The heavy rainfall has played havoc in several parts of the city where the rainwater caused flooding, submerging streets, roads, vehicles and low-lying areas. Rain-related accidents including electrocution and roof collapse also claimed lives of four people in the city on Tuesday whereas scores of others got injured. (Str/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Heavy monsoon rains have broken a 36-year-old downpour record in the month of August in capital city Karachi of Pakistan's south Sindh province, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said. The weather office said on Tuesday that the PAF Faisal Base area of the city received 345 millimeters of rain during the recent rain spell which started pouring in the city on Monday. Previously, the heaviest downpour was recorded in 1984 in Karachi when rainfall of 298.4 millimeters lashed the city, the PMD said. The heavy rainfall has played havoc in several parts of the city where the rainwater caused flooding, submerging streets, roads, vehicles and low-lying areas. Rain-related accidents including electrocution and roof collapse also claimed lives of four people in the city on Tuesday whereas scores of others got injured. Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah told media that all low-lying areas across the city have been inundated by water and he has imposed a state of emergency in the city to rescue people who are stranded in their houses amidst the bad weather condition. People from several areas were evacuated from their houses to safer places. Landslide was also reported in the city in which several vehicles were damaged and main thoroughfare of the affected area was blocked. The Pakistani army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Tuesday night that security personnel have taken part in rescue and relief operation in Karachi and assisted civil administration to provide relief to the affected population. The army rescue teams were also shifting affected people to safer places on boats, where they are being provided with food and shelter, the statement added. The PMD issued a warning of urban flooding in the city prior to the recent rain spell and directed the residents to clean water drainages near their houses to avoid them from being clogged in heavy rains. The weather office also forecasted that the spell will continue on Wednesday, and a fresh spell is also expected to hit the city in the coming days. Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed vowed Tuesday to make every effort to resolve a dispute also involving Egypt over Addis Ababa's giant Nile river dam. Egypt and Sudan view the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a threat to their vital water supplies, while upstream Ethiopia considers it crucial for its economic development and electrification. Hamdok and Ahmed met in Khartoum and discussed the project as well as outstanding border issues and Sudan's peace talks in Juba with rebel groups. Ahmed was also scheduled to meet Sudan's ruling council chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. "The two sides emphasised the importance of exerting all efforts to reach a successful end to the ongoing tripartite negotiations under the aegis of the African Union," said Sudan's government spokesman Faisal Saleh. The Ethiopian premier said Hamdok would visit the gigantic dam next month. The Nile, the world's longest river, is a lifeline supplying both water and electricity to the 10 countries it traverses. Its main tributaries, the White and Blue Niles, converge in the Sudanese capital Khartoum before flowing north through Egypt to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. Heavy rainfall of late in parts of the Nile catchment area have eased fears of water shortages in the short term. Sudan, which has been hit by deadly flooding in recent weeks, said Tuesday that the Blue Nile's level had reached an all-time high in Khartoum and was expected to rise further in the coming days. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (R) met his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed in Khartoum. By Handout (Sudan's Foreign Media Council/AFP) "The Blue Nile reached 17.32 metres, its highest level since the start of the recording readings more than a century ago," the water ministry said. The official news agency SUNA quoted a ministry source as saying the high water levels was in part due to heavy rainfall on the Ethiopian plateau. Torrential rains have pummelled Sudan for nearly a month, killing at least 83 people in floods, the civil defence said Tuesday. driven by the rapidly aging population increase in the number of operative procedures involving creation of intestinal stoma and the resulting focus shed on "stoma quality of life". World`s population is rapidly aging supported by the increase in longevity as modern medicine becomes increasingly effective in preventing chronic disease, and reducing mortality. New York, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Stoma/Ostomy Care Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799725/?utm_source=GNW Also, easy access to age-friendly primary healthcare and growing sophistication of healthcare infrastructure play key roles in longevity. For the first time in human the percentage of older people in the total population is continuing to increase. In addition to the aforementioned increase in life expectancy, falling fertility rates are accelerating the trend. The aging population creates massive challenges for the healthcare system since it means larger chronic disease burden. Among the many diseases of the elderly such as dementia; arthritis; blindness; chronic bronchitis; motor neurone diseases; osteoporosis; Parkinson`s disease; stroke; CKD; and Alzheimer`s, incontinence and bowel obstruction caused by colorectal cancer and other diseases that require surgical removal parts of the rectum, anus and colon requires the highest nurse care and self-care management needs. Colorectal cancer is the leading cause for creation of stomas/ostomy accounting for 45.6% of the prevalence rate. Juxtaposed with this fact, the high prevalence of colorectal cancer, over 60% of the incidence rate, among the elderly aged over 70+ makes aging population a powerful demographic growth driver for stoma/ostomy care products. Colostomy is the most popular type of procedure performed on 45.2% of ostomy patients in the 60+ age group, while Ileostomy is the second most common procedure performed on people aged over 60 with over 38.7% of ostomy patients in the 60+ age group having Ileostomy. Urostomy is performed on 16.1% of ostomy patients in the 60+ age group. Caring for stoma is extremely important given the high risk and financial burden of complications following ostomy surgery. Lack of proper ostomy care is the leading cause for hospital readmission rates and ER visits in the United States second to kidney transplants. Over the years, rising awareness and improving standards of ostomy care have helped drive the market for stoma/ostomy care products. The field of stoma care is also evolving and improving with stoma care emerging into a unique field in nursing. Popularity and easy availability of specially qualified stoma care nurses; development of best practice guidelines; easy access to new clinical insights and tools are all helping to deliver the best possible care for stoma patients. Patient centric innovations in developing ostomy products that reduce burden of leakage, and skin irritations, allergies and complications are important in ensuring quality of life for patients and therefore ranks as important to the market`s future growth. Noteworthy innovations in the market include stoma pouches manufactured from hydrocolloids and polymers for better stretchability; Bluetooth measuring system for ostomy bags that alerts the patients when full and requires change; pouches that fit individual body contour and adapt to body movements; and stoma seals that prevent and protect against leaks. Europe and the United States represent large markets worldwide with a combined share of 62.5%. Latin America ranks as the fastest growing market with a 7.3% CAGR over the analysis period supported by developing healthcare systems, falling costs and growing availability of a variety of stoma management supplies. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799725/?utm_source=GNW I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Ostomy Care Products Market Set to Witness Rapid Growth Ostomy Prevalence Worldwide (% Share) by Type of Stoma: 2019E Ostomy Prevalence among Young and Elderly Population by Stoma Type: 2019E Ostomy Prevalence Rate by Disease Type: 2019E Ostomy Market: 5-year Relative Survival Rate (%) by Year of Diagnosis for Colorectal Cancer and Bladder Cancer Ostomy Care Bags Constitute the Largest Segment Key Market Drivers & Restraints for Ostomy Bags Ostomy Bag Usage Rate (Units per month per Patient) Ostomy Care Accessories Market on Growth Trajectory; Exhibit Fastest Growth Rate Ostomy Flat Vs. Convex Appliances Ostomy Appliance Usage by Appliance Type: 2019E Europe, the Most Dominant Regional Market with Largest Share Home Care Dominates the Market COMPETITION Global Competitor Market Shares Stoma/Ostomy Care Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide: (in %) for Coloplast, ConVatec, Hollister, and Others: 2018 & 2025 Coloplast Leads the Ostomy Care Products Market Launch of Sensura Mio Convex Provides a Competitive Edge to Coloplast Brava Protective Seal Impact of Covid-19 and a Looming Global Recession 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Growing Aging Population - A Key Growth Driver Global Aging Population Statistics for the 65+ Age Group in Million by Geographic Region for the Years 2019, 2025, 2035 and 2050 Rising Incidence of Colorectal Cancer, Bladder Cancer, and IBD and Drives the Need for Ostomy Care Products Colorectal Cancer Incidence: 2018 Colorectal Cancer Prevalence: 2018 Colorectal Cancer Mortality: 2018 Bladder Cancer Incidence: 2018 Bladder Cancer Prevalence: 2018 Bladder Cancer Mortality: 2018 Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Incidence Statistics Total Number of Adults in the US with Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease: 2015 to 2016 Annual Growth Rate of Crohns Disease Diagnosed Prevalent Cases Estimates by Major Markets: 2016-2026 Product Innovations and Advancements to Spur Market Expansion Increasing Access to Healthcare in Emerging Regions Rising Middle Class Population Aids Growth Global Middle Class Population (in Millions) and as a Percentage of Total Population: 2005, 2015, 2025 & 2035 Increasing Obesity Levels Propels Market Growth Global Obesity Epidemic: Percentage of Overweight, Obese, and Severely Obese Adults for 2014 & 2025 Severely Obese Population (in Thousands) Worldwide by Country: 2014 & 2025 Patient Retention Programs by Major Ostomy Players to Increase Products Sales Favorable Reimbursements in Developed Markets Rising Online Sales of Ostomy Products Market Restraints Skin Irritation and Other Issues Related with Ostomy Global Drive for Earlier Diagnosis and Treatment 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2020-2027 Table 2: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Global Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2012-2019 Table 3: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 4: Ostomy Care Bags (Product) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2020 to 2027 Table 5: Ostomy Care Bags (Product) Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2012 to 2019 Table 6: Ostomy Care Bags (Product) Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 7: Ostomy Care Accessories (Product) Potential Growth Markets Worldwide in US$ Thousand: 2020 to 2027 Table 8: Ostomy Care Accessories (Product) Historic Market Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2012 to 2019 Table 9: Ostomy Care Accessories (Product) Market Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 10: Home Care (End-Use) Global Market Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2020-2027 Table 11: Home Care (End-Use) Retrospective Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2012-2019 Table 12: Home Care (End-Use) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 13: Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgical Centers (End-Use) Demand Potential Worldwide in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2020-2027 Table 14: Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgical Centers (End-Use) Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2012-2019 Table 15: Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgical Centers (End-Use) Share Breakdown Review by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 III. MARKET ANALYSIS GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Market Facts & Figures Market Analytics Table 16: United States Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 17: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in the United States by Product: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 18: United States Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 19: United States Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 20: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Demand Patterns in the United States by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 21: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown in the United States by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 CANADA Table 22: Canadian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 23: Canadian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Review by Product in US$ Thousand: 2012-2019 Table 24: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Canada: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 25: Canadian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 26: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Canada: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for 2012-2019 Table 27: Canadian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 JAPAN Table 28: Japanese Market for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 29: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Japan: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2012-2019 Table 30: Japanese Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 31: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 32: Japanese Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 33: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Shift in Japan by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 CHINA Table 34: Chinese Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 35: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in China in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 36: Chinese Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market by Product: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 37: Chinese Demand for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 38: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Review in China in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 39: Chinese Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 EUROPE Market Facts & Figures Ostomy Bags Market Larger than the US Market Analytics Table 40: European Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Demand Scenario in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2020-2027 Table 41: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Europe: A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Period 2012-2019 Table 42: European Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 43: European Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020-2027 Table 44: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Europe in US$ Thousand by Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2012-2019 Table 45: European Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 46: European Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020-2027 Table 47: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2012-2019 Table 48: European Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 FRANCE Table 49: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in France by Product: Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2020-2027 Table 50: French Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 51: French Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 52: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Quantitative Demand Analysis in France in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020-2027 Table 53: French Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Review in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 54: French Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2012, 2020, and 2027 GERMANY Table 55: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 56: German Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 57: German Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 58: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Germany: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2020-2027 Table 59: German Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Retrospect in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 60: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in Germany by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 ITALY Ostomy Products Market: An Overview Market Analytics Table 61: Italian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 62: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in Italy in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 63: Italian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market by Product: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 64: Italian Demand for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 65: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Review in Italy in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 66: Italian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 UNITED KINGDOM Table 67: United Kingdom Market for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 68: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in the United Kingdom: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2012-2019 Table 69: United Kingdom Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 70: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 71: United Kingdom Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 72: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Shift in the United Kingdom by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 SPAIN Table 73: Spanish Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 74: Spanish Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Review by Product in US$ Thousand: 2012-2019 Table 75: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Spain: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 76: Spanish Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 77: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Spain: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for 2012-2019 Table 78: Spanish Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 RUSSIA Table 79: Russian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 80: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Russia by Product: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 81: Russian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 82: Russian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 83: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Demand Patterns in Russia by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 84: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown in Russia by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 REST OF EUROPE Table 85: Rest of Europe Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020-2027 Table 86: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Rest of Europe in US$ Thousand by Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2012-2019 Table 87: Rest of Europe Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 88: Rest of Europe Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020-2027 Table 89: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Rest of Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2012-2019 Table 90: Rest of Europe Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 ASIA-PACIFIC Table 91: Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2020-2027 Table 92: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Period 2012-2019 Table 93: Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 94: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Asia-Pacific by Product: Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2020-2027 Table 95: Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 96: Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 97: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Quantitative Demand Analysis in Asia-Pacific in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020-2027 Table 98: Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Review in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 99: Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2012, 2020, and 2027 AUSTRALIA Table 100: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Australia: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 101: Australian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 102: Australian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 103: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Australia: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2020-2027 Table 104: Australian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Retrospect in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 105: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in Australia by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 INDIA Table 106: Indian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 107: Indian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Review by Product in US$ Thousand: 2012-2019 Table 108: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in India: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 109: Indian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 110: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in India: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for 2012-2019 Table 111: Indian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 SOUTH KOREA Table 112: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 113: South Korean Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 114: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in South Korea by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 115: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2020-2027 Table 116: South Korean Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 117: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in South Korea by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC Table 118: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 119: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2012-2019 Table 120: Rest of Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 121: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 122: Rest of Asia-Pacific Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 123: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Shift in Rest of Asia-Pacific by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 LATIN AMERICA Table 124: Latin American Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Trends by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2020-2027 Table 125: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Latin America in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the Period 2012-2019 Table 126: Latin American Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 127: Latin American Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 128: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in Latin America in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 129: Latin American Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market by Product: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 130: Latin American Demand for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 131: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Review in Latin America in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 132: Latin American Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 ARGENTINA Table 133: Argentinean Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020-2027 Table 134: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Argentina in US$ Thousand by Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2012-2019 Table 135: Argentinean Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 136: Argentinean Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020-2027 Table 137: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Argentina: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2012-2019 Table 138: Argentinean Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 BRAZIL Table 139: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Brazil by Product: Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2020-2027 Table 140: Brazilian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 141: Brazilian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 142: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020-2027 Table 143: Brazilian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Review in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 144: Brazilian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2012, 2020, and 2027 MEXICO Table 145: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Mexico: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 146: Mexican Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 147: Mexican Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 148: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Mexico: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2020-2027 Table 149: Mexican Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Retrospect in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 150: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in Mexico by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 REST OF LATIN AMERICA Table 151: Rest of Latin America Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 152: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Rest of Latin America by Product: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 153: Rest of Latin America Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 154: Rest of Latin America Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 155: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Demand Patterns in Rest of Latin America by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 156: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown in Rest of Latin America by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 MIDDLE EAST Table 157: The Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2020-2027 Table 158: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in the Middle East by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2012-2019 Table 159: The Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 160: The Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 161: The Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market by Product in US$ Thousand: 2012-2019 Table 162: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in the Middle East: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2012,2020, and 2027 Table 163: The Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 164: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in the Middle East: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for 2012-2019 Table 165: The Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 IRAN Table 166: Iranian Market for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 167: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Iran: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2012-2019 Table 168: Iranian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 169: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 170: Iranian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 171: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Shift in Iran by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 ISRAEL Table 172: Israeli Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020-2027 Table 173: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Israel in US$ Thousand by Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2012-2019 Table 174: Israeli Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 175: Israeli Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020-2027 Table 176: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Israel: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2012-2019 Table 177: Israeli Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 SAUDI ARABIA Table 178: Saudi Arabian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 179: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in Saudi Arabia in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 180: Saudi Arabian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market by Product: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027 Table 181: Saudi Arabian Demand for Stoma/Ostomy Care Products in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 182: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Review in Saudi Arabia in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 183: Saudi Arabian Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Table 184: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 185: United Arab Emirates Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 186: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 187: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2020-2027 Table 188: United Arab Emirates Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 189: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 REST OF MIDDLE EAST Table 190: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Rest of Middle East: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2020-2027 Table 191: Rest of Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product: 2012-2019 Table 192: Rest of Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 193: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Rest of Middle East: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period 2020-2027 Table 194: Rest of Middle East Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Retrospect in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2012-2019 Table 195: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Distribution in Rest of Middle East by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 AFRICA Table 196: African Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product: 2020 to 2027 Table 197: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market in Africa by Product: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 198: African Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown by Product: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 Table 199: African Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2020 to 2027 Table 200: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Historic Demand Patterns in Africa by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2012-2019 Table 201: Stoma/Ostomy Care Products Market Share Breakdown in Africa by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027 IV. COMPETITION Total Companies Profiled: 33 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799725/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Aircraft carriers the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan sailing in Asia in July -- Washington is pushing back against Beijing over its military buildup in the South China Sea The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions and restrictions on two dozen Chinese companies and associated officials for taking part in building artificial islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea. The 24 state-owned firms include subsidiaries of construction giant China Communications Construction Co., telecommunications firms and a unit of the China Shipbuilding Group. The US Commerce Department said the companies "enabled China to construct and militarize disputed outposts in the South China Sea." "Since 2013, the PRC (People's Republic of China) has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The 24 companies were placed on the Commerce Department's "Entity List" which allows it to block exports of US goods and materials to them. In addition, Pompeo said individuals associated with the South China Sea operations will be unable to obtain visas to visit the United States. The names of the individuals were not made available. - HSBC criticized - Pompeo on Wednesday also blasted HSBC, the Britain-based Hong Kong banking giant, over reports that it had frozen access for executives of Next Media to their personal bank accounts and credit cards as Beijing and Hong Kong security authorities pressure the independent media group. "The bank is thus maintaining accounts for individuals who have been sanctioned for denying freedom for Hong Kongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom," said Pompeo in a statement. "Free nations must ensure that corporate interests are not suborned by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) to aid its political repression," he said. The blacklisting of the Chinese companies was the latest step in Washington's efforts to push back against Beijing over its military buildup in areas of the South China Sea where sovereignty is contested by countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan. Story continues Beijing has sought to make its claims to much of the South China Sea a de facto reality by building up small shoals and reefs into military bases with airstrips and port facilities. In July the United States formally declared Beijing's pursuit of territory and resources in South China Sea as illegal, explicitly backing the territorial claims of Southeast Asian countries against China's. Both the United States and China militaries have stepped up actions in the region, raising tensions between the two sides. The Chinese have conducted military exercises, while the US navy has undertaken "freedom of navigation operations" to assert its rejection of Chinese sovereignty by sailing through waters around islands that Beijing claims as its own. On July 13, Pompeo voiced Washington's increasingly strong challenge to China's claims, saying "the world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire." On August 6 Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe warned the US to stop making inflammatory statements over the South China Sea and Taiwan and "avoid taking dangerous moves that may escalate the situation." pmh/bgs Earlier this summer, New York City and the state passed sweeping policing reforms in the wake of protests against systemic racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. After weeks of outrage from police unions about cuts to NYPD funding and the online publication of police disciplinary records, the New York City Council is coming around to the idea of reforming some of those reforms. The New York Post reported on Tuesday that the City Council plans to introduce a bill to amend the new criminalization of police chokeholds after the NYPD and the New York City Police Benevolent Association argued that the law makes it dangerous for them to do their jobs. Passed by the City Council in mid-June, the new law on police chokeholds criminalizes the use of restraints that restrict the flow of air or blood by compressing the windpipe or the carotid arteries on each side of the neck, or sitting, kneeling or standing on the chest or back in a manner that compresses the diaphragm while making an arrest. An officer who makes a maneuver that falls under this description could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. New York Citys chokehold criminalization resonated not just in the wake of the death of Floyd who died in May after a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on Floyds neck for more than eight minutes but also after the 2014 killing of Eric Garner, who died after former NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed him in a prohibited chokehold. And while the citys chokehold bill was celebrated by advocates when it passed this year while also noted as long overdue pressure from the NYPD and police unions could result in the council rolling back the language in the law. In particular, police raised concerns about the part of the law that criminalizes officers applying pressure to someones diaphragm while making an arrest. We have no objection to the chokehold portion of it, but any cop whos ever fought with someone on the street, trying to get him into cuffs, theres a great possibility that your knee is going to end up on that individuals back, and now this new law is criminalizing it, NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan told PIX11 last month. Some city lawmakers have accused the NYPD of an intentional work slowdown as a way to protest the chokehold law and other new policing reforms. City Council Member Donovan Richards, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said earlier this month that he would consider amending the bill. I would be open to having a conversation about the diaphragm portion of the chokehold bill if this means the New York City Police Department would get back to work, Richards told NY1. The City Council is set to introduce legislation on Thursday that would add the word recklessly to that portion of the laws text, and would only make that kind of move illegal if it caused injury due to asphyxiation, NY1 reported on Wednesday. The council is expected to have a hearing on the amendment next week and Richards is taking the lead on amending the bill, according to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Richards declined to comment for this article. In a press conference on Wednesday, de Blasio said that the change in the law resulted from concerns over the growing problem of shootings and gun violence. Clearly, the crucial reform in the original legislation continues, de Blasio said. Chokeholds will be illegal no matter what. As I understand, the focus here is just a clarification on the issue of diaphragms. Heres what other New York City lawmakers, elected officials and union leaders have said about the amendment. City Council Member Rory Lancman Democratic City Council Member Rory Lancman sponsored the original bill criminalizing police chokeholds. Lancman said Wednesday that the proposal to amend the law is misguided. The Chokehold Law passed 47-3, was signed by the Mayor just last month, and there hasnt been a single example of an officer being unfairly prosecuted or unable to arrest a suspect, so if, as reported, the positional asphyxiation part of the bill is amended to require a showing of recklessness and physical injury when, contrary to NYPD Patrol Guide guidance, an officer sits, kneels, or stands on a suspects chest or back in a manner that compresses the diaphragm, in order to appease a police union work slowdown, it will eviscerate not just the law itself, but the rule of law and the legitimacy of the City Council as an institution capable of overseeing the NYPD, Lancman said in an emailed statement. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Asked about the proposed amendment to the law, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said that it wasnt a done deal. I think this is an important conversation that has to be had with the members of color in the council and with advocates, he said. Legislation in the council has a process. Nothing will be changed without a discussion and public hearing. PBA President Pat Lynch Meanwhile, others say the amendment doesnt go far enough. Nothing short of a full repeal can repair the damage from this insane law," Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said in a statement. That wont happen, because the Mayor and City Council have no intention of actually fixing this problem. They are content to blame cops for the mess they created. If they wanted us to be able to do our job safely and effectively, they would never have passed it in the first place. City Council Member Joseph Borelli Republican City Council Member Joseph Borelli also suggested that the amendment may not adequately address officers concerns. Im not sure it goes far enough but we will see, Borelli told the Post. Correction: The law criminalizes actions that restrict air flow by compressing the diaphragm. An earlier version of this story included a description from an older version of the legislation. (Natural News) The French world-level specialist of infectious diseases and promoter of the hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin treatment for COVID-19, Dr. Didier Raoult, and three of his colleagues from the University Hospital Institute IHU-Mediterranee Infection, Marseille, France, posted an expression of concern on the IHUs website last Friday regarding recent papers published by a distinguished medical journal, the NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine). They seek publicly to underscore unheard of sloppiness of methods used for research on possible treatments of COVID-19, the results of which are being inexplicably accepted and published by one of the major scientific medical journals in the English language. (Article republished from LifeSiteNews.com) An expression of concern is a statement from a scientific journal that makes clear that there is good reason to believe that a paper it publishes may be biased or based on erroneous data. While not always followed by a retraction proper of the problematic article, it amounts to an admission of unscientific handling. Quoting the Roman writer, orator, and statesman Cicero, who vainly tried to uphold republican principles during the civil wars that would lead to Caesars grab of power in 49 B.C., the four authors titled their short paper Quousque tandem abutere, patientia nostra, offering the English translation of the Latin text: How long will you abuse our patience? We ask the same question to the NEJM: how long will you abuse our patience? The biases shown in the studies on COVID-19 have gone beyond, as in the Lancet, for example, everything that has been seen so far. Please give us back a journal that we can use for medical education, that does not contradict all principles we have used for so many years, they wrote. In June, The Lancet was forced to put out an expression of concern about a purported study discrediting the use of the well known and widely used malaria drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), published some days previously, admitting that the paper by Mehra and others had potentially used fraudulent data in order to make the treatment appear as being not only useless, but accompanied by serious side-effects. At the time, Raoult and his team retorted that they had used HCQ in combination with a macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin, over 3,000 times while keeping patients under close observation, without ever remarking dangerous side-effects. On the contrary, patients at the IHU did better than in the rest of France, and the hospital boasts the lowest death rate due to the Wuhan coronavirus in the country. Now the NEJM is being accused of similar bias by Raoult and his colleagues, Lagier, Brouqui, and Parola. Needless to say, the New England Journal of Medicine, founded in 1812 and recognized as one of the most prestigious medical journals in print, refused to publish their expression of concern, which led them to post a preprint version for the general public to see. All the authors are professors of infectious diseases or microbiology; they underscore their respect until now for the NEJM as a reference journal. However, it appears that for the teaching of infectious diseases, in the context of COVID-19, the NEJM no longer corresponds to the minimum standards that we teach students from the 3rd year of medicine onwards, they wrote. Among the bewildering evidence of acceptance of unscientific articles by the journal, they quoted the fact that in some research, patients are being qualified as infected with the Wuhan virus without the support of a diagnostic test. For COVID-19 therapeutic trials, several publications in the NEJM have reported analyses where patients were not tested but included in the analyses. We teach our students not to do that. In some cases, this reaches extraordinary levels. For example, about hydroxychloroquine as post-exposure prophylaxis, when 821 asymptomatic participants were enrolled through social media to receive hydroxychloroquine or placebo, the analysis was based on self-report of an illness that was considered to be consistent with COVID (13%), with less than 3% supported by PCR assays. In JAMA [Journal of the American Medical Association], other studies have been published in which the dosage and duration of the prescribed treatments are not indicated, they remarked. Yes, you read that correctly: asymptomatic participants were enrolled because their self-reported illness and illness is revealed by symptoms was consistent with COVID. Another big problem with studies on HCQ is the recording of side-effects, which can in theory be serious, even life-threatening, or mild or at least not bad enough to stop a treatment that could prevent death. According to Raoult and his colleagues, the NEJM is publishing papers that do not differentiate among side-effects, lumping them all together in a way that makes an expensive treatment recommended by the World Health Organization appear to be largely harmless. We teach students to differentiate between side-effects that have direct consequences and require special care, such as kidney failure, and those that have no consequences or for which accountability is difficult to define, such as insomnia or constipation. We were surprised that in the very favorable study published on Remdesivir, the side-effects of insomnia, constipation, and renal failure were pooled, they wrote. Didier Raoult has repeatedly questioned the efficiency of Remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19, and he has also underscored its danger because of its renal toxicity, in various videos about the sanitary crisis published regularly by the IHU website. The authors called themselves stunned by another medical trial quoted by the NEJM: the RECOVERY study that assessed the use of dexmethazone without prior or simultaneous use of antiviral or antibacterial therapies. Even basic textbooks, the authors underscored, show that under these conditions, it could be seen unethical not giving corticosteroids in routine care in such circumstances and that such a trial should never have existed. In other words, the NEJM has condoned dangerous treatments, according to Raoult and his colleagues. Accusing the journal of promoting Remdesivir against HCQ, they wrote that some studies looked more like a Marx Brothers movie than science. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com Burma Myanmar Opposition MP Questions Govt Online Monitoring Body USDP lawmaker U Thaung Aye. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy NaypyitawA Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) lawmaker has called on the governments Social Media Monitoring Team (SMMT) to explain its actions at the national legislature. The SMMT was formed by the Presidents Office in February 2018 to monitor online efforts to destabilize the country. Parliament in March 2018 approved a budget of more than 6.4 billion kyats (US$4.7 million) from the special presidential fund. A former lieutenant general, U Thaung Aye asked in the Lower House for the body to explain which regulations it applies and what action it has taken against perpetrators. The opposition politician also urged the government to monitor the body to ensure it is working within legal boundaries. Far from working on its stated objective of curbing hate speech and fabricated reports on social media, the body only targeted the opposition, U Thaung Aye claimed. As critical posts about the shortcomings of the government and ruling party have been removed with the excuse that they do not meet community standards, [observers] have raised questions about if Facebook is being politically manipulated in favor of the government, said U Thaung Aye. The SMMT was the result of the National League for Democracy lawmaker Daw Yin Min Hlaings proposal in 2017 which urged the government to monitor online activity, saying irresponsible internet use could disrupt law and order and corrupt morals. At the time, the body also attracted public criticism amid fears it could be used to monitor peoples private lives. The body is reportedly jointly managed by the Presidents Office, the Attorney Generals Office and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The NLDs central information units secretary, Monywa Aung Shin, angrily responded to U Thaung Ayes accusations. We have never done what he claims. We have been attacked with fake and fabricated news. It is us who were attacked and we have never attacked anyone, said Monywa Aung Shin. Yangon-based writer Thway (Sagaing) said she still sees accounts that spread hate speech on social media, and the government has not removed fake accounts that attack minorities. The monitoring body should be kept if it is really intended to fight hatred. But if it cannot fulfill its objective, it is just a waste of money, she said. The Lower House agreed to discuss U Thaung Ayes proposal. According to Internet World Stats, Myanmar had 18 million internet users and 16 million of them are Facebook subscribers in December 2018. It is estimated that Myanmar had over 30 million internet users by this year. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Closes Govt and Private High Schools Amid COVID-19 Surge China Backs Myanmar Probe of Controversial Border New City Backed by Chinese Investors Suu Kyi Says No Discrimination Based on Faith, Ethnicity in Fight Against COVID-19 in Myanmar BLUE ASH, Ohio, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Handyman Connection, a home repair company with over 25 years of experience, announced today its top placement on Qualified Remodeler's Top 500 list in the home repair category for the tenth consecutive year. This list showcases the top remodelers of 2020, a direct reflection of Handyman Connection's continued growth and success. For companies to make the Top 500 list, a high caliber of success must be achieved in metrics including installed remodeling dollar volume, total years in business, industry association membership, industry certification, industry awards and community service. "It is a tremendous honor to be named a top remodeler of 2020 by Qualified Remodeler," said CEO and President Jeff Wall. "This award recognizes Handyman Connection's decades worth of success and we are excited to continue delivering quality service and expertise to customers all across the nation." Qualified Remodeler, a leading publication serving remodelers and home improvement companies in the U.S., has ranked Handyman Connection as the number one in the handyman category and seventh nationally on its 42nd annual TOP 500 remodelers of 2020. Since 1978, the QR TOP 500 has tracked the industry's largest and fastest growing companies. In 2020, the TOP 500 represented $10 billion in remodeling sales volume on over one million jobs. Handyman Connection operates more than 60 locations throughout 25 states and Canada. For more than 25 years, the brand has offered homeowners across North America a complete resource for professional craftsmanship and exemplary customer service. Handyman Connection offers a variety of services ranging from traditional home repairs to painting, remodeling and more. Additional information on the Top 500 can be found in the August issue of Qualified Remodeler and the full list at https://www.qualifiedremodeler.com/top-500-2020/. About Handyman Connection Since 1991, homeowners across North America have been calling on Handyman Connection for our professional craftsmanship and exemplary customer service. Each Handyman Connection franchise is locally owned and operated, backed by the company that helped launch the industry. Our values are steeped in a long-standing dedication to the people we serve, and truly differentiate Handyman Connection as a home repair company. Contact: Julia Block Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Handyman Connection Related Links http://www.handymanconnection.com Sight & Sound's 'Queen Esther' live broadcast to debut Sept. 4; lead actors talk being still in God Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Sight & Sound Theatres is gearing up to present its first-ever live worldwide broadcast of "Queen Esther" and the production's lead actors shared with The Christian Post the impact that being still in God can have on everyone during uncertain times. Some 434 performances of "Queen Esther" had been scheduled for its nine-month run in the 2,000-seat theater at Sight & Sounds studio in Pennsylvania before it was forced to halt the production after its premiere in March due to lockdown orders in response to the novel coronavirus. The show had sold over 550,000 tickets that were all refunded. The live performance will now be available to watch on Sight and Sound's new streaming platform sight-sound.tv on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Eastern time along with other stage productions by Sight & Sound Theaters on Labor Day weekend. The following is an edited transcript of CPs interview with lead actors Jessica Brown, who plays Queen Esther, and Justin Mazzella who portrays King Xerxes. The interview was at Sight & Sound Theaters back in March following their show's theatrical debut. Both actors shared how the theme of the production impacted them and how it might help others during this time. CP: "Be still" is a theme featured throughout this production. Can you talk about the importance of being still in these uncertain times? Brown: I think that He still is so important. I was doing quiet time and God reminded me of this little incident that happened. So I had a dog, and she ran underneath the Christmas tree and she got stuck underneath the chords of the Christmas tree. I'm sitting there and I'm going, "If you just stop moving," because she's pulling, trying to get out, and it kept getting tighter and tighter on her legs, I was like, "Stop moving, I will come over there and take the chords off of you." I feel like that's how we are in life. We try to do things in our own strength and we pull and pull, and we go out and do crazy things because we're trying to do things for ourselves, and we're trying to fix it. All He's telling us to do is just, "Stop, I'm going to come over there and I will untie the cords from your legs." I think that that's just one of the really cool things. Mazzella: You know we say that God whispers, and I believe He whispers because He's close. If we would just be still and listen, we'll hear Him. Sometimes we just want to fix things. Sometimes we just want to take control. And when we lose control we start to freak out a little bit. But sometimes being scared and just understanding that God is at work the end endgame and goal will be made clear to you if you just wait for His word. CP: This production starts with the statement, "Everyone has a story." Can you share a little about your own story? Mazzella: I started a few years ago; my first show was Moses. I didn't even know what Sight & Sound was and honestly, I didn't think that I would be in a ministry place. My mother's friend, who was an old, salty British sailor, was one of the smartest guys I knew very faithful, very close to God, and I learned a lot from him. He passed away, unfortunately, but one thing that he said to me before was, "You'll minister to millions." I didn't know what that meant. I thought he was delusional on his dying day. I didn't know what Sight & Sound was at that point. Then I auditioned, I come here, and I'm just a part of something. I just get to be a part of it, and I'm grateful for that alone. I'm just going where He leads. I'm just trying to be an effective part of this ministry and whatever that means. Whatever show we're doing, I'll try to apply myself and I'm just happy to be a part of it. Brown: Well, I never thought I would be doing musical theater. I grew up loving to sing. I listened to Selena, wanted to be Selena. That was what I wanted to do and I never thought that I would be here, and just God's plan made it happen. But specifically to this story, my verse has always been, "Love is patient, Love is kind," that whole thing. So for the longest time, I wanted to get a tattoo that said, "Love never fails." So I go to get my tattoo. I'm walking into the tattoo shop, and I had been feeling like God was telling me to be still. So I walk in, and I get my tattoo that says, "Be still." I changed it last minute, which is so scary. So then three months later I'm sitting at Sight & Sound, and I'm watching the trailer come up, purple, Queen Esther, it says, Be still. I just start crying. I look over at my husband and he says, "That's you." That was two years ago. I was like, "No, that's not, I can't do that. There's no way." So for two years I prayed and felt like that was a desire on my heart. And every step of the way felt like I couldn't do it. CP: In this production, we see a lot of pride in the king. Can you talk about the power of Esthers love for God being able to bring transformation to the kings heart? Mazzella: Anyone who's seen a Sight & Sound show [knows] they really focus on what the miracle is of that story walls coming down, seas parting, lions being quieted. But the miracle of this show is a changed heart. Xerxes didn't know what that would even look like, but when Esther and Xerxes meet it's something inside of her that brings a calm in him. He's experiencing the Lord through her. As she's experiencing the Lord and sings the song, "Underneath the Starlight," I just can't stop looking at her because she is not interested in Xerxes, she's interested in the Lord. She's focusing on God. Xerxes, as a person, is like, "what is that? What does it even feel like? What does it even look like?" He gets to glean from her and it brings a calming presence inside of him that he's never felt before and it changes his whole perspective and history is made. Visit Sight-Sound.tv for more information. By Brendan McDermid and Stephen Maturen KENOSHA, Wis. (Reuters) - Investigators of a shooting by a white police officer that left a Black man, Jacob Blake Jr., paralyzed and the town of Kenosha, Wisconsin, torn by civil strife found a knife belonging to Blake at the scene of the confrontation, the state attorney general said on Wednesday. The incident sparked three nights of civil unrest that has included a wave of arson, widespread vandalism and a separate shooting that claimed two lives in Kenosha, a city of about 100,000 residents on Lake Michigan, 40 miles (60 km) south of Milwaukee. In the first official details of Sunday's shooting released by the Wisconsin Justice Department, which is probing the incident, Attorney General Josh Kaul said the knife was recovered from the driver-side front floorboard of the car Blake was leaning into when he was shot in the back. Kaul also told a news conference that Blake, during the course of the investigation, had "admitted that he had a knife in his possession." Blake's lawyer responded in a statement that his client posed no threat to police and disputed that he was in possession of a knife. Kaul did not describe the knife or say whether it had anything to do with why the officer, a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha police department identified as Rusten Sheskey, had opened fire on Blake. Kaul's briefing came shortly before the U.S. Justice Department announced it had opened a federal civil rights inquiry into the shooting, to be conducted by the FBI in cooperation with Wisconsin authorities. In a separate development hours earlier, a teenager was arrested and charged with shooting three people, two of whom died, during Tuesday night's protests in Kenosha. Video footage from that incident showed a white gunman, armed with an assault-style rifle, firing at protesters who tried to subdue him, and then calmly walking away from the scene, hands in the air - his rifle hanging in front of him - as several police vehicles drive by without stopping him. Story continues Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes said on MSNBC the suspect, later identified as Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, Illinois, was apparently a militia group member who "decided to be a vigilante and take the law into his own hands and mow down innocent protesters." Bracing for a fourth night of possible upheavals on Wednesday, Governor Tony Evers said he was doubling the National Guard force he had ordered deployed to 500 troops, and a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed an hour earlier. About 200 protesters defied the curfew for hours after dark as they marched peacefully through city streets, chanting, "Black lives matter" and "No justice, no peace," while law enforcement kept a low profile. No counter-demonstrators or armed militia figures were present. National Guard soldiers were seen taking a dinner break behind the county courthouse, surrounded by barricades and heavy fencing erected around several downtown public buildings the previous day. PREAMBLE TO SHOOTING By Kaul's account of events leading to the Blake shooting, city police confronted Blake when they were called to the home of a woman who reported that her boyfriend was present "and was not supposed to be on the premises." The location he gave for the residence corresponds with the address of the woman identified in media reports as Blake's fiance, Laquisha Booker. During the incident, Kaul said, police tried to arrest Blake, using a Taser stun gun in a failed attempt to subdue him. Blake, according to the attorney general, then walked around his vehicle, opened the driver-side door and leaned forward, as officer Sheskey, clutching Blake's shirt, fired his weapon seven times at Blake's back. Kaul said no other police officers fired their weapons. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. Bystanders captured the encounter in video footage that has since gone viral, unleashing public outrage at the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against African Americans. Kaul said police in Kenosha are not equipped with body cameras. A lawyer for Blake's family, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, issued a statement late Wednesday saying Blake "did nothing to provoke police" and was "only intending to get his children out of a volatile situation" at the time. "Witnesses confirm that he was not in possession of a knife and didn't threaten officers in any way," he added. Three of Blake's young sons - aged 3, 5 and 8 - were in the vehicle at the time and witnessed their father being gunned down, Crump said. Blake has a total of six children. Neither Crump nor law enforcement officials have mentioned court records showing that an arrest warrant was filed against Blake in July by Kenosha's district attorney for three domestic abuse-related charges - criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and third-degree sexual assault, a felony. Crump has declined to respond to Reuters queries about those records, which list Blake's address as the same street number where Booker is reported to reside. According to Crump, Blake was struck by four of the seven gunshot rounds fired at him on Sunday. Bullets shattered some of his vertebrae, leaving Blake paralyzed from the waist down, possibly permanently, his lawyers said. He also suffered wounds to his stomach, intestines, kidney and liver and will require multiple operations to recover, they said. Kaul said his department's division of criminal investigations plans to issue a full report on the incident to prosecutors in 30 days, and that no other details were immediately available. Blake's family and protesters have demanded the officers involved in the shooting be immediately fired and prosecuted. (Reporting by Nathan Layne, Maria Caspani and Jonathan Allen; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot, Aurora Ellis, Lincoln Feast and William Mallard) YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. School children in Armenia wont be allowed to exit the classrooms during recess when schools get re-opened from September 15th. Deputy Minister of Education Janna Andreasyan says this is done as a safety precaution to reduce the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks. We must clearly understand what our motive is for restricting the childrens opportunity on exiting the classrooms during recess. Our motive is to maximally reduce the risk of spread of the virus at schools, she said. She said that by standard procedures a school will be shut down for a certain period of time in the event of having 10% or more infection cases. Andreasyan said the coronavirus guideline also encourages children not to exchange items with one another, for example books or pens, and maximally reduce contacts. 400,000 children are expected to return to schools on September 15th after the COVID-19-related shutdown. Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- kSARIA Corporation ("kSARIA" or the "Company"), a leading producer and supplier of mission-critical connectivity solutions for the aerospace and defense end markets and a portfolio company of Behrman Capital, today announced that it has acquired Compulink Cable Assemblies Inc. ("Compulink"). Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, Compulink is an AS9100-registered manufacturer of high-reliability cables and harnesses for commercial and military applications. Since 1984, Compulink has served original equipment manufacturers nationwide with excellence in design engineering, prototype fabrication, production, and testing. The Company's product capabilities include an array of harness assemblies such as coax, RF, Mil-C-38999 and miniaturized connectors, as well as custom-molded cable assemblies for virtually any application in the military, medical, and transportation marketplaces. Anthony J. Christopher, kSARIA's President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "Acquiring Compulink further enhances our connectivity solutions offering, following our successful integration of CIA&D late last year. Compulink's formidable presence in battlefield and ground-based applications, as well as other defense and commercial applications, complements kSARIA's strength in aerospace and naval solutions. Together, we will have expanded production and engineering capabilities, as well as access to new end markets that enable exciting growth opportunities." Grant Behrman, Managing Partner of Behrman Capital, said: "We are pleased that kSARIA is building on its recent success with its second acquisition since our investment in 2018. The Company has continued to deliver strong performance and has rapidly expanded its platform in the high-reliability optical and connectivity sector. The acquisition of Compulink accelerates this momentum, and we look forward to continuing to support kSARIA as it implements its organic and acquisition growth strategy." Rob Wilkin, co-founder of Compulink, said: "Compulink has a 36-year history of manufacturing excellence and providing innovative solutions for our customers. We have extensive industry expertise that has enabled us to forge deep-rooted and invaluable relationships with major OEMs and manufacturers. We are excited to contribute to the success of kSARIA in partnership with the management team and Behrman Capital." Steve Shevlin, co-founder of Compulink, added: "We're delighted to join forces with kSARIA. Compulink has grown to become the industry leader it is today through its customer-centric business approach and unmatched expertise in manufacturing and engineering. This transaction is a unique strategic opportunity to build on our deeply successful foundation and deliver enhanced value to our customers." About kSARIA kSARIA, based in Methuen, Massachusetts, offers complete interconnect solutions for mission critical applications with unsurpassed quality and performance. kSARIA offers unmatched advantages for all aspects of Mil/Aero connectivity solutions from cable assembly design, fabrication, installation, training, and logistics management. Whether it is optical fiber, copper, RF or hybrid cable assemblies, kSARIA has the technology, expertise, and an end-to-end approach to optimize solutions for customers. More at www.ksaria.com. About Behrman Capital Based in New York City and San Francisco, Behrman Capital was founded in 1991 by Grant G. and Darryl G. Behrman. The firm invests in management buyouts, leveraged buildups and recapitalizations of established growth businesses. The company's investments are focused in three industries: defense and aerospace, healthcare services, and specialty manufacturing and distribution. The firm has raised in excess of $3.0 billion since inception and is currently investing out of its sixth fund. For more information, please visit www.behrmancap.com. Contact Mark Semer or Daniel Hoadley Kekst CNC (212) 521-4800 [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE kSARIA Corporation; Behrman Capital KYIV -- Ukraine's Interior Ministry says it has detained two suspects for questioning about a recent arson attack in Kyiv that targeted a car used by investigative journalists from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. The attacker's "clothes, incendiary devices, and other evidence have been seized, and searches were continuing on August 26 as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the attack, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said in a Twitter statement. Interior Ministry spokesman Artem Shevchenko told RFE/RL that one of the detainees was a resident of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region and the other was from Kyiv. Shevchenko also said on August 26 that two other suspects were being sought in the case. Media watchdogs have been calling on Ukrainian authorities to investigate complaints of intimidation and attacks against journalists from the Skhemy (Schemes) program, a joint investigative project by RFE/RL and UA: Pershy television, after one of their cars was torched in Kyiv on August 17. Investigators have concluded that the fire was caused by "an external ignition source." No one was hurt in the incident. But the International and European federations of journalists said on August 18 that a campaign of harassment and intimidation, including surveillance and arson attacks, were aimed at "muzzling" the journalists' investigations. "It is essential that investigative journalists can freely and critically report on corruption and wrongdoing of state officials," IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said. "Surveillance and the attack against this team are worrisome blows against press freedom that can't go unpunished," Bellanger said. "We stand in solidarity with the victimized journalists and call on the authorities to protect them from these attacks." The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Ukrainian authorities to find the perpetrators of the arson attack and "hold them to account." Schemes reporters were recently working on a story revealing how the transport of high-level state officials breaks traffic rules. During the production of the program, the journalists repeatedly voiced concerns about being under surveillance. Schemes reporter Mykhaylo Tkach said earlier in August that he found what he thought were signs of hidden-microphone surveillance in his apartment. "Authorities also must thoroughly investigate the surveillance allegations" made by Tkach, according to Gulnoza Said, the CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. "By reporting on corruption, investigative journalists at 'Schemes' are doing an important service for the public, and the authorities should ensure their safety," Said added. RFE/RL acting President Daisy Sindelar has expressed concern about the arson attack. While no one was injured, Sindelar said, "this incident appears aimed at intimidating RFE/RL's reporters and contributing to a threatening environment for journalists across Ukraine." "Schemes is an award-winning investigative team whose work is vital to the public interest of all Ukrainians," Sindelar said. "We urge Ukrainian authorities to ensure that our colleagues can work safely and without fear." With more Americans at home consuming more media, Americans trust in TV news coverage has surged, according to a media tracking survey conducted by emotional engagement research consultancy Brand Keys. The Brand Keys survey, which biannually measures how much trust Americans have in the media outlets they view regularly, found that of the nine media brands evaluated in the survey, six of themABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBCsaw improved trust ratings. Five media outletsABC, BBC, CNN, Fox and MSNBCcurrently maintain trust levels of at least 90 percent. Only three of those outlets BBC, CNN and MSNBCheld a 90 percent or above approval rating during Brand Keys previous survey in May. Trust ratings of media brands, compared to Americans' trust in Trump and Biden. CBS revealed the single largest trust gains among audiences during this cycle, at 88 percent, up from the previous 84 percent approval rating it exhibited in May. Since the surveys inception two years ago, the outlets to witness the greatest gains in viewer trust are CNN and ABC (both up 21 percent), NBC (up 19 percent), CBS (up 16 percent) and MSNBC (up 10 percent). The only outlets to receive lower approval marks among audiences since Brand Keys previous round of surveys were MSNBC (-6), PBS (-2) and Bloomberg (-1). When asked what news topics are currently top concerns for viewers, respondents cited COVID-19 (31 percent), the economy (27 percent), the 2020 election (20 percent), the re-opening of schools (15 percent) and national protests (seven percent). The survey also revealed an ongoing favorably gap between President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Only 19 percent of TV viewers currently said they trust Trump, nearly three times smaller than the percentage of respondents who said they trust Biden (49 percent). These numbers are more or less consistent with findings from Brand Keys previous round of tracking in May, where trust in Trump stood at 12 percent compared to Bidens 43 percent. The latest installment of Brand Keys Media Trust Tracking survey polled 5,066 U.S. adults in early August. Respondents were balanced for gender and political affiliation. As the crowd marched onto West Dayton Street, police came up behind them in a line near North Carroll Street. Around 1:45 a.m., they deployed tear gas while protesters were about a half a block away and already walking away from officers. It appeared that only one canister was deployed, along with at least one sponge projectile round from a launcher. Protesters regrouped at the Capitol near North Hamilton Street and decided to go home for the night. After, Johnson said he was disappointed with the destruction, but not protesters. "The folks who led the peaceful protest embraced having city leaders there, which was encouraging to see that that bridge was built," Johnson said. "I think that's where my disappointment comes in that it was a fruitful discussion and then you got these people out here agitating that's taking away from the broader message." Ain't no justice The late-night events were a contrast to earlier in the evening when local activist group Freedom, Inc. hosted a candlelight vigil and march to honor the lives of those killed or injured by police, including Blake, the Black man shot by Kenosha police on Sunday. As fun as it looks, it's definitely not the smartest idea during a global pandemic. The owners have since been fined $6,772 AUD for not following social distancing restrictions, but Aussie authorities have said people in the video won't be charged as it'd take too long to identify everyone. Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told Sunrise: "The message to all of those persons, and a lot of them are young people, I hate to say - so, sorry young people - is to have a think before you go out about the impacts of your not abiding by the social distancing in the community and what that means. "It's certainly putting our police under pressure. Because the licensed premises are by and large doing the right thing, it's the people that are attending the store aren't quite getting the message that we would like to see." CHICAGO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Middle East data center market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 3% during the period 20192025. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: 10+ new data center projects and expansion activities witnessed in the Middle East market in 2019. In 2019, Turkey dominated the investments in the Middle East market with a share of around 35%, followed by the UAE with a share of over 12%. Over $4 billion cumulative investment will be witnessed in Middle East data center market during 2020-2025. $650 million cumulative investments are expected on cooling systems across Middle East during 2020-2025. In 2019, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Gulf Data Hub, Khazna, Equinix, Batelco, Turkcell, Telecom Italia Sparkle, Palestine Telecommunications Company, and Etisalat have invested in Middle East market. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20192025 Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by IT infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, tier standards, and geography Competitive Landscape List of 10 IT infrastructure providers, 14 construction service providers, and 10 data center investors Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/middle-east-data-center-market-size-analysis Middle East Data Center Market Segmentation The server market is witnessing a gradual shift from rack-based servers to blade ones to support high-density operations. The increased adoption of technology such as IoT, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning by enterprises across the Middle East is driving the demand. is driving the demand. The adoption of lithium-ion batteries is likely to increase during the forecast period in the region as their price will continue to decline. Since most vendors are offering lithium-ion based UPS systems, the market is likely to become highly competitive during the forecast period. The majority of Middle East countries do not support the use of free cooling systems. The Middle East data center market is adopting water-based cooling systems; however, direct liquid cooling and immersion cooling solutions are likely to witness high adoption. Middle East Data Center Market by IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Network Middle East Data Center Market by Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Middle East Data Center Market by Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers & Dry Coolers Other Units Racks Other Mechanical Infrastructure Middle East Data Center Market by General Construction Building Development Installation & Commissioning Services Building Designs Physical Security DCIM Middle East Data Center Market by Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV Middle East Data Center Market Dynamics The digitalization of business operations is driving the demand for cloud-based service adoption in the market. Over the past few years, the demand for cloud-based services has been increasingly gaining traction in the Middle East. The use of cloud computing services and applications continues to rise rapidly, leading to the establishment of vast hyperscale cloud-based data centers across the region. Cloud computing is changing the dynamics of data center facilities, leading to several innovations and resulting in the use of modern infrastructure. Cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft, Tencent, Google, and Oracle are the major investors in data centers that are expected to open or expand their presence in the next 23 years. Also, there is growing competition in the market from local and regional cloud service providers, especially managed service providers, which has prompted service providers to establish their presence across several countries in the region. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Rise in Renewable Energy-Powered Facilities in Middle East Smart City Initiatives Driving Edge Data Center Deployments Big Data & IoT Spending to Drive Data Center Investments Government Support to Boost Digital Economy in Middle East Middle East Data Center Market Geography Saudi Arabia is one of the leading data center markets in the Middle East due to the steady growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) applications among businesses and consumers as well as strong fiber connectivity. Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and Ericsson have signed a deal to launch a mid-band 5G network in Saudi Arabia. STC Group has officially launched commercial 5G services in Saudi Arabia to provide this service across a number of cities in the country. The growing internet penetration, social media usage, and smart initiatives will continue to drive the market over the next few years. Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/middle-east-data-center-market-size-analysis Middle East Data Center Market by Geography UAE Saudi Arabia Turkey Jordan Other Countries Prominent IT Infrastructure Vendors HPE Cisco Dell Technologies Huawei IBM Arista Atos Broadcom Lenovo NetApp Prominent Construction Contractors Red Engineering Atkins ISG McLaren Group of Companies ICS Nett Laing O'Rourke NOVA Mission Critical Edarat Group Linesight Deerns Enmar Engineering Qatar Site and Power Harinsa Qatar (HQ) Turner & Townsend Prominent Data Center Investors Akbank Amazon Web Services (AWS) Equinix Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunications Company) Etisalat Group Gulf Data Hub Khanza Turkcell Telecom Italia Sparkle Zain Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry.Read some of the top-selling reports: About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Mail: [email protected] Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence (Newser) Jerry Falwell Jr. has officially resigned from Liberty University, and he told the Washington Post on Tuesday night that he'll get $10.5 million in severance, as specified in his contract. That's because he resigned in good standing, without being formally accused of or admitting to any wrongdoing. "The board was gracious not to challenge that," he tells the newspaper. "There wasnt any cause. I havent done anything." He'll get $2.5 million over two years, the equivalent of what his salary would have been during that same period, and he's agreed not to work for a competing university during those years. At the end of that period, he'll get the rest of his severance in retirement. A source tells Fox News that Falwell has agreed to consult for Liberty during the transition to a new president. story continues below His resignation comes, of course, on the heels of a controversial photo showing him with his wife's scantily-clad assistant, which was quickly followed by Falwell's admission that his wife had had an affair. Reports have claimed the affair lasted years and Falwell would watch his wife and her lover have sex; Falwell claims the man tried to extort the couple, and his wife denies Falwell watched, per Fox News. Her alleged lover on Tuesday issued new accusations against Falwell, claiming he shared inappropriate photos of a Liberty student; Falwell tells the Post it was simply a funny, non-sexual image of a friend of his daughters-in-law. Also Tuesday, Falwell confirmed it was President Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen who helped him years ago when someone tried to blackmail the Falwells over sensitive photos. Cohen claims he asked Falwell, as a "personal favor," to endorse President Trump during the 2016 campaign. (Read more Jerry Falwell Jr. stories.) The Constitutional Committee is experiencing further delays, with the number of those infected rising to four, and members being told to quarantine reports Alsouria Net. The third round of the Syrian Constitutional Committee meetings in Geneva is still on hold for the second day in a row, after the number of infections among the committees members increased to four. In their statement on Monday, the United Nations revealed that three committee members had tested positive for the virus. However, the head of the opposition delegation, Hadi al-Bahra, wrote in a post on his Facebook page today that the number of infections rose to four, without mentioning the names of the injured. Bahra said in press statements published on Twitter, Unfortunately, it was revealed that four members of the committee tested positive for COVID-19 according to todays test results, which resulted in the suspension of the committees meetings and placing all of its members under quarantine in their rooms in their places of residence, for a period ranging from two to 10 days. While the identity of the infected remains unknown, activists have been circulating names indicating that the four infections came from Damascus and belong to the regimes delegation. The names are: Muhammad Khair Akam, Darin Suleiman, Ahmed al-Asrawi, and Ali Abbas. 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. First Lady Melania Trump said that the US needs President Donald Trump's leadership "now more than ever" if the US aspires to become the "greatest economy" in the world on Tuesday First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that the US needs President Donald Trumps leadership now more than ever if the US aspires to become the greatest economy in the world. I believe we need my husbands leadership now more than ever in order to bring us back once again to the greatest economy and the strongest country ever known, she said at the White House addressing the Republican National Convention 2020. The first lady further said Trump would not stop fighting for Americans and their families if elected president again. She calls him an authentic person as he has no secrets about how he feels about things. In my husband, you have a president who will not stop fighting for you and your families. I see how hard he works each day and night. I am here because we need my husband as President and commander-in-chief for four more years, Melania Trump said. ALSO READ : Eric Trump calls Joe Biden giant relief for terrorists, pushover for China at Republican National Convention He is what is best for our country. We all know how Donald Trump makes no secrets about how he feels about things. You always know what he is thinking. Total honesty is what we deserve from our president, whether you like it or not, and that is because he is an authentic person who loves this country and its people, she added.The US Presidential Elections are set to take place on November 3 this year. ALSO READ : Isolated China softens stand on LaC, calls Galwan brief moment in history Advertisement The white supremacist terrorist who attacked two mosques in New Zealand, killing 51 and wounding at least 40, has passed up the chance to speak in his own defence when he is sentenced tomorrow. Breton Tarrant has pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one count of terrorism, and is in the midst of a week-long sentencing hearing in Christchurch, where the attack took place on March 15, 2019. Tarrant, who posted a 74-page manifesto online before launching his attack, had earlier sacked his defence team in favour of defending himself - giving him the opportunity to speak before judgement is passed at the High Court. But he has now announced via a court-appointed lawyer that he will not speak during Thursday's hearing, and will instead have a statement read out on his behalf. Tarrant's decision to silence himself comes at the end of three days of vocal testimony from his victims and their families, which has seen tears shed and angry words exchanged, along with messages of hope and healing. Perhaps the most startling testimony came from Ahad Nabi, who lost his 71-year-old father Haj during the attack, who described Tarrant as 'coward', a 'maggot' and 'the trash of society'. Clad in a New Zealand Warriors rugby league jersey, Ahad raised both his middle fingers at Tarrant and flexed his muscles, while branding the killer 'weak'. Ahad Nabi is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 26 Ahad Nabi's father Haj Mohemmed Daoud Nabi (pictured) was shot dead by Tarrant at Al Noor Mosque on March 15 last year 'I ask from you, your honour, that this scum of the world never be allowed to walk from the prison in his lifetime,' Mr Nabi said Mr Nabi told Tarrant that his 71-year-old father 'would have snapped you in half in a fight', then called the killer a 'coward' Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant arrives for his sentencing hearing at Christchurch High Court on August 26 He added: 'Your father was a garbage man and you became trash of society. He is ashamed of your identity. You deserve to be buried in a landfill. This world was created with colour, a peasant like you will never change the human race. 'You hurt my father but you never took him away from me. What I mean by this is that you physically hurt him but you gifted my father with becoming a martyr and he's returned to Allah.' He described Tarrant as a coward after he shot at 'defenceless people who were not aware what was going on until it was too late'. 'Your actions were of a gutless character. There is nothing heroic of your actions,' Nabi said. Mr Nabi said he did not forgive Tarrant before asking a special request of the judge. 'I ask from you, your honour, that this scum of the world never be allowed to walk from the prison in his lifetime,' Mr Nabi said. 'I ask that he be put into mainstream prison to stop wasting taxpayer money giving him special treatment. 'Coming back to this maggot ... my 71-year-old dad would have broke you in half if you challenged him to a fight. 'But you are weak. A sheep with a wolf's jacket on for 10 minutes of your whole life. 'I am strong and you made me even stronger,' Mr Nabi concluded, flexing his arms to show his biceps and sticking up his middle fingers. 'My name is Sara Qasem. Daughter of a hero. Daughter of a shining, glimmering man ... daughter of a martyr. Of Abdelfattah Qasem. Remember that name,' she said firmly (pictured) Nor Abd Wahib and her husband Rahimi Bin Ahmad are seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 26 Manal Dokhan points a finger at Tarrant as she gives a statement during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah looks Tarrant directly in the eyes during his victim impact statement at a court in Christchurch Hazem Mohammed is temporarily overcome with emotion while speaking at the High Court in Christchurch Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant arrives for his sentencing hearing at Christchurch High Court on August 26 Another victim, Sara Qasem, was not originally listed on the court plans but rose to speak on behalf of her father Abdelfattah, murdered at Al Noor mosque. 'My name is Sara Qasem. Daughter of a hero. Daughter of a shining, glimmering man ... daughter of a martyr. Of Abdelfattah Qasem. Remember that name,' she said firmly. 'My dad never left. He could have left but he stayed behind to help his brothers. Putting others before himself.' Ms Qasem drew tears from every corner of the courtroom as she grieved for her lost father. 'I'd never really known what the meaning of a broken heart was until then,' she said. 'I want to go on more road trips with him. 'Smell his home cooking. His cologne.' Crying, she composed herself and eyeballed Tarrant, saying 'these tears are not for you'. 'To hear his deep belly laugh,' she continued. 'I want to hear him tell me more about the olive trees in Palestine. I want to hear his voice.' Ms Qasem's moving testimony came alongside those who gave more pointed addresses. The rich displays of emotion inside the courtroom contrast sharply with the everyday collegiality in the halls of the Christchurch courthouse between sessions. Outside proceedings, victims, family members, support workers and police mingle and chat, showing the sense of community that they have built and often referred to in statements. Nathan Smith raises his hand as he speaks about how the attack has impacted him during Tarrant's sentencing hearing Mustafa Boztas delivers a heartbreaking story during Tarrant's sentencing on August 26 Che Ta Binti Mat Ludin is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 26 Hasmine Mohamedhosen is seen reading a victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing on August 26 Mulki Husein Abdiwahab delivers her heartbreaking speech during the hearing on August 26 Encouragingly, after giving their contributions, victims often say they are left with a sense of relief, empowerment and strength. 'When I saw him shooting people, I was not the one in control. He was,' Rosemary Omar, who lost her 24-year-old son Tariq Omar, told AAP. 'It was empowering to get some of that power back that the perpetrator took from us when he killed our son.' Rashid Omar, Rosemary's husband and Tariq's father, said he felt a full range of emotions while addressing Tarrant. 'At first I was emotional reading about my sadness and loss but I gained strength. I got more angry after that,' he said. 'I looked right at him, that really helped.' Mr Omar told the court he felt 'broken inside', lost his enjoyment of life, and eyeballed Tarrant, telling him would never be able to forgive him. 'When I said I will never be able to forgive you, he just nodded,' he said. 'I felt like I was in control. He was looking and me and I was staring back at him. 'I saw him nod, agree with me ... like 'fair enough'.' Esam Alzhqhoul, right, gestures as he gives his victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing for Tarrant John Milne holds a photograph of his son, Sayyad Milne, who was killed, as his daughter, Brydie Henry, looks on Weedad Mohamedhosen is seen in court on August 26 describing the impact the massacre had on her Sazada Akhter is seen during victim impact statements in the sentencing of mosque terrorist Brenton Tarrant The father of the attack's youngest victim - three-year-old Mucaad who was shot to death at Al Noor mosque - had a statement read to the court by a family member. In the statement, Aden Ibrahim Diriye said: 'You have killed my son and to me it is as if you have killed the whole of New Zealand. 'He used to engage and play with the police; at home he would run around the house pretending to be a cop and wear police uniform. We thought one day he might become a police officer.' 'I don't know you, I never hurt you, your father, mother and any of your friends. Rather I am the type of person who would help you and your family with anything.' 'Know that true justice is waiting for you in the next life and that will be far more severe. I will never forgive you for what you have done.' Mustafa Boztas, a survivor who was wounded at Al Noor mosque, told Tarrant: 'You are not actually a human, not even an animal since animals are beneficial to the world. 'You are classified as someone who is dumb enough not to realise that beyond the skin all humans are the same, and all have the same internal organs and function the same. 'You will be remembered, but as a scared killer and nothing more.' Hasmine Mohamedhosen, whose brother Mohamed was killed, called Tarrant the 'son of a devil' who she wanted to 'rot in hell between the four walls of your cell for eternity'. Wasseim Daragmih is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque terrorist Brenton Tarrant Sahadat Mohammed and his wife during Tarrant's sentencing on August 26 in New Zealand's High Court Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui (R) is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 25 Kyron Gosse is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 25 John Milne, whose 14-year-old son Sayyad was murdered, said since the killings his mental health had suffered, leading to a spell in a psychiatric ward. 'There is a huge hole in my heart that will only heal when I meet Sayyad again in heaven,' he said. 'I hope to see you there too, Brenton, and if you get the chance I'd love you to say sorry to Sayyad. I'm sure he's forgiven you too.' Showing a photo of his son to the man in the dock, Milne implored: 'Please, just remember his name.' The full hearings will not be seen by the public, with Justice Cameron Mander placing restrictions on what can be broadcast and some speakers choosing not to allow recordings. It is unlikely the court has seen many contributions quite like Ms Qasem's, who finished her statement by comparing the rebuilding of her community to the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold leaf. 'Our hearts may be broken ... but slowly and surely we are reassembling each crack with a lining of gold,' she said. 'The gold is the love, the aroha, the New Zealand community, our friends and neighbours, the flower wall, the government. 'In the end, love wins and love will always win.' WASHINGTON Not far from the vice presidential residence in Northwest Washington is a sign designed to draw Mike Pences attention. Hey Pence, read the pink letters hand-painted onto plywood. 167,003+ The number of deaths from COVID-19, which the sign references, has grown since it was erected. Pence was put in charge of the Trump administrations response to the pandemic that, beyond its deadly consequences for people, upended the presidents reelection campaign. Four years ago, when Trumps candidacy was nearly blown up by the release of a video from 2005 in which he bragged about grabbing women, Pence helped stabilize the campaign by staying on the ticket. He offered his testimonial as a Christian who believes in forgiveness. He has the more difficult task of saving both their political futures by convincing the nation that Trump has the coronavirus under control, a challenge he will continue to undertake when he addresses the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. We think there is a miracle around the corner, Pence said on CNN during a round of television interviews after the Democratic National Convention last week. We believe its very likely that well have one or more vaccines for the coronavirus before the end of this year. All of thats attributed to President Trumps leadership. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence headline the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Pence says he expects a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year: "All of thats attributed to President Trumps leadership. Despite the loyalty reflected by Pences reflexive and constant praise for Trump, hes had to endure never-ending speculation about whether Trump would replace him on the ticket. Could Trump attract more support from women or nonwhite voters if he ran with former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem or South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott? Several people close to Pence said hes always felt secure in his relationship with Trump. I dont think he was ever personally, seriously worried about that, said John Hammond, a friend and Republican National Committee member from Indiana. Trump was asked about Pence at a White House lunch more than a year ago that David McIntosh attended as head of the conservative Club for Growth. Story continues He just kind of listened and then said, I just think it'd be disloyal for me not to have him," said McIntosh, a close friend of Pence's. Pence told McIntosh afterward that Trump relayed the same message to him. I think (Pence) was at peace, really, the whole time, McIntosh said. Many people dont appreciate how much of a skilled and capable inside player the vice president is, said Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, who has known Pence since his early days in Congress. Sometimes people mistake the Boy Scout demeanor and the `Midwestern nice for not being as tough as Trump, Reed said. The only people who think that are people who dont know Mike Pence. 'Tied to Trump' Rising GOP stars Haley, Noem and Scott are among the speakers at the convention, as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton and Trumps son, Donald Jr., possible contenders for the 2024 GOP nomination. The Republicans maneuvering to reshape the GOP in a new image if Trump is defeated include former Ohio Gov. John Kasich who spoke at the Democrats convention. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley spoke on Monday, the first night of the Republican National Convention. Political analyst Ramesh Ponnuru said Pence has to show hes done everything possible to support the ticket and, if Trump loses, its not because of him. Obviously, hes tied to Trump for the future, said Ponnuru, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who studies the future of conservatism. So he has to make the best of that. Impeachment inquiry: How much did Mike Pence know about pressure on Ukraine? Pences negative ratings have steadily risen since Trump selected him for the ticket in 2016. About half of registered voters had an unfavorable view of him in a poll by Fox News in mid-August, compared with 41% who viewed him positively. Four years ago, more voters viewed him positively than negatively, according to the Fox polls. Pence was unfamiliar to many voters when he took the stage in 2016, days after Trumps announcement of Pence in which Trump talked more about himself than he did about his new running mate. Donald Trump congratulates vice presidential candidate Mike Pence at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Pence introduced himself to the nation by repeating his favorite self-description: A Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order. In that same vein, Pence quoted the Bibles King David when he accepted the partys nomination for vice president Monday. Who am I and who is my family that youve brought us this far? Pence said. A Christian first: How the Bible helps Pence navigate his role as Trump's vice president I'm Billy Graham's granddaughter: Evangelical support of Donald Trump spits on his legacy. In 2016, Pences deep roots in the Christian conservative wing of the partys base helped authenticate Trump to a group that liked what he promised but had not had a relationship with him, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, head of the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List. The Pence imprimatur meant everything at that point, said Dannenfelser, a longtime friend of, and political advocate for, Pence. (The vice president wrote the forward for her new book, Life is Winning.) Research by two political scientists who studied surveys of the same voters opinions throughout the 2016 campaign found no uptick in support for the GOP ticket among evangelical Christians, conservatives or Midwesterners after Pences addition. I think many people believe that Mike Pence persuaded them, particularly evangelicals and conservatives, said Christopher Devine, a political scientist at the University of Dayton whose book "Do Running Mates Matter?" was published this spring. But the reality is, I think, a lot of them are fooling themselves or fooling others or some combination of the two. Still, Devine said, there wouldve been a real cost to Trump swapping Pence for another running mate: Trump wouldnt have lost Christian conservatives, but he would have sent a signal of instability about the campaign. 'One of the best decisions' In a fundraising solicitation last week, Trump called Pence the perfect Vice President and one of the best decisions I ever made. He singled out Pences work on abortion and religious liberties and his leadership of the Coronavirus Task Force. The latter assignment was classic Trump, said Joel Goldstein, a vice presidential scholar. If the coronavirus is badly handled, Pence gets blamed, he said. If all goes well, Trump gets the credit. Trump says nice things about Pence, Goldstein said, but he doesnt really support or protect Pences credibility in the way that other presidents have done for their vice presidents. A former senior White House official who asked not to be named to give a candid assessment of Pence summarized his longevity this way: Vice President Pence is handling an extremely difficult situation very well. Anthony Fauci, right, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, works with Vice President Mike Pence on the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic. Overly optimistic on COVID-19 Pence initially drew good reviews for his task force leadership. He worked closely with governors even as Trump attacked them. He showed empathy for victims and deference to scientists such as Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But as the Trump administration became eager for the economy to recover, Pence embraced an optimistic view that hasn't been borne out by the path the pandemic took in recent months. In April, he said the nation would largely have this coronavirus epidemic behind us by Memorial Day. In June, Pence declared in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that there isnt a coronavirus second wave. In an ad in July from the Lincoln Project, a campaign run by Republicans opposed to Trump, Pences disembodied head bumps up a chart showing a rise in coronavirus cases as Pences praise for Trumps handling of the health crisis replays. A campaign ad by the Lincoln Project criticizes Vice President Mike Pence's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Asked last week whether his statements were wrong, Pence told more than one TV interviewer that everyone has been learning along the way. Julian Zelizer, author of Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, the Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of a New Republican Party, described Pence as damaged goods with the broader public. Everyone in the administration is hurt by their connection to the pandemic policy, and Pence was one of the people more visible from the Oval Office, from the administration, working on this, said Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University. The only people who survive this are figures like Fauci who are seen as outliers and voices of truth. A sign in Northwest Washington reminds Vice President Mike Pence of the deaths from COVID-19. Freedom is 'on the ballot' Pence will deliver his convention remarks at Baltimores Fort McHenry, the 1812 site central to the young nations defense against Britain that inspired Francis Scott Key to write what became the national anthem. A replica of the 15-star, 15-stripe, Star-Spangled Banner that Key wrote about will fly at the national monument as Pence speaks in front of an audience of mostly military families. Pence, a history buff who constantly takes notes for speeches, was still polishing his remarks at the beginning of the week. The speech is likely to have themes similar to one Pence gave in July in Ripon, Wisconsin, the city that played a crucial role in forming the Republican Party to fight slavery. Pence argued that Republicans are the party of freedom and opportunity while Democrats will usher in socialism and decline. Early marker: Pence argues against socialism in Ripon, Wisconsin I heard the other day that democracy is on the ballot, Pence told delegates in North Carolina on Monday. I think we all know the economy is on the ballot. Law and order is on the ballot. Our most cherished ideals of freedom and free markets are on the ballot. At the convention, Pences evolution is likely to be highlighted in an introductory video: from growing up in an Irish Catholic family and collecting news clippings of John F. Kennedy, to casting his first vote in college where he became a born-again Christian for evangelical Jimmy Carter, to revering Ronald Reagan. Including footage shot from Abraham Lincolns boyhood home in southern Indiana, the biographical video is likely to cover Pences years as a radio talk show host in Indiana, which helped him hone his message as the friendly conservative and happy warrior. 'Put me in, coach': Second lady Karen Pence embraces bigger role on 2020 campaign trail Charlotte Pence Bond: What Vice President Mike Pence's daughter says about him After the convention, Pence will travel to Michigan and Minnesota before delivering a commencement address at Wisconsin Lutheran College. As he did in 2016, the former Indiana governor campaigns in Rust Belt swing states as if hes running for governor. He seeks out local media for interviews and attempts as much retail politics as is possible in the era of social distancing. He was an incredible emissary and an ambassador to a lot of voters in the Midwest who, I think, had some reticence about Trump that was based on stylistic issues, Reed said. As a son of the Midwest, Mike Pence was able to do that, and I think he'll do that again. Vice President Mike Pence speaks Aug. 19 at Tankcraft in Darien, Wis. His trips have focused heavily on constituency groups such as law enforcement officers, farmers and Christian conservatives Dannenfelser was with Pence at an anti-abortion pregnancy clinic in Florida this month for the kickoff of the Susan B. Anthony Lists multistate campaign called Life Wins. No sitting vice president or president has visited pregnancy centers, and that is the centerpiece of these visits, she said. Its just going deeper. Pence has begun preparing for the vice presidential debate Oct. 7 against Kamala Harris. Mike Pence vs. Kamala Harris: Here's where they might clash Asked to look further into the future say 2024 Pence demurred. All my focus is on getting this president reelected for four more years, Pence told Fox News on Tuesday when asked whether hes thought about running for president. McIntosh said that when Pence was sworn in as vice president, he saw himself as a David-type fighter and leader figure from the Old Testament. But his role became more of a Jonathan to Trumps David, a close friend and adviser. Lots of people, myself included, told him, 'You need to get out there and lead on a couple things, because people are saying you don't have leadership ability, McIntosh said. He said, 'Thats not my role right now. My role is to be there to support President Trump. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Pence to vouch for Trump on pandemic, economy in Baltimore speech Photo credit: Mondadori Portfolio From Esquire I ask my younger brother to take my picture and it makes me feel a bit sick. Can. You. Take. My. Photo... Please? I am 28 years old and this request makes my skin crawl. Standing there 'posing' makes me want to shrivel up and float away. But I have bought a new shirt (it's Acne) and needs must. He humours me. I check the results. Satisfying. Mortifying. There are quite a few things in life that are a bit embarrassing: getting run over by a bicycle; tucking a napkin into your shirt while eating a big plate of spaghetti; ordering a mocha; losing your temper with your parents as an adult; slipping into a mockney accent while talking to a plumber; refusing to split a bill; fighting; running for a train; riding a scooter; referring to yourself as a 'Londoner'; DJs; sneezing more than twice in a row; throwing a frisbee; saying "Y'all", writing "Y'all"; jealousy; being really good at poker; the concept of brunch; Marvel films; leaving a three-star Tripadvisor review; Hamilton, the musical; cryptocurrency; baths. (This list is not quite exhaustive, but it's close). But nothing comes close to the quiet, banal, excruciating exchange of asking someone to take your photo. The garbled request, the fumbled baton pass of the phone to hand, the pose, the smile. Another pose. Grimace, grimace, grimace. The checking of the results, which you will smile and thank them for anyway, just as you will always tell a barber that your new cut is a "much better", no matter how badly he's butchered you. when you post a fit pic https://t.co/icRgIVo0Mp Derek Guy (@dieworkwear) August 21, 2020 With 129,000 hashtags on Instagram, scores of online forums dedicated to the practice and, with influencers, an entire billion-dollar industry built around it, the #fitpic (outfit picture, to the tragically out-of-touch) is a prominent part of modern men's style. If your wear your new Jacquemus shirt in the forest and there's no one there to snap some soft-focused evidence, do you really own a Jacquemus shirt at all? To participate in online fashion means, at some point, you will probably have to ask someone if they can photograph you. Story continues "With outfit photos now being a part of my work I just get on with it, I have to," says Jordan Bunker, a menswear influencer (sorry Jordan) who has worked with brands like Arket, Joseph, Aesop and Mr Porter and who takes nice, softly lit photos in smart, minimalist clothes. "The more times you get used to the process of asking a friend to help you out or working with a photographer, it becomes easier for sure. I enjoy being able to document what I wear and if that means potentially standing awkwardly for a couple minutes in front of a wall, I am all for it." Increasingly, whether you're an influencer or an insurance broker, there is a pressure external, internal, both to form a 'personal brand' online. To be seen as someone who wears interesting clothes and does interesting things and drinks interesting wine and inhabits an interesting space. We are the curators of our own solipsistic galleries; grubby little gardeners tending to a vain patch of carrots. Five years ago we posted sloppy, saturated yet eager photos of the food on our plates. Today, the Instagram mood is to show off your outfit without showing off your outfit. An ironic caption, an ironic pose. I don't really want to be here, but... just let me check that last one again? "I feel like less of a war criminal asking someone to help me move in the middle of summer," says James Harris, on the question no man wants to ask: would you take my photo, please? One half of the Throwing Fits menswear podcast, Harris and his co-host, Lawrence Schlossman, have popularised a new wave of zeitgeist-y online menswear criticism, which comes accessorised with sardonic humour. Each Friday, hundreds of men (and some women) flood the Throwing Fits Instagram DMs with their own fit pics, hoping to be chosen for the podcast's hugely popular 'Fit Pic Friday' feature on its Instagram Stories. In fact, it's become so popular that a growing number of people have taken to scouring the submissions for an eligible potential partner decked out in Our Legacy and Paraboots. "We get a few hundred submissions each week and people are legit salty when they don't get reposted," says Harris. "I think part of that is this new phenomenon where a bunch of female fans are scouring the fit check looking for some studs to DM. If a couple gets married because of Fit Check Friday then they have to fly us out to the wedding. That's the rule. "Flexing is inherently corny ('look at me and my stuff!')," Harris adds, "and by roping someone into taking your fit pic you're effectively becoming the Edenic Serpent and inducing the original sin of flexing on the timeline upon them. To avoid the mortifying act of asking a homie to take my pic, and since I'm complicit in all this shit, I did the second most embarrassing thing you can do and copped a selfie tripod." I Google selfie tripods, imagining a future where my siblings and loved ones aren't in slightly pitying cahoots with my ongoing propensity towards printed shirts, matching workwear and showing off online. There's one with good reviews for 17.96 on Amazon. My cursor hovers over it, memories of embarrassing fit pics of the past drifting through my mind. I am 21 when I post my first ever fit pic to the malefashionadvice subreddit; the response is lukewarm to negative. "Those trainers with those trousers?" I sit alone in my bedroom on a spring weekday afternoon, feeling a bit sad. I am 23 and on holiday in Sri Lanka. I get caught taking a selfie during a hike. "Do you want me to take that for you?" a kind American woman asks. I shout out something incoherent and sprint into a nearby forest. I am 27 and, during lockdown, I send a photo of my outfit into the popular Instagram account 'Working From Home Fits', at the behest of a colleague who helps run it. I never hear anything back from her, or the account. I am Narcissus gazing into a lake of my own making a cracked phone screen and the small box of my likeness on Zoom and I am quietly very embarrassed about it. Yet, will I do it again? Will I force my younger brother or my girlfriend to take 30 options for every outfit on holiday? To document my good trouser days? Will a small, humiliating rush of endorphins spike in my chest when a fit pic does triple digits? Validate these clothes. Validate me. Water these carrots. Yes, yes. I absolutely will. Yes. Obviously. Now please, like and follow. Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox SIGN UP Need some positivity right now? Subscribe to Esquire now for a hit of style, fitness, culture and advice from the experts SUBSCRIBE You Might Also Like Amaravati, Aug 26 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have been trading barbs over the ongoing protest in Amaravati against the government's three capital move. With the protest continuing even after 250 days and the TDP trying to mobilise various groups to further intensify it, the YSRCP has stepped up attacks calling the stir a hoax. The political slugfest has gathered momentum at a time when the three capital case is being heard by the High Court, where more than 50 people have filed petitions seeking a stay on the government's move to shift the administrative capital to Visakhapatnam and the judicial capital to Kurnool. TDP along with the left parties and some people's organisations is working overtime to ensure that the farmers, women and other groups intensify their protests in various villages in Amaravati. On the other hand the ruling party leaders have alleged that TDP president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is running the protest to protect his 'real estate' interests in Amaravati. "The agitation for retaining Amaravati as the sole capital is nothing but a hype created by Chandrababu Naidu and vested interests who fear that their real estate business would be lost," said YSRCP leader Ambati Rambabu. The legislator alleged that Naidu was fooling people by claiming that some 85 people had died in the agitation and that farmers would be losers if Amaravati was not retained as the sole capital of the state. "People in Amaravati know who the agitators are as they are real estate owners backed by Naidu and supported by their favoured media houses," he said. He called it a vicious campaign by Naidu to help his supporters gain a good price for their land. He claimed that there was a big land scam in Amaravati during the previous TDP government led by Naidu as he created a hype to jack up the land prices. "Naidu and his benamis had bought hundreds of acres of land here and were expecting a windfall through it," he said. YSRCP leaders point out that their government was conducting a probe into the Amaravati land scam and said the accused would be brought to book soon. The ruling party leaders are also trying to project Naidu as 'anti-north Andhra' for opposing Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital. They are also targeting the Left parties for supporting TDP in Amaravati protest. MLA Karanam Dharmasri slammed the CPI and CPM for supporting the agitation backed by Naidu and his benamis and acting contrary to the ideology of Karl Marx. The YSRCP leaders stepped up attacks on the TDP after the latter started to intensify the protest. Terming Amaravati as one of India's longest agitations, Naidu slammed the Jaganmohan Reddy government for pushing ahead with the three capital plan without approval of the people. The former chief minister alleged that the YSRCP was afraid of seeking a fresh mandate, a clear indication of how the people's mood was strongly against the capital shifting. He said the ruling party had not come forward to accept the TDP's challenge to dissolve the Assembly and seek re-election on the three capital move. The leader of opposition said that the protests would continue till the government withdrew its 'evil' plan to destroy their dream capital. The agitation for keeping Amaravati as the one and only capital of Andhra Pradesh began on December 18 last year after Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy announced the three capital plan in the Assembly. The state cabinet on January 29 approved the capital shifting, leading to intensifying of protests in all the 29 villages of Amaravati capital area. The TDP leaders claim that over 29,000 farmers in all these 29 villages sacrificed their 34,000 acres of ancestral property to the cause of developing Amaravati capital for the entire state. The agitation continued through Coronavirus lockdown. Farmers, women, youth and others have been taking part in the agitation by duly following the Covid-19 restrictions. The latest phase of protest began on July 31 when Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan gave his assent to The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Repeal Bill, 2020 and The Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill 2020. The approval of the Bills paved the way for shifting key capital functions from Amaravati. The government plans to develop Visakhapatnam as the executive capital. With the shifting of the offices of the Chief Minister, Governor, ministers and secretaries to the coastal city, it will become the seat of power. The government has decided to develop Kurnool as the judicial capital by shifting the High Court there. Amaravati, which was originally planned as the only state capital and a world-class city, will serve as a mere legislative capital. Dealing with the petitions filed by farmers of Amaravati and others challenging the two Bills, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered a status quo till August 27. The then TDP government headed by Chandrababu Naidu had embarked on mega plans to build Amaravati on the banks of Krishna river as the dream capital and a world-class city. However, all the construction activity, which was at its peak before elections last year, came to a grinding halt with the change of guard. The new government also terminated all agreements including those with the Singapore companies. Former MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha led Telangana Jagruthi hosted a program in honor of Former PM Late Sri PV Narasimha Rao. The program started with offering floral tributes to Late Sri. PV Narasimha Rao, this was followed by an opening address by the Founding President of Telangana Jagruthi, Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha. In continuation with the year-long birth centenary celebrations of late former Prime Minister Shri P V Narasimha Rao by Telangana Government, Former MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha led Telangana Jagruthi hosted a program in honor of Former PM Late Sri PV Narasimha Rao. The program started with offering floral tributes to Late Sri. PV Narasimha Rao, this was followed by an opening address by the Founding President of Telangana Jagruthi, Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha. Kavitha, in her address, commemorated the Former Prime Minister and discussed at length his contribution in building the international, national, and regional discourse of the country. She applauded the Telangana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for this visionary and perceptive initiative. Kavitha also requested the members of Telangana Jagruthi across the world to honor and memorialize the legacy of the Former Prime Minister. Kavitha announced Telangana Jagruthi will publish Pracheena Pusthakam & Naveena Pusthakam books every month to commemorate his literature in continuation with the centenary year celebrations. She opened her address by mentioning Former PM Late Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Jis fondness and faith in Sri PV Narasimha Raos vision for India and that Rao was an icon for generations to come. Also read: AP Police launches mega SENSITISATION DRIVE after CM calls for better policing Also read: 67,000 cases reported in 24- hrs, Indias Covid tally crosses 32 L mark Rajya Sabha MP Sri Keshav Rao shared the vision of the Honble CM Sri KCR as he mentioned the building of a memorial for Former PM Sri Rao, which will be at par with that of Former President Late Sri APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram. He informed the panel that the Telangana Government led by CM Sri KCR intends to start building the memorial soon and inaugurate it next year on 28th June, on the former PMs 100th birth anniversary. He commended the spirit of Telangana Jagruthi as an organization that is consistently working towards strengthening the cultural roots of society. Former PM Late PV Narasimha Raos daughter, Smt. Vani Dayakar Rao who also attended the event praised the efforts of the founding President Smt. Kavitha. She thanked the Telangana Government for their outstanding initiative towards glorifying and celebrating the legacy of PV Narasimha Rao. She mentioned that as a teacher back in 2008 when she heard and saw young Kavitha forming and leading an organization from the front, in a state like ours where women do not get enough chances to take the lead. She further congratulated Kavitha and Telangana Jagruthi and said, it is during those times that Kavitha created an opportunity and through Telangana Jagruthi she and the members of the organization have contributed towards the nurturing the societal fabric. The panel led by Former MP Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha passed a unanimous resolution demanding Bharat Ratna for former PM Sri PV Narasimha Rao, as they discussed and honoured the bequest of former Prime Minister Late Sri Narasimha Rao. The program was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Sri Keshav Rao, Smt. Vani Dayakar Rao, PV Prabhakar Rao, Renowned Poet Ampashayya Naveen, Author Kalluri Bhaskaram. Also read: Amid row over NEET during Covid, Sonia, Didi convene key meet of CMs today NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- automotiveMastermind, part of IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) and a leading provider of predictive analytics and marketing automation solutions for dealerships and manufacturers, today announced the integration of pre-owned vehicle functionality with the Manheim Market Report (MMR) wholesale vehicle values within its Market EyeQ sales platform. Market EyeQ's pre-owned functionality allows dealers to unlock additional sales opportunities by matching customers of pre-owned vehicles with relevant offers through the platform's behavior-based predictive marketing campaigns. With the update, dealer partners can map their new and pre-owned vehicle inventories to prospective car buyers, which Market EyeQ identifies for dealers from the same platform, improving the accuracy of their marketing outreach to help them sell vehicles more efficiently. With dealers across the U.S. experiencing new and used vehicle inventory challenges due to production and sales disruptions from COVID-19 impacts, having accurate vehicle valuations greatly simplifies the trade-in process. Including MMR as a valuation option can give dealers greater confidence in knowing the value of potential trade-in vehicles, since MMR values are derived from a non-editorialized, statistical analysis of in-lane and digital wholesale vehicle transactions. These Market EyeQ platform enhancements come at the same time as sales of pre-owned vehicles surpass pre-virus forecasts and as many dealers cope with new vehicle inventory shortages. Combined, the product updates empower dealers to both meet changing consumer demands and maximize their inventory. "Everything we do at Mastermind is built on a strong foundation of accurate, expansive data," said Mastermind Co-Founder and CEO Marco Schnabl. "The additions of the pre-owned functionality and MMR utilization to our Market EyeQ platform are not only timely and relevant to the current market conditions, but more importantly, they empower our dealer partners to effectively match consumers with the most relevant pre-owned vehicle offers based on accurate vehicle valuations. Mastermind is committed to fast-tracking the innovation of our product by building on our strong base of the highest quality data to help dealers create lasting relationships with customers and ultimately sell more cars." "Providing the industry's most trusted wholesale vehicle values to the market is a top priority for Manheim," said Zach Hallowell, vice president, Manheim Digital Marketplace. "MMR is the gold standard valuation tool used by tens of thousands of consignors and dealers to assess millions of trade-ins each month. Accurate valuations are especially critical during times of market uncertainty like now. MMR is intentionally designed to be highly stable and avoid over-reacting to short-term market ups and downs and can be used with confidence regardless of market conditions." About automotiveMastermind Founded in 2012, automotiveMastermind, part of IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), is a leading provider of predictive analytics and marketing automation solutions for the automotive industry. Market EyeQ by Mastermind is the single sales platform to identify, communicate with and close every buyer in a local market. Mastermind is headquartered in New York City and San Francisco. For more information, visit automotivemastermind.com . Based in London, IHS Markit is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions. About Manheim Manheim, the nation's leading provider of end-to-end wholesale vehicle solutions, is celebrating 75 years as an industry innovator, driving success for clients, the company, its employees and the industry. The dream of five men who auctioned off a handful of cars in 1945 from a single-lane location in Manheim, Pennsylvania launched a company that today offers 7 million used vehicles annually and facilitates transactions representing nearly $67 billion in value with the grit and determination of our team members. Through its physical, mobile and digital sales network, Manheim offers services for decisioning, buying and selling, floor planning, logistics, assurance and reconditioning. Operating the largest vehicle wholesale marketplace, Manheim enables clients more efficient ways to connect and transact business how and when they want. Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit http://press.manheim.com/ . SOURCE automotiveMastermind By PTI NEW DELHI: When the National Investigation Agency (NIA) began its probe into the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed last year, it faced a 'blind case' in the absence of any solid proof against the perpetrators. The case posed unique challenges, such as a lot of evidence having blown to pieces in the suicide attack and seven accused being subsequently killed in encounters. However, the central agency used forensic tests including DNA profiling of the meagre evidence to breach the dead ends. "It was a blind case for us. There were a lot of murmurs but everything needs to be established beyond doubt in the court of law," a senior official, who was part of the probe, said. The first challenge was to establish the ownership of the car used by Adil Ahmad Dar, the suicide bomber, according to the chargesheet in the case filed by the NIA in a special court in Jammu on Tuesday. There was nothing available from the vehicle which carried a cocktail of 200 kgs of high-grade explosives, RDX, Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate, Gelatin Sticks and Aluminium Powder. As per the chargesheet, with the help of forensic methods and painstaking investigations the serial number of the car that was blown into pieces beyond recognition was extracted and within no time the ownership of the vehicle was established -- from the first to the last owner. However, the last owner of the car, Sajjad Bhat (named in the chargesheet) of Bijbehara in Anantnag district, had disappeared hours before the February 14, 2019 attack and joined Jaish-e-Mohammed. He was subsequently killed in an encounter in June last year. "While it was clear that the suicide attacker was Adil Ahmed Dar but the same had to be established with evidence. After picking up human remains from various spots, they were sent for DNA profiling," the official, who requested anonymity, said. "The suicide attacker was identified and confirmed by matching the DNA extracted from the meagre car fragments with that of the DNA of his father," he said. ALSO READ | Jaish cadres training at Al-Qaeda, Taliban camps in Afghanistan: NIA on terror outfit's Pulwama link Moreover, seven accused wanted in the case by the NIA were killed during different encounters in 2019. The chargesheet has named Mohammed Umar Farooq, the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, as the main conspirator of the suicide mission. According to officials, Farooq had infiltrated into India in April 2018 and was subsequently killed in one of the encounters in South Kashmir last year. Officials said the role of conspirators which included Mudasir Ahmed Khan, Qari Mufti Yasser and Mohd Kamran came to light but all of them were killed in different encounters with security forces. Khan was killed on March 10, Kamran on March 29, Sajjad Bhat on June 18 of last year while Qari Yasser was shot in an encounter on January 25 this year. A team led by joint director of the NIA Anil Shukla gathered evidences and statements of terrorists and their sympathisers arrested in different cases in order to expose the conspiracy hatched for executing the audacious attack on the para-military convoy, officials said. After JeM spokesperson Mohd Hassan in a video claimed that his group was responsible for the attack, it was sent for forensic examination and the Internet Protocol address was traced to a computer based in Pakistan. "A lot of digital, forensic, documentary and oral evidence establishing a fool-proof case against the accused for this dastardly and barbaric attack has been collected," NIA Deputy Inspector General and spokesperson Sonia Narang said. "The charge-sheet has brought on record the all-out involvement of Pakistan-based entities to carry out terrorist strikes in India and to incite and provoke Kashmiri youth," she said. Culminating its 18-month long probe into the fatal terror attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead in South Kashmir last year, the NIA on Tuesday filed a chargesheet in a special court in Jammu against 19 people including Masood Azhar, the chief of banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, for planning the suicide operation. Giving details of the 13,500-page chargesheet, Narang said the chargesheet marks the culmination of a year-and-a-half long "painstaking and meticulous investigation with valuable inputs received from other central and state government agencies as well as foreign law-enforcement agencies. First participants dosed in trial of AZD7442 to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the combination BritishSwedish multinational pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has announced that the first participants have been dosed in a Phase I trial of AZD7442, a combination of two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in development for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The trial, called NCT04507256, will evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of AZD7442. The trial will include up to 48 healthy participants in the UK aged 18 to 55 years and is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), part of the US Department of Defense, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the US Department of Health and Human Services. Should AZD7442 prove to be tolerated and have a favourable safety profile in the trial, AstraZeneca will progress it into larger late-stage Phase II and Phase III trials to evaluate its efficacy as a potential preventative and treatment approach against COVID-19. Synthesised in the laboratory, mAbs aim to mimic natural antibodies. The treatment has the potential to be given as a preventative option for people exposed to the virus, and to treat and prevent disease progression in patients already infected by the virus. AZD7442 is a combination of two mAbs derived from convalescent patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center and licensed to AstraZeneca in June 2020, the mAbs were optimised by AstraZeneca with half-life extension and reduced Fc receptor binding. The half-life extended mAbs should afford at least six months of protection from COVID-19. International animal welfare organization World Animal Protection has provided food to over 3000 stray dogs in various parts of North Delhi. The feeding drive was launched in June 2020, in collaboration with the Veterinary Services Department, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). World Animal Protection is working to ensure that vulnerable animals do not starve to death during this COVID-19 crisis and are also urging local citizens to join the movement and help stray animals in their neighbourhoods. We thank officials of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for extending this feeding drive across all the wards in North Delhi and helping us in making the lives of stray animals better during this pandemic. This International Dog Day, I appeal to everyone to join the movement and start caring for dogs in your area, said Gajender K Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection, India. International Dog Day is celebrated since 2004 to appreciate dogs and promote their adoption. Celebrate this occasion and provide a home to one homeless animal by adopting. You can also take some time off from your daily schedule or add one activity like volunteering at an animal shelter or rescue home. We share a special relationship with dogs and providing them food during this pandemic is the minimum we could do to help them. Our feeding drive has made a significant impact on the valuable support from our volunteer network team and NDMC officials. We truly appreciate their contribution to make it possible. We urge everyone to come forward to do their bit and support stray dogs, said Nishant Gupta, Volunteer Network Manager, World Animal Protection India. Become a champion of change in your own society by making residents aware of the Animal Welfare Board of India guidelines on the pet and stray animals and make your area animal friendly. World Animal Protection is sensitizing people and providing information on COVID-19 and measures they can take to help animals. In addition to the work in India, World Animal Protection is running similar feeding drives and support to thousands of stray dogs in Thailand, Brazil, Costa Rica, Sierra Leone, and Kenya who were facing starvation, abandonment, and health risks during COVID-19. Unlock 4.0 is around the corner and we are beginning to muster all our courage to step outside our houses to try and lead a normal life. This is the time to also help improve the lives of dogs in your locality. GLADSTONE, MI A new K-9 and trooper team made an instant impact while in route to their post in the Upper Peninsula. According to the Michigan State Police Gladstone Post, trooper Josh Stinson and K-9 Murphy were on I-75 on their way to Gladstone from graduation in Lansing on Aug. 20 when they were asked to assist troopers in the Gaylord area. Upon arriving at the scene, Murphy indicated the suspects vehicle may contain drugs. Further Investigation revealed cocaine was hidden in the vehicle. The bust represented a good start to the partnership, which was cultivated over 6 weeks of training. Stinson transferred from the Houghton Lake Post and is a graduate of the 133rd Trooper Recruit School. He is a former commercial vehicle enforcement officer for the Michigan State Police and an active member of the Army reserve. Murphy is a 2-and-a-half-year-old German shepherd. This is his first assignment. READ MORE: Meet Lulu, Northern Michigans newest police dog Onyx, beloved U.S. Coast Guard morale dog, dies in Upper Peninsula Michigan sheriffs department mourning unexpected death of K9 Nero Body cam images released after Detroit officer shoots dog in fenced-in yard When Samantha Trans parents arrived in the United States from Vietnam in 1979, they had their hopes for the American dream set on two possible destination points New York or Texas. The family, which included eight children, settled on Texas, where the family business was established in 1980. By Trans count, Roses Seafood Inc. in Seabrook has been through three rebuilds in 40 years, including after hurricanes Alicia and Ike. The recent threat from Hurricane Laura, which ended up striking the coast in east Texas and Louisiana, led Roses Seafood to temporarily close. But a few days later, it was again serving fresh and frozen seafood to the faithful, its main room lined with patrons choosing from the stores vast displays of fresh shrimp, oysters and live blue crab. Tran, who now manages the market, said that after the family rebuilt and reopened the business three times, hurricanes, tropical storms and heavy rains have become a predictable disruption. Back then, just the rain would cause the roads to flood, Tran 43, remembered. So, I just remember always wading through water every time. It was either a hurricane or flood. The family settled first in Texas City and later bought a house next door to the shop in Seabrook. Those early years were a test of will and perseverance, said Trans dad, Canh, now 90. Our biggest challenge was leaning about the entire culture of a new country we knew nothing of, he said We couldnt speak or read English, we didnt know all the rules and laws to start a business, and back then there was a lot of cultural and racial tension, and that made things even more of a challenge. Hurricanes had not been a threat in Vietnam, Samantha Tran said. In 1983 Hurricane Alicia slammed into the coast, leaving the store with only two standing poles and a freezer and damaging the family home. According to Samantha Tran, it was a harsh, unexpected introduction to hurricanes. After Ike in 2008, Roses original structure was gutted a second time, just weeks before the family was preparing to move the business into a newly constructed building, which was also damaged. The family had to wait a year before reopening. After Alicia we lost our entire building, and after Ike we lost our old building while we were in the middle of opening our current building, Samantha Tran said. So yeah, hurricane season is not our favorite season. Those setbacks only reinforced the familys resilience, and according to Tran, they have since prepared for any oncoming weather threat. Since 2009, Roses Seafood has been housed in a nearly 8,000-square-foot open space built atop a 16-feet-high concrete foundation. During hurricane watch, the buildings storm shutters are removed, and a backup generator is on standby. Weve basically built (our shop) for hurricanes and storms, Tran said. The business has always managed to survive and thrive, said Cindy Dewease, CEO of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and a loyal patron of Roses since its opening. When you think of Seabrook and you think of Galveston Bay, you think of fresh seafood, said Dewease. Why not try an established business? Theyve been around for 40 years so theyre widely known and very successful, and they have fresh product. Canh Tran and his wife, Tien Quach, learned about resilience long before stepping foot on the Texas Gulf Coast. Tran grew up in China with no money and no formal education and was sent off at a young age to work. Thats the way things were then, he said. Living in rural China, my parents had no choice, Tran said. I was sent to Vietnam to find work and was basically homeless. My wife did not have it any better. Roses was their American dream, he said. We are proud of the lesson we are leaving behind to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, said Tran. They know they can come from nothing, lose everything, and with a good work ethic and drive, you can make the impossible happen. Tran and his wife are now retired, and four of their eight children work at the family market. They started as a very small fish market in a small building and theyve basically grown an empire, Dewease said. As soon as you walk in, you realize this is the place to be. Its a great shopping experience. Samantha Tran, who started working at Roses at a young age, is proud of the familys accomplishment. Im proud that through every struggle and failure my parents never gave up, she said. They never used it as an excuse to blame others, to not learn or to quit, and used all those challenges to keep going, to grow and to drive them to succeed. Throughout their journey, theyve been grateful, humble and genuinely in awe of how far theyve come in America. When the family chose to settle in Texas, Tran added, it made sense then, and makes sense now. We didnt expect (hurricanes), but when we came here from Vietnam our choice was either New York, where you have blizzards, or Texas, where we have hurricanes, she said. Im not a fan of snow; so Ill take the water. yorozco@hcnonline.com This story was published in partnership with The 19th, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy. In February 2019, Rosemary McCoy and Sheila Singleton got their voter registration cards. The two women were among more than 2,000 freed Floridians who registered to vote that winter, three months after Florida restored voting rights to approximately 1.5 million formerly incarcerated people. Of those newly registered voters, 44% of them were Black, like McCoy and Singleton. Backed by nearly two-thirds of the state, the Voting Restoration Amendment, known as Amendment 4, granted the right to vote to those whod been convicted of felony offenses barring sexual offenses and murder so long as they completed their sentence, parole and probation. Many supporters of Florida's Voting Restoration Amendment believe Senate Bill 7066, which lawmakers passed in response to the amendment, amounts to a poll tax. Two state residents are suing. In March 2019, the two women from Duval County, home to Jacksonville, cast their votes in an election. I view voting as a part of my life, my livelihood, McCoy told The 19th. I get to voice my opinion about the people thats in office. I get that chance to make a decision that might be able to change a situation thats not good for us. Amendment 4 granted arguably the largest mass enfranchisement effort since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But supporters celebration soon turned to confusion. In response to the amendment, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 7066, which requires formerly incarcerated people to pay any restitution, fines, fees or court costs, also known as legal financial obligations, before regaining the right to vote. Amendment 4 restores without regard to the wishes of the victims voting rights to violent felons, including felons convicted of attempted murder, armed robbery and kidnapping, so long as those felons completed all terms of their sentences. I think this was a mistake and would not want to compound that mistake by bestowing blanket benefits on violent offenders, Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote to the Florida secretary of state in June 2019 when he made SB 7066 law. Story continues Advocates condemned the law as a modern-day "poll tax," which had immediate implications for people such as McCoy and Singleton. While SB 7066 moved through the Legislature, the women initiated the process to find out how much money they owed the courts. McCoy learned she owed about $7,500 in victim restitution, including interest. Singleton owed about $12,000, including interest. Duval County requires restitution to be paid all at once, and across Florida, payment plans are left to the discretion of the counties, some of which tack on a 40% collection fee to unpaid court debt. For the two breadwinners struggling to find livable wages post-incarceration, this meant voting was no longer an option. Thats the strangest thing: to get your voting rights back and be able to vote, and then they come and try to take it away again, Singleton told The 19th. Isnt that something? Suit cites 19th Amendment McCoy and Singleton are plaintiffs in the only felony disenfranchisement suit alleging a violation of the 19th Amendment, the 100-year-old victory that gave women the right to vote. Nancy Abudu, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), said it was important to bring the claim October 2019 on behalf of two Black women, a group historically siloed by the 15th Amendment, which accounted for men only, then again by white suffragists who didnt want Black women to march with them. Abudu said the discourse around voting is often through a strictly racial lens, making it difficult to find writings or data that account for the ways wealth and gender intersect, and how women of colors access to the ballot is affected. We really are trying to push for legal recognition of the triple impact unfortunately, oftentimes, burden of race, class and gender when it comes to accessing voting rights, Abudu said. Abudu claimed Floridas law could permanently disenfranchise women such as McCoy and Singleton, who struggle to meet expenses in their households because of gender-based and race-based disparities and inequities in the labor force before and after incarceration. Suffrage: 20 Black women who fought for voting rights The passage of the 19th Amendment granted women the fundamental right to vote, the lawsuit reads. There is no compelling governmental interest for denying Plaintiffs and similarly situated women the right to vote solely based on their lower economic status. Women are the fastest-growing prison population, increasing at twice the rate of men in the past several decades, and Black and Latina women are more frequently incarcerated than white ones. In the 2016 election, 10% of Floridas voting-age population could not vote because of a felony conviction, and approximately one in four Black voters could not cast a ballot because of felony disenfranchisement laws. Taking into account that 21% of people living below the poverty line in Florida are Black, the SPLCs lawsuit alleges that requiring all court costs paid before voting will have a disparate and disproportionate effect on racial minorities and lower income people. Working-age women in Florida are more likely to earn incomes below the poverty line than men, and 25% of Black Floridian women live in poverty compared with 12% of their white counterparts. Further compounding the issue are the economics of being a lower-income woman with a criminal record. Nationwide, 57% of men made less than $23,000 before incarceration; this is true for 72% of women. The gap persists once times been served. Data from Prison Policy, a nonpartisan criminal justice think tank, shows the unemployment rate among formerly incarcerated people ages 35 to 44 was 44% among Black women and 35% for Black men, and 23% among white women compared with 18% of white men. Whatever demographic breakdown you use, Black women are at the bottom, Abudu said. In addition to being a 19th Amendment case, the lawsuit makes a 14th Amendment equal protection claim on the grounds that McCoy and Singleton are barred from voting because of their financial status. The suit also cites the 24th Amendment, which protects against poll taxes. Abudu stressed the importance of evaluating the impact and harm the law causes. When you talk about the ability to pay these fines, if you are a woman already making less money, if you are Black and already discriminated against, and if you are poor and dont even have real access, then of course this requirement is going to have a disparate impact on low-income women of color, she said. The SPLCs claim was consolidated with four other Florida felony disenfranchisement cases entangled in the courts for the past year. Its not just about voting, Abudu said. Its about what does having the vote mean when it comes to improving womens lives, and for women of color, that goal hasnt fully been realized. Arrested for voting Crystal Mason, a Black woman in her 40s from Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced to prison for casting an uncounted provisional ballot in 2016. Mason, a mother of three and caretaker of her grandson, calls herself the head of her family. When she completed a prison sentence in 2016 for a tax fraud charge, she looked forward to her liberties: becoming an esthetician and regaining the right to vote a civic duty her mother instilled in her at a young age. In the November 2016 election, she was still on federal supervised release, which is similar to probation. Mason didn't know that made voting illegal. When Mason showed up to her polling location just before it closed, she realized she wasnt on the voting roll. She filled out a provisional ballot, carefully writing out her personal information after poll workers assured her that if she was at the right place, it would count. A few months later, Mason was arrested. At her single-day bench trial (there was no jury) in March 2019, Mason said she had not read the left side of the provisional ballot that makes signees swear they completed any criminal punishments such as probation and parole. Her supervision officer told the court he didnt tell Mason she couldnt vote while on supervised release it wasnt something his office did normally. Judge Ruben Gonzalez sentenced Mason to five years in prison for illegal voting. This conviction violated her terms of the federal supervised release, sending her back to federal prison for 10 months, time she has since served. I think that what weve seen throughout our history is that the right to vote on paper and the right to vote in reality can mean very different things, said Thomas Buser-Clancy, a senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas who represents Mason. The constant threat, especially for people of color to their voting rights, is part of Americas history. But it only underscores the importance of that right and the need to exercise that right to always take advantage of the ability to vote. Masons supporters point out that in 2017, Terri Lynn Rote, a white Iowan woman who was convicted for voter fraud after trying to vote for Donald Trump twice, received two years of probation and a $750 fine. The ACLU highlighted that in April 2018, the same office that prosecuted Mason sentenced a white Republican justice of the peace to five years probation for submitting fake signatures to secure his slot on the primary ballot. Buser-Clancy said Texas attorney general and state prosecutors are committed to making voting harder and scarier. Electing prosecutors who understand their power without wielding it over their constituents is critical, he said, and so is mitigating the confusion around who is eligible to vote. As Crystal herself would tell you, she, after a lot of reflection, has decided to use this as an opportunity to tell people if theyre eligible, how important it is to vote and how critical it is for individuals to express their right to vote through the polls, Buser-Clancy said. In March, a three-judge panel in the Court of Appeals for the 2nd District of Texas denied Masons appeal, and her lawyers are pursuing a review by the full court. Mason is out on bail awaiting the resolution of this case. State-by-state variations Blair Bowie, who manages the Campaign Legal Centers Restore Your Vote Campaign, warned Floridians at the end of 2018 that unless their secretary of state committed to an education and outreach campaign after Amendment 4, the state could follow Alabamas failure to restore voting rights. Before August 2017, Alabama permanently disenfranchised those convicted of crimes of moral turpitude. When Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Definition of Moral Turpitude Act to enumerate the crimes that permanently discard voting rights, approximately 76,000 Alabamians became eligible to vote again in theory. Nearly three in four residents who lost their voting rights because of a felony conviction had not heard about the law change that restored their right to vote, according to a survey by the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. Alabama kept in place the laws that required formerly incarcerated people to clear a poll tax by way of legal financial obligations, according to Al.com. The Campaign Legal Center filed Thompson v. Alabama on behalf of Treva Thompson, 51, a Black woman from Huntsville who completed her parole and probation in 2015 and applied to register to vote. Although she meets the requirement to vote under the redefinition of moral turpitude crimes, she cannot because the court system said she owes $40,000 in debts she cant afford. The case is pending in Alabama federal courts. Bowie said shes helped a fair number of women who said their conviction was related to supporting their family: food stamp fraud, bad checks. Its usually, I was trying to feed my kids. I was trying to support my family. I was trying to put food on the table. That burden often falls on women. Maine and Vermont are the only two states where voting from prison is allowed, and there is no impact on voting rights after prison. Only 16 states and Washington, D.C., restore voting rights immediately upon release from prison. The rest of the country hinges on a patchwork of often confusing laws to restore rights post-incarceration. At least 21 mandate that formerly incarcerated people complete parole, probation and often pay any outstanding debts before voting. Kentucky and Virginia are the only two states that ban voting for life after a felony conviction unless the governor intervenes by executive order. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear restored voting rights to more than 140,000 people two days after taking office in December 2019, applying only to those convicted of nonviolent crimes, and leaving in place the permanent ban for many. This month, Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa restored voting rights to those who completed their sentences, parole and probation, regardless of any debts they owe courts or victims, shedding the superlative as the only state in the nation to permanently disenfranchise people with a felony record unless they appealed directly to the governor. Bowie works on litigation in Tennessee over laws that disenfranchise people with out-of-state felony convictions, even if those other states restored their rights. The complicated nature of the laws will keep some away from the polls forever, Bowie said. Its a form of passive voter suppression, drafting the laws in a complicated way or allowing them to become complicated over time, Bowie said. When theres confusion, folks who have been through the criminal legal system will default to not voting because they dont want to get pulled back into that system just for casting a ballot. Theyre way more likely to err on the side of not voting. 'They're just stalling' If they could, Rosemary McCoy and Sheila Singleton would show up to the polls to vote the president out of office. They said losing their voting rights before the presidential election is indisputably rooted in partisanship, especially since the Republican Party dominates the Florida Statehouse. Their whole main thing is for us not to vote, McCoy said in an interview. We won the people when we won Amendment 4 we believe that we already won but theyre just stalling because of the election. McCoy is tired of what she calls hypocrisy and injustice: She paid taxes on canteen items in prison; prisoners are accounted for in the census, so why are they barred from participating in democracy after they served their time? You want me to pay taxes, but I dont get any representation? she said. My little income helps pay your salary, but you dont want to represent me? I dont get any representation? None of us, 1.5 million, plus those coming out, zero presentation. Singleton said Floridas leaders hinder voting access because of their loyalty to the president. Were just going to be real about it: All of this ties around the election, Singleton said. OK, we know that our mayor and our governor are fond of Trump, right? So theyre going to do everything they can to stop us from voting due to Trump running in this election. We see them; we know whats going on. But trying to get other people to see whats going on is a big issue. McCoy and Singleton work as advocates with the New Florida Majority, a grassroots organization focused on voting access. They said theyve grown much closer fighting together through this living hell. I wouldnt be a part of the lawsuit if it wasnt for Rosemary, Singleton said. She made us aware of what was going on. Singleton stressed that this issue affects not only Black communities but anyone with family who goes through the system and comes out with debts they cant pay. I think a lot of times, until people go through it, theyll understand our point of view or what were trying to say, she said. McCoy said that for justice to happen, its important to get the word out. The truth should be told that everyone should have the right to vote, regardless of their situation, she said. Voting is not connected to whatever you did. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black female felons sue after costs keep them from regaining right to vote Three people were shot, one of them fatally, as gunfire broke out on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, on the third straight night of unrest sparked by the police shooting of a Black man, the New York Times reported, citing law enforcement. Social media videos posted early Wednesday showed a gun battle involving civilians, with several people rushing a man with a long gun who apparently had been knocked to the ground. The video shows him firing at the people rushing towards him, one of whom falls to the ground. Other shots are heard in the background. Stay down, stay down!" someone yells. Keep going this way," a person says, apparently trying to guide others to safety as shots are fired. Another social media video shows a man lying between parked cars with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, and several people rush to his aid. A third video shows a man with a severe arm wound sitting on the ground who is tended to by a man with a long gun as police approach. Kenosha has been rocked by protests since Sunday, when police shot Jacob Blake in the back as he walked away from two officers and opened his car door, according to a bystander video that went viral. Three of his young sons were in the car, witnesses said. Blake, 29, was left paralyzed and fighting for his life," his family and lawyers said on Tuesday, hours before the latest round of civil unrest in the lakefront town between Milwaukee and Chicago. Sundays shooting occurred three months after the May 25 death of a Black man in Minneapolis, George Floyd, who was pinned to the street under the knee of a white police officer, sparking nationwide protests against police brutality and racism within the U.S. criminal justice system. Police arrested more than 60 people on Tuesday in a protest march in Louisville, Kentucky, organized for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed in March by police officers who burst into her apartment. Police in Portland, Oregon, declared a gathering of hundreds of anti-racism protesters outside City Hall as a riot, ordering the crowd to disperse or face arrest. Police and protesters skirmished in Kenosha on Tuesday night and early on Wednesday. Officers in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang rounds to push back demonstrators who defied a dawn-to-dusk curfew and gathered outside a courthouse and adjacent park. There were no apparent fires as there had been the previous two nights, destroying several businesses. The night appeared to have turned calm, but then the gunfire erupted around midnight. Three people were shot and one died, the Times reported, citing an interview with Sheriff David Beth. In the video of the man with a head wound, one bystander takes off his shirt to stop the bleeding, but has trouble finding the wound, until other people comes to their aid. Put pressure, put pressure," one person says. You shot him?" someone asks. I didnt," comes the response. Others implore the wounded man to keep his eyes open and tell him he will be OK. Youve got to keep him alive," someone says. Throughout the protests, several people have been carrying rifles, whether slung over their shoulder or at the ready while standing guard outside business to protect them from looters or arsonists. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A friend of mine invited me for a program in his church a megachurch in Nigeria. I heard the Gospel and stepped out and surrendered my life to Christ. I was told that I have been saved by Jesus and would from that day forward enjoy the dividend of salvation blessings, good health, good money, good car, connections, and a trouble- and bondage-free life. I rejoiced as I walked home and experienced spontaneous sanctification and I craved to serve God with everything within me. I was surprised that all the rosy promises did not work for me. I sold out my life for the Gospel and have preached Christ in 13 communities where no one has ever mentioned His name. Instead of a trouble-free life, my life was filled with sorrow, persecution, frustration, disappointments, deprivation, reproach, rejection and pain; but I had a conviction that I was on the right path. I have escaped assassination attempts and have stayed in the bushes without water and food for days. I have been arrested for preaching Christ where it is forbidden to mention His name. Many times, I returned sick after embarking on missionary journeys. I wondered why God allowed me to go through all these troubles even when I was zealously working for Him. I contemplated many times to quit the calling but something stronger than me kept me going. I prayed and fasted but there was no result until one day I decided to search the Scripture on the topic of the suffering Christian. The Mystery Revealed My eyes of understanding was illuminated as I began to search the Scripture on the doctrine of suffering. I would like to share my discoveries with Christians who are going through one suffering or the other and are wondering, why? I came to know that this is another side of Christianity that pastors are afraid to discuss with their members, and on this side lays the epicenter (cross) of Christianity. The doctrine of suffering has been completely ignored in our teachings and Bible study classes. I came to the knowledge that when we give our lives to Christ, we receive two gifts from Christ: (1) gift of salvation (2) gift of suffering (Philippians 1:29). The second is a gift because it is a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ (Acts 5:41). Many Christians are not aware of this second gift because no one told them about it. We usually pick the first and leave the second. When we see Christians going through hardships and suffering, we usually attribute it to lack of God's love and favor. It is pertinent to note that no genuine believer is exempt from suffering because it is part of our calling (1 Peter 2:21). I discovered that Christians are not only saved to experience the power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, but also to have realistic and empirical knowledge of His suffering (Philippians 3:10). The church preaches the former but the latter is thrown to the waste basket. No one told me that there is a fellowship called suffering that I am supposed to partake in by virtue of my Christian belief. Most Christians are not aware of this and when they are enlisted into this fellowship, they grumble, cry, hate, quarrel and blame God just like I did. In the course of my research, the Holy Spirit gave me insight that the power of His resurrection is what gives us access to signs and wonders, healing, deliverance, prosperity, while the fellowship of His suffering is what prepares us to enter the Kingdom of God. Paul in Acts 14:22 exhorted new believers to be ready to suffer because that is the only way to get access to the Kingdom of God. How I wish someone had told me this before I embarked on my Christian journey. If they had, I would have gone very far by now. There was a day that I was coming back from a missionary trip from one of our remote mission fields. I looked back at the terrain that I passed through and thought of the water that I drank, the pain all over my body, the mosquito bites that I received, the risk that I took, and the dust that covered my body from head to toes. I could not say a single word but I picked up my pen and wrote in my diary the call to Christianity is the call to suffering; any contrary concept is an ideology from the pit of hell. In Acts 9:16, Jesus called Paul and hinted to him that he was going to suffer greatly for the sake of the Gospel. If I had known earlier, I would not have wasted my precious time asking God questions and comparing myself with those who have decided to escape the Calvary road by propagating the doctrine of "name it, claim it and have it". This concept is the doctrine of Shamanism and it is from the pit of hell. According to John Piper, "Any Christian who runs away from suffering is on his way to hell fire". It is important for us to embrace suffering with joy (James 1:2). If we suffer for Christ, then we will be qualified to reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). Now that I know that suffering is an essential part of my Christian life, I no longer avoid it. Rather I rejoice in it so that I can enjoy the strength of God when suffering has weakened me (2 Corinthians 12:9). I am also waiting for the revelation of His glory that will come as a result of the present time of suffering (Romans 8:18). I also have realized that I am unconsciously becoming obedient through what I have suffered (Hebrew 5:8). I have also observed that there are certain things that I used to do before but I do not do them anymore because suffering has humbled me and set me free from the power of sin (1 Peter 4:1). I am also waiting for the crown of life that Christ promised those who endured suffering for His sake (Rev 2:10). I now know that through my suffering, Jesus who is the captain of my salvation will be perfected on the day that He will bring many sons to glory (Hebrew 2:10). This knowledge has encouraged me to count suffering for Christ as a great honor and privilege. Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be like the Berean Christians who searched the Scripture. Our lack of knowledge of the Word of God is responsible for the manipulation experienced in our churches. Jesus did not promise us comfort and a problem-free life on earth. He categorically told us that anyone who wants to follow Him must be ready to carry his/her cross (Mathew 16:24). Apostle Paul specifically said that anyone who lives godly in Christ must suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). The negligence of this suffering portion of Christianity has produced weak, selfish, arrogant, deceptive, irresponsible, disobedient and bread-and-butter Christians who are only seeking for Jesus because of what they will receive from Him. The Great Commission has been neglected and abandoned because no one wants to suffer to take the Gospel to the unreached. The heathen are raging because we have Gospel-starved them (Psalm 2:1), even when God has promised to give them and their lands to us as an inheritance (Psalm 2:8). Insurgency and terrorism have ravaged our country (Nigeria) because of our inability to endure suffering and take risks to evangelize the North. Adapted from book "The Mystery Of The Cross Revealed" by Oscar Amaechina. (CNN) -- Nima Bhakta was that college friend who everyone knew would be a great mother. We met in 2006, and I could see that she was always at ease when she interacted with children. Kind and confident, she was also the friend who talked about how excited she was to have children of her own. That's why it was such a devastating loss to her family, friends and to me, when she lost her battle with postpartum depression and died by suicide on July 24. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in women with postpartum depression. In a letter to her family before she died, Nima wrote that she tried to tell her loved ones about her struggle with postpartum depression but she hadn't been able to find the words to explain the depth of her suffering. She wrote that she had a loving and supportive husband and that no one was at fault for her pain. It started, she wrote, after her son was born in 2019. She felt completely changed as an individual, wife, sister, daughter and aunt, and she didn't understand how she couldn't even attempt cooking or other things that she once enjoyed. Her constant worry about the future and self-blame for any difficulties with her son overwhelmed her. She got to the point that she believed that she was a complete failure as a mother and was scared that she would cause him harm in the future. Throughout her letter was a sense of shame for needing help taking care of her son, and guilt that she wasn't feeling better despite having an incredibly supportive husband, Deven Bhakta, and her sisters and family. In her text messages to me she expressed she was experiencing postpartum depression. "Everything I do for Keshav just seems like a task for me, it's been hard to have that bond between me and him. Really didn't expect all this since I love kids but with Keshav I've been struggling. I haven't been out of the house either unless it's for a doctor appointment, it's pretty bad. Deven's been such a big help it's ridiculous." She couldn't see what a wonderful mother she was to her beautiful baby boy. I saw her as a devoted mother diligently attending to all of his daily needs. I could see she loved him so much. How did a mother who didn't have any of the risk factors for PPD -- factors that include a personal or family history of depression and lack of social support -- still succumb to it? It can be harder for Indian women like us to ask for psychological help because these issues are not always discussed in our community, but there are other reasons women suffer from this misunderstood condition. What is postpartum depression? During pregnancy and in the hours after childbirth, women experience a dramatic drop in their estrogen and progesterone hormone levels, and that fluctuation is thought to contribute to postpartum mental health problems, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In addition to the changes in hormones, emotional factors, fatigue and general life stressors may contribute to PPD, experts say. Postpartum depression may begin in the days or weeks following childbirth, or it may begin months later, and it can last weeks, months or years if untreated. While the experience of PPD can look different for each woman, common symptoms include a loss of pleasure or interest in doing things she once enjoyed; eating and sleeping much more or much less than usual; experiencing panic attacks or anxiety most or all of the time; feelings of guilt, worthlessness and self-blame; sadness or crying uncontrollably; fear of not being a good mom; fear of being alone with the baby or disinterest in the baby; difficulty making decisions; and thoughts of hurting oneself or the baby. Postpartum depression is not the so-called "baby blues," which 70% to 80% of all moms experience, according to the American Pregnancy Association. While baby blues may begin soon after birth, its symptoms -- which can include crying for no apparent reason, anxiety, insomnia and mood changes -- should dissipate two weeks after childbirth. If they continue past two weeks, mothers should be examined for postpartum depression. How many women are affected by postpartum depression? Anywhere from 10% to 20% of new moms in America experience postpartum depression, which means that about 400,000 to 800,000 mothers are impacted annually, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, studies have found that up to 50% of cases may go undiagnosed. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States during the postpartum period, accounting for about 20% of postpartum deaths, according to a 2005 study. Despite its prevalence, there is no universally designed or approved screening process, and the experience of going through PPD is often a surprise to new moms. How are women of color disproportionately affected? The experiences of women of color are not well documented in research, and this leads to a discrepancy of care for mothers of color, according to a 2016 survey by Robert Keefe, a professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Women of color may not reach out for mental health support because they believe that their depression is a normal part of motherhood. Women of color face further pressures due to cultural expectations. Furthermore, our mental distress may present in a different manner than a medical practitioner has been trained to look for, as the majority of research reflects the experiences of white women, according to Keefe's survey. Asian and Asian American women often express psychological distress in physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal problems, or headaches and backaches, according to a 2014 study by Dr. Sandeep Grover and Dr. Abhishek Ghosh, both psychiatrists with the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in India. This may be because psychological expression of distress is culturally frowned upon. In Keefe's survey, Latina women reported that having a medical provider of the same cultural background made them more comfortable to confide in, but there are fewer providers of color to serve them. One solution that would benefit women of all cultures is to create more support groups for mothers of the same cultural background. How can family members help new mothers? Despite having a supportive family and friends who encouraged her to seek out medical support, Nima still felt detached from everyone. In the midst of a pandemic, when people are more isolated than usual, it's important to check in on the new moms in your life. If you know someone who is a new mom, there are things you can do. Talk to your new mother friends and make the conversation about her, not just the baby. Don't try to solve her problems; instead, listen and validate her feelings. Celebrate all the little victories she achieves, both with her baby and personally. This is a medical condition, and people with this condition need medical assistance. If we break a leg, we wouldn't hesitate to visit a doctor, take medications to treat the pain and then go to therapy to strengthen the muscle, right? Taking care of our mental health is the same! Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. What other help is available? Friends can't be therapists. However, we can normalize and encourage psychotherapy. While taking medication, usually antidepressants, is thought to help treat PPD, as a mental health professional, I find that therapy is also often needed but underutilized. Through therapy, a mom can better understand her experiences and discover healthy ways to cope with her feelings, solve problems, set realistic goals and respond to situations in a positive way. Despite its prevalence and potentially fatal outcome, only one drug has been developed to specifically treat postpartum depression. An intravenous infusion of the drug brexanolone, sold as Zulresso, was approved by the FDA in 2019. Can we share our feelings? I wish I had been more open with Nima about my own experience with having suicidal thoughts during my pregnancy. I spent most of my pregnancy in bed, in the dark, getting most food from a PICC line inserted into my arm because of hyperemesis gravidarum, a medical condition that affects 0.3 to 2.3% of pregnant women. Hyperemesis gravidarum is characterized as extreme and continuous vomiting and nausea during pregnancy. It can cause weight loss of more than 5% of the pregnant woman's body weight, lead to dehydration and potential complications for the baby. Some days I felt like I simply couldn't go on. Other than my therapist, I did not share these thoughts with anyone. I wondered what was wrong with me and how I could be a good mother when I thought about ending my own life. But I was not myself. I was experiencing perinatal depression. As my therapist explained to me, depression is a powerful force that hijacks your brain and doesn't allow you to think clearly. I didn't want any visitors. I didn't even want to talk to or text anyone. I wanted to lie in the dark without so much as the curtains being open. Sometimes I just lay on the bathroom floor waiting for my next bout of vomiting because I didn't have the energy or motivation to make it back to my bed. Luckily, I have an educational background in psychology, and I recognized the signs of slipping into a depression. I reached out to my therapist, and therapy and medication helped me get through that difficult time, and continue to help me manage my anxiety. Parents need to know they're not alone I hope that sharing my experience from three years ago will encourage more people to share their experiences, because only then will we shatter the stigma. That way others experiencing similar things know that they are not alone. I am so thankful that I could reach out to my therapist during those difficult times, and that my family encouraged and supported my journey. If you are having or ever have had any mental health struggles, especially related to PPD, and are open to sharing, please do so. It may save someone's life. Also, give therapy a chance; it will be worth it. To honor Nima's wish to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues, Nima and Deven's families started the #BreakTheStigma4Nima hashtag on social media. In response to this hashtag, friends and strangers have been sharing stories about their own struggles related to PPD, including some who had never openly discussed their experiences before. Ultimately, this is what inspired me to share my story as well. To get help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is also a crisis text line. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454. To learn more about postpartum depression, call Postpartum Depression International at 1-800-944-4773 or visit its website. Postpartum Progress offers support groups in the US and Canada. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Postpartum depression: A family hopes their loss will help others" Phil Hogan has confirmed his resignation from his role as EU Commissioner this evening but insists, 'I didn't break the law'. Mr Hogan told the Irish Independent that the main focus of his resignation message was one of apology for any hurt or upset he caused many Irish people who had suffered during the Covid 19 pandemic. He said now was not the time to discuss whether he felt he had got "fair play" in the response of the Irish government to his situation. "I'm resigning because I want to ensure that people understand I know I made mistakes. I broke no law - or no regulation - but I should have given more care to the guidelines and advice," he said. He was also not prepared to discuss the prospects of any successor nominated by Dublin holding his old pivotal post of EU Trade Commissioner as another Brexit crisis deadline looms. "I haven't had any opportunity to even consider that. Whoever my successor is, I can only wish him or her all the best now and in the future," Mr Hogan said. In a statement, he said his recent trip to Ireland was becoming a distraction from his work as EU Commissioner. "This evening I have tendered my resignation as EU Trade Commissioner to the President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen. "It was becoming increasingly clear that the controversy concerning my recent visit to Ireland was becoming a distraction from my work as an EU Commissioner and would undermine my work in the key months ahead," he said, adding that he "deeply regrets" that his actions during his recent trip to Ireland has caused "such concern, unease and upset." "I have always tried to comply with all relevant Covid-19 Regulations in Ireland and had understood that I had met with all relevant public health Guidelines, particularly following confirmation of a negative Covid-19 test. "I reiterate my heartfelt apology to the Irish people for the mistakes I made during my visit. The Irish people have made incredible efforts to contain the coronavirus, and the European Commission will continue to support you, and all EU Member States, in defeating this terrible pandemic." President von der Leyen has said she respects Mr Hogan's decision to resign. "Commissioner Phil Hogan has submitted his resignation. I respect his decision. I am very grateful to him for his tireless work as a Trade Commissioner since the start of this mandate and for his successful term as Commissioner in charge of Agriculture in the previous College. He was a valuable and respected member of the College. "I wish him all the best for the future," she said. Tonight Commissioner @PhilHoganEU submitted his resignation. I respect his decision. I am grateful for his work as a Trade Commissioner and a member of my team. https://t.co/xPcdLX3kmy Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 26, 2020 Mr Hogan said his decision to resign was one he "reluctant conclusion" he came to on his own. "Nobody has to tell me at the end of the day when the experience that I've gained over that number of years has led me to believe what is the right thing to do," he told RTE's News. Mr Hogan again insisted he "broke no regulations" but said he "could have adhered better to the guidelines." "This was a distraction of course for many people at time when they're trying to grapple with the seriousness of this pandemic," he added. "I felt that this, the fact that I made these mistakes, notwithstanding the fact that I didn't break the law, was a sufficient distraction from the job that he was doing, and for the work of the Commission. " Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said, "Its sad that [his] great career should end in this way. "Phil Hogan served Kilkenny, Ireland & Europe with distinction. His decision today must have been very difficult for him personally. "Its sad that [his] great career should end in this way." Phil Hogan served Kilkenny, Ireland & Europe with distinction. His decision today must have been very difficult for him personally. Its sad that great career should end in this way. Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) August 26, 2020 Mr Hogan said he had spent almost 40 years in public life in both Ireland and Brussels and this could spell the end of his political engagement. He began as a Fine Gael councillor in Kilkenny in 1982, was elected a senator in 1987, and served as a TD in Carlow-Kilkenny from 1989 until 2011 winning six elections. He served briefly as junior finance minister in 1994/1995 but was forced to resign for leaking details of the 1995 Budget in advance. He was a key Fine Gael election strategist including serving as party director of elections at their biggest ever triumph returning 76 TDs in 2011. He was a controversial Environment Minister presiding over the water charges, the local property tax, and a sceptic tank levy. All of these rows added to his image as a political hardman. Mr Hogan became EU agriculture commissioner in 2014 and was highly rated in Brussels and the other EU capitals. Last autumn he was renominated to Brussels and promoted to the job of EU Trade Commissioner. Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister Ryan acknowledged Mr Hogan's resignation, saying it was the "correct course of action." "While this must have been a difficult decision for him personally, we believe that it is the correct course of action given the circumstances of the past week. We all have a responsibility to support and adhere to public health guidelines and regulations," a statement said. "We all must persevere in our efforts against Covid 19. Former Commissioner Hogan has served Europe and Ireland with distinction. "The government will consider his replacement in due course." Mr Hogan was the focus of intense controversy since last Saturday when the Taoiseach and Tanaiste effectively called upon him to quit. His fate was today being considered by his boss, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with his resignation coming before a final decision was made. Read More It comes as Mr Hogans future as Irelands EU commissioner had been hanging in the balance since the controversy over his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner last week and his travel in Ireland. Green Party leader and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan this morning said the Government no longer had confidence in Commissioner Hogan. Speaking earlier today, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Mr Hogan undermined the whole approach to public health in Ireland with his recent movements in Ireland. Mr Martin said Mr Hogans changing narrative was a significant difficulty for the Government but declined to explicitly state it had lost confidence in the Commissioner or that he should resign. Weve made very clear our anger and annoyance, he said. Weve made that very clear. Mr Martin said he hadnt contacted the President of the Commission nor had any official on his behalf. He said the commissioner is accountable to the Commission, not to the Oireachtas or the Government. Were very clear in terms of the importance of ensuring were not seeking to influence the President of the Commission, he said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, signalled today that she was to take other information sources into account after he submitted a written report to her on his trip to Ireland after more details of Mr Hogan's travel in Ireland in recent weeks emerged yesterday. This included a hotel stay in Co Limerick August 12, the night before he played golf at Adare Manor and a social visit in Co Roscommon on August 17 en route to the golf event in Galway. Mr Hogan's quarantine period was not due to end until August 13 after he arrived from Brussels on July 31. He has insisted he was not required to quarantine at the time, but Irish authorities say he should have isolated for a full 14 days on his return from Brussels and reject the Commissioners argument that a negative Covid test result had ended his obligation to isolate. Mr Hogan was challenged on his claims about the requirement for him to quarantine after returning from Brussels in an interview with RTE's Tony Connelly. The HSE guidance was put to him and Mr Hogan replied: "Well, I don't accept that." Last night Mr Hogan wrote on Twitter "Just to clarify: I never said that I don't accept the HSE advice, I was taking issue at the proposition put to me in the interview. "At all times, I acted in good faith on the basis of the information available to me." Mr Hogan said he had spent almost 40 years in public life in both Ireland and Brussels and this could spell the end of his political engagement. He began as a Fine Gael councillor in Kilkenny in 1982, was elected a senator in 1987, and served as a TD in Carlow-Kilkenny from 1989 until 2011 winning six elections. He served briefly as junior finance minister in 1994/1995 but was forced to resign for leaking details of the 1995 Budget in advance. He was a key Fine Gael election strategist including serving as party director of elections at their biggest ever triumph returning 76 TDs in 2011. He was a controversial Environment Minister presiding over the water charges, the local property tax, and a sceptic tank levy. All of these rows added to his image as a political hardman. Phil Hogan became EU agriculture commissioner in 2014 and was highly rated in Brussels and the other EU capitals. Last autumn he was renominated to Brussels and promoted to the job of EU Trade Commissioner. More to follow... ALTON OSF HealthCare Saint Anthonys Health Center recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Associations Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospitals commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. This is the second year in a row the Stroke team has received the Gold Plus designation. OSF Saint Anthonys Health Center is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Associations Get With The Guidelines-Stroke initiative, said Colleen Becker, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes. OSF Saint Anthonys Health Center earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures including evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, guidelines to speed recovery and reduce death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients also receive education on managing their health, plus they are scheduled for a follow-up visit and receive other interventions needed to transition their care. Our ICU, Med/Surg and leadership teams celebrated their 2020 AHA Stroke Gold Plus achievement last week by running a mock stroke alert patient scenario, said Michelle Lovsey, Stroke Coordinator & Neurology Navigator. At OSF Saint Anthonys Health Center, our care about our patients translates into our strong commitment to turning treatment guidelines into lifelines. We regularly ensure all staff are ready 24/7 with the resources they need to provide stroke patients with the greatest love and care no matter when they need it. This distinction means that OSF Saint Anthonys Health Center will receive recognition in the US News and World Reports Best Hospitals edition and at the American Hospital and American Stroke Associations conference next year. Google is doing its bit to spread awareness about the importance of wearing masks in public to avoid transmission of COVID-19. The latest song released by Google, which promotes the basic precautionary measures of wearing masks, happens to be a modified version of the popular nursery rhyme Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Googles via its Instagram handle informed that if you say Hey Google, sing the mask song to an Android device that has its AI assistant, it will sing out the song for you. Here are the lyrics to Googles latest mask song:When in public, wear a mask. Just a teeny-weeny task.It helps keep us safe and sound, health and care all around.On your mouth and on your nose, good to cover both of those. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Since its release, many on Twitter expressed how impressed they were by the tune, while others praised Google for its efforts. Here are a few reactions to the song: Thats epic subediishan (@subediishan2) August 25, 2020 A must have new poem...to be learned..not only by the children..but by the people of all ages. But @Google I would like to take it as a poem.. not as a song https://t.co/3WaSFu9agk Sandhya (@san9dhya) August 25, 2020 Kinda funny we have to have a children's song made just to remind us to wear a mask... https://t.co/iQyc5TBde4 st0rm aka Mason (@epicst0rmz) August 24, 2020 This is so cute even google has a mask song.....don't forget to wear your mask always specially when you go outside.And wash ur hands with soap everytime. A simple reminder but. a big help to care. @weareoneEXO #EXO https://t.co/GDZzHGDIYZ LOVeLY_Chix85 (@LChix85) August 24, 2020 Earlier this month Google's search homepage demonstrated the practice of social distancing and also wearing a mask that in turn can save lives. It also encouraged one to wash hands regularly. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 01:16:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday discussed counter-terrorism issues with the visiting Falih al-Fayyadh, the envoy of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi, according to the state news agency SANA. Al-Fayyadh conveyed to Assad a verbal message from al-Kazemi regarding bolstering the relations between both countries and the coordination in various fields, including the counter-terrorism efforts against the Islamic State (IS) group, said the report. Both sides stressed that defeating terrorism that has befallen Syria and Iraq could only happen by the hands of the Syrian and Iraqi military forces. The officials also discussed economic and security challenges facing the region as well as the "foreign schemes" and the cooperation needed to face "the schemes and make them a failure." This comes as the Syrian army and the IS militants have had several confrontations in the Syrian desert near the Iraqi border over the past few months. Activists of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights repeatedly reported clashes between both sides and Russian airstrikes backing the Syrian army in the battles. Enditem /* custom css */ .tdi_75_bb5.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_bb5 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_bb5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_bb5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_bb5.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State should have been a family affair. A referendum of sorts or a no-contest scenario in which everybody, especially in the former All Progressives Congress (APC), (that was prior to the orchestration of the internal crisis and subsequent defection by Governor Godwin Obaseki), would have taken for granted the fact that the incumbent governor would just be passing through a simple process of revalidation of mandate. Three critical factors would have unfurled in his favour, to wit: the incumbency power, the platform of the APC the governing party at the federal level and the strategic power centres in Edo, around which massive grassroots networks and support gravitate. But as it is, the governor only has in his kitty the power of incumbency, which value has been largely eroded, corroded and diminished by the vagaries of issues, assumptions and arguments that weigh in favour of the necessity to preserve Edo State as APCs gateway to the South-South zone. I would expound these issues, assumptions and arguments in one of my next articles before the election. The logic that Edo is APCs gateway to the South-South zone is writ-large to all political contestants, more especially the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It has been the eternal desire of the PDP to regain Edo State, which it lost in the 2007/2008 governorship tango to the progressives conclave as typified by the Action Congress, which later morphed into Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and in 2014/2015 further morphed into the legacy party APC. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was the battle axe with which the AC, as it then was, dislodged the PDP, despite the partys enigmatic hold on power at the centre at that intersection. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_1fe.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_1fe .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_1fe.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_1fe.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_1fe.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Oshiomhole had gone ahead to return an emphatic victory for the ACN in his 2012 re-election bid when he beat the PDP and its candidate, General Charles Arhiavbere, silly in all the eighteen local government areas. The gung ho approach that Oshiomhole deployed in consolidating his hold on government in Edo was breathtaking. He took the state far away from the Abuja-centric politics that at that time recognized the suzerainty of the late Chief Tony Anenih. As a fringe participant in the process, I remember a very touching message sent to everyone that had the privilege of working with Anenih in the failed effort to unhorse Oshiomhole, using General Airhavbere who was then PDPs governorship candidate. He talked about the hard work that was invested in the election and how the outcome of the election was contrary to reasonable expectations. He had prayed that the labour of love of everyone would be rewarded in due time. In the 2016 election, Oshiomhole had to throw all he had into the election of Obaseki who had no political pedigree to latch on, in the battle against a grassroots mobiliser, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, with a pervasive statewide network, who was then the candidate of the PDP. But for Oshiomholes brinkmanship, Ize-Iyamu would have had Obaseki for dinner. That was the closest PDP was to Osadebe Avenue since it lost the Certificate of Occupancy to the progressive forces led by Oshiomhole in 2008. The frenzy in the camp of the PDP is therefore understandable, having all of a sudden become the ruling party in Edo State by the stealth of Obaseki. Whereas, it took Obaseki only-God-knows-how-much of Edo tax payers money to negotiate the joint ticket for himself and his deputy, Philip Shaibu; the September 19 governorship election is an open sesame: it is for all Edo electorate to speak with their ballots. It is not restricted to only Obasekis irritating filthy lucre. It is going to be Edo States money as would be unconscionably deployed in the election by Obaseki versus the will of a vast majority of the electorate. But it remains unfathomable whether or not the frenzy in the PDP in Edo State is motivated by genuine interest in Obasekis re-election. Is it that the party thinks it can clinch it this time round with a sitting governor as its standard bearer? Even if one doubts the sincerity of some of the PDP leaders who are not happy with the manner Obaseki moved into the party in the eleventh hour and bought off the shelf the governorship ticket, it does appear some others have immersed themselves in the campaign for Obaseki in the overall and overarching interest of the party to which they have kept fidelity since 1999. This may explicate why they are spewing unsubstantiated allegations that the APC is planning to rig the September 19 governorship election, on every occasion and at every opportunity. It really does not require political astuteness to discern that the allegation of planned rigging is just sheer propaganda. But aside propaganda, which political partisans characteristically deploy in undermining one another during electioneering ahead of voting, the PDP apparatchiks know the truth that Edo State is an APC state. Oshiomhole, who scripted the progressives victory in Edo State, is in the field campaigning forcefully for Pastor Ize-Iyamu. He is replicating the kind of mojo that he deployed as a two-term governor in producing Obaseki in 2016. Just as he settled matter for his successor, Obaseki, to reinforce the philosophy of continuity in government, he has committed himself to the process of helping to regain the governorship that he almost single-handed foisted on Obasekis laps four years ago. Indeed, had there not been discordant glitches within the political wing of the Edo State government on the watch of Obaseki, this narrative would have been unnecessary. But Obaseki fractured and disrupted the seamless political arrangement due to his intolerance. Somehow, the governor was in a hurry to retire political gladiators that assisted Oshiomhole to materialize his governorship in 2016. He would curiously go ahead to characterize them as thieves whose only desire was to have him share state funds to them. Sardonically, he has not been able to validate that outlandish claim; and the quip is: which money is he sharing and spending now on his re-election bid? Obasekis money? Whereas, it was a strategic misstep by Obaseki to take on the elite corps of the political class in the APC with such sanguinity, he would have done well to beat a retreat by quickly toeing the path of reconciliation when APC leaders tried to intervene. But, defiantly, he went about his subtle fight against leaders of his former party (APC) as someone who had forces bigger than the APC in Edo State nudging him on from the background. It was akin to a case of a man who was fighting with his Chi, as the Igbo are wont to say. In any case, Obaseki, largely considered as a political rookie, succeeded in provoking a legal tango that would later form the basis upon which the leadership crisis in the APC would result in the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC). That was as far as he could go. He had lost out in the race for the APC ticket and was headed for the PDP. But unfortunately for the PDP, it cannot deploy Obaseki in its desperate gambit to capture Edo State through a negotiated governorship incumbency factor that is assailed by a plethora of problems ranging from political intolerance through administrative indiscretion to misreading of the mood of the people and outright monumental mismanagement of goodwill. To be sure, it was at the altar of intolerance that Obaseki lost his appeal and validation within the APC, a party that launched him into the limelight. Regardless of what his publicists, propagandists and spin doctors may orchestrate, the governor had since lost the significant edge and he is, as it were, enmeshed in political mire from which his new-found PDP is trying very hard to exhume him. But while the PDP is trying to hold down Edo State, will the APC-controlled Federal Government just sit back and watch the rag-tag team of Nyesom Wike and co. in the South-South have their way, consign the APC to the dustbin of electoral defeat and oblivion in the zone and celebrate the feat in a sustained fit of garrulity? Certainly, I do not need a fortune teller to know that the APC will not. Not when the vast majority of the people in Edo have sympathy for the APC. To boot, there is a special appeal that the partys candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu has on the peoples impressionable minds. Edo people are grateful people who recognize good turns. Through his pedigree as a former Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government, positions that he deployed in empowering his people, he now enjoys cult-like followership. Juxtapose him with Obaseki, who was practically piggy-backed by Oshiomhole in 2016 during electioneering and the verdict cannot be misplaced that Ize-Iyamu enjoys a groundswell of statewide support far more than Obaseki. However, the outcome of the election will validate this conclusion. But collaboration between Ize-Iyamu and Oshiomhole who is backing him to the hilt this time round, is capable of producing a domino effect. Then, add the massive goodwill and support of business mogul and great Ambassador of the Benin Kingdom, Capt. Hosa Okunbo (although not a member of the APC) for Ize-Iyamu, then there would be trigger effect in the political ecosystem of Edo as we have seen in recent times with the timid counters and resorts to escapism by the governor in response(s) to Capt. Hosas open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and Edo people, urging them to tell Obaseki to leave him alone. That was against the backdrop of attacks by Obaseki and his agents on Capt. Hosas persona and business interests, which remain clearest indications yet of his intolerant political disposition. So, he toyed in vain with the ambitious idea of trying to put his small-sized leg on Capt. Hosas massive neck. Recall that he had already intolerantly dealt a crushing blow on Tony Kabaka whose hotel he pulled down. This was just one among many other acts of political intolerance. On Saturday, July 25, he had once again demonstrated political intolerance when known thugs allegedly associated with his government reportedly inflicted gunshot wounds on no fewer than eight young men outside the palace of the Oba of Benin. The PDP national campaign council had been led to the palace on a courtesy visit by Governor Obaseki, a visit that went awry when the young men who had converged on the arena opposite the gate of the Palace, chanted anti-PDP songs and booed Obaseki and his team. That was the boys offence. In demonstrable political maturity, Obaseki should have ignored the political yabis. He was incapable of that. As a greenhorn in politics, he has yet to develop the thick skin to absorb yabis, dissension and criticisms. He certainly does not fall in the class of Oshiomhole who did not resort to violence in countering PDPs opposition when he was in the saddle. Obaseki has not also been able to borrow a leaf from former President Goodluck Jonathans exemplar of my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. Jonathan was the most abused Nigerian president. He was never beside himself. He maintained political sanity all through, even in the face of defeat. There are others who play politics without bitterness, politics of equanimity. Obaseki has failed abysmally on this score. His intolerance blights Edo governorship race. O Sancta simplicitas! Ojeifo contributed this piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com SOUTHFIELD, MI - The Michigan woman pronounced dead by paramedics, even though she was still alive, was in a body bag for two hours before she was found, according to the Associated Press. Timesha Beauchamp, 20, from Southfield was found breathing and with her eyes open when the body bag was opened at the funeral home. Beauchamp is on a respirator in critical condition at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit. Her family has now hired Geoffrey Fieger as their attorney, who says he is investigating negligence into the Aug. 23 incident where, according to WDIV-TV, Local 4 News, Beauchamp was found in cardiac arrest before being declared dead and taken to a funeral home. She was alive. Her eyes were open and she was breathing, said Fieger, describing how Beauchamp was found at the funeral home. My recollection is that the embalmer was actually there and was the person who opened the body bag. She needed medical treatment and needed transportation to a hospital, but got transportation to a funeral home. The city of Southfield is doing its own internal investigation and says the fire and police departments followed procedures. Here is the Southfield Fire Departments statement to WDIV-TV: When paramedics arrived, they found a 20-year-old who was not breathing. The paramedics performed CPR and other life reviving methods for 30 minutes. Given medical readings and the condition of the patient, it was determined at that time that she did not have signs of life. Because there was no indication of foul play, as per standard operating procedure, the Oakland County Medical Examiners Office was contacted and given the medical data. The patient was again determined to have expired and the body was released directly to the family to make arrangements with a funeral home of their choosing. More: Central Park unveils its first statues of real women: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth Police shooting of Jacob Blake spurs more protests over white officers vs. unarmed Black men At least 7 dead as record-setting fires burn in California In this week when the spotlight is at its brightest on the national GOP, some Connecticut Republicans are hiding in dark corners. State Republican Party Chairman J.R. Romanos strategy in response to the arrest of his choice for the Second District Congressional seat has followed his boilerplate script: Ignore the problem and it will go away. Romano may be right in reading that the muted calls for his resignation do not seem to be gaining traction, but hes wrong about the collateral damage to his party. On the eve of the primaries two weeks ago, Thomas Gilmer was arrested by Wethersfield police on felony charges of first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree strangulation. The charges stemmed from a 2017 incident in which Gilmer was reportedly caught on tape punching a woman as she lay on the ground and put her in a chokehold, according to police. Hours after the arrest, the contest between Gilmer and his political rival, Justin Anderson, was close enough to mandate a recount. The recount will put Anderson on the ballot against Democratic incumbent Joe Courtney, but that only settles one matter of this fiasco. Anderson took the video to Romano and party Vice Chair Sue Hatfield in the spring. Both declined to view it. There are a lot of theories within the party about what they should have done. Most fail to consider the victim. The proper response should have been to contact police. Anderson, a lieutenant colonel in the Connecticut National Guard, did that two months later. Romano says he encouraged Anderson to contact authorities, but in the meantime promoted Gilmers candidacy. Hatfields inaction is perhaps most disquieting, as she is a state prosecutor and was the partys 2018 nominee for attorney general. There have been some calls for Romano to resign, notably from Themis Klarides, the top Republican in the state House of Representatives and a possible contender for the governors seat in two years. This week, the Republican Town Committee in Stonington approved a resolution that asks Romano to step down. The loudest outcry, though, came from Darien Republican First Selectman Jayme Stevenson. CTGOP leadership turned their back on all women ... on my daughters, on my friends and my sisters across Connecticut, Stevenson wrote in a statement: I say NO MORE! Its time we dismantle and rebuild the Connecticut Republican Party into an organization that truly values women and is not complicit in putting political interests above the safety of victims. It is a tone of outrage the incident merits. Romano wont resign, and the GOP State Committee seems trapped in a state of inertia on how to respond. Connecticut deserves two viable political parties to attract and inspire better candidates on both sides of the aisle. The party knowingly backed a tainted candidate for months, averting its gaze from alleged abuse for the sake of political gain. This is more than a lack of leadership. The viability of the Connecticut Republican Party rests in acting on Stevensons clarion call. Australian gunman in Christchurch attack set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to 2019 shooting rampage. The father of slain three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim, the youngest victim in the 2019 New Zealand mosque shootings, told the white supremacist who gunned down his son that true justice awaited him in the next life, as statements from survivors and family members wrapped up one day ahead of sentencing. You have killed my son and to me, it is as if you have killed the whole of New Zealand, Aden Ibrahim Diriye said on Wednesday in a statement read by a family member addressed to the gunman, Brenton Tarrant. Know that true justice is waiting for you in the next life and that will be far more severe. I will never forgive you for what you have done. Tarrant, a 29-year-old Australian, will be sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and one charge of committing a terrorist act during the 2019 shooting rampage in the city of Christchurch, which he livestreamed on Facebook. A murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. The judge can impose a life term without parole, a sentence that has never been used in New Zealand. Court officials said Tarrant will not speak in court before his sentencing. He has directed a standby counsel appointed by the court to make a brief statement. Most severe sentence Survivors and victims families have addressed the court this week and many urged the judge to sentence Tarrant to the most severe punishment. Diriye, who came to New Zealand 25 years ago as a refugee from Somalia, told the court his son had been robbed of a future. He used to engage and play with the police; at home, he would run around the house pretending to be a cop and wear police uniform. We thought one day he might become a police officer, he said. While most of Tarrants victims were at Al Noor mosque, including Mucaad Ibrahim, he also killed seven people at the Linwood mosque. The death toll would likely have been higher if it werent for Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah, who was commended for his courage on Wednesday by High Court Judge Cameron Mander after confronting Tarrant at the Linwood mosque. Wahabzadah told the court he did not want the gunman to enter the mosque, which was packed with 80 to 100 people, on the day of the attack [John Kirk-Anderson/Reuters] After shots rang out in the mosque, Wahabzadah engaged Tarrant outside, throwing a bank-card reader at him and drawing fire when the gunman returned to his car, loaded with high-powered weapons, ammunition, and incendiary devices. I didnt want him to go inside the mosque because we had 80-100 people praying at that time, Wahabzadah said. He took cover and weaved through parked cars to prevent Tarrant from getting a clear shot. Tarrants plan frustrated, he left quickly in his car and was detained en route to a third mosque. Ahad Nabi, who lost his 71-year-old father in the attack, stared at Tarrant before delivering a passionate statement demanding that Tarrant should never walk free for his cowardly actions. You are weak a sheep with a wolfs jacket on for only 10 minutes of your whole life, said Nabi, referring to the shooting rampage. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson M Lakshman on Wednesday alleged that chief minister BS Yediyurappas second son BY Vijayendra was acting as a super CM of the state and had indulged in corruption running into several thousand crores. Vijayendra is currently a vice president in the Karnataka BJP unit while his elder brother Raghavendra represents the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Mysore, Lakshman said that even BJP MLAs themselves had written to the party high command complaining of the high handed ways of Vijayendra and how he was indulging in corruption by interfering in government transfers, awarding of tenders and purchases made. Lakshman released what he claimed was a letter written by seven BJP MLAs themselves to the party high command saying that if things continued like this the party would lose the next elections. Mentioning Vijayendras alleged corrupt ways, they accused him of being responsible for Yediyurappa being briefly jailed in 2011. The Congress spokesperson said, A coterie of 31 people from Vijayendras close circle are controlling and running the state government. Yediyurappa is in a helpless situation and his son is the Super CM of the state. Congress also claimed that it has more evidence of the alleged corruption of Vijayendra and said audio-video evidence would be released in Delhi next month. Congress district president Vijay Kumar and city unit chief R Murthy were also present at the press conference. Responding to the allegations, Vijayendra took to Twitter and denied the charges. Vijayendra wrote, Congress is an expert in storytelling and naked lies. Targeting me in Mysore, laughable allegations have been made against me. This is nothing but allegations made due to political conspiracy and with bad intentions. I am not the one to run away showing my back to such false allegations. They will not dent my spirit. (Translated from Kannada). A BJP spokesperson refused to comment further saying, Vijayendra is the vice president of the state BJP and he has already given his reaction. BEIJING - China said Wednesday it remains firm in its insistence that Canada make the first move to end the detention of two Canadians, following a meeting of the two countries foreign ministers. Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor have been held in China on unspecified national security charges for more than 620 days in apparent retaliation for Canadas late 2018 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, an executive at tech giant Huawei and the daughter of the companys founder. Meng was detained at Vancouvers airport at the request of the United States, which wants her extradited to face fraud charges over the companys dealings with Iran. Her arrest enraged Beijing, which calls it a political move aimed at constraining Chinas rise as a global technology power. Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne urged Beijing to release the two Canadians during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Rome on Tuesday. The two are suspected of engaging in activities endangering Chinas national security and their cases are being handled in strict accordance with the law while protecting their legal rights, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing on Wednesday. China has made it clear to the Canadian side that it should respect the spirit of the rule of law and Chinas judicial sovereignty, Zhao said, adding that China was not responsible for the current difficulties in bilateral relations. The Canadian side is well aware of the crux of the problem and should immediately take effective measures to correct the mistakes and create conditions for the bilateral relationship to get back on track, Zhao said. In addition to detaining Kovrig and Spavor, China has also restricted various Canadian exports to China, including canola seed oil, in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada into releasing Meng, who is residing in one of her Vancouver mansions under a form of house arrest. Since her detention, China has also sentenced four Canadians convicted on drug charges to death, an unusually high number for foreign suspects held in China. While the Canadian government has made no indication it will trade Meng for Kovrig and Spavor, calls have arisen among the Canadian public for a deal to be made. The blind adherence to the use of the rule of law and no ransom ensures that Kovrig and Spavor will remain forgotten within Chinese prisons for the foreseeable future, former foreign service officer Gar Pardy wrote in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper last week. The offering of Meng Wanzhou in exchange for Kovrig and Spavor is the only answer, Pardy wrote in the opinion piece. Meanwhile, a Canadian federal court on Tuesday refused a request by Mengs attorneys to release documents they say would help in her fight against extradition by showing abuses in the way she was arrested. The six documents were redacted by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canadas spy agency. But Judge Catherine Kane found that information included in the six documents . . . is not relevant to the allegations of abuse of process described by Counsel for Ms. Meng. Meng remains free on bail in Vancouver. - Associated Press writer Jim Morris contributed from Vancouver, Canada. Read more about: Its only been a year and a half since Sheryl Sculley ended her long tenure as San Antonio city manager. But it feels like a couple of lifetimes have passed. While most of our recent attention has been directed at the COVID-19 pandemic, weve also seen some major post-Sculley developments on the issue of public safety. In January, a three-member arbitration panel settled the long impasse between the city of San Antonio and the local firefighters association. After five years of holding out, without raises, for a plum deal, the firefighters were saddled with a contract that fell way below their expectations. More recently, the killing of a Black man named George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer spurred new questions in cities across the country including San Antonio about the way collective-bargaining contracts allow police officers to get away with abusing their power. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio City Council sidesteps budget discussion, focuses on police reform instead These issues are relevant to Sculleys legacy because she fought hard against the public safety unions and took tremendous grief from them over it. She documents those battles in her new book, Greedy Bastards: One City's Texas-Size Struggle to Avoid a Financial Crisis. Sculleys book was one of the topics of discussion on this weeks edition of the Express-News Puro Politics podcast. Greg Jefferson, Express-News business editor, interviewed Sculley about the book and said she views recent events as vindication for her tough stance with the unions. On ExpressNews.com: Restless City: Fire everybody and start over Sheryl Sculley looks back on 14 years as S.A. city manager The result of the firefighters contract, what they finally wound up with, it came after most of her writing of the book, Jefferson said. Yet she ended the book, literally, with the word Checkmate. So I think she feels pretty vindicated, clearly. Jefferson said Sculley knew for years that the rules preventing the firing of bad cops were really onerous and wanted to do something about it. Those rules are likely to be overhauled in the next police contract, Jefferson said. Hear this and other issues discussed on this weeks episode of Puro Politics. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Gilbert, become a subscriber. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 A 3D printed DeLorean created by LPE. All parts were 3D printed (plastic and metal) and finished, polished, painted and assembled in house. It was created for display at TCT, the 3D Printing industry trade show in Birmingham. The model also won an award for finishing services at the Additive Manufacturing Users Group international conference in USA. The necklace deployed to kill Game of Thrones villain King Joffrey in season 4. It was created by LPE. Lady Gaga performs her David Bowie tribute at the 2016 Grammys in LA, wearing mood rings made by LPE in Belfast From left to right, LPE engineers and model makers Simon, Patrick, Trevor, Colum and Clive Northern Ireland has been a cradle for commercial innovation from shipbuilding to cybersecurity in the years since the Belfast Telegraph was founded in 1870. But some of our innovators fly below the radar. One remarkable example is Laser Prototypes Europe on Prince Regent Road in Belfast. It became a pioneer in 3D printing/rapid prototyping (RP) in the 1990s, long before the techniques became commonplace. Now its expertise in making multiple models is sought far and wide. It made eight versions of Dippy the Dinosaurs head for the Natural History Museum in London for a nationwide tour of the model dinosaur two years ago. There have been orders for props and models for the film and TV industry. It helped create animatronic animals such as a snake and crocodile for the BBC series Spy in the Wild, in which fake animals with cameras in their eyes spied on the real thing. Much of its work is in manufacturing items for the medical industry, aerospace, the automotive sector and several Formula 1 teams based in the UK. Its recently been successfully audited to carry out work for another major aerospace company in Great Britain. Closer to home, it works with Bombardier and defence manufacturer Thales in Belfast, and in the Republic, with medtech clients such as Cook Medical and Medtronic. Expand Close From left to right, LPE engineers and model makers Simon, Patrick, Trevor, Colum and Clive / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp From left to right, LPE engineers and model makers Simon, Patrick, Trevor, Colum and Clive In many cases, the identity of clients is tightly protected. Sales director Campbell Evans says: Were always looking at new product development, new designs, and signing NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). We usually cant tell people what were working on. We do next day delivery by courier to places as far away as Australia and Venezuela. We turn around quotes faster than our competitors and turn jobs around faster than our competitors turn around quotes. It worked extensively on jewellery and props for Game of Thrones, the cult fantasy TV series which was filmed by HBO in Northern Ireland between 2009 and 2018. Being based in Belfast helped us then because Game of Thrones was just down the road. We did all the black and gold masks for the band of assassins called the Sons of the Harpy, and produced the Hand of the King badge. We produced Jaime Lannisters armour from plastic but made it to look like metal. We also made soldiers helmets and the necklace which contained the vial of poison used to kill King Joffrey. That was 3D printed. Expand Close The necklace deployed to kill Game of Thrones villain King Joffrey in season 4. It was created by LPE. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The necklace deployed to kill Game of Thrones villain King Joffrey in season 4. It was created by LPE. He says the companys engineering team are young and dynamic, with many coming straight from university. The technology is constantly advancing, with a growing focus on additive manufacturing. The theory is that instead of traditionally manufacturing items out of a large block of material or with expensive tooling, a creator starts with nothing and builds up in successive layers drawn by a laser until a part is literally grown in the 3D 9rinting machine. This reduces material waste and gives the flexibility of being able to produce very complex geometries and whatever quantity of parts are required very quickly. Materials have also improved. We have introduced a new high-temperature material which will withstand 300 degree-heat, and rubber material for direct 3D printing. Even now there are new materials coming on board, and going forward well always have a need for that low volume, low quantity production. There are very few industries that you can think of that definitely dont use rapid prototyping. But a really large unit like a blow-moulded oil tank wouldnt lend itself to 3D printing as its simply too large. Expand Close A 3D printed DeLorean created by LPE. All parts were 3D printed (plastic and metal) and finished, polished, painted and assembled in house. It was created for display at TCT, the 3D Printing industry trade show in Birmingham. The model also won an award for finishing services at the Additive Manufacturing Users Group international conference in USA. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A 3D printed DeLorean created by LPE. All parts were 3D printed (plastic and metal) and finished, polished, painted and assembled in house. It was created for display at TCT, the 3D Printing industry trade show in Birmingham. The model also won an award for finishing services at the Additive Manufacturing Users Group international conference in USA. But you do also have people 3D printing burgers and houses, and kidneys, lungs and hearts. We wont start doing that but there are research companies who have taken patient cells and used them to print living organs. The printing of food like burgers I think is just the hobbyist side of the industry, whereas were at the coalface of industrial prototyping and modelmaking. Game of Thrones isnt the only TV fantasy production its worked on. It produced crystals and puppets for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a Netflix series made as a prequel to the 1982 film The Dark Crystal. Its currently working on 3D printed models for several more music videos and Hollywood blockbusters, which Campbell says he cant name. Those models will then be used to help create hi tech animatronics and puppets. And in 2016, it worked on mood rings worn by Lady Gaga in her Grammys tribute to David Bowie. But hes quick to add the diva herself wasnt popping round for fittings. We got the order for the 3D printed Lady Gaga mood rings from a design company in London which works with us regularly and got them shipped out to LA for the performance. The rings gave Lady Gaga control of the stage, an LED wall, and a three dimensional hologram of David Bowie, who had died a month earlier. Expand Close Lady Gaga performs her David Bowie tribute at the 2016 Grammys in LA, wearing mood rings made by LPE in Belfast / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lady Gaga performs her David Bowie tribute at the 2016 Grammys in LA, wearing mood rings made by LPE in Belfast The rings were made using stereolithography, then hand finished and painted to a rose gold and opal clear finish by LPE. Engineers then incorporated graphics technology, which responded to the ring and how Lady Gaga moved on stage. Demand for 3D printed products from the medical sector has soared during the pandemic. Its been making items such as PPE and jigs and fixtures to aid speedy production and parts for ventilators, hospital beds and hoists. The company was founded in 1991 by Tom Walls, who is managing director. He had been working for aerospace manufacturer Shorts but on a trip to America, witnessed the practice of stereolithography, a form of 3D printing, for the first time. Campbell says: That process was first discovered in 1986 and he brought it here in 1991. About 10 years ago rapid prototyping hit the mainstream and now most peoples offices have 3D printers in the corner. People are really surprised when they realise we were doing that as a service back in 1991. It now has 28 employees and a multi-million pound turnover. And Campbell is confident that it wont suffer a major hit from coronavirus and lockdown. If one industry such as aerospace is suffering we often find that another is rampant. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Is Ohio anywhere close to herd immunity for the coronavirus? Were talking about antibody testing on This Week in the CLE. Listen online here. Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour coronavirus news podcast, with editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me, answering all sorts of questions from the news. Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares once or twice a day what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802. And youve been offering all sorts of great perspective in our coronavirus alert account, which has 13,000-plus subscribers. You can sign up for free by texting 216-279-7784. Here are the questions were answering today: Is Ohio getting close to herd immunity that would protect us all from the coronavirus? Not at all. The American Red Cross has told state officials that 2.2% of Ohioans it is testing for coronavirus antibodies are positive. Why are the people behind the campaign to repeal House Bill 6, the nuclear bailout that we now know was forged in a crucible of corruption funded by First Energy, in trouble for their efforts? Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts never filed a state campaign-finance report detailing the groups 2019 expenditures, which included ads, legal expenses and paid petition workers. What did in-school classes look like this week in Painesville, one of the first Northeast Ohio districts to bring students back to the classroom? From mandatory masks to lunches in the classroom, its far from business as usual. Did the Democrats in Ohio do what we all thought they would and file suit against Secretary of State Frank LaRose over ballot drop boxes? The Ohio Democratic Party has sued Republican LaRose, seeking to force him to allow multiple drop boxes per county for completed absentee ballots for the upcoming election. What are the unanswered questions about the presidential debate that will take place in Cleveland Sept. 29th? President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden likely wouldnt wear masks on stage, but would anyone else? How many members of the media would attend? Organizers say the event would definitely look different from normal. How many people has MetroHealth and its partners tested for the coronavirus in underserved neighborhoods? The MetroHealth System has tested nearly 2,000 people for COVID-19 in underserved neighborhoods through partnerships with faith-based organizations and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, mostly in Black or Hispanic neighborhoods where residents said they had no ready access to other testing sites. What is the reaction of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Senate President Larry Obhof to the call for the impeachment of the governor? DeWine on Tuesday shrugged it off, saying Republicans should instead address his legislative proposals on guns and police reform. Obhof calls the attempt to impeach grandstanding by a couple of members who arent productive legislatively. Want more? You can find all our past episodes here. Do you get your podcasts on Spotify. Find us here. If you use Stitcher, we are here. RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here. On Google Podcasts, we are here. On PodParadise, find us here. And on PlayerFM, we are here Pipeline 26 August 2020 The Zleep Hotel Hannover is set to become the third hotel in Germany to operate under the Scandinavian brand Zleep. The hotel is being developed in conjunction with Krasemann Immobilien, a property group which is responsible for the realisation of the project. The Zleep Hotel in Hanover will be a new build extending over five floors. Scheduled to open at the end of 2022, it will offer 124 Nordic-design rooms, a generously proportioned lounge delivering a true sense of "hygge" flair, an integrated reception space, a lobby and a breakfast and bar area. Zleep Hotels are presently also under development in Hamburg, Frankfurt/the Rhine-Main region, Madrid, Prague and Zurich. Further locations are at the planning stage. The Zleep Hotel Hannover will occupy a central site at Podbielskistrae 314-316 in the city's Gro-Buchholz district. This means that it will enjoy good transport links and will also be easily accessible via public transport. An underground car park will accommodate 31 parking spaces. The architectural firm Bunemann & Collegen is responsible for the implementation of the project alongside BBU.Projekt Architekten BDA. Investment volume is approximately 13 million. Zleep Hotels represent quality, digital services and Nordic design at affordable prices. Comfortable beds, free fast Wi-Fi, modern flat screen TV's, high-end showers and an organic breakfast buffet are further feel-good factors which enhance every stay. The Zleep Hotel Hannover will give Deutsche Hospitality a third presence in Hanover, where it already operates the IntercityHotel Hannover and the IntercityHotel Hannover Hauptbahnhof Ost. Fugitive don Chhota Shakeel on Wednesday denied that Dawood Ibrahim, one of Indias most wanted men, lives in Karachi despite the Pakistan government admitting to his presence in the city. In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, the high-ranking member of the D-Company said it was the Indian medias responsibility to show that Ibrahim lived in Karachis upmarket Clifton area, as was reported, and said they were not answerable to any government, including Pakistans. Its your responsibility, not ours. When we are not there (in Karachi) how can anyone own us? he replied to a question on the Pakistan government listing his address in a sanction order proscribing 88 terrorists. In the time of media and social media, you can project anything - bungalow or car as his. Whatever you show as Dawood Ibrahims house then its your responsibility, not ours. You are free to show anything, he told CNN-News18 over the phone. Ibrahim has been accused by India of being the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, and Indian authorities have often said that they believe Ibrahim lives in Karachis Clifton area. But Pakistan often denied his presence in that country. After years of denying that it shelters the underworld don, Pakistan authorities on Satuday listed his address as White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton" in Karachi. He also has other properties listed as House Nu 37 - 30th Street - defence, Housing Authority, Karachi" and Palatial bungalow in the hilly area of Noorabad in Karachi". Indian officials have said that Pakistan seems to have accepted the details of Ibrahim presented by India in UN to escape the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, and avoid tough sanctions for helping terrorists. Among the 88 banned banned terror groups and their leaders, Pakistan has also imposed sanctions on 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar. However, later on Saturday, the Pakistani government tried to distance itself from the admission, saying that it was not the source of the information. Dawood Ibrahim, who heads a vast and multifaceted illegal business empire, emerged as Indias most wanted terrorist after the 1993 Mumbai bombings in which 257 people were killed and 700 were injured. Besides the Mumbai blasts, the 59-year-old don is also accused of masterminding other terror attacks. India and the US also accuse Dawood of financing terror groups including al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Washington: Deviating from his own advice and breaking the longstanding precedent of sitting US secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics, Mike Pompeo has urged Americans to re-elect President Donald Trump if they want to keep the country safe and their freedoms intact. The unconventional address of Pompeo at the second day of the mostly-virtual Republican National Convention on Tuesday created a political uproar, especially from the opposition Democratic Party, which asserted that the Secretary of State should stay away from partisan politics. The decision to speak to the political convention in pre-recorded remarks from Jerusalem breaks with the longstanding precedent of sitting secretaries of state avoiding partisan politics and appears to violate guidance on political activities that Pompeo himself emphasised in a cable to diplomats just last month. Brushing away the criticism, Pompeo said that his speech from Israel is in his personal capacity. "The primary Constitutional function of the national government is ensuring your family and mine are safe and enjoy the freedom to live, work, learn and worship as they choose. Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this President has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world," Pompeo said in his address. Noting that Americans are more safe, and their freedoms more secure, because Trump has put his America First vision into action, Pompeo asserted that it may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked. "In China, he has pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The President has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world, and he will not rest until justice is done," the Secretary of State said. The US has accused China of spreading the novel coronavirus, which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. More than 5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US so far. There have been more than 170,000 deaths in the country. Pompeo said Trump has ensured that the Chinese Communist Party spies posing as diplomats are jailed or sent back to China. He has "ended ridiculously unfair trade deals with China that punched a hole in the economy. Those jobs are coming back home," he said. In North Korea, the President lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table, Pompeo said. "No nuclear tests, no long-range missile tests and Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families as did the precious remains of scores of our heroes who fought in Korea," he said. "Today, because of President Trump, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has defensive weapons systems and America left a harmful treaty so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression," Pompeo said. According to Pompeo, in the Middle East when Iran threatened, the President approved a strike that killed Iranian terrorist, Qasem Soleimani, the man responsible for the murder and maiming of hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Christians across the Middle East. "You will all recall that when the President took office, radical Islamic terrorists had beheaded Americans and ISIS-controlled a territory the size of Great Britain. Today, because of the President's determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out, its evil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, and our brave soldiers are on their way home," he told his countrymen. The President exited the US from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the Ayatollah, Hezbollah and Hamas, he said. Pompeo said that the President moved the US Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland, he said. "And the President brokered a historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, that our grandchildren will read about in their history books," he said. "As a soldier, I saw, first hand, people desperate to flee to freedom. The way each of us can best ensure our freedoms is by electing leaders who don't just talk, but deliver," he said. Meanwhile, a House Democrat has opened an investigation into Pompeo's controversial decision to address the Republican National Convention. Rep Joaquin Castro, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, said in a statement on Tuesday that the "American people deserve a full investigation." We're sorry, but we're unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have been removed, renamed, or deleted. You can try searching for the topic using the search button in the right hand corner above. Chandigarh, Aug 26 : With just days to go for the NEET and JEE exams being conducted amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday asked Advocate General Atul Nanda to coordinate with his counterparts in other Opposition-ruled states for filing a collective review petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a deferment. The directive followed a virtual meeting convened by Congress President Sonia Gandhi with Chief Ministers of seven opposition-ruled states to discuss this and other issues of common concern, including delay in GST compensation release and the farm Ordinances. There was no time to seek time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue of exams deferment, said Amarinder Singh in response to a suggestion to this effect. "Let us all get together to move the Supreme Court for postponement of the exams, which are threatening the lives of lakhs of students," he said. With exams being held online around the world, he suggested that the JEE and NEET and other professional exams like medical and law could also be held online and there was no need to put the students at risk. Amarinder Singh also disclosed that his government would be setting up a committee soon to assess the impact of the new education policy on the state's education system and finances, adding that every state has its own system, which the Centre failed to take into account before announcing the policy. Citing that as of now, two days before the scheduled Vidhan Sabha session, 23 ministers and MLAs were Covid positive, Amarinder Singh said if this was the state of the legislators and ministers, one can only imagine how grave the situation on the ground was. The scenario was not conducive to holding physical examinations, he said. The Chief Minister told the meeting that even on the issue of the mandatory final term exams for colleges and universities, despite repeated pleas and reminders, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had failed to take cognisance of his government's concerns. "How can we have exams with Covid projected to peak in the state in September?" he asked, adding, "I also want students to take exams and pass too, but how can I do this in the midst of the crisis?" Amarinder Singh also raised the issue of the Centre's decision to suspend the post-matric scholarship scheme for the Scheduled Caste students, whose number in the state is a whopping 3.17 lakh. "Given the acute fiscal crisis in the state, with no money even to pay salaries and fulfil other existing commitments, how do they expect us to pay for these scholarships too," he asked. Noting that what the states were seeking was only their own dues, the Chief Minister also suggested that a delegation of all the Opposition-ruled Chief Ministers should meet the Prime Minister to press for release of GST compensation and financial assistance to fight Covid. "We have given all the powers of taxation to him through the GST, and now they say they may not be able to pay. So how do we run our states?" he said, calling upon the Opposition-ruled states to work together and fight together for their rights. Elaborating on the financial crisis faced by the state, the Chief Minister said the Centre's failure to release GST compensation after March 31, which is to the tune of nearly Rs 7,000 crore, had put Punjab in a difficult situation amid the spiralling Covid cases, which had crossed 44,000, with 1,178 deaths. "If the government of India does not give us our GST compensation how do they expect us to function," said Amarinder Singh, adding states cannot manage on their own and the Centre needs to support. Earlier, in her introductory remarks, Sonia Gandhi pointed to the concerns already raised by Amarinder Singh on the "anti-farmer" and "anti-federal" agriculture ordinances. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text By PTI NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said "refusal" by the Centre to pay GST compensation to the states is nothing short of a betrayal of the trust of the people of India. She was addressing a meeting of chief ministers of states ruled by non-NDA parties, which was convened by her ahead of the crucial GST Council meeting on Thursday and the Monsoon session of Parliament that is likely to start from September 14. Gandhi said the issue of GST compensation being paid to states on time according to laws passed by Parliament is crucial but this is not happening. She said dues have accumulated and the finances of all states have been affected badly, while the central government continues to profiteer from "unilateral" cesses which are non-shareable with states and corner this revenue. ALSO READ | Amarinder Singh asks AG to coordinate with counterparts to file petition on NEET, JEE exams The Congress chief said the meeting was convened to help build a coordinated approach among like-minded parties on some important and pressing issues that impinge on the Centre-state relations. "This refusal to compensate the states is nothing short of a betrayal by the Modi government and a betrayal of trust of the people of India," she said at the meeting. Gandhi noted that the GST was enacted as an example of "cooperative federalism" and the GST regime came into existence because the states agreed to forego their constitutional powers of taxation in the larger national interest and on the solemn promise of compulsory GST compensation for a period of five years. She also said that some announcements by the government like the National Education Policy should worry all of them. ALSO READ | Clamour to postpone NEET, JEE grows: From Mamata to Sisodia, here is a look at who said what "This is a setback for progressive, secular and scientific values and reveals insensitivity to what the states have been saying. Problems of students and examinations are being dealt with very uncaringly," she said. Gandhi observed that ordinances are being issued by the Centre without consulting states on agricultural marketing and this will destroy the MSP regime and adversely impact the PDS. "There has been a nationwide outcry against the Draft EIA Notification 2020 which is deeply anti-democratic. Laws meant to protect the environment, livelihoods and public health are being weakened," she said, noting that the auction of coal mines has also been objected to by some chief ministers. Public sector assets created over decades are being sold off, the Congress leader said, adding that some state governments have expressed their strong opposition to this. She also observed that six airports have already been given to private hands and the Railways which is the life-line of the country is also being privatised by the BJP-led central government. Gandhi called for more such meetings of like-minded parties in the larger interest of the country and the public's good. She also urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to talk to some of her counterparts in the larger interest of the public. Wednesday's episode of The Bachelor saw the show's resident redhead Zoe-Clare McDonald sent packing in a shock double elimination. After previously claiming she was oppressed because of her hair colour, Bachelor Locky Gilbert gave the 23-year-old her marching orders. And while Zoe-Clare went quietly, viewers had plenty to say about why the outspoken reality star was sent home, voicing their thoughts on Twitter. Gone: Wednesday's episode of The Bachelor saw the show's resident redhead Zoe-Clare McDonald (pictured) sent packing in a shock double elimination "'It's not you, it's your hair," Locky whispered as he said goodbye to Zoe-Clare...' tweeted one viewer. 'I like to imagine Zoe-Clare crying on the car ride home, absolutely convinced that she got sent home because of her hair colour,' wrote one fan. Added another: 'Zoe-Clare didn't get a rose because Locky was discriminating against red heads'. Fan theories: While Zoe-Clare went quietly, viewers had plenty to say about why the outspoken reality star was sent home, voicing their thoughts on Twitter '"It's not you, it's your hair," Locky whispered as he said goodbye to Zoe-Clare...' tweeted one viewer Others thought Zoe-Clare deserved to be recognised for her contribution to the redheaded community. 'Posthumously nominating Zoe-Clare for a Nobel Peace Prize for her trailblazing ranga rights campaign,' tweeted one fan. 'NOT ZOE-CLARE! What will the mildly but not really red-headed community do now without their leader?' added another. Sent home: After previously claiming she was oppressed because of her hair colour, Bachelor Locky Gilbert gave the 23-year-old her marching orders Making a difference: Others thought Zoe-Clare deserved to be recognised for her contribution to the redheaded community One person even thought she'd earned herself a place on next year's season of Bachelor In Paradise. 'If Zoe-Clare doesn't get picked for Paradise next year, I will personally buy her a ticket to Fiji,' wrote one fan. Even the show's host, Osher Gunsberg, couldn't resist poking fun at her on Twitter: 'I for one will miss Zoe-Clare. And her hair. And her bone structure.' Taking a stand: Shortly after her arrival on this year's Bachelor, Zoe-Clare went on a lengthy rant about how redheads are regularly discriminated against Weighing in: Even the show's host, Osher Gunsberg, couldn't resist poking fun at her on Twitter: 'I for one will miss Zoe-Clare. And her hair. And her bone structure' Zoe-Clare was sent home halfway through the episode, alongside fellow hopeful Clare Lange, 26. Shortly after her arrival on this year's Bachelor, Zoe-Clare went on a lengthy rant about how redheads are regularly discriminated against. 'What's wrong with a ranga? I'm sorry, do you want me to dye my hair every 10 seconds, I'm so sorry but this is natural guys. This is not going anywhere!' she fumed. The Bachelor continues Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Grants from the National Institutes of Health to the University of California, Riverside, will support research on mental health and opioid use. Boosting mental health treatment Andrew M. Subica, an assistant professor in the Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health in the School of Medicine, has been awarded a three-year intervention development grant of $723,000 from the National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH, to design and pilot test a novel culturally tailored intervention to increase Pacific Islanders' use of mental health treatment. Previously, Subica performed an exploratory study funded by the NIMH that found the levels of depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, as well as the need for treatment were extraordinarily high in Pacific Islander communities. The study also confirmed that members of these communities typically will not seek treatment to address these needs. With the new NIMH grant, Subica will use the data collected on Pacific Islanders' mental health needs and barriers to treatment to create the novel intervention from existing evidence-based practices. "We are calling our intervention 'Talking Story,'" Subica said. "Pacific Islanders, who are innate storytellers, reported in our earlier study that an effective mental health treatment-seeking intervention should use stories to convey important information about mental health treatment rather than lectures, presentations, or even testimonials. As a result, this new project will hire Pacific Islander actors to create brief narrative films of different scenarios that address Pacific Islanders' stigma, limited knowledge of the treatment process, and warranted cultural mistrust of Western treatment services." The project, titled "Engaging Pacific Islanders in Mental Health Treatment Services," will be conducted in partnership with the Office of Samoan Affairs and Motivation Action Leadership Opportunity; Bruce Link at the UCR School of Public Policy; Nia Aitaoto at the University of Utah; Scott Okamoto at the Hawaii Pacific University; Sheila Murphy at the University of Southern California; Erin Kelly at Thomas Jefferson University; and Matthew Yamashita at Quazifilms. Studying opioid use Subica was also awarded a three-year, $727,000 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, for a project titled "Engaging Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in opioid use disorder treatment." "Next to COVID-19, the opioid overdose epidemic is the biggest public health crisis affecting the U.S. since HIV/AIDS, with 48,000 people dying per year from opioid overdose," Subica said. "No research has sought to understand or address opioid use disorders in Pacific Islander populations -- a research and clinical gap this three-year intervention development grant will seek to address." Subica said he decided to pursue this research because Pacific Islanders have nearly every major risk factor for opioid use disorders compared to other U.S. racial groups, including extremely high rates of mental health and substance use disorders -- the strongest predictor of opioid use disorders. "Our study will explore the scope of the opioid issue among Native Hawaiians in Hawaii and Tongans in Utah to design a culturally tailored intervention to engage Pacific Islanders with opioid use disorders in treatment," Subica said. "People with opioid use disorders are at very high risk for death from overdose. It is thus a public health priority to intervene before Pacific Islanders overdose on opioids. We will create the intervention and pilot-test it, our goal being randomized controlled trials of this intervention in future studies." Subica and his team will also seek to gain new data on methamphetamine use in Pacific Islander communities. "Methamphetamine abuse, which is extremely high among Pacific Islanders, is the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in nearly all states where substantial Pacific Islander populations reside," Subica said. "This study will ideally gain information about the drugs most closely linked to the risk of overdose and death in Pacific Islanders." ### Subica's research partners include Dr. Li-Tzy Wu at Duke University School of Medicine; Dr. Scott Okamoto at Hawaii Pacific University; Dr. Nia Aitaoto at University of Utah; and Drs. Howard Moss and Esra Kurum at UCR. Research reported here was supported by NIMH and NIDA of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R34MH122641 and R34DA049989, respectively. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The University of California, Riverside (http://www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment is more than 24,000 students. The campus opened a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of almost $2 billion. To learn more, email news@ucr.edu. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station provided images of Hurricane Laura as it continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico. Laura is pushing waters from the Gulf of Mexico that could inundate coastal areas miles inland and evacuations are in progress. Watches and Warnings on Aug. 25 On Aug. 25, NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) posted several watches and warnings on major Hurricane Laura. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for San Luis Pass, Texas to the mouth of the Mississippi River. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. Some of the storm surge forecasts are extreme. From Sea Rim State Park to Intracoastal City, La. including Sabine Lake and Calcasieu Lake, a 10- to 15-foot storm surge is forecast. From Intracoastal City to Morgan City including Vermilion Bay an 8- to 12-foot storm surge is forecast. For additional areas and storm surges, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov. A Hurricane Warning is in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Sargent, Texas to San Luis Pass and for areas east of Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the mouth of the Mississippi River. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for Freeport, Texas to San Luis Pass, Texas, from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and for Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for from east of Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City, Louisiana. International Space Station Finds a Large Hurricane Astronaut Chris Cassidy aboard the International Space Station captured this photo of Hurricane Laura on Aug. 25, 2020 as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico and continued to strengthen. Laura is a large hurricane. On Aug. 26, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center and tropical-storm- force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). NASA Sees Laura from One Million Miles Away NASA's EPIC Camera aboard NOAA's DSCOVR satellite in orbit one million miles from Earth, captured a full disk image of the Atlantic Ocean side of the globe. Hurricane Laura is seen moving through the Gulf of Mexico. Laura's Status on Aug. 26, 2020 at 7 a.m. EDT NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported at 7 a.m. EDT, the eye of Hurricane Laura was located near latitude 26.4 degrees north and longitude 91.4 degrees west. The eye is about 280 miles (450 km) south-southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana and about 290 miles (465 km) southeast of Galveston, Texas. Laura is moving toward the northwest near 15 mph (24 kph) and this general motion should continue today, followed by a north-northwestward motion tonight. Data from NOAA and Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph (185 kph) with higher gusts. Laura is a dangerous category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and is forecast to continue strengthening into a category 4 hurricane later today. Buoy 42395, located just east of Laura's eye, recently reported a sustained wind of 74 mph (119 km/h) and a wind gust of 107 mph (172 km/h) and a wave height of 37 feet (11 meters). The latest minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA and Air Force reconnaissance aircraft data is 963 millibars. Laura's Forecast from NHC The NHC warns that Laura may make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane and bring devastating effects. Heavy rain, dangerous storm surge, isolated tornadoes and hurricane-force sustained winds are expected. On the forecast track, Laura should approach the Upper Texas and southwest Louisiana coasts this evening and move inland near those areas tonight or Thursday morning. NASA Researches Earth from Space For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America's leadership in space and scientific exploration. ### For updated and detailed forecasts, visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov By Rob Gutro NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Protesters rally against a mask mandate, many showing support for President Donald Trump, in Las Vegas, Nev., on Aug. 22, 2020. "On day one" of his own presidency, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said, he would implement a national COVID-19 plan and mandate mask wearing. (Bridget Bennett/AFP via Getty Images) Pandemic Gives Petty Tyrants Control Commentary As the nation continues to struggle with the CCP virus and its after-effects, its not terribly surprising thatlike everything else these daysthe response to the pandemic is both highly politicized and deeply divisive. At this point in a putative two weeks to flatten the curve cycle that has now gone on for more than five months, the debate is no longer over whether the Chinese Communist Party virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, is an unprecedented global health peril or a slightly more potent version of the flu that has been weaponized against the worlds economies. The debate is whether the reactionor overreactionhas been worth it. And, by any reasonable historical standard, the answer is no. In a world that abides by the cautious motto, safety first and if it saves just one life, this sounds cruel. Prior to March, when it seemed that the governments goalfifteen days to slow the spreadwas an entirely reasonable price to pay, these were sentiments most Americans readily shared. A few reasonable precautionsincluding most importantly if you feel sick, stay home and if someone in your household has tested positive for the Coronavirus, keep the entire household at homeand a warning to seniors and those with serious comorbidities that they were at heightened risk would have done the trick. After all, thats what civilized societies have always done: quarantine the sick and those closest to them, and protect the most vulnerable. The word quarantine, in fact, comes from the medieval Venetian practice of keeping ships arriving from plague cities anchored for 40 days (quaranta giorni) before being allowed to land. Tyranny Instead, the nations governorsparticularly Andrew Cuomo in New York, Gavin Newsom in California, and J.B. Pritzker in Illinois, blue states allseized upon the medical uncertainty to impose draconian and blatantly unconstitutional mandates to lock down their states, forbidding the freedom of assembly and free exercise of religion, and annihilating their states business sectors. Well be paying the pricein lives and moneyfor years if not decades. The definition of tyranny is not malevolence but capriciousness; one day you are best friends with Stalin and the next day you are, literally, erased from history, like Nikolai Yezhov, a hapless secret police official who ran afoul of the dictators whims in 1938 and was not only executed but excised from the photographic legacy: disappeared. Today, we call this fascism the cancel culture, in which Twitter mobs lynch the politically incorrect, and Black Lives Matter and Antifa mobs trash and burn American cities on the slightest pretext and pull down statues of historic figures out of anarchic rage. The lawful efforts of the police have been criminalized, and lawlessness is celebrated by the anti-American mainstream media. The result has been a descent into savagery the likes of which weve never seen in modern America, with feral bands of revolutionaries manque taking out their educationally acquired hatred on the country that gives them shelterand, in many cases, official encouragement. Politics So, with the election looming in just over three months, weve reached another inflection point in U.S. history: how much more of this are we going to take? Surely, no one in the Trump administration envisioned the profound economic, social, and cultural damage that would result from its earnest efforts to protect the public health while at the same time preserving the roaring economy that had all but assured the president of re-election. Why did they do it? The answer has nothing to do with health, and everything to do with politics. According to the numbers for global deaths, Covid-19 at its worst during the first week of April (7,500 deaths per day) couldnt hold a candle in lethality compared with cardiovascular disease (49,000), cancer (26,000) and respiratory diseases (11,000). The latest figures from the CDC, on Aug. 25, show that the total deaths from the CCP virus in the United Statesjust over 163,000, out of a total death count of 1.7 millionwere only 9 percent higher than the norm. This relatively small number of deaths, when compared to the total American population of roughly 330 million, yields a lethality figure of roughly 0.00049 or 0.049 percent. And America is hardly a global outlier. In that light, therefore, consider this: According to a new CBS poll, 57 percent of registered Republicans feel the reported death toll from the Wuhan virus is acceptable, while only 10 percent of Democrats feel the same way. Since polling itself by the principal organs of the mainstream media now has a solely partisan political objective, these numbers are meant to indicate that Trump supporters are heartless beasts, callous layabouts, and lotus-eaters indifferent to the sufferings of their fellow man. But is the conservative/Republican attitude wrong? What if one rejects the unrealistic if it saves one life mantra, and instead takes a cold-eyed, actuarialthe only attitude that makes any economic and cultural senselook at the numbers? In that case, Covid-19 is just a blip on the radar, next to nothing compared with past disasters such as the Spanish Flu, the American Civil War, and the two World Wars. Further, Covid-19 is just one disease among many. Is the death toll from heart attacks acceptable? From breast cancer? We dont panic over these entirely predictable morbidities, but rather accept them as part of our brief lives on this planet. No one lives forever, and the acceptance of our human mortality has long been considered a part of the cost of doing business as human beings. That we can be greater than the sum of our actuarial tables never seems to occur to the Marxist Left. What Is to Be Done? Is something like the coronavirus, which is all likelihood came out of a Chinese lab in Wuhan, worth shutting down the worlds economies, commerce, travel, and social interaction? Is it worth the social distancing (an odious phrase) that asks us to look upon our neighbors as potential carriers of the Dreaded Covid? Is it worth masking ourselves and our children, as if there really was something for them to fear? Is it worth the loss of social interaction, human conviviality, and fun to a bureaucrats say-so? The answer is, unequivocally, no. Name a single event in world history to which the correct response was to quarantine the healthy and effect the willful destruction of a nations economy and social well-being. London survived both the Plague and the Great Fire in 166566, and rose to become the greatest city in the world. Even during the Black Death of the mid-14th century, which killed a third of Europes population, and also coincided with the beginning of the Little Ice Age, life went on, including the Hundred Years War between England and France. As Ive written in my forthcoming book, Last Stands: Why Men Fight When All Is Lost, there are times when we must put aside considerations of own personal welfare in order to serve the larger cultural picture. But the larger cultural picture has become, in these parlous times, secondary to the current political narrative, which demands the subordination of personal freedom to the diktats of the state. No wonder many on the Right see the lockdowns and sheer picayune arbitrariness of the rules governing which businesses may open and which may not as a warmup for further restrictions in the name of climate change or some other whimsy, and indeed that is already happening. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a siren call for stronger action in the face of global threats, says a report from the Centre for International Governance Innovation, based in Canada. Rather than being discrete threats that just happen to collide, pandemics and climate change are, in effect, co-travellers. Note also the barely disguised glee with which such corrupt outfits as the World Health Organization freely speak of living with Covid-19 forever. The critical question that all countries will face in the coming months is how to live with this virus. That is the new normal, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in June. So be warned: If you think the petty tyrants currently making your lives miserable are going to willingly relinquish their illicit powers, think again. Theyve got a taste for it now. No matter how flat the curve gets, no matter how slow the spread becomes, they dont intend to give up control without a fight. The question is: what are you going to do about it? Michael Walsh is the editor of The-Pipeline.org and the author of The Devils Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, both published by Encounter Books. His latest book, Last Stands, a cultural study of military history from the Greeks to the Korean War, will be published in December by St. Martins Press. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Going from Sunday lunches to a four-night-a-week restaurant and take away service is a big change for Mackeys of Gathabawn, but its a chance owners Richie and Margaret had to take, despite the sleepless nights. We were selling food pre-lockdown but it was just Sunday lunches and we might do a curry night or a steak night if there was an international match on or we had a bus tour, Richie Mackey explained. When lockdown came we thought we would be closed for two or three weeks. Then months passed. When June 29 came I wasnt clear about the 90-minute rule and we have so many friends and neighbours, who have been coming here for 40 years, I didnt want to put them on the clock. We said we would wait until July 20, the original date for pubs to reopen. But then that was delayed and I said we have to go. They were lucky that they had a kitchen. They also have their own pizza oven, make their own dough and can do take-away food. On a weekday Mackeys offers pizza or a meal like bacon and cabbage or beef. On a Sunday they still do a full menu. It helps that Richies wife Margaret is a trained chef. Reopening was a decision Richie took very seriously. He spoke to other publicans for advice and admits it kept him awake at night. We have to look after our workers because we have nothing but local people, he said. We know everyone going in and out, we hurl with the one club. I would hate to see any of my staff pick it up, he said of the coronavirus. Paranoia is driving them in some way, to make sure everything is clean. Mackeys is currently open from Thursday to Sunday, 4.30pm until last orders at 8.30pm, and Sunday lunches 12.30pm to 4pm. All the tables are two metres apart, except on Sunday when tables are one metre apart, then the 90 minute rule is applied. Mackeys are also fortunate they have a yard area and car park where they can put tables. All tables must be booked in advance and Mackeys have a WhatsApp group with more than 200 people from the area. Customers text what time they want to visit. I have found the public to be very good and gracious, he said. When the 90 minutes is up people have been very good and moved on. Richie thanked the HSE and Gardai for their help. They were very good to us. Gave great advice that gave us the confidence to open. The government wage subsidy has also helped. We wouldnt survive without it, Richie said. He said its a good thing to have and should be in place for 12 to 18 months. The reopening of Mackeys means five people now have jobs - Richie and his wife Margaret and three local women. They took on an extra person because of the additional Covid regulations, and if they can reopen for seven days Richie thinks he might have to hire a fourth woman. Thats a good complaint, he said. Keeping jobs and the local economy moving is important. This new way of doing business is working well. But normal business has disappeared. Mackeys would have been very popular for birthdays, stag and hen parties. But everything is on pause for now. There are 30 different parties in the diary that didnt happen this year. We go week to week here now. All we can do is our best. Once you have the support of the local people that means a lot. Richie said there is a good community in the area and he would like to see the pubs reopen in Freshford, Galmoy, Johnstown and other neighbouring parishes. The whole lockdown has created a lot of scenarios and obstacles you have to work through and tease out, every pub is different, Richie said. Richie said bars need government support packages, not for the business already lost but to get them through to next summer. Mackeys is a country pub. Before the lockdown it would have been the older people in the area, the generation over 65, who came in from Monday to Thursday. Now they dont seem to be too inclined to come in, they are very cautious, Richie said. That would be a concern for me. They would have been the ones who would have come in Monday and Tuesday, when people were away at college or at home minding children. Going forward, Covid could be the death knell of Monday/ Tuesday opening. Richie admitted his biggest fear was that by reopening the doors of the pub they would burn more cash than being closed. The County Council were quick to provide a restart grant that covered the cost of screens and some extra tables, which Richie is grateful for. For the moment Richie says that while its not ideal, it is definitely worth being open. Id love to get the nod from Dublin that all pubs can open again, that everyone could socially distance at one metre, he said. That would suit me a lot better and a lot of other publicans. Its not ideal but its worth being open, for us. For some publicans its just not viable. They are probably right to stay closed. I dont think we will ever make up what we lost in the last five months, but I dont look back. Whats gone is gone. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:11:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- Southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, a landmark in the country's reform and opening-up drive, on Wednesday marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. -- Over the past four decades, Shenzhen has transformed from a small fishing village into a modern metropolis with a permanent population of over 13 million. It is still in the vanguard of China's development as a reform and opening-up paragon. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 13, 2020 shows a view of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) SHENZHEN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, a landmark in the country's reform and opening-up drive, on Wednesday marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. Over the past four decades, Shenzhen has transformed from a small fishing village into a modern metropolis with a permanent population of over 13 million. It is still in the vanguard of China's development as a reform and opening-up paragon. THE SHENZHEN SPEED On Aug. 26, 1980, the 15th meeting of the Standing Committee of the fifth National People's Congress, the national legislature, approved the establishment of special economic zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong Province and Xiamen in Fujian Province. Ever since then, Shenzhen has created a miracle in development. This can be seen in the figures. From 1979 to 2019, Shenzhen's gross domestic output (GDP) rose at an annual growth rate of 21.6 percent to 2.69 trillion yuan (about 388.89 billion U.S. dollars), its per capita GDP also skyrocketed from 606 yuan to 203,489 yuan. Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2020 shows the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) Shenzhen has now become the "Silicon Valley of China" and is regarded an "engine" for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's development into a vibrant world-class city cluster. On average, there are 8.5 state-level high-tech enterprises per square km in Shenzhen, and an average of 71 invention patents are authorized every day. As Shenzhen kick-started a brand-new market-oriented development pattern in 1980, a raft of reforms have been carried out in the city, which created countless firsts on the Chinese mainland, including the first land auctioned, the first stock issued and the first export industrial zone set up after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. "From the very beginning, Shenzhen's reform and opening-up has been endowed with the feature of boldly looking for breakthroughs from existing experiences, which is also the starting point of China's great success," said Tao Yitao, director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research at Shenzhen University. In 1984, China opened 14 coastal cities. Four years later, the tropical island of Hainan became a province and a special economic zone. In 1990, China started to develop and open up Shanghai's Pudong, which has now become an investment haven for foreign firms. SHENZHEN DREAM, CHINESE DREAM "There would be no Shenzhen without the policy of reform and opening up," said Wang Chuanfu, chairman of China's leading new-energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD. "And likewise, there would be no BYD without Shenzhen." Aerial photo taken on Aug. 13, 2020 shows a view of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) Wang has been chasing his dream, like millions of others, in Shenzhen since 1995. Over the past 25 years, BYD has grown from a battery manufacturer into a leading NEV producer. It has obtained more than 18,000 patents, with products reaching customers in more than 50 countries and regions. "We have taken root in Shenzhen and worked hard to master the core technology. The competitiveness of BYD is getting stronger and stronger, and our road is getting wider and wider," said Wang in pride. Shenzhen now boasts eight Chinese Fortune 500 firms such as Huawei, Tencent, Vanke and Ping An Insurance, ranking third on the Chinese mainland in terms of the number of such enterprises, and nearly 300 overseas Fortune 500 enterprises have settled in the city. "For 40 years, Shenzhen has explored a unique development path to driving China's modernization and achieving the goal of common prosperity, " said Tao. NEW MISSION In August last year, Shenzhen, the trailblazer in China's reform and opening up, received a new mission. A guideline issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council said Shenzhen will be built into a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Pilot demonstration means that Shenzhen should not only be a pioneer but also serve as a model for other cities, so as to build an "ideal city" of socialism with Chinese characteristics, said Wu Sikang, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the Shenzhen government. Employees work in an office of a start-up company at the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao youth innovation and entrepreneurial base in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in Futian District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) The guideline laid out a timeline for the city's development -- by 2025, it will become a leading city globally in terms of economic strength and quality of development; by 2035, not only will it become a national model of high-quality development, but also a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity with international influence. "Shenzhen's role as the trailblazer in marketization, internationalization and legalization has put it on the fast track of development in the 40-plus years of reform and opening-up," said Song Ding with the China Development Institute (CDI) based in Shenzhen. "It's also the reason the central government made it a pilot demonstration area." Experts also believe that Shenzhen's development model will inject incentives into the regional integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. After implementing a number of reforms to improve the business system, Shenzhen continues to optimize the business environment this year in such areas as business registration, administrative approval and tax payment. "Shenzhen should create even better policy, financial, law and integrity environment for enterprises and continue to play a leading role in China's reform and opening-up," said Li Luoli, vice-chairman of the CDI. (Reporting by Liu Jie, Zhou Ke, Wang Pan, Ma Yujie, Sun Fei and Liu Hongxia; Video reporters: Li Sijia, Huo Siying, Mao Siqian; Video editor: Chen Sihong) The incoming president of the Irish Dental Association (IDA) has stressed that back to school time is the perfect reminder for booking your dental check-up, and this year it has never been as important in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. With schools set to reopen after being closed for six months, dentists are urging parents to ensure their children attend for a routine check-up in what is a safe environment. Dr Anne ONeill said: Covid-19 has caused significant disruption this year. "Children have had months with altered schedules, and we are concerned that many children may have missed out on essential check-ups since schools closed in March. This time of year has always been associated with a dental check-up reminder and 2020 should be no different," she said. Dr ONeill said that dentistry was open for business throughout Ireland and that dental practices were safe places for patients. Dentists have always prioritised the safety of patients, their staff and themselves. They understand the details of infection control like few other businesses, they ensure that their practices are cleaned to the highest standard and they are following Covid-19 guidelines to mitigate any risk of infection. You should not be concerned about going to your dentist for a check-up," she continued. Dr. ONeill said dental check-ups are key because not only do they serve to identify issues that may have developed since the last visit to the dentist, they also get your child used to the dental practice and ensure they develop good oral health habits from a young age. "This year, we have all experienced the difficult changes related to the pandemic, and children have been out of their routines for the past number of months," she said. While back to school can be a very expensive time of year, it is a key reminder time for parents to book that dental check-up at a time that suits to build the positive relationship between children, their teeth, their habits and their dentist. It is also a good time to discuss and update our toothbrushes and toothbrushing habits with our children. She said that parents were uniquely placed to influence food habits in children by adopting a healthy lunchbox for school. Parents should pack food that will sustain children for school time. Avoid sugary or fizzy drinks and snacks! Be aware of how much time they have for eating and opt for healthy foods. Cheese, fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, sandwiches, wraps, plain water or milk are all welcome additions to a lunchbox. For dental health, how often we have sugar is as important as how much, so it best to be limited during school hours," she explained. Dr. ONeill said that Covid-19 had introduced a lot of additional challenges for our children going back to school, but that it was important that we dont forget the importance of oral health in our back to school lists. I think going forward there will always be Zoom (programs), Mickle said. I think we have to learn different ways for outreach. Were trying to get more volunteer involvement and trying to reach out to the schools to get different things going because were assuming there are people out there who arent going to feel safe coming back. We need to do something for them. A former student at a high school in Washington state who survived a school shooting is suing the district for what she claims was a preventable attack. The mass shooting killed four students and the gunman in 2014. Carmen Lopez, 20, filed the lawsuit in Snohomish County Superior Court. She said in her lawsuit that she has since suffered life-altering emotional trauma and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident. She was not physically harmed during the shooting. Marysville School District spokesperson Jodi Runyon said the district could not comment on pending litigation, The Daily Herald reported. Jaylen Fryberg opened fire on students in the Marysville Pilchuck High School cafeteria, a school located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Seattle. Students Zoe Galasso, Gia Soriano, Shaylee Chuckulnaskit and Andrew Fryberg died in the gunfire, and another student, Nate Hatch, survived a gunshot wound to the jaw. Fryberg died by suicide afterwards. Lopez said that she was sitting at the same table as the victims and Fryberg when the shooting began. She said she was fortunate because he began by shooting those sitting across from him while she was sitting beside him. As the shooting began, Lopez dropped to the ground then ran away. The lawsuit claims the shooting was preventable because the school allegedly knew two days before that it would happen. Lopez alleges Fryberg had a pattern of worrisome behavior that should have alerted faculty members that he would engage in behaviors either deleterious to himself or others, including his fellow students at the high school. The lawsuit appears to share aspects with one brought by the families of the students who died or were injured in the shooting. The district settled that case in 2017 for $18 million. Plaintiffs in that case relied on the evolving story of a substitute teacher who claimed she had advanced warning about a potential shooting. The teacher told investigators she had shared the information with school staff. Detectives ultimately could find no merit to the story. The new lawsuit does not reference the substitute teacher, nor does it identify how the school knew beforehand that the shooting would take place. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Washington Education A man killed early Saturday in western Birmingham died during a domestic assault, police said Tuesday. Demetrius Wright, 31, died early Saturday in the 900 block of Arkadelphia Avenue. Birmingham police on Tuesday said he was discovered when an officer was notified of a fight taking place in the middle of the road. Officers arrived at the scene to find Wright in a vehicle. He was wounded and disoriented, said Sgt. Rod Mauldin. Wright was pronounced dead at 2:33 a.m. The preliminary investigation indicates Wright was involved in a physical altercation with a female in the roadway when he was assaulted. The female, whose name has not yet been publicly released, has been questioned but not formally charged. Mauldin said the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. USTDA and Ho Chi Minh City signed the partnership on smart city projects at the US Business Summit Ho Chi Minh City has an ambitious smart cities agenda, and USTDA is an ideal partner to support its goals, said Todd Abrajano, USTDA chief operating officer and head of agency. Our partnership will help the city deploy cutting-edge ICT technologies and advanced data analytics that innovative US companies are ready to supply. USTDAs funding will help the city develop implementation plans for an intelligent operations centre, a smart city priority that will aggregate real-time urban data onto an intuitive dashboard platform that can be leveraged by local leaders. Through the usage of these smart technologies and the application of advanced data analytics, Ho Chi Minh City can enhance service delivery to its rapidly-growing population and advance new economic development. This is a watershed moment for Vietnam and US business to drive new partnerships, expand new business opportunities, and engage in all critical sectors in Vietnam. With the US as a partner, Vietnam has the potential to leapfrog into a modern, digitally-enabled economy, advancing beyond other countries in the region, said Daniel Kritenbrink, US Ambassador to Vietnam. "The technical assistance to develop the Intelligent Operations Centre for Ho Chi Minh City is the second cooperation project between the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications and the USTDA, following the success of the Technical Assistance to Develop the Integrated Emergency Communications System for Ho Chi Minh City, which was conducted and completed in 2018-2019," said Le Quoc Cuong, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Information and Communications Department. "The signing of the grant agreement for the Technical Assistance to Develop the Intelligent Operations Centre for Ho Chi Minh City is the most concrete evidence for the strong development of the comprehensive partnership in smart cities between Ho Chi Minh City and the US on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the US, he added. A screenshot showing the new UX from PeopleFluent LMS version 15.2 The LMS' pattern-based, updated look and feel was developed using customer suggestions along with modern best practices within the L&D landscape. The 15.2 update also expands the LMS reporting capabilities with a new analytics page. PeopleFluent, a leading provider of cloud-based talent acquisition, talent management and learning solutions for large and mid-sized enterprises, is pleased to announce the latest release of its award-winning Learning Management System (LMS). The update features a first wave of user experience enhancements along with new integrations that will optimize analytics and reporting across PeopleFluent LMS. PeopleFluent clients can expect a refreshed user interface and user experience design with the LMS 15.2 update, says Jim Johnson, Product Manager at PeopleFluent Learning. The pattern-based, updated look and feel was developed using customer suggestions along with modern best practices within the L&D landscape. The 15.2 update also expands the LMS reporting capabilities with a new analytics page, featuring an initial five embedded reports via Watershed using xAPI statementswhich are forwarded from the LMS using Rustici Engine. Along with PeopleFluent, Watershed and Rustici Software are part of the Learning Technologies Group family of companies, making for a seamless integration process. Additionally, the 15.2 update enhances the automated management of database connectivity as part of continued improvement of the performance of the LMS. Minor enhancements include greater configurability for administrators, specifically relating to program session visibility and certifications, as well as an update to the course CSV loader. To see PeopleFluent LMS award-winning capabilities, schedule a demo or register for one of the PeopleFluent Virtual Learning Strategy Forums for a first-hand look at the latest product enhancements. About PeopleFluent As a market leader in integrated talent management and learning solutions, PeopleFluent helps companies hire, develop, reward, and advance a skilled and motivated workforce. Deployed separately or as a suite, our software spans recruitment, performance, compensation, succession, and learningtailored for either large or mid-enterprise organizations. We deliver unmatched functionality and flexibility, recognized by leading analysts, to develop people, drive performance and deliver results. Our talent solutions unify talent processes within a collaborative experience that enables HR and L&D teams to guide managers and employees with contextual learningright in the flow of work. A part of Learning Technologies Group plc (LTG), PeopleFluent provides world-class service and an unparalleled ecosystem of partners to optimize employee experience, employer brand, and business results. For more, visit peoplefluent.com. 'Tanglewood in the City: Pittsfield' This Friday PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Tanglewood in the City returns to Pittsfield Friday with a free video presentation of the Boston Symphony Orchestra on the Common. This Friday, Aug. 28, a 2019 Boston Symphony Orchestra program at Tanglewood will be projected on a screen on the Pittsfield Common at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by Mill Town Capitol and will feature and Aug. 25, 2019, performance of "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony" with conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and soprano Nicole Cabell, mezzo-soprano Jnai Bridges, tenor Nicholas Phan, and bass Morris Robinson. Tanglewood in the City aims to bring Tanglewood into the Pittsfield community and share one of the festivals major performances with a wider group of Berkshire residents. The performance will be transmitted onto an 11.5 x 6.5 LED screen. Each presentation will begin with a welcome video featuring conductor Giancarlo Guerrero introducing the concert in both English and Spanish. The video will also feature cellist Yo-Yo Ma and a performance by the young Berkshire musicians from Kids 4 Harmony. Due to state regulations and public health concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus, each performance is limited to 50 persons per viewing, in accordance with Massachusetts state guidelines restricting gathering numbers. Admission, which is free, will require advance email registration at events@milltowncapital.com. Audience members are requested that they also include their first and second desired screening times and the number of people included in their party at the time of email registration. Face masks will also be required, and attendees will be asked to follow specific instructions while entering and exiting the Common. Within the designated event space in the Common, attendees will sit within 10-foot-diameter chalk circles that can accommodate a family unit of up to six people. Mill Town Capitol has also sponsored 1,000 free coupons for online viewing. People can email events@milltowncapital.com for online access, which will be available through Aug. 30. All viewers are eligible to enter a watch party" contest for free Tanglewood lawn passes by posting photos on Facebook, Instagram, and @TanglewoodMA on Twitter using the #TWDINTHECITY. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win a 2021 Berkshires Resident Season Lawn Pass. These passes are valid for all concerts and events except for popular artists and Tanglewood Learning Institute. Ten passes will be awarded. A rain date has been set for Sunday, Aug. 30. The Pittsfield event is inspired by the popular Boston edition of "Tanglewood in the City," which last year celebrated its fourth anniversary. In July 2019, the Boston Symphony Orchestra began a new tradition with the first-ever Tanglewood in the City" on the Pittsfield Common. It attracted over 1,000 attendees with pre-concert activities and an evening of live music-making under the stars. About two hours before the chief ministers of seven opposition-ruled states, led by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, got together on a Zoom call on Wednesday afternoon to prepare a protest strategy against the Centres decision to go ahead with NEET and JEE (Mains) exams, the admission cards for the former were released online by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at noon. By the time the virtual meeting concluded, more than five lakh students had downloaded their admit cards in a clear sign that not all students were against the entrance exam that determines admission eligibility for medical colleges". Most students spend three to four years preparing for NEET and any further delay could mean they lose out on the entire academic year. While there are some genuine concerns around students health and safety, NTA Director General Vineet Joshi, in an interview to state broadcaster Doordarshan, said, From students we have two kinds of representations some want the exams to be postponed while some want the exams to be held this time. We were supposed to have JEE in April and NEET in May but on the behest of the students it was postponed to July. We have now come with the new dates in September. Both these representations of students are there with us. We want the exams to happen with the implementation of SOPs and students following advisory." In an earlier statement, the NTA said 8.58 lakh and 15.97 lakh candidates have registered for JEE (Main) and NEET (UG) respectively. Joshi said that in a good sign, out of the 8.58 lakh students for JEE (Mains) almost 7.38 lakh have downloaded their admit cards, which is 75%. And we opened NEET (UG) today at 12pm. In three hours, 4,30,000 students have downloaded their admit cards. This means more students want to sit for exams and hence will be following the rules." Joshi said the NTA launched a new app Abhyas to make study-at-home material available for students. Every day there was a paper uploaded on the app and students solved it. The results were out as well and if they got the answer wrong, the app provided the diagnosis. So far, 16,50,000 students have downloaded it. We launched it on May 19 and will hold the 100th test," he said. Joshi also elaborated on the strength and coordination with local authorities to ensure safe conduct of the examinations. These are national-level examinations and the authorities have been preparing for quite some time, which requires logistical thinking. I amm not preparing for exams in about a day or two. We kept the pandemic and norms of social distancing in mind," he said. There will be several queue managers and more invigilators present at examination centres this year. The NTA on Tuesday issued a statement saying in case of JEE (Main), which is computer-based, the number of shifts has been increased from the earlier eight to 12 and the number of candidates per shift has been reduced from 1.32 lakh to 85,000. There will be alternate seating arrangements. In case of NEET (UG), which is a pen and paper-based test, the number of candidates per room has been reduced from 24 to 12 now. The students will not be allowed to crowd and stand within the circles marked at the centre. Their entry and exit will also be staggered. Parents will not be allowed to stay after dropping the candidates at the exam centres. In case there is a sudden declaration of a containment zone, then students will use their admit cards for movement and functionaries at the exam centres can use their appointment letters. The NTA is in touch with city coordinators, observers and superintendents. We cannot lose more time in worrying about natural disasters like floods, nobody can foresee anything, we can work in saving the academic calendar, it is good for students," said Joshi. Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare said there is no plan as of now to rethink the decision and that examinations will take place as per schedule. On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday appealed to other leaders to file a joint petition in the Supreme Court to postpone the exams. She was supported by Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, who has directed his state Advocate General to coordinate with his counterparts in other opposition-ruled states to file a collective review petition in the Supreme Court. With 3.23 million cases and 59,449 deaths across the country so far, the candidates and their families have no trust in travelling for the exams as the fear of social distancing norms not being met will prevail. Students have also called for a campaign in which they will protest from home, starting 8am on Thursday, and raise black flags, tie black bands on arms or forehead, wear black masks, turn their profile pictures BLACK!" These students have also found support from global climate activist Greta Thunberg and Bollywood actor Sonu Sood. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 08:29:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Tuesday that the mutual assistance between China and Italy has nothing to do with politics or self-interest. At a press briefing together with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Wang said his visit to Europe was the first made by the Chinese foreign minister since the COVID-19 outbreak. Wang said, Italy being the first leg of his visit shows the importance of Sino-Italian relations in China's diplomacy. It also demonstrates the great attention China pays to its relations with Europe. Wang said Sino-Italian relations have withstood the test of the pandemic. "Facing the impact of the pandemic, China has stood with Italy and other European countries firmly from the very beginning." He recalled that when China was in the thick of the pandemic, Italy rapidly sent out special aircraft with anti-epidemic supplies. Italian President Sergio Mattarella even held a special concert in solidarity with China. When COVID-19 broke out in Italy, Wang said, China felt the same way and responded to Italy's request by mobilizing large quantities of supplies and rushing to its aid. China also sent three teams of medical experts to the hardest-hit areas in Italy, sharing the experiences in fighting the pandemic unreservedly. According to Wang, the mutual assistance between China and Italy comes from the long-standing friendship between the peoples of the two countries, and is based on the Chinese cultural tradition of helping others. It has nothing to do with politics or self-interest from beginning to end, he noted. If there is still any talk of "politics of generosity", it's "an insult to the humanitarian spirit," he noted. Wang said the sudden and unexpected outbreak of the pandemic hasn't hurt Sino-Italian ties, instead the bilateral ties have stood the test and strengthened, while playing a role in exploring international cooperation in containing the pandemic. Italy is the first leg in Wang's first foreign tour as the COVID-19 epidemic eases. The official visit in Europe from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 will also take him to the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany. Enditem SACRAMENTO California is getting so much money from the federal government because of the coronavirus more than $71 billion that the states auditor on Tuesday warned Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration it is at high risk of waste, fraud and abuse. In a letter to Newsom and legislative leaders, Elaine Howle said she was invoking a state law giving her authority to keep a close watch on 18 government agencies in charge of overseeing the spending. The swift appropriation of federal COVID-19 funds, along with the prior audit findings, raise the possibility that responsible state agencies do not have adequate processes in place to address these risks, Howle wrote. Howles office identified more than $71 billion in federal coronavirus aid that the state has either received or is expected to receive to operate 35 federal programs. More than half of that money. or $40 billion, is how much the state expects to borrow from the federal government to help pay unemployment benefits for millions of people who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic. Watch Now: Napa County coronavirus testing site volunteers discuss their work Napa County has a COVID-19 testing site at Napa Valley Expo. Here are two volunteers and a worker talking about their experiences. More than $10 billion is for the states Medicaid program, the low-income health insurance service that has seen its enrollment grow during the pandemic. The rest is divided up among a myriad of programs, including education, public health and housing. California has had trouble managing federal money in the past. Howle noted nine programs that have received or are expected to receive coronavirus funding were recently audited, and six of them had issues with how they manage federal money, including the Department of Education and the Department of Social Services. These past audit findings highlight issues with departments abilities to manage federal funds appropriately even before the significant influx of federal COVID-19 funding, Howle wrote. The Department of Finance, which has received $9.5 billion in federal coronavirus aid and oversees spending at most state agencies, told Howle the extra monitoring is unnecessary. The agency noted its Office of State Audits and Evaluations has been helping state agencies and departments, including local governments, on how to use and track the federal money. The agency has already assisted the six state programs that were cited in recent audits, Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer said. Since April, the agency has been gathering spending data on a weekly basis from state departments. Since the onset of this pandemic, Finance has made oversight and transparency a priority in reporting how these funds are spent, which is why weve established processes to safeguard the expenditure of these funds and comply with all of the related federal requirements, Palmer said. Howle wrote that she appreciates the agencys perspective, but she said a substantial risk still exists. Editors Note: Because of the health implications of the COVID-19 virus, this article is being made available free to all online readers. If youd like to join us in supporting the mission of local journalism, please visit napavalleyregister.com/members/join/. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration said Wednesday it is imposing sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for Beijings military build-up in the South China Sea. The move is the latest salvo in the U.S. pressure campaign against China that has picked up steam ahead of Novembers presidential election over a variety of contentious issues. The State Department announced it had hit an unspecified number of Chinese officials and business executives responsible for the militarization of disputed South China Sea areas with travel bans. Immediate family members of those targeted may also be barred from travel to the United States, the department said. At the same time, the Commerce Department said it had added 24 state-owned Chinese enterprises, including subsidiaries of the China Communications Construction Company, to its commercial blacklist for their roles in constructing artificial islands through dredging operations and other activities that cause major environmental damage and infringe on other nations claims. In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the travel ban would apply to Chinese individuals responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea, or (Chinas) use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources. Last month, Pompeo accused China of bullying and announced that the U.S, would not recognize nearly all of Chinas maritime claims to areas in the South China Sea that are contested by its smaller neighbours, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Beijings claims to these areas have been accompanied by increased military and commercial activities. The Chinese government cannot be allowed to use the China Communications Construction Company or other state-owned businesses as weapons to impose an expansionist agenda, Pompeo said. The United States will act until we see Beijing discontinue its coercive behaviour in the South China Sea, and we will continue to stand with allies and partners in resisting this destabilizing activity. GREENWICH Three people were arrested after officers were called to a residence in Cos Cob on Saturday night on a report of a dispute that had spilled out into the street, police said. A physical altercation had taken place and a fence was damaged, according to the arrest report. Christopher Gonzalez, 41, of Cos Cob Avenue, Greenwich, and Alvaro Chuta-Tarton, 34, of Dean Street, Stamford, were charged with breach of peace and criminal mischief, police said. Ethan Castillo Fajardo, 19, of Browning Street, North Baldwin, N.Y., was charged with breach of peace, police said. All three men were released without bail. A 31-year-old man from Cos Cob was charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance Sunday, police said. He was arrested on a warrant filed by the departments narcotics squad. Police said the possession charge involved opioid-related substances. Bail was set at $25,000. The Greenwich Police Department has received a number of reports of thefts from vehicles in parking lots north of Putnam Avenue as well as at private clubs. Authorities are reminding the public to keep their cars locked with any valuables placed out of sight. A 29-year-old man from Riverside was charged with disorderly conduct after a dispute on the afternoon of Aug. 17, according to the arrest report. He was released without bail. He was also arrested and charged with disorderly conduct on Aug. 19 in connection with another physical incident, according to police. Officers responded to a report of an unwanted male on the premises at a residence in Cos Cob on Aug. 17, police said. A 52-year-old man from Washington, D.C., was charged with criminal trespass in the incident, police said. Bail was set at $1,000. Frank Robilotto, 67, of Crest Hill Avenue, Yonkers, N.Y., was charged with second-degree assault and breach of peace on the afternoon of Aug. 14 on Burning Tree Road, police said. He knocked another person down and struck him with his fist, police said. Bail was set at $1,000. UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick (UHL) staff have been ordered to change the way they record the numbers waiting for a bed in the emergency department. Critics say the move will make the number of people waiting on trolleys appear lower than what the reality is, with one member of staff describing it as a PR exercise on the hospitals part. Nursing staff at UHL have for many years provided data on the number of people waiting for a bed in the emergency department to both the HSE nationally and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). The Dooradoyle facility often has the highest number of people waiting on trolleys in the country. Now, staff have been told to collect the data differently upon a request from hospital boss Prof Colette Cowan. Taking into account the facilities available in ED (the emergency department), in particular, the high-spec of the cubicles which are better fitted then many of our single room accommodation in our older wards, please only return those who on a corridor waiting a bed. Those in cubicles can be considered as being in an appropriate bed space, an email states. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one UHL worker said: Its the way this hospital works. Its all about PR and looking good, rather than identifying a problem and looking to sort it out. If there are vulnerable patients on trolleys why are they not being included? What does this achieve? Senator Paul Gavan, a former Siptu health official, said: The decision to exclude patients in cubicles in ED when counting numbers awaiting a hospital bed is nothing short of outrageous. Its a deeply cynical move and one which will further damage confidence and trust between staff and management. In response, a UHL spokesperson confirmed: "The changes in how our data has been reported since August 12 reflect the reconfiguration of our emergency department as part of our response to Covid-19 and are also consistent with the national agreement from 2013" They said as a result of the pandemic, separate emergency pathways have been development, which stream suspect Covid-19 cases away from general cases. "As the ED is equipped with state-of-the-art single rooms and cubicles - and because we are challenged on isolation facilities around the hospital - the ED is an appropriate environment for suspect Covid-19 cases requiring single-room isolation pending a swab result or clinical decision," the spokesperson said. All this comes as staff of the three unions representing the majority of front-line workers in Dooradoyle are to be balloted for some form of action, with Limerick Trades Council president Mike McNamara saying theres been an almost complete breakdown in industrial relations. Chief among concerns are the risks to patients, overcrowding in a Covid-19 environment and excessive workloads arising due to unfilled nursing posts. Already, 97% of non-nursing staff connected to Siptu have voted to go to the gate. Nurses connected to Siptu will vote shortly, as will members of the INMO. On top of this, staff of the Forsa trade union, which represents clerical, administrative, plus health and social care professionals, are to carry out a survey with the results of this informing their next move. While theres no suggestion these workers will strike during a health crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic, Ger Kennedy of Siptu says theres a feeling among staff that management at UHL dont seem to recognise [workers] have stepped up to the mark. There is a failure to recognise exactly what theyve gone through. They dont have adequate support, they are not listened to. It is getting to a stage where theyre saying to us, weve had enough of this, he said, 25% of the people whove come down with Covid-19 have been health workers. Thats a staggering figure. Mr McNamara, who represents Forsa staff added: Its great to go to the press or put a sign up outside the gate saying thanks to our front-line workers. But then front-line workers need specific things. For their part, a spokesperson for UHL said theyre disappointed with the ballot amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases regionally. They praised its staff for providing exceptional service throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in keeping patients, their colleagues and community safe. The hospital also said it remains committed to filling vacancies to reduce the pressure on the current staff, with a push on to bring 150 workers in by December. Mary Fogarty, the INMOs assistant director of industrial relations says its unprecedented that all three unions are of the same view to potentially take industrial actions. New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called a high-level meeting to discuss the rising number of novel coronavirus cases in Delhi, sources said on Wednesday. Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev and senior officials will attend the meeting, which will take place at 11 am, according to sources. The city recorded 1,544 more COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths on Tuesday. It was the first time in over a month that the number of new infections crossed the 1,500 mark. A banner supporting Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has popped up outside a multi-million dollar mansion in one of Sydney's wealthiest suburbs. A Twitter user shared images of the banner hanging outside the home in Mosman on Sydney's north shore, showing the owner's support for Mr Andrews as he cops harsh criticism for Melbourne's lockdown. The uploader and designer said 33 of the banners are being used around Australia at the moment. A Twitter user shared images of the banner hanging outside the Mosman home, showing the owner's support for Mr Andrews There are 33 of the banners supporting Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) around the country, according to the designer 'We stand with you Dan. Thank you. We heart you, from the people of Sydney. #IStandWithDan,' the sign reads. Commenters on social media expressed their support for the banner as Victoria battles through a second wave of COVID-19 cases. 'This really warms my heart. People acknowledging the genuine goodness, hardworking Dan #IStandWithDan,' one person commented. 'Love it! Let the hearts of money-worshipping Liberal diehards shrivel with impotent rage,' another wrote. Another sign supporting the under-fire premier was spotted in upmarket Camberwell, in Melbourne's east The banner has also been spotted in Kew, just east of Melbourne's CBD However, others slammed the sign and pointed out that Andrews has failed to contain the virus in Victoria. 'Why would anyone stand with Dangerous Dan! The North Face wearing Premier appointed unionised blockheads to oversee quarantine instead of the army. Now He has had to shut down Melbourne to control his failures,' one wrote. The banner has also been spotted in Kew, an inner suburb of Melbourne, in the state electoral of Liberal MP Tim Smith. Victoria recorded a further 149 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and 24 deaths - 21 of which are linked to aged care. The state's death toll sits at 462 and the national figure is 549. The dead include one woman in her 60s, three men in their 70s, three males and seven males in their 80, and six females and four males in their 90s. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Red Lake Mining District in Ontario is best known for its high-grade gold deposits and producing roughly 30 million ounces of high-grade gold, but a series of high-grade discoveries in the region reveal that gold miners have still just barely scratched the surface. Up until recently, most of the gold in the region came from four mines: Newmont Corp.'s (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT) Red Lake, Campbell, and Cochenour mines, which the company recently sold to Evolution Mining, and the past-producing Madsen Mine. Now, gold miners like Great Bear Resources (TSXV: GBR) (OTCQX: GTBAF), Pure Gold Mining (TSXV: PGM) (OTCPK: LRTNF), Yamana Gold (TSX: YRI) (NYSE: AUY), and Portofino Resources Inc. (TSXV: POR) (OTCPK: PFFOF) have staked their claim in the prolific high-grade Red Lake region. Renewed interest in Red Lake came after Great Bear Resources made multiple discoveries of high-grade gold at its Dixie Project, which is being dubbed one of Canada's largest new gold discoveries. Now, Portofino Resources Inc. (TSXV: POR) (OTC: PFFOF) (FSE: POTA) is developing two promising gold projects that are right next door to Dixie and so far, the results have been exceptional. Red Lake District on the Verge of Another Major Discovery Located only 9 kilometers east of the Dixie Project is Portofino Resources' (POR.V) (PFFOF.PK) (FSE: POTA) South of Otter Property, which comprises 5,363 hectares and shares similar geology and structures to its neighbor. The company has recently acquired the 1,428-hectare Bruce lake property, which is located 11 km southeast of Dixie and just 1.5 km northeast of Great Bear's Pakwash Property. In the last few weeks, Portofino Resources Inc. received its drilling permits for the South of Otter property, which will allow for trenching, diamond drilling, and line cutting, and commenced a mechanical trenching and soil anomaly testing program. On August 5, the company announced the discovery of two gold-bearing quartz veins sampling 18.0 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 8.19 g/t gold. On August 26, Portofino Resources Inc. revealed that a re-assaying of the initial 12 samples from South of Otter resulted in the first 2 samples assaying 16.0 g/t gold and 12.0 g/t gold, respectively. In addition, a third sample was identified as returning 1.6 g/t gold along an east-west trending low-magnetic geophysical anomaly 260 meters south of the original discovery. With the limited number of outcrops on the South of Otter property, Portofino Resources Inc. (POR.V) (PFFOF.PK) (FSE: POTA) implemented an overburden trenching program and was able to expand the surface trace of the new gold discovery zone. Multiple channel samples were taken from two outcrop areas and select chip samples and grab samples were taken from three soil anomalies including gold and silver targets that were identified by Goldcorp in 2001. The company also announced that it has commenced an airborne magnetic survey, comprising approximately 1,600 line kilometers of airborne geophysical surveys with GPS controlled, 50 meter line separations to achieve quality definition of geological units and their structures. Once the airborne survey is complete, Portofino Resources Incexpects to use the results to identify drill targets, then immediately move forward with the next phase of exploration and implement an initial drilling program. Apart from its work at South of Otter, Portofino also recently completed initial exploration work at Bruce Lake, including prospecting, rock, soil and glacial till sampling, and geological mapping. Red Lake District Ripe With Junior Miners Up until recently, the Red Lake Mining District was dominated by gold giant Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT), which owned three of the four producing mines in the region. In 2015, Great Bear Resources (TSXV: GBR) (OTC: GTBAF) moved into the region by acquiring 67% ownership of the Dixie Lake gold project, while Newmont Corporation held a participatory 33% interest in the property. In 2017, Great Bear Resources acquired Newmont's 33% for 100% ownership interest in the Dixie project and has continued to turn out high-grade results ever since. In July, Great Bear Resources announced that it had expanded the LP Fault Gold System at depth, with 10.06 g/t gold over 31.25 meters. The company has completed 120 of roughly 300 planned drill holes into the LP Fault target, which is part of its 5-kilometer long by 500-meter deep grid drill program. Another company making serious headway in the Red Lake Mining District is Pure Gold Mining (TSXV: PGM) (OTC: LRTNF). Despite facing a minor setback this month due to a forest fire, the company has resumed underground exploration drilling at its PureGold Red Lake Mine and is on track to deliver first production in late 2020 In July 28, Pure Gold announced that the exploration drilling intersected high-grade gold mineralization from step-out drill holes including 12.8 g/t over 10 meters, 9.3 g/t over 2.4 meters, and 10.6 g/t over 2 meters. According to the release, the drilling has extended gold mineralization out from current design stopes, discovered new gold zones that will be integrated into the mine planning, and confirmed stopes scheduled for near-term production. Located southwest of the Red Lake Mining District, Yamana Gold (TSX:YRI) (NYSE:AUY) is developing its own Red Lake project. With two properties consisting of 542 hectares, Yamana has secured significant mineral envelopes close to Newmont's former Red Lake Gold Mines operation and Premier Gold Mines' Hasaga gold deposit. After experiencing temporary suspensions at two of its mines earlier this year, Yamana revised its annual guidance in April after ramping up mines faster than expected and expects gold production to be above expectations. Indeed, the Red Lake Mining District has become a hot spot for high-grade gold discoveries and the trend will likely continue as gold prices remain at record highs. With two promising land packages under its belt, Portofino Resources Inc. could be on the edge of Canada's next big high-grade gold discovery in Ontario. For more information about Portofino Resources Inc. (TSXV: POR) (OTC: PFFOF) (FSE: POTA), click here. 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Media Contact: FN Media Group, LLC [email protected] +1(561)325-8757 SOURCE Microsmallcap.com Up to 30 teenagers in Plymouth could be infected with coronavirus after returning from a holiday in Greece, the city's council confirmed. Plymouth's public health team is dealing with a coronavirus outbreak that could involve up to 30 young people who returned from the Greek island Zante last week. At least 11 members of the group, all around the ages of 18 and 19, have tested positive for the virus since returning from Greece, Plymouth City Council confirmed. Greece is not currently included on the list of countries subject to the UK's quarantine restrictions. Up to 30 teenagers, aged 18 and 19, in Plymouth are involved in a coronavirus outbreak after the group returned from the Greek island Zante (above) last week The city's public health team said many of them had none, or 'very minor', symptoms and 'carried on as normal'. Plymouth's director for public health Ruth Harrell said that some of the teenagers went gone on a 'night out in Plymouth's bars and restaurants' before they were aware of the risk. Speaking of the night out, she said: 'That means more people could be infected. While young people might have fairly mild symptoms, and sometimes none that you would notice, our big concern is that we know it can be very serious for people who have existing health problems or are older.' She added that her team were working with national systems to contact and trace the young people thought to be affected, who are said to have been helpful and cooperative since being contacted. Ms Harrell said: 'We are in contact with all the pubs and bars across the city to remind them of their frontline role in stopping the spread of this virus. 'They need to help us to protect the city. But it also needs everyone to help too. 'If you think you've been in contact with someone who has tested positive, you need to self-isolate. If you get any symptoms, get tested as well as isolate. There's no two ways round it. 'While we are still below the point of triggering a lockdown, this incident just goes to show how easily life can change. We all need to remain vigilant, whatever age we are and take proper precautions.' Eleven teenagers tested positive for Covid-19 since returning from Zante (above). Plymouth's public health team are trying to contact and trace those who are thought to be affected The total number of coronavirus cases in Plymouth rose by 11 on Tuesday, with just one new case being recorded on Wednesday, according to PlymouthLive. Public Health England also confirmed that the UK saw a total of 1,048 new positive cases on Wednesday, bringing the total up to 328,846. Sixteen new deaths were also reported across the UK, making a total of 41,465. Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans said: 'This is our wake up call. We have been fortunate so far in Plymouth that we have had a low number of cases, but coronavirus has not gone away.' Two venues have closed after being contacted by the NHS Track and Trace system, informing them that someone who had tested positive for coronavirus had come to the businesses, PlymouthLive reported. It is not known whether the venue's closures are in connection with the 11 young people who have tested positive for the virus. The Mussel Inn, Wembury, took the precaution of closing after they were told someone who attended the pub on August 23 came down with the virus. It is unclear if it was a customer or member of staff. The Flower Cafe tearooms also announced it was closing after being informed on Monday of a coronavirus case at the venue, according to PlymouthLive. The young people had 'very minor' or no symptoms and 'carried on as normal', with some of the teenagers going on a night out in Plymouth before they were aware of the risk It comes after the Morley Arms in Plymstock, Plymouth, was facing a police investigation into licensing breaches at the beginning of the month. Police were called to the popular pub at around 10.20pm on August 1 after reports of an assault on a member of the door staff, PlymouthLive said. A Plymouth detective said the police log noted there was an estimated '150 people' in the bar. There were also additional concerns of a potential designated premises supervisor (DPS) licence breach. The detective told PlymouthLive at the time: 'On the night an inspector did shut down the premises. 'Officers from our licensing department and neighbourhood officers will now carry out further inquiries.' The pub was also forced to apologise in July after scenes of a 'rowdy crowd' were shared on social media. On August 3, the Morley Arms confirmed strict new rules, including not allowing under 21s into the pub on Saturday or anyone into the beer garden after 10pm. Earlier this week, Plymouth council also confirmed a further and separate outbreak in a medical factory. Four workers at a medical factory, which makes products critical in the fight against Covid-19, tested positive for coronavirus. Two venues have closed after being contacted by the NHS Track and Trace System, but it is unknown whether the closures were linked with the 11 young people testing positive Becton Dickinson BD (UK) Ltd confirmed that four staff members, out of the 750 employed at the BD Vacutainer Systems - had received positive test results. The firm, whose sterile base is in Roborough, said it was a priority to 'identify and notify' everyone who was within close contact of the infected employees, PlymouthLive reported. Anyone who came into contact with the staff went into self-isolation and arranged to have a coronavirus test. BP said it had already enforced strict protocols across all of its facilities 'to maximise the protections in place' at the beginning of the pandemic. It also added that the company follows official guidance from the UK Government and the U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Plymouth base makes urine and blood collection products, which are used in patient diagnosis and treatments worldwide. A BD spokesperson confirmed the site remained open, but all areas where the infected staff workers underwent a deep clean. The facility already undergoes a sterile deep-clean twice daily as part of coronavirus safety measures. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 19:51:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- For the first month in almost 34 years, no crude oil was imported into New Zealand in July 2020, with imports of cars and other vehicles also down, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Wednesday. The value of total merchandise goods imports fell 18 percent to 4.6 billion NZ dollars in July 2020, Stats NZ said. In the past three months, total imports have been very low, while exports have been holding up, leading to the smallest annual trade deficit since the October 2014 year, it said. Of New Zealand's main trading partners, imports from the European Union had the biggest fall in July 2020, with aircraft and parts leading the fall, which was down 89 percent, international statistics manager Darren Allan said in a statement. Imports from the United States fell 76 million NZ dollars, led by machinery and equipment, such as turbo-jet and turbo propeller parts, Allan said. However, goods imports from China were up 108 million NZ dollars, or 10 percent, year on year, with electrical machinery and equipment such as mobile phones leading the rises, statistics show. Exports of dairy, crude oil, fish, and other seafood fell in July 2020, which was largely offset by a sharp rise in exports of live animals, with mainly 30,000 live dairy cattle exported to China in July 2020, and breathing equipment, which is in demand internationally because of COVID-19, Allan said. More than one-quarter of New Zealand's breathing equipment exports were to the United States, he said. Crude oil imports have been much lower than usual since May 2020 as demand dropped due to COVID-19. International travel restrictions and the COVID-19 lockdown in April meant far fewer people travelled by road or air, the statement said. "The last time no crude oil was imported in a single month was in August 1986, a year when international demand for oil fell and prices dropped sharply," Allan said. Car imports have been much lower than usual since April 2020, when the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown meant car dealers were closed as a non-essential business, he said. Face mask imports increased sharply this year as the COVID-19 global pandemic spread and New Zealand moved into lockdown, he added. New Zealand has imported 232 million NZ dollars' worth of face masks since the beginning of the year, up 189 million NZ dollars from 43 million NZ dollars for the same period last year. This includes all types of face masks, from surgical masks to painting and dust masks. (1 U.S. dollar = 1.52 New Zealand dollar) Enditem The was flowing close to the warning mark in on Wednesday morning and is likely to swell further with more water being released into it from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana, officials said. The water level was recorded at 203.78 metres at the Old Railway Bridge at8 am. Water was being released into the at the rate of 13,433 cusec at 8 am from the Hathnikund barrage,an official of the irrigation andfloodcontrol department said. One cusec is equivalent to 28.32 litre per second. The water level was recorded at 203.98 metres at 6 pm on Tuesday,precariously close to the warning level of 204.50 metres, according to the official. The river had swelled to 204.38 metres on Monday, which was just a metre below the danger mark of 205.33 metres. The flow rate was 36,557 cusec at 5 pm on Tuesday, the maximum in the last 24 hours The water level is likely to increase in the next 48 hours, he said. The water discharged from the barrage which provides drinking water to usually takes 72 hours to reach the capital. Normally, the flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage is 352 cusec, but the discharge is increased after heavy rainfall in catchment areas. Last year, the flow rate had peaked to 8.28 lakh cusec on August 18-19, and the water level of the had hit the 206.60 meter-mark, breaching the danger mark of 205.33 meters. The government had to launch evacuation and relief operations after the overflowing river submerged many low-lying areas. Delhi's Water Minister Satyendar Jain had Monday said the government was ready to deal with any flood-like situation. The India Meteorological Department has alsowarned of "heavy to very heavy" rainfall in northwest India, which is likely to increase water levels of the river. Heavy to very rainfall is likely in northwest India over the next three to four days due to the northward shifting of the monsoon through, Kudeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the India Meteorological Department, 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.) VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. (CSE: TAAL) (FWB: 9SQ) (OTCQX: TAALF) ("TAAL" or the "Company" ), a vertically integrated, blockchain infrastructure and service provider, enabling customized solutions to enterprise clients, today announces its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 ("Q2-2020"). TAAL reports all amounts in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Q2-2020 Financial Highlights The Company reported gross revenue of $1,604,452 for the three-months ended June 30, 2020 , as compared to $4,304,627 for the same period in 2019, a 62.7% decline that reflects the termination of hashing operation in May 2020 , which resulted in gross revenue of $7,608,956 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 , as compared to $4,304,627 for same period in 2019, a 76.8% increase that reflects the difference in revenue sources in the first half of 2020 that were not operational in 2019. Gross revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2020 included: for the three-months ended , as compared to for the same period in 2019, a 62.7% decline that reflects the termination of hashing operation in , which resulted in gross revenue of for the six months ended , as compared to for same period in 2019, a 76.8% increase that reflects the difference in revenue sources in the first half of 2020 that were not operational in 2019. Gross revenue for the three months ended included: Block subsidies generated by hashing operations represented $1,071,075 , compared to $4,304,627 for the equivalent period last year; , compared to for the equivalent period last year; fleet management services represented $558,074 in fee revenue from a management services agreement pursuant to which TAAL maintains and manages third-party hashing equipment, compared to no revenue for the equivalent period last year; and in fee revenue from a management services agreement pursuant to which TAAL maintains and manages third-party hashing equipment, compared to no revenue for the equivalent period last year; and software development and licensing represented $11,303 in fee revenue from licensing the Company's TAAL Orchestrator software, compared to no revenue for the equivalent period last year. in fee revenue from licensing the Company's TAAL Orchestrator software, compared to no revenue for the equivalent period last year. The Company had working capital of $14,363,983 as of June 30, 2020 , providing ample liquidity. as of , providing ample liquidity. The Company had operating expenses totaling $2,287,655 as compared to $883,197 for the comparable period in 2019. The increase in expenses is largely attributed to management fees, salaries and wages of $875,238 compared to $225,054 in 2019, and office and administration of $257,974 compared to $59,338 for the comparable period in 2019 reflecting investments to expand our talent pool with senior hires, including key strategic and technical appointments, necessary to deliver the corporate Strategic Vision and manage the transition to transaction processing. as compared to for the comparable period in 2019. The increase in expenses is largely attributed to management fees, salaries and wages of compared to in 2019, and office and administration of compared to for the comparable period in 2019 reflecting investments to expand our talent pool with senior hires, including key strategic and technical appointments, necessary to deliver the corporate Strategic Vision and manage the transition to transaction processing. Net loss of $2,425,520 as compared to a net loss of $139,743 for the comparable period in 2019. Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Figure 1) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (In CAD dollars, except percentages and per share amounts) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Revenue $ 1,640,452 $ 4,304,627.00 $ 7,608,956 $ 4,304,627.00 Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,321,853) $ 253,111 $ (1,337,991) $ (670,479) Net loss $ (2,425,520) $ (139,743) $ (3,265,930) $ (1,171,519) Basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.11) $ (0.01) $ (0.18) $ (0.09) June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 Assets Current assets $ 35,565,613 $ 44,188,111 Total assets $ 48,684,268 $ 46,776,428 Liabilities Current liabilities $ 21,201,630 $ 22,140,102 Shareholders' equity Total shareholders' equity $ 27,482,638 $ 24,636,326 Total liabilities & shareholders' equity $ 48,684,268 $ 46,776,428 H1-2020 Overview TAAL ended the first half of 2020 with a new senior management team and a plan for our transition to a transaction processing-based business model, which offers customized solutions for businesses building applications and that contribute data to the blockchain. TAAL Management is committed to this transition in recognition of the anticipated paradigm shift in the blockchain industry, which will be marked by a shift from a block rewards subsidy model to a transaction fee-based model as the prevailing profit model. In May, Management announced its strategic vision (the "Strategic Vision") that provides details of how we plan to position the Company as a world-class industry leader and innovator. We intend to do this by taking a long-term view on the potential of blockchain technology, and by capitalizing on the innovations emerging on the secure, scalable global ledger, that is the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain. TAAL has been improving its block processing infrastructure and streamlining systems in preparation for scaling of operations and advancing its Strategic Vision that include five pillars of profitability: Transaction Processing: the core business of the Strategic Vision is our Transaction Processing business model, which will facilitate businesses building applications and contributing data onto a public, permission-less and scalable blockchain. At first, we intend to offer volume discounts to help grow this business through our Hashing application programming interface (MAPI) service and build a massive and stable flow of transactions for processing. Revenue will be generated from fiat-based transaction fees. Pool Management: we will use TAAL Orchestrator to manage public hashing pools so that Hash producers can contribute to building the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain. Data Storage Solutions: we will offer secure, easy and reliable storage, retrieval and management of blockchain data, featuring timestamping and data fingerprinting for audit and legal purposes. Blockchain Computing: is poised to become the most interesting space in the next decade. This capability will allow contracts to occur without a third-party executor via smart contracts and will allow for computation to be truly distributed. Blockchain Devices: in the future specialized hardware will maximize the efficiency of certain blockchain specific operations. The Company proposes to drive revenue by delivering the corporate Strategic Vision by granting access to and utilization of a variety of proprietary products, platforms, licenses and services, and intends to continue to add to these product offerings. In order to deliver on these initiatives requires a blockchain network that supports theoretically limitless scalability, unbounded transactional volume, and profits earned by those that process the most transactions, not operations with the highest hashrate. Management believes that blockchain is the one supported by the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain network, and TAAL will focus its attention and resources on this protocol. Accordingly, we will continue to explore acquisitions of key businesses that we believe will enhance our commercial offerings to institutional and enterprise level clients, and that contribute to or enhance our ability to manage and maintain a stable and secure blockchain infrastructure foundation upon which these services and products depend. Further, we expect to see an increase in expenditures as we expand our talent pool with key new hires, including strategic and technical appointments. The Company has already begun delivering on this Strategic Vision with a number of recent announcements, which included its confirmation of two successive record blocks in May. The 309-megabyte (MB) block followed only days later by the confirmation of an even larger 369MB block are demonstrable proof of the scale and capacity of the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain network, and of the potential of the Transaction Processing business model. In these two blocks, we processed approximately 2.4 million transactions. Furthermore, the Company announced the release of our beta implementation of MAPI (a miner API), through which customers can connect directly to TAAL's API endpoints, enabling them to send direct transactions for processing through TAAL at network rates. TAAL has engagements with a dozen new clients spread across several blockchain industries during this beta phase, and we believe that with the public launch we can expect to take market share from other transaction processing blockchain networks, such as Ethereum. Moreover, the heightened security and lower cost offered by the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain may prove competitive against many private blockchain offerings, which have become popular alternative against the scaling and coding issues of other public blockchains. Finally, the Company has filed a number of unique patents on blockchain applications, including our newly acquired Layer 1 token blockchain technology for the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain network. The significance of this patent is that Layer 1 tokens have been primarily the domain of Ethereum, whose network of Layer 1 tokens is currently recognized as the largest in the blockchain industry, and this technology opens the door for the migration of tokens that require enterprise level scaling to also consider the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain network. In consideration of acquiring the intellectual property underlying the Layer 1 patent application, TAAL's operating subsidiary has entered into a royalty agreement with the inventor. This release has been reviewed and approved by the audit committee of the Company and should be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and corresponding management discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 filed on SEDAR and posted on the Company's website. About TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. TAAL delivers value-added blockchain services, providing professional-grade, highly scalable blockchain infrastructure and transactional platforms to support businesses building solutions and applications upon the Bitcoin SV platform, and developing, operating, and managing distributed computing systems for enterprise users. For a more complete business and financial profile of the Company, please view the Company's website at www.taal.com and public documents posted under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The CSE, nor its Regulation Services Provider, accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements included in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "will", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information will contain these identifying words. Specific forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to statements regarding: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, development of advanced blockchain transactional systems and the Bitcoin SV platform, TAAL's expectations with respect to the future of transaction processing and TAAL's strategic vision and related objectives. These statements are based on factors assumptions related to historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Since forward-looking information relates to future events and conditions, by its very nature it requires making assumptions and involves inherent risks and uncertainties. TAAL cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from expectations. Material risk factors include the future acceptance of Bitcoin SV and other digital assets and risks related to information processing using those platforms, the ability for TAAL to leverage intellectual property into viable income streams and other risks set out in Item 20 Risk Factors of TAAL's Form 2A Listing Statement dated July 31, 2018 and elsewhere in TAAL's continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information contain herein. Other than as required by law, TAAL undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES The terms "EBITDA" (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and "Adjusted EBITDA" (which is calculated by the Company by adjusting EBITDA to exclude share-based payments, fair value losses or gains on re-measurement of the value of digital assets, write-offs, and costs associated with one-time transactions) are not recognized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). There is no standardized measure of "Adjusted EBITDA" and consequently, TAAL's method of calculating this measure may differ from methods used by other companies and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. A reconciliation of "Adjusted EBITDA" to Net Loss is set out above in Figure 1. SOURCE Taal Distributed Information Technologies Inc. Related Links https://www.taal.com New LJI discovery could help explain patterns of cell death in many autoimmune diseases LA JOLLA--Your pancreas is a little sweet potato-shaped organ that sits snug behind your stomach. The pancreas is studded with islets, the cell clusters that house insulin-producing beta cells. In people with type 1 diabetes, the body's own immune cells head for the islets and start attacking the beta cells. No one knows exactly what triggers this attack. One clue may lie in the pattern of beta cell death. Many beta cells are killed off in big patches while other beta cells are mysteriously untouched. Something seems to be drawing immune cells to attack specific groups of beta cells while ignoring others. In a new Science Advances study, researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) report that the nervous system may be driving this patchy cell die-off. Their new findings in a mouse model suggest that blocking nerve signals to the pancreas could stop patients from ever developing type 1 diabetes. "It's astonishing that this process may be stoppable through neuronal influence," says LJI Professor Matthias von Herrath, M.D., who served as the study's senior author. The von Herrath Lab has been working to uncover the cause of type 1 diabetes. Although there are environmental and genetic risk factors for the disease, type 1 diabetes often seemingly strikes at random. Over the years, researchers have sought an explanation for the observed patchy pattern of cell death. One theory has been that these patches have differences in blood flow or they have been damaged by a virus that might be sparking an immune attack. But recently, researchers have been exploring a new field called neuroimmunology, which is the idea that nerve signals can affect immune cells. Could nerve signals drive immune cells to attack certain areas of the pancreas? "We thought that could explain a lot," says study first author Gustaf Christoffersson, Ph.D., a former LJI postdoctoral researcher now at the University Uppsala, Sweden. To test this theory, the researchers used a mouse model that can be experimentally induced to have beta cell death. They "denervated" the mice, either surgically or through use of a neurotoxin or a pharmacological agent, to block most of the sympathetic nerve signals to the pancreas. The researchers then used LJI's world-class imaging facility to track the pattern of beta cell death in living mice. The team found that blocking the nerve signals protected mice from beta cell death, compared with no effect in mice given no treatment and mice given only beta blockers. Without innervation, it was like the pancreas had gone dark and immune cells were unable to find their targets "We were pretty surprised to see that these nerve blockers led to pretty significant differences in the onset of diabetes," says Christoffersson. More work needs to be done before this method can be tested in people. Von Herrath explains that doctors would first need a reliable way to identify patients at risk of type 1 diabetes onset. Once these patients are identified, von Herrath believes they could be treated either through electrostimulation or drugs to block nerve signals. There are also non-surgical, intravascular methods for blocking nerve signals. The new discovery might explain much more than the patchiness seen in type 1 diabetes. Several autoimmune diseases share this same patchiness--but in a symmetrical pattern. For example, the skin condition vitiligo causes skin to lose its pigment, often in symmetrical areas across the faces and hands. Arthritis also tends to strike symmetrically, with inflammation in both knee, elbow or wrist joints. The new study suggests that these areas may be innervated by nerves that branch out symmetrically through the body. "This symmetry is very striking, and it's been almost impossible to explain," says von Herrath. Von Herrath thinks breakthroughs in neuroimmunology could have broad implications for explaining why the body turns against its own organs in many autoimmune diseases. Going forward, he and Christoffersson hope to investigate the cellular mechanisms that connect the nervous system and type 1 diabetes. ### The study, "Interference with pancreatic sympathetic signaling halts the onset of diabetes in mice," was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01 AI092453), the Swedish Research Council (2014-06840 and 2018-02314), the Swedish Society for Medical Research, the Goran Gustafsson Foundation, and the Science for Life Laboratory. The study was co-authored by Sowbarnika S. Ratliff of LJI. About La Jolla Institute for Immunology The La Jolla Institute for Immunology is dedicated to understanding the intricacies and power of the immune system so that we may apply that knowledge to promote human health and prevent a wide range of diseases. Since its founding in 1988 as an independent, nonprofit research organization, the Institute has made numerous advances leading toward its goal: life without disease. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's foreign ministry is extending its travel warning for countries outside Europe until Sept. 14 due to continued concern about the coronavirus, a government source told Reuters on Wednesday. The warning had been due to expire at the end of August. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Maria Sheahan) FLINT, MI -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must face a lawsuit filed by Flint residents who claim their health was harmed because the federal government concealed, ignored, or downplayed the risks they faced during the citys water crisis. In an opinion issued Wednesday, Aug. 26, U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy denied the EPAs motion to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, allowing the federal tort claim to to continue. The Federal Tort Claims Act permits plaintiffs to obtain compensation from the United States for the negligence of its employees, but the EPA argued it was immune from the claims of negligence and willful misrepresentation raised by residents. Levy sided with those residents in her 87-page opinion. The Court finds that the United States has not carried its burden to show that the EPAs actions and inactions in Flint ... are shielded by the discretionary function exception. Further, the EPAs failure to warn Flint citizens about the lead and dangerous bacteria that was in their water for months, and its allegedly negligent responses to citizen complaints, are not the kinds of decisions that the discretionary function exception was designed to shield. The EPA was contacted by LeeAnne Walters, a Flint resident and plaintiff in the lawsuit, in early 2015, regarding highly elevated levels of lead and iron in her water, and the agency contacted what was the state Department of Environmental Quality, documenting concerns and requesting assistance in dealing with the high lead and iron levels in the home, the Levy opinion says. During congressional hearings in 2016, former EPA Region 5 administrator Susan Hedman was blasted for allowing water problems to fester for too long in Flint despite her agencys authority to step in to aid in the water emergency much earlier than it actually did, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. Hedman resigned Feb. 1, 2016 amid mounting outrage over EPAs role in the water crisis. Also in 2016, the EPAs Office of Inspector General said the federal government should have acted sooner to warn Flint residents that their drinking water was contaminated with lead. The OIG issued a finding in October 2016 that EPAs Region 5 office had the authority and sufficient information to issue ... an emergency order as early as June 2015, but waited until seven months later to do so. Corey Stern, who represents Flint resident in the lawsuit, called Levys decision Wednesday another win for the folks in Flint and our clients. Like the State of Michigan, which is taking responsibility for its role in the crisis, its time for the EPA and the Trump Administration to step up and take its share of responsibility for the agencys conduct and its role in the crisis, Stern said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. The Journal could not immediately reach an EPA spokeswoman for comment on the decision. State officials last week announced they had reached a $600-million settlement with residents who sued the state and its employees for their role in allowing the water crisis to continue longer than it should have. Attorney General Dana Nessel called on other defendants in Flint water cases, including the federal government, to join in that settlement, which still requires federal court approval. EPA referred questions about that call to settle to the U.S. Department of Justice, which declined to comment. Read more: Inspector General says EPA waited too long to intervene in Flint water crisis How the EPA failed Flint EPA whistleblower says he warned Michigan DEQ it was wrong about Flint water Former EPA regional director testified she acted immediately on Flint water crisis EPA played a role in Flint water crisis UPDATED 6.20pm: One person has died following a crash on State Highway 2 near Katikati. Police have confirmed one person has died following the crash on Main Rd, near the Jocelyn St intersection. Emergency services were alerted to the crash between two vehicles at 4.07pm. A powerpole was blocking one lane, the road remains closed and diversions are in place. Police are asking motorists to avoid the area. EARLIER: A person is in a serious condition and State Highway 2 in Katikati is closed following a crash. Emergency services are responding to a two-vehicle collision on Main Road, Katikati. The highway is closed between Jocelyn Street and Fairview Road. Police were notified at 4:07pm of the accident and a powerpole is on the road following the crash. Initial indications suggest one person has serious injuries says a police spokesperson. Motorists are asked to avoid the area, diversions will be in place. The NZ Transport Agency is advising of the following diversions. For Northbound traffic, turn right onto Farview Road, left onto Carisbrooke Street, left onto Beach Road, then right back onto SH2. It is the reverse for Southbound traffic. State Highway 33 crash Motorists are also being asked to avoid the area near Okere Falls on State Highway 33 due to another crash involving three vehicles. Police were alerted to the crash around 3:33pm, the scene was just before the turn off into Okere Falls. Initial indications suggest one person is injured, says a police statement. Motorists are asked to avoid the area and delays are likely. At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz To exhausted or worried parents deciding whether to send their children into school buildings this fall, pandemic pods may look like an appealing way out. Keeping their boys and girls at home learning alone may be better for physical health but not for mental health, and the arrangement is difficult or impossible for many employed parents. Equally undesirable is the greater risk of children catching and spreading a potentially deadly disease from a larger number of people at school. Some parents are creating home-based, closed groups of a few families children to learn together under the rotating supervision of parents or a paid supervisor. Pods could keep students learning and social-emotional development on track while helping protect their and their teachers health. But if pods are exclusively organized by parents and those parents are disproportionately well-off, this approach will inevitably further widen economic and racial gaps in learning opportunity. Lower-income families are in fact more likely to need pods because the parents are more likely to have to go off to work. According to a study from the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago, 63 percent of jobs cannot be done from home, and these jobs are disproportionately lower paid. Even if they can arrange adult supervision for a group of children, lower-income families may struggle to provide spaces conducive to learning in their homes. The KidsCount Data Center found that as of 2018, 14 percent of children live in overcrowded households. Communities should not make families choose between work, health, and their childrens learning. Instead, all students and their families deserve the opportunity to join a pod, and for that to happen, community leaders must step up. As our organization wrote in May, community groups can play a big role in meeting this need. The challenges would be huge, but heres how this could work with leadership from a mayors office, a community-wide nonprofit, or school districts themselves: First, district leaders must immediately survey parents to identify interest in a pod versus staying at home, so they can plan for the true need rather than assuming they must create pods for all students. They should prioritize placing the children of parents who must work in person and the most educationally vulnerable students. Communities should not make families choose between work, health, and their childrens learning." Second, communities must identify all the spaces and adults available to supervise these students while they learn through remote instructionand be creative! After using space in school buildings (with the need for physical distancing taken into account and not restricted by the schools usual grade levels), consider local organizations and businesses willing to sponsor one or a few pods. Focus first on existing organizations such as the Y, Boys and Girls Clubs, and local community centers and camps for both spaces and staffing. But look beyond those for spacesuch as restaurants that have closed for good and religious organizations buildings (which already have food-prep areas and restrooms), as well as libraries that are closed indefinitely. Within these options, leaders must precisely identify the number of available slots for students given space and power-outlet needs, negotiate use arrangements, and mandate a consistent set of safety and hygiene processes. These partnerships, plus creative thinking, can also ease the effort to hire enough adults to supervise the students. Of course, districts can look to current teaching assistants and substitutes but then should turn to existing organizations that serve youths and either have underused-but-funded staff or already have the means to recruit and screen adult supervisors. Finding enough people to supervise learning for some portion of 50 million students will not be easy but may not be as crazy as it sounds. For example, AmeriCorps has 75,000 volunteers (who receive stipends) each year; the Boys and Girls Clubs have 68,000 adult staff members and 457,000 volunteers. And communities can look for ways to reduce the number of staff needed, such as increasing pod sizes safely by keeping siblings together regardless of age. Of course, no organization or individual would be forced to participate, given health risks and other concerns. But many would likely respond to this call to action. Third, fund these pods through a combination of redirecting existing staff and funding streams, tapping pandemic-related state and federal support, and accepting contributed time, staff, and space from community groups. Extra costs may include upgrading internet access and electrical capacity at some venues and providing more masks and cleaning to meet public-health guidelines. Fourth, districts must assign students to pods. Transportation feasibility and keeping siblings together to reduce viral spread are considerations as are racial and economic diversity. Finally, once the pods are established, districts would need to carefully spell out expectations and communications. Each pods supervising adult must ensure that student work is uploaded dailyincluding photos of work completed by handand communicate often with teachers about student progress, challenges, and possible solutions. Schools with strong teaching teams would have an advantage as the teams could share the load of maintaining this extensive communication. Teams have more flexibility to share tasks according to each persons strengths and schedules. This arrangement may ultimately benefit teachers who, during the springs at-home learning, were overwhelmed by the needs to stay in touchoften at all hourswith students learning remotely and to find those who failed to show up online. Notable examples of district and community attempts to provide spaces and staff for pods for lower-income families are beginning to pop up, such as a district-led effort in the Adams 12 district north of Denver, a city-led undertaking in San Francisco, and a nonprofit-led plan by The Mind Trust in Indianapolis. Organizing small multifamily pods would be an enormous task but one that optimizes students learning, physical health and safety, mental health, and family economic stabilityand would be worth the time it takes given the likelihood of a drawn-out pandemic in which school buildings may need to close repeatedly and possibly for the entire year. Communities eager to show their support for the people hardest hit by the pandemic can undertake this planning knowing that together they can make an enormous difference. There is a growing consensus among the latest forecast models that Hurricane Laura will make landfall far enough east of Houston that the city will avoid the worst impacts, according to Matt Lanza of Space City Weather. "For us in Houston this explicitly would mean primarily tropical storm impacts instead of hurricane impacts, as tropical storm force winds do extend out over 175 miles east of the center (it will be less to the west)," Lanza writes. "At the coast, that could be different, with slightly stronger wind (perhaps close to hurricane force) and a storm surge of 3 to 5 feet in Galveston to upwards of 6 to 9 feet across the Bolivar Peninsula to High Island." The projected track went mostly unchanged through Tuesday, with the center of the storm striking the Texas-Louisiana border. The Houston area remains under threat from the hurricane if the storm veers any farther west. Officials warned people to prepare for the worst-case scenario that would put the metropolitan area under the gun. The hurricane is expected to make landfall somewhere between San Luis Pass, Texas, and Intracoastal City, La. The coastal stretch between San Luis Pass and Intracoastal City, La -- hundreds of miles long -- began to brace itself under a hurricane warning issued Tuesday morning by the National Weather Service. TRACK FLOODING: Our Texas Flood Map shows if your neighborhood is at risk Feeding on warm Gulf waters as it advanced at 17 mph, Hurricane Laura was 465 miles southeast of Galveston around 8 p.m. with 85 mph winds, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday night or Thursday morning as a major Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds. Eric Berger of Space City Weather wrote earlier Tuesday in a blog post that Hurricane Laura represents a serious situation that Houston residents should follow closely. We are still in line for anything from a glancing blow to direct major hurricane landfall, Berger wrote. Bottom line: This is time for preparedness and action, not panic. Hurricane warnings, which were upgraded from previous watches, are in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, La. a wide patch of coast within which the hurricane is expected to strike. Storm surge warnings were in effect from San Luis Pass to the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the hurricane center. The west and east outskirts of those areas from Sargent to San Luis Pass and from Intracoastal City to the Mississippi River mouth were under tropical storm warnings. Houston was included in that warning area. In areas under storm surge warnings, there is danger of life-threatening conditions as rising water, accompanied by large and dangerous waves, moves inland from the coast. People should take precautions and follow evacuation orders from local officials. Actions to protect life and property should be rushed to completion today, as water levels will begin to rise Wednesday, the centers advisory said. The hurricane-force winds can extend 45 miles from the center of the storm, and tropical storm-force winds could extend for 175 miles, according to the hurricane center. Winds are the greatest concern for the Houston metro area, Berger said, followed by storm surge along coastal areas. Extreme winds could knock out power and cause residential damage, he said. STORM FORECASTS: See the latest NWS forecast track and rainfall estimates Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a voluntary evacuation order Tuesday afternoon for the countys Zones A and B, urging those residents to head west or north to avoid dangerous storm surge. Residents of inland Harris County, meanwhile, should stay put in preparation for heavy winds. Well be feeling those wind impacts perhaps all throughout our community, Hidalgo said. We will be sheltering from possible wind make sure that youre prepared for prolonged power outages, that you have supplies to last you at least a week. Forecasters predict Louisiana will be impacted by the greatest storm surge, with water rising up to 13 feet, officials said. Port Bolivar to Sea Rim State Park, Texas near the Louisiana border could get up to 9 feet of storm surge. Galveston Bay could see up to 5 feet of storm surge, officials said, and waters along the stretch from Freeport to San Luis Pass could rise 2 to 4 feet. The hurricane is expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of rain along the Gulf coast. The rainfall could cause widespread flash and urban flooding and isolated river flooding. In an afternoon briefing, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said the most recent forecast he heard from the National Weather Service got his attention, by informing him that Lauras path was currently aimed directly at the Houston-Galveston region. He added, however, that forecasters expect the storm to curve to the northeast closer to its expected landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border. If things would deteriorate rapidly and (the storms path) change didnt occur, we would have very little time to do anything differently, Henry said. The preparation window is closing quickly. We have until tomorrow at this time and then thats it. Henrys primary concern at this point is Bolivar Peninsula, which could see a storm surge of 4 to 8 feet. The Texas Department of Transportation announced Tuesday afternoon that ferry service to the peninsula would end at 11:30 p.m., earlier than expected, meaning peninsula residents only option for evacuating would be to the east, potentially in Lauras path. Thats not an ideal escape route, thats why we really encourage residents on Bolivar to seek safety now somewhere else, Henry said. The judge added that Centerpoint Energy, which delivers power to much of Galveston County, has prepositioned a lot of vehicles on county property in Santa Fe, so that they will be able to respond to service disruptions within minutes. Meanwhile, Houston Public Works is again lowering Lake Houston, to 41 feet, ahead of Hurricane Laura, according to an email from Mayor Pro Tem David Martin's office. That area of Houston is forecast to get between two and four inches of rain, with as much as six inches in some localized spots. The lowering of the lake will occur gradually overnight. It is currently at 41.6 feet. "Once the inclement weather threat has moved out of our area the Lake will be allowed to naturally refill due to runoff from the rain event," the email said. anna.bauman@chron.com DNC embraces neocons, and Russiagate conspiracy just won't die By Moderate Rebels Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton speak with Aaron Mate about how the Democratic Party welcomes neoconservative war criminals and right-wing Republicans while attacking the left. Posted August 25, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31qQcY_kX9c&feature=youtu.be No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Post your comment below See also The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. In 2018, Rania El-Alloul felt fully vindicated. A Quebec Court of Appeal ruled that shed been wronged back in 2015 when Judge Eliana Marengo told her she was not suitably dressed for a court hearing, on account of her headscarf. Her recorded remarks, comparing El-Allouls hijab to a hat and sunglasses, were widely condemned across Canada and made headlines around the world. In light of the multi-confessional fabric of Quebec society, it is usually quite easy for a judge to recognize the difference between suitable religious attire and those cases where the individual litigant or witness is showing lack of respect for the court by his or her choice of clothing, reads an excerpt from the 2018 ruling. The judgement determined that Marengo had overlooked El-Allouls constitutional rights and in so doing, was curtailing her right to access justice. The court referenced a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that neutrality of the state was no excuse to limit anyones sincerely held religious beliefs. In addition to El-Allouls important legal win, supported by countless people from across Canada who raised tens of thousands of dollars for her legal fees, dozens of Quebec residents also submitted formal complaints to the Quebec judicial council. The authority is responsible for disciplining judges who breach their duties; it has been studying this case for the past five years and Marengo has been fighting it every step of the way. Until now. Her lawyers have reached out to the council with a settlement proposal that includes a letter of apology to El-Alloul, in exchange for dropping the disciplinary complaints made against Marengo. A hearing is set for September 8. El-Alloul isnt sure if shed accept an apology if she were offered one but its not because she holds any ill will towards Marengo, even though this ordeal has been hard on her. My religion teaches me to forgive, she tells me in an interview. The reason for her reluctance is that she believes the judge owes all those who complained an apology, since her harmful treatment had implications that resonated beyond the courtroom that day. And El-Alloul is completely right. This isnt only about me. In Quebec, we are suffering a lot more discrimination than people in Ontario, El-Alloul tells me. We will resist this treatment. Even though my case is almost done, I wont stop speaking about our rights as Muslim women who deserve to be treated with dignity. In fact, the provincial government itself should consider its own apology for the pain it continues to cause many Quebecers. After all, its hard to separate Marengos discrimination against El-Alloul from the broader second-class treatment that religious minorities have been subjected to in that province for far too long. Those attitudes, which some would rightfully call racist and Islamophobic, culminated most recently last year with Bill 21. That law, currently being challenged as unconstitutional, prevents public servants from wearing religious clothing. Teachers, lawyers, and police officers are among those who cannot wear a religious symbol on the job. People have been faced with the choice of abandoning their career aspirations, moving away, or refraining from practicing their religion authentically. With all that in mind, Marengos potential apology should serve as a wake-up call for the province itself. Quebec officials, including Premier Francois Legault, continue to deny the existence of systemic racism. Such wilful blindness has ongoing ramifications that touch many communities. Just this past month, the provinces public health director walked away from a promise to collect and make public race-based data related to COVID-19 infections and its impacts, forcing local organizations to attempt to do it themselves. And despite evidence that Black and Indigenous Montrealers were between four and five times more likely to be stopped by Montreal police than white people, the Quebec Department of Public Security has just released guidelines that uphold the discriminatory practice of street checks. No doubt, then, that in such a context, a Quebec judge saying sorry for her discriminatory behaviour would be a historic win. But its just one of many apologies that the province owes its religious and racial minorities, the absence of which preclude genuine progress. Amira Elghawaby is an Ottawa-based human rights advocate and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: is an Ottawa-based human rights advocate and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @AmiraElghawaby Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 19:21:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo taken on Aug. 18, 2020 shows the United States Postal Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) "People don't want to take the health risks of going to crowded polling places. Instead, they prefer casting their ballots by mail and avoiding any possible health problems," says Darrell West. WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- As the coronavirus continues to throw a wrench into Americans' everyday lives, it has, perhaps predictably, impacted the process in which Americans choose the president. Many Americans do not feel safe voting in person, standing in sometimes hours-long lines with complete strangers who could potentially infect them with the coronavirus. Democrats are thus pushing hard for mail-in voting, which means that voters would mail in their ballots instead of voting in person. But Republicans are vehemently against it, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying it will lead to widespread voter fraud. The issue also reflects voters' attitudes toward the virus, as Democrats believe more strongly in shuttering schools and businesses, whereas Republicans tend to downplay the dangers of the virus and argue that life must go on. They also point to voter fraud that has occurred due to mail-in ballots in places such as Patterson, New Jersey, among other cities. People wait for service at a post office in New York, the United States, Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) The United States Postal Service has been sucked into the fight. The Democrat-led House on Saturday passed a 25-billion-U.S.-dollar bill to bolster the cash-strapped post office. Democrats have blasted Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for what they say is an attempt to fix the elections by delaying services that could lead to the disqualification of mail-in ballots. Republicans counter that such concerns are mere conspiracy theory, and that the post office can deal with any increase in volume from mail-in votes, noting that there is 14 billion dollars in cash available to the service, as well as a 10-billion-dollar Treasury loan. Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua that many states are moving towards mail-in ballots because of public concern over voting during a pandemic. "People don't want to take the health risks of going to crowded polling places. Instead, they prefer casting their ballots by mail and avoiding any possible health problems," West said. People wait for service at a post office in New York, the United States, Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Clay Ramsay, a senior research associate at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua that Americans have been mailing in their ballots for years. States accustomed to lots of mail-in voting have had very few problems with their elections. However, it's possible that states less familiar with the process could make administrative mistakes, Ramsay said. On Monday night at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump re-iterated his argument, accusing Democrats of trying to rig the election, as they are calling for more mail-in votes amid the coronavirus pandemic. "What they're doing is using COVID to steal an election," he said. "They're using COVID to defraud the American people, all of our people, of a fair and free election. We can't do that." A United States Postal Service (USPS) worker wearing a mask delivers mails during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, the United States, April 13, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) According to a recent survey from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape project, Biden voters are twice as likely to vote by mail. Forty-eight percent of those who plan to vote for Biden said they would likely vote by mail, whereas 23 percent of those who plan to vote for Trump will vote via mail. One-third of total voters said they planned to vote via mail. African American and Hispanic voters have expressed more uncertainty about voting via mail, according to a series of recent focus groups in Philadelphia and Las Vegas conducted by iVote, the results of which were shared with Politico, a Washington political newspaper. These groups of voters said voting in person "has been ingrained" in them. Those findings mirror recent polls taken by the Voter Participation Center, partnering with Latino Decisions and the African American Research Collaborative. The polls show that nearly two-thirds of Hispanic and African American voters want to cast their ballots in person because "they believe their vote is more likely to be counted than if they vote by mail." The CFMEU was "the dumbest union" when it came to politics in Queensland and it threw tantrums when it did not get its own way, a senior Labor figure said, as the union announced a split from the party's Left faction. The union's state secretary, Michael Ravbar, shot back that Queensland Labor was "inward-looking", "off-track" and not representing tradespeople or the mining sector. The CFMEU's Michael Ravbar has pulled the union's support from Queensland Labor's dominant Left faction. Credit:Pic: Glenn Hunt On Wednesday morning, Mr Ravbar announced the construction division of the CFMEU would no longer support the Left faction of the state Labor party, but would remain affiliated to the ALP. "We have had a long, deep history with the ALP and we would like to see them re-elected," Mr Ravbar said. A lot has changed in the last few months. Some have even said that everything has changed as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Yet, the fintech sector in Northern Ireland remains dynamic, resilient, adaptable, and innovative. Despite the difficulties faced, these traits have insulated many in the sector from the worst of the economic challenges. Confirmation by fDi Intelligence, the specialist division of the Financial Times of Belfasts place in the Top 10 Tech Cities of the Future ahead of financial hubs including Zurich and Frankfurt is an encouraging development. Of course, this is not the first time our sector has been recognised for its global potential. Belfast has previously been credited as the worlds number one destination for fintech development investment projects and the top city in Europe for new FDI software development projects. Despite being a relatively small place, in terms of fintech we punch well above our weight. We have a rich start up and scale up community across Northern Ireland and the combination of factors including talent availability, infrastructure, cost-effectiveness, and a supportive business environment have contributed to our attractiveness to foreign investors. On top of this, the appointment of Jayne Brady as Belfasts digital innovation commissioner who will work alongside the excellent leadership team at Belfast City Council who are consistently advancing the sector, is crucial and makes for an exciting outlook. In recent months, the fintech sector has continued to benefit from job creation with significant global investment, assisted by Invest NI, among others. Attracting foreign direct investment at this time speaks volumes and global players such as, Cygilant, Riskonnect and Vox Financial Partners who have joined the likes of Allstate, Citi and Liberty IT in placing their confidence in Northern Ireland is invigorating. These are some of the building blocks to establishing a world-leading fintech cluster, acting as a magnet in attracting fresh companies. With upwards of 40,000 people already employed in the financial and professional services sector in Northern Ireland, there is an opportunity to not only sustain this number but also increase it with more highly paid jobs. This would give a much-needed boost to the economy. It is also important to mention our world class universities and further education colleges which are essential to our continued success and ambition. Indeed, the launch of Ulster Universitys BSc Hons financial technology degree program, developed in collaboration with NI fintech companies, highlights the value of building strong relationships across the sector. There is no doubt we have something special in our grasp. The fact that the sector is thriving in the North West region too gives good reason to be optimistic about economic development right across the country. With Brexit looming large again and despite the challenges which this presents, there is reason to be confident. Our peers in Dublin have also made the Top 10 Tech Cities of the Future which is remarkable considering the proximity of the two cities. By building on the already solid relationships and co-operating on a cross-border basis there is significant scope to build on this success. The potential certainly exists, and it is encouraging to hear our elected representatives, including the Economy Minister Diane Dodds speak confidently about the sector and its future growth potential. With coherent and collaborative working between government, industry and academia, Belfast and Northern Irelands place as a prominent fintech location of today will become the norm. A soldier missing from Fort Hood was probably found dead, his family's attorney said Wednesday, adding to the toll of service members at the Texas installation who have vanished or died in murky circumstances in recent months. Sgt. Elder Fernandes, 23, was last seen Aug. 17 by members of his unit at a home in Killeen, outside the sprawling post, the Army said. His family later arrived in Texas from Massachusetts to aid in the search. In a news conference Wednesday, Army officials said Fernandes reported he was a victim of a sexual assault in May. An investigation determined it was unsubstantiated. Fernandes recently learned the results of the inquiry, officials said. Army officials had previously said Fernandes may have left the area on his own accord after speaking with soldiers in his unit. Lt. Col. Justin Redfern told reporters Fernandes was an "exemplary" leader but became troubled in March, suggesting mental health issues. The commander said he believed it was unconnected to the sexual assault allegations. Fernandes was hospitalized at Fort Hood on Aug. 11 and released on Aug. 17, the last day he was seen, Army official said, but declined to say for what purpose. The family grew concerned when he did not call his mother as promised after his discharge. His blue BMW was found at his unit motor pool, the family told The Washington Post. Army officials told the family a body was found hanging in a tree in Temple, about 25 miles east of the installation, family attorney Natalie Khawam said. A black backpack at the scene contained his driver's license, phone and hygiene items, Khawam said. Fernandes's military ID was in a pants pocket. The Temple Police Department said the ID indicated that the remains may belong to Fernandes but "no forensic confirmation has been made at this time." The initial investigation has not found evidence of foul play, the department said. Khawam is also the attorney for the family of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, a soldier who went missing from Fort Hood in April and whose remains were discovered in June. "They don't know what happened, whether it was suicide or whether murder. But I'm going to tell you what they did to him, the blood on their hands, it's a form of murder," Khawam said in a news conference in Florida on Wednesday, where she demanded a congressional investigation of Fort Hood. The Fernandes family chastised the Army's investigation in a Tuesday call with The Washington Post, hours before they received word of the discovered remains. "Somebody cannot just vanish from the face of the Earth like this. Somebody knows something," said Isabel Fernandes, an aunt of the missing soldier. "We can't sleep, we can't eat. This is beyond cruelty." Fort Hood has been gripped by separate killings and high profile disappearances this year. Investigators said a fellow soldier killed Guillen on Fort Hood and buried her remains in a shallow grave. Police confronted him on July 1, and he fatally shot himself, investigators said. The remains of Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales, a soldier missing since August 2019, were found in a field in Killeen last month. Three other soldiers were killed in separate shooting incidents. Pfc. Brandon Rosecrans was killed in nearby Harker Heights in May. Spc. Freddy Delacruz was killed on March 14 and Spc. Shelby Jones was killed in early March. The five suspected homicides of soldiers at Fort Hood between March and June outpaced the last four years combined, Stars and Stripes reported. Army data has shown more violent and nonviolent crimes occur among soldiers at Fort Hood than at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, which hosts thousands more troops. A friend of Fernandes told Khawam that the soldier was being harassed and hazed within the unit. Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam, a spokesman for the 1st Cavalry Division, said Fernandes was transferred to another unit to avoid reprisals from superiors. "These men and women go through a lot," Khawam said. "I'm not talking about war here. It's toxic command." Army officials said the search for Fernandes was a "top priority" of the 1st Cavalry Division, with soldiers searching for him on and off Fort Hood and with Killeen police also investigating. But the family said the Army took too long to get the public involved. A news release was published four days after Fernandes was last seen. "The Army goes online, posting they helped since day one," Isabel Fernandes said. "It's all bull - t." On July 30, under intense scrutiny after the Guillen slaying, the Army convened an independent panel to review the command climate at the base. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Wednesday she was "heartsick" and vowed to investigate the Fernandes case and other deaths at Fort Hood. Fernandes, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist, was born in Cape Verde, a string of islands in the Atlantic west of Senegal. He arrived in the United States as a 10-year-old, his family said. Friendly and family-focused, he had plans to reenlist in the Army when he visited family for Christmas, his aunt said, and did not reveal any problems with his command. "He's a giver. He will put his life on the line to protect others," Isabel Fernandes said. "He wanted to do something positive for this country." The Rolls Royce XWB engine assembly line at the Rolls-Royce's aero engine factory in Derby. Photo: PA Rolls-Royce has announced plans to close one of its UK factories in Nottinghamshire, as a drastic cost-cutting drive continues at the struggling plane engine maker. The company (RR.L) has been heavily hit by the decline of air travel during the coronavirus crisis, warning it will be years before demand recovers in the commercial aerospace sector. Earnings are based on the hours its engines fly. Rolls-Royce announced plans to slash 9,000 jobs worldwide in May and all of its civil aerospace sites were put under review, as part of a drive to save 1.3bn ($1.7bn) a year. Now Rolls-Royce has confirmed a site in Annesley, Nottinghamshire, will shut for good by 2023. The site makes components for its Trent and Pearl engines. Around 120 workers will be offered the chance to transfer to its bigger site in Derby, around 20 miles away. The manufacturing of engine blades for newer Trent engines will also stop by 2023 at its Bankfield site in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, which was one of the worlds first and most successful factories to make modern turbo-jets. Local Conservative MP Andrew Stephenson told the Burnley Express newspaper it would be devastating, with around 350 workers affected. The nearby Ghyll Brow plant could also face closure, with work moved to Bankfield. But manufacturing for older engines, new product development and technical support work will continue in the former mill town. READ MORE: Rolls-Royce job cuts a body blow to town where turbo-jets born A spokesperson confirmed 2,400 employees will have left the company by the end of August through voluntary redundancy programmes. Around 200 workers have moved from civil aerospace to defence teams, in a bid to mitigate the number of job losses needed. But up to 250 workers could still face compulsory redundancy this year. Andrew Baron, 55, was one of the workers who volunteered to leave a Rolls-Royce site in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. He told Yahoo Finance UK earlier this year he did not expect the company to find anywhere near enough voluntary redundancies, saying many older workers had left in previous rounds of job cuts. Story continues Ill have a reasonable pension pot and no mortgage. Id feel awful if I didnt and one of the young lads with families got made redundant, he said at the time. READ MORE: BMW to cut 400 jobs at Oxford Mini plant A company spokesperson said: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a historic shock in civil aviation which will take several years to recover. Demand for our Civil Aerospace products and services has fallen significantly and weve had to take difficult, but necessary decisions to position ourselves for the future. Today we have told our employees that we are proposing to close some of our sites, and some will see significant reductions in workload. We are now consulting with trade unions and their regional equivalents and will look at all options to mitigate the impact on our people. Todays news will be very worrying for our colleagues, and our number one priority is to provide support to them and their families. It comes on a grim day for UK manufacturing, with cutbacks also announced by carmaker BMW on Wednesday. The German carmaker, also owner of the Rolls-Royce car brand since 1998, announced around 400 agency workers at its Mini plant in Oxford would lose their jobs. WOODS HOLE, Mass., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts has long been known as a center of invention and technical innovation and, more recently, has gained attention for its vibrant marine robotics startup community. Now startup companies, entrepreneurs, and others in the Commonwealth who work in the marine robotics and related technologies sector, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, will have a new partner to help them develop products and technologies and bring their ideas to market. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) are teaming up to make WHOI's unique mix of resources available through the D'Works Marine Technology Initiative to accelerate the pace of marine technology innovation. "Our goal is to help move ideas from the concept stage to at-sea operations as efficiently as possible," said James Bellingham, Director of WHOI's Center for Marine Robotics (CMR). "To do this, we're making WHOI's specialized facilities and expertise available to the entrepreneurial community." The Innovation Institute at MassTech has seeded the D'Works Innovation Fund via CMR for qualified companies to access WHOI facilities, as well as technical and engineering support, building on a previous $5 million grant to support the construction of DunkWorks Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping Center and several other new test facilities at WHOI. Applications will be accepted beginning August 26 on a rolling basis through the fall, with the first awards expected to be announced by September 30. "WHOI's work at the leading edge of oceanographic research is based on a combination of deep understanding of the ocean and how it works," said WHOI Deputy Director and Vice President for Research Rick Murray. "WHOI is pleased to work with the MassTech to support the growth of marine robotics, AI, and related technologies that will benefit from WHOI's state-of-the-art testing facilities. In turn, we expect that marine research will also advance through the innovative ideas tested by entrepreneurs." "The funding for the D'Works initiative will expand access to WHOI's world-class facilities, helping grow new startups and further strengthening our state's position as the number one region in the world for marine and blue tech innovation," added Carolyn Kirk, Executive Director of MassTech. "What sets Massachusetts apart is not only our top R&D facilities, but also the talented researchers and innovators that can help entrepreneurs grow their business." D'Works funding is intended to support the use of critical fabrication and testing equipment and facilities by startups, entrepreneurs and innovators to develop marketable robotic devices, vehicles, AI, or sensors for use in the marine environment. Available WHOI facilities include the DunkWorks Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping Center, WHOI's advanced pressure test and calibration facilities, the Iselin Marine Facility and test well, and WHOI's skilled carpentry, electrical, and mechanical staff. Accepted D'Works Innovators are not limited to shore-based testing. Through the program, startups may also make use of WHOI's coastal research vessel Tioga and small boat fleet, scientific dive program, and offshore infrastructure at the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory . Applicants may also implement and test technologies at other WHOI facilities, or apply for membership in the CMR DunkWorks Program. "Our ideal applicant has a prototype for what they believe to be a working technology in the pre-scaling stage," said Leslie Ann McGee, CMR assistant director. "This fund is for those innovators or technologists who need access to facilities like we have at WHOI but don't have the funding for a larger, traditional project at WHOI." To apply, Massachusetts-based applicants must submit a proposal outlining specific project milestones and demonstrate how modest funding will advance those goals from a technological and marketing standpoint. Minority and women-owned companies are encouraged to apply. More information is available at https://www2.whoi.edu/site/marinerobotics/home/innovation-fund/ The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Mass., dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic understanding of the ocean's role in the changing global environment. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu . Media Contacts: Erin Koenig Media Relations Manager [email protected] Phone: 508-289-2270 Mobile: 508-566-0989 This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com . SOURCE Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Related Links http://whoi.edu STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There she goes! The USS Slater shipped off to sea from the Caddell Dry Dock on Tuesday afternoon around 2 p.m. The freshly painted Destroyer Escort Historical Museum (DEHM) was delayed in her trip back to Albany after a hole was spotted at the bottom of the vessel. But it was only a five-day delay. And after the dock was flooded starting around 1 p.m. the ship gained buoyancy, was moved out into the busy Kill van Kull by around 2 p.m. and underway home up the Hudson River, courtesy of two tugboats. Tim Rizzuto, the ship superintendent and museum executive director in Albany, and a crew of 15 have lived on the ship since July 6. The vessel was put into service in 1944, named for Frank O. Slater. The sailor was killed in the Battle of Guadalcanal on the USS San Francisco. She was eventually sold to Greece and employed in its naval fleet. Now, back in the States shes a floating museum docked on the Hudson River in Albany. The crew also accepts photos of her underway at info@USSSlater.org. Take a look at the accompanying images as the shipyards dock is flooded and the USS Slater gains buoyancy. Next up on dry dock is the Staten Island ferryboat S.I. Newhouse, which should be back at sea later in the fall. Around 1 p.m. the staff at Caddell Dry Dock checked out the USS Slater's underside. Soon the men would be out of that area which will be flooded. (Images by Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Note the ladders and ropes on the ship will be removed soon. Also, pay mind to the structure in which the USS Slater is up on blocks: it is the hull of another, much larger ship -- the former John T. Devlin. After portable, metal stairways were hoisted by cranes off the USS Slater, the dock was slowly flooded. Over the course of an hour water swirled into the empty, metal space, making brown eddies and beach waves out of the rising sea water. When the ship became buoyant it lifted hull first out of the water. Caddell workers helped guide the USS Slater out of its berth with ropes. With the power of a small tug from the shipyard, the USS Slater moves out into the busy Kill van Kull. The ship moved out into the harbor like a car pulling out of a driveway. As the USS Slater was turned by mighty Margot tugboat with a little help from a smaller tug from Caddell. As the world recovers from the COVID-19, there is more shipping traffic in the harbor. The USS Slater, pushed by tugs, is joined by freighters, cargo ships and pleasure craft as they push through the water. The USS Slater will be pushed up the Hudson River, accompanied by by a hip each, so to speak, of two tugs. The USS Slater is a Destroyer Escort Museum that is maneuvered and steered by tugs. It should return home within two days of passage from Staten Island. A man with severe mental health issues who killed a man in 2002 and absconded while on day release from a mental health facility in the state's west on Monday has been found at a hotel in Sydney's west. Michael Striker, 48, failed to return to a mental health facility at the Bloomfield Hospital in Orange on Monday and was last seen at 11.30am in the Bathurst area. NSW Police located Mr Striker at a hotel on Anderson Street, Parramatta, about 11am on Wednesday and arrested him. He is expected to be returned to the mental health facility. In 2002, Mr Striker, who was known at the time as Michael Sorrell, killed 45-year-old Michael Furlong, outside an electronics store in western Sydney on June 3. It has been a busy summer for the SD-WAN market with a tremendous amount of news especially in August, when the news flow typically is slower. McAfee announced significant enhancements to its Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution delivered by MVISION Unified Cloud Edge (UCE) by launching easy-to-use integrations with third-party Software-Defined Wide Area Networking solutions, and extending its UCE platform to enable global strategic partners to deliver managed SASE offerings. In addition, McAfee continues its engagement with leading global service providers Atos and BT to offer a range of managed Web, CASB, and SASE offerings to help organizations who are struggling with the challenges of digital transformation. Ash Kulkarni, executive vice president and chief product officer of the enterprise business group at McAfee said the company is committed to helping customers securely move their operations to the cloud and help their employees to work from wherever they are in these times. The company has now certified interoperability with six SD-WAN vendors, including Viptela/Cisco, VeloCloud VMware and Citrix, with even deeper partnerships forged with Silver Peak, Fortinet, and Versa Networks through McAfees Security Innovation Alliance (SIA) program. Fusion Connect has announced they will provide Fortinet-based SD-WAN. John Maddison, EVP of products and CMO at Fortinet said their offering delivers self-healing SD-WAN capabilities, advanced routing, and advanced security in a single solution. As a reminder, Fusion has a new CEO Brian Crotty. Our colleague Erik Linask wrote about the news in some detail this past May. He worked at Sungard Availability Services and Broadview Networks prior to taking this role. I called Fortinet a partnership master this past December and it is worth noting they work with both McAfee and Fusion Connect they seem to be making all the right connections (pun intended). HughesOn and Metadata Engineering participated in the worlds first SASE Summit to discuss how SD-WAN is morphing to SASE and why companies need to merge security with their networking solutions. 128 Technology also participated in the SASE Summit to discuss how SASE is essential in every companys digital transformation journey. Bigleaf Networks, realizing the importance of the channel has introduced new MSP-friendly SD-WAN pricing models. There is a new standardized, tiered pricing model and high-volume partners will receive aggressive volume discounts. Kentik released a new Hybrid Map which allows NetOps teams to see all networks in one place even if they are not owned. this includes WAN, SD-WAn and the internet. Ananda Networks came out of stealth with a secure global LAN solution (SG-LAN). It is a combination of SASE and SD-WAN and part network-as-a-service (NaaS). Megaport, a leading NaaS provider is adding the ability to integrate with SD-WAN companies, starting with Cisco as part of their new Megaport Virtual Edge (MVE) solution. This is big news as NaaS solutions need to have the application awareness and guaranteed QoS levels which SD-WAN brings to the table. MEF has been very active in the SD-WAN space and their new 3.0 specification includes SASE as it should,. Masergy released its market trends report which shows how the pandemic has affected IT spending. This year, 56 percent of respondents said they are piloting, installing, or upgrading SD-WAN installations. In 2017, that number was 35 percent. Aruba had a win with its SD-Branch solution Videotron will use it to enable an improved version of its high-speed guaranteed internet service. SonicWall announced new zero touch-enabled, multi-gigabit SonicWall TZ firewalls with SD-Branch capabilities, along with a redesigned cloud-native management console that helps streamline operations through fresh and modern user interfaces. VIAVI Solutions released a report and 73 percent of respondents revealed that security professionals need comprehensive visibility into network infrastructure to enhance cybersecurity efforts and speed remediation. Adaptiv Networks had a big win with Atlantic Canada as a new customer. CEO Bernard Breton said he and his team are focused are offering organizations the opportunity to transform with next-generation technology. Windstream launched a next-generation firewall (NGFW) to help fortify SD-WAN. An additional benefit of Windstream Enterprises VNF is its ability to be co-managed and integrated via WE Connect, the award-winning network management portal that gives customers a single pane of glass to see all security, network, and voice service information as well as account detail. Fuze added SD-WAN certification. including Aryaka, Cato Networks, Silver Peak, and 128 Technology, to ensure the highest quality connectivity to the Fuze network. By certifying these partners, Fuze customers benefit from the advantages of SD-WAN-reduced costs, increased agility, and enhanced support for cloud-based applications-all while ensuring the network is properly configured for a successful UCaaS deployment. Speaking of Aryaka, the company debuted at 2778 on the Inc. Magazine 5000 list. VMware introduced new and expanded Digital Workspace capabilities to empower customers, help improve business resilience, and prepare for the new distributed, hybrid workforce of the future. These capabilities include a suite of new workplace solutions and new features in VMware Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub built specifically to help customers bring employees back to the office safely. Additional security features from VMware technologies across the network, like NSX Advanced Load Balancer (Avi Networks) and VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud, can be leveraged by VMware Horizon. Criterion Networks, a leading network transformation enabler for managed service providers and enterprises, announced it has successfully completed the Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type 1 certification for its Criterion SDCloud platform. Telco Systems developed a uCPE proof-of-concept (PoC) together with Vodafone Group and its ecosystem partners Arm and NXP Semiconductors based on its NFVTime solution. During the PoC, the NFVTime uCPE demonstrated support for multiple enterprise services, including SD-WAN, routing and firewall, along with the ability to easily add or subtract additional enterprise services. Multiple applications were also launched and tested on the NFVTime hybrid virtualization and container platform. Momentum Telecom won the 2020 INTERNET TELEPHONY SD-WAN Product of the Year Award. The company tailors each SD-WAN solution by leveraging its extensive network connectivity options, including fiber, Wi-Fi and LTE wireless, along with best-in-class hardware. This ensures that enterprise customers have the network speed and reliability necessary for seamless communications and business continuity. If there is a trend here it is SD-WAN is growing fast, morphing into SASE and partnerships rule. See the ONLY 5G, SD-WAN, Contact Center, Tech and Communications companies that matter at the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW. This Event has been called the BEST SHOW in 5 YEARS and the Best TECHNOLOGY EVENT of 2020. 2020 participants included: Amazon, Cisco, Google, IBM, ClearlyIP, Avaya, Vonage, 88, Comcast Business, BlueJeans, CoreDial, Dell, Edify, Epygi, FreeSWITCH, Fuze, Grandstream, Granite, Intrado, Frontier Business, Fujitsu, Jenne, West, Konftel, Intelisys, Martello, NetSapiens, OOMA, Oracle, OpenVox, Peerless Network, Phone Sentry, Phone.com, Poly, QuestBlue, RingByName, Sangoma, SingTel, SkySwitch, Spracht, Spectrum, Sprint, Tallac, Tech Data, Telarus, TCG, Teledynamics, Teli, Telinta, Telispire, Telstra, TransNexus, Unified Office, Vital PBX, VoIP Supply, Voxbone, VoIP.MS, Windstream, XCALY, XORCOM, Yealink, Yubox, and ZYCOO. Full List. Join 8K others with $25B+ in IT buying power who plan 2021 budgets! Including 3,500+ resellers! A unique experience with a collocated Future of Work Expo, SD-WAN Expo, and MSP Expo June 22-25, 2021, Miami, FL. Register now. The Covid-19 battle and the after effects of Cyclone Amphan have already wreaked havoc on the state's overall economic situation. To turn around the economic doldrums, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday introduced a welfare scheme, 'Krishak Bondhu', for the farmers, which would support them in carrying out agricultural activities. "The cyclonic spells have already damaged the agriculture a lot. We will have to ensure that the fields are once again turned cultivable. Most of the agricultural fields have gone under water due to the flood like situation in the districts," Banerjee said while holding a virtual meeting with five district administrations from the state secretariat Nabanna. Banerjee said that the distressed farmers should be incorporated in the 100-day work schemes immediately. All the district administrators must ensure that rain water is pumped out of the agricultural fields so that they can resume cultivation in their respective lands. "Relief funds should be disbursed in the next seven days to those who have been affected in Cyclone Amphan," Banerjee said. She said that the expenditure of the state government has increased significantly in the time of Corona crisis while the earnings have gone down significantly in Bengal. "All monetary compensations to the farmers need to be cleared within next seven days," Banerjee said, as she asked the district administrations to submit reports on rehabilitation packages offered to the migrant labourers. As Laura hurtled towards the US, more than half a million people have been ordered to evacuate the and coasts, in the largest evacuation in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Laura became the fourth of the 2020 Atlantic season Tuesday morning and is expected to intensify over the Gulf of Mexico and become a major hurricane prior to striking the upper or southwest coasts late Wednesday or early Thursday. More than 3,85,000 residents were ordered to evacute in and another 2,00,000 in The governors of Texas and Louisiana declared disasters in advance of the storms. Texas Governor Greg Abbott preemptively declared a state disaster for 23 counties ahead of tropical storms Marco and Laura. The declaration puts resources and personnel on standby. Abbott also asked for a federal emergency declaration for those counties, which was approved. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards told The Weather Channel he hopes his state's residents don't let their guard down just because Marco was not as strong as expected. "Laura has always been the greater threat to Louisiana," Edwards told Jim Cantore. "We don't want people to become complacent because we caught a break with Marco." Edwards declared a state of emergency for Louisiana on Friday night and requested a federal emergency declaration on Saturday. President Donald Trump approved Edwards's request for help. According to weather experts, life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds will batter the coast and a threat of flooding rain and strong winds will extend well inland. Forecasters expect Laura to grow to a major Category 3 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico before hitting the US coastline late Wednesday or early Thursday. The National Hurricane Center warns of potentially devastating damage. Officials stressed that now is when people should be preparing, and leaving if told to do so. Houstonians were urged to stay off roads for people being evacuated from areas that are expected to be hit by Hurricane Laura. Galveston, which sits on a barrier island on the Texas Gulf Coast, issued a mandatory evacuation order Tuesday morning and urged residents to leave as soon as possible. "The main point is that we're going to have a significant hurricane make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday, National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Ed Rappaport said Tuesday. Complicating evacuations is reduced capacity at emergency shelters because of the need for social distancing in the times of the coronavirus. "Frankly there's not that many places for people to go to," Dick Gremillion, director of homeland security and emergency preparedness for Calcasieu Parish, told the local media. "In our traditional shelters, we've lost two-thirds of capacity. It has been a difficult time rolling COVID into hurricane preparations." City of Galveston Mayor Pro Tem Craig Brown signed the evacuation order, instructing residents to begin leaving the island for safety after overnight models shifted Laura's track westward. Galveston residents should secure loose items on their property and leave the island with all family members and pets. Tropical storm warnings extend into the rest of the Houston metro area and extend east into south-central and southeast Louisiana, including the city of Lafayette. This means tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 hours. "Mandatory evacuations will be ongoing throughout the day and early Wednesday, so people have time to secure their properties, businesses, etc. and leave for safety. Residents are NOT required to be off the island by 12 p.m. City services will be suspended at 12 p.m. People should be getting their plans together this morning for an evacuation," Galveston city officials clarified in a statement. Evacuees hoping to avoid repeat of Hurricane Rita traffic nightmare. Hurricane Rita hit in 2005 not long after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. People fled the area and saw some of the worst traffic the region had ever seen. It's estimated more than two million people evacuated from their homes at the time. Many were stuck in traffic nightmares for several hours without food, water and low on fuel. Local officials are hoping to avoid such a situation with voluntary evacuations broken down by zip zones. They're asking residents to wait until their zones are called before leaving to avoid more traffic disasters. Many school districts announced they would be closed for the rest of the week. Most businesses and other facilities will be closed from Wednesday to Friday. Ahead of Hurricane Laura's arrival, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued voluntary evacuations effective immediately for people who live in Zones A and B in Harris County. The Harris County Toll Road Authority announced Tuesday morning it has waived fees. Fort Bend County soon followed suit. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement Two people have been killed and another wounded on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin during a third night of unrest as dramatic videos captured a young white gunman shooting at protesters in a possible vigilante attack amid a wave of looting. One victim was shot in the head and another was shot in the chest at about 11.45pm on Tuesday, according to Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth. A third man was shot in the arm but his wounds were not believed to life-threatening. Authorities said early Wednesday that they had reviewed videos from the scene but they were still investigating and no one had been taken into custody yet. According to witness accounts and video footage, the gunman walked up to police with his hands in the air and his semi-automatic rifle slung across his body just moments after the shooting. He was apparently allowed to walk by despite members of the crowd yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. Cellphone video posted online shows that the ordeal unfolded after a man was shot in the head outside a nearby auto garage. The videos showed the armed man running away in the moments after the gunshots rang out and he could be heard saying: 'I've just killed somebody'. Onlookers were filmed desperately trying to put pressure on the injured man's head wound with a t-shirt as they yelled: 'We've got to keep him alive' and 'put pressure, put pressure.' It is not yet clear what happened in the lead up to the initial shooting but police fear it may have stemmed from a conflict at a gas station between 'self-styled militias' defending local businesses from looters. The sheriff could not immediately confirm if the gunman was among the armed people patrolling the city's streets in recent nights. Separate videos that captured the other two shootings showed a group of protesters tailing the gunman as he ran down the middle of the street. Someone in the crowd can be heard asking 'What did he do?' and another responds that the man had shot someone. Cellphone videos from the scene in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Tuesday night show a white man brandishing a semi-automatic rifle in a confrontation with demonstrators following a shooting just moments earlier where a man was shot in the head. Protesters chased the gunman down the street before one kicked him to the ground Another man could be seen hitting the gunman over the head with a skateboard before struggling with the gunman as gunshots rang out and people fled from the scene The gunman appeared to fire a shot at the man brandishing the skateboard while he was still lying on the ground. The man who initially kicked the gunman to the ground can be seen running (right) as the gunshots broke out The man with the skateboard stumbled away from the gunman clutching his chest (right) as another man appeared to put his hands up in front of the shooter The man who put his hands up can be seen above attempting to cover himself as the gunman fired off his rifle That same man was subsequently shot in the arm by the gunman (above). The man who was initially shot in the chest can be seen collapsed on the ground behind him As the crowd scattered, the shooter stood up and looked around with his gun raised before he started walking down the street in the direction of arriving police officers The armed man got back to his feet while the man who was shot in the chest laid on the ground and bystanders screamed and ran in terror The man, who still had his gun slung across him, put up his hands and walked toward the squad cars as someone yelled at police that the man just shot someone. Despite appearing to hand himself in, police said early Wednesday they were still looking for the gunman The videos show the man with the gun stumbling and falling in the street before one pursuer took a flying kick at him, while another appeared to strike him with a skateboard. The gunman fired three of four shots from a seated position, hitting at least two people, including one who fell over clutching his chest and another who stumbled away putting pressure on his arm, according to the videos. As the crowd scattered, the shooter stood up and continued walking down the street as police cars arrived. The man, who still had his gun slung across him, put up his hands and walked toward the squad cars as someone yelled at police that the man just shot someone. Several police cars drove past him toward the people who had been shot. Despite appearing to hand himself in, Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first thing Wednesday that shooter had not yet been identified or detained. 'I feel very confident we'll have him in a very short time,' he said given what the videos showed. The names of the victims have not yet been released. Police said they fear that the shooting stemmed from a conflict between 'self-styled militias' defending local businesses from looters amid the ongoing unrest over the shooting of Jacob Blake. Blake remains in hospital after being shot multiple times by a white Kenosha officer on Sunday, prompting a wave of protests that continued despite a curfew. Several civilians were carrying weapons during the protests on Tuesday night and the gunman was believed to have been guarding a local car shop at some point prior to the shootings, according to videos posted online. The so-called militias have had weapons slung over their shoulders or at the ready while standing guard outside businesses to protect them from looters or arsonists. 'They're like a vigilante group,' Beth said, adding that he was not yet clear if the man at the center of the outburst was linked to such a group. Cellphone video posted online shows that the ordeal unfolded after one man was shot in the head outside a nearby auto garage. The victim is pictured on the ground on the left while the gunman stands nearby. The videos showed the gunman running away (right) in the moments after the gunshots rang out and he could be heard saying: 'I've just killed somebody' The same man was seen walking the streets of Kenosha carrying his gun. This image is believed to have been taken earlier in the evening prior to the shootings. Police said they fear that the shooting stemmed from a conflict between 'self-styled militias' defending local businesses but they have not officially confirmed if the gunman was part of the militia group Several civilians were carrying weapons during the protests on Tuesday night and the gunman (far left and right) was believed to have been guarding a local car shop at some point prior to the shootings, according to videos posted online. At one point, police drove by and offered the group water Several civilians were carrying weapons during the protests on Tuesday night and the gunman was believed to have been guarding a local car shop at some point prior to the shootings, according to videos posted online A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled and fell, 'two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him.' 'The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired,' Rosas said. Another protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune that he witnessed the initial shooting and helped provide aid to the victim shot in the head. 'We were all chanting 'Black lives matter' at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, thats not fireworks,' the 19-year-old said. 'And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, 'He shot someone! He shot someone!' And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again.' Scott said he rushed to help the injured man, saying: 'I was cradling him in my arms. I was trying to keep this kid alive and he wasn't moving or nothing. He was just laying there. 'I didn't know what to do and then this woman starts performing CPR. There was no pulse. I dont think he made it.' Before the gunfire erupted, police in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang rounds to push back demonstrators who defied a dawn-to-dusk curfew and gathered outside a courthouse and adjacent park. Cellphone video posted online shows that the ordeal unfolded after one man was shot in the head outside an auto garage. It is not yet clear what happened in the lead up to the initial shooting. Onlookers were filmed desperately trying to put pressure on the injured man's head wound with a t-shirt as they yelled: 'We've got to keep him alive' Footage from the scene showed this man after being shot in the arm. Police later said his injuries were not believed to be life threatening and that he was treated in hospital This man appeared to suffer a gunshot wound to the arm during the ordeal. Police say he was treated in hospital for his injuries The man shot in the chest is pictured above being dragged by two demonstrators before onlookers started giving him CPR About 300 demonstrators defied the city's 8pm curfew again after Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency earlier following a night of violence and destruction that saw rioters set fire to businesses and vehicles across the city. The shooting of Blake comes three months after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis which sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department also deployed at least four armored patrol vehicles fitted with roof turrets from which deputies fired tear gas canisters into the crowd, many of whom hurled water bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects back at police. But there was no immediate sign of buildings or cars being set ablaze, as happened on Monday night. Demonstrators, some of whom were wearing helmets and equipped with makeshift protective gear, were seen trying to storm a black iron fence that had been installed earlier to protect the court from rioters. Meanwhile, officers dressed in riot gear stood guard behind the barrier, holding up shields as protesters shouted expletives and hurled bottles at them. Footage from the scene also showed people throwing fireworks in the direction of cops as they ignored their orders to disperse. In one video shared by a journalist on Twitter, one man was seen trying to set fire to an American flag before being deterred by pepperballs fired by police. A crowd of protesters continue their demonstrations in Wisconsin last night after the governor declared a state of emergency Armed civilians stand in the streets of Kenosha to protect the area against the arson during third day of protests over the shooting of a black man Jacob Blake by police officer in Wisconsin, United States this morning Police in riot gear clear a park during clashes with protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse late Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis Protesters were seen hurling water bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects back at police as they fired rubber bullets and tears gas towards the crowds Law enforcement pleaded with people to leave the area through loud speakers on armored vehicles while delivering a constant barrage of less lethal munitions and tear gas against a hostile crowd which kept up a return fire of lasers, debris, rocks, bottles and explosive devices as the cops moved to push the crowd People, including members of the press, were seen running away as police fired tear gas towards the crowds Chaos rocks Kenosha for a third night: Protests defied curfew and gathered outside the county courthouse on Tuesday night, clashing with police Demonstrators were seen trying to topple over a black fence that was installed around the court earlier as officials braced for another night of destruction Protesters gathered outside wearing helmets and masks, and some held makeshift shields as they prepared to face off with police A man stood in front of law enforcement officers as they braced for a clash against protesters A woman was seen shouting and flipping off police during the protest outside the courthouse on Tuesday Kenosha County sheriffs deputies warned crowds over loud speaker that they were participating in an unlawful gathering while urging them to leave the area. The crowd responded by chanting 'black lives matter', prompting police to fire rubber bullets. Several military-style armored patrol vehicles were also called in and were seen maneuvering around the county courthouse, firing tear gas at the crowd. About three hours after declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, authorities had managed to push Tuesday night's crowd out of the downtown park, with demonstrators scattering down streets. The disturbances came hours after Governor Evers vowed to deploy additional National Guard troops in a bid to restore order in the town, while Blake's mother publicly appealed for calm during a press conference held outside the court. On Tuesday, President Trump, who has consistently denounced the BLM protests that have rocked the country in recent months, urged Wisconsin officials to call in the National Guard to quell the unrest, despite troops already being on the ground. 'Governor should call in the National Guard in Wisconsin. It is ready, willing, and more than able. End problem FAST!' Trump tweeted. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows later revealed Governor Evers had turned down Trump's offer for federal assistance, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. A spokeswoman for Evers told the paper: 'The governor informed them that we would be increasing Wisconsin National Guard support in Kenosha and therefore would not need federal assistance in response to protests but would welcome additional federal support and resources for our state's response to COVID-19.' A protester is seen tossing an object toward police as cops deployed tear gas and other crowd control munitions Protesters took cover behind a trash bin as police fired tear gas and armored vehicles moved to the outside of the iron fence in front of the court People were seen using umbrellas and plastic shields to protect themselves from tear gas and rubber bullets A protester shielded himself with an umbrella and took cover behind a dumpster during clashes outside the Kenosha County Courthouse Members of the crowd came armed with makeshift protective gear ahead of Tuesday's night skirmish A law enforcement officer was seen emerging from the hatch of an armored vehicle to fire rubber bullets at protesters after they ignored orders to clear the area Flares are seen near a Kenosha County Sheriff vehicle during the protests on Tuesday night An explosive device detonates as a protester pushes back on an armored vehicle clearing the nearby park where crowds had gathered Blake, 29, a father of six, was struck from behind at point-blank range in a hail of bullets fired on Sunday by police who were following him with guns drawn as he walked away from officers to his car and opened a door to the vehicle. Three of his young sons inside the automobile - aged three, five and eight - witnessed their father being gunned down, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family. A bystander captured the encounter in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage over the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against African Americans. Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women, was struck by multiple gunshots fired at him, all by one officer. Crump also revealed Blake was undergoing surgery for his injuries, adding that the bullets severed his spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Another attorney said there was also severe damage to organs. 'It's going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr to ever walk again,' Crump said. Protesters have begun to try to push over a fence in front of the courthouse in Kenosha. Sheriffs deputies in riot gear have emerged from the courthouse. Some are throwing projectiles at the officers. pic.twitter.com/mkRMuUx3TK Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) August 26, 2020 An armored vehicle moves to the outside of the iron fence in front of the County Court House as police fired teargas towards protesters after they failed to clear the area About three hours after declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, authorities had managed to push Tuesday night's crowd out of the downtown park, with demonstrators scattering down streets Kenosha County sheriff deputies eventually moved to the streets to clear a park of protesters after they ignored police orders to disperse Protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday began started off peacefully before descending into chaos as protesters defied curfew and targeted police Protesters burn a small American flag during a third night of unrest in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers, in Kenosha The legal team plans to file a civil lawsuit against the police department over the shooting. Police have not explained why Blake was shot. At a news conference earlier in the day, Blake's parents expressed anguish over the shooting while decrying two previous nights of looting, vandalism and arson that overshadowed peaceful street protests. 'They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter,' Jacobv Blake Sr said tearfully as he spoke to reporters alongside other family members and lawyers. 'But my son matters. He's a human being and he matters.' Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, said the damage in Kenosha does not reflect what her family wants and that, if her son could see it, he would be 'very unpleased.' After a night during which protests devolved into unrest, Gov. Evers had called for calm Tuesday saying: 'We cannot allow the cycle of systemic racism and injustice to continue.' 'We also cannot continue going down this path of damage and destruction.' The night before crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires in the southeastern Wisconsin city's downtown. On Monday, heavily armed residents were also seen standing guard outside buildings and local shops in case they were targeted by rioters. In footage shared online, a group of men were seen carrying rifles and wearing combat gear as they protect local shops. They denied they are part of a militia. Blake, who is a father of six, is now in a stable condition in hospital after undergoing surgery Jacob Blake was shot in the back by Wisconsin police on Sunday as his three young sons watched on. He is now paralyzed from the waist down after his body was riddled with bullets, his father says. Blake is pictured above being treated just moments after the shooting NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. (NYSE: RGT) (the "Fund") today announced that the Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") originally scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time has been postponed to Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time in order to solicit additional stockholder votes. As previously announced, due to the continuing public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the health and safety of the Fund's stockholders, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format and will be accessible solely by means of remote communication. The Board of Directors of the Fund (the "Board") has also set a new record date of September 8, 2020 for determining those stockholders of the Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting (or at any postponement or adjournment thereof). Only holders of record as of the close of business on that day will be entitled to vote at the Meeting (or at any postponement or adjournment thereof). The Board had originally fixed the close of business on May 1, 2020 as the record date. Any proxy received by the Fund from a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the record date originally set for the Meeting (i.e., May 1, 2020) and as of the close of business on the new record date set for the Meeting (i.e., September 8, 2020) shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the number of shares held by such stockholder as of the close of business on the new record date set for the Meeting (i.e., September 8, 2020) unless explicitly revoked, or a later dated proxy is submitted, by the applicable stockholder. Previously submitted proxies are revocable. The previous submission of proxies also will not affect your right to vote in the event that you attend the Meeting. Please note, however, that attendance alone at the Meeting without voting will not be sufficient to revoke a previously authorized proxy. The Fund will file a supplement (the "Supplement") to its definitive proxy statement, dated May 11, 2020 (as supplemented, the "Proxy Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Supplement will contain, among other things, a new notice with the updated special meeting and record dates. The Supplement will be distributed to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting. Stockholders are advised to read the Proxy Statement and the Supplement in full because they contain important information about the proposal. The Proxy Statement and the Supplement will be available on the Internet at http://www.ReadOurMaterials.com/rgt. The WHITE proxy card included with the proxy materials that were previously distributed to stockholders will not be updated to reflect the change in location, date, or time, but may continue to be used by stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting. The Proxy Statement, the Supplement, and other documents filed by the Fund will also be available for free on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Meeting is being held to approve a new investment advisory agreement with Royce Investment Partners ("Royce")1, the Fund's investment manager. The Board recommends stockholders vote "FOR" the approval of the new investment advisory agreement. Approval of the new agreement will enable Royce to continue to manage the Fund and execute the strategy that has delivered impressive relative performance for stockholders. The two leading proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. and Glass Lewis & Co., have also recognized the Fund's outperformance relative to its peers and the benefits of approving the new investment advisory agreement, and have therefore recommended stockholders vote "FOR" the approval of the new investment advisory agreement. Each vote is important, regardless of the number of shares owned, and not voting has the same effect as voting against the new investment advisory agreement. The Meeting will be held at the following website: http://www.meetingcenter.io/249551845. To participate in the Meeting, Fund stockholders must enter the following password: RGVT2020. Fund stockholders must also enter the control number that appears on the WHITE proxy card that they previously received from the Fund. The website for the Meeting will be accessible to stockholders beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 7, 2020. Stockholders are encouraged to access the website beginning at this time and prior to the start of the Meeting to allow ample time to log into the Meeting webcast and test the computer system, and, if planning to vote at the Meeting, to vote using the stockholder ballot accessible on the Meeting website. Such ballot will contain instructions on how to submit votes during the Meeting, including the email address to which the completed ballot and any legal proxies should be sent. For questions relating to participation at the Meeting by remote communication, please call Computershare Fund Services ("Computershare") toll-free at (800) 426-5523. Stockholders who hold shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, must register in advance to attend the Meeting. To register, stockholders must submit proof of their proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting their Fund holdings, along with their name and email address to Computershare. Stockholders may forward an email from their intermediary or send an image of their legal proxy to [email protected]. Requests for registration must be received no later than 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 5, 2020. Stockholders will receive a confirmation email from Computershare of the stockholder's registration and a control number that will allow the stockholder to vote at the Meeting. Stockholders are not required to attend the Meeting to vote on the proposal. Whether or not stockholders plan to attend the Meeting, the Fund urges stockholders to authorize a proxy to vote their shares in advance of the Meeting by one of the methods described in the Proxy Statement. Stockholders who need assistance voting may contact the Fund's proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, by calling (877) 825-8906 (toll-free in North America). Banks and brokers may call collect at (212) 750-5833. About Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. is a closed-end diversified management investment company whose shares of Common Stock are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The Fund invests in both U.S. and non-U.S. common stocks (generally market caps up to $10 billion). For further information on The Royce Funds, please visit our web site at: www.royceinvest.com . Forward Looking Statement This press release is not an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of the Fund. This letter may contain statements regarding plans and expectations for the future that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking and can sometimes be identified by the use of words such as "plan," "expect," "will," "should," "could," "anticipate," "intend," "project," "estimate," "guidance," "possible," "continue" and other similar terms and phrases, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of the Fund, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Additionally, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Additional information concerning such risks and uncertainties are or will be contained in the Fund's filings with the SEC, including the Fund's Annual Reports to Stockholders on Form N-CSR, for the year ended December 31, 2019, and subsequent filings with the SEC. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Fund does not undertake any responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement. Media Contact Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher Lucas Pers 212-355-4449 1 Royce & Associates, LP is a Delaware limited partnership that primarily conducts its business under the name Royce Investment Partners. SOURCE Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.royceinvest.com WELLINGTON: One of the heroes of the Christchurch terror attack confronted gunman Brenton Tarrant on the third day of sentencing hearings on Wednesday, telling him: You should thank God on that day I didnt catch you". You know this face. The one who chased you out," Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah told Tarrant, who is facing a life sentence without parole for his killing spree. The Australian father-of-four told the court how he offered himself as a target to protect worshippers inside a mosque where Tarrant had opened fire without warning. In all, 51 people were killed in the attack on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on March 15 last year. I ducked in between the cars. My two sons were looking from the side of the mosque. That coward kept shooting at me. They said Daddy please come inside. I told them you go inside I will be alright," Aziz told the court. I called that coward. You are looking for me, I am here! I didnt want him to go inside the mosque because we had 80 to 100 people praying at that time." When Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist, returned to his vehicle, Aziz picked up one of his discarded weapons and used it to smash the window of the car. When I smashed his side window I saw fear in his eyes for his own life. He looked at me, gave me the finger and told me I will fucking get all of you," said Aziz. Tarrant took off in his car but Aziz chased him down the road brandishing the discarded gun, which was out of ammunition. That coward saw me on his back mirror. He came to the other lane and drove through a red traffic light He just wanted to save his own life," said Aziz, who was born in Afghanistan. Some of Azizs children were with him at the mosque in the suburb of Linwood when Tarrant opened fire without warning in an attack he livestreamed on Facebook. Seven people were killed there but scores managed to escape thanks partly to Azizs actions. His children survived. You will never forget these two eyes you ran from," Aziz told Tarrant, who has sat impassively through hours of emotional testimony from survivors and victims families. Justice Cameron Mander told Aziz: Before you go, Ive seen the video and want to acknowledge your courage." The courtrooms public gallery erupted in applause at the judges comments. Mander is expected to hand down his sentence on Thursday. 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 Once we start doing that, once we start being more actively involved in these communities and not afraid to talk (to) communities across the state, then we can start changing that narrative that Republicans are, you know, a bunch of white racists, whatever which is not the case, said Solorio, who heads the Hispanic GOP Organization. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 17:40:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man wearing a face mask rides a bicycle in Manila, the Philippines on Aug. 26, 2020. The total COVID-19 cases in the Philippines have soared to 202,361 with 5,277 new cases reported on Wednesday, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) said. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The total COVID-19 cases in the Philippines have soared to 202,361 with 5,277 new cases reported on Wednesday, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) said. In a bulletin, the DOH said the number of recoveries surged to 133,460 after 1,131 more patients have survived the disease. The death toll also climbed to 3,137 after 99 more patients succumbed to the viral disease, the DOH added. Metro Manila topped the five regions or provinces with the highest number of daily confirmed cases reported on Wednesday which stood at 3,157, followed by Laguna province, south of Manila, 403; Negros Occidental province in the central Philippines, 304; Rizal province, east of Manila, 237; and Cavite province, south of Manila, 228. The DOH has said its 110 COVID-19 laboratories across the country have tested over 2.2 million Filipinos so far since the disease emerged in the country in January. "Our testing capacity has increased. From 1,282 actual tests conducted per day by the end of March to an average of more than 10,000 daily tests in early June and now to almost 30,000 tests conducted daily," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online briefing. As to the quarantine facilities, Vergeire said the Philippines now has 10,000 temporary treatment and monitoring facilities with more than 160,000-bed capacity. "Even though we have these numbers rising, we can see that our health system is managing, and we can see that the deaths are not increasing and it is at that steady-state, where we have 1.58 case fatality rate," she said. The government is indeed facing an uphill battle getting people, especially in overcrowded urban centers, to observe physical distancing guidelines. Although the country imposed one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the region when the global pandemic began in March, poor detection, isolation, and contact tracing have hampered government efforts to contain the virus. Nearly 114,000 working Filipinos, within the ages of 20 to 59, have contracted the virus, infecting the youth and elderly in their households, Vergeire previously said. Aside from the working people, she said returning overseas Filipino workers and the locally stranded individuals, or the Filipinos from the provinces that got stuck in Metro Manila when the coronavirus lockdown was imposed, are also drivers of infections. The spike of COVID-19 cases prompted the government to recalibrate its strategy, focusing on how to cut the virus transmission in densely populated communities. The DOH has detected over 1,300 clusters in communities, health facilities, jails and workplaces. "Our objective is to crush the clusters of COVID-19 cases in identified areas," Vergeire said, adding that the local government units and even individual families have a critical role in controlling the infections. She said the strategy focuses on prevention, detection, isolation and reintegration. "We'd like to go down to the lowest level of governance, the villages or communities," she added. Vergeire also called for vigilance, urging people to self-isolate if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms or come in contact with a suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 case. "The main thing right now is isolation. This is very important so that we can contain and avoid the transmission that is happening right now in the different communities of the country," Vergeire added. As an added measure to limit the spread of the virus, the government has required people to wear masks or face coverings and face shields when out in public. Experts at the University of the Philippines said the trend of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines is going down, noting the reproduction number which indicates the possible number of people being infected by a sick person has dropped between 1.1 to 1 in August from the 1.4 recorded in July. A reproduction number of below one means a flattened curve, the experts said. The DOH said the country's reproduction number was around 2 early on the outbreak. This means that each confirmed person with COVID-19 was infecting two other people. Officials at Georgetown Hill Early School at Greenwood said in a letter to parents Tuesday that while they could not identify the positive employee because of health privacy laws, it was best to assume that all staff and children have had some form of exposure. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted HSBC on Wednesday night, claiming the bank had maintained banking relationships with individuals facing American sanctions while cutting off access to Hong Kong executives of Next Digital, the publisher of Apple Daily. The top American diplomat said it was another example of the "coercive bullying tactics" used by the Chinese Communist Party against British companies. HSBC is based in London, but generates the vast amount of its profit in Asia. Referring to the company by its old name Next Media, Pompeo said HSBC had prevented executives of the publisher from accessing their credit cards and personal bank accounts. Media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, the founder of Apple Daily and Next Digital, was arrested this month on suspicion of violating the city's controversial national security law. "The bank is thus maintaining accounts for individuals who have been sanctioned for denying freedom for Hongkongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom," Pompeo said in a statement on Wednesday. The US issued sanctions against 11 Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor and Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-keung, on August 7 over the national security law. In his statement and a subsequent Tweet, Pompeo did not identify the individuals facing sanctions who continue to maintain banking relationships with HSBC. Pompeo issued the statement whilst on an overseas trip to the Middle East, tweeting on Wednesday night when he had just arrived in the United Arab Emirates. The State Department declined a request for additional comment on Thursday. Mark Simon, a senior executive at Next Digital, told Reuters that HSBC froze Lai's personal and private business accounts, as well as Simon's personal and credit card accounts. Next Digital's business accounts remains open, he said. It was unclear if the freezes were the result of orders by Hong Kong police following Lai's arrest. The Hong Kong police declined to comment when contacted on Wednesday night. Story continues Next Digital did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. A HSBC spokeswoman declined to comment on Thursday, saying the bank does not discuss individual clients. - Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 26, 2020 Tang, the police chief, moved his mortgage on a flat in Pok Fu Lam from HSBC to Bank of China (Hong Kong) three days before the sanctions were announced. Lam said she was having difficulty using her credit cards, an inconvenience she described as "meaningless" in an interview with Chinese state television last week. American sanctions can make day-to-day life more difficult for so-called specially designated nationals and their families, as American banks and other lenders who want to continue to access the US financial system close bank accounts and cancel credit cards. Banks operating in Hong Kong are trying to strike a delicate balance as they find themselves caught in the middle of rising tensions between the world's two biggest economies. The recently passed Hong Kong Autonomy Act allows US officials to issue sanctions against foreign banks and their executives if they engage in "significant transactions" with individuals who have helped end the city's "high degree of autonomy" from mainland China. The law did not specify what constitutes a significant transaction. At the same time, the national security law prohibits the imposition of sanctions, blockades or other hostile actions against Hong Kong or the mainland. Striking the right balance has been particularly difficult for HSBC, which is making a big bet on future growth in China and in Hong Kong in chief executive Noel Quinn's massive restructuring plan. The bank took to social media in July to defend its actions in a US investigation into Huawei Technologies and denied that it framed the Chinese telecommunication company, which is facing US criminal charges. Some Chinese media suggested the bank's mainland business was under threat as a result. At the same time, the bank drew the ire of politicians in the US and the United Kingdom, including Pompeo's, over its support for the national security law after months of anti-government protests weighed on the city's economy. "Free nations must ensure that corporate interests are not suborned by the CCP to aid its political repression," Pompeo said on Wednesday. "We stand ready to help the British government and its companies resist CCP bullying and stand for freedom." 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. File photo shows a towering skyline of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, a landmark in the country's reform and opening up drive, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited the city twice after assuming the post of the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in 2012. The following are some highlights of Xi's quotes on reform and opening up during his two Shenzhen trips -- in December 2012 and October 2018 respectively. -- Reform and opening up is the source of vitality in the development of modern China, "a magic tool" for the Party and the Chinese people to use to keep pace with the times and the only route that must be taken to adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. -- There are no bounds to practice and development, to the emancipation of people's minds, or to reform and opening up. -- We should adhere to the right direction of reform and opening up, and have the courage to crack the "hard nuts," navigate the uncharted waters, and break through barriers to reform presented by ideological differences and vested interests. -- The first stop of my investigation trip following the 18th CPC National Congress was Shenzhen. I visit Shenzhen again at the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up to tell the world that China will not stop its pursuit of reform and opening up - not for one moment. China will certainly deliver a bigger miracle that draws worldwide attention. -- We should stay true to our founding mission of reform and opening up, draw on successful experiences in the past 40 years and raise the quality and level of reform and opening up. -- People's happiness should be the criteria for evaluating the result of reform. The fruits of reform and opening up should benefit the general public. -- Reform and opening up has been proved by practice the right path which we must consistently, unswervingly and unremittingly follow. Representative Image The United States has started an investigation of the role of Pakistanis in the Islamic State movement (ISIS) in Syria. The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have shared a list of people who are in their custody for fighting for the Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). It consists of the names of 29 Pakistanis among others, according to a Hindustan Times report. The list includes four Pakistanis who had acquired citizenship of another country such as Turkey and Sudan, said the report citing counter-terror officials in Delhi and Washington. Out of the 29 captured ISIS fighters, nine are women, it said. Now the American security forces are interrogating these Pakistani nationals, said the report. In the probe, the forces are trying to take out details from them including who sent them to fight for IS in Syria and their past affiliations with terrorist groups like the Al-Qaida or any other pan-Islamic group based in Pakistan, a counter-terror official reportedly said. This has brought additional trouble for Pakistan while it is making efforts to exit out of the FATF Grey List. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) put Pakistan on the grey list in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action by the end of 2019, but the deadline was extended later due to COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it gives weight to the Indian claim that Islamabad is the epicentre of terrorism. On August 24, India hit out at Pakistan for its litany of lies at the United Nations after Islamabad's UN envoy claimed to have given a statement in a Security Council meeting not open to non-Council members and said that the biggest sponsor of cross-border terrorism against it now tries to masquerade" itself as a victim of terror. INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carrier today announced that California's Alvord Unified School District will install 1,500 Carrier OptiClean 1,500 cfm Dual-Mode Air Scrubber & Negative Air Machines to purify the air in classrooms across its 23 schools. To help ensure the health and safety of students, teachers and staff as they return to campuses in Riverside County, California, the school district worked with Climatec, LLC, a building solutions consultant, to select OptiClean as the preferred solution to enhance indoor air quality (IAQ) and help ensure a healthy indoor environment for its nearly 20,000 students and staff. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. Related Documents View PDF Californias Alvord Unified School District will install 1,500 Carrier OptiClean 1,500 cfm Dual-Mode Air Scrubber & Negative Air Machines to purify the air in classrooms across its 23 schools. "Many schools and school districts are facing uncertainty with how to welcome back students, teachers and staff safely," said Justin Keppy, President, NA Residential & Light Commercial, Carrier. "We're pleased to work with the Alvord Unified School District and provide a piece of the puzzle to enhance indoor air quality and help slow the spread of COVID-19. Our OptiClean units can help reduce contaminants like the novel coronavirus from classroom air, and, when coupled with mitigation best practices such as frequent hand washing, social distancing, use of face coverings and more, reduce risks to students, teachers and school staff." The Carrier OptiClean units, which are available in 500 and 1500 cfm models, plug into a standard wall outlet and use a 99.97% efficient, long-life HEPA filter to remove contaminants as small as 0.3 microns and discharge cleaner air back into the room. Notably, OptiClean units exceed the minimum standard of two air changes per hour for portable electric HEPA machines recommended by ASHRAE in school reopenings.* "The safety and welfare of our students and staff is our primary concern as we prepare our facilities for their return," said Kevin Emenaker, executive director, Administrative Services, Alvord Unified School District. "We looked at a number of indoor air quality solutions and we felt that the OptiClean product was best-suited for our needs. Based on the features and benefits offered by the OptiClean unit, we feel that these will be effective in providing peace of mind to our students, staff and their parents." OptiClean units are portable, taking only about three-square feet of floor space when oriented vertically, and can also be operated horizontally, allowing for convenient, unobstructed placement in classrooms, cafeterias, libraries or gymnasiums. One 500-cfm unit can adequately clean the air in a typical classroom; the new 1500-cfm unit is designed for larger spaces. In both cases, multiple units can be used for more expansive spaces. "OptiClean units are highly effective against contaminants," said Tyler Girtman, regional manager, Climatec, LLC. "Plus, the ease-of-use and portability allows them to quickly and efficiently be deployed in a number of spatial configurations as the needs arise." OptiClean is one of a number of solutions offered through Carrier's Healthy Buildings Program that can aid school districts in enhancing indoor air quality. Other product features and upgrades include filters with high MERV ratings; UV lights; Agion anti-microbial coating, which can be applied to protect against bacterial growth; economizers; and a Humidi-MiZer dehumidification system. For more on Carrier's portfolio of Healthy Building solutions, visit corporate.carrier.com/healthybuildings. About Carrier Founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, Carrier is a world leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. Carrier experts provide sustainable solutions, integrating energy-efficient products, building controls and energy services for residential, commercial, retail, transport and food service customers. Carrier is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. For more information, visit carrier.com or follow @Carrier on Twitter. *When properly specified. ASHRAE is a registered service mark of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. SOURCE Carrier Related Links www.corporate.carrier.com Representative Image The Indian stock market is trading flat with Sensex down 16.26 points or 0.04 percent at 38827.62, and the Nifty gained 9.20 points or 0.08 percent at 11481.50. Among the sectors, the auto index gained over a percent led largely by 2-wheeler stocks. Two-wheeler manufacturers are in focus after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hinted at a goods and services tax (GST) rate revision for the sector. Two-wheelers are neither a luxury nor sin goods and so merit a GST rate revision, Sitharaman said at an industry interaction on August 24. Share price of Hero MotoCorp jumped over 4 percent hitting new 52-week high of Rs 3124.95 per share on BSE. It also witnessed spurt in volume by more than 1.20 times and was trading with volumes of 74,539 shares, compared to its five day average of 45,023 shares, an increase of 65.56 percent. The other gainers included Baja Auto which added 2 percent followed by TVS Motor Company, Atul Auto and Scooters India. Tata Motors jumped 5 percent followed by Mahindra & Mahindra, Eicher Motors and Ashok Leyland are the other stocks which gained in the afternoon session. Share price of Tata Motors have risen for the second consequtive day after N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of the Tata Group, said the company had a net automotive debt of Rs 48,000 crore and was targeting to reduce it to near-zero levels in three years, CNBC-TV18 reported. Technical Analyst Mitessh Thakkar of mitesshthakkar.com suggests a buy on Tata Motors with a stop loss of Rs 122, target at Rs 135. Shitij Gandhi, Senior Technical Analyst at SMC Global Securities has a buy on Atul Auto with target of Rs 211 per share. At the current juncture, the stock has given a consolidation breakout with positive divergences on the secondary oscillators along with a rise in price and volume, he said. According to Jyoti Roy, DVP- Equity Strategy, Angel Broking, there is an increasing likelihood that the GST council may take up the issues of cutting GST rate on two wheelers from 28 percent. The finance minister in a CII meeting acknowledged the fact that two wheelers is neither a sin good nor a luxury good. Given that the 28 percent GST bracket has specifically been created for luxury and sin goods there is likelihood that the Government may take up the issue in the next GST council meeting which will have to take the decision. : The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Moving forward, more and more businesses will begin to shift from user demographics to individually-personalized experiences. Those that do so now will be ahead of the curve, and those that ignore this trend will inevitably be left behind. Daniel Page, Director of Business Development at SEO-focused web host ASEOHosting (https://www.aseohosting.com/), announced that personalization is essential across the customer journey, influencing brand awareness, brand loyalty, and lead generation. "The advent of personalization has been gradual," said Page. "It's occurred in small increments across multiple channels and mediums. It's now become ubiquitous, almost without any of us noticing." According to Page, prior to social media and the Internet, brands communicated with their audience in ways that were largely static and passive. Television, radio, and print ads offered little in the way of interaction, and as a result, required a specific kind of messaging. With the rise to prominence of platforms such as Facebook, consumers have begun to demand an approach to marketing, branding, and service that focuses more on their journey than it does a brand itself. According to a 2018 survey by Accenture, 91 percent of consumers are likelier to shop with brands that provide relevant, curated offers and recommendations. A similar survey by data-driven marketing firm Epsilon indicated that 80 percent of consumers are more inclined to purchase from a brand that offers a personal experience. Finally, marketing personalization platform SmarterHQ found that 72 percent of consumers only engage with marketing messages tailored to their specific interests. "Today's brands are expected to do more than shout sales pitches at their audience," Page explained. "They're expected to forge a personal connection. To remember who the customer is, what they like, what they think, what they want, and adjust their approach based on that." "This is no easy task," Page continued. "It's one thing to divide your audience into demographics and personas based on shared traits, something which businesses should already be doing. The level of personalization required in the modern business landscape requires something deeper, an experience unique to each customer based on information they provide you." To achieve a personalized, unified experience across all channels and at all stages of the customer journey, Page recommends businesses look into specialized customer relationship management platforms. Backed by machine learning, these platforms are capable of gathering, parsing, and analyzing audience information in real time. This, in turn, makes it easier for brands to curate product recommendations, content, and marketing messages to each individual lead. "Especially now, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, people are tired of traditional sales tactics," said Page. "They now seek brands that convey empathy and understanding. Businesses that transform their entire ecosystem into a seamless journey for audiences, adjusting content based on everything from location to previous purchases to interests to the time of day." "This is something we're already seeing from major brands like Amazon and Coca-Cola," Page concluded. "Moving forward, more and more businesses will begin to shift from user demographics to individually-personalized experiences. Those that do so now will be ahead of the curve, and those that ignore this trend will inevitably be left behind." About ASEOHosting: Launched in 2002, ASEOHosting is a leader in providing SEO Hosting, including Shared SEO Hosting, Dedicated SEO Hosting, US Dedicated SEO Servers, and EU Dedicated SEO Servers. Based in Orlando, FL, and Detroit, MI, ASEOHosting has established one of the webs premier solutions for reseller web hosting, multiple IP hosting, dedicated servers, and VPS hosting. For more information, visit https://www.aseohosting.com. By Associated Press CANBERRA: A senior Chinese diplomat on Wednesday likened Australia's call for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic to the betrayal of Roman dictator Julius Caesar in a Shakespearean tragedy for the benefit of the United States. Wang Xining, the Chinese Embassy in Australia's deputy head of mission and its second-in-charge, spoke at the National Press Club about Australia's call for an independent inquiry into the origins of and international responses to the pandemic. The call has been blamed for a major deterioration in bilateral relations that has resulted in the Chinese government refusing to take phone calls from Australian ministers and disruptions to Australian exports including beef. The Australian call came "when the United States government was trying all out to blame China for their failure to control the spread of the disease and shirk responsibility," Wang said. In describing Australia's action, Wang quoted the play "Julius Caesar" from a scene in which the dictator realizes that his friend Marcus Junius Brutus is among the assassins who are about to knife him. "It is approximately identical to Julius Caesar in his final day when he saw Brutus approaching him: Et tu, Brute?," Wang said, using a Latin phrase meaning "And you, Brutus?" The World Health Assembly, the governing structure of the World Health Organization, has since endorsed a global investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak. Wang said that probe had an "entirely different origin" from the Australian proposal. China has maintained ministerial contacts with the United States as well as governments of other countries that supported Australia's pandemic stance, including Japan, Germany and France. Wang denied China was singling out Australia for special treatment by freezing out ministers to send a message to other middle-powers not to speak out. "I think it's a very lopsided interpretation of what happened between us," Wang told reporters. He declined to say whether he thought Chinese-Australian relations would improve after the U.S. presidential election, saying Chinese comment on another country's election would equate to interference in that nation's internal affairs. China respects Australia's strategy alliance with the United States, Wang said. "To have an ally is not a problem," he said. "The problem is whether you target a third party with the strength of an alliance. If we find any tendency to use the strength of an alliance to strike China down, or press China down, what currently some of the US politicians are doing, then we will express clearly our opposition and our position,"he added. Jonathan Harris, CEO of Scout Realty headquartered in Nashville, TN, has been accepted into Forbes Real Estate Council, an invitation-only community for executives in the real estate industry. Jonathan Harris 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 Jonathan 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, Jonathan 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. Jonathan 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, Jonathan Harris 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. Im excited to join the Forbes Council and add Nashvilles voice to the national conversation about real estate, Harris said. 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. For further information contact: Lisa Kirk office@scoutrealty.com ScoutRealty.com 615.868.9000 Have you ever woken up from a dream that made absolutely no sense and wondered what it was all about? A team of researchers claim the dream you've experienced is just a continuation of what is happening in your every day life - with no deeper or hidden meaning. Experts from the Nokia Bell Labs in Cambridge created a Natural Language Processing technique that can automatically analyse dreams and quantify them. According to what sleep scientists call the 'continuity hypothesis,' our dreams reflect what we experience in our real lives and the new tool proves the theory. Because our dreams reflect every day life, the authors say it could be possible to build a tool that could help in mental health diagnosis and treatment. Have you ever woken up from a dream that made absolutely no sense and wondered what it was all about? Left baffled over whether there is a deeper meaning? Stock image The tool looked at the dreams of 20,000 people including a war veteran. The tool categorised the dream and linked it to everyday life Using the new 'Dreamcatcher' tool, the team had it study over 20,000 dream reports and found that what we dream is a continuation of what happens in everyday life. Among the people whose dreams the tool analysed were a female artist, blind dreamers, a schoolgirl, a war veteran and a cross-dressing businessman. SNAKES, SEX AND A SWORD: DREAM TEXT EXAMPLES Researchers analised more than 20,000 examples of dream text. These are a few examples: Roland hit the monster with his sword. The monster agonized and died. I am in hand to hand combat with a man of about fifty. With a sinister leer he taunts me. As my knife becomes a fork, I spear him in the thorat, causing him a mortal wound. His eyes bulge forward; the gushing blood mixes with his last gurgling breath. Bonnie and I are in a room and there is a rattle snake I am afraid of it. Bonnie is unconcerned and picks it up by the tail and I cry out in fear. She laughs at me as it wriggles around her and then nearly biting me. I move away, angry at her for putting me in this danger. I dreamed that I had sex with Doug. We were in this huge, hot room, and then we just started stripping. He caressed me and told me it was the 4th happiest moment in his life. Then the rest of the school began to walk in and we started getting dressed really quickly. Advertisement They found a way to automatically place dreams on a scale that is commonly used by sleep experts called the Hall and Van de Castle system. During the second century AD, Artemidorus Daldianus produced a five-volume work entitled 'The Interpretation of Dreams'. In the 1890s, Sigmund Freud associated specific meanings to characters, objects, animals, and scenarios that frequently appeared in dreams. More recently, sleep scientists have developed increasingly sophisticated ways of coding dreams - with more than 150 dream rating and content analysis scales available today including the best rated 'Hall and Van de Castle' system. This coding system sees a dream as a cast of characters, a plot in which characters interact with each other and a process reflecting different active states. The problem is that this is an entirely manual process that takes a long time and limits the number of dreams that can be coded. The new tool developed by the Cambridge team set out to resolve that problem by finding a way to process the language describing dreams automatically. From each dream report, the tool extracted nouns to identify people, animals, and fictional characters, and verbs to classify interactions in terms of friendly interactions or acts of aggression. Among the text studied by the artificial intelligence algorithm were mentions of a monster with a sword, having sex in a huge hot room and wiggling snakes. The results suggest it is possible to build future technologies that bridge the current yawning gap between real life and dreaming - to quantify the 'sleeping mind'. To try and tackle the problem of manual dream processing experts have been mining manual reports with algorithms focusing on emotions. In so doing, researchers have not tackled two main technical challenges, according to the team behind the new dream analysis tool. That is how to mine aspects of dream reports that research has found important, such as characters and interactions; and how to do so in a principled way grounded in the literature. 'To tackle these challenges, we designed a tool that automatically scores dream reports by operationalising the widely used dream analysis scale by Hall and Van de Castle,' the team wrote. 'We validated the tools effectiveness on hand-annotated dream reports and tested what sleep scientists call the continuity hypothesis at this unprecedented scale.' In the therapeutic context, the main goal of dream analysis is to help people address their real-life problems and the team say their tool can be used to help people identify latent emotional states, and to help people cope with significant life events. A female artist was among those whose dreams were analysed by the tool. Her sleeping mind focused on aesthetic concepts similar to those in her everyday life A cross-dressing businessman called Chris dreamed of self-awareness, something he thought about while awake. Researchers say the work helps link the sleep and wake thought process 'For those suffering from nightmares, interpreting dreams and ultimately influencing them are ways of partly treat their condition,' the authors explained. As much as in their real lives, in their dreams, women tended to be friendlier and less aggressive than men, the team discovered. All these results support the idea that there is indeed continuity between what individual experience in real life and what they dream. Interestingly, they found that blind people - who were expecting to dream in ways similar to the general public - tended to instead dream imaginary characters. 'In the future, we will explore which research communities and practitioners could benefit from our dream scoring tool,' the authors said. 'We will also integrate our tool with a mobile app with which users can record their dreams in a convenient way.' The findings have been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Rating Action: Moody's downgrades Lehighton Area School District's (PA) issuer and GOLT ratings to Baa1; Outlook is negative Global Credit Research - 25 Aug 2020 New York, August 25, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Lehighton Area School District, PA's issuer and general obligation limited tax (GOLT) ratings to Baa1 from A3, affecting $44.1 million in rated debt outstanding. The outlook is negative. The issuer rating represents Moody's assessment of hypothetical debt of the district supported by a general obligation unlimited (GOULT) pledge. There is no debt associated with this rating. The pledge supporting the district's rated debt is limited tax based on the limited ability of Pennsylvania school districts to increase their property tax levy above a preset index. RATINGS RATIONALE The downgrade of the issuer and GOLT ratings to Baa1 reflects the district's ongoing inability to achieve structural balance, as well as its modestly sized taxable base and elevated debt burden. While the district intends to achieve structural balance in fiscal 2021, failure to do so could result in further downward pressure. The absence of distinction between the issuer and GOLT ratings reflect Pennsylvania school districts' ability to apply for exceptions to the cap on property tax increases in order to cover debt service, the Commonwealth's history of granting such exceptions, and the district's full faith and credit pledge supporting all general obligation debt. Governance considerations are material to the credit rating. The district recently brought on a new Business Manager, whose goal was to restore fund balance to a more satisfactory position. Prior to her arrival, the district struggled to achieve structurally balanced operations and consistently inadequately budgeted for instruction costs. While her tenure has been modestly beneficial for the district's financial position, she is expected to depart in September of 2020, which adds a degree of uncertainty with respect to the ongoing attempts to restore the district's reserves. Story continues We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. The coronavirus crisis is not a key driver for this rating action. We do not see any material immediate credit risks for Lehighton Area School District. However, the situation surrounding coronavirus is rapidly evolving and the longer term impact will depend on both the severity and duration of the crisis. If our view of the credit quality of Lehighton Area School District changes, we will update the rating and/or outlook at that time. RATING OUTLOOK The negative outlook reflects Moody's expectations that the district will be hard pressed to restore financial strength in the near to medium term. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OF THE RATINGS - Material and sustained improvement in reserves and liquidity - Significant tax base expansion - Substantial debt burden reduction FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS - Further declines in reserves and liquidity - Deterioration of tax base and wealth levels - Significant increase in leverage LEGAL SECURITY The issuer rating is the district's implied general obligation unlimited tax credit strength; there is no debt associated with this security. All of the district's outstanding rated debt is secured by its GOLT pledge, which is subject to the limits of Pennsylvania's Act 1. PROFILE The Lehighton Area School District is located in southern Carbon County, PA, approximately 30 miles northwest of Allentown (A3 stable). The district serves 2,312 K-12 students through one elementary center, one middle school, and one high school. METHODOLOGY The principal methodology used in these ratings was US Local Government General Obligation Debt published in July 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBM_1230443. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology. REGULATORY DISCLOSURES For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004 For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. 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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. 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. Gregory Sobel Lead Analyst Regional PFG Northeast Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich Street New York 10007 US JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Douglas Goldmacher Additional Contact Regional PFG Northeast 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 2020 Moody's Corporation, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Moody's Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved. CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. 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The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama has disclosed that her ministry has completed the integration of the District Development Facility with the District Assembly Common Fund Responsive Factor Grant. Speaking during her turn at the Meet the Press series at the Ministry of Information on Wednesday, Hajia Alima indicated that a new assessment tool, known as the District Assembly Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT), has replaced the Functional Organizational Assessment Tool (FOAT). DPAT assesses Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) compliance on existing Government of Ghana Legal, Regulatory and Policy Frameworks and implementation of annual work plans and budget. According to the minister, her outfit has completed the assessment of 216 MMDAs across the country using the DPAT for FY2016, FY2017, and 254 MMDAs for FY2018. Also, the total amount of GHS 503,627,551.12 has been mobilized and transferred to the MMDAs for implementation of activities in their MTDPs between 2017 and 2020 under the FOAT/DPAT. This year, we have transferred an amount of GHS 185,931,850.00 to successful MMDAs as their Investment Grant allocation for DPAT II (2017) Assessment, she emphasized. The minister also took the time to brief journalists about the Business Enabling Environment Project (BEEP) which her ministry has rolled out. She said the BEEP streamlines and simplifies the processes for obtaining business operating and building development permits at the sub-national Level. The Construction Permit reforms are currently being implemented in 11 MMDAs across the country comprising 6 Metropolitan and 5 Municipal Assemblies. The Automated Permit Processing System (PPS) was also developed and rolled out fully in 2 out of the 11 MMDAs. Hajia Alima added that the PPS which was virtually launched on 19th May 2020 with a citizens portal for convenient permit application submission by developers is being deployed in Tema West, Adenta, Ablekuma West, Krowor and Ayawaso West Municipal Assemblies. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Veteran Congress leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and M Veerappa Moily, who are among the 23 signatories to a letter to interim party chief Sonia Gandhi seeking an overhaul of the party, have expressed their satisfaction over her decision to stay on. Hooda, a former Haryana chief minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, and other Congress lawmakers passed a vote of thanks to Sonia for agreeing to lead the party. The vote of thanks was passed in a special Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting ahead of the monsoon session of the state assembly that started from Wednesday. Sonia Gandhi is the most accepted leader of the Congress. The decision would strengthen the party and has filled party workers with enthusiasm and lifted the morale of all those who are fighting for the party, the statement read. M Veerappa Moily, a former Union minister, who is also one of the signatories to the letter that was later leaked to the media sparking a row, said they were sorry if their action had hurt Sonias feelings. If we have hurt her feelings, we are sorry for it, Moily said. He asserted that the signatories never questioned the Gandhi familys leadership. However, he defended his action as a signatory to the letter and contended that there is a need to rejuvenate and restructure the party. Moily also disapproved of the media leak of the letter and called for an internal party probe to find out who were behind it and wanted them to be punished. Soniaji is like a mother to the party. There is no question of any intention to hurt her feelings. If we have hurt her feelings, then we are sorry for it, he said. Refusing to comment on the developments in his former party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said it was the Congresss internal matter. I would not like to comment on it. Now, I am a BJP worker and commenting on internal affairs of any other political party would not be appropriate, Scindia told media persons in Nagpur after visiting the residence of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) founder KB Hedgewar. In Kochi, Congress leader PC Chacko expressed discontentment over the letter but insisted that there is adhocism in the party. He said despite being a permanent member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) the highest decision-making body of the 134-year-old party -- he was not invited for the crucial meeting on Monday. However, according to party functionaries he had ceased to be a CWC member after his removal as the Delhi in-charge following the Congresss debacle in the last years assembly polls, where it had drawn a blank. Chacko said that the leaders should have avoided writing a letter and releasing it to the media before the CWC meeting. I am not against the spirit of the letter. But I am against the way they wrote a letter and released it to the media a day ahead of the CWC meet. They were all in Delhi, and only a phone call away for a meeting. I sent a message to Soniaji on Monday... there is a lot of adhocism prevailing in the party, Chacko told ANI. I feel certain things need to be corrected in the leadershipall over India, the Congress has its footprint. All regional and smaller parties want the Congress leadership to call and discuss issues with them. This is what they expect from the Congress, but, unfortunately, this is not happening. They are disappointed with the party, he added. Congress leader Anil Shastri said most of the problems within the party could be resolved if the party top brass is accessible. He also demanded that Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra should be considered for the Congress presidents post. There are certain things that are lacking in the Congress leadership. Significantly, meetings are not held between party leaders. For instance, if a leader from a different state comes to Delhi, its not easy for him to meet other leaders in the national capital, Shastri told ANI. If Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi start meeting party leaders, then, I think, 50% of all the problems will be solved, he said. Shastri maintained that the Congress president should only be from the Gandhi family. SYDNEY, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Boutique investment banking & strategy consulting firm LCC Asia Pacific has released a whitepaper on the emerging use of artificial intelligence & machine learning technology in the mineral processing sector. The white paper, which includes details on operational areas of mineral processing that will become more of a focus for ML in the coming years, is the first in a series of research documents that focuses on the changing nature of the Mining Sector due to technology. "With the amount of start up capital available to pursue operational improvement through technology, the timing has never been better for young mining engineers and technologists to turn their minds to how AI and ML can be applied to improve the performance of the mineral processing circuit," Nicholas Assef, LCC Asia Pacific's Founder & Principal said. One area where Mining Companies and Mining Services Providers alike have interest is in the ability to predict with far greater certainty the performance of both fixed plant and mobile plant on mine site operations. Historically this has been both a labour intensive exercise and one that is not overly precise. That lack of precision resulting from a variety of causes including changing environmental conditions, human error, different engineering skill sets from service providers, incompatible OEM equipment and ore characteristics that can differ from site to site. Industry 1.0 technology generally involved a simple physical observation of a sensor that was embedded in a piece of equipment (typically some form of wear plate) and gradually that sensor wore out similar to the brake pad in a car and a warning light. Connection options to read data were also limited. The Industry 2.0 is going far beyond that and applying large data sets to allow early warning signs (through pattern recognition) to be identified much earlier by purpose designed algorithms. Through machine learning multiple streams of data can be processed simultaneously and via the algorithm previously unseen patterns can be observed. This in turn delivers a number of strategic advantages including a more precise: alert system that reduces the number of breakages / unplanned shutdowns ability to holistically plan maintenance and operational activities on the entire mine site through a network of interconnected AI applications "Predictive analytics requires precise measurement of 'change' in operational patterns, which in turn requires new thinking for integrated Data Management Systems that are robust enough to both collect and analyse data, talk to different networks and importantly do all this in some of the planet's harshest environments," Nicholas Assef continued. "Leaving all this science to one side, implementing new technologies is already proving to drive productivity which in turn results in a larger bottom line profit," Nicholas Assef concluded. The LCC Asia Pacific white paper on the topic can be accessed here. To learn more on LCC Asia Pacific visit here: www.lccasiapacific.com About LCC Asia Pacific Founded in 2003, LCC Asia Pacific is an award winning specialist investment banking and strategic management consulting Firm that specialises in the Mining Services, Engineering, Infrastructure Services and METS Sector - including adoption of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. www.lccasiapacific.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12835639 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE LCC ASIA PACIFIC PTY LIMITED The World Health Organisation today August 25, declared Africa free of the wild poliovirus. The body declared the continent free of the virus after no case of the viral disease was recorded since 2016. In a statement jointly signed by WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; and President of Rotary International, Holger Knaack, the international body described the feat as one of the greatest achievements in public health history. The statement reads in part; Delivering polio vaccines to every child in the African region and wiping out the wild virus is no small feat and the human resources, skills, and experience gained in the process leaves behind a legacy in how to tackle diseases and reach the poorest and most marginalized communities with life-saving services. Leadership from all levels of government across party lines, a historic public-private partnership that raised billions, millions of health workers reaching children across the region from conflict zones to remote areas only accessible by motorbike or helicopter and a culture of continual improvement were all critical to overcoming challenges and bottlenecks. As countries work to suppress COVID-19, many of the same basic traditional public health methods used in polio eradication, including contact tracing and surveillance, are key to breaking the chains of transmission and saving lives and livelihoods from the first coronavirus pandemic in human history. As recently as 2012 half of all globally recorded cases of wild poliovirus were in Nigeria, the final country in the region to rid the virus from its borders. However, as with the COVID-19 pandemic, the lesson is that its never too late to turn a disease outbreak around. Through hard work, new innovations and ensuring that no child was missed, Nigeria and the entire African region have now defeated polio. Across the region, health workers go village-to-village and door-to-door vaccinating children multiple times and offering health advice and support to the community. Its a remarkable effort started by Rotary International, which in the 1980s when there were hundreds of thousands of cases every year made a global call for eradication. While thanking and congratulating governments, health workers, civil society and all groups that have been part of this titanic struggle; it is important to use the momentum to invest further in health systems, as well as the health worker force, to protect people from this pandemic, and prepare them for future disease outbreaks. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The popular, long-time pastor of a church in Martinsville that has been riddled by an outbreak of COVID-19 has died apparently because of that disease. Mark Price, 62, pastor of the Greater New Bethel Holiness Church, at 929 Bethel Lane in Martinsville, died at his home on Bethel Lane on Tuesday. The Martinsville Health Department has added Prices death as one of five COVID-19-related deaths in the city and classifies that cause as probable. Right now we dont know for sure, West Piedmont Health District Public Information Officer Nancy Bell said. We havent received the official cause of death. Bell did confirm there was an outbreak of the coronavirus at New Bethel Holiness Church, but she said she did not know the extent of that outbreak. Members have gotten sick, and people were attending without proper precautions masks and social distancing, Bell said. Lamont Devins, a member of the church, said the situation at New Bethel is overwhelming and that the church has been closed since Aug. 5. Its basically chaos, Devins said. There have been multiple tests and a lot of positives, and now were coping with the death [of the pastor]. Martinsville Vice-Mayor Chad Martin told U.S. Sen. Mark Warner at an event Tuesday at New College Institute that a church had more than 59 members to test positive for the coronavirus, and 15 of them were hospitalized. After a City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Martin confirmed he was speaking about New Bethel Holiness Church. He said Wednesday morning that the outbreak and Prices death is more than upsetting. Our citizens need to understand the importance of socially distancing and how it affects the community at large, Martin said. This is not about politics. ... This is about people coming to the realization that this is real, and until we take it seriously, we will not come out of this situation. Lives are being lost which can be preventable if we understand that each of us has a responsibility to listen and follow guidelines for the safety of the community. Bell said the health department had not enforced the states emergency order rules upon local churches. Its safe to say we are having multiple, faith-related, social-gathering problems, including weddings and funerals, Bell said. Price was a familiar face on the StarNews television station, where his weekly recorded service has been airing for more than 25 years. Its been three weeks since they added a new program, StarNews owner Charles Roark said. Mark was always a breath of fresh air when he came in and paid his bill. Martin asked the community to keep the church family and Prices family in their prayers. I am in a loss of words from grief and frustration that we have yet to understand the severity of this pandemic, he said. Price was the second resident of Martinsville to die in as many days and brings to five the number of residents who have died in the city. There now have been 30 in the West Piedmont Health District, which also includes Henry, Patrick and Franklin counties. The Virginia Department of Health on Wednesday morning reported 34 new cases in the district, with 25 of them in Henry County, and seven new hospitalizations six of those in the county. Martinsville and Patrick County each had four new cases, and the city had one new hospitalization. Franklin County had one new case. Since March Henry County has had 778 cases, with 86 hospitalizations and 14 deaths. Martinsville has had 293 cases, with 45 hospitalizations and five deaths. Patrick County has had 209 cases, with 44 hospitalizations and 10 deaths. Franklin County has had 204 cases, with eight hospitalizations and one death. Statewide VDH reports 115,458 cases and 2,515 deaths statewide an increase of 21 since Tuesday. Some 9,326 people have been hospitalized. Martinsville real estate agent Rives Coleman said the reality of COVID-19 has arrived with Prices passing. This has been a difficult enough of a year for all of us personally, Coleman said. Pastor Mark Price was a true friend and a man of God. I always loved talking to Mark and always learned from him and came away from conversations with him inspired to be a better person. Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 236. Follow him @billdwyatt CLARIFICATION: The word "Greater" was added to the name of the church to correspond with how it is listed in the obituary. Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 236. Follow him @billdwyatt Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Recent revelations in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case has alleged that Rhea Chakraborty has been involved in usage and dealing of drugs. Earlier this week, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials reportedly shared details about their findings in the money laundering case against the actress and her family with the CBI. The findings also included two new charges, 'usage and dealing of drugs'. Rhea's lawyer revealed in a statement that she "never consumed drugs in her life." Talking about allegations against Rhea claiming that she was in touch with drug dealers, the lawyer added, "Rhea Chakraborty has never consumed drugs in her lifetime ever. She's ready for a blood test any time." The allegations have been linked to WhatsApp chats reportedly recovered from her phone by the ED officials, which have now been shared with the CBI. According to a report in NDTV, sources have revealed that the alleged WhatsApp chat about procuring drugs is between Rhea and a number which has been saved as 'Miranda Sushi' on her phone. Reportedly, Sushi was Sushant's nickname, meanwhile, Miranda apparently refers to Samuel Miranda, the late actor's manager. The CBI team began a fresh probe in the Bollywood actor's death case. They have already recreated the crime scene in the presence of Sushant's friend Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj and house help Deepesh Sawant, who were reportedly present in the house on June 14, the day when Sushant passed way. Samuel Miranda was questioned by the CBI on Tuesday and Rhea is likely to be summoned soon. Kubbra Sait Lashes Out At Twitter User Who Called Rhea Chakraborty 'Sex Bait To Trap Rich Men' Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister Shocked By Drug Angle In His Death Case; Demands Immediate CBI Action Senate Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a plan to tackle climate change that calls for the US government to spend more than $400 billion a year to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan is the latest in a series of blueprints from Democrats detailing how the United States can combat global warming. None are likely to proceed in the current Republican-controlled Senate but could get traction if the chamber flips to Democratic control after November's election. "When Democrats retake the majority in the Senate we will be united to move swiftly," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on a call with reporters. "Passing climate legislation will be a top priority." Spokespeople for the Senate's Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The plan would aim to create at least 10 million jobs in areas like clean energy manufacturing and research and development for new technologies, the 260-page report by the Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis said. The Trump administration has downplayed the risks of climate change and cut regulations on fossil fuels industries. The plan offered by Senate Democrats also calls for reforming lobbying laws to reduce the influence of those industries. Some environmental groups said the plan did not go far enough and called for elimination of subsidies for oil and gas companies. "Senate Democrats talk a good talk when it comes to environmental justice, labour rights, and the climate crisis, but this report does not walk the walk," Charlie Jiang, a climate campaigner with Greenpeace USA, said in a statement. The report said the price tag, equal to about 2% of US gross domestic product, is justified by the urgency of the crisis and the far more expensive economic disruption caused by changing temperatures. At least 40% of the benefits from the climate spending would benefit low-income communities. Myanmar villagers carry a coffin to a site where three ethnic Ta'ang civilians were found buried in makeshift graves in Neng Kat village tract, Muse township, Myanmar's northern Shan state, Aug. 21, 2020. Taang civil society groups and the relatives of three missing ethnic Taang villagers whose bodies turned up last week in a township in Myanmars restive northern Shan state have demanded that the Myanmar military the alleged perpetrators of the killings be brought to justice for the crime, they told RFA on Tuesday. Mai Nyi Tun, 28, from Man Kan village; Mai Alone from Lwe Mon village; and Nyi Leik, 40, from Mai Sat village, all in Namhkam township, disappeared at the end of May after being detained by government soldiers following a clash with the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), they said. Residents found their buried corpses in Muse townships Neng Kat village tract on Aug. 21, and they were dug up in the presence of police, local civil administration staffers, a doctor, and members of the Taang Literature and Culture Organization. The causes of death have yet to be determined, officials from the Taang organization said. The military denied responsibility for the killings. Fighting that broke out near Nant Phat Kar village in Muse districts Kutkai town on May 29 was the first clash following declarations of temporary cease-fires by both sides in an effort to help prevent and contain the spread of the coronavirus. Both the national and ethnic armies routinely detain civilians in conflict zones for questioning to determine if they are involved with the enemy, or to force them to work as local guides and porters. He never returned Mai Nyi Tun left home on May 28 to search for firewood and spent the night in a friends hut as TNLA troops stationed near the home engaged in fighting with a Myanmar military regiment, said his sister, Mai Nyi Tun, who lost contact with him the following day. The Myanmar military had taken him, she said. Wed lost contact with him. He never returned. Wherever the troops are, they should not do such things. We want to demand justice for him. TNLA soldiers brought Mai Alone into the area and he was left behind during the fighting only to be detained later by government troops along with Mai Nyi Tun, said Mai Alones father. His son left home in April to try to find work, he added. Tar Aik Thein Win, secretary of the Taang Literature and Culture Organization, said the third man, Nyi Leik, went missing after he left home on May 29. Though the vice commander of the militarys regional division visited the area, villagers did not say anything about the missing trio, he said, adding that they informed his organization about the disappearances about 10 days after they occurred. So, I put together biographies of the missing persons and gave the information to Myanmar military intelligence, he said. Then they were found. Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said the area where the bodies were discovered is a site where TNLA troops had been stationed. This is the only information we got so far, so it is not possible that they were killed by the military, he told RFA. TNLA spokesman Major Mai Aik Kyaw said Taang, also known as Palaung, soldiers were mobilized in the Muse and Namhkam areas in May and that fighting had occurred near the hut in the hills. Our troops were stationed in the area a few days ago, but they are gone now, because military troops arrived and engaged in fighting, he said. Seeking justice Locals say they do not believe the Myanmar Armys denial of involvement in the murders. If they were interrogating the victims as suspects, they should not have brutally tortured and killed them, said Lue Po Palar from the Taang Womens Organization (TWO), a civil society group that documents human rights issues concerning Taang women. Their families had lost contact, and we were still wondering where they were. We will help the civilians seek justice, she added. Police Commander Banyar Oo of the Shan state police said officers have opened a case and begun investigations into the deaths. Shan state, Myanmars largest state and home to the countrys second-largest ethnic group, has been under armed conflict between government forces and numerous ethnic-based armies fighting for autonomy since 1958, 10 years after the former Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948. The TNLA, the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), has not signed the government nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA), inked by 10 other ethnic armies since October 2015. Reported by Kan Thar for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translate by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Delivery times for Father's Day gifts are expected to double as demand for the service surges due to Victoria's strict stay-at-home restrictions. Australia Post is warning Victorians wanting to send gifts for Fathers Day in the post to lodge them by Friday, or they may not get to dad in time. The number of parcels sent at the beginning of August in Victoria spiked 150 per cent as a result of the strict Stage 3 lockdown, with people unable to visit their families in Melbourne. Additionally, workers are unable to operate at full capacity thanks to social distancing. Australia Post is warning Victorians wanting to send gifts for Fathers Day in the post to lodge them by Friday, or they may not get to dad in time Halfway through August the figure jumped again to 186 per cent, causing delays of at least three days for Australia Post, 3AW reported. Australia Post Executive General Manager of Business, Government and International Gary Starr said Victorians need to allow three extra days for both standard and express post deliveries. 'If you lodged it today typically it would be two to three days, so you'd add three days to that,' he told host Neil Mitchell. Mr Starr said workers had also been affected by the lockdowns as facilities are not running at full capacity, and social distancing was also limiting staffing numbers. Some parcels from within Victoria to another address in the state have had to be diverted through Sydney. 'Sydney is not in Stage 4 lockdown so they are working full shifts, so we have been moving some parcels to Sydney to be sorted there,' he said. Letter delivery times have not been affected by the delays. Father's Day is on Sunday September 6, meaning cards next to be sent by Friday August 29 to get there on time. The number of parcels sent at the beginning of August in Victoria spiked 150 per cent as a result of the strict Stage 3 lockdown A pedestrian is dead after he was struck by a driver of a vehicle in Mississauga late Tuesday night. Police received calls for a collision at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday near Mavis Road and Eglinton Avenue West. A 43-year-old man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police tweeted he died, shortly after midnight. Police said the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene. Peels Major Collision Bureau spent the night investigating. The intersection reopened just prior to 4 a.m. Police are asking any witnesses to contact them. With files from Mississauga.com David Venn is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @davidvenn_ HCM City will expel all foreigners who have been found to have illegally entered the country. A group of Chinese people enter Vietnam illegally. The problem was discussed during an online conference about Covid-19 prevention on August 24. Major-general Tran Duc Tai, deputy head of HCM City Police Department said that since July 21, they had found 116 foreigners who had entered Vietnam illegally. They have expelled four people from Congo and China. There are still 110 Chinese and two Cambodian people staying in the city. The city police will work with the Department of Foreign Affairs to continue to expel 40 people with passports. 60 people who don't have passports will be expelled after the city police work with the authorities in other countries to verify, identify and complete expulsion procedures. According to Tai, they are having difficulties in management and monitoring after the quarantine periods end. Accommodation facilities for illegal immigrants in Long An is full. People who no longer have to be quarantined will be transferred to district police departments. Nguyen Tuan, deputy head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said, "Last week, we worked with the Chinese Consulate General over 66 cases. They said they would co-operate to complete the procedures as quickly as possible." Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of HCM City People's Committee, asked related agencies to find solutions to manage and monitor all foreigners who had entered Vietnam illegally. Local authorities were asked to tighten management to prevent illegal border crossings. Heads of the ward and communal people's committees must take responsibilities if foreigners are found living illegally in their areas. Unco-operative people will be forced to go to quarantine centres. On August 14, the Ministry of Health announced a new Covid-19 case in HCM City. The patient is a Chinese man who illegally entered Vietnam with seven other people on July 27. This is also the first Covid-19 case found among the groups of illegal foreign immigrants in the city. There is a chance that more unknown Covid-19 carriers are hiding in HCM City. The authorities in HCM City has ordered related agencies to tighten management and monitoring and prosecute people that help bring foreigners into Vietnam illegally. Three to stand trial for organising illegal entry into Vietnam The Da Nang municipal People's Court said on August 25 that a trial is scheduled to begin on August 29 for three defendants accused of illegally bringing Chinese people into the country. The defendants include 27-year-old Chinese national Chen Xian Fa, along with two Vietnamese women, 24-year-old Ho Thu Trinh of Quang Nam province, and 41-year-old Huynh Ngoc Diem of Da Nang. The trio have been charged with "organising illegal entry into Vietnam" in accordance with the Penal Code. The investigation alleges that on June 23, Chen contacted Trinh on social media app WeChat while still in China, asking her to look for a house in Da Nang. Trinh then contacted Diem to help find a suitable house to rent. The pair both knew that Chen did not have the necessary visa to enter the nation but still agreed to help him. Chen then helped three additional Chinese nationals illegally enter Vietnam on June 28, with the aim of doing online business in the country via WeChat and QQ. Indeed, Diem and Trinh both arranged a seven-seat car in order to take the individuals to the rented house. The Chinese group then asked Trinh on June 30 to take them to another house located on Tran Trong Khien street to meet a local resident named Nguyen Thi Hong Van. Van provided them with a suitcase and several bags containing a haul of 14 laptops, 31 cellphones, and other related items. After being questioned, Van confessed that she had received all of the items from a Chinese person whom she had met via WeChat. Throughout the groups stay in Da Nang, Trinh and Diem helped them to purchase food and other essential products. The trafficking ring was eventually busted by local police on July 11. Dtinews/VOV Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson has apologised "unreservedly" for remarks she made claiming the Troubles victims' pension would mainly benefit "those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland". The MLA for Foyle said her comments were "clumsy" and were not directed at the "people who suffered serious harm during the conflict". "It was never my intention to cause them any hurt," she said, in a statement on Wednesday morning. "All victims of the conflict deserve acknowledgement of their pain and loss and I support them in their efforts to get their pension." Read More It's after politicians from across the divide rounded on the politician for the remarks made in a Tweet on Tuesday, which was later deleted. Earlier that day, Justice Minister Naomi Long had said that the scheme could cost up to 800m. Read More Ms Anderson Tweeted: "800m 4 pensions mainly for those who fought Britain's dirty war in Ireland. 800m mainly 4 those involved in collusion. "800m mainly 4 British troops like Paras who murdered people on Bloody Sunday and Ballymurphy. 800m mainly to discriminate and criminalise and exclude." Read More Politicians from the DUP and SDLP went on to urge the Sinn Fein leadership to sanction the Foyle MLA for a Tweet that was, as they described, "deeply offensive", asking Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill to clarify their position. It comes just a week after Sinn Fein was ordered by the High Court to stop blocking the implementation of the pension scheme, which they have claimed discriminates against former republican prisoners. The Justice Minister Naomi Long said Ms Anderson's tweet was "an outrageous, gratuitous insult to all those who will qualify for the pension". Mrs Long said: "Sinn Fein have a right to their view about how the Government has implemented the pension. They have a right to make their case, as has every party. They do not have a right to launch such vitriol at those who will qualify or smear them in this way." SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described Ms Anderson's comments as "unacceptable, disgusting and grossly insulting to hundreds of victims who sustained life-changing physical and psychological injuries". He said: "The campaign Sinn Fein has waged against delivering this pension, forcing victims who have endured decades of hardship living with deep physical and emotional scars to go to court to get what they deserve, has been deeply disturbing. "How much more insult can Sinn Fein add to the injury that these victims have sustained? "How much more pain are they willing to inflict on people who have survived the most horrendous atrocities? Martina Anderson is a senior Sinn Fein MLA. Her party president Mary Lou McDonald and joint First Minister Michelle O'Neill should urgently clarify if they believe victims applying for this pension are 'mainly those who fought Britain's dirty war' or were 'involved in collusion'." UUP MLA Doug Beattie said: "Tweets like this confirm the complete lack of integrity from Sinn Fein. "Having spent years denying the rights of innocent victims to a pension, and followed that up by disobeying the law, we now have this piece of deluded nonsense from Martina Anderson." Mr Beattie said the party seemed determined to "slur" IRA victims and was showing it was shameless and had "an appalling lack of humanity". Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton described Ms Anderson's comments as "patent nonsense". He said: "People who have lived most of their lives with shrapnel from an explosion in their body - or who are haunted with the smell, taste and noise of a bombing - should not be labelled by Martina Anderson." He added that he would be "exploring with the Northern Ireland Assembly authorities whether this statement is in fact a breach of the Members' code of conduct". He said: "In my view it falls well short of decency, never mind the standards expected from an MLA." Enforcement Directorate had been probing money laundering allegations in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case for the past few weeks. Recently, the ED handed over Rhea Chakraborty's chat records to the CBI who have been put in charge of the probe by the Supreme court. ED also handed over the chat records to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for a possible drug angle. A WhatsApp chat between Rhea Chakraborty and Shruti Modi allegedly reveals that Sushant Singh Rajput promised to quit marijuana, according to India Today. According to chat records from January 2020, Sushant broke down during a meeting, followed by a message that said the actor would seek treatment immediately. According to the chat records, Rhea had a contact saved with the name of Shruti 2. Shruti 2 in the chat records is seen saying that the late actor said that he had quit weed yesterday. She also said that he has gone off to sleep and that she is leaving for the day. Shruti Modi also wrote, "Morning 11 Sahil has to go to Aarogya Nidhi na". Aarogyanidhi is a hospital in western suburbs of Mumbai and Sahil here is the bodyguard working for Sushant. Rhea responded in affirmative to the message confirming that she was keeping a check on Sushant's health and was coordinating with each and every person involved. The chat records also suggest that despite constant medical care, Sushant Singh Rajput was 'still not healing' and the actor's doctor should be consulted about further treatment. Rhea Chakraborty was allegedly using illegal drugs such as MDMA, hashish and marijuana, according to chat records between Samuel Sushi (Sushant's manager Samuel Miranda) and Jaya Shah, according to IndiaToday. Chakraborty's lawyer has denied all these claims including drug usage. He issued a statement that read, "Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test." Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging in his Bandra flat on June 14. On August 19, the Supreme Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: CBI to recreate death scene at late actor's Bandra flat Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Locksmith who opened actor's bedroom door reveals what happened on June 14 (Photo : Twitter via NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb)) NASA's James Webb's Space Telescope Ground Segment Test (Photo : Twitter via NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb)) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently achieved a groundbreaking milestone after completing a demonstration that allows scientists and astronomers to use the James Webb Space Telescope once it is in space. NASA performed a "ground segment test," which is the first time commands to power and tested Webb's scientific instruments. The components that build up the James Webb Space Telescope is now sent to the fully-assembled observatory from its Mission Operations Center at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland. This test is part of NASA's critical assessment of the telescope to determine if it would hold up its supposed functions and deliver its intended usage as a data collector that will be sent in the cosmic space. NASA's top priority is Webb's communication with the systems on the home planet and is the critical key in the whole project. NASA tested James Webb's Space Telescope observatory and its capability to deliver loads of information for its time. Scientists believe that space communications are complex and in both sending commands and downlinking scientific data. The James Webb's Space Telescope function tremendously, according to NASA. The test successfully demonstrated a complete end-to-end flow from planning the science Webb will perform, to uploading the scientific data to be used for the community archives. ALSO READ: Elon Musk's Starlink Satellites Pose Grave Threats to Cosmic Studies, Warn Astronomers James Webb's Space Telescope's Successful Remote Test The scientists from NASA that are primarily concerned with the telescope's functions and innovation tested Webb's four instruments to determine if it will work. The simulation needed 100 NASA personnel to work on the testing, spread remotely, and some on-site in Maryland and California. The test took four days to complete because of the Novel coronavirus's hindrance for a more efficient job. NASA needed to emulate Webb to be controlled act like it is already in orbit by linking it to the Deep Space Network that connects all communications from the ground up to the atmosphere. The Deep Space Network is a group of giant radio antennas that enables communications and remote links. Commands are linked to the Deep Space Network from Webb's observatory, currently located in the Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, California. Inside Webbs Mission Operations Center, Test Operator Jessica Hart is seen on-console at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland monitoring test progress with social distancing protocol in place. Credits: @stsci/Amanda Arvai pic.twitter.com/qWFVLljTeO NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) August 24, 2020 Amanda Arvai, Deputy Division Head of Mission Operations at STScI in Maryland, stated that she is pleased that the test went as planned. The telescope performed its end-to-end functions seamlessly. Webb's Four Scientific Instruments Webb's four scientific instruments were one of the primary focuses of testing as it ensures that these instruments will function well and seamlessly once it is out in the exosphere. The Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) is one of three components that makes up the Webb's Space Telescope with the Optical Telescope Element (OTE) and the Spacecraft Element (Spacecraft Bus and Sunshield). The ISIM has four major components which the ground segment test reviewed, namely the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) from the University of Arizona; Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) from the European Space Agency and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) from the European Consortium, ESA, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories; and Fine Guidance Sensor/Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS/NIRISS) from the Canadian Space Agency. Webb's Chain of Command from Space James Webb's Space Telescope is now towards its final stages of development wherein it will be prepared for its travel and stay in space. With the test going smoothly, the next step for scientists is to maintain Webb's functions and control it remotely. Once in space, Webb will be controlled remotely from its command center in STScI in Maryland to the Deep Space Network in three locations: California, Australia, and Spain. From there, signals will be sent up to the telescope and spacecraft of Webb. NASA's Data Relay Satellite network in New Mexico, ESA's Malindi station in Kenya, and Europe Space Operations Centre in Germany will aid in keeping communications with Webb stable. Webb will be NASA's "eye-in-the-sky" and provide various information and data that will enable a better view and retention of space information. ALSO READ: LOOK: Bizarre Cold Gas Shooting on the Milky Way is Key to New Star Formations in the Galaxy! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former bank staffer creates own access to account, steals B100k for online games PHUKET: Police have arrested a 29-year-old former bank employee in Chalong for setting up his own online access to a bank customers account and siphoning off more than B100,000 to pay for online games. crimetechnologypolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 26 August 2020, 10:33AM Parin was arrested in Chalong yesterday (Aug 24). Photo: Phuket Provincial Police Officers arrested Parin Ball Pajantabut, 29, at a house in Soi Ban Song Thai, off Chao Fa West Rd, Chalong, yesterday (Aug 25), explained Lt Col Thapakorn Hanumat, Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division at Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT), in Bangkok. Parin was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court on Monday for three offences: fraud, unauthorised access to a computer system and entering false information into a computer system which is likely to cause damage to another person. Seized as evidence in placing Parin under arrest was one laptop computer, three mobile phones, one WiFi internet router and one hard drive. Parin was a former bank employee in Phuket who had just resigned less than a month ago, Lt Col Thapakorn explained. Lt Col Thapakorn did not name which bank Parin worked for. Parin had taken personal information of a customer, a pig farmer about 60 years old, and used it to access the farmers account via the banks Net Bank platform. He transfered money from the victims account to pay for online games, Lt Col Thapakorn explained. More than B100,000 had been transferred from the victims account, he said. Parin had used personal information of the farmer, such as his bank account number, ID card and mobile phone number, to set up the online access to the account, which the farmer had no idea had been created, Lt Col Thapakorn explained. The victim did not realise that the money in his account had been smuggled away. The villain used the money from the victims account to buy products from digital content service providers in order to make it difficult to verify their financial routes, he said. In total, Parin had transferred money from the account 14 times, he added. After Parins arrest, he was taken to Chalong Police Station for processing, Lt Col Thapakorn noted. Police are expanding their investigation to determine whether there are other victims, he added. The arrest was a collaboration of police working with bank investigators to track down Parin, Lt Col Thapakorn said. The police are ready to cooperate with various service banks in taking care of the property of all service users, he said. Lt Col Thapakorn urged people to be careful with disclosing their personal information. Be careful not to disclose your personal information, and financial information, to other people and conduct regular checks of your information security to make sure you do not leave a loophole for criminals to exploit, he said. Any persons who believe they are victims of crimes against their property or personal information via an electronic system can contact the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center, located on 1st Floor at Royal Thai Police Building 1 [in Bangkok], or call their hotline 1599 or 1155, Lt Col Thapakorn said. Xinjiang Authorities Restrict Islamic 'Nikah' Wedding Rites, Citing Danger to 'Stability' 2020-08-25 -- Authorities in Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) prefecture, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), are restricting Uyghurs from observing Islamic wedding rites, according to sources, amid a campaign that has labeled a broad spectrum of religious practices as "extremist." Last month, RFA's Uyghur Service received a tip from a listener claiming to be a Uyghur living in Shanghai who said he had inquired with an official from Kashgar about permission to include nikahconsidered an essential religious and cultural tradition in Muslim weddingsas part of his marriage back home in Kona Sheher (Shufu) county's Toqquzaq township. Historically, Uyghur couples have performed nikah on the morning of their wedding, gathering with their immediate families, as well as their best man and maid of honor, in the presence of an akhun, or Muslim officiant. Multiple wedding receptionscomplete with food, dancing, and merriment, and attended by extended family and members of the couple's social circletypically follows during the same afternoon and evening, or over the course of subsequent days. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, provided RFA with what he said was a recording of the phone conversation, in which he repeatedly asks whether he can hire an akhun to preside over a nikah ceremony because he had heard from his fiancevia local officialsthat it was no longer possible to do so. In the recording, after learning that the caller is based in Shanghai, the Han Chinese staffer at the Kona Sheher County Government Office refuses to discuss the matter over the phone or provide him with contact information for officials who can provide an answer to his question. "As a citizen, I need you to tell me," the Uyghur caller says in Mandarin Chinese, to which the Han Chinese staffer angrily responds, "I can'tI don't know your identity." RFA also spoke with a Uyghur businessman trading in neighboring Kazakhstan, who said that the ban on nikah has been in place for "at least more than one year." The businessman, who also declined to be named, claimed that authorities began punishing couples who had married through nikah but without a government-issued marriage license for "illegal marriage" prior to the start of a campaign of mass incarceration in the XUAR. Authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps in the region since April 2017. After the internment campaign began, he said, authorities began pushing couples to wed solely by obtaining an official marriage license and without nikah, which they identified as a sign of "religious extremism." "They started restricting nikah a long time ago," he said. 'Not possible' in Kashgar RFA recently asked a Han Chinese government employee in the seat of Kashgar prefecture about restrictions on nikah who said he could not comment and referred questions to higher-level officials. However, a Han Chinese employee of the Kashgar Prefecture Bureau of Civil Affairs, which provides marriage licenses in the region, confirmed that hiring an akhun to officiate a nikah wedding ceremony is "not possible right now." The employee said nikah is prohibited in Kashgar prefecture but was unable to speak for other prefectures or pinpoint when the policy began. RFA also spoke with officials from smaller administrative divisions in Kashgar to seek further information about wedding restrictions, including a Uyghur cadre from Kona Sheher's Pahtekli township, who confirmed that it had been at least a year since the a nikah ceremony had taken place anywhere at the village level under his jurisdiction. "There are no such things now," he said, adding that couples "don't have to do anything other than get the stamp," referring to an official marriage license. "It's been something like a year, a year or two. They're just getting the stamp and taking [their brides] home." The cadre said that local officials have been explaining the restrictions on nikah, as well as on traditional wedding receptions, by telling residents "that they can't gather, that people can't come to their houses" because "it's dangerous for stability." "The akhuns have it easy," he said, adding that there is essentially no use for religious specialists anymore. Meanwhile, the cadre suggested, residents have grown accustomed to forgoing nikah for their weddings. "No, no, given that they understand the laweveryone understands," he claimed. "They're all used to it, OK? They're used to it." Assault on religious practices Earlier investigations by RFA have shown that other religiously inflected practices, including wearing beards and various styles of dresssuch as long tunics for womenhave been heavily restricted by authorities in the XUAR over the past several years. In 2015 and 2016, regional authorities even restricted the giving of zakat, or almsthe act of which constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. Restrictions on almsgiving have effectively prevented Uyghurs from being able to provide financial and social support to one another. Reports of restrictions on nikah provide the latest example of what observers say is a bid by authorities to separate Uyghurs from even the most mundane expressions of religious practice and belief. In June, the U.S. State Department noted "the scope and severity of reported religious freedom violations" specific to the XUAR in its 2019 International Religious Freedom Report. The report cited the use of detentions "in furtherance of implementing a Xinjiang counterextremism regulation that identifies 'extremist' behaviors (including growing beards, wearing headscarves, and abstaining from alcohol) and the National Counterterrorism Law, which addresses 'religious extremism.'" Last month, the United States leveled sanctions against several top Chinese officials deemed responsible for rights violations in Xinjiang, including regional party secretary Chen Quanguo, in the first time Washington had sanctioned a member of China's powerful Politburo. Washington also sanctioned the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp and top XPCC officials "for their connection to serious human rights abuse against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang," the Treasury Department said in a statement. China's Foreign Ministry responded with retaliatory sanctions targeting several Republican lawmakers, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, and the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China advisory panel. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA's Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:49:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will make the case for a second term for President Donald Trump in a speech to be delivered from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday night. The speech will be part of the Republican National Convention's third night, which has the theme "Land of Heroes." Fort McHenry is a national monument where Americans defended Baltimore Harbor from the British in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," the country's national anthem. Besides explaining why he believes Trump should be re-elected, Pence is likely to pay tribute to American symbols such as the national anthem, discuss the White House's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and lay the foundation for his own potential White House bid four years from now. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, also Trump's campaign manager in 2016, will also make an appearance during Wednesday's virtual program. A fierce Trump defender, Conway will depart her position in the administration at the end of this month, citing family issues. Wednesday's speaker lineup also includes second lady Karen Pence, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, the president's daughter-in-law and campaign adviser Lara Trump, former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, and several Republican lawmakers and state officials. Though former U.S. vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has not planned any public appearances to counter the GOP message this week, his running mate Senator Kamala Harris of California has several events planned on Wednesday. Enditem North Korea-linked Lazarus APT group targets cryptocurrency organizations with fake job offers in an ongoing spear-phishing campaign. North Korea-linked Lazarus APT group (aka HIDDEN COBRA) has been observed while using LinkedIn lures in a spear-phishing campaign targeting the cryptocurrency organizations worldwide, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, the Netherlands, Japan. The activity of the Lazarus APT group surged in 2014 and 2015, its members used mostly custom-tailored malware in their attacks. This threat actor has been active since at least 2009, possibly as early as 2007, and it was involved in both cyber espionage campaigns and sabotage activities aimed to destroy data and disrupt systems. The group is considered responsible for the massive WannaCry ransomware attack, a string of SWIFTattacks in 2016, and the Sony Pictures hack. According to a report published by Kaspersky Lab in January 2020, in the two years the North Korea-linked APT group has continued to target cryptocurrency exchanges evolving its TTPs. Now F-Secure Labs experts observed an ongoing spear-phishing campaign targeting an organization in the cryptocurrency industry. Despite the effort of the group in making hard the attribution of the attack, F-Secure researchers found evidence that linked the attack to North Korea. In 2019, F-Secure uncovered technical details on Lazarus Groups1 modus operandi during an investigation of an attack on an organisation in the cryptocurrency vertical, hereafter referred to as the target. The attack was linked to a wider, ongoing global phishing campaign. reads the report published by F-Secure. The attack was linked to this wider set of activity through several common indicators found in samples from the investigation, open source repositories, and proprietary intelligence sources F-Secure researchers believe the attack was advanced in nature and is part of a global phishing campaign running since at least January 2018. Lazarus Group was able to delete traces of its activity, including malware employed in the attack as well as forensic evidence. Based on phishing artifacts recovered from Lazarus Groups attack, F-Secures researchers were able to link the incident to a wider, ongoing campaign thats been running since at least January 2018. According to the report, similar artifacts have been used in campaigns in at least 14 countries: the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Russia, South Korea, Argentina, Singapore, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Estonia, Japan, and the Philippines. states F-Secures press release. Lazarus Group invested significant effort to evade the target organizations defenses during the attack, such as by disabling anti-virus software on the compromised hosts, and removing the evidence of their malicious implants. The attack chain used in this attack employed a maliciously crafted Word document that claimed to be protected by a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which requires the target to enable content to read it. Upon enabling the content of the document, it executes malicious embedded macro that connected to a bit.ly link and delivers the final payloads. The malware collects info and sends them back to the attackers C2 servers. The analysis of the bit.ly link revealed it was accessed 73 times since early May 2019 from multiple countries. The main implants both contain the capability to download additional files, decompress data in memory, initiate C2 communication, execute arbitrary commands, and steal credentials from a number of sources. continues the report. The implants were also observed being used to connect to the network backdoor implants on other target hosts. Experts noticed that the Lazarus Group was using a custom version of Mimikatz to capture credentials and was disabling Credential Guard on infected systems to collect them directly from the memory. Lazarus Groups activities are a continued threat: the phishing campaign associated with this attack has been observed continuing into 2020, raising the need for awareness and ongoing vigilance amongst organizations operating in the targeted verticals, concludes the report. It is F-Secures assessment that the group will continue to target organizations within the cryptocurrency vertical while it remains such a profitable pursuit, but may also expand to target supply chain elements of the vertical to increase returns and longevity of the campaign. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs hacking, Lazarus) Riding on the success of its Galaxy M series, Samsung is set to launch a mid-premium smartphone with an industry-first 7,000mAh battery. Touted to be the Galaxy M51, the smartphone is expected to be priced between Rs 25,000 - Rs 30,000 and it will be launched in the second week of September. The Galaxy M51 is tipped to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core processor, which will make it the most powerful 'M' series device in India, sources told IANS. Over the last two years, the Galaxy M series has been known for large batteries but Galaxy M51 is set to take that to a ... Country music stars Naomi and Wynonna Judd are the subject of a new anthology music series being developed at Fox Television. The show titled Icon envisages multiple seasons with each telling the story of a music legend over a number of one-hour episodes. 'The series will spotlight the drama behind the glamour and the dynamic relationship between the loving, yet often challenging, Naomi and Wynonna,' according to Deadline.com. 'It will tell their fascinating story through the music and songs that shaped their career and the country music genre.' Their story: Country music stars Naomi and Wynonna Judd are the subject of a new anthology music series titled Icon that's being developed at Fox Television, Deadline reported Tuesday Naomi and Wynonna are set to serve as executive producers on the project which has yet to find a writer. It's not known which other artists may be featured in the series should it be picked up. Mother and daughter duo The Judds dominated country music in the 1980s and 1990s, with a string of hits, including 14 country music number ones, millions of album sales and countless awards including five Grammys. The pair stopped performing together in 1991 after Naomi was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, and Wynonna went on to enjoy a successful solo career. They last performed live together in 2010 with their Last Encore Tour. In June, it was announced that The Judds will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Stars: Mother and daughter duo The Judds, pictured in 1987, dominated country music in the 1980s and 1990s, with a string of hits, millions of album sales and countless awards Swansong: The pair last performed together in 2010 with their Last Encore Tour, pictured December 2010 Retired early: Naomi, pictured in 2013, took a step back from her career in 1991 after being diagnosed with Hepatitis C Had more hits: Wynonna, pictured in December 2013, went on to enjoy a successful solo career The news comes as Fox seeks to develop a number of other music projects. Following the end of its hit show Empire, about a hip hop record label mogul and his family, the network is now working on a scripted drama centered on a country music dynasty. It's also looking to create a spin-off for Taraji P. Henson's Empire character Cookie Lyon. The Republican convention started yesterday, a chance for Donald Trump to say "here's what I've done, here's what I intend to do". The media in Ireland and Britain will call it crazy and dumb, and it'll be a bit of both. But the problem with relentlessly portraying Trump as a fascist buffoon is that you end up with no insight into why millions still support him. There are certain things about this administration you're not being told. First, the excuses. The media is against him; the Democrats tried to impeach him. The bureaucrats won't even work with him. Three years in and roughly a quarter of the top jobs in Washington are still unfilled. The White House has had its highest turnover of senior staff in 40 years: some were investigated, several showed utter contempt for their boss and undermined his agenda. A Congress that also won't play ball has forced the president to sidestep the sillier promises of his America First programme and achieve more realistic results by different means. He's not going to build his border wall by the end of the year, but he does hope to have completed around 700km; he has made it much harder to get into America; and illegal immigration has dropped. He did this mostly through executive orders. And, when Trump takes personal control, things seem to get done. China is now widely recognised as the number one global threat; the United Arab Emirates has made a peace deal with Israel. Trump wants out of the Middle East and, fingers crossed, he'll get there by establishing an anti-Iran coalition that can keep order while America withdraws. His greatest achievement, in my eyes, is that there has been no war. Trump, we were told, was a reckless lunatic. He turned out to be more peaceful than Barack Obama. Until the coronavirus, he had a better economic record, too. Obama's recovery was ups-and-downs; Trump's was near-seamless, capping a record run on Wall Street, a steady rise in household income and the lowest unemployment rate since 1969. This was no accident. Trump has slashed regulations and cut taxes, bribing companies to repatriate investment and jobs - and it's significant that, before Covid hit, Trump achieved the lowest unemployment rate for African-Americans in history. The president regards himself as progressive on race. He really does. In 2018, he signed a bipartisan bill called the First Step Act that tried to reverse the trend of minorities going to jail for small infractions and for absurdly long sentences. Under Trump, thousands of Americans have had their sentences commuted. Billions have been spent on drug addiction. It is now illegal to restrain a pregnant woman in a federal jail. Cops are his people and Trump is their guy. They've got no one else. In 2016, Trump was the candidate of the unfashionable Americans, particularly the working-class, and the social gulf between the parties is stark. The Democrat convention was hosted by actors, rock stars and comedians. Who has Trump got? A couple famous for defending their property with guns, the widow of a cop murdered during the riots, a schoolboy who was slandered by the media, and a black grandmother who was given life for drug trafficking and who Trump set free. The breadth of this coalition is extraordinary, yet the more the media laughs at Trump, the more coherent it feels. Many Americans, even if they didn't like Trump to begin with, have come to see his fight against the establishment as symbolic of their own alienation. If he loses, they lose - even if, by some metrics, he's letting them down. Which brings us to the coronavirus. Again, there are excuses: the US is a federal system and Trump can't be blamed for state-by-state decisions. There are accomplishments, too: the stimulus is huge and America added 1.8 million jobs in July. But the one thing a populist style of government is ill-prepared for is a natural disaster, when you need level-headed, well-informed people in charge. Trump, who asked if the virus could be beaten by injecting bleach into the body, failed on all counts. In other words, this column is not an endorsement: I find aspects of this administration morally repellent. But we'll never understand America unless we consider fairly what Trump represents and listen to what his supporters say about him - a mistake the Democrats are making, too. The one thing they failed to address at their convention was why Trump won. They are still treating his victory as if it were a technical error, easily corrected with one more go - gambling that most Americans share their visceral hatred for the president who Joe Biden says is cloaked in "darkness". The case for Biden is that he's not Trump. It might be that the case for Trump is that he's not quite as bad as Biden thinks. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Poppy McPherson (Reuters) Wed, August 26, 2020 10:43 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c408db20 2 SE Asia Facebook,Myanmar,data-sharing,UN,human-rights-violations,Rohingya Free Facebook says it has shared data with United Nations investigators probing international crimes in Myanmar, after the lead investigator said the company was withholding evidence. A Facebook representative told Reuters on Tuesday it had given the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM) data from pages and accounts associated with the Myanmar military that it had removed in 2018 to stop hate speech against Rohingya but declined to describe the content. As these investigations proceed, we will continue to coordinate with them to provide relevant information as they investigate international crimes in Myanmar, the representative said. Myanmar is facing charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over a 2017 military crackdown on the Rohingya that forced 730,000 people to flee into Bangladesh. Myanmar denies genocide and says its forces were conducting legitimate operations against militants who attacked police posts. The UN Human Rights Council set up the IIMM in 2018 to collect evidence of international crimes in Myanmar. UN investigators said Facebook had played a key role in spreading hate speech that fuelled the violence. In 2018, the company said it had removed 18 accounts and 52 pages associated with the Myanmar military, including the page of its commander-in-chief, but preserved the data. The head of the IIMM told Reuters this month that Facebook has not released evidence of serious international crimes with the body, despite vowing to cooperate. He confirmed on Tuesday the body had received a "first data set which partially complies with our previous requests". "I am hopeful it signifies a further step forward towards a cooperative relationship that will allow us access to important relevant evidence of serious international crimes," he told Reuters in an email. Facebook this month blocked a bid by Gambia, which brought the genocide case against Myanmar at the ICJ, to obtain posts and communications by members of Myanmars military and police. Alaska Air Groups ALK subsidiary Alaska Airlines is making travel almost entirely touch-free as it tries to attract customers by ensuring them of their safety amid coronavirus concerns. The touch-free services, to be launched in the coming weeks, will offer Alaska Airlines guests and employees the option to pre-order meals and purchase food and beverages aboard the aircraft using a stored credit card (pending return of food and beverage for purchase in main cabin). Additionally, passengers will have the option to print bag tags, thus avoiding touching check-in kiosks. Some of the other benefits of this touch-free service include receiving a text message instead of getting a printed boarding pass for customers who dont have Alaska Airlines mobile app, and getting an emailed receipt for baggage instead of a printed one. Moreover, while boarding, agents will scan boarding passes from six feet away. Apart from this touch-free facility, Alaska Airlines has several other safety measures to ensure a safe traveling experience for its customers. For instance, flyers must wear a mask in the airport as well as aboard the aircraft, plus the airline is using hospital-grade HEPA air filters and air-filtration systems to circulate fresh air into cabins every three minutes. Moreover, to reduce interactions between people, the airline is offering limited onboard service. Alaska Air Group, Inc. Price Alaska Air Group, Inc. Price Alaska Air Group, Inc. price | Alaska Air Group, Inc. Quote Zacks Rank & Key Picks Alaska Air Group carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Transportation sector are Canadian Pacific Railway Limited CP, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc KNX and Werner Enterprises Inc WERN. While Canadian Pacific carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Knight-Swift and Werner Enterprises sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Shares of Canadian Pacific, Knight-Swift and Werner Enterprises have rallied 17%, 28.3% and 27.3% so far this year respectively. Story continues Zacks Single Best Pick to Double From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each picked their favorite to gain +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. With users in 180 countries and soaring revenues, its set to thrive on remote working long after the pandemic ends. No wonder it recently offered a stunning $600 million stock buy-back plan. The skys the limit for this emerging tech giant. And the earlier you get in, the greater your potential gain. Click Here, See It Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report KnightSwift Transportation Holdings Inc. (KNX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. CCP Wants Biden to Be the Next US President Chinese state media has voiced support for a Biden presidency, saying Joe Biden would be smoother for the regime to deal with than President Donald Trump. On August 19, state-run outlet Global Times ran a piece citing Chinese analysts, who said that if Biden won the election, the United States is likely to remain tough on China. The article came in the midst of the Democratic national convention, where Biden formally accepted his nomination to be the partys presidential candidate. Both Biden and Trump run on the platform of being tough on the Chinese regime. On August 20, in his speech accepting the Democratic nomination, Biden only mentioned China once when he pledged to end the United States reliance on the country for medical supplies if he is elected, and instead focused on Trumps alleged failings in handling the pandemic and smoothing the divisions in the country. On August 19, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro criticized the Democratic convention for not mentioning the Chinese regimes role in causing the pandemic. Earlier this month, a U.S. intelligence agency said that the regime would prefer Biden to win the election. The Trump administration in recent months has accelerated actions countering a range of threats posed by the regime, including its rights abuses in Hong Kong and the region of Xinjiang, security risks posed by Chinese apps and technology, and its military aggression in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, Chinese state media has ratcheted up its rhetoric against the United States amid the deteriorating relations. State media has recently promoted the idea of war, while central authorities directed television stations to run war movies to foment nationalist sentiment. Easterbrook was given a severance package worth more than $37 million in stock awards when he was asked to leave. At the time, the company said its investigation revealed he had a consensual text- and video-based relationship with an employee, but that it didnt rise to a firing with cause. Easterbrook, who is divorced, issued an apology to McDonalds employees. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron slammed Joe Biden during last night's Republican National Convention over emotive comments the Democrat presidential hopeful has made about black voters. In May, in an interview with popular African American radio host Charlamagne tha God on 'The Breakfast Club', Biden said: 'Well I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black.' Last night, during the RNC, Cameron directly hit back at Biden's controversial comments. 'I think often about my ancestors who struggled for freedom, and as I think of those giants and their broad shoulders, I also think about Joe Biden, who says, 'If you are not voting for me, you ain't black,' ' Cameron said. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron speaks during the Republican National Convention from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington last night Cameron went on to say Biden 'argued that Republicans would put us back in chains', a comment made by Biden in 2012 referring to then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who he said would put 'y'all [black people] back in chains'. He accused the Democrat presidential candidate of saying 'there is no diversity of thought in the black community.' Biden was forced to backtrack earlier this month after saying the Latino community is diverse 'unlike the African American community with notable exceptions.' 'Mr. Vice President, look at me,' Cameron said last night. 'I am Black. We are not all the same, sir. I am not in chains. My mind is my own. And you can't tell me how to vote because of the color of my skin.' Former Vice President (pictured on 20 August) has come under fire for a series of controversial comments he has made about the African American community Cameron, the first African American to hold the post of Attorney General in Kentucky, and a rising star in the Republican Party, is also the first GOP member to hold the post in over 70 years. Yesterday, he also made reference to Breonna Taylor, 26, whose death at the hands of police officers in March - along with the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minnesota - set off months of protests, as well as a call for the officers who shot Taylor to be criminally charged. The shooting is currently under investigation by Cameron's office, CNN reported. 'Even as anarchists mindlessly tear up American cities while attacking police and innocent bystanders, we Republicans do recognize those who work in good faith towards peace, justice and equality,' he said. 'In fact, it was Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, a future Republican president, who said democracy is a system that recognizes the equality of humans before the law.' 'Whether you are the family of Breonna Taylor or David Dorn, these are the ideals that will heal our nation's wounds,' Cameron added. 'Republicans will never turn a blind eye to unjust acts, but neither will we accept an all-out assault on Western civilization.' The US State Department has rapped Turkey after President Tayyip Erdogan hosted recently leaders of Hamas, Palestinian resistance movement on US backlist of terror organizations. President Erdogans continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza, the Department said in a statement. We continue to raise our concerns about the Turkish governments relationship with Hamas at the highest levels. The reaction came after Ankara Saturday said the Turkish leader received Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas Political Bureau, and an accompanying delegation, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports. According to the State Department, the meeting was the second thus year between Erdogan and leaders of Palestinian movement ruling Gaza enclave sealed by Israel. The first meeting reportedly took place on February 1. Turkey has emerged as one of the global main backers of the Palestinian cause and resistance to Israel. The Saturday meeting comes amid condemnations of the Israel and UAEs historical peace agreement brokered by the U.S on August 13. Ankara vehemently rejected that the deal arguing that it impedes on Palestinian rights. Turkey and the U.S enjoy good ties but their relations have witnessed in recent years some low moments over few issues including Ankaras purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems. Washington in rejection of the purchase, suspended Turkish involvement in its F-35 jet program and threatened sanctions. Mizoram chief secretary has written letters to Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla over Assam Rifles' 'boycott' of Independence Day celebrations and alleged violation of safety protocols Aizawl: The Mizoram government shot off letters to the Centre alleging that Assam Rifles deals with the civil administration "with contempt" and "fails to recognise" that AFSPA is no longer in force in the northeastern state. Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo has written two letters to Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla over the "boycott" of Independence Day celebrations and alleged violation of safety protocols by Assam Rifles, state home department additional secretary Ramdinliani told PTI on Wednesday. "We are of the firm view that no issue between Assam Rifles and the state administration is so serious that it cannot be resolved through discussions with open minds. "The failure to recognise, on the part of Assam Rifles, that Mizoram is a peaceful state where Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 had long been withdrawn, and the insensitivity and contempt with which they deal with the civil administration is coming in the way of good relations and cooperation between Assam Rifles and the civil administration," one of the letters read. The Mizoram government alleged that senior officers of Assam Rifles skipped the state-level Independence Day celebration after the administration issued a Warrant of Precedence (WOP) on 11 August, placing the paramilitary force's brigadier stationed in Mizoram at par with the secretary to the state government, chief conservator of forests, district and sessions judge and deputy commissioners. Assam Rifles returned the invitation stating it was aggrieved as the "WOP was notified without its consultation", the letter said. "The chief secretary stated that Assam Rifles had no authentic reason to skip the celebration as its brigadier was elevated from an equivalent rank of additional secretary to that of the secretary to the state government," Ramdinliani said. The new WOP, however, has been kept in abeyance since 14 August, she said. "Assam Rifles also created hurdles in the preparation for the function by parking its heavy vehicles in the VIP parking space, causing inconvenience to the invitees," the letter said. The chief secretary, in another letter, said that despite security personnel comprising a chunk of recent COVID-19 cases in the state, 15 Assam Rifles personnel forced their way into Mizoram through the Vairengte check-gate on 18 August without undergoing screening. "The state government has been trying its best to help and facilitate Assam Rifles in managing its COVID-19 patients. "However, the personal ego of the head of Assam Rifles in Mizoram and his failure to appreciate that the entire Northeast is not a 'disturbed area' seems to have come in the way of cordial relations between Assam Rifles and state government agencies," the second letter read. Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana had discussed the matter with sector 23 Assam Rifles DIG, Brigadier Vinod S, on Monday. The home minister had urged the DIG to refrain from issuing press statements over "petty issues" with the state government and bring the grievances of the personnel to the notice of the administration to settle the issues on the negotiating table, a statement had said. Brigadier Vinod, on the other hand, had said that Assam Rifles personnel respect the COVID-19 protocols of the state government despite the fact that security personnel are allowed inter-state and intra-state movement by the Centre. He had also urged the people to refrain from spreading rumours on social media and register complaints with him if any personnel breaches the law or misbehaves with locals. A police complaint was registered against Assam Rifles personnel guarding the India-Myanmar border for allegedly molesting two women at Sesih village in Champhai district on Independence Day. The Central Young Mizo Association, a powerful organisation with 4.5 lakh members, has demanded an apology from Assam Rifles over the incident before the end of this month. Assam Rifles has denied the allegation and said that it has not received any such report and complaint should be lodged with the head of the force so that the accused persons are booked. An Assam Rifles officer had said that a contingent of the force was present during the Independence Day celebrations but its senior officers had skipped the function as the DIG's rank was "degraded" in the state government WOP against the national order of precedence. "We had returned the invitations stating that the same is not in order and to kindly make necessary amendments in protocol at their end. However we didn't receive the invitation back from the deputy commissioner's office, so that means we weren't invited," 46 Assam Rifles commandant, Colonel Viplav Tripathi, had said. OTTAWAThe federal government is planning to transfer $2 billion more to the provinces to pump more money into the safe reopening of schools, the Star has learned. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the 13 premiers and territorial leaders on a conference call Tuesday, their first since July 29, and outlined his plan, which comes after schools have reopened in some parts of the country, or are about to next week, multiple sources say. The funding would come on top of the $19-billion package that Ottawa offered provinces to relaunch their economies in July, two provincial sources said, speaking for background only. The money is to roll out in two stages, $1 billion now and the next billion in January. Ottawa advised provinces just a couple of days ago that the money would be coming. A provincial source, also speaking on condition they not be identified, told the Star that the amount to be transferred is $2 billion, and while people will take the money, it is once again an announcement that the prime minister is making without any advance consultation or discussion with the provinces. That sentiment was echoed by a different provincial representative. A senior federal source confirmed Trudeau will make the announcement in the GTA on Wednesday, but would not specify the amount. It is to be allocated to provinces based on their share of the population of school-aged children, aged 4 to 18. On the federal-provincial conference call, Trudeau told the provincial and territorial leaders that his government recognized elementary and secondary schools are an area of provincial jurisdiction and that his government is flexible about how the money is spent. The federal source confirmed that and underlined that the Liberal government is being fully respectful of provincial responsibilities in how they will decide to spend the money. He said the prime minister is aware safety concerns are on a lot of parents minds, and premiers are working as hard as they can to reopen schools as safely as possible. This will allow them to take additional measures or whatever new measures they wish to take, the federal source said. Depending on how much or how little is provided per province, it could allow for more cleaning in schools or other kinds of physical accommodation for social distancing between teachers and students. Many provinces and school boards are well along in their reopening plans. However, at least one provincial representative said a number of premiers are annoyed at Trudeau, who they see as once again putting on a show. The source said Trudeau wants to be able to roll out the announcement Wednesday and tell Canadians he had a good conversation with the premiers about it and claim they are all working together. Two provinces pointed out that many provincial plans are well underway and the new funding is not likely to make a huge difference at this point, once the federal money is parcelled out. An Ontario government source welcomed the funds but expressed frustration that the money didnt come sooner. Over a dozen calls with the PM and not once was this funding brought up, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly and asked not to be named. We are days away from back to school, where was this money months ago? We are obviously not going to turn down money, but this is pretty late in the game. Parents and teachers across the country have complained of inadequate preparations. Last week, after Trudeau shuffled his cabinet in the wake of his finance ministers resignation, the prime minister underlined that he had heard the worries of families, especially as some provinces report new COVID-19 cases after weeks of declining numbers. For parents especially, this is a big worry in terms of the school year. I hear that. As a dad Im concerned about this, too, he said. Provincial leaders have a responsibility to make sure that our kids are safe in their classrooms. As federal government well do whatever we can to help, including through our $19 billion safe restart agreement. Asked if he was sending his own children back to school, Trudeau avoided a direct answer. He said like all parents he was looking at the schools plans as September rolls around. Were looking at class sizes. Were looking at how the kids are feeling about wearing masks, said Trudeau. I know all my friends as parents are asking these same questions and were looking for answers and of course as a federal government we will be there to support the provinces as they make important decisions to ensure that all our kids have the opportunity to be safe as the school year starts up. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller told reporters Tuesday the federal government intended to step up to help First Nations schools reopen, even though it recognized there is a web of government jurisdictions involved. Initially, Ottawa had proposed sending $14 billion to the provinces, an amount that was increased to $19 billion in July. It was intended to cover a range of needs, from schools, health care, municipalities, child care and aid to vulnerable populations like the elderly in long-term care. A federal source told the Star that money is to be spent over the next six to eight months, but the Trudeau government foresees having to spend much more to cushion the economy from the pandemic. In Ontario, school boards continue to adjust their plans for how to accommodate most of the provinces two million students who were set to return to school full-time, with mandatory masks for staff and students in Grades 4 through 12. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said Tuesday that province does not intend to change its back-to-school plan, despite criticism from doctors and scientists who have called it inadequate. In Montreal, Dube said the plan was conceived in partnership with experts in the health and education fields and it will not be modified in response to concerns raised in an open letter signed by some 150 doctors and scientists. In the open letter sent Monday to Dube as well as to Premier Francois Legault and to other officials, the signatories said the governments health directives for students arent sufficient, school ventilation systems need to be updated, and families must be offered remote learning options. The signatories are calling on the government to encourage social distancing within classrooms, require mask-wearing inside classrooms, and to oblige schools to screen children for symptoms of COVID-19. Ontario Liberal Party leader Steven Del Duca welcomed the infusion of federal funds. He posted a statement on Twitter Tuesday night, claiming Ontarios Ford government is only willing to spend 78 cents per kid so I welcome any federal leadership on schools reopening. He tweeted at Doug Ford, Premier its time to stop wasting $ on useless ads + step up with a responsible plan to get our kids back to school safely. Correction Aug. 27, 2020: This story was edited to correct the spelling of Marc Millers given name and to correct his characterization of federal assistance to First Nations schools. New Zealanders are calling for the son of a Christchurch mosque victim to be honoured after his stunning take-down of his father's killer in court on Wednesday. Ahad Nabi, whose father Haj was killed in the attacks on March 15 last year which left 51 dead, gave Brenton Tarrant a venomous address at the sentencing hearing. An angry Mr Nabi told the mass murderer his 71-year-old father 'would have snapped you in half in a fight' before raising both middle fingers toward the Australian gunman. 'Your father was a garbage man and you became trash of society,' Mr Nabi said. 'He is ashamed of your identity. You deserve to be buried in a landfill. This world was created with colour, a peasant like you will never change the human race.' The striking image of Mr Nabi - wearing the jersey of NRL team New Zealand Warriors and a traditional hat - giving the fingers was widely shared online, with thousands calling for the moment to be officially recognised. Ahad Nabi is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 26 'Ahad Nabi. New Zealander of the Year!' one man wrote on Twitter. 'The mana of this man deserves New Zealander of the Year,' another tweeted. If nominated, Mr Nabi would go head-to-head against a huge field of candidates that included Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and even a cat called Mittens who roams the tattoo parlours and churches of Wellington. 'This year's New Zealander of the Year competition is currently between five million people who can barely follow simple instructions and a transient cat that roams the capital,' someone else shared on social media. He added: 'I think we can safely give it to the Warriors jersey-wearing, bird-flicking legend that is Ahad Nabi.' The striking image was shared on social media, with hundreds of Kiwis calling for the young man to be named New Zealander of the Year The annual award is given to a New Zealander who 'has made a big, positive contribution to our country this year,' according to the website. Previous winners include All Blacks legend Richie McCaw and BAFTA award-winning director Sir Richard Taylor. A number of users also called for Mr Nabi to be made a lifelong member of the New Zealand Warriors. 'It's official. We've just witnessed the best use of the bird in NZ history. New Zealand Warriors must give Ahad Nabi a life membership immediately,' one person wrote. 'The New Zealand Warriors should gift Ahad Nabi a lifetime membership with lounge access,' added someone else. Ahad Nabi's father Haj Mohemmed Daoud Nabi (pictured) was shot dead by Tarrant at Al Noor Mosque on March 15 last year Others used Twitter to express their support Mr Nabi. One said: 'There's a time and a place for venting one's true feelings - but in a courtroom, it was especially the time and place' Others used Twitter to express their support Mr Nabi. 'There's a time and a place for venting one's true feelings - but in a courtroom, it was especially the time and place. Ahad Nabi, your sign language speaks loudly for all of us,' writer and anti-racism advocate Duncan Stuart wrote. 'I can only cry when l watch this. I just can't decide if l'm crying with despair at the utter heartless disregard that creature showed fellow humans, or the unbelievable courage and generosity of spirit of the survivors,' another shared. Mr Nabi spoke at a sentencing hearing for Tarrant alongside 90 other victims and their family members, almost all of whom asked he judge to impose the maximum penalty - life in prison without possibility of parole. 'I ask from you, your honour, that this scum of the world never be allowed to walk from the prison in his lifetime,' Mr Nabi said Tarrant has admitted 51 counts of murder and 40 of attempted murder alongside a charge of terrorism. He sat emotionless throughout most of the hearing, passing up his chance to address the court and instead having his lawyer read a statement. 'You hurt my father but you never took him away from me. What I mean by this is that you physically hurt him but you gifted my father with becoming a martyr and he's returned to Allah,' Mr Nabi began. He described Tarrant as a coward after he shot at 'defenceless people who were not aware what was going on until it was too late'. 'Your actions were of a gutless character. There is nothing heroic of your actions,' Nabi said. Mr Nabi told Tarrant that his 71-year-old father 'would have snapped you in half in a fight', then called the killer a 'coward' Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant arrives for his sentencing hearing at Christchurch High Court on August 26 Mr Nabi said he did not forgive Tarrant before asking a special request of the judge. 'I ask from you, your honour, that this scum of the world never be allowed to walk from the prison in his lifetime,' Mr Nabi said. 'I ask that he be put into mainstream prison to stop wasting taxpayer money giving him special treatment. 'Coming back to this maggot ... my 71-year-old dad would have broke you in half if you challenged him to a fight. 'But you are weak. A sheep with a wolf's jacket on for 10 minutes of your whole life. 'I am strong and you made me even stronger,' Mr Nabi concluded, flexing his arms to show his biceps and sticking up his middle fingers. 'My name is Sara Qasem. Daughter of a hero. Daughter of a shining, glimmering man ... daughter of a martyr. Of Abdelfattah Qasem. Remember that name,' she said firmly (pictured) Nor Abd Wahib and her husband Rahimi Bin Ahmad are seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 26 Manal Dokhan points a finger at Tarrant as she gives a statement during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah looks Tarrant directly in the eyes during his victim impact statement at a court in Christchurch Hazem Mohammed is temporarily overcome with emotion while speaking at the High Court in Christchurch Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant arrives for his sentencing hearing at Christchurch High Court on August 26 Another victim, Sara Qasem, was not originally listed on the court plans but rose to speak on behalf of her father Abdelfattah, murdered at Al Noor mosque. 'My name is Sara Qasem. Daughter of a hero. Daughter of a shining, glimmering man ... daughter of a martyr. Of Abdelfattah Qasem. Remember that name,' she said firmly. 'My dad never left. He could have left but he stayed behind to help his brothers. Putting others before himself.' Ms Qasem emotionally spoke of the experiences she had missed out on due to her father's premature death. 'I'd never really known what the meaning of a broken heart was until then,' she said. 'I want to go on more road trips with him. 'Smell his home cooking. His cologne.' Crying, she composed herself and eyeballed Tarrant, saying 'these tears are not for you'. 'To hear his deep belly laugh,' she continued. 'I want to hear him tell me more about the olive trees in Palestine. I want to hear his voice.' Ms Qasem's moving testimony came alongside those who gave more pointed addresses. The strong displays of emotion inside the courtroom contrasted with a collegiate spirit in the hallways of the courthouse between sessions. There victims, family members, support workers and police mingled and chatted, showing the sense of community that they have built and often referred to in statements. Nathan Smith raises his hand as he speaks about how the attack has impacted him during Tarrant's sentencing hearing Mustafa Boztas delivers a heartbreaking story during Tarrant's sentencing on August 26 Che Ta Binti Mat Ludin is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 26 Hasmine Mohamedhosen is seen reading a victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing on August 26 Mulki Husein Abdiwahab delivers her heartbreaking speech during the hearing on August 26 After giving their testimony, some victims said they were left with a sense of relief and strength. 'When I saw him shooting people, I was not the one in control. He was,' Rosemary Omar, who lost her 24-year-old son Tariq Omar, told AAP. 'It was empowering to get some of that power back that the perpetrator took from us when he killed our son.' Rashid Omar, Rosemary's husband and Tariq's father, said he felt a full range of emotions while addressing Tarrant. 'At first I was emotional reading about my sadness and loss but I gained strength. I got more angry after that,' he said. 'I looked right at him, that really helped.' Mr Omar told the court he felt 'broken inside', lost his enjoyment of life, and eyeballed Tarrant, telling him would never be able to forgive him. 'When I said I will never be able to forgive you, he just nodded,' he said. 'I felt like I was in control. He was looking and me and I was staring back at him. 'I saw him nod, agree with me ... like 'fair enough'.' Esam Alzhqhoul, right, gestures as he gives his victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing for Tarrant John Milne holds a photograph of his son, Sayyad Milne, who was killed, as his daughter, Brydie Henry, looks on Weedad Mohamedhosen is seen in court on August 26 describing the impact the massacre had on her Sazada Akhter is seen during victim impact statements in the sentencing of mosque terrorist Brenton Tarrant The father of the attack's youngest victim - three-year-old Mucaad who was shot to death at Al Noor mosque - had a statement read to the court by a family member. In the statement, Aden Ibrahim Diriye said: 'You have killed my son and to me it is as if you have killed the whole of New Zealand. 'He used to engage and play with the police; at home he would run around the house pretending to be a cop and wear police uniform. We thought one day he might become a police officer.' 'I don't know you, I never hurt you, your father, mother and any of your friends. Rather I am the type of person who would help you and your family with anything.' 'Know that true justice is waiting for you in the next life and that will be far more severe. I will never forgive you for what you have done.' Mustafa Boztas, a survivor who was wounded at Al Noor mosque, told Tarrant: 'You are not actually a human, not even an animal since animals are beneficial to the world. 'You are classified as someone who is dumb enough not to realise that beyond the skin all humans are the same, and all have the same internal organs and function the same. 'You will be remembered, but as a scared killer and nothing more.' Hasmine Mohamedhosen, whose brother Mohamed was killed, called Tarrant the 'son of a devil' who she wanted to 'rot in hell between the four walls of your cell for eternity'. Wasseim Daragmih is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque terrorist Brenton Tarrant Sahadat Mohammed and his wife during Tarrant's sentencing on August 26 in New Zealand's High Court Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui (R) is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 25 Kyron Gosse is seen during the sentencing hearing for Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant on August 25 John Milne, whose 14-year-old son Sayyad was murdered, said since the killings his mental health had suffered, leading to a spell in a psychiatric ward. 'There is a huge hole in my heart that will only heal when I meet Sayyad again in heaven,' he said. 'I hope to see you there too, Brenton, and if you get the chance I'd love you to say sorry to Sayyad. I'm sure he's forgiven you too.' Showing a photo of his son to the man in the dock, Milne implored: 'Please, just remember his name.' The full hearings will not be seen by the public, with Justice Cameron Mander placing restrictions on what can be broadcast and some speakers choosing not to allow recordings. It is unlikely the court has seen many contributions quite like Ms Qasem's, who finished her statement by comparing the rebuilding of her community to the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which repairs broken pottery with gold leaf. 'Our hearts may be broken ... but slowly and surely we are reassembling each crack with a lining of gold,' she said. 'The gold is the love, the aroha, the New Zealand community, our friends and neighbours, the flower wall, the government. 'In the end, love wins and love will always win.' Payloads - RADI-N2 (Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons): The crew retrieved the 8 neutron bubble detectors and pouches and handed them over to the Russian crew for processing. The objective of this Canadian Space Agency investigation is to better characterize the ISS neutron environment, define the risk posed to the crew members' health, and provide the data necessary to develop advanced protective measures for future spaceflight. It's been recognized that neutrons make up a significant fraction (10-30%) of the biologically effective radiation exposure in low-Earth orbit. The bubble detectors used in the investigation are designed detect neutrons and ignore all other radiation. Systems Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations: Yesterday, MSS software version 10.1 was uplinked to ISS. Following the uplink, ground controllers (ROBO) power cycled the Lab and Cupola Robotics Work Stations (RWS) to download the new software. The Lab RWS was commanded to backup status nominally. The Cupola RWS command to active status was aborted due to invalid checkpoint data. After ROBO reset the checkpoint data the Cupola RWS was commanded to active status and the MSS was powered up. Due to the 2.5 hour delay, the Direct Drive Testing activity was postponed to a later date. The Feed Forward Limping (FFL) checkout was completed. USOS Isolation Operations: Today, the crew completed gathering and transferring items to the Russian Segment along with placing life support equipment in a dormant state in preparation for the upcoming USOS isolation period. The crew closed several module hatches to allow the ground team to monitor pressures throughout the weekend. The crew will remain isolated in the Russian Segment (SM/MRM2/Soyuz/Progress) until Monday afternoon. The ECLS Community has been tracking an increase in nominal atmosphere leakage since October 2019. Completed Task List Activities: USOS Isolation Gather Today's Ground Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. USOS Module Isolation Ground Support MT Translation and SSRMS Walk-off LSR Software Update RGN OGA Discharge Look Ahead Plan Saturday, 8/22 (GMT 235) Payloads: Off-duty Systems: Crew Off Duty Sunday, 8/23 (GMT 236) Payloads: Off-duty Systems: Crew Off Duty Monday, 8/24 (GMT 237) Payloads: No Payload activities Systems: Hatch Open for Leak Isolation WHC Reactivation EMU Glove TMG DTO Today's Planned Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. AC Vacuum Cleaner Label Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Caps Cargo Transfer Bag (CTB) Audit EVA EMU Glove TMG R&R DTO Extravehicular Activity (EVA) On-Orbit Replaceable Unit (ORU) Cargo Transfer Bag (CTB) Cleanup Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT) In-Flight Maintenance (IFM) Jumper Quick Disconnect (QD) Maintenance In-Flight Maintenance LAB Filter Inspection Inventory Management System (IMS) conference JEMRMS WVE VLU Removing and Replacing Radiation Dosimetry Inside ISS-Neutrons Hardware Handover Radi-N Detector Retrieval/Readout Three Payload Rack Transfer Big Picture Words Review Egressing the USOS for Module Isolation and Leak Determination USOS Isolation Gather USOS Item Transfer Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap Wanted Poster - APAS Hatch Cover Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Operations Break Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. KENOSHA The two people who were shot and killed overnight in Kenosha have been described as a 26-year-old Silver lake resident and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident. Kenosha Chief of Police Daniel Miskinis said a 17-year-old from Antioch, Ill. was in custody out of state in relation to at least one of the deaths. Antioch identified the teen as Kyle Rittenhouse, who has been charged with first degree intentional homicide. He is currently in custody of the Lake County Judicial System pending an extradition hearing to transfer custody from Illinois to Wisconsin. Kenosha Police said they are not releasing the names of those involved. Miskinis said that he did "not know what led to the violence." Miskinis added that during a Wednesday afternoon press conference that the shootings are still under investigation. He said that everyone involved in the incident was out after curfew, and maybe it would not have happened if they had not been. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The footage could hardly be more chilling, like something from the wilder fringes of Hollywood's dystopian imagination. A woman sits at a table, recoiling in fear. She is penned in, surrounded by a mob of masked men and women, their clenched fists raised menacingly in the air. Again and again the rhythmic chants go up: 'White silence is violence! No justice, no peace!' The woman shrinks further back in her chair. The mob moves in. Some of them lean into her face. They stand over her, fists raised, shrieking and shouting, demanding that she too raises her arm in salute. On and on it goes. Nobody comes to her defence. It's an awful scene, reminiscent of the street scenes in Germany in the spring of 1933, when Nazi thugs demanded that ordinary people raise their arms in homage to Hitler. But this is not Germany in 1933, and neither is it some overwrought science-fiction vision of the future. This was Washington DC, one of the great capitals of the democratic West, just two days ago. The woman's name was Lauren Victor, and her crime was to have been spotted having dinner outside a Washington restaurant. The mob were, inevitably, Black Lives Matter protesters, roaming the streets of the US capital during their latest demonstrations about alleged police brutality towards black Americans. According to an appalled reporter from the Washington Post, the predominantly white activists were trying to force ordinary diners to raise their fists and join in with their chants. Miss Victor, an urban planner, said no. Ironically, it turns out she had previously been on Black Lives Matter marches herself, but now she just wanted to have her dinner in peace. 'It didn't feel right,' she said afterwards, adding that she felt 'under attack'. That seems a remarkably understated way of putting it. I wonder how many of us, in Miss Victor's shoes, would show the same grace and guts under such horrendous pressure. In almost every detail, it's a scene that turns your stomach. The snarls of aggression and ritual chanting are nothing new. Neither is the hysterical, bullying tone of the protesters. But the facemasks give the episode a deeply sinister feel. So do the ubiquitous camera phones, held up as if the protesters are recording Miss Victor's non-compliance for some future show trial. In America, the pictures inspired well-deserved horror. Many moderate black leaders were quick to express their condemnation, and even some Black Lives Matter protesters were eager to distance themselves. 'This is insane,' tweeted the award-winning black writer Thomas Chatterton Williams. 'This is cult behaviour. This is what a moral panic powered by technology looks like.' A woman, identified as Lauren Victor, was surrounded by protestors, their fists raised menacingly in the air. They shouted at her, demanding she too raises her arm in salute He was, of course, quite right. Yes, black Americans are often grievously mistreated by the US police; and yes, racism in any form is self-evidently despicable. But for weeks now it has been obvious that whatever its origins, the Black Lives Matter movement has become a nihilistic, monomaniacal cult. And I would go further. It is now perilously close to fascism not, perhaps, the same kind of fascism practised by Hitler, Himmler, Goering and Goebbels, but fascism of a peculiarly sinister 21st-century variety. Like all true fascists, the most extreme BLM supporters have a crude, conspiracy-theory view of history. They believe that the world is steeped in evil, thanks to the machinations of their morally diseased opponents. They believe that through the fires of destruction 'defunding' the police, tearing down statues, emptying museums humanity can be purged of its original sin. Like the Nazis, they regard the very idea of objective truth with contempt, and claim that language itself is tainted by the past. Like the Nazis, too, they see themselves as victims even though, as the pictures show, all but a handful of the activists were no blacker than I am. There is, of course, a bleak irony here. Over time, it has become glaringly obvious that the BLM movement is largely driven by rich, white, expensively educated Left-wing university graduates, like the people involved with Oxford's Rhodes Must Fall movement. A year ago, they were marching behind the banners of Extinction Rebellion. But anti-racism has become their new status symbol, their latest fashionable bien-pensant cause. In their twisted minds, these spoiled brats' sense of victimhood entitles them to do whatever they please to advance their cause. Traditions and customs, the basic decencies and conventions of everyday life, are their sworn enemies. Their sacred cause permits them to break whatever laws they like. If they loot and riot, if they tear down busts and statues, it is entirely justified. And if they break social distancing rules in a pandemic, it doesn't matter because, according to BLM supporters, 'we are living in a racism pandemic' as well. It is tempting, of course, to pretend that this merely a mad aberration, which is precisely what some people said in the 1930s. But we know that's not true. It's an awful scene, reminiscent of the street scenes in Germany in the spring of 1933, when Nazi thugs demanded that ordinary people raise their arms in homage to Hitler. Pictured, Hitler receives Nazi salutes after a speak in 1934 Here in Britain, too, shrieking mobs have taken to the streets, tearing down statues and screaming at passers-by. When the outspoken Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens went to watch a BLM protest in Oxford, they jeered and howled at him, even following him down the street. For the believer in the cause, no disagreement can be tolerated. Doubters and sceptics must be silenced. It is true, of course, that the anarchists and anti-capitalists in the BLM movement are only a tiny minority. But like all intolerant, authoritarian minorities, they demand the collaboration of the quiet, easy-going majority. And because so few people want to be called 'racists', they often get it. That's why the scenes in Washington, however shocking, were also depressingly familiar. Like Hitler's stormtroopers before them, the protesters wanted ordinary diners to raise their fists and join in their chants. And hoping to be left alone, many of them did so. Here in Britain, too, cowardly and foolish people in our major cultural institutions, from the BBC and the National Trust to Oxford University and the British Museum, can hardly wait to fall meekly into line with the bullies' demands. That's how coercion and collaboration work. In many ways these dreadful scenes recall the world created by the Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood in her disturbing book The Handmaid's Tale. In Atwood's novel, now an equally chilling TV series, America has fallen under the sway of a weird fundamentalist sect. Doubt and disagreement are savagely punished. Suffused with moral certainty, the perpetrators never doubt that they, and they alone, are on the side of justice. But I'm also struck by the parallels with George Orwell's terrifyingly prescient book Nineteen Eighty Four. There, if you remember, Britain is controlled by the Thought Police, who have erased any trace of our history and demand total suppression of individual freedom. Like the BLM protesters, Orwell's Thought Police want to control language itself, turning plain English into the jargon known as Newspeak. 'Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought?' one character says. 'In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.' According to a reporter from the Washington Post, the predominantly white activists were trying to force ordinary diners to raise their fists and join in with their chants That, I think, perfectly captures the spirit of today's self-appointed Thought Police the kind of people who chant that 'white silence is violence', even though it manifestly isn't. It is no exaggeration to say that these self-styled activists will not rest until every museum has been remodelled, every patriotic hymn suppressed, every country house 'contextualised', every employee re-educated, every curriculum rewritten. That, too, is how fascism works. There is only one way to stop them. They cannot be appeased, for with every concession their appetite grows. We cannot ignore them and hope they will go away. Nor can we go along with them and hope they leave us alone. The only way to beat them is to stand up to them, and say: 'No.' That brings me back to that video in Washington. For there's another way of looking at those pictures, which tells a rather more inspiring story. It's not the story of the intolerant mob who ranted and raved, or the story of the countless passers-by who looked on and did nothing. It's the story of Lauren Victor, the woman at the table. For even as the new fascists came closer and closer, raising their voices louder and louder, she still said: 'No.' Remember her, the woman who said: 'No'. For when such scenes come to Britain, as they assuredly will, that is the only way we'll beat these bullies. Scientists have created an army of microscopic robots, each smaller than the width of a human hair, that can be injected into the body to wage war on disease. It resembles the plot of sixties film Fantastic Voyage in which a vehicle was miniaturised and then injected into a patient. Scientists inside the tiny vehicle then destroyed the patient's blood clot using a laser gun. The new real-world micro-bots could monitor nerve impulses in the heart or brain or even deliver drugs directly into organs, according to scientists from Cornell University who created the machines. The minute four-legged machines will enter the body via a hypodermic needle and travel through human tissue and blood using four electrochemical actuators that function as 'legs'. An army of microscopic robots thinner than a human hair have been created that can be injected into the body to wage war on disease, researchers claim The minute four-legged machines will also be able to move through tissue and blood after entering the body via a hypodermic needle. The picture shows the process the machines go through to 'walk' - they effectively twist back and forth to slowly edge forward or back Lead author Dr Marc Miskin, who is now at Pennsylvania University, said: 'Controlling a tiny robot is maybe as close as you can come to shrinking yourself down.' He said machines like this are going to allow humans to venture into amazing worlds that are 'too small to see' and could change medicine forever. They are the first robots smaller than 0.004 inches in size in which on-board electronics are used to direct them. These robots provide a template for building even more complex versions that utilise silicon-based intelligence and can be mass produced. The walking robots are the latest iteration, and in many ways an evolution of previous nanoscale creations, from microscopic sensors to graphene-based machines. This is an artist's impression of a microscopic robot with legs around the width of a human hair which are able to bend when hit by a laser light, creating a walk-like motion Lead author Dr Marc Miskin, who is now at Pennsylvania University, said: 'Controlling a tiny robot is maybe as close as you can come to shrinking yourself down' The legs, 'or actuators', bend when stimulated by laser light - causing a walking motion. In tests over a million were produced - on a 4-inch wafer of silicon. The micro-bots are powered by solar cells and are made using a technique called photovoltaics - used at a larger scale in solar energy panels. The legs are wired to several 'photovoltaic' patches on the robots central chassis and when an operator shines a laser on them they 'bend and unbend'. This can alternate between bending the front and back legs by aiming the light on different patches - propelling the robot. 'They are robust, surviving highly acidic environments and temperature variations of more than 200 degrees centigrade,' explained Dr Miskin. 'They can be injected with a hypodermic needle - offering the potential to explore biological environments.' Miniaturisation of electronics to produce cell-sized robots is a 'holy grail' of medical research but there has been a lack of smaller enough suitable systems. The bots get round this problem. They are about 5 microns thick, 40 microns wide and 40 to 70 microns in length. A micron is a millionth of a metre. Each consists of a simple circuit made from silicon - which essentially functions as the torso and brain. Four electro-chemical actuators function as legs. It resembles the plot of sixties film Fantastic Voyage in which a vehicle was injected into a patient. Scientists inside destroyed his blood clot - with a laser gun The researchers control the robots by flashing laser pulses at different cells - each of which charges up a separate set of legs. By toggling the laser back and forth between those at the front and back, the robot walks and despite being cutting edge tech, they use a fraction of a volt in power. They can survive the harshest of conditions, according to the researchers that designed the technology. The limbs of the microbots are also incredibly strong. Each robot's body is 1,000 times thicker and 8,000 times heavier than each leg. As they are manufactured from silicon, sensors will be able to measure temperature and electrical pulses. Each robot's body is 1,000 times thicker and 8,000 times heavier than each leg Dr Miskin's team at Cornell University in New York is now exploring ways to soup them up with more complicated electronics and onboard computation. The improvements could lead to swarms of microscopic robots suturing blood vessels - or being dispatched en masse to probe large swaths of the human brain. Other applications include getting them to fix electronic devices - or crawl through and restructure materials. Dr Sam Stanton, program manager for the Army Research Office in the US which part-funded the project, said: 'This breakthrough provides exciting scientific opportunity for investigating new questions relevant to the physics of active matter.' He added: 'It may ultimately lead to futuristic robotic materials.' The microscopic robot is seen here alongside a type of tiny creature called a paramecium, as Laser technology has been used by scientists to make microscopic robots effectively walk Professor Michael Strano, a chemical engineer at MIT, not involved in the study, said: 'The compatibility of these devices with micro-electronics systems suggests a path to the mass manufacture of autonomous micro-robots.' However, these robots have some limitations, such as being slower than other swimming robots, not being able to sense their environments, and a lack of integrated control. 'Controlling a tiny robot is maybe as close as you can come to shrinking yourself down,' said Miskin. 'I think machines like these are going to take us into all kinds of amazing worlds that are too small to see.' The findings have been published in the journal Nature. Pete Evans has made yet another bizarre and baseless claim in a post on Instagram Stories on Wednesday. The 47-year-old celebrity chef shared a post claiming Australia 'is run by pedos [paedophiles]'. The post was originally shared by a fellow conspiracy theorist, with Pete also including a link back to the original. Extreme: Pete Evans (pictured) has made yet another bizarre and baseless claim in a post on Instagram Stories on Wednesday It included a screenshot of a Daily Mail Australia report on Wednesday that Victorian sexual assault survivors could face prison time just for telling their stories. Pete reposted a screenshot of the story, along with the caption: 'It only makes sense when you realise this country is run by pedos'. 'When a country is run by pedos, they will silence those who can name them, and pass laws to take your kids under the guise of COVID health care directives,' read the caption on the original post. Conspiracy: The 47-year-old disgraced celebrity chef shared a post claiming Australia 'is run by pedos [paedophiles]' 'You better hurry up and wake up Australia... Most won't realise until their kids are taken to a camp by these creeps.' The bizarre claim is in line with an unfounded conspiracy theory put out by the extremist QAnon movement. Followers of QAnon believe that US President Donald Trump is leading the fight against paedophiles and their supposed 'deep state' allies, which include governments, the media and businesses. Straight from the horse's mouth: The bizarre claim is in line with an unfounded conspiracy theory put out by the extremist QAnon movement While the conspiracy theory has been making the rounds on the internet for years, it gained traction earlier this month, fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic. Adding to its momentum is the fact Trump has so far refused to discredit it, giving followers more ammunition. According to legend, there's a person behind the extremist conspiracy theory, known simply as 'Q', who supposedly works as a US government insider with top security clearance. Peddling misinformation: Followers of QAnon have also downplayed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, with Pete repeating these claims on his own social media accounts Followers of QAnon have also downplayed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic, with Pete repeating these claims on his own social media accounts. They have also been responsible for the spread of medical disinformation and originating several hoaxes. The former My Kitchen Rules judge was fined $25,200 back in April after he falsely claimed his $15,000 BioCharger lamp could potentially cure coronavirus. False claims: The former My Kitchen Rules judge was fined $25,200 back in April after he falsely claimed his $15,000 BioCharger lamp could potentially cure coronavirus He's since made several other damaging claims about the pandemic, which has so far led to over 820,000 deaths globally. Last month, Pete urged people in Victoria not to wear face masks, after it was made mandatory by the state government. He also claimed that COVID-19 was a 'f**king hoax' and said that the pandemic 'doesn't compare to what is happening in the world on a large scale'. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces that full diplomatic ties will be established with the United Arab Emirates, at a news conference in Jerusalem on Aug. 13, 2020. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP) Finding Canadas Role in Mideast Region Post Israel-UAE Deal News Analysis Canadian policy-makers should mull the importance of the recent normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and work toward ensuring its success, experts say. Shuvaloy Majumdar, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a former policy director to successive foreign ministers, says the development is a historic achievement that will shift the dynamic in the Middle East. It is an historic accord that is long in the making. With it, the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Israel have confirmed a regional realignment, he tells The Epoch Times. Canadas interests are to stand in support of seeing two allies come together, and our diplomacy in the region and beyond should be to see the success of this accord. U.S. President Donald Trump helped broker a deal between the two parties, which on Aug. 13 was sealed during a phone call between Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and crown prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed. It has been hailed as a crucial development toward peace in the region not seen since the normalization of relations between Israel and Jordan in 1994. Known as the Abraham Accords, the agreement intends to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region through new partnerships and economic integration, including co-operation on the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries are also planning on exchanging ambassadors and embassies for the first time. The deal, which includes Israels agreement to suspend plans to annex areas of the West Bank, has increased confidence in other countries regarding opportunities to further connections with Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Sudan this week for meetings with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sudanese Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, arriving on the first-ever official direct flight from Tel Aviv. Other Gulf countries like Bahrain that have been becoming more open to Israel have responded positively to the deal, congratulating the U.A.E. for taking steps to enhance the chances for Middle East peace. Kaveh Shahrooz, a Munk senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and frequent commentator on Iran-Canada relations, says Canada should take advantage of the new developments in the Middle East to further its interests and as another opportunity to counter Irans aggression in the region and beyond. Canada should do everything in its powerthrough international forums like the U.N. and using back channelsto encourage the normalization of relations between Middle Eastern countries and Israel, he said in an interview. Not only is that good in itself, but it will help further isolate Iran. Irans longstanding policy has been to heighten tensions in the region and use that tension to advance its regional ambitions. The more peace prevails in the region, the more the Iranian regimes goals will be thwarted. As the deal and the ensuing new dynamics develop, Majumdar says Canadian foreign policy must reflect the changes and be adaptable to contemporary realities. Iran, Turkey, and Qatar have sought to diminish regional peace through their disruptive ventures, he says. As new alignments begin to take hold in the Middle East, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific regions, Canadian leaders need to shake free from old paradigms and engage the realities of the modern world. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the campaign against "the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party" was an accomplishment of President Donald Trump, who will "not rest until justice is done". Recounting Trump's foreign policy milestones, Pompeo told the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, "The president has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world. He will not rest until justice is done." "He has ended the ridiculously unfair trade arrangement with China that punched a hole in our economy," Pompeo said. The second day of the convention sought to dispel the image of antagonism towards immigrants and minorities and history of sexism through carefully crafted sgements. With shrines of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in the background, Pompeo had recorded the speech from Jerusalem, where Trump controversially moved the US embassy. He listed that also as one of Trump's accomplishments. The setting up of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates was another success of Trump, he said. Unlike many of his foreign policy initiatives, that received bipartisan support in the US. He credited Trump for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table and "lowered the temperature". Pyongyang has not conducted any long-range missile or nuclear tests since the talks between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Pompeo put a positive spin on Trump withdrawing from the international nuclear agreement with Iran, although it ended up with Washington's international isolation as even its allies have refused to go along. Pompeo, who is considered a potential candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, spoke at the convention defying Democratic Party criticism and setting aside what has been a convention of secretaries of state not participating in the meetings. Democrats say it is a violation of a law that bars officials from partisan activities and have called for a Congressional investigation. Pompeo defended his decision to speak at the convention saying that he was doing it on his own time and not using government facilities for it. He tried not to be overtly partisan by avoiding any criticism of Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden or his party. That was left to Trump and others. The president warned the convention on Monday that if Biden wins, China will "own" the US. Trump's son Eric said on Tuesday, "Biden will be a pushover for China." Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, said that Biden was supportive of Beijing and had said that the "Chinese are not competition" even while they were hollowing out US manufcturing. She noted that his son Hunter had traveled with him on an official plane to Beijing and held meetings with Chinese Communist Party bankers for a deal that netted him millions. Bondi also brought up Hunter Biden's connection to an Ukrainian gas company that paid him tens of thousands of dollars to be a director even though he had no relevant business experience, and Biden as vice president pushing Kyiv to remove a prosecutor looking into the company. Trump's attempts to get Ukraine to investigate that connection led to the unsuccessful attempt by Democrats to remove him from office through impeachment. On another foreign policy facet of Trump, Senator Rand Paul said that he was the first president in a generation to not start a war abroad and is committed to ending wars. He said that Biden has consistently voted for wars -- in Afghanisatn, Iraq, Syria, Libya and the Balkans. If he is elected, he will "will spill our blood and treasure" in wars abroad," he said. Paul has been a critic of Trump and ran unsuccessfully against him for the Republican nomination in 2016. A political maverick who had opposed almost singlehandedly Trump's initiatives, he said that even though they don't agree on everything, he concedes that Trump "gets things done". On the domestic front, Trump executed two made-for-camera actions that had an imperial flourish and were aimed at clarifying his positions relating mostly to minorities. An Indian software developer, Sundari Narayanan, and four other legal immigrants were sworn in as citizens before him at the White House and he handed them their citizenship certificates. He emphasised that they were legal immigrants who followed the law and he supports them, making a distinction with illegal immigrants in order to deflect the Democratic blanket criticism of Trump being anti-immigrant. He issued a presidential pardon for a reformed bank robber, John Ponder who spoke of Trump's help for rehabilitating prisoners. That gave an opportunity to highlight his criminal law reform that undid the disproportionately harsh sentences given mostly to non-White people under a crime law drafted by Biden. Paul said Trump's law, the First Step Act, undid the harm that Biden had done to people of colour through the crime bill that he he brags about. Several African American politicians defended Trump against charges of racism and pointed to his economic and other policies that had benefited them. They also criticised the Democratic-backed movement against racism that has at time descended into violence and even destroying statues of African American leaders and anti-slavery activists. allegation against Trump's treatment of women and his disparaging of women with sexist talk was also countered. A video segment featured several women working for him, including Kellyanne Conway, the political strategist behind his last campaign who left the White House this week. The narrator said that he has had more women on the presidential senior team than any other president, while women who have worked or still work for him said he selected them on merit and treated them professionally. The convention was held mostly from Washington with live and pre-recorded segments. Tuesday was also the family night in keeping with the tradition of spouses and children giving the portrait of the candidate as a family person. First Lady Melania Trump and Trump's children from earlier marriages, son Eric and daughter Tiffany, spoke. In an gentle speech in which she gave reassuring messages about the Covid-19 pandemic, Melania Trump said she did not want to attack the other side as it only divides the nations further. Unlike the Democratic Convention, the Republican event did not have showbiz people emceeing it or entertainers providing musical interludes. Vice President Mike Pence narrated a long video segment interviewing like a journalist people who had benefited from Trump's programmes. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) According to official statistics, 53,99 million eligible voters did not cast their ballots in the first round of Senate elections Related Mostaqbal Watan Party secures majority in Egypt's Senate elections Mostaqbal Watan sweeps Senate poll The Board of Directors of the National Elections Authority (NEA) decided on Wednesday to refer all voters who had failed to vote in the first round of the Senate elections to the prosecution, a statement by the NEA said. The statement said that during a meeting on Wednesday the NEAs Board of Directors, headed by Lashin Ibrahim, discussed mechanisms for applying the provisions of the Law on Exercising Political Rights on voters who didn't cast their ballot in the 2020 Senate elections. The board agreed to prepare lists of the names of people who failed to vote, the statement noted. According to official statistics, 53,99 million eligible voters did not cast their ballots in the first round of Senate elections held from 9 to 12 August to choose their representatives in the newly-reconstituted 300-seat chamber. On 19 August, Ibrahim said while announcing the results during a press conference 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. Senators from 174 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, Ibrahim said. The run-off election of the new chamber, whose members are chosen via the individual candidacy, the closed party list system, and presidential appointment, 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. In Wednesdays statement, the NEAs board stressed that all the necessary capabilities and equipment have been provided for the citizens to cast their ballots and exercise their political right in addition to taking all precautionary measures to protect the voters and the parties involved in the electoral process from the coronavirus pandemic. The statement added that though the NEA has repeatedly urged eligible voters to cast their ballots, some failed to do so. This, the statement said, led to the boards conclusion to refer all those who failed to vote to the prosecution in line with the provisions of Article 57 of Law 45/2014 on Exercising Political Rights and its amendments that punish the voter who fails to cast his vote with a fine not exceeding EGP 500. Search Keywords: Short link: The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji on Tuesday ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of Migori Governor Okoth Obado and 23 others, including his four children. In a statement to newsrooms, Haji said EACC investigated claims of misappropriation of public funds by the governor, his children, friends and employees of the county government, and that the probe, which ended on July 1, 2020, revealed that the suspects have a case to answer. Haji found that Obado indirectly and in conflict of interest, received a benefit totaling to Ksh 73, 474, 376 from companies that traded with the county. The audit trail of the money revealed that companies wired Sh39 million to the governors children accounts which was used to pay school fees, upkeep and medical bills in Australia, Scotland and the UK, added Haji. Some of the monies were also traced to have bought two Toyota Landcruiser V8 vehicles. The children are listed as Achola Dan Okoth, Susan Scarlet Okoth, Jerry Zachary Okoth, and Adhiambo Evelyn Okoth. The audit trail also revealed that Ksh34, 524, 000 was used to purchase a house in Loresho Ridge whose beneficial owner is Evelyn Adhiambo Okoth. I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to charge the named persons with various criminal charges, stated the State prosecutor. Chilean cement market contracts 14% in 6M20 ICR Newsroom By 26 August 2020 Cement dispatches in Chile fell 15.4 per cent YoY in May 2020 to 291,781t from 345,001t in May 2019, according to the Chilean Chamber of Construction (CChC). In June the market continued to contract, with sales down 26.9 per cent YoY to 213,502t from 291,979t in June 2019. In the first six months of 2020 demand in the South American country declined 13.7 per cent YoY to 1,781,388t from 2,065,205t in the 6M19. Published under Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas acted as the India legal counsel to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZL) on raising funds through the issuance of bonds. The company is the largest commercial ports operator in India and has a pan-India presence. The Capital Markets team of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas advised APSEZL on the transaction. The CAM team played a pivotal role in ensuring that: (a) The transaction documents and the terms and conditions of the issuance meet the structuring and commercial objectives of the Company and (b) The offering circular and other documentation are prepared in accordance with the Indian regulations and international best practices. The Transaction Team was led by Yash Ashar, Partner & Head - Capital Markets; Pranav Sharma, Partner; Abhinav Kumar, Partner and Pururaj Bhar, Partner; with support from Neha Samant, Principle Associate; Surajkumar Shetty, Principle Associate; Apoorv Jain, Senior Associate; Bipluv Jhingan, Senior Associate; Sowmya Khandelwal, Associate; and Akanksha Prakash, Trainee - Legal. As a part of the transaction, APSEZL issued USD 750 million 4.20 per cent stand-alone issuance of bonds (Notes) due in 2027. The Notes have been listed on the SGX and INX and were rated BBB- by S & P, BBB - by Fitch and Baa3 by Moody's. Other parties involved in the transaction included: * Barclays Bank Plc, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch, JP Morgan Securities Plc, Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Standard Chartered Bank, Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Limited, DBS Bank Ltd, Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, Mizuho Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd and MUFG Securities Asia Limited Singapore Branch (Managers and Joint Bookrunners) * The Bank of New York Mellon (Trustee, Principal Paying Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent) * Latham & Watkins LLP (International Legal Counsel to the Company) * Linklaters Singapore Pte Ltd (International Legal Counsel to the Managers and Joint Bookrunners) The Transaction was signed on July 28, 2020, and concluded on August 4, 2020. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas takes forward the values going back 103 years, of the erstwhile Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co, whose pre-eminence, experience and reputation of almost a century have been unparalleled in the Indian legal fraternity. Tracing its professional lineage to 1917, the firm of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is now the largest full-service law firm in India, with over 750 lawyers including over 141 partners, and offices in India's key business centres at Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. The firm advises a large and varied client base that includes domestic and foreign commercial enterprises, financial institutions, private equity funds, venture capital funds, start-ups, and governmental and regulatory bodies. The firm, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, was recently awarded "India - Firm of the Year" at the AsiaLaw Regional Awards 2019 and "India Deal Firm of the Year" at the In-House Community Counsels of the Year Awards 2019. The firm was also named as the "Most Innovative National Law Firm of the Year - India for 2018" at the IFLR Asia Awards, has also been successful in winning the prestigious & coveted "National Law Firm of the Year, 2018 for India" at the Chambers Asia-Pacific Awards. The firm was also voted as the "Employer of Choice for 2018" from India, by the Asian Legal Business, now 4 years in a row, building upon the several awards that the erstwhile Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co had won in the past. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Sachin Ravikumar, Derek Francis and Nivedita Bhattacharjee BENGALURU, India, Aug 26 (Reuters) - On June 9, an Indian health education minister posted an infographic on Twitter showing COVID-19 infections and deaths in the city of Bengaluru were running about half the rate in New Zealand, a country acclaimed globally for reining in the disease. The city which has more than double the population of New Zealand "stumps the Kiwis," said the caption to the image posted by Sudhakar K., who is responsible for medical education in the southern state of Karnataka. Bengaluru, known to many as Bangalore, is the capital of the state. His tweet was liked and retweeted by thousands. But the celebration was short-lived. At the time, only about 450 cases of the novel coronavirus had been recorded among Bangalore's population of more than 12.5 million, compared with more than 260,000 cases across India and about 1,150 in New Zealand. Thanks partly to a high-tech testing and tracing system monitored by masked officials on giant screens in a city "war room," Bengaluru had contained the outbreak better than cities like Mumbai, which had tallied more than 100 times as many cases. Two and a half months on, Bengaluru, dubbed India's Silicon Valley for its tech firms and startups, has reported more than 110,000 cases. Where its infections in early June rose by 25 a day on average, the rate is now more than 2,500. In New Zealand, the total caseload stood at 1,339 as of Aug. 25. Sudhakar did not respond to requests for comment, but his tweet remains online. For an interactive graphic on the daily rise of COVID-19 infections in Indian cities, see: https://tmsnrt.rs/34tLRnG Bengaluru's early response was lauded by India's government as a model, for its use of health surveys combined with efforts to tap tech expertise and cutting-edge software to analyse the spread of the disease. But after India eased a nationwide lockdown in early June, epidemiologists and government officials involved in the city's response to the pandemic said they realised they had not planned enough. The experience illustrates the extent of the challenge faced by large cities across the globe, showing how rapidly an outbreak can snowball out of control. Story continues "The city had three to four months to plan for a surge in cases, but the city did not plan for the future. They mostly assumed that the lockdown implementation was sufficient," said Giridhara Babu, an epidemiologist advising the state of Karnataka. CURFEW AND CONTACT-TRACE In late March, India enforced one of the world's strictest lockdowns. Karnataka state was ahead of that with its own measures. It collaborated with software lobby NASSCOM to mobilise 150 employees from half a dozen IT firms to feed 20,000 international traveller records into a central system every day. Karnataka conducted a mammoth health survey. More than 40,000 government health workers roamed the state in pink uniforms and masks, surveying nearly 16 million households. Residents submitted to a curfew that emptied parks, malls and the city's notoriously clogged roads, and officials tapped companies such as Intel, Alphabet's Google and Mumbai-based Fractal Analytics for expertise and tools to help trace, predict and control the spread. Many surrendered personal information: At thousands of drugstores, officials collected contact details for people who bought drugs like paracetamol, to keep tabs on their health. A federal government study shows Karnataka on average tested 47.4 contacts of every COVID-19-infected person between Jan. 22 and April 30, compared with the national average of six. "THAT MANY PEOPLE" But in June, lockdown restrictions eased. People flooded back to markets that sell fresh produce and flowers. Besides locals, officials say tens of thousands of travellers streamed in from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, many unwittingly bringing the virus. The neighbouring states have been the two worst hit by COVID-19 in India. "We were sandwiched between these two states which already had a very high viral load ... so we were bound to get affected," said Pankaj Pandey, the health commissioner for Karnataka. An estimated 45,000 people from Maharashtra and another 20,000 from Tamil Nadu's capital, Chennai, streamed into Bengaluru in June, he added. "In the initial phase, the case numbers in Bangalore were so few, that people all over the country felt Bangalore is the safest. That may also have caused people to 'reverse-migrate' back to Bangalore," said one official involved in Bengaluru's response. "We didn't look at the inbound travellers as a major source of infections," the official said. "We never anticipated that many people would come." Officials from Bengaluru's municipal body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), did not respond to queries on whether it failed to address gaps in its modelling systems. But Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, a bureaucrat running the Bengaluru "war room" said easing lockdown complicated the city's efforts. Since late June, Bengaluru has been sealing areas where cases jump, said Korlapati, noting this involves placing barricades at entry and exit points - in effect quarantining entire neighbourhoods. "Aggressive testing of contacts and home isolation is the way to contain the spread," she said. "That is being taken very seriously and is being done right now." (Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Derek Francis and Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal, Robin Paxton and Sara Ledwith) The first MINI electric car is unveiled at the BMW group plant in Cowley, near Oxford on July 9, 2019. Photo: Tolga Akmen /AFP via Getty Images German carmaker BMW (BMW.DE) is set to cut around 400 jobs at its Mini plant in Oxford as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hurt demand for new cars. The cuts will affect around 400 of the 950 personnel supplied by the Gi Group agency, a BMW UK spokesperson said in an email to Yahoo Finance UK. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a substantial impact on customer demand and, like other automotive manufacturers, our volume forecasts for 2020 have had to change accordingly, the spokesperson said. BMW UK said it has approximately 4,000 staff a mixture of BMW & agency production workers onsite at Oxford, and last year it produced over 222,000 Minis. Our decision has been made after close discussion with trade union representatives and we are aware that our plans will have an impact on people during an uncertain and worrying time, Bob Shankly, Human Resources Director at the Oxford Mini plant, said in an emailed statement. We have sought to protect as many jobs as we can, while also taking the necessary steps to ensure the stability of our business in light of this current period of volatile and unpredictable market conditions, Shankly wrote. READ MORE: New cars sales in UK rise as dealerships reopen We have clear criteria agreed with Gi Group about who will be retained length of service, individual skillset and disciplinary record being the main ones, the BMW spokesperson said. Individuals will be informed in mid-September. BMW told AFP news agency in mid-June that it will cut around 6,000 of its over 120,000 jobs worldwide this year, as part of a broad savings programme aimed at battling the ongoing economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. READ MORE: Coronavirus sales slump drives BMW to a second quarter loss Carmakers in the UK suffered their worst sales slump since the year after World War II in April and May just 197 cars were produced in April and 5,314 in May. Sales began to tick up again in July, but demand is down 41% for the year to date, the forecast is for a full-year drop in demand of around 30%, totalling 20bn in lost sales, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Story continues The news comes as Rolls-Royce (RR.L) today announced plans to close one of its UK factories in Nottinghamshire, as a drastic cost-cutting drive continues at the struggling plane-engine maker. READ MORE: Coronavirus: Rolls-Royce closes factory as jobs cull continues Rolls-Royce confirmed that a site in Annesley, Nottinghamshire, will shut for good. Around 120 workers will be offered the chance to transfer to its bigger site in Derby, around 20 miles away. The company announced plans to slash 9,000 jobs worldwide in May and all of its civil aerospace sites were put under review, as part of a drive to save 1.3bn a year. The suspected poisoning of Russia's best-known opposition leader Alexey Navalny is the latest to happen to a long line of Kremlin opponents. The Kremlin, as it has with Navalnys case, has denied any involvement but poison has long been a weapon used by the Russian security services and employed by the Soviet Union under president Vladimir Putin. In some cases evidence has emerged seeming to strongly link them to the Russian state, while others have remained mysterious. The Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday told reporters he disagreed there was a trend of Kremlin opponents being poisoned. "Youll agree that in many country in the world, everyday a lot of poisonings happen, Peskov said, saying it was necessary to look at every case individually. Hospital confirms Putin critic Alexey Navalny was poisoned PHOTO: (FILES) In this file photo taken on September 29, 2019 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks during a demonstration in Moscow. (Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images) But the list of those who have troubled the Russian government or security services and then suffered poisoning is lengthy. Within its first years, the Soviet Union developed a secret poison lab within its security services. The lab, known among security agents as kamera -- meaning the chamber in Russian -- for decades specialized in developing poisons difficult to detect and, under Joseph Stalin, tested its products on gulag prisoners, according to Soviet defectors. Boris Voldarsky, a former officer from the Soviet military intelligence agency, the GRU, who has written a book on the KGB poison program has written there is one constant in the lab's products. They must make the victim's death or illness appear natural or at least produce symptoms that will baffle doctors and forensic investigators. To this end the Kamera developed its defining specialty: combining known poisons into original and untraceable forms," Voldarsky wrote in an article for The Wall Street Journal in 2005. There were several famous poisoning episodes during the Cold War. Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident died after a KGB agent pricked him with a ricin-tipped umbrella. In 1957, Nikolai Khokhlov, a KGB defector, came close to death after drinking a cup of coffee laced with an unknown type of thallium. Story continues Poisonings have occurred under Putin almost since the start of his rule. In 2004, Viktor Yushchenko, a candidate who ran against a Kremlin-favored incumbent for Ukraine's presidency was poisoned with dioxin, leaving him disfigured. The same year, the celebrated investigative journalist, Anna Politkovskaya fell suddenly ill and lost consciousness after drinking a cup of tea while flying to the Russian city of Beslan during the school siege there. She survived, but was shot dead two years later, on Putins birthday. PHOTO: (FILES) In this file photo taken on August 21, 2020 a woman holding a placard reading 'A hospital is not a prison' stands outside Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1 where Alexei Navalny was admitted after he fell ill. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images) The two poisonings that have most closely associated Putin with poisoning internationally occurred in the U.K. In 2006, Alexander Litvinenko, a former officer from Russias FSB security service turned critic, died after being exposed to polonium-210, a radioactive isotope, slipped into his tea at an upscale hotel. British police later sought to charge two Russians, Dmitry Kovtun and Andrey Lugovoy and a U.K. public inquiry concluded that Putin had likely personally ordered the assassination. Russia refused to extradite the two men and Lugovoy was instead made a member of parliament. In 2018, another former Russian intelligence officer Sergey Skripal, was nearly fatally poisoned with a nerve agent in the English town of Salisbury. The poison, which was identified by British investigators as a nerve agent, known as "Novichok", developed by the Soviet Union as part of a secret chemical weapons program. Russia again denied responsibility, but U.K. police were able to track two men, who were later identified as officers in Russian military intelligence. Both men, Anatoly Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin were found to have previously received Russias highest state honor, awarded personally by Putin. Experts have stressed that Navalny may not have been poisoned at the Kremlins order. Navalny, who has made his name with high-profile investigations of alleged corruption among powerful Russians, has many enemies. The choice of poison though usually means the involvement of Russia's security services, whether acting for the state or corruptly for others. No matter whether its an attempted murder or just scare tactics, poisonings are pretty much always somehow connected to the security services, Tatiana Stanovaya, a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Moscow Center wrote last week, adding that she does not believe the Kremlin ordered the assassination attempt. She wrote she believes the attack on Navalny was likely carried out by powerful figures acting on their initiative, either indifferent to the Kremlin's reaction or believing it would please it. . Navalny's case for now has drawn the closest comparisons with two other suspected poisoning cases of opposition figures. Vladimir Kara-Murza, a pro-democracy activist from Open Russia, a group funded by Putin foe Mikhail Khodorkovsky, twice nearly died in 2015 and 2017 after his organs suddenly began failing. A French lab found high levels of heavy metals in his blood but was unable to identify the poison. 'Poisoned' Russian opposition leader Navalny lands in Berlin for emergency treatment FILE PHOTO: Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally in Moscow, Russia February 29, 2020. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters) Petr Verzilov, a member of the protest group, Pussy Riot, two years ago suddenly fell inexplicably and critically ill. He was evacuated to Germany for treatment, kept in an induced coma, and doctors there said he had been poisoned. Verzilov survived and last week helped arrange for Navalny to be airlifted to Germany by the same Berlin-based non-profit that had aided him. Verzilov has said his symptoms were very similar to Navalnys and has blamed both poisonings personally on Putin. The Charite hospital treating Navalny has said its analysis showed he is suffering from poisoning from cholinesterase inhibitors, chemicals that belong to a very broad group of substances ranging from pesticides and medication to military grade nerve agents, that includes Novichok. Dan Kaszeta, a chemical and biological weapons expert and the author of a book on nerve agents, "Toxic", told ABC News on Tuesday that without knowing what the substance was for now it was impossible to say if whatever had poisoned Navalny had been developed in a sophisticated military lab or something more commonly available. Andrei Soldatov, a long-time expert on the Russian security services and author of "The Compatriots," a history of Russian espionage abroad, including poisonings, said he did not believe a figure with Navalny's position in Russia could have been targeted without the Kremlin's order. "Ive been hearing this argument for like many years. From Politkovskaya, to Litvinenko, to Skripal. That it could not be possibly the Kremlin but someone trying to please the Kremlin," Soldatov said by phone Wednesday. "But the problem with this argument is that in 2020 the situation is not what we had in 2004, 2006. The room for any kind of unsanctioned activity from the secret services especially in such a sensitive area is very limited. Its really difficult to imagine that somebody would dare to do something that drastic and not first secure some kind of agreement. To be sure that he or she is on the safe side." Before Navalny, a long history of Russian poisonings originally appeared on abcnews.go.com ALTON Delilah Donaldson, a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior, has joined the staff at Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau as a public relations intern for the fall semester. Each semester the tourism bureau offers an opportunity for students majoring in marketing, public relations, advertising, and economics to experience firsthand what it is like to work in the field. Donaldson will gain public relations skills and work-related experiences designed to enhance her career opportunities, and she noted it will help her manage her own pet sitting business. I am thrilled to learn so much and receive hands on experiences with this opportunity, Donaldson said. Given the current state of the world I wasnt sure I was going to be able to have an internship experience before graduating. Donaldson will graduate in May 2021 with a bachelors degree in Public Relations and a minor in History. Post-graduation she plans on relocating to Nashville, Tennessee and do publicity for new, up and coming artists. During the fall semester Donaldson will have first-hand public relations experiences as she works with the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. Her primary focus will be on social media, blogs, press releases, and reporting on fall and holiday attractions within the six country bureau region. Donaldson recently became a resistant of Alton, but is no stranger to the area, having grown up in Granite City just south of Alton. As someone who has chosen to live in this town because of the beauty and exciting attractions, I know exactly what people want to know about the area, she said. Growing up my family and I always would come to this area to shop, dine, and sight-see on the beautiful river road. While school keeps Donaldson busy, she still manages to work two part-time jobs one at GCS Credit Union as a teller and the other as a server at 3rd Chute Bar and Grill II. She also works as a holiday actress on Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri, from October through December. She also runs her own small pet sitting business. Our current Vice President Mike Pence seems to be a figure who is popular with conservative evangelical Christians. Likewise, he once described himself as, "a Christian, a conservative and Republican, in that order." This recurring image within the media has made him a popular figurehead for the Christian community. This image of Pence however, is not without controversy even amongst the evangelical population. As a result, his public appearances at dignified schools such as Notre Dame University and Taylor University ended with student walkouts and even a resignation of the school's president. When taking a better look into the public image Pence portrays, there are five major points which paint him to have a conflicting image. The first is Pence's description of himself as a "born-again, evangelical Catholic." Mike Pence grew up in a Catholic home and served as an altar boy while attending a parochial school. From here, he consolidated his roots as a believer in Christ while attending a Christian student group while in College. Later on in his years, Pence and his family started attending Grace Evangelical Church in the 90s. Earlier this year however, Pence reconnected with this Catholic upbringing when he met Pope Francis before the pandemic. The second point is Pence's loyalty to causes before his time as a congressman which reflect upon his evangelical beliefs. To start, it is known that Pence opposes the expansion of abortion rights, the funding of embryonic stem cell research, and supported an bill against same-sex marriage while cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood. On top of this, Pence also became the first VP to address the March for Life which is a cause supporting the pro-life movement. Another factor regarding his image can be his disagreement in refugee policies with the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. While halting support in the efforts regarding the relocation of refugees, the archdiocese went against Pence's policies by welcoming a Syrian family to the community. In response, Pence stated his disagreement but did not block state aid to the family. Before his role as the Vice President to President Trump's campaign however, Pence had a different view stating that, "calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional." Pence being known as a strong supporter of the Pro-Israel lobby, prior to President Trump's annoucement to select Pence as his running mate, advisors recommended Pence to stabilize Trump's relation with the Jewish community. Being a Christian, Pence believes that his faith compels him to support and cherish the biblically significant nation. When Pence visited the middle east in 2018 however, this reasoning behind the support for Israel was met with backlash from local Christians. On the same note, a pastor there stated, "I find very little, from what I know of it, in Mike Pence's religion that looks like Christianity to me,". Lastly, Pence's stance on a controversial religious freedom law sparked much concern within his own community. While vocalizing the importance of religious freedom throughout his career, Pence was criticized heavily after supporting Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act which allowed for businesses and individuals to refuse services based on their religious beliefs. This stance brought in the support of his fellow evangelicals and conservatives however it would have caused the rest of the community to boycott Indiana. As a result, Pence had to go back and sign a revised bill in its place. Document and Appeal REMEMBERING KANDHAMAL aKandhamal Never Again, Never Anywherea TheA National Solidarity Forum, representingA 70 national and regional organisations, has issued the following Appeal to observe theA 12th Kandhamal Day anniversary on 25th August 2020. The Forum observes the pogrom against Christians in the Kandhamal district of Orissa masterminded by the Sangh Parivar, with the then BJD-BJP coalition government looking on. aKandhamal Never Again, Never Anywherea has been the anniversary slogan ever since. NSFs appeal is signed by its core committee consisting of . with core team members; Dr. Ram Puniyani, Dr. John Dayal, Willy DCosta, KP Sasi, Dr. Stanley, DhirendraA Panda and Ajaya Kumar Singh. The following is the text of the appeal: KANDHAMAL DAY MEMORIAL We hope you remember the diabolic attacks on Christians in Kandhamal, Odisha in two consecutive years 2007 & 2008. The well planned attack on Christmas eve of 2007 was a forewarning of what was to come within months. Barely after eight days after celebration of Independence Day, India witnessed the organized communal attacks on Christians, the biggest in the history of India during the last three centuries, that began in Kandhamal and immediately spread to different parts of Odisha and other states. Over 395 churches and worship places which belonged to the Adivasi Christians and Dalit Christians were destroyed, around 6,500 houses were destroyed, over 100 people were killed, over 40 women were subjected to rape, molestation and humiliation and several educational, social service and health institutions were destroyed and looted. More than 75,000 people have been displaced. Several cases of forced conversion to Hinduism have been reported. During the communal violence in Kandhamal, there have been more than 3,300 complaints, but only 820 odd FIRs were registered. The rest of the complaints were not even registered. Among these complaints, only 518 cases were charge sheeted. The remaining cases were treated as false reports. And out of these 518 cases, 247 cases disposed of. The rest of the cases are pending before the sessions and magistrates courts. And among those cases which have been disposed of, many are already acquitted. According to study conducted by Supreme Court Adv Vrinda Grover and Law Prof Saumya Uma, it is reported that the conviction rate is as low as 5.13% of the charge sheeted cases. If you take complaints as a yardstick of justice process, it is just around 1% only. None of the criminals responsible for destruction are in jail today. The murderers, rapists, looters and destroyers are today running scot free. However, seven innocent persons in jail for 11 yearsA with fabricated cases,A have come on a bail On August 2, 2016, the Supreme Court led by Justice TS Thakur and Justice Uday Lalit mentioned in their judgement that the quantum and scope for compensation was not satisfactory and found that the court also found it disturbing that the offenders of law were not booked and ordered to review 315 cases of communal violence that were filed. The cases are still not yet reopened even after four years as Supreme Court has not set any deadline. There are houses, churches, institutions and volunteer organisations, whose properties destroyed were never found in the compensation list. There are many yet to receive the house damage compensation despite the SC order. Assets and shops of thousands of people were not listed nor considered. It is a tragedy that even after 12 years; there are hundreds of families are not able to return back to their ancestral villages for fear of losing life. This has taken a huge toll on their lives. The displaced ones within the districts now live in new colonies without access to resources for livelihood and life. The migrants, who left the district for life & livelihood are caught up badly with the pandemic COVID 19.A The widows, the relatives of those killed are fighting a court battle as well as survival besides the fear of the fanatics threats. The Survivors have the following demands: 1.A A A A A A Implementation of Supreme Court Verdict of August 2nd, 2016: Reopen of 315 closed/acquitted cases of violence and completion of compensation support 2.A A A A A A Constitute a Task Force to monitor the cases, Initiate & ensure Witnesses Protection Mechanism, Ensure Police officers for free and fair investigation to reopen the cases & appoint impartial and special prosecutors for the cases 3.A A A A A A Enhance up to 15 lakh for the death compensation in line of Muzaffarnagar violence cases. Enlist the dead, not made into death list for compensation and for criminal justice delivery system 4.A A A A A A Book state and non-state actors perpetrators involved in the attacks; 5.A A A A A A Announce special package for repair and reconstruction of houses as recommended in a study by former UN Special Rapporteur, Miloon Kothari up to 5 lakh and compensate those who lost their businesses. Enlist those who are not missed out by acts of commissions and omissions for swift compensation packages. 6.A A A A A A Immediately establish Odisha Minority Commission 7.A A A A A A Facilitate Minority schemes and scholarship in time bound manner and hold the officials responsible for any lapses and delays in implementations. 8.A A A A A A Ensure minority community presence in important administrative machinery to ward off biased decision as well as for harmonious and participatory decision processes. 9.A A A A A A Scrap Odisha anti-conversion law and Presidential Order 1950 para 3 to make religion neutral and delink it from affirmative action 10.A A Constitute Citizens and community interface with the administration for effectively combating the communal forces On the call of the National Solidarity Forum many leaders, academicians and activists visited Kandhamal to show solidarity during Kandhamal Day; Aruna Roy, Suhashini Ali, Brinda Karat, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Annie Raja, Medha Patkar, Mohammad Salim, Harsh Mander, Teesta Setalvad, Kavita Krishnan, Prafulla Samantara and many other eminent citizens. Justice AP Shah, Javed Akhtar, Mahesh Bhat, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat,A KP Krishnan, Harsh Mander, Mahesh Bhat, Miloon Kothari, Syeeda Hamid, Sukumar Muralidhar, Vahida Nainar, Vinod Raina, D. Raja, Swamy Agnivesh, Shabnam Hashmi, Collins Gonsalves, Adv Raju Ramachandran, Anil Choudhury, Paul Divakar have lent their voices and were part of interfaces. Important resources on theA Kandhamal journey include: White Papers by John Dayal in Tehelka; Kandhamal: The Law Must Change its Course by Vrinda Grover; Kandhamal: Waiting for Justice edited by Vahida, Nainar, Vrinda GroverA &A Saumya Uma; Kandhamal: Introspection of Initiative for Justice 2007-2015 by Vrinda Grover & Saumya Uma; Kandhamal: Unjust Compensation by Miloon Kothari & Shivani Choudhry; Documentary: Kandhamal: Voices from the Ruins, by KP Sasi; Exhibitions by Shabnam Hashmi; Photographs by Sashi Memmury; Photo Essay: Joe Athialy; The late Justice Hospet Suresh, Teesta Setalvad, SB Sreekumar IPS and John Dayal led first fact-finding team in the aftermath of first violence in 2007. It is time for us to reflect on what Kandhamal meant people of India Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and other marginalised sections. aThere are reported cases of 122 violence against Christians; of which only 23 FIRs registered until June this year 2020. The latest incident involving murderA of a young Christian boy named Somaru Madkami in Odisha to instances of physical assaults, threats and intimidation by family members and villagers alike and social ostracism. The yearA 2019 witnessed at least 328 incidents of targeted violence against Christians. The victims of these violent attacks included 275 tribal, 55 Dalits, 164 women and 117 children. Out of these, 131 incidents involved dereliction of duty by law enforcement authorities.A The attacks on Christians have increased consistently like 292 in 2018, 240 in 2017, 208 in 2016, 177 in 2015 and 147 in 2014. As a matter of fact, according to the World Watch List of 50 countries, India is the 10th most dangerous country in the world to live in for Christians as against 28th in the year 2014,A reports by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) India It is not just the Christian minority, but other vulnerable groups bear the brunt of hate crimes. aAmnesty International India documented 721 such incidents between 2015 and 2018.A In 2018 year, itself, it tracked 218 hate crimes, 142 of which were against Dalits, 50 against Muslims, 40 against women, and 8 each against Christians, Adivasi and transgendersa . (The Hindu; 10 July, 2019) Since 2009, people of Kandhamal and outside have been organizing 25th August as Kandhamal Day each year. This year on August 25, 2020 will be the completion of twelve years of Kandhamal communal violence and are still struggling for Peace, Justice and Harmony. We at the National Solidarity Forum, a network of over 70 organisations in India, appeal to all of you to observe Kandhamal Day on August 25thA onwards for a fortnight and support the victims and survivors, whose Freedom of conscience and Religion violated.A The organisers intend to promote India democratic & pluralistic values as pronounced by the Constitution of India and good practices. Therefore, we appeal to you to: Support and contribute the struggle of the survivors for justice, peace and harmony and observe Kandhamal Day in your area; Organise Webinar events, press release programmes, candle lights in your own houses for harmony; Organise film screenings in your area to spread the word. The films on this issue and written materials on this issue can be distributed if you contact the people noted above; Use social media and mainstream media to spread awareness on this issue and share information to maximum number of people within your network. Use media for photo & art exhibitions. We are sure that if all humanitarian forces join hands to build peace, justice and harmony in this country, we will be able to achieve results in these dark times and protect the values of Indian Constitution so that no such violence takes place in India. National Solidarity Forum: Dr. Ram Puniyani:A ram.puniyani[at]gmail.com Dr. John Dayal:A john.dayal[at]gmail.com KP Sasi:A kpsasi36[at]gmail.com Willy DCosta:A willyindia[at]gmail.com A Dr. Stanley William:A stanley111[at]gmail.com Dhirendra Panda:A dhirendrapanda[at]gmail.com Ajaya Kumar Singh:A ajaysingho[at]gmail.com Manoj Kumar Nayak:A jvmanojcc[at]gmail.com PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Moxie Labs, a digital marketing & product development agency located in Philadelphia, PA, is making its debut. The agency is co-founded by Justin Mathews (CEO) and Mike O'Malley (CIO), industry veterans who have spent the majority of their careers navigating the city's technology and marketing sectors. O'Malley worked for prominent marketing agencies such as MedManage Systems & Aptus Health, and eventually went on to build out his own shop, Elevation Agency. Mathews went down a management and business development route in the Philadelphia technology industry and worked for a few local notables such as Refinery, Tonic Design, and most recently, O3 World. The two entrepreneurs had long been aware of the intersection of marketing and technology in the business world. When discussing the possibility of starting a new business venture, they decided to build a new agency that recognized the importance of both niches for modern businesses. Once Moxie Labs was founded, it acquired O'Malley's previous venture Elevation Agency and set off on a new path for growth. Since its start, the company has grown to support nearly 22 employees and 8 clients across a variety of industries. Now that the company has made its public debut, both founders are looking forward to a bright future. "The extraordinary amount of growth we've seen over the past few months makes us feel comfortable to formally announce our new partnership and company." Mathews stated, "Mike and I are hyper-focused on our next steps in adding additional founders to our C-Suite in the coming months, as well as bolstering our production staff to take on the additional project work coming in. We couldn't be happier with the success we've seen to date and are excited to keep this pace of growth through the rest of the year." About Moxie Labs: Moxie Labs is a digital marketing & product development agency headquartered in Philadelphia, PA that provides end to end strategy, design, development, and marketing solutions for companies and brands around the world. We take a comprehensive top-down look at digital ecosystems and determine the best way to increase usability through a combination of modern marketing tactics and technology expertise. By analyzing complex problems and creating smart, strategic, and streamlined digital solutions for end-users, we push companies to do more with less. SOURCE Moxie Labs Related Links https://moxielabs.co/ Baghdad, Aug 26 : The Iraqi Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed 3,837 new Covid cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 215,784. The ministry also reported 72 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 6,668 in the country. It also said that 3,454 people recovered during the day, bringing the total recoveries from the disease to 157,215, Xinhua news agency reported. The new cases were recorded after 20,359 testing kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours. A total of 1,502,546 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the ministry's statement. Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Hazim al-Jumaili told the official Iraqi News Agency that there is an increase in the number of recoveries which came as a result of better treatment in hospitals, "in terms of the availability of oxygen and ventilators, as well as all medicines that the patients need." Iraq has been taking a series of measures to contain the pandemic since February when the first coronavirus case appeared in the country. 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. A 'road rage' driver accused of running over a woman during a traffic incident has denied murder. Robert Barrow, 54, of Chigwell, Essex, was charged with the murder of Tahereh Pirali-Dashti, 40, and attacking 56-year-old Asghar Moradmand. Mrs Pirali-Dashti was critically injured in the incident which happened on London's North Circular Road at Henlys Corner in Finchley on January 20. She had allegedly stopped to speak to Barrow after they were involved in a minor collision. Robert Barrow, 54, allegedly drove over Tahereh Pirali-Dashti, 40, following an incident on the North Circular Road in Finchley, north London, on January 20 It is claimed the defendant punched Mr Moradmand and then ran over Mrs Pirali-Dashti with his vehicle. Less than three months later, on April 10, she died in hospital of a combination of Covid-19, pneumonia and cardiac arrest following multiple injuries. On Wednesday, Barrow appeared for a virtual hearing before Mr Justice Edis at the Old Bailey via video-link from Wormwood Scrubs. He spoke to confirm his identity before entering not guilty pleas to charges of murder and assault by beating. Mr Justice Edis set a two-week trial for September 17 this year after identifying a 'window' of availability at the Old Bailey. The defendant was remanded into custody. Failed leadership As of Aug. 22, some 5.8 million Americans have been infected with coronavirus and more than 180,000 have died. Whats tragic is that we had ample warning about the pandemic and could have taken steps to contain it. Instead, the incompetence of the current administration has led to disaster. COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China, mid-November. By early January, U.S. intelligence agencies began issuing warnings about the virus in the presidents daily briefing. Taiwan, just 81 miles from China, had far less warning than we did. But they acted sensibly, quarantining passengers from Wuhan, using government funds to increase mask production and issuing daily press briefings to educate the public about coronavirus. So their outcomes were far better: Of 23 million people, they had only 487 cases, seven deaths. By contrast, President Trump downplayed the danger, saying the virus would just disappear." He failed to mobilize government resources to ramp up testing or to procure needed medical supplies. He divided the nation, turning the common-sense practice of wearing a mask into a political issue and pushing to open the economy before it was safe. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Less than a month after breaching the 100,000 mark, the Philippines coronavirus tally has surged past 202,000, according to the Department of Health. The number of coronavirus-hit individuals in the country reached 202,361 on Wednesday, after health officials reported 5,277 new cases of the disease. Eighty-two percent, or 4,350, of the newly-announced patients were diagnosed COVID-positive within the last 14 days, the DOH said. Among the top five reporting areas in terms of new cases are Metro Manila with 3,157, Laguna with 403, Negros Occidental with 304, Rizal with 237, and Cavite with 228. The special team tasked to bring down COVID-19 transmission in Cebu City is scheduled within the week to head to Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental, to help tame the recent spike of infections in the area. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier made an urgent appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to send an augmentation team of medical workers as an emergency measure before the citys healthcare system completely bogs down. READ: Gov't shifts focus on Bacolod amid appeal for COVID-19 assistance Another 1,131 survivors were also listed by the DOH, with recoveries now at 133,460. Meanwhile, the department confirmed 99 more COVID-19 fatalities, 77 of which occurred in August, while 22 in the months of May to July. Most of the 99 deaths are from Metro Manila with 61, Calabarzon with 14, Central Luzon with 12, and Central Visayas with six. The other six were logged in other regions nationwide. To date, 3,137 people in the country have died of the disease, based on DOH data. The department noted that 65,764 or 32 percent of the national case count are active cases or currently ill patients. According to the University of the Philippines OCTA Research team, the country may be able to flatten the coronavirus curve by next month, but a downward trend must be sustained for several months to manage the pandemic. The same team projected that the countrys cases may hit over 200,000 by end-August despite a slower trend during the stricter quarantine period imposed in high-risk areas in the first half of the month. Seven more Filipinos abroad also tested positive for the virus, while an additional 47 have recovered, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Its latest report showed there are currently 10,035 cases among overseas Filipinos, of which 6,076 are recoveries and 742 are deaths. There are now over 23.9 million COVID-19 cases across the globe, including more than 819,000 deaths and 15.5 million recoveries, based on the Johns Hopkins University tracker. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 16:04 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40a69be 1 World diplomacy,cooperation,Singapore,Indonesia,leaders-retreat,COVID-19,travel-corridor,essential-needs Free Cross-strait neighbors Indonesia and Singapore have initiated talks on opening a "travel corridor" ahead of the annual leaders retreat, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi arrived in the island city-state on Monday for a bilateral meeting the following day with her Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan. Retno also paid a courtesy call to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong regarding the upcoming leaders' retreat. During their bilateral meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed two key issues: preparations for the Indonesia-Singapore Annual Leaders Retreat and plans on the Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) for essential businesses. The ministers "agreed to assign their respective teams to start negotiations at the first opportunity, the Foreign Ministry said in a press statement dated Aug. 25. Indonesia already has similar arrangements with the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and China. The travel corridors relax the COVID-19 travel restrictions for urgent official trips and essential business while still maintaining strict health and safety protocols. The three countries are among Indonesias top bilateral partners, most notably in the economic sector, and the travel corridors facilitate follow-up on any existing strategic projects. Singapore has been Indonesia's leading investment partner this year, channeling US$4.7 billion to the archipelago in the first half, up 36 percent from the same period last year. Indonesia recorded a non-oil and gas trade surplus of $398 million with Singapore in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 10.6 percent from $360 million in the first half of 2019. Indonesia recorded its first contraction in 20 years when its economy contracted 5.32 percent in the second quarter, while Singapore entered a recession in the second quarter when its economy contracted 13.2 percent. While Singapore has permitted diplomatic and business travel for selected countries, it recently announced that it would be reopening its borders to visitors from New Zealand and Brunei Darussalam in September. The government has previously asked Singapore to reopen its borders to Indonesia, in particular the borders it shares with the commercial and tourist hubs of Bintan and Batam that have been closed for months due to COVID-19 restrictions. In their bilateral meeting, the two foreign ministers agreed that it was important that the 2020 annual leaders retreat produced concrete cooperation, especially in light of the pandemic that had ravaged the global economy. The two [sides] agreed that the issues that could be discussed at the leaders' retreat included strengthening cooperation in the fields of health, economy and finance, the ministry said in its statement. The ministry also stated that Indonesia and Singapore would form six working groups as a follow-up to the bilateral meeting. The working groups were to hammer out the details for the upcoming retreat according to a schedule that will be determined at the first opportunity. The working groups are to each have a focus issue comprising investments, human resources, transportation, agriculture, tourism and the Batam-Bintan-Karimun (BBK) cooperation. The BBK is a special economic zone that has been in talks since 2006, during the first term of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's presidency. The ministry said that economic cooperation topped the list of issues on the table for this year's retreat, including the development of the Kendal Industrial Park (KIP) in Central Java and the Nongsa Digital Park in Batam, the Riau Islands. Other topics included various initiatives in e-commerce, fintech, data services and the development of techno parks and regional innovation hubs. The two countries' heads of state meet every year at the retreat. Last year, President Joko Jokowi Widodo traveled to Singapore to meet with Prime Minister Lee in October, while the 2018 retreat was held in Bali, also in October. At the 2019 retreat, Jokowi and Lee touched on airspace management and joint military exercises, two of the more controversial issues in Indonesian-Singaporean relations. In this image from a video, Abby Johnson speaks from Washington on Tuesday during the Republican National Convention. Another speaker, Mary Ann Mendoza, was scheduled to appear, but the RNC removed her video from the lineup after she posted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories earlier Tuesday. (Associated Press) The Republican National Convention cut one speaker's video after she posted anti-Semitic tweets, but continued to spotlight other conservative voices that have come under fire for problematic statements. Mary Ann Mendoza, a consultant for the We Build the Wall organization, was scheduled to speak but her video was removed from the lineup at the last minute after she promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories on Twitter earlier in the day. On its first night, the convention featured Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who are facing felony charges after pointing weapons at Black Lives Matter protesters passing by their St. Louis mansion. Abby Johnson, an antiabortion activist spoke Tuesday in a pre-taped video to the RNC. Johnson spoke about how she became an antiabortion activist after working at a Planned Parenthood clinic. But earlier in the day she faced growing criticism and anger about a video she posted online in June about her family, particularly her biracial son, fatherhood and policing. In a video titled, My thoughts on fatherhood, Johnson speaks about her son, Jude, as an adorable, perpetually tan-looking little brown boy. But one day hes going to grow up and hes going to be a tall, probably sort of large, intimidating-looking maybe brown man, said Johnson, who is white and has four other sons. And my other boys are probably going to look like nerdy white guys. Johnson explained that she will have to talk to Jude differently than her white sons when it comes to confrontations with the police. She pointed to statistics showing Black men make up a disproportionately high proportion of prison populations and said police would know those numbers as well. Theyre going to know that statistically, my brown son is more likely to commit a violent offense over my white sons, she says in the video, referring to law enforcement. The fact that in his head he would be more careful around my brown son than my white sons, that doesnt actually make me angry. That makes that police officer smart. Story continues If a police officer is more violent toward her brown son than her white sons, she said, then that makes me angry. She then goes on to blame incarceration of Black men on bad dads, not bad cops. Johnson did not mention that numerous studies have shown that Black Americans often face discrimination when it comes to housing, education, healthcare and criminal justice rights. Black men and women are often targeted more often than their white counterparts by law enforcement. The video was first reported by the Daily Caller in June, but a piece by Vice News prompted outcry. It is absolutely terrifying and heartbreaking that this woman thinks this way about her own child, lawyer Jill Filipovic tweeted. In a follow-up tweet she added, I feel so sorry for this child and am sincerely worried that he is not safe. He is certainly not being protected in Abby Johnson's care. Mendoza, whose son was killed in a car collision after being hit by a drunk driver who was in the country illegally, was scheduled to speak at the Republican convention, but CNN reported just minutes before the start of the convention that she would no longer speak. In a statement, Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said the organization was pleased that convention officials took prompt action "to make sure the Convention reflects who we are and our values as a party." "We are deeply troubled by Mendoza's tweets and comments that trafficked in vicious antisemitic messages. While we mourn the horrible loss of her son, her views clearly disqualify her from addressing the Convention," he said. The announcement came just hours after the Daily Beast published a piece about Mendoza promoting a thread on Twitter that pushed QAnon conspiracy theories about Jewish people. The thread also calls philanthropist George Soros One Of The Absolute Most Corrupt And Evil Individuals Alive Today. Mendoza once tweeted that Soros was a "Nazi." Soros, who is Jewish, is a Holocaust survivor. And Tuesday, GOP congressional candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted that she would attend Trump's acceptance speech on Thursday. The Georgia candidate has previously pushed far-right QAnon conspiracy theories and has made racist claims about Black and Latino men. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Bahrain's ruler Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Wednesday as he pursues Arab-Israel normalisation of relations - AP An Israeli delegation will visit the United Arab Emirates on Monday on what will be the first commercial flight between the two countries, as the United States seeks to maintain momentum in its drive towards normalisation between Arab countries and the Jewish state. Israels National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat will lead his countrys delegation to Abu Dhabi, while his US counterpart Robert OBrien will also be aboard, alongside the presidents son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner and special representative for Iran Brian Hook. The flight from Tel Aviv is likely to be an El Al aircraft with a star of David on the tail. The Israeli delegation will include experts from various sectors seeking to establish business links with the Gulf, including in tourism, trade, energy and security. The trip will highlight that the normalisation process remains on track, after news leaked this week that the UAE had cancelled a meeting with Israel and the US last Friday over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus opposition to the Gulf federation acquiring US F-35 fighter Jets. On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that the US remains committed to maintaining Israels military advantage in the region. The current drive towards normalisation was launched on August 13 when President Donald Trump announced the UAE would recognise Israel in exchange for the suspension of Israels plans for annexing parts of the West Bank. The announcement was hailed as an historic breakthrough in the Arab-Israeli peace process by Mr Trump, who is seeking a foreign policy victory ahead of November presidential elections. The UAE was the third Arab country after Jordan and Egypt to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and Mr Pompeo is now touring the region pressuring other Arab governments to follow suit. On Tuesday, Mr Pompeo's hopes for a speedy breakthrough in Sudan were dashed when Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced that his transitional government does not have a mandate to normalise ties with Israel. Story continues Instead Mr Hamdok called for the removal of Sudan from the State Departments state sponsors of terrorism blacklist, which will be critical if his badly indebted economy is to access financial aid from international institutions. Washington has told Khartoum it must first pay $300m compensation to families of victims of bombings at the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998. Sudans transitional government previously agreed in April to pay compensation to the families of US sailors killed aboard the USS Cole when it was bombed in Aden in 2000. Courts in the US have found that Sudanese support to Al Qaeda in the 1990s was instrumental in the groups ability to carry out these attacks. Mr Hamdok urged the US administration to "separate the process of removing Sudan from the list of states sponsoring terrorism and the issue of normalisation with Israel". On his next stop in Bahrain on Wednesday, Mr Pompeo met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his son, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Observers have noted that quiet pre-existing relations with Israel suggest Bahrain could normalise ties next, and that reaction to such a move could be used as a gauge for neighbouring Saudi Arabia. In a statement after the meeting, the state-run Bahrain News Agency said King Hamad "stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict." The king said that includes a two-state solution for an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital -- a longtime Arab demand. The United States is hoping though that common enmity against Iran will encourage other Arab states to forge a new regional alliance with Israel. After his meeting in Bahrain, Mr Pompeo wrote on Twitter: We discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of Gulf unity and countering Iran's malign influence in the region. But US strategy against Iran took a blow on Wednesday, when the United Nations Security Council rejected a bid to impose snapback sanctions on the Islamic republic. Indonesias UN ambassador, whose country is presiding over the Security Council for August, said many of the 15 member states rejected the bid to reimpose sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal because the US withdrew from the accord in 2018. US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft accused the opposing countries of standing in the company of terrorists. After visiting the UAE to discuss normalisation, Mr Pompeo will conclude his trip in Oman, where he will push Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said to also establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel. In 2018, Mr Netanyahu paid a surprise visit to Oman, which often plays the role of neutral regional mediator. During his first joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov accused Armenia of violations and crimes. The minister assured that Azerbaijan hopes Russia helps settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and talked about the occupation of 20% of the territories of Azerbaijan, the exile of the Azerbaijani population, etc. Obviously, Bayramov didnt mention anything about the Armenian massacres in Azerbaijan, the seizure of Armenian territories and the hundreds of thousands of Armenian refugees. Bayramov accused Armenia of populating the occupied territories with Armenians from the Middle East which, according to him, is a violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. He also accused Armenia of escalating the situation in the Tavush Province of Armenia in July of this year and presented the capture of Armenian officer Gurgen Alaverdyan as elimination of a sabotage group. However, he failed to see that the Azerbaijani authorities are violating international humanitarian law and Geneva Conventions with their actions against Alaverdyan and previously captured Armenians. Queens Old Castle The planned redevelopment of an iconic building in Cork city centre has been delayed. Planners at Cork City Hall have requested further information on the planned refurbishment of the Queens Old Castle site, which was most recently occupied by Argos but has previously operated as a shopping mall and hotel. City Properties (Cork) Limited has applied for permission to redevelop the site at 84-89 Grand Parade, Cork city, including the reconfiguration of the interior of the building to form two smaller retail shops fronting onto Grand Parade, and to change a large portion of the site into retail and co-working office space. In all, some 3382.9 sq m of office space was proposed. However, planners have sought further information on a number of grounds. This includes details about conservation - planners are of the opinion that the retail elements of the plan should "re-establish the original shopfront" by removing and reducing the height of the facade - as well as drainage and the environmental impact of the plan. Questions are also raised about archaeology, including any potential impact of the design on the medieval city wall, which traverses the rear of the proposed retail units. The developers have up to six months to submit the information. Outdoor seating A city-centre restaurant is seeking permission to erect awning at its premises. Georges Labbad has submitted a request to Cork City Council for permission to erect an awning/canopy outside 11-12 Academy Street for outdoor seating. The building is currently occupied by Umi Falafel. Former Motorcycle store A decision is due on a plan to revitalise a disused commercial building at the eastern end of Oliver Plunkett Street in the coming days. LHC Investment Ltd has applied to Cork City Council for permission to convert a disused commercial building at the corner of Lower Oliver Plunkett Street and Connell Street. It was previously used for motorcycle sales and as Cork Community Print Shop. The proposal is to revamp the building into a 'guest accommodation' facility with 19 bedrooms, numbering some 43 beds, and a cafe. In its application, the developers state "guest accommodation represents an alternative form of accommodation rather than more conventional hotel/hostel model". It responds to the niche "city sleepers" target market, which typically does not require the full range of services provided in standard hotels and "tend to pack light", they said. The proposal would "assist in contributing to a wider variety of accommodation in the city centre". They say there are just seven budget accommodation options in Cork city centre, lower than other cities. Developers say the scheme has been designed in line with Failte Ireland's 'welcome standard' guidelines, and note that the Windsor Inn on Cork's MacCurtain Street, is a precedent of developments adopting these guidelines. Boston Scientific Boston Scientific Ltd has been granted planning permission for a new administrative building of more than 3,200 sq m at its Model Farm Road base. The site in the west of Cork city will see the development of a three-storey building, including a canteen, offices, meeting rooms and support areas. The development will result in the relocation of 35 parking spaces and the addition of some 40 new ones, and Boston Scientific says the new building will "integrate with a number of existing structures on site". The works will take place within the curtilage of the former Munster Institute, which is a protected structure. Broad Lane apartments A developer behind a proposed new apartment block in Blackpool on the north side of Cork city has appealed their plan to An Bord Pleanala. Cork City Council rejected the application from Kieran O'Shea to demolish a derelict building at 11 Broad Lane, off Great William O'Brien Street, and to construct four apartments in its place. Planners raised concerns about the "height, bulk and form" of the proposed new building, suggesting it would injure the amenities around the site and would "depreciate the value of property in the vicinity". However, Mr O'Shea has appealed this decision, with An Bord Pleanala due to make a ruling by the end of the year. Cashel homes A development of 44 houses can now proceed at Spafield in Cashel after An Bord Pleanala overturned the decision of Tipperary County Council to reject the scheme. Stillwater Investment Ltd had been refused permission on the basis it had "an inadequate quantum of public open space, absence of housing mix and deficiencies in the road network and footpath." Council planners also said it would cause a traffic hazard. However, An Bord Pleanala overturned this decision, insisting instead the development "would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area, and would be acceptable in terms of pedestrian and traffic safety." It has applied some 20 conditions to the scheme. Newcastlewest homes A development of some ten houses is now free to proceed in Newcastle West, Co Limerick after An Bord Pleanala approved the scheme. Valerie Dimaulo had sought permission to build 10 houses at Rathnaneane, Newcastle West, though the development was appealed, with concerns raised about its impact on the existing residential amenity in the area, as well as traffic, density and pedestrian access. Subject to some 12 conditions, An Bord Pleanala has approved the scheme, suggesting it "would not adversely impact on the residential amenities or the amenities of adjoining properties". A bar at Kilbarry, Co Waterford is to be demolished and replaced by 45 apartments after An Bord Pleanala rejected an appeal against the plan. Dalira Ltd can now proceed with its proposal to demolish Ryans Bar at Ballybeg Drive, Ballybeg, Kilbarry, Co Waterford, replacing it with a new building of two to four storeys, comprising 390 metres of retail spaces and 45 apartments. The scheme was approved by An Bord Pleanala subject to 18 conditions. (Newser) A 17-year-old from Illinois has been arrested and charged with killing two people during protests in Kenosha, Wis., Tuesday night. Police in Antioch, Ill., say Kyle Rittenhousedescribed by the AP as a "police admirer"was taken into custody Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. Court records seen by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel state that Rittenhouse faces a homicide charge in Wisconsin, where the law requires him to be charged as an adult. In an incident captured in graphic video Tuesday night, a person armed with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire in the middle of a Kenosha street. "I just killed somebody," the person said. Witnesses said the gunman walked past police with his rifle over his shoulder as people in the crowd yelled for him to be arrested. story continues below Rittenhouse is believed to have fled to Antioch, 30 miles away, after the Kenosha shooting. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth says one person was shot in the head and another in the chest. A third person suffered non-life-threatening wounds. He said a "militia" of armed vigilantes had been patrolling Kenosha's streets during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, but it's not clear whether Rittenhouse was among them, the Chicago Tribune reports. Before Tuesday's shooting, a vigilante group calling itself the "Kenosha Guard" posted a call on Facebook for "patriots willing to take up arms and defend out (sic) city tonight from the evil thugs." The AP reports that police were seen Tuesday night handing out bottled water to a group of armed civilians that apparently included the gunman. (Read more protests stories.) ST. LOUIS The National Black Farmers Association filed on Wednesday a federal lawsuit to block Creve Coeur-based agribusiness giant Monsanto and its German parent company, Bayer, from selling the weedkiller Roundup. The suit alleges that Black farmers across the country have been forced to use Roundup-resistant seeds and Roundup in increasingly heavier applications, and that Monsanto failed to inform the farmers of the weedkillers risks. The cycle can only be broken by removing the product from the market, Chris Schnieders, a partner at Napoli & Shkolnik in Kansas City and one of the attorneys who filed suit, said at a Wednesday press conference. In June, Bayer agreed to pay more than $10 billion to settle tens of thousands of claims that Roundup causes cancer, but wouldnt agree to stop selling the product, or add warning labels. Bayer said Wednesdays suit is brought by two firms that refused to settle. People should see this action for what it is an attempt by plaintiffs lawyers to use media and more litigation to further their own financial interests, the company said in a statement sent by deputy communications director Susan Luke. There is no basis in fact or law for the health claims in this suit, as Roundup has been assessed and approved by independent health regulators worldwide, including the EPA, which have found that Roundup can be used safely as directed. Farmers have many seed and weedkiller choices, the company said. Competition and choice are alive and well in agriculture and benefit farmers equally, the statement concluded. Bayer had hoped the June settlement would end a period of uncertainty that carried great risk for the companys valuation and reputation. Over the past two years, for instance, two separate California juries ordered the company to pay plaintiffs $286 million and $2 billion, before judges and appeals courts trimmed the payments into the tens of millions of dollars. But Wednesdays new lawsuit signals that legal fights are keeping Bayers marquee weed control product in the crosshairs. Jim Onder, an attorney from the St. Louis-based Onder Law Firm and a co-counsel for the suit, said there are at least 25,000 alleged cancer victims who have not settled with Bayer. Some of those are members of the National Black Farmers Association who sued Wednesday. John Wesley Boyd Jr., the associations founder and president, equated Bayers settlement offer to pennies at Wednesdays press conference. The organization represents 109,000 Black farmers in 42 states. Wednesdays suit alleges that thousands of those farmers have used Roundup for decades. Some have already been injured by the product, the suit says. Others believe they are developing cancer. The suit says Monsanto has slowly bought up seed companies and shelf space in local seed stores, crowding out conventional varieties, and practically requiring growers to adopt seeds that are genetically modified to withstand Roundup herbicide. An overwhelming majority of Black farmers, the suit says, use the product and are disproportionately affected by the risks associated with it. I dont know a Black farmer that has not used the product, Boyd said at the press conference. Thats how big the issue is. Those farmers, he added, face compounded risks as members of groups that have historically been denied access to outreach and technical assistance about ways to best use the chemical. Black farmers, due to long-documented disparities in literacy and education rates, have been particularly hurt by the lack of a plain, clear warning on Roundup products, the suit alleges. And Monsanto has told them for decades that Roundup products are safe, the suit says. Moreover, the weeds Roundup was meant to kill, pigweed and broadleaf species, are becoming more and more resistant to the herbicide, the suit says, requiring farmers to use more Roundup, and also other dangerous chemicals. The suit asks the court to block Monsanto from continuing to market and sell Roundup, to force Monsanto to remove the products from store shelves, and to more clearly label the products dangers. Ben Crump, a co-counsel for the Black farmers association, also represents the family of George Floyd, killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. Bayer did not make an executive available for an interview, but said in its statement, Racism has no place in our society or at Bayer. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Wednesday added 24 Chinese companies to a government list that bans them from buying American products, citing their role in helping the Chinese military construct artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. The Trump administration has penalized dozens of Chinese companies in previous months by adding them to the so-called entity list over national security concerns related to advanced technology and alleged human rights violations against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region. But this is the first time that the administration has used the entity list in relation to Chinas encroachment in the South China Sea, which stretches south of Hong Kong and borders the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries. Companies added to the entity list will no longer be able to buy technology and other products shipped from the United States, whether a toothbrush or a semiconductor, without first obtaining special permission to do so, said Kevin Wolf, an international trade partner at Akin Gump. While companies can request a license to continue selling to firms on the entity list, such requests are often denied, the Commerce Department said. The State Department also announced that it would begin imposing visa restrictions on Chinese citizens responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea. Such individuals would be barred from the United States, and their family members may also face visa restrictions, the announcement said. A stolen car is recovered from the Colinbrook walkway area of Poleglass on August 26th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police have appealed for information after a car was stolen in south Belfast and later found burned in the west of the city. Sometime between 11pm on Sunday night and 7am on Monday morning a set of car keys and a Honda Jazz car were stolen during a burglary at a house in the Stranmillis Park area. Police received a report at around 10.50pm on Tuesday night that a Honda Jazz was driving dangerously on the Pembrook Loop Road area of Belfast. It was then reported that the vehicle was on fire in the Colin Glen Close area of Belfast. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended and extinguished the fire, but the vehicle was completely destroyed. Local Sinn Fein councillor Stephen Magennis said the car had been burnt out behind Good Shepherd Primary School. "Kids and parents had to walk by this today," he said in a social media post. "Myself and Brendan McAteer from the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership and SNP Volunteers went up and spoke to the principal. "This is the second time in a week this has happened which is a disgrace. The people who done this need to wise up and realise what this does to the area. We will be meeting this week to discuss this issue to resolve it. If you have any info around this get in touch." Expand Close A stolen car is recovered from the Colinbrook walkway area of Poleglass on August 26th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A stolen car is recovered from the Colinbrook walkway area of Poleglass on August 26th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police said enquiries into the incident were continuing. "Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the Stranmillis Park area on Sunday night, or the Colin Glen Close area on Tuesday evening to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 869 of 24/08/20," a PSNI spokesperson said. "You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ "Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime." The Royal Standard flag that flies above Buckingham Palace signaling when Queen Elizabeth II is there, may not ever be raised again. Thats because the monarch has moved out of her official working residence and there are reports that she wont be able to return to the London base. Heres the reason the palace is boarded up and why the queen wont be back there for at least the foreseeable future. Queen Elizabeth II | UK Press/Getty Images RELATED: Queen Elizabeth IIs Staffers Are Banned From Vacuuming Rugs in Buckingham Palace for Strange Reason When and why Queen Elizabeth moved out of Buckingham Palace Queen Elizabeth has lived in the London palace most of her life and raised her children there, but the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced her to leave several months ago. On March 19, the royal family matriarch announced that she and Prince Philip left their residences and moved to Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England. The move was thought to be temporary and that the queen would return to Buckingham Palace and Philip would return to the Woodfarm Cottage house when it was safe to do so. But when their summer holiday at Balmoral concludes she wont go back to London like she always has in the past. The queen may never return to her London base Queen Elizabeth II | John Stillwell WPA Pool/Getty Images The Mirror reported that the monarch has been informed that the safest option for her is to return to Windsor Castle where there is a close-knit bubble of household staff. There is also talk that she can commute to the city for official business that needs to be carried out there. The Express noted that The Suns executive editor Dan Wootton gave his thoughts about Queen Elizabeth not being able to return to her home for the foreseeable future on an episode of True Royalty TV. It is sad that the queen cannot go back to Buckingham Palace, he said. It is particularly devastating for the queen, in the twilight years of her life when she wants to keep working It is highly likely that the queen will not live at Buckingham Palace again. Why the palace is boarded up and will Prince Charles move in? Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles | Jonathan Brady /AFP via Getty Images Over the past few months, many people have reported seeing some of Buckingham Palaces windows boarded up and are now wondering if thats a sign that the queen wont be coming home. However, the boarded-up windows have nothing to do with the monarch returning or not. They are actually up because of the renovations taking place in certain parts of the palace. Those renovations were put on hold amid the pandemic but have now resumed. One question remains: If Queen Elizabeth stays at Windsor, will Prince Charles prepare to move into the London palace? According to multiple reports, the Prince of Wales has no interest in making the palace his primary residence now or when hes king. I know he is no fan of the big house, as he calls the palace, a source told The Sunday Times. He doesnt see it as a viable future home or a house thats fit for purpose in the modern world. He feels its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable. Types of obituaries The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries family obituaries and life stories. A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories. Suriya recently shocked everyone by announcing the release date of his much-awaited film, Soorarai Pottru on OTT platform. The Kollywood star's next will be exclusively available on Amazon Prime Video from October 30, 2020. In a long announcement note, Suriya said that he took this decision after considering the current situation of COVID-19 in the country. When Suriya announced the OTT release of Soorarai Pottru, netizens started raising questions over his decision. Notably, exhibitors and distributors are also not happy with Suriya's decision. Like all, director Hari penned a letter to his dear friend Suriya and asked him to reconsider his decision of releasing Soorarai Pottru on OTT. In the letter written in Tamil, Hari expressed that as a fan, he would love to see Soorarai Pottru in theatres. The director who has earlier collaborated with Suriya for films like Singam series, Aaru and Vel, asked the actor to reconsider his decision as he feels that Suriya has a solid fan following and they would want to see him on the big screen. For the unversed, Soorarai Pottru was earlier scheduled to be released on April 9, 2020. Directed by Sudha Kongara Prasad, the film also stars Aparna Balamurali, Paresh Rawal and Mohan Babu in key roles. Soorarai Pottru is based on the real-life events of Air Deccan founder GR Gopinath. Also Read : Soorarai Pottru Pre-Release Business: Suriya Starrer Makes Huge Profit! The Suriya-starrer was clashing with Vijay's Master. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the makers had to push the release of the film. Now, after Hari's letter, let's see how Suriya reacts to his request. Also Read : Soorarai Pottru: Suriya-Sudha Kongara's Action Drama To Release On Amazon Prime On October 30! It's official, California: COVID-19 has left us sick with worry and increasingly despondent. And our youngest adults ages 18 to 29 are feeling it worst. Weekly surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau from late April through late July offer a grim view of the toll the pandemic has taken on the nation's mental health. By late July, more than 44% of California adult respondents reported levels of anxiety and gloom typically associated with diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder, a stunning figure that rose through the summer months alongside the menacing spread of the coronavirus. America at large has followed a similar pattern, with about 41% of adult respondents nationwide reporting symptoms of clinical anxiety or depression during the third week of July. By comparison, just 11% of American adults reported those symptoms in a similar survey conducted in early 2019. The July responses showed a marked geographic variance, with residents of Western and Southern states, where the virus remains most virulent, registering greater mental distress, on average. The findings reflect a generalized sense of hopelessness as the severity of the global crisis set in. Most adults have been moored at home in a forced stasis, many in relative isolation. The unemployment rate hit its highest rate since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Thousands of families across California and tens of thousands across the U.S. have lost people to the virus. There is no clear indication when or even if life will return to normal. "The pandemic is the first wave of this tsunami, and the second and third waves are really going to be this behavioral health piece," said Jessica Cruz, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) California. The surveys were part of a novel partnership between the National Center for Health Statistics and the Census Bureau to provide relevant statistics on the coronavirus's impact. In weekly online surveys over three months, the Census Bureau asked about 900,000 Americans questions to quantify their levels of anxiety or depression. The four survey questions are a modified version of a common screening tool physicians use to diagnose mental illness. Respondents were asked how often during the previous seven days they had been bothered by feeling hopeless or depressed; had felt little interest or pleasure in doing things; had felt nervous or anxious; or had experienced uncontrolled worry. They were scored based on how often they had experienced those symptoms in the previous week, ranging from never to nearly every day. High scores on the anxiety questions indicated symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder. High scores on the depression questions indicated symptoms of major depressive disorder. In both California and the nation, symptoms of depression and anxiety were more pronounced among young adults, and generally decreased with age. For example, nearly 3 in 4 California respondents between ages 18 and 29 reported "not being able to stop or control worrying" for at least several of the previous seven days. And 71% reported feeling "down, depressed or hopeless" during that time. Interestingly, respondents 80 and older an age group far more likely to suffer and die from COVID-19 reported nowhere near the same levels of distress. Just 40% reported feeling down or hopeless for at least several days in the previous week, and 42% reported uncontrollable worry. Cruz said that may be because young adults are more comfortable expressing worry and sadness than their parents and grandparents, adding that such openness is a good thing. However, even before the pandemic, suicide rates among teens and young adults had been on a yearslong climb nationwide, and California emergency rooms had registered a sharp rise in the number of young adults seeking care for mental health crises. Some researchers have cited the ubiquitous reach of social media and with it an increased sense of inferiority and alienation as factors in the rise in mental health struggles among younger generations. COVID-19 could be exacerbating those feelings of isolation, Cruz said. The Census surveys also found higher rates of depression and anxiety among those who have lost jobs during the pandemic. Young adults in the service sector have been hit particularly hard by the wide-scale economic shutdowns. In July, the unemployment rate among U.S. workers ages 20 to 24 was 18%, compared with 9% among workers 25-54, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Others noted that many other young adults who would normally be immersed in college life are stuck on the couch in their parents' home, staring at a professor on Zoom, with little social life and no paid work after class. "Some of the things that generally help improve mood have been more difficult and more challenging now," said Paul Kim, director of counseling services at the University of California-Davis. "So I think some of our counselors work is to help them think through, 'How is it, for example, you stay socially connected while socially distant?'" Californians with lower incomes also reported higher levels of anxiety or depression. About 72% of California respondents with household incomes below $35,000 reported "little interest or pleasure in doing things" for at least several of the previous seven days, according to an average of survey results from July 2 through July 21. "People have had a lot of trouble accessing unemployment benefits that has not been an easy path," said Jo Campbell, a therapist and integrated operations director at Hill Country Community Clinic, which provides services to clients, many of them economically disadvantaged, in Shasta County. Some experts said they worry that the tumble toward depression and anxiety could outlast the pandemic itself, particularly if the economy lapses into a prolonged recession. "The pandemic will likely have short- and long-term implications on mental health and substance use," said Laura Pancake, a vice president at Pacific Clinics, one of the largest mental health service providers in Southern California. The pandemic, she added, "has only exacerbated existing challenges that many face, including unemployment, poor health and other barriers." Phillip Reese is a data reporting specialist and an assistant professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento. This KHN story first published on California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation. For decades, the Portal Bridge in Kearny has been the source of countless commuter nightmares. The 110-year-old swing bridge that carries Amtrak and NJ Transits Northeast Corridor Line over the Hackensack River is notorious for getting stuck after it rotates open to allow boat traffic to pass by. Some days the signals dont work. Other days the tracks dont line up and must be hammered into place. 26.08.2020 LISTEN The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has taken on the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong over claims the later recently with regards to the collapse of Heritage Bank Ghana Limited in 2019. Kennedy Agyapong on his NET2 TV station on August 19, 2020, among other things alleged that Seidu Agongo, the majority shareholder of the then Heritage Bank deceived the Bank of Ghana with non-existent fund to open the bank. Responding to the claims, ASEPA in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mensah Thompson said there was no justification for the revocation of Heritage Banks license. Kennedy Agyapong spewed falsehood The advocacy group insisted that Kennedy Agyapong spewed falsehood over the issue. ASEPA argued that the then Heritage Bank was the most solvent bank among all the institutions that had their licenses revoked during the banking sector cleanup done by the Bank of Ghana. ASEPA said the reasons advanced for the license withdrawal, which included the use of nonexistent capital to establish the bank and inability to recapitalize to GH400 were politically motivated and meant to hide a vile plan to deprive the owner of his assets. Ken Agyapong, just like all the other government propagandists sought to create the impression that the promoters and, later shareholders of Heritage Bank used nonexistent funds to set up the bankLets set the record straight by stating emphatically that of all the banks that were collapsed under the so-called cleanup, only Heritage Bank was solvent amongst them. In other words, the bank was profitable, liquid and financially sound. Heritage Bank was deliberately targeted ASEPA was of the view that Heritage bank was deliberately targeted by the government and collapsed partly for being overexposed to Alhaji Agongo. The advocacy group insisted that evidence abound that some banks that escaped the Bank of Ghanas cleanup exercise had one shareholder owning more than the 70 percent that Alhaji Agongo owned in Heritage Bank. It was able to meet its withdrawal demands from customers and it continued to service its obligations in earnest. The bank was generally bubbly and on the path of becoming one of the most profitable indigenous banks only for the Bank of Ghana to cut its promising future short. As a matter of fact, the Bank of Ghana even admitted Heritage Banks solvent nature in the statement that announced the revocation of the banks license, ASEPA said in its statement. Stop tarnishing Agongos image ASEPA, therefore, called on Mr Kennedy Agyapong, to desist from impugning criminal acts against the founder of the erstwhile bank. The group alleged that, prior to having its license revoked, Heritage Bank was asked by the central bank to merge with another bank. It noted that after scrutinizing the books of the suggested bank, management of Heritage bank declined the merger and informed the central bank about the decision. Even though the Governor Dr. Addison admitted the reason to decline the merger, he later turned round to revoke the license of the very strong bank it wanted to merge with another dying bank to save it. While we urge Kennedy Agyapong and his proteges to purge themselves of the deliberate deceit and the lies, let it be known to them in clear terms that for each of the allegations levelled against the Heritage Bank by the Bank of Ghana and the government, their favourite banks that are still in existence committed and are still committing worse offences yet they have been left to operate. You dont need banking expertise to own a bank On the expertise of Alhaji Agongo to own a bank, the statement said the entrepreneur did not need banking expertise to own a bank. The issue here is that entrepreneurs do not need to be experts in where they invest; they need to have the expert eyes to hunt and recruit experts and technical minds in sectors that they invest in to manage those businesses, it said. This explains why Seidu Agongo, in his infinite yet humbling wisdom on entrepreneurship recruited the astute and internationally acclaimed economist and seasoned financial and governance expert, Prof. Kwesi Botchwey to chair the Board of Directors of the Heritage Bank. On that board were also people with various expertise whose experiences resulted in the efficiency in the banks operations and the impact it made in the banking sector within that short period of time. --- The General Secretary elect of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Nana Yaa Akyimpim Jantuah has said she still harbors some resentment towards the former president Jerry John Rawlings. According to her, the Rawlings regime meted out physical abuse on her family and molested her as a young child over her familys protest against the union government revolution at the time. Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM on Monday August 25, the secretary-general elect of the CPP narrated her familys ordeal against the Rawlings regime. The military one day came to our house in their tankers and I had to clinch to a document they were after. One person from their group who told on me said to the soldiers that I was the one holding onto the documents. Though I was fast asleep when they came, I soon realised that these military men had entered my room, she revealed. Unfortunately for me, General Afrifa, who was part of the group was using my bathroom and he immediately noticed their presence and advised me to flee away. They however molested me and beat me up. They did other things beyond beating me but I will end it there though I still harbor some hate, Nana Yaa Jantuah disclosed. Nana Yaa Jantuah however says her party, the CPP is optimistic about winning the upcoming 2020 general polls. Adding, the party will go back to its original blueprint of grassroots organisation to build a more formidable party. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video PARMA, Ohio -- Growing up in Euclid, Jim Mataich fondly remembers how special it was as a kid to go to Euclid Race Dairy for ice cream. Now, the former jewelry business owner is looking to recreate that same magical experience for Parma area residents at his recently opened Sugar Shack Creamery on Pearl Road. Im bringing a little piece of Florida and Hawaii right to Parma, Ohio, said Mataich, a 1985 Euclid High School graduate who now calls Westlake home. I probably have the largest selection of hard ice cream, with 34 flavors. Im doing 40-plus flavors of Hawaiian shaved ice. The other thing Im doing (that is) really cool is the non-dairy Dole Whip made famous at Disney World, where youd probably wait two hours to get one. Its the most popular dessert in Florida. People love it, he said. Parmas Sugar Shack Creamery offers Hawaiian shaved ice, soft-serve and hard ice cream. (John Benson, special to cleveland.com) As far as the hard ice cream, Mataich said he serves Perrys Ice Cream and the Chocolate Factory, as well as his own concoctions. Popular flavors are Yippie Skippy and My Blue Moon. Our next plan is were adding bubble waffle (cones) in the next month, Mataich said. Were also going to start doing gourmet milkshakes. After spending decades working in the jewelry business, which required him to travel the world, Mataich said that over the last couple of years, he had the idea to open his own fun ice cream store. Then he found the former Dunkin Donuts store at the corner of Pearl and Snow roads. I felt that Parma was a good location, Mataich said. When COVID hit and so much shut down, I was one of the few businesses that decided to take advantage of the situation and try to make people happy. So, I took a chance and opened it up during a strange time in everybodys life. It seems to be working out well. People love it. From day one, I had a line out the door. The Sugar Shack Creamery, which is open for takeout with outdoor seating, may become a chain; Mataich is getting ready to open a second location in Gordon Square. Im trying to do something really unique and cool, Mataich said. Read more news from the Parma Sun Post. FORT WORTH, Texas Fort Worth police arrested a woman in the fatal stabbing of her 4-year-old daughter after she told police that someone ordered her to kill the girl. Krystal Lewandowski called 911 on Monday and told a dispatcher that her daughter, Czara Lewandowski, was missing before going on to say she had slit the girls throat, according to the arrest warrant. She told the dispatcher that she had dumped Czaras body in a trash can. Lewandowski told investigators that someone told her something worse would happen if she didnt kill the girl, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. She told investigators she killed the girl on Sunday night to save her. Tiffani Butler, a spokeswoman with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, said the agency has had previous involvement with the family dating back to a year ago but did not disclose any details regarding their history. Lewandowski faces a capital murder charge. Zimbabwe has made it illegal for schools to expel pupils who get pregnant, a measure aimed at tackling gender inequality in the classroom and discouraging many girls from dropping out of school. According to Zimbabwean media, a legal amendment was announced last week and it seeks to reinforce a 1999 guideline that was patchily implemented. The decision was reportedly made over fears of a rise in sexual abuse and unwanted pregnancies as schools have been closed since the Coronavirus pandemic struck. Many parents of pregnant girls, or the girls themselves, decide to quit schooling due to the pregnancy, and schools do not always do enough to encourage them to stay, officials say. Im expecting every parent and guardian and everyone else to understand that every child must be assisted by all of us to go to school, Cain Mathema, the education minister in charge of schools, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation this week Every child whether boy or girl... has a right to go to school in Zimbabwe, he said. In 2018, 12.5% of the countrys roughly 57,500 school dropouts stopped attending classes due to pregnancy or marriage reasons - almost all of them girls, according to Education Ministry statistics. Sibusisiwe Ndlovu, the communications specialist at Plan International Zimbabwe welcomed the new legislation as a step in the right direction. This amendment is crucial in fulfilling the access to education right for all children especially girls, Ndlovu said. Source: Reuters 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 Chinas candidate has won an election to be a judge on a key United Nations-affiliated agency responsible for hearing cases concerning the Law of the Sea, despite U.S. opposition to what it views as Beijings growing influence in international organizations. Duan Jielong, the current Chinese ambassador to Hungary and a law school graduate of Columbia University and China Foreign Affairs University, will sit as one of 21 judges at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). It is the international legal body responsible for adjudicating disputes related to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS. Duan was nominated by China to represent Asia and won his seat unopposed on Monday, with 149 out of 166 votes gathered among member-states of the tribunal. Seventeen member-states abstained. China's success in the election illustrates once again that [a] certain country's suppression of the Chinese nominee out of selfish interest is both unwelcome and futile, Chinas Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at his daily conference in Beijing, alluding to the United States last-minute effort to stop Chinas pick from winning. At a think tank conference on the South China Sea last month, David Stilwell, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said the U.S. was concerned about Chinas nomination of its judge to ITLOS and urged other countries against voting for the candidate. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed these concerns at a hearing in the U.S. Senate on July 30, where he requested funding for a special team at the State Department that would push back on Chinas growing domination of UN agencies and international organizations. Its not just the leaders that matter at these UN organizations. They have big bureaucracies underneath them. And we are sadly inadequately represented at every level inside of these international bodies, and it matters, Pompeo told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While Pompeo championed the successful U.S. effort to stop Chinas preferred pick from winning leadership of another U.N. agency, the World Intellectual Property Organization the winner was from Singapore -- the U.S. had little ability to replicate that in the case of ITLOS. Since the U.S. has never ratified the law of the sea convention, UNCLOS, it is not permitted to submit candidates for any positions in ITLOS. No other candidates from Asian countries were put forward to compete against Chinas pick. Meanwhile, Beijing is seeking to displace America's leadership in the UN, said Kristine Lee, an Associate Fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for a New American Security. "And it's doing this first and foremost through its personnel." "It's mapped out strategically important Specialized Agency elections and has done the diplomatic legwork to get Chinese officials elected to these positions," she said, adding, "This is problematic because the [Chinese Communist Party] expects its nationals to run counter to the principle of neutrality enshrined in the UN Charter." "Chinese officials serving in senior posts at the UN serve the narrow interests of and report back to the CCP, even as UN employees are expected to be impartial and independent," Lee said. Advantages for China Hoang Viet, a professor at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, pointed out there are certain advantages for China in its continuing push to place candidates at international legal forums. Psychologically or politically, it is very clear that Vietnam does not like a Chinese candidate to be elected as an ITLOS judge because that thing may cause disadvantages for Vietnam, he said. For instance, when ITLOS organizes meetings or discussion, there will only be a Chinese representative to speak Chinese viewpoints, and Vietnam cannot [participate]. There are 21 members of the tribunal in total. Judges must represent different geographic areas of the world according to the statute that first established ITLOS. Five judges represent Asia, and China has held at least one seat on the tribunal since it was created in the mid-1990s. Its current judge, Gao Zhiguo, will end his term on Sept. 30. Still, China may have limited capacity to control the proceedings of ITLOS in a meaningful way by controlling just a single seat. Of the other tribunal seats, five are held by representatives from Africa, three from Eastern Europe, 4 from Latin America and the Caribbean, three from Western Europe, and one member who can be elected from either Africa, Asia, or Western Europe. And the tribunal, which is based in Hamburg, Germany, isnt very active. According to its annual report for 2019, it heard just four cases last year, and only made a judgment on one of them. Julian Ku, a professor at the Hofstra University School of Law in New York, believes that although China has only one judge in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, there is still the potential for that judge to hold management positions, and participate in specific cases China may take an interest in. "They can form small trial teams to deal with specific disputes. For example, there is a team of 11 judges about disputes over seabed territories," he said in an interview with Radio Free Asias Mandarin-language service. He added that having Chinese officials serve as judges in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is part of a long-term strategy by China to control leadership positions in international organizations and ultimately make them less critical of China. China's claims challenged The most consequential court case in recent years concerning the Law of the Sea did not actually happen through ITLOS, but through The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. Through that tribunal, the Philippines challenged the legal basis of Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea, and in 2016 won a landmark award that found Chinas claim to historic rights over the disputed waterway were invalid. That award set a key precedent on what is and is not a valid maritime or territorial claim in the South China Sea under UNCLOS, and has been cited by the Association of Southeast Nations as well as the U.S. China refused to recognize that award, although the Permanent Court of Arbitration is empowered to hear disputes under Annex VII of UNCLOS. China continues to maintain it has historic rights to the South China Sea even though those claims overlap with those of five other Asian governments, as well as the maritime borders of Indonesia. The U.S. accuses China of flouting international law and bullying its neighbors a sentiment echoed this week in a letter from 80 civil society groups from countries around the world. Some groups who signed include the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Veterans Association in Australia, the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Toronto, and the Japan-based South China Sea Issue Consideration Council. The letter called on the top diplomats of Britain, Japan, and India to reject Chinas arbitrary claims in the South China Sea, and echo previous statements by the U.S. and Australia rebuking the legality of Chinas claims in the disputed waters. Additional reporting by RFA's Vietnamese and Mandarin Services. A congressional candidates last-minute attempt to extend Massachusetts ballot receipt deadline for the state primary past Sept. 1 is dead. In a decision authored by Justice Scott Kafker, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied a petition by Becky Grossman, a Democrat who is running to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Joe Kennedy III, that would have allowed mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Sept. 1 but didnt arrive until after the state primary to be counted up to Sept. 11. Attorneys representing Grossman argued disruptions at the U.S. Postal Service prevented vote-by-mail applicants who met the states deadlines from getting their mail-in ballots counted in time, effectively disenfranchising them in a state election. The Supreme Judicial Court, however, sided with the Secretary of the Commonwealths office, whose attorneys argued voters still had a menu of options because of the historic vote-by-mail law enacted in July, including voting in-person if they worried their mail-in ballots would not be counted. The new law does not significantly interfere with the constitutional right to vote in the September 1 primary election, Kafker wrote, rejecting the petition for a 10-day extension. Rather, the legislation enhances the right to vote in the primary, as well as the general, election, by providing multiple means of voting, including options to vote by mail that previously never existed. The judges acknowledged the vote-by-mail law is not perfect, noting the deadline for requesting and returning a ballot may be too close to the due date to encourage this option. But it was a response to an unprecedented global public health crisis, the courts ruling said. The opinion goes on to say that voters who request mail-in ballots, like all others, have multiple voting options, including voting early over the next week or casting a ballot in person on Sept. 1. The judges say firm deadlines are necessary, particularly in the primary election process, which must be completed in a timely manner to ensure an orderly general election. The states cutoff for receiving primary ballots is 8 p.m. on Sept. 1, including for those postmarked before or on Election Day. The SJCs decision comes six days before a state primary packed with high-profile races, including a U.S. Senate race between incumbent Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, the 1st Congressional District race between incumbent Richard Neal and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and the 4th Congressional District race to fill Kennedys seat. Grossman is one of seven candidates vying for Kennedys seat in the 4th Congressional District Democratic primary. She is running against Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss, former Brookline Select Board member Jesse Mermell, City Year co-founder Alan Khazei, former Wall Street regulator Ihssane Lecky, epidemiologist Natalia Linos, attorney Ben Sigel. Tech entrepreneur Chris Zannetos reportedly dropped out of the race Wednesday and endorsed Mermell. Grossman said in a Twitter thread that shes disappointed the SJC didnt rule in their favor and still believes every ballot postmarked by Sept. 1 should be counted. Im proud of the fight we waged to ensure that every vote be counted, and for everyone to be able to cast ballots without jeopardizing their health and safety, she tweeted. She added: Todays decision will not stop my work to ensure that every community in the Commonwealth is heard at the ballot box and beyond. Todays decision will not stop my work to ensure that every community in the Commonwealth is heard at the ballot box and beyond. #mapoli #ma04 4/4 Becky W. Grossman (@BeckyWGrossman) August 26, 2020 Secretary William Galvin said he appreciated the SJCs decision, saying the court recognized the complexity of the election schedule ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. This will allow my office to begin preparing November ballots immediately after the primary results are in, so that voters will have plenty of time to receive and return their ballots before Election Day, he said in a statement. Galvin urged voters to hand-deliver their ballots to their local election office, a drop box in their community or an early voting location during voting hours. State officials and the U.S. Postal Service urged voters earlier this month to hand-deliver mail-in ballots out of concern that they wouldnt be counted in time. The latest calls for hand-delivered mail-in ballot comes as the USPS has removed several mail-sorting machines in Massachusetts, mirroring a national trend. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who tested before a U.S. Senate committee last week, said he didnt plan to replace the mail-sorting machines and offered no plan to ensure timely delivery of mail-in ballots. The possibility that a ballot receipt extension could delay the states efforts in meeting other, statutorily required deadlines also played a role in the SJCs decision. State attorneys argued the extension would affect election officials from meeting the federally required deadline of mailing ballots to service members and other citizens overseas by Sept. 19. A federal law passed in 2009 updated the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, requiring states to send these overseas ballots at least 45 days before a federal election. The possibility of a delay prompted the Department of Justice to raise those concerns in the SJC case. Although the DOJ did not take a side in the case, the agency urged the court to consider that any adjustment to the ballot receipt deadline should allow Massachusetts time to comply with Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to avoid the real possibility of disenfranchising military and overseas voters for the Nov. 3, 2020 election. Meanwhile, @DMAnews1 weighs in on Grossman challenge to ballot receipt deadline for the Sept. 1 state primary. The brief doesn't take position on the deadline, but says any decision should ensure overseas service members and citizens get ballots 45 days+ before general election. https://t.co/TPvlPNqpZ0 Steph Solis (@stephmsolis) August 25, 2020 Related Content: When Nicole Taylors agent suggested three years ago that she write a Juneteenth cookbook, Ms. Taylor, a food writer, shelved the idea. She didnt think any publisher would buy it. But early this summer, after several months spent working on a proposal, Ms. Taylor had a deal worth many times what she was paid for her last cookbook, which was published in 2019. As pressure mounts on the publishing industry to diversify its pool of authors, there has been a flurry of activity around cookbooks written by Black people. This increase in acquisitions has been welcomed by many people of color in the field, even as they warn the industrys problems cannot be solved just by cutting checks. Every Black cookbook author has a story that will make your mouth drop, Ms. Taylor said. Whether its about money or marketing or having to fight for this or that recipe, we all have a story. Theres a different standard for us, and a box we get put in. Amdocs has recently announced that it struck a deal to acquire Irish software company Openet for a reported $180 million. The Dublin-based company specializes in high-performance software that streamlines network operations and the deal is set to usher Amdocs forward into the 5G and cloud computing market. Israel-based Amdocs acquires 5G innovator Openet The company recently announced the Openet-Amdocs deal that will see Openets expertise on network-centric tech being harnessed by over 350 service provider clients currently on Amdocs roster. Openet has generated roughly $70 million annually in revenue over the past two years, while Amdocs non-GAAP diluted earnings are projected to be neutral over the current fiscal year and the full 2021 fiscal year, following the acquisition. Once the purchase price allocation is finalized, Amdocs will be in a position to estimate how the deal will influence its GAAP diluted EPS. The purchase for a net price of roughly $180 million in cash has already been approved by the Boards of Directors of the two companies and will reach its conclusion before Q4 of fiscal year 2020. Openet has been operating for the past two decades in the field of telecoms and is considered a promising name in 5G network solutions. Network management with a focus on maximizing resource mapping and management has risen at the top of business management software solutions priorities in recent years, and not only in the telecommunications industry. Many enterprises are looking to enhance the optimal use of resource networks such as LAN/WAN networks by utilizing sophisticated diagramming tools. Software solutions such as the SolarWinds Network Diagram Software use discovery scans to generate automatic network mapping and diagrams of devices and their interconnections, also scanning IP address ranges in the process. Applying similar management principles in telecom networks, Openets products allow for direct monitoring and streamline network policy implementation. Openet and Amdocs prepare for the 5G era Openet specializes in real-time convergent charging products as well as Next Gen network data management. Its signature Openet Forge toolkit is cloud native and supports DevOps and CI/DC to maximize innovation in BSS. Amdocs also operates in business-oriented cloud native IT solutions that cater to high velocity. The Amdocs product suite is used for 1.7 billion digital transactions daily across 85 countries, which has helped the company secure $4 billion in yearly revenues and provide jobs to 26,000 employees. As Openet has recently developed innovative 5G products, this deal will allow Amdocs to enrich the services it provides to its media and telecom clients in an era of gradual 5G adoption. For Openet, which was advised by Dublin-based firms Arthur Cox and Capnua on the deal, the acquisition will provide the opportunity to build on the added resources and client roster contributed by Amdocs. Openet has also concluded a deal with Salesforce earlier this year and in 2019 forged a 5G partnership with industry leader Samsung. The deal with Israel-based Amdocs also serves to bury the hatchet between the two companies, who have previously found themselves fighting in litigation over alleged patent breaches. Putting their differences aside, the new deal is a smart move in the long run for both companies, as they prepare for the widespread 5G rolling out phase across Europe and the Middle East. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that it will be possible to end the war in Donbas already in 2020. "The second meeting in the Normandy Format suggests that we have a great chance to end the war," he said in an interview with the Euronews television channel. "If we compare our team and the previous one, the way I want, nobody wanted. Nobody did this at such a pace and put pressure on this issue, and everyone can see it. I am not just talking about Ukrainians all our foreign partners see it. I know that no one will finish it faster than me," Zelensky said. The head of state said that so far there is no other real effective plan for a peaceful settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine, which would be supported by all four parties to the Normandy negotiation format. Therefore, he wants to continue moving along this path until the end of the war in Donbas. "If it [the negotiation format] does not work, then we will already think about another plan," the president said. Zelensky said that the agreements reached by the leaders of the Normandy Format member states at the last meeting in Paris at the end of 2019 are being implemented, although not as quickly as we would like. The head of state said that the ceasefire regime in Donbas has already been introduced and is being observed, agreements have also been reached on areas for the disengagement of forces and 20 areas for demining. The UniPrint InfinityCloud Print Management Platform is an alternative to Google Cloud Print which is no longer supported as of December 31, 2020 TORONTO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Process Fusion, creator of UniPrint Infinity and a cloud solution provider for digital transformation, has announced today it releasing UniPrint InfinityCloud, their next-generation cloud print management platform, available for free to any K-12 (primary & secondary) educational institutions around the globe for student printing. UniPrint InfinityCloud provides organizations of any size the opportunity to eliminate their legacy on-premise print servers and centralize their print infrastructure management in the cloud. The secure cloud printing solution streamlines print management, significantly simplifies end-user printing experience, and reduces I.T. operational costs and support requirements. "Amidst Covid-19 pandemic, online learning will be an important component of the future of education. The InfinityCloud platform will help education institutions reduces print-related support challenge and track student printing by eliminating many technical issues surrounding printing on student's computer." - Daniel Cheng, CMO at Process Fusion A Free, Secure Cloud Student Printing Solution for Educational Institutions As Google's Cloud Print Service will no longer be supported as of Dec. 31, 2020, Process Fusion's free offer of the cloud printing service for educational institutions provide a viable alternative to Google Cloud Print to manage the school printing infrastructure and is free of charge for all students. The UniPrint InfinityCloud printing solution will allow educational IT administrators to manage their print infrastructure from anywhere, while also enabling students to print natively from their PC, Mac, Chromebook, iOS & Android tablets and mobile devices directly to their home printer or campus printers at the school. It is a printer vendor agnostic solution and offers students and faculty members a contactless secure mobile print release function using a mobile app. "The UniPrint Infinitycloud printing solution allows schools to focus on the safe return of students to the classrooms without worrying additional costs and infrastructure complexities." - Daniel Cheng, CMO at Process Fusion Businesses and educational institutions can now sign up and gain free access to the UniPrint InfinityCloud platform at processfusion.com/beatcovid19 or using the link below. Related Files UniPrint InfinityCloud Brochure.pdf Related Images uniprint-infinitycloud-printing.jpg UniPrint InfinityCloud Printing Solution Student using UniPrint InfinityCloud mobile app Related Links UniPrint InfinityCloud Sign Up Contactless Printing Video Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Thai Xuan Dung received the rotary chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague (ACP) from Indonesian Ambassador Kenssy D. Ekaningsih at a ceremony on August 25. Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Thai Xuan Dung (L) and Indonesian Ambassador Kenssy D. Ekaningsih at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Talking to Prague-based Vietnam News Agencys correspondents, Ambassador Ekaningsih said she believes that Vietnam, as the chair of ACP, can organise a number of important events in 2020. She expressed her hope that ASEAN member nations will coordinate more closely to further contribute to promoting the relations between ASEAN and the Czech Republic. Ambassador Dung said in the tenure in the latter half of 2020, the Vietnamese Embassy will work with other ASEAN member nations embassies in Prague to foster connectivity through a series of activities such as the ASEAN Family Day and joint events with dialogue and partner countries as well as the host country, thus contributing to stepping up intra-ASEAN coordination and the relationship between the bloc and the Czech Republic. Earlier the same day, Ambassadors of ASEAN countries in the Czech Republic convened a meeting to discuss main activities of ASEAN and the ACP in the last six months amid the COVID-19 outbreak./.VNA Craft beer gurus at Beavertown Breweries have opened what it claims is 'London's biggest brewery', capable of churning out 90million pints a year. 'Beaverworld', the new brewery site in Enfield, north London, will create 150 jobs over the next three years in a much-needed jobs boost for the embattled capital. Beavertown, founded by Logan Plant, the son of Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, has been funded using a 40million minority investment from Heineken in 2018. Famous roots: Beavertown was founded by Logan Plant, pictured, the son of Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant Creating jobs: Beaverworld brewery in Enfield, north London, will be recruiting 150 new staff Ambitious: Logan Plant wants his beers to be 'in every pub on every street corner' The new site covers six acres with a 129,000sq.ft building on the site of a former Ediswan Factory and will enable Beavertown to boost in capacity tenfold. Mr Plant said the expansion will help accelerate his aim of getting Beavertown's beers 'in the hands of people in every pub on every street corner.' He told the Press Association: 'It's been quite the journey to turn this from home brewing at the kitchen table to making beer in London's biggest brewery. 'It's been three years in the planning, from when we needed to expand from the Tottenham Hale brewery. 'This is even bigger than we first planned and really does show the leaps and bounds we've been able to make.' He said the development of the site was delayed by around six weeks due to the pandemic, while sales have also been hit in recent months amid temporary enforced pub closures. The company rapidly grew its off-trade operations, which covers sales via supermarkets and retail stores, and its online direct-to-consumer business after pubs were forced to shut its doors in March. It said around 85 per cent of its revenue was cut off after the lockdown was put in place, but revenues have steadily improved in recent weeks after hospitality venues opened their doors again. Growth: During lockdown, Beavertown upped its selling via supermarkets and shops Impact: Around 85% of Beavertown's revenue was cut off after the lockdown was put in place Rocking out: Led Zeppelin bandmates Robert Plant and Jimmy page at Live Aid in 1985 Mr Plant said: 'Craft beer is still a fairly small part of the market and we know what when we have customers in pubs, they are buying our beer more and more. 'Covid has absolutely had an impact but we are seeing signs it will shift back towards a more normal pattern.' Jochen Van Esch, craft development director for Heineken said: 'This is the culmination of many years of hard work from Logan and the whole team at Beavertown. 'It means even more people can enjoy Beavertown beers in pubs and at home, and we will facilitate this where we can. 'Logan and his team of highly creative craft visionaries will be able to experiment and collaborate with other brewers and share knowledge, ultimately adding excitement to the British beer scene, value to pubs and more choice for beer lovers.' Delving deeper into the Enfield site's historical significance, Mr Plant said: 'Historically, the Beaverworld site itself has been a place of great invention with the first electronic valves developed there by Sir Ambrose Fleming, establishing Ponders End as an important centre for the manufacture of electronics for the 20th century.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 16:27 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c40a888b 1 Politics Democratic-party,omnibus-bill-on-job-creation,house-of-representatives,baleg,omnibus-bill Free The Democratic Party faction has once again joined the deliberation of the controversial omnibus bill on job creation after withdrawing from the working committee in the House of Representatives Legislation Body (Baleg). Democratic executive Hinca Panjaitan said on Wednesday that the bill had raised public concerns, particularly regarding labor issues. The people demand that we continue to fight for their interests. We are ready to fight in the committee. Hinca, the former secretary-general of the Democrats, said the part had sent three lawmakers to deliberate the omnibus bill, in addition to himself. "The three members assigned are Bambang Purwanto, Hinca Panjaitan and Benny K. Harman," he said. He explained that the party previously withdrew from the working committee because they wanted the House to focus on the handling of COVID-19. However, overtime, the party could accept the deliberation and was eventually willing to return to discuss the government-initiated bill. "Its after all the political obligation of House members to carry out their main tasks while obeying health protocols. In mid-April, the chairman of the Democratic Party faction in the House, Edhie Ibas Baskoro Yudhoyono, decided to withdraw all of its members from the committee, saying the bill had nothing to do with pandemic handling. Baleg deputy chairman Achmad Baidowi said the lawmakers would likely start discussing labor issues in September after resolving the 10 issues of the bill. The House and 18 labor unions agreed on Friday not to include several proposed revisions in the bill. Among the agreements was not to include proposed amendments that contradicted Constitutional Court rulings regarding fixed-term employment agreements, wages, severance pay, employment relations, layoffs, dispute settlements and social security. Like humans, plants protect themselves against pathogens. An international consortium under the lead of UZH professor Cyril Zipfel has now identified a long sought-after factor of this plant immune system: The calcium channel triggers the closure of stomata upon contact with microbes such as bacteria. This innate defense mechanism could help to engineer crop plants that are resistant to pathogens. Each plant leaf has hundreds of tiny pores that enable the exchange of gases with the environment. By inhaling CO2 and releasing oxygen and water vapor, these stomata are essential for photosynthesis, the survival of plants - and ultimately all life on this planet. The size of the openings is dynamically controlled to allow plants to adapt to changing conditions like sunlight, drought and rain. The opening and closing is facilitated through the swelling and shrinking of two so-called guard cells that form a ring-like border around the pore. Plants can defend themselves Plant researchers have long known that leaves also batten down the hatches when they encounter potentially pathogenic microbes. This reaction is part of the innate plant immune system: Receptors at the surface of plant cells recognize typical structures of microbes such as parts of bacterial flagellae. This leads to a series of reactions that ultimately block microbe entry and multiplication. One of these responses is stomatal closing, which is equivalent to closing the gates to the pathogens. Long search for a missing link However, the mechanism behind this microbe-induced closure of stomata remained largely unexplained, although it was shown that a rapid influx of calcium ions into the guard cells triggered the reaction. "The identity of the channels that mediate this rapid calcium movement was still unknown and has vexed researchers for a long time," says Cyril Zipfel, professor of molecular and cellular plant physiology at the University of Zurich and senior group leader at the Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, UK. After six years of research, he has now published a study that closes this gap and identifies the relevant calcium channel in the model plant Arabidopsis. As well as Zipfel's team, several international research groups contributed to the results. Microbes trigger channel opening The decisive clue was that the identified channel protein, OSCA1.3 - with a hitherto unknown function - was modified by an important component of the plant immune system. This modification leads to the opening of the OSCA1.3 channel, the influx of calcium ions into the guard cells and the closing of the stomata. Zipfel's team could show that this reaction was specifically initiated when Arabidopsis plants were brought into contact with parts of bacterial flagellae - one of the microbial triggers of the plant immune system. Specific to immune response The researchers confirmed this result by introducing several genetic mutations that abolished the function of the OSCA1.3 calcium channel. In these mutated plants, the microbial trigger did not lead to the closing of the pores. Further experiments showed that the channel is also not activated by drought and salinity, other environmental factors that induce the closure of stomata. "This finding reveals the first plant calcium channel with a role in stomatal closure," says Zipfel. "Interestingly, this channel seems specific to plant immunity." He therefore speculates that other plant calcium channels from the same family may respond specifically to other stress factors like drought. This will be the topic of future research. "Obviously, this channel is involved in an important immune response in plants," says Zipfel. "These findings therefore have the potential to help with the engineering of pathogen-resistant crops." Under real and significant threat by pathogens the plants could then close the gates that would normally allow dangerous microbes to enter into their tissues. ### PORTLAND, Ore.: Protesters in Portland smashed windows at City Hall in a demonstration that started Tuesday night and stretched into Wednesday morning and police made 23 arrests as they dispersed the crowd in Oregons largest city, officials said. Demonstrators in the crowd of about 150 also threw bottles and eggs at police, put metal bars in the street to try to damage police vehicles and smashed a security camera on the City Hall building, police said in a statement. The statement said officers used crowd control munitions in response but did not say what kind. The violence came a day after protesters Monday night repeatedly set fire to a police union headquarters building and were repelled by officers spraying tear gas, officials said. Twenty-five people were arrested amid clashes that stretched into Tuesday morning. Portland has been gripped by nightly protests for nearly three months since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Demonstrations, often violent, have targeted police buildings and federal buildings. Some protesters have called for reductions in police budgets while the citys mayor and some in the Black community have decried the violence, saying it is counterproductive. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump renewed calls to have Gov. Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler call in the states National Guard. They must stop calling these anarchists and agitators peaceful protestors. Come back into the real world! The Federal Government is ready to end this problem immediately upon your request, Trump wrote on Twitter. Brown responded on Twitter to Trumps demand, calling it political theater. In July the federal government sent agents to protect federal property in downtown Portland. Crowds grew into the thousands and agents repeatedly clashed with people over a two-week period, deployed tear gas and arrested people they said were hurling objects and trying to hurt agents and damage property. The agents pulled back from a visible presence downtown, but its unclear how many remained in Portland, under an agreement in which the Oregon State Police would be deployed to downtown. The State Police left after the agreed upon two-week monitoring period. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain the Andhra Pradesh government's plea challenging the state high court's decision ordering status quo on two new laws enabling the formation of three capital cities. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah refused to interfere with the interim order passed by the high court and asked it to decide the matter expeditiously. Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, argued that the judiciary can't decide from where the executive will function. The bench was informed that the main matter is pending before a full court bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which will commence its hearing from Thursday. "This has brought the whole thing to a standstill. There are preparations to be done. Preparatory steps have to be taken. It has never happened that the judiciary has decided where the executive will function from," Dwivedi said. The state government had approached the apex court saying that the high court had issued orders staying the implementation of gazette notifications on the abolition of the AP Capital Region Development Authority and the formation of three capitals for decentralised development without any valid reasons. On August 4, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered status quo on two new laws that enable the establishment of three new capitals for the state. On July 31 the state government notified the AP Decentralisation And Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020,and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Act, 2020. This was immediately after Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan gave his assent to related bills passed by the assembly. The law gives shape to the YSR Congress government's plan of having three capitals for the state executive in Visakhapatnam, legislative in Amaravati and judicial capital in Kurnool. The petitioners, which include some NGOs and private individuals who have filed a batch of writ petitions before the High Court, had opposed the formation of three capitals in the state. They expressed the fear that the government was likely to shift the capital from Amaravati and sought a stay on the two new acts. BOSTON - Vermin Supreme, the perennial presidential candidate who wears a boot on his head and promises every American a free pony, is mounting a write-in campaign for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. In a video posted Monday on YouTube, the performance artist proclaims himself a Libertarian alternative to U.S. Sen. Edward Markey and U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, the Democrats battling it out in next Tuesdays primary. Two Republicans, Kevin OConnor and Shiva Ayyadurai, are also running. Democrats are seen as having a distinct edge in Massachusetts, whose entire congressional delegation is Democratic. Supreme, who has listed a Rockport, Massachusetts, address on campaign documents in the past, told NBC10 Boston his candidacy is a lark. He said he decided to jump into the race after learning that some disaffected voters were writing his name on mail-in and absentee ballots. Im the only candidate who has released their dental records, he says in the video, holding up an X-ray of his teeth. None of my opponents have released their dental records. Are they soft on plaque? They may be. Supreme has been a satirical candidate since at least 2004, usually confining his campaigns to New Hampshires first-in-the-nation presidential primaries. His political stunts are legendary: He once threw glitter at a rival during a debate. In his latest video, he says his signature boot hat has allowed me to interact with media from across the flat Earth. Together we will ride our ponies into a zombie-powered future, he says. ___ This story has been corrected to show Supremes home state is listed as Massachusetts, not New Hampshire. This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_cf5.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_cf5 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_cf5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_cf5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_cf5.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement The Pentecostals and those who practice Spiritism believe that a Familiar Spirit means a demon that supposedly attends and obeys a witch. Familiar Spirits are often believed to assume a human or animal form. The Merriam Webster dictionary says that a Familiar Spirit is a spirit or demon that serves or prompts an individual, or the spirit of a dead person invoked by a medium to advise or prophesy. There are claims that the term, Familiar Spirit, was first used in 1545, especially in European folklore of the Medieval Age, but popularized in the 20th century under Neopaganism. They were believed to be supernatural beings that could assist witches in their practice of magic. The Familiar Spirit could be benevolent or malevolent, depending on whether they are serving a witch or a cunning folk. Beyond the spiritual realm, we have seen Familiar Spirits in operation. Whether in politics, leadership, business, or anywhere else, Familiar Spirits show their tendencies. Even when they want to pretend, they betray their true natures. Sometimes they appear like an angel of light. At other times they expose their demonic tendencies. We have seen much of this tendency in recent times. On Monday, August 24, 2020, we read a piece written by Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorochas Media Aide. The gist of the article was his baseless claim that Governor Hope Uzodimma is suffering from self-inflicted injuries. And what are those injuries? He mentioned the travails of Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, the DG of the New Media Directorate of the PDP in Imo State, the stakeholders meetings of the APC, where they passed votes of confidence on the Governor, etc. We do not speak for the APC, but we are aware that these stakeholders meetings were the first since the birth of the party in Imo State. The meeting that was held at the Government House, Owerri, provided the opportunity for robust discourse on critical issues affecting the party. The Governors revelation that his disagreement with Owelle Rochas Okorocha bothered on Okorochas selfish demands that he should disband the panels set up by the former Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, to look into the affairs of the Okorocha administration, and that he should allow Daniel Nwafor as the State Chairman of the APC in the state, ostensibly because he wants to run for President in 2023 clearly unsettles supporters of the Senator. That revelation was a confirmation of what had been in the public for a long time. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_611.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_611 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_611.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_611.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_611.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Okorochas men appeared in the media space, making all kinds of demands, from the near possible to the impossible. They asked for the reinstatement of the sacked local government officials by the last PDP administration. They also asked for political appointments, and control of the partys structure, etc. While these demands were on, they had the Governor in their good books. But once it became clear to them that they were asking for the impossible, they tactically withdrew their support and rather turned against the Governor. For us, therefore, the votes of confidence passed on the Governor by the owners of the party testify to the fact that they are with the Governor on his decision not to yield to parochial demands. And contrary to any pretenses by anyone, it is in the public domain that Okorocha would be running for President in 2023. If that was not the case, why were they infuriated upon hearing that the Governor declined to support Okorochas presidency ruse for the sixth time? Miffed by the Governors decline to support the gambit, these supporters made fruitless efforts to twist the Governors decline to mean that the Governor does not support a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction. But that is hogwash. Okorocha does not symbolize the Igbo dream. If Governor Hope Uzodimma declined to support his political gambit, does that in any way translate to declining to support the Igbo dream? Governor Hope Uzodimma is one of the governors in Igbo land. When the discussion on the Igbo dream will be held, he will be at the discussion table. Trying to arm-twist him with the 2023 presidential election is uncalled for. We want to add, all things being equal, that anyone who supported the Okorocha sad commentary for eight years does not have the locus to criticize any government in Imo State. If we all insist that those who come to equity must do so with unstained hands, then, those who were integral parts of the inglorious government should spare us their Sermon on the Mount. They should not be the ones criticizing Governor Uzodimma and his performing, nascent government. They should be rendering unreserved apology over the troubles their boss created in the state. With reports of humongous malfeasance in the Okorocha administration, a responsible person should be contrite and not grandstand, pontificating on good governance. Governor Uzodimma has been meticulous in handling the affairs of the state and the party. He has not suffered any self-inflicted injury. The mess he has been busy cleaning was created by the Okorocha misrule. We cannot make a catalogue of the mess created by that administration here. But take for example the issue of pensions and payment of salaries to civil servants, the sacking of local government officials and dissolution of statutory appointees in the state, and the monumental corruption that became synonymous with that government. Workers salaries were owed for months, forcing the President of the NLC to join in the protest by the workers to demand their pay. That government disingenuously slashed workers salaries to 60%. As if that was not enough, pensioners were not paid but forced to sign off 60% of their four years pension arrears. Under the Okorocha administration, his cronies became billionaires overnight, not by legitimate earnings but by corrupt enrichment. We also read in the media how the Okorocha administration got four years rolling budget from the State Assembly. We also read how that administration got annual budgets subsequently from the same House. For eight years, the Imo State Annual Budget was a secret document. No one rendered accounts to anyone. For the years of that pain-inflicting and ruinous government under the APC, there was no stakeholders meeting of the party. The Governor was only accountable to himself and his co-travelers. Under his watch, JPROSS disappeared with billions of Naira belonging to the state. We saw the concessioning of Adapalm, ITC and Concorde Hotels. Some had even suggested that Imo State was a pariah state under Okorocha. And we ask, what moral rectitude has anyone who defended that inglorious administration to poke the nascent Uzodimma administration? As Governor, even when the APC was being formed and alliances needed, Okorocha did not allow other leaders into the party as he systematically exited Udenwa, Ahamba and others, who joined the APC from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) parties that formed the APC. Udenwa was the Leader of the ACN in the state but Okorocha chose to relegate him to the position of the Chairman of the Elders Council, refusing to share party structure with him. This antic forced Udenwa and others back to the PDP. As the 2019 general elections approached, Okorocha singlehandedly anointed political candidates, from State Assembly to the House of Reps, and the Senate. More particular was that he singlehandedly anointed a governorship candidate, his son in-law, for his party. It is worrisome that he would now want to continue to dictate what happens in the party. For his part, Governor Uzodimma is building a strong and united APC. Anyone who is a genuine member of the APC should harken to the Governors admonition to put the past behind them, forget the old order and key into the new one. We commend those who have responded to the Governors clarion call. On Monday, August 24, former Secretary to the Imo State Government, Sir George Eche, former APC Chairman in Imo State, Chief Hilary Eke, former commissioners and other political appointees of the Okorocha administration, pledged their loyalty and support to the Governor and his government. Acknowledging his positive performance, the APC leaders expressed their resolve to give the Governor all the support he needs to succeed. This is what the party needs. This is what Imo State needs. Pompeo: US 'Deeply Concerned' About Possible Poisoning of Russian Opposition Leader By VOA News August 25, 2020 The U.S. government said Tuesday it is "deeply concerned" about medical tests that indicate poisoning in the case of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, currently hospitalized in Germany following a medical evacuation. "If the reports prove accurate, the United States supports the EU's call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement, referencing the European Union. The Russian government has dismissed accusations that it was involved in an attack on Navalny, who remains in an induced coma in Germany's Charite hospital after becoming sick Thursday while on a flight to Moscow from Siberia. The airline on which the Kremlin critic traveled said it did not serve him food or drink. Navalny was videotaped drinking a cup of tea in an airport cafe while awaiting his flight to Moscow. Allies of Navalny contend the Kremlin is responsible for his illness, and some are calling for an investigation into whether President Vladimir Putin was involved. "These accusations absolutely cannot be true and are rather an empty noise," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday in Moscow. Navalny was transferred last Saturday to the Charite hospital, where doctors said Monday the tests revealed signs of "cholinesterase inhibitors" in his system. Cholinesterase is an enzyme that is critical for the normal function of the nervous system in humans, other vertebrates, and in insects. Inhibitors block a chemical, acetylcholine, that transmit signals between nerve cells. Cholinesterase inhibitors are compounds used to alleviate symptoms of dementia, but they also have been found in chemical weapons and pesticides used to kill bugs. Peskov said there is no evidence to warrant an investigation into Navalny's illness and suggested there could have been various causes. "If a substance is found, and if it is determined that it is poisoning, then there will be a reason for an investigation," Peskov said. Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, tweeted Tuesday it is not surprising the Russian government is not willing to launch a probe at this time. "It was obvious that the crime would not be properly investigated, and a culprit found. However, we all know perfectly well who that is," Yarmysh wrote. Experts have said it is premature to conclude how the agent may have entered Navalny's system. Some experts have noted that Novichok, the Soviet-era nerve agent used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain more than two years ago, was a cholinesterase inhibitor. Navalny is a politician and corruption investigator who is one of Putin's harshest critics. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European officials have requested that Russia conduct a full investigation. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun was expected to raise the issue during a visit to Russia that began Tuesday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address " " German troops surrender at Stalingrad in January 1943. The Nazi German armies that moved relentlessly toward Stalingrad in summer 1942 during World War II were confronted with a bleak terrain. "A barren, naked, lifeless steppe," wrote Johann Wieder, who survived the conflict to write his memoirs, "without a bush, without a tree, for miles without a village." For a time, the advance appeared to be a repeat of the summer of 1941. The Sixth Army of General Friedrich Paulus pushed the Soviet forces in front of it. By August 19, they had reached the outskirts of Stalingrad. On August 23, the first formations reached the banks of the Volga River. Paulus promised Hitler that the city would fall within a few days. Advertisement In reality the attempt to seize Stalingrad turned into one of the epic battles of World War II. During the five months in which the battle for the city raged, the advance of the Axis powers was halted and crushed. By the time Friedrich Paulus surrendered in early February 1943, the tide had begun to turn not just on the Eastern Front but also in the Middle East and the Pacific. Following the Japanese defeat at Midway Island in June 1942, the Allies found it possible to begin the long and brutal campaign to dislodge Japan's forces from the string of islands they had occupied around the ocean perimeter of the Empire. This was a difficult and costly campaign for both sides. Men and equipment had to be transported over long oceanic supply lines, thousands of miles from the home countries, and in terrain where tropical heat and disease took a high toll on the combatants, as did some of the bitterest fighting of the war. The first battles were fought in southern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, deemed by Japanese planners to be areas in the new perimeter that needed to be consolidated. In New Guinea, Japanese forces attempted, by an overland campaign, to seize Port Moresby, which they had tried to secure three months earlier by sea. The battle against Australian and American forces continued for six months until finally, on January 22, 1943, the last Japanese troops were cleared from the central portion of the huge island. American forces landed on Guadalcanal and Florida Island in the southern Solomons on August 7, 1942. There, against fierce resistance, they captured the port of Tulagi and the airfield on Guadalcanal. The U.S. needed six months to secure these modest gains against fierce resistance that was repeatedly reinforced. However, the American capacity to supply large numbers of planes and trained pilots slowly tilted the conflict toward the Americans. All Japanese efforts to destroy the tenuous American foothold were beaten off. At the end of December 1942, the Japanese high command decided to abandon the contest, having lost more than 20,000 men, 600 aircraft, and 15 warships in the attempt. Though Allied gains on New Guinea and in the Solomons had been modest, it was now clear to both sides that Japan was fully stretched by commitments in the Pacific and China, and lacked the capacity for further advance. In the Middle East, Nazi German general Erwin Rommel advanced into Egypt and toward Palestine. However, this apparently disastrous position for the Allies was stabilized and then reversed. As in the Pacific, both sides were fighting far from the home base and at the end of supply routes, which were regularly threatened by submarine and air action. By autumn 1942, British Empire forces had succeeded in building up large reserves while Axis supplies were regularly interrupted by submarine action in the Mediterranean. North Africa mattered differently to each side as well. For Adolf Hitler, North Africa was a sideshow. For the Allies, it was a vital part of their global strategy; the Middle East and Mediterranean should not be abandoned to the Axis. Nevertheless, Erwin Rommel had achieved a great deal. On August 31, 1942, he began a final offensive designed to bring him into Egypt and Palestine so that the Jews there could be killed before the area was turned over to Italy. Like the Japanese, he discovered that his overstretched resources had reached their limit. The British Eighth Army, which was dug in on a line near the small Egyptian city of El Alamein, absorbed Rommel's assault. On October 23, with overwhelming materiel advantage, a new British commander -- General Bernard Montgomery -- launched a counteroffensive. His 1,030 tanks proved too large an obstacle for the 500 or so Axis tanks that opposed him, and by November 4 Axis forces were in full retreat. Bernard Montgomery did not cut off the Axis retreat, but by early February, Axis forces had been pushed back into Tunisia. Many of the Italian units were destroyed, and thousands of soldiers were taken prisoner. Once again, as in the Solomons, airpower had played a critical role in the Allies' success. The change in fortunes owed something to the willingness of the Allies to collaborate. The three Axis powers made little attempt to coordinate their strategies, share economic resources, or divulge military or technical secrets. The Western Allies recognized earlier how important it was to share resources. They also understood how vital it was to mobilize their extensive manufacturing and scientific capacity as fully as possible to compensate for their lack of a large and experienced army. The United States sent large amounts of food, raw materials, and equipment to Britain. So, too, did Canada, whose contribution is often overlooked. The Soviet Union was the beneficiary of a rich flow of resources from both North America and the British Empire, including a half-million vehicles and a million miles of telephone cable. The Soviets received few weapons, but the provision of food, manufactured products, and materials allowed the Soviet economy -- which had lost around 60 percent of its capacity in 1941 -- to concentrate on the mass production of armaments. The help was sourly acknowledged, because Joseph Stalin wanted his allies to launch a second front in 1942 to take the pressure off the Red Army. In August 1942, Winston Churchill flew to Moscow to discuss Allied strategy face-to-face. It was a difficult confrontation. Joseph Stalin implied that the British were simply afraid of the Nazi Germans. Winston Churchill's furious rebuttal finally won over Stalin. He was told of Western plans for an expanded bombing campaign against Nazi German targets and of a still-secret operation, code-named "Torch," of Allied landings in northwest Africa, planned for November. The invasion of North Africa began on November 8, 1942. Like operations in the Pacific, the American task force sailed the whole width of an ocean to reach the Moroccan coast on November 7. British forces landed at Oran and Algiers. After brief fighting with French colonial forces, the whole area was secured three days later. The Allied armies rushed toward Tunis to cut off the retreating Erwin Rommel. The Nazi Germans deployed enough forces into the pocket from Italy to create a stable front line, and the battle for Tunisia began in the last week of November. In retaliation, Adolf Hitler ordered Nazi German forces to occupy the whole of Vichy France, which was absorbed into the German New Order. Jewish refugees who had managed to hide in the unoccupied zone were now pursued with a new vigor. As Axis forces found themselves pressed on all fronts, the mass murder of Jews reached its crescendo in the death camps at Auschwitz, Sobibor, Belzec, Chelmno, and Treblinka. " " This French magazine illustration of the fighting atStalingrad signified the importance of that battle. The gains in other theaters paled in comparison to the struggle that had engulfed the southern front in the Soviet Union. Nazi German expectations that the city of Stalingrad would quickly fall were frustrated by many factors: Nazi German forces had to be supplied along a single rail track into the battlefield. The destruction of the very large city by Nazi German bombers created the ideal conditions for a determined infantry defense. And most of the buildings were modern steel and concrete structures with bunkers and cellars beneath them, which meant that not even regular shelling and bombing could easily flatten what was left of the twisted structures. Into this wrecked landscape, the remnants of Soviet divisions retreated. They hid in the crumbled buildings and underground hiding places, attacking in small groups, often at night. Soviet sharpshooters pinned down Nazi German forces, which for most of the battle greatly outnumbered their opponents. The commander in Stalingrad was a young Soviet general, Vasily Chuikov. The son of a peasant, Chuikov was robust and unflinching in the face of battle. His 62nd Army was scattered in pockets of what remained of the center of Stalingrad. It was supplied across the Volga River from the east bank, from which came waves of artillery and rocket fire, a stream of Soviet air attacks, and large numbers of soldiers. On several occasions, his weakened forces were close to collapse, but Paulus lacked the means to launch a knockout blow. The last major Nazi German offensive, designed to sweep Chuikov's remaining troops into the river, began during the second week of November. On the 8th, Adolf Hitler told the party faithful in Munich that in days he would be "master of Stalingrad." The swift retreat on the southern front had been a shock to Joseph Stalin, who was determined to hold the city which now bore his name. In mid-September, his deputy commander-in-chief, General Georgi Zhukov, worked with the army staff on a possible way out of the crisis. Rather than throw more troops into the Stalingrad pocket, he suggested building up massive reserves on the Nazi German flanks that could be used to cut the German line of advance and encircle Friedrich Paulus's troops. As long as Chuikov could hold the city, the plan -- Operation Uranus -- would work. Further north, Georgi Zhukov planned Operation Mars, another large assault on the Nazi German line. This operation would prevent any German reinforcement of the south and might unhinge the whole Nazi German front line in the Soviet Union. This was the first time Soviet commanders had been able to plan, with Joseph Stalin's approval, a large-scale counteroffensive. Preparations were made under the strictest secrecy. On November 19, Soviet armies fell on the unprepared Axis forces. Because they lacked the forces to guard the flanks of their advance, the Nazi Germans had pushed their Romanian, Italian, and Hungarian allies to increase their commitment of troops to the Eastern Front. Since the Nazi Germans had failed to provide these troops with proper equipment, the Romanian front was torn apart and Paulus was encircled. Nazi German field marshal Erich von Manstein launched a counterattack to break the ring, but failed. Axis forces retreated back across the steppe. In the Caucasus, Soviet armies drove the southern Nazi German front back as well, though they failed to close off all avenues of escape. The success of Uranus masked the mixed fortunes of Operation Mars, in which the Red Army suffered very heavy casualties for virtually no strategic gain. After another two months of bitter fighting, Friedrich Paulus and his shrunken army of diseased, hungry, and frostbitten soldiers finally surrendered on February 2, 1943. The remnants of the remaining Axis forces in the north of the city surrendered two days later. Some 91,000 Axis soldiers were taken prisoner. This defeat, far more than the victories elsewhere, signified to the world that the Axis was not invincible. Let's take a closer look at these World War II events, beginning with a timeline of early August 1942 on the next page. Learn more about the significant events and players of World War II in these informative articles: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday discussed counter-terrorism issues with the visiting Falih al-Fayyadh, the envoy of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi, according to the state news agency SANA. Al-Fayyadh conveyed to Assad a verbal message from al-Kazemi regarding bolstering the relations between both countries and the coordination in various fields, including the counter-terrorism efforts against the Islamic State (IS) group, said the report. Both sides stressed that defeating terrorism that has befallen Syria and Iraq could only happen by the hands of the Syrian and Iraqi military forces. The officials also discussed economic and security challenges facing the region as well as the "foreign schemes" and the cooperation needed to face "the schemes and make them a failure." This comes as the Syrian army and the IS militants have had several confrontations in the Syrian desert near the Iraqi border over the past few months. Activists of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights repeatedly reported clashes between both sides and Russian airstrikes backing the Syrian army in the battles. Search Keywords: Short link: Advertisement Letters from a surviving member of the Russian royal family expressing her 'hatred' of the British for not protecting her murdered relatives have emerged for sale for 70,000. The correspondence took place between Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna and her sister the Grand Duchess Xenia between 1916 and 1920. Olga's older brother Tsar Nicholas II - who was related to the British royal family - was executed along with his wife and children in 1918 following the Russian Revolution the year before. The letters were written mostly in English to get past the censors since the entire Romanov family lived in constant fear of assassination by Bolshevik forces. A cache of letters penned by a surviving Romanov expressing her 'hatred' of the Allies for not protecting her family have emerged for sale for 70,000 The correspondence took place between Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna and her sister the Grand Duchess Xenia between 1916 and 1920 Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna pictured in the Akhtyrsky uniform. Olga's older brother Tsar Nicholas II - who was related to the British royal family - was executed along with his wife and children in 1918 following the Russian Revolution the year before After the First World War the British and French joined the Russian Civil War in support of the anti-Bolshevik White Army, but could not save the Romanovs from execution. In a letter Olga wrote in January 1919, her anger at the Allies is palpable. She bemoans the fact they had not done more to protect her family from the 'horrors' of their predicament. At the time Olga was still in Russia under the protection of the White Army and Xenia was in exile in Crimea. Her letter captures a sense of hopelessness at the danger she was in. Olga wrote: 'This life of waiting, uncertainty and horrors will go on for at least a year or two. 'I nearly hate the Allies. When will they help - or won't they. All words and no actions. No tanks yet here - nothing that can help us.' Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna pictured in the late 1880s, left, and in her nurse's uniform in 1914, right In another letter she lambasted the 'devils' who slaughtered her 'beloved' family in 'cold blood'. She wrote: 'I try to squash the idea: If really those devils could, in cold blood, kill all those innocent people. They have done the same with the beloved family. Oh no! No! it can't be.' Nicholas II was overthrown during the revolution and he and his family were sent to exile in Siberia. But they were murdered by Bolshevik troops in a basement in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on July 17, 1918, bringing an end to the 300 year old Romanov dynasty. In April 1919, with the Red Army approaching the Crimea, King George V sent the British warship HMS Marlborough to the area which brought Xenia to England. Olga escaped Russia with her second husband and their two sons in February 1920 and settled in Denmark. The collection of 52 letters, which originally belonged to Olga's grandson, are now being sold by a private collector with auctioneers William George, of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. The first batch were written from Kiev where Olga worked as a nurse caring for wounded First World War soldiers between 1915 and 1917. She then fled to the Crimea with her second husband, cavalry officer Nikolai Kulikovsky. In 1948, feeling threatened by Joseph Stalin's regime which had invaded a Danish island, Olga emigrated to a farm in Ontario, Canada. She died in 1960. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna as a Red Cross nurse in Kiev, 1916. The collection of 52 letters, which originally belonged to Olga's grandson, are now being sold by a private collector with auctioneers William George, of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Nicholas' mother, Dagmar, was the sister of Queen Alexandra who married Edward VII in 1863. Their second son, George, Prince of Wales, was Nicholas' cousin. A William George spokesperson said: 'These letters represent a most important correspondence between the two sisters of the last Tsar Nicholas II at a time of intense international uncertainty. 'They date from during and after World War One and after the Russian Revolution. 'Also during this period Grand Duchess Olga's first marriage was annulled by Tsar Nicholas II so she could marry Paul Kulikovsky, the love of her life. 'To avoid the censors, the letters were carried privately by sympathisers or neutral couriers rather than being handled by the Russian Post Office. 'They are a poignant reminder of the interwoven nature of the European Royal families in Russia, Denmark, Great Britain and Germany.' The timed auction takes place on Thursday. The toll from the building collapse at Mahad in Maharashtras Raigad district went up to 16 on Wednesday as all the missing people were accounted for with the recovery of the last body from the debris, rescuers said. The rescuers pulled out alive Mehrunissa Abdul Kazi, 60, and four-year-old boy Mohammad Bangi, whose two sisters and mother were found dead, from the rubble of the building. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials said the boy was rescued after 19 hours and Kazi after 27 hours of the collapse on Monday. They added nine people were found alive while bodies of 16 men, women, and children were recovered from the site. NDRF public relations officer Sachinand Gawade said they were carrying out a final search to ensure that no body is buried although the administration said all missing people have been traced. The Mahad police on Tuesday booked five people, including the builder of the building, for the collapse. According to the First Information Report filed in the case, the building had 40 flats and was constructed in 2013 after a two-year construction. District collector Nidhi Chaudhari said most residents ran out of the building as it started trembling. She added, as a result, most survived. Chaudhari said around 95 people lived in the building and 75 of them managed to run away when the structure came crashing down. Maharashtra rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar announced an ex-gratia relief of 5 lakh each to the families of those who died and 50,000 for those injured. His ministerial colleague, Eknath Shinde, visited the site and directed the police to act against all those responsible for the collapse. We will not spare anyone responsible for the building collapse. Information is being gathered on whether the structural audit of this building was conducted or not. District guardian minister Aditi Tatkare said a committee will be formed to probe the incident. The committee will probe how and why this happened. At the same time, the structural audit will be carried out of other buildings to prevent similar incidents. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi lashed out at Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden in her Republican National Committee address, criticising them for nepotism moments before two of Donald Trump's children spoke at his re-election convention. Ms Bondi was first linked to the president in 2016, when, as the Sunshine State's top lawyer, she dropped Florida's probe into Trump University. Weeks prior to ending that investigation, Mr Trump donated $25,000 to her re-election campaign. All sides denied a quid pro quo. The attack on the Bidens was the first of the RNC, months after Mr Trump responded to House Democrats' impeachment trial of his interactions with Ukraine's president by attacking Hunter Biden. He and his surrogates and legal team argued the younger Biden profited from his father's work against Ukraine corruption as vice president. "Our party's theme tonight is America, the land of opportunity," Ms Bondi said. "But for Joe Biden, it's been the land of opportunism, not opportunity. As a career prosecutor and former attorney general of Florida, I fought corruption and I know what it looks like, whether it's done by people wearing pinstripe suits or orange jumpsuits. "At the Democrats' convention, we were told to look at Joe Biden as the model of integrity. You look at his 47-year career in politics, the people who benefited are his family members not the American people," she said. But Donald Trump Jr spoke at length on Monday night, giving a primetime defence of his father's term, followed by equally long remarks on Tuesday night by two of his siblings: Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump. Eric Trump closed his remarks by speaking straight to his father, presumably watching at the White House: "I love you so much." "My father built a thriving economy once, and believe me, he will do it again," she said. Tiffany Trump said the 2020 election is a "fight for freedom versus oppression, for opportunity versus stagnation." "I urge you to make your judgement based on results," she said, "and not rhetoric." Slovak foreign affairs minister appreciated the ambassador's activities in Slovakia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The decision of the Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia to support protesters in his homeland has incurred great respect in Slovakia and abroad, according to the Slovak foreign affairs minister. His story also confirms that diplomats are involved in border situations that make it impossible for them to continue representing their own country, Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) said after meeting departing Ambassador Igor Alexandrovich Leshchenya on August 24, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement He also thanked him for his activities in Slovakia. At the same time, the minister said that the situation in Belarus does not leave us indifferent, and stressed that the attitude of Slovakia remains clear: We support the immediate end of violence and the observation of fundamental rights and freedoms, and ask to repeat the presidential election in Belarus while observing respective international standards, as well as starting a political dialogue between the Belarusian authorities and society. Photo: (Photo : unsplash/Jonathan Borba) A Portland mom, Tonya Alexander, is worried about her kids because they have no social interactions over the past few months. The mom of three has already seen signs of depression in her kids. She said that she has seen her children becoming more emotional. She explained that they had a lot of tears and were more withdrawn. No interaction in schooling While school is about to start, most kids will follow distance learning, meaing they will still not get to interact with their classmates personally. Alexander has three children; one is going into the fourth grade, and one starting seventh grade at the Beaverton School District. Alexander found an alternative for her fourth-grader child because she is concerned about social isolation and distance learning. She said that from public school, she will let her child attend a small private school that is outdoor-based. See also: Atlanta Mom Shares Feeling of Isolation Due to Pandemic, Created "Corona Mamas" to Support All Moms The school will allow students to meet in small groups, distanced, and safe with masks, and following all other protocols. Alexander explained that her son will be able to interact with other kids. Now, Alexander is focusing on her oldest child trying to find solutions while doing isolation. Intentional schooling A Beaverton School District social worker, Amy Baker, said that the district wants to help students. She said that it is working with teachers during this time of distance learning. They are very intentional about relationships in specific strategies and lessons. Teachers make sure to do a morning meeting or a check-in with their students to spend more time than normal schooling. See also: Mom Got Shot and Killed While Daughter Was Having Online Zoom Class Social distancing is taking a toll on children's mental health A child and family therapist, Chelsea Mier, said that social distancing is challenging especially to young children. She has heard concerns from families about loneliness and isolation that the children might be feeling. Mier said that this is especially true for the younger children who do not understand what is going on right now. She said that they do not know that what is happening is a unique circumstance and that life will go back to normal at some point. Mier said that parents have to be a little creative for their kids. She explained that there are many platforms to let children interact with other people. She further noted that parents could use in-person, socially distant learning, or through Zoom or Facetime so that children could socialize with others. See also: Teacher Used Own Money to Make Schooling Safe and Fun for Kids Alexander shared that from time to time, she would allow her children to have one or two of their friends over. She does it to keep their mental health and to prevent them from developing depression. A study revealed that young people are three times more likely to develop depression in the future. It noted that the loneliness impact could last for at least nine years. Bayside Rd., 8100 block, Aug. 14. A man left a restaurant without paying for his beverage at the bar. He returned to the restaurant and began acting in a disorder manner, yelling at customers and staff, then left again. He yelled obscenities and walked away from responding deputies. After a brief struggle and an assault on deputies, the 47-year-old man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, failure to obey a reasonable lawful order and second-degree assault. As part of government's ambition of decentralising and enhancing infrastructural development at the local level, a total of GH4. 5 billion was transferred to the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) over the last three and half years. These funds supported the provision of 4,686 infrastructural projects with 2,682 of those projects completed, including education, healthcare, water, and sanitation facilities at the local level. The funds came from the District Assemblies Common Fund(DACF) GH2.9 billion, Internally-Generated Funds(IGF) GH 1.4 billion, District Development Facility-over 300 million and Urban Development Grant GH200 million to each Assembly. Hajia Alima Mahama, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, announced this in Accra on Wednesday when she took her turn of the Meet-the-Press series, to render accounts of her stewardship. The Minister said as part of the government's digitization agenda to improve revenue mobilization, the Ministry rolled out District Revenue Collection Software with e-payment options in 83 Assemblies. The e-payment portal allowed the beneficiary assemblies to administer revenue items such as fees, permits, licenses, investments, and rates efficiently. The move, she said, resulted in the increase of the Assemblies' IGF from three per cent in 2016 to 18 per cent in 2017, and 23.51 per cent between 2018 and 2019 respectively. The Minister further explained that the Ministry had harmonised deductions of the DACF at the source, which increased net transfers to the MMDAs. For instance, in 2016, the DACF transferred to the Assemblies was 35.10 per cent and jumped to 46.52 per cent in 2017, 53 per cent in 2018, and 53.40 per cent in 2019, he added. Hajia Mahama indicated that the digitisation of the Assemblies had propelled many assemblies to record between 100 and 300 per cent increment in their IGFs. Under the Urban Infrastructure Support Development Project with support from the World Bank, the Sector Minister stated that over $42 million was given to 25 Municipal Assemblies for infrastructural development, which went into the construction of storm drains to prevent the perennial flooding and engineered landfill sites. Also, the government supported some assemblies with GH100 million for modernisation of agriculture, which went into the acquisition of farm inputs. The Local Government and Rural Development Ministry is charged with the statutory responsibility of promoting good governance, equitable and balanced development across the country. That mandate is delivered through the formulation of policies on rural and urban development and the design of systems to monitor the implementation of policies and programmes. 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 Police in Hong Kong on Wednesday arrested two pro-democracy lawmakers who have been strongly critical of police violence during last year's protest movement, as the city's Democratic Party condemned the move as a form of political intimidation. Ted Hui and Lam Cheuk-ting, both Democratic Party members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo), were taken away from their homes at about 6. a.m., the party said via social media. The charges are believed to be in connection with a July 6 protest and the July 21, 2019 mob attack by white-shirted thugs on train passengers at Yuen Long MTR station, during which Lam was attacked and injured. Police said they had arrested four people in connection with a dispute between bystanders and a man seen taking photos of protesters outside Tuen Mun police station, adding that someone had snatched away the man's phone and deleted the pictures during the incident. Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai said the arrests were a form of political retaliation amid ongoing police attempts to change the widely accepted narrative surrounding the July 21 attacks in Yuen Long. Hui and Lam have been vocal critics of the police's failure to respond to the attacks for more than 30 minutes, as well as photos and video footage of officers speaking to the perpetrators on the day of the attacks. Hong Kong police on Wednesday insisted that two livestreams of the Yuen Long attacks had missed alleged attacks on the white-shirted attackers by a "rival group wearing black," the color worn by many protesters. Senior superintendent Chan Tin-chu also claimed that footage of police officers patting a white-shirted man on the shoulder actually depicted them shoving him, in a bid to move the group on. Chan insisted that the two live-video streams of the rampage did not show the whole picture of what he described as a clash between rival groups with people dressed in both black and white taking part in the fighting. Witnesses dispute police claims The claims were immediately dismissed by journalists and eyewitnesses. Former TV presenter Ryan Lau, who was pictured on the night of the attacks bleeding from the head, has since written a book titled Dark Night in Yuen Long filled with more than 40 eyewitness accounts, which reconstructs the sequence of events leading up to and including the attacks. "I saw Lam Cheuk-ting at the scene, and he was there to monitor events [in his capacity as lawmaker]," Lau told RFA on Wednesday. "He was telling bystanders not to touch anything that could be used as evidence, and said he had called the cops, who would be arriving soon." "At the same time, the guys in white were gathering outside the ticket barriers, shouting insults and attacking people inside; Lam Cheuk-ting was right there at the front [of those being attacked]," he said. "Some people tried to protect him with open umbrellas, because they were throwing stuff into the station from outside," he said. "The standoff went on until just after 11.00 p.m., when the thugs in white came through the barrier and went after the people in the station, attacking them," Lau said. Jimmy Choi, a reporter for government broadcaster RTHK said via Twitter, reposting video of the encounter: "#HK police now say a riot officer 'pushed' a white-shirted man, instead of 'patting him on the shoulder,' in Yuen Long in the small hours after the July 21 mob attack. Well, let the image speaks for itself." Eyewitness and journalist Gwyneth Ho hit back at claims that her reporting of the incident had been "one-sided." "As one of the few named witnesses of what happened that day, I am obliged to tell the truth," Ho told journalists in comments reported by Agence France-Presse reporter Xinqi Su on Twitter. "If telling the truth is a crime under this regime, the police can come and arrest me any time," she said. Democratic Party lawmaker James To said the authorities were trying to "turn white into black" with the arrest of Lam, a victim of the attacks, while Wu said the authorities were "pointing to a deer and calling it a horse," a Chinese expression that indicates total denial of the truth. Misleading the public Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung said the police were trying to mislead the public. "The truth will always be the truth," Yeung said. "Right-thinking members of Hong Kong society know what happened on July 21 last year in Yuen Long, so attempts to ... rewrite history will not be successful." More than 100 men clad in white T-shirts and armed with rods and poles attacked bystanders, protesters, journalists, and lawmakers in Yuen Long MTR station that night, injuring at least 45 people, including a pregnant woman. It came immediately after anti-extradition protesters surrounded the ruling Chinese Communist Party's Central Liaison Office in Sheung Wan, throwing projectiles at the building and defacing China's national emblem. That protest marked a turning point in Beijing's attitude to the protests, which began a month earlier after Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam tried to push legal amendments through LegCo that would have allowed the extradition of alleged criminal suspects to mainland China. Meanwhile, executives at Next Media, which publishes Jimmy Lai's pro-democracy newspaper the Apple Daily, have been prevented from using their credit cards or accessing their bank accounts by the British-owned bank HSBC. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the move was the result of "bullying tactics" employed by Beijing against the U.K. and its companies. "Free nations must ensure that corporate interests are not suborned by the CCP to aid its political repression," he said in a statement on Wednesday. Reported by Lau Siu-fung and Tseng Yat-yiu for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Dubais Roads and Transport Authority has signed a MoU with the Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS) as part of a strategy to exchange expertise with government and semi-government entities sharing common objectives. The MoU is aimed at stepping up cooperation in studying laws relating to autonomous air vehicles, participating in specialist workshops held by either party and co-ordinating efforts in research and development (R&D) and innovations in relevant fields, said a statement from RTA. It also calls for charting out air corridors for air vehicles and stepping up the safety and security of aerial transport within the geographical perimeters of Dubai through using advanced technologies, it stated. The two parties pledged to facilitate the procedures and share information about specialist and advanced firms, test programmes, and the specifications of take-off and landing sites for autonomous air vehicles among others, it added. "The signing of the MoU is part of our efforts to support the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy aimed at transforming 25% of total mobility trips in Dubai into autonomous trips by 2030," said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency and Head of the Autonomous Air Vehicle Project Team, RTA. "It also fits with our aim to enhance the integration of mass transit means and add happiness to people through the deployment of smooth, fast and innovate transit means," noted Bahrozyan. Deputy CEO Ibrahim Ahli said Dubai Air Navigation Services was thrilled to partner with RTA and looked forward to supporting the strategic drive of the UAE leadership in the fields of smart mobility and autonomous vehicles. "Through signing this deal with RTA, a leading regional and global entity, DANS will harness its resources and expertise to serve Dubais future strategy in the field of smart air transport," he stated. "DANS has an innovative culture supported by a team of top air navigation experts; which assures the realisation of our common objectives with RTA. Autonomous air vehicles are a key component of the vision of the UAE and Dubai and engaging in this cooperation will bolster their ability to anticipate the future requirements worldwide," added Ahli.-TradeArabia News Service Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Olivier Monnier (Agence France-Presse) Toronto, Canada Wed, August 26, 2020 08:02 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c407c6ff 2 Environment oak-tree,Canada,conservation Free In the shadow of Canada's largest cluster of skyscrapers, Toronto is looking to preserve a majestic, centuries-old oak tree -- but efforts have been complicated by the pandemic. The towering 24-meter high Northern Red Oak is one of the oldest trees in these parts, having sprouted an estimated 300 years ago, around the time that French explorers set up a trading post on the nearby shores of Lake Ontario. The tree now finds itself in the back yard of a nondescript bungalow on a winding street in the heart of a residential North York neighborhood. Its huge trunk has a circumference of five meters and brushes up against the back of the 1960s house. In summer, its long leafy branches shade the entire lot from the sun's rays. But in recent years, a new homeowner expressed concerns about being able to afford proper tree maintenance and its roots cracking the house's foundation. Neighbors also worry that this awesome specimen may one day be damaged by strong winds or felled in a storm. To protect it and make it accessible to everyone in this city of six million people, Toronto's city council voted in 2018 to buy the property, raze the house and turn the land into a small public park. 'Takes your breath away' A deal was reached with the homeowner last year to sell the property to the city. That outcome delighted Edith George, a local resident who lobbied over 14 years to preserve the oak tree, whose beauty she says "just takes your breath away." "It's the Rolls-Royce of heritage trees. No other tree in Canada has the heritage value that this tree has," the 68-year-old retiree told AFP. Experts say that with care and under the right conditions, the tree could live another 200 years or more. "A tree like this is expensive to maintain. If the lot is a public space, the city will be able to take care of it better than I can," says Ali Simaga, who purchased the home in 2015. "I don't want to be selfish and keep it to myself, either," he adds. The deal, however, is not done yet. The city's purchase offer is conditional on private donations to cover half of the price tag for the property. Fund-raising started in December 2019, with a target of raising Can$430,000 (US$325,000) by the end of this year. After a promising start, including a Can$100,000 pledge by a couple of local philanthropists, contributions slowed to a trickle during the pandemic. As of mid-July, about Can$125,000, or nearly 30 percent of the goal, had been collected. If the target is missed by the deadline, without an extension, the monies collected would be used to support tree planting across the city while the future of the historic oak tree would be in doubt. Read also: German capital launches initiative to protect trees from summer heat Canadian heritage The tree sits along a former Humber Valley trail used by indigenous peoples and later by European fur traders portaging between lakes Ontario and Simcoe -- a leg of a trade route that spanned the continent from the Gulf of Mexico to the north shore of Lake Superior, according to historian Madeleine McDowell. Travelers used large trees as landmarks, she said. This oak was probably already pretty big when the French lost the territory to the British, who established the Town of York -- which would later become Toronto -- in 1793. It is "a wonderful tree," commented Manjit Jheeta, director of the City of Toronto Partnership Office. "It is part of Toronto's heritage, it is part of Canada's heritage and it tells the story of our country," she said. Last year, the city unveiled a plaque in its honor, a first for a single tree in the nation's largest metropolis. Its ecological value is no less: the oak tree has absorbed and stored more than 11 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere. "When bad things happen," said George, "I don't go to church, I come here because this is like my cathedral. "It's a survivor and it gives us hope for a planet that's in peril." Oleg Deripaska, far right, with Vladimir Putin. Deripaska tapped the services of key promoters of the Trump-Russia collusion theory, including Christopher Steele and, below left, Jonathan Winer, a top aide to Obama Secretary of State John Kerry. By Eric Felten, RealClearInvestigations August 25, 2020 Jonathan Winer, a former top aide to Secretary of State John Kerry who was a key conduit for disseminating the discredited Steele dossier in the U.S. government, worked as a lobbyist for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in years preceding the Russiagate affair. This revelation raises new questions about Russian efforts to influence American foreign policy -- far afield from any Kremlin efforts to favor Donald Trump. Jonathan Winer: His work for the Russian mogul came to light in a new Senate report last week. It also established that at different times ex-British spy Christopher Steele had worked for the Putin-connected tycoon. Winers connection to Deripaska came to light through last weeks release of the fifth and final volume of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. The Senate report also found that at different times ex-British spy Christopher Steele had worked for the powerful oligarch with ties to President Vladimir Putin, and sent scores of reports from his intelligence firm on to Winer, who admitted to the panel destroying many of them before leaving the State Department. Further, the Senate developed evidence that Glenn Simpson whose company Fusion GPS contracted with Steele for the dossier also did work for Deripaska. Simpson denied that, telling senators, I dont think Ive knowingly had any contact with his organization. In his initial interview with the Senate committee, Winer claimed never to have met the oligarch. In a second interview Winer revised this answer. He conceded that, beginning in 2003, Deripaska had hired the law firm Alston & Bird, where Winer was a partner. He worked on the Deripaska account but, asserting attorney-client privilege, refused to say what exactly he had done on Deripaskas behalf. RealClearInvestigations sent questions to Alston & Birds spokesman but received no reply. RealClearInvestigations has found that as an employee of the government affairs and public relations firm APCO Worldwide, Winer also worked on behalf of the Russian governments nuclear agency in 2010 and 2011. Winer also drummed up business for Steele among lobbyists he knew from his work promoting Russias nuclear interests. RealClearInvestigations contacted both Winer and APCO; neither responded. Victoria Nuland in Ukraine: Winer touted Steele to this assistant secretary of state as a trusted friend of mine." Winer used his position as a top State Department official to distribute the lurid dossier prepared by Steele, which accused Donald Trump of conspiring with Russia to steal the 2016 election. But the dossier was not the first questionable Steele product Winer put in the hands of policymakers. He had been passing Steele-produced briefs to senior State Department colleagues for years. The memos were free for the government because the department didnt pay for them. But that doesnt mean Steele wasnt getting paid. While at the State Department during President Barack Obamas second term, Winer disseminated to his colleagues over 100 memos written by Steeles company, Orbis Business Intelligence. Among them were memos apparently intended to help influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Steeles Russian client, billionaire Putin loyalist Deripaska. The Senate revelations establish that Winer was a key but little-known figure in Russiagate. He, along with former Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr whose wife worked for Fusion GPS have emerged as prime vehicles for the dissemination of the Steele dossier to the highest reaches of the U.S. government. Winer was for a decade an aide to Sen. John Kerry. From 1994 to 1999 he was a deputy assistant secretary at the Department of State. From government he went to the international lobby and law firm Alston & Bird. Winer moved to APCO Worldwide in 2008, about the time he met Steele, who had just left British intelligence and was setting up his own shop. Winer told the Senate that in his private sector jobs he was still engaged in various types of Russian representation all over the map. Pro-Putin, anti-Putin: Winer didnt care, he told senators: It was any work that was consistent with their needs and my values. Christopher Steele (leaving a London court this year): Winer admitted to destroying numerous "O Reports" from Steeles Orbis Business Intelligence before leaving the State Department. When Kerry became secretary of state, he named his old Senate aide to a top position at the department special envoy to Libya. Winer seems to have used that position in ways that promoted Steeles business. Winers efforts on his friends behalf included sending policymakers memos on Ukraine and Russia produced by Steeles Orbis Business Intelligence. They were frequent enough to be called by a shorthand O Reports. From the time he rejoined the State Department in 2013, through 2015, Winer distributed over 100 of Steeles memos. In an email obtained by Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information request, Winer promoted Steeles reports to Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland and her deputy, Paul W. Jones (now the charge daffaires to Pakistan): Toria and Paul, Three reports from Orbis, Winer wrote the afternoon of Nov. 19, 2014. He added, The man behind them and Orbis, Chris Steele (as previously mentioned, former MI6 Russia expert, and a trusted friend of mine) is in DC next couple of days. If youd like to meet with him, let me know and I can put it together. Once Steeles O Reports had become routine, Winer relied on Nulands assistant, Nina Miller, to circulate his friends reports. For example, on Feb. 12, 2015, Winer sent an O Report to Miller concerning company said to be secretly owned by Putin, Putins Mistress and Friends. It was sent with these instructions: Nina please send high side to three usual persons. The State Department did not respond to questions about the memos. Winer testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee that Steeles memos had no purpose other than to provide the State Department with helpful information on Russian and Ukrainian affairs. But thats not how Steele viewed his State Department connection. He made it clear that his reports were intended to shape U.S. policy. For example, Steele used his in at Foggy Bottom to try to improve diplomatic attitudes toward Deripaska, whom the Senate Intelligence Committee describes as a key implementer of Russian influence operations around the globe. The Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control has accused Deripaska of holding assets and laundering funds on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Deripaska has dismissed the accusations as guesses, rumors and balderdash. Ariuna Namsrai: As managing director for Russia at a firm promoting Russian nuclear interests, she sent a "Hugs, Ariuna" message to her ex-colleague Winer after a meeting with Steele had been arranged. Early in 2016 not long before Steele began creating opposition research on Trump for Fusion GPS Steele reached out to his friend at the Justice Department, Bruce Ohr. Page 883 of the Senate report states that Steele emailed Ohr to say he had heard from Deripaskas lawyers, Paul H[auser] and Adam W[aldman], that the oligarch had been granted an official visa to visit the US this week. Steele urged Ohr to promote Deripaskas trip to the States: [Y]ou should be pushing at an open door, Steele wrote. There was a problem, though: Steele anticipated counter squalls from State. It was a problem that had a two-part solution. The first involved Ohr. Steele encouraged his friend to take advantage of an inter-agency meeting on him [Deripaska] this week which I guess you will be attending. The second part of Steeles strategy involved putting his memos to work. We are circulating some recent sensitive Orbis reporting on the RF [Russian Federation] leaderships targeting of certain business figures. The reports, Steele told Ohr, would suggest that Deripaska is not the leadership tool some have alleged. Winers distribution of O Reports enabled Steele to influence U.S. policy for clients such as Deripaska. That may explain why, at Steeles direction, Winer collected and destroyed as many copies of Steeles reports as he could before leaving his job. So I destroyed them, Winer admitted to the intelligence committee. I basically destroyed all the correspondence I had with him. RealClearInvestigations contacted Orbis with questions for Steele. There was no response. Nelson W. Cunningham: This president of the Clinton-connected lobbying firm McLarty Associates got a pitch from Winer touting Steele's Russia expertise. Winers promotion of Steele and his business extended beyond the government. For example, when the London-based Steele visited Washington in November 2014, Winer pitched him to Nelson Cunningham, president of the Clinton-connected lobbying firm McLarty Associates. The email, almost otherwise completely redacted, can be found in the State Department archive of responses to Freedom of Information Act requests. After describing Steele as an old friend, Winer told Cunningham that Steele was in town for a few days. He was in my office catching up and it occurred to me there might be value for McClarty Global knowing him and his capabilities in terms of real time and longer term analysis of developments in the former Soviet Union. In another message sent from his State Department email account, Winer also touted Steele to an executive at APCO Worldwide Ariuna Namsrai. Ariuna, my friend Chris Steele from London is in town and working on Russian matters as always, Winer emailed Namsrai on Nov. 20, 2014. I thought it might make sense for the two of you to get together if you had any time tomorrow. Great to hear from you! she enthused in reply. I met Chris before so its nice to hear that he is in DC. In the same email, Namsrai asks, Chris what time is convenient for you? The arrangements having been made for Namsrai to meet with Steele, she closed by saying Miss you Jonathan, and hope to see you soon! Hugs, Ariuna. As one lawyer who specializes in federal employment law told RealClearInvestigations, it is wildly inappropriate for a State Department official to be recommending contractors to lobbyists with business before the department. Sen. Ron Johnson: Mr. Winers admitted destruction of his records related to his contacts with Christopher Steele is concerning and deserves an explanation. But theres more to it. Who, after all, is Ariuna Namsrai, with whom Winer is on a hugs basis? She is APCOs managing director for Russia. Born in Mongolia, she earned her bachelors and masters degrees at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. APCO is of particular interest because Winer was a senior director and business diplomacy consultant for the firm from May 2008 to August 2013. After he left the State Department in 2017, Winer returned to APCO as a senior counselor. During his first stint, Winer worked with Namsrai representing a Russian nuclear power company called Techsnabexport. Or at least they did their best to make it appear they were primarily working for that company when they were actually working for the Russian government. APCOs 2011 Foreign Agents Representation Act filing names Techsnabexport as the foreign principal for which it was working. The firm described their client as an open joint stock company wholly owned by the JSC Atomenergoprom. In the fine print one discovers that that company in turn is wholly owned by State corporation for Atomic Energy, Rosatom, which is wholly owned by the Russian government. A Contract for Lobbying Services and Consulting Services was drawn up by APCO in April 2010, a copy of which was attached as a secondary appendix to the FARA filing. The Scope of Work includes Creating and promoting a new image of State Atomic Energy corporation Rosatom, supporting the interests of Rosatom in the USA, and overcoming existing political and trade barriers. In October 2010, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States approved Rosatoms controversial acquisition of Uranium One, a Canadian company with extensive mining projects in the US. Namsrai did not respond to emails from RealClearInvestigations asking why APCO listed Techsnabexport as its foreign principal client and not the official Russian state nuclear power enterprise, Rosatom, and whether Steele performed any work for the company. As Winers connections with Russia and the Steele dossier emerge, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson says he wants to hear more from him. But, Johnson said, the committees ranking Democratic member, Gary Peters, is trying to derail his efforts to enforce the committees subpoena and interview Winer under oath. Peters spokesperson did not respond to questions from RealClearInvestigations. Among other issues, Mr. Winers admitted destruction of his records related to his contacts with Christopher Steele is concerning and deserves an explanation, Johnson said. I am looking forward to learning more from Mr. Winer in spite of Democrat attempts to further delay our investigation. Steve Carell has given us plenty of memorable performances over the years, but none so dear as Michael Scott in The Office. The Golden Globe winner left the show in its seventh season, which turned out to be an emotional moment for fans. He recently revealed that it was even more painful for him, as he discussed the 'emotional torture' of filming his farewell episode of the NBC sitcom. Emotional torture: Steve Carell recently revealed his painful experience of leaving The Office, as he discussed the 'emotional torture' of filming his farewell episode The 58-year-old opened up Tuesday to former co-star Brian Baumgartner on Spotify's podcast An Oral History of The Office. He said: 'It was almost more than I bargained for... I had [goodbye] scenes with everyone in the cast and it was emotional torture. 'It was like just fraught with emotion and joy and sadness and nostalgia. But it was also really beautiful. Id like treasure just doing that episode because it did allow me to kind of have a finality with everybody.' Carell starred as the often problematic manager of paper company Dunder Mifflin, from the show's premiere in 2005, until he departed in 2011. Reunited: The 58-year-old opened up Tuesday to former co-star Brian Baumgartner on Spotify's podcast An Oral History of The Office (pictured in November, 2018) Bittersweet farewell: He said: 'It was almost more than I bargained for... I had [goodbye] scenes with everyone in the cast and it was emotional torture' (pictured in October, 2018) He would later reunite with his co-stars in the series finale of its nine-season run, which concluded in 2013. Jenna Fischer (who starred as Pam Beesly) also opened about her emotional experience on Carell's farewell episode, which was entitled Goodbye, Michael. Their goodbye scene took place in an airport, as Michael moved to Colorado, but director Paul Feig opted not to include sound, so the actors could say what they wanted. Leading man: Carell starred as the often problematic manager of paper company Dunder Mifflin, from the show's premiere in 2005, until he departed in 2011 Beautiful ending: He continued: 'It was like just fraught with emotion and joy and sadness and nostalgia. But it was also really beautiful. Id like treasure just doing that episode because it did allow me to kind of have a finality with everybody' Goodbye scene: Jenna Fischer (who starred as Pam Beesly) also opened about her emotional goodbye scene with Carell: 'I ran up to Steve, and I just told him all the ways I was going to miss him and how grateful I was for his friendship and the privilege of working with him' She recounted: 'I ran up to Steve, and I just told him all the ways I was going to miss him and how grateful I was for his friendship and the privilege of working with him. 'And I'm sobbing, and he's sobbing, and we're hugging, and I didn't want to let him go, and I didn't want the scene to end.' Fischer currently hosts her own Office podcast Office Ladies, along with former co-star Angela Kinsey (who played Angela Martin). The Office is available to stream on Netflix or on Stan in Australia. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:11:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. economists and business leaders have raised questions and voiced concerns over the Trump administration's actions against TikTok, highlighting a lack of evidence for its national security threat allegations and warning of undesirable consequences. "There is absolutely no evidence that TikTok poses a threat to U.S. national security," Gary Hufbauer, a former U.S. Treasury official and nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Xinhua. "The claim is based on speculation that any mobile device with a Chinese app can be used to spy on Americans," Hufbauer said. "Paranoia pure and simple." The remarks are in response to President Donald Trump's Aug. 6 executive order banning any U.S. transactions with TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance, starting in 45 days. A similar order was issued for WeChat, a messaging and social media app owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent. TikTok filed on Monday a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its executive order, accusing the U.S. authorities of stripping the rights of the company without presenting any evidence to justify the extreme action, and of issuing the order without any due process as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution while banning the company with no notice or opportunity to be heard. TikTok's U.S. content moderation is led by a U.S.-based team which operates independently from China, and the popular application stores U.S. user data on servers located in the United States and Singapore, the company reiterated. Craig Allen, president of U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC), said that while he supports the administration's goal to protect data privacy and national security, he thinks the U.S. government should "share the evidence" that it has upon which it has based its decision. "The evidence has been presented in very vague terms without any level of granular reality that would give one comfort that rule of law and due process has been fully given to foreign companies operating in the U.S. market," Allen told reporters at a press conference earlier this month. "We need to treat Chinese companies in the United States that we wish American companies in China to be treated," added Allen, whose organization represents more than 200 U.S. companies doing business with China. Trump's Aug. 6 executive order against TikTok and ByteDance draws its legal authority from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), but past administrations had never used it against a global technology company, according to a report from The New York Times. In its 39-page indictment acquired by Xinhua, TikTok argued that the executive order is a misuse of the IEEPA, authorizing the prohibition of activities that have not been found to be "an unusual and extraordinary threat" in this case. According to the Los Angeles-based tech firm, the total number of TikTok's monthly active users in the United States soared to 91,937,040 as of June, and based on quarterly usage, 100 million Americans use the application to express themselves and connect with each other. Also citing national security risks, Trump issued another executive order on Aug. 14 that will force ByteDance to divest the U.S. operations of TikTok within 90 days. Microsoft Corp, Twitter and Oracle have joined negotiations, according to a report by CNBC. "The value of TikTok is clearly some combination of the masses of data the company has about users and the algorithms it uses to match content with individual users' tastes. That is why major U.S. firms like Microsoft and Oracle are interested in acquiring TikTok," Geoffrey Garrett, dean of University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business, told Xinhua. Garrett noted that the Trump administration's claim that Chinese ownership of TikTok is a national security risk seems much harder to sustain than its claim against Huawei, but he expects Trump will force ByteDance to divest, at minimum, the U.S. operations of TikTok. "The actions against TikTok and WeChat are to weaken China's role in the global digital economy generally, mainly for geopolitical reasons," Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University and a senior United Nations advisor, told Xinhua via email. "Of course there is a link with Trump's white evangelical electoral base, which is anti-foreign in general, and is now strongly anti-Chinese, as exemplified by Pompeo," Sachs said, referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose recent anti-China speech has drawn wide criticism. Echoing Sachs' remarks, Hufbauer said he sees U.S. actions against TikTok as "a political move to rescue Trump's flagging prospects." Despite the U.S. administration's groundless accusation, Hufbauer said that he is skeptical that TikTok will prevail "because the U.S. courts give wide deference to the president whenever he declares a national security threat or a national emergency." Allen said he is concerned that the scope of the executive orders against TikTok and WeChat might be broader than intended, and encouraged the administration to "appropriately calibrate the scope" of the orders. Noting that WeChat is not only a popular messaging app U.S. companies rely on to engage with their customers in the Chinese market, but also a very important payment platform, the USCBC president said there will be "commercial implications" if American companies are not allowed to use WeChat. The U.S. business leader is also worried about potential consequences of such executive orders. "If we single out individual companies, we should anticipate that other governments will do the same to American companies," Allen said. Enditem Two cases of people using boats to cross the border illegally from Cambodia into Vietnam have been found and quarantined by functional forces in the Mekong Delta province of Long An. Border guards in Long An Province said on Monday they have imposed administrative penalties on two Vietnamese nationals, Nguyen Van Dung and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, for coming into the country illegally, and put them under quarantine to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control as per regulations. At about 1:00 am on Sunday, Dung and Anh were found crossing Cai Co River from Cambodia into Vietnam on a rowboat in Long Ans Tan Hung District. The duo admitted that they had been working as hired laborers in the neighboring country. However, the current COVID-19 outbreak in Cambodia has left them unemployed and forced them to find their way home. While looking for a way to cross the border, they came across a rowboat on the bank of the Cai Co River and used it to enter Vietnam. As growing concern of the coronavirus takes hold in Vietnam, Long An border guards have stepped up patrolling the borders, especially along the Cai Co River, an easy-to-pass route between the two countries. In a previous case, functional forces in Long An Province last Thursday caught Ly Hoang Chanh, a native of Tan Hung District, helping an illegal immigrant cross from Cambodia to Vietnam by the waterway. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Earlier in the summer, University of Limerick (UL) announced they have amended their accommodation offerings, allowing some students to avail of flexible accommodation in recognition of the reduced on-campus time they will have due to Covid-19 restrictions. Other third level institutes have also taken the current climate into account, providing updated information for future and returning students on their accommodation websites. For Leaving Certificate students awaiting results, the unfamiliarity of the accommodation systems in third level institutions has been a cause of concern. Despite the closure of schools back in March, many colleges went ahead with existing accommodation application processes, which generally open in spring each year. Universities such as UL, University College Cork (UCC) and Dublin City University (DCU) opened applications to students for on-campus accommodation earlier this year and have already conducted their lottery draws to determine which students have secured a room. Advertisement However, students who were unsuccessful in the lottery process have now been placed on a waiting list and may be contacted if another student turns down their place. For incoming first years in UL, the waiting list will reopen during the week of September 4th to allow for students who did not enter the lottery process earlier in the year to add their names to the list. According to the UL accommodation website: Students who did not register for the lottery are advised to seek off-campus accommodation. Similarly, in UCC the lottery for on-campus rooms was held in June, but students who did not secure a room may be offered one subsequently if other students do not claim theirs. However, those who missed the March 18th deadline for the lottery process will not be able to add their names to the waiting list. UCCs dedicated First Year Accommodation Placement Service will open once CAO offers have been issued. In Galway, NUIGs two university owned residences, Corrib and Goldcrest Villages are now fully booked according to their website but offers will be made to wait-listed students between September 15th and 17th if there are availabilities. Students who were not already registered for the initial lottery will be able to add their names to the waiting lists from August 28th. CAO Offers Advertisement The tight turnaround between CAO offers, the first round of which will be released on September 11th, and the return to college at the end of September has left parents and students worrying about finding a spot in the institute they receive an offer from. Sinn Fein TD for Mayo, Rose Conway-Walsh says it is unfair for students to be charged deposits for accommodation when they do not know what their timetables will be like. Students cannot be expected to give over huge sums of money until they receive a timetable from their college and can make an informed decision. For first years, this cannot happen until after they accept an offer which, for some, will be as late as September 25th. While there are so many unknowns, it is unfair and unjustifiable to ask students and their families to pay rent or deposits, said Ms Conway-Walsh. She is calling on Ministers Norma Foley and Simon Harris to clarify the situation for students starting and returning to college, adding: I have to advise all students and their families to hold off signing any long-term leases for accommodation for the coming academic semester until we get clarity on what their actual requirements will be. Private Sector Advertisement The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) vice president for campaigns, Craig McHugh is also saying that if students are in doubt, they should wait. Be cautious in terms of where you are going to try get accommodation. Its a very scattered, different outlook across the country- each institute seems to be acting quite differently. The most important thing to do is to be cautious and think Do I know what exactly is happening here? and if not, hold off. Theres an availability of accommodation so dont rush into something that you could end up regretting down the line. Landlords are also approaching the return of students with caution, with chairman of the Irish Property Owners Association, Stephen Faughnan saying Covid-19 has caused chaos to the student market. The provision of accommodation is a business and the changes in university practices including online lectures could change students requirements for accommodation. We have been advised by some members who traditionally let to students that they have moved from the student market to other tenancies, which is likely to cause further shortages of accommodation for students. Property owners and their students are dealing with uncertainty and stress. Decisions have to be made by both parties under these uncertain conditions and contractual obligations have to be fulfilled. Students can view details regarding individual institutions accommodation protocols on the institutes accommodation website, or go to the USI website for general information. Vietnam recorded five new Covid-19 cases Wednesday evening, all imported, taking the country's active cases to 412. "Patient 1030", a 42-year-old male resident of Que Vo District in the northern province of Bac Ninh, and "Patient 1031," a 38-year old male resident of HCMCs District 6, are both returnees from the United Arab Emirates. They landed August 9 at the Can Tho International Airport on Vietnam Airlines flight VN5002 and were quarantined upon arrival in the southern province of Bac Lieu. They tested negative for the virus August 10 but positive on August 25. They had contracted the virus in the UAE, but had tested negative three times there before returning to Vietnam. "Patient 1032", a 21-year-old resident of Hanois Cau Giay District, Hanoi, "Patient 1033", a 58-year-old woman from Dong Hoi Town , Quang Binh Province, and "Patient 1034", a 34-year-old man from Hai Duong Province, are all returnees from Russia. The three landed August 11 at the Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh Province on Vietnam Airlines flight VN5062 and were quarantined upon arrival. They tested negative for the virus on August 13 and positive on August 25. Vietnam has recorded 1,034 Covid-19 cases so far, with 632 recoveries. All 29 of its Covid-19 deaths to date have been of patients with pre-existing conditions, renal failure the most common among them. The youngest death to date has been that of a 33 year old person and the oldest 93. Among the active patients, 167 have tested negative at least once. There have been 687 community transmission cases to date, of which 547 cases are linked to Da Nang City since July 25. Covid-19 has claimed over 820,000 lives globally. HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam on Wednesday accused China of violating its sovereignty by conducting military drills in a disputed part of the South China Sea and said Beijing's actions were "complicating" negotiations on establishing a code of conduct in the region. China this week began six days of exercises in waters near the Paracel Islands, where Vietnam has competing claims, according to the Maritime Safety Administration of Hainan, an island off China's southern coast. It was the second set of drills in the area by Beijing in two months. "China's repeated military exercises in (the Paracel Islands) violate Vietnam's sovereignty, complicating negotiations for a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between China and ASEAN," foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said in a statement. Vietnam is this year chairing the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has had long drawn-out negotiations with Beijing over a code of conduct in the South China Sea. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At a June 26 summit in Hanoi, Vietnam and the Philippines - China's most vocal challengers over the sea - warned of growing regional insecurity amid concern that Beijing was advancing territorial claims under the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic. China claims historical jurisdiction over about 80% of the sea, using a U-shaped "nine-dash line" that includes swathes of Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, as well as the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands. It also overlaps the EEZs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Vietnam and the Philippines last month criticised China's holding of an earlier set of military drills in the area. The United States in June also hardened its position on the South China Sea, where it has accused China of attempting to build a "maritime empire" in the potentially energy-rich waters. (Reporting by Phuong Nguyen and Beijing bureau; Editing by Ed Davies) Advertisement The word is in: millennials have finally broken into the housing market. Scarred by the Great Recession, dogged by accusations of ambivalence and burdened with student debt - the group most known to fritter away a paycheck on avocado toast has made their long awaited debut in real estate. According to the National Association of Realtors, they represented the largest cohort of home buyers in 2018 and are predicted to outpace other generations in 2020. Unsurprisingly, they have redefined how homeownership is approached. With social media playing a huge role in the way millennials shop; it's no shock that more and more people between the ages of 23-39 have turned to Instagram for their real-estate needs. Enter: Cheap Old Houses, the popular Instagram feed that connects the recession-wary generation to historic fixer-uppers that cost less than $100,000. 'I think there's a lot of reasons why this strikes a chord with millennials,' said Elizabeth Finkelstein, a historic preservationist who started the account in 2016. 'I think they are a very design savvy generation and millennials want something with character, something individual that isn't something everybody else has.' Elizabeth Finkelstein and her husband, Ethan started the Instagram account, Cheap Old Houses in 2016 as a way to spotlight historic homes for sale under $100,000. Elizabeth said that a huge percentage of their audience hails from New York City, Los Angeles and Portland - places where people feel trapped paying high rental prices. The account mirrors and serves a growing trend in millennials who are turning to social media for homeownership Today the account has 1.2 million followers and has grown exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic with 25,000 new followers each week. 'It's really hit a nerve with so many people of all ages who are either leaving their jobs, losing their jobs, or finding that their jobs are becoming less tied to place and that they can do them remotely' Betsy Sweeny, 27, closed on her brick Victorian home in Wheeling, West Virginia for $18,500 in May of this year. She said: 'I think there is something about the appeal of an old home that is made of real things, with real wood and real stone that is not disposable and actually meant to be long standing that offers a sense of security that we don't have in most other aspects of our lives' Damian Mordecai, 39 and his partner, Nick Weith, 25, purchased this dramatic 'second empire' style home outside of Buffalo, New York for $52,500 in June, they expect to spend $50,000 in renovation costs by doing most of the work themselves Historic homes are in Elizabeth Finkelstein's gene pool. Her lifelong love for old houses sparked as a child with her family home - an 1850s Greek Revival that her parents' painstakingly restored to its original glory. Upon getting a degree in historic preservation, Elizabeth and her husband, Ethan created the website 'Circa Old Houses' in 2013, which spotlights historical homes for sale across America at different price points. In 2016, she launched the 'Cheap Old Houses' Instagram account after a column that she wrote for Circa, titled 'Ten for under 50k' went viral. Finkelstein needed a place to broadcast her bargain-buy fixer-uppers, 'People started sending me houses right and left and I felt like I needed- to put it bluntly, a dumping ground for these houses.' The account was an instant success and quickly surpassed Circa's own audience. The irresistibly scrollable feed (which now boasts 1.2 million followers) attracts its fair share of design junkies and escapists who gush over the crumbling relics of yesteryear: a majestic turetted Victorian mini-mansion with three fireplaces, two way mirrors and hidden nooks for $37k. A colossal, 40+ room Catskills mountain house for $89k, a stately Italianate farmhouse with three acres of land for 27k, or the original craftsman with Tiffany light fixtures and pocket doors for 61k. 'I am not surprised at what the allure is, I think that there's something magical about looking for the potential in something,' said Finkelstein to DailyMail.com. The majority of homes are most commonly located in New York State and across the decaying towns of America's rust-belt where entire communities have turned into derelict ghost towns under the collapse of the manufacturing industry. Now the husks of glorious houses that were built on industrial wealth sit vacant, waiting to be 'saved' from destruction. 'My desire with this feed is that people buy these houses, live in them, nurture these houses, restore them and contribute to the local economy and help out a small town.' Millennials (also known as Generation Y) comprise Cheap Old Houses' largest audience - many of whom hail from New York City, Los Angeles and Portland, 'places where people are just feeling like they are stuck or tied down.' She refers to them as 'the dreamers' - those who are trapped in the viscous cycle of working high-paying jobs in order to afford exorbitant rental prices. Unsurprisingly, Finkelstein's feed has seen a sudden surge of 25,000 new followers per week since the pandemic started in March. 'It's really hit a nerve with so many people of all ages who are either leaving their jobs, losing their jobs, or finding that their jobs are becoming less tied to place and that they can do them remotely.' Dustin Diolio, 36, could no longer afford the high cost of living in Oakland, California so he moved to Maine where he purchased this 120 year old church for $32,000 with a personal loan. He said: 'My dad always told me that owning a home, or owning a piece of property is important, and that there's money in real estate' First time homeowners Oliva and Brian Langford, 28 purchased this federal style brick home in the historic neighborhood of Petersburg, Virginia for $85,000 Tung Nghiem and Martha Conkel, 25 purchased this 1899 Queen Anne Victorian in Dayton, Ohio sight-unseen. After a short bidding war, they nabbed the colossal home for $105,000 and plan to put $60,000 into renovation costs Tung Nghiem and Martha Conkel, 25 have been slowly renovating the house themselves with tips they've learned from the internet. 'We expected the worse going into it because we didn't see the inside when we purchased it,' said Nghiem. 'But we've had no surprises yet' Since the account's inception, she estimates that 35-40 homes have been saved. 'There's definitely more, those are just ones that have written to me,' said Finkelstein. One such person is Dustin Diolio, 36, who moved from Oakland, California across the country to start a new life in Maine and restore a 120 year old church that he purchased for $32,000 with a personal loan. He originally discovered it on Craigslist before it was posted to Cheap Old Houses and it was love at first sight. 'It was weird!' he said. 'I felt like I got the tingles.' Like many of his peers, Diolio was priced out of the housing market in Northern California. 'I was making 5k a month but I really needed to be making 35[k]' he said. The walls on his tiny, studio apartment were closing in and Diolio began looking at real estate in other states like Washington, Michigan and Maine. 'My parents live in a duplex, so my whole life, they've essentially been property managers,' said Diolio. 'My dad always told me that owning a home, or owning a piece of property is important, and that there's money in real estate.' Buffalo, New York couple Nick Weith, 25 and Damian Mordecai, 39, closed on their charming slate-tile mansard roof mini-mansion in June of this year for a total cost of $52,500. Named Kimble House after the home's original owners, the historic property is located an hour south of Buffalo in the small village of Gowanda, New York. Weith was immediately smitten by the home when he first spotted it on Cheap Old Houses; and while Mordecai liked the house itself, he wasn't crazy about the hour commute into Buffalo where he works. Covid-19 changed all that when mandatory seclusion orders required people to work remotely from home. The couple is different from others in their generation in that both have already owned homes separately. But for Weith, the decision to move to a cheaper home in the rural countryside was obvious. 'The idea of not having to worry about such a high mortgage anymore was really appealing,' he said. For just him alone, getting rid of his costly mortgage would free up an extra $1,000 per month and he plans on paying off his student and credit card debt with the sale of his current property. Properties of all types are featured on Cheap Old Houses from antique Victorians mansions to white- steepled churches, a 200 year old school house and even a 180 year old post-office. Some are offered for free just for the cost of moving the building. Finkelstein says a lot of Cheap Old Houses are like 'perfectly preserved time capsules' to another era because previous owners couldn't afford to update them Dustin Diolio is currently in the process of renovating an old church (that came complete with a bell) into a house. After 12-years in Oakland, California, e was tired of living paycheck to paycheck, he said: 'I was making 5k a month but I really needed to be making 35[k]' Weith hopes to keep renovation costs under $50,000 by doing a lot of the work themselves, though he's not naive to the potential nightmare in the massive undertaking: 'You're told to think of one number and then expect to have it tripled.' The trade off is affordable housing with a lot more space. 'I honestly feel like there are a lot more pros than cons,' said Weith. 'Kimble House is bigger than both of our current houses, but I think this could speak to people in places like New York City or San Francisco, where my brother lives in a studio that's smaller than our kitchen.' And while small-town life in Gowanda (where the population is 2,700) is sure to be a culture-shock, Mordecai is excited for the slower pace that the rural, suburban community provides. 27-year-old Betsy Sweeny, an architectural historian based in Wheeling, West Virginia echoes that sentiment. She told DailyMail.com: 'I cannot encourage people enough to take a look at these smaller communities because it really has been life changing for me.' She closed on her dream home - a courtly red-brick Victorian that she purchased for $18,500 in May. Sweeny had her pick of big cities when she left her previous job at a presidential museum in Virginia, but was attracted to the quaint and self-sustaining lifestyle Wheeling offered. 'I can source my wine from a local wine shop. I can get my bread from my friend, Sarah, who has a store. I can buy produce from a local market. Everything I do can direct money right back into my community,' she said. 'And the ability to do that within my very moderate nonprofit salary range is so satisfying. And it's not something I could do in New York or D.C. or even in my native of Pittsburgh at this point in my life.' Being a preservationist herself, Sweeny is well informed in the potential challenges that arise in buying and restoring an old home. First and foremost, it's difficult to find a bank that will lend a buyer money for a house that is deemed unlivable. The problem is compounded by the fact that many of the properties featured on Cheap Old Houses exist in rural areas without price-comps for a proper appraisal. Inevitably, a lot of the homes are purchased in all cash. A similar obstacle arises when one tries to get a home improvement loan. 'It's not something that every bank offers and some of the more conservative larger banks will consider it a very high risk loan,' explained Sweeny. 'It's complicated but not impossible.' Dustin Diolio is doing all the renovation work on his 120 year old church by himself with tips from friends and a little help from his father. 'I've done tons of reading on plumbing and electrical and building codes,' he said. 'Me and my dad have made a couple mistakes and we've had to stop and take a day to fix them - it happened twice - and you know, you swear a bit and get over it' Damian Mordecai (left) and his partner, Nick Weith purchased this mini-Victorian mansion in Gowanda, New York for $52,500. For Weith, the decision to move to a cheaper home in the rural countryside was obvious: 'The idea of not having to worry about such a high mortgage anymore was really appealing,' he said. He plans to pay off student debt with the extra $1,000 per month that he will be saving Betsy Sweeny plans to keep renovation costs for her brick Victorian home under $125,000. But she admits that her costs are 'not representative of what the average person would incur. Being that she works as a historic preservationist, she can avoid the expensive fees of hiring a general contractor, designer and craftsman The interior hallway of Betsy Sweeny's Victorian home, mid-transformation. She says: 'There's nothing certain about our path to higher education or so many of the things that our parents grew up with, but something like a house where you can put your own blood, sweat, and tears into it and know that it'll last forever, I think is really reassuring to a generation that doesn't have that in many other areas' Other things buyers need to consider when interested in a 'cheap old house' is the cost of renovation. Depending on how much work you do yourself, a typical one can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many historic homes require a total gut renovation. Big ticket expenses include electrical re-wiring, plumbing, roof, and foundation. Some homes need to have old lead paint stripped and others need asbestos removed. Insulating the old structures can be pricey but its cost effective during the arctic winter months when heating can get expensive. And all this is before you can even start on cosmetic upgrades. David Farineau, 37, and Miguel Pantoja, 30, plan on spending $100,000 on the kitchen for the 1865 Italianate farmhouse they purchased in Bristol, Connecticut for $175,000. One of the big 'unknowns' in their renovation process is an in-ground oil tank that needs to be removed. In the worst case scenario, depending on if there is contamination, remediation could cost upwards of $1 million. Even though they have been modernizing the interior with dark paint colors, Pantoja said: 'It's very important for me to keep the home's original character, I'm never going to remove something if I don't have to.' Which is why he was furious when the previous owner tried to remove the old horse hitching posts before the sale. 'That's when I put my foot down,' he said. 'It's either the hitching posts or no sale. The whole reason we bought this house in the first place was is to bring it back to its original glory.' The success of Cheap Old Houses and the stories that come from it reflect larger housing trends that are happening on a national level among millennials. Instagram isn't just an influencer, but also a mirror to the generation's growth and changing priorities. Millennials currently make up the largest generation in the U.S. and a significant percentage of them, (4.8 million) will be turning 30 this year, and embarking on the long-put-off institutions of marriage and family. 'It's an age at which they are on their first, second jobs,' said Realtor.com's senior economist George Ratiu to CNBC. 'Many of those families are having kids, and with that their preferences have shifted; we're seeing that they obviously are very much interested in buying homes.' Just before the coronavirus crises upended the economy, Realtor.com's 2020 Housing Market Predictions forecasted that millennials would be responsible for 50% of all homes purchased in the spring of 2020 - far outnumbering the share of total homes purchased by members of Generation X and Baby Boomers, at a respective 32% and 17%. Millennials graduated into the worst job market in 80 years during the Great Recession. And despite the fact that the following decade was marred by a toxic combination of lower earnings, skyrocketing housing costs and higher student debt - Weith believes that the dream to own a home never died among his plucky peers. It was kismet for Miguel Pantoja, 30 and David Farineau, 37, when they discovered the 1865 farmhouse in Bristol, Connecticut on Cheap Old Houses. Pantoja had long admired the home, 'I remember vividly saying, I wonder if I could knock on their door and ask if they would ever sell.' Years later the property was put on the market but by then, the couple had broken up and were living apart. 'We decided to not only fix our relationship but also fix the house,' said Pantoja Above are pictures of H.S. Bartholomew House mid transformation. Pantoja thinks the part of the attraction millennials have to fixer-uppers is informed by popular home improvement shows that they grew up with on HGTV. He also adds that millennials are more concerned with sustainability and the environment than previous generations which makes the ideal of fixing something old and reusing it more appealing Farineau and Pantoja purchaed the 1865 Italianate farmhouse for $175,000. Pantoja commutes two hours to New York City for work everyday. He said: 'I think it's worth it in the end because, I think more people are now seeing that, that once you don't have a job and you retire, you'll at least have a house' 'We were able to see like a very idealistic world before the 2008/2009 crash, and then we have also witnessed the repercussions in the past decade. But for us, we kind-of held onto this idea that you buy a home and start a family. But we can't do it in the same way that our parents did,' he said. It's no surprise then - that Gen-Y is disrupting the housing market in more ways than one. Much like Nick Weith and Damian Mordecai, housing data reveals that their generational cohorts are moving out of expensive large cities in favor of rural communities, suburbs, and smaller, more affordable metro areas like Tucson, Arizona, Raleigh, North Carolina, Columbus, Ohio, and Denver, Colorado. 'I think more people are realizing that we don't have to live in a big place or in a big city to be happy. And so, it's like, where can we go that's more affordable?' said Weith. Tiny suburban downtown areas across the country, like the one Betsy Sweeny found in Wheeling, West Virginia are suddenly experiencing a renaissance. Real estate agent Kerron Stokes told The Washington Post: 'As a whole, millennials are very interested in a sense of community and place a priority on the neighborhood.' Exorbitant costs of living would have precluded Sweeny from owning a home in larger metropolises. 'I think to me, it all comes down to authenticity. If I really want to be ingrained in my community, that means I need to also be able to make a commitment to it. And in my case, in the form of purchasing a house that people thought was too far gone.' She added, 'The same listing would have been $10 million in New York City.' Trends also show that Generation Y has a preference for sleek, modern homes with minimalist, low maintenance designs OR older homes racked with charm, character and pre-war details like the properties featured on Cheap Old Houses. The have by-and- large shunned the suburban McMansions that were mass produced between the 1980s- 2000s (and once a status symbol for wealth among Baby Boomers). Another trend is the use of technology. Predictably, the generation with an app for everything is using social media and technology to change how real estate is being bought and sold. This also explains the meteoric success in the Cheap Old Houses Instagram. According to the National Association of Realtors, 81% of millennials found their home through a mobile app in 2019. And according to a Redfin survey, 35% of homebuyers purchased a home sight-unseen. All this is made possible through apps that allow for virtual reality tours, live streaming open houses and speedy online mortgage applications. Mordecai and Weith uncovered a trove of treasures left behind from the previous owners of the house. Among old newspaper clippings, photographs, wedding invitations, graduations cards they found a stack of old love letters (left) and a diary entry titled 'why I hate men' (right) Among the many personal items left behind, Weith and Mordecai discovered an old baby grand piano, an antique croquet set, fishing poles, cuckoo clock, a century old hand crank Victor Victrola record player, original moldings, handrails, hardware and a photographs of the two original owners (right) Olivia and Brian Langford got the surprise of a lifetime when they demoed their bathroom wall and 200 straight razors came flying out. She said: 'It was unexpected to me, but my father-in-law told us that medicine cabinets of that era have a slot on the back that you would use to dispose your straight razors, and they would collect in between the studs in the wall' When it comes to social media, Sweeny thinks an account like Cheap Old Houses is popular because it creates a community of shared interests on a national level. Old house people, she said, 'are just a different breed.' She adds: 'Our parents didn't have a group of people to talk about their house because they bought their houses done. They didn't really need it, I guess.' Weith thinks that Instagram has allowed his generation to see that there is a different alternative to how conventional homeownership was done in the past. 'It doesn't have to be like, we buy this cookie cutter house that just needs a coat of paint and we're done.' He's not wrong: a recent study conducted by Bank of America in 2018 revealed that 27% of respondents were inspired to buy a home after seeing that their peers on social media could do it. 'Since Instagram isn't just about selling products, but also about lifestyle, it's a great platform for educating millennials about their options,' reported Forbes. 'There's nothing certain about the economy. There's nothing certain about our path to higher education or so many of the things that our parents grew up with,' said Sweeny to DailyMail.com. 'But something like a house where you can put your own blood, sweat, and tears into it and know that it'll last forever - I think is really reassuring to a generation that doesn't have that in many other areas.' I recently received my mail-in ballot for the Massachusetts primary election, which is quite late, on Sept. 1. (The main battle is between incumbent Senator Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy III.) I posted on Facebook about receiving my ballot as follows: "Sending in my primary ballot for Massachusetts. I still remember when I was a little boy my mother would take me to the polls to watch her vote and to spend time playing with the mock voting machines. Voting still after all these years puts an excited feeling in my heart." More specifically, I think that from the age of six, my mom took me to the local polls at the elementary school nearby. First I went into the voting booth with her. Then I stayed around afterwards she was a poll watcher staring at the people on line to wait to vote. There were a number of voting machines nearby where people could practice if they wanted to. I vaguely remember moving the pretend levers (they felt like real ones) and adding up pretend vote tallies. I wasn't sure what if any reaction I would get to my post. There turned out to be more than I expected 55 likes, which is considerably more than my posts typically get, many of them from people sharing their own memories of participating in voting with their parents, or more recently voting with their own children.. Turns out I'm not the only one who participated in and still remembers today in this rite of childhood. Some of the comments: "I have the same memories of going with my dad for the sacred right...and also still get that tingle..." "I loved pulling the lever that opened and shut the privacy curtain when I was young enough to go into the booth with my mother." "My earliest political recollection was watching the party conventions when they were televised for the first time in 1952. My dad was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, and had me on street corners handing out campaign literature for various democrat candidates." "When our kids were young, I dragged them to the polls and when they asked why I insisted on voting I replied people had died to protect my right to do so and that around the world, millions dreamed of having the same opportunity. Still feel the same way. And our kids have always voted." And from Chris Dorobek, whom some blog readers will know as a long-time IT journalist and member of our community: "I always take Nick to vote with me" (his eight-year old.) I will be corny. There are many critics of democracy today, far more than there were when communism fell 30 years ago. People ask whether democracy, with all our interest groups and the influence of money, really tends to produce the best policies we should note though that people worried that Trump is endangering democracy are not criticizing democracy itself, but rather asking whether it will be destroyed. My view is that the idea of one person, one vote is a profound statement. Even as we are unequal in many domains, in this important one we all have the same worth. It is the connection of democracy with human worth that makes the experience of voting never get old for me. I took a screenshot of my ballot and sent it by Wechat to a friend in China. I think I have mentioned Wechat in some earlier" posts, but guessed few would know what I was talking about; now probably many do. (This is perhaps neither here nor there, but I will be very distressed should I lose access to Wechat why can't I in a free country make the decision myself about taking the risk the Chinese will have access to my personal data?) My friend responded (ignore his imperfect English, "I must say that I admire you to vote for the candidate that you like." Another Chinese friend commented on my Facebook post (he has a VPN and can access Facebook), "Wish I could actually vote someday, and all the Chinese in Mainland China could." When China doesn't allow this, they show a lack of respect for the people of China. The executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Danbatta, has explained how the telecom industry is sustaining service delivery to subscribers during the pandemic. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Ikechukwu Adinde. Mr Danbatta listed critical regulatory actions that have been taken by the commission to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of service (QoS) delivery by the networks to telecom consumers. While speaking at the virtual Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) hosted with the theme: Impact of COVID-19 on Telecoms Service Delivery, he said the agency in collaboration with the supervising ministry developed e-platforms to handle all requests from the licensees to ensure that regulatory services are provided to sustain service delivery to subscribers. According to the statement, the commission approved and encouraged resource sharing among network operators and secured right of passage for all telecommunications companies and suppliers for easy movement during the lockdown. These measures enabled the operators to service their base stations and ensure seamless services for telecom consumers who increasingly relied on the networks during the pandemic. The Telecom Consumer Parliament is NCCs flagship forum for in-depth engagement with service providers to discuss issues of contemporary interest affecting consumers of telecom services in the country. With the pandemic, some telecom operators and platforms are reporting a demand spike, especially in data usage and volume of calls as high as 800 per cent since the outbreak of the pandemic, he said, citing an International Telecommunications Union report. Mr Danbatta said the commission and the mobile network operators needed to play their roles in sustaining quality of service delivery and quality of experience by the consumers. Mr Danbatta said the NCC, working with the ministry, is resolving the problem of high cost of right of way (RoW) with the Nigerian Governors Forum. He noted that through such engagements, the state governors have lent their support for a robust broadband infrastructure. The commission is hopeful that with the reduction in RoW, which will automatically result in reduction in capital expenditure by the network operators, telecom companies will, sooner than later, reciprocate the gesture by making their services more affordable to Nigerians, he said. The statement revealed that regulatory efforts have also resulted in a presidential approval directing security agencies to protect information and communication technology and telecom facilities as critical national assets. The statement said this has helped to safeguard telecom infrastructure for the greater role telecom has to play with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Danbatta advised the service providers to constantly upgrade and expand their network capacity in order to deliver top-notch QoS to their consumers. A panel session of telecoms operators, who participated virtually in the TCP, addressed issues of network capacity upgrade, change in consumer data consumption behaviour, implementation of agreed Consumer Complaints and Service Level Agreement. Also, consumer education as well as general issues around quality of service and quality of experience by the over 192 million telecom consumers in the country were discussed. We have discovered property that resulted in millions of dollars of market value being added to our tax roll over the years, while also improving the efficiency of our office procedures and field reviews. EagleView, a leading technology provider of aerial imagery, data analytics and GIS solutions, today announced a major six-year contract with the State of Wyoming to provide highly detailed aerial imagery and change detection solutions throughout the state. This investment will further the Department of Revenues mission of uniform assessment, valuation, and taxation of locally assessed property for all Wyoming residents. Under the agreement, EagleView will fly an estimated 10,000 square miles over Wyoming every two years. EagleViews high-resolution aerial imagery will detect property changes, help identify properties in need of potential onsite inspections, and assure razed properties are removed from the county tax roll. Under a similar contract agreement, Las Animas County, Colorado has added more than $80 million in assessed value since 2016 that was not previously in its property records. While extraordinarily beautiful, Wyomings mountainous terrain and open prairies make it a challenge to assess many properties. These issues can be compounded by inclement weather and intermingled private and public lands, said Brian Judkins, administrator of the Wyoming Department of Revenue Property Tax Division. Accurately assessing these properties is a critical component of the revenue that supports our local and county services, including schools. By working with EagleView, we can ensure that we have provided the assessor with the latest technology for all properties. EagleView also offers multiple agencies a new degree of safety and accuracy in todays environment. Converse County has worked with EagleView since 2009 and has realized a strong return on our investment, said Dixie Huxtable, assessor, Converse County, Wyoming. We have discovered property that resulted in millions of dollars of market value being added to our tax roll over the years, while also improving the efficiency of our office procedures and field reviews. EagleView is proud to serve the State of Wyoming and its 23 counties, said Doug Tonnemacher, vice president, government - western region for EagleView. Our aerial imagery covers 98 percent of the United States. Combined with our ChangeFinder solution, EagleView helps counties identify revenue opportunities to reduce budget shortfalls while keeping assessors safe and efficient and ensuring accurate property records. EagleView has captured high-resolution imagery for more than half of the 3,143 US county governments, said Chris Jurasek, CEO of EagleView. Our strong, long-term relationships with customers like the State of Wyoming are at the core of what we do, and we highly value this partnership and the opportunity to make Wyoming's communities stronger." Fitted with highly sensitive camera equipment, EagleViews fixed wing aircraft simultaneously capture top down (orthogonal) and angled (oblique) images with viewable detail to 2 above the ground 70 times clearer than satellite images. The images captured are then compared with older EagleView or federal government images to detect property changes made between assessments, such as new development or demolition. EagleView oblique and orthogonal imagery also informs Wyomings public safety systems, including its 911 service, ensuring updated mapping of access and egress points from properties, utility equipment, and natural features such as waterways and firebreaks. About EagleView EagleView is a leader in aerial imagery, machine learning-derived data analytics and software, helping customers in different industries use property insights for smarter planning, building and living. With more than 200 patents, EagleView pioneered the field of aerial property measurements and has the largest multi-modal image database in history, covering 98 percent of the U.S. population. Flying over 9.5 million linear miles every year, EagleViews coverage is the most extensive and up to date, enabling local government and business customers to use the most accurate data to make timely and informed decisions. For more information, call (866) 659-8439, visit http://www.eagleview.com and follow @EagleViewTech. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-25 21:54:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on Oct. 15, 2019 shows China's polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, that is to depart at the Shekou cruise home port in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian) Shenzhen's success is an epitome of China's 40-plus years of reform and opening-up, a fundamental national policy that has created a miracle of rapid development and long-term social stability. BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- When China established the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone 40 years ago, overseas critics had cast doubt on its future. Forty years later, the once small coastal village has developed into a metropolis housing 13 million with its GDP hitting 2.69 trillion yuan (about 388.89 billion U.S. dollars). The valuable development experience the southern city of Shenzhen has gained since 1980 is critical for other areas' reform to draw lessons from. Moreover, its development has offered the world a glimpse of the vitality of China's progress and its commitment to reform and opening-up. Today, Shenzhen houses eight Fortune 500 companies, including Huawei, Tencent and China Merchants Bank, ranking the third on the Chinese mainland in terms of the number of such enterprises. Meanwhile, the city is regarded as an "engine" for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's development into a vibrant world-class city cluster. The city's success is not accidental. It is an epitome of China's 40-plus years of reform and opening-up, a fundamental national policy that has created a miracle of rapid development and long-term social stability. China will not stop or reverse the process. The process can rather only be accelerated, providing certainty to the world in a period of change unseen in a century. China's reform and opening-up has come to a new stage. The challenges it now faces are no less complex or difficult than they were 40 years ago. Reform has entered a "deep water" zone with deep institutional and mechanism barriers to be done away with. China will also face more and more headwinds in the external environment as globalization has encountered resistance from protectionism and unilateralism. In this case, Shenzhen harbors great hopes to break new ground for reform as "a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics." The market-oriented allocation of factors, optimization of business environment, overall utilization of urban space, to name a few, are Shenzhen's leading attempts amid China's efforts to promote overall reform. Like the opening-up spirit Shenzhen embraces in its development, China is ready to create a comprehensive, multi-level and diversified open cooperation pattern. The country will cooperate with all countries, regions and enterprises willing to cooperate with China, including states, local governments and enterprises of the United States. Deepening reform will tap the potential of domestic demand. Raising the level of opening-up will facilitate better connectivity between domestic and foreign markets. China will see its status continue to rise in the world economy with closer ties, and the country will provide more extensive market opportunities for other countries, becoming a huge magnet attracting international commodities and resources. At a new start after the 40-year miracle, China will pool greater wisdom and courage to grasp the trend of the times. Reform and opening-up has no "perfect tense" but only a "progressive tense." Skepticism of this commitment will only lead to a missed opportunity of sharing its fruits. TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunlight is abundant in the 14 flourishing counties of the North Florida region, where spectacular natural resources also include low-cost land, timber, and rich farmland. Human resources here are equally impressive in a robust skilled workforce developed through world-class training and educational opportunities, while financial advantages like low-cost, high-capacity utilities and lucrative investment incentives offer low-hanging fruit for profitability. North Florida Economic Development Partnership logo. And now, to this sunny region's natural, human and financial resources, the North Florida Economic Development Partnership (NFEDP) has added one more critical resource: Rich data that brings real illumination to the site selection process and empowers better decision-making on the part of investors and existing business. With the unveiling of NFEDP's new website, featuring an interactive map powered by next-generation GIS (Geographic Information System), North Florida opens the way for genuinely enlightened, data-driven decisions by business and industry. The map covers all of the region's 14 counties and contains data in nearly a dozen categories including labor force, transportation, demographics, consumer expenditures, broadband service, energy, environmental and geographic factors, incentives, and post-secondary education. The map even enables continuous real-time tracking and data collection pertaining to COVID-19. "This easy-to-use tool allows surface perusal or deep dives into granular data," NFEDP Director Jeff Hendry explains. "It's much richer data than typically found on economic development websites." Another key GIS feature is ZoomBusiness, an interactive, mobile-responsive directory allowing business-customer communication in real-time at no cost. With ZoomBusiness residents can easily locate restaurants, stores and other services, while businesses can provide customized data including website addresses, current hours of service, delivery or curbside pickup options and promotionsimportant information in light of COVID uncertainties. Productive Partnerships The map and website are the result of collaborative funding by the Duke Energy Foundation and the USDA. Duke Energy has always been a crucial economic development partner, Hendry notes, "supporting both our efforts and the success of area industry." Working together is an empowering philosophy for the region's 14 counties, a verdant expanse of 9,100 sq. miles stretching from Jefferson County in the northwest to Putnam County in the southeast. Through NFEDP member counties collectively showcase their substantial natural, human and infrastructure resources, which include two major interstates and dual Class I rail service, plus easy access to five seaports and both international and regional airports. Hendry expects the new website, reflecting the brand "Business growth is in our nature," will make digital exploration of these resources simpler and far more productive. "Features like the COVID tracking can be life-saving in every sense," he points out. Hendry also notes in this sunny, forward-facing region, "New illumination makes it easier than ever to look on the bright side of NATURALLY doing business in North Florida." For more information visit https://nflp.org and contact Executive Director, Jeff Hendry, at [email protected] or by calling 850.443.7103. Related Images nfedp-logo.jpg NFEDP Logo North Florida Economic Development Partnership logo. Related Links NFEDP LinkedIn NFEDP Facebook SOURCE North Florida Economic Development Partnership Related Links https://nflp.org Ukraine from Aug 29 introduces 30-day ban on entrance country, except for transit The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine closed borders for foreign citizens until September 28. The relevant decision was made at a meeting of the Ukrainian government in Kyiv on Wednesday. According to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, this restriction will not apply to persons who have a residence permit, are members of international and humanitarian missions, those who enter the country in transit, are drivers of freight vehicles, instructors of NATO member states, are cultural figures who have an invitation from a cultural institution, as well as a number of other categories of persons. These restrictions will take effect from 00:00 on August 29. Miami, Florida, Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During Michael Holstons rise on social media as The Real Tarzann, he has encountered countless animal owners and workers who treat animals the right way. It is a trend that most people can get behind, but there are always a few bad seeds out there that hurt animal education and conservation. Instead of standing by and not taking action, Michael Holston has focused heavily on raising awareness for animal abuse not just locally, but globally as well. Most recently, he took a trip to Mexico to help fight animal abuse and cruelty in the country, as it continues to be a divisive issue. Mexicos limited protection for animals Animal rights activists have been very frustrated with how Mexico treats animals for quite some time. From the way they treat pigs to testing cosmetics on animals, it is vastly different in Mexico compared to the United States. New legislation passed in March of this year meant to ban the practice of testing cosmetics on animals passed unanimously, but it has yet to be formally approved. It is a massive step in the right direction when it becomes official. Bullfighting and dogfighting still occur much too frequently in the country despite relatively new legislation putting massive restrictions on it. A few years ago, Mexico was much worse with animal abuse, but they are making strides that are starting to pay off. Instead of being satisfied with the recent changes, Holston hopes that he can inspire others to keep pushing for legislation that closely mimics what is in place in the United States. This could make a significant impact on how humans treat animals in the country. It can also help endangered species native to Mexico, such as the leatherback turtle, Mexican gray wolf, and vaquita porpoise. Spreading the word online Having a social media platform that can reach over 6 million followers is something that the average person cant rely on. Michael Holston has turned into one of the major voices in animal conservation online, which allows him to make powerful statements that can make real change. Story continues Trips to different parts of the world to help fight animal abuse are mostly grassroots projects, but getting the internet involved can help in numerous ways. Not only does it raise awareness, but there are also ways to get people to donate for specific causes actively. Holston understands that he needs to always walk a fine line between helping out and coming off as begging, but he handles animal abuse concerns elegantly to his followers. Additional trips planned Holston plans to make additional trips to Mexico in the future and other locations around the world. There are many countries out there dealing with their animal abuse issues, and it is something he feels extremely passionate about. Wherever he visits, he brings attention to that area by showcasing it in a beautiful light. Giving people a look at some of these magnificent animals that might be dealing with abuse in a different part of the world. Making any change takes time, and Michael Holston believes that this is just the start of systematic changes in Mexico. Compared to even a decade ago, things are drastically different, but there is still a lot of work to do in the country. Until animals are treated more fairly, Holston will continue to use his platform to help in any way possible. CONTACT: contact@therealtarzann.com Today digital, global cross-border payments company WorldRemit announced it has agreed to acquire Sendwave, a rapidly growing app-based remittance company in a cash and stock transaction that is expected to close, subject to licensing and regulatory approvals, in Q4 2020. Founded in 2014, Sendwave has built a leading and rapidly growing digital remittance service to East and West Africa, and this summer added Bangladesh, its first receiving market in Asia. Sendwave will continue to operate independently and retain its mobile applications, brand, management, employees and key partners. Both WorldRemit and Sendwave share a common purpose: allowing customers to easily and cost effectively send financial support to families, friends and businesses in other countries, said WorldRemit CEO, Breon Corcoran. WorldRemit has one of the broadest and most accessible networks for money transfers globally. Combining it with Sendwave, which offers instant, no/low-fee and fully digital payments from North America and Europe to Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and East Africa, addresses customer needs for fast and secure digital payments - especially given todays travel restrictions and economic turmoil. Our users send money so their loved ones can pay for necessities like utilities, healthcare and school fees. 'Sendwave'-ing money is as easy as sending a text one less worry for the hard-working and generous diaspora communities that we serve, said Will Fogel, CEO Sendwave. Were eager to combine WorldRemits wide reach with our recipe for success in areas like Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria. Together, we can achieve a better service for current and future users. In the last 12 months, ending 30 June 2020, WorldRemit and Sendwave have sent approximately US $7.5 billion in transfers, generating approximately US $280 million in revenue. This represents a YoY growth of over 50% for the year ended June 2020 relative to historic combined revenues. On a pro forma basis, the combined company will have over 100 send licences including for every US state, across a network that includes 50+/150+ send/receive countries and almost 8,000 payments corridors, a broad footprint that serves a large, but fragmented $715 billion remittances market that the World Bank estimates is growing at a 10% annual CAGR. About WorldRemit WorldRemit was founded in 2010, and serves over 4 million customers. Through our digital services customers can send 90 currencies to 150 countries, across almost 8 thousand corridors. Recipients benefit from one of the widest ranges of money-out options including bank deposit, mobile money, and cash pickup. Our investors include Accel, TCV and Leapfrog. Accel and TCV are long-term investors in well-known brands including AirBnB, Facebook, Spotify and Expedia. About Sendwave Sendwave was founded by Drew Durbin and Lincoln Quirk with the mission of making sending money cross-borders as easy as sending a text. Upon consummation of the transaction, Sendwaves founders will continue working on projects that bring access to financial services in Africa, on an independent basis. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200825005820/en/ Here are sample ballots for Nov. 3 election Voting instructions and top part of the ballot. Sample ballots for the Nov. 3 election have been posted on the Henderson County Board of Elections website. Besides offices of president, U.S. Senate, governor and lieutenant governor, North Carolina voters will cast ballots for the Council of State N.C. attorney general, auditor, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of labor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and N.C. treasurer and fill two state Supreme Court seats and five Court of Appeals seats. Henderson County voters will elect a state senator, state House members in District 117 and District 113, one Superior Court and two District Court judgeships, fill two seats on the Board of Commissioners, elect a Clerk of Superior Court and four School Board members. One-stop voting starts Oct. 15 and ends Oct. 31 at four locations across the county. Dozen Killed In Taliban Truck Bomb, Other Attacks Across Afghanistan By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan August 25, 2020 At least 12 people have been killed and scores wounded in attacks across Afghanistan, including in a Taliban truck bombing that targeted a military base used by Afghan commandos, officials said. The suicide truck bomber in the northern province of Balkh killed three people, including two Afghan commandos and a civilian, according to the provincial governor's spokesman, Munir Ahmad Farhad. Hanif Rezaie, a spokesman for Afghan forces in the north of the country, said on August 25 that initial military reports suggested at least six commandos and about 35 civilians were wounded in that explosion. He said the blast also destroyed or damaged dozens of nearby civilians houses. "Most of the wounded civilians are women and children," Rezaie said. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the Balkh attack in a tweet, claiming that "tens" of military personnel were killed. The Taliban often exaggerate their battlefield claims. Meanwhile, an August 25 attack on a checkpoint of pro-government forces in Ghor Province killed eight soldiers and wounded five, the provincial governor's spokesman, Arif Aber, said. Aber said the attack in Ghor's Shahrak district triggered a five-hour gunbattle. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for that attack. But authorities blamed the Taliban, who have claimed numerous previous attacks on security checkpoints in Ghor Province. Meanwhile in Kabul, a roadside bomb killed a police officer and a policewoman and her driver were wounded when unknown attackers opened fire on them, Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in Kabul. Both the Taliban and extremists from the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group are active in Kabul. IS militants have claimed most of the attacks in the Afghan capital in recent months. Despite efforts to launch peace talks between the government and the Taliban, Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of the war. The start of the talks envisaged under a U.S.-Taliban peace agreement signed in February has been hampered by multiple delays that have frustrated Washington. There had been expectations that the negotiations would begin earlier in August. A United Nations report released in July said 1,282 people were killed by violence in Afghanistan during the first six months of 2020. With reporting by AP and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/dozen-killed -in-taliban-truck-bomb-other-attacks- across-afghanistan/30801578.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dundalk ITs hopes of achieving crucial Technological University (TU) status remain very much in doubt despite recent meetings with three other TU alliances, according to a source at the local institute this week. In a document released to staff in July, management at the Dublin Road institute said that they were still pursuing TU designation, however the Democrat understands that this comes off the back of meetings with three other prospective TUs - AIT/LIT (Athlone/Limerick ITs), CUA (Connacht Ulster Alliance) and Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) - during which, according to the source, no one was prepared to include the DkIT in TU discussions as they were all well down the road in their own processes. It is understood that TU Dublin offered what is called a S.24 (which is when an institute of technology joins an existing TU) in the very long-term (seven years), but the source said this was just a polite way of saying no. The source added that staff have been told that in terms of the TU matter, the institute was now operating under the auspices of the HEA (Higher Education Authority) and they are now on a developmental path to TU. The source explained that no TU partner had been identified and no firm timeframe was provided either. The Democrat has been further told that the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) branch at DKIT have rejected this decision and that industrial action is back on the table. According to the source, Athlone IT had reached out to DkIT back in 2019 but it is believed that this overture was rebuffed at that time. The source added that they believed it was time for new chairman of Dundalk IT, Paddy Malone, to intervene in the process to safeguard a better outcome for the future of the institute and its students. Looking at preferred options, the source also explained why TU Dublin was an obvious natural fit for DkIT. None of the amalgamations are as neat as the TU Dublin one which was simply taking the three city-based entities and pulling them together. Everyone else has to work a little bit harder, but the pandemic showed what was possible with the technology. In fact, if we were looking at natural geo-alliances, Sligo and Galway should merge together and we should merge with Letterkenny, but that ship has sailed too. The source commented on the positive impact the prospect of TU status has had at other institutes in recent times. If you go down to Athlone and Limerick there is a palpable buzz and pride in the move to TU status. It has meant a big increase in their undergraduate applications, and the staff are thrilled. Prof. Tom Collins is the lead on the merger between AIT/LIT. He was formerly the director of Dundalk and also was the lead in the successful TU Dublin merge. The Democrat reached out to DkIT for comment, but had not received any response at the time of going to print. A man who has spent 37 years in a Florida prison may be released soon after new DNA evidence cleared him of the murder and attempted rape of a woman in 1983. Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren announced Wednesday afternoon that his conviction review unit has determined that Robert DuBoise is not guilty of the murder of Barbara Grams. Grams was 19 years old when she was brutally murdered. She was found beaten to death behind a dental practice in 1983. Authorities determined that she had been beaten with a wood beam while walking home from her job at a nearby restaurant in a Tampa mall. 'Today is an important day for justice - justice for the family of a victim and a man convicted of killing her,' Warren said during a press conference. 'This is painful and tragic. But it's the truth, and when you tell the truth, justice is done.' Robert DuBoise, who has spent 37 years in a Florida prison may be released soon after DNA evidence found that he is not responsible for the murder and attempted rape of Barbara Grams in 1983 In a statement, Warren's office said they are seeking the 'prompt release' of DuBoise 'after newly discovered DNA proves his innocence'. Warren filed a motion on Wednesday to free DuBoise, 55, who in 1985 was found guilty for the murder and attempted rape of Grams. He has been incarcerated at the Hardee Correctional Institution. According to WFLA, articles from the time reported that hair, saliva and blood samples were inconclusive. But a jury convicted DuBoise based on reconstructed bite marks that the prosecution argued matched his teeth. The conviction also came in part from a jail house informant also testified against DuBoise at the time. He claimed that DuBoise told him that two other men had murdered Grams while DuBoise raped her. 'Now that informant's testimony has significant inconsistencies. And more importantly this new DNA evidence clearly refutes his testimony,' Warren said. Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren (pictured) announced Wednesday afternoon that his conviction review unit has determined that Robert DuBoise is not guilty of the murder of Barbara Grams 'Wrongful convictions erode the foundation of our justice system. For 37 years, we've had an innocent man locked up in prisonwhile the real perpetrator was never held accountable for this heinous crime,' Warren said. 'The family of the victim, Barbara Grams, deserves to have the truth, and this new evidence helps reveal that truth to all of us.' According to Warren, DNA evidence that was taken from the scene was believed to have been destroyed in 1990. But that evidence was found during an 11 month review of DuBoise's case by the Innocence Project. An analysis found that DuBoise was not a match for forensic evidence collected from the murder investigation. The Innocence Project is representing DuBoise and is trying to get him released from prison as soon as possible. Warren said during the examination of the evidence, researchers found two samples belonging to men. One of the men has been identified and is currently a person of interest in the case. Warren said he was unable to release any other information about the person of interest. Three meat processing plants in Co Kildare - which were shut down earlier this month after Covid-19 outbreaks among workers caused local lockdown restrictions - have begun a phased reopening this week. The number of confirmed cases in Co Kildare peaked at 110 on August 7 but numbers have reduced since then and the figure had reduced to 5 yesterday as the first week of a second two-week lockdown period began. Kildare Chilling Co in Kildare town confirmed it began a gradual reopening of its facilities on Monday. The plant suspended all operations on August 10 due to the outbreak of Covid-19 among its workers. A statement said: Kildare Chilling has commenced a gradual re-opening of its facilities following consultation with public health and operating under the strict guidance of the HSE. OBrien Fine Foods in Timahoe also began a controlled phased reopening on Monday. A statement said: In line with public health guidance and in consultation with the HSE, we have commenced a slow, controlled, phased reopening with normal operations resuming from 24 August. The company added: Those who can work from home will continue to work from home as per the official updated guidance from Government and public health authorities (on 18 August). Last week a further eight workers tested positive last week at OBrien Fine Foods on top of 86 previous confirmed cases. The Timahoe company said of the 177 tests carried out last week , eight were positive and 169 were negative for the virus. Irish Dog Foods in Naas also said it expects to be fully operational this week. A spokesman said: "The phased re-opening is continuing and the plant expects to be fully operational this week." Local lockdown Until September 6, people living in Co Kildare should only travel within the county and the only exceptions include travel to work, to medical appointments and to collect medicines for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people. Businesses such as cafes and restaurants can only offer take-away food and allow 15 people dine outdoors. Venues such as cinemas, theatres, leisure centres and betting shops are closed. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has advised politicians to tell Ghanaians what they intended doing to transform the lives of the people for the better, as they solicited for votes ahead of the December General Election. Politics, according to the king, was a contest of ideas and development. Hence, it was important that the contesting political parties strived to explain their manifestoes and development agenda to the people. Otumfuo Osei Tutu explained that this was necessary to help Ghanaians to make informed decisions in the choice of their leaders. He gave the advice when the former President and flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. John Dramani Mahama, and his running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi. The visit was to officially introduce the two NDC leaders to the king and also ask for his spiritual support as the largest opposition party seeks to regain power in the impending presidential and parliamentary elections. Otumfuo Osei Tutu appealed to all the contesting parties and their supporters to avoid violence in all its forms. He tasked them to be tolerant of divergent views, stressing that the nation needed peace and unity to enhance political stability and sustainable socio-economic growth. It is God who chooses who becomes the President, the Asantehene stated, and asked the contesting political parties to always conduct their activities in a peaceful mood. Since Ghana returned to democratic rule in 1992 under the Fourth Republican Constitution, the NDC had won four major elections 1992, 1996, 2008 and 2012. The Party is embarking on its campaign ahead of this years elections, promising to bring development to the educational, health, agricultural and mining sectors. Additionally, job creation, infrastructural development and economic transformation are also on the Partys agenda if given the mandate. Former President Mahama, touching on roads, assured that the NDC if given the nod would work assiduously to improve the Accra-Aflao, Accra-Cape-Coast, Accra-Kumasi and the Eastern Corridor roads. There are plans to also put to good shape the Eastern Rail Line to boost socio-economic activities. Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang, was grateful to the Asantehene for granting the two leaders an audience, saying the NDC stood for peace and development. 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 Tech firms threaten to quit Belarus after crackdown, internet outages FILE PHOTO: Logo of Hi-Tech Park Belarus is seen on a wall at its office in Minsk By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Andrei Makhovsky MOSCOW/MINSK (Reuters) - For Belarus's thriving tech industry, it didn't matter much that the country's president referred to the internet as "garbage" and state factories as the engine of economic success. Until now. The sector could become a casualty of weeks of violent political crisis in the east European country, putting at risk a source of foreign income that is worth 5% of exports. The staff of international IT companies have joined mass protests and are threatening to quit Belarus after the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko on August 9 that his opponents say was rigged. Stories of tortured detainees and the sight of plainclothes officers grabbing protesters off the street made working life difficult for the Minsk employees of the California-based software-maker PandaDoc, its chief executive Mikita Mikado said. "Everyone in the IT community, all Belarusians inside the country and outside the country were shocked. They were shocked by how blatantly the elections were rigged and by how much violence was applied afterwards," said Mikado. An internal survey showed 83% of PandaDoc's employees in the country want to relocate. "If this government stays, there will be no PandaDoc in Belarus," Mikado added. At least three protesters have been killed and thousands, including PandaDoc employees, were detained. The government has not commented on IT companies threatening to leave Belarus and did not respond to a request for comment. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud and the government denies abusing prisoners. 'ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR' The Belarus Hi-Tech Park, a hub on the eastern outskirts of Minsk, has grown to 750 companies since its launch in 2006, employing 58,000 people and earning $2 billion in exports, according to government figures from 2019-end. Wargaming, which created the globally popular World of Tanks game, has a major operation in Minsk, as does U.S.-based EPAM Systems , founded by two Belarusians in 1993. Story continues Belarusian software engineers are also behind Japanese-controlled Viber messenger. The park benefited from tax breaks and the ability to tap an educated local workforce. Belarus has a strong tradition of science and engineering education, as do many other former Soviet states. As protests broke out, IT workers formed human chains on the street in solidarity. They created platforms for tracing people who went missing during the crackdown and collecting funds for the victims. EPAM launched a retraining programme for people to start a career in IT if they were fired for supporting the opposition. EPAM's founder Arkady Dobkin was a signatory to an open letter calling for the release of prisoners and new elections. "Start-ups are not born in an atmosphere of fear and violence," the letter said. "In the near future, we will begin to observe a massive outflow of specialists abroad." The chief executive of Rakuten Viber, Djamel Agaoua, told Forbes.ru the company may halt investments. Agaoua said two of Viber's employees were detained during the crackdown, one of whom ended up in hospital. As the protests gathered steam, internet outages hit Belarus over several days, disrupting the flow of messages, news and videos shared on social media by the demonstrators. The government blamed the internet shutdown on outside interference. "Not even the police brutality was the most surprising event in Belarus, but the fact that internet has been shut off completely," said Michael Rumiantsau, the Belarusian co-founder of the software company FriendlyData, which was sold to ServiceNow.Inc . "It's just unbelievable for the U.S. partners, for the U.S. clients who think this can be compared to the situation in North Korea or some other countries with totalitarian regimes," he told Reuters from Mountain View, California. Minsk's IT park was created by former Belarusian ambassador to Washington Valery Tsepkalo, now an opposition figure in exile. He told Reuters the park showed "Belarus can be associated not only with farmers and with potatoes." In 2016 the park accounted for 1.5% of gross domestic product. By last year, it shot up to 6.1%, but that growth is now at risk. "Belarusian tech is going to suffer because talent is going to be seeking ways to escape the country," Mikado said. (Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) A public letter sent on Monday 24 August 2020 to the government of Mauritius by Greenpeace Africa, Greenpeace Japan and our local partner Dis Moi is demanding actions and support for several investigations, Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change Hon. Kavydass Ramano Government of Mauritius Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping Hon. Sudheer Maudhoo Government of Mauritius Cc Junichiro Ikeda Representative Director, President Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. Cc Akihiko Ono Executive Vice-president Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. Cc Masanori Kato Managing Executive Officer Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. Cc Kiyoaki Nagashiki Chief Executive Officer Nagashiki Shipping Co., Ltd Johannesburg, 24 August, 2020 Hon. Kavydass Ramano, Hon. Sudheer Maudhoo On the 25th of July 2020 the MV Wakashio struck a beautiful and irreplaceable coral reef on Mauritius southeast coast. The oil in the wrecked ship started to leak on 6 August and it is destroying one of the most beautiful places in the world, along with the livelihoods of the people who live there. This is creating an environmental crisis, putting the biodiversity within the lagoons at significant risk, including the mangrove forests and many unique and endangered species. The Government of Mauritius is responsible for ensuring the protection of the environment and the livelihoods of its citizens, including those impacted by the oil spill. It must act accordingly, and use methods to deal with the oil spill that will create the least potential damage, respecting all relevant international requirements and agreements. As a top priority, it is critical to avoid dangerous methods of removing or dispersing the oil, including the use of chemical dispersants/detergents that could result in even greater negative impacts on fragile corals, mangrove forests, fish spawning areas and nurseries, crustaceans and shellfish. It is important to take into account that even if surface oil may be removed or dispersed, there is a significant threat of bioaccumulation within food chains, which could create significant long-term damage to the ecosystems that the Mauritian people depend on. We call on the Government of Mauritius to urgently initiate three investigations: A fully public independent investigation must be conducted into the causes and consequences of the disaster, funded by Mitsui OSK and Nagashiki Shipping. The Government of Mauritius must ensure that an independent scientific assessment of the ecosystems is carried out, which encompasses the degree of impact both for humans and nature, and should include both short and long term monitoring. This investigation should be done by independent academic-scientific experts who have a proven track record of investigating oil spills along with scientific experts with in-depth knowledge of the local ecosystems and the pre-existing pressures that they face. These investigators must be unconnected to Mitsui OSK and Nagashiki Shipping and their Keiretsu, and their findings must be made public. An independent scientific and social investigation of the impacts on livelihoods (eg artisanal fisheries, tourism, local human health impacts) and impacted communities must also get underway urgently. The Government of Mauritius needs to ensure that the compensation from the shipping companies, their insurers and other concerned parties takes into account the several-decade-long consequences of the spill (economic, social, environmental etc), and properly compensate the affected communities including those in the informal sectors. The government needs to establish a simple and appropriate system for application for compensation. It also needs to secure urgent and appropriate prepayments of financial support to those affected. In addition, we believe that at a minimum these are the key actions that the Government of must take to deal with the current crisis effectively: The Government of Mauritius must initiate a review of separate transport shipping lanes with regards to innocent passage through Mauritian waters. This oil spill is a key indicator that the government must facilitate a new shipping lane system that would exclude sensitive regions to avoid a repeat of the current oil spill in future. The Government of Mauritius should propose to the IMO that its waters be designated a Particular Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA), whereby an Area-to-Be-Avoided (ATBA) 50 nautical miles from shore for any transit shipping is established. These transit ships are called vessels on Innocent Passage that are beyond nation-state control, except if there is an IMO PSSA requiring an ATBA for all ship routing. Since these measures take time to enact, as an interim measure the government should request voluntary compliance with a 50 nautical mile ATBA off Mauritius. There is absolutely no excuse for a transit ship to be anywhere near the shore of Mauritius. Under no circumstances should the wreck of the ship simply be sunk, we are particularly concerned about this latest proposal, and we urge you to consult internationally on what alternative options may exist, while taking steps to prevent the ship from further breaking up or sinking. Sinking this vessel would risk several whale species and contaminate the ocean with large quantities of heavy metal toxins, threatening other areas as well, notably the French island of La Reunion. More pollution clearly further risks your tourist-based economy and fish-based food security, and we call on you to choose the best options to deal with the crisis, not the cheapest or fastest. Mauritius also needs to respect the London Convention 1972, where Malta the flag state of the vessels towing MV Wakashios wreck is required to prohibit and prevent its vessels from dumping waste including vessels at sea, if polluting content has not been removed to the maximum extent. There is no doubt that the Government of Mauritius must be accountable and transparent in their handling of the oil spill, including being visible and regularly communicating publicly about the situation and the action being taken. We recommend that the government holds a daily public meeting to update communities and the media. It is critical that the Government of Mauritius facilitates independent documentation of the situation on the ground, which is then shared publicly and transparently. The Government of Mauritius should initiate long term monitoring to assess the impacts of the oil spill and attempts to remove the oil on the areas biodiversity. The government should utilise to the fullest the learnings and experiences from earlier numerous oil spills to minimise the environmental, social, economic and other consequences of the disaster. The Government of Mauritius must be fully transparent and accountable in terms of how it is managing financial flows, particularly money donated to help remove the oil as best as possible. As a member of AOSIS, the Republic of Mauritius will be aware that the climate crisis is an existential threat and that in response to it, there is a movement consisting of millions of people across the world who are taking action. This oil spill is a tragic and devastating reminder that fossil fuels are toxic, and our reliance on them puts both people and the planet at risk. Dis Moi, Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace Japan stand in solidarity with the affected communities in Mauritius, and we ask the Government of Mauritius to deal with this crisis with urgency and accountability, and for the polluters to pay for this environmental catastrophe. We request a response from you to this letter indicating the steps you intend to take to address this crisis in writing by 27 August 2020. Yours sincerely, Greenpeace Africa Interim Executive Director Lagi Toribau DIS MOI Chairperson Roshan Rajroop Greenpeace Japan Executive Director Sam Annesley Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Sydney, Australia Wed, August 26, 2020 12:00 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4092da7 2 World coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-death-toll,Australia,Victoria,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Australia's Victoria state on Wednesday recorded its second-most deadly day of the coronavirus pandemic with 24 deaths, although fewer new infections were detected at the half-way mark of a strict six-week lockdown. The southeastern state detected 149 new cases compared with 148 reported on Tuesday, well down on the peak of more than 700 daily cases on Aug 5. The record daily death toll was 25 reported last week. Victoria's government wants to extend a state of emergency by another year to combat the spread of the virus, allowing it to prolong or reimpose lockdowns over that period. The move has alarmed critics of the state government, including members of the federal cabinet who say an extended state of emergency is undemocratic. "They take away liberties, they take away the functioning of democracy in the state of Victoria," federal Education Minister Dan Tehan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Almost 64% of Australia's 549 deaths from COVID-19 have occurred among elderly residents of aged-care homes, which are overseen by the federal government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under attack from the opposition in parliament this week for the government's handling of the crisis in aged care. Asked by reporters about the high rate of fatalities in aged-care facilities, he compared Australia's record to the United Kingdom's. "There is over 2,700 aged care facilities in this country and 97 percent of those have had no resident COVID-19 infections," he said. "Had the UK results been realized here in Australia over a thousand centers would have been affected." Australia surpassed 25,000 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with Victoria responsible for the bulk of cases. The finalists for a competition looking for "homes of the future" have been announced by the U.K. government, with the winner set to be announced in the fall. The "Home of 2030" contest has awarded the six finalists 40,000 ($52,746) each to help them progress with their projects. Homes are responsible for 25% of the U.K.'s carbon emissions, the government says, making the design of energy efficient and sustainable buildings especially pressing. To this end, designs for the competition had to meet a number of requirements, such as having a low environmental impact and being both deliverable and scalable. Ideas to have made the final cut for the competition include "Janus", which has been developed by Outpost Architects alongside Milk structures, Gaia Group Ltd, Barbara Jones, EcoCocon, Propagating Dan, and Atelier Replica. The design centers around a modular type of housing that uses materials such as straw and timber. Another concept, put together by The Positive Collective together with Arup, ECOSystems Technologies and COCIS, focuses on the use of "home-grown" solid timber panels that are produced off-site as well as the utilization of "very low energy systems." According to authorities, the eventual winner of the competition, together with a number of other finalists, will benefit from an introduction to development partners of Homes England, which has been described as "the government's housing accelerator." This will in turn allow them to "explore the possibility of developing bids for a series of homes on Homes England land." In a statement issued on Sunday alongside the government's announcement, Alan Jones, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, said that the U.K. urgently needed "a broad mix of affordable, age-friendly and sustainable housing and these shortlisted proposals provide exactly that." "Through the clever configuration of private and public space, natural light and ventilation, intelligent use of materials and technologies these cost-effective, low carbon homes show what's possible when architects collaborate," Jones added. Back in July, U.K. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled plans for a 3 billion "green investment package" that will attempt to boost the energy efficiency of buildings and help create jobs, although environmental groups criticized the government for failing to match the commitments of their European counterparts. As part of his plans, Sunak announced a 2 billion "green homes grant" that will enable landlords and homeowners to apply for vouchers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. A separate 1 billion will focus on making public buildings, such as hospitals and schools, greener, while a 50 million fund will "pilot the right approach to decarbonize social housing." Less than a month after being sentenced to four years in jail for hiding a quantity of drugs in his groin, a Toronto man has added to his criminal record. This time around, the 25-year-old was convicted of concealing drugs in his rectum. Tiroune Hazell appeared via audio conference in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines earlier this month and was sentenced to 27 months in jail on charges of possession of fentanyl and assaulting a corrections officer. His latest sentence will run concurrently with the sentence he is serving for the previous drug conviction. Rehabilitation remains an important factor for this young man, said Judge Joseph De Filippis. To make all sentences consecutive to each other would be unduly harsh. The defendant was admitted to Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold due to a surety revocation in October 2018 and a body scan indicated he was hiding contraband inside is body. He was placed in a dry cell and monitored. A few days later, security officers rescanned the man and determined there was something concealed against his thigh. He was searched and officers seized six packages containing mixtures of tobacco, marijuana, powdered fentanyl and rolling papers. The packages had a foul odour and appeared to be covered in fecal matter. To bring hard drugs into a jail is a most serious matter, De Filippis said. While the risk of overdose and death is the same as in the community, inmates high on drugs pose a threat to the safety of other inmates and correctional staff. In July, the defendant received a four-year penitentiary term for drug trafficking. That sentence was reduced to 15 months due to the time he had spent in pretrial custody. That case involved a police investigation in October 2018 regarding the sale of drugs in St. Catharines. When he was arrested, police conducted a pat down and discovered two cellphones, a wad of cash and a hard object in the mans groin area. While the man maintained the large, hardened lump in his groin were his testicles, police had their suspicions. During a strip search, police discovered a large quantity of fentanyl, crack cocaine and cocaine stashed in a compartment sewn into his underwear. The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $12,000. Court heard the defendant dropped out of school at the age of 15 and has been unemployed since that time. He stated in his pre-sentence report he does not feel dealing drugs is a big thing as illicit substances are part of his social life. He told the author of the report everybody sells drugs in his community in his schools, in his neighbourhood, it was everywhere. He also said he isnt ruling out returning to drug trafficking if he needs money. The mother of Jacob Blake revealed her son started to cry and apologise when he learned of his paralysis during an emotional awakening in hospital. Speaking at a family press conference on Tuesday, Julia Jackson recounted the moment her son opened his eyes after being shot several times by police officers on Sunday night. "The first thing he did when he looked at me was cry, and then begin to say 'I'm sorry about all this'," Ms Jackson said. "I don't really think he knows what happened at this point. He's not there yet. I asked him, Jacob did you shoot yourself in the back. He looked at me and he said, 'no'. I said then why are you sorry. He says 'because I don't want to be a burden on anybody. I want to be with my children. And I don't think I'm going to walk again mum'." Mr Blake, 29, was shot during an incident with law enforcement in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday, with the latest video to emerge reportedly showing him "brawling" with Kenosha officers before breaking free to walk to the driver's side of his SUV. The video ends as the shooting begins. The original video to go viral online showed officers follow Mr Blake to the driver-side door before opening fire as he leaned into the SUV. The person who made the cellphone video, 22-year-old Raysean White, said Mr Blake scuffled with three officers who yelled, "Drop the knife, Drop the knife", before seven shots can be heard, according to the Associated Press. However, there has been no confirmation that anyone was carrying a knife. At Tuesday's press conference, Ms Jackson recounted a touching moment between her son and police during her hospital visit. Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake in a photograph taken in September 2019 (AP) "When I began to pray for him he told me to stop. He asked the police officer that was in the room with us if he was a man of faith. He responded yes, in short, and he asked him to pray with us. The three of us prayed together," she said. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency and doubled the National Guard in Kenosha after rioters set more than 30 fires and destroyed dozens of buildings in the city's downtown neighbourhood. Ms Jackson said her son would be "very unpleased" if he saw the violence that has erupted in the wake of the shooting, which did not reflect the views of their family. "As I was riding through here, through the city, I noticed a lot of damage. It doesn't reflect my son, or my family. If Jacob knew what was going on as far as that goes, the violence and the destruction, he would be very unpleased," she said. "So I'm really asking, and encouraging, everyone in Wisconsin and abroad to take a moment and examine your hearts ... We need healing. As I pray for my son's healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually, I also have been praying, even before this, for the healing of our country." Here are the lineups for the Yankees and the Braves before Game 1 of Wednesdays doubleheader at Truist Park. Manager Aaron Boone said Aaron Judge would play in Game 2 and start in right field. It will be Judges first game back since coming off the injured list (right calf strain). 1. Mike Tauchman, RF 2. Luke Voit, 1B 3. Aaron Hicks, CF 4. Mike Ford, DH 5. Gio Urshela, 3B 6. Gary Sanchez, C 7. Brett Gardner, LF 8. Thairo Estrada, 2B 9. Tyler Wade, SS Gerrit Cole, RHP Below, read the Yankees release on acquiring catcher Rob Brantley from the Giants The New York Yankees announced today that they have acquired C Rob Brantly from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. Brantly, 31, has batted .228 (89-for-391) with 32R, 19 doubles, 7HR, 37RBI and 33BB in 128 games over parts of six Major League seasons with Miami (2012-13), Chicago-AL (2015, 17), Philadelphia (2019) and San Francisco (2020). The left-handed hitter attended spring training with the Giants this season as a non-roster invitee, hitting .250 (5-for-20) with 1R, 1 double and 3RBI in 10 spring training games. Brantly made his second career Opening Day roster (also 2013 with Miami) and appeared in one game for the Giants before being designated for assignment on July 28 and outrighted to San Franciscos Alternate Site on August 1. The San Diego, Calif., native spent the majority of the 2019 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, batting .314 (74-for-236) with 32R, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 6HR, 28RBI and 32BB in 82 games. He also appeared in one game for the Phillies. He was originally selected by the Tigers in the third round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of California, Riverside. Brantly has been added to the Yankees 60-man roster and assigned to the Alternate Site. Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. Indeed, Fenix Resources (ASX:FEX) stock is up 175% in the last year, providing strong gains for shareholders. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse. Given its strong share price performance, we think it's worthwhile for Fenix Resources shareholders to consider whether its cash burn is concerning. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves. View our latest analysis for Fenix Resources How Long Is Fenix Resources' Cash Runway? A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. When Fenix Resources last reported its balance sheet in December 2019, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$2.2m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$3.2m. That means it had a cash runway of around 8 months as of December 2019. Importantly, the one analyst we see covering the stock thinks that Fenix Resources will reach cashflow breakeven in 3 years. That means unless the company reduces its cash burn quickly, it may well look to raise more cash. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Is Fenix Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Fenix Resources didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. With the cash burn rate up 36% in the last year, it seems that the company is ratcheting up investment in the business over time. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company. Story continues How Easily Can Fenix Resources Raise Cash? Given its cash burn trajectory, Fenix Resources shareholders should already be thinking about how easy it might be for it to raise further cash in the future. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$54m, Fenix Resources' AU$3.2m in cash burn equates to about 5.9% of its market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. Is Fenix Resources' Cash Burn A Worry? On this analysis of Fenix Resources' cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its cash runway has us a bit worried. Shareholders can take heart from the fact that at least one analyst is forecasting it will reach breakeven. Even though we don't think it has a problem with its cash burn, the analysis we've done in this article does suggest that shareholders should give some careful thought to the potential cost of raising more money in the future. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 4 warning signs for Fenix Resources (of which 1 is a bit unpleasant!) you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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. Up to now, CMS has recommended routine testing for nursing home staff; this is the first time such screenings will be required. While we've had good compliance across the country, we want to make sure that every single nursing home is doing this, Verma said. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected nursing home residents and staff, claiming 70,000 lives in the facilities 40 percent of coronavirus deaths in the United States. AARP has been advocating for increased testing and the availability of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and staffing in those facilities. How often nursing homes will be required to test staff members will depend on the level of COVID-19 infection in the community where the nursing home is located. Verma said detailed guidance for facilities will be released later this week but said, for example, if the positivity rate in a particular county is below 5 percent, staff testing would be required once a month. If the level is between 5 percent and 10 percent, staff would have to be tested once a week. And, if the level of infection in a particular community is above 10 percent, twice weekly testing would be required. These requirements and several others Verma announced took effect on Tuesday, although members of the public will have 60 days to comment on the new rules, which could be amended after that period. Verma said that nursing homes will be able to use rapid point-of-care devices that already have been sent to some nursing homes and that more such tests are on the way. So far, point-of-care equipment has been sent to over 5,590 nursing homes, and by the end of September such tests are expected to be shipped to more than 14,000 facilities, Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said on the call. There are over 15,000 nursing homes in the U.S. Giroir said that while nursing homes can use any test they want, the point-of-care screenings that get a result within 15 minutes is the preferred method of testing. The federal government will provide $2.5 billion to help offset the cost of this new testing, Verma said, on top of the $5 billion already allocated to facilities through the Provider Relief Fund. Verma said residents will be covered for any tests they are given, either through their health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. New reporting requirements The new regulation also requires laboratories and nursing homes that use point-of-care tests to report their results to the federal government. Hospitals will be required to provide information about their COVID-19 cases. Facilities that do not comply with the new requirements will face penalties. Nursing homes that do not do the necessary testing may face penalties of more than $400 a day or more than $8,000 in total if they do not comply. Hospitals could also face the stiff penalties for not reporting such information as the number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients, the number of ICU beds occupied and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and PPE. "While many hospitals are voluntarily reporting this information now, not all are, Verma said. If hospitals do not comply with the new regulation, they could temporarily or even permanently lose their reimbursement funding from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. BOSTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Longroad Energy Holdings (Longroad), a US-based renewable energy developer, owner and operator, announced today the financial close and commencement of construction of the Prospero 2 Solar Project, a 331 MW dc project located in Andrews County, TX. Longroad will continue to own the $320 million project, which is expected to come on-line in the second quarter of 2021. Longroad will also manage the construction. Prospero 2 is adjacent to Longroad's Prospero 1 project, which recently declared commercial operation. Prospero 1 is co-owned by Longroad and AIP. "We are pleased to bring Prospero 2 to financial close and to commence construction," said Peter Keel, Chief Financial Officer of Longroad. "It's always tough finalizing deals, but even more so in today's challenging market. We want to commend our lead lending and tax equity partners, US Bank and CIT Group, for being especially constructive and supportive throughout the process." The Prospero 2 closing marks over 2 GW of total wind and solar projects developed, financed, and built in Texas by the Longroad team. "Building a project like this is an incredible team effort and we are happy for the support of University Lands, Andrews County Commissioners Court, Permian Regional Medical Center (Andrews County Hospital District), Andrews Independent School District ("ISD"), and Andrews Economic Development Corporation," Keel added. "We would like to thank all of our suppliers, construction, and utility partners: First Solar, Power Electronics, NEXTracker, Swinerton Renewable Energy, and Oncor." The Prospero 2 project will cover more than 2,500 acres in Andrews County, Texas. The project will deliver more than $9 million in property taxes, including almost $6 million to the Andrews ISD. The Project will also create several hundred construction jobs as well as jobs for the operating facility. All told, the Project expects to pay more than $10 million in wages over the life of the project. The project has two 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs), one with DaVita Inc. and another with a subsidiary of Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. "DaVita is committed to using 100% renewable energy and our PPA with Longroad's Prospero 2 project will help make this happen," said Peter Berkowitz, DaVita's Vice President of Real Estate and Center Development. "Our previous PPA with Longroad helped us reach the halfway mark on our goal, and we expect that Prospero 2's completion will carry us across the finish line." DaVita anticipates that its share of the projects under the two virtual PPAs with Longroad will generate as much renewable energy as the amount of electricity used in its North American operations. The major project components are as follows: EPC contract with Swinerton Renewable Energy Panel supply with First Solar, using Series 6 technology Inverter supply with Power Electronics Tracker supply with NEXTracker U.S. Bank is the sole tax equity investor in the project. "We value our long-term partnership with Longroad and its founders Prospero 2 is our seventh project with them and we're excited to work together to increase solar capacity and create jobs in Texas," said Adam Altenhofen, senior vice president of renewable energy investments with U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation, the tax equity and community investment subsidiary of U.S. Bank. "Investing in solar is one of the ways U.S. Bank can be a responsible steward of the environment, address climate change, and also create jobs." CIT led the construction and term lending group as the Coordinating Lead Arranger. Zions, Rabobank, HSBC, Commerzbank, Siemens Financial Services, and National Australia Bank also participated in the lending group. "We are proud to extend our collaboration with Longroad by leading the Prospero 2 solar financing," said Mike Lorusso, Managing Director and Group Head of CIT's Power and Energy unit. "Longroad continues to be at the forefront of this major energy transition and CIT is pleased to have played a role in supporting them as well as the ongoing development of renewable power nationwide." About Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC is focused on renewable energy project development, operating assets, and services. Today, Longroad owns over 1.4 GW of operational and under construction wind and solar projects across the United States. Its services affiliate, Longroad Energy Services, operates and manages 2.9 GW in total comprised of these projects plus 1.5 GW of wind and solar projects on behalf of third parties. Longroad is owned by the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Infratil Limited, and Longroad's management team. Web: www.longroadenergy.com Twitter: @LongroadTweet LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/longroad-energy-partners SOURCE Longroad Energy Related Links www.longroadenergy.com Appointment 26 August 2020 Mark Passmore has a wealth of experience in many different aspects of the hospitality industry. After graduating from the University of Gloucestershire, Mark eventually went on to serve as Deputy General Manager at the Hotel Seattle in Brighton as well as numerous other postings with Alias Hotels throughout the UK. He served as General Manager at the Avon Gorge Hotel in Bristol before moving his focus to Asia to join Swire Hotels in Hong Kong in 2007. Mark later moved on to become the General Manager of The Temple House in 2013, overseeing the preopening and opening of the award-winning property. In 2016, he relocated to Beijing as General Manager of the group's first property, The Opposite House. Together with The Opposite House team, Mark welcomed the 10th Year anniversary of the House in 2018. Later in 2020, he was transferred to Shanghai and took on the role of General Manager at The Middle House. Mark is passionate about photography, travel, and fine food and drink. Actress Kangana Ranaut, who recently took over her Twitter account from her digital team, tweeted that if the Narcotics Bureau does an investigation into Bollywood, many A-listers might be arrested. For context, the Enforcement Directorate, probing Rhea Chakraborty in the Sushant Singh Rajputs death case, is investigating for a possible narcotics angle. Taking to Twitter, Kangana wrote, If narcotics Control Bureau enters Bullywood, many A listers will be behind bars, if blood tests are conducted many shocking revelations will happen. Hope @PMOIndia under swatchh Bharat mission cleanses the gutter called Bullywood." If narcotics Control Bureau enters Bullywood, many A listers will be behind bars, if blood tests are conducted many shocking revelations will happen. Hope @PMOIndia under swatchh Bharat mission cleanses the gutter called Bullywood. Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 26, 2020 Most popular drug in the film industry is cocaine, it is used in almost all house parties its very expensive but in the beginning when you go to the houses of high and mighty its given free, MDMA crystals are mixed in water and at times passed on to you without your knowledge. Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 26, 2020 Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate had written to the Narcotics Control Bureau seeking their guidance in the drug angle in the case. It has been reported that the agency wants to ascertain if there was some drug syndicate angle involved in the case of Sushant, who was found dead at his flat in Mumbais Bandra on June 14. I was still a minor my mentor turned tormentor used to spike my drinks and sedate me to prevent me from going to cops, when I became successful and got entry in to the most famous film parties I was exposed to the most shocking and sinister world and drugs,debauchery and mafia. Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 26, 2020 The ED has registered a case of money laundering on the basis of the Bihar Police FIR filed on the complaint of Sushants father K.K. Singh. The agency has already recorded the statement of Sushants father, his sisters Priyanka and Meetu Singh in connection with the case. It has also recorded the statements of Rhea, her brother Showik, father Indrajit, Sushants ex-manager Shruti Modi, flatmate Siddharth Pithani, house manager Samuel Miranda, chartered accountant Sandeep Sridhar, Rheas CA Ritesh Shah and others. CBI, on the other hand, on Tuesday questioned Pithani, CA Shridhar, the late actors personal staff Neeraj Singh, and accountant Rajat Mewati. The agency is yet to summon Rhea and her family members. DURHAM, N.C. - Biomedical engineers at Duke University have shown that the efficacy of a two-pronged type 2 diabetes treatment increases when the drugs are linked by a heat-sensitive tether rather than simply concurrently administered. The combination molecule is formed by an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) linker that forms a gel-like depot when injected under the skin, which slowly dissolves and releases the active drug over time. This novel approach features the commonly prescribed type 2 diabetes drug glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the compelling drug candidate fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) that together create tight glycemic control and potent weight-reduction in diabetic mice. Coupled with the slow-release function of the ELP, the effects last longer than one week with a single injection. Because GLP-1, a short peptide, and FGF21, a large folded protein, are such different compounds, these findings suggest that this approach to combination drug design could be applied to disease therapies beyond diabetes. The results appear online on August 26 in the journal Science Advances. "In the burgeoning field of multi-functioning single-molecule diabetes drug design, researchers primarily unite drugs that are similar in size, structure and function," said Caslin Gilroy, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, who led the project while completing her PhD in biomedical engineering at Duke. "Being able to combine such structurally distinct drugs into a single molecule while maintaining the bioactivity and stability of each is a big technological achievement." Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease where body tissues become resistant to the effects of insulin, which regulates the movement of sugar from the bloodstream into cells. When this carefully tuned system breaks down, blood sugar levels remain toxically elevated and a host of serious complications can follow. While many treatment options exist, a single drug is rarely able to treat an advanced case. Conventional medications lose their potency over time and frequently cause weight gain, which itself can promote insulin resistance and exacerbate the disease. A growing class of drugs is based on GLP-1, a naturally occurring peptide released from the intestines after a meal. GLP-1 therapy enhances the release of insulin from the pancreas while promoting weight loss. However, the high doses of GLP-1 that are sometimes necessary to maintain healthy blood sugar levels have been shown to cause gastrointestinal distress. Researchers are exploring combination therapies that strategically pair GLP-1 with additional drugs to maximize glucose control, minimize side effects and augment weight loss. While most drug combinations incorporate small peptides from the same family as GLP-1, Gilroy and Ashutosh Chilkoti, the Alan L. Kaganov Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke, chose to work with FGF21. A metabolic hormone, FGF21 regulates insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure and fat metabolism within body tissues. "FGF21 functions through a different mechanism than GLP-1, and we hypothesized that the two drugs would complement each other nicely," said Gilroy. "GLP-1 increases insulin secretion by the pancreas, while FGF21 enhances the body's response to the insulin. GLP-1 reduces food intake, while FGF21 helps burn more calories." But rather than simply injecting diabetic mice with both drugs at the same time, the researchers decided to link GLP-1 and FGF21 together into a single molecule. This approach to combination therapy has several advantages. A single molecule is more predictable in how it will disperse through the body, act on its target tissues and eventually be cleared. A single drug is also beneficial for the prescribing physician and patient, as it reduces the medication burden and simplifies the treatment regimen. And the FDA approval process for a single drug is more straightforward than for a drug mixture. GLP-1 and FGF21, however, are both peptide-based drugs, heavily reliant on shape and surface features to function. Tethering the two without interfering with either is easier said than done. To form one drug out of two, the researchers turned to the ELP--a specialty of the Chilkoti research group. ELPs are chains of repetitive peptide sequences that are highly disordered in nature. This disorder provides flexibility, enabling drugs fused at each end of the ELP the room to do their respective jobs. The modularity of ELPs also make them highly tunable, allowing for the design of the best delivery system possible. Peptide-based drugs suffer from two notable disadvantages; they have a short half-life, due to rapid clearance from the body, and they must be administered by needle. An ELP-based delivery platform, however, addresses both of these issues. "Linking the drugs to an ELP allows us to design a compound that is liquid at room temperature but forms a gel-like depot upon injection," said Gilroy. "The depot dissolves over the course of at least a week, slowly and regularly releasing drug to the system over time." Chilkoti already has two Phase II clinical trials underway using ELPs as slow-release delivery systems. One trial aims to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, while the second involves a potential therapy for COVID-19. In the study, after verifying that GLP-1 and FGF21 retain their respective functions and potencies when linked together by an ELP, Gilroy and Chilkoti tested their multi-functioning, slow-release molecule in a mouse model of diabetes. The results show that levels of drug circulating in the system remained steady while blood sugar levels were brought down to a healthy level and maintained for up to 10 days following a single dosing. Mice treated with the GLP-1/FGF21 combination drug were better able to recover from a glucose challenge compared to either drug alone, and were the only test group to lose weight during the trial. The drug combination also worked better when GLP-1 and FGF21 were tethered together rather than being delivered as a mixture of individual drugs. The researchers think that linking them guarantees that GLP-1 and FGF21 are always acting in concert at the same point in time, allowing their mechanisms of action to synergize and work together. "We had speculated that we may see synergy when we combined GLP-1 and FGF-21 because they have different modes of action," said Chilkoti. "That was really just a hope at the outset of this project, and we were more than pleasantly surprised when Caslin showed that combining these drugs into a single molecule clearly showed a synergistic therapeutic effect compared to a mixture of the two drugs. The data is so compelling that we believe it's ready for a company to pursue this strategy commercially. Duke's Office of Licensing and Ventures is currently looking to license it." ### This work was supported by Duke MEDx, a Duke University program that supports engineering innovation in medicine. CITATION - "Sustained Release of a GLP-1 and FGF21 Dual Agonist from an Injectable 2 Depot Protects Mice from Obesity and Hyperglycemia." C.A. Gilroy, M.E. Capozzi, A.K. Varanko, J.Tong, D.A. D'Alessio, J.E. Campbell, A. Chilkoti. Science Advances, Aug. 26, 2020. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz9890 A task force of the G20 research and policy advice network, Think20 (T20), has identified artificial intelligence (AI) based learning technologies as the recommended approach to overcoming current educational challenges. This also ensures that existing and future employees are prepared to be a member of the workforce of today and tomorrow. With economies reeling from the repercussions of Covid-19, T20 research has highlighted it is not only the transition from education to employment that must be reformed, but also that the skills of those already within employment that no longer meet evolving market requirements. Recommendations laid out within twelve research-based T20 Policy Briefs outline how G20 member countries can address their individual challenges to ensure economies can recover and achieve sustained growth, as the increased use of AI changes the employment landscape in the digital age. As a viable solution to the generational skills gap, Task Force 6 (TF6) outlines four key recommendations G20 member countries can adopt to utilise AI-based learning, including embracing and regulating industry micro-credentials; government funding for workplace learning in traditional sectors and those working within the platform and gig economies; the promotion of immersive, interactive AI for skills development as a learning aid and not in replacement of teachers; and the promotion of innovative technical and vocational education training (TVET) institutions with the backing of quality control and licensing bodies. When discussing the immediate need for reforms, Heidi Alaskary, visiting senior research fellow, KFCRIS and lead co-chair of TF6, said: The policies TF6 has chosen to focus on will have a direct impact on how we, as an international community, shape our immediate future. It is evident we are on the cusp of a significant global change and areas of reform, such as the reliance on AI, have shifted from being interesting concepts to becoming critical conversations that require urgent attention. Covid-19 has accelerated those issues that were already prevalent, revealing the varying skill gaps across all generations. The older, missing generation of over 35s would traditionally gain skills in one speciality area, with many people remaining on the same career path for life. It is this generation that must develop the agility to diversify their knowledge base and embrace data analysis if we are to ensure no-one is left behind. The youth generation, on the other hand, will have, on average, twelve discreet job roles throughout their lifetime. While they are technically savvy and well-versed in many of the skills future economies will require, they often lack the required resilience and soft skills the older generations have. It is now the responsibility of governments, industries and citizens to collaborate to humanise the technological process and bring balance to the future way of working. Paul Grainger, co-director for the Centre for Educations and Work; Enterprise Lead for the Department of Education, Practice and Society at UCL Institute of Education; and co-chair of TF6 added: The rapid technological migration businesses have been forced to undertake during 2020 has highlighted the skill gap among over 35s and the need to balance education reform between the youth population and the missing generation of adults whose jobs are being replaced by technology. Pre-Covid-19, the fourth industrial revolution was already rebalancing employment away from repetitive manual work, in favour of automated, AI-supported roles. Examples of this include robots replacing hospital porters, self-checkout systems in supermarkets and the high street, and online delivery reducing the demand for shop assistants, ultimately resulting in job losses. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates global unemployment rates in May stood at 8.4 per cent and could reach 9.4 per cent by the end of 2020 as a result of Covid-19. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the virus could cause the equivalent of 195 million job losses. T20 predicts those economies heavily reliant on traditional service industries, such as retail and wholesale, food and accommodation, business services and administration, and manufacturing, which together add up to 37.5 per cent of global employment, will be most negatively impacted. Those dependent on manufacturing, however, will feel less of an impact compared to the other ILO-listed sectors as the demand for goods is still high. It is, however, not clear how extraction economies relying on mining and natural resources will perform as, for example, reduced travel has seen a decline in oil demand. The ILO also warns agriculture, the largest sector in most developing countries, is at risk owing to containment measures and risks of food insecurity are emerging. Various AI-learning modes were identified by TF6 to bridge the gap and begin to reskill and upskill those across both demographics. Passive, programme-based learning is not recommended for those looking to challenge the learners powers of concentration. While this method is cost-effective, it has been ranked by TF6 as the least effective. For educational institutions and businesses looking to fully embrace AI and provide the learner with a richer educational experience, a hybrid of human interaction and bespoke digital platform learning are optimal. Discussing how the varying learning modes can be adopted, Grainger said: Adapting in a society where human proximity is dangerous but where social interaction is still the preferred method of training and learning is a universal challenge. However, each country must work to identify and implement a solution that works for them, or they risk economic suffering in the long term. Whether skills are taught directly, funded by the government, or indirectly funded by the sectors themselves, will vary. For many, a blended approach is likely the way forward. For example, migrating university lectures online while still conducting seminars in-person, to ensure students are receiving the social interaction they require during the learning process, reduces the danger of Covid-19 transmission by 50 per cent. For all generations, the secret to educating the unwilling is to make it a social act, and whether this is in person or via an immersive digital infrastructure will differ from country to country. However, the danger still prevails that if we dont address the youth skill gap now, many countries will find themselves falling behind international growth figures as the nature of education and training has a direct impact on a countrys economy. TF6 concludes that while cost implications will continue to be a barrier for success for many, a challenge exacerbated by the economic implications of Covid-19, the only way in which countries can affect any long-lasting, significant changes and move comfortably into the future of work is with unified, global cooperation on minimum standards within technical and vocational training.-- Tradearabia News Service E ducation Secretary Gavin Williamson was battling to avert yet another forced U-turn today as the Governments new policy on face masks failed to satisfy all school leaders. One Tory MP called the new policy a corridor gesture while Labour said it was half-baked. Some Conservative MPs were furious at the lack of grip six days before the start of term. Tory MP Huw Merriman said he was sick and tired of the way young people are being treated. He told the BBC: We need to send a message out that schools are a safe setting. Robert Halfon, the Conservative MP who chairs the Education Select Committee, called for 100 per cent clarity and consistency in the Governments message. He advised ministers to deploy Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty to explain the rules to parents. The new rules were rushed out last night, hours after the Scottish government and some English schools ignored the Governments previous advice that masks were not necessary in schools. It is now compulsory for pupils in lockdown areas where transmission of coronavirus is high to wear masks in confined spaces at school, such as corridors and communal areas, where social distancing is compromised. By contrast, in Scotland all pupils will wear face coverings when using shared areas and walking between classrooms. Some schools in England promptly changed their rules after the U-turn to announce that pupils must bring in masks. The 52 schools in the London-based Oasis group are expected to go ahead with plans to issue masks to all pupils in their secondary schools, colour-coded for year groups. Pupils wearing masks at St Paul's High School in Glasgow / Getty Images In morning media interviews, Mr Williamson appeared to struggle to explain the scientific basis for the Governments compromise position, which was published hours after Business Secretary Alok Sharma said there was no need for a change. Mr Williamson ruled out copying Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon by making face masks mandatory in all schools. No, no, theres no intention of extending it beyond that because as both (Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer) and (schools minister Nick Gibb) said that actually isnt what is required. Mr Halfon said the Government now needed to draft in Professor Whitty. What the Chief Medical Officer should do, as he did on Sunday when he spelled out the importance of schools going back, is put out a letter to explain in plain terms parents can understand. Geoff Barton, head of the school leaders union, on BBC Breakfast, welcomed a good and rather grown-up bit of policy-making, saying it would largely, not entirely, be welcomed by headteachers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Jane Wardell (Reuters) Mumbai, India Wed, August 26, 2020 07:36 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c407a4be 2 World India,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-India,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free India reported on Tuesday the highest number of new coronavirus cases globally for the 18th straight day, remaining well ahead of the United States and Brazil, a Reuters tally based on official reporting showed. It took India from the end of January, when the country's first case was reported, until July to reach around 1.6 million cases, a period when the government imposed a strict lockdown. However, infections have rocketed by another 1.5 million since the start of August, taking the total to around 3.1 million, behind only Brazil and the United States. The rate of new cases in India is increasing rapidly, climbing by 60,975 in the latest 24-hour period, according to the federal health ministry. "If we cross the absolute numbers [in Brazil and the United States], I won't be surprised, but we also have a larger population," Giridhar Babu, epidemiologist at the non-profit Public Health Foundation of India, told Reuters. But deaths have remained comparatively low - at 58,390, or 1.84 % of total cases - lower than the global mortality percentage of 3.4% India reported its first COVID-19 fatality in mid-March, with the death toll rising to around 35,700 by the end of July. In August so far, around 22,600 deaths have been recorded. Deaths are considered a lagging indicator, given the two-week incubation period of the disease. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has said it is reassured by the high recovery rate - around 75% of the total 3.1 million cases are no longer infected, according to data from the federal health ministry. Amid the race to develop a vaccine, the ministry said India was in conversation with Russia regarding Sputnik-V, its experimental COVID-19 vaccine. 26.08.2020 LISTEN About 41 shops belonging to some foreigners engaging in retail trade at the Suame Magazine Industrial area have been locked up. This was part of a nationwide exercise by the Committee on Foreigners in Retail Trade following after concerns by Ghanaian traders that some foreigners were in the retail space unlawfully. The team comprising representatives of Ghana Revenue Authority, Trade and Industry Ministry, Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC), officers from the Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana Police Service moved into the enclave to check the documentation of the foreign traders. The operation was in the enforcement of Section 27 (1) of the GIPC Act. The exercise was largely peaceful as the team which went to parts of the market to enforce laws barring foreigners from engaging in retail trade succeeded in closing the shops without resistance. Local traders at the Suame Industrial area have over the years protested against foreigners engaging in retail trade. Secretary for the Committee on Foreigners in Retail Trade, Maxwell Apenkro, noted that there was a similar operation in 2018. We came to see if after two years they have been able to comply with the rules. The previous one, none of them met the requirement fully. But none of the traders had made attempts to do the right thing, he said. Within the two years, we expected that by now they should have regularised their business operations. Mr. Apenkro now says locking will compel them to come to our offices to do the right thing. He added that the exercise also sought to educate foreigners on Ghanas trade laws. ---citinewsroom Credit Suisse AG CS intends to slash up to 500 jobs, as well as shut down about a quarter of its branches in Switzerland, per Reuters. The move comes amid the banks focus on enhancing its digital-banking capabilities and reducing annual costs. The latest initiative is likely to save about $110 million in annual costs. Also, Credit Suisses subsidiary Neue Aargauer Bank will be merged with the overall Credit Suisse brand. Notably, the banks actions follow the larger savings package unveiled in July, under which about $440 million is expected as cost savings. In a statement, the bank said, "The changes to Credit Suisse's branch network across Switzerland, including branches in Canton Aargau, are expected to be implemented by the end of 2020. Apart from cost savings, Credit Suisses enhanced focus on bolstering its digital capabilities is aimed at attracting younger clients. In this regard, the bank will also unveil a new digital offering in October 2020. Moreover, the bank will be unveiling its digital plans and branch strategies in September. However, the job cuts have not gone down well with the Swiss Bank Employees Union. The union has criticized Credit Suisses move by remarking that it will cause distress among employees who will lose their jobs amid the current global economic uncertainties. Also, the banks decent financial results do not support layoffs. Nevertheless, management reassured that its focus on digital banking will add further positions and new roles, particularly in the affected regions. Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have depreciated 1% over the past year, while its industry has declined 19.3%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Digitization of banking activities has become the need of the hour amid the pandemic-induced economic slowdown. Therefore, apart from Credit Suisse, notable banks like HSBC Holdings HSBC, Bank of America BAC and JPMorgan JPM are also moving toward branch closures or consolidations and fortifying their digital offerings. Story continues Zacks Single Best Pick to Double From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each picked their favorite to gain +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, SherazMian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. With users in 180 countries and soaring revenues, its set to thrive on remote working long after the pandemic ends. No wonder it recently offered a stunning $600 million stock buy-back plan. The skys the limit for this emerging tech giant. And the earlier you get in, the greater your potential gain. Click Here, See It Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JPMorgan Chase Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bank of America Corporation (BAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Credit Suisse Group (CS) : Free Stock Analysis Report HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Jerry Falwell Jr could be paid $10.5m in compensation for stepping down from his position as president of Liberty University, according to reports. Mr Falwell, one of the countrys highest-profile evangelical Christians, announced that he would step down as the president of the university on Monday following a number of personal scandals. The attorney told CNN on Tuesday that he will receive about $2.5m from the establishment during the next two years and another $8m thereafter in compensation. Mr Falwell told The Washington Post that the money comes in part because he is departing from the university without being formally accused of or admitting to wrongdoing. The news comes following a number of conflicting reports surrounding whether the president would resign from his position or not. Liberty University said on Tuesday that its board had accepted Mr Falwells resignation as president, chancellor and board member, effective immediately. The resignation comes after Mr Falwell became embroiled in a number of scandals over the last few months. On Monday, a business partner of the Falwell's, Giancarlo Granda, went public with claims that he was involved in a years-long sexual relationship involving both Mr Falwells wife and the evangelical leader. Mr Granda, who met the couple while working as a pool attendant in Miami, told Reuters that the relationship involved him having sex with Becki Falwell while Mr Falwell looked on. Before the publication of Reuters' report a lawyer for Jerry Falwell, Michael Bowe, said the evangelical leader categorically denies everything you indicated you intend to publish about him. On Monday Mr Falwell released a statement to The Washington Examiner acknowledging that his wife had an affair with an "ambitious young man" but stipulated that he was not involved in the affair. The Independent has reached out to Mr Falwell for further comment. Ms Falwell had an inappropriate personal relationship with this person, something in which I was not involved it was nonetheless very upsetting to learn about, Mr Falwell said in a statement. He did not identify the man involved. Recommended Jerry Falwell Jr resigns from Liberty University The former president alleged that his wifes ex-lover had continually tried to blackmail his family following the affair with his wife, an accusation which Mr Granada has categorically denied. Mr Granda told The Examiner: any allegation of extortion is falsely, defamatory and belied by clear documentary evidence. Earlier this month, Mr Falwell announced he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the university after he was forced to apologise for a photograph he posted on social media with his trousers unzipped and his shirt pulled up over his stomach. At the time, Mr Falwell, who has held positions at the university since 2007, told WLNI that the photograph was taken during a costume party and was just good fun. Alumni and others criticised Mr Falwell, saying the photo was evidence of hypocritical behaviour from the leader of a university where students must follow a strict code of conduct. The resignation comes as a severe blow for one of the countrys most visible conservative Christian leaders and ardent Trump supporters, ending back-to-back Falwell leadership at the university, which was founded by Jerry Falwell senior. The university's heartfelt prayers are with him and his family as he steps away from his life's work, Liberty University said on Tuesday in a statement. Additional reporting by the Associated Press. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 12:29:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHARIKAR, Afghanistan, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 people were killed and 40 others wounded in torrential floods in Afghanistan's eastern Parwan province during Tuesday night, a provincial government spokesperson said Wednesday. Provincial government spokesperson Wahida Shahkar told Xinhua that the flash floods, resulted from heavy rains late on Tuesday night, ripped through a residential area in the central part of the province. "At least 25 villagers were killed, over 40 others wounded and tens of houses and wide areas of arable lands have been washed out during the overnight floods," she said. Officials of local government and provincial directorate of disaster management and humanitarian affairs would soon visit the villages to provide assistance to the affected people, she added. She said the casualty may be higher than reported and more details will be shared with media later in the day. Enditem George Cullen had been a nuisance, but was usually polite A homeless man who abused gardai when caught injecting himself in public was a "determined street sleeper" who had sworn off staying in hostels, a court heard. George Cullen (39), who was separately found with a penknife in his bag, had been in a downward spiral following the death of a friend in a house fire. He pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, as well as possession of a weapon. Judge Bryan Smyth gave him a six-month suspended sentence. Dublin District Court heard gardai responded to a report a man was acting suspiciously at Bedford Lane, Temple Bar, at 11.30pm on July 20 last year. They searched the accused's backpack and found a small penknife, which he gave no valid reason for having. Other belongings were also in the backpack. On April 26 last year, gardai were on patrol at Foster's Place at 4.15pm when they saw the accused injecting suspected drugs. Convictions When they told him to stop, he became aggressive, telling the officers to "f**k off numerous times", the court heard. He again became abusive to gardai when they confronted him at Copper Alley, Dublin 2, on May 2 last year. Cullen, who had 38 previous convictions, was originally from Rathfarnham and was put out of the family home because of his drug use, his solicitor Edward Bradbury said. After that, the place he was staying in Terenure burned down, leading to the death of a friend. Cullen was a "determined street sleeper", Mr Bradbury said, and he was not going to hostels as he had difficulties there and was "sworn away from them". The knife was among items he had in his backpack "as a homeless individual". The accused had injured himself, his knee became infected and he was in St James's Hos- pital for three months during the lockdown. He was now living at an aparthotel. Although he had been an "annoyance" in the city centre, he was usually polite and did not cause difficulty when arrested, Mr Bradbury said. Thursdays scheduled meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is expected to be stormy , with the Centre likely to push for a market borrowing mechanism that will leverage states recently enhanced borrowing limits to temporarily plug the hole in their finances caused by a shortfall in revenue and the Centres inability to compensate them -- and states ruled by non-National Democratic Alliance parties likely to, in turn, push for the compensation itself. According to two government officials familiar with the matter, debt raised from market borrowings will be repaid from the compensation cess fund. Other options, such as levying cess on more items, increasing cess rates on existing products or raising overall GST rates to raise revenue appear difficult at a time when demand is already subdued and the economy is badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the officials added, asking not to be named. Also read | Net tax liability to be considered for interest on late GST payments from Sept 1 States arent likely to accept this without argument. In a letter to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra said, It is surprising that that the constitutional guarantee given to the States is being interpreted in a manner that the Centre is not responsible to compensate the States and it is the States (in the GST Council) which will have to find means to compensate themselves! The Union finance minister chairs the council, which includes state finance ministers. The special meeting of the council has been convened to discuss how to compensate states for their revenue shortfall at a time when the economy is facing headwinds and the compensation cess kitty for 2020-21 is almost empty, the officials said. The GST law assures states a 14% increase in their annual revenue for five years from July 1, 2017, and also guarantees them that their revenue shortfall, if any, will be made good through the compensation cess levied on luxury goods and sin products such as liquor, cigarettes, aerated water, automobiles, coal and tobacco products. As cess collection fell sharply due to subdued business activities, states could not be paid compensation on time. According to official data, the last tranche of the GST compensation worth Rs 13,806 crore for 2019-20 was paid towards end of July. So far, states have been paid Rs 1,65,302 crore GST compensation for 2019-20 against total 95,444 crore cess collection for the fiscal year. Also read | Neither luxury nor sin good: GST tax rate on 2-wheelers may witness a cut With promised 14% year-on-year revenue growth, the gap is expected to be unmanageable this financial year without borrowing from the market, one of the officials said. The compensation requirement for 2020-21 is expected to exceed Rs 1.88 lakh crore even if the GST collection in 2020-21 remains at the same level as last fiscal year, he added. Some states have misconception that it is the commitment of the Union government to compensate states, therefore, the central government should borrow the money to pay compensation to states and union territories, the officials mentioned above added. In fact, paying compensation is the collective commitment of both Union and state government, and the GST Council is the apex body that will take a decision on this matter, they said. The GST law is clear that states will be compensated for their revenue shortfall only from the compensation cess fund. There is no legal provision that the compensation money will come either from the Consolidated Fund of India or the Union government will borrow from the market. Therefore, this matter will be resolved at the GST Council on the principle of collective responsibility. Ideally, states should leverage their enhanced borrowing limits, the second official said. Mitras letter suggests otherwise. Nothing can be more damaging, unfair and unjust than this. Those who are forwarding such views (on market borrowings) are either not aware of the spirit and intent of the Constitutional Amendment or are consciously turning a blind eye to renege the sovereign promise to the Sates, he said in the letter reviewed by HT. Mitra said there can be no going back on the fact that compensation has to be paid. The rate of 14% is also sacrosanct as it was unanimously decided by the GST Council, he added. Under no circumstances States should be asked to borrow from the market as it will increase their debt servicing liability. Further, it may lead to cut State expenditure which is not desirable at this juncture when the economy is witnessing severe recessionary trend, he said. In order to give fiscal space to states in this time of crisis, the Union government recently raised their borrowing limits. Announcing the last tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore Atamnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Initiative) on May 17, finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre had also accepted the demand of states to raise their borrowing limit from 3% of their respective gross state domestic product (GSDP) to 5% that would give them additional resources of Rs 4.28 lakh crore during the Covid-19 crisis. Experts say the shortfall in compensation cess collection is mainly because of unforeseen circumstances as the architects of the GST regime could not foresee a pandemic-like Covid-19 that would batter the economy. India is expected to report its April-June GDP numbers by the end of this month. Economists expect its economy to contract by at least 5% this year (2020-21). Archit Gupta, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the financial technology platform ClearTax said, Increasing state borrowing seems to be an option to fund the revenue shortfall for states. The other option suggested was to allow the GST Council to borrow, and repay from cess collection in future years. He, however, said that these measures were short term. It is imperative that states need to become more fiscally responsible -- reduce their own debt and make attempts to become fiscally self-reliant to a large extent, he added. Pratik Jain, partner and leader of the indirect tax practice at PwC India said, It is evident that cess collected is not enough to compensate the States, particularly in current economic slowdown due to the pandemic. However, at this point, neither increasing the rate of cess nor the ambit look like feasible options. He said, Centre will need to negotiate the quantum of compensation, possibly by reducing the 14% annual increment and increasing the period of compensation beyond five years as initially envisaged. In the long term, we will have to find ways for the states to be more economically independent and enhance the tax base. In his letter, Mitra reminded the finance minister of her promise to pay compensation to states at the 39th meeting of the GST Council. He said the tax regime is hailed world over as an example of cooperative federalism, which is based on mutual trust. Some dent in this trust has already been made due to delayed payment of GST Compensation. Let us not do anything that will give a death blow to this unique collective effort. The results of the election in November, most likely, will not be available on election night. People will stir up all kinds of reasons, theories and a lot of misinformation about what is happening during the period between the vote and the announcement of the results. I think nearly all of the noise will be made just to stir up as much chaos as possible, so people should try to not believe everything they hear. Robert Post Absecon Vote by S.S. numbers New Jersey was right to go with a mail-in ballot, especially if it can be sent out early. Mail ballots arent likely to be misused if the ballots are numbered, if they require a voters last five digits of their Social Security number, and if theyre signed. These simple steps could create a foolproof ballot that likely couldnt be duplicated in order to alter and cheat. President Trump seems to think that mail-in voting poses unacceptable risks of fraud. I believe it would be far more reliable than using voting machines. If the required information didnt match the numbers the ballot would be eliminated. Once put properly in place and operating it would be foolproof. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Wednesday refused consent to a plea seeking initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker for her alleged derogatory and scandalous" statements against the Supreme Court on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid verdict. The SGs denial came within days of Attorney General K K Venugopal declining the go-ahead saying that Bhaskers comment appeared to be her perception about the issue. The Attorney General for India, on August 21, has declined to provide his consent for the reasons stated in the reply of the AG Considering the fact that the Attorney General for India has already declined to grant his consent in the present matter for the reasons detailed in the said letterthe present request made to me is misconceived, Mehta said in his letter addressed to lawyer Anuj Saxena. Saxena, on behalf of petitioner Usha Shetty, had sought consent of the law officer for initiating the contempt against Bhasker after Venugopals decision against it. The consent of either the Attorney General or the Solicitor General is necessary, under section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, for initiating contempt proceedings against a person. Venugopal, in a two-page letter to Saxena on August 21, had said the actors statement in the first part appears to be a factual one, and is a perception of the speaker". Venugopal had said, The comment refers to the judgement of the Supreme Court, and is not an attack on the institution. This does not offer any comment on the Supreme Court itself or say anything that would scandalise or tend to scandalise, or lower or tend to lower the authority of the Supreme Court." He had said the second part of the statement is a vague statement not related to any particular court, and something is so general that no one would take any serious note of this statement". Venugopal said, I do not think that this is a case where the offence of scandalising the court or lowering the authority of the court would arise. I therefore decline consent to initiate contempt proceedings." On August 18, the plea filed before the Attorney General by advocate Mahek Maheshwari, who along with lawyers Anuj Saxena and Prakash Sharma, has alleged that Bhasker made these statements at a panel discussion on February 1, 2020 organised by the Mumbai Collective. It claimed that Bhasker had made derogatory and scandalous" statements against the courts in the country and mentioned the Ayodhya case judgement. The petition intends to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Bhasker for passing a derogatory and scandalous statement in context of the Supreme Court of India on February 1, 2020 at a panel discussion organised by Mumbai Collective," it said. A five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had on November 9 last year delivered a unanimous verdict paving the way for construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and had directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque. She announced her semi-retirement from the public relations industry in July, after losing the majority of her clients during the COVID-19 recession. But on Wednesday, PR mogul Roxy Jacenko revealed she had returned to work. The 39-year-old announced the news on Instagram, before spruiking BLUblox's light filtering glasses. Taking care of business! Roxy Jacenko has revealed shes returned to work after 'semi-retiring' three months ago 'Back at it! Retirement lasted 3 months,' she joked. 'New @bluebloxofficial light filtering glasses (I use these everyday as I spend so much time on my computer they filter down blue light and eliminate glare which reduces digital eyestrain, headaches and stress levels).' Accompanying the post was a selfie of Roxy wearing a clear framed pair of the glasses with a long sleeved black Nike shirt. Priorities: In July, Roxy revealed that losing '85 per cent' of her clients due to COVID-19 made her reassess her job at her PR Firm Sweaty Betty She also wore her blonde locks loose and showed off her natural beauty with minimal makeup. In July, Roxy revealed that losing '85 per cent' of her clients due to COVID-19 made her reassess her job at her PR Firm Sweaty Betty. 'It's been a realisation for me. I hated my job. I didn't like what I was doing,' she said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. 'I'm now semi-retired,' she said, explaining that she wanted to focus on her family. Family time: Semi-retirement meant Roxy has been able to spend more time with her husband, Oliver Curtis, and their children, Pixie, eight, and Hunter, six However, Roxy has managed to keep busy launching a new business with her long-time friend, Inghams Chicken heiress Jessica Ingham, earlier this month. The entrepreneurial pair have created an event brand called XRJ Celebrations, which will create fun and unique table settings and centrepieces for parties. And, the mother of two is set to star on Channel Seven's upcoming reality series SAS Australia, which sees celebrities undergo rigorous SAS training reserved for the country's elite special forces. New business: Roxy recently launched a new business with her long-time friend, Inghams Chicken heiress Jessica Ingham As the Democrats continue to ignore or defend the violence being so cleverly orchestrated and funded by Marxist groups intent upon destroying the United States as founded, the speakers at the RNC convention presented something more edifying. They told their personal stories of what they had suffered under the Obama/Biden administration and how President Trump has done the work that has helped them directly. On the second night, the lobster fisherman, the steel-stamping companyowner, the dairy farmer, the young Nick Sandmann whom the left attempted to "cancel" were among them. The second night of the convention did not disappoint; it was as uplifting and inspiring as the first night. It was also a night of blunt truth-telling. Pam Bondi laid out the facts of the Biden family's corruption. Kentucky A.G. Daniel Cameron echoed Vernon Jones, bemoaning the Democrat party's habit of taking for granted the votes of black Americans and urging their fellow African-Americans to vote for the candidate who has and will continue to put his money where his mouth is. Trump has proven beyond all reasonable doubt that he cares about all the American people, especially our working folk who make the country function our truck-drivers, miners, fishermen, nurses, farmers, etc. These are all people the Obama/Biden administration not only ignored, but actively sought to harm with their unreasonable environmental regulations, tax hikes, bans, and fines. President Trump has rescued millions of those worker bees that we all depend upon from the constraints Obama/Biden imposed on them in an effort to put them out of business. It is a mystery why the Democrats are supporting all the violence occurring in those Democrat-run cities, but they are. As a monolith, they refuse to condemn the rioting, looting, and arson. In Portland, BLM rioters cemented the door closed and attempted to burn the building with officers inside. When, on Fox & Friends, Tammy Bruce bravely called out the left for not speaking out against the devastation these groups are doing to the cities under siege, Donna Brazile went postal. Claiming victimhood, she accused Tammy Bruce of "ignoring four hundred years of history." Bruce had done no such thing. But Brazile would not let her speak. This backwash from the Clintons and the DNC melted down over a few words of absolute truth. How and why the left thinks defending rioters, who are clearly being recruited, trained, paid, and trucked to targeted cities supplied with weapons, will help them in November is incomprehensible. Do they really think a majority of Americans will vote for sympathy with marauding barbarians who are devastating their cities? They do! They seem to believe that making us all fear that violence will soon be coming to our cities, even small cities like Kenosha, is enough to make us vote for the Marxists who seek to control every aspect of our lives. But this is not Germany in the 1930s under Hitler, Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh, China under Mao, or the Soviet Union under Stalin. Americans are different having had the pleasure and constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom for a couple of hundred years, liberty the peoples of those nations had never experienced. In that appearance on Fox & Friends, Donna Brazile revealed the core of her party's strategy: condemn all white people as irredeemably racist and thus responsible for any and all problems American minorities may suffer, despite the opportunities available to them. Brazile never used to be one who succumbed to this cheap directive of the race-class-sex crowd that commandeered academia long ago. She has obviously received new orders from headquarters. This successful, probably wealthy, educated, upper-class woman is now slumming with the "we have not and will never overcome" battalion. Watching her lose her cookies over Tammy Bruce's rational few words was a sign. When the left can seduce a woman like Brazile to abandon her better senses, the left is floundering badly. She of all people might have been a voice of reason, but instead she ranted and raved like a BLM rioter in the streets. It was sad to see and is a sad commentary on what the Democrat party has become race-hustlers of the worst kind. When a woman with as much presence and prominence as Donna Brazile joins those of her party who dwell in the gutter of racial politics instead of intellectual political discourse based on the Constitution, we should realize that the Democrat party of JFK is no more. "Racism is a refuge for the ignorant. It seeks to divide and to destroy. It is the enemy of freedom, and deserves to be met head on and stamped out." Pierre Berton The Democrat party under the dominance of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, AOC and her pals, has lost any luster or relevance it once had. It has been reduced to a gang of thugs and operates...like a gang of thugs. That it has co-opted Donna Brazile is a tragedy. Clinging to the cloak of victimhood is never a winning strategy. Trump is going to win bigly. Image credit: Screenshot from USAToday video clip via shareable YouTube. Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire has vowed to clear his name after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and bribery by a Greek court. The 27-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Friday after an alleged incident on the island of Mykonos, with the defender appearing at a hearing the following day in neighbouring Syros. Maguire was not at the subsequent court case yesterday when - just hours after receiving the backing of England manager Gareth Southgate - he was found guilty of a number of charges. The world's most expensive defender faced several charges along with Christopher Sharman and brother Joe Maguire, with the centre-back receiving a suspended prison sentence of 21 months. Maguire said: "Following the hearing today I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing. I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims." Meanwhile, his club said: "Manchester United notes the verdict of the Greek court today. "Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence. "It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare. "A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied. "On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire's legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date." It is understood that Maguire's team were angered and perplexed at the decision not to adjourn proceedings, having only received the charge sheet and near 50 pages of evidence late on Monday. The conduct of yesterday's trial has frustrated those connected to the defence and there is hope that an appeal will allow for more evidence to be utilised, including forensic evidence demonstrating injuries to the defender and his sister Daisy. Maguire was among a group of four couples that went out in Mykonos last Thursday and the court heard the defence claim that Daisy fainted after being injected with a substance in a bar by two Albanian men. Tensions became fraught and the group attempted to return to the villa, with the defence claiming undercover police directed the minibus to go the police station - something the group were not aware of. A group of Greek men allegedly kicked Maguire and told him "your career is over" when they got there. Fearing he was being robbed, Maguire's attempts to get away saw him arrested and detained. The defender denies the allegation of bribery and sees any physical actions as self-defence towards individuals the group had not been aware were police officers. Maguire relayed his version of events to Southgate ahead of his selection for England's upcoming Nations League double-header against Iceland and Denmark - although hours later he was deselected. The England boss initially said: "I have spoken with Harry. I have the insight to the story, which is very different to what's being reported. And in these instances, I think you can only make decisions on facts that you're aware of. "Now clearly if facts change further down the line or information changes, then I have to review that decision. But I have a fantastic relationship with the boy. Harry has been an outstanding character for us. I have no reason to doubt what he's telling me and, you know, it's important that he knows that he's got my support at this moment." But hours later the FA confirmed that Maguire would be withdrawn from the squad. "In light of this evening's developments, I can confirm I have withdrawn Harry Maguire from the England squad for the matches against Iceland and Denmark," Southgate said. "As I said earlier today, I reserved the right to review the situation... I have made this decision in the best interests of all parties and with consideration of the impact on our preparations." A new Giant store in Dauphin County is closer to completion. The Carlisle-based chain announced this week it will open the store on Oct. 23 at 6301 Grayson Road at the Swatara Square shopping center in Swatara Township. The store replaces a Weis Markets, which closed last summer. Earlier this year, Giant said it took over the property as part of a $114 million investment focused on central Pennsylvania, including the Harrisburg area, the Philadelphia area and the Pocono region. Weis opened in the 52,000-square-foot location in 2000, after purchasing it from Festival Foods. Giant isnt the only new tenant at the shopping center where a Jersey Mikes Subs and Starbucks recently opened. Swatara Square is located near three stores with large grocery operations Walmart, Aldi and Sams Club. In addition to the new store announcement, Giant said it is launching Todays Table as part of a rebranding associated with the companys launch earlier this year of a new name, logo and purpose. In February, Giant unveiled a new company name, pivoting from Giant Food Stores to The Giant Company. The company refreshed logos for its banner brands, including Giant, Martins, Giant Heirloom Market, Giant Direct and Martins Direct. For Todays Table is grounded in our strong belief that gathering around the table for a meal with your family to make meaningful connections is now more important than ever, said Nicholas Bertram, president, The Giant Company, in a statement. The company said it will expand product selections and will test concepts such as smoothie bars and kombucha taps. The store in Camp Hill will soon offer made-to-order salads, wraps, soups and grain bowls through a new partnership with Saladworks. The Todays Table platform will be introduced over a variety of channels, from social media to television advertisements and will be reflected in store decor and refreshed team member work wear. READ MORE: Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. China on Wednesday lodged a diplomatic protest with the United States, raising objection over its second spy plane, which it said, 'intruded' into its 'no-fly zone' to snoop over the ongoing military exercises by the Chinese military in the disputed South China Sea. IMAGE: A US Marines F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft prepares to land on the flight deck of the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS America during flight operations in the South China Sea. Photograph: US Marine Corps/Sgt Audrey MC Rampton/Handout via Reuters A US RC-135S reconnaissance aircraft on Wednesday flew near the ongoing Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) drills in the South China Sea, a day after another US spy plane, a U-2, trespassed into another PLA exercise restricted zone, state-run Global Times reported. The US is increasing the frequency of its close-up reconnaissance of PLA drills in order to pry about the PLA's capabilities, which is provocative, and brings the risk of accidents and could lead to escalation, Chinese experts said. The US, which is piling up pressure on China on trade and diplomatic fronts during the past few months, also stepped up air and naval patrols in the South China Sea where USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Groups conducted dual-carrier operations last month in a show of strength. The RC-135S is designed to gather data on ballistic missile launches, re-entry and electronic information, which means the US might believe the PLA was conducting live-fire anti-ship ballistic missile exercises in the South China Sea, the report quoted Chinese defence experts as saying. The Chinese military said in a statement that the US reconnaissance planes' activities 'seriously interfered in normal exercise activities' and 'severely incurred the risk of misjudgement and even of bringing about an unintended air-sea incident'. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China has lodged a diplomatic protest with the US over the planes' intrusion into China's no-fly zone. "I'd like to stress that the US' U-2 high altitude reconnaissance plane arbitrarily intruded into the no-fly zone for live-fire exercises by the Northern Theatre Command of the PLA," he told a media briefing, stating that planes flew over China's sovereign territory. China claims sovereignty over most part of the resource-rich South China Sea. However, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. The US has been pressing its naval vessels and military planes over the area to assert the freedom of navigation, rejecting China's claims over sovereignty. Zhao said that 'the trespass severely affected China's normal exercises and training activities, and violated the rules of behaviour for air and maritime safety between China and the US as well as relevant international practices'. "It could easily have resulted in misjudgements and even accidents. China firmly opposes such blatant provocation and has lodged stern representations with the US. "We urge the US to immediately stop such provocative moves and take real actions to uphold regional peace and stability," he said. The PLA drills are being held in the waters from Monday to Saturday, according to a navigation restriction notice released by the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration on Friday, which did not provide further details. China usually tests ballistic missiles inland to keep confidential intelligence away from other countries, and the PLA also has many other types of exercise subjects that it conducts in the South China Sea, so the ongoing drills do not necessarily feature anti-ship ballistic missiles, Chinese military experts added. The visit followed a US brokered accord this month where the UAE became just the third Arab state to agree to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the Libyan conflict and countering Iranian regional influence with his Emirati counterpart during a brief visit to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. The visit followed a US brokered accord this month where the UAE became just the third Arab state to agree to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel. Pompeo, who this week also visited Jerusalem, Sudan and Bahrain, sought to build on the momentum of the agreement for regional peace, he said in a tweet after arriving in the UAE. Pompeo and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan spoke about support for "de-escalation and a lasting ceasefire in Libya, Gulf unity and countering Irans malign influence in the region," the state department said. Met UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan to congratulate them on the Abraham Accords and discuss building regional peace and stability, including supporting a ceasefire in Libya and Gulf unity. pic.twitter.com/BeR1qO52yS Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 26, 2020 The UAE, along with Russia and Egypt, supports the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) lead by commandar Khalifa Haftar which is fighting Libya's UN-recognised government for control of the war-torn North African state. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with fellow US ally Qatar in mid-2017, over accusations Doha supports Islamic militant groups. Qatar denies the charges and says the bloc is attempting to infringe its sovereignty. Washington, which wants a united Gulf Arab front against Iran, has tried to mediate an end to the dispute. UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan also attended the meeting in Abu Dhabi, the State Department said. Search Keywords: Short link: With so many people still working from home, I often receive phone calls from numbers I don't recognise. So when what looked like a mobile phone number flashed up on my iPhone at around 10am on a Tuesday, I assumed it was a work-related call. But there was a man with an American accent on the line, claiming to work for PayPal. Hiding in the shadows: It is difficult to report attempted fraud to PayPal He said three payments had been marked as fraud on my account, listing a $99.99 Gameshop purchase, $27.99 Target shop and $750 friends and family transfer. All were supposedly made that morning. 'Did you authorise any of these transactions?' 'No,' I replied, in surprise. 'OK, I understand. We can refund the money to the card that initiated the transactions,' he reassured me. 'We just need to take some personal details.' Just as I was about to ask what he needed, my brain finally kicked into gear and I told him I wasn't comfortable giving out my details to someone who had called out of the blue. 'One second please,' he said. This was followed by a suspicious silence. 'Miss Bischoff, I understand your opinion but we will have to put a hold on your account to get these cleared, if you understand?' 'That's fine as I don't really use it,' I said. 'And surely you would need to freeze the account while you dealt with this anyway?' 'One second,' he said again. Another silence. 'OK, we will send you an email with the centre's contact details. Have a good day.' Now I was confused. Was this a tactic to make me more trusting if he called again? When I logged into my PayPal account everything seemed normal, and I didn't receive an email. I called the mobile number back but there was no answer. Now sure my instinct was correct, it was a good reminder of just how easy it is to get caught out by scammers when your mind is on something else. What was more worrying was how difficult it was to report the attempted fraud to PayPal. There didn't appear to be a fraud helpline, so I tried to explain what happened in an online chat box. A 'PayPal Assistant' responded: 'It looks like you want to report an unauthorised transaction, is that correct?' No, that's not what I said. But before I could try again, another message popped up. 'I found some articles in our Help Centre that might help you. Check them out! If you need more help, please type 'Need more help'.' None of the suggested articles were close to being relevant, so I typed 'Need more help'. 'All our agents are currently offline. Please try again during business hours,' was the response. It was 6.30pm and PayPal's ' messaging support' was supposedly available until 8pm on weekdays. Why was no one there? 'Our customer service staffing is limited due to coronavirus safety precautions,' the message added. Ah, of course. The new go-to excuse for why businesses can't possibly provide consumers with basic customer service. PayPal is a digital payment provider. Surely it has had enough time to work out how to staff a simple online help-centre by now? Firms need to stop treating the pandemic as if it's some sort of Get Out Of Jail Free card. Cash shame While we're on the topic of customers being fobbed off, Money Mail reader Samantha Wright, of Wirral, shared a tale of shameful service. She recently took her 14-year-old niece shopping to buy her mother a birthday card and present. But after saving up her pocket money, her niece was left close to tears after being refused service in Lindt, Clintons and The Perfume Shop because she wanted to pay with cash. As I have said repeatedly in this column, the World Health Organisation has never advised against using cash. So why are businesses using the virus as an excuse to refuse it? I would have thought that High Street stores need every customer they can get right now. If you've been turned away when trying to pay with cash, write to me at the email address below or Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT. v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk Thailand was recently chosen by WHO, together with New Zealand, as role models for their success in curbing Covid-19, and films are being made about both nations. The country reported its first case of Covid-19 as early as January this year, thanks to a tourist from Wuhan in China visiting the country. But seven months later, it has only 3,351 cases and only 58 deaths. In fact, for the last 80 days, the country has reported no local Covid-19 cases at all, but only of returnees from abroad. No one knows what Thailand is doing right, but so far, its working, the New York Times reported in a recent article. Thailand is doing many things right, from wearing masks, to washing hands, social distancing, practising high levels of hygiene, following old customs like the Thai Wai (namaste) instead of the handshake. But it has one extra asset that not much is known about, and about which this writer heard about from none other than WHO in Thailand. Thailands Village Health Volunteers are the unsung heroes, working to support the prevention, detection, and reporting of Covid-19, said Dr Richard Brown, Covid-19 Incident Manager for WHO Thailand. He added: During the pandemic, these health volunteers are working as an important interface between the formal health system and the community and their health advocacy messages, including the promotion of hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and physical distancing, help to combat Covid-19 and save lives. It was when one met Dr Matee Chanjaruporn, the founder, trainer, and chief activator of this Village Health Volunteers movement in Thailand, that one understood the importance of these healthcare personnel in Thailand, who helped to mitigate the global pandemic that has ravaged the rest of the world. Known as Aor Sor Mor, these are the real frontline health workers of Thailand. In an exclusive interview, the reticent and soft-spoken founder of the programme, Dr Matee Chanjaruporn, gave details about this unique feature of Thailands much-lauded public health system, at his office, in the Peoples Institute for Primary Health Care. The institute, which he founded after he retired from the Thai health ministry about a decade ago, serves as the centre for the leadership programmes of the health volunteers. At least 30 leaders are trained regularly, on basic medical procedures, health and hygiene, even telemedicine technology. They, in turn, train the Village Health Volunteers, who then mediate between the villagers and the doctors. It all started as a small division of the ministry of health, which Dr Matee founded in 1978, urging people to take more responsibility for their own health and the health of their neighbours. Before he knew it, he had 1,000 volunteers who were willing to work in the villages of the country, as well as in the small communities of the cities. Most of them were retirees with a strong interest to serve their society, and so payment was not an issue. They got a token amount of 1,000 baht (approx Rs 2,375) from the government, which has now been increased by another 500 baht. Dr Matee himself initially received some funds from WHO and Unicef for the training programmes. This has stopped, but he gets some funding from the health ministry. He is proud that today, the numbers of the Village Health Volunteers in the country have grown to a phenomenal one million-plus individuals. Over the years, the health volunteers have combated many diseases in the country, from AIDS to bird flu, Sars and dengue. Thats why they are an important part of Thailands excellent public healthcare system. According to Dr Matee, every Thai village has about 10 health volunteers, who are chosen by the villagers. They are then trained by health officers of the ministry, and after that, closely monitor the 10-15 houses that each of them has been tasked to manage. When Coved-19 happened, the government announced that the villages and provinces had to create their own safety zones, so the health volunteers took total charge, said Dr Matee. The volunteers spelt out all the Covid-19 measures to villagers and kept close track of them. They trained them to make masks and hand sanitisers from alcohol, the Volunteers regularly checked the villagers temperature, monitored social events in the village, and particularly watched out for the migrants who returned to villages from different parts of the country, and also from neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia. Indeed, it was the village health volunteers who first alerted the authorities about Covid cases, in every part of the country, from the northern province of Chiangmai to the southern province of Narathiwat. They are crucial in strengthening public participation in the public health system, said a senior health services official. This is because of the close bond the health volunteers share with the public. As one volunteer put it: The villagers know enough about Coved-19, but they want to hear it all from us. She said most rural folk were scared to go to doctors or hospitals, which was why they welcomed the company of the village health volunteers. According to Dr Matee, every village in the country has a well-equipped medical clinic, with isolation facilities, and that was where the suspected Coved 19-cases were immediately quarantined. The health volunteers then kept in touch with district doctors. As testing kits were limited, the volunteers focused on early checks, isolation, and contact tracing in all 77 provinces of the country. Dr Matee was proud to say that seven Thai provinces were green zones and had reported no Covid-19 cases at all! With Thailand having lifted the lockdown and opened up fully, wasnt he worried about a second wave of the virus in the country? Said Dr Matee: A second wave is possible, but were not worried. This, he said, was because he had full faith in the volunteers, who had overcome so many diseases earlier with diligence, fortitude and initiative. As Dr Richard Brown of WHO Thailand said: We recognise the importance of the role the health volunteers have played in supporting public health in Thailand for more than four decades. There is a lot indeed that Indias Asha volunteers can learn from Thailands health volunteers to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 across the country. Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls of the day: Tesla, Roku, Apple, Nikola, Shopify & more Published Wed, Aug 26 2020 8:30 AM EDT Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 17:48:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Victoria state confirmed 24 new deaths from COVID-19 on Wednesday, 21 of which linked to aged care outbreaks, making it Australia's second-deadliest day of the pandemic. It took the country's death toll to 549 and Victoria's to 462. Prime Minister Scott Morrison launched his strongest attack recently on the Victorian Government's response to the pandemic, slamming Premier Daniel Andrews' handling of hotel quarantine, contact tracing and testing. As of Wednesday afternoon there had been 25,205 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of new cases in last 24 hours is 156. Of the new cases, Victoria confirmed 149. "Within Victoria, 47 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 102 are under investigation," said a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria on Wednesday. The department also said that there are 1,487 active cases relating to aged care facilities and 434 active cases among healthcare workers in the state. Enditem The Federal Council Bern, 26.08.2020 - During its meeting on 26 August 2020, the Federal Council approved the dispatch on the adoption and implementation of the revised EU regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) will thus be given a more robust mandate to work with the national authorities to better protect the Schengen external borders. The protection of Switzerland's borders will continue to be guaranteed. Ensuring that the Schengen/Dublin system works is of great importance for security across Europe, including Switzerland. A prerequisite for this is effective border protection at the external borders of the Schengen Area, in order to strengthen internal security within Europe. New measures to protect the Schengen external borders were envisaged with the establishment of the European Border and Coast Guard in 2016. As the deployment of personnel and the provision of equipment by the Schengen states were voluntary, bottlenecks occurred and impaired the effectiveness of assignments. The revision of the EU regulation aims in particular to remedy these shortcomings and to provide Frontex with sufficient staff and equipment to enable it to carry out its tasks in the area of border management and returns more effectively. In addition, the mandate to support the Schengen states in the area of returns and cooperation with third countries will be strengthened. The individual Schengen states will retain primary responsibility for the protection of their external borders, but will receive support from Frontex. Decisions on returns and administrative detention are also the sole responsibility of the individual countries. The expansion of Frontex also aims to further improve the fight against cross-border crime and illegal migration at the external border. Switzerland will benefit from this too. At the same time, persons in need of protection can be identified more effectively with more efficient border management. Further development of Switzerland's migration policy The expansion of Frontex is an important element in the further development of Switzerland's migration policy. Switzerland has long been committed to a sustainable reform of the Dublin system and a fair distribution of responsibility for asylum seekers. It supports those Schengen states which are exposed to high migratory pressure at the external borders. The regulation likewise provides for the extension of the protection of fundamental rights by Frontex in favour of migrants. Switzerland participates in Frontex assignments In order to ensure the necessary staffing levels, Frontex will set up a standing corps made up of up to a maximum of 10,000 operational staff between 2021 and 2027. During the negotiations on the revised regulation, Switzerland successfully advocated that the size of the standing corps be reviewed in 2023. The standing corps will include operational staff members from Frontex and from the Schengen states under long-term secondments or deployed for a short time. Switzerland already participates in Frontex operations and maintains a national pool of experts for this purpose. Each year until 2027, it is expected to provide Frontex with up to 16 staff members for a period of two years and up to 59 for a period of up to four months, meaning that a maximum of 39 Swiss experts would be deployed annually. The Federal Customs Administration (FCA), the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the cantons provide the majority of this personnel. As part of the ongoing development and digitalisation of the FCA through the DaziT transformation programme, the necessary staffing flexibility for such assignments is to be created by increasing efficiency at the Swiss border. Assistance with returns Frontex will be able to assist the Schengen states with all aspects of the return of persons staying illegally. For instance, the new mandate includes assistance with voluntary returns and the procurement of travel documents. Higher budget and no change to cost formula Switzerland will continue to contribute to Frontex's budget on a proportional basis, in accordance with the current cost formula. As the EU intends to provide Frontex with a larger budget, Switzerland's proportional contributions to Frontex will also increase. According to current calculations, Switzerland's contributions will therefore increase gradually and are expected to be between CHF 36 and 68 million in 2024. However, it is impossible to obtain exact figures at the moment, as negotiations regarding the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2021 to 2027 have not yet been finalised, and the results of the 2023 review may also impact the budget. Address for enquiries Federal Customs Administration FCA, Media Office Tel. +41 58 462 67 43, medien@ezv.admin.ch State Secretariat for Migration SEM, Information and Communication Tel. +41 58 465 78 44, medien@sem.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Justice and Police http://www.ejpd.admin.ch State Secretariat for Migration https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html Federal Department of Finance https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Johannesburg, South Africa Wed, August 26, 2020 09:27 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4083042 2 World WHO,Africa,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Africa's coronavirus outbreak may have passed its peak, the World Health Organization (WHO) continental chief said Tuesday, warning against complacency to avoid a second wave. WHO Africa regional director Matshidiso Moeti told a conference of African health ministers that numbers of new cases were declining. "We are seeing that we have had what seems to have been a peak, and now we have the daily numbers of cases being reported overall in the region going down," she said during an online meeting. But there are still a few countries, such as Namibia, experiencing increases in daily cases. Africa has recorded nearly 1.2 million cases and at least 28,000 deaths since the virus arrived on the continent on February 14, according to an AFP tally. South Africa has more than half of those infections. It is the fifth most affected country in the world. While numbers of cases and deaths are also declining, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize cautioned that "our biggest worry is whether in fact this is the first surge and there might be another one". "We have gone past our apex, our surge, but if you look at Spain it started showing a surge after a long lull," he told the same meeting. Moeti lauded African leaders for taking "extremely courageous, difficult decisions" to implement lockdowns for their countries and economies to "avert the catastrophe foretold in early projections of how this virus would affect the African region." But the situation continues "to be very grave", she said. Many governments are starting to lift the lockdown rules imposed to limit the spread of the virus. "Now as countries open their economies, increased vigilance is required," said Moeti. There had been fears that Africa's poor health systems would collapse under the weight of the pandemic. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged the ministers to take advantage of the pandemic to strengthen their health infrastructures. "COVID-19 has taught us that strong health systems are a matter of national security and survival," he said in a pre-recorded message. Vedanta's plant in Tuticorin: NGT will decide the matter, says SC 'All party meet' in TN to discuss 'oxygen production' by Vedanta's Tuticorin unit Vedanta moves Supreme Court seeking permission to reopen of Sterlite Copper Plant India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Aug 26: Vedanta on Wednesday moved to the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High court's order, which had rejected Vedanta's plea seeking permission to reopen Sterlite Copper Plant at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Earlier, the Madras High Court had denied permission to reopen Vedanta's south Indian copper smelter, more than two years after it was closed because of pollution concerns that triggered violent protests in the area. It can be seen that the state government ordered the smelter to be closed a week after as many as 13 people died when anti-pollution demonstrations turned violent and police opened fire at unarmed protesters. UGC Exam Guidelines 2020: Supreme Court verdict likely today On August 18, the Madras High Court dismissed a plea by the company seeking the smelter's reopening. "The doctrine of sustainable development, the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle needs to be applied," the court said. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News Tens of thousands of locals stormed the streets of Thoothukudi in south India on May 22, 2018, accusing Vedanta of polluting the environment. Police said they opened fire as they were overwhelmed. The subsequent violence claimed 13 lives over two days and injured more than a hundred people. Vedanta has denied accusations of pollution, and called the decision to shut its plant a political response to the outrage over the police firing. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 14:25 [IST] Syracuse, N.Y. A second Syracuse man was charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with three shootings that left one man dead and another man paralyzed. Willie T. Surrey, of 241 Hall Ave., faces all the same charges as his co-defendant, Tyquan Graham, 26. Syracuse police said in court records that Surrey and Graham acted together when they fatally shot 42-year-old Erskine Dodson Jr. on July 26 around 11:46 p.m. while Dodson was riding a motorcycle in the 1000 block of South Salina Street. Dodson later died at Upstate University Hospital. Erskine Dodson Jr., 42, of Syracuse, was shot and killed Sunday, July 26, 2020. Police said in court records that Surreys co-defendant, later identified as Graham, fired the fatal shot at Dodson a single round from a 9mm handgun that struck Dodson in the upper torso. On July 27 at 12:08 a.m., around 20 minutes after Dodson was shot, Surrey and Graham both fired several shots into a residence at 164 Berger Ave., police said in court records. No one was injured in the shooting, according to court documents, but the shooting would have placed each occupant of this residence in grave risk of eminent death. Surrey was also charged with being the getaway driver in an Aug. 16 shooting in the parking lot of a Conoco gas station, 3200 S. Salina St., in Syracuse that left the victim paralyzed from the waist down. Police said in court documents that Surrey was driving a gray 1998 Audi A8 around 8:16 p.m. that night with Graham in the passengers seat. Police said Graham got out of the car at the gas station, approached a 23-year-old man sitting in the drivers seat of another vehicle, and opened fire. The man was struck in the chest, torso and arm and was rushed to Upstate University Hospital in critical condition. Police said they found three spent 9mm casings at the scene. Surrey was arrested on Aug. 20 and charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree reckless endangerment and three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies. Surrey was arraigned in Syracuse City Court and is currently being held without bail in the Onondaga County Justice Center. Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci. Since her first days in office, Mayor Lightfoot has been clear that the City has a fundamental obligation to ensure that every corner of Chicago has a voice in the decisions made at City Hall and in their communities, Mullane wrote in a statement. We remain committed to working with all organizations, activists and community members to ensure that their lived experiences are reflected in our public policy. We welcome all opportunities to engage and share priorities and concerns from all residents and communities throughout Chicago. The Auburn/Cayuga Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is appalled at the continuous misguided behavior and attitude displayed by Cayuga County Legislator Andrew Dennison. Legislator Dennisons race-baiting, divisive tactics and disregard for human decency set a dangerous precedent for Cayuga County residents, especially people of color. In a July 30 letter to the editor, Ira, Conquest and Catos elected legislator, Andrew Dennison, contemplates whether he should sue The Citizen, Gwen Webber-McLeod and Auburn/Cayuga NAACP President Eliezer Hernandez for calling him a racist. Mr. Dennisons attack on a prominent African American trailblazer and business owner in the Auburn community, Gwen Webber-McLeod, is an example of his misguided attempts to continue to race bait and ultimately bring harm to Mrs. Webber-McLeods family and people of color in Cayuga County. Since Mr. Dennisons original letter to the editor, Cayuga County has experienced a rise in racism, including vandalism against a Black Lives Matter sign in front of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a string of vandalized and stolen signs from family homes, and an increase in hateful rhetoric on social media. Mr. Dennison alleges that his free speech has been challenged. Mr. Dennison has every right to express himself. But as an elected official, he is accountable for his speech and actions to the citizenry of Cayuga County. Mr. Dennison began his first letter (published June 26) by stating, Some people may think I am a racist but I am not a racist, and yet his conduct has been demonstrably racist and unbecoming of an elected official. Furthermore, Mr. Dennison states that President Hernandez is a liar because Mr. Dennison was not referring to Cayuga County residents as idiots. Yet, his statement made no distinction among supporters of racial justice and made no mention of the peaceful demonstrations in Cayuga County or the ongoing collaborative work for change (in which he has been notably absent). Instead, he made sweeping generalizations. Speaking to the readers of a Cayuga County newspaper, he wrote, Youre just as big of an idiot ... while misrepresenting the work for racial justice. Mr. Dennisons responsibility is to speak for his Cayuga County residents. He has no business referring to anything outside of Cayuga County when using his legislative assigned email, except in the context of Cayuga County business. He should use his private email and represent himself as a private citizen. The misuse of legislative emails is an ethics violation that should be investigated by the Legislature. Cayuga County legislators receive $13,000 a year for four years ($52,000). In addition, legislators receive an additional stipend of $2,000 for chairing a committee. Until recently, Mr. Dennison chaired the Judicial and Public Safety Committee. Mr. Dennison has decided to spend taxpayer money to spew hate and rally a base against Cayuga County residents. Clearly, Mr. Dennison should learn from members of his own party. For example, past Cayuga County Chairperson Michael Chapman represented the Ira, Conquest and Cato community with respect and honor. Mr. Chapman attended events such as the NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Millennium Luncheon and spoke about unity. Two other current political figures that should serve as role models for Mr. Dennison are Assemblyman Gary Finch and Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck. For many years Assemblyman Finch has been in the forefront combating the inequities in Cayuga County. Assemblyman Finch knows when to put politics aside and stand tall against injustices. Finch was the first politician to call Mr. Dennison out on his racist views. After the NAACP called out Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck for endorsing the New York State Sheriffs Association 10 legislative proposals, Sheriff Scheck showed his leadership by meeting with the NAACP, the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace, and the Auburn Human Rights Commission to better understand our concerns. Mr. Dennison, this is leadership. Perhaps, Mr. Dennison should focus on what he was elected to do, serve his community and attend to the needs of the county. Mr. Dennison, here are some important concerns in Cayuga County that you can focus on: Mental health issues and drug overdoses: Dr. Adam Duckett, the County coroner, reported on Aug. 11, in a Facebook post, that We have already surpassed total suicides in our community compared to last year, with the current total at 6. We had surpassed drug overdoses already, with 15 confirmed and a few cases pending which will likely make the number higher. Legislator Dennison, what is the Legislature doing to address these issues in our community? What legislation have you proposed to slow the suicide and drug overdose in our county? COVID-19 active cases in Cayuga County: Since Mr. Dennisons letter on July 30, there have been a total of 20 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cayuga County as reported by the Cayuga County Health Department press releases. Legislator Dennison, what are you doing to get the message out to the community to actively follow the CDC rules of wearing masks and social distancing? What ideas have you offered to the Legislature to support a healthy, safe and economically thriving community? Supporting School Districts in Reopening: School districts in Cayuga County are working around the clock to implement safety plans for school opening. In the midst of COVID-19, school openings are at the mercy of the health department to support them in testing and contact tracing. Legislator Dennison, what are you doing to support your school districts? Finally Mr. Dennison, the taxpayers demand that you begin to provide them with the service they pay you for. Writing letters that are divisive in nature is not what you were elected for. It is clear that Legislator Dennison is unfit to serve the Ira, Conquest and Cato communities. Legislator Dennison must resign immediately. Dr. Eliezer Hernandez submitted this column on behalf of the Auburn/Cayuga Branch of the NAACP, of which he is the president. Love 4 Funny 17 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Despite growing opposition from several quarters, the National Testing Agency (NTA) which is tasked with conducting various entrance examinations on Tuesday announced that it would conduct the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) as per the schedule. The apex examination agency said that NEET will be held on September 13 and JEE will be held from September 1 to September 6. This comes after thousands of students, parents, activists and politicians across the country have been calling for postponement of the two major entrance exams amid the Covid-19 crisis. Till Tuesday morning, India has reported over 3.23 million cases and over 53% of the country lives in places under either complete, partial, or weekend lockdown. Out of the 734 districts in the country, lockdown orders are in place for 345 forcing students to rethink their decision of appearing for the entrance exams. WHY ARE STUDENTS UP IN ARMS AGAINST THE EXAMS? On August 17, the Supreme Court rejected the plea seeking postponement of these exams saying a crucial year of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on. Nineteen-year-old Deva Mashkoor, a medical aspirant from Anantnag in Kashmir, has been anxious ever since. The exam centre is 150 km from my house. Since no public transport is available and we cannot afford a cab, I have to take a lift from someone to reach the centre during a pandemic which puts my health at risk. I dont know how things will unfold, said Mashkoor, who was preparing for his entrance exams in Delhi when the nationwide lockdown to restrict the spread of Covid-19 disease was announced in March. I returned months ago and havent been able to prepare ever since due to lack of access to the internet here. It would be better if we could go to Delhi and take the exam there when things become normal. It will be so difficult to do so now amid so many restrictions, he said. Thousands of engineering and medical aspirants have taken to social media platforms to express their anger towards the decision to hold exams during a pandemic. Danish Khan, a resident of Bhagalpur in Bihar, said, The exam is starting to feel like a matter of life and death now. My family isnt allowing me to appear for my papers as we live in a joint family. If I contract the disease, I may pass on the infection to the elderly in my family. The standard operating procedures put in place by NTA are of little comfort since we have seen them fail in various state exams such as ComedK UGET and UP B.Ed. Candidates are also demanding cancellation of the entrance exam this year in view of the pandemic. Hitesh Gupta, a JEE aspirant from Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly, said, The cases of Covid-19 are increasing day by day in our state. How can the government put our lives in danger by conducting exams amid a pandemic? Why cant they come up with some alternative way of admission as a one-time measure this year? Various students associations have also been rallying for the cause. N Sai Balaji, president of the All India Students Association, said, We have been receiving messages from students across the country who are extremely disheartened and depressed. We have been holding fasts and online protests to demand that the government should rethink this decision of holding exams during a health crisis. Congresss student body, National Students Union of India (NSUI), will also be holding relay hunger strikes beginning Wednesday. The Students Federation of India (SFI) has also been campaigning against the exams on social media. WHAT ARE THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO CONDUCT THE EXAMS? The NTA, the central government body which conducts exams, has formulated a special standard operating procedure to conduct the exams. In addition to making masks, gloves, thermo-guns, and sanitisation mandatory at the centres, NTA has also increased the number of centres to meet the social distancing requirements for over 858,000 JEE applicants and 1,597,000 NEET applicants. The number of examination centers have also been increased from 570 to 660 (in case of JEE Main) and from 2,546 to 3,843 (in case of NEET (UG) 2020). JEE (Main) is Computer Based Test (CBT) and NEET (UG) is pen paper-based test. Additionally, in case of JEE (Main), the number of shifts has been increased from 8 to 12, and the number of candidates per shift has been reduced from earlier 132,000 to 85,000, the NTA said in a statement on Tuesday. In order to ensure proper social distancing inside the examination halls, the candidates will be seated in alternate seats in case of JEE (Main). In case of NEET (UG), the number of candidates per room has been reduced from 24 to 12. For ensuring social distancing outside the examination hall, the entry and exit of candidates has been staggered, the statement added. NTA director general Vineet Joshi had earlier told HT that hand-held metal detectors installed on a stick will be used for contactless frisking while maintaining distance. These devices too will be sanitised at regular intervals. Admit cards will have specific barcodes which will be scanned and rooms will be allotted to students accordingly, he said. WHY ARE EXAMS BEING HELD DURING A PANDEMIC? V Ramgopal Rao, director at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, said, The consequences of postponing these exams any further can have serious repercussions on IIT academic calendars and for the candidates. The delay can impact the careers of so many bright students. We have already lost six months. If we conduct the exams in September, we can at least start the sessions in IITs, even if online, in December. As far as JEE Mains is concerned, the exam is now conducted multiple times in a year. In case some students cannot write the JEE Mains this time, they can take the exam after six months again. I dont see any reason for a concern, he added. IIT-D will also be organising the JEE (advance) exams this year. I assure every one that IITs will put their best foot forward in organising the JEE Advanced examination. We will also be closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps as necessary. Health of candidates is of utmost concern to all of us. We all have children and we can connect with the parents of candidates. I am sure NTA and the ministry of education are in touch with state governments for taking care of the transport requirements, Rao added. Some candidates are also in favour of conducting the entrance exams in September. Warisha, a NEET aspirant from Samastipur in Bihar, said, The delay in exam is increasing mental pressure among the aspirants. Its better if the exam is held at the earliest. In an interview to a news channel, education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had said several parents and students pressured the government to conduct NEET-JEE exams. The Supreme Court also said that life must go on and the future of students cannot be kept at risk for a long time. We have to respect that decision. Out of 858,000 students, 725,000 students have downloaded the admit cards already. Around 99% candidates have got their first choice of centre cities in both of these examinations. We are also making provisions for those who want to appear from different centres, he told the channel. OPPOSITION LEADERS UNITE AGAINST A COMMON CAUSE Political leaders across the spectrum have expressed concerns over conducting the exams during a pandemic and its subsequent impact on the existing health crisis in the country. From Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia to Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the political leaders have urged the Centre to rethink their decision on the exams. A senior Trinamool Congress leader also told Hindustan Times that chief ministers of all non-BJP ruled states have been invited for a virtual meeting on Wednesday with Mamata Banerjee and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi to demand postponement of the exams. Chief ministers of all non-BJP ruled states have been invited, only Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has informed us that he will not be able to attend due to some previous engagement, said the TMC leader who is involved in arranging the meeting. Those who will attend include Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, the TMC leader had said. Political leaders such as BJPs Subramanian Swamy, Congresss Vivek Tankha and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav have also raised safety concerns over the conduct of NEET and JEE. DES MOINES, Iowa and NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) today announced the launch of Daily Paws, a new brand designed to inspire, entertain, empower and educate America's growing number of pet parents at every stage of their journeyfrom adoption to parenting to senior care and more. Daily Paws' premium pet-centric lifestyle and service-driven content is now accessible on Dailypaws.com, Facebook and Instagram. Site visitors will be able to sign up for three editorial newsletters and browser notifications as well. Meredith reaches 70% of all pet owners, including 80 million dog owners and more than 40 million cat owners in the United States. Mars Petcare's Greenies and Nutro brands are two of the site's launch sponsors, with other Mars Petcare brands scheduled to participate in 2021. "Pets hold a special place in our hearts and homes, and given these times, that connection is stronger and love is greater than ever. We're excited to launch this new resource of essential and inspiring information celebrating all stages of a pet's life and the joy they bring into our lives," said Catherine Levene, President/Chief Digital Officer. "We're thrilled to have Mars Petcare, a well-respected leader in the pet care industry, join us for this brand introduction." Pet ownership is on the rise in the U.S., with nearly 75 million households having at least one pet at home, according to Mintel America's Pet Owners 2018 survey. As a growing market, pet products and services have experienced 31% growth over the past five years. "Pets are at the heart of everything we do at Mars Petcare, and we're thrilled to share that passion through premium content with a pet-loving audience," said Craig Neely, Vice President of Marketing, Mars Petcare. "Partnering with Meredith Corporation on the launch of Daily Paws is a great opportunity for Mars Petcare to engage with pet parents about responsible pet ownership, ending pet homelessness and the joy that pets bring to our lives." Meredith's wide range of pet coveragefeatured across more than 40 brands, including PEOPLE, REAL SIMPLE, Southern Living and PARENTSis extremely popular among Meredith's overall audience of more than 190 million. Mars Petcare touches the lives of more pets and pet owners than any other global organization through its pet nutrition brands, veterinary practices, technological solutions and advocacy for pet adoption and pet-friendly cities. Guided by their purpose, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS, Mars Petcare's 85,000 associates across more than 55 countries work tirelessly toward a world in which there are more healthy, happy and welcomed pets. "We're committed to driving the pet parent conversation for every need, on every platform," explained Melissa Inman, VP, Content Strategy and Operations at Meredith. "We know that pets are cherished family members, and we'll be sharing insights and information aimed at enhancing those dynamic relationships, as well as celebrating all the ways pets bring joy into peoples' lives." ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION Meredith Corporation has been committed to service journalism for 118 years. Meredith uses multiple distribution platformsincluding broadcast television, print, digital and videoto provide consumers with content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. Meredith's National Media Group reaches more than 190 million unduplicated American consumers every month, including nearly 95 percent of U.S. women. Meredith is the No. 1 magazine operator in the U.S. and owner of the largest premium content digital network for American consumers. Meredith's Local Media Group includes 17 television stations, reaching 11 percent of U.S. households. ABOUT MARS PETCARE Part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets including brands PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, NUTRO, GREENIES, SHEBA, CESAR, IAMS and EUKANUBA as well as the Waltham Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, VCA, Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. SOURCE Meredith Corporation Related Links www.meredith.com Washington First lady Melania Trump cast her husband as the best hope for America's future in a Rose Garden address Tuesday night as President Donald Trump relied on family, allies and the trappings of the presidency to boost his re-election chances on the second night of the Republican National Convention. The president pardoned a reformed felon, used the White House grounds to elevate his wife's keynote address and oversaw a naturalization ceremony for several immigrants in the midst of the prime-time program. Mrs. Trump and two of his children led a diverse collection of Republicans calling for Trump's re-election, although they focused more on his policies than any humanizing effort. "I know many people are anxious and some feel helpless. I want you to know you're not alone," Mrs. Trump said, referencing the pandemic raging across America. "Donald will not rest until he has done all he can to take care of everyone impacted by this terrible pandemic." The first-term president is laboring to improve his standing in a 2020 presidential race he is currently losing under the weight of the coronavirus and its related economic devastation. Most polls report that Democratic rival Joe Biden has a significant advantage in terms of raw support. In one of the few emotional moments of the night, Trump showed a video of himself signing a pardon for Jon Ponder, a man from Nevada who founded an organization that helps prisoners reintegrate into society. "We live in a nation of second chances," Ponder said, standing alongside Trump. "John's life is a beautiful testament to the power of redemption," Trump said. Tuesday's two-and-a-half-hour lineup also featured a Maine lobsterman, a Wisconsin farmer and a Native American leader. Social conservatives were represented by an anti-abortion activist and Billy Graham's granddaughter. The convention also featured a Kentucky high school student whose interaction last year with Native Americans became a flashpoint in the nation's culture wars. Before Mrs. Trump's remarks, there was little mention of the pandemic, although it remains a dominant issue for voters. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The COVID-19 death toll surged past 178,000 on Tuesday, by far the highest in the world, and there is no sign of slowing. Convention organizers had promised an uplifting and hopeful message the night before as the convention began, but that was undermined by dark and ominous warnings from the president and his allies about the country's future if he should lose in November. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was addressing the convention and nation during an official overseas trip in Israel. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) The Commission on Elections will not offer online voters registration despite the pandemic due to the need to gather biometrics data as they resume registration on September 1, an official said. Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez advised the public to instead download the voters registration form from their website and bring it to any Comelec office to start the process of registration. Ramdam po namin ang panawagan ng publiko na yan. Unfortunately, especially for first time voters, ay kailangan po kasi natin ang biometrics nila, he said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday. [Translation: We feel the sentiments of the public. Unfortunately, especially for first time voters, we need to gather their biometrics.] According to Jimenez, the registration will only run in areas under modified general enhanced community quarantine or general community quarantine, and strict health protocols will be observed including the wearing of face masks and face shields. The Comelec will accommodate first-time voters, transfers, and reactivations, Jimenez said. The Office of the Election Officer will accommodate registrants Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Voters registration will end in September 2021. Acrysil jumped 4.7% to Rs 128 after the company announced 20% capacity expansion of quartz kitchen sinks to meet export demand. Acrysil, largest manufacturer of 'quartz kitchen sinks' in India and Asia, has announced that the company is expanding its production capacity of its quartz kitchen sinks by 20% through brownfield expansion at its Bhavnagar plant in Gujarat. The proposed capex will increase the manufacturing capability of quartz kitchen sinks by about 1,00,000 units per annum to 6,00,000 units p.a. The purpose of the expansion is to meet the increasing demand from the export market. Currently Acrysil exports to over 55 countries and plan to expand further by acquiring newer customers and penetrating in newer geographies. Exports business as on 31 March 2020 stood at Rs 157 crore, contributing 73% of the total revenue. The total capital expenditure envisaged is approximately Rs 15 crore. The expansion project is likely to be commissioned by March 2021. The capex will be financed largely by internal accruals. Commenting on the above, Chirag Parekh, chairman & MD of Acrysil said, "The company is seeing good traction in its export order book on the back of increased demand for home improvement products. In order to meet these incremental demands, company is planning to expand its manufacturing capacity of Quartz Kitchen sinks by 20% i.e. by 1,00,000 units p.a. to 6,00,000 units p.a. by March 2021. We will invest Rs. 15 crores approx. from internal accruals. Export Segment forms around 75% of our business and continues to grow even in these challenging times. Our effort in this segment is to widen our spread across different geography around the world. At Acrysil we are continuously striving to strengthen our product offerings with introduction of new models and variants. We constantly try to enhance our brand awareness by increasing our market presence. We continue to remain optimistic about the global and domestic opportunities and are confident of capturing the same with additional capacity to come on stream." Acrysil was incorporated in 1987 and is engaged in manufacturing of Composite Quartz Sinks. The company started its operations with help of technical collaboration with Schock & Co. of Germany and one of the largest manufacturers of Quartz Sink in Asia. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy has thanked soap bosses for sending him to rehab after he had a nervous breakdown on set. The actor, 58, who played lovable Norman 'Curly' Watts, said he'd 'forever be grateful' for ITV for stepping in amid the height of his alcohol addiction. Kevin also expressed his desire to return to the cobbles as Curly still 'has stories to tell.' 'Grateful': Former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy has thanked soap bosses for sending him to rehab after he had a nervous breakdown on set (pictured in 2018) Speaking candidly about his past, Kevin, who played Curly for 20 years, admitted he feared for his life as he battled addiction. He told how he would start the day with a drink and booze throughout the day. Things got so bad for the soap star that he had a breakdown on set in 1998, forcing show bosses to step in to help. Following his breakdown, Kevin was temporarily written out of the show and checked into rehab for almost a month. Getting help: The actor, 58, who played lovable Norman 'Curly' Watts, said he'd 'forever be grateful' for ITV for stepping in amid the height of his alcohol addition (pictured as Curly in 1995) Kevin eventually got clean and later returned to the soap. And after 22 years in recovery, the TV personality praised ITV for giving him a second chance. He told The Mirror: 'I will for ever be grateful to ITV for sending me to rehab and giving me a chance.' Meanwhile, Kevin discussed a possible return to Weatherfield, after he quit the soap in 2003 to pursue a career in music and theatre. Calling on producers to bring back the character, he said: 'I'd love to come back to Coronation Street; I still have a great relationship with ITV and I think Curly would have some stories to tell.' Tough time: Speaking candidly about his past, Kevin, who played Curly for 20 years, admitted he feared for his life as he battled addiction Comeback for Curly? Meanwhile, Kevin discussed a possible return to Weatherfield, after he quit the soap in 2003 to pursue a career in music and theatre He added: 'Its a different soap from when I was in it, but when I joined it was a different show from 10 years before that. It changes for the better I think and deals with brilliant ideas and stories.' It comes after Kevin discussed his battle with alcoholism last month as he insisted that now is the time for people to get sober. The actor, who appeared on the cobbles from 1983 to 2003, admitted the phones 'haven't stopped ringing' at his charity Kennedy St, which aims to help people battle their addiction to alcohol. Speaking on an episode of ITV's Lorraine, he said: 'We have a very small charity, Kennedy Street. Over the lockdown, our phones have not stopped ringing. Its people who are self-medicating at home during the pandemic. Help: It comes after Kevin discussed his battle with alcoholism last month as he insisted that now is the time for people to get sober 'Now is the perfect time to get sober. Weve been doing fundraising and we need some help. I think we may lose more people through mental health problems than with the actual virus, the way things are going.' 'Theres no judgement. We dont judge anyone here. Weve all been through it. Thats the secret of it. Theres a privacy to it. You can get help without having to do much. You are not on your own.' Kevin previously admitted that he 'always had a drink near' as he battled his addiction during his time on the cobbles. Speaking on a previous episode of Good Morning Britain, he said: 'I was known as a maintenance drinker where I maintained a certain level of being drunk right through the day and that balance is quite hard to find. Role: The actor, who appeared on the cobbles from 1983 to 2003, admitted the phones 'haven't stopped ringing' at his charity Kennedy St 'Sometimes if you went too far, you were visibly drunk but if you didn't drink enough then you went into involuntary detox which is not very nice at all. So yeah, I always had a drink near or around me somewhere.' During his chat with host Lorraine Kelly, Kevin reminisced on his wedding storyline in Coronation Street, which saw Curly tie the knot with Raquel Watts (Sarah Lancashire). He said: 'There was so much interest in that story. The beauty of that story was that it was beautifully written. There was so much interest that Granada Television decided to keep it secret. It was a totally separate crew and director. He said: 'Now is the perfect time to get sober. Weve been doing fundraising and we need some help. I think we may lose more people through mental health problems than with the virus' Kevin admitted there was such secrecy around the storyline that he and Sarah were forbidden from telling any of their co-stars about it. He said: 'Sarah and I were taken off somewhere. We filmed it in south Manchester and then went back to Granada and carried on with our normal episodes. Sarah and I were doing scenes in the Rovers but we were married but couldnt let anyone know. 'I think it was a very special time. 20 years and over 1,000 episodes. Once youve been involved in Coronation Street youre an ambassador for life. People still remember it.' On 25th August 2020, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune (SIBM Pune) and Swansea University United Kingdom jointly hosted an International webinar titled Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. The webinar was supported by International Journal of Information Management and the UK Academy for Information Systems. The webinar had 24 professors as speakers representing 20 universities across the globe. The professors were located in 10 countries while they addressed 500+ participants who attended the webinar from 29 countries making it truly an international webinar. Along with the professors, an IAS officer, Mr Santosh Mishra, CEO of e-Governance agency of government of Tamilnadu, India also addressed the participants. The webinar had an academic and research orientation and gave research ideas for students, faculty members and researchers across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many organisations to undergo significant transformation, rethinking key elements of their business processes and use of technology to maintain operations whilst adhering to a changing landscape of guidelines and new procedures. This international webinar brought together a collective insight to many key issues and underlying complexities affecting organisations and society from COVID-19, through an information systems and technological perspective. The experts perspectives drawn from articles presented in a special issue of International Journal of Information Management (an article by Dwivedi et al., 2020 https://tinyurl.com/y37cswak ) offered detailed discussion on key aspects of this important topic as well as perspectives on issues relating to online learning, digital strategy, artificial intelligence, information management, social interaction, cyber security, big data, blockchain, privacy, mobile technology and strategy through the lens of the current crisis and impact on these specific areas. Professor Yogesh Dwivedi Professor of Digital Marketing and Innovation and Director of Emerging Markets Research Centre (EMaRC) & Co-Director of Research School of Management, Swansea University, Bay Campus, UK and Prof. Dr Ramakrishnan Raman Director SIBM Pune and Dean Faculty of Management Symbiosis International (Deemed University) were the chair for the webinar. Prof. Sandeep Bhattacharya from SIBM Pune was the anchor for the webinar and moderated the discussion. Expert professors across the globe perspectives offer insights to the range of topics, identifying key issues and recommendations for theory and practice. The eclectic panel of speakers for the webinar included - Dr Deborah Bunker, Professor, The University of Sydney Business School, Australia; Dr Noel Carroll, Lecturer in Business Information Systems, NUI Galway, Ireland; Dr Kieran Conboy, Professor in Business Information Systems, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland; Dr Ioanna Constantiou, Professor, Department of Digitalization, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark; Dr Crispin Coombs, Reader in IS and Head of the IMAG, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK; Dr Robert Davison, Professor of Information Systems City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Dr Rahul De Professor Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence IIM Bangalore, India. Apart from these, the other speakers were Dr Rameshwar Dubey, Reader-Operations Management, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK; Dr John S. Edwards, Professor of Knowledge Management, Aston Business School, Birmingham, UK; Dr Robert A. Fahey, Research Associate, Waseda Institute of Political Economy (WINPEC), Waseda University Tokyo, Japan; Dr Gordon Fletcher, Director of the Business 4.0 Directorate, Salford University, UK; Dr Marie Griffiths, Reader in Digital Technologies, Salford University, UK; Dr Netta Iivari, INTERACT Research Unit, University of Oulu, Finland; Dr. Marijn Janssen, Professor of ICT & Governance, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands; Dr Banita Lal, Senior Lecturer in Responsible Management, University of Bradford, UK; Mr. Santosh K Misra Senior officer of Indian Administrative Service and Commissioner of e-Governance and CEO of e-Governance Agency of Government of Tamil Nadu, India; Dr Thanos Papadopoulos Professor of Management, Information Systemsat Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK; Dr Savvas Papagiannidis, David Goldman Prof of Innovation & Enterprise, Newcastle University, UK ; Dr Nripendra P. Rana, Professor in Digital Marketing, University of Bradford, UK; Dr H. Raghav Rao, AT&T Distinguished , Chair in Infrastructure Assurance and Security at The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business USA ; Dr Sujeet K Sharma, Professor IIM Trichirappalli, India; Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Associate Professor (IT and POM), Goa Institute of Management, India and Dr Viswanath Venkatesh, Distinguished Professor and Billingsley Chair at the University of Arkansas, USA. The webinar was a knowledge feast for the participants and gave a lot of research ideas which could be taken by several graduate management students. Mr Hem Shah, the senior student coordinator of Information Systems and Media Relation Team (iSMART) student council of SIBM Pune and his team gave the online publicity for the event and also updated twitter with relevant details during the event. The event coordination was ably done by the student president of SIBM Pune, Bhuvan Deepak Chadda and the tech aspects were handled by Senior Network Administrator, Rajesh Bagewadi, SIBM Pune. Disclaimer: This content is released by Digpu News Network. No HT journalist was involved in the creation of this content. A high-level delegation from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has concluded an official visit to Egypt to offer firm support for the governments work to restart tourism and direct its benefits towards supporting livelihoods and preserving cultural heritage. As the United Nations released its landmark Policy Brief on Covid-19 and Transforming Tourism, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlining his five priorities for rebuilding the sector, UNWTO visited Egypt to help guide the implementation of these key recommendations. Led by the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the delegation met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Dr Khaled Al-Anani to learn of the steps taken to support tourism, including through the merging of the ministries of antiquities and tourism and the provision of grants and incentives to the sector. Pololikashvili also met with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly to learn more of work being undertaken to boost consumer confidence and guarantee the safety of both tourism workers and tourists. Tourism adapting to new reality The high-level talks, which also featured an update on large-scale tourism projects currently underway, including the new Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, were complemented by visits to several of Egypts most popular tourist sites. This allowed the UNWTO delegation to see first-hand the enhanced safety and hygiene protocols put in place in response as the sector adjusts a new reality within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: The safe restart of tourism is not only possible, it is essential. The United Nations has made clear the importance of tourism for everything from employment to equality, making it an integral part of sustainable development. Egypt, as one of the worlds leading tourist destinations, has supported the sector with firm actions, including effective fiscal and economic policies. It is now ready to welcome tourists back to its many sites of interest, all the while putting people and their wellbeing first. Private sector and institutional partnerships Alongside meeting with the Egyptian government, the UNWTO Secretary-General also met with the Egyptian Tourism Federation and the Federation of Tourist Chambers. Both outlined the measures being taken to adapt safety protocols in tourist accommodation and other key services to the new reality. Visits to the world-famous Pyramids, the National Museum for Egyptian Civilization and to one of the countrys top marine tourism destinations likewise provided a broad overview of the joined-up approach to the safe and responsible restart of tourism. The visit to Egypt came as UNWTO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) work together to provide help guide and accelerate the recovery of tourism in the country. Egypt is one of a first group of 13 countries that will benefit from expert technical support as the two organizations build on their existing partnership to support tourism as it recovers from the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The joint initiative will see the tourism sectors of all 38 economies where the bank invests benefit from expert technical support, allowing them to introduce new safety and hygiene protocols and so boost confidence and revive demand. - TradeArabia News Service | Image: Konstantin Chalabov/Sputnik via AP Anatoly Chendemerov was handing out tracts that said You must be born again! in the Volga Federal District in southeastern Russia. He was fined 6,000 rubles, the equivalent of about $80. Sergey Krasnov was passing out Christian newspapers and New Testaments in Krasnodar, a city in the South. He was fined 5,000 rubles, or about $65. Seo Jin Wook, a South Korean, met with about 10 people in a private home in Izhevsk, in the Western Ural Mountains, to talk about the good news of Jesus Christ. He told the people they should come back and bring friends. He was fined 30,000 rubles (about $400) and deported. In the first six months of 2020, more than 40 people have been punished for violating a Russian anti-missionary law, according to a new report from Forum 18, a religious liberty news service based in Norway. Government lockdowns and pandemic stay-at-home orders did not substantially slow the multiyear crackdown on unauthorized religious activity. Russia passed a 2015 law that said all religious meeting places needed to be registered. That regulation was followed in 2016 with an anti-missionary law. The bill was labeled as anti-terrorism legislation, meant to prevent foreign extremist from exerting influence in the country. At the time, religious liberty experts said it was hard to predict how the law would be applied and what activity would be prohibited. It is broad and vaguely defined, wrote Travis Wussow, of the Southern Baptists Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, in 2016. Of course, limiting expression and freedom in a vague way is a tried-and-true tool of regimes to stifle speech beyond the language of the law by creating fear of punishment. Four years later, the application of the law is clear. Local police, sometimes supported by the Federal Security Service, have fined roughly 100 religious people per year for practicing their faith. Baptists distributing tracts and Muslims teaching people the language skills necessary to read the Quran are prime targets, alongside ongoing efforts to completely rid the country of Jehovahs Witnesses. So far in 2020, local police have fined a dozen Muslim men for teaching Arabic grammar, according to Forum 18. They have also fined a sectarian Roman Catholic performing a Latin Mass, a Pentecostal holding services in his home, and a dozen Baptists distributing religious literature. Seventy percent of Russians are Orthodox, though only about five percent go to church regularly. Seven percent of people are Muslim and about 2 percent are Protestantmainly Baptist and Pentecostal. While the government has been targeting evangelical Christians, the Russian constitution was also amended to include a reference to God, define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and allow President Vladimir Putin to remain in power beyond his fourth term, which ends in 2024. The Russian legislature is also considering a law limiting religious liberty to Russian citizens and permanent residents, banning non-residents from practicing their faith in the country and preventing Russian religious leaders from receiving theological education abroad. Putin has raised the status of the Russian Orthodox Church in his fourth term and talked about the need to stand strong against secularism and the chaotic darkness of the West, which he says is denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious, and even sexual. That political program includes clamping down on foreign religions, such as Baptists. There is a sophisticated narrative that Russian society and culture are under siege, Eric Patterson, a scholar in the Robertson School of Government at Regent University, wrote for the conservative website The Blaze, and that Russia is fortunate to have the bold, determined leadership of Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party to stand up against all forms of foreign influence and aggression. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended targeted sanctions in response to the violations of religious liberty. Two Hong Kong opposition politicians known for protesting against the city's China-backed administration were among 16 people arrested on Wednesday, according to police, in the latest blow to the pro-democracy movement. Democratic Party lawmakers Ted Hui and Lam Cheuk-ting were arrested at their homes, their party said in a statement. The developments come in the wake of a sweeping national security law China imposed on Hong Kong in late June, leading to the arrest of more than a dozen people so far -- including prominent activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai. It did not initially appear that the arrests of the group including Hui and Lam were related to the new legislation. "This is an arbitrary arrest," Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai said at a briefing. "It creates a chilling effect for lawmakers and citizens when expressing opinions. We strongly condemn this act. It does not help the current political dilemma in Hong Kong." The party said the arrests related to two incidents: A protest last year in the Tuen Mun neighborhood, and a separate incident linked to a July 2019 mob attack on bystanders in the suburb of Yuen Long. In a briefing on Wednesday, police said that a lawmaker and a bank vice-president were among those arrested. Hui, a frequent participant in Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, recently attracted attention for throwing a container of rotten plants on the floor during a bill debate at the Legislative Council. Lam attempted to intervene in the Yuen Long attack on July 21, 2019. He was charged with rioting in relation to that incident, and of conspiring with others to damage property and obstruct the course of justice in Tuen Mun that July 6, according to a tweet posted to his account by an administrator Wednesday morning. The high-profile Yuen Long incident saw men in white shirts beat up a crowd at a subway station, including people wearing the black shirts favored by protesters. It triggered accusations by activists who said police had deliberately chosen not to intervene fast enough to stop the attack, even as they suppressed protests elsewhere. Police have denied those accusations, and officers on Wednesday repeated an earlier denial of additional allegations that they had coordinated with the assailants. But they conceded that their response was delayed, in part because two officers who arrived at the scene called for backup before getting involved. Before Wednesday, police had arrested a total of 44 people in relation to the Yuen Long attack and charged seven with taking part in a riot and conspiracy to wound others with intent, according to a police spokesman. Lam has said he repeatedly tried to call officers before he got involved in the Yuen Long skirmish. His arrest could generate fresh anger about the incident, which spurred subsequent demonstrations. He was injured in the skirmish and treated at a hospital, posting photos to Facebook of a cut on his lower lip. Lam said he had been hurt while blocking hits by wooden sticks wielded by attackers. The arrests are the latest hit to the city's pro-democracy movement, as protests that once drew hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets have almost entirely tapered off amid coronavirus-related social distancing restrictions and the enactment of the security law. Chief Executive Carrie Lam's Beijing-backed administration also recently disqualified a dozen pro-democracy lawmakers from a Legislative Council election originally scheduled for September -- and then delayed the vote for a year, citing a surge in Covid-19 cases. The lawmakers will be allowed to serve out their terms until the elections. The U.S. has led international criticism of the national security law as an assault on freedoms in the semi-autonomous financial hub. Chinese officials have justified the measures as a way to restore stability to Hong Kong after months of sometimes-violent protests last year. Franklin Templeton Headquarters (Image: Wikimedia Commons) An RTI response has revealed that Franklin Templeton did not seek any approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) before winding up its six debt schemes, Mint reported. The right to information (RTI) plea was filed by the Khambatta family, promoter-director of Rasna and an investor in Franklin Templeton. In the RTI query, the family reportedly sought details regarding the date on which Sebi had granted permission for the winding up of the schemes, the date on which permission had been applied for and any evidence of the deliberation process. The reply to this query, which was received in the first week of August, said that the markets regulator had not granted any such permission to Franklin Templeton. The Khambatta family had said in its RTI plea that Franklin Templeton had claimed before the Gujarat High Court that necessary permissions for the winding up process had been taken from Sebi. A spokesperson for the company told Mint that no such statement was made before the HC or the Supreme Court. On June 3, the Gujarat High Court issued a stay order on the Templeton's e-voting process to choose either its own trustees or Deloitte for the winding up process of the six debt schemes. The stay order was sought by Ahmedabad-based petitioner, Areez Khambatta, the second-generation owner of Rasna, the makers of the Rasna soft drink. The petitioners had sought that Franklin Templeton's April 23 decision to wind up the schemes be set aside, contesting that the asset management company (AMC) had violated Sebi's mutual fund regulations and had not sought unitholders' approval before deciding to wind up. On April 23, Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund had said it would wind up six schemes - Franklin India Low Duration Fund, Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund, Franklin India Credit Risk Fund, Franklin India Short Term Income Plan, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund and Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund - citing severe illiquidity and redemption pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 15:47:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Thomas Rabe (L), a doctor of the Heidelberg University School of Medicine in Germany, and his wife (R) pose for a group photo as they receive medical supplies from a staff member of Chinese Embassy in Germany, in Heidelberg, southwestern Germany, April 21, 2020. (Chinese Embassy in Germany/Handout via Xinhua) NANJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- For decades, Hamburg-born John Rabe has been a household name in Nanjing, a Chinese city thousands of kilometers away from Germany that was traumatized by a massacre during World War II. Around 20,000 people visit the late German businessman's former residence each year in bustling downtown Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. The two-story Western-style building is now a museum in memory of Rabe. Visitors were attracted by the undying story of how Rabe and a dozen of other foreigners had set up the Nanjing Safety Zone, taking in and saving more than 200,000 Chinese during the heinous massacre by the invading Japanese troops in the late 1930s. HERO OF NANJING On Dec. 13, 1937, the Japanese troops captured Nanjing. In the following six weeks, they slaughtered more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of WWII, known as the Nanjing Massacre. Regarded as the "Oskar Schindler of China," Rabe, a business representative of Siemens, risked his life to save Chinese who were unable to flee. Rabe and several other foreigners established an international safety zone housing more than 20 shelters. His courtyard alone concealed and protected over 600 Chinese people. "He once saw several Japanese soldiers drag some Chinese women into a house and attempt to rape them. Disregarding his own safety, Mr. Rabe went straight forward, grabbed the Japanese soldiers from the back and pushed them out of the house," said Jing Shenghong, a history professor at Nanjing Normal University. When Rabe was called back to Germany in early 1938, he took with him a 10-volume diary that recorded the atrocities of the Japanese invaders. On Dec. 14, 1937, Rabe wrote, "For each 100 to 200 meters that our car drove, we would see several corpses along the way, all of them civilians..." Rabe's diary was unveiled to the public by his granddaughter in 1996, more than 40 years after his death. It has become an important historical resource in the study of the massacre. Subsequently, his deeds became widely known across China. While addressing a state commemoration for China's first National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed thanks to the foreigners including John Rabe who protected Nanjing residents and recorded the atrocities of the Japanese invaders despite risks. "The Chinese people will never forget their humanitarian spirit and brave and righteous acts," Xi said. To cherish the memory of Rabe, various exhibitions were held across China. In September 2019, an exhibition on Rabe opened at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. A total of 151 historical photos were on display at the exhibition, which detailed the Rabe family, his life in China and his contribution to Sino-German relations. Jan. 5 of this year was Rabe's 70th death anniversary. On that day, many Chinese working or living in Germany came to pay homage to Rabe at a cemetery in Berlin, where they laid out flowers, tidied up the tombstone and mourned for this Chinese friend. "Seventy years on, many people still rally at Rabe's tomb in remembrance of him. When a man does a great thing, people will never forget him," Ju Zhengji, a Chinese doctorate student of history at Free University of Berlin, said at the memorial. INDISSOLUBLE BOND Rabe arrived in China in 1908 at the age of 26. Some of his offspring were born in China. He and his family had lived in the cities of Beijing, Tianjin and Nanjing for nearly 30 years. Over the past eight decades, Rabe's family has kept an indissoluble bond with China. On Sept. 2, 2015, China awarded medals to 30 Chinese and foreign veterans and civilians who fought for China in WWII, as part of the country's celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of its victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Thomas Rabe, Rabe's grandson, received the medal in Beijing. He said this award belonged to his grandfather. Early this year when the COVID-19 pandemic was raging in Germany, Thomas Rabe, a doctor at the Heidelberg University Hospital, told Chinese embassy there that his family and the local hospitals were short of protective supplies and medicine. Nanjing wasted no time taking action. The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders approached the sole producer of chloroquine phosphate in China to purchase the tablets, a conventional drug for malaria but was believed useful in treating the coronavirus disease. Guangzhou Baiyunshan Guanghua Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., based in south China's Guangdong Province, immediately donated 600 tablets of chloroquine phosphate to the Memorial Hall. Jiangsu Carephar Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. also helped buy 600 bottles medicine that can be used on at least 1,500 COVID-19 patients. "There is an old saying in China: The grace of dripping water deserves being reciprocated with a gushing spring," said Qin Yinlin, chairman of the board of Carephar, "not to mention that the Rabes have given great kindness to us." In April, the donated medicine and protective gears from China were sent to Heidelberg. The supplies, including 30,000 masks, 200 protective suits and medicine, were delivered through a chartered plane. The Chinese embassy in Berlin promptly took care of the customs clearance procedure and sent the supplies to Heidelberg within one day after a 700-km drive from Berlin. Thomas Rabe said the help from China made him realize that "China will never forget to give friends a helping hand." Last year, Christoph Reinhardt, great-grandson of John Rabe, took his daughter to Nanjing so that the young lady could learn more about her forefather. Reinhardt believes the pursuit of peace and love should always be inherited by future generations. His view was echoed by Zhang Jianjun, curator of the Memorial Hall in Nanjing. "I hope everyone can champion peace while bearing history in mind, so as to carry forward the kindness, courage and integrity tested by life and death more than 80 years ago," he said. A 20-year-old university student has discovered she will be gifted a fortune of $4.8million over the next two decades thanks to a huge lottery win. The woman from Glenelg, south-west of Adelaide in South Australia, was in the middle of a lecture when she discovered she won first prize in Monday's Set for Life draw, which will see her paid $20,000 a month for the next 20 years. She was over the moon when she heard the amazing news. 'This is huge for my family! It changes everything for us. Holy moly. I can't think,' she said. A 20-year-old university student has discovered she will pick up a fortune of $4.8million over the next two decades (stock image) 'I was actually at uni in a lecture and I checked my emails and saw one from you [the lottery] telling me I'd won something. 'I didn't think much of it, so I just logged into my account quickly and that's when I realised.' The winner said she couldn't react to the windfall because she'd disrupt the lecture. 'That was so hard because I just wanted to scream and jump up and down!,' she said. 'I was just watching the clock, waiting for it to finish so I could call you back. It was the most suspenseful time of my life.' The woman from Glenelg, south-west of Adelaide, discovered she won the $20,000 per month prize from Monday's Set for Life draw (stock image) She said she would still finish her degree, and revealed she would buy her mother a car. 'Once we can travel, I would love to do heaps of trips around Australia and overseas too,' she added. 'I mean, with that much money, what can't I do?!' WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) notified more than 30 District-based nonprofit organizations that they will receive funding from the COVID-19 Nonprofit Support Grant. The grants, which total nearly $1.5 million, will support housing and community development nonprofits that have experienced an increase in administrative costs, constituent requests, or other disruptions to normal operations due to COVID-19. "These grants are going support so many of the organizations that have been there for our community throughout every stage of this crisis," said Mayor Bowser. "These are nonprofits that represent our DC values that are helping us reach our housing goals, supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, and are consistently there to provide a hand up to Washingtonians when they need it most." To be eligible, organizations had to: have federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or evidence of fiscal agent relationship with a 501 (c)(3) organization; serve District residents or business owners by providing affordable housing or community development services; and be registered and in good standing with all applicable District regulatory agencies. "No one has been spared from the economic impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency," said DHCD Director Polly Donaldson. "It's usually nonprofit and community organizations that are relied upon and able to assist people in times of need, but these are unique circumstances. Our goal is to help eligible organizations by offering a small capital infusion." The following nonprofit organizations will receive up to $50,000 in grant assistance: ARCH Development Corporation House of Ruth Bread for the City Housing Counseling Services, Inc. Calvary Women's Services, Inc. Housing Up CapoeriaDC Manna Inc. Central American Resource Center (CARCEN) Marshall Heights Community Development Org. Central Community Development Corporation Mi Casa, Inc. CHV Tenants Association New Endeavors by Women Columbia Heights Day Initiative/District Bridges Opportunities Industrialization Center of DC DC Central Kitchen Pathway to Housing DC Diane's House RAP, Inc. District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. Suited for Change East of the River Clergy Police Partnership University Legal Services Friends of Rhode Island Avenue Vida Senior Center Greater DC Diaper Bank Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. Habitat for Humanity of Washington DC, Inc. Washington DC Fashion Foundation Healthy Babies Project, Inc. Woodley House, Inc. Homes for Hope Young Women's Christian Home Social Media: Mayor Bowser Twitter: @MayorBowser Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser Mayor Bowser Website: mayor.dc.gov Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos CONTACT: LaToya Foster (EOM) (202) 727-5011; [email protected] Richard Livingstone (DHCD) (202) 442-6991; [email protected] SOURCE DC Department of Housing and Community Development Related Links http://www.dhcd.dc.gov Kim Jong Un Disbands Military Unit for Allowing Refugee to Return Across Sino-Korean Border 2020-08-25 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has disbanded a military company guarding part of the country's porous border with China after they failed in mid-July to detect a North Korean refugee returning home after having spent an unspecified amount of time outside the country, sources told RFA Tuesday. The refugee, a native of Chongjin, North Hamgyong province, reentered North Korea by crossing the Tumen river into the province's Onsong county. He was able to completely sidestep soldiers of the 271st Regiment's 27th Brigade before turning himself in to the provincial Security Department. "The North Korean refugee confessed during the security department's interrogation that he had not been stopped and had no interruption when crossing the North Korea-China border," a North Hamgyong resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told RFA's Korean Service. "A military official said that the Supreme Commander's order to disband the unit was issued after the incident was reported to the supreme command," the source said, referring to Kim Jong Un by his military rank. The incident occurred around the same time as a more widely publicized returning refugee incident on July 19, when a man who had escaped to South Korea in 2017 swam back to the North across the inter-Korean border in the vicinity of his hometown Kaesong. The state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that authorities had declared a national maximum emergency at a July 25 meeting of the Political Bureau, over concerns that the man had brought the coronavirus with him. The city of Kaesong was put on complete lockdown, and travel between provinces was shut down. "Sometime around then, the [second] returning refugee incident was reported to the Supreme Command, and the Supreme Commander imposed the strong punishment of disbanding the troops to raise alarm among the entire military," the source said. In North Korea, those found guilty of crimes are not the only ones punished. Often their family members are sentenced alongside them for being guilty by association. "Military leaders with the rank of company commander or lower were sentenced to more than 10 years for neglecting their duties as combat-ready border guards. They say their family members were loaded into cars and taken to correctional camps without knowing why," the source said. RFA was unable to confirm if family members of the company's leaders were also sentenced to 10 years, but in most cases, family members of criminals are given lighter sentences. The refugee may have been able to slip by the border guards because they were not focused on their jobs due to low morale, according to the source. "In the past, the border guards were able to extort money from smugglers on a regular basis. They were able to save enough money to live on for years after their discharge from the military," the source said, adding that since the border closed in January due to the coronavirus, extortion opportunities became far scarcer. "The demoralized soldiers have been on duty just to fill their time, and such an incident has finally occurred." Another North Hamgyong resident confirmed RFA that a company of the 27th Brigade was disbanded for allowing the refugee to return across the border undetected. "We know that the refugee who came back lived in Chongjin. He crossed back into North Korea without any problems and had been staying in his own house for 10 days when he turned himself in to the provincial security department," the second source said. "They say he is now in quarantine as a suspected COVID-19 infectee after being questioned. But the authorities have not said whether the refugee had only been to China or if he was coming back after having lived in South Korea, because they are afraid this information will have a negative impact," the second source added. The dissolution of the unit would do little to improve the readiness of other border guard units, according to the second source. "Stories of the complete replacement of entire border guard companies have been circulating in the wake of the incident. But even if they are replaced, it won't matter until [the authorities] improve the food situation and treat [the guards] better." Meanwhile, sources told RFA that during the Political Bureau's July 25 meeting, the Party's Central Military Commission discussed the results of an intensive investigation into military units stationed near Kaesong, responsible for the lax security that allowed the July 19 returning refugee incident. Reported by Sewon Kim for RFA's Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IncNut Digital, a globally renowned media and commerce company, appoints HerHQ Media as its exclusive sales partner for India region. Over the years we are witnessing constant evolution in consumption and purchase behaviours; one such is, womens strong voice, influence and participation in decision making, more than ever before. Women drive 80% of consumer purchases through a combination of buying power and influence. They are the gateway to the people in their households as well in their social and business networks. Smart and agile companies have realised this shift and are endorsing women communities as an integral part of their messaging. While women-centric innovation in products and services is on the rise, still, potential of such platforms continues to be underserved. HerHQ Media is on a mission to create an assemblage of engaged and heterogenous women communities/cohorts for brands to leverage at scale. HerHQs aim is to reach~100 million audiences by aggregating platforms catering to women across life-stages. Speaking on the association, Meera Chopra, Founder, HerHQ Media said, We are excited to partner with IncNut Digital to represent their expansive reach of 24 million women communities across MomJunction, Stylecraze and The Bridal Box. With common goals and shared values, together we look forward to achieving new milestones. Brands will find immense value in this partnership for a variety of reasons - HerHQ Media is a first-of-its-kind women focussed monetisation network that plays the role of a unifier by aggregating platforms, and provides a single window for brands to advertise. Today, brands are super engaged with their audiences and require targeted media plans and that is why a one-size-fit-all strategy may not be relevant, all the time. HerHQ Medias heterogeneous platform enables brands to connect with women audiences. Chaitanya Nallan, CEO, IncNut Digital said, IncNut Digitals women centric communities, from Stylecraze (Indias largest beauty & wellness community) to MomJunction (Indias biggest parenting community) have been an integral part of a womans journey and have assisted them in making informed decisions across some of their significant life stages. With growing participation of women in the economy there has been an explosive increase in consumption by women. We are excited to partner with HerHQ Media which brings in the right expertise and experience in leveraging this trend and positioning us optimally for this inflection point in our economy. Natasha Garyali, VP, IncNut Digital said, We see women of today as a powerful, dominant voice when it comes to consumption as well as making purchase decisions. This trend will stimulate extraordinary growth in the economy as well for the businesses that serve women. With our partnership with Meera and her unique team at HerHQ Media we hope we can broaden the gender lens to view the role of women in the wider ecosystem as major growth drivers. (Newser) The Trump administration has offered to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorismif the poverty-stricken country will fork over $330 million. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the proposal during a meeting with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in Khartoum on Tuesday, per the BBC, though it's unclear whether a deal might be reached. The Guardian reports that the proposed $330 million payment, which would go to victims of al-Qaeda, has been met with dismay in the East African country, where 10 million people are facing food shortages. Some say the reformist government is being punished for the mistakes of former President Omar al Bashir, who ruled for 30 years before his ouster last April. Al Bashir, charged with genocide by the International Criminal Court, hosted al-Qaeda's then-leader Osama bin Laden from 1991 to 1996. story continues below "We opposed the regime and overthrew it. Now we have to pay for what it did wrong," one activist tells the Guardian. Others argue there's no basis for Sudan remaining on the list. Since 1993, it has suffered unwelcome consequences, including the denial of financial aid, on the basis that it provided support to a terrorist group, per the Guardian. To help its cause, Sudan agreed earlier this year to pay an undisclosed sum to victims of the 2000 al-Qaeda bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, which killed 17 people and injured 39, per the New York Times. That sum is to be included in the $330 million payment, which would also compensate victims of the 1998 double bombing of embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, which killed more than 224 people and maimed 4,000 others, reports Foreign Policy. However, foreign nationals stand to receive much less than Americans. (Read more Sudan stories.) Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) on Tuesday questioned the circumstances that led up to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man who a Kenosha, Wis. who was shot seven times in the back at close range. I dont know what happened there. Lets find out. Its dangerous being a cop, Graham said when asked during a press conference announcing the endorsement of the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police whether the police shooting in Kenosha suggests that protestors grievances are still not being heard, even after months of nationwide protests and rioting sparked by the death of George Floyd in May. I dont know why the gentleman didnt yield when he was asked to yield. I dont know what the facts are, he added. Video of the incident, which occurred Sunday evening when Kenosha police responded to a domestic violence call, appears to show Blake walking to a van followed by two police officers with weapons drawn. As Blake tries to get into the van, where his three children are waiting, an officer appears to grab him by the shirt and fires several shots at close range into his back. Blake remains in critical condition and is paralyzed from the waist down after sustaining spinal injuries from the shooting, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Tuesday. However, Graham said he supports police reform measures and that Floyds death was an example of heinous and wrong policing. Police are not above the law, Graham said. There are places where police act with impunity. This is not one of those nations. Grahams statements come as an August Quinnipiac poll put him in a near tie with his Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison in a race for his Senate seat in South Carolina, where more than 30 percent of the population is black, Politico reported. Graham called on his opponent to return donations from MoveOn.org, as the organization supports redirecting funds from police departments to municipal services and community programs, though Harrison has denied that he supports defunding the police. More from National Review Real estate firms are again postponing sales and investment plans after new Covid-19 cases were discovered in late July in Da Nang. According to experts, bad signs appeared in the real estate market at the beginning of the year. And the Covid-19 outbreak worsened the situation quickly. Realtors hoped that the market would see a strong recovery after Vietnam controlled the epidemic in April. However, new infection cases and the warning about a second wave have dashed hopes. Vo Tri Thanh, a respected economist, said the real estate market is facing many problems, including external ones (the pandemic) and internal (policies and supply-demand dephasing). Realtors hoped that the market would see a strong recovery after Vietnam controlled the epidemic in April. However, new infection cases and the warning about a second wave have dashed hopes. He believes the problem lies in the limited supply, not in lower demand, affirming that demand always exists, even during Covid-19. Can Van Luc, chief economist of BIDV, said his research team's survey of 15 major business fields, which make up 80 percent of GDP, found that real estate is one of the eight business fields suffering the most from the pandemic. The researchers found that the total value of real estate transfer deals in the first seven months of the year decreased by 0.4 percent compared with the same period last year, while real estate share prices have fallen by 16 percent compared with the beginning of the year. Real estate shares were one of the seven shares seeing the sharpest price decreases. Meanwhile, the number of real estate businesses suspending operation because of Covid-19 soared by 98 percent compared with the same period last year. The figures show how big the impact of Covid-19 has been on the real estate sector, Luc said. Both investors and consumers are changing their lifestyle, consumption habits and risk tastes. They have become more cautious. In the context of the pandemic, cash is king. People tend to be more skeptical when deciding to spend money to buy houses, he explained. Meanwhile, the legal framework remains unclear and has improved slowly. Analysts believe that the industrial real estate segment appears to be the only bright part of the picture this year. The demand for land in Industrial Zones has been increasing as a result of foreign investors relocating production bases. According to Savills Vietnam, the industrial real estate market segment is attractive because Vietnam is seen as one of the three most attractive Asian logistics markets. Regarding housing products, a report from the Ministry of Construction showed that there were 29,674 successful transactions in 54/63 cities and provinces in Q2. Chi Mai Foreigners purchased about 16,000 real estates in Vietnam Foreigners have bought some 16,000 housing properties across the country since they were allowed to do so in 2015, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA). Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has issued a show-cause notice to over the contentious priority plan, saying the offer lacks transparency, is misleading and not in compliance with regulatory principles. In a notice seen by PTI, the regulator has asked to "show cause" by August 31, "as to why appropriate action should not be initiated against it for violating the extant regulatory framework by its RedX tariff plan". Bharti Airtel has not been issued a show-cause notice, a source said. Airtel offered to abide by what says and has also voluntarily modified its platinum offering suitably, and hence is not proceeding with further investigation on that, the source said. In the show-cause notice sent to VIL, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said it is of the view that the "claim of VIL for providing priority 4G network with faster data speeds is not in compliance with the extant regulatory framework". "The RedX tariff offer lacks transparency and is misleading and not in compliance with regulatory principles of tariff assessment contained under Telecom Tariff Order, 1999, as amended from time to time," has said in the show-cause notice. It said that the RedX tariff offer is in contravention of specific clauses of the Telecom Tariff Order relating to protection of interests of the consumers. Further, Trai said that VIL's RedX tariff offer violates the terms of licence agreement and is not consistent with stipulated technical specifications. Over the past weeks, Trai had been probing Vodafone Idea's priority plan RedX and Bharti Airtel Platinum offering to see if network preference to specific customers leads to deterioration of services for other non-premium subscribers or violates any norms. During its probe, the regulator had shot off questions to the two operators asking them to explain their position on the controversial issue and provide relevant data to substantiate their claims. Responding to questions raised by telecom regulator over its priority plan earlier, had argued that a new tariff plan is not a new service. Vodafone Idea had also countered Trai's contention that the RedX plan that commits higher speeds should have been informed separately so different aspects could have been examined before such service was launched. Vodafone Idea had justified its pay-more-for-priority-experience plan offered to its subscribers, and said that telecom operators faced a double whammy of having to make continuous investments in an era of call and data charges falling way below cost due to cut-throat competition. A shelf of ice surrounding the frozen continent of Antarctica nearly four times the size of the UK could collapse if temperatures keep rising, researchers claim. An international team of geoscientists led by Colombia University used satellite images and deep learning to map surface fractures across Antarctica. They then used the models to calculate that about 60 per cent of these ice shelves were at risk from a process called hydrofracturing that could split them apart. Their work suggests more than 350,000 sq miles of floating ice shelves could split if fractures on their surface are submerged due to the effects of climate change. Such a sudden loss of the supportive structures could raise sea levels worldwide - with previous studies suggesting they could rise by a 3ft by the year 2100. This sort of sea level rise could leave millions of people living in low-lying communities impacted - and whole islands submerged. Areas of Antarctic ice shelves buttressing glaciers vulnerable to hydrofracturing are shown in red. Blue areas adjoining the ocean are vulnerable too, but those portions do not help hold back glaciers. Smaller green and yellow areas closer to land are less vulnerable Ice shelves are giant tongues of ice floating on the ocean around the edges of the continent and the vast land-bound glaciers behind them constantly push seaward. But because many shelves are largely confined within expansive bays and gulfs, they are compressed from the sides and slow the glaciers' march forward. Ice shelves experience a competing stress: they stretch out as they approach the ocean, according to the team behind this study. Satellite observations show that, as a result, they rip apart; most are raked with numerous long fractures perpendicular to the direction of stretching. Fractures that form at the surface can be tens of feet deep; others, forming from the bottom, can penetrate the ice hundreds of feet upward. This image shows a fracture on the Ross Ice Shelf as a platform of ice surrounding Antarctica which is nearly four times the size of the UK is at risk of collapse, according to a new study Currently, most of the shelves are frozen year round, and stable. But scientists project that widespread warming could occur later in the century. This could send melt water surging into the surface fractures on the ice and cause hydrofracturing - where liquid water violently forces the fractures wide open. This would in turn cause the whole shelf to rapidly disintegrate. Up to 60 per cent of all ice shelves are vulnerable to this process. Dr Martin Wearing, of the University of Edinburgh School of GeoSciences, was among those taking part in the study and said it was a serious concern. He said: 'We've seen in the past that the sudden collapse of ice shelves can trigger rapid acceleration of the glaciers that flow into them, and, in turn, sea-level rise. 'We have found that stresses within vast sections of Antarctica's ice shelves are sufficiently large that they could collapse if, as climate models predict, surface melting increases substantially in coming years,' said Wearing. 'We hope our use of machine learning is a first step towards further applications of AI in the analysis of the ever-growing quantity of data from the polar regions.' Surface melting in Antarctica is likely to increase significantly in the future unless major steps are taken to tackle climate change. Hydrofracturing has already occurred in a few places. Parts of the Larsen Ice Shelf, which had been stable for at least 10,000 years, disintegrated within just days in 1995 and 2002. This was followed by the partial breakup of the Wilkins Ice Shelf in 2008 and 2009. The agreed main cause: hydrofracturing. Existing fracture systems within Antarctica's coastal ice shelves (white) predicted by a machine-learning model. Melt water has reached very few of them, but this could change rapidly if the air warms The collapse of the Milne Ice Shelf, the last fully intact ice shelf in Canada, is seen reducing its size by about 43 per cent according to Environment and Climate Change Canada The Larsen and Wilkins comprise some of the northernmost ice on the continent, and so have been the first to suffer under rising temperatures and seasonal melting. 'It's not just about melting, but where it's melting,' said lead author Ching-Yao Lai, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. 'The ice shelves - that's the weak spot, where the atmosphere, the ice and ocean interact,' said study coauthor Jonathan Kingslake, a glaciologist at Lamont-Doherty. 'If they fill up with melt water, things can happen very quickly after that, and there could be major consequences for sea levels.' While the study flashes a warning, the researchers say they cannot predict the ice shelves' behavior with any exactitude. 'How fast melt water would form and fill in those cracks is the first question,' said Kingslake. He said the worst-case scenario would be that 'lots of places will be covered by lots and lots of water by the end of the century.' This is a fracture at front of Ross Ice Shelf - up to 60 per cent of all ice shelves are at risk of cracking, according to a new study But projections vary widely, depending on which models scientists use, and how vigorously humanity cuts greenhouse gases, or not. The second question is whether particular locations will undergo hydrofracturing and the third is whether the process would runaway causing a wide disintegration. Theodore Scambos, a leading Antarctic glaciologist and the National Snow and Ice Data Center, said the paper 'does a great job of pointing to areas where one can say: "If it floods with melt here, it's likely to break up the shelf." He added that it 'has huge implications for sea level' if summer temperatures along the coasts rise. 'Eventually, all the ice shelves could be covered by melt water,' said Lai. 'But we don't have a time frame, and there are a lot of big questions left.' The study, published in Nature, also involved Utrecht University and Google, with support from the National Science Foundation and the Dutch Research Council. MT services fix 'unsuccessful' The chaos continues as Manx Telecom customers are still without broadband this morning. Manx Telecom and Nokia engineers worked through the night to resolve the ongoing issue with broadband for customers in certain areas of the Island. In a statement, the telecoms provider said: "We regret a hardware upgrade to the network was not successful and we continue to work with our partner Nokia to restore service. We apologise for the ongoing disruption caused and thank affected customers for their patience." A further update will be issued later this morning. Lucky Cement profits fall to PKR3.34bn in FY20 26 August 2020 Lucky Cement Ltd has announced dismal financial results for FY19-20 (July 2019-June 2020). The company earned an after-tax profit of PKR3.34bn (US$19.8m) as compared to PKR10.49bn, reported during the same period in the previous financial year. The company attributed the drop in the profitability for the last three years mainly to increased capacities coming online locally, which has put downward pressure on margins, while input costs have continued to increase. However, as the local demand-supply balance improves and exports gain further momentum, margins are expected to grow. The company's overall sales volume declined by 0.6 per cent YoY to 7.63Mt in FY19-20. The domestic cement sales volume registered a decline of 7.6 per cent to 5.41Mt in comparison to 5.85Mt in the previous financial year. However, export sales volumes improved by 18.8 per cent to 2.16Mt as compared to 1.82Mt in the previous financial year. Iraq project All the shipments of the new clinker plant have reached the site and erection work is in progress for the greenfield 1.2Mta clinker production facility in Samawah, Iraq. The first shipment of the cement grinding unit arrived at site during the first week of August 2020 with the second shipment of the cement grinding unit as well as two WHR boilers, a Wartsila generator and other critical materials for cement mill expected to reach the site in August/-September 2020. The workforce has been continuously working on the project despite the lockdown due to COVID-19. However, as a result of the air space closure in Iraq, Lucky Cement has not been able to mobilise additional human resources to expedite the preheater/kiln, refractory work as well as electrical works. However, the company foresees only a slight delay in project completion, which Is now expected by the end of December 2020 or early January 2021. However, if the air space remains closed, the COD can be further delayed. Lucky Cement local shares A leading research house, Intermarket Securities Limited, positively remarked that Lucky Cement's market share had been increased to 17 per cent and the company became the largest cement manufacturer in Pakistan with a cement capacity of 12.2Mta, after its recent expansion of 2.2Mta in Pezu. Published under The tug-of-war between the publics right to know where COVID-19 outbreaks are happening and protecting the privacy of those who test positive could make it difficult to control the disease if theres a resurgence in the fall, experts warn. Only seven of Ontarios 34 public health units report occupation outside of health-care professions publicly, a Star analysis found, and the provincial government has left the decision on whether to publicize workplace outbreaks up to individual units. The result is an inconsistent mix of public information about the presence of the virus in workplaces across the province. Public health units should make occupation- and workplace-related outbreaks publicly available, said Ahmed Al-Jaishi, epidemiologist and PhD candidate in health research methodology at McMaster University, noting the data would allow the public to understand risks in their community, take appropriate precautions and hold decision-makers accountable for their response to the pandemic. It is vital for public health surveillance systems to capture peoples occupation and workplace information because these can impact the risk of COVID-19 transmission, Al-Jaishi added, stressing that without data on occupations, the public health community cant identify work- and industry-related outbreaks, evaluate risks among various workers or implement precautions to mitigate risks. Knowing this information helps people make decisions on what risks theyre willing to take and what risks theyre willing to forgo. The Star found that even though most public health units in Ontario dont publicly identify the workplace sector, let alone the specific establishment, they do track and investigate confirmed cases and collect details including occupation to help contain the spread of the virus. Many, though, said they could not release information on specific workplace outbreaks because it would be too easy to identify the business or individuals. Even in Toronto, a city of 2.9 million, privacy is still cited as a concern, despite the municipality becoming a hot spot in Canada for coronavirus cases in the first half of 2020. To date, the city has recorded more than 1,100 deaths. While we recognize the desire to have access to more information, we must balance the public health reason for the release of the information and the right to privacy by individual cases, said Dr. Vinita Dubey, Torontos associate medical officer of health, in an email to the Star. However, she said Toronto Public Health has investigated a number of clusters of COVID-19 cases occurring in workplaces since the pandemic began and worked with them to put preventive measures in place. In these settings where outbreaks have occurred, there has been little to no interaction with members of the public, and so the potential risk to the broader public has been low, Dubey said. In some situations, TPH has gone public about workplace cases, as it did on Aug. 14 when it warned 550 employees and patrons of the Brass Rail Tavern, a strip club on Yonge Street, after a worker tested positive for COVID-19. It has also identified grocery stores where outbreaks have occurred. But in other cases, TPH has remained silent. The Star reported earlier this month that nearly 200 workers at industrial bakery FGF Brands contracted COVID-19 resulting in one death and yet TPH did not report this information to the public. Many fear further outbreaks as the summer holidays wind down, people return to work in a reopened Ontario and students head back to the classroom. It raises the question: in an outbreak, should public health trump individual rights to privacy? Jim Kellner, an infectious disease expert and professor at the University of Calgarys Cumming School of Medicine, said there has to be a balance. I get that in small counties if you highlight that mom and pops restaurant over here has one or two cases, that could be damaging to them, he said. But on the other hand its a public safety issue, which has to trump it. It just has to be done in a way that this is not about punishment. This is about public awareness. To facilitate contact tracing in Alberta, the names of establishments are made public when there are two or more cases in health-care facilities or long-term-care homes five if it is a bar or restaurant, though Kellner said the province is considering lowering that to two. There is no such requirement in Ontario, where its left to local public health units to decide if or when to make the public aware of workplace outbreaks. The province also has no common definition of a workplace outbreak. Across the country, early on in the pandemic, you could link most cases to households or travel or facilities, said Kellner. Now, so many are from the community with no known contact source and that makes it much more difficult to control disease when you cant trace it accurately. Al-Jaishi noted that Ontario already publishes identifiable information when it comes to outbreaks in long-term-care homes, even when homes have fewer than five cases. It seems like a double standard to publish data on one sector but not others, he said. From an epidemiological point of view, Al-Jaishi said the availability of workplace and occupational outbreak data would allow researchers like him and others to better track the movement of the virus and sound the alarm if necessary. In having the data and looking at the sectors that are highest risk, we can now begin to plan any new outbreaks and future health emergencies, he said. Its vital. Among those health units that have published comprehensive occupational information is Ottawa Public Health. In its June weekly epidemiology supplement, it included occupations reported by confirmed COVID-19 cases of workers 15 years of age and over. Categories included business, finance and administration; education, law and government services; art, culture and recreation; and sales and service. Information on the occupations of those infected with COVID-19 can improve our understanding of who may be at higher risk and how the disease is spreading, said Dr. Brent Moloughney, Ottawas associate medical officer of health, in a June statement. Peel Region, which includes Mississauga and Brampton, is one of Ontarios larger health units and has been hit hard by COVID-19. To date, Peel has recorded more than 7,300 confirmed cases and 322 virus-related deaths. The region is one of the seven public health units that has publicly broken out confirmed cases into occupational categories beyond health care. In May, the region published occupational information on 482 cases showing that most worked in a health-care setting. The most commonly reported in non-health-care occupations were correctional/detention facility officers, government workers and labour/factory workers. Were very happy to release the data around occupations because I think it really helps to drive home both information around who in our community has really been touched by this disease, said Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peels medical officer of health. We know that COVID-19 has disparate impacts depending on who and where you might be in the community. He added that releasing broad categories of occupation and workplace data is helpful in spotting disease patterns and trends without identifying individuals. Loh stressed that if there is any risk to the public, the region will disclose that an outbreak has occurred. For example, if this is a retail store or a grocery store or a restaurant, and we identify that there may have been a risk to the public due to a case that worked there, then we will go ahead and advise the public when and where the exposure may have occurred so that people can actually identify and take measures to isolate, he said. Not all public health units are the size of Peels, which has a relatively large staff that includes epidemiologists who analyze data, help inform decisions to break chains of virus transmission and investigate outbreaks. Some smaller units, like North Bay Parry Sound District, told the Star they have few cases but dont post data that could potentially identify an individual or a workplace. Conversely, Windsor-Essex County publicly posts confirmed cases in employment fields important to the region health care and agri-farm workers but cant give more detailed reporting as their case numbers soar, said Windsor-Essex spokesperson Michael Janisse. We have limited resources and currently do not have the capacity to provide that level of information, especially given the current high number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in our region and the work involved in contact management, Janisse said. Windsor-Essex has more than 2,300 confirmed cases of the virus to date. At the provincial level, some jobs have been red-flagged. Public Health Ontario releases weekly epidemiologic summaries that list outbreak settings, including some workplaces, such as group homes, correctional facilities and daycares, but specific names of businesses and locations are not included. The province has a list of 15 occupations it considers have the highest risk for infection and confirmed cases who work in these fields are asked to report their occupation. They include doctors, farm workers, first responders, nurses, dentists, lab workers, homeless shelter staff and correctional facility employees. Most other occupations, including the nearly 130,000 teachers that will soon be heading back to the classroom, arent tracked. Those occupations are only listed on positive tests if the person decides to disclose their profession. And while this information is entered into the provinces antiquated integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), there is no requirement that it is reported publicly. According to health ministry spokesperson David Jensen, public health units track cases and outbreaks to understand the epidemiology of COVID-19 in their community, and guide public health action including outbreak response. The ministry uses this information for monitoring and surveillance to inform decisions at the provincial level (e.g., to determine higher risk settings and inform guidance), he said. Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist at the University of Toronto, said many local public health units simply lack enough staff to collect and publish workplace and occupational outbreak data. Public health units are overwhelmed, they are overburdened. They dont get the luxury (of) time to sort of say, well, what would be really cool to do, he said. But thats why you need leadership from the top to say we need resources to do this and this is why were doing it and to convey that to all stakeholders. When asked if the government should make it mandatory to report all occupations for confirmed cases, Loh said the answer is not straightforward. He said though there is keen public interest in COVID-19 data, a persons privacy must be weighed against the needs of the local community when publishing potentially identifying information. The balance that were always striving for is that information that will either allow the public to reduce their risk or to take precautions to reduce their risk versus also trying to balance the right of privacy to individuals at specific workplaces that may have been impacted, Loh said. We do recognize that this is a disease that has significant stigma and discrimination thats been associated with it, he continued. Weve seen in certain instances where you get very, very, very specific with the data you can really ruin someones life or someones business if youre not careful. WASHINGTON - Casting aside his own advice to American diplomats and bulldozing a long tradition of secretary of state non-partisanship, Mike Pompeo plunged into the heart of the 2020 presidential race Tuesday with a speech supporting Donald Trumps reelection. The address was roundly condemned by Democrats and others as an inappropriate breach of decades of diplomatic precedent and a possible violation of federal law prohibiting executive branch employees from overt political activism while on duty. Indeed, Pompeo himself had reminded State Department staffers of those restrictions only last month. Yet he went ahead with the speech, which was recorded in Jerusalem during an official visit to the Middle East, over strident objections, complaints of hypocrisy and the threat of a congressional investigation. Although the State Department maintained Pompeo was speaking in his personal capacity without any U.S. government support or staffing therefore, legally the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee identified him a secretary of state in previews of his convention remarks. But while the venue and audience were extraordinary and perhaps problematic, the content of Pompeos roughly four-minute speech would not have been out of place in any number of his previous public appearances either at home or abroad. Pompeo delivered standard recitations of GOP claims about the successes of Trumps America First foreign policy against Russia, China and Iran. He said they made his family wife Susan and son Nick and all Americans safer. He spoke of the defeat of the Islamic States physical caliphate, Trumps pro-Israel agenda and the presidents determined vigilance to guard against the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. It was material Pompeo has repeated countless times before audiences foreign and domestic at think-tank events, media interviews and press conferences that have seldom been met with raised eyebrows. In fact, Pompeos convention speech was relatively mild in comparison with previous comments he has made taking Democrats to task for failed policies. In an apparent nod to concerns about the appearance, which congressional Democrats allege is in violation of the Hatch Act prohibiting executive branch employees from partisan activity, Pompeo did not attack Trumps opponent, former Vice-President Joe Biden, by name or even mention the Democratic party. He limited his remarks to a defence of Trump and the policies of the administration something all secretaries of state do, albeit not at their party conventions. Widely considered to be interested in seeking the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Pompeo did not expressly urge voters to cast their ballots for Trump. Instead he limited his exhortation to the observation that the way each of us can best ensure our freedoms is by electing leaders who dont just talk, but deliver. Hi. Im Mike Pompeo, he began in the pre-taped speech that was recorded in Israel Monday near twilight on the roof of the King David Hotel. Im speaking to you from beautiful Jerusalem, looking out over the Old City. I have a big job as Susans husband and Nicks Dad, he said, pausing for effect and knowing full well his audience was aware of the controversy. They are more safe, and their freedoms more secure, because President Trump has put his America First vision into action. It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked. Even before the speech aired, a senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee announced he had opened an investigation into whether Pompeo is violating the Hatch Act and demanded that the State Department produce its legal justification for the speech. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, who chairs the committees panel on government oversight, called Pompeos actions unacceptable. One fierce Pompeo critic, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, said he was mystified by the speech as it covered very familiar ground. It seemed totally unnecessary, Murphy told The Associated Press afterward. Im not sure why he violated the law to give a speech that seemed pretty unnecessary. After his brief introduction, Pompeo then launched into a brief synopsis of Trump foreign policy highlights, which for Republicans have been all successes and no failures. Because of Trump, he said, NATO is stronger, Ukraine has been provided with lethal defensive weapons and the U.S. has withdrawn from an arms control treaty to deter Russian aggression with new missiles. He did not mention that Trumps strong-arm tactics with NATO allies have left many of them resentful and concerned about Americas commitment to their defence; that Trump was impeached for trying to withhold vital military aid to Ukraine in return for political dirt on Biden; or that many national security experts fear the president has set the stage for a new arms race with Russia. Trump is counting on the support of conservative American Jews and the evangelical Christian community in November, and the choice of Jerusalem along with the backdrop of the religiously siginificant Old City for Pompeos speech was clearly aimed at them. As if they needed reminding, Pompeo pointed out that Trump had recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv, something long desired by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president moved the U.S. Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland, Pompeo said. And the President brokered an historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, that our grandchildren will read about in their history books. Pompeo spoke of pushing back against China on trade and intellectual property theft and of calling out the Chinese for covering up the outbreak of the coronavirus that has gripped the world. He did not mention Trumps initial personal affinity for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was ruptured earlier this year by the virus pandemic amid widespread criticism of the presidents handling of the crisis. On North Korea, Pompeo said Trump had lowered the temperature and, against all odds, got North Korean leadership to the table. Left unsaid was the fact that Trump was partly to blame for raising the temperature with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the first place by threatening the country with fire and fury. Nevertheless, Pompeo noted that since the first of Trumps three meetings with Kim, North Korea has not conducted any new nuclear or long-range missile tests. On Iran, Pompeo talked about Trumps withdrawal from the disastrous 2015 nuclear deal, which has nonetheless left the U.S. isolated at the United Nations with even its strongest allies opposed. He spoke of the defeat of the Islamic State without mentioning that Trump had unexpectedly ordered the withdrawal of American forces from Syria that could jeopardize the victory. Provincial nominee applicants with tech skill were invited to apply for permanent residence by the Province of British Columbia. B.C. PNP invites 72 tech workers in new draw Provincial nominee applicants with tech skill were invited to apply for permanent residence by the Province of British Columbia. B.C. PNP invites 72 tech workers in new draw Provincial nominee applicants with tech skill were invited to apply for permanent residence by the Province of British Columbia. B.C. PNP invites 72 tech workers in new draw Provincial nominee applicants with tech skill were invited to apply for permanent residence by the Province of British Columbia. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Invitations to apply for a provincial nomination were issued to foreign tech workers and international students through the BC PNP on August 25. B.C. holds weekly Tech Pilot draws through which candidates with job offers in 29 eligible occupations are invited to apply for a provincial nomination. Launched in 2017, the purpose of the Tech Pilot is to help B.C.s technology sector recruit IT workers to help address current labour market needs. The 72 invitations issued through the Tech Pilot draw on August 25 went to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories in both the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams. The minimum score required for candidates in both subcategories was 80, representing no change in score compared with the previous tech draw held on August 11. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs In order to be considered eligible for under the Tech Pilot, candidates need to be registered in one of B.C.s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid job offer of at least 12 months in one of the Tech Pilots eligible occupations. To apply for the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC categories candidates must first create a profile through the BC PNPs online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Applicants are evaluated and issued a score based on factors such as level of education, work experience, proficiency in English and location of employment. If an applicant is approved, they can then use their provincial nomination to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada under the Provincial Nominee Class. Express Entry candidates who receive a nomination from British Columbia will be given an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively guaranteed an Invitation To Apply (ITA) in a future federal Express Entry draw. So far in August, B.C. has held four draws through its various PNP categories and streams and invited 863 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. PNP-specific Express Entry draws and PNP draws in B.C. and other provinces such as Ontario are resulting in more tech immigration candidates being invited to apply for Canadian permanent resident status, which is due to the importance of the tech sector to the Canadian economy, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved When 18th-century British writer Samuel Johnson observed that Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, his intent was not to impugn actual patriots, but rather to cast shade on those cynical and dishonourable politicians whose put-on displays of patriotism are merely facades to conceal duplicitious deeds. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When 18th-century British writer Samuel Johnson observed that "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel," his intent was not to impugn actual patriots, but rather to cast shade on those cynical and dishonourable politicians whose put-on displays of patriotism are merely facades to conceal duplicitious deeds. And if cynicism, duplicity and dishonour are the hallmarks by which the late Mr. Johnson categorized certain sorts of politicians, one cant help wondering if the Georgian-era essayist were he alive today would be inclined to describe Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a scoundrel. There was, and is, no good reason to prorogue Parliament in midAugust While theres no legitimate reason to question Mr. Trudeaus patriotism or the depth of his abiding love of country, recent events most notably the prime ministers decision to prorogue Parliament until mid-September have certainly left the impression hes capable of employing levels of cynicism and dishonour that would meet Mr. Johnsons benchmark for scoundrelship. Unleashed as it was in the midst of a pandemic and during an increasingly probative series of Commons-committee hearings into the WE Charity scandal, Mr. Trudeaus request to the Governor General for prorogation can only be interpreted in one way: as a desperate duck-and-cover exercise aimed at forestalling further embarrassing questions about the entanglement of Mr. Trudeau and erstwhile finance minister Bill Morneau with the charity that was, albeit only temporarily, handed an untendered contract to administer a massive government program. Mr. Trudeau last week sought to defend the prorogation by calling it "an unprecedented opportunity" for his government to "embrace bold new solutions to the challenges we face and refuse to be held back by old ways of thinking." The only true achievement of shutting down Parliament for five weeks is a cessation of the Commons committees investigating the WE Charity scandal Such innovative thinking and visionary leadership will be revealed, he promised, when Parliament resumes with a throne speech on Sept. 23. The prorogued interim will be required, one is clearly expected to assume, to make sure all the details are attended to with due diligence and the most thoughtful of consideration. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Which is, of course, pure hogwash. Hokum. Flapdoodle of the highest order. There was, and is, no good reason to prorogue Parliament in mid-August, particularly since the House of Commons was only scheduled to sit for one day Aug. 26 between now and the proposed Sept. 23 throne speech. Had Mr. Trudeaus actual intent been to clear the way for a breathtakingly inspired new direction for his government, he could have set Sept. 22 as the date for requested prorogation and proceeded directly to the throne speech. Five weeks isnt very long, however, even during a pandemic. Canadians wont forget, and will see this shutdown for what it is: a waste of time The only true achievement of shutting down Parliament for five weeks is a cessation of the Commons committees investigating the WE Charity scandal, which had become more intriguing by weeks end with the release of heavily-redacted government records that included emails suggesting civil servants may have been encouraged by political operatives to favour WE Charity for the controversial government contract. As such, prorogation cannot be viewed as an opportunity seized, as Mr. Trudeau would have Canadians believe. Rather, its a simple case of accountability eluded, through use of a procedural tactic that was decried by Liberals as a cynical abuse of power when Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper employed it in 2008 and 2009. Five weeks isnt very long, however, even during a pandemic. Canadians wont forget, and will see this shutdown for what it is: a waste of time. Patriotism might be, as Mr. Johnson suggested, the last refuge of a scoundrel. But if thats the case, surely unwarranted prorogation is a convenient bolt-hole situated somewhere along the same shady road. Fewer labor and delivery options for women on the South and West sides often mean they must travel farther for care, which might be difficult because of virus concerns and access to transportation. Among pregnant women who had the coronavirus, more than 70% were Black and Latina. Prenatal appointments can flag potential complications and help women have healthier pregnancies. Virgin Atlantic has been saved from bankruptcy after creditors voted in favour of a 1.2bn rescue deal. The airline secured the overwhelming support of its 170 creditors in an important vote at the High Court today, during which the vast majority agreed to a complex restructuring plan. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson called the vote a significant milestone in safeguarding the beleaguered carriers future. Achieving this milestone puts Virgin Atlantic in a position to rebuild its balance sheet, restore customer confidence and welcome passengers back to the skies as soon as they are ready to travel, they said. The Sir Richard Branson-owned airline had previously warned that it would run out of cash by the end of September if the businesses it owes money to did not support the proposed bailout package. Measures include creditors agreeing to accept 80 per cent of what theyre owed, paid back in staggered instalments. The companys owners, the Virgin Group (which owns 51 per cent) and Delta Air Lines (49 per cent), have also agreed to stump up a 600m cash injection, while 170m of financing has been secured from US hedge fund Davidson Kempner Capital Management. The airline has announced additional cost-cutting measures, including shutting down its Gatwick base and slashing 3,150 jobs around a third of all employees. These measures are forecast to save the business around 280m per year, while an extra 880m will come from the rephasing and financing of aircraft deliveries over the next five years. The next step in the restructuring process is an English High Court hearing on 2 September to sanction the plan, followed by a US Chapter 15 procedural hearing on 3 September, ensuring Virgin Atlantics Restructuring Plan is recognised in the States. We remain confident that the plan represents the best possible outcome for Virgin Atlantic and all its creditors and believe that the court will exercise its power to sanction the Restructuring Plan, added the airline spokesperson. First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats Show all 7 1 /7 First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats New Upper Class New Upper Class Virgin Atlantic First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats New Economy seat The new Economy seat Virgin Atlantic First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats The new Economy seat The new Economy seat Virgin Atlantic First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats New Premium Economy New Premium Economy Virgin Atlantic First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats New Upper Class New Upper Class Virgin Atlantic First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats The new Loft concept The new Loft concept Virgin Atlantic First look at the new Virgin Atlantic Upper Class seats New premium economy New premium economy Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantics restructuring is based on a five-year business plan that it hopes will pave the way for the airline to successfully rebuild its balance sheet and return to profitability. Like all airlines, Virgin Atlantic has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which saw the grounding of flights worldwide for much of 2020. Meet the candidates: I want real economic and healthcare change for all So many major issues appear to be at stake in this Novembers elections in the United States (US) the recovery from Covid-19, race relations, unemployment, US-China competition, the composition of the Supreme Court that Washingtons largely cooperative relations with India should normally be but an afterthought. But that did not prevent the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, his running mate Kamala Harris, and several senior campaign advisers from participating in a virtual event on August 15 dedicated to India and Indian-Americans. While similar events had been held for other countries and constituencies, the content of the speeches and profile of the speakers were significant. The message was essentially two-fold: First, a Biden administration would look to preserve and further deepen the relationship with India and, second, that it would be particularly inclusive of Indian-Americans. Although Biden is a veteran of the American foreign policy establishment, there had been questions about his campaigns approach towards India amid competing priorities. In his August 15 address, Biden described the relationship with India as a special bond and recalled his role in securing the passage of the India-US civil nuclear agreement as a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He pledged to continue standing with India in confronting the threats it faces in its own region and along its border, while also working with India to expand trade, tackle global challenges such as the climate crisis, and strengthen democracy. In his words, he hoped for an honest conversation about all issues as close friends. Bidens top foreign policy adviser Tony Blinken similarly highlighted the Obama-Biden administrations significant progress in strengthening relations between our countries, including the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), the Major Defense Partner status for India to be treated on a par with close allies, and cooperation on the Paris Climate Agreement. Theres probably no common global challenge we can solve without India, he argued. By contrast, Blinken said, Trumps approach to India has been basically full of photo-ops and short on actual real demonstrable progress. The broad theme of building a more cooperative partnership with India is consistent with statements that Biden and his advisers have made elsewhere. For example, in an article in Foreign Affairs published in March, Biden effectively promised to build upon Trumps approach to the Indo-Pacific. He argued that the US needed to work with democratic friends beyond North America and Europe, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, and Indonesia, to advance shared values in a region that will determine the United States future. In his policy platform articulated in a document called Joe Bidens Agenda for the Indian American Community Biden pledged to work with India to support a rules-based and stable Indo-Pacific region in which no country, including China, is able to threaten its neighbors with impunity. Bidens outreach to Indian-Americans, and articulation of priorities concerning India, suggest that the differences between Democrats and Republicans are not as wide on strategic relations with India as they are on most other issues. As an incumbent, Donald Trumps approach to India during a second-term is already somewhat discernible, or at least as discernible as possible for a leader known for his inconsistency. More favourably disposed following his visit to India earlier this year, Trump would be expected to continue to deepen the US strategic partnership with India as part of his administrations Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy. This would potentially translate into even closer security coordination, deeper technological cooperation, and increased military interoperability, as part of several efforts that are currently underway. Instead, the differences between Republicans and Democrats of relevance to India would manifest themselves more in bilateral ties. Biden has spoken in favour of greater two-way trade, cooperation on global health and the climate crisis, and improvements in immigration policies. He has also underscored the importance of democracy and pluralism, as part of a cemented partnership between the two countries. By contrast, a second Trump administration would be likely to redouble efforts at eliminating trade deficits and restricting immigration. The biggest targets of his trade policies would be China, Mexico, Germany, and Japan, while Mexico and Central America would bear the brunt of immigration crackdowns. But in the short-run, India could be adversely affected by both. There had been widespread speculation about the prospect of a more difficult relationship between Washington and New Delhi in the event of a Democratic victory in November, one defined primarily by American disapproval over internal developments in India. This is unlikely. While less ambivalent than a Trump presidency, Biden and his advisers have now made it clear that their bigger priority is to build further upon the emerging strategic partnership with New Delhi. This should not be surprising. Whatever the outcome in November, the next US presidential term beginning in January will require the victor to deal urgently with a series of daunting challenges a major public health crisis, a recessed national and global economy, and intensifying geopolitical competition in a more disorderly world. Dhruva Jaishankar is director of the US Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation The views expressed are personal [Follow our daily updates on the latest presidential election polls.] WASHINGTON President Trump on Tuesday pardoned a man convicted of robbing a bank in Nevada who now runs a nonprofit for prisoners, shortly before the Republican National Convention entered its second night. The White House announced the pardon of the man, Jon Ponder, in a seven-minute video in which the president called Mr. Ponders life a beautiful testament to the power of redemption. As Mr. Trumps bid for re-election enters its last stretch, the announcement appears to be an attempt by the president to draw voters attention to criminal justice, a subject that he has promoted as a signature initiative of his time in office. That includes bipartisan legislation he signed in 2018 that made substantial changes to federal prison and sentencing laws. We believe that each person is made by God for a purpose, Mr. Trump said in the video. I will continue to give all Americans, including former inmates, the best chance to build a new life and achieve their own American dream, and a great American dream it is. MOUNT PLEASANT An alleged habitual Menards thief allegedly stole and defrauded the store out of more than $1,000 worth of items by altering the price tags on items several times last fall. Mathew L. Jelinek, 39, of the 7400 block of 22nd Avenue in Kenosha, is charged with: a felony count of retail theft by altering a price that is between $500-$5,000; three misdemeanor counts of retail theft by altering a price that is less than or equal to $500; and a misdemeanor count of retail theft intentionally taking items less than or equal to a $500 value. According to a criminal complaint: On Oct. 10, an officer responded to the Menards located at 3101 S. Oakes Road on a report of a retail theft committed the prior day. Upon arrival, the officer met with a loss prevention officer who said a male suspect entered the store and selected several items, including a nail gun valued at $234.81. The suspect removed the nail gun from the packaging and removed the security tags and hid it inside a box in his cart. The suspect went to a checkout aisle and checked out all the items except the nail gun. On Oct. 15, an officer responded to that same Menards regarding a report of a retail theft committed on Oct. 9. Upon arrival, the officer met with a loss prevention officer who stated a paint sprayer valued at $519 was missing. She reviewed the surveillance video and saw a male suspect select the paint sprayer, go to a separate aisle, selected multiple Craftsman toolboxes and interlocked them to make them appear to be one item. The suspect appeared to remove the price tags on the toolboxes. He then went to the checkout register and paid for some of the items and left the store. The items he did not pay for were a paint sprayer, a system organizer, a system suitcase, a system deep toolbox and system deep wheels. The total amount Menards was defrauded was $646.90. The loss prevention officer identified the suspect as Jelinek because he purchased some of the items using a Menards gift card. She tracked the gift cards routing number and it showed it was obtained by Jelinek earlier that day. He made a no-receipt return of various paint and paint brushes for $653.68, which she believed was obtained fraudulently, and he provided proof of identification in the form of his drivers license. On Oct. 19, an officer responded to the same Menards on a report of a retail theft that occurred at around 7:40 a.m. on Oct. 9. Upon arrival, the officer met with a loss prevention officer who said Jelinek came into the store and switched the price tags on three different Craftsman toolboxes. Surveillance video showed Jelinek stacking toolboxes and switching the price tags. He is seen switching the price tag for $19.98 from a different item in the store and placing it on top of the toolbox. He went to the cash register and all three of the toolboxes rung up for $19.98 even though they were valued at $109.94 total. Jelinek then returned at 8:30 a.m. and swapped out the price tag of a $299 paint sprayer for a $19.98 spray tip. Later on at 6:36 p.m., Jelinek returned and replaced the price tag of more toolboxes to the cheaper price tag. He also switched the price tag on a tool combo kit worth $299.99 to $79.99 and paid for the items at the lower price tags and exited. In Racine County Circuit court on Monday, Jelinek was given a $1,000 signature bond with a condition that he cannot have any contact with Menards. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 9 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records indicate. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mumbai, Aug 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday summoned talent manager Jaya Saha in connection to the money laundering probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. A senior ED official said that Saha, who was questioned earlier by the financial probe agency, has been asked to appear again. Saha was consultant at Kwann Talent Agency, and was also the talent manager for Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. The ED source said that the financial probe agency wants to question her about the drug angle, that has come up after one of Saha's conversation with Rhea got leaked. The ED has also sought the help of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to investigate into the drug angle. According to ED sources, Rhea's WhatsApp chats and a discussion about 'hard drugs' and 'MDMA' came to the fore over the last few days. The ED probing money laundering charges against Rhea and others, has already seized the actress' phones and electronic devices. The source said that the revelations about the drug angle came after the electronic devices including mobile phones was probed by the ED. The source said that the ED has shared its findings with the CBI and NCB. However, Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde in a statement has refuted the drug angle and claimed that the Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life and she is ready for any blood test. Even Sushant's sister Shweta Singh Kirti has called the alleged drug chat of Rhea Chakraborty a criminal offence and wants action to be taken against the actress. "This is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE!! An immediate action should be taken by CBI on this. #RheaDrugsChat," wrote Shweta on her unverified Twitter account. She also shared the clip of a news report that declared: "Sushant was administered something without his knowledge. That ultimately led to his death: Sushant Singh's family lawyer," she said in a tweet. The ED registered the money laundering on July 31 on the basis of the Patna Police FIR after Sushant's father K.K. Singh filed a complaint. Singh alleged that Rs 15 crore was transacted to unknown bank accounts from Sushant's Kotak Mahindra bank account. The ED has recorded the statements of Rhea, her father Indrajit, her brother Showik, her manager Shruti Modi and several others in the case. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery Increase in prevalence of chronic disease, rise in geriatric population, and surge in adoption of pain management devices drive the growth of the global pain management devices market Portland, OR, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report, the global pain management devices industry accounted for $4.01 billion in 2018, and is anticipated to reach $6.77 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 6.7% from 2019 to 2026. Rise in prevalence of chronic disease, surge in geriatric population, and increase in adoption of pain management devices drive the growth of the global pain management devices market. However, preferable use of medications for pain management hampers the market growth. On the contrary, growth opportunities in emerging markets are expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/169 Covid-19 scenario: The demand for Pain Management Devices from the all industry has experienced a huge growth to encourage health and safety with Covid-19 impact. The supply, demand of Pain Management Devices affected by lockdown as it comes under the category of essential factors. Based on product, the neuromodulation and neurostimulation devices segment held the largest share in 2018, contributing to more than three-fifths of the global pain management devices market. This is attributed to the rise in adoption of neurostimulation & neuromodulation devices for management of pain due to prevalence of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and migraine. On the other hand, the analgesic infusion pumps segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period, owing to the increase in prevalence of chronic diseases, rise in aging population, technological innovations in analgesic pumps, and surge in adoption of infusion pumps. Based on application, the cancer pain segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period. This is attributed to rise in incidence of different forms of cancer and increase in adoption of cancer pain drugs. In addition, upsurge in geriatric population and wide availability of pain management devices drive the market growth. However, the neuropathic pain segment dominated the global pain management devices market in 2018, accounting for nearly one-third of the market. The increase in number of target population, rise in number of risk factors such as diabetes, HIV, multiple sclerosis, & cancer, technological advancement in pain management devices, and surge in demand for pain management devices for management of neuropathic pain are driving the growth of the segment. Story continues The market across the North America region held the largest share in 2018, accounting for more than two-fifths of the market. The region is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period, owing to the rise in prevalence of chronic pain, increase in demand for pain management devices, presence of advanced healthcare facilities with trained medical professionals, and higher in number of R&D activities to develop innovative device. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period. Improvement in healthcare infrastructure, availability of pain management devices, surge in healthcare reforms, and technological advancements in the field of healthcare are the major factors driving the growth in the region. For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/169 Leading market players analyzed in market such as Abbott Laboratories, B Braun Melsungen AG, Baxter International Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., DJO Global LLC., Johnson & Johnson (Codman And Shurtleff, Inc.,), Kimberly Clark Corporation, Medtronic Plc., Pfizer, Inc., and Stryker Corp. Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Similar Reports: Womens Health Diagnostics Market- Global Opportunities and Industry Forecasts, 2017-2023 Digital Pathology Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20182026 Disposable Gloves Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027 Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems Market-Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP, based in Portland, Oregon. AMR provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." 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CONTACT: Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Remember what hotel stays were like in before times, when a human bellhop would demonstrate the TV, show you the minibar and tell you which button to press for room service? Well, the bellhop for your next hotel visit (whenever that is) could be more of a display than a person, and it might even answer to Hey, Google. Google just unveiled a new hospitality solution for Google Assistant and the Google Nest Hub, which is now taking up residence in a handful of boutique hotels in six U.S. states and in the United Kingdom. Instead of simply installing a Google Nest Hub in the lobby, participating hotels are putting the seven-inch smart display in each room, and guests will be able to ask Google Assistant to perform such common bellhop duties as scheduling wake-up calls, ordering more towels, or telling you when the pool closes. (No, it cant tote your luggage, unfortunately.) The Assistant will also be able to kick-start the check-out process, as well as pass complaints along to the concierge. Besides offering help with everyday hotel services, the Google Nest Hub in your room will be able to (of course) play YouTube videos, and youll also be able to stream tunes from your phone to the display via Bluetooth. Google A Google Nest Hub in your hotel room could tell you when the pool closes, pull the drapes, make dinner reservations or offer sightseeing suggestions. The Nest Hub could also be configured to control smart devices in your hotel room, just like it would at home. For example, you could ask Assistant on the Nest Hub to pull the drapes, change channels on the TV, or dim the lights. Naturally, the Assistant-powered Nest Hub would be a fount of knowledge when it comes to sightseeing and local restaurants, and some Nest Hubs will even be able to make dinner reservations, Google says. Sounds good, but do we really want a Google Nest Hub intruding on our next hotel stay? For its part, Google points out that the Nest Hub (as opposed to the larger Nest Hub Max) doesnt have an integrated camera, and guests will always be able to flip a switch to disable the displays microphone. Also, you wont have to sign in to the Nest Hub with your Google account to use the display, and any activities will be wiped from the device before the next guest checks in. (Hopefully the touchscreen will be disinfected as well.) Google Nest Hub displays are now gracing hotel rooms at the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona; Dr. Wilkinsons Resort in Calistoga, California; Gale and Shelborne South Beach in Miami, Florida; Gansevoort Meatpacking and Synergy Chelsea in New York City; Hotel Zena and Viceroy in Washington, D.C.; and Village Hotels in the United Kingdom, with additional hotel partnerships coming soon. Moscow: Russia faced mounting international calls on Tuesday for a probe into the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny even as the Kremlin dismissed the findings of his German doctors. The 44-year-old Navalny, who is one of the fiercest critics of President Vladimir Putin and has exposed massive official corruption, is being treated in a Berlin hospital after falling ill on a flight in Siberia last Thursday. He was treated for two days in a hospital in Siberia before being airlifted to Berlin's Charite hospital, whose doctors said Monday that clinical tests "indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors". These are substances used in nerve agents as well as medicines and insecticides that suppress an enzyme needed for the central nervous system to function normally. Navalny's supporters claim he was poisoned by a cup of tea he drank at a Siberian airport before a flight to Moscow, pointing the finger of blame at Putin. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov ridiculed accusations of Putin's involvement. "We cannot take such accusations seriously. These accusations cannot be true at all and are more likely empty noise," he told journalists. He also accused the German medics of haste in concluding that Navalny was poisoned, saying the toxin responsible for his illness has not been identified. "We don't understand why our German colleagues are in such a hurry. The substance hasn't yet been established," he said. Russia has not opened a criminal investigation into the poisoning and Peskov said there was "no pretext" for this until the toxin is identified. Moscow's foreign ministry attacked Western countries' "suspicious haste" to determine Navalny was poisoned, adding their remarks had been "deeply offensive" to the Russian doctors who first treated him. 'Criminal act' Peskov's comments came as Western leaders urged Russia to conduct an impartial probe. In a statement Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for "a full and transparent investigation... and for those involved to be held accountable," adding that Washington is "deeply concerned" by the apparent poisoning. The EU has also urged Russia to hold a "independent and transparent investigation" while German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for those responsible to be held accountable. The French foreign ministry on Tuesday said it was profoundly concerned over the "criminal act" and urged a "swift and transparent investigation" to bring those responsible to justice. Navalny is the latest in a long line of Kremlin opponents to fall seriously ill or die from poisoning, either suspected or proven. The nerve agent Novichok was used against former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain in 2018. Two Russian military agents identified by Britain as suspects have disappeared from view. In 2006, former Russian security service agent Alexander Litvinenko died in London after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210. Russia refused to extradite the chief suspect, Andrei Lugovoi. The Kremlin reaction angered Navalny's allies. "It was obvious that the crime would not be properly investigated and the criminal found, though we know very well who he is," tweeted his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh. "But the particular way Peskov talks about this makes me rage." 'Lots of other versions' Peskov cast doubt on the German government's statement that Navalny "fairly likely was poisoned," saying there were other possible explanations. "We can only partially agree... There is a likelihood of something else too." He acknowledged that poisoning "can be seen as one of the versions, but there are a lot of other medical versions". Peskov said Russian medics at the hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk had also detected a low level of the cholinesterase enzyme and treated Navalny with the antidote atropine, as the German medics are doing. The chief toxicologist at the Omsk hospital, Alexander Sabayev said Monday that Navalny tested negative for cholinesterase inhibitors, however. The Russian doctors earlier suggested that Navalny had a "metabolic disorder" and low blood sugar. Navalny previously said he was poisoned in July 2019 after suffering rashes and a swollen face in prison, although no investigation was opened. He was attacked in 2017 by pro-Kremlin activists who threw green dye at his face, causing chemical burns to his eye. A senior citizen (65) was arrested for his alleged involvement in his bid to sell a plot of land in south-west Delhis Dwarka while using forged documents. His alleged crime has an uncanny resemblance with the 2006 Bollywood flick Khosla Ka Ghosla. Delhi Police explained the arrested accused Abhay Veer Batras modus operandi. Batra would grab an unoccupied piece of land, forge documents to show the property in his name and then use the papers to either compel the actual owner to strike a deal or sell off the plot to him at a throwaway price, said RP Meena, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) (Dwarka), Delhi Police. Batras criminal act has echoes of Khosla Ka Ghosla, where a greedy property dealer had used fake documents to grab the land of an unsuspecting common man, whose role was essayed by actor Anupam Kher in the film, said the police. However, there was a primary difference between the reel and the real. In the film, Khers family had staged an elaborate drama to deceive the usurper and got back their plot, but in reality it was the Delhi Police that cracked the case. Batra has been accused of 17 similar cases of cheating and fraud registered against him since 1999. Most of the cases were filed in areas in west Delhi such as Hari Nagar, Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, and Nangloi. He has also been charged for a similar offence in south Delhis Vasant Kunj. Batras luck ran out, when he got busted in the latest case. On June, 2019, his latest victim, Kishore Chand Aggarwal, visited Dwarka (North) police station. Aggarwal told us that he was the owner of a 209-square metre plot in Sector 13, Dwarka. But he had come to know from property dealers that another man was trying to sell the property by an illegal possession over his plot, said ADCP Meena. Aggarwal had found about the illegal occupation of his property upon a visit to the plot, where he saw building materials were lying scattered in a bid to erect a boundary wall around the land, said Meena. Our preliminary probe revealed that a man named Batra was trying to sell the plot. Prima facie, it is a crime because both the parties were producing documents to claim an ownership of the property. We registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy, he said. Soon, the police verified the authenticity of the documents of both the parties. Aggarwals documents showed that he had purchased the property from its previous owner through a sales deed on August 3, 2004. Batras documents showed that he had purchased the property from a woman through a general power of attorney (GPA) and a sale agreement on January 7, 2004. The documents showed that the woman had bought the land from its previous owner, said the ADCP. The police visited the previous owner of the plot and allegedly confirmed that he had sold the property to Aggarwal. He identified Aggarwals signatures on the documents and said he didnt know the woman in question, said Meena. Later, though the police tried to trace the woman, who was mentioned as the owner of the plot in Batras documents, she turned out to be a fictitious character. Batra had forged all the documents related to Aggarwals plot , said the ADCP. Batra, who lives in Hari Nagar with his family, was arrested last Saturday. Canadian real-estate development company Brookfield Residential has been targeted by a new ransomware group calling itself DarkSide, an incident experts say is the latest in a steadily rising problem. DarkSides website, which is on the dark web, meaning its not indexed by conventional search engines, states it has downloaded data including HR, finance, payroll and more from Brookfield.com, the URL for Brookfield Residentials parent company. A spokesperson for parent company Brookfield Asset Management said the target is Brookfield Residential, and that the parent companys network has not been affected. A statement from Brookfield Residential confirmed that the company recently identified a data security incident, which involved unauthorized access to a limited subset of files. We immediately alerted appropriate authorities, restored affected systems and implemented additional security measures, the statement said. DarkSides website states that the data is poised to be published if the company does not pay, though it does not specify an amount. The website appeared to start publishing data on August 16. A Brookfield Residential spokesperson said the company is reaching out to anyone whose information may have been compromised, but they believe the breach is limited to internal employees. The Calgary-headquartered company has assets totalling $5.7 billion as of June 30, 2020, according to its Q2 report. On August 10, a news release posted to DarkSides website states that it is a new product on the market, but that does not mean that we have no experience and we came from nowhere. The post states that DarkSide only attacks companies that can pay the requested ransoms without killing their businesses, and will not attack hospitals, schools, non-profits or the government sector. It provides guarantees for target companies, including chat-based support, decryption of one test file to prove the decryptor works, and deletion of all data after payment. If companies refuse to pay, the group says it will publish and store data for at least six months and notify partners, customers and media of the leak. If you dont want to pay, you will add to the list of published companies on our blog and become an example for others, the post reads. Brett Callow, a threat analyst at anti-malware company Emsisoft, said DarkSide bears similarities in its approach to REvil, the ransomware responsible for the largest known demand to date: $42 million, demanded of a celebrity law firm that represents Lady Gaga and other high-profile artists. He said its unclear whether the group has simply stolen data, encrypted Brookfield Residentials systems, or both. Callow said its becoming increasingly common for ransomware groups to do both, so that they have additional leverage: companies arent just paying to decrypt their data, but also to prevent it from being published. Queens University professor David Skillicorn agreed that this is an increasingly common practice, where hackers steal data before encrypting it so they have more leverage, a second string to their bow. Callow said that in the world of ransomware, there are some well-known groups you can more or less trust to follow through after a payment. Some of them are actually very professional, he said theyve got good customer service and a guaranteed response time, and when you pay youll likely get a working decryption. Its also common for groups not to attack certain types of organizations, such as health-care companies or hospitals, he said. DarkSide is new, so its unclear whether its one of these professional groups, said Callow, as is REvil. Once the data has been decrypted, however, theres no guarantee it will be deleted on the attackers end, he said. Skillicorn said the other, less reliable groups are likely the biggest segment of ransomware right now, bottom-feeders who probably dont even have the capability to decrypt the files, having bought the ransomware from the black market pre-made. Callow and Skillicorn said attacks like the one on Brookfield Residential have been rising, and will continue to Skillicorn said theyre a daily occurrence. Earlier this month, Canadian delivery company Canpar Express experienced a ransomware attack that briefly brought down its website. Skillicorn said more and more attacks are being done using spear phishing, which involves sending a very sophisticated email to one person within an organization as opposed to a mass spam email. Phishing is getting very, very sophisticated, he said, adding that these emails can seem so legitimate that theres often not much an organization can do to protect themselves. Israel said Wednesday it had launched air strikes against Hezbollah observation posts in Lebanon after shots were fired from across the border towards its troops the previous evening. The border flare-up came hours after Lebanon rejected an Israeli call to reform the UN peacekeeping force which patrols the border ahead of a UN Security Council vote to renew its mandate. The Israel Defense Forces had said earlier that a "security incident" was unfolding in the vicinity of Manara, a kibbutz near the UN-demarcated border between the two countries, and urged residents to take shelter. "During operational activity in northern Israel last night, shots were fired from Lebanon toward IDF troops," the military said on Twitter. "We responded with fire, & our aircraft struck Hezbollah observation posts near the border. This is a severe event & we remain ready to combat any threat to our borders." Lebanon's National News Agency reported Israeli gunfire and flares in the Mays al-Jabal area across the border from Manara. The Israeli army said "troops deployed dozens of illumination rounds and smoke shells and responded with fire". Afterwards "attack helicopters and aircraft struck observation posts belonging to the Hezbollah terror organisation in the border area". It reported no Israeli casualties. Peacekeeping row Israel and Lebanon are still technically at war, and the United Nations force, UNIFIL, is tasked with monitoring their ceasefire. Lebanon had hours earlier rejected an Israeli call to reform UNIFIL ahead of a UN Security Council vote to renew its mandate. The incident also comes after Hezbollah announced at the weekend it had brought down an Israeli drone flying over the border. The Iran-backed Shiite militant group vowed in September last year to down Israeli drones flying over Lebanon, following an incident a month earlier when two drones packed with explosives targeted its stronghold in south Beirut. Set up in 1978, UNIFIL was beefed up after a month-long war in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah. The 10,500-strong force, in coordination with the Lebanese army, is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire and Israeli pullout from a demilitarised zone on the border. Israel accuses the force, whose latest mandate expires at the end of August, of not being active enough against Hezbollah. It accuses the militants of stockpiling weapons at the border, and has been pushing for the UN force to be allowed to inspect private property. But Lebanon's caretaker foreign minister Charbel Wahbe informed the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council on Tuesday that his government wanted the force to stay on "without modifying its mandate or its numbers". Hezbollah wields considerable political influence in Lebanon and its allies dominate the caretaker government. Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes on Hezbollah targets in neighbouring Syria where the group is fighting alongside the government of President Bashar al-Assad. It has also struck Iranian targets in Syria in what it says is a campaign to prevent Tehran providing Hezbollah with the technology to replace its arsenal of rockets with ballistic missiles capable of penetrating Israel's Iron Dome air defence shield. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attends a mass march marking the one-year anniversary of the killing of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov on February 27, 2016 in Moscow, Russia. The Kremlin said on Tuesday it saw no need for now to investigate circumstances leading up to opposition politician Alexei Navalny's grave illness, and that a German clinic's initial diagnosis of poisoning was not yet conclusive. Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called for an investigation and for Russia to hold the perpetrators accountable after German doctors found indications of a toxic substance in his body. Navalny, an outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was airlifted to Germany for treatment on Saturday after collapsing on a plane while flying back to Moscow from Siberia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the German clinic had not conclusively identified the substance behind Navalny's illness and that it was unclear why German doctors were "rushing" to use the word poisoning. "There must be a reason for an investigation. For the moment, all you and I see is that the patient is in a coma," Peskov told reporters. The foreign ministry said the alleged poisoning was not of benefit to the country's leadership, while Peskov added that any suggestions that Putin was somehow involved in Navalny's illness were untrue and "hot air" that the Kremlin would not take seriously. Peskov said that if poisoning was definitively established as the cause, "then of course, this will be a reason for an investigation." In response to the Kremlin's comments, Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said it was "obvious the crime wouldn't be investigated properly and the criminal found." The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, a Putin ally, said one of its committees would launch a probe to determine whether foreign forces had played a hand in Navalny's illness in order to fuel tensions in Russia. By PTI NEW DELHI: The apex health research body, ICMR, on Tuesday said there is "no need to be alarmed immensely" over the reinfection case of COVID-19 reported in Hong Kong, but at the same time maintained that it is not yet known how long the immunity lasts in case of coronavirus. At a press briefing, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balram Bhargava said the Hong Kong case is a stray example and the reinfection can depend upon various factors. "We have read with interest the reports of reinfection in one case in Hong Kong. We are learning more and more about the disease as we go ahead. It can depend on several factors, one can be related to the patient itself, how is his immunity, how was his immune status, was it compromised. It can also depend upon the virus, whether the virus has mutated or turned virulent," he said. However, only one case of re-infection has been reported and it is very rare for viral infections, he said. Citing the example of measles, he said once it affects, it gives lifelong immunity. But rarely does one can get the measles a second time. "Similarly, this is a stray example, but for this disease, we are trying to find out. We need to find out how long the immunity lasts. We need to closely follow it up, but at the same time we don't need to be alarmed immensely about it," Bhargava said. University of Hong Kong scientists have reportedly claimed to have the first evidence of someone being reinfected with the virus that causes COVID-19 after genetic tests showed that a 33-year-old man returning from a trip to Spain in mid-August had a different strain of the coronavirus than the one he was found infected with in March. On patients facing post-COVID complications like respiratory and heart problems, Union Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said a group of experts is presently working on a guidance note for people who have recovered from COVID-19 including possible complications that may arise and how to address them. He said the technical committee of domain knowledge experts, known as a joint monitoring group (JMG) in the health ministry headed by the DGHS, is working on the guidance note. The committee consists of domain knowledge experts from different central government hospitals, AIIMS, New Delhi, WHO India office and even experts from outside the government. To finalise the document, the JMG is obtaining data of the recovered patients, specifically of those who have come back with certain complications and then have been treated, from central government hospitals and AIIMS across the country. Without the constant company of her parents earning money through odd jobs in bigger cities, Zhong Fangrong, an 18-year-old student from Leiyang, a county-level city in China's southern Hunan province, was still able to be admitted to the School of Archaeology and Museology of the country's most prestigious Peking University. She scored 676 out of a possible total of 750 marks in her test papers in last month's National Higher Education Entrance Examination, the fourth highest score in arts across Hunan province. An exuberant faculty from Leiyang Zhengyuan School, where Zhong received her high-school education, celebrated her big success with a spectacular firework show to mark her painstaking efforts over the years. Meanwhile, the country's iconic archaeologist Fan Jinshi, best known for her longtime endeavor in preserving the historical legacy of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in northwestern Gansu province, sent a copy of her autobiography "My heart remains in Dunhuang" with her signature to the budding archaeologist. Zhong responded promptly the night she received the book, writing that she felt so lucky to be able to choose the major with immense interest under Fan's influence. "Madam Fan, since you have resolved to stay with Dunhuang and become the Daughter of Dunhuang,' you have ultimately found a place to which your heart and soul can adhere," the young student wrote. "I hope that I can follow in your footsteps to seek my own spiritual home by choosing the archaeological major at Peking University before dedicating myself to a particular undertaking," she continued. Luo Xiangyun, headmaster of the Leiyang Zhengyuan School, said, "Without a well-off family to provide a pampered life, left-behind students are more likely to pursue their goals wholeheartedly by studying with little distraction. According to Luo, eight out of the 10 students from his privately-funded school admitted to Peking and Tsinghua Universities had grown up as left-behind children. Nicola Peltz paid tribute to future sister-in-law Harper Beckham on Tuesday evening as she looks ahead to life as an extended member of the Beckham household. The American actress is preparing for a 2021 wedding to the nine-year old's older brother Brooklyn after accepting the photographer's surprise marriage proposal in July. And she enjoyed some quality time with Harper while relaxing with an assortment of family members, among them fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham. Close: Nicola Peltz paid tribute to future sister-in-law Harper Beckham on Tuesday evening as she looks ahead to life as an extended member of the Beckham household Taking to Instagram, the 25-year old shared an image of herself and Harper relaxing together while Nicola holds her phone aloft for a selfie. Captioning the shot, she wrote: 'h7 is the sweetest most loving and beautiful little human i know!' The post prompted an affirmative response from Victoria, 46, who immediately replied by posting a string of love heart emojis. Lovely: Nicola praised Harper in her latest Instagram post, prompting an enthusiastic response from fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham Later that night Victoria shared a fun Instagram snap of her own with Harper as they posed in front of a mirror in matching '90's style dresses. The former Spice Girl opted for a black dress as she playfully made a peace sign while Harper, who took the selfie, wore a white dress. Paying tribute to her Spice Girls days, she captioned the snap with: 'Kisses from posh and baby posh,' followed by a peace and heart emojis. Victoria's Spice Girls bandmate, Emma Bunton, was quick to comment on the sweet photo as she posted a girl and peace sign emoji. 'Kisses from posh and baby posh!' Later that night Victoria shared a fun Instagram snap of her own with Harper as they posed in front of a mirror in matching '90's style dresses Brooklyn took to Instagram in July to announce his engagement to Nicola following reports he had popped the question to his 'soulmate' after just eight months of dating. Sharing a stunning snap of the couple, he wrote 'Two weeks ago I asked my soulmate to marry me and she said yes xx 'I am the luckiest man in the world. I promise to be the best husband and the best daddy one day. I love you baby xx.' Smitten: Brooklyn Beckham confirmed his surprise engagement to Nicola in July This comment piece from Ben Groundwater has been one of our best-read pieces today: Here's a question for you: where does this end? The travel restrictions, the lockdowns, the border closures, the separation of families and friends. Where does it end? It's hard to know, in some ways, exactly what Australia is aiming for. What's the goal? What's the end point? What do we have to do or see to begin working our way towards a new normal that includes travel? Or, is this the new normal? Because if it is, I don't like it. Airports have grown quiet. Credit:Getty Cast your eye, again, to Europe. Consider your friends and family members in places like the UK, Germany, Italy and France who are allowed to travel right now, today, who can fly and catch trains and cross borders and have holidays and see relatives with few restrictions placed on them. Some might have to self-quarantine on return, depending on their destination, and some might not. Most will have to socially distance themselves from others. Plenty will have to wear masks and take other precautions. That looks like a tentative "new normal", a way to function as a society while attempting to manage a global pandemic. And now come back to Australia. State borders here are closed. International borders are closed. Australians aren't allowed out of the country unless permission is granted by Border Force. We're not even allowed interstate. And Australians based overseas aren't allowed back into their homeland unless they fit under the daily cap and can find an airfare that's lower than the price of a home mortgage. I wrote last week about the international travel ban that Australians have been hit with, and my acceptance of the necessity of that. But since then I have been hit with an avalanche of emails from people in all sorts of situations, those with family overseas they would like to see, those with girlfriends or boyfriends or fiancees or other partners overseas and plenty with loved ones who just live in another state in Australia. We don't just travel for pleasure, these people are saying, we travel for business, for duty, and for love. And to those readers I say yes, you have a point. A really good point. So, what's going on here? We flattened the curve in Australia when we were called to do it. We bought ourselves time. When COVID-19 struck we banded together as a society to keep case numbers low and give everyone a fair chance. But now what are we doing? [Read the full comment piece here] Rating Action: Moody's downgrades Hilcorp's CFR to Ba2; unsecured notes to Ba3 Global Credit Research - 25 Aug 2020 New York, August 25, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") downgraded Hilcorp Energy I, L.P.'s (HEI) Corporate Family Rating (CFR) to Ba2 from Ba1, its senior unsecured notes to Ba3 from Ba2 and its Probability of Default Rating to Ba2-PD from Ba1-PD. The outlook is stable. This rating action concludes the review initiated on August 28, 2019 following HEI's announcement that Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary, had agreed to acquire BP p.l.c.'s (BP, A1 negative) assets in Alaska. Effective June 30, HEI closed on its $5.5 billion acquisition of BP's entire Alaskan upstream and midstream asset base, including BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., that owns all of BP's upstream oil and gas interests in Alaska. The acquisition gives HEI a 26.4% interest in the prolific Prudhoe Bay field, which it will operate. The 50% of the Milne Point producing asset not presently owned by HEI was contributed to HEI at closing, while the remainder of the upstream asset package is held in a separately capitalized 100% owned unrestricted HEI subsidiary (the "UnSub"). The BP Alaska midstream assets will be closed in a separate transaction at Harvest Midstream I, L.P. (Ba3 stable) for $100 million in the second half of 2020. "The acquisition of BP's Alaskan upstream assets will materially expand the scale of Hilcorp's production and reserves, and should generate ample free cash flow for debt reduction," commented Andrew Brooks, Moody's Vice President, "While the acquisition is essentially wholly debt financed adding considerably to consolidated HEI debt levels, the use of an unrestricted subsidiary to hold all but the Milne Point upstream assets largely insulates HEI from the financing and debt servicing obligations of the acquired assets." Story continues Downgrades: ..Issuer: Hilcorp Energy I, L.P. .... Probability of Default Rating, Downgraded to Ba2-PD from Ba1-PD .... Corporate Family Rating, Downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1 ....Senior Unsecured Notes, Downgraded to Ba3 (LGD5) from Ba2 (LGD5) Outlook Actions: ..Issuer: Hilcorp Energy I, L.P. ....Outlook, Changed To Stable From Rating Under Review RATINGS RATIONALE The acquisition of BP's assets will more than double HEI's Alaskan production to around 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent (Boe) per day. The acquired production, which is all oil, is expected to average over 70,000 Boe per day, while HEI's total pro forma production across its portfolio will increase to about 230,000 Boe per day. HEI has consistently employed a strategy of acquiring older, mature, long-lived properties, including in Alaska's Cook Inlet and North Slope regions, with a base level of production, creating value by minimizing declining well performance and reducing costs. Moody's expects HEI to extend this strategy to the newly acquired Alaskan assets as well. A key structural component of the purchase and sale transaction is the establishment of UnSub to hold all but the Milne Point Alaskan assets acquired by HEI, and the provision of seller-financing by BP to fund this element of the acquisition on a non-recourse basis to HEI. An approximate $2.1 billion five-year note will be extended by BP payable at 8% after year-one, together with a one-year $700 million cash sharing obligation. A $1.6 billion contingent earnout provision, which is payable from 50% of UnSub's net cash flow is subject to the realization of eight-quarters of Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude pricing of at least $50 per barrel, and on the basis of a quarterly ANS average of at least $50 per barrel. There is no termination date to the earn out. The components of the UnSub financing are secured only by the assets of UnSub, with anticipated free cash flow directed to the repayment of UnSub debt. HEI has no financial guarantees or contractual obligations in support of UnSub's debts or liabilities. Any distributions from UnSub to HEI, which are expected to be modest if any, are required to repay HEI debt. Moody's projects that there will be significant free cash flow from the acquired Alaskan assets at both HEI and UnSub enabling HEI to maintain stand-alone leverage consistent with its targeted 2.5x debt/EBITDA level, and with UnSub approaching 2.5x debt/EBITDA by 2023. HEI will capitalize an independently evaluated fair market valuation of the UnSub's financing obligations as liabilities on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, which Moody's will include in HEI's consolidated debt aggregate. As such, the absolute amount of HEI consolidated debt will approximately double from its $2.65 billion June 30 total. Moody's expects that debt will increase to the equivalent of around $21,000 per Boe of production from about $18,000 per Boe prior to the acquisition. Retained cash flow (RCF) to debt is expected to remain in the mid-20% area. The rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, low oil prices, and high asset price volatility have created an unprecedented credit shock across a range of sectors and regions. We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. HEI's exposure to oil prices leaves it vulnerable to shifts in market demand and sentiment in these unprecedented operating conditions. From a governance perspective, company founder, Mr. Jeffery Hildebrand, owns the vast majority of HEI's limited partner interests and holds the 1% general partnership interest through Hilcorp Energy Company, which manages HEI's oil and gas operations. The singular control Mr. Hildebrand wields over the Hilcorp enterprises is also considered in HEI's credit profile. However, HEI has prospered under Mr. Hildebrand's control and leadership, while limiting its use of excessive debt financing. Moody's expects HEI's liquidity position to remain good into 2021. At June 30, however, HEI's cash and marketable securities balance had declined to $9 million from its year-end total of $260 million, HEI having used $209 million of the amount to close on the 50% interest in Milne Point acquired from BP. HEI's $1.7 billion secured borrowing base revolving credit facility was utilized in the amount of $1.055 billion at June 30, and is scheduled to mature in November 2022. HEI paid $500 million to BP in two instalments in 2019, both installments borrowed under its revolving credit facility. UnSub has no credit facility. Moody's expects HEI and the UnSub to be substantially free cash flow positive, using cash flow for debt repayment. The Ba3 rating on HEI's senior unsecured notes reflects their subordinate position to the company's $1.7 billion secured borrowing base revolving credit's priority claim to the company's assets. The size of the senior secured claims relative to HEI's outstanding senior unsecured notes results in the notes being rated one notch below the Ba2 CFR. The stable outlook reflects HEI's low risk exploitation strategy, and Moody's expectation that the company will be able to generate its forecasted free cash flow for debt reduction. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS A rating upgrade could be considered if HEI reduces consolidated debt to average daily production below $18,000 per Boe and increase RCF to debt above 30%. Moody's would further expect that HEI's future growth strategy not materially deviate from its historic focus on the acquisition of mature, longer-lived assets whose potential avail themselves to future exploitation upside. A downgrade is possible should HEI's debt increase above $25,000 per Boe of average daily production, should RCF to debt drop below 20% or should debt levels further increase to fund acquisitions or distributions. Hilcorp Energy I, L.P. is a private limited partnership headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company's primary producing assets are located in Alaska, Texas, Louisiana and the Utica Shale. The principal methodology used in these ratings was Independent Exploration and Production Industry published in May 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1056808. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology. REGULATORY DISCLOSURES For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004. 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. 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Were all challenged to understand our rapidly changing business and personal environment in terms of the is, was and gonna be. This is from the principle that retired Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey speaks about in his book, No Time for Spectators, which is an excellent text on leadership. Whether its in the world of security, military operations, medicine, engineering or other relevant area of our lives, data and intelligence is critical. We share more insights on the importance of data and intelligence in our white paper covering the Intel Pyramid, Source HUMINT Not Data to Improve Your Win Rates. Dempsey adeptly explains that data and intelligence regarding the present what is happening in the moment becomes quickly obsolete as it is communicated and acted upon. Put simply, the is immediately becomes the was, and the value of information becomes increasingly less valuable as time progresses. In the current world of social medial and immediate communication on an instant basis, we can become increasingly overwhelmed and saturated with less valuable data and information to act upon. Current and future leaders in both personal and business areas of life must pivot their thinking and be able to execute effectively in the gonna be world. For some of us, this is going to be the challenge of our lifetime. The social, political, medical, and economic disruption, which is happening in the moment, becomes the was intel in a 24-hour news cycle. The amount of change taking place today is happening at an accelerated pace, and the information we receive regarding this makes it difficult to lead with gonna be thinking. This is where experience, maturity, wisdom, and instincts of leaders is helpful. Regardless of these turbulent times, the republic will survive, the coronavirus will be arrested, the economy will re-bound, and we all will mature as stronger communities of individuals. The test for business and business development leaders is to visualize the gonna be environment that your organization and business development professionals must operate in going forward. This gonna be environment could include: Virtual video BD calls and follow ups. Virtual diagnostic pain interviews: a good example of this is telehealth physician visits used by medical professionals today. Working remotely and virtually with less personal interactions and contact with other individuals. International communications on a 24-hour basis. Receiving training and education online, on time, anywhere, on-demand. These are only a few examples of the gonna be world of business development. This change is not for the faint of heart and unfortunately some individuals wont be able to make the transition. If you or your organization needs help in the pivot to the gonna be world, we urge you to reach out to us and we will personally share with you what we are doing to help folks like yourself make the transition. I personally learned principles related to this from one of my mentors, Dr. Eugene W. Austin, MD. It involved my contracting rheumatic fever at the approximate age of 15 and being misdiagnosed as having the flu. Unfortunately, the data and information the medical professionals were looking at in the is and was timeframe was not correct. Fortunately my mother, a nurse, was referred to an excellent pediatrician in Dr. Austin who was able to correctly make the diagnosis, treat me to resulting in no lasting negative effects after spending 20 days in the hospital and 5 years of follow up treatments. Doctor Austin also taught me several principles during that time which are appropriate today especially in business development. First, that medicine is an art and a science much like the world of business development. Second, more people die from misdiagnosis than from mistreatment. Third, once the correct diagnosis is made, everyone has an opinion on how to treat the illness. Going beyond the is and was and correctly diagnosing the gonna be in treating the illness correctly is applicable whether the situation relates personally or professionally or to medicine or business development. Want more details on how to pivot to the gonna be in Business Development? Contact us at 704.553.0000 or info@mbdi.com. PORTLAND, Ore. - The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on Wednesday alleging agents sent by President Donald Trump to protect a federal courthouse targeted by Black Lives Matter protesters used excessive force and illegal detentions to rob protesters of their freedom of speech and assembly. The lawsuit also alleges that the acting director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, did not have the authority to send more than 100 agents to Portland because he was improperly appointed. The federal agents exceeded the limits of their authority, making illegal arrests and using tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other tactics to squelch the protests, the lawsuit alleges. Our clients are individuals and organizations that gathered peacefully in downtown Portland to support Black Lives Matter after the killing of George Floyd and so many others at the hands of the police, said Jeremy Sacks, an attorney working with the ACLU. But they were met by violence from the federal police forces intent on squelching the protesters message and their constitutional rights all in aid of the presidents political agenda. DHS did not immediately reply to a request for comment Wednesday. The lawsuit names that agency, as well as Wolf and Trump. Plaintiffs include three military veterans, a college professor, several Black Lives Matter activists and a man who alleges he was snatched off a street blocks from the federal courthouse by unidentified agents for no reason. I still havent fully come to terms with what it means that I was kidnapped by my government, Mark Pettibone said in a statement. People need to know what happened to me and the government needs to be held accountable so that what happened to me doesnt happen to someone else. Almost all the plaintiffs allege physical injuries from getting hit by metal tear gas canisters, rubber bullets, pepper spray and other chemical irritants. Some were treated at hospitals, where they got multiple stitches and received CAT scans to check for more serious internal injuries, the lawsuit says. A video of plaintiff and Navy veteran Christopher Davids encounter with U.S. agents outside the Portland courthouse circulated widely on social media. It showed one agent hitting David with a baton and another dousing him in the face with pepper spray. David suffered two broken bones in his hand. The U.S. Department of Justice has said it is conducting an internal review of the incident. Also among the plaintiffs are two groups that have organized protesters: the Black Millennial Movement and Rose City Justice. Federal officers had no place and no right to further exacerbate our environment in our community with force and violence and brutality and there is real attention that needs to be focused on the brutality from law enforcement, said Shanice Clarke, of the Black Millennial Movement. Wednesdays lawsuit is the third filed by ACLU in Portland since nightly protests began after the May 25 death of George Floyd, the Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him by the neck. Two previous lawsuits targeted the federal agents actions against members of the press and legal observers and against street medics who treat protesters hurt by tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. Portland has seen nearly 90 days of nightly unrest following Floyds death, including two weeks in July when thousands of protesters clashed with U.S. agents sent to protect the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. Local police have arrested hundreds of people over the three months and federal agents arrested at least 94 people at the height of the demonstrations in July. ____ Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The rising air pollution levels are estimated to spur the adoption of the electric cargo bikes market 2020. The bikes & motorcycles industry reports are produced by Market Research Future, which highlights market options for expansion. A 28.96% CAGR is predicted to bolster the global market in the impending period. The subsidies, incentives, and schemes to support the manufacturing and retailing of electric vehicles are estimated to create momentum for the electric cargo bikes market stake in the forthcoming years. The progress in the development of electric vehicle charging stations is predicted to transform the electric cargo bikes market in the coming period. ALSO READ: https://www.openpr.com/news/2091998/electric-cargo-bikes-market-2020-covid19-impact-analysis Segmental Analysis The segmental assessment of the electric cargo bikes market is conducted on the basis of product type, battery type, region, and end-use. Based on the product type, the electric cargo bikes market consists of the three-wheeler, two-wheeler, and four-wheeler. On the basis of battery types, the electric cargo bikes market consists of lead-based, lithium-ion, and nickel-based. On the basis of end-use, the electric cargo bikes market consists of personal use/ transportation, service delivery, large retail supplier, courier & parcel service providers, municipal waste services, and others. On the basis of regions, the electric cargo bikes market comprises of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world. Detailed Regional Analysis The regional assessment of the electric cargo bikes market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world. The North American region is projected to view exceptional growth and was the principal market. The North American regional market is one of the high-flying markets in the international electric cargo bikes market. The electric cargo bike market is motivated owing to the government initiatives to support the implementation of all-electric cargo bikes for passenger & material transport.Furthermore, this region is identified for the speedy adoption of novel technologies and has observed momentous augmentation in the demand for electric cargo bikes in the past few years. The national market in the US electric cargo bike market is mounting due to the tremendous prospective consumer base, towering investment in research & development, backing from the government, and speedy electrification of the domestic automobile industry. The investments and the encouraging environment policies, motivated by the government bodies, will make the US a chief market in the electric cargo bike market. Competitive Analysis The need for prudent analysis of the market trends and demand projections is estimated to lead to formidable development in the market. The constraints of growth are expected to be significant and considerable support will be needed to transform the market effectively. The need to build sustainability into the core assets of the companies will help companies battle situations like the current pandemic more effectively. The instability in the forces of demand and supply is estimated to create a beneficial impact on the overall global market in the forecast period. The restoration and everyday operations are estimated to take some time, which will lead to intensive development of backlog in delivery. The financial assistance provided by the government around the world and trade bodies is estimated to salvage the situation in the coming years. The downturn effects visible in the market are estimated to stay a little longer due to the scale of impact on the global market. The significant companies in the electric cargo bikes market are Worksman Cycles (US), Jiangsu Xinri E-Vehicle Co., Ltd (China), Cero Electric Cargo Bikes(US), Yuba Electric Cargo Bikes (US), Kocass Technology Co., Ltd.(China), Rad Power Bikes LLC (US), Xtracycle(US), Douze Factory SAS(France), Riese & Muller GmbH(Germany) and Butchers & Bicycles(Denmark) to name a few. FOR MORE DETAILS https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/electric-bikes-cargo-market-7737 Coronavirus: What you need to read Coronavirus maps: Cases and deaths in the U.S. | Cases and deaths worldwide Vaccines: Tracker by state | Booster shots | For kids 5 to 11 | Guidance for vaccinated people | How long does immunity last? | County-level vaccine data What you need to know: Omicron variant | At-home tests | Breakthrough infections | Symptoms guide | Masks FAQ | Delta variant | Other variants | Follow all of our coverage and sign up for our free newsletter Impact of the pandemic: Supply chain | Education | Housing Got a pandemic question? We answer one every day in our coronavirus newsletter After hearing an October 2018 Azhar speech, Dar offered himself as Pulwama bomber India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 26: The Jaish-e-Mohammad did not have to look for a suicide bomber for the Pulwama attack as Adil Ahmed Dar had offered himself much before the plan was finalised. It was in October 2018 following the killing of Usman Haider in an encounter with the Indian security forces, JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar gave a speech calling for the martyrdom of Kashmiris. Dar had decided after the speech that he would be available as a suicide bomber whenever the JeM needed him, an NIA officer told OneIndia. From nothing to 13,500 pages: How NIA prepared the detailed Pulwama chargesheet The main accused, Mohammad Umar Farooq also visited Afghanistan for explosives training in 2016-17. He infiltrated into India through International Border at Jammu-Samba Sector in April, 2018 and took over as Jaish-e-Mohammad Commander of Pulwama. Mohammad Umar along with his Pakistani compatriots viz. Mohd. Kamran, Mohd. Ismail alias Saifullah and Qari Yasir and local associates, Sameer Dar and Adil Ahmad Dar planned and prepared for the attack on security forces using IEDs. Accused Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan, Peer Tariq Ahmad Shah and Bilal Ahmad Kuchey provided all logistics and harboured the JeM terrorists in their houses. From December, 2018 onwards, Shakir Bashir started doing reconnaissance of the movement and deployment of security forces on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Mudasir Ahmad Khan arranged Gelatin sticks and handed them over to Shakir Bashir. RDX was brought by the Pakistani terrorists who infiltrated into India. Shakir Bashir collected the explosive material i.e. RDX, gelatine sticks, Aluminium power and Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate and stocked them at his house for making the IED. In January 2019, Sajjad Ahmad Bhat purchased a Maruti EECO car for the purpose of carrying out the IED attack. The car was kept in the front-yard of Shakir Bashir's house. Waiz-Ul-Islam ordered 04 kgs of Aluminium powder from his Amazon account on the directions of accused Mohd. Ismail and gave the same to him, the NIA also said. Painstaking and meticulous: The NIAs year and a half probe into the Pulwama attack Towards the end of January 2019, Mohammad Umar Farooq, Sameer Dar and Adil Dar made the propaganda video clip of the suicide attack at Insha Jan's house which was released immediately after the attack. In the first week of February 2019, Mohd. Umar Farooq, Sameer Ahmad Dar, Adil Ahmad Dar and Shakir Bashir made the IED using RDX, Calcium-Ammonium Nitrate, Gelatin Sticks and Aluminium Powder and assembled it in two containers, one weighing around 160 Kgs and the second one weighing around 40 Kgs. The two IED containers were fitted in Maruti EECO car and were ready by the morning of 6th February 2019. However, because of heavy snowfall, the National Highway got closed for the vehicular movement. On 14th February 2019, as the National Highway opened, Shakir Bashir drove Adil Ahmad Dar till National Highway, after which Adil Ahmad Dar took charge of the vehicle and drove on to the National Highway and carried out the suicide attack by ramming the Maruti EECO car laden with 200 Kgs of high- grade explosives into a bus of the CRPF convoy, resulting in 40 CRPF personnel getting martyred and damage to the tune of Rs.32,90,719/- to public property. Pulwama: The 200 kg explosive had 35 kilograms of RDX procured from Pakistan Investigation has revealed that the Pakistan-based JeM leadership comprising Masood Azhar, Rouf Asgar and Ammar Alvi were continuously giving directions and guidance to the Pakistani JeM terrorists (who had infiltrated into India) both before and after the attack. They had also planned to carry out another suicide attack which got averted due to Balakot strikes and due to killing of main conspirator Mohd. Umar Farooq by the security forces. Further, due to international pressure, Pakistan lay low, the NIA also said. Investigation also revealed a well-crafted mechanism by Pakistani establishment to push terrorists into the Indian territory from the launch pads located in Shakargarh (Pakistan) opposite Samba-Kathua Sector in Jammu. The NIA chargesheet against 19 accused persons marks the culmination of year and a half long painstaking and meticulous investigation with valuable inputs received from other Central and State government agencies as well as foreign law-enforcement agencies. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News Pulwama attack: NIA charges 19 including Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf Asghar A lot of digital, forensic, documentary and oral evidence establishing a fool-proof case against the accused of this dastardly and barbaric attack has been collected. The charge-sheet has brought on record the all-out involvement of Pakistan-based entities to carry out terrorist strikes in India and to incite and provoke Kashmiri youth. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.26 Trend: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has left the country to pay an official visit to the Russian Federation, Trend reports on August 26 referring to the ministry. According to the ministry, during the visit, several meetings are scheduled to be held with Russia's high-ranking officials. Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation, attends a symposium with representatives of the women's federations in Northwest China's Gansu Province. [For Women of China] Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), recently attended a symposium with representatives of the Gansu Women's Federation and the women's federations of Zhangxian and Xihe counties, ACWF's poverty relief paired-up counties in Northwest China's Gansu Province. At the symposium, they discussed how to implement the spirit of the important speeches delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and on how to contribute women's strength to the decisive victory against poverty. Shen stressed that women's federations at all levels should enhance their sense of responsibility, and unite and guide women to promote epidemic containment and economic and social development. The federations should also actively encourage women to contribute to poverty alleviation measures. At the symposium, cadres of local women's federations discussed the progress and outcomes of the Women's Action for Poverty Alleviation campaign. Shen exchanged views with the attendees on issues including lifting impoverished women out of poverty and caring for women in difficulties. Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation, speaks at the symposium in Northwest China's Gansu Province. [For Women of China] Shen urged the women's federations to boost the Women's Action for Poverty Alleviation campaign and ensure that no woman is left behind while building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. She added that more efforts should be made to develop poverty-alleviation industry and increase employment opportunities through poverty-alleviation workshops, strengthened skills training, labor transfers and rural tourism promotion. In a bid to ensure women's stable employment and increase their incomes, woman-dominated industries such as housekeeping services, knitting and rural e-commerce should integrate into relevant industrial chains. Efforts should also be made to alleviate poverty through education and healthcare to stop poverty from being passed on to the next generation and prevent women from falling into or falling back into poverty because of diseases, COVID-19 and natural disasters. The women's federations should guide women and families to cultivate scientific, healthy and civilized lifestyles and habits. Shen stressed that the women's federations should care for disadvantaged women and children and give special care to the vulnerable groups, including impoverished women with serious diseases or disabilities or who have suffered from accidents. She added the federations should also care for de facto orphans, disadvantaged children and left-behind children. Shen noted that being lifted out of poverty is not an end in itself but the starting point of a new life and a new pursuit. The women's federations should advance poverty alleviation measures, embrace their positive roles in rural revitalization and mobilize women to participate in environmentally-friendly economic activities and promote industrial prosperity. Shen also urged the women's federations to promote the activities of the Beautiful Homeland and Healthy China Mother Action campaigns and lead women to build ecological, livable and beautiful villages. The women's federations are also being asked to promote good habits and customs, curb food waste and advocate good family traditions by organizing activities in rural areas. More attention should be paid to the critical role of family, family education and traditions in social governance at the primary level. (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) MARIGOT:--- In Saint-Martin, we count 22 new cases confirmed by PCR tests in 4 days, bringing the number of confirmed cases combined to 198 A total of 2756 PCR tests have been carried out to date. 11 people are hospitalized at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital Centre and 4 are in CPR in Guadeloupe. In Saint-Barthelemy, we count 1 new case confirmed by PCR tests in 4 days, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 17 A total of 2075 PCR tests have been carried out to date. There are currently 9 confirmed COVID patients hospitalized in the CPU of Guadeloupe (including 5 Guadeloupean patients and 4 patients transferred from Saint Martin). Of these patients, 4 are over 60 years of age, and 3 under 40 years of age. To cope with the evolution of the situation, the CHU activated its White Plan, which will be implemented from this Tuesday, August 25th. The Louis Constant Fleming Hospital Centre has activated its White Plan since last night, August 24th. Latest cases indicate that the circulation of the virus in Saint-Martin now affects all diapers of the population, from babies to seniors, with still a majority of people between the ages of 30 and 50 The transmission of the virus is not exclusively done in public places, but very often also in the private sphere (family events) or in the professional sphere (in your workplace). Everywhere, to stop the circulation of the virus, strict respect for the barrier gestures is required for all of us. Fragile people, often carrying chronic diseases, must protect themselves thanks to barriers but also by refusing physical contact (embracing, hugs, etc). Our seniors are most affected by the serious forms of the disease. Let's all be particularly vigilant when we visit them, whether at home or in the EHPADs. To meet the growing demand for screening, the ARS reminds us that a prioritization must be made: Priority 1: Symptomatic people need to call their doctor because their case can get worse. They must not travel to the medical office until they have been invited by their doctor. These persons are given a prescription; Priority 2: persons identified as contact at risk of a positive case by their doctor, Medicare or RIPOST and who receive a text accordingly; Priority 3: People who have obviously had risk behaviors, despite calls for respect for barrier gestures, at meetings where health security measures have not been respected. Priority 4: other people wishing to be screened. These people can be detected without an emergency. The ARS invites priority 1 or 2 people, with their medical prescription or text, to contact their lab to benefit from a priority for appointment. The ARS is currently working on the lifting of the hospital drive to allow better access to the entire population and thus allow accessibility to priority 3 or 4. In wake of COVID-19 outbreak, KENT RO Systems Limited, the most trusted water purifying brand, has announced yet another breakthrough product- KENTCamAttendance,a Next-GenTouchless Attendance System based on FacialRecognition. The new innovation of KENT is the extension of AI product portfolio which was launched last year with KENTCamEye. KENT CamAttendance Features: - AI Face Recognition: AI based computer vision for face detection & face recognition -Mask compliance: Inbuilt algorithm for optional mask detection -Real Person Detection: Patented algorithm to differentiate between real person & a HD photo/video -High Accuracy & Speed: Face Recognition takes less than a second with an accuracy of >99.9% -Smart Alerts: System alerts in cases of anomalies like employee not wearing a mask etc. Post COVID-19, managing employee attendance system has become a nightmare for the industry as the use existing biometric attendance machines has been prohibited. With no other reliable attendance capturing mechanism, the industry has switched back to manual attendance which is error prone and difficult to manage. The helpless situation is not only a problem for HR managers, but for employees too as they are still being forced to use biometric machines in many places. To fill this lag, KENT has stepped forward with its Next-Gen Touchless Attendance based on Facial Recognition. It uses AI based computer vision to capture and recognize the face of an employee for attendance purpose. It is managed via a secure cloud application that stores employee records and employee photos anddata which can be seamlessly integrated with existing HRMS. It is a faster and more reliable system than the manual attendance. Most importantly, the product is designed and manufactured in India with data &servers also residing in India. Furthermore, multiple KENT CamAttendance devices can be deployed in one premises and across different sites. All CamAttendance devices can be controlled centrally from the cloud and data from all CamAttendance devices also comes to the cloud in real-time. Company HR can view all data from the cloud and generate employee attendance. Employees and supervisors can use the optional mobile app for added functionalitiessuch as check-in via mobile, which allows one to mark attendance through mobile via face recognition and/or geo location. The mobile feature also offers leave application, attendance regularization and approval. Furthermore, with the help of the team view functionality,one can check attendance of team members through a consolidated view including their physical locations on a map. Commenting on the new KENT CamAttendance solution, Mr. Mahesh Gupta, CMD, Kent RO Systems Ltd. said, This new product is in sync with our philosophy to ensure the well-being of people. We believe that safety should never be compromised. The pandemic triggered us to come up with this product. We are confident and excited to bring to market a much-needed product that improves employee confidence & safety in these pressing times. This unique and a revolutionary solution will help to capture & manage attendance without risking infection via surface transmission. KENT CamAttendance is touchless attendance system which uses facial recognition and Artificial Intelligence to completely eliminate the need of tactile interaction as experienced in biometric or manual systems. This product is a result of extensive R&D and has been completely designed and developed in India. he further added. The KENT CamAttendance system has been priced competitively at INR 25,000 + taxes. A nominal annual fee is also payable for using the cloud platform. KENT has roped in Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as the brand ambassador for KENT CamAttendance. King Khan is also the ambassador of KENT CamEye launched last year - Next-Gen Car Camera that ensures 100% Security for your family and your Car. In a worry for the government facing revenue crisis, its top lawyer Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal has advised it must compensate states fully for the loss of Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue during the coronavirus lockdown. The development comes after the Centre sought suggestions from the attorney general on the states' demands to compensate for the loss of revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in India. Various opposition parties, including the Congress party, have criticised the Centre's stand on the issue. Accusing the Centre of going back on its promise, the Congress has called it a "sovereign default". The party said the primary reason that various states came on board on the issue of GST was the "constitutional guarantees" given by the Centre. BJP leaders have also supported the states' demands. BJP leader Sushil Modi, who's also the GST Council member, said the Centre should borrow and pay the GST compensation to states as it's the government's moral responsibility. The AG has also said the Centre also can't stretch the five-year extension period. Also read: GST Council to hold virtual meet to finalise compensation to states on Aug 27 Since FY16, states are entitled to get 14 per cent hike in revenue, though COVID-19 has badly hit the Centre's revenue. The Centre has been of the view that states can be compensated for the revenue shortfall from compensation cess only. The GST Council will meet on August 27 under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to decide on the issue. The Council will make a decision on how much of the revenue loss incurred by the states will be borne by the Centre. The meeting will be held via video-conferencing and members will assess the gap between the total GST Cess collection and the compensation cess yet to be paid to various states. The council will also discuss a proposal to borrow from market to meet revenue shortfall. Another meeting of the GST Council will be held on September 19. Also Read: GST collection jumps 46% to Rs 90,917 crore in June compared to May; declines 9% YoY Coronavirus impact: July GST collections dips 14.6% to Rs 87,422 crore The stage is set for a showdown between states and the Centre during the 41st GST Council meet on Thursday. This meeting has been called to discuss a single point agenda - how to iron out kinks in compensation cess collection to meet states' compensation requirements. According to GST Council sources, the all-powerful body is likely to discuss various proposals to raise funds in the compensation cess kitty. States have not been compensated since May. The Centre had recently informed the parliamentary standing committee on finance that it does not have enough funds to pay the 14 per cent GST compensation that it is statutorily mandated to pay to states. Under the GST law, states are guaranteed full compensation for any revenue loss for the first five years after the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017. This means that states have to be compensated until July 2022 for any losses due to the implementation of the GST regime. States including Bihar, Punjab and Rajasthan are likely to demand compensation from the GST Council in the meeting. Also read: Centre must compensate states for loss of revenue, says Attorney General Sources have told India Today that states are now planning to take action against the GST Council for not paying compensation on time. When GST was brought into effect in July 2017 there was a promise made by the then finance minister, late Arun Jaitley that states will be adequately compensated but now compensation has become a bone of contention between them and the Centre. Some states are even planning to give an ultimatum to the Council that if compensation is not paid, they will go as far as to stop GST collections. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Sushil Kumar Modi in a statement said, "The Centre should borrow and pay GST compensation to states even if it is not legally bound to do so. Centre is morally bound to do so." Punjab's Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal called the central government's attempt to deny the states their rightful compensation tantamount to "sovereign default". He added that the Narendra Modi government has no respect for the Constitution. Punjab has received compensation only until March 2020 and the central government owes the state Rs 4,400 crore. Also read: GST Council may consider proposal to cut tax on two-wheelers Meanwhile, opposition parties have joined hands to demand compensation from the Centre. Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently held a meeting of opposition parties where GST compensation was discussed. "The refusal to compensate states for GST payments that are due is nothing short of betrayal," Sonia Gandhi said. States like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Puducherry and West Bengal echoed the emotion. The Centre had been releasing compensation to states in tranches; compensation worth Rs 1,15,096 crore was released for the April-November 2019 period. The second tranche of Rs 36,400 crore was released for the December 2019-February 2020 period. The Centre had released Rs 69,275 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 41,146 crore in 2017-18 as compensation to states. Centre held back fund transfer to states for revenue shortage beginning August 2019, following which states raised the issue. ALSO READ: West Bengal FM urges Centre to pay compensation cess ahead of GST mee ALSO READ: Once bitten twice shy, industry hopes FM will deliver the goods this time Billionaire Tan Min-Liang, chief executive officer and co-founder of Razer. Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Global gaming ecosystem giant Razer (1337.HK), worth HKD $15bn, just unveiled record results pushing the company into profitability, wiping out debt, and giving it a hefty cash balance of USD $500m. While it originated as the go-to hardware outlet for elite gamers think sleek backlit keyboards, ergonomic mice that can be programmed for optimal massively multiplayer online role-playing gaming (MMORPG) it has rapidly evolved into an ecosystem for the gaming experience. It has been into cloud computer gaming for a decade, added fintech services, payments, and software to the mix all making the group essential to a gamers life. The coronavirus pandemic has destroyed fortunes in most industries but for Razer, which is at the epicentre of the gaming world, 2020 has so far shaped up to be the most successful year yet. Speaking exclusively to Yahoo Finance UK, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan said that the group is the stay at home stock with the pandemic getting gamers to be in their natural environment, and therefore buying lots of gear and Razer Gold a unified virtual credits system for gamers worldwide that can be used to buy games and in-game items, as well as be part of a loyalty rewards program. It has led to users growing from 80 million to 100 million in just a year. READ MORE: World's largest gamer firm Razer unveils record-high revenue of $447.5m during pandemic For the six months ending June 2020, Razer reported record high revenue of $447.5m, representing 25.3% year-on-year growth during the coronavirus pandemic period. Gross profit margin also improved to 22% and cashflow from operating activities turned positive to $66m. This is particularly inspiring in spite of the hugely inflated logistics costs (since the pandemic) and we have beaten all expectations and turned profitable with $3.2m, said Tan to Yahoo Finance UK. Razer stock price year-to-date. Chart: Yahoo Finance Boom in gaming is here to stay Gaming has experienced a huge boom in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic forcing lockdowns, travel bans, and limited movement outside the house. E-sports, in particular, is seeing greater adoption from old and new fans alike. Story continues E-sports is a form of sport competition using video games, often taking the form of organised, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. Even those who dont play professionally are getting into the sport and even watching and consuming content of others playing. E-sports are most popular in Asia, with 30% of viewers, 20% of e-sports viewers are in Latin America, 14% in Europe and MEA, respectively, and 13% in North America. Uptake is greatest among Gen Z at one in four (27%) and stands at one in five (20%) among millennials. Razers Tan says that while COVID-19 has presented an unprecedented time for gaming industry, he believes its the start of a long-term boon for the sector, rather than a powder keg moment. The way I see it, is a long term trend and the reason for that is while there is a short term boost as people are staying at home, even with countries opening up, those [gamer figures] still are remaining at an all-time high, he said. He points out that its building a whole new generation of gamers beyond those situated in Asia or in the Gen-Z or millennial bracket. Tan said that friends who he has tried to persuade to try out a number of games for years have moved from apathy to now being active players during the pandemic. Gamers play the video game 'fortnite' developed by Epic Games on a laptop from the Razer company. Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images Particularly in the first half of the year, all the metrics were through the roof and grew really quickly [to reach] 100 million users in 12 months this is across all user activity demographics throughout the entire platform, from mobile and console, said Tan. China, which opened up earlier than other countries during the pandemic, showed that while there was some normalising in the figures, it didn't come down and still continues to grow. This generation of gamers may be borne from the pandemic but they will remain and these numbers are very high, Tan added. But its not just in Asia gaming activity in the US and Europe has gaming activity up through the roof he said, and in emerging markets, total payment volumes are booming. How its become integral to gamer lifestyle A jewel in the crown for Razers innovations in recent years has been Razer Gold a credit and payments system for gamers that makes it easy for them to spend their cash. The company revealed that Razer Gold recorded a 125.9% year-on-year increase in total payment volume driven primarily by the increase in the number of transactions. It was helped by the fact Razer expanded its footprint further in this area, adding 600,000 channel touch points across new growth areas such as the Middle East and North Africa. Now the payments system covers users from more than 130 countries. Razer has even moved into banking. In January this year, it announced that Razer Fintech submitted its application for a Digital Full Bank License to be issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the award of digital banking licenses is anticipated for the second half of 2020. At this time, the Company is also exploring applying for digital bank licenses in other jurisdictions, it pointed out in its statement. Overall, Razer Fintech has generated $1.8bn in total payment volume in the first half of the year an increase of 114.3% year-on-year. Razer originated as the go-to hardware outlet for elite gamers. Photo: Neil Godwin/PC Gamer Magazine/Future via Getty Images But with all the success in branching out from just hardware creating a real ecosystem for gamers Tan says that acquiring content and streaming services is not on his radar. People call us a gaming company but were actually a gamers company. The way we see ourselves, we are the middle-man giving gamers the best experience. We are never going to be in the content business and streaming services our goal is to make these different services better and partner with companies like Tencent and Ubisoft to give the most immersive experience as possible, said Tan. Thats where our cash balance goes into our fintech side of the business. Spending that $500m cash balance Razer CEO Tan Min-Liang. Photo: SCMP/Dickson Lee/Getty Tan pointed out that the company is now in a comfortable position its profitable, despite all the challenges of logistics costs during COVID-19, has zero debt and $500m to play with. He said that investments could come back in share buybacks, if the group think the companys stock is undervalued, and also investing in areas where it sees further growth. Yahoo Finance UK asked Tan if its likely the company will prioritise and rapidly roll out more hardware or services due to the unprecedented boom in gaming. In the last month alone it released the new triple threat in esports the Razer BlackShark V2 and the Razer Huntsman Mini 60% keyboard for gaming and e-sports. I can give you a snapshot, he told Yahoo Finance UK. For the full-year 2020, we are expecting to add some cool new categories in hardware and there will be new launches in the second half of the year. Software is expected to have a massive boost as user activity continues [to grow]. There will be a lot more fintech and Razer Gold [is expected] to go through the roof. We will continue to see outsized revenue growth. What we are going to do with the cash is invest in research and development and look into exploring new ways to reach out customers [and press cadence] in the absence of live events, he added. READ MORE: Verizon exec: 5G will be 'transformational' for society, not just economy Razer, like many tech companies, used to have large scale events to launch new products and services and reached millions of people across the world with the excitement around these events. Where he does see extra room for growth is in 5G. 5G is the next generation of wireless cellular technology that is being rolled out across the world. It promises to offer faster wireless internet speeds, greater network capacity, lower latency, and more flexibility. It is in early days, networks and devices are limited in areas and rolling out in 2021, but what I am excited about if you take a step back is outside of enterprise applications, said Tan. If you look at consumer level applications very high bandwidth and low latency there are two real advantages. [This is especially] for cloud gaming and thats where we see a lot of intersection and where we recently sealed a partnership with Microsoft (MSFT) and Xbox. Swapping bodies with another person would have a profound effect on the subject's behaviour and even their personality, a new study has revealed. Scientists at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden discovered a way to allow people to experience the effect of swapping bodies, through a perceptual illusion, in order to understand the relationship between a person's psychological and physical sense of self. They found that when pairs of friends "switched bodies", each friend's personality became more like the other. "Body swapping is not a domain reserved for science fiction anymore," said Pawel Tacikowski, a postdoctoral researcher at the institute and lead author of the study. In order to create the illusion that the study's subjects had switched bodies, Dr Tacikowski and his team fitted them with virtual reality goggles showing live feeds of the other person's body from a first-person perspective. They then applied simultaneous touches to the participants on corresponding parts of the body so that they perceived they were really inhabiting the other person's body. To test whether the illusion had worked, the researchers threatened the corresponding body with a prop knife to see if they felt threatened. It only took a few moments for the participants to feel as though they had "woken up in someone else's body," according to the researchers. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty The virtual body swap affected each friend's talkativeness, cheerfulness and confidence, with these traits tending to match the person's body they were in rather than the actual person inhabiting it. The illusion also had an impact on a person's memory due to the disconnection between mental and physical representation. "There is a well-established finding that people are better at remembering things that are related to themselves," Dr Tacikowski said in a statement. "So we thought if we interfered with one's self representation during the illusion, that should generally decrease their memory performance." The researchers plan to develop the technique in order to use it for more specific clinical applications, with the eventual aim of treating psychiatric disorders like depression. HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 28, 2020 / Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., a Houston-area personal injury law firm, has announced the opening of their annual scholarship competition. The firm's scholarship program has awarded funds to outstanding U.S. college students for five consecutive years. This year, the firm's attorneys renamed the scholarships in honor of Keith M. Fletcher and Robert S. Simmons, who both passed away in the last year. Mr. Simmons and Mr. Fletcher founded the Simmons and Fletcher personal injury law firm in 1979 and remained actively involved in firm's cases for 40 years. The Keith M. Fletcher Excellence in Ethics Scholarship: Designed to reward highly-qualified law students and prospective law students, the Excellence in Ethics Scholarship awards $1,000 to the first place applicant and $500 to the runner-up. The deadline to submit a scholarship application and required essay is July 1, 2021. To learn more about the Keith M. Fletcher Excellence in Ethics scholarship, please visit the scholarship webpage at https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com/excellence-ethics-scholarship/. The Robert S. Simmons Christian Studies Scholarship: The Christian Studies Scholarship rewards students who engage in community service and attend, or plan to attend, a Christian college or university. The scholarship awards $1,000 to the first-place applicant and $500 to the second-place applicant. Interested students must submit their application and required essay by July, 1, 2021. To learn more about the Robert S. Simmons Christian Studies Scholarship, please visit the scholarship webpage at https://www.simmonsandfletcher.com/christian-studies-scholarship/. About Simmons and Fletcher, P.C.: Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. is a Houston-area personal injury law firm committed to representing personal injury victims and their families with compassion and ethics rooted in Christian values. As a Christian law firm, Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. is committed to serving God by resolving personal injury cases for clients in a prompt and caring manner, seeking to maximize their recovery while modeling Christian attitudes and behaviors. Contact: Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. (713) 932-0777 9821 Katy Fwy #925 Houston, Texas 77024 simfletch@simmonsandfletcher.com SOURCE: Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603757/CORRECTION-Simmons-and-Fletcher-PC-Offers-Two-New-Scholarships-in-Honor-of-Founding-Attorneys New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a PIL opposing the decision of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to transfer Rs 15 crore to the PM CARES fund, saying it appeared to be a "motivated" plea against the president of the institution. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan asked the lawyer appearing for the petitioner, Navneet Chaturvedi, to either withdraw the matter or face dismissal with costs. The counsel for the petitioner then sought permission to withdraw the plea and the court dismissed it as withdrawn. During the hearing via video conference, the bench asked the petitioner, who according to his lawyer is a journalist and a social worker, how a PIL can be filed when the members of ICAI were not aggrieved by the transfer of funds. "If the members of ICAI are happy to contribute, then what are the grounds for a PIL," the court asked and added, "this appears to be a motivated petition against the president of the institution". Besides transferring Rs 15 crore to the PM CARES fund in April, ICAI also pledged an additional Rs 6 crore via contributions from its members. According to the petitioner, the decision was taken by the institution on a request made by the then Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The Buckeye Stallion Series for three-year-old trotting colts were in action at Eldorado Scioto Downs Tuesday night (August 25), as three $17,500 divisions went to post. Exhibit Class, by Triumphant Caviar and out of Classic Blaze, notched his second win of the series in a lifetime mark of 1:56.1. Driver Josh Sutton started from Post 6 and got away third. He went first up and grabbed the lead at the three-quarters pole and hung tough to win by a half length. Sean Smithpeters trains for owner Marion Beachy. The winner returned $19.40. Mission Voyage with Jeremy Smith was second and Big Box Hanover with Jeff Nisonger finished third. The fastest time in the BSS was turned in by Holton and trainer-driver Kayne Kauffman for owner Douglas Millard in 1:55. The Dontyouforgetit-Mamas Broken Heart gelding got away third from Post 1 and was out and moving at the half to win by five and a half lengths. He paid $11.00 to win. Ryan Stahl finished second with Rose Run Victor while Elliott Deaton finished third with Look In My Eyes. Sandy Beatty trained and drove the other winner, B Nicking, in 1:55.1, which was a lifetime mark. The gelding is by Wishing Stone, out of B Nicki, and is owned by Ben Robards. Beatty took the overland trip from Post 4 and finally grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch. He went on to win by a half length. The winner paid $19.60, Enforcing The Law with Ryan Stahl was second, and Rose Run Vindicate was third for Chris Page. The Buckeye Stallion Series will continue on Saturday night (August 29) at Eldorado Scioto Downs for the fourth leg of the three-year-old colt pace. (With files from the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association) The RBA has outlined an "extreme but plausible" scenario. Images: Getty Australian house prices could fall by 40 per cent in an extreme but plausible scenario, the Reserve Bank has stated in a paper discussing household debt. Such a fall would take the median national house price from $552,912 down $221,164 to $331,298. And in Australias most expensive housing market, Sydney, that value loss would take the median price from $866,110 to $531,666 a loss of $334,444. However, the RBA said that while this is plausible, its unlikely that this situation will play out given the banks apparent resilience. The RBA paper, How Risky is Australian Household Debt, noted that while household debt has increased substantially over the last few decades, most of it is in the hands of those who can still afford to service it. Most of this debt is held by households whose risk of unemployment is relatively low, while households that are most at risk of experiencing very large changes in asset values (relative to income) tend to have little leverage," authors Jonathan Kearns, Mike Major and David Norman said. In the instance where prices do fall 40 per cent and employment by 8 per cent, the banks are well-placed to handle the downturn but households will significantly cut their consumption. The RBA put this reduction at around 12 per cent from peak to trough, and said this modelling shows that consumption is more sensitive to house prices than unemployment. The researchers said the fall in house prices is extreme, but the fall in employment is more in line with what is currently experiencing. The employment fall is similar to the fall Australia experienced during the 1990s (7 per cent fall in employment-to-population ratio) and during the Covid-19 pandemic (7 per cent fall as of June 2020), but is significantly more extreme than during the global financial crisis, the authors said. This fall would be comparable to Spain, the US and Irelands experiences during the global financial crisis. During that crisis, Irelands house prices fell a huge 55 per cent, while Spains fell 37 per cent and the US saw prices fall 32 per cent. Story continues In this scenario, superannuation assets also tumble by 30 per cent, while equities plummet 40 per cent. The RBA said the level of Australian household debt has important implications, but these are sometimes misconstrued. The level and growth of household debt reflects high incomes and direct ownership of rental housing, not evidence of widespread excessive leverage. Household borrowing is a large share of banks assets and so is important for their performance, but overall high lending standards, low loan-to-valuation ratios and banks high level of capital mean they are highly resilient to adverse shocks to households. The RBA isnt the first to warn of a significant fall in home values, with the Commonwealth Bank in May flagging a 32 per cent reduction in home values. However, the house price slide has so far been gentle. The national property market fell 0.6 per cent in July, after it slipped 0.7 per cent in June and 0.4 per cent in May. Want to take control of your finances and your future? Join the Womens Money Movement on LinkedIn and follow Yahoo Finance Australia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Its a wonderful occasion that we gather for, asking God to bless all of our labors of love, our labors of caring and healing." On Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, the Grand New SSM Health Saint Louis University (SLU) Hospital hosted a small gathering to bless and dedicate the chapel in the new facility, which is set to open Sept. 1, 2020. Auxiliary Bishop Mark Rivituso, Archdiocese of St. Louis, and Concelebrant Father Suwalsky, SJ, VP of Mission and Identity at Saint Louis University, conducted Mass in the new chapel and continued to bless the rest of the new hospital after the service. Its a wonderful occasion that we gather for, asking God to bless all of our labors of love, our labors of caring and healing, said Bishop Mark Rivituso during the service. And as we gather together, we remember all the blessings that we have received and all those who are so supportive of this Mission. We remember them at this Mass asking God to bless all of us as we continue the good work that the Lord asks of us, especially through Saint Louis University Hospital. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was a small yet intimate gathering of leaders from SSM Health, SLU Hospital, Saint Louis University and SSM Health Foundation St. Louis. We are grateful to the Archdiocese of St. Louis for conducting our first-ever Mass in the new chapel of our Grand New SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, said Steven M. Scott, president of SLU Hospital. And we appreciate all those in our SSM Health and Saint Louis University family who could be a part of this special occasion and to all those who watched the service online. Nearly 100 people tuned in to the live-stream of the chapel blessing, which can now be viewed online at http://www.ssmhealth.com/future (click on Events), or on SLU Hospital's YouTube channel. As a Catholic healthcare ministry, the chapel is a sacred place, open 24/7, 365 days a year for patients, visitors and staff. It is a special place of respite, faith sharing, sacrament, solitude, community and prayer and features beautiful stained glass designed by Emil Frei. The Emil Frei and Associates stained glass company is the same design firm who created the stunning stained glass in the legacy chapel. The new chapel is made possible by a generous donation from David Thornley Orthwein, who was a reader during the Mass on Sunday. The Grand New SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is set to open its doors to the public on Sept. 1, 2020. To learn more, visit http://www.ssmhealth.com/future. CLICK HERE to download photos and videos from the event. Petty Officer One Eric Akita, Ghana Navy Detachment at Kpando Torkor, has called on fishermen who ply the Volta Lake to desist from using their fishing boats to convey passengers to avoid accidents. He said the practice was one of the main reasons behind the frequent incidents of boats capsizing on the Lake. He said since the small boats used in the operation were not designed to be used as passenger boats and carry heavy loads, weather vagaries usually forced such boats to capsize. Mr Akita made the call at a Zonal Multi-Stakeholder Platform meeting in Kpando for Inland Zone organised for key stakeholders in the industry such as IUU Community Monitoring Groups (CMGs), Fisheries Commission Officers, traditional leaders, fisher folks, Kpando Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union, Ghana Inland Fishermen Canoe Association and Fisheries Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Navy. It was organised by the FAR BAN BO Project, an NGO tasked to protect the livelihoods of fishers in Ghana with support from the European Union (EU). He said the Navy had noticed that most fishermen converted their fishing boats into passenger boats after dwindling fishing fortunes in the industry on the Lake. Mr Akita admonished residents of the Kpando Municipality to put a stop to sandwinning activities along the shores of the Lake as perpetrators would be dealt with accordingly to the laws. Mr. Stephen Anane, Kpando Torkor Project Officer, FAR BAN BO called on farmers who farmed along the Volta Lake to be extra careful when adding chemicals to their crops as it could contaminate or poison fish in the Lake. He said most fishes laid their eggs close to the shoreline of the Lake and that the chemicals posed danger to the species. Mr. Anane said the FAR BAN BO project was a four-year programme which began in 2017. 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 HHPF, Inc. conducted a systematic and intensive search for the perfect technology provider who could exceed the needs of their agents and insureds, while also sharing their vision. "When considering a partnership with a premium finance software and services provider, we were looking for a proven track record of success. But we also wanted more than just a vendor; we wanted to form a relationship with a company that could help us become the best that we can be. Our requirements included a modern billing and payments platform, a knowledgeable and dependable support staff and a partner that we could lean on for advice," said Ariel Akkad, president of HHPF, Inc. "Their unparalleled industry experience, knowledgeable staff, and dedication to an exceptional customer experience made Input 1 the perfect fit for our company." 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HHPF, Inc. provides complete premium financing solutions to Independent Insurance Agents and MGA's. About Input 1, LLC For over 35 years, Input 1 has been providing billing services and payment solutions to insurance carriers, MGAs, banks, and premium finance companies, located throughout North America. The company's premium finance software and internet services provide online access to more than one million agents, brokers, and policyholders annually. Media Contact Input 1, LLC Marketing Department 888-882-2554 ext.2135 [email protected] SOURCE Input 1 The colored area on this MRI scan shows a cross-section of a heart muscle, with an area of bleeding shown in red. AI and QIS have the potential to revolutionize healthcare and a range of other technologies. (Courtesy of Imperial College London) Trump Administration to Invest $1 Billion in Quantum Computing, AI Institutes crafting the 'industries of the future' get billion-dollar boost The Trump Administration announced awards of more than $1 billion Wednesday for the establishment of 12 new artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum information science (QIS) research & development institutes across the United States. The administration says it is taking the action to ensure American leadership in what it termed industries of the future, which include 5G and other critical technologies. With the support of the White House, the National Science Foundations (NSFs) AI Research Institutes and the Department of Energys (DOEs) QIS Research Centers will serve as hubs for innovation and research & development. The Trump Administration announced $1 BILLION for new @NSF AI and @ENERGY Quantum research institutes. Together, the institutes will: Accelerate R&D and innovation Promote regional economic growth Support workforce developmenthttps://t.co/Z6X5Ffpe0w Michael Kratsios (@USCTO) August 26, 2020 Today, the Trump Administration is making an unprecedented investment to strengthen American leadership in AI and quantum, and to ensure the Nation benefits from these emerging technologies. Built upon the uniquely American free market approach to technological advancement, these institutes will be world-class hubs for accelerating American innovation and building the 21st century American workforce, said U.S. Chief Technology Officer, Michael Kratsios in a statement. The technology chief said that such technologies were currently being used to fight the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus. The U.S. is using every tool at its disposal to defeat the novel coronavirus, including artificial intelligence, Kratsios wrote in an Op-Ed published in the Wall Street Journal on May 27. However, AI technology is not only being used to combat disease, he cautioned. At the same time, AI is being twisted by authoritarian regimes to violate rights. The Chinese Communist Party is reportedly using AI to uncover and punish those who criticize the regimes pandemic response and to institute a type of coronavirus social-credit scoreassigning people color codes to determine who is free to go out and who will be forced into quarantine. United States Continues to Lead According to a National Strategic Overview for Quantum Information Science report from 2018 (pdf), the United States can harness quantum information science to improve its industrial base, create jobs, and provide economic and national security benefits. The report mentioned previous examples of American scientific ingenuity that laid the foundation for a host of critical modern technologies. Prior examples of QIS-related technologies include semiconductor microelectronics, photonics, the global positioning system (GPS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the report said. These underpin significant parts of the national economic and defense infrastructure. Future scientific and technological discoveries from QIS may be even more impactful. The Department of Energy is a staunch supporter of cutting edge research to advance quantum information science, said Secretary of Energy, Dan Brouillette, in a statement. I am proud to lead an Agency committed to developing industries of the future by making investments today to accelerate American innovation. In a joint statement from The White House, Kratsios and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Coordination, Chris Liddell, said that The establishment of these new national AI and QIS institutes will not only accelerate discovery and innovation, but will also promote job creation and workforce development. NSFs AI Research Institutes and DOES QIS Research Centers will include a strong emphasis on training, education, and outreach to help Americans of all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels participate in our 21st-century economy. The White House statement says the administration also views the research facilities as a manifestation of the United States free-market approach to the advancement of technology, as they leverage the efforts of the Federal government, American industry, and academia for the betterment of the Nation. As history has shown, America is a country of thinkers, doers, and innovators, Kratsios and Liddel said. The United States is the proud home of the greatest technological breakthroughs the world has ever known, from creating the modern Internet to putting humans on the moon. Emerging technologies like AI and QIS will lead to transformative benefits for the American people in healthcare, communications, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, security, and beyond. From understanding extreme weather to designing and manufacturing new medicines, @NSF AI Institutes will accelerate research, expand Americas workforce, and transform society in the decades to come https://t.co/egNL9E4bxi pic.twitter.com/0vooPIuRwZ National Science Foundation (@NSF) August 26, 2020 Funding Appropriation A total of 7 AI research institutes will receive funding to the tune of $140 million over 5 years from the NSF and other federal partners, and will focus on the fields of synthetic manufacturing, machine-learning, precision agriculture, and forecasting prediction. The research efforts will be carried out at universities including the Universities of Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and California, and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As the largest non-defense funding body for research & development in the field of AI, the NSF plans to make over $300 million in awards over the coming years. White House announces Q-NEXT, led by Argonne, as one of the nations Quantum Information Science Research Centers https://t.co/FKp6VS5Zb0 pic.twitter.com/TLV7D66Tp6 Argonne National Lab (@argonne) August 26, 2020 In order to set up the QIS research centers, the Department of Energy will award $625 million over the next five years to the Oak Ridge, Argonne, Brookhaven, Fermi, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. In addition, the private sector will provide a further $300 million in funding. Head of Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak has said the meeting of advisors to the Normandy Four (Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France) leaders, earlier scheduled for August 28, will be held in early September. "Mr. Bonne [Adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron] called me a few days ago and asked to postpone the meeting due to his business trip. Today the dates are being discussed, these are the first days of September. I think the meeting will take place before September 10," he told journalists during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's working trip to Dnipropetrovsk meeting on Wednesday, as reported by the presidential press service. U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a campaign rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the United States, on Sept. 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) US President Donald Trump's re-election campaign on Sunday released Trump's second term agenda. "End our reliance on China" is one of Trump's 10 second-term goals. This mainly aims at bringing back 1 million manufacturing jobs from China. However, it is not China that has stolen American jobs. The fundamental reason for the loss of American jobs is the hollowing out of US industries. Many US companies have chosen to set up factories in China because conditions are superior to those in the US. This is the rule-based, fair competition of the global market economy. If Trump is reelected, he will first deal with the two major challenges: controlling COVID-19 and economic recovery. But he has failed to show his determination and ability to solve either of these challenges. It is difficult to expect the US, as the Trump campaign said in the agenda, to "return to normal in 2021" and "create 10 million new jobs in 10 months." These goals seem like pie in the sky. With the "end our reliance on China" goal stated, the Trump campaign abruptly noted to "hold China fully accountable for allowing the virus to spread around the world." This indicates that Trump team plans to continue its targeting of China in the second term if re-elected. By playing the China blame card, Trump is not only shifting domestic attention and attracting support, but also catering to the voices of domestic anti-China hawks and interest groups. In other words, the Republican Party has reached a high degree of consensus on Trump's policy toward China. As the virus rages on in the US, Trump will not easily give up the tactic of blaming China because this seems to be working. If Trump is re-elected, it can be expected that he will continue to use the pandemic and other factors as excuses to suppress China. In addition to targeting China, Trump has also continued his usual political style with other issues on the agenda. For example, the agenda includes "get allies to pay their fair share," "teach American exceptionalism" in education, "drain the globalist swamp by taking on international organizations that hurt American citizens" and prohibit US companies from replacing US citizens "with lower-cost foreign workers." Trump's campaign strategy is basically the same as four years ago. He is trying to reproduce the successful battle in 2016 by relying on his base voters' support. The reason behind such a strategy is that under the multiple challenges of the epidemic, economic difficulties and racial tensions, Trump has to continue to take risks and embrace extreme right-wing forces. But the problem is: The current situation between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party is different from four years ago. Trump still has his base voters, and the Republican Party will continue to support him, but the force opposing Trump and the cohesion of the Democratic Party are obviously stronger than four years ago. In 2016, American voters may have found Trump's conservative policies attractive. But after four years of practice, Trump's second term agenda may not be attractive to voters, especially the swing and independent voters. Continuing such an extreme and conservative agenda may only be counterproductive. The Republican Party's hysterical policy toward China has had a certain impact on the Democratic Party. For example, compared with the 2016 Democratic Party Platform, the "one-China" principle was removed in the 2020 version released on August 18. The 2020 version also mentions, "working with our allies to stand up to China." The two parties are in a contest of who can be tougher on China. The current US' atmosphere toward China is at its worst since the end of the Cold War. This is not only reflected in the two parties' tough stance, but also in Americans' change of public opinion toward China. According to a Pew Research Center survey on July 30, 73 percent of US adults say they have an unfavorable view of China - the highest rate since 2005. This is a manifestation of a major change in American society's perception of China. Thus, no matter which party comes into power next, the US' policy toward China will not undergo a fundamental reversal. The difference between the two parties lies in the way they act tough against China. In the future, the China-US strategic competition will continue to intensify and the risk of a new cold war will exist. China-US relations will enter a period of extreme uncertainty. The author is an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies. [email protected] Two people were shot to death and another was wounded during a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, and authorities Wednesday hunted for a possible vigilante seen on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a rifle. The gunfire was reported just before midnight, and Sheriff David Beth said one victim was shot in the head and another in the chest, the Milwaukee Journal Sentine l reported. The third victims wounds were not believed to life-threatening. He said that investigators had reviewed footage of what happened and that he was confident a man would be arrested soon. Beth told the Journal Sentinel that armed people had been patrolling the citys streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. Also read: Cops, protesters clash for 3rd night over black mans shooting in Wisconsins Kenosha Theyre a militia, Beth said. Theyre like a vigilante group. Cellphone video of at least two of the shootings that was posted online shows what appears to be a white man with a semi-automatic rifle jogging down the middle of a street as a crowd and some police officers follow him. Someone in the crowd can be heard asking, What did he do? and another person responds that the man had shot someone. The man with the gun stumbles and falls, and as he is approached by people in the crowd, he fires three or four shots from a seated position, hitting at least two people, including one who falls over and another who stumbles away to cries of Medic! Medic! A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled and fell, two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him. The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired, Rosas said. In the cellphone footage, as the crowd scatters, the gunman stands up and continues walking down the street as police cars arrive. The man puts up his hands and walks toward the squad cars, with someone in the crowd yelling at police that the man had just shot someone, but several of the cars drive past him toward the people who had been shot. Protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune that he witnessed one of the shootings. We were all chanting Black lives matter at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `Thats not fireworks, said Scott, 19. And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, He shot someone! He shot someone! And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again. Scott said he cradled one of the lifeless victims in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but I dont think he made it. At a news conference earlier Tuesday, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blakes family, said that Blake was shot multiple times by police on Sunday and that it would take a miracle for him to walk again. He called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and for the others involved to lose their jobs. The shooting of Blake apparently while three of his children looked on was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests over racial injustice in the US just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police touched off a wider reckoning on race. Kenosha police have said little about what happened, other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. They have not said why the officers opened fire or whether Blake was armed, and they have not disclosed the race of three officers who were on the scene. The 29-year-old Blake underwent surgery Tuesday, according to Crump, who added that the bullets severed his spinal cord and shattered his vertebrae. Another attorney said there was also severe damage to organs. Blakes father, also named Jacob Blake, told the Chicago Sun-Times that his son had eight holes in his body. At a news conference, he said police shot his son seven times, seven times, like he didnt matter. But my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters, he said. Blakes mother, Julia Jackson, told CBS This Morning in an interview that aired Wednesday that she feels as if she is in a bad dream and that it felt unreal that her sons name has been added to the list of Black people who were shot by police. Never in a million years did I think we would be here in this place. Him being alive is just a miracle in itself, she said. During the latest round of unrest Tuesday, police fired tear gas for the third straight night to disperse protesters who had gathered outside Kenoshas courthouse, where some shook a protective fence and threw water bottles and fireworks at officers lined up behind it. On Tuesday, before the two deadly shootings, Kenosha County Board sent a letter to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers requesting that at least 2,000 more National Guard troops be sent. Evers initially dispatched 150 troops on Monday and increased that to 250 on Tuesday. Evers did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. On Monday night, crowds destroyed dozens of buildings and set more than 30 fires downtown. Our county is under attack. Our businesses are under attack. Our homes are under attack. Our local law enforcement agencies need additional support to help bring civility back to our community, the county board leaders wrote. A feminist pianist who decided to convert to Orthodox Judaism to marry her Jewish partner has claimed her experiences over the last three years are a 'far cry' from those depicted in the Netflix miniseries Unorthodox. Ivi Chin, 35, fron London, spoke to Glamour about what it's really like to join the religion - which has been accused of misogyny and the oppression of women - after growing up in a secular household. She suggests a lot of the scenes in the show are over-dramatised for effect, yet acknowledges that some of the customs, including not being allowed to handle her partner's plate or sleep in the same bed as him when she is on her period, do in fact still apply. Ivi Chin, 35, has spent the last three years converting to Judaism and claims accusations of misogyny concerning the Orthodox Judaism faith are unjust Ivi suggests the portrayal of Orthodox Judaism is a 'far cry' from what she has experienced while converting to the religion in order to marry her partner. Pictured: a scene from the Netflix series Unorthodox Conversion can take up to 10 years to complete, and those hoping to join are expected to immerse themselves in the faith, homes and communities of other Orthodox Jews. Since starting her conversion three years ago, Ivi has been studying Judaism under the London Beth Din, which provide a central religious authority for Jewish communities in London and throughout the United Kingdom. In her case, she has six rebbetzins - the wives of rabbis - whom she can rely upon and contact at any time to discuss her conversion. But she says since the release of Unorthodox - which depicts the fictional journey of 19-year-old Esther Shapiro (Esty), a member of the 'ultra-orthodox' Satmar Haredi Jewish sect - she has had lots of people asking if her experiences have been similar to those in the show. She said: 'I have been asked, "Why would you want to join a community that treats women in this way?", but the way Esty is treated is a far cry from my experience of Judaism which has given me huge unexpected joy and fulfilment.' Instead, she remarked that all women in all societies face misogyny - like that depicted in Unorthodox - and insisted the 'draconian' treatment of women in the show was not what she had experienced. By contrast, she suggests women are revered in the religion and claims Judaism is one of the 'earliest champions' of feminism. Ivi said her favourite example of women's importance in the Jewish community is through the Ayeshet Chayil (Woman of Valour) which is sung to them every Friday evening. The self-professed feminist boasted that instead of getting one card a year as a show of appreciation, her man serenades her and brings her flowers every week. Ivi acknowledged that while there are stark contrasts between her experience and that depicted in the Netflix show, there are also similarities. In the programme the newlywed couple struggle to consummate their marriage and continue to try for months - something Ivi said was most likely put in for 'fantastic drama'. She noted that Jewish law forbids married couples from having sexual relations when there is 'disharmony' between them. Ivi has six rebbetzins - the wives of rabbis - whom she can rely upon and contact at any time to discuss her conversion Judaism also stipulates that men and women cannot have any sort of physical contact with each other when her period begins and for seven days after she stops bleeding. For this reason, Ivi says most couples sleep on two single beds joined together, which can be easily separated when necessary. The separation, according to Ivi, is designed to spark up the 'honeymoon feeling' once again. Although many people assume the procedure is linked to periods being seen as 'impure', Ivi said it is actually treated as a time to work on the non-physical needs of your partner. The women are not allowed to do certain chores such as serve their husbands food or pour a glass of water in front of him. Another custom in the programme which Ivi said is adhered to in real life is Orthodox women only allowing their husband and female family members see their real hair. In the show, Esty is forced to shave off her hair the night before her wedding - a tradition which dates back to medieval Hungary Instead they wear scarves or wigs - something which is also worn on their wedding day. In Unorthodox, Esty is forced to shave off her hair before her wedding - harking back to a former practice from medieval Hungary in which men would shave their future bride's heads in order to repel feudal lords from bedding them before they were married - something Ivi said she had never seen in her experience. And while phones and internet are banned in Unorthodox, Ivi only has to put down her luxury electrical items from sunset on Fridays to nightfall on Saturday. During that time, the community gathers to eat meals together and do fun activities away from technology. As she continues on her journey of converting to Judaism, Ivi acknowledged that the rules she must adhere to are not for everyone and may seem restrictive to people in the secular world. She said: 'A boundless life is analogous to a violin - when the strings of a violin are not bound, they are free yet purposeless. It is only when the strings are bound that they make beautiful music.' MIAMI, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the multi-Gold Medal winning South Florida Youth Symphony (SFYS.net), one of the nation's premier youth music organizations, were excited in early March 2020 as they prepared for an eight-day concert exchange trip to Uruguay and Argentina later that month. For many of the talented young musicianswith an average age of 15, and most from underprivileged households in some of Miami's poorest neighborhoodsit would be their first time on an airplane or out of the country. Then the pandemic hit. The multi-Gold Medal winning South Florida Youth Symphony captured first place in Prague in 2019 but the pandemic cancelled their 2020 trip to Uruguay and Argentina. The cancellation has caused severe hardships for the musician's parents-many of whom are out of work due to COVID-19. South Florida Youth Symphony members practiced-and performed concerts-via Zoom after their South American trip was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their parents, many from Miami's poorest neighborhoods, lost a total of $30,000 because of the cancellation. The trip, of course, had to be cancelled, forcing the 55-year-old non-profit organizationwhich recently captured Gold Medals at two international music competitions in Washington, D.C. in 2017 and Prague in 2019 in addition to a 2018 performance at Carnegie Hallto cancel weekly practices and replace them with virtual practices, as well as the summer camp via Zoom. THEN the really bad news hit. The travel company that was coordinating the South American trip refused to fully refund the cost of the trip, keeping $800 per person (of the $2,700 cost per student) for 'expenses.' "Many of these parents, whose kids are with the SFYS on full or partial scholarship, had to scrape and save to send their kids on the South America trip," said Marjorie Hahn, Executive and Creative Director of the SFYS who has been with the organization since it was founded by her step father Carmen Nappo in 1964. "Now those same parents, many of whom are unemployed because of COVID, are hurting and that $800 is vital to buy groceries and pay rent." To help alleviate the situation, the SFYSwhich recently did 3 virtual concerts with students from combined Symphony orchestras, Miami Dade College orchestra and students from Spain and Panama, has started a Go Fund Me page (https://gf.me/u/yttfkv) to assist the parents, who lost a total of $30,000 because of the cancelation. "At this time when there's so much unrest and distress in our country, it is important for diverse and inclusive organizations such as ours to continue to work with underserved communities because our music program benefits all families and all children," said Hahn, who takes pride in the fact that no student has ever been turned down by the SFYS because of the inability to pay. "Our music education program, caring teachers and diversity has been the backbone of the South Florida Youth Symphony for more than five decades. That's why we're trying to rally our community to help the parents and children. Simply put, they need that money to survive." For further information or to donate directly to the South Florida Youth Symphony's parents fund, visit https://gf.me/u/yttfkv, email [email protected] or call 305.238.2729. Media Contact: Lew Matusow 305.775.6575 [email protected] SOURCE South Florida Youth Symphony Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Windy with rain showers. High 44F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 30F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. The Republican National Convention on Tuesday offered plenty of reminders of how thoroughly President Trump has blurred his dual roles as the leader of the United States and the head of the Republican Party. Trump surprised Jon Ponder, a reformed bank robber, with an Oprah-style on-camera pardon. A small group of immigrants were sworn as new citizens during a brief naturalization ceremony. His Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, gave a brief speech from Jerusalem breaking with a long expectation that the nation's chief diplomat stays out of domestic politics. The speech by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who decried Hunter Biden's involvement with a Ukrainian energy company, revived memories of Trump's attempts to bully that country's president into helping his presidential campaign. It has rarely been the case in American history that the chief executive was expected to be a completely apolitical figure. George Washington warned of factionalism, but his successors were partisans. Most of those men probably saw some alignment between what was best for the country and what was best for their own interests. There has long been an expectation, however, there would be some distinction between the two roles. Admittedly, that line hasn't always been strictly observed. The Hatch Act, which prohibits executive branch employees from some political activities, doesn't apply to the president or vice president. Bill Clinton invited scandal by using the Lincoln Bedroom to lure donors. His vice president, Al Gore, drew harsh criticism for soliciting cash from his White House office. Various presidents have shot political ads in the West Wing, but they often drew scrutiny for doing so. The biggest scandals in American political history including Watergate and Trump's impeachment stemmed from presidents abusing their official powers to win elections. "What a White House has to be careful of is that they don't too easily use the tools around them in a way that would be inappropriate," Matt Schlapp, a Republican strategist, told The New York Times in 2012. Does this White House regard any political activity as inappropriate? Judging by this year's RNC, it seems not. More stories from theweek.com Trump's RNC role is a much bigger mistake than Republicans realize Trump calls for drug tests before presidential debates Trump's D.C. hotel hosting at least 15 events for donors amid RNC, including bourbon tasting with Rand Paul A young burns victim who survived two horrific car crashes before the age of six has opened up on why she counts herself lucky. Sophie Delezio, now 19, captured the hearts of Australians as a two-year-old when she was left with horrific burns after becoming trapped under a burning car which collided into a Sydney daycare centre. Although Sophie lost both feet, an ear, many of her fingers and emerged with burns to 85 per cent of her body, most Australians remember her joyful smile in the wake of the shocking accident. Scroll down for video. Sophie Delezio (pictured at 19) appeared on the ABC program Anh's brush with fame to discuss her life The girl captured the hearts of millions of Australians after surviving two near-fatal incidents when she was just a child (pictured in 2005 at the Variety Heart Awards) After a remarkable recovery, disaster struck yet again in 2006 when Sophie was thrown 18 metres from her wheelchair at a pedestrian crossing. The second incident left her with a broken jaw, collarbone, nine fractured ribs, punctured lungs, two fractured vertebrae and a brain injury. Despite all of this, she says she's grateful. 'Everything you go through there is always going to be some positive even though you might not see it at the time,' Sophie told comedian Anh Do on ABC program Anh's Brush With Fame. Sophie Delezio (pictured) has moved to London to pursue her dreams of living on her own overseas after she miraculously survived two near-fatal car accidents as a child The then-two-year-old was left fighting for her life at the age of two after she was trapped beneath a burning car, which crashed into her daycare centre in 2003 (pictured leaving hospital after recovering from the horrific crash in 2004) 'My parents at the time of the accident, all they could see was what was the horror of what was happening at the time... and it was horrible. But look at how much positivity it has brought. 'Everything is a choice. You can choose not to see the positive in things. You can choose to just focus on the negatives and wallow in pity. 'Everyone is allowed to grieve but you also need to look at the beauty in the world.' Now 19 years old, Sophie has just returned to Australia following a stint studying sociology and international relations at the University of London in the UK. 'Sophie is a very determined young woman,' her proud father Ron told The Weekly last year ahead of her departure. Now 19-years-old, Sophie (pictured in England with friend) has just returned to Australia following a stint studying sociology and international relations at the University of London in the UK Sophie (pictured) says happiness is a choice and there is always a positive side of every situation 'She has had to be determined and strong all her life. After everything that she has endured in the past 15 years, her just being alive is a testament to how determined she really is. 'She has had a plan to live overseas for at least a couple of years and she's been quietly working toward that goal the entire time.' Happiness is a choice, according to Sophie, who says there is always a positive side of every situation. 'I went through a lot and I've suffered a lot. I've been in pain and it's horrible but I've got to look at all the joy that has happened,' she said. Comedian Anh Do painted this stunning portrait of the inspirational Sophie Delezio The Sydney native said goodbye temporarily to her parents Carolyn and Ron and her brother Mitchell (pictured) to begin her new adventure A team of researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) affiliated with the CHOP Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) have combined clinical information with large-scale genomic data to successfully link characteristic presentations of childhood epilepsies with specific genetic variants. The findings were published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics. Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEE), a group of severe brain disorders that can cause difficult-to-treat seizures, cognitive and neurological impairment, and, in some cases, early death, are known to have more than 100 underlying genetic causes. However, matching characteristic clinical features and outcomes with specific genetic mutations can be especially daunting given the large number of genetic causes, each of which is very rare. When genetic information is collected, a person's phenotype - or clinical features - are typically also documented. However, while genetic information is collected in a standardized manner, the same is not true when describing clinical symptoms, which makes it difficult when trying to pinpoint whether certain genetic mutations are responsible for specific clinical features. Building upon their previous work, researchers from CHOP utilized the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO), which provides a standardized format to characterize a patient's phenotypic features and allows clinical data to be used at a similar level as genetic data. For this study, we used phenotypic and genetic information that had been collected in several important cohorts for more than a decade. In this study alone, we found associations of 11 genetic causes with specific phenotypes. Without methods to systematically analyze clinical data, we could not have possibly done this previously, even with this robust cohort of patients." Ingo Helbig, MD, attending physician at ENGIN, director of the genomic and data science core of ENGIN and lead investigator of the study In total, the study team analyzed 31,742 HPO terms in 846 patients with existing whole exome sequencing data. Some examples of causative genes in DEE identified in this study were SCN1A, which was associated with complex febrile seizures and focal clonic seizures; STXBP1, which was associated with absent speech; and SLC6A1, which was associated with EEG with generalized slow activity. In total, 41 genes with variants presented in at least two individuals, and 11 of those genes showed significant similarity between phenotypes of the patients with changes in these genes. Using a statistical analysis, the researchers showed that this was more than would be possible via chance. "Traditionally, many of the genetic epilepsies that we now develop treatments for were described because of a specific set of clinical features that stood out. However, this type of traditional description of new diseases requires patients to be seen by the same provider or within the same center. What we have done with this study is re-engineered the cognitive process that goes on when clinicians discover a new syndrome," Helbig said. "We have developed a computational mechanism to replicate this type of discovery from large, de-identified clinical data. As the amount of deep phenotypic data available to us increases, we now have the ability to identify novel genetic causes of particularly severe forms of epilepsy that are targets for new treatments." Jerry Falwell denies claim he resigned from Liberty U, says he's on indefinite leave Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment UPDATE: 10 p.m. ET Aug. 24: In an interview with Politico Monday evening, Jerry Falwell Jr. denied reports that he has resigned as president and chancellor of Liberty University. He clarified that he is on "indefinite leave" after the Associated Press cited a school official earlier in the day to report that Falwell had resigned. Jerry Falwell Jr. has rejected a report that he has stepped down from his position as president of Liberty University after a school official told the Associated Press Monday that he had resigned. The news comes after Giancarlo Granda claimed in an explosive report that contrary to claims by Falwell, the evangelical leader knew about Granda's sexual affair with his wife, Rebecca, and liked watching them together. Becki and I developed an intimate relationship and Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room, Granda, 29, told Reuters in an interview published Monday. Grandas interview comes after Falwell, who was on an indefinite leave of absence from the Christian college after a series of public embarrassing acts, revealed Sunday that his wife, Rebecca, 53, had an affair with Granda eight years ago and claimed that Granda then blackmailed his family. Falwell said he knew nothing about the affair and was never involved. Becki had an inappropriate personal relationship with this person, something in which I was not involved it was nonetheless very upsetting to learn about, Falwell said in a statement to the Washington Examiner late Sunday. Granda, who claims his liaisons with Rebecca Falwell were frequent happening multiple times per year said they would meet at hotels in Miami and New York, and at the Falwells home in Virginia. The son of immigrants from Cuba and Mexico, Granda said he was 20 when he first met the Falwells while working as a pool boy at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach. That relationship would eventually result in the Falwells investing in a gay-friendly youth hostel they purchased in 2013 for $4.7 million. Granda showed Reuters verified evidence suggesting that his relationship with Rebecca Falwell came with her husbands blessing. The evidence includes screenshots from what Granda said was a FaceTime conversation he had with the Falwells in 2019. Granda said Becki was naked during the call as they discussed their relationship while her husband peeked from behind a door. Granda also shared an audio recording that he said is part of a conversation he had with the Falwells in 2018. In the audio, Rebecca complained about Granda describing his relationships with other people: Hes like telling me every time he hooks up with people. Like I dont have feelings or something. Falwell interjected: Youre going to make her jealous. Granda replied: Im not trying to do that, according to Reuters. While he accepts that he was a voluntary participant in the relationship he had with the Falwells, Granda said he now feels like they preyed on him in hindsight. Whether it was immaturity, naivete, instability, or a combination thereof, it was this mindset that the Falwells likely detected in deciding that I was the ideal target for their sexual escapades, he told Reuters. Liberty University officials did not immediately respond to request for comment from The Christian Post on Monday but a number of Christians online shared their thoughts on Grandas revelations. Our God will not be mocked. May God heal and restore all who have been harmed, tweeted Karen Swallow Prior, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary research professor of English, Christianity and Culture who previously taught at Liberty University for more than two decades. Liberal Pastor John Pavlovitz tweeted, Jerry Falwell blocked me three years ago because I suggested his alignment with Trump and his using of @LibertyU to shill for a partywasn't exactly Jesus of Nazareth stuff. I think I'm OK he took issue with me. Liberty University was founded by Falwell's father in the 1970s. The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) has extended the deadline for parents and guardians to register their children for in-person or online learning as families struggle to use the boards Parent Portal application. This marks the second time that the board has delayed its deadline as a result of technical difficulties. The new deadline is Thursday, Aug. 27, at midnight. Previously, the board had said that all parents and guardians needed to indicate their childs enrolment decision by Aug. 21. It was then pushed to Aug. 25. Dozens of parents have spoken out about difficulties using the boards problem-plagued application. In social media groups, parents have lamented glitches, errors and faulty technology that has prevented them from registering their children with a looming deadline. Jodi-Anne Ralston, whose daughter attends elementary school, told the Spectator that the portals registration page wouldnt allow her to indicate her relationship to her child a requirement for registration. I tried this on my phone, then on my desktop. Didnt work. I tried a few times on Monday as well as yesterday and had the same issues, Ralston said. Ralston said she emailed the HWDSBs tech support but didnt receive a reply. On social media, the board has attempted to offer technical support, but acknowledged that there may be data entry errors due to high volume on our site. At Mondays board meeting, Peter Sovran, associate director of learning services at the HWDSB, said the board was looking into alternatives to the registration system. The registration delay means the board will have to wait to know how many students will be attending schools in-person versus online. The board currently predicts that up to 20 per cent of students may enrol online, but the numbers wont be confirmed until after the registrations are complete. The numbers will help inform the school board on reducing class sizes, and whether class sizes will be lower than anticipated. On Monday, trustees approved a $10.4-million plan to reduce class sizes in its elementary schools to roughly 22 students per class in kindergarten and 24 students per class for Grade 4 to 8. The plan, which is subject to approval from Ontarios Ministry of Education, would fund 56 new teachers and 47 new classrooms for kindergarten students, as well as 36 new teachers and 30 new classrooms from Grade 4 to 8. The plan assumes that all students will re-enrol for in-person classes, meaning that the class sizes may be lower depending on actual student enrolment numbers. The board has decided to dip into its reserve fund, a fund typically designated for emergencies, to help pay for the reduced class sizes. Manny Figueiredo, the HWDSBs director of education, told trustees that the ministry declined the boards request for $43 million and offered $933,505 instead, as part of a provincewide grant of $30 million for reducing class sizes. At a news conference held on Tuesday, Alex Johnstone, chair of the HWDSB, said the board will spend up to $9 million from its reserve fund assuming it receives an approval from the Ministry of Education. Reserve funds are typically saved for rainy days, and I can definitively tell you now that the flood has arrived, Johnstone said. Reducing goods and services tax (GST) on two-wheelers to 18 percent from the highest slab of 28 percent currently, could make bikes cheaper by up to Rs 10,000, said Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director at Bajaj Auto. Lot of pain in the market has been aggravated with high GST rate. Prices of two-wheelers could reduce by Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 if the GST rate is lowered to 18 percent, Bajaj told CNBC-TV18. The cut in export incentives has been another shocker. Bajaj Auto has lost close to Rs 300 crore due to the ceiling on export incentives, he said. Bajaj said the government needed to give consumers incentives at a time when jobs have been lost and affordability is low. Overregulation has led to a 30-35 percent increase in prices for consumers and cost to the consumer needs to be brought down, he added. The government, he said, should focus on export incentives for companies that have the scale to become global players. Bajajs comments on the GST rate come after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on August 24 said two-wheelers are neither a luxury nor sin product, adding the GST Council will look into the industry's demand to lower the GST rate. Country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp had last year urged the government to consider a phase-wise cut in GST rates in the segment. KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday in the killing of two people gunned down during a third night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, was taken into custody in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha. Two people were shot to death Tuesday night in an attack carried out by a young white man who was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle. "I just killed somebody," the gunman could be heard saying at one point during the shooting rampage that erupted just before midnight. One victim was shot in the head and the other in the chest, Sheriff David Beth told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A third person suffered gunshot wounds not believed to be life-threatening. In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized 500 members of the National Guard to support local law enforcement around Kenosha, doubling the number of troops sent in. The governor's office said he working other states to bring in additional National Guard troops and law officers. "We were all chanting 'Black lives matter' at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `'That's not fireworks,'" 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. "And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, 'He shot someone! He shot someone!' And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again." Scott said he cradled a lifeless victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but "I don't think he made it." According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the young man responsible for the shootings walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook page is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle. Other photographs include those of badges of various law enforcement agencies, including the Chicago Police Department. All of the badges have a black line across them something police officers do with black tape or another material whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty. In a photograph posted by his mother, he is wearing what appears to be a blue law enforcement uniform as well as the kind of brimmed hat that state troopers wear. The sheriff told the Journal Sentinel that armed people had been patrolling the city's streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. "They're a militia," Beth said. "They're like a vigilante group." The FBI said it is assisting in the case. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is Black, said in an interview with the news program "Democracy Now!" that the shootings were not surprising and that white militias have been ignored for too long. "How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks it's OK?" Barnes said. "People treat that like it's some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles." Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages: The gunman first shot someone at a car lot, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him. A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled, "two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him." "The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired," Rosas said. Sam Dirks, 22, from Milwaukee, said he had seen the suspected gunman earlier in the evening, and he was yelling at some of the protesters. "He was definitely very agitated. He was pacing around, just pointing his gun in general. Not necessarily at anyone specifically," Dirks said. In other widely circulating video, police can be seen tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle to what appear to be armed civilians walking the streets. One of the civilians appears to be the gunman who later shot protesters. "We appreciate you being here," an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. In Wisconsin, it is legal for people 18 and over to openly carry a gun, with no license required. Blake, 29, was shot, apparently in the back, on Sunday as he leaned into his SUV, three of his children seated inside. Kenosha police have said little about what happened other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. They have not said why the officers opened fire or whether Blake was armed, and they have not disclosed the race of three officers on the scene. On Tuesday, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blake's family, said it would "take a miracle" for Blake to walk again. He called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and for the others involved to lose their jobs. The shooting was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests in the U.S. three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a nationwide reckoning over racial injustice. During the unrest in Kenosha since then, protesters destroyed dozens of buildings, set fires and hurled objects at police, who responded with tear gas on three straight nights. The normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened up lots of opportunities at a time when ties between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi too are growing, external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said. India has welcomed the deal between the UAE and Israel, both key allies in West Asia, and also called for the resumption of direct talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership for a two-state solution. Referring to the normalisation of ties between the UAE and Israel, Jaishankar told Gulf News: When two strategic friends come closer it opens up lots of opportunities. India and the UAE, he said, have a fast growing relationship. He added, UAE is central to Indias extended neighbourhood. We see UAE on the crossroads of international trade. As Singapore is in the East, UAE is in the West. The report in the Gulf News stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally directed officials to give a new thrust to ties with the UAE after coming to power in 2014. Over the past few years, New Delhi has expended considerable diplomatic capital in improving ties with West Asian countries, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Saudi Arabia, and the relations now extend from energy security to security and defence cooperation, including intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism. The presence of some 8 million Indian expatriates in West Asia has been a key factor in these efforts. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have also played a role in improving Indias ties with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), though differences remain on issues such as Kashmir. Jaishankars visit to the UAE while he was foreign secretary in 2015 helped him build rapport with minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash and gave a boost to ties, the report said. Modis team also sought to go beyond the perception formed about West Asian countries through a narrow focus on the Israel-Palestine issue or merely as sources of energy, the report added. In 2015, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit the UAE in 34 years, and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was the chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations in 2017. During the past six years, Modi visited the UAE three times. Jaishankar said: It is a relationship where the highest leadership of both countries have invested goodwill and energy. As a result, you can see the transformation during the last five years. In his new book The India Way Strategies for an Uncertain World, Jaishankar has listed the UAE among the five countries that India must concentrate on while conducting its foreign policy. Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Deputy Director-General of the Social Security Department in the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, speaks on his ministrys plan to develop a national social security system in all provinces and cities nationwide. A social security worker introduces the benefits of voluntary social security to small traders at Son La Market, in the northern mountainous province of Son La. VNA/VNS Photo Huu Quyet What challenges does Vietnam face in using e-payments? To apply e-payments in the field of social security, an essential foundation we need is the national archive on social security. This foundation is an essential tool for management and writing a good report to tell other agencies what are the essential needs of people in disadvantage groups. It also helps authorities develop the most suitable policies to help them. The Prime Ministers Decision No.708 approved the development of a proposal on e-national social security for the next decade (2020 to 2030). However, in the course of writing the proposal, we have faced quite a lot of challenges as our current legal documents on social security are not synchronised, particularly administrative procedures. Furthermore, right now Vietnam lacks comprehensive achievements in this field. Most of the documents are still in paper formats. As a result, we desperately need proper investment to develop a proper national data system in social security. Why should Vietnam develop a specific data system on social security? Nowadays, information technology has been applied in almost all sectors, including the social security system. There is no doubt that if each sector has its own reliable data system, it will help government agencies develop good and workable policies or guidelines for each economic sector and it will save a lot of money. However, we need a standard format to develop the data system on social security to be applied in all provinces and cities nationwide. Many experts have suggested the development of the national security data system should be integrated with the current national data system on population. What do you think? I cant agree more. Vietnam is in the course of developing a national data system on population. Im confident that when this data system is available it will become an essential element for developing the national date system on social security. But in the initial period, we should launch a pilot project in some provinces and then a few years later well expand to other provinces nationwide. VNS Encouraging more people to join the voluntary social insurance scheme From this year on, May will be observed as a month to encourage all Vietnamese working people to participate in the national social insurance scheme. A 100-pound Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, a massive new species that lives in the Suwannee River, was one of three caught recently by Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission trappers. 100-pound male Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys suwanniensis. FWC is collaborating with other researchers... Posted by FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute on Friday, August 21, 2020 According to an FWC Facebook post on Friday, biologists with the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute found three of the species in traps set in the New River: a 100-pound male and a 46-pound female in one trap, and a 64-pound male in another. This week our biologists were out checking traps set for the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys... Posted by FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute on Friday, August 21, 2020 The New River, which is north of Gainesville, is a blackwater stream with low biological productivity, so finding a large turtle in such a small stream is unusual, the Facebook post said. The Facebook post said the FWC is working with other researchers in Florida and Georgia to document the distribution and relative abundance of this state threatened species. According to the Facebook post, FWC helped describe the new species, Macrochelys suwanniensis, in 2014. READ MORE: Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. A young woman with severe asthma admitted she has become a 'proper Karen' while stuck inside quarantine hotel with no windows or balcony. Chelsea, 25, and her partner Jeremy, 27, from New South Wales, are five days into their two-week mandatory stay at a hotel on the Gold Coast. But Chelsea doesn't know if she will last another nine days cooped up in a small room with dust and no fresh air due to her serious respiratory complications. 'I literally am wheezing when I breathe. I'm not sleeping because my congestion is so bad,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Chelsea, 25, and her partner Jeremy, 27, from New South Wales, are five days into their two-week mandatory quarantine on the Gold Coast The frustrated couple, who have forked out nearly $4,000 for their hotel quarantine, have even put up a sign in their window which reads 'help, can't breathe' 'We did the right thing and followed the rules but to put someone in a room with no open windows for fresh air is such a health risk. 'I honestly don't know what else to do... I can't imagine what my health will be like at day 14.' The recruitment consultant said a dusty air conditioning vent in their room and a lack of oxygen has triggered her allergies. 'I never sit in air con too long cause it sets off my allergies but this room has just set everything off,' she said. 'We have dusty air vents but we have to put the aircon on because it gets so hot and stuffy in here. I havent had a flare up like this in years.' The frustrated couple, who have forked out nearly $4,000 for their hotel quarantine, have even put up a sign in their window which reads 'help, can't breathe'. The recruitment consultant (pictured) said a dusty air conditioning vent in their room and a lack of oxygen has triggered her allergies Chelsea said she has 'turned into a proper Karen' after calling Queensland Health, hotel management, the Red Cross and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk 'numerous times a day', but to no avail. 'Ive sent emails and medical documents but no one has gotten back to me,' she said. Chelsea said reaching out to the media was a desperate last ditch attempt to get help. The 25-year-old slammed the State Government for their 'poor decision' to put returned travellers in a hotel with no windows or fresh air flow to the rooms. 'Theres one other hotel on surfers paradise doing quarantine and every room there has a balcony. Its not fair,' she said. 'Plus they are charging us the same price as those that get a balcony. Its our money they are throwing around. Its ridiculous.' Chelsea doesn't know if she will last another nine days cooped up in a small hotel room with dust and no fresh air due to her serious respiratory complications Chelsea said she has 'turned into a proper Karen' after calling Queensland Health, hotel management, the Red Cross and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk 'numerous times a day', but to no avail. Pictured with boyfriend Jeremy Chelsea called for better protocols to protect travellers' health, and claimed social distancing wasn't adhered to while getting to the hotel. 'They shoved us all in a bus and didn't even get us to sit apart so we were all in close contact with each other,' she said. 'Something's got to change. I don't want to sound like a whinger but this is people's lives they are playing with.' Chelsea and Jeremy returned to Queensland from Kiama, on the NSW south coast, and had planned to drive home before the border slammed shut. 'We could only fly so we jumped on a plane and now its costing us thousands to get everything moved up here because we cant drive our own cars and do it ourselves,' she said. Never did she think that falling into a ditch would eventually land her face-to-face with the person she admired her entire life. But when she eventually woke up in the hospital a few hours later, she was surprised to find Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose beside her. He had come to her camp and when he heard about the accident, he visited her. And that is how Rama Khandwala met Netaji for the first time. No, this isn't a crazy dream. This is the story of the now 94-year-old who was part of the Indian National Army's (INA) Rani of Jhansi regiment, under the leadership of Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, and who fought alongside Netaji during the Second World War. Rama Khandwala joined the INA in Rangoon (present day Yangon) in Burma (present day Myanmar) in 1943. "My mother was part of the Indian Independence League and was a recruiting officer and was also collecting donations for the Azad Hind Fauj. She enroled my sister and I into the INA," recalls Rama, who joined the armed forces at age 17. "We underwent military training and were also trained as nurses." However, military life was a sharp departure from her usual lifestyle Rama was brought up in great luxury and belonged to an affluent family in Rangoon. "The training was tough and there were times when my sister and I would cry but eventually, we overcame that, made friends with other women in the regiment and learnt how to enjoy training," she says. Rama with her mother, Lilavati Chhaganlal Mehta, before the war Life in the INA As part of her regular duties, Rama had to keep watch at night on a rotational basis. It was during one of those sentry duties that she fell into a ditch, a moment that would eventually culminate in her meeting Netaji. However, it was her time as a nurse on the frontline that she describes as the experience of her lifetime. The war was raging on and every day, we would receive so many wounded soldiers in the hospital. There were also those affected by diseases like malaria. I remember a soldier once told me, 'Maam, please send a message to my house. He was so severely wounded that he didn't think hed make it it was really sad and morbid, says Rama. Much later, when she was given the choice to either participate in the active war front or work as a nurse; Rama chose the former and rose to the position where she could command her own platoon. Rama learnt Japanese in Burma (Burma was under Imperial Japan's rule from 1942 to 1945 and Japanese schools had been set up all over the country) before she joined the INA. This provided her an edge over others during her interactions with Japanese soldiers. When the war was over and Japan fell, the INA was also disbanded. At that time, Netaji sent us back home. I was under house arrest for six months in Rangoon, she says. However, this is a very different house arrest, she says jovially about the lockdown, But it is quite sad that people have to lose their lives due to no fault of theirs. Rama during her rifle training in the INA Rama recalls an incident of a public meeting she had participated in alongside Netaji. Women from everywhere would come with their jewellery and donate it to the cause, stating, Yeh humare desh ki azadi ke liye hai (This is for the freedom of our country). It was heartening to see the patriotism and desire for independence in everyone, she says. Most of those in the regiment were never identified. "In 1946, I moved to Bombay (present day Mumbai) with my family. I could see India's independence from my homeland but it was unfortunate that Netaji wasn't there to witness the historic moment," rues Rama. She has been living in Mumbai since then. As a tour guide Netajis message of Aage badho (Move ahead) has remained with Rama for all these years. Shortly after returning to Mumbai, her skills in typing and shorthand landed her a job as a secretary. But after noticing a government advertisement calling for tour guides, Rama applied for that job. They needed someone who knew a foreign language. And I was glad that I was fluent in Japanese, says Rama. After three months of comprehensive training, this time in iconography, architecture, cuisine, among others, she finally became a tour guide. After getting married in 1949, Rama continued her job and only took a break ten years later, when her daughter was born. Rama with her husband, Satyendra Mangaldas Khandwala As a tour guide, Rama was a stickler for the rules and was always on time. We couldnt spoil our countrys reputation. It was a huge responsibility. I have been late only once in my life and that was because I couldnt find transport amidst heavy rainfall in Mumbai, she says. Rama has been a tour guide in the Western region of the country for over 50 years. I had to also accompany tours to other parts of the country as an interpreter as there werent many tour guides fluent in Japanese, she recalls. Other than Japanese, Rama could once speak in five languages English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and Burmese. Unfortunately, years of not speaking have rendered me incapable of conversing fluently in Burmeseb today, says the ex-tour guide who retired just a couple of years ago. She considers her time as a tour guide as a huge learning experience. Not only do you teach others about your own culture, you get to learn a lot about other people and their culture too, Rama says. Her fluency is Japanese has also enabled her to teach the language to others. Students visit my house to learn Japanese all year round, she says. At 94, Rama has unparalleled strength and resilience. Fiercely independent, Rama says that she likes to keep busy all day and doesnt take afternoon siestas as is typical of someone from her generation. I love to read, watch travel shows on TV and speak to my people, adds Rama, who has been navigating WhatsApp and confesses to be part of several groups. I was in touch with some of my colleagues from the INA for a long time, who were spread across different parts of Asia. Theres also a WhatsApp group with other tour guides in Mumbai whom Ive worked with over the years, says Rama, for whom 24 hours seems too less. A keen Australian shopper has shared every product from Woolworths' latest catalogue that will earn you an extra Disney Plus Ooshie at the checkout. The 36 Disney+ fan favourites landed in Woolworths stores on Wednesday August 26, featuring iconic characters from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Pixar. Customers can retrieve one Ooshies collectable for every $30 they spend in stores - but there are some 'participating brands' you can buy from that will give you bonus toys. These brands include Uncle Toby's, Tip Top, Oral B, Huggies, Sorbent, Woolworths Macro Organic and McCain, and there is no price limit on what you can buy. A keen Australian shopper has shared every product from Woolworths' latest catalogue that will earn you an extra Disney Plus Ooshie at the checkout 'Disney Ooshies are back at Woolworths. I've taken pictures from the catalogue of all the items you can buy to get an extra Ooshie,' the shopper wrote on Facebook. You can buy Pantene's shampoo and conditioner, Cold Power laundry liquid, LeSnak cheese snacks, Devondale sliced cheese, McCain fries, Pauls custard and Moccona coffee, among others. One Sydney woman headed to her closest store at 7.45am to be one of the first to get her hands on the tiny figurines, and ended up scoring more than she bargained for when she bought some of the participating brand products in her $31 haul. You can buy Pantene's shampoo and conditioner, Cold Power laundry liquid, LeSnak cheese snacks, Devondale sliced cheese, McCain fries, Pauls custard and Moccona coffee, among others Revealed: The participating brands for bonus Ooshies Pantene Huggies Gillette Energizer Oral B Devondale Fresh fruit Tip Top Pauls Gold Power Finish Danone Moccona Macro Organic D'Orsogna Fancy Feast Uncle Tobys Sorbent McCain Vegemite Advertisement In this woman's case she had two packets of Uncle Toby's oats, five Danone YoPro yoghurts, five Pauls squeezie yoghurts and five Macro organic pouches that awarded her 17 bonus Ooshies - plus she got an extra one for spending over $30. Every week, the supermarket will nominate selected products from its catalogue that are eligible for a bonus Disney Plus Ooshie collectable. 'If a customer purchases five products from one participating brand, they will receive five bonus Ooshies,' a Woolworths spokesperson told FEMAIL. The spokesperson confirmed shoppers will be limited to five items per shop for any eligible bonus brand. Last year, shoppers found a loophole to score more than 10 Lion King Ooshies for just $30 after their grocery bill included selected items such as $2 hand washes and $1.80 cat food. The new Ooshies feature iconic characters like Darth Vader, Elsa, Buzz Lightyear, Thor, Ariel, Yoda, Black Panther and Moana. An Australian mother has managed to get 18 new Disney Plus Ooshies from a small $31 Woolworths grocery shop In this woman's case she had two packets of Uncle Toby's oats, five Danone YoPro yoghurts and five Pauls squeezie yoghurts and five Macro organic pouches that awarded her 17 bonus Ooshies - plus she got an extra one for spending over $30 The collection includes silver, gold, colour changing, glow in the dark, and additional glitter edition Ooshies, which can all be kept in a limited-edition box. 'We know many Aussie families have had a challenging year, so we're partnering with Disney to give our customers something exciting to look forward to from their everyday shop,' Woolworths chief marketing officer Andrew Hicks said earlier this week. 'Whether it's Woody, a hologram Princess Leia or a glow in the dark Yoda, we're confident the collection is something the entire family can enjoy and collect together.' Woolworths has also teamed up with TerraCycle to offer customers a sustainable way to recycle their previous Ooshies. Customers can score more than one themed figurine in a single transaction if they buy selected products from participating brands Woolworths revealed the full list of Disney Plus Ooshies collectables this week featuring iconic characters like Elsa and Anna from Frozen, and Darth Vader from Star Wars Australian shoppers can start collecting the themed figurines from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies with every $30 spent in store or online from Wednesday, August 26 Woolworths has also teamed up with TerraCycle to offer customers a sustainable way to recycle their previous Ooshies Every Woolworths store will have dedicated recycle bins so customers can drop any pre-loved collectables and wrapper to be recycled until January 31, 2021. The paper wrapper can also be recycled at home in the yellow bin. Unfortunately there will be a delay on the launch for customers in Victoria until lockdown restrictions ease to focus on store operations and safety of team members and customers. To keep Victorian fans entertained until then, Disney+ is offering eligible Everyday Rewards members in Victoria a 14 day free trial of Disney+, giving them access to thousands of hours of films and series. Every Woolworths store will have dedicated recycle bins so customers can drop any pre-loved collectables and wrapper to be recycled until January 31, 2021 'We know some customers in Victoria will be disappointed by the delayed roll out, but the safety and wellbeing of our customers, team members, and community remains our number one priority,' Mr Hicks said. 'The delay will allow our team to focus on operations and supplying customers with their everyday essentials during this challenging period. 'Once restrictions ease and we can safely roll out the program, we look forward to sharing the Disney magic with our Victorian customers.' Whether or not TikToks code was doing something nefarious, there is a broader lesson here. As increasingly digital creatures, we often dont think twice about giving the apps that we love permanent access to information about ourselves. So the debate about TikTok is a reminder that we must be on guard about the data we share with any apps whether its from an American or a Chinese company and get in the habit of denying their requests to our personal data. We should be minimizing the amount of data we share, Mr. Jackson said. It doesnt matter who collects it in the first place. Heres what you can do to set up your app defenses. Minimize data sharing. When you open a newly installed app on your phone, notifications may pop up asking for permission for access to sensors and data such as your camera, photo album, location and address book. When that happens, ask yourself these questions: Does this app need access to my data or sensor for it to work properly? Does the app need access to this sensor or data all the time or just temporarily? Do I trust this company with my data? Sometimes it makes sense to grant access. An app like Google Maps, for example, needs to know your location so it can figure out where you are and give directions. In other instances, the need is less clear. GasBuddy, an app that helps you find nearby gas stations with the lowest prices, asks for permission to know your location. You could allow it to pull your devices precise location from its GPS sensor. But it would be safer just to enter your ZIP code so it has less precise information about your whereabouts. (A 2018 Times investigation found that GasBuddy was one of dozens of apps that shared users location data with third parties.) Then there is the question of whether an app needs permanent access to our data and sensors meaning it always has permission to get information like our location and photos even when we are not using features related to that data. Usually the answer is no. As a brand-new TikTok user, for example, I had granted it permanent access to my phones camera and microphone. But I have mostly used the app to scroll through peoples cooking videos and have posted only two videos. And the app doesnt really need to know that much about me. So I eventually went into the settings to disable access to those sensors. 3 1 of 3 Bexar County Sheriff's Office Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Bexar County Sheriff's Office Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Two men accused of vandalizing a South Side thrift store with graffiti were identified after one of the suspects spray painted his name on the building, according to an arrest affidavit. Rudy Almeida, 38, and Aaron Stelly were arrested in connection with graffiti found Aug. 9 on the Community Thrift Store, located in the 1000 block of S.E. Military Drive. MINSK -- The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has granted a petition from Metropolitan Paval of Minsk and Zaslavl to dismiss him from his post as the patriarch's exarch of all Belarus. Bishop Veniamin of Borisov and Maryina Gorka has been appointed the patriarch's exarch of all Belarus while remaining the temporary head of the Borisov diocese, Russian Orthodox Church spokesman Vladimir Legoyda said. The synod appointed Metropolitan Paval head of the Kuban metropolitanate, Legoyda said. The previous metropolitan of Kuban, Isidor, died on August 8 of complications from COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Paval became head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church in 2013. Paval has been criticized by the Belarusian opposition for congratulating President Alyaksandr Lukashenka after an official tally from Belarus's August 9 presidential election showed he had won a landslide victory. Paval has also been criticized for failing to react to the mass arrests and beatings of protesters amid demonstrations against the vote tally, which is disputed by opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsihanouskaya and her supporters. "Compatriots place great hopes in you to protect the sovereignty of Belarus, while preserving our nations spiritual and cultural heritage," Paval said in an open letter to Lukashenka following the August 9 presidential poll. With reporting by Interfax The Special Cell of Delhi police arrested JNU PhD scholar Sharjeel Imam in connection with the February Northeast Delhi riots. He has been booked on the charges of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). On Sunday, he was brought back to Delhi from Assam on the production warrant. On July 21, the Delhi police was scheduled to bring him to the national capital but just ahead of his departure for Delhi, Imam tested positive for COVID-19. Imam is an accused in a case related to alleged inflammatory speeches during the protests against CAA and NRC and was currently lodged in Guwahati jail in a case related to UAPA registered by the Assam police. Delhi Police on July 25 had filed a chargesheet against Imam in connection with a case related to his alleged inflammatory speeches during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at several places. The 600-page charge sheet was filed, under section 124A (Sedition), 153(A) (Promoting enmity), 153 (Assertion prejudicial to national integration) (promoting enmity, Hatred between different communities, 505 (spreading rumours) IPC and Section 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in Delhi's Patiala House court. By Express News Service MADURAI: Advocate Sivakami Sundari, an alleged aide of Sri Lankan criminal Angoda Lokka, told the CB-CID that Athurugiriye Ladiya, one of the close associates of Lokka, stayed with him in Madurai, said sources from the department. Sivakami Sundari, her associate Thiyaneshwaran from Erode, and Lokka's girlfriend Amani Dhanji were arrested on August 2 for forging documents, including Aadhaar, for Angoda Lokka. Later, the CB-CID obtained custody of the three suspects from the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Coimbatore. During interrogation, Sundari told the officers that one Ladiya, who escaped with Lokka from Sri Lanka following an attack on a prison in 2017, stayed with Lokka in Madurai for some time. There was information that Lokka arranged a passport in the name of Sadun el Valage before entering the country. "The department would investigate the claim made by Sundari that Ladiya stayed with him," said an officer. As Lokka was a drug dealer, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is likely to investigate his connections in the State. The NCB sleuths claimed the Madurai zone was created in 2013 and that drug cases registered before 2013 from the zone were being handled by officers of the Chennai zone. Lokka is believed to have been active around 2010 and the Madurai zone does not have any cases related to him since 2013. "There was no official communication so far to check Lokka's connections in the locality," said an officer from the unit. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 16:00:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 236 new daily cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, with the figure topping the 200-mark for the first time since Sunday. The latest figure compares to 182 new COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday and 95 new infections on Monday. Tokyo's cumulative total has risen to 19,846 cases, the highest among Japan's 47 prefectures. Tokyo residents have been asked to refrain from traveling outside the prefecture, as well as avoid dining out in groups, including small gatherings held in close proximity with others, in a bid to curb the virus spread. Establishments serving alcohol such as restaurants, bars and karaoke parlors have been requested to shorten their opening hours until the end of August. They have been asked to shut their doors at 10:00 p.m. to limit the number of patrons drinking into the night as another means to try and limit the COVID-19 transmission. Local authorities have said that the later people drink, the more likely their inhibitions will lower. This can lead to people tending to stop wearing masks once intoxicated and forgetting to adhere to acceptable social distancing measures, they said. The metropolitan government, despite some improvement in the infection rate recently, has described the COVID-19 situation in the capital of 14 million as "extremely severe" and has said that the "utmost caution is still required." It has maintained its alert level at the highest on its four-tier scale meaning "infections are spreading." Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said a Tokyo-specific state of emergency could still be declared if the virus resurgence worsens. Enditem President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made it clear that Sri Lankas strategic security policy will have an India first approach though Colombo remains open to dealing with other major countries for economic development, the countrys new foreign secretary Jayanath Colombage has said. Colombage, a retired admiral who commanded Sri Lankas navy during 2012-14 and is perceived as close to Rajapaksa, made the remarks in two recent interviews. He also said Rajapaksas administration has adopted a posture of neutrality in its dealings with key powers at the regional and global level as Sri Lanka cannot become a staging area for any country to do anything against another country especially...India. Very categorically, the president has stated that we have a strategic security-wise India first policy because we cannot be, we should not be, we cant afford to be a strategic security threat for India, period, Colombage said in an interview to Derana 24 news channel that aired on August 20. We cant be and we dont have to be [a security threat to India]. They are a very big power, [the] fastest developing major economy in 2018, 1.34 billion people, a 7,500-km coastline, its a huge country. We need to benefit from India, he added. Colombage made similar remarks in an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper, pointing out that Sri Lanka is between two economic giants ,a reference to China. He added: That is why the president mentioned that as far as strategic security is concerned, Sri Lanka will always have an India-first approach. That means Sri Lanka will not do anything harmful to Indias strategic security interests. However, he said Rajapaksa had made it clear to Indias leadership that Sri Lanka cannot depend on any one country for economic development. We are open to anyone. We know China is one country willing to invest and develop (sri Lanka). They have the capacity to do it. We have to benefit from it. We have to balance, he told the Daily Mirror. Colombage also told the news channel: Even to India...very firmly, the president has said, you are my first priority insofar as security is concerned but I have to deal with other players for my economic prosperity. Colombage, who was appointed foreign secretary on August 14 and previously served as additional secretary to the president for foreign relations, also said the Sri Lankan government will not hand over total control of strategic national assets to a foreign power following the experience with Hambantota port, which was given to China Merchant Port Holding for 99 years. Now in that deal, roughly...about 85% of that projects stakes are for China Merchant Port Holding and only 15% for Sri Lanka. We will do everything so that no one can use our country against another country but then giving total control for a long period, of majority 85% is a very high stake, he told the news channel. In future ventures, Sri Lanka will retain a 51% stake in any project with foreign investment, he said. Colombage told the Daily Mirror that China understands Sri Lankas position and is pushing for commercial things. He added, China also understands it isnt ethical to push Sri Lanka beyond a certain point that is worrisome to India. He also told the daily that in 2015, India feared we had moved towards China too much, and that India, Japan and the US considered it was wrong for Sri Lanka to give Hambantota port on lease to a Chinese firm. We actually made India jittery during the period between 2015 and 2019. But India is comfortable with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Modi government has focused on improving ties with Rajapaksas administration. Modi was the first world leader to congratulate Rajapaksa even before the final results of Sri Lankas parliamentary elections were declared earlier this month, after his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party took an unassailable lead. Last month, India announced a $400-million currency swap facility for Sri Lanka under the Saarc framework, and officials said Colombos request for a bilateral swap facility for $1.1 billion was also being considered. When Rajapaksa visited India last November, just 10 days after becoming president, New Delhi announced a $400-million line of credit to boost infrastructure and development, and offered another $50 million to fight terrorism and enhance intelligence gathering. Dr. Schiffer said that the new genetic evidence fit well with what epidemiologists and disease modelers have been learning about the coronavirus. The Biogen conference, he said, was just one of many similar events that amplified and spread the virus in its early months. I dont think its a fluke at all, he said. The results came out of a project that began in early March at the Broad Institute of Harvard and M.I.T., a research center specializing in large-scale genome sequencing. As a wave of Covid-19 patients crashed into Massachusetts General Hospital, the Broad researchers analyzed the genetic material of the viruses infecting the patients cells. The scientists also looked at samples from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which ran tests around Boston at homeless shelters and nursing homes. All told, the scientists analyzed the viral genomes of 772 people with Covid-19 between January and May. The researchers then compared all of these genomes to trace where each virus came from. When a virus replicates, its descendants inherit its genetic material. If a random mutation pops up in one of its genes, it will also get passed down to later descendants. The vast majority of such mutations dont change how the virus behaves. But researchers can use them to track the spread of an epidemic. Its kind of like a fingerprint we can use to follow viruses around, said Bronwyn MacInnis, a genomic epidemiologist at the Broad Institute. The first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Boston turned up on Jan. 29. The patient had traveled from Wuhan, China, and his virus carried distinctive mutations found in Wuhan. But Dr. MacInnis and her colleagues didnt find any other viruses in Boston from later months with the same genetic fingerprint. Its likely that the patients isolation prevented the virus from spreading. 26.08.2020 LISTEN A survey conducted by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) reveals that some Ghanaians are in support of strict enforcement of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) to aid in the fight against the canker of corruption. The Act states that political parties must disclose their sources of funding in their political activities. GACC in its report dubbed: Anti-Corruption Manifesto said political parties must consider the implementation of the Act in their manifestos to augment the fight against corruption. Jacob Tetteh Ahuno, Programmes Officer of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, highlighted some parts of the report during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, August 26, 2020: Citizens proposed that they want the next government to ensure the enforcement of the Political Parties Act which stipulates under Section 21 that political parties should disclose their funding sources. If you check with the Electoral Commission, for the past 15 years not even one political party has submitted its financial report in full. When we say in full, we mean, for every yearThis tells you that the law is not fully enforced. Citizens are also asking for Act 574 which is again a Political Parties Act, to be amended to include disclosure of funding sources for candidates contesting presidential, parliamentary and local level elections, so we need to know who is funding the political parties. As of now, it is not included in the law and citizens are calling for its inclusion, he added. Part of the Anti-Corruption Manifesto also indicated that many Ghanaians demand continuity in projects and programmes by successive governments. Citizens are of the view that the disinterest to continue projects of the former administration stems from a desire to re-award contracts to service providers that they [ruling government] favour. Citizens are now proposing that the Presidential Transition Act 845 should be amended to include ongoing infrastructure. The law should give time limits for the new government to review and publish their plans for continuing the project. Should the government decide to change the service provider or make any other significant changes, it must be done within a time limit with explanations and it must be published, so we can know why they have decided to change the service provider and query them if need be. ---citinewsroom A Confederate memorial statue in downtown Huntsville got a mysterious pressure-washing overnight Tuesday to clean red paint dumped on it by protesters recently. Local television station WAFF attributed the overnight cleanup attempt to a concerned citizen who owns a local power washing company, but did not identify the individual. County Commission Chairman Dale Strong could not be reached immediately for comment, but a monument protester said he was not surprised by the cleanup attempt. The statue was defaced with paint in late May when protestors were gathering regularly on the courthouse square in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis. Speakers have objected at every County Commission meeting since then to the monuments placement near the courthouses front door. John Scales speaks in support of keeping the Confederate monument at the Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville on behalf of the Historical Protection of North Alabama on Aug. 24, 2020. (Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com) The timing comes a couple of days after (Commission Chairman Strong) said it might need to be moved to clean it, statue opponent David Odom said today suggesting a possible motive for the cleanup attempt. Odom represents the Tennessee Valley Progressive Alliance, a group that has pledged the $25,000 to pay the state fine for moving the monument from the square. Its not going to quiet down, he said of statue opposition. Its going to be a black eye until they move it. Its unfortunate, protester Remus Bowden said today. Bowden said he isnt surprised given Tuesdays shouting match between pro- and anti-statue partisans on the steps in front of the statue. Bowden said this latest development gives Dale Strong another opportunity to do whats right, but I dont think hes going to do that. It just means I have more work to do, Bowden said. Afghanistan's first female film director has been shot and wounded in Kabul by three gunmen who opened fire on her car. Saba Sahar, a trailblazing actress, director, police officer and women's rights activist, was targeted on Tuesday, with the attack happening five minutes from her house. Her husband, Emal Zaki, told the BBC that she was one of five people in the vehicle, including the driver, two bodyguards and a child. It was not clear if the child was one of Sahar's children. Saba Sahar, Afghanistan's first female film director, was shot near her Kabul home on Tuesday Sahar was a rare female actress, producer and director in the male-dominated country Emal Zaki, Saha's husband, said the shooting was so close to their home he heard the shots 'I reached the scene and found them all wounded,' Zaki told the BBC, adding that it happened so close to home, he could hear the gunshots. Afghanistan's Tolo News published photos of the gold SUV she was traveling in, its windows shielded by curtains, but now shattered by bullets. 'She received first aid and we transferred her to the emergency hospital and then to the police hospital.' Zaki said that Sahar was shot in the stomach and was able to answer the phone when he called her. He said she later underwent a successful surgery. Sabar was well known in Afghanistan following the huge success of her first film, The Law, released in 2004. Photos published by local media showed Sahar's vehicle, its windows shattered by bullets She was in the car with two bodyguards, a driver and a child when the attack happened The British embassy in Afghanistan tweeted: 'Condemn this cowardly attack on a brave Afghan woman. Wishing Saba Sahar a full recovery.' Markus Potzel, Germany's envoy to Afghanistan, tweeted: 'Another courageous female member of the AFG society was attacked today. 'Perpetrators must be investigated&held accountable. Wishing speedy recovery to #sabasahar & all the injured. #stoptheviolence'. Earlier this month one of the only women taking part in negotiations with the Taliban was shot while in her car. Fawzia Koofi was shot in the right arm on August 15 while traveling with her sister. The US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, described the attack as a 'cowardly and criminal' attempt to disrupt the Afghan peace process. Britain's embassy tweeted its condemnation of the 'cowardly attack on a brave Afghan woman' Germany's ambassador to Afghanistan, Markus Potzel, described Sahar as 'courageous' 'Afghanistan: The rise in attacks and assassination attempts on human rights defenders, political activists, journalists and film actors is extremely worrying,' said Amnesty International South Asia in a tweet on Tuesday. 'These attacks must be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable. The authorities must protect everyone at risk.' Sahar has faced death threats for decades, owing to her high-profile work in the deeply traditional and male-dominated country. Sahar trained as a police officer and still works for the interior ministry. Her films and television programs have explored justice and corruption. 'I want to show that Afghan women are capable of doing anything men do,' she said in an interview with The Guardian in 2012. 'I want to show the conservatives who lock their daughters and wives at home that they should let them out to get an education, earn some money and help rebuild Afghanistan.' Sahar has faced death threats for many years, since the success of 2004's The Law The director was undaunted, however, and vowed that she would not abandon the profession Sahar is pictured directing a scene for a television series in May 2011 in Kabul Sahar wanted to show 'there's more to Afghanistan than fighting, drugs and terrorism' At the time, she said that she had received death threats from anonymous phone callers. 'They told me to say goodbye to my loved ones because I'd soon be dead.' After reporting the threats to authorities, Sahar said the calls only continued. 'They called me again and asked why I'd gone to the authorities,' she said. 'They said that even if the whole government is behind you, we will still kill you. We will murder you on the street, in public. 'Every morning when I leave the house, I know I might get killed, might never see my family again.' Sahar refused to be cowed, however. 'Making movies is my love,' she said. 'I love my country. I want to show people that there's more to Afghanistan than fighting, drugs and terrorism. 'If I die for asking for my rights and inspiring other women to fight for theirs, then I'm ready to lose my life.' The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development has said the Rural Development Policy, which seeks to guide and coordinate service delivery and investment in the rural communities has been formulated and approved by Cabinet and currently at its implementation stage. Addressing the media in Accra today, Hajia Alima Mahama said the policy will significantly help modernize agriculture for rural growth and development, provide quality socio-economic infrastructure and services in a decent and secure environment, maximise the potential of rural areas towards rural enterprises development and industrialization. She further added that, the Rural Development Policy will promote sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources for the benefit of the rural population and promote financial inclusion in rural communities. This, she said, will help strengthen the participation of the rural communities in the decentralised governance system. A total of 340 sub-projects are being delivered under a Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) programme. These include; 73No. Small Earth Dams and Dug-outs (SEDD), 60No. feeder roads of an average of 3.5km at an aggregate length of 235.6km, 209 Climate Change Interventions (Plantations) totaling 2,027 hectares. Hajia Alima Mahama said in line with this policy, the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP) has been designed and is being implemented with US$60 million funding from the World Bank, with total seedling production of 7.9million. The implementation of these sub-projects has created 29,959 (female 18,508 constituting 62%, male 11,451 constituting 38%) jobs and a total of approximately GHS19 million as wages have been transferred to extremely poor households across the country during the first season of work in 2020, she said. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MILFORD A gas leak in a Wildermere Beach neighborhood led to the evacuation of several houses Wednesday morning. The leak, reported shortly after 8:30 a.m., was caused by a construction company crew that struck the line, a gas company spokesman confirmed. The leak forced the evacuation of about 20 homes. Some went to neighbors houses, others were placed on a bus on Broadway. Police closed roads between Brookdale Avenue and Grant Street. Firefighters checked the gas levels in houses in the area every 20 minutes. We do have low levels of explosive gas in the area, Milford Fire Battalion Chief Christopher Zak said. We have some protective hose lines in place to protect the workers and firefighters. Police said shortly after 9:30 a.m. that Southern Connecticut Gas Co. has identified the gas leak and are actively addressing the problem. Ed Crowder, a gas company spokesman, said once the leak is secured work will begin to repair the 4-inch main. The repair work was expected to last most of the day. Crowder said about 30 customers were affected by the leak. Two neighborhood residents Frank Wilbur and Dennis OGrady said they noticed their water turned black. Battalion Chief Zak confirmed that due to the severity of the leak, firefighters had to use three fire hydrants while monitoring the leak, causing the discolored water. Firefighters set up a command center at Broadway and Wood Avenue. People were urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes. Residents were allowed back into their homes around 11 a.m. But the coronavirus pandemic has put pressure on the agreement and China's purchases of those goods has been lagging. The two countries confirmed the talks in separate statements. The U.S. and China signed the accord in January, bringing a partial truce in their lingering trade war and obliging Beijing to import an additional US$200 billion in American products over two years, ranging from cars to machinery and oil to farm products. Top Chinese and U.S. negotiators spoke on the phone Tuesday and agreed to "push forward" their phase one economic deal, amid soaring tensions between the two sides on several fronts. A statement from Washington said the parties "addressed steps that China has taken to effectuate structural changes called for by the agreement." Those changes, it said, would "ensure greater protection for intellectual property rights, remove impediments to American companies in the areas of financial services and agriculture, and eliminate forced technology transfer." It added that both sides "see progress and are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the success of the agreement." In its statement, Beijing said a "constructive dialogue" between the two sides had "agreed to create conditions and atmosphere to continue to push forward the implementation of the phase one of the China-U.S. economic and trade agreement." The phase one deal called for officials to hold a "check-in" every six months. U.S. President Donald Trump in recent weeks has stepped up his rhetoric against China ahead of what is expected to be a tough re-election fight, raising questions about the deal's fate as well as the possibility of a phase two agreement. Tensions between the two countries have risen over a host of issues including blame for the pandemic and China's policies in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. And confirmation of the call came as TikTok -- owned by Chinese parent company Bytedance -- filed a lawsuit challenging the US government's crackdown on the popular video app, which Washington accuses of being a national security threat. The Trump administration has given ByteDance a deadline to divest TikTok before the app is banned in the United States, arguing TikTok could be used by China to track the locations of federal employees, build dossiers on people for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage. The company says it has never provided any U.S. user data to the Chinese government, and Beijing has blasted Trump's crackdown as political. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-25 23:33:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A passenger wearing a face mask walks past a sign reminding people to keep social distancing at the international airport in Frankfurt, Germany, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Yang) A study found that almost 40 percent of participants with a positive COVID-19 test result did not have antibodies. However, "this does not necessarily mean that immunity does not exist," the RKI, the federal agency for disease control and prevention, noted. BERLIN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A German study on COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, has found that six percent of citizens in a former hotspot in the federal state of Bavaria had antibodies to the coronavirus and had thus already been infected, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said on Tuesday. According to the RKI study, 14.5 percent of people with positive antibody test results were asymptomatic, while all others showed at least one of the symptoms, such as fever, shortage of breath or pneumonia. The study, conducted among 2,153 adults in the town of Bad Feilnbach, also found that almost 40 percent of participants with a positive COVID-19 test result did not have antibodies. However, "this does not necessarily mean that immunity does not exist," the RKI, the federal agency for disease control and prevention, noted. A passenger wearing a face mask walks past a sign leading to a COVID-19 medical screening center at the international airport in Frankfurt, Germany, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Yang) "Most of the results apply for the municipality of Bad Feilnbach only" and are not generally applicable to other towns or even to Germany as a whole, said the leader of the RKI study, Claudia Santos-Hoevener, at a press conference on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the results are "meaningful and informative" and may help answer some urgent questions about other localities, for example about the dynamics of the infection process, added Santos-Hoevener. The study is part of a larger piece of research conducted by the RKI in four towns in Germany, which have been heavily affected by COVID-19. Two weeks ago, another study on a different former hotspot detected 3.9 times more infections than were officially confirmed. The latest study only detected 2.6 times more infections. Santos-Hoevener stressed that the published results were "first key data." The RKI will continue to analyze the data in the coming weeks and further results will be published. Medical groups have demanded immediate audits of air control and ventilation systems in every Victorian hospital after a major COVID-19 outbreak at Frankston Hospital was linked to 58 infections and sidelined hundreds of healthcare workers. More than 600 staff remain in isolation after being exposed to coronavirus in one of Australia's biggest outbreaks among doctors and nurses. Staff at the hospital said they were told on Tuesday about 700 of their colleagues were isolation as a precaution, but Peninsula Health, which oversees the running of Frankston Hospital, said in a statement on Wednesday night only about 618 staff were still in isolation. "We currently have 44 active COVID-19 positive staff members," Peninsula Health chief executive Felicity Topp said. Germany has scrapped plans for EU Brexit talks because 'there's been no progress' in discussions and Boris Johnson 'doesn't understand how negotiations work'. EU officials believe Britain is prepared to risk a no-deal exit when the transition period comes to an end on December 31 and will try to pin the blame on Brussels. The German government, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU council, had intended to discuss Brexit during the meeting next week. But they dropped it because there had still not been 'any tangible progress' in the talks. It had been hoped Chancellor Angela Merkel would emerge as a dealmaker during crunch talks this autumn. The German government (pictured Chancellor Angela Merkel), which holds the rotating presidency of the EU council, had intended to discuss Brexit during the meeting next week EU officials believe Britain (pictured, Boris Johnson at a school in the Midlands on Wednesday) is prepared to risk a no-deal exit when the transition period comes to an end on December 31 and will try to pin the blame on Brussels An EU diplomat told the Guardian: 'People underestimate how bleak the mood is in the EU negotiation team. 'We have had the whole summer completely wasted, a cabinet that doesn't understand how the negotiations work, a prime minister who, I think, doesn't understand how the negotiations work because he is under the wrong impression that he can pull off negotiating at the 11th hour.' The source added: 'If they [the UK government] see it's not going to work out they are just going to try and make it really acrimonious.' Another EU diplomat with knowledge of the agenda said Brexit had been removed after last week's round of talks between London and Brussels made little headway. But a UK official told the newspaper the Bloc had been slowing progress by making sure decisions on each area are taken in parallel. Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, on Wednesday repeated his call for a deal with Britain on future ties by the end of October. He said he had no plans to meet his British counterpart David Frost this week, adding: 'But perhaps next week, if conditions allow.' Disagreements over state aid rules and fishing quotas have so far thwarted a deal, which the EU says must be in the making in time to be approved at an October 15-16 summit of the bloc's 27 national leaders to enable ratification this year. Tony Abbott, who led the Australia from 2013-15, is said to have been hired as joint president of the Board of Trade Differences also linger in discussions on migration, security, dispute-settling mechanisms, human rights guarantees and other areas. Earlier today it was claimed ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott, who led the country from 2013-15, has been hired to help lead Britain's post-Brexit global trade mission. The right-wing politician, who was forced out of power by his own party after just two years, is said to have been made joint president of the Board of Trade. The appointment, to sit alongside Trade Secretary Liz Truss, is yet to be made official but a UK government source told the Sun newspaper 'we are delighted to have him'. Mr Abbott, 62, is a monarchist and friend of the PM, who addressed last year's Tory Party Conference, warning failing to leave would be 'defeat on an epic scale, hardly matched since the Norman invasion'. Current Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was a 'good hire' by the PM as he seeks trade deals with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States. But the move was blasted by critics who pointed to his record on the environment, women and immigration while in power. He has also spoken out against the Black Lives Matter movement. Actor Sean Connery at the men's singles semi-final match at the U.S. Open Championships, September 11, 2015. (REUTERS/Mike Segar) Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has sent birthday wishes to Sir Sean Connery, the first big screen 007, who is celebrating his 90th birthday on 25 August. In a post on Brosnans Instagram the Irish star, who retired as Bond after 2002s Die Another Day, said he watched Connery play the secret agent in 1964s Goldfinger as an eleven-year-old boy, hailing the Scot as my Bond of inspiration. The post showed the pair of Bond icons enjoying a drink together at some point in the past. Its not the first time Brosnan has paid tribute to Connery. In 2006, he spoke movingly at the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award event for the Scottish star saying Sean, I have walked in your footsteps, and danced in the shadow you have cast on film history. As an actor I carry you both in my head and in my heart. Read more: How Sean Connery changed action cinema You are a man who has marched to his own drum, who has created his own legend far greater than Bond, and who has done mighty work that will be cherished forever. Connery play Ian Flemings James Bond 007 in six official Bond films - Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. He also reprised the role in 1983s unofficial Never Say Never Again. Read more: Sean Connery named best ever 007 The 90-year-old star retired from acting, with his last screen appearance coming in 2003s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. He also voiced the lead character in 2012s animated film Sir Billi. Weather Alert ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 20 to 29 below zero. * WHERE...Central, northern and southern Vermont and northern New York. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Friday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Temperatures will drop well below zero tonight into early Friday morning with northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph expected across the region. The coldest wind chills are expected between 5 AM and 9 AM Friday with winds expected to weaken as the day progresses. Temperatures will remain on the cold side throughout the day with high temperatures only climbing into the single digits above zero. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. && The Prizes Grand Prize Season Overall At the end of the season, the overall Pinkbike Fantasy Enduro League Champion will win the all-new Ibis Ripmo V2 complete with the new 12 speed Shimano XT M8100 groupset including the new XT asymmetrical 30mm wide rims, Fox Suspension, PRO Components featuring the all-new 3FIVE cockpit and a 170mm Koryak dropper post! Whether your goal is to conquer the EWS race series or just shred your local trails this bike is up to whatever challenge you give it, so get in the game for your chance to win this epic ride! Round 1 Prizes First Place: Shimano XT Drivetrain Second Place: Shimano XT Brake Set Third Place: Shimano PRO Cockpit Fourth Place: Lazer Helmet $1650 USD 3-Day Blackout Period Unlimited Trades Injury Icon Office Leagues Employees at Pivot, Muc-Off and more are battling it out behind closed doors in their Office Leagues. After one round of Fantasy Enduro Trivia, we're heading right into the first round of Fantasy Enduro Presented by Shimano. We'restoked to be finally getting the chance to build out our race team for the first time this season! We've been keeping our eye on who is and isn't planning on attending the first round (hint: a certain Australian isn't a good person to add to your roster) and seeing who is coming into the season hot by sifting through regional results pages.Read on to see all the prizes up for grabs during the first round of Fantasy Enduro, learn more about how the league works and increase your chances of taking home a prize. See who is racing by checking the live updating and searchable form on the Enduro World Series website . Just scroll down and click on Participating Riders' to see who is entered into the race.We hope you earned some points in the first round of Trivia, but even if you didn't, it's worth playing since there are some great prizes on offer at each round. Also, you wouldn't believe how far back some of our overall winners have come from in the past years. Anything can happen over the course of a race season and every point is worthwhile if you want to win an all-new Ibis Ripmo V2 complete with the new 12 speed Shimano XT!Good luck!Get the highest score for this round and you could walk away with a, MSRP $596Prove how much you know about the Enduro World Series and get a, MSRP $535The nerd with the third-most points will get a, MSRP $379Stay safe in fourth place with a, MSRP $139That's overin prizes up for grabs in this first round alone! Learn more about these sweet prizes at MTB.Shimano.com In order to avoid players copying each other's teams, all rider selections will be hidden for 72 hours before each race. Start playing mind games with your friends that youare shoulder-hopping your choices.You're allowed unlimited trades after each round. You can stick with what's working,change your whole team out after every race.We've added an injury icon to show high profile athletes who are injured. This is not foolproof or exhaustive, so you'll still need to do your own research into your picks. If you know of riders who are injured, mention them in the comments and well keep this updated.Offices can set up private leagues in addition to playing the main public league. Let the trash talk begin! On Monday, doctors at Berlins Charite hospital claimed they had found indications that Alexei Navalny, the head of Russias pro-NATO liberal opposition, had been poisoned. The Charite said its findings indicated an intoxication by a substance from the active substance group of cholinesterase inhibitors, although the specific substance is not yet known. Navalny is reportedly being treated with the antidote atropine. Berlin and the European Union (EU) immediately seized upon the case. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) issued a joint statement declaring: In view of Mr Navalnys major role in Russias political opposition, the countrys authorities are urgently called upon to fully investigate this act as a matter of urgency and to do so in a completely transparent way. Demanding that those responsible be be identified and brought to justice, they added: We hope that Mr Navalny can make a full recovery. We also send our best wishes to his family, for whom this is a most trying experience. Alexei Navalny (Credit: Alexey Yushenkov, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons) The EU also demanded an investigation. The Russian authorities must immediately initiate an independent and transparent investigation, EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell demanded in a statement published on Monday evening. Similarly, the French foreign ministry issued a statement yesterday condemning a criminal act targeting a major figure in Russian political life and demanding a rapid and transparent inquiry. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov declared that Moscow has no plans to initiate a criminal investigation of Navalnys illness. The medical analyses of our doctors and those in Germany are completely in agreement. But their conclusions are different. We do not understand the haste of our German colleagues, Peskov said. He asserted that there are many other medical possibilities to explain Navalnys illness; Russian doctors initially diagnosed Navalny as suffering from a metabolic disorder. What actually happened to Navalny, who fell ill suddenly on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on August 20, remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that the drive by Washington, Berlin and other NATO imperialist powers to isolate and secure regime change in Russia, launched with the February 2014 NATO-backed putsch in Kiev, has reached a new and critical stage. An explosive crisis has emerged after the disputed August 9 presidential elections in Belarus. This crisis was complicated, from the point of view of imperialist strategy, by the sudden entry into activity of the working class in Belarus. In February 2014 in Ukraine, after a Russian-backed government cracked down on pro-EU protests, NATO backed a far-right putsch in Kiev. During this operation, opposition gunmen secretly shot Ukrainian riot police in so-called sniper massacres, using the ensuing police crackdown to discredit and then topple the regime. This led not only to civil war in Ukraine, but an explosive military standoff between NATO and Russia along Russias borders in Eastern Europe. NATO troops and military advisors are now posted to all the Baltic republics, Poland, and Ukraine. This month, when opposition forces in Belarus launched protests against incumbent President Aleksandr Lukashenkos declaration of victory, leading to a brutal police crackdown, strikes erupted in factories and workplaces across Belarus. The upsurge of industrial action by the working class in the former Soviet republic stunned bourgeois forces of all political colors. While the Kremlin is backing Lukashenko, the EU has supported an unelected Coordination Council set up by opposition parties linked to rival candidate Svetlana Tikhonovskaya. Moreover, anger at social inequality and the disastrous official handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped drive Belarusian workers into action, extend well beyond Belarus. There is mounting dissatisfaction among both the Russian ruling elite and Russian workers with President Vladimir Putinreflected, in a highly distorted way, in last months protests in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk against the Kremlins removal of regional governor Sergei Furgal, of the far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR). The Khabarovsk protests have made clear the growing centrifugal tendencies in the Russian state apparatus, as 18 regions in Russia are set to hold regional elections on September 13. If Navalny has indeed been poisoned, the timing of this attack strongly suggests it was a political operation. However, it remains unclear who would have carried it out and for what ends. Two basic possibilities, with many related variants, emerge. One is that Navalny was poisoned by elements in the Putin regime, acting with or without the knowledge or support of the president, though it is questionable whether a reckless and obvious act would strengthen the Kremlin regime. Another possibility is that opposition factions in Russia or their imperialist handlers gave a possibly non-lethal dose of poison to Navalny in another false flag attack, aiming to discredit the Russian regime by committing an act they expect would be blamed on the Kremlin. Such an attack could have the politically-convenient consequence of burnishing Navalnys at best tattered opposition credentials. Navalny, a viciously anti-immigrant politician, reportedly received US government funds funneled via the National Endowment for Democracy in 2006, before heading to Yale University in America to participate in the Yale World Fellows program in 2009. He is currently viewed among broad layers of the Russian population as a tool of NATO. While the attacker in the alleged poisoning of Navalny has not been identified, leading European politicians and media are nevertheless rushing to loudly accuse the Putin regime. Although a strong suspicion already existed, the certainty of the poisoning is shocking and a repulsive policy of the Russian leadership, said Norbert Rottgen (CDU), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag. The policy of poisoning consists of insidiously eliminating opposition members and sending a clear message to all Russian citizens: Those who oppose democratically live dangerously. Any naivety and trivialization that is repeatedly recommended towards Russia, especially in Germany, is out of place, Rottgen declared. The German Greens foreign policy spokesman, Omid Noripour, also blamed Russia. It is now obvious to everyone that this kind of attempted assassination and murder has a system, he said. Referring to allegations that Moscow poisoned the Skripal family in Salisbury, Britain and shot a former Chechen militia leader in the Tiergarten in Berlin, he added: The British called the EU Council after the attack in Salisbury, the German government did not do that after the Tiergarten murder. Now it is high time and a good opportunity for thisafter all, Germany holds the presidency of the [EU] Council. Similarly, in a column titled What the Navalny Affair reveals of the Putin system, Le Mondes Moscow correspondent Benoit Vitkine baldly cited a Twitter hashtag #WeKnowWhoIsGuilty, now used by Russian opposition supporters, as evidence that Putin is responsible for Navalnys illness: An ambassador of France, the one for human rights, has echoed this call. Behind these words is a simple truth: political violence is inherent to the Putin system. In fact, the 30 years since the Stalinist bureaucracys geopolitically suicidal 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union have shown that reactionary violence is inherent to the capitalist system. The NATO war drive in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia made possible by this elimination of the main military counterweight to the imperialist powers left a trail of devastation with millions of dead and tens of millions of refugees. Since the Ukraine putsch, there have been mounting military exercises and preparations for a direct NATO attack on Russia, a nuclear-armed power. The resurgence of the class struggle inside what was previously the territory of the Soviet Union marks a significant new stage in this political crisis. It is virtually self-evident that the NATO powers are keeping Navalny as a tool to intervene in Russian politics in a period of mounting wars and class struggles. Were the political forces around Navalny to obtain more power inside Russia, moreover, they would be bitterly hostile to the working class. The danger of war, growing social inequality and the disastrous official handling of the COVID-19 pandemic can be resolved on a progressive basis only through the re-emergence of mass working class struggles based on a revolutionary socialist and internationalist program. In Russia, Belarus and across the region, this means building the Trotskyist movement opposed to the capitalist gangster oligarchy that emerged from the Stalinist restoration of capitalism. This would be an integral part of a mass, international movement in the working class against war and the murderous policies adopted by capitalist governments worldwide amid the pandemic. Is Communist China Targeting US Elections? Welcome to the China Angle, Im Simone Gao. In the wake of spiraling US-China relations, the Chinese communist regime has increased its efforts to influence the upcoming US elections. Its strategy involves the use of social, electronic and cognitive hacking in order to discredit the current administration and its foreign policies. On August 17, Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, told Fox News that Chinas efforts to influence American public opinion pose a greater threat to national security than those of any other nation. What are the ramifications of the CCPs cyberattacks on the US social and political climates? How might those attacks impact the 2020 U.S. election? We begin tonight with Spamouflage Dragon, a pro-CCP spam network responsible for creating numerous fake social media accounts across a variety of platforms. These accounts were used to post English-language videos attacking the Trump administration and its foreign policies. Recent research compiled by Graphika details their actions. Spamouflages disinformation campaign initially began in the summer of 2019. Then, their attacks were carried out in the Chinese language and centered on degrading the Hong Kong protesters. In early 2020, they turned their attention to the COVID-19 pandemic, posting videos praising the CCPs response at the same time the regime was being accused of covering up the outbreak. But Spamouflage is much larger than their propaganda for the Chinese people suggests. Starting in mid-July, Spamouflage revived old accounts and created new ones on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter in order to directly impact American public opinion. These English-language videos attempted to portray a chaotic America and an incompetent Trump administration. They did so by focusing on the administrations policies on China, handling of the pandemic, approach to racial inequality and recent threat to ban TikTok. Using emotionally-charged headlines like Who is responsible for this national disaster in the United States and the racial discrimination isnt solved, the violence will not stop, the videos pretended to have sympathy for everyday Americans exposed to the so-called chaos. Instead, they were intended to prey on American emotions in order to increase their dissatisfaction with and anger toward the Trump administration. While these attacks were meant to be ongoing, the strategy was flawed. The videos were quickly identified due to significant language errors and awkward automated voice-overs. They were also posted on social media accounts with AI-generated profile pictures and featured Chinese headlines with English subtitles. And Spamouflage chose to bombard the platforms, offering an average of one video per day and sometimes within 36 hours of official US statements, instead of offering fewer, but higher quality, videos. American public response to this revelation has focused on the Spamouflage network itself rather than on the real threat behind their network: the Chinese Communist Regime. Hiding in the shadows of these videos tarring the Trump administration for its pandemic response or racial injustice is a regime with an active interest in swing the upcoming US election. As an example, one video posted on YouTube, titled When I voted for Trump, I almost sentenced myself to death, suggests that Trump is targeting China solely to bolster his reelection efforts. Other videos showcase flattering images of Joe Biden and outright predict that Trump will lose the election. These videos gained relatively few views before being taken down. In some cases, the video had only one view. But while the impacts of Spamouflages efforts were minimal, the strategy and threat remain significant. It is only a matter of time before they try again, and this time they will have learned ways to better disguise their efforts. The failure of this spamming attempt may also make the CCPs need to influence American public opinion seem more urgent than ever. Back in June, the Communist Partys mouthpiece Global Times and the Chinese Foreign Ministry were engaged in coordinated public disinformation campaigns targeting Trump. The first campaign focused on the coronavirus pandemic while the second was an attempt to stoke racial tension amid the Black Lives Matter protests. Both were the focus of most Spamouflage videos. And both remain key talking points among those who oppose Trump. In a clear signal of concern over international involvement in the US election, Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Bill Evanina, revealed that rival nations including China, Russia and Iran are attempting to influence US policies and election. Evanina, who oversees the intelligence communitys work on election security, specifically noted that China prefers a Trump loss in November, because Chinese officials view him as unpredictable. And that calls into question the success of the Chinese regimes efforts to pressure political leaders into supporting their countrys interests. To put it another way, the CCPs intention is to bribe its way through Congress in order to shift US policies to a pro-CCP allegiance. The regime believes that any political leader can be persuaded to support the Communist party, given the right influence or promise. To proactively address this concern, ODNI director John Ratcliffe recently revealed that the intelligence community has made members of Congress aware of Chinas increased efforts to influence the election. These efforts include far more than a network of spammers. In a press briefing on August 9, National Security Adviser Robert OBrien said the US had identified hackers linked to the Chinese government who were trying to infiltrate local voter registration databases. These databases are responsible for the administration of elections at the state level and the collection of data on American citizens. Days later, during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, FBI Director Chris Wray echoed the concern over the CCPs potential involvement in the election. Wrays briefing came as the Chinese social media app TikTok was identified as a potential tool in election interference activities. The method it may be using is called cognitive hacking, a new disinformation frontier. Cognitive hacking is a form of cyberattack that seeks to manipulate peoples perception by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities. Using misinformation targeted to their victims specific vulnerabilities, hackers try to change their thinking which will naturally result in a change of behavior. Cognitive hacking may have been a primary cause of the recent closure of Houstons Chinese consulate. According to an RFA report based on FBI findings, prior to its closure, the Chinese consulate was attempting to use a Chinese audiovisual platform possibly TikTok to create chaos across the US and cause Trump to lose the general election. Using Big Data, they identified certain groups of Americans who were likely to participate in a BLM or Antifa movement and pushed violent propaganda videos to those specific accounts in order to galvanize action. We reached out to the FBI with this specific question that if they can verify the RFA-cited FBI findings that TikTok and the Chinese consulate in Houston collaborated in using big data to push propaganda to galvanize a group of people to participate in the BLM movement. The FBI replied: No comment. So if the report is true, it offers proof of the CCPs weaponization of Big Data and its applications to cognitive hacking. It would also corroborate Assistant Attorney General Demers claim that the Chinese consulate in Houston was not chosen at random given Texas new role as a likely swing state in the 2020 election. TikTok is an ideal instrument for the Chinese regime to re-engineer and re-shape American political thought. Unlike Facebook, which analyzes your current friendship network, TikTok uses a behavioral profile powered by AI to populate a users feed before friends are even added. That profile also allows them to predict the type of friends a user should interact with. In the hands of a communist regime, such a platform could potentially destabilize a democracy by inciting hatred and rioting that may result in a collapse of institutional trust. The CCP has repeatedly denied any plans to interfere in the US election, calling it the US internal affairs. But Chinese diplomatsand proven social, electronic and cognitive hacking attemptstell a very different story. This has been the China Angle, I am Simone Gao. If you like our program, please dont forget to share and subscribe to our channel. Thanks for watching and see you next time. Subscribe for updates on YouTube and follow us on Facebook. Official website: https://www.ntd.com/zooming-in Follow Simone on Twitter: @ZoomingIn_NTD. Download our new podcast, now available on iTunes, Spotify, and Google. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:50:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Military operations heavily intensified between government forces and military units of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in war-ravaged Yemen on Wednesday, causing an unknown number of deaths among the two warring rivals. The fighting resumption came just one day after the STC representatives suspended their participation in the ongoing consultations to implement the Saudi-brokered peace agreement signed last year. The STC's political representatives informed Saudi Arabia late on Tuesday about their suspension that occurred in protest against the mobilization of government forces in the country's southern province of Abyan. According to a brief statement released by the STC, the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi "began mobilizing its forces to advance militarily in southern Yemen despite the ongoing talks in Saudi Arabia." Local military officials confirmed to Xinhua that intense armed confrontations erupted between the two warring rivals in Abyan using heavy weapons including artillery shelling. "An unknown number of deaths were recorded as a result of the ongoing battles that are continuing in escalation in Abyan province," one of the sources said anonymously. Meanwhile, Mohammed Naqib, a spokesman of the STC's forces in Abyan, said in a statement released on his official Twitter account that "Abyan front is witnessing violent clashes..." and that their forces "fought back strongly against the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islah party forces." The spokesman of the STC's forces indicated that their forces "are at the highest levels of combat vigilance and ready for all possibilities, including the comprehensive battle," which "will only be a decisive battle." Yemen's government made no official comments about the escalation of the situation in Abyan or regarding the STC's decision of talks suspension. Earlier this month, a number of military officials of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition arrived in Aden province as a team to closely watch the situation and prevent any attempts of military escalation in southern Yemen. The Saudi officials began work to provide coalition an integrated plan to start implementing the military part of the Riyadh Agreement through conducting mutual troops withdrawals and disengagement to create an appropriate climate ahead of forming a new government. But the recent escalation of fighting is threatening to collapse the mechanisms proposed by Saudi Arabia last month to accelerate the implementation of the Riyadh power-sharing agreement signed between the two Yemeni warring rivals in November last year. The new mechanisms include maintaining the cease-fire and de-escalation between the government and the STC, which came into effect on July 22. Last year, Saudi Arabia persuaded the STC and the Yemeni government to hold reconciliation talks, which succeeded in reaching a deal to form a new technocrat cabinet of no more than 24 ministers. The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern areas including the capital Sanaa. Enditem NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX:FF)(OTCQX:FFMGF)(FRANKFURT:FMG) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced upsized bought deal offering (the "Offering"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued 57,500,000 units of the Company (the "Units") (including 7,500,000 Units issued in connection with the exercise in full of the over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters (as defined below) in connection with the Offering) at a price of $0.50 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $28,750,000. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, one additional Common Share at a price of $0.70 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The Units were offered and sold through a syndicate of underwriters led by Cormark Securities Inc. and including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (collectively, the "Underwriters"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for exploration, development and permitting activities at its Canadian gold projects, potential acquisitions, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Units issued under the Offering were offered by way of a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated June 24, 2019. The Prospectus Supplement was filed in all of the provinces of Canada other than Quebec and, together with the related Base Shelf Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference therein, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The securities offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and were not offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Qualified Person Hazel Mullin, P.Geo., Director, Data Management and Technical Services of First Mining, is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and she has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. About First Mining Gold Corp. First Mining is a Canadian gold developer focused on the development and permitting of the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario. Springpole is one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada, currently hosting a mineral resource base of 4.67 million ounces of gold in the Indicated category and 0.23 million ounces of gold in the Inferred category1. A Pre-Feasibility Study is underway, with completion targeted in early 2021, and permitting is on-going with submission of the Environmental Impact Statement targeted for 2021. The Company also holds a large equity position in Treasury Metals Inc. that is advancing the Goliath-Goldlund gold project towards construction. First Mining's eastern Canadian property portfolio also includes the Pickle Crow (being advanced in partnership with Auteco Minerals Ltd.), Cameron, Hope Brook, Duparquet, Duquesne, and Pitt gold projects. First Mining was created in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp. ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. Daniel W. Wilton Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact: Spiros Cacos | Vice President, Investor Relations Direct: +1 604 639 8825 | Toll Free: 1 844 306 8827 | Email: info@firstmininggold.com www.firstmininggold.com Note: 1. These numbers are from the independent technical report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment Update for the Springpole Gold Project, Ontario, Canada", dated November 5, 2019, which was prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is available at www.sedar.com under First Mining's SEDAR profile. Readers are cautioned that the PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news 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. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the use of net proceeds from the Offering; (ii) timing for the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study for Springpole; (iii) timing for the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement for Springpole; (iv) the Company's focus on advancing its assets towards production; (v) Treasury Metals advancing construction on the Goliath-Goldlund gold project; and (vi) realizing the value of the Company's gold projects for the Company's shareholders. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties.; and the additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR. First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. Cautionary Note to United States Investors This news 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 in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum 2014 Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. 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 SEC, and mineral 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 any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. 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. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" exists or is economically or legally mineable. 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 the Company in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. SOURCE: First Mining Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603421/First-Mining-Completes-Over-Subscribed-2875-Million-Bought-Deal-Financing Appointment 26 August 2020 Olivier started his hospitality journey at a young age, and after graduating from Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France with a major in hospitality management, he joined The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company LCC where he honed his leadership skills in their restaurants & bars. Olivier then went on to serve at EMAAR Hospitality Group LCC, leading the team in the opening of The Address Dubai Mall and six other restaurant outlets within the group. After that, Olivier moved to Seychelles to be the Food & Beverage Division Manager of Raffles in Praslin Island, and after three years, continued his journey to Mainland China where he became the Director of Food & Beverage at Raffles Beijing Hotel. In 2016, he joined Swire Hotels as the Director of Restaurant & Bars at The Temple House, where he oversaw the preopening and opening of the award-winning property, and soon after was then promoted to Executive Assistant Manager. In 2018, Olivier relocated to Beijing taking on the role of Hotel Manager of The Opposite House, and together with the team, led the property through its renovations and the opening of three restaurants & bar- UNION, FRASCA and Superfly. His career footprint took India will send a tri-services contingent of nearly 200 personnel to take part in a multilateral war game in Russia next month, in first such participation in a mega military drill after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, official sources said on Tuesday. China, Pakistan and a number of other member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are expected to participate in the strategic command-post exercise, they said. Around 150 Indian Army troops, 45 Indian Air Force personnel and a number of Navy officers will form the Indian contingent for the exercise scheduled to be held in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia from September 15 to 26, sources said. They said a meeting of representatives of the countries participating in the military drill took place in Volgograd on Tuesday to discuss various aspects of the exercise. Russia has been a major partner of India in the defence sector and the cooperation has been steadily growing further. Tweeting about the event, Russian Embassy here on Tuesday said, "preparations for #Kazkaz2020 Strategic Command and Control Exercise are underway in Russia. Indian military representatives among the participants." The embassy also posted the Russian defence ministry tweet which said, "a staff meeting for military representatives of the countries participating in #Kazkaz2020 Strategic Command and Control Exercise Belarus, India, Iran, Myanmar and Pakistan started today in Volgograd." In June, a tri-services contingent from India participated at the Victory Day Parade at the iconic Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. A contingent from China had also attended it. The invite for the exercise comes at a time when India and China are locked in a bitter border row in eastern Ladakh. Both India and China are members of the SCO, an influential regional grouping. Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Both the countries are holding talks at military and diplomatic levels to resolve the dispute. Russia has already said that India and China should resolve the border dispute through talks and that a "constructive" relationship between the two countries was important for regional stability. The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations which accounts for almost 44 per cent of the world population stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea. The aim of the SCO is to maintain peace, stability and security of the region. India became a member of SCO in 2017. It will be the first major multilateral military exercise in which India is participating after the coronavirus pandemic broke out. In 2019 the SPS took place on site in Nuremberg. This will not be the case in 2020. Just over a week ago, Mesago announced that the SPS 2020 will be both a presence fair and a virtual event. Due to the great concerns of the participants as well as continuing travel restrictions, this is changing. The fair will now take place only virtually. We very much regret having to cancel this year's SPS 2020 in Nuremberg, comments Martin Roschkowski, President Mesago Messe Frankfurt, on the cancellation. At the beginning of the summer, the premise looked very good and we firmly believed that the trade fair would take place in Nuremberg in November. Our protection and hygiene concept planned at that time was received positively and further developed with many of the trade fair participants. This has shown us how well the SPS community works together and we would like to thank them very much, Roschkowski continues. According to Mesago, one of the main reasons for the cancellation are the great concerns of the participants, expressed in many discussions, regarding the significantly changed conditions. Many companies are also concerned about their employees. The prescribed strict distance and hygiene rules, travel restrictions and an uncertain economic situation indicate that the trade fair cannot be held in the usual quality. The SPS is characterized above all by intensive technical discussions and the exchange between exhibitors and visitors. Currently Mesago sees hardly any opportunity to make this possible on site, says Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President of SPS. However, there is a ray of hope for the industry: The organizer Mesago Messe Frankfurt is already in the final stages of implementing a virtual offer. It is intended to offer exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to digitally exchange information on current developments and trends in automation technology. The virtual platform SPSConnect starts on 24th of November 2020, the same day on which the physical trade fair would have opened its doors. Further information can be found on the event website. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, left, is being challenged by Republican Heather Heidelbaugh, center, who is receiving help from political allies of Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, right. Read more Heather Heidelbaugh wants to deny Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro a second term. Its an expensive and challenging proposition. But the little-known Pittsburgh lawyer is getting some valuable help from allies of Sen. Pat Toomey whom political watchers in both parties see as on a likely collision course with Shapiro in the 2022 governors race. While the presidential election consumes voters attention, political insiders see the under-the-radar contest for attorney general as a potent prelude to a race that will be very much the center of attention in two years. That subplot played out Monday when a new group started airing digital ads critical of spending by the Attorney Generals Office under Shapiro. Toomey is indirectly helping the group. Toomey has committed to raising significant amounts of money for the Republican Attorneys General Association, in anticipation that it will spend big to support Heidelbaugh, according to two Republican campaign consultants familiar with Toomeys thinking. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Toomeys plans. This is well-known in Republican political circles, one of the consultants said of Toomeys efforts. He believes [Shapiro] will be the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. They want to dust him up before the election and deplete his resources. Win PA PAC, the group behind the new ads, was registered Aug. 18 in Harrisburg and lists the chief financial officer of the Republican Attorneys General Association as its treasurer in state filings, along with the associations address and phone number in Washington. The GOP attorney generals group has already invested $75,000 in Heidelbaughs campaign through another fund, Keystone PAC, which it registered in Harrisburg in March, again using the associations Washington address. Keystone PAC gave Heidelbaughs campaign $50,000 in March and $10,000 in April. It spent an additional $15,000 for work by a Virginia-based research firm to support Heidelbaugh. Citizens for Prosperity in America Today, Toomeys political action committee, also gave Heidelbaughs campaign $10,000 in December. There is nothing improper about a politician raising money for a group that is likely to further his or her political interests, or in money being moved between political groups. READ MORE: Everyones already talking about Pennsylvanias big 2022 elections. Just dont ask the candidates. Toomeys campaign called Heidelbaugh a long trusted confidant and friend of the Republican senator but did not answer questions about his fund-raising plans. A spokesperson for the Republican Attorneys General Association did not respond to requests for comment. Heidelbaugh, a 61-year-old Pittsburgh trial lawyer, is seen as a stronger candidate than the one Republicans fielded against Shapiro in 2016. She is a longtime local GOP activist and former member of the Allegheny County Council. She has also been a Toomey supporter for years and was one of his earliest backers in his first Senate run, an unsuccessful 2004 primary challenge to the late Sen. Arlen Specter. Im running for Attorney General to fight for justice for all Pennsylvanians, Heidelbaugh said in a statement. After 35 years of courtroom experience, I have the experience to win the tough battles. While Heidelbaugh is widely considered an underdog, Shapiro isnt invincible. His margin of victory in 2016, less than three percentage points, was the slimmest among Democrats who swept the statewide row offices, which include treasurer and auditor general. That came despite Shapiros besting the Republican nominee that year in fund-raising by more than 3-1. Toomey, a Lehigh County Republican, and Shapiro, a Montgomery County Democrat, have spent the better part of 15 years working their way to the top of their parties in Pennsylvania. Shapiro, 47, is now seen as a leading contender for governor assuming he wins reelection. Its less clear if Toomey, 58, will ultimately run. He would be facing reelection for a third term in the Senate, which could be less appealing if Republicans lose the White House and even possibly the Senate this year. Its no shock that Pat Toomey is using back channels and his corporate money connections to help out his friend Heather Heidelbaugh, the insurance companies candidate, Shapiro campaign spokesperson Dana Fritz said. Any damage Heidelbaugh does to Shapiros political standing, win or lose, could benefit Toomey if the two face off two years later. Both Heidelbaughs campaign and outside groups backing her have made hay of Shapiros ambitions for higher office in their TV ads. One group called him a career politician already looking to run for governor, while Heidelbaugh pledged in her first ad to serve my full term. If you want to damage Shapiro and his long-term ambitions, a loss in his reelection bid for attorney general would certainly fit the bill, said Chris Borick, a pollster and political science professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. Shapiros campaign had more than $4 million in the bank as of June 22, while Heidelbaugh had about $209,000, according to state campaign finance records. READ MORE: The campaign for Pennsylvania attorney general is heating up on TV Another PAC with ties to a wealthy Toomey supporter is spending even more to support Heidelbaugh. Commonwealth Leaders Fund has reserved $435,000 worth of TV airtime in the race, according to the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics, and had spent $217,000 of that through last week. Commonwealth Leaders Fund is flush thanks to support from Jeff Yass, the Main Line cofounder of Susquehanna International Group, an equities trading firm. Yass, who did not respond to requests for comment, contributed $100,000 in 2016 to Pennsylvanians for Prosperity, a political action committee working to help Toomey win a second term that year. Yass has also given $6.6 million since February 2019 to Students First PAC, a group advocating for school choice issues that Yass has long supported. Yass is the PACs biggest contributor in the last two years, according to state campaign finance records. Students First PAC gave $6 million in the same time frame to Commonwealth Childrens Choice Fund, a PAC established last year to also advocate on education issues. That makes Students First the largest contributor to Commonwealth Childrens Choice Fund, according to state records. And Commonwealth Childrens Choice Fund gave $4.15 million from September to June to Commonwealth Leaders Fund. That makes Commonwealth Childrens Choice Fund the largest contributor to Commonwealth Leaders Fund. Matt Brouillette, a conservative activist in Harrisburg, is treasurer for both Commonwealth Leaders Fund and Commonwealth Childrens Choice Fund. In an interview, he said he had a signed agreement with Students First that said he could spend the PACs contributions as he sees fit. The Inquirer reported in October that Yass donated $1.25 million to Students First PAC a few weeks before that group donated $1 million to Commonwealth Childrens Choice Fund, which then sent $400,000 to Commonwealth Leaders Fund for use in statewide judicial races. School choice is not typically an issue at the top of the agenda in races for state attorney general. Brouillette said his groups ads in the race are motivated by a sense that Shapiro would toe the line for teachers unions if he is elected governor in 2022. Certainly we know Josh Shapiro has aspirations to run for governor and the impact that would have on educational opportunities, Brouillette said. As we look down the corridors of time and see who is the biggest opposition to kids getting the best education possible, we see Josh as a threat to that. Brouillette later emailed The Inquirer to say Students First contributions are dedicated to school choice candidates for House and Senate. Pakistan urged the Taliban on August 25 to start talks soon with the Afghan government to end decades of conflict, telling visiting officials of the group that an intra-Afghan dialogue could help ensure regional stability. The meeting between Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and a Taliban team comes as Afghanistan's peace process has stalled over disagreements on a prisoner exchange. "Pakistan is eager to see an intra-Afghan dialogue start soon to ensure regional peace and stability," Qureshi said in a statement after meeting a delegation led by the head of the Taliban's political office Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Talks between the Taliban and an Afghan-government mandated committee were to be held in the Qatari capital, Doha, following the completion of the prisoner exchange between the two sides. But the completion of the swap has been delayed by disagreements between the Taliban and the Afghan government. There are also concerns over rising violence, which diplomats say is sapping trust needed for the talks. The insurgent group has so far rejected implementing a cease-fire before the talks start. "We deliberated on the complications and what could be their solution," Qureshi said in a short media briefing, where no questions were taken. Though it was not immediately clear whether a reduction in violence was discussed, diplomats have said Pakistan -- a leading regional player -- has been pushing for a reduction in violence and smoothing the way for peace talks. Tuesday's meeting was also attended by Pakistan's spy chief Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Analysts say the spy agency has had a close association with armed groups in Afghanistan dating back to the Soviet Union's invasion of the country in the late 1980s, and continues to exercise some influence over the Taliban. "Pakistan has a lot of leverage, short of military options, including allowing and restricting the Taliban's mobility," Barnett Rubin, a senior adviser on Afghanistan and Pakistan under the Obama administration, told Reuters. A day after an out-of-town racial injustice protester was shot in Bedford County, shots were fired outside the hotel where the group was staying in the county. KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports that Pa. state police in Bedford County responded to a shooting on Tuesday evening in the parking lot of a hotel. Troopers were called for reports of shots fired Tuesday evening outside the Hampton Inn Hotel in Bedford Township, media reports state. No injuries were reported. UPDATE: WJAC-TV in Johnstown is reporting 43-year-old Jeremy Decker of Everett, Pa., is facing charges stemming from the incident, including possessing a prohibited firearm, having a firearm not to be carried without a license and recklessly endangering another person. The shots-fired incident at the hotel followed a showing of armed residents at the Bedford County Courthouse, where social media posts indicated the out-of-town group was planning to protest earlier Tuesday evening. The group never showed up, however. The same Milwaukee activist group also was involved in a different shooting on Monday night, as the group marching from Milwaukee to Washington D.C. was walking along Lincoln Highway in Bedford County. In that incident, state police now say gun shots were exchanged between the two groups -- protesters and residents -- but did not specify who fired those shots in the Monday night incident, according to WJAC. A portion of Monday nights incident was caught on video as the group was live-streaming the march at the time. Here is the clip: WARNING: This video may be disturbing to some viewers. This Facebook Live video shows the moments shots rang out overnight in Bedford County as protesters from Milwaukee passed through the area on their way to D.C. State Police confirmed one person was shot. pic.twitter.com/JCU9m1RBCL 6 News (@WJACTV) August 25, 2020 State police say they were contacted by a property owner at 11:18 p.m. Monday about a group of people who were in a private business parking lot. Troopers say the location was along the 800 block of Lincoln Highway in Juniata Township. There, troopers say they found about 30 members of the protest group. One of the protesters received non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting incident Monday night. No charges have been filed. The protest groups leader, Frank Nitty, said he began the cross-country trek August 4 to continue protests against racial injustice and police brutality in wake of George Floyds death at the hands of police in Minnesota. The group is currently in Pa. en route to Washington D.C. NOTE: This post has been updated. READ MORE: Pa. woman accused of breaking into apartment, stealing puppy, then throwing dog from moving car: cops Man with autism badly beaten after using racial slur; 3 attackers face federal charges Protesters shooting in Pa. caught on live stream: This dude is shooting at us Group of protesters shot at while walking on Lincoln Highway in Pa.; 1 injured: report Pa. woman filmed herself brutally beating girl with wooden spoon, then sent video to friends, now faces felony charge: cops Black Lives Matter rally draws counter-protest in bitterly divided Pa. town Steelers Terrible Towel logo ripped off for face masks, federal lawsuit says Penn State freshmen face backlash for party that might be the reason everyone goes home 13 sick, emaciated dogs rescued from home after 911 call Autopsy in on decomposing body found by fisherman in Pa. river Pa. DA says shes investigating multiple reports of adults on video seeking sex with kids 400-pound black bear found illegally shot and abandoned in Pa.: a complete waste 2 Pa. wrestling coaches pressured teammates to share naked photos of high school girls for team bonding: AG Pa. mayors home picketed, calls for him to resign over protesters kidnapping by plainclothes cops in unmarked van Fisherman finds decomposing body in Pa. river; foul play not ruled out Up to 240 layoffs loom at Pa. casino hurt by COVID-19 impacts: report Pa. protester, 28, loses eye after being shot with beanbag by police: a baseball bat to the face Pa. teen who admits role in killing her grandfather for $30K learns her fate Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Guangzhou has issued 55 notices and launched 67 routes spanning 135 kilometers in total for ICV (intelligent-vehicle connected) road tests, Guangzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau said on August 24. (Photo source: Pony.ai) According to Shen Ying, deputy director-general of Guangzhou Municipal Transportation Bureau, Guangzhou plans to launch pilot operation of ICV road tests in one or two districts first this year, and strives to renovate over 100-km roads for ICV testing by 2021. Besides, to explore the new business model of mobility service under the ICV scenarios, each district should put the ICVs from not fewer than three testing applicants into pilot commercial operation before 2022. Guangzhou has already released a series of policies and technical standards related to ICV road tests, and set forth the testing methods for road, passenger-carrying, remote control, fleet formation tests and other types of tests. It has also permitted applicants to conduct ICV tests on urban express ways. Notably, Guangzhou is the first one in Chinese mainland that recognizes the testing approval an applicant receives from other cities. Under the National Guidelines for Developing the Standards System of the Telematics Industry (ICV) jointly issued by the MIIT and the Standardization Administration of China in 2017, ICV is defined as a future generation of vehicles, equipped with advanced in-car sensors, controllers, actuators and other devices and integrated with modern communication and network technologies, which are able to achieve the exchange and sharing of intelligent information between vehicles and other factors such as individuals, vehicles, roads and cloud, have functions allowing awareness of complex surroundings, intelligent decision making and collaborative control, are able to realize safe, efficient, comfortable, energy saving driving, and ultimately would realize driving operations in replacement of human beings. With this broad definition, both connected vehicles and autonomous / driverless vehicles would fall within the scope of ICV. Guangzhou is ambitious to see its automobile capacity surpass 5 million units in 2025, according to a document approved by Guangzhou municipal government on August 24 at a press conference themed the pandemic prevention and control and the work resumption. The document, dubbed the Opinions on Speeding up the Development of Guangzhou's Automobile Industries (called the Opinions for short), said that the capital of Guangdong province aims to make the output value of automobile manufacturing industries with annual revenue of 20 million yuan ($2,890,382) or more exceed 1 trillion yuan ($144,519,110,000) on an annual basis in 2025, and a world-class automobile industrial cluster will take shape then. As for the ICV business, Guangzhou will work at hammering out a country-leading 5G-based IoV (Internet of Vehicles) standard system and building an enclosed zone for ICV (intelligent-connected vehicle) tests. By 2025, a state-level demonstration zone for the applications of smart traffic and ICVs based on mobile broadband & Internet is expected to be basically completed. A chiropractor to the stars allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman with his friend following a party and may have 'laughed' at her while she was being raped, a court has heard. Jesse Robert Thurlow, 29, is standing trial at the New South Wales District Court, over claims that he and a male friend raped the young woman more than five years' ago. The alleged victim's former mate, Jesse Christensen, gave evidence to the judge-alone trial via video link on Wednesday. Ms Christensen claimed the young woman was 'never the same' and needed her 'constant' support as she couldn't even eat or speak properly. 'I had watched how it had changed her as a person,' Ms Christensen told the court during evidence-in-chief. 'She couldn't leave her house or eat or speak properly ... from there on out her life was never the same, she was never the same.' Chiropractor Jesse Robert Thurlow, 29, appeared at a Sydney court earlier this month Ms Christensen did not specifically explain why the alleged victim could not do those things. She claimed the alleged victim woke her up with a phone call on the night of the alleged incident in April 2015. 'She called me crying and I asked her a series of questions. Because she was crying I couldn't get anything out of her. 'I would feed her, I would shower her, I have cleaned her house, I have looked after her animals. The alleged victim's former friend Jesse Christensen on how she looked after her after the claimed incident '(I asked) are you lost, did somebody hurt you, are you drunk, have you been raped? I asked her the question have you been raped, she said "Yes".' Ms Christensen told the court the young woman was still in the house at the time and said something about a 'bag she needed to get' from the room. The friend claimed she spoke to the alleged victim almost every day about her claimed ordeal until they stopped being friends at the end of 2018. Under cross-examination from Thurlow's barrister, Allan Goldsworthy, Ms Christensen described her support to the alleged victim as extensive. 'I would feed her, I would shower her, I have cleaned her house, I have looked after her animals. 'Yes, I supported her to a very far extent over those years.' She recalled the alleged victim's version of events including that 'she had gone to a party and that two men raped her ... she said their names were Jesse and Stefan... that's all I can sort of remember for you. 'She had gone to the party and she had been raped. That they were laughing at her or he was laughing at her.' Ms Christensen said the alleged victim had said something about 'if she could just lay there and remember what the room looked like''. Thurlow poses shirtless in a change room in a social media image Asked if the fact that people were laughing at her seemed important to the alleged victim, Ms Christensen said: 'Well, yeah. Why would you laugh at someone you were raping?' The friend denied that the reason for their falling out in 2018 was that she had been 'trying to make this case about you'. 'No, that is false,' the friend told the court. Thurlow's clients have included Tim Robards - the former Bachelor who was himself a chiropractor. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Robards had any relationship to Thurlow's case Ms Christensen told the court she was having a mental breakdown during their falling out. She told the court she ended their friendship because she 'needed more support' and wasn't getting it from the alleged victim. Thurlow has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault (offender in company with another person) and one count of doing an act with the intention of perverting the course of justice. He pleaded guilty to a separate charge of doing an act with the intention of perverting the course of justice. The alleged victim has given evidence in a closed court. The trial continues, with Thurlow's housemate expected to stand trial at a later date. Military personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces have taken over the town of Dome Faase near Obom Domeabra in the Greater Accra Region. This follows a clash between residents and persons believed to be military personnel over a land dispute on Tuesday August 25. According to initial reports, two military personnel were captured and assaulted by some civilians with the soldiers sustaining serious injuries. When GhanaWeb visited the area on Wednesday, August 26, the Dome Faase area was literally a ghost town with heavy military persons manning the area to restore calm. Some residents who spoke to the news team said they were living in fear of their lives following the clashes and heavy military presence. Another told the news team some residents have fled the area to neighboring towns following the clashes. From what I know, the people that allegedly attacked the military men were land guards who fled away right after and right now they [The Military] are threatening us all around Obom Domeabra and we dont know what to do again. We are very scared and it is not fair so we are pleading with the President to remedy the situation, one lamented. Background The coalition of Ga communities which makes up of over 20 communities that share a border with the Eastern Region have alleged that, the Mponuahene of Akyem Apadwa and the Akyem Traditional Council were taking their farmlands from them which has resulted in the resistance that led to the mayhem. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Dramani Mahama, Election 2020 Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said the next NDC Government will fix the challenges of premix fuel shortages by supplying it directly to fishers. A statement signed by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, the Spokesman of the NDC campaign Team and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra has alleged that the current government had created middle menin the supply chain of premix fuel, which frustrated fishermen. According the statement, Mr Mahama gave the assurance when he addressed various meetings with chiefs, organised groups and members and supporters of the NDC at Old Chantan, Bomoden, Damanko, Siibi and Kpassa as part of his three-day tour of the Oti Region. He said a new NDC government would facilitate the acquisition and supply of fishing inputs such as outboard motors and fishing nets on credit to fishers to ease their financial burdens. On agriculture, Mr Mahama announced the setting up of farmers mechanization centres across all districts to facilitate the work of farmers; So if you are a farmer and you want to weed your farm, you will go to the farmers service centre and the machine will come and weed for you. The farmer will only pay for the cost of the service after harvesting is over and the produce marketed, he explained. Mr Mahama noted the general hardship in the country due to the mismanagement of the economy by the government, adding the next NDC government would work hard to provide jobs and reduce the high cost of living in the country. 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 Social Security retirement trust fund will be depleted by 2023 due to a permanent payroll tax cut, warned the agency's chief actuary. Payroll tax cut can also affect the agency's disability insurance fund, said the Social Security Administration in a report from The Hill. Social Security Chief Actuary Stephen Goss estimated that the program's funding will be used up by mid-2023 if a permanent tax cut was put in place. That is based on the change taking effect for earnings starting January 1 next year, reported CNBC. President Donald Trump has put payroll tax on hold. It was an effort to help boost the American economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. He signed an executive order letting companies to stop withholding payroll taxes for their workers' pay checks. The action was signed on August 8 and applies to those earning less than $104,000, reported Fox Business. But he also went a step further and said he will cancel the tax altogether if he were to be reelected in November. Cutting off payroll tax means workers can bring home bigger pay check. But this raises worry in the agency that relies on those taxes. If the agency loses revenue sources, the programs it has will have to stop paying out benefits once funds are depleted. Payroll Tax Cut Gains Little Support The analysis done at the request of four Democratic senators, said a CNN report. They asked to run the numbers when Trump said he would take it off altogether if he's reelected. Only Congress can eliminate the payroll tax and the move did not gain a lot of support from either party on Capitol Hill. With that, it is unlikely to push through. Congress believes cutting payroll tax would do nothing to help the millions of Americans out of work. They may need money to face the pandemic but they are not getting paychecks as many were laid off work. While Social Security believes they will be affected greatly by payroll tax cuts, Trump thinks otherwise. He countered the worries by saying the money would be shifted from the government's general fund. That will also require an act of Congress. Taking money from the general fund has been done before. When the Congress cut the payroll tax under President Barack Obama, it reimbursed the agency's trust fund out of general revenue. But the tax cut was only temporary and only reduced the rate than taking it out altogether. It still reduced federal tax revenue by about $227 billion for two years, said Congressional Research Service. The analysis was not based on a hypothetical legislation that would take money from the general fund. How Soon Will Funds Run Out? As Goss estimated, Old-Age and Survivor Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund would permanently run out at that time. There will be no payable benefits at that point. The OASI is used to pay benefits to retired workers and their families. It also pays survivors of deceased workers. On the other hand, the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund will run out by mid-2021, Goss estimated. There will be no money to pay benefits at that point. The DI is used to pay disabled workers who qualify for benefits. Check these out! Black and Latino Voters Worry About Mail-In Voting Fauci Warns Against Premature Authorization of COVID-19 Vaccine Segregated Parks Contribute to COVID-19 Spread of Black and Latino Communities The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday took exception to the Central governments refusal to take an independent stance regarding levy of interest by banks on loans in moratorium even after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had announced the relief on borrowings between March and August owing to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. An apex court bench, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, said that plight of people due to Covid-19 and the resultant nationwide lockdown restrictions should be considered by the Central government while taking a call on the issue and ordered the government to file a separate affidavit. The SC gave its order after solicitor-general (S-G) Tushar Mehta told the apex court that its stance on the matter is the same as that of RBI. Earlier in June, RBI had filed an affidavit before the SC stating that it would not support the move to waive off interest, as it could affect the financial viability of banks. You should make your stand clear instead of relying on RBI, Justice MR Shah, who was part of the bench, told Mehta. Government of India has ample powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to take a decision. You should clarify two issues: whether interest can be charged and whether interest on interest can be levied, Justice Bhushan said. The court adjourned the matter for further hearing on September 1 prior to which the Centre has to file its response. The moratorium announced by RBI expires on August 31. The issue was created by your lockdown. Now, you cannot look into business (of banks) alone, but the plight of people should also be looked into, the bench remarked. The petition, which was filed by Gajendra Sharma, an Agra resident, had demanded a waiver on interest charged by banks citing the relief announced by RBI on the payment of equated monthly instalments (EMIs) between March and August 31 due to the pandemic. Petitioner Sharma specifically cited RBIs March 27 and May 22 notifications announcing a moratorium on loan repayments while permitting banks to levy interest. The imposition of interest (by banks) during the moratorium period is devastating and wrong, he had submitted before the apex court. . (Newser) At least 68 people were arrested during a march for justice for Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday, said to be among the largest since Taylor was shot dead by police while asleep in her home in March, per CNN. The outlet describes the protest as "largely peaceful." However, Robert Schroeder, interim chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department, said demonstrators "crossed several intersections, creating dangerous situations as traffic continued to try to make its way in the area." At one point, police told protesters it was illegal to block a road, to which a protester responded, "It's illegal to murder," per USA Today. Those who did not stay on the sidewalk were ultimately arrested, Schroeder said. Hundreds of people, including some from Florida, Michigan, and New York, took part in the march. story continues below They carried signs reading "convict police" and "Black Lives Matter." Taylor, a Black woman, had been asleep in bed in Louisville when three plain-clothed officers executed a "no-knock" warrant. Taylor's boyfriend fired off a warning shot, believing the officers to be intruders, per CNN. Officers returned fire, striking Taylor. There have been no arrests, which baffles Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer. "A lot of times you want to give up, you want to walk away but I know she deserves justice," she tells CNN. "We at least need an explanation for what's taking so long," adds Gov. Andy Beshear. In a court hearing this week, an LMPD attorney argued that releasing the investigation file could compromise the integrity of the case, per the Courier-Journal, which has sued for access. Another protest is to take place Sept. 5 at the Kentucky Derby. (Read more Breonna Taylor stories.) A 120-kilogram and six-foot tall bronze giraffe is back welcoming visitors to a Brisbane vet clinic after it was stolen from outside the business on Monday night or Tuesday morning. George stands at the door of Wilston Vet on Newmarket Road on Brisbane's northside and has done so for the past three years with his partner Henrietta. George and Henrietta are the giraffe mascots outside Wilston Vet in Brisbane's north. Credit:Queensland Police Service Senior Constable Diana Kratochvil said the business was deeply concerned for George's welfare following his disappearance, but there was good news on Tuesday night. "Fortunately this story has a happy ending; overnight, Stafford Police located George after receiving valuable information from a community member who spotted the distinctive statue," she said. Last week, the Department of Justice charged Ubers former chief security officer Joseph Sullivan with obstruction of justice for trying to cover up a data breach the ride-share service experienced in late 2016. Uber first discovered the breach of personal information belonging to more than 57 million customers and drivers that year, but the companys leadership didnt immediately report the incident to the public or any authorities. Instead, it paid the perpetrators $100,000 in exchange for their silence and didnt announce the breach until November 2017. That decision violated the data breach notification laws in every state requiring that companies disclose the theft of their customers personal information. In 2018, Uber agreed to a $148 million fine as part of a settlement with the attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve known those broad outlines of the story for some time, but what hasnt been clear until the recent charges was how exactly Uber came to decide to pay off the hackers rather than release the information about the breach. The criminal complaint filed against Sullivan sheds light on what apparently happened at Uber in 2016 and offers a stark warning about how firms should not handle a data breach. Sullivan served as Ubers CSO from April 2015 through November 2017. During that time, he helped the company respond to a Federal Trade Commission investigation of an earlier data breach the firm experienced in 2014, so he was intimately familiar with the process for investigating breaches and even provided sworn testimony to the FTC about Ubers data security practices. But in November 2016, just 10 days after providing that testimony, according to the complaint, Sullivan learned about the subsequent 2016 breach of millions of users information and promptly began to cover it up. Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 14, 2016, Sullivan received an email from johndoughs@protonmail.com (get it?) claiming that the sender had found a major vulnerability in Ubers database of customer information and had been able to dump uber database and many other things, indicating that they had been able to access all the information stored in the database and dump it onto their own servers. (A data dump typically refers to the transfer or publication of a large quantity of information.) Sullivans team commenced an investigation and discovered, within a day, that someone had indeed accessed a database of drivers license numbers of 600,000 Uber drivers. Even worse, the breach had been perpetrated in almost exactly the same way as the earlier incident in 2014: The attackers who sent the email from the John Doughs account had stolen credentials that gave them access to Ubers source code on Github and were able to find, in that code, an Amazon Web Services credential that they could use to access the companys AWS databases. Embarrassingly, in his testimony to the FTC at the hearing on Nov. 4, 2016, Sullivan had highlighted the importance of key management and not hardcoding access credentials into source code as an important part of an overall security program for any company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the document that Uber used to track the progress of its investigation of the 2016 breach, one team member commented on Nov. 14, access key has not be rotated [sic] since [it was created in 2013]. None of the people are at the company any longer. Task was to rotate keys within S3 to ensure this could not happen in the future but there are thousands of tasks. Joe was just deposed on this specific topic and what the best or minimum practices that any company should follow in this area. Another comment in the same document stated, Information is extremely sensitive and we need to keep this tightly controlled. Discussion with other Engineers must be tightly controlled. Joe is communicating directly to the A-Team. According to the complaint, Sullivan and the Uber CEO at the time, Travis Kalanick, were the only members of the companys leadership team who were made aware of the stolen drivers license numbers, however. There are no records of the conversation between Sullivan and Kalanick, but on Nov. 15, 2016, Sullivan texted Kalanick, I have something sensitive Id like to update you on if you have a minute, and the two then had a series of phone and FaceTime conversations. Kalanick later responded via text: Need to get certainty of what he has, sensitivity/exposure of it and confidence that he can truly treat this as a [bug emoji] bounty situation resources can be flexible in order to put this to bed but we need to document this very tightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A later comment in the tracker document highlighted just how secretive the company was being about the discovery of the new breach. It stated: What is our position to the company to talk about what we are doing? We had a data breach in 2014, we learned our lesson and we need to get our house in order. Hundred service centers must rotate their secrets. Our common story has to be: - This investigation does not exist. - We are doing this in order to better protect our information. Advertisement The complaint alleges that it was ultimately Sullivans decision to handle the incident under the companys bug bounty program, choosing to pay off the perpetrators with a $100,000 Bitcoin payment in December 2016. That same month, Uber was preparing an update to the FTC about its data security practices and employee access to personal information, as part of the commissions investigation of the 2014 breach. But Sullivan did not include any information about the more recent incident in the report, nor did he inform the attorneys working on the FTC investigation for Uber about that incident. Advertisement In exchange for the $100,000 payment, which was processed through bug bounty coordination firm HackerOne, Sullivan apparently demanded that the hackers sign a nondisclosure agreement stating that they had not accessed or stored any Uber customer or driver data during their intrusion, even though they had explicitly told the company they had done so (and Uber had verified that access independently). You promise that you did not take or store any data during or through your research and that you have delivered to us or forensically destroyed all information about and/or analyses of the vulnerabilities, the NDA stated. The hackers initially signed the document using pseudonyms, but in January 2017, after making the payment, Ubers security team was able to identify the two perpetrators and followed up with them to sign the same nondisclosure agreement under their real names. In October 2019, both men who perpetrated the breach and received the subsequent payment pleaded guilty to trying to extract bounties from Uber and LinkedIn. Advertisement Advertisement Then, in August 2017, when Uber hired new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Sullivan initially lied to his new boss about the breach, the complaint alleges. For instance, his staff had drafted a summary of the breach that stated the perpetrators had accessed databases that contained potentially all rider and driver data in plaintext and that the hackers still had possession of our data when they emailed Sullivan in November 2016. Sullivan edited that summary to state that they hackers had gained access only to some rider and driver data and deleted the part about the intruders ever actually taking the data. The summary also incorrectly stated that the $100,000 had been paid only after Uber identified the real identities of the perpetrators. Around the time that the company finally disclosed the incident to the FTC in November 2017, it also fired Sullivan, who currently works as chief information security officer at Cloudflare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan faces up to eight years in prison if convicted of all the charges. Ive never been a strong proponent of jailing executives for failing to prevent data breachesIve argued against policy proposals to that effect in the past. I still think its unreasonable and counterproductive to charge executives with crimes for failing to protect their customers data, but Sullivans behavior, as portrayed by the criminal complaint, goes well beyond failing to implement strong security. What the complaint describes is a deliberate, extended cover-up of a clear, independently verified data breach of personal information. And for that type of purposefully malicious activity, its not unreasonable to charge an executive with crimes or send them to jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the reasons I think its a bad idea to punish executives too harshly for poor data security is that there are not clear rules for how, exactly companies are required to protect sensitive information. But there are rules for reporting data breaches, codified in breach notification laws, and Sullivan knewor certainly should have knownexactly what he was required to do in the aftermath of such an incident. And its not as if he ever faced very severe consequences for his actions. Sure, he lost his job at Uberbut promptly found another less than a year later, running security for Cloudflare, a similarly high-profile tech firm, where he continues to be employed. With luck, the charges filed against Sullivan will give some teeth to statutory breach reporting requirements and send a strong message that covering up data breaches is both more difficult and more damaging than it may appear. Advertisement Update, Aug. 27, 2020: Bradford Williams, a spokesperson for Joseph Sullivan, has sent Slate the following statement: There is no merit to the charges against Mr. Sullivan. 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 departmentand not Mr. Sullivan or his groupwas responsible for deciding whether, and to whom, the matter should be disclosed. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. A government delegation has visited some alleged witches' camps in the Northern Region to interact with inmates to ascertain their conditions of living. The move was to help seek the inputs of inmates in terms of what they wanted government to do for them to improve their lot. The delegation comprised Madam Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection. The delegation visited the Gnani Witches Camp in the Yendi Municipality, where there were 133 female inmates, 88 male inmates and dozens of children, and the Kpatinga Witches Camp in Gushegu Municipality where there were 32 alleged witches and seven of their children. Some of the inmates told members of the delegation that they were wrongfully accused of witchcraft, tortured and sent away from their communities, where some of them had remained at the camps for more than a decade now. The ages of inmates at the camps ranged from 40 years to about 70 years. Mr Shei Alhassan, Tindana (Landlord) of the Gnani Witches Camp, who spoke on behalf of inmates, said they were engaged in farming activities but they usually ran out of food from June to July, every year, when their stocks ran dry. Mr Alhassan added that "They lie on the floor because they do not have mats. They do not have clothes to wear. They were on LEAP but their names were deleted from the programme in 2017. Many of them have had their NHIS subscriptions expired. There is only one private school from class one to six in the area and many of their children do not attend the school because they cannot pay the fees. Some inmates are very old and do not have relatives to take care of them." He, therefore, appealed to government to put the inmates back on the LEAP, renew their NHIS subscriptions, absorb the private school in the area amongst other support packages to improve the conditions of the inmates. He spoke on whether or not to reintegrate the inmates to their original communities, saying while some inmates would be willing to be reintegrated, the challenge had been the fact that members of their original communities did not want them back. At the Kpatinga Witches Camp, similar challenges including the lack of toilet facilities and electricity at the camp were enumerated. Madam Morrison described the inmates as vulnerable, saying, government was looking at putting them into groups to engage in shea butter processing as well as support others with inputs to support their food production activities. She encouraged them to remain strong and have the assurance that the state was interested in creating safe haven for them. Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Atwima-Kwanwoma and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Committee would submit a report on the state of the camps to Parliament for action to be taken regarding issues identified during the visit. Dr Appiah-Kubi spoke against human rights abuses meted out to people, especially vulnerable elderly women, who were wrongfully accused of witchcraft, advising communities noted for such acts to desist from the practice. The delegation presented some food packages to the inmates to support them. The Ghana News Agency also understands that the delegation will visit other alleged witches' camps in the north before returning to Accra. 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 (Bloomberg Opinion) -- As Libyas civil war takes a pause, Aguileh Salehs moment has finally arrived. It now falls to Saleh, the diminutive head of the countrys eastern-based legislature, to work out a lasting peace with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, as well as the grab-bag of foreign powers involved in the civil war. The GNA, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, is recognized by the United Nations, but its writ doesnt run beyond the western half of the oil-rich North African country. The imposing figure of Khalifa Haftar, the commander of eastern rebel forces, has tended to overshadow Saleh. In fact, the two men despise each other. But Salehs stature has grown as Haftars has shrunk in recent months following a string of battlefield reversals suffered by his so-called Libyan National Army. Militarily, the two sides are locked in a standoff on the outskirts of Sirte, birthplace of the former dictator Moammar Qaddafi. It is the gateway to the oil crescent, a string of eastern towns and ports from where most of the countrys oil departs for foreign markets. Thanks to the conflict, exports are a fraction of the million-plus barrels a day shipped before the war. At the start of summer, the GNA, backed by Turkey, seemed poised to sweep into the oil crescent. The government in Tripoli rebuffed a cease-fire offer from the rebels. But no shots have been fired in anger for several weeks, and now Sarraj and Saleh have issued reciprocal truce calls. Haftar has dismissed the GNA offer as a marketing stunt, but he may be in a minority. Egypt and Russia, the LNAs principal backers, have signaled their preference for a formal cease-fire, as have the members of the Arab League; the UN and European Union have thrown their weight behind the latest peace initiatives. For good measure, the National Oil Company has welcomed the calls from both sides of the civil war to end a seven-month oil blockade. It hopes to lift force majeure and re-commence oil export operations once all military personnel have been withdrawn from oil installations. The revenues will be deposited in a special bank account while the two sides hash out a political deal. Story continues Can we be optimistic about a cease-fire in Libya? Previous attempts to broker a truce by Italy, France, Russia and Germany were doomed by Haftars determination to take all of the country, by force. The big difference this time is that the initiative is in Salehs hands. Its an important moment that should not be lost, Stephanie Williams, the UNs envoy on Libya told Bloomberg. I think this is the first time in quite a long time that weve seen readiness by two key leaders to really forge what I would say is a made-in-Libya solution. Saleh enjoys good relations with the countries backing LNA, as well as the wider Arab and North African region. Perhaps more important, Turkey seems to regard him as a more credible negotiator than Haftar. But Saleh can only maintain his political advantage over the rebel commander if he can get good terms from Sarraj. The two politicians want many of the same things: a permanent cease-fire, followed swiftly by nationwide elections. But they dont agree on who should administer the country in the interim. Saleh has proposed a new presidential council, whereas Sarraj will want the GNA to retain control. They will no doubt differ on the future role in Libya of their respective foreign backers: Turkey and Russia both want to maintain a military presence. That would not sit easily with the U.S. and Europe, but the Western powers have lost much of their leverage in Libyan affairs. Saleh has also revived an old Qaddafi proposal to make Sirte the countrys administrative capital. The plan has been mooted by others since the end of the dictatorship, and might reassure eastern Libyans that westerners dont dominate national politics. Cease-fire negotiations, once they begin, will be difficult and time-consuming even assuming Haftar doesnt sabotage prospects of peace, as he has done before. Saleh will need all the help he can get from the international community, and a large quantity of the commodity Libya has most lacked: luck. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He writes on foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle East and Africa. 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. Over 1,000 more private planes landed at the Missoula International Airport this past July compared to July 2019, according to airport Director Cris Jensen. That's an increase of 25%. Thats everything from small-single engine, four-seat aircraft to very large corporate jets that would be comparable to an airliner, Jensen said. Its kind of accelerating. In June we were up only 4%, in May we were down 26% and in April we were down 47%, so were seeing kind of a rebound from months where we were deepest in the pandemic. Now were actually ahead of where wed be in a normal year. The airport doesnt have any tracking mechanism to log where flights are originating, Jensen said. In July 2020, there were 5,522 general aviation operations as private plane landings are called, while in July 2019 there were 4,426. Forrest Gue, the director of operations at private aviation company Minuteman Aviation next to the airport, said theres been a big uptick since June 1. Ever since the governor opened up the 14-day quarantine period, it was kind of like turning the light switch on, he said. They also dont keep track of where planes originate, but Gue said they chat with pilots and passengers. People are coming from all over, he said. "Its just a lot of people coming here for a break, it seems, vacation. Its more of that than business. We still get our business clients but also I think the increase is more from people coming to Montana to get away from the virus. A driver for the Paws Up luxury resort east of Missoula could be seen waiting for passengers on Tuesday inside the airport. Kynan Spethman, the general manager at North Star Aviation near the airport, said private business travelers have dropped off the map but recreation visitors have spiked. He said the quarterly business travelers, like executives from Costco who come to check on local operations, have pretty much ceased. But people traveling to the luxury vacation ranches in the area are still coming in strong. In his Directors Report to the Missoula Airport Authority Board on Tuesday, Jensen said about 1,000 commercial passengers depart from the airport every day, which is about 50% of normal. However, its still many more than the 400 passengers per day the airport saw in June 2020. He noted that a study from Airlines for America showed that the number of air travelers being screened by the Transportation Security Administration has plummeted nationally. In places like New York and Hawaii (which has a mandatory quarantine period) the number of passengers is down more than 85%. Many of those places have seen a decline in scheduled passenger flights. However, Montana has seen the least impact of all 50 states, with just 25% fewer flights offered in July 2020 compared to July 2019. "Of interest to us is the state least affected by capacity cuts in the nation is Montana, Jensen wrote to the board. "I believe that our big open spaces with relatively small population gives the perception that we are a safer destination than many of the more densely populated locations in the county and also explains why airlines such as Alaska and American are adding service to Missoula. In July, Alaska announced that starting next March, itll launch nonstop daily service from Missoula to and from San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose. That was the largest expansion of air service in the history of the Missoula International Airport. Construction is going well and on schedule for a new $64 million terminal at the airport, Jensen said. If theres any silver lining at all for all of us, not a lot of people or cars or airplanes are here to get in the way, he said. Its going well and is absolutely on schedule. Its going smooth for us at this point. Construction is scheduled to finish in late 2021 and the actual transition to operating the new terminal will happen in early 2022, as of right now. The increase in private flights adds a little bit to the airport's revenue, Jensen said, because they get a fuel sales flowage fee along with a landing fee for larger aircraft. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 6 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Days after the PMO raised concerns over delay in its dedicated freight corridors, the Railways has identified sluggish work by contractors, law and order situation at some places and slow progress in land acquisition by states among key bottlenecks for this ambitious project. The reasons have been listed in an internal assessment conducted by the Railways on the issues being faced by the two under-construction DFCs -- the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (from Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai) and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal). The assessment finds that big ticket contractors such as Alstom, Hitachi, GMR Infra, TPL-Aldesa (a joint venture of TATA Projects India and ALDESA of Spain), Texmaco Rail and Engineering, among others, have either failed to mobilise labour or are facing cash crunch or have been generally laggard in their work. While the original deadline for completion of these DFCs was December 2021, the Railways recently said it has been pushed back by six months to June 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic. For the delay in the EDFC, the Railways assessment found that the GMR Infra has been able to complete only 63 percent of the work in the past five years. The company was awarded the civil work contract for the Kanpur-DDU section in 2015 at a cost of Rs 5,087 crore. The assessment has also found Alstom to be extremely slow in the electrical, signalling and telecom works in the Khurja-Kanpur section. The work was awarded to them in 2015 for Rs 1,497 crore. It also found that TPL-Aldesa has effected inadequate mobilisation in the Khurja-Pilkhani section. In the assessment of the WDFC project, the report found that Hitachi and Texmaco have delayed the signalling and telecom works, while the work progress has also been hindered as the Gujarat government cited slow acquisition of land for approaches. The project is monitored on a weekly basis now. Another meeting is scheduled to be chaired by MR (Minister of Railways) next Monday with all stakeholders. The Railways would listen to all. If contractors are unhappy we can't be happy, idea is to take all with you, Railways spokesperson DJ Narain told PTI. However, the Railways will not tolerate any slippages in timelines of the contracted works. Action would be taken against any entity causing delay in the project of such importance. This strict monitoring is for all the working parties involved including entities in the Railways. Rules of monitoring is applicable for all, he said. He said a DFC review meeting with vendors, suppliers and contractors is scheduled for August 31 while one with state government officials of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra for September 1. In response to queries from PTI, Alstom said it had finished 90 per cent of its work on the EDFC project and is on track to complete the rest within the given time. The 200 kms section of 102/103 (Bhadan to Khurja) completed by Alstom in 2019 has enabled successful run of over 1,250 fully loaded freight trains. This also makes it the only electrified section of DFC in the country. In all, we have completed 90% of our scope of work on the EDFC project and are on track to complete the rest of the work at the earliest. We expect that very soon, the entire 345 kms freight corridor from Bhaupur-Khurja will be fully functional, a spokesperson for Altom said. The GMR in a statement said the group's DFC project stretches more than 400 Km and requires supplies of construction material from multiple sources. The limitations on the movement of skilled manpower, supervisory staff and supply of construction material owing to the COVID-19 have adversely affected the project progress, it said. More than 40 of our engineers and supervisors were impacted with Covid and there has been one fatality as well. Various village bodies have objected to free movement of outside labor due to the fear of Covid spread. We are also balancing the need of local employment and requirement of trained labour which is taking some time It is noteworthy that in such projects, earthwork and bridge completion takes more time while the track work, which is about 40% of total work is carried out very fast. Despite these challenges, the rate of progress of works on this project is better than other sections of DFCC, which was recognised recently & project was awarded Certificate of Appreciation', a GMR spokesperson said. PTI reached out to TPL-Aldesa, Hitachi as well as Texmaco Rail but received no response. The internal report has also said the EDFC has been facing law and order issues in Uttar Pradesh where 46 road over bridges are to be constructed, but only three have been completed, while work is still to be started on 13 due to the slow progress in the construction of the approach roads by the state government. As much as Rs 924 crore have already been paid in advance to the state for them, it said, adding law and order issues in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur districts were areas of concern. The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) is the exclusive corridor for transportation of goods, and once constructed will decongest the railways' network by moving 70 per cent of goods train to these two corridors. As of July, 56 per cent of WDFC and 60 per cent of EDFC was completed. In a recent meeting, the PMO had raised concerns over the delay in DFC project and asked the national transporter to identify issues which were causing the delays. (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.) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered a robust defense of President Donald Trump's foreign policy in an unprecedented speech at the Republican National Convention. No other sitting secretary of state has delivered a speech like this before their party's political convention. By doing so, Pompeo broke a decades-old taboo and his own policies for the department. The speech sparked widespread criticism, including from former top Republican officials and even some Israeli officials, now wary of how Trump has politicized U.S.-Israel policy. The House committee tasked with overseeing the State Department announced it was investigating the speech hours before it aired. MORE: Pompeo to speak at RNC in unprecedented move critics call inappropriate "Delivering on this duty to keep us safe and our freedoms intact, this president has led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world," Pompeo said, diving into specific policies without mentioning his role in them. PHOTO: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen giving his live address to the 2020 Republican National Convention from Israel on a monitor set up in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Aug. 25, 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) The four-minute address was taped Monday in between Pompeo's meetings in Jerusalem, his first stop on a four-day tour of the region. While Pompeo filmed the speech on an official overseas trip, the State Department said he delivered it "in his personal capacity." In a wink to that, Pompeo opened his remarks by saying he has "a big job -- as Susan's husband and Nick's dad," but leaving out any mention of the department. No State Department resources or staff were involved in the speech, a department spokesperson said, although some staff, like diplomatic security agents, are with the secretary virtually at all times. The Hatch Act forbids federal employees from engaging in political activities unless they're off duty, outside a federal facility and not using federal property -- something Pompeo chose to disregard when he made his speech. PHOTO: In this Oct. 21, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo laugh during a Cabinet Meeting at the White House in Washington, DC. (Yuri Gripas/POOL/EPA via Shutterstock, FILE) A Republican National Committee official told ABC News the party paid for the shoot and "all costs associated." Four teams of lawyers -- from the White House, State Department, the Republican National Convention and Pompeo's personal counsel -- cleared his remarks, the official added. Story continues While the speech may not have violated a law, Pompeo has implemented an even more stringent policy that his speech seemed to cross. In a December 2019 memo, his legal adviser told all political appointees that they were prohibited from "engag[ing] in political activity in concert with a partisan candidate, political party, or partisan political group," and specifically said that "Senate-confirmed presidential appointees," like Pompeo, "may not even attend a political party convention or convention-related event." MORE: The Latest: RNC airs Trump hosting naturalization ceremony Pompeo himself reiterated that policy just last month in a cable to all U.S. missions overseas. Pointing specifically to that December memo, he said, "It is important that the department's employees do not improperly engage the Department of State in the political process, and that they adhere to the Hatch Act and Department policies in their own political activities." Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Tex., chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's oversight subcommittee, announced that he was launching an investigation into Pompeo's speech hours before it aired. In a letter to Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Castro requested that documents related to the decision be turned over in one week, including when the trip was first planned and what resources may have been used. Beyond the legal fight over the personal or official, the speech ignited swift criticism of Pompeo, who, as the nation's top diplomat, put himself in the middle of partisan politics, further incinerating the old adage that politics stop at the water's edge. PHOTO: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive for a joint news conference in Jerusalem, Aug. 24, 2020. (Debbie Hill/Pool via Reuters) "The idea that @SecPompeo can speak at #RNC2020 in his 'personal capacity' betrays a basic misunderstanding. Any individual gives up his/her personal capacity to speak on foreign policy when he/she takes the job. It is public service, not political service," tweeted Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations who acted as a senior State Department and White House official in both Bush presidencies. But Pompeo, the last surviving member of Trump's national security cabinet, has always stitched himself tightly to the president. He's not been shy about his own presidential ambitions, garnering swift criticism from congressional Democrats. Some Israeli officials have also expressed concerns about Pompeo's speech, wary of how Trump has made certain decisions in U.S.-Israel policy to stir political support at home. Last week, the president told a crowd of supporters he had moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem "for the evangelicals." "It's amazing with that," he said. "The evangelicals are more excited about that than Jewish people." MORE: RNC 2020 Live: Melania Trump headlines from Rose Garden, Pompeo to speak from overseas trip A senior political source in Israel's parliament told ABC News, "The principle of bipartisan support is fundamental to the U.S.-Israeli relationship. This principle should be honored by all sides." At least the last six secretaries of state, from both Republican and Democrat administrations, did not attend their parties' conventions while in office. William Rogers, the secretary of state under President Richard Nixon, addressed the 1972 convention to pay tribute to his former boss, President Dwight Eisenhower, according to the Eisenhower Library, but it's unclear if he spoke about the presidential race, too. "As secretary of state, I am obliged not to participate in any way, shape, fashion, or form in parochial, political debates. I have to take no sides in the matter," Colin Powell said in 2004, skipping the Republican National Convention while serving under George W. Bush. Powell, a Republican, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden in this year's election. ABC News' Jordana Miller contributed to this report from Jerusalem. Pompeo defies his own policy by praising Trump in unprecedented convention speech originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Updated at 18:40 a.m. EDT on 2020-08-26 Rohingya Muslim refugees on Tuesday quietly marked the third anniversary of a military crackdown that drove hundreds of thousands of them from Myanmar into Bangladesh, with no prospects of repatriation or accountability on the horizon. A Rohingya leader at the largest refugee settlement in the world, Kutupalong camp in southeastern Bangladesh, said coronavirus contagion fears had prevented the community from gathering to mark the date. This year we silently observed Aug. 25 [as] Rohingya genocide day. We have not held any meeting or rally due to the coronavirus. But we are adamant about realizing our demand restoration of our civil rights, freedom and the trial of the people who killed us and tortured us, Kutupalong camp leader Mohammad Nur told BenarNews. Bangladesh is not our country. Myanmar is our country. We faced huge torture in our country. Despite the risk of being tortured, we want to go back to our country. But we will go with our rights as citizens, he said. More than 740,000 members of the minority group sought shelter across the border in southeastern Bangladesh as they fled from the crackdown that began in late August 2017. Myanmars military launched its brutal offensive in the wake of deadly attacks carried out on police and army posts by Rohingya insurgents. On Tuesday, a senior Bangladesh official urged the international community to remain invested in solving the crisis, saying the South Asian country could not definitely bear the burden of hosting the hundreds of thousands of refugees. This crisis has been negatively affecting our environment, ecology, tourism and economy, Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, told journalists in Dhaka. How can Bangladesh bear the burden of an additional 1.1 million people? I urge the attention of the U.N. and the international community in this regard, he said. Rakhine state repatriation efforts In 2019, some 200,000 Rohingya gathered at the Kutupalong camp for a special prayer seeking peace in Rakhine state so they could return. One year later, repatriation efforts remain stalled. More than 1 million Rohingya live in refugee camps in Coxs Bazar and neighboring Bandarban district. Foreign Minister Abdul Momen said Bangladesh officials were willing to help the Rohingya leave the overcrowded Bangladesh camps, but their counterparts in Myanmar needed to step up. We tried twice to start the repatriation, but the Rohingya did not agree to leave because they did not think the situation in Rakhine was favorable for their return. So Myanmar must create an enabling atmosphere in Rakhine where they can feel secure, he told BenarNews. Meanwhile, Momen said 2020 had brought new delays. The discussion on Rohingya repatriation was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Momen said. Now they (Myanmar officials) want to delay the negotiation until after their upcoming general elections in November. A Myanmar official agreed that the pandemic has slowed the process. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have some limitations in our efforts, but the relevant government departments keep working on what they have to do, said Thurein Tun, deputy director general of the Relief and Resettlement Department. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government has repeatedly voiced its intent to move about 100,000 refugees to a flood-prone island hours from the mainland, to reduce crowding in the camps, but the controversial plan has never been carried out. In May, authorities towed a boat carrying about 300 Rohingya to the island, known as Bhashan Char. The boat was adrift after being denied entry to Malaysia. To date, those Rohingya are the only residents of the island; some rights groups say they are essentially prisoners there. More than 740,000 members of the minority group sought shelter across the border in southeastern Bangladesh as they fled from the crackdown that began in late August 2017. Myanmars military launched its brutal offensive in the wake of deadly attacks carried out on police and army posts by Rohingya insurgents. On Tuesday, a senior Bangladesh official urged the international community to remain invested in solving the crisis, saying the South Asian country could not definitely bear the burden of hosting the hundreds of thousands of refugees. This crisis has been negatively affecting our environment, ecology, tourism and economy, Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the ruling Awami League party, told journalists in Dhaka. How can Bangladesh bear the burden of an additional 1.1 million people? I urge the attention of the U.N. and the international community in this regard, he said. Rakhine state repatriation efforts In 2019, some 200,000 Rohingya gathered at the Kutupalong camp for a special prayer seeking peace in the Rakhine state so they could return. One year later, repatriation efforts remain stalled and more than 1 million Rohingya remain in refugee camps in Coxs Bazar and neighboring Bandarban district. Foreign Minister Abdul Momen said Bangladesh officials were willing to help the Rohingya leave the overcrowded Bangladesh camps, but their counterparts in Myanmar needed to step up. We tried twice to start the repatriation, but the Rohingya did not agree to leave because they did not think the situation in Rakhine was favorable for their return. So Myanmar must create an enabling atmosphere in Rakhine where they can feel secure, he told BenarNews. Bangladesh and Myanmar reached an agreement in November 2017 calling for the repatriation process to begin in early 2018. Since then, all efforts to return the Rohingya to their homes have failed over safety and other concerns. Myanmar is not expediting the verification process of the Rohingya. Bangladesh sent a list of 300,000 to Myanmar, Momen said. Of those on the list, Myanmar verified only 30,000 people. The foreign minister said 2020 had brought new reasons for delays, including a pandemic and alleged lack of support from aid agencies and the international community. The discussion on Rohingya repatriation was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Momen said. Now they [Myanmar officials] want to delay the negotiation until after their upcoming general elections in November. Since the 2017 influx began, overwhelming the Coxs Bazar district, the Bangladesh government has constructed housing on Bhashan Char, a flood-prone island hours from the mainland to alleviate the pressure on the camps. Earlier, in February, the state minister for disaster management announced that the government was holding off on plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingya. We have not received support from U.N. agencies and the international community, Enamur Rahman told BenarNews at the time. In May, authorities towed a boat packed with Rohingya that had not been allowed to enter Malaysia to the island. Two weeks later, those on the island survived Cyclone Amphan, a storm that swept through Bangladesh, destroying about 100 Rohingya houses at camps in Ukhia and causing damage estimated at $130 million across the nation. Global support for Rohingya The anniversary this year drew words of support for the refugees in Bangladesh and around the world. We have been giving the Rohingya support to allow them to stay here peacefully, but our ultimate goal is their sustainable return, Mahbub Alam Talukder, refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, told BenarNews. Human Rights Watch (HRW) blamed the Myanmar government for its failure to ensure the Rohingyas safe return while noting that Bangladesh authorities had tightened restrictions against the refugees. Myanmars government should recognize that the terrible suffering it has caused the Rohingya wont disappear even amid a global pandemic, said Brad Adams, HRWs Asia director. Myanmar needs to accept an international solution that provides for the safe, voluntary return of Rohingya refugees, while an understandably stretched Bangladesh should not make conditions inhospitable for refugees who have nowhere to go. In the United States, a bipartisan group of senators called on the Trump administration to support the Rohingya as well as declare the crimes committed against them genocide. We urge you and President Trump to speak out forcefully and publicly about these atrocities, acknowledging the gravity of the crimes with a determination of crimes against humanity and genocide, Sens. Jeff Merkley, Marco Rubio, Edward J. Markey, Todd Young, Dick Durbin, Susan Collins, Elizabeth Warren, Ben Cardin and Ron Wyden said in a Tuesday letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. A genocide determination would properly recognize the scale and severity of atrocities committed against the Rohingya, open the door to additional actions to hold Burmese leadership responsible for their inexcusable behavior, help to prevent further atrocities in an environment of ongoing high risk, and galvanize international aid and attention at a time of donor fatigue, their joint statement said. Speaking at a webinar in Dhaka on Monday, U.S. Ambassador Earl M. Miller, pointed out that the U.S. was the worlds leading contributor to humanitarian aid for the Rohingya, providing more than $951 million over the last three years. When you visit the Rohingya camps, one can be heartbroken by the inhumanity in Burma that caused this crisis. But one can also be inspired by Bangladeshs response and the nations that support you, Miller said, referring to Myanmar by its old name. The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, called on Myanmar to address the barriers keeping the Rohingya from their homes, and praised Bangladesh for its commitment to the refugees. Three years on from the latest exodus of Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar and sought sanctuary in Bangladesh from August 2017 onward, challenges persist and continue to evolve, the UNHCR said in a statement on Aug. 21. Favorable court actions Earlier this year, two international courts took action in favor of the Rohingya and against the Myanmar government. In February, the International Criminal Court prosecutors office, based at The Hague, announced it was gathering evidence against people suspected of committing crimes against Rohingya in Myanmar. Yes, it is three years since the crimes were committed, but justice will be done. It may take a year, it may take two years, it may take three years, senior prosecutor Phakiso Mochochoko told reporters in Dhaka in February. The beauty of our international criminal court is it is a permanent international institution. The announcement came just weeks after the U.N.s International Court of Justice in January issued a binding order that Myanmar must prevent the killing or serious injury of Rohingya; ensure that the military does not harm them or conspire to commit genocide; preserve evidence related to allegations; and report on its compliance with the measures until the ICJ issues a final decision on the case. Addressing the court in December, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the genocide case against her country was based on an incomplete and misleading grasp of the situation and should be rejected. Can there be genocidal intent on the part of a state that actively investigates, prosecutes and punishes soldiers and officers that are accused of wrongdoing? she said, referring to two cases in which Myanmar investigated atrocities by soldiers. Another U.N. body the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar issued a statement on Tuesday to offer its support for Rohingya as they seek justice. We are aware that for each day that passes without justice or accountability, the suffering continues for those displaced from their homes and for those who lost loved ones or were themselves victimized, said Nicholas Koumjian, who leads the Myanmar Mechanism. Justice for international crimes is a complex and often slow process and we do not want to raise expectations that it will be easily or quickly achieved. Koumjian said his organization was working to save evidence against those responsible for crimes so they will be held accountable. We have heard the voices of many victims and survivors expressing how important justice is to them and we are aware that for most, any real justice would include the ability to return to and live safely and peacefully in their homes. This updated version adds information and comment from the Myanmar government. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. A Circuit Court in Accra has revoked the bail of Nelson Selasey Moredey, a businessman for absenting himself from Court on several times. The court had earlier on issued a bench warrant for Moredey's arrest after he absented himself from court on three occasions. The accused had on some court sittings asked his wife to represent him. He was arrested upon the issuance of a bench warrant where he explained that he had come into contact with a person infected with COVID -19 and was therefore in isolation. He however did not have any documents to that effect. The court however rejected his explanation saying since he was granted bail on March 18, this year, he has been absenting himself in court hence the bench warrant. Moredey in the company of his lawyer had his bail application turned down and his earlier GH70,000.00 bail revoked by the court. The matter has been adjourned to September 3. Moredey who was earlier charged with stealing had his charge substituted with a new one being fraudulent breach of trust. Prosecuting, Inspector Samuel Ahiabor said the complainant Salley Brew-Hammond is a student residing at Spintex in Accra. Inspector Ahiabor said Moredey claimed to be a car dealer at Adjei Kojo, Ashaiman. He said on February 8, 2018, the complainant gave her unregistered 4x4 Chevrolet Equinox valued GH70,000.00 to the accused to sell it for her. Prosecution said the accused took custody of the vehicle and sold it. He said the accused however went into hiding and failed to give the complainant her money. The prosecution said on May 9, last year, the complainant reported the incident to the Police at Baatsona. He said during investigations Police tracked the accused with a device and arrested him from his hideout at Spintex Road. The prosecution said in his cautioned statement, accused admitted the offence and said that he sold the car at GH70,000.00 to someone at Spintex but failed to release the money to the owner. ---GNA Ukraine and Turkey have signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries of Turkey (SSM). We are glad to welcome such a powerful Ukrainian delegation to Turkey. I know that visits to industrial facilities are on the agenda. We are grateful that you contribute to the development of relations between Turkey and Ukraine in the defense industry, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Ismail Demir greeted the Ukrainian delegation. There is strong representation on both sides. I am sure that this will also be the key to success. I've been to Turkish enterprises and I want to see how they have changed during this time, Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleh Urusky said at the beginning of the meeting. The signing of the memorandum took place at a meeting of the High-Level Coordinating Council. As Ukrinform reported, the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Turkey will last three days and will be held in two cities - Ankara and Istanbul. ish Percibald Garcia, a young Mexican architect, shows up every day at a massive Mexico City apartment complexs public square to tell stories to kids stuck at home amid the pandemic. Accompanied by a speaker, a microphone, and some books, Garcia broadcasts stories to children who gather at their windows to listen. Percibald Garcia, 27, reads storybooks aloud outside an apartment in Mexico. (Screenshot/REUTERS) The idea of entertaining kids via storytelling came to Garcia, 27, after he heard the desperate cry of a boy who was lamenting that he was bored at home. The incident made the young Mexican question the few activities designed to keep children involved and busy during confinement. The project was born out of a great concern to care for and help children who are in quarantine, Garcia told Reuters. Also to continue the tradition of storytelling, to get closer to children and to get closer to culture. Garcia arrives at 3 p.m. at the apartment complex and walks around the buildings telling stories. As children and adults spend their time listening to stories from Mexican authors, they tend to forget the lockdown for a few minutes. Percibald Garcia, 27, reads storybooks aloud outside an apartment in Mexico. (Screenshot/REUTERS) Here every day the musicians go around the complex and people listen to music, art comes to them from the window then, Garcia said. I knew I could get involved in the dynamics of the homes if I followed in the footsteps of the urban artists, he added. Fernanda Silva, a local resident, whose son enjoys listening to Garcia narrating stories, finds the activity very engaging. Were right on time. This is an activity that [my son] is very interested in. Hes looking forward to the time when they start telling stories, its his time to relax, Silva said. He likes to listen to the songs, listen to the stories. For him, it is something very cool and for me too, Silva added. Percibald Garcia, 27, reads storybooks to children gathered outside an apartment in Mexico. (Screenshot/REUTERS) Meanwhile, another resident, Ian, found Garcias way of storytelling very interesting. They do this all the time because its fun and its entertaining, Ian said. During these trying times when almost any everyday thing has gone online, Garcia found a creative way to bring the art of storytelling to the kids who are confined in their homes because of the fear of the contagion, thereby inspiring them and keeping them entertained at the same time. By Roberto Ramirez. The Epoch Times contributed to this report. The Niagara Falls Downtown Business Improvement Area has received $20,000 from a provincial and federal Digital Main Street grant program to help small businesses use digital technologies to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Thanks to the funding, a newly launched Digital Service Squad is scheduled to begin visiting small businesses Aug. 31. We are thrilled to be able to assist our members digital footprint, said Amanda MacDonald, executive director for the BIA. In these extraordinary and unprecedented times that we live in due to COVID-19, resources to digitalize our downtowns, create online markets, and promote local businesses are essential. We are thrilled to hire two service squad members that will visit each business, working directly with them to assist in applying for $2,500 grants. Our service squad members will also help local retailers access online services and create digital plans to serve the Niagara community better. Ron Charbonneau, chairman of the BIAs board of management, said the funds will help business and property owners like him grow and expand operations, not only during COVID-19 but in competition with other provinces and countries. Digital Main Street Ontario, a partnership between the federal and provincial governments, was expanded in 2018 with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through the $38-million Main Street Revitalization Initiative. It has been further extended through an investment of $42.5 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and $7.45 million from the Ministry for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. The investment is intended to help small businesses across Ontario pivot their operations to include online business models, regain lost revenue and become more resilient and competitive as the economy recovers. Ontarios small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and the keystone of our economic recovery, said Melanie Joly, federal minister of economic development and official languages. That is why we have invested in Digital Main Street to help these enterprises adapt to doing business in a digital world and take advantage of the record number of people shopping online. She congratulated Niagara Falls on the launch of its Digital Service Squad, adding the work youre doing with small businesses in your community will help keep our main streets vibrant, support good local jobs and help our economy come back strong. Digital Service Squads are trained specialists who meet with small businesses, at no cost, to help them improve their online presence. The squads assist with activities, including developing a Google My Business profile, enhancing their social media presence and provide support for basic website and e-commerce set-up. Squads will also help qualified small businesses through the application process for a $2,500 digital transformation grant, which includes an online assessment, online training modules and the development of a digital transformation plan. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Ontarios main streets hard, so Digital Main Street is needed more than ever, said Kay Matthews, executive director of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association. We know that businesses that participated in Digital Main Street last year were better able to cope when the pandemic hit, and were excited that FedDev Ontario and (Ministry for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade) are providing the funding to extend this important program to help businesses in communities like downtown Niagara Falls. Mayor Jim Diodati said businesses working through the pandemic have learned they need to pivot and be creative with how we deliver business. This government grant will help our downtown businesses create unique offerings, reach customers in innovative ways and expand their reach to keep going. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper holds his first news conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., August 28, 2019. /Reuters When asked to comment on U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper's new op-ed on China's armed forces, Chinese official Zhao Lijian slammed the article as "baseless." Zhao questioned if the United States could make an explicit policy statement just like China that it opposes authoritarianism and wants to stick to the path of peaceful development. Esper's Monday opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, titled "The Pentagon is Prepared for China," attacked the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as a military that will be "the core of authoritarianism." Zhao dismissed the allegation, while listing several facts about the militaries of China and the United States. "The Chinese military has collectively participated in over 20 United Nations peacekeeping mission operations since 1990," Zhao said. "China has sent out the most peacekeeping forces among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council." Whereas in the 240-plus years of the founding of the United States, there are only 16 years when the country has not been at war, Zhao said. "The U.S. military budget stands at 716 billion U.S. dollars, which is equivalent to the combined defense budgets of the nine countries behind it." "Who is the one that owns hundreds of military bases across the world? Who started wars or illegal military operations in Iraq, Syria, Libya and many other countries while also showing off its military strength in sea areas far away from its own land?" "And who is the one that entrenched the Cold War mentality, keeping on withdrawing from all sorts of international treaties and wantonly destroying the global rules?" Zhao questioned. NAPA, Calif. The California LNU Lightning Complex fire has charred more than 350,000 acres, destroyed more than 900 structures, claimed the lives of at least five people and forced thousands more to flee their homes as it rampages in all directions. But the destructive walls of flames spanning parts of normally lush Sonoma, Lake and Napa wine counties, north of San Francisco are not the only crisis in this fragile region. "We've had a four-fer, with COVID, a heat wave, wildfires and the threat of rolling power outages," Janet Upton, a spokeswoman for Napa County and a former deputy director of Cal Fire, said. The spread of the coronavirus across the Bay Area makes the already very challenging acts of firefighting and evacuating far more difficult. What's more, according to experts from the Washington State Department of Health, breathing in wildfire smoke may worsen the symptoms of COVID-19, make people more susceptible to general respiratory infections, and put strains on overall mental health. This year's fire season is one of the most active in state history: more than 7,000 blazes have torn through some 1.4 million acres, fueled in part by dry conditions. But because fire is only one part of the problem, health experts, firefighters, emergency responders and local leaders all report that they are grappling with a multilayered crisis of overwhelming scale, putting enormous burdens on people on the front lines. In the town of Sonoma, where air quality continues to be unhealthy because of wildfire smoke, retired San Francisco firefighter Bob Cuff, who has asthma, is staying inside. "I dont go out much when the air is bad. Just a quick run to the grocery store. But thats also because of COVID. Im trying to stay away from other people," he said. In recent days, he's felt his throat and lungs get congested, and doesn't go anywhere without his inhaler. Ill be 68 in December. I smoked until I was 50. I was a fireman: I smoked sofas!" Cuff, who served in the San Francisco Fire Department for 27 years, said with a throaty laugh. "Im compromised in so many different ways like that." Story continues Zac Unger, a firefighter who has been with the Oakland Fire Department for 22 years, said crews were "stretched incredibly thin" and in some cases working more than 100-hour shifts. Unger, who said he had been on call for 120 hours straight, patrolling for new fires, noted firefighters were doing all they could to contain the inferno while staying safe from COVID-19 infection. "It is manifestly an unsafe situation both as it relates to fire and as it relates to COVID," he said. In what he described as "another risk on top of the other risks," firefighters are also assisting people who have COVID-19. I've got a wife and three kids, and thats the hardest part. My kids are scared to hug me on days when I treat COVID patients," Unger said. "Theres a bit of distance that our job has created between us and our families. It breaks your heart when you cant give your little kid a hug." Cots are spread out in Crosswalk Community Church in Napa, Calif., on Aug. 24, 2020. (Chiara Sottile / NBC News) The disruptions caused by the fires have raised concerns about an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission, as evacuees and rescue workers might cluster together. Whenever we have people who are in constant contact with one another that don't normally live together, there's definitely a risk of transmission of COVID, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said at a press briefing Monday. Napa County has provided shelter services to some 351 people since the fires broke out last week due to widespread lightning strikes, according to Upton. The county has been working to help residents amid what she described as a "disaster inside a disaster." The plans include a shelter inside the Crosswalk Community Church, just off Highway 29 in Napa, where hundreds of residents forced from their homes have sought refuge in recent days. The church has served as the primary evacuation center for decades; this year is starkly different. This summer, the cots inside the church's sanctuary are only being used as temporary places to rest instead of places to sleep overnight. "Because of COVID, people who are verified evacuees ... are being put up at hotels locally," said Peter Shaw, the senior pastor, who has worked at the church for 20 years and helped with local disaster relief for two earthquakes, two floods and three fires. "We can usually get a couple hundred people in here, but now we're down to about 50 [cots]," he said, gesturing to rows of empty green fabric cots carefully spaced apart to allow for social distancing. Shaw said the church hands out $2,000 in gift cards every day to people affected by the blazes, most of which are donated by locals. "Everything dropped off here must be disinfected," he said, surrounded by volunteers and staffers checking in new arrivals and hunched over laptops at folding tables, making phone calls in English and Spanish. Outside the church, under a beige sky thick with smoke, a steady stream of people trickled in and had their temperatures taken, part of screenings for COVID-19. Upton said for people who tested positive for COVID-19 or who had been under self-quarantine, they could be moved to a separate space outside the shelter. In addition to converting its sanctuary to a temporary rest stop, Crosswalk has dozens of cots set up always six feet apart inside its gym. County staff members and volunteers from the Community Organization Active in Disaster, or COAD, keep the operation running around the clock in two 12-hour shifts. But for some residents, the already traumatizing threat of having to evacuate is even more stressful because of the coronavirus. Sonoma County has seen cases spike in recent weeks. Michelle Petersen, a resident of Santa Rosa and a private duty nurse who works in home care, believes a shelter would not be feasible for her family. She has two developmentally disabled children, ages 18 and 21, one of whom is immunocompromised. Her husband is currently undergoing chemotherapy to fight stage 3 colon cancer and spent June in a hospital. One child is diabetic, as is her husband. Because of my son and my husband, a shelter would not be good, because its a breeding ground for diseases," she said. "I'm worried all the time for my family," she added, noting that even limited contact with hotel staff and the logistics of being away from home concern her now. Petersen said her family was evacuated during two previous California fires the Tubbs fire and the Kincade fire in 2017 and 2019, respectively. This year, she began making an evacuation plan for the new blaze as soon as it broke out Aug. 17. For the time being, the Petersens are staying at their home, windows closed, to prevent smoke from getting inside. "We only go out if we have to go out, and its usually me who goes out, like for medication," she said. We just try to go with the flow and make the best we can of our situation. Theres not much we can do to change anything, so we just hope for the best. You just never know. Chiara Sottile reported from Napa, California, and Daniel Arkin reported from New York. Jerry Falwell Jr. had long made a point of emphasizing that he was not trying to be a moral leader. He made crude jokes, insulted fellow Christians and was photographed partying on yachts and in nightclubs. But he rarely apologized or expressed regret. I have never been a minister, he explained on Twitter last year. He liked to tell reporters that Jesus did not tell Caesar how to run Rome. That was always an unusual stance for the head of a distinctly evangelical institution. But Mr. Falwell pulled it off until recently, coasting by on a combination of success Libertys endowment grew to $1.6 billion under his watch and good will engendered by lingering institutional fondness for his father, who founded the school and was both a minister and an administrator. On Tuesday, after a chaotic 48 hours in which a sex scandal emerged and Mr. Falwell resigned, changed his mind and then changed it back again, he was officially out as president and chancellor of Liberty University, the influential evangelical institution in Lynchburg, Va. Many students and others with ties to the school greeted his departure with relief. A seemingly constant flow of controversies was finally over. I wasnt expecting him to be a spiritual leader, but I was expecting him to be a spiritual example, said Eli Best, a junior who is majoring in mechanical engineering and whose brother Calum co-founded Save 71, an alumni group that worked to oust Mr. Falwell. The president of a university not abiding by his own standards, in terms of bars and alcohol and sexuality all those stories, that tipped me off. It was like a flashing sign in our faces. Tom Cruise, seen here at the 2015 CinemaCon, recently dropped in on a London cinema to watch Christopher Nolan's "Tenet." Yes, he wore a mask. (Chris Pizzello / Invision/Associated Press) One of Hollywood's most notorious thrill seekers, none other than Tom Cruise, masked up to attend a public showing of Christopher Nolan's "Tenet" in London. Production on the still-untitled seventh film in the producer-star's "Mission: Impossible" franchise was halted in February due to the pandemic, just days before shooting was to begin. However, while it was reported to be greenlighted to resume in September, production apparently restarted this month in Oxfordshire until a motorcycle stunt gone wrong stalled it again (no reported fatalities or major injuries). Meanwhile, in a video posted to Cruise's Twitter on Aug. 25, the star and a masked companion who looks (from the cheeks up, anyway) very much like his frequent collaborator Christopher McQuarrie (writer-director of "Mission: Impossible" installments 5, 6, 7 and as announced 8), ride a cab to a cinema and drop in on "Tenet." Above the video, Cruise included the message,"Big Movie. Big Screen. Loved It." Big Movie. Big Screen. Loved it. pic.twitter.com/DrAY5tRg5P Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 25, 2020 In the video, which begins with a few shots of rain-soaked London landmarks through the cab window, Cruise waves back at some fans on the street, then asks the camera, "How does that happen? I'm wearing a mask." Getting out of the vehicle in front of a mural for Nolan's film, he says, "Here we are ... back to the movies." Cruise's video even includes a few seconds of the Warner Bros. logo at the beginning of the film and of the end credits no word if Warner Bros. lawyers will be pursuing antipiracy action against one of the biggest stars in the world. After applauding both the beginning and end of the film, he rises and says to his fellow attendees in the apparently socially distanced crowd, "Great to be back in a movie theater, everybody." Someone asks as he passes, "Did you enjoy the film?" and he responds, "I loved it. I loved it." The video racked up more than 965,000 views in about four hours and about 33,000 likes, though one comment criticized Cruise for wearing a mask with a vent on it. Others said such masks are still safe for those around the user if they contain an N95 insert, but the official CDC guidance says such valves should be covered with a "surgical or procedure mask that does not interfere with respirator fit." Cruise's next scheduled theatrical release, the sequel "Top Gun: Maverick," was originally due to open June 26 before moving to Dec. 23 because of coronavirus shutdowns. Just last month it was pushed to July 2, 2021. Arlene Carney, exchanges vows with Bill Baumann during their wedding ceremony performed by Father Thoeni, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in East Naples. NAPLES, Fla. Bill Baumann didnt propose to Arlene Carney in the traditional sense. He cant get down on one knee, Carney said. Id have to call the fire department, Baumann said. Baumann, 82, and Carney, 77, are native New Yorkers. They were both married before. Baumanns wife, Joann, died in 2011. Carneys husband, Robert, died in 2018. Baumann is a retired teacher, Carney used to sell life insurance. Both live in the Lely Palms Retirement Community in Naples. They saw each other in the dining room from time to time. Both of us didnt think we were going to find anybody else, or even were looking, Carney said. One day, Carney invited Baumann over for a takeout dinner. Then Baumann asked Carney out. They enjoyed eating out, reading and watching old movies together. By that time, COVID had come on and made us even closer, Baumann said. We had each other as foils. Shed bounce off me, and Id bounce off her. She worries about me, shes understanding, she has a great sense of humor, and we just get along. Father Tom Thoeni performs the marriage ceremony between Arlene Carney and Bill Baumann on Aug. 25 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in East Naples, Fla. Baumann is the kindest man Carney has ever met. A month after their first date, they were engaged. Baumann said it was the next logical step. Neither feels inhibited by age or the state of the world. Go for it, Carney said. You just have to keep moving, Baumann said. Once you stop moving, youre dead. Its as simple as that. You may not lie down, but youre dead. For their wedding at St. Pauls Episcopal Church, they opted for a small number of attendees six and a Floridian dress code, replete with floral button downs. Lely Palms hosted their reception, according to marketing director Renee Smith-Gonzalez. Its wonderful, Smith-Gonzalez said. Love is ageless. It is something that we all can aspire to have in our life if we dont already. Bill Baumann, right, leads his new wife, Arlene Carney, down the aisle Aug. 25 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in East Naples, Fla. Baumann holds the Lely Palms community in high regard. Members were invited to the reception where safety precautions were taken so the couple could say thanks. These people have become our brothers and sisters, Baumann said, and he thanked the staff for working to keep the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Story continues Marriage, to the newlyweds, hasnt changed much in its definition. All the trite things: love and company and responsibility, faith, all those things, Baumann said. They sound a little hokey, but thats what it means to me. Bill Baumann kisses Arlene Carney's hand before the start of their wedding ceremony Aug. 25 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in East Naples, Fla. It means sharing a life with somebody you love very much. Trying to help him and him trying to help me, Carney said. Having a lot of laughs. Which we do. Follow Andrew Atkins on Twitter @andrewjatkins. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Finding love as a senior: Florida couple get married at 77 and 82 Oil rose towards $46 a barrel on Wednesday, near the highest since March, lifted by US producers shutting most of their offshore Gulf of Mexico output ahead of Hurricane Laura and a report showing a drop in US crude inventories. Renewed worries over the Covid-19 pandemic, which has squeezed demand and sent prices to record lows in April, capped gains after reports this week of patients being re-infected, raising concerns about future immunity. Brent crude rose 2 cents to $45.88 a barrel by 0815 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 3 cents to $43.32. Both benchmarks settled at a five-month high on Tuesday. Oil traders will be preoccupied with the hurricane today, said Tamas Varga of broker PVM. Once the danger passes, demand considerations will come into focus again. The US energy industry was preparing on Tuesday for a major hurricane strike. Producers shut 1.56 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude output, representing 84% of the Gulf of Mexicos offshore production and close to the 90% outage that Hurricane Katrina brought 15 years ago. We do see some support on the back of hurricane activity, Dutch bank ABN AMRO said in a report. The threat of being infected by the COVID-19 virus threatens a further recovery in oil demand. Oil was also boosted on Tuesday by US and Chinese officials reaffirming their commitment to a Phase 1 trade deal. Further support came from American Petroleum Institute figures showing US crude stocks fell more than expected. A record oil output cut by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia has helped to lift Brent from Aprils 21-year low below $16. The US governments Energy Information Administration report at 1430 GMT will be in focus to see if it confirms the API figures. The Norwalk League of Women Voters held a small celebration at the gazebo on the town green to commemorate Women's Equality Day today on Wednesday. This is the day in 1920 that the 19th Amendment was passed, guaranteeing a woman's right to vote. Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling presented a proclamation, declaring Aug. 25 as League of Women Voters Day in Norwalk and to mark the group's 100th anniversary. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 01:43:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIYADH, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two Saudi scholars have won a special award in an event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the China-Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties. During the event organized by the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia in capital Riyadh, the embassy has received more than 160 themed works from people of the two countries, including pictures, videos, calligraphy and musical works. Saudi scholars Haitham Al-Sayed and Abdullah Al-Wadei, who recorded video clips in Chinese to support the Chinese people during the critical moment of China's fight against the coronavirus, were awarded on Tuesday. The two scholars said that they would continue working to promote academic exchanges and the friendship between the two peoples. Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chen Weiqing congratulated the two winners for their dedication to the solidarity of the Saudi and Chinese peoples in light of the pandemic crisis, adding that the video clips symbolized the friendship between the two countries. Chen noted that since the two sides established diplomatic ties, significant progresses have been made, such as in the fields of culture and education, and in the face of COVID-19, the two countries have worked together. The Saudi scholars who attended the award ceremony spoke highly of the positive achievements in people-to-people and cultural exchanges and the cooperation between the two countries in epidemic prevention and control, saying that they will continue to contribute to promoting exchanges and consolidating friendly relations between the two countries. Enditem AUSTIN An event hosted by the Travis County Republican Party and attended by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Chip Roy on Friday is under investigation as local authorities look into a complaint that the event violated state and county coronavirus orders. The Ronald Reagan Gala, held this year at the Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave just west of Austin, is a fundraiser that the party holds annually. Other high-profile attendees included Texas state Sens. Donna Campbell and Dawn Buckingham, who was a speaker and the recipient of a Rising Star Award. Several GOP candidates made appearances as well, including Texas House nominees Bill Strieber and Justin Berry. Ticket prices started at $150 for an individual and ran up to $10,000 to sponsor a VIP table. North Austin resident Kevin McKay said he filed a complaint Wednesday after seeing photos of the event that were posted online by Buckingham and other attendees. The photos showed groups of the politicians posed without masks and several dozen people seated at tables listening to speakers at the outdoor event. Should these politicians be exempt from the county and statewide mask mandate? Absolutely not, McKay said. Our COVID numbers in Texas are still really high, and theres just no reason why any group should be getting together 100-plus people in the middle of the pandemic. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox In an email to McKay obtained by Hearst Newspapers, Assistant Travis County Fire Marshal Gary Howell said the department was investigating and expected to be finished by the end of the week. A county spokesman, Yoojin Cho, confirmed the county was investigating and said officials are coordinating with city of Bee Cave to determine jurisdiction. Crenshaws spokesman said in a statement that the congressman wore a mask during the entirety of the event other than when he was speaking and for a few, brief photos that were taken outside. Buckingham, Campbell, Cornyn and Roy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The statewide mask mandate requires that Texans in counties with more than 20 coronavirus cases wear face coverings in public. Travis County also requires as much through its own order; it also, as of Aug. 16, prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people. NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Houston Rep. Dan Crenshaw gets starring role at Republican National Convention Travis GOP Chair Matt Mackowiak said in a statement participants observed the same public health guidelines that are used for weddings at the venue. Social distancing was enforced, Mackowiak said. Hand sanitizer was readily available. The entire event was outdoors. Masks were worn by attendees, except while eating and drinking and in some cases when taking photos. If social justice protests are acceptable, safe events like this should be also. The Texas mask requirement allows exceptions for eating and drinking and public speaking. Photo-taking, however, is not one of the listed exceptions. Under the statewide order, a first-time violator of the face-covering requirement should receive a verbal or written warning, and a second-time violator can be fined up to $250. Each subsequent violation can also be punished by a fine of up to $250. The order gives local law enforcement and other officials the ability to enforce the order. Texas Democratic Party spokesman Abhi Rahman in a statement blasted the Texas GOP and event attendees for putting entire communities at risk. This isnt funny. This isnt cute. This is downright reckless, and Texans are sick of this type of behavior, Rahman said. They are putting all of our sacrifices at risk. To ensure that John Cornyn, Chip Roy and the rest of the Texas Republicans stop putting us in danger, voter blue up and down the ballot in November. Our lives depend on it. A previous version of this article incorrectly listed U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul as an attendee. Though the Travis GOP website listed him as an expected attendee, a spokesman for McCaul said he did not attend. Forty food processing plants are currently being monitored for coronavirus outbreaks by the hygiene watchdog in England. Dr Colin Sullivan, chief operating officer at the Food Standard's Agency (FSA), told a board meeting on August 26 they are monitoring a 'small number of sites', as reported by Food Manufacture. He added: 'For example in England yesterday we were looking at approximately 40 processing plants in both meat and non-meat with active outbreaks.' Dr Sullivan added there was some evidence that food processing plants could be more susceptible to outbreaks of the disease. Food factories have hosted an unusually high number of Covid-19 outbreaks around the world, with the most recent incident coming at a Greencore sandwich factory in Northampton where 300 workers have caught the virus. Workers at a meat processing plant (stock image). Dr Sullivan added there was some evidence that food processing plants could be more susceptibly to outbreaks of the disease Experts say the cold, sunless environments, cramped working conditions and staff who are more likely to use public transport may be ideal for the virus to spread. A report presented to the board by Chief Executive Emma Miles at the same meeting said: 'We continue to monitor the relatively small number of outbreaks of COVID19 connected to food processing sites and are seeing only a handful in both meat and non-meat plants. 'Overall these represent a very small proportion of the total food industry. It is not the FSAs role to do health and safety monitoring of workplaces though where we have staff (i.e. in meat plants), we follow these issues particularly closely. 'Our assessment of the risk of transmission of COVID-19 through consumption or handling of food, or handling of packaging, remains very low. ' The Food Standards Agency says it is 'clear that it remains very unlikely that people can catch Covid-19 from food. Covid-19 is a respiratory illness and not known to be transmitted by exposure to food or food packaging'. As news has emerged of food factories around the world experiencing outbreaks of Covid-19, experts have suggested conditions inside the plants may be conducive to the spread of the virus. Greencore in Northampton said nearly 300 staff there have tested positive for Covid-19 and are self-isolating Dr Simon Clarke, a cellular microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that it was notable that food factories seemed to have been the centre of outbreaks more than other factories where people might be close together. He said: 'There are problems in this country, in Germany, in the United States. There is something common between them - it's not happening in engineering or clothing factories where you also might expect people to be in close proximity to one another. 'One assumes - but it's just an idea - that the cold environment makes people more susceptible to the virus. 'Cold weather irritates the airways and the cells become more susceptible to viral infection.' Dr Chris Smith, a virologist at the University of Cambridge, said on LBC 'temperature is going to play a part'. He explained: 'When I'm breathing I'm blowing out droplets of moisture from my respiratory tract and the virus which is growing in there would be packaged up in the droplets. 'Now the droplets will hover for a period of time in the air and then sink to the ground... and if it's very dry, cold air - and cold air carries less moisture, remember - the droplets will stay smaller and stay airborne for longer. 'If it's very humid, moisture joins them, makes them bigger and heavier, and they fall and they drop out of circulation faster - so temperature could be a factor.' Sunlight is also known to degrade viruses and make them less able to survive on surfaces that are exposed to UV light. Rays of sunlight are thought to damage the genetic material inside the virus, making it less able to reproduce and killing it faster. Professor Calum Semple, a disease outbreak expert at the University of Liverpool, told The Telegraph that cold, sunless food factories are ideal conditions. He said: 'If I wanted to preserve a virus I would put it in a cold, dark environment or a cool environment that doesn't have any ultraviolet light - essentially a fridge or a meat processing facility... 'The perfect place to keep a virus alive for a long time is a cold place without sunlight.' But the temperature alone does not appear to be a controlling factor in coronavirus outbreaks. Dr Michael Head, a global health researcher at the University of Southampton, said he thought close proximity was most likely to be behind the factory outbreaks. He said: 'Whilst refrigeration may be a contributory factor to the spread of the virus, the key factors are likely to be the number of people close together in indoor conditions. 'Some of these factories have onsite or nearby accommodation where there are several people in each dormitory, they may be transported on a bus to the site of work, and they will be indoors together all day. 'Levels of adherence to measures such as washing hands is uncertain and there is unlikely to be widespread use of PPE.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 07:32:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Tuesday that China and Italy should work together to plan for the development of Sino-Italian relations in the next 50 years. He made the remarks while meeting the press together with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio after their talks. Wang said this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, which is an important historical moment that connects the past and the future. He attributed the steady and healthy development of Sino-Italian ties in half a century to three factors. Firstly, as representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, China and Italy always appreciate and learn from each other, respect the development path chosen by the people in the other country, and support each other's legitimate concerns on issues of core interests. Secondly, as major economies in the world, both China and Italy have always adhered to the policy of opening up and developing mutually beneficial and win-win relationships. Wang said China has become Italy's largest trading partner in Asia and Italy is the 4th largest trading partner of China in the European Union. China's direct investment in Italy has exceeded 10 billion U.S. dollars, and there are more than 6,000 investment projects in China from Italian investors. Thirdly, as friends and partners, both sides always lend a helping hand when the other country encounters difficulties, said Wang, citing the touching stories between the two governments and two peoples during the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that hit southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008, and this year's COVID-19 pandemic. "Looking forward to the future, China and Italy should work together to plan for the development in the next 50 years," Wang said. He noted that the joint construction of the Belt and Road should be an important driving force for deepening bilateral cooperation. China and Italy are "natural partners" in the construction of the Belt and Road, since the two nations had been closely connected more than 1,000 years ago thanks to the ancient Silk Road, Wang said, adding that Italy became the first major Western country last year to sign an MOU on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Since then, bilateral cooperation has generated major results in such fields as energy, construction of cruise ships and ports, as well as third-market development, Wang said. He called on both countries to carry on the "Silk Road spirit" and involve more people of the two countries in the construction of the Belt and Road, so as to bring more visible achievements to relevant projects and inject new impetus to the development of the global economy. Wang also called for joint efforts in promoting multilateralism and trade liberalization. China and Italy are major countries responsible for world peace and development, so both countries should vigorously promote the process of multilateralism and trade liberalization, and maintain the safe operation of the global industrial chain and supply chain, said Wang. Noticing Italy will assume the chairmanship of the G20 next year, Wang said China will actively support the work of Italy and make contributions to the reform of global governance in the post-pandemic period and the early recovery of the world economy. Wang also called for promoting equal dialogue among different civilizations. Facing the challenges and problems in the globalization and digitalization, China and Italy could set examples in promoting dialogue among different civilizations based on mutual learning and equal footing, and play a leading role in working out a viable solution to global governance, he said. Both nations should also work with other countries to promote the principles of resolving differences through dialogue, replacing confrontation with cooperation, eliminating divisions with unity, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang added. Italy is the first leg in Wang's first foreign tour as the COVID-19 epidemic eases. The official visit in Europe from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 will also take him to the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany. Enditem A speaker at the Republican National Convention had her speech pulled just minutes before she was to appear before the nation after she tweeted a string of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that were exposed. 'Do yourself a favor and read this thread,' wrote Mary Ann Mendoza, an 'Angel mom' who was to speak at President Donald Trump's nominating convention. Her son was killed by a drunk driver who was in the country illegally. Trump has held multiple events with 'angel moms' to fuel his campaign against illegal immigration. The tweet linked to a series of conspiracy theories involving the The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a trope that runs back to the Nazi era. It also tied in conspiracy theories involving the Rothschids, a famous European banking family, accusing them of a plot to terrorize non-jews. Mary Ann Mendoza, an 'Angel mom' who was to speak at President Donald Trump's nominating convention, had her speech canceled minutes before a scheduled appearance following a report on an anti-Semitic post she retweeted After the Daily Beast reported on the tweets promoted by Mendoza, she apologized 'for not paying attention to the intent of the whole message.' 'That does not reflect my feelings or personal thoughts whatsoever,' she wrote on Twitter. The tweet Mendoza first promoted, posted by Twitter user @WarNuse, also featured a series of QAnon references. Immigration Reform Advocate Mary Ann Mendoza speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a veto signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, March 15, 2019. Her speech to the Republican convention got pulled minutes before her planned appearance Immigration Reform Advocate Mary Ann Mendoza, right, speaks during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., on Monday, July 18, 2016. Her speech four years later got scrapped after she posted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories Mendoza posted a threat the tied together a string of conspiracy theories Mendoza tweeted an apology saying she had not read every post in the threat she blasted out to her followers Trump last week accepted support from the group when asked about it. It's members, among other things, believe in a deep state and charges a satanic cult of pedophiles is working against the country, and that only Trump can save it. The tweet then meanders to President Andrew Jackson and his campaign against the Second Bank of the United States, then singles out Jewish members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, then turned to the sinking of the Titanic and said President John F. Kennedy was assassinated because he 'printed $4 Billion Worth Of Non-Interest Bearing Money Which Meant He Began To Chop At The Profits Of The Vipers.' Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 19:51:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Speakers at the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC) on Tuesday night touted U.S. President Donald Trump's pre-pandemic economic accomplishments, warning that key policies such as tax cuts could be reversed if a Democratic president is elected in November. Tax cuts, deregulation, "fair" trade deals and the "unleashing" of the energy sector have helped build a strong U.S. economy before the COVID-19 crisis, according to White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow, who spoke virtually from Redding, Connecticut. In a 3-minute speech, Kudlow also lashed out at Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's plan to increase tax amid the pandemic. "This is no time for a $4 trillion tax hike. Coming out of the deep pandemic, who in their right mind would pick the pockets of taxpayers and drain money from their wallets and purses?" Kudlow said. Biden had pledged that he would roll back Trump's 2017 tax overhaul. When he formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination last week, Biden argued that the president's 1.3 trillion dollar "tax giveaway" benefited the wealthiest one percent and the most profitable corporations. In a recent interview with ABC, Biden said he would raise taxes for anybody making over 400,000 dollars a year. According to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, the former vice president's plan would raise tax revenue by 3.8 trillion dollars over the next ten years. "When I hear that Joe Biden is ready to raise taxes, crush us with regulations and weaken our international trade position, I shudder. We simply cannot do that again. Business can't endure a Biden-induced recession," said John Peterson, owner of a second-generation metal fabrication business. Peterson, who spoke at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., argued that the Trump administration's tax cuts allowed his small business to be more competitive both domestically and internationally. "Now looking ahead, more tax cuts and regulatory rollback will be in store, payroll tax cuts for higher wages, income tax cuts for the middle class, capital gains tax cuts for investment productivity and jobs, much more regulatory relief for small businesses," Kudlow said. While Kudlow expected a V-shape recovery in the second half of the year, U.S. Federal Reserve officials said in the minutes of the Fed's latest policy meeting that uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook remained "very elevated," with the path of the economy highly dependent on the course of the virus. The U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 32.9 percent in the second quarter amid mounting COVID-19 fallout. According to recent data from the Labor Department, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in all programs for the week ending Aug. 1 still totalled 28 million. Kudlow blamed the "once-in-100-year" pandemic for dragging the U.S. economy into recession, while the Democrats, who have been lambasting the president's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, called it "President Trump's recession" in the 2020 Democratic Party Platform. Other speakers touting the president's economic achievements at Tuesday night's RNC event include Cris Peterson, co-owner of a dairy farm in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, who said Trump's focus on negotiating new trade deals gave her family the confidence to rebuild their barn and dairy operation. Echoing her remarks, Robert Vlaisavljevich, mayor of Eveleth, a small town in Minnesota, said Trump got rid of bad trade deals and replaced them with deals that put U.S. interests first. Democrats, however, repeatedly criticized the Trump's administration's trade policies. The 2020 Democratic Party Platform said the president launched "a reckless trade war" with China that cost more than 300,000 American jobs and sent farmers into bankruptcy, decimating the American heartland. Vlaisavljevich, who identified himself as a life-long Democrat, also attacked the Democrats' environmental policies, saying that Biden has allowed the radical left to craft his policies, and the Green New Deal would be a job killer. Biden, however, had argued that tackling climate change would bring opportunities and create jobs. "It's not only a crisis, it's an enormous opportunity. An opportunity for America to lead the world in clean energy and create millions of new good-paying jobs in the process," Biden said in his presidential nomination acceptance speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention. Other key topics in RNC's Tuesday primetime remarks include anti-abortion, faith, border security and foreign policy. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Republican Senator Rand Paul, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds were among the speakers for the convention's second night themed "Land of Opportunity." The four-day RNC event kicked off on Monday with a state-by-state roll call formally nominating Trump to run in the Nov. 3 presidential election. The president will formally accept the Republican nomination for a second term from the White House on Thursday night. Enditem CARROLLTON An Alton woman will spend 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug-induced homicide in the death of her infant son, whose body was found in a shallow grave near Carrollton. The reported disappearance of Jamia Ellis, 24, of Alton and her 6-month-old son, Jabari, sparked an intense search by law enforcement authorities in November 2018. Five days after the report, Jabaris body was found wrapped in a sheet inside a trash bag and buried in a shallow grave in woods near a house on East Cemetery Road in rural Carrollton. Ellis was arrested days later on charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide. Her boyfriend, Ryan Wheeler, 36, was arrested Nov. 29, 2018, on charges of concealment of a homicide. Wheeler lived near where the babys body was found. Both initially pleaded not guilty. A first-degree murder charge was subsequently filed against Wheeler, but the states attorney later determined the information that resulted in the charge was not credible. Wheeler pleaded guilty this month to the concealment charge and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 16. He faces up to five years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Ellis was scheduled to go on trial Monday. She pleaded guilty to drug-induced homicide and was sentenced by Greene Circuit Judge James Day to 20 years in prison followed by three years of parole. Because of the severity of the charge, she could have been sentenced to 15 to 30 years. My thoughts are with the Ellis family as they continue to grapple with the loss of a loved one and the sobering reality that their daughter will spend decades in prison for her role in the heinous crime, Greene County States Attorney Caleb Briscoe said in a statement Tuesday. Hugo Pena monitors Kendall McCrory as she donates blood during L.A. Care's blood drive in downtown Los Angeles. The Red Cross said supplies have dropped due to COVID-19 cancelling blood drives. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) New guidance on coronavirus testing and travel issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drew strong pushback from California officials Wednesday. The CDC is no longer recommending a 14-day quarantine for travelers. After the government issued a mandatory quarantine for travelers arriving in the U.S. from Wuhan, China, in February, the guidance that travelers isolate for two weeks was adopted by several states and encouraged by local officials as a key tool in mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus especially among people who may be asymptomatic. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said he disagrees with the CDC's new guidance and insisted that it will not impact California. "I dont agree with the new CDC guidance. Period. Full stop," he said. "We will not be influenced by that change." Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said those traveling to places with high transmission rates should be mindful of the potential to contract the virus and expose others to it. She also reminded residents that L.A. County is a COVID-19 hot spot and traveling from the community could present a risk to outsiders. "My message really is: Whether you're flying or staying home, you need to be mindful that we have to reduce our transmission," she said. "The way we do that is by reducing exposure to other people." The CDC also is no longer advising those without symptoms to be tested, even if they have been in contact with an infected person. Ferrer, however, said the county's recommendation still stands: Anyone who has been exposed to someone with the virus should get tested and self-quarantine. "This is particularly important if a public health official or doctor tells you to get tested," she said. Newsom said Wednesday that California had signed a contract with an East Coast medical diagnostics company to more than double the number of coronavirus tests that can be processed in the state, eventually expanding capacity to roughly a quarter of a million tests a day. Story continues Under the $1.4-billion agreement, a new Santa Clarita lab will be able to provide testing results within two days, far quicker than the average five- to seven-day processing times offered by other labs. The expanded testing capacity and quicker results will increase the ability of health officials to quickly isolate people who test positive for the virus and to track down and test those who came in contact with them, Newsom said, steps that are crucial to slowing the spread of COVID-19. The new lab is expected to begin processing coronavirus tests in November. When the lab is at full capacity in March and processing as many as 150,000 tests per day, the cost per test is expected to be a little more than $30, Newsom said. Medicare and Medi-Cal pay about $100 per test, and the average overall cost varies from $150 to $200 per test, state officials said. Reducing testing costs not only will save money for workers and their employers but also lower costs for Medi-Cal, the federally subsidized insurance program for low-income Californians, the governor said. This is exactly what the federal government should be doing, Newsom said. Had the federal government done this some time ago, you wouldnt see average costs [per] test at $150 to $200 costing the taxpayers, quite literally, tens of billions of dollars, costing employers billions and billions of dollars, costing the health plans billions of dollars as well. The news comes as California fights to keep its case count and hospitalization numbers down. The state's 14-day average for positive tests is at 6.1%, and hospitalizations over that same period have decreased by 17%, Newsom said Wednesday. In L.A. County, officials reported 58 additional COVID-19 deaths Wednesday and 1,642 additional cases. Those numbers are lower than what was reported just a month ago, but higher than Tuesday's daily case count, which dipped below 1,000 for the first time since early June. The drop in infections was reported the same day that the California Department of Public Health reported the countys 14-day average case rate had dropped below 200 per 100,000 residents. That threshold would allow elementary schools to apply for waivers to hold in-person classes, but on Wednesday, Ferrer said the county is not ready to make that move. Officials also reported that 1,200 pregnant women and girls between the ages of 14 and 52 have tested positive for the virus and two have died from complications. Of the 193 babies who were tested at birth, eight were positive. This marks the first time the county has reported positive infections among newborn babies. The number of cases in L.A. County, which totals more than 233,000, surged in June after the county rapidly reopened various sectors of the economy following several months of closures. Activity related to Memorial Day weekend and informal gatherings also contributed to an increase in cases throughout the state. In addition, mass protests over the death of George Floyd erupted during that time, although officials have said that those outdoor demonstrations did not contribute to the massive surge in new coronavirus infections. Still, it is impossible for officials to trace cases that originate in public spaces. The statewide surge in cases continued after the July 4 weekend, followed by a reporting backlog error that sent daily infections into record territory. Those numbers have just begun to decline in recent weeks, as has the number of hospitalizations in California. The state's seven-day average for positive coronavirus test results is 5.7%. That is below the countrys overall average, which according to Johns Hopkins University is 6.1%. But maintaining that progress is not guaranteed if social distancing practices are relaxed, officials warn. In an effort to continue slowing the spread of the virus, some counties are offering to pay workers to stay home and isolate if they contract the virus. Sacramento County health officials are working on a proposal to offer a stipend of about $12.50 per hour to workers who contract the virus but cannot work from home. The payout amounts to about $1,000 for two weeks. Los Angeles County, which accounts for the bulk of the states more than 682,000 infections and nearly 12,500 deaths, has not introduced any wage-replacement plans similar to those in the Bay Area. But the county is offering residents who complete an interview with a contact tracer a $25 gift certificate. In 2015, Yale was convulsed by a faculty members email about Halloween costumes: Her transgression was suggesting that Yales administration, rather than warning against culturally unaware or insensitive costumes, should let students deal with their sensitivities. Two students who vociferously hounded her and her husband were honored at the 2017 commencement. She stopped teaching, and her husband resigned as master if you will forgive the expression of one of Yales residential colleges. Yale decided the expression is unforgivable slaves had masters so it has been expunged. Recently, the art history department dropped a popular survey course covering the Renaissance to the present: too many White European males. For the same reason, the English Department has been decolonized: Two courses on Major English Poets are no longer required of English majors. Almost 75 percent of the 2,054 student respondents to a 2016 Yale Daily News survey (and almost 95 percent of the 12 percent who are conservatives) said Yale is inhospitable to expressions of conservative opinions. And so on, and on, and on. Chinese Attorney Seeking Justice for Property Owners, Wanted by Police Zhang Shichao, a former lawyer in Jinan, Shandong Province, fled China in 2018 after police summoned him for filing class compensation lawsuits against developers. Zhang told the Epoch Times that he represented many property owners in class lawsuits against developers, mostly against state-owned enterprises. In September 2018, Jinan Public Security Department summoned him and threatened to prosecute. The police threatened me saying that they have on file all the lawsuits I represented in the past ten years and that all these lawsuits have brought huge losses to state-owned assets, which may constitute the crime of extorting the Chinese government, Zhang said. Foreseeing the looming danger, Zhang fled China on Oct. 8, 2018, with great difficulties, making transits in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Fiji, and finally arriving in the United Kingdom. CLEVELAND, Ohio Clevelands mask order has helped to drive down new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus, but now the city will take a more aggressive approach toward block and street parties, Mayor Frank Jackson said Wednesday. Jackson, speaking at a telephone town hall meeting, said the mass gatherings are now the top source for spreading the deadly virus in Cleveland and they need to stop. Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams has said his officers would be handing out masks -- rather than tickets -- in neighborhoods. As of last week, the city, working with community partners, had distributed more than 52,000 masks in Cleveland. Cleveland targeted restaurants, bars and nightclubs for enforcement after it enacted its rules requiring masks, social distancing and limited capacity in public places. Police and public health officials teamed with state liquor officers to enforce the rules. Were not going to go into peoples homes and yards and enforce mask ordinances in that way, Jackson said. We want to have a really aggressive education program. New cases of coronavirus spiked in July as Cleveland and Ohio reopened businesses from the stay-at-home orders and people again began socializing. That prompted the state and the city to order mandatory masks in most public settings. As a result of that, we began to see a leveling off and a decline [in daily cases], Jackson said. We have gone from over 100 cases [a day] at our peak to 13 yesterday. But mass gatherings continue to be a source of community spread. The city has had a problem with people blocking off streets with their cars for social gatherings. Last week, the mayor ordered a ban on block parties. At the same time, the mayor banned tailgate parties before Browns games. Park your car where you want to park it, but there will be no tailgating, Jackson said during the town hall. More from Cleveland City Hall Cleveland City Council votes clear way for more than $20M in road and bridge work Cleveland council members criticize Mayor Frank Jacksons administration for lethargic pace on projects Cleveland tells legislators to reject plan to halt collection of income taxes from stay-at-home commuters Cleveland City Council says state should OK more drop boxes for absentee ballots, urges legal action Cleveland City Council wants city to join lawsuit fighting efforts to shorten Census counting period Most primary and secondary school children in England have been out of school since the beginning of lockdown in March. Although some returned for a brief period before the summer break, September will mark a full return to the classroom for all year groups. Schools minister Nick Gibb told BBC Radio 4, that schools would be chosen over keeping pubs and other sites open, if compromises need to be made at a local level in the coming weeks and months. This follows comments by childrens commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, who said schools must be first to reopen and last to close during any future local lockdowns. Students in Scotland have already returned to the classroom with those in the Borders and Shetlands being the first to return. But when do students in England go back? What date will your child be expected at school? When will schools reopen? Schools across England will go back in the first week of September. The exact date is available to find on the government website - you need to enter your postcode as the day will be dictated by your region. School term and holiday dates vary across the UK due to local councils. Some students will go back the first day after the August bank holiday - Tuesday 1 September (for example, Manchester City Council). But others will not go back till Wednesday 2 or Thursday 3 September (for example, Essex County Council). In Scotland pupils have already gone back. In Wales they will return at the same time as pupils in England - the first week of September. In Northern Ireland term began on 24 August for Primary 7, Year 12 and Year 14 pupils and for vulnerable children across all years. All other pupils will return to school from the week commencing 31 August, according to the government website. 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 would social distancing in schools mean for pupils? Students and teachers will be asked to abide by social distancing rules to prevent the spread of the virus when they return to school. It means it's likely that break times will be staggered and measures such as keeping students in one classroom and letting teachers move around the building instead, are encouraged. In areas where there are local lockdowns, Boris Johnson announced on 25 August, secondary-aged students will be required to wear face masks in communal areas and corridors. They will not be required to wear them in the classroom. In areas where local lockdowns are not in place, the government says school leaders can choose to make students wear masks, but this is not required. Will I be fined if my child does not return to school? On Monday 29 June, Gavin Williamson said that at the start of the academic year, it will be compulsory for children to attend school unless they have a good reason not to. Education minister Nick Gibb also said the government will consider fines for parents who keep children out of school as a "last resort". Current rules allow local authorities to charge parents 60 for a non-attendance of their child. This rises to 120 if the fine is not paid within 21 days. NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for over 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Labrador Gold Corp. (TSX-V: LAB;OTCQX: NKOSF), a Canadian based junior mining company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Labrador Gold Corp. upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB Venture Market. Labrador Gold Corp. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "NKOSF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. The OTCQX Market is designed for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Graduating to the OTCQX Market from the OTCQB Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors. "We are excited to begin trading on OTCQX and to continue bringing the Labrador Gold story to an ever increasing audience," said Roger Moss President and CEO. "The Company is fully funded for an aggressive exploration program that recently commenced on our Kingsway Project in Newfoundland. We look forward to providing the market with frequent updates as we rapidly advance the project to the drill stage this fall." About Labrador Gold Corp. Labrador Gold is a Canadian Based Junior Mining Company exploring for Gold in Eastern Canada. It's flagship project, Kingsway, is located in the emerging Gander gold district in Newfoundland along strike from New Found Gold Corp's recent discovery of 92.86 grams per tonne gold over 19 meters. About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed Media Contact: OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected] SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc. Related Links http://www.otcmarkets.com KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A truck driver was killed in a crash Wednesday morning in Mission. According to Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 2 Chief Tony Lopez, the truck was headed south on Metcalf Avenue around 7:40 a.m. when it crossed the center lane and ended up in the parking lot of Mission Bank near Johnson Drive. How WeChats Health Tracking App Feeds Into Chinas Authoritarian Surveillance Since the peak of Chinas CCP virus pandemic in February, a three-color health code has ruled the lives of roughly 1 billion Chinese people, assessing whether they can move around freely or must stay in quarantine. Enabled by the Chinese regimes ubiquitous use of big data and overzealous attempts to stop COVID-19 spread, the mini-appembedded within the super-app WeChat that citizens use for nearly all aspects of daily life, from paying for food to booking doctors appointmentsrates each individuals health with a green, yellow, and red code. Authorities scan the barcode on peoples phones to check if an individual is virus-free, has had contact with virus patients, is COVID-19 positive, or exhibits symptoms of the virus. While authorities havent explicitly mandated the usage of the app, the barcode must be scanned when boarding a bus or subway, checking into a hotel, entering a supermarket, and entering or leaving their residential district. The collection and handling of sensitive personal data by WeChat have unsettled some cybersecurity experts, who worry that such information may apply to areas far beyond health and feed into the states surveillance machine. Information remains limited about how peoples data is stored, but public reports and leaked documents suggest that WeChat is working closely with Chinese police and sharing the data without users knowledge. Developed and owned by Shenzhen-based tech giant Tencent, the app has recently drawn U.S. scrutiny over its security and privacy vulnerabilities, which officials say could be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). President Donald Trump issued an executive order in early August that bans U.S. transactions related to WeChat, citing national security grounds. A policeman keeps watch as people wait in line to undergo COVID-19 swab tests at a testing station in Beijing on June 28, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) Police Access Internal and public records both show that police authorities have access to the health codes data. The Epoch Times obtained an internal announcement from Xiongan New Area, a state-backed megacity project in Hebei Province, that noted that the local police bureau would be in charge of big data analysis, data mining, and in-depth application of the health code. In Tianjin city, app users personal information is cross-checked with a number of governmental departments, including the police, telecom providers, railroad authorities, and the Political and Legal Affairs Commissionthe party organization that oversees police, courts, prisons, and other law enforcement authoritiesaccording to a government notice dated in May. Details about key personnelmeaning those who have a red code on the appare to be sent to local outbreak control officials and the citys police bureau through a centralized information-sharing platform. Such practices, in the context of a long list of the regimes extensive high-tech monitoring, leaves the possibility that Beijing could weaponize the platform to further oppression both in China and abroad, said Casey Fleming, CEO of intelligence and strategy firm BlackOps Partners. It cannot be considered normal inside China, since the CCP controls everything in the country, he told The Epoch Times, adding that, with the CCP literally in full control, there are no checks and balances to prevent extreme abuse and coercion. The Epoch Times did not immediately hear back from Tencent about WeChats privacy concerns. Signs accepting WeChat Pay and AliPay are displayed at a shop in Singapore on May 22, 2018. (Edgar Su/Reuters) All-Encompassing While virus fears appear to have receded in China, the health code app appears poised to stayand play a greater role in citizens lives. Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang Province, has integrated the app with residents digital social security cards and drivers licenses, and had raised the possibility of introducing a gradient-colored health code that scores people by lifestyle habits, such as smoking and drinking. The government later scrapped the plan due to heavy backlash. Deqing county, also in Zhejiang, has linked the health code to residents identification cards since mid-July. Shenzhen officials have discussed plans, but divulged little detail, about converting the health code into a citizen code that identifies each individual on online platforms. The health code should be completely upgraded to fully utilize its digital value, according to an article by Chinese state media Xinhua Daily, which asserted that police departments should be tasked with creating, issuing, and managing the code and combining it with the national ID card system. Its further intrusion and control into citizens private lives. There is not much that can be done in a totalitarian country, but this deeper intrusion would be rejected in free societies, said Fleming. Currently, those who wish to travel to China are also required to use the app. Travelers who come from, or pass through 78 countries, including the U.K., New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore, are required to present a virus-negative test result via the WeChat mini app before boarding a China-bound flight. Some local governments have also integrated the app with the social credit system, an overarching national reputation-ranking mechanism, to pressure citizens into following quarantine rules. Pilot programs exist in Heilongjiang Province of Chinas northeast, southern island of Hainan, and central Hubei Province. Aside from possible criminal prosecution for violating rules, the infractions could be recorded in ones personal files, which will follow you for your entire life and have a significant impact on ones future life and work, including mortgages, banking, and other finances, read a Heilongjiang government notice. Past Concerns WeChat, the most popular messaging app in China, has come under heavy criticism in the United States and elsewhere for its overt compliance with Chinese censorship. The app blocks users access to content published by Chinese-language outlets critical of the CCP, including the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, NTD, Voice of America, and Radio Free Asiaeven if the users are located in the United States. The messenger app WeChat is seen next to its logo in this illustration picture taken on Aug. 7, 2020. (Florence Lo/Reuters) Digital watchdog Citizen Lab in 2016 found that accounts first registered with Chinese phone numbers continue to face censorship, whether or not they reside in China or later change to an international number. Earlier this year, it also found WeChat to be monitoring its overseas users to improve algorithms for surveilling mainland users. They [Chinese-Americans] might live in a free society, but they rely on sources controlled by the CCP on WeChat to get their information, Chen Chuangchuang, a U.S.-based Chinese rights activist, recently told The Epoch Times, adding that a number of his outspoken pro-democracy friends WeChat accounts were blocked. IT HAS been 480 days and counting that the Chuck E Cheese franchise in Trinidad has remained closed as children under 12 are still not allowed in safe zones. In October, the Government drafted a safe zone policy that does not allow children under 12 to enter restaurants and other places of leisure. They spent most of July on the Amalfi Coast. And, after a short trip back to London, Ed Westwick, 33, and Tamara Francesconi, 23, were spotted back in Italy as they enjoyed a spot of sightseeing together with his mother Carole in Lake Como, on Monday. The Gossip Girl star's girlfriend displayed her abs in a baby blue crop top and coordinating bodycon maxi skirt while enjoying a boat trip with her boyfriend and his mum. Stunning! Ed Westwick's girlfriend Tamara Francesconi displayed her abs in a baby blue crop top and bodycon skirt during a day of sightseeing in Lake Como with his mum, on Monday When on dry land, Tamara strolled along in woven sliders, while chatting on the phone, and opted to forgo a face mask. The South African-Italian model styled her raven locks into effortless waves and enhanced her natural beauty with a flawless make-up look. Completing her summery ensemble, Tamara wore a woven boater hat, which boasted a black trim, and accessorised with delicate bracelets. Gossip Girl star Ed kept things casual for the outing, teaming a white T-shirt with striped linen trousers and a denim flat cap, with a red face mask for their boat journey. Ice cream time: The Gossip Girl star kept things casual for the outing, teaming a white T-shirt with striped linen trousers and a denim flat cap, with a red face mask ready to be used The trio visited Varenna, where they strolled around and stopped for an ice cream before heading to their boat to enjoy the sights of Como. Ed went public with Tamara during a Los Angeles outing in October, after insiders claimed the couple had been dating for weeks. A source told The Sun that Tamara is a hit with Ed's close-knit family: 'Tamara's head over heels with him and Ed is proud to tell everyone Tamara is his girlfriend,' the insider claimed. 'His friends and family all approve and think they're a great match.' Family time: Wearing a woven boater hat, Tamara opted to forgo a face mask, while Ed and his mother Carole put safety first Tamara - who boasts 206k Instagram followers - has been keeping her fans up to date with her recent travels, posting smouldering shots and cosy selfies with Ed. Their holiday came after fans of the hit series Gossip Girl were eagerly anticipating a secretive announcement from Ed, though they were ultimately disappointed. Ed teased on his social media platforms, 'Got a little something for you...Tomorrow 1pm.. Hint....xoxo' with an XOXO graphic that was the way the mysterious Gossip Girl ended each message. Many fans thought the announcement was that he was going to return as his character Chuck Bass in the new sequel/soft reboot series that's happening on HBO Max, but instead he announced a new line of face masks with the XOXO logo. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned Turkey would make "no concessions" in the eastern Mediterranean and told Greece to avoid taking steps that could lead to its "ruin". "We don't have our eye on someone else's territory, sovereignty and interests, but we will make no concessions on that which is ours," Erdogan said, urging Greece to "avoid wrongs that will be the path to ruin". Search Keywords: Short link: Medical City Heart Hospital and Spine Hospital Voice-activated AI Patient Assistant Its an early afternoon and Mary is on her way to visit her father who has recently been admitted to the Medical City Heart Hospital. She goes past the pillars walking through the glass door and finds herself in a stunning new building, yet, with no prior sense of direction. A friendly pink sign on an LED screen in front of her reads Can I help you? and invites her to talk to this virtual wayfinding system. Where is the ICU? Mary asks and proceeds to examine the emerging blue 3D path rendering in front of her eyes. Thrilled that she managed to get the information without touching any potentially contaminated surfaces, Mary is on her way to see her dad. Medical City Heart Hospital and Medical City Spine in Dallas, a part of the HCA Healthcare network, opened its doors on October 8, 2019. Medical City Heart Hospital, with 63 private patient rooms, treats a full range of complex vascular and heart conditions. Medical City Spine Hospital offers 24 patient rooms and treats scoliosis and the most complex spinal cases and revisions. The new facility is outfitted with innovative technologies such as an intelligent robot that assist nurses, along with enhanced amenities that make the patient experience more comfortable and efficient. To transform the patient experience in the age of AI, Medical City Healthcare leadership chose the Ouva Voice Assistant solution to provide proactive support to all visitors, improve patient communication, and wayfinding inside the facility. Once the patients are on their way, they have to navigate hallways, with wayfinding spread out across three buildings and multiple parking areas. Introducing Ouva Voice Assistant Ouva is a voice-activated guide that can recognize visitors and introduce them to the facility. It is capable of responding to complex, spoken queries and commands and can offer immediate guidance. For example, visitors can ask Ouva How can I check-in to my appointment?, Where is Dr. Wilsons office? or Where can I get food?. Additionally, any messaging, such as the hospitals COVID-19 guidelines, can be displayed on stations to improve patient communication. A Better Wayfinding Experience Wayfinding is one of the most challenging aspects of facility design. Poor wayfinding most certainly negatively affects patient experience, causing delays in patient flow as well as adverse effects on patients wellbeing with added stress, costing hospitals up to $220,000 per year. Ouva is a unique, patent-pending wayfinding experience that directs patients with memorable, turn by turn directions. A detailed 3D map shows nearby destinations, positioned to the current orientation of the visitor. Prominent landmarks inside the hospital are incorporated onto the route to make them more memorable and help with orientation along the way. Ouva presents directions with visual representations and landmarks as opposed to complex verbal directives typically found in existing digital signage solutions. The digital design builds on the facilitys branding, bringing physical signs into the digital display for a seamless transition. Private Guidance by Design Each Ouva station carries an optical sensor capable of identifying visitors and remembering their questions. Ouva sends this information to all stations around the facility so that a visitor can walk up to any Ouva screen and get the next set of instructions without having to ask again. To accomplish this is no easy feat - Using AI, Ouva protects the privacy and ensures security, by remembering only the visitor's unique signature for a short duration, enough for visitors to get to their destination. Moreover, all this computation is done within the walls of the facility to avoid interference. Touch-free Signage Reduces Infections The entirely touch-free interface eliminates the risk of infection and simplifies the burden of the cleanup and maintenance of these systems. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the touch displays create high infection risks. Harmful strains of MRSA, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus may linger on devices. Measuring Impact with Realtime Data Ouva measures patient flow, time of arrival, and time spent guiding visitors, leading to how much staff time saved by having Ouva in the facility. Since launch, on March 2nd, Ouva has analyzed significant amounts of data related to what visitors typically ask for, revealing information about the frequent destinations and where the hospital can provide better guidance. The facility managers and hospital management have access to all metrics and insights related to patient experience via the Ouva Dashboard. Visit ouva.co to learn more about Ouva Voice Assistant and other contact-free solutions for hospitals. Elon Musk, chief executive officer of SpaceX, has said his company Neuralink will demonstrate a working brain-machine interface (BMI) on August 28. Live webcast of working @Neuralink device Friday 3pm Pacific https://t.co/PouLbrGzFU Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2020 Musk has been on a mission to integrate the human brain with artificial intelligence, and thats when he founded Neuralink in 2016. While August 28 was initially the date for a progress report, Musk has now confirmed that the company will provide more details about the Neuralink BMI device. Musk had also stated that his company will show neurons firing in real-time on August 28, much like matrix in the matrix. Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, confirmed that the company will also showcase the V2 robot the second-generation robot designed to attach Neuralinks tech to the brain. Neuralink aims to make the installation process for BMIs as non-invasive as Lasik eye surgery. While the device is far from Lasik, Musk is hopeful that his company could get close in a few years. We can expect more details on the status of the said 2020 human trials at the event. Neuralink has not announced the live-streaming details of its BMI demonstration event at the time of writing this. It is likely that the company will share more details about the progress via its YouTube channel. Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times at close range by Kenosha, Wisconsin police on Sunday. Beyonce joined celebrities in sending well wishes to the 29-year-old, after Blake's family attorney, Benjamin Crump, announced he was paralyzed from the waist down on Tuesday. Sharing a selfie of Blake with his sons, the star wrote on Instagram that she was 'sending prayers and thoughts' to the young father. Love: Beyonce joined celebrities in sending well wishes to the 29-year-old, after Blake's family attorney, Benjamin Crump, announced he was paralyzed from the waist down on Tuesday On Sunday, Blake was followed as he walked back to his SUV by two police officers. One grabbed his T-shirt just before seven shots rang out, in the video that captured the shooting, his three sons aged three, five and eight were in the backseat. His family attorney has said Blake was breaking up a fight 'between two women,' just after 5 p.m., CNN reported. 'At least one bullet' went through some or all of his spinal cord, while others left 'holes in is stomach,' causing nearly 'his entire colon and small intestines' to be removed, according to another family attorney Patrick Salvi Jr. Sending love: Sharing a selfie of Blake with his sons, the star wrote on Instagram that she was 'sending prayers and thoughts' to the young father (pictured in 2019) Justice: On Sunday, Blake was followed as he walked back to his SUV by two police officers. One grabbed his T-shirt just before seven shots rang out, in the video that captured the shooting, his three sons aged three, five and eight were in the backseat (Madonna shared a photo of him with one of his sons) Blake also sustained damage to his liver and kidney, he underwent surgery on Tuesday. 'It's going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr. to ever walk again,' Crump said. The two officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave as state, local and federal officials including those from the FBI and US Justice Department investigate the shooting. Protests have since erupted in Kenosha, Minneapolis, New York and Washington, D.C. since the incident. Injuries: 'At least one bullet' went through some or all of his spinal cord, while others left 'holes in is stomach,' causing nearly 'his entire colon and small intestines' to be removed, according to another family attorney Patrick Salvi Jr (Chloe Grace Moretz shared the selfie Beyonce did as well, though in black and white) Speak out: Viola Davis shared a lengthy graphic detailing the incident and calling on people to 'use your platform,' recreating the refrain 'no justice, no peace,' and 'Black Lives Matter' Celebrities have taken to posting calls to action demanding justice for Blake and providing sources of information to take action. Viola Davis shared a lengthy graphic detailing the incident and calling on people to 'use your platform,' recreating the refrain 'no justice, no peace,' and 'Black Lives Matter.' The How to Get Away With Murder star said she was 'praying for Jacob's speedy recovery,' alongside the post titled 'Justice for Jacob Blake.' Tragedy: Ariel Winter shared a popular post that circulated on social media explaining the incident and giving phone number for Kenosha officials to demand justice. The slide she chose to share read 'His name is Jacob Blake. He was tasered and shot in the back seven times' Popular: Christina Aguilera, Emily Ratajkowski and Madonna shared the same slide of information that read 'Demand Justice For Jacob Blake,' on the first slide Ariel Winter shared a popular post that circulated on social media explaining the incident and giving phone number for Kenosha officials to demand justice. The slide she chose to share read 'His name is Jacob Blake. He was tasered and shot in the back seven times.' Christina Aguilera, Emily Ratajkowski and Madonna shared the same slide of information that read 'Demand Justice For Jacob Blake,' on the first slide. Prayers: Gabrielle Union shared a photo of Blake and one of his sons calling for fans to 'demand justice for Jacob Blake,' and she included a row of praying hand emojis Miracle: Elle Fanning went on to share a photo of Blake with his sons, that Beyonce also shared, she included only the number seven to emphasize how many times he was shot. 'It's going to take a miracle for Jacob Blake Jr. to ever walk again,' Crump said of Blake's injuries Gabrielle Union shared a photo of Blake and one of his sons calling for fans to 'demand justice for Jacob Blake,' and she included a row of praying hand emojis. Elle Fanning went on to share a photo of Blake with his sons, that Beyonce also shared, she included only the number seven to emphasize how many times he was shot. In the selfie, Blake gathers near his three sons and another young child smiling in a red shirt. Two of his sons beam bright smiles, and one flexes his muscles. Investigating: The two officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave as state, local and federal officials including those from the FBI and US Justice Department investigate the shooting (April Love Geary posted for Blake) Sick: Bella Hadid shared a tweet from the family's attorney Crump, posted on Sunday about Blake's sons being in the car while he was shot. Bella included a message of her own beneath it reading 'Oh god. This is just sick. This video makes me feel ill. HOW. Just how' Demand justice: Chloe Grace Mortez shared a tweet of numbers for Kenosha City Attorney, the Mayor, City Administration and Wisconsin Department of Justice Bella Hadid shared a tweet from the family's attorney Crump, posted on Sunday. 'Confirmed: Jacob Blake's three sons were IN THE CAR he was getting into when @KenoshaPolice shot him tonight,' the tweet read. Adding: 'They saw a cop shoot their father. They will be traumatized forever. We cannot let officers violate their duty to PROTECT us. Our kids deserve better.' Bella included a message of her own beneath it reading 'Oh god. This is just sick. This video makes me feel ill. HOW. Just how.' Uplifting: Robin Thicke and Cara Delevigne were among others who shared messages demanding justice for Blake Chloe Grace Mortez shared a tweet of numbers for Kenosha City Attorney, the Mayor, City Administration and Wisconsin Department of Justice. 'Demand the officers be fired, arrested and CHARGED,' the last line of the tweet read. April Love Geary, Robin Thicke and Cara Delevigne were among others who shared messages demanding justice for Blake. Chairman of the Committee on Industries and Services of the Chamber of Deputies, MP Iulian Iancu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), said on Wednesday in Oradea that the committee met on Tuesday and Wednesday in Oradea and decided for all restaurants, hotels and tourist resorts to re-open in compliance with the health rules and securing funds from the national budget to enforce the measures imposed by containing the COVID-19 pandemic. "The committee has decided to request the government by law to open all restaurants, all tourist resorts in the country. We, on Monday, gather all the ministries involved in the committee - the Ministry of Economy, the Finance Ministry, the Environmental Ministry and the Regional Development Ministry - because the government has made a decision to re-open schools - which is an infinitely higher risk of spreading the virus than opening a restaurant or resort - therefore we want the owners of tourism facilities to be supported by the government by law for the effort they make to comply with the prevention, hygiene, equipment rules. That entails a substantial financial effort, which must be sustained, and it has a direct impact on the national budget in that it returns to every socialised penny, thus we get four penny from the national budget, by the fact that we will have maximum capacity of staff, in terms of taxes, duties, consumption and fully capitalising on all spaces," Iancu told AGERPRES. The second measure approved by the members of the committee regards construction: if investors in tourism will engage in construction for the development of restaurants, spaces, in compliance with the new conditions, a financial support programme such as the New Home shall be set up for them. AGERPRES . United Nations, Aug 26 : The president of the Security Council said that he will not take any action on a purported US notification for a "snapback" mechanism on sanctions against Iran. Indonesia's UN ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, whose country holds the Security Council presidency for the month of August, on Tuesday said he "is not in the position" to take further action as there is no consensus among council members over the issue, Xinhua news agency reported. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday submitted Washington's demand for the return of all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran. But the overwhelming majority of Security Council members hold that the US move does not constitute a "notification" as envisaged in Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Iran nuclear deal. They argued that the United States has no right to invoke the "snapback" mechanism as it is no longer a participant since it withdrew from the deal in May 2018. Asked on Tuesday by Russia and China on how he would proceed with the US demand, Djani said: "It is clear for me that there is one (council) member which has a particular position on the issue while there are a significant number of members who have contesting views. In my view, there is no consensus in the council. Thus, the president is not in the position to take further action." Under Resolution 2231, any participant state to the Iran nuclear deal can notify the Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. Under the resolution, if no member of the Security Council has submitted a draft resolution to prevent a snapback within 10 days of a notification by a participant state, the president of the Security Council shall submit such a draft resolution and put it to a vote within 30 days of the notification. All remaining participant states of the deal except Iran -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia -- were on the Security Council. The E3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- on Tuesday reiterated their common position that the United States is not eligible to invoke the "snapback" mechanism as it has withdrawn from the deal. Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asked the United States to stop pursuing its path, which, he said, "is not only illegal but simply will not lead to achieving the result that was envisaged by the United States." He also commended Indonesia's conclusion that no further action shall be taken in the Security Council. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said participants of the Iran nuclear deal and the overwhelming majority of Security Council members believe that the US demand for restoring UN sanctions on Iran has no legal ground and goes against common views, and the "snapback" mechanism shall not be deemed as invoked. China resolutely opposes the U.S. demand and holds the view that the US letter submitted on Thursday should not be identified as "notification" specified in Security Council Resolution 2231, he said. "The council should fully respect views of the international community and the overwhelming majority of council members, uphold its credibility and authority, and fulfill its responsibility of maintaining international peace and security," he said. The US permanent representative to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, remained adamant on Tuesday despite the isolation. "Let me just make it really, really clear: the Trump administration has no fear in standing in limited company on this matter, in light of the unmistakable truth guiding our actions," she told the Security Council. She said other members of the Security Council "have lost their way." The US move on Thursday came after its draft resolution that sought to extend the current arms embargo against Iran failed in the Security Council. In a voting on Aug. 14, only the United States itself and the Dominican Republic voted in favour. Under Resolution 2231, the arms embargo against Iran expires on October 18, 2020. The US move to invoke the "snapback" mechanism seeks to automatically bring back all pre-2015 sanctions, including the arms embargo. Once a "snapback" is initiated, the United States could use its veto power in the Security Council to shoot down any draft resolution that seeks to prevent the restoration of the sanctions against Iran. INDIAN ARMY ORGANISES SEMINAR ON IMPACT OF DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES ON FIGHTING PHILOSOPHY IN FUTURE CONFLICTS India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 25 AUG 2020 7:15PM by PIB Delhi Warfare has undergone a sea change due to the emergence of new domains of warfare and disruptive technologies. There is a technology tsunami which is underway and it will compel militaries to reorganize and re-structure to fight future wars. In order to address various aspects of the impact of disruptive technologies, a seminar was organized on the "Impact of Disruptive Technologies on Our Fighting Philosophy in Future Conflicts" as part of the Defense and Strategy Seminar 2020 at Army War College, Mhow from 24-25 August 2020. The event was conducted as a webinar due to the COVID-19 restrictions, across 54 locations with 82 outstations spread across the length and breadth of the country. The panelists of the seminar comprised subject matter experts' including military, technocrats, academician and speakers from across the spectrum of specialists on the subject to deliberate on the relevant themes and crystallize ideas and develop them into formal papers and Doctrines. Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, GOC-in-C, ARTRAC commenced the proceedings with an incisive and eloquent key note address. Disruptive technologies like Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality (AR / VR), Robotics, Big Data Analytics, Cyber, Small Satellite, 5G/6G, Quantum Computing and cyber warfare were discussed thread bare during the event. The Seminar was a sounding board for the Indian Army on doctrinal and strategic issues of vital national importance and resulted in obtaining insight into complex themes. General MM Naravane, the Chief of Army Staff attended the seminar on 25 August 2020 to provide valuable strategic guidance to the Indian Army. The COAS highlighted the impact of disruptive technologies in warfare and war fighting and emphasized that the current modernization drive was focused on upgrading existing weapon systems and platforms, and Indian Armed Forces would have to pay adequate emphasis on the available disruptive technologies that have dual use and are being driven by commercial entities and innovations. He recommended that an overarching national mission to identify the needs and congruence of products into military applications must form part of armed forces modernization strategy. The seminar was the first virtual initiative of its kind at such a large scale and the COAS complimented Army War College on the successful conduct of the seminar. **** Col Aman Anand PRO (Army) (Release ID: 1648573) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address V (Amazon Prime Video) Starring Nani and Sudheer Babu in the lead roles, V is a Telugu action thriller film about a cop falling in love with a crime writer. While everything is going great, his life turns upside down when a killer challenges him with a puzzle to solve. Set to release on September 5, the film is produced by Dil Raju, Shirish and Harshith Reddy while it is directed by Mohana Krishna Indraganti. The film also stars Nivetha Thomas and Aditi Rao Hydari in prominent roles. The music of the film is composed by the talented Amit Trivedi. Do we really need to give you more reasons to add this to your binge list? C U Soon (Amazon Prime Video) Shot entirely on phone in a controlled and restricted environment during the lockdown, Malayalam film C U Soon is set for its digital world premiere on September 1 on Amazon Prime Video. C U Soon is a gripping drama about a software engineer from Kerala who has been assigned by his family to help his Dubai-based cousin find his missing fiancee, after she leaves behind a video-based suicide note. Edited and directed by Mahesh Narayan, the gripping drama stars superstar Fahadh Faasil along with Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran in pivotal roles. Can't ask for more now, can we? Soorarai Pottru (Amazon Prime Video) Based on the events and struggles of Captain GR Gopinath, a retired Army captain, who founded the low-cost airline Air Deccan, Soorarai Pottru is scheduled to have a DTS release on October 30, 2020. Helmed by Sudha Kongara, the gripping biopic is produced by Suriya and stars him alongside Mohan Babu and Aparna Balamurali in pivotal roles. The film is set to stream on Amazon Prime Video in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam (dubs in all languages). Maniyarayile Ashokan (Netflix) Maniyarayile Ashokan is an upcoming Malayalam romantic comedy film directed by Shamzu Zayba and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under the banner Wayfarer Films along with Jacob Gregory, who also stars in the titular role. The film, set in a village, follows the love-life of a middle-class man named Ashokan, played by Jacob. Starring Anupama Parameswaran, Krishna Sankar, Shine Tom Chacko and Anu Sithara in pivotal roles, the film will stream worldwide on Netflix this August 31. Kilometers and Kilometers (Disney+ Hotstar) The comedy-drama travel film follows two people as they travel across India from Kerala to Khardung La. The film revolves around the life of Cathy, an American who won a lot of money in Vegas has traveled the world, with her last travel destination being India. She meets Josemon, a man grieving his father's death and trying to shoulder the responsibilities left in the wake of his father's demise. Josemon ends up being her guide during their journey. This Malayalam film, that stars Tovino Thomas, Joju George, India Jarvis, Sidhartha Siva and Basil Joseph, is set to release on Disney+Hotstar soon. More than 600 hospital staff have reportedly been in isolation for days after potentially being exposed to coronavirus. An outbreak among doctors and nurses at Frankston Hospital in Melbourne has led to 44 workers being infected with the deadly virus, Peninsula Health, which runs the facility, said in a statement to Yahoo News Australia. Chief Executive Felicity Topp said 618 staff members have been furloughed in an effort to contract trace all of the active cases. An outbreak among doctors and nurses at Frankston Hospital in Melbourne has led to 44 workers being infected with the deadly virus. Source: AAP All patients needing surgery have been transferred to the The Alfred hospital or Monash Health services, according to The Age said. Australian Medical Association Victorian president Julian Rait told the publication he believes more than 4,000 people work at Frankston. "It's obviously extremely concerning," he told The Age. "There are anxieties around the shortage of staff and the capacity of the hospital to provide its usual services." The quarantined staff are expected to return to work next week at the earliest. Peninsula Health, which runs the hospital, confirmed in a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday afternoon that a number of wards at Frankston Hospital have temporarily ceased admissions as a precautionary measure. The closed wards include the Acute Medical Surgical Unit (AMSU), a 28 bed acute ward medical ward called 5GN and the Surgical Short Stay Ward (SSSU). Cardiology, mental health, ICU, maternity and acute medical surgical wards continue to accept admissions, Peninsula Health said. The safety and wellbeing of our staff, our patients and our community is our utmost priority, and we are continuing to do all we can to help stop any further spread of the virus. The quarantined staff are expected to return to work next week at the earliest. Source: AAP They are now contacting discharged patients who may have come into contact with someone with coronavirus. Asymptomatic testing of all Peninsula Health staff and inpatients continues across the service. The outbreak comes one day after it was revealed at least 69 per cent of Victorias healthcare staff with COVID in the second wave became infected in work settings. Story continues The new data is at odds with Premier Daniel Andrews' suggestion on August 12 that the majority of healthcare workers were "acquiring coronavirus outside of the workplace". Grim new death toll Victoria on Wednesday suffered a sharp rise in coronavirus deaths with 24 new fatalities, taking the state toll to 462 and national figure to 549. Australia's worst daily figure of 25 was recorded on August 17. Victoria registered 149 new cases of the virus on Wednesday. Of Wednesday's deaths, 21 are related to aged care. They include one woman in her 60s, three men in their 70s, three males and seven males in their 80, six females and four males in their 90s. Otherwise key virus statistics continue to fall, with the third-straight day of new cases under 200. The figures come as the state government weathers a political storm over its bid to extend Victoria's state of emergency for 12 months. It is negotiating with cross-benchers and needs the backing of four of them for new legislation to pass that would extend the emergency powers. Victoria registered 149 new cases of the virus on Wednesday. Source: Getty The pandemic sparked a state of emergency on March 16, which is due to expire on September 13 after a maximum six extensions. State Premier Daniel Andrews said any ongoing rules would be applied with "the lightest touch possible, only what's necessary and only for so long as it is necessary". with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Measures needed to avoid worst-case scenario The rapid spread of COVID-19 is showing no signs of abating, with infections spreading across the nation. It is worrisome that only seven beds are available for patients in critical condition in Seoul and the metropolitan area. The National Medical Center (NMC), now in charge of management of hospital beds for coronavirus patients, has warned of a looming shortage of hospital beds. This warning stokes concerns about a possible collapse of the healthcare system as new COVID-19 daily infections have been in the triple digits for nearly two weeks "The number of patients to be hospitalized will likely peak at around Aug. 30, given a five-day period needed for treatment of patients in critical condition from the initial time of showing symptoms," an NMC official said. He said the NMC will closely cooperate with university hospitals to cope with the possible shortage of beds. But the situation could get more serious if the number of new infections increases faster again, further aggravating the shortage of hospital beds. The number of patients needing intensive treatment tripled over the past week to reach 30 as of Wednesday. But some experts even foresee that the number will exceed 100 within a week. The government and the NMC should take bolder steps in the event of a worst-case scenario. The new daily infections of COVID-19 reached 320 Wednesday. Though the number edged down from Sunday's 397, the country is still struggling to lower infections significantly due to a steady rise in infection clusters. The accumulated number of new infections surpassed 3,000 for the 13-day period since Aug. 14 when the triple-digit increase began. It was the first time the daily infections registered triple digits for 10 straight days since the first wave starting from a Shincheonji Church of Jesus chapter in Daegu in March. More worrisome is that elderly citizens are more vulnerable to COVID-19. The portion of patients in their 60s and above stood at the 30 percent level, more than double the number of cases related to the church. Elderly people show a high fatality rate as they are especially vulnerable to the virus attack. This is another reason for the authorities to hasten efforts to secure more hospital beds. In addition to medical equipment like oxygen respirators, the authorities should secure medical personnel who can take care of a growing number of patients. Despite the dire need for medial personnel including doctors, it is regretful that the members of the Korea Medical Association (KMA) decided to go on strike as planned. Now is the time for doctors to return to work and help cope with the COVID-19 crisis. The government also needs to show its sincerity in talking with the doctors and engage in candid dialogue to find a compromise without further worsening the situation. So far, medical personnel have earned public trust and respect in the course of tackling the pandemic. They should not lose that hard-won trust by abandoning hospitals where patients desperately wait for them. Open Doors UK & Ireland, an anti-persecution charity is honoring Dalia, a resident of the Nineveh Plains in Iraq, who faced the adversity of persecution in her homeland. On a night in August 2014, Dalia and her family were forced to flee from their home after the Jihadist group ISIS, otherwise known as the Islamic state, moved in to occupy the area. These actions by ISIS resulted in the relocation of many Christians, including Dalia and her family from their homes. "I remember being so anxious," said Dalia, a mother of three. "We left our house that we had spent years building and ran into the unknown, with not much more than the clothes on our back." Despite the hardships, Dalia was always seen smiling even in the refugee camps. Regardless of having lost everything that they owned, Dalia's reasoning was related to her understanding that she still had Jesus with her at all times. Not even the Islamic state could take that away from her. She goes on to say that the Bible speaks of the persecution as a sign of those who believe in Jesus. Likewise, the devastating events in her life made her feel closer to God, contrary to what others might be led to believe in the face of such a crisis. After being forced to spend years away from the Nineveh Plains, she felt the need to move back and establish a new church again for the residents of her homeland. Knowing the danger she faces, Dalia now leads and organises a Bible study group for other women. She recalls her experiences moving back to her homeland in late 2017. All of her memories of the place were defaced and burned homes littered with graffiti were now everywhere. Even at home, she felt out of place. Due to her past experiences, Dalia states that she now keeps her bags packed in case of another similar crisis. She feels the need to be careful when dealing with her children as they attend school in Mosul where dangerous events are common. In spite of the constant challenges she faces, Dalia hopes lie with her devotion to God. She concludes by stating she keeps the words of Paul within her heart and repeats to herself, "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength". Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. Lingering concerns about the coronavirus outbreak and strict safety guidelines have prompted more New Jersey school districts to draft plans to start the upcoming school year with all-remote instruction instead of in-person classroom learning. As of earlier this week, 180 school districts across the state have alerted DOE that they plan to submit to begin the 2020-2021 school year with all-remote learning, while 59 districts plan to fully reopen and the remaining districts are moving forward with a hybrid mix of in-person and remote learning, Gov. Phil Murphy said. The state Department of Education has to approve all reopening plans before they can be implemented. The department has received 745 total plans for reopening. Of those, 105 plans are still under review while 389 have been returned to districts for necessary revisions, the governor said. For many school districts, the push for all-remote instruction was prompted by lingering concerns over the coronavirus and questions over whether schools can guarantee a safe environment for students and teachers. Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up with your email here: NJ Advance Media has been able to confirm the following 157 districts have announced theyre seeking state approval to start with all-remote classes for the 2020-2021 school year. NJ Advance Media will add to the list as more districts announce their plans. (For the very latest reopening plans, and additional details about specific schools, please contact your school district.) ATLANTIC COUNTY Atlantic City Brigantine (remote with reentry on, or before, Nov. 11, the end of the first marking period) Egg Harbor Township (virtual starting Sept. 8; plan to start hybrid schedule Oct. 26) Hamilton Township Pleasantville Somers Point (Jordan Road School to go all-remote at start of the year; New York Avenue and Dawes Avenue schools reopening on hybrid schedule to start). BERGEN COUNTY Bergen County Technical Schools and Special Services (through Oct. 19) Bergenfield (remote start, until Oct. 16) Edgewater (remote for the month of September; district expects to reevaluate in the middle of September) Fair Lawn (through Oct. 19) Fort Lee (through Oct. 16) Garfield (plan submitted to state Department of Education to start all-remote and transition to hybrid) Hackensack (schools plan to reopen Nov. 2) Lodi (through Oct. 19) Lyndhurst (remote learning until Oct. 16; in-person instruction scheduled to begin Oct. 19) North Arlington (through Oct. 16) Palisades Park (through at least Oct. 13) Ridgefield (through first marking period) Teaneck (through first marking period) Wallington (through Oct. 13) BURLINGTON COUNTY Bordentown (Sept. 3 through at least Oct. 9) Burlington City (through at least Oct. 13) Burlington Township (through first marking period) Chesterfield (schools plan to reopen Oct. 19) Eastampton (through first marking period) Florence (remote through Sept 18. Hybrid starts Sept. 21.) Lumberton (remote learning Sept. 8 to Sept. 18, hybrid learning starting Sept. 21) Palmyra Pemberton Township (through at least Oct. 13) Rancocas Valley (Sept. 8 through Sept. 25) Westampton Willingboro (through Nov. 18) CAMDEN COUNTY Audubon (through Nov. 4) Barrington (remote through at least Nov. 9) Camden (through Jan. 31) Collingswood/Oaklyn (through mid-October) Eastern Regional (return to school Oct. 5 ) Gloucester City (through Oct. 16) Haddon Heights (through Oct. 30) Lindenwold Winslow Township (through Jan. 1) CUMBERLAND COUNTY Bridgeton (through Oct. 13) Commercial Township (through Oct. 13) Cumberland County Technical Education Center (plans to move to hybrid model Oct. 13) Cumberland Regional Deerfield Township (through Oct. 13) Downe Township (through Oct. 13) Fairfield (through Nov. 2) Greenwich/Stow Creek (through Oct. 13) Hopewell Township (through Oct. 12) Lawrence Township (through Oct. 12) Maurice River School District (through Oct. 12) Millville (through Oct. 13) Upper Deerfield (fully remote through at least Oct. 12) Vineland (through Oct. 13) ESSEX COUNTY Bloomfield (through September) Caldwell-West Caldwell (remote to Oct. 7 except for a group of self-contained special education classes) East Orange (through September) Glen Ridge (high school remote-only through Oct. 5) Irvington Livingston (school year to start all remote) Millburn (first quarter of school year) Montclair Newark (through first marking period) Nutley (through first marking period) Orange (remote learning through Nov. 25; hybrid begins Nov. 29) South Orange-Maplewood (through first marking period) Verona (most students will start with remote learning except for pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, ESL and certain other students) West Orange GLOUCESTER COUNTY Delsea Regional Deptford (remote through Sept. 30) Gateway Regional (remote through at least Oct. 13) Logan Twp. (remote for first marking period) Monroe Township (remote through at least Nov. 16) National Park Schools (remote through at least Oct. 13) Pitman (remote through Oct. 5) Woodbury HUDSON COUNTY Bayonne Guttenberg Harrison (through Nov. 13) Hoboken (all virtual Sept. 14 to Sept. 19, optional in-person after that) Hudson County Schools of Technology (through Sept. 28) Jersey City Kearny North Bergen (through the end of September) Union City (for at least the month of September) West New York HUNTERDON COUNTY Flemington-Raritan (through Oct. 30) Lebanon Township Readington (remote to at least Oct. 19) MERCER COUNTY East Windsor: (remote instruction from Sep. 9 to Nov. 9) Ewing (return to in-person learning for those who have signed up for it: Grades K-2/SE - Sept. 9; Grades 3-5: Sept. 29; Fisher Middle School: Oct. 12; Ewing High School: Oct. 26) Hamilton (through first marking period) Lawrence Township (all students will start remote) Mercer County Special Services Mercer County Technical Schools (remote through Nov. 9) Princeton Charter School Princeton Township public schools Trenton MIDDLESEX COUNTY Carteret (remote until Oct. 9; plans to begin hybrid learning on Oct. 13) Cranbury (remote through Oct. 16) Dunellen (through the Thanksgiving holiday) Edison (at least until Oct. 16) Highland Park (until Oct. 5 for some students) Jamesburg (remote until Nov. 1) Metuchen (at least until Oct. 1) Middlesex Borough Regional Education Services Commission of New Jersey Milltown (remote in September; district to reassess for October) Monroe Township (remote learning until Nov. 13 and reassess for hybrid learning to start on Nov. 16) New Brunswick (first two marking periods) North Brunswick (first marking period) Old Bridge (until Oct. 12) Perth Amboy (until at least Nov. 18, the end of first marking period) Piscataway (until at least Nov. 13) Sayreville (until at least Nov. 12) South Brunswick South Plainfield South River (plans for in-person instruction on Oct. 1) Spotswood (until at least Sept. 18) Woodbridge (until at least Oct. 12) MONMOUTH COUNTY Asbury Park (first 30 instructional days; return to school Oct. 21) Freehold Borough (will reevaluate by Nov. 13) Freehold Township (Students in self-contained classes attend school in person beginning Sept. 8; first 2 weeks of school remain virtual for all other students, who return to school Sept. 21) Long Branch Manalapan-Englishtown (at least the first two weeks of school for some schools) Neptune Township (will re-evaluate by the end of October) Ocean Township (until Sept. 11) MORRIS COUNTY Boonton (remote at the start of the school year) Butler (remote for most students; in person instruction for specific students Dover (through first marking period) Montville (middle and high school students to start remote) OCEAN COUNTY Lacey Township (remote to start, on Sept. 8, and then a hybrid model from Sept. 21) Toms River (through first marking period) PASSAIC COUNTY Clifton (remote to start year; district to reevaluate conditions on Oct. 1, with possible reopening for in-person instruction on Oct. 12. Passaic (through September) Paterson (through at least Nov. 1) SALEM COUNTY Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District (remote to start; may go hybrid on Oct. 19) SOMERSET COUNTY Bedminster (all virtual starting Sept. 10, phase-in hybrid learning model set to begin Sept. 29 through mid-October, depending on the cohort or small group the child is in. All cohorting students will be phased in no later than Oct. 15.) Bernards Township (through Oct. 1) Bridgewater-Raritan (remote through Oct. 12) Franklin Township Hillsborough (virtual until Sept. 28, with plans to start hybrid option later) Montgomery (virtual for September, then re-evaluating plans for in-person on Oct. 12) North Plainfield (virtual at least through the first marking period) SUSSEX COUNTY Sparta (remote through Oct. 30; in person instruction for students with IEPs in specialized programs) UNION COUNTY Berkeley Heights (Governor Livingston High School will begin remote only after a single day of hybrid instruction; remote only plan will be revisited monthly) Elizabeth Hillside (will reassess three weeks before the end of the first marking period) Linden (will reassess the end of each month) Plainfield (through at least Nov. 1) Rahway Roselle (through first marking period) Roselle Park Scotch Plains-Fanwood Springfield (through Nov. 2) Union Township (will reassess on Oct. 15 for targeted return date of Nov. 1) WARREN COUNTY Phillipsburg (all remote through Oct. 5) Warren County Technical School (all remote through first marking period) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Caroline Fassett may be reached at CFassett@njadvancemedia.com. Katie Kausch may be reached at KKausch@njadvancemedia.com. Evan Slavit may be reached at eslavit@njadvancemedia.com. Nestor Sebastian may be reached at nsebastian@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. A participant takes part in Seccon 2016, an international cyber security contest in Tokyo, Japan on Jan. 28, 2017. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images) New South Wales Spends $60 Million to Boost Cyber Defences The New South Wales government will bolster the states cyber defences with a $60 million investment in a team of crime-fighting specialists. The move comes amid federal government efforts to tighten Australias cyber security defences. Victor Dominello, the minister for customer service, says the money will help build an army of experts which will broaden the scope of Cyber Security NSW to incorporate small agencies and councils. The $60 million is not only a four-fold increase in spending on cyber security but allows Cyber Security NSW to quadruple the size of its team in the battle against cybercrime, Dominello said on Aug. 26. A new generation of cyber security experts will be trained and developed to ensure capacity for a coordinated, cross-governement response to threats with advance intelligence sharing. This will further ensure NSW has world-class cyber security infrastructure to protect the government services of the future, Dominello said. Hands on a keyboard in front of a displayed cyber code on Oct. 4, 2018. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo) Cyber Security NSW strengthens the cyber capability of government agencies in the state, collaborating with emergency management, law enforcement, the private sector, and other jurisdictions. It is important to increase capability across the whole of the state, acting Chief Cyber Security Officer Charlotte Wood said. Councils provide us all with important online services and we must ensure the capability of councils is increasing at the same time as NSW governments capability is increasing, she added. The move comes as the Australian federal government looks to tighten cyber security following a warning from Prime Minister Scott Morrison on June 19 that the country faced long-term cyberattacks from a sophisticated state-based cyber actor. Morrison said the frequency and level of persistence and intensity had increased in recent months. According to the prime minister Australian organisations were at risk across a range of sectors, including all levels of government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers, and operators of other critical infrastructure. Following the warning, it was revealed NSW was the victim of a serious cyberattack which may have spurred Morrison to make the announcement. AustCyber estimated a month-long cyberattack on Australia could cost the economy $30 billion and over 163,000 jobs. The federal government has launched a spate of cyber-initiatives including a ten-year, $1.35 billion package to enhance the countrys cybersecurity capabilities, hiring former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to advise on cyber strategy, and recruiting small businesses to develop solutions to threats. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. 25.08.2020 LISTEN Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged the main opposition NDC to put up a similar portal that showcases their accomplished infrastructure projects. The opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) at a press conference on Monday described 26 of the said achievements listed in a presentation by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as ghost projects. They also contended the NPP governments deliverytracker.gov.gh platform is nothing short of a scam. Reacting to the main opposition criticism in an interview with Accra-based Peace Fm, Dr. Bawumia said:Its good to criticize but its also important to show what youve done He emphasized that a similar website could afford them the opportunity to interrogate their arch-rivals achievements as well, adding they keep telling us that theyve done this or that, but very little to show for. Meanwhile, for the data input errors which he took flak for, Dr. Bawumia said theyre working to amend the mistakes. He indicated that extra projects have since been added to beef up the list of completed projects. --kasapafmonline Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-27 00:47:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya may be forced to import processed milk products following a monthly drop in the milk supply from 63.4 million liters in January to 40.2 million liters in June, a government official said on Wednesday. Peter Munya, cabinet secretary for agriculture, livestock, fisheries and cooperatives blamed the shortage of raw milk sold to processors by farmers on a drastic drop in farm production and sale of raw milk in the informal sector. "We are in distress. If this situation continues, we shall be forced to import milk products, which we do not want to," Munya said in Nairobi during a sector review meeting by the Kenya Dairy Board. Munya called on farmers to intensify the production of milk and ensure that the milk is marketed formally to sustain more than 750,000 jobs created by the sector. "This will ensure that we build on the gains made so far in the sector and can absorb shocks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to assure farmers that the government and my ministry, in particular, will continue supporting them to ensure that they get a favorable return on their investments," he said. Kenya faced raw milk oversupply towards the end of last year and early this year, which, combined with milk imports from the East Africa Community halved the price of raw milk paid to farmers, a review by the board showed. Despite the government imposing a 10 percent on milk imports to protect local farmers and setting a minimum price for raw milk processors to pay farmers, supply has continued to drop. Nixon Sigey, managing director of the state-owned milk processor, New KCC said the situation is so dire that they are operating at 40 percent of their capacity. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that the sector is a source of livelihood to some 1.8 million smallholder farmers. Enditem More than half of all Covid-19 cases recorded in August came from 584 districts that are classified as mostly rural or entirely rural, reflecting the spread of the coronavirus disease from the large urban centres into the Indian hinterland where health care challenges, from testing to treatment, are much more significant. The trend is very different from that seen in the initial months of the pandemic, when the cases were largely in the urban areas, especially the three metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. This Hindustan Times analysis is based on district-level data by How India Lives, which is available till August 24, although even a cursory look at the HT dashboard suggests that, if anything, this trend has been strengthening for weeks. The front lines of Indias fight against the viral disease have clearly moved. Experts said the lack of adequate health infrastructure in villages will be a major challenge. The first challenge that villages will likely face is of testing. Most of the RT-PCR labs are currently located in big cities or district headquarters, and are very rare if one looks for them at the subdistrict level. There is also the issue of the lack of medical equipment and physicians. Machines like pulse oximeters and radiology facilities such as good quality chest X-rays, which are crucial tools to monitor the health of Covid patients, are not as easily found in rural areas, said Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director, Delhis Maulana Azad Medical College. To be sure, there is a counter view as well: There are reports of cases coming from rural areas, but the advantage that we have there is that population density is low because of which cases can be identified, isolated, and treated early. In these areas, surveillance can be far better and also compliance, and that is instrumental in controlling spread of the disease effectively, says Dr VK Paul, member, Niti Aayog, who also chairs one of the National Task Forces on Covid-19 management. Having said that, we have to be careful and concentrate on rural areas as some of the villages may suffer from lack of adequate health infrastructure to manage positive cases, he added. The analysis also shows that few of Indias 734 districts are untouched by Covid-19: More than 700 districts and the national capital have reported cases so far. When a nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25, just over a hundred districts had reported cases (many of them just had one case). The number of affected districts was more than 600 by the end of May. Experts said that the spread of the disease in rural pockets may lead to a long-drawn battle. Weve seen the disease spread like wildfire in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. But equally fast, the governments were able to bring the outbreak into relative control. What we are likely to see in villages will not be like this it will be a slow- and long-burning fire, which will be much harder to contain. But in general, villages are already disadvantaged because of their inadequate health care system, so this may end up becoming a much longer battle, said Dr T Jacob John, professor emeritus and former head of virology at Christian Medical College, Vellore. The analysis classifies districts into five categories based on the proportion of the rural population entirely urban (under 20% of the rural population), mostly urban (20%-40% rural), mixed (40%-60% rural), mostly rural (60% to 80% rural) and entirely rural (over 80% rural population). The proportion of the rural population is based on the 2011 census (the latest data available). According to the analysis, 55% of the about 1.4 million new Covid-19 cases reported in August (those cases where the district is known) have come from 584 districts in the last two categories. This was not the case earlier. Only 23% of new cases reported in April came from these districts. This share, though, has been steadily increasing every month it was 28% in May, 24% in June and 41% in July. As Covid-19 shifts away from the urban centres, 16 urban districts (15 districts plus Delhi) where the share of rural population is less than 20% reported only 13% of the countrys Covid-19 cases in August. More than 44% new cases reported in April, May and June came from these urban districts. In July, 23% of the cases came from these districts. The bulk of the rural challenge is likely to be centred around two states that have sizeable rural populations Uttar Pradesh and Bihar which have seen a rapid and steady growth of cases in the past few weeks. The two states, which together account for more than a quarter of the countrys population, are also among the states with the lowest testing rates in the country despite a recent jump in numbers in the past few weeks. Both have conducted a little over 20,000 tests per million of their population against the national average of around 28,000. Nearly all major metropolitan cities in the country are districts among themselves, with the exception of Delhi, which consists of 11 revenue districts. However, the Delhi government does not release a district-wise breakup of cases, deaths and recoveries. The move into the hinterland has also decreased the share of metros in new Covid-19 cases. For instance, about 40% of the countrys Covid-19 cases in June were being reported from only three metro cities Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. They accounted for only 6% of the new cases in August. The number of Covid-19 cases reported in urban areas is still disproportionately higher than their population. The 16 districts which reported 13% of new Covid-19 cases in August are home to only 5.6% of Indias population. Similarly, the 584 districts where the share of rural population is more than 60% are home to 74% population, but reported only 55% of new Covid-19 cases this month. The disproportionate role of urban areas is also reflected in the number of cases currently active in the country. Regions with the recent outbreaks generally tend to have a higher share of active cases. Of the 10 districts with the most active cases in the country, seven are city districts or districts that constitute a single city, and thus entirely urban. This can also be explained by two other factors: the number of cases in rural India are spread over a large number of districts; and at least some of the active cases are those from June and July. The number of active cases those still under treatment directly reflects the pressure on the health care system in any region. It is calculated by subtracting the number of recovered patients and deaths from the total tally. As of Tuesday night, of the 3,229,351 total Covid-19 cases in the country, 704,672 (21.8%) were active, according to HTs Covid-19 dashboard. With over 44,717 cases out of the 150,207 cases in Pune active, the city tops this list. It is followed by Bengaluru with 34,877 cases active out of the 107,875 cases, and Thane, where 20,372 cases out of the 122,626 infections are active. Delhi, which is the city with the most cases in the country, had 11,778 active cases as of Monday. East Godavari (17,228 active cases as of August 23) and Chittoor (9,999 active cases), both in Andhra Pradesh; and Maharashtras Nashik (10,667 active cases) are the only three districts in the top 10 that are not entirely urban. The only major city-district excluded from this tally is Hyderabad as Telangana does not release recovery and death data for the city. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (second from left) called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (second from right) on 25 August 2020. (PHOTO: Ministry of Communications and Information) SINGAPORE Singapore and Indonesia will begin discussions on a reciprocal green lane arrangement to allow essential travel to gradually resume amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a media release on Tuesday (25 August), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that the two countries Foreign Ministers Singapores Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Indonesias Retno Marsudi have tasked officials to plan the travel arrangement in a manner that would safeguard public health, given the strong business links between the two countries. Singapore has green lane arrangements in place with Malaysia and China, and is discussing them with a number of countries, including Japan. Meanwhile, Indonesia has travel corridor arrangements for essential business travel with China, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Courtesy call to PM Lee Retno is on a three-day visit to Singapore, where she was hosted to lunch by Balakrishnan. She also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on Tuesday. The MFA media release said that the two Foreign Ministers agreed that Singapore and Indonesia should work closely together to strengthen public health cooperation; enhance economic growth and investments; deepen financial cooperation; and facilitate safe travel. PM Lee and Retno also reaffirmed the excellent relations between the two countries, and discussed how they continue to work together to overcome the common challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Retno will depart Singapore on Wednesday. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: NZ, Brunei visitors to S'pore to download TraceTogether, keep it activated during stay: CAAS Singapore confirms 5-month low of 31 new COVID-19 cases, including one imported ERP rates at 3 gantries on CTE to rise by $1 during peak hours from 31 August COMMENT: Polarisation in Parliament? PAP will set the tone This election season has brought the usual stories of people crossing the aisle to vote for a party they previously opposed. We're inundated with reports about former congressmen or government officials announcing that, to save America, they'll vote for Biden. The stories about people crossing the aisle to vote for Trump get less play, of course. What nobody comments about, though, is that these party switches are not identical. Instead, they represent a profound realignment in the fundamental nature of the parties. This thought occurred to me when I read the story touted in conservative media about the fact that "Rick," from Lorain, Ohio, called in to C-SPAN after the first night of the Republican convention to announce that he was a lifelong Democrat who was going to vote for Trump. The reason he gave was the Republican Party's fealty to and respect for God: Lifelong Democrat tells C-SPAN: after watching the convention tonightI am definitely changing my vote to Republican pic.twitter.com/zGAqVAnM6q Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) August 25, 2020 Another person crossing the aisle was Robert Vlaisavljevich, a lifelong Democrat and the mayor of Eveleth, Minnesota, which he described as a "small town in the Iron Range of Minnesota." He spoke movingly about the way the Democrats had abandoned the steel industry in America, destroying American lives, and handed it over to the Chinese: And of course, on the first night of the convention, one of the best speakers was Vernon Jones, a black Democrat assemblyman from Georgia. He explained why he was voting for Trump and touched lightly upon the way his party tried to cancel him for calling them out for their continued failures regarding America's blacks: I also get lots of emails from people across America confiding to me that they're voting for Trump. They're lifelong Democrats, but they no longer feel connected to a party that has abandoned the Constitution, a sovereign border, the biological reality of male and female, and respect for religious faith and that seems determined to foment racial hatred, civil unrest, and disdain for America. These are the people that Kurt Schlichter calls the "Normals." They're not political activists, Hollywood stars, magically gendered non-binary people, racially obsessed neurotics, or any of the other kinds of people who sit at the heart of the Democrat party. Instead, these Democrats voting for Trump still believe in their classic Democrat values but those are the values we associate with Kennedy and even Clinton. To paraphrase Reagan, these people didn't leave the Democrat party; the Democrat party left them. But what about the vaunted Republicans who are proudly strutting across the aisle to vote for Biden? First, many of these proud strutters also crossed the aisle to vote for Hillary, and a lot voted for Obama, too. At a certain point, you have to stop pretending to be a Republican and just come out as a Democrat. Otherwise, you're just a poseur. But what these people really have in common is that they're not Normals. Instead, they're all members of the Deep State. The "over two dozen GOP members of Congress" who created a group called "Republicans for Biden" could just as easily have labeled themselves Deep State Mono-Party People for Biden. Their ideology isn't conservative (Constitution, liberty, patriotism); instead, it's statism with a corporate spin. It would be accurate to call this view "fascism" and no, I'm not calling them Nazis. At a purely ideological level, though, when one strips from fascism Hitler's unique racist evil, the ideology that Mussolini originally envisioned was a partnership between the state and the private sector, with the state getting the ultimate say in matters. China is a modern fascist nation, as is Europe. When Donald Trump stepped on this non-racist fascism, the statists abandoned ship. The other "Republicans for Trump" are the Lincoln Project people, many of whom were failed campaign managers and advisers. Rather than learning from their failures, they turned on the people who refused to get with their monoparty Republicanism and threw themselves to Hillary and Biden. And of course, there are the very high-level military officers who oppose Trump, from Colin Powell to Admiral McRaven to General McChrystal. These men, too, are purely political animals committed to the monoparty that Trump emphatically rejected. Moreover, they also support endless wars, which is the opposite of Trump's approach. Trump is the only president in decades who has not gotten America into a war, and they hate him for that. Other than those Deep Staters who are seeing Trump destroy their bread and butter, Trump's supporters are stalwarts who will not abandon him. In the vote switch, Republicans got the real people, while the Democrats got the fakes. It sounds like a fair deal to me, and one that might see Trump win the White House with 37 states. Image: Collage of Jeff Flake and Vernon Jones using public domain images. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks were subdued on Wednesday as traders turned their attention to Thursday's Jackson Hole meeting, during which Fed Chair Jerome Powell is expected to give details on the Federal Reserve's framework review. The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 2 points at 6,035 after losing 1.1 percent in the previous session. Doorstep lender Provident Financial soared 15 percent. After posting a first-half loss, the company said it is cautiously optimistic about the outlook for 2020 and beyond. Gold producer Polymetal International shed 0.8 percent. The company reported that its net earnings for the six months ended 30 June 2020 rose to US$381 million from last year's US$153 million. Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell edged up slightly in spite of a downgrade by Barclays Capital to 'underweight'. 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. To the Editor: I wish to comment on Dave Pasinskis letter of Aug. 20, 2020 regarding Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaking at the Republican National Convention. Did Pasinski assume it was an obsequious telephone conversation with President Trump? Does Pasinski approve of the Rev.. James Martin, SJ, having said the Benediction at the Democratic National Convention on closing night, Aug. 21? Martin is a heretical priest who flouts the Catholic Church position on active homosexuality and same-sex marriage. It appears that Pasinski will vote the Democrat position. The Democrat Partys agenda includes pro-abortion position. Is this not going against the principle of Catholic social justice, killing a human being? It sounds like Pasinski and Martin are chummy with the Democratic Party. The president has had to correct much of the damage heaped upon the United States by the Obama-Biden Administration. Under Trumps administration, the economy had mushroomed; unemployment went south; he eliminated the treasonous Iran deal; he has stood up to dictators, especially leaders of China and North Korea and has not bowed to any of them; got ISIS out of Iraq and Syria and eliminated ISIS leaders; and we did not go to war contrary to predictions. James D. Dooher DeWitt The writer is a former seminarian and active Catholic. Ukrainian MP from the Batkivshchyna Party's parliamentary faction Vadym Ivchenko has said leader of the Batkivshchyna Party, Ukrainian MP Yulia Tymoshenko, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, is in critical condition. "Yulia Tymoshenko is in critical condition, she has a high temperature. She is taking all the appropriate measures to ventilate the lungs, but this is not a ventilator, these are other appropriate devices that must be used in accordance with the protocol," he told Ukraine 24 TV channel. Activist Tianna Arata, 20, stands on the steps of the San Luis Obispo County courthouse Tuesday as supporters gather to protest her arrest after a July antiracism rally in San Luis Obispo. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) In July, Tianna Arata helped organize an antiracism protest in San Luis Obispo, hoping to bring the message of racial justice sparked by the police killing of George Floyd to the Central Coast community. The rally began at a local park. But at some point, more than 300 protesters blocked traffic on U.S. 101. Police say at least two cars were vandalized. Arata, a 20-year-old college student, was arrested. Her arrest has since become a rallying point for members of Black Lives Matter and other activist groups. On Tuesday, hundreds of people showed up to a news conference and rally outside the San Luis Obispo courthouse to stand in solidarity with Arata. Tiannas freedom is about all of our freedom, Melina Abdullah, Pan-African studies professor at Cal State L.A. and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, shouted into a microphone as supporters gathered on the sidewalk and held signs that read Free Tianna. Supporters of Tianna Arata rally outside the San Luis Obispo County courthouse Tuesday. Arata is facing eight charges in connection with an antiracism demonstration she helped organize last month. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Counter-protesters were also present at the event. Police have argued that the charges against Arata are fair and warranted. She wasn't arrested for lawfully protesting," San Luis Obispo Police Chief Deanna Cantrell said. "She was arrested because of her own actions and her own behaviors, and she is the one that violated laws." Following the rally, Cantrell and San Luis Obispo City Manager Derek Johnson held a virtual news conference to address questions about Arata's arrest and other diversity concerns. Arata was taken into custody on suspicion of eight charges: four felony counts of false imprisonment; one felony count of conspiracy; and three misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, participating in a riot and unlawful assembly, according to the Police Department. She was released later that evening on zero bond. Now, shes waiting as the district attorneys office investigates her case and decides whether to move forward with charges. Her arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 3. Story continues Its super-insane because I never thought I was even going to get arrested in the first place, Arata told the Los Angeles Times during a Zoom call. It was completely targeted. And it obviously seemed like it was to discourage other people from organizing protests in San Luis Obispo. Fighting against racial injustice, Arata said, has long been part of her life. The Portland, Ore., native, who moved to San Luis Obispo when she was 16 years old, started her journey as an activist at age 14 after Michael Brown was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Mo. As demonstrations arose worldwide after Floyd's death in May at the hands of Minneapolis police, Arata and a group of her friends quickly took to the streets of San Luis Obispo. Arata said comments from the towns sheriff, Ian Parkinson, that he had never seen any indication that systemic racism exists" in the county also pushed them to show residents of San Luis Obispo which is predominantly white that racial injustice is present even in the happiest place in America. (In 2018, a series of racist incidents at Cal Poly sparked much debate, with some Black students on campus saying they did not feel welcome there.) Tianna Arata, who helped spearhead a rally against racial injustice, says her arrest "seemed like it was to discourage other people from organizing protests in San Luis Obispo." (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) A lot of people in San Luis [Obispo] specifically, they like to point the finger and say, Oh we dont have these issues here,' Arata said. But we needed people to open their eyes and be like, OK, this affects us. This is a group of young Black and brown youth and were telling you, we have issues in this community as well. No community is exempt. Arata co-organized a protest with her friend, Melissa Elizalde, along with other local youth activists. The demonstration started about 4 p.m. at Mitchell Park near downtown San Luis Obispo. From Aratas perspective, the atmosphere was uplifting. Everybody was super-positive, she said about the event. Cars even on the freeway in general, they were honking in support. [They] were like super-respectful and polite during our moments of silence. It was really joyous. There was a lot of just dancing and positivity and people just expressing how they feel, Arata added. She spoke to Cantrell about the event in advance. Tianna Arata, left, hugs friend Nicole Huffman before Tuesday's rally outside the San Luis Obispo County courthouse. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) But the Police Department saw it differently. About an hour later, police said protesters got onto U.S. 101, which is the main highway in San Luis Obispo, and began to threaten the safety of motorists, themselves and law enforcement by blocking traffic in both directions for nearly an hour. While on the highway, police said protesters allegedly damaged the hood and smashed the rear window of a passenger vehicle with a 4-year-old child in the back seat. Police also reported that, in an incident that took place off the freeway, some protesters were seen chasing down and throwing objects at a vehicle. Drone video footage of an incident involving a gray vehicle was posted on the Police Departments Facebook page . Arata and others dispute the police account. They say the video appears to show a protester being dragged onto the hood of the vehicle for a short period of time before the car drives away, narrowly missing Arata and other demonstrators. Once the protest ended and Arata and a few of her friends were packing up a vehicle, she said, police officers appeared and took her into custody. They pushed all my friends out of the way. They werent interested in arresting anybody else, Arata said. It was completely targeted, and it was frustrating and really disheartening. "I was just like, why? Why are you targeting me? What is this going to accomplish? she said. A video of Aratas arrest was shared on social media with the #FreeTianna hashtag. Another protester, Elias Bautista, was also arrested that evening on suspicion of assaulting two officers during the arrest of Arata, Cantrell said. Efforts to support Bautistas cause have been created. Cantrell said she supported peaceful protesting and would like to continue meeting with activists to figure out ways to make policing meaningful to our community. For Tianna and anybody else, if there is a goal to change policing, at some point, were going to have to sit down at the table and talk about what that looks like, Cantrell told The Times by phone. The police chief said she had an obligation to uphold the rights of all residents, including those on the freeway. Johnson, the city manager, said he wanted the public to know that the Police Department and local officials "support the principles of the Black Lives Matter movement." We want the voice of Ms. Arata to be heard, and we want safe venues for free expression, and we also need to make sure that people are safe and there isnt property damage, he said. Hundreds rally in support of activist Tianna Arata at the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse. Police argue that the charges against Arata are fair and warranted. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Statements that Arata, if convicted, could potentially face up to 15 years in prison quickly circulated on social media. But Dist. Atty. Dan Dow debunked that, saying it was "patently incorrect," and that any charges she faced would lead to a much smaller sentence in county jail, not prison. Dow also said it was too soon to speculate what the charges might be presented before Arata's arraignment. But one of Arata's attorneys, Curtis Briggs, said the district attorney's office was "being completely dishonest about the time she faces." "He's completely misleading the public," Briggs said about Dow. "[Tianna] would be incarcerated in a jail. ... She would actually be facing worse conditions in a local jail, which is not designed to give somebody the lifestyle of facing several years in custody. It's very reasonable to say she would spend four, five, six years in custody." During the protest, Briggs called for Cantrell's resignation. Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors said Aratas case brought up a bigger issue of law enforcement trying to intimidate and silence protesters. Tianna is not an anomaly, Cullors told The Times via email. She is a part of hundreds of other people who have been criminalized. ... I think we should be praising young leaders for making our country better and stronger. Instead, we have created an environment that has made Tianna out to be something that she is not." For Arata, her arrest is proof that more work needs to be accomplished in San Luis Obispo and beyond. Since Im getting all this national attention, I eventually hope to be able to highlight other issues and not just strictly Oh, Free Tianna,' she said. Because the fight in dropping my charges and getting them dismissed is not only for me, its for all people who have been mistreated by law enforcement in this country. She's been hunkering down during quarantine. Jennifer Lawrence was spotted for the first time in about six months stepping out with her husband Cook Maroney in New York City on Monday. The newlyweds looked like they were headed out for a fun night as they both carried a bottle of white wine and a bottle of red wine, respectively. She's back! Jennifer Lawrence was spotted for the first time in about six months stepping out with her husband Cook Maroney in New York City on Monday During the course of quarantine, the Oscar winner has kept an extremely low profile along with her art gallerist husband. The star looked stunning as she was seen on a walk in New York City wearing a floral silk slip dress in earthy tones by Lili Notan. In a nod to the fashion of the nineties, Lawrence's black lacy bralette was visible beneath the thin straps of the delicate dress. She paired the feminine look with a pair of white sneakers by Christian Dior, a label she is all too familiar with as a longtime spokesmodel with the luxury fashion house. Glam: The star looked stunning as she was seen on a walk in New York City wearing a floral silk slip dress in earthy tones by Lili Notan that exposed a touch of her lacy bralette Downtime: During the course of quarantine, the Oscar winner has kept an extremely low profile along with her art gallerist husband whom she married last fall Jennifer's blonde hair was pulled back in an undone low updo with some messy tendrils left out to frame her face - which she had covered by a disposable mask. The Hunger Games actress accessorized her look with a black leather Gucci bag and some layered necklaces. Both she and her husband each carried a bottle of wine as they headed to their destination. Cooke, whom she wed in October of 2019, was dressed simply in a pair of khaki pants, a white T-shirt and blue trainers. Fun night? The Hunger Games actress accessorized with a black leather Gucci bag and some layered necklaces and. Both she and her husband each carried a bottle of wine Jennifer has never been shy about her love for wine or other cocktails and earlier in the pandemic joked with her good friend Amy Schumer about their drinking habits. During a taping of the comedian's cooking show, Amy Schumer Learns to Cook, she called Lawrence to shoot the breeze. 'We're drinking chardonnay because, as you know, I like an oaky chard,' Amy quipped to Jennifer on speaker phone. 'What kind of wine do you like? I don't remember because I'm a bad friend.' Lawrence is more of a 'red wine person' but if she is drinking white, she goes for a crisp Sauvignon blanc. Relatable: Jennifer has never been shy about her love for wine or other cocktails and earlier in the pandemic joked with her good friend Amy Schumer about their quarantine drinking habits (Pictured with a glass of wine at the Oscars in 2018) 'I mean, if I'm drinking white, which I think is mainly for sl*ts,' Lawrence laughed during their banter. 'You like a nice red wine and earlier in the night,' Amy added. The Red Sparrow star revealed that she's been trying to postpone her daily cocktail until later in the night, which has been a challenge during quarantine. 'I'm trying to wait until 6 p.m., so I have, like, a preemptive beer at 5,' Jennifer joked. Since Hollywood shut down due to the pandemic, Lawrence's usually busy schedule has lightened up considerably. Milestones: Since Hollywood shut down due to the pandemic, Lawrence's usually busy schedule has lightened up considerably but she did celebrate her 30th birthday earlier this month (Pictured with Kris Jenner in the Momager's Happy Birthday message) She has, however, had a few major milestones occur over the course of lockdown. Earlier this month the American Hustle star quietly celebrated her 30th birthday. Her good friend Kris Jenner took to social media to with a celebratory post of Jennifer, who she called her 'favorite daughter,' to commemorate the big day. Lawrence also finally unloaded her massive New York City penthouse which had been on the market for a year. Unfortunately for the actress, she took a massive $5.7 million loss on the sprawling property which she had scooped up for nearly $10 million previously. Branded generic manufacturers are focused on emergency stocks and alternatives for supply options to minimize risk of supply and distribution disruptions during the crisis period. DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / The branded generics market is expected to reflect a highly promising 8% CAGR between 2020 and 2030. The branded generics market is likely to gain key growth opportunities for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. Demand for low cost treatments for the virus and investments into drug research during this period is likely to support market growth in the short term. "Branded generics are largely used as alternative drugs to innovator offerings from the pharma industry following the expiration patents. The global market for branded generics expected to display steady growth as a large number of pharmaceutical products are witnessing the expiry of their patents during the assessment period," states the FMI analyst. Download a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1260 Branded Generics Market- Critical Takeaways Cardiovascular treatment applications account for substantial demand, owing to the expiry of multiple patents in the category. Pharmacies and drug stores are major channels of distribution, supported by promotional activity and easier access to consumers. Europe is a prominent market for branded generics owing to demand for alternatives to expensive patented medication options. Branded Generics Market- Drivers Regular expiration of branded drug patents, coupled with higher profit margins of branded generics supports market growth. Simplification of market authorization processes is a key driver of growth opportunities. Branded Generics Market- Restraints High competition from commodity generics and branded drugs hinders sales and revenue. Misconceptions of quality associated with branded generics hinders adoption rates. We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request Customization@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-1260 Coronavirus Impact on Branded Generics Market The branded generics market is expected to be marginally impacted by the coronavirus contagion. The potential slowdown of sales in China is a major factor of concern. In addition, patients are not as likely to actively seek prescription renewals and or healthcare services, which could reduce demand. Also, manufacturers who depend on China for drug ingredients could face supply disruptions. On the other hand, manufacturers with alternative suppliers on hand can capitalize on the pandemic by increasing drug prices and eating away at market share of their competitors. Competitive Landscape Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Teva, and Abbott Laboratories are some of the leading players in the branded generics market. Manufacturers in the branded generics market are increasingly displaying interest in product launch strategies to keep the edge in a competitive market, expand portfolios, and bolster profit margins with formulations of expired patents. For instance, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. has announced the release of AVIGAN a branded favipiravir generic for covid-19 treatment. Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc has launched Everolimus tablets, which is a generic version of Zortress used in transplant treatments. Lilly has also announced the release of branded generic versions of KwikPen and Humalog protamine and insulin suspensions. Buy Now@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1260 About the Study The study offers readers a comprehensive assessment of the Branded generics market. Global, regional and national-level analysis of the latest trends influencing the branded generics market is covered in this FMI report. The study provides insights according to therapeutic application (oncology, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurology, gastrointestinal disease, dermatology disease, analgesics and anti-inflammatory, and others), drug class (alkylating agents, antimetabolites, hormones, anti-hypertensive, lipid lowering drugs, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-epileptics, and others) formulation type (oral, parenteral, topical, and others), and distribution channel (hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, online pharmacies, and drug stores) in seven regions (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and MEA). Explore FMI's Coverage of the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Devices Industry Microfluidics Market- Get insights on the global microfluidics market through FMI's report covering detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis for projection period 2016-2026. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Market- FMI's exhaustive study on the electronic medical records (EMR) market covers the latest trends, innovations, key players, and popular strategies for the period 2015-2025. Clinical Trials Market- Obtain detailed analysis on the clinical trials market through FMI's report covering competitive analysis, key regions, and segmental analysis. About Future Market Insights Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact Us Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/branded-generics-market Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/branded-generics-market SOURCE: Future Market Insights View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603434/Branded-Generics-Market-to-Rise-at-8-CAGR-through-2030-Diversified-Sourcing-Practices-in-Covid-19-Pandemic-to-Provide-Growth-Opportunities-says-Future-Market-Insights Scientists, including an undergraduate student, develop a novel method to produce an alkaline hydrogel that could be applied to healing wounds better With an increase in the elderly and aging population and also in the number of invasive surgeries, wound healing has become a critical focus area in medicine. The complex bodily processes involved in wound healing make it challenging as well as rewarding to identify newer methods and materials for effective wound healing. Now, in a new study, published in Polymers for Advanced Technologies, led by undergraduate student (yes, you read that right) Ryota Teshima, researchers from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, have developed a groundbreaking novel material with possible applications in wound healing. But exactly why is this new material so exciting? It is important to create an optimal physiological environment around a wound to promote the growth of new cells. Recent research has revealed that a type of material called "hydrogel" is exceptionally useful for achieving such conditions given its molecular structure. Hydrogels are three-dimensionally cross-linked networks of polymers that can absorb more than 95% of their volume in water. Hydrogels with natural polymers have excellent compatibility with the biological conditions of our skin and tissues (referred to as "biocompatibility"), can absorb fluids from the wound, and continuously provide moisture into the wound, creating a highly suitable environment for the wound to heal. One such natural polymer that is used in hydrogels for wound dressing is alginate, a carbohydrate derived from seaweed, and therefore, abundantly available. Alginate gels are very easy to prepare, but gelation occurs quickly, making it difficult to control the gelation time. Although methods to achieve this control have previously been reported, ensuring short gelation time while maintaining transparency results in hydrogels with a slightly acidic (4-6) or neutral pH. Slightly acidic conditions were, until recently, believed to be beneficial for wound healing, but newer research has found that a slightly alkaline pH (8-8.5) is better for promoting the growth of "skin healing" cells such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes. This is the context that shaped the characteristics of the next level alginate hydrogel production method that Mr Teshima and his team developed. He summarizes their breakthrough: "We have succeeded in preparing a novel alkaline alginate hydrogel (pH 8.38-8.57) suitable for wound healing via a method that requires no special equipment and can be carried out at room temperature. This, in addition to the fact that the hydrogel forms in 5 minutes, makes it ideal for potential use in any medical practice anywhere for superior wound healing." Their method involves mixing calcium carbonate and potassium alginate, and then adding carbonated water to this mixture and letting the "gelation" (gel formation) process take place. In this method, the pH of the gel shifts to alkaline because the carbon dioxide volatilizes after gelation. This also ensures transparency of the gel, which in turn allows the visual assessment of wounds and helps in easily ascertaining the progress of healing. Also, regardless of the amounts of ingredients used, the resultant hydrogels have extremely high water content--up to 99%. When the team placed their hydrogel in physiological saline solution, it passed the test for another critical requisite for a wound dressing: the potential to absorb exudates from the wound. And while the hydrogel did become structurally weak and could not be lifted with tweezers after a week of immersion, it retained its shape. Speaking about the motivation behind this exciting study, Mr Teshima says, "I have been experimenting with alginate gels ever since junior high school. There was also increasing interest in regenerative medicine when I was growing up, which compelled me to focus on the creation of useful biocompatible materials that can be used in medical therapy." Well, there's no denying that this novel hydrogel developed by Mr Teshima's team shows immense potential for near-future application to wound healing in medicine. Hopeful of even more potential applications of their method in medicine beyond wound healing, Mr Teshima says, "In the future, if it is possible to control the sustained release of an effective drug held inside it, this novel hydrogel can be used as a drug carrier as well." For now, the next step is to assess its viability and effectiveness in living cells and animal models. When that is done, Mr Teshima's Japan, and subsequently, the world, can be made a better place. ### About the Tokyo University of Science Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators. With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field. Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/ About Ryota Teshima from Tokyo University of Science Mr Ryota Teshima is a third-year undergraduate student at the Department of Applied Chemistry in Tokyo University of Science, Japan. As a young researcher, he has already published two research papers in the areas of science education and the development of effective hydrogels for wound healing. Mr Teshima's academic journey, although nascent, has been outstanding so far, and this has been acknowledged with several awards. He has also been selected as a fourth-generation member of the prestigious Masason Foundation in Japan (https://masason-foundation.org/en/). Funding information The study was funded by the Grant-in-Aid for Extracurricular Activities for the Students in Tokyo University of Science Parents Associations (Kouyoukai). Grant number: 2019-15 United States President Donald Trump is weighing executive action to avoid extensive layoffs at US airlines if Congress fails to agree on another coronavirus stimulus package, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on Wednesday. His remarks came a day after American Airlines said its workforce will shrink by 40,000, including 19,000 involuntary cuts, in October unless there is an extension of government aid to US carriers. If Congress is not going to work, this president is going to get to work and solve some problems. So hopefully, we can help out the airlines and keep some of those employees from being furloughed, Meadows said in an interview with Politico. He seemed to suggest, however, that legislative action would be needed, telling Politico: It would take a CARES package, I believe, to do it, referring to the $3 trillion coronavirus relief package that Congress passed earlier this year. Airline shares were lower in early trading. US airlines received $25bn in payroll aid under the CARES Act to protect jobs through October and the industry has lobbied for another $25bn to keep workers employed through March, when they hope travel demand will be stronger. Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said on Twitter that executive orders would not translate into a clean extension of the airline aid under the CARES Act. It will definitely take Congress acting to keep all of the job requirements in place. Good to see WH wants to restart talks. Aviation workers are making this REAL & URGENT for the American people. But EOs wont keep the clean extension of #WorkersFirst PSP. #ReliefNow Congress https://t.co/5IfNm6YZet Sara Nelson (@FlyingWithSara) August 26, 2020 It will definitely take Congress acting to keep all of the job requirements in place, she said, while adding: Good to see WH wants to restart talks. Talks between Meadows, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer ended in early August, with top Democrats and the administration far apart on new legislation. Meadows told Politico that he is not optimistic that negotiations will restart soon. They starred together in the 2013 American sci-fi film After The Dark. And, Bonnie Wright, 29, looked effortlessly chic in a black cami as she drank wine al fresco with co-star Rhys Wakefield while celebrating a friend's birthday in Hollywood, on Tuesday. The actress - who played Ron Weasley's younger sister Ginny in the Harry Potter franchise - looked happier than ever as she said 'cheers' to pal Maddy Simmer. Potty about her: Bonnie Wright, 29, looked effortlessly chic in a black cami as she stepped out for a pal's birthday in Hollywood, on Tuesday, with her After The Dark co-star Rhys Wakefield Bonnie styled her red tresses sleek and straight, and enhanced her natural beauty with a pop of red lipstick. Rhys kept things casual in a light blue, short sleeved polo shirt as they enjoyed some quality time with their friend. Taking to Instagram Stories, Bonnie shared a breathtaking selfie while on her way to meet her pals. She later gushed over her 'angel' Maddie as she shared a photograph of her and Rhys enjoying their evening together. Group gathering: The actress - who played Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise - joined After Dark co-star Rhys Wakefield while celebrating Maddy Simmer's birthday Glam: Ginny styled her red tresses sleek and straight, and sipped on red wine Last year, Bonnie teamed up with scientists and campaigners to launch a nationwide survey of plastic pollution in UK rivers. The actress joined Greenpeace volunteers and scientists to collect water samples from three points along the River Wye. The samples were then analysed by the University of Exeter and compared with other samples collected from major rivers across the UK to inform a report on the levels of small pieces of plastic pollution known as 'microplastics'. Wow! Taking to Instagram Stories, Bonnie shared a breathtaking selfie while on her way to meet her pals Happy Birthday! Taking to Instagram Stories, Bonnie gushed over her 'angel' Maddie as she shared a photograph of her and Rhys enjoying their evening together Co-stars: Bonnie and Rhys starred together in the 2013 American sci-fi film After The Dark Environmentalists warn that these tiny plastic particles, which come from degraded plastics and synthetic clothing, can be toxic to wildlife and make up a vast proportion of the plastics that flow from rivers into the seas. Greenpeace called on the Government to tackle the problem of plastic pollution by setting legally-binding targets in an Environment Bill to phase out single-use plastics. The environmental group also urged the Government to create an independent environmental watchdog to ensure green targets are met. Television actor Tripti Shankhdhar has shared some alarming posts on Instagram, accusing her father of threatening to kill her. Tripti, in a total of six videos, has said that her father, named Ram Ratan Shankhdhar, is forcibly trying to get her married. Tripti, her mother and other members of the family have left the house due to the fear of her father and are pleading with the UP Police to help them. In the video, Tripti said that she is just 19 years old and her father is trying to get her married to a 28 years old man. She said her father pulled her by her hair and also slashed her wrists. Her mother also said in the video that her husband has been torturing her ever since they got married, not allowing her to step out of the house or meet anyone. Tripti added that her father sent her to Mumbai to become an actor and is now demanding all the money he gave to her to go to Mumbai. Tripti appealed to the UP Police to help her and her family. The family members added that they have run away from the house on their own and have not been kidnapped by anyone. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs sister, brother-in-law shocked by drug angle in his death, demand immediate action: This is criminal offence Triptis fans were concerned about her well being. They tagged Sonu Sood, UP Police and several news channels so help could reach Tripti and her family. As per the actors representatives, the police contacted her on Tuesday night. Tripti and her mother are currently at a shelter. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The "Europe Cannabis Market Forecast to 2027 COVID-19 Impact and Country Analysis by Product Type; Application; and Country" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe cannabis market is expected to reach US$ 36,997.1 million by 2027 from US$ 3,498.1 million in 2019; it is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 29.6% from 2020 to 2027. The growth of the market in this region is attributed to the upgrading of regulations for medical cannabis and growth of the cannabis industry. However, challenges related to cannabis hinder the market growth. The European countries are experiencing transformation in the regulations for marketing cannabis and related products. The changes in the regulations have allowed the cultivation, processing, and trade of the cannabis-derived products across this region. In addition, the online distribution of CBD has received more attention, and companies are emerging at a faster rate. In May 2019, European Cannabis Holding (ECH) and Miller Miller Chemicals Ltd. formed Astral Health, a new end-to-end platform, in the UK to import approved medical cannabis products. In the following weeks of May, countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and France were expected to announce the distribution of cannabis medical products. There has been a significant rise in startups in the European cannabis market in the past few years. For instance, Blossom Genetics, Cannamedical Pharma, Demecan, Grass Co, Cannaray, Rainbow, NOBL Group, Alphagreen, Sanity Group, and Daye were founded after 2015. Moreover, well-established companies are launching new products in the market. For instance, in December 2019, EMMAC Life Sciences Group launched its first unlicensed medical cannabis products in the UK and European market. According to a report by the UN's International Narcotics Control Board, before legalization, the UK has emerged as the largest producer and exporter of legalized cannabis for medical and research applications. Therefore, it is expected that the legalization of cannabis in the European region would further enhance the UK's cannabis industry. In April, 2020, a study posted on Pan European Networks Ltd, a health European website, stated that the researchers would conduct an anonymous survey among medical cannabis patients regarding their mental health and physical health, as well as examining changes in patient's frequency of use of cannabis, dosage, and route of administration based on COVID-19-realted closures and updates. Thus, it is expected that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to offer extensive growth opportunities for market growth. Based on product type, the Europe cannabis market is segmented into flowers, concentrates, and others. In 2019, the flowers held the largest market share; however, the concentrates segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Based on application, the European cannabis market is segmented into medical and recreational. In 2019, the medical segment held a larger share of the market; however, the recreational segment is anticipated to register a higher CAGR in the market during 2020-2027. Based on compound, the Europe cannabis market is segmented into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-dominant, cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant, and balanced THC and CBD. In 2019, the THC dominant segment held the largest share of the market. However, the market for the CBD dominant segment is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Key Topics Covered 1. Introduction 2. Cannabis Market Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 4. Cannabis Market Landscape 4.1 Overview 4.2 PEST Analysis 4.2.1 Europe 4.3 Expert Opinion 5. Europe Cannabis Market Industry Dynamics 5.1 Key Drivers 5.1.1 Up-gradation of Regulations for Medical Cannabis 5.1.2 Growing Cannabis Industry 5.2 Key Market Restraints 5.2.1 Challenges Related to Cannabis 5.3 Key Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Rising Market Consolidations 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Growing Acceptance of Cannabis Products 5.5 Impact Analysis 6. Cannabis Market Regional Analysis 6.1 Europe Cannabis Market Revenue Forecast And Analysis 6.2 Market Positioning of Key Players 7. Cannabis Market Analysis By Product Type 7.1 Overview 7.2 Cannabis Market Revenue Share, by Product Type, 2019 and 2027 (%) 7.3 Flowers Market 7.4 Concentrates Market 7.5 Others Market 8. Cannabis Market By Application 8.1 Overview 8.2 Cannabis Market, by Application, 2019 and 2027 (%) 8.3 Medical Market 8.4 Recreational Market 9. Cannabis Market By Compound 9.1 Overview 9.2 Cannabis Market, by Compound, 2019 and 2027 (%) 9.3 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-Dominant Market 9.4 Cannabidiol (CBD)-Dominant Market 9.5 Balanced THC and CBD Market 10. Cannabis Market Regional Analysis 11. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Europe Cannabis Market 12. Cannabis Market Key Company Profiles 12.1 Aphria, Inc. 12.2 Aurora Cannabis 12.3 Cannabis Science, Inc. 12.4 Canopy Growth Corporation 12.5 Medical Marijuana, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cd4hid View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005435/en/ Contacts: 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 A total of Rs 396 crore has been mopped up, as on August 20 against Rs 407 crore collected in the same period last year. This was despite the expansion of the levy to online e-commerce players from this financial year. The IT hubs of Bengaluru and Hyderabad have topped the chart of collections from Google tax so far this year. However, the mop up from the controversial levy made up just up to one per cent of the total from direct taxes in these circles till August 20. The collections from Bengaluru were Rs 176.9 crore, or 0.57 per cent of the total direct tax receipts in the region. Hyderabad got Rs 118.3 crore from the levy, or 1.1 per cent of the direct tax receipts there. Delhi and Mumbai recorded a joint collection of a mere Rs 87 crore. A total of Rs 396 crore has been mopped up, as on August 20 against Rs 407 crore collected in the same period last year, according to the Income-tax department data. This was despite the expansion of the levy to online e-commerce players from this financial year. Earlier. this was levied on only online advertisements on digital platforms. Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Udemy, Alibaba, eBay, Uber, Adobe, Expedia, Spotify, Ikea, Zoom.us, and Expedia attract the tax. Even though the collection figures are just a small chunk of total revenue receipts, the foreign e-commerce companies are against it seeking withdrawal of the levy from the centre. They also roped in the United States Trade Representative (USTR) which has begun probe against India over digital services tax. However, India stood by the decision of levy and had replied to USTR, saying that it is imposed as per provisions under the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) norms of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Also, the equalisation levy cannot be said to have extra-territorial application. Sources say that India is awaiting the United States response after this reply, where it has also claimed that this tax is not aimed at US companies alone. As the digital economy expands, India is justified in wanting to get the tax that is due to it. Another rationale behind the foreign firms raising voice against it is the non-clarity on issues such as foreign exchange conversion rates to be used for payment, and getting permanent account number. Besides, these firms want the government to provide clarity particularly over assessment of value of consideration for the applicability of the levy. The government is yet to come out with the clarifications. The two per cent equalisation levy was expanded in the 2020-21 Budget and came into effect on April 1, 2020. The deadline for the payment of first installment of tax for April-June was July 7. Late-payment of the levy attracts interest at the rate of one per cent per month or part of the month. Non-payment can result in a penalty equal to the amount of the levy, along with the above mentioned interest. Equalisation Levy was first introduced through the Finance Act of 2016, at the rate of 6 per cent on payments for digital advertisement services received by non-resident companies without a permanent establishment (PE) here, if these exceeded Rs 1 lakh a year. India is of view that this levy does not discriminate against non-resident ecommerce operators. And the objective is to ensure that neutral and equitable taxation is applicable to e-commerce operators that are resident in India or have a physical presence in India and those that are not resident in India. The purpose is to ensure a level-playing field with regard to e-commerce activities undertaken in India. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Twitter is now becoming the normal medium where there's a cry for arresting someone almost daily. We've seen #ArrestSoAndSo so regularly, it's honestly become such a normal thing. The latest person to be called out with this trend is a woman named Sushmita Sinha and her story from Instagram has caused a huge outrage online. Basically, she talks about how she purchased Haritalika Teej Vrat Katha as 'raddi' and is wondering what she should use it as - tissue paper or toilet paper. Well, you can see what went wrong here and why she's suddenly the top trend on Twitter. Leftists find pleasure in abusing gentle Hindus and Hindu believes. Here @Sushmitasinhaa, who works for @BoltaHindustan (owned by Mohd. Rahmani) uses Hindu texts as toilet paper! Give us any relevant details in my DM for FIR. We already have her linkedin, insta, FB. pic.twitter.com/K6wvrbHzAZ Hindu IT Cell (@HinduITCell) August 25, 2020 Giving an update in the following story, she shared a picture of the religious book in her bathroom, informing everyone she picked the option of toilet paper. And well, she unleashed the wrath of Twitter. Twitter Saying people are unhappy would be an understatement. #ArrestSushmitasinha The strict law must be enacted as soon as possible to stop this kind of hate monogering so the evil elements of the society could get stringent punishments. Let not faith be put on ransome in a democratic country. @rsprasad @narendramodi #HeerKhan Mohit Ram Bhargava (@MohitRamBharga1) August 26, 2020 There are thousands of tweets calling her out. #ArrestSushmitaSinhaa #ArrestSushmitasinha dear @DelhiPolice , this is a woman who insulting Hindu faith & is inciting tensions against Delhis Hindus. Please take action. Jai Hind! https://t.co/OJHsX7E9X4 Utkarsh Suryavanshi Rajanaka (@Saffronwing1) August 26, 2020 Okay, then. Heer Khan has been arrested and its time for Sushmita Sinha to meet that same fate. For those of you who don't know, Sushmita posted a pic of ancient Hindu scripture in toilet and called it stupid on her IGTV. Delhi Police has yet to take action. #hindugods #arrestsushmitasinha pic.twitter.com/qc6izjItJM #__ % FB. (@KhorwalAshok1) August 25, 2020 Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years#ArrestSushmitasinha Gaurav Goel (@goelgauravbjp) August 26, 2020 Hmm. Freedom of speech and expression doesnt puts you on a throne, your not above the entire world. Liberal, atheist, privileged hona aur chutiya hone m fark h. Fark samjho. Abusing hindu gods, disrespecting them is not cool.@DelhiPolice @police_haryana#ArrestSushmitasinha pic.twitter.com/NaQnhJp6su Abhishek Mishra (@ProudToBePahadi) August 26, 2020 People are mad, mad. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW) is outraged over the tragic death of an alleged witch, Sarah Togbe, in Grand Gedeh County in Liberia. Togbe collapsed and died after taking local concoctions made from the bark of the Erythrophleum suaveolens tree.This form of trial by ordeal is called Sassywood, and is used to identify witches in this West African state. Ms. Togbe has, on several occasions, been accused of witchcraft. On this fateful day, she resorted to self-administering the poisonous-drink to 'clear her name'. Allegations of witchcraft are socially disabling and often lead to severance of family and community ties. In witch believing communities, it is usually a case of once a suspect always a suspect. The stigma does not disappear. Ms. Togbe took the concoction after the children of a man, Zean Lolee Sayee, accused her of being responsible for the death of their father. Ms. Togbe could no longer bear the shame, taunting, and finger-pointing; she had to take some concoction to confirm her innocence. Unfortunately, the process led to her death. In 2018, a 50-year-old woman, Sennie Dealeyah died after being subjected to Sassywood ritual. Unlike the case of Ms Togbe, a man identified as Dahn administered the drink based on the instruction of the local chief. Some children allegedly accused Dealeyah of initiating them into the witchcraft coven. The Sassywood ritual drink can help determine if an accused person is guilty or innocent. It certifies if a person is a witch or not. The belief is that an accused person, who takes the concoction, lives if he or she is innocent. But if the person dies, then he/she is guilty. The notion that alleged witches, as in the case of Ms. Togbe, voluntarily take this anti-witchcraft concoction is mistaken. Accusations of witchcraft make the accused miserable and unable to live with others in peace and harmony. Accused persons are feared and hated. They are seen as enemies and traitors. Alleged witches are maltreated in ways that leave them with no other option but to try and exonerate themselves. So people pressure alleged witches to prove their innocence. In 2007, the UN urged Liberia to outlaw Sassywood and other forms of trial by ordeal. In 2008, the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that Sassywood ritual was illegal and unconstitutional. Whilst in 2009, the government of Liberia banned the Sassywood ritual. The ban was announced after at least two persons accused of witchcraft took the concoction and subsequently died. Unfortunately, as in other parts of Africa, this policy has been difficult to enforce. Efforts to stamp out Sassywood rituals have yielded limited results, especially in rural areas or in city slums and ghettos where there is a limited presence of the police. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW) condemns the practice of Sassywood, the drinking of concoctions, and other witch detecting rituals in Liberia. Witches are imaginary entities.So the idea of a witch detecting concoction is senseless. AFAW urges all suspected witches to resist taking any witchcraft exonerating potion because such drinks are usually poisonous and could cause death or health damage. AFAW asks the authorities in Liberia to take measures to stop persecution and trial by ordeal of suspected witches and wizards in rural and urban areas. Community leaders who conduct or condone such practices should be sanctioned. Liberian authorities should put in place mechanisms to reason the people out of the misconception that witchcraft provides a plausible explanation for illness and other misfortunes. There is no evidence that Sassywood concoction could determine the guilt or innocence of an alleged witch. There is no link between Sassywood and witchcraft. Liberians should abandon superstition and embrace science and critical thinking. Several film publications won't review #NewMutants after Disney decided not to provide safe viewing options like screeners or socially-distanced press screenings. Don't expect reviews from AV Club, https://t.co/zYWrhHPXJA, IndieWire and more: https://t.co/UKflDJaEMu Zack Sharf (@ZSharf) August 25, 2020 Welcome to "Disney has No Faith in the Success of New Mutants Part 3432323432."If you were hoping for critic reviews before New Mutants drops in 48 hours, well you're out of luck. Disney has informed US critics that they will not be providing them socially-distant press screenings or streaming options before the film is released to the public.As a result, sites like IndieWire, The AV Club, RogerEbert.com, and The Boston Globe are refusing to review the film until it is safe to do so, even if that means waiting months until a VOD release. And with many critics living in and around NYC and LA, it's likely publications will turn to their international critics for their official pieces (those that have them at least).Not having press screenings before a film's opening has always been seen as a bad sign in regards to a film's quality. But that Disney won't even bother with the other options available to them in this pandemic.... NM I wish you an ounce of luck. Chandigarh The Punjab Police on Wednesday said it had arrested a heroin smuggler Rajinder Singh Ganja to bust an international narco-terror racket with links to the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). Interrogation of Rajinder led to the arrest of his brother-in-law, Chirag Rathi from Muzaffarnagar, and Karamjit Singh, a police constable from Muktsar, currently posted as driver with deputy director, chief chemical examiner, Kharar, said director general of police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta. He added that the racket had been traced to associates of now dead notorious terrorist Harmeet Singh aka PhD. The DGP added that Rajinder belonged to Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, and is reported to be a close associate of absconding notorious drug smuggler Navpreet Singh, aka, Nav from Wazir Bhullar village, Beas, Amritsar. Rajinder was apprehended from Zirakpur on August 19. A .32 bore pistol and four cartridges were recovered from the possession of Rajinder, with 530gm heroin seized later from his flat at Riverdale Aerovista, Zirakpur. A criminal case under the Arms and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at a Mohali police station against Rajinder, who has several other FIRs registered against him in the state. He has also been involved in recent hawala transactions to the tune of Rs 12 crore, according to the police. Rajinder has told the police that he was associated in the distribution network of drug supply, arranged by Navpreet. The DGP added Rajinder used to receive consignments, mostly from Srinagar and Delhi, to distribute it further in the state. The funds generated out of drug business were sent back to Navpreet through hawala channels. In April 2020 too, Police Commissionerate, Amritsar, had arrested one Hizbul terrorist Hilal Ahmed Wagay when he came to collect drug money on the instructions of Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo, a slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist. Among the major cases Rajinder was involved in was a 2019 FIR registered under sections of Arms Act and the NDPS Act at Tarsikka police station, district Amritsar (Rural), now under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Actress Annabelle Stephenson (Revenge, H2O: Just Add Water, Tidelands) begins in Home and Away in a recurring role from tonight as Taylor Rosetta, the wife of Detective Angelo Rosetta (Luke Jacobz). Theres only one thing that can stop this cop from finding a killerThe Cops Wife. Taylor fell in love with Angelo while she was studying to become a physiotherapist. She found his passion and focus attractive, and his good looks and charm sealed the deal. When a huge career opportunity in Summer Bay presents itself for Angelo, Taylor follows him hoping the change will allow them to heal personally. Angelos focus is almost exclusively on the Ross Nixon murder case and once again she finds herself on the sideline. Isolated and unemployed, Taylors vulnerable to the attention of local cop, Colby Thorne, who befriends her. Hes one of the witnesses in her husbands case, but over and above that, hes charming and attentive and she finds herself opening up to him. Just how close will they get? Can you tell us how your role in the show came about? After returning to Australia after a year of living in Italy my agent called me to see if I was interested in reading for an upcoming role in Home And Away. I felt refreshed after my year abroad and said, Of course I am!. I read for Taylor Rosetta and by the end of the week I had relocated to Sydney and started filming. How would you describe the role of Taylor and what can the viewers expect from her? Taylor has joined her husband, Angelo Rosetta, in Summer Bay to set up a new life out of the city while Angelo works on the investigation of Ross Nixon. She is new to the Bay so doesnt know anyone there and, with a marriage on the rocks, is feeling somewhat vulnerable in her new surroundings. However, Taylor is a friendly and fiercely independent woman so the viewers can expect to see her befriend some locals and with the special attention from Colby Thorne, Taylor finds herself becoming more comfortable in Summer Bay. How would you describe Angelo and Taylors relationship why is it going through so many issues at the moment? Angelo and Taylors relationship has been on the rocks for a while now. Angelos dedication to his career as detective means his time is spent focusing on solving each case, instead on Taylor. His obsession with proving himself in the force has left Taylor feeling unappreciated in the relationship. Taylor has tried everything to save their marriage and the move to Summer Bay is her last hope to salvage what they have left. 7pm tonight on Seven. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: The reforms carried out in Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev are aimed at developing the country, improving people's lives, and further strengthening democratic values in society. Putting the interests of the people, the state and the state at the forefront, we have laid the foundation for great achievements in all areas. This was stated by the deputy Nagif Hamzayev. The deputy noted that the relationship between civil servant and citizen plays a special role in this progress and development. That is why President Ilham Aliyev is constantly improving the public administration system, taking balanced, balanced steps. Unfortunately, sometimes we are faced with negative situations such as official arbitrariness, corruption, bribery, which darken the achieved success. Against the background of countless successful deeds of the head of state, his selfless service to the state and the people, serious shortcomings of some officials cause artificial discontent among citizens. The President has repeatedly stated that the main task of officials, people representing power is to serve the people, to successfully contribute to their well-being. I have repeatedly said that all government officials, including the President, are servants of the people. That is why we are in this position. That is why the people have trusted me, and I demand this from all the personnel I have appointed, President Ilham Aliyev said in a video on August 24, accepting Faig Gurbatov as head of the Bilasuvar region's executive branch and Elmir Bagirov as head of the Saatli region's executive branch. The attitude of the president to citizens' appeals that the fight against corruption and bribery in Azerbaijan is carried out not in words, but in deeds, should be an example for all officials. The President of Azerbaijan is the guarantor of the rule of law in the country and has repeatedly stressed that no one is above the law. Violators of the law who use their status and do not comply with the requirements of the law will be held accountable and punished. Breaking the rules and its bitter consequences should be a lesson to everyone. The head of state, making every effort to develop, strengthen and improve the well-being of the Azerbaijani people, rightly demands that his newly appointed leaders strictly follow all instructions and recommendations. In general, the promotion of qualified, innovative, high moral and spiritual qualities can bring more benefits to our country and society. 'Infosys Cognitive Email Workbench' leverages Blue Prism's Digital Workforce to drive Intelligent Automation BENGALURU, India, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the launch of AI-driven 'Cognitive Email Workbench' solution that gives enterprises the ability to augment query management and scale their helpdesk operations, significantly enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction. To develop this solution, Infosys leveraged its partnership with Blue Prism, a leading Robotic Process Automation (RPA) provider and a strategic partner. Infosys and Blue Prism joined hands in 2017 to help enterprises drive intelligent automation capabilities across multiple industries. Infosys Cognitive Email Workbench is an AI-based assisted automation solution that allows clients to eliminate manual resolution and build near-touchless contact centers. It combines the intelligence of AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP), with Blue Prism's intelligent automation platform and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capabilities. It also adds skills critical for enabling assisted and unassisted email responses, thereby giving customer helpdesks the flexibility to focus on requests actually requiring manual intervention. Integrating seamlessly with enterprises' existing IT, the solution: Senses and proactively addresses customer and partner queries received over email through highly personalized responses Understands customer intent by extracting attributes from emails and triggers necessary actions Suggests personalized offers through customer analytics, helps with auto-responses, amplifies helpdesk effectiveness and improves customer satisfaction Balakrishna D R, SVP, Service Offering Head - ECS, AI and Automation, Infosys, said, "Working with our clients, we are noticing two dominant trends - the need for them to be resilient to effectively address real world problems; and accelerated intelligent automation adoption to leverage actionable insights. Together with Blue Prism, we are launching a solution that addresses both these imperatives while enabling enterprises to proactively and efficiently address their customer and partner queries. This is a validation of our partnership with Blue Prism and together, we will continue to launch industry relevant intelligent automation solutions." "Our partnership with Infosys is an illustration of how we are enabling our global clients to scale and drive an enterprise wide AI vision," says Linda Dotts, Chief Partner Strategy Officer for Blue Prism. "Together, a Blue Prism Digital Workforce and the 'Infosys Cognitive Email Workbench' will transform helpdesk operations, bring in new efficiencies and play an impactful role in driving 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. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg The amount that the Trump administration has promised for research in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The money will be distributed to seven institutes for artificial intelligence and five for quantum computing across the next five years. ( The Hill August 26, 2020) Getty A business conference held in Boston in late February may have led to around 20,000 COVID-19 cases, after attendees unknowingly spread the virus. The event, a conference for biotech firm Biogen held between Feb. 26-27, included about 200 international attendees, including some from Italy, where the northern regions had just shut down to contain an outbreak of COVID-19. With just 15 reported cases in the U.S. at the time, the attendees shook hands, shared buffet food and kissed each other on the cheeks, The Washington Post reported, unaware that COVID-19 was already circulating amongst them. Once the conference ended, guests returned to homes in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Indiana and abroad, including Australia, Singapore and Slovakia. Just among the attendees and their close contacts, more than 90 people were diagnosed with COVID-19, raising suspicion that a superspreading event had occurred there, according to a new study. RELATED: University of Alabama Reports More Than 500 Cases of Coronavirus Since Classes Began Last Week The high rate of transmission out of this single conference led 54 researchers from hospitals and institutions across Boston to sequence and analyze the strain of the virus found in the infected attendees, and compare that to the ones that circulated in the Boston area. They found that the conference strain of COVID-19 matched that of hundreds of people in the region, along with people as far as Alaska, Luxembourg and Senegal. The strain was also the same type found in about one-third of all COVID-19 cases sequenced in Massachusetts as of mid-July, indicating that the conference led to immense community spread. Just a month after the conference, more than 600 residents and staff at one of Bostons largest homeless shelters were tested for COVID-19 as a safety precaution. Health officials were stunned to find that 230 people had already been infected, and genetic sequencing for this study determined that nearly two-thirds of the cases from the shelter were the same strain from the Biogen conference. Story continues Our jaws dropped, said Dr. Pardis Sabeti, a computational biologist at the Broad Institute and one of the lead researchers on the study told the Post. It was the realization that these events really affect the most vulnerable among us. New Zealand Reports 100 Days Without Coronavirus Cases New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been praised for her leadership amid the global coronavirus pandemic The researchers say that the conference was a perfect storm of factors, from the international group to the close contact among attendees, to create a superspreader event. That the virus was introduced at the conference at all was unlucky," Dr. Bronwyn MacInnis, a researcher at the Broad Institute who worked on the study, told CNN. "When it happened was critical: it was scheduled just as we were collectively beginning to appreciate the imminent threat of COVID at home if it had been a week later the event likely would have been cancelled. MacInnis noted that the conference occurred before COVID-19 testing was available in the U.S., before social distancing was understood and well before the Centers for Disease Control recommended masks. RELATED: At Least 103 New Coronavirus Cases in 8 States Linked to South Dakota Motorcycle Rally Based on the spread of the virus among attendees and the lack of COVID-19 restrictions at the time, the researchers estimate that this conference led to 20,000 infections. This is not a rigorous estimate but does communicate the scale, MacInnis said. If tens of thousands of individuals seems large, it is important to point out that it is in context of a pandemic that has infected tens of millions of people. The conference and the cases that followed should serve as a lesson on how swiftly COVID-19 can spread, the researchers said. We didnt know better, said Jacob Lemieux, a physician and infectious-disease expert at Massachusetts General Hospital and lead author of the study told the Post. The difference now is there is increasing scientific evidence to show what can happen from a single event like that. We do know better. So we need to learn the lesson. As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here. With the whirlwind romance surrounding Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, it was no wonder that he was eager for her to meet his family. However, Meghan was a bit skeptical about meeting Prince William and expected him to grill her about the love affair. With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now relieved of their royal duties, the reports of those first meetings are as intriguing as ever. A whirlwind romance RELATED: Meghan Markles Palace Reputation Ranged From Mean Nicknames To Being Untrustworthy and Harrys Showgirl Prince Harry and Meghans romance started with a blind date in the summer of 2016 and quickly escalated. After only meeting up a handful of times, the pair escaped to Botswana. While the relationship was still under wraps at this point, the two lovebirds could get to know one another without the glare of the spotlight. Hello Magazine reports that news of the couple went public in October, with an official confirmation shortly thereafter. Much of early 2017 was spent trying to get glimpses of the couple before their official debut at the Invictus Games in September. Finally, their engagement announcement occurred at the end of November 2017, following months of speculation. How Meghan met the royal family Filled with romance and time away from the spotlight, the couples time in Botswana couldnt last forever. Reality came crashing down, and it was time for Meghan to meet the family. The Insider reports that before their first formal sit down with the Queen, the couple bumped into her a few months prior. Even with that accidental meeting, Meghan was still very nervous. However, the visit went well, with the Queen making the couple feel relaxed and at ease. She gave her approval and was happy to see her grandson so in love. The same couldnt be said for Prince Harrys brother, Prince William. Meghans tense meeting with Prince William Meghan was anxious to meet her future brother-in-law. According to US Weekly, she expected him to be hard on her and ask a lot of questions. However, reports show that the meeting went well, and Prince William was delighted his brother had met someone he cared about. He did tell Prince Harry to take his time and get to know Meghan. But that didnt go over well as Prince Harry did not wish to heed that advice. Prince William was only looking out for his brother, wanting him to take it slowly, making sure he was in love with Meghan, not just lusting after her. Royal experts assert that Prince William did the same thing during his relationship with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Wanting to make sure she was the one for him, he ended their relationship on two separate occasions, only to determine she was, indeed, his match. However, Prince Williams concern for his brother caused a rift in their own relationship. Prince Harry did not take the criticism well, and it has since caused tension within the family. Where are the Sussexes now? Meghan Markle | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The pressure and scrutiny surrounding the royal family was too much for Prince Harry and Meghan. In January 2020, the couple announced that they would step down from their royal duties. No longer relying on public funds, the pair lived in Canada for a bit before settling down in California. The decision was reportedly made to get out of the limelight and raise their family without the prying eyes of the press. While the family bond is still a bit strained due to the move, US Weekly reports that Prince Harry is relying on Prince William as he struggles to adjust to his new lifestyle. Whatever the circumstances, one things for sure, Prince Harry and Meghan are sure to hit the news wherever they go. By Express News Service BHOPAL: A triangle of grey market moviemakers and distributors with a Pakistani link, which shot adult and porn videos of young Indian girls/models aspiring to make it big in television and film industry and then uploaded the content as desi soft porn to netizens/subscribers in over 20 countries has been busted in Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital Indore. So far six men have been arrested by the MP Police's cyber cell from Indore and Gwalior, who were key players of the racket, which had strands in Indore, Mumbai, and Gwalior. The matter came to light on July 25, when a 22-year-old female model from Indore reported that her adult promotional video was shot by some men at a farmhouse in Indore in December 2019, with the promise of getting her role in web series of Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms' subscription-based video on demand platform Alt Bajali (which makes web series'). But a few months later the same video was found being played as desi soft porn film of 25 minutes on various adult and porn websites. ALSO READ | Two post obscene pics of college girls on porn site, held After registering a case under various sections of the Information and Technology Act 2000, the Indore unit of MP Police's Cyber Cell swung into action and arrested four men -- all residents of Indore -- who were involved in approaching the young model and getting her to shoot the adult video with a young male actor (who actually turned out to be involved in operating sex racket in that city). The other arrested men included a model coordinator and the short filmmaker and director. A subsequent probe by the cyber cell cops led to the other strands of the racket based in Mumbai and Gwalior. "The 26-minute video which was shot at an Indore farmhouse in December was rendered to two men Ashok Singh and Vijayanand Pandey in Mumbai for editing. The video was subsequently sold as a desi soft porn film by the duo to the operators of the Gwalior-based OTT (over the top media services) platform. The OTT platform was operated by a young software engineer and his tech-savvy friend. The concerned OTT platform being operated from Gwalior then uploaded the desi soft porn film to its subscribers spread in at least 22 countries, including the US, Germany, Australia, Poland and Switzerland for basic subscription charge of Rs 249 per month," Indore Cyber Cell police superintendent Jitendra Singh told The New Indian Express on Wednesday. Both the men, including the young software engineer (who did Bachelor of Engineering from an Indore college) and his aide have been arrested on Monday. The duo are residents of Gwalior and Morena districts, who were running the OTT platform from Gwalior since November 2019 with the help of a Pakistan-based website developer Hussain Ali. "The two operators of the OTT platform, who are on police remand till Thursday, have revealed that since November 2019 their OTT platform had uploaded similar 84 desi soft porn films -- each of the duration of 20-25 minutes -- to their subscribers based in at least 22 countries. ALSO READ | Four held for selling child porn part of international racket The Pakistan-based web developer was initially hired by them through an Australian crowdsourcing marketplace website (which allows potential employers to post jobs that freelancers can then bid to compete) for Rs 18,000, but he later became their OTT platform's permanent web developer and maintenance in-charge for Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 (Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 in Pakistani currency) monthly. Investigations so far have revealed that the young models/girls from Indore and neighbourhood aspiring to make career in films and television serials were paid Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 for one adult film shoot. Later, the films would be edited into full-fledged desi soft porn short movies by the Mumbai men, before being sold to various OTT platforms, including the one operated from Gwalior for sums up to Rs 5 lakh per film. With the one of the four men arrested from Indore (the male model who featured in the adult promo shoot in December 2019) being involved in a sex racket, the cops are also zeroing on the possibility of girls lured for adult promo shoot having been pushed into possible prostitution. Donald Trump is getting pummeled on the TV airwaves, alarming Republicans and prompting the presidents allies to plead for outside help. August has been a blowout: Trump has been outspent on TV more than 2-to-1 over the past month, according to the media tracking firm Advertising Analytics. And in the past two weeks, Joe Biden is outpacing the president more than 5-to-1. The shortfall comes at a pivotal moment in the campaign, with Biden essentially monopolizing TV advertising in key battlegrounds before the start of early voting. Trump has ceded the airwaves in Michigan and Pennsylvania, where hes gone dark in August. In Wisconsin, Trump has been outgunned more than 8-to-1. The president is not slated to be on the airwaves anywhere during the final week of the month, as Republicans hold their convention. Its a jarring turn of events for a reelection effort that has long promoted itself as a financial powerhouse and until recently had a heavy TV presence. And its exceedingly rare to see a sitting president go dark so close to an election. But the Trump campaign has seen its long-standing cash advantage over Biden dwindle to just about $20 million, according to the most recent financial disclosures, even as Biden pours money into commercials. Trump aides say they have decided to focus their spending on the post-Labor Day final stretch of the campaign and say they see little reason to advertise during the national conventions, which are receiving widespread coverage. Bidens campaign spent $16 million on TV during his convention week, and is on track to spend more than $14 million during this weeks Republican confab. It "makes little sense to blow donor money on ads during convention weeks, when all of the national media is focused on the candidates anyway," said Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh, who argued that Biden's advertising barrage was to designed to compensate for his relatively light public schedule. Story continues Yet it has worried senior Republicans, who argue the reelection effort erred by allowing Bidens message to go unchallenged. Among Trump allies, there is a growing desire to see a super PAC fill the void. Many in the presidents sphere have long expressed dissatisfaction with America First Action, the principal pro-Trump outside group which has been outspent by its Biden-aligned rival. With 70 days to go in a campaign, all of the people who have raised money on behalf of Donald Trumps name should be spending it to support his campaign right now, said former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who informally advises the president. David Bossie, a former Trump deputy campaign manager who remains close to the White House, said, After years of planning, strategizing and fundraising, now is the time for the super PACs and those organizations that support President Trump and Vice President Mike Pences reelection to engage with their all-important dollars to have a positive impact now and not wait any longer. An America First Action spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. The organization has spent roughly $13 million over the past month and has booked $24 million from September through the election. It has announced plans for a post-Labor Day, anti-Biden assault. The Trump forces have also been hamstrung by the downfall of the National Rifle Association. The prominent outside group aggressively bolstered Trump in 2016 but has been essentially a nonfactor in 2020 as it confronts an investigation into alleged financial improprieties. Trump advisers note they have placed a premium on digital advertising, especially during the conventions. From July 21 to Aug. 15, the presidents campaign spent $31 million on Facebook and Google, while the Biden team invested $25 million, according to Advertising Analytics. It represents an advantage for Trump, but not of the same magnitude Biden has been enjoying on TV. Trump aides strenuously push back on the idea they are facing financial problems, though campaign manager Bill Stepien has been examining the campaigns operations, including budgeting. He has charged deputy campaign manager Justin Clark to review spending going forward. After taking over the Trump campaign last month, Stepien briefly paused TV spending to reassess the strategy. Rather than airing commercials across the country, the campaign decided to target early voting states. Pressed on the scale-back during a Sunday appearance on NBCs Meet the Press, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said the campaign is conserving money right now and focusing a little bit more smartly and a little more effectively on the states that are voting early. Yet even in most of those early voting states, Biden has dominated Trump. The former vice president spent more than three times as much as the president in North Carolina where absentee voting begins next week as well as in Florida and Arizona. The one state where Trump outpaced Biden was Georgia, where the presidents team made a small investment. Losing Georgia would likely signal a catastrophic election for Trump, who carried the state by 5 percentage points in 2016. The Trump campaign was also absent in Ohio and Nevada. To some Republicans, the scenario feels eerily similar to 2012 when Barack Obama crushed Mitt Romney during the convention weeks, fueling an early fall bounce. Over the dog days of summer, the Biden campaign and his outside allies have owned the airwaves in the states that matter most, said Nick Everhart, a Republican ad-maker. Everhart, however, cautioned that the average voter has been more consumed with the pandemics impact on their life, and said that deciding who to vote for is still a fall not a summer activity. Whether the Biden advertising advantage persists into autumn remains an open question. While the Biden campaign has announced plans to spend $220 million starting in September, it has so far reserved only about half that, according to media buying figures obtained by POLITICO. The Trump campaign has booked nearly $148 million so far. The Biden team has greeted Trumps summertime absence from the airwaves with jubilation and say it's evidence of a campaign on the decline. The Trump campaign promised us the Death Star, but instead what we got was something closer to the Titanic, said Biden spokesman Michael Gwin. Not everyone is convinced the drop-off will matter, though. Even without TV ads, Trump has an ability to draw attention in a way few politicians can. And many Republicans point out that the president found himself in a similar position four years ago. Trump was significantly outspent in 2016, said veteran GOP ad-maker Scott Howell, and that didnt seem to matter. After President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo's signature, the new bill comes into effect and replaces the Media Law from 2016, which was harshly criticized for brutally cutting on journalists' rights. The NUSOJ said the new bill would improve the situation of media freedom and freedom of expression "by repealing the draconian and widely discredited 2016 Media Law that infringed on the country's constitutional rights." The union especially welcomed the government's stated interest in establishing Public Service Broadcasting. However, the new law falls far short of expectations of the media industry, said the NUSOJ, as it continues to criminalize journalistic work and allows for high fines for journalists and media outlets. The bill introduces a new system of prosecutors and courts that will facilitate the prosecution of journalists on vague claims. The new media law also imposes strict rules on who can work as a journalist and introduces restrictions on access to press credentials. Furthermore, the NUSOJ called for a reform of the Somali Media Council to ensure the body's independence and a transparent composition of its members. The NUSOJ and IFJ had repeatedly advocated for profound changes to the 2016 Media Bill and its amendments in the following years. In January 2020, they called on the president of Somalia not to sign the new bill after it had passed both houses of parliament. The NUSOJ followed invitations by the government and the parliament to provide input for the recent amendments of the Media Law, but most of them have were not incorporated into the text. NUSOJ General Secretary, Omar Faruk Osman said: "We have constantly urged the federal government, including the president of the Republic, to align the amended media law with African and international instruments and principles on freedom of expression that Somalia is a signatory to so that the country acquires progressive and democratic laws benefitting all Somalis. Our demand for real media and policy reform remains alive." IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger said: "We regret that the Somali government have not incorporated the NUSOJ recommendations in the new media law. In its current form, the law creates an environment of insecurity and oppression for journalistic activity in Somalia". New Delhi: The national capital is likely to expect another moderate to heavy rain spell starting Wednesday. Scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that intense monsoon showers are expected in many parts of north-west India, including Delhi, between August 26 and 28. Some parts of the city have already started experiencing light intermittent rain on Wednesday morning. The monsoon trough is shifting northwards and will stay very close to Delhi-NCR between August 25 and August 28. Under its influence, the convergence of lower-level easterlies from the Bay of Bengal and south-westerlies from the Arabian Sea will take place over north-west India. One or two spells of moderate rain accompanied thunderstorm is likely to hit Delhi between August 26 to August 28, Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMDs regional weather forecasting centre said. Also Read: Heavy rain forecast in Chandigarh till Friday As a result, widespread and very heavy rain is likely over north-west India till August 28, the IMD said in its Tuesday bulletin. Also Read: Mumbai got highest August rain since 1983, says IMD The monsoon trough (line of low pressure) is active and lying south of its normal position and is likely to remain active for the next two or three days, the IMD said. In addition, there is a convergence of lower level south-westerly winds from the Arabian Sea over north-west India till August 28. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Ministry of Culture on Wednesday announced seven new circles of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel in a video message tweeted by him. Patel said that the Ministry of Culture has taken this step in accordance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to facilitate and strengthen the process of preservation and registration of archaeological monuments along with registration of artefacts with self-declaration. The Minister informed that new circles have been created in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. He said that Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut have been announced as new circles. In Archaeology, the Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international repute hence Hampi Mini Circle has been converted into a full-fledged circle, the Minister added. Earlier there were 29 ASI circles across the country. Patel said that in a large state like Tamil Nadu which has thousands of temples and glorious memories of the Chola kings, Trichy has been made a new circle along with the circle of Chennai. Karnataka is an important state in terms of holiness. Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international importance from the point of view of archaeological heritage therefore the Hampi Sub-Circle now has been made a new full-fledged circle. In West Bengal, Raiganj has been made a new circle along with Kolkata, this will eliminate geographical inconvenience in a big state like Bengal. In Gujarat, Rajkot has been announced a new circle along with Vadodara. Patel said that Jabalpur has been announced a new circle along with Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. This will include the monuments from Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions. The Minister also informed that Jhansi in Bundelkhand and Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh has been announced two new circles along with Lucknow and Agra in Uttar Pradesh. The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the highly contagious coronavirus, is accelerating in the southern hemisphere. As there is currently no available vaccine or treatment, the survival of patients with severe COVID-19 is dependent on supportive therapy. These patients require care such as oxygen therapy, intubation, and ventilation when presenting with complications such as bilateral pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure, and cardiac complications. To respond to the anticipated need for such supportive therapy, the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) School of Health Sciences is offering an online part-time short course on respiratory support. This will help healthcare professionals update and refresh their knowledge around all aspects of providing respiratory support. Course content The course is accredited according to the HPCSAs Medical and Dental Board Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals for 11 Clinical CEUs and 2 Ethical CEUs on Level 2. The following content will be covered in the course: Module 1: Introduction to respiratory support in COVID-19 patients. Module 2: Procedures to minimise risk of contamination and transmission. Module 3: Non-invasive respiratory support procedures. Module 4: Understanding lung physiology, ventilation strategies, and how to intubate in COVID-19. Module 5: Ventilator settings. Know how to set the ventilator in different clinical settings. Module 6: Monitoring patients on respiratory support. Module 7: Ethical issues in respiratory support. In order to pass, participants will have to complete an MCQ assessment component for each module and achieve at least 70%. Upon completion, the successful participants will be awarded with a certificate of completion. Register today The course is available for free to all African medical professionals whose scope of practice allows them to provide respiratory support for patients, including the following: Medical Doctors (MPs) Intern Doctors (INs) Student Interns Clinical Associates Registered / Professional Nurses Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs) Paramedics (ANTs) Clinical Technologists Upon completion of the course, you will be able to: Describe the need and indications for respiratory support within the context of COVID-19. Implement procedures to minimise contamination and transmission of COVID-19 in respiratory support activities. Discuss in detail indications and procedures for non-invasive and mechanical ventilation in COVID-19. Analyse ventilator settings in the management of patients on mechanical ventilation referring to specific clinical settings and case studies, and relate where indicated to specific ventilator brands. Monitor patients on respiratory support, and describe troubleshooting and solutions related to mechanical ventilation in COVID-19. Leading healthcare training The FPD is a leading healthcare training institution in South Africa, which is registered with the Department of Education as a Private Higher Education Institution. Its free course is made possible thanks to funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Right to Care, a leading regional health systems strengthening organisation. The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday ordered governors in four Democrat-controlled states including Pennsylvania and New Jersey to hand over COVID-19 data as it weighs whether to pursue civil rights investigations into the thousands of nursing home deaths. In a news release, officials cited policies in each of the states, which also included New York and Michigan, urging nursing homes to accept medically stable patients, even if they had a confirmed or suspected coronavirus diagnosis. The department said in a letter to each governor that it is seeking to determine if that guidance caused the virus to spread more rapidly in long-term care facilities, where the toll of the pandemic hit hardest during its early days in the United States. We have not reached any conclusions about this matter, read the letter, signed by Eric Dreiband, assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments Civil Division. The request for data including the number of coronavirus-positive patients admitted to publicly run nursing homes in each state and advisories and orders issued by the governors regarding the admission of patients during the pandemic mirrored similar inquiries sent by Republicans in Congress and in statehouses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in July. The issue has been a top concern for months in GOP circles and among nursing home operators in those states who say they felt compelled to take patients they couldnt adequately care for without also putting their healthy patients at risk. Both Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania and Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey have defended the guidance they issued to nursing homes during the early days of the pandemic, saying it was designed to free up hospital beds in advance of an expected surge of coronavirus cases. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Health said Wednesday it was looking forward to working with the DOJ to provide whatever information is needed to fulfill the request. Alyana Alfaro Post, spokesperson for Murphy, struck a more combative tone. The fact that this request sent only to four states with Democratic governors was announced by news release during the Republican National Convention speaks volumes about the nature of the review, she said in a statement. Still, she said New Jersey would respond to the Justice Departments request for information. Read the letter sent to Gov. Wolf: Across the country, the coronavirus has taken its heaviest toll in long-term care facilities, where patients are more likely to have underlying health conditions making them more vulnerable to becoming seriously ill or dying. The combination of such patients living in close quarters and nursing homes struggling to control the spread within their facilities has contributed to more than 5,000 coronavirus-related deaths in Pennsylvania this year nearly two-thirds of the states total deaths. In New Jersey, just under half of the states nearly 16,000 deaths have been linked to nursing homes. The guidances Wolf and Murphy issued in March along with similar advisories by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer varied in their requirements and whether or not they were mandatory or simply advisory. New York, for example, ordered that no resident shall be denied readmission or admission to [a nursing home] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. Cuomo later said that operators always had the authority to turn away patients they felt they could not care for safely and revised his order to prohibit hospitals from discharging patients to nursing homes until they test negative for the virus. In Pennsylvania, however, guidelines issued that same month recommended that nursing homes readmit patients who have had the COVID-19 virus. Previous reporting by Spotlight PA has detailed flaws in the states nursing home response, including a decision not to quickly carry out a plan to send strike teams into struggling facilities. READ MORE: The coronavirus exploited failure of Pa. health officials to improve long-standing problems with nursing home oversight But Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine has said there is no evidence that the requirements surrounding the admission of COVID-positive patients contributed to any deaths. Instead, she has pointed to epidemiologists who have linked the prevalence of the coronavirus in any particular long-term care facility directly to its reach in surrounding communities. In its letter Wednesday, the Justice Department said it was singling out Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan because all four states had a higher per-capita death rate from the coronavirus than states like Texas and Florida, which have seen higher overall case numbers. But according to a New York Times analysis, Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation, behind New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Minnesota, in terms of the share of coronavirus deaths linked to long-term care facilities. New Jersey ranks 26th with 43% of COVID deaths linked to nursing homes, while Florida falls only one percentage point below that and ranks 29th on the list. Texas is 38th, with just under a third of deaths stemming from long-term care facilities, according to the Times. The surging overall case totals in Texas and Florida also have largely occurred since June months after Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan were hit hardest by the pandemic at a time when its transmission was less understood and when widespread testing was less available. The Justice Department said it would pursue any investigation that develops under a federal law that protects the rights of people in state-run nursing homes. There are 27 such state- or county-run facilities in Pennsylvania and 11 in New Jersey. Protecting the rights of some of societys most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our countrys most important obligations, Dreiband, the assistant attorney general, said in a statement. We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk. Staff writers Allison Steele and Harold Brubaker contributed to this article. Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B debuted an unusual updo on Monday evening, which consisted of a pink wig with two elaborate heart-shaped hairpieces attached as pigtails. The Bronx-born 27-year-old - who boasts 125.5M social media followers - asked her fans: 'You like my hair? Yes or no?' Cardi's (born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar) latest look came courtesy of her loyal hair and wig stylist Tokyo Stylez, who sang along to her No. 1 hit WAP. B.A.P.S. style! Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B debuted an unusual updo on Monday evening, which consisted of a pink wig with two elaborate heart-shaped hairpieces attached as pigtails The Bronx-born 27-year-old - who boasts 125.5M social media followers - asked her fans: 'You like my hair? Yes or no?' In the background of the Joe Biden supporter's Instastory was a row of candy-colored wigs at the ready for future shoots. Tokyo, whose real name is Mia Jackson, revealed on her own Instagram that she used a platinum blonde human hair wig to create the look - before coloring it with products from Joico, including three different shades of pink from the brand's Color Intensity collection to achieve the perfect hue for Cardi. While styling the wig, Tokyo ensured a sleek look by applying the Joico Dream Blowout Thermal Protection Creme and the K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Spray. Cardi also shared footage of herself removing a pacifier from her two-year-old daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus's mouth as she sat in a car. The Hustlers actress and her husband Offset are due to celebrate their third wedding anniversary in September. Cardi is riding high on the tremendous success of her critically-acclaimed sex-positive song WAP, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, which just spent a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Magic hands: Cardi's latest look came courtesy of her loyal hair and wig stylist Tokyo Stylez (R), who sang along to her No. 1 hit WAP Options: In the background of the Joe Biden supporter's Instastory was a row of candy-colored wigs at the ready for future shoots Self-soothing: Cardi also shared footage of herself removing a pacifier from her two-year-old daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus's mouth as she sat in a car July 10 family portrait: The Hustlers actress and her husband Offset (R) are due to celebrate their third wedding anniversary in September WAP - short for Wet-A** P***y - was produced by Ayo & Keyz and heavily sampled Frank Ski's 1993 Baltimore club single Wh***s in This House. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cleverly recoined the title 'Women Against Patriarchy' as it's remarkable for two women to reach success in the typically misogynistic medium of hip-hop. The former stripper's music video directed by Colin Tilley has amassed 137M views since dropping August 7. Cardi famously spent $100K just on coronavirus testing on the set of her music video - which featured cameos from two tigers, a leopard, snakes, Kylie Jenner, Normani, and more. Congrats! Cardi is riding high on the tremendous success of her critically-acclaimed sex-positive song WAP, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, which just spent a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Twerk queens: WAP - short for Wet-A** P***y - was produced by Ayo & Keyz and heavily sampled Frank Ski's 1993 Baltimore club single Wh***s in This House The Latina It Girl's raunchy track is up for the Song of Summer trophy at the 37th Annual MTV Video Music Awards, which air live this Sunday. However, Cardi faces heavy competition against the 15 other nominees - including Megan Thee Stallion's remix of Savage featuring Beyonce. Fans can vote for WAP starting Wednesday through Friday via MTV's Instastory. BTS, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, Maluma, J Balvin, CNCO, Doja Cat, and Roddy Ricch are slated to perform at 'various outdoor locations around New York City' (rather than Brooklyn's Barclays Center). Airing live this Sunday! The former stripper's raunchy track is up for the Song of Summer trophy at the 37th Annual MTV Video Music Awards Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the Chief District Officers of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur in Nepal have all agreed to extend the ongoing lockdown in the Valley in an effort to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. The lockdown has been extended for another week as new coronavirus cases have continued to rise in the valley during the past seven days with no sign of slowing down. Lockdown extended amidst rising cases Humkala Pandey, Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur while announcing the lockdown extension said "We have decided to extend the lockdown by another week, so restrictions would be in place till September 2. We will again review the number of cases reported on a daily basis in the coming days to decide further about it,". The current lockdown was scheduled to end on August 26. As per reports, Kathmandu Valley reported over 200 new coronavirus cases on August 25. According to the John Hopkins coronavirus resource centre, Nepal has recorded over 34,000 virus cases and has a death toll just shy of 200. The COVID-19 pandemic which saw its first outbreak in a wet market in Wuhan, China last year has now spread all across the world. The virus, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation, has infected over 23 million people worldwide with the global death toll reaching over 800,000. Read: India And Nepal Hold Joint Virtual Meetings, Discuss Oil And Gas Projects Read: Indian Railways Officers To Coach Nepal Technicians To Operate Janakpur-Jaynagar Route As per the John Hopkins coronavirus resource centre, the United States has reported a total of at least 5.7 million positive virus cases and has a death toll of 177,279. The US currently has the highest number of reported cases in the world, making it the epicentre of the deadly virus. International flights to resume It was recently announced by the government of Nepal that after almost six months the country will be resuming international flights from September 1 onwards. International flights will be allowed in certain areas and all passengers will need an RT- PCR Negative report which shall be performed 72 hours before getting on-board. (Input/Image Credit ANI) Read: Nepal Reports 818 New Coronavirus Cases Read: COVID-19: Nepal To Resume International Flights From Sept 1 With Restrictions Getty Images Former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile accused conservative commentator Tammy Bruce of ignoring 400 years of racism in the US, during a tense exchange about Novembers presidential election. The pair were being interviewed about the first night of the Republican National Convention by host Brian Kilmeade during Fox and Friends on Tuesday, when the conservative pundit praised president Donald Trump. Ms Bruce said that the 2020 election is about a man who cares about the American people more than he cares about his next job. The 58-year-old added: He has given up everything as has his family to change this nation and get her back on her feet so we as Americans can live lives that best suit us. Ms Bruce then criticised the Black Lives Matter protests that have taken place across the US in opposition to racial injustice, and said no Democrat has spoken out, about violence that has occurred at some of the demonstrations. She said that Americans have a choice and the fact is is that the Republicans are showing an expanse of what the American sensibility is and what the American future is. Its not some discussion over some seminar of complaints. Ms Brazile replied: It sounds like I will never be an American in your world, and added: Because after 400 years, my family cannot walk out of this house without fearing violence. Ms Bruce disagreed and said: No one is saying that! but the former Democratic National Committee chair replied: Yes, you are, and added: What you do is ignore the pains of people who are hurting, you ignore the pains of people who just want to breathe. Kilmeade chimed in as Ms Bruce was speaking over Ms Brazile, and said: Tammy, hold on one second, before he then asked: Donna, your point is youre ignoring 400 years? Ms Brazile replied: Dont be so condescending and patronizing! To tell me that I cannot tell my story. Tammy, the story of people who are struggling to live and breathe are just as important as the story of one man. Story continues She doesnt want to answer, the 58-year-old replied, which prompted Ms Brazile to claim: Its offensive when you say that. Attempting to get an answer out of Ms Bruce, Kilmeade asked her: Did you ignore 400 years? but Ms Brazile instead replied: Yes, she did! and added: Shes ignoring it because they dont see it. Tammy, I see it every day. Brian, you got me up this morning to have me listen to this diatribe from someone who does not live my existence and do not recognise my existence. You do not recognise my existence, Tammy. Ms Bruce replied: And you havent recognised mine or anyone elses, and added: Were all at the same table as Americans. Read more National Guard to be deployed in Kenosha after Jacob Blake shooting Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 20:44:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 26, 2020 shows the construction site of a concrete sleeper factory for the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Despite the impact of COVID-19, the completion of a factory to make concrete sleepers for the Bangladesh Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP), which will greatly contribute to the region's connectivity, has been achieved. (Xinhua) by Liu Chuntao, Naim-Ul-Karim DHAKA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Despite the impact of COVID-19 the completion of a factory to make concrete sleepers for the Bangladesh Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP), which will greatly contribute to the region's connectivity, has been achieved. Built by the China Railway Group Limited (CREC), a world-leading construction conglomerate, the assembly work of the sleeper factory, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, was completed last month. The factory, which covers an area of approximately 7,333 square meters, has been highly praised by CSC (Construction Supervision Consultant) engineers. As an active participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, Bangladesh has cooperated with China on many major infrastructure projects in recent years. The 170 km project, PBRLP, is one of the most significant projects under construction by the CREC. The project, priced at more than 3 billion U.S. dollars, has been over 80 percent funded by Exim Bank of China. The project will greatly promote regional connectivity and economic development. Officials said this is the country's first fully automated sleeper factory which has been built using all Made-in-China machinery and equipment. They said 370,000 sleepers are expected to be produced from this sleeper factory for the tracks of the PBRLP. Gao Zhifeng, the unit manager in charge of the construction of the sleeper factory, told Xinhua recently that the factory's construction site was originally just a body of water when they started to build it last September. He said that they grasped the "golden time" during the dry season and completed filling and leveling the ground by January this year with assembly of the sleeper factory beginning thereafter. The progress of the sleeper factory, as well as the PBRLP, however, encountered some challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world, he added. Despite that he said the CREC was committed to completing the entire factory's assembling activities in a timely manner and ensuring the factory's sleeper production would be highly sophisticated. Officials highlighted the relentless efforts of the CREC in managing to successfully assemble the factory and all of the plant's equipment with online guidance and assistance from engineers from the manufacturer's offices in China. Not only did the CREC staff members have to face the challenges of monsoon climates, intense humidity and downpours, they also wore masks without complaint or hesitation to protect from COVID-19 throughout the whole work process, the officials said. To protect against the spread of COVID-19, a "Sealed/Closed, Regional and Grid Management Mode" was introduced by the CREC. Li Yongjin, deputy manager of a unit responsible for the management of 120 Chinese and Bangladeshi staff members, said measuring everyone's temperatures, disinfecting work, safety inspections and overall epidemic prevention measures, must be carried out every day. In the period under closed management mode, the CREC attached great importance to human resource management and set up prayer rooms in the dormitories for local workers. During festival periods, it also sent holiday gifts to local employees and their families in accordance with local customs. Throughout the construction of the sleeper factory, the CREC paid great attention to training local laborers to operate machinery and equipment. It plans to gradually achieve the aim of having the plant be operated by Bangladeshi staff after the production line is put into operation and in doing so, provide technical expertise to Bangladesh itself. Ronnie Khan, one of the local workers of the CREC, who has been studying the Chinese language by himself for five years, said Chinese enterprises have brought advanced management concepts and technologies to Bangladesh. Many Bangladesh laborers have become skilled electricians, welders and machine operators after working on projects for a period of time, he said. "The CREC will provide guidance and training to local laborers, and issue relevant certificates to them after passing the examination. These opportunities are very rare in the local area. These laborers have improved their skills which are contributing to the improvement of their incomes," Ronnie Khan said. Wang Kun, Contractor's Representative of the CREC PBRLP, said that it was a great accomplishment for the PBRLP to be built by the CREC on time, while facing so many challenges, particularly those stemming from the global novel coronavirus pandemic. Along with the 170-km-long project, more than 40 working sites are operating under similar circumstances. In the face of various difficulties and challenges such as COVID-19, dengue fever, floods and typhoons, all Chinese staff and nearly 10,000 local workers are jointly writing one grand chapter of "The Belt and Road" anthology. Golam Fakhruddin A. Chowdhury, project director of PBRLP, said that the CREC, as a well-known international contractor, not only continued work during the COVID-19 outbreak, but also provided epidemic prevention materials and medicines to Bangladeshi employees to prevent the epidemic and ensure the production. The sleeper factory is very advanced and will play an important role in project production after it is put into operation, he said, adding that he hoped that Bangladesh and China will carry out more joint projects after the pandemic. According to officials, the PBRLP is ready to "shift into high gear." They said the first shipment of 5,000 tons of rails imported from China has arrived at the construction site, and more than 10 large steel beams produced and processed in China have arrived at the port and will begin to be erected. As the monsoon season in Bangladesh is coming to an end, officials said the PBRLP's construction would hit its peak. Some 23 km of the rail lines would be elevated and once the rail link, which will pass via Bangladesh's largest 6.15 km Padma Bridge, which is also being built by the CREC, is completed, it will take only about three hours to get to the southern city of Khulna from the capital city of Dhaka. Once the project is completed, the distance would be reduced to 213 km, with Jamal Uddin, general secretary of the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA), told Xinhua that this would significantly help bolster South Asia's regional connectivity. "Chinese participation in Bangladesh's railway project, Padma bridge project, electricity generation-transmission projects would especially help improving regional connectivity and contribute to the infrastructure development of the counties in South Asia," said the leader of the BEA, the apex body of economists of Bangladesh, with over 4,500 members. There are two major infrastructure projects that the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is banking on to help drive the Philippine economy. The first of these projects, the 420-kilometer South Luzon Expressway Tollroad 5 (SLEX-TR5), will connect Quezon province and the Bicol region. The second one, the 19.40-km. Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), will link the eastern and western sides of Metro Manila. In a statement, the two road programs are expected to transform Luzon into a growth powerhouse within just five years. The two programs represent a total of P121.8 billion worth of investment into the local economy. SMC president and COO Ramon Ang said that a huge portion of the budget will go toward the salaries of thousands of workers and payments to local contractors, materials suppliers, haulers, and the national and local governments. As we said before, San Miguel is fully committed to helping our country overcome this crisis. A big part of that is to continue, and not hold back, on new investments. These projects will deliver hundreds of thousands of jobs and put money in the hands of the Filipinossustaining and boosting our economic recovery, even as we build for a much better future, Ang said. SLEX TR5 will take four years to complete, and PAREX, three years. By that time, the pandemic would have been far behind us. Other major infrastructure projects would also be complete. Our Bulacan Airport project would also be complete. So imagine: within five years, the Philippines will be transformed, and be better than ever, he added. Ramon Ang Earlier, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has announced that the SLEX TR5 and PAREX are certified toll road projects. The SMC chief noted the features and benefits of the projects: South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 5 (SLEX TR5) 420-kilometer, four-lane expressway that stretches from SLEX TR4 in Brgy. Mayao, Lucena City Quezon, up to Matnog Ferry Terminal in Sorsogon A P26.38-billion investment under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme with a concession period of 30 years, to be completed in 46 months. Eyes to cut travel time from Lucena to Matnog from 9 hours to 5.5 hours, and interlinking urban centers in Quezon and Bicol Eyed to provide better and safer route to tourist destinations, ports, as well as food production/agriculture areas A faster alternative from Metro Manila and fast-track the the development of new growth centers in the Quezon and Bicol regions and other southern parts of the country. Story continues Pasig River Expressway 40-kilometer, six-lane, elevated expressway above Pasig River stretch that starts from Radial Road 10 (R10) in Manila and end at a connection of the South East Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME) at Circumferential Road 6 (C-6). 4 billion investment under a 30-year BOT scheme, it can be completed in 36 months. Targeted to decrease travel time from R-10 to C-6 to just 15 minutes and directly connect the western and eastern cities of Metro Manila. Set to decongest primary corridors of R10, EDSA, and C-5 by providing connectivity among toll roads and freeways and diverting traffic to other alternative routes. Meant to provide faster access to the countrys largest business districts, Makati, Ortigas, and BGC. According to SMC, the construction for the projects will start as soon as all permits and clearances are obtained. Hopefully, we will be able to finalize with government and they will find our proposals favorable to the country. In the short to medium term, many of our people need jobs. Among the most affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 are laborers, those who rely on daily wages, and many in the construction industry, Ang noted. We also have a lot of engineers or technical and labor workers from abroad who have either lost their jobs or decided to come home to their families, but now face an uncertain future. We can use their talent, experience, know-how, and skills to help us build our country back better, he added. Photo/s from San Miguel Corporation Also read: Toll Regulatory Board Seeks to Ban Buses from Skyway MPTC has 3 Petitions for Toll Price Hike with TRB SLEX Alabang SB entry reopens ahead of schedule Essex-based timber window specialist Lomax & Wood is the first company in its industry to roll out a mobile phone app. It is allowing customers to get a direct quote for windows and doors that need renewing. BRENTWOOD, England, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lomax & Wood specialises in the supply and installation of bespoke timber doors and windows. The Brentwood-based business works with clients across the length and breadth of the UK. The company recently launched a revolutionary mobile phone app for iOS and Android. This allows customers to send in precise details of their windows and doors while maintaining social distancing. The Lomax & Wood mobile app can be downloaded onto a customer's phone from Google Play or the App Store. Once installed, the user can take photographs, add dimensions, provide descriptions, and create a complete window and door schedule. This means Lomax & Wood can provide a detailed quotation without the need to visit the customer's home or for the customer to go into the showroom. Managing Director Chris Wood explained that the development of the app as part of Lomax & Wood's ongoing strategy of finding new ways to improve the customer experience. The app means that customers can receive a quote without any transfer risk of Covid-19. Beyond that, however, it brings additional benefits in terms of convenience and flexibility. Customers do not have to arrange an appointment or wait for a representative to visit. They can prepare the information needed in their own time and on their terms. As well as providing an enquiry form for quotes, along with step-by-step instructions, the Lomax & Wood app contains extra features. These include useful "how-to" videos, a selection of case studies and a direct call facility. Lomax & Wood is believed to be the first company in the timber windows and doors industry to develop and deploy this kind of mobile app for its customers. While eager to embrace technological innovation, Lomax & Wood remains committed to traditional, bespoke workmanship. All timber windows and doors produced by the company are made as bespoke orders to the highest standards. Mr Wood remarked that while the app allows for rapid quotations, the manufacturing process is one that cannot be hurried. When completing a quote, therefore, customers are advised to allow a minimum of six weeks from commencement of manufacture to delivery and installation. The Lomax & Wood Quotation App can be found at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.lomaxwood.app&hl=en_GB and https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/lomax-wood-quotation-app/id1522876494 Contacts: Chris Wood Tel: 01277 353857 sales@lomaxwood.co.uk Technavio has been monitoring the medical image analysis software market and it is poised to grow by 1.38 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005146/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Medical Image Analysis Software Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Agfa-Gevaert NV AnalyzeDirect Inc., AQUILAB SAS, Carestream Health Inc., Esaote Spa, General Electric Co., International Business Machines Corp., Koninklijke Philips NV, Mirada Medical Ltd., and Siemens AG are some of the major market participants. The advances in the medical imaging field will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Medical Image Analysis Software Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Medical Image Analysis Software Market is segmented as below: Type Standalone Integrated Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40361 Medical Image Analysis Software Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our medical image analysis software market report covers the following areas: Medical Image Analysis Software Market size Medical Image Analysis Software Market trends Medical Image Analysis Software Market industry analysis This study identifies growing applications of computer-aided diagnosis as one of the prime reasons driving the medical image analysis software market growth during the next few years. Medical Image Analysis Software Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the medical image analysis software market, including some of the vendors such as Agfa-Gevaert NV AnalyzeDirect Inc., AQUILAB SAS, Carestream Health Inc., Esaote Spa, General Electric Co., International Business Machines Corp., Koninklijke Philips NV, Mirada Medical Ltd., and Siemens AG. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the Medical Image Analysis Software Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Medical Image Analysis Software Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist medical image analysis software market growth during the next five years Estimation of the medical image analysis software market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the medical image analysis software market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of medical image analysis software market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Value chain analysis Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2019 Market outlook Market size and forecast 2019-2024 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY TYPE Market segmentation by type Comparison by type Standalone Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Integrated Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by type PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Growing applications of computer-aided diagnosis Use of artificial intelligence in medical imaging field Growing popularity of cloud-based image analysis solutions PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Agfa-Gevaert NV AnalyzeDirect Inc. AQUILAB SAS Carestream Health Inc. Esaote Spa General Electric Co. International Business Machines Corp. Koninklijke Philips NV Mirada Medical Ltd. Siemens AG PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200826005146/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ A large raven has battled a koala in a fierce turf war over a tree outside a primary school in Adelaide on Wednesday. The Australian wildlife icon was forced to make a fast escape from its sunny resting spot when the black bird started swooping it and trying to peck its head. The koala hurried back down the tree but the raven continued to attack it - upsetting onlookers who were standing outside Ardtornish Primary School in St Agnes in the city's north-west. The koala was forced to make a fast escape from its sunny resting spot when the black bird started swooping it and pecking at its head Video footage taken by Iman Gurung shows the little marsupial was eventually able to stop for a rest about six feet from the ground. Mr Gurung can be heard saying 'don't do that' to the raven and then 'hallelujah thanks' when the attack stopped. Nesting season for ravens runs from July to September and it's common for the birds to swoop other animals while protecting their nests. Jane Brister from Adelaide Koala Rescue said she was surprised it was a raven swooping the koala with such force. 'That's a really tenacious bird, it's usually miner birds that are that aggressive,' she explained. 'It's a bit of a stand-off, isn't it.' Ms Brister explained the primary school is near a creek with a lot of gum trees and fresh water, making it a popular area for koalas. 'We get daily calls about birds swooping koalas in spring time, it's a frequent occurrence, but it can be a problem to relocate them because there will be another bird, another nest.' Ms Brister said magies will defend an entire school oval but the birds will often leave the koala alone once it finds a spot to rest in as they are more concerned when the marsupials are moving. 'We're generally only concerned if the bird makes contact with the koala or if there is a back-riding joey as a bigger bird can cause injury to the baby,' she added. Video footage shows the little marsupial was eventually able to stop for a rest about six feet from the ground China's use of technology for religious oppression a 'threat to all of us,' warns Brownback Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Chinas use of high-tech surveillance to oppress and monitor Uighur Muslims is the future of religious oppression that could spread across the world if not stopped by the U.S. and other international players, Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom, has warned. During a webinar on Chinas Rising Threat to Human Rights hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission on Aug. 21, panelists discussed the religious persecution of Uighur Muslims, a community that resides mostly in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in China, and its implications for the wider religious community. Brownback said that the tactics used against Uighur Muslims represent the cutting edge of religious persecution." Estimates suggest that as many as 1 million Uighur Muslims have been subject to internment camps in Xinjiang, where they are taught to be secular citizens who will never come against the ruling Communist Party. Though they live in a remote region, China is employing its most aggressive technology to oppress Uighurs, including sophisticated cameras, facial-recognition technology, and collecting DNA samples, Brownback said. They've got technology deployed now where they've got surveillance cameras virtually everywhere in the public, he noted. They've collected genetic data on most of the people in the region to where you can be tracked on the internet, they have facial recognition systems. They could now theoretically close all the concentration camps and you would still live in a virtual police state if you were a Uighur in Xinjiang. China has also given Chen Quanguo, party chairman of the Communist Party in Xinjiang, a vast amount of resources to persecute Uighurs, allowing him to implement a comprehensive surveillance, detention, and indoctrination program in the region, Brownback said. My great concern is what it does to the Uighur people, but also that these systems will be replicated in other authoritarian regimes around the world, he stressed. And we've got this huge global battle going on between democracy and dictatorships, and dictatorships have been doing pretty well lately, unfortunately. China deploys its money resources very effectively and shrewdly and craftily to get a number of countries, particularly Muslim countries, not to speak up under threat. They will threaten aggressively. Brownback predicted that China's methods represent the future of religious oppression, adding that eventually, religious minorities are going to be oppressed by a system where they can't live and work in the society if they choose to practice their faith. They get a low social credit score and then they can't get a ticket to get on the bus or the train, or they can't take their kids to school, or they can't get an apartment because they are identified on the internet, in these technology systems as a religious adherent, he said. And that's what's happening today in Xinjiang to the Uighur Muslims. And that is a threat to all of us. We really need to aggressively push back." Its the future of the world if we dont stop this. You can look at this [and] say, That's a long way away, it's not my religion, and it's going to be fine. But this stuff is coming if we don't get on and stop it early. Panelists also touched on the issue of forced labor among the Uighur community, as new research and reports indicate that the party is forcing Uighurs to work in textile factories and other manufacturing roles, tainting supply chains in the U.S. Nury Turkel, a Uighur American attorney born in Xinjiang and member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, revealed that forced labor has been part of Uighur life for as long as he can remember. Its one of the methods, one of the vehicles the Chinese used to repress the Uighur religion and Uighur culture, he said. "When you buy anything made in China, if it's a textile cotton product, I think it should be something that gives you pause. As a consumer, please do your due diligence. Please stop at least buying any cotton or textile products coming from China ... this should be something easy to tackle. He urged the U.S. government to pass the Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which was recently supported by the ERLC. The legislation would prohibit goods made with forced labor in Xinjiang or by entities using Uighur labor forcibly transferred from Xinjiang from entering the U.S. market. It also instructs the U.S. government to impose sanctions on foreign individuals who knowingly employ or utilize forced labor of Uighurs or other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. Turkel said the conduct by the Chinese government may rise to the level of crimes against humanity. He identified key elements that define such crimes, according to international law: the act must be part of a widespread systematic attack; the attack must be against a civilian population; and the attack must be launched on discriminatory grounds, including religion and ethnicity. Brownback said the U.S. should urge its allies to join them in placing sanctions on China, restricting Chinese companies' access to U.S. technology. These things matter more in concert, he said. I think we need to continue to call it out for what it is taking place ... I hope we continue to sanction more of those companies. Chandigarh, Aug 26 : Punjab Police have busted an international narco-terror racket with links to the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) with the arrest of wanted heroin smuggler Rajinder Singh and a police constable who was allegedly facilitating safe movement of drugs and money during the lockdown period. Rajinder's brother-in-law has also been arrested from Uttar Pradesh for his involvement in the racket, which has been traced to the associates of the now deceased notorious terrorist Harmeet Singh, said DGP Dinkar Gupta. A .32 bore pistol and 4 live cartridges were recovered from the possession of Rajinder, while 530 gm heroin was later seized from his flat at Riverdale Aerovista in Zirakpur near here, said Gupta. A criminal case under Arms and NDPS Act has been registered at SAS Nagar against Rajinder, who has several other FIRs registered against him in various parts of Punjab, and has been involved in several recent hawala transactions amounting to the tune of Rs 12 crore. Rajinder has told the police that that he was associated in the distribution network of drug supply which was being arranged by Navpreet Singh, a notorious smuggler wanted by Punjab Police for murder and many drug cases. He confessed that he had supplied huge quantities of drugs to various smugglers in different parts of Punjab on the direction of Navpreet Singh. The DGP said Rajinder used to receive the drug consignments mostly coming from Srinagar and Delhi and distribute them further in Punjab. The funds generated out of the drug business were sent back to Navpreet through hawala channels. In April 2020, the Police Commissionerate of Amritsar had arrested one Hizbul terrorist Hilal Ahmed Wagay when he came to collect drug money on the instructions of Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo, a slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist. Rajinder Singh made Aadhaar card and passport with the help of fake documents from Uttar Pradesh and was trying to escape from India in the near future, said the DGP, adding that the accused had also made a lot of property in and around Chandigarh and Amritsar. Interrogation of Rajinder led to the arrest of his brother-in-law Chirag Rathi from Muzaffarnagar, and also Karamjit Singh, a police constable from Sri Muktsar Sahib currently posted as driver with the Deputy Director of Chief Chemical Examiner in Kharar town, said the DGP. Rajinder had provided a large sum of money to his brother-in-law, who has admitted that he, along with his maternal uncle, had invested more than Rs 1 crore drug money in purchasing properties and vehicles. EUR/USD Current Price: 1.1835 German data resulted better than anticipated lending temporal support to the EUR. US Consumer Confidence plunged to a new pandemic low of 84.8 in August, according to CB. EUR/USD is technically neutral, but the risk skews to the downside. The EUR/USD pair is ending yet another day around the 1.1800 level, as FX traders seem to lack motivation. Major pairs remained within familiar levels, despite some wild swings elsewhere. Markets were in a risk-on mood throughout the first half of the day, amid China and the US announcing good talks related to their trade deal. EUR/USD hit an intraday high of 1.1843, further supported by encouraging German data, as Q2 GDP was revised to -9.7% from a previous estimate of -10.1%. The IFO Business Climate improved to 92.6 in August from 90.4 in July. The assessment of the current situation and expectations also improved when compared to the previous month. The greenback recovered some ground during US trading hours as the market sentiment deteriorated following the release of the US CB Consumer Confidence, which fell in August to a new pandemic low of 84.8, well below the previous 91.7. Wall Street took a turn to the worse, trimming most of its previous weekly gains. Other data coming from the US, however, were positive, as the Housing Price Index increased to 0.9% in June, while New Home Sales was up by 13.9% in July. This Wednesday, the US will publish July Durable Goods Orders, seen up 4.3%. EUR/USD short-term technical outlook The EUR/USD pair is trading in the 1.1830 price zone by the end of the American session, with a neutral technical stance. In the 4-hour chart, the price has spent the day hovering around converging 20 and 100 SMA. The Momentum indicator advances above its midline, while the RSI heads nowhere around 50. Overall, the risk is skewed to the downside, with a bearish extension clearer on a break below 1.1790, while a bullish extension would have more chances if the pair breaks above 1.1885, quite unlikely in the current scenario. Story continues Support levels: 1.1790 1.1750 1.1710 Resistance levels: 1.1840 1.1885 1.1920 View Live Chart for the EUR/USD See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. A schizophrenic killer who slashed a stranger's throat has been found at a Sydney hospital after escaping from a mental health facility while on day release. Michael Sorrell, who changed his name to Michael Striker in an amateur bid to disguise his identity, fled from the Bloomfield Hospital in Orange in western NSW on Monday and was last seen in Bathurst around 11.30am. The 48-year-old was found at a hotel 180 kilometres away on Anderson Street, in Parramatta around 11.30am on Wednesday and arrested by police. Striker was locked up in a psychiatric hospital after killing Michael Furlong, 45, outside a western Sydney electronics store in 2002. Michael Sorrell, who changed his name to Michael Striker, was locked up in a prison psychiatric hospital before disappearing on day release on Monday in Orange Striker was found in a car with a large hunting knife and Mr Furlong's wallet the following day. He was under the delusion that Mr Furlong was a police officer, and the AFP were conspiring to kill him. Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Wednesday told 2GB he would speak to Police Minister David Elliott 'to get him to champion whoever we need to, like health, to make sure (Striker) is never released'. Striker is expected to be returned to the psychiatric facility. Police had 'significant concerns' for his welfare due to his serious mental health condition that requires treatment, The Daily Telegraph reported. In 2009, Striker changed his last name by deed poll, and because he was never convicted of murder on the grounds of mental illness, his case was even harder for police to keep track of. Striker slashed the throat of Michael Furlong (pictured), 45, outside a western Sydney electronics store in 2002 Killers, unlike serious sex offenders, don't need the permission of the police commissioner to change their names. During his trial, where he pleaded not guilty on the grounds of mental health, the court heard he had spent time in psychiatric facilities in the UK, Western Australia and Queensland. Striker thought federal police had drugged his toothpaste to read his thoughts through vibrations in his larynx, one psychiatric evaluation revealed. 'He wanted to send the federal police a message that he wanted them to leave him alone,' the report said. IAEA should observe principles of impartiality, professionalism: FM Zarif Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 7:40 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the UN nuclear agency should observe the principles of impartiality and professionalism in its dealings with the Islamic Republic. Zarif made the remarks in a Tuesday meeting with Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, who is on his first visit to Tehran since taking office in December 2019. "The Islamic Republic seeks continued cooperation with the Agency under normal circumstances and within the framework of international regulations," the top Iranian diplomat said. He added that Iran's cooperation with the IAEA has always been based on international commitments and within technical and professional frameworks. "As the IAEA has verified numerous times, Iran has cooperated the most [among all countries] with the Agency with regard to the safeguards, and this path can be followed," Zarif added. The Iranian foreign minister expressed hope that both sides would continue cooperation in good faith and based on the safeguards' regulations by resolving the existing disagreements. The IAEA chief, for his part, said the agency fulfills its duties in accordance with the principles of neutrality and professionalism. Grossi noted that past Iran-IAEA cooperation had been beneficial to both sides, saying the trend could continue after overcoming the existing problems. In a tweet posted after his discussions with the top Iranian diplomat, Grossi said he was "grateful for his (Zarif's) willingness to further work cooperatively with the @IAEAorg." The IAEA director general arrived in Tehran Monday night to hold talks with senior Iranian officials. Prior to his discussions with Zarif, Grossi held a meeting with Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi, followed by a joint presser. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address August 25, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Longstanding US plans earmarked Belarus for regime change, wanting pro-Western puppet rule in another nation bordering Russia. Theres nothing spontaneous about mass protests that erupt in nations the US wants transformed into client states. Theyre most likely to occur in the run-up to and/or after elections in which a pro-Western US chosen candidate is unlikely or unable to defeat an incumbent dark forces in Washington want toppled. On August 9, longtime Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko defeated opposition challenger Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in an election he was expected to win. His inflated eight-to-one majority triumph created an opportunity for prearranged protesters to cry foul in Minsk streets. Historian, former UK envoy, human rights activist Craig Murray believes Lukashenko was reelected handily with over 60% of the vote. Tsikhanouskayas claim that she triumphed by over a 60% majority amounted to reading lines scripted by her US handlers. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter She lost. He won, but likely by much less than an 80% majority. Orchestrated daily protests have been ongoing since the August 9 presidential election, most likely to continue ahead. US regime change plots dont quit until achieving success or theyre foiled. Russia is highly unlikely to allow another US client state to emerge on its border without acting to prevent it. On Sunday, Sergey Lavrov explained that Washington seeks to gain control over Belarus, adding: In cahoots with its NATO partners, the Trump regime is trying to redraw Belarus according to (its) own design. (W)e will not be against any decision that the Belarusian leadership will make regarding dialogue with its population. When the West says that only mediation with the participation of Western countries will be effective, everyone remembers how it was in Ukraine, where Western mediation turned into a complete (unwillingness of the Obama regime) to negotiate. Moscow supports Lukashenkos proposal for dialogue with opposition elements on constitutional reform. Belarusians need no external interference in their internal affairs, whats been going on for the past two weeks. Lukashenko accused the US-led West of attempting to destabilize the country, including by deploying NATO forces close to its borders. Foreign dark forces want him removed him from office, he stressed. Tikhanovskayas call for Lukashenko to leave came ahead of a planned meeting with Trump regime Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in Lithuania on Monday to hand her updated imperial instructions. Shes putty in the hands of US dark forces using her to further their interests, manipulating her moves and remarks. Belarus and Russia are Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states, along with Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It calls for member states to abstain from use of force, at the same time pledging military support in case a CSTO nation is invaded by foreign elements. On Sunday, Belarusian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Anatoly Glaz said his country rejects what he called threadbare advice from Ukraines pro-Western puppet regime, adding: Kiev has a lot of more important everyday problems to address inside the country for years to come rather than giving advice to the neighbor it doesnt want or accept. Hostile US actions destabilized Belarus. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell opposes Trump regime shenanigans to destroy the JCPOA while supporting its unlawful color revolution attempt in Belarus, tweeting on Sunday: Hugely impressed by massive and peaceful demonstrations in Minsk and across #Belarus. They show determination and courage of the Belarusian people to seek democratic change (sic). Theres nothing democratic about trying to replace an elected president with pro-Western puppet rule. Ignoring US-orchestrated violence, Pompeo said the Trump regime has been inspired by the display of peaceful expression of the Belarusian people seeking to determine their own future (sic) as long as the nations ruling authorities subordinate its sovereign rights to US interests. Russia stands ready to help the Belarus stay free from Western control. Its actions will conform to the rule of law polar opposite how hegemon USA operates everywhere. Tenants of the Woodner apartment building in Washington, D.C., protest to demand their rent be forgiven during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unemployed workers living in most U.S. cities can't cover basic living expenses with jobless benefits alone. In fact, Americans living in just 12 out of 109 metro areas could afford rent, food and transportation with state unemployment insurance, according to a recent analysis published by Clever Real Estate. That's largely a result of two factors: high cost of living and the relatively meager generosity of some state unemployment benefits. Some of the shortfalls were steep. More from Personal Finance: Medicare open enrollment is coming up PayPal, consumer groups battle over company's credit line for school costs More than 5 million people won't get the $300 unemployment boost right now In San Francisco, which had the largest gap, the typical unemployed worker living in a two-bedroom apartment would need about $3,211 beyond unemployment benefits to afford basic living costs, according to the analysis. "For the majority of the larger metros in the U.S., people wouldn't be able to afford just those three things," Francesca Ortegren, a data scientist at Clever Real Estate, said of rent, food and transportation. "Unemployment insurance isn't typically a long-term solution," she added. "But during a pandemic like this, when it's uncertain when or if people will be able to get another job soon, these benefits just won't cover costs of simple living expenses." At least 14 dead dolphins washed up on Mauritiuss shore following an oil spill from a Japanese ship. Greenpeace has called on the government of Mauritius to carry out an urgent investigation after several dead dolphins washed up on the island countrys shores, a month after a major oil spill caused by a ship that ran aground. This is a deeply sad and alarming day for the people of Mauritius, Happy Khambule, Greenpeace Africas senior climate and energy campaign manager, said in a statement on Wednesday. Greenpeace appeals to the authorities to carry out a swift, transparent and public autopsy on the bodies collected. The Japanese-owned 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 countrys worst ecological disaster. The impact of the spill is still unfolding, scientists said, and the damage could affect Mauritius and its tourism-dependent economy for decades. The Associated Press news agency on Wednesday cited environmental groups and experts as saying at least 14 dead dolphins had washed up on Mauritiuss coast. Other dolphins stranded onshore and appeared seriously ill, according to environmental consultant Sunil Dowarkasing. This is a terrible day. We are seeing these dolphins swim up to the shore in distress and then die, said Dowarkasing, a former member of parliament. We have never seen deaths of these very intelligent marine mammals like this. Never. Jasvin Sok Appadu, a government official from the fisheries ministry, put the number at 17. The dead dolphins had several wounds and blood around their jaws, no trace of oil, however. The ones that survived, around 10, seemed very fatigued and could barely swim, Appadu told Reuters news agency. This incident must be investigated fully and transparently! If the oil spill was indeed the cause of this tragedy, then the polluters must be held accountable for the harm done to coastal communities and their #Biodiversity >> https://t.co/OHBtIChDzf #BreakFreeFromFossilFuels Greenpeace Africa (@Greenpeaceafric) August 26, 2020 A spokeswoman for local Mauritian environmental group Eco-Sud called for the autopsy results to be released publicly and said the group wanted to be present during the autopsy to better understand why the dolphins died, but was still waiting for a response from authorities. Worryingly, the AFP news agency reported at least nine melon-headed whales had also washed up on the shores of the country. The animals, some of which were still alive when they were found and later died, were stranded on the southeastern beaches of Grand Sable, and some of them appeared to have injuries. Local government official Preetam Daumoo told AFP he had seen 13 dead whales and one still alive. Authorities loaded some of the bodies into the back of a van to be taken for autopsies. Daumoo, like other residents, said he feared the stranding of animals was a result of the ship running aground and spilling more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel into the pristine waters. However, experts said it was too soon to say what had caused the deaths of the animals. Owen Griffiths, of the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society, told AFP, it is probably a very unfortunate coincidence, referring to a similar stranding in 2005. Likely they followed a school of fish into the lagoon, got confused, could not find their way out to sea again and tried to head out to sea directly over the coral reef instead of finding the pass. In their panic and stress they collided with corals, became exhausted and died, he said. At this stage, we have no idea of cause of death. An autopsy with stomach content analysis and lung examination to look for oil traces needs to be done. Mauritius has appealed to the United Nations for urgent aid, including help from experts in oil spills and environmental protection. The European Union has suspended training in Mali after the military coup this month that removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from power, officials said on Wednesday, while Germany acknowledged that some perpetrators had been trained in Europe. The two missions assisting Mali's army and police are part of international efforts to stabilise Mali and extend the state's authority, but the EU is facing questions about whether it inadvertently helped train the coup plotters. "It is known that some of the leading figures of the coup d'etat have also enjoyed training in Germany and France," German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told reporters in Berlin following a meeting with her EU counterparts. However, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell insisted that the suspension of the EU's training missions was temporary. He also denied any EU responsibility for the Aug. 18 coup. "We don't train armies to be putschists," Borrell told reporters, referring to those who attempt to overthrow a government. "Ninety percent of the army has been trained by our mission, but the four most prominent (coup) leaders have not been trained by our mission." Borrell did not give further details. West African mediators and Mali's coup leaders are discussing the possibility of a transitional government, which could allow the EU to eventually resume training in partnership with the United Nations. The coup has raised the prospects of further political turmoil in Mali which, like other countries in the region, is facing an expanding threat from Islamist militants. The 88-member International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) suspended Mali on Tuesday. The group's secretary general Louise Mushikiwabo called for the release of Keita and other officials detained by the junta since Aug. 18. Drawn up in late 2012 to help Mali's army regain control of the country after France drove out Islamists in the north, the EU military mission (EUTM Mali) has more than 600 soldiers from 28 European countries including EU and non-member states. Its headquarters in Mali's capital Bamako was targeted by militants in 2016, although no personnel were hurt. The EU agreed in 2014 an additional civilian mission (EUCAP Sahel Mali), sending experts to give advice and training to the internal security forces in Mali, the police, Gendarmerie and National Guard. EU training will continue in neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, officials said. Search Keywords: Short link: The Hale County Commissioners voted Monday to enact President Donald Trumps payroll tax exemption for county employees. The exemption will potentially defer FICA taxes from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. The question of whether or not to accept the exemption sparked discussions during the commissioners work session on Friday and during its meeting Monday morning. The biggest question presented that the court couldnt quite answer was whether or not employees will have to pay it back. If we dont allow it and they exempt them, then they lose out on that money, said Hale County Judge David Mull. My other question is if we approve to allow it, do they have to or can an employee opt out of it? County Treasurer Ida Tyler said the exemption wouldnt return more than maybe a couple hundred dollars to employees through the end of the year. The amount varies because the tax withholds 6.2% of an employee's Social Security taxes. I hate to put anybody in a financial bind, said Jimmy Kelly, commissioner of precinct. You take $500 or $1,000, thats hard to cough up later. Commissioner Kenny Kernell, precinct 1, made a motion to accept the tax deferral but to make employees aware that they may have to pay back the amount later and to allow them the option to opt out of it if they so choose. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mario Martinez, precinct 2, before receiving a unanimous vote of approval. Prior to that agenda item, the court recognized purchases and approved the July financial statement with an ending balance of $19,839,912.35. The commissioners then voted unanimously to approve county holidays for 2021, the latest Petersburg EMS report and polling places for the upcoming November elections. County Clerk Latrice Kemp told the court that the upcoming elections will be busy. Just about every entity within Hale County will host an election in November, she added. But with COVID-19, there have had to be a few adjustments to polling locations. These are the polling locations set for Hale County: Plainview Ollie Liner Center First Methodist Church Tye Roofing Seth Ward Water Supply Hale County Courthouse YMCA PISD Education Building First Assembly of God Church Hale Center Lemond Community Center Abernathy Abernathy City Hall Petersburg Petersburg Community Center Cotton Center Cotton Center School Annex Edmonson Edmonson Baptist Church Halfway Precinct 4 County Barn Election day is Nov. 3. Early voting is set for Oct. 13 through Oct. 30. Kemp noted that some polling locations had been previously hosted at churches and other businesses but adjustments had to be made because those locations are taking precautions against the spread of COVID-19. She also asked the commissioners for permission to purchase an absentee mail ballot request system that will cost an initial $3,000 with a yearly maintenance fee of $1,500. The court unanimously approved the purchase. The commissioners also approved use of the Ollie Liner Center for an event set for Sept. 12 and spoke about the possibility of allowing use of the space for another event set later in the month. --- Visit myplainview.com to see the detailed list of polling locations, where theyre located and when theyll be open. Additional information about the upcoming elections will be published at a later date. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) Mark Kauzlarich | Reuters WASHINGTON The third night of the Republican National Convention is shaping up to be the most traditional convention night so far this week, with a half-dozen Republican elected officials slated to speak ahead of a keynote by Vice President Mike Pence that will highlight the Trump administration's successes. It is also the second-to-last night for Republicans to do two things they still need to do this week: Lay out an agenda for President Donald Trump, should he win reelection in November, and convince voters Trump has a strategy, if not a plan, to contain the coronavirus. The virus that Trump downplayed and brushed off earlier this year has now killed nearly 180,000 Americans, and it remains Trump's biggest political vulnerability this fall. But if there's anyone who can help Trump repair some of the political damage this has done, it's Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force. Next gen GOP Wednesday night will feature more Republican rising stars than any night so far this week. It's worth watching how they position themselves vis-a-vis Trump and the party at large. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is an ardent Trump supporter who made national news this summer for her vocal opposition to mask mandates to protect people from coronavirus. It's part of Noem's overall hands-off approach to the deadly pandemic. In July, she attended a Trump event at Mount Rushmore with more than 5,000 people and no social distancing or mask rules. Noem also encouraged hundreds of thousands of people to attend the annual Sturgis, South Dakota, motorcycle rally earlier this month, where there was no social distancing and barely any masks. Public health experts say clusters of coronavirus infections connected to the rally have already popped up in at least eight states. Another rising star speaking on Wednesday is Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate. Ernst is a staunch Trump defender, but she has also carved out a role for herself as a vocal advocate for victims of sexual abuse in the military. This year, Ernst is in a surprisingly competitive race for reelection, with the polling average in a statistical dead heat against Democrat Theresa Greenfield. Ernst's speech on Wednesday is both a chance for her to introduce herself to a national audience as a veteran on a night whose theme is "Land of Heroes" and the biggest stage she'll have this year for her Senate race. Noem and Ernst are the standout younger speakers to watch Wednesday, but they aren't the only ones. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee will also speak, as will three Trump-aligned House members: Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas, and Reps. Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin, both of New York. Working women The theme of how the Trump administration has helped working women is also shaping up to be a big one on Wednesday. In addition to speakers such as Noem, Ernst and Stefanik, the convention will feature two high-profile Trump White House aides. White House Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway speaks to members of the media in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House December 17, 2019 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong | Getty Images Departing counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway is one of the few senior White House employees who has been with Trump since his 2016 campaign, so her announcement last Sunday that she would be leaving at the end of the month to focus more on her family caught Washington by surprise. For the past four years, Conway has consistently painted Trump as an ally of working women, dismissing the president's decades-long history of sexist comments and the allegations of sexual harassment and abuse leveled against him by multiple women. Expect to hear this argument again on Wednesday from Conway, but this time, echoed by White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, an unexpected addition to the speakers list. McEnany says she is doing the speech in her personal capacity, and not as a White House staffer, which would violate Hatch Act provisions. According to organizers, McEnany will share her personal story of having had a prophylactic double mastectomy after learning that she carried a gene closely associated with breast cancer. She will also discuss being a new mother working in the White House. In addition to McEnany and Conway, Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is also on the Wednesday roster. Lara Trump emerged in 2016 as an unexpectedly effective surrogate for her father-in-law, and she has worked on Trump's reelection campaign ever since he took office. Like McEnany and Conway, Lara Trump is a working mom, so expect that thread to carry through to her speech. Mike at the mic Darling, its better under the sea, unless youre an insect. You might find some bugs skimming the surface of a pond or even creating their own scuba bubble to dive beneath the surface of inland lakes. But insects are virtually absent from the open ocean. If you look at the hind flippers of southern elephant seals, however, you will find some insects that have made their way to a partially aquatic life. Lice of the species Lepidophthirus macrorhini dwell on the rear limbs of the large aquatic mammals, which spend nearly 10 months of the year in Antarctic waters and dive up to 6,500 feet below the surface in search of food and may stay under for nearly two hours at a time. These lice could be the deepest surviving insects in marine ecosystems, according to a study published in July in the Journal of Experimental Biology. By enduring such extreme environments, elephant seal lice can help scientists unravel the mystery of why so few insects have made a home in the oceans vastness. L. macrorhini are parasitic, bloodsucking lice that burrow into the seals top skin layer to feed. In 2015, Maria Soledad Leonardi, a marine biologist at the Instituto de Biologia de Organismos Marinos in Argentina, found live lice on male elephant seals that surfaced to breed on King George Island off the coast of Antarctica. Gold and Silver Precious Metals Cycles Demand Attention Research Highlights: With Gold trading above $2,000 for the first time and Silver trading near $27.50, you need to understand the risks in the markets that precious metals are warning of. If Gold breaks above $2,400, then there is a very real concern that the global markets could be close to some type of decline/collapse event. We believe the upside potential in precious metals could drive a very wide sideways market rotation, similar to what happened between 1999 and 2011, over the next 3+ years that may catch many off-guard. Over the past few weeks and months, my research team and I have been actively publishing this research to help you better understand what is really happening in the markets right now. With Gold trading above $2,000 for the first time and Silver trading near $27.50, skilled traders need to understand the risks in the markets that precious metals are warning of. Think of it like this, as long as Gold continues to trade near or above $1900, the risk levels in the global markets are at extreme levels for traders and investors. If Gold breaks above $2,400, then there is a very real concern that the global markets could be close to some type of decline/collapse event. 1990 TO 2010: SIMILARITIES ABOUND My research team believes the US stock market has already peaked near the January/February 2018 market highs. Our proprietary index analysis and price modeling systems suggest the US stock market has been buoyed by the US Federal Reserve stimulus and foreign capital inflows (investment) while the US Dollar has strengthened. This trend may continue for a number of weeks or months, but precious metals are already warning that real fear has accelerated to levels weve not seen since 2010~2011. Our analysis is a result of a series of research reports we have recently published, including our Special Alert that points to a massive dual head-and-shoulders set up taking place today. You should also check out our price forecasts for Gold and Silver as well as our examination of the economic reality and review of DOW futures, which all support the broad conclusions we are making here. We believe the upside potential in precious metals could drive a very wide sideways market rotation, very similar to what happened between 1999 and 2011, over the next 3+ years that may catch many skilled traders and investors off-guard. Historically, when the stock market rallies in a speculative mode, like we saw in 1997~1999, a price bubble forms as speculators and retail traders pile into the hot trades with a fear of missing out (FOMO) belief. This process drives price levels to extreme highs and creates an elevated level of fear by many experienced traders who have lived through this type of event before. We are going to show you a price cycle event that takes place between the SPX500, Gold and the relationship between these two symbols. The first setup, entitled A-Setup on the chart below, took place over 11+ years at a time when stagflation had taken a toll on the US economy in the late 70s and early 80s. The growth of the SPX500 throughout the 1990s was impressive well over 580% from 1987. The recent growth of the SPX500 from the March 2009 lows is just over 400% and has recently rotated in a volatile sideways price correction related to the COVID-19 virus event representing a nearly 36% correction. Back in 1998, a similar type of correction happened just before the peak in the markets where the SPX500 corrected nearly 23%, recovered very quickly and rallied from those lows another +66% before peaking in January 2000. Before you continue, be sure to opt-in to our free-market trend signalsnow so you dont miss our next special report! We believe the A-Setup represents a longer-term price setup that represents a price bubble and investor fear balancing out greed and risk as price levels extend into the stratosphere. We believe a similar cycle setup has completed whereas the first contraction wave, prompting a strong rise in precious metals prices, has completed while the SPX500 attempts a FOMO driven final rally attempt. If our research is correct, precious metals will break higher as risk outweighs greed over the next few weeks and months likely pushing the SPX500 lower and resulting in a downward correlative price event for the SPX500/Gold ratio. Very similar to what happened after the peak in 2000. This downside correlative event will work to address the price bubble and to revalue the US stock market near levels that provide a resurgence in organic growth. The excesses of the global markets were reduced to critical valuation levels by this process where the organic economy recovered enough to drive future growth, Just like what happened in 2004 through 2011~12. The difference this time (B-Setup) is we believe the cycle is operating at about 1.3x to 1.5x faster than the cycle that took place between 1988 and 2000. Therefore, we believe the cycle will be 1.5x to 2.0x more volatile. We urge traders to stay very cautious of the markets right now. Even though it appears that the recovery is strengthening and the stock market level is at, or near, all-time highs, warning signs are everywhere if you are paying attention. A recent article discussing Walmarts earnings release and sales data for August supports the proposition that consumer demand is falling as stimulus checks run out. In the article, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said: My sense is that the order of things, the order of tailwinds that impacted the business were one, stimulus, two, eating at home, three, being at home, and all the things that you wanted to do to have the indoors and outdoors be more pleasurable. If you read that statement as we do, the transitional process that took place over the past 4+ months where the US government provided stimulus and unemployment benefits that, for some, equated to more monthly income than they achieve while working, presented a spend-happy consumer with lots of free time on their hands. We believe consumer activity will change dramatically and the economic recovery everyone seems to believe has taken place will settle into more of a reality-shock, especially since the stimulus and unemployment benefits are being decreased (or stopped altogether for some), evictions and mortgage foreclosures are starting to process, and we leave the Summer season and move into Fall/Winter. A BREAKOUT OR BREAKDOWN ? Additionally, world trade data suggests the global economy has sunk to the lowest global trade levels since 2010 (at the bottom of the Credit Crisis). It doesnt take a college degree to figure out that global trade levels that are many standard deviations below the deepest historical levels over the past 10+ years do not settle well with a perception of a strong global recovery and skyrocketing US stock market price levels. What is says is, a speculative price bubble has exploded as foreign and speculative traders piled into the US Fed stimulus recovery after March 21, 2020. And that speculative rally presents the same type of recovery that took place in late 1999 just before the bottom fell out of the markets. If the US stock market follows the 2000 price pattern, then a further upside rally should push price levels above the previous peak levels from February 2020. This would prompt many traders and investors to begin leveraging long positions thinking the rally may never end. Our researchers believe the major Fibonacci Price Amplitude Resistance Arc, highlighted in CYAN on the chart below, will act as a soft ceiling in price throughout much of the rest of 2020. If this resistance level holds and price begins to decline from current levels, then we believe a price bottom will setup in late 2021 or early 2022 (similar to the 2002 price bottom). Of course, that leads to the question will there be a repeat of the 2008-09 peak and subsequent price collapse?. At this point, were not certain of any event that far out into the future but our cycles suggest 2023~2025 may set up a major price peak in the markets. Stay cautious right now. If our research is correct, Gold and Silver will continue to rally as fear drives the B-Setup further into completion. Volatility should begin to increase and we expect more a more difficult recovery to take place over the next 12+ months. We still have quite a bit of collateral damage to process through the economy and we need to get our economy functioning again so we can get people back to work, increase consumption, and strengthen global trade. If you look at the real data, not the high flying US stock market, the global markets are simply not supporting this speculative price bubble. Therefore, we urge you to stay cautious at this time. Pay very close attention to the risks in the current market so it is important for traders to stay on top of the charts! There will be very big and incredible opportunities for skilled technical traders over that time. Learn how we can help you trade and find success in these markets sign up for my Active ETF Swing Trade Signals today! If you have a buy-and-hold account and are looking for technical signals for when to own equities, bonds, or cash, be sure to subscribe to my Passive Long-Term ETF Investing Signals so that you can stay ahead of the markets and rest easy at night! Stay healthy and safe. 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. Press Release 26 August 2020 SHANGHAI - Hilton was recently named the "Most Socially Responsible Hotel Management Group of China," at the 15th China Hotel Starlight Awards. Hilton won additional accolades at the property level, with Waldorf Astoria Beijing and Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund named among the "Best Luxurious Hotels of China," and Hilton Shenzhen Futian and Hilton Guangzhou Baiyun recognized as one of the "Top 10 MICE Hotels of China". Advertisements "Being named the 'Most Socially Responsible Hotel Management Group of China' amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic is an immense honor, as well as a testament to the hard work of our Team Members who strove to play their part in the fight against this pandemic," said Qian Jin, Area President, Greater China and Mongolia, Hilton. "It is our mission to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, and a privilege to serve the needs of our frontline medical professionals, guests, owners, and fellow Team Members who have been impacted by the pandemic." At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in January, 169 Team Members from Hilton's three hotels in Hubei Province hosted medical professionals from across China who had dispatched to Wuhan to support the frontline medical efforts. As these medical teams departed for their respective cities after completing their tours of duty in Wuhan, four other Hilton hotels across China welcomed them as they returned home. To create comfortable stay experiences for medical professionals, Hilton Team Members overcame multiple hurdles in disinfection, logistics, materials, and staffing. They served delicious and nutritious food and curated a rich variety of activities that the medical professionals could enjoy in their free time. As COVID-19 developed into a pandemic, Hilton became the first global hospitality company to launch responsive cancellation policies for guests and updating them repeatedly as the situation evolved. For owners of Hilton properties, policies were also updated several times to reduce the burden on their operations. At the community level, a host of Hilton properties offered creative acts of care as well as food & beverage services for local volunteers, community agencies, and ordinary workers who performed their duties in supporting the fight against the epidemic. Hilton also activated a Team Member Assistance Fund that provided aid to Team Members impacted by the coronavirus. This was supplemented by personal contributions from the Hilton Greater China & Mongolia management team during this year's Spring Festival and supported all Team Members serving on the frontlines of the response effort in Wuhan. The various measures deployed during the pandemic are built upon Hilton's "Travel with Purpose" commitment to drive responsible travel and tourism globally. Since 2017, Hilton has partnered the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) to empower university students across the country to drive sustainable change. Last year, the Hilton Effect Foundation awarded a grant to CFPA for its "New Great Wall Project" to provide financial support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Hilton hotels in Greater China also continue to cut their environmental footprint. Every year, they recycle 45 tons of used soap and eliminate plastic waste that nearly totals 13 million bottles and 1.2 million straws. The China Hotel Starlight Awards, dubbed "the Oscars of the China Hotel Industry," were established in 2005 by the Asia Hotel Forum (AHF) and multiple authoritative mainstream media in China. In 2020, Hilton Beijing Tongzhou and Hilton Suzhou Yinshan Lake was honored as the "Most Anticipated Newly Opened Hotel of China," Hampton by Hilton as an "Outstanding Investment-Worthy International Hotel Brand of China" and the Hilton China Owners Association as the "Most Influential Hotel Owners Association of China". The China Hotel Starlight Awards has based its selection criteria on advanced standards for over one-and-a-half decades and received significant recognition and attention across the industry for its broad coverage, fair system, strict criteria, and authoritative jury. Lehigh and Northampton county elections officials say outside groups are mailing unsolicited voter registration and mail-in ballot applications to residents. In some cases, the applications are partially filled out with a citizens information, and at least one group has sent applications to residents who are deceased, the officials said. The mailings may confuse voters who already filled out an application and are scheduled to receive one for the Nov. 3 general election, according to news releases from officials in both counties. We want the public to know that the Elections Office does not send out unsolicited applications, Northampton County Elections Registrar Amy Cozze stated. These mailings have generated a great deal of confusion and, in the case of the recently deceased, much pain for family members. Anyone who receives one of these unsolicited applications should check the Paid by notice to see which group sent it. Lehigh County says its mail-in ballot applications have not yet been distributed, and are not sent out unless requested. Those who do request one should expect to receive one in early October. Groups that have sent out unsolicited applications include the Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information, both of which describe themselves as non-partisan and not-for-profit, and the Republican National Committee, local officials said. Both counties elections offices say they perform regular maintenance of voter rolls, removing ineligible voters such as those who have passed away, moved out of the county or have been inactive for a period of time. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both allow voters to cast a ballot by mail for any reason, not just in the case of absentees who are out of the area for an election. Pennsylvania voters can visit pavoterservices.pa.gov to check their voter registration status and request a mail-in ballot application. For voters planning to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot Nov. 3, their completed application must be received by their county office by 5 p.m. Oct. 27 and be returned by 8 p.m. Election Day. New Jersey voters can visit state.nj.us/state/elections for an application to vote by mail or check their registration. To receive a ballot by mail, the application must be received by the county clerk seven days prior to the election. A voter may also apply in person to the county clerk until 3 p.m. the day before the election. In a response to the counties concerns, the Center for Voter Information based in Washington, D.C., says its role is to provide registered voters with the official vote-by-mail ballot applications available from their county or state, and to help register eligible voters. The group says that this month, as of Wednesday, it sent more than 3.8 million vote-by-mail ballot applications to registered voters in Pennsylvania. Were trying to make it as easy as possible for people to vote and if theres a certain redundancy built in where were sending something (a vote-by-mail ballot application) that the state or the county is too, well, thats good, a CVI spokesman told lehighvalleylive.com. The mail-in ballot applications are sent to registered voters who appear on the official voter rolls maintained by the state, according to the spokesman. CVI and its partner group, the Voter Participation Center also based in Washington, also send out voter registration forms to eligible voters. In the rare cases where a voter-registration application is mailed in error to someone, such as a deceased voter, the mailings clearly state that the application should simply be discarded, VPC says. County election officials provide an additional safeguard, to ensure legal voting. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Newly appointed Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has begun his official visit to Russia. Bayramov first visited the grave of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin walls, and laid a wreath on it, the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza reported. This was followed by the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister's visit to the Azerbaijani embassy and his meeting with Azerbaijani ambassador in Moscow Polad Bulbuloglu. During the visit, the minister met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, and will also hold meetings at the Federation Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of Russia. The meeting, which has begun in a tet-a-tete format, will be followed with the participation of delegations. "The heads of the foreign ministries will discuss the status and prospects of bilateral cooperation, key aspects of the regional and international agenda, including settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Jeyhun Bayramov is also scheduled to meet with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Averchuk and Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Russia and Azerbaijan are linked by the strategic partnership, built based on good-neighborliness, equality, and mutual respect's interests." The ministry recalled that the fundamental bilateral document is the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Security between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 3, 1997. The provisions of the Treaty were further developed in the Declaration of Friendship and Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 3, 2008. "We consider the upcoming visit in the context of the continuation of the Russian-Azerbaijani political dialogue, the further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation," the Russian ministry concluded. Many college campuses across the United States are seeing an increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases as classes resume for a new semester. According to a New York Times survey, there were at least 26,000 COVID-19 cases and 64 deaths in more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the country since the pandemic began. Texas A&M University reported that 500 students have tested positive for COVID-19 since Aug. 2. The University of Texas at Austin has around 483 COVID-19 cases. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has 269 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The University of Florida has 266 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease. Many of these cases are new infections from this month, but others may have shown up earlier in the pandemic. With the growing positive cases of COVID-19 in universities and college campuses, some have canceled their plans for in-person classes before students arrive. Canceled Re-openings Some of these universities, such as the University of Notre Dame, said it would halt in-person classes for two weeks beginning Aug. 18. The school has reported at least 448 COVID-19 cases inside the campus. School officials blame off-campus parties as to the cause of the surge in cases. Notre Dame's president, Rev. John Jenkins, said that the virus is a formidable foe. He added that for the past weeks, it has been winning. Tallying Cases Aside from the rising number of COVID-19 cases, there are other concerns that necessitate the enforcement of rules in campuses. According to reports, campus police can only do so much. There is also no provided tracking system on how colleges can tally COVID-19 cases in the university premises. These resulted in schools making their own rules in tracking COVID-19 cases. Some of the ways universities and colleges keep track of their students' state of wellbeing are via smartphone apps monitoring location and daily check-in forms. At Oakland Univesity, a plan to require all students to wear BioButtons was changed and strongly recommend wearing the health tracker after student complaints. A petition from Oakland students noted that many students are already hesitant. "Masks and socially distancing are understandable... but this seems like a large overreach in terms of student and staff privacy," the petition said. The BioButton is connected to an app on a smartphone, where it constantly measures heart rate and temperature. The Oakland University's website said they strongly encourage students to wear a BioButton as it strengthens their broader strategy to monitor everybody's safety on the campus. "We believe it is among the many ways we are keeping you and others safe. However, even if you don't want to wear the BioButton, there is value in carrying it with you when you are on campus because it can assist with contact tracing," the university's website was quoted in a report. Smartphone Tracker Students at the University of Tennessee will be required to "self-screen" for COVID-19 symptoms each day through an app before leaving their dorms. The app will ask questions about their temperature and other symptoms and if they have been exposed to anyone known to have COVID-19. Students and employees of Ohio State University will be required to report their temperature and health status through a mobile app before coming on campus daily. Check these out: Florida Teachers Sue State Over School Reopening U.S. School Districts Cancel Classes With Increasing Staff Absences Arizona Teacher Dies of COVID-19, 2 Co-Teachers Infected Students at Canyon View Elementary in Cottonwood Heights line up on the playground as they go back to school for the first day of classes for the Canyons School District on Monday,. Read more Whether your child is heading back to school in-person or youre preparing to kick off the school year at home, this years back-to-school season brings with it many new questions and challenges for parents: How will I get my kids to keep a mask on all day? How can I be sure theyre safe at school? Whats the best way to make at-home learning feel normal? On Tuesday, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia brought together two of its experts to field some of the questions parents are grappling with as they decide what is best for their child. Susan Coffin, an attending physician with CHOPs division of infectious diseases, and Katie Lockwood, a pediatrician at CHOP Primary Care South Philadelphia, shared advice for how parents can navigate the new school year. Choosing between in-person or virtual school is a personal decision Evaluate your schools reopening plan to make sure its following safety guidelines. Consider whether you trust the school to reliably implement the plan administration has developed and adjust it as necessary during the school year. If theres one thing weve learned about COVID, its that things change quickly, and schools must be able to adapt to changes, Lockwood said. Think, too, about whether your family can commit to following the schools safety protocol, including keeping kids home when they are sick and getting required immunizations. You should also consider whether your childrens social and emotional needs may be best met with in-person instruction, or whether they will learn effectively at home. READ MORE: For students with autism and severe disabilities, the pandemic is a disaster. What comes next? Teach children safety rules before returning to school in-person Before sending kids off to school, parents should talk to them about the importance of maintaining the new safety rules they adopted over the summer such as washing their hands frequently, wearing a mask, and social distancing from others when they go back to the classroom. The best way to teach a child to wear a mask is to set a good example wear your own mask when out in public and dont complain. Let your child choose a mask and practice wearing it at home, for instance while watching a favorite television show. Pick a good mask Fabric masks have become popular among families because they come in so many fun patterns. Make sure you choose a mask that has at least two layers of fabric, with a snug fit across the bridge of your nose, across your cheeks and around your jawline (or under your chin). Avoid masks that fit too loosely, as well as those with an exhalation valve. Lockwood and Coffin also advised against using bandannas or neck gaiters, both of which can allow air to flow through the bottom. Get updated on immunizations Many children may have missed routine checkups and immunizations because their pediatricians office was closed or limited to urgent cases during the last several months, but its important to get up-to-date as soon as possible. That includes flu shots for the entire family. We dont want the [diseases] we can protect ourselves against, like measles, to become another thing were up against, Lockwood said. One pandemic at a time is enough. READ MORE: Philly pediatricians: Lets not forget the diseases we can vaccinate against Take symptoms seriously If your child starts to feel sick or experiences flulike symptoms, call your family doctor rather than rushing to the urgent care clinic, where you may risk exposure. Your childs doctor can help determine what type of treatment is necessary by discussing symptoms and whether there is a chance the child was exposed to COVID-19. We dont have a crisp list, If you have these five symptoms proceed as if you have a cold, and if you have these symptoms proceed as if you have COVID, Coffin said. Context is everything. Expect to keep children home if they are sick. Children who test positive for the coronavirus will need to stay home for at least 10 days from when their symptoms started, and should not return to school until they have been without a fever for 24 hours and their symptoms are improving. Establish a routine for virtual learning Families that opt for virtual learning should try to establish a schedule that resembles an average school day: Wake up, get dressed, and eat breakfast at the same time every day. Dedicate a space in your home for school or use headphones to keep kids focused. Making sure your at-home school schedule includes regular breaks, including lunch and outdoor playtime, will help kids burn off energy and stay focused on their lessons. Set group rules for learning pods Families that dont want to send their children back to school may be considering a learning pod, in which a few families pool resources to create a mini-classroom of sorts outside of school. Parents may share the responsibility of leading a virtual class for a small group of children or hire a tutor. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters. Families considering this option should make sure all members of the pod agree to safety protocols in advance. Pods should follow many of the same guidelines as schools: mandatory masks, temperature screening, staying home when sick, and protocols for social distancing when away from the pod. FILE PHOTO: A healthcare worker seen wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while giving discharge instruction to people who have recovered from COVID-19 at a quarantine facility. (Photo by Herman Lumanog/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) By Cecilia Yap and Andreo Calonzo The Philippines House of Representatives on Monday approved the final version of a P165.5 billion ($3.4 billion) pandemic relief bill that would provide subsidies to the unemployed, loans to businesses and payment deferral for borrowers. The measure, which would also extend President Rodrigo Dutertes authority to refocus funds in this years P4.1 trillion budget, will be sent to him for signature after the Senates approval last week. Our biggest problem is that we dont have money. The economy is on a halt, Duterte said in a briefing televised Tuesday, adding that the government needs to make use of the budget wisely. Dont worry, all the money spent in our fight against COVID will be accounted for. The pandemic relief measure will also provide funds to hire more emergency health workers and at least 50,000 contact tracers as the country battles the largest coronavirus outbreak in Southeast Asia. About P40.5 billion ould be spent on health programs, while 55 billion pesos would go to government financial institutions as fresh capital, according to Senate finance committee chairman Sonny Angara. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. A man barely stands against typhoon-driven wind gusts on Jeju Island, Wednesday. Yonhap Powerful typhoon expected to hit Seoul early Thursday By Kim Se-jeong All domestic flights and ferry services were halted in Korea, Wednesday, as Typhoon Bavi pounded Jeju Island and southern coastal regions with powerful winds and heavy rainfall. No deaths or injuries have been reported so far. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Bavi was around 170 kilometers west of Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, as of 8 p.m. Wednesday, moving north at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. As the typhoon was predicted to hit Seoul between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Thursday, the KMA issued a typhoon warning in the capital, beginning from 11 p.m. Wednesday. Jeju International Airport canceled all 330 flights scheduled to depart and land on the island Wednesday. The airport also imposed a wind shear advisory, a warning for sudden changes in wind direction. New Delhi: After a break from filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan on Wednesday has returned to the shooting sets to face the camera all over again. On her return to the shooting space, the actor took it to the social media platform to express her excitement. She hopped to the Instagram stories and posted a picture of a camera. The 25-year-old actor wrote alongside: "Finally back to the first love of my life" followed by a heart emoticon. However, it is not yet clear what was she shooting for.Khan was last seen in Imtiaz Ali `s `Love Aaj Kal` where she is paired opposite to Kartik Aaryan. The upcoming projects of the `Kedarnath` star include `Coolie No 1`, a remake of Govinda and Karisma Kapoor starrer of the same name. Khan will be seen opposite Varun Dhawan.Besides, she has also been roped in for Bhushan Kumar and Aanand L. Rai`s next project `Atrangi Re`. The forthcoming movie marks the first film in which the trio of Sara Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Dhanush will be seen sharing the screen space. Annie Clark, who performs as St. Vincent, in her home studio: "I divide my life into albums." (Leah Lehrer) During a recent conversation, Annie Clark, the Grammy-winning musician who performs as St. Vincent, confessed that she had, quite literally, nothing else scheduled for the day. She had awakened, she explained, knowing that her only obligation would occur at precisely 2 p.m. "The crazy thing is, because there's nothing to divide a day, having anything on the calendar to do feels almost overwhelming," she said. "Like, what am I going to do now that I have this one 20-minute thing that must happen at this specific time? It's very strange. It'll be interesting to go back, in some way, to all the spinning plates." On Monday, Clark's new audio project, "St. Vincent: Words + Music," premieres on Audible, the online audiobook and podcast platform. A 90-minute first-person deep dive into her life and music, the program is interspersed with revelatory new versions of some of St. Vincent's most popular songs. She offers a fresh rendition of 2007's "Marry Me," for example, that highlights dizzying string arrangements absent from the original version. For St. Vincent obsessives, these versions are essential listens, as are her recollections on her early years as part of the Texas music collective the Polyphonic Spree and her decision to embark on a solo career under a pseudonym. For passing fans, Clark's conversational way of speaking about the evolution of her work across six studio albums (including "Love This Giant," her 2012 collaboration with David Byrne) provides a glimpse into her creative methods. An artist whose work has evolved from guitar-driven indie rock to increasingly experimental work filled with electronics and vocal effects, St. Vincent's music has at this point transcended genre. The project is part of Audible's "Words + Music" series, which includes "Patti Smith at the Minetta Lane," James Taylors "Break Shot," Commons "Bluebird Memories: A Journey Through Lyrics & Life" and Rufus Wainwright's "Road Trip Elegies: Montreal to New York." Story continues Clark, 37, recently spoke to The Times from her home in Los Angeles. "I have this theory," says St. Vincent, "that people who are creative for a living were really dumbstruck, creatively, by the pandemic." (Leah Lehrer) How much podcast and audiobook listening do you typically do? I'm obsessed with podcasts and audiobooks. I probably listen to more audiobooks than I do music. I mean, I certainly listen to music for enjoyment, for research, for just making sure I know what is happening. Luckily, maybe because I'm a musician, I can retain a lot of information that comes through on the auditory side. I mean, I've really been brushing up on my Stalin. You've brushed up on your Stalin? It makes me feel much better about where we are today. Because they had it bad. It's pretty bad now. It's really bad now. But it was worse. I'll go ahead and say it was worse in Stalin's Russia. So there we are. That makes me feel bright and sunny. I've been on a real Stasi Gulag Stalin kick for the past many months. Cold war, espionage all of it. You want to recommend any specific podcasts or books? Oh God, we shouldn't be talking about Stalin. This is already a disaster. I haven't done this in a minute, you know what I mean? I don't have my talking points all figured out. I hope this isn't a disaster. No, but if we lead with Stalin, it's not going to go well for me. Let's talk about this Audible thing, because it was a lovely experience. It was fun to take old songs and reinvent them. There's a version of "Digital Witness" on this that's really funky and I love it. I'm glad they gave me a reason to look at my back catalog and reinvent some old songs. Did you enjoy the process of recalling where you were in your life during various points? I did. I divide my life into albums, instead of the other markers of time that most people have. I can go, "Oh, I was in the middle of this tour, and this is what was going on in my life and this is what I was writing about as a result." That part of it was kind of an archaeological dig. You reveal a few experiences in the program about your family and private life. I didn't know, for example, about your father's white-collar crimes, which landed him in prison in the early 00s. Did you have any hesitation about engaging with parts of your life that aren't related to your music? I would have a long time ago, and I certainly did while it was all going on. I've always wanted people to enjoy and take in my music for what the music was. I don't want it to be like a piece of art on the wall that needs an explanation in order to enjoy it. I want it to be enjoyed and interpreted on its own merit. I don't think that it makes art more valid because it came from really horrible circumstances. I don't necessarily want to mythologize something that's actually quite normal. Things happen. And the crazy thing is to expect otherwise. I think that in the past I felt way more protective of my family and my privacy because he was still in there. But since then, he's been released, and we have a great relationship. It's been a wonderful story of reconciliation, change, forgiveness, all those things. That's why I feel fine about throwing it out there, because frankly, it had the happiest possible ending. Another story you share is about being groped during a performance while you were stage-diving, and reacting by hitting the fan with your microphone. Have you stopped stage-diving since that happened? Yes, stage-diving in that particular way. During the "Strange Mercy" tour, I was straight up hurling myself into the crowd and getting some pretty sick dives in. But then during the "St. Vincent" tour, I was definitely going into the crowd but more like jumping on the backs of security guards and running through that way. I still love the fan interaction. It's not necessarily the end of my stage-diving days. A lot of creative people I know are having a hard time with their muse right now. How are you doing with that? I'm doing OK. It's been a really productive time, but in a different way. I have this theory that people who are creative for a living were dumbstruck, creatively, by the pandemic, because we all need an element of chaos in our day to be able to grab inspiration. I know that's a cheesy word, but we need to be able to be walking down the street, see that strange thing that somebody did and think about it, metabolize it and write about it. People who are creative for a living have had a very hard time being creative during the pandemic. But a lot of people who aren't necessarily creative for a living are like, "It's a great time. I've finally learned how to knit and I finally wrote that short story that I'd been meaning to do." My informal poll of my fellow writers is that they're banging their heads against the wall. But other people learned how to crochet or how to play "Sweet Home Alabama," and that's awesome. Have you considered how you might present yourself as a performer going forward if, because of the coronavirus, the concert experience evolves into something unrecognizable? I think about it every day. I wouldn't imagine that things will ever be exactly back to normal, in terms of live touring. There's a whole lot of other ways to get creative about how to reach people. And not just how to reach people but have the actual intimacy and energetic exchange of a show. The need for that kind of communion isn't going to go away. I don't think that'll ever go away. It's going to change, and it's changed many times over the course of history. But yes, I think about it every day. I think things that people love, they're going to love even more, and they aren't going to fall for things that they don't love. Everything's been put into sharp focus. Everybody's figured out, more and more, what they actually need and what they don't in these crazy times. I certainly don't mean to minimize the actual human condition on the ground. But I think it's going to be an exciting time for art. And that's a silver lining. C Shivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI: With the decks being cleared to reopen the Koyambedu wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market, traders are mulling opening of shops on a rotational basis to ease congestion and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu state president AM Vikramaraja, who along with other traders held discussions with Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami on Monday, said the traders body will nominate 100 members to the committee on Thursday after holding a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam on Thursday. It is learnt that traders are working on various solutions to contain the spread of the virus including opening of shops on alternate days. Vikramaraja said this could help to ease congestion in the market. He said the traders committee will also monitor the opening of shops and the arrival of vehicles. A log book will also be maintained. ALSO READ: Reopening of COVID-hit Koyambedu wholesale market on cards next month after traders meet CM Similarly, a kiosk will be set up at the gate where traders will be sanitised and checked for any symptoms before entering and vehicles will be sanitised before being allowed in the market. "We are also coming up with other solutions," he said. Meanwhile, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority member secretary D Karthikeyan reviewed the work being carried out in the Koyambedu market. This included repair of the compound wall, electrical work as well as painting of the ceiling. Vikramaraja said traders have requested officials to complete the work in the next 10 days to pave the way for the reopening of the market. Vikaramaraja said the retail market will also function here but is likely to be out of bounds for the public. "We will also be restricting the movement of people and vehicles in the market," he said. Many retailers in and around Koyambedu said that once the market functions, the artificial price rise will be controlled. For decades, two major Muslim countries were engaged in a symbiotic relationship. Saudi Arabia showered its petrodollars on impoverished Pakistan, and in turn, Islamabads military prowess became a bedrock of Riyadhs security paradigm. But financial disputes, lackluster diplomacy, and controversial comments by leaders this month highlighted rifts between the Sunni powers and former staunch allies. As the media scrambled to capture the fallout of a statement by the Pakistani foreign minister demanding that Saudi Arabia play a leadership role in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, one possibility was largely overlooked: that Islamabad is seeking to redefine its relationship with Riyadh. Author Ayesha Siddiqa, a security expert, says Pakistan is reviewing its ties with Saudi Arabia. It wants to be less dependent on Saudi Arabia and is shifting toward [its rival] Iran, she told RFE/RLs Gandhara website. There is this expectation that with an Iran, China, Pakistan linkage around BRI [the Belt and Road Initiative], there is much more to be gained. Pakistan is looking to lessen its dependence on Saudi Arabia. In recent years, Islamabad and Beijing have touted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship BRI project, as a game changer for the region. Tehran is reportedly negotiating a landmark deal in which Beijing will invest some $400 billion in Iran over the next 25 years, including linking Iran to China via CPEC in Chinas drive to create a 21st-century New Silk Road to cement its global power status. If Pakistan hopes to get more from BRI, it wouldnt be bothered to keep bowing to Riyadh the way it has done in the past, Siddiqa said. This month, Islamabad turned to Beijing to quickly pay back a $1 billion loan to Saudi Arabia, which the latter recalled. Before visiting China on August 20, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his delegation represents the stance of the political and military leadership of the country. The next day, a joint communique by the two countries noted Beijings support for Islamabad in independently choosing a development path based on its national conditions. Siddiqa sees no major break between the two but rather a gradual shift in relations. If oil prices remain low, Saudi Arabia will have potential money issues. So, it cant be a potential cash cow for Pakistan, she said. Remittances from millions of Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are a lifeline for Pakistans struggling economy. Riyadh has repeatedly bailed out Pakistan by providing cash and loans on oil imports. In return, Islamabad has provided key security support to Riyadh including protection and internal security for the ruling Saud dynasty. What Pakistan can provide to Saudi Arabia in terms of security, no other country -- Arab or not, Muslim or not -- can provide, lawmaker Mushahid Hussain, chairman of Pakistans standing committee on foreign relations, told RFE/RL Gandhara. He says that since the 1980s a security agreement between the two has allowed the stationing of Pakistani troops and advisers on Saudi territory. Since then, tens of thousands of Pakistani troops have been stationed there, and both supported Afghan mujahedin against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in one of the largest covert wars in modern history. Currently, up to 4,000 Pakistani troops are believed to be in Saudi Arabia while former army chief Raheel Sharif and other senior officers serve as advisers to the Saudis. Their close cooperation led to speculations Riyadh could even deploy Pakistani nuclear weapons. This, Hussain argues, has kept Riyadh investing in a bilateral relationship with Islamabad. There is a strategic confluence of objectives and interests between Islamabad and Riyadh which remains unchanged despite some technical differences on some issues, he said. In Riyadh, an informal official statement echoed this sentiment. The Saudi-Pak historic partnership is too important to fail, Ali Awadh Asseri, a former Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, wrote in an op-ed. It will blossom in future, just as it did in history, defeating any attempt to sabotage it along the way, with the love and devotion of our two peoples. But his reaction to Qureshis August 5 call for Prime Minister Imran Khan to go ahead with or without Saudi Arabia" showcases the Saudis fears. The strategic partnerships between two nation states take years of patient hard work to build, Asseri said. Hence, they are unlikely to founder with the baseless rhetoric of a misguided individual that became the basis of the alleged rift in Saudi-Pak ties. Asseri highlighted what he sees as the futility of Pakistan exploring the possibility of an alternative Muslim bloc with Turkey and Iran. During the past year, Khan has publicly expressed enthusiasm for emulating Turkey and Malaysia and joining them in a new Muslim bloc. Reported Saudi pressure forced Pakistan to withdraw from a summit with Malaysia, Turkey, Iran and Qatar last December. While Qureshis outburst was a bit out of line, says Siddiqa, it showcased some new thinking about Saudi Arabia. The content of the message indicates a policy shift that has been coming about in the last two to three years, she said. In a commentary for Londons Royal United Services think tank, analyst Kamal Alam argued that a visit to Riyadh last week by Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was part of an effort to cement relations previously referred to as the closest of their kind without a formal treaty. Close military cooperation has been developed into a broader corporate relationship on a more equitable basis, rather than being characterized by aid and dependence, he wrote. But Bajwa didnt meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, arguably the kingdoms most powerful figure, which led to speculation that the most powerful official in Pakistan had been snubbed. This was virtually unprecedented, says Farzana Shaikh, a Pakistan specialist at the London Chatham House think tank. If there is, in fact, a move on Pakistans part to recalibrate relations, it would also be hard to explain why Pakistan would think the price worth paying would be the public humiliation of Bajwa -- Pakistans de facto leader. Shaikh says Islamabad might be inflating its role as Saudi Arabias sole defense umbrella. There have been reports in recent months of Egypt assuming an increasingly salient presence as the chief guarantor of Saudi internal and external security, she said. In recent decades, Pakistans foreign policy ambitions, however, have rarely been checked by its actual financial, military, and diplomatic weight. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to academician Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of Moscow State Institute of International Relations. "Dear Anatoly Vasilyevich, I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of your 70th anniversary. Accept my best wishes for your good health, happiness and well-being," the letter said. "You have been successfully heading Moscow State Institute of International Relations for many years. It is thanks to your efforts that MGIMO is rightly considered as one of the most influential and prestigious universities in the world," Azerbaijani president said. "As a great scientist, teacher and talented organizer, you are making valuable contributions to the training of highly qualified state and public figures, diplomats, journalists, lawyers who are worthily representing their countries on the international scene," Azerbaijani president said. "Dear Anatoly Vasilyevich, once again I congratulate you on your jubilee, and extend my wishes for a long life, new achievements and all the best," the head of state said. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has said that a biological warfare is being held in the world, the NSDC said on its website on Wednesday. "Today we for the first time are witnessing world biological warfare, the consequences of which have affected the whole world," Danilov said during a meeting with the ambassadors of Sweden and Finland to Ukraine, Tobias Thyberg and Paivi Laine. He also emphasized the importance of partner countries uniting efforts to combat these threats. According to Danilov, "cyber and biological threats are becoming even more frightful and dangerous than nuclear weapon" in the modern world." When U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal called for a breakup of Eversource on Monday, the immediate question was, Can the state even do that? Were talking about an $8.5 billion-a-year company that dominates electricity delivery in Connecticut and two other states Massachusetts and New Hampshire and has regulated natural gas and water utilities under its umbrella. The consensus among experts is yes, with a huge caveat the legal case could take years at huge expense, with no assurance the state would win the battle. The legislature and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority can, in fact, undo the very same mergers it approved years ago and force the companys Connecticut electric operations into a smaller, regional agency. What the legislature giveth, the legislature can taketh away, Blumenthal said in an interview Tuesday. In a 2011 study, the Connecticut General Assemblys Office of Legislative Research said as much. OLR determined that Connecticut statute allows the state to force utility companies to sell assets, if the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection determines a company has failed to provide adequate service for a period of at least five years. Long story short, were dealing with a highly regulated industry which happens to be the beneficiary of guaranteed rates of return, Blumenthal said. There is clearly a need for more robust intervention. Tying profits to performance, tying executive pay to performance, but breaking up Eversource is certainly an option. So the question becomes, is breaking up a massive utility company worth it and would such an undertaking actually result in better, more reliable and affordable power for Connecticut residents? That answer is complicated but Blumenthal, who was state attorney general for 20 years, thinks so. If Eversource behaved more like Norwich Public Utilities, consumers would have a far better life, he said. Some experts said breaking up the company would probably not be worth the effort and the risk. Breaking it up is a funny thing to think about, said Harry First, a professor at New York University School of Law and co-director of the law school's Competition, Innovation, and Information Law Program. In some ways it is broken up already, he said. The big restructuring in power was separating generation from transmission. Thats already been done. He was referring to a massive change that happened starting in the late-90s in Connecticut and other states, in which legislatures forced the regulated utilities to sell their generating plants and focus mainly on transmission and distribution. The idea was to create competition among independent, merchant electricity generators, to drive down price. It has not worked as well as many people had hoped. First made the point that even breaking up a large utility does not eliminate its monopoly status. The utility .... whatever its called and whoever owns it, is going to be the monopoly distributor of electricity into peoples houses. To restructure them wouldnt bring greater competition, it would bring different owners, which may be a benefit or it might not. First, who teaches a course on regulated industries such as public utilities and is an expert in antitrust law, pointed out that consumers will never have a choice of electric distribution companies, in part because no one will construct competing electrical lines. Making the company smaller would only result in new ownership that might have different priorities. The bottom line is however you break it up theyre not going to compete for your business, First said. Maybe theyll run more efficiently. But itll be more difficult to regulate. Arthur House, chairman of PURA from 2012 to 2016, said that while the agency and the legislature may technically have the ability to undo mergers it has previously approved, its a nightmare process that would result in years of work for full teams of lawyers on both sides of the issue. By the time that were resolved, the cause of it might even be forgotten, he said. Calls to break up the companys monopoly in Connecticut are cyclical, he said, usually prompted by a big storm that leaves people without power for days. So here we are again, he said. The public today is dependent on electricity. ... The disruptive fact in modern times can be enormous so you get public outcry after a storm. But you can never get to zero. You can never say that there will not be outages. We grow trees around here. There are going to be outages. The question is what is adequate preparation and what is adequate response? Eversource executives and Connecticut regulators said that in the several years before the recent storm, the companys performance was considered very strong. Gov. Ned Lamont, who also testified at a public hearing on Eversource rates Monday, when Blumenthal floated his idea, said he opposes a forced breakup. Lamont, instead, favors restructuring the way the utilities are compensated, to reward performance and punish failure rather than gurarantee a profit of about 9.5 percent. Blumenthal argues separating the part of the company that serves Connecticut the old Connecticut Light & Power subsidiary from the corporation that distributes power in other New England states would result in better service and, of particular interest, prioritize restoration efforts in Connecticut after a big storm. Most of the top executives, including CEO James Judge, are from the Boston area, he said although Eversource officially has joint headquarters in Boston and Hartford. Eversource was created in a 2012 merger that combined Hartford-based Northeast Utilities and Boston-based NStar. Both companies were themselves the products of years of mergers. In Connecticut, for example, CL&P was formed decades ago with the combination of companies including the old Hartford Electric Light Co. From the start, the company has said its size and scope would help the entire region. The combined company will have the scale, employee talent and financial resources to meet the complex and demanding energy needs of customers across New England and provide sustainable energy solutions that will support regional growth, Thomas May, then CEO of NStar, later CEO of Eversource, said in the merger announcement in 2010. Blumenthal acknowledged theres no guarantee service would improve or become cheaper for ratepayers in the state, but he insists the state consider regulating Eversource into a smaller, Connecticut-based company. Rather than force the company to do it, Blumenthal suggested providing incentives for the company to divest in Connecticut and sell its assets to local ownership to essentially regulate the company to the point that it is financially advantageous to exit the state. Im saying that a breakup of Eversource certainly seems potentially beneficial, and it ought to be considered, and advocated thoughtfully and ultimately the decision should be what best serves the public interest and ratepayers, Blumenthal said. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt After a year off school to campaign for tougher action on curbing climate change, Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg says she's returning to class. "My gap year from school is over, and it feels so great to finally be back in school again!" the 17-year-old said Monday on Instagram next to a photo of herself with a schoolbag on her back and her hands resting on bicycle handles. In Sweden, high school-level classes are returning to classes this week. It wasn't clear which school Thunberg was attending. The teenager shot to fame after starting her solo protests outside Sweden's parliament in Stockholm two years ago on Aug. 20, 2018. Students around the world soon began following her lead, staging regular large protests, and Thunberg was invited to speak to political and business leaders at U.N. conferences and the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. Last week, she and other young activists held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the climate. But the coronavirus outbreak has prevented the Fridays for Future movement that Thunberg inspired from holding its mass rallies in recent months, dampening its public profile. Associated Press 'Sister Wives' star's child has surgery The one-year-old daughter of "Sister Wives" star Maddie Brown Brush is "recovering beautifully" after undergoing an amputation operation. The baby, Evie, was born with FATCO syndrome (fibular aplasia, tibial campomelia and oligosyndactyly), a rare genetic condition that impacts bone development. "Evie received some major gifts for her 1st birthday," Brush captioned an Instagram post Monday. "Her surgeon laid the groundwork for her new foot and mobility it will bring, by way of a boyd amputation. Another gave her some extra mobility in her hand, by clipping her webbing she had in her right hand. She is home and is recovering beautifully." The post included a photo of Brush holding Evie, who had bandages on her left leg and right hand. Last October, Brush, 24, and her husband, Caleb, shared an Instagram post about their daughter's diagnosis in an effort help parents struggling through a similar situation. Tribune News 'West Wing' reunion aids voting effort Bring me the finest bagels and muffins in the land, because "The West Wing" is back kind of. The cast of Aaron Sorkin's White House drama will reunite for the first time in 17 years for a special theatrical stage presentation of the third season episode "Hartsfield's Landing," HBO Max announced. Rob Lowe, Dule Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and Martin Sheen will all reprise their iconic roles as West Wing staffers for the reading, which will be shot at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles in October. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "(Executive producer Tommy Schlamme) and I are incredibly excited to be getting 'The West Wing' cast back together for this staged reading and to support When We All Vote in their efforts to get all of us involved in this election," Sorkin said in a statement. The show will benefit When We All Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization co-chaired by Michelle Obama that aims to increase participation in elections. The episode revolves around a 42-voter New Hampshire town that casts its ballots eight hours before anyone else and, according to CJ Cregg, "has accurately predicted the winner in every presidential election since William Howard Taft." Tribune News Production resumes on 'Millionaire' Jimmy Kimmel may be off on summer break from his nightly talk show but production has resumed for his popular game show. ABC's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" reboot, hosted by Kimmel, returned to production on its second season, following shutdown in March. "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" was one of the last non-scripted shows to complete production, before the coronavirus crisis took hold in America. It shot eight episodes the weekend of March 14 without an audience. Season two will reportedly feature frontline workers and others severely affected by the pandemic. Tribune News After a private equity healthcare firm offered to buy Erlanger Health System for $475 million, County Mayor Jim Coppinger said, "Erlanger is not for sale - then or now." The county mayor received an eight-page offer for the long-standing public hospital from Joshua Nemzoff, president of StoneBridge Healthcare, which is described as an innovative company formed to buy, save and turn around deeply distressed hospitals in the cities and suburbs of America." The group said, "The coronavirus has created the worst financial crisis American hospitals have ever faced, depriving them of the revenue they need to stay alive. Many U.S. hospitals are close to running out of cash and the ability to operate. StoneBridge Healthcare was in the works long before COVID-19, but the disease has only accelerated the need for distressed hospitals to be saved. This is particularly true in underserved communities, where access to health care is limited and the loss of a hospital would be devastating." Mr. Nemzoff said, "We want to ensure that these vital places of high-quality care remain open and thriving for the communities they serve. Our experience, our financial investment and our commitment to expanding primary care into the urban areas we serve make our company the only one of its kind." County Mayor Coppinger said, "Erlanger is extremely important to our entire region and is second to none as a public hospital." Erlanger officials said, "StoneBridges proposal was presumably constructed with the belief that Erlanger is struggling financially. This belief is simply not true; Erlangers financial status is solid. A few key metrics for Fiscal Year 2020 that are important indicators of Erlangers financial status include: - Erlanger is expected to considerably outperform its current budgeted net income of $5 million. - Erlangers days of cash on hand exceed 100 days, a significant improvement during FY 2020. The unwavering position that Erlanger is not for sale is shared by the hospital Board, Mayor Coppinger and the Hamilton County Delegation, said Linda Moss Mines, Chair of Erlangers Board of Trustees. Erlanger is essential to our community and will continue providing exceptional care to all citizens. Our region has relied on Erlanger for over 125 years, and we will continue to be here for our patients. Erlanger is an essential civic asset for delivering innovative, high-quality medical care in this region, said Dr. William L. Jackson, president and CEO of Erlanger Health System. It is not only our responsibility, but also our privilege, to care for everyone in our service area. Without Erlanger operating as the publics non-profit, safety-net hospital, thousands of people would not receive the care they need. Erlanger has an honorable mission through the dedication of all 6,600 associates to make Chattanooga and the surrounding areas a better and healthier place to live and work. Click here for the Erlanger Offer To Purchase. Police have launched a murder investigation after a man was found stabbed to death in a London park. Yassar Mustakim Moussa, 37, was last heard of on Saturday evening and his body was discovered by a member of the public on Monday. The Metropolitan Police said he was found by a brook in St James Park and pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem found the cause of death to be a stab wound to the neck. Investigators said Mr Moussa, who lived in Walthamstow, was last heard from on Saturday evening and are working to establish the circumstances leading up to his death. Detective chief inspector Larry Smith, who leads the investigation, said: A mans life has been brutally taken and his body left in a park. We need to know the movements of Yassar from Saturday, 22 August and my team will be working tirelessly to identify those involved. Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses who may have noticed any vehicles hanging around the park entrances or any unusual activity in the park since Saturday evening. Someone out there knows what happened to Yassar and Im asking you to do the decent thing and speak up, DCI Smith added. Officers are conducting increased patrols in the local area as the investigation continues. It was the second fatal stabbing in London in recent days. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty A teenager was arrested on suspicion of murder after a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death during a fight in Brixton on Thursday. Anyone with information on the Walthamstow murder is asked to call 101, tweet @MetCC or contact, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The Congress in Bihar on Wednesday said it has withdrawn the suspension of Shakeel Ahmad, a prominent Muslim face of the party. The development comes amid the party's preparation for the upcoming assembly polls in the state. Madan Mohan Jha, the president of Congress' Bihar unit, confirmed the development. "After his return, the party will get more strength in Bihar," he said. Ahmad was suspended from the primary membership of the party in 2019 after he contested the parliamentary election as an Independent candidate from Bihar's Madhubani seat as he was denied a ticket by the Congress. The Congress is part of Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) in Bihar and as per the seat sharing formula, Vikassheel Insaan Party led by Mukesh Sahani was given the Madhubani constituency. Following that, Ahmad filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from the seat. He, however, lost the election to BJP's Ashok Yadav. Ahmad is a prominent Muslim face in his home state of Bihar and his return to the Congress may boost the party's prospects of drawing the votes of the minority community. As per the Election Commission data, Bihar has a total of 7,21,40,945 voters of which 17 per cent are Muslim. The Grand Alliance is aiming to fill all possible gaps in a bid to prevent any advantage to parties contesting the assembly polls under the umbrella of National Democratic Alliance. The alliance is working on the strategy of MY (Muslim-Yadav) and BB (Bhumihar-Brahmin) formula. Changing ties that naturally bind How are information, disease, and social evolution linked? Kyoto, Japan -- Animals use social information for a variety of reasons, including identifying new foraging areas or of threats from predators. However, gaining this information requires physical contact among individuals, an action that risks spreading contagion. This leads to an evolutionary trade-off: what information does an individual stand to gain at the risk of possible infection? Both social information and disease transmission are governed by our social structures, shaping how we live. Yet information and infection are rarely investigated as interactive factors driving social evolution. Publishing in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, a collaborative research group from Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute, Institut Universitaire de France, and the University of Strasbourg, describes the opposing evolutionary forces that give rise to the social networks of which we are a part. "We live in an increasingly connected world, and these connections bind us together in nature," explains study coauthor Andrew MacIntosh. "As such, we have always had to navigate the costs and benefits of social relationships, an experience that is shared with myriad other organisms that live in groups." But what governs the structures of our social worlds? Sharing information and cooperation ties us together, but the current global pandemic reminds us that there are limits to our social connectedness, demanding changes in our behavior. "Social animals face two key needs: access to information about key resources, and avoidance of pathogens that can make them sick," continues lead author Valeria Romano. The team began by reviewing literature on social transmission and the strategies employed by animals to reduce the costs of connectedness. They found examples where evolution has resulted in potential solutions to our ongoing social dilemmas protecting us from infectious diseases. Common strategies include individuals self-isolating, or uninfected individuals actively avoiding infected peers. The team then introduced an integrative theoretical framework for studying social structure as a dynamic system in which individuals constantly update their social behaviors to reflect both the benefits and costs of interaction. "British zoologist Robert Hinde -- one of the great thinkers in animal behavior -- established an evolutionary framework for studying the structures of animal societies," explains coauthor Cedric Sueur. "But he missed assigning a role for deleterious forms social transmission, like infectious diseases. By extending our analysis of 'connection costs' to Hinde's analysis, we've modernized his classic model." Although humans have evolved with and developed tools to protect ourselves from the spread of diseases, our own social networks are embedded within a much broader ecological network. "Covid-19 is the product not only of the global reach of our interactive networks, but also of our incautious exploitation of the natural world," MacIntosh concludes. "Social distancing and digital communication can slow the spread of pathogens, but more responsible interaction with nature might have mitigated its emergence altogether." ### The paper "Stemming the flow: information, infection and social evolution" appeared on 31 July 2020 in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, with doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.07.004 About Kyoto University Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia's premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at both undergraduate and graduate levels is complemented by numerous research centers, as well as facilities and offices around Japan and the world. For more information please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en Houston Chronicle Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. began to shut down its Pasadena Plastics plant Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Laura, according to an environmental notice filed to the state. Chevron Phillips Chemical warned the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that it started shutting down the plant at noon Tuesday and anticipates that the shutdown will last through Thursday. During the shutdown process, the plant may burn off chemicals that could result in air emissions including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and isobutane. WILTON All in-person learning is being delayed until Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day, the Board of Education unanimously decided in a special meeting held Tuesday afternoon. While both the board and Superintendent of Schools Kevin Smith were somewhat careful about tiptoeing around two largely publicized incidents last weekend involving large groups of Wilton High School seniors and other school-aged children along with their families that assembled in public parks without exercising safe protocol, this clearly played a key role in the decision. Smith said that in consultation with Barrington Bogle, director of health, it was noted that 14 days would have elapsed from last Sunday before students returned to classrooms. Bogles recommendation was to put the hybrid learning model on hold for a week or postpone the school start date of Aug. 31, which Smith said would have been extremely costly and demanded extending the calendar an additional week out in June. In a lengthy explanation of his decision and thinking process, Smith said many amongst his teachers were expressing great fear about the new school year, in part because they need more time to embrace the new technologies being used but also because of health concerns. More than 1,000 people tuned in to the 5 p.m. board meeting Tuesday, according to Chair Deborah Low, who refused to let six or seven public comment emails be read that came in before the meeting started because she claimed they included information that identified students in relation to the weekend incidents. I consider it personally identifiable information and so as a school board we do not read public comment that might be considered a confidential public record, she said. A couple of comments got through, however, with one Wilton High school teacher, Lara Fayek, stating that she is doing her part to help schools reopen safely and expects the community to do likewise by practicing mitigation strategies. I am keeping up my end of the bargain My fear is that the Wilton community will not uphold their end of the bargain, she wrote. This is frightening to me, one parent wrote regarding last weekends incidents. There need to be consequences to those who do not comply, she wrote. In approving Smiths recommendation, however, other board members stressed that they werent voting because of direct concerns relating to health and safety, but to give teachers more time to get acclimated. This isnt really a health issue because of what our kids have been doing, member Jennifer Lalor said. Its really that were just not ready. Thats what I want people to understand, she said. The comfort level of the teachers, I think, is very important, said member Gretchen Jeanes. Were hearing our teachers loud and clear, member Mandi Schmauch said. In the overview of his recommendation, Smith did highlight concerns he wanted everyone to be aware of relating to COVID case numbers. The trend in Wilton right now is worrisome, he said, noting five new cases over the last six days, which in essence doubled the towns previous monthly average. Also, we have to kind of look over our shoulders a little bit at Danbury, Low said. Danburys numbers are concerning. Smith shared his sympathy with families and acknowledged the difficulties the change may cause, but likewise he defended the decision, citing the enormity and complexity of the situation. Were in a pandemic Its exceptionally challenging, he said, stressing there was no playbook for executing an ideal reopening. I see my role as shepherding our administrative team, our teachers, our families, toward that common goal of providing and participating in a public education experience that is, number one, safe for all stakeholders, and number two of very high quality, Smith said. Thats been the mission from day one and that mission hasnt changed, he said. What has changed is that were in the midst of a global pandemic and there is no playbook for responding to these conditions that are on the ground today. Also avoiding direct comment on the recent incidents, Smith stressed there was a shared obligation, and noted that in order for the schools to expand to a full in-person model it was necessary that students and their families do their part. Thats everybody, and nobody gets a time out from that, he said. Its our civic and moral duty, Smith said. If we dont, than we dont get to have the kind of in-person schooling that were hoping for. Questions were brought up about whether the technology infrastructure in particular the new Schoology program is going to be ready for use and reliable. As a parent, I havent had much confidence in the technology that weve been rolling out, Schmauch said. It doesnt seem like were technologically there Is it gonna work? Smith said technology is always a wild card during a normal year, and noted that teachers have back-up plans, as well as back-up technologies to use. Still, he said in summarizing his recommendation, This is an extraordinarily heavy lift. I think its important to name the complexity and the challenge that weve placed in front of our teachers, he said. Seeking Japanese investment in the state, the government on Wednesday said it has already created a dedicated Japanese manufacturing cluster at a place close to the state capital here. This was revealed by Industries minister D S Mishra while participating in the India-Japan investment forum virtual conference organised by Indian Chambers of Commerce (ICC). To attract investors from Japan, the state government offered 3.53 square kilometre industry ready land near Bhubaneswar, the minister said, adding that the particular land parcel is a plug-and-play industrial land with a dedicated research lab, dormitories for employees, and other facilities required for new industrial projects. Odishas Industries department also listed out advantages available in the state which included a stable government, state-of-the-art industrial infrastructure, abundant natural resources and strategically placed coastline to attract investment from the worlds third-largest economy. The minister also outlined the steps taken to streamline the investment process and to create a business- friendly environment. "To support new industries planning to set up in the state, we have an efficient single window system which hand- holds them throughout the investment grounding process," the minister said. For investors intending to set up petrochemical units in Odisha, the state has 2,500 acres of industrial ready-to- set up plots near Paradip port, also home to a large crude oil refinery facility of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, said Industries secretary Hemant Sharma. "With abundant natural resources, surplus availability of power at a cost lesser than many other industrialised states of India and a strategically located coastline, within reach of the ASEAN markets could be the most promising investment destination for countries like Japan," Sharma said while wooing investors from Japan and other Asian countries. In a separate event, the Industries minister said that the state has made satisfactory progress in setting up of different industrial parks in different places of These industrial parks include a Plastic Park at Paradip, an Aluminium Park in Angul, Marine Food Processing Park at Deras near Bhubaneswar, Electronics Park in Bhubaneswar, PCPIR in Paradip and Ispat Cluster at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur. (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.) Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) and Premier Li Keqiang (R) arrive for the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 22, 2020. (LEO RAMIREZ/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Medias Delayed Coverage of Top Regime Officials Tour Reveals Internal Strife: Experts Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Chongqing city, which experienced severe flooding following heavy rains, from Aug. 20 to Aug. 21, but state-run media didnt report on his trip until Aug. 23an unusual delay for media outlets that typically provide constant coverage of top officials public activities. The media reports also focused on economic developmenta departure from the information about Lis trip that was posted on the Chinese central governments official website from Aug. 20 to Aug. 25. The website emphasized that Li had observed the effects of the flooding and encouraged locals to unite amid the catastrophe. China analysts say this inconsistency adds to mounting evidence of disagreements between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Li, and suggests internal strife within the Communist Party leadership. The state-run media intentionally didnt report on Lis Chongqing trip, but there was a shocking photo of Li in a cornfield posted on the Chinese central governments website. The photo forced [state broadcaster] CCTV to report on his trip on the evening of Aug. 23, wrote U.S.-based China political affairs commentator Zhong Yuan in a commentary published by the Chinese-language Epoch Times. The photo, taken in a flooded cornfield at Shuangba village in Tongnan district of Chongqing on Aug. 20, shows Li inspecting a corn crop that was destroyed due to the flooding. Unlike typical official photo ops that show pristine images, Li is shown standing in muddy water with dirtied rain boots. The Chinese regime doesnt want to expose any real catastrophe situations to the public, because the tragic lives that Chinese people have suffered will damage the regimes image and threaten its ruling, Zhong wrote. Thats why Chinas state media didnt report on the visit, even for an official as senior as premier, he added. 9 Economists According to Party ranking, as premier, Li oversees the countrys economic policies. During this years annual conference of the Partys rubber-stamp legislature in May, Li spoke about the economic effects of the CCP virus epidemic and the need to recover from the downturn. But during an economic seminar organized by Xi at Zhongnanhaithe Partys headquarterson Aug. 24, Li was conspicuously absent. State-run media Xinhua reported that Xi invited nine top Chinese economists to the seminar. Xi was accompanied by Wang Huning, head of the Partys Secretariat and leader of Chinas propaganda system, and Han Zheng, the vice premier in charge of Hong Kong and Macau affairs. Xi wanted to show that he is the real boss of the Chinese economy by organizing this seminar without Li. He wanted to tell people that Li doesnt make any decisions, said U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan. Since May, Xi and Li have issued conflicting comments regarding the state of Chinas economy. Xi emphasized that his goal for China is to become a moderately prosperous society, and claimed that China is advancing toward achieving that goal, with 400 million people in the middle class. During a speech at the May 28 session of the rubber-stamp legislature, Li revealed that 600 million Chinese only earn 1,000 yuan ($140) per month, which isnt enough to cover monthly rent on a one-bedroom apartment in a midsized Chinese city. Li also promoted the idea of setting up a street vendor economy to alleviate rising unemployment as a result of the pandemic. But state media such as Xinhua later criticized the policy idea, saying street vendors would damage a modern metropoliss image. Flood Visits Central and southern China have suffered historic flooding since June. On Aug. 18, Xi visited areas of Anhui Province, which was inundated after local rivers overflowed. This was his first trip to a disaster zone this year. But in photos printed in state media, Xi is seen only visiting unflooded areas. An insider from the Fuyang municipal government in Anhui told The Epoch Times that all aspects of Xis trip were well-planned, including where he went, who he met with, and the local people who would talk to him. The person shared the local authorities preparation documents, which revealed that locals were selected in advance to appear on state media. What they spoke aboutexplaining how authorities helped their plightwas also prepared ahead of time. Lis Chongqing trip was his second to a flood-damaged region this year. Unlike his first trip to Guizhou Province in July, when floodwaters had receded, Li visited flooded villages and towns on the second trip. At least 17 passengers and crew members were rescued from a yacht in Italy that caught fire and eventually sank on August 25, the Italian Coast Guard said. Video footage shows smoke clouds coming from the 155-foot yacht before it is eventually submerged in the water. The ship set sail from Capri, en route to Porto Cervo, Sardinia. The yacht launched a distress message at 6 am, which was picked up by coast guards in Olbia, according to reports. Two fast search-and-rescue patrol boats and a helicopter then attended the rescue operation. According to local reports, the eight passengers were from Kazakhstan. Credit: Italian Coast Guard via Storyful Two leading figures from Hong Kong's Democratic Party were among 16 people arrested in the latest police swoop against the city's pro-democracy movement on Wednesday. Police arrested Legislative Councillors Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui in relation to a protest in the suburb of Tuen Mun on 6 July last year. The pair were charged with conspiracy to destroy property and obstruction of justice. The Democratic Party said the two had been carrying out their duty as legislators on the day by liaising between protesters and police. Fourteen of the arrests were related to a now-notorious attack on commuters and protesters by more than 100 men believed to be linked to triad criminal groups on 21 July last year. A horde of white-shirted individuals stormed Yuen Long metro station in the north of Hong Kong and beat passengers and bystanders with poles and rattan sticks. Lam, despite being himself a victim, was also charged with rioting relating to the incident. He had arrived on the scene after hearing of a man being assaulted outside the station. He filmed the incident and was himself beaten, his injuries leaving him needing 18 stitches. The attack was also live-streamed and viewed by thousands across the city. Police accused of collusion in 2019 attack The pro-democracy camp has long accused the police of collusion in the attack, the authorities having on the night taken 39 minutes to respond to calls for help. Officers were also filmed chatting in a friendly fashion to some of the attackers. Forty-three people had previously been arrested in relation to the attack, with seven of them charged. The police defended the arrests in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. They said the journalists present at Yuen Long had shown only one side of the story, leading the public to believe it was an indiscriminate attack, and that they had failed to show protesters assaulting the assailants using a fire hose. This new version of events was at variance with the one the police have maintained since the night in question. The Democratic Party chairman of Yuen Long District Council Zachary Wong said arresting victims of the attack showed Hong Kong was becoming a police state. Even if the charges might not ultimately stand up in court, as has been the case with many arrests of protesters over the past year, it could leave both Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui open to disqualification from the Legislative Council elections, which were due to take place in September but have been put back 12 months, because of Covid-19. Dundalk-based firm Diaceutics PLC has announced that it has raised a further 4 million (4.45 million) in financing from Silicon Valley Banks UK Branch (SVB). This marks an increase from the last term agreed between the parties, when 2.5 million (2.78 million) was raised to support working capital needs during 2018-2019. The funding will be used by Diaceutics (or the Company) over the next three years to provide additional working capital as the Company continues its global expansion and accelerates product development, such as its DXRX platform the worlds first diagnostic network for precision medicine. Developed by Diaceutics, DXRX will enable the Company to meet the need for a global standardised diagnostic process by offering an end-to-end solution for the development and commercialisation of precision medicine diagnostic testing. It will significantly enhance Diaceutics service offering and enable it to meet the increased market demand being created by 1,000 new precision medicines currently in pharmaceutical company pipelines. Underpinned by Diaceutics database of more than 227 million patient records, the platform will enable the industry-wide collaboration required between pharmaceutical companies, laboratories and diagnostic companies to unlock the power of precision medicine and ensure every eligible patient gets the treatment they need, when they need it. This news comes off the back of a very successful 18 months for Diaceutics. Since its admission to the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange (AIM) in March 2019, the Company has gone from strength to strength. Its 2019 annual results saw a 30% increase in revenues to 13.4m (14.9m), as well as gross profit growth of 52% to 1.3m (1.4m). Earlier this month, Diaceutics also signed a new contract with a global pharma company with an initial contract value of $1.27 million. Diaceutics will provide the client with an end-to-end diagnostic development and commercialisation service which will help the Company to ensure that everyone who should be tested for their new precision medicine therapies, is tested and is tested efficiently. Commenting on the renewed partnership with SVB, Philip White, Chief Financial Officer, Diaceutics, said: Our research shows that currently half of patients are missing out on precision medicine drugs due to inefficiencies in the testing ecosystem. In addition, the average precision medicine drug is launched 4.5 years before its companion diagnostic test is readily available to the eligible patient population. We are actively working to reduce this lag time, driving testing standardisation through our services, enabled by our DXRX platform. The DXRX network, in which more than 20 million has already been invested, has the potential to completely transform the way key precision medicine stakeholders collaborate and to solve the problems facing the global precision testing ecosystem. We are delighted to secure this funding from SVB which will help to streamline the launch of precision medicine drugs by ensuring that laboratories are ready to accurately and efficiently test for each new drug on the day that it is launched. SVB has always been hugely supportive of our vision to make this a reality and help patients to benefit from better testing and better treatment. We look forward to seeing what the next three years hold, with their backing. Andrew Hunter, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Bank, said: We are excited to continue our relationship with Diaceutics, and to further support their teams next stage of growth. With a strong global client base, increased geographic expansion, and development of the DXRX platform, Diaceutics is very well placed within the rapidly evolving precision medicine market. Silicon Valley Bank is committed to working with innovative companies in Ireland and we look forward to partnering with Diaceutics as they further build on this market leading position. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Aben Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ABN) (OTCQB: ABNAF) (FSE: E2L2) ("Aben" or "the Company"), a Canadian gold exploration company developing gold-focused projects in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. President and CEO of the Company, James Pettit, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Pettit began the interview by updating listeners on the Company's current projects. "It was a slower start until we got the go-ahead from the provincial government," shared Pettit. "We made some changes and adjustments this year, and moved our camp to the top where we drill, instead of down on the valley floor near the air strip and highway. So, that added a little extra time," said Pettit, adding that the Company also decided to send the exploration crew to the camp for a little over a month to complete sampling and mapping before moving on to the next phase of the project. "What are the plans for drilling the rest of the year?" asked Jolly. Pettit shared that the Company's exploration crew analyzed an area near a former high-grade deposit zone and has decided to begin drilling at this site. This drilling will take place at the Forrest Kerr Gold Project and will facilitate the testing of high-grade surface samples. "Now we've got three to four pads that we will be putting the rigs on in that area," said Pettit. "It has started. The rig is on one, and we've probably almost finished the first hole," he added. "We will see what comes of it," said Pettit, noting the area's significant potential. "We're starting at about 2,000 meters of drilling," continued Pettit. "That's the methodology we're using and if we have success, we'll quickly raise more money and increase the program," he explained. The conversation then turned to the current value of gold, which has increased dramatically over the past year. Pettit shared that changes with the economy, as well as the environment caused by the pandemic, have acted as a catalyst in the rising value of gold, pushing investors to become increasingly interested in the gold market. Pettit then elaborated on the challenges of the Company's exploration schedule. "We're in an area where you really only get three to four months a year to work. So, there is an off-season there," explained Pettit, noting that this schedule causes the stock price to fluctuate. "It's a seasonal thing," said Pettit. "There are really high points and then it just levels back off again in the off-season." "It's starting to move right now, because I've announced that we've started drilling," continued Pettit, adding that the Company's stock began around 7 cents this year but has risen to about 15 cents with the start of the drilling program. To close the interview, Pettit encouraged listeners to consider the potential of the gold, silver, and copper industry, and shared that the Company is confident in their access to capital. "Right now, we're in a good position," he shared. "There's so much mineralization in that specific valley we are in, it's very unusual." To hear entire James Pettit's interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7667557-aben-resources-ltd-discusses-the-potential-of-their-new-drilling-program-with-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 Aben Resources: Aben Resources is a Canadian gold exploration company developing gold-focused projects in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Aben is a well-funded junior exploration company with over $1.0 million in the Company's treasury. For further information on Aben Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ABN), visit our Company's web site at www.abenresources.com. ABEN RESOURCES LTD. "Jim Pettit" JAMES G. PETTIT President & CEO For further information contact myself or: Simon Dyakowski Aben Resources Ltd. Strategic Advisor Telephone: 604-687-3376 Toll Free: 800-567-8181 Facsimile: 604-687-3119 Email: info@abenresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information. 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/62562 KITCHENER A 45-year-old Kitchener man faces various charges after police found him with a stun gun. Waterloo Regional Police were called by a resident to the corner of King Street East and Ottawa Street shortly after midnight Wednesday for a man holding what looked like a stun gun. Police said the weapon looked like a cellphone but was a functional conducted energy weapon. The man was arrested without incident. In addition to weapon-related charges, he faces drug charges and breaching court orders. Jacqueline Jossa showed off her golden tan as she stepped out in London on Tuesday evening, shortly after returning from a family holiday in Greece. The former EastEnders star gave onlookers a cheerful wave during an appearance on The Strand after enjoying a slap-up meal at ME London Hotel's STK restaurant. Opting for a thigh-skimming floral print dress, Jacqueline, 27, ensured she caught the eye while enjoying a rare appearance without husband Dan Osborne. Upbeat: Jacqueline Jossa was in high spirits as she stepped out in London on Tuesday evening, shortly after returning from a family holiday in Greece The actress added to her look with a pair of smart white leather ankle boots, while a matching handbag was her only visible accessory. Still bearing the golden tan she developed during her recent trip to the Greek islands with Dan and their children, Jacqueline looked fresh and vibrant while making her way into the street. Evidently in an upbeat mood following her summer break, the actress beamed as she prepared for the journey home. Looking good: Opting for a thigh-skimming floral print dress, Jacqueline, 27, ensured she caught the eye while enjoying a rare appearance without husband Dan Osborne She's pleased: The former EastEnders star gave onlookers a cheerful wave during an appearance on The Strand after enjoying a slap-up meal at ME London Hotel's STK restaurant Despite her chipper mood Jacqueline previously expressed her discomfort with Instagram filters as she prepared for her night out. Taking to the social media platform earlier in the evening, the brunette shared a video of herself getting ready while using popular filter Cute Baby. But she admitted the effect, which gives users glowing, line-free skin and clear piercing eyes, gave fans an unrealistic view of what she actually looks like. Here she comes: Evidently in an upbeat mood following her recent summer break in Greece, the actress beamed as she prepared for the journey home Finishing touches: The actress added to her look with a pair of smart white leather ankle boots, while a matching handbag was her only visible accessory Healthy glow: Still bearing the golden tan she developed during her recent trip, Jacqueline looked fresh and vibrant while making her way into the street She told followers: 'I truly believe these filters are not healthy. I don't look like this!' Jacqueline's latest Instagram post comes after she claimed that celebrities who edit their social media snaps must be 'insecure'. In a series of videos to Instagram Stories, she insisted she didn't have any qualms with making small tweaks to snaps, but thought it was a 'bit crazy' for users to completely change their body shape. Happy family: Jacqueline and Dan looked happier than ever as they holidayed in Greece with their daughters Ella, five and Mia, two, and Dan's son Teddy, six Rights Defenders Arrested While Premier Li Inspects Chongqing Chongqing City suffered the biggest flood in 40 years. On August 20, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspected the disaster-stricken area in Chongqing. It was reported that at least 11 Chongqing activists had been arrested, with their personal freedom restricted. As of the morning of Aug 21st, many activists had been missing. At noon on August 20, Chongqing human rights activists Chen Mingyu, Tan Junrong, Liu Gaosheng, He Chaozheng, Zhao Liang, Cai Bangying, and He Yan were stopped by a group of people on Huangzhu Road in Liangjiang New District. They were forced to be escorted into a car and taken to the Dazhulin Police Station of the Public Security Bureau in Liangjiang New District. They were shortly picked up and detained by the police from their resident districts. Chen Mingyu said that he was still under surveillance after returning home, and someone followed him when he went out. Navjit Bhasin, Founder and CEO of Newmine It is honor to be selected as a finalist for this award. Newmine is poised to revolutionize the way retailers view product returns and help them not only survive, but thrive during these unpredictable times Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced today the selection of Navjit Bhasin, Founder and CEO of Newmine, as an Entrepreneur Of The Year Award Finalist in New England. Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurial business leaders whose ambitions deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity as they build and sustain successful businesses that transform our world. Bhasin was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges, who evaluated Bhasin and his company, Newmine, based on six criteria, including overcoming adversity; financial performance; societal impact and commitment to building a values-based company; innovation; and talent management. Bhasin founded Newmine as a boutique retail consulting firm in 2011. Predicting the colossal problems product returns would have the retail industry, Bhasin united a team of retail experts to create Chief Returns Officer, the markets first AI-powered SaaS offering that helps retailers reduce returns. Newmine has made reducing product returns an easy and efficient way for retailers to improve their top and bottom lines and achieve financial success during a turbulent 2020. It is honor to be selected as a finalist for this award. Newmine is poised to revolutionize the way retailers view product returns and help them not only survive, but thrive during these unpredictable times, says Navjit Bhasin. Thank you to the dedicated and talented Newminers who turned the vision for Returns Reduction a reality. Award winners will be announced through a special virtual event in early October and will join a lifelong community of esteemed Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world. This year, unstoppable entrepreneurs who have provided extraordinary support for their communities, employees and others during the COVID-19 crisis will also be recognized for their courage, resilience and ingenuity. Receive up-to-date product, customer, and partner news directly from Newmine on LinkedIn. About Newmine Newmine was established in 2011 as a highly focused retail commerce optimization firm. Comprised of former retail and supply chain executives with deep experience in retail strategy, operations, and technology, Newmines vision is to ensure retailers thrive in a transforming world. In addition to their operations and technology consulting practice, Newmine seeks to disrupt the returns management market with AI-driven returns reduction solutions. Newmines Chief Returns Officer is an AI-powered platform that gives retailers a holistic view of integrated returns-related data from across the enterprise, prescribes corrective actions, and enables collaboration. Companies using Chief Returns Officer reduce return rates and improve their EBITDA. For more information, visit http://www.newmine.com. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. Winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy to learn more. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. France's interior minister has defended the right to sunbathe topless on beaches after social outcry over police ordering women to cover up. Two gendarmes in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, 70 miles south of Montpellier, asked three female sunbathers to put their tops on last week after a holidaymaker complained. The move caused a public outcry, with politicians from the centre, left and right uniting in condemnation - with one branding it a 'threat to our culture'. And Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin took to Twitter on Tuesday to condemn the officers' actions as he wrote: 'It was wrong that the women were warned about their clothing. 'Freedom is something precious. And it is normal that officials can admit their mistakes.' Two gendarmes in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, 70 miles south of Montpellier, asked three female sunbathers to put their tops on last week after a holidaymaker complained (stock image) The local gendarmerie has since acknowledged their actions had been 'clumsy' but said the officers only wanted to calm the situation. 'You will always see me in uniform,' the spokeswoman of the French gendarmerie Maddy Scheurer wrote on Twitter, adding a smiling emoji. 'But topless sunbathing is allowed on the beach at Sainte-Marie-la-Mer. It was clumsiness by two gendarmes who had the best intentions.' It comes after the actions of the French gendarmes prompted an avalanche of criticism on social media, where users wondered if the practice was now out of bounds. France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin (pictured) has now defended the right to sunbathe topless on beaches 'Is Sainte-Marie-la-Mer now Saudi Arabia?' wondered one user, while others slammed a creeping 'prudishness' in France. Topless sunbathing in France is legally not considered to be sexual exhibitionism although it can be halted by local directives outlawing certain styles of dress. But far from everyone in France takes their tops off on the beach these days and topless sunbathing has become less popular in recent years. Surveys show that younger women are increasingly concerned about sexual harassment and body shaming on the beach. Less than 20 per cent of French women aged under 50 now sunbathe topless, compared with 28 per cent 10 years ago and 43 per cent in 1984, according to a recent survey by pollster Ifop of over 5,000 Europeans including 1,000 French. This makes the French less willing to bathe topless than some other Europeans, with almost half of Spanish women saying they bathe topless and 34 per cent of Germans. Topless sunbathing first gained a foothold in France in the 1960s, as second-wave feminism swept through Europe and women demanded the same right to tan their upper bodies as men. The local gendarmerie in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer has since acknowledged their actions had been 'clumsy' but said the officers only wanted to calm the situation The Gendarmes' actions caused a public outcry, with politicians from the centre, left and right uniting in condemnation - with one branding it a 'threat to our culture' (stock image) Images of Brigitte Bardot sunbathing topless on the Cote D'Azur the same decade helped to make the gesture fashionable, while denunciations by the Vatican and Spanish church only increased its appeal. But it was in the 1970s, after a conservative attempt to ban the practice was defeated, that it became a point of national pride. Today, the right of women to sunbathe topless on beaches is seen as a sign of equality between the two sexes, and a sign of France's progressive attitudes. In the latest incident, witness Marie Hebrard told Channel 3 that she was sunbathing Sainte-Marie-la-Mer on August 20 when she saw the gendarmes approach a pair of female sunbathers. Topless sunbathing first gained a foothold in France in the 1960s, as second-wave feminism swept through Europe and women demanded the same right to tan their upper bodies as men (stock image) She said the officers had a short conversation with the women, who were left looking embarrassed and searching around for their bikini tops. The officers - one male and one female - then moved off down the beach, she said, before accosting another woman who was lying further along the sand. Ms Hebrard said she confronted the officers, who told her to 'move along' before leaving the beach a short time later. Local police chiefs later confirmed the incident, saying that the officers acted after a female holidaymaker complained because she had two children with her - and didn't want them witnessing it. As the news spread, it drew condemnation from all quarters including from an MP in the ruling La Republique en Marche party. Aurelien Tache denounced the incident as 'scandalous', adding: 'When will the state stop trying to give moral lessons, particularly to women? Everyone is free to dress or undress as they like.' Christine Pires Beaune, an opposition socialist MP, added that she was 'fed up with all these puritans and moralising people'. Finally, Jean Messiha, a prominent figure within the far-right National Rally party, branded the incident 'a threat to French identity'. The incident was revealed the day after a coronavirus outbreak was confirmed at the nearby nudist resort of Cap d'Agde There is no law against topless sunbathing or swimming on beaches in France, unless the act is prohibited by a specific local law. Councillors in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer have confirmed that no such law exists, and police were not given any orders to stop topless sunbathers. Police chiefs also clarified that there is no law forbidding the practice, saying that officers had attempted a 'clumsy resolution' after getting the complaint. They said the sunbathers were not ordered to cover up, but politely asked to cover themselves at the request of the other family. It comes just a day after an outbreak of coronavirus at a nudist resort just 45 miles from the beach, which prompted warnings from health chiefs that everyone is required to wear face masks. At least 95 people at the resort of Cap d'Agde, 30 miles south of Montpellier, have tested positive for the virus so far - with more results due this week. That is in addition to an estimated 50 people who reported falling ill after returning home from the holiday village. France made masks compulsory in all indoor spaces on July 20, with only very limited exceptions. The nudist resort contains multiple indoor areas, including shops, banks, restaurants, bars and clubs. Medics carried out 194 tests on visitors who volunteered at the resort on Monday last week, with 38 coming back positive, the regional health service said. Another 244 tests were then carried out on Wednesday, with 57 positive. Health officers carried out 310 additional tests on Friday, with results expected early this week. NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Braskem S.A. ("Braskem" or the "Company") (NYSE: BAK) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and indexed under 20-cv-11366, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Braskem securities between May 6, 2016, and July 8, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased Braskem securities during the Class Period, you have until October 26, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Braskem is headquartered in Camacari, Bahia. The Company is purportedly the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, based on the annual production capacity of the Company's twenty-nine plants in Brazil, six plants in the U.S., two plants in Germany, and four plants in Mexico, as of December 31, 2019. The Company's segments include, among others, its Vinyls Unit, which involved salt mining operations in Alagoas, Brazil. The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Braskem's salt mining operations were unsafe and presented a significant danger to surrounding areas, including nearly two thousand properties; (ii) the foregoing foreseeably increased the risk that Braskem would be subjected to remedial liabilities, including, but not limited to, increased governmental and/or regulatory oversight or enforcement, significant monetary and reputational damage, and/or the permanent closure of one or more of its salt mining operations; (iii) accordingly, earnings generated from Braskem's salt mining operations were unsustainable; (iv) Braskem downplayed the true scope and severity of the Company's liability with respect to its salt mining operations; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On April 2, 2019, media sources and, later, Braskem, disclosed that the Company had been sued by local authorities in connection with a geological event it had purportedly caused in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Specifically, Braskem disclosed, in relevant part, that the Company "ha[d] become aware, through the media, of a lawsuit filed against it by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Public Defender's Office, both of the State of Alagoas." The Company disclosed that the lawsuits were "requesting the freezing of amounts and assets in a total of approximately R$6.7 billion [i.e., 6.7 billion reais] to guarantee any potential damages owed to the general public affected by the geological phenomenon which occurred in districts near the rock salt extraction area in Maceio." On this news, Braskem's American Depositary Share ("ADS") price fell $1.60 per share over two trading days, or 5.98%, to close at $25.14 per share on April 3, 2020. Then, on January 3, 2020, Braskem disclosed that it had executed an agreement related to the aforementioned geological event that subjected the Company to further liabilities. Specifically, the Company disclosed that on January 3, 2020, it had executed an agreement with the Alagoas State Public Defender's Office ("DPE"), the Federal Prosecution Office ("MPF"), the Alagoas State Prosecution Office ("MPE"), and the Federal Public Defender's Office ("DPU") "to support the relocation and indemnification of residents of the areas at risk located in the districts of Mutange, Bom Parto, Pinheiro and Bebedouro of Maceio, Alagoas, as established in the agreement, which will be submitted to judicial ratification." Among other conditions, the Company advised that preliminarily estimates for the relocation established in the agreement involve approximately 17,000 people, with estimates to be recognized as provisions at approximately R$1.7 billion for the implementation of the relocation, and R$1 billion to close the Company's salt wells. Finally, on July 9, 2020, during pre-market hours, Braskem disclosed that authorities in northeastern Brazil had advised the Company that the geological damage from its salt mining operations was more widespread than initial estimates. Specifically, among other things, 1,918 properties needed to be evacuated because of the geological event associated with Braskem's mining operations, and Braskem estimated that moving the residents would cost the Company an additional R$850 million in possible payments to those residents, with another additional R$750 million in expenses to "definitively" shut down Braskem's salt mining operations. On this news, Braskem's ADS price fell $0.59 per share, or 6.20%, to close at $8.93 per share on July 9, 2020. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Related Links www.pomerantzlaw.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a five-day visit to the Middle East in Israel before travelling on to Sudan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Pompeo met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, where, according to the US State Department, the two discussed regional security issues related to Irans malicious influence, establishing and deepening Israels relationships in the region, as well as cooperation in protecting the US and Israeli economies from malign investors, meaning China. In a brief press briefing after their meeting, Netanyahu praised Washington for its unilateral sanctions regime against Iran, which he wildly accused of targeting countries with rockets, with terrorism, with pillage and plunder and murder all over the Middle East. He also boasted that the US would continue to ensure Israels qualitative edge in terms of military might in the Middle East, even as it steps up arms sales to the Persian Gulf oil sheikdoms. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. (Image credit: Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) While Israel likes to promote itself as Washingtons key ally in the region, Pompeo made it very clear who was the master in this relationship and that Chinas increasing trade and investment ties with Israel were unacceptable. The secretary of state allowed that the two discussed the challenge that the Chinese Communist Party presents to the entire world. The meeting followed the Security Councils refusal on August 14 to extend a weapons embargo against Iran when the current ban ends in October. Yesterday, the president of the Security Council dismissed the US demand to invoke the snapback mechanism and reimpose sanctions on Iran that were in place before the deal on Tehrans nuclear program in light of Washingtons unilateral withdrawal from the treaty. These setbacks have provoked a furious US response, accusing the opposing countries of supporting terrorists. Pompeo also met Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. Following the meeting, Gantz said the two countries would pursue an uncompromising line toward Iran, which he claimed was a danger to the world, the region and Israel. He added, We will act across diplomatic, defence and economic lines, and respond with force and determination so as to safeguard regional stability. We will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapons and will act on every front and by every means to prevent that. Most controversially, Pompeo broke with the tradition for sitting secretaries of state to avoid overt partisan political activity, particularly while abroad, using Jerusalem, which plays well with the Republicans evangelical base, as a backdrop to record a speech for the Republican National Convention. His visit to Israel comes in the wake of the US-brokered agreement between Israel and the UAE to normalise relations between the two states. The purpose of the agreement is to cement an alliance between the Sunni petro-monarchies and Israel against Iran. The normalisation of relations, which have been covert for years, is supposedly the quid pro quo for Israel halting plans to annex swathes of Palestinian land in the West Bank occupied since the June 1967 war. It thereby sidelines the fate of the Palestinians, which for decades had at least formally defined the Arab states attitude towards the Zionist state. More crucially, it is bound up with the Trump administrations maximum pressure sanctions regime targeting Iran. Tantamount to a state of war, these punishing sanctions are aimed at overturning Irans government and installing a client regime that would reinforce American hegemony over the resource-rich Middle East and strengthen its position against China. Israel, as Washingtons chief attack dog in the region, plays a key role in this offensive. Complementing Washingtons maximum pressure campaign against Iran is Israels own policy towards Tehran, known as the campaign between wars, involving attacks directed against Irans allies in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and aimed at preventing Iran from establishing an advantageous position in the event of a direct conflagration. This has included hundreds of attacks on Iranian-backed militias such as Lebanons Hezbollah and their weapons dumps and facilities in Syria, and on Syrian regime soldiers. Israeli politicians have begun to acknowledge quite openly that Israel is behind these attacks, transforming its so-called shadow war with Iran into a more open and direct conflict. Since 2018 and increasingly after the Trump administration unilaterally abandoned the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, this has evolved into the octopus doctrine, which Naphtali Bennett, later to become defence minister and now leader of the far-right opposition Yamina Party, described as going after the head, meaning Iran. He said, When the tentacles of the octopus strike you, do not fight only against the tentacle, but suffocate its head. Likewise with Iran. This now involves targeting Iranian advisers and officials and their facilities directly, rather than just targeting Iranian allies, with Israeli strikes believed to have killed dozens of Iranians in Syria in recent years after having been greenlighted by the Trump administration, as well as damaging or destroying installations in Iran itself. On Tuesday, Pompeo went to Sudan on what he said was the first official nonstop flight between the two countries. There he met Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sovereign Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to express support for deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship. This is a cover for discussing Washingtons conditions for supporting Sudans military-dominated transitional government. The new government was established following last Aprils ouster of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir, whose Muslim Brotherhood-aligned regime was backed by Turkey and Qatar, in a pre-emptive military coup that was backed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Sudan wants to be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, which is dependent on its finalising a compensation agreement for victims of the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Pompeos visit follows a meeting between Netanyahu and al-Burhan during Netanyahus visit to Uganda last February, which secured the opening of a new air corridor shortening Israeli flights to South America. However, Sudanese officials have sent mixed signals about the countrys willingness to establish official diplomatic relations with Israel, widely seen as a necessary but unpopular condition for US support. Pompeo was also to meet with the crown prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in Manama, which is home to the US Sixth Fleet and its 9,300 troops and their families. While Bahrain had been identified as one of the states likely to follow the UAEs lead, the countrys economic and military dependency on its neighbour Saudi Arabia makes this uncertain. Riyadh, which authored the 2002 Arab Initiative making normalisation with Israel dependent upon a Palestinian state, has refused to follow the UAEs example until Israel signs a peace deal with the Palestinians. Pompeo is to visit the UAE, which hosts about 3,500 US military personnel at its bases. It is a major purchaser of sophisticated US military equipment, including missile defences, combat aircraft and training and intelligence systems, and supports Washingtons policy toward Iran. Under discussion is the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets and other advanced weaponry to the country. Netanyahu has opposed the sale in order to prevent any Arab state from gaining military equivalency with Israel, and Abu Dhabi cancelled a meeting with Israeli and American officials to formalise normalisation due to Netanyahus opposition to the deal. But Pompeo dismissed his concerns with bromides about Washingtons commitment to maintaining Israels qualitative military edge as required by legislation passed in 2008. Pompeo pledged to bolster the UAEs defence capabilities, saying, We have a 20-plus year security relationship with the United Arab Emirates as well, where we have provided them with technical assistance and military assistance. He added, We will now continue to review that process to continue to make sure that were delivering them with the equipment that they need to secure and defend their own people from this same threat, from the Islamic Republic of Iran as well. He will conclude the Mideast tour in Oman, strategically located on the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the regions oil must pass. Israel had maintained secret links with Oman since the 1970s, even setting up an office there after the signing of the Oslo Accords, although this was closed after Israels brutal suppression of the Palestinian intifada in 2000-05. Relations have since warmed, leading to an official visit by Netanyahu to Oman in October 2018. Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and senior Middle East adviser, is set to follow up on Pompeos visits. Despite Israels pariah status in the Arab world, relations have become increasingly close. Egypt has played a key role in maintaining Israels 13-year-long blockade of Gaza, while Israel has bombed ISIS and other Islamist militias in the Sinai Peninsula to help Egypt and allowed Qatar to send millions of dollars every month to Gaza. Israel has supported Saudi Arabia against Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, citing Irans regional subversion, and steadily built covert links with Riyadh over recent years. Representative image 'Vocal for Local' the clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pave the way for a self-reliant India is slowly becoming the driving force behind a host of technological initiatives aimed at alleviating woes of the marginalised sections of the business community. Lokacart is one such initiative. The e-commerce platform, developed jointly by Professor Ganesh Ramakrishnan (Department of CSE, IIT Bombay) and Ashvin Gami (IIT-B alumni and MD, StrategicERP), looks to address inventory management woes of small businesses and farmers. The app has been developed for Android and iOS platforms. Speaking to Moneycontrol, Ramakrishnan said the app has been developed after gathering feedback through various meetings and discussions with farmers and farmer groups. "This app is tailor-made for small enterprises. The idea behind Lokacart was to complement the existing arrangements in the MSME market place. We did not want to disrupt existing arrangements of customers with their suppliers. Many other e-commerce platforms take the discount model. But we realise that every seller has an USP and therefore, we have stayed away from that model. There are a lot of hidden costs in the discount model and we don't want to overload the customer with these comparisons," he told Moneycontrol. In a country where adoption of digital payment methods among citizens is a work in progress, Ramakrishnan said Lokacart will draw upon the grassroot organisational strength of StrategicERP, who have field agents. "They are already operating in other areas and have channel partners. Lokacart will be leveraging that avenue as it is very robust. They will be able to guide the sellers on how to use the app," he said. Lokacart, which has over 200 vendors on board, is working on a model in which one percentage charge is levied on every transaction made from the seller's end. There is also a wallet feature which sellers can use. Lokacart is also planning to collaborate with government agencies. Ramakrishnan reiterated that the idea behind the app was to avoid adding another layer of middle-man and gradually progress toward eradicating the middleman menace. "Lokacart is a no-middleman kind of platform and I don't see any other platform offering the same service," he said. Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis The rally for Ashley Moore Tuesday began with the centering of Black transgender women and the hardships they face on a daily basis. As Newark residents, and folks from surrounding communities, gathered for a vigil honoring Moore, a 26-year-old transgender woman who was found dead outside the local YMCA on 600 Broad Street in April, the first speaker of the evening called every Black transgender woman in attendance to the front of the crowd. This is how it should always be when we are at a rally for trans (womens) lives matter, all women to the front and our allies surrounding us, Tahtianna Fermin told the crowd of about 50 people. If the police come, we sit, you stand up around us. Protect us. Fermins words set the tone for a vigil rife with emotions as activists called for both further investigation into Moores death and greater awareness of the issues surrounding other Black trans people in the community. Many said they suspect Moores to be a case of targeted violence against Black transgender women in New Jerseys largest city -- a suspicion law enforcement officials have not verified. My experience as a Black transgender female has been up and down, Fermin told NJ Advance Media Tuesday. I have had a lot of good experiences, but Ive had a lot of bad ones. Thats why I stand up for my transgender community. Nyella Love, one of Moores close friends, fought back tears and grief as she spoke about the type of woman Moore was. We both lived in a homeless shelter together called RAIN Foundation. That woman was a hardworking woman. All she did was work, cook and do what she had to do, Love said at the rally. Elaine Helms, who runs a shelter with the RAIN Foundation, previously told NJ Advance Media that Moore had stayed there for about a year beginning in 2017. Helms said Moore later transitioned to a longterm unit at the YMCA and had been paying rent there for about two years while working as a chef. Activists at the rally pointed to problems they say are pervasive in the Black trans community, including homelessness, discrimination and other forms of abuse, many times at the hands of Black men in their communities, multiple vigil attendees said. Its why they say they have adopted the phrases, All Black Lives Matter and Black Trans Lives Matter, to distinguish between the discrimination Black people face as a marginalized group in America from the specific forms of abuse Black transgender women say they deal with. Im 38 and the life expectancy for transgender women in my community is 35. Most of these girls arent going to make it to 35, Fermin said. It scares me that my mom and dad will one day (speak at a vigil like this for me). A vigil for Ashley Moore, a transgender woman found dead in Newark in April. Aug. 25, 2020. Keep up with the latest stories on race, diversity and inclusion in New Jersey. Sign up with your email: This year, at least 26 transgender or non-conforming people in the United States have been fatally shot or killed by other violent means, according to a study by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The HRC uses the phrase at least because many instances of violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people go unreported or misreported. In many cases people are misgendered. In a similar study by the HRC from 2019, at least 25 transgender and non-conforming people were killed or died by violent means that year. Ninety-one percent of them were women and 81% were under age 30, according to the study. Transgender demonstrators at Moores vigil said these statistics back up their real life experiences. The hardest thing that I have ever had to do is show up to this event right here, Fermin told NJ Advance Media following the vigil. (My husband and I) came here (from New York) with the intention of starting a new life. So the fact that Im not from New Jersey, no one knew me, I felt safe to be and walk like myself. But now just grabbing the mic and fighting for my rights is exposing me and who I am. For many who spoke, fighting for transgender rights can be sobering. Its very hard, being 21, seeing women younger than me, older than me dying every month, every day Love said. Its heartbreaking. Its depressing. Why do I have to be afraid to live? A vigil for Ashley Moore, a transgender woman found dead in Newark in April. Newarks Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose initially called Moores death a suicide. After receiving multiple follow up questions from NJ Advance Media about Moores case since July 31, Ambrose put out a statement on August 11 saying he reached out to the Essex County Prosecutors Office to ask for its Homicide Task Force to review her death. In a statement on August 13, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said his office believed Newark police followed all necessary policies and procedures around Ashley Moores death, but he acknowledged that the way the case was handled raised concerns of her family and the LGBTQ community. Baraka said he agreed with Ambroses decision to re-examine her case, as it was not initially ruled a homicide. In the aftermath of Moores death, the city of Newark has announced it will add a gender identity checkbox to police reports. The city also announced the creation of an LGBTQ hotline. City officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the vigil. Many vigil attendees said they want to see police body camera footage from the night Moores body was found. Theyre also hoping footage of the night in question, captured on city surveillance cameras in the area, will be made public. Moores mother, Starlet Carbins, lives in Massachusetts and has said she found out her daughter died days after her body was found. She found out on social media. Carbins made remarks via video stream at Tuesdays vigil. We are so angry at the mishandling of her case by so many authorities. And we have gotten to the point where we were so tired of fighting and it didnt felt like we were being heard, Carbins said. But I want to encourage you all, as Ive been encouraged, to not cease in seeking out truth, not just for Ashley but for yourselves. An online fundraiser has been launched by the Newark LGBTQ Community Center to help with costs associated with a deeper investigation. So far it has raised more than $8,000 of its $35,000 goal. A vigil for Ashley Moore, a transgender woman found dead in Newark in April. Aug. 25, 2020. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Tennyson Donyea may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - A humanitarian organization Wednesday raised the alarm on a spike in respiratory infections in Somalia due to a decline in primary health care visits Mexican students begin the new school year, resuming classes via television and online, as the country's pandemic death toll continues to rise. By James Blears The new academic year has started this week in Mexico, but children remain at home, doing classes via the television or the internet. Mexican Education Secretary Esteban Moctezuma says this is by far the best and the safest option for Mexico, pointing out that children in other countries have gone back to classes, and almost immediately new outbreaks have occurred. Standing alongside Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Moctezuma says that the main educational reliance is on television, because it has more scope and range than the internet for public education. However, many private schools have gone back to the internet formula. More than half of the countrys work force is employed in the informal economy, so they have to physically go to their jobs, often taking their younger children with them. The Education Ministry has established 160 telephone support lines, but with more than thirty million students, resources are thinly spread and sorely stretched. President Lopez Obrador claims the virulence of the virus is now waning, yet Health Officials confirm the death toll now exceeds 60,000 victims. Testing for Covid-19 has now dropped to three people per one hundred thousand. In June Deputy Health Minister and Covid Spokesman Hugo Lopez Gatell said that if deaths surpassed 60,000 by October it would be a catastrophe and the worst-case scenario. Now these words have come back to haunt him. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Economists always imagined urban economy as the engine of the economy. Rural economy was assigned the role of supplier of labour and agricultural inputs. It may had justification in the past given the lack of basic infrastructure in the rural areas. But not anymore. Although the world has changed, the urban-rural relationship has remained unchanged. Today's rural areas are endowed with the same basic infrastructure as the urban centres. There is no reason to keep the rural economy as an appendix to urban economy, no reason to send their labour as migrant labour to find livelihoods in the urban centres. If right institutions are built and right policies are adopted, they can find their survival livelihoods around their home. Rural economy must be built as parallel economy, an independent economy to open up opportunities for its own human and natural resources. Informal Sector or Micro Entrepreneur Sector Corona crisis revealed many weaknesses of Indian economy for example, helplessness of the people in the so-called 'informal sector'. They constitute majority of the work force of India. We saw how income of the daily income earners suddenly disappeared, how millions of migrant workers had no options but to head for home thousand miles away, on foot. Economic theory in its broad and impatient brush created a sector called 'informal sector' as a catch-all sector for those who could not yet enter the formal sector. It was a convenient way for the theory to keep these people out of their theoretical sight, and move on with the exciting sector they call 'formal sector'. Economic theory treats informal sector as a waiting room before getting entry into world of economic activities the formal sector. They argue that the bigger the population in the waiting room the less is the capacity of the economy, because the informal sector doesn't add any capacity to the economy. Job comes as the ticket to allow an individual from informal sector to enter into the formal world, or the economic world. Economists feel their only obligation to informal sector is to create jobs. Since jobs are in the urban centres they found it justified to remain busy with urban economy. That made informal sector and rural economy largely forgotten part of economics. Working for creating Grameen Bank gave me the realization that economic theory interpreted the situation in a completely wrong way. I saw the informal sector as the power house of the economy. I felt terribly unhappy that because of gross mis-conceptualization by theoreticians, so much human creativity gets wasted every moment. This mis-conceptualization is clearly reflected in the dismissive name they came up with for this sector, the 'informal sector'. Another strange name they use for this sector is 'unorganized sector'. It appears funny to me because economists, in the first place, refuse to make any effort to organize it, then put the blame on it by calling it an 'unorganized sector'. We can divide the sector in two parts, a) one part consisting of wage earners who sell their labour for a living, with traditional verbal contracts, and b) the second part is made up with people making a living by petty trading, or producing various products such as, handicrafts, household products, and equipments, or by offering services. I strongly felt that appropriate name for this sector should be 'Micro Entrepreneur Sector', to reflect what happens inside this sector and to recognize its entrepreneurial potentials. I see this sector as the creative hub of the economy. It thrives with natural energy of human beings. It is the seedbed of people's natural entrepreneurship. Many of the people in this sector are making a living by informal wage jobs, primarily because they could not find money to start a micro business. Since economists abandoned the informal sector, micro entrepreneurs remained deprived from the attention of the policy-makers, political leaders, legislators, and academics. On the other hand, with supports from academic and political sides, the labour in the formal sector continued to attract attention of the governments around the world, which led to establishing Ministry of Labour in every government. In the process labour got dedicated institutions for itself, and achieved many legal and political rights. In India, after many campaigns and struggles some micro entrepreneurs got recognition as formal labour by claiming themselves to be 'self-employed labour'. Unfortunately, it needed them to mis-categorise themselves as 'labour', to have access to some rights. Covid-19 revealed in a massive way how vulnerable the micro entrepreneurs are in an economy like that of India. It made it very urgent that the entire theoretical framework be reviewed and corrected by recognizing the 'micro entrepreneur sector' and bringing all the legal, politicalz, social and financial support for this sector. This sector should be recognized as the massive base of the national entrepreneurship pyramid which ranges from multi-billion-dollar entrepreneurs at the peak, and multi-hundred-dollar micro entrepreneurs at the bottom. Viewing them as the base of the entrepreneurship pyramid of the country it is easy to recognize them as the most important emerging economic force, rather than a burden on the society. Then policy goals become easy to visualize. These policy goals would be to support the micro entrepreneurs to achieve entrepreneurial successes by creating financial, legal, and support institutions dedicated to addressing their needs and problems. Government can start with providing legal support. Existing rules and procedures on how to register businesses, how to operate them within the limits of legal boundaries, how to interact with the government agencies, how to interact with tax authorities, etc, are all created by keeping large or medium size businesses in mind. If micro entrepreneurs are asked to comply with all these laws and regulations they'll be in a big crisis. These are way above their heads. They'll have no other way but to go underground, or give up their businesses and show up in the employment lines for their survival. To avoid such a situation government may take a general decision that no existing laws and regulations will apply to micro entrepreneurs, government will make separate set of laws and regulations specifically for micro entrepreneurs. To start the process government may start with making laws and regulations to support micro entrepreneurs, rather than to taking away any freedom they enjoy now. For example, government may recognize them as special category of business with a given set of rights in operating their businesses. The government may make it clear that only the laws and regulations made specifically for micro entrepreneurs will apply to them, not the pre-existing laws and regulations. Create Ministry of Micro Entrepreneurs A government traditionally has a Ministry of Labour headed by a full minister. This displays the political and economic importance given to the labour. Under the same logic I see it very important to create a Ministry of Micro Entrepreneurs to provide the legal, institutional, and political support to the micro entrepreneur sector. After all they constitute more than half the population of the country who remained neglected and abandoned for no fault of their own. If a government is interested in building rural economy as a parallel economy, in stopping migration of youth to the urban centres, in industrialization of rural areas by processing rural produce with rural labour, and in integrating women and neglected segments of the society into the mainstream economy, creation of this ministry will a powerful step and a clear message to the rural areas. Agency for Assisting Micro Entrepreneurs Parallel to creating new sets of laws and a regulatory system for micro entrepreneurs, the Ministry of Micro Entrepreneurs can create a separate government agency dedicated to helping the micro entrepreneurs to deal with all government offices and agencies. This newly created government agency, the 'Agency for Assisting the Micro Entrepreneurs', will be dedicated to making communication between government and the micro entrepreneurs very easy. This agency will interpret the language of the government to the micro entrepreneurs, and vice versa. It will protect the rights of the micro entrepreneurs. If any micro entrepreneur or group of micro entrepreneurs have any problem with any government office or agency, or any entities government, or non-government, they will bring their problems to this office. The responsibility of this agency is to resolve the problem by protecting the interest of the micro entrepreneurs. The staff of this agency should make themselves recognized as friends of micro entrepreneurs. This agency will also help micro entrepreneurs to establish their 'Chambers of Micro Entrepreneurs' at various levels, local, district, state, and national level, to interact, with other similar bodies, and the government. Nobody Has to Leave the Place of Birth to Find Survival Livelihood Corona Pandemic has brought a new opportunity for the whole world, to build the world with a new beginning, to abandon what anything that stands on way to building a new economy and a new society, and introducing the new ideas and concepts which will be the building blocks of the future. India must not miss this opportunity. India needs to take very bold decisions to redesign the economy and the society. Creating a people-centric economy must be the core of this programme. One core goal of this redesigning programme must be to make sure that nobody men, women, youth, has to leave his or her place of birth to find a survival livelihood. There should be enough opportunities for survival livelihood within the walking distance of one's own home. A concomitant goal should be that nobody has to go to a loan shark to take the initiative to become a micro entrepreneur. Financial institutions will be standing by to support the entrepreneurship of all people. No young person has to leave his/ her villages to go to urban centres to pursue quality higher education. Academic institutions of high standards will be available in the rural areas. Universities, IITs, IIMs, medical colleges, hospitals, business schools, research institutions will be built up to make sure rural people do not have to abandon their own villages for quality healthcare and education. India already has examples of world class academic and heath institutions located in remote rural areas. Now they stand out as exceptions. They have to be done as a matter of policy and a matter of right of the rural people. Freeing the Micro Entrepreneurs from Loan Sharks The moment we view the people in the informal sector as micro entrepreneurs, scope for building new institutions emerges right away. By building appropriate financial system for the rural area we can ignite life at the base of the entrepreneurship pyramid. Finance is the basic fuel of entrepreneurship. But fair financial services always remained far cry for the micro entrepreneurs. In the absence of any financial institution built for them, they remain to be the prime meat for loan sharks. Most of the micro entrepreneurs begin their entrepreneurial journey empty handed. Their entrepreneurial ventures start with financing from loan sharks, and they can hardly grow out of it because of the harsh conditionality of the loans. Micro credit emerged as a big new help for them, but it could reach only small part of them yet. Most important support for micro entrepreneurs will be to protect them from loan sharks. Recent Initiatives in India to Expand the Credit Horizon India has worked on the goal of expanding the credit horizon for over the last three decades by bringing access to credit to the poorer segments of population, particularly rural women, through microfinance programmes. While the access to formal credit has improved significantly, it is still long way to go for vast majority of micro entrepreneurs to free themselves from loan sharks. NABARD promoted the SHG model and provided refinance to banks who lent to such groups which came to be known as the Bank Linkage model. The number of borrowers under the SHG lending and the MFIs put together is estimated to be about 85 million. Commercial banks also work with MFIs as their channels for distributing priority sector loans and other government schemes such as MUDRA (Micro-Units Development and Refinance Agency) loans for micro-entrepreneurs. Microfinance has to depend on loans from banks, large NBFCs and equity from commercial venture capital firms. The result is the high cost of lending to small ticket borrowers and short duration of loans for their borrowers. Faced with the high cost of funds, the return-seeking MFIs focus on the low-middle income segment of the population. They added consumption loans in their portfolio to enhance profitability, deviating from the objective of microfinance to concentrate on income-generating loans. Being deprived from the permission to take deposit the MFIs remained as agents of the financing institutions without having any chance of ever becoming self-reliant institutions. True Microfinance is a Social Business Some MFIs were given a license to turn themselves into Small Finance Banks. With the requirement of high capital requirement it went to the hands of profit-seeking investors. I always draw attention to the fundamental features of microfinance institution that we developed. Basic elements in this financial institution are: a) it must be a social business bank, b) dedicated to rural poorest focusing on women, to support their entrepreneurship, c) it will be based on banking without collateral, d) and it will be a proper bank with deposit taking power to make sure it remains to be a financially self-reliant institution. Social business part of microfinance is not only completely forgotten, many microfinance institutions were created by enthusiastically promoting themselves as highly profitable businesses. We created microfinance institutions to fight loan sharks, but never thought a day may come when microfinance institutions themselves may become the tool in the hands of loan sharks. This abuse the concept of microfinance. became quite wide spread. We keep on drawing attention to the difference between true microfinance institution and wrong microfinance institution by insisting that a true microfinance institution must be designed and operated as a social business. Microfinance originated with Grameen Bank in Bangladesh by challenging the banking system. It pointed out that the real reason for not lending money to the poor by the banks, is not about the credit-worthiness of the people, as is usually explained, it is the absence of people-worthiness of the banks. Grameen Bank developed a daring concept of banking, banking without collateral, defying the existing banking norms. This became known as microcredit or microfinance. India adopted it and expanded to become it the largest microcredit programme in the world. Two basic features of microfinance are missing in India, a) running it as a social business (i.e. as a business without any intention to make personal profit out of it by the non-borrowers), and b) taking deposits. Now is a good time to integrate these two features in the Indian microfinance world. Will Microfinance in India survive Covid 19 Crisis Now corona crisis has given rise to a new question can microfinance in India survive this massive crisis. Given our experience in Bangladesh, the answer is a firm 'yes'. Bangladesh goes routinely through floods and cyclones, destroying houses, possessions, animals, businesses, even taking lives. But microfinance always bounces back. Poor people's lives are woven with endless disasters. Coping with disasters is an integral part of microfinance. Grameen Bank made sure its staff understood that microfinance is about people, not about money. Money is a tool to give the people a chance to fight for their lives. Micro Entrepreneur Bank for Micro Entrepreneur Sector Micro entrepreneur sector as a whole deserves a new class of dedicated financial institution, as Social Business Micro Entrepreneur Bank (MEB). Entire micro entrepreneur sector will dramatically change if it is created by passing a new law, if needed. MFIs and small finance banks can take up leadership role in creating social business MEBs. It will be made legally mandatory to make all MEBs as social businesses. Social business is a business with zero personal profit, aiming at solving of specific problem faced by people. This is a very important feature to be built into any financial institution built for the micro entrepreneurs. Given the tradition of loan sharking, financial institutions built for micro entrepreneurs quickly start imitating loan sharks in their operations. If there is no bar on taking personal profit from MEBs investors looking for high profit will rush to it attracted by the size of the market. Safest thing to do is to close the door for personal profit by requiring by law that MEB to be social business. Existing commercial banks, small finance banks, cooperative banks, any other financial organizations, NGOs, companies, individuals, MFIs may apply for MEB license as a subsidiary or as a new entity. MEBs may create Social Business Venture Capital Funds as their subsidiaries to provide equity to unemployed young people to become entrepreneurs The goal of MEBs would be to free all micro entrepreneurs from loan sharks formal, and informal. Dedicated Regulatory Authority is Crucial for Success Another important aspect to ensure success of MEBs is to create a dedicated regulatory authority. If MEBs are regulated by regulators who are not well-versed with the concept and the creativity needed for the operation of financial institutions for the poor, it will be doomed to failure. Unsympathetic regulators can destroy the entire possibilities of financial institutions for micro entrepreneurs. To achieve success the best thing to do is to create an autonomous regulatory authority under the chairmanship of the Governor of RBI. Bangladesh created a Microcredit Regulatory Authority as an autonomous entity headed by the Governor of the central bank, by an Act of Parliament back in 2006. It contributed significantly in the success of micro-credit system in Bangladesh. MEB Should be Created as a Rural Institution In order to make rural economies as independent economies one fundamental requirement would be to create institutions dedicated to rural areas. Historically urban institutions were extended to the rural areas to fill the need for institutional services to rural areas, ignoring the fact that urban institutions were not good fit for rural areas. They were not enthusiastic about doing this job either. As result rural areas never had the opportunity to grow in its own way. MEBs could be the first step to create rural financial institution exclusively dedicated to the needs of the rural areas. To make it grow as a rural institution the headquarters of MEBs should be located in rural areas. It should mobilize rural and urban deposits to benefit the rural micro entrepreneurs, in contrast to urban-centric banks which mobilize rural deposit to transfer it to urban areas. Government may encourage all commercial banks and financial institutions to create social business MEBs as rural subsidiaries serving rural micro entrepreneurs. To encourage them government may give incentives to banks and all financial institutions such as providing preferential treatment in their core businesses depending on the size of their MEB operations. In addition to dedicated social business MEBs, there should be exclusively designed social business venture capital funds, social business investment funds, social business insurance companies, and so on. Time is Right Creation of Social Business Micro Entrepreneur Bank is the key to unleashing the entrepreneurial power of masses and creating the rural economy as a parallel economy to the traditional urban-centric economy. Given the right conceptual framework and appropriate institutions and policies, rural economies can be strong economies dealing with the rest of the world. With information and communication technology covering all rural areas in India and cleaner air quality, if we can add good political leadership, presence of quality educational institutions and healthcare facilities rural areas will enjoy many advantages over urban centres as a choice of location for many businesses. Transporting unprocessed agricultural inputs and sending migrant labour to the cities can be made a matter of past. It is the new vision of rural economy which will make this happen. Time is right for this new vision. By Professor Muhammad Yunus Nobel Peace Laureate 2006 Founder of Grameen Bank Honorary Member of the Nizami Ganjavi IC Euphoria star Jacob Elordi and actor Tommy Dorfman set the internet ablaze on Wednesday after sharing a cozy portrait of platonic love on Instagram. Jacob and Tommy made themselves a trending topic when Dorfman, 28, shared a sweet photo of Elordi smooching Tommy on the cheek while the pair hugged each other tight. Letting the image speak for itself, Tommy captioned the snap: ' @jacobelordi.' Platonic love: Jacob Elordi and Tommy Dorfman set the internet ablaze when they shared an affectionate moment in a new Instagram post It seemed like a fun outing for the duo, who embraced while outside of a Cowgirl Coffee in the resort town of Whitefish, Montana. Tommy and Jacob also appeared to enjoy the great outdoors while in Big Sky Country. They also shared a photo of themselves soaking in the sun while cruising around on a boat wearing swim trunks. It looked like the friends were ready to make a splash, since a wakeboard latched to the boat could be seen behind them. Big Sky Country: It seemed like a fun outing for the duo, who embraced while outside of a Cowgirl Coffee in the resort town of Whitefish, Montana Making a splash: They also shared a photo of themselves soaking in the sun while cruising around on a boat wearing swim trunks Tommy and Jacob have been friends for sometime, seen hanging out at Saint Laurent's Pre-Golden Globes Party with Kaia Gerber and Tommys husband Peter Zurkuhlen this past January. Last September the Tommy/Kaia/Jacob clique was seen leaving the French fashion house's Paris fashion show together. While fans squealed about the potential pairing, Tommy and Jacob are simply friends. Just friends: Tommy and Jacob have been friends for sometime, seen hanging out at Saint Laurent's Pre-Golden Globes Party with Kaia Gerber and Tommys husband Peter Zurkuhlen this past January. They're ficutred with Sam Evans (far left) above Tommy - who came out as non-binary in 2017 and uses they/them pronouns - has been married to actor Peter Zurkuhlen since 2016. Jacob - who has never spoken about his sexuality with the press and has only publicly dated women - has been more coy about his relationships. He previously dated Kissing Booth co-star Joey King but has most recently been linked to his Euphoria co-star Zendaya. The Aussie actor and former Disney Channel star sparked romance rumors earlier this year after being spotted in NYC and Jacob's native Australia together, but have since been quarantining on separate continents. Vietnam has recorded a number of relapse cases a few days or even a month and a half after patients were discharged from the hospital. Are these cases infecting the community? Inside the SARS-CoV-2 virus lab at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Photo: T.Ha Hanoi has just announced that patient number 348 in Bac Tu Liem district is positive again 15 days after discharge. Meanwhile, the central province of Quang Nam has reported that patient number 564 got Covid-19 again after four days of recovery, and Ho Chi Minh City has also found that patients 368, 397, and 1007 are positive with coronavirus again. Particularly, patient number 930, who had Covid-19 in Russia in June and recovered, on August 10 was tested in Vietnam and showed positive results for SARS-CoV-2. In the previous outbreak period, Vietnam also reported more than 20 relapse cases. Are Covid-19 relapse cases in Vietnam dangerous? Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Society of Infectious Diseases, said that it is not new to see relapse cases of covid-19 infection. It is similar to many countries around the world, so people should not be too worried. According to Kinh, relapse cases in Japan and China did not infect anyone even though they returned to the community. Those who had close contact with these people were also negative. Most of the relapse cases had no clinical signs, and the patients were completely healthy. In Vietnam, when the virus taken from relapse cases is re-cultured, the virus does not develop. The F1 cases do not infect with the virus. Our observation shows that the relapse cases have not infected the community, Prof. Kinh said. Prof. Kinh said the Realtime RT-PCR test has a sensitivity of up to 98%, but it is only a genetic code test of the virus, not a detection of the whole virus. Therefore, it is more likely that the relapse cases are only ARN fragments of the virus (virus corpse). Dr. Le Thi Quynh Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, explained that to be transmitted to others, the SARS-CoV-2 virus needs three factors: first, the virus must be healthy; second, it must multiply and have a certain concentration; thirdly, it spreads to the weak, because if the person is healthy, when the virus enters the body, it will be knocked out and destroyed. However, virus culture results from relapse cases over a week showed no multiplication, and insufficient concentration of infection to cells or amplification on cells, so it is impossible to infect others. In order to limit relapse cases, in the latest Covid-19 diagnostic and treatment guidelines, the Ministry of Health has raised the standard for announcing that a covid-19 patient is cured: three consecutive negative tests instead of two tests as before. Thuy Hanh Hanoi restaurants set up shields to prevent COVID-19 Many restaurants throughout Hanoi capital have put up transparent shields and arranged seats in a way to maintain a safe distance between customers, in an effort to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 17:50:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The rejection of U.S. bid in the UN Security Council to take actions to return sanctions against Iran showed U.S."global isolation," Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations said in a statement, according to Tasnim news agency on Wednesday. "Today's deliberations in the UN Security Council showed once more the U.S. isolation" as per its moves on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the Security Council Resolution 2231, the statement was cited as reading. "Given that the stated objective of the U.S. is to destroy Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA, Iran trusts that the council members will continue preventing that country from undermining the UN, including the security council," it added. The chair of the UN Security Council, Dian Triansyah Djani, said Tuesday that he would not take any action on a purported U.S. notification for a "snapback" mechanism on sanctions against Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last Thursday submitted Washington's demand for the return of all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran. But the overwhelming majority of UN Security Council members hold that the U.S. move does not constitute a "notification" as envisaged in Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Iran nuclear deal. They argued that the United States has no right to invoke the "snapback" mechanism as it is no longer a participant since it withdrew from the deal in May 2018. Under Resolution 2231, any participant state to the Iran nuclear deal can notify the UN Security Council about an issue that it considers a significant violation of the agreement. The UN sanctions in place before the adoption of Resolution 2231 in July 2015 would then resume 30 days after the notification, unless the council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. Enditem The city is not sending an effective message about the need to wear masks and to practice social distancing, according to three Jacksonville residents who voiced their concerns during Mondays Jacksonville City Council meeting. Our Town Books owner Jessica Gale said she was concerned after observing staff at other businesses who either werent wearing a mask or were wearing it improperly and reading comments Mayor Andy Ezard made in a Journal-Courier article about west-central Illinois mayors reluctance to implement local ordinances mandating mask use and imposing fines on those who do not comply. Ezard told the Journal-Courier that the city was not at the point where it needed such an ordinance and that many in Jacksonville are taking the precautions seriously without such an ordinance. Khara Koffel and Carolyn Oldenburg, both of Jacksonville, also addressed the council. It concerns me because Im concerned about the health of our community, Gale said. I think a great step to set a better tone would be if the mayor and the city endorsed the mask regulations. Developing a community compliant with public health guidelines is as important as the City Council considering how to attract new people and businesses to come to Jacksonville, Koffel said. I think we have to make a community and help build a community that follows the rules and that respect each other, Koffel said. The mask issue needs to move beyond politics and be more about keeping our people safe and keeping our community safe, because if we dont have those things then we dont have anything to offer. Gale said she is not advocating for an ordinance that would fine people for non-compliance. Rather, she wants city officials to set a tone for the rest of the community by showing their support for Gov. J.B. Pritzkers mandate. The possibility of a small fine for businesses should be available to send a message, Gale said. Koffel, the owner of Serious Lip Balm, said the risk of the continued spread of COVID-19 is both a public health issue and an economic issue for the city. If the virus spread enough that Morgan County businesses had to shut down again, it would be very damaging to small businesses, Koffel said. Serious Lip Balm, which works with Elm City Rehabilitation Clinic to produce its line of products, could be dealt a major blow if Elm City were to shut down during the busiest time of year for Koffels business, she said. If we continue being reckless with mask-wearing, were going to be shut out during our busiest time of the year, she said. And that could kill our business. Outbreaks in schools and at Illinois College could be inevitable if proper precautions arent followed in the community, Gale said, adding that testing for COVID-19 is not as available as it should be in Jacksonville. While saying city officials have advocated for wearing masks and following social-distancing guidelines, Ezard again asked residents to take the precautions seriously, both so the county does not backtrack into Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan and to be respectful of those around them. From Day One we told people they should be wearing masks, Ezard said. Nobody wants to see us go down to Phase 3. Alderman Steve Warmowski said most state laws on mask-wearing have enforcement mechanisms for businesses. Police Chief Adam Mefford explained during the meeting that people can call Morgan County Health Department if they see that a business is not properly requiring the use of masks and social distancing, and business owners can call the police to help expel any customer who refuses to comply with mask-wearing, Warmowski said Tuesday. Linda Day who works with environmental health at Morgan County Health Department can field calls concerning businesses not complying with the use of masks, Warmowski said. But Mefford also said it would be hard for Jacksonville police to conduct spot checks on businesses to ensure masks are being worn correctly, Warmowski said. Gale said she would not call the police if someone was not wearing a mask at her business and she does not believe getting the police involved is the solution. She encouraged anyone concerned about mask compliance to email their aldermen. Im hoping that my statements and the statements of the other people at the meeting planted a seed in some of their minds to reconsider their position as it affects the health of our community, she said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 22:15:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday it has registered nearly 44,000 people as missing in Africa with nearly half of them being children. The charity said Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Libya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon make up 82 percent of ICRC's missing caseload in Africa. Sophie Marsac, regional advisor for the missing and their families in Africa for the ICRC, said the move comes at a time when restrictions put in place to curb COVID-19 create new challenges in searching for missing people "This caseload is a drop in the ocean to the true scale of people whose family members are searching for them," Marsac said in a statement issued in Nairobi ahead of the Aug. 30 International Day of the Disappeared. "Conflict, violence, migration, and climate shocks have not stopped separating families in the pandemic, but our work to find missing people has become even harder," she said. The highest among them is Nigeria which at nearly 23,000 people is ICRC's largest caseload of missing people in the continent, driven almost entirely by the conflict in the northeast of the country. "All seven countries have seen a rise in the number of people registered with the ICRC as missing in the first half of 2020," it said. "Many countries suspended domestic travel between states or provinces, making it more difficult for searches to be done over wider geographic areas. Access to places of detention, where the ICRC would look for cases, is suspended in some places to limit the risk of COVID-19 exposure," said ICRC. The ICRC called on authorities to acknowledge the tragedy of missing people and the impact that it has on families and to do everything in their power to prevent people from going missing, take measures to search for those who are missing, and to provide information to families on the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. "International Day of the Disappeared should remind us that an untold number of families in Africa are searching for a loved one, many of them parents looking for a child," said Marsac. "Families of the missing often suffer psychologically and face economic and legal challenges. The tragedy of missing people is a humanitarian crisis and one that cannot be forgotten as the world focuses on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," she added. Enditem Flash Giant panda Mei Xiang is expected to "test" her newborn cub's tolerance to resting on the floor over the next several days, Laurie Thompson, assistant curator of giant pandas with the Smithsonian's National Zoo, said on Tuesday. Thompson, in an update, wrote that Mei Xiang placed the cub on the floor of the den briefly in the morning. "Eventually, she will briefly leave the den to get a drink of water and urinate," the curator predicted. "If the cub vocalizes, Mei Xiang will quickly return to care for it." She added Mei Xiang and the cub "continue to do well," as the female giant panda shifts from a resting position to a nursing position. Besides, Mei Xiang "occasionally holds the cub delicately in her mouth." Mei Xiang, 22, gave birth to the cub on Aug. 21, the seventh since she and male giant panda Tian Tian began living in the zoo in 2000. Three of her cubs have survived to adulthood. She was artificially inseminated in March this year with frozen semen collected from Tian Tian. Veterinarians confirmed evidence of a fetus on an ultrasound earlier this month. Tian Tian will turn 23 years old on Aug. 27. The national zoo said it will make a panda-friendly fruitsicle cake for him. The zoo in Washington, D.C. has a decades-long partnership with Chinese scientists and curators on conserving giant pandas. Its current cooperative breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association will expire later this year, but zoo chief Steve Monfort told Xinhua on Saturday that they are "going to come up with a really good agreement pretty soon." With 67,151 fresh cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 1,059 deaths in a single day, Indias tally has crossed 3.2 million, according to the Union health ministry on Wednesday. The death toll due to the viral disease has gone up to 59,449 and the number of active cases is 707,267, according to the health ministry dashboard at 8am. India reported its first Covid-19 fatality in mid-March and over 22,000 deaths have been recorded in August so far. Recoveries saw further increase with 63,173 Covid-19 patients being cured between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, data showed. There have been 2,467,758 discharges till date, which has taken the countrys recovery rate to 76.29%. The health ministry had said on Tuesday that there has been a steady decline in the positivity rate of Covid-19 despite an exponential increase in testing, underlining that the number of active cases has reduced by 6,423 in a day for the first time. Rajesh Bhushan, Union health secretary, said the positivity rate of Covid-19 has come down to 8% now from 11% during the first week of August on the basis of a seven-day rolling average. Bhushan also said 36% of the deaths have been reported in the age group between 45-60 years and 51% deaths in people aged 60 and above. He added that 11% of deaths were reported in the age group of 26-44 years and 1% each among people aged 18-25 and those below 17 during a press briefing. Covid-19 fatalities include 69% male and 31% female, he added. The testing for the disease has been increased from 363 tests per million per day on August 1 to more than 600 tests per million per day at present, with India having tested nearly 3.7 crore cumulative Covid-19 samples so far, Bhushan said. India, which is the third worst-hit country, had reported the highest number of new Covid-19 cases globally on Tuesday for the 18th straight day, ahead of the United States and Brazil. By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov has said that the negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict "must be substantive rather than an imitation of the negotiation process." Bayramov made the remarks on August 26, during his first visit to Russia since his appointment as the country's Foreign Minister. Addressing the presser following the meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Bayramov said that Azerbaijan's position on the settlement of the conflict is based on the norms and principles of international law, as well as the documents adopted by international organizations, primarily the resolutions of the UN Security Council. I would like to emphasize Azerbaijan's constructive position in the process of negotiations on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. For almost 30 years, despite the occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, Azerbaijan continues to participate in the negotiation process, he noted. The minister stressed that Azerbaijan supports a political solution to the conflict. There is a sufficient legal basis for resolving the conflict. Negotiations should be conducted in accordance with the documents adopted by international organizations, first of all, four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and a number of documents adopted by other international organizations in recent years, Bayramov added. The ministry also said that Azerbaijan pins special hopes on the active role of Russia in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. With regret, I would like to note that there has been no progress in the settlement of the conflict. Armenia continues to hold 20 per cent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory under occupation, Bayramov said. The minister said that Russia is the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the largest regional power with long-standing close ties with the South Caucasus region. Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Bayramov pointed out that the regions Azerbaijani population have been expelled from their homes and Armenia is currently illegally settling in the occupied territories ethnic Armenians from abroad, including from the Middle East, which constitutes a gross violation of international humanitarian law, primarily the Geneva Conventions. The minister noted that Armenia continues to undermine the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE. He reminded Armenias military provocation on the border on July 12-16 that killed Azerbaijani servicemen and a 76-year-old resident of an Azerbaijani village. The minister underlined that Armenia made an attempt to seize Azerbaijani territories during the attack on the border Tovuz district. Furhtermore, Bayramov emphasized that all actions and statements that harm the negotiation process must be condemned by the international community, especially the co-chairs of the Minsk Group. In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that it is important to provide the necessary atmosphere for a sustainable negotiation process to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our common attitude, as I understand it, is to continue the settlement process. And in this sense, it is important to provide the necessary atmosphere in order to establish a stable, sustainable negotiation process. Negotiations are not for the sake of negotiations, but of course, aimed at achieving a peaceful solution to the Karabakh issue, Lavrov noted. It should be noted that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is in a visit in Azerbaijan and was received by President Ilham Aliyev on August 25 and Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov. On the same day, Shoigu and Hasanov attended the opening ceremony of annual Sea Cup miliary competition held in Baku as part of the Army Games competition held by the Russian Defence Ministry annually. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Four people are dead after a two-car crash in Cottrellville Township Aug. 25. Troopers from the Michigan State Police Lapeer Post were dispatched to the area of Broadbridge and Starville roads for the crash at about 4:05 p.m. Police said a preliminary investigation showed that a westbound vehicle struck a vehicle that was traveling south on Starville Road. Both vehicles ended up in the wooded area off of the roadway, where one of them caught fire. A 37-year-old male from Lapeer, a 34-year-old male from New Baltimore, a 40-year-old male from Cottrellville Township and a 37-year-old female from Cottrellville Township all died as a result of the crash. There were no survivors, police said. The vehicles involved, a 2020 Ford Expedition and a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe, were each occupied by two people. The crash remains under investigation. The Michigan State Police was assisted at the scene by the St. Clair County Sheriffs Office, the Clay Township Police Department, the Ira Township Fire Department, Tri-Hospital EMS, Daves Towing, and ML Chartier Excavating. MediaNews Group staff President Donald Trump declared three weeks ago that he was going to take care of jobless Americans with an executive order giving them a $400 weekly boost in their unemployment benefits. But when workers receive the new payments and the amount theyre getting is varying widely by state. The uneven distribution of the aid is the result of politics and outdated computer systems. Some governors have hesitated to apply for the money, criticizing the program as too expensive because states must contribute $100 toward each payment. Other states are taking the money, but they say they need more time to get their archaic computers to spit out the checks. The moneys supposed to be a stopgap as Congress remains stalled over whether to restart payments of $600 in extra federal benefits that expired July 31. The new program got a cold reception from states and unemployment experts who warned the system would be difficult and time-consuming to put into place. But with Congress at an impasse over how much unemployment aid to provide in the next pandemic relief package, some states like Florida have decided to move forward and apply for help despite initial hesitations about how the program would work. Heres how the patchwork implementation of Trumps Lost Wages Assistance program is affecting workers: Some workers are already getting paid. So far at least 42 states have applied to the federal government for the money and 32 have been approved. The funds come from a $44 billion pool of disaster relief aid thats doled out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But only four states say theyll be paying out the benefits by this week. Unemployed workers in Arizona started getting benefits on Aug. 17, just two days after FEMA approved the states application to the program. And laid-off Texans were issued their first checks with the extra $300 on Sunday. Since that time Texans have received $424 million in benefits from the Lost Wages Assistance program, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Story continues Still, not everyones getting the money in those states. Trumps order stipulated that workers must receive at least $100 a week in benefits to be eligible for the extra payments. That rule excludes 347,700 Texans from the program, the commission said. Missouri and Louisiana also say theyre expecting to start sending out checks this week. Some will need to wait at least a few weeks or longer. States including Alaska, Maine, Georgia and Mississippi say theyre reconfiguring their computer systems to handle the new payments, a process that will take anywhere from a couple of weeks to more than a month, depending on each states capacity to program often-outdated systems that have already been strained by historic levels of unemployment. Other states, like Alabama, are still waiting for the money to come through from FEMA before they start sending out checks. Utah, Rhode Island, Kentucky and Connecticut are hoping to start paying out the money by mid-September. California says it will start shelling out the benefit sometime next month. Colorado, Indiana, Maryland and Oklahoma are aiming to begin sending checks toward the end of September. Alaskans could be waiting into October. The state was approved to participate in the new program on Aug. 23, but eligible Alaskans will have to wait six to eight weeks, Cathy Munoz, deputy commissioner of the states Department of Labor and Workforce Development told POLITICO. Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, Montana, Iowa, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington and Michigan have all applied for the benefits, but havent released dates when they expect to begin sending out the checks. A person looks inside the closed doors of the Pasadena Community Job Center in Pasadena, Calif., during the coronavirus outbreak. Not everyone will get $400. States have the option of using their state unemployment benefits which a worker would be receiving anyway to cover the cost of the $100 that they are supposed to contribute. That means a large swath of workers will only see their benefits payments increase by $300. Other states, like Kentucky and Montana, are using federal emergency coronavirus aid money allocated under the CARES Act to cover their share of the cost, so workers will see a full $400 increase. In Vermont, where the state government expects to start paying out the benefits in the coming weeks, Gov. Phil Scott has requested $20 million from the state legislature so the state can add the full $400 to each benefits check. As more states start paying benefits, the money will run out more quickly. The amount of funding available from FEMA to cover the benefit is limited and the more states that apply, the more quickly the pot will run out. Experts predict the funds will be exhausted in five weeks. At least 10 states West Virginia, Illinois, Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio and Wyoming have applied for the program but have not yet been officially approved. FEMA is trying to ration the $44 billion pool of disaster relief money by initially awarding states the benefits for three weeks. After that, the states will receive the federal share of the payment on a weekly basis to ensure that "funding remains available," the agency said. Some states may never make the payments. More than a dozen states and U.S. territories havent applied for the program yet. Their main concern is how to pay for their $100 share of the extra benefits. While states can use CARES Act funding to pay for their $100 portion, some cash-strapped state governments have been holding on to that money, hoping that Congress will provide them with the flexibility in the next aid package to plug budget holes caused by declining tax revenues. Other states are already struggling to pay out their regular state jobless benefits, and have had to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. The nonpartisan National Governors Association has expressed concern about the significant administrative burdens and costs Trumps program places on states. State officials say they also are concerned that Congress will eventually restore the original $600 extra weekly benefit in another pandemic aid package, creating a potential accounting nightmare for the states to clean up. Anna Gronewold, Katy Murphy, Gary Fineout and Katherine Landergan contributed to this report. COLUMBIA FALLS, ME - Wreaths Across America is asking residents to stand outside and wave a flag for one minute at 8:46 a.m. and then again at 9:03 a.m. on Sept. 11. At 8:46 a.m. Sept. 11, five hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 11 and flew it into the northern facade of the World Trade Center's North Tower. At 9:03 a.m., five other hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the southern facade of the South Tower. Accoding to a statement: Following the events of 9/11, three women, Elaine Greene, Joann Miller and Carmen Foote, were moved to find an old American flag they had stored at home and stand on a hill in Freeport, Maine, waving the flag to honor victims. These women became nationally known as The Freeport Flag Ladies, and have raised the flag every Tuesday morning for the following 18 years. After they retired on Sept. 11, 2019, the following Tuesday, September 17, 2019, Wreaths Across America took the helm and continued the weekly flag waving tradition along US Route 1 in Jonesboro, Maine, on land donated by the organizations founder Morrill Worcester leading to the new Acadia National Cemetery. Since that time, Worcester has added a mile stretch of American flags (105 in total) on both sides of the road that lead to the entrance of Acadia National Cemetery which will open to the public for the first time on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. Worcester also donated the land for this new National Cemetery to be built in his hometown. Each Tuesday, we are joined by dozens of members of the local community and curious people stopping to be part of something meaningful, said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America, and wife of Morrill Worcester. Especially over the last six months, this flag waving has taken on new meaning for us all and given a spark of hope and patriotism during this difficult time in our country. Participants are encouraged to take video and pictures of their participation in the national flag waving and share them with Wreaths Across America, their family and their friends. Use the hashtag #FlagsAcrosstheCountry and #AmericaStrong when posting on social media and tag the Wreaths Across America Official Facebook page. Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization best known for placing veterans wreaths on the headstones of fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. However, the organization, in total, places more than 2 million sponsored wreaths at over 2200 participating locations nationwide and offers other programs throughout the calendar year. These programs remember the events of 9/11 in their own way such as The Mobile Education Exhibit which will be visiting Kentucky in September and will join in the national flag waving effort. Radio host Michael W. Hale of Wreaths Across America Radio will hold on-air tributes, and the on-line store will be selling #AmericaStrong signs made by the brother of Lone Survivor Marcus Lutrell (who gave a special family message during the Wreaths Across America Virtual Concert now streaming on Showcase NOW). Sponsor a wreath for $15 at https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/. Each sponsorship goes toward a balsam veterans wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all veterans laid to rest Dec. 19, 2020, as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. Red Cross calls for blood donors FARMINGTON - During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood or platelets to support kids, teens and young adults battling cancer, as well as others in need of transfusions, according to a statement. The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 15,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year. Childhood cancer patients may need blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications, according to the Red Cross. Cancer and cancer treatments can put patients at risk for low red blood cell and platelet counts. Some types of chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, lowering the production of red blood cells and platelets. Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma attack the bone marrow as well. Blood and platelet transfusions can enable patients to receive critical treatments needed to fight and survive cancer, members said. Blood and platelet donations are needed to ensure blood products are available for pediatric cancer patients and others throughout this pandemic. As a thank-you, those who come to give Sept. 4-8 will receive a pair of Red Cross branded socks, while supplies last. Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood drives are also essential in helping ensure blood is available for patients this winter. To learn more and sign up to host a blood drive this fall and winter, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive. Division seeks alumni for reunion FOX LAKE, ILL The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who served in the Army's 2nd Infantry Division at any time. For information about the association and its 99th annual reunion in Kansas City, Missouri, Sept. 23-27. Visit www.2ida.org/99th-annual-reunion/ or contact Bob Haynes at 2idahq@comcast.net and (224) 225-1202. The gang of eight most wanted suspected armed robbers, including the notorious Musa Taj Abdul (46) and their police officer host who were arrested in a major raid in Beitbridge on Monday, is now in Harare for further investigations. A manhunt is in progress for four other suspects who managed to escape during the raid. The eight arrested were moved to Harare under heavy Support Unit guard on Tuesday by CID Homicide. An application was made to the Harare Magistrates Court for a warrant to hold the armed robbers a little longer for questioning at Harare Central Police Station. Warrants of arrest for Abdul go back to 1999, with further warrants in 2005 and 2006. He managed to elude all attempts to handcuff him until Monday. Others have warrants outstanding from 2018 and 2019. Of the four who escaped when a Beitbridge house was raided, Abednigo Dhlamini and Elias Mpofu, alias Jabulani or Obasanjo, are believed to have crossed into South Africa, but Brian Murape and Carlington Marasha are suspected to be still in Zimbabwe. The gang is suspected to have committed most of its robberies in Harare. Police have been chasing Abdul for close to two decades, but his run came to an end on Monday when he was grabbed together with a fired former Masvingo Central police officer Rudolf Kanhanga alias Tapiwa Munatsi (29), Liberty Mupamhanga (29), Prince Makodza (31), Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Charles Lundu (47) and Innocent Jairos (32). A silver Noringo pistol with an obliterated serial number and a magazine with 11 rounds, 1912 bore gauge live rounds in a webbing belt placed in a black satchel stashed in a washing basket, and a pair of number plates AEX 1577 were allegedly recovered from the suspects. A balaclava was found stashed in their getaway car. The gang has been sought in connection with a number of armed robberies, including the Mashwede case in Harare recently. Investigations will be looking at the chain of evidence that could tie the arrested men to the robberies, with any prosecutions having to show, beyond reasonable doubt, that those in custody are the ones who committed the suspected robberies. Sources said Abdul, who was once convicted in 1995 for tampering with a motor vehicle, is also wanted for questioning in Botswana and South Africa over robberies in those countries, and Zimbabwean police will soon advise their counterparts. It is believed the gang owns several properties in South Africa, bought through proceeds of criminal enterprise. In one of the recent cases, members of the gang are suspected to have been the robbers who raided Trauma Centre in Borrowdale and stole a safe containing an undisclosed amount of cash and cellphones, using two rented cars in the robbery a silver Toyota Fortuner and a Honda Fit. The Fortuner, suspected to have been driven by Abdul (alias Musa Mahommed or Kedha), was rammed by a senior manager of the centre and was then dumped in Borrowdale, while the gang escaped in the Honda. Investigations revealed that before raiding the medical facility, the robbers had first raided a house in Queensdale where they got away with cellphones and masks. The arrested men are also suspected to be the gang that undertook a spate of armed robberies in Harare starting on December 20 last year when at around 3.30pm they allegedly pounced on Culdees Honye (33), Wilfred Motsi (51) and Cornelius Mutandwa at Wessec Sol Enterprises, pointed guns at Honye and ordered her to lie down before they grabbed Motsi, who was a customer making inquiries, searched him and took his Tecno Spark 4 and Samsung cellphones. Honye then showed the robbers two safes containing US$14 000, $150 240 and R21 500. The robbers took the two safes and loaded them into an Isuzu KB 240 single cab truck owned by Motsi. The robbers then confronted a security guard with Fawcett Security, disarmed him of his service firearm and drove away in the stolen vehicle which was later found abandoned in the Arcturus area together with the two safes which had been forcibly opened. The suspects are also thought to be the gang that broke into the house of Jealous Chuma 10 days later at 11pm. While inside, the robbers assaulted Chuma with logs and shovels demanding cash and valuables and after ransacking the house stole a 20 litre bucket containing $25 000, US$900 and R800, which was in a cashbox inside the bedroom and vanished with it. A third robbery thought to have been committed by the gang took place on February 5 this year when robbers pounced on Jairos Jeke (33) and his brother, Simbisai (30) at Makoni Shopping Centre at around 2pm. Upon arrival in a car, they fired several shots into the air from their pistols and an AK47 rifle before confronting the victims, whom they assaulted with metal bars demanding cash and valuables. One of the robbers, who was brandishing an iron bar, broke Jairos motor vehicle windows and ordered him to surrender his firearm and then searched Simbisais motor vehicle and took a bag, which had $37 000 and a Samsung S9. They allegedly barged into Jairos car and drove off at high speed following their getaway vehicle towards Dema. In Jairos vehicle, the robbers took US$7 000 and two small Nokia cellphones. The total amount stolen was US$12 000 and $37 000, and nothing was recovered. In a fourth case in which the arrested men are suspected of being involved, robbers pounced on Rodney Dangarembizi (40), Dumisani Moses Dube, Tinashe Masango (28), Faith Nyambirai (27) and Betty Chitando (22) on 26 February at around 7.50am, confronted Dangarembizi, who was standing beside his vehicle in the garage at home, assaulted him with open hands demanding cash and valuables, before taking US$3 000 from his pockets. The robbers demanded more cash and force-marched Dangarembizi into his main house which they combed and stole US$37 000 cash, jewellery, several pairs of shoes, an Apple laptop and car keys which were in his bedroom. They went on to open a gun cabinet where they stole a 9mm Star pistol and 120 rounds of ammunition, a Samsung AZ core and a Huawei Nova 4. Dangarembizi was force-marched at gunpoint to his garage where the robbers ordered him into his Honda Fit. One robber took charge of a white Hyundai belonging to the businessman, and demanded to know the whereabouts of Mr Tawanda Nyambirai, the owner of the TN Holdings premises next to Dangarembizis home. Dangarembizi led the gang to the TN Holdings premises where they confronted other complainants. The gang searched Dumisani Dube and stole US$250, an HP laptop and his Samsung J1. The robbers demanded to be taken to the offices of the companys CEO and the location of his safe. Dube led the robbers to the CEOs offices on the second floor, where they forced open the door and stole a Chubb safe with US$180 000 cash and an Acer laptop. The robbers loaded the safe into the Hyundai stolen from Dangarembizi and drove away. They later dumped the two stolen vehicles at the Mazowe Citrus kiosk along Harare-Bindura road. Dangarembizi lost US$227 250, R28 000 and two motor vehicles valued at US$10 000. A shocked Meath mum has spoken of the incredible moment she gave birth to her miracle baby girl in a car on the side of the road. Laura Mullen from Newcastle between Moynalty and Baileborough in Co, Meath says her contractions began when she pulled into her driveway after being sent home from the hospital. Despite the Meath woman (40) and her fiance Richard Byrnes frantic attempt to get back to the hospital the baby wasnt waiting around and the couple had to pull over on the side of the road where proud dad Richard (36) dashed to the passenger side just in time to deliver his new born baby daughter. The elated mum admits having no time to think before precious little Aoife Margaret Anne Byrne popped out and made her grand entrance into the world on the passenger seat of the couples Volvo V50 R Design on the Athboy Road in Navan just off the M3 Roundabout on August 6th. Expand Close Laura with her fiance Richard Byrne, son Ryan and daughter Aoife / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Laura with her fiance Richard Byrne, son Ryan and daughter Aoife Laura also mum to Ryan (4) suffered three heart-breaking miscarriages before the birth of her daughter who she calls her rainbow baby. Speaking on the whirlwind birth she said: I was 38 weeks and five days pregnant on Wednesday August 5th and I just had my last ante natal visit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Later on I was at home and I thought I could feel my waters break so I rang the hospital and they told me to come in so they could check it out. After tests, the midwife confirmed that they hadnt broken, they didnt think I was going into labour and sent me home. As soon as we drove into the driveway at home I felt a pop and knew my waters were broken and started to get really bad pressure pains and they were coming in waves. Laura wasnt in any doubt that her baby was on the way but says she could never have imagined it would happen so fast. We rang the hospital but I was told they werent contractions because contractions would take your breath away and that it was just the head moving down but I knew I was in labour so we decided to go back to the hospital. The contractions were really close and I was pushing in the car, we got on the M3 Motorway and I said Richie you are going to have to phone the hospital and tell them Im going to have this baby in the car and to send an ambulance so he rang but they said they didnt have one. We got through the toll at Navan North and I could feel her moving down and I said this baby is coming now, you are going to have to catch her. Richard pulled over and literally jumped out of the car, ran around to my side and reclined my seat back. My legs were on the dash and as I was taking my pyjama bottoms off, her head was already coming out, the next contraction came and she just popped out! Richard caught her and put her up on my chest. It happened so fast there was no time to think about it. She was coming and that was it. We had rung the hospital at 12.57 and she was born just before 1.06am so I was in active labour for just nine minutes. The paramedics stayed on the phone with the couple and told them what to do including tying off the umbilical cord according to the thrilled new mum. I was after seeing a video on Facebook a few months prior where a woman had a child at home and used the shoe lace so I told Richard to grab the shoe lace from my Nike runner and he tied it around the cord. When the paramedics came the two of us were just there together nearly laughing out of pure shock. We were taken to the hospital to be checked over and thankfully we were both fine and Aoife weighed in at 6lb 11oz. Im still waiting for a birth because it happened so quickly it was like I didnt have a labour at all. We loved the name Aoife and I had read that it means warrior princess and that's what she was like a little warrior coming out waiting for no one. Laura says she had come to terms that Ryan might be an only child having had three devastating miscarriages in two years before her miracle baby arrived. I had just accepted the fact that Ryan might be my only child and I thought well at least Ive experienced motherhood but now we are here as a family of four. I think midwives should listen to what women are telling them more. We know our own bodies and know what we are going through. It all worked out for us but it could have gone wrong and I wouldnt like to see that happening to anyone else. I call her my rainbow baby, thats what you call a baby who comes a long after having a loss of any kind, shes a little miracle. A detailed guide to getting the brew just right I love a good espresso, but like the Italians, I tend to take it as a quick shot. Theres a reason there are no chairs at an Italian espresso bar. Pop in, pop out. But the truth is, I also love the long, slow sipping experience that you get with a larger brewed cup. (Like broth, a barista once told me in Sicily. Sigh, there was no convincing him.) French press brewing isnt as fast as a filtered coffee maker thats set to start brewing while you are still untangling from the bedsheets, but I find the greater taste and body, and the almost ceremonial preparation, the best way to start a day. Several years ago, on a trip through Austria, I stumbled upon the Vienna School of Coffee. I met founder Johanna Wechselberger, a master barista, instructor, and co-author of The Ultimate Coffee Book for Beginners and Professionals. She is also an international judge and Specialty Coffee Association certifier, so nothing gets past her, quality- and taste-wise. At a coffee tasting at her corner school-cum-roastery, I admitted to Wechselberger that I usually drink French press coffee, and it was as if shed bitten into a lemon in her cup. Ugh, coffee tea! Perhaps noting my dismay, Wechselberger consoled me, conceding that such a method was not so barbaric if you did it right. After steeping, she explainedand writes in her bookyou must pour the coffee into another vessel so that it doesnt sit on the grounds too long and become bitter. Turns out I was already doing that part right at least, but only by accident: I poured it into a thermos just to keep it warm while I drank the first cup. But there was a bit more to the process than that. The Beans In her book, Wechselberger recommends that the beans should be lighter than for an espresso blend. This lighter roast does give you a brighter tasting cup of coffee, and as you try out different roasts, roasters, and origins, the differences may surprise you, from fruitiness and sweetness to chocolate bitterness and smokiness. I sometimes go to dark blends, but a favorite is Equal Exchanges medium- and Vienna-roast blend Mind, Body, and Soul. Do not purchase your French press-destined coffee pre-ground, as this is intended for filter coffee. Fresh, of course, is best, and stocking up for too far in the future wont produce the same cup. Do not freeze or refrigerate the beans, but keep them in a cool, dark place. I move mine from the bag to a mason jar and throw in oxygen absorbers reclaimed from my other packaged food. These iron powder-based packets absorb oxygen and moisture and are safe to have contact with food. The Grind Dont grind your beans too fine, or the resulting brew may be over-extracted and bitter. (Japan_mark3/Shutterstock) I use a scale to weigh the beans before grinding. Most online guides tell us to shoot for 30 grams per 12 ounces of water. (I am a monster and grind about 35 grams.) Guides always say to grind these beans coarsely, something a bit bigger than sea salt crystals. On a burr grinder, this is likely the coarsest setting. If you grind too fine, the resulting brew may be over-extracted, and thus, taste more bitter and less pleasant. I have an antique grinder passed down from Finnish (read coffee-addicted) great-grandparents, and so I had to eyeball it. I never got it right until an Airbnb host left his spent coffee in the sink and I was shocked by how large the pieces wereand how great the coffee was. Forget the blade grinder for this task. As I like to say, its like two blind ninjas hacking at beans tossed up in the air. The uneven result leads to uneven taste. The Vessel There are a variety of these French-press coffee pots available, and I had two sizes of glass potshad being the operative word here. After years without having a problem with them, I somehow managed to crack both of them in the sink in less than a month. I solved that problem and the matter of temperature control by purchasing a stainless-steel, insulated pot. I use a reasonably-priced double-wall Belwares coffee pot with extra filters. The Temperature I use an electric kettle to boil just the right amount of filtered water each morning. As soon as the kettle clicks off, that temperature starts to drop. While 212 degrees F is boiling, the steeping wants to be at about 198 to 205 degrees F. While by now, you may be convinced Ive gone total nerd with this process, I admit I dont use a thermometer here. The temperature drops into range when I pour the water from the kettle into the room-temperature coffee pot, just enough to wet the grounds. Then I add the remaining water by measuring servings with my coffee cup, which has the additional value of heating the mug. Gases will escape the grounds and raise them up above the waterline. I swirl or stir them a bit to get the bubbles out, and then I actually lower the plunger to water level to hold them under. The Time Most websites and manuals tell you to steep the grounds for three to four minutes, and Wechselberger recommends up to five. At four minutes, however, I felt that my coffee tasted thin. I dug around online and found that Nick Cho, coffee lecturer and co-founder of Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters, recommends six to eight minutes. I took that advice and found an additional two to three minutes brought fuller flavor, as promised. When the time is up, plunge slowly and evenly, without stirring up the grounds, and pour the same way. If you still have coffee left in the pot, transfer it to a thermos or another pot to get it off those grounds. Grinding is never entirely perfect, and some silt may get through that metal filter, but give the cup a minute and even that settles out. Now, kick back and enjoy a cup while pitying those who are still brewing coffee tea. Kevin Revolinski is an avid traveler and the author of 15 books, including The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey and several outdoor and brewery guidebooks. He is based in Madison, Wis., and his website is TheMadTraveler.com A textbook that promotes pro-Beijing propaganda and features a controversial map showing China controlling 90 per cent of the disputed South China Sea is being used by schools in Victorian. While the Senior Chinese Course: Chinese Language, Culture and Society textbook is not compulsory, it has still sold 633 copies in Australia and is being taught at 11 Victorian schools for the Victorian Certificate of Education. A 'map of China' published in the textbook shows China owning of 90 per cent of the South China Sea - a claim which Australia and other neighbouring nations hotly dispute. A 'map of China' published in the textbook China owning of 90 per cent of the South China Sea - a claim which Australia and other nearby countries have hotly refuted The Senior Chinese Course: Chinese Language, Culture and Society textbook has sold 633 copies in Australia and is being taught at 11 Victorian schools Beijing has spent years building military bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea, which is home to valuable oil and gas deposits and is a vital commercial waterway. Professor Rory Medcalf, the head of the Australian National University's national security college, said the map is 'misleading' as the case is in front of The Hague. 'It is highly misleading to portray the nine-dash line in an educational textbook as a legitimate map of China and the region,' he told The Guardian. 'For it to appear in a textbook in Australia puts it at odds not only with the sensitivities of much of the region, but also with international law and Australian government policy.' The Melbourne-based authors Jixing Xu and Wei Ha are both in charge of Chinese at two of Melbournes most prestigious private schools, Scotch College and Camberwell Grammar. The pair insist that the book was written to reflect the course and they 'never intended to take a political stance'. They also claim that they did not include the map, confirming it was the publisher who did, The Guardian reported. Publisher Cengage explained that the 'map of China' with the nine-dash line was an 'editorial oversight' and apologised for the 'carelessness'. An uninhabited island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea which is the subject of claims from several countries Chinese leader Xi Jinping has promoted the 'Chinese Dream' since coming into power in 2013 There are also two pages published in the textbook labelled as the 'Chinese Dream' which Professor Medcalf describes as 'straight out of the party playbook'. President of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping has promoted the 'Chinese Dream' since coming into power in 2013. The 'dream' is based on the belief that China can only continue to grow stronger 'when the nation is united and led by a strong government'. The book has since been recalled. A spokeswoman from the Victorian Education Department told Daily Mail Australia that the teaching of the book is out of their jurisdiction. She explained that there is a set list of prescribed texts for Victorian schools and on some occasions, other texts are used. Warships and fighter jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy take part in a military display in the South China Sea on April 12, 2018 Last month, Australia's Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Foreign Minister Marise Payne (pictured) slammed Beijing's actions in the South China Sea ahead of the 2020 AUSMIN talks Last month, Australia's Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Foreign Minister Marise Payne slammed Beijing's actions in the South China Sea ahead of the 2020 AUSMIN talks. The communist nation has been building an increased military presence in the disputed territory over the last decade, including constructing man-made islands. Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Indonesia along with China have various claims on islands and waters in the region. The South China Sea supports an enormous fishing industry, is thought to contain oil and gas reserves, and is a route for one third of the world's trade shipping worth about $3trillion. Senators Payne and Reynolds expressed concern of the communist nation amid rising tensions between the Asian and Western superpowers following the global coronavirus outbreak, which originated in China. 'Never has it been more important that we, as allies, sit down together and find every possible way to advance our shared interests,' they write. 'Legislation imposed on Hong Kong has undermined the rights, freedoms and futures of millions of people ... Coercive actions in the South China Sea continue to destabilise the region ... [while] cyber attacks are on the rise.' Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison agreed with Mr Pomepo stating that the friendship between Australia and America was a great benefit to both countries U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a speech last month agreed, saying it was 'time for free nations to act'. 'Every nation will have to come to its own understanding of how to protect its national security, its economic prosperity, and its ideals,' Mr Pompeo said 'But I call on all nations to start by doing what America has done: to insist on reciprocity, transparency and accountability from the Chinese Communist Party.' Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison agreed with Mr Pomepo in a video address to the United States Studies Centre that the friendship between Australia and America was a great benefit to both countries. 'We are a trusted partner of the United States. We trust each other ... Australia looks to the US, sure. But we don't leave it to the US. We do our share of heavy lifting in this partnership,' he said. UNSC says 'not in position' to take more action to return all sanctions against Iran Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 5:52 PM The president of the United Nations Security Council has dismissed attempts by the US to reinstate all UN sanctions against Iran due to a lack of consensus in the 15-member body over such a move. Indonesia's UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, the Security Council's president for August, was responding to a question from Russia and China on the issue during a meeting of the council on the Middle East. The UNSC, he said, was "not in the position to take further action" on the new US push to trigger a "snapback" of all UN sanctions on Iran due to a lack of consensus among the member states to take such measures. 'This means NO SNAPBACK' Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia expressed hope that Washington would abandon the snapback bid, "which is not only illegal, but simply will not lead to achieving the result that was envisaged by the United States." Nebenzia's deputy Dmitry Polyanskiy summed up Djani's assessment in a tweet and said, "It means, there is NO SNAPBACK." The United States is trying to invoke the "snapback" mechanism in the multilateral nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), despite its withdrawal from the accord in May 2018 in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorses the deal. The United States' most prominent Western allies have refused to fall into step with the push, which follows Washington's humiliating defeat in securing an extension of the UN arms embargo against Iran at the UNSC. Only the Dominican Republic voted 'yes' to Washington's resolution calling for the extension of the embargo beyond October 18. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all signatories to the JCPOA, say the US does not have the legal right to trigger the "snapback" provision set out in the JCPOA because it pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. A new report says 13 countries of the 15-member United Nations Security Council have expressed their opposition to the latest US push, leaving Washington once again isolated on the issue like never before. Irked by Djani's comments, US Ambassador Kelly Craft hit back and said, "Let me just make it really, really clear: the [US President Donald] Trump administration has no fear in standing in limited company on this matter." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address You know, Im not going to lie, Ill probably be a little awestruck, Im a simple guy from the Southwest Side of Chicago. Its very humbling ... but if I do get a chance to speak to him, Id want to thank him for speaking up and supporting the (law enforcement) profession unlike anyone before. Pleasant Grove voters on Tuesday elected three Black city councilors after having never elected a person of color before to city government in the citys 83-year history. According to unofficial election results, Kevin K.D. Dunn, Yolanda Lawson and Ray Lassiter are the first Black candidates elected to office in city history. This victory came after a legal struggle between the city and NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which resulted in the city changing its election method to cumulative voting. Tuesdays election was the first election to be held since the city changed its voting method. Previously, Pleasant Grove used at-large voting to elect both the mayor and city councilors. The results of Tuesdays election were: Mayor: Jerry Brasseale (incumbent) - 1,142 Robert A. Sellers - 1,102 City Council: Yolanda Y. Lawson- 2,729 Philip Houston (incumbent) - 2,124 Ken Hatfield (incumbent) - 1,918 Kevin K.D. Dunn - 1,284 Ray Lassiter - 704 LaTanya D. Dunham - 695 Victoria Horn Hill - 659 Troy D. Johnson - 517 Rose Armstrong - 207 Results were posted to the city Facebook page. You can view the results here. Videos from the polls show lines at the polls at 7 p.m. Some residents said they waited in line for an hour to vote. In municipal elections, voter turnout is typically low. A Pleasant Grove City Council candidate tells me there have been hour long waits all day to vote, with one of the largest turnouts hes seen in 25 years. Even though its 7pm, this is the line that wraps around the parking lot @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/fR95nMGoEF Ashley Gooden (@AshleyGoodenTV) August 26, 2020 Alabama Rep. Merika Coleman, who represents Pleasant Grove, also posted a tweet about voting lines. Her tweet reminded voters they can still cast their ballot as long as they are in line by 7 p.m. IF YOU ARE IN LINE BEFORE 7PM, YOU CAN STILL VOTE.Just had a situation in Pleasant Grove where the chief inspector told citizens that if you are not in the building by 7pm, you cannot vote which is WRONG. If you are in line, you can vote. Thanks John Merrill for clearly [sic] that up, Coleman said in her tweet. IF YOU ARE IN LINE BEFORE 7PM, YOU CAN STILL VOTE.Just had a situation in Pleasant Grove where the chief inspector told citizens that if you are not in the building by 7pm, you cannot vote which is WRONG. If you are in line, you can vote. Thanks John Merrill for clearly that up pic.twitter.com/8IumlyG1Nj Rep. Merika Coleman (@RepColeman) August 26, 2020 Deuel Ross, an NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney who represented the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, also commented on the lines extending outside polling places. He tweeted: In Pleasant Grove AL now. Great to see people excited about new, fairer voting system created by @NAACP_LDF case & the likely election of 1st Black city councilors; awful that voters are forced to wait for hours & dangerously close in long lines in COVID-19 pandemic. In Pleasant Grove AL now. Great to see people excited about new, fairer voting system created by @NAACP_LDF case & the likely election of 1st Black city councilors; awful that voters are forced to wait for hours & dangerously close in long lines in COVID-19 pandemic @Sifill_LDF https://t.co/i7hKm2wgea Deuel Ross (@RossDeuel) August 26, 2020 In cumulative voting, each voter can cast as many as five votes total in city council elections, with the voter choosing whether to cast these five votes naming five different candidates, or divided among several or more candidates, or cumulatively all for one candidate. The five city council candidates with the most votes are elected. While tonights election marks the first time a Black person has been elected to the council, there has been one Black city councilor. That person was Priscilla McWilliams, who was appointed to the council in 2014. She lost her campaign for election in 2016. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Belen Carreno (Reuters) Madrid, Spain Wed, August 26, 2020 08:32 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c407f577 2 World Spain,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday that troops would be made available to help regions overcome a resurgence of the coronavirus, following Spain's worst week for infections since the epidemic's peak in late March. He also said regional administrations could make decisions themselves on how to handle the fight against the epidemic rather than have the central government take charge. The government would support requests by regional leaders to declare localized states of emergency, Sanchez said. "The pandemic data curve is worrying and has to be contained. We have to be calm and vigilant," Sanchez said after the first cabinet meeting following the summer recess. Spain's cumulative tally of coronavirus cases - already Western Europe's highest - hit 412,553 on Tuesday, but new infections, at 2,415 in the past 24 hours, appeared to have ebbed after a surge last week when over 7,000 cases were registered for four days in a row, Health Ministry figures show. The daily numbers can be updated retroactively. Infections have risen sharply since Spain lifted a three-month state of emergency and lockdown in late June, but daily deaths have been much lower than in March-May. With 10 new deaths logged on Tuesday, Spain's total toll stands at 28,924. "Regions that do not have enough tracers can count on the support of our country's armed forces," Sanchez told a news conference, pledging an initial 2,000 troops would be made available. Regional authorities have brought back some restrictions that were lifted along with the national lockdown, butt some regions, including hard-hit Madrid, have complained about a lack of legal measures or concerns about how to use those available. Following concerns from parents and teachers over a lack of clarity on government and regional plans for the safe reopening of classrooms in about two weeks, Sanchez said: "I guarantee to the fathers and mothers and teaching staff that educational centers will be safe from COVID, and that they will be much safer than many other environments where our young ones have been in the past few weeks." Both Madrid and Catalonia announced they would carry out mass testing of students and hire more staff to ensure smaller class sizes when the new term begins. CNN Julia Jackson, the mother of Wisconsin man Jacob Blake, who was shot several times by police on Sunday, says she has the utmost respect for president Donald Trump as she apologised for missing his call. And then also, for president Trump, Im sorry I missed your call!, Ms Jackson told CNN in a press conference on Tuesday. Because, had I not missed your call maybe the comments you had made would have been different. Im not mad at you at all. I have the utmost respect for you as the leader of our country. It is unclear what comments Ms Jackson was referring to. The president has yet to comment on the shooting of Mr Blake, which took place in front of his three young children. However, the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr on Monday drew attention to Mr Blakes prior criminal convictions when he retweeted a post by a right-wing commentator. During Tuesdays press conference the first Ms Jackson and her husband Jacob Blake Sr have given since their white officers shot their black son several times repeated their calls for calm after another night of unrest in Kenosha. The pair said they had been praying for police officers and denounced the violent scenes that had been taking place across the city since Sundays shooting. Please, dont burn up property and cause havoc, and tear your homes down, in my sons name, Ms Jackson told reporters. An emotional Blake Sr said his son was shot like he didnt matter. They shot my son seven times, seven times like he didnt matter, he said. But my son matters. Hes a human being and he matters. The couple also said on Tuesday that their son had been paralysed from the waist down as a result of the shooting, hours before protesters and authorities clashed for a third night of civil unrest in the lakefront town. Police in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang rounds as they skirmished after dark with 300 to 400 demonstrators defying a dawn-to-dusk curfew outside a courthouse and adjacent park in downtown Kenosha. Story continues The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department also deployed at least four armoured patrol vehicles fitted with roof turrets from which deputies fired tear gas canisters into the crowd, many of whom hurled water bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects back at police. But there was no immediate sign of buildings or cars being set ablaze, as happened on Monday night. About three hours after declaring the protest an unlawful assembly, authorities had managed to push Tuesday nights crowd out of the downtown park, with demonstrators scattering down streets. The disturbances came hours after Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency and vowed to deploy additional National Guard troops in a bid to restore order in the town. Mr Blake, 29, a father of six, was struck from behind at point-blank range in a hail of bullets fired on Sunday by police who were following him with guns drawn as he walked away from officers to his car and opened a door to the vehicle. Three of his young sons inside the automobile aged 3, 5 and 8 witnessed their father being gunned down, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Blake family and appeared at Tuesdays press conference. A bystander captured the encounter in video footage that immediately went viral, unleashing outrage over the latest in a long series of instances in which police have been accused of using indiscriminate lethal force against African Americans. Blake, who had been attempting to break up a quarrel between two women, was struck by four of seven gunshots fired at him, all by one officer, and there was no indication he was armed, Mr Crump said in an ABC News interview on Tuesday. The police have not yet explained why Mr Blake was shot. Additional reporting by Press Association Read more Jacob Blakes mother apologises to Trump for missing phone call By The Saker August 25, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Okay, I admit it, the title is rather hyperbolic :-) But here is what I am trying to say: there are signs that Russia is intervening in the Belarusian crisis (finally!) First and foremost, we can see a truly radical change in Lukashenkos policies: if his initial instinct was to unleash a brutal repression of both the violent rioters and the peaceful demonstrators, now he has made a 180 and the outcome is quite amazing: on Sunday there were large anti-Lukashenko demonstrations yet not a single person was detained. Not one. Even more amazing is this: the Polish-run Nexta Telagram channel (which is the main medium used by the Empire to overthrow Lukashenko) initially called for a peaceful protest, but at the end of the day a call was made to try to take over the main Presidential building. When the rioters (at this point we are dealing with an illegal, violent, attempt to overthrow the state so I dont call these people demonstrators) got to the building they were faced with a real wall of riot cops in full gear: this (really scary) sight was enough to stop the rioters who stood for a while, and then had to leave. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Second, Lukashenko did something rather weird, but which makes perfectly good sense in the Belarusian context: he dressed himself in full combat gear, grabbed an AKSU-74 assault rife, dressed his (15 year old!) son also in full combat gear (helmet included) and flew in his helicopter over Minsk and then landed in the Presidential building. They then walked to the riot cops, where Lukashenko warmly thanked them and which resulted in the full police force giving him a standing ovation. To most of us this behavior might look rather outlandish if not outright silly. But in the context of the Belarusian crisis, which is a crisis primarily fought in the informational realm, it makes perfectly good sense. Last week Lukashenko said that no other elections, nevermind a coup, will happen as long as he is alive. that no other elections, nevermind a coup, will happen as long as he is alive. This time Lukashenko decided to show, symbolically, that he is in charge and that he will die fighting along his son if needed. The message here is clear: I am no Ianukovich and, if needed, I will die just like Allende died. Needless to say, the AngloZionist propaganda machine has immediately declared that seeing Lukashenko carrying a Kalashnikov is a clear sign that he has gone insane. In the western context, if this was, say, Luxembourg or Belgium this accusation of insanity would be spot on. But in the Belarusian context, these accusations get very little traction, chalk it up to cultural differences if you wish. To understand how powerful this message is, we need to keep in mind the two key rumors that the Empires PSYOP operation was trying to convey to the people of Belarus: There are profound differences amongst and inside the ruling elites (especially the so-called siloviki the power ministries if you want, like Internal Affairs or KGB). Lukashenko either has already fled the country or is about to flee it (each time a helicopter files over Minsk, the western PSYOPs say that this is footage of Lukashenko fleeing the country). I have a strong suspicion that what happened between Putin and Lukashenko is very similar to what happened between Putin and Assad: initially, both Assad and Lukashenko apparently thought that pure violence will solve the problem. That profoundly mistaken belief resulted in a situation in which the legitimate authorities were almost overthrown (and this is still possible in Belarus). In each case, the Russians clearly said something along the lines of we will help you, but you have to radically change your methods. Assad listened. Lukashenko apparently did too, at least to some degree (this process has just begun). The truth is that the opposition is in a difficult situation: the vast majority of the people of Belarus clearly do not want a violent coup, followed by a bloody civil war, a total deindustrialization of the country and a total submission to the Empire, i.e. they dont want to go down the Ukie way. But how to you *legally* overthrow a government, especially if that government now sends the clear message we will die before we allow you to seize power? Then there is the immense problem with Tikhanovskaia: while few believe that she got 10% and Lukashenko got 80% nobody sincerely believes that she beat him. So while the West wants to paint Lukashenko as the next Maduro, it is practically impossible to convince anybody that Tikhanovskaia is the next Guaido. So where do we go from here? Well, Lukashenko has not fired Foreign Minister Makei or KGB Head Vakulchik. Truth be told, I tend to agree with some Russian analysts who say that Makei is not really the problem, and that the main russophobe in Minsk is Lukashenko himself (just one example: he was the one who removed the four Russian Sukhois which Russia had sent to help Belarus control their airspace). It is quite true that Lukashenko runs all his ministries with an iron hand and that saying that Makei is all evil and black while Lukashenko is this white, innocent, victim is not very credible. However, even if Makei and Vakulchik were only executing Lukashenkos orders, then now need to fall in their swords as a sign of contrition and reparation towards Russia. Still, the Russians will probably indicate the Lukashenko that the Kremlin will not work with these turncoats. Then there are the public statements of the Belarusian Minister of Defense, Viktor Khrenin, who says all then right things and who seems to take a very hard line against those western forces which are behind this latest attempt at a color revolution. It is well known in Russia that while Belarusian diplomats seems to, how shall I put it, prefer smiles to substantive collaboration with Russia. The case of the Belarusian military is quite different, not only do the Russian and Belarusian militaries train together, they also share intelligence on a reportedly continuous basis. Besides, without Russia the Belarusian military would find itself completely isolated, unable to procure technical support or parts, disconnected from the Russian early warning systems and removed from Russian intelligence support. The Belarusian military is dramatically different from the Ukrainian military which had practically lost its combat readiness decades ago, which was then purged from all real patriots, and which was fantastically corrupt. In contrast, the comparatively small Belarusian military is, by all accounts, very well-trained, decently equipped and commanded by very competent officers. I think that it is a safe bet to say that the armed forces are loyal to Lukashenko and that they would probably welcome a full reunification with Russia. As for Lukashenko himself, he has, for the first time, allowed an openly pro-Russian party to register (in the past, pro-Russian movements, organizations and parties were systematically persecuted and shut down). He also declared on public TV that his friend Putin advised him on how to react to the demonstrators. So will Belarus become the next Syria? Well, no, of course not, the two countries are way too different. But in a different sense, what happened in Syria might happen in Belarus: Russia will provide her full support, but only in exchange for major reforms on all levels. And though Lukashenko now declares that the West only wants to destroy Belarus as a first phase of destroying all of Russia, I do not believe that there is any chance for a military conflict, unless one of three things happen: Some nutcase on either side opens fire and triggers a military incident (and even that might not be enough) The Poles get really desperate and do something fantastically dumb (Polish history demonstrates that this is a very real possibility) Lukashenko is killed and chaos ensues (not very likely either) We must remember that when Russia intervened in Syria, the Syrian military was in shambles and basically defeated. This is not at all the case in Belarus which has a superb military (of the lean and mean sort) and they can secure their own country, especially when backed by the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs forces. Still, while Lukashenko might be part of the solution in the short term, in the long term he must go and be replaced by a trustworthy leader whom the Belarusian people and the Kremlin could really trust and that leaders main task will be to fully reintegrate Belarus into Russia. Again, a major difference with Syria. Phase II human trial of Oxford vaccine begins in India India pti-Madhuri Adnal Pune, Aug 26: The Phase II clinical trial of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, being manufactured by the city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), began at a medical college and hospital here on Wednesday. Two male volunteers were administered the vaccine at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital, a senior office-bearer of the hospital said. The trial began around 1 pm, he said. COVID-19 recoveries have exceeded active cases by 3.5 times: Health Ministry "Doctors at the hospital administered the first shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine to a 32-year-old man after his reports of COVID-19 and antibodies tests came out negative," Medical Director of Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr Sanjay Lalwani, said. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News Another 48-year-old male volunteer was also given the vaccine, he added. While the 32 year-old volunteer works for a private company, the other one is associated with the healthcare sector, he said. "Before administering the vaccine, doctors checked their temperature, blood pressure and heart beats," he said. Five volunteers had enrolled themselves for the trial after the doses were received from the SII on Tuesday, he added. "The COVID-19 and antibodies tests were conducted on all the five volunteers. Of them, the reports of three volunteers' antibodies test came out positive. So they became ineligible for the trial," Dr Lalwani said. "The two other volunteers, who were administered the vaccines are being monitored," he said. N95 masks to be most effective in stopping COVID-19 spread According to Dr Lalwani, in all, 25 candidates will given the vaccine in the next seven days. SII, the world's largest vaccine maker, has signed an agreement to manufacture the potential vaccine developed by the Jenner Institute of Oxford University in collaboration with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca. PORT HOPE The building that housed Port Hope Community Schools has reopened its doors as the Port Hope Activity Center, after being purchased by a private owner following the school's closing in 2015. It boasts many amenities that can be utilized by the community. According to its website, the Port Hope Activity Center is a Christ-centered organization that strives to build a strong, vibrant, compassionate, community focused program that has a positive spiritual, cultural, and economic impact on the surrounding community. The former school was bought after its closing by Brian and Sarah Ingram and Andrew and Kimberly Ingram. Their vision for the Activity Center is that it will be a place where the needs of the community will be met. Its a great resource for our community, said Melinda Erffmeyer, spokesperson for the Port Hope Activity Center. The public can rent out spaces within the Activity Center for gatherings, classes, or other events, and there is also tables and chairs that can be rented for off-site use, she added. The Port Hope Activity Center will partner with programs already in place within the community, as well as creating services and opportunities to ensure the needs of Port Hope and the surrounding area will be met. Organizers hope to host a variety of activities, including recreational, sporting tournaments, fitness classes, childrens camps, music, and tutoring and mentoring programs. The Activity Center houses many community resources, including a gym, fitness room, lending library, and a computer lab. An Open house for the Port Hope Activity Center is planned for Wednesday Sept. 2 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Other upcoming activities through the center include pickleball on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m., childrens programs on Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., and a Beach Glass by Christine event on Saturday Sept. 12 from noon to 2 p.m. The Port Hope Activity Center is currently open to the public Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with other activities taking place around those set hours. If members of the community are interested in volunteering with the Port Hope Activity Center or have suggestions for activities or events, they are encouraged to visit the centers Facebook page or website for additional contact information and up-to-date event listings. Zimbabwe is struggling through economic and political crises, as well as a global pandemic. But ultimately, it will be the politically biased judiciary that forces people back out onto the streets, according to Harare-based political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya. This is one of the major crises. The judiciary is no longer independent, says Ngwenya, head of public policy think tank COMALISO. Freelance journalist Hopewell Chinono has been detained since 20 July on incitement to participate in public violence charges, after uncovering alleged fraud carried out by former health minister Obadiah Moyo. He was denied bail for the third time on Tuesday. Chinono was arrested on the same day as opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume, who also remains in jail. Detaining activists, journalists, writers and opposition members is part of the strategy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government, says Ngwenya. But it is not a mission against individuals, he says. It's more about using the individualsas examples to drive citizens that if you ever think about doing something, even if you go to court and ask for bail we can never give you bail." Guards tried to prevent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa from entering the court on Tuesday, even though she had the proper documentation. A video shared on social media shows her demanding to be let in. It simply shows that even the judiciary system itself is not capable of protecting the citizen, and it's totally under the influence of the ruling party, he says. Zimbabwes National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) issued a statement about the lack of confidence in the judiciary, noting that communities feel that the judiciary institutions have been used as an arm to further repress and deny citizens their constitutionally guaranteed rights. That is the new normal, says Ngwenya. And I am sure that is going to be the trigger of the next conflict in the streets, he adds. Story continues Diplomatic pressure from outside Civil society had hoped that the regional Southern African Development Community body (SADC) would intervene in the crisis, but a group of envoys were not allowed to meet opposition parties and activists during their visit two weeks ago. NANGO remains hopeful that the envoy will return with a refined, people-centred and inclusive strategy, it stated. Ngwenya believes SADC and the African Union will step up and begin to put pressure on Mnangagwa. That might mean this government steps off the accelerator and begins to do things normally, he says, citing an example of magistrates on Monday telling prison officers that cells must be sanitised and prisoners given personal protective equipment to help stem the spread of Covid-19. Although the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was not part of the 31 July protest organisation, they have been targeted by the government. After a lull in public statements, MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has made statements encouraging people to come out. He hasn't said anything about demonstrations. But he has come out and said its now time for us to begin thinking about it, so that is going to make Mnangagwa more nervous, says Ngwenya. A number of MDC supporters went to the state courthouse on Monday to protest, a sign that people are becoming braver and returning to activism. There's a lot of tectonic structural movement around Zimbabwe itself, with Botswana making the right noises, and in South Africa, members of parliament are accusing the ruling African National Congress party of being co-conspirators. Internally, the judiciary are beginning to shift a bit towards a more sympathetic situation, he says. The Students Union announced on Wednesday that it will call a nationwide strike in protest at the conditions under which the new school year will commence. The strike will be from September 16 to 18. Outside the national ministry of education in Madrid, the Students Union's spokesperson, Coral Latorre, called on all students to support the strike and demand that the "disaster of online education" is not repeated. "We want young people to be able to return to class and we also want an end to criminalising young people for the outbreaks." The union is asking the minister, Isabel Celaa, for a rescue plan for education. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - Gold Rush Cariboo Corp. (TSXV: GDBO) (OTC: SGRWF) ("Gold Rush" or the "Company") announces the resignation of Mr. Conan Taylor as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Taylor for his contributions to the Company and wishes him every success in future endeavors. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. David Hergenhein as a director and Mr. Kyle Hookey as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. About the New Management Team and Directors Brief biographies of the members of the newly appointed director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company are as follows: Kyle Hookey, Chief Executive Officer - Mr. Hookey has over 8 years' experience in international capital markets, consulting on equity and debt portfolios, corporate transactions and broad investment portfolio mandates. Mr. Hookey specialises in providing advisory in M&A, transaction financing and corporate restructuring and has advised across both private and public companies, primarily in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Currently, Mr. Hookey is a Non-Executive Director of AQSE listed Imperial X Plc and a Partner in Cronin Capital Corp., a natural resource focused merchant banking group based in Vancouver, Canada. David Hergenhein, Director - Mr. Hergenhein has served as controller for several public junior international Oil & Gas exploration companies including Mena Hydrocarbons Inc and Gallic Energy Ltd. Mr. Hergenhein is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta since 1993 with 17 years of public accounting and reporting experience including 4 years with Deloitte & Touche. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Calgary. He is currently Chairman of the Audit Committee for ROK Resources Inc (formerly Petrodorado Energy Ltd.) (CVE listed). Mr. Hergenhein has a public practice which serves small business compliance needs in an around the Calgary area. Aleem Nathwani Director Tel: (604) 290-7073 Email: aleem.nathwani@gmail.com We Seek Safe Harbour 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 Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the timing of future exploration work or drilling, and the expansion of the mineralization. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Gold Rush Cariboo Inc.., including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration results and estimates, currency fluctuations, dependency upon regulatory approvals, the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing and exploration risk. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62577 More than 700,000 users have registered so far on the Ghiseul.ro electronic tax & fee payment platform, the Romanian Digitization Authority informs in a release on Wednesday. There have been over 207,000 new user registrations since the beginning of the year, the largest number since the launch of this service in 2011. "679,587 payments have been made via the platform since the beginning of this year, whereas payments made throughout 2019 totaled 484,824. Collections between January and August 2020 were in excess of 317 million lei, double the figure of 2019. Over 50 new types of payments have been added recently following the interconnection with the Virtual Private Space managed by the National Tax Authority and by adding the possibility to pay for new public services such as public transport, sanitation, heating, water or sewerage. Fee payments for passports, registration certificates, provisional authorizations and driving licenses will soon add to the service," the cited source states. The Romanian Digitization Authority encourages citizens to use online payment means, thus eliminating health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Ghiseul.ro is a platform managed by the Romanian Digitization Authority and supported by APERO - the Romanian Electronic Payments Association. Devika Rotawan, one of the 26/11 Mumbai attack survivors and eyewitness is under acute financial stress and has requested the government to fulfill the assurance given to her of providing a house under EWS Scheme. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Aug 26 (ANI): Devika Rotawan, one of the 26/11 Mumbai attack survivors and eyewitness is under acute financial stress and has requested the government to fulfill the assurance given to her of providing a house under EWS Scheme. She has also filed a petition in Bombay High Court seeking a house for her family and to make provisions for her to continue her education. The matter will be listed this week for hearing. Devika was at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus station (CST) in Mumbai on November 26, 2011, and she was shot by Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Ajmal Amir Kasab in her right leg. She saw him firing at her and others as well. She went through 6 surgical operations and was bedridden for almost 6 months. Also read: Japans GDP expected to recover to pre-pandemic level by end of FY 2021 Also read: Imran Khan allows China to set up offices in Pakistan During her time in the hospital, many government officials promised her and her family about providing residential accommodation under EWS Scheme and provision for her educational expenses once Kesab was convicted. However, while talking to ANI, she said that it has not happened yet. I am facing problems especially following the lockdown period. I seek support from the Maharashtra government. I was told by the government that I will be given a house and all assistance but it has not happened yet. I had received the help of Rs 10 Lakhs from former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, it was used for my treatment for Tuberculosis (TB). I am thankful for that but the promises made to me before that have not been met yet, Devika Rotawan said. I demand that a house be arranged for us my family and me. My landlord has told me that if I can not pay rent, I will have to look for a house somewhere else, she added. During the trial of Kesab, she was the star eye-witness to testify against him and the same was heavily relied upon by the Sessions Judge in convicting him. Rotawan, the petitioner said that she and her family got nothing from the government as promised, apart from some compensation which was utilised in her medical care. My father is a senior citizen and bedridden. My brother has had 3 operations for his backbone and has been diagnosed with hernia recently. Now my landlord has been threatening me and my family to forcibly evict the room. I thus wrote to Chief Secretary, Maharashtra but got no response. I have no source of Income. Hence left with no other option, I have approached Bombay High Court on compassionate grounds, she said. The Mumbai terror attacks which begin on November 26, 2008 lasted for four days killing 166 people and injuring over 300. In these gruesome attacks, 9 terrorists were killed and the lone survivor, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was caught and was sentenced to death at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune in 2012. On November 11, 2012, Kasab was hanged in Yerawada Jail in Pune. (ANI) Also read: Deeply unfair for Indian students to sit in national exams during COVID-19: Greta Thunberg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuSf4KnIor4 FIORE GOLD reports fiscal Q3 operating cash flow of US$10.5 million Posted by Publisher Internet FIORE GOLD LTD. (TSXV: F) (OTCQB: FIOGF) (FSE-2FO) (?Fiore? or the ?Company? https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/fiore-gold-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce that its financial statements and management?s discussion and analysis for the third fiscal quarter (?Q3 2020?) ended June 30, 2020, have been filed with the securities regulatory authorities and are available at www.sedar.com and on the Company?s website at www.fioregold.com. Fiscal Q3 2020 Highlights (all figures in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated) Operating & Financial Q3 gold production of 12,764 ounces, a second successive quarter of record gold production Gold sales of 12,761 ounces at an average realized price of $1,720 per ounce Recorded quarterly revenues of $22.0 million with mine operating income of $8.3 million Generated Pan operating cash flow1 of $11.8 million and consolidated operating cash flow of $10.5 million, both records for Fiore Gold Adjusted net earnings1 of $5.7 million and adjusted net earnings per share1 of $0.06 per share, net income of $5.1 million Closing cash balance of $17.3 million, a significant increase of $8.2 million relative to our last reported cash balance as of March 31, 2020 Strengthened balance sheet with net working capital of $34.1 million as of June 30, 2020 Mined ore production in Q3 of 14,877 tons per day with a stripping ratio of 1.3:1.0 and grade of 0.016 ounces/ton Q3 cash costs per ounce sold1 of $916, a $67 per ounce reduction relative to Q2 2020 reflecting the expected benefit of a decreasing stripping ratio Q3 Pan Mine AISC1 per ounce sold of $1,085 and Fiore consolidated AISC1 of $1,203. The cash cost reduction was offset by an increase in capitalized exploration drilling at Pan to extend the mine life. 72,555 total site man-hours worked in Q3 with no reportable incidents and zero lost-time injuries Mining declared an essential business in Nevada and the Pan Mine continues to operate with strict protocols in place focused on protecting the health and safety of our employees. No reported cases of COVID-19 for our employees or contractors to date. Organic Growth Results of the Gold Rock Preliminary Economic Assessment (?PEA?) released on April 9th demonstrated positive economics for the project with opportunities to further enhance value Subsequent to quarter end, the Company announced the start of a program at Gold Rock of resource expansion, metallurgical, geotechnical and condemnation drilling in support of a Feasibility Study targeted for completion in the second half of 2021 Completed a Pan exploration drilling program of 21,741 metres (71,330 feet) with a resource update and new life of mine plan to be issued in September 2020 On May 19, 2020, Fiore Gold announced a 2.0 million ounce measured and indicated resource at its Golden Eagle Project in Washington State, USA Tim Warman, Fiore?s CEO commented, ?The Pan mine continues to establish itself as the cash engine to support our aggressive growth targets. Stand-alone, Pan generated $11.8 million in operating cash flow in the quarter and Fiore generated $10.5 million in operating cash flow. Our balance sheet is now fully funded to complete the drilling and development program targeting a Gold Rock Feasibility Study in the second half of 2021. Subsequent to quarter-end, we completed an extensive Pan drilling program which will support an Updated Resource and Reserve estimate and related Life of Mine plan in H2 2020. With six rigs currently drilling at Gold Rock, we remain fully committed to our goal of operating Pan and Gold Rock in unison, providing organic growth to annual gold production of more than 100,000 ounces in Nevada. Separately, we announced a 2.0 million ounce Measured and Indicated resource at our Golden Eagle Project in Washington State. We expect this project will continue to emerge as a valuable third asset in our portfolio.? We continue to recognize the inherent risk posed by COVID-19. The health and safety of our employees comes first, and we have put a range of operating protocols in place to best mitigate the risk to them. We are fortunate that we have no reported cases at site and continue to operate. Review of Operating Results Ore tons mined is ahead of prior year in part due to positive ore reconciliation, resulting in mining 14,877 tons per day. At a gold grade of 0.016 oz/t, we mined 21,622 ounces in the quarter, a 24% increase over the prior year period. Gold production at 12,764 ounces represents a second successive quarter of record gold production as Pan continues to operate safely and efficiently. Cash cost per ounce sold for Q3 2020 was $916 per ounce, a $67 per ounce decrease relative to Q2 2020 of $983 per ounce and a $12 decrease compared Q3 2019 at $928 per ounce. The reduction is due to the lower strip ratio, as guided, and improved mining efficiencies. Q3 2020 Pan Mine AISC1 per ounce sold was $1,085 and Fiore Consolidated AISC1 per ounce sold was $1,203. During the quarter, we incurred approximately $1.4 million of sustaining capital expenditures, primarily related to the developmental drilling program at the Pan Mine, compared to $0.1 million during the prior year period. The $1.4 million of sustaining capital expenditures during the current quarter accounted for $111 of the $1,085 Pan Mine AISC1. 1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Please refer to ?Non-IFRS Financial Measures? at the end of this news release for a description of these non-IFRS financial measures and to the Non-IFRS Financial measures in the June 30, 2020 Management?s Discussion and Analysis for a reconciliation to operating costs from the Company?s interim financial statements. Key Developments Pan Mine With Pan operating well, we continue our focus on drilling to expand the resource and reserves, and increase mine life. Initial results of the current resource expansion drill program were announced on December 10, 2019. On May 12, 2020, we released drill results on a further sixty-four holes drilled at several locations around the main North Pan pits, as well as the smaller Syncline and Black Stallion satellite pits. Subsequent to quarter-end, on August 12, 2020, Fiore reported the final seventy-six holes of the overall program. The holes were aimed at expanding the existing oxide resources and reserves both at depth and laterally beyond the current reserve boundaries. In total, 183 holes for a total of 21,741 metres (71,330 ft) were drilled as part of the 2019-2020 Pan resource expansion program and all but the last few of these holes will be incorporated in the upcoming resource and reserve estimate. An initial eight-hole program (PR20-072 to -079) at the Mustang target, located approximately 1,500 m northwest of the Pan North pit, encountered gold mineralization within a low angle structure at the contact between the Pilot shale and the underlying Devils Gate limestone. Five of the eight holes encountered significant gold mineralization, with the best intercepts in PR20-073 with 13.7 m at 0.48 g/t gold and PR20-074 with 10.7 m at 0.62 g/t gold.? The Mustang zone will be targeted for follow-up in the next phase of drilling with the goal of defining a mineable reserve. Gold Rock On April 9, 2020, we announced results from a PEA completed for the federally permitted Gold Rock gold project located approximately 8 miles southeast of the Pan Mine. This PEA represents the first ever economic and technical analysis of mining at Gold Rock and shows the project can deliver solid returns for a modest capital investment. The PEA provides an updated mineral resource estimate and a base case assessment of developing the Project as a satellite open pit operation that will share significant infrastructure and management with the adjacent Pan Mine. The PEA also identifies a considerable number of opportunities to enhance the project economics as Gold Rock advances to the Feasibility stage by drilling to increase the mineral resource, further metallurgical testing aimed at improving recoveries, and geotechnical drilling aimed at reducing the stripping ratio. On May 13, 2020, Fiore filed the related technical report. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company announced the start of a program at Gold Rock of resource expansion, metallurgical, geotechnical and condemnation drilling in support of a Feasibility Study targeted for completion in the second half of 2021 Q3 2020 Financial Results Relative to the prior year quarter, Fiore demonstrated improvements on all profitability and cash flow measures noted above. This was due to record gold production, the benefit of higher realized gold prices, and slightly lower cash costs per ounce of gold sold.?Our liquidity and financial position strengthened with a higher cash balance of $17.3 million and working capital of $34.1 million. Refer to the Company?s MD&A and Financial Statements for additional information. The improvement in financial strength puts Fiore in a good position to continue to progress our growth assets and mitigate potential risks posed by COVID-19. ? 1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Please refer to ?Non-IFRS Financial Measures? at the end of this news release for a description of these non-IFRS financial measures and to the Non-IFRS Financial measures in the June 30, 2020 Management?s Discussion and Analysis for a reconciliation to operating costs from the Company?s interim financial statements. Webinar ?Fiore Gold will host a webinar with Red Cloud Securities on Wednesday, August 26 at 2:00pm EST. Please register at https://www.redcloudfs.com/rcwebinar-f-2/. The webinar will be available for playback at www.fioregold.com. Corporate Strategy Our corporate strategy is to grow Fiore Gold into a 150,000 ounce per year gold producer. To achieve this, we intend to: grow gold production at the Pan Mine while also growing the reserve and resource base; advance exploration and development of the nearby Gold Rock project; and acquire additional production or near-production assets to complement our existing operations. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to Fiore Gold?s Pan Mine was approved by J. Ross MacLean (MMSA), Fiore Gold?s Chief Operating Officer and a \Qualified Person\ under National Instrument 43-101. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to the Gold Rock and Golden Eagle projects were approved by Paul Noland (AIPG CPG-11293), Fiore Gold?s VP Exploration and a \Qualified Person\ under National Instrument 43-101. 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. Non-IFRS Financial Measures The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this document, as discussed below. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are 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. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. ?Adjusted net earnings? and ?adjusted net earnings per share? are non-IFRS financial performance measures. Adjusted net earnings excludes the following from net earnings: certain impairment charges (reversals) related to intangibles, goodwill, property, plant and equipment, and investments; gains (losses) and other one-time costs relating to acquisitions or dispositions; foreign currency translation gains (losses); significant tax adjustments not related to current period earnings; unrealized gains (losses) on non-hedge derivative instruments; and the tax effect and non-controlling interest of these items. The Company uses this measure internally to evaluate our underlying operating performance for the reporting periods presented and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating results. We believe that adjusted net earnings are a useful measure of our performance because these adjusting items do not reflect the underlying operating performance of our business and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. We have adopted ?all-in sustaining costs? measures for the Pan Mine and Fiore as a consolidated group, consistent with guidance issued by the World Gold Council (?WGC?) on June 27, 2013. We believe that the use of all-in sustaining costs is helpful to analysts, investors and other stakeholders in assessing our operating performance, our ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and our overall value. These measures are helpful to governments and local communities in understanding the economics of gold mining. The ?all-in sustaining costs? measure is an extension of existing ?cash cost? metrics and incorporates costs related to sustaining production. The WGC definition of all-in sustaining costs seeks to extend the definition of total cash costs by adding reclamation and remediation costs, exploration and study costs, capitalized stripping costs, corporate general and administrative costs and sustaining capital expenditures to represent the total costs of producing gold from current operations. All-in sustaining costs exclude income tax, interest costs, depreciation, non-sustaining capital expenditures, non-sustaining exploration expense and other items needed to normalize earnings. Therefore, these measures are not indicative of our cash expenditures or overall profitability. ?Total cash cost per ounce sold? is a common financial performance measure in the gold mining industry but has no standard meaning under IFRS. The Company reports total cash costs on a sales basis. We believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company?s performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it 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. The measure, along with sales, is considered to be a key indicator of a Company?s ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its mining operations. ?Costs of sales per ounce sold? adds depreciation and depletion and share based compensation allocated to production to the cash costs figures. Total cash costs figures are calculated in accordance with a standard developed by The Gold Institute, which was a worldwide association of suppliers of gold and gold products and included leading North American gold producers. The Gold Institute ceased operations in 2002, but the standard is considered the accepted standard of reporting cash cost of production in North America. Adoption of the standard is voluntary, and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measure of other companies. ?Total cash costs per ounce?, ?cost of sales per ounce?, ?all-in sustaining costs per ounce?, ?Pan operating income? and ?Pan operating cash flow? are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate the measure differently. ?Average realized price? is a financial measure with no standard meaning under IFRS. Management uses this measure to better understand the price realized in each reporting period for gold sales. Average realized price excludes from revenues unrealized gains and losses, if applicable, on non-hedge derivative contracts. The average realized price is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS; it should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other companies may calculate this measure differently. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains ?forward-looking statements? and ?forward looking information? (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management?s best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to future operations at the Pan Mine, expected production, expected costs, expected mining rates, strip ratios, all cost, all 2020 production and cost guidance, estimates of mineral resources and reserves, expectations that the Company will add additional resources and reserves through drilling, timing of a resource and mine plan update for the Pan Mine, effectiveness of protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the future planned development and estimates described in the Gold Rock PEA, Gold Rock drilling and development plan, operations and production described in the Gold Rock PEA, Gold Rock drilling and metallurgical testing, funding for Gold Rock Development, expectation and timing for a Gold Rock Feasibility Study, ?estimates described in the Golden Eagle resource estimate, plans for the Golden Eagle project, liquidity and future financial performance, opportunity for organic growth to annual production of more than 100,000 god ounces in Nevada, company outlook, goal to become a 150,000 ounce producer, goal to acquire additional production or near production assets, and other statements, estimates or expectations. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ?expects?, ?expected?, ?budgeted?, ?targets?, ?forecasts?, ?intends?, ?anticipates?, ?scheduled?, ?estimates?, ?aims?, ?will?, ?believes?, ?projects? and similar expressions (including negative variations) which by their nature refer to future events.? By their very nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Fiore Gold?s control.? These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, as well as a number of assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company concerning, among other things, anticipated geological formations, potential mineralization, future plans for exploration and/or development, potential future production, ability to obtain permits for future operations, drilling exposure, and exploration budgets and timing of expenditures, all of which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Fiore Gold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.? Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward looking statements include, but not limited to, risks related to the Pan Mine performance; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including government restrictions impacting our operations, risks the pandemic poses to our work-force, impacts the virus may have on ability to obtain services and materials from our suppliers and contractors; risks related to the company?s limited operating history; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current or future exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in market prices of mining consumables; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results, test results and the estimation of gold resources and reserves; failure of plant, equipment or? processes to operate as anticipated; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work programs; availability of financing; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities; the possibility that required permits may not be obtained on a timely manner or at all; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Fiore Gold operates, and other factors identified in Fiore Gold?s filings with Canadian securities authorities under its profile at www.sedar.com? respecting the risks affecting Fiore and its business. Although Fiore has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fiore disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. T he Czech Republic could become the next European country subject to quarantine measures for people returning to the UK. A seven-day rate of 20 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people is the threshold above which the UK Government considers triggering quarantine conditions. The latest figures show the Czech Republic is currently recording a seven-day rate of 19.4 cases per 100,000, up from 16 a week ago. Switzerland is already over the threshold, with a seven-day rate of 21.2, and will "almost certainly" be added to the red list for the rest of the UK this weekend, The Times reports. Last week, Scotland took Switzerland off its list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate on arrival. It comes as France is looking to impose mandatory quarantine on Brits arriving in the country in the coming days. People who arrived in the UK from France after August 15 are required to self-isolate for 14 days due to rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the country. France's secretary of state for European Affairs Clement Beaune suggested those travelling from the UK to France could soon face similar requirements. Czech Republic could become the next European country to be added to the quarantine list / AFP via Getty Images He told France 2: "There will be reciprocal measures so that Britons don't close the border in one direction. "For travellers returning from the United Kingdom, there will probably be restrictive measures decided in the next few days by the Prime Minister and by the Defence Council." Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago were all added to the red list on August 20, forcing British holidaymakers to pay hundreds of pounds on last minute fights home. Two countries which seem likely to remain on the quarantine-free list for the time being are Greece and Italy. While the rate has ticked upwards in both countries, neither of the countries are near the threshold. People who arrived in the UK from France after August 15 are required to self-isolate for 14 days / AP In Greece, the latest seven-day rate is 14.1 cases per 100,000 roughly the same as a week ago (14.3), but up from where it was two weeks ago (10.1). Italy is currently recording a seven-day rate of 10.8, up from 5.6. Loading.... In Ireland, the seven-day rate is currently 14.8, while in the UK it is 11.1. Option package includes 28 exploration tenements located in the prolific Iron Quadrangle, Brazil All amounts are in US dollars unless stated otherwise TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) is pleased to announce that it has signed an option agreement (the "Iron Quadrangle Agreement") with IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD") on a package of 28 exploration tenements (the "Package") covering an area of some 27,141.75 Ha in the prolific Iron Quadrangle, located in Minas Gerais, Brazil (see figure 1). The Iron Quadrangle Agreement stipulates that Jaguar has the option to earn an initial 60% interest in the Package by spending $6.0 million in exploration expenditures over four years commencing in the third quarter of 2020. Jaguar will be the project operator and will be subject to oversight by a technical committee with representatives from both companies. Under the terms of the Agreement, the following will apply: The Earn-in period will include a minimum expenditure of $500,000 per annum, and the exploration program must include the completion of a minimum of 5,000 meters of diamond drilling over the option agreement time frame. Upon Jaguar vesting an initial 60% interest, IMG may elect to participate and fund its pro-rata share of ongoing expenditures under a conventional 60:40 JV that will be formed for this purpose and will be agreed-upon by both companies. Once the 60:40 JV is in place, both parties will be required to fund their pro-rata share for ongoing expenditures or be subject to dilution. Should either party dilute to <10% interest, their interest will revert to a 1.5% NSR. Vern Baker, CEO of Jaguar Mining stated, "The Iron Quadrangle Agreement with IAMGOLD will serve to enhance and expand Jaguar's strategic focus, where we already have an impressive footprint with the Turmalina and Pilar operating gold mines and the Paciencia mill which has been in care and maintenance since 2012 . Over the past two years, our exploration team has diligently assembled a portfolio of quality targets in one of the most prolific greenstone geological regions in the world. The opportunity to increase exploration targets with the Iron Quadrangle agreement, our sustainable production and excess plant capacity, underpinned by an expanding mineral resource and mineral reserve inventory can easily support growth exploration initiatives. Jon Hill, VP Geology and Exploration of Jaguar Mining stated, "At Jaguar, we are very pleased with the opportunity to work with our longtime neighbors, IAMGOLD. The Iron Quadrangle Agreement, which doubles Jaguar's current tenement footprint, will allow the geological team to systematically explore, define and drill-test this highly prospective Iron Quadrangle land package. A multitude of historical mines and mineralized occurrences along the prolific Sao Vincente, Paciencia and Congonhas crustal scale shear zones, along with existing data from ongoing generative work, indicates Tier 1 discovery potential targets. A discovery, regardless of size, may potentially be processed at Jaguar's underutilized and permitted Paciencia mill." Figure 1. Location Map showing the location of both Jaguar's Tenements (Orange) and Iamgold's Tenements (Red) within the Iron Quadrilateral, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Iamgold holds 28 Tenements over an area of 27141.75 Ha which are subject to the new agreement with Jaguar. Jaguars Tenements cover an area of approximately 35000 Ha. Qualified Persons Scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAUSIMM, Senior Expert Advisor Geology and Exploration to the Jaguar Mining Management Committee, who is also an employee of Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The Iron Quadrangle The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 17th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position of the producers in the Iron Quadrangle with just over 35,000 hectares. About Jaguar Mining Inc. Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with two gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims covering an area of approximately 64,000 hectares. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar Mine and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on care and maintenance since April 2018. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. For further information, please contact: Vern Baker Chief Executive Officer vernon.baker@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1854 Hashim Ahmed Chief Financial Officer hashim.ahmed@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1854 Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Notes Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). In addition, the Company's principal operations and mineral properties are located in Brazil and there are additional business and financial risks inherent in doing business in Brazil as compared to the United States or Canada. In Brazil, corruption represents a challenge requiring extra attention by those who conduct business there. Corruption does not only occur with the misuse of public, government or regulatory powers, it also can occur in a business's supplies, inputs and procurement functions (such as illicit rebates, kickbacks and dubious vendor relationships) as well as the inventory and product sales functions (such as inventory shrinkage or skimming). Employees as well as external parties (such as suppliers, distributors and contractors) have opportunities to commit theft, procurement fraud and other wrongs against the Company. While corruption, bribery and fraud and theft risks can never be fully eliminated, the Company reviews and implements controls to reduce the likelihood of these events occurring. The Company's present and future business operations face these risks. Accordingly, for all of the reasons above, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. 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 information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Jaguar Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603296/Jaguar-Mining-Announces-Strategic-Option-Agreement-with-IAMGOLD America can be proud of many things: our innovation, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit are unsurpassed. Yet when it comes to our nation understanding one of the greatest gifts ever given to humanitythe Biblewe're moving from dumb to dumber, and it's no laughing matter. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) director Rakesh Asthana has revealed the findings of Enforcement Directorate in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. He said that the agency has found evidences that drugs were supplied to the late actor and his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. We received a letter from ED on Tuesday evening stating that during their probe into financial aspects they found that drug was supplied to Rhea and Sushant. An NCB team will now conduct an inquiry and people involved will be questioned, he said. The NCB, therefore, will join the investigation as well. Also Watch | How Sushants door was opened, friend reveals; CBI summons Mumbai cops: Updates ED sources said that during their questioning of Jaya Saha, Rheas talent manager, they found some conversation between them about drug. However, none of the three agencies provided any details into the form of drug or if it was consumed by any of the persons involved in the case. Meanwhile, Satish Maneshinde, senior counsel and Rheas lawyer has said, Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life time ever. Shes ready for a blood test any time. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs sister, brother-in-law shocked by drug angle in his death, demand immediate action: This is criminal offence Vikas Singh, lawyer of Sushants father KK Singh, on Wednesday said that it is a serious matter if the drug issue as reported by some media channels is true, and added that it may widen the scope of investigation in the actors death case. If this drug issue is true as showed by some media channels yesterday then definitely it is a very serious matter. When the family got the FIR registered, there was an impression that Sushant was being over drugged. But then we meant prescription drug which was being administered on the instruction of some psychiatrist, Singh told ANI. Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra flat on June 14. The post-mortem report concluded he died by suicide. The probe was handed over to CBI by the Apex court, after it upheld the validity of a first information report (FIR) lodged by Bihar Police in response to a plaint filed by Rajputs father, KK Singh. Follow @htshowbiz for more YPSILANTI TWP., MI Three people were displaced from their home by a kitchen fire Tuesday night, officials said. Ypsilanti Township Fire Department responded at 10:37 p.m., Aug. 25, to the 1300 block of Concord Drive for a stove fire, Lt. Scott Gehringer said. Food on the stove was left unattended for a few minutes and caught fire, Gehringer said. The fire spread to surrounding cabinets, but firefighters were able to keep the fire contained to the kitchen, he said. Crews were on scene for 57 minutes, Gehringer said. There was about $10,000 of damage to the kitchen, Gehringer said. The American Red Cross assisted the people who were displaced. Food should never be left unattended on the stove, even for a short period of time, as it can quickly catch fire and cause damage, Gehringer said. The Ypsilanti, Superior Township and Pittsfield Township fire departments assisted at the scene. Read more from MLive.com: As students arrive in Ann Arbor, health officials prepare for potential coronavirus spread 5-story hotel proposed on west edge of downtown Ann Arbor Freshmen excited for fall at University of Michigan, hope coronavirus wont force them out early Police find car full of stolen booze after Chelsea heist Scammer claiming to be Apple security steals $1,000 from woman, police say Most of Antarcticas vital ice shelves that encircle the continent remain frozen all year round and are stable, but fractures in their surfaces could make them vulnerable to rapid collapse if rising temperatures drive meltwater into the gaps, according to a new study. The ice shelves, which float on the ocean at the edge of the continent, are a crucial barrier to glaciers moving from the land to the sea, and their sudden failure could therefore have huge implications for sea level, an international research team said in the paper, which was published in the journal Nature. Many ice shelves form in the protected waters of the continents numerous expansive bays and gulfs. Here, the land on either side compresses the ice; this pressure helps maintain the ice shelves and braces them against the slow march of the glaciers where they meet the frozen seas. But large fractures regularly appear as the ice nears the open ocean. The land on either side drops away and the ice shelves are free to stretch out. Satellite observations show that as a result of this freedom, the shelves rip apart. Most of them are raked with numerous long fractures perpendicular to the direction of stretching. Fractures that form at the surface can be tens of metres deep. Others, forming from the bottom, can penetrate hundreds of meters upwards in the ice. Some of these fractures are hundreds of metres wide. It is these large cracks, combined with warming temperatures that have raised concerns about the continued stability of the ice shelves. Climate models indicate that the planet is already on course for widespread warming this century, while existing research has shown that even subtle temperature swings can spur widespread melting. The latest study suggests this could send meltwater surging into the surface fractures. Such surges would potentially cause hydrofracturing a process in which liquid water, which is heavier than ice, violently forces the fractures to zip open, and causes the shelf to rapidly disintegrate. The scientists estimate that between 50 and 70 per cent of the areas of the ice shelves buttressing the glaciers are vulnerable to such processes. Its not just about melting, but where its melting, said the studys lead author, Ching-Yao Lai, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia Universitys Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Co-author Jonathan Kingslake, a glaciologist at Lamont-Doherty, said: The ice shelves thats the weak spot, where the atmosphere, the ice and ocean interact. If they fill up with meltwater, things can happen very quickly after that, and there could be major consequences for sea levels. Hydrofracturing of this kind has already been observed in Antarctica. Existing fracture systems within Antarcticas coastal ice shelves (white) predicted by a machine-learning model. Melt water has reached very few of them, but this could change rapidly if the air warms (Ching-Yao Lai/Nature) Parts of the Larsen Ice Shelf, which had been stable for at least 10,000 years, disintegrated within just days in 1995 and 2002. This was followed by the partial breakup of the Wilkins Ice Shelf in 2008 and 2009. Hydrofracturing is believed to have been a key driver of the failure of these ice shelves. The Larsen and Wilkins shelves comprise some of the northernmost ice on the continent, and so have been the first to suffer under rising temperatures and seasonal melting. Recommended Earth has lost over 28 trillion tonnes of ice since 1994 The research team highlighted a previous study in 2017 by Dr Kingslake which revealed that seasonal ponds and streams on the ice surface are far more common across Antarctica than previously believed, with some reaching to within 375 miles of the South Pole. But for now, most of the large fractures recorded in the ice shelves are not subject to hydrofracturing. The new study shows that meltwater ponding is currently affecting only about 0.6 per cent of east Antarctic ice shelves that provide buttressing. However, a much larger percentage would potentially be endangered if warming takes hold, the scientists warned. In collaboration with Cameron Chen, a researcher from Google, Dr Lai trained a machine-learning model to identify ice-shelf fracture locations across Antarctica, in order to produce the first continent-wide map of such features. Although most fractures do not contain liquid water at present, the scientists considered future cases in which meltwater might fully fill the surface fractures. This allowed them to predict which parts of the shelves would be vulnerable to hydrofracturing. They calculated that inflow of liquid into the existing fractures could potentially exert enough force to cause widespread hydrofracturing across 50 to 70 per cent of the ice-shelf areas that provide buttressing. They said the main exceptions were smaller, more solid areas of ice closest to land, which experience less stress from stretching. Despite the concerns that their research raises, the scientists said they cannot predict the ice shelves behaviour with any exactitude. How fast meltwater would form and fill in those cracks is the first question, said Dr Kingslake. He said the worst-case scenario would be that lots of places will be covered by lots and lots of water by the end of the century. But projections vary widely, depending on which models scientists use, and how vigorously humanity cuts greenhouse gases, or doesnt. The second question is whether particular locations will undergo hydrofracturing, he said. The third question: whether the process would run away, causing the shelves to undergo explosive Larsen-type disintegration. Theodore Scambos, a leading Antarctic glaciologist at the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre, said the research does a great job of pointing to areas where one can say, If it floods with melt here, its likely to break up the shelf. He added that it has huge implications for sea level if summer temperatures along the coasts rise. Eventually, all the ice shelves could be covered by melt water, said Dr Lai. But we dont have a time frame, and there are a lot of big questions left. By PTI MUMBAI: Activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday tried to stop the car of Maharashtra minister Abdul Sattar in Dhule district demanding waiving of education fees, prompting the police to cane charge them, a senior officer said. The incident occurred in afternoon near the district collectorate when the animal husbandry minister was visiting the office, he said. "As the protesters tried to block the minister's car, police cane-charged them," the officer said. #WATCH Maharashtra: Police beat members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Dhule after they stopped the vehicle of State Minister Abdul Sattar to request him to waive off college fee of students owing to #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/AM8B86nOhz ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2020 He said six persons were detained briefly till the minister left the area. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held closed-door meetings Wednesday with Bahrains royal family and top officials in the United Arab Emirates amid the Trump administrations push for Arab nations to recognize Israel. Pompeo already travelled to Israel and Sudan on this trip through the Mideast, one that included him offering a recorded message in Jerusalem supporting President Donald Trumps reelection campaign for the Republican National Convention. That speech cast aside his own advice to American diplomats to be apolitical and bulldozed a long tradition of non-partisanship by previous secretaries of state. In Manama, Pompeo tweeted that he met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his son, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, on Wednesday morning. We discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of Gulf unity and countering Irans malign influence in the region, Pompeo wrote. Pompeo also said he discussed efforts to advance greater unity among Gulf countries. Thats as his plane flew over Qatar on its way to the United Arab Emirates, one of four Arab nations along with Bahrain now boycotting Doha over a yearslong political dispute. Typically, Bahraini and Emirati aircraft avoid Qatari airspace as theyve closed their own airspace to Qatar Airways. His meetings in Bahrain come after a U.S.-brokered deal announced Aug. 13 saw the United Arab Emirates and Israel open diplomatic relations. Bahrain, a small island nation just off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf, has a historic Jewish community. The kingdom has slowly encouraged ties to Israel, with two U.S.-based rabbis in 2017 saying King Hamad himself promoted the idea of ending the boycott of Israel by Arab nations. That boycott had been in place to offer Palestinians support in their efforts to form an independent state. In a statement after the meeting, the state-run Bahrain News Agency said King Hamad stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The king said that includes a two-state solution for an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital a longtime Arab stance. Bahrain is also home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet and remains a close security partner of the U.S. Pompeo landed later Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the seven-sheikhdom federation of the UAE. There, he met with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the nations national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The officials discussed issues such as Iran and thw mutual support for de-escalation and a lasting cease-fire in Libya, a later State Department statement said. Pompeo himself on Twitter praised the deal between the UAE and Israel as the most significant step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years even though the two countries had never been at war with each other. The diplomatic recognition of Israel may help the United Arab Emirates purchase advanced American weapons, such as the F-35 fighter jet. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered public objections to the deal, Trump has said the Emiratis wanted to purchase the jet after the accord. As a rule, Israel 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. Israel now is the only country in the region to have the fighter jet after a deal with Turkey collapsed over Ankaras purchase of Russias S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. While in Abu Dhabi, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told the state-run WAM news agency that incredibly positive conversations going on between Israel, the UAE and the U.S. over issues, including the F-35 sale to Abu Dhabi. With respect to the F-35 or any military hardware or infrastructure, I keep reminding people that it is important to know that the UAE and U.S. military and security relationship is robust and has been there for decades, Ortagus said. This is not a new relationship. This is a sophisticated relationship that we have had for decades. PASADENA, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OneWest Bank, CIT's Southern California retail bank division, today launched its second annual Bank on Building a Brighter Community program to give back to local area school children. In partnership with the Pasadena, Metro Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Moorpark & Simi Valley Boys & Girls Clubs, OneWest Bank will donate three hours of virtual learning assistance for every qualified checking account opened between now and October 15.1 "We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Boys & Girls Club and invest in our local students during this unique time," said Heather Ellison, head of Retail Banking for CIT. "This program aims to increase academic success and empower local kids to thrive despite the challenges they may be facing." OneWest's partnership with the Boys & Girls Club provides online tutoring and virtual extracurricular activity support. In addition, bank employees will host an interactive panel discussion at each location offering kids the opportunity to hear firsthand career, education and personal finance advice from professionals. "We're committed to helping students navigate learning in this new environment," said Kim Washington, vice president of Resource Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles. "OneWest's support is critical to improving academic success for Southern California students." As part of the program OneWest Bank customers are also eligible to receive up to a $300 checking reward when they open a qualifying checking account and meet the requirements. Bank on Building a Brighter Community runs August 24 to October 15 and is part of the company's ongoing efforts to build strong Southern California communities. OneWest has been an active supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs since 2010 through grants, leadership involvement and onsite volunteer support. Find out more information on the program at OneWest Bank. About OneWest Bank OneWest Bank is committed to helping Southern California consumers and small businesses meet their financial goals by offering a variety of personal and small business banking and lending solutions. We are passionate about serving the Southern California community and are proud to invest in the neighborhoods where we live and work. OneWest Bank is a division of CIT Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender), a subsidiary of CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT). For more information, visit OneWestBank.com and follow us on Facebook . MEDIA RELATIONS: Olivia Weiss 212-771-9657 [email protected] 1 For terms and conditions visit http://www.onewestbank.com/brighterchecking. SOURCE OneWest Bank Related Links https://www.onewestbank.com Egypt's parliament approved two international agreements with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a financial arm of the World Bank, and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). The agreements total $743 million and they target financing housing projects and establishing a wastewater system in the Bahr Al-Baqar area, Minister of International Cooperation Rania El-Mashat announced on Wednesday. El-Mashat said the IBRD agreement aims at strengthening the capacity of the Social Housing Fund and supporting real estate financing through boosting coordination between the concerned authorities, establishing an improved information management system, a structure for sound financial management and government and enhancing evaluation, monitoring and credit capacity, as well as providing support to lower-income families. The portfolio of ongoing projects with the IBRD includes 16 projects worth $4.8 billion in diverse sectors, such as social housing, health, education, local development, social protection, sanitation, petroleum, transportation, and the environment. She added the AFESD agreement was signed in June for 75 million Kuwaiti dinars ($243.2 million) and aims to finance the construction of Bahr Al-Baqar drainage water system in the Sinai Peninsula. "To improve the lives of communities in Sinai, the project puts environmental sustainability at the heart of development through providing clean water and ensuring the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems in a sustainable manner against pollution. On top of that, it also helps build sustainable cities and communities through providing additional 100,000 job opportunities to help sustain families and improve the services provided to the population," said El-Mashat. The estimated cost of the project to establish the Bahr Al-Baqar Bank system is about $1 billion, and the Ministry of International Cooperation signed three previous agreements within the same framework, one of which id worth 70 million Kuwaiti dinars ($238 million) with the AFESD, and two agreements for 75 million Kuwaiti dinars ($255 million) with the Kuwait Fund for Development. ThevMinistry of International Cooperation launched the Global Partnerships for Effective Development Cooperation multi-stakeholder platform in April 2020, prioritising cooperation between international development partners as well as the achievement of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Ministry of International Cooperation aims to revive international cooperation for the benefit of humanity, focusing on three pillars: People at the Core, Projects in Action and Purpose as the Driver, El-Mashat noted. To put "people at the core", the ministry has been implementing projects in multiple sectors by signing the first agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a member of the World Bank Group, last July, for $500 million as additional financing for the comprehensive programme to fund the housing project. This aims to primarily improve the lives of low-income people and give them adequate housing, which helps to achieve the first goal of SDGs related to poverty eradication, and the 11th goal related to establishing sustainable cities and communities, said El-Mashat. Search Keywords: Short link: Donald Trump has announced on the second night of the Republican National Convention that he will officially pardon a convicted bank robber, who later turned into an activist, while making his case for re-election. The president described the story of Jon Ponder, founder of the nonprofit group Hope for Prisoners, as a beautiful testament to the power of redemption during a video statement that was taped at the White House ahead of Tuesday night. "He has created one of the most [successful re-entry programmes], Hope For Prisoners, in Las Vegas," the president said in the video, which aired during the RNC. "Hope for prisoners is a movement that began as a dream, in a tiny prison cell, and is now making a difference in the lives of thousands, truly bringing hope that there is an opportunity and a community that is waiting and willing to offer them a second chance." Ponder, who was scheduled to speak at the second night of the convention, was sent to federal prison after robbing a bank. He later turned to religion and founded his nonprofit organisation in 2009, before he was granted clemency by the Nevada Pardons Board earlier this year. Meanwhile, a Republican congressional nominee from Georgia who supports the QAnon conspiracy theory and was congratulated by Mr Trump on her primary victory has also been invited to the Republican National Convention. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a photo of the invitation to her Twitter account on Tuesday. She wrote that she was "honored and thrilled to be invited to attend President Trump's acceptance speech Thursday evening at the White House". A person familiar with Ms Greene's invitation says it is legitimate. The person was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Mr Trump praised Ms Greene as a "future Republican Star" after she won her primary earlier this month. He has courted the support of QAnon believers, saying, "I heard that these are people that love our country." Other Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy, have rejected the conspiracy theory, which focuses 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. Democrats have criticised many of the speakers during the weeklong Republican convention, unloading on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ahead of his planned address on Tuesday night from Jerusalem. An aide to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden who has worked for the State Department calls Mr Pompeo's Tuesday speech "flat out disgraceful." Aide Bill Russo also said it's "an abuse of taxpayer money." Another top Biden deputy, Kate Bedingfield, blasted Mr Pompeo as the president's "errand boy" and said he has a record of "repeated and blatant use of his office for overtly political purposes". Secretaries of state regularly travel abroad on behalf of a US administration's agenda, but Mr Pompeo's speech to a party convention from foreign soil is an outlier. Mr Russo mocked Mr Pompeo's explanation that he will address the GOP convention on personal time. Mr Russo noted that the speech is still part of "official travel" and that taxpayer money "got him there" and is "paying for his protection" and for the "the staff on the ground" with him. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Mr Pompeo's move "violates his own policy". The senator referred to Mr Pompeo's "memos and instructions" sent recently to his department's employees. Additional reporting by the Associated Press CLEVELAND, Ohio Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts office is reviewing the case of an off-duty Cleveland police officer who fatally shot a man as both men drove down a busy street. Attorney general spokesman Steve Irwin said the office will act as the special prosecutor in the April 9 shooting that killed 22-year-old Desmond Franklin. The office began reviewing the case June 23, after the Cuyahoga County Sheriff finished their investigation into the shooting by Cleveland police officer Jose Garcia. Irwin gave no timetable for when the office expects to complete its review. The attorney generals office has not said whether it intends to present the case to a grand jury. The shooting sparked several protests in Cleveland, at the cemetery where Franklins car crashed after the shooting and at the Cleveland Police Second District, where Garcia is assigned. The case is also at the center of a protest Saturday expected to end outside Cleveland Mayor Frank Jacksons house. We will march to Frank Jacksons house to demand the firing (and) arrest of Jose Garcia for the murder of Desmond Franklin, according to a post on a Cleveland Black Lives Matter protest Instagram account. Attorneys for Franklins family questioned the veracity of the police account of the shooting and said the shooting amounted to murder. The main thing is that Desmond Franklin should be here with us today, but we look forward to the day the officer is charged by the attorney general, attorney Stanley Jackson said. We know the officer used excessive force that day, much like in other cases around the country. We hope his the attorney generals office will charge the officer with murder. Cleveland police administrators placed Garcia on paid leave following the shooting. Cleveland polices internal affairs unit is also investigating the incident to see if Garcia violated police policy. The incident began April 9, when Franklin and a 17-year-old boy he was with were at the same convenience store as Garcia in the citys Brooklyn Centre neighborhood, according to both the police and attorneys accounts. Garcia was not in his police uniform at the time and was in his own car on his way to start his shift. The two sides differ on what happened next. Cleveland police said that Garcia and Franklin exchanged words in the parking lot and that Garcia drove away. Cleveland Police Patrolmens Association president Jeff Follmer previously said Garcia confronted the duo about stealing items from a box truck in the parking lot. Cleveland police said Franklin and the teen got in a car and followed Garcia. Either Franklin or the teen pointed a gun at Garcia as they drove next to each other, according to police. Garcia fired shots, and a bullet hit Franklin in the head. He crashed his car into the fence at Riverside Cemetery. The teen ran, but another off-duty police officer arrested him. Garcia called 911 and reported that someone in the other car either tried to shoot at him or fired a shot at his car. Investigators have not said if they found evidence that someone shot at Garcia. Franklins family attorneys, Jackson and Shean Williams of The Cochran Firm, disputed the police narrative. They said Garcia shouted racial slurs at Franklin and the teen after seeing them take something out of a delivery truck. Jackson said the duo said nothing back and that Garcia drove away. Franklin left shortly after. He said the two ended up next to each other on West 25th Street. No one inside the car flashed a gun, Jackson said. Garcia fired shots at the car, hitting Franklin in the right temple. Jackson said he interpreted that to mean Franklin was looking straight ahead when the bullet struck him, so he couldnt have been pointing a gun or threatening Garcia at the time of the shooting. The attorneys also said the teen ran across the street for help, but that a nearby business did not let him use the phone, so he ran back to the cemetery to help Franklin. Franklin was a father of four, one of 10 siblings, a musician and an aspiring plumber, family members said. He was facing two felony charges in separate cases at the time of the shooting, according to court records. He was charged with aggravated robbery in connection with a Dec. 10 incident on the citys West Side. He was released from the Cuyahoga County Jail on Feb. 7 after posting 10 percent of a $50,000 bond. He was arrested again on March 12 and charged with receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. He was released from custody on a personal bond two days later. Read more from cleveland.com: Cleveland father indicted on manslaughter charge in sons accidental shooting death 18-year-old North Canton man identified as victim in fiery tanker crash on Ohio 8 in Akron Cuyahoga County Jail officer hit with more charges after kicking docile inmates arm When the Uzbek government recently eased its coronavirus restrictions and allowed wedding parties to be held -- though for just 30 people -- thousands of couples rushed to the registry offices for marriage licenses. Videos obtained by RFE/RL show large crowds lining up at registry offices in Samarkand's Qushrabot and Kattaqurghon districts, defying the risk of coronavirus that has infected nearly 40,000 and killed hundreds in Central Asia's most-populous nation. "I was 112th in line yesterday, and my turn hasn't come yet," a groom-to-be from Qushrabot told RFE/RL on August 19. VIDEO: Uzbeks Rush To Get Marriage Licenses In Samarkand (RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, natural sound) Civil registry officers around the country say they've received an unprecedented high volume of applications since the government gave the green light for small wedding parties on August 15. "Only by midday today we got more than 50 applications for a marriage license -- it's a very high number," said a representative of the Uchtepa district civil registry office in the capital, Tashkent. "We usually receive a maximum of 10 applications per day," the official added. Officials are urging people to apply online, but according to groom-to-be Humoyun, many people prefer to come in person and do it the "old fashioned way." "It takes much longer to get the license online," Humoyun, a resident of Tashkent's Mirobod district, told RFE/RL. One Wedding, Nearly 80 Infections Under the new restrictions, the number of people attending a wedding banquet cannot exceed 30 people, including the bride and groom. All the attendees must be residents of the same district, meaning that even close relatives and friends aren't allowed to the party if they live in a different city. The ceremonies must also meet social-distancing requirements and officials say that offenders can face various administrative penalties. Other requirements are that the wedding party must be held in the host family's home, as opposed to restaurants, banquet halls, or the ubiquitous "tuyhona," special venues that cater to weddings and other private functions. The rules are a massive downsizing for family-oriented Uzbek society, which has a long-standing tradition of lavish wedding parties with hundreds of guests, a convoy of cars, and a bountiful offering of food and drinks. From June, Uzbekistan had tentatively allowed 30-person private gatherings in some so-called "green areas" where the number of coronavirus infections was considerably lower than other regions. But the government said people were ignoring those restrictions and continued to throw big parties that led to the spread of COVID-19 among their guests. In early July, 79 infections were traced to a single wedding in Tashkent's Yunusobod district. Separately, 110 cases were linked to four other wedding parties, Health Minister Alisher Shodmonov said. President Shavkat Mirziyoev called on Uzbeks not to repeat those mistakes and to strictly obey the new rules. Ways Around Restrictions But many wedding-loving Uzbeks are trying to find ways around the restrictions. Shodmonov said some families have hosted as many as three separate wedding receptions, each with different groups of guests. Central Asians have traditionally large families and often the number of close relatives easily exceeds the 30-person limit. "I have four brothers and a sister and all of them have their own spouses and children. My husband too, has several siblings. It's already more than 30 people," said Marufa, the mother of the groom in one Tashkent wedding. "Obviously, the bride's side has its own relatives. Apart from that, the bride and groom have close friends who you must invite," Marufa told RFE/RL. Last year, the government had -- to some extent -- downsized Uzbeks' extravagant weddings, adopting a regulation that curbs the number of guests, vehicles used in wedding convoys, and music bands performing at the party, among other limits. That regulation came after Mirziyoev in 2018 criticized what he called "shameless" and wasteful weddings that drove poorer families deep into debt or put them in poverty. The Tema circuit court 'B' has sentenced a fishmonger to 8years in prison for stealing a 6-month-old baby. According to the investigator Corporal Sugulu of the Ada District Police, the accused person, Mary Quertey lives in the same vicinity as the victim. The investigator said Mary often visited the victim's mother. He said on Sunday, 19th of January 2020, the accused went to visit the victim's mother in the house. The mother of the baby went to the seaside, leaving the baby under the care of the accused person. Corporal Sugulu indicated that the baby's mother returned home later and realized both baby and Mary Quertey were nowhere to be found. He said the mother of the baby reported the case to the police and after an intensive search, Mary Quertey was found. Mary Quertey attempted to sell off the baby in Togo and she was arrested by relatives and brought to Ghana. The victim's family then lodged a complaint at the Ada police station and she was arrested and arraigned before court. At the court, Mary Quertey pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her. She added that she was under the influence of alcohol and that she did not know what came over her to have done that. The presiding judge Bertha Aniagyei after judging the case for 8 months finally sentenced the accused to 8 years in prison. We wanted organizations to do what made the most sense for them and to do it in the way they thought they were most likely to make progress, Mr. Finkelpearl said. For one thing, he said, as a matter of law, the city could not legally set quotas. You cant say to an institution, The next 10 people you hire must be people of color, he said. But what you can say and whats in these plans is, Here are the steps were going to take to have a diverse applicant pool. Mr. Van Bramer said that, the mayors comments notwithstanding, the plans architects never decided whether funding would be tied to organizations progress. Thats always been fairly nebulous, he said. Theres really no way to enforce it. All of which worries the people who had hoped the plan would do more than just point the way to a more virtuous future. Elena Ketelsen Gonzalez, a senior fellow of public programs and community engagement at MoMA PS1 who has been a consultant on issues of equity and language access, said it was difficult to see how the plan would work without a firm enforcement mechanism. I worry that institutions need a monetary impetus to follow through, she said. Wishes, Not Plans For now, the metric used to review the institutions progress is simply to evaluate the plans they have set forth for meeting their diversity goals. The program asked them to set measurable though not specifically numerical one-, three- and six-year goals in the plans submitted last year. The surgeon who amputated the leg of British Paralympian Jonnie Peacock - after he contracted meningitis as a five-year-old - has admitted that deciding to remove the limb was a very 'hard decision to make'. Surgeon Per Hall surprised the GB sprinter, who memorably won gold in the 100-metre final at the London 2012 Olympics, during his appearance on the Lorraine show on Wednesday, where the athlete was talking about Rising Phoenix, a new Netflix film about the Paralympics. Show host Christine Lampard showed the emotional video clip featuring Mr Hall describing the life-altering decisions that surgeons face in such scenarios. Scroll down for video British sprinter Jonnie Peacock, who had his right leg amputated after contracting meningitis at five, appeared on Lorraine this morning to discuss new Netflix film Rising Phoenix - he was surprised by a message from the surgeon who made the decision to remove his leg 'Very dark days' Surgeon Per Hall delivered the message from Edinburgh, telling Jonnie that his track success had reinforced the decision he had to make to remove his leg after he was struck down with meningitis aged five Making history: Jonnie winning gold in the 100-metre final at the 2012 Paralympics in London. Right, with his mum Linda shortly after his operation to remove his limb He explained to viewers how hard it was to predict the best outcome for Jonnie when he was admitted to hospital with the life-threatening blood infection during early childhood. He said: 'There were some very dark days when you were so poorly and really difficult decisions had to be made. 'But you've reinforced to us that we did make the right call by showing your zest for life and for your sport.' Mr Hall added that it had been a 'privilege' to treat Jonnie. In response, Jonnie, clearly emotional, said: 'He's such a good guy. You forget that this guy has to make really tough calls. 'No human wants to take something away from a child, especially a limb. And obviously they're making the decision about whether they should or they shouldn't.' Mr Hall said that it was 'a very tough call' on whether it was the right decision to remove Jonnie's right leg as he fought for his life in hospital as a five-year-old Responding to Mr Hall's message, Jonnie said he's such a 'good guy' and that he hoped the things he'd achieved reassured surgeons in similar positions The British sprinter also discussed the new Netflix film Rising Phoenix, which documents the history of the Paralympics Jonnie appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, with dancing partner Oti Mabuse The former Strictly Come Dancing star said when the pair had been reunited on the show during Jonnie's appearance on the reality show in 2017, it had helped Mr Hall feel that he had made the right decision. The British sprinter also discussed the new Netflix film Rising Phoenix, which documents the history of the Paralympics. Prince Harry makes an appearance in the film, urging society to 'encourage and accept' people with disabilities. The Duke appeared relaxed in the documentary and spoke about the success of London's 2012 Paralympic Games Prince Harry, 35, plays a starring role in a Netflix documentary about the Paralympics which was released today on the streaming service In the movie, the Duke of Sussex exalts the success of the London Paralympics, claiming that many people thought the event would be 'a failure.' He said: 'A lot of people, based on what they'd been told, thought it was going to be a failure and that they weren't going to be able to sell tickets.' He added: 'The stadiums were packed. The sport was incredible. And what they saw was undoubtedly better than the Olympics themselves.' Meanwhile he continued: 'For me and for so many people out there especially young kids to see individuals like that go on and achieve what they have achieved. Rising Phoenix is released on Netflix on August 26th The enlarged bank will specialize in three areas of financing: multifamily affordable housing, small businesses and nonprofit development, Mr. Argrett said in an interview. Image Brian E. Argrett will be chief executive of the combined company, which will use City First as its banking brand. We need to scale up our impact, he said. Having a larger capital base is important so we can direct more resources into underserved communities. Broadway and City First are Community Development Financial Institutions, which are lenders that focus on low- and moderate-income areas and typically serve minority borrowers and entrepreneurs who lack the assets to get traditional loans. The new company will preserve Broadways designation as a Minority Depository Institution, a federally insured institution that is mostly owned by minority shareholders or led by a minority-controlled board. There are 143 Minority Depository Institutions in the United States, according to the governments latest data, but just 20 are Black led. A recent study by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation found that such minority-led institutions outperformed traditional banks in originating mortgages and federally backed small-business loans to borrowers in low- and moderate-income census tracts. The two banks desire to grow and create an organization with a larger capital base inspired the merger, Mr. Argrett said. The company plans to maintain headquarters in Southern California and Washington. A US military facility in northeastern Syria, in the eastern part of the Deir ez-Zor region, came under rocket fire Aug. 19, with several shells falling in the vicinity of a US base near the Conoco oil field. On Aug. 17, an armed incident occurred between an American patrol and Syrian military personnel near the city of Qamishli in adjoining Hasakah province. After the sides exchanged fire at a checkpoint, a Syrian solider was killed; while the Syrian state news agency SANA said the soldier was killed by fire from US helicopter gunships, the US command said there was only an exchange of ground fire. These incidents should serve as another signal for the Russian command, which has found itself in a very risky position in the so-called trans-Euphrates region. Moscow does not have the necessary leverage on the Syrian regime to prevent Syrian provocations against the Americans, nor does it have sufficient forces to carry out effective military operations. The region in question is the left bank of the Euphrates river, which Russian and Syrian troops entered last fall on the basis of an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in order to prevent the advance of Turkish troops during Operation Peace Spring. In this area Russian and Syrian troops do not have full territorial and administrative control. The US-backed SDF continues to maintain its presence, with its affiliated civil administration, not to mention US military installations. Unlike the American contingent stationed in this region, the three battalions of the Russian military police in the trans-Euphrates region are deprived of aerial support. Russian aircraft cannot be deployed without the approval of the United States, which controls the airspace over northeastern Syria. This makes the positions of the Russian and allied Syrian forces more precarious in the event of possible clashes with local groups, whether pro-Turkish or Kurdish. At the same time, while at the end of 2019 the threat of escalation in the northeast was most likely between Damascus and the opposition Syrian National Army, which jointly conducted Operation Peace Spring with Turkey, now the risk of clashes is higher between the regime forces and the SDF. Since the United States has decided to stay in eastern Syria, the SDF command is less and less inclined to compromise with the forces of President Bashar al-Assad. The regimes secret services known in Arabic as the mukhabarat are allegedly playing a role this conflict between Damascus and the SDF. The mukhabarat are trying to drive the protests of the Arab tribes living in Deir ez-Zor into an open armed uprising against the SDF, so that then some local elders associated with the Syrian mukhabarat will ask Assad to intervene and support them. To achieve these goals, the secret services are ready to carry out various kinds of provocations to aggravate the split between the SDF and the tribes, including contract killings of tribal authorities that can be blamed on the SDF. This work by Assad's agents is already yielding results. A number of elders from the al-Uqaydat tribe the largest tribe in Deir ez-Zor province announced the creation of the Army of al-Uqaydat with the aim of organizing "popular resistance to the American occupation and its mercenaries." Apparently, it is these forces that were behind the shelling of the American military facility near the Conoco field Aug. 19. It is significant that they were supported by one of the sheikhs of the Bakara tribe, Nawaf al-Bashir, who in 2017 announced his support for Assad and is associated with Iran. He announced the beginning of a liberation war for the region east of the Euphrates and called for the formation of military forces and political bodies "that will coordinate the fight against the US and Kurdish terrorists." However, such a radical scenario cannot be supported by Russia, which is aware of both its own military weakness in the northeast of Syria, as well as of the insufficient level of support for Damascus from the Deir ez-Zor tribes (despite the strong loyalty of some individual sheikhs). The Russian side also fears that escalation in the region could lead to a direct conflict between the Syrian regime and the SDF, which would be directly supported by the United States. In such a situation, Moscow is unlikely to be able to help Assad and will be forced to play the role of an observer, which would negatively affect the image of the Kremlin. At the same time, on the whole, Russia is ready to encourage the desire of the Arab tribes of the northeast and east of Syria to free themselves from the patronage of the SDF, but not involve them in direct confrontation with the Kurds and the United States. Moscow will only try to attract the Arabs to its side, including by involving and recruiting military formations operating under the auspices of Russia. The Russian side last fall negotiated with Jamil Rashid al-Khafal, one of the sheikhs of the al-Uqaydat tribe, offering him a plan of "reconciliation" with the regime according to the same formula that was used with rebels in Daraa in southwestern Syria. At the same time, the forces of the Military Council of Deir ez-Zor (a military structure of the SDF, consisting of Arab tribes) would become the basis of new brigades of the 5th assault corps, which is directly linked to the Russian military command. The tribes, however, ignored the Russian proposal after Washington said that its forces would remain in eastern Syria to protect oil fields. Currently, this idea can be partially revived. We can talk about attracting the forces of the Arab tribes of the northeast into a new pro-Russian structure, which may become the 6th assault corps. However, in the first stage, units from Arab tribes will only join the pro-Russian units, without being transferred control over the territories. Also, this new formation should involve fighters of local units of the pro-government National Defense Forces, which the Iranians helped set up. Its worth keeping in mind that the right bank of the Euphrates river to the southeast of the city of Deir ez-Zor and up to the Iraqi border is controlled by pro-Iranian groups associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Here, from the city of Boukamal (also known as Abu Kamal), begins the so-called "Shiite corridor" that links Iran through Iraq with Syria and Lebanon, and new Iranian bases are being created. In this regard, the facilities of the IRGC and pro-Iranian groups in this region serve as targets for attacks by Israeli jets. A well-informed source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Iran intends to continue to build up its presence in eastern Syria and for this will likely use, as in Daraa, the cover of the Syrian armys elite 4th Armored Division. The latter, which is commanded by the presidents brother Maher al-Assad, is charged with defending the government from internal and external threats and has begun recruiting local residents in the city of Mayadin, in northeastern Syria, for its new units. As a result, many pro-Iranian groups in this region will be able to "mimic" the regular units of the 4th division. Thus, the 4th division, both in the Syrian southwest and in the northeast of Syria, will be Russia's main competitor in attracting local tribal and opposition formations to the ranks of its proxy forces. Russia's plans to consolidate its position in the northeast of Syria and create loyal formations there can be supported by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which themselves are actively working with the Arab tribes of the region. The deployment of pro-Russian military structures in northeastern Syria could lead to the creation of a "buffer zone" there, free from the Iranian presence, which also meets the interests of Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. This would serve as a guarantee that if American troops leave the region, their place would be taken not by pro-Iranian formations but rather ones created and controlled by Moscow. At the same time, such a scenario is unlikely to be in the interests of Turkey, which in response to the attempts of Russia and the Assad regime to expand control over the territories ruled by the SDF will try to find a way to increase its Peace Spring security zone. In addition, Ankara could consider strengthening its position in the Syrian northeast through some concessions to Russia in Idlib. Although northeastern Syria is in the "shadow of Idlib," in reality it is an equally volatile region and any incident that occurs there carries the risks of escalation between the United States and Russia. In the Syrian northeast there are armed forces and armed formations of Russia, the United States, Turkey, Iran, Assad, the Syrian opposition, the Kurds, Arab tribes, the PKK and the Islamic State. In this region as well, the interests of Turkey come into conflict with the interests of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. All this creates an extremely explosive mixture that even a small spark can ignite. The Czech Republic could become another European country subject to quarantine measures for people returning to the UK, according to the latest figures. A seven-day rate of 20 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people is the threshold above which the UK Government considers triggering quarantine conditions. The Czech Republic is currently recording a seven-day rate of 19.4 cases per 100,000, up from 16 a week ago. (PA Graphics) Switzerland is already over the threshold, with a seven-day rate of 21.2. Last week, Scotland took Switzerland off its list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate on arrival. The rest of the UK could follow later this week. Two countries that seem likely to remain on the list for the time being are Greece and Italy. While the rate has ticked upwards in both countries, neither of them are near the threshold. In Greece, the latest seven-day rate is 14.1 cases per 100,000 roughly the same as a week ago (14.3), but up from where it was two weeks ago (10.1). Italy is currently recording a seven-day rate of 10.8, up from 5.6. Figures have been calculated by the PA news agency based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. In Ireland, the seven-day rate is currently 14.8, while in the UK it is 11.1. Police in Texas discovered a body on Tuesday confirmed to be Sgt. Elder Fernandes, a 23-year-old Fort Hood soldier who had been missing for nine days. The body was discovered in Temple, Texas, according to a statement from the Fort Hood Army post on Wednesday. Authorities said previously that the body had been "deceased for some period of time. Col. Patrick Disney, 1st Cavalry Division, extended condolences to Fernandes' family and friends in the Wednesday statement. Since his absence was reported, we have made a significant, concerted effort to search for him throughout Central Texas," Disney said. "We are grateful for the outpouring of support and assistance we received as we worked to find him." An attorney for Fernandes family, Natalie Khawan, said in a statement, Our worst nightmare has happened. One of our own, Sergeant Elder Fernandes was found dead, she said. We are sickened by this tragedy that has happened one too many times. We are heartbroken for Elder Fernandess family. Police in Temple, which is about 30 miles east of Fort Hood, said in a statement that the department received a call around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday about a body found near railroad tracks in the city. Fernandes drivers license was found in a backpack near the body, Khawan told NBC Boston. Authorities said they did not suspect foul play, but did not specify a cause of death. Fernandes, of Brockton, Massachusetts, was recently transferred to a different unit because he was an alleged victim of "abusive sexual contact," U.S. Army officials said Saturday. He was last seen Aug 17. Image: Elder Fernandes (U.S. Army / via AP) Lt. Col. Chris Brautigam, a 1st Cavalry Division spokesman told NBC News last week that there was an open investigation of abusive sexual contact involving Sgt. Fernandes. "The unit sexual assault response coordinator has been working closely with Sgt. Fernandes, ensuring he was aware of all his reporting, care, and victim advocacy options," he said. Fernandes was recently transferred from a unit that was deployed to another unit "to ensure he received the proper care and ensure there were no opportunities for reprisals." Story continues In her statement, Khawan called for a congressional investigation into Fort Hood, which has seen a series of soldier disappearances and deaths in the past year. Earlier this month, Fort Hood officials recovered the body of Francisco Gilberto Hernandez-Vargas, 24, following an Aug. 2 boating incident on Stillhouse Hollow Lake, a reservoir managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District. Mejhor Morta, 26, was found unresponsive July 17 in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, according to Fort Hood officials. On July 1, human remains that were later identified as 20-year-old missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen were found about 20 miles east of the base. A suspect in that case, Fort Hood soldier Aaron Robinson, shot and killed himself as police moved in to arrest him. A woman that officials identified as Robinson's girlfriend was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of tampering with evidence. On June 21, skeletal remains were found in a field in Killeen, just over 10 miles from Stillhouse Hollow Lake, which were subsequently identified as 24-year-old missing Fort Hood soldier Gregory Morales. U.S. Army officials have said they suspect foul play in his death. Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images The Whitney Museum of American Art canceled its planned exhibition Collective Actions: Artist Interventions in a Time of Change after criticism over how it acquired the works that would be shown. The exhibition, announced August 25, planned to consist of prints, photographs, posters, and digital files that have been created this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. It would have gone up September 17, two weeks after the Whitneys planned September 3 reopening. Many of the works acquired had been made by Black artists and bought at low prices, as they were sold to be accessible to the public to fundraise for causes related to COVID-19 and systemic racism. Collective Actions curator Farris Wahbeh confirmed the cancellation in a statement that the museum shared with Vulture. We at the museum have been listening and hearing from artists about their concerns. The conversations and discussions that have come out of the exhibition are deeply felt, he wrote. We apologize for the anger and frustration the exhibition has caused and have made the decision not to proceed with the show. Wahbeh added, Going forward, we will study and consider further how we can better collect and exhibit artworks and related material that are made and distributed through these channels. I understand how projects in the past several months have a special resonance and I sincerely want to extend my apologies for any pain that the exhibition has caused. Some of the pieces came from See in Black, a collective that sold photography prints by Black artists to raise money for five organizations supporting Black Americans. In a statement, See in Black called the exhibition an unauthorized use of the works to which the artists do not consent and for which the artists were not compensated. The group added, Furthermore, See in Black is not affiliated with the Whitneys exhibition. A photographer who worked with See in Black, Gioncarlo Valentine, tweeted an email he received from Wahbeh about acquiring his work for the Whitneys special collections (which often archive historical ephemera, although arent always shown) and showing it in the exhibition. Wahbeh offered no additional compensation other than a lifetime pass to the museum and asked Valentine for biographical information for a placard in the exhibition. @whitneymuseum yall preyed on Black artists in this moment in such a disgusting way, Valentine tweeted. In another tweet, he added, Im speechless. Like people DREAM of having their work shown in the Whitney, and yall out here trying to grab the shit on sale? Texas Isaiah, another artist who worked with See in Black, told HuffPost the Whitney paid $100 for his print. If they managed to acquire the works in this manner, he said, they do not deserve them at all. About 1,500 Ukrainians resided in Qatar as of the end of 2019, Ukraines Ambassador to Qatar Andrii Kuzmenko has said. He said this in an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, one of the leading Qatari newspapers. As of the end of 2019, about 1,500 Ukrainians reside in Qatar. However, taking into account the visa-free regime between our countries, the total number of our compatriots here is greater and can range from 2,000 to 2,500, Kuzmenko said, adding that the majority of Ukrainians in Qatar work in healthcare, sport and hospitality sectors. The ambassador noted that Qatar is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Ukrainian tourists. According to Kuzmenko, more and more citizens of Qatar are considering Ukraine as an attractive place for tourism and recreation, launching a business and implementing investment projects. Of course, the visa-free regime and direct flights between our capitals greatly contribute to the acceleration of business contacts, the diplomat added. In 2017, about 7,000 Ukrainians visited Qatar. Some 15,000 Ukrainians visited Qatar in 2018 and 22,600 in 2019. ish TEL AVIV - A Palestinian national has stabbed to death an Israeli citizen Wednesday afternoon in Petach Tikva, a village in the centre of Israel in an episode that the police defined a terrorist attack with nationalistic motivations. The Palestinian attacker, 46, is from a village near Nablus, in the West Bank and possessed a regular work permit. He was arrested not far from where the incident took place. The victim was a 39-year-old Rabbi, father of four. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Gen. Dempsey Says United States Should Find A Way To Close Guantanamo MIAMI (AP) -- Five men from Yemen were freed from the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after more than a dozen years of captivity and sent to Estonia and Oman for resettlement, U.S. officials said Wednesday, the latest in a wave of releases that have alarmed congressional opponents of closing the detention center. Four of the men went to Oman and one to Estonia, according to a Pentagon statement. It was the first time either nation accepted Guantanamo prisoners for resettlement. The men had been cleared for release since at least 2009 but the U.S. has balked at repatriating Guantanamo prisoners back to Yemen, where the government is battling an al-Qaida insurgency. All five were captured in Pakistan and detained by the U.S. as suspected al-Qaida fighters. U.S. officials later determined it was no longer necessary to detain them but have struggled to find other countries willing to take them in. The men are all in their 30s and 40s, including one who was 17 when he was sent to Guantanamo. President Barack Obama came into office pledging to close the detention center on the U.S. base but was blocked by Congress, which barred transferring any prisoner to the U.S. for any reason and imposed restrictions on sending them elsewhere. Congress eased the restrictions on transfers abroad in December 2013 and the Obama administration has stepped up the releases in recent months. There are now 122 prisoners at Guantanamo, including 54 who have been approved for transfer. Of those cleared to leave, 47 are Yemeni and will likely have to be resettled in other countries, given the security situation in their homeland. "We are committed to closing the detention facility. That's our goal and we are working toward that goal," said Ian Moss, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department on Guantanamo issues. The recent releases have angered some members of Congress, who have argued that Guantanamo is necessary to detain terrorism suspects. Republican senators on Tuesday proposed restrictions that would bar transfers to Yemen for two years and suspend the transfer of men previously classified as high-risk or medium-risk. "Now is not the time to be emptying Guantanamo," Sen. Kelly Ayottee said at a news conference during which she warned of fresh terrorist threats. More on AOL.com Photo released of man accused in Capitol plot Fire forces 200 inmates from old Pa. prison Sheriff's office embarrassed by awkward typo Social media allows us to connect with friends and loved ones in meaningful ways even when we arent together in person, which is wonderful. It also allows us to get to know and interact with people in other places, whether thats in the United States or around the world. That, too, is great BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: Russian producers have significantly increased bitumen export to Uzbekistan, Trend reports citing kursiv.kz. In 2020, Russia has abolished the duty on bitumen export. As a result, Russian producers in the period from January through July 2020, supplied to Uzbekistan about 80,000 tons of bitumen. As for 2019, Russia's supplies resulted in less than 40,000 tons. Kazakhstan, which also abolished the export duty and sold about 60,000 tons of bitumen to Uzbekistan during 2019, supplied about 10,000 tons of bitumen in the first seven months of 2020. Uzbekistan's bitumen market is the most promising market among all Central Asian countries for bitumen exports. According to the plans of the Government of Uzbekistan in the coming years, the costs of repair and reconstruction of roads will increase by 2 2.5 times. If this year Uzbekistan plan to import about 150,000 tons, next year this figure may grow up to 200,000 - 250,000 tons. At the same time, Uzbekistan's own bitumen production is about 100,000 tons of bitumen per year, the message said. The bulk of Russian bitumen in the first half of the year came to Uzbekistan: shipments in this direction rose to 64,700 tons. In May 2020, Russian bitumen shipments to Uzbekistan doubled as compared to April 2020, to 13,300 tons. Dutch Lumidea engineering company will build a plant for the production of asphalt and concrete products in Khiva city in Uzbekistans Fergana region, according to the signed agreement in September 2019. Lumidea Engineering will construct an asphalt plant for $15 million. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Knights of Columbus to Aid in Aftermath of Beirut Explosion Stability in Lebanon seen as key to religious pluralism in Middle East NEWS PROVIDED BY Knights of Columbus Aug. 26, 2020 NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 26, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus has sent $250,000 for disaster relief to Lebanon in the wake of the devastating Beirut explosion. "This is a great tragedy that merits the prayers and full attention of the world," said K of C Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "The calamity in Lebanon is a threat to the vital Christian community there and threatens the existence of Christianity throughout the Middle East. This desperate situation must be addressed." The Knights' gift was conveyed through Bishop Gregory Mansour, who leads the Maronite Eparchy (diocese) of St. Maron of Brooklyn, NY. It will include: $125,000 for Caritas Lebanon; $50,000 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society; $50,000 for Telelumiere/Noursat Christian Television in the Middle East; and $25,000 for Sesobel, which serves special needs children and their families. Bishop Mansour said the donations "mark the special charism of the Knights: to serve the poor, to lift up our special needs children, to communicate the saving message of Christ, and to remind the small and tireless Church now in Lebanon... that men of good will are near to them in their time of need." The Knights' gift follows a donation by Pope Francis of 250,000 euros ($295,488) in aid as an expression "of his fatherly closeness to people in serious difficulty," a Vatican press release stated. At least 178 people were killed and 6,000 were injured in a blast near Beirut's port on Aug. 4. The explosion caused extensive damage to the city and flattened buildings near the port. Some 300,000 people were left temporarily homeless. Since 2014, the Knights of Columbus has spent more than $25 million on behalf of persecuted Christians and other religious minorities targeted for elimination in the Middle East. The support has funded rebuilding and saving the town of Karamles, Iraq, after its liberation from ISIS; fed tens of thousands of displaced people; provided short-term and long-term housing for the displaced; and supported educational, medical and other programs for those targeted by ISIS. The Knights of Columbus is one of the world's leading fraternal and service organizations with 2 million members in more than a dozen countries. During the past year, Knights around the world donated $187 million for worthy causes in their communities. In recent months, that charity has been focused on the coronavirus pandemic via food banks, blood drives and the Knights' community focused "No Neighbor Left Behind" program. About the Knights of Columbus In addition to its charitable efforts, the Knights of Columbus also provides financial services to groups and individuals, resulting in more than $112 billion of life insurance in force, and through its money management firm, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, it invests in accord with Catholic social teachings. From helping children in need, to providing wheelchairs for the disabled, to helping stock food banks, to offering top-rated and affordable insurance products to its members, the Knights of Columbus has supported families and communities for more than 138 years. SOURCE Knights of Columbus CONTACT: Joseph Cullen, 203-415-9314, joseph.cullen@kofc.org Related Links www.kofc.org OTTAWAAn Ottawa high school teacher is facing new sex charges in relation to alleged incidents involving two female students in 2013. Ottawa police say 42-year-old Majed Turk is facing four counts of luring a child, as well as one count each of sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching. Turk was initially charged in July with one count each of sexual assault, sexual interference and criminal harassment. Those charges were related to alleged incidents dating between September and November of last year. Turk was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday regarding the new charges. Police say they are concerned there could be more victims. Turk was a substitute teacher at several schools in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board from 2009 onward, according to police. Read more about: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Lawmakers want to conduct an investigation into the murder of human rights activist Zara Alvarez in Bacolod City, Negros. Congressmen of the Makabayan bloc showed Wednesday a copy of House Resolution 1145 directing the House Committee on Human Rights to initiate an inquiry in aid of legislation on what they call an "extrajudicial killing" of the human rights worker. The resolution was filed on August 18. Alvarez, a paralegal for rights group Karapatan, was shot dead inside a private village last August 17 by unidentified gunmen. She was the 13th human rights worker of Karapatan who was killed under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Makabayan said. "Her killing is a threat to all human rights workers merely working to assist and help defend farmers, activists and rights advocates despite threats to their person and even under increasing repression and limitations under the COVID-19 pandemic," Makabayan added. "It is imperative for members of Congress as representatives of our people, to defend the rights of our people and check on excesses and violations committed against them," the progressive group said. Bayan Muna representatives Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, and Ferdinand Gaite; Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago signed the resolution. Agnes Callamard, United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitratry executions, slammed the killing of Alvarez and called on the Human Rights Council and the international community to look into the issue. She also attributed the incident to the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law which "provides another legal weapon to maliciously tag" activists and critics of the administration "and provide another pretext for even more extrajudicial killings." "What will it take for these killings to stop? How much more sorrow, grief, pain can the people endure?" Callamard said. 26.08.2020 LISTEN We have read into the letter and spirit of the press statement released by the NDC communications directorate in the Sissala East in response to the infrastructure tracker addressed by his Excellency, the Vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia. This the NDC did with a press release dated the 25th of August, 2020 against the infrastructure delivery tracker of the Akufo-Addo government launched by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, at a town hall meeting on 18th August, 2020. The NDC was particularly about projects in the Sissala East Municipality. We have critically examined their object, purpose and goal, but found no positive in their incompetent and panic reaction. The NDC without doing any diligent work has decided to resort to their usual lies and falsehoods by claiming that, "the data on the tracker revealed several inaccuracies in relation to Agriculture, Education, Health, Roads as well as Water and Sanitation." We will rectify the NDC errors for the good people of Ghana especially those in the Sissala East constituency and for every meaningful Ghanaian to know how deceitful and lying the NDC can be. Firstly, on the issue of AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE, the NDC claimed that, "Under the 1V1D promised by the NPP, Ghanaians for that matter the good people of Sisslala East were told ten (10) dams would be constructed in the Municipality every year but four years into the Nana Addo/Bawumia led NPP government, only ten (10) dams can be talked of. And out of these, nine (9) have been captured by the delivery tracker as either completed or ongoing in Sissala East Municipal." This claim of the NDC is one of the biggest falsehoods of the 21st century. Nowhere did the NPP ever promise the people of the Sissala East of digging 10 dams per year. The NDC and its communications directorate in the Sissala East constituency should kindly help us with evidence to substantiate this their palpable and concocted falsehood. We are however happy that despite the numerous lies of the NDC, they've at least admitted that the NPP has dug the 9 dams out of the 10 dams they promised the people of the Sissala East constituency with some completed and some ongoing. It is also hypocritical and very unfortunate for the NDC and its cohorts to blatantly deny knowledge of an ongoing construction of a Warehouse under the government's 1D1W initiative when in actual fact the project can be found adjacent JUSBRO filling station in Tumu. The construction work is currently ongoing and the contractor is even still on site. Excavation is done already, the offices are finished etc. On EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE, the NDC claimed that "The claim on the government delivery tracker that a 6-unit dormitory block for Tumu Senior High Technical School was completed is inaccurate. A project which is about 60% complete cannot be tracked as completed." This is not surprising because it is only an NDC government that could not boast of any good infrastructure record in the Sissala East constituency that will say so. Who gave the NDC the percentage of work done on the dormitory block? Is it the contractor of the project or the always lying and Mr. Know All Sammy Gyamfi? It is refreshing to know that the said 60% complete facility is currently in use and was also used by the Gold Track students until their vacation. What then can explain this disgraceful lie since the communications director of the NDC is teaching in the Tumu Senior High Technical School? It is obvious that he does not go to school regularly and hence, his total ignorance. Still on education, the NDC stated that the "claim by the government delivery tracker that a 6-unit classroom block was constructed at Kulfuo is false as the project was constructed by an NGO (ACTION AID GH)". This claim by the NDC is laughable. The NDC always boast of infrastructure put in place by JICA under their administration as their projects. In fact, their flagbearer, the self-declared dead goat, His Excellency the incompetent John Mahama, is running around boasting with world bank constructed senior High schools as his handiwork and achievements. The NDC is, in fact, embarrassing itself too much. We in NPP are humble enough to admit that the 6-unit classroom block in Kulfuo is a project initiated by Action Aid Ghana but with the support and guidance of the NPP government. It is worth noting that the Sissala East Municipal Assembly under the able leadership of MCE, Honourable Karim Nanyua, is currently extending electricity to the said school adding to his previous unblemished commitments to the said school. On the same measure, the NPP will like to plead with the NDC to stop using the NGO, Virtue Foundation's projects to campaign for John Mahama and their parliamentary candidate, Issah Mohammed Bataglia. They should show us their 8 years infrastructure development if any and stop hiding under NGO projects. They can equally advice our other brothers in the PNC to also stop using Save-Ghana projects to campaign. On HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, the NDC before leaving power in 2016 left a lot of unpaid health projects like the Kusinjan CHPS coumpond in Tumu and all the Social Investment Fund(SIF) projects in the Sissala East Municipality. Not even a penny did the NDC pay for any SIF project be it the Challu clinic, the Tumu Midwifery Teachers Quarters or the Kassana Maternity Ward. It took the able-leadership and commitment of the MCE, Honourable Karim Nanyua, to mobilise funds for the payment of contractors to execute those projects and as a result, the Municipality was compensated with a 6-unit classroom block in Gwosi Upper. Though the SIF did fulfilled its part of the bargain, the NDC government was very reluctant and unwilling to fulfil its part and left the projects hanged in the air with the Sissala East people suffering. On ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE, we thought the NDC would have for once admitted that the NPP in 3 years did far better than their entire eight years. For the 8 years of the NDC, not even in a single day did they reshape or did spot improvement for the major road from Bugubelle to Challu. It took only the intervention of the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister who doubles as the NPP parliamentary candidate to do reshaping on that road with his own resources whilst still working together with the MCE and other stakeholders to get contractors on site. With this, would it be prudent to ask the communications directorate of the NDC what their parliamentary candidate, honourable Mohammed Bataglia, did for the people of Sissala East between 2013 to 2016 especially on these our poor roads? Honourable Mohammed Bataglia was a presidential staffer and we need his records in that regard. Also, the road from Tumu to Nabugbelle though not tarred is one of the very best in the municipality. And you can thank the NPP government for that. On water and sanitation, the NPP government has mechanised boreholes in Bichemboi, Wellembelle-Dagbasu(ongoing), Kuroboi, Banu, Taffiasi and Nankpawie. It is also historic to note that since independence, it is only this NPP government that dug a borehole for the Challu Basic School. It was therefore shameful and very disgraceful for the NDC to even mention anything concerning borehole in Challu. In fact, when the people of Challu pleaded with the then NDC government to give their school a borehole between 2009 to 2016, the then NDC government brought a tractor(just imagine!) to drill a borehole for them and ended up saying there was no water at the site. These are sacred facts the NDC in the Sissala East constituency are aware of. Though not mechanised, there were boreholes dug in Pieng, Timbaka, Kong, Challu and many more communities in the Sissala East Municipality in these 3 and half years of Nana Addo and Dr. Bawumia. CONCLUSION It is evidently clear that the Nana Addo-Bawumia government has done so much for the good people of Sissala East constituency and not even the lies and falsehoods of the NDC can tarnish the image of the Nana-Bawumia government. Results are the only reason for any positive activity. The health infrastructure in Challu, Sakalu and others were intended to provide health services to those communities. As of 7th January 2017, was there the delivery of same in those communities? It's absolutely, NO. The era for provision of products and services to Ghanaians in the green book is in the past. We hereby call their press release, "empty and propaganda gone bad". The NDC press release as said earlier is only full of lies, malicious propaganda and deliberate distortions. The best place to put their press release is the dustbin. Thank You. ..Signed *NPP COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE, SISSALA EAST TUMU.* Jiah Jiato Juaha - 0548482886 Bawa Basugu Rauf - 0541591750 Abass Musah Tonduogu - 0551034578 Luri Shaibu - 0540744182 Fuseini Abdul-Fatawu - 0248967484 A woman makes her lotus-shaped lantern at an event to celebrate Qixi Festival in the Wulishu Community of Nantong City, East China's Jiangsu Province, on August 24. [CNSPHOTO/Xu Peiqin] An activity of making lotus lanterns and celebrating Qixi Festival was held in the Wulishu Community, Nantong City, East China's Jiangsu Province, on August 24 one day before this year's Qixi Festival, or traditional Chinese Valentine's Day. Young women from the community participated in the activity and made lotus-shaped lanterns to carry their good wishes, celebrating the time-honored festival and experiencing traditional Chinese culture together. A lotus lantern is a type of water lantern that has a lamp or candle placed inside, which will be lit and set afloat on a river, pond or lake to convey best wishes. A woman makes her lotus-shaped lantern at an event to celebrate Qixi Festival in the Wulishu Community of Nantong City, East China's Jiangsu Province, on August 24. A lotus lantern is a type of water lantern that has a lamp or candle placed inside, which will be lit and set afloat on a river, pond or lake to convey best wishes. [CNSPHOTO/Xu Peiqin] Some girls in hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, make lotus-shaped lanterns at an event to celebrate Qixi Festival in the Wulishu Community of Nantong City, East China's Jiangsu Province, on August 24. [CNSPHOTO/Xu Peiqin] Young women in hanfu show their hand-made lotus-shaped lanterns at an event to celebrate Qixi Festival in the Wulishu Community of Nantong City, East China's Jiangsu Province, on August 24. [CNSPHOTO/Xu Peiqin] (Source: CNSPHOTO/Translated and edited by Women of China) United Kingdom (U.K.) researchers used a highly-advanced machine learning algorithm to identify 50 new planets based on NASA's old data. The recent discovery of British scientists marked a technological breakthrough in astronomy. Also Read: LOOK: NASA's Small Asteroid Will Pass by Earth's Proximity a Day Before the 2020 Presidential Elections The University of Warwick's computer scientists and astronomers developed a machine-learning algorithm to understand old NASA data, which contains thousands of possible planet candidates. However, experts find it hard to identify the genuine candidates. Also Read: DARPA's AlphaDogfight Trial's Final Round: Human F-16 Pilot Lost Against AI For the First Time Space scientists and researchers look for flashes of light that could indicate a planet is passing between the telescope and a star whenever they are searching for exoplanets. However, the dips of lights are still not reliable since they could be caused by other factors such as errors in the camera or background interference. A new artificial intelligence (AI) was developed to solve this issue. The researchers used the new algorithm in the data collected by NASA's now-retired Kepler Space Telescope to further enhance its ability. Kepler spent nine years in deep space on a world-hunting mission. The machine-learning algorithm was used to analyze old data sets that had not yet been confirmed after it learned to separate false planets from real ones, accurately. Other things the new technology can be used to The scientists identified the 50 exoplanets orbiting around other stars. University explained in a news release that their sizes range from Neptune to smaller the Earth. Some of the planets' orbits are as short as a single day, and others are as long as 200. The scientists will prioritize the identified new worlds after they confirmed that they're real. The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society published the study's findings last week. "In terms of planet validation, no-one has used a machine learning technique before," said David Armstrong, a University of Warwick's scientists and one of the study's lead authors. "Machine learning has been used for ranking planetary candidates but never in a probabilistic framework, which is what you need to truly validate a planet," he added. For more news updates about space studies, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Also Read: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Ground-Segment Test Is a Success!-Commands Can Be Carried out in Space This article is owned by TechTimes, Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. [Read more on Rusten Sheskey not being charged in the Jacob Blake shooting.] KENOSHA, Wis. The Justice Department on Wednesday announced a civil rights investigation into the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wis., as new details emerged in the case, a white teenager who confronted demonstrators was arrested in connection with two deaths, and protests spread to athletes in three pro sports leagues. Protesters have poured into Kenoshas streets to decry the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black father who was partially paralyzed after a white officer fired at him in front of his children. The authorities released new details of the case on Wednesday that gave a clearer picture of why police officers confronted Mr. Blake, who they said had a knife. Amid the ire over the shooting of Mr. Blake, some in Kenosha have torched buildings, and the authorities have fired tear gas in an effort to clear the streets. Counterprotesters have also emerged, and gunfire broke out along one crowded, dark street late Tuesday, sending bystanders fleeing into parking lots and screaming in terror. Kerem Yucel / AFP via Getty Images Less than three months after a Minneapolis police officers killing of George Floyd drove nationwide demonstrations against police violence and racism, the recorded close-range shooting of Jacob Blake as he walked away from officers in Kenosha, Wis., has caused more outrage and unrest. The unending series shows that protest alone, no matter how forceful, cant transform police practices. That falls to legislators and other policymakers, and the overwhelming impression in the wake of Floyds killing is that theyre not up to the task. Congress considered largely incremental measures and whiffed most of them. And while the California Legislature floated a more substantial crop of reforms, it has just days left to consider those it hasnt buried. SHANGHAI, Aug 26 (Reuters) - China is likely to import at least $300 billion worth of semiconductors for the third year running, an industry association official said, in a sign of continuing reliance on foreign know-how despite efforts to gain local capability. "China is the world's largest importer of chips," Wei Shaojun, vice-chairman of the China Semiconductor Industry Association, told the World Semiconductor Conference on Wednesday. "After 2013 our chip imports exceeded $200 billion. In 2018 it exceeded $300 billion and was still at $300 billion in 2019. If nothing out of the norm happens this year, it will still be $300 billion or more," he said, according to a video of the conference that was published by its organisers online. Wei added that of the chips that China imported, about half would be exported eventually as they are incorporated into other products. China has been spending billions of dollars in an effort to try to speed up improvements to its domestic chip industry, an campaign which faces fresh urgency as Washington puts fresh pressure on Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd . The Trump administration earlier this month expanded its curbs on Huawei on Monday and banned suppliers from selling chips made using U.S. technology to the firm without a special licence, a move likely to choke the Huawei's access to even off-the-shelf chips, threaten its crown as the world's largest smartphone maker and disrupt global tech supply. China's efforts to develop an independent chip industry are being led by the likes of its biggest chip maker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, which plans to sharply increase its capital spending but faces challenges such as a lack of intellectual property. Wei said, however, that the semiconductor industry was global in nature and that efforts to decouple was potentially harmful to its growth. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Kim Coghill) Amid Covid pandemic, the Ranchi University (RU) has decided to hold the final semester examinations of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for around 42,000 students offline from next month, as per the guidelines of University Grants Commission (UGC), university officials said on Tuesday. The UGC has asked the universities to hold the final year examinations, whether online or offline, by the end of September in a bid to secure the academic future of students while keeping in mind their health and safety. The RU examination controller Rajesh Kumar said, Since it is the final year examinations, we have decided to conduct it offline, as it will prove beneficial for students. He said even if we conduct the examinations online, students would have to come to examination centres. They cannot be allowed to write papers sitting at home. So, it is better to hold the examinations offline by following the standard operating procedure (SOP) prescribed for Covid-19, Kumar said. The filling of examination forms for final year PG examination has started online. The last date for filling them up is September 10. Soon after this, the same for final year UG examinations will start. This is for the first time that RU has offered to fill up the examination forms and make payment online, Kumar said. He said the final semester PG examinations would start between September 22 and 25, while the examinations for UG students would be conducted in October. Prior to this, the B.Tech examinations will start from September 10, while the law examinations for bachelor and masters degree would start from September 17, he said. Kumar said around 30,000 students would appear for the final year UG examinations, while over 12,000 students would write final year PG examinations. The students have been asked to occupy their hostels 14 days before the examinations. Students have to come to their hostels 14 days before the examinations so that their health can be monitored. All Covid protocols would be followed strictly. A six-foot distance between two students will be maintained. Students would have to undergo thermal scanning and sanitization before entering the examination halls. If temperature of any student is found high, he/she will not be allowed to take the examination. Examination of such students will be taken later, he said, adding that mask will be mandatory for all students. Student unions, however, were divided over the universitys decision. All India Students Federation (AISF) protested the decision, while Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthy Parishad (ABVP) welcomed it. AISF state secretary Lokesh Anand said, The university will put students lives at risk, as Covid cases are increasing every day in the state. Maintaining social distance among students inside or outside the examination centres is not an easy task. The university should reconsider its decision. ABVP members said the examinations should be conducted, as it would be good for the future of the students. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LONDON The Discomfort of Evening, a story of childhood grief that reviewers have called both disturbing and exceptional, was named on Wednesday as the winner of the International Booker Prize, the prestigious award for fiction translated into English. Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, the books author, shares the prize of 50,000 pounds, about $66,000, with Michele Hutchison, who translated it from the original Dutch. Ted Hodgkinson, the chair of the judging panel, said in a statement that The Discomfort of Evening was a tender and visceral evocation of a childhood caught between shame and salvation, and a deeply deserving winner. Image The translator, Michele Hutchison, left, and the author, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, will share the $66,000 prize. The annual International Booker Prize is administered by the same foundation as the Booker Prize, which is awarded for fiction written in English. To be eligible for the International Booker, a translated book must be published in Britain. Past winners have included The Vegetarian by the Korean writer Han Kang, and Flights by Olga Tokarczuk, who was subsequently awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. There's nothing like a dip in the Pacific after a long day of work, especially when the job is on the sun-beaten deck or the engine room of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter. So the crew of the national security cutter Kimball ended Wednesday with a special treat -- a carefully orchestrated swim call for more than 40 crew members. With a rescue swimmer in place and other precautions taken to ensure safety, the Coasties jumped in the water with swim fins and other paraphernalia, including a massive inflatable unicorn. Read Next: Is This Your Unicorn? Call the Coast Guard ASAP Everyone was "having a great day ... smiling and having fun. It was perfect!" according to the ships Facebook page. That is, until, an unwanted eight-foot predator crashed the party. From the flight deck, personnel spotted a shark -- a longfin mako or pelagic thresher, according to the crew -- that had surfaced in front of the ship's rescue door and was heading directly toward the swimmers, according to the post. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball photo via Facebook And here's where it pays that Coast Guard and Navy vessels maintain shark watches and polar bear watches during breaks in places where humans aren't at the top of the food chain: With the shark roughly 30 feet from its prey, the designated shark watch, Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Samuel Cintron, locked on target, and under orders of his chief, opened fire at the menace -- a "well-aimed burst right at/on top of the shark to protect shipmates just feet away." Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Cintron (U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball photo via Facebook) The shark turned away briefly but then turned again toward crew members who were swimming for the Jacob's ladder, the ship's small boat launch or the small boat. And then Cintron opened fire again. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball photo via Facebook "ME1 fired bursts as needed to keep the shark from his shipmates with amazing accuracy. The shark would wave off with each burst but kept coming back toward our shipmates," according to the post. A Coast Guard public affairs spokesman said the shark did not appear to be harmed during the encounter. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball photo via Facebook Throughout the event, the crew "stayed focused and worked on the problem." "It wasn't the panic of the 4th of July scene from Jaws," wrote a member of the ship's crew. The only injury was a scrape suffered by a member of the crew as they returned to the ship: a scratch on a knee centered on a tattoo ... of an open set of shark's teeth. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball photo via Facebook Even the inflatable unicorn was retrieved to liven up another future swim call. "You can't make this stuff up," wrote the ship's social media manager. Sharks are uncommon at Coast Guard or Navy swim calls, and sharks that require an emergency response are even more rare; a scan of newspaper archives finds that a shark showed up at a swim call for the submarine Hawaii in 2009 -- a frightening enough experience to make headlines but no shots were fired. The Kimball is one of the Coast Guard's newest ships, commissioned in August 2019 and homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii. It has been on patrol in the Pacific for the past several weeks, conducting national security, search and rescue and fisheries operations. "We have hundreds of years at sea between all of us and no one has seen or heard of a shark actually showing up during a swim call. This goes to show why we prepare for any and everything," ship officials wrote. This story will be updated. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Marine Vet Punches a Shark in the Face to Save His Daughters Life A LIMERICK mother-of-two has urged Education Minister Norma Foley, or Taoiseach Micheal Martin to give a rallying call to Irelands school going population. As children across the country return to the classroom following an almost six month break, Maria Harper, who is the chairperson of Limericks Educate Together Secondary Schools board of management, says youngsters need to hear from government. Kids at times dont listen to their parents, even though wed like them to. Kids dont listen to teachers, which wed like them to do too. I just think the Taoiseach should stop hiding behind other things that are going on and actually speak to students, Ms Harper said. @NormaFoleyTD1 why cant someone like @MichealMartinTD or you directly speak to Ireland students on a live broadcast . @LeoVaradkar did in the past , very effective & personal. These kids arent just statistics,but Eire future workers & leaders @kodonnellLK @Nick468official Harpers (@HarpersLimerick) August 26, 2020 These students are our future workers, our future doctors, our leaders. They need encouragement. They need respect and appraisal for what theyve done over the summer and be told to keep doing it. That we want to see ye looking back in one years time, five years time, 20 years time saying we got through this. They are making history now. But they need back-up, she added. She drew comparisons to former Taoiseach Leo Varadkars St Patricks Day speech where he segued to talk directly to youngsters for a moment. Let the anxiety go around going back to school, she added, Tell them to behave, make it easy for the teachers, make it easy for the principal, that no-one has to be disciplined because youre not doing things right. That these guidelines are to keep us alive, healthy and strong, and if the kids follow the guidelines, the grandparents are kept healthy. Kerry TD Ms Foley appeared on RTEs Prime Time last night, and Ms Harper feels she missed an opportunity to directly address students then. At 9.30pm, why could she not talk to secondary school kids and say OK kids, Im speaking to ye now? Its vital for kids going back. They are excited, but frightened and anxious. Ive two daughters one in primary school at Monaleen, and my daughter in second year at Educate Together, she said. Education Minister Norma Foley tells Richard Downes that the wearing of face coverings is mandatory in secondary schools#RTEPT | #facecovering | #Covid19 | @downesr | @NormaFoleyTD1 pic.twitter.com/zDKuWnw0Sm RTE Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) August 25, 2020 The businesswoman admits shes afraid due an autoimmune disorder she has about what her children might bring home from school. The Limerick Educate Together Secondary School, headed by Kilmallock man Eoin Shinners will re-open to students in its temporary home of the former Salesians School at the North Circular Road. By 2024, its hoped they will be in a state-of-the-art new facility at the Ballysimon Road. Ms Harper, who lives in Annacotty, says she is very confident Limerick Educate Together will open in line with all the guidelines and protocols. And she has wished all students, teachers and staff a safe return to the new academic year. KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV/AP) -- The suspect accused of killing 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro is now back in Kansas City. Ryson Ellis, 22, was extradited to the Jackson County Detention Center. LeGend was asleep on the floor of his father's apartment back in June when a shot was fired into his home that struck and killed him. CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hightower today announced it has made a strategic investment in Stearns Financial Group, a $1.3 billion wealth management firm based in North Carolina with clients nationwide. Established in 1991, Stearns Financial Group (SFG) will leverage Hightower's operational infrastructure, business owner planning, marketing support, family office and investment management resources to enhance service to new and existing clients. SFG is Hightower's 6th transaction in 2020. Including this transaction, Hightower now has 111 advisory businesses in 33 states. With offices in Chapel Hill and Greensboro, N.C., SFG has 32 employees, including 12 advisors, who serve business owners, executives, multi-generational families, women in transition, and the emerging affluent. The firm puts a special focus on helping individuals and families manage and grow generational wealth. SFG also helps business owners maximize value and transition to the next phase of their life. A recently added service line provides advice and wealth management for those with both emerging affluence and influence. "It's fantastic to be welcoming such a well-respected financial group into the Hightower community," said Bob Oros, Hightower CEO. "Stearns Financial Group is exactly the kind of business that Hightower looks for in a strategic investment: a high-performing firm that uses an in-depth, multi-scenario approach to wealth management to help their clients live purposeful lives and make confident financial decisions." "This is a natural strategic evolution for Stearns Financial Group," said Dennis Stearns, CFP, founder and President. "Being a part of Hightower's powerful community of advisors will allow us to leverage the benefits of a national RIA while maintaining our well-established brand, culture and business structure. The SFG team will continue to provide the professional financial planning, investment management and high touch service our clients have come to know and love, while Hightower brings back office support, advanced technology and NextGen training to our team." "We are pleased by how our partnership with Hightower will open up the next chapter of growth and sustainability for our firm." said John Thomas, CFA, CFP, a senior wealth advisor and partner at SFG. "We are very gratified by the growth we've experienced over the past decade, yet we recognize the synergy a great partner with national scale brings. Hightower will enhance our day-to-day operational effectiveness, allowing us to focus even more keenly on serving our high net worth clients." "Hightower gives us access to an even broader array of wealth management, family office and trust options," said Haleh Moddasser, CPA, a senior wealth advisor and partner at SFG. "While we plan to maintain our own investment team and thus make the most appropriate portfolio decisions for our clients, we will also be discussing how to utilize the additional tools and resources they provide. Stearns Financial Group will remain a fiduciary wealth management firm, providing the advice and solutions our clients need as they work toward realizing their goals." Hightower offers independent-minded advisory businesses a capital-rich partner and customizable suite of services designed to help accelerate both organic and inorganic growth. Hightower provides an advanced, integrated advisor platform including technology, compliance, accounting, payroll, human resources, investment management services and marketing support. Advisory groups that partner with Hightower also gain access to business development consulting, leadership and team development, economies of scale, deep industry relationships and a nationwide advisor community. As of June 30, 2020, Hightower's assets under administration (AUA) were approximately $75.7 billion and its assets under management (AUM) were $56.7 billion. The company grew 9.6% organically in 2019, up from 8% in 2018. The transaction is expected to close by the 4th quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. About Hightower Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401(k) consulting and cash management services to corporations. Hightower's capital solutions, operational support services, size and scale empower its vibrant community of independent-minded wealth advisors to grow their businesses and help their clients achieve their vision of "well-th. rebalanced." Based in Chicago with advisors across the U.S., the firm operates as a registered investment advisor (RIA). Learn more about Hightower's collaborative business model at www.hightoweradvisors.com. Securities offered through Hightower Securities, LLC member FINRA/SIPC. Hightower Advisors, LLC is a SEC registered investment advisor. Media Contact: Patty Buchanan JConnelly (973) 567-9415 [email protected] SOURCE Hightower Related Links http://www.hightoweradvisors.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Samir Ali - Trend: Gurgen Alaverdyan, commander of the Armenian sabotage group, detained on August 23 while trying to commit a provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Goranboy district, provided detailed information about himself and told about the attempted provocation, Trend reports on August 26. Alaverdyan admitted that he serves in the Armed Forces of Armenia and that he was tasked to penetrate the territory of Azerbaijan as part of an intelligence mission. At about 05:45 (GMT+4) on August 23, the sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces made an attempt to commit a provocation in the direction of Azerbaijans Goranboy district. As a result of the decisive actions of the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces stationed in this direction, the reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces was forced to retreat, incurring losses. During the battle, the commander of the Armenian sabotage group, First Lieutenant Gurgen Alaverdyan (born in 1989) was captured. Ranchi, Aug 26 : Jharkhand Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon has said that hotels and malls should be reopened in the state. "Hotels should be reopened in the state. In many states hotels have been reopened. The economic activities are resuming. Where will those people who are coming from outside the state for economic reasons stay? There is no place for them to stay. The state government should formulate a protocol and reopen the hotels," said Oraon, who is also state Congress president. He also advocated for reopening of malls in the state. The state government has not allowed reopening of malls, cinema halls, hotels, and religious places due to rising coronavirus cases. In Jharkhand more than 32,000 coronavirus cases have been detected so far as the deadly virus has claimed 352 lives in the state. Till now, three ministers, six legislators and two former ministers have been found positive. The national recovery rate is 75.27 per cent and in Jharkhand it is 67.60 per cent while the mortality rate in country is 1.85 per cent and in Jharkhand it is 1.07 per cent. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren have undergone corona tests thrice, but they have tested negative. But Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president Shibu Soren, the father of the Chief Minister, and his wife Rupi Soren have been found coronavirus positive. Shibu Soren was on Tuesday shifted to New Delhi for treatment. On Wednesday he was admitted at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. An internationally-renowned technology research centre, with over 80 staff specialising in areas from future health and intelligent transport systems to agri-tech and cybersecurity, is reaching out to industry, businesses and entrepreneurs bidding to service existing clients and attract new consumers with new needs, habits and concerns in a post-lockdown world. The move by the Technology Gateway team comes in the wake of their comprehensive industry insights report investigating the impact of Covid-19 on our economy and what the future will look like in a post-Covid world. The Technology Gateway team at the Telecommunications, Software and Systems Group (TSSG) in Waterford have already nurtured and supported global players such as ESB Networks, nearForm and Immersive VR Education, and are anxious to continue to support industry within and outside of the region. TSSG, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, have been building technological solutions for industry across the South East and beyond as well as helping combat much of the disruption caused by Covid-19 from their base at Carriganore on the edge of Waterford city. The worldwide pandemic highlights the importance of businesses being agile and flexible, being able to innovate to meet dynamic demands brought about by interruptions, disruptions as well as rapidly changing consumer needs and habits. Together, the TSSG Technology Gateway team is giving businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes the opportunity to access decades of knowledge and hands-on industry expertise, and the expert staff want to hear now from those with an idea, with a problem that requires a tech solution or from those with a prototype that theyre struggling to get to the next level. Brands and retailers need to invest in technology, from ecommerce and digital payments through to artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and virtual reality (VR), to attract consumers with new needs, habits and concerns. They are also reaching out to industries, confident the expert team can resolve just about any problem with a tech build, TSSG Technology Gateway manager Miguel Ponce de Leon explains. Architects design your house and show you how you can take a number of ideas and innovations and combine them to make a beautiful home. A building contractor builds it. We are architects for digital businesses. TSSG is a special microcosm. Because we do European as well as national commercial projects, we can marry the two to bring the knowledge from research into real world digital applications," he says Business development executives Carol Faughnan and Jim Prendergast encourage businesses and individuals to engage with them now. It is my job to match cutting edge research with industry. I look at a companys research and development (R and D) needs and align this with areas of expertise in TSSG such as Software Development/AR and VR/Mobile Pervasive Applications/Data Analytics and IoT. I help companies to access funds from sources such as Enterprise Ireland so they can bring their idea from concept to reality and avail of our researchers through Innovation Vouchers," Carol Faughnan says. At TSSG, we are always looking to the latest and greatest. Our researchers are always experimenting. Areas such as Smart cities will be of great interest. Using 5G as a gateway into 6G will be an area that will be investigated. With the birth of Covid-19 and future of work at play, future health will be to the core, she adds. Jim Prendergast meets with businesses and helps facilitate their collaboration with the world-class, cutting-edge research happening at TSSG. We are seeing a growing trend in Healthcare applications, precision agri as well as in the energy sector. Our test-bed networks mean that we can grow the number of projects using wireless networks such as LPWA, Terahertz and 5G. Some of the researchers are already using 6G in their research," Mr Prendergast says. Our telecommunications work also extends to Bio Nano telecommunications, using biology as a network to transmit signals within the body. I see a lot of potential in the emerging use cases in smart cities. With growing population and increasing traffic congestion, the need for city managers to access data sets to help manage the city is more imperative than ever, he adds. The team can be contacted by emailing techgateway@tssg.org. Photo taken on Feb 19, 2020 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington, DC, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua] By Bai Yunyi At a time when the China-US game is becoming increasingly fierce, US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper wrote a signed article published by the Wall Street Journal on August 24 titled "The Pentagon Is Prepared for China", saying that the US is strengthening its defense capabilities in an all-round manner to deal with the military threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. He also called on all countries to carefully consider whether its safe to have any dealings with the PLA. In the article, Esper said: Chinas Peoples Liberation Army celebrated its 93rd anniversary Aug. 1 with a speech by Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping. Once again, Mr. Xi called for transforming the PLA into a world-class military, one that can further the partys agenda far beyond Chinas shores. He also claimed: The PLA is not a military that serves the nation, let alone a constitution, as the U.S. armed forces do. The PLA belongs toand servesa political entity, the Chinese Communist Party. Therefore, he made an appeal in this regard, "As a consequence, all nations that seek the prosperity and security of a free and open order must carefully consider the implications of PLA requests for access, training and technology. Li Haidong, a professor with the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, said on August 25 that Espers signed article once again repeated the consistent strategy of the mainstream US policy towards China, namely, attacking the Communist Party of China, Chinas ruling party, and the Chinese military, both of which are the cornerstone key to safeguarding the stability in China. Espers move is highly targeted and vicious. In July 2020, Esper said that he looked forward to visiting China this year, and this has been interpreted by some observers as a goodwill gesture. However, Li Haidong believed that Espers previous statement is not in contradiction with his current one. "More than a month ago, Esper sent a message that although the US wants to engage in division and confrontation in the security field, it does not intend to have a direct showdown. Therefore, under the tense situation in the South China Sea, it needs to manage the crisis with China to avoid war, Li said. However, the US has not changed its long-term strategic goal of shaping the global landscape through long-term military contests and making China feel suffocated." Disclaimer: This article is originally published on globaltimes.cn, and is 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. The most tearful calls invariably come at night, causing Tiffany Norris to startle awake as she scrabbles for the phone on her bedside table. The women wanting her attention might have prolific careers in law and finance and earn six-figure salaries but theyre also pregnant for the first time and, alone with their thoughts before dawn breaks, are as anxious about having a baby as any other mum-to-be. Ive had high-powered women, used to giving presentations to thousands, sob down the phone to me at 2am about anything and everything from not knowing how to set up the cot, to what colour they should paint the nursery, says Tiffany. Theyre the kind of women who dont like to appear vulnerable, but theyre going through something theyve never been through before. Im here to advise without judging. Much to my husbands horror, my work phone is always on. Tiffany Norris, 38, (pictured) who lives in Oxfordshire, provides elite services to mothers based mostly in Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington Welcome to the rarefied world of the mummy concierge. Increasing numbers of wealthy mums-to-be are outsourcing every aspect of their (very glamorous) pregnancies and the earliest years of motherhood to women such as Tiffany. A baby name nobodys ever heard of before? A mummy concierge can sort it. A cot engraved with the family crest? Not a problem. A Mercedes S-Class to deliver you to hospital when labour starts? The chauffeur is on standby. Perhaps most enviable, however, the mummy concierge offers emotional support on tap, no matter what time of day, or, indeed, night. For a price, of course high-end mummy concierges command six-figure salaries of their own, and have waiting lists of celebrities, society names and some of the citys most influential businesswomen. The concierge industry providing elite services to those prepared to pay for an easier lifestyle, and estimated to be worth 589 million worldwide by 2025 might have started with hotels and restaurants at the turn of the millennium, but it is the baby sector that is now booming. Top employers in the States, including American Express and Fifth Third Bank, have started providing maternity concierges to their pregnant staff. These concierges source everything from buggies to the best obstetricians so workers can carry on their dayjobs unimpeded. And while mummy concierging has been altered by the pandemic with online consultations often replacing face-to-face ones it certainly hasnt been thwarted. If anything, it has only made rich women more likely to seek support. Tiffany concedes that many of her clients inhabit a parallel pregnancy universe in which spending 40,000 on a handpainted cot or insisting on a trilingual nanny is par for the course. To some of my clients, this isnt excessive. They want the best care possible, says the glamorous but good-humoured mother-of-two, who had the idea for her mummy concierge service in 2017 while pregnant with her son, Rupert. Made In Chelsea star Tabitha Willett, 28, enlisted Tiffanys help for Ottilie, the daughter she had with nightclub owner Fraser Carruthers. Pictured: Made In Chelsea star Tabitha Willett (left) and daughter Ottilie, with former cast member Georgia Toffolo In a state about everything, she recalls having a meltdown in John Lewis while deciding which pram to buy. I remember seeing all these buggies, with tears rolling down my face. Did I need big or small wheels? Where was the brake? I was very aware that I didnt think salespeople would give independent advice, says Tiffany, 38. Previously a proposal planner who helped people get engaged glamorously, Tiffany adds: It suddenly occurred to me there are lots of people planning weddings, but nobody to help plan your baby. So she forged contacts with high-end boutiques and parenting experts in upmarket West London, where she lived at the time, and word of mouth spread quickly about her new service, The Mummy Concierge. Most of her clients are still based in Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington, such as socialite and Made In Chelsea star Tabitha Willett, 28, who enlisted Tiffanys help for Ottilie, the daughter she had with nightclub owner Fraser Carruthers, a friend of Prince Harry, last year. Tabitha has praised her services: Tiffanys care and initiative is just so lovely. She has been an incredibly valuable asset on my journey to motherhood. And there are many more household names among Tiffanys clients: Yes, people would probably recognise them, but I sign non-disclosures, she says loyally. Tiffany (pictured) who typical charges 120 per hour, revealed many of her clients have left motherhood late and because pregnancy has been a struggle, they're more anxious about getting everything right Her typical hourly rate is 120 and her clients largely split into two groups. There are ambitious, time-strapped working women determined to be as brilliant at motherhood as they have been in their careers. Many have left motherhood late, or gone through IVF, explains Tiffany; and because pregnancy has been a bigger struggle, theyre more anxious to get everything right. Then there are the stay-at-home wives of wealthy husbands who see their new addition as another excuse to splash the cash. They start as they want to go on and become an expert before their baby is even born, says Tiffany. Her job requires ingenuity as well as a bottomless budget. Take the mum who tasked her with coming up with the perfect baby name, with one crucial caveat nobody in the world was to have used it before. Tiffany deployed a linguist and branding experts to form a think tank to discuss whether the name would suit both a baby and a prime minister. So cloaked in secrecy is the final decision that she hasnt even told her husband. Ive only said no once a royal client wanted a prettier giraffe flown in for a childs birthday at the zoo Tiffany, who lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and their two children, Rupert and Ophelia, one, travels extensively with clients to help baby-proof homes and test items such as buggies in their intended environments. Two years ago, one family flew her first-class to their holiday home in Dubai to prepare it for their newborn. Tiffanys main tasks during her four-day stay in the exquisite eight-bedroom mansion, with cinema and swimming pool, were sourcing beautifully carved toys They didnt want flashing noisy plastic toys, the sort babies like, she says and interviewing childcare: They wanted a holiday nanny 24/7, so I had to book three. Unsurprisingly, none of them were fresh out of school looking for pocket money. Often, Tiffany is told nannies have to have Oxbridge degrees or speak three languages. Tiffany (pictured) recalls one client wanting a 40,000 hand-painted cot, while another requested a 1,000 blanket I have a lot of wealthy Italian clients. Its important their nannies speak Italian and English, and often another language as well to help with their childs development, she explains. We might think thats excessive, but its common among a certain type of mother. It doesnt mean they love their babies any less. Part of Tiffanys job is preparing the nursery. One client wanted a 40,000 hand-painted cot from a luxury childrens furniture company. Others have asked for their family crest embroidered on muslin squares. Personalised bedlinen is de rigueur. One mum wanted a 1,000 blanket. To me that seemed quite expensive, Tiffany says diplomatically. For a couple having a baby called Peter, she decorated the nursery in a Peter Rabbit theme. For a London family who loved the countryside, she sourced an unusual toy for the newborns elder sibling: They wanted a rocking horse, but their toddler didnt much like horses, so I sourced a rocking deer. Contacts with impossibly exclusive suppliers are a pivotal part of the process Were in a unique parenting bubble, says Tiffany as is an in-depth knowledge of Londons most prestigious obstetricians. Most of Tiffanys clients give birth at either the Kensington Wing (a private maternity ward at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital), the 7,500-a-night Lindo Wing in St Marys Hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to Prince George, or Londons private Portland Hospital. Tiffany (pictured) once commissioned a designer to create a long blue nightgown for her client to wear after her elective C-section Yes, it costs a fortune, but its like a five-star hotel, says Tiffany, who will prepare each clients hospital bag weeks before the due date, often putting it in the boot of their car to be sure its not forgotten amid the drama of contractions. Some of these obstetricians hand their number to my clients and tell them to call whenever they want. For one very glamorous client who worked in fashion, Tiffany commissioned a designer to create a long blue nightgown to wear after her elective C-section, and booked a make-up artist, hair stylist and photographer for a photoshoot with her newborn immediately afterwards. Tiffany, whose book about her role will be published next year, is at pains to stress that normal mums can afford her, too, via shorter consultations she has started conducting online. One such mother is Jaime Baxter, 34, a complaints manager for a bank who last month paid 45 for a 40-minute, one-on-one call. Jaime, from Rainham, Kent, sought advice on bottle-feeding after antenatal classes had made her feel like the worst mother in the world because I didnt want the pressure of breastfeeding. Jaime, who gave birth to son Louis ten days ago, recalls: Tiffany gave me information about the best bottles and her research on formula milk. She made me feel I wasnt alone. Ive got good family support, but would approach her again for other key stages such as weaning. If youre paying for peace of mind, its worth it. Sarah Dixon, 38, (pictured) who has been providing concierge services for the past ten years, said one client had a party at London Zoo, complaining that a giraffe wasn't pretty enough Concierge Sarah Dixon, however, offers no such services for civilian mums-to-be. Shes too busy packing 25,000 hospital bags for royalty or ensuring that there is the correct power source on a super-yacht for her clients breast pump. A mummy concierge for some of the worlds wealthiest women for the past ten years, many of whom are Middle Eastern royalty, Sarah says saying no is not an option although she recalls one occasion when she put her foot down. A client told her a giraffe they spotted during a trip to London Zoo where they planned to rent rooms in order to throw an exclusive party for their child wasnt pretty enough for their precious six and eight-year-olds and requested she fly in another from their Saudi Arabian palace zoo. I said Id work on it, recalls Sarah. But ultimately, it was a moral issue. Flying in an animal for a childs birthday party was not going to work for me. A former maternity nurse for royals and celebrities, Sarah, 38, set up her concierge business, Mini Me And Luxury, after she was kept on following a stint as a maternity nurse with a globetrotting royal family in the Middle East. Although the family travelled with a staff of 70, Sarah says there actually wasnt anyone to do the concierge role which, in truth, sounds like a logistical nightmare. At London Zoo, wed have to hire a suite and get our own chefs in for security reasons, says Sarah, from Northampton, whose clients have business interests rather than day-jobs, huge amounts of disposable income and fly her between their multiple homes by private jet. She wont take on more than 20 clients at a time (They are very demanding). Nor will she disclose how much she is paid, quoting her price on application. She concedes, however, that maternity concierges can earn six-figures. Sarah (pictured) said throwing a baby shower at hotels such as The Ritz or the Mandarin Oriental costs around 250,000 Which perhaps isnt surprising, given the amount her clients spend on baby clothes alone. Sarah knows the baby ranges at all the larger fashion houses, from Dior to Moschino, and everything has to be the latest season. Each designer vest probably costs 70 upwards. Baby outfits can cost 500. We have to buy everything before the birth in newborn and 0-3 months, too, just in case, because we dont know the size of the baby. With items commonly requested including 1,500 cashmere swaddles, the price of her clients hospital bags alone comes to an easy 25,000. Kitting out the nursery with designer cots and furniture (often in multiples, so a version can go in every home) can cost 250,000. Compared to which, the 8,000-odd for membership to exclusive private childrens clubs such as Purple Dragon and Maggie & Rose, which Sarah often acquires for her clients before their babies are born, is small change. Parents feel if their nannies take the children to a private club, theyll be with a certain demographic, says Sarah, who adds that while its often wealthy daddies who determine which elite school a child attends each family will have a clear indication of schooling from the fathers side, which I know sounds incredibly sexist she is tasked with finding the correct tutors. Lots of my babies are brought up trilingual. Baby showers are held at London hotels such as The Ritz and the Mandarin Oriental, where Sarah says throwing a bash, including hiring a suite, staffing and catering, costs around 250,000. She typically spends 2,000 each on gift bags for childrens parties even if all the guests are newborns. Id probably put in a 550 Fendi teddy bear or a Dior bunny rabbit for 250 and some bespoke teething products, says Sarah. Judy Goldberg, 36, (pictured) from London, once had 24 hours to set up a nursery for a client, spending 15,000 on essentials including a 3,000 Aston Martin buggy Does Sarah, herself mother to a seven-year-old son, worry shes encouraging hordes of spoilt brats? This is all they know, and its how theyre going to live the rest of their lives, she says. As for her new-mum clients, she says they can be subject to baby blues and still call her in tears: I tell them the feeling is normal. You can have all the money in the world, but youre still human. At such an intensely personal time, lines between mummy concierge and pregnant client are invariably blurred and perhaps never so much as when Judy Goldberg ended up acting as birthing partner for one of her clients. Her husband had broken his leg. She was going to be induced and asked me to be with her for support, recalls Judy, 36, from London, a former French teacher who set up her concierge company Babynizer after her second child, Eitan, was born six years ago. She felt comfortable with me. Judy, married to Michael, 39, who runs a chauffeur company, is also mum to Noa, eight, and is pregnant with their third child. She says most of her career-orientated clients in law or finance contact her because they dont have time to plan things themselves. They are working until the end of their pregnancy and there is too much to get organised, she says. But what of the husbands? Surely, theyre capable of researching buggies? Aside from the fact theyre often too busy, Judy claims they lack the intuition a woman like her can offer: Ask what baby bath they should have, and theyre completely lost. Her most stressful job was working for the wife of a businessman, who contacted her a fortnight before her due date. Judy recalls: She said: I need you now. She had just moved to London and the following day went into labour. Judy had 24 hours to set up the nursery and spend 15,000 on essentials including a 3,000 Aston Martin buggy and 2,000 designer rocking chair. I set up the nursery while she was in hospital, then went to meet her at the Portland with her car seat and baby clothes. Judy who charges 50-60 an hour has been known to send a chauffeur to clients homes with a craving buffet emergency supplies of specially requested food to satisfy pregnancy cravings. Shes also booked clients a top-of-the-range Mercedes S-Class to take them to hospital. They want to arrive in a nice car, she explains. But she stresses that her services are not out of reach to ordinary mums: We have very wealthy clients but it is accessible for the middle-class. A simple two-hour consultation would help enormously and cost 100. Indeed, due to give birth to her third child next week, she admits she would hire herself if she could: I wish I had someone to take the pressure away. Arnold Schwarzenegger is enjoying being a grandfather, after recently welcoming his first grandchild earlier this month. And the Golden Globe winner has been getting in plenty of quality family time with all his kids during quarantine. He made a nod to his most iconic role Tuesday in a Terminator t-shirt, as he took a bike ride with son Joseph Baena in Los Angeles, during a break from quarantine. Biker boys: Arnold Schwarzenegger made a nod to his most iconic role Tuesday in a Terminator t-shirt, as he took a bike ride with son Joseph Baena in Los Angeles The 73-year-old showed off his guns in a black t-shirt, which referenced his character's most memorable line: 'We'll be back.' Although the original line was 'I'll be back,' he altered the phrase for his nonprofit After-School All-Stars, which has been delivering groceries to families, whose children are out of school amid COVID-19. He recently told Sorted Magazine of his outlook on life: 'My father always said to me, "Be useful." To be useful, it's very important to do something that is bigger than you are, but have a good time at the same time. 'Smile, have a good time, have a positive attitude and see the glass that is half full rather than half empty.' Iconic line: The 73-year-old showed off his guns in a black t-shirt, which referenced his character's most memorable line: 'We'll be back' Giving back: Although the original line was 'I'll be back,' he altered the phrase for his nonprofit After-School All-Stars, which has been delivering groceries to families, whose children are out of school amid COVID-19 (pictured in January, 2020) First grandchild: Arnold recently became a grandfather, after daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger, 30, welcomed her first child and his first grandchild earlier this month with husband Chris Pratt, 41 Proud dad: He previously told Fox 11 Los Angeles: 'Its going to be really, really exciting... Im really looking forward to Katherine to pop out that baby and to deliver' (pictured in September, 2011) Arnold's glass appears to be more than half full lately, after daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger, 30, welcomed her first child and his first grandchild earlier this month with husband Chris Pratt, 41. He previously told Fox 11 Los Angeles: 'Its going to be really, really exciting... Im really looking forward to Katherine to pop out that baby and to deliver.' The Predator star added of Pratt: 'Chris Pratt is a fantastic son-in-law... Hes very, very disciplined with his work, hes wonderful to Katherine, and to Maria, and to me, and we have a great relationship with him, hes really a great, great guy.' Arnold also said of turning 73 last month: 'Every year we get older, and the key thing is not to make too many alterations in your life. 'To try to stay fit and to try and stay healthy, thats the important thing, and to continue on working, to continue on with our passions.' An Ohio hospital resident who tweeted that she would give Jewish people the wrong medicine has lost her medical certificate. Lara Kollab, a former resident at Cleveland Clinic, admitted during an investigation last year that she posted numerous anti-Semitic posts on Twitter from 2011-2013 before entering medical school, according to Ohio State Medical Board records. Kollab deleted the tweets after she was accepted into Touro Osteopathic Medical School, which was established as a Jewish school. But Canary Mission, an organization that documents anti-Semitism, exposed the tweets online, leading to her resignation from Cleveland Clinic, according to records. Ill purposely give all the yahood (Jews) the wrong meds, Kollab tweeted, according to the medical board. Another tweeted translated to Allah will take all the Jews, according to the medical board. After leaving Cleveland Clinic, Kollab accepted a residency position at Kern Medical in Bakersfield, California. The hospital revoked her position after learning she submitted false, misleading and incomplete information during the interview process, according to a statement. She told the hospital she resigned in Cleveland due to a death in the family, records show. Kollab issued an apology after media reported on the tweets, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. I wish sincerely and unequivocally to apologize for the offensive and hurtful language contained in those posts, Kollab said in a statement. This statement is not intended to excuse the content of the posts, but rather to demonstrate that those words do not represent who I am and the principles I stand for today. In the statement, Kollab said she would never intentionally harm anyone and always strive to give people the best medical treatment, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or culture. In July, Kollab agreed to surrender her training certificate to practice osteopathic medicine in Ohio. The state medical board revoked the certificate on Aug. 12. She wont be allowed to apply for any other medical certificate in the state. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Malacanang on Wednesday said it respects the Philippine National Polices plan to launch a probe on the groups and individuals behind the controversial revolutionary government movement. Speaking to CNN Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it would be up to the police and the Justice Department to look into the case and even to determine possible violations of the concerned parties. Thats the discretion of the police authorities and we respect that, Roque told The Source, when asked if the Palace supports PNPs order for an investigation. In fact, whether or not its inciting to sedition or not is really the realm of the police and prosecutors from the DOJ, he added. Roque, however, said he personally does not see clear and present danger in the groups push for a change in government. Last week, the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee launched an event to express support for a Duterte-led revolutionary government which the group said will help fast-track the establishment of federalism before Dutertes term ends in 2022. However, officials and netizens have slammed the political stunt, saying it is ill-timed especially with the country battling the COVID-19 pandemic. A lawyers group also said the proposal should be prohibited to progress further, as it is not supported by the 1987 Constitution itself. Malacanang had said that Duterte does not support the said movement, stressing that the government prioritizes the current health crisis. Duterte in a speech aired on Tuesday likewise denied ties to the group. "Wala akong pakialam diyan, wala akong kilala sa mga tao na 'yan, at hindi ko iyan trabaho," the President said. ([Translation: I do not care about that. I know no one from the group and that is not part of my job.]) There are still no moves to tackle constitutional amendments in the Senate and House of Representatives so far, after lawmakers noted that they need to focus on the government's battle against the viral disease. Organisers of the 2020 Africa Brand Summit invite media representatives who wish to cover the event to submit their interest for consideration. This year sees the summit hosted as the first ever hybrid event, with the physical and face-to-face segments taking place at the Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Newlands, Cape Town.Currently, all Covid-19 conference restrictions remain in place with a maximum of only 50 people allowed to meet at the designated Cape Town venue at the time of publishing this, and most speakers, panellists and delegates expected to livestream from across the world. The number of people allowed to attend the face-to-face part of the summit will be reviewed if the government lifts or relaxes restrictions on business gatherings.The summit programme will begin on Monday, 5 October 2020, with a media tour of Cape Town and the peninsula. This will be followed by two master classes hosted by the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (Prisa) and Reputation Matters on Tuesday, 6 October. There is also a planned gathering ofon the same day. On the evening of the first day of the summit, Wednesday, 7 October, we will host the Gala Awards Dinner. All prescribed health safety measures will be strictly adhered to in all cases where people will gather physically, including during the planned tours: physical distancing, sanitation, facemasks, etc. will remain de rigeur at all times.For more information, and if you would like to attend the event, please email oc.timmusdnarbacirfa@ofni and az.oc.secnerefnocsrenrut@BellehciM before 5pm on Friday, 4 September 2020.Below is a link to the document providing the rationale for the summit in English and in French:and here are two recent announcements: New York: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden spoke on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) with the family of the black man shot by police in Wisconsin, and emerged from the conversation calling for justice and condemning violent protest in Jacob Blake's name. Kenosha, Wisconsin, has been rocked by civil unrest and violence since Sunday, when police shot Blake, 29, in the back at close range in an incident captured on video. Blake is paralysed and is being treated for his injuries. Joe Biden is running for president on a platform of law, order and healing. Credit:AP "I spoke to Jacob's mom and dad and sister and other members of the family just a little bit earlier, and I told them justice must and will be done," Biden said in a video posted to his campaign's social media accounts. He said he agreed with Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, who said violence in the streets does not reflect her son or family. Mike Pompeo said the travel ban would apply to Chinese individuals responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea' Washington: The Trump administration said Wednesday it is imposing sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for Beijings military build-up in the South China Sea. The move is the latest salvo in the US pressure campaign against China that has picked up steam ahead of Novembers presidential election over a variety of contentious issues. The State Department announced it had hit an unspecified number of Chinese officials and business executives responsible for the militarisation of disputed South China Sea areas with travel bans. Immediate family members of those targeted may also be barred from travel to the United States, the department said. At the same time, the Commerce Department said it had added 24 state-owned Chinese enterprises, including subsidiaries of the China Communications Construction Company, to its commercial blacklist for their roles in constructing artificial islands through dredging operations and other activities that cause major environmental damage and infringe on other nations' claims. In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the travel ban would apply to Chinese individuals responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea, or (China's) use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resources. Last month, Pompeo accused China of bullying and announced that the US, would not recognise nearly all of China's maritime claims to areas in the South China Sea that are contested by its smaller neighbours, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Beijing's claims to these areas have been accompanied by increased military and commercial activities. The Chinese government cannot be allowed to use the China Communications Construction Company or other state-owned businesses as weapons to impose an expansionist agenda, Pompeo said. The United States will act until we see Beijing discontinue its coercive behavior in the South China Sea, and we will continue to stand with allies and partners in resisting this destabilizing activity. WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/Communicorp-Recalls-Plush-Aflac-Doctor-Duck-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Lead-Content-Ban-Lead-Poisoning-Hazard Recall Summary Name of Product: 6" Plush Aflac Promotional Doctor Duck Hazard: The buttons on the lab coat worn by the Doctor Duck contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content standard. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues. Remedy: Discard Consumers should immediately dispose of the recalled plush Doctor Duck. Communicorp is contacting Aflac employees and licensed agents who purchased the Doctor Duck directly. Consumer Contact: Communicorp at 800-642-3522 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or online at https://communicorp.com and click on 'Recall' at the bottom of the page for more information. Recall Details Units: About 635,500 Description: This recall involves the six inch plush Aflac promotional Doctor Duck. Doctor Duck is white with a yellow beak and feet. It is dressed in a white lab coat with buttons and a stethoscope. "Aflac" is printed on the front of the duck's lab coat. The plush ducks were distributed by Aflac to consumers as a promotional item. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Sold At: Directly to Aflac employees and licensed agents from January 2005 through July 2020 for between $3 and $5 and distributed as a promotional giveaway item to customers. Importer: Communicorp Inc., of Columbus, Ga. Distributor: Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company, of Santa Clarita, Calif. Manufactured in: China Footer About the U.S. CPSC The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years. Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission. For lifesaving information: - Visit CPSC.gov. - Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts. - Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC. - Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov. - Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054). - Contact a media specialist. Release Number: 20-173 SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday her administration will allow restaurants across New Mexico to cautiously resume indoor dining this weekend, even as the state Supreme Court later in the day upheld the governors authority to shut it down amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a unanimous ruling in response to a lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Restaurant Association, the states highest court determined the dine-in ban on restaurants, breweries and other types of eateries was reasonably connected to the COVID-19 outbreak, despite widespread protests that it generated. Its well established that differing opinions doesnt make an action arbitrary and capricious, Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura said in announcing the courts ruling. The ruling represents the latest court victory for Lujan Grisham, whose use of emergency powers has also been upheld in previous court rulings dealing with business fines and houses of worship. A spokeswoman for the governor said Lujan Grisham was grateful for the impartial and thorough review of the legal questions at play. The administration has taken and will continue to take every single necessary action to protect New Mexicans from COVID-19, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said in a statement. Even while defending its actions, however, the Governors Office signaled Wednesday it will ease business restrictions starting Saturday with COVID-19 infections, positivity rates and hospitalizations having declined for much of August. Under the changes, dine-in restaurants and breweries will be allowed to reopen at 25% of maximum capacity. They had been operating at a 50% limit before being ordered closed in mid-July amid a surge in coronavirus cases statewide. In addition, the governor said Wednesday a revised public health order that will run through at least mid-September will also increase the maximum capacity at churches and other houses of worship from 25% to 40%. More changes could also be included in the revised health order, which the governor is expected to address during a remote news briefing on Thursday. The first-term Democrat has not yet announced whether public schools will be allowed to resume in-person teaching for elementary school students after Labor Day. Public and charter schools statewide have started the year under a remote learning model, and some districts including Albuquerque have already voted to extend that system through at least this fall. I know New Mexicans are ecstatic about our recent progress against COVID-19, Lujan Grisham said Wednesday. But, given what we know about this virus, we must sound a note of caution: Our progress is only as good as our willingness to stay the course. This virus is still looking for opportunities to spread. Stringent rules New Mexicos restrictions on restaurants have been among the most stringent of their kind nationwide over the last six weeks, and restaurants and wineries reacted to the announcement with mixed emotions. Anytime we can bring people out of the 100-degree heat and bring them inside, thats a win, said Sean Sheehan, founder of Sheehan Winery in Albuquerque. So well be very excited to not be putting up pop-up tents anymore. But Sheehan said he also saw the relaxed restrictions as an indication of the progress the state has made in handling the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of 755 New Mexico residents through Wednesday. I, myself, as a business owner and just as a citizen in Albuquerque, think that the governor has done a really good job handling the pandemic, he said. While eateries have been allowed to operate patio dining at limited capacity during the ban on indoor dining and to provide delivery and curbside takeout the New Mexico Restaurant Association has argued such services are not practical in some cases. William Stafford, owner of Sadies of New Mexico, said he was excited to hear about the change and ready to reopen. However, he said one of the biggest challenges with the new order will be staffing, since many of his employees have either found new jobs or are receiving unemployment benefits. Tom Willis, owner of the 66 Diner of Albuquerque, said he was hoping the capacity limit would be higher. Its better than nothing, he said. We were hoping that (the governor) would reopen us at 50%, where we were before she closed us down, but well take what we can get. The diner did not have a patio prior to the pandemic and for the past month-and-a-half has been operating in the parking lot underneath temporary tents. While some staff members will be happy to work inside and out of the heat, Willis said, others remain fearful of working indoors in close proximity to others. Over the past week, more than 30 employees at restaurants and similar establishments tested positive for COVID-19, according to state Environment Department records. A McDonalds in Ruidoso, for example, reported 13 employees with the virus. Restaurants lawsuit The lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Restaurant Association, along with several restaurants around the state, sought to block the Lujan Grishams administration from enforcing its ban on indoor dining at eateries and breweries. In its lawsuit, the restaurant group claimed at least 210 restaurants around the state have gone out of business due to the state-ordered closures. But in large part, the lawsuit hinged on whether state health officials had shown proof that dine-in restaurants pose a risk to patrons and employees alike. Angelo Artuso, an attorney for the restaurant group, said the state had fallen short in that regard. They have to show theyve looked at the relevant data and provided a satisfactory explanation of why they took the actions they did, Artuso argued during Wednesdays oral arguments. However, the Governors Office general counsel Matt Garcia said it should not be the judicial branchs job to second-guess decisions made by state health experts. He also pushed back against arguments the ban on indoor restaurant dining amounted to a state-ordered quarantine. Its not a quarantine thats happening here, Garcia said. Its a restriction of business operations. The Supreme Court, which heard the case with only four justices since Chief Justice Michael Vigil had recused himself, deliberated for less than an hour before handing down its decision. New Mexico Republican Party chairman Steve Pearce described the ruling as another disappointing setback, while also urging voters to seek change at the ballot box in the November general election, including within the judiciary. While Lujan Grisham has acknowledged the economic toll of her administrations business restrictions, she and top Cabinet officials have argued indoor restaurant dining is unsafe due to the close physical proximity of people and the fact diners cannot wear a face mask while eating. Journal Capitol Bureau reporter Dan McKay contributed to this report. CONCERN is growing about another potential lockdown after a meat plant in Co Tipperary confirmed 22 staff and 16 close contacts had contracted Covid-19. Meat processing giant ABP told Independent.ie it was notified of the cases at its Cahir, Co Tipperary processing facility following the screening of 460 staff. The company said: The tests were carried out after consultation with the HSE and with their full approval and guidance. Read More Now there are concerns in the local community, given clusters in other meat plants were followed by lockdowns. Local councillor Andy Moloney said: People are concerned there are numbers locally. Lockdowns are a concern. But its up to all the local authorities and all the different committees to get together and support the county when we get a handle on this. We have to live with Covid for the foreseeable future but we need to respect it and we need support. We are dependent on the authorities to guide us through this and at times you would wonder with mixed messages but we hope the HSE will get us through this. Because APB has kept people informed of whats going on, we are hopeful they will get past this situation. APB said: In line with Covid-19 protocols all close contacts of those impacted are currently self-isolating. Testing of close contacts of positive cases at the plant by the HSE has identified an additional 16 cases. As a precaution the site has been operating at a limited capacity since the first positive test on August 14. The company continues to work in close collaboration with the HSE. The firm, which has a string of facilities across Ireland, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, added that it had been operating a variety of industry leading protection measures as part of a company-wide initiative that began in March. These measures include limiting site access to essential personnel, temperature checks at the entry to the site, staggered break times, perspex partitions where appropriate, social distancing measures in canteens and all other communal spaces as well as detailed protocols for colleagues who display any symptoms. ABP is continuously evolving and improving its measures to ensure safety at all its sites, a spokesperson said. Staff safety and public health is our priority and ABP will continue to work proactively and take direction and guidance from both the HSE and the HSA in relation to the matter. The Department of Health said it had been informed of 31 positive cases in Co Tipperary, over a third of the 92 nationwide. ABP last week had two positive cases confirmed at its plant in Clones in Co Monaghan. A mushroom production operation in Co Tipperary which had around 29 cases last week, expects a small number of positive results, RTE reported. Production at Walsh Mushrooms in Golden is suspended while testing is carried out. Up to 170 are employed at the facility. Independent.ie has reached out to Walsh Mushrooms for comment. One reason could be that women are more averse to risk, as most studies corroborate. But the choice facing leaders this spring wasnt simply between more or less risk. It was a trade-off between one risk, that to life, and another, that of economic loss. So the difference between the men and women, as the studys authors point out, was really that the women took less risk with lives and more with the economy, whereas men did the opposite. Over time, of course, death and economic loss become intertwined. Daniel Craig's father has passed away at the age of 77 after battling with liver cancer. Tim Craig's death last Thursday, the day before his wife's birthday, has left his James Bond star son heartbroken. The doting father, who has previously described his relationship with his son as being like 'best friends', was a Chester businessman who lived near Oswestry in Shropshire with his wife Kirsty. It is believed that Kirsty, Daniel and his half-brother Harry were with Mr Craig when he died. Daniel Craig's father, Tim Craig, has passed away at the age of 77 from liver cancer It is believed that Kirsty, Daniel (pictured with Tim) and his half-brother Harry were with Mr Craig when he died The proud father, who was noted for bearing an uncanny resemblance to his son, has been seen at regional premieres for James Bond films that his son has starred in throughout the years such as Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Speaking to the Chester Chronicle years ago, the private man said: 'Daniel doesn't talk about me and I don't talk about him, but naturally I am extremely proud of him as he is a very fine actor.' Daniel's publicist Laura Symons said the family would not be issuing a statement. Hollywood actor Daniel was born at home on March 2, 1968, while his father Tim was working as a landlord of the Ring O' Bells pub in Frodsham. It is believed that trips to Chester's Gateway Theatre inspired his career and he decided that he would become an actor while in the pub. 'Someone asked what he was going to do when he grew up and without breaking stride he said ''be an actor'',' Tim is reported to have said. And the first James Bond film Daniel ever saw was with his father in 1973 when the pair watched Live and Let Die. Mr Craig has previously said that Daniel 'guards his privacy' and the pair had an agreement to stay quiet about each other to the media. The Chester Chronicle spoke to Mr Craig in 2015 about Daniel's latest film at the time, Spectre, but his father refused to say anything other than: 'Of course I've seen it.' Mr Craig, who was a director of a recruitment company in his wife's name - Kirsty Craig Associates - said that his son 'got lucky' in managing to find success in acting. While no one else in the Craig family did acting, apart from Tim's cousin Simon Jones who was in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Brideshead Revisited, Daniel knew it was the path for him. The doting father (pictured at a regional James Bond premiere), who has previously described his relationship with his son as being like 'best friends', was a Chester businessman who lived near Oswestry in Shropshire with his wife Kirsty Mr Craig said: 'Life's a journey, the desire to find your bliss, the ultimate quest - he got lucky'. Daniel's father broke up with his mother, Olivia, in 1972 and Daniel and his sister Lea went to live with her in Liverpool before moving with her to Hoylake, Wirral. He was just 16 when he dropped out of school and headed to London to audition for the National Youth Theatre and attended the Guildhall. Hollywood actor Daniel was born at home on March 2, 1968, while his father Tim was working as a landlord of the Ring O' Bells pub in Frodsham (pictured) Tim, former landlord of The Boot Inn at Willington (pictured), previously described his relationship with his son as like 'best friends' and said Daniel was a 'very fine human being' who wouldn't be changed by fame and fortune His first on screen performance was in Morgan Freeman's film The Power Of One. Since then he has gained worldwide fame for starring as James Bond and acting in other major hits such as Knives Out in 2019 and Layer Cake in 2004. Tim, former landlord of The Boot Inn at Willington, previously described his relationship with his son as like 'best friends' and said Daniel was a 'very fine human being' who wouldn't be changed by fame and fortune. And it seems Mr Craig was kind in his professional life as well as his personal life. One social media user took to Twitter upon hearing the tragic news to reveal a thoughtful encounter she had with Mr Craig many years ago. She detailed how Mr Craig helped her secure a job when he worked at a recruitment agency and even sent her champagne and champagne glasses when she got the job. One Twitter user took to social media to detail a thoughtful encounter she had with Mr Craig many years ago She wrote: 'I'm so sorry to hear that Daniel Craig's dad Tim has died. He was a really lovely man. I knew him briefly, and he once did a lovely thing for me. 'Tim Craig had a recruitment agency to which I sent my CV in my twenties. They very politely told me by letter that I wasn't quite the right fit for them, their client profile was much more experienced, and they wished me well. 'Months later, I got an unexpected call. It was Tim. He'd found my CV, and thought it was interesting. He had an idea in mind for me. He invited me for a chat. When I met him, he was kind and charming. He thought he might pass my CV on to the director of HR in a large firm. She detailed how Mr Craig helped her secure a job when he worked at a recruitment agency and even sent her champagne and champagne glasses when she got the job '(And yes, we discussed Daniel. This was way back, long before his James Bond days, but I had seen him in 'The Power of One'. Tim was obviously proud, and delighted I had seen one of his son's films.) 'So, Tim set me up with the interview. And I got the job! All because he took the trouble to read a discarded CV and find the potential in it. But that isn't quite the end... 'A few weeks later, I had a surprise delivery at my new place of work. A bottle of champagne, and six Royal Doulton Crystal champagne flutes, with a handwritten note from Tim congratulating me. 'That generous and thoughtful gesture from this lovely man has stayed with me for years. I've taken good care of the glasses, and I will drink to him tonight.' It comes as Daniel's fifth and final Bond film No Time To Die is set to be released on November 12 in the UK. 26.08.2020 LISTEN Accra August 25, 2020 The Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), in partnership with the School of Information and Communication Studies (SICS) of the University of Ghana, is set to launch its maiden Status of Women in the Ghanaian Media: Providing Evidence for Gender Equality and Advocacy Report. The report is a product of collaborative research between AWMA and SICS, with funding from the US Embassy Small Grants Programme. Over 300 female media professionals were interviewed across all 16 regions of Ghana. The publication is intended to serve as a resource for engaging different key stakeholders such as media owners, editors and managers, practitioners, and regulators. It also aims at advocating for better working conditions, smoother career progression and a safer working environment for women in the media industry. The report forms part of AWMAs advocacy programme; Women in Media Rising. Its objective is to provide baseline evidence for gender equality and advocacy in the news media. This report is a product of meaningful partnerships and collaboration. It provides much-needed evidence to aid our advocacy work. Women in media experience a lot of drawbacks- we know it, we feel it, and we talk about it. Without science, our sentiments alone wont give the change we want to see. Let us use these finding to ACT for equity because action changes things, stated Shamima Muslim, Convenor of AWMA. Without the evidence to back claims of gendered practices in the Ghanaian media, they remain anecdotal, and our efforts at correcting them can, at best, only be minimal in their impact. With a report like this, now it is possible to have real conversations on how to improve the lives of women working in the media. A more gender-equal media is good for Ghana, and this report draws us closer to it. added Dr Abena A. Yeboah-Banin, a Senior Lecturer at the SICS, University of Ghana. Prof. Akosua Darkwah, Head of the Sociology Department of the University of Ghana, will give the keynote address and launch the report. Other speakers at the launch include Minister for Information, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ambassador of the United States to Ghana, H.E. Stephanie S. Sullivan, as well as representatives of the Ghana Journalists Association, the Media Foundation for West Africa and the National Media Commission. The launch will take place at the Centre for African Wetlands Auditorium of the University of Ghana, as well as on Zoom (https://wacren.zoom.us/j/65808559466 Meeting ID: 658 0855 9466 About Us Alliance for Women in Media Africa Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) is a network of over 180 women across the media industry that have come together to work towards increasing the visibility and impact of women in media. AWMA envisions a media industry where women are trained, visible and in positions of influence and power. It seeks to contribute to an inclusive global discourse where the voices, stories, experiences and images of African women and girls are correctly, sufficiently and equally represented. School of Information and Communication Studies (SICS), University of Ghana The School of Information and Communication Studies (SICS) aims at improving and extending the frontiers of Information and Communication dissemination and management through effective teaching, learning and research. The School focuses on developing world-class students who are skilled, versatile, creative, and ready to take up positions in the local and global information and communication industries. It also aims at producing innovative research to reflect the evolutions in the creation, dissemination, and exploitation of knowledge and the impact of new forms of media and communication on peoples lives. Belfast-based medical technology firm Diaceutics plc has raised a further 4.45m (4m) from Silicon Valley Banks UK branch to fund growth. The loan funding will support increased working capital requirements over the next three years to support international expansion and accelerated product development, including of its DXRX platform, the company said. The term loan from Silicon Valley Bank is an increase from the last term agreed between the parties, when 2.78m (2.5m) was raised to support working capital needs during 2018 and 2019. Diaceutics, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) provides outsourced specialist services to clients including big pharmaceutical companies. It uses data drawn from a massive lake of 227 million anonymised patient records. Diaceutics says its DXRX product meets a need for a global standardised diagnostic process used in development and commercialisation of precision medicine diagnostic testing. There are 1,000 new precision medicines, which an be targetted to patients, currently in pharmaceutical company pipelines. Diaceutics shares were admitted to the London Stock Exchanges junior Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in March 2019. Its 2019 annual results saw a 30% increase in revenues to 13.4m. Gross profit grew 52% to 1.3m. Diaceutics spent 26m (23m) over several years developing DXRX, named after an industry shorthand for diagnostics and therapy. The diagnostics data platform is designed to connect 35 pharmaceutical firms, with more than 2,500 drug-testing labs worldwide and allow their anonymised patient data to be shared across a common platform for the first time. Commenting on the renewed partnership with SVB, Philip White, chief financial officer, Diaceutics, said: Our research shows that currently half of patients are missing out on precision medicine drugs due to inefficiencies in the testing ecosystem. In addition, the average precision medicine drug is launched 4.5 years before its companion diagnostic test is readily available to the eligible patient population. We are actively working to reduce this lag time, driving testing standardisation through our services, enabled by our DXRX platform. The DXRX network, in which more than 20m has already been invested, has the potential to completely transform the way key precision medicine stakeholders collaborate and to solve the problems facing the global precision testing ecosystem. The firm employs 128 people in 19 countries including its headquarters in Belfast and a staff of 20 in Dundalk, Co Louth. The Congress leader said that while students are afraid of contracting COVID-19 infection, there are also concerns related to 'transport and lodging during the pandemic' and the 'flood mayhen' in Assam and Bihar Even as opposition parties met to decide a future course of action against the NTA's decision to conduct the medical (NEET) and engineering (JEE) entrance exams in September, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi once again urged the Narendra Modi government to listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution to the problem. Stating that students are "worried about their health and future", the Congress leader listed out three concerns of the students in a tweet. NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health & future. They have genuine concerns of: - fear of Covid19 infection - transport & lodging during pandemic - flood-mayhem in Assam & Bihar. GOI must listen to all stakeholders & find an acceptable solution.#AntiStudentModiGovt Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 26, 2020 While a total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. He said that while students are afraid of contracting COVID-19 infection, there are also concerns related to "transport and lodging during the pandemic". The Congress leader also highlighted the "flood-mayhem in Assam and Bihar" as another reason to postpone the exam. "GOI must listen to all stakeholders and find an acceptable solution," he added. The chorus against the NTA's decision to hold the exams has grown louder from across the country with both students and politicians voicing their opposition. According to News18, students across the country are planning a protest agains the NTA from their homes tomorrow, demanding postponement or cancellation of exams. According to the report, "Students across India are set to 'raise black flags from homes, tie black bands on arm or forehead, wear black mask, turn their profile pictures BLACK' from 8 am to protest against the decision". On Wednesday, several opposition leaders too have asked the Centre to do a rethink on the exams as cases continue to surge. At the meeting of the Opposition leaders, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh urged the Centre to appeal against the Supreme Court order for holding the JEE and NEET exams to ensure the aspirants are free from "mental agony". The Supreme Court too had last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid a spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases, saying a "precious" academic year of students "cannot be wasted" and life has to go on. Odisha chief minsirer Naveen Patnaik and DMK President MK Stalin have too demanded that the exams be postponed. Earlier on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu's school education minister KA Sengottaiyan said that the Tamil Nadu government to has requested the Centre to scrap NEET or at least exempt students from the state from attending that exam if they were held. Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia too reiterated his demand on Wednesday that the two entrance exams be postponed and the Central government work on alternative methods for selecting students. "They (Centre) are saying protocols will be followed. Following the same protocols that the Centre wants 28 lakh students to follow, lakhs of Indians have tested positive," Sisodia told reporters. Increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit are among the steps the National Testing Agency will take for safely conducting NEET and JEE in September. Sisodia also pointed out how several leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah tested positive for coronavirus despite staying in a very safe environment. "So many top leaders have got infected with COVID-19 despite taking all precautions. So, how can we take the risk of sending 28 lakh students to exam centre and be assured that they will not be infected," Sisodia asked. He said the Central Government should immediately postpone the exams and work on "alternative methods" of admission. Meanwhile, members of the Congress-affiliated NSUI on Wednesday began an indefinite hunger strike demanding the postponement of the NEET-JEE and fee waiver for six months for students during the pandemic. On Tuesday, Swedish teen climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg also threw her weight behind postponing the exams in view of the pandemic. "It's deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID," she said in a tweet. However, not all have been in support of postponing the exam. IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao said on Wednesday that any further delay in conducting entrance exams JEE and NEET will have "serious repercussions" on not only the academic calendar but also career of bright students. "The consequences of postponing these exams any further can have serious repercussions on IIT academic calendars and for candidates. I fail to see how we can run two batches together. It will become a zero academic year for lakhs of students. Our academic calendars are too packed already and linked to too many other things. The delays can impact the careers of so many bright students," Rao said. The JEE (Main) this year is scheduled to be held between 1 and 6 September while the JEE (Advanced) will be held on 27 September. With inputs from PTI US Treasury says Taotao Zhang, a chemist and chemical supplier, had shipped illicit synthetic opioids to the US. The US Treasury Department on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a Chinese national whom it accused of trafficking fentanyl to the United States. Taotao Zhang, a chemist and chemical supplier, had shipped illicit synthetic opioids to the US, Treasury said in a statement. The Treasury also blacklisted Hong Kong-based Allyrise Technology Group Co, Limited, of which Zhang is director, accusing it of being a front-company for his financial transactions. Fentanyl is a cheap opioid painkiller 50 times more potent than heroin that has played a significant role in an addiction crisis in the US, where more than 28,000 synthetic opioid-related overdose deaths were recorded in 2017. US officials say China is the main source of illicit fentanyl. President Donald Trump has accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of failing to meet promises to help stop the flow of the drug into the US, a charge Beijing rejects. The United States remains committed to protecting vulnerable Americans by targeting individuals peddling this deadly drug, Treasury Deputy Secretary Justin Muzinich said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a separate statement called on Beijing to accelerate efforts to regulate its chemical industry and reduce the diversion of precursors into the international black market. The United States continues to seek cooperation with the PRC to tackle this supply chain threat, Pompeo said. Tuesdays action freezes any US assets of Zhang and the Hong Kong-based company and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. The Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control said it coordinated the move with the US Attorneys Office for New Jersey and the Drug Enforcement Administration. OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Truss Beverage Co., a joint venture between Canada-based cannabis company Hexo Corp. and brewer Molson Coors Beverage Co., said it has launched five new cannabis beverage brands in the Canadian market. The five new brands will offer beverages infused with either CBD or THC. All CBD and THC beverages within the portfolio have a low to medium dose of THC, in the range of 2.5 milligrams to 5 milligrams. The five new brands launched by Truss Beverage are Little Victory, House of Terpenes, Mollo, Veryvell and XMG. Little Viceroy includes naturally-flavored sparkling beverages, while House of Terpenes will consist of a range of sparkling tonics with botanically sourced terpenes. Mollo features beverages that are crisp with an easy drinking taste, while Veryvell offer a line-up of wellness products. XMG features bold and high intensity flavored beverages. The Truss Beverage portfolio is made in the company's production facility in Belleville, Ontario. The products have developed with consumer input at every stage of development, according to the company. 'We're thrilled to be introducing Canadians to new beverage options and leading the cannabis beverage category with our variety of products. This well-rounded portfolio is designed to bring adult Canadians products that taste great and provide the consistent experience they need to enjoy responsibly,' said Scott Cooper, President and CEO of Truss Beverage. Products from the Truss Beverage portfolio have begun to roll out and will continue to do so throughout the next several months, the company said. Hexo is a Canadian consumer packaged goods cannabis company. The company serves the Canadian adult-use markets under its HEXO Cannabis as well as Up Cannabis brands, and the medical marijuana market under HEXO medical cannabis. Earlier this year, another Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth launched its ready-to-drink cannabis-infused beverages, Tweed Houndstooth & Soda as well as Tweed Bakerstreet & Ginger, in the Canadian market. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de West Bengal: Lockdown, Amphan trigger rise in Sunderbans man-tiger conflict by Krishnendu Mukherjee August 26,2020 | Source: The Times of India The Covid-induced lockdown and cyclone Amphan seem to have resulted in dependency on natural resources in the Sunderbans. The number of persons killed in tiger attack this year so far points to it. While some have initiated efforts on the ground to check the conflict, others say this phenomenon is noticed every time a disaster strikes the region. Animals, too, would be experiencing a new normal, especially if they stay close to human habitats; some of the stress that humans are feeling because of the disease and the lockdown would have a spin-off effect on animals. Responsible behaviour and an extra dose of care and caution can mitigate this impact. With four months still to go in 2020, 15 fishermen have already been killed in tiger attack in the mangroves two more than the number of persons killed a year ago in 2019. This is the official data, the actual number may be higher. In the latest incident a few weeks ago, 40-year-old Haripada Mandal a jobless villager of Bali island was killed in tiger attack in the forest of Pirkhali while had ventured into the woods with two others, who had reportedly returned to the Sunderbans from another state during Unlock 1. Interestingly, more than half of these incidents 8 have been reported after May 20, the day Amphan hit the swamp. In another such incident in the Jhila forest, the victim a jobless labourer had reportedly returned to the Sunderbans a few days before the incident. Keeping an eye on the pandemic and rising conflict situation, city-based NGO Society for Heritage and Ecological researches (SHER) has identified 100 licenced fishermen in the mangroves to provide them with portable LPG cylinders. The fishermen with their boats registered with the forest department leave for fishing inside forest for days where they need to cook on their earthen stove on boat. The traditional earthen stove run on dry firewood forces a villager to venture into the swamp to collect the firewood. Moreover, in the wet and humid condition of the landscape, it is tough to get dry fuelwood for cooking. This makes both the human and tiger vulnerable to engage in conflict. It is already known that tiger attacks people mostly whenever human enters the forest, said Joydip Kundu of SHER. Sunderbans Tiger Reserve field director Tapas Das said that the plan was in place for a long time, but it was finally executed recently. We handed over the cylinders with customized tough metal cases to avoid the toppling over of utensils on choppy waters to 25 licenced fishermen in Basirhat range in the first phase, he added. On rise in dependence on natural resources during lockdown and post Amphan, Das said that theres a possibility. In a tiger attack case reported from Jhila 3 recently, the victim was a migrant labourer who had just returned to his home in the Sunderbans, Das added. Anurag Danda, senior visiting fellow with Observer Research Foundation, has his take. Dependence on natural resources increases whenever a disaster happens. The trend was noticed during Aila, too. And more the fishermen get exposed, more there are cases of tiger attacks. Moreover, due to the pandemic situation this time, those who usually dont venture into the woods to collect fish or crabs are also doing so. Hence, there is rise in accidents this year, Danda added. The eight post Amphan tiger attack cases that also coincided with return of migrant labourers were mostly reported from Pirkhali, Jhila and the forests of South 24 Parganas division. In the incident at Jhila 3 in Basirhat range, villagers were even seen recording the entire process of the victims body being retrieved from inside the forest. Covid-19 vaccine Pune: The Phase II clinical trial of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, being manufactured by the city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), began at a medical college and hospital here on Wednesday. Two male volunteers were administered the vaccine at Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital, a senior office-bearer of the hospital said. Advertisement Covid-19 vaccine"Doctors at the hospital administered the first shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine to a 32-year-old man after his reports of Covid-19 and antibodies tests came out negative," Medical Director of College, Dr Sanjay Lalwani, said. Another 48-year-old male volunteer was also given the vaccine, he added. Covid-19 vaccine"Before administering the vaccine, doctors checked their temperature, blood pressure and heart beats," he said. Advertisement SII, the world's largest vaccine maker, has signed an agreement to manufacture the potential vaccine developed by the Jenner Institute of Oxford University in collaboration with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca. First person charged under natl security law for HK denied bail again Global Times Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/25 17:48:00 The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday again refused bail to a 23-year-old man who was the first person charged under the national security law for HKSAR. Tong Ying-kit, the suspect was accused of driving a motorcycle into a group of Hong Kong police officers in Wan Chai on July 1, carrying a flag with the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times." The Hong Kong government made clear on July 2 that the slogan suggested secessionism and subversion, and residents should not test the law through such actions. A High Court judge said the court will make public the reasons for denying bail later on Tuesday or Wednesday, Hong Kong news outlets reported. Tong's case was arraigned in West Kowloon Magistracy on 6 July, becoming the first case charged after the national security law for Hong Kong was enacted. Tong's bail was denied due to the seriousness of the case and the risk of not returning to remand in time, media reported. Article 42 of the national security law stipulates that bail should not be granted to a criminal suspect or defendant if the judge has sufficient reason to believe that he or she will continue to commit an act endangering national security. The High Court on Friday rejected Tong's application for a writ of habeas corpus as he failed to apply in accordance with normal procedures, media reported. Tong will be detained until he returns to court on October 6. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address reported 82 COVID-19 fatalities on Wednesday, taking the death toll due to the disease to 3,141 in the state, while the highest single-day spike of 5,898 new cases took its caseload past the two lakh-mark to 2,03,020. "In the last 24 hours, 5,898 fresh COVID-19 cases were found. There are a total of 51,317 active cases in the state, while 1,48,562 people have been treated and discharged," Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters here. Of the 82 deaths, nine were reported from Gorakhpur, eight from Lucknow, six from Saharanpur, five from Maharajganj and four each from Kanpur, Varanasi and Moradabad, a bulletin issued by the state health department said. The maximum of 389 deaths have been reported from Kanpur, followed by 311 in Lucknow, 154 in Varanasi, 137 in Prayagraj, 130 in Meerut, 121 in Gorkahpur, 109 in Bareilly and 106 each in Agra, it said. Of the fresh cases, state capital Lucknow accounted for the highest of 759, while Gorakhpur reported 387, Kanpur 316, Prayagranj 293and Moradabad 262, it added. Prasad said a record number of 1,44,802 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the state on Tuesday and added that over 49 lakh such tests have so far been conducted in "Soon, the target of conducting 1.5 lakh tests per day, set by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will be achieved. "Of the 51,317 active cases, 25,279 are in home isolation. So far, over 83,000 people have opted for home isolation and of them, over 58,000 have completed it," 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.) Egypt has been recording daily infection tallies of less than 200 cases amid remarks by a number of officials expecting infections to reach zero soon Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called for exercising caution to avoid a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, a cabinet statement said on Wednesday. Madbouly said Egypt will maintain the same preventive measures against the deadly disease, particularly with the advent of Autumn. "The noticeable increase in the number of infections recently prompts us to [exercise] caution, and to maintain the strict precautionary measures and penalties for violators to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus and avoid an increase in the curve of infections and deaths as happened in some countries," the statement quoted Madbouly as saying during the cabinet's weekly meeting. He ordered medical services at triage and isolation hospitals nationwide be pursued by infected people. Egypt recorded a slight increase in the daily tally of coronavirus infections after the lowest daily toll in four months was reached on Saturday with only 89 cases. In the following three days 103, 138, 141 new cases were recorded, respectively. Egypt has been recording daily infection tallies of less than 200 cases amid remarks by a number of officials expecting infections to reach zero soon. During the meeting, health minister Hala Zayed reviewed the measures to be adopted in light of the increase in infections. "The occurrence of a second wave is necessarily associated with a false sense of safety among people that the epidemic is over," the minister added. Zayed said the presidential health initiatives including treating people with chronic diseases will be intensified. The minister demanded the public and state institutions maintain strict precautions to prevent a second wave of the pandemic which may force the state to reinstate tough measures to ensure people's commitment to the precautions. The minister added a coronavirus vaccine will not prevent the transmission of the virus but will decrease the rate of infection and reduce the severity of the symptoms. Zayed warned people's non-compliance with the preventive measures and not wearing face masks in public transport modes may cause a resurgence in the rate of infections and lead to a second wave of the pandemic. She called for maintaining surveillance on checkpoints, highways, cities, and means of public transport to make sure people wear their face masks. The minister said the measures include conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on drivers of cargo trucks and their assistants to facilitate their entrance to countries that request the test. She stressed the importance of banning travellers arriving in Egypt from entering the country without a negative PCR lab test result. Egypt has so far recorded a total of 97,619 coronavirus cases since the outbreak began in February, including 5,298 deaths and 67,717 recoveries. Egypt has been recording daily infection tallies of less than 1,000 new cases since 9 July. The daily toll dropped below the 200-case threshold starting early August. Search Keywords: Short link: President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Arayik Haroutyunyan today held a remote conversation with High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia Zareh Sinanyan. The head of state touched upon the situation in Lebanon and emphasized that it is very important for all Armenians to combine their efforts to solve the problems facing the Armenian community. According to Haroutyunyan, overcoming the hardships is an urgent issue, but if there are Armenian families who wish to move from Lebanon, it would be better, if they returned to Armenia. In this context, Haroutyunyan talked about the initiatives of the Government of Artsakh. Sinanyan stated that Artsakh, with its tangible participation, showed that it fully shares the burden of the pan-Armenian issues and that Artsakhs further empowerment must be viewed as an issue on the national agenda on the path to resisting bigger challenges. is protesting the alleged incursion of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane into a no-fly zone imposed during life-firing military exercises in the country's north. In a statement issued late Tuesday, the Ministry of National Defense said the action had seriously interfered in normal exercise activities and severely incurred the risk of misjudgment and even of bringing about an unintended air-sea incident. This was a naked act of provocation, the ministry said, quoting spokesperson Wu Qian. has lodged a stern protest and demanded the U.S. cease such actions, Wu said. The statement said the exercises were being staged by China's Northern Theater Command but gave no details as to their exact time and place. Relations between the U.S. and have sunk to their lowest in decades amid disputes over a myriad of issues including trade, technology, Taiwan and the South China Sea. The high-altitude reconnaissance planes were flown over China, the former Soviet Union and other countries in the Communist bloc during the Cold War and upgraded versions to continue to support missions in Asia and elsewhere. (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 Kentucky teenager known for video of his interaction with a Native American man at the Lincoln Memorial last year said Tuesday he would not succumb to 'cancel culture' as he made remarks on Day Two of the Republican National Convention. Nicholas Sandmann, 17, told the convention that he believes news outlets were driven by 'anti-Christian, anti-conservative, anti-Donald Trump' bias in reporting on the incident because he was wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' hat. 'And if advancing their narrative ruined the reputation and future of a teenager from Covington, Kentucky, well, so be it,' Sandmann said in a pre-recorded message from the Lincoln Memorial the location of the incident that made him famous. 'That will teach him not to wear a MAGA hat!' The Covington Catholic High School student's reached a settlement with CNN, who he sued for defamation. The amount was nearly disclosed due to a quirk in court rules, but will now remain confidential after the pandemic delayed scheduled hearings until after his 18th birthday. Video of the January 2019 encounter showed Sandmann and Nathan Phillips, a Native American activist, standing very close to each other, with Sandmann staring, and at times smiling, as Phillips sang and pounded on a drum. Sandmann said media outlets attempted to 'cancel' him in their coverage of the confrontation. Nicholas Sandmann, 17, put on his 'Make America Great Again' hat while speaking during the second night of the Republican Convention Tuesday Sandmann went viral after a video showed him in a confrontation with Native American activist Nathan Phillips on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial He said media attempted to 'cancel' him because he was wearing a 'MAGA' hat. 'My life changed forever in that one moment. The full war machine of the mainstream media revved up into attack mode,' Sandmann said 'My life changed forever in that one moment. The full war machine of the mainstream media revved up into attack mode,' Sandmann claimed. 'They did so without ever researching the full video of the incident; without ever investigating Mr. Philips' motives; or without ever asking me for my side of the story. And do you know why? Because the truth wasn't important.' 'I learned that what was happening to me had a name. It was called being canceled,' he continued. 'Canceled is what's happening to people around this country who refuse to be silenced by the far left. Many are being fired, humiliated or even threatened. Often, the media is a willing participant.' Sandmann insisted: 'But I wouldn't be cancelled. I fought back hard to expose the media for what they did to me and won a personal victory.' 'While much more must be done, I look forward to the day that the media returns to providing balanced, responsible and accountable news coverage. I know President Trump hopes for that too,' Sandmann concluded his remarks. He also claimed Trump is the biggest 'victim of unfair media coverage.' Sandmann detailed at the convention Tuesday that he bought the 'MAGA' hat while he was in Washington D.C. on a school trip to participate in the pro-life March for Life annual protest through the capital. 'In January 2019, I attended the March for Life in Washington D.C. where I demonstrated in defense of the unborn,' Sandmann detailed during his pre-recorded speech. 'Later that day, I bought a 'Make America Great Again' hat because our President, Donald Trump, has distinguished himself as the most pro-life Presidents in the history of our country and I wanted to express my support for him too.' Sandmann tweeted Tuesday that he 'met some wonderful people' ahead of his speech at Trump Hotel Here Nicholas Sandmann (right) is pictured with Baltimore Republican congressional candidate Kim Klacik (center), who spoke Monday, and the president's son Eric Trump (left) During the trip, Sandmann went viral after Phillips went up to the student wearing his new red 'MAGA' hat, and pounded on a drum a few inches from his face. The teenager was excoriated in the media for a smirk he had during the confrontation. Sandmann explained Tuesday that the 'awkward smile' was an attempt to hide his thoughts and avoid embarrassing himself or further instigating Phillips. Sandmann reached a confidential settlement with CNN in January, after suing the network for $275 million and saying it defamed him in coverage of a viral video last year. The settlement amount was nearly disclosed through a Kenton County, Kentucky probate case because, at the time, Sandmann was a minor and couldn't claim the money directly, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Due to court delays in the coronavirus pandemic, Sandmann recently turned 18 and, no longer a minor, was able to claim the money himself, according to court documents. Sandmann was among the students from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky who were participating in the March For Life anti-abortion rally in Washington DC in January 2019. Footage of his face-off with Nathan Phillips, who was participating in a separate demonstration supporting Native American rights, spread widely online. Both Sandmann, who was wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' cap, and Phillips later said they were trying to defuse tensions among three separate groups participating in various demonstrations, including Black Hebrew Israelites who had arrived apparently to counter-protest the Native Americans. Video of the encounter showed Phillips walking up to Sandmann and standing very close to him, with Sandmann staring, and at times smiling, as Phillips sang and banged a drum in his face. Sandmann later settled lawsuits against CNN and other media outlets, saying that they had taken the video clip out of context to falsely accuse him and other Covington students of taunting and intimidating Phillips. The Kentucky teen is among Tuesday's scheduled speakers at the virtual Republican National Convention. Attorney Lin Wood and Nicholas Sandmann are seen together in an undated photo. Sandmann reached a confidential settlement with CNN in January, after suing the network for $275 million and saying it defamed him in coverage of a viral video last year Sandmann will urge voters to reelect President Donald Trump in his speech during the gathering's second night, when the theme is 'Land of Opportunity.' Sandmann, who now identifies himself on Twitter as a spokesman for the Transylvania University College Republicans, tweeted that he couldn't express 'enough about how excited I am to be apart of this years RNC!' He will be featured along with first lady Melania Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as the convention focuses on many hot-button issues, including abortion and Middle East policy, and portrays Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as too extreme to win November's election. 'We need to keep talking about Joe Bidens radical policies,' Trump reelection campaign manager Bill Stepien said during an online interview with Politico on Tuesday. 'The more we talk about the Democrat policies being pushed by Joe Biden and the radical fringe of his party, the better we are. The more our standing improves in this race.' Last month, a lawyer for Sandmann vowed to take additional legal action against CNN and the Washington Post for allegedly breaching confidentiality agreements under the settlements they made in the initial lawsuits. Attorney Lin Wood put the outlets back in his crosshairs as he accused CNN anchor Brian Stetler and a Post reporter of breaking confidentiality by tweeting speculation about the settlements. US supports terrorist attacks to impede Syria's reconstructionb process, Russian military says Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 5:56 PM The Russian military says the United States continues to support acts of terror and sabotage by allied Takfiri terrorists operating at the al-Tanf region in southern Syria to justify its illegal military deployment in the war-torn Arab country. "Through their actions, the terrorists disrupt the process of socio-economic reconstruction of Syria and the establishment of relations between local Arab tribes and the Damascus government. Such a situation primarily benefits the United States, and allows it to justify its presence in the country's east," Russia's Sputnik news agency quoted an unnamed spokesman for Russian forces in Syria as saying on Tuesday. The spokesman then attributed a recent uptick in terrorist attacks in the Syrian Desert a vast region covering 55 percent of the land area of Syria to an amnesty program by US-sponsored Kurdish-militants. "Over the past month, the Syrian Desert has seen a significant increase in the activity of militants consisting of former Daesh terrorists. Most of these militants showed up in the area after the so-called Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria declared an amnesty program," he pointed out. "Militants are destabilizing situation in the region through disruption of transport and communications, acts of sabotage against Syrian oil and gas installations, and attacks on Syrian army units and posts," the spokesman said. "On August 18, senior Russian military advisor Major General Vyacheslav Gladkikh was killed in the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by terrorists in [Syria's eastern] Dayr al-Zawr province," the spokesman added. He noted that Russian forces and Syrian government troops have launched a major clean-up operation in the Syrian Desert to purge the region of the last remnants of terrorist outfits, emphasizing that the offensive will continue until US-backed militant groups in the area are fully annihilated. The operation has so far resulted in the elimination of 327 militants, 134 terrorist hideouts, 17 observation posts, seven warehouses as well as five underground arms depots, the official said. Back in mid-May, a number of captured members of the Daesh terrorist group confessed to close cooperation with US military forces stationed at al-Tanf base to carry out various acts of terror and sabotage. During confessions broadcast on Syria's state-run television network at the time, three extremists revealed that they were instructed by American forces to target Syrian government troops in and around the ancient city of Palmyra, the Tiyas Military Airbase also known as the T-4 Airbase, the Shaer gas field as well as nearby oil wells, Syria's official news agency SANA reported back then. Two troops injured as joint Russian-Turkish convoy comes under fire in Syria's Idlib Also on Tuesday, two Russian servicemen were slightly injured after a patrol, jointly manned by Russian and Turkish soldiers, was targeted by militants that struck an infantry vehicle with an anti-tank rocket in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. Russia's Reconciliation Center in Syria said in a statement that the ambush took place as the convoy was traveling along the M4 highway, which runs between Aleppo and Latakia on the Mediterranean coast. The Russian military assistance, which comes at the official request of the Syrian government, has effectively helped the national army recapture key areas from foreign-backed militant groups. The Russian Air Force has been providing air cover to Syria's liberation operations on the ground. Moscow's contingent of ground forces in Syria is comprised of military police tasked with delivering humanitarian aid, helping Syrian armed forces deal with terrorists, and preventing clashes between government troops and Turkish forces illegally deployed to the Arab country's north. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister For Agriculture David Littleproud during a press conference in the Mural Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 12, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Australian Supermarkets to Face Fresh Produce Inquiry Supermarkets could be forced into a mandatory code of conduct for all fresh farm produce under a federal push to stamp out market imbalance. The competition watchdog has been directed to investigate beef, lamb, pork, chicken, egg, seafood, fruit and vegetable supply chains. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will also look at whether the mandatory dairy code of conduct should be extended to supermarkets. Farmers and processors will be able to give confidential evidence to the ACCC, which is tasked with sniffing out potential market imbalance. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the three-month inquiry could recommend a perishable goods code of conduct aimed at supermarkets. After continual evidence and claims by farmers that they have been mistreated by the processing sector and the supermarkets, its time for us to clear that up, he told reporters in Canberra on Aug. 26. There have been numerous inquiries into issues across agricultural supply chains over the past decade. Littleproud said Senate committees and the ACCC had heard evidence of supermarkets abusing power over farmers. The big supermarkets have used their market power to get them into contracts and then pull them out from under their nose after theyve made significant investments, he said. Capital investments that have then sent them broke. A Woolworths spokesman said the company would co-operate fully with the latest probe. There is already a strong legal and regulatory framework in place to monitor the conduct of participants in the fresh food supply chain, he told AAP. Were a founding signatory to the food and grocery code, which governs our dealings with more than 18,000 suppliers, including Australian fresh food providers. The ACCC also has a dedicated agriculture unit to monitor and enforce fair trading rules under competition law. Littleprouda frequent antagonist towards major supermarketssaid he couldnt care less what the big players thought of the inquiry. Supermarkets are big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves, he said. They are the ones that created this culture, particularly in the dairy industry, destroying lives and livelihoods of so many dairy farmers across this country with this dollar-litre milk stuff. He said the existing grocery code, which Coles, Woolworths and Aldi are part of, was voluntary and only dished out small fines. It doesnt protect small family farms. They dont have the financial means if they have been wronged to test that in a court of law, Littleproud said. Matt Coughlan in Canberra One in 30 people have reported lockdown breaches to police in England and Wales during the coronavirus pandemic. A survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that just over half of the public had noticed people violating restrictions in their area. But of those, only 7 per cent reported the breach to the police. When asked why they had not reported the incident, a third of people said they thought it was too trivial, and 10 per cent believed that the police could not have done anything. More than 18,600 fines have been given out by police in England and Wales under the Health Protection Regulations, but the number issued has fallen with the easing of lockdown. Last month, the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), Martin Hewitt, said the remaining restrictions including a ban on private gatherings of more than 30 people were important. Mr Hewitt said: Police will continue to engage, explain, encourage and only as a last resort will we use enforcement. We all need to continue to be personally responsible and follow the rules, whether that be around face masks in shops or very large gatherings. By following the rules, we are all doing our bit to prevent the virus spreading. The ONS survey showed that more than two-thirds of people gave police a positive rating during the pandemic, with half saying they were doing a good job and a fifth saying they were doing an excellent job. More than 90 per cent of people said they were satisfied with the way that local police were responding to the coronavirus outbreak, and the survey showed support for new powers, including fines. An analysis commissioned by the NPCC showed that police were twice as likely to fine young black, Asian and minority ethnic men for coronavirus breaches than white men of the same age. Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Show all 19 1 /19 Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Two elderly people chat on a street in Valencia, Spain on 4 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent People look at the city from Villa Borghese park in Rome during the first day of Italy's next phase in its coronavirus lockdown Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent An elderly couple who has not been outside for nearly two months enjoys the weather as they sit on a bench in a park in Athens on 4 May AFP via Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Henri de Chassey, wearing a protective face mask, kisses his partner Margaux Rebois, who is returning to Paris after spending two months in Brussels on 4 May REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A commuter in protective mask wears gloves at an underground station in Brussels as some companies are allowed to bring workers back to the office EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Paralympic swimmer Inigo Llopis prepares to swim in San Sebastian, Spain, for the first time since the lockdown began Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A worker wearing personal protective equipment disinfects a school in Athens as Greece relaxes its nationwide lockdown REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A Spanish National Police officer distributes protective masks in Melilla, Spain, on 4 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent An employee poses in front of halfway-cured hams in a factory in Guijuelo, Salamanca, Spain, on 4 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Workers in protective suits disinfect a high school in Athens as Greece moves to reopen schools for final-year students on 11 May EPA Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A worker disinfects a bus as transport vehicles are disinfected several times a day as part of Belgium's lockdown exit strategy Belga/AFP via Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A worker from Textilia haberdashery in Brussels holds a fabric that can be used to make customised protective face masks as Belgium relaxes its lockdown measures REUTERS/Yves Herman Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A bride tries on a wedding dress at a bridal shop in Madrid on the first day that some small businesses are allowed to open during Spain's lockdown REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent People walk across the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall in central Milan as Italy eases its lockdown AFP/Getty Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A couple kiss in the Duomo Square in Catania as Italy starts moving out of its lockdown Reuters Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent Mirel Chetan organises the books of the Antonio Machado bookstore in Madrid after 51 days of closure Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A couple kiss in front of the sea in Catania as Italy begins a staged end to a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease ANTONIO PARRINELLO/ REUTERS Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A waiter at Caffe Cracco handles takeaway coffee in Milan on 4 May as Italy starts to ease its lockdown Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images Europe emerges from lockdowns across the continent A woman holds a yoga posture as she exercises by the Colosseum monument in Rome on the first day of Italy relaxing its lockdown measures VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images Mr Hewitt said regional forces were looking at the figures to assess and mitigate any risks of bias conscious or unconscious and to minimise disproportionate impact wherever possible. New laws have also been introduced to enforce local lockdowns, the wearing of masks on public transport, shops and other indoor premises, as well as quarantine for travellers arriving in England. Statistics released by the ONS on Wednesday showed that police-recorded crime was 25 per cent lower in April and 20 per cent lower in May compared with the same period in 2019. But proactive police activity caused a significant rise in recorded drug offences in the same period, amid increases in stop-and-search and operations against organised crime. Billy Gazard, of the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, said: There was a significant fall in crime at the height of the coronavirus pandemic across England and Wales. This was driven by reductions in theft offences, particularly domestic burglary and theft of personal property. As this period coincided with the majority of people spending long periods at home during lockdown, it is not unexpected. President Nana Akufo-Addo 26.08.2020 LISTEN President Akufo-Addo has received plaudits for his promise to grant students loans without the use of guarantors and also establish a National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS) to offer soft loans to young people to rent affordable apartments after school. According to Prof. Joseph Osafo, Head of the Psychology Department at the University of Ghana, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) proposals when fully implemented would reduce mental case among the youth in particular. He said the pressures of funding for students as well as high cost of rent for accommodation among starters had become a source of worry for many who end up in mental hospitals due to loss of jobs and their inability to find shelter. Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia announced at the weekend in Cape Coast during the manifesto launch of the NPP that the government intended to set up a GH100 million national rental assistance scheme to offer loans to people, especially the youth, to pay for their rent advance. This, he said, would be done in collaboration with the private sector to crowd in more money in order to relieve people of the burden of rent advance. It is clear that there are lots of youth who when they finish school just trying to rent accommodation is a big problem. There is a large demand for rent allowance up to two years, but someone who has just finished school and is starting a job does not have the savings to pay the huge demands of landlords, the Vice-President said. The landlords, on the other hand, have got used to asking for two years and insist on it, saying they do not know if the tenant will run away and, therefore, want to collect it affront, he added. Besides the rental assistance scheme, the Vice-President also stated that the NPP government under President Akufo-Addo has a policy initiative that will give all tertiary students, except teacher and nursing trainees, who will be on allowances, the option to obtain a student loan without the requirement of a guarantor. The current scheme asks for guarantors and a lot of people are not willing to put their pensions on the line, and so many students are unable to access, he noted. We want to make it guarantor free and all a student will need is his or her national ID card to be able to access a loan, and once you complete your tertiary education repayment will be deferred for one year after your national service, he added Reacting to the NPP manifesto promises, Prof. Osafo said on 'Peace FM' in Accra that the proposed rental assistance scheme and the students' loans would bring relief to many people. He said the mental health stress which often results in suicide attempts would subside to a large extent. He called on Ghanaians to support the Akufo-Addo government, saying once there is a government doing some good work, we are obliged to support it to let it work. ---Daily Guide Unprecedented sentence demanded for Christchurch mosque gunman Police secure the area outside Christchurch High Court ahead of Brenton Tarrant's sentencing hearing New Zealand mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant will be sentenced Thursday over the attacks that killed 51 Muslim worshippers last year, with survivors demanding he remain behind bars "until his last gasp". Tarrant, 29, has faced a four-day sentencing in Christchurch -- scene of his deadly rampage on March 15, 2019 -- with more than 90 witnesses providing harrowing testimony of the horrors inflicted in New Zealand's worst terror attack. The Australian white supremacist has admitted 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism over the attacks, after reversing an initial not-guilty plea. He is expected to become the first person in New Zealand imprisoned for life without the prospect of parole when judge Cameron Mander hands down his sentence. New Zealand does not have the death penalty -- although some angry survivors said that was what they wanted for Tarrant -- and a life sentence usually attracts a term of 10 to 17 years. But Hamimah Tuyan, whose husband Zekeriya died of his wounds 48 days after the attack, said it would be an injustice if Mander did not exercise the court's full powers to impose an unprecedented sentence. "He deserves not a life imprisonment term of 17, 25 or 30 years, but life imprisonment until his last gasp, his last breath," she told the court Wednesday. "He does not deserve credit for his guilty plea, surely a heartless murderer cannot expect to gain any benefit for this? "It will be a grave injustice, your honour, if he is ever given a second chance to walk in society again." Tuyan said Tarrant's "heinous act" had united New Zealanders of all backgrounds in revulsion. "I have faith that when judgement day comes tomorrow (Thursday) his punishment will represent the people of New Zealand's repulsion for, and denunciation of, murder and evil white-supremacist ideology," she said. "While you are in prison you will come to realise that you are now in hell and only the fire awaits you," said Ahad Nabi, whose father Haji Daoud Nabi was killed in Christchurch's Al Noor mosque. Story continues Tarrant, who has sat impassively throughout proceedings, has waived his right to speak at the sentencing, even though he sacked his legal team last month intending to represent himself. Instead, a court-appointed lawyer will make a brief statement on his behalf before Mander delivers his sentence. ns/arb/leg I want women to be educated in empowering one another," Strickland said. "It hurts me to see a woman who has the ability to pursue a job not get the position. Bob and I believed we had to do what we could to try to change that. A new honor called the Elizabeth Miller Strickland Trailblazer Award. The award will be given annually to a graduating woman student who, according to the university, "epitomizes the qualities of hard work, passion for service, perseverance and determination." The winner must donate a portion of the award's cash prize to a charity of her choice. Scholarships for all students regardless of gender. The Elizabeth Miller Strickland Endowed Scholarship Fund will help sophomores, juniors and seniors with financial need who do well early on at High Point University. High Point University will name a plaza for Strickland near Roberts Hall, the university's original main building. The Elizabeth Miller Strickland Scholarship Plaza will include three sculptures depicting recent graduates. Those statues will be installed later this year. It is our hope that the plaza honors Bettys transformational gift and inspires others to support the importance of scholarship in higher education, Qubein said. City of Midland The number of new coronavirus cases rose to 40 on Tuesday, but the Midland Health Department reports that confirmed cases are still down week over week. Through Tuesday of last week, the health department reported 65 cases, which means there are 13 fewer through two days this week, according to statistics provided by the health department. Tuesdays cases brought the total to 52 this week and are reflective of lab results from Monday, according to the city. The former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba has been appointed as the new council chair of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos, 30 years after he left the position. The appointment was announced on Tuesday after a meeting by the governing council of the institute held at its chamber, the first since the passage of the late chair Ismaila Isa, and was attended by the president of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nduka Obaigbena. The publisher and veteran journalist, Sam Amuka, introduced the new chairman of the council, who was unanimously adopted by members of the council in session, while a former president of NPAN, Ray Ekpu was also appointed as deputy chair. A statement by the acting registrar of the institute, Patricia Kalesanwo, said that the assumption of Mr Osoba as the chairperson of the council, 30 years after he left the position, is to explore his wealth of knowledge, administrative skill, professional depth, and goodwill to reposition the institute in this era of technology-driven communication industry. The meeting also resolved that chairpersons of the NIJ alumni association be incorporated into the council in ex-officio capacity with no voting rights, explaining that this is to enable old students to appropriately contribute to the positioning of their alma mater. Following the expiration of the tenure of the provost, Gbemiga Ogunleye by 18 months, the council thanked him for the services and wished him the best in his future endeavours from the end of August 2020. The council also directed its establishment committee to set in motion, through the placement of advertisements and screening of suitable candidates, the process for the office of provost to be filled. It directed that all standing committees should meet as regularly as appropriate and submit working papers for the council to fast track the repositioning drive. The council commended the untiring efforts of leaders in the profession including Messrs Obiagbena, Amuka and the late Ismaila Isa in steering the ship of the institute up till the moment. A minute of silence was held in honour of the late chair, Mr Funtua, as well as a day of tribute organized by the school management in his honour. Chicago, Aug 26 : The family of Jacob Blake would be filing a civil lawsuit against the Kenosha Police Department over the shooting, said a family attorney. Blake was shot by police seven times in the back at close range in Kenosha in the southeastern corner of US midwestern state of Wisconsin on Sunday. Ben Crump, one of the family attorneys, said at a news conference on Tuesday that his client is paralyzed and it would "take a miracle" for him to walk again, with Blake's family members standing behind, Xinhua news agency reported. Crump also represented George Floyd's family three months ago when Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. "They shot my son seven times, seven times, like he didn't matter," said Blake's father in a choked voice. "But my son matters. He's a human being and he matters." Blake was still in surgery while the news conference was held on Tuesday afternoon, Crump said. Protests triggered by the shooting continued in Kenosha and spread to Madison, capital of Wisconsin, and Minneapolis in Minnesota Monday night. Defying an 8 p.m. curfew, hundreds of protesters in Kenosha set fire to several buildings downtown as well as to cars and dumpsters on Monday night. More than 30 businesses were destroyed or damaged. The protestors even clashed with officers in riot gear, including 125 members of the Wisconsin National Guard, who were guarding the courthouse. The police used tear gas. In Madison, windows were smashed, fires lit and some shops looted late on Monday into early Tuesday. Police deployed tear gas and pepper spray. Six people were arrested. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency, and will deploy more Wisconsin National Guard troops. In Minneapolis, 11 were arrested after breaking windows at the Hennepin County jail on Monday night. One police officer suffered a broken hand in an altercation with demonstrators, the sheriff's department said, cited by local media. Early Monday, Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden issued a statement on the shooting, saying the shots "pierce the soul of our nation." "Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism." The Division of Criminal Investigation under the Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating into the case. The division aims to provide a report of the incident to the prosecutor within 30 days. Kenosha, a city of about 100,000 people located between Milwaukee and Chicago, is bracing for the third night of protests. COVID-19 has certainly upset most travel plans of people all over the world. Be it India or abroad, a new set of rules and regulations have come in, obviously for safety reasons. Truth be told, going out of India to a foreign land is no longer a walk in the park. So how does it work? Well, luckily it is not rocket science and there is a method to the madness. Air bubble arrangements According to Indian Express, India has air bubble arrangements with Canada, Maldives, UAE, UK, USA, France and Germany. What is an air bubble? Nothing complicated. It just means that with these nations, India has come to a temporary arrangement of commercial flights taking place until regular flights resume. PTI Who is allowed to fly? Guidelines for the air bubbles, as per the report, say that foreign citizens, especially of those countries, can stop at these destinations or use them for transit travel. Indian citizens can also fly, but there are conditions. Only those who have a valid one-month's visa at the very least for these countries for purposes other than tourism, can go. That means those having to go for studies or work can do so. In UAE, even tourists are being allowed while USA has is issuing limited student visas. Of course those doing so need to know they are putting themselves at risk and must be aware of the precautions to take. PTI What needs to be done for international travel For passengers who are travelling abroad from India, different countries have different rules when it comes to isolation and testing. According to the report, France requires people coming from 16 countries and that includes India to take an on-the-spot COVID test. If you are going to the UK from India, then you need to undergo a self-isolation period of 14 days. PTI Basic precautions The basic precautions are pretty much the same. Wear masks, PPE kits if necessary, keep hands sanitised and also maintain a bare minimum distance from one another. In case one is feeling feverish, of course go the doctor and get checked. Thermal scans and health declarations are mandatory to clear one for travel. Once you leave India, you are subject the norms of the land you are going to. So make sure you are prepared. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) The special team tasked to bring down COVID-19 transmission in Cebu City will now share their learnings to Bacolod City. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu will be joined by National Task Force on COVID-19 Chief Carlito Galvez and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino in helping the city respond to the pandemic, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Wednesday. Retired Major General Mel Feliciano, the IATF deputy chief implementor in Cebu, will also be part of the contingent, he added. The mayor said the team will visit Iloilo City on Wednesday before proceeding to Bacolod. Cimatu was assigned to oversee Cebu City's COVID-19 response in mid-June after it was reverted to the strictest form of lockdown due to the spike in new infections. His stint in Cebu was deemed successful after new cases slowed down and the city eased to general community after a month. The deployment of the officials was announced a day after Leonardia made an urgent appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to send an augmentation team of healthcare workers to help tame the recent spike in local COVID-19 transmissions in the city. "As an emergency stop-gap measure, may we beg for an augmentation team of doctors, nurses, and medical technologists from the DOH before our healthcare system completely bogs down... Mr. President, our situation is dire," the local chief executive wrote. He said Galvez promised to deploy doctors and nurses from Western Visayas and Central Visayas, make arrangements with hotels that can be used as treatment facilities, and send stocks of anti-viral drug remdesivir. On the same day, local authorities announced that Negros Occidental, including Bacolod will be placed under a four-day lockdown beginning Friday to give way to testing of thousands of residents. Bacolod will hold testing on Friday and Saturday in 14 centers, while the cities of Bago, Talisay, Silay and town of Murcia in Negros Occidental will have it on Sunday and Monday, Charina Magallanes-Tan, COVID-19 Incident Command Center spokesperson, said. Around 5,000 Bacolod residents and 5,000 symptomatic Negros Occidental residents and close contacts will be tested, she added. The city has 735 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 461 of which are active. It also has recorded 17 deaths, as of August 23. New Delhi: Markets closed in the green for the third straight session on Tuesday led by gains in financial stocks amidst firm global cues. The BSE index ended 44.80 points or 0.12 per cent higher at 38,843.88 while the NSE Nifty closed 5.80 points or 0.05 per cent higher at 11,472.25. Here are Stocks in focus on August 26, 2020 SBI Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday affirmed the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of State Bank of India (SBI) at 'Baa3'. 'Baa' rating indicates moderate credit risk. However, the global rating agency, in a statement, said it has downgraded SBI's Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA to 'ba2' from 'ba1' on account of concern on asset quality due to moratorium. TCS S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday said Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is likely to face slower growth in revenue and profitability over the next 12-18 months, given subdued global information technology (IT) spending. However, the Mumbai-based IT major's robust cash position and prudent financial policies will continue to support its financial position, it said. FDC Drug firm FDC Ltd on Tuesday said it has launched two variants of the COVID-19 drug Favipiravir under the brand names PiFLU and Favenza. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier approved the use of Favipiravir, an off patent, oral antiviral drug that has been shown to quicken clinical recovery in COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms, FDC said in a statement. Atul Auto The leading three-wheeler manufacturing company Atul Auto on Tuesday reported a consolidated loss of Rs 6.7 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. (Corrects typographical error in first paragraph) Aug 25 (Reuters) - J.Crew Group Inc said on Tuesday it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in early September, after a bankruptcy court accepted its restructuring plan. The plan, approved by a Virginia federal court, will equitize over $1.6 billion of secured debt, and provide for $400 million in asset-based loan as well as $400 million of fresh financial aid. The New York-based chain, known for preppy clothing at times worn by former first lady Michelle Obama, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and was soon joined by peers such as Neiman Marcus Group, J.C. Penney Co Inc, Brooks Brothers. The company was pressured by the virus outbreak to temporarily close its nearly 500 J. Crew, J. Crew Factory and Madewell stores, and also shelve its plans for an initial public offering of its Madewell business. In 2011, J. Crew was taken private by TPG and Leonard Green & Partners in a roughly $3 billion leveraged buyout. Years later in 2017, the retailer avoided bankruptcy in a deal with creditors that reduced total debt and pushed due dates on obligations. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) It seems Disney contractually cant release The New Mutants straight to streaming. Boone revealed in a July interview with Collider that a contract was put in place well before the pandemic that guarantees a theatrical release before the movie can be put out on streaming platforms. With most movies, you sign contracts that guarantee a theatrical release, so it needs to open to ever go digital in the first place, Boone said. We just, too, would like to see people to see it in the theater. But it needs to obviously be at the right time when its safe to go back. Want to experience the New Mutants without going to the theater? Maybe the movie theater in the midst of a pandemic isnt your idea of a good time. Thats understandable. Fortunately, for about the same price as youd spend to go to the movies, you can pick up the comics the movie is reportedly based on, The Demon Bear Saga. The story was one of the earliest in the comic series, featuring, well, a demon bear that was often represented as just claws or teeth or a combination of both on a black background. The story brought a psychological horror element to the New Mutants comic that made it stand out from other comics at the time. Amazon said it had received more than 3,000 requests for smart speaker user data from police earlier this year, according to a new article from Wired. Even more stunning, Amazon complied with the police's requests on more than 2,000 occasions, forking over recordings and data that give law enforcement an ear into someone's household. This number marks a 72% increase in these types of requests from the same period in 2016 - the first time Amazon disclosed the data. The number of requests are up 24% year over year. Douglas Orr, head of the criminal justice department at the University of North Georgia, told Wired that police look for this smart home data "as routinely as data from smartphones". Police can continue to collect data if one electronic device (like a phone) leads them to another (like a smart home speaker) simply by amending search warrants, he said. Google's Nest unit has also seen a similar spike in police demands for data from its smart speakers. The company's annual transparency report shows consistently rising numbers for police requests for data. Meanwhile, Amazon said that "any number of entities" can request the data, but that they prioritize it based on urgency. Lee Whitfield, a forensic analyst, said: Things like Homeland Security, they're going to take high priority. Other law enforcement requests will come in under that. And then things like divorce cases or civil cases, they have a lower ranking. Officials value the data on smart speakers because it "can offer a timeline of a persons activities, their location, if theyre alone, and can verify statements made during questioning." Orr said: Usually the alibi you get is, I was at home. Nobody can confirm that. So you ask, Do you have a speaker? He has looked at the types of data that police can get from smart speakers - like the Amazon Echo you may have at your house right now. Voice clips are "only the beginning," he said. Police can also ascertain time-stamped logs of user activity. Police are also relying on wearables and smart devides to verify claims people make during an investigation, Orr says. Wired offers this example: Heather Mahalik, a forensics instructor, recalls a Florida case in which a man killed his wife, then tried to impersonate her. The husband sent texts and Facebook messages from his wifes phone in an attempt to blur the timeline of her disappearance. While the womans phone activity continued, her Apple Watch showed a sudden drop in heart rate activity that the husband claimed was due to a dead battery. Activity on the mans phone synced perfectly with when he used the wifes phone to post to Facebook. Her phone showed no activity except for when the husband picked it up to post, with timestamps matching his activity to the use of the wifes phone. We were able to tell from his device that he would pick up the phone, take 18 steps, and it corresponded with the time he posted a Facebook post, Mahalik said. This connecting of data from multiple devices is now becoming "common practice", Whitfield said. I just don't see this going away. I think this is going to be more and more prolific as time goes on, he concluded. Hong Kong Researchers Report the First Confirmed COVID-19 Reinfection Case Researchers in Hong Kong have confirmed the first patient to be reinfected with COVID-19, suggesting that those who recover may only have short-lived immunity to the virus. A 33-year-old man in Hong Kong has just become the first confirmed patient reinfected with the coronavirus, according to researchers at the University of Hong Kong. The findings suggest that those who have been infected with the virus may be immune from reinfection but only for a short period of time. Experts say that this result is not surprising given the millions of people worldwide who have become infected with the coronavirus. Researchers said that the reinfected man did not show any symptoms of having become infected the second time, suggesting that even though the prior exposure did not prevent the reinfection, his immune system kept him from becoming severely impacted. "The second infection was completely asymptomatic his immune system prevented the disease from getting worse," said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University who was not involved with the work but reviewed the report at the New York Times' request. "It's kind of a textbook example of how immunity should work." The man had originally been infected with the virus back in March with mild symptoms. He was hospitalized on March 29, but his symptoms subsided and he was discharged on April 14, according to the study. The second infection occurred more than four months later, reportedly after the man returned to Hong Kong from Spain where cases continue to rise after a recent surge. The patient tested positive on Aug. 15 and was hospitalized but remains asymptomatic. The findings that previously infected patients can become reinfected as an asymptomatic case underlines the importance of social distancing, face coverings and other restrictions to keep the risk of spread at a minimum. Doctors have said that when a vaccine becomes available, even those that have been infected in the past, should be vaccinated. While an initial infection may keep you from getting sick again, it does not keep you from contracting the virus once more and spreading it to others. Doctors have reported several cases of presumed reinfection in the United States and elsewhere, but this Hong Kong case is the first to be confirmed with testing. Boris Johnson fired the top civil servant at the Department for Education today saying 'fresh official leadership' was needed after the A-Level and GCSE exam fiasco. Jonathan Slater has been effectively removed from his post and will leave on September 1, it was announced today, 24 hours after Ofqual chief executive Sally Collier resigned from her post in the wake of the grading U-turn. It means that of the people in the top positions overseeing the grading for exams that were not sat because of coronavirus, only Education Secretary Gavin Williamson remains in his post despite numerous calls for him to go. Boris Johnson has resisted pressure to get rid of his bumbling minister, with suggestions that the former chief whip, who worked on his leadership election campaign, 'knows where the bodies are buried'. In a three-paragraph statement posted online today, a Cabinet Office spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister has concluded that there is a need for fresh official leadership at the Department for Education. 'Jonathan Slater has therefore agreed that he will stand down on September 1, in advance of the end of his tenure in Spring 2021. 'Susan Acland-Hood, currently interim second permanent secretary, will take over as Acting Permanent Secretary. A permanent successor to replace Jonathan Slater will be appointed in the coming weeks.' Mr Slater is the latest senior civil servant to be ousted by the Government under Mr Johnson. Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill is also stepping down, as is Simon McDonald at the Foreign Office. And Philip Rutnam stepped down amid a bullying row with Priti Patel in February. Meanwhile Boris Johnson this afternoon blamed the exam chaos on a 'mutant algorithm' used to calculate grades, which was found to bias against over-achieving state pupils. Mr Johnson had previously claimed that the algorithm-based grades would be 'robust' and 'dependable'. Shadow education secretary Kate Green said: 'Under this Government civil servants have time and time again taken the fall for the incompetence and failures of Ministers. Jonathan Slater will step down on September 1, it was announced today, the day after Ofqual chief executive Sally Collier resigned from her post int he wake of the grading U-turn Gavin Williamson today denied that he had forced Sally Collier to quit as the head of exam regulator Ofqual Boris Johnson this afternoon blamed the exam chaos on a 'mutant algorithm' used to calculate grades, which was found to bias against over-achieving state pupils A timeline of exam failure March 18: Schools are closed and exams cancelled as the UK grinds to a halt under the coronavirus lockdown March 20: Ministers say Ofqual and exam boards will work out a system for judging grades amid fears from parents that their children could lose out. July 11: MPs on the Education Committee warn that the calculated grades system could unfairly punish disadvantaged and minority students because of the way it is calculated. August 4: Scottish Higher results are released, with around 100,000 grades - a quarter of the total - marked down under a plan put in place by Nicola Sturgeon's SNP administration August 11: The Scottish Education Minister John Swinney U-turns under pressure from Tories and Labour and says predicted grades will be used instead of the algorithm. August 11: Ministers in England decide that pupils will be able to appeal against their grades, in some cases using mock exam performance, just two days before the English results are released. August 13: Almost 40 per cent of A-Level results in England are downgraded by Ofqual's algorithm, sparking widespread fury and demands for a U-turn. August 15: Ministers say that it will fund appeals against the marks handed out, in a bid to quell to anger. August 15: Ofqual withdrawals its appeal criteria just hours after publishing it, pending a review. August 17: Mr Williamson announces that A-Levels and GCSEs due to be unveiled on Thursday will be calculated using predicted grades, amid calls for his resignation. August 19: Mr Williamson publicly backs Ofqual after previously refusing to do so. August 25: Ofqual chief regulator Sally Collier resigns August 26: Jonathan Slater is effectively fired by the Prime Minister Advertisement 'Parents will be looking on in dismay at a government in complete chaos just a matter of days before children will return to schools. 'Leadership requires a sense of responsibility and a willingness to be held accountable, qualities this Prime Minister and his ministers utterly lack.' Mr Williamson today insisted he did not force the boss of exam regulator Ms Collier to quit in the wake of the Government's A-level and GCSE results debacle. She announced her resignation yesterday and Mr Williamson has denied that he made her carry the can for the exam chaos. Meanwhile, the Education Secretary suggested he had never considered quitting his own role despite widespread calls for him to step down over his handling of the row. Ofqual was heavily criticised for its handling of the process for awarding grades after exams were cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis. The regulator used a controversial algorithm to calculate student grades but it was ditched after it emerged that 40 per cent of grades had been downgraded below teacher estimates. Mr Williamson had initially backed using the algorithm, describing the grading system as 'robust'. But student and parent anger forced the Government to change tack as grades were re-awarded based on teacher predictions. The Education Secretary initially blamed Ofqual for the fiasco but later insisted he had full confidence in the regulator and its leadership. Mr Williamson today insisted he had not asked Ms Collier to quit as he said the results chaos was due to the 'unprecedented' situation caused by coronavirus. 'No, this was a decision that Sally made, an incredibly dedicated and committed public servant, and in discussions with the Ofqual board, which, as you're aware, is a non-ministerial government department,' he told BBC's Breakfast. 'That was a decision between them.' Mr Williamson remains under pressure to quit over his handling of the exams debacle and a Government U-turn on the wearing of face masks in schools in England has also prompted further scrutiny of his position. But the Education Secretary today indicated he had not considered resigning. He told Times Radio: 'My focus has been working with Ofqual to make sure we get those examination results out and making sure that we have everything in place to be able to welcome young people back into school over the next few weeks. 'That's where the focus is, that's what I think people expect us to be doing, that's what people will expect us to be delivering.' The Times reported today that Ms Collier could make a return to the civil service in a role at the Cabinet Office. Ms Collier announced her resignation fro Ofqual yesterday amid reports she could return to a civil service role at the Cabinet Office She was previously in charge of government procurement as chief executive of the Crown Commercial Service. In a statement released yesterday afternoon Ofqual said Ms Collier, who had not worked in education previously, 'has decided that the next stage of the awarding process would be better overseen by new leadership'. 'As a result, the Ofqual Board has asked Dame Glenys Stacey to assume a temporary leadership role as acting Chief Regulator until December 2020, having previously served as Chief Regulator between 2011 and 2016,' it added. 'She will be supported by a new committee of the Ofqual board, which will include one or more of the current Ofsted board members. This new committee will be chaired by Amanda Spielman and will oversee the work of Ofqual to the end of the year.' Did Gavin's 'sinister' photo-call include a warning to his enemies? Tory MPs believe Gavin Williamson was sending a warning to his enemies when he posed for photographs in his office with a whip on his desk after announcing the A-level results U-turn. Conservative backbenchers believe the whip was 'not there by chance' when Mr Williamson took part in the photocall. They believe it was likely a reminder to MPs and Boris Johnson that as a former chief whip he knows 'where the bodies are buried' and that it would be unwise to criticise or sack him. Mr Williamson served as chief whip for Theresa May's government from July 2016 to November 2017 when he was tasked with enforcing party discipline and as a result he is likely to know the details of colleagues' past indiscretions. Gavin Williamson posed for photographs in his Department for Education office yesterday after announcing the A-level results U-turn The presence of the whip in the photographs - as well as a small red book placed on top of it - sparked widespread comment on social media. Chief whips are said to keep small black books, similar to the red one pictured, which they fill with information to be used to put pressure on MPs who may be thinking about rebelling. Tory MPs believe the inclusion of the whip - and the red book - was 'not done by accident'. One Conservative backbencher told MailOnline: 'Why was there a picture with a whip on the desk? That was not done by accident. 'Is that a reminder to Boris that he knows where the bodies are buried? I don't know, but it is not going to have been an accident.' Advertisement Furious Tory MPs label the Government an 'utter s***show' and demand it 'get a grip' after its eleventh hour U-turn on face masks in schools as Boris Johnson issues a fresh plea to parents to send their children back to classrooms next week Boris Johnson is facing an increasingly bitter backlash from Tory MPs over the Government's decision to perform a humiliating U-turn over pupils wearing face masks in schools. Conservative backbenchers have accused ministers of presiding over an 'utter s***show' as they warned Downing Street it needs to 'get a grip' of its scientific advisers because the public is 'sick and tired' of changing advice. Tory MPs claimed the Government increasingly seemed to be making up policy 'on the hoof' and that such an approach could not be allowed to continue. The growing discontent came as Mr Johnson defended the U-turn and issued a fresh plea to parents to send their children back to classrooms in England next week. He insisted 'schools are safe' and warned that pupils had 'lost too much time' in the classroom already. The Government last night announced that face masks will be compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns. A decision on whether to wear masks in non-lockdown area schools will be left to individual head teachers. The change came after days of ministers and Government experts insisting there were no plans to change the guidance in England which had said masks were not necessary if all other hygiene measures were adhered to. But Mr Johnson's hand appeared to be forced after Nicola Sturgeon said secondary school pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a mask when travelling between lessons. Speaking during a visit to a school in Leicestershire today, Mr Johnson said pupils and staff wearing masks in communal spaces in hotspot areas 'does make sense'. He also appeared to concede that the UK Government had shifted because of action taken in Scotland where schools have been back for two weeks. Teachers have warned the masks decision could lead to 'mayhem' amid fears of increased bullying, of pupils wearing dirty reused masks and of it being harder to challenge bad behaviour in corridors because it may be unclear which children are responsible. Teachers also said they had been left 'dizzy from all of the U-turns that have happened this summer'. Meanwhile, a school leaders' union immediately challenged the Government's approach as it said it will be telling all of its members, regardless of whether they are subject to local lockdown, to ask pupils and staff to wear face coverings in communal spaces. The eleventh-hour change in tack followed new advice from the World Health Organisation at the weekend. Boris Johnson, pictured at a school in Leicestershire today, has defended the Government's U-turn on pupils wearing face masks amid a growing Tory MP backlash Teachers have told Mr Johnson that they have been left 'dizzy from all of the U-turns that have happened this summer' What are the rules on face masks in UK schools? What is the situation in England? Pupils and staff at secondary schools in local lockdown areas will have to wear face masks in communal areas. This does not include classrooms and does not apply to primary-aged pupils. In all other parts of the country, it will be up to headteachers to decide whether masks are required. Which parts of the country will be subject to the mandatory face masks rule? Any part of the country which is defined as an area of national Government intervention. As of Tuesday evening, local restrictions were in place in areas of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Leicester, Luton and Northampton. What are the rules in Scotland? The Scottish government announced yesterday that face coverings should be worn by staff and pupils when they move around secondary schools from August 31. The rules will also apply on school transport for primary school pupils aged five and above. What about Wales and Northern Ireland? Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said yesterday a decision on schoolchildren wearing face coverings will likely be made today, but current guidance says masks are not being recommended. In Northern Ireland, post-primary pupils will be asked to wear face coverings in corridors and other communal areas, Stormont's education minister Peter Weir said. Advertisement The updated guidance for schools states that in local lockdown areas face coverings should be worn by staff and students when they are moving between lessons and in communal areas from September 1. Should new local restrictions be imposed, schools will need to communicate 'quickly and clearly' the new arrangements to staff, parents and pupils. It states schools and colleges in non-lockdown areas will have the discretion to require face coverings in circumstances where social distancing cannot be safely managed - such as when the layout of a school makes it difficult to do so. However, the wearing of masks will not be required in the classroom. The decision to change the advice came after the WHO recommended children over 12 wear coverings where social distancing is difficult. It said rules should be based on whether there is widespread transmission of coronavirus in the community. Mr Johnson defended the U-turn as he said wearing face covering in schools in 'hotspot' areas 'probably does make sense'. 'On the issue of face coverings what you have got is the WHO saying that face coverings should be used by over-12s and what we are saying is if you are in a school where there is a hotspot then it probably does make sense in confined areas outside the classroom to use a face covering in the covering and elsewhere,' he said. 'As they discovered in Scotland where they had the pupils in for at least a couple of weeks now, what they found is that when it was raining outside, people were coming in and they were congregating in the corridors and the move to face coverings they thought was sensible. 'What we are doing, following what the WHO have said, is we are saying if you are in a hotspot area where there is a higher risk of transmission then face coverings in those types of areas outside the classroom. 'But not inside the classroom because that is clearly nonsensical, you can't teach with face coverings and you can't expect people to learn with face coverings. 'The most important thing is just wash your hands.' Mr Johnson today insisted that 'school is safe' and pupils 'must get back into' the classroom. 'They have lost too much time out of school and I hope they will (return), and I'm sure they will,' he said. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson had earlier echoed a similar defence of the U-turn as he said ministers have 'constantly said that this is something that stays under review at all stages'. Asked about public confidence in the Government following the latest change in policy, the Education Secretary told LBC: 'At every stage, what we're focused on is making sure all children return back to school in September. 'We don't want to be seeing children... wearing masks in schools up and down the country, but in certain areas where it's necessary, where we're in local lockdown. 'This has been typical at every stage of this crisis that we have taken a cautious and careful approach welcoming children back to schools. I think that's what people expect and that's what we're doing in this instance.' Tory MPs furious after latest Government U-turn Tory MPs have reacted with fury to the Government's latest coronavirus crisis U-turn as they accused ministers of presiding over an 'utter s***show'. Conservative backbenchers have blasted the Government for failing to take the decision on face masks in schools earlier as they warned confidence in Tory Party is being damaged. One senior Tory MP told The Times: 'It's an utter, utter s***show. 'It's beyond comprehension why this wasn't done earlier. It's mess after mess, U-turn after U-turn. Parents and teachers will lose confidence in the party.' Conservative MP Huw Merriman criticised the decision and said requiring pupils to wear masks is a 'slippery slope'. He said politicians must stop 'hiding behind the science' and added: 'My concern is that we just keep making this up as we go along. So, the WHO is not explicit about schools at all, it just states that they should reflect the national picture. 'Why is it that we're changing it right now when we haven't been talking about this before?' Tory MP Marcus Fysh described the decision to require pupils to wear masks as 'utterly wrong'. Advertisement The face masks U-turn comes a matter of days after Mr Williamson faced calls to resign over his handling of the A-level and GCSE results debacle. It is the latest in a long line of Government missteps during the coronavirus pandemic, with Tory MPs increasingly angry at ministers. One senior Tory MP told The Times: 'It's an utter, utter s***show. 'It's beyond comprehension why this wasn't done earlier. It's mess after mess, U-turn after U-turn. Parents and teachers will lose confidence in the party.' Conservative MP Huw Merriman criticised the decision and said requiring pupils to wear masks is a 'slippery slope' as he urged ministers to 'get a grip of our scientists'. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I don't think it's the right decision because I think we need to send the message out that our schools are safe with the measures that they've been taking and will be taking. 'I just absolutely fundamentally feel that young people just need to be able to get on with their education free of any encumbrance. 'Anything that sends a message out that it's not safe in the corridor means that it can't be safe in the classroom and we're on a slippery slope.' Mr Merriman said politicians must stop 'hiding behind the science' and added: 'My concern is that we just keep making this up as we go along. So, the WHO (World Health Organisation) is not explicit about schools at all, it just states that they should reflect the national picture. 'Why is it that we're changing it right now when we haven't been talking about this before?' He added: 'I think the Government needs to get a grip of our scientists. I'm sick and tired, and I think many people in the public are sick and tired, the science just changes.' Charles Walker, vice chair of the Conservative 1922 Committee of backbenchers, told Times Radio he was 'disappointed' by the decision as he accused ministers of making up policy 'on the hoof'. 'What we are in now are the biggest of policy issues, restricting people's liberties and freedoms with very little science attached to it... let's debate these issues on the floor of the House of Commons,' he said. 'We cannot continue to have government by edict, this has been going on for six months.' Mr Walker added: 'The Government just cannot make this stuff up now on the hoof... saying one thing on Monday, changing its mind on Tuesday, something different presented on Wednesday. It's just not acceptable.' Tory MP Marcus Fysh described the decision to require pupils to wear masks as 'utterly wrong'. He said: 'The country should be getting back to normal, not pandering to this scientifically illiterate guff.' Teachers have expressed concerns about how the new rules will work and what they will mean for pupils. Katherine Birbalsingh, head of the Michaela Community School in Wembley, north-west London, tweeted that 'masks mean mayhem'. '[Pupils] will be pulling at each other's masks, repositioning their own masks constantly, bullying each other over choice of mask etc,' she predicted. 'Add that to rise in chatter because teachers will not be able to hold kids to account for talking. 'Kids will wear dirty reused masks. They will share masks. They will spit in each other masks and lick them for a joke.' ALAMEDA, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN) today announced that its management team is scheduled to present at the Wells Fargo 2020 Virtual Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Event: Wells Fargo 2020 Virtual Healthcare Conference Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Time: 3:20pm EDT / 12:20pm PDT A webcast of the presentation will be available by visiting the investors' section of the company's website at www.penumbrainc.com. The webcast will be available on the company's website for at least two weeks following the event. About Penumbra Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures and markets novel products and has a broad portfolio that addresses challenging medical conditions in markets with significant unmet need. Penumbra sells its products to hospitals and healthcare providers primarily through its direct sales organization in the United States, most of Europe, Canada and Australia, and through distributors in select international markets. The Penumbra logo is a trademark of Penumbra, Inc. For more information, visit www.penumbrainc.com. Investor Relations Penumbra, Inc. 510-995-2461 [email protected] SOURCE Penumbra, Inc. Related Links http://www.penumbrainc.com Victoria Beckham has revealed her Dover Street store is offering 'virtual and in person styling appointments' as they adhere to social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Taking to Instagram, the designer, 46, shared a selection of snaps of the exterior and interior of the store's Dover Street branch in Mayfair, London, with her 28.5 million followers. Alongside the photos, the captions read: 'We're now offering virtual and in person styling appointments at our Dover Street store. Your appointment will be a private one-to-one with a member of our team, in person or via your preferred video service.' Victoria Beckham, 46, shared a selection of snaps of the exterior (pictured) and interior of the store's Dover Street branch with her 28.5 million followers The designer told how the Dover Street branch is offering virtual and in person styling appointments (pictured) Shared a final snap of the latest collection and penned: 'Discover the details of the #VBPAW20 collection, wherever you are in the world' A final photo showed a rail of the latest collection from the brand and read: 'Discover the details of the #VBPAW20 collection, wherever you are in the world.' Victoria then encouraged fashion fans to use the 'swipe up' link to book an appointment. It comes after it was revealed the former Posh Spice is set to axe 20 staff at her loss-making fashion label to 'future-proof' it after the coronavirus pandemic - just months after reversing plans to furlough employees. Victoria's company, with its flagship Mayfair store which sells 2,000 dresses and 1,000 handbags, will also halve the number of annual fashion collections after being hard-hit by the Covid-19 crisis. The blow for the staff come just two months after she came under fire for deciding to furlough 30 members of staff. Victoria Beckham attends the Portrait Gala 2019 at the National Portrait Gallery on March 12, 2019 in London A source told The Sun the new redundancies were a bid to save the label. They said: 'Victoria is devastated. These are really tough times and no one is exempt from the pandemic's clutches. 'This business is her pride and joy. It has never been about money. She hasn't even paid herself for the past three years. She is doing all she can simply to keep as many people in work as possible.' Victoria and her ex-footballer husband David, 45, are estimated to be worth 355million. A spokesman for Victoria said: 'We have built a new strategic vision to streamline and future-proof the brand and, sadly, have to make redundancies to deliver this.' The fashion line, which she launched in 2008, made losses of 12.3million in 2018. In June it was reported that the designer was loaned a 6.4 million lifeline to save the fashion empire. The company has allegedly racked up 42 million worth of losses over the past four years. Keeping it in the family! It has been reported that Victoria Beckham is 'set to design Nicola Peltz's wedding dress' when she marries her eldest son Brooklyn, 21 It has recently been reported that Victoria is 'set to design Nicola Peltz's wedding dress' when she marries her eldest son Brooklyn, 21. Victoria is said to be working on creating a couture gown, and her future daughter-in-law, 25, is reportedly excited to 'keep it in the family.' According to The Sun, American beauty Nicola has decided to let Victoria design the dress, despite being able to choose from any designer she would like. Brooklyn recently teased fans by calling Nicola his 'wife' on social media but they haven't walked down the aisle just yet. Victoria Beckham's representative declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Brooklyn took to Instagram in July to announce his engagement to Nicola following reports he had popped the question to his 'soulmate' after just eight months of dating. "Due to the pandemic, we are all re-discovering how important our connection to the outdoors is," said Kris Kiser, Mutt Mulligan's owner and the president of The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which sponsors the TurfMutt Foundation. TurfMutt has advocated the importance of managed landscapes and other green space as critical to human health and happiness for over a decade. It also produces a national annual dog adoption event, Lucky's Mutt Madness, held in conjunction with the industry's annual international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition and in partnership with Kentucky Humane Society. Because who appreciates your yard best? A dog. "Our connection to living things like the outdoors and our pets are vital to maintaining our health and well-being," said Kiser. "Your yard is the safest space for you right now to get outside, and your dog may be your safest companion, too. National Dog Day is a great opportunity to celebrate these connections." The TurfMutt Foundation encourages everyone to adopt their next best friend. National Dog Day has been celebrated since 2004. About TurfMutt TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute's (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. Through classroom materials developed with Scholastic, TurfMutt teaches students and teachers how to "save the planet, one yard at a time." TurfMutt is an official USGBC Education Partner and part of their global Learning Lab. TurfMutt is an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, The Center For Green Schools, The Outdoors Alliance For Kids, The National Energy Education Development (Need) Project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis kids imagination award for best interstitial series. TurfMutt's personal, home habitat is featured in the 2017-2019 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at www.turfmutt.com. MEDIA CONTACTS Ami Neiberger-Miller, Four Leaf PR on Behalf of OPEI, 703-887-4877, [email protected] Debbi Mayster, Four Leaf PR On Behalf of OPEI, 240-988-6243, [email protected] SOURCE TurfMutt Foundation OTTAWAThe federal government is planning to transfer $2 billion more to the provinces to pump more money into the safe reopening of schools, the Star has learned. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the 13 premiers and territorial leaders on a conference call Tuesday, their first since July 29, and outlined his plan, which comes after schools have reopened in some parts of the country, or are about to next week, multiple sources say. The funding would come on top of the $19-billion package that Ottawa offered provinces to relaunch their economies in July, two provincial sources said, speaking for background only. The money is to roll out in two stages, $1 billion now and the next billion in January. Ottawa advised provinces just a couple of days ago that the money would be coming. A provincial source, also speaking on condition they not be identified, told the Star that the amount to be transferred is $2 billion, and while people will take the money, it is once again an announcement that the prime minister is making without any advance consultation or discussion with the provinces. That sentiment was echoed by a different provincial representative. A senior federal source confirmed Trudeau will make the announcement in the GTA on Wednesday, but would not specify the amount. It is to be allocated to provinces based on their share of the population of school-aged children, aged 4 to 18. On the federal-provincial conference call, Trudeau told the provincial and territorial leaders that his government recognized elementary and secondary schools are an area of provincial jurisdiction and that his government is flexible about how the money is spent. The federal source confirmed that and underlined that the Liberal government is being fully respectful of provincial responsibilities in how they will decide to spend the money. He said the prime minister is aware safety concerns are on a lot of parents minds, and premiers are working as hard as they can to reopen schools as safely as possible. This will allow them to take additional measures or whatever new measures they wish to take, the federal source said. Depending on how much or how little is provided per province, it could allow for more cleaning in schools or other kinds of physical accommodation for social distancing between teachers and students. Many provinces and school boards are well along in their reopening plans. However, at least one provincial representative said a number of premiers are annoyed at Trudeau, who they see as once again putting on a show. The source said Trudeau wants to be able to roll out the announcement Wednesday and tell Canadians he had a good conversation with the premiers about it and claim they are all working together. Two provinces pointed out that many provincial plans are well underway and the new funding is not likely to make a huge difference at this point, once the federal money is parcelled out. An Ontario government source welcomed the funds but expressed frustration that the money didnt come sooner. Over a dozen calls with the PM and not once was this funding brought up, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly and asked not to be named. We are days away from back to school, where was this money months ago? We are obviously not going to turn down money, but this is pretty late in the game. Parents and teachers across the country have complained of inadequate preparations. Last week, after Trudeau shuffled his cabinet in the wake of his finance ministers resignation, the prime minister underlined that he had heard the worries of families, especially as some provinces report new COVID-19 cases after weeks of declining numbers. For parents especially, this is a big worry in terms of the school year. I hear that. As a dad Im concerned about this, too, he said. Provincial leaders have a responsibility to make sure that our kids are safe in their classrooms. As federal government well do whatever we can to help, including through our $19 billion safe restart agreement. Asked if he was sending his own children back to school, Trudeau avoided a direct answer. He said like all parents he was looking at the schools plans as September rolls around. Were looking at class sizes. Were looking at how the kids are feeling about wearing masks, said Trudeau. I know all my friends as parents are asking these same questions and were looking for answers and of course as a federal government we will be there to support the provinces as they make important decisions to ensure that all our kids have the opportunity to be safe as the school year starts up. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller told reporters Tuesday the federal government intended to step up to help First Nations schools reopen, even though it recognized there is a web of government jurisdictions involved. Initially, Ottawa had proposed sending $14 billion to the provinces, an amount that was increased to $19 billion in July. It was intended to cover a range of needs, from schools, health care, municipalities, child care and aid to vulnerable populations like the elderly in long-term care. A federal source told the Star that money is to be spent over the next six to eight months, but the Trudeau government foresees having to spend much more to cushion the economy from the pandemic. In Ontario, school boards continue to adjust their plans for how to accommodate most of the provinces two million students who were set to return to school full-time, with mandatory masks for staff and students in Grades 4 through 12. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said Tuesday that province does not intend to change its back-to-school plan, despite criticism from doctors and scientists who have called it inadequate. In Montreal, Dube said the plan was conceived in partnership with experts in the health and education fields and it will not be modified in response to concerns raised in an open letter signed by some 150 doctors and scientists. In the open letter sent Monday to Dube as well as to Premier Francois Legault and to other officials, the signatories said the governments health directives for students arent sufficient, school ventilation systems need to be updated, and families must be offered remote learning options. The signatories are calling on the government to encourage social distancing within classrooms, require mask-wearing inside classrooms, and to oblige schools to screen children for symptoms of COVID-19. Ontario Liberal Party leader Steven Del Duca welcomed the infusion of federal funds. He posted a statement on Twitter Tuesday night, claiming Ontarios Ford government is only willing to spend 78 cents per kid so I welcome any federal leadership on schools reopening. He tweeted at Doug Ford, Premier its time to stop wasting $ on useless ads + step up with a responsible plan to get our kids back to school safely. Correction Aug. 27, 2020: This story was edited to correct the spelling of Marc Millers given name and to correct his characterization of federal assistance to First Nations schools. With files from Kristin Rushowy and the Canadian Press The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions and restrictions on two dozen Chinese companies and associated officials for taking part in building artificial islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea. The 24 state-owned firms include subsidiaries of construction giant China Communications Construction Co., telecommunications firms and a unit of the China Shipbuilding Group. The move was the latest step in Washingtons efforts to pressure Beijing over its military buildup in areas of the South China Sea where sovereignty is contested by several countries. The US Commerce Department said the companies enabled China to construct and militarize disputed outposts in the South China Sea." Since 2013, the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The 24 companies were placed on the Commerce Departments Entity List" which allows it to block exports of US goods and materials to them. In addition, Pompeo said individuals associated with the South China Sea operations will be unable to obtain visas to visit the United States. The names of the individuals were not made available. Two weeks ago, the Austin City Council voted to cut and reallocate $150 million, or about one-third, of the Austin Police Departments budget. It didnt defund in the literal sense of the word withhold all money or abolish the department so that Austin would be overtaken by anarchy. The council and Mayor Steve Adler made the difficult budgeting decisions of how to make best use of limited resources and the cuts arent as extreme as it sounds, a point we will return to. Nevertheless, this local decision raised the ire of Gov. Greg Abbott, whose ire is often raised when mayors and county commissioners act in ways that reflect local independence rather than the priorities of the governor and other leading statewide Republicans. In response to the budgeting decision, Abbott issued a fearmongering statement: Some cities are more focused on political agendas than public safety. Austins decision puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk, and paves the way for lawlessness. Public safety is job one, and Austin has abandoned that duty. The legislature will take this issue up next session, but in the meantime, the Texas Department of Public Safety will stand in the gap to protect our capital city. George Floyds death at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer set off historic nationwide protests amplifying the demand for police reform and for law enforcement to re-evaluate treatment of Black and brown people. Defund the police has become the imprecise mantra of these demands for reform and racial justice and its a bit rhetoric we dont think serves the reform movement well. Many people interpret defund to mean the abolition of police departments. The actual discussion is about how cities can take funds traditionally given to police departments and reallocate to other programs and departments that might better serve people in crisis or marginalized communities, allowing police to better concentrate on public safety. Austin has become the first major Texas city to cut its police budget, culminating a yearlong process by city leaders and the community. About $20 million was trimmed immediately, but $80 million will be transferred from the police department for civilian duties such as forensic sciences and victims and support services. Another $50 million shifted away from police would create a Reimagine Safety Fund toward alternative forms of public safety. Austins new budget reinvests in domestic violence shelters, hires more paramedics and mental health first responders; and invests in workforce development and housing. In response, Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other state leaders have announced they will push for legislation that would freeze property tax revenues for cities that cut police budgets. Its not clear how this would work. But we wonder, just how much micromanaging of municipal budgets do Abbott and Patrick want to do? Do they decide what percentage of a budget should be devoted to police departments? Is it ever appropriate to cut? Does shifting funding equate to a cut? Why should a decision in the city of Austin lead to blowback in San Antonio or another city? In the last Legislature, Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, which reduced the autonomy of local governments by preventing them from raising property tax revenue by more than 3.5 percent unless they brought it before voters. This does have the potential to crimp public safety spending, right? Before Floyds death, cities were looking for creative ways to streamline their budgets and reallocate funding in a way that enhances public safety and social services. If they didnt before, this search for better governing practices includes looking at how to better train police so these tragic confrontations can be avoided. City and county leaders deserve the freedom to be innovative and experiment with programs to improve services and address community issues. Last we checked, there is not much moral or political incentive for mayors and city council members to jeopardize public safety or make citizens vulnerable to crime. Besides, recourse already exists. If citizens feel unsafe and dont like these policies, they can turn to the ballot box and vote out incumbents. They dont need Abbott, Patrick and company to preemptively decide for them. A 7-year-old girl in Idaho who has been battling cancer for three years has turned her 1,000th day of chemotherapy into a celebration involving strangers across the country. Ahead of the date, people from across the United States are mailing Zoe Ray cards to wish her well. "They say they're thinking of me and they share stories of encouragement," Zoe, who is entering second grade, told "Good Morning America." "It makes me really excited and happy and it gets me distracted opening the cards all day." PHOTO: Zoe Ray, 7, is receiving cards from around the country to mark her 1,000th day of chemotherapy. (Courtesy Chrissy Ray) Zoe, of Eagle, Idaho, was just 5 years old when she fell and hit her head while playing at park. While checking her for injuries after that fall, doctors discovered a tumor roughly the size of a pingpong ball in Zoe's head, according to her mom, Chrissy Ray. Zoe was diagnosed with optic nerve glioma, a rare and slow-growing brain tumor that occurs near the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. PHOTO: Zoe Ray, 7, of Idaho, was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. (Courtesy Chrissy Ray) The tumor's location makes it impossible to remove with surgery, so Zoe, who is already experiencing some vision loss, began chemotherapy in late 2017 to try to shrink the tumor, according to her doctor, Eugenia Chang, a pediatric hematology-oncology specialist at St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise. MORE: How 3 women trusted their instincts and discovered they had cancer The 7-year-old has undergone three different types of chemotherapy treatments over the past three years, each with their own side effects and complications. "Each of the chemotherapies is different, but all of them will decrease her energy, decrease her appetite and that in turn will cause some intermittent headaches and just kind of feeling blah or under the weather," said Chang. "It's like having a low-grade flu all of the time." Zoe will likely have to continue chemotherapy throughout her childhood, according to Chang. The treatments also weaken Zoe's immune system, so she and her family have been extremely cautious about following stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues To reframe Zoe's 1,000th day of chemotherapy from a hardship to a milestone to be celebrated, her family decided to ask their neighbors, family and friends to mail Zoe cards to cheer her up. Their plea went viral on Facebook and Zoe has received nearly 500 cards from more than two dozen states, leading Zoe to set a new goal ahead of her 1,000th day of treatment on Nov. 3. "I want to get cards from all 50 states and I want to get 1,000 cards by my 1,000th day of chemotherapy," she said. Zoe's mom has noticed a marked improvement in Zoe since the cards started arriving in the mail. "She says when she's distracted by reading the cards her head doesn't hurt and her stomach doesn't hurt," said Ray. "She'll stand by the door waiting for the mail and just shake with excitement." PHOTO: Zoe Ray, 7, is receiving cards from around the country to mark her 1,000th day of chemotherapy. (Courtesy Chrissy Ray) Chang said she too has noticed a difference in Zoe since the well-wishes started arriving. "I don't think people realize how much of a difference they can make in other people's lives," she said. "People think of cancer as something that either kills you or you treat it and it's done and sometimes it's harder to have these kinds that are there and need to be treated on and off for years." PHOTO: Zoe Ray, 7, is receiving cards from around the country to mark her 1,000th day of chemotherapy. (Courtesy Chrissy Ray) "These are the kinds of things that make all the difference for kids and it is amazing what her family has done to turn this from something that feels like it's just another, never-ending treatment that she's going to need to do for many more years to something that is an accomplishment," Chang added. "She got through this. She's a real fighter. She knows how to make something of her life even though there are obstacles in her way." 7-year-old with cancer hopes to get cards from every state to mark her 1,000th day of chemotherapy originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:34:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- African mobile phone shipments declined by 6.0 percent quarter on quarter in the second quarter but Chinese smartphone brands still continued to lead the smartphone market, a new study released on Wednesday shows. The study by International Data Corporation (IDC), a technology research and consulting services firm, says the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smartphone shipments has been felt differently across the region. The study shows that Africa's smartphone market remained flat in the second quarter experiencing just 0.1 percent growth, while the region's feature phone shipments declined 10.6 percent. IDC said various lockdowns implemented during the period led to the growth of the online distribution channel, while enforced closures caused the decline of physical retail in the region. "Despite a striking increase in online sales, the channel still only accounted for 3.2 percent of the total mobile phones shipped across Africa in quarter 2, 2020," said Ramazan Yavuz, a senior research manager at IDC. The study says China's Transsion brands (Tecno, Itel, and Infinix) continued to lead the smartphone market during the period with a unit share of 45.2 percent. IDC said Samsung and Huawei followed with respective unit shares of 19.0 percent and 8.8 percent. According to IDC, the availability of such devices helped brands to cope with the weak demand and price consciousness that flourished during the pandemic. IDC expects with the reopening of markets, the retail channel is expected to recover, although not to the levels it enjoyed before the pandemic. Enditem President of IMANI Ghana Franklin Cudjoe has backed former President Mahama's promise to legalise the operation of Okada in Ghana. Okada must be legalised to make it safe. This touches a lot of lives, he wrote on Facebook. It comes barely a day after his Vice President Kofi Bentil declared support for former President John Mahamas call for mainstreaming of Okada operations in the country. Okada business is a major source of honest employment for many people. A major service provider of choice in traffic locked Urban areas and underserved rural areas and elsewhere. If you are not prepared to legalize and properly regulate this important transport and economically viable sub-sector, then you are not prepared to run a nation like Ghana. Yes it is hard work but it must be done!!! Get serious and do the real work, Mr Bentil wrote on Facebook. At a special meeting on Monday, roughly 28% of the National Book Critics Circle's membership voted on whether the organization's v-p of grants, Carlin Romano, would remain on its board of directors. The verdict: Romano will see out the remainder of his term, which ends in 2022. In order for Romano to have been removed from the board, a two-thirds majority of votesin this case, cast by the 115 members who attended the meeting and the 54 who voted by proxywould need to have been attained. The final count found 104 votes for removal, or 62%, with 55 votes, or 33%, against removal, in addition to 10 abstentions. In an email informing the membership of the results of the meeting, the NBCC called proxy voting "a major factor in the outcome," noting that the "meeting votes went 72% for removal, 19% against, with 9% abstaining," while "proxy votes went 39% for removal, 61% against." Multiple sources have confirmed to PW that the deadline for proxy voting was extended, at the last minute, from 6:30 p.m. ET on Monday to 9:00 p.m. "Many members spoke passionately on both sides, raising a wide variety of issues," the NBCC wrote in the email announcing the results. "The two membership meetings held this past week, both with record attendance, indicate that a new era of member involvement is here. The board is eager to return to its core mission in a new spirit of tolerance, civility, and member participation." In a statement to PW following the release of the voting results, Romano said he is "grateful to the authentic NBCC critics who understood that you dont cancel a fellow critic because you disagree with him. But," he continued, "we plainly have a big problem in the NBCC when so many of our current 'book people' members cant listen to someone who disagrees with them without thinking: 'Enemy, villain, destroy!' Theres a lot of internal work to do to restore the National Book Critics Circle to being worthy of the third word in its name, and to stop it from being an instrument of one-sided ideological censorship." A Divisive Meeting While the high number of votes against Romano indicates that the internal tumult at the NBCC is far from over, the special membership meeting still marks the end of an extraordinary period in the organization's 46-year history one that fits in the recent spate of public reckonings over diversity at literary organizations such as the Romance Writers of America. Following the leaking of an internal email from Romano to fellow board members in June, multiple waves of board members resigned for a number of often-conflicting reasons, leading to a reset of the board in July and the election of a new president, PW fiction reviews editor David Varno, in August. Romano's email, sent in response to the drafting of a diversity statement by the board, prompted multiple former and current board members, in addition to a number of NBCC members, to decry some of its contents as racist. Romano has adamantly denied those charges, in part by noting his support for the Black Lives Matter movement; in his statement to PW this morning, he challenged the "scores of NBCCers who voted against me" to read his book America the Philosophical to "learn about real diversity." Members of the press, on advice from NBCC's lawyers, were barred from attending the membership meeting, and members were forbidden from speaking to the press about it. Still, some members who attended the meeting spoke to PW on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. At the meeting, each member who wished to speak for or against Romano was given five minutes to speak, and Romano was given three minutes to respond to each member. The members who spoke with PW say those exchanges were often combative. "He said in the meeting that someone was arguing like a 'snowflake,' and he threatened to sue the rank-and-file members," one source said of Romano. (Romano previously pledged to sue members of the NBCC board if they, rather than the NBCC membership, removed him from the board, which would be in violation of NBCC bylaws.) Another confirmed this account, alleging that, while Romano said it was "unlikely" that he would sue everyone who attended the meeting, he noted that all votes would be "revealed in discovery" if he was removed and he decided to sue. Varno, speaking to PW in his capacity as NBCC president, said he could not comment on what actually happened at the meeting, adding that at this point, he is shifting his focus to helping with the "healing process" for "a divided membership." He did, however, note that the proxy vote deadline was extended at the discretion of the moderators because "the meeting ran a long time, and there were concerns about getting everyone's vote because there were people who couldn't stay for the entire meeting and they were told they could send their vote by proxy." He explained that the extension of the proxy vote did not sway the results, because Romano submitted 25 of those proxy votes to the board himself just before the meeting was scheduled to begin. Those votes, Varno said, represented the vast majority of the proxy votes in Romano's favor. Varno added that he felt the outcome of the meeting was affected by Romano's efforts to sway fellow members. "Before the meeting, Carlin threatened people with litigation and made people feel afraid to vote for removal and afraid to state why he should be removed," he said. "You have to present cause, and in doing so, you present accusations. He made people feel afraid of doing that with threat of litigation...because all of that becomes evidence in court. Meanwhile, he freely lobbied on his behalf and emailed in bulk many members of the organization to state his case." Those emails, sources confirm, include a mass email to an unconfirmed number of NBCC members on Monday morning that some members thought was an official NBCC board missive. It wasn't. "Intimidation," Varno added, "was a decisive factor in this outcome." In response to Varno's comments, Romano denied that he threatened to sue rank-and-file members, adding that he believes Varno's comments "perfectly reflect what I've been fighting against: the idea that if you defend yourself against group denunciations, if you exercise free speech in making your case, you are intimidating and 'harming' those who denounce you. I apologize only for not going meekly to my slaughter." Following the release of the results, multiple former board members of the NBCC took to Twitter to suggest the formation of new organizations for book critics, suggesting that the problems at the NBCC are far from over. "I think perhaps a new organization for book critics is in order," tweeted Bethanne Patrick. Carolyn Kellogg went further in a tweet of her own: If you are a book critic and want to join a new organization that talks about books and criticismno shape yet, just a sparkDM me your email." An Ongoing Crisis In an email to NBCC membership on Thursday, Varno spoke to the "sharp, perhaps irreparable division between those who are persuaded that this is a free speech issue and those who see it as a matter of toxic, disruptive behavior" at the organization. In so doing, he made clear that, from his view, issues at the NBCC are far from over. Varno pledged in the email to work on a code of conduct for members of the NBCC board of directors that "will apply to board meetings, internal communications, and communications with regular members. If these new rules are violated," he continued, "there will be consequences that will throttle the director's ability to communicate with the board and the members. I will do everything I can to prevent directors from harassing regular members or making threats to them." He added: "These rules are not designed to silence opposing views. Personally, I welcome opposing views and hearty debates, and I have not found any of my fellow directors to feel otherwise." The email explicitly mentions Romano on several occasions, including a description of a moment at the special meeting, previously undisclosed, which, Varno said, "saw Romano refuse to withdraw the threat of litigation against regular members when asked whether or not he would sue them individually based on the outcome of the meeting." He added: "That was unconscionable, and I have already communicated to him that he is on notice pending adoption of a new code of conduct." Varno also addressed rumblings among former NBCC directors, NBCC members, and others about forming a new organization for book critics. "I am deeply dismayed to see that we've come to this, and hope we can all continue to work together on a shared vision for the NBCC's future, between the work being done by the board's new Reform working group and the plans shared by regular members," Varno said. "I want you all to know that I will do everything I can to make sure this organization is a space of inclusion and support, not one of unshakeable hierarchy and endless, thankless dues-paying." Responding to Varno's email, Romano flatly denied a number of Varno's charges. "I have not harassed or threatened anyone," he wrote. "I have never threatened to sue individual NBCC members, and a record of the meeting confirms that I didn't do so at the meeting. I did not disseminate misinformation. I disseminated facts and information to try to bring transparency to recent NBCC machinations." Characterizing the attempt at removal as part of a "suppression-of-speech policy," Romano wrote that "the rump, minority faction of members seeking my removal thought they could stack the meeting with their activists, forgo producing any statement outlining their charges against methat would have required more concentration than a tweetand railroad me off the board," arguing that those seeking his removal were "angry that I did produce and share a comprehensive statement refuting their charges. They did not anticipate that a majority of NBCC members would blow off their show trial, and that enough of them would vote against removal to foil the planned execution." He added: "David should look up the meaning of 'throttle.' It means 'to suppress, to strangle, to choke.' Etymologically, it comes from 'to strangle.' I'll let NBCC members decide whether David's fierce desire to control the speech of others is obvious in his letter. It will be up to the board, not David, to decide whether we're going to be the National Stranglers Circle." This article has been updated with further information and for clarity. Jaish-e-Mohamma Chief Maulana Masood Azhar Janus-faced Pakistan, always in denial, on Wednesday rejected India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet in the Pulwama attack of 2019. Pakistan categorically rejects the so-called 'chargesheet' by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), which mischievously attempts to implicate Pakistan in the Pulwama attack," said a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. "The fabrications in the reported 'chargesheet' are patently designed to further the BJP's anti- Pakistan rhetoric and its narrow domestic political interests," Pakistan has alleged. Relying on prevarications, Pakistan sought to whitewash the charges levelled against it after an exhaustive investigation. The statement read that at the outset, Pakistan had rejected India's baseless allegations and expressed readiness to extend cooperation on the basis of any actionable information. "India failed to provide any credible evidence for its invective and has instead been using the attack for its malicious propaganda campaign against Pakistan," it said. Pakistan said the timing of the Pulwama attack, just two months before the Lok Sabha elections in India, and the fact that the key accused in the attack have already been killed by Indian forces, raise too many questions. "The world knows well as to who benefited the most from the Pulwama attack and drew electoral dividends," Pakistan alleged. Islamabad said it would be recalled that Indian military aircraft engaged in belligerent action against Pakistan on February 26, 2019. "The Indian misadventure was effectively countered by the Pakistan Air Force, which resulted in the downing of two Indian warplanes and capture of an Indian pilot. Despite India's provocations, the Indian pilot was released by Pakistan as a peace gesture," it said. "In response to a paper shared by the Indian Government following the Pulwama attack, Pakistan constituted a high-level investigation team to examine its contents. As the information provided by India was incomplete, patchy and unsubstantiated, Pakistan shared two Aides-memoire, seeking further information and supporting evidence from India. India has been unable to provide any corroboration of its unfounded allegations," Pakistan said. Pakistan has been forewarning the international community about India's use of 'false flag' operation and possible ill-conceived misadventure. With the approaching state elections in India, the RSS-BJP ploy of raising the Pakistan bogey again for making electoral gains is palpable. We warn the world community again to be cognizant of its dangerous consequences for peace and security in the region," Pakistan said. As per the NIA chargesheet, the chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, Maulana Masood Azhar, along with his brothers Abdul Rauf Asghar and Ammar Alvi, was continuously giving directions and guidance to the Pakistani JeM militants who had infiltrated into India and were using Pakistani SIM cards, both before and after the 2019 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF troopers were killed. The Pakistani SIM cards were even active after the attack. The NIA charge sheet also alleged that the JeM had initially planned the attack for February 6, 2019, but due to heavy snowfall and closure of the highway, the attack was deferred to February 14. These revelations were made in the 13,800-page charge sheet filed in a special NIA court in Jammu on Tuesday against 19 people, including the attack mastermind - the slain Mohammad Umar Farooq, son of IC 814 hijacking conspirator Ibrahim Atha ORLEANS Orleans will have to navigate the perilous passage to permitting for the Nauset Estuary dredging project without the financial support of Eastham. At the Aug. 20 meeting of the Nauset Estuary Stakeholders Group, Eastham Town Administrator Jacqui Beebe said her select board was not willing to fund the continuation of the permitting process because they do believe the permitting issue was put to bed last year when we came to an agreement we would support the project but werent going to fund the permitting part of the project. Orleans select board member Mark Mathison urged maintaining an even keel. Every time we have brought this to (Orleans) town meeting, the people have voted in favor of funding, he said. I understand the concerns that both towns have about this. Until we get the permitting process done and all the science is completed and all the questions people have raised are answered, clearly this is not going anywhere. The town of Orleans started this. Im certainly willing to go to our town meeting and advocate for funding the permitting process This is a time we either put up or shut up. We go to town meeting, get the funds, do the permitting, and at that point ask the town of Eastham to join us in completing the project Once their questions are answered, I assume theyll be much more willing to contribute their share to the actual project itself. The board understands that once the permitting process is complete and were into an actual proposal for dredge services that Eastham would then clearly be in the project in terms of funding, Beebe said. Orleans Select Board Chair Kevin Galligan noted that Eastham is already contributing through the participation of Beebe and other officials and citizens on the stakeholders group. Your input is really important in this, he said, and speaks well of supporting the permitting process. Coastal geologist Leslie Fields of Woods Hole Group outlined a proposal for services to complete permitting, dividing the costs into the current fiscal year ($166,126) and FY2022 ($159,856). Both figures include a 10 percent contingency reserve. We have developed a scope of services that includes environmental permitting required for a joint (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Cape Cod Commission) review as well as follow on permitting with local, state, and federal agencies, Fields wrote, adding, It is expected that permitting will take at least two years to complete. Fields told the stakeholders group that the costs did go up. We doubled the amount of time for each of the permits for responding to comments and coordinating with agencies. If we dont need that time, we wont use it and wont charge you for it. Im responding to what I heard the group say before: better to ask for more money and not use it than ask for some amount and say you need more later. Leaving the question of funding aside, the stakeholders endorsed unanimously the proposal for services. Its likely an article for funding will be brought to the Oct. 26 special town meeting in Orleans. The next big step for the group is a pre-permitting meeting with state and federal regulators, scheduled for Sept. 1, a follow-on to a similar scoping session held in Lakeville more than two years ago. Its an opportunity to present the project and address concerns in an informal setting. Last week, Fields reviewed a matrix she will present that looks at the feasibility of dredging the estuary via four factors: environmental impacts, construction, cost, and permitting. Fields stressed that the effort is about improving navigation, not water quality. There wont be a measurable change in tidal flushing with this project, she said. Were not dredging the mouth of the inlet to allow a bigger tidal prism in and out of the harbor That trickles down to water quality This project will not have a measurable impact on improving water quality. That shouldnt be thought of as the reason were doing it. The consultant said the proposal has no impacts on intertidal resources anywhere other than behind the barrier beach. With the 100-foot wide dredged channel, we lose 1.92 acres; with 50 feet, .96 acre. She said there may be ways to minimize this with a deeper channel. Studies of shellfish density found 13 quahogs per cubic foot in Town Cove, a number that might raise concern among regulators and require a relay to other areas. The number also piqued the interest of the water-wise stakeholders. Id like to see exactly where (the quahogs are in Town Cove), commercial fisherman Steve Smith said. Thats pretty dense for the middle of a channel. Fields told him the survey was within the dredge zone, not just in the channel. Worth rakin, Smith said. It is worth rakin, Orleans Natural Resources Manager Nate Sears agreed. So also worth protecting, Fields observed. Later, Fields sketched possible post-permitting construction costs and the practicalities of carrying out the project in the wintertime window allowed by environmental regulations. She also laid out the annual and less frequent costs of maintaining the dredged areas. The stakeholders group hopes to host a visit by the new superintendent of the county dredge department to the estuary next month. In addition, the project would require a mechanical dredge for work in Town Cove. Woods Hole Group is also working with the Orleans Dredge Advisory Committee on a study of whether the town should acquire its own dredge, such as that owned by the town of Edgartown, for a variety of projects including maintenance dredging in Pleasant Bay and at Rock Harbor and perhaps even jobs for neighboring towns. Chatham is also examining buying its own dredge, and expects to receive a report in the next few weeks. At the Aug. 17 meeting of the dredge advisory committee, members reviewed a draft financial model for a town dredge prior to receiving the formal report next month. The short story is that Woods Hole Group has tried to price out the capital costs of a dredge and all its associated equipment, support equipment, boats, and pipe, chair Charlie Carlson said. Theyve tried to create a budget for personnel to run the operation and have included periodic replacements of certain elements like trucks and things which will not last 30 years. The study is looking at two sizes of hydraulic dredges, the Ellicott 370 and 670, and at mechanical dredges. It is very clear that the amount of dredging that a mechanical dredge can do is only a fraction of what a hydraulic dredge can do, Carlson said. The Ellicott dredges can dredge out about 200 cubic yards per hour at optimum whereas a mechanical dredge does 250 cubic yards per day. Committee member Bill Amaru said theres no need to investigate the Ellicott 670, which he said is too big and too expensive to run for the work needed in Orleans, and added that the 370 is the right size for what were doing. Carlson said Woods Hole Group coastal scientist Adam Finkle, whos doing the study, had heard concerns from Ellicott that the 370 might not be up to the task of maintaining the channel in the very active area behind the barrier beach. He said he asked Finkle, who will meet with the committee Sept. 14, to ask the manufacturer whether the smaller dredge could be outfitted to handle that area. Carlson told the committee he planned to meet with a representative of the Sipson Island Trust this week to discuss possible disposal sites for materials from Pleasant Bay maintenance dredging and to look also at sites outside Quanset Pond and at the entrance to Pah Wah Pond. He said hed be joined by Fields, Sears, Finkle, and conservation agent John Jannell. Walkout forces countrys five major hospitals to limit hours, delay some surgeries as return-to-work order is issued. Tens of thousands of doctors launched a full-scale strike nationwide on Wednesday, defying a return-to-work order and threats of punishments to protest of the governments medical workforce reform plan, as the country grapples with the resurgence of coronavirus cases. The three-day strike is organised by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which has some 130,000 members, including interns and resident doctors at general hospitals and practitioners at neighbourhood clinics. The strike action comes following weeks of walkouts and as South Korea continues to battle a resurgence of COVID-19, with the government reporting on Wednesday at least 320 new cases in the previous 24 hours. The medics are opposed to government plans to boost the number of medical students across several years, establish public medical schools, allow government insurance to cover more oriental medicine, and broaden the scope of telemedicine. They said the money would be better spent on improving pay and conditions to encourage more people to work outside Seoul. The strike starting on Wednesday forced South Koreas five major general hospitals to limit their hours and delay scheduled surgeries, Yonhap news agency reported. An unknown number of neighbourhood clinics were also closed on Wednesday. About 33 percent of the practitioners closed their clinics during their first strike earlier this month, according to Yonhap. Threats of licence revocation, fines Earlier in the week, the doctors reached an agreement with the government to continue to handle coronavirus patients, but failed to find a compromise on their broader concerns. The government now has no choice but to take necessary legal actions such as an order to open business to not put the citizens lives and safety in danger, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a briefing. We urge all trainee and fellow doctors to immediately return to work. Those who do not follow the government order without probable cause could have their licences revoked and even face a maximum jail term of three years or a fine of less than 30 million won ($25,000). He said the KMA and the Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA) had rejected several of the governments offers. The three-day strike is organised by the Korean Medical Association, which has some 130,000 members, including interns and resident doctors at general hospitals and practitioners at neighbourhood clinics [Jeon Heon-kyun/EPA] In a statement, KMA said the medical community was always open to all possibilities in talks with the government, and that the doctors did not want to have to strike. We sincerely do want to return, the statement said. We ask you citizens to listen to our voice so that we can meet our patients as soon as possible. The government said its goal to increase the number of medical students by 4,000 during the next 10 years is necessary to better prepare for public health crises like the coronavirus pandemic. Student doctors, however, said the plan would unnecessarily flood an already competitive market, and that the extra funding would be better spent improving the salaries of existing trainees, which would encourage them to move out of Seoul to rural areas where more health professionals are needed. On Tuesday, both the doctors and the government agreed to launch working-level consultations. But the talks have yet to generate a significant breakthrough, prompting the doctors to press ahead with the full-scale walkout. South Korea has reported a total of 18,265 coronavirus cases, and 312 deaths, including two additional fatalities, reported on Wednesday, but the authorities are concerned the country is on the brink of a large outbreak after days of triple-digit increases in cases. Dr. Scott Gottlieb said Wednesday he hopes the U.S. is beyond the throes of the coronavirus pandemic by early next year, but cautioned against easing up on public health mitigation strategies just yet. "As we get into 2021, we're going to have enough exposure in the general population, enough awareness, people will be taking precautions in perpetuity for a period of time, and hopefully a vaccine at some point in early 2021, that we get this behind us," Gottlieb said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner under President Donald Trump, stressed that his forecast was not a guarantee and is contingent, in part, on the actions taken by the American public. "It's going to be dependent upon, I think, people just maintaining some level of vigilance with masks and other simple measures they can take to reduce the risk of spread heading into the fall and winter," said Gottlieb, who sits on the board of Pfizer, which is developing a vaccine to prevent Covid-19. "There's a real risk that you're going to see an uptick in cases as we enter the fall and the winter, but I think this is really a 2020 event." Gottlieb's comments come as new daily infections in the U.S. continue to show signs of decline after a summer surge in cases that swept across the country, particularly in the American South and West. However, new deaths, which lag new cases, were again over 1,000 on Tuesday, according to data from the Covid Tracking Project. The U.S. has nearly 5.8 million confirmed cases of Covid-19, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, and at least 178,533 people have died. As the U.S. enters the fall, Gottlieb said he expects the public health response to be aided by further advancements in tests for Covid-19 that can produce results quickly. He compared this variety of screening to pregnancy tests, saying people would put a swab of fluid saliva or from a nasal swab onto a piece of paper and within 10 to 15 minutes, "you get a read out on whether or not you have Covid." "I think we're going to see those tests come into the market. They're going to be in significant quantities, and they're going to give rapid results and be fairly reliable," he said, adding that these tests would "change the equation" by allowing more testing to come into workplaces and schools. "So things are going to change, I think, very quickly in terms of what we have available to us, the technology, to combat this," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 18:14:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Wang Xining, minister of the Chinese Embassy to Australia, on Wednesday called for respect, goodwill, fairness and vision to promote China-Australia relationship in his speech at the National Press Club of Australia. "We should respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and refrain from interfering in other's internal affairs," he said. "We should respect each other's choice of social and political system and mode of development, and refrain from imposing one's own idea onto the other. We should respect each other's legal system and rule of law and refrain from interrupting the other's legal proceedings and undertakings." He noted that as China's sovereignty was "constantly in jeopardy or disarray in modern history under intimidation and threat from external powers", the least thing China wanted to do was to inflict on others what China suffered. While China respected Australia's sovereignty and did not interfere in Australia's internal affairs, it expected reciprocity, he said. Enditem - Two young men from Wakitau in Taita Taveta have assembled a two-piston supercar prototype which they have labeled Doshi Safari - Their story was shared on Twitter by news reporter Bill Otieno who said the car could go upto 80km/h - Otieno revealed the supercar was the second innovation done by the two Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Two young men from Mwakitau, Taita Taveta county, have managed to assemble a two-piston Supercar prototype. The visionary youth have also branded their ride; Doshi Safari, but it is yet unclear why they went for the name. READ ALSO: 29-year-old Ghanaian turns containers into movable isolation centres for infected patients The two young men inside the Supercar they built Photo: @_BillOtieno Source: Twitter Their story was shared on Twitter by NTV news reporter Bill Otieno who revealed the design was a product of their creation and could go upto a speed of 80km per hour. The car appeared to be in the latter stages of construction and was made up of heavy metal and had two wheels, with the front being much smaller than the hind ones. The men, whose name is yet to be revealed, even ensured there were side mirrors on the car. READ ALSO: Ghanaian lady trends on Twitter for saying guys must contribute GHc15 each day for their girl's birthday; top reactions Otieno revealed that the supercar was the second innovation done by the two and urged that their talent be supported. What was even more impressive is that the cars look somewhat like the Laikipia BJ-50 which are in mass production after a company, Sagak AutoTech, partnered with the government. The company got the partnership through Kenya Export Promotion and government's Branding Agency whose mission is to brand Kenya, export Kenyan products and build Kenya. The agency made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, July 22, saying the partnership will open the door for the company to sell their cars beyond the countrys borders. READ ALSO: Woman shows amazing reaction as hubby gifts her car The Ministry of Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS) Betty Maina officially opened the Sagak Auto tech plant assembly line on Thursday, July 17. The car would be sold at KSh 450,000, with a capacity of seven passengers and maximum speed of 70km per hour. Maina endorsed the car model noting the government will offer its support in production and marketing to stimulate the economy. It has, however, received backlash from Kenyans who claim it is overpriced with some likening it to smokie trollies. Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Star Gist: Edem shares the inspiration behind his new EP; Moodswings | #Yencomgh Share your stories and news by getting interactive on our Facebook page! Source: YEN.com.gh YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Environment Romanos Petrosyan has ordered an immediate response to the killing of a bear cub in the Armenian countryside. Former lawmaker Lyova Khachatryan found the cub and contacted authorities and shared photos online. The ministry will contact law enforcement agencies and the Environmental and Subsoil Inspection Agency for further proceedings, Petrosyans spokesperson Davit Grigoryan said in a statement. The brown bear is currently listed in Armenias Red Book the list of the countrys endangered, vulnerable or threatened animals under special protection. Hunting an endangered animal is punishable by up to 3 months in jail with up to 5 million drams in penalties. Grigoryan says the ministry condemns the unacceptable act against the endangered animal. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan BERLIN - Germanys governing parties have proposed a reform to the countrys electoral system to prevent its parliament, already one of the worlds biggest, from expanding further. Opposition parties dismissed the plan Wednesday as a half-hearted measure that wont solve the problem. Germanys complex system is meant to ensure that election results accurately reflect voters choices and also produce lawmakers with strong ties to their local area. However, it has an inconvenient side-effect: The Bundestag, or lower house, varies in size and can be much larger than the minimum 598 lawmakers. It currently has a record 709, slightly more than the European Parliament. Germanys increasingly fractured political landscape risks making it bigger still, causing more expense and creating space issues. The issue has become increasingly pressing as the next election is due in a year, with parties long deadlocked over how to resolve it. Leaders of the governing parties, Chancellor Angela Merkels centre-right Union bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats, agreed Tuesday night on a plan thats meant to prevent a more bloated Bundestag next year but kicks a more substantial change to the 2025 election. Every German voter gets two votes: One for a directly elected candidate, the other for a party list. Half the seats go to directly elected lawmakers, one for each of the 299 constituencies, who are elected by a simple majority. The other 299 seats, at least, go to candidates elected on party lists. That vote is critical because it determines the percentage of seats each party wins in the lower house, which in turn elects the chancellor. If a party wins more seats via the direct vote than it would get under the party vote, it keeps the extra seats but the system also adds seats for other parties to ensure the proportional vote is reflected properly. The current governing parties won most of the directly elected seats. They are traditionally Germanys biggest but have seen their support sink in recent years, which effectively has required more seats to be added to parliament. The new proposal mainly involves keeping the number of constituencies unchanged in the 2021 election but slightly reducing the number of extra seats. By the time of the 2025 election, it calls for the number of constituencies to be cut to 280. A reform commission is supposed to produce a detailed plan. Opposition parties werent impressed. The coalitions proposals dont banish the danger of an XXL Bundestag, tweeted Marco Buschmann, the pro-business Free Democrats chief whip. His counterpart with the Greens, Britta Hasselmann, told news agency dpa the governing parties had taken seven years to produce a proposal that is unambitious and feeble and wont prevent the Bundestag growing. Read more about: MADISON, NJMadison School District teachers voiced concern at Tuesday's board of education meeting over the health risks of teaching students in person. "As you can imagine, the uncertainty of this time has created a great deal of stress for our growing family," said Megan Ehrenfeld, a Madison High School Spanish teacher who is pregnant. She added that her work-from-home request was denied, forcing her to teach in-person. "I'm dedicated to my students," she said, "but what this board is asking me to do crossed a line." The teacher added that her anxiety isn't just personal. "I'm extremely concerned about the educational quality my students will receive if we're not teaching remotely." Ehrenfeld said students were in danger of receiving low-quality instruction while asking the board to reconsider the return to school plan. Superintendent Mark Schwarz has reiterated the district's course, but conceded that staffingespecially work from home requestscould be a problem. "We will not feasibly be able to open with confidence in our supervision if we were to grant work from home accommodations to the 30-plus staff members who want to work from home," he said at the Monday board meeting. The New Jersey Education Association called for statewide remote-only learning earlier this month, and more than 180 New Jersey schools have switched to remote-only instruction. Madison is currently set to begin the school year in Phase 1 of its three-step reopening plan, in which students will attend classes in person twice per week on alternating days with early dismissal. This article originally appeared on the Madison Patch An international research team led by the University of Bern has succeeded in developing an electrocatalyst for hydrogen fuel cells which, in contrast to the catalysts commonly used today, does not require a carbon carrier and is therefore much more stable. The new process is industrially applicable and can be used to further optimize fuel cell powered vehicles without CO 2 emissions. Fuel cells are gaining in importance as an alternative to battery-operated electromobility in heavy traffic, especially since hydrogen is a CO 2 -neutral energy carrier if it is obtained from renewable sources. For efficient operation, fuel cells need an electrocatalyst that improves the electrochemical reaction in which electricity is generated. The platinum-cobalt nanoparticle catalysts used as standard today have good catalytic properties and require only as little as necessary rare and expensive platinum. In order for the catalyst to be used in the fuel cell, it must have a surface with very small platinum-cobalt particles in the nanometer range, which is applied to a conductive carbon carrier material. Since the small particles and also the carbon in the fuel cell are exposed to corrosion, the cell loses efficiency and stability over time. An international team led by Professor Matthias Arenz from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (DCB) at the University of Bern has now succeeded in using a special process to produce an electrocatalyst without a carbon carrier, which, unlike existing catalysts, consists of a thin metal network and is therefore more durable. "The catalyst we have developed achieves high performance and promises stable fuel cell operation even at higher temperatures and high current density," says Matthias Arenz. The results have been published in Nature Materials. The study is an international collaboration between the DCB and, among others, the University of Copenhagen and the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, which also used the Swiss Light Source (SLS) infrastructure at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The fuel cell direct power generation without combustion In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen atoms are split to generate electrical power directly from them. For this purpose, hydrogen is fed to an electrode, where it is split into positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons. The electrons flow off via the electrode and generate electric current outside the cell, which drives a vehicle engine, for example. The protons pass through a membrane that is only permeable to protons and react on the other side on a second electrode coated with a catalyst (here from a platinum-cobalt alloy network) with oxygen from the air, thus producing water vapor. This is discharged via the "exhaust". The important role of the electrocatalyst For the fuel cell to produce electricity, both electrodes must be coated with a catalyst. Without a catalyst, the chemical reactions would proceed very slowly. This applies in particular to the second electrode, the oxygen electrode. However, the platinum-cobalt nanoparticles of the catalyst can "melt together" during operation in a vehicle. This reduces the surface of the catalyst and therefore the efficiency of the cell. In addition, the carbon normally used to fix the catalyst can corrode when used in road traffic. This affects the service life of the fuel cell and consequently the vehicle. "Our motivation was therefore to produce an electrocatalyst without a carbon carrier that is nevertheless powerful," explains Matthias Arenz. Previous, similar catalysts without a carrier material always only had a reduced surface area. Since the size of the surface area is crucial for the catalyst's activity and hence its performance, these were less suitable for industrial use. Industrially applicable technology The researchers were able to turn the idea into reality thanks to a special process called cathode sputtering. With this method, a material's individual (here platinum or cobalt) are dissolved (atomized) by bombardment with ions. The released gaseous atoms then condense as an adhesive layer. "With the special sputtering process and subsequent treatment, a very porous structure can be achieved, which gives the catalyst a high surface area and is self-supporting at the same time. A carbon carrier is therefore superfluous," says Dr. Gustav Sievers, lead author of the study from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology. "This technology is industrially scalable and can therefore also be used for larger production volumes, for example in the automotive industry," says Matthias Arenz. This process allows the hydrogen fuel cell to be further optimized for use in road traffic. "Our findings are consequently of importance for the further development of sustainable energy use, especially in view of the current developments in the mobility sector for heavy goods vehicles," says Arenz. The study was financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Danish National Research Foundation Center for High-Entropy Alloy Catalysis, among others. THE X-Files star Gillian Anderson has shared throwback snaps of her with a young Jamie Dornan in a behind-the-scenes shot from The Fall. The American actress posted a number of photos from the Belfast set after The Fall climbed into the top 10 of the most-watched shows in Ireland and the UK on Netflix. The show, which first aired in 2013 and ran for three seasons, follows her character Stella Gibson as she is drafted in from London to help catch a serial killer terrorising Belfast. Jamie Dornan grabbed the attention of the acting world with his spine-chilling portrayal of serial killer Paul Spector opposite Anderson in his debut TV performance. He won critical acclaim for his portrayal of the handsome psychopath who leads a sinister double life as a doting family man and a cold-blooded killer. The Belfast thriller - which has just landed on Netflix - has proved to be a huge hit with viewers. Anderson took to Instagram to share her delight at its resurgence on the streaming giant. "Heard The Fall is currently a top-viewed programme on @NetflixUK again. I mean??!! Woo hoo," she wrote on Instagram. "What a fantastic show to be part of. Stella (& her wardrobe) (& her appetite) will always be a fav," she added. Video of the Day Anderson has previously said she believes Dornan's supermodel looks added an edge to his role in the hit show. The father-of-three became one of the country's hottest acting properties after he landed the lead role in Fifty Shades of Grey. After rising to fame playing Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades trilogy, he returned to a home-grown movie, The Siege of Jadotville, where he really showed off his acting chops. Troops The Co Down star played Irish soldier Pat Quinlan, from Kerry, in a movie made by Netflix and based on the true story of Irish troops in the Congo in the 1960s. He also has gone down the blockbuster route with a big-screen role opposite Jamie Foxx and Eve Hewson in Robin Hood. His next big-screen release is expected to be in the romantic Irish movie, Wild Mountain Thyme, opposite Emily Blunt. The much-anticipated film, which is being adapted by Oscar-winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley from his Broadway hit Outside Mullingar, was filmed in Ireland last autumn. Mad Men actor Jon Hamm is also in a leading role alongside Irish actress Dearbhla Molloy and Christopher Walken. Wild Mountain Thyme will see Blunt and Dornan play obstinate lovers, whose families are caught up in a feud over a hotly contested patch of land. Dornan, who is currently spending lockdown in England with his young family, is set to star in his first major comedy role next year. He will appear alongside Kristin Wigg and Annie Mumolo of Bridesmaids fame in a new movie titled Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar. Florida businessman Maximo Alvarez on Monday evening warned against the threat of socialism during a speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC), explaining that he fled communist Cuba when Fidel Castro and his regime took over the island nation decades ago. Alvarez, who owns Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, said that he believes the Democratic platform espoused by nominee Joe Biden promotes socialist policies. Ive seen people like this before. Ive seen movements like this before. Ive seen ideas like this before. And I am here to tell youwe cannot let them take over our country, Alvarez told the conference. I heard the promises of Fidel Castro, and I can never forget all those who grew up around me, who looked like me, who suffered and starved and died because they believed those empty promises. They swallowed the communist poison pill. He said that free health care, calls to defund the police, and other claims from the far-left wing of the Democratic Party sound familiar to asserts that were made by Castro. In a speech endorsing President Donald Trumps reelection, Alvarez said that violence and unrest in a number of cities over the summer were reminiscent of what happened in Cuba in the 1960s. Those false promisesspread the wealth, free education, free healthcare, defund the police, trust a socialist state more than your family and your communitythey dont sound radical to my ears. They sound familiar, he said. The country I was born in is gone, totally destroyed, he added. When I watch the news in Seattle and Chicago and Portland, when I see the history being rewritten, when I hear the promisesI hear echoes of a former life I never wanted to hear again. I see shadows I thought I had outrun. Alvarez added that hes voting for Trump because hes fighting the forces of anarchy and communism. Trump and Republicans have said that the ongoing Black Lives Matter protestswhich have sparked violence, looting, and riotshave been embraced by the Democrats and represent the countrys future if Biden were to become president. Trump has alleged that some city and state governments have failed to curb the protests and called for law and order to be restored. Alvarez was one of many speakers who delivered an address during the first night of the RNC. Earlier Monday, delegates nominated President Trump, who spoke to the crowd. Other speakers on Monday included Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), former U.S. ambassador and Gov. Nikki Haley, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, and others. Speakers on Tuesday include First Lady Melania Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Eric Trump, Nicholas Sandmann, and others. From The Epoch Times (Newser) You may not have heard of Nicholas and Natasha Palumbo, but chances are they're responsible for annoying you at some point. The Justice Department says the Arizona couple and two companies they own have been permanently banned from sending robocalls to any American phone numbers or providing any other entity with US numbers, the Hill reports. Federal investigators say the Palumbos and their companies, Ecommerce National LLC and SIP Retail, were "gateway" carriers that knowingly facilitated hundreds of millions of robocalls from overseas call centers seeking to scam Americans. Millions of the prerecorded calls were from scammers who claimed to be from the Social Security Administration and told the recipient they would face arrest if they didn't transfer funds. story continues below The federal court order also banned the couple from working for any entity involved in robocalling. The Justice Department says the Palumbos continued to operate their telecoms businesses despite repeated warnings that they were facilitating fraud.through foreign-based Internet calls. "Everybody should be really happy to see the Palumbo case because its the Justice Department treating carriers that dont actively try to stop fraud as being part of the fraud, Alex Quilici, founder of robocall blocking firm YouMail, told the Arizona Republic earlier this year. "It should stop the worst of these calls from getting through over time." The Palumbos haven't been ordered to pay a fine or pay restitution to fraud victims, many of them elderly, though they are facing numerous civil court claims related to the scams. (Congress passed a crackdown on robocalls last year.) Overnight reports from Jacksonville police: A 16-year-old boy was arrested on a criminal trespassing charge at 7:23 p.m. Tuesday after being on property on Walnut Court from which he was prohibited. A 13-year-old girl was arrested at 7:24 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer for interfering with an arrest and then resisting an officer trying to arrest her. A package was stolen from the porch of a house in the 700 block of South West Street between 3 p.m. Monday and 5 p.m. Tuesday. A resident of the 700 block of South Main Street told police someone opened the back door of the house at 9:22 p.m. Tuesday but left after hearing the resident inside. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alexandria Sage (Agence France-Presse) Rome, Italy Wed, August 26, 2020 09:00 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4081416 2 World China,EU,diplomatic-relations Free China's foreign minister on Tuesday kicked off a tour of a Europe still reeling from coronavirus, as he seeks to shore up economic and diplomatic relations in light of tensions with the US. Donald Trump's administration has stepped up anti-China rhetoric in the run-up to the US presidential election on November 3, despite ongoing trade talks. On his first European stop in Rome, Wang Yi shied away from naming Washington explicitly, but lamented "provocation and damage from external forces" hitting the EU -- a second favorite punching-bag of Trump's. "A united, stable and prosperous Europe is important for the whole of the world," Wang added. Italy was the first G7 country to sign on to China's ambitious "Belt and Road" trade and infrastructure investment plan, and Wang on Tuesday inked two new trade deals with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. Rome was criticized for last year breaking ranks with other European countries over the investment scheme. Allies have worried that China's "Silk Road" will destabilize smaller countries by overloading them with debt, boost China's power, and allow key technologies and trade secrets to slip into Beijing's hands. But Italian leaders now hope boosted export opportunities for the country's main industries -- from agricultural products to machinery -- can help haul it out of a devastating economic crisis brought about by an over two-month lockdown. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Rome in March 2019, signing billions of euros in trade deals. Di Maio said the latest agreements covered natural gas from Snam, Europe's biggest pipelines operator, and the export of "Made in Italy" food products to China, as well as "important partnerships in the energy and transport sector". Human rights and Hong Kong But there are clear pitfalls for Wang's stated aim to "consolidate relations" between China and Europe as the top diplomat travels on to the Netherlands, France, Germany and Norway. Just as the trade deals were being signed, visiting Hong Kong activist Nathan Law urged Italy to condemn China for human rights abuses. Law met with an Italian foreign affairs delegation and told reporters Di Maio should "address Hong Kong's problems and the human rights violations by China". Italy should "severely condemn" Beijing's human rights record, added Law, who recently fled Hong Kong to London after Beijing imposed a controversial security law on the territory in June. Law called for a "strong alliance" against Beijing, including "sanctioning" Chinese officials responsible for human rights violations against China's Uighur population in the northwestern Xinjiang province, and in Hong Kong. Wang said China had passed its law "to fill the gaps that had existed in Hong Kong for years." "It is a law to combat the violent acts found everywhere and to hinder certain actions of pro-independence Hong Kong people," Wang said. Di Maio said he had told his Chinese counterpart that Hong Kong's "stability and prosperity are essential." "It is essential to preserve the high autonomy of the city and the protection of the fundamental rights of its inhabitants," he added. US trade talks Even as Wang looked to bolster ties with Europe, China is in the midst of trade talks with an increasingly prickly US. The trans-Pacific atmosphere is far frostier since an initial trade agreement was signed in January. Tensions have mounted over Trump's charge Chinese leaders allowed the coronavirus to run out of control after it emerged in Wuhan, and the president again dubbed it the "China virus" in a video played during the Republican convention Monday. The two superpowers are also at odds over technology and China's human rights record. Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Pearson plc Global Credit Research - 26 Aug 2020 London, 26 August 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Pearson plc 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. Pearson PLC (Pearson) Baa3 rating reflects its strong market position in the education publishing sector and good positioning in the shift of education content publishing from print to digital. However, it also reflects the persistent weakness that US Higher Education courseware, Pearson's largest division, has been experiencing since 2016 as well as the tough market environment. The rating is constrained by (1) the reduced scale and scope of activities concentrated in the education sector; (2) continued difficult environment for US higher education courseware with meaningful decline in company's overall profitability expected in 2020; (3) temporary business disruptions in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak; (4) structural pressures such as increased usage of second hand books, competition from open educational resources affecting the publishing sector; (5) evolving competitive landscape as the company moves more towards digitalization; and (6) some uncertainty around the future leadership of Pearson, after the retirement of Chief Executive, Mr. John Fallon. Story continues This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period. The principal methodology used for this review was Media Industry published in June 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology. This announcement applies only to EU rated and EU endorsed ratings. Non EU rated and non EU endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit. This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. Gunjan Dixit VP - Senior Credit Officer Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service Ltd. 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The Deposit Guarantee Fund has taken Bank Arcada under control, Svitlana Rekrut, the managing director of the fund, has said. "The Deposit Guarantee Fund has entered Bank Arcada. It completely took control. The authorized person of the fund will perform the functions of the chairman of the board, the supervisory board and audit functions. We are starting to act within the law, in particular, this is an inventory, the formation of liquidity and the formation of a register of creditors," she said at a press conference. "Some 72% of depositors will receive their money in the total amount. These are 4,746 persons, their deposits are less than the state guaranteed amount of UAH 200,000. In general, the fund will pay such depositors UAH 290 million. Other depositors will receive funds in the manner prescribed by law," Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Kyrylo Shevchenko said. According to Rekrut, all specified deposits will be paid no later than the 20th business day. As reported, the NBU on August 25 declared the bank insolvent due to a decrease in capital requirements to less than one third of the minimum established level. Bank Arcada was established in 1993. According to the NBU, the owner of the bank's significant stake as of June 1, 2020 is Kostiantyn Palyvoda (total participation of 74.797%). According to the National Bank, as of July 1, 2020, in terms of total assets (UAH 1.902 billion) Bank Arcada ranked 45th among 75 banks operating in the country. Gordon Ramsay has allegedly trademarked the name of a new game show called Bank Balance, it was reported on Tuesday. The professional chef, 53, is said to have trademarked the programme's name, as well as its use for the show, books, magazines, clothes and video games, according to a report from The Sun. A source speaking to the publication said of the new endeavour: 'This is a big, glitzy, prime time project which isn't his normal type of show, but that's just the point. New venture: Gordon Ramsay 'is set to create a GAME SHOW called Bank Balance as the chef trademarks the name for merchandising', it was reported on Tuesday 'Viewers would be curious to see how fiery Gordon performs as a gameshow host and tune in to see if he gets frustrated with the contestants in the same way he did with competitors on Hell's Kitchen. 'The creators hope this will be a concept similar to Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? which can be sold around the globe.' Bank Balance will reportedly see contestants work on accumulating their money, and is said to be a concept that can work both in the UK and across the Atlantic. MailOnline has contacted Gordon's representatives, who declined to comment. Preparations: The professional chef (pictured on Masterchef) is said to have trademarked the programme's name, as well as its use for the show, books, magazines, clothes and video games Gordon recently angered Cornwall locals after relocating his family to their second home during the outbreak as the Government urged Britons not to travel from hotspots to the countryside. The TV personality moved into a beachside 4.4 million mansion in the village of Rock in Cornwall as he decided to escape from London at the start of the pandemic. The star was spotted a number of times taking long excursions when outings were still limited to an hour a day including a beachside stroll with his entire family. The Hell's Kitchen star also landed in hot water with the local coastguard, who are said to have issued an official warning to him over his apparent flouting of lockdown guidelines. Sources indicated that Gordon was seen in Rock, Fowey, Port Isaac and Newquay some distance from his 4 million home in Trebetherick. The warning was particularly troubling because Ramsay was the face of a 'Stayhome' initiative on YouTube which he has been plugging on his ten-minute cookery shows, filmed in 'isolation' in his Cornwall kitchen. Moreover, the TV personality hit yet another stumbling block when he was forced deny 'almost causing an accident' after a resident accused him of jumping a red light while on a 26.2-mile bike ride. Whilst the UK was in heavy lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, the government advice was to 'stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible.' Lake Tahoe may well be resilient, but that doesnt mean its strength is limitless, said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada at the 24th annual Lake Tahoe Summit, held virtually on Tuesday. This year, Tahoe had more visitors in April than it usually has in the high season in July, Cortez Masto said. The COVID-19 crisis has helped remind us how valuable the outdoors is to our health emotional, physical and spiritual. And thats exactly why we need to work even more diligently to protect open spaces and those who work to maintain them. At the end of a hectic summer when Tahoes environment and communities are being stretched to their capacity to accommodate millions of people during the pandemic the annual gathering rounded up the regions most influential leaders and politicians for pre-recorded addresses in a live-streamed video, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential candidate. At its core, the Lake Tahoe Basin today serves as an example to the nation of how communities can work together to address the environmental challenges we face in this moment in time, Harris said. Through your decades of tireless work, weve been able to improve the lakes clarity, revitalize the local economy, and make the region a major source of environmental research. Yet, there is still so much more to be done, including facing a climate crisis that is banging on our doorstep and threatening the future of our nation. The events theme of resilience lended well for a hopeful yet urgent message that tapped into all the big things Tahoe is dealing with right now. That includes wildfire, microplastics in the lake, the ongoing battle against invasive aquatic species, congested traffic, economic recovery and overtourism balanced with equitable access to public lands and recreation. The first Lake Tahoe Summit was in 1997, when Nevada Sen. Harry Reid invited President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore to a presidential summit at Incline Village. With a view of sparkling Lake Tahoe behind the stage, Clinton committed millions of dollars of federal funding and support for the restoration of lake clarity. Since that first event, more than $2.4 billion has been invested in the Lake Tahoe Basin for the environment, including more than $790 million in federal funds. This funding has made nearly 700 restoration projects possible around the lake. Fast forward to 2020, and there's a pandemic. Cortez Masto said that 15 million visitors come to Lake Tahoe every year. Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen noted Tahoes $5.1 billion economy supports hundreds of local jobs. And as California Sen. Dianne Feinstein put it, we now face our biggest test. Climate change is already having a profound effect on this lake, and it threatens to roll back much of our progress, said Feinstein, noting that climate change allows aquatic invasive species to thrive, kills trees, hinders the snowpack, and reduces water clarity. In 2019, scientists at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center measured lake clarity at 62.7 feet, 8 feet less than the previous year. That drop is alarming to me, because it clearly shows that climate change is slowing the progress were making on the lake, said Feinstein. For every step we take forward, climate change threatens to make us take two steps back. This is a call to action. Weve got to respond with urgency and science-based solutions. The two representatives who did not mention climate change were both Republicans Congressmen Tom McClintock from California and Mark Amodei from Nevada. In his video, Amodei was sitting at a table with a pint glass, a box of vintage Nevada-brewed Tahoe Beer, and a message to leave our resources better than we found it. McClintock focused on wildfire and spotlighted the Lake Tahoe West Restoration project, an initiative to reduce wildfire risk and restore nearly 60,000 acres of forest in the Basin. In his speech, he recalled the Camp Fires toll in Paradise in 2018. A similar fire here would mean the utter destruction of Tahoes communities, McClintock said. Our neglected forests are no different than those that surrounded the town of Paradise on that day. Yet, instead of pointing to climate change as one of the main drivers of wildfires, McClintock blamed the decline of forest health on well-intentioned environmental laws passed in the 1970s that he said make government decision-making and processes endlessly time consuming and ultimately cost-prohibitive. McClintock echoed talking points from the Trump administration, which has rolled back or gutted more than 100 environmental rules and laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. Government agencies like the Forest Service must comply with NEPA, which ensures science-based decision-making with public input, before they move forward on any project that will impact the environment. McClintock pointed to a time when forests were managed more for timber extraction as an example of resilience, but he did not mention that Tahoes forests were clear-cut in the late 19th century, setting the stage for the unhealthy environment that we are seeing today. Both Govs. Gavin Newsom and Steve Sisolak of California and Nevada, respectively, brought the conversation back to the underlying theme of resilience in a changing climate. California has long been a leader in progressive climate-forward solutions, and Nevada is making progress, too, with an aggressive goal to be carbon free by 2050. We have agency, said Newsom. We can protect this basin and this lake for generations to come. Its decisions not conditions that will determine that fate and our collective future. As Lake Tahoes politicians spoke broadly about the many issues facing the region Sisolak called transportation one of the basins most vexing challenges and Cortez Masto interviewed Monica Arienzo, a scientist from the Desert Research Institute about microplastics found in the watershed exasperated community members have taken to Facebook and the streets to protest their frustration with littering, graffiti, and a constant stream of visitors using short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. A short video during the summit highlighting Tahoes frontline workers, from nurses to rangers to restaurant owners, was a nod to the people who have been working hard to keep Tahoe safe this year. Then, keynote speaker freestyle skier David Wise appeared on camera with a blazer and, below the camera, shorts and flip flops. Wise helped the whole conversation feel more relatable, even as he pulled both of his gold medals out of the pockets of his blazer. Resilience is a good life hack, Wise said. At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, Wise fell on his first two laps down the half pipe. He won the gold medal on his third run his last shot. In the fight to save Lake Tahoe and the planet from a changing climate, Wise said we also have to collectively land our last shot. We have an opportunity to land that last run and thats what we need to do, Wise said. We have to do better. And we can do better. Julie Brown is a contributing editor for SFGATE. Email: julie.brown@sfgate.com | Twitter: @imjuliebrown Actor Fra Fee has joked that he was snapped up to be the voice of a new BBC Northern Ireland programme following the fortunes of farming students because he is an "authentic culchie". He swapped Killyman, Co Tyrone for the bright lights of London to forge an already impressive career on stage and screen that has seen him appear alongside stars like Russell Crowe, Ciaran Hinds and Hugh Jackman. But Fra has also been reconnecting with his rural roots to lend his dulcet tones to new series Countryside College, which debuts its first episode on BBC One tonight. He said: "I'm from a proper rural countryside townland outside Dungannon, lots of my friends at school lived in farms, and I think that's absolutely why they sourced me to voice this - they wanted an authentic culchie! "They sent me the episodes before to get a feel for it and I didn't really know what to expect but it was fascinating with some wonderful characters. "Because it ended up being this inevitable shocker - it was like watching Jaws where you know something's going to happen - we know that the pandemic is about to hit because you follow this story from September, and you think, 'What's going to happen when they get to March?' Expand Close Katie and Leane, who appear in the new Countryside College show / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Katie and Leane, who appear in the new Countryside College show "I thought that was fascinating to watch, seeing how the students coped with it. It's such a diverse and intriguing group of people. They are so smart and just passionate about what they do, I think they are very inspiring. It's a really charming show." Countryside College is a new three-part observational documentary series which follows the ups and downs of students from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). And 33-year-old Fra revealed that ironically, life in London during lockdown has fuelled a desire in him to escape to the country - he is set to move into a cottage with his boyfriend of 18 months and fellow actor Declan Bennett in October. He told the Belfast Telegraph: "I'm moving to the countryside. Myself and my boyfriend are leaving London for at least a year. And we're not heading terribly far, we're heading to a village in Oxfordshire. It's delightful, it's so lovely. "The reason being, whenever we were in lockdown and London became this shell of a city, we were saying, 'What are we doing here?' "I've sort of come to the realisation that you don't really need to be in the centre of London to be an actor any more. You used to but so much is done on tape and you can audition from your bedroom on Zoom. "So that's something that's been a big discovery during lockdown and I just want to get out of London for a bit. "I went into this cottage to view it and the first thing I saw in my mind was a Christmas tree in the corner, it's absolutely delightful. It's going to be so lovely." Leading up to that, Fra is finishing off filming a major movie - a musical version of Cinderella in a cast that includes James Corden, Minnie Driver and Romesh Ranganathan. It's the latest big screen role he has landed after first breaking out in Les Miserables with Crowe, Jackman, Helena Bonham Carter and Eddie Redmayne. He has also enjoyed great success on stage working with Hinds in Brian Friel's Translations and performed in the West End and Broadway in The Ferryman, directed by Sir Sam Mendes. Countryside College starts tonight at 10.45pm BBC One Northern Ireland DELCAMBRE, La. - Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a ferocious Category 4 monster early Thursday, swamping a low-lying coast with ocean water that forecasters said could be 20 feet deep and unsurvivable. The National Hurricane Center said the storm, which intensified rapidly Wednesday before plowing into land, came ashore at 1 a.m. CDT near Cameron, a 400-person community about 30 miles (48 kilometres) east of the Texas border. Potentially catastrophic impacts will continue, forecasters said. Winds gusted above hurricane force to 128 mph (206 kph) while Lauras northern eyewall moved onshore over Cameron Parish. Forecasters said even stronger winds were possible that could rip apart buildings, level trees and toss vehicles like toys. Authorities had implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate, but not everyone did before howling winds began buffeting trees back and forth in an area that was devastated by Rita in 2005. There are some people still in town and people are calling the building but there aint no way to get to them, Tony Guillory, president of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, said over the phone as he hunkered down in a Lake Charles government building that was shaking from the storm. Guillory said he hopes those stranded can be rescued later Thursday but he fears that blocked roads, downed power lines and flooding could delay that process. Video and photos on social media showed torrents of rain flying sideways past street lights in Lake Charles, and streets covered with water closer to the coast. A sudden storm surge knocked over cameras meant to capture the hurricanes effects. With hours of violent weather ahead, officials said the extent of destruction likely wouldnt be clear until daybreak, when search and rescue missions will begin. Drawing energy from the warm Gulf of Mexico, the system arrived early Thursday during high tide as the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. so far this year. It looks like its in full beast mode, which is not what you want to see if youre in its way, University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy said. Maximum sustained winds increased to 150 mph (241 kph) before nightfall, and forecasters said up to 18 inches (46 centimetres) of rain could fall. Forecasters issued a string of tornado warnings as the storm pushed on to land, but there were no immediate reports of damage. More than 200,000 homes and businesses were without power in Texas and Louisiana. Earlier Wednesday, winds picked up as shoppers rushed into a grocery store in low-lying Delcambre. Trent Savoie, 31, said he was staying put. With four kids and 100 farm animals, its just hard to move out, he said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards fretted that the dire predictions were not resonating despite authorities putting more than 500,000 coastal residents under mandatory evacuation orders. Officials said at least 150 people refused pleas to leave and planned to weather the storm in everything from elevated homes to recreational vehicles in coastal Cameron Parish, which could be completely covered by ocean water. Its a very sad situation, said Ashley Buller, assistant director of emergency preparedness. We did everything we could to encourage them to leave. Edwards activated the states entire National Guard. In Lake Charles, Guard members drove school buses around neighbourhoods, offering to pick up families. Across the state line in Port Arthur, Texas, few stragglers boarded evacuation buses, and city officials announced that two C-130 transport planes offered the last chance to leave. A Category 4 hurricane can render wide areas uninhabitable for weeks or months and knock out power for just as long. The threat of such devastation posed a new disaster-relief challenge for a government already straining under the coronavirus pandemic. The parts of Louisiana that were under evacuation orders included areas turning up high rates of positive COVID-19 tests. The National Hurricane Center kept raising its estimate of Lauras storm surge, from 10 feet (3 metres) just days ago to twice that size a height that forecasters said would be especially deadly. On Twitter, President Donald Trump urged coastal residents to heed officials. Hurricane warnings were issued from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and reached inland for 200 miles (322 kilometres). Storm surge warnings extended from Freeport, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. For some, the decision to leave home left them with no place to stay. Wary of opening mass shelters during a pandemic, Texas officials instead put evacuees in hotels, but Austin stopped taking arrivals before dawn because officials said they ran out of rooms. Other evacuees called the states 211 information line and were directed to Ennis, outside Dallas, only to be told after driving hundreds of miles no hotels or vouchers were available. Taniquia Ned and her sisters showed up without money to rent a room, saying the family had burned through its savings after losing jobs because of the coronavirus. The COVID-19 is just totally wiping us out, said Shalonda Joseph, 43, a teacher in Port Arthur. Edwards lamented that the storm meant suspension of community testing for COVID-19 at a crucial time as elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana open and students return to college campuses. Forecasters said storm surge topped by waves could submerge entire towns. Laura was expected to cause widespread flash flooding in states far from the coast. Flood watches were issued for much of Arkansas, and forecasters said heavy rainfall could arrive by Friday in parts of Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky. Laura is so powerful that its expected to become a tropical storm again once it reaches the Atlantic Ocean, potentially threatening the Northeast. Becky Clements, 56, evacuated from Lake Charles after hearing that it could take a direct hit. She and her family found an Airbnb hundreds of miles inland. Almost 15 years have passed since Hurricane Rita destroyed the city. The devastation afterward in our town and that whole corner of the state was just awful, Clements recalled. Whole communities were washed away, never to exist again. Laura closed in on the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power and caused intense flooding. Laura will be the seventh named storm to strike the U.S. this year, setting a new record for U.S. landfalls by the end of August. The old record was six in 1886 and 1916, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. ___ Martin reported from Marietta, Georgia, and Plaisance from Stephensville, Louisiana. Associated Press contributors include John L. Mone in Port Arthur, Texas; Gerald Herbert in Lake Arthur, Louisiana; Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas; Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland; Juan A. Lozano in Houston; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Julie Walker in New York and Sophia Tulp in Atlanta. KERRVILLE, Texas, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a family-owned jewelry retailer based in Texas, announces the opening of its newest store today in Houston. "When we consider new store locations, our customers and their shopping experiences are always our number one consideration," says James Avery CEO John McCullough. "We hope this new Houston location will provide memorable and convenient shopping experiences for both long-time and new customers." Putting customer and associate safety first, the Gulfgate Center store is following recommended COVID-19 health protocols and guidelines which have been implemented in all James Avery stores. Hand sanitizing stations are set up in store for customers and associates and all jewelry and high-touch areas of the store are regularly cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, the company asks customers to honor social distancing guidelines and to wear face coverings when in the store. James Avery associates undergo daily health screenings and wear facemasks. The Gulfgate James Avery Artisan Jewelry store is located at 560 Gulfgate Center, Houston, Texas 77087 near Ross Dress for Less. Current operating hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. and are subject to change. Store Manager Maria Karaganis and her team are ready to welcome customers to shop in the new store or use their Contactless, Curbside Pickup or Buy Online, Pickup in Store options at JamesAvery.com. The James Avery team will announce plans for a grand opening celebration after regular store operations resume across the company. About James Avery Artisan Jewelry James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, gemstones and leather handbags. James Avery jewelry is designed by our own skilled artisans in Kerrville, Texas. We are a multi-channel retailer with 95 James Avery stores in four states. Our jewelry is also available in more than 220 Dillard's stores in Texas and 28 additional states, airport stores in Austin and Houston, Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations at Fort Hood and Fort Belvoir and nationwide through JamesAvery.com. James Avery crafts jewelry in Texas workshops in Comfort, Hondo and Kerrville, made of the finest materials sourced worldwide. For more information, visit JamesAvery.com or facebook.com/JamesAvery. SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry Related Links https://www.jamesavery.com TAIZHOU, China, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Preprints with The Lancet has published a preliminary study report on Turkey's using Favipiravir produced by Hisun to treat COVID-19. The report says after Favipiravir was used in hospitals across Turkey for five days, the overall ICU patient admission rate in the country was reduced by half and that for patients under 60 years old dropped from nearly 20% to 6.6%, with a significant decline in the intubation rate (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3622357). The Turkish Government has taken a series of preventive measures since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early January. Later on March 25, it incorporated Favipiravir into the COVID-19 treatment scheme and sent one million Favipiravir tablets purchased from Hisun to hospitals all over the country for the free treatment of COVID-19 patients. Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, with the early use of Favipiravir in Turkey, the pneumonia rate sees a gradual decline and that in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, has dropped from 12.1% to 5.61% (https://anadoludabugun.com.tr/turkiye/saglik-bakani-koca-evde-tedavide-yeni-bir-uygulamaya-geciyoruz-122238h). Now the pandemic continues to worsen worldwide, a number of asymptomatic patients pose the greatest challenge for the battle against the disease in the world. For about 10-15% mild or moderate cases, the infection will spread to the lungs. When that happens, the disease can snowball from moderate to severe "very, very quickly," said Bruce Aylward, an assistant director-general with the World Health Organization (https://www.michigansthumb.com/science/article/How-a-mild-case-of-COVID-19-can-turn-deadly-15123209.php). Therefore,the early diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms is extremely important. Favipiravir produced by Hisun has been recommended by a good many countries for treating COVID-19 and has already been used to support over 20 countries and regions in battling the disease (https://irannewsgazette.com/about-us/). Contact person: Ms. Li Email: hisun-haisheng@hisunpharm.com Tel: +86-137-180-259-66 Website: http://www.hisunpharm.com/en/favipiravir.php YouTube: https://youtu.be/2sTb1AEXLWU Justice Minister Naomi Long has warned it could take up to 18 months before payments are made (Neil Harrison/AllianceParty/PA) A victims group is seeking a meeting with Justice Minister Naomi Long over a payment scheme for the injured. Ms Long has warned it could take up to 18 months before payments are made, as well as estimating the cost of the scheme at 800 million. The figure has been questioned by some, including the Wave Trauma Centre, whose chief executive, Sandra Peake, said the majority of those who will qualify for the payments were injured during the 1970s and 1980s and few will still be receiving a pension in 30 years time. In July the Executive Office estimated the scheme would cost 165 million. UHRWs Axel Schmidt is seeking a meeting with @naomi_long @Justice_NI to see if innocent victims of terrorism could get interim payments b4 Christmas. If not, victims will have to wait up to 18 mths for entitlements. @niexecutive @BrandonLewis @News_Letter @BelTel @irish_news pic.twitter.com/vxDNwvuBos Ulster Human Rights Watch (@UlsterHumanRW) August 26, 2020 Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) is set to ask Ms Long whether interim payments can be made to victims before Christmas. UHRW advocacy manager Axel Schmidt described the 18-month wait for payments as hard to fathom, adding that many innocent victims will be further disappointed and incensed. Why will it take so long? Surely the minister and her senior civil servants have put all the necessary building blocks in place so that further unnecessary and bureaucratic delays can be avoided? he said. Ulster Human Rights Watch would like to think the Justice Department could open a dedicated section within the department to fast-track applications, assess claimants suffering from psychological conditions such as PTSD, and get payments made a lot sooner than 18 months. Mr Schmidt said he also has questions about the funding of the scheme, the Victims Payment Board and government guidance. We know the minister is sympathetic to the plight of innocent victims, he said. Surely, it is possible for the department to set up an interim payment process where victims could be awarded a one-off sum of 2,000, which could be paid before Christmas. Such a gesture would be well received and be a tangible demonstration of goodwill and understanding towards victims. Expand Close Belfast bomb victim Jennifer McNern, outside Belfasts High Court (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Belfast bomb victim Jennifer McNern, outside Belfasts High Court (Liam McBurney/PA) The scheme was due to open for applications at the end of May but was held up over disagreement around who should qualify for the payments and whether Westminster or Stormont should pay for it. The Stormont Executive was forced to move to nominate a department to administer the scheme following a High Court ruling last week that the ongoing delay was unlawful. Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill was highly criticised by the judge for refusing comply with a legislative requirement to set up the scheme to gain political leverage over the UK Government. The joint legal challenge was brought by Jennifer McNern, who lost both legs in a Troubles bombing in 1972, and Brian Turley, one of the hooded men who were arrested and interrogated by the British Army in 1971. A fire broke out in the protocol department in the North block of the Kerala Secretariat on Tuesday (August 25). According to sources, the block houses important offices and the fire broke out at section II of the protocol section under the General Administration Department. It is learnt that some files, documents and computers were burnt in the fire. The opposition BJP and Congress claimed that the fire at Kerala Secretariat was a conspiracy to destroy evidence in gold smuggling case. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded a comprehensive probe in the incident, while state BJP president K Surendran alleged that the blaze was an attempt to destroy evidence related to gold smuggling case. BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan also echoed similar feelings and said that there are elements who want to sabotage inquiry of Kerala gold smuggling case. "There are very important files in Protocol Office. It doesn't have any security. Had there been security, it wouldn't have happened," he told ANI. "We demand a thorough inquiry, culprit should be booked immediately. We suspect that there is a very well planned move for sabotaging files in the Protocol Office," he added. Congress MLA VT Balram said that his party has demanded a high-level inquiry in this matter. He added that the Congress does not believe in the official level inquiry with some middle-level IAS officers because role of even the Chief Secretary is questionable. Balram noted that even Chief Secretary is a suspect in this case. "It was under his order that the elected representatives, MLAs were detained & restricted from entering Secretariat premises. We demand that NIA, that is probing gold smuggling case, take note of this and inquire into this incident as well," added Balram. The Kerala gold smuggling case grabbed headlines on July 5 when gold, weighing over 30 kg, was seized by the Customs Department from the "diplomatic baggage" that had landed by air cargo at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport from the Gulf. The seized gold was worth nearly Rs 15 crore. Laura is approaching the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane with "unsurvivable storm surge" expected in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center. "Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes," the NHC said in a statement. "This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline. Only a few hours remain to protect life and property and all actions should be rushed to completion." Parts of eastern Texas and western Louisiana are forecast to see "catastrophic wind damage," especially in places where the storm's eyewall makes landfall early Thursday morning, the NHC said. Residents in affected areas are being instructed to evacuate and are urged to brace for "widespread damaging wind gusts" that will spread well inland across parts of those areas. PHOTO: Mark Allums, left, and Hunter Clark watch waves crash ashore as outer bands from Hurricane Laura begin to hit the coast, Aug. 26, 2020, in High Island, Texas. (Jon Shapley/AP) Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates. 12:08 a.m.: Extreme wind warning now in effect The first extreme wind warning has been issued at midnight for coastal areas from Beaumont, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Laura is about 60 miles south of Lake Charles with winds holding at 150 mph, a strong Category 4 storm. Cameron, Louisiana, on the southern coast, has already had a gust of 67 mph. A tornado watch remains in effect for parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi until 8 a.m. local time. As Hurricane Laura approaches the coast, numerous tornadoes will be possible through the overnight and early morning hours. There are tornado warnings in effect for parts of southern Louisiana. There was one reported tornado already on Wednesday in Assumption Parish, Louisiana. 10:30 p.m.: Texas roads already impassable; health emergency declared With the storm still about 90 miles south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, there are already roads underwater, according to officials. Story continues State Highway 87 on the Bolivar Peninsula is now impassable, according to the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management. The Texas Department of Transportation has also closed Interstate 10 between Texas and Louisiana in anticipation of the storm. Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that his state was prepared to make water rescues, led by the National Guard. "As #HurricaneLaura comes ashore the @TexasGuard is ready," he tweeted. "Texas Task Forces 1 & 2 @txtf1 and the Texas Parks & Wildlife @TPWDnews are prepared for water rescues. Texas Department of Public Safety @TxDPSwill patrol the area to assist local law enforcement. Then, we rebuild." As #HurricaneLaura comes ashore the @TexasGuard is ready. Texas Task Forces 1 & 2 @txtf1 and the Texas Parks & Wildlife @TPWDnews are prepared for water rescues. Texas Department of Public Safety @TxDPS will patrol the area to assist local law enforcement. Then, we rebuild. https://t.co/ScnIbe2tBf Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 27, 2020 Additionally, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has declared public health emergencies in Texas and Louisiana to give assistance to health care providers in the states. "Hurricane Laura is an extremely dangerous storm that poses a significant threat to the health and safety of Louisianans and Texans," HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. "We have been working for months to prepare for the challenges of hurricanes striking land during the COVID-19 pandemic. With these declarations and waivers, the Trump Administration is helping to ensure that Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid have continuous access to the care they need during and after the storm." 10:05 p.m.: Nurses, doctors prepare for storm in Beaumont At CHRISTUS Southeast Texas-St. Elizabeth, a hospital in Beaumont, Texas, the hospital was bustling with nurses carrying bedding to the various places they are assigned for the night. Workers are expecting to be there for a week. Luckily the ugly, brick beast was built in the 1950s, replete with a bunker able to withstand a nuclear attack, which is now the ER. More ER nurses volunteered to ride out the storm than needed. Kristen Hauffpaur doesnt know when shell see her 3-year-old again. When she closed the door of the car, she told her daughter, "Mama loves you," and warned here there would be "a lot of wind." Friends were evacuating with her daughter, because Hauffpaur and her husband volunteered to work through the storm here in the emergency department. "It's my calling," she told ABC News. As of 9 p.m. local time, the storm was holding at 150 mph and was about 90 miles south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph are being reported along portions of the Louisiana coast. 9:37 p.m.: Storm closes in on northwest Gulf Coast Hurricane Laura has sustained winds at 150 mph, and is moving north-northwest at 15 mph. The center of the storm is currently about 95 miles south of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and about 95 miles south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas. Winds are increasing right now as Laura takes aim at the northwest Gulf Coast. Catastrophic storm surge, extremes winds and flash flooding are expected tonight. PHOTO: A car near Vermilion Bay drives through waters brought by Hurricane Laura approaching Abbeville, La., on Aug. 26, 2020. (Kathleen Flynn/Reuters) 8:37 p.m.: Sheriff has stark warning for those who don't evacuate The sheriff's office in Louisiana's Vermilion Parish isn't mincing words for those who decide not to evacuate before the storm's arrival. "Those choosing to stay and face this very dangerous storm must understand that rescue efforts cannot and will not begin until after storm and surge has passed and it is safe to do so," the sheriff's office posted to social media. "Please evacuate and if you choose to stay and we cant get to you, write your name, address, social security number and next of kin and put it a ziplock bag in your pocket." "Praying that it does not come to this!" the sheriff's office added. Vermilion Parish and Cameron Parish, which sit on the Gulf Coast in the southwest corner of the state, are likely to get the worst of the storm in the Bayou State. MORE: Hurricane Laura to deliver dangerous storm surge: What you need to know Police have ordered mandatory evacuations for numerous areas in those parishes, and a curfew has been ordered from 9 p.m. local time until 5 a.m. as Laura approaches landfall early Thursday morning. 7:52 p.m.: Winds increase to 150 mph as storm turns northward Hurricane Laura's sustained winds have increased to 150 mph as the storm approaches the coast of Texas and Louisiana. The storm is about 120 miles south of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the same distance south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, as it continues its push toward the Gulf Coast. PHOTO: Local resident Robert Sawyer, 48, boards up businesses ahead of Hurricane Laura in Galveston, Texas, Aug. 26, 2020. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) Laura is beginning a more northward turn, moving at 15 mph toward the north-northwest. 7:06 p.m.: Cameron Parish taking all precautions as storm nears Officials in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, say the area is bracing for the worst as Laura approaches. In an interview with ABC News, Cameron Parish Assistant Director of OEM Ashley Buller said the parish is taking all precautions as projections indicate that it could get the brunt of the storm. The parish, much of which is marshy bayou, is home to about 7,000 residents, most of whom have heeded the warnings to evacuate, Buller said. Authorities know of about 150 residents who have opted to stay behind, Buller said, and officials have their contact information so they can send search-and-rescue responders to check on them once it's safe to do so. All emergency operations have been moved to the OEM offices in neighboring Calcasieu Parish, Buller said. 5:51 p.m.: Tornadoes will pose additional threat In addition to hurricane conditions, forecasters says residents in Laura's path should be on the lookout for possible tornadoes as the storm approaches landfall. Due to Laura's strength, there is the increasing threat of several tornadoes this evening and continuing overnight across parts of Central Louisiana. PHOTO: Due to the strength of Hurricane Laura, there is the increasing threat of tornadoes from East Texas to across parts of central Louisiana. (ABC News) There was at least one reported tornado in Paincourtville, Louisiana, but there no damage was immediately reported. A tornado watch is in effect for several areas, including Port Arthur, Texas, Alexandria, Louisiana and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 5:20 p.m.: Landfall expected between 2-5 a.m. ET Hurricane Laura is expected to strike land between 2-5 a.m. ET based on the latest observations. Wind and water levels in the gulf are increasing as the storm makes its way toward the Texas and Louisiana coast. PHOTO: Hurricane Laura is seen on satellite on Aug. 26, 2020, with the center of the storm about 155 miles south of Lake Charles, La. (ABC News) The storm is about 155 miles south of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the same distance south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, according to the NHC. The eye of the storm is more than 400 miles wide. Maximum sustained winds continue to hit 145 mph as the storm heads northwest at 15 mph. 4:42 p.m.: FEMA, Red Cross preparing for storm FEMA officials say they're prepared to stage a large response across Louisiana and Texas, with nearly 600 trained disaster workers on hand to support communities threatened by the hurricane. The Red Cross has also pre-positioned shelter and relief supplies along the Gulf Coast, and additional workers are standing by if needed, officials said. PHOTO: Hurricane Laura is forecast to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds around 150 mph. (ABC News) "Over the past few days our volunteers have been working tirelessly to position supplies and shelter teams across the state," American Red Cross Louisiana Regional Executive Joshua Joachim said. "As the storms shift, we shift with them and remain prepared to meet the immediate needs of those impacted across Louisiana." As many as 5,000 people are being housed in emergency lodgings, including shelters and hotel, emergency officials said. 3:24 p.m.: Louisiana's Cameron Parish expected to be underwater Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is urging residents in the southwestern part of the state to pay especially close attention to the storm as it approaches landfall in Cameron Parish early Thursday morning. The governor said the hurricane could bring storm surges that residents haven't seen since a 1957. PHOTO: Demeteri Bushnell gets a hug from her great niece as they and other evacuees prepare to board a bus as they are evacuated by local and state government officials before the arrival of Hurricane Laura, on Aug. 26, 2020, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) The state has activated its entire National Guard, something it hasn't done in "many years," according to the governor. "This is a very serious storm -- I don't think I have ever held a press conference to take something as seriously as I am right now," Edwards told reporters. "Our state hasn't seen a storm surge like this in many decades. Same with wind speeds." MORE: As Hurricane Laura approaches, tips to keep in mind if you're evacuating Forecasters say residents should expect to see storm surge of up to 18-20 feet. The majority of Cameron Parish will be totally underwater at some point, according to the NHC. The state said it has reserved 2,000 hotel rooms for residents in need. On Tuesday night it put up some 800 people in hotel rooms. 2:26 p.m.: Major airlines issue waivers as storm cancels flights All major U.S. airlines -- United, Southwest, Delta, American and JetBlue -- have issued weather waivers to allow travelers to adjust flights potentially impacted by Hurricane Laura without fees. There are currently 643 storm-related flight cancellations, according to FlightAware. More than 400 of today's cancellations are at Houston Bush International Airport, representing about 60% of their total flights. 2:14 p.m.: Texas governor says to "get out of harm's way" Texas has added three more counties to the state's disaster declaration, covering most of East Texas and bringing the total number to 36. "I urge anyone in harm's way to get out of harm's way," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at a briefing. "Because of the power of this storm, if you are unable or do not get out of harm's way ... for almost a 24-hour time period there will be no ability for rescuers and aiders to get in and assist you in any way." The state has dedicated 400 buses, 38 aircraft, 82 boats and 202 high profile vehicles to disaster relief, authorities say. It also ordered 60 ambulances and an additional 75 paratransit vehicles to assist in moving residents. PHOTO: Daoith Porm, left, and Bunsant Khov, right, board up their business as Hurricane Laura approaches, Aug. 26, 2020, in Bridge City, Texas. (Eric Gay/AP) More than 5,000 people are already sheltered and officials are preparing for many more. The expected storm surge, described by officials as "unsurvivable," could continue inland for about 30 miles. 1:52 p.m.: Laura is now a Category 4 storm Laura has strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, making it "extremely dangerous," says the National Hurricane Center. The center of the storm is about 200 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and about 200 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas. The storm will bring catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding to the Gulf Coast tonight, the National Hurricane Center says. Little time remains to protect life and property, authorities say. 12:56 p.m.: Louisiana officials expect catastrophic events from storm OEM officials in Louisiana are putting it bluntly to residents: Leave and leave now. In their final briefing before Laura makes landfall, officials with Louisiana's Calcasieu Parish say they expect catastrophic events from the storm. "Short of pulling people out of their homes, we have done everything humanly possible to get people out of Calcasieu Parish," said Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter. "As much as it pains me, we are quickly getting to the point where you are going to have to hunker down. Public safety is not going to be able to respond." PHOTO: LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA- AUGUST 25: (L-R) Lacey Buller, Tyler Arnold and Mike Buller work on placing plywood over the windows of their business before the arrival of Hurricane Laura on August 25, 2020 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Sheriff Tony Mancuso said that while they could protect property from looters, they can't protect homes from the wind and the storm surge, both of which are expected to be well above the devastating effect that Hurricane Rita had in 2005. He, too, begged people to leave and leave now. "There is nothing at my house that is so important in my house that I would stay there," he said. "I would love to leave. It is not an option for me. It is an option for you." In addition to those leaving in their own vehicles, more than 800 people have been bused out of the area. If told to evacuate, do so NOW. Life-threatening storm surge will start today & could go up to 30 miles inland. Prepare to be without power for days. Follow directions of your local officials. Be ready to adapt to #COVID19 guidelines as we respond to #Laura together. Pete Gaynor (@FEMA_Pete) August 26, 2020 12:01 p.m.: Storm is a Category 3 with 125 mph winds Laura has winds of 125 mph and is forecast to reach 145 mph. The storm is currently a Category 3 and is expected to reach Category 4 if winds increase as expected. In an interview with ABC News, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he woke up Tuesday morning to find Laura's track had shifted slightly west and closer to Houston, the country's fourth-largest city with a population of about 7 million. MORE: Parts of Southeast Texas under mandatory evacuation as storm strengthens Officials in Houston and Harris County urged residents to stay off the roads so people evacuating have access to the freeways. Local officials urged all residents in the storm's path to fill up their gas tanks and generators. The mayor urged people not to panic. City officials said they don't expect Laura to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda, which both led to catastrophic flooding. They do, however, expect this storm to be a fast-moving wind event, which could bring a storm surge, structural damage and power outages. Compounding the situation is the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why Turner told residents to stock up on necessary food, supplies and PPE. He said he anticipates that COVID-19 testing will be suspended until after the storm and that the city won't be opening mass shelters as it has in years past. Laura has kept people along the Gulf Coast guessing for days as the projected track continues to change. Forecasters say the storm could strengthen to a Category 4 even before it makes landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday. ABC News' Matt Gutman, Janice McDonald and Mina Kaji contributed to this report. Sheriff has grim advice for those who don't evacuate Hurricane Laura originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WATERLOO REGION A local virologist is warning Waterloo Region to prepare for a bumpy road when schools reopen this fall. The virus is not gone, its here, said Stephanie DeWitte-Orr, a virologist and immunologist with Wilfrid Laurier University. And any time that people get together, there is a chance of transmitting the virus. The more people getting together, the more chances. The Ontario Ministry of Education released its return-to-school guidelines on Wednesday, laying out the framework for how schools will manage potential COVID-19 outbreaks. Premier Doug Ford called it the safest, most cautious plan in Canada, before adding he is ready to ramp up precautions if necessary. The 21-page document, Operational guidance: COVID-19 management in schools, looks at the various scenarios that could arise throughout the school year a bus driver, teacher, student or parent with a confirmed case and lays out recommendations for how the teacher, principal and school board should respond. The local public health unit is responsible for determining if an outbreak exists, declaring an outbreak, and providing direction on outbreak control measures to be implemented, the report says. The region should expect to see some school closures this fall, said DeWitte-Orr. I would be very surprised if we didnt see some outbreaks happening, she said. DeWitte-Orr has two kids in elementary school, aged seven and nine, and is already seeing how tough it is to get them to buy in to COVID-19 protocols. My son sucks on his mask, he isnt always using it properly, she said. One positive, she said, is research has shown that young kids dont seem to be very good at transmitting the virus, and when they do get infected, they dont often have serious symptoms. However, she recommends parents watch the cases at the community level. If they begin to rise, she said, she wouldnt hesitate to take her children out of school. Unlike long-term care facilities, where a single positive COVID-19 case would be considered an outbreak, schools will require two or more cases within a 14-day period for an outbreak to be called. However, local public health units will start monitoring after one case. The public health unit will then guide the school on the proper response, and has the power to enact partial or complete closures of the school until the outbreak is contained. Outbreaks will be declared over after 14 days with no evidence of transmission, but the outbreak doesnt necessarily need to be over to reopen the school in cases where there has been a closure. Cohorts without evidence of transmission can be gradually brought back to school as additional information and test results become available, the report reads. Testing is strongly suggested for students showing symptoms, but is not mandatory to return to class unless theyve had contact with a confirmed case. Students who show symptoms or have been exposed to the virus will be required to isolate for 14 days before returning to school. A negative test does not reduce the 14-day self-isolation period. Parents are also asked to screen their children every day before they send them to school, and teachers and staff members are required to monitor for illnesses in the classroom. Students forced to isolate will be able to attend class virtually if they feel they are able. John Shewchuk, chief managing officer of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, confirmed Wednesday that virtual learning will be offered. The teacher will need to be involved in facilitating the lesson, he said, and it will also apply to students who may be required to isolate for 14 days if a parent or sibling they live with tests positive for COVID-19. For public elementary schools, Waterloo Region District School Board spokesperson Alana Russell said all in-person classroom teachers will be setting up a digital platform to communicate with both parents and students at home. If a child is home ill for a period of time, they will be able to participate in their classs digital classroom, she said. There will be asynchronous learning opportunities (learning thats not in real time) posted in the digital classroom. We are currently exploring opportunities for synchronous (real-time) learning as well. -with files from Laura Booth FM Spox terms IAEA reports as best reference for reducing Iran's JCPOA commitments IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 25, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said five steps of Iran on reducing nuclear-related commitments have been fully implemented and the reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are the best reference for it. He said the officials of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran should present final and technical elaborations in this regard but definitely, all items of the five steps have been fully implemented. Iran has precisely implemented what it has mentioned in line with reducing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments, he said, adding that uranium enrichment is done as needed. Iranian cabinet in a statement on January 5, announced the country's decision to take the final step to reduce commitments to the JCPOA. The cabinet further stated in its statement that as the fifth step to reduce its commitments, Iran will abandon the last key restriction in the operation field put up in the JCPOA literally "the limitations in the number of centrifuges". It added that Iran's nuclear program will not face any kind of restrictions in such areas and will go on solely according to the country's technical needs. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In a major boon for British aviation, Vertical Aerospace, the Bristol-based company pioneering affordable electric aviation, today (August 26) announced plans for a revolutionary flying taxi, the VA-1X. Capable of carrying up to five people (four passengers and a pilot), the VA-1X is set to be the worlds first certified winged all-electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and is on course to start commercial flights in 2024. Build will begin shortly, with manufacturing taking place in the UK, a statement said. VA-1X will boast cruise speeds of 150 mph with a useable range of up to 100 miles, meaning passengers could travel from London to Brighton in approximately half an hour, compared to two hours driving, or an hour by train. The aircraft will bypass road congestion, and will be certified to the same safety standards as commercial airlines. Its eVTOL technology ensures the VA-1X will be completely emission-free. Vertical Aerospaces ultimate aim is to make the VA-1X significantly cheaper than helicopter flights, removing one of the major barriers to environmentally friendly air travel. Prices for air taxi services are initially expected to be between a helicopter flight and a private car, and will decrease as adoption grows. World-class companies are participating in the initiative. These include Honeywell, which is supplying flight controls and control laws, and has signed a letter of intent to provide a vehicle management system for the prototype. Additional features will include: Reduced noise pollution - 30x quieter than a helicopter thanks to the VA-1Xs distributed propulsion system; 15-metre wingspan, 13 metres in length, ensuring it can take off and land from existing helipads; fly-by-wire flight control systems to make aircraft simple to fly, while its simple design optimises safety; efficient aerodynamics, enabling it to fly with far less energy and power than a helicopter; Payload capacity of 450kg; EASA-certified design and powered by Lithium-ion batteries. As demand for sustainable travel surges, eVTOL technology has gained rapid momentum, with the autonomous aircraft market predicted to reach $1.5 trillion by 2040 according to findings from Morgan Stanley Research. Since its creation in 2016 by OVO Founder, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Vertical Aerospace has quickly established itself as a leader in eVTOL technology. It is one of only seven companies in the world to have successfully flown multiple full-scale eVTOL prototypes, undertaking two trials with UK Civil Aviation Authority approval, and is the first company to introduce F1 technology to eVTOL aircraft. The combination of F1s pace and agility with aerospace rigour and discipline is central to the companys vision, with Vertical Aerospace establishing bases in Bristol, one of the top three aerospace hubs in the world, and in the F1 cluster in Oxfordshire. eVTOL technology will revolutionise travel, combining the safety of commercial airlines with the disruptive environmental and cost benefits of the electrification of flight said Michael Cervenka, CEO, Vertical Aerospace. With the launch of the VA-1X, were proud to be taking eVTOL one step closer to mass-market adoption, and supporting the next era of aviation. At Vertical Aerospace we believe that people should be able to quickly and affordably get from A to B without sacrificing the planet - with the VA-1X, this vision will start to be realised in under five years. We are proud to be contributing to Vertical Aerospaces aircraft. The VA-1X is a beautiful vehicle and an important technical milestone for the urban air mobility industry, said Stephane Fymat, Honeywells vice president and general manager of urban air mobility and unmanned aerial systems. "Honeywell is honored to be working with Vertical to enable this major advancement with our compact fly-by-wire and UAM-optimized flight deck technologies."TradeArabia News Service WASHINGTON: A small number of U.S. troops were injured during an incident with Russian forces in Syria, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday. While such interactions between American and Russian forces are not rare, the incident highlights the risks of troops from both countries operating in close proximity in northern Syria and the potential for an escalation in tensions. One of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the injuries were a result of a collision and not any exchange of fire. The other official said the incident took place earlier this week in northeastern Syria and the injuries were mild. The Pentagon and the U.S. militarys Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the region, declined to comment. The U.S. military said the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley spoke with his Russian counterpart on Wednesday, but provided no details on what was discussed. The U.S. military does not generally comment on injuries. However, last month a paratrooper was killed during a vehicle rollover accident in eastern Syria. Videos on social media showed Russian military vehicles, backed by a pair of helicopters, driving dangerously close to U.S. armored vehicles. The origin of the videos was unclear. Earlier this year, another video showed a close interaction between troops on a Syrian road. About 500 U.S forces remain in northern Syria after a sharp reduction in troops that were initially there to drive out Islamic State militants from all of their strongholds in the country. Some of the areas also have oil resources, something President Donald Trump has cited as a justification for keeping U.S. troops partnered with Kurdish allies in the region. The injuries were first reported by Politico. 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 Students and parents from across the country are demanding postponement of the JEE-NEET exams due to COVID-19 pandemic The Congress on Wednesday announced that it will hold countrywide protests on August 28 to oppose the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said the move is in line with concerted opposition to this "dictatorial move" of the government. State units of the Congress will be holding protests on August 28 at 11 am in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters, he said. In a statement, Venugopal said lakhs of students and parents from across the country are rightfully agitating and demanding postponement of the JEE-NEET exams, scheduled to be held in September. He said the government's decision to hold these exams during the COVID-19 crisis has created huge concern among the students and parents. 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 "Apart from the very obvious vulnerability to and risk of infection, the decision to hold the exams will undoubtedly make it increasingly difficult for students to appear for the exams due to the availability of limited transport and lodging during the pandemic. "While holding exams during the COVID-19 pandemic has put the students in a state of extreme mental stress, the grim flood situation in states like Assam and Bihar will further put students from those states at a severe disadvantage," he said. Venugopal said all these protest gatherings will take place following strict social distancing protocols issued by the respective health and civic authorities. He said the party has also decided to organise a massive nationwide online campaign, #SpeakUpForStudentSaftey on the same day from 10 am onwards, through videos and posts protesting this decision, on any of the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said health and safety of 25 lakh students are being jeopardised in the ensuing JEE, NEET exams as students are protesting across the country. He also wondered why the government was "refusing to listen to their grievances, deliberate upon them and find a solution acceptable to all". Posing a set of questions, Surjewala asked who will "oversee that the guidelines and protocols do not remain an empty paper formality". He further asked what special arrangements have been made for students of flood affected Bihar and Assam. There has been growing chorus for postponement of the NEET-JEE exams. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 21:22:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Exhibitions of the 20th National Science and Technology Week are offering the public a glance at China's innovations in the fight against COVID-19. Products, including an advanced wearable thermometer and rapid test kits for COVID-19, are being showcased at the main venue in Beijing. Visitors to the "cloud exhibition hall," launched for the first time, can see mobile makeshift hospitals, unmanned vehicle-based infrared thermal monitoring, reusable masks, and equipment for anti-virus drug research. The annual National Science and Technology Week is China's most influential science popularization event. Models of China's lunar rover Yutu, underwater glider Haiyi, and the satellite Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope are also on display. This year's event will last until Aug. 29. Enditem Trot Insider has received details regarding an upcoming celebration of life for Pat Wilkinson, who passed away on March 23, 2020 at the age of 76 after a fight with cancer. Patsy Ann 'Pat' was born in England to Ida (Drane) and Willis Hall and came as a baby to the town of Wingham, Ontario, where she grew up with her siblings, Barb, Brenda and Joe, who will miss her dearly. Pat was a devoted wife of 53 years to David Wilkinson, longtime horseman from Goderich, mother to Matt (Sue) and Pam Forgie (Mike), and grandmother to Jamie, Jenna and Tristen. Pat was very proud of them and enjoyed watching them succeed in all their adventures. Pat will also be missed by her many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and their families. Pat worked at Champion Motor Graders/Volvo for almost 30 years in the purchasing department, was active in many organizations in her community, including St Georges Anglican Church, Goderich Lioness Club, and more recently the Goderich Legion. Pat was a very kind soul who touched many people's lives and always had a way of making new friends wherever she went. She was much loved for her sense of humour, loyal friendship, and positive energy. She and her delicious 'Patsy Pies' will be missed greatly. A celebration of life will take place this coming Sunday (August 30) at the home of Dave Wilkinson, 110 Brock St. Goderich, Ont. from 1-5 p.m. The family's hope is that they have allowed enough time for everyone to have a chance to give their condolences to the family and to share memories and good times while respecting the social distancing and safety protocols put into place to keep everyone safe. Afterwards, the family will take her ashes to her requested final resting place. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Pat Wilkinson. No charges will be laid against police officers involved in the 2017 death of Indigenous woman Tanya Day, who died after being injured while in custody. Victoria Police told The Age it had received advice from the state's Office of Public Prosecution not to proceed with criminal charges against the officers involved in the matter, following a review of the case. Tanya Day, Yorta Yorta mother and grandmother. The news comes four months after the Deputy State Coroner referred Ms Day's case to the OPP, following a landmark coronial inquest into the 55-year-old's death, to assess whether criminal negligence had occurred. Will Ammonite be Kate Winslet's greatest love story? The Oscar winning actress, who has made many of us cry thanks to her work in Titanic, The Reader, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and more, will see her latest romantic period piece make its debut on Sept. 11 at the Toronto Film Festival. However, this time, Winslet's on-screen paramour is four-time Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan. For an in-depth profile with The Hollywood Reporter, the 44-year-old actress discussed filming passionate scenes with Ronan on Ammonite. On one of the film's more explicit scenes, Winslet noted, "Saoirse and I choreographed the scene ourselves." As fans will see in the recently dropped trailer, Ammonite follows fossil hunter Mary Anning (Winslet) as she develops an intense relationship with her married new apprentice (Ronan) in 1840s England. Directed by Francis Lee, the film is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 13. Matthew McConaughey Wanted to Be the Jack to Kate Winslet's Rose in Titanic "It's definitely not like eating a sandwich," Winslet continued. "I just think Saoirse and I, we just felt really safe. Francis was naturally very nervous. And I just said to him, 'Listen, let us work it out.' And we did. 'We'll start here. We'll do this with the kissing, boobs, you go down there, then you do this, then you climb up here.' I mean, we marked out the beats of the scene so that we were anchored in something that just supported the narrative." In fact, per Winslet, it's her choreographed love scenes with Ronan that she's most proud of. "I felt the proudest I've ever felt doing a love scene on Ammonite," she relayed to The Hollywood Reporter. "And I felt by far the least self-conscious." If it's anything like that steamy Titanic scene, we're sold. Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan According to Winslet, back in 2018, she signed onto the film 12 hours after reading the Ammonite script. As the A-list actress detailed, her love for the project prompted her to drop out of Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, also starring Ronan. Story continues "I had to pull out because I was so entrenched in Ammonite that I just freaked myself out thinking, 'Oh my God, I'd have to go to France. Come back. Then I'd only have three weeks until starting shooting Ammonite,'" she said. "And I just knew that I wasn't going to do my best, and so I had to say, 'I'm sorry.' I pulled my name out of the mix." Winslet went on to praise the film as "a story about women speaking up, speaking out." "I think uncovering stories where women were repressed in such a systemic way is highlighting how history has covered up those successes," Winslet shared. "We're not going to do that anymore, world." In regard to the #MeToo movement, Winslet confirmed that "casting couches existed." She stated, "It was very fucking real. Casting couches existed, yeah. All I can tell you is I was safe. I made sure I was. But this is a different time, and we're [now] protected by the stories of the brave people who have spoken out, and we have to look after one another, and we will not be disrespected, degraded, marginalized and undermined any fucking more. That's it. We're done. Boom!" Why #MeToo Founder Tarana Burke Initially Turned Down Michelle Williams' Golden Globes Invite You can catch Winslet's full interview in the Aug. 26 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. The University of Waikatos campus contract tracing system is attracting attention from institutions abroad heading back to class after the Northern Hemisphere summer while the COVID-19 pandemic still rages, as it could be a model for universities worldwide to allow the safer return of students to campuses. It could also help New Zealand allow foreign students back into the country. Built on the Salesforce platform in partnership with Datacom, the Check in before you Step in program enables 13,000 students and staff to log their campus movements. Using the camera on their smartphones, visitors capture QR codes at more than 5,000 check-in points at the entrance to buildings, floors and residences on campus. Those without a smartphone are asked to enter their details manually via the universitys website. [ Keep up on the latest thought leadership, insights, how-to, and analysis on IT through CIOs newsletters. ] University of Waikato CIO Eion Hall is fielding a number of overseas enquiries about the deployment. There is enormous pressure on tertiary institutions around the world to do this quickly and get it right. Thats why within a couple of weeks of launching the Check-In program we had requests from all kinds of universities and colleges to provide advice or more background information. Academic institutions in New Zealand are really at the forefront of this kind of response. The program was deployed in four weeks and was ready to go for the universitys second semester. It is used with the governments official NZ Covid Tracer app. Information about the program on the universitys website notes that the data collected may be disclosed to third parties, including government agencies such as the Ministry of Health, local district health boards, or the Tertiary Education Commission. The information will be held for a minimum of two months, or otherwise for as long as required for the purpose of contact tracing. Salesforce New Zealand managing director Craig Skinner says the information is stored in one the companys data centres offshore, possibly the Amazon Web Services Sydney data centre. The data is there for as long as the University of Waikato want to keep it there. Its all controlled by the University of Waikato. They are the only people with access to the data. Its kept in the system until they want to purge it or get rid of it. When asked if a similar solution could be used to enable international students to return to New Zealand, Skinner is enthusiastic. Absolutely, 100 per cent. I think from doing the Check in before you Step in side of things its a solution that could be replicated very easily across multiple organisations. And not just universities, other institutions. It could be churches; it could be anything like that. Skinner, who took over the role in March 2020, says multiple new deployments kicked off over the first lockdown. These included Briscoes click and collect initiative and Scouts NZs community outreach program. Salesforce has also worked with the government in New Zealand on in its response to the pandemic. Meanwhile, the University of Waikato has bolstered its online services to enable remote learning, which Hall says is a key focus for the 90 staff who work in the IT team. Cloud data volumes have increased to around 23 terabytes per month and online video conferencing has reached up to 1.5 million minutes per month through online labs, tutorials, workshops, forums and discussions. "We were all chanting 'Black lives matter' at the gas station and then we heard, boom, boom, and I told my friend, `'That's not fireworks,'" 19-year-old protester Devin Scott told the Chicago Tribune. "And then this guy with this huge gun runs by us in the middle of the street and people are yelling, 'He shot someone! He shot someone!' And everyone is trying to fight the guy, chasing him and then he started shooting again." The dead were identified only as 26-year-old Silver Lake, Wisconsin, resident and a 36-year-old from Kenosha. The wounded person, a 36-year-old from West Allis, Wisconsin, was expected to survive, police said. "A senseless tragedy like this cannot happen again," the governor, a Democrat, said in a statement. "I again ask those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights please do so peacefully and safely, as so many did last night. I also ask the individuals who are not there to exercise those rights to please stay home and let local first responders, law enforcement and members of the Wisconsin National Guard do their jobs." In the wake of the killings, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized the sending of 500 members of the National Guard to Kenosha, doubling the number of troops. The governor's office said he is working with other states to bring in additional National Guard members and law officers. Authorities also announced a 7 p.m. curfew, an hour earlier than the night before. "I just killed somebody," the gunman could be heard saying at one point during the rampage that erupted just before midnight. Two people were killed Tuesday night and a third was wounded in an attack carried out by a young white man who was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street with a semi-automatic rifle. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, was taken into custody in Illinois on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide. Antioch is about 15 miles from Kenosha. A white, 17-year-old police admirer was arrested Wednesday after two people were shot to death during a third straight night of protests in Kenosha over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Scott said he cradled a lifeless victim in his arms, and a woman started performing CPR, but "I don't think he made it." According to witness accounts and video footage, police apparently let the young man responsible for the shootings walk past them with a rifle over his shoulder with his hands in the air as members of the crowd were yelling for him to be arrested because he had shot people. As for why the gunman was allowed to leave, Sheriff David Beth portrayed the scene as chaotic, with screaming, chanting, nonstop radio traffic and "people running all over the place." "I can picture all kinds of reasons why I wasn't focusing on people doing that. In situations that are high stress, you have such incredible tunnel vision, you have no idea what's outside here when you're looking right here," he said. Rittenhouse, identified in court papers as a lifeguard at a YMCA in Lindenhurst, Illinois, was assigned a public defender in Illinois for a hearing Friday on his transfer to Wisconsin. The public defender's office had no comment. Under Wisconsin law, anyone 17 or older is treated as an adult in the criminal justice system. Much of Rittenhouse's Facebook page is devoted to praising law enforcement, with references to Blue Lives Matter, a movement that supports police. He also can be seen holding an assault rifle. Other photographs include those of badges of various law enforcement agencies, including the Chicago Police Department. All of the badges have a black line across them something police officers do with black tape or other material whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty. In a photograph posted by his mother, he is wearing what appears to be a blue law enforcement uniform as well as the kind of brimmed hat that state troopers wear. The sheriff told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that armed vigilantes had been patrolling Kenosha's streets in recent nights, but he did not know if the gunman was among them. However, video taken before the shooting showed police tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle to what appear to be armed civilians walking the streets. And one of them appears to be the gunman. "We appreciate you being here," an officer is heard saying to the group over a loudspeaker. The sheriff later defended officers by saying, "Our deputies would toss water to anybody." The FBI said it is assisting in the case. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is Black, said in an interview with the news program "Democracy Now!" that the shootings were not surprising and that white militias have been ignored for too long. "How many times across this country do you see armed gunmen, protesting, walking into state Capitols, and everybody just thinks it's OK?" Barnes said. "People treat that like it's some kind of normal activity that people are walking around with assault rifles." In Wisconsin, it is legal for people 18 and over to openly carry a gun, with no license required. Witness accounts and video show that the shootings took place in two stages: The gunman first shot someone at a car lot, then jogged away, stumbled and fell in the street, and opened fire again as members of the crowd closed in him. A witness, Julio Rosas, 24, said that when the gunman stumbled, "two people jumped onto him and there was a struggle for control of his rifle. At that point during the struggle, he just began to fire multiple rounds and that dispersed people near him." "The rifle was being jerked around in all directions while it was being fired," Rosas said. Sam Dirks, 22, from Milwaukee, said he had seen the suspected gunman earlier in the evening, and he was yelling at some of the protesters. "He was definitely very agitated. He was pacing around, just pointing his gun in general. Not necessarily at anyone specifically," Dirks said. Blake, 29, was shot, apparently in the back, on Sunday as he leaned into his SUV, three of his children seated inside. Kenosha police have said little about what happened other than that they were responding to a domestic dispute. They have not said whether Blake was armed, and they have not disclosed the race of three officers on the scene. On Tuesday, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Blake's family, said it would "take a miracle" for Blake to walk again. He called for the officer who opened fire to be arrested and for the others involved to lose their jobs. The shooting was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests in the U.S. three months after the death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer touched off a nationwide reckoning over racial injustice. During the unrest in Kenosha since then, protesters destroyed dozens of buildings, set fires and hurled objects at police, who responded with tear gas on three straight nights. Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that the person shot by police in Kenosha was Jacob Blake. Earlier, Zelensky asked the government to allow Belarusians willing to stay in Ukraine to cross in. The Cabinet of Ministers has explained whether Ukraine will make exceptions for foreigners seeking to enter the country before the end of September. Minister of the Cabinet Oleh Nemchynov in his comment to RBC Ukraine has recalled that Zelensky asked the government to simplify entry for citizens of Belarus pending quarantine restrictions at the border. Read alsoUkraine's Foreign Minister calls on Ukrainians not to travel Belarus amid protests"We had the president's order to support the citizens of Belarus in case they apply to stay in Ukraine. I think that within the framework of law, the decision on the allowing entry can be made by the head of the State Border Guard Service if such an appeal is submitted," Nemchynov explained. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has confirmed that such an exception was laid down in the resolution. The government decided to shut the country's border to foreigners from August 29 until September 28 due to a spike in COVID-19 incidence worldwide. At the same time, foreigners who are holders of a residence permit shall be allowed to cross in. Quarantine in Ukraine: background On August 26, the Cabinet of Ministers prolonged the adaptive quarantine across Ukraine until November 1. From August 1, adaptive quarantine provides for dividing Ukraine into four zones green, yellow, orange, and red depending on the epidemiological situation. In different zones, quarantine restrictions vary. The softest rules are introduced for the green zone, while the toughest bans are applied in the red zone. Around the time New Delhi and Islamabad scrambled fighter jets at their borders following Indias airstrike on a terror camp in Balakot in February last year, Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) asked Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operatives in Jammu and Kashmir to find out and pass on information on the location of Indian Air Force (IAF) bases, according to a charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Pulwama terror attack case on Tuesday. The audacious February 14 strike by the Jaish in southern Kashmirs Pulwama killed 40 Indian security personnel, triggered the IAF action against the terror camp deep inside Pakistan 12 days later, resulted in a dogfight between fighter jets of the two nations on February 27, and brought them on the brink of a war. In its 13,500-page charge sheet filed in a special NIA court in Jammu, NIA named 19 people, including Jaish leader Masood Azhar and four of his relatives, for planning and carrying out the attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy at the behest of Pakistan. Of the 19, six are dead, three are absconding, and seven have been arrested. Azhar and his two brothers are believed to be in Pakistan. According to the charge sheet, Azhars 24-year-old nephew Mohammad Umar Farooq was sent to Kashmir in 2018 to execute the bombing. Farooq, who was killed in an encounter by security forces on March 29, 2019, was in constant touch with Azhars brothers Abdul Rouf Asghar Alvi and Ammar Alvi, and received directions from them before, during and after the attack, the charge sheet said. It also included transcripts of the chats between them. Alvi told Farooq, the key figure behind the blasts, during one of these chats after the Balakot strike that ISI wanted Jaish operatives on the Indian side to find out about IAFs bases from where the fighter jets were being scrambled, said an official who asked not to be named, sharing details of the charge sheet. NIAs charge sheet also said Jaish planned to carry out a second suicide attack after the Pulwama bombing, but aborted its plans due to international pressure for action against the Pakistan-based terror group. Mufti (a reference to Azhar) has asked for the (second) attack to be put on hold, read a message received by Farooq from Pakistan, according to the agency. The Pakistan-based leadership of Masood Azhar, Asghar, and Ammar Alvi, alias Chota Masood, were continuously giving directions and guidance to the JeM terrorists (who infiltrated into India) both before and after the attack. They also planned to carry out another suicide attack, which was averted due to Balakot strikes and due to the killing of main conspirator Umar Farooq by the security forces, said NIA spokesperson Sonia Narang, who was involved in the investigation into the case. Farooq, according to NIA, was the son of Azhars younger brother Ibrahim Athar. Athar and four others hijacked the IC-814 Indian Airlines flight in December 1999, seeking Azhars release. Azhar was freed from an Indian prison in exchange for the 155 passengers of the hijacked aircraft, and went on to found the Jaish in 2000. Farooq infiltrated into India using a tunnel in the Jammu-Samba sector in April 2018, and took over as the Jaish commander of Pulwama, according to the agency. Since then, he spent most of his time planning, arranging for logistics and convincing the suicide bomber, Adil Ahmad Dar. Another Pakistani terrorist related to Azhars family, 25-year-old Mohammad Ismail, alias Saifullah, who is currently said to be hiding in the Kashmir valley, infiltrated along with Farooq. He is believed to be heading the Jaish in the Valley. After infiltrating into India, Umar Farooq took over as Jaish-e-Mohammad commander of Pulwama and along with his Pakistani compatriots Kamran Ali, Ismail, Qari Yasir and local associates Sameer Dar and Adil Ahmad Dar planned and prepared for the attack on security forces using IEDs, Narang said. Investigation also revealed a well-crafted mechanism by Pakistani establishment to push terrorists into the Indian territory from the launch pads located in Shakargarh (Pakistan) opposite Samba-Kathua sector in Jammu, she added. Apart from Azhar, Asghar Alvi, Ammar Alvi, Farooq, Mohammad Ismail, Kamran Ali and Qari Yasir all Pakistani nationals and Indian nationals Adil Ahmad Dar and Sameer Dar, the NIA charge sheet also named Shakir Bashir Magray, Insha Jan, her father Peer Tariq Ahmed Shah, Waiz-ul-Islam, Mohammad Abbas Rather, Mohammad Iqbal Rather, Bilal Ahmed Kuchhey, Sajjad Ahmed Bhat, Mudasir Ahmad Khan and Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo. Farooq, Kamran Ali, Sajjad Ahmed Bhat, Mudasir Ahmad Khan and Qari Yasir have been killed in encounters. Shakir Bashir Magray, Insha Jan, Peer Tariq Ahmed Shah, Mohammad Iqbal Rather, Mohammad Abbas Rather, Bilal Ahmed Kuchhey and Waiz-ul-Islam were arrested. Mohammad Ismail Alvi, Sameer Ahmad Dar and Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo are absconding. Farooq, a skilled bomb-maker trained in hybrid camps of al Qaeda, Taliban, Jaish and the Haqqani network inside Afghanistan in 2016-17, prepared improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using two jerrycans (one weighing 160kg and another 40kg), gelatin sticks, ammonium nitrate, ammonium powder and RDX on February 5 night, according to the charge sheet. Ali, also killed in the same encounter as Farooq, Sameer Ahmad Dar and Magray, helped Farooq at Magrays house. While the RDX was smuggled into India from Pakistan, other explosives were collected by Jaish operatives and overground workers from stone quarries in Kashmir, according to the NIA probe. On February 6, 2019, the jerrycans filled with explosives were loaded in a Maruti Eeco car that would eventually ram the CRPF convoy eight days later, according to the charge sheet. HT reported exclusively on March 4 this year that Jaish planned to carry out the attack in the first week of February, but postponed its plans since roads were closed and convoy movement stopped due to inclement weather. According to the NIA probe, Adil Ahmad Dar drove along with the CRPF convoy for a while before ramming it in the bus that was carrying the maximum number of troops. He was inspired to become a suicide bomber after watching a vitriolic video of Azhar, recorded in October 2018 after the killing of his nephew Usman Haider in Tral by security forces, the NIA said. In the video, the Jaish chief exhorted young Kashmiris to sacrifice their lives for jihad. Lot of digital, forensic, documentary and oral evidence establishing a fool-proof case for this dastardly and barbaric attack has been collected. The charge sheet has brought on record the all-out involvement of Pakistan-based entities to carry out terrorist strikes in India and to incite and provoke Kashmiri youth, Narang said. She added that non-bailable warrants were issued against Azhar, Alvi, Asghar and other absconding accused persons. Officials said the charge sheet was an irrefutable piece of evidence technical, material and circumstantial on Pakistans role in the attack. James Cunningham, 23, has been charged over the horrific incident on Officer Eric Hansen inside a Spartanburg Walmart last Thursday Surveillance camera has captured the moment a 'career criminal' assaulted an off-duty police officer working a second job as a Walmart security guard. James Cunningham, 23, has been charged over the horrific attack on Officer Eric Hansen, which took place in Spartanburg, South Carolina last Thursday. Video shows Hansen monitoring the Walmart's busy self-service area before Cunningham appears on the scene and charges directly towards him. The assailant then pushes the victim to the ground before punching him directly in the face multiple times. A crowd of shoppers are seen standing stunned as the violent scene unfolds. One customer then works with a Walmart employee to help wrestle Cunningham off of Hansen. The attacker can then be seen sprinting from the scene. Cunningham (center) can be seen charging directly towards Hansen, who was monitoring the self-service area According to WSPA, Cunningham attempted to flee in a black car, registered to his mother. However, he crashed into another vehicle in the parking lot. Cunningham then ran off on foot, before he was tracked down and arrested outside a nearby shopping center. He was charged with attempted murder, third degree assault and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Police say they retrieved a knife on Cunningham's person, but did not say whether it had been used in the attack on Hansen. Officer Hansen was taken to hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Cunningham wrestled Hansen to the ground in front of startled customers. He was armed with a knife at the time During a bond hearing on Friday, urged 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette urged a judge not to release Cunningham on bail. 'I've been in this business a long time. I've never seen an attack like this,' he stated. At the time of Thursday's attack, Cunningham was out on bail after being charged with assault after he reportedly punched a female co-worker while working at a McDonald's in 2018. Court records show the case is still pending. Meanwhile, in 2017, Cunningham was charged with attempted murder after stabbing his own brother in the neck. The charge was later dropped. Records reveal he was most recently convicted in a separate assault and battery case last month. Theater is a physical art form, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that its expanded online presence is here to stay, especially as the web smooths out issues of collaboration and access, both financial and physical. In Australia, for example, the Sydney Fringe Festival is expecting its new virtual event to be more than a stopgap measure. For the festivals chief executive and director, Kerri Glasscock, the Global Fringe initiative is not so much a replacement for the live festival as a new project that will hopefully continue beyond the pandemic, she wrote in an email. It opens up a doorway for festivals like ours to support and present a wider selection of works annually, to push form and function and develop new ways of presentation, and to ensure that our audiences are getting to see the best work from around the globe. Sydneys Global Fringe project includes both livestreams (including some from Sweden, thanks to a partnership with the Stockholm Fringe Festival) and shows recorded in Australia, Britain, Israel, New Zealand and the United States. What is remarkably ironic is that while all of our physical borders remain closed, our relationships with our international partners and colleagues have been strengthened, Glasscock said. (Sept. 2-27. Go to sydneyfringe.com for more information. Pay what you feel.) The Fringe moves to the (online) center Fringe festivals tend to be sprawling affairs, but luckily the virtual world can accommodate a lot of shows. In addition to the recorded productions available on Zoo TV, in lieu of the Edinburgh subfestival known as the Zoo, the Edinburgh hub theSpaceUK offers live and on-demand shows via its virtual portal, Online@thespaceUK. (Through Aug. 30 at online.thespaceuk.com. Free.) The International Francophone Organisation has suspended the membership of Mali in the wake of the army takeover on 18 August. The group of French-speaking nations has called for the liberation of overthrown President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, and an early return to civilian rule. In announcing the suspension of Mali, the permanent council of the Francophone group promised that current cooperation projects intended to benefit Mali's civilian population would not be affected. The statement from the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) went on to stress the need for continuing dialogue with a view to the reestablishment of democratic rule. The international organisation has called for the freeing of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who has been in army custody since the takeover. The establishment of a transitional civilian government is a matter of urgency, according to the statement from the Francophone group. The OIF has promised to send a high-level delegation to Bamako to evaluate the situation "in the next few days". Economic and political chaos Overthrown Malian leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had been at the helm since 2013. The country has since been the theatre of security, economic and political crises, and is considered a frontline state in the war to contain islamic terrorism in the sub-Saharan Sahel region. The regional political and economic bloc, Ecowas, has already suspended Mali's participation in all decision-making bodies. An Ecowas team is already in Bamako, working to ensure the immediate reinstatement of the president. Talks on Monday between that regional team and members of the military junta failed to resolve the question of a time-table or conditions for a return to civilian government. An emergency summit of Ecowas heads of state is to be held on Friday. Voters Should Watch Out for Election Meddling by Foreign Powers, Deputy AG Rosen Says Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen is urging the public to pay attention to efforts by foreign powers to influence the upcoming election, adding that the growth of technology and the internet has posed new challenges in recent years. Rosen on Wednesday underscored the importance of voters being aware of malign foreign influence in order to be able to make informed decisions when voting in the upcoming presidential election. In a talk with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the deputy attorney general said that foreign influence in elections is not new, and has been a concern since the founding of the Republic. Foreign powers have used different tactics over the years to try to stir up U.S. partisanship and influence public opinion, Rosen said. The tactics are usually described as being coercive, covert, and corrupt. Tactics went from being coercive to more deceptive and covert in the 20th century, with foreign governments actively concealing their roles in their efforts, Rosen said. But he said in recent years, the United States is facing unprecedented challenges due to the advent of the internet and more recently social media. Today, the media environment is considerably different and the internet and social media allow foreign actors to reach unprecedented numbers of Americans covertly, inexpensively, and directly, without necessarily having to go through the traditional media [and] without even having necessarily to set foot on U.S. soil, he said. For example, during the 2016 election cycle, Rosen said, the Russian Internet Research Agency spent a total of about $100,000 over two years on advertisements on Facebook to promote social discord and division and similarly placed disguise posts and tweets and several social media platforms. He said that these tools have allowed foreign powers such as Russia and China to become more sophisticated and more bold in their efforts. He said that back in 1986, the FBI told Congress that the Soviet Union measures to influence the election such as using forged government documents had relatively little success. But in recent years, foreign governments try to impersonate Americans on social media platforms, or manipulate digital content through deep fakes, which are more difficult to detect and counter, he said. Rosen also added that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has also developed highly sophisticated foreign influence campaigns in recent years by using bribery, blackmail, and other malign tactics to influence year-round policymaking as well as have an impact on U.S. elections. The PRC tactics are more subtle, more pernicious, more complex. Beijing, for example, works relentlessly to co-op seemingly independent middlemen who can influence members of Congress and a host of policies, he said. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has repeatedly warned about malign foreign influence in the past several months. Most recently, William Evanina, ODNIs director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said that his department was the most concerned about ongoing and potential activity by China, Russia, and Iran. Evanina said the CCP been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November in order to shape the policy environment in the United States, pressure political figures it views as opposed to Chinas interests, and deflect and counter-criticism of China, as it prefers President Donald Trump does not become re-elected. He said the CCPs public rhetoric had become increasingly critical of Trump administration in the past few months, in particular targeting issues such as the U.S. response to the CCP virus response and the closure of Chinas Houston Consulate. Similarly, Iran seeks to undermine U.S. institutions, Trump, and further divide the country prior to November, Evanina said. He said Iran is likely to focus its efforts on spreading disinformation on social media or recirculating anti-U.S. content. Meanwhile, the ODNI assessed that Russia is using tactics to denigrate Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who they see as an anti-Russia establishment. Evanina added that some Kremlin-linked actors are also seeking to boost Trumps candidacy on social media and Russian television. Rosen said that the DOJ has been taking steps to address these challenges such as assisting social media companies, campaigns, and election officials to harden and improve their platforms, networks, and infrastructure against these threats. He also said the FBI has also set up a task force aimed at investigating and working to counter such influence. He also said the DOJ has also ramped up its efforts to ensure foreign actors comply with the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a federal law that requires all persons working on behalf of a foreign government or entity to register with the DOJ and disclose any activities performed for or in the interests of a foreign power. He also said the department has also been cracking down on actors of malign influence operations who violate federal law such as when they hack email systems to make them public. The Trump administration has also used broader efforts to counter foreign influence by, for example, imposing financial sanctions on regimes that seek to engage in malign operations, Rosen said. This past year, Trump administration officials have been urging or educating the public to be aware of efforts to influence the election. In February, several top officials including Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray wrote an op-ed warning about the issue. Combating these threats requires a whole-of-society approach that deserves the attention of all Americans. While these threats to our elections are perennial, our efforts to defend our democracy are unwavering. As leaders of our government, we are committed to defending our democracy, but we need your help, too, they wrote. Earlier this month, the Department of State offered a $10 million reward for anyone who identifies or locates hackers who may be working for a foreign power to influence the U.S. election. President Erdogan said Turkey will do whatever is needed to obtain its rights in Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean. Turkey says it will hold live-fire exercises in the eastern Mediterranean on September 1 and 2, the latest in a series of military drills that have fuelled tensions with Greece. The Turkish navy issued the latest advisory, known as a Navtex, on Thursday saying it will hold the shooting exercises in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Iskenderun, northeast of Cyprus. The two NATO states have been locked in a bitter dispute over control of eastern Mediterranean waters that escalated after Ankara sent a seismic survey vessel to the disputed region this month a move that Athens called illegal. Turkey accused France of stoking tensions after Paris said it would join Italy, Greece and Cyprus in three-day air and sea military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Ankara would not be deterred by the show of force. To believe that it would be possible to thwart the Turkish armed forces operations with exercises and similar activities is nothing more than a pipe dream, Akar said in an interview with state-run Anadolu news agency. The accusation came as European Union foreign ministers were set to meet in Berlin as they try to persuade EU member Greece and its neighbour Turkey to pull back from the brink of conflict. The ministers were expected to debate a range of sanctions and other policy options that might convince Turkey to temper its insistence on drilling for energy reserves in disputed parts of the eastern Mediterranean. Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said the deployment of French military aircraft in Cyprus violated treaties regarding the control and administration of the island after independence from Britain in 1960. Aksoy said Frances stance was dangerously encouraging Greece and Cyprus to further escalate tensions in the region. Cyprus was divided in 1974 following a Turkish invasion triggered by a Greek-inspired coup. The islands Greek Cypriots live in the south, and Turkish Cypriots in the north. Path to ruin Germanys foreign minister on Thursday called for an end to military drills taking place in the eastern Mediterranean. Heiko Maas, who engaged in shuttle diplomacy between Athens and Ankara earlier this week, stressed the need to create the conditions for Turkey and Greece to resolve their problems directly with each other. The situation remains very difficult, Maas said. The precondition for these talks is that the manoeuvres that are going on in the eastern Mediterranean be ended each side can make its contribution to that and so create the space for diplomatic talks, because for sure the parties wont sit down at the table if warships are facing off in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned he would make no concessions in the eastern Mediterranean and that Ankara is determined to do whatever is necessary to obtain its rights in the Black, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Speaking at an event on Wednesday commemorating the 11th-century military victory by Seljuk Turks over the Byzantine empire at Malazgirt, Erdogan also called on Turkeys counterparts to avoid mistakes that he said would bring their destruction. We dont have our eye on someone elses territory, sovereignty and interests, but we will make no concessions on that which is ours, Erdogan said, urging Greece to avoid wrongs that will be the path to ruin. We will not compromise what is ours We are determined to do whatever is necessary. Later on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told lawmakers Greece planned to extend the western limit of its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea from six to 12 nautical miles. Mitsotakis said Italy and Albania had been officially informed about the plan and a bill on the matter would be submitted to parliament very soon. Such a measure does not affect the Aegean region, off Greeces eastern and southern coasts, where Turkey has previously warned a similar move by Athens would be a casus belli, or cause for war. Mitsotakis also said his country could eventually extend its territorial waters in other maritime areas where the distance between the two shores is smaller than 24 nautical miles. Honest mediation Tensions over energy resources escalated between Turkey and Greece after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis survey vessel to disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a move Athens has called illegal. Greece will defend in the name of law its sovereignty and sovereign rights, the countrys Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said. Greece will defend its national and European borders. It does not have any other choice but to do so. Germany has sought to mediate between Ankara and Athens. On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece said they wanted to solve the matter through dialogue following separate talks with their German counterpart, Heiko Maas. Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul, said Turkey had called Greece a spoiled child that has unconditional support from the European Union, and had also stressed the importance of why honest mediation is necessary for dialogue. Turkey says it is open to dialogue with Greece only if there is a fair distribution of rights in the eastern Mediterranean, Koseoglu said. But if Athens continues to present conditions for dialogue and doesnt give up its uncompromising approach in the region, Ankara says a real conflict may become unavoidable. Mediterranean military exercises Meanwhile, France is joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday. The eastern Mediterranean is turning into an area of tension. Respect for international law must be the rule and not the exception, Parly said on Twitter, adding that it should not be a playground for the ambitions of some. Three Rafale fighter jets and a warship equipped with a helicopter will be part of the joint military exercises, she said. Relations between France and Turkey have soured in recent months over Ankaras actions in NATO, Libya and the Mediterranean. President Emmanuel Macron has called for the EU to show solidarity with Greece and Cyprus in the dispute over natural gas reserves off Cyprus and the extent of their continental shelves and pushed for further sanctions at EU level, although there are divisions in the bloc over the issue. Our message is simple: Priority to dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy so that the eastern Mediterranean becomes an area of stability and respect for international law, Parly said. Technavio has been monitoring the plastic additives market and it is poised to grow by 14.72 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 6% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200825005582/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Plastic Additives Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities. Technavio's in-depth research has all your needs covered as our research reports include all foreseeable market scenarios, including pre- post-COVID-19 analysis. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impacts The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Akzo Nobel NV, BASF SE, Clariant International Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Exxon Mobil Corp., Kaneka Corp., LANXESS AG, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., PolyOne Corp., and Dow Inc. are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing Increasing demand for recycled plastics from packaging industry has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, harmful effects of plasticizers on environment might hamper market growth. Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations. Plastic Additives Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Plastic Additives Market is segmented as below: Type Modifier Stabilizers Extenders Processing Aids Geographic Landscape APAC North America Europe South America MEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR43551 Plastic Additives Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The plastic additives market report covers the following areas: Plastic Additives Market Size Plastic Additives Market Trends Plastic Additives Market Industry Analysis This study identifies increased demand of plastics from the e-commerce market as one of the prime reasons driving the plastic additives market growth during the next few years. Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Plastic Additives Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist plastic additives market growth during the next five years Estimation of the plastic additives market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the plastic additives market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of plastic additives market vendors Table of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2019 Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five Forces Summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Type Market segments Comparison by Type Modifier Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Stabilizers Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Extenders Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Processing aids Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by Type Customer landscape Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Volume driver- Demand led growth Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Akzo Nobel NV BASF SE Clariant International Ltd. Dow Inc. Evonik Industries AG Exxon Mobil Corp. Kaneka Corp. LANXESS AG Mitsui Chemicals Inc. PolyOne Corp. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200825005582/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 13:12:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MALE, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Maldives' Ministry of Finance has issued a circular to all state institutions requesting cuts expenses in order to weather the economic blowback of the COVID-19 pandemic, state media reported here Wednesday. A circular signed by Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer called for cuts on staff, maintenance, capital expenditure, and non-essential travel by all state institutions. The circular has also called for a freeze on hiring and allocation of new allowances unless approved by the ministry. In order to mitigate state expenditure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, state institutions have been advised to implement strategies to reduce the need for overtime work, and to close government offices by 2:30 pm. Revenue collected by the state declined 75 percent in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the same period last year, due to the economic fallout of COVID-19 lockdowns that affected tourism and related services, the country's pillar industry. Losses in revenue from the Goods and Services Tax (Tourism Sector), Green Tax, Tourism Land Rent, Airport Service Charge and Airport Development Fee were the main reason for the decline. Enditem With 2,034 new coronavirus infections in Germany, Fridays daily increase exceeded the 2,000-mark for the first time since the end of April. Under these conditions, the federal and state governments are setting the stage for a further explosion in the number of cases by reopening schools, spreading the deadly virus throughout the population. Nationwide, there is a large number of individual outbreak incidentsin the last seven days, only 15 of 294 German districts had no COVID-19 cases to report. According to the official figures, 9,272 COVID-19 patients have died, while the documented cases of infection, at 233,575, are approaching the quarter-million mark. One of the German states with the largest increase in new cases is Hesse (whose largest city is Frankfurt), in central Germany. Here, the health authorities have been reporting new coronavirus infections in the triple digits every day for a week now. In Offenbach alone, over 500 people are in quarantine. In the meantime, no district or city in Hesse has been without new infections in the past seven days. The development is particularly threatening in the cities of the Rhine-Main area. In Offenbach and Hanau, for example, the critical threshold of 50 infections per 100,000 inhabitants has been significantly exceeded in the past few days. In these circumstances, the reopening of schools without serious safety precautions means the creation of countless potential super-spreading events. Although the Robert Koch Institute (German government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention) has been issuing explicit warnings against crowds of people indoors for weeks, this is precisely the situation in schools and daycare centres on a daily basis. In Hesse, entire school classes in Wiesbaden, Bad Nauheim, Budingen and Homberg (Efze) were sent home to quarantine in the first week of school because coronavirus infections had been detected in one student. In Frankfurt, the second school week after the summer vacations, began Monday with the announcement of the compulsory wearing of masks at all secondary schools. However, practically all German states are affected by new cases of coronavirus in schools. In addition to the numerous reports from schools in Berlin and Hamburg, at least 16 schools in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany were also affected by cases of infection last week, shortly after reopening. In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), too, there are particularly large numbers of new infections at schools. In Bochum, the entire Willy Brandt comprehensive school had to remain closed Monday because a teacher who had been at school on Friday tested positive for the virus. In the district of Minden-Lubbecke, the entire Lahde-Frille elementary school network had to be closed at the same time, as COVID-19 cases had occurred in several classes. As a large city in the Ruhr area, Duisburg is also severely affected, in addition to Dortmund. Last week, there were cases at eight schools. These are elementary schools, comprehensive schools and a vocational college. The Duisburg example highlights the fact that the danger of infection with the coronavirus cannot be separated from social inequality: the affected schools are all located close to each other in Duisburgs working-class districts. According to reports, however, the schools and affected classes reacted in a less than systematic manner because of a lack of equipment. Since, as teachers reported, the elementary schools had too few masks, they were closed for days, while the vocational college sent only individual affected classes into quarantine. On the internet, numerous students are reporting on crowded corridors, classrooms and public transportation and documenting this with pictures. At the same time, testing capacities are diminishing because the government has not linked the reopening of schools with the creation of new laboratories and testing facilities. For this reason, coronavirus tests threaten to become scarce in the autumn as the cold spell begins. Charite hospital chief virologist Christian Drosten therefore recently issued an urgent warning to this effect and called on previously endangered returnees to self-quarantine. On Instagram, Schulerstreik-NRW (Pupil strike NRW), a student at a vocational school, reports about a confirmed coronavirus case at her school. Only this pupil and the person sitting directly next to her are no longer at school. The teachers and the rest of the class are still in school after having been together in a classroom for the last few days. Similar reports of a lack of testing, lack of quarantine and even cover-ups of coronavirus cases at schools have already reached the World Socialist Web Site from other cities. In this way, governments and authorities are systematically preparing new explosions of infections and deliberately implementing a murderous policy of contamination. Politicians of all parties have made it clear that they will not close schools again under any circumstances or implement comprehensive security measures. They are not concerned about the students or parents, but exclusively about the interests of big business, which wants to ramp up production again and therefore wants to ensure that children can be accommodated without additional costs. In Saxony, Health Minister Petra Kopping (Social Democratic Party, SPD) rules out new school closures outright. Kopping told the Sachsische Zeitung that she does not expect a second lockdown, despite rising infection numbers. It would not come to that, that we have to resort to such measures as we had, the SPD politician said on Saturday. Schools should under no circumstances be closed again, announced former Federal Minister for Family Affairs Kristina Schroder (Christian Democratic Union, CDU). She has left office to take up a position as ambassador for the neoliberal think tank INSM (Initiative Neue Soziale Marktwirtschaft). In her speech, she takes a clear stand against new school closures in order to keep the economy running: If this time we have to discuss closures as a whole again, then this time it should not be schools and day-care centres first, but schools and day-care centres last. At the same time, resistance is growing among students, parents and teachers to the unsafe school reopenings. Opening schools for regular operations is a difficult task for me, says Andrea from NRW. My 13-year-old daughter is the only child in her class wearing a mask. That wont work for long. For politicians, boosting the economy has priority, she continues. Apparently, nobody wants to mess with the business lobby. Schulerstreik-NRW, who is calling for a student strike in NRW, asks, What has to happen first for something to change? Sometimes I really think: Does someone have to die of coronavirus to close the school? I feel that I am not taken seriously by the politicians, etc., because I can say on behalf of many: Things cant continue like this anymore! The call by the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) to form action committees and prepare a general strike against the murderous reopening of schools is meeting with a large response on social media. Teachers and students should go on strike nationwide, Ily M. writes on Twitter. The politically prescribed school reopenings with their completely inadequate safety measures are clearly failing. I have the feeling that I can no longer keep still and allow our children to be the victims of the ministers of education. I think we must organize and discuss a nationwide strikeotherwise, they will send our children and teachers to the slaughter. This also applies to educators, nurses and doctors, says Sara, a nurse from Berlin Mitte. There is hardly a profession that is exposed to a higher risk of infection than nursing. What do we do for ourselves if politically responsible persons do not even provide sufficient protective clothing and do not even allow testing for usdo we continue like this? Anja, a special education teacher who herself had fallen ill with COVID-19 and is now struggling with the consequences, agrees with this call. Yes, please strike! Become active! The more protection at the workplace, the less luck you need to avoid infection. Mona Dugo, interim dean of students, said NU is taking a stricter approach to policing off-campus behavior this year and will urge students to act on behalf of the most vulnerable members of their community. NU plans to offer a mix of online, remote and a small portion of face-to-face classes but only to students who abide by the rules. The Czech Republic could soon become the latest country to be added to the UK's quarantine travel 'red list' after coronavirus case numbers increased. The UK Government has said that any country which records more than 20 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in a seven-day period will be subject to a travel ban. The latest statistics show the seven-day rate in the Czech Republic is now at 19.4 cases per 100,000, up from 16 a week ago and only just below the threshold. Meanwhile, Switzerland appears almost certain to be added to the 'red list' because its case numbers are currently above the threshold, with a seven-day rate of 21.2. Scotland has already taken Switzerland off of its safe travel list and the UK Government is widely expected to follow suit by the end of this week. Coronavirus case numbers are rising in the Czech Republic, sparking speculation the country will be added to the UK's quarantine travel list. A bar is pictured in Prague on August 5 In full: The countries which are not on the UK's quarantine list The Government has imposed quarantine restrictions on numerous countries in recent weeks. Below is the latest list of nations which are still viewed by the UK as safe to travel: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cayman Islands, the ChannelIslands, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macao, Malaysia, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, St Barthelemy, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre and Miquelon, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Vatican City State, Vietnam. Advertisement However, while Switzerland and potentially the Czech Republic could soon be subject to the 14-day self-isolation requirement for travellers returning to the UK, Greece and Italy now appear likely to stay on the safe list for the moment. While the rate has ticked upwards in both countries, neither of them are near the UK's threshold for banning non-essential travel. In Greece, the latest seven-day rate is 14.1 cases per 100,000 - roughly the same as a week ago (14.3), but up from where it was two weeks ago (10.1). Italy is currently recording a seven-day rate of 10.8, up from 5.6. The figures were calculated based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. In Ireland, the seven-day rate is currently 14.8, while in the UK it is 11.1. Last week the Government announced that Croatia, Austria and Trinidad & Tobago were being added to the 'red list'. Announcements on travel restrictions have tended to be made my ministers towards the end of the week, with new measures coming into effect on weekends. The latest statistics came as Boris Johnson continued to face pressure to scrap the blanket quarantine policy. The Future of Aviation Group, which includes 40 Tory MPs, has written to the PM urging him to end the current self-isolation requirement for people entering the UK from high risk countries. They believe testing on arrival at airports would enable the quarantine period to be slashed to less than a week. They have warned the current approach is harming businesses, telling the PM: 'Without testing, we risk not only limiting leisure travel but also damaging our aspirations for a truly global Britain.' More than 30 countries across the world already conduct testing at airports and MPs want to know why the UK cannot follow suit. The goal of sending workers abroad has been adjusted to around 70,000. Photo: Duc Thanh After completing a language training course and related certificates by the end of April, Hoang Thi Niem from the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai told VIR that she would have to wait until the end of June before leaving for Taiwan (China) to work, a long delay compared to the companys initial plans. At the time, Taiwan along with many other markets temporarily stopped accepting Vietnamese workers in order to prevent further outbreaks of COVID-19. During those two months, I was in a state of stress every day, worried that the waiting time would be prolonged further, Niem said. The amount of more than VND100 million ($4,300) paid for service fees, school fees, and accommodation was purely a loan and slowly, the interest will become a burden. Fortunately, Taiwan quickly controlled the pandemic there and began to reopen its doors to foreign workers. Niem and more than 300 other Vietnamese workers got there as soon as they could, most of them working in factories or taking care of the elderly in nursing homes. Workers languishing while waiting for departure after completing all necessary procedures is not an uncommon situation this year. Most Vietnamese workers have to wait around 1-2 months, but in some cases, schedules have been delayed for double that time. Nguyen Canh Viet from the central province of Ha Tinh could not enter Japan to work even though there was a set schedule from the beginning of May. The company does not know when departure will happen, and it was told to wait for the Japanese side to make a decision. I also did not dare to apply for another job although I am now very impatient, said Viet. According to statistics from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), in the seven months of this year, Vietnam sent more than 36,000 people to work abroad, 49 per cent lower than the same period in 2019. The low number is due to the fact that some markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which account for 90 per cent of the total number of Vietnamese guest workers, have been affected by COVID-19 so they stopped receiving workers from Vietnam. In particular, the number of Vietnamese workers in the Japanese market reached 21,130 people, a drop of 25.57 per cent over the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number going to work in South Korea is 760, a fall of 73.67 per cent. Nguyen Tien San, representative of the Vietnam Association of Manpower Supply (VAMAS), said that many Vietnamese workers had their working hours and income reduced, while many have been given long-term leave with benefits worth 60 per cent of their basic salary, with those in manufacturing and mechanical processing most affected. VAMAS stated that, even when activities to bring workers are restarted, the scale of workers going to work abroad will decrease severely compared to previous years. This situation means many enterprises in the labour export business in Vietnam face the risk of dissolution. Le Thien, director of Hanoi HTD Company which mainly sends workers to Japan and South Korea said it could send 150-200 employees to work each year. However, since the beginning of 2020, the company has only sent 20 workers abroad, with the rest being forced to cancel. Many of them have both completed a training programme and been granted a visa but cannot yet depart. Thien also shared that the outbreak of the disease has significantly affected peoples psychology. Therefore, consulting them to participate in labour export programmes can be difficult, while workers do not have many opportunities to choose suitable orders and occupations as previously because foreign employers are also seriously affected. After a period of slowdown from the end of March to May, the labour export situation in Vietnam has nevertheless shown positive signs with some key markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan all seeking to receive Vietnamese workers again to restore production and business after the pandemic. According to the MoLISAs Department of Overseas Labour, Taiwan has fully opened to accept Vietnamese workers since early May. In addition, Vietnamese workers can also return to work in Malaysia after August 31. The Japanese market is also in need of receiving Vietnamese workers, with the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam officially starting to accept new visa applications for Vietnamese citizens from July 29. Liz Truss Farmers and business chiefs have been given a louder voice to ensure they do not lose out in trade negotiations as ministers bid for a raft of post-Brexit deals. Bosses in 11 sectors including agriculture, manufacturing and financial services have signed non-disclosure agreements so they can help to shape potential agreements with other countries - including commercially sensitive rules on tariffs and rules of origin. The change is part of a major overhaul of the Governments trade machinery as talks intensify with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Trade groups have previously expressed concern that such gagging orders would prevent them from fully consulting members on issues discussed on the panels. But Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: This is about bringing business closer to the negotiating table and using their expertise to help secure the best possible deals that deliver jobs and growth across Britain. The changes were inspired by the more formalised, structured relationships between industry groups and the governments of the US, Australia and Canada. They will give British business leaders unprecedented levels of access to the talks. Notably absent from the group on agriculture and food will be representatives of the animal welfare lobby such as the RSPCA and consumer groups such as Which?, despite concerns that a UK-US trade deal could reduce food standards by leading to chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef on British supermarket shelves. The panel is the biggest of the eleven, with 26 members including the likes of the National Farmers' Union. A separate Trade and Agriculture Commission was announced last month to ensure that the sector remains competitive but animal welfare and environmental standards are not undermined. This also excludes the RSPCA, which described the commission as a fig leaf. Food standards have been seen as a stumbling block in US-UK talks, particularly given the influence of agricultural groups in Washington, but Mrs Truss has repeatedly insisted that regulations will not be dumbed down in a US trade deal and will be protected by the Food Standards Agency. Trade unions will also be missing from the revamped advisory groups. Frances OGrady, general secretary of the TUC, said: It is hard to see how our trade deals can be negotiated in the wider public interest if workers voices are excluded. It is understood that DIT hopes to agree a deal in principle with Japan by the end of the month, to start talks with Canada imminently and to enter a second round of talks with Australia next month. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday reiterated his demand that medical and engineering entrance exams NEET and JEE be postponed and the Central government work on alternative methods for selecting students. They (Centre) are saying protocols will be followed. Following the same protocols that the Centre wants 28 lakh students to follow, lakhs of Indians have tested positive, Sisodia told reporters. He said the Union Home Minister tested positive for coronavirus despite staying in a very safe environment, and that many other leaders including Delhi Health Minister have also contracted the contagious disease. So many top leaders have got infected with COVID-19 despite taking all precautions. So, how can we take the risk of sending 28 lakh students to exam centre and be assured that they will not be infected, Sisodia asked. He said the Central government should immediately postpone the exams and work on alternative methods of admission. I appeal to the government to not be adamant on admission only through these exams. We are not at all saying that the year be declared as a zero academic year. We are not in favour of admitting students just like that as we will need quality doctors and engineers but banking upon only a three hour exam and expecting it to work like a magic wand in identifying talent, is a very conservative thought, he added. The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted in September as scheduled, the Ministry of Education officials had said on Tuesday, amid a growing chorus for postponing the crucial tests in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Swedish teen climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg also threw her weight behind postponing the exams in view of the pandemic. Its deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID, she said in a tweet. Several opposition leaders in India including Congress Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and DMK President MK Stalin have demanded the exams be postponed. Sisodia had on Saturday also appealed the Centre to postpone or cancel the exams. The Supreme Court had last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid a spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases, saying a precious academic year of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on. While a total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET. Increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit are among the steps the National Testing Agency will take for safely conducting NEET and JEE in September. If Navalny survives, a Kremlin-linked businessman intends to strip him and his allies of their clothes and shoes. Kremlin-linked businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin has promised to ruin Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny, who is in a coma in a Berlin hospital, with a court-ordered penalty of about $1.2m. Prigozhin is nicknamed Putins chef because his company Konkord has done catering for the Kremlin. Media reports have said he funds the Wagner Group, a semi-private Russian military contractor, claims he denies. Navalny, a 44-year-old lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner who is one of Putins fiercest opponents, is being treated at Berlins Charite hospital after falling ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow. Tests by German medics indicated poisoning by cholinesterase inhibitors, which are found in nerve agents. The penalty A court in October last year ordered that Navalny, his associate Lyubov Sobol and the Anti-Corruption Foundation he founded must jointly pay almost 88 million rubles ($1.2m) to the Moskovsky Shkolnik (Moscow schoolboy) company, which makes school dinners. The company has been linked to Prigozhin in media reports. He denies owning it. On Tuesday evening, Konkords press service said in a social media statement that Prigozhin bought the debt so that Navalny and his associates would owe him directly. I intend to strip this group of unscrupulous people of their clothes and shoes, Prigozhin was quoted as saying after paying off the company directly named in the court case, meaning the payment would go to him directly. Prigozhin said if comrade Navalny kicks the bucket, I personally dont intend to persecute him in this world. Ill put this off for an indefinite time and then Ill compensate myself to my pleasure. If Navalny survives, Prigozhin said he would be liable according to the full severity of Russian law. A video investigation The case concerned a video investigation by the Foundation that accused the company of monopolising the market and alleged its food was bad quality and made children ill. Navalny in July formally closed the Foundation in a move to avoid paying its share of the court-ordered penalty. Its director Ivan Zhdanov in a message to supporters on Wednesday suggested that Navalny could have been poisoned over one of the Foundations investigations. Mansoor Nasir Shaikh, 12, had not used a smartphone until about four months back. He started using a laptop only two months ago when his school switched to online classes because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The boy was immediately hooked on the gadgets so much so that he learnt tracking lost mobile phones by reading about the technique to do so on the internet much to the surprise of his parents, constables Nasir Shaikh and Rehana Shaikh. The parents came to know about Mansoors ability to locate lost phones when he tracked his cousins phone after she had left it in a taxi while travelling from Mumbai Central to Mahim on August 19. Mansoor began working on tracking the phone as he overheard his aunt seeking his mothers help in finding it. He immediately contacted his cousin, Muskan Bagwan, and took her phones unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and began tracking it. Within 35 minutes, he located the phone worth 27,000 to an area in Mumbais Malad. Mansoor zeroed on the location of the phone and asked his mothers friends, Archana Bhosale and Madhavi Bhosale, who live in Malad to locate the taxi. But by the time they reached the spot, the taxi had moved from Malad to Goregaon. Archana spotted the cab parked near Oberoi Mall and it matched with the description that Muskan had given, said Nasir Shaikh. But the driver had by then left the cab after parking it, he added. Mansoor then remotely locked the phone and sent a message which reflected on the screen of the phone saying: I am a policeman and this is my daughters mobile phone. Nasir said he did this to scare the cab driver, and also to prevent personal photos or videos from being misused. And also to ensure if some other person finds it, he or she may return it to the actual owner, said Nasir Shaikh. The next day Nasir Shaikh went to Goregaon with his niece and recovered the lost phone. The cab driver, who was in his 60s, told us that he had planned to hand over the phone to a taxi unions office in Mumbai Central. He did not even know how to use a smartphone. The driver was not lying so we did not make any complaint and allowed to go him, Nasir Shaikh said. Mansoor had come across the hidden mobile tracking system of his phone while exploring its applications. I then thoroughly read about it on the internet and learnt how to use it. The system is generally hidden in the phone and people are not aware of it. It uses the IMEI number of the device, a phone users email ID and password, he said. The system tracks the email and the device through IMEI and GPS. The system can be enabled by putting a phones details in it and once enabled the system gives control to the owner to active ringtone mode from vibration mode, lock the phones screen remotely and post an emergency message on the mobiles screen. Mansoor said stories of people like slain Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ashok Kamte, who was killed in 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, inspire him. I heard his stories from my parents and read about him on the internet. I want to become an IPS officer like him. Mansoor has also demonstrated his mobile tracking skills to Mumbai cyber police department. Nioteas TV - Jan 16 In this episode, we travel across Japan's largest tea growing region to learn different secrets farmers use to get the most out of their tea fields and we also learn how they maintain the health of their surrounding ecosystem. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Department of Agriculture has identified 224 of the unsolicited foreign seed packages that began showing up in New Mexicans mailboxes last month. NMDA spokeswoman Kristie Garcia told the Journal in an email that four of the packets were identified as noxious weeds: field bindweed, moonflower and morning glory. The NMDA laboratory divisions state seed lab identified about 100 other seed packets as vegetable or fruit seeds. Eight packets are unknown. The remaining seeds are herbs, flowers, ornamentals, citrus and grasses. If you are the recipient of one of these seed packets, do not plant them, an NMDA news release said. If the seed has been planted, collect the seed prior to germination or destroy any emerging plants. NMDA will now send any unsolicited seeds to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a more extensive investigation. Residents who receive the seeds should fill out the Unsolicited Seed Package Reporting Form at nmda.nmsu.edu. Authorities disperse protesters out of a park Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wis. Authorities disperse protesters out of a park Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wis. Anger over the Sunday shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police spilled into the streets for a third night. Credit - Morry Gash - The Associated Press An Illinois teen has been arrested in Illinois in connection with the deaths of two people shot during protests in Kenosha, Wis. on Tuesday night. In recent days, demonstrators in the city have rallied against the shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man who was shot multiple times on Sunday by an officer from the Kenosha Police Department. 17 year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Antioch, Ill., according to a statement from the Antioch Police Department. Rittenhouse is being held pending an extradition hearing to transfer custody from Illinois to Wisconsin. While across state lines, Kenosha is about 15 miles away from Antioch. Tuesday had marked the third straight night protesters took to the streets in response to the police shooting. A large group of demonstrators amassed outside the citys courthouse, where authorities put up a metal fence to protect the building. Items like water bottles and rocks were thrown at the police, as they fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters. Read more: Tensions Over Race and Policing in Kenosha, Wis., Began Long Before the Shooting of Jacob Blake But it was a confrontation between protesters and armed civilians who had tasked themselves with protecting property and businesses across the city that became fatal. Footage taken Tuesday night show a young white male carrying a firearm and shooting at protestors. In videos believed to be taken after the man had first opened fire, he is seen being chased by people and brought to the ground, only to fire at them as well before fleeing the scene. One of the two people killed was shot in the head; the other in the chest. A third person suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. The names of the deceased have not been officially released, but a GoFundMe seeking funds for funeral expenses identifies one victim as 26-year-old Anthony Huber. Story continues Peaceful protests are welcome. It has always been a way for the American public to speak their mind. We support that, I support that as an individual, Kenosha Police Chief Dan Miskinis said during a Wednesday afternoon press conference addressing the shootings. [But] we cannot support violence. When the line crosses from stating ones opinion to taking actions and hurting people that must stop, he continued. It detracts from the message. At the same presser, Kenosha County Sheriff David Berth was asked why the shooter was not apprehended, despite being seen walking from the scene of the second and third shootings still holding his weaponand past police officers present. Describing the scene as high stress and very frenetic, Berth said that officers were left with incredible tunnel vision. Berth also addressed footage appearing to show police officers thanking some armed civilians for their presence during the unrest (but prior to the shootings), and sharing supplies like water bottles with them. Officers would toss water to anybody, he claimed. Demonstrators in many cities across the U.S. have accused police officers of destroying supplies like water, milk used to mute the effects of tear gas and first aid kits during recent months protests. Read more: Americas Long Overdue Awakening to Systemic Racism In a video widely circulated over social media, and that precipitated protests in the city, a Kenosha police officer is seen shooting Jacob Blake in the back. Blake was in the process of leaning into his vehicle, having walked away from officers called to a domestic issue. According to civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, Blakes three young children were in the car when he was shot. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave; their identities have not been revealed. Blake is currently recovering at a Milwaukee hospital. His father has said that he is currently paralyzed, with Crump saying it will take a miracle for him to be able to walk again. We really just need prayers, Blakes mother, Julia Jackson said at a Tuesday press conference prior to the fatal shootings, adding that the damage in the city does not reflect her son or her family. Take a moment and examine your heart. Citizens, police officers, firemen, clergy, politicians, do Jacob justice on this level and examine your hearts. In anticipation of more protests, Governor Tony Evers said the presence of the Wisconsin National Guard will increase to around 500 members in the city as of Wednesday. The city has also laid down a state of emergency curfew from 7 p.m. Without offering specifics, President Donald Trump has also tweeted that he will be sending federal law enforcement into Kenosha to restore LAW and ORDER! Seguin, TX (78155) Today Cloudy and windy during the morning. Showers developing late. Some sleet may mix in. High 39F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low 29F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), the premier organization representing higher education governance, today announced the release of Assessing and Developing College and University Presidents: An Enterprise Leadership Approach. While AGB has long encouraged periodic review of both boards and presidents, this latest resource recognizes that ongoing disruption in the higher education industry demands a broader array of skills from chief executives. Strategic governing boards should pair regular, thoughtful assessments alongside ongoing development for chief executives to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. The phrase enterprise leadership in the books subtitle reflects the recognition that presidents must now guide institutions through an adaptive process that positions them for success in a fast-changing environment. As the needs of institutions have changed, so have the expectations for presidents leading these complex academic enterprises, and therefore so must the metrics and evaluations that measure presidents success. The author, Terrence MacTaggart, is a former chancellor at the Minnesota State University System and University of Maine System, as well as an AGB senior fellow. In the publication, he details the need for effective, comprehensive presidential assessment and education. Chapters One and Two lay out the context that all presidents and boards face and the need for a reimagined assessment process, moving from a traditionally annual cycle to more frequent review. Chapters Three and Four are dedicated to helping readers understand the kinds of assessments needed to effectively measure progress, including important information for developing virtual assessments that have become more prevalent due to the coronavirus pandemic. Chapter Five takes a serious look at the need for comprehensive professional development programs that can equip presidents to face challenges that may not have existed a few years ago. Merrill P. Schwartz, AGB senior vice president for content strategy and development, has worked on issues such as these for more than 20 years. Schwartz, who authored the publications foreword, said, This book is an excellent tool for presidents and board members who want to transform the assessment process from an unavoidable obligation to a worthwhile professional development experience that cultivates and keeps good presidents. Many board members and presidents are especially concerned about the business model and operations of the higher education enterprise. According to the AGB 2020 Trustee Index, the number one concern for surveyed board members was the financial sustainability of higher education institutions. Likewise, the Inside Higher Ed 2020 Survey of College and University Presidents indicated that 69 percent of presidents agreed or strongly agreed that their college needs to make fundamental changes to its business model, programming, or other operations. These surveys, conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrate the need for governing boards to select and support an individual who can organize and communicate effectively while adapting to changes in the industry. The coronavirus is driving ongoing challenges that signal even more impetus for innovative leadership. Hiring, supporting, and overseeing a college president are some of the most important responsibilities of any governing board, and having a courageous, insightful, and visionary leader as president is a prerequisite for success during such challenging times, said Henry Stoever, AGB president and CEO. It is imperative that boards not only ensure the president is held responsible for outcomes related to institutional and student success, but also that they provide meaningful feedback and opportunities for leadership development and education across their teams, administration, and faculty. A complimentary e-book version of Assessing and Developing College and University Presidents is available for AGB members at AGB.org/AssessingandDevelopingPresidents. It is also available for purchase in hard copy with a membership discount. Both the digital and print versions include tips for board members and presidents. About AGB The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is the premier membership organization that strengthens higher education governing boards and the strategic roles they serve within their organizations. Through our vast library of resources, educational events, and consulting services, and with nearly 100 years of experience, we empower 40,000 AGB members from more than 2,000 institutions and foundations to navigate complex issues, implement leading practices, streamline operations, and govern with confidence. AGB is the trusted resource for board members, chief executives, and key administrators on higher education governance and leadership. By Express News Service The BJP on Tuesday roped in Kuppusamy Annamalai, former IPS officer, with an eye on the 2021 TN Assembly elections. Hailing from Karur in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai served as a police officer in Karnataka and was commonly known as Singham due to his efficient functioning. He quit the post in May 2019. A year after he sought early retirement. Annamalai is now keen on working at the grassroots level in Tamil Nadu to help increase the BJPs popularity. He speaks to TNIEs T Muruganandham, in a telephonic interaction from New Delhi, after joining the party. Here are a few excerpts How do you justify your decision to join politics? I stand for making the lives of common men better, and I believe that politics is the root by which their lives can be improved. I was not very inclined to get into a political route at first, and wanted to pursue social services. After a point of time, I felt that a political change has to happen along with the social change. It was a tough decision to get into politics, but I just felt it is the right time to enter it. What made you choose the BJP? Are you building up to the TN Assembly elections by joining now? I am always a nationalist at heart and I have openly said earlier that I like Modi jis administration and his vision. In Tamil Nadu, Dravidian parties have been strongly projecting the BJP as creating a negative perception. I am not worried about it. I go by my heart and what my conscience says. The BJP is the right party for India and TN. I am definitely not looking at Assembly elections. This will be a great opportunity for me to do something right for the State of Tamil Nadu. What motivated you to switch careers? In 2018, I had the opportunity to travel to Kailash on a three-month trip. That is the time I felt that I should take the plunge but not necessarily into politics. I wanted to get into social service. One decision led to another. I did not give it too much thought. I allowed life to take its own course. You have been very vocal about your views. Now that you are under a political party, do you think you will have certain limitations? I dont know. You will have to judge me after observing for sometime. I am sure the party has space for me too. What kind of change do you believe you can bring about in Tamil Nadu? I believe a difference can be brought in by bringing in some dynamism, and some kind of new energy to the old political discourse; a new vision and direction, a new set of leadership to lead the 21st century. We need to thrust new blood also into the system. Most political parties have become family-run enterprises now. You said you would work towards bringing in the nationalistic spirit to Tamil Nadu? Do you mean Tamils lag behind in it? No, I didnt mean that. At present, the politics in Tamil Nadu is anti-Delhi. Whatever the policies are, state leaders criticise them and try to keep TN out of them. Criticising just for the sake of it is not good, and TN is not reaping any benefits out of it. Tamils are great people and have always participated in the old journey of India, and contributed towards it. Do you expect any position in the State unit of the party here? Absolutely not. I am just a loyal foot soldier. What is your vision for TN? This is a fantastic State, with amazing people, and deserves to lead in all parameters. I would like to play a small role in making that happen. What do you view as your challenges in Tamil Nadu that has been electorally averse to national parties in recent history? The biggest challenge is to push what the party stands for. There has been a lot of misrepresentation whether it is about Hindi language issues or policies of the BJP. Media channels are pretty strong in Tamil Nadu and a lot of Dravidian parties run their own channels. I see that as a big challenge. Youngsters need to understand what this party is all about. If a youngster wants to get into politics, the BJP is the only party right now that is away from family politics and sycophancy. I think people are now warming up to the BJP. They are understanding what the BJP stands for. There is speculation that you might be the partys CM candidate in the coming Assembly polls. Comments? I am just a little man. Thats all I wish to say. (With inputs from Anusha Ravi @ Bengaluru) The Supreme Court had last week dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases New Delhi: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday with Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states and their counterparts of West Bengal, Maharashtra and Jharkhand on the issues related to Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues of states and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) (Main) and The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) (UG) exams. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collections in July totalled Rs 87,422 crore, 14 percent less than in the past year as economic activities slowed down due to COVID-19 countrywide lockdown, the Union Finance Ministry said on 1 August. The total revenue earned by the Central government and the state governments after regular settlement in the month of July is Rs 39,467 crore for Central Goods and Service Tax (CGST) and Rs 40,256 crore for the Goods and Service Tax (SGST). The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced that the JEE (Main) will be held from 1 to 6 September and NEET (UG) on 13 September after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking the postponement of the NEET and JEE. Many ministers have been opposing the Centres decision to conduct the exams. Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Central Government to consider filing a review petition in the Supreme Court over the dates of NEET and JEE examinations. Mumbai: Sometimes it takes 14 Phere to get a happily ever after, or does it? Zee Studios announces its next production, a social comedy, 14 Phere, directed by Devanshu Singh and written by Manoj Kalwani, slated to release on July 9, 2021. Actors Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda will be pairing up for the first time in this quirky, contemporary social comedy that promises to be a complete entertainera roller coaster ride with 'Sanjay' and 'Aditi' on their adventures and misadventures. Actor Vikrant Massey said, The script hit me hard, the ideology of the film and the main thought behind the story is something that has been with me, individually. When I heard the script, it felt like two halves becoming one, I would have been a fool to let go of this film. It's a beautiful story that speaks of very pertinent things relevant in today's times. I'm really looking forward to working with Kriti. I've seen her films and she is a very good actor! Can't wait to get started! Actor Kriti Kharbanda said, 14 Phere is a socially relevant, promising, fun script on a kick-ass subject. From the moment I heard the script, I found myself extremely excited! It's led by a great team headed by Devanshu, whose previous work I admire. I absolutely love the character of Aditi that I will be portraying in this filmI think I've become Aditi already! I'm looking forward to sharing screen space with Vikrant who's a terrific actor. Super excited to get started in bringing Aditi to life! Commenting on the announcement, Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios said, 14 Phere is an important film that beautifully captures the heart and heartland of Indiait's a quirky, contemporary, emotional and relevant film which also highlights how weddings, most often, happen between two families, not just two people. We needed a fresh, new pairing and we couldn't have been happier to have Vikrant and Kriti on board! We are currently working on pre-production, and prepping to go on the floor in November. Director Devanshu Singh said, 14 Phere is a full-blown family entertainer. A contemporary social comedy with elements of romance, comedy of errors, lots of emotions, adventures-misadventures and celebrations. It's full of surprises. I'm super thrilled to be working with Vikrant and Kriti, they are supremely talented yet so real and fun to work with. The best part is that they believe in the script as much as I do. Can't wait to go on the floors! Produced by Zee Studios, 14 Phere, starring Vikrant Massey and Kriti Kharbanda, directed by Devanshu Singh, is slated to release on July 9, 2021. BEIJING, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited ("Concord Medical" or the "Company") (NYSE: CCM), a healthcare provider specializing in cancer care, research and prevention by operating a network of medically advanced comprehensive cancer hospitals and standalone radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2020[1]. 2020 First Half Highlights Total net revenues were RMB83.0 million ( $11.7 million ) in the first half of 2020, representing a 16.6% decrease from total net revenues of RMB99.5 million in the same period last year. Total net revenues included the net revenues from the network business of RMB37.7 million ( $5.3 million ) and the net revenues from hospital business of RMB45.3 million ( $6.4 million ). ( ) in the first half of 2020, representing a 16.6% decrease from total net revenues of in the same period last year. Total net revenues included the net revenues from the network business of ( ) and the net revenues from hospital business of ( ). Gross loss was RMB3.5 million ( $0.5 million ) in the first half of 2020, compared to the gross profit of RMB3.1 million in the first half of 2019. The gross loss margin was 4.2% for the first half of 2020, compared to the gross profit margin of 3.1% for the same period last year. ( ) in the first half of 2020, compared to the gross profit of in the first half of 2019. The gross loss margin was 4.2% for the first half of 2020, compared to the gross profit margin of 3.1% for the same period last year. Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders in the first half of 2020 was RMB128.8 million ( $18 . 2 m illion), compared to RMB140.1 million in the same period last year. ( . illion), compared to in the same period last year. Basic and diluted loss per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares [2] in the first half of 2020 were both RMB2.23 ($0.32) , compared to RMB2.03 , respectively, in the same period last year. in the first half of 2020 were both , compared to , respectively, in the same period last year. Non-GAAP net loss in the first half of 2020 was RMB155.0 million ( $21.9 million ), compared to non-GAAP net loss of RMB149.3 million in the same period last year. Non-GAAP basic and diluted loss per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares in the first half of 2020 were both RMB2.15 ($0.30) , compared to RMB1.95 in the same period last year. ( ), compared to non-GAAP net loss of in the same period last year. Non-GAAP basic and diluted loss per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares in the first half of 2020 were both , compared to in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA[3] (non-GAAP) was negative RMB113.1 million ( $16.0 million ) in the first half of 2020, compared to negative RMB108.3 million in the same period last year. Dr. Jianyu Yang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Concord Medical, commented, "In the first half of 2020, the Company's business was affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic. As the epidemic situation is under control in China, the Company's business has returned to normal. In particular, compared with the same period in 2019, our Shanghai Meizhong Jiahe Cancer Center nearly doubled its revenue." "The Company's Shanghai Meizhong Jiahe Medical Imaging Diagnostic Center (the "Imaging Diagnosis Center") has been officially opened in April 2020, which will expand the Company's business income." "The proton equipment of Guangzhou Concord Cancer Center (the "Cancer Center") has arrived and is expected to be hoisted in the recent months. Besides, the construction of the Cancer Center (exclude the proton part) is nearly competed, and the Company is starting the preparation for the opening of the Cancer Center. With the gradual operation of the Cancer Center to the mature stage, the Company's revenue will also be greatly improved in the next few years." 2020 First Half Financial Results Network Business Net revenues from the network business were RMB37.7 million ($5.3 million), representing a 44.6% decrease from net revenues of RMB68.0 million in the first half of 2019, primarily attributable to the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic and the closure of certain centers in our network of centers. With four centers closed in the first half of 2020, the Company operated a network of 27 centers in 20 cities in China as of June 30, 2020. Cost of revenues of the network business was RMB14.6 million ($2.1 million), representing a 58.0% decrease from RMB34.8 million in the first half of 2019. Gross profit from the network business was RMB23.1 million ($3.3 million), representing a 30.4% decrease from RMB33.2 million in the first half of 2019. The gross profit margin of the network business for the first half of 2020 was 61.3%, compared to the gross profit margin of 48.8% for the same period last year. Selling expenses of the network business were RMB19.4 million ($2.7 million), representing a 108.6% increase from RMB9.3 million in the first half of 2019. Selling expenses as a percentage of net revenues from the network business was 51.5% in the first half of 2020, compared to 13.7% in the first half of 2019. The increase in selling expenses of the network business was mainly due to the increase in advertisement and promotion expenses. General and administrative expenses of the network business were RMB56.9 million ($8.1 million), representing a 30.1% decrease from RMB81.4 million in the first half of 2019. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues from the network business were 150.9% in the first half of 2020, compared to 119.7% in the same period last year. The decrease was mainly because Zhongrong Fund management fees have been fully settled in the second half of 2019. Comparing to RMB24.8 million in the same period last year, capital expenditures decreased to RMB3.9 million ($0.6 million) in the first half of 2020, primarily for procuring equipment for network centers. Accounts receivable were RMB61.1 million ($8.6 million) as of June 30, 2020, compared to RMB67.1 million as of December 31, 2019. The average period of sales outstanding for accounts receivable (also known as "Days Sales Outstanding") was 298 days in the first half of 2020. During the first half of 2020, the Company handled 3,837 patient treatment cases and 40,444 patient diagnostic cases, representing a 28.1% decrease and a 45.9% decrease from the same period last year, respectively. The decreases in patient treatment and diagnostic cases were mainly due to the influence of the COVID-19 epidemic. Hospital Business Net revenues from the hospital business were RMB45.3 million ($6.4 million) in the first half of 2020, representing a 43.8% increase from net revenues of RMB31.5 million in the first half of 2019, mainly because the operation of Shanghai Meizhong Jiahe Cancer Center Co., Ltd. has gradually matured and the Imaging Diagnostic Center opened in this April. Cost of revenues of the hospital business in the first half of 2020 was RMB71.8 million ($10.2 million), representing a 16.6% increase from cost of revenues of RMB61.6 million in the first half of 2019, mainly because of the preparation and operation of the Imaging Diagnostic Center. Gross loss from the hospital business was RMB26.5 million ($3.8 million) in the first half of 2020, compared to RMB30.1 million in same period last year. The gross loss margin of the hospital business for the first half of 2020 was 58.5%, compared to the gross loss margin of 95.8% for the same period last year. Selling expenses of the hospital business were RMB2.7 million ($0.4 million) in the first half of 2020, representing an 80.0% increase from selling expenses of RMB1.5 million in the first half of 2019. Selling expenses as a percentage of net revenues from the hospital business was 6.0% in the first half of 2020, compared to 4.8% in the first half of 2019. The increase was mainly because the market research cost increase for the Imaging Diagnosis Center and the Cancer Center. General and administrative expenses of the hospital business were RMB77.5 million ($11.0 million) in the first half of 2020, of which employee benefit expenses were RMB31.7 million ($4.5 million). In the same period of last year, general and administrative expenses of the hospital business were RMB58.1 million. The increase was mainly due to the increase in salary and rental fees for hospitals. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues from the hospital business was 171.1% in the first half of 2020, compared to 184.4% in the first half of 2019. Comparing to RMB410.5 million in the first half of 2019, capital expenditures of the hospital were RMB364.9 million ($51.6 million) in the first half of 2020. The decrease was mainly related to the decrease in construction fees and medical equipment payment for Beijing Proton Medical Center, Shanghai Concord Cancer Center and the Cancer Center. As of June 30, 2020, accounts receivable from hospital business were RMB11.2 million ($1.6 million), representing an 18.2% decrease from accounts receivable of RMB13.7 million as of December 31, 2019. The number of Days Sales Outstanding was 50 days in the first half of 2020. As of June 30, 2020, the Company had bank loans and other borrowings totaling RMB2.0 billion ($288.6 million). Recent Developments The Imaging Diagnosis Center commenced operation in April 2020. The Imaging Diagnosis Center is located on the second floor of the Medical Technology Center of Shanghai Xinhongqiao International Medical Park (the "Park"), which is the center of the Park. The Imaging Diagnosis Center provides high-quality diagnostic imaging services, such as radiology, ultrasound and nuclear medicine, diagnosis and remote consultation, education and training, to all the medical institutions, premium clinics and medical institutions around the Park. Advanced imaging diagnostic equipment, such as CT, magnetic resonance, PET-CT and PET-MRI, have been installed in the Imaging Diagnosis Center. Notes: [1] This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations of RMB into U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.0651 to $1.00, the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers payable in RMB, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on June 30, 2020. [2] The Company adjusts for the accretion of mezzanine equity in the calculation of loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company used in the loss per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares calculation. [3] Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expenses and other adjustments. Other adjustments include foreign exchange gain (loss), net, loss on disposal of long-lived equipment, income from disposal of associate companies and other income. About Concord Medical Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited is a healthcare provider specializing in cancer care, research and prevention. The Company operates a network of medically advanced comprehensive cancer hospitals and standalone radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centres in China. The Company focuses on providing multidisciplinary cancer care approach in all areas of oncology services in its cancer hospitals. The Company also equips its hospitals with technologically advanced equipment such as the state-of-the-art proton therapy system in its Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou cancer hospitals. As of June 30, 2020, the Company operated a network of 27 centers based in 20 hospitals, spanning over 20 cities across 13 provinces and administrative regions in China. To ensure the commitment to the highest level of clinical care for patients, the Company offers ongoing education and training for doctors and other medical professionals in its network hospitals and centres in both local and overseas medical institutions. For more information, please see http://ir.ccm.cn. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies beyond the Company's control and based upon premises with respect to future business decisions, which are subject to change. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. About Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), Concord Medical uses certain non-GAAP measures. The Company presents certain of its financial information that is adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the impact of share-based compensation expense. The Company believes excluding share-based compensation expense from its GAAP financial measures is useful for its management and investors to assess and analyze the Company's core operating results, as such expense is not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the Company's business operations and do not impact its current cash earnings. Concord Medical also believes these non-GAAP measures excluding share-based compensation expense are important in helping investors to understand the Company's current financial performance and future prospects and to compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis. In addition, Concord Medical also presents the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted EBITDA, which is defined in this announcement as net income plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and share-based compensation expenses and other adjustments. Other adjustments include foreign exchange gain (loss), net, loss on disposal of long-lived equipment, income from disposal of associate companies and other income. Furthermore, Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the impact of items that the Company does not consider to be indicative of the performance of the network business and hospital business. The Company believes investors will similarly use Adjusted EBITDA as one of the key metrics to evaluate its financial performance and to compare its current operating results with corresponding historical periods and with other companies in the healthcare services industry. The presentation of these additional measures should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies. The non-GAAP measures have been reconciled to GAAP measures in the attached financial information. Concord Medical Services Holdings Co., Ltd. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) December 31, 2019 June 30, 2020 RMB RMB US (audited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 74,307 566,516 80,185 Accounts receivable 73,731 61,528 8,709 Prepayments and other current assets 94,868 288,727 40,867 Inventories 4,341 5,573 789 Net investments in direct financing leases, current portion 35,240 40,285 5,702 Total current assets 282,487 962,629 136,252 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment, net 1,898,861 2,092,567 296,184 Right of use assets, net 647,080 629,989 89,169 Net investments in direct financing leases, non-current portion 27,084 20,249 2,866 Goodwill 210,443 213,920 30,279 Intangible assets, net 532,489 524,882 74,292 Deposits for non-current assets 624,132 671,817 95,090 Long-term investments 64,948 321,496 45,505 Other non-current assets 9,921 13,684 1,937 Total non-current assets 4,014,958 4,488,604 635,322 Total assets 4,297,445 5,451,233 771,574 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable 8,275 5,992 848 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 277,101 256,106 36,249 Income tax payable 752 2,165 306 Operating lease liabilities, current 12,884 9,867 1,397 Short-term bank and other borrowings 285,500 440,177 62,303 Long-term bank and other borrowings, current portion 42,939 106,768 15,112 Total current liabilities 627,451 821,075 116,215 Non-current liabilities Long-term bank and other borrowings, non-current portion 1,291,763 1,491,961 211,173 Deferred tax liabilities 165,438 166,624 23,584 Long-term secured borrowings - 116,800 16,532 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 218,817 211,716 29,966 Other long-term liabilities 104,738 104,529 14,799 Total non-current liabilities 1,780,756 2,091,630 296,054 Total liabilities 2,408,207 2,912,705 412,269 Contigently redeemable noncotrolling interests 1,909,606 2,737,552 387,475 EQUITY Class A ordinary shares 68 68 10 Class B ordinary shares 37 37 5 Treasury stock (8) (8) (1) Additional paid-in capital 1,759,941 1,823,366 258,081 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (97,285) (104,152) (14,742) Accumulated deficit (1,785,517) (2,078,181) (294,148) Total Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited shareholders' deficit (122,764) (358,870) (50,795) Noncontrolling interests 102,396 159,846 22,625 Total deficit (20,368) (199,024) (28,170) Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and deficit 4,297,445 5,451,233 771,574 Concord Medical Services Holdings Co., Ltd. Consolidated Profit & Loss (in thousands, except for number of shares and per share data) June 30, 2019 June 30, 2020 RMB RMB US$ (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Revenues net of value-added tax Network 68,046 37,674 5,332 Hospital 31,466 45,337 6,417 Total net revenues 99,512 83,011 11,749 Cost of revenues: Network (34,799) (14,644) (2,073) Hospital (61,596) (71,839) (10,168) Total cost of revenues (96,395) (86,483) (12,241) Gross profit/ (loss) 3,117 (3,472) (492) Operating expenses: Selling expenses (10,827) (22,095) (3,127) General and administrative expenses (139,518) (134,397) (19,023) Operating loss (147,228) (159,964) (22,642) Interest expense (9,329) (20,835) (2,949) Foreign exchange gain(loss), net 2,606 (1,736) (246) Loss on disposal of long-lived equipment (2,781) (5) (1) Interest income 6,124 4,050 573 (Loss) income from equity method investments (4,536) 1,252 177 Other income, net 2,671 4,958 702 Gain on disposal of an equity method investment - 8,151 1,154 Loss before income tax (152,473) (164,129) (23,232) Income tax expenses (7,912) (1,833) (259) Net loss (160,385) (165,962) (23,491) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (20,268) (37,167) (5,261) Net loss attributable to Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited (140,117) (128,795) (18,230) Loss per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares Basic (2.03) (2.23) (0.32) Diluted (2.03) (2.23) (0.32) Weighted average number of class A and class B ordinary shares outstanding: Basic 130,161,668 130,241,995 130,241,995 Diluted 130,161,668 130,241,995 130,241,995 Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of nil Foreign currency translation, net tax of nil (419) (6,867) (972) Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax (419) (6,867) (972) Comprehensive loss (160,804) (172,829) (24,463) Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (19,123) (37,167) (5,261) Comprehensive loss attributable to Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited's shareholders (141,681) (135,662) (19,202) Reconciliations of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures(*) (in RMB thousands, except per share data unaudited) For the six months ended June 30, 2019 For the six months ended June 30, 2020 GAAP Measure Adjustment Non-GAAP Measure GAAP Measure Adjustment Non-GAAP Measure Operating loss (147,228) 11,130 (136,098) (159,964) 10,916 (149,048) Net loss (160,385) 11,130 (149,255) (165,962) 10,916 (155,046) Basic loss per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares (2.03) 0.09 (1.95) (2.23) 0.08 (2.15) Diluted loss per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares (2.03) 0.09 (1.95) (2.23) 0.08 (2.15) (*) The only adjustment is share-based compensation. Reconciliation from net income to adjusted EBITDA(*) (in RMB thousands, unaudited) For the six months ended For the six months ended June 30, 2019 June 30, 2020 Net loss (160,385) (165,962) Interest expenses, net 3,205 16,785 Income tax expenses 7,912 1,833 Depreciation and amortization 32,366 34,715 Share-based compensation 11,130 10,916 Other adjustments (2,496) (11,368) Adjusted EBITDA (108,268) (113,081) EBITDA margin -109% -136% (*) Definition of adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expenses and other adjustments. Other adjustments include foreign exchange gain(loss), net, loss on disposal of long-lived equipment, income from disposal of associate companies and other income SOURCE Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited Related Links www.concordmedical.com/cn DUBAI, U.A.E, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market study by Future Market Insights (FMI), the global point-to-point (P2P) microwave antenna market will expand at a healthy rate between 2019 and 2027. The report attributes the growth of the market to the penetration of 4G/5G networks, evolving consumer demands regarding data, and the expansion of telecommunication infrastructure. Furthermore, growing adoption for better connectivity by telecom carriers, corporate organizations, and governments across the world is also boosting the demand for P2P microwave antennas. Along similar lines, pep microwave antennas have numerous benefits such as high speed, high availability over large connection distance, and ability to effectively carry voice and data traffic in numerous bandwidth-intensive applications. On the back of these advantages, P2Ps are being considered as potential alternatives to fiber optics and leased lines. Moreover, P2P wireless microwaves can be customized to cater to the application-specific requirements, which is expected to drive the demand in numerous industries. Besides, microwaves are compatible with ethernet standards, and support all Ethernet functionality and applications, which will continue to complement the growth of the market. "Manufacturers are focusing on extending frequency ranges to cater to a wider number of applications, and are seeking contracts from governments to expand their visibility", opines FMI analyst. Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-8459 Point-to-point Microwave Antenna Market - Key Takeaways The global point-to-point microwave antenna market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 8% through the forecast period. Based on frequency, 10.0 GHz to 29.9 GHz P2P microwave antennas are anticipated to remain the most popular segment and will progress at a CAGR of 9.1%. On the basis of diameter, 1.0 m to 3.0 m sub-segment will hold the lion's share, accounting for nearly 2/3rds of market value, while 0.2 m to 0.9 m diameter segment will register a growth rate of 8%. to sub-segment will hold the lion's share, accounting for nearly 2/3rds of market value, while to diameter segment will register a growth rate of 8%. Among the different types of antennas, the parabolic antenna is expected to remain the most sought-out type, accounting for nearly 65% of the overall value. Point-to-point Microwave Antenna Market - Key Trends Growing emphasis by governments in developing smart cities is expected to emerge as a lucrative trend to drive the demand for P2P microwave antennas. Increasing reliance on the internet coupled with demand for high bandwidth applications will equally complement market growth. For information on the Research Approach used in the Report, Request Methodology@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-8459 Point-to-point Microwave Antenna Market -Regional Analysis Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is expected to account for more than 25% of global market value owing to the rising number of 5G infrastructure development, coupled with surging demand for telecommunication infrastructure. excluding (APEJ) is expected to account for more than 25% of global market value owing to the rising number of 5G infrastructure development, coupled with surging demand for telecommunication infrastructure. Latin America is expected to register healthy growth through the forecast period on the back of skyrocketing demand for high connectivity in the region. Point-to-point Microwave Antenna Market - Competitive Landscape Some of the key players operating in the market include Some of the players profiled in report include Infinite Electronics International, Inc. (radioWaves), CommScope Holding Company, Inc., Radio Frequency Systems, Rosenberger, mWAVE Industries, LLC, and Wireless Excellence Limited. Buy Now@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/8459 Point-to-point Microwave Antenna Market - Taxonomy Frequency Range: 3.6 GHz to 9.9 GHz 10.0 GHz to 29.9 GHz 30.0 GHz to 86.0 GHz Diameter: 0.2 m to 0.9 m to 1.0 m to 3.0 m to 3.0 m to 4.6 m Antenna Type: Parabolic Antenna Flat Panel Antenna Others Polarization: Single Polarized Antenna Dual Polarized Antenna Region: North America: U.S. Canada Latin America: Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Europe: Germany U.K. France Spain Russia Rest of Europe APEJ: China India Malaysia Singapore Australia Rest of APEJ Japan MEA: GCC Countries Israel South Africa Rest of MEA We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request Customization@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-8459 Get Valuable Insights into the Point-to-point Microwave Antenna Market Future Market Insights, in its new offering, provides an unbiased analysis of the point-to-point microwave antenna market, presenting historical demand data and forecast statistics for the period from 2019-2027. The study divulges compelling insights on the therapeutic nuclear medicines market, allowing readers to glean qualitative and quantitative information which will enable them to make informed market decisions in the upcoming forecast period. Explore Extensive Coverage on FMI's Electronics, Semiconductors, and ICT Landscape Encoder Market : FMI's compelling study on the encoder market sheds light on the prominent dynamics influencing the growth trajectory for the upcoming forecast period 2020-2030 through detailed segmental and regional analyses. Ultrasonic Sensors Market : The ultrasonic sensors market market report offers a 360-degree analysis, bringing to the fore insights that can help stakeholders identify key challenges and opportunities across the upcoming decade's growth trajectory. Web Real Time Communication Solution Market : The global web real time communication solution market is anticipated to surpass an impressive revenue threshold by the end of the forecast period ranging from 2020 to 2030, concludes FMI's recently published research report on the market. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact A part-time disability support worker in Melbourne is being sued in the Supreme Court by her former employer, because NDIS clients followed her to another care provider. Leanne Griffin is denying all allegations from Give a Care, a provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which claims she breached her contract by taking clients when she changed jobs in May. Leanne Griffin, a disability support co-ordinator, is being sued by her former employer. Credit:Simon Schluter She said her role as a support co-ordinator helping her clients find accommodation or specialists meant she naturally built trust with her clients, some of whom followed her. "There's so many people out there that don't have a lot of trust, it takes a lot to trust people. You're building a really strong rapport with people, you're gaining their trust, they trust you to help them," said Ms Griffin, who is being defended by Gordon Legal senior associate Fiona Rothville. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) A House of Representatives committee has approved tax exemptions for San Miguel Corporation during the construction of its 735.6 billion Bulacan airport complex over the next 10 years. Voting 25-2, the House Committee on Ways and Means approved tax provisions of a proposed legislative franchise as SMC builds and operates a 2,500-hectare "Airport City" in Bulakan town. The franchise grants exemptions from the payment of all direct and indirect taxes as well as fees "which emanate exclusively from the construction, development, establishment and operation" of the New Manila International Airport and its commercial complex. This means that the conglomerate will not need to pay income taxes, value-added taxes, percentage taxes, excise taxes, documentary stamp taxes, customs duties and tariffs, as well as property taxes on land, buildings, and personal property. The committee also agreed to exempt SMC from paying business taxes, franchise taxes, and supervision fees collected by any national or local government authority. The tax break applies to the 10-year construction period given to the conglomerate to build the aerotropolis, which should cater to up to 200 million passengers yearly through new terminals and four runways for domestic and international flights. This will serve as a new gateway for greater Manila area and is seen to ease congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. LOOK: San Miguel gives a sneak peek into proposed Bulacan airport San Miguel bagged the contract in August 2019 providing a 50-year concession deal. SMC Holdings operations head Edgar Dona said the firm expects to recover its investments in 21 years, based on its 2016 study. However, the airline industry has since slumped due to the global COVID-19 crisis. The House panel also prescribed a profit-sharing deal where the government will receive any windfall beyond the 12 percent annual internal rate of return once the Airport City operates. A "competent authority" will compute and declare that SMC has fully recovered its investment cost, which will trigger the sharing scheme. SMC President and COO Ramon Ang said last month that construction will start around October, after a delay due to a review done by the Department of Justice on the contract and due to the initial lockdowns caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas and ACT Party-List Rep. France Castro voted against the measure as they questioned if the plan was viable, while pointing the displacement of farmers, fishermen, and coastal communities due to the massive construction activities. However, Dona said livelihood assistance and housing will be provided to affected residents. RELATED: SMC to develop mangrove industry in Bulacan to address flooding, boost livelihood Another lawmaker questioned SMC's capacity to take on more loans given existing debts for other infrastructure projects and business operations. Still, committee chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda thinks it's a good deal: "We need a new airport but we (the government) don't have the money." The measure still needs to go through second and third reading approvals in the House, and a fresh round of debates in the Senate. New Delhi: Social networking giant Facebook has said that it will be bringing Facebook News to more countries and pay the publishers for their content. Facebook News, that was launched in the US last year, will soon arrive in the UK, Germany, France, India and Brazil within the next six months to a year, the company announced. Campbell Brown, VP, Global News Partnerships at Facebook, in a said that in each country, the company will pay news publishers to ensure their content is available in the new product. "Consumer habits and news inventory vary by country, so well work closely with news partners in each country to tailor the experience and test ways to deliver a valuable experience for people while also honoring publishers business models," Brown said. Facebook has found that over 95 per cent of the traffic Facebook News delivers to publishers "is incremental to the traffic they already get from News Feed". "We will continue to focus on growing engagement of Facebook News in the US and were committed to the partnerships weve developed with US publishers to make Facebook News a valuable asset over the long term," Brown added. "Innovation is critical to building a sustainable news ecosystem. We will keep building new products and making global investments to help the news industry build long-lasting business models," he said. Nigerian students in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have faulted the statement by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urging parents to stop sending their children to universities in that country. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa had on Monday said hundreds of Nigerian students had been killed in Northern Cyprus without any conclusive investigations carried out by the countrys government. She made this claim while reacting to the death of a Nigerian student, Ibrahim Khaleel, who was allegedly killed in unexplainable circumstances in the country. The death of Ibrahim Khaleel should be the tipping point to a stop in the killing of our children anywhere in the world, particularly Northern Cyprus, The problem is that most Nigerian parents do not know that Northern Cyprus is not recognised by any country in the world. It is not a UN-recognised country. It is only recognised by Turkey. That is why we have not been able to do much. Who do you report to? Thousands of Nigerian students are schooling there and I tell you that hundreds have been killed. Who do you take these cases to? And they are killed in similar circumstances. The school just tells you they committed suicide and nothing happens. We are going to list all these names of Nigerians that have been killed and we demand justice. There has been no prosecution and no compensation. No Nigerian parent should send their children to any university in Northern Cyprus. There is a collaboration which we do not understand that makes them kill blacks, particularly our Nigerian students, Mrs Dabiri Erewa said. Reacting, the students said Northern Cyprus is safer for them than any part of Nigeria. The president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Diaspora, Evidence Akhayere, in a statement he sent to PREMIUM TIMES, said while international students face many challenges studying outside their countries, it is not so in Northern Cyprus. Like every other country, there have been cases of deaths amongst Nigerian students as well as other international students. Contrary to what the NIDCOM boss had said, these are largely based on natural death and has nothing to do with hate from locals, as a matter of fact, some of these cases are as a result of disputes amongst friends of the shared nationality. Also, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students Turkish Republic Zone, where North Cyprus lies; Gideon Jude, disagreed with the chairman of NiDCOM. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, he said It is important to point out that contrary to what Mrs Abike (Dabiri-Erewa) said, we have never had a record of 100 Nigerians being killed. It is not correct. In fact, since my eight years on this Island, I have never heard of any case of such. Even before I became the president and from my predecessor, we have not had a case of 20 Nigerians being killed, not to talk of 100. The former president of the National Association of Nigerian Campus Editor (NANCE), Lukmon Fasasi, who is currently a Masters degree student in communication and media studies at Cyprus International University, also told our correspondent that Cyprus is the safest place he has been. Mr Fasasi said Northern Cyprus makes him remember his undergraduate days at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The locals are accommodating and friendly. Unlike the racism issues across Europe, Turkish Cypriot citizens are very welcoming. They want to take pictures with you, they want to talk to you. Abir, which means brother arkadas which means friend, are the most used words I have heard the locals use to address students. I will be glad to take the NiDCOM chairman on a tour of the Island, whenever shes willing to come Mr Fasasi said. Dundas is far from the only Toronto street that embeds racism in the urban landscape, says the civil servant leading a review that will look at thousands of local place names with an eye to possible renamings. Our approach, in effect, is not about erasing history, but its looking at how history has been commemorated through the way that weve honoured figures from the past, Wayne Reeves told the citys Aboriginal affairs advisory committee Wednesday. Weve also realized that its not just an issue of Dundas Street alone in the city of Toronto that there are many place names and city assets that also systematically embed racism and discrimination, and were going to be bringing forward some processes to address those broader framework issues. Torontos Baby Point area, Russell Hill Road and the statues of Winston Churchill, who led Britain during the Second World War, and Sun Yat-sen, Chinese philosopher and revolutionary, have been called into question, said Reeves, chief curator in the citys economic development and culture division. Well be working through a very thoughtful process on how well thoughtfully and holistically address literally thousands of place names, Reeves said. Toronto has over 6,000 named streets, 1,500 named parks there will have to be a sound and rigorous process to systematically go through that very long inventory list of Toronto names. City manager Chris Murray launched the review in response to a petition calling for Dundas to be renamed because British politician Henry Dundas in the 1700s actively participated in obstructing the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. City staff will report to Mayor John Torys executive committee in September with official findings and a recommendation on action by city council that could range from taking no action to starting a process to rename Dundas Street, plus the namesake public square, subway station and transit lines, and other local landmarks. Costs to the city and impacts on people and businesses who live on Dundas Street and near places bearing the name will be considered, Reeves told the committee, saying his review has started with places honouring one-time slave holders. While some people might consider names mere symbolism, he said, we believe that this is in fact a major step forward in addressing how racism is systematically embedded in the citys urban landscape. Cheryl Blackman, the citys director of museums and heritage service, told the committee that members of the public, including Torontos Indigenous and Black communities, will be consulted on the path forward. We are looking across the city at the connected naming concerns and were trying to think about the ways that we advance the conversation and create a broader dialogue, she said. In launching the review, Murray noted it comes amid international protests over systemic racism that started after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Rather than wait for change, somebody has crafted and placed unofficial heritage plaques at sites including Jarvis Collegiate and a Baby Point intersection with details about historical racism associated with sites namesake. David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider Turkeys president has warned Greece not to test his countrys patience or courage as the Nato allies remained locked in a tense dispute over offshore energy exploration in the Mediterranean. Greece, meanwhile, has announced plans to extend its territorial waters along its western coastline. The neighbouring countries have sent warships to shadow each other in the eastern Mediterranean and held military exercises this week within an area between Crete and Cyprus where Turkey has a vessel conducting drilling research in waters claimed by them both. Expand Close Warships take part in a military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean sea (Greek Defense Ministry via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Warships take part in a military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean sea (Greek Defense Ministry via AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: Turkey will take what is its right in the Mediterranean, in the Aegean and in the Black Sea. Just as we have no eyes over anyones territory, sovereignty and interests, we will never compromise on what belongs to us. We are determined to do whatever is necessary in political, economic and military terms. Mr Erdogans tough words came despite mediation efforts by Germany, whose foreign minister conducted shuttle diplomacy between Athens and Ankara a day earlier in a bid to de-escalate the situation as Turkey and Greece engaged in competing military exercises at sea. We invite our interlocutors to get their act together and to avoid mistakes that will lead to their ruin, he said. In Athens, meanwhile, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece is planning to exercise its legal right to extend its territorial waters along its western coastline from six to 12 nautical miles. The planned extension along Greeces Italy-facing coastline would not directly affect the territory at the centre of the Greek-Turkish dispute. But Mr Mitsotakis told the Greek parliament that Greece is abandoning decades of passive foreign policy. Expand Close Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addresses the Greek parliament (AP/Thanassis Stavrakis) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addresses the Greek parliament (AP/Thanassis Stavrakis) German foreign minister Heiko Maas appealed to both Greece and Turkey on Tuesday to enter a dialogue and defuse the tensions, warning that any spark, however small, could lead to a disaster. His visits came ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin later this week, at which Turkey will be discussed. After talks with Mr Maas, the foreign ministers of both Greece and Turkey signalled readiness for dialogue but blamed each other for the stand-off. The Turkish vessel Oruc Reis has for weeks been carrying out seismic research escorted by Turkish warships. Greece, which says the ship is operating over the countrys own continental shelf in an area where it has exclusive rights on potential undersea gas and oil deposits, sent warships to shadow the Turkish flotilla. Turkey disputes Greeces claims, insisting that small Greek islands near the Turkish coast should not be taken into account when delineating maritime boundaries. Ankara accuses Athens of trying to grab an unfair share of the eastern Mediterraneans resources. Turkey is also prospecting for hydrocarbons in waters where Cyprus claims exclusive economic rights. Ankara says it is protecting its rights and those of Turkish Cypriots on the ethnically-divided island. Everyone must see that Turkey is not a country whose patience can be tried, whose determination, capabilities and courage can be tested. If we say well do something well do it and pay the price, Mr Erdogan said on Wednesday. If anyone wants to stand before us and face the consequences, they are welcome to. If not, stay out of our way and we will continue with our work. The Turkish leader spoke during an anniversary celebration marking the 1071 battle of Manzikert, during which Turkish Seljuks beat Byzantine forces, gaining entry into Anatolia. Dakota Means in a mugshot after being arrested on Aug. 24, 2020. (Multnomah County Sheriff's Office) Portland Man Assaulted, Intimidated Federal Employee Near US Courthouse: Charges A Portland man assaulted and intimidated a federal employee outside the U.S. Courthouse thats been a focal point in the monthslong rioting in Oregons largest city, according to criminal charges filed this week. Dakota Kurtis Means, 20, began following an employee walking to work around 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 24, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Means was carrying a black paintball rifle and shouted: Its a paintball gun now, but its going to be an AR later. The reference was apparently made to a rifle. Means was arrested by U.S. Marshals Service deputies a short time later. According to a charging document obtained by The Epoch Times, Means was charged with assault on a federal officer. The suspect did forcibly assault, impede, and intimidate with Adult Victim 1 (AV1), a person designated as a federal employee, the document states. A public defender appointed for Means didnt respond to a request for comment. Assault of a federal officer is a misdemeanor. The charge can draw a jail sentence of up to one year in some cases, but up to eight years if the acts involve physical contact with a victim or the intent to commit another felony. Means appeared in federal court the same day he was arrested and pleaded not guilty. He was ordered released to a residential re-entry center pending a one-day jury trial scheduled to begin on Oct. 27. Conditions for the release included Means participate in a mental health evaluation at the direction of pretrial services. He is forbidden from owning, possessing, or controlling any firearms. Correction: A previous version of this article mischaracterized the firearm referenced. The Epoch Times regrets the error. New Delhi, Aug 26 : Interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, during a virtual meeting with six Chief Ministers, including West Bengal's Mamata Banrjee and Maharashtra's Uddhav Thackeray, on Wednesday termed the compulsory GST compensation not being paid to the states as "betrayal" on the part of the Narendra Modi government. "There are two issues related to the Centre and the states and the Parliament is scheduled in next three weeks, so we should have a coordinated approach," Sonia Gandhi said. The Congress leader said that GST compensation is a big issue and paying it on time is crucial. "And I know it is not happening on time. The finances of the states are badly affected," she said. She pointed out that GST was enacted as an example of "cooperative federalism" and it came into existence because states agreed to forego their powers in the larger national interest and on a promise of compulsory GST compensation for a period of five years. She also said that in the meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance on August 11, the Finance Secretary had stated that the Central government is not in a state to pay the 14 per cent compulsory compensation to the states. "This is nothing short of betrayal on the part of the Modi government," Sonia Gandhi said. She also alleged that ordinances have been issued without discussing with the states and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has already highlighted it. Targeting the government over the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), she said that there is an outcry over it. "Laws meant to protect the environment and livelihoods and public health are being weakened. The auctions of coal mines have already been objected to by some Chief Ministers," Sonia Gandhi said, adding that some states have already expressed their opposition. She also targeted the government for handing over six airports to private players and for the privatisation of railways. The Congress chief also lamented the government over the National Education Police (NEP) and said, "Announcements like NEP should really worry us, because it is actually a setback that displays insensitivity towards the states. There are other problems of the students which are being dealt uncaringly." Besides Banerjee and Thackeray, the meeting was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy. Speaking in the meeting, Banerjee said, "The government has already announced NEET and JEE exams but how the students will appear for the examinations I don't know." She said that in the month of April, the UGC had sent a letter stating that it will defer these examinations and will go for some other options. "And now the JEE and the NEET examinations are to be held as per the schedule. I do not know how the students will sit in the exams. I can understand that the government will say that the Supreme Court has given the verdict and that's why the government is doing these things," she said. The West Bengal Chief Minister said that she has written to the Prime Minister over the NEET and JEE exams. "The government can appeal to the apex court to review its decision so that the students' community can feel that it is not harassed," she said. The meeting of the opposition leaders came a day ahead of the GST council meeting. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 14:46:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sentiment among South Korean businesses over economic situations improved for four straight months amid the lingering worry about the COVID-19 outbreak, central bank data showed Wednesday. The business sentiment index (BSI) stood at 66 in August, up 4 points from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). It continued to rise for the fourth consecutive month since May, but the figure stayed below 75 tallied in January, the month before the COVID-19 spread peaked in February and March. The sentiment was expected to worsen next month as the coronavirus rapidly spread in recent days. South Korea's daily confirmed COVID-19 cases grew in triple digits for 13 straight days due to infections in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province traceable to church services and the massive rally held in mid-August. The BSI for manufacturers gained 7 points over the month to 66 in August, while the index for non-manufacturers added 1 point to 66 in the month. The results were based on a survey of 2,820 businesses conducted on Aug. 11-19. The reading below 100 indicates pessimists outnumbering optimists. Enditem In the past day, Australia recorded 151 new cases of coronavirus. Of that number, 149 were in Victoria where Premier Daniel Andrews is trying to extend the state of emergency powers by 12 months. Over the same period, Britain reported 1184 new cases of COVID-19. Although new infections continue to climb, many of the UKs restrictions are loosening with more European countries added to their safe travel list each day. In this episode, Sunday Age editor David King is joined by Europe correspondent Bevan Shields to discuss the very different realities for Melburnians and Londoners in the COVID-19 pandemic. Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. To help keep first responders safe, University of Central Florida researchers have developed an artificial intelligence method that not only rapidly and remotely detects the powerful drug fentanyl, but also teaches itself to detect any previously unknown derivatives made in clandestine batches. The method, published recently in the journal Scientific Reports, uses infrared light spectroscopy and can be used in a portable, tabletop device. Fentanyl is a leading cause of drug overdose death in the U.S. It and its derivatives have a low lethal dose and may lead to death of the user, could pose hazards for first responders and even be weaponized in an aerosol." Mengyu Xu, assistant professor in UCF's Department of Statistics and Data Science and the study's lead author Fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can be prescribed legally to treat patients who have severe pain, but it also is sometimes made and used illegally. Subith Vasu, an associate professor in UCF's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, co-led the study. He said that rapid identification methods of both known and emerging opioid fentanyl substances can aid in the safety of law enforcement and military personnel who must minimize their contact with the substances. "This AI algorithm will be used in a detection device we are building for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency," Vasu said. For the study, the researchers used a national organic-molecules database to identify molecules that have at least one of the functional groups found in the parent compound fentanyl. From that data, they constructed machine-learning algorithms to identify those molecules based on their infrared spectral properties. Then they tested the accuracy of the algorithms. The AI method had a 92.5 percent accuracy rate for correctly identifying molecules related to fentanyl. Xu said this is the first time a systematical analysis has been conducted that identifies the fentanyl-related functional groups from infrared spectral data and uses tools of machine learning and statistical analysis. Study co-author Chun-Hung Wang is a postdoctoral scholar in UCF's NanoScience Technology Center and helped study the compounds' spectral properties. He said identifying fentanyls is difficult as there are numerous formulations of analogues of fentanyl and carfentanil. Artem Masunov, a co-author and an associate professor in UCF's NanoScience Technology Center and Department of Chemistry, investigated the functional groups that are common to the chemical structures of fentanyl and its analogues. He said that despite differences in the analogues, they have common functional groups, which are structural similarities that enable the compounds to bind to receptors within the body and perform a similar function. Anthony Terracciano, study co-author and a research engineer in UCF's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, worked with Wang to examine the infrared spectra properties. He said profiling and analysis of infrared spectra is rapid, highly accurate, and can be done with a tabletop device. The current research used infrared spectral data from compounds in gas form, but the researchers are working on a similar study to use machine-learning to detect fentanyl and its derivatives in powder form. The product of the technology is expected to be mature for practical on-site rapid identification by 2021. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has given an interview to the MGIMO Journal on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the birth of the rector of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Anatoly Torkunov. Trend presents the interview. Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a graduate of MGIMO in 1982, repeated the path of Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov with a difference of 10 years. Whereas the future rector graduated from the Faculty of International Relations and became a graduate student in 1972, the future head of the Azerbaijani state did that in 1982. Both were promising young scientists and teachers, but then their trajectories diverged. However, they always kept each other in sight, and years later, fruitful cooperation arose, translating into the holding in Baku of the first International Forum of MGIMO Alumni in 2013 and other undertakings. President Ilham Aliyev: Moscow State Institute of International Relations is one of the leading universities not only in Russia, but also in the world, with deep and lasting traditions. For many years, it has been headed by Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov who has made great contributions to the formation and development of this institution of higher educational as one of the most authoritative centers for training highly qualified diplomatic personnel. Anatoly Vasilyevich has gone a long way from a teacher to the rector of this prestigious university. As a leader, he not only preserved and augmented the best traditions of MGIMO, but also made a great contribution to the strengthening of its positions and ensuring its competitiveness in the global educational environment. It is largely thanks to his efforts that MGIMO today is a world-class brand. Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov is also a public figure and scientist known not only in Russia but also far beyond its borders. We have met with Anatoly Vasilyevich many times, and I can say that he is a man of deep erudition, broad knowledge, a professional who generates new interesting ideas. About 15 years of my life were associated with MGIMO. This includes studies, then a postgraduate course and then teaching. Those are unforgettable years, years of youth and formation. The knowledge I received at MGIMO helps me in my work to this day. I initiated the first Forum of graduates of our university, which took place in Baku several years ago. I also took part in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of MGIMO. My life path is in many ways similar to that of with Anatoly Vasilyevich: both he and I have graduated from this university, entered a graduate school and taught there. Destiny decreed that I had to leave MGIMO, while Anatoly Vasilyevich linked his entire life with the alma mater. Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov, who headed MGIMO in difficult times, had the mission to carefully preserve all the best that was created by his predecessors, not to let this heritage get lost and, on such a foundation, to form one of the best universities in the world, the largest scientific and educational center. MJ: You are the head of the Azerbaijani state today, and Anatoly Vasilyevich is the rector of our alma mater. But there is something important that is common between you a great mission. You followed in the footsteps of your father, respected Heydar Aliyev, who took over leadership of your country in 1993, saved it and turned Azerbaijan into a modern and dynamic state. Anatoly Vasilyevich in 1993 took over the management of MGIMO, saved the institute from the ulcers of timelessness, revitalized and strengthened its brand, and turned the university into a university with a unique educational quality. Please share your thoughts about this. President Ilham Aliyev: The policy of Heydar Aliyev continues in our country today, thanks to which Azerbaijan has emerged as an independent state, taken a worthy place on the world map, established public and political stability in the country, created a solid foundation for large-scale transformations, attracted billions of foreign investments, identified the main directions of domestic and foreign policy. Azerbaijan is successfully developing in all areas now. I am proud that Azerbaijan has earned great authority in the international arena. This is evidenced by the fact that our country, with the support of 155 states of the world, was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2012-2013. By a unanimous decision of all 120 member-countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan was elected chair of this second largest international structure of the world after the UN. In October last year, a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was held in Baku. Last fall, our country also assumed chairmanship of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States. As a responsible member of the international community, we do not treat chairmanship of international organizations as a formality, but strive to ensure that it is effective and benefits all member countries. In particular, at a time when the world is faced with the coronavirus pandemic, summits of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking Countries were held on my initiative, discussing issues related to the fight against the dangerous virus. On behalf of the countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan initiated the convening of a special session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to COVID-19. This initiative was supported by more than 130 states. During the pandemic, we displayed international solidarity by providing humanitarian and financial assistance to more than 30 countries. We made a voluntary donation of $10 million to the World Health Organization. Azerbaijan today is recognized as one of the world centers of multiculturalism. Our country is a geographical, cultural and political bridge between Europe and Asia. We are one of a handful of countries that are a member of both the Council of Europe and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. In 2008, we invited ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member countries to a meeting of the Council of Europes culture ministers in Baku. Then, in 2009, the ministers of culture of the Council of Europe were invited to a meeting of the ministers of culture of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. This is how our initiative, branded as the Baku Process, came to life on the basis of the principles of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Over the years, the Baku Process has gained a reputation as an effective platform for an exchange of views between people of different nationalities, cultures and religions. The Baku Process is supported by the UN and other leading organizations of the world. MJ: As a teacher, you surely have communicated with Anatoly Vasilyevich when he was the dean of the faculty of International Relations and vice rector. You were, so to speak, a witness to his formation of an extraordinary and talented administrator. Could you tell us a typical story? President Ilham Aliyev: We used to work at the same chair together with Anatoly Vasilyevich, so I have known him for quite some time. Possessing professional qualities of a diplomat, scientist and leader, Anatoly Vasilyevich has always been a very open, benevolent and pleasant person to communicate with, and he remains as such to this day. I know that he enjoys the respect and love of both the team and students. Without this, he could not have led MGIMO for such a long time. I also appreciate Anatoly Vasilyevich for restoring the glorious traditions of our university, which was subjected to slander and moral terror during the period of the so-called perestroika. Unfortunately, in the time interval between Nikolay Ivanovich Lebedev, the rector of the university in my student years and early years of my teaching career whom I have always treated with great respect, and Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunov, the people who led our university could not save it from the negative impact of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Taking over leadership of the university in 1992, Anatoly Vasilyevich restored and strengthened the image of MGIMO, making it one of the leading universities in the world today. As for a typical story, I want to say that I had to leave the institute where I studied, completed a graduate school and worked for about 15 years at the very beginning of the 1990s. The reason for this was that my father Heydar Aliyev, who took a principled position against the erroneous domestic and foreign policy of the then leadership of the USSR, was regarded almost as an enemy of the people. He was persecuted, a frenzied campaign of liber and slander personally inspired by the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee was waged against him in the Soviet media. The MGIMO management informed me that Heydar Aliyevs son cannot teach at this university for political reasons. In that difficult time, Anatoly Vasilyevich always provided me with moral support. I am sure that if he had been the rector then, he would not have allowed my departure. My fate could have gone along a different path then. But, as they say, everything that is done is done for the better. MJ: In one of your interviews with our magazine, you said, The MGIMO anniversary is a holiday for our family too, meaning that your daughter Leyla also graduated from our university. Anatoly Vasilyevich, whose daughter Ekaterina has also graduated from MGIMO and works at one of its departments, can say the same. In fact, many alumni of MGIMO can say that! Don't you think that this family-like continuity in a good sense is one of the most important values thanks to which MGIMO approaches each of its anniversaries as an increasingly powerful and dynamic university? President Ilham Aliyev: You have correctly noticed another intersection of our life lines. Yes, my daughter Leyla Aliyeva has also graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations. She was the president of the Azerbaijan MGIMO Club and is the chairperson of the Council of Azerbaijan Alumni. Leyla is also in charge of the Baku magazine being published in Russian in Moscow, introducing readers to the history, culture and traditions of the Azerbaijani people. She is making a tremendous contribution to the strengthening of strategic partnership, friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia. In 2015, in recognition of her contributions to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation, the development of economic ties, the preservation and popularization of the Russian language and culture abroad, by a decree of the President of Russia, Leyla was awarded the Order of Pushkin. The high award was presented to her personally by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. On the initiative and with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, of which Leyla is the Vice-President, a monument to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir was erected in Astrakhan in 2013. For the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in this Russian region, Leyla was awarded the Order of Merit for the Astrakhan Region. In the same 2013, by an order of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, she was also awarded the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga of Third Degree. I know that Anatoly Vasilyevich Torkunovs daughter Ekaterina has also graduated from this university and, as you said, is now working at one of its departments. There are probably many such examples in the history of MGIMO when children choose a university their parents once graduated from at the call of their hearts. I think it is great that there is such continuity. MJ: Anatoly Vasilyevich turns 70. MGIMO has recently turned 75. What would you wish him in the context of this major anniversary for all of us? President Ilham Aliyev: I would like to wish him good health, success in all his endeavors and undertakings, inexhaustible energy and family well-being. As for MGIMO, which has recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, I wish it continued achievements. I believe that under the leadership of Anatoly Vasilyevich, it will continue to be a recognized center of fundamental education and a forge of world-class diplomatic personnel. After rumors swirled that she was leaving the hit Netflix show Saving Sunset and the real estate brokerage firm The Oppenheim Group, Maya Vander set the record straight. While the 32-year-old broker has been raising her 18-month-old son Aiden and three-month-old daughter Elle Madison in Miami, she is not leaving the Los Angeles-based show. 'No, I'm not leaving. I'm staying with Jason (Oppenheim),' Vander revealed in a statement to People, referring to The Oppenheim Group's President and Founder. Maya speaks out: After rumors swirled that she was leaving the hit Netflix show Saving Sunset and the real estate brokerage firm The Oppenheim Group, Maya Vander set the record straight 'I'm actually working with a few potential, very good clients with him in L.A.,' she added. 'Just focusing on Miami a lot, but I have a couple of pretty interesting clients that I might have to make the trip to L.A. for,' Vander continued. Her travels between Los Angeles and Miami has been one of several story threads throughout the first two seasons. Clients: 'I'm actually working with a few potential, very good clients with him in L.A.,' she added The rumor started when her co-worker/co-star Christine Quinn hinted at it in an episode of Too Tired to be Crazy with Violet Benson. Benson told Quinn she heard someone was leaving the brokerage, which Quinn responded, 'brokerage, shes leaving the brokerage,' mimicking Vanders Israeli accent. When Benson asked if it was Maya, Quinn said, 'Yeah, I think so,' though Vander said she isn't sure what gave Quinn the idea that she's leaving. Rumor: The rumor started when her co-worker/co-star Christine Quinn hinted at it in an episode of Too Tired to be Crazy with Violet Benson 'I honestly have no clue why shed think I was going to leave. But Im definitely not leaving the old group,' Vander added. While she's not leaving her job, she did state that she wasn't sure how involved she would be on Selling Sunset for Season 4, due to her parental duties. 'If I can be involved with season four somehow, I'll be involved with it, but I just have to take it as it comes, because I don't know even when we're going to film,' she said. No clue: 'I honestly have no clue why shed think I was going to leave. But Im definitely not leaving the old group,' Vander added The broker said she has not spoken with anyone in production yet and she doesn't, 'know what they have in mind.' She added that her business in Florida is 'picking up,' adding, 'I don't know if it would be in the same capacity.' 'I would have to figure out how to manage it all with two little children,' she added. Not sure: The broker said she has not spoken with anyone in production yet and she doesn't, 'know what they have in mind' Season 3 of Selling Sunset debuted August 7 on Netflix, and while a fourth season hasn't been officially announced, Quinn teased that it would be the 'juiciest season ever,' after Jason's brother Brett left to start his own firm, Oppenheim Real Estate. Vander also confirmed there is no 'bad blood' between the brothers, adding, 'They are very similar personalities, so they still work on some stuff together, I know that for a fact. 'Brett and Jason are in a very great place now, and I think they are actually going to collaborate on some stuff. So that's the comment I can tell you, but none of us are leaving to [go to] Brett's,' she added. Rating Action: Moody's revises WellSpan Health's (PA) outlook to stable; Aa3 and Aa3/VMIG 1 affirmed Global Credit Research - 25 Aug 2020 New York, August 25, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service affirms the Aa3 and Aa3/VMIG 1 assigned to WellSpan Health's (PA) revenue bonds issued by the General Authority of Southcentral Pennsylvania. The outlook is revised to stable from negative. The action affects approximately $703 million of debt outstanding. RATINGS RATIONALE The affirmation of the Aa3 acknowledges strong liquidity and management's proven ability to quickly execute operational improvements which will provide resources to manage through post-outbreak recovery. Governance considerations, under Moody's ESG classifications, include a consolidated management structure which afforded a successful integration of Summit Health and implementation of a common IT platform that were driving a second year of synergy benefits before the outbreak. Following solid performance in fiscal 2019 that continued through the first 8 months of FY 2020, margins at FYE will be constrained by the impact of the outbreak although CARES funding will cushion the effects. Maintenance of solid days cash, even excluding Medicare advances, will be bolstered by CARES funding as well as proceeds from a recent draw on a line of credit. While this additional debt will add to already somewhat higher leverage measures, the affirmation reflects our view that the system will begin to deleverage in fiscal 2021 and beyond. WellSpan will continue to benefit from enhanced scale and broader geographic capture that supports its distinctly leading market position across several contiguous counties of central Pennsylvania. However, the system will be challenged by an increasingly fluid and competitive service area with the entrance of many large systems and payers, and expectations of higher capital spending over the intermediate-term. The affirmation of the VMIG 1 reflects the credit quality of each bank as liquidity support provider under the applicable standby bond purchase agreement (SBPA). Story continues The most immediate social risk is the impact of COVID-19, which has resulted in volume and short-term operating losses. Though the organization's strong margins prior to COVID-19 and relief funding from the CARES Act have mitigated margin pressures in fiscal 2020, there is a high degree of uncertainty around the potential impact of COVID-19 in fiscal 2021 in case there is a second surge. We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. RATING OUTLOOK The revision of the outlook to stable from negative reflects the strength of WellSpan's management, expectations that the system will maintain solid days cash (even excluding Medicare advances) will return to and sustain pre-COVID-19 margins. In addition, the stable outlook reflects an expectation that the system will deleverage beginning in fiscal 2021. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OF THE RATINGS - Very meaningful increase in days cash on hand - Material reduction in leverage, as highlighted by stronger cash to debt and lower debt to cash flow metrics - Further diversification of geographic locations - Sustained growth in operating cashflow margin - Short-term: not applicable FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS - Inability to return to and sustain pre-COVID operating cash flow margins - Unable to deleverage and improve debt to cash flow and cash to debt measures - Meaningful liquidity decline - Additional M&A that results in dilution of balance sheet or operating metrics. - Unexpected high level of operating disruption associated with COVID-19 or prolonged severe downturn in the economy - Short-term: Moody's downgrades the short-term CR Assessment of the applicable Bank or the long-term rating of the bonds LEGAL SECURITY All parity bonds are secured by a lien on and security interest in the Gross Receipts of the Obligated Group, on parity with all existing Master Notes. Upon issuance of the Series 2019 bonds, the Master Trust Indenture will be Amended and Restated to include The Chambersburg Hospital (one of Summit's two hospitals); the other legacy entities of Summit will not be included in WellSpan's Obligated Group. The Obligated Group will consist of the York Hospital, The Gettysburg Hospital, Ephrata Community Hospital and The Chambersburg Hospital. The Amended and Restated MTI will permit a substitution of notes under certain conditions and will remove the debt to capitalization test. MTI covenant includes a maximum annual debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.1 times; if less than 1.1 times, a consultant will be hired. An event of default occurs if, under the MTI, the debt service coverage ratio for two consecutive fiscal years is less than 1.0 times. The covenants in the SBPAs mirror the MTI; in addition the Bank of America SBPA (2019C&D bonds) contains a 70 days cash test (measured June 30 and December 31). PROFILE WellSpan Health is an integrated delivery system serving York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Franklin, Cumberland, and Adams Counties in Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. The System includes eight hospitals (seven acute care and one behavioral health), with a combined total of 1,479 licensed beds as of and over 74,000 admissions in fiscal year 2019. The System also has over 170 ambulatory care and outpatient locations, seven retail pharmacy sites, 65 primary care and over 200 specialty physician offices, six cancer centers, three outpatient surgery centers, over 1,800 medical and dental staff members, a preferred provider organization and third-party administrator, and two home health services. The facilities operated by the System are located in South Central Pennsylvania, approximately 54 miles northwest of Baltimore, Maryland and 97 miles west of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. METHODOLOGY The principal methodology used in the long-term ratings was Not-For-Profit Healthcare published in December 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBM_1154632. The principal methodology used in the short-term ratings was Variable Rate Instruments Supported by Conditional Liquidity Facilities published in March 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1057134. 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. 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Mr. Wendell Quartey-Papafio, Kpando Municipal Officer, Fisheries Commission, has said illegal fishing practices by fishermen plying the Volta Lake has rendered the Lake almost lifeless. He said gone were the days when fish caught in the Lake were mature, nutritious and healthy but the use of illegal fishing practices and use of offensive materials such as mosquito net and bamboo sticks in harvesting fish from the Lake has depleted stock. Speaking at a Zonal Multi-Stakeholder Platform Meeting for Inland Zone organised by FAR BAN BO, a non-governmental organisation funded by the European Union with support from CARE, Friends of the Nation and OXFAM, Mr Quartey-Papafio said fishermen engaged in the use of illegal fishing methods were short-sighted and not thinking of the future. He further urged the fishermen to occasionally engage in alternative livelihood activities like aquaculture during off season to help cushion them economically. Mr Quartey-Papafio called on fishmongers and consumers to change their taste and preference for fish by rejecting some kinds of fish in the market. Mr Stephen Anane, Kpando Torkor Project Officer, FAR BAN BO said recent stock assessment reports implied that overfishing in the countrys marine and inland waters were in crisis and fish landings were at all-time low and fishermen now spent more hours fishing with fewer catches. He said the assessment further concluded that weak governance and the application of the fisheries law, the wasteful over-capacity and widespread Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing accounted for the crisis. Mr Anane said the FAR BAN BO project was to improve fisheries governance and address IUU through dialogue to institutionalise interactions between stakeholders to sustain the fisheries sector. Mr Harrison Ahortorvi Baba, Assembly Member, Kpando Torkor Electoral Area admired the NGO for their effort in ensuring the economic growth of fisherfolks. An IUU Community Monitoring Group to oversee the activities of fisherfolks in the Community was inaugurated. 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 Hurricane Laura is likely to cause catastrophic damage and unsurvivable storm surge to the Gulf Coast near the Texas-Louisiana border after strengthening on Wednesday to a Category 4 storm, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm, ranked on the Saffir-Simpson scale for measuring hurricane intensity, was about 320km (200 miles) south-southeast of Port Arthur, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 220km/h (140m/h) and was expected to pack winds of up to 233km/h (145m/h). The catastrophic storm surge as high as 20 feet (6 metres) from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana could penetrate up to 48km (30 miles) inland from the immediate coastline, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a Wednesday morning advisory. Texas Governor Greg Abbott urged Texans living in the path of the deadly storm to get out of the storms path immediately. All the people who could potentially lose their life, if they know number one in a hurricane thats to make sure that you save your own life. It doesnt do you any good to save your property if youre going to you lose your life. Property can be replaced. Your life cannot, Abbott said in an appearance on Fox News television on Wednesday. More than 420,000 Texas residents and another 200,000 people in neighbouring Louisiana were under mandatory evacuation orders on Wednesday. Buses were being sent to evacuate people who are also being asked to wear masks and maintain a physical distance because of the coronavirus pandemic. You only have a few hours to prepare and evacuate for #HurricaneLaura. Wherever you are by noon is where youll have to ride out the storm, Louisiana Governor John Edwards tweeted on Wednesday morning. People line up to board buses to evacuate Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Wednesday in the face of Hurricane Laura [Gerald Herbert/AP Photo] Skies were dark and a light rain was falling on Wednesday morning in the island city of Galveston, which was mostly boarded up. Randall Gilmore, a 48-year-old maintenance worker, was riding his bike along the citys sea wall, watching the clouds roll in. Work had prevented him from evacuating yet, but he planned to move to nearby Texas City in the afternoon. This storm doesnt look like itll be bad so far, but I feel its better to leave. You never know what to expect with these storms. Sometimes hurricanes can fuel tornadoes, and I dont want to be here in Galveston if that happens, Gilmore said. Laura battered the Caribbean over the weekend as a tropical storm, killing 24 people between the Dominican Republic and Haiti and damaging thousands of houses and electricity infrastructure. State and federal emergency management agencies were rushing to provide sheltered accommodations and get first responders in place. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Pete Gaynor posted pictures of teams bringing portable shelters to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana on Tuesday, and Texas Governor Abbott said his states National Guard was in place with high-water vehicles and rescue helicopters. The storm was moving at about 26km/h (16m/h) on Wednesday morning. Workers board up windows at the Galvez Hotel and Spa on Tuesday in Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Laura headed towards the US Gulf Coast [David J Phillip/AP Photo] Im a little excited and nervous, but not scared, said Carlos Morales, 21, who works for a fencing company in Galveston. He said he planned to ride out the hurricane in his five-foot elevated house about 10 blocks from the beach. The storm is expected to spawn tornadoes on Wednesday night over Louisiana, far southeastern Texas, and southwestern Mississippi, the NHC said. It added there would likely be widespread flooding from far eastern Texas across Louisiana and Arkansas from Wednesday to Thursday. Laura will likely drop 13-25cm (5-10 inches) of rain over the region, the NHC said. Crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been paralysed as companies batten down operations. Output cuts are nearing 90 percent a level not seen since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Landfall during pandemic Texas is coming down from a period of peak COVID-19 cases and deaths, and there are currently some 108,000 active cases of the virus, according to the state health department. More than 41,000 hospital beds were occupied as of Tuesday, including more than 12,000 in Houston and Galveston, state data showed. Mary Lyon, centre left, hands out masks to evacuees as they wait in line to register before boarding a bus on Tuesday in Galveston, Texas; the evacuees were being taken to Austin, Texas, as Hurricane Laura headed towards the Gulf Coast [David J Phillip/AP Photo] Hidalgo County, Texas, urged voluntary evacuation in the coastal region surrounding Houston, and shelters were set up in San Antonio, Dallas and Austin. Thousands of evacuees would be sheltered at hotels in Austin to encourage physical distancing, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Houston, which lies in Lauras path and has closed public COVID-19 testing sites in advance of the storm, was pummeled in 2017 by Hurricane Harvey, which killed at least 68 people and caused $125bn in property damage. The fourth-largest US city, with 2.3 million residents, Houston is about 70km (45 miles) north of the open water of the Gulf of Mexico. Lina Hidalgo, the top executive for Harris County, which encompasses Houston, warned of deadly winds and a destructive storm surge after Laura makes landfall. This storm certainly can cause unprecedented devastation, Hidalgo said at a news conference on Tuesday. We truly have to say: prepare for the worst. It may still be summer, but Connecticut is already gearing up for Halloween. Pop-up retailer, Spirit Halloween just announced its 2020 slate of costume and decoration stores and some other local stores already have October displays out. Will the holiday look different for you this year due to the pandemic? Hearst Connecticut Media Group asked a small number of Connecticut residents if they would be celebrating Halloween this year and how. The majority of respondents said they and their kids would be celebrating the holiday, but trick-or-treating would be dependent on a number of factors including how well social distancing could be achieved, if there is a new wave of COVID in the fall and how the start of the school year goes. Only one respondent out of 17 said she had already made plans to definitively not go out for Halloween this year. Here are what Connecticut residents had to say about Halloween 2020: Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for the presidents reelection campaign, confirmed that Mendozas video remarks were pulled from the convention lineup on Tuesday and that they will not run this week. But neither officials from the presidents campaign nor the Republican National Committee responded to a request for comment on how deeply or whether Mendoza had been vetted in advance of being assigned her speaking role. Residents of Toria village held a protest in front of the police station in Akhalkalak today. As reported jnews.ge, they were demanding the release of detained young people against whom the court had selected arrest as a pre-trial measure. Today, the district court of Akhalkalak held an online court hearing over the brawl that took place in the grazing field of Toria village in Ninotsminda region and initially imposed two-month custody against the apprehended. We want the court to release our sons. We were told that the court would release them, but now it turns out that its going to keep them in custody. We demand that the court release the young people because they defended a child. While we were haying, there was a problem, the Turks attacked us and beat a child, one of the protesters told JNEWS. From morning until 3 p.m. the residents of Toria village were waiting for the courts decision. According to them, the local authorities of Ninotsminda had promised that the three young people apprehended in Toria village would be released, but the court ruled to arrest them. They told JNEWS that the participants of the August 23 brawl are in liberty in Ninotsminda. My son has a disabled arm. The Turk hit him. Can you tell me how a Turk can come and hit my son? We have been haying on these century-old lands, but Turks come here and tell us not to. The police brought us here by convincing us, another protester said. The residents of Toria village left the premises of the police station under the condition that the boys are released in 4-5 days, and if they arent released, they will take other actions. On August 23, there was a brawl between the residents of Toria village of Ninotsminda town and the Azerbaijani newcomers. The Azerbaijani newcomers grazed their sheep on the lands for reaping that belong to the villagers, who drove the cattle out of the lands, after which a brawl took place. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has launched an investigation. Shaun King introduces Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during a rally in the capital of his home state of Vermont in Montpelier, Vt., on May 25, 2019. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Black Lives Matter Activist Threatens to Name Random Officers as Jacob Blake Shooter A prominent Black Lives Matter activist threatened late Tuesday to start naming random Kenosha police officers if the citys police department doesnt identify the officer who shot Jacob Blake. To the Kenosha Police Department, If you do not name the officer who brutally shot Jacob Blake on Sunday, we will simply begin naming officers from your department who may or may not be him, Shaun King wrote on Twitter. [Expletive] it. Your protection of his identity is unethical. Whats his name? Kings threat, which fits the definition of terrorism, is the latest in an increasing sign of radicalism within the movement. The post appears to violate Twitter rules. The company didnt respond to an inquiry. King didnt respond to requests for comment sent directly and to a representative. The Kenosha Police Department didnt return a voicemail. The Intercept, which employs King as a contributor, didnt respond to an inquiry on his threat. Rioters chanting black lives matter have destroyed buildings and looted businesses in Kenosha, a city in southeast Wisconsin, since Sunday night, following the shooting of Blake. The 29-year-old was involved in a domestic incident. Police officers responded and were seen struggling with the man before he got up and walked to his car. When he reached inside the drivers side, he was shot. Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake in Evanston, Ill., in Sept. 2019. (Adria-Joi Watkins via AP) A Black Lives Matter sign is held up as people gather in front of a police station the day after Jacob Blake was shot by police officers, in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 24, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) A man on a bike rides past a city truck on fire outside the Kenosha County Courthouse during unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 23, 2020. (Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY via Reuters) Blake was rushed to the hospital. He suffered serious injuries, and has undergone multiple surgeries, family attorneys told the media on Tuesday. Patrisse Cullors, executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, called the shooting an attempted murder. We are grieved by Jacobs attempted murder and outraged that even after the global watershed of protest following the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Jayne Thompson in close succession, we have found ourselves here, again, demanding justice for the excessive use of force by law enforcement against a black life, she said in a statement. We must continue to unite in defense of black people and stand with those calling for the immediate dismantling of anti-black racism in this country, which includes defunding the police and the racially charged agenda to overpolice and criminalize our black bodies and communities, she added later. Attorney BIvory LaMarr, who is helping represent Blakes family, told reporters Tuesday that the officers involved in the shooting should be fired. Were demanding the police department to take swift action. We ask for transparency. We ask for our local and governmental officials to act swiftly to enforce legislation. Its not so much about creating new legislation. Its about enforcing whats on the books now. And thats what we call for. Thats what this family wants. And we will not stop until we get it, he said. King, a surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during the senators presidential run, has a history of spreading misinformation. He accused the wrong man of killing a 7-year-old girl in Houston last year, claiming it was fueled by racial animus. The men arrested for the crime ended up being black, the same race as the girl. Robert Cantrell, the man King accused, later committed suicide. His family received death threats over the misidentification. Activists linked to Black Lives Matter have recently refused to denounce rioting and property destruction. Some have been linked directly to brutal violence. The movement is pushing for a range of radical measures, including abolishing police departments and reparations for descendants of slaves. Others in the movement have danced around the issue without providing a clear answer. King in June called for statues of Jesus to be torn down, claiming theyre a form of white supremacy. Before he delivers his speech on the final night of the Republican National Convention, President Trump is expected to meet with top donors at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, where supporters will also have the opportunity to attend a bourbon tasting with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and listen to Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani present a panel titled "Law and Order President." Officials involved in the planning of Trump's visit told The Washington Post he will head to the hotel a few hours before he gives his address from the South Lawn of the White House. The Trump International Hotel has been buzzing with activity this week, with at least 15 events scheduled for prominent donors and supporters. The Post obtained a copy of an agenda for the week, and the offerings include a panel on "Defeating the Deep State," presented by Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, and ex-Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka; an "Art of the Deal" reception with trade adviser Peter Navarro; and remarks from Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, and White House aide Andrew Giuliani. More stories from theweek.com 7 scathingly funny cartoons about the Republican National Convention That 'famous' Lincoln quote in Lara Trump's RNC speech? He never said it. New jobless claims decline but stay above 1 million Mahmoud al-Dimashqi has been sentenced to three months in prison by a military court for posting a photo of the military police with what was seen as an offensive comment reports Shaam Network. The Military Court of the National Army issued a sentence of three months in prison for media activist Mahmoud al-Dimashqi. Dimashqi was sentenced for a post he shared on his Facebook page in which he criticized the army. The activist published documents issued by the court showing the details of his trial that sparked controversy among the revolutionary movements activists, who considered the verdict unfair. Dimashqi published on his Facebook page a picture of Military Police members during training, wearing a white shirt with the Turkish state flag and the following sentence: There is no doubt that Turkey is not honored to place its flag on the chest of hypocrites. You should be like Turks instead of being slaves. The documents issued by the court contained what they said was evidence, represented by the defendants confession of what was attributed to him, including the arrest that the Military Police organized against him after he criticized the National Army, printouts of the activists posts with comments, and the direct allegation issued by the chief military prosecutor. Dimashqi said that he was insulted and tortured in the prisons of the National Army. Activists from southern Damascus and the countryside of Aleppo condemned the arrest by the Military Police. The activist was taken from his place of residence in the Jenderes district in the Afrin countryside. Dimashqi is originally from southern Damascus. He is well known among revolutionary movements activists for his media activism and humanitarian work. He was displaced along with his family to Jenderes, where he worked as Director of the DAAWA Foundation for Social Affairs. 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. Midland County recorded six new confirmed and three probable coronavirus cases Wednesday, bringing the pandemic total to 310 cases, 88 probable cases and 11 deaths. There were no deaths in the five-county region Midland, Bay, Gladwin, Isabella and Saginaw counties that the Daily News has been chronicling since the start of the pandemic. In Isabella County, a total of 106 coronavirus cases -- 98 confirmed and eight probable -- have been linked as of Wednesday afternoon to Central Michigan University students returning to the Mount Pleasant area, according to the Central Michigan District Health Department. Case counts include current students, former students and those living in the community who were identified as being associated with other cases related to return to school. Health officials attribute the outbreak to large social gatherings and infections transmitted among roommates. Wednesday, Aug. 26 daily numbers Bay County: Three cases were added; pandemic total stands at 706 cases, 84 probable, 40 deaths. Gladwin County: No cases were added; pandemic total stands at 68 cases, seven probable, two deaths. Isabella County: 23 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 335 cases, 44 probable, nine deaths. Saginaw County: 23 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 2,283 cases, 146 probable, 127 deaths and three probable deaths. The state on Wednesday added 761 new cases and seven deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 99,200 cases and 6,424 deaths. Testing The state report shows as of Aug. 26, Midland County has performed 10,511 diagnostic tests and 752 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 11,263 tests. Gladwin County is listed as having administered 4,022 diagnostic tests and 128 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 4,150 tests. Midland County's seven-day rolling positivity rate on Aug. 23 was listed at 2.1%, and low risk of spread. Gladwin County was listed at 0.7% and low risk. The Saginaw region, which includes 12-counties including Midland, Gladwin, Bay and Saginaw counties, was listed at 3.6% and medium risk and Michigan at 3.2%, a medium risk. A positivity rate of less than 3% indicates a lack of community spread, according to Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Department of Health and Human Services chief medical executive. As of Aug. 24, MidMichigan Health which covers a 23-county region and has medical centers at seven sites, including Midland has completed a total of 18,715 tests. Of those, 17,629 were negative, 220 positive and 866 are pending. Nursing Homes Brittany Manor in Midland is listed in the state report as having four cumulative cases and one death among residents as of Aug. 25, and five cumulative cases and no deaths among staff. Midland King's Daughters is reporting one cumulative case among staff and Medilodge of Midland is reporting two cumulative cases among staff. The other reporting facility, Stratford Pines, is reporting no cases. Gladwin Pines Nursing Home is listed as having two cumulative confirmed cases and no deaths among residents as of Aug. 25, and one confirmed case and no deaths among staff. Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, the other long-term health facility reporting to the state, is reporting one cumulative confirmed case among residents and three cumulative cases among staff. Recovered As of Aug. 20, the Midland County health department website lists 259 recovered cases and 28 hospitalizations since the pandemic start. The state lists the total recovered at 72,580 cases, as of Aug. 21, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to July 22, according to the state website, mich.gov. Midland County Health Department data People younger than 40 make up 57.2% of total Midland County cases, confirmed and probable, as of Aug. 20. Of Midland County's 369 confirmed and probable cases, 79 cases are in 0-19 age range; 74 in 20-29 age range; 58 in 30-39 age range; 53 in 40-49 age range; 50 in 50-59 age range; 22 in 60-69 age range; 19 in 70-79 age range, and 14 in 80+ age range, as of Aug. 20. Of Midland's 10 deaths, five have been female and five male. One was between the ages of 50-50; three were between ages of 70-79, and six were 80 years and older. As of Aug. 20, 81.9% of cases have fallen within the 48640 and 48642 (mostly Midland) zip codes. Next highest were 48657 (Sanford) with 7.% of cases and 48618 (Coleman) with 6.2% of cases. Cases by race, as of Aug. 20: 87.9% were listed as caucasian; 2.3% as Black; 4% as Asian; 1.1% listed as two or more races; and 6% were unknown. MidMichigan Health statistics Patient census: MidMichigan Health system is listed as having eight COVID-19 patients, including one COVID-19 patient in ICU, and 72.8% bed occupancy, as of Aug. 24. PPE days on hand as of Aug. 24: The health system reported 15-21 days for N95 masks; 0-6 days for surgical masks; 7-14 days for surgical gowns; 21+ days for shields and 7-14 days for gloves. Recommendations for public Socially distance at least 6 feet from non-household members. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. Wear face coverings in public. Stay home when sick. Covering coughs and sneezes. Throw used tissues in the trash right after use. Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning wipe or spray. Where to get help If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available, call MidMichigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989-633-1350 or MidMichigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100. MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also e-mail COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708. In just over a year Venezuela has gone from being one of the worlds hottest news headlines to obscurity. The popularity of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is waning. As the December 2020 election date for Venezuelas National Assembly fast approaches it appears that Washingtons opportunity to initiate regime change in the Latin American state is steadily slipping away, Oil Price writes in the article Russia Is Winning The Battle For Venezuelas Oil. The Latin American country possesses the worlds largest hydrocarbon reserves, estimated to total over 300 billion barrels or 12% higher than Saudi Arabias. Venezuela was once an important source of heavy crude oil for U.S. refineries with many, notably in the U.S. Midwest, being configured to process crude oil with an API of less than 40 degrees. A combination of deteriorating infrastructure and a substantial lack of investment in critical maintenance and development activities caused Venezuelas oil industry to collapse. Over the last decade, Venezuelas oil production has tumbled precipitously to be less than a sixth of the 2.3 million barrels daily pumped during 2009. According to OPECs August 2020 Monthly Oil Market Report, Venezuelas oil output had fallen to an average of 339,000 barrels daily during July, or less than half of the daily average for 2019. The collapse of the Latin American countrys economically vital hydrocarbon sector has caused the economy to essentially collapse. During 2019 Venezuelas GDP contracted by 35%, according to the IMF, and is forecast to shrink 15% in 2020 and by another 5% for 2021. As a result, what was the most advanced country in Latin America is now one of the regions poorest. It has seen Caracas, once regarded as the jewel of South America, fall on hard times and lose its status as the continents mecca for oil executives, businessmen and tourists. Venezuelas economic woes will worsen because oil production remains in decline. Even the governments efforts, with considerable support from Russia, have failed to tangibly boost petroleum output with July average daily production of 339,000 barrels less than 1% greater than a month earlier. By the end of July 2020, Baker Hughes data showed there was only one active oil rig in the Latin American country, compared to 25 for the equivalent period a year earlier. The economic dependence on oil will force the Maduro administration to seek further support from key ally Russia, particularly because formidable U.S. sanctions prevent Caracas from tapping mainstream international capital markets and selling crude abroad. Moscow has a long history of supporting Venezuelas dictatorship, supplying arms, loans and now mercenaries to prop up its erstwhile South American ally since Chavezs ascension to power. It also facilitates the sale of Venezuelan crude, allowing Maduros administration to skirt U.S. sanctions. China has become a key recipient of Venezuelan oil despite U.S. sanctions. Those sales were being expedited by Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft, which had lent over $6 billion to Caracas to be repaid in oil with around $800 million remaining to be paid according to some estimates. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Rosneft but indicated that they would be lifted if the company were no longer involved in Venezuela. This saw Rosneft sell its Venezuelan assets earlier this year to a Russian government owned company to protect its shareholders. This underscores the closeness of the relationship between Caracas and Moscow. The alliance between the two countries will become stronger because of Washington tabling further sanctions in the wake of seizing Iranian fuel cargoes en route to Venezuela earlier this month. The Trump administration is also determined to choke off Caracas oil sales, the governments only source of hard currency. This relationship and its growing intimacy, gives Russia notable geopolitical benefits, including increased leverage in what has traditionally been considered the U.S.s exclusive sphere of influence and control over the worlds largest oil reserves. Recent developments in Venezuela indicate that the bond will become even closer. Venezuelas December 2020 National Assembly elections are fast approaching. This is an important event for Washington and its attempts to secure regime change in Venezuela, blunt regional Russian influence and dominate the Latin American countrys vast oil wealth. The parliamentary body, where the opposition to Maduros holds a majority, endows opposition leader Juan Guaido with his legitimacy. At the start of 2019, Guaido declared himself Venezuelas interim president and was backed by the U.S., Canada and many Latin American countries. Eventually, more than 50 countries around the world recognized the opposition leader as Venezuelas legitimate leader by the end of 2019. That support, however, is evaporating domestically and internationally. Guaidos failure to deliver on the many promises made during early 2019 has seen many Venezuelans who initially supported him become disillusioned with the self-declared intermediate president. His popularity is declining further as the ever-deepening economic crisis forces Venezuelans to set aside politics and focus on managing day to day problems just to survive. A 2019 poll showed that Guaidos popularity had waned and he was in a statistical dead heat with Maduro. Guaidos support spiraled even lower after his alleged involvement in the abortive May 2020 armed raid on Venezuela, where two former U.S. special forces soldiers were captured. This along with Trump flip flopping on Venezuela in recent months and the growing pressures on ordinary Venezuelans because of the economic impact of harsher U.S. sanctions. Washington appears to have lost the ability to spark regime change in Venezuela. Harsher sanctions and the Latin American countrys growing forced austerity has seen a hard-pressed Maduro seek closer ties with Russia, giving Moscow ever greater control of Venezuelas vast oil reserves and potential productive capacity. This not only boosts Russian geopolitical standing but gives Moscow greater ability to influence oil prices by increasing its bargaining power with OPEC, with which Russia has partnered since 2016 in a series of petroleum production cuts to bolster prices. But now that picture is changing. A look at the recent data suggests that the "Big Mo" - momentum - beloved of US politicians is behind him. Suddenly, the bookmakers are shaving their odds on the property mogul becoming the first president since Calvin Coolidge almost a century ago to win a second term in the teeth of a recent recession. Just four months ago, when COVID-19 put more than 20 million Americans out of work, the thought of Trump fighting November's election on the economy seemed farcical. A proud presidential record, including an unemployment rate at a 50-year low of 3.5 per cent, was in tatters. A brutal April-June quarter saw the world's biggest economy shrink a record 9.4 per cent. A tongue-in-cheek (one assumes) Trump said the Almighty was punishing him for his hubris in boasting about building "the greatest economy in the history of the world". So one pandemic later "now I have to do it again", he quipped. Take housing, for example. Even with unemployment at 10.2 per cent, the monetary stimulus poured on by the Federal Reserve and generous financial support to households has helped light a fire under the market. July saw a huge rebound in construction starts on new homes, jumping 22 per cent to an annualised pace of 1.5 million during the month: that was well in excess of expectations and the highest since 2006, when the pre-financial crisis housing bubble was just swelling to a peak. Loading Alongside that fillip, the number of building permits - a decent indicator of future demand - also rocketed more than 18 per cent to 1.5 million. Meanwhile, sales of existing homes soared 25 per cent to hit 5.9 million, wiping out all of the damage to the market inflicted by COVID-19. No wonder confidence among housebuilders has soared to its highest level for more than 20 years. The figures certainly raised eyebrows among economists, with Capital Economics suggesting that the speed of the turnaround "is still something of a surprise". The construction boom is such that the builders are even worried that a lumber shortage could put the brakes on the housing recovery after production was cut and pre-existing stockpiles wound down, more than doubling the price. The shock of the pandemic hasn't crimped the US consumer either, helped out by those $US1200 ($1667) government cheques in the spring and $US600-a-week benefit top-ups until last month. A third successive month of rising retail spending has left sales 2.5 per cent above the pre-COVID peak, at their highest since records began in 1992. Admittedly, the 1.2 per cent advance last month was the weakest since the shutdown, but sales were still 2.7 per cent above the same month last year. Personal consumption accounts for 70 per cent of the economy and shoppers are spending more online, even though they are still avoiding bricks and mortar retailers and restaurants for now. Other signs of politically useful momentum for Trump come from manufacturers, which have recouped some 60 per cent of output lost to COVID-19. Financial data firm IHS Markit's snapshot of manufacturing and services activity - albeit less reliable due to the wild swings of the pandemic - is now at an 18-month high, which suggests that companies are shrugging off the worrying jump in COVID-19 infections seen in July. The Department of Veterans Affairs is teaming up with the Department of Defense to offer Women's Health Transition Training (WHTT) for female service members who are transitioning to civilian life. The voluntary training program is in addition to the normal Transition Assistance Program (TAP) that all separating military members are required to attend, and is not a substitute for TAP training. This training is only available to female service members and will be led by a woman veteran who actually uses VA health care. The training began as a pilot program in 2018 in response to reports that female veterans were not using their VA benefits as much as male veterans did, mainly because they didn't know what programs were available to them. Due to the great success of the pilot program, a joint VA/DoD Executive Committee voted to make this program a permanent offering by the VA. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this year's remaining training sessions will be offered online only. Sessions will be held twice daily through Dec. 21, 2020. All women are encouraged to attend to learn more about the special benefits for which they may be eligible. Related: Special programs for women veterans. Some of the subjects that will be discussed in WHTT include: Female specific health care including reproductive services, maternity care, mental health services, newborn care, and gynecological care and musculoskeletal care. Resources available for servicewomen during the military to civilian transition process. Special programs available through the VA for women veterans. Services available through the Center for Women Veterans According to the VA, a great number of women veterans do not apply for healthcare and other benefits they may be eligible for due to a lack of knowledge of these programs. In fact, since the WHTT program began as a pilot in 2018, women who attended the training sessions applied for VA benefits at a rate 114% higher than in previous years, and they did so quicker, The VA says that women veterans have a higher prevalence of chronic pain, obesity, musculoskeletal issues and depression than their male counterparts. Further, since 2001, rates of suicide among women veterans has increased by 85.2%, versus 30.5% among men among the youngest age groups. Women veterans with a mental health diagnosis who do seek VA care often do it later than their male counterparts. VA hopes this new training will let women veterans know what benefits they have available to them and to enroll for care and other benefits as soon as possible. The program is intended to complement TAP and to provide all servicewomen with specific women's health information that will aid their transition to civilian life. The goal of the program is that participants leave the course feeling empowered to proactively manage their health care and to be comforted by their new support system at VA who can guide them through the military transition process and help them. There will be two four-hour long sessions daily Monday through Friday through Dec. 21. Sessions will be held at various times to allow those stationed across the globe to attend at a convenient hour. For more details about the program, including how to register at the VA's Center for Women Veterans website. Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox. The Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), Govt. of Karnataka, Shivamogga District, has called for online applications from eligible and interested candidates (women only) for filling 137 Anganwadi vacancies in capacity as Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers through direct selection on a fulltime basis to be posted in Shivamogga district in Karnataka, India. The online application-cum-registration process towards the same started on August 24, 2020 and closes on September 23, 2020 by 5:30 pm. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers Organisation Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), Shivamogga District, Karnataka Educational Qualification Class 4/Class 9; SSLC/Class 10 or equivalent Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Desirable Job Location Shivamogga Salary Scale As per the Govt. of K'taka norms Industry Women and Child Development Application Start Date August 24, 2020 Application End Date September 23, 2020 WCD Shivamogga Recruitment: Age And Fees Candidates interested in applying for Anganwadi Worker and Helper posts through WCD Shivamogga Recruitment 2020 must have attained 18 years of age and not be more than 35 years, with relaxation (upper age limit) for OBC (2A/2B/3A/3B) and SC/ST/PWD candidates are per the Govt. of Karnataka reservation policy. For details regarding application fee for Anganwadi Jobs under WCD Shivamogga Recruitment 2020, refer to the official WCD Shivamogga Recruitment advertisement given at the end of the article. WCD Haveri Recruitment 2020 For 168 Anganwadi Workers And Helpers, Apply Online Before September 14 WCD Recruitment Recruitment: Anganwadi Vacancy Post Name No. Of Vacancies Aanganwadi Helper 91 Aanganwadi Worker 46 Total 137 WCD Shivamogga Recruitment: Education Desirous candidates applying for Anganwadi Worker and Helper posts through WCD WCD Shivamogga Recruitment 2020 must have passed Class 4 (minimum) to Class 9 (for Anganwadi Helper post); SSLC/Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent (for Anganwadi Worker post) from a recognised Board/School as specified in the WCD Shivamogga recruitment advertisement. WCD Shivamogga Recruitment: Selection And Pay The selection of candidates as Anganwadi Workers and Helpers through WCD Shivamogga Recruitment 2020 will be done through Shortlisting and Written Test/Skill Test/Interview. Candidates selected as Anganwadi Workers and Helpers through WCD Shivamogga Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument as per the Govt. of K'taka norms. WCD Bengaluru Recruitment For 63 Anganwadi Workers And Helpers, Apply Online Before September 5 WCD Shivamogga Recruitment: How To Apply Candidates applying for Anganwadi Worker and Helper posts through WCD Shivamogga Recruitment 2020 must submit their applications through online mode only on the official Karnataka DWCD website on or before September 23, 2020 by 05:30 pm. Download WCD Shivamogga Recruitment 2020 PDF notificaiton for Anganwadi Jobs. The U.S. work to have Irans influence on Iraqs energy sector reduced made progress last week when Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi visited Washington for high-level meetings with President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. The U.S. Administrations push to reduce Iraqs dependence on energy imports from Iranincluding electricity and natural gascould see rapprochement and closer energy cooperation between Iraq, the only Arab country in the Gulf region that is not a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Irans archrival in the region and a key U.S. ally, Saudi Arabia. A top-level Iraqi delegation, led by Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi, visited Washington last week and agreed to work, with help from the United States, on connecting Iraqs electricity grid to Saudi Arabias, and possibly Kuwaitsthe GCC state that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded in 1990, triggering the Persian Gulf War. Weve been working with our Iraqi counterparts on energy- and electricity-related projects, and others, for some time, a senior U.S. administration official said on the visit of Iraqi officials. It is vital that Iraqs electricity grid be connected to the GCC. Weve been working on this, as Im sure you know, and theres more work to be done. And so that will continue, the official added. Iraqs energy sector is dependent on imports from Iran, and even after the U.S. slapped sanctions on Irans energy exports, Iraq continues to import natural gas and electricity from Iran under a special waiver that the United States has regularly extended to Iraq. Major Iraqi power plants are dependent on Iranian natural gas supply, and Iraq also imports electricity from Iran, as Baghdads power generation is not enough to ensure domestic supply. The U.S. has been working for closer cooperation between Iraq and the GCC states, and has been facilitating meetings between Iraqi energy officials and officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other GCC states, The Wall Street Journal quoted Iraqs Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi as telling reporters after his meeting with President Trump last week. Related: High Profile Nuclear Reactor Rollout Faces 3-Year Delay The Americans also encouraged us and encouraged our neighbors to link up our electricity generation grids, Al-Kadhimi said. A month before the U.S.-Iraq meetings at the White House, the U.S. State Department said in a statement on U.S./Iraq/GCC Cooperation: The Government of Iraq, Gulf Cooperation Council, and United States have renewed their full support for the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) project to connect the electricity grids of Iraq and the GCC. The United States is committed to facilitating this project and providing support where needed. This project will provide much-needed electricity to the people of Iraq and support Iraqs economic development, particularly in the southern provinces. At the U.S.-Iraq meetings last week, the United States and Iraq discussed the Government of Iraqs efforts to increase domestic electricity and gas production, reduce wasteful gas flaring, and implement energy market reforms, the State Department said, noting that the two governments plan to continue cooperation with the GCC member states and Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority on Iraq/GCC electricity connections and energy investment. Secretary of Energy Brouillette emphasized the critical role U.S. private investment will continue to play in Iraqs energy future and stressed the need for rapid progress towards energy independence from Iran, announcing commercial agreements worth as much as US$8 billion between U.S. energy companies and the Government of Iraq. The agreements include a framework agreement between U.S. supermajor Chevron and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil for entering into exclusive negotiating on an exploration, development, and production contract in the Dhi Qar Province. In addition, General Electric and Iraqs Ministry of Electricity committed to three agreements that will help increase reliable access to electricity in Iraq, and collaboration on strengthening Iraqs electricity grid and interconnection with neighboring countries. President Trumps Administration & the U.S. private sector stand ready to help Iraq achieve energy independence and bolster their national security, Secretary Brouillette said. According to a Western official who spoke to the Journal, the Iraqi electricity grid and infrastructure will need upgrading to be able to receive electricity from GCC, and this upgrade could take more than a year. Closer energy cooperation between Iraq and GCC could also come in the form of Saudi investments in an Iraqi natural gas field and solar energy projects, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Ali Allawi, told Bloomberg in an interview last month. The more Iraq cooperates with GCC members, the more it could lessen its dependence on Iran in the energy sector, or at least the U.S. hopes so. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: 15 organizations recognized for their exemplary performance and valuable contributions in shaping new trends across Asia-Pacific SINGAPORE, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan honored Asia-Pacific's leading companies at the 18th annual Asia-Pacific Best Practices Awards on 25 August in the second virtual awards ceremony of the year. A total of 23 awards were presented to organizations for elevating performance benchmarks and for their outstanding achievements in the industry. These awards were segmented across six major sectors: Automotive Energy Building & Environment Industries Healthcare Information & Communication Technologies Logistics Congratulating the 2020 winners and recognizing their best-in-class performance, Shivaji Das, Partner and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, at Frost & Sullivan said: "Against the rapidly evolving business climate, it is imperative that companies today continue to strive and innovate for the future, creating value and driving better business outcomes. Without a doubt, all the deserving recipients here tonight exemplify that positive attitude. They have all done well and excelled in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development, putting them ahead of their competitors." The award recipients were identified using Frost & Sullivan's proprietary, measurement-based methodology derived from extensive primary and secondary research, in-depth interviews, analysis, and industry benchmarking. Numerous award categories were carefully reviewed and evaluated to reflect the current market landscape and highlight emerging trends in Asia. A detailed study was further conducted on each of the nominated companies, focusing on real-time performance indicators like market share, revenue growth, customer acquisitions, product/service value, and technology innovation. The companies that emerged represent outstanding leaders that are driving positive trends in the Asia-Pacific economy. Recipients of the 2020 Asia-Pacific Best Practices Awards Award Titles & Category Award Recipients Regional titles 2020 Asia-Pacific Telecoms Tower Company of the Year edotco Group Sdn Bhd 2020 Asia-Pacific Data Centre Services Provider of the Year Equinix 2020 Asia-Pacific Crowd Analytics for Buildings Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Flow Solutions 2020 Asia-Pacific Logistics Services Provider of the Year Kerry Logistics Network 2020 Asia-Pacific Road Transportation Service Provider of the Year Kerry Logistics Network 2020 Asia-Pacific CRO Company of the Year Novotech Pty Ltd 2020 Asia-Pacific Customer Experience Outsourcing Services Provider of the Year Teleperformance 2020 Asia-Pacific Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) Provider of the Year Vonage 2020 Southeast Asia Stem Cell Banking Technology Innovation Leadership Award Medeze 2020 Southeast Asia Organic Food Industry Customer Value Leadership Award ZenxinAgri Food Country titles 2020 Indonesia Cloud Infrastructure Services Provider of the Year Telkomsigma 2020 Malaysia Data Centre Service Provider of the Year AIMS Data Centre 2020 Malaysia Smart Waste Solutions Technology Innovation Award Heng Hiap Industries Sdn. Bhd. 2020 Malaysia Customer Experience Outsourcing Services Provider of the Year TDCX 2020 Malaysia Mobile Service Provider of the Year U Mobile Excellence in Customer Experience - Telecommunications Industry Malaysia - Contact Center Experience U Mobile Excellence in Customer Experience - Telecommunications Industry Malaysia Dealership Experience U Mobile Excellence in Customer Experience - Telecommunications Industry Malaysia - Mobile Experience U Mobile Excellence in Customer Experience - Telecommunications Industry Malaysia - Overall Experience U Mobile Excellence in Customer Experience - Telecommunications Industry Malaysia - Online Experience U Mobile Excellence In Customer Experience - Banking Industry Philippines - ATM Ambience Experience UnionBank of the Philippines Excellence In Customer Experience - Banking Industry Philippines - Online Experience UnionBank of the Philippines 2020 Thailand Stem Cell Banking Company of the Year Medeze The 2020 Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific Best Practices Awards virtual banquet is supported by our Media Partners: ACN Newswire, AI Time Journal, Business Today, CryptoNewsZ, Chief IT, Asia Research News, CEO World Magazine, and Developing Telecoms. To learn more about the awards and partnership opportunities for the 2020 awards, please visit http://www.apacbp-awards.com/. To schedule interaction with our spokespersons, please email Kala Mani. S. at [email protected]. About Frost & Sullivan For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion Media Contact: Zuzana Zukarnain Corporate Communications Asia-Pacific Phone: +60192657808 Email: [email protected] Related Links http://www.frost.com/ SOURCE Frost & Sullivan HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th August, 2020) Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas has invited US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to attend the Three Seas Initiative summit to be held in Tallinn on October 19-20, Estonian Public Broadcasting portal ERR reported. The Three Seas Initiative brings together Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Austria, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania. Its stated goal is to strengthen cooperation, primarily for the development of infrastructures in the energy, transport and digital sectors, which will positively affect economic growth, cohesion and security of the EU. "I recently had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during which I made such an offer to him. So that they could find a suitable time on these dates, and so that someone on their part could participate in the meeting," Ratas said. Earlier, Estonian media reported that US President Donald Trump could come to the summit in Tallinn, as the United States was showing interest in the initiative, seeing in it new opportunities for relations with Europe. According to Ratas, due to presidential elections to be held in the United States this year, Trump is unlikely to come to Tallinn. He also said it was not yet clear whether the summit would be held in Tallinn or by means of a video conference. Pompeo said at the Munich Security Conference in February that the United States would allocate about $1 billion to Central and Eastern European countries for energy security projects under the Three Seas Initiative. Another Miami man who claims to have had a personal relationship with Becki Falwell and sued the family last year over his stake in their LGBTQ-friendly hostel has urged the pool boy now speaking out against the family to 'tell the full truth'. Gordon Bello sued Jerry Falwell Jr. in 2019 over his stake in the hostel that the Falwell family invested in and which Giancarlo Granda runs. Since Monday, Granda and the Falwells have been trading insults and conflicting statements about a six-year affair he had with Becki. Granda says that Jerry, who stepped down as president of Liberty University on Tuesday as a result of the scandal, watched him and Becki having sex. Jerry and Becki deny that, and say that while she had an affair with him, it was a mistake and Jerry was not involved. On Wednesday, Bello told DailyMail.com that he felt Granda had more to share. 'Giancarlo is not telling the full truth of what happened, I hope he finds the courage to do so,' he said. He did not go into any more detail. Scroll down for video Gordon Bello said on Wednesday that Giancarlo Granda had more to say about Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki and that he hoped he'd have the courage to 'tell the full truth' Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki. Bello claims he had a 'personal relationship' with her but he has never shared more details. Becki had an affair with Giancarlo In his most recent claims against the couple, Granda alleged that Jerry once sent him a photograph of a Liberty University student exposing herself on the family's farm. He claims that Jerry is a 'predator'. Granda and Bello are high school friends. In 2017, Bello filed a lawsuit against the Falwells claiming his father, a builder, gave them the idea for the hostel that they bought and went into business with with Granda. He said he met Becki at the Loews Miami Beach hotel in 2012. Granda met them at the Fontainebleau Hotel. While Granda was given a 25 percent stake in the business - and even flew on corporate jets with them he was left out. Bello and his father had changed their names from Jesus Fernandez Jr. and Sr in 2016 and claim it was 'due to a matter directly related to the subject matter of this lawsuit'. The father told the Miami Herald at the time the decision was based on 'major concerns' and those concerns were 'based on threats'. In his latest statement, Granda said: 'In his effort to lie and discredit me, the Falwell's are exposing to the world why I felt it was important to step forward and tell the truth about them. 'The fiction they are peddling in an effort to save themselves is on par with the kind of victim-shaming tactics we've come to expect from people who have abused their positions of power and authority.' He went on to say he was not profiting 'in any way, shape or form' from the scandal, and said: 'The reality is Jerry Falwell is a predator. I know this because he sent me an image of a female Liberty University student exposing herself at their farm. 'This is not appropriate conduct for someone who up until this week, has been charged with overseeing the well-being of thousands of vulnerable and impressionable students.' Falwell Jr with Giancarlo, his wife, and other members of their family in a photo taken in Washington DC before the relationship soured Neither Liberty nor a lawyer for Jerry immediately responded to DailyMail.com's inquiries on Wednesday morning. Regarding the photograph of a Liberty University student exposing herself on the family's farm, Falwell Jr. told The Washington Post that Granda might have been referring to an incident at the family home when neither he nor Becki were there. His daughters-in-law were using the guesthouse and, he claimed, one of them pulled her skirt up while being filmed. 'She had on, I dont know how to say this, granny panties,' he said, saying that he sent the screenshot to several people because he thought it was funny. He went on to call Granda a 'criminal' and 'liar', saying: 'I grew up as a preachers kid and we were under a microscope. ' The university said on Tuesday that its prayers were with Jerry as he moved on from campus life. The saga began on Sunday night, when Jerry gave a long statement to The Washington Examiner, claiming he and his wife were being extorted. He did not name Granda, but revealed that Becki had had an affair. He said he'd chosen to forgive her, but that finding out about it upset him so much he lost 80lbs. On August 7 he was ordered to take an 'indefinite leave of absence' after posting a photo on Instagram that showed him with his pants unzipped and his midsection visible, with his arm around a woman, who he claimed was his wife's assistant, whose shorts were also unzipped He then claimed that their lawyers had told them to stay in touch and remain friendly with Granda, with whom they run a gay-friendly hostel in Miami. Granda, in an interview with Reuters, then claimed that not only did Jerry know about the affair, but that he watched him and Becki having sex. He said the trio met in 2012, when he was working as a pool boy at the Fontainebleau in Miami, and says Becki picked him up. He claims she told him he needed someone more experienced than the young girls he was talking to and that she brought him to her hotel room, where Jerry was waiting in Speedos. The pair then had sex in front of Jerry, he claims. In 2016, Liberty signed over a fitness center to personal trainer Benjamin Crosswhite who flew with the Falwells on their private jet and trained them. Even though Liberty sold the property to him, it also gave him the money for the sale In 2015, the couple tried to cut ties with Granda by buying him out of their Miami hostel. It coincided with Donald Trump's first presidential campaign, which they endorsed enthusiastically. Granda did not agree to the terms and they remained in business. In 2018, the relationship soured, he said. The couple have also had legal issues in the past with Gordon Bello, another young man who claims he had a 'personal relationship' with Becki. He said in a lawsuit that he was owed a stake in the hostel. The lawsuit was settled privately for an undisclosed amount last year. The couple have also given a former Liberty University student and personal trainer help setting up his own business. Benjamin Crosswhite trained the couple in 2011 and later. In 2016, Liberty gave him a health and fitness center on campus. The Granda scandal comes after questions and criticism over Jerry's leadership at the Christian university. He was in the past accused of using the university purse to give favors to friends, and disgruntled staffers said he ran it more like a 'real estate hedge fund' than a college. The university has amassed more than $500million in assets since he took over. Much of it is down to him taking in online students. Liberty was founded in 1971 by Jerry's father, Jerry Falwell Sr., or 'big Jerry', as some on campus call him. By PTI BENGALURU: Actors Yash, Prakash Raj and Malavika Avinash on Wednesday resumed shooting of the upcoming Kannada action drama "KGF: Chapter 2". Directed by Prashanth Neel, the film is a sequel to the 2018 period action movie starring Yash in the lead. Production on the movie was affected due to the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown in March. Prakash Raj, who joins the franchise in the second installment, shared pictures from the set on Instagram. "Start, camera, action. Back to work on the sets of 'KGF: Chapter 2'," he captioned the photos. Neel welcomed the "Wanted" star to the film series and asked fans for blessings as the team began the shoot amid the pandemic. "Welcome on board @prakashraaj sir. We resume shoot finally for #KGFChapter2. Thank you everyone for all the love and excitement towards the movie. Wish us all the luck," the director tweeted. Welcome on board @prakashraaj sir. We resume shoot finally for #KGFCHAPTER2 Thank you everyone for all the love and excitement towards the movie. Wish us all the luck pic.twitter.com/AmPS9PDh2o Prashanth Neel (@prashanth_neel) August 26, 2020 "KGF" follows Rocky (Yash) who rises from poverty to become the king of a gold mine. Avinash, who plays a TV journalist in the film, shared a picture with Yash from the film's set in Kanteerava Studios here. "After six full months, the COVID break is broken. Shooting today! Feels like a rebirth! Guess which film?!" the actor wrote. According to reports, Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, who is undergoing preliminary treatment at Mumbai's Kokilaben Hospital for cancer, will get back to completing the movie once his medical treatment is over. The film marks the Dutt's Kannada debut. "KGF: Chapter 2" also stars Raveena Tandon and Srinidhi Shetty. Maria Berardo I am very excited to be part of the Luum team, to take the People and Operations practices to the next level, and to continue attracting and retaining diverse talent to make Luum one of the best places to work in the Seattle area. Commute Benefits Management Platform Luum today announced that Maria Berardo has joined its executive team as its first Head of People and Operations. The establishment of the position reflects the surge in demand by employers for Luum to set-them up with commute programs that cater to employee safety, flexibility and confidence. Educated in Argentina, the United States and Canada, and having led HR functions for Microsoft, Amazon, CloudMoyo, Kaiser Permanente of Washington and others, Ms. Berardo brings more than 20 years of HR and business acumen from big company systems experience to fast-growth scale and global expansion. She also brings a first-hand understanding of how much commute benefits can positively affect an organizations employee engagement, retention and recruiting efforts as she brought in Luum to improve the commute program at a major Seattle employer where she worked previously. Ms. Berardo chose Luum because of its combination of positive-impact mission, its stage of growth, and the people shed gotten to know when she was a customer. Increasingly, people want to work for organizations with a conscience and that put that conscience to work by improving the communities in which they live and work, said Ms. Berardo, the new Head of People and Operations for Luum. Luum helps organizations put policies and practices into place that not only improve the commutea key consideration for any employeebut also to advance their CO2-reduction initiatives, improve employee equity, and now during a pandemic, enhance worker safety. I am very excited to be part of the Luum team, to take the People and Operations practices to the next level, and to continue attracting and retaining diverse talent to make Luum one of the best places to work in the Seattle area. Given Luums growth plans, hiring Maria Berardo as our first Head of People and Operations is critical because she is being tasked to build the internal systems and infrastructure that will allow us to scale and continue hiring and retaining the kind of top talent that is necessary for the world-class company were building, said Sohier Hall, President, CEO of Luum. Maria will be responsible for bringing our values to life by creating a workplace that fosters diversity and inclusion. Ms. Berardo most recently served as Global Sr. Director of Human Resources and Operations for Redmond, Wash., based CloudMoyo, and before that positions of increasing responsibility in technology, healthcare and financial services companies in the United States and Argentina. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Universidad Buenos Aires, a Masters degree in Human Resources Management from Universidad del Salvador and a M.B.A. jointly conferred by Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. ABOUT LUUM Luum is a commute management platform that scales with organizations as their programs and policies evolve. Built to elevate policy-driven commute programs, Luums software unifies benefits administration, parking management, and mobility options for employees. Luum provides employers with a suite of commute tools as well as real-time data to drive behavior change, inform policy, boost employee engagement and augment corporate sustainability. With a current focus on providing safe, trusted and flexible commute options for frontline workers and those preparing for a return to the workplace, Luum understands that commute success looks different for every employer. Check-out our Commute Smarter, Commute Safer line-up at luum.com. Lets Get There. Together. India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt We will continue to deal with Chinese PLA in firm, resolute manner: Army chief To thwart Chinese attack choppers, India deployed troops with shoulder fired air defence missiles India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 26: The Indian forces have deployed troops equipped with shoulder fired air defence missiles in Eastern Ladakh, following the presence of Chinese attack choppers in the sector. India had earlier deployed quick reaction air defence missiles, including the Akash missile system. These weapons can taken down fighter jets and armed drones. The Indian troops armed with Russian origin Igla air defence system can bring down enemy fighter jets or choppers which comes close to the Indian locations. India prepared to look at any military option if no result from talks on border standoff with China, says CDS Rawat Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News India has also filled in its surveillance gaps in a bid to ensure that no enemy aircraft would go undetected. Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane said that Indian Armed Forces would have to put adequate emphasis on the available disruptive technologies that have dual use and are being driven by commercial entities and innovation. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Azhar's nephew, who was killed in an encounter on 29 March in south Kashmir, is said to be the mastermind of Pulwama terror attack Jammu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet on Tuesday in a special court in Jammu against 19 people including Masood Azhar, the chief of banned terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, for planning and carrying out a deadly suicide attack on a CRPF convoy that left 40 personnel dead in Pulwama, south Kashmir, in 2019. The "blind case" was solved by the NIA after piecing together the electronic evidence and statements of terrorists and their sympathisers arrested in different cases, officials said. The 13,500-page chargesheet names people who were arrested from Pulwama for providing shelter and shooting the last video of Adil Dar, the suicide bomber who used around 200 kgs of explosives in the vehicle that rammed into the CRPF convoy on 14 February, 2019, killing 40 personnel near Lethpora in south Kashmir. This case, whose probe was led by NIA Joint Director Anil Shukla, also brings to light the use of e-commerce platforms by the planners in the terror module for purchase of high-end batteries, phones and some chemicals. As many as seven people have been arrested so far by the NIA in this case, the officials said. Besides Azhar, those charge sheeted include seven terrorists who were killed in various encounters and four absconders, two of whom are still hiding in Jammu and Kashmir one of them a local and the other a Pakistani national. Two relatives of Masood Azhar - Abdula Rauf and Ammar Alvi - have been named in the chargesheet as the main conspirators behind the case. The dead include a nephew of JeM terrorist Mohammed Umar Farooq who had entered India through natural caves at the international border in Sambha in late 2018. This is second and concluding part of a two-part series. The first part was published on August 24, 2020. Another author on the Policy Exchange report is Eric Kaufmann. A professor at Birkbeck University in London, Kaufmann spoke in defence of Noah Carl during the Cambridge campaign. He is the author of a book, Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities, which argues that Western politics is being defined by the tug of war between white ethno-traditionalism and anti-racist moralism, that anti-racism is a repression of ethnic instincts, and that white people should be able to assert their own racial self-interest. Kaufmann has recently called for giving preference to white people in a points-based immigration system. Eric Kaufmann The appeal to far-right, social Darwinist layers, is made explicit in the Academic Freedom report. The passage deserves to be cited at length for its insistence on the positive intentions of advocates of race science: It is difficult to imagine that black students would or should be unmoved at news a professor in their department is pursuing a line of research proving black people are inherently less intelligent than white people, for instance, all under the umbrella of academic freedom. Or that a student of Indian heritage might not be deeply offended by a professor or lecturer teaching in class that British colonialism was the best thing that ever happened to the Indian people. However, the question ultimately boils down to whether we aim to build an academic community and wider society which operates on the good-faith assumption of positive intentions in others or one that operates on the assumption of nefarious intentions. Furthermore, with British institutions, including universities, now under a microscope following the outpouring of anti-racist protests and initiatives after the heinous killing of George Floyd in America, it smacks of the implausible that any rational scholar interested in a successful academic career would consider propagating racist beliefs to be a wise or even just beneficial career path. These ideas and their advocates have a major influence among leading government figures. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruminated on the significance of innate IQ differences for human equality. His closest advisor, Dominic Cummings, has written a 200-plus-page paper for the Department of Education insisting on the importance of genetics in childrens academic success and was responsible for the hiring of a self-professed eugenicist as a special government advisor. As social inequality reaches obscene levels, this ideology is regaining its central place in the thinking of the ruling class. The unholy alliance behind the Academic Freedom report is completed by the author of its foreword, former Labour MP Ruth Smeeth. Part of the Blairite core of the Labour Party, Smeeths most significant political role has been as a key player in the anti-Semitism witch-hunt against the Corbynite left. She has been at the forefront of criminalising criticism of Israel through enshrining the International Holocaust Remembrance Associations definition of anti-Semitism. Between 2005 and 2007, Smeeth served as director of public affairs and campaigns for the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), a pro-Israel lobby group. She was exposed by WikiLeaks in July 2016 as a strictly protect United States asset in leaked diplomatic cables. Ruth Smeeth In 2018, Smeeth had long-time anti-racism campaigner Marc Wadsworth thrown out of the Labour Party after alleging he had engaged in anti-Semitic conduct towards her. At a party meeting, Wadsworth had seen a Telegraph reporter passing one of his leaflets calling for the deselection of right-wing Labour MPs to Smeeth and commented, We can see whos working hand in hand. Now Smeeth comes out in favour of a campaign with the Telegraph s fingerprints all over it! Smeeth endorses the Policy Exchange report in her capacity as recently selected CEO of the Index on Censorship. Former leading Labour member Trevor Phillips now serves as chair of the Index on Censorship's board of directors. Phillips managed to criticise Tony Blair from the right, denouncing him for promulgating multiculturalism. In an interview with the Times in 2004, he called for a rejection of multiculturalism and for the government to assert a core of Britishness. He said in 2016 about immigration to the UK, Rome may not yet be in flames, but I think I can smell the smouldering whilst we hum to the music of liberal self-delusion and referred to the dark side of the diverse society. He was thrown out of the Labour Party for Islamophobic comments earlier this March. In the last few years, Phillips has worked closely with the Policy Exchange, and now heads its History Matters project. In June, he was considered by Munira Mirza to lead a government race inquiry, having already been appointed to an earlier inquiry into how the pandemic affected BAME communities. Like Smeeth, Phillips was a leading figure in the Labour anti-Semitism campaign, writing in the Financial Times, Labours inaction on anti-Semitism is shameful. In arguing for the freedom of reactionaries to speak unchallenged, the forces marshalled behind the Index on Censorship intend to use government intervention on the campuses to suppress criticism of Israel and its criminal abuse of the Palestiniansa touchstone issue for British imperialism. The right-wing press frequently cites protests against visiting Israeli officials as evidence of a culture of censorship and intolerance. This is a view shared by Spiked s editor Brendan ONeill, who is a keynote speaker for pro-Israel advocacy organisation StandWithUS. He penned an article in 2018 titled, Why do you hate Israel? The question that hangs over the left. The final seal of approval was put on the Policy Exchange report by Toby Young and Nigel Biggar, writing in the Telegraph and the Times, and by their Free Speech Union, founded in the wake of Noah Carls resignation. Report authors Remi Adekoya and Eric Kaufmann are on the unions advisory council, along with Claire Fox. Trevor Phillips delivered a speech at its launch. Academia and the international class struggle The relentlessness of this campaign is rooted in the turn of the ruling class towards dictatorial methods and ideologies. A deepening world crisis of capitalism, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, confronts the elite with ever more explosive geopolitical conflicts and domestic social struggles. They are seeking a stranglehold on the universities to lay the intellectual groundwork for a vicious counterrevolutionary assault on the working class. A screenshot of a video of Jorg Baberowski tearing down IYSSE fliers at Humboldt University This is an international phenomenon. In Germany, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality has led a six-year-long struggle against efforts to transform universities into centres of state propaganda for militarism and far-right politics. These centre on the work of professors Jorg Baberowski and Herfried Munkler to rehabilitate the Third Reich and the militarist crimes of the German Empire, and on the growing prominence afforded to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on campus. Last year, these forces received cross-party state support in the form of a book, printed by the right-wing German publisher Wilhelm Hopf, Academic Freedom and its Enemies. The book included essays from Baberowski, Munkler, anti-migrant ideologue, social Darwinist, and SPD politician Thilo Sarrazin, AfD politician Marc Jongen, and head of the Association of University Lecturers Bernhard Kempen. Oxfords Nigel Biggar contributed a chapter. The most abhorrent political arguments and vicious conspiracies against the population, developed in close collaboration with the state, are reincarnated as shining examples of a democratic commitment to free speech and academic debate. The pernicious role of identity politics In Britain, this campaign relies wholly on posing as an opposition to the pseudo-left purveyors of identity politics on campus. Time and again, right-wing commentators cite examples of no platforming as evidence of student intolerance. The Policy Exchange report refers specifically to the efforts to no-platform gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, feminist Germaine Greer, and Oxford Professor Selina Todd, all on the charge of advancing transphobic views. Julian Assange It says everything about the forces grouped around the Policy Exchange that the report does not mention by far the most outrageous, anti-democratic use of this practice. Namely, the effective blacklisting of the most significant journalist of the 21st century, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assangeor anyone who dared speak in his defenceon the basis of discredited, state manufactured sexual assault smears. In 2012, George Galloway was banned by the National Union of Students on the grounds of being a rape denier for defending Assange. In 2015, Cambridge Students Union attempted to ban Assange from speaking on campus, and Sheffield Students Union tried the same in 2016. Both efforts were overturned by the popular demand of students. The authors of the Academic Freedom report do not raise these events because they do not disagree with them. Students should reject with contempt any suggestion that the Policy Exchange is genuinely opposed to such anti-democratic campaigns. Their criticisms of no platforming are a means to a reactionary end. For that end to be averted, students must carry out their own fight against identity politics, on the basis of a turn to socialist politics and the international working class. No-platforming as a tactic began in the 1970s and was able to gain a broader sympathy among students because it targeted fascists and the far-right. Even then, however, the practice had dangerous political implications in that it was often linked to appeals to the state to intervene, when history has shown repeatedly that measures nominally introduced against the right are then more regularly and savagely deployed against the left. The advocacy of no-platforming was generally the province of pseudo-left groups, such as the Socialist Workers Party, hostile to a struggle for socialism in the working class. The subsequent development of the pseudo-lefttheir constant lurch to the righthas exposed more clearly the reactionary implications of no-platforming. It has increasingly been bound up with the ferocious promotion of identity politics, socially rooted in an affluent layer of the middle class and based theoretically on a rejection of the Enlightenmentin particular, its crowning achievement in the historical materialism of Karl Marx. Above all, the proponents of identity politics are hostile to and seek to conceal the fundamental division in society, social class. The term is never used except as an entirely subjective concept referring to a form of prejudice, classism. It is ranked far below the three primary identities of race, gender, and sexual orientation, used as leverage in a petit-bourgeois jostle for well-rewarded positions and preferential treatment by the state and big business. This is a wholly reactionary, disorienting, and divisive politics, hostile to a socialist fight for equality and democratic rights. The implications are most starkly revealed in the protests against the police murder of George Floyd in the United States. This event triggered international outrage and opposition, across supposed racial divides, against state violence and racism. The response of advocates of identity politics such as Black Lives Matter was to insist that what was posed by the killing was a purely racial question, going so far as being demonstrably hostile to the involvement of non-black youth in the protestsidentified as privileged due to their whiteness. Any reference to the need to mobilise a broader struggle of the working class was met with the same pejoratives. Just how useful this rotten politics is to the ruling class was indicated by a Telegraph article published on Monday. Made the leading Op-Ed in the newspapers print edition and given the top spot on its online edition, the article, authored by Nick Timothy, is titled The racist and sexist language of the Left is hopelessly hypocritical, with the by-line, The Oppression Olympics has reached a new low, as an extreme, divisive lexicon is imported from America. Nick Timothy's op-ed in the Telegraph In what follows, an advisor to former Prime Minister Theresa Maywhose government orchestrated huge assaults on democratic rights and working peopleis able to posture as a defender of civil liberties and point out that Social class is often overlooked, even though the education and prosperity of our parents is the biggest determinant of our life chances! Without a socialist political challenge to the divisive politics of identity, the far-right will continue to make gains. The government is well-prepared to act on the Policy Exchanges signal. Johnson took the Tory Party into the 2019 general election on a manifesto promising to strengthen academic freedom and free speech in universities. This February, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson threatened in the Times, If the universities cant defend free speech, the government will. In March, the head of the OfS said that universities must take practical steps to secure freedom of speech, and the government indicated it was looking to strengthen the 1986 Education Actbrought in by the Thatcher government to suppress protests against Enoch Powell and politicians from Apartheid South Africato allow for direct policing of student unions and societies. In July, Tory MP Robert Halfon, chair of the Education Select Committee, said that universities could be required to fund security for controversial speakers to protect free speech. The same month, Williamson announced that universities in financial difficulty would have to provide assurance that [they] are fully complying with their legal duties to secure freedom of speech to receive government loans. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality calls on students to wage the necessary struggle against the attempt to enforce a right-wing agenda on campus through government intervention. This must be done on the basis of an entirely opposed perspective to the advocates of competing identitiesthat is, a turn to the one political force capable of combatting these state-backed schemes, the international working class. Concluded SUWANEE, Ga., Aug. 25, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPPI, a group of small business nuclear pharmacies that specialize in radiopharmaceutical products, has filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against health care giant Cardinal Health, Inc., as well as two of its front companies and their owners, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. The False Claims Act protects taxpayers from unscrupulous contractors by allowing private parties, like UPPI, to sue on behalf of the United States to recover money paid by the Government under fraudulently obtained contracts. The primary Government agency affected by Cardinals alleged fraudulent scheme was the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Radiopharmaceutical products are used to diagnose and treat medical conditions. The Government buys these products through a competitive contracting process. Contracts ordinarily go to the most competitive bidder, but the Government gives preferential treatment to small businessesand even more preferential treatment to certain types of small businesses. For VA contracts, small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans (called Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses or SDVOSBs in contracting lingo) receive the most preferential treatment of all, and can obtain lucrative contracts without competitive bidding. UPPI alleges that Cardinal has been hiding behind SDVOSB front companies to unlawfully avoid competitive bidding for Government radiopharmaceutical supply contracts. These front companies could not perform the highly specialized nuclear work required under these contracts. But they bid on the contracts anyway, using their preferred SDVOSB status to win the awards without competition. Once the contracts were awarded to the front companies, Cardinal did almost all the work and received almost all the money from the Government. The front companies kept a share, which was, in essence, a kickback for allowing Cardinal to unfairly bypass its competition. The result is that Cardinala health care behemothmade millions from contracts set aside for small businesses. Recently, the Government has cracked down on these so-called rent-a-vet arrangements, which harm the Government in at least four ways. First, they undermine the integrity of Government programs designed to help disabled veterans. Second, they prevent other small businesseswhich could actually have performed the work under the contractsfrom obtaining those contracts, undermining the Governments policy of promoting small business development. Third, they cause the Government to effectively contract with large businesses without the benefit of a competitive bidding processeven though the entity doing the work should only have been able to win contracts through intense competition with all comers. And fourth, they cause the Government to pay money to small-business front companies that it would not otherwise have paid. All of these harms are alleged in this case. UPPI is a membership organization that promotes the business interests of its approximately sixty-seven members, which are individual, small business, and university-based nuclear pharmacies engaged in the manufacturing, production, marketing, sales, and distribution of nuclear pharmaceuticals. Cardinal Health, Inc., is a publicly traded multinational health care services company and among the highest revenue generating medical supplies and pharmaceutical distributors in the United States. For any questions please contact John Witkowski President UPPI at 770-500-6280 or at john.witkowski@uppi.org. Its fun to talk about the present in the past tense! The only problem is that now this very moment right now is still awful. As was the moment that passed while you read that last sentence, and all the moments that will follow into the foreseeable future. Greater Seoul area students, schools should commit to two-weeks' remote-only learning With daily COVID-19 infection cases hovering in the 300s again, students from kindergarten and up to 11th grade in Seoul and its surrounding area will engage only in remote learning for two weeks through Sept. 11. There are a few exceptions, mainly high school seniors who will take the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in December. But overall, it's a targeted highest Level 3 social distancing for students in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. Hesitant to shut down non-essential businesses and taking into consideration the nature of schools, authorities took this selective step as other parts of the nation remained at Level 2 social distancing. Schools already experienced delayed opening and online learning in the first semester, so the lessons picked up then should come into use now and for the second semester. Among the pressing issues is daycare services. Companies will have to consider extending daycare holidays for working parents. Education authorities are requesting schools proffer daycare to elementary students and President Moon Jae-in weighed in asking policymakers to come up immediately with ways to support families with daycare needs during the period. But not all schools will have sufficient resources to do so. Another paramount issue is the widening academic gap between the students in the high-performance tiers vs. lower ones, which should be addressed with some complementary study support measures. The authorities must inspect smaller cram schools or those with 300 or fewer students and employees that are excluded from Level 2 distancing. The education ministry reiterated that the CSAT will take place as planned on Dec. 3. But who can predict the coronavirus' trajectory over the next several months? Korea has had experience once in 2017 when the Pohang earthquake in the southeastern region put off the CSAT test date by a week. The ministry would do well to draft up a possible Plan B while it has some time. John Lennons killer Mark David Chapman has been denied parole for the 11th time. Now 65, Chapman has been in prison since 1980 for murdering Lennon outside The Dakota on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Details of Wednesday's hearing have not yet emerged, aside from the fact he was turned down for release. He remains in custody in the Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo, New York. Mark David Chapman, seen left in a 2018 mugshot, has been denied parole for the 11th time. He murdered John Lennon in front of his wife, Yoko Ono, outside The Dakota in Manhattan in 1980 Yoko Ono previously argued against his release, saying he remains a risk to her and her son with Lennon. It's unclear if she wrote to the parole board this year, as she has done in the past. In 2018, the parole board said that Chapman himself was safer in prison than on the outside, where someone may want to kill him for notoriety or to avenge Lennon. Chapman will next be eligible for parole in 2022. Chapman was 25 when he shot Lennon dead outside the apartment building on December 8. He was angry at the time about the immense fame the former Beatle had amassed, he later said. Chapman in 1980 when he was 25. He shot Lennon, he said, because he was angry about how famous he was Chapman waited outside The Dakota for Lennon for some five hours after he signed his album The luxury apartment building on West 72nd Street on Manhattan's Upper West Side Chapman's trial in 1980, where he pleaded guilty Yoko Ono with her son Sean. She has in the past written to the parole board asking them not to release Chapman On the day of the murder, he went to The Dakota in the afternoon and asked Lennon to sign an album for him. He obliged him then got in his waiting limo to go to the recording studio. When Lennon returned to the building with Yoko at around 10.30pm that night, Chapman was still there. He shot him four times in the back and shoulder. Lennon was pronounced dead in the hospital an hour later. When police arrived to arrest Chapman, he was flicking through pages of The Catcher in the Rye. At trial, he rejected his lawyer's attempts to enter an insanity plea and instead pleaded guilty. He was first eligible for parole in 2000. In prison, he is kept in isolation against his will to protect him from other inmates. He works as an administrative clerk and is only allowed out of his cell for three hours a day. A special weather statement advising of possible thunderstorms is in effect for Peterborough city and county and the City of Kawartha Lakes as the remnants of tropical storm Laura move through an area stretching from Georgian Bay to Lake Simcoe and the Kawarthas. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Wednesday morning, advising of thunderstorms and rainfall possible between 5 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday. Between 15 and 25 millimetres of rain are forecast for Peterborough and the Kawarthas on Wednesday night, with local amounts of up to 50 mm in thunderstorms, Environment Canada forecasts, with another 5 to 10 mm on Thursday morning. The storms are expected to hit a swath of Ontario from Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury southeast across Georgian Bay to Lake Simcoe and the Kawarthas. Locally, it may affect the city, the northern and southern parts of the county, Lindsay and the City of Kawartha Lakes. Environment Canada meteorologists will continue to monitor this developing situation closely, states the weather statement. Rainfall warnings may be issued as the event approaches and details become clear. The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority also issued a water safety statement Wednesday afternoon for the eastern Kawartha Lakes and Otonabee River watershed, in effect until Monday, advising that while flooding is not expected, the rainfall is expected to elevate water levels and flows on rivers, creeks and streams over the next few days. The elevated water levels, flows and slippery banks make our local rivers, streams and creeks more dangerous than normal, especially in the vicinity of water conveyance structures such as dams, culverts and bridges, flood forecasting and warning duty officer Neil MacFarlane stated. Water accumulation and ponding on roads, intersections and low lying areas is possible. Flooding is not anticipated. Otonabee Conservation advises area residents to keep away from all rivers, streams and creeks and water conveyance structures (e.g., dams, culverts and bridges), to stay clear of areas where water can be seen to be accumulating and ponding. Some more showers are also possible Thursday night and then Friday through to Sunday in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Environment Canada forecasts. Here is the Environment Canada forecast for Peterborough and the Kawarthas as of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday: Wednesday night: Becoming cloudy this evening with showers at times heavy. Risk of thunderstorms late this evening and overnight. Amount 15 to 25 mm except locally 50 mm in thunderstorms. Low 14. Thursday: Showers at times heavy ending near noon then a mix of sun and cloud with 40 per cent chance of showers. Risk of thunderstorms in the morning and afternoon. Local amount 5 to 10 mm. Wind becoming west 20 km/h gusting to 40 in the afternoon. High 24. Humidex 32. Thursday night: Partly cloudy. 30 per cent chance of showers early in the evening. Wind west 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light in the evening. Low 16. Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with 60 per cent chance of showers. High 26. Friday night: Periods of rain. Low 19. Saturday: Cloudy with 70 per cent chance of showers. High 23. Saturday night: Cloudy with 40 per cent chance of showers. Low 14. Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud with 60 per cent chance of showers. High 22. Sunday night: Clear. Low 6. Monday: Sunny. High 22. Monday night: Clear. Low 8. Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with 40 per cent chance of showers. High 21. Looper noted that Abishag most likely had to submit to an examination by the men who chose her to ensure she was a virgin, and that her family was probably given money so they would let her go. Like most women and girls of that time, she is no more than a mans personal property, she said. At every turn, others made the decisions in Abishags life. She had no voice in that. In Loopers story, Abishag is sent to a womans house in Jerusalem to be trained in the ways of seduction before living with King David for the last three years of his life. The Bible and the book note that David and Abishag did not have sexual intercourse while she was with him, although she slept with him because he was having trouble keeping warm during that time. This was believed to be a symptom of his declining health. Looper emphasized that Abishag didnt fit the typical image of what people today would consider a seductress. She was a peasant girl, she said. There was no makeup. Shes not beautiful like we think of beauty today, but she was beautiful to King David and King Solomon and to the councilors who went out and found her. The Rivers state police command arraigned a 21-year-old girl, Blessing Levi, before a Magistrate Court sitting in Choba Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Tuesday 25th August for indecent dressing and taking a photograph of a policeman on duty without consent. The police had dragged Blessing before the court on a three counts charge bordering on indecent dressing and taking a snapshot of the officer on duty without seeking permission. According to the charge sheet, Blessing was alleged to have some time in May 2020, snapped a police sergeant without his consent. The charge sheet also stated that the lady was dressed indecently with an intention to cause disorderliness amongst members of the public. Vanguard reports that when the charges were read to Blessing, she pleaded not guilty to all of them. However, the trial Chief Magistrate, Israel Agbaeaor, granted her bail of N100,000 with surety in like sum. The Magistrate noted that the surety, whose residence must be within the courts jurisdiction, should deposit two of his/her passport photograph. The Magistrate ordered that she be remanded in police custody until her bail conditions are met. He adjourned the case to October 22nd, 2020 for hearing. On August 23, Sunday, BTS shared a video titled "7-Seconds Interview" onto their YouTube channel, in which the members had to try to answer questions in under seven seconds. As part of the video, the BTS members were asked what they wanted to accomplish before 2020 is over. Here is what they answered. Jin revealed that he would like to hold a concert before the year ends if it is possible. As most fans know, BTS had to cancel their 2020 world tour back in April due to the coronavirus pandemic. Though the group held an online concert back in June, it appears Jin wants to perform in front of fans once more. Fans hope that their first offline concert since the pandemic, "BTS: Map of the Soul ON:E", will be able to push through so Jin and the other boys will be able to perform in front of their fans. The said concert will also be live-streamed. ALSO READ: This is Every Record BTS Broke With "Dynamite" in The First 24 Hours Suga said that he would like to master more musical instruments, as well as the harmonics, which he picked up learning. Suga has shown once again that he is always ready to improve his skills as a musician, artist, and producer, by learning and constantly working on his skills. Upon hearing Suga's goals for the rest of the year, ARMYs are looking forward to what kind of music he will be making. J-Hope was unable to give a whole answer since he was cut off by the buzzer, though he was able to squeeze in that he would like to study harder for the rest of the year. As most fans know, J-Hope, along with RM, Suga, Jimin, and V, followed in Jin's footsteps and have enrolled in Hanyan School for higher education. He along with his other BTS members are pursuing media studies. He is currently taking online classes with the Hanyang Cyber School and is taking Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Advertising & Media. It seems J-Hope wants to put more importance on his studies, showing off how diligent he is! RM stated that he would to like go see the beach before the year ends. Though it sounds like a simple task that anyone could do at any time, the coronavirus has made it incredibly difficult to do so this year. People are encouraged to stay at home and social distance to avoid the spread of the virus. Also, the weather in South Korea has been incredibly downcast with constant showers, making it one gloomy summer. Hopefully, RM will be able to visit the beach just once before the year ends. ALSO READ: BTS Talks About "Dynamite", Recent Accomplishments, and More on SiriusXM Hits Jimin answered the question almost instantly, saying that he would like to perform at least once before 2020 is over. He also mentioned that he would like to perfect the album that they have on the way. BTS revealed in the press release for "Dynamite" that the group is planning to release an album on the latter half of 2020 and that they are all actively participating in the making of the album. Fans are looking forward to the album and are excited to hear the music the boys are putting their all into! V stated that he would like to try releasing a mixtape before 2020 is over. The BTS member has been dropping hints about new solo music throughout the year, telling fans that he has been working on a lot of songs and focusing on music. He has stated before that he would like to release his mixtape before the year ends, and that the mixtape might have eight songs. However, V has also stated that though his goal is to release it by the end of the year, he isn't sure it will happen, and asks fans not to be too excited. ALSO READ: Here Are The 7 Most Searched K-Pop Groups of 2020 Lastly, Jungkook stated that he would like to try having more conversations with foreigners before the year ends. Earlier this year, Jungkook revealed he was learning English and that his ultimate goal for the year was to become even better at it. He has also stated in the past that he wants to help his leader RM whenever they have activities abroad. It seems that his practice has been working, as his English sounds near-flawless in BTS's new English single, "Dynamite"! Check out the video here: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, August 27 2020 An antigraft watchdog has urged the Corruption Eradication Commissions (KPK) supervisory council to demote chairman Firli Bahuri if he is proven to have violated the KPKs code of ethics with his alleged hedonistic lifestyle. The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Community (MAKI) filed a report against Firli for using a private helicopter to take a personal trip from Palembang, North Sumatra, to his hometown of Baturaja in the same province in June. If he violated the KPK code of ethics, he should be demoted to deputy chairman, MAKI coordinator Boyamin Saiman said during a hearing on the case on Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login A 21-year-old serving life in prison for stabbing and beating two disabled Lancaster men to death in their home will not get a new trial, an appeals judge recently ruled. Joshua Proper was convicted of breaking into the home of brothers Leroy Kinsey and Richard Walton in 2017 and stabbing them at least 64 times. Kinsey was wheelchair-bound and Walton an amputee, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. In his appeal, Proper said his charges should be dropped because his attorneys were ineffective and the court process took too long. But the Pennsylvania Superior Court shut down Propers argument by pointing out the defense was given extra time to put together a defense so he would not receive the death penalty, according to the district atttorneys office. Proper pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in exchange for life in prison, as opposed to death. Prosecutors said Proper and Juan Cristo-Munoz broke into Kinsey and Waltons Poplar Street home Feb. 19, 2017, where they stabbed and repeatedly beat the two men. Kinsey was stabbed at least ten times in the living room, while Walton was stabbed at least 54 times with a sword in an upstairs bedroom, prosecutors said. Cristo-Munoz also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to consecutive life sentences. Prosecutors said Propers role in the killings was less significant than Cristo-Munozs. During Propers 2018 sentencing, Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth acknowledged he confessed to the killings but said that does not in any way diminish your responsibility in this case. READ MORE: Cops admit vandalizing cars of man who filed complaint against them, prosecutor says Former finance manager stole $22K from Cumberland County sales company: police Shots fired outside Pa. hotel where Milwaukee racial injustice protest group is staying Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:54:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VILNIUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday the new school year will start normally, but remote learning might be reinstated in specific schools if they become COVID-19 hotspots. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport on Tuesday released recommendations on the start of the new school year which will begin on Sept. 1. Certain challenges remain as regards schools' work this autumn and it could have been avoided if recommendations for schools had been prepared earlier, said the president. "Everyone was on holiday, both teachers and the ministry, and the recommendations were released relatively shortly before the start of the school year. This is why there is now a big rush and there is little time to prepare," Nauseda was quoted as saying by local website Lrt.lt. As long as there is a need to respond to possible COVID-19 outbreaks in schools, the response will have to be local, with specific decisions taken at the hotspot, Nauseda added. According to the Ministry of Health, Lithuania had registered 2,726 COVID-19 cases by Wednesday morning. To date, 85 people have died from the coronavirus and 1,794 have recovered. Enditem Ukraine will close its borders to foreigners until the end of September, but some categories of foreigners will be allowed to enter the country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said. He said this at a government meeting on Wednesday, August 26, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Today, the government will consider closing the borders to foreign citizens almost until the end of September, of course, except for foreigners who have residence permits in Ukraine," Shmyhal said. According to him, the restriction will also not apply to foreigners who are members of international and humanitarian missions. The Cabinet of Ministers has repeatedly called on all pilgrims who plan to take part in this year's Rosh Hashanah celebrations in Ukraine to refrain from visiting the city of Uman due to the threatening epidemic situation. "Unfortunately, we will have to make a decision to ban such mass events in the city of Uman. This is our responsibility, and we should not create additional huge risks for Ukrainians, and not only for them, but also for citizens of other countries," Shmyhal said. As of August 26, Ukraine recorded 110,085 cases of COVID-19, including 1,670 new cases reported on August 25. A total of 2,354 patients died from COVID-19 and 53,454 people recovered. op Galveston, Texas: Hurricane Laura made landfall near Cameron in Louisiana on Thursday afternoon (AEST) as one of the region's worst hurricanes, threatening to devastate the US Gulf Coast with catastrophic storm surges, flash floods and powerful winds that could leave areas uninhabitable for weeks or months. It came ashore as a category four storm with maximum winds of about 240km/h, according to the National Hurricane Centre. Laura is strong enough to rip down houses, uproot trees and cause power outages that could last weeks or even months. The storm is set to push a wall of water more than 6.1 metres high in some places on to shore, with potentially deadly effects - a catastrophic surge the centre earlier described as "unsurvivable". It could inflict more than $US15 billion ($20 billion) in insured losses. The Niger State Government has said arrangements have been concluded for the establishment of 10 ICT, scientific-driven special schools across the state to boost its scientific and technological manpower. The Chairman of Niger State Universal Education Board (NSUBEB), Isah Adamu, disclosed this during a three-day Capacity building workshop for the states education managers, organised by the board, on Wednesday, at Kaduna. Mr Adamu said the initiative was part of NSUBEBs deliberate approach to revamp the Basic Education Sub-sector in Niger State. He said the board had for the first time, registered 500 exit pupils in primary schools to sit for the National Common Entrance Examination that will qualify them for admission into Unity schools and the Suleja Science Academy. The objective of this training is to make participants conversant with enabling civil service rules; enhance interpersonal and authority relations for organisational improvement, improve team building and official communication among others, he said. The Chairman, however, noted that the board was not unaware of the deteriorating state of primary school education, adding that; our teachers are not giving our children the best they deserve. The overall focus of this training is on that child whom we believe deserves more for a better future, he added. The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim-Metamai, who declared the workshop open, described it as key because it aimed at boosting human resources. Mr Ibrahim-Metamai noted with satisfaction that the NSUBEB was adopting the e-learning concept which according to him will refurbish the states educational sector. I am happy that the participants at this workshop are at the vanguard of this development, he said. The SSG said while the current administration would not relent in revamping the states education sector, it would also not lose focus in ensuring teachers welfare was a top priority to boost their morale. He, therefore, urged participants to leverage on the opportunity provided by NSUBEB, and take lessons learned seriously so as to impact on the states educational sector. An Education Officer with UNICEF in Kaduna, Francis Elisha, in an address at the event, said UNICEF was partnering with NSUBEB to strengthen the educational system, improve teacher capacity and community engagement support in girl-child enrolment and retention. This workshop is an offshoot of our system strengthening approach to ensure that the government is able to drive its businesses with utmost efficacy, transparency and commitment, Mr Elisha said. He commended NSUBEB and the Niger State Government for placing importance on capacity building, especially of the educational sector, which according to him will place participants at par with their global counterparts. A participant at the workshop, Umar Tagagi, described the training as timely because the knowledge acquired would equip participants with the requisite knowledge of current e-learning concepts. I hope the initiative would be sustained so as to provide opportunity for many teachers and education players, Mr Tagagi said. (NAN) A widower whose wife died when she was hit by falling debris on a Manhattan street filed a lawsuit against the buildings owner and the city, claiming negligence and wrongful death. The civil suit from Steven Tishman in connection to the December death of Erica Tishman was filed in Manhattan, and named Himmel + Meringoff Properties LLC, the owners of the Seventh Avenue building, and the city of New York. Erica Tishman, 60, was a few blocks from her office when a piece of facade fell from a 17-story office building and hit the architect on Dec. 17. In his lawsuit, Steven Tishman accused the building owner of knowing about the facade defects but failing to repair them, and the city of not following up on violations that had been issued against the building or taking steps to ensure public safety. The defendants robbed Erica Tishman of her life, they robbed Steven Tishman of his wife, and they robbed three children of their mother, the lawsuit said. The citys corporation counsel in a statement called the death a tragic incident and said the case was being reviewed. A representative for the building owners also issued a statement calling Tishmans death a profound tragedy. The statement said the company had been working to get the needed city approvals for the facade repairs and is about to start work. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The volume of steel exports from Turkey to Iran fell by 43.14 percent in the first seven months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $23.8 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend. As reported, in July 2020, Turkeys steel exports to Iran made up $5.3 million, which is 25.02 percent less than in July last year. Steel export from Turkey to international markets dropped by 16.4 percent from January through July 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, and amounted to $7 billion. Meanwhile, Turkish steel exports made up 7.8 percent of the country's total exports over this period. In July 2020, Turkey exported the steel worth $1 billion to foreign markets, which is a 15.4 percent decrease in comparison to the same month of 2019, the ministry said. Turkeys steel exports in July 2020 accounted for 7 percent of the country's total exports. Over the past 12 months (from July 2019 through July 2020), Turkey exported the steel worth $12.4 billion abroad. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Laura strengthens into extremely dangerous Category 4 Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be unsurvivable and capable of sinking entire communities. Authorities implored coastal residents of Texas and Louisiana to evacuate and worried that not enough had fled. The storm grew nearly 70% in power in just 24 hours to a size the National Hurricane Center called extremely dangerous. Drawing energy from the warm Gulf of Mexico waters, the system was on track to arrive late Wednesday or early Thursday as the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. so far this year. It looks like its in full beast mode, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. Which is not what you want to see if youre in its way. ADVERTISEMENT One major Louisiana highway already had standing water as Lauras outer bands moved ashore. Winds began picking up as shoppers rushed into a grocery store in low-lying Delcambre, filling carts with chips and beer. Austin Domingues, 26, said his wife would likely evacuate, but he planned to stay put at his fathers farm, where the house is 14 feet off the ground. I dont know if its too smart, but were going to stay just in case we need to help people out, he said. With time running out, both Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards expressed concerns that not enough coastal residents were taking the dire predictions seriously. In Lake Charles, National Guard members drove school buses around neighborhoods, offering to pick up families. Abbott warned that families who do not get out of harms way could be cut off from help long after the storm makes landfall overnight. The National Hurricane Center kept raising its estimate of Lauras storm surge, from 10 feet just a couple of days ago to twice that size a height that forecasters said would be especially deadly. A Category 4 hurricane can cause damage so catastrophic that power outages may last for months in places, and wide areas could be uninhabitable for weeks or months. The threat of such devastation posed a new disaster-relief challenge for a government already straining to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. By Wednesday afternoon, Laura had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph) as it churned about 200 miles (320 kilometers) from Lake Charles, Louisiana, moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph). Forecasters predict winds will reach at least 145 mph winds but may weaken ever so slightly before landfall. ADVERTISEMENT Heed the advice of your local authorities. If they tell you to go, go! Your life depends on it today, said Joel Cline, tropical program coordinator at the National Weather Service. Its a serious day and you need to listen to them. On Twitter, President Donald Trump also urged coastal residents to heed local officials. Hurricane warnings were issued from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, and reached inland for 200 miles (322 kilometers). Storm surge warnings were in effect from Freeport, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. In the largest U.S. evacuation during this pandemic era, more than half a million people were ordered to flee from their homes near the Texas-Louisiana state line, including the Texas cities of Beaumont, Galveston and Port Arthur, and the low-lying Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in southwestern Louisiana, where forecasters said storm surge topped by waves could submerge entire towns. Edwards lamented that the impending storm meant suspension of community testing for COVID-19 at a crucial time as elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana are opening and students are returning to college campuses. Were basically going to be blind for this week, Edwards said, referring to the lack of testing. The storm also forced evacuations from an area of the state where there has been a high rate of positive tests. A National Weather Service meteorologist in Lake Charles, Louisiana in the bullseye of Lauras projected path took to Facebook Live to deliver an urgent warning for people living south of Interstate 10 in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. Your life will be in immediate and grave danger beginning this evening if you do not evacuate, Donald Jones said. Laura is expected to dump massive rainfall as it moves inland, causing widespread flash flooding in states far from the coast. Flood watches were issued for much of Arkansas, and forecasters said heavy rainfall could arrive by Friday in parts of Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky. Laura is so powerful that its expected to become a tropical storm again once it reaches the Atlantic Ocean, potentially menacing the Northeast. Even before dawn Wednesday, officials in Austin said the city had run out of free hotel rooms to offer evacuees and had begun directing families fleeing the storm to a shelter nearly 200 miles farther north. In Texas Hardin County, which has more than 57,000 residents along the coast, officials warned that anyone who tried riding out the storm faced days or weeks without electricity. Becky Clements, 56, evacuated from Lake Charles after hearing that it could suffer a direct hit, almost exactly 15 years after Hurricane Rita destroyed the city. She and her family found an AirBnb hundreds of miles inland. The devastation afterward in our town and that whole corner of the state was just awful, Clements said. Whole communities were washed away, never to exist again. So knowing how devastating the storms are, there was no way we were going to stay for this. Clements, a church educator, said she fears for her office, which is in a trailer following recent construction. I very much anticipate that my office will be gone when I get back. It will be scattered throughout that field. The hurricane also threatens a center of the U.S. energy industry. The government said 84% of Gulf oil production and an estimated 61% of natural gas production were shut down. Nearly 300 platforms have been evacuated. Consumers are unlikely to see big price hikes however, because the pandemic has decimated demand for fuel. If Laura moves further west toward Houston, there will be a much bigger gasoline supply problem, Oil analyst Andrew Lipow said, since refineries usually take two to three weeks to resume full operations. Laura closed in on the U.S. after killing nearly two dozen people on the island of Hispaniola, including 20 in Haiti and three in the Dominican Republic, where it knocked out power and caused intense flooding. ___ Martin reported from Marietta, Georgia, and Plaisance from Stephensville, Louisiana. Associated Press contributors include Paul Weber in Austin, Texas; Seth Borenstein in Kensington, Maryland; Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge; Louisiana; Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama; Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Julie Walker in New York, and Sophia Tulp in Atlanta, Georgia. Share price of Punjab National Bank gained 1.5% in Wednesday's trade after the lender informed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) that it received Rs 24.33 crore ($3.25 million) as the first tranche of recoveries related to the Nirav Modi case. "Punjab National Bank has informed the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA), which spearheaded the corporate governance litigation in a foreign jurisdictional court, that it has received $3.25 million (the equivalent of Rs 24.33 crore) as the first tranche of recoveries. Upon liquidation of the debtors' assets by the US Chapter 11 Trustee, a sum of $11.04 million (the equivalent of Rs 82.66 crore) is available for distribution to unsecured creditors, including PNB," MCA said in a release. Following the update, shares of Punjab National Bank opened with a gain of 1.56% and touched an intraday high of Rs 35.75 on BSE against their earlier close of Rs 35.20, also its intraday low. Punjab National Bank stock has gained after 2 days of consecutive fall. PNB stock price is trading higher than 5, 20, 50 and 100-day but lower than 200-day moving averages. PNB shares have risen 3.5% in one week and 5.6% in a month's period. Market capitalisation of the lender stood at Rs 33,113 crore as of today's session. Punjab National Bank has requested the MCA to support and join the bankruptcy proceedings in New York, USA in order to help the lender realise its claims on the debtors' assets. The lender reportedly expects another Rs 50 crore. In a 26 July 2018 order, the US bankruptcy court of Southern District of New York recognised Punjab National Bank's claims in the proceeds of the sale of assets off the properties of the debtor companies. It also authorised the bank to issue subpoenas to compel the examination of Nirav Modi, Mihir Bhansali and Rakhi Bhansali under oath. In the latest update, an Interpol global arrest warrant has been issued against Ami Modi, wife of prime accused Nirav Modi in the over $2 billion PNB bank fraud in a money laundering case. Gold price rises for 2nd session; silver rates at Rs 63,700 Share Market News Live: Sensex rises 85 points, Nifty at 11,472; SBI, Eicher Motors top gainers China says US spy aircraft intruded into no-fly zone in 'naked provocation' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 25 August 2020 5:35 PM China says the United States has flown a spy aircraft into a Chinese no-fly zone during live-fire military drills, calling the flight "naked provocation." In a statement on Tuesday, China's Defense Ministry said that earlier in the day, an American Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance plane had intruded into a no-fly zone in China's northern military region, where the Chinese military was holding live-fire drills. The move is "seriously interfering in normal exercise activities," the ministry said, stressing that it could easily have caused an "unexpected incident." "It was an act of naked provocation, and China is resolutely opposed to it, and has already lodged stern representations with the US side," China's Defense Ministry said in its statement. The ministry, however, did not say exactly where the spying activity had taken place. The Chinese military is currently conducting drills in the Bohai Sea, located on the east coast of mainland China. Other exercises are also being carried out in the Yellow Sea and South China Sea. "China demands [that] the US side immediately stop this kind of provocative behavior and take actual steps to safeguard peace and stability in the region," the statement further said, adding that Washington's move ran counter to China-US rules on behavior at sea and in the air and international norms. Back in April 2001, an intercept of an American spy aircraft by a Chinese warplane led to a collision that fatally wounded the Chinese pilot and forced the US plane to make an emergency landing at a base on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. The new intrusion is expected to further deteriorate the already-strained ties between Beijing and Washington, which are at loggerheads over a host of issues, including trade, a new security law introduced in Hong Kong, the origins and handling of the COVID-19 disease, Taiwan, and the disputed South China Sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi: There is slight decline in the health condition of Former President Pranab Mukherjee since Tuesday and he continues to be in deep coma and on ventilator support, the hospital treating him said. Mukherjee was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral hospital in Delhi cantonment on August 10. Former President Pranab Mukherjee is being treated for lung infection. By Express News Service KOLKATA: Former Tripura governor and BJPs West Bengal president Tathagata Roys re-entry into active politics on one of the countrys most volatile soil, West Bengal, is likely to change fabric of the saffron camps final push for power in Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjees citadel ahead of crucial 2021 Assembly elections. As Roy is all set to begin his second innings in Bengals political arena, it has added certain significance amid rife political speculations on who would become BJPs chief ministerial candidate in the state for the upcoming polls. Some of the BJP supporters also floated a Facebook page portraying Roy as the chief ministerial face in crucial 2021 Assembly elections. Roy, however, said he doesnt support such an act. ALSO READ | Trinamool to induct 6 lakh young faces ahead of Bengal Assembly polls The partys national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya recently said that the BJP would fight the Assembly elections without projecting any individual as the chief minister candidate. He made it clear that after securing victory in Bengal, the elected MLAs would decide the chief minister of the state. After reaching Kolkata on Sunday afternoon, Roy is counting his experience as the flagbearer of the saffron camp in Bengal. He was the president of the BJPs Bengal chapter from 2002 to 2006 and a member of the partys national executive from 2002 to 2015 before he assumed office as the governor of Tripura. "Roys entry in Bengal BJP is said to be significant as it happened at a time when the partys internal crack surfaced during a meeting between the BJPs national leadership and Bengal functionaries. In the first meeting of a week-long schedule at the national capital, senior party leader Mukul Roy expressed his discontent after the partys state president Dilip Ghosh projected the saffron camps performance in the next years elections claiming it will pick up 190 out of 294 seats, A few days later, a section MPs expressed their displeasure over the issue of Ghoshs dominance in the partys daily affairs," said a senior BJP leader. ALSO READ | BJP to fight Bengal elections without projecting CM face, says Kailash Vijayvargiya Fiercely active on social media platforms, the former Tripura governor ran into controversy for taking jibe at Dilip Ghosh for making "illogical" public statements. "In West Bengal, the north Indian culture of Gai Hamari Mata Hain (the cow is our mother) will not work. Statements such as cows milk has gold or cow urine can cure Covid-19 will not help the BJP in Bengal," he said earlier in August. Roy, however, said he would act according to his partys decision. "After joining the party, I am all set to play any role that my party will assign to me." Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Yoon Suk-heun presides a meeting with the CEOs of local banks held at the Korea Federation of Banks last month. On Tuesday he urged financial firms that distributed Lime Asset Management's trade finance funds to follow through with the FSS order to compensate 100 percent of the invested monies in the fund. / Korea Times file By Kim Bo-eun All eyes are on the decision banks and brokerages will reach on Aug. 27 on compensating investors of financial products they sold of the now-defunct Lime Asset Management. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has directed them to offer full compensation for a trade finance fund, which is among Lime's funds for which redemptions were halted based on its mismanagement of investments. Controversy continues as the distributors of the investment products have been designated to provide compensation and the investment firm managing the funds has been let off the hook. The FSS concluded in June that distributors of Lime's funds, including Woori and Hana banks, and brokerages Shinhan Investment and Mirae Asset Daewoo, should return to investors the principal of their investments by nullifying their contracts. The supervisory agency stated it found Lime's investment proposal for the fund to have included false information on the rate of return on investments and risks associated with the investments. The FSS said the distributors, meanwhile, were responsible for misguiding investors by conveying the information in the investment proposals to them without thorough review. In some cases, officials of financial firms were found to have identified investors as high-risk takers even though they were not. Citing the responsibility of distributors, the FSS for the first time ordered financial firms to nullify contracts with investors in dispute settlement cases involving financial investment products. Woori and Hana banks, and Shinhan Investment and Mirae Asset Daewoo are set to decide at board meetings to be held Aug. 27 whether they will provide full compensation. "It appears likely that the firms will compensate investors, given the sentiment these days over consumer protection," an official of one of the firms said. "Financial authorities have pledged to take action if the distributors do not follow their orders." The FSS has been pressuring the firms, on Tuesday issuing a press release which stated FSS Governor Yoon Suk-heun urging distributors of Lime's trade finance funds to accept its dispute settlement plan. He also asked for FSS executives to place greater importance on whether or not the firms have taken steps to protect consumers. This comes after financial firms involved in the " KIKO fiasco" refused to compensate SMEs that saw major losses from currency-linked financial derivative products in 2008. The FSS in December ordered six banks to pay exporting firms up to 41 percent of losses that were incurred. Five of the six banks defied the order, citing the right to seek compensation is no longer valid as such claims are subject to a 10-year limit. Distributors of Lime's trade finance fund claim it is unfair that they should compensate investors, when the prime fault lay with the asset-managing entity. Regarding the matter, an FSS official said, "They are able to seek indemnity from the investment firms that managed the funds, after first providing compensation to investors." But it is unclear whether the financial firms will be able to be compensated, given the complicated structure of the funds that makes it difficult to determine how much responsibility each entity holds. "Authorities simply think that financial firms are capable of withstanding such losses, if they occur," an official of a financial firm said. While the FSS' orders are not binding, the fund distributors are likely to decide to provide compensation. The regulator earlier hinted it could seek to make its orders regarding dispute settlements legally enforceable, following the KIKO fiasco involving knock-in, knock-out funds. Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea earlier this month proposed revisions to laws on protecting financial consumers, which seek to impose obligation on financial firms to comply with FSS orders over dispute settlements on compensations of less than a certain amount. Authorities are baffled as to how a mystery coronavirus cluster in Queensland began, as the state recorded another new case on Wednesday. The new case is a close contact of another positive case from the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre at Wacol, in the city's south-west. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she has 'no real concerns' about the new case and there is no broader risk to the community. But there are concerns over the source of the cluster, and whether it has spread further, as authorities still don't know how the original person diagnosed with COVID-19 contracted the infection. The new case is a close contact of another positive case from the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre at Wacol (pictured), in the city's south-west Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) said she has 'no real concerns' about the new case and there is no broader risk to the community Nurses are seen doing COVID-19 testing at a drive-thru fever clinic in Ipswich on Monday (pictured) as 20,000 turned out again to get tested More than 24,000 Queenslanders were tested on Tuesday (Gold Coast University Hospital testing centre queue pictured) with the premier acknowledging the long queues The person resides in Forest lake and contact tracing is currently underway. Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, said it was the 11th positive case related to the Wacol Youth Detention Centre. 'We have not seen any community transmission due to any of the original five cases of those youth workers at the centre,' Dr Young said. 'We need to keep alert for that. There is still a risk over the next week that we will see that because those people were out and about in the community.' While it is still unclear how the cluster began, Dr Young on Tuesday said it could be related to one of the women who allegedly lied on their border declaration passes and snuck into the Sunshine State after visiting Victoria. Diana Lasu, 21, Olivia Winnie Muranga, 19, later tested positive for coroanvirus sparking fears of a huge outbreak. Haja Timbo (pictured) was identified as the third woman who allegedly provided misleading documents at the Queensland border after visiting Melbourne Haja Timbo (pictured) was identified as the third woman who allegedly provided misleading documents at the Queensland border after visiting Melbourne Both women and their friend Haja Timbo, 21, have been charged under the public health act with one count each of providing false or misleading documents and fraud. If convicted they face up to five years in jail and fines of up to $13,345. Health authorities are still investigating a 'missing link' between the girls and the detention centre cluster, with Dr Young saying the case linking them is yet to be idenfitifed. 'Where did they actually originally get it from?' Dr Young said. 'Which means we could have more cases out there in the community that have resulted in this cluster.' 'Clearly not a lot because we're doing so much testing, but it means we've got to keep those very high rates of testing in place.' Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, said it was the 11th positive case from the Wacol Youth Detention Centre People are seen lining up to be tested for Covid-19 at a testing clinic at Ipswich Hospital Five workers from the detention centre, and five family members, have now tested positive. Dr Young said there is still risk of community transmission but there has not been any from the original five cases from the detention centre. 'This case was a known contact of one of those other cases, so we will now work through to see whether there's any additional work we need to do related to this new case,' Dr Young said. 'We have not seen any community transmission due to any of the original five cases of those youth workers at the centre. We need to keep alert for that. Diana Lasu (right), 21, and Olivia Winnie Muranga (left), 19, allegedly lied on their border declarations about where they had been when they arrived in Brisbane from Melbourne via Sydney on July 21 Fears are growing over the cluster as authorities still do not know how the original person diagnosed with COVID-19 contracted the infection (pictured, testing in Brisbane on Tuesday) 'There is still a risk over the next week that we will see that because those people were out and about in the community.' More than 20,000 Queenslanders presented for testing in the past 24 hours. There are currently 16 active cases in the state. 'The highest level of testing results,' Ms Palaszczuk said. There have been 64 flights into the state in the past day with 2,904 travellers on board - only two have been refused entry. Up to 3,417 vehicles have been stopped at the border with 107 people turned back and 455 people forced into hotel quarantine. Anyone who lives in Brisbane, Logan, West Moreton and Ipswich are being urged to get tested immediately. 2020 MIAMI Commercial President Fernando Arencibia Jr. The impetus for our CREOP partnership came from our MIAMI Commercial Board of Governors' directive to find a robust, responsive and comprehensive way for our members to create fully-branded marketing materials that are tailored to commercial practitioners" The MIAMI Association of Realtors Commercial (MIAMI Commercial) has partnered with Commercial Real Estate Online Publisher (CREOP) in an exclusive alliance that will give MIAMI Commercial members cutting-edge branding and marketing tools so they can improve their respective businesses. The CREOP partnership joins a growing list of selective, high-quality commercial specific tools that MIAMI Commercial has added for the benefit of its membership. MIAMI Commercial is also adding to its South Florida Commercial MLS and syndication partners. These new partners help MIAMI Commercial members market their properties, prospect, access key commercial market data and increase their professionalism. The impetus for our CREOP partnership came from our MIAMI Commercial Board of Governors' directive to find a robust, responsive and comprehensive way for our members to create fully-branded marketing materials that are tailored to commercial practitioners, 2020 MIAMI Commercial President Fernando Arencibia Jr. said. After a thorough review of other products on the market we found CREOP to be best suited to provide an all-encompassing cost-effective marketing solution that are our members can utilize to enhance their branding. CREOP's proprietary online platform allows commercial practitioners to create company branded marketing packages, offering memorandums, proposals, and flyers instantly. Use your companys logo and color scheme, enter the property data and pictures, and the CREOP system will do all the rest - generating charts, graphs, financial analysis, rent rolls, demographics, etc. MIAMI Commercial members can take advantage of a 20% discount off CREOPs pricing. We are so excited about our partnership with MIAMI Commercial and to provide a generous discount on our pricing to all its members, said John Gessford of CREOP. We look forward to helping everyone achieve their highest marketing potential. To learn more about the MIAMI Commercial-CREOP partnership, visit https://cloud.creop.com/Miami About CREOP With CREOP's proprietary cloud-based software, create company branded marketing packages, offering memorandums, proposals, and flyers. Use your companys logo and color scheme, enter the property data and pictures, and our system will do all the rest - generating all the charts, graphs, financial analysis, rent roll, demographics, and more. http://www.creop.com About the MIAMI Association of Realtors The MIAMI Association of Realtors was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 100 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward-MIAMI Association of Realtors, the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound (JTHS-MIAMI) Council, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents 52,000 total real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S. and has official partnerships with 223 international organizations worldwide. MIAMIs official website is http://www.MiamiRealtors.com ### On Wednesday morning, the water level of the river Yamuna at Delhis Old Railway Bridge was recorded at 203.78 metres. The warning level is 204.50 metres. This was after 13,433 cusec water was released from Haryanas Hathni Kund Barrage in the Yamuna around 8am. However, this is still lower than Mondays level of 204.38 metres, the first time this year it was recorded close to the warning mark. Officials in the Delhi governments Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department said that the level recorded Wednesday is below the warning mark at present and is likely to remain so unless a higher volume of water is released. Water is released into the barrage every four hours. On a regular basis, only 350 cusecs of water is released. During the monsoon, because of the higher volume of water in the barrage coupled with rainfall in the hilly regions, more water is released, which leads to a surge in the Yamuna. It takes about 36 to 72 hours for the released water to reach Delhi. We are continuously monitoring the water levels, said Sanjeev Kumar, SDM (Preet Vihar) and officer-in-charge, Flood Control. Last year, Haryana had released over eight lakh cusecs of water in a day, after which the water level breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres. Kumar said that preparations are already underway in case a higher volume of water is released and evacuation operations need to be launched. We have identified locations for pitching tents. Besides, since social distancing is the norm during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have also identified schools where people can be moved with enough space to maintain physical distance, said Kumar. Delhi had witnessed major floods in 1978 when the water level in the Yamuna rose to its highest-ever level, recorded at 207.49 metres. By Trend For Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR, Romanias gas network operator Transgaz can provide the necessary infrastructure for the safe and efficient delivery of the gas volumes from Azerbaijan to the European market, Niculae Havrilet, State Secretary of the Ministry for Economy, Energy and Business Environment of Romania, told Trend. "I mentioned before that Romania is interested in extensive cooperation with Azerbaijan, a country with significant potential for the diversification of transport routes and energy supply sources for the European market. I mentioned the BRUA project and the RO-BG and RO-HU interconnectors. Establishing an energy transport Corridor between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, that would capitalize on the energy resources from the Caspian Sea area on one hand, and on the exploitation of the strategic position of Romania and Bulgaria at the Black Sea on the other hand, has a significant potential of increasing energy security both for Romania and Bulgaria and for the European Union in general," he said. Havrilet pointed out that the establishment of a tripartite Working Group Azerbaijan-Romania-Bulgaria would thus be a natural step and the appropriate cooperation framework in the common pursuit to shape the gas transport corridors linking Azerbaijan, via Bulgaria and Romania, with the Balkans and Central Europe. For the Romanian natural gas transmission operator Transgaz, SOCAR Company can become a bridge to Azerbaijan and the Caspian region, added the state secretary. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Health officials in South Korea called on thousands of striking doctors to return to work as the country counted its 13th straight day of triple-digit daily jumps in coronavirus cases. Health minister Park Neung-hoo cited the growing virus crisis while issuing back-to-work orders for doctors in the greater capital area who had joined physicians in other parts of the country for a three-day strike starting Wednesday to protest government plans to boost the number of medical students. Doctors groups say such measures would worsen whats already a cut-throat market. Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic South Koreas Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention reported 320 newly confirmed cases of Covid-19, including 237 from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan region, which has been the center of a viral resurgence in recent weeks. Health workers have struggled to stem transmissions linked to various places and groups, including churches, schools, restaurants and door-to-door salespeople. Parks ministry said more than 2,000 medical facilities nationwide had reported their intentions to close for Wednesday after doctors groups, including the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Intern Resident Association, expressed dissatisfaction over their negotiations with government officials. Park said doctors who refuse to return to work could possibly have their licenses suspended or revoked, or even face a prison term of less than 3 years. BRIDGEPORT A city man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to allegedly shooting at his sister because she was dating a rival gang member. Clinton Clint Taylor, 22, who is on probation for a 2016 gang-related shooting, pleaded not guilty via video conferencing to attempted first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and criminal possession of a firearm. He requested a jury trial. Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo continued the case to Sept. 15. Taylor is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond. Taylors grandmother, Bridgeport Councilwoman Denese Taylor-Moye, sat in the courtroom during the brief hearing. He is innocent until proven guilty, she said later. Just as I am here to fight for everyone, I will fight for my grandson. Police said Taylor, a member of the West Side gang 150 Boys, shot at his sister because she had been dating Asante Gaines, who was recently indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly being a high-ranking member of the Greene Homes Boys gang that allegedly shot at rival gang members outside the Golden Hill Street courthouse on Jan. 27. On July 1, the state Department of Corrections notified Bridgeport police that they had intercepted a call from the sister to Gaines, who is being held in a state prison. According to Taylors arrest warrant affidavit, the sister told Gaines that Taylor had shot at her but that she was reluctant to go to police because, At the end of the day, hes still my brother. Based on information in the call, Police Sgt. Jason Amato, head of the gang task force, went to an apartment building on West Avenue where Taylor-Moye and her granddaughter live and found a spent 9mm bullet casing in the parking lot under the building, police said. Police said they reviewed surveillance video footage from the apartment building and saw a man they identified as Taylor drive up, get out of the car, pull a handgun from his pants pocket and fire at his sister who was standing a short distance away. He then got back into the car and drove off, police said. Police said the sister was not injured. Police said Taylor had been previously arrested in 2016, after a high-speed chase through the city following an alleged gang-related shooting in the Greene Homes housing project. Taylor later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree assault with a firearm and was sentenced to 10 years, suspended after he served 47 months and followed by five years of probation. WASHINGTON: A small number of U.S. troops were injured during an interaction with Russian forces in Syria, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday. One of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the injuries were a result of a collision and not any exchange of fire. The other official said the incident took place earlier this week in northeastern Syria and the injuries were mild. The Pentagon and the U.S. militarys Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the region, declined to comment. 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 Rating Action: Moody's affirms Codelco's A3 ratings, changes outlook to negative Global Credit Research - 26 Aug 2020 New York, August 26, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") affirmed Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile's ("Codelco") A3 senior unsecured ratings and maintained the baseline credit assessment (BCA), which reflects its standalone credit strength, at ba1. The outlook changed to negative from stable. Rating Actions: Issuer: Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2020: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2021: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2022: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2023: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2024: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2025: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2027: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2029: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2030: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2031: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2035: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2036: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured euro medium term notes due 2039: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2042: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2043: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2044: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global bonds due 2047: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2049: affirmed at A3 .Senior Unsecured global notes due 2050: affirmed at A3 The outlook for all ratings is negative RATINGS RATIONALE The change in Codelco's outlook to negative follows the change of Chile's sovereign outlook to negative from stable, which signals a weakening ability of the Chilean government to provide extraordinary support to Codelco. The negative outlook incorporates our expectation of persistently high leverage, with a gradual recovery in operating performance and debt amortizations only marginally reducing leverage in the next 12 to 18 months. Story continues The A3 rating continues to reflect Codelco's status as a government related issuer ("GRI") and is based upon the following inputs: (i) the company's BCA (baseline credit assessment) at ba1, a measure of its intrinsic risk regardless of its controlling entity; (ii) the Chilean Government's A1 bond rating; and (iii) our assumptions of high support from the government of Chile and high dependence between Codelco and the government. The government's high level of support provides four notches of uplift to Codelco's BCA. The ba1 BCA incorporates Codelco's need to maintain large capital spending at a moment that the industry faces declining ore grade, rising costs and lower productivity. Codelco's ratings also incorporate the company's position as the world's largest copper producer and the fourth largest molybdenum producer and its substantial reserve base, as well as the large exposure to copper prices. Despite the implications of covid-19 to Codelco's operations, production guidance of 1.6 million tons in 2020 remains unchanged and the company expects production to remain relatively stable in the near future. Codelco is currently in the third quartile of the industry's cost curve, which enhances the need for continuous cost reduction and productivity improvements to support performance in the medium to long-term. With the transformation plan announced in November 2019, Codelco plans to reduce costs ($1 billion in operating expenses starting in 2021, $ 400 million in 2020) and capital expenditures (by about $8 billion in the next 10 years) and return to the second quartile of the industry's cost curve in the next couple of years. We estimate average annual capital expenditures around $3.2 billion through at least 2022, reflecting projects already in progress, such as key structural projects, including the El Teniente new mine level, the Andina mine-plant transfer system and the Chuquicamata underground mine. Although capital expenditures will be lower in 2020 due to disruptions in construction projects as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, capex will likely increase in 2021 as construction activity normalizes. Codelco's liquidity profile has strengthened as the company raised debt to improve its liquidity cushion and pre-fund upcoming debt maturities. The company closed 2Q20 with a cash balance of $4 billion as a result of additional debt raised in the period ($3.5 billion in total, with 2.8 billion in proceeds from bonds), with total debt closing the semester at $20.5 billion. Medium-term refinancing risk is low, with cash covering debt maturities through 2024 on a pro-forma basis, and Codelco maintaining access to capital markets. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS Positive pressure on Codelco's ratings or outlook could arise if copper prices improve significantly and are sustained at higher levels, leading to stronger cash flow, more robust liquidity and a lighter debt burden. Codelco's BCA could be raised with stronger credit metrics such that leverage (adjusted gross debt to EBITDA) remains below 2.75x, with interest coverage (adjusted EBIT/Interest expense) maintained above 4.5x and adjusted EBIT margins sustained above 15%. Codelco's ratings or BCA could suffer negative pressure should earnings contract for a prolonged period, with an overall weakening in credit metrics and a marked deterioration in the company's liquidity position, or if Codelco is unable to improve its operating profile and return to the second quartile of the industry's cost curve. A lowering of the BCA could lead to a downgrade of Codelco's rating, while any indication of a decline in the level of support from the government of Chile would also put downward pressure on the company's ratings. Codelco's credit profile remains vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak continuing to spread given its high exposure to copper prices, and therefore, to China manufacturing and construction activity and overall global economic growth. Codelco's operations are also subject to disruptions as a consequence of possible lockdowns and social distancing measures. We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. The methodologies used in these ratings were Mining published in September 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1089739, 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 Santiago, Chile, Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) is 100% owned by the Chilean government and is the largest producer of copper globally, holding an approximate 8.1% share of mined copper production. The company ranks as the fourth largest global molybdenum producer (as a by-product of copper production) with a market share of approximately 8%. Codelco generated $11.8 billion in revenues in the twelve months ended June 2020. REGULATORY DISCLOSURES For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004. For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com. For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity. The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure. These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com. Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review. Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569. The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com. Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating. Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating. Barbara Mattos, CFA Senior Vice President Corporate Finance Group Moody's America Latina Ltda. Avenida Nacoes Unidas, 12.551 16th Floor, Room 1601 Sao Paulo, SP 04578-903 Brazil JOURNALISTS: 0 800 891 2518 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Marianna Waltz, CFA MD - Corporate Finance Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 0 800 891 2518 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 2020 Moody's Corporation, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Moody's Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved. CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. 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File image The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected a resolution plan that proposed selling Aircel's assets to UV Asset Reconstruction Company (UVARC). The plan was approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in June. The central bank denied permission for the resolution plan stating that it did not conform with guidelines laid down for asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), The Economic Times reported. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. UVARCL, Deloitte and the RBI had not yet responded to queries sent by The Economic Times. The RBI also said the plan did not conform to the provisions of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002, the report said. The SARFAESI Act does not permit ARCs to submit resolution plans, but the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) allows it. UVARCL and Deloitte might approach the the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), the report added. "The IBC is complementary and not contradictory to the SARFAESI Act and both are enacted to resolve the financial assets by restructuring to ensure restoration of economic value. The IBC being a later legislation overrides other laws unless inconsistent with any other extant law," a lawyer told the paper. ARCs together might seek a clarification from the RBI, since many have bid for assets of companies facing insolvency proceedings, the report said. The Ampere RTX series is almost here and water blocks will be "ready at or close to launch", according to one water block supplier. Additionally, a picture of the die for the GeForce RTX 3090 has leaked, detailing that NVIDIA is readying the GA102-300-A1 for release. 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 We are less than a week away from the next GeForce Special Event, which NVIDIA will host virtually on September 1. In the meantime, the first picture of the GA102 GPU has leaked on Chiphell. NVIDIA is expected to use the GA102 in the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090, but the 300-A1 variant of it pictured here is apparently destined for the RTX 3090. According to past rumours, the GA102-300-A1 will have 5,248 or 5,376 CUDA cores and a boost clock of up to 2,200 MHz. Now, @_rogame has determined that the GA102 die could measure up to 628 mm, which would make it significantly smaller than the size of the TU102 die. @_rogame has stressed that this is just an estimate, but @kopite7kimi claimed in July that the GA102 die would measure 627.12 mm. The trade war between the United States and China and the coronavirus crisis have led companies to reexamine worldwide supply chains. Taiwan-based electronics manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron are among companies reportedly looking into new factories in Mexico. The information comes from people with direct knowledge of the situation. They spoke with Reuters news agency on condition that their names not be used. Such plans could bring in billions of dollars in much-needed investments over the next few years for Mexico, Latin Americas second-largest economy. The country is heading toward its worst recession since the 1930s Great Depression. Foxconn and Pegatron are contractors for several phone manufacturers, including Apple. It was not immediately clear which companies they would work with in Mexico. Foxconn is likely to make a final decision on a new factory later this year, and work will begin after that, the two sources said. They noted that the plan could change, however. Pegatron is also in early discussions with lenders about an additional factory in Mexico. The factory would be used mainly to put together electronic parts including chips, the sources said. Pegatron did not comment. Foxconn has five factories in Mexico that mainly make televisions and servers. Its possible expansion would represent a larger move of worldwide supply chains away from China. The plans come as U.S. government support for near-shoring grows. Near-shoring means to move manufacturing of products closer to the country where the products are sold. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is exploring ways to urge companies to move factories from Asia to the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Taipei-based Foxconn said in a statement that while it continued to expand worldwide operations and is an active investor in Mexico, it had no current plans to increase those investments. Last month, Reuters reported Foxconn planned to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in India where it makes Apple iPhones. Foxconn chairman, Liu Young-way, spoke at an investor conference in Taipei this month. He said that the world was split into two groups when tensions rose between China and the U.S. He said his company was working on providing two sets of supply chain to service the two markets. The world factory no longer exists, he said, adding that Foxconn now makes about 30 percent of its products outside China. That percentage could increase, he said. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Mexico, which represents Taiwans government in the country, said it had heard Foxconn was interested in building another factory in Ciudad Juarez, in the northern border state of Chihuahua. Pegatron, I also understand, wants to move a production line from China to Mexico, the offices Director General Armando Cheng told Reuters. He said he did not have additional information about either companys plans. Im Ashley Thompson. The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story supply chain - n. a network between a company and its suppliers to produce and spread a product or service Ham radio exam testing in Indonesia during pandemic While the UK speedily adopted an effective online amateur radio testing system that people can do from home other countries are still running in-person exams as best they can One country trying to make in-person exams work during the pandemic is Indonesia where the national amateur radio society ORARI and local branches have been working to ensure in-person exams can be conducted in a safe manner. A translation of the ORARI report of the exam held on August 25 reads: Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Balmon Class II Mataram on Sunday August 23, 2020, held the 2nd Regular Amateur Radio State Examination (UNAR) which took place at the Balmon Class II Mataram Office, West Nusa Tenggara. The UNAR activity this time was attended by 22 participants from the Mataram local ORARI, WestLombok local ORARI and East Lombok local ORARI . As with the previous UNAR in the first wave on August 15, 2020, the implementation of health protocols is still in effect, namely all participants are required to wear masks, check body temperature, use hand sanitizers or wash hands, and keep a minimum distance of 1 meter. And on this occasion the Chairperson of the East Nusa Tenggara Regional ORARI H. Soekardi Wibisono YB9KA once again thanked BALMON class II Mataram for the implementation of the 2nd wave of UNAR which was successful, safe and orderly and once again BALMON class II Mataram hoped to become a partner and always guide for the future organization to be better and more qualified. (/ admin) See the ORARI post for pictures of the exam https://tinyurl.com/IndonesiaORARI PHILIPSBURG:---The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Board and representatives from the Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint-Martin (CCISM), have sent a joint letter to the Governments, Parliament and Territorial Council of Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin with respect to the border closure that is having a negative impact on the economy of the island. Part of the joint letter reads as follows: COVID-19 will never be snuffed out in our territory without joint actions by all stakeholders that are being severely impacted. We will have to bear for a long time, the presence of the COVID-19 virus on our territory and closing the border will not stop the virus from circulating throughout our communities. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of both sides of the island are seeking for a more intensified joint approach to managing this public health crisis. We hereby propose to you our analysis of some of the intervention mechanisms that can be implemented in both parts of our territory. Indeed, it was very unfortunate, and we wish to highlight the consequences generated by premature and precipitous closure of the border, in fact avoiding any possibility of implementing organizational solutions between the two territories. Many sectors on both sides of the island are suffering. The economic pillar of the island does not have any borders. Residents and visitors are accustomed to shopping, dining, and conducting business on both sides of the island, but the restrictions implemented are not the correct approach. There will be a joint virtual press conference on Thursday, August 27 at 9.30 am with the media from both sides of the island. The public can follow the live stream via both Chambers's Facebook pages: CCI Saint-Martin; and St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Mid-2019 both Chambers met to discuss matters of mutual interests as well as how they can work together to the benefit of the business communities of Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin. Out of these discussions came the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Both Presidents of the Board of COCI and CCISM expressed how great it was for both Chambers of Commerce to meet at that time and consolidate their views and ideas and plot a course marking the true beginning of a partnership focused on inclusion for both sides of the island and embracing the differences that exist -but most importantly finding ways and working together to develop joint solutions allowing to break down any existing barriers. The representatives from CCISM who attended the meeting in mid-2019 were Angele Dormoy, President; Bhanicia Bryan, Interim General Director; Joy Carty, Project Manager; and Malaika Maxwell, Communications & Events Manager. COCI was represented by Benjamin Ortega, President; Bertaux Fleming, Vice President; Louis Bute, Treasurer; and at that time Anastacio Baker, Executive Director. Delhi's municipal corporations on Tuesday launched a campaign to prevent the spread of dengue and other in the capital, officials said. As part of the campaign, which will go on till September 30, chemicals will be sprayed to prevent breeding of mosquitoes and a public awareness drive will be conducted across 272 wards under the three civic bodies -- North Municipal Corporation (NDMC), South Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and East Municipal Corporation (EDMC). The campaign was inaugurated by mayors of the three corporations in their respective areas along with senior BJP leaders. North Delhi Mayor Jai Prakash said the campaign was launched in the NDMC area from near the chief minister's house at Flagstaff Road. Senior BJP leaders Shyam Jaju and Vijay Goel were also present at the launch. The monsoon season and constant rainfall are favourable for breeding of larvae of mosquitoes which carry the virus that can cause dengue and malaria, Prakash said. Handbills and stickers are being distributed to raise awareness among people, he said. In the second phase, Gambujia fish will be released in reservoirs so that they can eat the larvae. In the third phase, spraying of anti-mosquito medicines in big drains will be carried out, he added. At least 48 cases of malaria and 41 of dengue have been reported in the capital till August 15 this year, according to a municipal report. Earlier, the SDMC commissioner had issued an advisory on prevention and control of South Delhi Mayor Anamika launched the campaign along with Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta by flagging off from the Civic Centre 16 autorickshaws mounted with public address systems, four power spray tankers and 26 motorised power sprayers mounted atop trucks. East Delhi Mayor Nirmal Jain said the EDMC has prepared a strategy to prevent mosquito-borne diseases and has started taking action accordingly. Larvicides are being sprayed at breeding sites and awareness is being generated among people about prevention of dengue, malaria and chikungunya. Dengue mosquito larvae breed in clear, standing water, while those of malaria can thrive even in dirty water. Cases of are usually reported between July and November, but the period may stretch till mid-December. (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.) She then took oath as MP before the Clerk of Parliament, represented by his deputy, Nomasonto Sunga, in terms of section 128 of the Constitution.Parliament has been on a prolonged break since July after some MPs tested positive to the coronavirus. WHITFORD Everybody had a moment when they realized how serious this was. This was in the beginning of March, and I was sitting on set and we were laughing because [Elisabeth Moss] had a horrible cold. None of us were taking [the pandemic] seriously. Im sitting in a makeup chair reading about it on my cellphone for the first time, and it said, Whatever you do, dont touch your face. Of course, while I was reading that, three different people were touching my face. Were about to go back to set and weve had safety meetings, and I do feel safer. Its the traveling that is scary. They told us about the quarantine, and I thought, How did I end up with more house arrest than Roger Stone? [Laughs.] They want me to go up [and stay] usually I would just go back and forth. Nobody can come and visit. Its tricky, but theyre being very safe about it. DUPLASS Theyre trying to figure out the Morning Show situation right now. We shoot in L.A., where the incidence rate is much higher, so its a totally different beast. I feel like were going to look back in a couple of years and be like, What were we doing, putting people back to work in the middle of the potential rise of the second wave? I understand that it is relatively safe. But I have this deep gut feeling that we are putting ourselves at risk to increase profitability for a massive corporation, and Im not sure that its totally worth it. The biggest reason to do it is job creation. WHITFORD Olympia Dukakiss husband, Louis Zorich, was an actors actor. Ill never forget, I was telling him a story about being sick when I had to be naked in a play [Curse of the Starving Class]. I had salmonella poisoning. Louis said, Why didnt you let your understudy do it? And I was like, The show must go on. He turned to me and said, Listen, if there is anything that does not have to go on, its the [expletive] show. DUPLASS When you mentioned that you had to go onstage naked while you were sick, my first thought was, Might a persons genitals appear different when they are sick? [Laughs.] Bradley, people tend to associate you with a Sorkin-style verbal torrent. But on The Handmaids Tale, so much of what you do is sparse dialogue and silences, and now Mark is the one doing walk-and-talks. Youve swapped places. The pool boy who had an affair with Jerry Falwell's wife Becki now claims the former Liberty University president is a 'predator' who sent him a photograph of a female student exposing herself on the family's Virginia farm. Giancarlo Granda, 29, made his latest claim in a statement on Tuesday night after Jerry resigned from his position, claiming a reported $10.5million on his way out. He says he had an affair with Becki from 2012 until 2018 and that Jerry sometimes watched them having sex. Both Jerry and Becki deny his claims and say she did have an affair with Granda but that Jerry did not participate. They have accused Granda of trying to extort them and say he is lying about '90 percent' of their interactions with each other. In his latest statement, Granda said: 'In his effort to lie and discredit me, the Falwell's are exposing to the world why I felt it was important to step forward and tell the truth about them. Giancarlo Granda, left, says Jerry Falwell Jr. is a 'predator' who sent him a photograph of a Liberty student exposing herself on his farm in Virginia. Granda had an affair with Falwell's wife Becki (right) The Falwell farm in Cifax, Virginia. There was no sign of anyone in the family at the farm on Tuesday 'The fiction they are peddling in an effort to save themselves is on par with the kind of victim-shaming tactics we've come to expect from people who have abused their positions of power and authority.' He went on to say he was not profiting 'in any way, shape or form' from the scandal, and said: 'The reality is Jerry Falwell is a predator. I know this because he sent me an image of a female Liberty University student exposing herself at their farm. 'This is not appropriate conduct for someone who up until this week, has been charged with overseeing the well-being of thousands of vulnerable and impressionable students.' Neither Liberty nor a lawyer for Jerry immediately responded to DailyMail.com's inquiries on Wednesday morning. He told The Washington Post that Granda might have been referring to an incident at the family home when neither he nor Becki were there. His daughters-in-law were using the guesthouse and, he claimed, one of them pulled her skirt up while being filmed. 'She had on, I dont know how to say this, granny panties,' he said, saying that he sent the screenshot to several people because he thought it was funny. He went on to call Granda a 'criminal' and 'liar', saying: 'I grew up as a preachers kid and we were under a microscope. ' The university said on Tuesday that its prayers were with Jerry as he moved on from campus life. The saga began on Sunday night, when Jerry gave a long statement to The Washington Examiner, claiming he and his wife were being extorted. He did not name Granda, but revealed that Becki had had an affair. He said he'd chosen to forgive her, but that finding out about it upset him so much he lost 80lbs. He then claimed that their lawyers had told them to stay in touch and remain friendly with Granda, with whom they run a gay-friendly hostel in Miami. Granda, in an interview with Reuters, then claimed that not only did Jerry know about the affair, but that he watched him and Becki having sex. Falwell Jr with Giancarlo, his wife, and other members of their family in a photo taken in Washington DC before the relationship soured On August 7 he was ordered to take an 'indefinite leave of absence' after posting a photo on Instagram that showed him with his pants unzipped and his midsection visible, with his arm around a woman, who he claimed was his wife's assistant, whose shorts were also unzipped He said the trio met in 2012, when he was working as a pool boy at the Fontainebleau in Miami, and says Becki picked him up. He claims she told him he needed someone more experienced than the young girls he was talking to and that she brought him to her hotel room, where Jerry was waiting in Speedos. The pair then had sex in front of Jerry, he claims. In 2015, the couple tried to cut ties with Granda by buying him out of their Miami hostel. It coincided with Donald Trump's first presidential campaign, which they endorsed enthusiastically. Granda did not agree to the terms and they remained in business. In 2018, the relationship soured, he said. The couple have also had legal issues in the past with Gordon Bello, another young man who claims he had a 'personal relationship' with Becki. He said in a lawsuit that he was owed a stake in the hostel. The lawsuit was settled privately for an undisclosed amount last year. The couple have also given a former Liberty University student and personal trainer help setting up his own business. Benjamin Crosswhite trained the couple in 2011 and later. In 2016, Liberty gave him a health and fitness center on campus. The Granda scandal comes after questions and criticism over Jerry's leadership at the Christian university. He was in the past accused of using the university purse to give favors to friends, and disgruntled staffers said he ran it more like a 'real estate hedge fund' than a college. The university has amassed more than $500million in assets since he took over. Much of it is down to him taking in online students. Liberty was founded in 1971 by Jerry's father, Jerry Falwell Sr., or 'big Jerry', as some on campus call him. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission A Perth woman will appeal the harshest penalty yet for breaching the state's COVID-19 quarantine laws and apply to be released from custody immediately. Magistrate Andrew Matthews on Tuesday handed Asher Vander Sanden a six-month jail term after she admitted sneaking into WA. Asher Vander Sanden will appeal her sentence after sneaking into WA. Credit:Facebook The penalty against the 28-year-old, who entered the state in the back of a truck then stayed with her boyfriend in Scarborough instead of hotel quarantine, has drawn applause and outrage. Others with similar convictions have received suspended sentences or a free ticket home and Vander Sanden's lawyer John Hammond said his client understood she had broken the law. The Naga Army can be suitably integrated with the Naga Regiment of the Army. The challenge is to convince Muivah to accept an entity with sky as the limit for privileges and guarantees by Ashok K Mehta The man in the eye of the storm is Ravindra Narayan Rao Ravi, a police/Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer whose meteoric rise after superannuation to the Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA), then as an interlocutor and Governor of Nagaland, may soon be a legend. While making him the Governor, retaining his interlocutor post became an issue of conflict of interest; his negotiating overreach has unravelled the Nagaland framework accord of August 3, 2015. If anyone had studied his antecedents as a compulsive critic of the Nagas, especially the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)-IM, and of previous interlocutors, he should never have been made one but for NSA Ajit Dovals confidence in a fellow police officer. On the table were three issues: Naga identity, sovereignty and unique history. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reassured the Nagas that they will not be equated with Kashmir and that their identity would be protected by Article 371(A) of the Constitution. But lack of trust has crept in. Sovereignty is the core issue of the Naga Framework Agreement (NFA). The unique history of the Nagas was recognised by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003: It is true that of all the States in India, Nagaland has a unique history. We are sensitive to this historical fact. The source of this concept is none other than NSCN-IM supremo, Thuingaleng Muivah, who has been negotiating on a settlement of the Naga issue since 1997; whereas Government interlocutors have had an average life span of five years. The NFA was signed between Muivah and Ravi with great pomp and promise in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sporting a Naga Tangkhul (Muivahs Tangkhul tribe from Manipur) shawl, reaffirming them as the sole representative of the Nagas. The IM faction is the largest rebel group with its own flag and Army, which was the bane of the security forces for decades and came to be known as the mother of all insurgencies in the North-east. The contents of the NFA are wrapped in mystery and have not even been disclosed to Parliament. To broadbase the agreement in 2017, Ravi roped in the Naga National Peoples Group (NNPG), a conglomerate of seven Naga groups, with whom he succeeded to sign a final settlement on the Naga issue on October 31, 2019. If he ever thought that this could pass off as the final settlement of the Naga issue, he was mistaken because the NFA was signed with NSCN-IM and not with NNPG. This became a potential pressure point on the IM. But pressure built up on Ravi when Prime Minister Modi, after reading down Article 370 in Kashmir, sought closure on NFA by October 31. That is when the war of words between Ravi and IM picked up. Both sides began leaking to the media their version of the outcome of the talks. Muivah refused to sign the final agreement, depriving PM Modi of yet another political feather in his cap during the Hornbill Festival, near Kohima, in January. Ravi blamed Muivah with reneging on a solution to Nagas unique history within the Indian Constitution. While addressing the Nagaland Assembly in January, Ravi claimed that the Naga issue had been settled (presumably with NNPG), but there was still work to be done, he added. In an interview to North East Live in February 2019, Muivah said: Old issues are not resolved only one government, integration of all Naga contiguous areas (Nagalim), our flag, our Constitution this is our stated stand. Ravi retorted: This was not what was offered. With Modi announcing One Nation, One Constitution, One Flag after Jammu & Kashmirs integration, Muivahs maximalist demand was unacceptable. The accord had come unstuck. Ravis negotiating strategy changed when he combined his office as Governor with that of the interlocutor. According to those who know Ravi and his frustration with IM, he fell back on the traditional concept that the Naga political struggle is a separatist insurgency, overlooking that the unique history of the Nagas is still the predominant feature of the peace process. His letter to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland, alluding to the IM as extortionists and thugs and demanding certificates from civil servants that they had no linkages to such groups, incensed the IM. In his Independence Day speech, he was extremely critical of his own State, calling it the worst performing one, making the Nagas very unhappy with his outbursts as a Governor. Last week, IM was in New Delhi for a round of talks, where it declared that it was being forced to reveal the terms of the NFA, accusing Ravi of deleting a keyword from the original that apparently stated: sharing the sovereign power and providing for an enduring, inclusive relationship of peaceful co-existence of the two new entities. They said the word new was removed by Ravi. In their interpretation, new is politically sensitive as it goes to define the meaning of peaceful co-existence of two new entities (two sovereign powers) and it strongly indicates that the arrangement is outside the purview of the Constitution. Ravi rejected this interpretation. IM said that Ravi insulted the negotiating team by using unparliamentary language when he said that this can be understood even by a Class VII student that it means acceptance of the Indian Constitution. The IM is very angry that the Governor referred to them in his letter to the Chief Minister as armed gangs and misled the Nagaland Assembly about the progress in talks towards a settlement. The IM has refused to continue dialogue with Ravi with the Government quietly posting a team of IB officials to continue conversations. In the August 17 meeting with these officials, the IM wanted the Government to confirm that the NFA is still alive in its original form and it will be handled by someone other than Ravi who is sensitive to understand what has been achieved in the last 23 years. A new interlocutor equipped with patience and understanding of conflict resolution and one who has studied other peace processes is needed. Two books are recommended for the next chief negotiator. One, How Enemies Become Friends: The Sources of Stable Peace by Charles A Kupchan and the other, Transformative Scenario Planning: Working Together to Change the Future by Adam Kahane. Muivah is 86-year-old and would like a settlement of the oldest internal armed conflict in his lifetime, appropriately acknowledging the unique identity and history of the Nagas. The 5,000-strong Naga Army confined at Mount Hebron near Dimapur can be suitably integrated with the Naga Regiment of the Army. The challenge and genius lie in convincing Muivah to accept an entity with sky as the limit for privileges and guarantees. (The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander IPKF South, Sri Lanka and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff.) Mumbai, Aug 26 : Director Mahesh Narayanan has opened up on how his upcoming Malayalam film, C U Soon, was shot completely within the four walls amid the lockdown. "Lockdown in the country had started and we were feeling restless at home. (Lead actor) Fahadh (Faasil) and I were exchanging emails, and just decided to do something experimental. I even remember the title of the mail was called 'Madness'. We met after two days at his apartment and started drawing the lines and figured how we can execute this," said Mahesh. After the decision to make the film, the team started working on the logistics. "(We were) Trying to figure out how we can accommodate people, how we can shoot because of the lockdown and not jeopardize anyone," the director said. Speaking about the format, Mahesh shared: "Format wise, the film seemed challenging as there are hardly any screen-based movies made in India. So we all had this apprehension whether to make it as a feature or a short film and how to edit the format. I was so excited about the idea that I took off for two weeks to write the script draft. Given the idea was so crazy and exciting, we got all the actors immediately on board. We finished the shooting the film within 18 days and took few weeks more to edit the film." The thriller also stars Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran. It will premiere globally on Amazon Prime Video on September 1. GATINEAU, QC, Aug. 26, 2020 /CNW/ - Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is ensuring the Canadian Coast Guard has the vessels it needs to keep Canadian waterways safe and accessible, while generating significant economic benefits to communities across Canada. Following an open and competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, has awarded a contract of $4 million to Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton, Ontario, for refit work on the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Griffon. The CCGS Griffon is a high-endurance multi-tasked vessel that performs light icebreaking and buoy-tending operations essential to keeping our waters open and safe for marine traffic. The refit work will include regulatory inspections and certifications; maintenance of structural items and various equipment, including propulsion; as well as the replacement and repair of various compartments, decks, and communication and navigation equipment. This contract will help create or sustain 80 jobs. Quotes "In shipyards across the country, the National Shipbuilding Strategy is guiding work to build, repair and maintain Canada's fleets. We are proud to support the brave and essential members of the Canadian Coast Guard, while creating jobs and strengthening economies in communities across the country." The Honourable Anita Anand Minister of Public Services and Procurement "The women and men of the Canadian Coast Guard are working every day to help keep mariners safe and our shipping routes open. Whether it's patrolling the longest coastline in the world, breaking ice on the Great Lakes or helping save lives on one of Canada's many waterways, our government is ensuring the Coast Guard has the tools and equipment needed to continue serving Canadians proudly. This refit contract will ensure the CCGS Griffon continues to fulfill critical icebreaking operations, essential to keeping our maritime trade going all year round." The Honourable Bernadette Jordan Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Quick facts The work under this contract is expected to run from August 17, 2020 , to October 16, 2020 . , to . The CCGS Griffon supports the delivery of several programs, including icebreaking and flood control, and provides a platform for the Canadian Hydrographic Service for mapping of shoreline and water depth. It also aids navigation by servicing, placing and removing navigational buoys. The CCGS Griffon provides icebreaking services primarily on Lake Ontario , on Lake Erie and along the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, Quebec . The vessel entered the Coast Guard fleet in 1970, and its home port is located at the Canadian Coast Guard Base in Prescott, Ontario . , on and along the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, . The vessel entered the Coast Guard fleet in 1970, and its home port is located at the Canadian Coast Guard Base in . The Canadian Coast Guard fleet has a maintenance plan for each of its vessels, which respects Transport Canada inspection requirements, to keep its vessels in safe, reliable working condition. Associated links Canadian Coast Guard Fleet details National Shipbuilding Strategy Heddle Shipyards Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada For further information: Cecely Roy, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Anita Anand, 819-997-5421, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 819-420-5501, [email protected] Related Links www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca Trials have begun in South Africa for a second COVID-19 vaccine study. The hope is that at least one of the vaccines being trialled will show promise and play a role in eliminating the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In this episode of Pasha, Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology and Director of the MRC Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, explains why there are multiple vaccine studies under way, the differences between them, how this second South African trial works and when the results might be known. Read more: Pasha 71: COVID-19 vaccine trial in South Africa explained Photo: Development and creation of a coronavirus vaccine COVID-19. Coronavirus Vaccine concept in hand of doctor blue vaccine jar. Vaccine Concept of fight against coronavirus. By PalSand Shutterstock Music Happy African Village by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1 . African Moon by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1 . By Ozayr Patel, Digital Editor The second night of the Republican National Convention will feature some big names, like Melania Trump, the first lady; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. It will also include Nicholas Sandmann, the teenager involved in a confrontation with a Native American man at a protest last year, and Mary Ann Mendoza, a consultant to the We Build the Wall organization, which was recently accused of fraud. Heres how to watch the convention and who else you can expect to see. How to watch: Convention proceedings will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday through Thursday but, as with the Democratic convention, the big speeches will happen at night. The Times will stream the convention every evening, accompanied by chat-based live analysis from our reporters and real-time highlights from the speeches. The official livestream will be available on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , Twitch and Amazon Prime . ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News will cover the convention from 10 to 11 p.m. every night; CNN from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.; MSNBC from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.; PBS from 8 to 11 p.m.; and C-SPAN at 9 a.m. and then at 8:30 p.m. Whos speaking: Mr. Trumps campaign released a partial list of speakers for Tuesday: Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday said she will consider commuting the sentences of 350 to 400 state prisoners within two months of release as well as about a dozen inmates considered medically vulnerable to the coronavirus. The plan is significantly more expansive than Browns previous pandemic-related commutations. To date, the governor has commuted the sentences of 57 people due to the virus. The statement was made by Ha Van Sieu, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), while attending the virtual Destination Mekong Summit which was held on August 25. While updating the participants on measures to support people and tourism businesses who are affected by COVID-19, the VNAT Deputy General Director said that Vietnamese Government has promptly promulgated policies on providing exemptions or reducing a number of taxes for enterprises. The Government also ordered a reduction in electricity prices, interest and allowing debt restructuring, as well as take-off and landing fares and flight operation service fees for departures and arrivals of domestic flights. Regarding the tourism sector in particular, the Government regulated a 50% decrease in a number of fees regarding travel services including the appraisal and issuance of licenses to international and domestic travel services as well as the issuance of tour guide certificates. A 20% cut is also available to hotels which register to become isolation areas. Under the theme of Balanced Tourism Recovery for a Better Future, the summit was hosted by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) at a time when the COVID19 epidemic has posed significant impacts on tourism activities in the region and the world in general. It aimed to give actionable insights and steps for businesses operations in the member countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) to achieve resilience and tourism recovery. The event attracted representatives from national tourism agencies of GMS countries, including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as leaders of the worlds leading travel organisations including CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Gloria Guevara, former UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai, and CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Mario Hardy. The participants engaged in 15 short sessions, discussing changing sentiments from source markets China and Japan, recommendations for the meetings sector, the latest data and insights for travel businesses, how to communicate with stakeholders in these times, the ever increasing importance of sustainability including climate change, plastic pollution, child protection, and wildlife conservation, as well as a scenario analysis to prepare for the future today. Rob Carr/Associated Press Crude and gasoline futures both climbed to levels not seen since before the pandemic as Hurricane Laura rattled toward a key stretch of the U.S. Gulf Coast that is home to the nations greatest concentration of refining capacity. U.S. gasoline futures jumped 2.1% and crude futures added 1.7% Tuesday, bringing both contracts to the highest since early March. The storm is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday along the Texas-Louisiana coast as a Category 3 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. More than 84% of oil output in the Gulf of Mexico has now shut and refiners including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Citgo Petroleum Corp. have reduced operations or closed plants in preparation. Phase 2 trials of Oxford coronavirus vaccine, being manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), have begun in India. The clinical trials began at Pune's Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College and Hospital where two male volunteers were administered the vaccine. "Doctors at the hospital administered the first shot of the 'Covishield' vaccine to a 32-year-old man after his reports of COVID-19 and antibodies tests came out negative," Medical Director of Bharti Vidyapeeth's Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr Sanjay Lalwani told PTI. The vaccine was also given to another 48-year-old male volunteer, Lalwani added. "Before administering the vaccine, doctors checked their temperature, blood pressure and heartbeats," he said. Five volunteers had enrolled themselves for the trial after doses were received from the SII on Tuesday, he added. "The COVID-19 and antibodies tests were conducted on all the five volunteers. Of them, reports of three volunteers' antibodies test came out positive. So they became ineligible for the trial," Lalwani said. As a rapid regulatory response, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on August 3 had given nod to the SII for conducting phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the Oxford coronavirus vaccine candidate in the country. SII has partnered with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca for manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccine candidate, developed by the University of Oxford. Initial results of the first two-phases of trials of the vaccine conducted in five trial sites in the UK reportedly showed it has an acceptable safety profile and homologous boosting increased antibody responses. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine news: Russia approaches India for production; Novavax starts trials Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: China okays emergency usage among high-risk people (Natural News) If Democrats are good at anything it is revising history and convincing or trying to convince people theyre not really seeing what theyre actually seeing. Portions of Chicago have been a shooting gallery for decades, practically dating back to the days of Al Capone. But the violence has gotten worse, especially over the past decade as one Democrat mayor after another has failed to quell it or even substantially reduce it. Today, in the age of Black Lives Matter, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who is black, shootings and murders of other blacks are at all-time highs. Indeed, it is safe to say that blacks are more at risk of being killed by another black person in Chicago than anywhere else in the country (with the possible exception of East St. Louis). But for a number of reasons, the criminality is no longer limited to historically black sections of the city. It is spreading, and rapidly, under the phony guise of the BLM movement and because of that, Lightfoot is telling Chicagoans to look the other way and outside critics to mind their own business. In an interview August 16 with CBS News Face the Nation, Lightfoot deflected blame for rising crime and violence by claiming that the vast majority of protests in the city are peaceful. Unfortunately, what weve seen in cities all across the country, not just Chicago, is a continuing wave of protests. The vast majority of these have been peaceful, she said following a weekend in which 17 police officers were injured and 24 people arrested following mass looting that included businesses along the citys lucrative Magnificent Mile. And whats more, the looting was organized. But what weve also seen is people who have embedded themselves in these seemingly peaceful protests and have come for a fight. What happened yesterday was really over very quickly because our police department has resolved to make sure we protect peaceful protests, but were absolutely not going to tolerate people who come to these protests looking for a fight, and are intending to injury our police officers and injure innocent people who just come to express their First Amendment rights, Lightfoot continued. That is a very different thing than what happened yesterday. Last Sunday was absolutely a planned attack. It is not spontaneous when you bring U-Haul trucks and high-end robbery tools, she noted further. Were working with our federal partners to identify exactly who the ring leaders are. Were actively pursuing cases against others. Were determined to make sure we get to the bottom of this and bring those responsible for this organized crime effort to justice, she said a massive change in tune after telling President Donald Trump to stuff it earlier this summer when he offered federal aid to help stop riots and looting. But the deeper question is this: Why would looters in Chicago feel empowered to raid the most upscale shopping district in the city? The answer: Because a George Soros-funded prosecutor, working in conjunction with Lightfoots administration, has been going easy on those peaceful protesters. Criminals took to the street with the confidence that there would be no consequences for their actions, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said last week, in reference to Cook County State Prosecutor Kim Foxx. And I for one refuse to allow these cowardly acts to hold our city hostage. As for black-on-black crime in the age of BLM, there were 105 killings of mostly black residents in July, the most in 28 years and more than double from the same month last year. But hey, most protests and such are peaceful. As for the Magnificent Mile, a week after the mass looting which a local BLM activist described as no problem because theyre really just reparations, most businesses remained closed and boarded up, as store owners ponder what to do next in a city that obviously cant protect them. BLM Chicago Leader on the looting of stores: "That is reparations. anything they want to take, take it because these businesses have insurance" pic.twitter.com/uB9GAGmkLu ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) August 11, 2020 Sources include: ABC7Chicago.com DailyHerald.com Breitbart.com KYIV. Aug 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) As of today, incumbent Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov could get the most votes in the first round of mayoral elections 31.51% of voters, who have decided whom to support, would cast their ballots for him. According to a poll, which was conducted by the Drahomanov Sociological Center and presented by its head Serhiy Shtepa at the press conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday, 28.13% Dnipro residents would vote for Head of the Hromadska Syla (Civic Power) Party Zagid Krasnov, 11.45% for candidate from the Servant of the People Party, Chief Doctor of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Hospital named after Mechnikov Serhiy Ryzhenko, 6.08% for candidate from the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Serhiy Nikitin. Meanwhile, 18.31% respondents said they would support other candidates. As of today, in the second tour, 39.4% of Dnipro residents would vote for Filatov, 35.9% for Krasnov. At the elections to Dnipro City Council, the Proposition Party, whose members include Filatov and several more Ukrainian mayors, would win 22.31% votes from the respondents who have decided whom they support, Hromadska Syla (Civic Power) would get 22.11%, Servant of the People 13.51%, Ukrainian Perspective Bloc of Oleksandr Vilkul 11.36%, Opposition Platform - For Life 9.22%, Party of Shariy 4.95%, Batkivschyna 4.21%, European Solidarity 4.13%. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 2,975 respondents in Dnipro on August 21-24, 2020. The sample is representative by age and gender. In Zaporizhia, incumbent Mayor Volodymyr Buriak would get 33.21% of votes, candidate from the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Volodymyr Kaltsev 15.32%, candidate from the Servant of the People Party, Deputy Head of Zaporizhia Regional State Administration Vitaliy Tyshechko 14.64%. In the second round, Buriak would win 49.3% of votes, Kaltsev 32.2%. At the elections to Zaporizhia City Council, Servant of the People would get 20.12%, Opposition Platform - For Life 16.84%, Buriak's Unity 14.21%, European Solidarity 6.24%, Party of Shariy 4.51%, Batkivschyna 4.42%, Proposition 3.07%. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 1,864 respondents in Zaporizhia on August 20-23, 2020. The sample is representative by age and gender. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied Aug. 25 he had requested that Ukraine limit the number of pilgrims traveling to Uman. The formal statement read, "As made clear in a joint statement of Israel and Ukraine published last week, the prime minister and president advised against going to Uman because of the virus situation, but noted and emphasized that it is [the responsibility of] those who decide to go to Uman to keep to health guidelines." In other words, there was no official ban, just a strong warning. Netanyahus quick denial came in response to a statement made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier in the day that he would accede to Netanyahus alleged request and restrict the number of Jews allowed to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov on the Jewish New Year on Sept. 18-20. Today, the Ukrainian president issued a total ban on citizens of red zone states from entering the country for 30 days to avoid a rise in coronavirus infections. Israel is considered a red zone state. Pilgrimage to Uman has increased over the years, with as many as 30,000 people gathering there last year for the Jewish New Year for a celebration around the rabbis tomb. Most of them are Israelis, but not only. More so, many traditional and even secular Israelis have taken up this custom. Still, the Ukrainian travel ban infuriated mostly the ultra-Orthodox leadership. In fact, for several weeks now, ultra-Orthodox society has been seething over coronavirus czar Ronni Gamzus insistence against flying to Ukraine. On Aug. 22, Gamzu repeated his warnings that a large gathering in the town of Uman could lead to a major outbreak of the virus. Gamzu told Israels N12 News, [Pilgrimage to] Uman is not one of the Tishrei holidays and it is not a sacred thing. It is a celebration or a party and should not be done. It can bring us closer to a lockdown. This is a risk to lives in Israel." Responses were fast in coming. It is a slap in the face to tens of thousands of Breslov followers, declared ultra-Orthodox Minister of Housing Yaakov Litzman. In an effort to ward off a fight, Netanyahu called a large meeting for the next day to discuss flights to Uman. On one side was Gamzu, and on the other were Litzman and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri of ultra-Orthodox Shas. The meeting lasted hours. At one point, Litzman demanded that Netanyahu fire Gamzu for contacting the Ukrainian president personally to ask him to ban Breslov Hasidim and other worshippers from entering the country. Litzman argued that Gamzu went behind the backs of the prime ministers office, the foreign minister and the Israeli ambassador to Ukraine to make his request. It's a bit of a mystery how a celebration in Ukraine became the focus of such intense discussion in ultra-Orthodox society. The late Ovadia Yosef, a former chief rabbi and spiritual leader of Shas, once said that people should not make the pilgrimage to Uman. He said that any Jew with an ounce of common sense would rather spend the night of Rosh Hashanah with his family. Itzik Sudri, a media consultant and former spokesman for Shas, explained to Al-Monitor, There is a disparity between the reaction to flights to Uman and other events in Israel including the demonstrations, which could lead to mass infection. When asked whether he thought that the move was intentionally antagonistic toward the ultra-Orthodox, he said, There can be no debate that it is part of a process and an effort to convince the public that the ultra-Orthodox are spreading the disease. Shas is opposed to traveling to Uman, regardless of the coronavirus, and yet, antagonism toward the ultra-Orthodox community has caused them to join the fight for a solution. In comparison, Saudi Arabia responded to the pandemic with a series of severe restrictions on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca during Eid al-Adha this July. It banned Muslims from outside the country from entering the holy sites. Ahmad Ganayem, a construction engineer from the Arab-Israeli town of Baqa al-Gharbiyye, had planned to go to Mecca this year. He told Al-Monitor, "By the end of June, the Saudi minister of religious affairs announced that because of the spread of the coronavirus, the hajj would be limited to Saudi residents. Entry to foreigners would be prohibited. Of course, we were very disappointed, but we accepted this decision fully, as we realized that it was motivated by concern for peoples health. Islam as a religion makes a point of first of all protecting the health of people." The discrepancy begs the question: If millions of Muslims around the world, particularly in Israel, were willing to accept the decision by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Saudi Arabia, why cant a group of Breslov Hasidim in Israel come to terms with the idea that a mass gathering in Uman could lead to a spike in infections? Breslov is not considered a mainstream Hasidic sect, even among the ultra-Orthodox. Nevertheless, their fight over the pilgrimage to Uman has won the support of ultra-Orthodox politicians, who have embarked on a public relations campaign around it. The answer, it seems, is political. Ultra-Orthodox journalist Israel Frey told Al-Monitor, Breslov Hasidim are considered floating voters who dont identify with a specific party. As a result, we see politicians doing everything to win their support. That is why they are helping them with their fight. Frey went on, In normal times, the ultra-Orthodox community ridicules the Breslov community and its pilgrimage to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. What is happening now is the part of the standard reaction in ultra-Orthodox society whenever secular Jews make decisions for them. In this case, they feel like they are being persecuted. The secular community does not understand the needs of religious Jews. Why, for instance, is going to synagogue forbidden, while cultural events are allowed? Maybe what unites ultra-Orthodox society around the issue is the rejection of decisions made on their behalf by a secular outsider like Gamzu. The ultra-Orthodox see it as coercion. As much as they may try to distance themselves from the Breslov community, restrictions on its pilgrimage to Uman has forced the ultra-Orthodox parties to take a united stand. Karen Warren /Staff photographer H-E-B is aiming to open its new store on the far West Side in October, representatives told mySA.com Wednesday. The $15.4 million, 111,553-square-foot store, located at 14325 Potranco Rd., was expected to open in June, according to a previous report from the San Antonio Express-News. By Express News Service BENGALURU: A 28-year-old man, who was admitted to a specialty hospital in Kalyan Nagar 47 days ago after he reportedly met with a road accident, died on Tuesday, prompting the family members to stage a protest in front of the hospital. They claimed that the patient was scheduled to be discharged in the morning, but they were informed that he had died. When he was first admitted around one-and-a-half months ago, the hospital said he tested negative for Covid. On Monday night, they gave us a bill of Rs 18 lakh, including Rs 9 lakh for medicines and about Rs 8 lakh for bed and ICU charges. When the family returned on Tuesday morning to take him, they were informed that he had died. The hospital said it was because he was Covid-positive, said Govinda Simha, general secretary of Hindu Jagarana Vedike. We will file a complaint at Banaswadi police station, he added. In a video, the patients family is seen saying that he was okay when they met him on Monday evening and that they were planning to take him to another hospital for a second Covid test. When we said we cannot pay the remainder of Rs 6.5 lakh, they said it is a Covid case, a family member is seen saying in the video. In the same video, another person, who identifies himself as Jayaram, is seen saying that his uncle Srinivas P was admitted in the ICU at the same hospital for 13 days and had tested negative thrice. He died on Monday and when they were settling the bill of Rs 3,96,000, the hospital informed the family that he was Covid-positive, Jayaram claims. A demonstrator holds a German flag near the Reichstag during a protest against the government's restrictions imposed over the coronavirus outbreak, in Berlin, on Aug. 1, 2020. (Christian Mang/Reuters) Berlin Bans Protest Against Coronavirus Curbs BERLINThe city of Berlin will put thousands of police on the streets at the weekend to enforce a ban on demonstrations opposing measures imposed to stem the coronavirus pandemic after marchers at a recent rally failed to wear masks or keep their distance. Andreas Geisel, the Berlin interior senator, said the authorities had decided to ban the protest after weighing up the importance of the right to freedom of assembly with the need to protect people against infection. We are still in the middle of a pandemic with rising infection figures, he said. Germans take part in a protest against the governments restrictions imposed over the coronavirus outbreak, in Berlin, on Aug. 1, 2020. (Christian Mang/Reuters) Germany has managed to keep the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths relatively low compared with some other large European countries, but the number of new daily cases has been rising steadily since early July and has accelerated in recent weeks. About 20,000 people marched in Berlin on Aug. 1. Geisel said the organizers of that protest had deliberately broken rules they had previously agreed with police, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Such behavior is not acceptable. The state cannot be given the runaround, he said, adding he did not want Berlin to be a stage for conspiracy theorists and right-wing extremists. The highly conservative Alternative for Germany (AfD) party said it would call for a rally at the Brandenburg Gate against the ban. The Senate is trampling on fundamental rights, the Berlin wing of the party said in a statement. Geisel said several thousand police would patrol the German capital at the weekend and warned of the potential for violence, saying that he and the police had received threats. Early in the pandemic, Berlin police detained more than 100 people at an unauthorized demonstration against the lockdown. In June, police in the Netherlands detained some 400 people at a protest against social distancing measures. By Rene Wagner Chantel Jeffries kept cool in a light summer ensemble Tuesday as she stepped out at the Ivy in Los Angeles for lunch with her boyfriend, the Chainsmokers Drew Taggart. The 27-year-old DJ/model wore a white polo shirt with pink trim, with a matching white skirt and white heels on the hot day in the City of Angels. The 5ft6 beauty had her dark brown locks neatly down and styled to the side, accessorizing with dangling earrings and a pink handbag while carrying her iPhone. Best foot forward: Chantel Jeffries, 27, kept cool in a light summer ensemble Tuesday as she stepped out at the Ivy in Los Angeles for lunch with her boyfriend, the Chainsmokers Drew Taggart Taggart, 30, kept things simple in a white T-shirt with dark grey jeans and white sneakers. The electronic music artist protected himself with a medical face mask on the outing amid COVID-19 lockdown statutes in California, where restaurants are restricted to outdoor and takeout service. At the luxe restaurant, Chantel met up with fellow model/influencer Alissa Violet, noting that they matched in white tops on social media. The celebrity couple was out about a month after Jeffries, who was previously linked to Machine Gun Kelly, Justin Bieber and Diplo, confirmed she was dating Taggart. They were first spotted with one another dancing in February prior to the beginning of the lockdown. Stylish: The 27-year-old DJ/model wore a white polo shirt with pink trim, with a matching white skirt and white heels on the hot day in the City of Angels Taggart, 30, kept things simple in a white T-shirt with dark grey jeans and white sneakers. The electronic music artist protected himself with a medical face mask on the outing amid lockdown restrictions in California After she posted a shot of them with one another late last month, the post got kind responses from notable names including models Winnie Harlow and Cindy Kimberly, LA Laker Kyle Kuzma and reality star Paris Hilton. The Coronado, California native, who has more than 4.7 million followers on Instagram, took to the site with a series of selfies she took earlier this week, looking amazing in a pink bikini with blue butterfly print. She captioned the shot with a series of emojis including a butterfly, fairy, flower, mushroom and hearts. Breathtaking: The social media stunner last month confirmed she and the musician are dating Social star: The Coronado, California native has more than 4.7 million followers on Instagram A pregnant mother and her terminally ill fiance are stuck in Mexico facing an outrageous bill of $43,000 to get back to Australia - and she only has four weeks left before she's too close to her due date to fly. Bec Paton and Jay Morrow told their heart-wrenching story on the Today show on Wednesday and were shocked when a generous viewer offered to pay for their flights home. Mr Morrow, 34, has been fighting aggressive liver cancer for 18 months and decided to seek radical treatment overseas when it spread to his lymph nodes. Ms Paton supported him through the treatment but at 29 weeks pregnant, she needs to be home within four weeks or she will be forced to give birth in Mexico. Bec Paton and Jay Morrow told their heartwrenching story on the Today show on Wednesday and were shocked when host Allison Langdon told them a generous viewer offered to pay for their flights home The Melbourne couple are also desperate to get home to their two daughters, Madisyn, 6, and Taylah, 12. Ms Paton is disappointed airlines are taking advantage of the situation by only selling business class tickets. The Australian Government has capped incoming passenger numbers during the global COVID-19 pandemic and introduced mandatory hotel quarantine for returning travellers. The couple has a flight booked to Madrid on Thursday but flights to Australia from Spain will cost up to $40,000 and hotel quarantine in Sydney is $3,000. 'It's very overwhelming. It's taking advantage of all the people stranded overseas, normal people can't afford that,' she said. Today show host Allison Langdon broke down in tears when she told the couple a benefactor would pay for their upcoming flights. The shocked couple said they 'had no words' to describe the generosity of the anonymous donor. 'We are still very much in shock, it was so much to take in, we are so grateful,' said Ms Paton. Co-host Karl Stefanovic called it 'a real Kleenex moment'. Mr Morrow (pictured) suffers from aggressive liver cancer which spread to his lymph nodes before the Melbourne couple flew to Mexico for potentially life-saving treatment Mr Morrow (left) and Ms Paton (right) were forced to leave behind their two little girls, 12 and 7, and face the prospect of Ms Paton giving birth in Mexico as she is 29 weeks pregnant and can only fly for another four weeks The couple raised $60,000 for the potentially life-saving treatment in Mexico after exhausting all treatment options in Australia. Mr Morrow held back tears as he revealed the results from Mexico have given him hope. 'The treatment has been amazing. My tumour shrunk by 10 per cent, all my blood work looks really good and my tumour markers are down,' he explained. Ms Paton said watching Mr Morrow stay strong through 18 months of radiation and other treatment was inspiring. A latest report by BuzzFeed News alleges that some cheap Chinese phones from Tecno contain malware that can steal users money. The Chinese brand is owned by Transsion Holdings. It has two more brands called Itel and Infinix under which it sells entry-level budget smartphones. As per the report, the cheap phones from this company contain malware, which without the users permission, is stealing personal data. Not only this but some users are subscribed to paid services without their knowledge. Advertisement Apparently, this piece of information came to light because of an investigation by Secure-D, a mobile security service, and BuzzFeed. The phone that raised this alarm was the Tecno W2. Besides, as per the report, two malware xHelper and Triada came pre-installed on the device. These malware tried to subscribe a user to paid service. Even constantly showed pop-ups interrupting the calls and chats of the user. The user also alleged that the mobile data was consumed without his knowledge on the phone. And the Chinese malware tried to steal the users money without consent. Advertisement Transsion spokesperson confirmed the presence of hidden Triada and xHelper malware in Tecno W2 Well, Chinese brands are more popular in Asia, including countries like India and Africa. Since they come at an affordable price range, people also do not care about what they are getting into. But this investigation really puts a clear picture in front of us about such Chinese brands. Moreover, Secure-Ds system reportedly blocked 844,000 unsolicited transactions related to pre-installed malware on Transsion phones, i.e. Tecno, Infinix, and Itel, between March and December 2019. In fact, as per the source, a spokesperson from Transsion confirmed the presence of hidden malware Triada and xHelper in Tecno W2. Advertisement Surprisingly, the blame game was shifted over to an unidentified vendor in the supply chain process. Furthermore, the company says that they perform rigorous security checks on each software installed on its brands phones. Notably, the spokesperson also added that even apps like Google Play Protect, GMS BTS, and VirusTotal test are not spared from security checks. But the actual scenario is far from what is claimed by the spokesperson. The company also claimed that they do not profit from the malware. Plus, it refrained from giving out a number on how many smartphones are infected with malware. Advertisement In the past, Secure-D has also unveiled malware found in TCL Communications Alcatel smartphones. Users in Brazil and Myanmar were affected because of malware. On Monday, Jay Shepard, a "Catholic Donald Trump Republican" from Vermont, made a statement during an opening prayer for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, describing Donald Trump and Mike Pence as "gifts" from God to the Republican Party. "Thank you, O Lord, for all the gifts you provide us, not because we deserve them, but solely through your grace and mercy, let us acknowledge the many gifts that God has bestowed upon us, starting with a president and vice president that reflect the values of our founding fathers and are willing to fight for those values, starting with life, knowing that all life is precious, from conception to natural death," Shepard prayed. Shepard emphasized religious freedom, shared his appreciation for American troops and their families as well as police officers in his opening prayer. "Since the election, attacks against religious freedom and faith are on the rise," he said. President Trump is a reminder that "America is alive and that Catholics still speaks up for its values," but that such values are under assault, according to Shepard. "There are some very good Catholics, who do care and who do care about others," Shepard said. "But there are those, again, who run from persecution, who are not willing to be open, who are really trying to just get into power." "There is no choice but to fight for the unborn. For those of us who are true to our Catholic faith, we pray for an end for the intrinsic evil that is abortion. Give us the strength to fight for our religious freedom as our president does, and instill in us the spirit and commitment to stand with the poor in a continued fight for religious freedom," Shepard prayed. In addition, Shepard said that's the heart of the problem. "These political figures, at the height of their political power, are guided by rather dubious moral principles in their actions. Trump, for instance, has made Christian fundamentalism a powerful movement in American politics. Shepard added that Catholics, like Christians, need to work to improve the situation. "Sometimes people are voting for reasons they don't understand," Shepard said. "This is one of those times." The current guidance for safe social distancing may not be enough to stop the spread of COVID-19, a new analysis suggests. In the report, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Oxford say other factors, such as ventilation, crowd size, exposure time and whether face coverings are worn, need to be considered, as well. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the advice has been to keep at least 6 feet away from other people indoors and outdoors. "COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period of time," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak However, in the report, published Tuesday in The BMJ, the researchers wrote that "physical distancing should be seen as only one part of a wider public health approach to containing the covid-19 pandemic." Lydia Bourouiba, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at MIT and co-author of the report, said, "It's not just 6 feet and then everything else can be ignored or just mask and everything else can be ignored or just ventilation and everything else can be ignored." It's important to distinguish between high-risk and low-risk exposure, Bourouiba said. Image: Social Distancing Rules (The BMJ) Some evidence suggests that the coronavirus may travel more than 6 feet through activities like coughing and shouting, the researchers wrote. In the highest-risk situations, such as indoors with poor ventilation, large crowds, prolonged contact time and no face coverings, distancing beyond 6 feet should be considered. Locations that fall under this category include bars, stadiums or restaurants. In low-risk scenarios, such as in outdoor spaces with few people nearby, less stringent social distancing should be adequate. The researchers developed a color-coded chart to show how transmission occurs, based on different types of exposure. "This is a way to synthesize and, in some sense, translate complex notions into what we hope is an accessible color-coded chart," Bourouiba said. Story continues Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a bioethicist, agreed that the public needs a better sense of risk level of various activities. Emanuel, who wasn't involved in the new research, said coronavirus infection risk boils down to four factors: indoors or outdoors crowd size exposure time whether heavy breathing, such as shouting or singing, is involved "If you're outdoors, not in a crowd and not going to be with other people for prolonged periods of time, that's probably good," said Emanuel, an oncologist who is vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania. "Is it a zero-risk scenario? Nothing's zero-risk. Is it a low-risk scenario? Yes." Evidence suggests that the 6-foot distance should be the minimum indoors, said Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech. "People have put too much weight on 6 feet as being this dividing line between risky and safe. And this clearly shows we've known that 6 feet is a guideline but that the farther the better," Marr said. Marr, who studies how the virus could be spread through aerosol transmission, said that contrary to guidelines, everybody should be wearing masks when indoors even if they are 6 feet from others. "I've seen a lot of guidelines that say wear a mask if you can't maintain distance, but I think that we need to be wearing a mask at all times when we're indoors with other people outside of our own homes," she said. Time of exposure is also very important, as simply passing by somebody in a grocery store with both patrons masked is a low-risk exposure, Marr said. Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Eleanor Murray, an epidemiologist at Boston University School of Public Health, said the new data could be helpful for public health officials. "This is just a nice summary of some of the nuances that everybody who works in the area of outbreaks is aware of but has been having trouble conveying to the people that need to make the decision," Murray said. And Murray and other epidemiologists believe that as students return to classes, school officials need to think beyond the 6-foot guidance. "If they're sitting in that room even if they're 8 feet apart if they're sitting in a room for four hours together or two hours together, then that's increasing their risk, even though they don't have that necessarily very close physical contact," she said. Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook. Indonesia has banned tourists from Bali until at least 2021 as coronavirus continues to spread, quashing dreams of a travel bubble with Australia. Government officials had earlier this month flagged September 11 as the date the Asian country would reopen its borders to holidaymakers from Down Under. But Indonesian governor Wayan Koster on Wednesday announced the nation would remain shut to international visits as COVID-19 infections climb, with Bali counting 4,576 confirmed cases as of Tuesday and 52 deaths. Australians' hopes of holidaying in Bali this year have been quashed (pictured, a woman on Atuh Beach, a popular tourist paradise) 'The Indonesian government couldn't reopen its doors to foreign travellers until the end of 2020 as we remain a red zone,' Mr Koster said in a statement. 'The situation is not conducive to allowing foreign tourists to come to Indonesia, including to Bali.' 'Bali cannot fail because it could adversely impact the image of Indonesia, including Bali, in the eyes of the world, which could prove counter-productive to the recovery of travel.' Nationwide, Indonesia now has more than 155,000 confirmed cases and 6,759 deaths. Tourism brings in billions of dollars to the Indonesian economy each year, with Bali contributing a third of the total revenue. Last year alone, the bustling industry saw more than six million tourists visit the idyllic island, which relies on visitors as its main source of income. Indonesian officials had previously flagged September 11 as a start date for a travel bubble with Australia. Tourists enjoy a drink while watching the sunset along Seminyak beach, in 2015 Those figures include about 1.23 million Australians, according to the Indonesia Institute, making it the nation's second most popular destination after New Zealand. Since authorities ordered the borders shut in April, the lack of tourism has left many locals destitute. As the Indonesia government continues to fight the virus, citizens have been asked to stay at home, work there if possible, follow social distancing guidelines when in public and avoid group gatherings. The news comes days after the Hawaiian government revealed hopes to create a trans-Pacific travel bubble with Australia and Japan before the end of this year. David Ige, the island state's governor, is currently in discussion with other countries and has his eyes set on an October 1 start date. Hurricane Lauras explosive strengthening overnight involves one of the most elusive elements of storm science: rapid intensification. Forecasters have made tremendous advances in their ability to predict the track a storm will take, but rapid intensification remains frustratingly mysterious, said Karthik Balaguru, an earth scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Sequim, Wash. Its almost like the holy grail of forecasting, he said. Whether its Laura this week or Hurricane Michael, which hit the Florida Panhandle with devastating force in 2018, the factors that cause a storm to grow so powerful so quickly include highly complex interactions between ocean and atmosphere. So many things have to come together for it to happen, said Dr. Balaguru. The central factors involved are warm ocean water at the surface, which provides storms with much of their energy, and weak wind shear, because wind shear can actually disrupt storms. It looks like Laura is experiencing very, very warm ocean conditions and relatively low wind shear, Dr. Balaguru said. Climate change is making hurricanes more dangerous in many ways, including increased rainfall and more powerful storm surge. How much climate change has to do with intensification, however, is still being worked out. The variability of the planets weather systems, including phenomena like a decades-long cycle of warming and cooling in the Atlantic known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, have long confounded efforts to distinguish the signal of climate change from the background noise of other phenomena. Dr. Balaguru was a co-author on a 2018 paper on rapid intensification that called the Atlantic oscillation a major factor, though the paper stated that the role of climate change cannot be ruled out. A paper published earlier this year stakes out a more prominent role for climate change, and calls into question the influence from the Atlantic oscillation. Michael Mann, a climate expert at Penn State University and an author of the new study, said the trend toward more destructive storms is a consequence of human-caused planetary warming. Reporting was contributed by Alan Blinder , Chelsea Brasted , James Dobbins , Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio , David Montgomery , Campbell Robertson , Rick Rojas , John Schwartz and Lucy Tompkins . It's officially happening. Telkom is discontinuing its copper line based ADSL service, potentially leaving many home and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) users at a loose end. John Woollam, CEO at Euphoria Telecom We live in a world where communication happens in milliseconds. And more remote work means that things are happening less in the real world and more in the cloud. Speed and reliability are more important than ever. And the fact is, DSL just doesnt cut it anymore. So, where should these subscribers go next and why are they cutting the copper cord anyway? Well, its all in the name of progress. And upgrading at this stage is simply a logical step.DSL was a necessary evil that was hugely problematic and unreliable, largely due to cable theft. That said, it served us well as it could for a long time. But technology is something that is, by its very nature, in a constant state of flux, says John Woollam, CEO at Euphoria Telecom.Fibre is fast becoming the global internet connectivity standard. And when you compare it to ADSL, its easy to see why. ADSL transmits data via telephone lines along copper cables. The further away your home or office is from the telephone exchange that is sending the signal, the slower your internet is likely to be. Speed can also easily be affected by high traffic volume.Fibre internet, on the other hand, transmits data using fibre optic cable. And the distance from your house or office to the exchange doesnt affect the speed. Fibre is also built to handle more traffic without slowing down.In terms of data transfer speed by the numbers, fibre can theoretically hit speeds of up to 10 000 Mbps (10 Gbps) though that kind of speed is not available on a standard commercial line (yet). The fastest ADSL lines were said to achieve speeds of up to 40 Mbps though this was rarely the case in practice and 10 Mbps was more common.Faster fibre lines are more expensive. But they are likely to become more affordable as our upload and download requirements continue to evolve. For home users, pricing is far from prohibitive. And for the added value fibre delivers, its a worthwhile investment.So, while fibre may not be the phone line or internet youre used to, it makes a fair amount of sense to upgrade in a world that is becoming more interconnected by the day. Woollam continues: Fibre is much less prone to downtime than any of its predecessors and it offers a world of choice in Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone solutions and more modern ways of working.As more companies migrate to cloud-based systems like G Suite from Google Cloud, Microsoft 365 and similar alternatives, workflows are being streamlined and drastically sped up. Of course, were also at the peak of a global pandemic, which has forced the world into various levels of lockdown. And meetings now happen less in the boardroom than they do over Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Wouldnt it be great if that video didnt freeze all the time?ADSL gave us our first taste of fast internet. We salute it for making streaming easier and downloads less laborious. We honour its legacy and we are grateful for the many good years it brought internet users. But the time has come to say farewell and move on to the newer, faster model; because the road to the future is lined with fibre optic cable, not copper. A woman was declared lifeless by the first responders when she was checked. She was sent to a funeral parlor for the last services but the attendants were surprised to find out that she was not dead and that she was still breathing. The name of the 20-year old woman has not been released by officials. According to sources the paramedics who came tried to revive her, but she was declared dead. Her family made arrangements for her funeral, reported ABC News. It was on Sunday at the James H. Cole Funeral Home, when she woke up and went to a hospital for examination. The authorities have yet to figure out what happened. According to the mortuary, in a statement to ABC News, they said it was rare for the parlor to comment on such circumstances. The then deceased was picked up on Sunday, August 23, after a call asking them to pick up the Southfield woman who had just died. When they arrived at the James H. Cole Funeral Home, the woman resumed breathing. Immediately they call the EMS to help assist the woman, reported Just the News. Chief Menifee reaffirmed that the woman was indeed lifeless when paramedics arrived. Also read: Man Stabs Brother to Death Due to Heated Argument Overly Freshly Laundered Pillowcase Another statement was released last Monday, which included a certification that a doctor declared the woman deceased with information from the Southfield Fire Department paramedics. It was clarified that Menifee made an error saying that the Oakland Medical Examiner's Office said she was dead. With no foul play found, the Southfield Police Department told the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office of the police report. Permission by the on-duty forensic pathologist at the coroner's gave clearance to have the body picked up. Soon after the arrangements were done with the funeral parlor for pickup, the final rights will be held, cited KPQ. Another statement was issued by the Southfield Fire and Police Departments that will examine the process and protocols in the case. Also, there will be a probe into Oakland County Medical Control Authority with the results sent to the Michigan Bureau of EMS, Trauma, and Preparedness. In any case, the staff of the James H. Cole Funeral home called the DFD, when they took her to the home and found her alive when they got there. Said Dave Fornell, deputy commissioner DFD, ABC News, noted Independent UK. Fornell remarked that the call from the funeral home never mentioned anyone revived from the dead. The EMS sent there never realized she was thought dead. They got there in time or she was revived in time or else she would have been embalmed alive. Fornell said they were very surprised by what happened. She was sent to the Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit. Further information was kept due to uncanny circumstances. Related article: Boxer Woman Kills Two Men: Rapes One With Shovel Handle , Kicks Another to Death @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. KABUL (Reuters) - A violent flash flood killed more than 70 people and destroyed hundreds of homes just north of Afghanistan's capital on Wednesday, officials said. The floods swept through Parwan province, which borders Kabul, in the early hours of the morning, washing away men, women and children and destroying 300 homes, according to Ministry of Disaster Management spokesman Tamim Azimi. Rescuers searched through mud throughout the day for bodies, with the confirmed death toll at 72, and at least 90 injured, Azimi added. Floods had also swept through eight other northern provinces, killing two in Maidan Wardak and two in Nangahar, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management spokesman, who added that climate change was exacerbating the amount of flooding hitting the country. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter that his office had instructed authorities to provide emergency disaster relief to survivors, adding the floods were causing severe financial losses. The disaster comes as the war-torn nation already faces a sinking economy due to the coronavirus pandemic and as violence continues despite the United States attempting to usher peace talks between the Afghan government and insurgent Taliban. (Reporting by Orooj Hakimi and Abdul Qadir Sediqi; additional reporting by Ahmad Sultan; writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Kim Coghill) By Tarmo Virki (Reuters) - Finnish national carrier Finnair plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs, or about 15% of its workforce, and seek further savings across its operations, joining airlines across the world in making cut backs to cope with the COVID-19 crisis. Airlines are scrambling to slash costs and bolster their finances after lockdowns to contain the pandemic brought global air travel almost to a halt. Finnair also said on Tuesday it would continue temporary layoffs for thousands in Finland, where it employs 6,200 staff. The airline said it had raised its annual savings target to 100 million euros ($118 million) from 80 million euros after a review of potential savings in areas like IT, real estate, aircraft leasing and sales. "Our revenue has decreased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of the main factors driving that decline appear to be persisting longer than initially expected," Chief Executive Topi Manner said in a statement. The company said a rise in remote working and a drop in business travel would likely last longer than expected. Australia's Qantas said earlier on Tuesday it planned to cut up to 2,500 jobs, while airlines including Lufthansa and British Airways have also announced thousands of layoffs. Finnair shares were 4.7% higher in midday trading. Earlier on Tuesday, the airline said it had finalised a sale and leaseback deal for one of its new Airbus A350 planes. "The immediate positive cash effect for Finnair is in excess of 100 million euros," the company said, while adding it would have no major impact on operating results. Finnair plunged to a second-quarter loss and said it would make a similar loss this quarter, despite operating more flights. It raised 501 million euros last month from a rights issue and has also received state and bank guarantees for a 600 million euro loan. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki in Tallinn; editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter) T om Cruise donned a face mask as he surprised fans by heading to the cinema for a London screening of Christopher Nolan's spy blockbuster Tenet. Mission: Impossible star Cruise, famous for doing his own stunts, did his bit for the ailing film industry as he proudly visited a theatre, some of which have re-opened following lockdown. In a video shared to social media, the actor drove through the streets of London, taking in some of the city's best known landmarks - including Buckingham Palace - before arriving at a cinema. After being recognised by fans, despite wearing a mask, he climbed out of his taxi and posed next to a Tenet poster, saying: "Back to the movies." Before the screening, the actor drove through the streets of London to take in some of the city's best known landmarks / Tom Cruise / Twitter The footage cut to inside the theatre, showing the moments before the film started and just after it finished. Amid applause from the audience, Cruise told his fellow cinema-goers: "Great to be back in a movie theatre, everybody." As he left the building, he told a fan he "loved" Tenet. Cruise, 58, captioned the video: "Big Movie. Big Screen. Loved it." Tenet, which stars John David Washington and Robert Pattinson, was already set to be one of the biggest releases of the year before the coronavirus pandemic lurched Hollywood into crisis. Now, theatre chains are hoping the critically acclaimed film will entice audiences back inside after months of lockdown. Tom Cruise - In pictures 1 /64 Tom Cruise - In pictures US actor Tom Cruise and British-US actress Hayley Atwell (L in car) are pictured during the filming of "Mission Impossible : Lybra" in Rome AFP via Getty Images Top Gun: Maverick (2020) Risky Business (1983) Born on the Fourth of July (1989) PUBLICITY PICTURE Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) Handout The Color Of Money (1986) Top Gun (1986) Rain Man (1988) The Outsiders (1983) Top Gun (1986) Top Gun (1986) Top Gun (1986) Rain Man (1988) Cocktail (1988) PUBLICITY PICTURE Interview With The Vampire (1994) A Few Good Men (1992) Channel 5 Jerry Maguire (1996) Vanilla Sky Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Magnolia (1999) Minority Report (2002) The Last Samurai.(2004) American made (2017) Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher (2016) IMOS Published Images Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) Paramount Pictures Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Getty Images Eugene Adebari/REX/Shutterstock Getty Images Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Dave Benett Getty Images Getty Images Newlyweds Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise Getty Images Eric Charbonneau/REX/Shutterstock Getty Images CBS Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Cruise, who was filming Mission: Impossible 7 before production was halted by the pandemic, is next set to appear on the big screen in July 2021 in Top Gun: Maverick. The action sequel was originally set for release in June this year before being delayed by the pandemic. Systems Engineer, Paris, France Organization: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Country: France City: Paris, France Office: OECD Paris, France Closing date: Sunday, 20 September 2020 Systems Engineer ( Job Number: 13757 ) Application Closing Date: 20-09-2020, 9:59:00 PM The OECD is a global economic forum working with 37 member countries and more than 100 emerging and developing economies to make better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The Organisation provides a unique forum in which governments work together to share experiences on what drives economic, social and environmental change, seeking solutions to common problems. Within the Executive Directorate, working closely with business partners, the Digital, Knowledge and Information Service (EXD/DKI) designs and provides secure digital solutions, IT and information management services and the technologies to deliver efficient corporate services, meet business partners needs and to support and enhance the OECDs global role in building knowledge, communicating with the world and interacting with governments to inform and influence policy-making. The Development and Operations Division (EXD/DKI/DOD) brings together development and infrastructure operations managed by EXD/DKI to accelerate development cycles and increase the robustness and security of software releases through agility, standardisation and the consolidated lifecycle management of applications and IT infrastructure. We are looking for a Systems Engineer to join the Cloud and Infrastructure Management team (CIM). The Engineer is responsible for the technical design, testing, implementation and maintenance of the corporate desktop park or server infrastructure. Reporting to a Team Lead, this person will have strong technical skills complemented by good written and verbal communications skills, interpersonal skills andrigour. Main Responsibilities Technical Leadership Manage and update a park of approximately 4000 Windows 10 desktops or 1000 Windows Servers, with versions ranging from 2012 to 2019. Design, test, implement and assure the continuous, timely evolution of the Organisations standard desktop or server infrastructure in compliance with OECD technical and security standards and industry methodologies. Lead a team to deliver business objectives on time and budget. Liaise with other IT teams, stakeholders and vendors as applicable; contribute to systems engineering governance and continual improvement. Evaluate relevant new technologies and hardware, analyse their business benefit, conduct cost/benefit analysis, draft evidence-based recommendations for their adoption when this would make good business sense. Participate in preparing Calls for Tender and assess technical bids as required to deliver fit for purpose, cost-effective contracts. Analysis, Reporting and Support Analyse functional specifications prepared by others to identify and propose optimal, sustainable technical solutions. Prepare effort and work breakdown estimates for efficient resource management planning. Provide and maintain desktop/systems technical documentation. Monitor and analyse user behaviour and system performance to gauge and report on health, usage and overall compliance of the standard desktop and server environment. Troubleshoot desktop/systems issues; provide 3rd level support and co-ordinate third-party interventions. Prepare and deliver operational presentations/demonstrations for peer-groups and management as required. Ideal Candidate Profile Academic Background A university degree in the field of IT, Computer Science or a related field Tags active directory architect computer science information management management services new technologies server administration systems engineering windows server Relevant industry Certification. Professional Background At least 2 years experience managing an enterprise desktop park. 3 to 5 years general systems engineering experience. Professional experience in an Agile team environment, assigning and managing 3rd party work. Experience contributing to the technical design of complex solutions. Experience taking part in the technical design and implementation of secure IT architectures and security best practices would be an advantage. Professional experience requiring strong client focus and communications skills and incident management. ITIL foundation certification would be an advantage. Experience working in a multicultural environment would be preferable. Tools PowerShell, SSCM, Intune, Windows Update Service, SCOM, Windows Active Directory (notably GPO management) Windows Server administration and deployment Languages Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level. Knowledge of other languages would be an asset. Core Competencies For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important: Achievement focus, Analytical thinking, Drafting skills, Managing resources, Teamwork and Team leadership, Client Focus Please refer to the level 3 indicators of the OECD Core Competencies. ContractDuration Three-year fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal. What the OECD offers Monthly base salary starting from 4,797 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax. The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of OECD member countries, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities. The OECD promotes an optimal use of resources in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal. CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A federal judge on Wednesday accepted the guilty plea of a longtime North Carolina state lawmaker who acknowledged conducting a scheme to funnel campaign dollars to his ailing farm. David Lewis, 49, who until last week was a chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Cayer to carry out the plea he reached with federal prosecutors. Lewis, a Harnett County Republican, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a bank a felony and for failing to file a 2018 federal tax return, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. He will be sentenced at a later date, but prosecutors have said they will not seek active prison time. Lewis, who was first elected to the House in 2002, became a major player at the legislature as Republicans took control of the chamber in 2011. He became a top lieutenant to House Speaker Tim Moore and controlled the flow of legislation while rules chairman. Lewis was a chief legislative author of Republican redistricting plans that courts later declared were unlawful gerrymanders. One lawsuit involving the state congressional map that went to the U.S. Supreme Court pivoted on Lewis public comments about the districts favouring Republican candidates. In a document detailing what led to the charges, U.S. attorneys wrote that Lewis opened a bank account in summer 2018 for a fictitious entity whose title appeared similar to the state Republican Party. In turn, Lewis took checks totalling $65,000 coming from his campaign coffers and put them in that account. The money was then used by Lewis Farms and to pay the rent on his home, the document says. The state GOP is not associated with the entity Lewis used to disguise the transfers. Earlier in the year, Lewis made about $300,000 in transfers from his campaign account to his bank account for his farm, according to the document. Lewis had said his farming business had been struggling for several years. The government said Lewis ultimately reimbursed his campaign for what he transferred and ultimately sent $65,000 to the state party, in keeping with what the campaign reported in reports. Its unclear if Lewis, who resigned from his House seat last week just before the charges became public, faces a state campaign finance investigation. He had already announced last month he would not seek reelection in November. WEST CHESTER A Chester County man who is awaiting trial in federal court on charges that he kept a trove of child pornography at his rented home outside Oxford went on trial here on allegations that he sexually abused three youths at the property. The jury empaneled Tuesday by Common Pleas Judge Jacqueline Carroll Cody is the first to begin hearing a criminal case in the county since the coronavirus epidemic necessitated severe restrictions on court activity, including a ban on all jury trials, in March. The panel of four men and eight women will hear charges against Robert Dean Caesar, 57, of Lower Oxford including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, indecent exposure, indecent assault, unlawful contact with minors, and endangering the welfare of children. Caesar, a one-time veterinary technician at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center in East Marlborough, was arrested by state police in January 2018 after authorities began looking into reports that someone in the Oxford area had been soliciting used boys underwear or swimming suits on eBay several months before. That case drew a blank at the time, but in January 2018, two teenage brothers came forward to report that they had been sexually molested by Caesar at his home while performing work at the property. Caesar reportedly also kept some of their underwear as a souvenir. When state Trooper DStefano Gallina searched the property on Street Road where Caesar was a tenant, he allegedly found a stash of more than 75,000 images of child pornography on Caesars computers and electronic devices. Caesar, who had also lived in Philadelphia, Norristown, and Pittsburgh; Richland, N.Y.; and Silverthorne, Colo., was charged in May by police in Butler County, north of Pittsburgh, with abusing two juvenile males, ages 9 and 14, when he was living in Cranberry Township there in 2005. Those charges have yet to be resolved. Then in November, he was charged by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Philadelphia with counts of manufacture of child pornography, stemming from the material found during Gallinas search. At the time, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain and Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster of the FBIs Philadelphia Division asked for the publics assistance to identify potential other victims of Caesar. Those charges remain pending. U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert last year ordered that the photographs could not be used at trial after Caesars attorneys argued that the search of his computers had been illegal. No other evidence that Caesar had possessed child pornography was produced before Gallinas search, the court found, but he investigator said that the reason he wanted to search the computers found in Caesars home was that child molesters typically keep photographs of their behavior, a theory the judge rejected as suspect. The U.S. Attorneys Office has appealed that ruling to the U.S. Third Circuit Court. In the Chester County case, the potential jurors were brought to the large Courtroom One in the Justice Center where they were seated several feet apart some only one to a pew to conform with social distancing restrictions put in place by county court officials when jury trials resumed this month. All wore masks, as did the other trial participants, including Cody and the attorneys, and the jurors were each provided with plastic face shields as well. Instead of sitting side by aide in the jury box, the jurors will be spaced more than two arms lengths apart for the duration of the trial. According to the criminal complaints filed by Gallina, as well as information from the federal case, the investigation began in July 2017 with a report to state police at Avondale of possible child sexual assault from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It had been alerted that an eBay user was purchasing used boys underwear and swim wear on line. On the eBay postings, the buyer asked who had worn the items, and whether they could be sent photographs. The buyer also made salacious comments, and asked what age the youths who wore the items. Although the Internet Provider identifications for the buyer turned up Oxford as their location, no exact street address was found. Then in January 2018, state police got a report of child sexual abuse involving Caesar from two brothers, one who was 16 at the time and another who was 14. The pair told Gallina they knew Caesar through their family, and that they would go to his house on multiple occasions from June 2015 until December 2017, at times to do yard work. The older of the two youths said that Caesar would give him alcohol to drink and bring him to his bedroom, where he would sexually assault him. There were three or four instances of this activity, with the older boy giving Caesar his underwear when finished, according to the arrest affidavit. The younger youth said that Caesar had brought him to his bedroom and asked him if he wanted to fool around, according to Gallina. Caesar would remove the boys clothing, and then molest him. He also asked for the youths underwear. When state police searched the home on Jan. 18, 2018, they found six pieces of childrens underwear, plus receipts from eBay for childrens underwear. They seized two computers and six hard drives. In February, a woman who knew of the matter came forward and said that Caesar had also sexually abused her 11-year-old son at Caesars home. The youth told Gallina that Caesar had made him get undressed while he was visiting the home, and that they lay in bed together. The youth said that he asked to go home several times, but that Caesar began rubbing his legs. When the boy began to cry, Caesar allowed him to get dressed and took him home. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Erin OBrien of the D.A.s Child Abuse Unit. Caesar is represented by defense attorney Valerie Palazzo of Philadelphia. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. New York City is preparing to lay off nearly 400 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics in October in order to balance its budget, as part of a threat to impose the layoff of 22,000 municipal workers later this year. The proposed EMT layoffs represent about 10 percent of emergency medical services (EMS) workers. That medical first responders, who were on the front lines when New York City was the global epicenter of the pandemic for weeks, will receive pink slips is little short of criminal. It is further proof that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew Cuomo and other Democrats, no less than the Republican Trump administration, are seeking to place the burden of the pandemic-triggered economic crisis on the working class. The citys tax revenue has fallen by an estimated $9 billion due to the pandemic, which saw the widespread but belated shutdown of many businesses as part of measures to slow the spread of the disease. De Blasio is threatening to cut 22,000 municipal workers jobs out of a total city workforce of over 300,000 in October if no agreement is reached with the unions, a number that he himself called staggering in June. His executive budget took effect on July 1 and includes $1 billion in cuts from labor expenses to be implemented in coordination with the unions, with the New York Police Department (NYPD)which has a $6 billion budgetbeing the only city agency exempt from these draconian cuts. (The supposed cut in the NYPDs budget was essentially a shell game that did not meaningfully affect police funding.) New York City ambulance. (Image Credit: Jason Lawrence/ Flickr) As the main first responders charged with treating patients during the COVID-19 pandemicwhich saw the number of medical emergency calls rise to historic highsthe citys EMS workers suffered a catastrophic toll, with several perishing from the disease and three committing suicide due to emotional trauma related to the pandemic. The citys 4,300 EMTs and paramedics are grossly underpaid. The starting annual salary of an EMT is $35,000$16.50 an hourreaching a maximum of $48,000 after five years. New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world, meaning most EMS workers can hardly afford to live in the city they serve. It should be stressed that the pandemic has been exacerbated by the policies of both de Blasio and Cuomo. Health experts overwhelmingly agree that the massive death toll in New York City could have been sharply reduced, even by as much as half or more. This would have been possible if in the first several months of the pandemic Cuomo and de Blasio had ordered social distancing measures and a shutdown of some non-essential businesses by February 28, when federal officials warned of the looming prospect of a pandemic. Proactive policies to avert the pandemic could have begun as early as January, when the federal government recognized the potential for the virus to spread globally. Instead, both Democratic politicians and their Republican counterparts at the federal level trivialized the threat to the public and dismissed the increasingly dire and vocal warnings of their own public health officials. Up until mid-March de Blasio was expressing more concern over maintaining the patronage of bars than the emerging health crisis. De Blasio delayed school closures until teachers began organizing a wildcat sickout, while Cuomo protected nursing home operators. Those decisions lead to the needless deaths of thousands of people, especially the elderly. Overall, 21,000 people died in New York City alone due to the pandemic, according to city data. The threat to fire hundreds of EMS workers along with thousands of other municipal workers comes at the very moment when the city and state governments are pursuing a catastrophic policy of reopening the citys schools. That would create conditions for a second wave of the pandemic in New York City on a scale similar to, if not worse, than the first. In this situation, the EMS union is actively trying to prevent workers from fighting the cuts. The union has been in negotiations with the city for weeks, without providing any information to the workers. Then, on Friday, the president of EMS Local 2507, Oren Barzilay, gave an interview to Fox News on the potential layoffs, declaring, People will die. He continued, Were already running thin. We had shortages before COVID-19 began and we have been battling City Hall about this for as long as I can remember and it is falling on deaf ears. So, youre going to cut us by another 10 percent. They [the public] may wait 3-4 hours to get an ambulance. Such statements can only be understood as a clear signal that the union has no intention of even pretending to fight the deadly cuts. The aim is to pressure the city in the ongoing negotiations, while at the same time browbeating workers into accepting steep cuts and layoffs. Already, hard pressed city workers are being made to understand that they now have to shoulder the burden of the capitalist crisis by finding the savings through increased health care costs, pay cuts, an increased retirement age and intensified exploitation. The strategy of the de Blasio administration in making public pronouncements on the imminent layoffs of city workers is to compel the federal government to provide emergency funds or the state government to allow the city to raise funds through the issuance of bonds. Either of these short-term fiscal solutions would not mean relief for workers, but would come with strings attached and would exacerbate budget deficits that would then be used to justify further austerity and income restructuring for workers in New York City and nationally. At the same time, the city has made clear that there will be layoffs in any case. A spokesman for City Hall told the New York Post, all agencies will face layoffs. This frontal assault on the working class amidst a raging pandemic exposes the class character of Bill de Blasio and the so called left wing of the Democratic Party. As a candidate, de Blasio ran for mayor on a tale of two cities platform, advocating a wealth tax on the citys ultra-rich in order to fund social programs. In his statements today he does not even mention the possibility of raising taxes on the citys billionaires or on corporations, as inadequate as such measures would be. EMS and other city workers need to recognize that the unions and the Democratic Party are not defending their interests, but those of the employers and the capitalist class. They have presided over a decades-long erosion of workers incomes and living standards. The unions will use the threat of mass layoffs as a gun to workers heads as they extort massive concessions, supposedly to save jobs. In order to defend their jobs and fight for decent living standards and adequate protection amidst the pandemic, workers must break free of both the unions and the Democratic Party. They must form genuinely democratic rank-and-file committees which would be based on the principle of the defense of social needs, not private profit. In this struggle, health care workers have powerful allies. Already, autoworkers and educators have begun forming rank-and-file safety committees to stop the spread of the pandemic and are engaging in discussions with their class brothers and sisters internationally. EMS workers must follow suit. Above all, workers must understand that their fight to defend their jobs and social programs and stop the spread of the pandemic must be directed against the capitalist system on the basis of a socialist program. The Socialist Equality Party and the World Socialist Web Site Health Care Workers Newsletter fight for this perspective and will provide every assistance to workers in this struggle. For more information or to get involved, contact us at healthcare@wsws.org. A Biblical village where Jesus is said to have performed some of his most famous miracles really existed, and today lies in ruins only a mile from the Sea of Galilee, archaeologists believe. In the Bible, Bethsaida was home to disciples Peter, Andrew and Philip, and was where Jesus purportedly fed the 5,000, walked on water and helped a blind man to see. Archaeologists have been working for 32 years to find the lost city, which was eventually cursed to destruction by Jesus because residents failed to repent in spite of his miracles. Now professor Rami Arav of the University of Nebraska says he is in no doubt that Et-Tell, in the Golan Heights near the Jordan River estuary, is the location of the biblical village. A biblical village cursed to destruction by Jesus really existed and today lies in ruins only a mile from the Sea of Galilee, archaeologists believe Professor Rami Arav thinks the lost city of Bethsaida, where Christ also fed the 5000, is today the excavation site of Et-Tell The professor also highlights Josephus' description of how Bethsaida was later 'advanced unto the dignity of a city' and renamed Julias, after the wife of Roman emperor Augustus 'Ancient sources place several requirements for the identification of Bethsaida,' Aray said,' adding that 'finds in Et-Tell convinced not only me but a group of experts.' To argue his case, Dr Arav refers to the Roman historian, Titus Flavius Josephus, who describes the location of Bethsaida in his writings. 'Josephus says that the town was in the 'lower Golan' near the estuary of the Jordan River,' said Dr Arav - the same location as the El-Tell dig site. 'Josephus says that the town was in the 'lower Golan' near the estuary of the Jordan River,' said Dr Arav - the same location as the El-Tell dig site At Et-Tell the research team studying the location discovered a temple that was dedicated to Julia, Augustus' wife. The professor also highlights Josephus' description of how Bethsaida was later 'advanced unto the dignity of a city' and renamed Julias, after the wife of Roman emperor Augustus. At Et-Tell the research team studying the location discovered a temple that was dedicated to Julia, Augustus' wife. The name Bethsaida translates as 'house of fishing/hunting' and Dr Arav believes this holds another clue. He contends that the ruins at Et-Tell were once known as Zer, which could also be transcribed as 'Tzed', a Hebrew word that means both hunting and fishing. This name, he believes, ultimately morphed into Beit-tzed or Bethsaida. And though Et-Tell is over a mile from the Sea of Galilee contrary to the biblical description of Bethsaida as a place accessible by boat the dig site may have been closer in ancient times. The transformation, it's argued, can be explained by tectonic movements and changing water levels in the lake. Dr Arav said: 'Basically you need to know that the Sea of Galilee is right in the middle of the Syro-African rift and is prone to tectonic shifts.' They researchers also discovered ancient fishing equipment among the ruins of the settlement. Jesus was said to have cursed the village, warning it faced worse treatment than Sodom a city destroyed by God in the Old Testament. Although Bethsaida did not meet the calamitous end Jesus foretold, it was ultimately abandoned. 'Fortunately Jesus did not say when the town will be destroyed,' joked Dr Arav. 'So in the 4th century it was abandoned and, without maintenance, the buildings collapsed.' The professor also threw down the gauntlet to archaeologists who claim the nearby site of El-Araj is the true Bethsaida. He believes that what they have actually found is a former military camp. Archaeologists have been working for 32 years to prove that the site of the city cursed to destruction by Jesus once stood at the El-Tell excavation site Though Et-Tell is over a mile from the Sea of Galilee contrary to the biblical description of Bethsaida as a place accessible by boat the dig site may have been closer in ancient times 'This is an outstanding achievement, but it is not Bethsaida mentioned in the ancient sources,' he said. 'They simply do not meet the prerequisites mentioned above, but they fit perfectly the military camp. 'I would also request that the directors of the dig at El-Araj publish a peer-reviewed article stating their discoveries. 'They failed to do it so far and everything the archaeological community knows about their finds comes from sketchy briefing by journalists in newspapers. 'This is, of course, not enough.' The dig site at El-Araj flooded earlier this summer, stopping excavations. West Bengal: Recurrent capsize of fly ash laden ships and barges in river Hooghly DMF moves National Green Tribunal August 26,2020 | Source: DMF West Bengal Everyday hundreds of Barges, mostly belonging to Bangladesh, carry fly ash from the Indian ports of Kolkata and Haldia in West Bengal to Bangladesh ports like Khulna, Mongla or Chattagram. Fly ash from India feeds cement factories in Bangladesh. The navigation route of cargo vessels cuts across Sundarban mangrove forests in both India and Bangladesh - the largest nursery of fish in Bay of Bengal and the only mangrove tiger habitat on this planet. Indian Sundarban has seven conservation regimes on it. Sundarban's water area harbours prime estuarine fishing grounds. Besides stretches of Hooghly river falling in the cargo navigation route have been declared as Hilsa Sanctuary. In Indian side at least 100 thousand small scale and artisanal fishing communities are dependent upon the fisheries in River Hooghly and the Sundarbans for their survival and livelihood. Fly ash is a well known toxic and hazardous industrial waste that arises out of burning of coal in thermal power plants and other industries. Capsize of ships and barges laden with fly ash pollutes a large water area adjacent to the place of capsize and not only that, it is always related with oil spill from the sunk vessels. Moreover, the capsized boat and associated rescue activities make the area inaccessible for fishing. The sunken structures continue to damage fishing nets and boats by entanglements and collisions. Frequent sinking of the ships and barges indicates that the vessels are not seaworthy. They are old and mostly over their operational life. Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF) had repeatedly moved the Inland Waterways Authority of India, Kolkata Port Trust, Government of West Bengal and the State Pollution Control Board with the following demands - - Immediate hauling up of the fly ash laden sunken ships from the river; - Taking precautionary measure against dumping of fly ash loaded in the ship into the river; - Assess the damage inflicted to water environment and fish resources and make the concerned shipping company pay for it; - Compensate the fishers whose livelihood has been affected by the ship or barge capsize; - Take immediate measure to stop sailing of old and non-seaworthy ships or barges in the Indo-Bangladesh navigation route; - Stop cargo ship navigation through eco-sensitive zones like Hilsa Sanctuary and Sundarban and make alternative arrangement for cargo transport. Failing to get any appropriate response from the concerned authorities Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF) was compelled to move the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by preferring an application under Section 14 read with section 15 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 raising substantial questions relating to the environment which affects the community at large as defined under Section 2(m) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. DMF gratefully acknowledges the legal counselling and support given by the Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment [LIFE] in filing the case in NGT. DMF also acknowledges the inputs provided by Avli Verma and Shripad Dharmadhikari of Manthan Adhyan Kendra in developing necessary understanding of the issues related to inland waterways. "Terrorism is our common enemy. There is no such thing as good or bad terrorists. China is firmly opposed to politicization and double standards in counter-terrorism," says Geng Shuang. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese UN envoy on Monday dismissed the accusation by U.S. and UK representatives over China's northwestern region of Xinjiang as "baseless and absurd." "China firmly rejects the accusation against China by certain members of the (Security) Council. It is baseless and absurd as usual," said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. The situation in Xinjiang is totally China's internal affairs. It is not a religion issue or a human rights issue. Rather, it is about counter-terrorism and anti-extremism, he said. "Terrorism is our common enemy. There is no such thing as good or bad terrorists. China is firmly opposed to politicization and double standards in counter-terrorism." Xinjiang has suffered deeply from terrorism and violent extremism in the past. To address the threat, Xinjiang has taken a series of preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures. This is consistent with Security Council resolutions, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and the UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, he told a virtual meeting of the Security Council on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. Tourists enjoy leisure time at an outdoor camp in Tekes County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) These measures are widely supported by the people in Xinjiang and have yielded good results. Xinjiang has not seen a single terror incident in the past three years. Facts speak louder than words. Anyone that is fair-minded can tell right from wrong, he said. Since late 2018, more than 70 foreign delegations have visited Xinjiang. They saw first-hand a stable, thriving and developing Xinjiang, and agreed that counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts have made this possible, he said. However, it is regrettable that the United States chooses to ignore basic facts, and repeats its rhetoric and keeps smearing and discrediting the counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts in Xinjiang, he said. Customers select hot spicy snacks at the grand bazaar in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) "We urge the United States to listen to the international community, admit facts, give up bigotry and double standards, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs by using human rights as an excuse," said Geng. "If the United States truly cares about human rights, it should do its own job first. Please protect the human rights of the American people. Please step up effort to combat COVID-19 to safeguard the lives and health of the American people." The United Kingdom followed the United States again in putting up unfounded charges against China in the Security Council, he said. "China is strongly opposed to it. The baseless remarks of the UK are sheer hypocrisy and double standards. We urge the UK to fix its own problems and stop interfering in China's internal affairs." China is determined to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. No interference against China will succeed, and no one can stop China's progress, Geng said. The Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council in the Central Region has called on the government to take urgent steps to stop illegal transshipment, popularly known as Saiko. That, the council said, was crucial to help protect the fishing industry that provided food security and livelihoods for many Ghanaians. The Public Relations Officer of the council, Nana Kweigyah, in a press release on August 18, said the call had become necessary due to the state of Ghana's artisanal fisheries, which was near collapse, largely driven by the activities of industrial trawlers. Illegal fishing Saiko is a severely destructive form of illegal fishing where industrial trawlers target the staple catch of artisanal fishers and sell this fish back to local coastal communities at a profit. It threatens jobs and food security and endangers Ghanas economy. It is also referred to as galamsey on the sea. The small pelagic fishery found within the inshore exclusive zone, and a sole preserve of artisanal fishers, is what these industrial trawlers target, harvest, freeze into pallets of fish and sell to agents at high seas, who in turn sell to the fishing communities for huge profits, while artisanal fishers wallow in abject poverty and hopelessness due to the wanton destruction of their livelihoods. Saiko is very destructive and a threat to food security and nutrition, a threat to job and income security, and practically a threat to national security. Scientists warned Nana Kweigyah stated that in 2017, scientists warned that the small pelagic could collapse in the year 2020 if drastic measures were not taken. Sadly, we are in 2020 and in our bumper harvest season (July-September), but artisanal fishers in the Central Region make very little or no catch from fishing expeditions, a confirmation of the warning by scientists. Coincidentally, 2020 is an election year but the demands of artisanal fishers are legitimate, as stated in paragraph 718 of the 2020 budget. The one-week silent protest ends today, but the agitation continues. Artisanal fishers in Central Region passionately appeal to the President and the government to save our livelihoods by stopping illegal transshipment. The time is now and now is the time, he added. 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 SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jointechlabs a leader in point-of-care regenerative medicine therapies today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the company's MiniTC for point-of-care fat tissue processing designed to obtain microfat (or fat grafts), for multiple indications. Jointechlabs plans to focus on a range of therapeutic areas including medical aesthetics, plastic surgery, orthobiologics and wound healing. "The FDA clearance of MiniTC represents an important step forward in the regenerative medicine market," said Nathan Katz, Jointechlabs' CEO. "The company's comprehensive and proprietary technology provides a variety of tissue reconstruction and regeneration options, enabling healthcare practitioners in medical centers, hospitals and clinics to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective cell enriched fat grafts at the point-of-care." MiniTC is a disposable, closed loop medical device that can be used in the clinic setting, with no change in infrastructure, eliminating the need for manual processing of fat tissue in the lab. Also, the device is less costly, cumbersome and labor intensive compared to what currently exists. MiniTC's performance has been validated in vitro and in vivo, including an observational orthopedic study in Israel and the UAE, involving 47 patients with 92% reporting functional improvement and no complications. Additionally, it was validated in clinical studies with lymphoedema patients as well as in the areas of facial aesthetics, hair regrowth and wound care. "Jointechlabs' MiniTC device is easy to use and effective," said Joseph Purita, M.D., orthopedic surgeon and director of the Institute of Regenerative Medicine in Boca Raton, Florida. "It is encouraging to see the continuing development of new technology for regenerative medicine that is compliant with FDA guidelines." Microfat Isolation MiniTC allows for processing of adipose (fat) tissue without exposure to the external environment. The final product of the processing is a fine washed fractured fat tissue known as fat graft or microfat. When implanted by injection, the essential effect can be attributed to the preservation of the integrity of fat tissue and the stromal cells within its natural niche. Together it constitutes structural factors that trigger the reconstruction, regeneration and healing of connective tissues. It's a gentle process that uses an individual's own fat tissue to cushion and support areas of injury or damage as the body heals itself. Pipeline Products Jointechlabs has an extensive development program. In addition to MiniTC, the company's Mini-Stem a patented, disposable, closed loop medical device is pending approval in Europe (and under investigation in other countries) for isolation of stem cell fraction (SVF) from fat. Mini-Stem will enable doctors to provide safe, reliable, cost-effective non-surgical stem cell treatments at the point-of-care. Mini-Stem will serve as a platform for cell therapies and is well poised to target the developing regenerative medicine market, unlike any of the current devices. Additionally, Jointechlabs is developing proprietary stem cell-scaffold product as a biologic therapy for osteoarthritis, for approval under the FDA's fast-track program. A portion of the pre-clinical study for JTL-T-01 is funded by NIH's small business grant (SBIR grant) in collaboration with Rush University. Headquartered in San Francisco, Jointechlabs is recognized as an experienced and respected emerging world leader in point-of-care regenerative medicine therapies. With its devices and technology, Jointechlabs enables healthcare practitioners to provide safe, reliable, cost-effective non-surgical regenerative medicine treatments at the point-of-care. For more information, please visit: http://jointechlabs.com/. Media Contact: Betsy Levy | Phone: (415) 377-3112 | Email: [email protected] SOURCE Jointechlabs Related Links http://jointechlabs.com/ LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / August 26, 2020 / GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:GBLX) has filed a provisional patent application, assigned to GBS Global Biopharma (GBS), Inc., for the use of its new proprietary cannabinoid containing complex mixtures (CCCM) for the treatment of Cytokine Storm Syndromes (CSS), including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 patients. CSS and ARDS are the leading cause of death in COVID-19. Based on data obtained from GBS's two-year study on the use of cannabis-based ingredients for modulating inflammatory processes within human immune cells, GBS's CCCM were designed to reduce levels of specific cytokines and pro-inflammatory processes triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infections, while preserving those immune functions and cytokines that are necessary for fighting the viral infection. "Our CCCM are cannabis-based combination therapies designed to target key cytokines that correlate with symptom severity in COVID-19 patients and are known to cause Cytokine Storm Syndromes, which may lead to hospitalization or even death. However, treatment of virally induced Cytokine Storm Syndromes in COVID-19 patients may not be as simple as using a broadly immunosuppressive strategy because the production of specific pro-inflammatory cytokines may be crucial for immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 infections, or other viral infections in the future," explained Dr. Andrea Small-Howard, Chief Science Officer and Director of both GB Sciences, Inc. and GBS Global Biopharma, Inc. "GBS's CCCM are also being developed as an adjunctive therapy to be delivered to COVID-19 patients in combination with clinically (FDA)-approved Interferon products for the most beneficial patient results - reduced Cytokine Storm Syndrome while preserving the anti-viral immune processes necessary for fighting viral infections." Inflammatory disorders represent a serious global health and economic burden with over $200 billion spent annually. The current COVID-19 pandemic has created an increased demand for novel anti-inflammatory treatments to combat the effects of the severe forms of COVID-19. "These novel CCCM represent a much-needed alternative for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, including COVID-19 and many other serious conditions," said Dr. Michael Farley, President and Director of GBS Global Biopharma. "This is a big deal. In plain English, our combinations of specific cannabinoids and terpenes were designed to quiet the immune system's storm without totally disabling the immune system," said John Poss, CEO and Chairman of GB Sciences. In addition to this new provisional patent application, GBS's intellectual property portfolio currently contains four patents that are issued in the U.S. with corresponding patents issued internationally. Seven nonprovisional patent applications plus three provisional patent applications are pending in the U.S. and 29 patent applications have been filed internationally. About GB Sciences, Inc. and GBS Global Biopharma, Inc. GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:GBLX), through its Canadian entity GBS Global Biopharma, Inc., is a dedicated biopharmaceutical research and cannabinoid-based drug development company whose goal is to create patented formulations for safe, standardized, cannabinoid therapies that target a variety of medical conditions in both the pharmaceutical and wellness markets. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain statements relating to future results or events, which are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import may identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further, information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's business and financial and other results, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware. Contact Information GB Sciences, Inc. 3550 West Teco Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89118 866-721-0297 GBS Global Biopharma, Inc. 200-900 Morrison Drive Ottawa, Ontario K2H8K7 Michael Farley, Ph.D., President & Director michael@gbsglobalbiopharma.com SOURCE: GB Sciences, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/603407/GB-Sciences-Files-Provisional-Patent-Application-for-the-Treatment-of-COVID-19-Related-Acute-Respiratory-Distress-Syndrome-ARDS-the-Leading-Cause-of-Hospitalization-and-Deaths-Utilizing-Its-Cannabinoid-Containing-Complex-Mixtures-CCCMTM The endorsement came after a tumultuous few weeks for Mr. Morse, who considered dropping out of the race this month after accusations of numerous incidents of unwanted and inappropriate advances toward students at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he was a guest lecturer. Mr. Morse acknowledged some consensual relationships with students and apologized to anyone he had made uncomfortable with his behavior. But he opted to remain in the race after The Intercept published messages from some of the students who had lodged accusations, revealing that they had discussed how they might damage his campaign. One suggested the effort might help his career prospects with Mr. Neal, though Mr. Neal has denied any involvement. The Massachusetts Democratic Party also acknowledged that it had provided legal advice to the College Democrats about handling a letter raising the allegations. Because Mr. Neal has been in Congress for more than three decades, the race is seen as the next big test of the strength of the Democratic Partys liberal wing and its ability to oust mainstream incumbents. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez became the most recognizable symbol of that power in 2018, when she upset Representative Joseph Crowley, a 20-year veteran who was a member of the party leadership. When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took on her own entrenched incumbent in 2018, she changed public service for the better, further inspiring me and so many others to fight for our districts and empower those who have long been forgotten, Mr. Morse said in a statement. I am honored to have the congresswomans Courage to Change in our corner, and it will be the honor of my life to bring the people alongside me to Washington. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, during which they discussed the ceasefire in Donbas. "Pompeo congratulated the achievement of the ceasefire in Donbas. There are no casualties for 31 days. This was achieved thanks to both our work and the support of the USA and the EU. Grateful for the bipartisan support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the head of state said on Twitter on Wednesday. (Photo by DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images) Chrystia Freeland isnt talking like a typical Canadian finance minister. Thats according to economists who see the first woman in the powerful post playing an unconventional role, as the Liberals aim to simultaneously revive the economy and advance climate goals through new green spending measures. Last week, Freeland endorsed Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus vision of lifting Canada out of a pandemic-driven recession by greening the economy to better compete in a world increasingly impacted by climate change. She replaced Bill Morneau, Trudeaus finance minister for nearly five years, who resigned amid reports that he was not aligned with plans for new stimulus on the heels of massive spending to offset the impact of COVID-19. Don Drummond, a former TD Bank chief economist who also held a number of senior roles at the finance department, said Freelands insistence that the restart of our economy needs to be green signals a break from Morneaus handling of the finance portfolio, and from that of his predecessors. Its definitely a different dynamic. More often that not, the finance ministers have been the ones to tell the cautionary tales about new initiatives for the environment, he told Yahoo Finance Canada. This is more of an interventionist approach. Freeland, who will continue to serve as deputy prime minister, was quick to affirm her support for Trudeaus safer, greener and more competitive policy agenda. She said decarbonization must be part of Canadas economic path, along with equality, inclusivity, jobs and growth. Doug Porter, chief economist at the Bank of Montreal, was also struck by Freelands messaging in her first speech as finance minister last week. He now expects a significant acceleration of spending to address climate risks and the economy when Parliament resumes in the fall. Porter sees the environment as an important consideration for the government, but questions what role a finance minister should play in advancing that agenda. Story continues Its not obvious that its up to the finance minister to lead the way on that front, Porter said in an interview. It seems a lot of green goals can be accomplished through regulations and other measures. The priority really should be, number one, getting people back employed again, he added. Reflecting on the mid-pandemic finance minister swap, Deloitte Canada chief economist Craig Alexander said he believes Morneau was on-side with creating the environmentally sustainable economic growth sought by Trudeau and others in the government. That said, he was unfazed by reports of friction over the scope and scale of new spending. The government expects a record-setting $343.2 billion deficit this year. Thats 16 per cent of Canadas GDP. The finance minister is often the person at the cabinet table that says no or this is what I think we can afford, Alexander said. Minister Freeland is stepping into the finance minister role, and I think that this is going to be one of the challenges. Shes going to want to achieve the government objectives, but she has to be mindful of the public purse. Bigger, broader and greener Work on a green stimulus package has been underway since early spring, overseen by Environment Minister Johathan Wilkinson, Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna and Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault. Wilkinson told HuffPost in a recent interview that his department plans to aim stimulus dollars at hitting Canadas climate targets, which include net-zero emissions by 2050. He said the government will need to fast-track investments to deploy more zero emission vehicles, reduce pollution from oil and gas sites, phase out coal, and improve the efficiency of buildings. Trudeau prorogued Parliament until the fall on the same day he announced Freeland would replace Morneau. Hes promised to spell out details of an ambitious plan in a throne speech set for Sept. 23. Is the Liberal party going to throw away any semblance of a fiscal anchor or fiscal framework? It seems like they are prepared to do that, Drummond said. Whether thats a good idea or not, and whether voters will give them another mandate and accept that, is another question. Drummond said the most powerful environmental lever Ottawa could pull would be to hike its controversial carbon tax and pump the revenue through the economy to support an array of green initiatives. Thats unlikely, he said, given Trudeaus insistence that tax hikes are not on the table. Instead, Drummond expects the government will opt for more popular policies, such as retrofitting government buildings and offering tax breaks to home builders that follow green standards. Porter thinks something bigger is in the governments cards. One has to assume that they are looking at some pretty significant spending measures or tax deductions that actually advantage or encourage the clean energy industry in a very significant way, he said. Things like retrofitting buildings almost seems like too small of a project. They must be thinking about something bigger and broader. Alexander sees Ottawas recent aid to the energy sector involving the cleanup of orphaned oil and gas wells, and emissions reduction incentives for offshore drillers, as an indication of whats to come this fall. They can simultaneously layer over a green lens, he said. It cant be that every measure is going to have a green dimension to it, but if a majority of measures have a green element, then you are still providing broad-based support to the economy. He said upgrades to Canadas electrical infrastructure could be a focal point for new spending. When I do a long-term forecast for Canada, and I try to envision what a green Canada looks like in 2030, it actually requires an awful lot of investment in electricity infrastructure in all of its different forms. The three economists said the governments ability to spur activity in the private sector will largely define the success of a green recovery. Tom Rand, managing partner at ArcTern Venture and a cleantech advisor to the Toronto-based MaRS Discovery District, sees an opportunity for the government to call in a favour post-COVID. He said lobby groups have already descended on Ottawa to tap potential new spending. This is exactly the time to strong-arm our corporate leaders. Say, You have to step up and play on this file now, because we just saved your bacon, he said, referring to the COVID-19 recovery stimulus aimed at large businesses. Rand is encouraged by Freelands early reference to building a greener Canadian economy, calling major environmental policies not directly backed by the finance department a sideshow. He suggests the formation of a green bank to deploy funds to private firms able to fill gaps in areas like biofuel and electrical infrastructure. Building upon Trudeaus words last week about a window of opportunity opened by COVID-19 to pivot the economy, Rand sees the public health response to the pandemic underscoring the importance of mass adoption of science-backed policies to solve global problems. The public has watched what happens when you ignore experts. Look at Canadas response to COVID, compared to the Americans. If you listen to experts, you reduce the risk. Climate experts are telling us to act very quickly and aggressively, he said. The public has had a taste of what happens when you dont listen. Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. ASDS will offer uncontested sessions around diversity, COVID-19 and emerging therapies, as well as dedicated time to meet industry representatives in the live Exhibit Engagement Lounge and spotlight breaks to learn about products, solutions and services from industry sponsors. All board certified dermatologists and their office staff are invited to attend the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Virtual Annual Meeting on Oct. 9-11, which will honor the Societys 50-year history and celebrate its bright future. In recognizing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASDS is transitioning its annual in-person meeting to an interactive and impactful digital experience. With 50 educational sessions, the conferences four tracks will cover everything from essential office procedures during COVID-19 to the latest advances, techniques and innovations for cosmetic, Mohs, reconstructive and general dermatologic surgery. The ASDS Annual Meeting Work Group has put together a tremendous virtual program that allows for the live networking and Q&A that our attendees love, said ASDS President Marc Brown, MD. ASDS will offer uncontested sessions around diversity, COVID-19 and emerging therapies, as well as dedicated time to meet industry representatives in the live Exhibit Engagement Lounge and spotlight breaks to learn about products, solutions and services from industry sponsors. This virtual, must-attend event delivers topics that reflect the most significant developments and important issues dermatologic surgeons face in this new COVID-19 diverse world. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the meeting will feature: An ASDS Turns 50 exhibit booth with anniversary activities. A 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday evening. Historical fun facts integrated in the gamification activities. Were looking forward to an innovative conference that will cover topics for everyone from residents and early-career dermatologists to our core membership of board certified dermatologists and their practice staff, said ASDS Annual Meeting Work Group Chair Shannon Humphrey, MD, FRCPC. Attendees will learn new skills and success strategies so they are better prepared to handle this rapidly changing landscape and benefit from opportunities with faculty and peer interaction without leaving their home or office. Theyll also be able to claim up to 35.75 CME credits. Psychologist and author Nancy Etcoff, M.Ed, PhD, will open the meeting on Oct. 9 with her keynote presentation. Dr. Etcoff conducts groundbreaking and highly cited scientific investigations in the psychology and neuroscience of emotion and the psychology and biology of beauty and aesthetics. Her book, "Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty," has been published in over a dozen languages and is the subject of a one-hour Discovery Channel documentary. Favorite special events such as the Annual Membership Meeting, Golden Scalpel Knowledge Bowl and Iron Surgeon Competition will still be held. New in 2020, ASDS is hosting the ASDS Got Talent competition to showcase its members broad creative and artistic talents. Any ASDS member registered to attend the meeting is eligible to participate by submitting a video before Friday, Sept. 11. Full details can be found at https://asds.net/talent. Register at https://asds.net/AnnualMeeting by Wednesday, Sept. 16 to receive the 50th Celebration package and access the educational sessions following the meeting. Questions can be sent to education@asds.net. About the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) is the largest specialty organization exclusively representing dermatologic surgeons who have unique training and experience to treat the health, function and beauty of skin throughout every stage of life. ASDS members are recognized as leaders in the field of cosmetic and medically necessary skin surgery. They also are pioneers in the field; many are involved in the clinical studies that bring popular treatments to revitalize skin and fill and diminish wrinkles to the forefront. Their work has helped create and enhance many of the devices that remove blemishes, hair and fat, and tighten skin. Dermatologic surgeons also are experts in skin cancer prevention, detection and treatment. As the incidence of skin cancer rises, dermatologic surgeons are committed to taking steps to minimize the life-threatening effects of this disease. For more information, visit https://asds.net. Follow ASDS Members on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Corporations are looking for a secure solution to automate and simplify the vendor payments process. Regal has been providing an automated payments platform solution since 2008. The RegalPay platform enables companies to pull payment batches directly from their own accounting systems and pay multiple invoices at once without the need for email, calling, faxing card payments or manually uploading data and files to their bank for payment processing. Regal Software recently partnered with Mastercard to also accept virtual cards for corporate payments. Corporations can use the virtual card to only pay for certain amounts if desired, and payment data exchanged between parties is always encrypted for maximum security. RegalPay is ERP agnostic with over 160 ERP systems already integrated. RegalPay has been installed in over 1,500 locations with billions of dollars in transaction volume. "In today's complex environment, companies are searching for stable, safe and secure processes that drive cost-effectiveness and efficiencies. RegalPay is the right solution to automate the vendor payments process," says Ed Wertzberger, VP-Solution Delivery. Visit us at https://regalpay.live/regalpay-for-corporations About Regal Software Regal Software is a FinTech provider in the corporate electronic payments industry. Regal offers the most robust on-premise and cloud-based solution for connecting corporate ERP systems to financial institutions and suppliers for accounts payable payment processing. Regal Software's technologies make it effortless for corporations to add a corporate payment solution for virtual card, ACH, wire and check to their portfolio. Media Contact Morgan McAbee: [email protected] Related Images image1.png SOURCE Regal Software Newsfrom Japan Tokyo, Aug. 24 (Jiji Press)--For about eight years since the defection of numerous members weakened the former Democratic Party of Japan in the late phase of the DPJ-led government, opposition parties have had a troubled history of repeated unsuccessful alignments and realignments. The new main opposition party to be created through the planned merger of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People is expected to be joined by about 150 lawmakers, the first such large force since the 2017 breakup of the Democratic Party, a successor to the DPJ. With the foundations of Prime Minister Shinzo Abes government no longer as strong as before, the new party will face the test of whether it will be received by voters as a force that can truly represent the will of the people, rather than being viewed as a mere attempt to make up the numbers for a major election. DPFP Director-General Hirofumi Hirano met with his CDPJ counterpart, Tetsuro Fukuyama, on Thursday to inform him of the DPFPs decision to combine with the CDPJ. After the meeting, Fukuyama told reporters, Well make efforts to be recognized as an opposition party capable of taking power. He called on as many DPFP members as possible to join the new party. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Flash Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer on Tuesday expressed his confidence in the Greek government's handling of the migration issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, said Greek government sources. The discussion focused on the developments in the "explosive problem that threatens the Greek borders, which are also the borders of Europe" and Nehammer reaffirmed his country's readiness to further assist Greece in practice, the same sources said. On his part, the Greek prime minister expressed the satisfaction of the Greek side for Austria's support in the European Union. Nehammer's two-day visit to Greece came after a "coordination platform" for migration policy was set up in Vienna in July, aimed to make the measures of the EU and the Western Balkans more effective. The platform will focus on coordinating cooperation in protecting the external borders, returning migrants without a right to asylum, fighting against smuggling, and establishing faster and more efficient asylum procedures. The land border between Greece and Turkey in the north and the northeastern Aegean Sea islands have received the bulk of flows of migrants and refugees into Greece since 2015. During the past five years, more than one million people reached Greece and most continued their journeys to other European countries until the winter of 2016, when borders along the Balkan route were sealed off. Currently, Greece hosts about 100,000 asylum seekers, according to data provided by the Migration and Asylum Ministry earlier this August. Some 28,000 were currently hosted in overcrowded facilities on Greek islands and about 12,000 were transferred to the mainland since January to improve the living conditions, according to the ministry. Already, the riots in Kenosha inspired by the police shooting of unarmed Jacob Blake, who was shot in the back while trying to enter a car with his children in the back seat (Blake was hit by 4 of the 7 shots, some reports said he had been armed at one point), have led to the deaths of at least 2 people. Despite the governor's decision to declare a state of emergency after a second night of violence, police and the national guard were once again largely absent in a stream of horrifying video from last night's riots, which at times devolved into open street warfare between groups of rioters and armed people allegedly there to protect property. Several videos of at least one of the fatal shootings flooded Twitter last night. Also in the news Kenosha, WI MAYOR AND GOV refuse National Guard help... Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) Tweeted: Extended footage of the shooting in Kenosha. pic.twitter.com/ErI52KOgNQ Kirsten W (@QTEAM1776) August 26, 2020 Guy in Kenosha got his arm turned to Swiss cheese chasing down a dude with an AR-15 pic.twitter.com/cwlHtAoZUA Mike Roagreser (@BTogetherAlone) August 26, 2020 While video of the other, allegedly involving the same shooter, who was confronted by several other armed citizens. Extremely graphic: Someone at the #KenoshaRiots was just shot in the head. @livesmattershow was there to record it. pic.twitter.com/dH1t5M4AIK Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 26, 2020 Police confirmed to the press that they responded to two fatal shootings and at least one non-fatal shooting during the third night of protests inspired by the shooting of Blake. Evers said he authorized 250 Wisconsin National Guard troops to protect critical infrastructure and assist Kenosha authorities, but once again, these reinforcements stayed clear of local businesses and offered almost no assistance in the protection of private property. Kenosha officials said another 100 law enforcement officers from surrounding areas were brought in to assist local police. An 8pm curfew was in effect for the area. We will continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement in holding those criminals who are destroying our city responsible, Kenosha Mayor John Antamarian said in a statement. And former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani had a response. Kenosha, Wisconsin another city governed by pandering Democrats is burning to the ground. There are already two dead, many injured and innocent lives and productive businesses that are destroyed. Biden in seclusion. @realDonaldTrump immediately pushes for National Guard. Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) August 26, 2020 Kenosha police said early Wednesday that they had responded to a report of multiple gunshots just before midnight. Authorities said two people were killed in the shooting, and a third gunshot victim was transported to the hospital with serious, a story that is more or less consistent with the videos we shared above. An investigation into the shooting is reportedly ongoing. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told the NYT that police are investigating whether the shooting resulted from a conflict between demonstrators and a group of armed men there to protect local businesses. CNN reported that armed riot police fired tear gas and pepper spray into the crowd, while Blake's family pleaded for calm on Tuesday. One Twitter user shared what she alleged was an interview with the shooter (who can be seen above being chased by another man with a gun) from before the attack. In the interview he can be heard saying he is armed with live ammunition. The protests have triggered gatherings of armed citizens, some of whom said they were protecting property against looting. Marine freight volumes on Irish routes are down 40pc this year due to the impact of Covid-19, according to a report from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The number of ferry passengers has also been dramatically impacted, down over 90pc, the report found. Responding to the fall-off in ferry passenger numbers, in the early stages of the pandemic, the Government approved the temporary designation of five sea routes into and out of Ireland as Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes during Covid-19 for a period of up to three months. The routes were Dublin to Cherbourg and Rosslare to Fishguard, Pembroke, Cherbourg and Bilbao. In Ireland, the transport and logistics sector is made up a few large businesses and a small number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The sector accounted for about 5pc of total employment here in 2018, about half of which was outside Dublin. The report warned that every business in the aviation chain, with the exception of dedicated cargo operators, have seen "severe" reductions in business and are facing "various degrees" of financial challenges. Airports, airlines and their suppliers all having to down-size and reduce staff numbers, according to the report. It is estimated that these measures will see all the major providers of aviation implementing downsizing measures of at least 20-25pc of the workforce. Ryanair has warned that more cuts and job losses could be in the pipeline if the health emergency caused by the pandemic continues into winter. Meanwhile, up to 870 airport staff have applied for a voluntary redundancy programme at the DAA, which manages Dublin and Cork airports. Road haulage companies are also under pressure due to the reduction in goods moving across Europe. However, as sectors begin to reopen both in Ireland and across Europe, the demand for goods should begin to rebound toward more traditional levels, the report said. In addition, some transport companies here have been able to increase their headcount due to the growth in online shopping. Overall, the report finds that the prospects for the transport sector will be determined by the pace and extent of a return to economic and social activity. The necessary supports to sustain that return will also be a factor. The transport and logistics industry - which in Ireland is made up of air, marine, rail, and road freight segments -was forecast to generate total revenues of $5.2bn (4.4bn) in 2018, according to the most recent figures cited in the report. Of these divisions, the road segment was expected to be the industry's most lucrative, with total revenues of $3.1bn (2.6bn), equivalent to 59.5pc of the industry group's overall value. Globally, the first half of this year could see a 25pc reduction in shipping, with a 10pc annual fall over the 12 months. Freight transport within cities can expect to be hit less hard than national and international goods transport, with the latter involving increased rules and regulations. In addition, supply chains are being impacted by the need to improve safety and social distancing measures, the report said. The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Morrison, has disclosed that the ministry will soon enrol inmates of the various witch camps onto the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty ( LEAP) Programme. Those who are not on the LEAP, we are looking at how to enrol them so that at the end of the month they would have something. According to the minister, the ministry also intends to assist the camps with farm inputs so that inmates who are into farming will be supported to expand their farming activities. Mrs Morrison hinted that inmates especially women who are into businesses will be supported financially with their shea butter trade and other businesses they are into. She condemned attacks on alleged witches in the country, calling for legislation to stop the attacks on alleged witches. You cannot take someone's right because you think that person is a witch so we are looking for a safe heaven for them . The minister said her interaction with the inmates shows that they feel safe in the camps. They think they are safe here than going back home so Ghana will have to decide on what to do so we will discuss it with the overlord of Dagbon and chiefs so we know what to do . Let's talk to the people living in the communities because if you decide to close camps down and then they don't want to go what do you do so we need to have a dialogue with them. She, however, called on the media to help sensitize the various communities to desist from attacking and abusing people they perceive as witches in heir communities. The minister made this known when she led the Parliamentary Select Committee on Women and Children to visit the Gnani and Gushegu witches camps in the Northern region. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Women and Children , Mr. Appiah Kobi said the aim of the visit by the committee to the various witches camps is to interact and gather data for their report to be presented to the speaker of Parliament. There has been calls for the Minister for Gender and Social Protection to closedown witches camps and reintegrate inmates to their various communities. The Parliament of Ghana is working on a witchcraft bill to help people accused of witchcraft. The proposed Witchcraft Bill include the prohibition or professional witchcraft or wizardry, prohibition against the accusation of witchcraft, participation in the declaration of a person as a witch or wizard and penalty against chief or headman encouraging witchcraft. This bill was necessitated due to the gruesome lynching of madam Akua Denteh, a 90 year old woman at Kafaba in the East Gonja municipality of the Savannah region. The Chief of Tindan, Shei Alhassan Tindana assured the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection of their continuous support in ensuring that the inmates are protected. ---Daily Guide India's new COVID cases top global tally for 18th straight day The spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Delhi By Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Jane Wardell MUMBAI (Reuters) - India reported on Tuesday the highest number of new coronavirus cases globally for the 18th straight day, remaining well ahead of the United States and Brazil, a Reuters tally based on official reporting showed. It took India from the end of January, when the country's first case was reported, until July to reach around 1.6 million cases, a period when the government imposed a strict lockdown. However, infections have rocketed by another 1.5 million since the start of August, taking the total to around 3.1 million, behind only Brazil and the United States. The rate of new cases in India is increasing rapidly, climbing by 60,975 in the latest 24-hour period, according to the federal health ministry. "If we cross the absolute numbers (in Brazil and the United States), I won't be surprised, but we also have a larger population," Giridhar Babu, epidemiologist at the non-profit Public Health Foundation of India, told Reuters. But deaths have remained comparatively low - at 58,390, or 1.84 % of total cases - lower than the global mortality percentage of 3.4% India reported its first COVID-19 fatality in mid-March, with the death toll rising to around 35,700 by the end of July. In August so far, around 22,600 deaths have been recorded. Deaths are considered a lagging indicator, given the two-week incubation period of the disease. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has said it is reassured by the high recovery rate - around 75% of the total 3.1 million cases are no longer infected, according to data from the federal health ministry. Amid the race to develop a vaccine, the ministry said India was in conversation with Russia regarding Sputnik-V, its experimental COVID-19 vaccine. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Rupam Jain and Mark Potter) The officials discussed issues such as Iran and thw mutual support for de-escalation and a lasting cease-fire in Libya, a later State Department statement said. Pompeo himself on Twitter praised the deal between the UAE and Israel as the most significant step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years even though the two countries had never been at war with each other. Study Identifies Key Factors for Insurers to Successfully Navigate the Digital Journey PEARL RIVER, New York and LONDON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ACORD, the global standards-setting body for the insurance industry, today released its 2020 Insurance Digital Maturity Study of the world's top 130 insurance carriers. A rapidly evolving insurance ecosystem, paired with financial uncertainty amid a global pandemic, have led to a need for insurers to modernize that is more urgent than ever. Yet the ACORD study indicates that much work remains to be done. Among the 130 largest worldwide insurers, fewer than 30% have truly digitized the value chain while 13% are not leveraging digital technologies within their current business processes. Further, more than half of the insurers in the study are still exploring how digitization can be applied against their business model. The ACORD 2020 Insurance Digital Maturity Study is the 4th edition of this annual study, and includes data and insights current as of July 2020. The study assessed each company's digital maturity relative to its peers; compared the extent of digital capabilities with the level of value creation; and identified the issues, implications, and most importantly, execution imperatives around successful digitization. The findings provide a clear framework for identifying deficiencies and targeting key improvements. "The insurance industry is at a critical inflection point," said ACORD CEO Bill Pieroni. "However, there is no other industry better equipped to quickly identify, understand, and mitigate risk. As the industry increasingly understands that failing to digitize is a known risk, and that the benefits are material, insurers will place increasing value on its importance." The study found that companies embracing digitization to develop new, technology-enabled operating models throughout the enterprise significantly outperformed the industry, and saw a direct correlation between digital maturity and total shareholder return. "The pace of digitization continues to accelerate throughout the industry in the U.S., London, and worldwide," said Chris Newman, ACORD's Managing Director - Global. "With digital initiatives underway across the insurance ecosystem, stakeholders are finding that they must embrace emerging technologies to stay competitive in the global market." The full 20-page ACORD 2020 Insurance Digital Maturity Study white paper, which includes strategic and execution imperatives for successfully developing digital capabilities, is free to download for ACORD members. For more information or to download the white paper, please visit www.acord.org/research. About ACORD ACORD (Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development) is the global standards-setting body for the insurance and related financial services industries. ACORD facilitates fast, accurate data exchange, and efficient workflows through the development of electronic standards, standardized forms, and tools to support their use. ACORD members worldwide include hundreds of insurance and reinsurance companies, agents and brokers, software providers, financial services organizations and industry associations. ACORD maintains offices in New York and London. Learn more at www.acord.org. CONTACT: Beth Jarecki beth@lpendragonus.com 917-364-6044 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/631946/ACORD_Logo.jpg TDT | Manama His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received at Al Safriya Palace yesterday the new Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command, US Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces Vice-Admiral Samuel Paparo. HM the King welcomed Vice-Admiral Paparo and congratulated him on assuming his duties, wishing him success to achieve all that serves security and peace in the region. HM the King praised the strategic relations binding Bahrain and the US as well deep-rooted ties as allies and partners. He hailed the steadily growing joint cooperation, especially in the military and defence fields, and added that the decades-old ties are based on mutual trust, respect, and keenness on achieving the goals and interests of the two friendly countries and peoples. Other issues of common interest and regional developments were also discussed. Vice-Admiral Paparo praised HM the King s keenness on strengthening historic relations of friendship and consolidating military and defence cooperation. Largest survey of bosses and workers on return to work attitudes. Bosses are spending millions on workplace but employees wary of 'people' factor Getting businesses back up and running is critical to the UK economic recovery, however, there is a significant disconnect between employers and employees on how this is working out. UK digital health and therapeutics company Huma (formerly known as Medopad) asked 5,000 UK workers and 2,000 UK employers about their views[1] on returning to work. Employers viewpoint Businesses are planning to return to work. Almost half (45%) of workplaces will be ready to accommodate staff back in the office before the end of August. However, a fifth (19%) will only be ready in the first half of 2021. Of the business that are already up and running, almost two-fifths (38%) of their employees are going to a physical workplace, with the majority working at least 4 days from there. Employers reported spending 674m every month to ensure a safe workplace for their employees (58.55 on average per employee per month). They have rushed to put in place various plans and procedures to ensure a safe workplace, ranking new hygiene protocols, socially distant layouts and staggered work shifts among their top changes. Worryingly, only one in five businesses feel suitably informed on the exact policies / procedures they need to have in place to ensure a safe working environment for their employees. Most employers believe that it is the responsibility of employees to self-report health concerns citing resource constraints. However, the overwhelming majority (70%) are willing to pay for COVID-19 tests should an employee request one. Importantly, employers fear the biggest disruption to restarting their business operations will be the willingness of more staff to return to the workplace owing to safety concerns. In close quarters: office workers collaborating in the workplace Workers viewpoint Over half of workers (54%) are reluctant to return to work fearing they will unknowingly contract COVID-19 and mistakenly pass it to friends and family at home. Bosses have offered a host of incentives to encourage employees back to work. The top ranked bung made has been extra holidays, free lunches at work and paying for commuting costs. Story continues Of the employees who have returned to work, over half (57%) are not confident with the measures in place to ensure their safety and well being. The same applies to people who have not returned to work yet. This is possibly why almost a third (29%) felt their health and safety would be compromised in the workplace. Employees ranked interactions with commuters (29%), co-workers (24%) and being in meetings (23%) as the top risk factors to catching COVID-19. The workplace ranked as lowest risk (8%). Missing links The research identified two insights, if acted on quickly could enable businesses to get up and running faster and accelerate the economic recovery. Firstly, addressing the people interaction concern of workers. Both employees and bosses are willing to track their health for COVID-19 symptoms providing them with a peace of mind over their well-being. Overwhelmingly, two-thirds (67%) of employees would be willing to do a daily symptom check-in with their employers and the majority (71%) would be comfortable with employers tracking their symptoms. Moreover, nine in ten businesses (88%) are comfortable with monitoring and tracking their employees' symptoms to ensure a safe workplace environment for everyone. However, they dont have the means to do it themselves and will encourage employees to self-report on symptoms. Secondly, employers are not talking to their staff. Only a quarter (24%) of employees felt fully informed about the new safety protocols and procedures at their workplace. Similarly, only a quarter (24%) of businesses prioritised communicating these changes to their employees. Dan Vahdat, founder and CEO of Huma, commented: There seems to be a breakdown of communication between employers and employees and this is leading to some unrest and possibly delaying the economic recovery. Trust building is now more critical than ever. Meanwhile, bosses are spending millions and feel they are doing a lot to ensure their workplace is a safe environment for staff but they are more concerned about people interaction than the actual workplace. The common ground on monitoring and tracking the health and well being of people in the workplace seems to be the solution. Employees are comfortable with this and employers are up for it but lack of resources means they are relying on workers to self-report on symptoms. We are driving the adoption of digital remote monitoring solutions to help users be better informed and engaged in their health concerns. In the workplace, Huma Health Shield is a revolutionary app that gives employees greater knowledge and control over their health at work. The solution encourages employees to confidentially track vital signs, and their exposure risk, so they can better manage their health. This hasnt started with COVID-19 and wont end once a vaccine is found, I believe the work being done now will set in motion behaviours that will transform how people manage their health and wellbeing. Humas digital solution incorporates wearable devices and other sensors to provide doctors with a stream of data on patients health. The data enables healthcare teams to monitor patients evolving symptoms, to advise on what care is required and to alert them to when a visit from a clinician or a hospital admission is needed. Ends Notes the editor [1] Research findings based on a survey of 5,000 UK employees and 2,000 UK companies in July/August 2020 by LMRMC (Market Research Society approved partner and ESOMAR corporate member). About Huma Huma partners with scientists, technologists and healthcare professionals to understand, treat and ultimately prevent ill health. Giving knowledge and power to those with medical conditions, while saving clinicians time, energy and valuable resources. Because, by collectively benefiting from the data we individually generate, we can all live our longest, fullest lives. www.huma.com Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 bilal.mahmood@huma.com Company Website https://huma.com (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The evidence is in: At least during the first wave of Covid-19, countries with female leaders suffered far lower death rates than comparable nations led by men. This doesnt mean that the trend will necessarily persist in a second or third wave. Nor does it imply that women are also better leaders when it comes to whatever else governments find themselves doing, from reforming labor markets to waging war. But its worth pondering nonetheless. In doing so, its of course tempting to descend into the netherworld of gender stereotypes and individual caricature. Donald Trump, president of the country with the most deaths from Covid-19, has communicated with an uninformed machismo that has provoked reactions ranging from shock to satire. Jair Bolsonaro, president of Brazil, the runner-up in coronavirus deaths, has pooh-poohed the disease as a little flu. By contrast, Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, which has generally managed the outbreak well, has impressed with explanations of the epidemiological R0 factor that went viral for their sobriety and clarity. Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand, which has only 22 deaths from Covid-19 to date, has talked to Kiwis via Facebook Live from her home in a way that is casual and interactive but also reassuring and credible. Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway, with 264 deaths, has told her countrys children that its OK to be scared when so many things happen at the same time, acknowledging vulnerability even while projecting competence. But in a new global analysis, Supriya Garikipati at the University of Liverpool and Uma Kambhampati at the University of Reading avoid stooping to mere anecdotes. Using data up to May 19, they matched the 19 countries led by women with their nearest neighbors according to a mix of factors including population, the economy, gender equality, openness to travel, health expenditures and the proportion of elderly people. They couldnt use Taiwan (7 deaths), which is governed by a woman but doesnt belong to the United Nations. Story continues Their conclusion was unequivocal: On average, the countries run by women suffered half as many deaths from Covid-19 as the nations governed by men. And in individual pairings, female countries fared better than male ones (see chart). Why? Part of the answer is that the female leaders generally ordered lockdowns much earlier, thus flattening the curves of their national outbreaks. Ardern, for instance, calls this approach going hard and early she just went into another temporary lockdown after a new cluster of cases following 100 days of no local transmission at all. But that only raises the question of why women tend to come to that difficult decision so much faster than men. One reason could be that women are more averse to risk, as most studies corroborate. But the choice facing leaders this spring wasnt simply between more or less risk. It was a trade-off between one risk, that to life, and another, that of economic loss. So the difference between the men and women, as the studys authors point out, was really that the women took less risk with lives and more with the economy, whereas men did the opposite. Over time, of course, death and economic loss become intertwined. The women also tended to communicate very differently with citizens. Its long been hypothesized that female leaders lean toward a more democratic or participative style whereas men are more autocratic or directive. Thats been hard to prove, but researchers are still studying whether women indeed bring more empathy to leadership or integrate more emotional information in their decision making. An interpersonal, empathetic and participatory approach certainly seems to help in managing a pandemic. This requires building and maintaining a consensus that the threat is serious, that sacrifice is necessary to protect others, and that individual liberties must be weighed against public-health considerations. And that kind of dialogue with citizens appears to be especially hard for strongmen and comparatively easier for other leaders, female or male. Comparisons between the sexes invariably become frustrating, either verging on the stereotypical or the vague and woolly. We have no idea how the late Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher or the Brittonic Queen Boudica, who gave short shrift to several Roman legions would have managed Covid-19. In leadership, individual character and talent surely trumps gender and everything else. That said, the pattern during this pandemic so far certainly suggests that the world could use much more female leadership. With only 19 countries of the 193 in the UN run by women, theres plenty of room for improvement. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andreas Kluth is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist. He's the author of "Hannibal and Me." 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. (Natural News) Wildfires across California continued burning, killing five people, injuring at least nine and decimating almost 900 structures as of last count, according to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal. Since the lightning strikes that started on August 15, there have been more than 615 wildfires across the state, which have now burned more than 1.1 million acres. In comparison, wildfires in 2019 burned just 56,000 acres throughout California during the same time frame, an almost 2,000 percent increase. But firefighters and responders from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Agency (CAL FIRE) are still bracing themselves for more blazes due to strong gusts of wind and hot temperatures. The National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued red flag warnings for much of the states northern region early Monday, August 24, as impending thunderstorms threaten to spark more fires and spread existing ones. Thunderstorms bring little precipitation, and the potential lightning strikes could increase the likelihood of new fires starting, warned officials from NWS. The erratic gusts of wind could also make fires unpredictable. Its going to take time to put this fire out, said Shana Jones, a unit chief for CAL FIRE. Jones added that the sizes of this months fires are unlike those of other fires the state has seen in the past two decades. Containing the flames Over the weekend, firefighters fought to contain two of the states largest wildfires to date. Combined, the wildfires torched almost 700,000 acres across Northern California, more than twice the size of Los Angeles. Nonetheless, firefighters had been able to make good progress on containing both wildfires thanks to a brief reprieve in the weather. Early Monday, the fires in wine country were 22 percent contained. Meanwhile, the massive blaze in the Santa Cruz Mountains was 10 percent contained. California Governor Gavin Newsom also addressed the state Monday to assure residents that authorities are utilizing all the resources at their disposal to contain the fires. Nonetheless, Newsom emphasized that almost 300 lighting strikes that happened overnight had sparked 10 new fires, all of which could become a threat. This fire season is also the most active to date, he added. State authorities had sent for additional firefighters and fire trucks from states as far off as Kansas to help contain the ongoing blazes. (Related: Thousands forced to evacuate as wildfires blaze across California.) Higher temperatures lead to longer fire seasons The 2020 fire season has produced the most fires to date, recording more than 6,700 fires so far compared to the 4,007 fires of 2019. Experts have also noted that Californias current fire season is now more than two months longer than it used to be four decades ago. In addition, records indicate that California has seen 10 of its most destructive fires, seven of its largest and five of its deadliest over the last decade. But there is little to no doubt about the cause of the fires. California had been in the middle of a long and intense heatwave even before the unusual summer thunderstorms cropped up. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also stalled the controlled burns of these forests as part of several wildfire-prevention projects. Residents and local authorities alike had expressed concerns regarding social distancing among firefighters, responders and officials, and the possible health issues that could arise from exposure to the smoke. In addition, the economic fallout of the pandemic has led to budget cuts that further stalled the states wildfire-prevention projects. Experts think that these factors contributed to the rapid spread of the fires. Theres no simple problem and no simple answer, said Max Moritz, a fire specialist from the University of California Santa Barbara. Its all of these things mixed together. Read more articles about the ongoing California wildfire situation at ClimateScienceNews.com. Sources include: WSJ.com 1 WSJ.com 2 NYTimes.com WASHINGTON Threatening fines and funding cut-offs, the Trump administration on Tuesday issued new COVID-19 requirements for nursing homes and hospitals, prompting immediate pushback from beleaguered industries. To check the spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it will require facilities to test staff regularly or face fines. The move comes months after the White House first urged governors to test all nursing home residents and staff. With residents, nursing homes are being required to offer them coronavirus tests if there is an outbreak or if any show symptoms. Officials also reinforced a reporting mandate for hospitals. It included a thinly veiled threat to cut off Medicare and Medicaid funds to facilities that fail to report certain COVID-19 data daily to the federal Health and Human Services department. Hospitals responded with a sharp rebuke, calling the move "heavy-handed" and raising the specter of loss of vital services for local communities in a pandemic, less than three months before Election Day. Long-term care facilities represent less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they account for 42% of the COVID-19 deaths, with more than 70,000 fatalities reported by the COVID Tracking Project. The plight of frail elders in nursing homes is politically sensitive for President Donald Trump, who is trying to maintain support from older voters amid disapproval of the government's pandemic response. His administration is distributing fast-test machines to nursing homes, but there are continued reports that cases have been rising and facilities still face shortages of supplies like masks. Our recommendations for testing in nursing homes go back as far back as March and April, said Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS. Whats different about today is that this is now a requirement ... we want to make sure every single nursing home is complying. Independent research indicates that the coronavirus most likely gets into nursing homes via staffers who unwittingly bring it in from surrounding communities where it has started to spread. Staffers who have yet to develop symptoms may have no clue that they're infected. Verma said the testing requirement for staff will be keyed to the level of virus activity in local areas. If the positive rate is below 5%, nursing homes will have to test staff once a month. If the rate is 5% - 10%, testing will be required once a week. If the rate is above 10%, staff will have to be tested twice a week. Florida, Iowa and Nevada are examples of states where the COVID-19 positive rate is now above 10%. The government will provide $2.5 billion to help nursing homes with testing costs, Verma also announced. The administration's campaign to distribute fast-test machines and an initial supply of tests is supposed to be done by the end of September. The nursing home industry said it supports mandatory testing as long as facilities are given what they need to comply with requirements. Mark Parkinson, head of the industry group American Health Care Association, said nursing homes in many parts of the country still can't get timely results on COVID-19 tests. CMS "must factor in the delays that continue to be a reality," Parkinson said in a statement. "Otherwise facilities could face fines for circumstances beyond their control and be conducting tests that are so delayed that they have little clinical value." The hospital reporting requirement that was also announced Tuesday follows confusion and misgivings surrounding a Trump administration directive that facilities send critical COVID-19 data directly to HHS instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as had been the case. The information includes numbers of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases, how many intensive-care beds are occupied, and the availability of essential supplies and equipment such as ventilators and masks and gowns. The regulation basically says if hospitals want to continue to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, they must report the information as requires. The American Hospital Association called for the requirement to be immediately rescinded. "Hospitals and health systems consistently have put forward a good faith effort to report the data needed to battle COVID-19 under very trying circumstances, despite the ever-changing requests from the government on data reporting," Rick Pollack, president of the American Hospital Association, said in a statement. "Since February, the government has made at least six changes to how they want hospitals to report data." Federal statistics show that 94% of hospitals are reporting the required data, said Pollack. He added his organization has done some investigation of its own and found that in some cases hospitals had sent in their reports, but the information had not gotten through the government system. "It's beyond perplexing why CMS would use a regulatory sledgehammer threatening Medicare participation to the very organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19." CMS chief Verma said the requirement is meant to correct deficiencies in reporting vital data needed to track and contain the pandemic. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar of The Associated Press wrote this story. PITTSBURGH, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "I hate when my feet slide within my shoes or my shoes slip off while walking," said an inventor, from Tampa, Fla. "I thought there should be a way to secure them, so I invented the SHU-CESSORY." The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to keep shoes in place on the feet. In doing so, it prevents the feet from sliding in the shoes. As a result, it could increase comfort and safety and it could enhance style. The invention features a fashionable and functional design that is convenient and easy to use so it is ideal for adults and children. Additionally, it is producible in design variations and a prototype model is available upon request. The inventor described the invention design. "My design could help to prevent tripping hazards when wearing shoes that are a little big or may have stretched." The original design was submitted to the Tampa sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-TPA-2388, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com Dozens of Chinese nationals gathered outside their embassy in Singapore on Tuesday in frustration over new rules requiring them to get tested for covid-19 before they can board their upcoming flights home, something Singapore doesn't generally offer to those without symptoms. "No hospital in Singapore will perform a test for me," said a 28-year-old warehouse manager who gave his surname as Wang. He's scheduled to fly to the western city of Chongqing at the end of the month. "Booking a flight is very tough now and I don't want to miss my flight." The crowd surrounded flustered embassy officials and grew raucous, even as a police vehicle arrived. The new requirements from China, instituted after dozens of passengers from Singapore tested positive in virus tests after landing there, highlights the fragility of tentative travel arrangements established by countries to boost economic activity and help the ailing aviation industry. It's also a blow to Singapore's efforts to kick start international travel amid the pandemic, fueled by its reliance on the aviation sector as an international hub. The city-state was one of the first to establish a corridor with the world's second-biggest economy, and is negotiating arrangements with other major trade partners like Japan. In reaction, authorities appear to have now set up testing services for those with bookings to China. On Wednesday, passengers who had booked flights to Guangzhou on Sunday turned up at a former school in the western part of Singapore to be tested. An urgent email sent by Singapore Airlines Ltd.'s Scoot the previous day told people that arrangements have been made by authorities to get tested during a one and a half hour morning time slot, and they had to pay $136 (S$186) before the results can be released to them. In recent weeks, at least three flights departing from Singapore have hit the "circuit breaker" instituted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which triggers a week-long suspension of routes where five passengers onboard test positive. If 10 or more infections are found, the suspension grows to at least one month. China Southern Airlines Co.'s flight to Guangzhou was suspended for a week after five passengers tested positive upon arrival in the southern city, the company said. Juneyao Airlines Co. also hit the circuit breaker earlier this month, forcing it to cancel its flights between Singapore and Shanghai scheduled for Friday, the company said on its official Weibo account. Meanwhile, the only direct flight from Singapore to northern China -- operated by Scoot -- was suspended after 12 people on board tested positive upon arriving in Tianjin last week, according to a person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Scoot did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tianjin's municipal health commission said all the 12 cases found on the Scoot flight were Chinese construction workers. The detection of cases came even as Singaporean authorities conducted a mass testing campaign to weed out symptom-free migrant worker carriers. New infections have recently surfaced in at least one of the dormitories, though reported cases among the rest of the population hover close to zero. Singapore's Ministry of Health told Bloomberg that 12 cases detected on the flight were workers who have recovered but "may continue to shed viral fragments for weeks or even months," adding that there's no evidence people who have had the virus and recovered are infectious. It said that both countries are investigating two other cases. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment while China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that he hadn't seen relevant reports on the situation. Multiple calls to the news department of the Chinese embassy in Singapore were unanswered. Infectious or not, the cases pose a challenge to Singapore's efforts to resume travel with countries that have gotten the virus under control. From Sept. 1, New Zealanders will be allowed to enter Singapore, where they will have to take a Covid test but won't be quarantined, though most Singaporeans aren't allowed into New Zealand. A similar arrangement was also offered to travelers from Brunei. The situation may affect the continued operation of Singapore's travel corridor with China, an arrangement that started in June and is termed a "green lane." Those going through the green lane on essential or business travel can avoid the usual two weeks of quarantine upon arrival, provided they test negative before departure and upon landing. China has only agreed to two other travel corridors, with Germany and South Korea. No flights from South Korea and Germany have been suspended since China's aviation regulator instituted the circuit breaker in early June, though routes from places like Manila and Abu Dhabi have also triggered similar action. The frustrated Chinese nationals gathered outside the embassy on Tuesday said that they could not get a virus test from any Singapore medical facility without displaying symptoms. Those interviewed were not traveling via the green lane and were mostly lower-wage workers prepared to undergo two weeks of quarantine upon reaching home. Under the new rules, they won't be able to board their flights without a negative test result. Singapore's health ministry said late Tuesday on its website that travelers could seek assistance in light of the new rules from China. Still, it reiterated its strategy focused on "diagnostic testing and active case finding" and that pre-departure testing is reserved for those using the green lane. (Natural News) Over the weekend, demonstrators in Portland took their protests to a whole new level by rolling out a full-sized guillotine and slicing off the head of a giant stuffed animal, followed by the slashing and burning of several American flags. Video footage posted to Twitter by independent journalist Andy Ngo shows an almost all-white crowd of Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters standing in the middle of a thoroughfare chanting, Whos lives matter? Black lives matter, while dousing two American flags in lighter fluid atop a decapitated stuffed bear. Someone rolled a mock guillotine with a stuffed bear into the street (photo), a press statement issued by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) reads the headline photo to this story is the one referenced in parenthesis. The bear and multiple U.S. flags were burned. Paint balloons were launched at officers, as well as green lasers. Earlier that same day, multiple violent clashes occurred between Antifa and Proud Boys, with pepper spraying being exchanged between the two groups, and no law enforcement anywhere in sight. The mayhem lasted all day and well into the night before Antifa and BLM terrorists rolled out the guillotine and produced an effigy depicting what they have planned for those who resist their agenda. Following many hours of assaulting bystanders with not only pepper spray but also rocks, eggs, urine and even human feces, which they smeared throughout the streets of Portland, the left-wing protesters shifted their ire directly onto the police. At 11:45pm, officers began to push the crowd to the west, one report explains. Rocks, bottles, and other hard objects were thrown at officers. One lieutenant was struck in back of head with a glass bottle. His helmet prevented him from being injured. A Portland Fire and Rescue Medic embedded with one of the squads was hit in the shin with a large rock He suffered a minor laceration to the leg. For more related news about the Portland protests, be sure to check out Chaos.news. The press was also seen throwing rocks at people, vehicles Just before midnight, a riot was declared by the PPB sound truck, which drove around blasting the message as protesters threw eggs and rocks at the vehicle. The rear window of a vehicle used to transport a Rapid Response Team squad was also shattered by a rock. Numerous officers reported seeing individuals bearing press insignia throwing rocks at them, reports reveal. The apparent purpose of the guillotine, of which there were actually several, was to intimidate the police. When all was said and done, some 14 people were arrested, according to police records. Earlier in the month, these same protesters were caught burning Bibles in the street, just like the Nazis of old did in the leadup to the horrific violence that occurred during World War II. Thank you, anarchists of Portland, wrote one Real Clear Politics commenter. While you shame your city you shine a light on what police retreat in the face of chaos does. It creates more chaos. What a surprise! The imagery of beheadings is not supposed to be calming, this same commenter added. Generally speaking, infamous apparatus of execution do not appear in safe spaces. But they should not fret for long. When Trump is reelected in November, they will know America is not on their side and not wanting their heads to be cut clean off for the color of their skin, or for not being quite woke enough. Things could get even more ugly after the election, though. Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as a veteran warns that blood will flow in the streets after Nov. 3: Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com RealClearPolitics.com Timesha Beauchamp was found alive hours after being declared dead Timesha Beauchamp was dead. The paramedics said so on Sunday, after 30 minutes of CPR failed to revive her. An emergency room doctor in Southfield, Mich., confirmed the prognosis. So employees at a local funeral home were more than slightly shaken hours later when they watched her chest rising and falling with breath, the Detroit Free Press reported. Beauchamp, it turned out, was quite alive. Now the 20-year-old is in critical condition at a hospital, Southfield officials are scrambling to learn what went wrong, and Beauchamps outraged family has hired an attorney known for making national headlines. They were about to embalm her which is most frightening had she not had her eyes open. They would have begun draining her blood to be very, very frank about it, attorney Geoffrey Fieger, known for successfully defending suicide doctor Jack Kevorkian, told WXYZ. For Beauchamps family, the experience has been a heart-wrenching roller coaster from thinking their loved one was dead, to learning she wasnt, to watching her fight for her life in the hospital. Somebody pronounced my child dead and shes not even dead, Erica Lattimore, Beauchamps mother, told WDIV. Paramedics with the Southfield Fire Department first came to Beauchamps house early on Sunday morning after she had a heart attack, the department told the Free Press. When the CPR failed, the medics contacted the ER doctor, who pronounced her dead. Fire officials said in a statement that they notified the Oakland County Medical Examiners Office of Beauchamps death. Soon afterward, Lattimore said she received a phone call. They said, Maam, shes gone, she told WDIV. I told them, Are you absolutely, 100 percent sure that shes gone? They said, Yes, maam, shes gone. Beauchamps body was taken to the James H. Cole Funeral Home in Detroit. More than an hour later, our staff confirmed she was breathing, the funeral home told the Associated Press. As Beauchamp was rushed to the hospital, the funeral home called her grieving mother. They said, Maam, your daughter is on her way to [the hospital]. She is breathing. She is alive, Lattimore told WDIV. This devastated my life. I said, What do you mean? What do you mean shes breathing? She said, Maam, shes in the hospital. As of Monday evening, Beauchamp was in critical condition at Detroit Medical Center, the AP reported. Fieger, the attorney, said the hours she spent without medical care may have seriously damaged her chance of recovering. What did this delay do in terms of Timeshas health for the rest of her life? he told WXYZ. The Southfield Fire Department said the city and the Oakland County Medical Control Authority had launched an investigation into how Beauchamp was declared dead on Sunday. In a statement, the department insisted it followed all appropriate city, county and state protocols and procedures in this case. But Fieger said that doesnt square with his clients horrific experience. Its one of peoples worst nightmares to imagine having an ambulance called and instead, sending you off to a funeral home in a body bag. The funeral home unzipping the body bag, literally, thats what happened to Timesha, and seeing her alive with her eyes open, Fieger told the TV station. *** Source: The Washington Post Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese permanent mission to the United Nations (UN) (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese permanent mission to the United Nations (UN), has urged the international community to increase its humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, and proposed Israel remove its blockade of Gaza Strip to facilitate humanitarian activities. Addressing the UN Security Council (UNSC)s virtual meeting on August 25 to discuss the current situation in the Middle East, including Palestine-related issues, Quy expressed his profound concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip and other occupied territorial areas of Palestine, especially amid the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. He affirmed that a just and sustainable solution to the Middle East peace process can only be achieved through peaceful negotiations and dialogues between stakeholders on the basis of international law and relevant resolutions of the UN. The diplomat also showed the Vietnamese peoples solidarity with the Palestinian people, while affirming Vietnam's consistent stance of supporting the Palestinian people's just struggle and a two-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict. According to Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, UN agencies and a number of regional countries have actively acted as mediators, and called on relevant parties to refrain from actions that increase tensions in the region, and promote dialogue. The UN agencies are working closely with the administrations of both sides to step up humanitarian aid and response to the epidemic, he said. Representatives from other UNSC member nations praised the UNs efforts, calling on countries and international organisations to enhance their support for humanitarian activities and efforts to prevent COVID-19 in occupied territorial areas of Palestine. They also urged Israel and Palestine to resume negotiations on the basis of criteria recognised by the international community and relevant resolutions of the UN, towards a two-state solution. Pubs which do not serve food will not be able to reopen next week due to the risk of coronavirus (Peter Byrne/PA) Pubs which do not serve food will not be able to reopen next week, Stormont ministers said. Theatre reopening has also been delayed as Northern Ireland marks another pause in emerging from lockdown. They had been given an indicative date of next Tuesday to begin trading but ministers said they could not approve the move due to increased spread of the coronavirus. These individuals and families have endured two months of additional closure without any financial support Colin Neill Colin Neill, Hospitality Ulster chief executive and representative of a large numbers of publicans, said: This is catastrophic news for hard-working publicans right across Northern Ireland who made the ultimate sacrifice in closing their premises six months ago for the greater good. These individuals and families have endured two months of additional closure without any financial support. In so doing, they have already demonstrated a high level of responsibility at considerable personal and financial cost. Another 72 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. A total of 384 have tested positive over the last seven days, the Department of Health said on Wednesday. No new deaths were recorded. An Executive Office spokesman said: With the increased transmission rate of the virus in the community and the R number at around 1.3, the Executive agreed that no further restrictions will be lifted at this time. The indicative date of September 1 for the opening of wet pubs, private members clubs and audiences returning to theatres has not been ratified by the Executive. Officials have engaged with the different stakeholder bodies and no new indicative dates have been set. Expand Close Antrim police station, which closed after officers tested positive, reopens to members of the public on Wednesday evening (David Young/PA). PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Antrim police station, which closed after officers tested positive, reopens to members of the public on Wednesday evening (David Young/PA). Meanwhile, two police stations in Northern Ireland which closed after officers tested positive, Antrim and Newtownabbey, reopened to members of the public on Wednesday evening. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant chief constable Alan Todd said appropriate steps were immediately taken to address and manage the issue. He said the health and welfare of members of the public attending stations and that of officers and staff was of paramount importance. The force has commenced a phased return to duty for officers based in those stations as it is now assessed that it is safe to do so. Mr Todd added: Once again, I would like to reassure the public that plans remain in place across the district to provide a service to the community and keep people safe. Five patients on a cancer ward in Northern Ireland have tested positive for Covid-19. It is the second cluster of infections at Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh. Expand Close Health Minister Robin Swann has pledged to leave no stone unturned in tracing the outbreaks at a hospital (David Young/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Health Minister Robin Swann has pledged to leave no stone unturned in tracing the outbreaks at a hospital (David Young/PA) Health Minister Robin Swann has pledged to leave no stone unturned in tracing the outbreaks. He said the countrys health system was in a fragile place as he warned against complacency over social distancing. Totals allowed to socialise indoors at households have been reduced to six from no more than two households. The limit on those attending outdoor gatherings fell from 30 to 15. Industry Update Appointment 26 August 2020 Phil Klaus Appointed General Manager At TownePlace Suites Indianapolis Downtown - IN, USA Phil is moving back to his home state after serving in a variety of General Manager roles with Commonwealth Hotels since 2008. First working as the Opening Manager of the Candlewood Suites Indianapolis South, Klaus has provided stellar support to a number of hotels and brands, including Hilton, Hyatt and IHG. This is his first Marriott property since he managed the Courtyard Cincinnati Airport in 2017/2018. Hotelschools.com Purdue University Phil Klaus (Class of 2004) is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana - United States (Class of 2004) is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana - United States more information Commonwealth Hotels, LLC Commonwealth Hotels, LLC was founded in 1986 and is a proven partner in providing hotel management services with superior financial results. The company has extensive experience managing premium branded full service and select service hotels. more information Recent Appointments at Commonwealth Hotels, LLC Alicia Barefield - General Manager 13 January 2022 Commonwealth Hotels announced that Alicia Barefield has been appointed the general manager of the Hampton Inn Panama City Beach. Ms. Barefield brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to her new role as general manager having previously served as the general manager at the Hampton Inn Fort Morgan, Colorado. read more Cheyenne Albert - General Manager 11 January 2022 Commonwealth Hotels announced today that Cheyenne Albert has been appointed the general manager of the Home2 Suites by Hilton El Reno. Ms. Albert brings over 6 years of hospitality experience to her new role as general manager having previously served as the property's operations manager since joining the Home2 Suites El Reno in 2020. read more Air Force officials said the gunman who committed the Sutherland Springs mass shooting in 2017 had threatened to commit mass murder in a church years earlier, documents in a federal court case indicate. The gunman, Devin Kelley, was discharged from the Air Force 2014 after he was convicted on domestic violence charges for beating his then-wife and child. He told his former staff sergeant after the 2015 church shooting in Charleston, S.C., I wish I had the nerve to do it, testimony from the sergeant, Jessika Lee Edwards, says in an FBI report. Kelley also sent Edwards pictures of multiple guns he was building, specifically an AR-15-style rifle. Edwards told Kelley to get help once she realized he was completely obsessed with mass shootings, the FBI report reads. Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News The testimony is among depositions and subpoenaed documents in a 2018 lawsuit against the Air Force and Defense Department by nine Sutherland Springs families. They accuse the federal government of negligence for failing to report Kelleys convictions to the FBI. The families are asking the court to rule in their favor for an undisclosed amount before the case goes to trial. If the Air Force had disclosed Kelleys convictions as required to the FBI, Kelley wouldnt have been able to pass two background checks to purchase the Ruger AR-556 that he used in the massacre. He killed 26 people and wound 20 others who were attending the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5, 2017. He shot and killed himself while in a car chase fleeing from the church. Less than a month after the shooting, the Air Force Inspector General found the service had failed to report Kelleys criminal convictions to the FBIs National Crime Information Center database. Federal law requires government agencies to file the reports. But the IG also found the failure to report cases to the background check system was widespread, occurring at several military bases. A new law that was introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, strengthens penalties for agencies and states that dont comply with the reporting requirement. Kelley had a documented history of behavioral problems in the Air Force and was given a bad-conduct discharge after serving time in military prison. The court filings show several Air Force officials were aware of Kelleys behavior. Officials also testified they didnt know they were supposed to submit Kelleys convictions to the FBI. In the depositions, Sgt. Troy Bizzack of Holloman AFB in New Mexico referred to Kelley when he said he had a gut feeling that if there was ever going to be someone who would shoot up the shop, it would be him. In another document, a commander, James Hoy said, I believe there is clearly evidence that suggests (Kelley) could do a mass shooting, and that was reported, adding later that its foreseeable he could commit a mass shooting Kelley has a history of severe mental health problems. He openly carried a firearm on Holloman AFB and placed a weapon to his wife's head. He has repeatedly threatened to kill his leadership, Commander Robert Bearden said in an Air Force report in late March 2020. Col. James Hudson acknowledged in a deposition that he did not train employees on reporting convictions to the FBI. Is it correct to say that you never provided supervisory oversight or specific training to anyone at Holloman Air Force Base about correcting the errors of fingerprint collection, reporting and conviction reporting? attorney Jamal Alsaffar asked. It wasnt a topic of training, Hudson responded in his deposition. Alsaffar then inquired about three IG reports that outlined a systemic failure to report background files to the FBI. The first I had knowledge of those was as a result of this incident in 2017, Hudson responded. The court filings also show findings from a task force formed after the shooting to investigate the Air Force reporting history to the FBI. It found about 7,300 reporting errors, spanning more than three decades. Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. To read more from Silvia, become a subscriber. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices (HMD), one of the largest global manufacturers of disposable and auto-disabled (AD) syringes, is scaling up its production capacity by 300 million to one billion by the first half of 2021 from the current 700 million syringes a year, as India is getting ready for COVID-19 vaccine immunisation. "We are waiting on the Indian government to start creating a stockpile of syringes as being done by other countries. Should the government need 100 million auto-disable syringes for COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this year, we can easily offer them as we have nearly 50 million in stock, as the government has not timely lifted orders for standard immunisation injection campaigns which were suspended after onset of COVID-19," said Rajiv Nath, Managing Director, Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices. He said HMD has received orders from UNICEF to supply AD syringes for around 300 million to build up a stockpile of around 140 million syringes for COVID-19 by the end of the year. The World Health Organisation(WHO) WHO and UNICEF recommend to use auto-disable syringes for administering vaccines, particularly in mass immunisation programs. After COVID-19, the focus has shifted to single use disposable consumables from reuse consumables and especially a change has been seen in higher deployment of auto-disable syringes even for curative injections. WHO also recommends the use of auto-disable syringes to collect blood samples of COVID-19 patients. At least 60 to 70 per cent of 1.3 billion people in India and 7.8 billion people worldwide will need syringes for COVID-19 vaccine. HMD has over nine plants and owns syringe brands DispoVan, which has over 60 per cent market share and Kojak, with 70 per cent market share in AD syringes. It is one of the largest suppliers to UNICEF for Auto Disable syringes for immunisation and is the first company in India to manufacture auto disable syringes for curative segment. At least nine out of 142 vaccines being developed across the world, including three from India, are in advanced stages of trials, targeting to have at least a few vaccines in the market by year end. Also Read: Government debt seen topping 90% of GDP in FY21; first time since 1980 Also Read: India needs to grow at 8-8.5% to create 90 million jobs by 2030 Also Read: Coronavirus vaccine: Phase 2 trials of Oxford candidate start in India; two get vaccinated Zannone island near Rome was infamous for orgies in the 1960s. Zannone, a small Italian island off the coast between Rome and Naples, was once a decadent destination for the rich and famous. Part of the cluster of Pontine Islands, Zannone was leased from the Italian state by an eccentric Roman aristocrat and his actress wife in the 1960s. Marquis Camillo Casati Stampa di Soncino - known to his friends as Camillino - and his wife Anna Fallarino presided over Zannone where they welcomed a steady flow of uninhibited visitors including celebrities, billionaires and members of Italian nobility. The couple's villa, situated on the summit of the rugged 'red-light' island, was the scene of heavy drinking and wild parties, with orgies also taking place in surrounding bushes and on the beach below. The villa allegedly had a 'hidden mirror room' where the marquis could spy on sex sessions, many of them involving his wife, who enjoyed swimming naked with guests. Zannone. Photo courtesy Parco Circeo - Marco Buonocore. However, on 30 August 1970, the parties at Zannone came to an abrupt and tragic end when the marquis - enraged with jealousy over his wife's young lover, student Massimo Minorenti - shot them both dead before turning his rifle on himself. The double murder-suicide, which occurred in the couple's apartment on Via Puccini in Rome, brought to light the goings-on at Zannone, following the discovery of the Marquis' secret diary and a locked drawer of 1,500 'indecent' photographs of Fallarino. Following the tragedy, the villa fell slowly into ruin and Zannone was once again inhabited only by the island's mouflon wild sheep, a protected species. In 1970, the island became part of the Circeo National Park. Cover image: Anna Fallarino and Marquis Camillo Casati Stampa Job Title: WPE Program Assistant (Fresher Admin Jobs) Organization: International Rescue Committee Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: WPE Manager About US: The International Rescue Committee helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. It was created by Albert Einstein more than 80 years and has been working in Uganda since 1998. It has particularly working in the conflict zones where tens of thousands of people have been kills and over 1.6 million displaced. Following a peace agreement in 2006, Ugandans are returning home and looking to rebuild their lives. The IRC is there to protect women and children from violence and exploitation by fostering a safe environment and encouraging education, and is supporting farmers and small businesses, and helping communities promote peace and long-term development. Job Summary: The WPE Program Assistant will act as the point of contact for all staffs under the WPE department, providing administrative support and managing their queries. Main duties include managing office stock, preparing regular purchase and payment request and reports, preparing periodic procurement plans and organizing program records. Candidate should have previous experience as an Office Administrator or similar administrative role. Our ideal candidate also has working knowledge of office equipment and office management tools. She/ he will also be working in close collaboration with the M&E team to streamline the tracking of WPE interventions like case management tools, SASA!,EMAP, EA$E and GIRL SHINE. He/She will also undertake other assignments requested including preparing meeting minutes and updating program changes made. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Draft and follow up on office purchases and payment requests for WPE sector. Manage program/office supplies through receiving and making release orders Support the Managers within WPE sector to review PR tracking sheets shared by supply chain on weekly basis. Participate in the development of quarterly procurement plan for WPE sector. Act as a liaison between program, supply chain, finance and HR office on program requirements Organize a filing system for important and confidential WPE documents Maintain a program calendar and schedule appointments Book and/or schedule meeting/training venues for WPE activities as required Liaise with Managers within WPE sector to schedule in-house and external events Work with the Managers with WPE sector to ensure staff submit their timesheets to HR in time Support the Managers within WPE sector to manage program staff leave database in accordance with IRC regulations. Ensure staff relevant information is shared with HR/Admin on a regular basis. Communicate any staff welfare concerns to the HR/Admin officer on a regular basis. Proactively share documentation gaps with M&E team and the program team for action and collective intervention Participate and represent WPE in coordination meetings as requested Perform any other duties as maybe required by the program Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) WPE Program Assistant job placement must hold a Bachelors degree in Administration or social sciences. Two years of relevant professional experience in Program administration Prior experience as an administrator Previous experience working with an international NGO in a cross-cultural setting, preferably with programs sector. Remains productive when under pressure. Works collaboratively with team members to achieve results. Relates and works well with people of different cultures, gender and backgrounds. Flexibility and prepared to work additional hours Flexibility to continuously re-prioritize Ability to multi-task Ability to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for all staff members; Ability to work both independently and as part of a team; Able to respond rapidly to changing environments, yet remain productive and focused; Strong and fast computer skills (primarily Word, Excel, and outlook); How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at the link below. Click Here The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. Deadline: 8th September 2020 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline The Chief Executive of the Suhum Municipal Assembly, Mrs Margret Darku Darkwah, has appealed to parents to agree to take care of their grandchildren delivered by their daughters in school to enable them continue their education and concentrate on their studies. She explained that the educational system of the country allows students who got pregnant to return to school after delivery and urged parents to take advantage of the situation to ensure that pregnancy did not make their daughters to drop out of school. Mrs Darkwah said there were many prominent women in the country who delivered their first born while in school, but because they had parents and relatives who took care of the children for them to continue their education, they were able to achieve their dream ambitions in life. The Municipal Chief Executive was speaking at the commissioning of the Gojiase Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compound which was built under the Protection of the lives of women in the reproduction age project at Gojiase near Suhum in the Eastern Region. The four year project, which was started in 2018 is aimed at providing access to quality health care for pregnant women and children and help reduce teenage pregnancy in the project area. The Project is being implemented by the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and the Japanese International Cooperation in Family Planning(JOICFP) in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service(GHS) and the Suhum Municipal Assembly and funded by the Takidu Pharmaceutical Company of Japan. Mrs Darkwah called on the community to treat the nurses who would be posted to work at the facility well, to make them happy to stay in their quarters and work. She said if the environment for the work of the nurses become unbearerable and they decide to stay outside the community and come to work at the facility during working hours, when pregnant women needed their services at mid-nights, they would not be around and the purpose for constructing the facility would be defeated. She said the Gojiase CHPS Compound was the third to be constructed since she assume office almost three and half years ago. Ms Abena Adubea Amoah, Executive Director of PPAG, said since the project started in 2018, over GH500,000.00 had been spent. She appealed to parents in the area to talk to their daughters to help reduce teenage pregnancy in the area. Ms Amoah expressed regret that, many Junior High School girls in their final year were not able to join their colleagues to prepare for their final examination when they were asked to start school after the COVID-19 break because of teenage pregnancy. Mr Emmanuel Obeng of the Japanese Organization for Cooperation In Family Planning, urged pregnant women in the area to visit the clinic for their anti-natal and post-natal services and deliver their babies at the facility. He advised the management of the facility to put in place a maintenance plan to help the facility to stay long to serve the people. Mr Obeng urged the community to help plant trees on the compound of the facility to provide shade for the pregnant women who would visit the facility and also to help protect the building and the environment. Earlier in a welcoming address, Mr Kwame Ofosu, the Suhum Municipal Director of Health said the project had helped to train health volunteers, peer educators and staff of the Ghana Health Service to help improve the quality of health care delivery in the Municipality. 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 RFP360, a full-circle, integrated RFP software provider, today announced it has been named one of Kansas Citys Best Places to Work. The recognition comes from the Kansas City Business Journal as they release their list of 2020 Best Places to Work honorees. Being named one of Kansas Citys Best Places to Work is truly a testament to the culture of our company and the talent of our team, said David Lintz, chief executive officer of RFP360. It is an incredible honor to lead this group of dedicated, inspiring and creative individuals as we work together to fulfill our mission. In the last 12 months, RFP360 has experienced triple-digit growth and subsequently more than doubled their workforce to support market demand. In addition, they announced that they had opened new headquarters, secured second-round funding and been named Leaders in several categories in the past four consecutive G2 Grid Reports. As weve grown, our focus has never strayed from our core values and vision. Our priority is to empower our employees with everything they need, both professionally and personally, to serve our customers, added Lintz. Each person in the RFP360 family has been crucial to our success and that makes this award, based on their feedback, particularly meaningful. Results from the survey recognized the company for their family values, focus on wellbeing, employee engagement and unique perks. Each year, the Business Journal identifies Kansas City-area businesses as top workplaces. The award is based solely on employee feedback gathered via a survey conducted by Quantum Workplace. Key factors considered include compensation and benefits, culture and values, and workplace perks. This years survey also included questions about the companys response to current events. About RFP360 RFP360 develops software solutions that transform how organizations worldwide request information, respond to requests and interact making the RFP and proposal process far more efficient, effective, consistent and repeatable for everyone. Our complete approach covers every angle, from knowledge management and response automation to request development and vendor evaluation. To learn more, visit rfp360.com. For all the latest, follow RFP360 on Twitter and LinkedIn Skyleigh Heinen, a U.S. Army veteran who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and anxiety, relies on the postal service for timely delivery of her meds to be able to function. She was one of thousands of Americans from all walks of life who spoke out recently to demand an end to a forced slowdown in mail delivery. The level of public outcry in defense of the public postal service is historic and its having an impact. Shortly after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy took the helm in June, it became clear that the fox had entered the henhouse. President Trump had gained a powerful ally in his efforts to decimate the public postal service. Instead of supporting his frontline workforce, DeJoy has made it harder for them to do their job. For example, he banned overtime, ordering employees to leave mail and packages behind if they could not deliver it during their regular schedule. Until this point, postal workers had been putting in extra hours to fill in for sick colleagues and handle a dramatic increase in package shipments. As the mail delays worsened, more than 600 high-volume mail sorting machines disappeared from postal facilities. Blue collection boxes vanished from neighborhoods across the country. Postal managers faced a hiring freeze. President Trump threw gas on the fire by gloating that without the emergency relief he opposes, USPS couldnt handle the crisis-level demand for mail-in voting. Outraged protesters converged outside DeJoys ornate Washington, D.C., condo building and North Carolina mansion, and they flooded congressional phone lines and social media. Political candidates held pop-up press conferences outside post offices. At least 21 states filed lawsuits to block DeJoys actions, while Taylor Swift charged that Trump has chosen to blatantly cheat and put millions of Americans lives at risk in an effort to hold on to power. After all this, DeJoy announced hes suspending his initiatives until after the election. This is a victory. But its not enough. DeJoys temporary move does not address concerns about the threats to the essential, affordable delivery services that USPS provides to every U.S. home and business, or the decent postal jobs that support families in every U.S. community. These needs will continue long past Nov. 3. Second, DeJoy has made no commitment to undo the damage hes already done. And he promised only to restore overtime as needed. Will he replace all the missing mail-sorting machines and blue boxes? Will he expand staff capacity to handle the backlog hes created and restore delivery standards? Third, DeJoy makes no mention of the need for pandemic-related financial relief. USPS has not received one dime of the type of emergency cash assistance that Congress has awarded the airlines, Amtrak and thousands of other private corporations. While the pandemic has been a temporary boon to USPS package business, the recession has caused a serious drop in first-class mail, their most profitable product. Postal economic forecasters predict that COVID-related losses could amount to $50 billion over the next decade. DeJoy has proved he cannot be trusted to do the right thing on his own. Congress must step in and approve at least $25 billion in postal relief and legally block actions that undercut the ability of the Postal Service to serve all Americans, both today and beyond the election. For the American people, this is not a partisan fight. We will all be stronger if we can continue to rely on our public postal service for essential services, family-supporting jobs, and a fair and safe election. Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies. This columns was distributed by OtherWords.org. Spate of attacks against police in Rome in recent days. Rome police are coming under increasing attack from people who refuse to wear protective face masks under Italy's rules to contain the spread of covid-19. A 22-year-old Italian man, who refused requests to wear a mask, attacked several vigili at the Trevi Fountain on the night of 25 August, leaving one of the officers with a broken hand and two others with slight injuries. The man, who already had a criminal record, now faces charges of resisting arrest and injury to a public official. It is the latest case of Roman police being attacked by people intent on not following the mask-wearing rules in crowded areas. In the early hours of 23 August a patrol of vigili came under attack at Ponte Milvio by a group of young people who refused to wear masks. Three people aged between 20 and 25 were reported. Two officers, a man and a woman, ended up in hospital to be treated for injuries. Covid-19: Rome's first fine for not wearing mask handed out at Trevi Fountain A similar incident occurred in Trastevere where two Italian men, urged by a patrol of carabinieri to wear masks during their walk in a crowded Piazza S. Maria in Trastevere, directed verbal abuse and threats towards the officers who responded by taking them to the police station where they were fined 400 each. On 21 August Rome police fined an Italian man 400 for refusing to wear a mask among the crowd at the Trevi Fountain, after he made fun of the officers by saying "covid-19 doesn't exist." In Italy masks must be worn in public areas where social distancing is not possible between 18.00 and 06.00. Photo La Repubblica India has recorded more than 32.3 lakh COVID-19 cases and 59,449 deaths due to the disease. Of the total cases, 7.07 lakh are active cases, while 24.67 lakh have recovered. Across the country, 8,23,992 samples were tested for the novel coronavirus on August 25, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said. Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally remains the highest among Indian states and union territories, according to the Union health ministry's latest update. Tamil Nadu is the second most-affected state, followed by Andhra Pradesh. The health ministry updates its numbers a day after states release their data. 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 Globally, more than 2.3 crore infections and over 8.1 lakh deaths have been reported due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are all the latest updates: >> Ahead of the state assembly session, 23 Punjab MLAs tested positive for COVID-19, the state's Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh said. >> West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the current lockdown measures in the state will continue till September 20, while a complete lockdown will be observed on September 7, 11 and 12. >> Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The veteran Congress leader urged all those who came in contact with him recently to get tested. >> Karnataka said it will be starting the academic year for various degree courses from September 1 with online classes. Offline classes, the state government said, are likely to start in October. >> Amid strict protocols against the COVID-19 pandemic, a one-day session of the Haryana Assembly began in Chandigarh, with the House paying tributes to 20 Indian soldiers killed in the Galwan Valley clash at the LAC. >> Phase II human trials of Oxford vaccine began in Pune, with the first dose being administered to two volunteers. >> A COVID-19 vaccine developed by Australia's University of Queensland showed promising results in animal trials, the varsity said. >> India's GDP needs to rise annually at 8-8.5 percent to create opportunities in the post-COVID era, and the country risks a decade of stagnating incomes and quality of life if urgent steps are not taken to spur growth, said a report by McKinsey Global Institute. WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the White House Historical Association released a special episode of The 1600 Sessions podcast congratulating the winner of the National History Day White House History Award. Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, speaks with tenth grader Jack Ghormley about his winning documentary and why history is so important to him. Ghormley's documentary focuses on President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats and looks at how these radio broadcasts evolved presidential communication. Speaking of the moment he found out he won, Ghormley shares, "I was on the couch watching the live stream and I stepped outside and I heard my family cheering and then I went back in to see my name with the White House History prize and I think I might have almost passed out. I was just ecstatic, and it was amazing." "We're really proud of you for winning this award and I'm happy to say that the White House Historical Association funds this particular project, and we were excited to watch your video," said McLaurin. Watch Jack Ghormley's winning documentary, "The Fireside Chats: FDR Breaking Barriers in Presidential Communication," here. The 1600 Sessions In this podcast series, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews luminaries, historians, and eyewitnesses to history about America's most famous residence and officethe White House. Each episode includes a prominent guest or guests to discuss varying facets of White House history, including insights from former staff and many other topical issues. The 1600 Sessions is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. To hear the full episode, visit The1600Sessions.org . About The White House Historical Association First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $50 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org . SOURCE The White House Historical Association Related Links http://www.whitehousehistory.org Two Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers have been arrested and charged in relation to anti-government protests last year that rocked the semi-autonomous city. Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui were arrested early Wednesday morning at their homes, according to a post on the Facebook page of the Democratic Party. Lam was arrested on suspicion of taking part in a riot on July 21 of last year, when more than 100 men attacked pro-democracy protesters and passengers at the Yuen Long subway station with steel rods and canes. Protesters have accused police of arriving late on the scene and allowing some of the armed attackers to leave. Lam has also been charged with Hui in connection with a July 6 protest in the Tuen Mun district. At least 14 other people were also arrested Wednesday in relation to last years massive protests, which began when the government announced plans to approve an extradition bill that would have sent criminal suspects to mainland China to face trial. The controversial measure was eventually withdrawn, but the protests continued and evolved into a demand for greater democracy for Hong Kong, which was granted an unusual amount of freedom when Britain handed control of the city back to China in 1997. The often violent protests prompted Beijing to impose a new national security law on Hong Kong that would subject anyone believed to be carrying out terrorism, separatism, subversion of state power or collusion with foreign forces to trial and possible life in prison if convicted. Lam and Hui are the latest high-profile pro-democracy figures who have been arrested since the law went into effect on July 1. They include 72-year-old Jimmy Lai, the publisher of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, and 23-year-old Agnes Chow, a former leader of Demosisto, a political party founded by fellow activist Joshua Wong. The party disbanded shortly after the new security law went into effect last month. Hong Kong authorities have also disqualified 12 pro-democracy candidates from running in Septembers legislative elections that have since been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The disqualified candidates included Wong, who was one of many pro-democracy activists who were nominated in an unofficial primary held back in July. A popular tax-supported program protecting the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonios primary source of drinking water, would get $100 million over 10 years in a plan now headed to the City Council. Under a proposal that received the Conservation Advisory Boards blessing Wednesday, the money would come from a portion of the revenues generated by city-owned San Antonio Water System. The funding would pay off debt for the program, which buys land over the aquifer to ensure it stays in its natural state. Currently, the program is financed by a 1/8-cent sales tax, which also funds development of creek-side greenway trails and linear parks. The tax has been approved four times by voters over the last 20 years. Now Playing: Since 2000, San Antonio voters have approved four five-year propositions to fund the acquisition of properties and conservation easements located on the environmentally sensitive recharge and contributing zones. Video: Mike Fisher Now, however, that 1/8-cent sales tax would fund the citys post-coronavirus economic recovery, if voters approve the proposition in November. The annual $10 million isnt enough, aquifer advocates say, but theyre relieved the city is identifying funds to keep the program alive. At this point, when funding for continuing the program is in limbo, its wise to begin supporting other means of supporting it, said Annalisa Peace, executive director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. Im glad that theyre looking to find other methods of support. But I think its going to be several things, and not just this one. Josie Norris /Staff photographer On ExpressNews.com: Sales tax for economic recovery in voters hands The current tax is set to expire in April, when its expected to raise the full $100 million approved by voters in 2015. Voters wont be asked to renew it again; instead, the City Council voted earlier this month to put Mayor Ron Nirenbergs economic recovery plan, including workforce training and college degrees, on the ballot instead. Four years later, the same tax would switch to VIA Metropolitan Transit, where it would be used to expand services, if voters approve a separate proposition also on the November ballot. Ben Gorzell, the citys chief financial officer, told the advisory board the aquifer program will have about $19.5 million remaining in its account next year, enough to keep it going through 2022. The new funding plan would take effect in 2023. To date, the program has protected 160,330 acres over the aquifers environmentally sensitive recharge and contributing zones, securing conservation easements to discourage development that could diminish the underground limestone formations water quality and recharge capacity. The nine-member advisory board, which makes policy recommendations for the program, unanimously supported the city staff recommendation to use the citys existing Municipal Facilities Corporation, of which the mayor and council serve as the board of directors, to sustain the program. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer On ExpressNews.com: VIA throws in its lot with San Antonio on sales tax vote in November The plan would provide $100 million, from the SAWS-generated revenue, for the programs easement acquisitions, with operating and maintenance costs funded through the city budget, Gorzell said. After 10 years, or when the $100 million is spent, the program could be extended by the city, Gorzelel said. The city finance staff would brief the advisory board on programming matters and funding each upcoming fiscal year, and could offer a mid-year budget review. That was really meant to give you an opportunity to have input into that discussion once weve had an opportunity to look at it. Its meant to be more of a collaborative process, so that as we develop that recommendation, weve got a conversation going about what we think the needs of the program are for the coming year, along with the citys financial capacity, he said. And then well take all of that, your input, and make a recommendation to the City Council as part of the proposed budget process. Josie Norris/Staff Photographer The program could acquire easements on a debt-free, pay-as-you-go basis as the SAWS customer base grows, Gorzell said. But what if that growth doesnt happen? What if the SAWS revenue somehow starts to decrease? asked Francine Romero, board chairwoman and the panels parks and recreation advisory representative. Gorzell said SAWS service area, along with its revenue stream, has historically grown steadily. The city would have to revisit that if growth didnt meeting projections. There may be years where it fluctuates. Those are the things well have to manage on our side, he added. The funding link between SAWS and aquifer protection has been discussed for several months as an alternative to the sales tax. In January, when Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff considered a public vote on a sales tax for expanded transportation services, the mayor proposed that SAWS take on additional debt in the form of bonds to continue the aquifer program. Josie Norris/Staff Photographer On ExpressNews.com: City officials consider bond issue to fund aquifer protection Aquifer protection advocates grew frustrated when SAWS President and CEO Robert Puente said in January the utility would have to cut the program in half if it directly took on an added role of guarding the highly porous zones of the aquifer. Internal negotiations led to the proposal presented Wednesday, which would keep the program under the citys management albeit with SAWS-generated money. SAWS returns 4 percent of its revenue to the city in a revenue-sharing agreement, which the city can spend as it sees fit. The proposal requires City Council approval to be enacted; no date has yet been set for a vote. The aquifer alliance also wants funding to continue for the greenway trails; both aquifer protection and the trails and parks should be fully funded, advocates say. Originally, Bexar County was going to take on the trails and parks part of the program, but county officials said Tuesday they dont want to start new capital projects at least until the spring, and the alliance isnt expecting the county to make the trails a priority, Peace said. Our optimal situation wouldve been to continue the sales tax, if only for two years, while things get sorted out, she said. That isnt an option. Instead, voters will decide in November whether to keep the tax to spend on economic recovery for four years starting in April and/or on expanded VIA transportation services in the years after that. Voters also could opt to reject the tax altogether. But they wont see the aquifer protection program on the ballot. Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Scott, become a subscriber. shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA KENOSHA President Donald Trump tweeted early Wednesday afternoon that he is sending federal law enforcement to Kenosha, even though federal law enforcement has already been present in the city this week. Around the same time, Gov. Tony Evers said that he would again be sending additional National Guard troops to the city after some conservatives blamed him directly for two deaths in Kenosha Tuesday night, since Evers had not accepted federal help and had only sent about 250 citizen soldiers to support local law enforcement. Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian said during a press conference Wednesday that Evers responded to the city's requests for help from the Wisconsin National Guard. Antaramian also said that federal law enforcement have already been active in Kenosha this week, via the U.S. Marshals, FBI and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives). On Wednesday, Evers said that 500 citizen soldiers would be in Kenosha; 125 Guardsmen had been there Monday, followed by 250 on Tuesday. In a statement, the governor said Guard members would only be used "to provide support to local law enforcement and to protect critical infrastructure and cultural institutions necessary for the well-being of the community, and to provide support to first responders such as the Kenosha Fire Department. The Wisconsin National Guard may not be used to impede the ability of people to peacefully protest or impede the ability of the media to report on this situation." On Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said in a Fox News interview that Evers rejected a federal offer for more troops. In an interview on WISN radio Wednesday, Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, blamed Evers specifically for the two deaths. An armed civilian is blamed for killing those two people and wounding another. "That is entirely on Gov. Evers' shoulders because he refused to do what the locals asked for," Vos said; Evers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Vos' statement. U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, also put some of the blame on the governor, saying in a statement Wednesday: It is a tragedy that two people had to lose their lives before Gov. Evers was willing to set aside politics and accept President Trumps help to restore order in Kenosha. Violence and chaos like weve seen the last three nights do nothing to advance justice, and they drown out the voices of those protesting peacefully. Going forward, our focus should be on healing for Jacob Blake, for the lives turned upside down in the rioting, and for the community of Kenosha. Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said in a letter to Evers Wednesday the two deaths could have been prevented. He said the Kenosha County Board on Tuesday night asked for 1,500 National Guard members to assist Wednesday, and implored Evers to reconsider Trump's offer. "Without massive resources, violence will only escalate," Wanggaard, a retired Racine Police officer, wrote. Wanggaard also criticized Evers for not accepting the offer of federal assistance, calling "disgusting and insulting." "Asking for resources for COVID, but refusing assistance for Kenosha is unconscionable and a slap in the face to every resident of Kenosha," he wrote. "When your house is on fire, you do not refuse your neighbors hose to help douse the flames because you are also hungry. Two people are dead tonight in Kenosha because of Wisconsins inability to control the riots." Republicans have widely condemned Evers for not calling for calm on Sunday night in the immediate aftermath of the Blake shooting. Instead his message focused on justice for Blake. The governor has since called for protests to remain peaceful. Vos said the episode is "an example of how picking the right leader for the right time really matters." "We have a feckless governor who does almost nothing, even at the request of local elected officials who are by and large Democrats," Vos said. "He ignores them and now people are literally dead because people had to take to themselves to protect their own property." This story has been updated to contain clarification on the presence of federal law enforcement in Kenosha this week. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In just under two weeks, a herculean effort by the Navy moved its hospital ship Comfort from dry dock in Virginia to the city. It took only 15 days after President Trumps national emergency declaration to open the Javits New York Medical Station an extraordinary joint city, state and federal effort to transform a huge convention center into a hospital. Almost 800 additional Reserve service members worked alongside New York Citys medical professionals at hospitals in its hardest-hit communities, where Covid-19 has disproportionately stricken New Yorkers of color. And the rate of deaths, once among the highest in the country, shrank to one of the lowest. The lesson is that a national catastrophe like this requires federal resources to coordinate, especially in the hardest-hit cities and states. But that has not been the pattern since New York. The federal agencies responsible for domestic public health disasters FEMA and the Department of Health & Human Services (H.H.S.) are competent and well trained, but not organized or equipped to manage a crisis on the scale of Covid-19. Their resources a combined $113 billion and 6,500 public health professionals cant rival the militarys $738 billion budget and 130,000 medical personnel. Though use of the military for domestic law enforcement raises important constitutional questions, it can be a major asset in disaster response. Military medical personnel have a history of rushing to save others at great risk, and to improvise when lives are at stake. Over the years, at least 75 medics, some of them conscientious objectors, have received the countrys Medal of Honor for their actions. And as much as any other federal health agency, the military has had combat experience against pandemics; in 2014 and 2015 it played an important role in holding back the Ebola virus in West Africa. The military is already playing a part among the patchwork of states cringing under the force of Covid-19. The Pentagon has deployed medical forces to Texas and California. The Defense Logistics Agency is coordinating the procurement and distribution of ventilators and personal protective equipment to medical professionals around the country. The Air Force has developed and fielded aeromedical evacuation systems to ease the transfer of Covid-19 patients. In May, after early missteps slowed the progress of the Trump administrations effort to accelerate vaccine development, it brought in a four-star Army general, Gustave F. Perna, to help lead the effort. And the militarys cybernetwork defenders are helping protect American pharmaceutical companies from theft of Covid-19 vaccine research. The Hindi film industry is guardedly resuming business amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some film shoots have restarted and actors and filmmakers alike are opening up about their experiences of going back to sets in these challenging times. Rohit Roy, who is all set to get back on sets to shoot for Mumbai Saga, says that he is looking forward to it. In a recent interview, Rohit opened up about the ramifications of resuming work as actors and how different it is going to be amid the pandemic. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Rohit said, "As actors, it's very important for us is to eventually get back in front of the arc lights in front of the camera because otherwise the actor can just decay. Mental stability is very important for us because sitting at homes for 4 months has taken a toll on a lot and lot of actors especially those living alone." He added, "We all are looking forward to it but we will be a little more careful and tests will be done on everybody who is going to come on sets. We will take precautions that we have been advised to take - may be a few more - because we cannot afford to have anybody fall ill within these two week period or even after that." Mumbai Saga is being directed by Sanjay Gupta and produced by T-Series. The film features an ensemble cast which includes John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi, Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Prateik Babbar, Pankaj Tripathi, Kajal Aggarwal, Gulshan Grover and others. ALSO READ: Ayushmann Khurrana On Shooting Abhishek Kapoor's Film: Feels Like Another Lifetime ALSO READ: Ali Abbas Zafar On The Challenges Of Shooting Amid The Pandemic Bali: The Indonesian resort island of Bali has postponed its plan to welcome international tourists from September following a decision by the country's government to wait until the end of this year. "The government is still prohibiting citizens from traveling abroad at least until the end of 2020. "In line with the policy, we also cannot open the gate to international travelers until the end of 2020 as the situation in Indonesia, including Bali, is not yet safe to welcome them," he said. On July 5, Koster told local media that his administration planned to reopen Bali on September 11 following the government's plan to suspend the entry of foreigners into the country for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The resort island resumed domestic tourism on July 31. As of Monday, Bali reported 4,576 Covid-19 cases and 52 deaths. According to reports, the 10-digit random number has been generated for 1,31,436 candidates who have applied for engineering admissions counselling TNEA 2020: The Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) committee on Wednesday released the unique random number assigned to all the candidates who have applied for admission this year. Candidates who have applied for TNEA 2020 can check the random number allotted to them on the official website tneaonline.org. According to a report by The Times of India, the 10-digit random number has been generated for 1,31,436 candidates who have applied for engineering admissions counselling. The random numbers have been allotted to break the tie when two or more candidates score the same marks while ranking. As many as 1,60,834 candidates have registered for TNEA 2020 counselling of which 1,31,436 have paid the fees for the process, the report quoted officials as saying. So far, 1,14,206 candidates have uploaded the documents, the officials said. A report by Careers 360 said the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE), Tamil Nadu, has also sent the TNEA 2020 random numbers to candidates on their registered email address and on their mobile numbers. After the TNEA random numbers 2020 is released, candidates will be able to proceed to the next step of uploading and verification of certificates. The department will publish the rank list and the counselling for special reservation, special category, and General category, which will be conducted online. Steps to check TNEA Random Number 2020 online: Step 1: Go to the official website of TNEA tneaonline.org Step 2: Login using your email ID and password Step 3: TNEA random number 2020 will be displayed on your screen. Download and take a print out. TNEA 2020 is conducted for admission to undergraduate engineering (B.E and B.Tech) courses government and government aided engineering colleges, University Departments and Constituent Colleges of Anna University, Annamalai University and for the seats surrendered by selffinancing engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. (Bloomberg) -- China will import $300 billion of semiconductors for the third straight year, underscoring how the worlds No. 2 economy remains tied to America despite billions invested in local chip-making know-how. Tech giants from Huawei Technologies Co. to Tsinghua Unigroup Co. and China Electronics Corp. are at the forefront of Beijings efforts to wean itself off U.S, technology, investing in cutting-edge AI chips, design software tools and memory. Yet decoupling from the U.S. threatens the global economy and is impossible for now despite major advances domestically, Wei Shaojun, vice chairman of China Semiconductor Industry Association, told the World Semiconductor Conference in Nanjing. China was the source of most of the global industry growth in the first half, Wei said, because it still imports more chips than it does oil from industry leaders like Micron Inc. and Qualcomm Inc.. The nation bought $184 billion of foreign integrated circuits in the first seven months of the year, 12% more than the year earlier period, according to customs data. But the country in past years has abruptly accelerated investment into research and onshore production: State-backed Tsinghua Unigroup is building a $22 billion memory chip plant in the central city of Wuhan, while Huaweis secretive HiSilicon has designed processors for most of its high-end mobile devices. Software developers are also stepping in after Washington banned Huawei from using electronics design automation (EDA) tools from Cadence Design Systems Inc. and Synopsys Inc. Synopsys, whose software was crucial for Huaweis development of its in-house chips, had suspended cooperation with the Chinese company because of the U.S. requirements, China Chairman Ge Qun told Bloomberg News, declining to give details. Government-owned China Electronics Corp. is capable of rolling out design software for 7nm processors and is developing EDAs for 5nm technology, according to Chen Ximing, deputy general manager of CEC. Story continues Some Western politicians believe there will be two separate systems in the world as China and the U.S. develop their own industrial and economy system. I dont think thats too practical, said Wei, the former head of Tsinghua Universitys microelectronics research institute. The foundation of the digital world is information technology, which is deeply globalized. Tearing this ecosystem apart will severely damage the growth of the world. As China intends to grow in the IT sector, semiconductor manufacturing is something it cant avoid. Growing U.S. hostility has driven home for Beijing the importance of making its own chips, the fundamental building block of most technologies from 5G networking and cars to smartphones and datacenters. The Trump administration has since May zeroed in on semiconductors in a campaign to rein in Chinas technology ascendancy, barring shipments of virtually all chips to its largest corporation, Huawei. Thats a mistake, Wei says, because China -- the fastest major world economy to recover from the pandemic -- is underpinning global growth. Because China was able to shake off the shadows of the Covid-19 and quickly recover its economy, its steadily increasing demand for chips. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. In case you haven't heard, Apple's upcoming iOS 14 update for iPhone will include a host of opt-in privacy updates that will make it more difficult for companies to track activity on your phone. Now, in a blog post, Facebook is warning that these changes will impact the business of developers who rely on the company's Audience Network for ad-driven revenue. Facebook's warning is for developers of all stripes, but does include a segment of game developers who rely on in-game ads. A special page branded for gaming promises that Audience Network can "expand the reach of your game's monetization," help you "retain game players" and "drive sustainable growth." Those three pitches might be rendered moot by Apple's privacy changes. But what's interesting is the change in Audience Network effectiveness isn't entirely controlled by Apple. It will be determined by how many users USE Apple's new privacy features to prevent Facebook from tracking their data. According to Facebook, "while its difficult to quantify the impact to publishers and developers at this point with so many unknowns, in testing weve seen more than a 50% drop in Audience Network publisher revenue when personalization was removed from mobile app ad install campaigns," Essentially, if enough users opt-out of behavior tracking, it raises the risk that they won't see Audience Network-driven ads, or that the ads won't be relevant. This might lower their effectiveness and therefore, their ability to generate revenue for developers. Because of this, Facebook says there may come a time when Audience Network will not be supported on iOS 14. File photo of Congress President Rahul Gandhi with senior party leader Sonia Gandhi during Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, at AICC HQ in New Delhi. PTI Photo The meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) held on Monday evoked only the usual interest among the people, party workers and in political circles. The CWC, once one of the most powerful and representative bodies in the pre- and post-Independent India, has of late ceased to make news when it meets. There are two important reasons for it. One, the body filled with nominated people reflected the loss of democratic moorings in the party and symbolised the sycophancy that runs in the organisation from top to bottom; the last proper election to the CWC was conducted in 1991. Second, the committee with its elected president used to control the affairs of the nation as the ruling or a major Opposition party at the Centre and in most of the states; it no more holds such power strings now. It has been reduced to such a position that its leader in the Lok Sabha cannot legitimately lay claim to the post of the leader of the Opposition for he lacks the support of one tenth of the total members of the house as mandated. The party has only four chief ministers now. The sudden interest in the CWC meeting has its origin in the letter 23 senior leaders wrote to the party leadership seeking a change at the helm. The letter created heartburn in the circles close to the party high command but the party will do well to seize the opportunity the letter-writers have offered. It is highly unlikely that they will launch an open revolt against Sonia Gandhi who has been retained as president until a new incumbent arrives or former president Rahul Gandhi, though they have succeeded in stopping Gandhi from returning as party chief for now. Sonia Gandhi who has said she has no plans to initiate disciplinary action against them must do more and accommodate them in the new committee which will be formed to help her run the party. Gandhi must resist the temptation of the coterie around her which would want every crisis to end with a declaration that the hands of the leadership must be strengthened. Such self-serving exercises are unlikely to help the party sustain the interest of the party workers and the people. An elected leadership is a pre-condition if the party were to regain its legitimacy and popularity and the Congress president must set in motion the process aimed at that; the easy way out of foisting string-pullers under the garb of consensus must be jettisoned. The AICC has been talking of making itself an elected body for decades, and this crisis gives it a golden opportunity, what with Gandhi, who commands respect among all sections of the party, at the helm. It is important that the grand old party of Indian politics reinvents and renovates itself and makes itself a worthy Opposition party this nation deserves. Shortcuts and courtroom dramas are not the way to achieve it; returning to basic democratic practices is. Taliban Attacks on Afghan Forces Cause Dozens of Casualties By Ayaz Gul August 25, 2020 Taliban insurgents carried out a suicide bombing and other attacks against government security installations in Afghanistan, killing up to 20 people and injuring dozens more. Tuesday's deadly violence comes as the opening of U.S.-backed peace talks between Afghan rivals to end the country's long war face delays. Afghan officials said a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden mini truck into an army commando unit in the northern Balkh province early Tuesday morning. The blast, they said, killed at least three people and injured more than 40 others. Citing preliminary information, Gen. Hebatullah Alizai, a senior military commander in the area, told VOA that at least one army officer was among those killed. A local violence monitor reported the deaths of at least 11 people, while 60 others suffered injuries in the bombing in a district also named Balkh. The monitor, associated with the independent Afghan Peace Watch, did not give further details. The car bombing "flattened most parts of the base and killed 61 commandos" of the Afghan army, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, though the insurgent group often issues inflated claims about its attacks. Separately, authorities in Shahrak district in central Ghor province told VOA that Taliban rebels stormed a police outpost in a pre-dawn attack that killed eight security personnel and injured six others. District chief Mohammad Sakhi Sabouryar said the insurgents also overran the outpost before being pushed back by Afghan forces. The Taliban took responsibility Sunday for detonating a vehicle-born improvised explosive device at the entrance of district police headquarters in central eastern Ghazni province before a group of insurgents stormed the building. Afghan officials confirmed the killing of at least three security personnel. The insurgents claimed the bomb-and-gun raid left 28 government forces dead. Breach of US-Taliban understanding The two suicide bombings in Balkh and Ghazni this week seem to breach an understanding between the United States and the Taliban, which sealed a peace agreement in February that mandated the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The deal has completely halted Taliban attacks on U.S. and NATO-led allied troops in the country. In return, U.S. airstrikes against insurgent positions in support of Afghan force's operations have almost ended. U.S. officials have said the Taliban also promised to significantly reduce the level of attacks and said it would not stage suicide bombings in cities, to create a conducive environment in the run-up to their peace talks with an Afghan national delegation. The opening of the intra-Afghan negotiations, as stipulated in the U.S.-Taliban pact, however, has been delayed because of the Afghan government's reluctance to release a last set of insurgent inmates from jails as part of a swap with the Taliban. The U.S.-Taliban agreement requires all American and coalition troops to leave Afghanistan by mid-2021, in return for assurances the insurgents would prevent the use of Afghan soil for international terrorist attacks and seek political reconciliation with rival factions to end decades of violence. Mujahid told VOA the Taliban "has not given assurances to anyone" to halt attacks against Afghan security forces. "Our operations are continuing and will continue. If the rival side is not agreeing to resolve problems through negotiations, we are forced to use the military path to find a solution," Mujahid said. Attack on actress-turned-police-officer Separately, unknown gunmen Tuesday shot a prominent Afghan actress-turned-police officer, Saba Sahar, while she was traveling to work in Kabul. The capital city's police confirmed the attack, saying Sahar was taken to a hospital. They gave no further details about her condition. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest in a recent string of high-profile unclaimed attempts on the lives of civil society activists and officials in Kabul. Amnesty International has condemned the shooting and is demanding the Afghan government urgently investigate it. "The rise in attacks and assassination attempts on human rights defenders, political activists, journalists and film actors is extremely worrying. These attacks must be investigated, and the perpetrators held accountable," Amnesty said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov acquainted Ambassador of Sweden to Ukraine Tobias Thyberg and Ambassador of Finland to Ukraine Paivi Laine with the capacities of the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity at the National Security and Defense Council. During the meeting, Danilov stressed that the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity is a key analytical center of the state for detecting, preventing, and responding to cyber incidents and the Center's capabilities were significantly strengthened in accordance with the decision of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in early 2020. The NCCC not only coordinates and monitors the activities of security and defense sector entities that ensure cybersecurity in various areas - the State Special Communications Service of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police, the National Bank, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and others - but also actively develops public-private partnerships in this field, the press service of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine informs. As noted, the ambassadors expressed readiness to expand cybersecurity cooperation with Ukraine. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine thanked Sweden and Finland for the comprehensive assistance provided to Ukraine and the continued support in its struggle to restore territorial integrity and sovereignty over the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. According to Danilov, "cyber and biological threats are becoming more terrible and dangerous even than nuclear weapons" in the present-day world. "Today we are witnessing the first global biological war, the consequences of which are being felt by the whole world," he said and underscored the importance of uniting efforts of partner countries to counter these threats. The parties also discussed the current security situation in the region, in particular in the context of the settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as the events taking place in neighboring Belarus. Ambassadors Thyberg and Laine assured that their countries would continue to support Ukraine on its path towards the restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty over the temporarily occupied territories. The National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity is the agency at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine established in accordance with the Councils decision "On Cybersecurity Strategy of Ukraine" of January 27, 2016. ol The Department of Commerce on Wednesday blacklisted 24 Chinese firms for "helping the Chinese military construct and militarize the internationally condemned artificial islands in the South China Sea." Why it matters: The move comes as the Trump administration continues to ramp up pressure on Beijing amid escalating tensions in the disputed region. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a separate statement Wednesday, saying the State Department would impose visa restrictions on an unspecified number of Chinese individuals who are "responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea..." The big picture: In toughening its approach on Beijing last month, the U.S. rejected most of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that China has built more than 3,000 acres of "air defense and anti-ship missile features" since 2013. China continues to assert claim to the area, ignoring a 2016 ruling in international court that said Beijing's claims do not have grounds in international law. Driving the news: Earlier Wednesday, China reportedly fired two missiles into the disputed South China Sea as a "warning" to the U.S., per the South China Morning Post. The state of play: The two dozen companies blacklisted Wednesday include an array of communications, construction, engineering, research and tech groups. What they're saying: The United States, Chinas neighbors, and the international community have rebuked the CCPs sovereignty claims to the South China Sea and have condemned the building of artificial islands for the Chinese military," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stated. Amidst muted Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue growth and worries over delayed allocation of compensation cess to states, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra has urged central government to honour the commitment to pay compensation to states. The development came a day ahead of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meet on August 27 to discuss the single-point agenda of compensation to states. "Centre must pay the compensation from different cesses that it collects, as it is not getting devolved to the states. In case of shortfall, it is the responsibility of the Centre to garner resources for fully compensating the sates, as per formula agreed upon with the states," West Bengal FM said in a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Under the GST law, states were guaranteed to be paid for any loss of revenue in the first five years of the GST implementation from July 1, 2017. The shortfall is calculated assuming a 14 per cent annual growth in GST collections by states over the base year of 2015-16. Mitra said that the states should not be asked to borrow from the market as it will increase their debt servicing liability. Further, it may lead to a cut in the state's expenditure which is not desirable at this juncture when the economy is witnessing severe recessionary trend, he added. Mitra further stated that the state government is greatly "alarmed" by Finance Secretary's statements that "the central government is not in a position to pay GST compensation due to dip in a collection meant for compensation." In the last GST Council meeting in June, the crucial decision on compensation cess to states was deferred. Earlier, FM Sitharaman had said the 41st meeting of the Council on August 27 will have only single-point agenda how to pay compensation to states at a time when the compensation cess collection has declined due to disruption of economic activities amid coronavirus lockdown. The inadequate realisation of GST compensation cess during coronavirus lockdown has delayed the payment to states. The central government may ask states that they should borrow individually from the markets instead of the central government taking the route. The centre had released Rs 1,65,302 crore to states as their Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation for financial year 2019-20. By Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: GST dues: Centre must compensate states for loss of revenue, says Attorney General Also Read: GST Council may consider proposal to cut tax on two-wheelers PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New COVID-19 projections released today by PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) reveal large Midwestern cities will likely enter the fall with weekly case incidence counts nearly 10 times the rate of infection as when many European economies and schools reopened last spring. The models also suggest that New England cities, such as Boston, Providence and Hartford, could see significant virus resurgence in the coming weeks, approaching similar numbers to those in the Midwest. In viewing this week's data, the researchers are more confident in their projections for the past several weeks that COVID-19 resurgence was slowly returning to Boston and the greater New England region, even as New York's case counts and test positivity rates remain among the lowest in the country. Transmission risk increased simultaneously this week in Massachusetts' Essex and Suffolk counties, which are now seeing 65-90 cases per 100,000 individualstrends that are approaching existing hotspots like Indianapolis and Chicago. Rhode Island's projected case counts have surpassed those of the Philadelphia region and look more similar to the risk now forecasted for the Washington, D.C. metro area. Finally, as forecasts for many areas of the south continue to improve, particularly in vacation destinations, projected case growth in Mid-Atlantic counties remains flat, with the highest reported infection rates in the cities of North and South Carolina, which are surpassing those in the Midwest. Along with this week's forecasts, the researchers also updated their dashboards to highlight the weekly trends in case incidence and test positivity rates for every county in the United States. These rates, alongside PolicyLab's school reopening guidance, can assist schools and universities with challenging decisions about reopening and the subsequent success of their safety plans. In following repopulating college towns, the researchers are projecting worsening situations for communities like South Bend, Ind., and Chapel Hill and Raleigh, NC, after their well-reported campus outbreaks resulted in reversals to online learning. An outbreak at East Carolina University, in Greenville, NC, caused case counts in the area to quickly surpass 200 cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity rates to climb to 13%. Furthermore, the reopening of K-12 schools around Marietta, Ga., and in several counties throughout Alabama and North Carolina, have led to increasing case incidence, although it is too soon to forecast the magnitude and duration of that resurgence as schools initiate their safety plans for the fall. "America is on the moveback to school, back home from vacation, back to some semblance of normal lifeand it remains to be seen how severely these transitions will impact the continued spread of COVID-19 as we head towards fall," said David Rubin, MD, MSCE, director of PolicyLab at CHOP and a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. "We should welcome the relief that some areas of the south and vacation destinations are finally seeing, but the continued concerns for our northern states and college towns are a reminder that with colder weather approaching, now is an important time to remain vigilant and commit to the distancing and masking routines that will help us navigate the pandemic in the months ahead." For additional comments from lead investigators Dr. Rubin, Dr. Gregory Tasian, and Dr. Jing Huang on their updated forecasts and findings, read this blog post: https://policylab.chop.edu/blog/covid-19-outlook-buckle-ride-about-get-bit-bumpy Background Researchers at PolicyLab at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania developed the model, known as COVID-Lab: Mapping COVID-19 in Your Community, which tracks COVID-19 transmission and test positivity rates across all U.S. counties, and projects case counts for 747 counties with active outbreaks, representing 80% of the U.S. population and 89% of all identified coronavirus cases. The researchers built their model to observe how social distancing, population density, daily temperatures, and humidity affect the number and spread of COVID-19 infections over time across a county, accounting for test positivity rates and population characteristics such as age, insurance status, crowding within homes and diabetes prevalence. COVID-Lab's projections forecast the number of coronavirus cases communities could experience over the next four weeks based on a three-day average of their current social distancing practices, defined by the change in travel to non-essential businesses as compared to pre-epidemic. The application of this model, which focuses on time-varying transmission rates during the early months of the pandemic in the U.S., was released on July 23, following peer review, in JAMA Network Open. You can read more about how the team validates their models for accuracy in this blog post. The data are publicly available in the form of interactive maps and graphs. About PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is dedicated to achieving optimal child health and well-being by informing program and policy changes through interdisciplinary research. Founded in 2008, PolicyLab is a Center of Emphasis within the CHOP Research Institute, one of the largest pediatric research institutes in the country. With more than 30 highly regarded faculty and 60 passionate staff who bring expertise from myriad of fields covering health, research and health policy, our work focuses on improving public systems, improving health care delivery and improving child health outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.policylab.chop.edu . MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Walens, Strategic Ops & Comms Director PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia [email protected] or (734) 904-2181 SOURCE PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Related Links http://www.policylab.chop.edu With falling grace and fading political acumen, Sovan Chatterjees lost connection with the masses is an open secret in Bengals politics. Due to his political hibernation for nearly 22 months, coupled with health concerns, it will also be difficult for Sovan to prove himself as a game changer for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2021 assembly polls. Despite knowing the present political position of Sovan the former Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) mayor and Mamata Banerjees once blue-eyed boy Kanan (as he was fondly called) it is curious to witness how the state BJP is reaching out to him seemingly desperately ever since news surfaced that he may go back to the Trinamool Congress. The first one to approach him was silent RSS warrior Arvind Menon followed by senior BJP leaders over the phone. On October 3, 2018, Amit Shah appointed national executive member Menon as the partys Bengal co-minder. RELATED NEWS Former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and His Friend Baisakhi Dismiss Rumours of Joining BJP On August 24, 2020, Menon called on Sovan at his South Kolkata residence and held an unscheduled closed-door meeting for more than an hour amid rumours of Sovan planning to rejoin TMC. Speculation over Sovans going back to Trinamool exploded after the TMC asked Ratna Chatterjee (Sovans estranged wife) to refrain from party activity at Ward No 131, which falls under the Behala West Assembly constituency in South Kolkata. Though the outcome of the Menon-Sovan meeting is not very clear, political experts see this as the BJPs strategy to use the Narada sting (Sovan is under the lens of the Enforcement Directorate) and Saradha Ponzi scheme as a weapon to corner Mamata ahead of the state polls. Political expert Kapil Thakur said, Using probe agencies to silence opposition is nothing new in politics. We have seen this in the past too. In this case you will see a similarity in the BJPs calculated move when it comes to Mukul Roy, Sovan Chatterjee and presently Suvendu Adhikari. Mukul Roys hobnobbing with the BJP in 2015 after his name came out in Saradha and then Sovan Chatterjees differences with Mamata Banerjee in 2019 followed by Suvendu Adhikaris repeated absence from party events amid the 2016 Narada controversy this shows that there is something more to this. Otherwise why will the BJP reach out to Sovan who is politically insignificant in todays politics? Is the BJP looking for something else from Sovan or in case of Mukul to corner Mamata Banerjee ahead of the polls? These are the obvious questions which will be known gradually in the coming few weeks. The ED has already served fresh notices to Saugata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Afrin Aparupa Poddar, Subhendu Adhikari and Ratna Chatterjee, wife of former mayor Sovan Chatterjee, in the Narada case. On July 21, 2020, in her Shahid Diwas (Martyrs Day) speech, Mamata Banerjee hinted that the probe agencies (including CBI and ED) were active again to harass TMC leaders in the Narada and Saradha cases. They (BJP and Centre) dont have any other work except criticising Bengal. Already nimantranamantran (invitation) started coming in. I know before elections you (Centre) will leave no stone unturned to corner us with agencies. We understand what these nimantranamantran are meant for. We understand these political stunts. But I would like to say that we are prepared for all when elections will be held in Bengal, Mamata had said. Speaking to News18.com, Shiv Prakash, BJPs national general secretary and an old RSS activist, who is working silently to strengthen the party in Bengal, said, I dont have any knowledge about him (when asked to comment on Sovan). There is no challenge for us in Bengal (in terms of the upcoming assembly polls). The TMC is a sinking boat as party leaders are fighting with each other. Shiv Prakash, who worked closely with Amit Shah in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, was given the responsibility of organisational affairs primarily in West Bengal. When contacted, the former Kolkata mayor and senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya said, The CBI has sought Lok Sabha Speakers permission to prosecute TMC MPs in connection with the 2016 Narada sting operation in West Bengal. But nothing has happened. Then, I wrote a letter to the Speaker but there was no response from him. There are 13-14 people who are under the lens of the probe agencies but selective notices were served this time. I suspect that this was done to delay the matter further. Using agencies for political interest in nothing new. This time also the election is coming and unfortunately they again started doing all these things here. In the context of Sovan, he said, He is politically insignificant in Bengal. I think the BJP is trying to create some impression on thez voters minds that they are more acceptable in Bengals politics and that is why leaders from other parties are joining them. But the ground reality is BJP has lost all credibility in Bengal. On October 29, 2019, in a significant political development, Sovan and his close friend Baisakhi Banerjee sprung a surprise by meeting Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence on the occasion of Bhai Phonta (Bhai Dooj). Then, on Sovans possible return to the party, Baisakhi had said, It is a fact that we had joined BJP but the experience was differentnot the way we had thought. All of you know, Sovan has always been very active in politics. But you can see.. he is politically non active. Now the BJP has to decide how they want to utilise Sovan. Earlier, on August 14, 2018, Sovan and Baisakhi had joined the BJP at New Delhi. I am happy to join BJP as I believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modis and Amit Shahs determination in making a strong India, Sovan had said. In November 2018, Sovan resigned from the post of Kolkata mayor and as a minister for fire and emergency services and housing after his alleged differences with Mamata. Later, it emerged that Mamata was reportedly unhappy with Sovans lack of interest in day-to-day administrative/civic responsibilities due to his legal battle for divorce with his wife Ratna. A Brisbane motorist has been fined and convicted after he was busted by police charging his mobile phone while behind the wheel. Drew Richard Robinson pleaded guilty to the mobile phone offence when he appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The court heard Robinson was stopped at the lights in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley in May when police spotted him plugging his mobile into a car charger, the Courier Mail reported. A remorseful Robinson insisted he was unaware that he was breaking the law. A Brisbane driver was fined and convicted for plugging in his phone into a car charger while behind the wheel (stock image) MOBILE PHONE FINES Queensland: Up to $1,000 NSW: $337 and five demerit points Victoria: $484 Western Australia: $400 & three points SA: $308, $60 Victims of Crime levy and three points Northern Territory: $250, three points ACT: $577 Advertisement 'I simply did not know that connecting my phone to the charger while in my vehicle, inadvertently seeing the time up on the phone, constituted an offence,' he told the court. Robinson was fined $250 and had a conviction recorded. 'If you're charging it you're using it,' Magistrate Andrew Moloney told him. 'You just can't touch a mobile phone in a motor vehicle at all. It's very distracting and it is on the evidence .. a major cause of accidents.' Queensland implemented tough new laws for illegal mobile phone use in February when the fines more than doubled from $400 to up to $1000. The aim is to deter drivers from being distracted by their phones in a desperate bid to reduce state's road toll. Double demerit points apply for second or subsequent mobile phone offences committed within 12 months of a previous offence. 'Driving while using a mobile phone held in your hand is illegaleven if you're stopped in traffic,' the Queensland government website states. Queensland Police were patrolling Brisbane's Fortitude Valley when they spotted a motorist plugging in his phone while stopped at traffic lights (stock image) 'If you need to use your mobile phone, pull over and park in a safe place first.' The penalty for using a phone while driving is $337 and five demerits in New South Wales while in South Australian drivers are slapped with a $308 fine, a $60 Victims of Crime levy and three points. In Western Australia, drivers lose three points and are fined $400, which increases to $484 in Victoria and up to $577 in the ACT. The Northern Territory has the most lenient laws, where using a mobile will cost you three demerits and a $250 fine. Iran Lawmakers Aim To Fully Ban All 'Foreign' Messaging Apps Radio Farda August 25, 2020 Dozens of lawmakers in Iran have signed a motion to replace foreign messaging apps with domestically produced ones. The proposal titled as the motion for "Organizing Social Media Messaging," was presented to the parliament's presidium on Monday, August 24. Signed by forty MPs, the motion has set fines and prison sentences for anyone who offers social media messaging apps without an official license or reproduces and distributes VPNs and other internet circumvention tools. Iran heavily censors the internet and has long blocked Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, while many officials use banned messaging apps. Instagram is the only major foreign social media platform still untouched by the government. Based on the motion, whoever violates the proposed law will face a "six degree" imprisonment or fine. According to the Islamic penal code, a six-degree punishment includes more than six months and up to two years in jail, and a twenty million to eighty million rials (about $475 to $1900) fine. Meanwhile, the motion proposes the formation of a "Central Entity" named the "Organizing Committee," assigned to issue licenses for messaging apps, monitor and supervise their performance, and investigate the relevant complaints. The Committee consists of the head of the Cyberspace Center, a representative of the ministries of Intelligence, Culture and Islamic Guidance, Communication, the Attorney General's Office, the Cultural Commission, the monopolized state-run Radio and Television, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) Intelligence Organization, the Islamic Propagation Organization, the police, and the Passive Defense Organization. Defining the term "domestic messaging app," the motion stipulates that more than 50% of its shares must belong to an Iranian citizen, it must be hosted only in the country, and its activity must be within the framework of the laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hardliners in Iran have always demanded full control over cyberspace where people can express anti-regime sentiments and organize during protests. The Internet in the clergy-dominated Iran has always been struggling with disruptions and restrictions mainly related to the severe filtering by a plethora of security and communication institutions in the Islamic Republic. Even the most popular messaging app in Iran, Telegram, is also filtered, and people have no access to it without using a circumvention tool. Commemorating the World Cyber Censorship Day last March, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) named the Islamic Republic's Supreme Council of Cyberspace as one of twenty governmental and non-governmental entities with the worst record in suppressing social media activities. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran- lawmakers-aim-to-fully-ban-all-foreign -messaging-apps/30802448.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 14:18:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, including two imported cases and three community cases. Two of Wednesday's cases are contacts of cases known to be part of the outbreak. One of these is under investigation, according to a ministry statement. These cases brought New Zealand's total number of confirmed cases to 1,344, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a daily briefing. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 134, of which 21 are imported cases from managed isolation facilities, he said. The imported cases include a female in her 50s who arrived in New Zealand on Aug. 13 and a male in his 30s who arrived on Aug. 21. Further information on these cases will be provided as it comes to hand. Both are being transferred to a quarantine facility, Bloomfield said. There are nine people receiving hospital-level care for COVID-19 and all of these are part of the Auckland community outbreak, he said. Laboratories completed 8,559 tests on Tuesday, bringing the total tests to date to 710,063, according to the ministry. The Auckland regional DHBs are increasing their mobile and pop-up testing sites again and the ministry encourages people to go along. "This testing forms part of our surveillance program to help ensure we have identified the full extent of the current outbreak," Bloomfield said. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Monday the decision to make masks mandatory on public transport at Alert Level 2 and above, which will take effect from next Monday. According to the rule, public transport includes planes, buses, taxis and rideshare services such as Uber, but children are not required to wear masks at the moment. The COVID-19 restrictions in Auckland will continue at the current Alert Level 3 until Sunday night. The rest of the country will remain at Alert Level 2 with relaxed restrictions, she said. Under level 3, businesses are required to implement COVID-19 safety measures, but most people are encouraged to work from home and school children learn from home. Enditem Late evening Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi announced the formation of a committee which will study and work the strategy of the party on ordinances. But the significance of the committee lies not in its formation, but in the names and the message it wants to send out that the Grand Old Party will move on without addressing the concerns raised by those who wrote a letter seeking an active and visible leadership. Each name chosen also has a purpose and messaging. Lets begin with P Chidambaram one of the few leaders who was visited by Sonia Gandhi, Manmoahn Singh and Rahul Gandhi when he was in jail. Chidambaram has returned in full form in the partys affairs and is also being speculated to become one of the possible vice-presidents or committee members to aid and advise Sonia Gandhi. Chidambaram carries with him strong economic credentials and is a legal luminary as well. Chidambarams choice is being seen from the perspective of the other lawyer in the party who is now not so much in favour Kapil Sibal. Sibal was one of the 23 signatories to the letter. In fact, Sibal continued his veiled attacks on the Congress even a day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting and wrote on Twitter, When fighting for principles in life, in politics, in law, amongst social activists on social media platforms, opposition is often voluntary, support is often managed. The dig at the CWC meeting where a group of 23 senior leaders were attacked cannot be missed here. However, Chidambaram, the lawyer, will be seen as a counter to Sibal, the lawyer, who has fought many cases pro bono for his party, the most recent being the Rajasthan crisis. The other big entrant is Digvijaya Singh. Post the Madhya Pradesh crisis, many thought his career was over politically, as he along with Kamal Nath were seen as being responsible for the departure of Jyotiraditya Scindia. But it is clear that Singh is back in full form. It is a lesson to the letter writers that some follies can be forgiven, but to be seen as questioning the might of the Gandhis cannot be overlooked ever. It is a dig and message to Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma, who are Singhs contemporaries. Next comes Jairam Ramesh who has been made the convenor of the committee. A leader who many thought has been left out in the cold with his Rajya Sabha tenure about to come to an end. Ramesh, like Sharma, has been used for his meticulous notes. An important participant of the winning 2004 Congress campaign of Congress ka haath, aam aadmi ke saath, Ramesh has of late maintained a low profile. However, his return into this committee is being seen as a snub to Sharma and also the message that Sonia Gandhi continues to trust him Then comes Dr Amar Singh, a former IAS officer and MP from Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab. Dr Amar Singh was principle secretary to Digvijaya Singh when he was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Dr Singh had raised the issue of ordinances in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour and his appointment is seen as a snub to the other high profile MP from Punjab but who is now being looked down upon for being one of the signatories Manish Tewari. Then there is Gaurav Gogoi who many say is the rising star. In-charge of the upcoming elections in West Bengal, Gogoi is close to Rahul Gandhi and proficient in both Hindi and English. However, more importantly his appointment is seen as a snub and message to the other savvy letter writers Jitin Prasada and Shashi Tharoor. Prasada incidentally shared the same proximity to Rahul Gandhi which Gogoi now enjoys. The committee has the stamp of both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, but more significant message is that that you need to be on the right side and not write letters if you want to be in the good books. STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. The defense ministry of Artsakh denies the Azerbaijani report according to which the Defense Army servicemen have opened fire from machine guns and sniper rifles at the direction of Ghapanly village in Tartar district. The Artsakh defense ministry issued a statement which says: Azerbaijans official propaganda, remaining committed to its policy which is based on lie and fraud, today issued a statement according to which the Defense Army servicemen opened fire from machine guns and sniper rifles towards Ghapanly village in Tartar district. Artsakhs defense ministry states that the aforementioned statement is another disinformation of the Azerbaijani side. Moreover, the civilian population and objects have never been and are never a target for the Defense Army. The Defense Army units continue adhering to the ceasefire regime and are ready to take actions if necessary. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan 'I am not minimising either the seriousness or the complex nature of the current situation.' 'Naturally, we have to do what it takes to secure our borders.' 'We are talking to the Chinese, both through military channels and diplomatic ones.' 'In fact, they work in tandem.' 'When it comes to finding a solution, this must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings.' 'And not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally.' IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar presents a copy of his book, The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, August 25, 2020. Photograph: Kind Courtesy S Jaishankar/Twitter External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's book The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World is scheduled for release on September 7. On August 25, he presented the first copy of the book to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and tweeted, 'Privileged to present the first copy of my book 'The India Way' to PM @narendramodi. Thank him for his inspiration and encouragement.' In an earlier tweet in July, the minister had said, 'A two-year project finally concluded. Thank all those who made it possible. Should hit the stands in early September.' Dr Jaishankar, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977, is uniquely placed to write the book, having served in embassies in Moscow, Washington, DC, Colombo, Budapest and Tokyo. He served as ambassador to the United States from 2013 to 2015, and to China from 2009 to 2013, before becoming foreign secretary in 2015. After his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service in 2018, he was appointed external affairs minister by Prime Minister Modi in the government that took office in 2019. In an exclusive interview to Senior Rediff.com Contributor Sheela Bhatt, Dr Jaishankar spells out his outline of a changing world, and India's place in it. How will you narrate 'The India Way'? What is the broad framework of Indian thinking of the 21st century that would help India achieve its strategic goals? Look, we are a billion-plus civilisational society that is poised to occupy a much more prominent place in the world. That puts us in a pretty unique position. Only China can claim something similar. And we do so at a time of unprecedented change, when the 1945 architecture is facing challenges. Our own capabilities and aspirations have steadily increased, as also the expectations of us. The democratic world looks to India, as do the developing countries. The global order is simultaneously undergoing greater rebalancing and more multi-polarity. My point is that the world is different, we are also different, and the future obviously will be different. In this situation, we need to optimise our relationships and maximise our convergences. You can say it is a 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' approach to foreign policy. That is the essence of the India Way. You have said in your book that India has three major burdens from the past. One, the Partition of 1947; two, the delayed economic reforms; and three, the prolonged exercise of the nuclear option. Can you elaborate, please? Actually, I have explained this in some detail in the book. Whatever the causes, the result of Partition was a reduction in India's geo-political significance and global standing. As for the economic reforms, I would compare our moment of change with that of China. There is a 15-year gap, which has huge implications. As for stretching the nuclear option -- that we finally concluded in 1998 -- it unnecessarily prolonged the hyphenation with Pakistan. People may debate the compulsions and merits of each of these factors. But no one can deny that they had a serious impact on our strategic prospects. How relevant is Jawaharlal Nehru's non-alignment today? Like many other approaches, non-alignment too had its context. And that was the Cold War, which saw pulls and pressures from the Western and Soviet blocs. I have brought out how India responded to these. When it suited us, such as after the 1962 or in 1971, we were quite prepared to lean in one direction. But the current world is very different. Bloc politics is much weaker. China is not the USSR. The top 20 countries are less Western than before. Our own weight in global politics is much more. My point is that if the architecture is so different, then so too must its navigation. But don't get me wrong. India is and will always be an extremely independent polity. The manner in which it pursues its interests will reflect that basic character. As a former diplomat, do you think that increasingly, most relationships between nations are now more transactional than principled? To some extent, perhaps. It leads to convergences and where that is deeper, so is the relationship. But, values and principles also have a place in the calculation. Clearly, they have to be in sync with interests. Bear in mind that principles define our branding, aspirations, sometimes our very character. Strengthening the global commons and contributing to global good has great value. So, as a country, we should be proud of responding to a Nepal earthquake or a Mozambique cyclone. Our Africa partnership in fact represents a solidarity that goes well beyond self-interest. So does our medical consignments to 150 countries during COVID-19. In fact, at a time when the world is more cynical, this distinguishes us from many others. And I believe it is also intrinsic to the India Way. Your book focusses significantly on our ties with China. You will agree that we are looking at the most serious crisis since 1962. The current government has invested in leadership diplomacy with China as well. How do you see the way out? Well, you are right on that one thing. This is surely the most serious situation after 1962. In fact, after 45 years, we have had military casualties on this border. The quantum of forces currently deployed by both sides at the LAC (Line of Actual Control) is also unprecedented. If you look back over the last decade, there have been a number of border situations -- Depsang, Chumar and Doklam. In a sense, each one was different. This one surely is. But what is also common is that all borders situations were resolved through diplomacy. I am not minimising either the seriousness or the complex nature of the current situation. Naturally, we have to do what it takes to secure our borders. As you know, we are talking to the Chinese both through military channels and diplomatic ones. In fact, they work in tandem. But when it comes to finding a solution, this must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings. And not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally. But while the talks are going on, its impact on the rest of the relationship seems to be serious. Common people are really angry at what happened. You have a point there. That is why we tell the Chinese side clearly that peace and tranquility in the border areas are the basis for the relationship. If we look back at the last three decades, this is quite self-evident. You obviously wrote the book before the current problems with China. So how have you envisaged the future of the ties in your book? What I have said is that the ability of India and China to work together could determine the Asian century. But their difficulties in doing so may well undermine it. So, this is an extremely consequential relationship for both. It has its fair share of problems and I have been forthright in acknowledging them. We need honest conversations on this, among Indians and between India and China. That is why this relationship requires both a strategy and a vision. What are the factors that have kept India-Russia relations sturdy? In your first decade of service, India was largely banking on the India-Russia strategic partnership as the fulcrum of its policy. I am so glad you asked. India-Russia ties have been remarkably consistent even though the world has seen dramatic changes over the last three decades. The convergences are very strong in many areas. But popular sentiment and leadership efforts have also given these ties an exceptional character. Its growing economic content and cooperation in Russia's Far East are new facets that have strengthened it recently. America has led the world since 1945. Now, it is looking inward with its America First policy. As someone long associated with this relationship, how do you assess its impact on India? To start with, we must analyse why America has changed. And thereafter, what it means for India and the world. Much of my book is devoted to this subject. Some of it is domestic to the US; some a reflection of their situation vis-a-vis others, especially China. On our part, we should take clinical view of our own interests and not get entangled in the debates of others. We have a broad spectrum of support in the US. These relations have progressed through multiple administrations. And that tells us that the convergences are getting deeper and broader by the day. Like everybody else, both India and the US are coming to terms with the changing world and are obviously discovering the merits of doing more together. According to you, in the last 43 years, which were those historic international events that heavily influenced India's diplomacy? Obviously, you picked 43 since I joined the Foreign Service in 1977. Looking back, I would say starting with the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in 1979. Then the break-up of the USSR in 1992, the 9/11 events in 2001, the global financial crisis in 2008 and now the corona pandemic in 2020. The epilogue of the book is called 'After the Virus', and makes the case that it will lead to radical shifts in the global order. Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - August 26, 2020) - Evergreen Assets Management ("Evergreen AM") has engaged Passion Venture Capital Pte Ltd, a fund manager licenced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to successfully set up a new fund to rise up to S$100 million. Evergreen Assets Management To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit: https://media.zenfs.com/en-us/newsfile_64/af4c8a12690d16f377fc2e670d6d932c Evergreen to raise up to S$100 million in funds managed by Passion Venture Capital, a fund manager licenced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, for financing and automotive business activities in Indochina and Singapore With the coveted Cambodian financial institute licence, Evergreen joins elite group of Singapore companies to conduct micro-financing in Cambodia Aims to secure financial institute licences in Vietnam and Myanmar to deepen roots in Indochina Micro-financing gives badly-needed credit lines to cash-strapped SMEs and low income groups, contributes to society in these countries Evergreen Assets Management Team, from left to right: Davy Goh (Evergreen Fund Manager), Isaac Chew (Vice President), Desmond Sim (Business Development Director), Yong Ing Fatt (Group Advisor), David Yong (CEO) To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7324/62516_c95b17071425db04_002full.jpg The five-year, closed-end fund is initially Cambodia-centric, focusing on Evergreen's AM micro-financing business in the emerging market while a small portion of the monies is invested in its automotive business in Singapore. The fund's geographic allocation will be diversified later to cover more Indochina countries such as Myanmar and Vietnam. Mr. David Yong, Chief Executive Officer of Evergreen AM, said, "The fund builds on Evergreen's decades-long track record of doing business in Indochina. "While the fund is primarily focused on Cambodia in the initial stage, we have a pipeline of investments in Myanmar and Vietnam which would materialize in the next 18 months. These investments will represent strong exposure to the Indochinese economies." Story continues Mr. Desmond Sim, Business Development Director of Evergreen AM, said, "We have already received commitments of approximately S$25 million from accredited investors who recognise the growth opportunities in Indochina. We have the experience and track record as we have been offering private equity investments to our clients." Indochina growth plans Evergreen AM has been awarded a financial institute ("FI") licence to conduct micro- financing by the National Bank of Cambodia, the country's central bank. The licence underlines the Cambodian government's confidence in Evergreen AM which joins an elite group of Singapore companies to conduct micro-financing in the country. Evergreen AM, which received the licence in March 2020, has hit the ground running in Cambodia given its longstanding presence there. Over the past few years, Evergreen AM has been providing secured debt financing in the Indochina region via private equity, offering a non-bank alternative source of loans to businesses. The FI license will enable Evergreen AM to help small businesses in a bigger way. Mr. Yong observed, "The award of the FI licence in Cambodia comes at an opportune time. As an entrepreneur, we empathise with the pains that small and medium-sized companies are now facing - they are without cash flow and credit -- critical business lifelines because of the global Covid-19 pandemic. "We hope our micro-finance business under Evergreen will contribute to the growth of Cambodia where there is an urgent need for financing to keep SMEs and individuals going. We also intend to reach out to other demographic segments such as women in Cambodia who are usually overlooked by banks, to empower them to make their own livelihood." Evergreen AM, which made its mark in the timber business in Myanmar 30 years ago, is applying for FI licenses in the country, as well as in Vietnam. Added Mr. Yong, "Our FI license by Cambodia underlines the confidence the government has in Evergreen, and enhances our stature. We will build on it in our business plans." The fund is professionally managed by independent fund manager, Mr. Davy J Goh of Passion Venture Capital Pte Ltd, a MAS Capital Markets Services Licence holder. An experienced professional in the financial services sector, Mr. Goh has worked with major global financial institutions such as CS First Boston, Citibank N.A, ABN AMRO Bank and DBS Bank across Asia in 16 countries such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. About Evergreen Assets Management Evergreen Assets Management is a holding company of Evergreen Group which specialises in the fundamental approach and growth of the existing businesses in the portfolio through meticulous planning and diligence in the ASEAN region. The Evergreen Group has a business presence in Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong and South Korea. It started in the timber processing and trading business before diversifying into a variety of fields that include corporate financing, real estate and automobile business. Media Contacts LOH Hui Yin huiyin@righthandconsultancy.com +65 9828 5137 Nora SNG nora@clydes-ink.com +65 9791 5366 Jolene LOW admin@evergreenassets.asia +65 9642 6586 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62516 On August 15, 2020, India celebrated its 73rd birthday. To reflect on the state of Indian democracy and to kick off the podcasts fourth season, Pratap Bhanu Mehta joins Milan Vaishnav (Director of the South Asia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) for a wide-ranging conversation on Indias past, present, and future. Pratap is a professor of political science at Ashoka University and contributing editor and columnist at the Indian Express. He is a noted author, scholar, and commentator, not to mention arguably Indias finest public intellectual. Pratap and Milan discuss what the Covid crisis says about Indian democracy, the future of secularism in India, the popular yearning for strongman rule, and the maladies plaguing Indias rule of law institutions. By ANI NEW DELHI: Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry is all set to take part in a candid conversation during the Toronto Film Festival for its 'In Conversation With..." series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Berry will appear virtually on September 11 and will discuss about her feature directorial debut 'Bruised', which is an MMA based drama. The feature will also witness its world premiere in Toronto. 'Bruised' will also see Berry as a disgraced MMA fighter. Planning for a first-time online industry conference follows the physical edition of the Toronto Film Festival, set to run from September 10 to 19, being sharply reduced in size and scope due to the coronavirus pandemic, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The festival plans to screen nearly 50 titles during the initial five days in physical theatres, outdoor cinema venues, and drive-in. It will also host a virtual red carpet function, industry events, and press conferences amid the coronavirus outbreak. Press Release August 26, 2020 GRACE POE ON FIST HEARING Sen. Grace Poe has called out the Executive department for its lack of cooperation on its own priority bill, the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST), that aims to allow banks to offload their soured loans and free up more funds to fuel the economy. At the hearing of the Senate committee on banks today, bureaus under the Department of Finance, specifically the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) took opposite sides on the issue, with the BTr expressing full support for FIST and the BIR expressing strong opposition to it. With the economy experiencing its biggest fall in eight decades, the Executive, the Finance department in particular, should heed its own call for unity. "I'd like to note also that this is a priority measure, and yet it's disappointing to see that the heads of agencies didn't really attend," Poe said. "They're the ones saying that the economy needs it now. So, how will we know for sure that the economy needs it now if we don't even have a commitment, an actual presence from those heads explaining to us in detail what their commitments are also and the safeguards they're willing to accept." The BTr said only P3 billion to P13 billion in revenues will be waived as part of the incentives under the FIST. With only a low-level bureaucrat of the BIR attending the hearing, Poe doubts the certainty of the opposition expressed by its representative. "We are now officially in recession. Companies are closing shop, people have lost their jobs, and millions have gone hungry; add to that people dying because of the pandemic including healthcare workers," Poe said. Banks and financial institutions will play a key role. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expect the bad loans ratio of banks to double by the end of the year and this will tie up funds that can otherwise be used to fuel the economy. While the threat to the banking sector is not immediate, Poe said it is best to have the measures in place sooner rather than later for the big corporations and MSMEs to recover and for people to get their livelihoods back. "This crash precipitated urgent measures from the government," Poe said. "The committee would like to stop playing catch-up with the pandemic and prepare the policy for the worse." Osteoporosis drugs designed to salvage crumbling bones may actually make them weaker, research suggests. Imperial College London experts compared the hip bones of dead people who had donated their bones for science. They found those who had never once broken a bone had more flexible collagen and mineral structures, which are the building blocks of bones. Their bones were more able to flex and absorb the shock of falls than people who had stiffer bones which snapped more easily, scientists say. Some of the donors with hip fractures were taking drugs called bisphosphonates for osteoporosis, which causes bones to deteriorate and become extremely fragile. The drugs, including Fosamax, Binosto and Pamidronate, slow the speed at which bone degrades to slash the risk of fractures. But donors who had been taking bisphosphonates for between one and 13 years had lower tissue strength and flexibility than those who had not. Academics led by Dr Shaocheng Ma admitted they were surprised by the finding, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports. It suggests that although bisphosphonates retain bone density, the benefits may be offset by a reduction in flexibility, which makes bones more likely to break. Older people's risk of broken bones could depend on whether their bones are flexible - and a common osteoporosis drug may be causing stiffness, Imperial researchers found (stock image of hip fracture) Figure show around 3million people in the UK, 10million in the US and 200million worldwide live with osteoporosis. The condition, often caused by hormone imbalances, makes bones deteriorate from the inside out and makes them much more likely to fracture. The NHS claims patients can suffer a broken rib simply from coughing or sneezing. Broken wrists are the most common injury. Doctors usually diagnose the condition using bone density scans, but some people whose bones appear normal on these scans are still unusually prone to breaks. This is because several other factors such as age or whether they have broken the bone before are as important as bone density. To find out more, the researchers at Imperial looked to the building blocks of bones stiff minerals surrounding flexible collagen fibrils. The scientists split a group of 30 people into those who never broke a bone; those who broke bones and took biphosphonates; and those who broke bones but didn't take the drugs. They used super strength X-rays that show bone flexibility extremely close-up. Donors who had never broken their bones were more likely to have flexible collagen and minerals, compared to those who had suffered fractures. WHAT TREATMENTS ARE THERE FOR OSTEOPOROSIS? A number of different medicines are used to treat osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates slow the rate that bone is broken down. This maintains bone density and reduces the risk of a broken bone. There are a number of different bisphosphonates, including: alendronic acid ibandronic acid risedronic acid zoledronic acid They're given as a tablet or injection. Osteoporosis is a disease where bone density is lost leaving patients prone to fractures. Usually, old bone tissue is broken down and replaced with new tissue. Osteoporosis occurs when the breaking down of bone outpaces its replacement. Bisphosphonates are clinically proven to reduce the risk of fractures by increasing bone mass and mineral density as well as filling pits created by overactive bone cells. The drugs bind to the surface of bones, blocking bone removal. Because longer-term treatment can sometimes have side-effects, the doctor may suggest a break from treatment after three to five years. Advertisement In those who had broken their bones - whether they took medications or not - the mineral broke away from the collagen much faster when force was applied to the bones. The bones may have fractured because the tissue was too inflexible and could not deform to absorb energy during a bump or fall, the researchers said. Dr Ulrich Hansen said: 'We tend to think of our bones as solid, hard support structures, but flexibility appears to be extremely important in bone health. 'If bones are too hard, they are less able to absorb impact and more likely to break. 'Our study suggests flexibility could be just as important as density in preventing fractures.' The findings suggest doctors should look not only at bone density, but also bone flexibility, when deciding how to prevent bone breakages. Donors who were given bisphosphonates had the lowest tissue strength and flexibility, but the study did not say specifically which drugs the patients had been taking. Co-author Dr Richard Abel said: 'We were surprised to see bisphosphonate users seemed to have less flexible bone nanostructures. 'Perhaps after a long period of treatment in some patients, there is a loss of flexibility that offsets some of the strength benefits from increases in bone density. 'More research is needed to determine exactly why this is and how this could affect clinical practice in long-term users.' In some bisphosphonate users, the drug may bind itself to and harden minerals that are important for bone flexibility, the researchers said. However, the findings could also be a result of the patients' bones being significantly more osteoporotic in the first place. Lead author Dr Shaocheng Ma said: 'It's possible that the amount of mineral strain is key in setting off the fracture process. 'However, in patients who have taken bisphosphonates for a long time the mineral could become too stiff, causing it to break away from the collagen. 'This releases the collagen and allows it to stretch uncontrollably, which then results in a fracture.' The researchers say that people who are taking bisphosphonates should continue to follow the advice of their doctors. On Wednesday, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was arrested in Illinois on charges of first-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing two protesters the night before during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake earlier this week. During the Kenosha Police Departments first press conference in response to the Blake shooting and subsequent protests, Chief Daniel Miskinis blamed the unidentified victims in Tuesday nights shooting for their own deaths, saying the violence was the result of the persons involved violating curfew: Advertisement Persons who were out after the curfew became engaged in some type of disturbance, and persons were shot. Everybody involved was out after the curfew. Im not going to make a great deal of that, but the point is the curfew is in place to protect. Had persons not been out involved in violation of that, perhaps the situation that unfolded would not have happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenosha Police Chief Miskinis responds to the murder of two protestors by saying it wouldn't have happened if people weren't out after curfew: "I'm not gonna make a great deal of it, BUT ..." pic.twitter.com/GBRo8I5Zka The Recount (@therecount) August 26, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement It is the persons who were involved after the legal time, involved in illegal activity, that brought violence to this community, Miskinis added later, seeming to blame protesters who were on the streets because a member of Miskinis department, who was identified late on Wednesday as Officer Rusten Sheskey, shot Blake seven times in the back as his children watched. * Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Miskinis would not give the names of the persons who were the victims of Wednesdays murders, but did say they were a 26-year-old Silver Lake resident and a 36-year-old Kenosha resident. Advertisement In describing the shooting of two protesters, Miskinis also declined to call it a homicide and instead referred to it by various euphemisms often used to describe killings by a police officer, which Rittenhouse is not. He said that the shooter was involved in the use of firearms to resolve whatever conflict was in place and that there was a disturbance that led to the use of deadly force. Advertisement Additionally, Miskinis refused to comment on the video of Blakes shooting, but offered that there may have been a reasonable explanation for the man being shot seven times in the back, which has reportedly left him paralyzed and in critical condition. (The officer has been put on administrative leave and has not been fired or arrested.) Advertisement Advertisement Im not going to address that [video] because it is one snippet of a very large situation and much as whats happened across this nation for a long period of time, its focused on what you see in this much of an incident, Miskinis said, apparently alluding to other police shootings of unarmed Black men. Its unfair to everybody involved, whether youre the person using force or the person being arrested that the picture isnt painted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video taken on Tuesday before the shooting showed Rittenhouse gathered with what appeared to be members of armed militia groups. Those vigilante groups had gathered on Tuesday night, it was reported by CNN and the Verge, in response to calls on Facebook for any patriots willing to take up arms and defend our city tonight from the evil thugs. When asked about the vigilante groups, Miskinis defended them as civilians out to protect property and exercise their constitutional right. Across this nation there have been armed civilians who have come out to exercise their constitutional right and to potentially protect property, he said. Am I aware that groups exist? Yes, but they werent invited to come. Miskinis views of the gathering of vigilante groups that reportedly led to the killing of two local men appears to be very much in line with those of his department. Before the shooting, officers in armored vehicles could be seen giving water to armed men gathered with the alleged shooter and telling them, We appreciate you guys, we really do. After the killings, the alleged shooter walked slowly past a series of police vehicles with his arms raised and was allowed to simply walk away. (Its not yet clear what the officers knew about the shooting at the time, but the shots were audible in nearby footage.) Advertisement Advertisement When asked why his officers had given the armed men water and thanked them, Miskinis said, Our deputies would toss a water to anybody and Youre asking me to tell you what one person did. I cant tell you that. In explaining why his officers were able to show such restraint with Tuesdays shooter, he blamed the high stress situation on the scene and possible tunnel vision on the part of his officers. Im not making an excuse. Im just telling you from personal experience what could have done that, he said. Toward the end of his comments, Miskinis was asked about the vigilante groups and again compared them to the protesters who had violated curfew, saying both sides were to blame. Advertisement Its no different than those on the protesters side who are walking around armed and those who are counterprotesters, or those who are just witnessing, to be armed, so Im not going to address any more issues relative to that, he said. When asked if he wanted the vigilante groups to be present again after Wednesday nights curfew, Miskinis refused to reply. I just said Im not going to answer any more questions, he said. When asked again, he again refused to say. Im done talking about that, Miskinis said. At the end of the press conference, Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian clarified whether the city wanted armed vigilante groups patrolling the street after the killing of two civilians. No, I dont need more guns on the street in the community, he said. Update, August 26, 2020, 7:40 p.m.: This post was updated to include the name of the officer who shot Jacob Blake. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Schools are likely to look very different when they reopen Thirteen things parents and students should know on returning to school: Face masks are mandatory in secondary schools Face masks/coverings are mandatory in secondary schools and should be worn by both staff and students. Primary students do not have to wear masks, according to public health advice. However, teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and other staff will have to wear masks where 2m social distancing cant be met. Pupils should use standard blue masks. Nick Killian, from Ratoath College board of management, reminded students that masks should not become a fashion statement, and shouldn't offend or intimidate other students. "Its not halloween, it's back to school," he said. There are exceptions Face coverings should NOT be worn by anyone who has breathing difficulties, whos unable to remove the covering without assistance, or by anyone with special needs and who may get upset or uncomfortable wearing the covering. Temperature checks are not recommended Temperature checks are not recommended in schools by the Government. Fever isnt a symptom consistent with Covid-19 in children, according to public health guidance. Symptomatic children should not attend school Parents are advised if their child has symptoms, including a temperature of 38C and above, a cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties or/and loss or change of smell, they shouldnt be attending school. However, runny noses are to be expected in school age children and shouldnt be a reason to stay off. School visits only by appointment School visitors must be minimised and visits must be made by appointment. Visitors have to maintain a 2m social distance from those they meet. Rules on self-isolating Schools can refuse access to pupils/staff if there is concern that anyone has not fulfilled the mandatory requirement to self-isolate for 14 days following return from any non green list countries. Parents should consult GPs on testing If a parent fears their child has Covid-19, they must keep the child at home and completely avoid all contact with others, self-isolating. Parents should phone their GP if they are concerned and they can advise on testing. Rules on return to school post-testing Children can return to school if they have been given a negative Covid-19 test and are 48 hours without any symptoms. But any children who have tested positive for Covid-19 need to remain at home until they havent had a temperature above 38C for five days and if its been 14 days since they first developed symptoms. Though childrens temperatures wont be taken at school. Temperatures are taken in French schools, though not across Europe. Staggered break times for different 'bubbles' In many situations schools will divide children into pods of four or six. Children will be separated from their teacher and other tables by at least 1m. And each class bubble will be separate from other classes. That means staggered break times and dividing the playground into areas for different classes. Some schools are asking children not to bring lunch boxes, as a way of preventing contamination between home and school. Paper bags are seen as preferable. Most schools will favour pre-packaged meals being eaten at school and lunchtimes being staggered. Some schools are looking at having some lessons and lunchtimes outside. Staggered pick up and drop off times too There will be staggered drop off and pick up times at schools, with classes being released at different times to prevent parents congregating in groups outside the school. School buses will run on 'buddy' system Buddy systems are being rolled out for children who take the bus to school. Students will have to sit next to the same child each day. However, anyone who can walk or cycle to school is being encouraged to do so by the Government. Moving digital to avoid contamination Some schools are expected to move towards students using tablets rather than children handwriting in copy books, as a way to avoid contamination. Vac2Go Fleet of Kaiser Trucks We are changing the way we provide value in this unpredictable time, says Todd Tallon, President and CEO of Vac2Go. Louisville-based vacuum truck rental company, Vac2Go, is broadening their service, reach, and capabilities with a new location in Crown Point, IN. This will be the seventh location established since their founding in 2011, coming alongside the introduction of two new truck brands: Kaiser and Schellvac. The recent expansion of Vac2Gos footprint comes just as the national economy endures a downturn. However, they continue to assist their customers with flexibility and integrity. We are changing the way we provide value in this unpredictable time, says Todd Tallon, President and CEO of Vac2Go. Our team acknowledges that customers are operating differently, so we are striving to provide meaningful partnerships by increasing over the road services, onsite training, and preventative maintenance services. Tallon adds that the recent announcement of our Crown Point, IN location helps us reach some of our strategic goals, which include new market penetration, product expansion, diversification, and the opportunity for acquisitions down the road. This seventh location is part of Vac2Gos ongoing vision to grow consistently and reach their customers wherever they are. As is the case with Crown Point, the company is excited to have experienced team members already in place to strategically meet the vacuum truck needs in the northern region, particularly near Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, and the Chicago, Illinois area. We were servicing many customers in those areas out of our Kentucky location. Because it was logistically challenging, we made a promise to our customers to get closer in order to meet their needs for last-minute repairs, rentals, and accessories, says Tallon. Once we had the right people [to staff the location], we were ready to deploy trucks and get the shop in operating condition. Leading the core team for this new location is Jerry Federico, a Crown Point native and experienced operations manager. Federicos familiarity with the area and equipment uniquely position him to connect with customer needs while helping other businesses in the community. Chris Dimitroff, Development Manager, has also joined the Vac2Go team and will be assisting clients across the Northern Region. Chris has in-depth knowledge of our industry, trucks, and accessories, making him a great asset, states Tallon. The Crown Point, IN location will debut with an Open House on September 18, 2020 from 11am-2pm EDT. Dimitroff, Federico, and the Vac2Go team will be welcoming community members and interested parties to connect and learn more over a provided lunch. Visitors are encouraged to wear masks while enjoying this event. In addition to Vac2Gos geographic growth, they recently broadened their featured truck brands to include Kaiser and Schellvac. This brand partnership was carefully chosen based on the manufacturers unique features and reliability. The companys existing partnerships already include GapVax, PresVac, Guzzler, Keith Huber, Vactor, Super Products, and Ledwell. The biggest way it compliments our existing partnerships is the focus on customer service. We are committed to representing brands that stand behind their products, allowing us to mirror that business practice in a rental capacity, says Tallon. The diversity Kaiser and Schellvac both provide to Vac2Gos rental fleet increases their ability to cater to consumers preferences and give them their ideal operating experience with their jobs. The level of customization the company can provide by adding these two brands to their lineup keeps [their] promise to provide the best equipment, best trucks, and best service, adds Tallon. Vac2Go continues to lead the industry with innovative approaches on renting equipment. Learn more about Vac2Gos locations, truck specifications, and services at https://vac2go.com. The strikes further strain an already fraying 14-year cease-fire, which ended the last war Israel fought with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah has pledged to retaliate for the killing of its commander in Syria. Netanyahu has warned Lebanon, which is reeling from economic unrest and a massive blast at the port of Beirut last month, that the militant group was embroiling Lebanon at the behest of Iran. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 18:49:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Most elementary and secondary schools in the Japanese capital of Tokyo started their fall semester on Tuesday. This year, the opening date was one week earlier than usual to make up for some deficiencies of teaching due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In Shirokane-no-oka Elementary & Junior High School in central Tokyo, vice principal Rieko Watabe was welcoming students at the gate. "The epidemic is still very serious at present. Under such circumstances, we are both happy and nervous that the school could begin the fall semester. I feel very happy when I see the smiling faces of the children in the morning," said Watabe. Asked about the epidemic prevention measures, Watabe told Xinhua that the school diverts students at the school gate. The first floor is the entrance for students of grade 1 and 2, while the third floor is the entrance for students of grade 3 and above. In the morning, teachers check the temperature of all students at the entrance and observe their overall health. Meanwhile, each student must submit a health card recording his or her body temperature taken at home before going to school. The school also has surveillance cameras to monitor the children's health, said Watabe. According to the vice principal, the school has made great efforts to avoid the 3Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings) and disinfection. For example, the school opened all the partitions between classrooms and hallways to increase the spacing of desks. During art and music classes, students take turns in groups to ensure distance in the classroom. The classroom is air-conditioned at ordinary times while windows are opened for ventilation between classes and after school. Watabe also said that disinfectant is placed in all classrooms, and children must wash their hands and spray disinfectant before eating or entering the classrooms. In order to prevent heatstroke, the school does not strictly require the students to wear face masks outside school. However, after entering school, they are required to wear masks all day except for physical classes and lunch time. The vice principal added that the school disinfects the kitchen very thoroughly. Even though there were no classes during the summer vacation, all kitchen equipment were disinfected every day. On April 7, Japan's central government declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Almost all primary and secondary schools were closed at that time. After the state of emergency was lifted in late May, Shirokane-no-oka Elementary & Junior High School resumed some classed in June. Children in each class are divided into two groups to go to school, each for half a day twice a week. With the outbreak showing signs of abating in Tokyo, the school resumed full operation on July 1. However, as the infections were spreading again in mid-July, some parents began asking their children to take time off from school. The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday confirmed 236 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the cumulative total to 19,846 cases, the highest among Japan's 47 prefectures. The figure depressed some parents, who said that so many students attending classes together are prone to cluster infections. However, they also worried that if the students do not go to school for a long time, they will fall behind in their studies. So the only viable option seems to be thoroughly disinfecting their school bags and clothes after the students returning home. Enditem The federal government is currently working on various projects to improve electricity supply in Nigeria, the minister of power, Sale Mamman, has said. Speaking at the event of his one year in office, he said over the past year, $6.150 billion (about N2.373 trillion) has been secured for infrastructural development and earmarked for critical projects. According to a statement signed on Tuesday by the ministers spokesperson, Aaron Artimas, the grants have been earmarked for critical projects. I am glad to state that, to date, $6.150 billion have been secured for infrastructural development. The total sum has been earmarked for the following critical projects, the statement quoted him as saying. The breakdown of the projects shows that $2.3 billion for Siemens, $1.6 billion for Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP), $1.7 billion for Distribution, $550 million for the Nigerian Electricity Project (NEP), a rural electrification project being funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AFDB). Mr Mamman said with the fund, the ministry has begun implementing critical infrastructure to transform the generation, transmission, and distribution of 25,000MW of electricity by 2025. He also said the Siemens project will raise power to 7,000MW in the first phase which just began, focusing on quick wins for both TCN and DisCos. The expected projects under the Siemens deal include 105 substations rehabilitation, building 70 new substations, manufacturing and installing 35 power transformers, and installation of 3,765 distribution transformers. There will also be over 5,000 kilometers of transmission lines to be constructed. According to the statement, TCN is also implementing the $1.6bn Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP) with funding from development partners like World Bank, AfDB, JICA under the ministers supervision. He said key projects impacted include Alaoji-Onitsha and Kaduna-Kano power line, among others. Uncompleted projects The minister said the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant is at 73 per cent completion level. The plant is worth $1.2 billion and it is expected to generate 700MW. The 3050MW Mambilla hydropower project is expected to increase the national grid by 30 per cent. It is worth $5.7 billion with 85 per cent funding ($4.85billion) from China while the federal government is providing $850 million funding. He said the main construction works include four large dams: Nya, Sumsum, Nghu, and the API Weir dams in Taraba state; two units of 330 kilovolts (kV) power transmission line from Abong powerhouse to Makurdi and another from Abong powerhouse to Jalingo spanning over 700 kilometers. The minister said the 40MW Kashimbilla hydropower plant in Taraba has been completed. We are currently working on the development and expansion of transmission lines to evacuate the power from the project site to areas of distribution, he said. Besides this, the minister said he is working to increase energy access for an estimated 80 million Nigerians that are without electricity access. Through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the minister said the government is mapping unserved clusters to provide a digital database of the distribution grid system. We have secured $550 million NEP (WB/AFDB) for off-grid electrification, which it is using to power universities and rural areas. With the mini-grid regulation, Mr Mamman said access to electricity is improving through REA. As of 2019, we had 4 million off-grid connections. We aim to add another 5 million in the next 18 to 24 months under the recently approved Economic Sustainability Programme. Cutting losses The minister said that efforts to close the gap between generation capacity and distribution as a means of reducing losses with individual capacity are ongoing. Advertisements He said that the sector was already struggling with a huge loss of more than N254 billion from unutilized power. Just on August 18, TCN achieved an unprecedented peak distribution of 5,420MW of power to the DisCos, being the third of such milestones. This is coming even as the ministry has attained a 24-hour transmission period as against the previous eight to 10 hours per day, he said. Meanwhile, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj Monday said in televised comments that the protesters did not obtain necessary permits for the rally. In a meeting with military and security officials Wednesday, he described the demonstrations as riots, according to a statement from his office. He also announced a 24-hour curfew lasting four days to fight the coronavirus, a move protesters say is meant to stop their continued rallies. The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid SUV The Honda CR-V has been one of the most celebrated and best-selling Honda models for over 20 years, both in the Honda SUV segment as well as within the entire brand catalog of vehicles. Earlier this year, the Honda Motor Company capitalized on the popularity of the Honda CR-V model by debuting, and then shortly afterward releasing, the Honda CR-V Hybrid model. This hybrid model aims to offer driving audiences all of the staples of the standard Honda CR-V model, but with added fuel efficiency. For drivers of Long Island and the New York City boroughs,the Honda CR-V Hybrid model can be found with financing and lease options at the Atlantic Honda dealership of Bay Shore. The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid model is equipped with a hybrid powertrain. The engine of this hybrid powertrain is a 2L inline-4 engine. The hybrid powertrain produces at total of 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque for the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid model. As for fuel efficiency, the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid model has a city fuel economy rating of 40 MPG*, a highway fuel economy rating of 35 MPG* and a combined fuel economy rating of 38 MPG*. For drivers interested in shopping for a Honda CR-V Hybrid model, the starting MSRP of the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid is $27,850**. Additional information on the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid model and other new and current Honda vehicles can be found by browsing through the Atlantic Honda inventory and contacting the dealership team. The Atlantic Honda staff can be reached at the number of 631-665-0005, through online messaging or with a visit to the on-site store. The Atlantic Honda dealership is located at 1375 Sunshine Hwy., Bay Shore, New York 11706. *Based on 2020 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery-package/condition, and other factors. **MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $1,120.00 destination charge and options. Dealers set own prices. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya is the first country globally to be awarded the recommended status of the Safer Tourism Seal by Rebuilding Travel, a global tourism lobby organisation, the tourism ministry said on Wednesday RADFORD City public school officials announced Tuesday that a gathering over the weekend that resulted in the school system going all virtual was not as bad as initially expected, and it will revert to the hybrid model it was previously using on Monday. Meanwhile, Radford University announced Tuesday afternoon that it is banning gatherings of more than 10 students on or off campus, according to an email from President Brian Hemphill. Less than 24 hours after Radford Superintendent Rob Graham sent out an email saying K-12 education would be going to an all -virtual model for up to the next two weeks, he reversed course Tuesday afternoon and said the local health departments investigation into an event that was attended by parents, students and staff did not pose as high of a risk of COVID-19 spreading throughout the system as was initially thought. Graham told The Roanoke Times on Tuesday that he was glad the results of the health departments investigation came back as they did, but the system feels it took the right precaution in notifying parents that a possible two weeks of virtual education might be needed. Planning for the worst but hoping for the best is a good way to put it, he said. We didnt want to say it was just for a few days and then have to come back and tell parents it would be longer. We wanted to give them as much time to plan as possible. Graham also said the decision to remain online throughout the rest of the week will give the school system a chance to deep clean everything again, as well as help students, parents and teachers adjust to a virtual format in case something similar happens again. He also confirmed that nobody from the Radford school community has tested positive for the virus to the best of his knowledge. On the other side of the city, Hemphill informed Radford University faculty and staff that students on the main campus are not to gather in groups of more than 10, effective immediately. Virginia Tech recently instituted a similar policy of a max of 15 students per gathering. RU updated its COVID-19 Dashboard Tuesday, and it went from having administered 1,470 tests with a positive rate of .75% to 1,705 tests and a 5.75% positive rate. Dr. Noelle Bissell, director of the New River Valley Heath Department, said in a teleconference Tuesday that the uptick in cases wasnt unexpected since the new tests were targeting those who were symptomatic. She said the good news is nobody has gotten severely ill from the virus, and investigations from her department have shown that vulnerable populations are not in danger at this point. Hemphill wrote in his statement that a majority of the schools recent COVID-19 cases are being attributed to two fraternity parties and another large gathering, all of which happened off campus, he wrote. All campus-based and campus-sponsored activities are subject to the new restriction, he wrote. Classroom and laboratory instruction, as well as clinical rotations and field experiences, are not included as part of this limitation. University spokeswoman Caitlyn Scaggs wrote in an email , We are proud of our students who have elected to stand by our Healthy Highlander commitment, and we will continue to hold those accountable who make unwise or unsafe choices. Hemphill wrote in a similar message to students the importance of following the new guidelines. If you are hosting or attending local parties and other large gatherings, you are putting your health and the health of others at risk. Furthermore, you are impacting your ability to remain in good standing at Radford University, he wrote. Three students have already been suspended from Radford University for incidents that include endangering conduct and failure to comply with COVID-19 standards. Hemphill also wrote that any and all meetings and events, both indoor and outdoor, in excess of this limitation shall be reviewed and in-person attendance reduced by utilizing a hybrid model, moving to a fully online format or cancellation. 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. NORTH COVENTRY The same developer who has proposed age-restricted housing in East Vincent and Upper Pottsgrove townships has made a proposal for a townhouse project in North Coventry. Township Manager Erica Batdorf said the name of the developer is Artisan Development and said although the contact she has there is with someone named Ron Christy, she has seen the name Jon Benson in communications. Benson is the person who has appeared before both Upper Pottsgrove and East Vincent boards in connection with age-restricted development proposals. Artisans 143-unit 55-and-older community in Upper Pottsgrove received preliminary approval in November. Artisan is also the company asking East Vincent Supervisors to re-write their zoning to allow for 212 age-restricted units on 66 acres off Stony Run Road. There are not too many details available yet as the township only just acknowledged receipt of the plan submission at Monday nights supervisors meeting. What is known about the North Coventry proposal is, according to the plans shown during Mondays meeting, it calls for 115 townhomes, with access in two locations along the west side of Route 100 and one access from the rear onto Hoffecker Road. Batdorf said the site is 19.24 acres and is in the townships C-4 Neighborhood Commercial zoning district. The applicant is proposing a Neighborhood Mixed Use zoning overlay, Batdorf wrote in response to a query from MediaNews Group. Supervisors Chairman Jim Marks said it is the same developer who made a proposal for the cornfield on the east side of Route 100 at Hoffecker Road, a plan which the township did not favor. Marks said the township intends to schedule a meeting between the developer and the staff, and invite planning commission members, to begin to hash out the details. There are all kinds of issues with this proposal, he said. This article first appeared as a post in The Digital Notebook blog. In 2019, Wyoming celebrated the 150 th anniversary of women's suffrage 50 years before the 19 th Amendment and the Wyoming Office of Tourism marked the milestone by declaring it the "Year of Wyoming Women" with special exhibits and events throughout the state. On Dec. 10, 1869, the Wyoming territory became the first in the nation to guarantee women the unconditional suffrage including the right to vote, hold public office and serve on a jury. "As we celebrate Women's Equality Day today, it's important to recognize the trailblazing women, like Louisa Swain, who paved the way for so many women and for future generations," said Diane Shober, executive director of Wyoming Office of Tourism. "The West played a pivotal role in the passing of the 19th Amendment and the pioneering spirit of Wyoming's women continues to live on today." To commemorate the milestone anniversary, Wyoming Office of Tourism partnered with The Louisa Swain Foundation and the American Trucking Association (ATA) for a virtual women's suffrage road tour from Washington D.C. to Laramie, Wyo. starting on August 31. "We will utilize the unique convergence of the anniversaries of Louisa's historic vote and the ratification of the 19th Amendment to highlight the role women play in our society and to celebrate Wyoming's ongoing legacy as the Equality State," said Brandon Kirkham, board chair for The Louisa Swain Foundation. "We are proud to have such a wonderful partnership with the Wyoming Office of Tourism and the American Trucking Association to bring this commemorative moment to a national scale." An ATA semitruck and trailer fully wrapped to honor Wyoming's Louisa Swain - will make its way across the nation via I-70, with a special stop at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne, Wyo. on September 4 and make its final stop in Laramie Wyo. on Sept. 5. Following the arrival of the semitruck and trailer in Laramie, a ceremony recognizing Louisa Swain's historic vote will take place at the Wyoming Women's History House on Sept. 6. To follow the virtual road tour from Washington D.C. to Wyoming and for more information on the 150th anniversary of the first women's vote, visit firstwomanvoter.org and TravelWyoming.com. To celebrate Wyoming's pioneering women and the strong women of today, Wyoming Office of Tourism encourages visitors and locals to join the conversation by sharing stories of female empowerment by using #ThatsWYWomen and tagging @VisitWyoming on Sept. 6, 2020. Dates of Significance Dec. 10, 2019 150th anniversary of Governor Campbell signing the Women's Suffrage Act into law. Wyoming's Territorial Legislature passed the first unconditional suffrage act which also included that women could hold any office as afforded to men. 150th anniversary of Governor Campbell signing the Women's Suffrage Act into law. Territorial Legislature passed the first unconditional suffrage act which also included that women could hold any office as afforded to men. Jan. 27, 2020 100th anniversary of State of Wyoming ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 100th anniversary of ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. July 10, 2020 130th anniversary of Statehood Day - Wyoming enters the Union as the 44th state and the only state to have a Woman's Suffrage Act ratified into their state constitution. 130th anniversary of Statehood Day - enters the Union as the 44th state and the only state to have a Woman's Suffrage Act ratified into their state constitution. Aug. 18, 2020 100th anniversary of the 19 th Amendment being ratified and amended to the U.S. Constitution. 100th anniversary of the 19 Amendment being ratified and amended to the U.S. Constitution. Aug. 26, 2020 Women's Equality Day; 100 th anniversary of the 19 th Amendment officially certified to the U.S. Constitution and forever protecting women's right to vote. Women's Equality Day; 100 anniversary of the 19 Amendment officially certified to the U.S. Constitution and forever protecting women's right to vote. Sept 6, 2020 150th anniversary of the Women's First Vote - In Laramie, Wyoming , Louisa Swain became the first woman in the world to cast a ballot under full civic equality to men. Twenty years after the 1869 law passed, Wyoming sought statehood and it famously refused to enter the Union if women's suffrage was not upheld. And in 1890, Wyoming officially entered the Union as the 44th state and the first state to guarantee women these rights. For more information about Wyoming's 150th anniversary of Women's Suffrage and Wyoming Office of Tourism, visit the award-winning site, TravelWyoming.com. About the Wyoming Office of Tourism The Wyoming Office of Tourism is the only state agency charged with promoting and marketing Wyoming as a vacation destination to domestic and international travelers. The ninth-largest state in terms of area, Wyoming is also the least populated state in the country with an estimated 580,000 residents. Wyoming is home to many firsts, including the country's first national park (Yellowstone), first national monument (Devils Tower) and first national forest (Shoshone). In addition, Wyoming was the first government in the world to grant women the right to vote and will celebrate the 150th anniversary of this important milestone in 2019. These special places, along with other natural wonders like Grand Teton National Park and the Bighorn Mountains as well as Wyoming's heartfelt cowboy hospitality, welcome millions of visitors annually. To learn more about Wyoming, visit TravelWyoming.com. SOURCE Wyoming Office of Tourism Jammu and Kashmir police said on Wednesday (August 26) that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NHW-44) continued to remain blocked as clearance work following landslide and heavy rains in the area is still underway. "Jammu-Srinagar NHW-44 is still blocked, clearance work is going on," said Jammu and Kashmir police was quoted as saying by ANI. It is to be noted that the highway was blocked on Tuesday (August 25) due to landslide in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. The landslide happened following heavy rainfall in the area. The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened on Saturday (August 22) after remaining closed for past two days due to landslides between Ramban and Ramsu. Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir has been receiving heavy rains for the last few days, triggering landslides across the Union Territory. "The highway was cleared for one-way traffic around 10 am. After clearance of the stranded vehicles, the traffic will be allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu," Deputy Superintendent of Police, National Highway, Ajay Anand had then said. President Trump and his administration appear to routinely violate the Hatch Act. What good is a law that no one enforces? (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo is slated to address the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night from Jerusalem, and Democrats are frothing about violations of the Hatch Act, the law that bars most employees of the federal government from engaging in political actions while on duty. Yeah, Pompeo shouldnt do it. Just as Kellyanne Conway, the soon-to-be former counsel to the president, shouldnt have weighed in on Democratic presidential candidates in her capacity as a White House official, nor should a slew of other Trump administration figures have stepped over that line. But really, what good is a line if no one enforces it? The president and his circle of protectors have engaged in overt acts of malfeasance on a routine basis, beginning with Trump's persistent use of his office to enrich his family business through weekend trips to properties he owns. Watchdogs have filed complaints but the enforcement is toothless, so Trump and his coterie push on. It's kind of like school kids on the playground without a monitor. They test boundaries, hear no whistle blown, so look for fresh boundaries to cross. House Democrats finally impeached Trump over his atrocious efforts to persuade the Ukrainian government to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter to try to improve Trump's reelection chances, a grievous sin that Republicans, following Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells lead, shrugged off. Trump also has used his office to punish critics, real and imagined, fired FBI Director James B. Comey to stymie an investigation into possible collusion between Russians agents and his presidential campaign, and sought to get the U.S. Postal Service to raise rates charged to Amazon to punish founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post, among other abuses of the presidency. He has flagrantly violated federal laws in his efforts to stop immigration, forcing lawful asylum seekers to remain in squalor as they endure lengthy delays to exercise a right granted them by Congress to seek protection. And people are on fire now about Hatch Act violations? Puh-leeze. 250,000 people asked to flee Californias biggest-ever wildfires Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Californias biggest-ever wildfires have killed at least five people, damaged or destroyed more than 3,100 structures and burned more than one million acres, putting nearly a quarter-million people under evacuation orders and warnings, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. As the fires burning across five counties in northern and central parts of the state became the second-largest fire in California history on Sunday, crews from across the U.S. West, military planes and National Guard troops arrived in California, Reuters reported. Over 200 aircraft are already dropping loads of water, monitoring the spread of flames and ferrying firefighters and equipment, according to AFP. The fires were ignited by lightning from dry thunderstorms in the region. As more dry thunderstorms have been forecast, more wildfires are expected, the National Weather Service has warned, issuing red-flag warnings for large parts of northern and central California. These conditions could cause erratic winds, extreme fire behavior within the existing fires, and have a potential for new fires to start, the CalFire website said. The blazes are also threatening parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, the forested region near the University of California at Santa Cruz and a large part of the area between San Francisco and the state capital of Sacramento, according to Reuters. About 14,000 firefighters were working to douse the blazes, but containment of the major ones remained low. The state has requested other states and local jurisdictions to provide additional support. Since last week, hundreds of fires of varying sizes have burned throughout the state. About two dozen of them are major fires. President Donald Trump issued a major disaster declaration Saturday to provide federal assistance. According to the American Lung Association, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the health risk posed by smoky air and extreme heat, as inhaling smoke and ash may further weaken lungs of people with the disease, Afif El-Hassan, a physician spokesman for the lung association, was quoted as saying. Due to smoke, churches near the fire areas had to cancel in-person services on Sunday. Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto announced on its website and social media that the congregation would meet online only. Because of the air quality, because of the fires that are burning close by, the smoke that is coming to our valley in Modesto, we are not going to meet on the Field on Sunday, Rick Countryman, co-senior pastor, said in a video message to his congregation. Meanwhile, CrossCity Christian Church in Fresno, in partnership with Convoy of Hope, is helping meet the physical and spiritual needs of those impacted during times of domestic devastation. Currently the COH Disaster Services are on the ground distributing meals and supplies to the recent widespread damage in Iowa and in route to the current wildfires in California, it said. Your ongoing financial partnership through your CrossCity Tithe, and Offerings through our One Day Fund, are tangibly providing hope and shining the light of Christ during these dark circumstances. Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - At least 11 people were killed in southern Burundi between August 23 to 24 by armed individuals from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), state radio reported on Wednesday, citing local administrative sources ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- If the test of any Southern restaurant is how well it makes sweet tea and barbecue, Krystal has stepped up to the plate. In collaboration with the National Pork Board, the South's original quick-service chain is launching pulled pork Memphis BBQ sliders on Monday, Aug. 31. "The National Pork Board and our partnering American pig farmers are proud to support Krystal in adding barbecue to its menu," says James Murray, world certified executive chef for the National Pork Board. "Memphis BBQ sliders are a crave-worthy menu addition that Krystal fans are going to love." This new, limited-time-only menu item boasts juicy, slow-smoked pork that's slathered in Memphis barbecue sauce with a hint of pickle on a freshly steamed bun for $1.69. Guests can complement the BBQ or make it a combo with other Southern-inspired menu items including crispy onion rings, a handspun banana pudding shake and a refreshing watermelon slushie. Krystal's Memphis BBQ sliders and watermelon slushie also make a perfect Labor Day treat when DoorDash provides free delivery all weekend, Sept. 4-7. Wrap up summer with these mouthwatering limited-time offerings. Krystal's Memphis BBQ sliders, onion rings, banana pudding shake and watermelon slushie are available through Oct. 11. The Krystal Company remains committed to the health and safety of guests and team members. Restaurants are following strict public health guidelines and also are taking extra precautions such as staying in contact with local health officials for the latest advisories. Krystal drive-thrus are open 6 a.m.-midnight, and restaurants are offering delivery through UberEATS, DoorDash and Grubhub. About The Krystal Company Founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1932, The Krystal Company is the original quick-service restaurant chain in the South and was selected to USA Today's 2019 Top-10 Best Regional Fast Food List. Krystal hamburgers are still served fresh and hot off the grill on the iconic square bun at 300 restaurants in 10 states. Krystal's Atlanta-based Restaurant Support Center serves a team of over 6,000 employees. For more information, visit krystal.com. SOURCE Krystal Restaurants LLC Related Links http://krystal.com The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to partner the Word Federation of Science Journalists to help communicate the intricate science of the Coronavirus accurately as it evolves. This is to help address communication challenges, which is a key to ending the Coronavirus pandemic. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO in his opening remark at a media briefing on COVID-19 said WHO would continue to promote science, solutions and solidarity because it believed communication was best when done together. We are learning new things about this virus every day and journalists are critical to helping us communicate that information to the public in a way that saves lives, he said. The Director General said WHO had through its regional offices, organised webinars in multiple languages for journalists to counter misinformation and noted that more than four million people had enrolled in WHOs training courses through the OpenWHO.org online learning platform. Dr Ghebreyesus said a massive open online course for journalists covering the pandemic was created through a partnership between WHO, UNESCO and the Knight Center for Journalism at the University of Texas-Austin. He said more than 9000 journalists from 162 countries enrolled in the online training, which was delivered in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. The Director General said the course would soon be available in Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Hindi to help journalists communicate better. More information about the online courses is available on the WHO website. 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 Doosan Corporation Mottrol union members hold a rally at their factory in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in this July file photo. / Courtesy of Korean Metal Workers' Union By Park Jae-hyuk Morgan Stanley Private Equity is facing severe backlash from the union of Doosan Corporation Mottrol over its attempt to take over the Korean conglomerate's hydraulic components manufacturing arm, according to industry officials, Wednesday. The union alleged the possible takeover by the foreign firm will threaten their job stability, claiming it will seek to acquire the civil demands sector only, without acquiring the defense systems sector, to avoid government regulations. Mottrol manufactures hydraulic components for defense systems, so Morgan Stanley needs to get approval from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), if it seeks to fully acquire the manufacturer. The Mottrol union anticipates the U.S. private equity firm (PEF) would shut down the company's defense systems department and dismiss its workers. "Selling Mottrol to a foreign company after spinning it off will threaten the employment of 500 workers and their families' survival," the union said in a statement. "Mottrol should be sold to a buyer that guarantees their job stability and the company's development, instead of the one that offers the highest bid." Given that Chinese construction equipment manufacturer XCMG was eliminated from the shortlist last month after facing severe backlash from the union, market observers are wondering whether Morgan Stanley will follow the Chinese firm's footsteps. Doosan and Credit Suisse, the lead underwriter for this deal, put a consortium led by Morgan Stanley and Socius-Well to Sea Investment on the shortlist for the Mottrol takeover bid. According to sources, Morgan Stanley offered 500 billion won ($421 million), while its competitor offered 400 billion won. The PEF reportedly emphasized it is headquartered in the U.S., an ally of South Korea, in its attempt to convince the Korean government to allow its acquisition. However, several lawmakers including Rep. Ryu Ho-jeong of the minor opposition Justice Party expressed concerns over Doosan selling Mottrol to a foreign firm citing possible leak of core technologies. When China's Doublestar took over Kumho Tire in 2018, Hung-A acquired the Korean tiremaker's fighter jet tire sector, so the Chinese tiremaker was able to close the deal without needing approval from the Korean government. Market observers expect Morgan Stanley will take a similar route if it is chosen as the preferred bidder for the Mottrol takeover. PIGGS PEAK We were protecting our cousins children from his abuse. This is an allegation made by two men who have since been arrested for the alleged murder of a 35-year-old man, Sanele Masuku, around Vusweni area. Masuku was allegedly battered to death last Wednesday while at the home of a woman he is said to have been in a relationship with. His alleged killers, Thomas (40) and Simanga Shabangu (19), who are brothers, appeared for a confession yesterday at the Piggs Peak Magistrates Court. Abusive They alleged that Masuku had been abusive to the children of his girlfriend, Baby Ginindza, at whose home the alleged murder is said to have happened. The duo alleged that Ginindzas children had been living in fear for several years and that despite reporting the matter to the police, the abuse continued. The men said on the day of the alleged murder, Masuku had been violent such that he even broke utensils. Sometimes, the children would run away and to the bushes just to stay away from him they alleged. On the day of the incident, according to the brothers, all they wanted was to punish Masuku and used knobkerries to hit him all over the body, including the head. Masuku is said to have been drunk at the time of the assault. After several minutes of the beating, the men then laid him inside a room where oranges were stored. He was still alive at the time but he was bleeding, they alleged. They stated that their intention was to keep him in the aforementioned room to sleep but little did they know that he would be dead by the next morning. The brothers later appeared before Magistrate Sakhele Hlophe and were remanded in custody. They were advised that should they seek to apply for bail, they could do so via the High Court either on their own accord or through a lawyer. Continuing the tussle between BJP MPs and the Parliamentary IT panel chief, lawmaker Nishikant Dubey has shot off another letter. This time he has written to Shashi Tharoor, reminding him of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birlas request to not take up any subject for discussion that is pending before a court. Tharoor had called the committee meeting to discuss unavailability of 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir. Expressing his discontentment, Dubey wrote, I may like to bring to your kind notice that recently, your goodself has convened yet another sitting of the Committee on 1 September 2020 to discuss the issue of 4G services in Jammu & Kashmir. Since this issue is presently pending before the Honble Supreme Court of India, any further deliberations on this would again be a violation of the relevant Rules/ Directions as well as disregarding the recently issued advisory of the Honble Speaker, Lok Sabha." The letter accessed by CNN-News18 further reads, I, therefore, appeal to your goodself that the sitting of the Committee on Information Technology convened for the aforementioned purpose may be immediately revoked. I also request you to consider not taking up those issues for deliberation in our Committee which are of National Importance as otherwise, we would again be showing discourtesy to the desire of our Honble Speaker that we all continue to work towards strengthening the Parliament of India and Indian democracy through our endeavour and thereby enhancing the glory and prestige of our Parliament." Birla had sent a letter to Parliamentary Committees on Tuesday, asking them to follow Direction 55 of Directions by the Speaker to ensure at all their briefings and reports are kept confidential and no information is leaked to the media. The speaker also quoted Rule 270, which was also used by Dubey in the letter to Tharoor. According to the rule, a Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records: Provided that if any question arises whether the evidence of a person or the production of a document is relevant for the purposes of the Committee, the question shall be referred to the Speaker whose decision shall be final: Provided further that Government may decline to produce a document on the ground that its disclosure would be prejudicial to the safety or interest of the State." A Twitter duel had erupted between Dubey and Opposition MPs Tharoor and Mahua Moitra (TMC) recently over the prospect of the panel seeking views of Facebook on the WSJ report. In the report, US newspaper Wall Street Journal 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 said the companys social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence, adding these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation. Two weeks have passed since President Donald Trump announced that he would sidestep a congressional stalemate to deliver $400 in extra weekly benefits to tens of millions of unemployed Americans a short-term fix meant to replace the $600-a-week emergency federal supplement that expired last month. Since then, as more details of the plan known as Lost Wages Assistance have emerged, so have problems with finding the funding and getting it to the hands of those who need it. What is now clear is that the federal supplement is $300 a week, not $400. And by Thursday, only one state, Arizona, had started paying out. Here is what we know. The federal government is offering an extra $300 a week to unemployed workers. Trump is using money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which normally provides disaster relief. The additional $100 was supposed to be supplied by states, but most are struggling to meet other expenses. Tax revenues have been sinking at the same time that costs like precautions to curb the spread of the coronavirus have soared. Ultimately the administration said the states basic benefit payments could be counted toward their $100 share. Montana is the only state so far to choose the $400 option, according to FEMA. Jobless workers with the smallest benefits will not get the supplement. Only people who qualify to receive at least $100 in unemployment benefits each week either through the regular state program or a federal pandemic assistance program are eligible for the extra federal funds. In Colorado, for example, the rule leaves out 6% of those receiving unemployment pay or roughly 28,000 people, said Cher Haavind, deputy executive director of the state Department of Labor. One state has declined to take part. South Dakotas governor, Kristi Noem, announced last week that her state would forgo the federal funds, saying they were not needed because South Dakota had recovered 80% of its job losses. There are widespread delays. Each state is supposed to administer the new supplement, just as it processes regular state unemployment insurance and federal pandemic jobless benefits. In the spring, when state unemployment systems were overwhelmed with claims, there were delays of weeks or even months because computer systems had to be updated and reprogrammed, and staff members trained. Now states must again work out how to process a new program while they keep existing benefits flowing. New claims for state jobless benefits unexpectedly jumped in the most recent weekly report to 1.1 million. On a conference call with reporters Thursday, John P. Pallasch, assistant secretary for employment and training at the Labor Department, said it could take some states up to six weeks to figure out how to get a program up and running. As of Saturday, funds had been approved for 23 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Vermont. Keith Turi, a FEMA official, said on the call Thursday that the initial approvals were for three weeks. Well add additional weeks from there as needed, he said. Most states, though, are still reviewing the rules issued by the federal government to determine how to carry them out. Florida is mulling the best course of action that will preserve the states financial stability while providing important assistance to Floridians in need, said Cody McCloud, press secretary to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Ohio plans to apply but is considering what it needs to do to upgrade its systems, said Bret Crow, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. States have until Sept. 10 to apply for the funds. The extra benefit is likely to run out after five weeks. To finance the program without a congressional appropriation, Trump set it up to draw from federal disaster funds a limited pool and the administration said that no more than $44 billion would be spent. According to estimates from FEMA and the Labor Department, that sum will cover four or five weeks of payments to unemployed workers who are eligible. The funds are supposed to be retroactive to Aug. 1, so recipients might be paid only through early September. Congress is at an impasse on longer-term support. Trump acted after Democrats and Republicans were unable to work out a deal on supplemental benefits before the August congressional recess. Democrats have steadfastly supported restarting the $600 weekly booster that ended last month. Republicans have pushed for a smaller supplement initially proposing $200 a week, arguing that bigger sums discourage people from returning to work. Studies by economists across the political spectrum have concluded that the additional benefits have not deterred job seekers. The latest, by the Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago, found that despite anecdotal reports of people turning down jobs, very few workers would not have returned to work if given the opportunity. For most, the temporary nature of the supplement, the difficulty of finding another job, and concerns about career setbacks and permanently lower wages outweigh the short-term financial gain. And workers who reject job offers are no longer eligible for unemployment benefits. Nearly 30 million people are receiving some form of jobless benefits. At the end of June, there were roughly 5.9 million job openings. Economists said the emergency federal checks this year have kept the economy functioning, fueling spending that has supported restaurants, retailers and other businesses. The $600-a-week supplement injected roughly $70 billion a month into the economy between April and July, almost 5% of total household income. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. By Abhinav Ramnarayan and Clara Denina LONDON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - British e-commerce firm The Hut Group could launch an initial public offering (IPO) as early as this week in a deal that could value the company at up to 4.5 billion pounds ($5.9 billion), two sources with knowledge of the matter said. In what would be a major boost for a slumbering European IPO market, the company could file its registration document with the London Stock Exchange and a draft "intention to float" in coming days, the sources said. The deal could be priced by mid-September and is likely to raise around 1 billion pounds through the sale of new and existing shares, they added. The potential launch of the IPO was first reported by Sky News earlier on Wednesday. A spokesman for The Hut Group declined to comment. The launch of the IPO and a successful deal would help boost European listing volumes, which were at their lowest in eight years in the first half of 2020 as the COVID-19 crisis doused investor sentiment. However, there has lately been a revival in new listings in the United States and in Asia, where Ant Group, Alibabas fintech arm and Chinas dominant mobile payments firm, filed for a dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai on Tuesday which could raise as much as $30 billion to become the worlds largest IPO. Bankers hope some deals could get done in Europe as well in September, a traditionally busy time for IPOs when investors return from summer holidays. This would particularly be true for companies in hot sectors such as tech, healthcare, and defensive industries that generate steady returns such as utilities, bankers say. The Hut Group is an online retailer of beauty and nutrition products, running websites for a number of different brands globally, hosting them on its own e-commerce platform. The business has benefited from the COVID-19 crisis, as online sales have soared during lockdown and after, said one of the sources. Barclays, Citi and JP Morgan are among the investment banks working on the deal, one of the sources said. Citi and JP Morgan declined to comment. Barclays did not immediately reply to a request for comment. ($1 = 0.7621 pounds) (Reporting by Abhinav Ramnarayan and Clara Denina Editing by David Holmes) Australia has pledged $80 million to a global push to ensure any future coronavirus vaccine is distributed cheaply and fairly in developing countries in the Pacific and South East Asia. But aid groups have labelled the move to reallocate the funding for the COVAX AMC initiative out of the existing aid budget as "deeply disappointing". Vanuatu, which was hit by a cyclone in April, will be among the countries to benefit from Australia's funding commitment. Credit:World Vision The Morrison government wants to make sure countries in the region have affordable access to a COVID-19 vaccine amid a global race to develop a vaccine. The Morrison government has been particularly concerned about Papua New Guinea, which has experienced a small wave of confirmed cases in recent months, as well as Indonesia which is recording thousands of new cases every day. JOHANNESBURG: Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa has declared force majeure after a breakdown of a blast furnace at its Newcastle Works in KwaZulu-Natal province, it said on Wednesday. The clause of force majeure, loosely translated as superior force, allows certain terms of an otherwise legally binding agreement to be ignored due to unavoidable circumstances. Africas biggest steel producer, which is majority-owned by Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal SA , said the blast furnace had suffered thermal damage and had been shut down for an estimated three weeks for repairs. The company has communicated with customers and has declared a force majeure in respect of the specific impact of this breakdown," it said in a emailed response to Reuters. ArcelorMittal, also the biggest steelmaker on the continent, produces close to 4.4 million tonnes of finished steel products in South Africa via four main steel plants. Its Newcastle plant makes long steel products which are used in the construction industry and has a capacity of 1.9 million tonnes, or just over 150,000 tonnes monthly. Its long products, produced from Newcastle and Vereeniging Works, contributed up to a third of its operating profit in 2019, according to the companys annual report. The company said it was unable to predict production losses due to the uncertainty around when it will be fixed. Every effort is being made to resolve the problem quickly and to restart production as soon as possible to limit the impact on customers," it said. A part of the production has been shifted to the Vaal Melt Shop at its Vereeniging Works plant, ArcelorMittal said. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor The money lending company Afterpay has skyrocketed in value as shoppers in lockdown flock to the service to indulge in some retail therapy. Shares for the buy-now-pay-later business skyrocketed on Tuesday, increasing by more than $10 to reach $93.25 by close of trade, to continue the rapid growth that had seen the share price increase by more than 1000% in the past six months. The sharp rise on Tuesday was prompted by expectation of a strong figures when the full-year financial results are announced on Thursday. There was some profit-taking on Wednesday, with the share dropping 1.7 per cent to end the day at $90.72. The money lending startup Afterpay has skyrocketed in value as shoppers in lockdown flock to the service as a form of retail therapy Shares for the buy now pay later business Afterpay (pictured) grew to a record $93.25 at the close of trade on Tuesday, before dropping back down to $90.72 on Wednesday The Tuesday share price gave Afterpay a value of $25.6billion, when multiplying the price by the 280 million shares on issue. The company is more valuable than supermarket giant Coles, which is worth $25.12billion, reported Nine News. Afterpay's growth has been driven in part by the lockdown measures introduced during COVID-19. Afterpay experienced it's highest ever quarter of revenue over the lockdown period as Australians took up online shopping while stuck at home during the pandemic. The company has been particularly popular among Australian women, predominantly millenials using the service for fast fashion purchases. The company has been incredibly popular among Australian women, predominantly millenials using the service for fast fashion purchases (stock image) Shoppers are able to buy anything from clothing to homeware, sports, hardware, tech an even beauty appointments using the buy-now-pay-later service. The business operates by allowing customers to pay for an item or service over a series of installments, similar to the old lay-buy system, but without having to wait for the goods. Instead of charging customers interest, the business makes money by charging fees for late payment, and from charging businesses a commission of each sale made on the platform. The company released its app to customers on June 2017, after being founded by Nick Molnar (pictured) and Anthony Eisen. Since then Afterpays growth has resulted in Molnar becoming the youngest ever self-made billionaire at only 30 year's old Shares for Afterpay dipped to below $8 a share in March, but grew in value dramatically buoyed by the market's recovery, reported Business Insider. The company released its app to customers on June 2017, after being founded by Nick Molnar and Anthony Eisen. Within 48 hours the app shot to number one on the App store. Since then Afterpays growth has resulted in Molnar becoming the youngest ever self-made billionaire at only 30 year's old. Lucknow, Aug 26 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati is back to playing the caste card with a vengeance, assigning duties to senior party leaders to address issues and crimes related to their respective caste and community groups. She has asked these party leaders to visit the spot whenever persons from their caste or community face atrocities, social injustice, or are victims of serious and sensitive crimes and lead the fight for justice for those at the receiving end. "Special arrangement has been made by the BSP in view of the deteriorating law and order in Uttar Pradesh and the failure of the Yogi Adityanath government to control crimes," she told party leaders. According to party sources, senior BSP leader Gayacharan Dinkar, who belongs to the Dalit community, will visit the spot in the cases of crime against Dalits and tribals. Lalji Verma will visit places from where crimes against the backward community are reported. Similarly, Shamshuddin Raeen and party state unit President Munkad Ali will lead the fight for justice for the members of the Muslim community in such cases. While Shamshuddin will raise the issue of atrocities against the Muslims in Lucknow division and four other divisions of western UP, Ali has been entrusted with the task in the remaining 13 divisions. BSP National General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, who is considered the upper caste face of the party, will visit places and spots of crimes against the Brahmins and other upper caste communities. The BSP supremo's decision to address issues of different castes separately through their respective community leaders is apparently a departure from the party's earlier stand of 'Sarvjan Hitaye Sarvjan Sukhaye'. Mayawati, interestingly, has never visited or reached out to victims of crimes. She says that she remains preoccupied with the organisational work of her party. The entities are involved in Russia's chemical and biowarfare programs, U.S. officials note. A number of Russian entities scientific and research facilities "have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States." That's according to a report released on the U.S. Federal Register. The sanctioned entities include: 33rd Scientific Research and Testing Institute; 48th Central Scientific Research Institute, Kirov; 48th Central Scientific Research Institute, Sergiev Posad; 48th Central Scientific Research Institute, Yekaterinburg; and State Scientific Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology. The move is based on a number of factors, including the involvement of targeted facilities with the Russian military, chemical weapons and biowarfare program. According to RIA Novosti, at least one of those entities, the 48th Central Scientific Research Institute, was engaged in testing the Russian "vaccine" for COVID-19. Read alsoReuters: U.S imposes new sanctions on Russia over Skripal poisoningThe sanctions package includes restrictions on export, reexport, and transfer of goods posing risk to U.S. national security. U.S. accusations of Russia In April 2020, the U.S. Department of State said it believes Russia continues to develop chemical weapons, concealing data on chemical weapons stocks, as well as maintains an offensive bacteriological weapons program. On August 25, Mike Pompeo commented on the poisoning of Russian opposition's Alexey Navalny: " The United States is deeply concerned by reported preliminary conclusions from German medical experts that Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny was poisoned. If the reports prove accurate, the United States supports the EUs call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort." Two years ago, the Kremlin drew international outrage when it was accused of poisoning Russian-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English town of Salisbury, according to The Hill. "After the chemical weapons attack that took place here in Salisbury, along with our other allies, we pushed back, we punished Russia with important sanctions," Pompeo said in remarks in London in May 2019, CNN reported. "We wanted the world to know that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by nations like ours who value the rule of law." Kate Garraway was joined by daughter Darcey on Wednesday as she ventured out in London, shortly after stepping back from TV duties to look after coronavirus stricken husband Derek Draper. The presenter, 53, confirmed on Friday that she is taking a week off from Good Morning Britain to help her son Billy, 11, get ready for secondary school while taking care of Derek as he continues his recovery from the deadly virus. Taking a break from her busy schedule, Kate had good company in the form of 14-year old Darcey as they visited a local pet store. In good company: Kate Garraway was joined by daughter Darcey on Wednesday as she ventured out in London The presenter looked stylish in a cropped denim jacket and breezy summer dress as they climbed from their car and made their way across the high street. With a large carry bag slung over one shoulder, Kate mingled with fellow shoppers as she chatted to her eldest child, who looked preoccupied while checking her mobile phone. Despite suffering the trauma of seeing Derek's health decline during the darkest days of his coronavirus battle, the breakfast TV regular appeared to be in an upbeat mood during her latest appearance in the capital. Stepping back: The presenter, 53, confirmed on Friday that she is taking a week off from Good Morning Britain to help her son Billy, 11, get ready for secondary school while taking care of Derek as he recovers from COVID-19 Side by side: Taking a break from her busy schedule, Kate had good company in the form of 14-year old Darcey as they visited a local pet store Understated: The presenter looked stylish in a cropped denim jacket and breezy summer dress as they climbed from their car and made their way across the high street Addressing colleagues and viewers on Friday morning's Good Morning Britain, Kate admitted it had been a 'challenging time' as she showed her gratitude to her ITV 'family', who she revealed have been 'amazing' throughout the ordeal. Derek has been in hospital since March slowly recovering from his battle with Covid-19 and she was able to visit him for the first time last week. Explaining that she would be taking some time off, Kate said: 'I'm actually not here next week, I'm taking a bit of time off to help Billy get sorted for secondary school and Darcey as well get ready for school. And also Derek, look after things on that. Let's talk: Kate chatted to her eldest child as they crossed the street during their appearance in London on Friday Accessory: The presenter's large carry bag ensured she caught the eye as she made her way back to her car Showing her appreciation, she added: 'I just want to say thank you to all of you for absolutely being brilliant since I've come back through challenging times. Everyone here, you, Ben, everyone on screen and off screen you've been amazing.' 'Everyone talks about ITV and TV being a brutal business and it's not, it's a proper family you've all been amazing. Thank you so much.' Kate's co-host, who was making his presenting debut on the show, replied: 'You know that we love you and we've all got your back on this show. Handing over to Andi Peters who is standing in for Lorraine Kelly, she said: 'Well you've all been fantastic. And Andi, you've been one of those who has always had my back haven't you Andi, all the way. Women working in the film industry and show business" are no strangers to sexist trolling and rumour-mongering. And when it comes to actressess in Pakistan where women are still struggling to be seen as as equals, every day can mean a no controversy. So it seems is the case with 37-year-old Pakistani actress and celebrity Mehwish Hayat, who is now being called gangster Dawwod Ibrahims girlfriend". Who is Mehwish Hayat? 37-year-old Hayat started her acting career in Pakistan in 2009 with a film called Insha Allah. But her career really began with television in 2010 and she went on to become a household name after her role in the hit 2012 romantic serial Meray Qatil Meray Dildar. Hayat started acting in films again since 2014 and has since acted in a number of hit Pakistani films such as Actor in Law, Punjab Nahin Jaungi and the more recent Load Wedding. Popular for her roles and appearances in dance videos, the actress is presently one of the most successful actresses in Pakistan with two Lux Style Awards under her belt. In 2019, the actress was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz - one of Pakistans greatest (fourth-highest) civilian honours, to commemorate her achievements and controbution to cinema. Why is Mehwish Hayat being trolled? Despite her accolades in the film industry, Hayat is no stranger to trolling and controversy. Be it for her appearnces in dance videos, her stand of womens rights or her recent winning of the the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz award, Hayat is always in the ete of a storm. Following the award, several conservative voices in Pakistani public sphere questioned the actresss credibility and achievements. Many made insinuations that Hayat got the award not for her roles but due to her connections in the film industry. The actress has time and again responded to such trolls and gossip websites, slamming trolls and calling out the sexist attitude of the countrys media and politicians who constantly supported anti-woman agendas. Is Mehwish Hayat Dawood Ibrahims girlfriend? Hayat is unmarried and has no reported flings or past relationships. And yet, recently a media report regarding her alleged connections to Dawood Ibramhim has been doing the rounds on Indian and Pakistani media. As per reports by DNA and Zee News, wanted gangster Dawood - who is known to have an interest in films - took a shining to the actress some years ago after he spotted her in an item song". The report also mentioned that the gangster has since funded severeal of her films or used his influence to get her roles. The reports have once again set the rumour mills churning with several critics and trolls claiming Dawood was the reason for her Tamgha-i-Imtiaz award. Apart from these reports, which the reports have attributed to sources", no other evidenvce of the actresss alleged relationship with Dawood exists. Where is Dawood Ibrahim now? Dawood became a fugitive in India following the 1993 blasts in Mumbai and has managed to keep a low profile and maintain anonyminity since. Wanted for several severe crimes including smuggling, trafficking, murder and organised crimes. According to media reports, the gangster now leads his operations from Pakistan with aome even suggesting he enjoys immunity from the Pak governmnet. In 2017, it was reported that Dawood had fallen sick and had been admitted to the hospital. However, his aide Chota Shakeel had later clarified that Dawood was fine. It had previously reported that Dawood had been receiving treatment for gangrene in 2016. He is said to live in Karachis posh Clifton area with his wife. However, in a recent interview with CNN News18, don Chhota Shakeel denied that Dawood Ibrahim lives in Karachi despite the Pakistan government admitting to his presence in the city. Why is Mehwish Hayat being linked to Dawood Ibrahim? While the media reports have cited sources close to Hayat that informed them of the news, it is highly likely that the rummours are just that - rumours. There are no previous reports of her connections to the under-world and her trolling and allged promiscuity only became the talk of town after the actress received the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz award. It isnt just her films, Hayat is also known to make political statements that her in the news including on issues such as womens rights, Kashmir or speaking in defence of former Pakistani chief General Musharraf. There has been no further confirmation on whether Hayat is in any relationship at all. In a follow -up to its previous claim, Zee News has reported that the Dawood Ibrahim has expressed displeasure after his relationship with the actress was exposed. It is possible that Paksitans governments recent admission that Dawood was indeed residing in Pakistan that may have given rise to such rumours. On August 18, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tweeted a video of Norkis Obispo, a member of the pro-government political organization Frente Francisco de Miranda (FFM), talking about her experience being treated for COVID-19 at the Dr. Egor Nucete Hospital. In the video, Obispo says that she, in her role as an FFM member, has been involved in various activities to help the population deal with COVID-19, and that this is likely how she contracted the virus. She notes that she and other activists were getting COVID-19 tested weekly, and that she had tested positive for the virus five weeks earlier. Obispo discusses her experience at the hospital where she was treated, saying she received the necessary care, including daily vitamins and medication, along with four quality meals a day. Maduro accompanied the video with a message: "The simple and heartfelt testimony of Norkis Obispo, a warrior from the [Venezuelan] Plains recovered from the Coronavirus, thanks to the treatments, care and care of all health personnel. The video and the presidents message are misleading, and misrepresent how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting Venezuela. Just two days after Maduros tweet, members of the nursing staff at Dr. Egor Nucete Hospital launched a sit-down strike. They refused to further treat COVID-19 positive patients until they were guaranteed proper biosafety equipment and supplies, along with decent and optimal working conditions to treat patients without putting themselves at risk. "We do not have biosecurity equipment, in addition to this there is no water or medical supplies or medical equipment to protect our lives. All these conditions violate the rules and laws [of the country], they said, citing deplorable conditions at the hospital. Since the pandemic hit Venezuela, experts and international organizations have expressed concern over the effect it would have on its already-crippled healthcare system. As Polygraph.info reported in late June, Maduro has consistently downplayed the outbreak in Venezuela. Alianza Rebelde Investiga (ARI), a Venezuelan news media collaborative, reported on June 7 that "hospital equipment, medical personnel and provision of basic services are insufficient in the countrys 47 hospitals designated to treat coronavirus patients. Only 57 percent of the hospitals have a continuous water supply, and 43 percent have insufficient or no protective gear such as gowns, surgical and face masks for doctors and nurses. The investigation also found that only 15 ambulances were in operation for the entire hospital network. Venezuela has relied heavily on humanitarian aid from allies like Turkey and China, and international organizations like the United Nations, to acquire PPE and other medical resources. However, such aid has not been sufficient to counter the consequences of a crippled infrastructure, power outages and a scarce water supply. In the video, Obispo urges people to get tested if they have coronavirus symptoms, but widespread and reliable testing is also an issue in Venezuela. Rafael Orihuela, a former Venezuelan minister of health, told the Voice of America that there are not enough labs for COVID-19 testing, even though more could be built (and were promised). It seems that there is an attempt not to do so in order to keep [the figures] murky, he said. Currently, we have only one that is in Caracas where the test is done and it takes three weeks to deliver the results. During the last week, international media have reported on how Venezuelas government is handling the pandemic, including deploying security forces and putting those who test positive in warehouses with sub-minimal living conditions. The New York Times reported on Aug. 19 that Venezuelans who are returning to their country because of the pandemic denounced as bioterrorists" by Maduro are being put into crowded rooms with limited protection, food and water, and "held under military guard for weeks or months for coronavirus tests or treatment with unproven medications. In cities like Maracaibo, the capital of Zulia state, police patrol streets looking for Venezuelans who returned home without official approval, the Times reported. In early June, 20 people infected with the virus asked to be released from the University Hospital of Maracaibo because they had no food or water. The state's doctors association has decried a lack of hospital beds and supplies, use of low-budget hotels to quarantine coronavirus patients and the limited use of face masks. Bloomberg reported on August 24 that patients and doctors are avoiding being tested so as not to be sent to state-run quarantine centers. Venezuela was already very short on medical staff. People are afraid. Now patients arrive immediately needing intensive care because they lived with the disease at home until they just couldnt any longer, Maria Graciela Lopez, head of Venezuelas Society of Infectology, told the news agency. Some people are relying on the black market for tests, so they are not monitored by the government. On June 1, Maduros government and the opposition-led National Assembly, along with the Pan American Health Associations (PAHO), signed an agreement committing to work together to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. They also committed to create official channels for PAHO to help in fight the pandemic in Venezuela, by delivering assistance aimed at increasing diagnostic capacity, protecting health workers, responding to confirmed cases, increasing epidemiological surveillance and improving risk communication with the population. According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, as of August 23, Venezuela had recorded a total of 39,564 COVID-19 cases and 329 deaths. Although the rate of daily new cases has decreased over the past week, experts warn that rates of infection are growing at a pace greater than the testing capacity. This is likely leading to an artificial flattening of the contagion curve, a lawmaker and medical adviser to opposition leader Juan Guaido told Reuters. Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr. has called on the Akufo-Addo administration to expedite the implementaion of the Right to Information law (RTI). The Right to Information Bill was passed by Parliament last year to operationalize the constitutional right to information held by public and private institutions, and to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs and related matters. The RTI Bill was first drafted in 1999, reviewed in 2003, 2005 and 2007 but only presented to Parliament in 2010. It was then brought before the Sixth Parliament but wasn't passed till the tenure of that Parliament elapsed on January 6, 2016. The Bill was re-laid in Parliament in 2018 by the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joseph Dindiok and considered for amendments and went back and forth till the incumbent government had it passed into law. However, the Act has not been implemented to its fullest because certain procedures have to be well-established before it can be effective. The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah speaking on the RTI law, noted that the implementation of the law would require the establishment of information units in all public offices, recruitment and training of information officers to man the units, the establishment of the RTI Commission and the completion of various administrative protocols. But it's been one year since the law was made and yet there are challenges to acquiring information from State institutions. Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Kweku Baako expressed concerns over the delay in enforcing the RTI law after years of fighting for it to be passed. According to him, although the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has passed the RTI bill and captured it in the party's 2020 manifesto which is commendable, the Right to Information law is still hanging because people and entities are not given express access to information. In his earnest view, the tortoise manner in which the RTI law is being implemented makes people have a certain phobia for aspects of the law. "There's still the urgent need for information flow and people have gone out there to seek information only for them to be given excuses," he said. He admonished the government to ensure effective and full implementation of the law saying "actualize it. Let it live; give it life not the letter. Let the letter and spirit come together and that constitutes life". 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 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, August 26, 2020 14:15 512 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c409ffc0 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Wiku-Adisasmito,covid-19-task-force,coronavirus,WHO,World-Health-Organization,COVID-19-test,PCR-test,BNPB Free Indonesia has seen an increase in its COVID-19 positivity rate - the percentage of those tested found to be infected - in the past month, COVID-19 task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said on Tuesday. The country recorded a national positivity rate average of 14 percent, an 0.7 percent increase from July. "The national average positivity rate is about 14 percent," Wiku said in a press conference on Tuesday. The country's positivity rate far exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 5 percent for entering the new normal. Wiku also said the country had fallen far short of WHOs recommended testing rate. "WHO recommends performing one test per 1,000 population per week, meaning with a population of around 260 million people, Indonesia needs to conduct 267,700 tests per week," Wiku said. "However, we were only able to test 95,463 people in the past week, 35.6 percent of the testing rate recommended by WHO. Wiku said the government was working hard to increase the PCR testing rate by improving its laboratories testing capacity. "We'll increase the capacity of the 320 laboratories [that are running PCR tests] by improving human resources and working hours efficiency so that they can perform optimum testing," he said. Indonesia recorded on Tuesday 2,447 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 157,859, with 112.867 recoveries and 6.858 fatalities. (nal) NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hand Sanitizer Market Global Forecast By Products (Gel, Foam, Spray, Others), Distribution Channels, End-User, Regions, Company Analysis Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05953918/?utm_source=PRN Sanitizer is one of the primary methods used to reduce infections transmitted. It is also known as hand antiseptic, and hand rubs act by disinfecting hand. Hand sanitizer mainly used as an optional to traditional hand washing without soap and water. Hand sanitizers are proving to be an effective strategy for containing the spread of infectious disease. Hand sanitizer usually consists of about 60 percent alcohol and other ingredients such as scent, dyes, emulsifiers, etc. It is projected that the Global Hand Sanitizer Market will reach US$ 8.26 Billion by 2026. It is commonly used in households, hospitals, child care centres, doctor's offices, dentist's offices etc. The sanitizer efficacy depends on how much and what type of alcohol is used in the product. Using hand sanitizers has the benefits of working quickly to destroy microorganisms on palms, taking less time than hand washing. In 2020, the global hand sanitizer market has grown more rapidly due to the rapid spread of coronavirus disease. The key growth factors of global hand sanitizer market are increasing awareness among the consumers regarding hand hygiene for the prevention of COVID-19 disease. Other factors are support and promotional campaigns from an organization such as WHO, FDA regarding hand sanitizer, changing lifestyle of people, higher disposable income, the convenience of cleansing hands without using water, increasing incidence of disease are boosting the demand for hand sanitizer. Health risks associated with the hand sanitizer due to their chemical ingredients and alcohol content may hinder the growth of the global hand sanitizer market. The other growth factors of the global hand sanitizer market are witnessing an increased demand from healthcare, hospitality, residential, education, corporate, government, and military sectors. One of the main factors driving demand for market growth currently is the continuing outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has been designated a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, several initiatives undertaking by government bodies and NGOs worldwide, urging people to maintain hand hygiene and cleanliness by using hand sanitizers frequently. Besides, Hand sanitizers are mainly available in the form of gel, liquid, foam, or spray. Gel sanitizer is the leading market in the global hand sanitizer market. Hypermarket/supermarket is dominating the market during the forecast period of time. Also, the household segment is increasing in the future, and, based on area, North America is currently leading the global hand sanitizer due to a rise in people's consciousness about hygiene. The report titled "Hand Sanitizer Market Global Forecast By Products (Gel, Foam, Spray,Others), Distribution Channels (Hypermarket/Supermarket, Pharmacy Stores, Online Channels, Others), End-User (Hospitals, Hotels and Restaurants, Households/Residential, Others), Regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World), Company (Reckitt Benckiser Group, Henkel Corporation, Unilever Plc., 3M Company, L Brands, Inc.)" provides a complete analysis of global hand sanitizer market. Products - The Report Studies the Market for the Following Products Gel Foam Spray Others Distribution Channels On the basis of Distribution Channels, the market is segmented into Hypermarket/Supermarket Pharmacy Stores Online Channels Others End User - The Report Studies the Market of the Following Market by End-user Hospitals Hotels and Restaurants Households/Residential Others Regions - Global Hand Sanitizer Market North America Europe Asia Rest of the World All the Companies have been covered from 3 Viewpoints Overview Recent Initiatives Sales Analysis Company Analysis Reckitt Benckiser Group Henkel Corporation Unilever Plc. 3M Company L Brands, Inc. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05953918/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links www.reportlinker.com Al Drago/Getty When South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem addressed the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, the theme of the evening was Land of Heroes. But no matter what Noem said in her remarks, she remains somebody who smilingly approved a gathering of nearly half a million people who were in some ways worse than cowards. Cowards run away from danger to save themselves. But people who gather in huge numbers largely without masks or social distancing in the middle of a pandemic prove themselves happily willing to risk the lives and well-being of others. The approximately 450,000 who assembled for a biker rally in Sturgis spoke of freedom and personal choice. But they were not just risking their own lives, as many of them do when they hop on a Harley without a helmet. Not to wear a mask is to place people around you at risk, who in turn place others at risk, who in turn do so to others. Do not let all those American flags fool you. The Sturgis rally was not about being free. It was about being monumentally selfish. To put it in terms of this brand of supposed patriotism: My country, tis of ME! I Have 12 Masks: Teacher Stuck Between Rogue Guv and Biker Shitshow As of Tuesday, eight statesSouth Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Montana, and Washingtonhad reported 103 cases of COVID-19 that had been traced back to the Sturgis rally. And that was likely just the start. Were expecting that were going to see many more cases associated with Sturgis, Kris Ehresmann, infectious disease director at the Minnesota Department of Health, said on Friday when announcing the first 15 rally cases in her state. Thousands of people attended that event, and so its very likely that well see more transmission. Obviously, it takes a while for people to develop symptoms and get tested and for us to get those results. By Tuesday afternoon, the number in Minnesota had more than doubled to 35. One was somebody who worked at the rally. Another played in a band there. The rest were described as attendees. Story continues The 35 cases represent 33 households, Ehresmann told the press. I think well continue to see cases. She added, Were likely to see additional cases of secondary transmission; I traveled to Sturigis, but now Ive exposed someone else. So it is an all but sure thing that the virus will continue to spread as a result of the rally in South Dakotaand that more infections would be arising even as Noems speech aired. Some of Noems defenders point to the absence of publicized COVID-19 cases tied to a largely maskless gathering at Mount Rushmore on July 3. But that was a single-day event involving 7,500 people, held exclusively outdoors. The Sturgis rally ran for 10 days, with an estimated 442,500 more in attendance, with much of that time spent in concert halls and bars. The South Dakota Department of Health (SDOH) was reporting as of Monday that there were 37 infections traced to the rally in-state. One was an employee of Asylum Tattoo on Main Street in Sturgis. Asylum appears to have immediately taken down its social media sites. But an SDOH notice remains online listing the days and long hours (10 a.m. to 2 a.m.) the employee worked as a reference for people who think they might have been infected there. Meanwhile, even as her own state health officials were posting such notices about two other Sturgis establishments, Noem was tweeting irresponsible nonsense. Science says we cant stop the virus from spreading, she tweeted, as if it were true. Thats why we do what we can to care for our vulnerable population. In another tweet, she said, Our fight against #COVID-19 isnt over. Well continue to see cases, and well keep taking smart steps and exercising personal responsibility to protect our most vulnerable. What science does say is that the virus can be largely stopped from spreading when aggressive testing is combined with basic precautions, which include masks and social distancing. As Ive told you many times, together, we will get through this, she said in another tweet. Together, were proving that we can. Right. And she is not done with large gatherings. She has announced plans to hold Governor Noems Sportsmens Showcase and Concert, with country music star Chris Young playing before as many as 13,000 people in a Sioux Falls arena. The concert is intended to augment the annual Governors Hunt of pheasants. South Dakota is home to the best pheasant hunting in America, Noem told the press at the July 31 announcement. Were adding the Sportsmens Showcase and Concert to make this event bigger and better than ever before. As if bigger made any sense these days. By her own account, Noem understands from her father the sense of invincibility that can lead people to take risks. She was 21 and married and pregnant with her first child and away at college when she was suddenly called back to the family ranch in South Dakota. Her father, Ron Arnold, had sought to clear a clogged 50,000 bushel grain bin and fell in while his teenage son watched. He was the kind of guy who could do anything, Noem later said of her father to a local reporter. He was indestructible. We had spent our lives watching him do crazy stuff, and have all kinds of crazy stories about him. So you just never thought he could ever get hurt or anything could ever happen to him. She herself wrote in an op-ed, My dad didnt expect to die on March 10, 1994. He was young and vibrant, but that day, he was moving too fast... People came quickly, ripping apart our grain bin to nd him... Despite their best eorts, my dad died in the hospital that night. She left college to keep the ranch running. That led to her becoming active in several agricultural organizations, and that led her into politics. Her first campaign ad was about her father. She wrote the op-ed in 2017, when she was running for governor, and it was largely about estate taxes and the familys struggle to hang onto the ranch, but she also gave witness to the enormity of such a tragic loss. Ive spent the last 23 years without my dad, she wrote. He didnt get to meet my kids or see how we were able to grow the family farm. He didnt get to see me elected to Congress. And hes not going to be there when his granddaughters walk down the aisle. He also was not able to hear her big RNC speech. All that only deepens the mystery of how Noemor indeed anybodycan shrug away thousands of COVID-19 deaths so that people can eschew masks and social distancing in what they call an exercise of freedom but is really worse than cowardice. By the time Noem spoke on Wednesday night, retired school counselor Linda Chaplin of Sturgis expected to know if she tested positive for COVID-19 after the rally. Back on June 10, Chaplin gave a speech of her own, at a hearing preceding the vote by the Sturgis City Council on whether to approve the rally. It is my deepest conviction that this is a huge, foolish mistake to make to host the rally this year, Chaplin warned. The government of Sturgis needs to care most for its citizens. A poll of Sturgis residents found that 60 percent were in favor of canceling this years rally. The city council went ahead and voted to authorize the road closures and traffic adjustments that would enable the rally to proceed. Mayor Mark Carstensen argued that the bikers were going to come anyway. That was when Noem could and should have stepped in. She instead ignored the risk assessment that her own state health department posted regarding public gatherings: Highest risk: Large, in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from multiple areas. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noems COVID-19 Inaction Has Made Her a Right-Wing Hero In private recognition of the risk, Chaplin stayed away from the rally. She continued to observe all the precautions, but there were hundreds of thousands in Sturgis who did not, and there was no way of being sure to have avoided infection. She reports that she knows two Sturigis residents who tested positive. And she has a son and a daughter who are teachers, as well as grandchildren who are students. All will be at risk when the schools reopen on Sept. 8. On Monday morning, Chaplin went to the drive-in testing facility that was set up in the parking lot of a city community center in the aftermath of the rally. She was told that the results would be available in 48 hours. They said it would appear on MyChart, she told The Daily Beast. Statewide on Tuesday, there were only 216 tests, with 80, or more than a third, coming back positive. Should Chaplin be among the positive results on Wednesday, it will not be because she was careless or selfish. Im wearing my mask, she said. Trying to be careful. Thus spoke someone who is a true citizen of the Land of Heroes that the Republicans were seeking to evoke on Wednesday, when Noem spoke. Back at the July 3 event at Mount Rushmore that Noem set in motion and President Donald Trump stage-managed, an array of military aircraft roared overhead to symbolize the power of our national defense. But the upturned faces were bare of what our best scientists say is essential to protecting ourselves and the country during the pandemic. Afterward, Noem gave Trump a 4-foot replica of Mount Rushmore in which our current president had been added to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Trumps bare face will forever be that of the president who scoffed at wearing masks and led millions of others to do the same as the virus spread. Noem and the rest of the GOP can say whatever they wantTrump still comes up as worse than a coward. If you want a real American speech, pull up the one on YouTube of Linda Chaplin addressing the Sturgis City Council. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Sushant Singh Rajput Death Anniversary: A Timeline of the of events that have transpired so far At least 6 members of Sushant Singh Rajputs family killed in road accident in Bihar Drug link info on Rhea Chakraborty shared by ED in Sushant Singh case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 26: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing a money-laundering angle into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput and has questioned his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, has referred some evidence to the CBI and the Narcotics Control Bureau about her alleged links to banned drugs, a charge vehemently denied by her lawyer. The officials said the central probe agency stumbled upon certain data and these "prima facie" inputs have been shared with the two federal agencies but did not give any details of the nature of evidence referred to the agencies. " title="CBI team probing Sushant Singhs death exempted from quarantine" />CBI team probing Sushant Singhs death exempted from quarantine "Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test," her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said in reply to the allegations. Covid vaccine update: India in talks with Russia for Sputnik V | Oneindia News While the CBI is probing the death case of the 34-year-old actor, whose body was found hanging at his duplex flat in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14, the NCB is the federal anti-narcotics agency. Rhea, 28, has been grilled twice in this case by the ED and her statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). She is the prime accused in this case and has stated in her petition before the Supreme Court that she was in a live-in relationship with the actor. The ED money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by Rajput's father K K Singh on July 25 with the Bihar Police in Patna against Rhea, her father Indrajit Chakraborty, mother Sandhya Chakraborty, brother Showik, Rajput's manager Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi and unknown persons accusing them of cheating and abetting his son's suicide. The agency has questioned a number of people till now in the case including Showik, Indrajit Chakraborty, Miranda, Shruti Modi, the chartered accountants of Rajput and Rhea, Rajput's flat-mate and creative content manager Siddharth Pithani and three other house helps who were present in the house on the day the actor died by suicide. Sushant Singh Rajput case: CBI officials question cook for second day It has also questioned Rajput's father and two elder sisters. In his complaint to the police, Rajput's father had alleged that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from his son's bank account in one year to accounts of persons not known or connected to the late actor. To this day, a mention of the Pulwama attack fills our hearts with an irreplaceable sense of pain and loss. What follows is pounding rage towards the culprits and perpetrators behind the gruesome attack which led to the death of 40 brave CRPF jawans in South Kashmir on February 14, 2019. However, the 18-month long probe into the Pulwama terror attack, spearheaded by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officially came to an end with the filing of the chargesheet at a Jammu special court which named 19 people, including JeM chief Masood Azhar, for planning and executing the fatal operation. Twitter JammuNews By presenting the crucial 13,500-page chargesheet, the NIA marked the culmination of a year-and-a-half long "painstaking and meticulous investigation and now, we list down 5 ground-breaking evidence which help the NIA make a breakthrough in this otherwise blind case sprinkled with dead ends. 1. Since most of the things which could have been utilised as evidence in the case was blown into pieces with the blast, NIA had to make use of a number of forensic tests including DNA profiling to find the initial cracks in the dead ends. Twitter Live Wire 2. Establishing the ownership of the car used by suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar for the attack was crucial, but nothing was available. However, detailed forensic methods and painstaking investigations, the serial number of the car was successfully put together. This helped to identify the owners of the car - from the first to the last, namely Sajjad Bhat of Bijbehara, who had joined JeM and was eventually killed in an encounter in June 2019. 3. Human remains from various spots at the scene of the attack were picked up by the agency and sent for DNA profiling. That is how the identity of the suicide attacker Adil Ahmed Dar was acertained and later confirmed by matching the DNA extracted from the car fragments with that of Dars father. Twitter szarabi 4. The video shared by JeM spokesperson Mohd Hassan claiming that his group was responsible for the attack, was sent for forensic examination and the IP address was traced back to a computer located in Pakistan. 5. The NIA chargesheet has named Jem chief Masood Azhars nephew, Mohammed Umar Farooq, as the main mastermind behind the attack. Reportedly, Farooq had infiltrated into the Indian soil in April 2018 and was eventually killed in an encounter last year. 6. After Farooq's encounter, several items were recovered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police including a Rs 70,000 Samsung S-9 Galaxy phone which came with double encryption. J&K Police later handed over the phone to Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) so that data could be recovered. Twitter Ss22Shweta 7. The data retrieved from Farooqs phone played a crucial role in revealing greater details related to the attack. Hundreds of deleted videos and photographs which were sent to Farooq's uncle Maulana Mohammed Ammar via WhatsApp, were recovered. 8. Apart from these footage shot by the terrorists, the agency also found traces of the infiltrating group bringing RDX with it from the Jammu sector IB. The recovered videos also included several takes of the confessional video shot by Adil Ahmad Dar. BCCL 9. Apart from the phone, reports also suggest that a team led by NIA Joint Director Anil Shukla gathered evidence and statements of terrorists and their sympathisers who had been arrested in different cases to uncover the conspiracy. 10. NIA investigators put in painstaking efforts to establish valid proof to find a link between the Jaish terrorists killed in 20-odd encounters and the Pulwama terror attack. Scary shit, right? Chinas bike exports are soaring as demand for bicycles rises in many countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo/Pixabay.com) Sales of bicycles and electric bikes increased by a big margin in May compared to the same period last year, especially in some European countries where sales grew several or even dozens of times, according to data from AliExpress, Alibabas cross-border e-commerce platform. Many vendors have seen sales increase from 30 percent to 40 percent month on month since March, and some have even seen orders signed for the entire coming month. Our electric bikes sell so well in Europe and America that supply is not able to meet demand, said He Chong, an executive of Foshan Jinmai Trade Co., Ltd. in south Chinas Guangdong province, adding that almost all the companys products could soon be sold out due to the dramatic rise in demand in recent months. According to He, in addition to overseas partners, the company has also opened online sales channels on cross-border e-commerce platforms including AliExpress and Amazon. On average, each platform recently sold 300 to 600 bikes in the past few months, which is double the number compared to the same period in the past years. The company has witnessed a more obvious increase in sales since May, He said, adding that his company is a microcosm of the entire industry in China. In addition, bike exports in some Chinese cities have also seen significant growth. According to statistics from Tianjin Customs, Tianjin has witnessed an average increase of 500,000 exported bikes per month since February this year, and more than 1.9 million bikes were exported in May, an increase of 36 percent year-on-year. Erenhot Customs announced that in the first six months, Erenhot Port, the largest land port on the border between China and Mongolia, exported 47,000 bicycles, an increase of 2.3 times year-on-year. Data released by the China Bicycle Association shows that China exported about 5.6 million bikes in June, a year-on-year increase of 30.5 percent, and exports in May and June maintained double-digit growth on a month-to-month basis. The strong overseas demand for Chinese-made bikes can also be attributed to their competitive prices. According to He, the price of an electric bike from his company is between 1,100 and 1,300 euros, about 500 to 700 euros cheaper than a similar local product in Europe. Thanks to a well-developed domestic industrial chain, fully-fledged supporting industries both upstream and downstream, and the advantages of industrial clusters, our companys medium-high end electric bikes with their competitive prices are a good option for overseas customers, He said. AGAINST THE LOVELESS WORLD By Susan Abulhawa Exhausted writers sometimes try to simplify their trade by boiling all stories down to only two essential trajectories: Someone comes to town, or someone moves away. But Susan Abulhawas third novel, Against the Loveless World, disproves this reductive hyperbole, artfully looping together comings and goings, entrances and exoduses, burials and birthdays in a humming narrative of human movement. Nahr, the novels middle-aged narrator, is a daughter of migration. A Palestinian who has never known Palestine, she recalls her coming-of-age in Kuwait with her exiled mother, brother and snippy grandmother. She has no interest in the traumas of her ancestry, and is instead enamored of all things Kuwaiti. It was my home, she says of her adoptive country, and I was a loyal subject of the royals. I lined up every day of school with the other students to sing the national anthem. I even taught myself to speak their dialect and could dance Khaleeji better than their best. Thats what someone told me. Snubbed in her youth by an Independence Day dance troupe because such an honor should be reserved for Kuwaiti kids, Nahr doesnt flinch, or feel offended as her mother does for her, everything came down to being Palestinian, and the whole world was out to get us. Instead the young Nahr seeks belonging elsewhere, breaking rules and expectations as she goes. She back-talks and steals, is promiscuous and unapologetically grounded in her body. Her premature marriage to a Palestinian war hero, the result of her sexual curiosity, is believable in both its hope and desperation. Abandoned and confused, Nahr cedes control of her sexuality to Um Buraq, a worldly Kuwaiti woman who sends her to work as a high-end prostitute. Image Initially appalled by the job requirements, Nahr is intrigued by the power of her earnings, and soon it is she who pays her familys bills, her brothers school fees. When she is gang-raped on the eve of Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait, she leaves sex work and becomes involved with an Iraqi soldier. I wasnt yet ready to give up on men, she thinks. Part of me wanted to know if men could be good. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned Turkey would make "no concessions" in the eastern Mediterranean and told Greece to avoid taking steps that could lead to its "ruin". His remarks come just hours after Athens said it would launch military exercises Wednesday with France, Italy and Cyprus in the region, where tensions between the two neighbours have escalated in recent weeks. "In the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea, Turkey will get what is rightfully ours," Erdogan said in the eastern province of Mus on the anniversary of the 1071 Battle of Malazgirt where pre-Ottoman tribes defeated the Byzantines. The victory has been celebrated with increasing fervour in modern Turkey in recent years, and this year was no different with a socially-distanced audience listening to Erdogan. "We don't have our eye on someone else's territory, sovereignty and interests, but we will make no concessions on that which is ours," he said in the televised speech. "We invite our counterparts to change their ways and avoid wrongs that will be the path to ruin," Erdogan added in pointed remarks to NATO ally Greece. "We want everyone to see Turkey is no longer a country whose patience, determination, means and courage will be tested. If we say we will do something, we will do it, and we will pay the price," he said. Greece and Turkey are already divided on significant issues including migration and Byzantine heritage in Istanbul, formerly Constantinople. But the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has further strained relations, with Turkey rejecting calls from the EU and Athens to immediately stop energy exploration in the region. Turkey sent the Oruc Reis research vessel accompanied by warships to disputed waters on August 10. Its activities were meant to end on last Sunday but were extended to Thursday. Germany has led the charge in Europe to defuse tensions, dispatching its foreign minister to Ankara and Athens on Tuesday to resolve the issue through dialogue. Both sides said they were open to dialogue after talks with the German minister, and there will be an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting in Berlin on Thursday and Friday. The number of Indian climbers at Mount Everest has increased over the years according to official data of Nepals Department of Tourism.As per the data, a total of 78 Indian climbers got permits in the year 2019 to scale the worlds highest mountain. The number was 59 in the earlier year which saw a leap in the number of Indian climbers in the field of the expedition. Nepal has been earning millions of rupees from the field of mountaineering and the number of increased Indian climbers over the period of time has contributed to it in recent years. As per the record of the Himalayan Database till June 2020, out of the total 5,780 climbers who made to the top of Mount Everest 488 are Indians.We have been receiving a large number of inquiries from Indian enthusiasts for climbing Mount Everest. Particularly, they are interested in summiting the worlds highest peak in comparison to other Eight Thousanders of Nepal, Mithun Shrestha of All Nepal Hiking and Expedition said. Due to the COVID-19 situation, we have pushed back our expedition plan for next year. Hope we will be able to host mountain enthusiasts in the coming Spring Season which in fact is way too far but is the hope we are sticking with, he added. The cost for an expedition to the worlds highest mountain in the planet stands at around 40 thousand US dollars if gone through local expedition companies of Nepal. Out of 40 thousand US dollars, the Government of Nepal will receive USD 11,000 dollars as royalty fee. In the year 2020, Nepal lost all its revenue from expeditions as it decided to close its mountains due to the rising COVID-19 infections around the world. US Citizens usually topped the list of those receiving permits to scale Everest in the year before 2019. ALSO READ : Russia in talks with India to manufacture Covid-19 vaccine, confirms health ministry officials In 2019, Indians stood atop the list of permission received on the basis of the country. A total of 20 Indian climbers lost their lives in due course of summiting Everest from the first ascent in 1993, to 2018, as per the tally maintained by the Himalayan Database. ALSO READ : Pulwama 2.0 plot hatched but panicked Pak dropped plan post Balakot, reveals NIA chargesheet ALSO READ : Interpol issues red corner notice against Nirav Modis wife on EDs request Michael Cohen has claimed he negotiated with pool boy Giancarlo Granda in 2015 to stop the publication of explicit photographs of Jerry Falwell Jr's wife Becki, with whom Granda had a six-year affair. Cohen, Trump's former fixer, who was recently released from prison on campaign violations charges, previously said he was involved in the photo scandal. He claimed he intervened on Falwell's behalf to stop the photos from coming out several years ago, but he did not name who was threatening to release them. In an interview on Wednesday however with CNN, he claimed it was Granda. 'These were personal photos between a husband and wife that Mr. Granda somehow came into possession of. I dealt only with his attorney to ensure that, if Mr. Granda actually did possess them, they would never be released publicly. Michael Cohen claims he negotiated with Giancarlo Granda's lawyers in 2015 to stop the release of photos of Becki Falwell Jr. Granda denies the claims Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki. Falwell said the photos were of Becki, in their backyard in Virginia, and that while they weren't 'fully nude', they were of her 'Jerry and Becki (were) very upset at the prospect of its potential public release,' he said. Falwell confirmed to The Washington Post that Cohen was involved, saying: 'They werent fully nude. 'They were just pictures of my wife. I was proud of how she looked.' Granda however insists that he never blackmailed or extorted them, nor did he ever have any contact with Cohen. His attorney said: 'Mr. Granda was never involved in any negotiations directly or indirectly with Michael Cohen as it relates to the Falwells. They werent fully nude. They were just pictures of my wife. I was proud of how she looked.' Jerry Falwell Jr. 'This includes any negotiations through me as his legal counsel. 'Mr. Granda is not the person referred to by Mr. Cohen in the taped recording referenced in the 2019 Washington Post article or in any other publication. 'Any suggestion that he is that person is absolutely false as well as any representation that I had any dealings with Mr. Cohen ever.' Cohen's interjection adds another development to the sordid saga that began on Sunday night, when Jerry gave a long statement to The Washington Examiner, claiming he and his wife were being extorted. He did not name Granda, but revealed that Becki had had an affair. He said he'd chosen to forgive her, but that finding out about it upset him so much he lost 80lbs. Cohen in Manhattan on August 14 He then claimed that their lawyers had told them to stay in touch and remain friendly with Granda, with whom they run a gay-friendly hostel in Miami. Granda, in an interview with Reuters, then claimed that not only did Jerry know about the affair, but that he watched him and Becki having sex. He said the trio met in 2012, when he was working as a pool boy at the Fontainebleau in Miami, and says Becki picked him up. He claims she told him he needed someone more experienced than the young girls he was talking to and that she brought him to her hotel room, where Jerry was waiting in Speedos. The pair then had sex in front of Jerry, he claims. In 2015, the couple tried to cut ties with Granda by buying him out of their Miami hostel. It coincided with Donald Trump's first presidential campaign, which they endorsed enthusiastically. Granda did not agree to the terms and they remained in business. In 2018, the relationship soured, he said. The couple have also had legal issues in the past with Gordon Bello, another young man who claims he had a 'personal relationship' with Becki. He said in a lawsuit that he was owed a stake in the hostel. The lawsuit was settled privately for an undisclosed amount last year. The couple have also given a former Liberty University student and personal trainer help setting up his own business. Benjamin Crosswhite trained the couple in 2011 and later. In 2016, Liberty gave him a health and fitness center on campus. The Granda scandal comes after questions and criticism over Jerry's leadership at the Christian university. He was in the past accused of using the university purse to give favors to friends, and disgruntled staffers said he ran it more like a 'real estate hedge fund' than a college. The university has amassed more than $500million in assets since he took over. Much of it is down to him taking in online students. Liberty was founded in 1971 by Jerry's father, Jerry Falwell Sr., or 'big Jerry', as some on campus call him. A mother of three visually impaired children feels those with disabilities have been "forgotten" by the Government. Tracey Percy, whose sons Lee (10), Alex (14) and Jordan (15) suffer from a rare eye disorder, said the whole experience has been "extremely stressful" for her family as they prepare to return to school. Ms Percy is worried about what impact the 'new normal' will have on their education. Two of her sons are cane users and rely on touching surfaces to navigate their way around, which she fears may be problematic and make them more susceptible to contracting Covid-19. Ms Percy told the Herald she believes her children have already fallen behind "by the guts of a year". While she said the schools in general have been helpful and supportive, she feels the Government hasn't done enough to alleviate the pressure on parents of children with disabilities. "My boys were always so active in mainstream schools, but for the first time they're now really feeling their disability," she said. "I think the schools have done their best given the situation they were put in, but the stress that was put on parents and the children has been huge. "Now there is an additional stress, they're going back into a school where everything has changed, and it will be stressful for them to access and walk around the building safely. Guidance "My eldest lad has been in his school for four years and now he's getting an email about eating lunch in the hallway." She said nobody has confirmed to her that they are going to get a full-time Special Needs Assistant to help them get around. "While I think the Government gave clear guidance about reopening, I think they forgot about children with disabilities who need that extra bit of help. "How is a child that is visually impaired going to find hand sanitiser without touching the walls? Is there going to be someone there sanitising the walls after they've touched them?" Ms Percy's youngest son has dyslexia, while her middle son is on the autism spectrum. She found home- schooling difficult and fears she may eventually have to return to that if her children can't adapt to the new normal. "I'm not a professional and it wasn't possible to get resource teaching support during lockdown, so I do absolutely think their education has been negatively affected." Kevin Kelly, head of policy and advocacy with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), said some parents couldn't access their child's assistive technology during lockdown as they couldn't be removed from schools due to "insurance reasons". "The return to school was always a stressful period for any parent, but for the parents of vision-impaired children, with the lengthy period out of school, this year is exceptionally hard," he said. "Unfortunately there is no clear guidance or instruction from the Department of Education on how the return to school is going to work in practice for vision-impaired children." Educators can now share the journeys of very young African entrepreneurs in the #ItStartsWithYou series that highlights key moments that led to their success Johannesburg, South Africa Today sees the launch of a new mini-documentary and case study series about very young African entrepreneurs designed to enable high school and university educators to engage students meaningfully about entrepreneurship as a career path. #ItStartsWithYou sheds light on eight very young Africans whose passions, commitments, and grit showcase what it means to embark on an entrepreneurial journey at a young age. The documentaries reveal new role models for other youth who might be considering entrepreneurship. Through the series, the Anzisha Prize is intentional in highlighting the importance of support from parents, educators, investors, and policymakers if young people are to make successful transitions to entrepreneurship as well as sharing key moments that are instrumental in each entrepreneurs story. Through free-to-download case studies that accompany each documentary, educators will have a chance to delve deeper into each story and build lesson plans that encourage their students to see entrepreneurship as a career they can pursue. The case studies will serve as a curriculum tool for educators who want to build entrepreneurial education into their schools and classrooms. Peter Materu, Chief Program Officer, Mastercard Foundation says, We know that entrepreneurship is key to scaling up opportunities for millions of young people. But how do we nurture young entrepreneurs? Role models and active mentorship are both critically important. When young people see themselves reflected in the business world as leaders and owners, they intuitively understand that entrepreneurship is an option that is open to them and valued by others. And they may be inspired to pursue it. But they also need training, counselling and mentorship that cultivates the practical skills, disciplines, and mindsets that are universally necessary to take a good idea and turn it into a viable enterprise. We are very excited to see the impact that the Anzisha young entrepreneurs have made. This documentary series, like the Anzisha Prize, combines the two powerful forces of inspiring example and practical instruction. It is our hope that many more will be inspired to test out their own entrepreneurial ideas. Over the last decade, the Anzisha Prize a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation - has celebrated and supported young African entrepreneurs, championing the belief that youth unemployment can be combated by encouraging young people to start a business and hire their peers. Deputy Director of the Anzisha Prize, Melissa Mbazo, says that while deciding on the most inspirational and realistic stories to tell, they realised that it was important to inspire behavioural change. We believe that educators play an integral role in whether or not young people pursue entrepreneurship. We wanted educators to feel empowered to teach entrepreneurship in a dynamic way. Through It Starts With You we hope students feel inspired as they see themselves reflected in the stories of entrepreneurs who are only a few years older. After sending out surveys to young entrepreneurs and asking them what key decisions they had made, ten main constructs were discovered from the research that can be found at anzisha.org/ISWYresearch. Key insights that stood out: Entrepreneurship education is critical in preparing young Africans to transition into entrepreneurship as a career Starting young allows very young entrepreneurs to grow their businesses over a longer period of time and consistently scale to fit market demand Very young entrepreneurs have successfully accessed financing by choosing to invest in relationships with their supporters Support from parents and guardians is pivotal to the success of very young entrepreneurs The documentaries spotlight entrepreneurs from seven African countries including Uganda, South Africa, Cote dIvoire, and Nigeria. One such story is of Belinda Munemo, a Zimbabwean who studied entrepreneurial leadership in her late teens at African Leadership Academy. She went on to build Reekworth Junior School, an institution that shapes and inspires young minds from the age of 2 years old. Fadwa Moussaif, a Moroccan entrepreneur who founded IDYR Design to uplift local artisans, received tremendous support and trust from her parents who assisted with negotiations, thereby assuring suppliers of her competence. To learn more about the #ItStartsWithYou entrepreneurs visit anzisha.org/itstartswithyou and if you would like to join us for the first #ItStartsWithYou watch party, sign up here ! 2020 #ItStartsWithYou entrepreneurs: Kolawole Olajide Kolawole Olajide shares how starting early proved instrumental in scaling his business. Watch his story Vanessa Ishimwe Vanessa Ishimwe highlights how her strong sense of social responsibility led her to empower her community through her business. Watch her story Ignatius Ahumuza Ignatius Ahumuza is a story of a road less travelled. See how he reaped the benefits of choosing the unpopular path of agriculture. Watch his story Amanda Jojo Watch how two mentors championed Amanda Jojos passion of starting her own restaurant. Watch her story Karidas Tshintsholo As an agripreneur Karidas Tshintsholo had to pave his own path within the industry. Learn what it took to build his business. Watch his story Fadwa Moussaif Fadwa Moussaifs parents were her number one supporters when she first started her business. See how that led her to the path of success. Read her case study Ben Aziz Monate Ben Aziz taught himself about the poultry industry in Cote dIvoire. Hear how he navigated the agricultural industry in his country. Watch his story Andrew Mupuya Learn about Andrew Mupuya, who sought financial support from his close networks of friends and family at the start of his journey. Watch his story Belinda Munemo Belinda Munemo wanted to combine her passion for entrepreneurship and education which led her to build Reekworth Junior School in Zimbabwe. Read her case study Abdulwaheed Alayande Through TREP LABS, Abdulwaheed set out on a mission to prevent clinical and surgical errors in Nigeria through this he showing young entrepreneurs can solve real life problems. Read his case study Geoffery Mulei Geoffrey Mulei was born to be an entrepreneur. Through his business Tanda he is inspiring the next generation of young entrepreneurs by employing them. Watch his story About the Anzisha Prize The Anzisha Prize seeks to fundamentally and significantly increase the number of job-generative entrepreneurs in Africa. We test, implement, and then share models for identifying, developing, and connecting high potential, very young entrepreneurs (15-22 years old) and their parents and teachers. These efforts will ensure our ecosystems collective success in creating a pipeline of entrepreneurs with the capabilities for scale. The Anzisha Prize is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation. About African Leadership Academy African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of entrepreneurial leaders who will work together to achieve extraordinary social impact. Each year, ALA brings together the most promising young leaders from all 54 African nations for a pre-university program in South Africa with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship and African studies. ALA continues to cultivate these leaders throughout their lives, in university and beyond, by providing on-going leadership and entrepreneurial training and connecting them to high-impact networks of people and capital that can catalyse large-scale change. For more information, visit http://africanleadershipacademy.org. About the Mastercard Foundation The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org SACRAMENTO State lawmakers nearing a deadline for action to avert mass evictions of California tenants who cant pay their rent because of the coronavirus pandemic are working on a measure that is likely to provide only a short-term solution, those involved in the negotiations say. The proposal is expected to keep a statewide moratorium on eviction proceedings against tenants hurt economically by the pandemic in place through the beginning of next year. A longer-term solution for tenants and landlords who are encountering economic problems of their own because of nonpayment of rent would be put on hold, in hopes the federal government would step in with relief money. Those involved in the talks declined to get into specifics of the plan, which must pass the Legislature by a two-thirds vote before midnight Monday to take effect next week, when the current statewide eviction moratorium expires. It is a stopgap, said Debra Carlton, a lobbyist for the California Apartment Association, which represents owners and developers of rental properties. Were really hoping that the federal government will provide additional aid. With millions of Californians out of work because of the pandemic and as many as 1 in 7 tenant households reporting that they did not pay their rent on time in recent months the Legislature has struggled to come up with a way to avoid mass evictions while also ensuring that landlords are able to meet their own financial obligations. After closing a projected $54 billion budget deficit, the state does not have money to dedicate to the problem. A plan to offer landlords tax credits in exchange for forgiving missed rent died last week after officials estimated it would cost the state about $13 billion. A measure that is still alive, AB1436 by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, would give tenants until 2022 to make up rent they could not pay because of a loss of income related to the coronavirus, but landlord groups oppose that lengthy timeline. What we know for sure is that California is likely not going to be able to provide the ultimate solution to the problem, Chiu said. The ultimate solution is for the federal government to step in and pay peoples rent. The Democratic-controlled House passed legislation in June that would provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and $75 billion to keep homeowners out of foreclosure. It has gone nowhere in the Republican-controlled Senate, and there has been little progress made in Congress toward a relief package. Legislative leaders, Gov. Gavin Newsom, landlord groups and tenant rights advocates are under pressure to reach a deal on rent by Friday. The legislative session ends Monday, and any bill must be in print for at least 72 hours before a final vote. Eviction courts are set to resume hearings two days later, on Sept. 2. Chiu said the negotiations are settling on an approach that would be revisited in the new year, when there may be a new president and Congress that could provide California with more financial resources. Clearly, the Trump administration is not going to do that, and it is my profound hope that a Biden-Harris administration would, he said. So given that political reality, we have had to consider our policy options within those significant constraints. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Two innocent teenage boys were bashed in a vicious attack outside a pharmacy while terrified onlookers were too scared to intervene. One of the teenagers was flung face-first onto the ground while another was fly-kicked during the brawl on Jetty Road in Glenelg in Adelaide's south-west at 7.20pm on June 11. Razi Tahmasebi watched the terror unfold outside her pharmacy before inviting the victims inside, with one so badly injured he required surgery on his jaw. Police are yet to track down the offenders and have released CCTV in the hopes of finding them. Razi Tahmasebi (pictured) watched the horror unfold outside her pharmacy in Glenelg and invited the victims inside 'It was such a frightening event that people saw it but were too scared to do anything about it,' Ms Tahmasebi told Nine News. 'I got the young man into the shop, I asked his friend to also come into the shop, I had to lock the doors because I was afraid.' The two teenagers noticed they were being followed before the attackers jumped them, police say. 'They were not wanting to fight back, they just wanted to be safe,' Ms Tahmasebi said. Police are appealing for other businesses in the area to check their security footage and anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The two teenage boys were kicked and punched by the other men around 7.20pm on June 11 Days after he was appointed to lead a law school in the United Kingdom, Robson Halls former dean who is accused of misusing faculty funds at the University of Manitoba has left his new role. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2020 (512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Days after he was appointed to lead a law school in the United Kingdom, Robson Halls former dean who is accused of misusing faculty funds at the University of Manitoba has left his new role. "Due to a change of circumstances, Professor Jonathan Black-Branch will no longer be taking up his position at University of Southampton," a university spokesperson said in an email Tuesday. Southampton Law School announced in a university article published Aug. 18 that it was welcoming a new leader: Black-Branch, a practising lawyer, scholar with expertise in nuclear disarmament and a former U of M dean. In the article, Black-Branch said he was honoured to assume the position of head of the school and professor of international and comparative law. One Southampton academic noted his "international scholarly profile" in the article, which has since been deleted. The update comes after Winnipeg media contacted the university, inquiring about the hire. Earlier this month, the Free Press published a report that revealed six U of M-affiliated lawyers penned a letter to the Law Society of Manitoba to raise questions about Black-Branch in relation to a newly released U of M whistleblower report. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The lawyers wrote they believe Black-Branch to be the senior employee who was found to have committed wrongdoing, related to the purchase of goods and services, conflict of interest, and the mismanagement and misuse of funds as outlined in the U of M report. Black-Branch, who was appointed dean of Robson Hall in 2016, went on a sudden leave in early May without public explanation. Weeks later, U of M confirmed he was no longer employed by the university, indicating his five-year term had been cut short by upwards of a year. U of M has repeatedly declined to provide any detail about the matter, citing privacy concerns. Black-Branch has not responded to any of the Free Press requests for comment, which date back to June. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie A coronavirus outbreak at the Frankston Hospital in Melbourne's south-east has sent an estimated 750 members of staff into isolation after more than 50 employees were infected with COVID-19. The Australian Medical Association said staff had been told to isolate after 58 infections at the facility - the largest outbreak involving hospital staff in Victoria so far during the coronavirus pandemic. AMA Victoria president Julian Rait said the outbreak was 'extremely concerning'. The staff forced into isolation represent about a quarter of the hospital's 3,000-strong workforce, Professor Rait said. Pictured: A man wearing a face mask is seen walking his dog outside of the Frankston Hospital in Melbourne. A COVID-19 outbreak at the hospital has sent more than 700 members of staff into isolation 'There are anxieties around the shortage of staff and the capacity of the hospital to provide its usual services,' she told The Age. The total number of staff in isolation had dropped to 600 by Wednesday afternoon. 'The safety and wellbeing of our staff, our patients and our community is our utmost priority, and we are doing all we can to help slow the spread of this virus,' operator Peninsula Health said in a statement. Last week Peninsula Health chief executive Felicity Topp said the organisation had identified a major coronavirus outbreak at its facilities - including the Frankston Hospital. 'We immediately closed a number of wards to admissions and all potentially affected staff and patients were tested,' she said. 'We also started contact tracing to identify anyone else who may have come into contact with an infected person. This process is currently in the final stages.' The 750 staff forced into isolation represent about a quarter of the Frankston Hospital's workforce The outbreak comes as Victoria on Tuesday reported 149 new coronavirus cases with another 24 people dead - the second deadliest day since the pandemic began. The state recorded its highest number of COVID-19 fatalities on August 17, with 25 deaths. The latest fatalities take the state toll to 462 and the national figure to 549. Health care workers are pictured at a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic in Rushcutters Bay on July 29 Of the new deaths, one was a woman in her 60s, three were men in their 70s, seven were men in their 80s, six were women in their 90s and four were men in their 90s. There are 21 deaths linked to aged care. There are currently 578 Victorians in hospital, with 39 of those fighting for life in intensive care, including 16 patients on ventilators. The new coronavirus infections on Wednesday mark the third day the daily cases have dropped below 150 - with 148 on Tuesday and 116 on Monday. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will soon issue advertisements requesting people to donate for construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the trusts general secretary Champat Rai said. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the bhoomi pujan for the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5, people from all across the country are donating for construction of the temple. People are transferring money directly into two bank accounts of the Trust operating from State Bank of Indias main branch in Ayodhya. Now, the trust is in a position to advertise in all prominent newspapers of all languages across the country, requesting people to donate for construction of the Ram temple, said Champat Rai, general secretary of the Trust. The quarter-page advertisement will have all details of the two bank accounts (in SBI), including bar code of the bank. This will help people donate easily to the trust, Rai added. On the issue of some Non Resident Indians (NRIs) wanting to contribute to total construction work of the Ram temple, Rai said: First, let people of this country contribute (for the Ram temple), then we will think about it. Till August, the Trust had received around 30 crore donation through online transfers to its two bank accounts. Devotees are making online donations daily. A large number of devotees have donated 5 lakh (each). Online transfers of 1 lakh (each) are in abundance. There are a large number of donations of a small amount, Champat Rai had said earlier. 12 old temples to be demolished Around 12 old temples on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus will be demolished to pave way for construction of the temple. Before construction of the Ram temple starts, some temples in the Ram Janmabhoomi campus will be demolished to pave way for construction of the Ram temple, said Champat Rai. Temples like Sita Rasoi, around 250 years old and in a dilapidated condition, Anand Bhawan, Ram Khajana and Manas Bhawan, among others, will be demolished, said Rai. However, the deities of these temples will be preserved and installed in temples which will be constructed alongside the main Ram temple at Ram Janmabhoomi, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The president of the UN Security Council on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration's demand to restore all UN sanctions on Iran, a move that drew an angry rebuke from the US ambassador who accused opponents of supporting terrorists. Indonesia's ambassador to the UN, Dian Triansyah Djani, whose country currently holds the rotating council presidency, made the announcement in response to requests from Russia and China to disclose the results of his polling of the views of all countries on the 15-member council. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) has deployed a five-year recovery plan to revitalize the crippling Volta Aluminium Company ( VALCO). GIADEC says it intends to retrofit the ailing aluminuim smelter to get it back on its feet within the shortest possible time This was made known at a swearing-in ceremony of the new VALCO Board by Minster for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Kwaku Asomah Kyeremeh, on Tuesday. Chief Executive Officer of GIADEC, Michael Ansah, who announced this, further detailed that retrofitting the plant will take between three to five years and will be done in two phases with the first phase being VALCO producing at full capacity of 200,000 tonnes per annum and second phase to produce at 100,000 tonnes after the retrofit. "The first phase will deliver 170,000 tonnes while the second phase will produce 120,000 tonnes, adding that the first will begin as soon as strategic partners are selected, hopefully by the end of the year...initial part of the recovery plan is to arrest the situation in the business now, make sure that it is standing on firm grounds that the current operations can run through the current difficulties before driving the retrofit'', he said during the event. Mounting Concerns Over Bauxite Exploitation Ghana has currently entered into a $2 billion bauxite infrastructure agreement deal with Asian giant, Sinohydro company. According to the GIADEC CEO, the deal is aimed at exploiting bauxite to develop the nation. "We've had bauxite since this country has existed. We have close to a billion tonnes of bauxite. We've not exploited this fully. We have only one mine in Awaso today. We are looking at exploiting the full resource that we have in Nyihahin today and kyebi as well and this would give us the beginnings of a mining industry that can support a viable refinery that would feed the smelter that we have", he stated. The Chinese company is to financially support government's capital projects with the country paying back the cost from the sale of the refined bauxite. VALCO The Volta Alumiumium Company limited (VALCO) was established in 1967 to add value to Ghana's bauxite deposits. The company is currently a subsidiary of GIADEC but it's on its knees as only two out of its ten production lines are operating and running at extremely low levels. Inauguration of VALCO Board Minister for lands and Natural resources, Kwaku Asomah Kyeremeh inaugurated the six member board to steer the affairs of the Volta Aluminum Company to drive the new vision of the company. The members included Dr. Henry Benyah as Board Chair and Mr. Daniel Acheampong, Dr. Gloria Naa Dzama Addico, Hon. Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, Mr. Seth Adjete Adjei and Mr. Michael Ansah. At the ceremony, the Minister charged the newly sworn members to work hard to transform the company. ''Despite the challenges, VALCO remains a strategic Ghanaian asset that is considered a major corner stone of the integrated industry in Ghana'', Hon. Kyeremeh said. On behalf of the Board, the Chairman, Dr. Henry Benyah expressed readiness to execute their duties; adding that their appointment marks the beginning of new things. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: On September 7, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) will host an online international conference on "Opportunities for Improving Distance Learning of Foreign Languages 2020". Scholars from leading US universities will speak and discuss ways to improve distance learning in foreign languages, online teaching and learning, engaging students in the context of online learning, modern educators, effective textbooks and online teaching. The international conference will be broadcast live on the official Facebook page of UNEC. During the conference sessions, there will be an opportunity to ask questions from the speakers by the audience. The international conference will be held on September 7, 2020 at 18:00 Baku time (9:00 a.m.US time). Speakers of the conference: Dr. Gram R. Smith - a foreign language teacher and researcher at Lynch School of Education and Development, Boston College, USA. Maryna Teplova - a doctoral student at the department of English at Illinois State University. Tacito Cury - the head of the US International TEFL Training Institute. Gizela Cornejo - Academic Director of the US International TEFL Training Institute. Scranton, PA (18503) Today Mostly cloudy with snow showers around this morning. Morning high of 29F with temps falling to near 15. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90%.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low 7F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Evangelical leaders denounce QAnon as political cult,' satanic movement Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Some Christian leaders, including a couple of prominent conservative evangelicals, have denounced the conspiracy theory movement gaining traction in conservative circles known as QAnon. Created by an anonymous online figure in 2017, QAnon claims that President Donald Trump is in a war with a Deep State government, battling entities like elitist pedophile rings and satanism. The conspiracy alleges that a Satan-worshipping "deep state" faction that includes A-list celebrities is working to defeat Trump and engage in child sex abuse. Since its launching, the QAnon conspiracy theories have reportedly garnered growing support among some evangelical churchgoers and other mostly conservative communities. It has also gained notable supporters such as a Georgia congressional candidate and a U.S. Senate candidate in Oregon. QAnon has gotten enough traction to be addressed by Vice President Mike Pence in an interview on CBS' CBS This Morning. In the interview last Friday, Pence said he does not know anything about QAnon. And I dismiss it out of hand, Pence added, decrying the fact that he had to spend time on a major network to talk about some conspiracy online theory. The theory has garnered criticism from multiple Christian leaders, including Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler Jr. On an episode of his podcast, The Briefing, posted online on Monday, Mohler compared QAnon and conspiracy theories in general to the early church heresy of Gnosticism. Gnosticism is the belief that only a few, an elite, a privileged few are able to see, have inside information, explained Mohler. The ancient Gnostics believed in one way or another that this particular secret knowledge was the key to salvation or illumination, or whatever would be the promise of this particular information. Christianity has nothing to do with the secret truth. It has everything to do with a public Gospel, the theologian added. Christians don't have secret beliefs we hide from the world. We're not saved because we have come to some secret knowledge. Tyler Huckabee, senior editor at Relevant Magazine, a Christian lifestyle bimonthly, wrote in a piece published earlier this month that QAnons claims are farfetched and fueled by confirmation bias. Huckabee also considered QAnon a logical extension of the culture war, providing real plot and vocabulary to the us vs. them model that became popular with the rise of the Moral Majority. There are no easy answers about what can be done about QAnon, he wrote. But the fact that Christians seem extra open to conspiracies does reveal that something is deeply broken in how people of faith are spreading their worldview. When Christianity is set up as a cultural battle instead of an opportunity to serve, others are seen not as people in need of love but enemies who need to be feared and mistrusted, Huckabee continued. Author and pastor Joe Carter denounced QAnon in a column published by The Gospel Coalition in May. Carter, the executive pastor at the McLean Bible Church Arlington campus in Virginia, labeled QAnon a political cult and satanic movement that poses [a threat] to the global church. The QAnon movement frequently engages in slander, which James calls demonic behavior (James 3:1516). The QAnon movement often traffics in lies, which Jesus says are associated with Satan. The QAnon movement repeatedly sides with demonically inspired falsehoods that divide professed Christians from faithful believers, wrote Carter. And the QAnon movement has a tendency to call evil that which is good, and good that which is evil, and to put darkness for light, and light for darkness (Isa. 5:20). As movement of Satan, QAnon is incompatible with Christianity. Carter called on Christians to work to guard those who would fall for such deceptions and to plead with QAnon supporters within the church to return to the faith. It is neither too early nor too late for Christians to launch a counterattack on the demonic influence of QAnon, he concluded. Last week, President Trump said that he does not know much about the QAnon conspiracy theory but understands that its supporters like him and "love America." While the FBI labeled QAnon a domestic terror threat last year, the Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said in an interview this week that QAnon is not a "significant threat." But he stressed that he doesn't have any reason to disagree with the FBI's assessment. Tata Motors Ltd is quoting at Rs 134.15, up 5.55% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 11.47% in last one year as compared to a 3.5% jump in NIFTY and a 13.22% jump in the Nifty Auto index. Tata Motors Ltd gained for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 134.15, up 5.55% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.19% on the day, quoting at 11494.35. The Sensex is at 38886.22, up 0.11%. Tata Motors Ltd has gained around 31.91% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Tata Motors Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 12.69% in last one month and is currently quoting at 7983.6, up 1.44% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 1155.52 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 653.21 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark August futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 134.2, up 5.3% on the day. Tata Motors Ltd is up 11.47% in last one year as compared to a 3.5% jump in NIFTY and a 13.22% jump in the Nifty Auto index. The PE of the stock is 0 based on TTM earnings ending June 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.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 07:19:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOUSTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Some coastal areas in the U.S. state of Texas issued voluntary evaluation order on Tuesday as intensified Hurricane Laura moved from the Gulf of Mexico towards the coastline. Texas' Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a voluntary evacuation effective immediately, saying that "all of us need to be prepared for the very real potential of a direct hit from the storm." Meanwhile, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking people to stay off the roads. "I am asking Houstonians to be off the road by 8:00 p.m. tomorrow if not sooner," he tweeted. "This is a serious event and we should treat it as such." Earlier, in Texas Galveston, an island along the Gulf Coast, officials encouraged people who live without the protection of the seawall to evacuate. Louisiana coastal areas also issued evacuation orders. Laura strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday morning as it entered the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. U.S. National Hurricane Center projected Laura is expected to intensify on a path to hit the U.S. coastline late Wednesday or early Thursday as a major category 3 hurricane capable of "devastating" damage. According to forecast, Laura will hit the coastline in East Texas or West Louisiana with sustained wind speeds of over 160 kilometers per hour. Although it will weaken quickly after landfall, a swath of heavy rainfall will likely accompany the core of Laura as it moves on Thursday and Friday. Enditem China protests US spy plane for breaching PLA no-fly zone Global Times By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/25 21:37:06 The Chinese military strongly protested a US spy plane trespassing into a no-fly zone of a live-fire drill by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), a spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday, warning that the move threatened to cause a misjudgment and even an accident, and was a blatant act of provocation. The US military aircraft faced the risk of being mistakenly shot down when it entered a previously announced military drill restriction zone, and the PLA exercised great restraint not to do so, Chinese experts said. China has shot down five U-2 aircraft in the past as they trespassed into the Chinese mainland airspace, Chinese military observers noted. The U-2 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft trespassed into a no-fly zone that is currently hosting a live-fire drill by the PLA Northern Theater Command on Tuesday, which seriously interrupted the Chinese troops' normal exercises, said Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian in a statement. Wu did not elaborate where exactly the plane trespassed. According to navigation restriction notices released by Chinese maritime safety authorities in the past days, multiple live-fire drills were being held on Tuesday in the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea, which are under the jurisdiction of the PLA Northern Theater Command. The move seriously violated the code of conduct for the safety of air and maritime encounters between China and the US, as well as related international norms, and could have easily caused misunderstanding and misjudgment, and even triggered an air and maritime accident, Wu said. This was a blatant act of provocation, and the Chinese side is strongly against this, and has lodged solemn representations with the US, Wu said, noting that China demands the US to stop such provocative moves at once, and take concrete actions to maintain peace and stability in the region. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the U-2's trespassing into PLA drill restriction zones risked being mistakenly shot down. If the U-2 entered Chinese airspace, it fits into norms and logic that the PLA has the right to shoot it down, Song said, noting that even if it did not fly into Chinese airspace, as long as it trespassed into the PLA's previously announced no-fly zone, it would also face the risk of being shot down. The US should understand that the PLA must have exercised great restraint not to shoot it down, and that it should not provoke again, Song said. A Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday that it is a normal practice for many militaries including the US' to announce no-fly zones to prevent accidents. The US spy plane knowingly committed the offense, which was very dangerous and disregarded the safety of the US pilot. The expert said that a foreign military aircraft trespassing into live-fire drills means that it has become a live target. If the US military aircraft entered the Chinese military drill zone and got mistakenly shot down, the US military would only have itself to blame. The US should not regret it when its warships sink, warplanes crash and soldiers are buried in an alien land, the anonymous expert warned. China lodged solemn representations with the US on the day of the incident, and this showed China's responsible attitude and the use of diplomatic means and public opinion to force the US to stop its stupid, irresponsible move. It showed that China is exercising maximum restraint in maintaining regional peace and stability, another expert told the Global Times under condition of anonymity. The US military has been stirring up trouble near China from the South China Sea, the Taiwan Straits, the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea by sending warships and warplanes, which is increasing the odds of an accidental conflict, the anonymous expert said, noting that it will be the US who will be responsible for any potential accident. The US spy attempt would also be fruitless, because the drills will change very fast, and the US aircraft's sudden appearance could also serve as training target for the PLA, experts said. According to publicly available information, China has shot down as many as five U-2s between 1962 and 1967 as they trespassed into Chinese mainland airspace. Developed by US arms company Lockheed Martin in the 1950s, the U-2 strategic reconnaissance aircraft can conduct spying missions at an altitude of 27,430 meters, with a top speed of 821 kilometers an hour. The military in the island of Taiwan had been using U-2s to conduct reconnaissance missions on the Chinese mainland since January 1962, and the PLA Air Force shot down the first U-2 on September 9, 1962 in the suburbs of Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi Province. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Oregons ambitious coronavirus testing plan for 60,000 people who live and work in care facilities leaves out one key group: the state employees who inspect facilities with outbreaks and investigate safety complaints. That means nursing, assisted living and memory care staff face stricter testing mandates than employees of the state agency that oversees the facilities. Its a policy that some experts say could put care homes at risk of potentially deadly outbreaks. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Union and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, urging him to grant fee concessions to students of National Universities across the country. It has been a long standing demand of that as students are making use of minimal facilities, they must be charged only for such facilities and must be exempted from all other charges. has also demanded that the honourable Minister look into the issue and direct the institutes to make available to the students the option of making payment in instalments, and to take an empathetic view of the economic hardships faced by the students due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and not levy fines for delay in payment of fees. "Students who are unable to pay the full fee due to their economic circumstances must be granted exemptions. The leftover funds from the last year fees which have not been utilised must be adjusted against the current balance and students must be granted appropriate concessions emanating from this adjustment," said. ABVP also brought to the notice of the minister the steps taken by Gujarat National University, in line with the demands of ABVP, with such concessions amounting to about Rs 63,000. GNLU has granted its students concessions in fees, has adjusted the remaining balance from previous year in this year's fee and has given the students the option of paying their fees in instalments, with the last date extending up to January, 2021. ABVP demands that other NLUs emulate the GNLU and provide the students with much needed relief. Nidhi Tripathi, national general secretary, ABVP, said, "We have demanded in our memorandum to the Union Minister of Law and Justice that concessions in fees to be given to the students of National Law Universities, and providing them with the option of paying their fees in multiple instalments. Gujarat National Law University has taken into account the steps being suggested by ABVP for a long time, bringing much needed relief to students. We hope that the ministry takes into consideration our demands and works for their swift implementation, bringing relief to all students studying in NLUs. (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 Supreme Court is seen in Washington, early on June 15, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo) Supreme Court Refuses to Disturb Montana Ruling Booting Green Party From Ballot The Supreme Court summarily denied a request by Montanas Republican secretary of state to put Green Party candidates back on state ballots for the Nov. 3 election, a move that could affect the hotly contested race for the U.S. Senate and down-ballot contests. In post mortems of the 2016 presidential election, Green Candidate Jill Stein was believed to have cost Hillary Clinton wins in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan by drawing voters who would otherwise have gone Democrat. A similar dynamic could have an impact on high-stakes races in Montana in 2020, including the senate contest between Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, against incumbent Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, and may even affect which party controls the U.S. Senate after the election. President Donald Trump easily bested Democrat Hillary Clinton in Montana in the 2016 presidential election, securing its three electoral votes, out of the 270 needed nationwide to be elected president. Trump won 56.2 percent of the popular vote in Montana; Clinton, 35.7 percent, according to Ballotpedia. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan on Aug. 25 denied the emergency application in the case cited as Stapleton v. Montana Democratic Party. She didnt explain why. Virginia attorney Jim Renne, the counsel of record for Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton, a Republican, didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Stapleton, who isnt seeking reelection, brought the matter before the nations highest court after the Montana Supreme Court on Aug. 19 upheld a lower court ruling on Aug. 7 that struck Green Party candidates from the ballot following a scandal-marred signature-gathering process. More than 500 individuals asked for their names to be deleted from ballot petitions after they learned the Montana GOP underwrote the $100,000 signature drive benefiting the Green Party and apparently violated campaign finance laws by not disclosing the expenditure. Stapleton resisted removing the names, and was sued by Democrats. The state courts forced his hand, leaving Green Party candidates without the signatures they needed to qualify to appear on the ballot. As the state prepares to print general election ballots in mid-September, the Montana courts have completely rewritten the minor party petition process, removing the Montana Green Party and its state and federal candidates from the ballot, Stapleton argued in the application for stay presented to the high court. The Montana courts have, effectively, created chaos out of Montanas otherwise orderly election process, without ever adequately considering the First Amendment rights of Green Party candidates, voters, and ballot access supporters. No Green Party candidate, supporter, or funder was permitted to intervene in the matter. Rather, at the behest of a rival political party, the Montana courts have effectively voided thousands of votes cast in favor of the Green Party during the states primary election and disenfranchised nearly 13,000 qualified electors who signed the petitions to place the Green Party on the ballot. Changing the rules for qualifying minor parties to hold their election primaries late in the election cycle at the request of a major party, or anyone else for that matter, is fundamentally unfair, especially when the Secretary of State followed established election laws and adopted rules. Green Party candidates could still qualify for the ballot, but they are running out of time. Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Sandi Luckey praised the Supreme Court for rejecting Stapletons embarrassingly partisan behavior and uphold[ing] the integrity of Montana elections. Today, the United States Supreme Court dealt the latest blow to the Montana GOPs massive fraudulent effort to mislead Montana voters and tamper with our elections, Luckey said, according to The Hill. Attorney Marc Elias, who has been spearheading the Democratic National Committees national drive to change state election laws through strategic litigation, celebrated on Twitter after the high court decided not to intervene: The [Montana GOP] ran a scheme to get Green Party candidates on the ballot to siphon votes. It was exposed and after litigation, the candidates were removed from the ballot, Elias wrote. The final concept design has the gravitas we sought. It gives dignity and presence to those who were enslaved by William & Mary and whose labor built the university without romanticizing that painful history, President Katherine A. Rowe said in a statement. In the process of refining the design, we recognized that the memorial site will reimagine the Jamestown Road entrance to campus. Both symbolically and actually, the first step for many on campus will be through this more forthright telling of our history. . . . in the Time of Covid? Where even to begin? Im happy to say that my colleague and friend Hannah Grannemann has an idea. Starting Wednesday, August 26, Hannah will serve as Guest Editor for my We the Audience blog. Over the next few months, Hannah will facilitate a dialogue with readers on the topic of the audience during this extraordinary interregnum. Shell lead us by positing a series of critical topics fed by inciteful questions and important data/findings coming out of the field of audience research. Hannah Grannemann is currently Assistant Professor and Director of the Arts Administration Program at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She brings the experience of a 17-year career in the arts, mostly in non-profit theatre, to her leadership of the Arts Administration Program in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). In addition to her appointment in CVPA she is a Coleman Fellow in Entrepreneurship at UNCGs Bryan School of Business and Economics. Prior to joining UNCG in 2017, she was the Executive Director of the Childrens Theatre of Charlotte, the Managing Director of PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, NC, Associate Managing Director of Yale Repertory Theatre, Associate Producer of the 2006 opening events at the Guthrie Theatre, Managing Director of ACTIVE EYE, and Associate Consultant at C.W. Shaver & Company in New York City, a firm specializing in fundraising and strategic planning for arts and cultural organizations. She was the Secretary of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and a member of LORTs first Diversity Task Force, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Arts North Carolina, and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Theatre for Young Audiences/USA. So, I think we can safely say shes qualified! Welcome to We the Audience, Hannah. I look forward to participating in a lively conversation about my favorite topic. ~Lynne The Russian-origin air defence systems are used by both the Indian Army and the Air Force. (PTI) New Delhi: Indian forces have deployed troops equipped with shoulder-fired air defence missiles on the crucial heights in Eastern Ladakh in view of the presence of Chinese attack helicopters in the sector. India had already deployed quick reaction air defence missiles, including the Akash missile system in June in Ladakh, which can take down fighter jets and armed drones in few seconds. It was modified to make it suitable for deployment in the high mountainous terrain. Now, Indian troops armed with the Russian-origin Igla air defence system have been deployed on the crucial heights along the border to take care of any enemy aircraft trying to violate the Indian air space there. The Russian-origin air defence systems are used by both the Indian Army and the Air Force and they can bring down enemy fighter jets or choppers which come close to Indian locations or deployments during hostilities. The air defence systems of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have been deployed in Ladakh to take on any aerial threat. India has also filled in its surveillance gaps to ensure that no enemy aircraft would be able to go undetected from the eyes of its defence forces. Meanwhile, Indian Army chief General MM Naravane said on Tuesday that Indian Armed Forces would have to put adequate emphasis on the available disruptive technologies that have dual use and are being driven by commercial entities and innovations. He said that an overarching national mission to identify the needs and congruence of products into military applications must form part of armed forces modernisation strategy. He highlighted the impact of disruptive technologies in warfare and war fighting, and emphasised that the current modernisation drive was focused on upgrading existing weapon systems and platforms. UN Security Council Head Says No 'Further Action' On U.S. Bid For Return To Iran Sanctions By RFE/RL August 25, 2020 The rotating, Indonesian presidency of the UN Security Council has cited a lack of consensus and "significant numbers of...contesting views" to forestall further action on a U.S. push to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran. Indonesian UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani said in response to a question from Russia and China on August 25 that "the president is not in the position to take further action" on the U.S. request. The United States responded that it is "on firm legal ground" and that a lack of unanimity does not preclude debate, adding that opponents on the council "find themselves standing with terrorists." Thirteen of the Security Council's 15 members last week said they opposed Washington's bid to invoke a "snapback" clause of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that the United States withdrew from more than two years ago. Besides the United States and Iran, the deal was signed by Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia. Washington argues that it still has the legal right to trigger the sanctions, which were dropped under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) reached in 2015, because a UN resolution at the time names the United States as a participant. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that by lodging a complaint with the council on August 20 he set in motion a 30-day process for reimposing the sanctions. "Having contacted the members and received letters from many member countries it is clear to me that there is one member which has a particular position on the issues, while there are significant numbers of members who have contesting views," Djani said. "In my view there is no consensus in the council." Reuters quoted a spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the UN as saying that Washington "is on firm legal ground to initiate the restoration of sanctions" and "the fact that some council members expressed disagreement...does not have any legal effect." "Let me just make it really, really clear: the Trump administration has no fear in standing in limited company on this matter," U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft told the council. "I only regret that other members of this council have lost their way and now find themselves standing in the company of terrorists." Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the U.S. effort "not only illegal, but simply will not lead to achieving the result that was envisaged by the United States." "It means, there is NO SNAPBACK," he tweeted. U.S. President Donald Trump campaigned in part in 2016 on opposition to the JCPOA , saying it fails to sufficiently ensure Iran won't acquire a nuclear bomb-making capacity. He withdrew the country from the deal in May 2018, citing Tehran's meddling and misbehavior in the region and around the world, and reimposed unilateral U.S. sanctions on Iran that crippled its economy. But defenders of the deal have countered that the accord should be preserved, saying it provides the best available guarantee to keep an atomic weapon out of Iranian hands. The Security Council rejected a U.S. attempt on August 14 to extend an arms embargo on Iran beyond its expiration in October, with only the Dominican Republic voting with Washington. The ambassador of Niger, which takes over the rotating presidency in September, reportedly also submitted a letter in which Niamey rejects the U.S. "snapback" move as illegal. With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/30802490.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee stands in the center of a park in Charlottesville, Va., in a file photo. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Democrats Introduce Legislation to Remove All Confederate Monuments Across the US Continuing the trend of removing Confederate monuments Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) introduced a bill Wednesday that would create a National Park Service program to expedite the removal of all Confederate monuments across the United States. Rejecting and Eliminating the Foul Use of Symbols Exulting (REFUSE) Confederate Principles Act will establish a grant program which would take down Confederate symbols and sometimes, replace them with new structures, including commemorations that honor the emancipation of enslaved black people. It is past time that we eradicate these totems of treason and replace them with symbols that represent the true promise of America, such as the emancipation of black Americans, Rush said in a statement. In May, The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) put out a report estimating there are over 1,700 Confederate symbols on public property, including monuments, highways, schools, etc. The report lists 777 monuments, 644 road names, 105 school names, 79 county names, and 50 buildings with a few miscellaneous items leftover in the other category. Amid the riots prompted by the killing of an unarmed black man named George Floyd in May, a number of states began removing Confederate monuments from public places and some were vandalized and toppled by angry protestors. The protests over racial justice led the House of Representatives to pass a bill last month that mandates the removal of Confederate statues from the Capitol buildings. Many of the statues slated for removal by the House bill are part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, to which each state provides two statues and retains the authority to decide whether to keep them there. In addition, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this year in June to rename all bases and other military assets honoring the Confederacy. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved Warrens amendment to be included in the NDAA. As part of the debate on the Military funding bill, Warren gave a speech on the Senate floor, detailing the reason for her proposal. The defense bill we are debating today takes an important step in this direction by addressing the honors that our nation continues to bestow on Confederate officers who took up arms against the United States in the defense of chattel slavery, Warren said. This bill denies those honors to military leaders who killed U.S. soldiers in defense of the idea that black people are not people, but instead are property to be bought and sold. Warren argued that the Confederate symbols represent a history of white supremacy. Meanwhile, Rushs bill establishes a grant program entitled the Emancipation Historic Preservation Program for removing and replacing Confederate symbols and authorizing funding to pay for monuments that depict the freedom of enslaved black people, as well as to store the Confederate stock for educational purposes. Facing political heat in India, the social networking giant on Tuesday said it will pay news publishers in the country soon via its Facebook News to ensure their content is available in the new product Facebook News, that was launched in the US last year, will soon arrive in the UK, Germany, France, India and Brazil within the next six months to a year, the company announced. Campbell Brown, VP, Global News Partnerships at Facebook, said that consumer habits and news inventory vary by country. "So, we'll work closely with news partners in each country to tailor the experience and test ways to deliver a valuable experience for people while also honouring publishers' business models," Brown said. Facebook has found that over 95 per cent of the traffic Facebook News delivers to publishers "is incremental to the traffic they already get from News Feed". "Based on this progress, we are accelerating our plans to expand internationally," Brown added. Facing intense political heat in India over its alleged role in favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its platform, social networking giant Facebook last week clarified its position, saying it has removed and will continue to remove content posted by public figures in India which violate its community standards. Ajit Mohan, Vice President and Managing Director, Facebook India, said that Facebook has always been an open, transparent and non-partisan platform where people can express themselves freely. "Over the last few days, we have been accused of bias in the way we enforce our policies. We take the allegations of bias incredibly seriously, and want to make it clear that we denounce hate and bigotry in any form," Mohan said. As the News product expands, Brown said that it will "continue to focus on growing engagement of Facebook News in the US". "We will keep building new products and making global investments to help the news industry build long-lasting business models". Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina fill the streets near downtown New Orleans on Aug. 30, 2005 Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina fill the streets near downtown New Orleans on Aug. 30, 2005 Credit - David J. PhillipAP Angela Perkins made it to the convention center in New Orleans. When she finally reached what was supposedly a shelter of last resort, nobody was there to offer help. She dropped to her knees, closed her eyes and cried, Help us, please! It was September 1, 2005, three days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall and New Orleanss levee system had collapsed, and most of the city was underwater. Hundreds of people had drowned. The survivors remained in terrible danger, after days without food or water, their strength fading in the blistering heat. At the convention center, Perkins summoned the attention of the people around her, each as desperate as the next, and led them in a chant as a photographer took her picture. The following day, it appeared on the front page of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, under a huge headline drawn from her plea: HELP US, PLEASE. The image of her despair shot around the world, one in a barrage of emblems from the ongoing catastrophe: people stranded on roofs, some waving American flags, others white towels. People wading through floodwater. People marooned on highway overpasses. Babies wilting in the relentless sun. Bodies floating face down. Roofs arrayed like tombstones in the dark water. Many white people discounted these pitiful images of a failing state as depicting a woeful exception, something that could only happen to poor people, or Black people, in one exotic city. But horrifying as they remain, they no longer seem so out of place today. In the years since, during Hurricanes Sandy, Maria and Harvey, neighborhoods across the nation have sunk. Problems with obvious solutions replace the lead pipes in Flint, Michigan! go on seemingly without end. And now comes COVID-19. While most other countries seem to have passed through the most turbulent stretches of the struggle to contain the virus and to mitigate its costs, the United States remains unmoored, dangerously careening between the shoals of medical and economic collapse, with the worst days still ahead of us. Story continues Having written a book on Katrina, I am not surprised by our current catastrophe, nor are many of my fellow New Orleanians, who always understood that Katrina was not an exception, but a harbinger: increasing numbers of Americans live in a country where the local, state and, most of all, federal government is unable to provide the basic protections that most people believe to be their right as citizens of the United States and their due as members of the human family. Consider the series of spectacular government failures that defined the catastrophe in Louisiana 15 years ago. The Army Corps of Engineers proved unable to engineer a hurricane protection system that protected against hurricanes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency proved unable to manage emergencies. The Department of Homeland Security proved unable to secure the homeland. The Commander in Chief proved unable to command. In Louisiana, nearly 2,000 died. Angela Perkins drops to her knees asking for help among thousands of people gathered at the New Orleans Convention Center waiting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on Sept. 1, 2005 Melissa PhillipHouston Chronicle/AP The pattern continues with the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control proved unable to control disease. The Department of Health and Human Services proved unable to serve human health. The Strategic National Stockpile disregarded strategy and stockpiled little. The President and his cronies, meanwhile, continue to reduce the vast executive branch to an extension of their own cruel and covetous whims. More Louisianans have died of COVID-19 already than died during Katrina. The most harrowing part is that, in both cases, while nobody wished for these failures, many people worked hard to produce the circumstances that brought them about. When made by those with power, claims of government impotence are self-fulfilling prophecies. After decades of attacking the legitimacy of the federal government and the idea of society itself conservatives have successfully depleted our commonwealth. Insufficient and regressive tax rates have forced federal and state governments to divest from what had once been regarded as essential services. These politicians draw their support from white people whose commitment to white supremacy leads them to believe that it is better to forgo public funding and public services altogether than to have to share them with African Americans. Racism has undermined white peoples support for government to help any American, regardless of race. Refracted through a blinding faith in the efficacy and morality of the so-called free market, a belief in white supremacy also has led many white people to blame victims for their own misfortune. It happened during Katrina, for example, when conservatives accused African Americans of choosing not to evacuate, and its happening again now, as conservatives discount the suffering of African Americans because of their so-called pre-existing conditions. In reality, it is no accident that African Americans suffer disproportionately at the hands of a system that was often built to exclude them from its benefits, if not rob them outright. By design, these failures fall hardest on people whom the state has long structured as expendable. But once the levee fails, the flood can threaten everyone; once the virus spreads, everyone is at risk. Fifteen years ago, it was easier, perhaps, for some people to imagine Katrina as happening out on the American margin. Such a fate could never befall me, they thought. Today quarantined, unemployed, in mourning, and in fear that prophecy has proven dangerously naive. File image People of Delhi, including traders, will have to work together to strengthen the citys economy, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said, pushing for the revival of business activity as the coronavirus situation stablises in the Capital. The outbreak has dealt a huge blow to the already precarious finances of the state government which subsidies water and electricity for a large section of the population. "We currently have a fragile situation at hand, and there is no source of revenue of tax for us. Now there is a need to re-open shops and businesses, Kejriwal said in an interaction with the office-bearers of weekly-market associations on August 25. From allowing hotels and weekly markets to open to launching a job portal, the Delhi government is trying to get the economy back on track. It has also resumed work on pending projects and launched a crackdown on tax defaulters. Virus check 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 Over the last few weeks, Delhi, a coronavirus hotspot, has seen a decline in the number of reported cases. At least 90% of the infected people have recovered. On June 23, Delhi reported 3,947 infections, the highest single-day spike so far. In the last week of July and a few days of August, they dropped to three digits and have again begun to inch up. On August 25, 1,544 cases were reported, which is the highest for the month. Kejriwal, however, said the situation was under control. The same cant be said about the economic situation. On August 19, the government allowed hotels to resume operations after five months. According to the Delhi government, the hospitality industry in the capital contributes 8 percent to the states GDP with nearly four lakh people associated with the sector. The decision would give a fresh lease of life to 3,000 budget hotels, industry representatives said. We have requested the Delhi government to help us recover losses by waiving off electricity bills, house tax, etc, Delhi hotel and restaurant owners association chairman Sandeep Khandelwal said. Also read: Delhi govt instructs excise dept to issue permits to hotels, restaurants to serve liquor Weekly markets have been allowed but on a trial basis. These markets, which sell everything from vegetables to clothes, are held across the city and provide employment to around five lakh families, officials said. The government has been pushing for unlocking the city, especially the services sector which accounts for nearly 60 percent of all jobs in Delhi. While most services have resumed, gyms and yoga centres remain shut. Delhi Metro, the lifeline of the Capital and its suburbs, may be allowed to restart services when some more restrictions are eased for the so-called 'Unlock 4.0' that kicks in on September 1. The union home ministry is expected to issue guidelines for the fourth phase of the staggered rollback of the lockdown in the coming days. Along with a push for businesses, the Delhi government has begun taking up non-COVID proposals as well. It recently cleared the decks for the doorstep delivery of rations. In the last week of July, Kejriwal reviewed work on a flyover in the citys North-East district and the Chandni Chowk redevelopment project. On July 27, he launched a job portal, Rozgar Bazar, to put job seekers in touch with employers looking to hire. Taxing times As every rupee counts, the government is worried about tax defaulters. Of the 15,000 taxpayers registered with the government, nearly two-thirds paid either lower tax or no tax between January and March, officials said. The government has collected around Rs 3,777 crore in taxes in the January-July period against Rs 5,792 crore in the corresponding period last year, officials said. The government has sent notices to 5,584 companies for not filing GST returns. Several sectors such as ecommerce, insurance, and financial services were not affected by the pandemic. The Delhi government will strictly scrutinise the reasons for not filing of tax returns by these companies from unaffected sectors, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said in a statement. A 12-member expert panel has been set up to suggest ways to revive businesses damaged by the outbreak. Along with its economic push, the Delhi government will have to closely monitor the coronavirus situation. If infections spike, restrictions will have to be brought back and that will a devastating blow to Delhis fragile economy. Confidence is important for economic activities but we need not be complacent. I appeal to people of Delhi to keep wearing masks and follow social distancing norms, Kejriwal said in an online press conference on August 26. At the Aspen Institute sponsored virtual panel, "Changing the Narrative: Diversity in the Publishing Industry" publishing insiders continued to make the case of the need to further push diversity among publishing professionals at all levels. Moderated by Aspen Words executive director Adrienne Brodeur, the speakers included Regina Brooks, founder and president of Serendipity Literary Agency; novelist Nicole Dennis-Benn; Lisa Lucas, outgoing executive director of the National Book Foundation, who was recently hired as Pantheon/ Schocken publisher; and Erroll McDonald executive editor at Knopf/Doubleday. According to Brooks, who moved into publishing after a career as an aerospace engineer, greater publishing diversity all begins with a pipeline into the industry. One year, I had the summer off and I [entered] the publishing program at Howard University. It changed my life, it changed my world, she said, recalling that at the program she met literary agent Marie Brown and Cheryl Willis Hudson, co-founder and editorial director of Just Us Books, who guided her into a publishing career. The industry needs to bring people into the business and sustain them, she added, suggesting that a publishing institute similar to Howards now defunct program be launched to pull in people of color. Lucas added that the industry has to do a better job of explaining its inner workings in terms of employment needs and opportunities. Certainly there is a need to hire editors who are BIPOC, she explained, but there are also opportunities in below the line jobs throughout the industry, such as in human resources, marketing, sales, publicity, and in-house legal departments. It takes an enormous team to make all of these books, she said, We focus on authors and editors, but we have to think about the entire team. Theres a bounty of jobs in publishing that people dont know about. McDonald echoed Lucass point, that the variety of employment opportunities in publishing could be better advertised. He emphasized the need to diversify the ranks of decision-makers in publishing, noting that certainly there are books about race hitting bestseller lists, but that these books are mostly to educate whites. The narrative is still being defined by people in power, he said, Publishers need to broaden their understanding of what books matter to Black people. Lucas described the paucity of books that dont face the white gaze as cultural suppression. She added, Its not just unequal, its also a violence done against people who are BIPOC, artificially manufacturing a cultural landscape [in which] real Black voices are excluded. Diverse agents and editors as well as open-minded allies are key, Dennis-Benn noted, recalling that her debut novel, Here Comes the Sun (Liveright, 2016), was a hard sell due to its exploration of race, class, and sexuality in a Jamaican setting. If thered been more Black people at the houses who got my work, it would have been easier, she noted, giving a shout out to her publicist, Michael Taeckens of an eponymous marketing and publicity firm, who is white. Brooks confirmed points made by the other speakers, noting that the Association of Authors Representatives is trying to nurture young agents who are BIPOC, since agents are the gatekeepers to what gets published and what does not. She pointed out that it can be difficult for people from diverse backgrounds to become agents, as access to New York City publishers is essential. Working on a commission basis can also be a deterrent to becoming an agent, amplified when the work of authors who are BIPOC is devalued because it often is not properly positioned in the marketplace. Even after a book is produced, Brooks explained, its difficult to penetrate the marketplace if there is a lack of understanding in the content. She added that it is essential for publishers to understand how to properly position a book, explaining that if there are people in sales, marketing, publicity who are people of color, there would be a lot more understanding in terms of positioning books by BIPOC in the marketplace. Lucas noted the need to make bookselling more diverse, not just publishing. We need to talk about the fact that there are very few bookstores serving BIPOC communities, she pointed out. But the speakers noted that they are seeing shifts in the publishing industry that give them hope that it will become more inclusive, more diverse. McDonald referred to the actions taken by young publishing professionals this past year to make their views known. The younger generation of publishing professionals, Lucas pointed out, consider the status quo "unacceptable; theyre so much more radical than I could dream of being. She suggested mentoring these young professionals to help them have all the tools to shake up the status quo. The pandemic is also transforming publishing dramatically, McDonald said, especially the growing acceptance of publishing professionals working remotely rather than clustering in New York City offices. That might open the door to people who might not have considered [a career in publishing] previously. Brooks agreed, saying, Working remotely is going to open it up. Aspen Institute has made available on audio the conversation, the second in a series of conversations on the construction and representations of race in America in journalism, publishing, and entertainment. This story has been updated with further information. The Abokobi District Police Command on Wednesday arrested eleven land guards at Danfa for terrorizing landowners in the area. They are Sulley Seidu, 48, Hamidu Abass, 45, Mohammed Mubarrack, 40, Agbesse Kwame, 35, Daniel Awase 44 and Mussah Teiru, 32. Others are Sanussi Alhassan, 29, Donkor Alhassan, 37, Abdul Gafal, 24, Andrews Opata, 35 and Salam Dauda, 29. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, Head of Public Affairs Unit of the Accra Regional Police Command on wednesday told the Ghana News Agency in Accra. She said at about 1030 hours on August 26, 2020, the Abokobi District Command received tip off that there was an ongoing land guard activities at Danfa, a suburb of Abokobi. DSP Tenge said The District patrol team swiftly proceeded to the scene and met the under listed suspects who were identified as land guards, who had been persistently terrorizing, harassing and driving away innocent land owners from their building sites. She said Police subsequently rounded the susupects up to the Ayi Mensah Police Station for questioning. She said during the operation, a Mercedes Benz 4x4 vehicle with registration number GT 6700-Y and two unregistered motorbikes used by the said land guards around the area were also impounded. DSP Tenge said land guard activities had been rampant in Abokobi and its environs, which had become a threat to security in the Municipality. She said the exercise would continue eliminate these deviant characters from the area. 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 (Photo : Neuralink/Youtube) Screenshot of the Neuralink Launch Event (Photo : Neuralink/Youtube) Screenshot of the Neuralink Launch Event (Photo : Neuralink/Youtube) Screenshot of the Neuralink Launch Event (Photo : Neuralink/Youtube) Screenshot of the Neuralink Launch Event Few days before drum rolls for Elon Musk' Neuralink progress update, former employees claim the demanding timelines create a "pressure cooker" working environment. In a special report from STAT, as narrated by Daily Mail, former staff members made some revelations about the brain implant chip startup and the issues it is facing. As the billionaire is poised to fire up some neurons on August 28, they claim the progress to be reported on the event comes at a cost. Primarily, a former employee told STAT that Neuralink was found to do surgical procedures on rats and monkeys, disregarding the risk to the animals that its system has identified. This comes before Musk is set to flaunt the firm's latest progress, which some hint to include a demo of a monkey uses its mind to move a cursor on a computer. With just weeks to complete certain researches that take time to perfect, scientists, are constantly working on a "pressure cooker." This leads to internal conflicts as science could not keep pace with Musk's stringent schedule. Four years since Neuralink was founded in 2016, has designed tiny flexible "threads" that are 10 times thinner than a human hair. It aims to treat brain injuries and trauma and enable symbiosis between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) in the future. Musk says such is possible within 25 years. With the device, Neuralink aims to resolve many issues in the brain and nervous system as well as mental conditions including strokes, Alzheimer's. Musk also claims to make progress in autistic spectrum disorder, depression, and even addiction. Read also: Elon Musk's Neuralink Livestream Hints a Strong Possibility of Human Trials this Friday-AI Symbiosis! Neuralink's identity crisis In May, Musk told Joe Rogan that a version will be ready for human trials within a year, and former employees said Neuralink eyes to launch the human study in China or Russia since it is difficult to proceed with a strict US regulatory process. The implant is done by removing a small chunk of the skull and replacing it with a smartwatch-like device. A small robot stitches up the hole and connects the electrode threads to certain areas of the brain. While the 'sewing robot' costs between $10 million and $20 million, it can now be made for about $500,000. The tech company approach to "move fast and break things" seems not working as Neuralink builds a medical device and develops a surgical approach for the medical device implant. The company's dual identity as a technology company and a medical company creates tension. It also has a demanding culture that consistently made employees "completely overwhelmed" of the demands. This eventually leads to conflicts between neuroscientists and engineers who argued about strategies and leadership. Unfortunately, Musk would usually side with the engineers when conflicts arise, several ex-staff members told STAT. Neuralink has not yet issued a comment on the report. Read also: Neuralink Brain Chip Update: Elon Musk Says Neurons Will Fire Up in Real-Time on August 28 This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 23:30:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission on Wednesday said that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has amplified Africa's need to expand resource mobilization base. "Already African countries are reporting a reduction in tax revenues, especially from the non-digitalized sectors. The decline in the prices and demand for commodities and the impact of the pandemic of the travel and tourism sectors, which African countries mainly depend on for tax revenues, have led to significant loss of revenues," the AU said in a statement issued on Wednesday. The AU's call came in line with the deliberations of African tax officials and policymakers who are meeting virtually on August 26 and 27 as part of the High-Level Policy Dialogue, which is being hosted by the AU Commission. Figures from the 55-member pan African bloc shows that Africa's GDP growth is projected to be between -4.9 percent and -2.1 percent in 2020, which would lead to a reduction of between 135 billion U.S. dollars and 204 billion U.S. dollars from pre-COVID-19 GDP of 2.59 trillion U.S. dollars. According to the AU, the COVID-19 crisis has increased poverty with the African Development Bank (AfDB) estimating that COVID-19 pandemic will push between 28.2 million and 49.2 million more Africans into extreme poverty. Noting that the contracting economies are expected to translate into weaker fiscal positions for governments across the continent at a time of maximum need, the AU said the impact of the pandemic adversely impact domestic resource mobilization efforts, and likely lead to a reduction in overseas development assistance as donor countries face their own cash crunch in the midst of economic turmoil. "In the light of this crisis, it is imperative that African policymakers respond with heightened urgency to the issues raised by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on African economies and take a closer look at the proposals for the taxation of the digital economy and their likely implications for revenue collection for the continent's states," the AU said. The AU, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the focus on the rapidly growing shift to a digitalized economy across the globe, stressed that the social and economic lockdowns imposed by government worldwide has pushed "many individuals and companies onto online platforms to conduct their business." "While other sectors of the economy have come to a standstill, the digital sector has boomed," the AU said, adding that this has "huge implications" for business models going forward, and makes it even more urgent that solutions be found for the taxation of the digital economy that are equitable for source and market jurisdictions. Noting that the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the inter-linkages between the world's economies and trade supply chains and has further revealed the structural weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the economies, social and health systems between and within countries, the AU stressed that the pandemic "has disrupted societies and devastated economies throughout the world." "Africa has not been spared, albeit that the COVID-19 pandemic hit the continent later than other regions of the world and has seemingly been not as severe in terms of infections and mortality rates," the AU argued. According to the AU, the impact of COVID-19 on African economies has been severe, as international and intra-African trade has been drastically reduced as a result of lockdowns, movement restrictions and closure of borders and airports. It also called on African countries to rethink their economic and fiscal policies to ensure that the recovery after COVID-19 is faster, with a more significant impact on the lives of their citizens. The AU also emphasized "now more than ever it is critical that tax practitioners on the continent collaborate and pursue tax measures to shore up revenue that will foster economic development and bridge the gap that will arise due to a reduction in aid." Enditem NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2020 / Solomon Admissions Consulting has been selected Tier 1 among national college admissions consulting firms by Entrepreneur Magazine. Solomon Admissions Consulting earned its top ranking in the nation based on elements such as: size of the college admissions consulting team, use of a team-based approach in college admissions consulting, industry reputation, having former top-tier college admissions officers as consultants, and the success rates of students utilizing the services of the consulting firm. Solomon Admissions Consulting is widely recognized as an industry leader across the college admissions consulting landscape. Its services are mostly sought out by students trying to achieve acceptance at Ivy League and other highly competitive schools, such as Stanford and MIT, where acceptance rates continue to decrease every year. Solomon's team comprises over 45 former college admissions officers from top schools whose expertise spans across all areas from STEM to business. Solomon's student success rates are due to the college admissions consulting firm's strategic team-based approach and the consultants' heavy investment in their students. Solomon's success rates are 4 to 5 times higher than the average acceptance rates at almost all top 50 colleges. In 2019, the acceptance rate to Stanford University of Solomon students was 27.9% while the national acceptance rate at Stanford was 4.0%. Similarly, the acceptance rate of Solomon students applying to Columbia University was 31.7%, while the national acceptance rate was 6.1%. About Solomon Admissions Consulting Being accepted into a top college comes down to how you market yourself as an applicant. There are plenty of students with good test scores and grades, so in order to be accepted by a top university, what an applicant needs is to stand out from this enormous and highly qualified crowd. All of our admissions consultants are Former College Admissions Officers and they work with our college applicants to craft memorable narratives and personal statements that best address their unique backgrounds, interests, and how they will contribute to the college to which they apply. Our college admissions consultants advise on how to best position the college application so as to match it with what each college desires to see in its students. Most importantly, our admissions consultants ensure that student essays, teacher recommendation letters, activity sheets, addendums, and interviews all support this positioning strategy. Story continues Facebook: solomonadmissions Twitter: @ConsultSolomon Contact Info: +1-646-598-8174 info@solomonadmissions.com For Media Inquiries, Contact: Vitaly Borishan vitaly.borishan@solomonadmissions.com SOURCE: Solomon Admissions Consulting View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/603397/Solomon-Admissions-Consulting-has-been-Ranked-Tier-1-Among-College-Admissions-Consultants-by-Entrepreneur-Magazine Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-26 13:59:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese pharmaceutical company Fosun Pharma on Tuesday donated anti-malaria drugs to Kenya's health ministry to boost the war against the tropical disease that is the leading cause of death among pregnant women and children below five years in the country. Rashid Aman, chief administrative secretary in the Ministry of Health, said the donation will aid treatment of severe cases. "The drug that is being donated is Artesunate injection 60 mg for treatment of severe malaria, a life-threatening condition," Aman said during COVID-19 briefing in Nairobi. Aman said the company is a World Health Organization (WHO) qualified manufacturer of anti-malaria drugs. He said the donation consisted of 400,000 vials of the injectable drug valued at 73 million shillings (about 670,000 U.S. dollars). "This quantity of drug can treat about 70,000 patients with severe malaria. They will go a long way in helping us to buffer our stocks for persons with severe malaria," said Aman. He said that Kenya's public hospitals in 2019 treated 250,000 cases of severe malaria with artesunate, and 75 percent were children below 15 years. Aman said the government had put solid measures in place to ensure that malaria prevention and treatment programs were not disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem He played the role of Brody Weston, the boyfriend of Lea Michele's character, Rachel Berry, in season four of the smash-hit series, Glee. And Dean Geyer, 34, has now admitted that he would love to return to the show if there was a potential reunion. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the Australian actor said: 'If they asked me back, I'd seal the deal. Where's the offer?' 'Seal the deal': Dean Geyer, 34, has admitted that he would love to return to Glee if there was a potential reunion Discussing the opportunity for a reunion further, Dean said: 'I would be over the moon, that show was the highlight of my career other than meeting my wife [Jullian Murphy] on set.' 'The fact that I got to do two things that I love the most, singing and dancing, was incredible!' Dean added. Last month, Dean revealed that he filmed his final scenes for the hit musical series with Naya Rivera and Cory Monteith, who have both since died in tragic circumstances. Major role: He played the role of Brody Weston, the boyfriend of Lea Michele's character, in season four of the smash-hit series, Glee [Pictured on set] The Australian actor said: 'If they asked me back, I'd seal the deal. Where's the offer?' Speaking on Today Extra, the star explained that his last days on the show in 2012 were even more haunting in hindsight given that Naya's body was discovered in California's Lake Piru on July 13 - exactly seven years after police had found Cory dead in a Vancouver hotel room. 'What is crazy is one of my last two scenes [on Glee] was shot with her [Naya] and Cory, which is nuts because on the anniversary of his death they found her at the lake,' said Dean. Dean - who came in third place on Australian Idol back in 2006 - spoke fondly of Naya, admitting that he wished he 'got more time with her'. Tragic: Last month, Dean revealed that he filmed his final scenes for the hit musical series with Naya Rivera [pictured] and Cory Monteith, who have both since died in tragic circumstances. He said: 'The rest of the cast were six seasons deep. I can only imagine how close they became because when you are on set with someone for that many years, you almost are closer and see those people more than you do your family and friends.' Cory, who played jock Finn Hudson, died of an accidental drug overdose in 2013 at the age of 31. His death was the first in a string of tragedies to befall the cast of Glee in what has become known as the 'Glee curse'. In June, Dean also rushed to the defence of former Glee star Lea after she was branded a 'nightmare' and 'very unpleasant' by the show's cast and crew. Dean said the 33-year-old actress was the 'most welcoming' cast member when he joined the hit Fox show, and that he never witnessed her making anybody feel uncomfortable. Sotheby's launches biggest ever online auction with ultra-rare whiskies Sotheby's is inviting bids for its largest ever online auction, with lots including a premium array of The Macallan expressions and rare Italian import Scotch bottlings. Bids for the online Distilled sale - Sotheby's' second spirits sale of the month - opened on 26 August and will run until 1 September. The sale comprises 267 lots, including some of the world's raarest whiskies, and has a pre-sale estimate in excess of 850,000. The sale includes 94 lots from The Macallan, led by The Macallan Fine & Rare collection of some of the distillery's most iconic bottlings dating from 1940 to 1976. It will also feature set #1 of the first release of the Prima & Ultima collection that was recently launched by Diageo. It will be the first chance to secure the coveted collection, which was signed off by renowned whisky maker Dr Jim Beveridge, at auction. Each of the eight whiskies in the collection is a "first and last" of its kind, with expressions from Port Ellen, Cragganmore, Singleton of Dufftown, Lagavulin and Talisker. The sale also carries a selection of fine Japanese whiskies, including 28 lots from the now-closed Karuizawa distillery, three bottles of Laphroaig Samaroli 16 Years Old 1970, and two exceptional releases from Gordon & MacPhail. The full Distilled sale catalogue is available to browse on the Sotheby's website. 26 August 2020 - Bethany Whymark The bulls pushed the benchmark indices above their crucial resistance levels to a six -month high on August 26, a day ahead of F&O expiry. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied more than 200 points to reclaim 39,000 while the Nifty50 was back above 11,500. The Sensex ended 230 points higher at 39,073 while the Nifty50 rallied 77 points to close at 11,549. Positive global cues kept the momentum going on D-Street that closed in the green territory for the fourth time in a row. Indian benchmark indices picked up positivity towards the latter half of the trading day, after trading flat with a slight positive bias, and ended in gains, Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol. The move was in sync with a positive opening in the European markets banking on additional stimulus measures, he said Index heavyweight RIL contributed more than half of the Nifty gains while sectorally auto and the banking index contributed most, Nair said. Auto stocks gained on expectations of government measures to help the ailing sector. Due to lack of fresh triggers markets were expected to remain uncertain while stock-specific action would continue, he said. Sectorally, the action was seen in energy, Bankex, auto, IT, and realty stocks while profit-booking was seen in telecom, capital goods, FMCG, and healthcare space. On the broader markets front, the S&P BSE midcap index rose 0.38 percent while the smallcap index closed with gains of 0.69 percent. Top Nifty gainers included IndusInd Bank, Hero MotoCorp and Tata Motors. Top Nifty losers included Britannia Industries, UltraTech Cements, and Bharti Airtel. Stocks & Sectors Sectorally, the S&P BSE energy index rose 2 percent followed by Bankex that was up 1.5 percent and the auto index gained 1.5 percent. Selling pressure was seen in the S&P BSE telecom index that fell by 2 percent, the capital goods index was down 0.4 percent and the FMCG index slipped 0.09 percent. Volume spike of more than 100 percent was seen in stocks like RIL, Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor Company and Adani Enterprises. Long buildup was seen in stocks like RBL Bank, Shriram Transport and NMDC. Short buildup was seen in stocks like ITC, UltraTech Cements and Nestle India. Wabco India, Alkyl Amines, Hero MotoCorp and Affle India were among more than 200 stocks on the BSE hit a 52-week high. Stocks in news Tata Motors share price rose more than 8 percent on August 26, a day after the company said it proposed to reduce its debt to near-zero levels. Two-wheeler manufacturers were in focus on August 26 after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hinted at a goods and services tax rate revision. Hero MotoCorp rallied over 6 percent, TVS Motor 5 percent and Bajaj Auto closed with gains of more than 2 percent. JMC Projects share price surged more than 12 percent after the company secured new orders worth Rs 554 crore. Affle India share price hit 5 percent upper circuit after the company won a contract for a Singapore citizens engagement project. Dish TV India stock jumped 10 percent after its lenders sold 3.85 crore pledged promoters' shares, following which the shareholding of the promoter group firm Direct Media Distribution Ventures Pvt Ltd has come down by 2.09 percent. Technical View The Nifty made a small bullish candle on the daily charts It appears to have cleared all critical resistances. The bullish momentum is likely to continue as long as the index trades above 11,400. A close below the said level can again make the Nifty directionless with targets of 11,250. As Nifty closed above the psychological resistance of 11,500, it can also lead to short covering on the expiry session. In that scenario, based on last 31 days price action, a near-term target of around 11,850 can be projected, Mazhar Mohammad of Chartviewindia.in said. For the time, traders should remain long for an initial target of 11,850 with a stop below 11,460 on a closing basis, he added. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. : Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Moneycontrol. Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi will speak to the Chief Ministers of the Congress ruled states and also the Chief Ministers of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday to discuss the pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) share, and the NEET and JEE examination issue. According to Congress sources, the meeting will be chaired by Sonia Gandhi through video conferencing, in which Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Puducherry CM V. Narayanasamy along with the West Bengal and Maharashtra Chief Ministers will be present. The meeting comes a day ahead of the meeting of the GST Council on Thursday. According to Congress sources the opposition Chief Ministers are expected to discuss a joint effort to pressurise the government to postpone the exams at a time when the country is battling a surge in Covid-19 cases. The source said the agenda of the meeting also includes compensation to states who have reported a loss of revenue because of the GST in the time of the pandemic. FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --iBASEt, a leading provider of manufacturing, quality, and MRO solutions, today announced the migration of Excelerate, its marquee business conference, to an online, virtual format. Renamed Excelerate Innovation 2020, this global business conference will be the first in a series of virtual events highlighting the investment in innovation the company is delivering its customers. The marquee event is scheduled for October 6 and 7, 2020. Taking centerstage will be the unveiling of iBASEt's iSeries, the latest enterprise manufacturing solution from iBASEt. Given the continued uncertainty surrounding business travel, social distancing, and maintaining the safety of iBASEt's customers, partners, and employees, the decision was made to migrate to a virtual conference. Previously registered Excelerate attendees will be refunded the full amount of their ticket price. Much innovation is being delivered via iBASEt's product development, technology integration, and user testing and acceptance of the company's new iSeries solution portfolio based on its core platform, Solumina. The timely nature of this information necessitated hosting an online conference for customers and partners looking to quickly leverage the most advanced manufacturing operations capabilities available. Conference attendees will hear from industry leaders and company executives, including lessons learned over the past six months while operating in a global pandemic. A comprehensive discussion of the new iSeries will be followed by educational tracks presented by industry-leading manufacturing professionals. A key focus will be the greater operational agility and resiliency that is now possible to accelerate iBASEt customer's digital transformation journey. "The global pandemic has underscored the need for business leaders to simplify complex manufacturing with digital solutions," said Naveen Poonian, President of iBASEt. "With a strong lineup of speakers and workshops, this year's attendees can learn from informative presentations coupled with real-world case studies. We're excited to share with attendees practical, applicable strategies to maximize the value of their iBASEt investment." Learn more about this conference here: https://excelerate.ibaset.com/. About iBASEt iBASEt is a leading provider of manufacturing, quality, and MRO solutions that enable digital continuity across the enterprise. With 30+ years of experience in highly engineered, regulated industries, iBASEt simplifies the complex by empowering customers to gain real-time visibility, take control, and drive velocity across their operations and extended value chain. iBASEt works closely with industry leaders, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and Patria Belgium Engine Center. Learn more at www.ibaset.com. Media Contact Gordon Benzie (949) 958-5200 [email protected] SOURCE iBASEt Related Links https://www.ibaset.com The Nigerian Army says troops of Operation Sahel Sanity arrested 158 suspected bandits in the ongoing clearance operations in Katsina and Zamfara states. Bernard Onyeuko, Acting Director Media Operations, Operation Sahel Sanity, disclosed this during a news conference at the Special Army Super Camp in Faskari on Tuesday. Mr Onyeuko disclosed that the troops acting on intelligence information raided an illegal mining site in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State where they arrested 150 bandits and recovered 120 Dane guns. He said that the troops also raided another bandits camp in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara where a bandit was neutralised and two others arrested while two AK 47, two magazines and motorcycles were recovered. At Daki Takwas village in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, troops intercepted a Toyota Corolla saloon car with 11 locally made rifles hidden at different parts of the vehicle. We have also succeeded in intercepting another dangerous lorry heading towards Kofar Dinya in Bukkuyum Local Government Area where we made two arrests. Also, at Dogon Karfe Village of Bakura Local Government Area, troops destroyed another camp and arrested a wanted notorious bandit, Yusuf Ibrahim, aka Bula. Troops also intercepted seven trucks loaded with rustled cattle on Gurbi-Jibia Road in Zamfara State while two bandits, Masudu Abubakar and Tukur Halliru were apprehended at Daudawa village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Mr Onyeuko said. He noted that the suspected bandits had been handed over to the police command in Zamfara State for further interrogations. The spokesman commended the communities for providing information to the troops leading to the arrest of the suspects. (NAN) Alvaro Uribe DCI Group, which has strong ties with the Republican party, is providing communications and public support for former Colombia president Alvaro Uribe, who is under house arrest in a probe of witness tampering. Uribe, 68, who headed Columbia from 2002 to 2010, is noted for his ruthless efforts to wipe out the leftist FARC guerrilla group and narco-terrorists. That effort restored Colombias economy and security, but Uribe faced criticism for his harsh tactics. Colombias Supreme Court on Aug. 24 called on Uribe, a Colombia Senator, to testify into its probe into three massacres, which could determine whether he had ties to paramilitary groups. DCI, which began representing Uribe on Aug. 20, receives a $40K monthly fee. Its contract expires Nov. 30, though it can be extended if it is mutually agreed upon by both parties. Managing director Justin Peterson, who worked on Elizabeth Dole and George W. Bushs presidential campaigns; VP Kevin Ivers, co-founder of the Log Cabin Republicans; and senior account manager Andres Taborda, a citizen of the US and Colombia, handle Uribes PR effort. Passengers taking international flights from India need not apply to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and can directly book their tickets with the airlines, said an official statement on Wednesday. A standard operating protocol issued by the home ministry on August 22 stated that persons who are eligible to travel on outbound flights 'will apply to MoCA or an agency/agencies designated by MoCA for this purpose with necessary details, including places of departure & arrival'. The MoCA said on Twitter on Wednesday that it 'has designated all the airlines operating under Vande Bharat Mission & air transport bubble arrangements as designated agencies for this purpose'. 'Passengers may book tickets directly with the airlines concerned. They need not apply/register with the Ministry of Civil Aviation,' it added. While scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, special international flights have been operating under Vande Bharat Mission and bilateral air bubble arrangements. Since July this year, India has signed separate bilateral air bubble arrangements with various countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, France and Qatar. Under a bilateral bubble pact, airlines of both the countries can operate special international passenger flights with certain restrictions.